Hot Weather, Cool Cocktails

I enjoy trendy cocktails like Cosmopolitans, but I do grow bored of the same old standard drinks that are seemingly on every bar menu – green apple martinis, Cosmos, and mojitos, for example.  This weekend, my best friend and I decided to find a swanky new place for drinks and we landed at the Noir Bar in the Charles Hotel in Cambridge, MA (Harvard Square).  I was thrilled to see two full pages of unique cocktails as well as an extensive wine list and several beers. 

In addition to drinks, the bar serves light fare, snacks, and sweets.  It’s a small but chic bar with a large outdoor patio.  We took advantage of the beautiful weather – a rarity this summer – and enjoyed some drinks and desserts on the outdoor patio.

I started with a Black Dahlia, a Noir Bar signature drink, which was fabulous.  It included vodka, pomegranate juice, bitters, lemon juice, and pureed blackberries.  It was served in a martini glass and the dark color makes for an exotic looking drink.  The Black Dahlia is refreshing with a hint of sweetness and just the right amount of alcohol – I’m inspired to try to make a similar drink at home.  The drink has a strong presence without tasting too sweet or too strong….so good, it could be dangerous!

Next, I ordered up a Naughty O’Pear, made with pear flavored vodka, pear puree and champagne.  It was much less sweet than the first drink, and much milder.  It was lighter and also delicious, though it was hard to beat the Black Dahlia.

For dessert, I ordered a piece of Boston Cream Pie, one of my favorites.  The Noir Bar serves up a non-traditional Boston Cream Pie, and I have to admit that my expectations were low.  I assumed (wrongly) that since the focus was on cocktails, that the desserts would probably leave something to be desired.  What I received was a dome-shaped dessert covered in chocolate.  The inside was creamy and almost cheesecake-like in consistency, but it tasted like the custard filling in traditional Boston Cream Pies, only slightly less sweet.  The dessert was served with a side of fresh mixed berries including raspberries, blackberries and blueberries which were the perfect accompaniment to the chocolate sauce and creamy filling.  Mmmm!  I’ll be making a return visit to the Noir Bar, eager to try more of their signature cocktails and twists on old favorites.

Tags: black dahlia drink, boston cream pie, Cambridge MA, cocktails, naughty o'pear drink, Noir Bar

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