Backbar — Restaurant in Somerville

I want to preface this review by saying that I've been to Backbar at least ten times over the last two years while living in the Somerville area. It's been a favorite spot -- I think the drinks are some of the best in Boston, and the service -- until a few days ago -- has always been great. As a result, I am very sad to write this review.

Two friends and I decided to go to Backbar on a Sunday night at about ten o'clock, two hours before closing. When we arrived, there was no line to get in, and a quick peek in the bar area revealed that about 1/3 of the seats were open. At the door of the bar is a small chalkboard which instructs patrons to wait for a maître d' before proceeding in. On past occasions when I have come to Backbar and there is no wait, someone comes to ask party size and check IDs within a minute or two. This time, however, no one came for several minutes. Ultimately, one of the folks I was with went into the bar to check and see if we should just go in and sit down.

This, it turned out, was a mistake. After we got someone's attention, one of the employees working inside came out, asked us our party size, and then told us to wait (again, there were at least four or five open tables). Five minutes went by. Then ten. Then fifteen. Several groups -- eight or ten people in total -- came in behind us, and they were ushered in with no wait. (Backbar doesn't take reservations.) Then, while we continued to wait, the employee who had initially come out grouchily told me to stop blocking the door (no one was going in or out, and I was not standing in the doorway -- I was standing off to one side of it). After about twenty minutes, this same person returned and asked to see our IDs. Then, he disappeared inside again. Finally, after twenty-five minutes, he retuned and told us there were "no tables for three" and something "might" open up in the next half hour. At this point, we left because it was clear we would not be seated.

It pains me to share this. I loved Backbar. I've been there many times and have always had a great time. But this experience was, in a word, egregious. To recap: there was no wait and there were multiple open tables; after waiting for several minutes in the hallway, we made the mistake of going inside to see if we could seat ourselves; and because of this, we were made to wait almost half an hour as people who arrived after us were let in immediately, and while we waited, we were subjected to increasingly rude and bizarre behavior by one of the employees working the door. Needless to say, I...

This was a quick visit to Boston for me, and my partner took me to check out Backbar for a cocktail. If you love having a nice drink at a fixed price (all alcoholic drinks are $15 +20% gratuity) this is a must come! The team is working in sync and delivering on their great vision. I really enjoyed the menu, music, and service, read further for more details:

Our visit to Backbar started with a ~20min long standing wait. The team prioritizes the comfort of guests and makes sure not to over-crowd their bar, ensuring that each group of guests is seated in area fit for their size. The host organizes this system which may require a bit of shuffling tables (always with a warning, kudos on the clear communication!) until you are ultimately sat at a right-size high top, bar stool, or couch in the cozy seating area of Backbar.

Servers will come to take your drink and food orders and answer any questions you have about the menu. The menu is a mix of signature cocktails and non-alcohlic cocktails themed around a mixtape, with all cocktails having a song as inspiration. On the back of the NA cocktail list, there’s a small menu of bar snacks that can be ordered from the kitchen which closes earlier than the bar. We didn’t eat anything, but the snacks did sound like they would be delicious!

We tried three of the current signature drinks, Candy Girl, Of Space and Time, and Hymn for a Droid. We ordered to our tastes, and I’ll say that the drinks were all excellent. Only order what you’ll like—don’t be afraid to ask the servers about any ingredients you don’t recognize, they’ll help you understand what the drinks are! They were so kind and friendly and made sure we had a great experience. The second cocktail I ordered was off-menu, a Trinidad Sour, which my server was excited I ordered and the bartender came over to tell us about why he personally also loves the drink. It was really great, and he even brought us out a special Angostura amaro they had behind the bar to try because he thought we would enjoy it. Thank you for that thoughtful gesture, not required but much appreciated!

We were never rushed during our stay, but made sure to take our check promptly after finishing our last drinks. Will make a point to come back each time I...

Best Cocktail Lineup I’ve seen in Greater Boston.

Dropped by on a weekday around 8pm. Place was packed, with all bar seats and high tops taken, but thankfully no wait. The vibes were classic Somerville speakeasy: slightly dorky decor, low-key servers, and an unpretentious atmosphere that keeps things fun and approachable.

Every cocktail here was $17 flat, no matter the customization, and nothing tasted like filler. We tried six, and all had a clear point of view. Only miss was the Fiji Mermaid (bonito flake infusion was…a choice), but everything else ranged from impressive to absolutely memorable.

Two of our favorites were Nang Tani and Banana Bread Flip. The former had a miso-forward start that faded into coconut-banana sweetness. A surprisingly elegant balance of sweet and umami. We then asked our server for something in the same lane, and he came up with this custom creation inspired by banana bread and salty walnuts. It had a bit of baking soda sharpness at first, but it mellowed into a smooth, nostalgic sweetness.

We also tried the Dragons Love Apple Pie, Kappa, and The Banshee. For the first one, our server came over with a blowtorch and an oakwood plate, smoking the glass tableside. The result was a lingering smokiness that layered beautifully over the spiced apple notes. The Banshee combined mushroom and berry, though it leaned more into the berry side (thankfully). It had just enough earthy depth without veering into full-on forest floor. Kappa was essentially a frozen melon cocktail with the faintest whisper of cucumber—bright, refreshing, and super clean.

Just note that they don’t take reservations unless you’re doing one of their cocktail classes, and I’ve heard the wait on weekends can get long. But honestly, if you’re looking for the best cocktails in the GBA, it’s...