Back Bay Beats Arrives at Berklee With a Musical Feast

Back Bay Beats — affectionately known as B3 — swoops into Boston this Wednesday, March 15 at 5 p.m., officially opening its doors at 160 Massachusetts Ave., inside of a new Berklee College of Music building.

As previously reported, and as the name and location suggest, B3 will have a live music component, giving diners the opportunity to be serenaded seven nights a week and during Sunday brunch by Berklee students, alum, and faculty, as well as by visiting musicians.

The music will gravitate towards funk, jazz, Southern folk, gospel, R&B, and world; likewise, the food is a little bit Southern and a little bit global. Hungry Mother alum Nicolas Swogger, who grew up down South, is executive chef, serving up dishes such as shrimp and peas; ham buttermilk biscuits; spice-roasted cauliflower; grilled Spear Point oysters; and more.

Here’s a peek inside the space, designed by Boston firm Analogue Studio:

And a few dishes:

Grid View

• Bay scallop crudo with blood orange, daikon radish, and Fresno chili. Sarah Storrer for Eater
• Ham biscuits: Benton’s ham, buttermilk biscuits, pimento cheese, Tabasco honey. Moses Mitchell for Back Bay Beats
• Spice-roasted cauliflower with pecan and sesame seed dukka, brown butter, watercress, and candied lemon zest. Moses Mitchell for Back Bay Beats

All photography by Sarah Storrer for Eater, except for the photos of B3’s ham biscuits and spice-roasted cauliflower, which were taken by Moses Mitchell for B3.