Seating on the Back Patio

The atmosphere is trendy yet rustic with an expansive exposed brick wall and high ceilings in the main room that give way to a cozy outdoor seating area in the back. It’s easy to forget about the city on a patio surrounded by greenery, soft lighting and the sound of water trickling from an antique bathtub turned fountain.

Chris Douglass opened the Ashmont Grill in 2005 and much of his knowledgeable staff has been there since the beginning, sharing his commitment to sustainable local ingredients.

From the very first taste of the Arugula Salad ($8) with goat cheese, beets and candied walnuts, his ingredients prove to be of the highest quality. Even the cocktails are concocted with care, including homemade fruit infusions. The Pineapple infused Cosmopolitan ($10) was refreshing and the St. Ashmont ($9) wasn’t overly sweet with just the right touch of Ruby Red Grapefruit juice.

The Grilled Calamari ($8) hosted a surprising intermingling of flavors with its red onion, kalamata olives, grilled celery and potato. For entrées, the Tenderloin ($26) was especially savory and the Leg of Lamb ($24) was complemented by a light and tasty homemade Tzatziki.

A glass of St. Francis Red ($9) is an outstanding accompaniment to any red meat on the menu although there are a variety of other red and white wines to please any palette.

The Monday Night Wine Club is a great way to explore their collection. Every Monday at 6:30pm four courses are prepared by Chris Douglass himself and served with a selection of wine pairings. The price is always $35.

The Pan Seared Scottish Salmon ($21) was crispy, moist and tender. Served with aioli, frisee and mandarin, the natural flavor of the fish was the star of this dish.

Sticky Toffee Pudding and Peach Sorbet

A happy ending is guaranteed when ordering the Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake ($7), decadently sweet yet balanced nicely by scoops of coffee ice cream and freshly made whipped cream.

Among other choices on the dessert menu is the Peach Sorbet ($7) covered in fresh strawberries, raspberries and blackberries.

Even after dessert is long gone, most patrons linger in conversation over subtle background music enjoying the ambience and relishing the delicious food, before returning to the reality of the city that had been forgotten when they sat down.

Now in its seventh year in Dorchester, it’s clear that the Ashmont Grill has become a beloved spot by its community and beyond. It’s not just excellent food. It’s an experience worth repeating.