Great place for food and drinks conveniently located by the TD garden. Very professional and friendly staff

I made a Valentine's Day reservation at Alcove several days in advance. Not last minute. Not a walk-in. I specifically booked it for the view. One of the main selling points of this restaurant is the glass wall overlooking the Zakim Bridge and the sunset. That was the entire reason we chose it. We arrived and were immediately seated in a dark corner with no windows and absolutely no view. Meanwhile, the main dining room was maybe 30% full at best. Plenty of open tables. And we're tucked into a shadowy corner like we asked for the overflow section. I walked up to the host stand and waited about five minutes before anyone even acknowledged me. When they finally did, I politely asked if we could move to the main dining room since we reserved specifically for the view. They said no problem. Three minutes later, they moved us. To the only tiny high-top table in the entire main dining room that had no view. The table was sandwiched between the entrance and the dining area, directly in front of one of the only solid walls in the restaurant. Everywhere else had glass and scenery. We had drywall. For context, I wore a suit. My partner wore a gorgeous silk dress with heels. We were clearly dressed for a real Valentine's dinner and more formal than most of the guests in the room. This was a rare night out for us. We're parents to a 6-year-old and a 1-year-old. We secured childcare. We made the effort. My partner insisted we just make the best of it since we don't get out much. So I decided to move forward and focus on the food and drinks. We ordered the Cherry Noir. It tasted like a cup of tart cherry juice and bitters with a splash of tequila hiding somewhere in the background. It took us the entire meal to finish it. That was our first and only drink of the night. We ordered the lobster ravioli with "fried plantain" for $50. The plantains looked and tasted like plantain chips from a local convenience store. The ravioli had almost no flavor, and the lobster somehow had even less. I had to use the salt and pepper from the table just to wake it up. We also ordered the 16 oz ribeye for $80. On top of that, we paid $20 for a side of roasted Brussels sprouts. The ribeye was the best part of the meal, but the bar was already in hell. It was a regular, nothing-special cut of steak covered in another underwhelming sauce. Again, salt and pepper came to the rescue. To finish, we ordered their Neapolitan flan for $30. It was the most basic-looking and basic-tasting dessert I've had at a restaurant period. No creativity. No presentation. An insult for dessert. All in, we paid just over $250. For that price point on Valentine's Day, you expect an experience. You expect attention to detail. You expect food that doesn't need table salt to carry it. You definitely expect the view you reserved days in advance when the restaurant isn't even close to full capacity. This was easily the worst Valentine's date my partner and I have had in our entire relationship. The only saving grace was the fact that I'm blessed with someone who appreciates our own vibe enough to shrug off poor service and forgettable food. But as for Alcove, never again! read more

Went to Alcove for a girls night dinner. The restaurant is located in a great spot right by the water. We felt like the menu all seemed kinda random there wasn't any cohesive theme to what the restaurant served. When we ordered drinks they offered a pitcher for 4 or more people, but they said it's the same price as ordering 4 drinks and it's the same amount? So that didn't really make sense. The food was all good we really enjoyed the wings and the ribs. The thing we didn't like about the restaurant was the service and vibes were so weird. No one had an answer to any of our questions, and it felt awkward just being there. The way they described the menu also didn't make sense they said some items are small so you might want to order a couple things and some are entree sized, but there was really no way to determine that? Anyway it was good food just strange vibes. read more

See all

Alcove always delivers - Great food, great service and great views of the water. The half bottle of Sancerre is a really nice choice for a white wine. The shrimp tacos and prosciutto bites are my favorite dishes. read more

See all

Great tapas style restaurant right on the water. Took my wife for Valentine Day dinner. Everything was excellent, we shared prosciutto bites, warm focaccia bread, beet salad and crispy smashed potatoes. The staff was great, attentive and friendly. read more

Stopped by Alcove with a few friends after work for some light bites and was pleasantly surprised. We ordered the scallops, spinach artichoke dip, and shishito peppers. All three were great for sharing. The standout for me was definitely the scallops. They were beautifully seared and cooked to perfection. You could tell care went into the preparation. The vibe was relaxed, and it was a great spot to unwind after a long day. I'd absolutely come back again for happy hour and apps. Highly recommend if you're looking for a chill spot with elevated small plates. read more

Corn and scallion fritters and shrimp skewer were excellent! Drinks were also good, Wayside was our favorite. The fries and the pumpkin cognac cocktail were only ok, but I'll call it 5 stars for not being insanely overpriced despite the location. read more

Another time, Alcove! When you have dined at a restaurant once and loved it and then came back a second time but was disappointed, should you give it another chance? Alcove is one of these restaurants in particular. We used to love coming here. The ambiance of the restaurant is absolutely stunning. It is so warm inside with their low lights and decor. We enjoyed our time here except for this past one. We had reservations, which I do recommend since it's in a busy area right across from the Boston Garden. We were going to see a comedy show and made early reservations. Upon arrival, we didn't get that friendly welcome that you usually see and feel. I assumed it was the manager that checked us in, but I am not 100 % sure. The good: We sat down and our server Tyler came over immediately and asked what we wanted to drink. I will say the service was impeccable. Since I am in the wine industry I really enjoyed a server who also has this passion. When I asked about tasting a few wines he brought over every bottle and explained what each was. I truly was impressed. We both enjoyed one of their red wines from the Loire Valley, France. The food: We started with the Panzanella which was ok. Panzanella usually doesn't have lettuce but every restaurant does it differently. They did use lettuce/arugula in theirs but it was just ok. For entrees, we split the Pork Chop which was a bit dry. It came with a creamy polenta and this was the best part of the dish. For dessert, we ended up ordering the Chocolate Mousse with pistachios and sea salt. I will have to say the dessert was the highlight of our meal. I know they changed Chefs so this could be the reason for the lack of food, flavor, etc. I do believe they will improve but hopefully sooner than later so we can all return and have a better experience. Cheers! read more

See all

This was wild. We show up - hostess is kinda blah, we ask if we can sit at an open high top - she says "all are spoken for" (no one sat in two of the four tables the entire time we were there). Some dude took our drink order never to return again. One may never know if he was actually employed there... After first drinks served, not a soul came by for 45 mins. I finally walked in and found the hostess because wtf? She tried to avoid eye contact, but I wasn't being brushed off. She said "what do you need?" To which I replied "everything?" So she said she would come by. New dude comes by and takes our food order. We wait. And wait. Food comes, missing one item completely. We eat, drinks are empty again and no one comes by. It was so stupid. I ask for the manager. Who shows up??? The HOSTESS!!! Still acting confused as to why we are expressing our concerns when the service blew. She compensated us for the food but like, I would've happily paid. Just wanted to be treated well and to be fed some decent food. Just go to tavern in the square. They were so fun and easy!! read more

Heads up they charge a 4% kitchen appreciation charge and dont tell you about it. Try to pass the swipe machine to you without giving you an itemized receipt so you dont know it's there. You essentially over tip. read more

I was in the restaurant business for 15 years and i never leave a poor review but i feel i have too. I've dined here twice including tonight. Tonight was worse than the first time but neither was even average. My steak was so well done it was shoe leather. I was not given a fork and had to wait 20 minutes to get someone's attention. People were done with their food before i got a fork. The list goes on. So so many better choices in boston for your money. read more

This was my last meal as a resident in Boston. I know a transplant Chicagoan after 17 years a Bostonian transplant. Took my good friend to brunch. The food was just as good as the company. It's in a great area with lovely views of the harbor and the Zakim. Would have loved to eat outside but 1) it just rained and 2) it was like 1000000 degrees. (Near end of June). Definitely make a reservation. It's a great brunch place! read more

Great service for a Mother's Day brunch. Food was delicious. Maybe because it was Mother's Day there were a lot of families enjoying.

What a frustrating and completely disappointing experience we had at Alcove tonight.  We sat down at 5:25, and it took 15 minutes to place a drink order, then another 20 minutes for the drinks to come. A total  of 35 minutes form sit down to getting a drink. We ordered our meal at 5:40 and at 6:15 we got one charcuterie board.  By 6:50 we still had not received any other food...an hour and 10 minutes of waiting for our meals when we had a 7:00 show to get to.  The waitress was horrible. She had no clue what was going on or how to make anything happen.  We finally cancelled our food order and left hungry. We eat out in Boston very often, and have been doing so for over 20 years. This was by far one of the most frustrating evenings we have ever had. I would never recommend this restaurant to anyone. read more

4% Kitchen Appreciation fee on the check in 2024, not during COVID. What is this nonsense about and than they have a line for you to leave a tip. I found this to be extremely sneaky. I am not sure if this is targeted to try and get more money out of Taurus who might not recognize this gimmick, but with all of those in the Boston area for travel this would certainly be an area that you might come to or you might be coming down to this area for an event at the TD Garden. This restaurant was very strange at best subpar food, mediocre size portions, and a server that was almost nonexistent. Even the restaurant was dead at the time that we were there. This is definitely a one and done for me as I see absolutely no reason to come back to this place read more

Check in person was terrible. It's Mother's Day with tons of tables open and says well you booked a high top...but rude about it. Ordered chicken sliders...cold and average. Onion dip was tiny and meh. Frittata was meh. Overall, crummy experience for Mother's Day with sub par food. read more

Despite a perfect location adjacent to TD Garden and beautiful, late summer sunset views of the Zakim Bridge, I just can't give Alcove a better review. It was fairly busy for a Tuesday evening (5:30 reservation). We were seated promptly and had water brought to the table. Service only went downhill from there. We ordered drinks and an appetizer and though the app came reasonably quick, the drinks were better than a 15-minute wait. We then placed our order for the main course, salad and a burger, and saw no one for almost another hour! When our server finally did return, they asked if we wanted anything else and was surprised to learn we hadn't received our food. We ordered another round of drinks (taking another 15 minutes) and our food finally came. The food was fine, nothing really special. When we received our bill and credit receipt, they didn't match. They charged our card over $100 more than our bill! We asked them to fix it, and they brought us a new receipt to sign. It is now the next day, and it is still wrong in our bank statement. Which means we will still have to unwind this error to be charged appropriately. All in all, Alcove was an extremely frustrating experience. read more

I went to alcove for drinks last night and had a great experience. We got a Friday 7:15pm patio reservation (for 2) just a few hours in advance. The view from the patio is stunning. It is a bit windy because of its location, but it's great for adding a breeze on a hot day. My friend and I just went for drinks and we loved their cocktails and the prices were not bad. Service was timely and overall we loved alcove. read more

Alcove - Scarlet begonia (left) and bayside (right) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

The smoked salmon pâté was incredible. Service was great and the view is nice. I definitely recommend visiting Alcove. read more

Alcove - Smoked salmon paté with fries - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Overpriced shit thrown on a plate with a thousand French Fries. The worst dining experience in Boston. Go try it and tell me I'm wrong. Added bonus was the awkward Server lecturing to us about the additional "Kitchen Addition" to our check. As if a $10 half-pour of beer wasn't already payment enough. Just garbage. read more

We loved this place! Went here for Christmas and the food, service, and ambiance were incredible! The restaurant was incredibly lively and we started with the Raspberry Lime Rickey and a 2022 Au Bon Climat Chardonnay which were both great. We shared the French Onion Dip, Crispy Kale Salad, Shishito Peppers, and Rainbow Carrots with Carrot Cake for dessert. We'd order everything again. Extra special if you can get a seat by the windows! read more

Alcove - Crispy Kale Salad - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Food was overall decent, however we waited 2 hours for our entrees to be served. Waiter was nice and it seemed like a management and kitchen issue as they seemed understaffed. There were no napkins in 3 of the bathrooms either. Also they initially told us they wouldn't have space outside and it never got anywhere close to full. Would not recommend read more

Came by on a Sunday afternoon following a local Celtics game. We ate prior to the game so we weren't too hungry by that point. My friend made reservations that we were very early for but considering there were a ton of seats open, it was not a problem. Got a couple rounds of drinks served by our energetic waitress. We shared a dozen oysters, 3 of each kind they had available. Our waitress explained all the differences which was very accurate and I appreciated. An order of the mussel appetizer was also shared which I thought was decent but overly salty. A single slice of bread was included so we requested a second just so we each had something to dip with. Overall, was not amazed by the food or drinks. Most likely because of the limited items we tried from their menu. Beautiful locations right in the water that might be worth coming back for. read more

Alcove - Oysters - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

See all

Alcove has always been one of our favorite spots in Boston. We love the ambiance, food, and location. We are very disappointed that they recently switched to a tapas menu; it is the primary factor for us when choosing a restaurant over the Alcove. read more

Where do I start... We had a 4:45 outdoor dining reservation. When we arrived 15 minutes early (at 4:30), we were met by a hostess who seemed put off by our presence. I asked if we could be seated at one of the many empty tables with an umbrella. She condescendingly replied, "Well I can try, but the sun rotates, dear," before seating us at a completely unshaded table. When I asked for a table with an umbrella, she told me, "Why don't you just pick a table that you want, dear." Her patronizing attitude and unprofessional use of "dear" were completely uncalled for. The service was also frustrating. Being small plates, we stated that we wanted to order some items, and then some more after we ate the first round. We waited and waited for our food. The entire outdoor patio was in a similar state--tables were waiting for drinks and food, and it was clear the kitchen and waitstaff were overwhelmed. After waiting 45 minutes for a second round of food we'd ordered, we had to get the attention of a table cleaner to explain that we could wait no longer and needed to leave. We left, hungry, at 6:25. Also, I used the bathroom. There was no soap. This whole experience was unbelievable, especially since the website promotes the restaurant as a quick pre-show dining option for TD Garden attendees. The promise of a 1.5-hour dining window was not met. I've worked in the restaurant industry and always try to be understanding, but last night was a complete disaster from start to finish. This was the worst dining experience of my life. (PS I am 50 years old. Don't call me dear.) read more

I love this place and it was a great festive meal. We ordered the seafood platter and Cacio e Pepe, and steak. Everything there was delicious! The oysters and the little necks were delicious the only thing I didn't like was really hard crab claws they were not fun to crack I wish they did it for us. Crab cakes were delicious. My steak was cooked perfect medium rare. I definitely would come back here again. read more

See all

Came for brunch before a Bruins game and was truly impressed with the service, atmosphere and food. We chose the lunch avenue and my choice was their Shrimp Tacos which were full of so much flavor with fresh soft tortilla shells. Of course ordered an IPA to go along with it which was the perfect combination. It got a bit louder once it started to get full but it wasn't too bad. Beautiful views of the Zakim Bridge and wharf with perfect blue skies. Clean Bathrooms and our servers were all pleasant. Really enjoyed my visit, hope to come back soon. read more

See all

Overlooking the Z bridge, this place was a good stop to get drinks and apps before walking over to the North End. I didn't get to try the main dishes but the apps and drinks were really good. Dennis, the bartender, was also very nice, comp'ing the shishito peppers because they were too spicy (without anyone asking. He just saw me sweating a ton) I recommend it for a nice summer stroll along the water as well read more

I was a bit weary to eat here because of the mixed reviews but I took the chance and reserved outdoor dining for my cousin's 40th birthday. My expectations were exceeded and we had an absolutely amazing time, great food, and beautiful scenery. The general service was great, our server was awesome, the food was tasty and our table had several varieties of food that we ordered. From the burrata salad, grilled cheese, oysters, scallops, bisque, and steak frittes, churros, and dessert sampler. I'd say the only thing that could've been better was the steak frittes- it was over cooked but still tasty. Even the drinks were yummy! I highly recommend even if just for appetizers and drinks' read more

Alcove - I forgot what it was called but it was the best drink I had during my trip to Boston! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Really wanted to like this restaurant a lot more than what my ranking is for them and even though they were able to open up a table that didn't have a reservation because we preferred not to sit at a high top, the food and the service fell short. Located at the Lovejoy Wharf steps away from the TD Banknorth Garden, the atmosphere is dimmer due to the track lights not illuminating the area sufficiently to read the menu comfortably. Known gluttons for espresso martinis, my friend and I ordered the restaurant's own concoction with cardamon, which was worked deftly and was very tasty, but it was contained in a smaller glass meant for liquor, when it's typically in more or less a martini-styled glass. So for the same price as other restaurants, the volume has been reduced by half. We went straight to the entrées and a side: mushroom radiatori, duck breast, sirloin steak, and roasted brussels spouts. The duck breast was dry and not as enjoyable as I would've hoped for and the sirloin steak, while cooked to a perfect medium rare lacked seasoning. The mushroom radiatori was by far the best dish with the pasta nicely al dente. This speak volumes that their station for preparing and cooking meat could use improvement while the pasta station doesn't need any. After ordering a glass of Nebbiolo (Italian red wine), it took nearly 20 minutes for its arrival. More specifically, I couldn't get a sense that our waiter gave 100% of the service quality a customer tends to expect, so either he was having a bad day, the restaurant doesn't pay him well, he just doesn't like working there, or he doesn't care at all. But if any of that, or all of it, is projected onto the customers, it will sour the overall dining experience. If we return another time, I really hope the restaurant elevates their service and food quality to avoid dissatisfied customers. read more

Rating 4.5 I've been here several times for drinks with friends and everything I've had has been fantastic. I always love a good craft cocktail! Finally came last night for dinner before the Celtics game. Was a bit worried since the place was packed with other Celtics fans, but service was prompt and the food came out quickly! Everything we had was pretty good. Portion sizes felt reasonable for the price & location. Overall, we were happy with our meal choices. The roasted cauliflower was especially delicious and my favorite item we ordered. The carbonara was good...not quite North End amazing, but a good choice. And the crab cakes were tasty, though I'd probably prefer a more traditional arrangement without the extra exterior elements (I felt those sort of got in the way of the crab flavor). The pear and endive salad was delicious as well! Great pairing with the dressing. Overall, we'll be back again read more

See all

Originally came super excited to try Alcove with their 3 course Boston DineOut option, but was quickly disappointed after trying their lobster consommé. No other way to explain it other than drinking aquarium water with floating tomatoes. The Hake minimally better, with no salt and extremely mushy. The beans and sauce it was served with was easily the best part of first 2 courses. Last gripe is that oyster price on the menu was not the price on the receipt. Otherwise, the blueberry ice cream wasn't bad but wasn't good enough to recommend Alcove. read more

Alcove - Hake - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

We had a nice dinner here recently. It was rainy, so we couldn't sit outside, but we're looking forward to it next time. We were pleased to see that the indoor air quality was reasonable (we carry a handheld CO2 meter) -- around 800 ppm CO2. For reference, outdoor air is around 500, the most I would want to see in a crowded indoor space is around 1500-1600. But of course, some places are higher or lower depending on their ventilation systems. The mushroom radiatori was delicious, and the steak was ok. The beer we chose was excellent. Service was fast and we would have loved to stay for desert if we'd had more time -- next time! read more

I saw another person also brought up the 4% "kitchen appreciation" charge on the bill. It was a surprise when we saw it after we left. It is the employer's responsibility to pay the kitchen staff a fair living wage and this cost should be factored into the cost of the food on the menu. To charge the customers this hidden cost after the meal is distasteful. Will there also be charges for "dish washing appreciation", "janitorial appreciation", "accounting appreciation", lighting, music,.....? We will take our business elsewhere. read more

After a long day of touring; my last tour guide recommended this place. Food quality was good. Flavor, temperature and presentation on point. The assistant wait staff was attentive; my actual waiter I saw once to take my drink order. Again to take my food order. Then 25 minutes after my food came out. Then I didn't see anyone for 15 minutes which that person just took my plate away. Finally after 10 more minutes my waiter came back and asked me if I wanted dessert... I politely said no and he promptly brought me my check. So consistent with many other recent reviews read more

Unique menu. Food was great, halibut & monkfish milanase. Service by Esteban was wonderful. Staff were all friendly, helpful. Weather was great so we opted for outside seating. They had affordable wine by the glass, but their bottles were a bit pricey, only negative. read more

One of the worst restaurant experiences I have ever had. I ordered a drink and had to ask again for it after ten minutes. They apologized when they brought it and my dinner companions ordered wine and over twenty minutes later we still didn't get the wine. I had to go to the bar to ask them to send someone over. To top it off the fire alarm (with spot lights) went off because of smoke in the kitchen and no one ever came by and told us what was going on or acknowledged that the dining experience was ruined. I can't imaging this place will last another week! read more

Came in before a concert at big night live with my partner. I cannot describe in words how sophisticated and attentive the two bartenders on staff were. The second we walked through the door, there was a full bar. Stefan the bartender directed us to the next available seats. Once sat, we had nothing but the best attention, they made us custom cocktails based on what we were in the mood for. Stefan and Jamie made us feel at home and it was almost like a performance with how they made their cocktails and all the while taking care of a very crowded bar. 10/10 experience and cannot recommend them more, will absolutely be coming back because of just the two of them. read more

Kind of a disappointment. The location is amazing and I highly recommend going around sunset because the view over the bridge is fantastic! Super conveniently located near the garden and public transport and if you drive they offer parking validation at a local hotel (on a game night it was $35). The inside was super nice and they had great outdoor seating options as well! Everyone was super nice, we got there early and they made sure to bring over waters and drinks. Food was the disappointment. Got a variety of apps which were yummy but the portions were tiny and hard to split amongst us. I ordered the carbonara and it was so salty I could barely eat it. The steak was more over cooked than we had ordered, and the burger and fish tacos were fine. The favorite was the baked chicken... would recommend that! A great spot for the looks and grabbing drinks and apps but I wouldn't go back for dinner. read more

See all

On the evening of Sunday, September 3rd, 2023, my spouse and I were lured by the flawless weather to indulge in a delightful dinner outing. The choice that attracted us was none other than Alcove, primarily for its enchanting backdrop that offers panoramic views of the Zakim bridge and serene waterscape. Booking a table at Alcove was a breeze, and it promised a seamless experience right from the start. However, it's worth noting that the parking situation was a bit of a hassle, as one would expect considering its prime location. We eventually secured a spot at the North End and walked to the restaurant. As we settled into our seats at Alcove, my enthusiasm was met with a bit of disappointment. The menu offerings were surprisingly limited, not aligning with our expectations for the evening. After some contemplation, we made the decision to opt for a simpler fare, choosing to indulge in a selection of fresh oysters and cocktails (Spritz and Scarlet Begonia) while preserving our appetite for a more extensive dining experience elsewhere. In summary, while Alcove certainly captivates with its splendid view and effortless reservation process, it falls short in terms of its dining options. Nevertheless, the charming location and ambiance make it an ideal choice for pre-dinner drinks and appetizers, allowing you to savor the views before embarking on a culinary journey elsewhere. read more