Boston Restaurant Blog -- April, 2010

It is Friday, and we figured it's a good time for a goofy, silly topic. And what goofier topic could there be than tater tots? These crispy, cylinder-shaped morsels made famous in the movie "Napoleon Dynamite" seem to have a cult following among some, and I'll be the first to admit that I sometimes go to places solely because tots are on the menu.

So where does one go to get tater tots in the Boston area? Well, there are a number of places that offer them--including some high-end restaurants--but we're going to concentrate on neighborhood spots where you can get a bowl of tots and a beer or two (or more). So without further ado, here are five places in the Boston area (in no particular order) to go for tater tots:

1) Cambridge Common, Cambridge
Perhaps the most well-known spot for tater tots on this list, Cambridge Common is a place where you can also get a variety of craft beers with your tots. Their tater tots are the garden variety, with no unusual seasonings or special ingredients used, so if you are a tater tot "purist," this may indeed be a place worth seeking out. Address: Cambridge Common, 1667 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02138. Phone: (617) 547-1228

2) The Lower Depths, Boston
Another spot where you can get any number of craft beers with your tater tots, this little basement bar in Kenmore Square ramps it up a notch by offering some different ingredients with its tots, including bacon, cheese, salsa, jalapeno peppers, and carmelized onions. One note, The Lower Depths is cash-only, so don't expect to put your tots on an American Express card. Address: The Lower Depths, 476 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115. Phone: (617) 266-6662

3) Garden at the Cellar, Cambridge
A British-style gastropub in between Harvard Square and Central Square, Garden at the Cellar has an eclectic menu that features small plates, grilled flatbread pizza, entrees that lean toward New American fare, and yes, tater tots. Their freshly-made tots are a bit more creamy than your typical ones, with a bit of a mashed potato consistency to the inside of them. (Note: you can also order tots in The Cellar, which is the bar below.) Address: Garden at the Cellar, 991 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02138. Phone: (617) 230-5880

4) Beacon Street Tavern, Brookline
A slightly upscale spot near the Boston line, the Beacon Hill Tavern is a fairly mellow place with a menu that includes both traditional American and New American dishes. A particularly good item on the menu comes from the appetizer section, namely the sweet potato tater tots, which include a fairly spicy curry that complements the sweetness of the potatoes. They may not be your standard tots, but they are absolutely delicious. Address: Beacon Street Tavern, 1032 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA, 02446. Phone: (617) 713-2700

5) Robyn's Bar and Grill [CLOSED], Roslindale
Roslindale Village has a variety of restaurants, including upscale options and some great ethnic spots. But there are also some old-school neighborhood joints in the area, including Robyn's Bar and Grill. This unpretentious restaurant and bar features mostly pub grub and classic American fare, including tater tots that you can get Cajun-style as well as loaded (cheese, scallions, and apple-smoked bacon). If you don't like your tots all dressed up, Robyn's also has plain tots as well. Address: Robyn's Bar and Grill, 4195 Washington Street, Roslindale, MA, 02131.

Hopefully this list can help those of you who are big tater tot fans. And by the way, if you have any favorite spots in the Boston area for tater tots, definitely let us know! (Note: Thanks to several sources for some of the information above, including Yelp, how2heroes, and the websites of the restaurants listed.)

Posted by MH, Boston's Hidden Restaurants, on April 23, 2010.
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6 COMMENTS:
Tina said:
Article is slightly wrong in its description of Robyn's cajun tots. The cajun tots are sprinkled with a cajun seasoning; it's the loaded tots that come with cheese, bacon, and scallions. Plain tots are also available.
Posted on 4/24/10
MH said:
Thanks for the correction, Tina! We fixed it above.
Posted on 4/26/10
Mike P said:
Intermission Tavern also has them as a secret menu item!
Posted on 3/21/11
anonymous said:
Darcy's Pub in Quincy has corned beef tater tots with a dipping sauce...yummy
Posted on 3/22/11
anonymous said:
Trident booksellers-cafe
Posted on 11/2/11
Paige said:
You can add Wahlbuger's in Hingham! They even have Sweet potato tater tots!
http://wahlburgers.com/img/wahlburgers-web-menu.pdf
Posted on 11/2/11

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