Harvard Square Crawl

Get schooled, soused

By TYLER BALLIET

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Classes are back in session and the city is, once again, pleasantly occupied. Harvard Square has seen a dramatic transition almost overnight with tourists waning and eager students encroaching. This, coupled with the abundance of classy-but-down-to-earth (in a way only Cambridge can be) establishments, makes Harvard Square a perfect place to kill a few bottles.

BEGIN THE EVENING AT RIALTO

[One Bennett St., Charles Hotel, Cambridge. 617.661.5050. rialto-restaurant.com]

The dining room menu is priced beyond the reach of a casual Tuesday night, but the new bar menu is surprisingly affordable. Order three tapas for $10, an entrée for less than $15 or just stick to a few nibbles of "bar classics" like calamari or potato crisps. The food is definitely awesome, but the real reason to come here is the wine.

Wine and beverage director Kelly Coggins meticulously constructs a list leaning heavily on Italy, but still spanning the globe. Organic and biodynamic wines are given priority, clearly listed in green ink, ensuring your ability to save the planet and achieve a refined buzz with one swig. Smaller, 4-ounce pours of "reserve" wine are available in the low teens, allowing for more expensive tastes while only sacrificing a small amount of booze. Explore some bubbles, get crazy with Sherry, order up a glass of rosé—just make sure to try the sangría before moving on. It's shaken, garnished with fruit and served in a rock glass, blurring the delicious line between cocktails and wine.

ROUND THINGS OUT: UPSTAIRS ON THE SQUARE

[91 Winthrop St., Cambridge. 617.864.1933. upstairsonthesquare.com]

Take your current buzz practically across the street to Upstairs on the Square for an Alice in Wonderland meets Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas vibe. The often full, but rarely packed, Monday Club Bar is the place to be for more nibbles accompanied by awesome wine.

Browsing the wine list is effortless regardless of your wine knowledge. "My focus is to take the snobbery out of the wine world, one glass at a time," explains wine director Matt Reiser. The list is chock-full of small-production wines from family-owned vineyards. The current highlight is the 2003 Nicolette Christopher Cabernet Sauvignon ($14 gl/$56 btl) from Napa Valley. The staff likes to refer to it as the "Nico-Christo" because, as Reiser claims, "You don't want to waste any time saying the whole name when you could be drinking one of America's top wines."

TAKE THINGS TO THE NEXT LEVEL AT SHAY'S PUB AND WINE BAR

[58 JFK St., Cambridge. 617.864.9161]

Generally referred to as a "dive," this tiny, often crowded establishment is known for their pints. Don't be fooled, because the words "Wine Bar" in the name are for good reason. We highly suggest ending your evening by fighting for a place on the patio, ordering a bottle of wine, wielding surprisingly nice stemware and watching the commotion of Harvard Square pass by. This is a great spot for late-night quaffing and interacting with colorful Cantabs.

DRINK MORE WINE! FOR MORE INFORMATION: THESECONDGLASS.COM