“Towne” as locals call it, is a large restaurant and bar located on Boylston Street in Boston’s Back Bay.
Recently, I decided to venture back to Towne to try their brunch. I last reviewed Towne (for dinner) in March of 2011 in my post A Tale of Two Towne’s.
Towne’s brunch menu is reasonably priced with most options between $10 – $16. Because of the time of day, my friend and I opted for their chicken salad sandwich for $12 and their bacon and cheddar burger for $16. Eating at the bar can sometimes be risky business depending on how crowded or busy the staff is but on our visit the bar was mostly empty and the bar staff was both attentive and helpful answering the few questions we had about menu options.
Below left is a photograph of the chicken salad sandwich served on toasted multi-grain bread and a side salad. The chopped chicken with cucumber was filling and satisfying. Below right is a photograph of the burger presented with the top bun upside down with ketchup. Both proved satisfying but not particularly memorable.
I’ve had a few meals at Towne and with few exceptions I’ve found the food average. However, the space is very comfortable and the service is generally very good. That combined with its convenient location in the Back Bay is what accounts for its success – or at least that is what I’ve concluded.
If you are looking for casual dining with friends and an easy menu filled with familiar options, Towne is a great option. If you are looking for a more adventurous or interesting menu, I would suggest Lydia Shire’s other restaurant in Boston, Scampo, in Beacon Hill at the Liberty Hotel.
BosGuy 