Boston - May 02, 2006

Three’s a Charm

The New 33 Restaurant & Lounge

So your dear friend gets a makeover. And, you know, you’re happy for her. She looks good.

But you’re worried. Will her head get huge? Will she suddenly be too busy for the likes of you?

That’s how we felt when we first heard 33 was getting an overhaul.

An extreme one. As in a revamped lounge area (centering around 4,000 pounds of folded gunmetal blue steel), an LED-lit bar, modernist videos played on a plasma screen, and two new private areas with personal cocktail service. Dramatic.

In addition to the dinner menu (soft-shell crab tempura, butter-roasted Maine lobster, and truffled mac ’n’ cheese), there’s a new bar menu (stacked with Kobe mini burgers and tuna tartare) for snacking till 11 p.m.

In other words, they’re willing to make some extra time for you.

Unlike one newly posh friend we won’t mention.

33 Restaurant & Lounge, 33 Stanhope Street, Back Bay (617-572-3311 or 33restaurant.com).

  Bar Menu, Late Night, Ritzy