Not So Phatt Food

Located in Harvard Square, Phatt Boys is a new restaurant that opened up offering "full-flavored food and spirits." With a name like Phatt Boys and beer called "Phatt A** Ale," this isn't a trendy upscale Harvard Square Restaurant. Located next to Fire and Ice, the bar boasts a spicy mix of BBQ style meals. An easy hop off the Red Line and across the street from a parking lot, this restaurant is very easy to get to, located on 50 Church Street. The restaurant has two parts; an atrium area serves as the bar space, which gives it a nice outdoor open feeling with three floors of ceiling space (but still cools you off in the AC).

Phatt Boys offers a large beer selection on tap, including some British imports, Red Hook and Harpoon. They also have a fun selection of martinis and mixed drinks unique to Phatt Boys. The beers come in a large 23 ounce size for a reasonable $4.50. However, in order to reach the bathroom, you have to exit the restaurant and be buzzed in by a hostess. Not ideal drinking conditions.

The best part of the Phatt Boys' menu is the large selection of reasonably priced appetizers. The Gorgonzola Beer Bread was excellent with a mild garlic roast and smooth layer of melted cheese on top. The onion rings were delightful with a spicy aioli and a fiery BBQ sauce for dipping. Yet once Bostonist got to the main course, the menu fell flat. The Texas BBQ Chicken was inedible with a dry chicken breast and overpowering BBQ sauce, while the Big Daddy Burger was also overcooked and virtually tasteless with excessive blue cheese topping. The St. Louis Ribs were hardly falling off the bone and did not possess the smoky flavor of most St. Louis Ribs. The menu was somewhat limited, leaving my two vegetarian friends with only one option for dinner. Even stranger was that the standard pulled pork sandwich was nowhere to be found in this BBQ-heavy restaurant.

The two owners of Phatt Boys are associated with the conversion of the Brew Moons to the Rock Bottom Breweries. Their newest restaurant venture is going to hit rock bottom without making some changes. With sub-par service and overpriced, below-average BBQ, Phatt Boys is a place to go for drinks and appetizers, but Bostonist would avoid visiting for dinner.
Bostonist gives it 2 out of 5 Red Sox Caps.

Contributed by Matthew Nelson