The Lower Depths

Great tots, excellent bartender. The beer list was heavy on the high-​octane beers and wintery flavored porters and warmers, which are not really my thing, but an excellent Stoneface IPA saved the day!

One of the best pubs I have ever been to ! Don’t let cash only shy you away. They alter the menu to your needs and the food was phenomenal !!! Such an awesome find !! I can’t wait to come back. Veggie corn dog, nachos and tator tots were amazing !!! Rock on lower depths!!!

Lower depths is my favorite laid back bar in town. It’s cash only, which you know means it has to be good, but there’s an ATM at the front door. It’s a beer bar, no liquor, but there are 150+ bottle options and a number of great draft selections. I must admit that aside from the lengthy beer menu, I go for the $ 1 hot dogs (with any number of add-​on toppings including sautéed onions, chili and Mac n cheese!) and the Kenmore tator tots (topped with cheese, bacon, and chipotle aioli). Can’t go wrong with this place!

Came here on a Sunday morning, just wanting tots. This place won me over because not only do they has amazing tots, their Sunday brunch was excellent too!
Was disappointed the next day, however, when I came back for breakfast. Turns out, they only serve brunch on Sunday’s and I was only visiting for 2 days.
I WILL BE BACK.

Came here Friday night with some friends around 9, bar was fairly dead and felt more like a restaurant than a bar, which was unexpected. Given all the rave about the tots, we tried the shepherds pie tots (sweet potato tots). I prefer crisp tots and these were too smothered to be crispy at all and tiny-​sized. Beer selection is vast — friends enjoyed a few stouts.
Staff was friendly enough but look forward to checking out other pubs next time. Cash only, ATM in the entryway.

Ahh SO TASTY. I wasn’t sure what to expect at first. There was a Sox game the night I went and really didn’t want to run into that crowd. However Lower Depths adamantly advertises itself as NOT a sports bar and it was pretty empty and had a chill atmosphere! Great for the large group I brought in.
The good is delish. I got the Boston Strangler (mac and cheese with caramelized onions on the dog) and even though the hotdog was bigger than I thought, I still wanted more. The tots are also a specialty and super filling. I might even suggest skipping the hotdogs and just getting a few orders of tots for the table to try. Might.
They also have a huge rotating beer selection which is great for you boozers and the restaurant itself is pretty quirky with sassiness peppered throughout (just look at their frequently asked questions on their site).

A small, but fun environment where you can enjoy some drinks and food with friends. It’s a very casual ‘seat yourself’ atmosphere with a menu that is composed purely of comfort food. The food ranges from your classic dish of Mac N’ Cheese (alias Mackin’ Cheese) to foot long hot dogs with Mac N’ Cheese on top. They clearly specialize in Tator Tots, and have a selection of about 10 different topping combinations.
I went with a group of friends, and we shared a plate of the Kenmore Tots to start. Despite how hot it was when it arrived at the table, it took us no longer than 3 minutes to devour the entire thing. The tator tots tasted just as good as they did in the elementary cafeteria, and the topping (bacon, chipotle aioli and cheese) really added a lot to the dish. After that, I ordered a Soft Pretzel with Beer Cheese Dip and a Boston Strangler hot dog. The Soft Pretzel was phenomenal and would have tasted perfect on its own, but why would I say no to cheese dip?! It was bigger then I expected, and the dough was VERY soft — it had clearly just been cooked. The Boston Strangler was also delicious (who knew Mac N’ Cheese would taste good on a hot dog?!) and probably the longest hot dog I’ve ever eaten. My friends and I will be definitely be back in the next month to try another plate of tots!

I’m fairly new to Boston but apparently tater tots are a thing here. This place had great reviews for them so I decided to check it out.
I had the quesadilla burger which lived up to the hype and was a delicious mess to eat. The tots were very crispy but way over salted. The salt factor was a bit much for me so I probably won’t return but overall, it was satisfying.
Most of the food I’ve had in Boston has been salty to me so take this review, as they say, with a grain of it. Boston style, I’d suppose.

The barkeep must have been having a horrible day, because he was the most overtly condescending [insert your favorite expletive here] I’ve ever seen. If we entered a war of snark, this guy was General Patton. It’s really a shame because the location is quite nice and the bouncer was incredibly friendly.
Obviously, I’d be inclined to have some bias here, but we were chatting at a very normal level when the King of Sass himself walked over and asked us if he could take our order so we would shut up. We thought he was being sarcastic. He wasn’t. He swung by again a minute later and scorned one of us who’d been in the bathroom for not having chosen his drink yet. «Seriously? Can you read? It’s not that hard.» Here we are thinking this guy is either the master of deadpan or actually is being a nutcase for whatever reason.
We should have stood up and walked out right then and there. I regret not doing it. Sadly all I can do now is leave a petty Unilocal review, tell my friends to avoid this place, and hope no one else wanders into this pit of misery. If management is paying attention, I’d investigate a bald and bearded guy’s quality of service. He clearly doesn’t value customers’ business the slightest. We won’t be coming back.

I visited from New York and was going to a Red Sox game (I know, i know). Before the game we took a walk down the road and saw Lower Depths. This place looked pretty busy so we decided to go in and check it out! They have a really big beer selection and delicious food! My boyfriend customized his hot dog and I got the Fat Kid wrap. The wrap is a little over priced, but yummy! I loved the atmosphere of Lower Depths – even though it was small, the waiters did not rush you. When I am in Boston I will be going back!
Please note: This is a cash-​only joint, but they do have an ATM inside.

Came here specifically for the tots because I’m on a tot crawl and I heard they have bomb tots.
They had almost bomb tots which are still great!
I was really impressed at how crispy and crunchy they were even though they had liquid toppings on them.
We tried the Kenmore (melted cheese | apple wood bacon | chipotle aioli) — would definitely get again
Also tried the Poutine (gravy | cheese curds | cheddar-​jack) — would probably not get again. I just wasn’t a fan… but actually, I’m not a fan of poutine in general, well, I’m not a fan of gravy…
I teetered back and forth between 4 and 5 stars because I didn’t like everything but I realized that not liking gravy is my problem not theirs. For what it’s worth, everyone else thought the poutine was good.
Will come back to try the others. Stay tuned…

Came for lunch and ordered the Stecado and Chicken & Waffle. The Stecado was perfectly made, and quickly became one of my favorite dishes. The chicken & waffle was very good as well. «Very unique, like nothing I’ve ever tasted before.» Definitely a place to come back to.

Gimme that mac and cheese and don’t stop! Smooth, creamy, and the spiral noodles oh boy whats not to like. I added broccoli which made me feel a bit healthier but the calories are worth every bite. Def a must have at this place. My boyfriend got the chicken quesadilla and that was also good but overloaded with chicken and not enough cheese for my liking but he was a fan.
This place is cash only and id’s at the door.

Was pretty happy to come here on a sunny Saturday afternoon, I had walked past a few times and couldn’t wait to try it.
The bar is sub level, with a patio and an extensive beer menu. Was pretty excited to work my way through some items I haven’t tried before. Starting with an idle hands to stay in the state, my eyes scanned the draft menu. I could not help but notice a rarity on tap and had to sip on the 18.25%!!! [that’s right] Delaware based Dogfishhead raison d’extra is aptly playing on its name for it’s raisin invoked flavoring. It was too strong for me so I tried something equally daring instead. A 750ml bottle of Love Child #5 Sour Ale — amazingness. [just makes sure you bring enough cash for that type of feasting as it’s cash only]
All in all a nice spot to chill out with friends and try your way through the menu. There are food items that go along for days when i don’t come from a hot dog safari which is your standard pub food. [will come back to that]

What a hidden treasure! This low profile place has an incredible beer selection, tasty food, and serious character. The bartenders are attentive and knowledgeable and have just the right amount of sass. We split the supreme tater tots, steak tip salad, and shrimp quesadilla and everything was delicious! The prices are reasonable and you can’t beat the location. A must visit!

I couldn’t agree with Aly B more; I was very exited by their brew selection but the rest of the business model is horrible!
Beau and I wanted a good New England beer selection and read great reviews for this place. We were excited by the name thinking it might exhibit a little of that Boston grit that’s missing from Back Bay. Then we’re greeted by a seemingly homeless man posing as the bouncer and a handwritten «cash only» sign. Cool! It’s definitely gonna be gritty! But no.
If you’re gonna be a cash only bar, then be a cash only bar. Y’know, dim lighting, bartenders who are engaging and friends with the regulars, chips for when you get beer munchies. A charmingly rundown place that sells you beer for much cheaper than everywhere else in the city because they have so little overhead. Instead, this place was swanky and pretentious. Bartender was miserable. Stools sooo uncomfortable. Music entirely too loud. Beer too expensive. Service very slow because they are totally unnecessarily cash only. Poor bar is suffering from a major identity crisis.
One star for the pretty cool beer list and one more for the hysterical restroom sign that points you to the «used beer depository.»

Cheap eats ($ 1 hot dogs!) and great beer selection. What more do you really want. And, they got tots! Loaded ones. MMMMM.
We come here every Marathon Monday (and by every, I mean for the past two years!) and it’s been a really fun experience. It’s not a place that gets super crowded and it’s not pretentious (even though they have great beer!) The people that work here look like the patrons. Seriously, sometimes I didn’t know who worked here and who was a customer, which I thought was pretty cool. It’s a down-​to-​Earth place with a homey feel. We kept ordering food and drinks (paying) and then leaving to watch the marathon, then coming back in for another round. The servers are super friendly and accommodating.
Bar seating and tables (inside and out, but if you’re out, you have to eat; Boston’s rule, not the establishment’s rule.)
Cash only!!!

+ good beer on tap
+ chill vibes all around
+ friendly service, people know their beers for recommendations
+good tots!
Came here to get some good ol’ late night tots. Mixed experiences about the tots, we ordered the Mexican and the Poutine and the Poutine was only mildly drizzled with gravy with some cheese scattered throughout. The Mexican tots were good, but doesn’t get that full service mount of sour cream, cheese, and all that goods like some other places do. BUT the actual tots were fried to golden perfection and the flavors were good, I JUST WANTED MORE OF IT!
So the next time I came, I KNEW WHAT WAS UP, I asked the guy to drench my poutine tots in gravy so that no single tots was dry, thankyouverymuch. He looked at me a bit funny and said he’d do what he could… and whatever he did was GOOD. My tots this time came out with pure awesomeness. The tots were still super crunchy even with gravy everywhere and the whole thing was magical. For $ 12 a plate, it can be a bit steep, but there’s only a few places in the area that do these late night tots well and even fewer that have a variety of flavors, so I’ll take what I can (and demand more of it)!

Tasty tots and entrees don’t speak for all of The Lower Depths. They’ve got a decent selection of beer and drinks that can quench any ones thirst.
I had dinner with the hubster and we go the open face steak sandwich and the tropical steakhouse burger. The former was overcooked, I had asked for medium and it was medium well, and the later was a nicely done medium rare. The open face steak sandwich could have done with another slice of bread on the side instead of just one but the sauces and peppers/​onions were a nice complement to the steak. The burger was juicy and flavorful though quickly fell apart soaking up the sauces. The tots were hot, crunchy, and very tasty.
I got the Slumbrew Yankee Swap beer and it was a heavy dark beer with hints of citrus and nuts. Not my favorite but a beer you can order to slowly sip and taste.
All in all, two sandwiches and beers cost $ 46.90 not including tip.
The music was loud and pumping, the décor tasteful and hip, and the service was always prompt and there to make sure we were okay.

Holy tots!
This place was recommended to me by the former chapter head of MA Girls Pint Out. I had asked for beer bar recommendations in the area around Fenway and this was the 1^st one she gave. We had no trouble finding this hole in the basement wall off of Commonwealth Ave.
The one thing you should know before going here is: CASH ONLY. Prepare.
We came on a fairly slow afternoon so we had our choice of seats. We chose the bar, which for me as a 5 ft 4in lady was a bit high compared to the stools. I loved the artwork that covers the entire place. Very bright, and interesting. You’ll always find something to look at.
Their beer list is stellar. They have 16 rotating taps and a large bottle list. A few local things other than Sam and Gansett which was nice, and some interesting things from other places. They have a tiny description of each beer on the menu that proves to be more for comic fodder than anything else. SO if you’re unsure about that beer or the style, ask your bartender.
We ordered the Kenmore tots and the pretzel. The tots were sooo good. Just what a blustery New England day called for. And this plate is large. Definitely meant for sharing or a meal (you’re an adult now, its fine). The pretzel was nice and soft and both the cheese and mustard paired well w/​it (but really, when do cheese and mustard NOT pair well w/​a pretzel).
We’ll absolutely be back the next time were in town.