Readers Say
“So long, and thanks for the memories and fishbowls.”
Tavern in the Square in Allston announced on Instagram Monday that it would close its doors after 13 years serving the neighborhood.
The sports bar, which some patrons affectionally nicknamed “TITS,” was a hub for college students and young adults living in the area. It was a popular late-night spot for people looking to watch sports games, socialize, or dance the night away.
“It has been an honor to serve the Allston community for nearly two decades,” the Instagram post reads. “We are happy to be apart of all your crazy memories, your favorite Thursday night plans, where you met your best friends, and of course the iconic black cards.”
The Allston location was one of 15 Tavern in the Square locations scattered around New England. The restaurant announced earlier this year that it plans to expand to three new locations, with one location in Attleboro and the other two in Bedford and Salem, the chain’s first locations in New Hampshire.
Amidst the news of Tavern in the Square’s Allston location closing, we asked readers to share what they would miss about the restaurant and bar. Many said they would miss the memories made with people who are now their spouses, while others named some of the bar’s specialty drinks that made their nights memorable.
Here are some of readers’ fondest memories of the neighborhood bar.
Some responses have been lightly edited for grammar and clarity.
“The memories of my friends and I dating in our twenties. From 2011 until the pandemic, TITS was the place to meet singles or just go out and dance with other idiots in their twenties, trying to keep the college vibes alive in Allston. I met my wife at Tavern and was a part of the wedding for another friend who met his wife there as well. So long, and thanks for the memories and fishbowls.”
— Mike, Somerville
“It was where I had my first date with my now husband.”
— Sherri
“Even though I haven’t been back in years, TITS will always be remembered as the place where we’d watch Boston sports teams ‘refuse to lose’ over a decade of championship dominance. It’s too bad they didn’t stay open longer, would have liked to see them remain open through the Celtics’ drive for Green 18, and for a final goodbye to all of the memories. How about it Tavern, one more month, for the glory?”
— Jesse F., Boston
“Brunch, going out and drinking, and never knowing exactly what might happen there. TITS was the tits, and I’ll miss it like a dear friend.”
— Pamela R., New York City (formerly Kenmore Square/Back Bay)
“The margarita towers! ‘Nuff said.”
— Joshua L., Cambridge
“Allston TITS, it’s where I met my husband and my best friend met her husband as well. Sad to hear it’s closing.”
— Thuy N., Milton
“TITS was the iconic meeting place for BU students every Thursday night. You always knew you could get through anything during the week (bad news, a hard exam, or stressful deadlines) with a fun Thursday night out at TITS and a party girl punch fishbowl with your best friends on the horizon. The hour-long line that wrapped around the bar every week served as a meeting place for friends, classmates, and peers and was always a fun time for everyone. RIP TITS, you served us BU students well. I will forever have some of my best college memories with my friends here.”
— A Boston.com reader, Boston
“I remember going there, saying ‘Yes man let’s go to TITS tonight!’ but I don’t have many memories of being there … strange how that works.”
— A Boston.com reader, Brighton
“Liked going there before a show at BMH [Brighton Music Hall].”
— Craig B., Shrewsbury
“The fishbowl drinks were iconic around 2017. Will always remember those coming to the table being newly 21 in the city.”
— Macy D., Brighton
“When we were first dating, my husband and I shared some excellent times there sitting in a booth for hours talking like nothing else mattered as we got to know one another. More so, I remember going to the Sunday brunch buffet after recovering from those crazy nights in the days before kids :-)”
— Lindsay, Haverhill (formerly Allston)
“My boys and I would always house 2-3 marg towers here. Gonna miss this shack.”
— Ned S., Allston
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