75 Chestnut

Cozy Beacon Hill spot 75 Chestnut made the perfect location for a friend’s recent birthday celebration. The food and company were so good that I forgot to take photos. Still, I thought our wonderful dining experience was more than worth sharing. And it was definitely worth repeating again and again.

Tucked away on a quaint side street in Beacon Hill, 75 Chestnut is small, dimly lit, and warm. It was packed from the start of our meal until we left, and I would definitely recommend reservations.

We were seated in a corner table perfect for the occasion and a little away from the hustle and bustle of the restaurant. A quick review of the cocktail menu, and we ordered drinks. I, of course, had studied the menu carefully days prior and knew I wanted the Ginger Sidecar:  This take on a classic blends Remy Martin VSOP, Domaine de Canton and fresh lemon juice.

It was delicious and tart, and although on the fall cocktail menu, it was perfect for the hot and humid evening.

Our table decided to share an order of  Tomato & Basil Bruschetta: Roma tomatoes, fresh basil, ricotta cheese, kalamata olives,  grilled focaccia bread and aged balsamic reduction . Chewy grilled bread made a smoky bed for salty olives. creamy cheese, fresh tomatoes, and a sweet balsamic reduction. The plate contained four pieces of bruschetta, providing the perfect bite for each of us.

For dinner I ordered one of the specials, a tuna steak with a pineapple salsa atop salad greens. Cooked to perfection, the meaty tuna was definitely brightened by the salsa, and the crunchy vegetables provided a nice freshness. It was another winning course, and one I finished the next day for lunch.

I’m not always a huge dessert fan, but the dessert menu at 75 Chestnut offered a bunch of tantalizing options. We decided to split two amongst the four of us. My friend and I also ordered pumpkin martinis, seriously swoon-worthy concoctions made with Baileys caramel, vanilla vodka, cinnamon schnapps, and pumpkin pie spice, a glass of creamy pumpkin pie.

Our desserts rounded out the perfect evening.  We chose The 75 Chestnut Sinful Chocolate Trilogy, a sampling of miniature desserts featuring warm chocolate bread pudding, Swiss chocolate and almond soup
and a bitter sweet chocolate crème brûlée  and  Grandma’s Carrot Cake, three layers of carrot spice cake with coconut,  pineapple and fresh whipped cream. Both desserts were outstanding and provided flavors on opposite ends of the dessert spectrum, sweet and rich, and spicy and fruity. They were large enough that two desserts for four people were perfect.

The service at 75 Chestnut was great, attentive and not at all rushed, despite the never ending coming and going of diners. It was a perfect place to have dinner with friends, with top notch food and drink and a great comfy vibe.

Do you have a favorite place to celebrate a special occasion or get together with friends?