This place looks like a dive. It's low lit, and to be honest if you're walking on the street, you can easily pass by it as there are no fancy signs and the windows are dark. However, when you go in and sit down and look at that menu, you know you want to get their burgers! They have their standard burger and a burger special. They also have other specials on their chalkboard. The burger is awesome. It's a great blend of beef that is packed with flavor. It also has a moistness to it because they cook the patty perfectly. It's a tad small i guess? but that's what the fries are for. They have a decent beer selection to help you wash down that burger. I want to say the best part of the burger (aside from the beef) is the pickles. They are perfectly sliced and complement the burger with some acidity to cut the fattiness of the burger. The fries were crisped perfectly. They offered truffle fries as a special, but i was unable to swap out my regular fries for truffle ones (they should allow substitutions for a fee). The bbq pork sandwich was just aiite. THe sandwich itself was good but the bread flavor was too overpowering. The menu also stated rye, but it tasted more like pumpernickel. Still it was good. and toasted and flavorful. I'll be back for the burger and beer read more

Jm Curley - Burger and BBQ pork sandwich - New American Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

The best service and overall experience in Boston. We were greeted immediately and had the best craft cocktails " Call me Old Fashion" and "Wet Hot Mexican Summer" of our entire 11 day 50th birthday vacation through Provincetown, Boston and Saint Augustine. The bar manager, bar back, bartender and Tuesday night Server/Bartender for Bogie's Place "Speakeasy" in the rear/side of the restaurant were so friendly and welcoming- They were able to fit us in to Bogie's Place and we had personalized service at the bar with the appetizer and entree so exquisite that my mouth waters just remembering it. This hidden gem is a MUST TRY if visiting Boston or as a local! read more

Jm Curley - Law and Order- Posted on the wall and included in the menu. - New American Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

See all

I have mixed feelings about writing this review, because I would hate to give away the secret of Jm Curley, an awesome hidden gem in Downtown Crossing to the huddled masses, but I feel like it's my civic duty as a Yelper to reveal all of the best holes in the walls, so here goes! Named after one of Boston's most rip-roaring rebellious mayors of the 1900s, Jm Curley serves up amazing comfort food, ice cold beers and craft cocktails, and some of the best burgers in Boston! They also do a limited (but still amazing) late night menu Monday-Saturday until 1 AM. Looking for a satisfying bite after taking in a show at the Boston Opera House nearby? Jm Curley is the place to go! Any great meal here starts off with an order of Curley's Cracka Jack - house made popcorn drizzled with caramel, candied bacon, and roasted peanuts. It's an addictive take on the childhood classic, just like much of the menu, which showcases elevated comfort food. Another awesome starter are the Fried Pickles, which come with a house made spicy creole mayo for dipping. At only $9 a pop, it's a steal for the giant and filling portion. We used to come here after acting class and commiserate over our monologue and scene critiques over giant plates of these. Ah, college. Jm Curley may be off the beaten path, but they make one of the best burgers in the city. The classic 8 ounce Grass Fed Beef Burger comes resplendently prepared with cheddar, grilled onions, homemade Russian dressing, and pickles piled atop a juicy, perfectly cooked patty. At $17, it's not cheap, but it also comes with an order of tantalizing salt and pepper fries that are cut fresh and fried to order. Not a bad deal. Don't skip dessert! Their Nutella and cream cheese Boujee Brownie is a decadent end to your meal, complete with vanilla ice cream, strawberries, and caramel chocolate sauce. Yum! They don't take reservations, but because of its hidden location off of the main drag of Downtown Crossing, there usually isn't a wait. Service is fun, and they take their interactions with customers very seriously. Take a peek at the "Law and Order" section on their website for a tongue in cheek list of "rules" for eating at Jm Curley's. As they say: "It's food and drink, not life and death. Don't take yourself too seriously, we don't." Check it out! read more

Everyone was amazing! Drinks were unique and tasty-- especially on a warm Friday. Staff were courteous and sweet! We also loved the ambiance-- like a speak easy room. Will hopefully come back to try more of their food! read more

See all

this was by far one of the top 3 meals of my life. i got the grilled salmon with cauliflower and brussels sprouts. it was perfect holy. the salmon was the most delicate i've ever had, and it was perfectly paired with the veggies because it wasn't too heavy. i loved the flavors of the blackened/grilled parts of it and the sauce was really really great. we also got jims bowl with the popcorn chicken, mashed potatoes and corn, which was also really great! read more

Came in at 11:30 pm, very lively, great energy. Cocktails were awesome, I was quite impressed. I ordered dinner, and my food came out hot and delicious. Can't wait to come back! read more

Stopped in around 9pm on a Friday and was able to grab a seat right at the bar. The entire place is lowlight with the addition of lit candles to give a very cozy vibe. We started with a glass of Cabernet and one of the "newbies" cocktails Off to the Races (very lana coded), drinks were delicious and came in a timely manor from the friendly bartenders. We were able to order food right from our seat at the bar and we grabbed a Bone Marrow Au Gratin , and Loaded Caesar Salads. This was the first time we tried Bone Marrow and this was a memorable experience, the breadcrumbs gave an extra crunch and the onions added a little sweet touch to the bite. The Loaded Caeser Salads were pre tossed in the dressing so you don't have to make a mess trying to mix it yourself, the bacon, onions and cucumber were a great addition to a classic caeser salad. I got Crispy Chicken added to my salad and the breading was so buttery and crispy. My friend order a med-rare steak to add to hers and it came out cooked perfect temp and juicy. Would recommend this business for drinks and/or food , they also have tables you can make a reservation for so you can be guaranteed a spot! read more

See all

THE WINGS! I'm a big fan of chicken wings and these were some of the best wings I've ever had the pleasure of eating. The server explained them as "Korean-fried", but they were double-battered making them incredibly crispy. The crunch on every bite was phenomenal. I got the Buffalo sauce and it was a very nice sauce, but the actual wing was the star of this show. You get about 6 very large wings and the amount of chewing you end up doing actually sets this up perfectly. You won't need anymore than one order of these wings to be satisfied. If I haven't expressed it enough- get the wings. read more

Overall not a great experience. Music too loud, lighting too dark, & the total for 2 people drinking water was $40. We had a sandwich & fancy mac 'n cheese w/ pulled pork on top. The food was good, but too much sauce on BBQ & the sandwich fell apart. read more

Jm Curley - My flash went off because it's so dark in here - New American Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

See all

Dope spot with great music. Need to add Crunchwrap to late night menu for the 5th star.

Totally cool atmosphere . Music was great,like current funk. Food was cheap, large serving and delicious read more

Jm Curley - Awesome fried pickles and chicken wings.and sooo cheap - New American Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Nice ambiance with beautiful and delicious dishes, hadn't been back since pre COVID and was really impressed with everything we ordered! read more

See all

The burgers were AMAZING! Totally worth it. I got Curley's burger - super juicy and definitely filling. We also tried the popcorn appetizer (forgot what it was called!), but it had a distinct taste of bacon but it was definitely caramel-like flavored! Overall, 10/10 would most definitely come back for a delicious burger! read more

Jm Curley - Appetizer - New American Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Update on the atmosphere- it's pretty awful. So mind meltingly loud. And I think I'd be ok if it was puck or even metal- bits some kind of whiney music called "screamo." Not sure the concept- but it's a bar/ restaurant where you can't hear yourself think or talk to anyone. read more

I'm really, REALLY torn about this review and the place in general. On one hand, the "rules" on the back of the menu are incredibly condescending (especially the "don't complain on Yelp! or you're a coward"), and the decor is incredibly generic and bland. On the other hand, the food is pretty great, and the service is very friendly and efficient. So I'll say if they could tone down the attitude, and make the place less generic, i'd give itg 5 stars, but a star off for both those reasons. As for the decor: It's just BROWN, Brown floor, walls, banquets, tables. It's just really boring. Save for one big portrait of the place's namesake, there is no art. I'm not suggesting TGI Friday's type brick-a-brac, but a few well placed political photos, framed campaign buttons, a "wall of mayors"... naming it after a famous Boston mayor then not really following through with the theme seems a waste. The food was great. Good fried pickles on the "bites" menu (there should have been more for $5, there were maybe a dozen friend pickle chips, but there were tasty.) The burger was as good as everyone's said. Perfectly cooked, big, tasty with amazing crispy skinned fried potato wedges -- some of the best i've ever had. It was a REALLY, REALLY good burger! Oh, and one of the best dark 'n' stormy's I've ever had. Good music too! Fix the decor and attitude and you'll have a really special place on your hands. UPDATE: Got a nice note from I'm Sam, the executive chef of Curley's addressing both points, and assuring me the "Law and Order" rules were meant in good fun, and they do read Yelp reviews. Nicely played, Sam, Nicely played :) read more

Jm Curley - Best dark and stormy ever, free popcorn, fried pickles - New American Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

See all

Very basic mediocre food. Overpriced for bland & unseasoned pulled pork Mac & cheese. The fries served were lukewarm. But the worst thing was the service. We had a rude ass waiter that had an attitude the whole night. it was so bad that even the couple sitting next to us or upset when they left because they literally flicked off as they were walking out. He was rude and I let him have it no tip for him. Unprofessional & mediocre. Steer clear of this place. read more

This restaurant/bar is across be street form my office. A def hangout spot for the after work crowd that wants to unwind and have a drink. I ordered takeout for my lunch. I heard the veggie sandwich was great so I ordered that. It comes with a. Side salad or fries, I chose the side salad. The Sando did not disappoint- very delicious and made well and the side salad was dressed to perfection. I wasn't expecting a pub/bar to do so well on a vegetarian sandwich but they nailed it! I would def return to order that sandwich again or try something else out in their menu. Only 4 stars because not a very welcoming environment. Walked in and bar tender didn't say a word and other than the bar having about 6 people drinking the place was pretty empty. I had to walk down to find assistance to pick up my to go order. read more

See all

4.5! This place exceeded my expectations and more. TRANSPORTATION: Within walking distance of our hotel on Beacon Hill, and it seemed like an easy walk from the Park Street stop on the green line. WAIT: We had to wait about 30 minutes for a table on a Friday night at 6pm. It seems like a lot of people come here after work and take up a lot of the tables so by the time we got there we had to wait until they were done and then got space. ATMOSPHERE: Reminded me of a bar or a pub but with a more restaurant/trendy flair. It had hanging light bulbs and brick wall. A bar area and tables on the edges. It's dark and fairly noisy, but it gave off a lively feel, so I liked it. FOOD: Go the regular 9 oz. burger, mac n cheese and fried corn fritters. FRITTERS - They were basically fried cornbread balls with a honey glaze. The inside was spicy and kind of powdery. Not my favorite, it comes with 5 of them I believe. MAC N CHEESE - hands down, one of the BEST mac n cheese dishes I've ever had. First, I don't like my mac n cheese overly saucy or so cheesy that all I have is cheese sauce. I liked that it was on the dry side but still had that great, sharp cheddar taste. It was browned on top and some of the pasta pieces on the edges were crispy. The pasta was al dente and not soggy either. So good. BURGER - Totally exceeded my expectations. Looking at the bun in the pictures it seemed like it would be whatever because it was pale, and had sesame seeds. The bun was slightly buttered and crispy on the soft side. The russian sauce is like in n out sauce or thousand island, which was perfect on the burger. Get the meat medium rare...even though it wasn't super moist it was tender and very tasty/well seasoned. Grilled onions and a mild but tasty cheese tops the burger. Everything made the burger stand out to me, and I was licking my lips until the last bite! The fries were also similar to in n out fries, but a little more on the burnt side with some skin still on it. Some crispy parts, some soggy parts, not bad. Not my favorite fries, but good. On the skinny side too. Overall, we were both very impressed with JM Curley and I will recommend that all my friends visit here when in Boston. read more

See all

So I kind of had to drag my wife here after seeing 'On Your Feet' at the Boston Opera House. Go to the fifth paragraph if you just want to read about the bar. First she didn't want to be in Temple St so because of the people there that late (which at worse was an annoying drunk couple). Second she didn't want to ask about if they were serving food, because this is awkward and that's not something she does well with. Honestly though, it was a little confusing because they had their full menu until 10pm, and then there's a snack menu from 11p-1a. She had a point, but I argue that it's dumb to close the kitchen for an hour just to open it up again for 2 hours. She begrudgingly agrees to go in if I ask, and shockingly I was right. So the bar is somewhat dim-lit, great open atmosphere with high ceilings and exposed brick. The artwork on the wall is kind of a steam-punk style portraits of famous musicians. I also enjoy the music playing here, popular rock songs of the 90's and early 2000's with some old school rap thrown in. I'm at home here. What to eat? I opt for the T-money Mac n' Cheese which had caramelized onions, and sauteed mushrooms. Oh it was delicious. I was left a little hungry after I was done with it. My wife got Lyrics Boujee Brownie; nutella, cream cheese, scoop vanilla ice cream with raspberries and blackberries. She couldn't finish it so I dived in. I was satiated after that! OH and the food was served in these little cast iron pans, hot out of the oven. Delightful! We only ordered a cider and a beer, but there's plenty of options for drinks. It's a good spot in the theatre district to get a bite after a show, and you won't go broke eating here! read more

See all

Super cool bar to come to for a light night bite to eat or drink!! They have some amazing wings and the Mac n cheese was pretty great! Highly recommend stopping in read more

Jm Curley - Late night menu - New American Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

See all

After a long flight arriving late we came here for an 11pm dinner. Late menu is limited to sandwiches basically. He had the burger, I had the chicken blt. Both were delicious, as were the fries. Drinks were good too. I'll definitely return. read more

Fanatic burgers!!! Would come back. My friends got the Nashville hot chicken sandwich and the waiter described it as cayenne heat and not Buffalo hot - they both loved it. I got the Curley burger and it was so good! Nice portions too. Service was fantastic. It's a little dim inside but great for like hangout spot with friends for something casual read more

Had this place bookmarked in my mind (and later of Yelp) for the longest time. When I had an occasion to celebrate yesterday, I decided to check this place out. Word to the wise, it is quite small, so arrive early, and bear in mind that the dinner menu doesn't start until five. For food, I ordered fried pickles for the appetizer, burger for the main course, and 21 Temple for the drink. The fried pickles were very good! They do taste house-made, and are of pretty high quality. I also really liked that the breading was very light, thin, and not at all greasy. It was more there to add a little crunch as you bite through than it was to add a whole bunch of bread. Creole sauce was amazing! It added a whole new dimension of flavor to the pickle. I will mention however that this appetizer is best shared. The portion isn't massive, but it is quite a few pickles for one person. The burger was recommended to me as medium-rare, so I went with it. When it arrived, the outside looked (and looked is the key word) charred. I thought to myself "Oh great, they overdid it" nope. It was done awesomely. With the burger here, the meat is the star. It is among the more flavorful meats I have had in a burger ever. The balance of salt and pepper (and possibly other spices) was absolutely on par. The charring did not add a burnt taste whatsoever, its only function is to lock in the moisture. Speaking of, the burger was very moist! It wasn't juicy (dripping), but it wasn't at all a dry hunk of meat. This is actually awesome! The flavors are all there, and the moisture stays locked in rather than leaking out, making the bun soggy. Speaking of the bun, it was fresh, high quality, stayed together, and did not at all add any flavor, allowing the meat to shine through. The toppings on the burger worked together really nicely! I do want to repeat that in this burger the meat is the star... however, I would have liked a little more toppings. Because there was so few of them, I only got them in a couple bites, and the pickles chose to hide until the last two bites. This is just a consistency thing for me: I would like the first bite to taste the same as the last. Fries were great! Fresh, flavorful, and shoestring (which I like). They were perfectly seasoned. They is no salt/pepper on the table, and it isn't necessary. Drink (21 Temple) was awesome, and quite sophisticated. It had a flavor that I can't put into words. More, it was a combination of flavors that left it not too sweet, salty, sour, or bitter. I also loved the texture added by the bark powder. The service was great! Polite, attentive, and fast! Despite the place having a good number of people, I still got my food pretty fast, and my glass of water was never empty. Good job folks! read more

See all

Great spot. Service at a table or bar is great, and the selection of food and drinks is amazing. Burgers, mac & cheese, pretzel, and wings are my favorites, but everything I've had has been good. Bartenders are friendly & helpful and the ambiance is lively but chill. read more

See all

My party and I were visiting from Baltimore and we got in super late. This was the one place that was open and were able to sit us and we appreciate that part so much. THATS THE ONLY REASON IM GIVING 2 STARS But as soon as we ordered our food it went down hill. One party received a rare burger but didn't ask for it and made them visibly nauseous. They instantly took it back and "fixed" the order by taking the patty and burning it and sticking it right back on the same bun. Burnt to a crisp. Ordered a basket of chips.....CHIPS.. didn't receive them until the end of meal. Took that back Couldn't get a hold of our waitress to order any more drinks or inquire about the drink we ordered early in our visit. And when talking to the "manager" about the rare burger and try ordering from her and still waited 15-20 min for my order. Took that back. Their reason for all the "things that slipped through the cracks" (their quote) is that it's their first busy night since they opened. If you're not ready to open your establishment because you are unprepared then please wait and prepare better. Food mediocre. Don't go here. Go to the McDonald's down the street. read more

Nice staff, but really wanted some non coated fried buffalo wings. It's coated and fried here. Wings were big but not what we were looking for. read more

Came here for the first time on Friday Feb 23, 2018 and was really impressed. It took about 20 minutes or so to get seated as it was incredibly busy. The service was super friendly though. My friend and I ordered the duck poutine (fries, duck gravy, cheese, with a fried egg on top) to split for an appetizer. It was some of the best comfort food I've ever had. Would highly recommend. I think the fried egg on top is their own interpretation of the dish though, because I'd never seen that on poutine before. For an entree I got the fried chicken sando (lettuce, tomato, gouda, pickles, pop's Russian dressing) with fries for $17 and my friend got a burger (not sure which) and sweet potato fries. The burger was great and the fries were just okay, would recommend the sweet potato fries over the regular fries, much tastier. For a dessert, I got the Lyric's Boujee Brownie (Nutella and cream cheese brownie, vanilla ice cream, strawberries, Nutella drizzle, and caramel sauce) for $8. I loved both the name and the actual dish itself. Overall was extremely impressed with everything . Would definitely come back (especially for dessert). read more

Great local bar... Good Drinks, Late night bites, and Friendly Team... they have a cute Speakeasy restaurant tucked into the back... Loved it. read more

Great spot! Loved the popcorn and fried pickles. I wish we had somewhere like this in Jacksonville where we are from.

Our first restaurant on our mini vacation to Boston! It was great! Really good burgers and a great beer selection. I got both of their nitro stouts that they offered, and I enjoyed them both. We both got their 8oz burger which was extremely juicy and cooked perfectly, grill marks included. We also shared the cast iron mac and cheese which did not disappoint with the cheese pull. It was a little awkward standing at the front podium for as long as we did before a server came to help us out, but our server for the night was attentive and quick. Music was a little too loud for conversation, but I will say they play some choice songs. A cool place to get late night food/drinks. No wonder JM Curley is almost on every Boston burger list because they do them right. read more

Unless your local and in the world of the service industry avoid this place - especially if your not from Boston - bartenders and to a certain degree the regulars seemed to have chips on their shoulders with something to prove like "we are from Boston and we work as service people and we only like our own kind" type of attitude - I would avoid this place and go to Yvonnes around the corner if your looking for a good drink, vibe, and service. This spot may make you feel unsafe. Bartenders may have been on some sort of testosterone supplement or something - read more

What a great night! My partner and I just got into Boston and decided to walk around for a bit. Not long after we realized we were absolutely starving but had no idea where to eat. Here, we come across JM Curley, an affordable bar with an interesting menu. We show up and get seated by Felipe, an extremely nice and personable waiter. We both got the Nashville Hot Fried Chicken Sandwich with a side of tots. The sandwich was delicious, just the right level of spice, good juicy chicken and a nice soft bun with tasty mayo. Next was the tots, don't get me started on these tots. They were absolutely amazing, the best tater tots that I have ever had, a very crispy outside with a nice seasoning. We finished with the cookie sandwich, the ice cream was deliciously creamy and the cookies were fresh and yummy. My only complaint is that the cookies were not heated, not that it was bad, but nothing is better than ice cream with warm cookies. For drinks, I found a draft that I really enjoyed, but unfortunately, it ran out by the time I ordered another. Felipe brought me over multiple samples of beer, trying to find the right one for me, but I finally settled on a mixed drink. I ordered "off to the races" and my partner ordered "such great heights", both phenomenal drinks. My partner decided to try another drink, but it just wasn't for her, Felipe had no problem taking it off the tab and bringing her another drink. Overall, great service, delicious food and tasty drinks. As a disclaimer, it can get quite loud, but the music was awesome, plenty of old school rock tunes to vibe to. I would highly recommend to those looking for a cool place to hang out for the night. read more

Service terrible. Servers think your doing them a favor by ordering a drink. On a quiet Monday night, they should be embarrassed with themselves the way they handled our small group. Food was also not great, but the disgusting service outweighed the need to discuss the food. read more

Very unique spot. I would recommend it 150%. Great ambiance, friendly staff. The food is out of this world. A must of you're in the area. Does not disappoint. Drinks are great as well. read more

Jm Curley - Entrance - New American Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Menu is lame... you would think they would have a steak or two on menu when cooking them for Bogies in back?

Original Date: August 17, 2013 We decided to stay low key and grab food/drinks at Jm Curley on our last night in Boston. It took like around 10 mins for someone to seat us at an emptied table for two. Food: fried chicken dinner with fries and a biscuit (I love the black ale bbq sauce way more than bacon and beer honey mustard. Drinks: I got the Hemingway Heat and I forgot what my friend got since she order another one after. Definitely a nice hangout spot for food and drinks!! read more

See all

Delicious food and great beer selection. The veggie burger was excellent! Service was a bit inattentive and it was very loud but we had a nice time overall. read more

Staff was great. We were their frist brunxh customers. Such good drinks and food. Bloody Marys,.yum yum, french toast yum yum. Can't go wrong. read more

More like 3.5. I got the burger here because I heard seriously AMAZING things (even from the server) and I was less than impressed. The burger itself seemed small and the meat was dry. The fries were shoestring too, so i had to use a fork to get the little bits in my ketchup. Extra bummed because I was deciding between this and the mac and cheese (which I also heard was amazing) and I feel like I chose wrong. I do like that they give you bacon flavored popcorn to start and I also really liked the duck poutine my friend got. Super cheesy and tasty. Overall I really did want to like the food here because I've heard great things and I've been here for drinks and had a great time (which is also contributing to my 4 stars) but I don't know if my burger was off or what. I do think I'd come back again to try that mac. read more

See all

I recently came for lunch with a large group and was seated in a back booth without a wait on a Sunday afternoon. However,since this place is small, I'd recommend arriving near opening hours to avoid a wait unless you can snag some bar seats. I ordered the 5-oz burger and opted for the fries over greens (sometimes you have to treat yourself!). The burger was cooked perfectly medium-rare and was finger-licking good with a special Russian dressing, grilled onions, and pickles. Fries were also crispy and well-portioned. Other notable mentions include the fried pickles (served in slices not spears) and tator tots, both fried to a crisp but not over done. Service was attentive and quick, and waters were always refilled in a timely manner. Although the menu prices are somewhat more expensive for casual dining, you definitely get your money's worth in quality food. So if you're looking for somewhere to grab a quick, tasty bite in a laid-back atmosphere, look no further than Jm Curley to satisfy your needs. read more