Precinct

Do you like caves? Does the idea of spelunking sound super fun to you? Do you wish you could combine your love of caving with eating food? Then Precinct is for you!
While it might be a bit too dark for you to read your menu at your table, chances are whatever you pick will be just fine. All of the entrees are perfectly priced and tasty enough. It’s nicer than bar food, but with bar food prices.
The cocktails are creative and tasty, keeping this joint out of the realm of dive bar. The taps tend to be local and tasty. Like the food, the drinks are reasonably priced.
When we were last in, there was one waitress for the entire floor. She was a committed caver/​waitress. A lesser experienced staff member would have been swamped and bedraggled, but she juggled her heavy table load like an expert spelunker.
Unfortunately, we hear they’re going to be closing for some renovations. Part of the charm of Precinct is the falling apart walls, upholstery coming off of the booths and the winding hallways which eventually lead to the restrooms.
Just bring a helmet with a flashlight tapped on it.

I like this place, one of our Go to places. The food is good and the staff is great. Check the back room for some live music. Also not a bad place to watch the game.

While I’ve been to the Independent millions of times, I finally ventured down the street to Precinct. Freaking awesome place. Dark but not dank. While not on the menu, I had a delightful irish coffee, chicken sliders and delicious vegetarian chili. I’m looking forward to going back soon.

Just tried the vidalia onion and peach salsa hot wings, which had a nice kick, to accompany my Allagash White. Tuesday nights are trivia, which sounded fun and attracted a full bar crowd.

As my stomach began to growl, I hurried down Somerville Ave with my friends for a delicious The Independent supper. To my (not so) surprise, the wait was upward of 30 minutes. Rats!
Outside we went to regroup… until suddenly, the Precinct caught my eye.
I thought to myself: «I’ve never been there before… it’s in a basement, will it be too dark? I wonder if it’s more bar/​pub-​like…»
Before I could think anymore, my stomach took the lead and before I knew it, we were sitting down at the Precinct. The food is on par, if not better, than Independent (correct me if I am wrong, but the two restaurants are owned by the same folk and, at least to me, the food tastes similar).
I ordered a macaroni and cheese and a side of french fries (because I still eat like a child) which were both amazing! Great beer selection and delicious mixed drinks.
I wish I could give these folk five stars; however, the awkward layout to me just doesn’t warrant one more… but sitting outside in the summer!

After waiting what would normally be way too long for a drink at a bar — I was pleasantly surprised when my watermelon margarita arrived. It had the right amount of watermelon freshness without tasting artificial or like a rind.
The space is cool, the drinks were good. The service was SLOWWW. Also, the bar is setup in a very strange way due to the narrow space. It is not very conducive to conversations.
Not a good place for groups, but we’d go back again.

A serviceable brunch spot in Union Square, we came here on a quiet Sunday because the hostess/​seating situation at nearby Independent was confusing and irritating.
Our server showed a distinct lack of alacrity, and admitted that it was her first brunch shift in some time. A few basic questions not covered on the menu like «Do the omeletes come with any sides?» were met with some blank stares.
I was frustrated by the kitchen staff as well, since we were informed *after* I’d placed the order that they were «not doing the full Irish breakfast». (No explanation given) That would have been nice to let us know before we ordered. So I went with the hanger steak and eggs, over medium. There were a total of four tables seated outside, but the server did not seem anxious to refill empty beverages.
The food saved it though. The omeletes were delicious and the hanger steak, though a little bland, was cooked to perfection. Homefries are crispy and great.
I’m a little surprised at a Union Square spot being so… well, spotty… but come for the food, and hopefully the service will be a little less miss, a little more hit!

Love this place! The drinks are awesome and the food is good and reasonably priced. Love the patio in good weather and the fact that dogs are welcome. We had a waitress the other night named Ashley who was super-​nice, cool, and had a great sense of humor!
My only issue is that they took our favorite appetizer off the menu: the spinach and artichoke dip. Oh man, it was so delicious! Please bring it back, Precinct, please!!!

I live less than a mile from union st in somerville and never went to investigate the places to eat around there. So after walking around the area with my boyfriend we decided to try this place.
I wish I could give half stars as I think 3 ½ would be more appropriate. The reason I went with 4 instead of 3 though is because of the service.
So there is outside dining but it was kinda hot so we opted to sit inside for the a/​c. Everyone was really friendly especially the bartender. I got the turkey club while my boyfriend got the sirloin burger. Food arrived promptly and the atmosphere was nice, maybe a little dark for my tastes but still ok.
My sandwich was pretty good but way too much turkey And I think would have been a lot better if it was carved turkey versus the deli meat kind. But the bacon was crisp and the cranberry spread with the honey wheat bread was tasty. I also tried the sirloin burger and that was really good. Just the regular sides of fries and sweet potato fries, nothing special with those though.
Again the bartender was really nice. I would definitely go back when in the mood for decent bar food but upscale it is not.
Never take my word though and try it yourself.

i wanted to like you, precinct.
i actually reviewed you a couple weeks ago and Unilocal erased my view, because it’s showing up as a partially typed draft. so here it goes again.
precinct, i love your location, i love your quirky not-​so-​lit slit-​like windows, which are not unlike my new abode, come a month. your beer selection isn’t bad. you’re not divey. your menu is american with some attempts in other directions. but you’re american, and i get you, so we’re cool. i don’t order jerk chicken at an american bar/​pub.
so i order fig pizza. the sweet and savory. the fig spread overwhelmed the savory to the point where i felt like i was eating dessert, and this sorta hits off my TOO SWEET NO GOOD bells which are at a much lower threshold than most. not done with style, but an attempt. they tried. three stars for trying and not being terrible per se. the crust was crispy. it was on flatbread. but overall, meh.
crispy tater tots! not house-​made, but the usual shebang.
expertly cut and doled out fries.
maybe i’ll come back to hang, but not so much for the food, especially at the ~$ 15 – 20 entrée price point.

Hi Y’all,
Ordered a Caesar Salad last Saturday evening. After delivery to the bar, asked Spencer the Bartender (grew up in the UK) if they had any anchovies. «No –sorry».
Boom — within 3 minutes out from the kitchen comes a person with a serving of anchovies! Asked Spencer: «thought you didn’t have any?»
Spencer: «I texted the chef, he sent someone next door, and there you have it!»
LEGENDARY SERVICE!!!
cheers
Dan

Loooooove this place. Super chill atmosphere. The bartenders are down-​to-​earth and very friendly. On low-​key nights, they rotate their own playlists, and their music selection is pretty awesome. The bartenders are very on top of drink refills. I do find that servers generally take longer, but I chalk that up to them working ten tables at a time.
And the food. I could go for a little more variety in the menu. Maybe a couple filling salad options. Maybe some steak tips? But for what they do have, it’s all very good. And your order comes from the kitchen pretty quickly. I get the wings just about every time, so that’s my recommendation.

This converted police station (get it? Precinct? I’ll wait.) easily became a regular spot for me and the beau when we arrived in Somerville. It’s underground, but there’s still cell service. The bartenders are ornery, and the beers on draft are delicious. The cocktails are expertly mixed, and on special occasions some of them have punny names!
And very importantly (and recently learned), you can bring your dog inside!
Unfortunately, there are a few niggling doubts that keep that fifth star out of reach. For one, the price disparity in the dishes is kind of silly. $ 18 for a pasta plate, $ 8 for a burger? $ 10 a cocktail? The pricing is all over the place, and, like Canary Square in JP, I often forget about how costly my meal might be until it’s too late. It’s a bummer – this place is classy, but I wish the prices weren’t.
The food’s fine, though. Like, it’s good for bar food. Maybe not for regular food. I’m partial to the mac and cheese and the black bean burger with goat cheese, although they seem to have changed the burger recipe of late.
If you’re in the Union, you’ll probably find me here. Unless I’m next door at Independent (same owners) having some Tiki ‘tails.

When it’s cold and you need to hibernate, what better cave to choose than this underground bar?
I spent many hours here recently for a friend’s birthday bash, and though we took up two tables and half the bar, the space is conducive for mingling, and mingle we did, with lots of other groups too. Loud, fun carousing — can’t beat that.
The bartenders are great, and there are some unexpected taps here. TVs were set to the Xgames (ugh — what?) but other than that no complaints.
I had a super yum BLT, which came with a mound of delicious sweet potato fries. That was $ 10, enough to share.
I’ve also been to the precinct in July, when you can sit outside and enjoy some people watching.
Definitely make this place your next stop if you’re nearby.

I guess my star count depends on what I’m rating:
As a venue, I’d give the Precinct somewhere between a 4 and a 5. It can be pretty crowded, but people are generally able to squeeze into little nooks to catch a show, and the shows I’ve been to there have always had a very familial crowd-​feel. It’s a good place for more alternative events, too — a few years back they hosted the local beard and mustache competition (before the event outgrew the space). Who can say no to prize-​winning facial hair? Not this girl, that’s for sure.
Only recently did I check out the Precinct for actual food. If I were rating the incredible Kentucky beer I nursed alone, the bar would get 5 stars. The food, though, was only about 3-​stars for the price. The veggie burger was good, but the bun was cheap. The tater tot poutine was ok, but all the cheese curds were melted, so it really just tasted like tots covered in gravy with a little bit of goo.
Will definitely be back for shows and events or just to grab a beer, but I probably wouldn’t come back here for the foods. 4 stars, good sir, 4 stars!

Why is it that everytime I walk past here on my way somewhere else it is jam packed but everytime I actually go to Precinct I feel like I open the door to this subterranean space and the needle jumps, an eery version of ‘Hotel California’ plays softly and I look around to see a handful of regulars scattered between the bar stools and high tops. I like the look of the full patio and high energy but I end up loving the lowkey vibe on the weeknights I’ve been here.
Our first visit introduced me to the spinach and artichoke soufflé, served like a tower with fresh Iggy’s bread. This last time saw a change in chefs and I was a little sad that the spinach and artichoke dip was in fact… a dip– and not the architectural feat we’d sampled before. It was still tasty but if they were open to suggestion– I’d urge a return to the earlier rendition.
Drink list impressed. A good selection of cocktails and rotating beers on draft. As a cider fan, I dig that they have a few different kinds of Angry Orchard (crisp apple on tap and the ginger version in bottles the night we were there).
Our meals were delicious and the food struck me as more high quality gastropub fare than I was expecting. D’s turkey chili was delicious– flavorful and spicy. We had to check with our waitress that it was actually ground turkey because the taste seemed so much meatier than usual. I went for the burger topped with cheddar and bacon and wasn’t disappointed. It was cooked to a perfect medium rare and the crisp bacon added a smoky kick.
It was the best combination– equal parts lowkey dive and tremendous food. This last stop in just might have catapulted Precinct into my top spots in Union.

The subterranean bar that you’ve probably never seen, but have heard your friends chatting about how they «totally hooked up there once.»
Aside from an interesting layout constituted by a very divided bar that creates a Jets vs Sharks left and right sides of the space, the dark everything and mild lighting work for a cozy cavernous feel.
Ten or so specialty cocktails, decent wines and a rotating set of regional taps means tasty tippling for everyone in your crew and at $ 4 – 10 each, the standard is met for a hard day’s night. My Mayflower ($ 9) featured the delicious Bulldog gin, fresh grapefruit juice and muddled+strained sage. Topped with the herb’s leaf, it looked, tasted and made me feel pretty. Nice work, drink.
The star of our bar stretch? Artichoke and spinach soufflé with roasted garlic crostini ($ 8). Sure, the «crostini» is really just thinly sliced french bread, but the soufflé ain’t kidding. Baked with acres of spinach, the slightly gelatinous mold is topped with a buttery crust, then flipped on to the plate before being doused in a buttery sauce. Defying the dip MO to be a vat of cheese with some chunks, this is domed veggie mass with just enough fat and protein to hold it together. Quite the excellent snack, especially when split between two. On your own, it’s a meal in itself.
Friendly bartender tried talking baseball with me, until gracefully realizing it ain’t my bag, while the crowd around were conversational but not obnoxiously so. I can dig it.

This place is cool. The veggie burger is delicious, and the staff is laid back and friendly.
There is a ton of space here and extra space for live music. I haven’t checked out the live music, but I will definitely be back!

I’m giving 3 stars because I went to a show here and the drinks are really, really good. The back room is a nice little venue, great bar.
The food, however, leaves much to be desired. A hell of a lot to be desired. Amy K and I still share a horrified joke from our awful experience last year with cheeseburger ravioli. Fried cheeseburger ravioli. I gave them a chance, and well… I wished I hadn’t. But everything else we ordered– soups and dip– were particularly lack luster.
I wouldn’t go back for the food, but I would definitely like to catch another show there and drink their cocktails.

Everyone I know who lives in and around Union Square said, «OH! I loooooove the Precinct! You should tootally check it out!» Well, friends… I DID check it out, and I was left in neutral. Very cool vibe — you walk downstairs to enter the narrow bar which used to be the old Police station. The place is dimly lit (I can’t say I really noticed what the décor was like… because I could barely see). The front was pretty crowded — it seems like a lot of groups of people come together here. I sat at the back bar with the other castaway’s (ie: people sans an entourage — it felt almost like the kiddie table at Thanksgiving) and waited to be «wow”-ed.
*Server seemed STRESSED out (even though it was only me and three other loners at the bar… that’s it) — it took about fifteen minutes for her to notice me, then I had to ask for a menu, then I had to wait for her to return from wherever she disappeared to, then I had to wait while she decided if she could make the drink, then she plopped it in front of me and asked me to taste it and then disappeared again…? huh
*…why don’t people talk here? The people in groups didn’t want a straggler joining and the people who were alone didn’t want anyone disturbing their pity-​party. It’s a PUB — as in: «PUBlic» — as in: SOCIALIZE! sheesh
*There was outdoor seating which looked like it would be great in the summer! I’d love to come back and try it out.
*Prices weren’t bad, but I didn’t stick around to try the food (regular bar-​fare).
Maybe it was an off day — maybe I should go with a group of friends — maybe I should check it out when there is live music. .. but this experience wasn’t stunning. I actually picked up and moved to the neighboring Independent (a VERY good time, especially if you’re single and are looking to meet new people).
I’ll give it another go with you, Precinct. .. but if you had been my blind date and we had met at a place like you, the first impression would have been left me wondering if I was just settling for my «Mr.Meantime.» I just hope that, between you and the Indo, you’re not the cheap, unattractive, antisocial sister of the two… Maybe I just need to get to know you.