Annabel Lee

After sushi, we drove down Eastern Avenue from Fells to arrive in Canton. Our goal was to investigate Annabel Lee (601 S Clinton St), a new tavern and brainchild of a former Brewer's Art GM. The place is pleasantly removed from O'Donnell Square, and subsequently doesn't reek of pretension and self-assured sophistication. Instead, the Annabel Lee remained understated and easygoing, even on a Saturday night. We shared the former row home's first floor with few other patrons, a fact that helped us feel like we were in on a little secret, or at least that we were in an honest-to-goodness neighborhood joint.

The tavern's Poe theme may be cranked up a bit much, with a portrait of the author on display along with the back wall's huge, scrawling lines of the poem for which the bar takes its namesake. It certainly doesn't seem dark enough indoors to be Poe-esque, but at least the widescreen television over the bar wasn't turned on. The large mirror behind the bar and ornately framed specials board add nice touches but don't do enough to save the rest of the tavern's lacking decor (and horrendous curtains).

The drink prices were average for the most part, but the house drink was a steal. A variation of a Manhattan, our bartender combined Bourbon with Madeira wine rather than Vermouth, creating a delicious concoction in my martini glass. The best part? It cost less than the modest amount of Bailey's I had in an old-fashioned glass just minutes before. The staff was equally as pleasing, explaining the beer selection and recommending drinks while still laying back and not becoming nuisances.

UPDATE: 5/12/08 - we returned to Annabel Lee four Saturdays later to find the tavern standing room only. Looks like that "little secret" we felt in on last month has gotten out...