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cocktailvirgin t1_jcymrpp wrote

Went there yesterday -- they were crowded on a Sunday at 4 so the neighborhood has taken to them (both a mix of old Gaff regulars who are loyal to the space and folks who remember Deep Ellum). Feels like Deep Ellum from the beer list to the food to the ceiling fans to the layout. Good to have them back.

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potentpotables t1_jcyzadq wrote

Too bad the Gaff isn't there anymore- I lived in Waltham in when it opened and that was a good spot. Deep Ellum is definitely a good replacement though.

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cocktailvirgin t1_jcz1md4 wrote

The owners of the Gaff still have The Indo in Beverly if you still want to support them.

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bentheechidna t1_jd0pelk wrote

Personally I thought it was kinda meh. I only ever went once because of that.

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infinitejustjest t1_jd0ku8m wrote

Oh my god! Are you the Cocktail Virgin that posted the Tommy Noble recipe on blog spot in 2009?? I refer to that recipe all the time! I have it screenshotted for safe keeping!

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cocktailvirgin t1_jd0lwq6 wrote

That's my blog! It also appeared in my first book Drink & Tell: A Boston Cocktail Book. I remember the moment that the Tommy Noble creator, Dave Cagel, found out that after over a decade, he was finally getting a recipe published in a book!

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infinitejustjest t1_jd0masb wrote

That’s awesome! I need to check your book out, sounds great! My wife and I frequented Deep Ellum in our younger years.

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TheHonorableSavage t1_jcysn4g wrote

Waltham is a couple infill apartment buildings away from being a popular spot for people in their 20s. Lived their for a year and while I couldn’t bear the commute into the city, it was impressive how little I used a car.

It’s got the colleges, the restaurants and bars and commute not bad to 128. Just needs that bit extra density of people to make it feel alive past 8pm.

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3owlsinatrenchc0at t1_jcyuoef wrote

Imo, opening Moody St to outdoor dining in the summer would go a LONG way towards that. The last couple of summers it's made Waltham feel like a place to be. They're still deliberating about whether to do it again this summer and I hope enough folks turn out in support of it.

I tend to agree on the commute into the city being shitty, and I still use my car for grocery shopping and such, but depending on where in the city you're going it can actually be really doable without a car. Mine sucks because I commute to somewhere that's not very transit-accessible, so I have to drive, but a commute to Cambridge is reasonable on the commuter rail.

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bentheechidna t1_jd0pq5a wrote

Mayor McCarthy has been weaselly about shutting down Moody Street and said she had no power now that COVID was over, and now it's solely the traffic commission's power.

Worth noting she's being challenged as Mayor this year by one of the councilors. Said councilor is heavily in support of closing down Moody Street for outdoor dining again.

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mrkro3434 t1_jcyvt16 wrote

I also lived there without a car for a year in my late 20's. Absolutely loved it. The grocery store, Moody St, even my Vet, were all within a 5-10 minute walk. But yeah, the one thing that killed it for me was commuting downtown and back everyday.

The express bus could easily be over an hour+ long and worse in the winter, and even though I lived by the commuter rail, I'd either have a pretty long walk or an extra leg on the Green line to get to my office.

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TheHonorableSavage t1_jcz4zh7 wrote

That was exactly my experience on the express bus. If I had an early meeting I’d have to wake up at the crack of dawn to make sure I was in on time.

An express/HOV lane on the Pike and removing a couple closely spaced stops in Waltham/Newton could revolutionize those 500 buses and actually make that commute attractive.

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tjrileywisc t1_jczprwq wrote

Hopefully the MBTA Communities law results in some construction that provides that housing (and for the rest of eastern MA as well).

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TurnsOutImAScientist t1_jcyswrz wrote

The original closing was such a huge pandemic loss. Such a great friend meetup/date night spot. That place was the definition of a thriving restaurant, ironic that so many lesser restaurants weathered the storm.

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Netlebowski t1_jczd4zx wrote

I think the change was underway before the pandemic but a major loss nonetheless. I can see how the margins would be higher on the taco bar, especially in a younger demographic area, but it was so nice to have an upscale "adult" bar there. My go-to first date for years 😅

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TurnsOutImAScientist t1_jd03lzd wrote

Yeah I suppose opportunity cost killed it in that spot, oh well. Wish we'd get something similar in JP -- we sort of lack a happy medium in that niche.

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Moomoomoo1 t1_jcysrvu wrote

I guess now I have a reason to want to go to Waltham...

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sarcasticlhath t1_jcynb3n wrote

Looks great- will definitely be checking this place out!

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Turd___Ferguson___ t1_jd0bi3w wrote

I missed those Manhattans. Glad to see the place reopened!

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infinitejustjest t1_jd0khrk wrote

Best Tommy Nobles around, can’t wait to visit.

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zambicci t1_jd370ir wrote

They also opened a new spot in Portland -- Lenora. Is pretty much Lonestar.

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