Great food here always!…read more We decided to eat here after line dancing at the Boston Common. We ordered mapo tofu and the kung pao chicken with rice. Both yummy and delicious. A bit spicy but so good couldn't stop eating! We were so full! Service was friendly and food came out fairly quickly. Place was crowded lots of people which is always a good sign. This is a beautiful restaurant, very elegant decor. Overall great experience!

I came here with my mom and fiancé on a Wednesday evening, after seeing good reviews. It's a pretty…read moresmall spot right off of the Common. We ordered the pork xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), the shengjianbao (pan-fried pork buns), honey walnut shrimp, the stir-fried sliced beef, the water spinach w/ fermented bean sauce, and the stir-fried lotus roots. The beef, shrimp, water spinach, and XLBs were the high points. The beef was cooked in a slightly numbing sauce. The shrimp was perfectly crispy and doused in the signature sweet sauce. We didn't prefer the shengjiangbao, because the filling was a bit dry rather than juicy. The lotus roots were also pretty lightly seasoned - we had expected some more flavor. This is a solid Chinese spot in Boston! I think there are a ton of classic dishes done well. The service was a bit slow to me (it took about 30 min to get our first appetizers and we had to prompt for the check). It didn't wow me overall, but it was tasty.

Attentive service and food is outstanding. We are repeat visitors to Carmelina's whenever we are in…read morethe North End. We made reservations months in advance and chose the 11:30 time as we had a tour booked for 1pm. Chefs kiss to Carmelina's for having an amazing restaurant and ambiance.

Great food and delicious excellent customer service and the drinks were yummy. Parking was a pain…read morebut still Im happy to give it 5 stars.

If you want great service you need to come here and ask for Liana. I've come here many times and…read moreshe has been my server a couple of times always with a smile and extremely overattentive making sure that my experience is great. Also the food is amazing and their expression Martinez are great. Right across from the back bay station this is a must come to spot for small or large groups. They're charcuterie broad and brick oven pizza are very fresh and great for large groups. The atmosphere is spacious great table tops available for single or large groups. I personally like the bar with their TV and wine selection on display.

Our group of 16 was genuinely excited to dine at The Salty Pig in downtown Boston, hoping it would…read morebecome a regular spot on our list. While the kitchen delivered a solid meal, the service was so profoundly disappointing that it completely overshadowed the food. The culinary side of things easily earns a solid 3.5 out of 5 stars. We ordered a wide variety of items to share, and the highlights included: * The Pizzas: Creative flavor combinations with fresh, high-quality toppings and fantastic crusts. * The Bucatini Pasta: Perfectly cooked and packed with rich flavor. * The Asparagus Appetizer & The Chicken Milanese: Both executed well, flavorful, and cooked to a high standard. Unfortunately, the front-of-house experience was uniformly horrible. For a large party, hospitality can make or break the night, and our server missed the mark at every single turn: * Argumentative & Dismissive: He actively argued with our host regarding an appetizer that had been ordered in advance. When asked about vegetarian substitutions for a sold-out pasta dish, he curtly replied, "Pasta with butter is all we can do"--despite the fact that we could clearly see a wide variety of fresh vegetables being used right on their pizzas. * Inattentive: Dirty dishes piled up on our table, and when we politely asked for them to be cleared, he claimed he needed to get help and walked away completely empty-handed. Our drink orders were rarely checked on or refilled. * Rude to Guests: He displayed visible attitude and put-off body language whenever anyone asked a simple question. This peaked when he was outright rude to one of the young women in our party who simply wanted to put her order in a bit early because she had to leave before the rest of the group. It is a real shame because the ingredients and the kitchen's output are genuinely good. However, between the hostile attitude and the lack of basic service standards, we unfortunately won't be rushing back.

This is my second time coming to Gigi!…read more Every time when I'm in Boston it will be a tradition from now on. Our server, Leo, was very friendly, and he helped us pick what to get. We ordered their special of the day: the fried zucchini tempura, cod, and veal vodka spaghetti, as well as the rice meatballs, regular meatballs, and the alla vodka rigatoni. Everything tasted phenomenal. The setting was so cozy and it's always a wonderful time in this space. Make sure to book a reservation, because it's impossible to get a walk in table, even on a rainy day!

Last night, my friend and I tried Gigi for the first time for dinner!…read more Definitely super busy on a Saturday night so I highly recommend making reservations. They have indoor seating & outdoor "patio" seating. We started off the meal with drinks! We ordered the limoncello spritz & the pistachio martini. The limoncello spritz tasted refreshing & like a sparkling lemon/limeade with a hint of honey. The pistachio martini was very creamy & tasted sweeter at the end of each sip. We shared two appetizers: the arancini and the calamari fritti. We LOVE calamari & always end up ordering it at every restaurant we visit that has it on their menu. We liked the presentation but wished that the calamari was crispier. The batter is thicker + unseasoned & was fried lightly. The two sauces definitely helped here. We enjoyed the arancini much more than the calamari, though that's not to say the calamari was bad haha. The arancini was just a better bite! I loved that they were crispy, cheesy, + quite flavorful. I highly recommend getting the arancini appetizer. As for entrees, we each ordered a pasta. We did the rigatoni alla vodka & chitarra alla vongole. I'm a big fan of white wine pastas with clams & have to say this one was GOOD! Very flavorful actually, while still tasting light. The sauce had a smokey garlic flavor that I really liked! They gave a lot of clams too, so I was pretty happy with my choice in ordering this dish. The rigatoni alla vodka is perhaps their most popular dish and what our server suggested instead of getting the bolognese. We thought it was just okay. It doesn't come with any protein, just pasta + sauce but it wasn't memorable. I'd say, maybe try the other pasta dishes they have before getting the rigatoni alla vodka. Overall, it wasn't a great meal! The highlights for me were the arancini and the chitarra alla vongole. I think I would come back again to try more dishes & although service was a bit slower (with how busy it was), our server was kind & helpful! Prices were on par with other Italian restaurants in/out of the city. Parking: street parking

On June 7th, a group of friends and I made our way up to Contessa's rooftop for brunch, the room…read moredid half the work before a single plate arrived -- natural light pouring in from every direction, a genuinely beautiful view, one of the prettiest spaces in the city. We started with Aperol spritz, Hugo spritz, and negroni while we worked through the menu -- the drinks were delicious and a generous size. Our server knew the menu inside and out, answering every question, making suggestions with real confidence. When I mentioned my allergies, the kitchen took them seriously -- the carciofi was altered so I could actually have some, the lemon flavor was just right. That kind of care is what keeps me coming back to a restaurant. The smoked salmon carpaccio was fresh, so good. The tonnato crudo was my favorite dish of the day -- the tuna fresh, the mix of artichokes and anchovy the right touch, full of flavor. I couldn't eat the meatballs Aldo due to my allergies, everyone else at the table raved about them, cooked to perfection, so good they ordered a second round. The macaroni with wild boar ragu earned the same praise across the table -- excellent, packed with flavor, the sauce just right without being heavy. The classic veal Milanese was well prepared, cooked exactly as ordered. The salmon Toscano was a standout in its own right -- the beans a great pair with the salmon, the salsa verde was so fresh and full of flavor. Our server was a lot of fun, interacting with us like he was part of the group -- honestly, he could have joined us at the table. We will be back!

My wife went to the bathroom during dinner and came back excited, claiming there was some kind of…read morewine tasting room for guests while you wait to pee. I checked. It was, in fact, not a real thing. Get the salad for dessert.

We had a very early Sunday supper at this authentic charmer on Charles Street. I would encourage…read moreany one shopping on Newbury or Comm Avenue to forget the uber to the North End and walk over here. It's dark and cozy and all the service staff is far friendlier and accommodating than the overwhelmed and overrated Hanover Street spots. The wine list here has an impressive array of Italian reds, well beyond the Chianti Classicos. Very generous pours by the glass as well. We tried the lightest tastiest gnocchi I can ever remember; the grilled octopus salad with a simple vinaigrette, a hearty bean and pork sausage stew and the rustic mushroom based based soup with a poached egg and bread crumbs that I will soon be trying to duplicate at home. All tasted like they came from your nonna's cucina. The grilled meats and chicken parmigiana enjoyed by the tables next to us drew high praise too. I am dying to return for a deeper dive into the entrees and apps. If I had to sum up in a single word: "civilized" would be it.

My wife loved this place. She really enjoyed her Chicken Parmesan and she loved the ambience. My…read moreson really enjoyed his pizza as well. While I think the ambience is excellent, too, I thought the pizza was just fine. It was large for a personal pizza. The dough of the pizza tasted a little different though not bad. The middle of the pizza was kind of soupy. I started off by eating with a knife and fork. The toppings were good and plentiful. After lots of walking around the area, I was really looking forward to a Diet Coke. What I got was this tiny little glass Diet Coke bottle (8 oz). I knew right away, there was no such thing as a refill for that and he confirmed later. I just drank water for the rest of the meal which again was unfortunate because I like to have a soda before dinner and during dinner at least. I wasn't gonna pay another six dollars for a tiny Diet Coke.

This Historic Restaurant on Charles Street in Boston has been here since 1837!…read moreGreat location in the Cities Beacon hill where many famous and well known families live and have lived here around Bostons State House! Many movies have been filmed on Charles Street and neighborhood! But one comes here for the Great portions of great tasting meals! Lines go on and on! It's worth the wait and worth the time to walk around Charles Street! Check it out!

Food: 5/10 We had the French toast, and the burger with…read morefries. It came out hot, but was pretty average tasting. Service: 7/10 We were seated immediately despite them being extremely busy. Courteous and attentive staff. Ambiance: 6/10 Clean, standard, diner. They do have a hook rack for bags and jackets. They also have a restroom towards the back of the restaurant.

I was looking for a brunch place in this area and found spot which seem to have a good selection…read more The decor is very old school but it fits the neighborhood. This would be a good place to take your parents or grandparents out if you know what I mean. They don't have special menu items for GF people so I got an omelette which naturally doesn't have gluten. It was good with the lobster meat but it lacked a kick to it. The potatoes were pretty good. My friends seemed to enjoy their meals as well. They don't have lots of coffee options but they can make a plain latte or cappuccino. My main issue were the prices for the food you were getting. $24 dollar for an English muffin, bacon, potatoes and 3 eggs is a bit much for the quantity on the plate. The English muffin didn't look homemade either to justify the price. I wouldn't pick this place again for brunch but maybe it's better for dinner.

Such a charming little restaurant! My family and I visited 75 Chestnut on a Saturday evening in…read moreAugust. We were seated by the window with a lovely view of the street and the building across the street. We had reservations and were seated right away. They had a good wine menu. My husband and I ordered a glass of the Super Tuscan. For our meals, I ordered the Nantucket seafood stew, which had a lot of seafood and was very tasty. My husband ordered the sirloin that was on special. He enjoyed the steak, but the vegetables served with it were cold. My son ordered the fish and chips and he really enjoyed them. It was my husband's birthday which I noted in the reservation and they came over with a chocolate lava cake and ice cream after our meal. It was a very nice touch.

We visited here with a reservation time for 9PM on a Sunday evening, after a concert nearby…read more Arriving in the area, we didn't know what to expect, so from the outside, we thought our rideshare dropped us off in a neighborhood, but this place is down some stairs in a rowhouse - very cozy! Walking in, it's cute, nicely decorated, and cozy! We were quickly greeted and then sat. We were there for my birthday and when our server walked up, she had two glasses of bubbles, which was a very nice surprise and wish me a happy birthday! The menu is loaded with many appetizing options and the food we saw on nearby tables helped us confirm that they know what they're doing in the kitchen here! We started by splitting a bowl of clam chowder. Our server had this brought out in two bowls, even though it was a split and it looked fantastic! The first taste was great! I loved the essence of bacon and smokiness in that spoonful. The potato's texture was great, soft, and not over-cooked, but loaded with flavor! The thickness of the chowder's soup was exactly what I expect from a traditional New England Clam Chowder. Definitely one I enjoyed! Next up was the swordfish for my wife and the pappardelle for me. Both looked amazing when they came out. Wife said her swordfish was one of the best she's ever had. It surely looked outstanding! My pasta was incredible! A very rich bolognese, which was clearly stewed down and was amazing! The whipped ricotta on top when mixed in helped make it creamy too - definitely amazing!! I was stuffed from what we enjoyed so we couldn't stay for dessert, but we did love everything we had. Service was great and friendly too. Definitely would return!

My wife and I took our son and youngest daughter out for a great meal in a new place. Several…read morefriends referred me to 1928 despite some negative reviews appearing on Yelp. We had a 7:15 reservation on a Friday night. We arrived at 7:05, and the restaurant was FULL. The hostess greeted us and told us our table was being prepared. I am happy to say we were seated on time at a beautiful table for 4. The decor and atmosphere were really beautiful. It had a strong neighborhood feel that is remarkably unique. Our server introduced herself and took our drink order. My wife had a tropical Negroni, and I ordered a Vieux Carré. The drinks were generously sized and well made. We ordered our meals. We started with Burrata Toast and Oysters Rockefeller. The oysters were placed on a covered plate to contain the smoke. The presentation was only eclipsed by the oysters' flavor. The burrata toast was large enough to share between the four of us. The presentation was also beautiful, and the flavors were superb. Our entrees included: herb-crusted halibut, steak frites, the signature 1928 burger, and a gorgeous short rib with some fabulous crispy Brussels sprouts. We shared a single Sticky coffee pudding for dessert. All I can say is that the food and libations were superb, and the service was superb. It is not inexpensive, but no more so than any upscale restaurant in Boston. I would take the few recent negative reviews with a grain of salt. I have spent more and received less at a couple of spots in Boston. We will certainly return to 1928. I would love to try eating at the bar on our next visit.

What is there not to like? Get lost in a French style Brassiere for a couple of hours dining and…read moredrinking and relaxing w delicious well prepared and thoughtful dishes. Any dining establishment can be charming with the right outward appearance. The food and staff add a soul to Ma Maison. And it is wonderful to be in this brassiere's dining room. The simple salad contained the best tomatoes, greens crisp at the right temperature delicious house dressing and do get the goat cheese. Scallops were fantastic, browned perfectly, mussels were delicious. Also ordered escargot. Bread was the freshest and made on premises. Fries are real French fries, delicious. We ate a lunch here but more like our main meal of the day.

A gem!!! We came here to celebrate my husband's birthday dinner, and we were both so impressed…read more Everything we ordered was so good, from the complimentary bread+butter to the soups to our mains. Best french onion soup I've had and their lobster bisque was also really nice - good flavor, slight spice and chunks of lobster bits! My husband ordered the steak frites and I got the Sunday special (lamb chops) and we have no notes! So yummy! The ambiance is cozy and gives French bistro vibes and service was good and timely. I'd love to come back!