Smith & Bull Café
Those who mourned the loss of the original Bull Street Gourmet, dry your tears—its replacement, Smith & Bull Café, fills the void nicely. A spare new layout includes seating indoors and out, and the menu now leans Italian with paninis (go for the bresaola, fontina, and arugula option), ham and cheese or beef and arugula piadinas, soups, and espressos. A small but well-curated grocery offers specialty items, and neighbors can pop by for a six-pack of beer or wine until 8 p.m. Find Smith & Bull Café on Facebook
Bohemian Bull Tavern & Beer Garden
Taking the place of Jack’s Cosmic Dogs on Folly Road is this spacious hangout, occupied on a recent Saturday afternoon by football fans at the bar, families lunching with their little ones, and 20-somethings playing cornhole in the huge “garden” out back. It’s a great place to meet a big group alfresco to sample from the expansive beer menu. The fare’s undeniably bar food, though there are several salad and wrap options for those seeking healthier dishes. www.bohemianbull.com
Bay Street Biergarten
The fanfare may have faded, but the lines have not at this brewskie haunt. If you want one of the coveted tap tables, expect a wait. While the beer is solid, the food can be hit or miss—the biergarten pretzel cheese dip great one night, was watery the next. We can, however, vouch for the Bay Street Burger and Gobalt Sammy. That said, when it’s meat-market mode on Saturday night and the taps are flowing, no one’s worried about the food. www.baystreetbiergarten.com
