Chatham Tap

A few weeks ago, we met some friends at Chatham Tap on a Friday evening.  We got there pretty early--around 6pm--and subsequently didn't have to wait for a table.  If you've been to Chatham (the original one on Mass Ave., of course--the one up north is a pale imitation of the original's glory), you've probably hovered in the entrance waiting for someone to give up their table.   It's just what you do there.  It's tiny and the tables are jammed together, and it's loud and busy, but while those issues might annoy me at other bars, at Chatham it's just part of the charm.

Don't get me wrong--it's not the place for groups larger than 6, or really over 4 if you don't want to wait for ages.  But if it's you and your date and a friend or two, it's great.

We mostly went for drinks, but Chatham has a great food menu, too, so we opted to have dinner there.  I got a build-your-own pizza (small $7.49) with rasher bacon (add $1).  It's my standard, and so good.  They've got a great puffy, doughy crust, the sauce is light and fresh, and the rasher bacon (i.e. smokey ham) is meaty but feels healthier than pepperoni or sausage.  This time my pizza could have been cooked for another minute or two--the crust was right on the border of  being undercooked, and I like my cheese with a touch more color--but it was still super good and satisfying.

Tim got the St. George's Philly ($7.49)--corned beef and grilled onions (like a cheese steak) with a mozzarella-dill mayo mix that makes a sort of sauce.  The bite I had was pretty tasty, and Tim very much enjoyed it.  It came with a few side options, and he chose homemade chips.  They could have used a touch of salt, but were otherwise solid. 

If you're there late at night, you've got to get the garlic cheese chips ($6.49)--crispy, salty fries topped with a garlic ranch sort of sauce and shredded cheddar (not melted--sounds odd, but it's perfect).  The montauks ($7.49) are also a favorite of ours--slices of french bread topped with rasher bacon and Gouda, which is in turn topped with pan-seared tomatoes and basil.  Sounds odd, but it's tasty.

Website:  Chatham Tap