The Bebop — Restaurant in Boston

BRUNCH REVIEW

3 for food, 4 for the atmosphere.

This place might be worthy of "hidden gem" status. It's technically on Boylston street but across Mass Ave. on the Fenway side so definitely not as touristy. From the blue outside, you might be confused that it's an Irish pub with live music but that's exactly what it is.

The food here is slightly above average, not great. We had the fish and chips (which came with a pretty small portion of fish but it was good nonetheless), the vegetarian shepherd's pie (spiced well but nothing special), and the Banana-Blueberry French toast (these were GOOD but then they were accompanied by cantaloupe, which is totally "filler fruit"). I would order the french toast again.

But you don't necessarily come here for the food, you come for the ambiance. You feel like you are in an Irish Jazz club. When we went in, the band was playing gypsy Jazz and we were greeted by our Irish waitress (at least her accent certainly sounded Irish). The band is up in the front in the corner of the restaurant followed by a long bar which reminded me of the pubs of Dublin.

Service is aloof but friendly. Don't expect things right away...it's an "Irish pub".

I would definitely come back for a drink and the live music but...

The Bebop opened recently to replace the old Pad Thai Cafe that used to be here as part of a strip of lower priced restaurants serving a predominantly college aged crowd. The facelift was necessary, adapting and utilizing the space in an efficient manner. The theme plays into jazz and old music. This includes records and instruments adorning the walls with a subtle and maybe not so subtle Irish overtone.

This establishment doesn't have a full liquor license, so you can get a Guinness or flavored martini, but no Jameson on the rocks or a classic vodka soda. Drink prices seem nominal and on par for the area. Food here is reminiscent of classic Irish dishes and local seafood favorites. The Shepard's Pie was fantastic and a staple dish of such a restaurant. On the contrary, the oysters were pricey and were served with a strange ketchup heavy cocktail sauce that made the sea creatures far too sweet for my blood.

The service is good here, but that doesn't really seem to be the point. Food is a pretty general breakdown of bar and local favorites. The idea here, to me, is to serve as an ablebodied meeting point, complimentary with live music and a...

If you are in Boston and south of the river, then this is by far one of the best bars you can find. It has a very active live music scene that has performances almost three times a week. The interior and setting is very old-school, quant, cozy and stylish which goes very well with the blues and jazz vibe that echoes throughout the bar. I was also blown away by an improvised hot chocolate drink made with bailey's that the bartender whipped up for me when I asked if they had anything hot on a very cold night, (god bless her soul). This should give you an idea of how warm, hospitable and attentive the staff is here, and also how they do not shy away from intuitively innovating on their cocktail menu.

Needless to say. owing to its great standards of food and service, the place is extremely popular and fills up really fast on days with live music. So if you want to get the best out of here experience here - plan ahead and make a reservation or come in early and find a good seat at the bar. Trust me, it is worth the effort. If you love live music, you should not miss...