I visited Mariel with my partner for our anniversary and graduation celebration, and we had such a wonderful experience overall. The atmosphere: The dining room is absolutely stunning, featuring high ceilings, beautiful architectural details, and ambient lighting that create an elegant yet inviting atmosphere. Both bar and table seating are available. My only critique is that the tables are placed quite close together, making it easy to overhear nearby conversations. While it didn't entirely detract from the experience, it did make the evening feel a little less intimate than I had hoped for a special occasion. The food: Honestly, I wanted to order everything on the menu because every dish sounded incredible. We started with the Hamachi Crudo, which was fresh and offered a wonderful balance of sweet, sour, and savory flavors. The Calamari Fritto was equally impressive, perfectly crispy and paired beautifully with the spicy pickapeppa mayo. For our entrées, we shared the Miso Chilean Sea Bass and the Steak Churrasco. The sea bass was much larger than we expected and could easily be shared among 4+ people. It was also one of the best sea bass dishes we've ever had. The fish was incredibly flavorful, and the plancha piña noodles added a unique texture and sweetness that complemented the dish perfectly. The Steak Churrasco was cooked to perfection (no notes!). We loved the provoleta pommes purée, which was like a rich, cheesy mashed potato and the perfect accompaniment to the steak. The service: Weekend dinner service was understandably busy, so it could be difficult at times to flag down our server. That said, she was friendly, attentive when available, and provided great hospitality throughout the evening. read more

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Food/Drinks: These Cubans were very delicious and surprisingly big and filling. They were flavorful, and the melted cheese really gave them such a rich taste. The drink was huge and perfect for the two of us. I would say it was a bit watered down, which was the only downside. It didn't feel as strong as I expected. Location: This location is in Boston and does not have private parking, but there is street parking available. We also parked in the garage across the street, which was very convenient. This place is perfect for a day out or a special occasion and is definitely somewhere you can dress up for. It is beautiful inside and has a very nice aesthetic. Service: We've been to this location twice. The first time, the service was great and very attentive. The second time was a bit less attentive, but still decent. I would definitely go back. read more

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I came back again but this time for drinks at the bar . There were about 8 of us and sat in one of the round tables by the bar which was awesome ! We got to see people come in and out throughout the evening . We stared past 4 and stayed for nearly 4 hours , that's how much fun we had ! The drinks specialties are quite innovative and delicious , the food was equally as good - we got the empanadas , crudo, hummus , steak and fries . We passed on the dessert but would love to try them the next time I come back . I cant stop raving about how amazing the venue is , the high ceiling , the way it's designed and decorated , impressive . When in Boston, it's high recommended but ensure to book a table especially on the weekends as it got pretty crowded from 7 ish on ( Thursday night ) read more

Mariel - Cuban Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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One of the best spots in Boston that I have been to. They have some amazing cocktails and absolutely delicious food. They have several small plates that are easy to share, but I do want to call out their empanadas and also their flatbreads. They also have amazing music playing in the background and it's a very lively atmosphere. The service is excellent and they accommodate all your requests. read more

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Food is mediocre and underwhelming. Our entire table didn't enjoy their meals, although edible, the seasoning and overall cook of the food was nothing worth ordering again. The ambience and drinks were nice, although they time limited us on our table so we couldn't try more drinks. read more

Came here for a brunch with a group of 7 and while I love the ambiance, both the food and service has gone down hill, which is a bit of deal breaker with this being a more expensive place. We ordered a bunch of apps, and all of those were pretty good, but the arepas, which I've had twice before, had overcooked rubbery eggs and burnt arepas. My friend also got the arepas, which I had hyped up, and her plate was also overdone/burnt. Really bummed me out. Didn't finish half of it. Service was polite but incredibly slow given there were only two large groups and maybe one or two other 2-tops. We were there for over 2 hours and much of that time was spent waiting for the server to come by. Place was dead for a reason, not sure I'll be back. read more

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Had a great brunch here as a party of 2! The service was attentive without being intrusive, and the decor was beautiful. I got the Broken Eggs, which was a delicious dish of sunny-side up eggs on a bed of shoestring potato fries. I would come here again for dinner or to try more of their brunch items! read more

Mariel - Broken Eggs - Cuban Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

This spot was 10/10!! Highly recommend. Everything we ate was amazing!! Drinks were great as well. Great for an individual moment , date night, or big group. They have live music on the weekend as well. Our server was AWESOME! We celebrated a girlfriend's birthday ! read more

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The food was delicious and the drinks were very yummy. The waiter was not as attentive as I would like and the restaurant itself was a little bit too loud for my liking. The interior, however is very pretty and the seats are comfortable. Wish the service was a bit better, but that's the only thing I'd change. read more

Mariel - Steak Churrasco - Cuban Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Great place to celebrate a birthday. Room is beautifully decorated, service is attentive without being overbearing. Had the salmon, steak, mushroom pizza, blackened shrimp. All were delicious, although pizza was probably our favorite. The regular coffee even came with heated milk- nice touch. My only slight issue is that it's pretty expensive. For example, 4 tater tot-sized pieces of salmon were something like $24. Since it's a tapas restaurant, you buy 2-3 of these plates per person and it can add up. But for a special occasion, I'd highly recommend. read more

Stopped in for a drink and a snack at the bar and WOW! Will definitely be back. The classic daiquiri was delish. The empanadas are like an entire gourmet meal full of flavor in every bite! Great bartender. Old-school Havana atmosphere at the bar only topped by the draw of the upscale art-deco dining room. Lovely. read more

Mariel - View from the bar to the dining room... - Cuban Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Visited Boston from Miami and walking in Mariel-- felt right at home! This establishment is beautifully designed and so much to take in! I grabbed a seat at the bar on a Friday night and ordered drinks, they were handcrafted and absolutely delicious with many options to choose from! I also ordered an appetizer. The DJ was amazing, the aesthetics were on point and on a busy night, the bartenders attentive. I visited late July and the club downstairs was closed for renovation but definitely would have checked it out if it was open! Highly recommend!!! read more

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Mariel is a great choice for a special night out for a big group. A high energy environment that feels like a you're at a trendy restaurant in Miami or Cuba welcomes you. The menu is tapas style and features a fusion of Mexican and American dishes. The food itself is solid. The empanadas are well seasoned and perfectly fried. The cheese puffs are also a nice combination of soft melty cheese and a crispy fried exterior. The steak and fufu gnocchi were also among my favorites. I didn't care much for the pizzas though. Yes they are pricey and you'll need several plates per person so keep that in mind. They also had a number of creative cocktails that everyone enjoyed. Inside is beautiful - huge ceilings and lots of old furnishings in a dimly lit setting. The DJ is spinning and getting you pumped up for the night ahead. It's loud, everyone is well dressed, and a lighting system will occasionally get triggered. Service was solid for a busy night and our table of 11 was well taken care of. Definitely worth checking out. read more

Mariel - Cuban Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Food was good. We tried a variety of things -- crab arepas, steak churrasco, fufu gnocchi, calamari frito, shrimp blanco pizza, etc. -- satisfied with everything! Will definitely come back. But they don't have a big menu. The dining environment is good too. Liked the interior decoration a lot. read more

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This place is good. I came here Saturday night to celebrate a friend birthday together. We ordered the yucca cheese puffs, the mushroom empanadas, the guava lamb, and hamachi Crudo. For drinks, I had the la Chula and an aval cider. Later, all of us had our own thing and I ended up having the chorizo pizza. Finally we all had dessert. We had mango tartlet and the Cuban lunch. Cuban lunch did not sit well with us unlike the mango tartlet. Our waitress was really kind and very thoughtful of us, especially noticing how two of our party did not receive their individual meals as quickly as the rest of us the ambience is very nice however I don't really like it dim lit, but of course that's my personal preference. I enjoy the Christmas decorations as well as The open space. I think for a party of five the round table for all of us was a bit too cramped on the side. Nevertheless, a night was hard and that I say thank you for celebrating our friends birthday here. read more

Mariel - Cuban Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

The vibe here is effortlessly chic -- moody lighting, stylish decor, and a great music playlist that really sets the scene. We honestly expected the food to be just okay (as it often is at places like this), but it genuinely surprised us! Portions are perfect for sharing and munching while enjoying the atmosphere. A great spot for a night out that delivers both style and substance read more

Mariel - Cuban Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Stepped into Cuba without the hassle of a special passport. Do I like a good mojito? Of course -- and they have it. In fact the drinks are exceptional. Would I try Danzon, now we're pushing it but keep those drinks coming and we'll see? Coming back for an update when I can dine here sometime. read more

I've been here twice before but over a year ago. Clear that something had changed here but there is definitely a lack of effort. Our service was mediocre and it was pretty empty. We went for brunch and there were only a few other tables at the time. Our drinks took over 20 mins and then when they had to be remade because they didn't know which one was for who, we finished up our meals by the time they arrived. Our server also never came to check on us after our plates were put down, which always indicates laziness and inconsideration in my opinion. We didn't make a fuss of anything but definitely won't be returning here, this is one of those spots where the hype died down after they got used to it. read more

I visited Mariel on a Friday night with high expectations given its reputation and location, but I was pretty taken aback by the hostess experience right at the start. The two white lady hostesses at the front were extremely awkward and unwelcoming. One of them just stood there holding the menus, waiting for us to take them, while awkwardly looking around the room without making any eye contact or smiling. It felt really uncomfortable and impersonal, which was totally unexpected for a place like this that prides itself on atmosphere and service. Thankfully, once we were seated, our server was sweet, kind, and very attentive. She checked in regularly and made sure we had what we needed, which helped salvage the evening. The food itself was just okay. I was not surprised that nothing stood out as exceptional because people come more for the ambience rather than food. If you're thinking about coming here, I'd say Mariel is best suited for special celebrations or if you want a pretty backdrop for pictures, because the ambiance is lovely and the space looks great. However, the front-of-house service definitely needs work to feel as welcoming and polished as the rest of the restaurant. It is way more worth it making a reservation in the main dining hall if you do decide to come! read more

Mariel - Pollo Pizza Cubano Pizza Calamari Frito - Cuban Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

My best friend held her birthday dinner at Mariel this Friday evening and we enjoyed it! We each ordered a drink and a small dish. I ordered the Jennings cocktail, which was delicious, fruity and not too sweet. I also had the Fufú Gnocchi and was so happy to find it exceeded my expectations. I love this plate and will come back just for it! It is a little heavy on the oil so the serving size is perfect. Two at the table ordered pizzas, which they both really liked. The restaurant is visually stunning, with low lighting, gorgeous murals reminiscent of Cuba, and a central bar that made the setting feel lively. Perfect place for photos, and they allow flash. Our server Stephanie was sweet and tentative. She mentioned that plates come out as they're ready, so the table isn't always able to eat at once. Overall I liked my experience, I do wish it wasn't so pricey for a full entree though. We also came back for the club around 11:30 and there were already a good number of people there. We were able to coat check easily and again, the area was so pretty. My only complaint is the DJ changed songs every 30 seconds, but the music choice was great and he was shouting out birthdays, which the bday girl appreciated. We'll definitely be back! read more

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This place was awesome. Queer o meter a cosmic 10! We had a work lunch here and I haven't had a better time with people and food and drinks in forever. The staff is kind and accommodating, the drinks are flavorful and delish. We got a variety of apps and then a meal. I can't even break it all down since I literally tried about 8 different things. They were all full of flavor and cooked perfect. I would love to try this as a dinner night out with a friend over drinks and a slow roll out of courses to really give it the go over. Cheers! read more

Mariel - Queso brisket burger - Cuban Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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i came here for drinks with my friend while just kind of wandering around the city. she comes here after work a lot so she likes it! i loved the way it looks inside. it's dark and the vibe is fun. the drinks were good! i got espresso martinis, which were pretty nice. we sat at the bar and the service was ok- it was very busy so i don't expect to get top notch service. a little on the expensive side, but i would definitely be back. read more

Mariel - espresso martini - Cuban Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

When someone ask me what my favorite restaurant, I now have a definite answer. Mariel has creative cocktails and menu items that WORKS. The Fufu gnocchi is just an innovation that just MAKES SENSE. The fufu texture makes great gnocchi! It is soft and chewy on the inside and light and crispy on the outside. The sauce is light and savory and it goes really well with the melted cheese. I definitely need to come back for more! The Calamari is also a must get appetizer. It is nicely fried with a thin coat of batter on each piece. It goes really well with the sauce and lime. The stars of the show were actually their desserts! My favorite is the peach pie start thingy that I forgot the name of. The presentation is so pretty and the pie is warm and crispy. I also like the ice cream its kind of like sorbet. Super tart! The pie and the ice cream is perfection. I didn't really like the big ice cream sandwich though, when they brought it out it was super tough to dig into with a fork. Maybe you'll have to pick it up and bite it. Ambiance was great, it wasn't busy when we went we enjoyed the peacefulness. Overall the food here is great! I really like the fufu gnocchi. read more

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A serene, beautiful spot to enjoy a late Sunday afternoon cocktail. A great way to wrap up a busy weekend. Welcoming and friendly service. The decor and layout of the bar and restaurant is just amazing. Try the "Lulu Lime" cocktail with its delicious mint garnish that is the perfect accent. Looking forward to returning here my next visit to Boston!! read more

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Great spot, high ceilings make for great dining. I go often, plus you have great staff to help out read more

Mariel - Hanging out - Cuban Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Great ambience though tables way too close and hosts could be more welcoming. Mahi mahi bowl easy and good for a quick business lunch.

My husband and I went here for our anniversary. I felt that the restaurant is really geared to large groups, both with the food and the ambiance. The food was good/very good. Two of us ordered 3 small plates and the entree chicken and we ended up taking half of the chicken home. Everything was delicious and had some interesting flavors, but the entrees are huge portions, so if you don't want all small plates or pizza, you end up with a huge entree. Their steak dish is 32 ounces of steak! Why not have a 16 oz. steak? My mediocre review is mostly due to the lackluster greeting and treatment we received from the hostess and the vibe of the restaurant. I had indicated on our reservation that this was to celebrate our anniversary. When we arrived, she kept us waiting so she could dig out menus that said "Happy Anniversary" at the top. Not sure what the point of that was since we weren't offered anything special. No words of welcome, no smile - just "follow me." She then brought us to a tiny table near the kitchen in the middle of the main path from the kitchen into the dining room. When we asked to be moved, she made it clear that she was unhappy and said " I don't know, we have a lot of reservation." Yes, and we were one of them! Plus, I could see empty tables in the dining room as well as the bar area. She left us standing there, eventually coming back and bringing us to a small table in the dining room. This was an improvement, but again, table was so tiny we had difficulty finding room for the food when it arrived. The tables for larger parties were large and looked comfortable, whereas the 2 person table are crammed together and tiny. When the people at the next table left and the runners cleaned the table, I felt the spray of the cleaning solution! Our server was very nice and tried to be gracious, but I felt that she had too many tables and was harried. I also felt a bit rushed at the end. They have a one and one half hour table policy which is too short. Not a place for an intimate evening! read more

Mariel was a great experience! The ambiance inside is a very fun vibe. Dim lighting, fun music, and tons of conversation all around. The food was amazing, but I especially recommend the fufu gnocchi and the seabass. Our waitresss was very helpful in helping us navigate how many plates to share, and guided us in choosing a delicious cocktail that we all loved. Can't wait to return read more

Mariel - Mojito in Large format - Cuban Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Beautiful ambiance and amazing food. The flavors and textures are perfectly balanced. We tried the Octopus Manzanilla, Congri rice and beans, kale ensalada with avocado crema, areputas with surimi, and long bone ribeye. All of the courses were excellent and service was great. Be sure to book a reservation and come early as it can get packed at peak dinner hours and late night as well. The drinks are great as well and be sure to try the namesake Mariel which is their version of a mint mojito. Definitely worth a visit. It's another fantastic venue from the Coje group that blends excellent fare with an amazing ambiance topped with great service. read more

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Person at the door keeps passing people but he does not respect the people in line. We were waiting for more than an hour and he asked cash as a bribe for getting in. read more

Steven was unreal--best hospitality and he even remembered us from Valentine's Day. Made the whole experience 10x better!

Cute place to take pictures but the food isn't something I'd come here for. We ordered -chorizo pizza: nothing special, pretty average pizza. -fried calamari: probably my favorite thing we ordered. Crispy and has a nice sauce -coconut flan: a little too sweet -ice cream dessert: my friend ordered this but she didn't like it -drinks: we had to get these remade because they tasted a little off? Service was very slow. read more

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I came here with my girls to celebrate my birthday, and overall my experience was just okay. I really loved the aesthetic of the place, it's beautiful, and our waitress was amazing, super sweet, and very attentive. There were a few issues though. I had an 8:00 pm reservation, but we didn't get seated until around 8:40. We ended up speaking to the manager after waiting about 40 minutes, which felt pretty unreasonable. To their credit, they did offer a few complimentary items for the wait, which I appreciated. The manager interaction was honestly a bit off putting. My friends and I were taking pictures, and he came over and told us we had to sit down because we were using flash. Meanwhile, other people nearby were also using flash with no issue. He mentioned that people complain about it in reviews, but the way it was handled felt inconsistent. He also approached us more than once about it, while other tables didn't seem to be addressed, which made it feel like we were being singled out. It's also very dark inside, so using flash felt necessary, especially since we were tucked away in a corner. Lastly, I found the pricing pretty steep for the portion sizes. I understand that comes with upscale dining, but it still didn't feel quite worth it. Overall, a nice vibe and great service from our waitress, but some frustrating moments that took away from the experience. read more

Absolutely so unprofessional. I had a reservation for a birthday and they didn't seat us until 30 minutes later. The hostess completely dismissed me after 15 minutes and was seating other people that arrived later than us. Would not come here if you're looking for a special event. read more

That atmosphere and customer service was amazing. Great place to enjoy authentic dishes. We made reservations for my friends bday and the experience was magnificent. Food was very delicious, we had multiple appetizers that prepared us for the main entrees and I cannot emphasize enough how delicious each plate was. Definitely recommend when visiting Boston. read more

Décoration and ambiance was great. Main dish was really delicious especially with its fusion flavors. However, I gave it four star because the desserts were absolute too sweet. read more

Mariel - Cuban Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Lamentablemente, mi visita al restaurante Mariel anoche fue una experiencia profundamente decepcionante. Acudí con la intención de disfrutar una noche agradable con tres amigas, pero nos vimos envueltas en una situación muy incómoda provocada por otra clienta visiblemente alcoholizada y con una actitud sumamente grosera. Lo más preocupante fue que, lejos de manejar la situación con imparcialidad y profesionalismo, el personal del restaurante --particularmente uno de los guardias de seguridad-- decidió intervenir de forma abrupta y grosera, solicitando que nos retiráramos del lugar sin ni siquiera presentarse, dar alguna explicación o preguntarnos si estaba sucediendo algo cuando claramente estábamos tranquilas tratando de tomar nuevamente los lugares que ya previamente teníamos. La manera en que se nos trató fue innecesariamente hostil y, en mi parecer, favorecieron a esta clienta, probablemente por sus influencias. Esta situación me hizo sentir humillada y completamente vulnerada como cliente. Espero sinceramente que el restaurante revise sus protocolos de atención al cliente y manejo de conflictos, priorizando la equidad y el respeto en todo momento. Un espacio que pretende ofrecer una experiencia de calidad no puede permitirse que sus decisiones estén influenciadas por favoritismos o presiones externas. Hago énfasis en la buena disposición por parte de Andrea, mánager del lugar al escucharnos. No volveré, al menos por ahora, y no recomendaré Mariel mientras estas prácticas sigan ocurriendo. read more

Everything was good. Plates are big. You can share them. Service was perfect. Great ambiance. We will be back for sure.

I just tried Mariel for the first time and it is a new favorite. The interior decor is beautiful and nearly makes you forget that you're downtown. The service was great and they were very kind about letting my guests and me stay for quite a while after we finished eating as we were catching up with each other. The ambiance is wonderful. As for the food, my 2 guests and I split the yucca cheese puffs, and I had the congrí rice and beans. I also had a mocktail, which was delicious, and clearly as much thought had been put into the presentation and taste as was put into any of the alcoholic options. I like to order rice and beans on my first visit to a restaurant, not only because it's a classic, but also because if you can make rice and beans interesting and flavorful that bodes well for the rest of your menu. This rice and beans hit the mark, with delicious sauce on top and plenty of seasonings in the beans and rice themselves. I'm excited to try Mariel again and bring new friends! The ambiance and food are both on point. read more

Mariel - Congrí rice and beans - Cuban Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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I didn't get any pictures of the food however we ordered the steak,fufu gnocchi, and the calamari. To start the atmosphere is amazing, dimly lit and has a nice ambiance. The service was good and the food tasted pretty good. Price is what you would expect small dishes range from $10-30 while mains which are very large go from $80-125. Overall would eat again.(small update i found a picture of the steak) read more

Mariel - menu - Cuban Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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