Not very many Irish pubs in the Boston area offer a minimalist approach. With live bands, obnoxious
DJs and cramped quarters, most bars can be a real turnoff. Not so with the Thirsty Scholar. Trivia on Sundays and the occasional televised soccer match is all you'll get in the way of entertainment. Fortunately, that's exactly what this town needs.
High on Irish charm, low on cost and perfect with a pint of Guinness, this rustic watering hole (located just a stone's throw from Harvard University) provides students and locals with the ideal spot to unwind, tell a few tales and relax after a long day. The food, while simple and inexpensive, better than many of the trendy restaurants just down the street, and you never have to shout across the table to be heard. In fact, the Thirsty Scholar is easily one of the best-kept secrets in all of Boston. Perhaps due to its somewhat hidden location between Harvard and Inman squares, most people have a hard time finding it. Let's just hope it stays that way.

---AOLcityguide

The Thirsty Scholar Bar & Grill 70 Beacon St., Somerville 617-497-2294 Baskets of red-hot fries, big bowls of skillet-roasted mussels in peppery cream sauce, and Tuscan toasts with garlic & herb bean dip are just the beginning at this charming Inman Square hangout. The vegetarian curry is surprisingly good, though it's made without coconut milk. One of tonight's specials is chicken potpie, the tasty crust hiding more white meat than peas and carrots. Loaded with garlic mashed potatoes and served with mesclun salad, this is a bargain at $9.95. There are 24 beers on tap (including refreshing lagers, rich ales, and dark stouts). Baseball is on the big screen amid the tables (some fashioned from barrels) and TVs at the bar. Yet instead of getting that macho sports-bar vibe, I'm feeling more bookstore/cafe. Maybe it's the shelves of worn National Geographics, the brick walls, high-back wooden benches, or the academic air of the wholesome crowd. I am already looking forward to eating the traditional Irish breakfast served Sundays. And I'm eating it in the snug-a small, separated, wood-filled room like they have in the old country.

---Boston Magazine