A friend recommended this restaurant many months ago so another friend and I decided to try it on a Friday evening around 4:30 PM with reservations during Dine Out Boston (aka Restaurant Week). As we walk through the doors there were people working the hostess stand. A male and female both gestured to us as i proceeded to tell him we had a reservation. At the same time they both of gave us the "up/down" "once over" look as if we were not in the right place. We totally understand that if we walked in wearing flip-flops, shorts and a tank top but we were dressed in boots, nice jeans and nice winter jackets. Strike one! As we were led to our table and seated, we were given the dinner menu, wine and oyster list. Or server came over shortly to offer water and never mentioned restaurant week. It wasn't until she came back that we had to ask her for the restaurant week menu. If your restaurant doesn't want to tell patrons about it, then don't participate...Don't make your patrons have to ask. Strike two! Complementary crusty bread and dipping oils was served. The bread was very good but in our opinion would be much better served warmed. We decided on two different appetizers from the Dine Out menu: Fried Dough Zeppoline and Prosciutto di San Daniele but was informed they didn't have the Zeppoline. Since neither of us like sautéed mussels and clams or raw tuna we both decided on the prosciutto. The prosciutto was beautifully plated and the flavors of the smoked mozzarella with the pesto smear and prosciutto complimented one another. A fairly generous portion, slightly on the salty side but overall ...good. For our entrees we shared the wild boar papparadelle and the seafood risotto. And the wild boar arrived the portion looked tiny. Flavorful sauce a bit on the salty side for me, papparadelle cooked perfectly al dente. The risotto contained a fair amount of medium shrimp, small scallops, calamari rings and tentacles topped with a half lobster tail. The sauce was very good but the seafood was inconsistently cooked ...some pieces were perfectly cooked and some a little overcooked. For dessert, I had the Delizia al Limone di Sorrento - a lemon glazed sponge cake with a whipped cream topping and my friend, the Chocolate Tortino, a warm flourless chocolate cake topped with a hazelnut ice cream and a side of with cream topping. Both desserts were excellent. Since we dined at such as early hour, the area of the restaurant where we were seated was empty (only two other tables occupied) and the servers tended to congregate in that area (about 5-6 of them at all times) so I was facing them and felt as though they were staring the whole time...didn't make for a comfortable dining experience. For friendliness and welcoming, we give them a 1. Only one server (not even any of the ones that served us) smiled and thanked us for coming in as we were leaving. read more

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This place was so good!! The service was 10/10. We also got the oysters that were amazing. This lobster ravioli ?? Get it! It was just the perfect amount for me. read more

Mare - Lobster Ravioli - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Incredible raw bar. Wonderful pasta (lobster ravioli is excellent). Great place to go in the North End for Italian with a seafood flare.

Mare went above and beyond in its service, food, and location. LOCATION: 5/5 Set in Boston's North end,It's a decent stroll down the famous Hanover street. My wife dropped me off then went and parked. What we loved most about the restaurants location was that it faced the amazing boston skyline. We got a true dinner and a beautiful aesthetic! SERVICE: 5/5 Upon walking into the restaurant, you're greeted with wonderful, professional hosts that direct you into the restaurant. They are careful to explain where everything is and sit you down on your table. Our bread server set us up with the most delicious assortments and explained everything in precise detail. Our server, took full care of us throughout our night and chatted with us when he could. He upheld the professionalism and friendly demeanor of all of the other staff members that we saw from the very start. He was overly accommodating with everything from start to finish! FOOD: 5/5 Scrumptious to say the least! Everything on the menu looked overly appetizing! From the Boston Bibb salad to the Wild Boar Pappardelle. For my main course I decided to go with the Lobster Rav and wifey had the baked stuff lobster. Both were marvelous and the seafood was so good and fresh it must've been swimming yesterday! The zucchini blossoms and oysters were a great start to a 5 star meal! OVERALL: 5/5 My wife and I had a wonderful and memorable dinner at Mare. The view, ambiance, service, and food were definitely one the highlights of our entire night! We will definitely recommend this restaurant to our friends and look forward to dining here again. Keep up the WOW factor Mare!!! read more

This spot was great. We also had one of the best waiters in Boston. JIO WAS AWESOME! Try to sit in his section if you can! Super nice, super fast, super attentive and super handsome. Came up to our table as soon as we sat down and gave us great service from beginning to end. Drinks were good and atmosphere was superb. I was nothing but impressed with the entire experience. read more

Mare - Italian Mule - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

-place was packed, atmosphere was lively, great ambience -good choice of oysters -lobster ravioli was delicious -gnocchi frutti de mare was so so and a bit bland -lobster roll was fine but the lobster portion was small -squid ink pasta with clams - no flavor. I felt like I was just eating pasta. read more

Mare - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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I've been going to the Mare for years and can positively say it's Boston's best seafood/Italian restaurant! It's a classic must-try spot perfect for special occasions. Hidden in a small alley right in the heart of Little Italy, the Mare offers several unforgettable dishes. It's Cacio e Pepe and Stuffed Lobster will have you savoring every last bite. The portions are large enough that you're guaranteed leftovers. The Mare offers great outdoor seating options, with a balcony that looks over oncoming traffic and a few seats right outside the front door. It's quaint and full of date nighters or classic family dinners. It's a more upscale restaurant and it's prices ensure it stays a 'special occasion' outing. Still, it's absolutely worth every dollar... especially the stuffed lobster. It's a signature dish that is an absolute must, you'll never have another plate like it! read more

Was annoyed in the beginning because we waited 20+ minutes to get seated even though we had a reservation. Our server and food was great though! Highly recommend the risotto. read more

As far as the ambiance-- Mare was a super cute restaurant , on par with many of the restaurants in the North End. We were originally seated in a room that was super cramped which made it hard to enjoy my dinner date's company so we requested to be seated outdoors since they had the heat lamp and it was a warmer night for mid February ( I know it sounds crazy). I promise you, we were comfortable for most of dinner but it did get a little chilly by the time we got the check. There was another room indoors by the restrooms with fire pits that looked super cute and I would definitely request for next time. Now, if you're someone that is looking for a Covid safe ambiance, I would caution that you wait for outdoor seating to open up or go on a quiet night instead. As far as food-- Everything was good ! We got Mussels for starters, which was absolutely delicious. We also ordered the Tagliatelle Con Aragosta and the Lobster Ravioli and both were good but I preferred the ravioli. The only downside was that my drink did come in a dirty cup but they were very apologetic and brought out a new one as soon as I let them know. I definitely recommend giving this a try if you haven't already, especially for a date night! read more

Mare - Tagliatelle con Aragosta - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Thank you for the excellent birthday dinner. Staff was spectacular and quick. I want to apologize to the General Manager/Expeditor when he alerted me our valet would be prompt in 5 minutes and we were waiting to pay as I gave him the impression I felt rushed but I did want to make sure someone else could get our table timely. Previously I've gone with my parents to this restaurant (this is my favorite restaurant in the North End) and he ordered the Wild Mushroom spaghetti and my Dad DID NOT SHARE IT because he said it was the best spaghetti he ever had. So this time I got it and I loved it. We also ordered the Zucchini blossoms as an appetizer which were delicious and reminded me of Italy, Shishito peppers and the Lobster Ravioli. Cannoli and Affogato desserts were delicious. Made my night out very special! If I could give 6 stars I would! read more

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The only reason I'm not giving a one star is their oysters. They were very delicious. The service was just so bad...We had a reservation at 7:15 but waited about an hour to get seated. This is the worst thing I could imagine on a date. Also the server added 2 drinks we didn't order on our check - I was lucky enough to figure that out by checking the items on the check one by one... The oysters and crudos were good...The desserts (soufflé chocolato and rice cake) were also good...The pasta was too salty and not al dente - need several more minutes of boiling before serving. read more

Tinseltown in North End! With an Open Table reservation, the Hostess had an attitude once saw our baby stroller. Even though they had multiple other tables available, she said it had to be the table right in the middle of the entrance with people circulating on three sides... Our granddaughters have eaten in several Michelin Starred restaurants all cover the US and Europe (including Paris). Have never been treated this way... If they don't want families with a baby should advertise it. But again, nothing excuses the demeanor and condescending attitude of the Hostess and her manager... We asked her to consult and she talked to a guy and came back giving us an ultimatum... We left and went elsewhere at North End. Sham ! read more

3.5/5, +.5 for service Good thing I consulted Yelp beforehand, because I was about to go to the old Mare location! Although I think if I ended up there, there would've been some guidance to end up here anyway. However, this restaurant was somewhat difficult to find, as it's at the end of a hidden alleyway. We were seated in an outside patio, which provided a nice view of Highway 1A entering Downtown Boston. However, the seat arrangement was quite poor, as people had to walk through our table to reach the sofas, as there was no other path. Mare has an extensive raw bar menu, and I highly recommend ordering something from the raw bar if you dare to eat raw seafood. We ordered a large mix of raw clams and mussels to start, and each of them were beyond delicious. For the actual menu, we ordered the octopus salad, seafood meatball, and the zuppa di mare. The octopus salad was the more expensive of the appetizers, and honestly was something I wouldn't bother next time as it wasn't anything special. The seafood meatball was quite unique and the "meatballs" were very large. Finally, the zuppa di mare was very delicious and had a lot of the seafood staples (shrimp, lobster, scallops, clams, and mussels), and the tomato-like broth was also very tasty. Definitely worth the $37 in my opinion. Unfortunately since we were so full at the end, we didn't order any dessert. However, we were overall satisfied with our meal, and we would definitely return when we're ever in Boston. read more

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Not impressed. Lobster roll was $35 (MKT) but it was full of tiny minced pieces of lobster instead of full pieces (likely they were using the leftover bits they couldn't serve any other way), and it was DRY despite the fact that it was supposed to be served dipped in butter, and the bun was dried out. Really embarrassing for a Boston seafood restaurant. read more

Second time here and we are still smitten! It was even better than the first time! Lucas was our server and he was amazing. He is from Transylvania and even gave us advice on where to visit including his family's donut shop. Perfect service, perfect wine pairing, delicious food. I had the Lobster truffle pasta and it was out of this world. My husband had the truffle tuna. Also perfection. We sat outside, they have a cozy intimate patio with fireplaces...we would highly recommend this restaurant. read more

Mare - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Frickin amazing. Everything we had was amazing. Definitely if you are in the area stop in. Amazing

Consistently good seafood (e.g., oysters, crab cocktail, crudo, branzino). Tables are on smaller side and seating can be tight. Desserts aren't what they used to be so you may want to skip that and go elsewhere. read more

My sister and I have been wanting to try this restaurant for awhile and overall, had a mixed experience. The atmosphere sitting outside was very pleasant, the cocktails and service were solid, and the appetizers (especially the trio) were delicious. We did not order entrees. We were most looking forward to the raw bar, but it was very disappointing. We ordered a dozen oysters and half a dozen clams, and nearly every single one of them had shards of shell. That is unacceptable for a restaurant with "Oyster Bar" in the name. I nearly broke a tooth. I would not recommend the raw bar, but would consider coming back to try the entrees (which looked delicious). read more

Oysters were flavorful and clean. Stuffed calamari app they give you ONE! And the filling was mushy. Polanta has no flavor and was dry. Salmon was cooked great but no seasoning anywhere. The anchovy topping was the only thing that had taste. Lobster ravioli and bisque were good. Service was ok. I've been to Bricco and Fratellis so I was surprised of how much I didn't enjoy my meal. read more

Mare - Lobster ravioli. Brussels Sprouts. Creamy Polenta. Salmon with bean purée. - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

We were convinced that we needed to experience Mare as it was meant to be experienced the previous time. We opted to stay on the lighter side this go around and ordered the following: Raw bar - Freshly shucked. Always a great selection of various different East Coast varieties and the Cherrystones were oh-so-meaty. Mediterranean seafood salad - Beautiful assortment of seafood because one can never have enough seafood, right? Loved that it was served with a very light dressing. Pan Seared Scallops - Huge half silver dollar sized scallops. Dare I say it's the same portion as some entrees at other places. Light and very delicately flavored to ensure the natural taste still came through. Alaskan Black Cod - Keeping with the "nice and light" theme, this entree is great as lighter fare and I loved the pickled vegetables it was paired with. Added dimension for a milder fish. Halibut with mussels and clams - Running special of the night. Bountiful mix of fish and shellfish with an added twist of heat. Perfect for those who love to spice things up! Chef Nello, GM Amalia and our server, Alex collaborated seamlessly to ensure top notch service, atmosphere and quality food. Didn't have enough time to stay by their amazing lounge area this time but we will be back. Until next time! read more

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If I could give this restaurant negative stars I would. I was so excited to try this restaurant with my boyfriend for our anniversary. The second we entered we were placed at the most inconvenient table that was by the hostess section. Every person that came by bumped our table, nudged us with their bodies and we could not even hear each other over the hostesses fighting by the door. We were extremely disappointed by how unfriendly the wait staff was. Once sitting we immediately ordered. My meal came out first and it was SO cold. Almost 15 minutes after my meal arrived another server brought my boyfriend his meal over (it was wrong). When my boyfriend spoke up stating he did not order that the waitress said yes you did. We both were certain he did not order that and did not appreciate the tone we were receiving after waiting and receiving an incorrect meal. The waitress took it back and we waited an additional 30 minutes. When the meal did not come out and my meal was already gone we asked to speak to the manager... I have never in my life spoken to such an unprofessional abrasive manager. She wanted to argue with us regarding our entire experience and got in our face . This service was the worst we have ever received in all of Boston. I feel as though this put a damper on our evening and I would never ever return back. I would not recommend this place to anyone. To pay top notch prices for such small portions , cold food, wrong orders , and orders that never come.. NOT WORTH IT. STAFF IS SO RUDE. Manger is worse . I cannot believe this experience... Or that this lady manages this place read more

Mare - A terrible place to go lol - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

ImAmazing raw bar with an excellent selection of east coast oysters. I tried the Mare cosmo and was delighted to find that there was a huge wedge of lemon and it was not too sweet ( a classic cosmo blunder). We also had the trio crudo, and it was also very very fresh and delicious. The staff was attentive but not overbearing, we did not feel rushed at all, which sometime happens in popular restaurants. read more

have been here a couple times now and had a great experience each time. the food is amazing and seafood is super fresh. never had bad service even when dining with large parties! read more

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Eh. On one hand, the lobster ravioli is one of the best things I've ever eaten. On the other hand, we were stupid enough to pay $19 for a side of lobster mashed potatoes that were truly awful. We each took a bite, expecting them to be incredible - they were dry and bland. We even asked for some sauce or something to put on them - to salvage them. They charged us an extra $3 for sauce. I've worked in some pretty high end restaurants, and I'd never dream of charging a customer for a side of sauce, especially when they already weren't enjoying the meal. We also had some oysters - well priced and tasty. A lobster roll - pretty good but not the best ever. I'd go back for the lobster ravioli in a heartbeat - but I wouldn't bother with anything else on the menu. read more

Delicious sea food! We sat in the back by the fire pits - there is a tent to stay warm in the winter but we still got quite chilly. read more

Mare - Truffle Crusted Tuna - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Exceptional every time! Love the branzino ...everything on the menu is a must. It is nestled in north end surrounded by historic landmarks

Romance. THIS is the place. This is THE place. Gorgeous, fireplaces, the best seafood a la Italy you'll ever get. I TRULY have never had better calamari than I have here. Such a simple dish, yet only after you've had it here do you realize you've never had it this good. Great service, great location hidden behind Bricco.... this could be anywhere. If you were blindfolded and brought here, you'd never know you were in the North End. You wouldn't care. You'd be too lost in romance and the food. This place makes me proud to be a Bostonian and part Sicilian. read more

Mare - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Are you kidding? This is the best seafood Italian restaurant I've ever been to. Not only was the food fantastic (see other reviews, you can't go wrong here) but the wait staff (and busboys) were attentive and professional, roving the aisles to take care of our every need but also knowledgeable and willing to answer questions, fill water, get ground pepper, etc. but not too pushy. The perfect place to celebrate a 70th (ugh) birthday. We will be back. read more

Can't really speak to the ambience because we were seated at one of the two tables in the alley out front but the inside looked cool. There were fire places on the patio part that looked nice. The food was just alright. Probably not worth returning for the price. The lobster ravioli was so salty? The crab cakes were amazing though. read more

Tucked in a side alley off Hanover, Mare is a hidden gem. It's a beautiful space with a low-lit interior with plush seats. There's a big outdoor deck that is open in the summer and covered in the winter. There's a generous amount of seating inside. On the deck is a first come, first serve fire pit area which kept the restaurant delightfully warm and festively lit. It's a very cute, intimate date spot. The service, food and menu were outstanding. I had the Homemade Gnocchi Frutti di Mare and it was perfectly prepared. The sauce was light and it included a generous portion of seafood. The wine choice recommended by our waiter was an excellent complement to the meal. I'd highly recommend this spot if you're looking for a restaurant in the North End off the beaten path. read more

We dined at Mare last night and everything was perfection! I highly recommend this restaurant! read more

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Excellent food and wonderful service! Made the mistake of going here on a cold night and froze. We were seated outside in the corner and had to eat with my winter jacket and hat on which is never fun! Definitely going back in the summer time to enjoy the great view of the Boston skyline! read more

Best ! Walk through a small alley into an Italian seafood oasis. Food, bev, ambience, service... check check check... I'm a sucker for a seafood heavy Italian menu.. I don't eat pasta sometimes it's hard. Not here! I did see happy patrons with their twirling wrists but so much more.. oysters were bomb... tuna crude was a beauty and had a nice touch of seaweed salad... the star was the seafood salad !!! I could eat it everyday. We shared the halibut special.. solid dish, but not the star... their bread budding for dessert: great size! Like a cupcake... my espresso martini hit the spot, along with a lovely white wine. Ralph has their version of a spicy margarita... tasty! Already dying to go back ! read more

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Honestly, I was expecting this to be so much better. I took my boyfriend here for his birthday because when I googled "best seafood in Boston" this came Up. Honestly, it wasn't that great and my bf would agree. I'm sure there are better seafood restaurants around the area for a much less price. The service was good, our waitress was kind and friendly and also accommodating. The ambiance was also nice. You feel as though you are sitting outside, However, you are in a covered area. We ordered the seafood tower which was HUGE. Honestly, could serve as a meal and for the price you might as well just get that as your meal. I did like the the shrimp were jumbo. I've never seen that before. All the oysters were also pretty good. I wish the waitress would've told us we were ordering way too much. My boyfriend also ordered the branzino which was HUGE. He couldn't finish it and didn't like the amount of bones in his meal. I got a lobster pasta which was ok. Honestly, I'm sure there are other wonderful places to try. read more

Don't order from the restaraunt week menu!! We are frequent customers here but tonite Mare didn't live up to its standards. We typically never order off the "restaurant week" menu but tonite we had tickets to an event so went that route. My wife ordered the filet steak which was as tough as leather. I had a pasta dish that was ok but the waiter didn't offer any grated cheese . And then a $10 charge for tap water was a bit over the top. Typically when ordering off the main menu the food is delicious and the service is great. However I do not recommend Mare on restaurant week in BOSTON. read more

Walked in and the hostess area was full of people without masks, generally not practicing any kind of social distancing. Tables were not 6 feet apart. They even brought in more tables around us we were practically sitting on top of other customers. 2 different staff members brushed my arm walking by, trying to fit in another table near us. Menu looked great, but not worth the risk of covid! read more

Excellent food! Highly recommend the lobster bisque, lobster ravioli, and buffalo mozzarella salad. The sangria was also wonderful. I liked the Nutella martini but wish I had more Nutella on the rim. Great ambiance and phenomenal service! read more

Food was amazing however I'm knocking 2 stars off solely based on the hospitality. I myself am usually one of the youngest diners when I go out as I'm only 19 but I don't think that means I deserve less service than someone older. I booked my reservation for 7:30pm when I arrived at 7:34 no tables were available after receiving a confirmation of our table being ready at 7:30 and asking us to reply if we were still coming (we did). We were told to wait at the completely full bar expected to stand in the middle of rhe busy restaurant with buss boys, waiter, and other staff members constantly running by us. After some time a couple at the bar left and we took their spot to continue waiting just for the hostess who told us to wait at the bar ask us if we would be fine eating our full meal there. Seriously? During the meal our waiter was great, so good on that, however when leaving through the only front door and walking past 10 or so employees not a single person said goodbye, enjoy your night or anything at all which I know is a small part of the dining experience but when paying $100 per person for some food you would at least expect the standard. overall heavily disappointed with the service read more

Best seafood and best bang for your buck. One of the best lobster rolls in town. Huge selection of fresh oysters. Great ambiance for date night, birthdays or just a dinner with friends. Great service. Couldn't recommend more! read more

Positives: Ambiance and environment were great! The staff was friendly and nice. Our drink and food choices that were perfect- Italian Sauvignon Blanc, burrata app, surf and turf app, wild boar bolognese, and seafood gnocchi. Negative: 1. the zucchini blossom app was meh. Lacked flavor 2. our waiter. From the moment he greeted us to the moment he placed the check on the table and slid it over with his head turned in the other direction, he was a disappointment. All of us at the table felt the same way. Maybe an off night for him, maybe the usual for him. Not sure but he was dismissive and it felt as though he couldn't be bothered with us. Not the experience we were hoping for as we chose Mare for a birthday celebration. read more