Don't be deceived by the outside! I loved the design of the interior, it felt very cozy but was spacious at the same time. We went for their weekend brunch. I really enjoyed my garlic noodles and the soufflé pancakes my partner got. The pancakes were so fluffy and tasted great with the strawberry syrup! Make sure to order these when you sit down as they take a while to get ready. Also make sure you make a reservation. I think some of the staff are still in training, and although there were empty tables they were denying them to people without reservations. Service was also a bit slow at times, but it gave us time to savor our food! read more

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Bad service. ( barely left 15% gratuity) The server wasn't attentive at all. Had to wait for a glass of beer for 30min and the food came out even before the drinks.. Server wasn't even apologetic. Ordered Spicy crab noodles, garlic noodles with shrimp, oysters, fried scallops, some tacos, and bok Choy ceasar salad Only Garlic noodle was good - just do a takeout. read more

The ambiance feels like you're in a fun club and the service is attentive. We loved the fried rice with squid ink, definitely coming back for that! Portions are generous, come hungry. The only thing I wouldnt get again was the surf and turf. It was ok. Seafood was delicious, shrimp and scallops were succulent. Steak wasn't seasoned well and a bit dry. The noodles drowned in salty sauce and not al dente. Other than that, I enjoyed everything else! read more

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Food is always good and the vibes were great. They actually brought a Dj the night we came. Our servers were always nice and when they gave us a extra dish due to some miscommunication, they were great on letting us have it for no extra charge. Always get the garlic noodles, and we shared one of the special bootleg special boils. Might skip out on the grilled oysters though read more

Bootleg Special - Garlic noodles - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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First, the service was phenomenal. My waitress was attentive and nice. The restaurant was clean and I loved the vibe. Unfortunately that's the best this place can offer. I ordered the Lobster and Crab Gumbo, which is 45 dollars. A fair price except, the lobster and crab were simply sprinkled on top of my gumbo rather than cooked with it. The amount of seafood in my gumbo was sad. It was filled to the brim was sausage so it tasted like sausage more than anything. All the options for the gumbo include sausage so I imagine it's the same for those as well. Outside of the small amount of seafood, it tasted fine. Not the best gumbo in the world, but not the worst. Lastly my soda was flat, just to add a cherry on top. read more

Bootleg Special - Lobster and Crab Gumbo - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Good food fast service. It's a club kind of vibe. 7 to 11 PM they have half off specials. Order the fried shrimp po'boy! Best thing we ate this trip. So good we didn't even take a . Would come back. read more

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One word excellent, Bootleg gets an A+, the pictures of the dishes I took does not do the meal justice. The food, staff, DJ, decor and ambience was really good. I'm so happy we found this gem and decided to celebrate my graduation dinner here. I will say this the location was definitely a bit bootleg pun intended lol. We thought we were lost , and the block was a bit desolate. It felt like we were walking into a back alley restaurant which in hindsight was a bit cool! The vibe was amazing and you'll definitely be impressed by the decor. Be sure to order the seafood boil and drinks. Some of my favorite dishes were the lobster Mac and cheese, wings and seafood fried rice. read more

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Last night in Boston and thought we should go out with a bang. This place was great. We shared the crab boil which came with a mile high platter of various crab sections. It was perfectly cooked and so satisfying. A bit expensive but we went for it. So good and so full! The restaurant is big with super high ceilings and eclectic decorations, very nice. Had a New Orleans feeling. Live music sealed the deal for us. Service was attentive and consistent. Worth your consideration. read more

Bootleg Special - Mama Sue's Mama Sue's Big Bowl Of Crabs - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

My friends and I came here for a birthday dinner and we were sad to say it did not live up to par to our expectations. The cocktails were $17 which were more expensive than the standard price and it did not taste good. The tapas portion were extremely small and overpriced (the crystal shrimp only came in three and they were small). The Squid ink fried rice and tuna crudo was decent, and there wasn't anything special about the Beef Birria Bao. We were seated at a table in a tight corner when there were plenty of space in the middle of the restaurants so we asked to move to a bigger table. Our waiter gave us an annoyed look which made us uncomfortable. The interior of the restaurant is classy and chic but I wish the service was better! Food: 6.5/10 Service: 7/10 Experience: 7/10 Value: 6/10 read more

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100/10!!! Some of the most freshest seafood I've had in a min. The MamAs sues crab special was allllll and totally worth it and lived up to the hype. Very meaty king crab legs and crab claws and under was a bed of garlic-y noodles as well as andouille spicy sausage. Perfect for a group of 3 people!! The squid ink rice w/ mussels, scallops and fish eggs was also flavored so well! The seafood was nicely cooked. Thai basil garlic fries was crispy perfectly w/ the delicious dipping aioli. Oysters were quite large and we ordered the mixed ones and was really fresh! The vibes inside was pretty cool and set the mood. They had a couple of cool light up signs that are instagramable. Restrooms - individual stalls & pretty clean overall Parking - street or get dropped off by Uber/Lyft read more

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A visit to Boston for a conference had my husband and I come across this amazing venue of delicious food, inviting ambiance and music for the soul. We are NOLA junkies who love Creole food, so the spices were wholly appreciated and welcomed. We started off with the garlic shrimp noodles and black ink squid fried rice with calamari and mussels. We were in heaven. Oh my goodness! We had the whole lobster (we weren't expecting it) in butter, garlic and lemon. It was a lot of work but absolutely delicious with their bread that I dipped in the sauce until there was no more bread. Although I was full, somehow I made room for more food. We also had the crispy brussels sprouts which had an interesting blend of sweet and tart. We also ordered the croquettes but we didn't like them very much. Overall, the best experience we were pleasantly surprised to have in Boston. read more

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I ordered the Lobster Bao and it did not disappoint! Perfect alternative to the larger lobster roll. I also had the Chowder Fries. Also quite delicious. My order was a to-go order, but the atmosphere was really nice. I loved the aesthetics. I would love to visit again and actually dine in on my next trip to Boston. read more

Omg! So this place right here is a must visit when in Boston! I was pleasantly surprised and shocked at the same time because I'd thought I'd traveled back in time to New Orleans for a minute. As soon as you walk in, you are hit with that Big Easy Dixieland jazz music and feel. I mean they've even got a Bourbon Street balcony hooked up in there near the ceiling. There are also jazzy paintings on the walls and since we were there for Christmas, they had tree reefs, bows and holiday decor all around. Very welcoming atmosphere and service was fantastic. About our entrees, awww man, the menu of food items were amazing and the food was super delish!! I had the Bootleg Special boil with crab legs added. It comes with lobster, boiled potatoes, mussels, clams in the shell, huge shrimp, corn and andouille sausage. There was no way one person could eat all of that but I certainly tried lol. The Cajun seasoning was so good, I was licking the you know what outta those gloves....I mean it was glove licking good. Didn't know what to expect but I'm glad I trusted the local Yelpers on that recommendation. No regrets! read more

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One of my favorite restaurants in Boston - particularly for brunch but you can't go wrong with dinner either. Food-wise my favorites are the mussels & seafood boils, soufflé pancakes, garlic noodles and scallop tacos. But grits, lobster benny, fried green tomatoes, and basically everything else I've tried there is amazing. It's a great spot for groups or a date, sharing plates, and enjoying a good cocktail. read more

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2nd time came back to have brunch. Love it! Food is good. The service is decent and friendly. If you post your food photo to the social media , they will give you free dessert and it's delicious! 10mins walk away from my place so definitely will comeback for dinner and more. Just a small recommendation for the interior to have more lights, it's quite dark read more

Bootleg Special - Bootleg Benedict - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Though I won't provide a review on some of their more popular items, I certainly can comment on the Cajun fried rice. To start, you certainly get a good portion. Probably enough to satisfy a meal and just a bit more. It was a little on the spicy side which I favor. A couple of its main ingredients were shrimp and sausage. There were probably four or five very tiny shrimp in it and perhaps just a couple more small bits of sausage. That was the most disappointing part. The order took only 10 minutes and everyone there certainly was pleasant. It is enough to make me want to go back again and try some more of their food, so I hope with this review ownership improves on adding more of the key ingredients read more

Bootleg Special - Inside - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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When we entered the restaurant, I was really impressed by the abstract pieces of artwork that decorated the walls. The Soufflé Pancakes were delicious. I was so glad that I ordered them. The hazelnut spread soufflé pancakes weren't listed on the menu while we were there, but they were more than just fine on their own. The Peanut Butter French Toast was a crowd pleaser as well. We also ordered the mimosa flight, and it was fun trying out all of the different flavors. Overall, it was a unique experience and we would love to come back the next time we're in Boston. read more

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: 8.5/10 Perfectly poached eggs resting on toasted english muffins, blanketed by a spicy hollandaise sauce imbued with the aromatics of Cajun seasoning! I thought that the lobster and crab was a bit gimicky. Nope! The natural sweetness that they impart added a whole new depth of flavor to a brunch classic! é ( & ) : 8.2/10 Two, voluminous, airy, fluffy soufflé pancakes that jiggle by the most delicate of shakes! Not only is this one of the lightest pancakes I've ever very had, but it's also pleasantly not too sweet! : - Friend ordered, didn't try it. Looks good though! An omelette that invades tender birria braised beef, avocado, spinach, Monterey Jack, and salsa ranchera. The dish also comes with corn tortillas to make your own breakfast tacos! / & : - Sautéed garlicky kale w/ Monterrey Jack cheese and mushrooms, paired with 2 perfectly sunny side eggs. & : 8.2/10 These were magnificent! Poached peach, Thai basil, amaretto mascarpone cream, topped with a pizzelle crumble! Everything tasted fresh, light, and served as the perfect starter to share! ' : 8/10 I did not expect something as simple as cornbread to taste so good! Crispy edges with a soft, moist interior! And there were actual pieces of corn within the bread that made it taste authentic! Great starter! I'm not normally a brunch guy, which is why I was surprised and delighted to find that not only is the brunch at @bootlegspecial unique, but also extremely delicious! Each dish really felt like a unique step-up on classics brunch dishes. Just as a heads up, they're not kidding when they said that soufflé pancakes take extra time. I went with a group of 10, 6 of whom ordered the pancakes. By the time the last batch of 2 came out, everyone had already finished their appetizer and mains. read more

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Dinner has its own menu separate from brunch. I really enjoyed the variety of foods we ordered. Cajun fried rice and garlic noodles were extremely tasty. The squid ink rice was something we've had at other restaurants but bootleg special certainly put up a good fight. Food came out so fast which was appreciated and the server was quick to recommend a good cocktail. Would come again but next time I want to try the brunch! read more

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I finally made it here after trying for a whole. Very nice ambiance but once we sat down and was about to eat they dimmed the lights even more although it's already a dimly lit place with some good music playing. I don't recall the exact menu item names but let me say I been around for crab boils this is one of the best so far, the seafood was fresh and the flavor didn't just taste like garlic. I have had several bags let me just say they had to have added colossal shrimp to the boil and they have the cook time down bc the crab slid right out the shell, no sticking meat. My minor complaints next time bring the trash bin for shells out empty, we had someone old dirty tissue in one of the buckets and 2 double check dishes, my cousin had to order another drink bc her cup was filthy. read more

Bootleg Special - Dirty tissue already in our buckets for scraps - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Came for dinner...usually I've only come for brunch. Ambiance was great Food was delicious overall! Fried rice with shrimp Garlic noodles with shrimp Corn was good...i prefer the cob though Chicken thigh skewers were meh Ordered a Manhattan cocktail and it was ok The price for the boils were ridiculously priced Any table near the door sucks in the winter Shrimp heads on the boil could have at least been taken off for a place like this, especially with the price. Score based solely on dinner only read more

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Absolutely awesome food, atmosphere is romantic, but also family friendly if needed. Make sure to order the seafood and extra bread to soak up the delicious juice. No issues if you have a stroller or wheelchair. read more

Whoa, my friends and I stumbled on this place for our Galentine's Day dinner, and we ed it!!! The ambiance is fantastic, service was incredible, and the food & cocktails, phenomenal! We had such a great experience!! Thanks :) read more

It's good seafood boil, but I'm a foodie and this didn't hold a candle to New Orleans. It was a bit salty and lacked that lemon zest flavor but the King Crab was divine. It was $200 before tip, which I thought was pricy compared to my other seafood boil escapades. The waitress was super sweet but I could've used a water refill because of the salt. The ambiance was great and clean with live music. I liked the dim lit setting. All in all, I'd give a few other seafood places around Boston a try before fully committing to coming back. I wouldn't write off coming back though. read more

Bootleg Special - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Came here to end our overnight in Boston. Parking was super easy on street. Got there at 11 AM for brunch on Saturday. Had such a memorable meal. The strawberry and cream soufflé was amazing. The crab scallion pancake was phenomenal. The three pigs was fabulous. And the chowder was thick with bacon bits. I don't usually like thick chowder, but this was fantastic. The ambience is definitely eclectic. But it's warm inside. Our waitress was super knowledgeable and very accommodating and friendly. We will absolutely be back. read more

Delicious! Will definitely come back! Every time we are in Boston!! Such a nice place, service was great! Love the mimosa flight! read more

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Last night I went to Bootleg Special located on 400 Tremont St, Boston, MA This restaurant specializes in fresh seafood boils, an assortment of sharable plates and fantastic cocktails. For cocktails we had their Rosalita, Pineapple Express, Birds of Paradise and Soju Ranger. For food we tried their garlic noodles with shrimp, street corn, octopus, thai basil fries, cajun fried rice, squid ink fried rice, beef birria baos, and for dessert their beignets. My favorites were the Soju Ranger cocktail (was a cool pink color had Titos, Dragonfruit, Lime and had a hint of rosemary!) Also, the squid ink and cajun fried rice were phenomenal. These rices were both so rich in flavor and had so much to offer! The beignets were also a New Orleans classic and made you feel like you traveled there from Boston. This restaurant is definitely the place to come with a group of friends who like to share food with one another. A plus is that the place is visually stunning! Chandeliers and beautiful art galore. I highly recommend booking a reservation here if you are celebrating a friend's birthday or just want to be transported to the French Quarter district of New Orleans. Rating: Ambience: 9/10 Food: 9/10 Affordability: 5/10 read more

Bootleg Special - Squid Ink Fried Rice - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I've been wanting to try Bootleg special for quite some time! It's the Lebrechaun brunch drink photo with cereal that definitely piqued my interest! Food: Starting with small plates, I recommend the squid fried rice!!! Additionally, the garlic noodles were A+. I do recommend adding the shrimp! We probably would've been okay passing on the fries, and the Cajun fried rice was a little too salty for our liking. Drinks: They're strong! I loved the Soju ranger, but my waitress initially recommended another drink when I had asked for something lighter and sweeter as I can't handle heavy alcohol. Ambiance: Dark lighting with Y2K music video projector screenings, bathroom says live nudes and the stalls are all single stall and gender neutral. Inside is swanky, snazzy, really fun and New Orleans-like! The restaurant seating is small and plenty of seating options for Friday at 5:30-6! read more

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Speakeasy type vibes, with the windows dim, we actually thought the restaurant was closed. Once you enter, the vibes are so cute, sheik, romantic and an all around great ambiance. The place smelled delicious and you can really tell the chefs take pride and time to make every dish perfect. The boil we got was exceptional!! It was so flavorful and filled with real flavor, not the overly salty "old bay" that most shrimp boil places like to do. The beignets were to die for too. The best part of our meal was the garlic noodles. They were absolutely the BEST IVE EVER HAD!!!! I don't know what it was and can't really put my finger on their secret ingredient, but the flavor was delicious. Absolutely, hands down, you must order the garlic noodles. Again, best I've ever had. *chefs kiss read more

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Really good food! The soufflé pancakes were light, airy, and full of flavor! The strawberry ones are my personal favorite but all of the options are great! The crab scramble was excellent- I wish it came precut though as it was a bit hard to share with the table. The honey-spiced pear cocktail was tasty as well- a tad strong for my taste but good nonetheless. Service was fast and efficient. Overall ambience of the restaurant is cool- neon signs and pop art. I could've passed on the shrimp n grits... the shrimp was good but the grits were a tad bland. Though as a southerner I might be a bit pickier than the average customer when it comes to grits. The real standout were the garlic noodles. So good we got an order to go! read more

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Bootleg Special is a Cajun seafood restaurant located on 400 Tremont Street in Boston South End. It is located on a corner lot at a busy intersection of Tremont Street, Herald Street, and Arlington Street. My husband was able to find parking in one of the streets off the main road. My family came during brunch on a weekend. Walking into the restaurant, the first thing I noticed was the dark interior space. The interior was spacious but very dark. The dim lighting came from several chandeliers that dropped from the high ceiling. The most spectacular chandelier is an oversized crystal chandelier by then entrance. We were greeted by the hostess, who was able to seat us outdoor though we did not have a reservation. The wait was under 15 minutes as a table was getting ready to leave when we came. I would recommend that you make a reservation before coming to avoid a longer wait time as did some groups that came after us. My husband ordered the Build A Boil, two pounds of crawfish, shrimp with heads on, clams, with sausage, corn and potatoes, and garlic noodles. The presentation was amazing, but sadly, the flavor was lacking. The noodles were over cooked. The sauce was missing the good crawfish boil spices and heat. For my son, we ordered the Hollandaise Steak & Eggs we ordered was also not as expected. The seared beef tenderloin came pre-sliced, was dry, and flavorless. The eggs was fried sunny side up and came with hollandaise sauce on the side. This is where reading comprehension is important so you don't expect your typical poached eggs with hollandaise sauce over. Again, my fault, not the restaurants. The dish also came with home fries and toast. It was not at all memorable and I would not recommend or order it again. Two bubblies that my husband ordered, one for me and one for himself, were also not memorable. We were almost done with our meal when the strawberry soufflé pancakes that I ordered for my daughter finally came out. It lacked presentation and was sloppily plated. We waited probably over half an hour for it though the wait was said to be about 15 minutes. The pancakes were light and fluffy. I would order this again but not with the strawberry sauce. Overall, the customer service the day that we went was good, not great. The waitress who served us brought out our food, but she forgot to bring out our utensils. This was corrected when we bought it to the hostess attention. Mistakes happen, it was getting really busy and groups were waiting a long time to be seated. Food was slow to come out. Some lacked presentation and flavors. I left a bit disappointed as this restaurant had been on my bucket list for a long time and I had high expectations. I am giving them a three based on the food that I tried. However, I would like to come back another time to try their other dishes as their menu is quite expansive and this was only a small sampling. I hope to write a better review after my next visit. read more

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Not great. We ordered the garlic noodles with shrimp and two orders of crab legs in garlic butter and their signature bootleg sauce. The garlic butter didn't taste like it at all, not sure what they used. And the crabs didn't have much meat inside them sadly. The garlic noodles were decent, but overall wouldn't come back read more

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As others have commented, from the outside it looks like the restaurant is closed but once you go inside the decorations and interior design looks great. I made a reservation on Yelp for a Sunday night dinner with some friends. For drinks we got the Buddhist Tooth (Japanese Whisky, Honey, and Soda), Mandarin mule (Vodka, Lime, and Ginger Beer), and a gin and tonic. The drinks were good and came out very photogenic. For appetizers, I would recommend the crispy wings with chili butter glaze, chicken under a brick pinchos (essentially chicken skewers), Thai basil garlic fries (comes with a really good creamy sauce) and easy street corn. Each of these dishes were fantastic. For sharable entrees, we got the signature garlic noodles with shrimp and the lobster-crab mac and cheese. The noodles were good, but I would not recommend adding the shrimp since we paid $8 to only get 4 pieces of shrimp. For dessert, we got to the five layer chocolate cake that came with chocolate hazelnut sauce and raspberries. Surprisingly, it wasn't super sweet and was more dark chocolate which I love. Overall, come here for good food and a great experience and feel like you've briefly teleported to Louisiana. read more

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Every dish I tried was mouthwateringly delicious, the service was outstanding and fast, and the decor and atmosphere is colorful and fun. This may be my favorite restaurant in Boston. read more

Solid brunch spot with delicious food and drinks! For drinks, we got their Passiflora Mimosa ($14) and Lytchee Mimosa ($14) and they did not disappoint! Here's what we got for food: Bootleg Benedict ($22) A must get! This is a unique take on the classic benedict. It has lobster and crab mixed in the spicy Bootleg sauce that they use in their seafood boils. The sauce gave it a nice kick without overpowering the rest of the dish. Eggs were perfectly poached with a runny yolk in the middle. Egg White Omelette Ranchero ($15) Omelette was tasty on its own - the beef was seasoned and braised well. However, the tortillas on the side was confusing and we ended up making our own soft shell tacos by stuffing them with the omelette. Overall, we enjoyed the food, drinks and the ambiance at this restaurant. I would go back to try the beignets and seafood boils. read more

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Arrived early and asked to sit at bar to wait for our assigned time, watched 3 tables sit empty until right before our rez time. Told we had to wait as all tables were full or sit at the high tops by the bar. Could have been an option from the beginning.... Waited another 15 mins for a waitress- finally bartender came over and took care of us. Got our Apps pretty quickly, then waited 35 mins for the main course. Had to ask for water refills 3 times as well as 2nd round of drinks. Then another 35 mins for desert. It was painful. Place has 18 tables include the high tops, 3 waitresses, one of which was more on her phone in the corner, food runner took a few tables as well as bussing tables- he was the hardest worker in the place. I don't know what the problem was but this place needs someone in charge, organizing, telling the waitress to put her phone down and do the job....great candidate for Kitchen Nightmares. Food was good, beignets were NOT beignets- more of heavy fried dough, hot and fresh, but heavy. Overall disappointing experience, decent food but just order take out and don't bother sitting down, too out of the way with far better options out there. read more

Food was good, service was... not. We came for the soufflé pancakes, which met expectations. Also got the blueberry brioche bread pudding. Delicious but very heavy. Our server was nice; I think (didn't really say anything). The problem was she moved at a GLACIAL pace. It was almost 10 minutes from when we arrived to when she came to give us water. During this time I made eye contact several times but she just wandered aimlessly about the restaurant. Then, my pancakes came before my husband's food, but I noticed his food come out on the counter, she just didn't get it for us for another 5-10 minutes. When we were done and needed a box, same thing. Every little thing just took far far longer than normal for her to meander over. If the restaurant had been super busy I'd understand the wait, but she just moved slowly. It also wasn't like she didn't notice, she kept making eye contact. She didn't bring us a bag, so rather than wait to try and get her to come over again, we just walked up and asked someone else. read more

Bootleg Special - Soufflé pancake - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Got brunch here with a few of my friends and we came around 11. It got pretty busy after we got seated but the place is pretty large, so there was a lot of seating. I really like the decor that they had and they gave a very rustic but lively vibe. As for the food, I tried their soufflé pancake with Nutella. The pancakes were very fluffy. I just wish they left the chocolate sauce on the side because it made the pancakes very very sweet. I like that they included hazelnuts, but I wish they were fresh raw hazelnuts. we got the hangover fried rice to share. I really enjoyed this dish. I like that the meat was a bit crispy, but still tender and the gravy was very flavorful and worked well with the rice. This is a great place for brunch! read more

Bootleg Special - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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I've come here only for a drink late afternoon and it was pretty empty. You could miss this place walking by outside, but the interior is decorated floor to ceiling! Fun vibe and would definitely come back to try their food, especially the seafood boil! read more

From the aesthetics, to the service and the food? Bootleg special will forever be one of my favorite places to dine at. Although this was probably my 100th time here at bootleg special, I can say I have never experienced any bad service and my food has always been delicious. After realizing that I have not been to bootleg special and over a year, I decided I wanted to make reservations for brunch in celebration for my birthday and I am happy that I did. read more

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