Eating Out: Audubon Circle (the Restaurant)

Not to be confused with Cambridge’s Abodeon, nor with Arnold Arboretum, Audubon Circle is located just outside Fenway in – get this - Audubon Circle. The second venture from power-duo Matt Curtis and Chris Lutes (owners of Miracle of Science, Cambridge One, and the fantastically hyped Middlesex Lounge), Audubon circle sets itself apart from the others while maintaining the hip, laid-back atmosphere one might expect from this pair of restauranteurs. The word of the day here is PANINI, but not the bulky focaccia usually associated with this sandwich. Rather, the eats at Audubon are light, exquisitely prepared, and – the best part – cheap.

True to the design sensibility that marks other ventures by Messrs. Curtis and Lutes, the minimalist interior of black granite and mahogany gives way to a bamboo-enclosed patio for the few remaining smokers in the city. And what goes better with a smoke (or a deriding glance at the smoker one table over) than a cocktail? The liquor menu boasts high-end pours such as Oban, Ketel One, and Patron as well as an admirable selection of wine and beer, and the bartenders know how to mix it all together in a flash. Appetizers include Asian potstickers ($7.50) and grilled skewered shrimp ($8.50), outstanding on the apps list is the grilled Tuscan bread with white bean paste ($5). Perfect in its simplicity and served with a pile of ripe Kalamata olives. It's a whole new frontier for toast.

Choosing from the selection of pressed sandwiches ($8 each) is a challenge, but after extensive testing we’ve deduced that it is impossible to go wrong. Every one is delicious and easy to share with your dining companion of choice, so mix it up and share the wealth. After 4pm, Audubon rolls out a selection of hearty entrees, including the obligatory seared tuna that seems to be so popular these days, ($17) and a center-cut pork chop ($15).

Everyone likes to rave about those damn potstickers, but on our visit they were drowned in sesame oil and carried a definite taste of butane. Even though the presentation is cute (stuffed in a Chinese to-go container complete with chopsticks), this particular dish is gimmicky and overrated. The An Tua Nua staff we see jogging across Beacon St. to grab some grub after shift will surely agree that Audubon Circle is well worthy of four and a half out of five hats.

838 Beacon Street, Boston; 617-421-1910
Hours: 11:30 a.m. - 11 p.m. daily; bar open to 1 a.m

Post contributed by Erin Anguish