Harp + Bard, Dorchester

Happy Friday, and Happy Birthday to my husband! Grill 23 is where we will be celebrating tonight, followed by a weekend of who knows what. We may go to Martha’s Vineyard or hang out on the boat or just have a low key weekend at home. The weather and our levels of tiredness will decide that for us.

When we are in the mood for a low key, close dinner, Harp + Bard in Dorchester is a really fantastic option. It’s within walking distance of our house, has a great selection of beers and cocktails and a huge food menu, along with a friendly staff and comfy vibe. When my family came to visit a couple of weeks ago (for an absolutely fantastic weekend), we decided Harp + Bard would make a great place for the whole family.

Since there were so many of us, they seated us in the back room, which ended up having for ourselves the entire night. The front room and bar were busy, but we enjoyed being able to talk and let the kids walk around a little where we were. I started with a cold Cranberry Cosmo, its icy tartness just what I wanted after a long day at the Children’s Museum. . . if they sold cocktails, I think they would make a mint!

We started with two favorite appetizers, Buffalo Chicken Dip and Fried Pickles. The dip is molten hot, spicy, and tangy, served with crispy chips. It’s a major indulgence worth every calorie.

I could eat fried pickles all day every day. These are nice and salty and crunchy, with a cool and creamy ranch dipping sauce. Why can’t healthy foods be this addictive?

For my entrée, I decided to go with something homey and New England-y, the lobster pie special with mashed potatoes and carrots. What surprised us all most was how delicious the carrots were. They were cooked in a little bit of chopped garlic, and we were pretty much fighting over them. I will definitely be trying to make carrots like this.

The lobster pie contained an entire sweet lobster in a light sauce with a buttery crumb topping. It was heavenly and really added to the home-style, neighborhood  feeling of the restaurant.

Though I was completely stuffed from appetizers and dinner, I had to have a bite of the pizza. Harp + Bard has won awards for their pizza, and I can see why. It’s a nicely seasoned, thin crust pie, perfect for eating at the bar with a cold beer.

We’ve eaten lunch and dinner at Harp + Bard many times, and we have enjoyed every item we have tried. It’s one of those places you always feel welcome, and the menu is big enough that you can always try something new.

Have you discovered any new neighborhood favorites?