Phantom Gourmet: Audubon In Boston

The Daily Meal Staff|Sept. 8, 2014 9:11 am EST

BOSTON – Gooey grilled cheese stuffed with crunchy potato chips, a juicy half-pound burger stacked with gourmet toppings, and the best pina colada north of the Caribbean. With food and drinks like this, it's easy to see why Audubon is one of Boston's tastiest bars.

In the shadow of the Citgo sign, right down the road from Fenway Park, is a great neighborhood bar named Audubon. For nearly two decades it was known as Audubon Circle, and was a popular spot for locals and Red Sox fans alike.

Recently this local legend got some new owners who dropped the "Circle," renovated the interior and updated the menu. New owners Jay Bellao and Beau Sturm actually worked here for years before they bought the place, and now, they're psyched to make Audubon their own.

"We got the opportunity that every restaurant person wants to have that you always say, 'well if I owned the place I would do this.' So we did that," said Beau. "You know, we changed the drinks; we changed the menu a little bit. So we did everything that we always wanted to do when we were here before and we're able to do now."

That includes raising the bar when it comes to the food. Beau brought in Chef Suzi Maitland and gave her total control.

"We basically let her do whatever she wanted to do. We just gave her free rein. There's New England stuff. There's Southern stuff. There's Latin American, Mediterranean, but it's all done with that homemade feel that she brings to the table."

"It's how I like to eat," Chef Suzi said. "I like a little bit of everything. I like going into a restaurant and having a lot of options and this is a menu where you can have a lot of options."

When it comes to appetizers, the options are almost endless.

There's fiery salt and pepper shrimp with homemade pear duck sauce; grilled pizza with taleggio and roasted red peppers; and wings that are a long way from Buffalo.

"First of all, they're grilled which is a little bit different," explained Beau. "So we char them a little bit on the outside and then we have a homemade honey jalapeno sauce that is absolutely wonderful."

Not only are the wings grilled, so is the sweet and spicy avocado.

"You get that nice crisp, sear on the avocado and then we cover it in our sweet chili sauce," Suzi explained. "It's got a lot of heat but it also has nice vinegar sugar finish and queso fresco. It's really good."

For a bunch of different flavors, order up a platter of grilled pita bread and homemade spreads, including roasted Beet, red pepper goat cheese, and an addictive BLT spread that tastes just like the sandwich.

"BLT spread is exactly what you think. It's a little bit of bacon and tomato mixed in with some sour cream and cream cheese and it is absolutely to die for," Beau bragged.

Burgers and sandwiches are the real deal at Audubon, like the No Name Grilled Cheese with fontina, Muenster, and jalapenos on rosemary focaccia. But what really adds a true taste of nostalgia, and plenty of crunch, are Cape Cod Potato Chips on the sandwich – in every bite.

"Isn't that kind of a thing that we all did when we were in grade school? We put potato chips on top of our sandwiches," Beau chuckled. "It just gives it that crunch and that texture that's fun. It kind of brings you back to your childhood."

The grilled cheese at Audubon comes stuffed with Cape Cod potato chips. (Image: Phantom Gourmet)

You'll feel like a kid in a candy store if you love burgers, because here, the half-pound, hand-pattied, char-grilled beauties are served on a fresh-baked black pepper brioche, and customization is encouraged.

"You get this really beautifully seasoned eight ounce burger, brioche bun, and then you pick how you want it done," Beau said. "You pick your temperature, you pick your toppings and it's just absolutely fantastic."

With more than 10 tasty toppings, the burger possibilities are endless.

Beau knows the best choice is the insanely delicious bacon jam, made from caramelized onions and applewood-smoked bacon.

"I'd put bacon jam on my Cheerios. You can't go wrong with bacon jam."

The kitchen is always cranking, turning out quick bites, and full plates, like the tender Statler chicken served atop creamy couscous risotto; juicy grilled steak with baby potatoes; and linguini and clams with herbed tomato sauce and linguica.

"Absolutely a quintessential kind of North End, New England dish that Suzie has again put her homemade spin on it. It's creamy. The homemade pasta's just a little bit al dente. We get local clams, just wonderful."

The drinks here are made with just as much love as the food. So whatever they're mixing up behind the bar promises to be great.

"We have a great bar staff so we're doing some wonderful craft cocktails," said Beau. "We have a pina colada on the menu, it is the best pina colada that you've ever had. It is done with the absolute best ingredients, the best rum that we can find."

Whether you're in the dining room up front or the patio out back, having a quick drink, or a full meal, everything about Audubon is warm, welcoming, and way better than your average bar.

"I think that it's a very comfortable, very approachable food in a bar. I mean, we say it all the time, we want to be a fun bar that serves great food and I think that we've achieved that."

You can find Audubon at 838 Beacon Street in Boston, or online at audubonboston.com.

Watch Phantom Gourmet on Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30 and 11 a.m. on myTV38.

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