The Crown & Anchor Inn

"What were your first impressions when you arrived?This grande dame of Commercial Street is an oldie but goodie. It's impossible to miss the columns and porticos outside, and even more impossible to miss the drag queens you'll find lingering around the property. What’s the crowd like?There's certainly a strong LGBT contingent—this is a gay institution, after all—but all are welcome here. What should we be drinking?Potent, cheap pours. Main event: the food. Give us the lowdown—especially what not to miss.There's a restaurant and bar menu here, but you'd be better served by enjoying a couple of drinks by the pool and grabbing lunch elsewhere. And how did the front-of-house folks treat you?Extraordinarily warm and welcoming. Most of the bar staff has worked here for years—they're a wonderful resource to ply for local tips and insider info. What’s the real-real on why we’re coming here?In the early afternoon, grab a spot by the pool and enjoy a few drinks under the sun. Later in the day, cash in on one of the happy hour specials and sing along to the live piano music before catching the last ferry back to Boston."