“A tavern chair is the throne of human felicity” – Samuel Johnson
First Person Perspective
Nestled in the heart of the downtown village of Cohasset, lies the historic Red Lion Inn. On your way inside, as you look upon the building as flurries softly fall, you can picture the travelers and locals from yore, who have been stopping in for provisions, a hearty stew, and several pints since 1704.
Once inside, you can quite literally feel the history. King pine flooring, exposed pine beams with antique nails still intact, and other unique artifacts related to the history of the Red Lion Inn and Cohasset.
The staff warmly greets you, treating you as if you’ve been on a long journey, finally making it to your destination, through many trials and tribulations. After a quick chat, the staff walks us over to our cozy, quaint table not too close to the bar, with our backs to the open-hearth fireplace. I look around, and immediately feel at ease; looking upon all of the people inside the restaurant enjoying the ambiance, food, and company of others.
We order two cocktails, the “Blushing Bride,” a combination of Tito’s vodka, grapefruit, and watermelon, and a “Smoked Old Fashioned,” which is made with my favorite bourbon, Buffalo Trace. Both are made to perfection, by the mixologist on-site. We decide to order a few appetizers, settling on the “Confit Pork Belly,” and “Point Judith Calimari.” The confit pork belly was decadent, rich, and savory, and the calamari was fresh and lightly battered: “perfect,” in other words, says the wife. Our entrees came shortly thereafter – the “Red Lion Inn (RLI) Burger” and the “Faroe Island Salmon.” Both, were cooked as we requested and set the bar very high. But, I think, what is to be enjoyed most (other than the table fare or friendly staff) is the ambiance of the Inn. It has an early-Americana feel, pre-1776 where local Tory spies by the fire staging plans to foil the local Patriot’s efforts to overthrow the British Royalty.
As we packed up to leave, saying good-bye to our friends and the staff, we each took a deep breath as we left the warm embrace of the Inn, back into the flurries and crisp late January weather. I took one look back and watched the cloud of smoke rise into the air, and paused for a moment to let the natural, historical beauty sink in.
Valentine’s Day Exclusive Three-Course Dinner
If you’ve been reading and paying attention, the Red Lion Inn is the perfect spot for a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner. Next week, on February 14th, at only $85 per person, the Red Lion Tavern will be offering a special menu three-course meal including an appetizer, entrée, and dessert. Additionally, the mood will be set with live music by Jon and Juli Finn as you dive into your tuna crudo, Wagyu beef tartare, and porcini rubbed ribeye. Oh, and don’t forget to end the night with some dark chocolate cremeux and an espresso martini to end the perfect night.
The Red Lion Inn and Tavern
71 S Main Street
Cohasset, MA 02025
(781) 383-1704
