East Side Bar & Grille - Future Favorite Spot of East Cambridge Residents

A new neighborhood bar/restaurant, East Side Bar & Grille, just opened in East Cambridge and its mission is to serve the neighborhood with great food, a nice but non-pretentious atmosphere, fantastic cocktails and a nice beer selection.

I think Proprietor Christopher Kosinski is on to something. One step through the door and I felt like this is the kind of place that's going to have a good following of "regulars." There's a welcoming bar to the right and some nice high round tables and chairs to the left if you want a little more elbow room when you dine in the bar area. The bar is light wood as opposed to the dark Irish pub-like dark wood you typically encounter in a bar. It's nice. Lightens up the space. It's a great place to while away the afternoon or evening watching the Sox game. The restaurant is in the back. It's painted "Tuscan Red" according to Chris. He actually knew the Benjamin Moore paint color. Impressive. Chris himself is a reason for people to come back. He's a local. Born and bred in East Cambridge. And really committed to providing the community with a great place to hang out. He worked for the city for many years so people know him well. He has pictures on the wall of the restaurant of him with different celebs he rubbed elbows with at the DNC (Democratic National Convention), one of which is Cambridge's own Ben Affleck. Apparently Chris went to high school with Ben and refuses to see any of his movies due to jealousy. Bitter with a sense of humor. Important qualities for running a successful restaurant.

In terms of the menu, there's a wide array of options from open-faced sandwiches to salads and pastas. You'll find a lot of classics such as artichoke dip and chicken wings too. Something for everyone. I ordered the Steak Bomb minus the sausage (I even have my limits). When's the last time you saw a Steak Bomb on a menu that wasn't in a greasy pizza take-out joint or ate one that didn't sit like a bomb in your stomach? Perhaps never? Well you're in for a treat then. The East Side Bar & Grille's Open-Faced Steak Bomb is, well, d'bomb. The meat is marinated for 24 hours. It is so tender. Might be the best steak tips I have ever had. The onions and peppers are grilled to perfection — not too soft, not too crunchy. My lunch companion had the dinner version of the Steak Tips which she also was very fond of. Her lunch came with a salad. Good deal.

The margaritas are top notch. And while the beer wasn't flowing from the taps yet (it was only day 4 of the restaurant being open), Chris assured me that they will have a nice selection.

I look forward to returning to the East Side Bar & Grille, sampling some of the other menu items, and taking in a Sox game now and again. We need more of these great places in our neighborhoods.

East Side Bar & Grille
561 Cambridge Street, East Cambridge (mid-way between Inman Square and the Cambridgeside Galleria), Cambridge, MA
617.661.EAST (3278)