By Wendy // If you’ve lived in Allston since before the pandemic, (who else hates that this has become a significant marker of time lately?), you’ve been waiting on several crucial pieces of neighborhood infrastructure to come out of hibernation. Deep Ellum? It moved to Waltham, but it’s finally back! Great Scott? Still a mystery, although there’s some promising energy coming out of their social media lately. But what’s been going on at the depot?? IKYK, the depot is a funky piece of Allston history: A train station that at one point housed a Pizzeria Regina and has been in the neighborhood since 1887. Douglas Bacon, owner of local spot Hopewell Bar & Kitchen, (and previously The Horse), has been in the process of turning the Depot into Hobson’s Bar & Kitchen for a little over two years now, and it looks like opening day is finally so close you can actually taste it! The restaurant is named for the original architect of the depot, Henry Hobson Richardson, and features pizza, american pub faire, cocktails, and a mysteriously Footloose-esque promise of no dancing or raucous music.
Stumbling upon the soft open for Hobson’s after debating a metal show at O’Brien’s across the street felt like an apropos way to experience the place for the first time. The atmosphere inside was so cheerful and friendly; I was inspired to talk to the folks sitting around me rather than sit idly on my phone, as we’ve all been wont to do in similar situations. I ordered a cocktail called “The Albany Aperol Flip”, which featured gin, strawberry aperol and an egg white (a name referencing the train line the Depot was originally built for). Sober pals rejoice, they have NA beer as well. I ordered scallops, which sounded utterly divine, seared and served over a bed of cauliflower puree and farro. Reader: they were. The pricing on the menu is about par for the course for a mid-range Boston restaurant, with apps ranging from $3-$12 and entrees from pizza to steak costing $14-$34.
It’s opening weekend so if you go, be patient with your server and tip them well! Hobson’s is located at 353 Cambridge St, Boston, MA 02134, right at the base of the Allston footbridge.