The Tam Is my new Jam!

THE TAM
This is where you will find me during the week. It's 5'oclock somewhere! It is located perfectly in the theater district/Boston Common/Chinatown/Boylston Green Line T stop. You walk and almost don't know what to expect. You automatically bump into the vending machine for necessary munchies. But the best part.... wait for it.... the bartenders are the biggest lovers of Boston, crazy welcoming, and heavy handed when it comes to pouring drinks. Very inexpensive. I usually get a whiskey and ginger (which is really 3 parts whiskey and 1 part gingerale) for 7 bucks which will lay me flat on my ass. They do not shortchange you. I love a good dive bar, but I think this is the ultimate one with a bunch of oldtimers who seem to have been going there for decades. Definitely a good place to go after work with friends as it is placed in downtown. On the weekend, the atmosphere changes and the college kids pack it in. They turn on the music real loud and it turns into a dance party. I love this place. See Ya there!

What's the deal:
"No nonsense, cash-only watering hole for boozing and socializing in the Theater District"
Address: 222 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02116
Phone (617) 482 9182
Hours: Sunday thru Tuesday: 8am -1am   Wednesday thru Saturdays: 8am - 2am

Banshee Bar

Banshee

Location:  934 Dorchester Ave,
Website:  www.bansheeboston.com

Phone: 617-436-9747

Price: $$

Ambience: students, football fans, families during the day, groups of people

Every Thursday I go to Banshee with a group of other international students and it's always a GREAT night. The atmosphere in Banshee is always really welcoming. The bar staff are really friendly and the bouncers at the door are never unapproachable, and always have good banter with the smokers of our group. 

I've eaten in Banshee once before the drinking commenced and I was really impressed. I had the macaroni cheese and it was only $8.49 and tasted amazing! If mac and cheese isn't your thing, the menu at Banshee is quite extensive. There's a big selection of burgers, starting at $8.49. You order at the bar, and the service is really quick. I think we only waited 10 minutes and there was actually 6 or 7 of us! Drinking wise, I am an avid vodka/cranberry girl, and in Banshee it's only $5 and the vodka levels are extreme - you'll be drunk after one - and beers are around $4.50. All other mixers with vodka are roughly around $5 as well. 

On Wednesday's, Banshee hold a trivia night that's really popular amongst large groups of friends and younger students. This bar particularly won the affection of my fellow British roommate, as they show Premier League games, which could attend to your interests also if you like that. My affection, however, was won by the karaoke that they host on a Thursday. It's highly entertaining, everyone is up for a good time and also, some dancing, depending on the alcohol levels - which are usually high anyway!

I would recommend a drinking night in Banshee to anybody visiting the area, it's a comfortable environment and everyone is always in good spirits here!

Breakfast At Ashley's

Ashley’sBreakfast

Location:  916 Washington Street, Braintree, MA, 02184
Website:  www.ashleysbreakfast.com

Phone: 781-848-8895

Price: $

Ambience: everyone and anyone!

Ashley’s is located on Braintree’s main road, Washington Street. It looks tiny from the outside but tables go right to the back of the building. It’s the perfect place for a relaxing breakfast, with a total chill environment. Ashley’s serve a lot of regulars. The atmosphere is really comfortable, small booths for 2 (comfortably) to 4 people or there’s a small counter for those who can’t function and socialise before their morning food ritual (like me). The staff is really friendly and attentive, and your food is with you within 10 minutes of ordering.

Ashley's is open 5am-2pm Monday through Saturday and 6am-2pm Sundays. Both the breakfast and lunch menus are pretty extensive. For lunch, Ashley's serve pastas and salads, stir fry's and sandwiches! But this post is about Breakfast at Ashley's.

The breakfast menu at Ashley's boasts sections dedicated to plates from eggs and French toast to waffles and full plate breakfasts. Both times I have visited Ashley’s I have ordered the “Big Breakfast” – two eggs (Sunny side up? Over Easy? Scrambled?), toast (white, brown, wheat, rye?), two sausages, two bacon, two pancakes/French toast (another choice?!) and home fries. This all for $6.99 is an absolute treat! If you want any extras with your meal, side orders are around $1.99 or $1.25 and tea and coffee are around $2 for those who need a shake in the morning. Ashley’s is really cheap and it’s something I would advise a visitor not to miss!

Home Comforts: South Side Tavern

South Side Tavern

Location: 941 Washington St, Braintree

Website: http://www.sstavern.com/

Phone: 781.848.0511

Directions: Red line to Braintree, on the corner at Washington St and Hancock St (about 10 minute walk from Braintree Station)

Price: $$

Ambience: Local Residents, Sports Fans, Families

There is a Southside Tavern in both Braintree and Quincy. This post is solely reviewing the newer branch in Braintree. The Southside Tavern in Braintree is a classic neighbourhood bar and restaurant, offering a full American style menu. The kitchen is open until 11pm nightly and pizzas are served right up to last call!

There is something for everyone on this menu. For those watching sport, there's burgers and pizzas priced up to $8.99. The burgers are massive and come with a generous amount of fries, so generous I couldn't possibly finish! And for those lunching light, salads and soups priced up to $7.99. As well as a variety of food on the menu, the Tavern boasts a wide variety of wines, beers and cocktails. The cocktails, albeit pricey at $9.50 at the least, have a generous amount of alcohol in them; the Mojitos will floor you after one! There's 14 beers on tap and season to season they differ. 

As for the set out, any type of sports fan can go to the Tavern and be pleasantly satisfied with their viewing options. There are 3-47", 10-55" plus our 70 and 80" High Definition TV's  placed all around the seating area and the bar area for everyone to see, as you can see in the above picture. For the mega sports fan, the Tavern have several sports packages including MLB Extra Innings, NHL Center Ice, NFL Sunday Ticket & they also have a free WiFi connection for you to use. The staff are friendly and attentive but not to the point of irritant, for example I wasn't asked how my burger was the minute I took a huge bite from it. And the service was quick, considering that the place was fairly busy for the Saturday afternoon I visited.

On a Tuesday, the Tavern hosts quiz night 8-10pm, $100 for the winner! On Wednesdays there is karaoke 9.30pm - close, on Fridays different live music every week 9.30pm - close and Sunday's, the Tavern offers a Brunch menu for those of you who feel rough from Saturday might! When there is a Patriots game on, $3 for everyone during game time!