Finally had an opportunity to check this place out and I found myself charmed. As someone else mentioned, it's classy without being pretentious. And just classy enough - I didn't feel underdressed or uncomfortable despite the slick, dark interior.
If I had, that would have stopped the moment the bartender approached our table. He was friendly and real and able to engage in conversation about the relative hops content of the beers on the menu. My friend ordered a guinness, "cause sometimes I just feel like a guinness, Erin". The bartender took his order and then asked if he'd ever tried the Mill St stout - no attitude, no 'ohmigod I can't believe you're not drinking local' snarkiness, but he still put it out there. I appreciate any effort to push local stuff. Especially if it's sans hipster attitude.
The Emmet Ray makes me wish I had more occassions to go out for a quiet drink or two these days. I'll try to make my next visit at a time when I can also experience the live music I read so much about.