We were headed to the hospital for business, so we got there early enough to grab a bite here. We were seated at the banquette against the back wall. TV's in the corners and above the bar kept us updated with the Aaron Hernandez story as we perused the menu. I chose the BLT with fries, until the server offered 50/50 to my coworker. I then opted for the BLT with 50/50, since I really only want a few fries for the flavor and the salad to feel healthier. The server advised that this is really the best deal, since you end up getting almost as much salad and fries as you would if you got only one. The meals came promptly. The BLT featured thick cut applewood smoked bacon, tomato, lettuce, and herbed mayo on lightly smoked sourdough. The bacon was thick and tasty, but a little tough, so you essentially got the whole slice of bacon in a bite, rather than having it break into a crispy bite. The tomato was juicy, not mealy, and the lettuce was crisp. I would've preferred less mayo and more toast on the bread, but that didn't stop me from eating the whole sandwich. There was a nice mix of greens in the salad, which was dressed with overly sweet balsamic vinaigrette. The fries were a tad soggy, good motivation to leave them on the plate. Check in on Yelp and get 15% off your bill! read more

We LOVED out brunch. Red velvet pancakes were fantastic!--- though definitely sweet. Might have been too much as a stand alone meal- we ordered as a side. Breakfast potatoes were crispy and flavorful and served with parmesan. Will gladly return. read more

Went to Harvard Gardens for the first time last night. My friend and I wanted to get drinks after getting our nails done, and stopped in and sat at the bar. I ordered a martini (gin, rosemary syrup, and orange) and my friend had wine. I really liked my martini...the orange made it smell amazing, but it was barely sweet and pretty heavy on the gin. My favorite. Of course, we opted to order food as well. I heavily eyeballed the goat cheese dip (goat cheese, raspberry jam, and Iggy's bread), but it seemed steep at $15.00. I ordered a half portion of the butternut squash ravioli, which was around 6 raviolis on a long plate. It was absolutely amazing. The ravioli had a pecorino romano sauce, spinach and candied pecans topping it. It was savory but sweet at the same time. This would be a great appetizer to share (the half order is $12.00). It did not quite fill me, but it was a decent portion. My friend ordered the truffle mac n' cheese sans broccoli and peas, and it was deliciously creamy. I could have eaten her order, as well. I would absolutely come here for drinks and apps, but I could see how a full meal could set you back a pretty penny. The service was good, food great, drinks great, price a little out of line ....4 stars. read more

Awesome soundtrack and incredibly friendly and efficient staff here! I love the laid back vibe and the late night pub menu is awesome! I had the chicken sandwich and "regular" fries, which were great! Feasted on a great seasonal, limited edition Harpoon Nordic Saison in a large format 22 ounce bottle: wow. Great beer! Love that they support local breweries on their rotating feature bottle list. Highly recommend coming here with a date or a small group of friends. Music is at right levels, as is the lighting to support an intimate conversation or solid catch up session between friends. Could spend the whole evening here and never feel the urge to leave....especially with the great alt indie soundtrack as the backbeat to my beer drinking. read more

Burgers were very good We had 2x avocado burgers, and 2x bacon mushroom and Swiss burger They asked how we wanted burgers cooked which was a welcome surprise since many places only do medium well. Tasty grass fed meat, fresh avocado and hand cut fries We also went to Emmets Tavern which was similar in food type but Harvard Gardens was better read more

When I walked in I observed this place had a cute, trendy decor/atmosphere. We were seated right away so I was happy there was no wait, but slightly concerned it would be one of trendy places with bad to mediocre food. They had decent beer / wine / drink selection and what looked to be a promising menu. The martinis were tasty - we were off to a good start. Our waitress was also very friendly and attentive. Food was ok. Not fantastic, but definitely not bad. I got steak frites. I had ordered the steak med. rare and it was more like med. well and was an ok piece of meat, but the fries with Parmesan cheese and truffle oil were soooo tasty, and the spinach was really good. Chicken was a little dry and unspecial. A friend had the pan seared tuna with pad thai noodles and loved it. So menu was a mixed bag. But for dinner and drinks out with friends - a good place to go. read more

Average. Came here for lunch during orientation week at MGH. The food was ok, but the service was so slooooowwwwwww. No one came to refill my water glass or soda. Come on, we were there at noon and there were only 4 other tables with fellow lunchers. Come on, I'm a nurse, and I can totally do the "avoiding eye contact thing" but then again, I don't work for tips. The food: I had the oven roasted pork sandwich. It was like a cuban, but on better bread. The only downside is that I've been burping up banana peppers and pickles all afternoon. If they improve the service, I'd up the stars. read more

Came here for brunch one weekend. I like the decor and vibe of this place. It's very comfy, soothing, and spacious. The inside is totally different from what you'd expect based on the outside. L Their Bloody Mary was not bad! I was a huge fan of their bread basket--so soft and tasty. We got the huevos rancheros, steak & eggs, and breakfast burrito. We were all really satisfied with our food. The ingredients were all very fresh and the breakfast potatoes were on point. They use a black bean purée/spread which I think is pretty neat. I think their brunch is exponentially better than their neighbor's (hill tavern). We didn't order the French toast but the table next door did and it looked incredible!!!! It's served banana foster style with bacon. Their fruit bowl also looked pretty amazing and hefty read more

Decided to have dinner here with my bf after seeing the yummy pictures of food here on Yelp. Went in yesterday night at around 8, wasn't busy at all. Was greeted by a friendly face that turned out to be our waitress. The place is very pretty and clean. We were situated in a spacious booth by her. She came back with wine glasses in which she poured water (which was rather warm.) We were also given 3 slices of French bread with butter, which we weren't expecting. My boyfriend and I decided to have the fried chicken wings as a appetizer. We chose to go with the sauces on the side. They were crunchy and tasted fresh. For entrees we decided to share the caramelized cheddar burger and the steak tips. I like that they ask if you want to have half salad and half fries with your burger. We chose exactly that. I love mac n' cheese, (and have corrupted my boyfriend into loving it to) so we sub'ed it for the vegetables in the steak tip dinner. Everything came out looking delicious! We first tried the burger, which seemed to be more bread than meat. It was chargrilled which we're not fans of. Fries were crispy, and salad was mixed with a very light, citrusy vinaigrette. Next we tried the steak tip dinner. Again, the steak had the char grill marks, which I felt like took away from the steak (but that's just personal preference.) The truffle mac & cheese had mushrooms, peas, and broccoli in it, which gave it an interesting flavor. It was good, and creamy. My bf liked it, however wished it didn't have the vegetables. I felt the same. The service was friendly and attentive the whole way through, and made us feel welcome. The food wasn't a home run for us, but not by lack of quality. Just by personal taste. read more

Harvard Gardens - Steak tip dinner with truffle mac and cheese. - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I always want to have a good time when I head to Harvard Gardens, but the night always ends up being a dud. I don't remember the food, which doesn't say much, the drinks are ok, the crowd is always so random. The plus, it's always loud and lively so at least it's not so bad that I find myself falling asleep! read more

Raspberry Sangarita! I just like saying it, and drinking it. We went here one hot Saturday afternoon after a bunch of friends got finished playing kickball (yes kickball!) at the Teddy Ebersol fields across the street. We rolled in 14 people deep and I thought they were going to freak, but they welcomed us with open arms!! Bartender was super cool, as were the manager on duty - we even gave them kickball tee-shirts. (jealous, aren't you!) We ordered snacks - truffle fries were awesome. Other stuff was pretty basic, and good. Drinks were a flowing, shots and it was 3 in the afternoon. While I don't know how the rest of the patrons felt about a bunch of loud rowdy kickballers, I know we had a good time. Good times! read more

I came to Harvard Gardens after finally meeting up with one of my buddies who got stuck on the red line during the recent electrical failure. We were hungry as hell, and this place was the closest food venue we could find. It looked like a sports bar from the outside, so we expected cheap bar food and a younger crowd. Definitely not. It seemed like a place for professionals in their late 20s/early 30s to get together and enjoy the bar scene without dealing with stupid ass drunk kids. The food was not bad overall. I ordered the Atlantic salmon, which was really well prepared. The steak was a little tough, even for a sirloin. The mac and cheese was nothing memorable. The reason I give this place 4 stars is because I really enjoyed my dish and it seemed like most of the dishes held their value. The reason I don't give it a 5 stars is because service was a bit slow. read more

We had a fantastic brunch and a great overall experience. The food was unique and tasty; even the breakfast potatos were excellent. The selections included some very healthful options. We were in a rush to get to a Bruins game; they got us in and out in 45 minutes, no problem. Service was friendly and attentive. I'm amazed that such a happening nighttime spot would do such a great job with brunch. read more

Harvard Gardens - There is more seating than you can see here - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Enjoyed lunch here with the wife and some relatives. Service was great, ambiance was pleasant, and food was decent. I went with the burger and fries. The pickle that came with the burger was the best thing about the meal. The fries were the next best thing, as they were fresh, crunchy, and with just the right amount of salt. The burger arrived as I ordered it - medium - but it wasn't that sexy. Had a slice of tomato and lettuce on top of the burger; both were fresh and delicious. However, that's it. Nothing else going on with the burger. I was a bit disappointed and was hoping for more. Again, want to highlight the service as our waitress was attentive and speedy. read more

I love that this relatively small urban bar/restaurant uses Open table for reservations. I made the reservation for 8 people less than a week ahead of time. I received an email reminder. We arrived a few minutes late, but the table was available. Our waiter was polite, got our drink and food orders right, and popped in plenty of times to see how we were doing. Generally people enjoyed their meals, which included pork chop with polenta 'fries', salmon, cobb salad, mac and cheese, and asparagus ravioli. The one flop was the Bibb salad, which our server said was big enough for a meal, but was actually quite small. There was a fairly average noise level, with a vibrant crowd at the bar. I liked being seated in the back, where there was a little less traffic and I could mostly hear my dining companions when they spoke loudly. The place is a little overpriced, but this is a city. read more

Sept 2013- This place earns its 3 stars solely for the grilled chicken sandwich. AMAZING!! All else was less than par, especially the service. The girl waiting on those in the dining area seemed great and attentive. The bartender, however, who was responsible for the high tops next to the bar, was rude and focused solely upon flirting with the old men giving her attention at the bar. We had to go get our own menus, wave her down for waters. She was annoyed to even have to serve us. They were out of several things (the beer we ordered and the lobster mac and cheese). Server thought she would just bring us regular mac and cheese....um no. There is a reason one orders SEAFOOD mac and cheese. She was snotty about us pointing out that we did not want it. Anyway, come for the chicken sandwich if you must come at all. read more

Terrible. What happened to this place? Spent $120 and had absolutely no service in a dead establishment! Literally, we were the only 2 seated at a table and waited almost 30 mins for our check and got it only after I asked! It felt like we were sitting isolated on a desolate island! Take out burger was totally wrong and I had to "adjust" the toppings myself! The manager actually blamed it on a "shift change", since when do you abandon your customers due to a shift change when you're empty inside and apparently desperate to stay afloat as a business during Covid??? This is sad because I've been here a bunch of times and always enjoyed it but after this experience I 100% will not be back.... read more

Love Harvard Gardens! Recently moved into B Hill and just walked to it thinking it was like a casual pub. We were suprised to see it was a bit more upscale. It was but not at all stuffy. The prices can get high if you are just stopping in for a quick after work meal or lunch but it really is good. I am over the moon for the chicken sandwich. The fries are the best I have ever had but if the waitress asks if you want your fries parmesan, just know there is a charge. Still, yum yum. The wine list and bar are great although I usually dont partake. Desserts I could take or leave but you will be too stuffed to eat them anyway. GO GO GO to Harvard Gardens! You will be happy with your choice! read more

Well, I have never eaten here since the only time I go is after 11 on weeknights... however... They serve dark and stormies. They are convienient to my job. They have ample seating and fun music (not good, fun). I plan on trying the late night snacks ( I really love snacks) tonight and will review more later... (building up anticipation!) UPDATE- Love the late night menu! Really quirky items that turned out to be really yummy! read more

Very disappointed with Harvard Gardens. This is a neighborhood bar, and I have had two poor experiences here. My coworkers and I were looking for a place to hang out and throw back a few after work. We came into HG, where no one greeted us. There were no seats at the bar but the rest of the place was empty. (I understand you can't sit unless you're eating). We asked if some seats might open up soon, and the waiters didn't respond. So we left. I should've known better after this experience, but I wanted to give it a shot. I went here on a weeknight with a friend. He wanted food, so we sat at the tables. The service started off fine but, as the night went on, it was quite clear that the waitress wanted us out. Our beers went empty, our water glasses empty, and our table... empty. At the end of the night, I split the bill with my friend but he had ordered more. So I left less "tip". I checked my statement a few days later, and she had overcharged me. Needless to say, I will not be back. read more

Firework shrimp and Steak Tips, yum! Came here in a slow snowy night, and it was delightful. Along with a glass of Rogue beer, I'd definitely come back. read more

Harvard Gardens - Steak Tips. Yum. - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

See all

We where starving but didn't want to pay and arm and a leg to eat at our hotel. This place was a quick walk and we where sat quickly even for a Saturday night. They had live music and the server was very nice. The food was really good and the bill didn't break the bank! I would recommend this place for sure! read more

Will definitely return to this neighborhood pub. Had a great marinated chicken breast sandwich on focaccia. Friendly and quick staff with a great selection of beers. Excited to try other items on the menu. read more

Stopped in for beer and appetizers during happy hour. Great atmosphere, food, and drink selection. I especially enjoyed the music selection. I'll definitely come back next time I'm in Boston! read more

IMPORTANT... My review is based only on sitting at the bar and having a beer. This is not my kind if bar, not would I send my friends here. So I can't give it a higher rating, based on my taste. It's very classy and is likely more known as a restaurant that has a bar. Beautiful bar, my draft beer was $9.50. hardly any TV's. Just overall feels like a stuffy crowd. Not for me. Finishing my beer and head off to don't a better spot to hang out on vacation. read more

Happening Bar, Delicious Food and Phenomenal Service, need I say more? Okay okay, apparently I do. Don't be fooled by the outer appearance of the restaurant. When me and my ladies arrived by cab, the exterior looked like a diner. But boy, were we in for a surprise. The bar was hopping and the game was on in the background. While we weren't seated promptly, the manager comped our drinks while apologizing profusely. Glad to see that they cared. The food... oh where do I start? The Tuna and the Lobster Quesadilla were delectable. I am a huge fan of the wagyu burger (SMOTHERED with onion rings) while my friends raved about the bibb salad and the pumpkin ravioli. And you must order the truffle parmesan fries. My carb-conscious friends couldn't resist seconds, thirds and fourths. All in all, the experience was great. The only reason why I didn't give the full 5 stars was due to the bar being a little too noisy and spilling into the dining area. Difficult to control since there's only a small divider between the two. read more

Went there on a date one night and wasn't too sure what to expect. I tried to do some research online to be prepared. You walk in and to the right you have the bar area which is of decent length with a good amount of high top tables. I got there around 7ish on a Thursday and it was pretty busy. The crowd was of mostly after work crowd and Beacon Hill locals and Harvard Students. The wait for a table was right away, which I wasn't anticipating. My date was about 10 minutes away so I was seated alone. Pretty sure she was late. I ordered 2 water just so I didn't look weird. I also asked for two menus of course. When she had arrived we ordered drinks and food. I had Stoli Blue w Soda and she had a Vodka Soda. The drinks were well poured, but the glass was kind of small. But after 3 or 4 whats the difference? For food I had no idea what to get. I ended up just keeping it simple and got some Boneless BBQ wings. Kinda of random, but I really had no idea what I wanted. I always hate to get a burger or something messy on a first date. You never wanna belch. But the wings were great. Great sauce and nice crispness to it. My date got a salad which was of good size and she enjoyed it, but it would never of filled me up. The atmosphere is very dark and cozy. The bar area is lively and the tables and dining are give you great privacy to be intimate and alone. The server was very sweet and attentive and very friendly. I will probably be back, but nothing really stuck out that would make me go out of my way to. The service is great and the food/drinks were all superb. The crowd can be a little much but in the end, it's a bar and as long as it has liquor, they are doing something right. read more

Okay, I'm going to talk in acronyms. I've lived in BH for 5+ years or so, and have enjoyed HG for many of those years. Good people here, good scene, and the food is good too, especially the fries. This is a great spot for a date, as I've been on a couple here with mixed success. It has great, romantic light for that sort of thing and the whole ambiance is good for a date. My only wish is that there was more room around the bar area, as it can get quite packed on a busy Saturday night. I've always liked coming here, and will continue to do so as long as I live in the Boston area. HG in BH, enjoy it. read more

This is a review for their brunch. I ordered the HG breakfast plate and a side of red velvet pancakes. My boyfriend had the eggs and bacon with a side of a blueberry pancake. His pancake was thick and undercooked and his scrambled eggs were overcooked and dry. My red velvet pancake was good but covered with hard pecans. The sausage gravy slathered onto my biscuits looked like dog vomit and tasted as though a pound of sugar was thrown in. The only good part was the bacon but who can mess up bacon? I'm only giving two stars because I had a really good server who was attentive and kept our water glasses full. Sorry HG you've got a lot of work to do. read more

Harvard Gardens - Sweet note from our waitress - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I walked out after 15 min, here are the reasons: 1. The menu on Yelp is not updated. I was looking for a healthy meal and saw that they offered a Grilled Chicken Wrap, however, they didn't have it and none of their meals were truly healthy. 2. I sat down, the waitress came and brought me a glass of water and she disappeared for over 15 minutes - yes! 15 minutes. It was not a busy day, it was around 3pm and there were probably 3 tables occupied. Because I just wanted to get a quick lunch I decided to leave and look for a faster and healthier option. read more

We typically love this place but the New Years service was the worst experience ever. They were completely understaffed and we got to the point where instead of trying to wait for a drink we just tried to get our waitress's attention so we could leave. Decided it would be better to buy a case of beer and groceries than drink/eat here. read more

Met friends here on Wednesday evening around 7pm. There must have been a 5 to 1 ratio of girls to guys ... if I was single, I'd make this my regular watering hole. read more

This is my Thursday night spot. Nice atmosphere, decently priced drinks, and lots of people to mingle with. It looks like a total hole-in-the wall from the outside but the interior is actually quite nice. The bar food is good. The french fries are tops on my list. If you're looking to meet somebody, this just might be the spot. Lots of young professional types. I have found (in my favor) that the ratio of men to women is a little high. read more

So I don't really know what all the fuss is about. HG is a pricey bar/restaurant that that tries very hard to be something it's not. The food is mediocre at best . Service seem slow and at 10PM on a Thursday maybe it just wasn't firing on all cylinders. You can find better on Cambridge Street. read more

I have had dreams about the Kobe Sliders. The quail egg is unique and a great pairing with the beef and bacon aioli. They serve Moscow Mules in copper cups, the way it should be served. I would have given them 5 stars, but they don't seem to have enough of the copper cups if a bunch of people order the drink. I also felt like they thought I was going to steal it and wouldn't give me a second drink in the same cup. Annoying. read more

Honestly, eating here was a disappointment. The restaurant was half empty on Sunday around 12, and yet the service was unbelievably slow. We must have waited at least 30-40 minutes for our food after ordering, and then the food was very sub-par. I very rarely meet a pancake I don't like, and they managed to make pancakes that our table didn't even finish. I would not return here. read more

Terrible experience. First off, we were given the wrong menus for the day. Our server got our drinks wrong [two sodas?] It took forEVER to get the food and the place maybe had three tables. She was really disinterested in serving us, and I was displeased. Vowed never to go back, and I haven't since. read more

I've only been here for drinks a couple of times. Everytime I go in the are so many snooty people that always are looking down on you. The bartenders were a little rude and took a while to come over even though it was a Wednesday night. They do play really good music though. read more

Lots of pretentious people who really shouldn't be. Otherwise the truffle fries ahhh manifique read more

This is my favorite bar on Beacon Hill. Yes, I'm partial to the name. It is also the closest bar to my front door, so please take that under advisement. It has great atmosphere and a friendly vibe. It looks a bit divey on the outside, but the inside is modern. The only thing saving it from a full 5 stars is that the food is not what it could be. The food is fine, yes, but given how good everything else is, I wish I could say I love the food. I think they would be better off with a simpler, more basic bar menu then striving for heights that sometimes they don't hit. That said, overall, this place is great. I hope to see you there! read more