By Sarah Allin, MPP2
tap n. tap: a device consisting of a spout and valve attached to the end of a pipe to control the flow of a fluid
trotter n. ˈträ-tər: A pig’s foot cooked and used as food
While their name may suggest it, pig feet don’t pour from the tap at the Kirkland Tap & Trotter. It has been a little over a year since the restaurant on the border of Cambridge and Somerville opened, and already Chef Tony Maws and his team have been lauded by Boston Magazine for making the ‘Best Burger’ in Boston.
But KT&T isn’t just about burgers.
My husband, Tom, and I live just around the corner from KT&T, and we quickly adopted it as our neighborhood spot after it opened last fall. We love walking over to visit with the bartenders and watch the chefs perform magic on the expansive wood-fired grill in the kitchen. (Seriously, these guys are wizards with a grill.) In short, it’s excellent food without any pretense. Want to grab a beer and watch the game? You can do that. Want to take your parents out for a nice meal? You can do that, too.
Their cocktails feature lots of ingredients previously unfamiliar to me in the pre-KT&T era. My favorite is the Leaps and Bounds (tequila, mint, house-made blue curaçao, lime, soda) while Tom usually picks their Old Fashioned or the Tid Bit (white rum, genepy, falernum, lime).
I know what you’re thinking, and yes, these are all best enjoyed before you start any nightly reading for class.
KT&T offers free (!) bar snacks from 5:30pm to 6:30pm each night, but make sure you try their other appetizers, including the octopus salad. I normally don’t say ‘yes’ to anything with tentacles that isn’t calamari, but this dish is consistently surprises me. On Mondays, the kitchen serves up their weekly hot dog special (previous iterations have included a hot dog riff on a BLT, a “Green Chile” dog, and a Mexican Street Dog with roasted corn) – a perfect end to one of the more hectic days of my week.
While KT&T isn’t located in the heart of Harvard Square, it is a pleasant (and worthwhile) walk from the Kennedy School. We look forward to seeing you there soon.
The KT&T is open each night of the week for dinner and on Sundays for brunch.
You can read their hours and menu at kirklandtapandtrotter.com.