Njord Haven is amazing! I had my doubts before arriving; two vastly different categories of cuisine…read moreon the same menu and somewhat blended? However, I must say, I was very pleasantly surprised with everything we had. The National Dish of Denmark (stegt flæsk) was incredible, the dumplings were jam packed with meat, and the Chinese Churros hit the spot. We came in about 50 minutes before closing and stayed long after, but the service was fantastic the whole time. We were thanked by the owner for coming in and were told that staying late was expected and well welcomed. The restaurant itself is gorgeous and the music was a lot of fun. The restaurant faces the shore, so expect lovely views, especially around the golden hour. Overall, this place is an absolute gem. It's worth the trip from Boston or anywhere within a 50 mile radius, honestly.

Njord Haven is a gem. The Nordic-Asian fusion concept is genuinely interesting, and the execution…read morematches the creativity. Every pairing worked beautifully together. Nothing felt gimmicky, everything was thoughtfully prepared. The ambiance is outstanding. Walking in, it felt like one of the better spots I've dined in Boston proper or New York. The space has real character. Our server Lou was exceptional. First-timers at a tapas-style restaurant, and he made sure we understood the portions, guided us through choices we weren't sure about, and kept us from over-ordering. That level of attentiveness makes a difference. The food was outstanding. The broccoli alone (yes, broccoli) was a standout. The ahi tuna and rice cake were equally impressive. My martini was perfectly executed. The owner came by, introduced himself, and actually spent time with each table. That kind of engagement from ownership tells you everything about the place's standards. I'm already planning my return to work through the rest of the menu. Whether it's a full dinner or just drinks and a snack, Njord Haven is worth the trip.

First. The place did not feel clean, and it actually seemed like a cabaret. The food was so bad. I…read moreordered a mofongo with churrasco. The churrasco was so big and fat more because of the grasa with it. The mofongo seemed like if it was reheated over and over. Every time I tried taking a peace it kept falling apart. The sauce for it was just like meatball sub sauce, and it still tasted bad with it. My husband ordered a beer, and the girl literally went off to go dance with a random guy that had just came in, then when finally the music stopped she went to get the beer. The dj kept playing some old bachate, only one salsa song. Overall the experience was really bad and a waste of our time.

This establishment screams we want your money. The staff forces smiles with no charisma hoping you…read moretip them for no reason at all. Oye Bonita is a confused experience Including crossing the lines between strip club regular club and restaurant. Blaring dance music with tables everywhere so there's nowhere to dance. Food Menus at 11pm. My waitress continued to press me and my friend to order something and 5 minutes later she's dancing on the lap of a customer next to us. Very uncomfortable. Two jack and cokes = $28. Oye Bonita is Like a blockbuster movie throwing everything at the audience to see what sticks. At least the price is set and you know what you're in for. I cannot recommend this to anyone. I hope I saved you a decent time somewhere else dear friend. I wish you the best night out somewhere else. Thank you for your time reading my review. I honestly appreciate it.

The food here is amazing and service is always exceptional. Definitely on the expensive side but…read moreyou get your money worth.

Quite possibly one of the top 5 meals I've had in my life. The Beet "carpaccio" was exquisite, the…read moresalad also had one of the top 5 salad dressings I've ever had, I should add that I'm a salad dressing psycho and I could drink dressing and I sometimes do. (My all time fave being the Villa in Wayland dressing which is a town cult classic, the salad itself sucks though). The dressing was so lemony and fresh and I could tell it was made in house. I was surprised when our server said the plate was hot for a beet salad and delightfully it was because the goat cheese was melted onto the beets... yummmm ugh I wish I was eating it right now. The main event: THE TUNA My partner and I took one bite of the mashed potatoes with the miso sauce and both literally got chills and a tear came to our eyes. The texture of the tuna, the crunch of the sesames, the bok choi added a perfect fibrous element and the potatoes in the sauce all melded together in perfect harmony. Texture, flavor, presentation, all five stars I want to scream like the teacher in "a Christmas story" when Ralphie writes his theme and the teacher screams "A++++++++++++++++++++!!!!!"

We had an excellent dinner at Pomona Cafe this past week. The food set the tone, particularly the…read moreChicken Milanesa, Pollo y Limón and Chicken Violet. Each dish was thoughtfully prepared, beautifully plated and full of flavor without trying too hard to impress. The room is just as appealing as the menu. Warm lighting, striking artwork and a polished atmosphere make it feel special without feeling stiff. Best of all, the noise level allows for actual conversation, a feature that can be cocktail. The cocktails did not disappoint. Service was equally strong. Our server was prompt, knowledgeable and attentive without hovering. He answered our questions clearly and offered recommendations that proved well worth taking. The owner also stopped by to ask about our experience, a thoughtful gesture that made the evening feel genuinely welcoming. Pomona Cafe is a terrific addition to Swampscott, and we'll gladly return. Highly recommend!

Tried this place two times, both times was really disappointed. Also while we were here we saw them…read moresetting up for a graduation part or event of some kind, during this process we saw either the owner or manager take a rag that one of the waiters was using to dry clean plates, she sprays it with cleaner, wipes down the tables and seats then after she was done we see her start to finish wiping the clean plates with the same rag... and of course since she did that the waiters continued to do so with the same rag after she started doing something else?!? Disgusting. Apart from this.. if you can get over that, the food was really meh for the $, the chicken was dry and hard to chew and it just seemed like something I could cook on my own at home and I'm not even very good at cooking. Also got an espresso which was acidic and 1/2 cold. (This we've tried twice and both times just as bad)

Last day of vacation and again just driving around seeing the sites. Susan was a great server!…read more Kept it simple today. I had the Nikki salad. Husband had the clam chowder and haddock sandwich with onion rings. The food was great and exactly what we were looking for. The clam chowder was one of my favorites from all we sampled this trip. The addition of dill put it over the top! Seems to be another hot spot in Swampscott. Very busy place and a lot of locals. Glad we found it!!

Excellent drinks. Ordered a manhattan and espresso and they were very good. Typical pub menu…read moreserving sandwiches, pasta dishes and entrees. Haddock sandwich was very good, fish tacos decent. Upcharge of $4 for what are standard sides (fries/onion rings). Spot is on the smaller side that has bar, indoor and outdoor seating. The space was always packed but moved through tables pretty quick. Service was friendly and quick. Street parking was not an issue.

Sadly, Ciao has closed. They are focusing on other areas of…read morethe culinary t & I wish them the best!

The food is incredible, drinks are great and service is amazing! One of my new favorite hot spots!read more

The Taco Lady was the star of this "distillery". The waitress was more interested in flirting with…read moretwo guys at the bar rather than serving us drinks. Looking for a good time? You won't find it here. But shout out to the Taco Lady's ramen

A Gin Lover's Spot Worth Visiting…read more This distillery has such a cool charm to it--small, intimate, and packed with character. It's got that perfect balance of laid-back and thoughtfully crafted, the kind of spot you want to linger in for a while. I tried the Ursula cocktail and it was phenomenal. Guava and grapefruit brought this refreshing tropical brightness that layered perfectly with their dry gin, making each sip smooth but still tasty. If you're into craft spirits, especially gin, this is the place to explore. Great drinks, cozy atmosphere, and a backstory that makes the whole experience even better.

Such a shame the restaurant closed. It had very good food and an outstanding location.read more

I have been here a handful of times now and especially since hearing they are going to be closing…read moresoon, my family wanted to check them out. As it is a large establishment, there usually isn't any problems with getting seated. Therefore, large parties are easily accommodated for including my part of 10 for my sister's birthday. For starters we have tried their lobster bisque and cream of mushroom soups. Both are very viscous and usually on the blander side. Using the fresh and hot popovers to dip make it better as well as the complementary marinated mushrooms. By the time the entrees come out, were already almost full. Entrees have included their fish and chips, chicken tenders and french fries, prime rib, 6 hour roast beef, salmon, haddock, stuffed shrimp, scallops and pan-fried crab cakes. Like the soups, everything appears to look decent, but the flavor just isn't really there. I did, however, really enjoy their plain white rice as it was lightly salted. We ordered a side of broccoli which came with hollindaise sauce as the only sides available with entrees are french fries, white rice, and a baked sweet or regular potato. The broccolis were massive and cooked to still have a crunch. But the hollindaise sauce was disappointing tasting mostly of butter. Prime rib was very salty which may be good for others. For desserts we tried their chocolate cakes with raspberry sorbet as well as the creme brulee. Chocolate cake may have been flourless because it lacked any sort of substantial chewiness to it. The creme brulee itself was very good having a perfect custard texture with the crystalized sugar on top. Overall, the service has always been exceptional as well as the view. The food itself could use some enhancements but you are paying for the other two reasons above. Although this isn't my first place to come back to, I will still most likely come again at some point.

What an unknown gem in Salem! It's not on a beaten path, but the food has got to be one of the…read morebest in town. We've been in before for their superior steak tips and burgers. We just went in and dropped a worthy $80 on lunch - 2 tequila mules, a special of buffalo bites (if u are lucky and these are on special again - order them!). Chicken kabob sandwich - juicy, perfectly grilled chicken and my husband got the mouth-watering pastrami sandwich. We packed half of it up for dinner tonight. I only gave 4 stars due to the lousy, noisy, raunchy bar flies. They couldn't care less about other customers as they were shouting and cussing away. Having a conversation with my husband was impossible. The bartender, who was 5 stars in her service to us, attempted to remind these people to stop yelling. I understand being a local, as I am one, and it makes me want to keep my favorite places in business. However, disruptive and rude bar flies should be shut out ff earlier and asked to leave or at the very least pipe down. Ultimately, I highly recommend anyone local or out of town to try The Tin Whistle for the food and service. Maybe try one of the tall comfy wooden booths would make for a better atmosphere.

I would give 5 stars but they don't answer the phone for take- out…read more My new favorite dish is their Cajun chicken pasta. OUTSTANDING.. and a special shout out to Lydia who is on lunch shift. BRAVO

Just tried this on Saturday after moving to the area. Arguably one of my favorite pizzas I've had…read moresince moving to the Boston area. The sauce is perfect, and the crust is cooked to perfection. The owner Tony was really kind and made great recommendations. As for the spot itself it's right on the main drag with a great view of Boston, and awesome outdoor seating when it's warm out. On another note I'm surprised by the Portnoy Rating, I thought the pizza was far better than the score he gave. I'm looking forward to getting Volo again really soon!

(PIZZA SCORE) 4 OUT OF 10. This place was recommended to me…read morevia social media. Though, I was not really thrilled with the taste of it myself. It is very high quality. The pies looked great. Very unique flavor sauce. Great flavor in the crust that was my favorite part. High quality cheese being used here. It is a smaller place. It will probably be hit or miss for you. You will have to try it your self to see. A bit higher on the pricer side. Nice presentation. Will update if I try in the future. I doubt I will sample this one again