So there I was, stuck in scenic but boring Boxborough Mass for a week on business. Thank the interwebz for Yelp; because of the positive reviews, on a Thursday night I found my way to the Village Forge Tavern.
Really good food, great music & a neat atmosphere. As noted, no cover - just throw in the hat if you like. The locals greatly outnumbered the tourists, and Fitzy took great pleasure in poking fun at one fellow who apparently started sneaking in the place before he was 18 and "stayed 21 for five years". Most of the way through Fitzy's first set, he called out if I had a request, and the San Franciscan in my subconscious made "Friend of the Devil" (uncultured Philistines: it's a Grateful Dead song) the first thing on my tongue. He apologized as he never played the song outside of a band setting, but I thoroughly enjoyed his solo rendition on a six-string acoustic guitar. When it was time for the solo, he played the chord progression and noted "here's the part where Jerry plays for about 8 minutes." The locals didn't sing along, funny that...
The site's photo makes the place look three times larger than it is - imagine a tavern that had to fit into a submarine and you get the idea. Get there early.
I've been to the Village Forge Tavern many times, but last night I went with pad, pen, and camera in hand with the intention of writing this review. Â In the end this objectivity made me see things a little differently, but it didn't change how I feel about this place. Â I almost always have a good time when I go here.
First let's talk about the venue and the music, since this place is mostly about that. Â The venue itself is very small, and each Saturday night they feature a 3 or 4-person jazz ensemble that plays mostly early jazz classics. Â With such a small room, it's very personal, and there is a direct connection between the performers and the audience, seated just a few feet away. Â There is no cover charge, so the band literally passes a hat around so you can show your support. Â You may be invited to sing on the microphone as one person was, and did with remarkable success on this occasion. Â Everybody loved this and cheered wildly.
There is a full bar, but the tap has only 3 beer selections. Â It took 10 or 15 minutes to be served my first beer, which seemed like forever, but after that things went smoothly. Â I ordered a bottled beer and it arrived in a bottle with no glass. Â I have to be objective and give them pretty low marks there.
The pub menu isn't that great either, but you can order off of the restaurant menu if you want to, so that's what I did: Â I selected the fried artichoke hearts with Cajun aioli for the appetizer. Â It was good, and less spicy that I would have guessed for a Cajun anything. Â It was an ample portion for an appetizer.
For the entree I had Chestnut & Pepita Crusted Salmon, with butternut risotto, aged grape must, and toasted pumpkin seed ($22 on the dinner menu, $16 on the lunch menu). Â It was nicely presented, and the pumpkin seed, chestnuts, and pepita gave the salmon a pleasing earthy crunch and flavor. Â The butternut risotto went well with it, but if I were to be a picky restaurant reviewer I would say that the risotto was a bit too mushy.
When I go to the Village Forge Tavern, I go mostly for the music, so the fact that you can order an interesting entree is just a bonus as far as I'm concerned. Â The music was good, the conversation and laughter was natural, and overall it was a very good time. Â It almost always is.
I uploaded a photograph, and I wish that I could upload a short movie clip that I took, because just 10 seconds of the noise, music, and action there would tell you more about the vibe of this place than 100 pictures would.
There are two parts to this review: food, then vibe.
FOOD: Eh. There isn't really any pub food. I know, weird, right? I expected a pub menu, but what we got was the same menu we looked at in the Liberty Room (another restaurant area in the Colonial Inn hotel/restaurant complex). Very few things on that menu qualify as pub food, and for this I'm disappointed. A few tap beers, and a nicely stocked bar make this place OK, but if you're gonna be a pub, which they certainly are going for, you should have some standard pub fare.
VIBE: Yes! Excellent vibe. Live music at night, between 8-11 Fri & Sat. Friday night was a singer from New Orleans backed by an excellent trio. Saturday night we heard a woman sing some great standards and blues - yes, THE blues - backed by another great group, the Workingman's Jazz Trio. Highly recommend you see them, even if they're playing with no singer. Each player has great talents they bring to the party. The atmosphere of this place is almost like that of an old speak-easy; dark woods, great ambiance, old pictures and signs hanging on the walls. I could live off the vibe alone... even if the food isn't that great.
This a great place to go for jazz and dinner at a low cost. Â There is no cover -- they pass the hat. Â You can eat off the bar menu or the dining room menu. Â There is a three piece band with a vocalist. Â Go to the Colonial Inn website to see who is singing. Â Arrive early, the bar is small.
Review Source:I just fell in love with its ambiance and music they offered. Â Everyone I took here agreed with me. I love several jazz club in Boston but I give this place 5 star for these reasons. 1. It is located inside one of the oldest Inn in the country. 2. the ambiance of barn house like (all wood panels came from a 200 years old barn house in NH). 3. No cover charge ever. 4.Some famous musician played here before, still no cover charge on special guest appearance. Â Charles Neville was here twice last year.
Sunday - Mon - Accoustic night
Tue - Blue (Hatrack is awesome)
Wed - The best dixie land jazz in NE- Jimmy Messi and the last minute man. Â He is one of the best banjo player in the country.
Thur -John Fitzsimmon or Fizy - check him out in summer time. Â He usually plays traditional pub song and will make you get up to sing along or do some chicken dance. Â
Fri- Sat - Working man jazz band with special guest like wendy glick, harvey diamond, and more.
It is a great date place. Â Go there if you want a nice romantic time. Â Food are served there til 1030pm. Â
Come and check it out. Concord's the birthplace of America and the first Colonial war began here where we kicked some Bristish's butt. And this place is a must visit.
Everytime we come to Concord, this is where we end up in the evening. Â At first we were sad to have such little pub-options in town that we'd end up drinking at a hotel, but the tavern has it's own vibe and if you can find it in the maze of halls the hotel has, it's the spot!
Most of the nights spent there, we've watched the Workingman's Jazz Band play, with various guest singers. The bass and piano guys are just insanely good. Â If you find yourself in Concord, get stuck-in here.
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