So I've been going to this place since it first opened my father Reggie was a bartender at the blue room, and I believe the original owner was one of the chefs there that was working with him and we would go in there all the time and it's always been great and I've been away from the area for a long time and I've recently come back and my girlfriend was trying to plan a great dinner for me knowing my favorite thing is bread pudding This unbelievable banana bread bread pudding they have on their menu is phenomenal. I got it as an appetizer. It was so good then we got the steak tips that came with fries and a Caesar salad we also got crabcakes for dinner steak was cooked perfectly. Had a great taste fries were good. Good amount of salad. My girlfriend got the crabcakes. Also good and then we got the peach and blueberry crisp for dessert which was also phenomenal. I would definitely recommend this to anyone they had some other things on the menu that I definitely wanted to try. They had a barbecue shrimp appetizer and a swordfish dish as a special as well was really packed but we still got in and got seated right away. great ambience, even though it was loud and busy could still hear my girlfriend perfectly great place for a date night great place to go and get a meal by yourself or just get a drink at the bar all the staff was very attentive constantly refill in the water asking if we need anything offering great suggestions. read more

Highland Kitchen - Banana bread pudding - New American Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

I eat at Highland Kitchen often. The bar service is great and so is the food. I really enjoyed the fried chicken sandwich and side salad. The chicken was so tender and crisply fried. Topped off with a High Limb cider. Can't go wrong with stopping by. read more

Highland Kitchen - Fried chicken sandwich - New American Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

What a great place! Our family was looking for a place for dinner after moving our daughter into her new home. This neighborhood pub was in the area. It had a fun vibe, specials written on a large chalkboard and great food. We started with margaritas and a gimlet at the bar, delicious! Dinner we had the special tomato salad, wow this was amazing. It tasted like fresh summer on my plate. I had the jambalaya . My daughter had the buffalo fried chicken sandwich, she said it had a kick and was very good. I would go again if in the area. read more

See all

I enjoyed my dinner at Highland Kitchen! This was my first stop with a friend after landing in Boston. I live for Creole food so I loved seeing Creole options on the menu. The cocktail and beer selection was also nice. Service was also super attentive to my food allergy. Solid option in Somerville. read more

Highland Kitchen - New American Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

See all

I will never understand how this place keeps getting such high praises and lists so high on "best of Somerville" lists. It's not horrible, but the atmosphere is blah as is the food. When I first moved to Somerville, I had out-of-town friends come and insist we try the place, and we waited an hour in line in the freezing cold for the most basic of breakfasts. read more

Had a chance to visit on a busy Saturday night with my family. We were lucky from the beginning as we got a parking spot right across the street on Highland Ave, which is a very busy street. Upon entry, it was very busy. We put our names on the list and we were told that our wait would be 25-35 minutes. Our luck continued as we only waited 15 minutes before being escorted to a booth. As I said earlier, it was busy and you could tell the wait staff was working to keep everyone happy! We were given menus and quickly asked what we would like to drink. The drinks were on our table in no time! We ordered one appetizer (buffalo fried brussel sprouts) and it came pretty quickly! I am not a big fan but my son and wife loved it! They raved about the seasoning and taste of the sprouts! (see picture) We put our orders in for dinner after finishing the sprouts. I ordered steak tips with frieds and ceasar salad, we had pan roasted flattened half chicken and a shaved kale and brussels salad to top things off. The food was delivered to our table in managable time. I would say 15 minutes from the time we ordered. The food was delicious and serving size was perfect. All three of were happy with our choices. The steak tips were perfect for me.....cooked medium well and juicy! We finished our dinner off with a dessert that my wife had heard of and wanted to order. I did not have any, but they raved about it! The Banana Break pudding was out of this world! I wish I saved some room as the smell was delicious and the size was perfect! WOW! Price- average Parking- seems to be enough spots on Highland Ave Vibe- a local bar with great food...lots of families Would I come back? For sure...I am looking forward to a visit before the Holiday season! I really like the way the entire place is set up....inviting and welcoming! 5 stars from me! read more

See all

I actually live in California, but every time I come to visit my dad in Belmont, we always go to this wonderful place. It's kind of like cheers for that area. Everybody knows you and the service is very friendly and the food is solid. the jukebox is awesome! If you happen to be going by yourself, don't worry about that and just grab a seat at the bar where you'll have great conversations with the staff and fellow patrons. I look forward to coming back soon. read more

Many years ago (I'm talking pre-pandemic), Highland Kitchen used to have the BEST fish and chips I've had this side of the Atlantic. And those are the days I miss, because the food was good across the board. Since that time, it's gone downhill quite a bit, and I don't know why. The past few times I've eaten here, my food was oversalted or overcooked, smaller portions, you name it. Recently, I was here with friends and I wasn't overly hungry, so I ordered some sides... broccolini and mac and cheese. My meal was fine, but nothing great. The waiter we had was super attentive and friendly, so no issues there. Highland is a staple in Somerville and lots of our friends love it, so we will keep coming back, but it's never my first choice for places to get dinner anymore, whereas it used to be. I miss those days! read more

Highland Kitchen feels much like any other bar with one TV showing sports above the bar and seating around. There is limited seating and no reservations, so the wait time can get fairly long. There is also very little parking in the area, so it is best to go early for street parking or prepare to walk a while from your car. Although there were these issues, the food is great! They have food for all people with great vegetarian, low fat, gluten free, and allergy friendly options. The gnocchi is absolutely amazing here with tender beef and pillowy gnocchi. read more

Get the jambalaya. Every time. (there's a vegan option, too) GBV is often on the jukebox. Love. read more

Amazing atmosphere - everyone here is incredible. Speedy service even when it's bustling - can be hard to get a seat at the bar unless you come right when they open but they have a great system that doesn't keep you waiting. The Monsoon is one of my favorite cocktails in the whole Boston area, the mango is so fresh and it mixes perfectly with the rum. Their spicy jambalaya has very generous portions and every bite is mouth-watering. Fritters are also spectacular - can't go wrong with anything on the menu but beware if you try the nashville spicy hot chicken that you're ready to burn read more

Highland Kitchen - Highland Cheese Burger spicy jambalaya monsoon - New American Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Got the spicy jambalaya ($24) and broccolini to go ($6). Tasted amazing and easy pickup! I think the prices are steep for the portion but I would come again. Jambalaya had a good spice and was pretty salty towards the end. Street parking limited. read more

Great atmosphere and service at this local pub! We like that they have southern food options which are rare here in Somerville area. Their drinks are also pretty strong and delicious, I recommend getting them! Jambalayas are good (we tried both regular spicy one and veggie one), and poboys are ok. Real star was ricotta fritters with honey sauce; these were crunchy outside and melts in your mouth! Avocado salad was surprisingly good. When it comes to dessert, we recommend sundae! Things that were not as great: Mac and cheese (not much flavor), key lime pie (barely tastes like lime, very custard-y) Can't wait to come back for drinks and fried foods! read more

Highland Kitchen - Fish Po' boy - New American Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

My friend and I arrived to Boston on a Friday night to spend the night in Somerville and we randomly pulled over to this restaurant bar nearby our airbnb. We had pasta, burgers, and beer, but the kale salad was my absolute favorite. Big portions and great flavor! we actually ordered takeout 2 more times from here! It was a busy night and it took about 20 minutes to get a table. So be mindful of that because the staff is doing their best! Shoutout to our server who was also named Brenda and was an absolute sweetheart!! read more

Highland Kitchen - New American Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Food centers around the south (maybe New Orleans cuisine?) with standard bar options as well. I was pretty happy with the veggie jumbalaya, though I wasn't a huge fan of the large sticks of carrot and would've loved a piece of cornbread. The blackened catfish po' boy was also quite good. Another note - the spicy Nashville hot chicken sandwich is indeed spicy, with a warning that must be heeded! read more

See all

Highland Kitchen reminds me of a dive bar atmosphere with great comfort food. I arrived around 6PM and was able to grab bar seating after a short wait. The food was delicious, and every plate hit the mark. The gumbo was probably my favorite and I would re-visit just for that plate. The buffalo fried chicken sandwich and fish tacos also were packed with protein. This place was definitely memorable for its more affordable prices and stellar quality. Don't forget to take a look at their dessert menu after! read more

See all

Love this place! The food is delicious, i love the rotating specials, drinks and desserts. The service is top notch everyone is so kind, it really has such a homey feel. This is the place i bring family and friends when they visit me! read more

Came in for dinner and ordered the vegan jambalaya--it arrived piping hot and packed with flavor! Great portion size, super comforting, and well-seasoned without being overly spicy. We were seated fairly quickly even though the place was buzzing, and service was friendly and efficient throughout. Overall, a solid spot with great vibes and delicious food. Looking forward to coming back to try more of the menu! read more

Highland Kitchen - vegan jambalaya - New American Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Always love everything here all the time. They have done no wrong!!!! Drinks are always fantastic (I love their old fashioned and always get one), and we cycle through their menu. Has a small-town bar feel, a lot of locals, which is nice!! read more

It still confuses me that such high quality, authentic Creole food can be found right here in Somerville, but I will continue to patron them when I get a craving for New Orleans. Food: The food we ordered for take out was very well spiced and really packed a punch. The spice of the cat fish poboy and the jambalaya was addicted and I'm looking forward to eat it again! Service: Only interacted with the front desk when I picked up the food but the exchange was pleasant with nothing to note. Atmosphere: The restaurant feels so random because the street is usually so quiet at night, but when you walk in you hear the lively sounds of an activate bar and lively customers enjoying conversation and good eats! But will solidify that opinion when I come back and dine in. read more

Highland Kitchen - Blackened Catfish Po'Boy, Spicy Jambalaya - New American Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

The food exceeded my expectations. I was wowed by the flavors. We decided to split some appetizers such as the plantains, fried ricotta balls, and short rib gnocchi. It was all very filling. Even the side mac n cheese we ordered for my boyfriend's daughter was good. A lot of places side Mac n cheese is just generic/average , but this place did it well! She ate it all!! read more

Highland Kitchen - Tiki shot - New American Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

See all

The spicy jambalaya was everything I wanted it to be and more - flavorful, warm, and comforting - and with that cornbread, wow. I will crave this dish and easily come back for it, and maybe try the goat curry at some point. I haven't had duck confit in jambalaya before and it was really good. I had a couple cocktails and they were all mixed well and balanced. My partner had the 3 piece fried chicken (Nashville hot) and it was juicy and legitimately spicy. The collard greens, mashed potatoes and cornbread were all delicious. Ambiance feels like a dark, homey, neighborhood joint with a mix of lights and touch of kitsch. My only comment is that it is extremely loud, you do have to raise your voice quite a bit to have a convo and you will undoubtedly hear your neighbors. Service was stellar - attentive, friendly, personable. Food came out hot and quick, and our water was regularly filled, which was helpful for eating spicy things. Will definitely return. read more

Highland Kitchen - Spicy jambalaya - New American Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Overall the atmosphere was great. Went on a Saturday night with a group of 9 and got seated pretty easily. The server was very friendly, very respectful and on top of his service. We had a couple of appetizers since it was late at night and we were just looking for a quick bite but tipped him well for his service. The Dan Dan noodles wasn't amazing but it had a good soy flavor which I wasn't expecting. The deviled eggs were pretty basic and had some onion and pepper garnish that I thought it could do without. The asparagus soup texture inconsistent and didn't really hit well. But the other dishes like the carmelized dip, ricotta and Mozzarella fritters, buffalo fried brussel sprouts and blackened catfish po 'boy tasted pretty good. The catfish was definitely a lot spicier than I expected. There is tons of street parking but even though it was at night, it did feel a bit hard to find. read more

See all

Great place all around. I go roughly monthly. Decent number of high-quality veggie options, including the veggie jambalaya (which my even my meat-eating friends regularly order and enjoy), the black bean burger (which is one of the better ones I've ever had), and many sides, all of which (I believe) are vegetarian and very good. Have heard rave reviews about the goat stew, gumbo, and chicken sandwich. Chef is from Florida so it leans Southern. Fairly broad rotation of daily specials so you can have some variety if you go a lot. Very good quality for the price. Feels like the kind of food a great home cook would make for their friends (I mean this as a compliment). Just great food that makes sense. Don't drink but folks who do say good things about their drinks. Vibes are always great. Great, attentive, friendly service, which doesn't feel "fake" or pretentious. Sometimes gets a bit loud and they do pack the tables in there so you're sometimes close to folks. Depending on your preferences, this can be good (I've had a nice impromptu conversation with strangers at a neighboring table) or bad (I felt like a couple next to me was eavesdropping). Sometimes there's a wait because of how popular it is. Very clean, even the bathroom, which is not always guaranteed at spots like this (which has paper towels, not the nasty air driers). read more

A group of us arrived late Sunday night as we celebrated a wedding. We came to drink and talk. We were not disappointed! The mixed drinks were delicious and of ample size. There was only one bartender, but he worked the whole bar efficiently. What a pro. The guy's personality was great...conversed with everyone while dispensing drinks. We closed the place, but we vowed to return on our next trip to Somerville. read more

I'll start off with the positive. Cocktails are good. Never too sweet, with the right amount of booze. I appreciate their creativity. I'll recommend coming here for the cocktails 100000%. The food is a different story. The menu ideas are clever, for sure, but execution is sloppy. Octopus I got was rubbery and then made me feel sick. Other items felt like they needed to be puréed better, or were overcooked, or plating looked messy. The air in the restaurant is also kind of musty. I really want to like this place, because so many people do like it & recommend it. I always end up running into someone I know here too... but so far my experiences have been lacking, specifically with the food. Staff is chill, they do their job and check in as needed. Pricing is around $20-$30 per person, including food and drinks. read more

See all

Casual neighborhood vibes, with a super varied menu. I've done the hot chicken sandwich and my husband has enjoyed the burger. The hot chicken sandwich is spicy but definitely if you can do spice, get it!! Service was good and the guests range from families to couples. We come back often! read more

This was everything we were looking for and more! It's been on my son's list to try, so glad we finally made it. We started with the Ricotta Mozzarella Fritters, warm gooey deliciousness. Our entrees were the Veggie Jambalaya and the Blackened Catfish Po'Boy. Both were absolutely scrumptious. Great cocktail and beer selection. Everything about our evening was wonderful from start to finish. Excellent food, service and a very welcoming neighborhood vibe. Highland kitchen will definitely be added into our rotation of favorites. read more

See all

Our party of 4 arrived on a Sunday night at opening and we were immediately seated at a booth. We were lucky because 15 minutes later, the room was full. We had read the reviews and the quality of food and service were pn to the 5 stars were were seeing. Highland Kitchen is upscale pub food, with an innovative chef and good variety on the menu. We opened with drinks: Guinness, Turbo Reaper, Mark and Stormy, and a Monsoon. Dinner opened with an appetizer: Buffalo Fried Brussel Sprouts (crispy and piquant with a blue cheese dip if desired). Our dinner was one Cuban Reuben and three Blackened Catfish Po'Boys. The accompanying french fries or salad were excellent. For dessert, we had the Banana Bread pudding and an Averna Amaro as a digestivo. Our server, Jack L, was very attentive and friendly. This is a great place for very good food in a "neighborhood pub" kind of atmosphere. We will be back to experiment with more of the offerings. read more

God food and service. EXCEPT: last time I went (which admittedly was a few years ago) I had a reservation. for two. I was a bit early. The restaurant was nearly empty. My friend was about 10 minutes late. There were plenty of empty tables but the host insisted (and I mean insisted) that I wait at the bar or standing up. I am an 80 year old woman. Enough said. read more

Wonderful all around experience. Steak tips and margarita were excelleny. LOVE the jukebox! Head dude in charge thanked us for coming...service was on point. read more

We've been having a bad streak of restaurants lately and I'm so happy that Highland Kitchen ended that. Started with some fried oysters that had a lovely remoulade. The burger was super great, classic burger. Pan chicken lovely, fantastic sauce. Ended with an amazing bread pudding. Everything was super great and service was wonderful. Love it read more

See all

I had the steak tips with Caesar salad and fries and they were fantastic- a huge portion of fries. We also ordered the mussels which had a Thai coconut sauce and they were delicious! read more

Funky but cozy and family/kid friendly. This is the epitome of a neighborhood hangout spot. Our server was lovely and attentive. The food was really good and portions were great. This place is a gem. read more

I'm surprised that I haven't been to this place before! The food was excellent and I am definitely going back again to try different dishes. The Gumbo was fantastic and so was the peach and blueberry crisp. The maître d' was so nice and our server Jack was great too. Highly recommend! Great ambiance for a date as well. read more

Great food! Great service! Great ambiance! I love to have my foods there, they never let me be desapointed.

Highland feels like your reliable family owned neighborhood joint that's good for when your coming with a few people that all have different taste preferences - the menu is a mash of all different cuisines! Fried Parmesan polenta cakes with roasted tomato leek sauce and mushrooms - 4/5, crispy on the outside, super soft and melty on the inside rather than just straight polenta like your typical polenta slabs! This felt a bit like the remnant of a chopped challenge in the kitchen, but still a great special. Mozzarella and ricotta fritters with hot honey - 3.5/5, a new textural experience probably most similar to Moona's feta fritters if you've had it! Mild cheesy flavor, the inside the soft but not melted and somehow still has porosity / structure. Like a cream puff but all cheese. Gets a little heavy after more than 2. Short rib gnocchi - 4/5, purely comfort food! Tender short rib, mushy gnocchi. Pappardelle bolognese - 3/5, someone told us this was the best bolognese in Boston and it's solid but the pasta was a bit too thick and Al dente, the veal and pork combo tasted like sausage. There's some truffle oil drizzle that's quite aromatic and strong but the taste is mild. read more

See all

I always love coming here. The environment is always welcoming and fun. It is a great place to just grab a drink and the food is incredible. They have the best fries around! To die for. I also always love coming in and finding something new on the specials or on the drinks list. This is my favorite neighborhood spot. read more

They don't take reservations but on a Sunday night was fairly open. We got a marks mark and stormy which is makers mark and spicy ginger beer, SO good, while we waited for our friends to show up. The inside is dark and a little loud so I was worried we wouldn't be able to hear each other at the table but it actually turned out fine when we sat down. Service was quick and friendly. They have really interesting tiki shots. They make one barrel and when they run out, you get to have different type of tiki shot! We got the spicy jambalaya which was delicious but the Nashville hot chicken sandwich is HOT. Not like oh it's pretty hot, no, it is hot hot. There is even a warning in the menu. Once you take a few bites of that the spicy jambalaya also feels hot. It's spicy going in so it will be the same coming out so be careful! read more

What a pleasant surprise!! My wife and I stoped in during the rain Thursday evening and noticed the place hopping. Busy and full but not where you feel elbow to elbow and the ambience was perfect. Noted happy guests all around. The server came over almost immediately and greeted us and stated he'd be just a moment. He then took our drink order (rum cocktail and a mocktail, both solid). We then had the deviled eggs and the cheese fritters. Both were perfect!! Fritters melt in your mouth with the perfect crunch. For dinner the Cuban Reuben and my wife had the blackened catfish. Everything was prompt, server was amazing (pardon I don't recall the name) and the food was perfect!!! Solid solid work here!! read more