This is a very good restaurant. The room was vibrant but not too loud. The drinks were creative and perfectly made and the food was excellent. Oh, and our server was patient, professional and fun. read more

We went here a few times when it first opened and thought it was a great addition to downtown Natick for upscale dining and interesting offerings. The few times we've been back recently haven't been so great. The menu isn't nearly as interesting or exciting and while the prices are still high the food and service is not. Hey, running a restaurant to a high standard month after year can't be easy but they've really slipped into a lower level of offerings and service. I'm not sure we're willing to give it another try for the price point but I'm willing to look at their menu once in a while to see if they have re upped their game. read more

It was a busy Saturday evening at the Buttercup, and tables were filling quickly. We were ushered to our table for four, in the middle of this rather loud venue. Our waitress arrived promptly, and discussed the special with us, which was a little difficult to hear over the din from other diners. She invited us to review the menus and said that she would return. One of our party asked if they would provide the table with some bread. The bread and water both arrived quite quickly, and we thought the bread was excellent, fresh, a little salty and doughy. When the waitress returned after a spell, we each ordered a glass of wine, which ranged from $11 to $18 per glass. For appetizers we began with shared salads (we had to ask for plates, to share the salads when they were served): * Sunwashed farm arugula, edamame, English peas, homemade ricotta, preserved lemon vinaigrette - $11 * Quinoa, avocado, delicata squash, tomato, cucumber, champagne vinaigrette - $13 It took a while for the salads to arrive, longer than one might expect for salads. Everyone like the arugula salad better than the quinoa salad. The former had a very tasty champagne vinaigrette, with great flavor which didn't overpower the salad. The latter had an interesting presentation, but we found there to be too much quinoa and too little else. The flavor was underwhelming, and we wouldn't recommend this dish unless you happen to be a quinoa fanatic. For our entrees we selected: * Lamb chops, mashed potato, baby spinach, red wine - $30 * Hanger steak, hen of the woods mushrooms, fingerling potatoes - $30 * Pekin-Long Island duck, hazelnuts, umeboshi plum sauce, figs - $30 Two diners selected the lamb, one thought it was good, the other thought it was too salty and that the portions were too small. The diner who ordered the steak said it was nothing special, and he had a better steak the night before in Boston. I had the duck which I ordered medium rare (as recommended), and as soon as I cut into it, found it to be dry, tough and overcooked. I like restaurants where the wait staff asks diners to cut into their dish to determine if it was correctly served. At Buttercup, the waitress returned several minutes later, and I then informed her that my dish was overdone. She courteously agreed and asked if I'd like another duck. I accepted, but suggested she leave the plate, so I could sample the accouterments. She returned a few minutes later, however, insisting she had to bring the dish back to the kitchen so "they could see" how the original duck was prepared. About 15 to 20 minutes later, my new dish arrived, which was properly cooked, and overall was quite tasty. It would have gone a long way if a manager stopped by to see how the 2nd dish was prepared, or to take our temperature to see how the meal was progressing, or to merely apologize for the misfire. However that did not come to pass at any time during the evening. For dessert we shared an ice cream sandwich ($12) - vanilla ice cream surrounded by two brownies, with whip cream on the side. One diner liked this dish, one diner did not, and two diners though it was "OK". Service was somewhat spotty throughout the meal, with the waitress apologizing many times for the extended waits. I appreciated her polite gesture but would have appreciated attentive service even more. The waitress likely had too many tables and found it difficult to spend sufficient time with each party. The bill totaled $312 with tip. I reviewed the suggested Yelp rankings with the other diners, and received votes of 3, 3, 3.5 and 3.5. On this evening, Buttercup receives a 3-star review. Would I dine here again? Perhaps so, but I wouldn't go out of my way to do so. read more

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Ok, so I recognize that one point of service issue should not be the determining factor in judging a restaurant.....but sometimes the service is so bad that it does affect the review. Last night my amazing significant other and I decided to try Buttercup in the hope that it would approach Buttermilk and Bourbon. Tbe menu looked great so we decided to make a res for 7:30. I attempted to order a cocktail for her and a seltzer for myself and that's when things somehow went sideways. The bartender stared right through me for ten minutes while asking the couples to my left and right about their meals, what else they might choose to order and making drink suggestions. I said nothing but quietly attempted to make eye contact....nope....she started to refill bottles and clean up her work area. Still no acknowledgment despite the fact that I was 24 inches away from people she was chatting up. I walked away and I can assure you that I will never visit the place again. Rude is an understatement! So how was the food? A reasonable question. It was really good and our server (I didn't get his name) was great. I had the chicken, she had the halibut. Both were well executed. The oysters on the half shell were spectacular as was the charcuterie board. This would be a 4 star review except for my experience with the bartender. By the way, when we pointed out the rude bartender to the two people at the front, nothing happened so I suspect that the bartender with the uncanny talent for ignoring someone is related to the owner. read more

I've had Buttercup twice, once as takeout and once in restaurant. In house was one of the better meals I've had in Natick, particularly the ravioli. Takeout was one of the least enjoyable meals I've had, it does not translate well to being brought home and I don't know. If you go in person, totally worth it. read more

Excellent flavor! Berthing was very complimentary and I appreciate the earthy notes. I would not recommend the salad as an entree, but makes a good, fresh greens starter. The lamb was 10 stars, so good. The soup made and a good entree and the cornbread was very enjoyable. Ambiance is quaint and cozy. A couple more entree options would be nice. Dessert was the perfect end. read more

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Monthly meet up with my friends as we explore the Massachusetts suburbs, this month we're in Natick. Buttercup is a very short walk from the Natick Center station. You'll want to make a reservation (they are on Reserve not OpenTable), but they were able to get our party in and we had a table next to the kitchen area. The kitchen is open and they have a half-dozen stools at a counter that faces right into the kitchen. I'd definitely sit there next time for a smaller party. Definitely a fancy restaurant, For starters, we had a cheese platter that included three cheeses, sliced green apples and some marcona almonds. Very delicious and a great starter. For mains, I chose the bolognaise. Made with beef, lamb and veal (no pork!), it was very delicious. Pasta was cooked al dente, the sauce was rich and meaty and cheese. Tasty! No dessert this time, though the cobbler with ice cream would have been my choice. [Review 9997 overall, 1577 of 2018.] read more

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We Had a reservation but still waited about 30 minutes to be seated. The Drinks had nearly any alcohol in them. We did mention it and the waitress got more alcohol for one of them so at least tasted like a like and soda should. The Wine pour was also small. The food was good, but the portion size was extremely small so if you want to eat less, I recommend going there. They ran out of my husband's side choice and didn't tell him till after we had had our meals . So his meal came later after he picked a new side. The server was nice but drink orders took a long time and she had to be reminded to get them. Added to the bill was a Kitchen service charge of $13. Most people probably don't even notice it and pay a tip on that as well. These Kitchen people are salaried . We asked our waitress about it. Who showed us that on the menu there is a tiny section not noticeable that states they do that . She herself didn't even seem to think it was right to do. It was taken off our bill rather give her the money. Our bill was $350 with out tip. It's a beautiful cozy place, but Not much to choose from on the menu and not worth the money for what we got. read more

Phenomenal!! Exceptional food and cocktails. You'll taste the passion and love cooked into every dish. Ambiance makes you feel like you're at a warm dinner party instead of a restaurant. read more

Seriously delicious food. I enjoyed absolutely everything. The beet salad was incredible. Who says that about beet salad?! Me! Whatever they used for the dressing, coupled with the yellow and red beets, with the creamy buffalo mozzarella, plus the pistachios... my taste buds were singing! Wedge salad was good too but not a favorite for me. The halibut was so tasty and the veggies were ultra fresh... I could have licked the bowl. The rigatoni bolognese was al dente (which I personally prefer!) and was a mixture of lamb and veal... it was spicy though, so if you don't like spicy I'd just ask to make it not spicy. According to the chef it is spicy from the chorizo and chili flakes. Get the needle in the haystack for a drink - so good, with rum, ginger beer, lucano amaro and possibly something else.. I didn't grab a pic of the drink menu. TRES LECHES FOR DESSERT. Seriously. I died and went to heaven. I cannot wait to come back here. read more

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Buttercup is so popular that mediocre reviews will not make any difference, but here goes. The chef is serious- and the basic ingrdients first rate. Fried chicken is absolutely delicious, but the short ribs with pasta was much too stringy. And a pretty small portion. The cornbread appetizer was dense and flavorful- and the tiger shrimp ceviche while a little bland, was fresh, with mango and cucumber. The real issue here is value. Because Buttercup is an attempt at an urban restaurant in suburbia, it tries to justify Boston prices on the theory that driving to Natick from Welllesley or Weston is easier than driving to downtown Boston. But $11 for cornbread and $13 for a small slice of (good but not great) key lime pie, and $8 for the cheapest beer is ridiculous (even given the post pandemic/inflation driven cost increases.) They also add an extra charge for the kitchen staff. Snuck into the bill. The single wost marketing strategy, and something that just sticks in my craw, is charging $4 for 2 slices of bread (with butter). I'll say it again. Sticks in my craw. (Still not sure what a craw is, to be honest.) At least they don't charge for using the restroom, Not yet anyway. The service here is pretty good. And the waitstaff handled a full house with aplomb. read more

Tonight, my 5 and 3/4 year-old daughter and I had an hour to eat. We walked into buttercup with no reservation, explained our situation to the hostess, and she creatively found us two seats at the counter, facing the kitchen. The service was impeccable, the food was masterful, as usual, and the chef/owner was kind enough to come over and say a few words to us, which made my daughter's day. Buttercup is everything Natick needs, and I hope they never leave. Go now, then go again. read more

Had dinner here to celebrate a birthday and really enjoyed ourselves. The service was professional and attentive. The food was delicious and the menu was a fun spin on some traditional dishes. Will be returning in the future. read more

Excellent food and ambience, the best restaurant in Natick. Expensive but overall it's worth it.

I heard this place was crazy amazing so I had to check it out. It was just ok. The staff seemed overwhelmed even though the place was not busy, but I'm not going to hold that against them. Not sure what was going on there, but it was odd. The waitress only asked just my husband if he wanted bourbon. LOL. I guess women don't drink bourbon and I guess my husband looks like someone who definitely does (he does not). Anyway, the food was decent although my husband's meal was too spicy for him to eat. The bread should be free. We were there for a special occasion as indicated on Open Table and it wasn't recognized like other restaurants do. Maybe we caught them on an off night because I have heard great things. read more

Their first class dishes are served up BEAUTIFULLY! A favorite entreé is the HALIBUT served with delectable mashed potatoes, in a buttery lemon sauce and green beans. It melts in your mouth and is never over cooked! Seasonal specials do not disappoint, alway fresh and inspired. We were lucky enough to catch the last evening of their summer menu with a terrific special salad of seasonal heirloom tomatoes, local peaches, and burrata cheese... a creative combination of salty and sweet! WOW! So fun to eat! Their autumn menu has new dishes and is full of wonderful surprises. The staff is personable and always happy to greet you. Please visit and see for yourself! read more

Good food and comfortable ambience. Would be great for a nice dinner out with friends. Rated it only 4 stars because it did not quite meet my expectations for a meal of that price, but I could see myself returning for a date night. read more

Buttercup - Bars Near Me - Natick, Massachusetts

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I was in Natick on business, and Buttercup was highly recommended by the locals and by my fellow yelpers. I sat at the bar and ordered the Halibut with mashed potatoes, spinach, peppers, fennel, and lemon wine sauce. While it was good, it was not remarkable. My drink, on the other hand, was superb. I had the Last Laugh. I love anything with passionfruit, so it would be hard not to love this drink. I was going to pass on dessert, but when I saw the couple next to me had a crisp of sorts, the gluttonous girl from within told me I had to have it. I was hoping for apple crisp, but it turned out it was apple berry. I should have passed. I didn't hate it but probably would have loved it had it been apple only. That's just my palate, so definitely try if interested. The staff was lovely and very accommodating. All in all, if I am ever in Natick again, I would give it another go. read more

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I'm generously giving Buttercup two stars, because if it weren't for the bartender (Ariana), we probably would have gotten up and left. We arrived for a 6:30 reservation for our anniversary dinner on a Thursday night and promptly sat at a table for 2 in the bar area. After about 15 minutes, no one aside from the busboy with water glasses had come to our table. Three of the servers were running around like chickens with their heads cut off and everyone seemed very disorganized & disheveled. It seemed like no one was assigned to our section, but we did recognize that one of them was helping the tables on either side of us. I finally had enough and approached the bartender to see which server we were supposed to have. She profusely apologized, explained they were grossly understaffed, and came over to our table after she finished making drinks at the bar. I was so disappointed and distracted by the lack of organization and that comes down to poor management. Understandably, restaurants are short staffed these days and I am very empathetic to this. But, this was one of the worst dining experiences from a service perspective I've had in recent history. There didn't seem to be a floor manager in sight at all. We ordered the tuna poke for an appetizer, which was actually pretty good, but could be served with more crackers on the side. My husband ordered fish tacos and I had veggie risotto. The risotto was underwhelming, it was a pile of undercooked wax beans & ramps on top of overcooked Arborio rice. It seemed like there may have been goat cheese mixed in it, since the dish had some funk to it, which I am not a fan of. Fortunately, my husband gave me one of the 3 tacos, and it was very delicious. Not sure we'll be rushing back, but we really appreciated Ariana taking care of us and she handled herself like a true professional despite the circumstances. read more

Always a great meal at Buttercup! The cheese platter was a little weak for the price, but everything else was amazing! Very tasty and fresh! Great ambiance and service as well! read more

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My wife and I went to Buttercup for dinner on a Thursday evening and enjoyed ourselves tremendously. We had the Spicy Maine mussels, Arctic Char and Sweet Potato raviolis with two refined and well balanced cocktails. The meals were well presented, delicious to look at as well as to eat with decent but not large portions. Nice, subdued decor in touch with the Farm to Table theme, attentive and friendly service. Thursday was busy, strongly suggest making reservations especially on the weekend. read more

We were here for a private event. The atmosphere is inviting. You fell like you are in your own kitchen. The staff was welcoming and engaging. They service was excellent I had the bolognese and it was fabulous !!! Other dishes were the vegetable risotto and the spring chicken. All the dishes were delicious!! The brownie and butterscotch desserts were amazing like it came out of your families kitchen If you are in the neighborhood this is a must eat at !!!!! read more

Buttercup offers a welcoming "farm to table" menu and dining space. Our server Joyce and other staff were attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. While menu options are somewhat limited, everything we chose was delicious and did not disappoint. Each appetizer and entree was prepared to order with fresh, local ingredients. The lamb sirloin was paired with fresh figs and complimenting flavors. Peach burrata was excellent in presentation and taste. We started with an order of the buttermilk cornbread drizzled with lavender honey - it paired surprisingly well with the grapefruit Negroni! This was our first time dining at Buttercup and we look toward to returning! read more

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I've been here several times and I am sorry to say it has changed and not for the better. The portions are terribly small for a really high price. The clams with pasta was a total of 4 clams and a small amount of pasta. Pasta isn't expensive. If you are going to be skimpy, at least don't leave me hungry. The fried chicken was terrible. The batter was bland and overcooked and it was 2 leg/thighs. It was served on a small bow type plate which made it really hard to eat. Nothing imaginative or flavorful. Nothing else on the plate. Again very pricey and we left hungry. My wife and I went home and made grilled cheese sandwiches we were so hungry. Dinner cost us $100. A real waste. read more

Food is ok Very pricey Small portions Very noisy The mist outrageous thing they charged for "a kitchen appreciation fee" without telling or asking you. It just appears on your bill. read more

We have eaten at Buttercup a few times and was always delicious. We went early on a Saturday night (5 pm) and service was spotty at times. We had been given a gift card for our anniversary and when we went to pay was told we had to pay cash or use a credit card for the tip. We were baffled considering there was enough to pay for the entire meal plus tip. Have never experienced that before with a gift card. Another issue, ordered plain old brew ice tea. Had two additional refills and when the bill came it was $18 for ice tea! I was charged for $6 refills and was never told this. We love this restaurant and now question if we will ever go back. read more

My husband and I had a nice meal here last week. A very welcome addition to Natick's otherwise pretty lackluster dinner scene. The scallop appetizer was very good. It does come with just one scallop. The sweet potato and corn base was a nice sweet contrast to the scallop and makes it enough food for a app. The fish tacos are definitely a winner, lots of fresh tangy flavor with a fried crunch on the fish. The server might tell you "it doesn't come with a side, most people get a side" but guys, it doesn't come with a side because it's already a lot of food!! I definitely didn't "need" a side, like they convinced me I did, but the bacon brussel sprouts were a decent choice. Great food, good service. I might say the service is a little too... Pushy? Like... Overly friendly? We're in New England, you really don't need to be thaaaaat nice to me haha. We'll be back! read more

Buttercup - Fish tacos at buttercup - Bars Near Me - Natick, Massachusetts

Extremely cute place and atmosphere, but making a Saturday reservation they didn't include the 90 minute time frame over the phone. A little disappointed in the charcuterie board, minimal cheese and extremely small portion for the price. Meals were amazing and very tasty. Service was good up until the ending. When you have a larger party and give a generous tip you wish for a more accommodating ending to the meal. The waitress came over and told us to leave. It felt very rushed and unwelcoming with the approach. read more

Buttercup - The shrimp fettuccini, which was delicious. - Bars Near Me - Natick, Massachusetts

So I went here with my wife for Dinner last Friday and it was a nice place. We ordered 2 appetizers, 2 entrees, a couple glasses of wine and a dessert. The bill came out to $185 (including tip) which I thought was pretty expensive for what is supposed to be a $$ restaurant according to yelp. I don't know if it's because of the "covid effect" but they were charging $14 for a glass of Pinot noir, and even charged $3 for bread which is usually on the house with any restaurant. Now if this place was in downtown Boston or Back-bay then the prices are expected but this place is in the burbs in Natick??? Anyway, the saving grace for me was the Beef Short Rib with Pappardelle pasta. It was amazing! Just wish they had given me a little more pasta with it. The apps were good but the desert was disappointing. We ordered the pear and apple cobbler which tasted as if the fruit was from a can. So main points here - place is overpriced for the location and $$ on yelp (again - COVID related?) and best dish by far (would come back just for this) is the Beef Short Rib pasta. Hope that helps! :) read more

Although their website says they do private events, I never received a response back from the restaurant, even after calling twice and speaking to an employee and sending an inquiry by email. Thought it was rude, so I don't plan to ever go to this restaurant. read more

Nice offering in Natick. Would say experience was between a 3.5 and 4 star. Nice open space, friendly and attentive staff, and food was done and presented well. We tried halibut and the short rib entrees. Halibut was nice, very large portion, but somewhat lacking in flavor. The short rib with pasta was great, but after a while was somewhat one-note with meat and pasta. I found myself wishing there was some vegetable like peas or grilled heirloom carrots to break it up. I will go back for the dish, but will look for a side to help. Did not try dessert, but we saw a couple brownies walked by and, if we had the time, looked like a must try. Overall, recommend. Really good on all fronts, but nothing spectacular. Certainly the best offering in the neighborhood. I am sure we will make our way back when in the area. read more

Buttercup is such an incredible restaurant! Nestled in the middle of Natick this quaint little restaurant is an absolute treat. I ordered a litany of starters: charcuterie with cheese, peach and heirloom burrata, street corn, and a pear salad. Not a single starter disappointed. Everything was exactly what it needed to be. Let me quickly mention how fast the service was! We chose this place after navigating through Boston for a good place to eat. Every restaurant we went to had a wait of an hour or more.Because this restaurant is situated on the outskirts of Boston the wait was nominal at best. We found parking right outside, a much different experience than our prior search. Now, moving onto the main course.... I had to have the Lobster (lahbstah) risotto. Being so close to the ocean (unlike my landlocked home city of Pittsburgh). This dish was very good but a little lack luster. The lobster was quite a bit chewy. The flavors were all there but I couldn't get past the texture of the lobster. For dessert we had all the desserts available: tres leches, sorbet, and the apple peach crisp. The sorbets are really sweet, the apple crisp was warm and yummy and I will be back for that Tres leches cake. I highly recommend this place! read more

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This place is everything you hope for. Energetic atmosphere and friendly staff - and everything we've ever had is delicious. Can't go wrong with the fish tacos. read more

A rant: First, as noted in many reviews, the food and service very good. No complaints at all (although I too, was told they were out of fried chicken - apparently this is common?). My complaint is small, almost unnoticeably so. By this I mean the 2% Kitchen Appreciation Fee. The dollar amount here is almost irrelevant. I think it added less than $3 to my bill. But in this age of 20% tips at every coffee shop that has a Toast system, it is a bridge too far for me. I mean, it is supposed to be to help allow the back of house staff to earn a living. OK, that is what a salary is, something restaurants have been doing for hundreds of year. All the sudden it is OK to foist this on the customers. No thanks. Honestly, raise prices by 2% Hell, raise them by 5%. Do what you have to do, just don't extort me. Also, it is a pretty cheesy way of taking fixed costs (back of house salary) and turning it into a variable cost: more customers equals more money for the staff, but if business slows down they get paid less. It does not seem like some grand plan to support workers as much as it does a way to avoid paying them appropriately. Any way you look at it, it is annoying. I am a tipper. 20% is the minimum. No problem. I even pay those Toast tips when I pick up a sandwich for lunch, albeit under protest. And it is weird that the front of the house way out earns the back of the house. But this is BS and it is not even a tip. It is a fee. I am all for paying staff well; a living wage or better. This is a crappy way to do it. Will it keep me away? Maybe. This ends my rant. read more

I have worked in Natick for 10yrs and heard such good stuff about Buttercup...so I live in Natick now just a block away and was very excited to see what the buzz was about... WELP THE REVIEWS ARE ALL LIES AND DONE PROBABLY BY STAFF -arrogant -rude -no personable -I felt like I was being rushed and ignored at the same time... I sent and email to them and got not response... figured I'd try take out.....WELP I WAS WRONG AGAIN STILL RUDE ARROGANT AND IMPATIENT ..... if you want to be treated nicely DONT GOTO BUTTERCUP LPM read more

Ambiance was perfect, as they have a very well decorated interior. However, there's a few major issues here that need to be corrected ASAP before I will ever return. We started with the cornbread and charcuterie board appetizers. Both of which were pleasant, the cornbread more than the board, but I believe that my intense stomach pains were due to the brown meat that came with the board. Not sure but there's a good chance. We then waited 30 minutes from the time we received our appetizers until a waiter came back around to check on us (been done with the appetizers for at least 10 minutes). Fiancé ordered the halibut and I ordered the lamb shank.... BOOM in literally 5 minutes we had our entrees in front of us? Cold plates serving hot dishes? Lamb was maybe sitting in a crockpot all day? Halibut was tough and clearly reheated because no way it can be cooked fresh in 5 minutes? I just don't see how charging $35 per plate would not get us a fresh meal... I could have went to Whole Foods and got two TV dinners for a 1/16 of this price while still having the same satisfaction. Now I am home, struggling to fall asleep due to immense stomach pains :/ And I can't stop thinking about how we ordered sugar cookies and the butterscotch pudding. The cookies were bricks and the pudding was two spoonfuls of a sugary mess.... Very disappointing because we've wanted to try this place for a very long time and will not be going back for an even longer time. :/ read more

Awesome food, service and location. The menu is well thought out and expertly prepared. A huge asset to downtown Natick.

Fantastic meal and fantastic staff! The food was fresh and delicious as well as filling. The desserts were all been great too. We always try something new and haven't be disappointed yet. Decor is comforting. Settle in, enjoy. read more

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Great little restaurant. Lots of parking across the street. Fantastic staff. Attentive, funny, but not over bearing. Creative menu. Great salads, love the fish tacos. read more

We arrived early for our dinner reservation and were greeted warmly. We opted to sit at the bar for a drink prior to sitting for dinner. This place was hopping on a Tuesday night, I am happy to say. The bar tender was lovely and our drinks delicious! We sat for dinner and were promptly greeted by our server and a second server who took amazing care of us on a special night! The food was amazing! From the bread, to fried pickles, cheeses, fish tacos, short ribs, to an apple crisp for dessert anything was excellent in taste, quality, and presentation. The waiter checked in to assess the speed of the meal and if we had plans after dinner that would require things to be delivered to the table quickly, we were not in a rush and asked him to bring things out slowly. He accommodated us nicely, kept the drinks flowing, and took great care of us all evening! Natick needs a few classy, upscale, dress up, restaurants and this is one! This was definitely a wonderful experience and I look forward to our return. read more

Buttercup - Bars Near Me - Natick, Massachusetts

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