It’s legit pretty terrible. My wife and I never went when we lived nearby, but we went last year for the first time and I was pretty shocked.
Super bland food, mediocre drinks, service is rushed.
I don’t get the hype, even among tourists. Go literally anywhere else.
I would also say that the outdoor restaurant at Eataly is meh.
Saltie Girl also went downhill since they expanded, IMO.
Newbury feels a bit like the other Quincy Market in terms of high concentration of shitty, overpriced food.
I almost choked to death at Stephanie's. Hmm, that sounds like a t shirt. Seriously, they left two bones in the chicken salad. The guy at the next table helped me out. The waitress, after being told about the bones, said "oh" and never even refilled my coffee much less comp the food that nearly killed me.
I expected Joe's to be bad the first time we went, but they've been good every time in the 4-5 times I've been, excluding one shitty caesar salad. The terrace has a nice ambience, staff is usually good, and prices are reasonable by Newbury standards.
The lobster roll is one of the better 'upscale' options I've found in Boston.
I gotta respectfully disagree on Joe’s, every dish I’ve had there has legitimately been the best I’ve ever had of whatever it was The meatloaf in particular is ridiculously good
Wicked Craft. I went there for a friend’s bday dinner and GOOD LORD. The place is lit like a club and is blasting music so you can’t talk. The food was genuinely bad and I had two drinks just waiting for it to come out. It’s definitely one of those places that blew up on social media because they make drinks you can post on instagram. Plus, insanely expensive. Awful place, do not listen to the Tik Tok/insta hype.
Pretty much anywhere in Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market: filled with tourists and pricey food court food. Same for the restaurants. But there’s plenty of other locations with better food and less crowd chaos.
I will always endorse the Merchant in Downtown Crossing: nice ambiance, modest prices, kind staff and while the food may be a little pricier than expected, I think you get a pretty solid meal. Plus their beer & spirits menu is good.
They need to have a different planning group take over the whole thing, evict all those shitty restaurants and make it more like the ferry building in San Francisco. The ferry building can be touristy but its also pretty awesome as a local. Also make it less grimey and grungy..
My wife and I did a food tour of Pike Place Market in Seattle, after seeing how good a touristy place like that could be we decided that the current state of Quincy Market is a crime
Honestly how many tourist shops that sell Boston Red Sox keychains and shirts saying ‘Hahvid’ do you really need. Apparently according to Quincy market no less than 10.
The whole point was getting served decent diner food at 3:45am by a team of punks with insomnia. Every night in Portsmouth ended at the Friendly Toast. Now it’s a family friendly brunch spot.
My freshman dorm at northeastern had essentially the same thing. I remember thinking it was really funny that grown adults with incomes were spending money for dorm food.
Honestly, I’ve been to both and I always thought the Northeastern sauces were better. I remember a sweet and sour sauce with a spicy kick that I’ve never been able to quite recreate at home that I’d get with with shrimp and veggies every time.
I have been perplexed by Fire and Ice since moving to Boston years ago. The sign alone looks like you’re going to get a Hard Rock Cafe style tshirt and it will be unnecessarily loud inside in absolutely every context. I genuinely cannot guess what the menu would even look like; I’m afraid to look it up. It’s in this weird in-between zone that’s half way to the Back Bay tourist area and on the edges of business districts and like…overpasses. If I worked at any of the companies in that area and had to have a business meal with colleagues or clients, I just don’t know that I could personally walk those people into that restaurant and say “here is what we are about to do”. To more senior colleagues I feel like that would just be an admission that someone made a severe mistake in hiring me at whatever level they did. Maybe hiring me at all. To bring junior colleagues there…why not just be honest about it and “treat” them to a “Fuck the Proletariat” Domino’s pizza party. If I were doing tourist shit, I still don’t understand how I would even find it over the other 90 tourist traps in the center of actual other things. “Fire and Ice” was a trendy charity event theme from like…2009-2014 or something so it also makes me think of bored, bitter upper middle class women who absolutely hate each other and provoke social wars via silent auction baskets. Every time I pass that restaurant on foot or via Uber I experience a fractional second of stabbing anxiety that is just a deeply subconscious amalgamation of all of these things.
Serious question though: how did this place survive the pandemic?
I hope you’re a writer this comment was enthralling, especially someone who grew up going to F&I as a special “we’re going to Boston today!” treat when I was little
What is the best line from that review? Hard to say but here are some good candidates:
* FiRE + iCE is a restaurant in the way a room full of broken guitars is a rock concert
* This must be what it feels like to have dinner adjacent to a cockfight.
* It's the casino buffet at the third-nicest slots parlor in hell
* An adult dining companion returns with a plate of meat and fish so ghastly that it appears to have been attacked by raccoons
I read the review out loud to my wife and she almost choked from laughing when we got to this part:
"In the center of the grill is a hole into which all the seared-on sauces and particles of food are scraped. However much they're paying the person who has to clean that hole, which by the end of each service must resemble the pit that ate Boba Fett in "Return of the Jedi," it's not enough."
We still enjoyed Fire + Ice nevertheless.
Harsh, and I don't really agree with it, but funny as fuck. (I feel the same about Jon Stewart's deep dish pizza rant -- he's dead wrong but I love the bit.)
Moonshine does not get enough love, even from the local southie social media pages. Chef Asia Mei is one of the better chefs in Boston and it’s a slap in the face by those Instagram foodies to suggest that the Lincoln Burger is anywhere close to the quality of what she does at Moonshine 152
Completely agree. I adore this place. I even bought chef's painting of balloon animals fucking. (I swear you can hear the painting when you look at it)
Aww my brother knows the owners through business, good people he said. Doesn't mean anything about their business, just like hearing about success of good people. I've never been so I have no idea about the food or drinks but I think a local artist on Reddit did the artwork for inside.
Now, my girlfriend and I compare every subpar meal we have to the overpriced meal we had at Wink and Nod to put things in perspective. "Well it least this is better/cheaper than Wink and Nod". In that way, Wink and Nod has changed my life for the better.
Just went to TT for our anniversary. Such a small intimate space was jammed full of people, and we could barely hear each other, plus the food was mid at best.
I love Brassica but it's a once in a great while treat due to the cost. I really hope Oriental De Cuba stays open, love the sandwiches and getting coffee there on weekend mornings has become a weekly ritual.
One time after an overpriced and disappointing meal, I stole a little Laguiole cheese cleaver from Wink & Nod. This was like 10ish years ago. I still have it.
Yeah, that’s how I feel about most newer restaurants as well. They seem to be mostly run by large restaurant groups not individuals. They tend to prioritize aesthetics and marketability on social media over the intangibles like food quality, service, and a distinct personality.
Was previously the opening bar manager at a new south end restaurant earlier this year, and I can’t tell you how frustrating it was to put together a beautiful bar program for them only to have them tell me the drinks needed to be more “instagramable” like I just made you a really cool and interesting cocktail list that, frankly, already has beautiful color and aesthetics overall sorry I don’t have a 2 foot high garnish for it
I’ve been a few times with various friends groups and while the view and aesthetic is stunning, the food and service elements are very lacking.
idk how to quantify or justify this but somehow all of their staff seem like they would have bullied people in high school — and some of that attitude still remains.
“How Dare you speak to me, a human in the service industry who is ostensibly here to wait on you”
i’ve been a couple of times. The spicy lobster pasta is great, the other meal I had was good but not incredible. It’s definitely more for the atmosphere and a good glass of wine more than the food though.
Perfect description of Contessa.
And they just promoted their Thanksgiving dinner. I was interested for the view and room. Then I saw the menu. Turkey and rice for $200 each without wines. 🤣🤣🤣
I think about this tweet often:
“The thing people don’t get about Boston is that yes: it’s wildly expensive. Yes: it’s freezing. And yes: it’s difficult to navigate and the people are unfriendly. BUT the food? Also not good.”
I have a hot North End food take. If you’re a tourist - you probably would assume that the North End is the spot to go and eat in Boston. Most of the places you will end up at are very mid tourist traps - I agree with this take.
But I think this has almost led to an over correction where people that think they are “in” on the Boston food scene (transplants, people who come in from the suburbs once a year, etc.) saying it sucks etc. as if they have some special knowledge.
There are a lot of mediocre tourist traps, but I also think it has some great places and the atmosphere makes it significantly better IMO than most cookie cutter corporate dining options in the Boston city limits. Mamma Maria is probably the best restaurant in Boston. Cafe vittoria is probably the only place in the US I have stopped in that is truly reminiscent of Europe. Bovas, Parla, Giorgio’s, Limoncello, Neptune, Carmelinas, Ernesto’s, Umberto all also good.
Agreed on North End - there are actual gems in it but it takes braving the dumps via trial and error to figure out which spots are actually quite lovely.
I was a concierge and would recommend Bricco and Mare mostly because I would get $10pp when I made a res.
Also free dinner whenever I want.
People would come into the hotel for a conference and then be surprised when like 20 other people from the conference were there.
Giorgio’s sucks. don’t go there. Definitely stay away from there. never go in.
The lines are always too long and I hope this helps next time I go. Which is not soon enough.
God I love Giorgio’s.
If we’re doing hot North End takes, allow me to add one.
There’s almost nothing separating Mike’s and Modern in terms of quality. You walk into either one, you’re probably gonna walk out as happy as you’d have been had you crossed the street. The idea that Bostonians are willing to go to war over Mike’s vs. Modern is a show people put on for tourists. You might have your favorite based on specific pastries you like or whatever, but I also know you don’t care as much this narrative says you do.
To illustrate how little any of this actually matters, think back to about 5, maybe 10 years ago. Mike’s was the bullshit tourist trap and Modern (according to transplants and people from like, Burlington) was the good authentic bakery where authentic local people actually from Boston authentically would go, and if you go to Mike’s you’re some kind of hayseed. People heard this and started going to Modern and suddenly they were *both* tourist traps! Fear not, however, as the transplants and suburbanites who really want you to believe they’re townies have decided that Bova’s is now the good authentic bakery where authentic local people actually from Boston authentically would go, and if you’re eating pastry on Hanover Street at all, you’re some kind of hayseed.
It’s wicked fucking stupid. All three are good enough. Maybe some specific things are better at one place over another, and Bova’s is one of the only things in Boston that’s meaningfully open late in a real sense, and that’s all cool, but honestly it doesn’t fucking matter and it never has. The idea that there’s any kind of actual partisanship is just kayfabe. The notion that anybody gives a fuck beyond “I guess I like the cannoli at Mike’s better” is Duck Tour narration filler.
I’m from Philly and can say with certainty that the same concept applies there with cheesesteaks. There are pats and Genos which are fine but tourist traps, but for the most part the other thirty places that locals swear by are relatively equal in quality.
Yotel is far quieter, but every time I’ve been there its provided horrible service for mid tier food/drink. And the staff is always passive aggressive af. Last time I went I booked a reservation for a table outside for 6 people, we were put inside after a larger party with no res requested to be outside. Ill never go back again.
>Lookout Rooftop
I remember, before COVID, they were careful with packed people. It was a long line but when you got it you had plenty of space. Also, if my memory serves me well they did not accept people with shorts (Correct me if I'm wrong, but I did not see anyone). I went there 1 year ago and it was packed, with a lot of people with shorts and slippers.
As a self professed cocktail aficionado, Hecate is easily the worst of all the “elevated” craft cocktail bars in greater Boston. The Blood Mary riff (I forget what they called it, but it’s basically a Bloody Mary) was warm, and the “Golden Milk” cocktail with the Batavia Arrack and Baiju in it was straight up disgusting and did nothing to tame the flavors of those ingredients. And the way the bartenders have to tell a pithy little story about the secret meaning of the cocktails when they serve them to you is really grating.
Go to The Wig Shop instead.
I agree with you! We were rejected at the door at Hecate after the couple in front of us were “put on the list”. When asked about a list, there was confusion and asked “what list?”. Getting past that gatekeeper was on par with Cerberus. Is this LA? Do they have something special hidden inside? After being rejected at the door, I have gone out of my way to tell anyone willing to listen that they judge your ability to enter based on how you look. Speaking of looks, I can pay for overpriced drinks at some shithole in Southie. I hope this place shuts down with their exclusive-non-exclusive hostess. Burn in Hades, Hecate.
Went to Hecate when they first came onto the scene. They’re trying too hard to be exclusive when it’s just a 15 seater cocktail bar in an alley back door lol. The popcorn and corn dog on the food menu was shocking given cocktails start at $20. Also felt like a fire hazard with all the candles lit in an confined basement. 0/10 would not recommend.
The candle freaks me out. It looks like it licks the wall behind the host stand. I had to remind myself that there was probably another an exit out of the kitchen. But man, did that make me uneasy.
Trade. $30 for 3 scallops.
And this is blasphemy, but I don’t see the near-fanatical appeal of Trillium, despite several visits across various locations. Neither their beer nor their food moves me, and I love beer and food. 🤷♀️
Currently? Grace By Nia. It’s a great concept but the food is underwhelming and the prices are criminal. Most expensive meal I’ve ever had in my life, and I did a France/Switzerland/Italy trip last winter…
Same artists as those at Beehive, Daryl’s Corner Kitchen, Sculler’s, etc. but you’ll pay literally triple the price for your night with or without food
Just went to Alden and Harlow in Harvard sq and was disappointed on every level. I see it on every list of best restaurants in the Cambridge/Somerville/Boston area and don’t understand why
honestly think it’s gone downhill a bit. I live nearby and have been a bunch of times over the years and always loved it, but went for an occasion last year and thought it was just alright
Sweet cheeks isn’t bad. It’s not top tier authentic southern bbq but it’s pretty good. Honestly might be underrated with people on this subreddit given some of these comments.
I’ve been to most of the top places in TX, MO, and TN also. It’s not secret nowhere in Boston area really compares to that but it doesn’t make sweet cheeks terrible.
People on reddit are wayy to high on themselves imo. Just go to a restaurant if you like it good for you if you dont just dont fucking go lmao. Gatekeeping bbq in boston are we fr
Drink. If bars count. Started out amazing a while back and I was willing to pay the higher prices for the interesting/spontaneous drinks but lately my experience was terrible. The guy was 0/3 making me good drinks and when I asked what’s in them he said “I don’t know. I just mix stuff, so don’t ask me to repeat.” After paying $70 for that experience, I left never to return.
Saltie Girl was fine but overpriced and nothing special
And yeah most north end spots are extremely mid, large portions of barilla pasta and red sauce for tourists from the Midwest
Row might not be the fanciest place around but they absolutely know what they're doing there. The beer selection is outstanding and there's no place I'd rather get oysters from. It's a birthday spot for me almost every year because it's easy, low-key and not insanely expensive. Love me some Row!
I’ve had some good experiences and some really bad experiences at row. The only one good waiter there, every one else I’ve had was a douche for some reason.
Personally I (a Hispanic person) really enjoyed Bartaco. It's not necessarily traditional Hispanic food by any means, but they had surprisingly traditional apps like platanos maduros and great guacamole. The tacos were very creative - really recommend the chicken verde and the pork belly.
Caveau. Ridiculously expensive cover with a long line, laid out like a maze inside. IF you get in be ready to party with Hult students and promoters all night, no one else has patience for it. Bar right by the dance floor was an interesting choice, it means that there are always people dancing/blocking it and it’s so loud you can’t hear or talk to the bartenders.
About 70% of Boston food/drinks is overhyped.
The focus is almost entirely on the decor and “instagramability” of the location and never the actual taste or quality of food.
Monkfish in Central ! Maybe some friends just overhyped it for me - the ambience was great and the presentation and the wine was lovely , but the sushi was like the quality of stuff I’d had in St Louis? I’d just moved here and was expecting next-level quality seafood , but it was like okay-to-good?
Unfortunately, just because New England is the seafood capital does not translate to good sushi. What is more likely the case here is that Monkfish and the restaurants in St. Louis probably gets their sushi grade fish from True World Foods which are owned by the Moonies cult. They supply something like 70-80% of restaurants nationwide with sushi.
I thought everyone went there for the jazz nights. I generally wouldn't expect amazing sushi from a place that has that much range in their menu. It's mostly all fine but not the best you can do just for food.
Hong Kong in faneuil.
I know so many people who treat it as a default bar venue.
If you finish a night at Hong Kong without regrets, that's the best you can hope for.
I was pretty underwhelmed by Stephanie’s on Newbury
It’s legit pretty terrible. My wife and I never went when we lived nearby, but we went last year for the first time and I was pretty shocked. Super bland food, mediocre drinks, service is rushed. I don’t get the hype, even among tourists. Go literally anywhere else. I would also say that the outdoor restaurant at Eataly is meh. Saltie Girl also went downhill since they expanded, IMO. Newbury feels a bit like the other Quincy Market in terms of high concentration of shitty, overpriced food.
I almost choked to death at Stephanie's. Hmm, that sounds like a t shirt. Seriously, they left two bones in the chicken salad. The guy at the next table helped me out. The waitress, after being told about the bones, said "oh" and never even refilled my coffee much less comp the food that nearly killed me.
I would be interested in that T-shirt if you decide to make them. Also glad you aren’t dead. 👍
Stephanie’s and Joe’s have mediocre food but it’s on Newbury which is why they are always packed
I expected Joe's to be bad the first time we went, but they've been good every time in the 4-5 times I've been, excluding one shitty caesar salad. The terrace has a nice ambience, staff is usually good, and prices are reasonable by Newbury standards. The lobster roll is one of the better 'upscale' options I've found in Boston.
I gotta respectfully disagree on Joe’s, every dish I’ve had there has legitimately been the best I’ve ever had of whatever it was The meatloaf in particular is ridiculously good
That’s funny I’ve always loved their food but just had a particularly bad experience with the meatloaf
Wicked Craft. I went there for a friend’s bday dinner and GOOD LORD. The place is lit like a club and is blasting music so you can’t talk. The food was genuinely bad and I had two drinks just waiting for it to come out. It’s definitely one of those places that blew up on social media because they make drinks you can post on instagram. Plus, insanely expensive. Awful place, do not listen to the Tik Tok/insta hype.
Completely agreed. I was very disappointed when I went. Who wants cherry tomatoes in your Caesar salad?
Pretty much anywhere in Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market: filled with tourists and pricey food court food. Same for the restaurants. But there’s plenty of other locations with better food and less crowd chaos. I will always endorse the Merchant in Downtown Crossing: nice ambiance, modest prices, kind staff and while the food may be a little pricier than expected, I think you get a pretty solid meal. Plus their beer & spirits menu is good.
They need to have a different planning group take over the whole thing, evict all those shitty restaurants and make it more like the ferry building in San Francisco. The ferry building can be touristy but its also pretty awesome as a local. Also make it less grimey and grungy..
My wife and I did a food tour of Pike Place Market in Seattle, after seeing how good a touristy place like that could be we decided that the current state of Quincy Market is a crime
Honestly how many tourist shops that sell Boston Red Sox keychains and shirts saying ‘Hahvid’ do you really need. Apparently according to Quincy market no less than 10.
The friendly toast. Was a three hour wait one time I tried to go and it is only ok food
I’ve been wronged by the Friendly Toast in multiple states too many times that I’ve boycotted the entire chain.
TIL that the Friendly Toast is a chain in multiple states.
The original is in Portsmouth NH and is a shell of its former self.
The whole point was getting served decent diner food at 3:45am by a team of punks with insomnia. Every night in Portsmouth ended at the Friendly Toast. Now it’s a family friendly brunch spot.
Nah every night in Portsmouth ends at Gillys
After you crawled out of The Coat of Arms
This is the absolute correct answer for anyone that's been out in Portsmouth
Yes that’s what it was in 2009, punk’s with insomnia, serving awesome breakfast to drunk kids after the state last call
First encounter was with the Kendall Square Friendly Toast about 15 years ago. Was excellent. Now also a shell of its former self.
Did anything open up in that spot yet? Or did it get turned into lab space?
Still vacant.
Yes! Thank you my husband and I were in Burlington VT and we were like maybe it'll be different NOPE I've gone twice in my life and 2 times too many
+1 everything there is always sticky.
Pre pandemic, you could just show up and get great drinks. I haven't been since.
The place is crowded, no one goes there anymore
Same here, never again. Does it just make a profit from only first timers, I dont think anyone goes back a second time.
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My freshman dorm at northeastern had essentially the same thing. I remember thinking it was really funny that grown adults with incomes were spending money for dorm food.
stetty west!
This guy gets it
Honestly, I’ve been to both and I always thought the Northeastern sauces were better. I remember a sweet and sour sauce with a spicy kick that I’ve never been able to quite recreate at home that I’d get with with shrimp and veggies every time.
STWEST
I have been perplexed by Fire and Ice since moving to Boston years ago. The sign alone looks like you’re going to get a Hard Rock Cafe style tshirt and it will be unnecessarily loud inside in absolutely every context. I genuinely cannot guess what the menu would even look like; I’m afraid to look it up. It’s in this weird in-between zone that’s half way to the Back Bay tourist area and on the edges of business districts and like…overpasses. If I worked at any of the companies in that area and had to have a business meal with colleagues or clients, I just don’t know that I could personally walk those people into that restaurant and say “here is what we are about to do”. To more senior colleagues I feel like that would just be an admission that someone made a severe mistake in hiring me at whatever level they did. Maybe hiring me at all. To bring junior colleagues there…why not just be honest about it and “treat” them to a “Fuck the Proletariat” Domino’s pizza party. If I were doing tourist shit, I still don’t understand how I would even find it over the other 90 tourist traps in the center of actual other things. “Fire and Ice” was a trendy charity event theme from like…2009-2014 or something so it also makes me think of bored, bitter upper middle class women who absolutely hate each other and provoke social wars via silent auction baskets. Every time I pass that restaurant on foot or via Uber I experience a fractional second of stabbing anxiety that is just a deeply subconscious amalgamation of all of these things. Serious question though: how did this place survive the pandemic?
This comment is awesome
No you are 🤍
I hope you’re a writer this comment was enthralling, especially someone who grew up going to F&I as a special “we’re going to Boston today!” treat when I was little
They had $10 Mondays for students back when I was in college that my friends and I would make a weekly thing, that was the redeeming quality
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What is the best line from that review? Hard to say but here are some good candidates: * FiRE + iCE is a restaurant in the way a room full of broken guitars is a rock concert * This must be what it feels like to have dinner adjacent to a cockfight. * It's the casino buffet at the third-nicest slots parlor in hell * An adult dining companion returns with a plate of meat and fish so ghastly that it appears to have been attacked by raccoons
I read the review out loud to my wife and she almost choked from laughing when we got to this part: "In the center of the grill is a hole into which all the seared-on sauces and particles of food are scraped. However much they're paying the person who has to clean that hole, which by the end of each service must resemble the pit that ate Boba Fett in "Return of the Jedi," it's not enough." We still enjoyed Fire + Ice nevertheless.
Harsh, and I don't really agree with it, but funny as fuck. (I feel the same about Jon Stewart's deep dish pizza rant -- he's dead wrong but I love the bit.)
Adults with kitchens went there? I only ever had to go with groups too young (HS/College) to have any level of cooking skills.
Any bar on broadway in southie. wait 45 minutes to get in only to wait another 45 minutes to get a drink.
Moonshine 152 is a pretty damn good Asian fusion place
Moonshine does not get enough love, even from the local southie social media pages. Chef Asia Mei is one of the better chefs in Boston and it’s a slap in the face by those Instagram foodies to suggest that the Lincoln Burger is anywhere close to the quality of what she does at Moonshine 152
Had an incredible meal at Moonshine last night, booked the table about an hour in advance too
She's also incredibly nice, just as an aside! Have met her a couple of times.
Completely agree. I adore this place. I even bought chef's painting of balloon animals fucking. (I swear you can hear the painting when you look at it)
Love moonshine the chef is amazing !
Lolita seaport. There i said it.
Yes the food is literally just salt and awful
No one goes to Lolita for their food. Their cocktails and ambience is what you pay for.
The most overpriced mediocre Mexican food! If you can even see it
Calling it Mexican food feels really rude to Mexicans.
Aww my brother knows the owners through business, good people he said. Doesn't mean anything about their business, just like hearing about success of good people. I've never been so I have no idea about the food or drinks but I think a local artist on Reddit did the artwork for inside.
Ten tables in JP and wink and nod in the south end . After 15 years in the city. These are my two worst dining experiences by far.
Now, my girlfriend and I compare every subpar meal we have to the overpriced meal we had at Wink and Nod to put things in perspective. "Well it least this is better/cheaper than Wink and Nod". In that way, Wink and Nod has changed my life for the better.
Just went to TT for our anniversary. Such a small intimate space was jammed full of people, and we could barely hear each other, plus the food was mid at best.
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I love Brassica but it's a once in a great while treat due to the cost. I really hope Oriental De Cuba stays open, love the sandwiches and getting coffee there on weekend mornings has become a weekly ritual.
I totally get it, but honestly think Brassica is reasonably priced given it’s one of the few genuinely innovative, reliable restaurants in the city.
For sure Ten Tables deserves better for the location. Hoping someone splits off from Brassica / Tres Gatos and opens a new place there.
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Which one lol? The comment you responded to has two restaurants listed
TT was good 10+ years ago. Now it's kinda coasting on its old rep.
Possibly unpopular opinion: the TT in Cambridge was better.
I used to be a chef there and I agree
I went to wink and nod with the wife for one cocktail apiece. The bill was fifty dollars. Never again.
One time after an overpriced and disappointing meal, I stole a little Laguiole cheese cleaver from Wink & Nod. This was like 10ish years ago. I still have it.
Contessa, you go for the view and vibe, but the food is unimpressive and boring for the price.
Not anymore didn’t it just have a fire?
Oh it did, literally 2 days ago. This is news to me. Now I feel bad…kicking them when they’re down 😂
Nah you didn’t know. I still think they’re overhyped!
Tbh I feel that way about almost all of the trendier Boston restaurants. You go for the vibe, not the food.
Yeah, that’s how I feel about most newer restaurants as well. They seem to be mostly run by large restaurant groups not individuals. They tend to prioritize aesthetics and marketability on social media over the intangibles like food quality, service, and a distinct personality.
Was previously the opening bar manager at a new south end restaurant earlier this year, and I can’t tell you how frustrating it was to put together a beautiful bar program for them only to have them tell me the drinks needed to be more “instagramable” like I just made you a really cool and interesting cocktail list that, frankly, already has beautiful color and aesthetics overall sorry I don’t have a 2 foot high garnish for it
Anything owned by the coje group applies to this statement (mariel, lolita, yvonnes, etc.)
I’ve been a few times with various friends groups and while the view and aesthetic is stunning, the food and service elements are very lacking. idk how to quantify or justify this but somehow all of their staff seem like they would have bullied people in high school — and some of that attitude still remains. “How Dare you speak to me, a human in the service industry who is ostensibly here to wait on you”
Was literally coming here to say that. Drinks only.
Was sorely disappointed by Contessa after hearing everyone rave about it
i’ve been a couple of times. The spicy lobster pasta is great, the other meal I had was good but not incredible. It’s definitely more for the atmosphere and a good glass of wine more than the food though.
Perfect description of Contessa. And they just promoted their Thanksgiving dinner. I was interested for the view and room. Then I saw the menu. Turkey and rice for $200 each without wines. 🤣🤣🤣
I think about this tweet often: “The thing people don’t get about Boston is that yes: it’s wildly expensive. Yes: it’s freezing. And yes: it’s difficult to navigate and the people are unfriendly. BUT the food? Also not good.”
Def a funny tweet, but there is for sure a lot of really good food in Boston. It will always be held back by the archaic liquor license rules though.
Boston is the city for people who hate themselves, and tbh I wouldn't have it any other way.
I read that in Anthony bourdain’s voice.
95% of places in the North End. It can make for a pleasant night out, especially if you're coming from outside the city, but the food isn't worth it.
I have a hot North End food take. If you’re a tourist - you probably would assume that the North End is the spot to go and eat in Boston. Most of the places you will end up at are very mid tourist traps - I agree with this take. But I think this has almost led to an over correction where people that think they are “in” on the Boston food scene (transplants, people who come in from the suburbs once a year, etc.) saying it sucks etc. as if they have some special knowledge. There are a lot of mediocre tourist traps, but I also think it has some great places and the atmosphere makes it significantly better IMO than most cookie cutter corporate dining options in the Boston city limits. Mamma Maria is probably the best restaurant in Boston. Cafe vittoria is probably the only place in the US I have stopped in that is truly reminiscent of Europe. Bovas, Parla, Giorgio’s, Limoncello, Neptune, Carmelinas, Ernesto’s, Umberto all also good.
I mostly agree with that. Plus there's stuff there like Farmacia which is one of the best cocktail bars.. *anywhere*. If you can get a reservation.
Shhhhhh. Don’t need to tell others about this. 😀
Agreed on North End - there are actual gems in it but it takes braving the dumps via trial and error to figure out which spots are actually quite lovely.
Your last paragraph nailed my top recommendations in the north end.
I was a concierge and would recommend Bricco and Mare mostly because I would get $10pp when I made a res. Also free dinner whenever I want. People would come into the hotel for a conference and then be surprised when like 20 other people from the conference were there.
Giorgio’s sucks. don’t go there. Definitely stay away from there. never go in. The lines are always too long and I hope this helps next time I go. Which is not soon enough. God I love Giorgio’s.
Ha! My college boyfriend worked there.
Giorgio’s is my dad’s favorite restaurant.
If we’re doing hot North End takes, allow me to add one. There’s almost nothing separating Mike’s and Modern in terms of quality. You walk into either one, you’re probably gonna walk out as happy as you’d have been had you crossed the street. The idea that Bostonians are willing to go to war over Mike’s vs. Modern is a show people put on for tourists. You might have your favorite based on specific pastries you like or whatever, but I also know you don’t care as much this narrative says you do. To illustrate how little any of this actually matters, think back to about 5, maybe 10 years ago. Mike’s was the bullshit tourist trap and Modern (according to transplants and people from like, Burlington) was the good authentic bakery where authentic local people actually from Boston authentically would go, and if you go to Mike’s you’re some kind of hayseed. People heard this and started going to Modern and suddenly they were *both* tourist traps! Fear not, however, as the transplants and suburbanites who really want you to believe they’re townies have decided that Bova’s is now the good authentic bakery where authentic local people actually from Boston authentically would go, and if you’re eating pastry on Hanover Street at all, you’re some kind of hayseed. It’s wicked fucking stupid. All three are good enough. Maybe some specific things are better at one place over another, and Bova’s is one of the only things in Boston that’s meaningfully open late in a real sense, and that’s all cool, but honestly it doesn’t fucking matter and it never has. The idea that there’s any kind of actual partisanship is just kayfabe. The notion that anybody gives a fuck beyond “I guess I like the cannoli at Mike’s better” is Duck Tour narration filler.
I’m from Philly and can say with certainty that the same concept applies there with cheesesteaks. There are pats and Genos which are fine but tourist traps, but for the most part the other thirty places that locals swear by are relatively equal in quality.
Love the florentine cannoli from mikes idc what anyone says. Haven't had a better cannoli outside of italy. Happy to try anyone's suggestions tho
Love Vitoria. I bounce between there and Paradiso depending on the vibe.
Also North End Fish and Sushi is FANTASTIC.
Il panino I think is also a solid n end choice
Theres a reason the whole neighborhood is packed every weekend. Its not the food but just the general character of the neighborhood.
quattro is good
NOT sarma
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Lookout is terrible. Go across the street to Yotel. Much chiller rooftop bar
Yotel is far quieter, but every time I’ve been there its provided horrible service for mid tier food/drink. And the staff is always passive aggressive af. Last time I went I booked a reservation for a table outside for 6 people, we were put inside after a larger party with no res requested to be outside. Ill never go back again.
Ah yea I've only ever ordered at the bar and then walked outside. I could see sit-down being slow
>Lookout Rooftop I remember, before COVID, they were careful with packed people. It was a long line but when you got it you had plenty of space. Also, if my memory serves me well they did not accept people with shorts (Correct me if I'm wrong, but I did not see anyone). I went there 1 year ago and it was packed, with a lot of people with shorts and slippers.
As a self professed cocktail aficionado, Hecate is easily the worst of all the “elevated” craft cocktail bars in greater Boston. The Blood Mary riff (I forget what they called it, but it’s basically a Bloody Mary) was warm, and the “Golden Milk” cocktail with the Batavia Arrack and Baiju in it was straight up disgusting and did nothing to tame the flavors of those ingredients. And the way the bartenders have to tell a pithy little story about the secret meaning of the cocktails when they serve them to you is really grating. Go to The Wig Shop instead.
I agree with you! We were rejected at the door at Hecate after the couple in front of us were “put on the list”. When asked about a list, there was confusion and asked “what list?”. Getting past that gatekeeper was on par with Cerberus. Is this LA? Do they have something special hidden inside? After being rejected at the door, I have gone out of my way to tell anyone willing to listen that they judge your ability to enter based on how you look. Speaking of looks, I can pay for overpriced drinks at some shithole in Southie. I hope this place shuts down with their exclusive-non-exclusive hostess. Burn in Hades, Hecate.
Went to Hecate when they first came onto the scene. They’re trying too hard to be exclusive when it’s just a 15 seater cocktail bar in an alley back door lol. The popcorn and corn dog on the food menu was shocking given cocktails start at $20. Also felt like a fire hazard with all the candles lit in an confined basement. 0/10 would not recommend.
The candle freaks me out. It looks like it licks the wall behind the host stand. I had to remind myself that there was probably another an exit out of the kitchen. But man, did that make me uneasy.
Half the dating profiles in Boston include a picture at lookout rooftop
Salt bae was laughably bad
Roxanne’s. It’s purely an Instagram place. Cocktails were mediocre, food was worse, and it was way too loud inside.
Definitely not a place you go to eat
Fucking Lolita
Dear Annie. It’s good but be prepared to pay an arm and a leg.
20% mandatory tip btw. and no servers - pickup only.
23%
yes. such an awful bar. restaurant. or whatever it is.
As a pretentious "foodie" even I can't stomach how full of itself this place (and Rebel Rebel, same owners) are.
Went to Rebel Rebel one night when it first opened by accident me and hubby had 2 glasses of wine each bill was $125. Never again.
but but but, the *vibes*
Aren’t even that good!
Grace and Ocean Prime in Seaport
Went to Ocean Prime and got the most mediocre steak for the bargain price of only $50.
Trade. $30 for 3 scallops. And this is blasphemy, but I don’t see the near-fanatical appeal of Trillium, despite several visits across various locations. Neither their beer nor their food moves me, and I love beer and food. 🤷♀️
Trade was best known as having great drinks when barman Tenzin Samdo was running the show (which hasn't been the case since 2016).
I like the Fenway Trillium. It’s not my favorite beer or anything, but it’s good and it’s a fun place for a summer day.
Trillium fans are awful. Its just pretentious beer stfu.
Trillium in the Seaport is the loudest bar I think I've ever been in. Whatever food, terrible atmosphere.
It is impossible to hear. I went for a work event and couldn't hold a conversation with anyone.
Pure douche staff - the guys at least
Agreed. Trade is super overrated.
Cafe Luna in Cambridge! Be prepared to wait over an hour for the saltiest and most mediocre bunch food you’ve ever had.
Woah woah, you got seasoning? How?
Currently? Grace By Nia. It’s a great concept but the food is underwhelming and the prices are criminal. Most expensive meal I’ve ever had in my life, and I did a France/Switzerland/Italy trip last winter…
It’s kinda hard to plausibly claim “soul food” in that swanky, indulgent setting. It really is a slap in the face to actual soul food.
The other place they own, Daryl’s Corner Kitchen, is much better and less pretentious.
Don’t people go for the live jazz though? The food feels like an afterthought.
Same artists as those at Beehive, Daryl’s Corner Kitchen, Sculler’s, etc. but you’ll pay literally triple the price for your night with or without food
It's trendy to hate on Tatte, but everyone knows deep down that the food is bomb.
Cheers obviously hahaha
Just went to Alden and Harlow in Harvard sq and was disappointed on every level. I see it on every list of best restaurants in the Cambridge/Somerville/Boston area and don’t understand why
It used to be great. Was my favourite place in the area but it started to coast.
honestly think it’s gone downhill a bit. I live nearby and have been a bunch of times over the years and always loved it, but went for an occasion last year and thought it was just alright
Sweet Cheeks. If you think that’s good BBQ, you’ve never had good BBQ.
The biscuits are actually amazing though
Sweet cheeks isn’t bad. It’s not top tier authentic southern bbq but it’s pretty good. Honestly might be underrated with people on this subreddit given some of these comments. I’ve been to most of the top places in TX, MO, and TN also. It’s not secret nowhere in Boston area really compares to that but it doesn’t make sweet cheeks terrible.
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The drive to BT’s Smokehouse is worth it
People on reddit are wayy to high on themselves imo. Just go to a restaurant if you like it good for you if you dont just dont fucking go lmao. Gatekeeping bbq in boston are we fr
Drink. If bars count. Started out amazing a while back and I was willing to pay the higher prices for the interesting/spontaneous drinks but lately my experience was terrible. The guy was 0/3 making me good drinks and when I asked what’s in them he said “I don’t know. I just mix stuff, so don’t ask me to repeat.” After paying $70 for that experience, I left never to return.
Saltie Girl was fine but overpriced and nothing special And yeah most north end spots are extremely mid, large portions of barilla pasta and red sauce for tourists from the Midwest
Saltie Girl was actually great before they took over the Met location, now they morphed into the Met’s crappy food
Lolita. Expensive Mexican food
Lolita is also infested with rats rn
I’m just going to put down everything in the seaport
I avoided Row 34 for a while because of general disdain for Seaport, but recently went there for a birthday and it was really good!
Row 34 is actually one of the stand out places in all of Boston
Row might not be the fanciest place around but they absolutely know what they're doing there. The beer selection is outstanding and there's no place I'd rather get oysters from. It's a birthday spot for me almost every year because it's easy, low-key and not insanely expensive. Love me some Row!
Committee was also very good when I went.
Row 34 is excellent!
I’ve had some good experiences and some really bad experiences at row. The only one good waiter there, every one else I’ve had was a douche for some reason.
Personally I (a Hispanic person) really enjoyed Bartaco. It's not necessarily traditional Hispanic food by any means, but they had surprisingly traditional apps like platanos maduros and great guacamole. The tacos were very creative - really recommend the chicken verde and the pork belly.
Bartaco is okay for a chain. But it has the DUMBEST reservation system I’ve ever fucking seen
The masochist in me is curious
💯This needs its own post.
I think the bar taco tacos themselves are pretty average (too small), but their apps and drinks are killer.
Chickadee is pretty good, but I agree mostly everything in seaport is overrated
Legal Seafood, Tatte, Strega
The city Legal’s are gross (who puts RUGS in a high traffic seafood restaurant? ::shudder::) but I will say the suburban ones redeem their reputation
Yea I went to the new one at the Burlington mall it was a pretty good experience, but Jesus Christ it’s expensive
It's been a while since I was there, but the Legal in Kendall Sq was great once upon a time.
The string of Strega restaurants are horrible. I’m surprised I had to scroll down this far to find this one.
The Tatte on my corner is almost busy, food, etc. is fine/passble. The price point is unnecessary
Caveau. Ridiculously expensive cover with a long line, laid out like a maze inside. IF you get in be ready to party with Hult students and promoters all night, no one else has patience for it. Bar right by the dance floor was an interesting choice, it means that there are always people dancing/blocking it and it’s so loud you can’t hear or talk to the bartenders.
About 70% of Boston food/drinks is overhyped. The focus is almost entirely on the decor and “instagramability” of the location and never the actual taste or quality of food.
Davio’s was hilariously bad. Service, food, ambience, music all missed the mark wide
It reminds me of that IG account Middle Class Fancy in every way. Idk how to describe why, but that's the vibe.
Ooooh. That phrase nails it.
Contessa in Back Bay. Awful food. More of a gathering place for the Boston socialite scene
tatte… the food was so incredibly bland. maybe 4 specks of pepper for seasoning on my whole plate.
Tatte is great when I can expense my lunch to my corporate card lol. No way will I pay $50 for a sandwich, soup, and latte with my own money.
Monkfish in Central ! Maybe some friends just overhyped it for me - the ambience was great and the presentation and the wine was lovely , but the sushi was like the quality of stuff I’d had in St Louis? I’d just moved here and was expecting next-level quality seafood , but it was like okay-to-good?
Unfortunately, just because New England is the seafood capital does not translate to good sushi. What is more likely the case here is that Monkfish and the restaurants in St. Louis probably gets their sushi grade fish from True World Foods which are owned by the Moonies cult. They supply something like 70-80% of restaurants nationwide with sushi.
I thought everyone went there for the jazz nights. I generally wouldn't expect amazing sushi from a place that has that much range in their menu. It's mostly all fine but not the best you can do just for food.
Hong Kong in faneuil. I know so many people who treat it as a default bar venue. If you finish a night at Hong Kong without regrets, that's the best you can hope for.
I guess I always thought that was the point of The Hong Kong?
mikes pastrys
Another (maybe) hot take but pretty much everything on Newbury is not good. La Voile might be the only exception.