Watch City

The Buzz

A taste of Harry Potter’s world comes to Waltham eatery

Jul 25, 2011

Thanks to the Watch City Brewing Company, Harry Potter fans don’t have to wonder what butterbeer tastes like. They can try it themselves.

The beverage, which is a popular choice among the book and movie series’ young wizards, is one of many items the local restaurant and pub at 256 Moody St. is offering in honor of the opening of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2,” the series finale and one of the most anticipated movies of the summer.  read more >

Ignacio Laguarda, Waltham News Tribune

Satisfying Tastes of All Shapes and Sizes

Watch City Brewing Co. is not a one-word restaurant. Offerings range from fried oysters and seared salmon to roast turkey and meat loaf to chocolate chip cookies and Key lime pie. At first I tried to peg the place as having a seafood slant, then I veered to “comfort food,” then nouveau — until I concluded that Watch City is one of those restaurants that simply want to satisfy tastes of all shapes and sizes. But unlike others that strive for diversity only to achieve mediocrity, Watch City seems to take care not to sacrifice quality for quantity.

Watch City eschews most typical, deep-fried appetizers; those that remain have a welcome twist on tradition: grilled marinated shrimp are accompanied by pineapple and honey-mustard sauce, calamari are tossed with balsamic vinegar and pepperoncini, chicken wings are rubbed in spices and served with roquefort sauce.

Our evening was thoroughly enjoyable. the food was presented artfully and service was quick and efficient, with wait staff quick to clear empty plates without seeming to hover. Though still a youngster, Watch City Brewing Co. will surely add to Waltham’s reputation as a choice destination for diners.

Sacha Pfeiffer, Boston Globe Calendar

Friendly and Smooth Service

Friday night in the Watch City, aka Waltham. The young and the restless suburbanites are two-deep around the U-shaped bar at the WCBC, the tables and booths are packed, and there’s a line leading to the harried host.

Don’t expect the baseball-cap-and-ripped-jeans crowd here. “Everyone asks, ‘Why Waltham?’ ” says general manager Frank McLaughlin. “But this isn’t necessarily for people in Waltham. It’s for people who come to Waltham. A very professional crowd.”

Indeed. The beer they’re drinking is quite good, and you should order it based on what you’re eating. The light-bodied but malty Tick Tock Ale, for example, goes well with salads. The slightly bitter and hoppy Orient Ale is about right for giving a slight kick to, say, the mild three-sausage sampler. The full-bodied, well-balanced Titan Ale is good with substantial dishes like the homespun meatloaf with mashed potatoes and gravy. And the coffee-flavored Moody Street Stout is the one to have for the road.

. . . we liked a number of dishes, especially the chewy but not tough calamari tossed with balsamic vinegar and pepperoncini ($5.95), the fresh tuna salad with lemon herb vinaigrette ($7.95), the lightly spicy fish and chips ($7.95), and even the basic burger-on-a-bulkie with fries ($4.95). And that meatloaf ($7.95) would have been downright perfect if it had been hotter.

The service is friendly and smooth at WCBC, which is not always the case with a new restaurant. You’ll have to speak up, however, so your waiter or waitress can hear you above the din. The young and the restless have already discovered this place, particularly on weekends, and they all seem to be talking at full volume.

Cheap Eats, Boston Globe Calendar

A Menu Ranging from Homey to Trendy

A brewery might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of family dining. But the new generations of brew pubs offer (relatively) sophisticated food in respectable surroundings, and some even make accommodations for children.t.

Watch City is such a place. There’s a kids menu, crayons and place mats to color; no reason to feel as though you’re endangering the morals of a minor if you bring your children here.

The menu ranges form homey (chicken pot pie) to moderately trendy (roasted portobello mushroom salad).

The salmon teriyaki ($9.95) was cooked just right and arrived very hot . . . the garlic working surprisingly well with the sweet rice.

A roasted vegetable sandwich ($5.50) was a good vegetarian choice. it was substantial, served on multigrain bread and stuffed with melted cheese and a nice array of vegetables in a balsamic vinaigrette.

Cheap Eats, Boston Globe Calendar