excellent food, atmosphere- but they seem to think if they provided free wifi, since they do have wifi, that all the customers would be hanging around just to use the wifi. This is highly uniikely, since it is an older crowd who would just like the convenience of wifi to check email or messages while they are there. They are thinking like customers would "steal" wifi. Even, all the regular men's bars near by have free wifi. It is 2013 not 1995. Excellent food, service just need a little wifi for customers who are not going to mooch wifi here. read more

Have visited twice for late dinner after long day of work. The ribs the first time and a grilled combo special the next. The ribs were in both and they are standard, average meaty with a sweet bbq sauce. The chicken in the combo was a little dry, the tips were done perfectly but still nothing exceptional in flavor. They goofed in giving me rice instead of mashed - but handed me a side of mashed quickly. Service at the bar was OK, personable and since there are a lot of regulars - that means you might have to wait while they smooze. No biggy - at least when they do look around they're making eye contact. Some Kentucky Wildcat fans next to me got some pizza - looked very good but the Brickhouse was low on cheese and they had to request grated Parmesan cheese to be added. They also made a good point on the grilled combo I got .... "what the hell you ordering bbq in an Italian restaurant". Point made. Nothing wrong with this place - but nothing exceptional either ..... at least not yet. read more

I have gone to this place for years and I cant help but notice as time goes by, the food IS NOT the same. People like consistency, and if im paying $10 for two meatballs, they should never switch something and not advise the customers. The breakfast prices have stayed close to the same and the food went down such quality. Three years ago today I would have rated 5 stars, i wont be going back as of today. Customer service and fine authentic recipes should be owners #1 priority. Very disappointed. read more

the best chicken marsala i have ever had! the bread is awesome as well! the owner is always there and comes over to say hello. awesome gentleman. read more

This place is becoming one of our favorites. Decent wine/beer list, pretty extensive menu, specials, good red sauce,pasta, good pizza. The entrees have been very good. My only gripe is that a salad is not included with the entrees, its a la carte. You can sit at the bar, at a high top in the bar area or in the small restaurant area. Every waitperson we have had has been excellent. The host/hostess is always friendly and helpful. Its just a pleasant neighborhood restaurant. read more

Came here for dinner and it was delicious. Warm and cozy dining room and a good bar. Food was good, calamari for an app was crispy and delicious. Hubby had the meat ball pizza and thought it was ok. I had the mixed seafood pasta with mussels, clams, etc and it was pretty good. The waitress was attentive, but not annoying. We'll definitely go back. read more

The food is bland and not at all anything to brag about. It's mainly a place for old timers and their loyal to the establishment. Generous portions are a plus, but the pasta dishes had no flavor. Prices are also high for the quality of food. For the price, you're better off going into Boston if you're looking for good Italian food. read more

We have been to the Brickhouse about 5 times. The food is excellent! The meatballs are HUGE and delicious. The chicken verdiccio was wonderful, reminded me of the same dish I had years ago in the north end. Had steak tips pizziola(a special) once. The steak tips were so tender,sauce delicious with big chunks of veggies and pasta. Nice wine list,great martinis... Large, excellent menu with something for everyone. Mussels bianco are delish.Chicken Bellagio is great! Minestrone soup is delicious. Deserts are top notch. prices are reasonable. Atmosphere nice,cute, but a bit small. Parking across the street. Try it, you'll like it... read more

Went to the Brickhouse for the first time last night. Called at 6:30 to make reservations for 8:00. Our table was waiting for us when we arrived. The host and servers were so nice and friendly. We had to wait a little while for our drinks and never got any bread. Other than that our dinner was wonderful. Husband and I split the arrancini which was excellent. He had the Margherita pizza which he considers himself a connoisseur of, and loved it. I had the chicken Margherita special which was delicious. I really hope they add it to the menu. The atmosphere is nice, neighborhood pub meets traditional italian restaurant. It was pretty loud, which is to e expected given the small size. I can't wait to go back. read more

I have been here a couple of times. both times I have had the pizza and its fantastic. made with fresh ingredients and delivered hot to my table. fresh bread with oil serived both times. Good Food and Good Service what esle is there. read more

Fun place especially the bar, like old home week. Food is average, some great, some not so good. Stay away from the meatballs. although they are big in size, they are not great for your eating pleasure. Bartenders are always pleasant and sunday brunch is great. Pizza could be better especially when you are so close to Boston. Wine list is not so great, but the overall experience is fun for a neighborhood place. I have had some terrific meals here (cheesburger and sometimes chicken Parm). The problem is consistency. My suggestion is to sit at the bar and share a few entrees to judge for yourself. Of course, I will try it again read more

Hours aren't great, and the place is super tiny. Even with a reservation you might be waiting around for a bit. They redid the bar area and that helped a lot with seating. The food is great bottom line. True classic Italian. Amazing chicken parm. read more

Been here a few times. Meh. Hit or miss. Sat at the bar a few times and at a high top table on the bar side a few times. I had the verdicchio a couple times. The first time it was delicious, the second time it was bland and the chicken was rubbery. Had the pizza twice - same thing - once it was good, once it was soggy and undercooked. Beet salad same thing. Marsala same thing. Service was hit or miss as well. This place is TINY. Make reservations for anytime after 530pm. There is NOWHERE to wait for your table if you're a walk-in or early for your reservation. One time we went, the waitstaff was using one of the bar tables for their stuff. We asked the hostess if we could sit there, she said we had to ask the manager. The manager told the staff to remove their stuff and motioned for us to sit down. In front if us, with a bad attitude, one of the servers asked the manager "so where do you suppose we put this?" Needless to say, we just shared an app & had a drink and left. There is a tiny parking lot across the street that can hold 10 cars if everyone knows how to park. I really want to like this place, I really do, but I have to fight for parking to get a so-so meal with attitude? Meh. read more

The service was prompt and quick. The food was very good. I dont have a complaint about anything. The best part was the portions. They were quite large - which works out even better b/c you then get to savor the leftovers the next day. read more

Went there for V-Day and the food was very good. Had the Brickhouse Special Pizza for an appetizer and got the Shrimp and Scallop dish for dinner. My boyfriend got the stuffed haddock. I got a martini and it was fabolous! This place was all booked up and the staff was very friendly and attentive. My only complaint is the small size so it is a bit of cramped corners. But I would defintely go again! read more

I had dinner here with 2 friends last week for the first time. We all had great meals and were well taken care of by our waiter, Mike. He let us take our time with our meals realizing we were busy catching up - never felt rushed. We'll be back for another outing! read more

I LOVE this place. Great food, friendly people and great atmosphere. Fun to just sit and eat at the bar or sit at high top tables. Enjoy!

The food was very tasty but I felt as if the servers were very overly nice. I know you work for your tips but id rather someone be genuine then kiss my ass for a tip. I came in on sunday and they didnt know if they had a full menu or only pizza. Im glad I was able to order off the menu I will be back to try something else. read more

My husband and I just decided at the last minute to give the place a try. We heard it was a great place. Because it was Friday night, we had about a 30 minute wait, but it was worth it! My husband ordered a pasta dish and I got the baked haddock. The most delicious haddock I had ever eaten! It had a shrimp and scallop stuffing on top. I heard their pizzas are fabulous too. Next time! read more

I cannot recommend this place. My salad was drowned in dressing which made it very soggy. The place is overpriced. The salad I got was $24. The veal Marsala was made up of very small pieces of meat. I have been here many times but it has gone down hill and got very pricey for what you get. read more

This place is not for families with kids. On Sunday two families arrived with kids and the host did not want to sit us with the excuse she does not have any available tables. It was 7 pm and she said "the kitchen closes at 9 and the big table is reserved at 8". We asked her about other available tables and she refused to sit us. There were at least 4 other available tables but she refused to even talk to us. She did not even get up to look around and see what can be done. We left never coming to this place again. Very rude! read more

Went to the Brickhouse for the first time last week and now im hooked. The chicken parm is one of the best I have had. Will definitely be back :) read more

We had an Engagement Brunch at the Brickhouse Cafe and it was outstanding. The atmosphere, the food, the drinks and the service could not be beat. Many of the guests commented that they have never seen that kind of service before and how delicious the food was. The catering manager, Jocelyn, could not have been more professional, kind, and accomodating. Chris, the waiter, wooed the crowd. He was fun, and sweet, and could not have been more helpful. They allowed us to pick the setup of the room to meet our needs and helped put up decorations (and remove them). I have already been back for a delicious Sunday brunch and plan to go back for the chicken broccoli ziti dish. I am so glad we decided to hold the event at the Brickhouse Cafe instead of at our house. For the value and the service it was so worth it. What fun!!!! read more

I went for breakfast on a Sunday morning with three friends. Typical breakfast menu but extremely good quality food. The service was outstanding also. Coffee refills without asking, tremendous staff and very clean and cozy place. The prices were very reasonable too. Definitely a great value. Parking, by the way, was easy. I will definitely become a regular there. read more

Don't be fooled by non-descript exterior or parking lot across the street. First visit to this local cafe on a busy Friday night, no reservations - 30 min wait (they estimated 45 min). Staff are pleasant, once seated service was great. Good selection of drafts. Rest room was immaculate. But food presentation and taste were the highlight. Enjoyed Arroncini, Frutti de Mare fra Diavolo, mixed grill special. Returned several days later. Different server but same great service. Calamri, chicken parm and veal cariofi were delicious. Portions are large. Highly recommended. read more

I thought it was very good, not the best but good. the service is good most of the food is good but at sometimes inconsistant. It is a small place so some people could feel very uncomfortable becaus ethey tabels are close and they have no privacy. read more

Amazing caesar salad. I honestly don't even need to say more. The decor is very modest, but it doesn't matter. I love this place. It's a hole in the wall joint across from McGolf. A great place to go and catch up with friends over dinner. The brickhouse is a must! read more

Awesome food. I haven't had much on the menu because I keep ordering the same things. The Bean Soup, Eggplant Involtini, and Rigatoni a la Vodka are all top notch. Its tough to get in sometimes but worth it. read more

My brother was visiting from out of town. I heard good things about the brickhouse. The two of us arrived at the restaurant on Saturday about 2:00 pm. We were greeted by Courtenay and gave our drink order and reviewed the menu. My brother ordered a cheeseburger and I ordered eggs benedict. I forgot to mention that were only about 10 customers. It seemed like forever when Courtenay advised us that food would be right out. We kept waiting and I finally informed Courtenay that we were leaving......my brother said to wait a bit longer. I asked to speak to the manager. He arrived and said he was sorry for the wait. I also noticed that the staff was taking their meals....I thought the customer comes first. My brother remarked that his burger was excellent and my order was fine. Courtenay showed me her back when she delivered the check and wished my brother well. I find it intolerable that she was so rude and still received a good tip at my brothers insistence; I paid the check. I would have gone back but not after Courtenay treatment John read more

We were a party of 10 with a reservation at 5pm. My uncle, a disabled Purple Heart Vietnam Vet with a cane, arrived first and asked to be seated. The hostess refused to seat him until the entire party arrived. The restaurant was entirely empty aside from a few people at the bar. Five minutes later, when the entire party was there, the hostess sat us without a smile or welcome and said that we had to be out by 7pm because they had another party coming in. Before even opening the menu, we felt rushed. I was shocked by the rudeness of this individual. It was a shame because we live 2 minutes away and come frequently as we enjoy the food, but after this experience, we won't be back. I truly hope this hostess is let go as she will leave a bad taste in the mouths of all guests. As we left the restaurant, there was no thank you or goodbye. She just ignored us entirely. Disgusting behavior. read more

First we were "greeted " coldly by the "hostess", who would not seat us because the other 2 diners were parking the car. We were on time for our reservation and the table was ready,. It is a small, crowded place so it would have been better for everyone to simply seat us. (Note this is not what anyone would call an elegant restaurant. It s a noisy, super plain, backyard place.) Then when the 4 of us stood together facing her , we had to wait to be "checked in" . Her "greeting " was " you have to be finished in 90 minutes". The pressure was on !! The best thing about this place was the waitress. She was funny, charming & efficient. I would recommend her but not this loud ( couldn't talk , had to yell to be heard), crowded, totally mediocre place. The food was very large portions @ cheap prices but most of the food was not great, I.E. seafood frito misto had disgusting breading and was too dry to eat, have to say that the pasta was quite good, but not good enough to be humiliated by the "hostess". We won't return. read more

We've eaten here at least 6 or 8 times and we love it! The only problem is that everyone loves it so it's pretty noisy on a Friday or Saturday night. Our favorite time to get there is just as they open up (5 or 5:30) for a relaxing meal at the bar. House wine is great and they know how to fill up the wine glass! Bartenders are very congenial and the homemade bread is so delicious (they give you white and whole grain with oil, but don't be afraid to ask for butter). We usually get the Italian Combo which is reasonably priced and includes chicken parm, large raviolis, a big meatball and linquini (but I think you can ask for a different kind of pasta). It's enough for the 2 of us and we always take some home. That and a salad (which is very fresh) and it's a fabulous meal. We love everything about the Brickhouse Cafe. In fact we went to another reputable Italian restaurant in Newton the other night and said "Brickhouse" has better food and better bread. read more

Great food, absolutely HORRIBLE service! Tonight I took my parents out for dinner to celebrate my mom's birthday. We were immediately seated at the high top table by the bar and given water, this was where the good service ended. The woman who sat us forgot to give us a specials menu, this was realized 10 minutes after we were sat because that's how long it took the waitress(Lori) to ask us if we wanted food. After a few minutes we received the specials menu and another 5 minutes lapsed before we finally got to order. The food was great, and it arrived about 45 minutes after we sat down. I had to send back a dish through no fault of the waitress, but that's when the manager decided to check on our table instead, and although it was nice, the waitress should still check also. I would like to point out that we were the only people in this section to get this waitress, everyone else had a blonde lady who seemed on top of the ball because a woman and her child who were sat about 10 minutes after us had gotten her ordered taken before us and had finished her meal despite the fact she had a child in tow before we had gotten our main meals, they got busy by the time we left but there were only 4 other tables there when we got there. This is my third time giving this place a chance since it opened and my LAST time ever glancing at this place. They must see me and decide they don't want my money. read more

The food is great, portions are large and the waitstaff is extremely attentive/pleasant. The hostesses could use a bit of direction and the manager should get off his high horse. In a business based around customer service, some customer service skills should be required when you have the title "manager". This would include being polite, understanding the customer's point of view, not talking down to an unhappy but very patient and friendly customer and definitely being somewhat helpful. The manager of this restaurant was the exact opposite. At some points yelling at me, talking down to me as if I was not worth his time and did not in any way shape or form help me in this situation. He did help me decide that the food is not worth giving this restaurant business until he is shown the door. A restaurant can survive so long on the food alone but once it becomes obvious the staff doesn't care, its hard to get people to come back for that food. There will always be another Italian restaurant right down the street... Santoros, Pomodoros, Sofias, Spiga... read more