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He won Chopped. He beat Bobby Flay. He was a finalist for Top Chef. Laurence Louie is our local celebrity chef! His Rubato HK Cafe is accessible and delicious. My parents owned the spot years ago when it was Timmy Cafe. They sold the spot to Laurence's mom and she in turn sold it to him. The space is bright and the food is fire. There's not a lot of seating but there's a steady stream of people ordering to go. Laurence will also host pop up experiences for local chefs. My daughter loves their plain congee. I'm a big fan of the Rubato Fun Fun. The brisket in there tells you that Laurence knows how to make Chinese brisket the right way. They also have an amazing brisket steamed bao. The Fun Fun is loaded with everything you would want on a cheung fun dish mixed together. The highlight for me and keeps me coming back is the bolo fried chicken sandwich. There's so much going on between the sweet, flaky, and fluffy bolo bao, filled with a generous serving of a delectable fried chicken and saucy slaw. You get a complex mixture of flavors and textures in every bite. It can get messy, so lean forward and eat over your dish. I love that Laurence is often in the store and giving time to the fans of his TV cooking competitions. His team are also super competent and kind. I used Rubato catering for an event and the participants are still raving about the spread months later. Don't sleep on this local celebrity spot!
4.5/5 but rounding up to a 5. Came by on the weekend right before 11am and all of the seats were available. We ordered 3 items and absolutely loved 2 out of 3. The first item we tried was the HK French Toast Lava Egg Yolk which tbh is always a winner for my husband and I no matter where we get it. The second item we tried was the Cha Siu Bolo Bao. I'm usually not a big cha siu person so it was just okay for me. The bolo bao is also not quite what I expected, it has a different texture to it than most bolo baos. Overall not bad but just not for me. The last item was the salt pepper chicken with rice which we didn't expect much from but loved. The chicken has a nice crunch but also juicy. The seasoning used is also delicious. All in all a delicious meal and we will definitely be back! I'd skip the bolo bao next time though.
Trying Hong Kong cafe for the first time. I was overwhelmed by the menu on the wall so I asked for recommendations by the woman taking the orders. She recommended the fried chicken Bolo. I got shrimp steam rolls, Chinese donuts, ovaltine French toast, ice coffee, hot soy milk and cold soy milk. The fried chicken bolo was interesting. She told me it was the most popular item on the menu. I personally don't understand why. It is fried chicken with a slaw and on a bun with some sort of crumble on top. I was not impressed. The Chinese donuts were cold and old tasting; I was super disappointed. The shrimp steam rolls were very delicious! The ovaltine French toast is sweet. It has ovaltine powder on it and it's covered with sweetened condensed milk. It is tasty, sweet and a bit messy to eat but I enjoyed it. Iced coffee was strong. Iced soy milk is preferred over hot soy milk but that is just personal preference and it was over 90 degrees outside. It is a small cafe with limited seating at the window. The menu is on the wall. You order and when it's done they call your number. It is NOT ADA friendly. You have to climb stairs to get in. It was quite difficult for me as I was using my cane. This was my first Hong Kong style fast food cafe created by Chopped Champion and James Beard semifinalist Chef Laurence Louie and Rary Ratsifa. After going to another Hong Kong cafe nearby, and having something to compare this to, I would not return to this establishment as I think there are better Hong Style cafes with better food and ADA friendliness establishments.
More of a 3.5 but I'll round up. We came on a Wednesday right at noon and it wasn't too busy but we still had to wait for a seat since they only have seating along the window for like 10ppl max. So definitely more of a takeout place. We got the fried chicken bolo bao and the rubato fun fun (rice roll with Beef Brisket. Curry Fishball. Sesame Sauce. Hoisin.). The bolo bao was soft, had good flavor and a nice topping. The sandwich did fall apart a bit as you ate it though. The actual chicken was a bit disappointing. It's chicken thigh when I usually like breast for sandwiches. And it wasn't crispy at all. All of the breading was soft. The rice rolls were different. I've never had them served like that where the plain rolls are rolled up and cut into pieces. Then they put the hoisin and sesame sauce on top with the meat and fish balls. The rolls eat pretty bland since the sauce doesn't get into the center. That being said the brisket and fishball flavors were amazing.
First, a caveat: I didn't grow up with Hong Kong cafe (茶餐廳, cha chaan teng) nostalgia, and I'm also biased. Ever since Double Chin Restaurant in Chinatown closed (may she rise again), I've been on a mission to find a worthy fried chicken bolo bao. My friend and I trudged into Rubato on a cold, rainy day, hoping for a replacement. Spoiler alert: we did not find one. We ordered four items: rice rolls with curry fish balls, an egg custard lava bun, Ovaltine French toast, and the fried chicken bolo bao. The rice rolls were mild but fine, topped with enough cilantro and scallion to keep it interesting. The lava bun was hot, gooey, and did its job. (GOOD JOB, LAVA BUN!) The Ovaltine French toast? Eh, it aite. But here's the heartbreak: the chicken bolo bao. The chicken wasn't hot; it had that "sat around" feeling. And the bun? Just a dressed-up brioche, missing that true bo lo bao magic. A brioche bun with a crackly top is not a bo lo bao, my dudes. In short, everything was edible, but nothing made me want to come back. (It's not like watching like a hawk for an empty seat and swooping in the moment one opens up is any fun.) The chicken deserved better.
My husband and I stayed in Quincy for a wedding a couple of weeks ago. We had a couple of free hours during the day so we decided to check out the area nearby our hotel. After doing a quick TikTok search, I was prompted to try out this chicken sandwich from Rubato. We walked over and actually missed it on the street because it's so tiny. After realizing it, we turned around and to our surprise, there were several people inside eating and others waiting. This must be a good sign. We walked in and it was the most casual, laid-back establishment. The green color scheme and plants gave it a more earthy vibe, which I absolutely loved. Since we didn't necessarily know what to order we decided to split the fried chicken bolo. When I tell you, I have not stopped thinking about that sandwich since I ate it, I'm not kidding. It was absolutely delicious. My husband, who was resistant to even going in the first place, kept telling everyone around town about it. We will not skip a beat when in Quincy next to visit this establishment. Thanks for an awesome experience.
My third visit here, and the food continues to impress. The flavors are always consistent. I usually order the Hong Kong-style lemon tea along with a few other items, and this time I went with the fried chicken bolo bao. It was pretty busy when I ordered, so they waited until I found a seat before making the sandwich to keep it fresh. About 15 minutes later, it arrived. The sandwich looked great--juicy, well-seasoned chicken on a soft, fluffy bun. My only complaint was the slaw, which didn't have much flavor. I was hoping for a bit more acidity to balance the sweetness of the bun, but overall it was still a solid sandwich. Just a heads up: it's a small spot with very limited seating.
The hype is real, the chicken bolo was Crispy and full of flavor while being incredible moist on the inside. It's more of a takeout space than a sit down but service was very prompt and the food was super fresh when we got it.
I had been wanting to visit Rubato for a while but when I noticed Chef Laurence was replicating his dishes from that week's episode of Top Chef, I knew I had to go for it. On my first visit, my partner and I had the catfish sando and a bao filled with pork. The sandwich had a great texture. The fish was crispy from the outside but juicy and tender from the inside. The honey mayo was delicious and added a different flavor profile, and the bao on the sando had leather britches (dried beans from the south) which added flavor and complexity. With Boston being a huge seafood city, I hope this becomes a staple in the future. Although I'd love it even more if there was a spicy sandwich option, yeah it's the Mexican in me! This week, we came looking for the cheung fun quartet but (no surprise) the place was buzzin and the dish sold out. Luckily, they still had some of the other rice roll dishes so we tried the beef brisket cheung fun. And let me tell you, it lives up to the reputation. The brisket was so juicy and tender, and the rice rolls were great. We coupled this with the chili chicken polo bao, which is epic. The top of the bread was sweet and reminds me a little of Mexican sweet bread. The chicken (just like the fish the week before) was perfectly crispy on the outside and tender in the inside. I'm not sure what the mayo/sauce was, but it was pretty tasty. My partner had the chili tofu and, obviously, I had to try a little bit of it. Unexpectedly, the tofu turned out to be one of our favorite things. You may be noticing a trend here but it was perfectly crispy on the outside and spicy but nice and tender in the inside. We shared a spicy cucumber salad which was both refreshing but had a nice kick to it. I think we got excited and over ordered, but looking at the bright side, we have delicious leftovers to take home. The service is very quick, even though it's busy. Chef Laurence is very friendly and greets all guests. I was lowkey star-struck when he said "welcome back" and remembered us from last week. We're super fans of Rubato and will keep coming back to sample more of the menu!
We have been rooting for our hometown hero, Chef Laurence, this whole season of Top Chef. We were excited when we found out he would be serving the dishes he cooked each week on Top Chef at Rubato, and the first one we got to try was the fried catfish sandwich with sourwood honey mayo, and with fresh baked bread with leather britches inside (southern beans that are hung up to dry). The ingredients he incorporated were such a great homage to the Carolinas, where this season of Top Chef is taking place. We also tried other regular menu items, on that and other visits. The char siu bun had great flavor and was stuffed with meat. I think I may have tasted some star anise? My favorite so far has been the chili tofu, just because I'm a sucker for tofu (was a vegetarian for a number of years), and because the tofu was perfectly and completely fried, great for absorbing the chili goodness. Also tried the chunky cucumber salad and the brisket rice noodles. My Texan boyfriend whole heartedly approved of the tender brisket. I enjoyed it too! We also really liked the Hong Kong tea and the lemon tea (good to the last drop- I even ate the pieces of lemon inside). Almost forgot, a colleague recommended the bolo bao, and it did not disappoint. My boyfriend loved the fried chicken bolo bao, and I also enjoyed the few bites I had. Careful, it's a little messy. I walked out with sauce on my cheek, smh. My boyfriend said the bread reminded him of pan dulce- I totally agree with him. It has a similar sugar crusty top as a Mexican concha. When that fell off a little and was left for the end, my boyfriend happily finished it off, saying it was the best part. We wish Chef Laurence success at the Top Chef Finale. we are happy his restaurant is so close to us. Also recently learned Rubato is sponsoring a family event for a local nonprofit, BCNC. It's awesome that he cooks such great food, and that his restaurant is embedded in and supportive of the local Quincy community.
Small shop you can get into to enjoy some good food. I got their chicken sandwich which looks amazing, but it isn't something I'd try again. I've tried many different chicken sandwiches and a lot outperformed compared to this one. For what the place is I would give it a solid 4 stars. I may go back to try their other foods which seemed more appealing in a home cooked meal sense.
I've heard amazing reviews about this spot so I was super excited to try this spot. The space is pretty small with limited seating so definitely better to go for takeout if you can. The service was also pretty quick so nothing to complain about. I absolutely loved the fried chicken bolo bao. Even though it was a complete mess to eat, I think they nailed the sauce and texture of the fried chicken and the flakiness of the pineapple bun. I also ordered a hong kong milk tea and it was solid with the strong tea flavor.
I stopped by Rubato while traveling and I was so glad I did. This unassuming cafe has some amazing food. There is very limited seating within the cafe so be sure to plan accordingly. Some other patrons were kind and made space for us to sit. The staff were friendly and attentive. I had the fried chicken bolo, it was sweet and savory and not a combination I thought would work, but it did. If I am in the area I will definitely be stopping by again!
This Hong Kong / Cantonese Spot in North Quincy is a great location to find and enjoy it's cuisine! This small yet quaint restaurant has what it takes to become a much larger and unique place in the future! Easy to find, easy to park, and a nice neighborhood place to eat and visit! read more
I normally love Rubato's breakfast dishes, but today we had to try their new claypot entrees from the dinner menu! I got their Char Siu Claypot which was decent, but could definitely be improved. Half of the char siu was way too fatty, so it wasn't that pleasant. Too bad because the marinade of the char siu was good. The Mapo Tofu Claypot tasted way better but for a $20+ entree the rice was not that warm. Their new shrimp toast was crazy delicious and I would 11/10 recommend this though. Overall, I still enjoy the breakfast menu more but really do appreciate the longer hours and innovative menu. read more
23 days ago
I heard about Rubato's for 5-6 years now. Every time I don't get to go in Boston, my expectations and anticipation for it just increases. The food is solid and overall better than Bayao imo. It was just my fault for having overly high expectations. Also I was frustrated about the service. They have a seating policy where you have to order before getting a seat. The sign is in small font, lots of words printed on a piece of paper, propped next to the cashier. My friend and I weren't the only ones who didn't notice the rules and plopped ourselves on a chair before getting kicked out by the cashier. We weren't upset at that. The problem was when we changed our order from eat-in to to-go due to the seating policy and not seeing additional available seats, the cashier guy didn't update it in the order. We saw them prepping our order for eat-in, so we spoke behind the counter that we meant to have it to-go. The cashier guy responded in a rude tone. They should do a better job of communicating the seating policy and managing their 6 seats. They could put the sign with less words and bigger letters at the door, steps to entrance, and under menu. They could also put a divider to make sure people don't cross into the seats before reaching the cashier. Since we had to order food to-go, things were not at its peak by the time we ate it, but I think it was solid given the delay. Also not sure if transferring the food from eat-in plates and bowls to takeout ones would affect the composition and therefore taste and texture. We ordered: HK milk tea, soy milk, Rubato's fun fun, salt and pepper chicken with rice, Sampan congee, and a lava custard steam bao HK milk tea tastes legit but it was too mild - not the same as watery. At least it didn't feel rough on the tongue. Less sweet was a bit too sweet for me given the weaker tea strength. I think the mildness makes it appeal to a wider audience. Bayao's milk tea is punchier with sharper tea flavors while also being rougher on the tongue. I can't decide which one I prefer more. I like it more than the soy milk though. Soy milk does taste homemade. It tastes chalky (flavor not texture) but not green. Rubato's fun fun is the HK street food version of cheung fun rice noodles where it's the plain rolls of cheung fun with curry fishballs and beef stew. I like the cheung fun. It's silky smooth with a slight chew without being tough or rough or mushy, better than Bayao. The order only came with two fishballs which had a slight bounce (would like more) and bit of sweetness (also would like more). The curry sauce was overpowered by sauce from the beef stew. The beef stew tasted right too, although mild, but the biggest problem is with the meat being a bit tough and dry (edible but can be better). Salt and pepper chicken with rice is my favorite dish of the meal. The chicken meat can improve on juiciness and tenderness but at least it wasn't too dry. The batter was thicker than I'd like but at least airy and crunchy (despite being cold). The skin stayed dry despite taking it to-go which makes me wonder if the food was room temperature to start. The "salt and pepper" aspect of it was closer to "fried garlic and chili flakes" type of situation. Nevertheless I very much enjoyed that flavor and abundance of seasoning which generously coated each bite of chicken and rice. The rice was properly fluffy and not too hard or soft despite being cold when I ate it. Also I was actually a bit surprised by how little rice there was both absolutely and relatively. Sampan congee was something I was skeptical about because it looks like they only sprinkled toppings on top of a plain congee. I know it's hard to expect to have a pot for each variety of congee, but sometimes you need to boil things together to have the ingredient flavors seep into the congee. I like how the peanuts weren't too hard or soft. The dried fish and dried scallops were sufficient in flavor and quantity to add flavor to this congee. However they were too fishy for my liking, not necessarily sweet. I experimented adding the salt and pepper chicken's garlic chili seasoning into the congee and it was amazing. Overall I was impressed with the congee texture too. Since there were toppings mixed inside I don't necessarily have a full view of it plain but it was smooth with softened partial rice grains without being a goopy mess. Lava custard steamed bao was all cold and wet from condensation (came in a bag) by the time I ate it. At least the skin wasn't too soggy and it was fluffy inside even when cold. The filling was too sweet for me (I know it's supposed to be sweet) and wish there was more/stronger salted egg yolk flavor. They had some steamer baskets behind one of the counters but it looked dry (without) steam and cold. I didn't see if they grabbed my bao from there but I'm skeptical if they even keep the baos warm. read more
1 month ago
He won Chopped. He beat Bobby Flay. He was a finalist for Top Chef. Laurence Louie is our local celebrity chef! His Rubato HK Cafe is accessible and delicious. My parents owned the spot years ago when it was Timmy Cafe. They sold the spot to Laurence's mom and she in turn sold it to him. The space is bright and the food is fire. There's not a lot of seating but there's a steady stream of people ordering to go. Laurence will also host pop up experiences for local chefs. My daughter loves their plain congee. I'm a big fan of the Rubato Fun Fun. The brisket in there tells you that Laurence knows how to make Chinese brisket the right way. They also have an amazing brisket steamed bao. The Fun Fun is loaded with everything you would want on a cheung fun dish mixed together. The highlight for me and keeps me coming back is the bolo fried chicken sandwich. There's so much going on between the sweet, flaky, and fluffy bolo bao, filled with a generous serving of a delectable fried chicken and saucy slaw. You get a complex mixture of flavors and textures in every bite. It can get messy, so lean forward and eat over your dish. I love that Laurence is often in the store and giving time to the fans of his TV cooking competitions. His team are also super competent and kind. I used Rubato catering for an event and the participants are still raving about the spread months later. Don't sleep on this local celebrity spot! read more
4.5/5 but rounding up to a 5. Came by on the weekend right before 11am and all of the seats were available. We ordered 3 items and absolutely loved 2 out of 3. The first item we tried was the HK French Toast Lava Egg Yolk which tbh is always a winner for my husband and I no matter where we get it. The second item we tried was the Cha Siu Bolo Bao. I'm usually not a big cha siu person so it was just okay for me. The bolo bao is also not quite what I expected, it has a different texture to it than most bolo baos. Overall not bad but just not for me. The last item was the salt pepper chicken with rice which we didn't expect much from but loved. The chicken has a nice crunch but also juicy. The seasoning used is also delicious. All in all a delicious meal and we will definitely be back! I'd skip the bolo bao next time though. read more
3 months ago
Trying Hong Kong cafe for the first time. I was overwhelmed by the menu on the wall so I asked for recommendations by the woman taking the orders. She recommended the fried chicken Bolo. I got shrimp steam rolls, Chinese donuts, ovaltine French toast, ice coffee, hot soy milk and cold soy milk. The fried chicken bolo was interesting. She told me it was the most popular item on the menu. I personally don't understand why. It is fried chicken with a slaw and on a bun with some sort of crumble on top. I was not impressed. The Chinese donuts were cold and old tasting; I was super disappointed. The shrimp steam rolls were very delicious! The ovaltine French toast is sweet. It has ovaltine powder on it and it's covered with sweetened condensed milk. It is tasty, sweet and a bit messy to eat but I enjoyed it. Iced coffee was strong. Iced soy milk is preferred over hot soy milk but that is just personal preference and it was over 90 degrees outside. It is a small cafe with limited seating at the window. The menu is on the wall. You order and when it's done they call your number. It is NOT ADA friendly. You have to climb stairs to get in. It was quite difficult for me as I was using my cane. This was my first Hong Kong style fast food cafe created by Chopped Champion and James Beard semifinalist Chef Laurence Louie and Rary Ratsifa. After going to another Hong Kong cafe nearby, and having something to compare this to, I would not return to this establishment as I think there are better Hong Style cafes with better food and ADA friendliness establishments. read more
4 months ago
More of a 3.5 but I'll round up. We came on a Wednesday right at noon and it wasn't too busy but we still had to wait for a seat since they only have seating along the window for like 10ppl max. So definitely more of a takeout place. We got the fried chicken bolo bao and the rubato fun fun (rice roll with Beef Brisket. Curry Fishball. Sesame Sauce. Hoisin.). The bolo bao was soft, had good flavor and a nice topping. The sandwich did fall apart a bit as you ate it though. The actual chicken was a bit disappointing. It's chicken thigh when I usually like breast for sandwiches. And it wasn't crispy at all. All of the breading was soft. The rice rolls were different. I've never had them served like that where the plain rolls are rolled up and cut into pieces. Then they put the hoisin and sesame sauce on top with the meat and fish balls. The rolls eat pretty bland since the sauce doesn't get into the center. That being said the brisket and fishball flavors were amazing. read more
First, a caveat: I didn't grow up with Hong Kong cafe (茶餐廳, cha chaan teng) nostalgia, and I'm also biased. Ever since Double Chin Restaurant in Chinatown closed (may she rise again), I've been on a mission to find a worthy fried chicken bolo bao. My friend and I trudged into Rubato on a cold, rainy day, hoping for a replacement. Spoiler alert: we did not find one. We ordered four items: rice rolls with curry fish balls, an egg custard lava bun, Ovaltine French toast, and the fried chicken bolo bao. The rice rolls were mild but fine, topped with enough cilantro and scallion to keep it interesting. The lava bun was hot, gooey, and did its job. (GOOD JOB, LAVA BUN!) The Ovaltine French toast? Eh, it aite. But here's the heartbreak: the chicken bolo bao. The chicken wasn't hot; it had that "sat around" feeling. And the bun? Just a dressed-up brioche, missing that true bo lo bao magic. A brioche bun with a crackly top is not a bo lo bao, my dudes. In short, everything was edible, but nothing made me want to come back. (It's not like watching like a hawk for an empty seat and swooping in the moment one opens up is any fun.) The chicken deserved better. read more
My husband and I stayed in Quincy for a wedding a couple of weeks ago. We had a couple of free hours during the day so we decided to check out the area nearby our hotel. After doing a quick TikTok search, I was prompted to try out this chicken sandwich from Rubato. We walked over and actually missed it on the street because it's so tiny. After realizing it, we turned around and to our surprise, there were several people inside eating and others waiting. This must be a good sign. We walked in and it was the most casual, laid-back establishment. The green color scheme and plants gave it a more earthy vibe, which I absolutely loved. Since we didn't necessarily know what to order we decided to split the fried chicken bolo. When I tell you, I have not stopped thinking about that sandwich since I ate it, I'm not kidding. It was absolutely delicious. My husband, who was resistant to even going in the first place, kept telling everyone around town about it. We will not skip a beat when in Quincy next to visit this establishment. Thanks for an awesome experience. read more
3 months ago
My third visit here, and the food continues to impress. The flavors are always consistent. I usually order the Hong Kong-style lemon tea along with a few other items, and this time I went with the fried chicken bolo bao. It was pretty busy when I ordered, so they waited until I found a seat before making the sandwich to keep it fresh. About 15 minutes later, it arrived. The sandwich looked great--juicy, well-seasoned chicken on a soft, fluffy bun. My only complaint was the slaw, which didn't have much flavor. I was hoping for a bit more acidity to balance the sweetness of the bun, but overall it was still a solid sandwich. Just a heads up: it's a small spot with very limited seating. read more
The hype is real, the chicken bolo was Crispy and full of flavor while being incredible moist on the inside. It's more of a takeout space than a sit down but service was very prompt and the food was super fresh when we got it. read more
5 months ago
I had been wanting to visit Rubato for a while but when I noticed Chef Laurence was replicating his dishes from that week's episode of Top Chef, I knew I had to go for it. On my first visit, my partner and I had the catfish sando and a bao filled with pork. The sandwich had a great texture. The fish was crispy from the outside but juicy and tender from the inside. The honey mayo was delicious and added a different flavor profile, and the bao on the sando had leather britches (dried beans from the south) which added flavor and complexity. With Boston being a huge seafood city, I hope this becomes a staple in the future. Although I'd love it even more if there was a spicy sandwich option, yeah it's the Mexican in me! This week, we came looking for the cheung fun quartet but (no surprise) the place was buzzin and the dish sold out. Luckily, they still had some of the other rice roll dishes so we tried the beef brisket cheung fun. And let me tell you, it lives up to the reputation. The brisket was so juicy and tender, and the rice rolls were great. We coupled this with the chili chicken polo bao, which is epic. The top of the bread was sweet and reminds me a little of Mexican sweet bread. The chicken (just like the fish the week before) was perfectly crispy on the outside and tender in the inside. I'm not sure what the mayo/sauce was, but it was pretty tasty. My partner had the chili tofu and, obviously, I had to try a little bit of it. Unexpectedly, the tofu turned out to be one of our favorite things. You may be noticing a trend here but it was perfectly crispy on the outside and spicy but nice and tender in the inside. We shared a spicy cucumber salad which was both refreshing but had a nice kick to it. I think we got excited and over ordered, but looking at the bright side, we have delicious leftovers to take home. The service is very quick, even though it's busy. Chef Laurence is very friendly and greets all guests. I was lowkey star-struck when he said "welcome back" and remembered us from last week. We're super fans of Rubato and will keep coming back to sample more of the menu! read more
We have been rooting for our hometown hero, Chef Laurence, this whole season of Top Chef. We were excited when we found out he would be serving the dishes he cooked each week on Top Chef at Rubato, and the first one we got to try was the fried catfish sandwich with sourwood honey mayo, and with fresh baked bread with leather britches inside (southern beans that are hung up to dry). The ingredients he incorporated were such a great homage to the Carolinas, where this season of Top Chef is taking place. We also tried other regular menu items, on that and other visits. The char siu bun had great flavor and was stuffed with meat. I think I may have tasted some star anise? My favorite so far has been the chili tofu, just because I'm a sucker for tofu (was a vegetarian for a number of years), and because the tofu was perfectly and completely fried, great for absorbing the chili goodness. Also tried the chunky cucumber salad and the brisket rice noodles. My Texan boyfriend whole heartedly approved of the tender brisket. I enjoyed it too! We also really liked the Hong Kong tea and the lemon tea (good to the last drop- I even ate the pieces of lemon inside). Almost forgot, a colleague recommended the bolo bao, and it did not disappoint. My boyfriend loved the fried chicken bolo bao, and I also enjoyed the few bites I had. Careful, it's a little messy. I walked out with sauce on my cheek, smh. My boyfriend said the bread reminded him of pan dulce- I totally agree with him. It has a similar sugar crusty top as a Mexican concha. When that fell off a little and was left for the end, my boyfriend happily finished it off, saying it was the best part. We wish Chef Laurence success at the Top Chef Finale. we are happy his restaurant is so close to us. Also recently learned Rubato is sponsoring a family event for a local nonprofit, BCNC. It's awesome that he cooks such great food, and that his restaurant is embedded in and supportive of the local Quincy community. read more
Small shop you can get into to enjoy some good food. I got their chicken sandwich which looks amazing, but it isn't something I'd try again. I've tried many different chicken sandwiches and a lot outperformed compared to this one. For what the place is I would give it a solid 4 stars. I may go back to try their other foods which seemed more appealing in a home cooked meal sense. read more
I've heard amazing reviews about this spot so I was super excited to try this spot. The space is pretty small with limited seating so definitely better to go for takeout if you can. The service was also pretty quick so nothing to complain about. I absolutely loved the fried chicken bolo bao. Even though it was a complete mess to eat, I think they nailed the sauce and texture of the fried chicken and the flakiness of the pineapple bun. I also ordered a hong kong milk tea and it was solid with the strong tea flavor. read more
3 months ago
I stopped by Rubato while traveling and I was so glad I did. This unassuming cafe has some amazing food. There is very limited seating within the cafe so be sure to plan accordingly. Some other patrons were kind and made space for us to sit. The staff were friendly and attentive. I had the fried chicken bolo, it was sweet and savory and not a combination I thought would work, but it did. If I am in the area I will definitely be stopping by again! read more
Cha siu bolo bao -- was nice and crispy on outside with soft bread and very yummy sweet and savory pork inside. Was actually very yummy and filled w meat. Usually dont love bolo baos but rubato's take on it was very well done :) lava egg yolk French toast -- nice crunchy crumbs of something, plus soft dense yummy French toast. And the egg yolk! More sweet than savory but the salty lava egg yolk added a nice satisfying warm creaminess. Definitely a heavy dessert but worth it Inside is very cute green tiles and simple but cute countertop area to eat. Seating is all in a line and also not many seats, so hard to come in a group of maybe more than 3 Service was quick and efficient, food comes out on little metal trays, chill cafeteria vibe read more
The place is retro. I love the green tiles. The place didn't have much seatings. There are only high top seatings along the window about 8-10 seats. Most people just grab food to go. The food is already premade. This is what I ordered: Cha Siu Bao - Chinese bbq pork. Normally the pork is chopped up but this is pulled pork. Flavor was average but it was quite oily to the mouth--found out I had a chunk of pork fat inside. Lava Egg Yolk Bao - This was delicious. It tasted like Chinese milk custard bao but this was runny and overall flavorful. My favorite. Shichuan Veg Bao - Filled with peas, pickled veggies, and soy marinated tofu. This has the five spice smell and taste. It was a bit spicy. I'm not sure if it tasted like sichuan to me. My least favorite. Fried Chicken Bolo - Thick fried chicken topped with cold slaw between Chinese pineapple bun (bolo bao). The sugar crust on the bao was thicker than what you normally see in a Chinese bakery. This was my bf's favorite. I thought the pineapple bun was a bit dry. I did like the sweet and savory balance. It was a bit more on the sweeter side. The chicken was not dry at all. Sesame + Hoisin Ji Cheung Fun - This is a classic Cantonese dish, the OG. Plain rice noodle rolls topped with sesame and hoisin sauce. I wished it was more sesame sauce so it is a bit more nutty to balance out the sweetness from the hoisin. I asked for scallion and cilantro for toppings. I did find they made the cheung fun (rice noodle) correctly, it has a nice chew. Beef Brisket Ji Cheung Fun - Plain rice noodle rolls topped with braised beef brisket. This was okay. I found it to be a bit plain. The beef brisket is pretty tender. Overall, I thought the food was okay, nothing really stood out to me except for the egg lava bao. For a place in Quincy it's fine since there aren't any similar in this town. I do prefer the OG spots in Chinatown. I also thought the food was pricey for the amount of food you are getting and for something that is pretty standard. read more
5 months ago
The place is small but the food is 5 star. I had two different steam buns char sui and braised beef amazing and then I had salt and pepper chicken over white rice. They were all delicious. Worth every penny. read more
1 year ago
A unique find! Didn't expect the Fried Chicken Bolo combo to work, but was pleasantly surprised. Crispy, succulent chicken and sriracha mayo-esque sauce with the sweetness and crumbliness of the pineapple bun. Easily the highlight. The Beef Brisket Rice Rolls had tender, nicely-flavored meat too but the rice rolls didn't really stand out in any way. Def would try the other menu options too read more
20 days ago
HK cafe but they are not cantonese---ah wells! It still works and is Greaf! place is packeddddd - and there are no ample seatings, but customers are still coming in non-stop picking up to go. They came up with a never-seen before system with the seats. The counter seats are full so the workers will make sure you are waiting on the side lines- you must also let them know. They will know you are next in their mental queue to ensure no brawls take place from that. It is not too hard to manage because the seats are so few but to come up with this idea, actually works! Seriously- it is the most ridiculously simplest system ever, especially now that I am re-verbalizing all this, it is almost preposterous no one has really thought of this. Basically, these are free for all seats like in any take out restaurant would have. You order and then go and test your luck, food court style. In malls- no problem. But with less than 10 seats- holy smokes- no store will have the capacity, energy or even aptitude to manage that, it is too minimal. Of course it takes a food shop in quincy, boston to allow me to experience this striking realization! I havent even heard of Quincy before finding this spot! There is always a connection somehow! We tried almost everything on menu to share and were there at the spot to see how many people came and what they ordered. The lemon tea was the most ordered. We tried the HK tea, congee/porridge with fresh fried cruller, "pineapple" bolo bun which is not pineapple at all (just a name), fried chicken rice dish, the rice rolls with sauce and so on. Also tried coffee which I prob, shouldnt have ordered. Everything was solid. Steam buns also kept coming out like crazy too. The spot adds flair to this town. Impressive concept and creativity! Best of luck and wishing continued success! The menu on the wall was also simple too! read more
3 months ago
2 years ago
Delicious, so worth the hype!! Everything we ate (and saw being ordered) looked, smelled, and tasted delicious. Food came out piping hot and fresh. Definitely recommend the beef brisket bao and the fried chicken bolo. Note that there are limited seating options in the cafe, though customers do turnover fairly quickly read more
7 months ago
Overall, the food was quite good, though a bit on the pricey side. The standout dish was the beef brisket bao. The chicken bolo was tasty, but felt expensive for the portion size, especially since it didn't come with a side. We also tried the salt and pepper chicken rice plate, which was just okay; it came with only one piece of choy. Glad there's a restaurant with this style of cuisine but expected more. read more
This review is for the fried chicken bolo. It's great! The bun is soft and fluffy inside and the topping is not too sweet. The chicken was juicy and I appreciated the slaw in the sandwich to make me feel like I got my vegetables in for the day. I got this as takeout and it was still crispy and hot when I opened up the box! read more
I've heard great things about this place and it didn't disappoint! The menu had a good selection of Hong Kong breakfast/brunch items - I would say to get here early though due to them already being sold out of some items by 11am! Seating here is tricky as they have limited space, but we were lucky enough to get a few chairs via lucky timing. Food came out pretty fast despite the business and everything was super fresh tasting while being a reasonable price. The sandwich was definitely the highlight, I would recommend not skipping it! The rice plate was also solid in portion and the toast was great. Overall, if I'm ever in the area again, I would be happy to come back. Definitely would recommend timing it well though and maybe going takeout if you're flexible enough! read more
2 years ago
The Bolo Fried Chicken Bao and the retro HK diner vibes were chef's kiss. The other items were good but not outstanding, and portions were sort of small for the price. The curry fish balls feels like something I could try to replicate at home and the porridge was not as warm as I would have liked. The Rubato congee and rice roll did have interesting toppings. The food came out decently quickly. There is VERY limited counter seating even at off peak times, which is worse given the steady flow of customers, so maybe do not count on dining in. read more
Loved loved loved this find while in town. Rubato offers quick Hong Kong cafe style eats. What drew me to this place was the Bolo Fried Chicken Bao. I literally did not know I needed this in my life until I saw it. The sweetness of the bread, the tang from the slaw, and the crispy, savoury fried chicken all in one bite was soooo good. Beware that it is a messy, but satisfying meal! I also tried the Rubato Fun Fun which was cantonese rice crepes with braised beef, curry fishballs and sesame & hoisin sauce. I wish I had ordered more fish balls!!!! The noodles were silky and savoury. Delicious to eat!! The staff were friendly. My only complaint is I wish there was more seating in the restaurant. It was packed even when we went off lunch hours. read more
2 years ago
Unfortunately this place was a little over-rated in my honest opinion. If you're craving for hk comfort food in Boston, this would be the place to go considering there aren't many around. Bolo bao and cheung fun were ok, but definitely had better ones that were less pricey elsewhere like NY. The yuen yeung also tasted a lil watered down. There aren't many seatings, so be sure to come early if you want to try it. read more
Business owner information
Laurence L.
Oof! Bummed that you thought it was only OK. Definitely less pricey…
2 years ago
Honestly nothing too memorable except it was definitely overpriced for what you're getting, even by Boston standards. These 2 items and the drink was $21.25. The quality and taste was not there to justify that price. Not sure if they're getting charged Boston level rent as this is in Quincy, even then I would expect the food to be better. I would still go elsewhere. Photo is yellow since they put a yellow shade on their windows so everything looks yellow inside the restaurant. read more
Business owner information
Laurence L.
Thanks for coming by and giving it a try. Too bad you didn't have a…
8 months ago
Foods good, the staffs were very nice. Had the curry fishballs and congee.. this location stand in a road that has many Chinese business. read more
5 months ago
2 years ago
Such a hit of a spot - WOW! Rubato is a cute restaurant serving Asian inspired food, and WOW - every bite was delicious! We got the Salt + Pepper Chicken, Fried Chicken Bolo, and milk tea, and they were delicious. The owner is really friendly and welcoming, and the food came out pretty quick. One note - there's little space to sit down, so I suggest either taking to go or expecting to to sit down briefly to eat. read more
2 months ago
5 months ago
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