Jamie Bissonnette is a highly acclaimed chef and restaurateur known for his innovative approach to Spanish tapas, modern American cuisine, and Japanese izakaya-style dining. He is a recipient of the prestigious James...
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I feel grateful to have been in a place that serves upmarket cocktails with decent izakaya like fare in Boston. In fact I found this place using “best cocktails with japanese” on Google Maps)
I thought the food was fine. And the staff was great (although felt as though some folks were having a tough or long day). Atmosphere was chill. The vinyl spinning in the side seemed more show than real, but whatever I’m easily entertained, put it all together and it’s a 5 star experience for a visiting New Yorker.
I think that’s the message: decent individual parts, which I’d rate 4 of 5 in isolation. But having them all together in one spot makes it a 5 star privilege.
Another positive mentionable is the sushi den in the basement (didn’t have time to try but looked great), and the Korean spot next door. V friendly hostess, and Korean food looked amazing. Need to go back to that side…
Recap: Multiple adventures in 1 spot. Sum of parts > individual.
joe is the goat of whisky and a gem! joe has a wealth of knowledge and is super knowledgeable across budget ranges and is very kind and an excellent server as well. vibes are great ofc. ice shipped from japan. music is excellent. everything is thoughtful, from the lighting to the ice cubes to the service. joe recommended a cocktail that looks like something a 1950s housewife would bring to a tupperware party but tastes like a million bucks. you don’t see that every day! anyways, you can’t go wrong and you will love it (and if you’re joe’s boss, you should give joe a raise)! 🥃
5
I have been to Temple Records twice now and thoroughly enjoyed both of my dining experiences! You feel like you just discovered a cozy new place in NY when you walk in and you hear the vinyls playing. It is tucked in between Somaek and JM Curleys, and it's worth it to sit at the bar near the turntable. The menu is a fun combination of the Somaek and the sushi restaurant below Temple. I tried many different dishes both times, and highlights included the razor clams (not there now) and the karaage fried chicken. The spicy tofu hot pot was delicious as well as the hamachi I had both times. It interesting to eat the hamachi as a lettuce wraps with raw garlic, and it totally worked. All the side accompaniments with sauces and Kim chi were tasty as well. The cocktails too were well balanced and nicely presented with large cubes. The team behind this whole block of restaurants and bars (Wig Shop) does an amazing job!
5
I’ve been here 3 times now, twice with friends who drink and were excited to have a listening bar in Boston, and yesterday with my partner who doesn’t drink. The staff were super accommodating to him, went next door to make a nice citrusy + fizzy off-menu non-alcoholic drink when they didn’t have the ingredients, and didn’t even charge for it for the trouble. That’s the kind of considerate, attentive service I really appreciate!
Other than that, love the presence of actual records in this listening bar (the other Boston-area competitors all play digital music far as I recall), and being able to order both sushi and items off the Korean menu at the buzzy Somaek next door are a huge plus. Really elegant drinks and I love not having to yell to have a conversation too.
5
Very cool place with nice ambience and record music playing. Celebrated my anniversary with my boyfriend and they wrote the sweetest card and provided us a wonderful time! Can't recommend this place more!! Their inari bomb and sweet & sour pork was so delicious.
