Given our success in the South End last week at The Dish, my dining partner and I headed to the same neighborhood this week to dine at The Beehive. This establishment is located in a former boiler room that has been transformed into a swanky restaurant, bar, and jazz club that attracts quite the crowd.
When you enter the building, there is a small bar off to the right. We were led down a grand staircase to another more happening bar and additional seating. The hostess seated us at a small table for two facing a little stage where local jazz artists perform beginning at 9:30 or 10 p.m. The ambiance distracted us from even glancing at the menu for a good while. The space is dimly lit with high ceilings and exposed brick walls with unique and slightly alternative decorative artwork.
Upon first glance, the menu, which only has about 15 offerings, covering appetizers to entrees, didn't seem to appeal to us. Many customers appeared to be part of the "after work crowd," opting for the Beehive burger or flatbread pizzas and a drink. Other offerings ranged from country fried chicken to pork chops to cod. Noticeably absent from the menu was any form of salad or soup offering.
The menu also offers some excellent sides, from grilled corn to The Beehive's specialty fries with sage and sea salt. We decided to try a unique-sounding side, a curried chicken salad stuffed baked potato to start. It was literally a baked potato, cut open and overstuffed with a delicious cold curried chicken salad, packing a punch of flavor that was the perfect accoutrement to an otherwise bland potato.
One entree did stand out immediately: the grilled wild salmon tacos with black beans and Spanish rice. Two hard taco shells with melted cheese were stuffed with freshly grilled salmon and served with all of the typical fixings. Simple, satisfying, and truly delicious.
In addition, the waitress told us about a fantastic-sounding special, pumpkin risotto and warm roasted chicken. This was the winner of our meal. The warm, rich, creamy risotto topped with tasty, tender chicken in a brown sauce was the perfect dish for the cold, rainy night we went out on.
The portions were generous, the prices were reasonable, and the meal overall was a pleasant surprise. When it came time for dessert, we were intrigued by their daily specials of blueberry cheesecake, chocolate mousse, and an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie with vanilla bean ice cream; however, we were too stuffed.
The Beehive has a ton of character - from the decor, to the wait staff, right down to the menu. It is good to note that the drink menu is far from ordinary with extensive unique offerings, but with high prices to match. This swanky spot would make for a great night out with friends for drinks, but it would be advised to go early or make a reservation because it fills up once the performers come on. A-
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