Elegant and inviting! Great space with good food and drinks!! We came here for the first time for a…read moreprivate party brunch for a colleague's farewell. The decor is industrial with the stone, metal and wood, earth tones, very modern and yet feels cozy and warm with the combination of the colors, lighting and art. Great atmosphere for an elegant and elevated experience. We had the side room space which is really great for having a small to medium sized gathering of easily up to 50 people or so. There's ample seating at round tables and also a couple high tables to stand at. A long bar where all the food is served buffet style. There are restrooms just down the hall too so very convenient. There's cool wall art murals which make for a great backdrop and very artsy!! The food was really good too - charcuterie meats, cheese, fruit, meatballs, olives, eggplant caponata, hummus and crackers. The staff were friendly and were there to help with any questions and were happy to take our photos too. Overall a great time was had by all!

Barcelona was okay. It's a fun atmosphere with friends and I recommend coming here as a larger…read moregroup so you can try out more things from the tapas menu. Food-wise, none of the dishes we got particularly wowed me (the sauces that came with each dish were better than the actual food) but I'd come back to try other things from the very extensive list. We got: 1. Patatas bravas: The best thing we got, though we should have eaten this when it was still hot and crispy. After sitting out for a while, it became a mushy mess with the sauce. 2. Spiced meatballs: Very small size for the meatball and not much spice (like less than a bite) but the sauce was excellent. 3. Jamon croquettes: Not bad but the filling was pretty gluey in texture. Definitely need to eat with the accompanying sauce. I ended up dunking it in the sauce that came with the meatballs. 4. Grilled peaches: Intrigued by this summer offering but I'd say skip. For $7, we got five very small slices of peach in an indistinguishable, vaguely sugary/burnt sauce. If you have a grill and a peach, you can definitely make a much better version of this for far cheaper. 5. Shrimp in garlic sauce: Fell flat. The shrimp were small and extremely overcooked. The only saving grace of this dish was the scallion/garlic oil that we used to dip the extra bread in. Food came out very fast and our waitress came by often to check on us and see if we needed. Lots of parking options nearby (including free 2-hour options one block over) so if you're debating which location of Barcelona to go to, the parking alone could weigh in favor of this one.

I am over the MOON with Moon Bar!…read more If I could live here I would! :) Another excellent experience here and it just happened to be restaurant week. We also spent an hour at the King Tut exhibit across the street! This restaurant/bar always seems packed. And, with reservations for 645pm (highly recommend) the bar was quite busy. The buzz from this high-end cocktail bar is exactly what you want on a Friday evening; From girlfriends sipping their wine to couples laughing and swirling their cocktails, Moon Bar is for the classy and sexy. Abby our server is excellent! A mixologist who knows all the cocktails and can recommend based on your preference. I tried one of their new cocktails with bourbon and did not care for it. Abby made me my mezcal drink that I have ordered before...its the 305 cowboy, an extremely popular drink. A must try for sure! Note: Some bartenders make you feel guilty for saying something about a drink you ordered and did not like. But, here at Moon Bar, Abby was so gracious to make me something that I will enjoy. Hats off to her:) Food: Since it was restaurant week we just shared everything. For starters we ordered the Tuna Tartare that was excellent. Then, we had Piri-Piri Chicken Thighs that were also good but quite spicy. For dessert, we shared the Caribbean Tiramisu, which was great. It was a tough choice between this and the Guava Cheesecake. We were so full that we ended up bringing home leftovers. Oh, I also forgot to mention we always order their Curry Fries - a must try when coming here Trust Me. My husband doesn't love curry but he loves these fries and you will too. #friesaretodiefor Moon Bar, thanks for being amazing in every way. Thanks for your splendid service, crafty cocktails, delicious wine (try the Pinot Noir from Germany), and your amazing food ---Love those Curry Fries! "Alexa, make reservations for 2 at Moon Bar for tonight." Cheers~

What an amazing time we had a moon bar! The ambience was perfect for a girls night out and great…read morewall art. All the drinks we got were delicious which I feel like is rare for a bar. The great palm and golden colada were my favorite. They were both sweet with a tangy aftertaste. The roasted cauliflower was very flavorful. It was heavy on the sauce which was great and loved the crunch of the cashews. The tandoori chicken was my favorite. It was very juicy and tender chicken marinated well. The curly fires had a great masala seasoning. The yogurt based was my favorite to dip into. The staff were excellent with frequent check in and quick service. Overall, I highly recommend this place.

Great food! This is actually a tapas place. We tried the following:…read more1) Bbq shrimp -- amazing! We ordered bread so we could slobber up the sauce. 2) Crawfish arancini -- good, nice crunch. The little shrimpies that came with it were even better 3) Charred octopus -- very tender and with great smoky flavor -- yum! 4) Chicken thighs -- nice bbq sauce slathered meat 5) Mac and cheese -- good cheesy with pork belly -- so good 6) Lemonade mocktail -- ok Minus one star for not having a lot of veggies on the menu. And for seating us so close to the loud live music (though, happy to have gotten seated outdoors). Underrated place, def worth checking out.

Came here with my family for a little pick me up after shopping on a gorgeous day…read more We had the biscuits, the fried chicken slider, the tuna tartare, Mac and cheese, oysters, and cocktail shrimp. Highlights. My favorite is probably the tartare, the flavor was perfectly balanced, the cracker was unfortunately stale, and the tuna itself could have been a little fresher. My kids had the Mac and cheese which they said was ok, and enjoyed the sliders. The oysters were good, but the shrimp did not taste fresh and were very bland like it's been soaked in water. The biscuits were tasty but I wish it was a little hotter so it would be more fluffy. I had a spicy tequila drink I forgot what it was called but the bartender did a really good job on it. The server really lacked personality and I wish was a little more attentive to provide us a good experience. I have this place 4 stars because the place is very cute and is a really good fit for the location, as a local, this can easily become a regular spot for myself and friends and it really has the potential to be this! I think it just needs good ambiance and energy and more attentive from the food quality going out? I hope to see good things happen to this place so I plan to come back and try again but maybe drinks with friends next time!

TAKEOUT review * My…read moredaughter's friend recommended this place. Easy to order online. Keep in mind they are tapas so the quantity is smaller than an entree. There were 6 of us and we ordered 6 things, and fortunately we weren't ravenously hungry because otherwise we might've needed at least 3 more. We ordered mushroom salad, pad paa (a scrumptious concoction of veggies in sauce that comes with jasmine rice), crab fried rice, roasted brussel sprouts, grilled pork cheek, chicken ka praw. The order was ready for pickup within 30 minutes (which is what it predicted online). The food was freshly made, hot, ready to go at 8 p.m. and the staff were friendly and helpful. It looked like the customers there were having a fun time. We all really enjoyed every bite, particularly the pad paa with jasmine rice. It ended up being enough food for us as well.

We had a great experience at Mahaniyom. The service was excellent, and one thing I really…read moreappreciated was that the food wasn't overly salty or under-seasoned--it was well balanced. The fried chicken skin was a standout. The crispy skin paired perfectly with a cold beer. The Pad Thai was also delicious, the Brussels sprouts were wonderfully crispy with a simple but flavorful seasoning, and the beef Massaman curry was rich and comforting--I'd definitely recommend ordering a bowl of rice to go with it. The pork cheek was incredibly tender and very filling. Not every dish was a hit, though. The crab fried rice was a bit disappointing. It was essentially regular fried rice with just a few pieces of crab sprinkled on top, so it didn't feel worth ordering. The crab curry was also a letdown. If you do order it, I'd recommend having it with rice instead of the rice noodles, as I think that would make it more enjoyable. Overall, the quality of the food and the excellent service made for a very enjoyable meal, and I'd happily come back to try more dishes.

I really enjoyed the food here, we were absolutely stuffed by the end. The larger plates take…read morearound 30-45 min, so make sure to pick those first and put in your order while you peruse the rest of the menu. I loved all the dishes, but the patatas bravas is a must, the sauce plus aioli with crispy potatoes was divine.

Barcelona Wine Bar brings the atmosphere of a lively Spanish tapas bar to Boston with a menu built…read morearound shareable small plates, paellas, charcuterie, and an extensive wine selection. We walked into a warm, energetic space with dim lighting, an open dining room, and a constant buzz that makes it a great choice for a night out with friends or a date. The restaurant has a vibrant, social energy that encourages sharing and exploration, and the open layout adds to the sense of activity without feeling chaotic. Rather than ordering individual entrées, the experience is centered around sharing a variety of dishes, making each visit feel a little different depending on what you choose. The tapas are the highlight of the menu, with plenty of options that encourage trying a little bit of everything. The bacon-wrapped dates are one of the signature dishes, balancing sweet and savory flavors, while the patatas bravas, croquettes, and charcuterie boards are reliable choices to start the meal. If you are looking for something more substantial, the seafood paella and squid ink pasta stand out as excellent main dishes, offering rich flavors and generous portions that are easy to split between two or more people. The olive oil cake is also worth saving room for if you want to end the meal with dessert, and the overall progression of the meal works well with the tapas format. The drink menu is just as impressive as the food. Wine is the main focus, with an extensive list featuring Spanish and international selections, but the sangria and cocktails are equally popular. It is the kind of place where you can easily spend a couple of hours sharing plates while working your way through a few different drinks, and the beverage program is thoughtfully curated to match the style of the food. Service is one of the restaurant's strongest points. The staff are knowledgeable about both the menu and wine list, and dishes arrive steadily throughout the meal instead of all at once, creating a relaxed dining pace. The pacing allowed us to enjoy each dish without feeling rushed, and the team checked in at the right moments without hovering. The restaurant is consistently busy, especially on weekends, so reservations are highly recommended. Even with a reservation, there can occasionally be a short wait, and the lively atmosphere means the dining room can get quite loud during peak hours. The energy of the room is part of what makes the experience work, but it is worth keeping in mind if you are looking for a quieter dinner. Barcelona Wine Bar is one of the best places in Boston for Spanish-inspired tapas and wine. The combination of flavorful shareable dishes, a well-curated drink menu, attentive service, and vibrant atmosphere makes it an easy choice for group dinners, celebrations, or date nights. It offers a meal that feels both communal and polished, with a setting that encourages slowing down and enjoying the evening. Just be prepared for the energetic environment and plan ahead if you are visiting during the busiest times.

We had an awesome time at Lou's in Harvard Square! We stopped by around 10 p.m. on a Friday, and…read morealthough it was packed, we were pleasantly surprised to get a table without a reservation. The atmosphere was lively, with a DJ, live music, and a great crowd. For drinks, we ordered the Jason Bond and Dirty Work martinis, along with a few beers. The cocktails were delicious and definitely on the stronger side, which we appreciated! For food, we shared the Caesar wrap and the shrimp sliders. The portions were generous, and everything was fresh and flavorful. If you're looking for a fun night out in Harvard Square, Lou's is definitely worth a visit. We'll absolutely be back!

Came here for dinner on a Sunday evening and the space was relatively empty - not too full given…read morethe amount of tables. Ambiance felt modern and chic given the decorations and lighting which matched the overall vibes of the restaurant. Menu had a decent selection of dishes - nothing too standout as a typical American restaurant. The entree I got was okay, expensive and tasted fine. Overall, nothing special though. I probably wouldn't come back here again, but I had a fine meal with my friend. The price and quality just didn't match for me though and I probably would opt to eat somewhere else.

There are plenty of places in Boston that can make a good burger. What is much harder to find is a…read morerestaurant that feels like it couldn't exist anywhere else. I'd heard Waverly had one of the better burgers around, so when a friend was visiting for Sail Boston, we made the short trip off the more traveled streets to see if it lived up to the reputation. I'm glad we did. Waverly is tucked away on a quiet side street in Charlestown, and that's part of the charm. The dining room is small, warm, and comfortably lived in. Nothing about it feels manufactured. The decor has an old soul without feeling dated, almost like it has been there longer than it actually has. Later I learned that's intentional. The restaurant takes its name from the historic Waverly House, a grand Charlestown hotel from the 1800s, and was designed to capture the feeling of the neighborhood's historic brownstones rather than chase the latest restaurant trend. The room felt like it belonged to Charlestown. Most of the people inside looked like they could walk home after dinner. That's the kind of place I always hope to find when visiting a neighborhood, somewhere that serves the people who live there first, and everyone else second. We asked for a window table, and the staff happily accommodated us. It's a small gesture, but one that made us feel welcomed instead of processed. The burger justified the trip on its own. I added the sunny-side-up egg, but the real star was the bacon-onion jam. It pulled everything together without overpowering the beef. The burger itself was tender, the sesame brioche somehow managed to hold everything together, and I appreciated the choice of Vermont white cheddar and Grillo's pickles. Those aren't flashy ingredients, they're just the right ones. Seeing Downeast Cider on tap certainly didn't hurt either. What impressed me most wasn't that Waverly was trying to reinvent the neighborhood burger. It wasn't. It simply executed it exceptionally well, with enough confidence to let good ingredients and thoughtful choices do the talking. Charlestown wouldn't just lose a burger if Waverly disappeared. It would lose one of those neighborhood places that quietly makes a neighborhood feel like itself. You come for a well executed meal, but you leave feeling like you've experienced a small piece of Charlestown. Places like that are a lot harder to replace than a good menu.

Was in town for the marathon. Went a bit out of our way to visit this restaurant for brunch on…read moreSunday, the day before the marathon as part of my carb loading plan for the race. I really, really, REALLY wanted pancakes. The website said brunch goes until 3. We get there at 2:50. They said they were no longer serving brunch and they've moved to their limited menu, because brunch ends at 3. You can imagine the puzzled look on our faces when they told us it ended at 3pm but it's still 2:50pm. They said we would have been fine if we were 5 minutes earlier. Weird that 2:45 is fine but 2:50 is not. We were annoyed, to say the least. But we were hungry, we didn't know what else was around, we needed to eat, and it already took us 30 minutes to get here in an Uber. Two guys came in after us, also before 3, who were also really excited for brunch. They too were shut down. We ordered off the limited menu. It was okay. It was fine. But that's not the point. If brunch ends at 2:45, then say it ends at 2:45. Don't say it ends at 3pm and then shut people down because it secretly closes earlier. I get that you guys want to switch the kitchen over and prep for dinner, but serve the food you say you're going to serve at the time you're going to serve them. Nobody came in after us and the other party that was also in before 3, so it's not like there was some never ending rush of people trying to get brunch. I also don't recall anyone else coming in before we left probably an hour. Poor communication and poor customer service.

Tried Sala Restobar in Beverly and overall it was a pretty underwhelming experience…read more We started with drinks -- I ordered a piña colada expecting it to be blended, but it came unblended. Nothing on the menu or from the server mentioned that, which was disappointing right away. When I told the server I didn't like it and wanted something else, he literally tilted his head and said, "ummm what do I tell the bartender?" That honestly rubbed me the wrong way -- just felt unprofessional and awkward. Jenny got a tequila cosmo, which was fine, nothing special. Food-wise, everything was just average. The bao buns were overcooked and the bun fell apart, though the flavor was decent. The pineapple fried rice was probably the best thing we had, but even that was just okay. We also had dumplings -- Jenny liked them, but I thought they were just alright. Dessert was the biggest miss. The blueberry cobbler was not good at all -- maybe a 3/10 at best. One thing that really didn't sit right was when we asked to split the tasting menu and were told no. That doesn't make much sense -- if people want to share, especially for a tasting menu, it should be allowed. Overall, nothing stood out in a good way, and between the service and the food, solid ambiance , it just wasn't a great experience.

We both had the Taste of Sala four-course meal for $46. There was a pretty long wait between…read morecourses at times, but the atmosphere is relaxed enough that it didn't feel out of place. Portions were larger than expected, and each dish was very shareable, so you can easily try eight things instead of four if you plan it right. They also have live jazz music -- every Thursday from 7-10pm, and on Friday and select Saturday nights from 8-11pm. If you want a clear view of the musicians, try to sit on the right side (opposite the entrance), though the middle works too. It's a fairly small space, so most tables can see, and all tables can hear. Overall, it's a fun spot -- good food, a relaxed vibe, and the live music (when available) adds a nice touch. If you're looking for something new to try when in the Beverly / Salem area, or a good date-night venue, I'd check out Sala.