Every time I have been to Parla XXI has been absolutely lovely with great service and niche, fun drinks, but my last visit really was a 10/10 for me and my friends. We visited a few weeks ago and we were served by Katherine (not exactly 100% sure on name but I think it started with a K or C). She was the absolute sweetest and made great efforts to connect with us, create a fun party atmosphere, and even took a shot with us as she was ending her shift to head to the movies. She was just a delightful person and when she left and transferred us to her coworker Omar he was also super nice (and cute too). Just a great vibe all around. I always love shaking the little dice too to see what drink I'm going to get for the DnD style drink cocktails. Parla rocks! read more

Wanted to love this place, but it might have just been an off night, our waitress seemed to either not understand all our asks or just was new, not sure. Mid meal, a different server came over & said she needed to take over - not sure why, there was no real explanation - it just kinda happened. But we had asked for some things and they never really were addressed. When we were walking in we saw someone eating a shrimp pasta plate & we had asked what it was, we then thought we ordered that and what we received wasnt the plate that the other person had (I know weird, but we all know we do it, Eye all the plates on the way to the table, LOL) The brussels were good, Burger was good, but hubby said it might have needed something - he just didnt know what?! The shrimp pasta was ok, but very bland. The calamari was good! There is this special drink book and you get the "Mystery" drink and its all a game there... Seems like it would be fun, but for someone like me with a "special" stomach - Gastric bypass and lots of drinks wont work for me! But yeah, hope that night being off was just random, and might try again sometime! And truly want to know what other shrimp plate we saw on the way in, LOL read more

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Very cute cocktail bar with indoor and outdoor seating. Came as a group of 4 and we sat outside because it was dark and noisy inside. The cocktails were tasty and the ambiance and location were good. Would definitely return read more

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This is a takeout review. Not good or worth it. The first tell tale sign was when I called in the order. The person on the other line couldn't hear anything I was saying because it was so loud because this place is more of a trendy bar than restaurant. I asked to make a take out order and the person on the phone didn't understand what takeout meant, a coworker had to explain to them it's a pickup order. The octopus was ok, where the star of the dish were the veggies it was on. The Brussels sprouts had too much stuff on it, making it really busy in your mouth. The salmon bites were more like salmon fish patties, not the greatest texture for the price. If you want some drinks, this may be your vibe, but if you're hungry, go somewhere else. read more

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What an interesting time we had last night 11/23. Came in after a movie with some friends and it was pretty quiet with lots of tables open. The host gave us a very passive aggressive comment, "you're lucky we had space, next time make a reservation." We were a bit turned off and wanted to leave but stayed because it really is cute in there. I've been to the Parla downtown and I know the drinks are good and the vibes are fun. I got a basic cider (I'm gluten free, kept it simple) my friends played the dice game and rolled all different numbers. All had different experiences but one rolled a #5, wow was that the most pungent disgusting gasoline filled drink we have ever smelled. But that's the name of the game, star gazer must be a throw away drink of the game- not an enjoyable one. We still have a good time though! read more

Parla XXI - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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What a neat spot in an unexpected place! We paused at Parla for a casual afternoon catch up on Friday and were delighted. Absolutely surprised by how quiet the space was but by 6p folks started to arrive. The interior matches the menus matches the vibes - an air of punk mystery, game, and good humor. The drinks were incredible - absolutely worth trying the Dungeon rolls and letting the dice pick your destiny! read more

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Ok, respect!!! We rolled the D20 twice and got one floral and light and one fruity and bold, both very well balanced. We also did the Grandmothers and Frogs, which was a cool old fashioned riff, and the Patatas Bravas fries, which are just seasoned fries but very good ones. I got my punch card and I can't wait to come back to roll again! read more

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A great place for cocktails. The staff is super nice. But the atmosphere is a bit off compared to the North End location. This is more a restaurant vibe rather than a cocktail bar that had bites. The food is okay but I would run here for a meal. And in the winter, its drafty. read more

I visited this place on October 8th (Wednesday night) around 7:15. My boyfriend and I decided to choose Parla XXI for an after dinner drink and desert to celebrate a birthday. I heard it was a wonderful place, the atmosphere, attention to detail, friendly staff etc... I couldn't have been more disappointed. From the moment we stepped into the place, we felt as if we were a burden. No smile or hello from the woman who was at the front. It's a Wednesday night, it certainly wasn't busy. A very simple " Hello, how are you?" Isn't asking for much . She sat us at their high top next to the bar tossed down 2 ( what looked like) menus and walked away. A young man came around from the bar and poured us water ( which I DID appreciate) but the vibe was SO off. I literally felt uncomfortable and very unwelcome. I looked at my boyfriend and asked , " Do you feel as uncomfortable as I do?" We both got up and walked out. It's a shame, because it reminds me of a cute little speak easy but they need to hire new personalities. read more

My cousins and I try to get together whenever we can and a good middle spot is assembly row for us all. We wanted to try a trendy spot and saw that this was a newer restaurant so have it a try. We ordered a few apps, they were just okay. The patatas bravas are fries although listed as potatoes and they were good but not what we were expecting. The meatballs were very dry unfortunately. The lobster ravioli was really well made, there are mixed reviews on the burger as it was overdone and shrimp scampi, made different than the original. The ambiance is great, dark and inviting. Our waitress was great and very helpful. They have a large bar area with a wide array of liquor. If you're into different cocktails and drinks in general, this is def a spot for you but if going for dinner, it's a hit or miss. read more

Went last night (a Friday night) to grab a drink at the bar with friends. Upon arriving when we opened the door we were smacked in the face with the most unpleasant smell. We grabbed three spots at the bar, but immediately got up to leave as it smelt like someone had just thrown up. When the bartender asked why we were getting up to leave we made them aware of the repulsive smell and they were rude and did nothing. A girl said that a guy had just came in and also immediately left due to the smell. I was excited to try out the drinks but I'll save that for the North End spot. read more

I'm just basing my review of the drinks and experience that I had, went there on a random Saturday night after some shopping around assembly and the drinks did not disappoint, I like sitting at the bar and ordering from there just because I like to see how the drinks are made and sometime get to interact with the bartenders. Overall it was a good experience for me, food wise, I did not order any food so I can't give any input on that but I will def be back for drinks ! read more

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I thought the food was pretty good, I was definitely a fan of the lobster ravioli. The sauce was decadent and creamy, and I thought it was a good portion size. I was underwhelmed by the spaghetti carbonara - super duper salty, and couldn't get past that taste. We also got the mussel appetizer which had a great sauce and they piled on the mussels. The crustinis were okay, but that didn't matter since the mussels were so good I didn't care about eating it with that. They also loaded on the onions for the sauce and I loved the pairing of the textures and flavors. Now the reason we came was for the dungeon master - basically you roll a 20-sided dice and that corresponds with a drink. Definitely not for picky drinkers, which is me, but I wanted to try my luck. I absolutely hated both of my drinks, but that's okay, I signed up for that. Others liked their drinks (they also didn't kije mine), maybe I just have bad luck. They give you a card to keep track of what you have so you can make sure you complete the list and become a dungeon master! Also, if you guess 1/2 the ingredients in the drink, you get a free shot, I couldn't for the life of me guess mine, but my bf got one! read more

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The vibes in this place is amazing, the wall art is beautiful and mystical almost like you're transported to somewhere else. They're currently doing a dice rolling game where whatever number it lands on corresponds with a cocktail. They then give you a list to fill out each drink as you try, there's 24 options I believe. It's definitely worth trying for a small girls night out or a casual date spot! Servers and bartenders are also very receptive to any questions you have! read more

Parla XXI - carpaccio and drink - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Had the burger which was solid, but definitely an unhinge your jaw situation, the portobello makes this puppy a tall tall sando. Fries were okay, the smokey aioli made them better. My friend really liked her carbonara. Rolled the dice a couple times, which was fun and I liked both drinks, and the ambiance had sort of a clubby feel with the blue lights, definitely different than the cozy OG spot in the North End. As it got busier it definitely got pretty noisy, but still a cool vibe. Service was great, I had leftovers and we were going to a movie across the way, and they offered to hold the leftovers in a bag for me to retrieve on my way back. Took them up on it and got my food after the movie, no problem! read more

Parla XXI - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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Guillermo was lovely- sat at the bar, tried 3 of the mystery drinks on the dice menu and had the Brussels sprouts and the patatas bravas. Great food and though not every drink was immediately to my taste, the menu CLEARLY spells out what to expect and that picky drinkers shouldn't take the risk. I enjoyed guessing what was in each drink, they each clearly had interesting combos and thought put into them. Excellent service, lovely and casual vibes, and enjoyed the milk punch to close. Folks who are unhappy with the mystery drinks should read the menu more closely- it's great fun if you know what you're getting into! There are bespoke drink options available if you're feeling less adventurous :) read more

We stopped by for drinks after meeting up with friends downtown. I've said it before and I'll say it again, the addition of places like this in assembly is appreciated and needed! This is a cute cocktail bar closer to the north shore without the headache of going downtown. Depending on the time of day, parking will be a headache- but there are tons of options if you don't mind a walk through assembly row. We got here around 11/12 on a Friday night and the bar was full (a little on the small side) but we sat at the high top and was were met with great service. Lovely ambiance, and the drinks are reasonably priced. read more

Parla XXI - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

My coworkers and I went here on a Thursday night. We ordered drinks after seeing the menu. Unfortunately, the only sodas the restaurant has is ginger ale and regular coke. Quite peculiar for a bar, but we asked multiple times and was told this was true. The drinks were pretty good. For entrees, I got the ribeye, and I added a side of fries. The steak was really good, and the fries were also solid. The salad was the best thing on the menu though. The Caesar salad came with fresh anchovies on the side. I will say, the anchovies were quite mild, but still nice to have as an option. My coworker got the lobster ravioli which he really enjoyed. The gnochi was also enjoyable per my other coworker. The service was adequate, but nothing to write home about. The food was good, but the non alcoholic drink options were appalling for a bar that serves food. read more

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Really needs to work on their service and customer experience. Came here with my partner and noted in the reservation that it was for a birthday. We were really hoping they would bring us a dessert or at least wish them happy birthday but they said absolutely nothing! Later that night I was silly enough to bring a group of friends back for drinks and asked if they had a table for six people. The bar and restaurant was practically empty but the host flat out told us "No." and that it would be a "while" until they would have space for us. We left and went across the way to Cocolee where we were graciously accommodated! When we left, Parla was still empty! Not sure why they didn't want our money but oh well. I'm a local but I'll never be back. read more

service was not good at all. The server was very rude. i asked for the hot sauce and the server never brought it despite of a reminder. my friend's food was not upto the expectation and the server threw an attitude when asked to fix the order. I would not recommend this place. read more

I really like this place's vibe. Visited this past weekend for the 1st time - thank God it was practically empty! ( I had tried the weekend before and it was packed - we had to go somewhere else in the area). I love the lighting - very smooth, the music appropriate, our server was delightful - I wasn't familiar with their drink menu and she was able to guide me through a drink that she picked for me that TRULY pleased my taste buds! Apparently, the drinks can be crafted especially for you depending on what you like - so don't pay too much attention to the drinks menu if you don't find something that speaks to you. We had the octopus, and the steak and fries - food was ok - we passed on dessert. I would definitely go back - strong place for drinks! read more

Parla XXI - That watermelon papaya drink ... - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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This place is the spot. Amazing service, great drinks, and great atmosphere. No where better to go in assembly row. Tuane is the best

I love speakeasy style places and drinks. Sat at the bar with my wife Stephen is reason we will be coming back Top 5 sidecar I have ever had. read more

Parla XXI - Hennessey Sidecar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Could be one of my new favorite spots for cocktails! Not too expensive and delicious they also do a fun "game" where you roll the die and get a mystery cocktail, complete with card to keep track of all 20 wow! Haven't eaten there yet except for the fries but it always smells delicious in there and everyone's plates look good. Servers have been nice and many seem very knowledgeable about cocktails and mixology! read more

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The pasta is simply excellent. It has a perfect texture, cooks evenly, and reaches the ideal doneness. The flavor is smooth yet distinctive, pairing very well with different types of sauces. The quality of the ingredients is noticeable and truly makes a difference in the final result. It's a pasta that works beautifully in both simple dishes and more elaborate recipes. I definitely recommend it! Shrimp Scampi read more

I love the original location of Parla in the north end so we decided to come out and try the campaign out at assembly row. This is a pretty trendy bar and the interior is very cute with the lights behind the bar. For the type of bar it is I will say the music is a little loud and so it's hard to talk to other people in your group. But our campaign drinks were pretty good so I'm sure we will back soon! read more

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I'd return only to try other drinks. Food was not all that great. Service could be better too.

I've been here 3 times now. Drinks are great, bar tenders are amazing. They will make you a drink to your liking if nothing appeals to you on the menu. Ambiance is literally lit. The only thing that was holding me back from leaving a review earlier was that I had not tried the food. Finally though I came here for lunch andddd amazing. I ordered the octopus and our waiter said it was the best octopus they ever had. I have got to say it was definitely contending for 2nd place for the best octopus I've ever had. Soooo good! I'll be back just for it! Really a great place to come with anyone. Highly recommend. read more

Parla XXI - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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Clean, chic second location of the great north end speakeasy with patron diary style menus. Food was just ok and we disliked 4/5 drinks from the dungeon master dice list at the time. Bummer as the original location is one of our favorite cocktail bars in Boston. Root of all evil - 3 Phoenix rising - 4 Archers bang - 5 Dante's inferno - 15 Toss a coin to the Witcher - 19 read more

Came on a weekend after dinner time and they had room for walk-ins. The ambience was great and given that the weather was nice, we opted to sit outside. The food and drinks are pretty good. Their menu includes a specialty cocktail where you can roll dice to determine what you drink. It's a pretty cute concept. I would come back again for the drinks read more

Ambiance was very nice. We got a table outside. Service was fast and friendly. Nice appetizers choices, and nice entrees. Not a huge menu, which I liked very much. I will go back. read more

Amazing service! Guillermo is the best. Highly recommend the burratta!! Great for a girls night!

Super duper cosy place with awesome food. Brussels , pasta , burger . . . was delicious !!! Would recommend to anyone if you are looking for a good food and cocktail's. Shout out to our server David - Good Job Buddy !!! 5 stars all the way. Ziveli !!! read more

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My bestie and I love this place! The ambiance and artwork is amazing. We especially appreciated the DND themed drink menu and our amazing server Enzo! read more

So they have this drink challenge called the Dungeon Master. It's amazing! 20 creative drinks that you random roll on a D20. If you eventually drink them all you get a special prize. Can't recommend it enough. In fairness, the food is solid, but nothing too fancy. read more

Parla XXI - The art is beautiful - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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Some of my favorite cocktails, and memorable hangouts have been here. My go to for a nightcap, I enjoy their variety and creativity. The service is great, and everyone is knowledgeable of the cocktails and food options. I haven't tried many dishes here, but the apps I've tried haven't let me down. It can get pretty noisy, so if that's the vibe you're going for, you won't be disappointed. read more

12/9/22 - Have come back a few times in the last few months. We're still enjoying the experience of the dice roll drinks and are about halfway through almost. There have been a couple drinks that I wasn't crazy about, and several I've enjoyed that I may not have otherwise tried on my own. So im loving that the dice roll is exposing me to new flavors! And we got some more food this past time and throughly enjoyed it. Roasted Brussel sprouts were delicious too. Great flavor and not too oily plus a slight crunch. Mediterranean Lamb was so good! Two huge skewers of delicious and tender lamb with two lovely sauces. And the veggies with it were great. And the Lobster Ravioli, wow, so very good as well! Delicious raviolis with a lovely lobster and cheesy blend. And a delicious sauce along with it that was tasty without feeling way too heavy. We'll be back more to try all the dice roll drinks and more of the food read more

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Too loud. Table of four ordered four appetizers. What arrived was four appetizers we did not order. We kept them because the server did not come back to check on us. Had to leave table and ask for drinks twice One guests ordered a drink that was never served. Smell of burning plastic coming out of open kitchen was nauseous. Probably not gonna go back. read more

We had an 830pm reservation at Paint Bar and was looking for a place close by for dinner and drinks and this place was chosen by our friends. We had 6pm reservations and we got to the paint bar with minutes to spare. The place is very cool with an impressive bar, artsy decor and comfy seating. Our server was fine, the food was fine, the cocktails were named and described but we had no idea what was in them. The highlight of the meal was the whipped ricotta. The calamari, mussels and benyets were ok. They have a roll the dice and get what you get cocktail game which some might find fun, but I'm wayyyyyy too picky for that! Would we go back, sure. A solid choice for adventurous drinkers for sure. read more

I stopped by Parla XXI for an early dinner. The place was moderately busy which offers inside seating up at the bar, table seating and smoke outside patio seating out in front. I decided to sit up at the bar for prompt service. The menus for the very extensive drink offerings and food is bounded inside blue organizers. I was here for food only and looked over the menu which is tapas offering small plates, entrees, noodles, salads, and desserts. I started with Cozze Fritters ($16 plus tax), which were 4 large soft saffron mussel fritters drenched in a thick creamy fra diavalo sauce, Kewpie mayo and garnish, served in a bowl with toast points, which were charred on one side (used to dip in sauce). Next, the Spaghetti Carbonara came out, actually al dente fettuccine noodles tossed with thick pancetta cubes, romano cheese, green onions & egg yolk, fresh ground pepper offered by waiter/bartender. The food sounds good and tasted fine, but the food was lukewarm at best and the pasta dish became cold quickly. I finished my food and my bartender promptly cleared the dishes and I received the check quickly after, no mention or offer for dessert, which most servers at other restaurants will offer/upsell. However, the check amount of $45.92 was higher than expected because while the Cozze Fritters were $16 plus tax, I was charged $27 plus tax instead of the $17 plus tax I thought for the cold Carbonara dish, $10 for entree size was added. The bartender did not ask me which size I wanted to order. The $27 price and portion is actually in line with other area places and similar to Tuscan Kitchen, but their pasta dishes come out hot. I expect hot fresh food, especially if I'm paying good money for it. The portion of pasta seemed modest because after I left, another patron was eating a big portion of pasta actually spaghetti outside on the patio. read more

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