Cocktails on the deck at Sam's

Sam's on the waterfront epitomizes everything I love about going out. Esti, Drew and Jon Parsons are the consummate hosts and restaurant professionals always putting friendly, professional customer service first (little things like they offer spare sunglasses if you forget yours). The menu shows a tight, well thought out wine list with great beers and above all a terrific menu. Chef Asia Mei may be Boston's hidden best chef- dinner there the other night was extraordinary- beet terrine, salad of boar bresaola and haricot vert, cod over snap peas- you've simply got to try her food.

Jon's cocktails are equally refined and can be enjoyed on maybe the best patio around, over looking the water and downtown Boston. We tried The Red Wedding (which for you Game of Thrones fans was "formerly called spoiler alert") with blanco Tequila, grapefruit liqueur, sparkling wine, lime juice and hibiscus syrup. It strikes a perfect balance between bitter and bright citrus, floral sweetness and bracing clean young Tequila. Next up, the Clyde, features Pisco and elderflower, lemon, blood orange juice and grapefruit bitters. I like the theme here- a clean spirit with bittersweet floral and citrus, just delicious.

The hits keep coming with new Summer drinks in the works; I'm telling you, there is no time like the present to visit Sam's.