Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/976908
104 Elm Square Oyster Bar 2 Elm Square, Andover, 978-470-2228, elmsquareoysterco.com Bar manager Colin Welch is likely the best bourbon expert on the North Shore—reason enough to find a seat at this large semicircle- bar in downtown Andover where Welch and his staff have been serving up inventive cocktails and perfectly made classics for a decade, through changes in the restaurant's name as well as in ownership last year. ere are more than three dozen bourbons available to pour at any time, from Rebel Yell to Whistle Pig's 13-year-old "Boss Hog." ose who prefer wine will find a thoughtful by-the-glass list that goes beyond the typical offerings, such as a Grüner Veltliner that will pair well with that day's freshly shucked oysters. Drinks are served from 5 p.m. to midnight, with food available until 10 p.m. Closed Mondays. Blue Ox Blue Ox, 191 Oxford St., Lynn, 781-780-5722, theblueoxlynn.com Most nights are a lively scene at this down- town Lynn American bistro where the bar is often filled with couples grabbing a drink and friends waiting for a table in the dining room. Swampscott native Matt O'Neil opened the Blue Ox almost a decade ago and many of the dishes on the menu are now standards, while still feeling fresh, such as the Sin Burger, with Applewood-smoked bacon, Swiss cheese, and truffle aioli among its toppings, and the pan-roasted cod, which comes with a mush- room and leek risotto. e cocktail menu is reason enough to linger into the night, with an emphasis on tequila and whiskey, including a barrel-aged Manhattan and a house-infused bacon Bulleit bourbon. Open daily from 4 p.m. till late, except on Mondays. Opus 87 Washington St., Salem, 978-744-9600, salemopus.com Drinks are an art at this downtown Salem hotspot, where the bartenders brainstorm new ways to infuse liquors when they're not building you any drink to suit your whim deep into the night. e upstairs bar is large and offers lots of opportunity for people watching and spying out your favorite spirit among the hundreds of bottles stored on a suspended shelf overhead. e food is just as artistically prepared, including sushi that won the 2017 Best of the North Shore award as well as bar- sized treats from deviled eggs to confit duck egg rolls. e kitchen is open until 11 p.m. Fri- days and Saturdays and 10 p.m. other nights. You'll find live music Wednesdays through Saturdays—and sometimes other nights too. Koto Grill & Sushi 90 Washington St., Salem, 978-498-4826, kotosalemma.com When the chefs from Salem's numerous res- taurants want to relax with a drink, they con- gregate at Koto, a more traditional Asian spot offering sushi, Chinese, a full bar, and a good selection of sake. In spite of its plain exterior, Koto has a lounge and plenty of space for live music. Open mic nights on Tuesdays and kara- oke on ursdays are a prime chances for you and your friends to let your inner crooner out. PHOTOGRAPHS BY DOUG LEVY (LEFT), JARED CHARNEY (RIGHT) Koto Grill & Sushi Tiki drinks, bartender Cole Dickinson, and salt and pepper wings with scallion, onion, and chili pepper garnish. Andiamo Jazz with Phil McGowan Wednesdays at this seductive Newburyport spot.