Almost everyone I know has seen and wants to go to The Fireplace at the Washington Square T stop on Beacon Street. The restaurant really is as appealing as it looks and it is well worth the trip.
With a nicely decorated interior, it is modern in its style, yet classy. It offered a warm and intimate atmosphere with its large cushy booths, and, of course, a working fireplace. This restaurant is better suited for a small dinner for two, rather than a large group.
My friend and I arrived around 6 p.m. to find the restaurant was rather quiet, but things began to pick up around 7 p.m. We went on a Tuesday night when the restaurant was somewhat slow, but on a Friday or Saturday the dining room can be quite busy. We were seated without a wait and were immediately greeted by our server.
The menus were hard bound, but not very extensive. They offered appetizers, salads, soups & chowders, entrées, and "simple grill" items. All of them seemed elegant, but not so complicated as to be overwhelming. After ordering, a server's assistant brought out a basket and served us warm dinner rolls with butter. He was quiet and formal; the staff in general was not chatty, but emphasized formality in their service. Also, their timing was impeccable; each course came out within minutes after the previous course's dishes had been cleared away.
We began by sharing an order of duck sausage garnished with "rummy" peaches and sliced pecans ($9), which was absolutely delicious and was the highlight of our meal. The duck was prepared in sausage links and came on a bed of leafy greens surrounded by sliced peaches and pecans. It was mild in flavor and slightly sweet.
Our entrees came out just a few minutes after our appetizer plates were cleared. The Fireplace offers a seasonal menu, so both of our entrees were classic fall dishes; my friend ordered braised beef short ribs with barley and spinach ($23), while I had pork tenderloin with acorn squash and broccoli ($22). Although our entrees were not quite as good as our appetizer, both were still tasty and well-made.
As a point of interest, the Fireplace advertised a special for half-birthdays. Claiming that enough restaurants will help you celebrate your real birthday, the chefs offered a complimentary dessert for anyone celebrating their half-birthday. On the whole, it was a wonderfully elegant restaurant that served delicious food with great service.
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