Roman reminded me of something important... this is supposed to be a review blog and I didn't even review the bar! So, Saturday night we arrived at Stanza Dei Signari in Boston's North End (Italian district) at around 10:30 pm, and there was a wait time of about 5 minutes. We hobbled down some narrow stairs into the bar which was everything you'd expect in an old school cigar bar. Dark, leathery, and loud, with college football playing on big flatscreen TVs.
There were probably 7 small tables, a few couches, and a short bar that would fit about 5 people across. As far as I could tell, there was one female bartender (like a 5/10 on hotness scale) and one waitress (6/10) and they were very very busy. Took a good twenty minutes to get a rusty nail. Everyone kind of kept to themselves. This was not a mixing and mingling kind of bar, more of a hunker down in your seats and get quietly drunk kind of bar. We made friends with the neighboring table pretty quickly, but other than that no one said a peep to us. The drinks were killer- my rusty nails were perfectly blended and my friends drank these coffee martinis that were amazing.
Comparing this to the other two cigar bars that I've been to: the Occidental and the Cigar Bar and Grillle in San Fran, this one was nice but more of a casual hang out place than a get dressed up and be fancy place. I like to look fancy when I've got a stick in my hand
I think the location has a lot to do with the muted atmosphere. The North End isn't really a boisterous, "party" scene. Its bars are really aimed at regulars. If you're an "outsider" you go there to eat great Italian food, get some pasty, maybe see a festival and then leave. If the place had been located in the financial district or in a trendy area of Back Bay it would have been a much younger, livelier crowd of brokers and investment bankers. But do you really want to be in a place full of brokers an investment bankers?
I am remiss... I smoked a great cigar this Wednesday on vherf (with Trident, wearing yoga pants, y'all missed it) and forgot to review it.
It was really really good. The thing I liked best about it was the ease of burn and the smoke output. The thing I liked least about it was the smoke output... Because it was raining and I smoked it downstairs sitting in the doorway of my basement. Despite the open door and the smoke candle I had going, all my clothes hanging up to dry down there smelled like cigars. Which to me is fine but to my husband, not so yummy.
I may have to retire the cigar smoking til Spring except for when I go on what my friends call my "spring breaks," which are actually work trips to Cali. Next one is Nov 12th.
Why thank you, J! Last night was the first time I smoked alone, well, not totally alone but this ladies' man may not want to be named. Regardless, I had a bit o trouble getting starting with the wind on my porch but once I did I sat back with my drink (a wimpy but delicious Stella Artois Cidre) and enjoyed. Jamie had raved about the Avo Lounge and it did not disappoint. Sadly, I'm still kind of figuring out how to pinpoint flavor and everything else that comes with it. I'd post a pic of it but I don't know how yet!
Thanks for the welcome J! Muah.
Why thank you, J! Last night was the first time I smoked alone, well, not totally alone but this ladies' man may not want to be named. Regardless, I had a bit o trouble getting starting with the wind on my porch but once I did I sat back with my drink (a wimpy but delicious Stella Artois Cidre) and enjoyed. Jamie had raved about the Avo Lounge and it did not disappoint. Sadly, I'm still kind of figuring out how to pinpoint flavor and everything else that comes with it. I'd post a pic of it but I don't know how yet!
Thanks for the welcome J! Muah.
welcome to the forums! Don't worry to much about pin pointing flavors...if you like it then you like it if you don't then chuck it. For a new comer it seems very terrifying trying to figure out what you like but it's pretty easy especially with good advice
My next one will likely be tomorrow night. I will certainly need it to help me decompress from the last 8 days of a stomach bug permeating my household... that's if I happen to avoid it... fingers crossed!
I am unsure what I will try next from my stash, thanks to our friend Roman Yeah, he gets around.
Party time on Nov 4th. Got this little duo of scotch (supernova) and a bourbon, whose name is escaping me right now. Little herf planned with my boy Trident to celebrate passing his boards.
Party time on Nov 4th. Got this little duo of scotch (supernova) and a bourbon, whose name is escaping me right now. Little herf planned with my boy Trident to celebrate passing his boards.
Comments
High heels and yoga pants
It was really really good. The thing I liked best about it was the ease of burn and the smoke output. The thing I liked least about it was the smoke output... Because it was raining and I smoked it downstairs sitting in the doorway of my basement. Despite the open door and the smoke candle I had going, all my clothes hanging up to dry down there smelled like cigars. Which to me is fine but to my husband, not so yummy.
I may have to retire the cigar smoking til Spring except for when I go on what my friends call my "spring breaks," which are actually work trips to Cali. Next one is Nov 12th.
Also I am now legit... As I have an ashtray.
thank you Roman!!