Stepping into The Burren - with its wood paneling, soft red lighting, walls postered with pictures of musical acts and lilting Irish music piping from the sound system - feels like being transported to a small piece of Dublin without having to leave Somerville.
Affordable yet classy, The Burren boasts something for everyone: it's a spot for friends to hang out at the bar - well-stocked with a choice of nearly 20 beers - a place for families to enjoy a meal together and a setting for a fun first date. The Burren has excellent and authentic Irish food - and from shepherd's pie to Guinness beef stew, to the (admittedly British) bangers and mash, the menu does not disappoint the hungry diner looking for Irish cuisine. The Burren also offers a surprisingly high number of veggie options like vegetarian shepherd's pie -just as delicious as the meat-filled version - and will leave vegetable lovers at peace knowing that if people ask, "Where's the beef?" the answer will not be, "In that pie." Other bold and unique dishes, like black bean espresso chili, prove that the menu can appeal to a wide variety of restaurant-goers. The Burren also offers a variety of more traditionally American cuisine. The Burren burger, pulled pork, grilled chicken sandwiches and Buffalo wings make the Irish pub just as familiar as any more conventional American bar.
The restaurant has a variety of fun and classic bar foods as appetizers. The spicy chicken and cheese nachos could do with more toppings, but the tasty sauces and juicy chicken help to make up for it. An added bonus: portions are large enough to split between several people.
Bar food isn't the only attraction: enter vegetarian cottage pie. With perfectly mashed potatoes, beautiful presentation and enough hearty vegetables to actually make a substantial meal, this vegetarian option - and other similar ones on the menu - does not disappoint.
While the shepherd's pie, another Irish classic, is swell - stellar mashed potatoes combine with corn and peas to elevate the texture - it does come out a bit more like a stew rather than a solid pie. The dish is well done, just surprisingly different. Meanwhile, the Guinness beef stew has tender beef with large generous pieces of meat and carrots, onions and potatoes, each cooked until perfectly tender. The stew comes with a side of rock hard soda bread that adds a unique touch to the dish. All dishes are especially perfect to warm up a hungry college student hoping to escape the cold.
The Burren's prices are reasonable, ranging from about $10 for vegetarian entr?e, like the vegetarian shepherd's pie, to $15 for Atlantic salmon and $18 for filet mignon. The Guinness beef stew clocks in at $11 while the traditional shepherd's pie is $12. Salads range from $7 to $10, sandwiches are either $8 or $9 and appetizers are between $7 and $13.
The fun of The Burren doesn't stop at the table, however. In fact, for music lovers, it boasts acts nearly every night of the week and proudly offers more traditional Irish groups alongside Blues and Americana bands. For a group of friends looking to spend their next evening out in Davis Square, The Burren is alternately cozy and rowdy. Booths tucked away along the walls of the restaurant, especially near the front, offer more privacy for small groups, families or couples on dates. Conversely, the restaurant's rear section - called the Back Room - holds seating for large groups and is the perfect space for big events and musical acts frequently hosts.
The bar is usually packed, filled with people coming in from the decidedly frigid New England weather to grab a pint of Guinness or a variety of other specialty beers from the bar and chat with friends. Clearly a local favorite, The Burren feels like a small Irish "Cheers" (1982-1993) bar in the middle of Somerville and is sure to continue being a mainstay for both locals and Irish-food enthusiasts for years to come.
The Burren is located at 247 Elm St. in Davis Square and is open for brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and dinner from 5:00 to 9:45 p.m. daily. For questions, or to reserve the Back Room, call (617) 776-6896.
