Eat, Drink, and Jam at The Cut: Experience Gloucester’s Amplified Nightlife

July 24, 2024 / A Local Favorite, Art and Music, Food and Drink

Right in the heart of historic downtown Gloucester, The Cut is a vibrant, multi-purpose entertainment venue that promises an unforgettable experience. Spanning an impressive 22,000 square feet, The Cut offers something for everyone, from music enthusiasts to foodies. This premier venue features a 500-capacity concert space, a 180-seat gastro pub, a state-of-the-art recording studio, rehearsal rooms, and more. Whether you’re looking to catch a live show, enjoy a delicious meal, or host a memorable event, The Cut has you covered.

The Cut exterior

Culinary Delights at The Cut

At The Cut’s gastro pub, culinary creativity meets quality ingredients to deliver an exceptional dining experience. While the venue hosts large-scale concert and events, the restaurant side of the space often hosts acoustic sets, DJs, and more to enjoy from the bar or while you dine.

The restaurant’s menu is approachable, and offers modern twists on classic dishes planned around fresh, seasonal ingredients. For starters, The Cut’s Tuna Wonton Nachos and Lobster Arancini are not to be missed. The menu’s entrees offer something for every taste, with sandwiches like Fish Tacos, a Burger (and Beyond Burger), and a Lobster Roll, alongside soups and salads, and entrees like a 14 oz. Black Angus Ribeye, Chili Lime Salmon, and Lardon Lobster Carbonara, to name a few.

The Cut Restaurant Interior

With a seasonally rotating menu, we opted to try some of The Cut’s specials during a recent stop at the bar before catching a show in the venue. For an entree, we tried the Seared Scallops, served with a sweet corn puree, sautéed spinach, Old Bay potatoes, onions, red pepper, and bacon lardon.

The scallops were perfectly seared to a golden brown, and paired well with the seasonings in the potatoes spinach, and sweet corn puree. The addition of onions, red pepper, and bacon lardon added a smoky, savory depth that made every bite one to truly savor. The dish was a standout, showcasing the culinary expertise and creative flair that The Cut’s kitchen is known for.

The Cut Scallops

You can’t miss dessert at The Cut. Another one of the specials we tried was the Homemade Peach Cobbler with East Coast Peaches, Oat Topping, and Cheesecake Ice Cream.

The oat topping added a perfect crunch, complementing the softness of the peaches, and the cobbler was topped with a scoop of creamy cheesecake ice cream, which added a cool, rich contrast to the warm, sweet filling. The ice cream, which we learned from our server was homemade in The Cut’s kitchen, added a an extra layer of flavor to the cobbler and made this dessert especially memorable.

The Cut Peach Cobbler

Drinks: Curated to Perfection

From expertly mixed cocktails to an extensive selection of beers and mocktails, you’ll find the perfect drink to sip at the bar or elevate your dining experience on The Cut’s menu. Not sure where to start? Ask your bartender for their recommendation based on your tastes, or what will pair well with your entree.

For a refreshing pairing alongside the savory scallop dish, we tried the Scarborough Fair from the seasonal cocktail menu, made with White Rum, Sage, Grapefruit, and Lime. This cocktail’s bright citrus flavors from the grapefruit and lime perfectly balanced the smoothness of the rum, while the hint of sage added an aromatic, earthy touch.

The Cut cocktail

Also on special during our visit was the Coastal Mass Greasy Pole Italian Pilsner, a local beer inspired by the Greasy Pole competition that takes place in Gloucester each June during St. Peter’s Fiesta.

And, in following our bartender’s recommendation for a not-too-sweet tequila cocktail, we sampled the Harvest Moon, made with Tequila, Aperol, Watermelon, and Lemon.  The inclusion of Aperol assured that this cocktail would not be overly sweet, but the watermelon and lemon flavors kept it deliciously refreshing and perfect for a summer night at the bar.

Beer and cocktail at The Cut

Unforgettable Entertainment

Music is at the center of what The Cut is all about, and the venue is designed to bring you closer to the magic of live performances. With a  diverse lineup of concerts, comedy shows, film screenings, dance parties, and community events, you’ll find the calendar is packed with exciting events that showcase both local talent and nationally-renowned artists.

Our night at The Cut was capped off with a performance in the venue by the Berklee College of Music Bob Marley Ensemble. Directed by Matt Jenson—who you might recognize from his regular performances at The Cut—the ensemble brings Bob Marley’s timeless music to life in an immersive and enlightening way. This 14-piece group, composed of talented students from all over the world, pours their energy and passion into every note, delivering a performance that’s as powerful as it is uplifting.

Bob Marley Ensemble at The CUt

Plan Your Visit

The Cut is located right on Gloucester’s Main Street, making it a short walk from shops, galleries, the waterfront, and the Commuter Rail station, with parking available nearby. With events and dining specials running year-round, it’s an exciting addition to our historic seaport for locals, and a must-do for visitors regardless of when you plan your next trip.

Whether you’re coming for a night out with friends, a romantic dinner, or a special event, The Cut offers an experience that combines the best in food, drink, and entertainment right here on Cape Ann. Check their events calendar to grab tickets for upcoming shows, and check out some of The Cut’s recurring shows:

• Matt Jenson Live! Latin Night & Reggae Night: In addition to directing the Berklee Bob Marley Ensemble, Matt Jenson is regularly featured at Latin Night and Reggae Night. Check the event schedule for dates and to grab your tickets.

• In Bloom Listening Series: The Cut’s In Bloom Listening Series showcases talented local singer-songwriters for an intimate musical experience. The series is ongoing, so you can check when the next show is on the venue’s website.

• The Cutup: Open Mic Comedy Night with host Billy Baker: The Cut hosts a variety of events in addition to live music, with one recurring feature being an open mic night for local comics! The cover is only $5, and all are invited to perform or just stop by for drinks and comedy.

Be sure to follow The Cut on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, and head over to TheCutLive.com for a full list of upcoming events and concerts. Shows cover all musical genres with acts like A Band Of Brothers, Cracker, Annie Brobst with Charlie Weld, Los Lobos, and Amy Helm, just to name a few. Don’t miss out, and we’ll see you at The Cut!