PlanetEye

Descend the stairs into The Beehive, a cavernous, subterranean restaurant/club located in Boston's South End. Surely, this is one of the most seductive spots in the city.  The dimly-lit space features exposed brick walls draped with red velvet curtains and lots of crystal chandeliers hanging among the ductwork. Large contemporary paintings and dimensional abstract art pieces keep it fun. 

The Beehive Boston takes its inspiration from the well-known Paris artist commune, "La Ruche" which means beehive in French.  During its heyday in the 1920's, La Ruche was the center of Paris intellectual and artistic life. Boston's Beehive general manager Bertil Jean -Chronberg says that, "Everything about Beehive Boston is to encourage discussion; the music, the art, and the food. Even on the menu, we have a wine from Lebanon listed next to a wine from Israel."

The menu is inventive with a definite Mediterranean slant -with a few nods to American and Middle East cuisines.  Many of the dishes are simple and have an almost artisanal quality to them. The bohemian pate board and grilled fontina cheese sandwiches make for near- perfect bar snacks.  For dinner, the grilled Atlantic salmon is a superb piece of fish.  Another entrée, the homemade gnocchi in an asparagus crème sauce is masterful- and perfectly light.

The Beehive crowd is eclectic and diverse - mostly creative types over 30.  Late night, come for the tasty champagne cocktails and cool jazz. But be warned: This is one of the hottest spots in the city and the wait can be long. Make a reservation.