A great, great Cambridge hang, Trina’s is where the neighborhoods fun folks stop by for a beer and a good cocktail.

Ambiance: ****1/2

Decor: ****1/2

Service: ****

Cocktails: ***1/2

Overall Rating: 4

After two nights at some of the finer cocktail bars in Boston, I decided to shed my fancy clothes and take the blog back where it belongs – in the streets with the common folk.  To this end I headed back to one of my favorite neighborhood bars in Boston, Trina’s Starlite Lounge.  When I lived in Cambridge years ago, I wasn’t drinking, but I still loved visiting Trina’s.  It’s such a really cool, unique space – the lights are low and the exterior is mysterious, but once you get used to the subversive bombshell kitsch surroundings, it all clicks and you fall in love with it.  At least I did!  And now I can drink the cocktails!

Trina’s cocktails are straight forward, workmanlike, and relatively inexpensive, which is nice.  I started with the “Raspberry Fizz” with raspberry infused vodka, lime, and soda water.  This one was was sweet, upfront, and plentiful, a sugary but powerful concoction made for a long Friday evening relaxing with friends.  Next up was the “Shaddock” with bols genever, St. Elder, casoni, and lemon.  This was a bit more complex but still relaxed, a subtly sweet and mellow combination of the elderflower and lemon.  I liked this one, it pops and is very pretty.

My favorite of the evening was the “Starlite Cocktail” with privateer white rum, parfait amour, lemon, and bubbles.  I loved this drink, great character with a very different, airy, strange taste that I enjoyed.  Icy and alluring, I thrilled in the refreshing and earthy taste of this drink, it’s a must order. I ended with the “Green Gobblin” a formidable mixture of mezcal, green chartreuse, midori, lime, and pineapple.  An interesting and powerful recipe, this is a serious “I’m here to forget the day” drink, with the mezcal coming through heavy but not overwhelming.  I didn’t love this taste but I recognize the need for it, particularly if you’re a fan of mezcal.  I did like how the midori comes in, lending a taste I’ve never experienced before.  A drink to ponder.