Avenue Kitchen + Bar: A Ball Square "Short & Sweet" Review ​Rating: The Vibe: High-end industrial garage where everyone is 15% cooler than me. ​The Pizza: Their Detroit-style crust is a thick, cheesy brick of joy. It's the only thing in Somerville with more structural integrity than the Green Line. ​The Drinks: Strong enough to make you forget that you spent forty minutes looking for a parking spot three blocks away. ​The Noise: Loud enough that you don't have to pretend to listen to your date's podcast ideas. ​Verdict: Go for the crispy cheese edges, stay because you've had two "Spicy Margaritas" and walking up the Winter Hill incline now seems impossible. read more

See all

Great spot for the neighborhood, super cozy vibe with genuinely friendly service. We tried the tequila wings, personal pizza, and chicken sandwich, and loved all three. The wings were huge, juicy, and perfectly crunchy with tons of flavor. The pizza had a crisp crust and really flavorful sauce, and the chicken sandwich was hand-breaded with high-quality ingredients. Highly recommend, we will definitely be coming back! read more

See all

The pizza here is actually really solid. I'm always craving Detroit-style pizza, and this scratches that itch. The crust is nice and crispy. The sauce is probably the highlight. It's complex and has hints of bitterness that helps cut through the fat. Huge fan of the sauce. The broccoli rabe is delicious. My favorite is the chef's choice, though even their regular is super solid. read more

Hands-down my all-time favorite brunch spot. If I could give it 7/5, I would--giving it the same 5/5 rating I've given a number of other restaurants feels unfair to Avenue Kitchen's brunch. It's only open for brunch on Sundays, which combined with always being seated immediately makes it feel like a hidden gem. The back patio is quiet, shaded, and sheltered from wind. The food shines. Of course the egg scramble and the Benedict's were fantastic, but every piece of every plate feels deliberate and done with intention--nothing is an afterthought. - Their home fries are my all-time favorite--thick, well-seasoned, soft on the inside with some crisp on the outside. - - The English muffin toast has a crunchy golden surface and soft inside. - The whipped cream on the French toast feels luxurious. - Oyster shooters are a fun treat, as a lover of both fried clams and bloody Mary's. - They were kind enough to accommodate us with a half order of their (outstanding) French toast for dessert I'd note there's no espresso drinks on the menu, although I did enjoy the black coffee. I like trying new spots, but if the question is Sunday brunch then Avenue is always my answer. read more

See all

Food is great. Service top notch. Craig is a great bartender. Always has games on . Lively atmosphere. read more

See all

Second time coming here and second time ordering the seitan wings and they were sold out again! Will definitely come back to try again since I hear such great things about the wings. We ordered the cesar salad, pot stickers, and a margarita pizza with mushrooms. The salad was really flavorful - crunchy and dressed well. I was super excited that their dressing did not contain any anchovies or eggs! The pizza was okay - it tasted like there was a bit of salt missing but outside of that, it was good. The potstickers were okay, I likely wouldn't order them again but simply because they weren't my favorite. We went on a Thursday night and it was fairly full but we were able to get a table for 2 immediately. Out server was really helpful as well. read more

See all

We got a couple of their Detroit style pizzas and they couldn't have been more delicious. Service was quick and friendly. Good, casual vibe. Looking forward to going back, particularly when the outdoor seating is open. read more

First time visiting - quaint little spot that was fairly busy on a Monday night. Interesting and varied menu with something for everyone. Great and wonderful options for vegans and vegetarians . Really enjoyed everything we ordered from the Edamame Dumplings to the Kale and Avocado Salads - good sized portions and both outstanding. Service was impeccable - just enough attention but not overbearing. Loved it here and will be back! read more

Got the Caesar salad, which they kindly split into 3 servings for my parents and I, and we also got a small pepperoni pizza. The Detroit style pizza was really good and crispy. Their drinks were also good too, I got the espresso martini and my dad got this blackberry cocktail that was fantastic. Solid place! Our server was also super nice and helpful. read more

Avenue Kitchen + Bar - Caesar - Beer Bar Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

My wife and I love this place. It's become our go-to for brunch every Sunday morning. I'm not normally a salad guy, but the salads here are way better than any salad I've ever had and my wife agrees. Really quality ingredients all around. Love the detroit style of pizza here too. Crispy chicken sandwich is delish! Don't get me started on their spicy fries and truffle aioli....yum! Snobby good food without the snobby attitude. Place is always neat and clean. Bartenders and staff are very friendly and down to earth. Ang and Gino are the best! read more

We were going to see a show at the Chevalier Theater and we decided to check out the Avenue Kitchen since it was only a ten minute drive from the theater. Parking can be a challenge since the side streets are mostly resident permit parking only. We lucked out and got a metered spot right in front of the restaurant. We decided to eat outside since it was a beautiful night. The outdoor space is also more quiet than the indoor space. Steven T was our server and he was very attentive and friendly. Sometimes when eatting outside, there is a fear that you might be forgotten, but that was not the case last Friday. Steven checked in on us frequently and warned us about the size of the pizzas. I started with a purple vixen which is a vodka drink with creme de violet and my husband had a dirty martini. He was thrilled because he LOVES blue cheese stuffed olives in his martini and usually has to ask for them, so he was in his glory seeing them on the menu. We loved both of our drinks! For apps, we started with the Caesar Deviled Eggs-which was a nice idea to have the salad underneath. We also had the Maple Chili Duck Wings after reading all of the positive reviews. They were fabulous!! Easy to eat and very tasty! A suggestion might be to include a wet nap if you choose to pick them up to hand eat. The meat fell right off the bone. So tasty. We decided to get two pizzas so we could bring home leftovers The slices are quite generous and thick. They are 'Detroit' style, which to this Italian from NJ, I would have said it was actually Sicilian style! No matter what you call it, it was excellent. I got the mushroom broccoli rabe with sausage, which is my favorite pasta dish, so had to try it pizza style. My husband got the black and blue which is short rib and blue cheese. Again-his favorite cheese! We each had a slice of each and brought home the rest to be enjoyed the next day. Love this neighborhood spot and will definitely return if seeing a show near here again! read more

See all

OMG, the Detroit pizza!! While I haven't had much of this style of pizza, I do know that this my favorite one so far! My husband and I were visiting friends in the area when they ordered take out from here which included 2 Detroit style pizzas (mushroom & pepperoni), fries and onion dip with chips. Everything was fantastic! The pizza was light, airy and flavorful. I feel like I could have eaten 100 slices! It was not heavy at all like most of the other Detroit pizza I've had. The fries & onion dip were also both better than expected. I would definitely recommend checking out the pizza; I already want to go back and get more! read more

Avenue Kitchen + Bar - Togarashi Fries, onion dip, chips - Beer Bar Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

See all

Salads were okay, high prices for what was given. Good variety. Quiet, but I went on a Monday.

We received the wrong order and I called the restaurant and they said they would provide a credit which was never received.

A small restaurant in Ball square that serves Detroit style pizza. It was quite packed on a Monday night. I've never had Detroit style pizza and it was pretty good. The pizzas came out hot and delicious. The regular/personal pizza is a great size for 1-2 people. I would recommend the pizzas and the togarashi fries. The fries had a nice spicy kick to them. I got the "utica" chicken riggies which was decent, and a great portion. They have a Monday special of unlimited toppings on a regular pizza, and different specials every day. Service was good. There's street parking: two hour parking and metered parking (watch the signs as some spots are permit parking only). read more

See all

Really great options for food, extensive drink menu (all quality choices), great pizza! read more

Avenue Kitchen + Bar - Deep dish (chef's choice) - Beer Bar Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

See all

Tried brunch here on St. Paddy's and the corned beef hash bennie was solid. I liked that it came in a little skillet to keep the hash warm. The english muffin was perfectly toasted and the home fries were really tasty and well seasoned - they were more like fries since they were fried, but I prefer these over the griddled mash potatoes that are popular in the ball square area. I had a cucumber bloody mary that was okay, but it's not something I'd get again, as the mix was kind of bland and lacked depth. Service was good, but it required more prompting than I expected for sitting at the bar. Would likely return again to try their detroit style pizza. read more

Avenue Kitchen + Bar - Beer Bar Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

See all

The pizza was good.i will go back. Dining experience was good as well. I'd like to try the other plates and apps I remember this use to be a fish store for 40 plus years Good renovation and location read more

Avenue Kitchen + Bar - Chicago pizza w meatball slices - Beer Bar Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Came here for a Monday night dinner with a friend. The restaurant space is kind of small but for a weeknight evening it was easy to be seated quickly. The fries were super crispy and well seasoned as was my chicken sandwich. A good stop for a weeknight bite! read more

Avenue Kitchen + Bar - Crispy Chicken Sandwich - Beer Bar Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

See all

Loved the vegan chickpea meatloaf and the kale/avocado salad I had recently! Always friendly service too. read more

Avenue Kitchen + Bar - vegan meatloaf - Beer Bar Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

See all

Came here with 8 people. Ambiance was lovely and the service was good. Unfortunately the food was rather disappointing. I ordered the caeser salad and the chicken wings well done. The salad was ok but the wings were bland and not at all well done. They were just boring! One of the women ordered the fried chicken sandwich. It looked good but when I tasted it I was quite disappointed-again very under seasoned. read more

OFF THE HOOK! Forget about North End. Go to Somerville for some AMAZING Detroit style pizza. So full of flavor. The Chefs Choice is the perfect blend of mozzarella, dans of ricotta, savory sauce, pepperoni and sausage. We opted out of the broc rabe, but after tasting it, I'm sure it would've added a nice accompaniment. Try the Wings. So flavorful, not too Spicy and just the right amount of crispy. The simple salad was light and crispy, dressing just right amount. Simple but tasty for sure. And last but not least, our server was just the right amount of everything nice. So pleasant, friendly and on top of everything we needed to make our experience great. Thanks Avenue Kitchen. Keep doing what you're doing. Street parking Lovely atmosphere Clean and well done Nice selection of beer and wine read more

See all

I love thiccc bread and cheese, so coming here was a no brainer. Detroit style pizza may be my new love. All the staff here is so nice, and the patio was super cute! We got two small pizzas and that was more than enough for the two of us. They were a little heavy handed on the ranch for the chicken and ranch pizza, but other than that, perfection!! It had the perfect texture (crispy on the outside, soft and bready on the inside). I don't know how well this could travel to be honest, so worth taking the trip here to try out the pizzas! read more

Avenue Kitchen + Bar - Beer Bar Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

See all

Saturday afetrnoon, wanted better food than around Fenway before our Fenway concert. We had a 12 year old boy who is a little picky so this restaurant fit the bill. Had some American fare but also some interesting items to choose from. We pulled up around 4:30 on a Saturday afternoon and pulled right into a spot out front (metered- quarters only.) Walked in and immediately was seated. It has a New Orleans vibe on the inside- just how the wall art work is like light fixtures. The 2 kids split a small pizza- two slices each. Detroit style. Thick and saucy. Sorry they were out of pepperoni! I had a bite of my daughters. I liked the crispy crust but the sauce was a little sweet for my lining. I had a watermelon sangria. Lite drink, not too boozy. My friend had a mule and she said it was very strong. She had a burger and said it was delicious. I had the burrata. This is my second recent burrata experience and I can say it was interesting with the quinoa. It was delicious all mixed together but I did ask for more balsamic. It was served with a large piece of buttery garlic toast which was super tasty! Why not 5 stars? Our waiter was way too into his phone - not very charismatic or attentive and the pizza sauce could be better. read more

Avenue Kitchen + Bar - Burrata - Beer Bar Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Ladies and gentlemen, I have found the best pizza in Boston. Do not hesitate to go here. Really good detroit style and awesome staff. You can tell they care about pizza. The vibe is real. Go. Now. read more

See all

Service was great, he recommended we try their Detroit style pizza. The meatball small size was great to split with an appetizer. I love martinis and got the dirty martini on their menu, which I can't recommend enough. Somewhat of a small place but super nice! read more

When I saw 'Shrimp n Grits', I got happy! But, when I got it and saw aallll that oil floating in it, I stopped wagging my tail. I'm southern-rooted, so what I was expecting was 'grits' (not polenta}, butter, salt and pepper, grilled/fried shrimp, maybe a new twist on a seasoning or two. That's not what I got. Maybe it was sausage oil. Maybe it was olive oil. I don't know, but it was too much. It had a good taste to it, though. Just too much oil, not enough grit (IMO). I also ordered the Cobb Salad. Saving that for tomorrow. PLEASE don't disappoint. read more

We found Avenue by accident and cannot go back to the life without it ever since! No matter it's after a tough day of hiking, or hosting friends and families from the Pizza city (they request Avenue every time!), or it's simply a night craving Detroit style pizza, Avenue Kitchen is our go to place in the area. In the past few years, we have ordered from here numerous times and tried different appetizers / salads to go with the pizza. They're all great but nothing can take away the spotlight from the Detroit style pizza - the crust is crunchy and slightly burnt, the tomato sauce is not too sweet nor sour, and the whole pizza makes a great presentation of flavors. Best Detroit style pizza in the greater Boston area! Talking about best pizza in general in the area? It's up there! Highly recommend! read more

See all

Fancy little pizza place. Great pie. Sicilian/Detroit style pizza. Great ingredients. Sausage pepper onion was pretty good, but their pepperoni was a great choice! A bit pricey, but restarting rent ain't cheap. Wouldn't be a regular Thursday lunch spot but a nice out of the blue choice for a little different pizza meal to split. read more

Avenue Kitchen + Bar - The Reg Pizza half pepperoni with onion, half sausage w/ peppers and onions - Beer Bar Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Terrible service pizza came out burnt and the skillet cookie came out under cooked and they refused to remake and of the food they screwed up. They served flat soda and said it was our fault it was flat even though we tried it straight after it got to our table would not recommend this establishment read more

A hidden gem in Ball Square! When we arrived at the restaurant during prime weekend brunch hours, we got a little worried when it was nearly empty (especially when the diner next door had lines out the door...) But luckily, we were blown away by the quality and taste of the food! This place is apparently known for their Detroit Style Pizza, which is a more doughy, almost bread-like rectangular version of pizza. We tried the Chef's Choice which was tasty! The small size is 4 slices, but could easily feed more than 4 people. What they should really be known for though, is their home fries! The seasoning reminded of KFC's (now extinct) potatoes wedges. The fries were perfectly crisp! I could have eaten an entire plate of it! Their fried chicken was also standout! I tried the Fried Chicken Eggs Benedict which was really tasty, albeit very heavy. It was smothered in a creamy, gravy sauce, served on warm biscuits. The Power Bowl was nutritious yet filling and also delicious! Good if you're looking for a brunch dish without the post-meal food coma. The buffalo wings were nothing to write home about, but nonetheless solid. They also has a pretty extensive cocktail drink menu. However, their normal tea and coffee options were more limited. Service was decent and the ambiance was "trying too hard." I'd definitely come back for more of the food! read more

See all

Excellent Detroit style pizza and a good selection of beer and other alcoholic drinks. The rest of the menu is hit or miss, however. Definitely for a palate more refined than mine. That said, my family members absolutely love the place. It's a very good choice for dining in Somerville. read more

I finally checked out Avenue Kitchen + Bar, and am very pleased to report that it was an awesome experience. We were looking for a place to go for our anniversary that was casual but that had a great selection of cocktails and food - and Avenue Kitchen met all the necessary criteria. This is a blink-and-you'll-miss-it spot not too far from Ball Square, but it's pretty easy to get to and there was ample metered parking when we were there (early on a Saturday night). We made a reservation just to be safe, but the place wasn't too busy (5 PM on a Saturday night) - when I've walked by later on other nights though, they do have a decent crowd, so reservations probably are a good idea. I got a cocktail whose name I forget (and it doesn't seem to be on their online menu) but it was fruity and had aperol and was WONDERFUL and beautiful. For an appetizer, we split the maple chili duck wings, and I would definitely get these again! The order came with 6, and had a terrific sauce (a little sticky / messy, but that's the price of deliciousness!). Way better than chicken wings - I'm already craving more. For our main course, we debated between going with steak or chicken or one of the other entrees... but at the end of the day, we just couldn't resist getting the pizza (it's what their known for, after all). We got a large pizza, half 'The Reg' and half with pepperoni added, and it was so so good! Deep dish pizza can be hit or miss for me, but this one was definitely a hit. And this stuff fills you up - even splitting a large between the two of us, we had half the pizza left over! The pizza paired perfectly with the Maine Dinner DIPA, one of my favorite New England beers. When we did the math, this actually came out to a relatively good value dinner, considering that we had a good amount of leftovers. The atmosphere was nice, but not overly stuffy or fancy, which was exactly what we were going for. This could become a regular spot for us - really glad we came! read more

See all

This place was excellent. I ordered the chicken grilled cheese which was made with pimento cheese. It was unlike any other grilled cheese I've had. Since pimento isn't really a stretchy cheese, it was less of a stretchy experience. It was a really stuffed sandwich and very filling. Decently spicy, and a refreshing take on the grilled cheese. I ordered it with a caesar salad (which came with tomatoes, which actually wasn't as strange as I thought) and it was pretty decent. Wasn't extraordinary thought. And I ordered a cheese pizza as well. It was a pan pizza so it was thicker and more filling than other kinds. Very tasty but wasn't superb. But I'd like to try one with more toppings next time. The service was fast and the server was kind. Also the ambience was nice and fairy dim. I would love to sit in the back area sometime which looked like it was outside. Will be back to try something new! read more

Avenue Kitchen + Bar - Grilled Cheese - Beer Bar Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

See all

Awesome little brunch place! Service is friendly and personal. The food is phenomenal. I ordered the bacon brie bowl both times. I might try one of the eggs Benedict offerings next time. The home fries are soooo good. They also have Detroit style pizza. Just go. Might need a reservation as it gets busy. read more

Really appreciate the extensive plant based selection on their menu for vegetarians and vegans! Finding vegan wings at restaurants is rare for me and their seitan wings did not disappoint! It has an in-house "tequila sauce" lathered all over which is sweet and spicy. Asked for ranch on the side and it tasted perfect! Loved the southwestern salad as well. Cocktails were ok. Pricing was very reasonable. Overall nice local spot for a date night or evening with friends/family. Came here on a Friday evening without a reservation and it was packed - luckily found two seats on the patio and were seated right away. Great service overall! read more

See all

Reintroduced me to Detroit style pizza and I'm so happy for it! Love this local place. Great food outside the pizza, but always a go to for me! read more

This place is the best - and living less than 5 minutes away from here was dangerous The Avenue was probably my favorite pizza spot in the Medford/Somerville area when I lived there during the pandemic. I'm a huge fan of thick crust pizza, and this place knocks detroit style pizza out of the park. The times I went my usual pies were the Reg, The Barbacoa and the Mushroom Rabe and every time I went I was always incredibly satisfied. Their other items like the duck-wings and togarashi fries are solid. Also, the beer and drink selection here was impeccable. Any time I had guests over/ visiting, we had to make a stop by here. Looking forward to swinging by during my next trip to the East Coast - definitely miss this spot read more

Best detroit style pizza in the Boston area. We get this takeout/delivery on a regular basis. It's perfect for a cozy night in watching tv with a beer or a root beer and the windows open. The large pizza with pepperoni is simple but amazing. Spongy dough, slightly chewy mozzarella that crisps at the edges, and a deliciously balanced sauce. Pro-tip if you really like sauce, order extra. read more

First of all, those MAPLE DUCK WINGS?!?! Holy cow, AMAZING... like Phantom Gormet amazing. Had that and a Cobb Salad with grilled chicken, and I must say that was one of the best salads I've ever had. Deviled eggs Great ambiance, as it was around 5-5:30. Last but certainly not least was the staff, ACES. Right from the get-go the host was very pleasant and even came by at one point to make sure everything was going well. Our server Stacy went above and beyond to and that really made our night. Will 100% be back to try everything on the menu! read more