Bukowski's - Back Bay

Naming a bar after Bukowski makes sense if you know anything about the great poet/novelist. He was crude, honest, vulgar, brilliant and full of alcohol--all things that sum up a great bar, right?

Sure, Bukowski's has a vast beer selection and that whole Dead Author's Society thing is cool too--if you can afford to do it (I can't), but what about the food? If you're like me you've heard faint whispers here and there about peanut butter burgers and decent burgers in general.

So what do I order? A Cuban:

Girlfriend: "What kind of Cuban was it?"
Me: "What do you mean?"
Girlfriend: "Was it tall and sketchy or short and messy?"
Me: "Tall and sketchy."

So there you go, it was tall and sketchy. Which I took her to mean as thin and compact for some reason, which is what it was like. Crispy bread, tangy pickles, melted cheese, and a adequate amount of meat made for a pretty good sandwich. I was hoping for more of an overloaded messy Cuban and the sauce wasn't that tasty so I had to utilize some Tabasco. Fries were superb though.

My pals both got burgers and confessed that they were definitely above standard--and a buck or two cheaper than my $9.50 sandwich. A Cuban with fries and a PBR came out less than $15. Not terrible, but I think I would opt for the burger next time.

50 Dalton St. behind Hynes Convention Center/Prudential Center Boston, MA 02115, 617-437-9999
Note: There's also another Bukowski's in Cambridge on 1281 Cambridge St.