Eating Out: Match

Bostonist loves a night out, especially when she can save the receipt and write it off on her taxes, so attending Blogtoberfest at Match was like a dream come true. We'd been hearing about the luxe lounge since 2005, but, until last Thursday, hadn't found a good excuse to strap on our high heels and do some drinking. The hook for this trendy hotspot lies in the selection of specialty martinis and gourmet miniburgers that allows you to mix and match your food and beverage (get it?) and the promise of a meetup provided perfect bait to toss back a few cocktails on the freelance tip.

The dining room and adjoining bar are swathed in orange hues, complete with dark wood, low light, and a wall of fire. Yes, read that again. A WALL of FIRE. The floor plan is perfectly executed to accomodate the mix of drinkers and diners, although it was roundly agreed that the music was too loud for casual conversation. Since the kitsch of the place lies in the meat and the drinks, one might expect an exhaustive list of both. This was the first disappointment. Rather than an impressive spread of alcoholic concoctions, the bar menu detailed only eight martinis, and rather run-of-the-mill martinis at that. Both the "pink panther" and the "bubbletini" ($10 a pop) were so loaded with peach schnapps that drinking was a chore rather than a pleasure, and it was overheard that the classic gin martini was no better. As for food, there’s a sizeable selection of non-burger items from which to choose, but, ironically, only seven actual miniburgers, ranging in price from $4.75 to $8. Upon ordering a tray, it became apparent that the owners really weren’t joking about the “mini” part. Thankfully, calamari ($8.95) and prosciutto-wrapped asparagus ($3.75) were also on tap, and were met with grateful smiles all around. The calamari was tentacle-free and very tender, while the asparagus came grilled to perfection, and brushed with some delicious, salty dressing.

It’s apparent that Match is not for the faint of heart or wallet, and is mainly a “see-and-be-seen” spot for Boston-dwellers who’d rather live in New York (the comparisons to a Manhattan/Chelsea haunt abound), and to that effect, this lounge serves its purpose. But it is Bostonist’s opinion that if one includes “burgers and martinis” in the tagline for one’s space, one ought to have excellent martinis and an inspired burger selection. To add insult to injury, our credit card has been charged no less than five times for our tab, which garners paltry one out of five hats for this swank spot.

Photo courtesy of blogtoberfest attendee Fabulously Out There