Symphony 8

A three-pack hits the right notes

By PATRICK MAIN

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Tucked right around the corner from Boston's Symphony Hall, there is a trio of new venues all under the same roof. Symphony 8 is the biggest of the three, with a nearly 100-seat dining room and the largest menu as well. Siansa 8 (symphony in Gaelic, natch), the adjoining Irish pub, has a slightly smaller, but similar menu—they share a kitchen—and a more intimate setting. And I won't spoil the fun, but there may or may not be a "Prohibited" venue in the basement of the first two, which also may or may not require a daily-changing password for entrance via a secret door around the corner. (Wink, wink.)

A friend and I popped in on a weeknight to survey the scene. The cheery hostess promptly planted us in the reasonably full main dining room. Two Guinnesses ($6) quickly join us. There's a small cocktail list, which includes a scorpion bowl in homage to the former tenant of the space, the Tiger Lily, almost a dozen beers on tap and a respectable bottle list, with some of the more popular brews available in buckets of five.

First to the plate were the wonderfully named hog wings ($9). Advertised as bite sized, these four-bite-minimum pork shanks are trimmed to have a little handle of bone protruding, braised and then deep fried (sans breading) to transform into a delectable finger-food appetizer. Served alongside house-made waffle fries, I was pleasantly surprised that the side of chipotle ranch dressing wasn't thin and salad dressing-y, but creamy and smoky.

For the heartier dishes, I opted for the shepherd's pie ($11). It was an enormous portion, all beef (thankfully, as I'm not a lamb guy), with a good ratio of veggies to meat and topped, but not smothered, with mashed potatoes and panko bread crumbs. My friend grabbed the Guinness-braised short ribs ($15), again a huge portion of boneless beef, with garlic mashed potatoes with a hint of cheese to them and some lightly sautéed spinach. The beef was fork tender and very flavorful ("tenderful," as he put it at the time), and the pan gravy was a great accompaniment to the entire dish.

Finishing up, we sampled a new addition to the menu: a flight of Guinness cocktails ($9) consisting of three 4-ounce glasses, each with a different twist. First up was the Ribena, a black currant juice that's apparently popular in the UK and Ireland. A little sweet for my taste, but our waitress assured me that it's all the rage among the ladies across the pond. Next, there's a Stoli Vanil and Chambord concoction that was very smooth, and my favorite of the three. Finally, a crème de menthe and chocolate liquor that blended well without overpowering the Guinness flavor.

Whether you're stopping in for a quick bite before the show, planting yourself down for a night of food and revelry to watch the football matches or are looking to have a more elegant night of cocktails, there's something in the Symphony 8 family for you.

Rating: * * *
* * * * * phenomenal
* * * * added to the regular rotation
* * * solid cuisine, presentation and taste
* * average
* meh

SYMPHONY 8
8 WESTLAND AVE.
BOSTON
617.267.1200

SYMPHONY8BOSTON.COM
HOURS: DAILY 11AM-MIDNIGHT (DRINKS UNTIL 2AM)