All Grown Up at Foundry on Elm's Opening Party in Somerville

By: Jessica Cickay

I often have a hard time convincing both myself and others that I’m 25 years old and a grown up. Grown ups don’t wear book bags filled just with gum and tootsie rolls to parties; grown ups don’t don running sneakers with skirts to bars and hope no one notices; and grown ups most certainly don’t refer to people their own age as grown ups. Woopsies. However, upon entering Foundry on Elm in Davis Square displaying all faux-pas mentioned above, I was overtaken by the adult atmosphere and almost instantly felt like I, too, was all grown up.

Bee's Knees

Foundry on Elm is hip—there are no two ways around it. Somerville’s new swanky spot officially opened to the public on Labor Day, but Foundry on Elm is so stylish that it just had it’s official, official private opening to celebrate its offerings of fine food and proper ale. Distinguished dark wood, glowing wrought iron chandeliers, warm red leather booths and a sleek marble bar became the backdrop for the suits and skirts after-work crowd that was ready to sip and savor all that the Gastropub had to offer.

Kurant Affair

And the offerings were a plenty! First and foremost, the drinks at Foundry on Elm were creative crowd pleasers, a unique and varied cocktail list that could make anyone feel of age. The attentive wait staff served two of Foundry’s signature sips, my favorite being the Bee’s Knees, a soothing and aromatic blend of Bombay Sapphire, lemon and honey syrup. The Kurant Affair—a mix of Absolut Kurant, Cointreau and fresh citrus—packed a punch, but the hit was a bit too hard for a lightweight like me.

Scallop Ceviche

For this oh-so-discerning palate, standouts of the evening included a spot-on scallop ceviche and a wickedly wild mushroom flatbread. The subtle scallops were made bright by perky lime juice and powerful red chilies, acting as the perfect topping for crisp homemade tortilla chips. Foundry found a way to fill a flatbread with my favorite flavors—roasted garlic, exotic mushrooms and tallegio cheese—and I found a way to fill my plate more than twice.

Wild Mushroom Flatbread

Throwing back shots at the bar isn’t exactly how grown ups get down, but sipping shots of silky smooth Kabocha squash soup? How mature! The inherently delicious, vibrant orange squash soup was elevated Foundry-style by a dollop of tangy crème fraiche, a pop of pickled cranberry and a sprinkling of fresh sage.

Fried Mac and Cheese

The décor and drink menu at Foundry on Elm may scream adult, but the fried macaroni and cheese balls certainly cater to the kid in all of us. Elbow-shaped pasta bathed in a tangy and luxurious cheese sauce and covered in crunchy crumbs was made only more crave-worthy by taking a trip to the deep fryer.

Although obviously adult and glaringly grown up, Foundry on Elm has managed to find a delicate balance between pretentious and practical. Somerville’s new hot spot is a realistic one that serves fabulous food and delicious drinks all amid a décor that will make the grown up in you glow—no pinkies in the air required!

Foundry on Elm

255 Elm Street
Somerville, MA 02144
(617) 628-9999