The Brick Chicken absolutely delivered an outstanding experience from start to finish. The atmosphere was lively but still comfortable, making it a perfect spot to relax and enjoy a great night out. A huge highlight was Kristen behind the bar, she was fantastic. Friendly, attentive, and clearly skilled at what she does, she made the experience even better. Her margaritas were spot on, perfectly balanced, refreshing, and easily some of the best I've had. Between the great service, inviting vibe, and top-quality drinks, Buttonwood is definitely a place I'll be coming back to. Highly recommend stopping in and grabbing a cocktail from Kristen, you won't be disappointed. read more

Buttonwood - Brick Chicken!!! - New American Near Me - Newton, Massachusetts

Came here on a breezy summer evening. The street patio was closed, table seating was booked but plenty of seats at the bar. The bar tender was nice enough and the drinks were good. The bar tender was patient as we tried to figure out what to get. Eventually ordered but I didn't get to hear about the specials until I heard another patron ask. So don't forget to ask for the specials! Got the mussels, they were on the salty side. The spaghetti was tasty, the small size is great paired with some appetizer. If not; the full size is perfect for dinner. They have desserts because I saw others get offered the dessert menu. I was not so fortunate. read more

Drinks and apps are exquisite and so unique!!! Main words I would use to describe each app we tried and each cocktail is BALANCED. I'm a salty lover and my partner is a sweet lover and we each loved all four items the same. The sweet cornbread with the spicy tobasco butter. Amazing. The smoked salmon dip with these little fried heavenly capers on top, amazing. My cocktail was so unique, pepper vodka with tomato water and olive oil??? Sounds strange but was amazing and not too spicy or too briney which I feel happens a lot with spicy martinis. My partner had the dandelion, a cocktail with cucumber vodka, lemon, melon and lillet blanc, it's sweet at first taste but the lillet blanc has a slightly bitter aftertaste and rounds out the sweetness and makes for a very sophisticated flavor. I was very impressed by everything. Can't wait to back and try more! Service at the bar was timely, friendly and knowledgeable. read more

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I've been wanting to try this restaurant and finally got there. We went on early side as we were trying to catch a show in Boston. There was only a handful of tables but by the time we left it was full. I had the squash and mushroom risotto, my daughter had the wings and whipped ricotta, while my husband had the cheese burger. The risotto was fantastic, the wings and burger quite tasty. The whipped ricotta had too much lemon which overpowered the dish. If you are looking for a little neighborhood find, this is it read more

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When I think about all the great restaurants I have been to in Newton, Buttonwood was never one of them. It was not because I never wanted to try it, It was because I would always go back to my favorites. But, I will say that I was glad to have gone here. Located in a cute neighborhood next to some boutique clothing stores and a great chocolate shop. You can pass some time while shopping. Service was excellent with a warm welcome upon walking in! Cocktails and wine were good. Our favorites were the Chicken Wings and the Burger. I did not love my Arugula salad which I thought lacked salt and flavor. My Chicken Under the Brick was overcooked, dry and too much going on. Normally this kind of dish is simple. I really wanted to love it but we both have leftovers now. And, their desserts looked phenomenal especially their Banana Bread Pudding. I would like to give this a try again since the ambiance is very pretty. It must be very romantic when the lights are low. #futurefalldatenight Cheers~ read more

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Came here for a work dinner and it was our first time. Service was great, ambiance was cozy and quiet, and the food was delicious. Highly recommend the whipped lemon ricotta to share - it was SO good! read more

A solid neighborhood spot. They were quite busy on a Saturday evening but we were able to make a reservation the week of for a party of 7. We shared the burrata appetizer which was refreshing and light. I ordered the salmon for my entree which was well cooked and flavorful. Our group did feel slightly rushed by the staff, as they stopped by multiple times asking if we were ready to order, though it was understandable given they were busy and trying to move tables. read more

Food was fantastic and the service was impeccable. We asked our server for recommendations and they were all perfect

Went for 25th Anniversary! Had pork chop, burger, chicken wings; cornbread- all excellent!

We showed up right as they opened. Fantastic from the first moment! Food was delish - get the chicken wings! Highly recommend and can't wait to go back! read more

Lovely modern American spot in Newton with interesting dishes. The burger is $25 but probably my favorite dish of the night! The spring pea risotto was OK even though it was highly recommended. The burrata in the pasta didn't pair well and the dish lacked flavor. The special salad of the night, chicken wings and the corn bread were good too. And the service was spot on. Definitely a place worth checking out if you're in Newton! read more

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Any restaurant that requires a credit card for a reservation and will charge $25 if you cancel within 24 hours is not worthy of my business. Ate here once as a guest of a friend. Won't return due to reservation policy. They are certainly entitled to their policy but I plan to eat elsewhere read more

Buttonwood is a beautiful restaurant. Great ambiance. This is a nice spot to bring family, a significant other, or venture to for a special occasion. The menu was on the smaller side but had some great options. We got a bunch of appetizers that everyone loved. My brother really enjoyed the burrata and cast iron cornbread which he said tasted "gourmet". Despite there being some rich and buttery ingredients in the food everything still tasted light and fresh without weighing you down. Our server was very friendly and accommodating. read more

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Excellent food and excellent, friendly service. We had a vegetarian risotto that was really superb and a burger that was excellent. A pleasant high-end neighborhood ambiance, but was very noisy on a Tuesday evening once it was full (after about 7:15 PM). Would be five stars if not for the noise level. read more

Food: Came here for a work dinner, and everything was delicious. The appetizers were to die for, the entree was delicious (had enough to take for leftovers), my mocktail was really refreshing, and the dessert looked delicious! Service: Everything was pretty fast, our waitress was nice and attentive. Ambiance: LOVE the outdoor seating option, especially when the weather is nice. The bar inside also looked really cool too. read more

Oh wow. A friend told us to come here and from the reading the menu I thought it's be good, but was amazed at how good it was! We started with the greed goddess dip, ceviche and cornbread. Flavor bombs. So so so good. Then the Greek salad that was very refreshing, entrees we're eggplant and sea bass. Chef was hosting so we kept asking him what to get and virtually got it all. Portions aren't gigantic, but plenty for 3 people to share all that. Ended with delicious banana bread pudding, where actual chunks of banana gave the flavor. Ambience was cute and informal. It was swelteringly hot but plenty of folks enjoyed eating Al fresco. If I still lived in Boston, buttonwood would join my rotation of faves! read more

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The food at buttonwood was outstanding. Everybody's meal was just remarkably good. The service was attentive and thoughtful and very fine. The ambience is terrible. It is so noisy that I barely could hear the person next to me. I could never hear the waiter. Isn't there something more you can do? This is a constant complaint about the noise level. I would eat in this restaurant twice a month or more if it the noise level came down. read more

Relatively small restaurant with a bar and street parking. Very old school decor with wallpaper and the velvet cushion couches. We weren't sure who our server was as we waited a while and different people waited on us. The chicken wings and fried Brussels sprouts were very salty for our appetizers. Wings were large in size though. The chicken over the brick was delicious with the butternut squash purée. Cheeseburger was delicious with the salted fries too. read more

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I arrived early but my dinner guest arrived 30 minutes late. Staff was very accommodating and attentive but not pushy while I waited. Food was excellent! Chicken wings as an appetizer. Came out hot, crispy and the sauce was amazing. I had the Chicken under a Brick which had house made polenta that was the best I've had. The chicken was crispy and moist and just delicious. My friend had the burger and said it was excellent. I had some of his fries and they had a unique smoky flavor which was excellent. The atmosphere is small and intimate. A great place to meet up with people on a cold winter night. That said, I can't say more pleasant things about the service. Everyone was pleasant and accommodating from start to finish. Our server even quietly swooped in and out as our conversation got more animated and intense. She was quietly there keeping an eye on things but not interrupting the discussion. First class! Thank you for a great meal! read more

Buttonwood is the neighborhood restaurant that everyone would love to have in their community - a perfectly cozy and intimate yet spacious corner restaurant that is perfect for enjoying a night out with friends, possibly meeting new people or catching a game at the bar. The restaurant is a very pleasant spot - the staff very friendly and you never leave the restaurant disappointed in anything - especially when it comes to the food. Buttonwood satisfies all senses and is a spot I quickly returned to after trying it for the first time for a friend's birthday dinner. The menu is small yet satisfying and creative. I love the attention to ingredients and blending of the flavors from salt to sweet to acidic. Grateful for the collaborative team that brings together such a delightful dining experience every night. Thank you. read more

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Wow great spot. Food was awesome. Great service. Would go back. Was there with my parents and son. The stuffed dates.. I could've just ordered multiple courses and just eaten these. They were awesome. Glad I had the burger though. It was great. read more

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My husband loves burgers, so I was intrigued by one of the photos marking Buttonwood's burger as one of the best. Even by my pretty low standards of not eating red meat, this one was delicious, uber-thick juicy patty, well-seasoned. The fries deserve to be ordered as their own side. Another standout were the wings with peach hot sauce and buttermilk ranch dressing that tasted house-made. If you come with a group, get a second order of these because I guarantee these are addictive. Possibly the best wings I've ever had, even better than the Korean rendition. The skin retained both crisp and moisture (which is not easy, cooking-wise). Too many places swing too far in one direction - soppy wings begging for a good blot or incredibly dry. This paired so well with the spin class drink I ordered. The sesame-ginger eggplant dip was fun to try and I liked the drizzle of peppercorn oil, but needed ... something else. Maybe just a pinch of salt and pepper. The snap pea salad was all right and small for $16. I should have gone with the pizza shop greek salad or the heirloom and panzanella instead. Make reservations! We walked in and were lucky to grab two counter seats but all the tables, both indoors and outdoors, were fully booked. We saw the owner moving around and greeting regulars, so definitely feels like a bustling, beloved neighborhood spot, with excellent food to boot. read more

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Delicious. Warm & cozy neighborhood spot. We celebrated a birthday here last night. We started with house made chips with green goddess dip & the hummus. Both were flavorful. Entrees are pictured. Loved our meal & the atmosphere. read more

Buttonwood - Kid's chicken fingers & corn bread - New American Near Me - Newton, Massachusetts

We had an amazing birthday dinner here. The winners were the muhammara and cornbread- finger licking delicious!! I really enjoyed the arugula salad, and my friends found the chicken under a brick very satisfying. Cocktail list is creative, and the ambience is higher end without being stuffy or pretentious. Service was very friendly. Definitely took the dining scene in newton up several notches. read more

Came here with a couple of girlfriends last month. We loved our meals! We split the very tasty burrata, which came with homemade, crusty bread. I got the smaller portion of the spaghettini, which was delicious and certainly a filling portion for dinner. We also sampled some delicious cocktails and ended the night splitting 3 different scoops of the ice cream: B3, fluffer nutter nutter butter, and cookies and cream. I recommend it all! Service was friendly and attentive, but not overbearing. The ambiance was warm and inviting as well. We plan to come back! read more

Buttonwood - Ice cream - New American Near Me - Newton, Massachusetts

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Inattentive server - cold entrees - rude manager. This was our 4th time dining at Buttonwood, which had been a local favorite. No more though. The restaurant was not crowded yet there were times our server disappeared for stretches at a time. We did not have any appetizers this time but went straight for entrees - the pork chop and chicken under brick. One bite of both and we could tell they had been sitting out for a while. The corn bread was hotter than our entrees. After finally finding our server we sent both dishes back. When new dishes were served, we saw they were the same entrees, just reheated. Besides being not sanitary, both dishes were now over cooked. (In my experience, in nicer restaurants, if a dish needs to be redone for any reason, you start new). When the manager came over we explained the issue. He visibly sighed, rolled his eyes, and walked away from us. It was the rudest experience I have ever encountered at a supposedly nice restaurant. We were dumbstruck. He never returned so we left and went to the Irish pub around the corner having a much better overall experience It's sad because Buttonwood had been a nice place, but when management insults patrons like that, they lose business. read more

Yummmy. Nice gem. Felt cozy and local. More bistro and pub feeling. Food was creative, fresh and yummy. Service was great. read more

Excellent neighborhood restaurant, go here often with family/friends. Solid beer/drink menu. Great options for kids too. A bit pricey.

Food- burrata. Delicious. Meals- I had the chicken under a brick and my friend had the risotto. Both meals were delicious. My chicken was juicy and seasoned beautifully. My friend said her risotto was delicious but a bit on the heavy side so she took some home for leftovers. Mini cannolis for dessert. Also great. Dessert menu somewhat limited. Overall great dinner. Great spot. Will definitely be back. Worth the hype. read more

I don't like writing bad reviews. Ever. I'm writing this one because Buttonwood feels like a place that absolutely can do better. The TL;dr on this review would be: "we left utterly confused." Five stars for service - our waitress was great! Interior is nice, but the decimal level is brutal because of how close the tables are to one another - especially confusing since the crowd is by and large, your grandparents. Okay, the food. Buttonwood... I mean... you are exceeding in spite of yourself (top rated restaurant in the Newton area)?! I'm just really struggling to understand how & why? Special for the night: a theoretically refreshing pea salad. The peas were delicious, all 3 that actually arrived in the salad, but they were completely overwhelmed by the sharp pea tendrils and a weird sauce that basically seemed like a yogurt. Not good, and comical for the price. '86 that thing. We were going to order the burrata but upon seeing it arrive at the table next to us... it showed up on an enormous hunk of bread, difficult to share (the guy next to us looked like he was cutting into a med well tomahawk steak, trying to split it up), and appeared to have raw carrots on top of it. Whatcha doing bastardizing burrata with those?! Color me befuddled, but to each their own. Salmon in cast iron - the salmon was cooked absolutely perfectly. Texturally, the fish skin couldn't have been more perfect, as was the cook on the fish (props again to our waitress who asked what temp we'd like it cooked at - we APPRECIATE you). They will split it in half if you want to share it (really nice touch). It arrived skin side up, on top of parsnip pure, with more of the bland pea tendrils again (not sure what happened to the kohlrabi salad). I wanted to love the puree, but it was just too many earthy flavors, and the puree was cold, so it didn't mimic a mashed potato (would 10/10 have preferred mashers, despite the extra carbs). Even a basic béchamel type sauce w/some sort of grain would have been better. The salmon would be a knockout with appropriate accoutrements. Pork chop was ENORMOUS - it was cooked to the correct temp, but it also arrived cold, with a breaded exterior made soggy by a cold, VERY sweet demi-glace. I wish we'd asked for the demi-glace on the side, that's how much it ruined the protein. In sum, we left scratching our heads. Components of what could have been a great meal wrecked by bungled execution and food pairings that don't entirely make sense, at a rather steep price point. read more

One of the restaurants that I didn't get to try during pre-covid times and to go to dinner after some of the restrictions were lifted was a huge treat. I actually love the food there it's good American cuisine. I had the pork chop, sampled the cauliflower and chicken dishes and they were simply divine. Totally recommend going here and hopefully soon again. Tried the spicy aperol svitz. It definitely had a kick to it so get it if you like chilli spice. read more

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Top notch all the way around. Everything we ate was spectacular; service was attentive. Would definitely come back.

Had a wonderful date night with the hubby here! We ordered two appetizers to share and one main dish each and we left stuffed! Overall everything was delicious and service was excellent. We also liked the ambience- the place is small but cozy, lighting is cool, and the decor is simple but pretty. For the specifics: Stuffed dates: OMG, didn't expect these to be such a flavor bomb. They arrived very warm, stuffed with Parmesan and covered in sautéed pine nuts and a dash of red pepper flakes. Incredible combo! Shrimp spaghettini: also bursting with flavor and the perfect kick! The shrimp was cooked to perfection. Might get this as a full meal next time :) Atlantic cod: the fish was cooked perfectly and tasted so fresh. Unfortunately the flavor felt bland for me compared to the apps, but was still lovely. My husband had the pork chop and loved it! Cleaned his plate entirely, to the bone! Cocktails: I had the French 51 which was perfect, so fresh and light. My husband had the limoncello cosmo which I tried, it was a little too sweet for me but still good. I knocked off one star because we arrived right on time but had to wait about 20 min for our table to be ready, and the host was curt about it / did not apologize. It wasn't a big deal as we were able to get drinks at the bar but I would have appreciated a more apologetic tone. It seemed a few other parties had to wait for their reserved tables as well, so not sure what happened that evening. Despite this, we had an excellent time and our servers were quick and accommodating. Will definitely be visiting again! read more

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Always delicious, friendly staff and atmosphere. Love having this restaurant in my neighborhood.

A great neighborhood spot with tasty upscale food. The bar is very nice, good to sit at for dinner. The bartenders are the best. I am something of a regular (once every4-6 weeks) and I wish they would refresh the menu. It is almost the same as it was a year ago. For such a good kitchen I wish they'd mix it up a bit. It has gotten a bit boring. read more

Cute neighborhood spot, cozy inside. Food was excellent and service was WONDERFUL. Host was warm and on top of everything and our waiter was awesome!! Truly old school good service. read more

We stoppped at Buttonwood for dinner when we were running late for an event. The food was delicious and the wait staff with friendly and helpful. It was on the earlier side, so it was not too crowded and comfortable for two people to talk. read more

I have been here several times and I always enjoy it. The burger is quite good and the fries are delicious! Cornbread is warm and a bit crisp, the smoked wings OMG. I don't eat chicken, but I have to admit, I have had a few and they are amazing the white BBQ sauce is perfect with the smoke; sometimes we go for just the wings, fries and cocktails. Cocktails are well crafted, service is very good, with the exception of one visit where is was a bit spotty. I suggest you check out this lovely Newton gem. read more

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We love Buttonwood. The simple menu has something for everyone. There's usually each of a fish, chicken, beef, sausage, or vegetarian item on the menu. The drinks are super and crafty. The drafts always have something that makes me happy. Last night we went with simple craves: cheeseburgers (which cone topped with bacon and great little setup and secret sauce), and the heirloom tomato salad. Two glasses of Lawson's Sip of Sunshine. So good. And no dishes to clean up afterwards. For the germ phobes, every other table has been removed and they have great outside dining too. read more

Buttonwood - Allandale Farm heirloom tomato salad. Lawson's Finest Sip of Sunshine. - New American Near Me - Newton, Massachusetts

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A very good locals eatery in beautiful Newton Highlands. We took my sister-in-law there for her birthday. The food was good and the staff were friendly and efficient. I'm sure I will go back. read more