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    Bootleg Special

    4.0 (1.3k reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated 2 months ago

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    Live Current wait: under 5 minutes

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    BOOTLEG SPECIAL ATMOSPHERE

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    Hipster
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    Recommended Reviews - Bootleg Special

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    Katie M.

    #datenight this place is a vibe Cajun Asian fusion not at all what I was expecting but the drinks were amazing and the food was delicious they had a huge screen for the #worldcup #watchparty and depending on your party size the seats are drastically different creating different vibes we had the fish and chips, crispy Brussel sprouts and braised beef garlic noodles I found a drink on their ig that I couldn't find on the menu and they made it for me not only was it super pretty it tasted amazing ill definitely stop I. again for a drink and to try some of the small plates

    Snow Crab and Snow Crab & Shrimp Cajun Boil
    Kristina J.

    My kid wanted seafood boil and I didn't. So we found this spot and it had the best of both worlds! The food was amazing and staff was fantastic! My son was in hog heaven eating the snow crab and shrimp Cajun boil. Great portions, super flavorful (lots of yummy garlic) and price was fair. We've gone to other establishments and I've had to spend over $200 and still felt hungry! I ordered their spicy crab pasta - they were able to lessen the spice and it was perfect. The bucatini pasta was cooked to perfection and there were tons of crab in the dish. It was a great way for us to end our last night in Boston!

    Inside
    Rovingaile P.

    Got a reservation with a friend for 11AM on a Saturday. It just opens at that time, so our food was served pretty quickly! Our favorite was the bootleg benedict. The hollandaise sauce had great flavor of umami, and the bits of crab were tender! The poached eggs were cooked well. The salad just had a bit too much of vinegar/acidity to its sauce though. The soufflé pancake was pretty good in terms of flavor. Not too sweet and we liked the creamy sauce especially with its hint of strawberry. The texture wasn't what I expected though. A bit more cakey and less soft than I would've liked. Overall liked the ambiance and we'll likely comeback to try their seafood boil!

    Bootleg Special 11/2025
    Vivian C.

    Restaurant Week Dine Out Boston Those I've heard of, but 2025 was my first time participating in Asian Restaurant Week, and Bootleg Special was offering a 3 course menu. I enjoyed the Bok Choy Caesar Salad, although it is admittedly crunchier than the normal romaine lettuce leaves. As a spice wimp, I didn't enjoy the Chicken & Sausage Gumbo, but they had me at the crab, so I asked if they could serve a toned down version of the Chili Crab Pasta. The crab was a good portion - although I did have to work hard to get it all out, and the fried bao bread accompanying the plate was wonderful, but I definitely preferred the pasta that came with the Beef Short Rib Garlic Pasta over my own selected entree, and not just because of the spice. It was just more tasty of the two in my opinion. *** Bootleg Special has 3 types of Po'Boys for $19. I tried the Catfish and the Shrimp. The catfish was a flakey white fish. Three pieces. The shrimp (count of five large pieces) were a meatier bite. I enjoyed both, but probably lean toward the shrimp for the textural contrast.

    Chicken Cripsy Wings with sweet chili butter glaze
    Ashley H.

    Good food. The beignets were amazing with the 2 sauces (not pictured) the drinks were mehhh. Probably would just get nonalcoholic bev next time. The ambiance is cute. I went around 9:30 on a weekday, the service was quick, wasn't much customers. Will return.

    Bootleg Special Seafood Boil
    Kelly C.

    Girls' Night! Time for food and yapping! We chose a seafood boil theme and checked this place out, we got: CEVICHE OYSTERS Such a bright and refreshing start. The jalapeño, shallot, cilantro and lime brought so much zippy flavor and the oysters were chilled perfectly. A light, but super flavorful bite to begin the meal. GARLIC NOODLES A must order here every single time. Buttery, garlicky, slightly sweet and so addicting. The texture was perfect with springy noodles coated evenly in sauce. We finished this in minutes. GRILLED OYSTERS Loved these. Warm, garlicky and cooked just enough so they stayed tender. The char and buttery roasted flavor made them comforting and rich. THE BOOTLEG SPECIAL SIGNATURE BOIL Epic is the best word for it. The mix of lobster, shrimp, crawfish, mussels and clams absorbed the signature Bootleg sauce beautifully. The sauce had garlic, butter, spice and so much Cajun depth. The potatoes, corn and sausage made it filling and fun to share. Easily the highlight of the night, minus the fact it was a teeny bit salty for us. Such a fun girls dinner with delicious food, great flavors and the perfect mix of seafood and comfort.

    Tiffany W.

    Stopped in solo for a drink and grilled oysters. Tito, my server, was great, knowledgeable, and had excellent suggestions. There was a large table next to me and their food smelled great, I can't wait to go back when I'm in town to try other items. Cute holiday decor as well!

    Rosy L.

    Everything we got was delicious - garlic noodles were amazing, Brussels sprouts were amazing, steak tataki amazing. Loved their take on birria, in bao form instead of tacos! A little messy with the consomé soup but very good. The overall vibe of the restaurant gives off fun, but I'm not sure if it just the time of day we went or what (weekday dinner), but it felt very barren. This is not a complaint whatsoever, but I would love to see this place bustling and to its fullest potential!

    Munah H.

    My birthday dinner at Bootleg Special was PHENOMONAL!! I started off with a glass of champagne and ordered the grilled oysters for my appetizer. They are the only restaurant that serves them NOLA style so whenever I go there, I have to order them. They are always cooked and seasoned perfectly. My server was such a pleasure to have! She was kind, attentive and very knowledgeable of the menu. I wanted everything on Bootleg Special's menu and trying to decide was driving me up a wall. I decided to go with their popular garlic noodles and I added shrimp. I am so glad I went with garlic noodles because it was SO delicious! I should've ordered another plate to go! What I really appreciate about Bootleg Special on top of the great food and customer service, I love how any staff walking by will ask if you need anything. I remember my assigned server was busy assisting a large group and it was taking longer than planned. I didn't mind because I was enjoying the music but another server came up to me and asked if I was ready to order. I was a bit hesitant because I didn't want to seem like I was on stepping on toes but they assured me that they are all a team and they can assist me. That is such a lost art! Bootleg Special takes care of their customers! I spent the rest of the night jamming to the music and enjoying my meal. The dinner ended tremendously with beignets with candles from Bootleg Special. That was the icing on the cake! I was able to have a mini photoshoot as I was waiting on my Uber. NOW my birthday dinner was complete. This birthday dinner exceeded my expectations! THANK YOU SO MUCH TO BOOTLEG SPECIAL for going above and beyond!!!

    Brooke C.

    Bootleg special had a very fun and whimsical ambiance! My drink was good and I appreciated the low drink prices - $14 craft cocktail is hard to find these days. The $10 food specials M-W are also pretty amazing. The plates were large and the food quality was good. I'm overall very impressed by the value and experience here.

    Garlic Noodles
    Cindy C.

    The inside does not match the outside at all. Perfect spot to take your date to impress them, because WOW the decor in here is unmatched. MUST ORDER the signature garlic noodles with shrimp. That was the most amazing thing! The drinks are also so good here. Although it was a bit of a heavy meal, every bite of it was delicious. It was a nice surprise because I didn't expect much going in. Such a lively spot and good find!

    Truffle Steak Tataki (left) / Beef Birria Bao (right)
    Tony M.

    Bootleg Special has clearly grown into itself -- and I mean that in the best way. The last time I was here was around 2019, during their early days, and while it was good then, my visit on December 13, 2025 felt like a full glow-up. The ambiance is now cozy but lively, the kind of place that hums with energy without feeling chaotic. Warm lighting, upbeat vibes, and a crowd that looks like they *know* they picked the right spot for the night. SERVICE: deserves a serious shoutout. Our server, Albina, was professional, warm, and genuinely attentive, the kind of service that elevates the entire experience without ever being intrusive. Drinks stayed filled, timing between courses was smooth, and the rest of the staff moved like a well-coordinated team. You could tell they take pride in what they're doing. FOOD: Now let's talk food, because this is where Bootleg Special really flexes. We kicked things off with the Beef Birria Bao and Truffle Steak Tataki and wow. The Asian-Louisiana fusion is bold and surprisingly seamless. The bao was soft and pillowy, packed with deeply flavorful meat and veggies that worked beautifully together. The truffle steak tataki? So tender and delicious that I realized halfway through I was eating it too fast to fully analyze it -- always a good sign. For mains, the Squid Ink Fried Rice and Vodka Cajun Chicken absolutely delivered. If fried rice is on the menu, THIS is how it should be done: creamy, rich, deeply flavorful, with scallops cooked to perfection. The vodka Cajun chicken was equally impressive -- thin, crispy breading with juicy chicken underneath and a sauce that hits that perfect creamy-spicy balance. And then... BEIGNETS Soft, pillowy, and basically melting in your mouth. A flawless way to end the meal. One thing I loved seeing was both owners walking the floor, blending right in with their staff. If you didn't know they were the owners, you'd never guess -- which says a lot about the culture here. Steve was attentive, kind, and clearly invested in both the guests and his team. All around, this was a fantastic experience, from service to ambiance to food. I'm genuinely happy we came back, and Bootleg Special has officially earned its spot back in my regular rotation. Can't wait to return.

    Chili crab pasta
    Alyanna T.

    My partner and I ordered the guava mojito, bok choy Caesar salad, chicken & sausage gumbo, chili crab pasta, beef shortrib garlic pasta, traditional beignets, and bananas foster beignets - TASTE: 5/5 - everything was great. Highlights included the super refreshing mojito, comforting gumbo, spicy chili crab pasta plus its fried bao bread, and sinful bananas foster sauce TEXTURE: 4/5 - crisp bok choy, thick gumbo w rice to soak it up, al dente bucatini pasta, and perfectly fried beignets. Wish the bananas foster sauce included actual slices of banana PRICE: 4/5 - total came to $124 for dinner off their Boston Asian Restaurant Week menu SERVING SIZE: 4/5 - left satisfied and w leftovers SERVICE: 4/5 - walked in at 5:30pm on a Sunday and only a few tables were taken. Our waiter was friendly ATMOSPHERE: 4/5 - what a unique space! Dark and moody, given the lack of windows, and appreciate the Cajun comforts menu. Glad we finally visited Bootleg Special PARKING: 4/5 - got a free street spot on Shawmut Ave

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    8 days ago

    The food was good and the drinks were delicious. The waiter was very attentive, the service was excellent.

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    1 month ago

    Food is amazing,ambiance is lovely and welcoming. Service I'll give it a 7 out of 10

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    Page 1 of 32

    Bootleg Special Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Bootleg Special

    Any stairs involved in visiting the restroom?

    There are no stairs to the restrooms.

    Hi! Do we need a reservation for weekends, or is walk-in seating usually available? Also, do you have any non-seafood options on the menu?

    No need for reservations but highly recommended.

    Live. Music Friday?

    Do they online customers? If so, can I make an order answer?

    What time does lunch end?

    I'm not aware that they have lunch hours. Their website only mentions dinner and brunch menus and the hours are: Monday- Wednesday 4pm -10pm… Read more

    Do you currently make soufflé pancake?

    I was there on Saturday (4/17/21) and they had the souffle pancakes available

    What time does the kitchen close?

    1am on weekends

    Anyone know about the latest happy hour menu?

    Yea... The apps are $4 (ribs on coke, fried oyster, garlic noodles, corn, and the wings)

    Is happy hour $1 oysters only mon-thurs?

    I think it's only on Thursdays

    What time does brunch menu ends?

    Its from 10am to 3pm

    Is soufflé pancakes only available on the weekends?

    Yes. Actually, soufflé pancakes are only available at brunch on the weekends.

    Does anyone know if they have fried or barbaque alligator my friend visited florida and has been raving about how good it was?

    They don't but assembly row has alligator tacos!

    Someone mentioned the after dark special, what time and day is that?

    Thursday-Saturday 9:30pm-11:20pm on the bar.

    How is the pricing?

    Happy hour has $1 oysters and $4 lil plates of stuff and is probably the best deal. They have some yummy sounding po boys for under $20, but all the seafood buckets will be around $25-$40. The good thing is that you can split between two/three… Read more

    Are there gluten free options on the menu?

    If you have any type of dietary restrictions, do talk to the chef and they will customize your dish for you!

    View All 18 Questions

    backbar

    backbar

    4.4
    (458 reviews)
    2.6 mi
    $$

    As per usual 10/10 Greeted in door way…read more Clean well stocked bathrooms Welcoming to everyone 80s 90s 2000s knowledgeable stylish Mushroom app and burger were nice treats to add to the awesome studio ghibli themed menu from the BB guide so clever top notch cocktails Cocktails Drinks Music and kikis delivery service on the projector good vibes

    I am a lover of everything studio ghibli so when I saw Backbar was doing essentially a month of…read moredrinks based on the movies I knew I had to go! The bar is really funky fun which I loved. There is literally fun everywhere you look from the panda stuffed animal riding a tiger on the wall to the hilarious shrek pillow. Coming right when they open I was able to see these things that you would likely not see in the evening. But to be fair I came right when they opened since it is first come first serve. A majority of the drinks were more on the savory side which was very interesting like "may all your bacon burn" with bacon bites at the top of the drink. The drinks my friend had were all stunning with the use of egg yolk to elevate the drink. We ended the evening by walking over to Bow Market and trying Viet Citron which was so DANG GOOD my gosh. The to go orders were insane but looks like they are doing very well despite recently opening in. I got the grilled lemongrass pork ribs bowl and youtiao and the side sauce was so good. The ribs were all very meaty. It looks small but I was surprised how full I was after having it. Nice night of drinks and food. What we got Kiki's marmalade buns Castle in the sky Milk Punch May All your bacon burn

    Photos
    backbar
    backbar
    Inside

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    Inside
    Moon Bar

    Moon Bar

    4.8
    (40 reviews)
    0.2 mi

    I am over the MOON with Moon Bar!…read more If I could live here I would! :) Another excellent experience here and it just happened to be restaurant week. We also spent an hour at the King Tut exhibit across the street! This restaurant/bar always seems packed. And, with reservations for 645pm (highly recommend) the bar was quite busy. The buzz from this high-end cocktail bar is exactly what you want on a Friday evening; From girlfriends sipping their wine to couples laughing and swirling their cocktails, Moon Bar is for the classy and sexy. Abby our server is excellent! A mixologist who knows all the cocktails and can recommend based on your preference. I tried one of their new cocktails with bourbon and did not care for it. Abby made me my mezcal drink that I have ordered before...its the 305 cowboy, an extremely popular drink. A must try for sure! Note: Some bartenders make you feel guilty for saying something about a drink you ordered and did not like. But, here at Moon Bar, Abby was so gracious to make me something that I will enjoy. Hats off to her:) Food: Since it was restaurant week we just shared everything. For starters we ordered the Tuna Tartare that was excellent. Then, we had Piri-Piri Chicken Thighs that were also good but quite spicy. For dessert, we shared the Caribbean Tiramisu, which was great. It was a tough choice between this and the Guava Cheesecake. We were so full that we ended up bringing home leftovers. Oh, I also forgot to mention we always order their Curry Fries - a must try when coming here Trust Me. My husband doesn't love curry but he loves these fries and you will too. #friesaretodiefor Moon Bar, thanks for being amazing in every way. Thanks for your splendid service, crafty cocktails, delicious wine (try the Pinot Noir from Germany), and your amazing food ---Love those Curry Fries! "Alexa, make reservations for 2 at Moon Bar for tonight." Cheers~

    What an amazing time we had a moon bar! The ambience was perfect for a girls night out and great…read morewall art. All the drinks we got were delicious which I feel like is rare for a bar. The great palm and golden colada were my favorite. They were both sweet with a tangy aftertaste. The roasted cauliflower was very flavorful. It was heavy on the sauce which was great and loved the crunch of the cashews. The tandoori chicken was my favorite. It was very juicy and tender chicken marinated well. The curly fires had a great masala seasoning. The yogurt based was my favorite to dip into. The staff were excellent with frequent check in and quick service. Overall, I highly recommend this place.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Banana leaf wrapped black bass
    Banana leaf wrapped black bass
    Green mango salad

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    Green mango salad
    The Street Bar

    The Street Bar

    3.6
    (72 reviews)
    0.4 mi

    Excellent views and ambience. Friendly professional staff, and very nice menu. Great drinks…read more Conversations with other patrons is very knowledgeable and enjoyable. Everything is done "top notch ". Whether you are a traveler or a local, it can be either a special night out, or a regular place to frequent. Extra munchies are an added plus. Everything is slightly higher priced, but sometimes, you get what you pay for. I have been coming here for decades...since the old Ritz Carlton days, and still appreciate the revolution of this lovely spot.

    We visited on January 11th, a few weeks prior to my wedding. This was a day I had planned for…read moremonths with my daughter and future stepdaughter, an important and meaningful occasion, and the experience fell significantly below expectations. In advance, I stopped into the hotel to confirm that a gluten-free guest could be accommodated and was assured this would be handled. In reality, the accommodation was inadequate and, at times, unacceptable. While the rest of us were served scones, my stepdaughter was given cut fruit in their place, and told that was all they had to accommodate.The dessert course consisted of what appeared to be basic gluten-free cookies, misrepresented as something more gourmet - egg nog cookies??? This lack of preparation was both disappointing, upsetting and avoidable. The broader experience was equally concerning. We were subjected to an unsolicited and uncomfortable "lesson" on tea service, which detracted from what should have been a relaxed and celebratory occasion. While trying to enjoy the time with the girls, being a lifelong tea drinker and someone who has been to many times at your establishment and its various incarnations, this is something I have never experienced. The food quality was poor (scones were clearly reheated and stuck to the cloth napkin they were wrapped in), and there were notable service lapses, including being served water in a visibly shattered glass. Additionally, when hot water was added to refresh the tea, my stepdaughter's pot curdled and had to be replaced. It was especially disappointing, as I mentioned that I had stopped in and spoken with the concierge, and was assured, as they had called the kitchen while I stood there that they readily accommodated gluten-free. There are numerous places in the city that could have done this, and if you had just told me that you could not do so, I would have booked us elsewhere. I chose not to raise the multiple issues in the moment so as not to disrupt what was meant to be a special day for the girls and me. However, the total cost exceeded $500, and the experience did not come close to justifying that price point! Do not recommend.

    Photos
    Bartender | The Street Bar
    Bartender | The Street Bar
    The Street Bar | The Newbury Boston
    The Street Bar | The Newbury Boston
    The Street Bar | The Newbury Boston

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    The Street Bar | The Newbury Boston

    Bootleg Special - cajun - Updated June 2026

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