“Our party of 6 had an excellent belated-valentines day dinner this past weekend. Our server Danny was so attentive and personable. He kept the drinks and laughs coming! All the food was fantastic and came out quickly. We will definitely be back again!“
“Some of the most delicious small plates we have had in the US! Loved all our selections …lentil nachos, the Black Sea cornbread, calamari, avocado w fresh gyro bread, falafel, brussel sprouts, pork belly biscuits… all so amazing. The star of the show for me… they walked the dining room w a tray of FRIED CHICKEN…with an amazing taziki…. My husband had been trying to get reservations foreva! So thrilled to try this spot. Fantastic server as well. She was full of suggestions, very busy but super attentive. Can’t wait to come back!“
“Some of the best Thai food I have ever had. The fried chives were so good. The curries were so different and delicious. The shrimp and pomelo salad along with the green papaya was tasty. They have a bar opening soon and I can wait to check it out!Vegetarian options: Quite a few options to make things vegetarian or that are vegetarian.“
“I've been to the Bodega several times and have always had a positive experience. My girlfriend and I went on our first date here and had a great time. Food is delicious, particularly the creative dishes that incorporate new American and Asian fusion with unique flavors. The drinks are strong and delicious.“
Cuban • $$$
“We ordered scallop ceviche, ensalada de remolacha, chuletas de Cordero, puerco asado, ropa vieja, and Santiago sour.The Santiago sour drink, I thought was really good. Not too sour, and it goes well with our dishes.The scallops ceviche was OK. IT wasn't anything special. It was missing something.The beet salad and the lamb chop are a must!The slow braised pork with rice and salad is good, too.We never got our ropa vieja even though we ordered it. When the bill came out, we noticed that we were charged with ropa vieja. We spoke to our waitor and he took off the bill.Service was good. The meals came out fast for the most part until the ropa vieja. My drink came out with a broken piece of glass at the bottom, so it was fine. It wasn't in the drink.Overall, the food was good. It does get busy on the weekend. Good date place. The food prices were reasonable. FYI, there is a kitchen service fee when you get your bill.There are plenty of parking spaces in the back.“
“Went to Viale while on vacation in MA. I found it to be better than the popular Italian restaurants in downtown Boston. The food was incredible. My wife, who is a vegetarian with high food standards, absolutely loved the beat salad, shaved brussel sprouts, and arancini that they served her. The meatballs were delicious. Service was great. The manager met with us and was very friendly and accommodating. This will be our go to spot from now on whenever we visit Boston.Vegetarian options: Some great vegetarian options on the menu, but the manager made it clear that they would also modify any dish to accommodate a vegetarian diet, upon request.“
“An incredible Uruguayan restaurant! The menu is delicious and the presentation is incredible. The service is excellent, with so much attention and care. And the restaurant is impeccably decorated and feels so cozy! The owners are so sweet and kind, ensuring that you'll have a wonderful time. A great place for dates, group dinners, catching up with friends, or events. Their drink menu is extensive and full of delicious options. Can't wait to return!“
“Wow. Wow. Wow. Honestly blew us away. I’m a classic pizza person however, we went for the ramen pizza and I have zero regrets. Amazing food. Amazing atmosphere. Insanely wonderful service. If you go, and he’s available, ask for Danni. He will give you the most honest recommendations while also making you feel right at home. A truly wonderful experience.“
“A very detailed review from someone who has eaten a lot of tapas!Outstanding bartender! I’ve been a bit disappointed lately when I go into high-end cocktail bars, and they don’t have ingredients I need for making my favorite drinks. Not only was this bartender excellent and knowledgeable, but as I was naming my favorite drink, he knew it, and he loved it as well. I ordered off the menu though, and enjoyed the “kitty’s got claws” because I am a big Mezcal fan and it looked interesting. It was beautifully balanced.Then I saw him making what I thought was a corpse reviver, and we talked a bit about that, and I was thrilled that he knew how to make one, so as I watched him making one for somebody else. I ordered it as my second drink. I know I’m supposed to be reviewing the food, and I will get to that, but a quality bartender, who is interesting and fun, and above all… Knowledgeable, is a very big part of an experience that has a full bar. Bravo, to this bartender! I only wish I remembered his name.On to the food. Interesting interpretation of tapas. Especially the cabbage, which was different than any presentation I have had before. A large piece, braised perfectly, with a creamy sauce. Patatas bravas were an interesting take as well. Often they are either too small with a bit of sauce smothered on them or they are too big and only spiced a little bit. These were a great size and they were seasoned, but did not have any sauce on them, which is wonderful. And then there was some romesco sauce (made of tomatoes and roasted red peppers, and usually almonds) on the side; a really great interpretation of this classic Spanish dish. (Note that a typical bravas sauce has smoked paprika and tomato paste) and I really enjoyed the romesco as a nice change. We also had a lamb slider, which was big enough for lunch for one person. So keep that in mind when ordering. It was actually halfway between the size of a slider and a regular burger. Also, the homemade focaccia was very fluffy! The rosemary butter is a good compliment.Atmosphere is cute. Loud and bustling and definitely not the type of place that is quiet and you can hear the forks clinking. Really great vibe. Wonderful neighborhood place. We lived in JP for years and raised our kids here and it was great to come back and see this new (to us!) restaurant in the neighborhood.“
“Great food, great service. The yakitori are grilled to perfection. The wait staff are super friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. The drink menu offers an array of sake, cocktails, wine and beer. Cannot wait to go back and try more food!“
“I been going to Dali for over30 years. its my most favorite of all restaurants. The beauty have always been consistency. From the host to servers the chefs and the amazing bartenders everything is always perfect. I have recently relocated to Maine I miss Dali.“
“Great food, great service, and a fun atmosphere. We came with our 3 year old and while there weren't any other kids there, we felt right at home. Servers were very nice, and the drinks were tasty. Fun decor too! Worth supporting this place!Vegetarian options: Vegetable paella was deliciousKid-friendliness: Very welcoming to us with our 3 year old daughter!“
“I recently stumbled into Pagu on a particularly rainy day in Boston (you know, one of those sideway rainstorm days). Covered in mud, I snagged one of the last bar seats available. Opting for my usuals - roasted mushrooms and ramen - I paired them with a glass of wine and a good book, enjoying the restaurant's laid-back atmosphere. To my surprise, Chef/Owner Tracy Chang had hand delivered my dinner! Her radiant smile alone was enough to brighten up an otherwise atrocious day for me. Chang's innovative approach to dining shines through in every dish, prioritizing creativity and kindness - a sentiment echoed by the attentive staff at Pagu. It's no wonder that Pagu remains a cornerstone of Central Square.“
“A nice spot for date night in Woburn! Came here Saturday 8pm and we were seated right away. The decorations were very cozy, and I really enjoyed the jazzy acoustic music they were playing in the background. We got 6 dishes, but our favorites were the Chuletas De Cordero (grilled lamb chops with mint yogurt and Tximitxurri), Pisto Manchego (ratatouille), and Solomillo De Ternera y Queso Cabrales (beef tenderloin with blue cheese, caramelized onions, toasted crostini). The grilled lamb chops were wonderful but I personally wasn't a fan of the dill sauce so I'd eat it without it. The ratatouille is a must, strong tomato flavor with a wonton style chip. And the beef steak/tenderloin comes with blue cheese and onions on a small flank of bread.“
“These are some of the nicest cocktails I have ever had, absolutely recommend the Mezcal. Get the pulpo and the plantains for a starter- they are out of this world. All flavors are insanely fresh, this place radiated high quality. Just go, you won’t regret anything you get.“
“Food, service and atmosphere were all superb! If you dine here you won't only get a great meal but you'll have a whole experience! I love how the whole staff work as a team! The owner even took time to make sure everything was ??. I drove from 45 min away on a rainy night and this was well worth it. I'll definitely be back.“
“Moved to the area a few months ago and Tasca has become a regular favorite! Each dish has been delicious, every server has been kind and attentive, and the drinks are also great. They are only open in the evenings which provides a nice atmosphere as well. Overall well worth it!“
“The food was amazing. We couldn’t stop ordering more plates. The scallop appetizer was so refreshing and delicious! They also have a shrimp weekend special that was just packed full of flavor. My husband had the Birria taco dish and I had to fight him to a bite. The mezcal drinks were also done very well, we loved it. Before we left, the owner gave us two shots on the house because she knew we were from out of town. This was such a great dining experience, highly recommend!!“
Tapas/Small Plates • $$
“Hearty, filling, delicious New Orleans-style grub. Been here a few times, mostly for brunch. The classic biscuits are amazing - they come with both pimento cheese spread & cinnamon butter. The biscuits & gravy are great, too. Additional standouts are the cast iron baked Brie, the beignets, the wagyu burger sliders, pancakes, french toast, and low country scramble (spicy). If you’re into mimosas, they do a “soft serve mimosa” which is Prosecco paired with their daily sorbet, served in a delightful swirl. You’ll have to go back more than once if you want the room in your stomach to sample all of these dishes!!Service has been great every time. Over the last 1.5 years, have noticed a good amount of the same staff, which is always encouraging.“
“I can't review the full dinner menu and tapas, as I only came here for the bar, but I did want to leave a review because it was a great evening. From 5-7pm Monday through Saturday, the bar does $2 oysters, and my partner and I had a whopping 24! We went on a Thursday evening and the atmosphere was great - not too loud or crowded, but not dead either. The service was amazing as well - the oysters came almost immediately after we ordered them and when we ordered the Sherry flight, the staff gave us a great explanation of each of the 4 drinks before leaving us to our food and drink. Oysters ($2 each) - I'm not usually a huge fan of oysters, but these were different from a lot of the others I've had in the past. They were slightly briny, but they also had a really sweet aftertaste that made them really pleasant to eat. They were served with lemon and also a little cup of vinegar - both options were good but I preferred the lemon. We started with 12 oysters and ordered a second dozen when we realized how good they were! Sherry flight ($30) - I had never had sherry before, but this was quite pleasant. The flight came with 4 different sherries and 2 croquetas which were tasty and filled with ham and bechamel. The filling was a bit dense, but not necessarily a bad thing. The four sherries were as follows, and my reviews are coming from someone who does not know much about sherry but enjoyed each one: - Manzanilla La Cigarrera - This was a light one with a very light alcohol taste. It paired nicely with the oysters. - Fino el Granero - This one had a slightly stronger alcohol taste to it, but it also paired nicely with the oysters. - Amontillado Rare Escuadrilla - This one tasted like a red blend and was my favorite of the four. It was nice to sip on after eating the oysters. - Olorosso East India Solera - This one was my partners favorite and tasted sweet. It almost had a taste like raisins, but it was quite pleasant. The order also came with bread, though I'm not sure if it was the drinks or the oysters that triggered the bread. The bread was nice, but they did not offer butter with it. Instead, you could have olive oil, but it was a fancy olive oil so there was a charge. We opted to just eat the bread by itself and it was nice - crusty on the outside and soft on the inside. All in all, this was a bit of an expensive night (we did eat a lot though!) but it was well worth it. I do know there are $1 oysters around Boston, but $2 oysters near our home is also a great deal. The sherry flight was nice to try, but I'd also like to try their gin and gin mixed drinks, as they are known for both their sherry and gin. I give this a strong 4/5 and we will definitely be back!“
“Little Donkey is an absolute gem. We were there for first seating at 10:30 am on a Sunday. Glad we had a reservation since they were very busy and tables we blocked off by 11:20. Our dishes were delicious and came out pretty quickly. Someone at our table had a nut allergy and every dish was brought out with a clearance of the allergy so that incase she wanted to try other dishes, she knew what was safe. The salmon and Tuna Tartar is delicious, but unbelievably small and honestly not worth the $19. We ordered it to hold us over while waiting for friends who were running behind. It is bare 4 actual bites. We learned from our waiter that most of the items we initially wanted were tiny. This is a really cute spot with an open kitchen which is cool to look into, and the bar tender is great at creating new drink concoctions.“
“Savinos is a local gem. I've been here for celebratory dinners in the past, both pre- and during the pandemic, and everything has been delicious with great service in a classy (if a bit dated) atmosphere. Lately I've been enjoying their lunch, which is a great price (entrees around $15) for high quality meals that satisfy more than your typical sandwich of the same price in the area. I have a number of dietary restrictions (mostly gluten and dairy free), and they've been able to accommodate them while not compromising on quality. The grilled salmon is one meal I would get again and again. It comes with a refreshing salad alongside a red potato salad that's very lightly dressed with mayonnaise, just what I prefer. The steak is another good option for gluten and dairy free folks. It's easy to substitute items with more veggies. While I've enjoyed just about everything I've had there, sometimes they add a bit too much finishing oils, making some dishes too oily. My mom, who is a particular eater, loves the flatbread (toppings are a rotating special). She found the pasta bolognese to be a bit one note, though, with not much other ingredients. They don't have gf/df desserts, but I couldn't resist taking a bite of my mom's crème caramel. It is deliciously creamy! Reminds me of desserts in Paris when I could eat whatever I wanted. There's street parking and some outdoor seating for warmer months. If you do want to come for lunch, be sure to make a reservation on their website -- I think they still require them. We've also called them to get takeout, which has been super easy. Still, I prefer going in person to have a slice of elegant calm.“
“I went here with a group of friends for dinner. It is difficult to get a table walk in unless you reserve it. Because they are popular, they call and confirm your reservation sometimes. We were seated probably 5-10 min after our reserved time. The place is large but they cramped the tables so close. The atmosphere is modern but very loud. The food (dinner menu) is definitely overpriced. They have vegetables like roasted carrots and mushrooms as well as meat dishes. The roasted carrots were priced around $7 and a very thinly sliced steak was $16. At least 1/3 of the menu was spicy and the food is on the greasier side. The cheese and charcuterie board was nice. We got a goat cheese platter and the cheese quality was very good. The drinks here are mediocre for the price point. Overall, it is a hip place but overpriced for sure.“
“While it took the waitress way to long to approach our table. Once she did great she was excellent. She was the waitress as well as the bar tender. Since I did not know Spanish wines she was patient offer suggestions based on what I prefer and even gave us tasting before making a commitment. The food was fabulous. Perfect lamb chops and the ordinary potato was elevated to extraordinary with the Aoli made with truffle and safron...these were not my mother's boring potatoes...BOCADO is a perfect place to step into a new experience new flavors and present you actually traveled to Spain but without the costly flightDietary restrictions: My dining partner can't have nuts or avacodo. . One one dish the fried goat cheese they removed them. On another dish the waitress suggested something different. It all worked out well .“
“I'm addicted to this place! tastes exactly like my mom's cooking, which says a lot. Best turkish restaurant I've had in Massachusetts. there are a lot of good turkish places here actually (I've tried 5), but this once takes the prize. and very friendly service!“
“I enjoy Matadora! The ambiance is warm and inviting, just like the staff. They offer a delicious menu and a great burger ? I’ll update with food pics soon, but I was incredibly satisfied with these two beverages. I highly recommend coming by. ?? ??“
“The food was hot and fresh, and our server was wonderful. I had a stuffed potato ball. In Spanish, it sounds better. But it's ground beef, and then they roll potatoes. Of course, they make a sort of a dough ball, and they deep fry it. Fabulous , I also a capuchia. Rice“