The setup is really cool, with tables and a bar (serving fantastic beers, by the way) on the outskirts of the big garage-type room, and directly in front of you while you're walking in is where the magic of the sandwich making happens. It's one guy (the owner), behind a low counter preparing any number of incredible concoctions. To give credit where it's due, I did see a couple other people in chef clothing walking out from the back, so I'm sure there are several talented people actually making it all happen. It happened to be warm out when we went, so they had opened up the entire Congress St. facing wall, and there were several couches for lounging that made it feel like you're just hanging out on the street.
As stated above, this is mostly a restaurant for sandwiches. But not your typical blt or turkey swiss, these are more like "Pig Belly Reuben" or the "Local One" (grilled, marinated & pickled vegetables, goat cheese, romesco sauce...). You get the idea. It's creative without being snobby, interesting without being disgusting. I'm dying to go back to try every one of the sandwiches.
I'm not, however, dying to go back and get a burger. I think I've given enough praise to let people know that this place has got it together. I approve. Two thumbs up. But although it may be the coolest place in the neighborhood, it's not THE place to go for a burger. There are three options: The Nosh Burger (thick-cut bacon, blue cheese, fried egg, garlic jam), the basic cheese burger, and...wait for it...the $20 Apocalypse Now Burger (I can't even try to remember what's on it...it's pork belly instead of a burger patty, foie gras, bacon, and macerated cherries and oranges...I do remember that much.) They sound amazing, right?
The toppings are super well selected and executed, but the burger itself was kind of an afterthought. It's apparently a combination of beef and pork, so rare isn't an option; if it were, it may have been impossible to cook it that way because the patty is super thin--barely even room for two colors (preferably pink would be one). The consensus was "we need more burger." There was also some sort of spice mix added in the meat, which was a little too particular a taste to put in something so universal. Thyme? Rosemary? The quote to sum up the burger was "the flavors (toppings and spices) should add to the meat, not try and hide it." The burger just kind of sat below all those toppings like a younger, less cool sibling trying to tag along with the more mature, cooler bacon, blue cheese, egg, and garlic jam.
The burgers don't come with fries, but you can get them additionally, and they're cool, like Duckfat cool. They come in 3 flavors: Bacon Dusted, Salt and Pepper, and Salt and Vinegar, and come with the ever popular dipping sauces such as truffle ketchup, horseradish, and cheddar cheese. Which, I can't go without saying, is fantastic and tastes like mac & cheese sauce. I would have eaten anything dipped in that.
And to answer the burning question, yes, we had a super-macho member order the Apocalypse Now burger. I think the opinion was that yeah, it was good, but not 20-dollars-good. However, whatever he lost in cash, he gained in respect from the rest of us for ordering it.
Again, the atmosphere was super hip. The beer was a great Maine selection. Here's where we give a shoutout to the Maine Beer Co. which was being featured that night with it's Spring Peeper. Super. And we rarely see it out at the bars, so cheers to Nosh for having it. They had "the best beer selection we've had" since our quest began. No, it's not a quest for the best beer, but it definitely helps to boost up that "Overall Experience" score at the end of the night...
Scores out of 100
Taste: 68
Atmosphere: 85
Overall Experience: 85
