I've been going to Sycamore since I first discovered it in 2014. Back then, it was on my way home from work, and I'd stop in a couple times a month--sometimes more. Post-COVID, life looks a little different. I've changed jobs and moved to another town, so it's no longer the easy drop-in it once was. Still, I make a point to come back at least every few months. What hasn't changed is the consistency. This remains one of the most reliably excellent restaurants in the Boston area, and still one of my all-time top five--while others that once held that spot haven't quite held up. One thing has changed, though: the Ghost of Mary. Scotty, the former bar manager, created what's still my favorite cocktail of all time. When he left, the drink left with him (by mutual agreement), and while he generously shared the recipe with me, I've never quite managed to recreate it at home. It was clearly meant to be made by the expert. That said, Sycamore hasn't missed a beat. The space is still as comfortable and quirky as ever, the food remains consistently excellent, and the current bar program is in very capable hands. The cocktails are thoughtful and well-executed--just maybe don't remind me about the one I'm missing read more

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Delicious food with great service in a warm casual restaurant! Loved the atmosphere at this restaurant. It was busy inside and out with many tables full of people enjoying their evening. We were taken care of by the owner and everything was wonderful. I started with a summer negroni. The kale and farro salad is a must try. The kale was tender and perfectly dressed. I liked the variety of textures and flavors with farro, pinenuts, currants and cheese. The grilled flat iron steak was cooked to a perfect medium rare-tender full of flavor. The housemade orecchiette with lamb sausage ragu was meaty and savory. So good. Finished the evening with two desserts. The chocolate cake and beignets. I love the combination of chocolate and berries. The dense chocolatey cake was served with strawberry ice cream and a sweet raspberry sauce. The warm sugared beignets were light and fluffy and soaked up the milk jam. Yum! A delicious evening and I would love to come back!! read more

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This place is an absolute institution. Every single time we come here it is incredible both the food and the service the menu changes seasonally so we ordered some new items and they were incredible. The chicken is in the top five best chicken dishes I've eaten in my life. Try to make a reservation if you're gonna go because it is always busy. read more

Sycamore - baked atlantic cod "ratatouille", crystal valley chicken - New American Near Me - Newton, Massachusetts

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Sycamore is SPECTACULAR!!! Newton centre is probably one of my favorite cities for date night and afternoon shopping. They have some great places to shop and dine and Sycamore is one of them. We have been here multiple times and everytime is better than the last. From the Managers greeting to the service, and atomosphere, Sycamore sure knows how to make customers feel seen and heard and their bellies happy :) We came here after attending a wine tasting not far from here and were able to grab some bar seats. They have a great cocktail and wine list; I always have a hard time choosing just one. I went with a vodka drink called Nothing Rhymes Orange and my husband had a beer. Since we were not that hungry he ordered the Chorizo Croquettas and I had my favorite salad in the world (not kidding) their Kale Salad. Let me just tell you 1. if you don't like kale, you will love this salad. Just the way they make it and the flavors/crunch will make your mouth water 2. you will eat the whole thing. 3. trust me. If there is one app that you need to order its the chorizo croquettas, OMG. They are like little small drops of heaven and there are only 3 so if you plan to share I would recommend ordering more than just one. For dessert, we ordered an Espresso Martini. The only thing that was missing is the coffee beans but still good. Thanks Sycamore for another fabulous dinner and evening. Thanks Kale Salad for being the best ever. I know I will be back for another one sometime soon. Cheers~ read more

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" Simply the best " This is simply the best restaurant in newton . For a fresh and delicious meal , they use fresh ingredients of what's in season on their menu. The drinks that require extra ingredients they do the same . The staff is absolutely amazing . They go above & beyond. I live in Newton so I am lucky to live close . However come visit no matter where you live , you'll thank me for the experience you'll have . Oh the vibe is warm , welcoming and friendly as well . Parking is metered on the street. If no additional parking; is found walk about half a block to a metered parking lot. read more

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My husband and I love love love Sycamore and have been several times. Everyone has been so warm and welcoming when we go. They also have a great balance between favorites like the kale & farro salad that are always on the menu and rotating fresh seasonal items. I have several allergies, and they are always able to accommodate with something delicious and vegetarian. Some of the stand outs have included: -fava bean ricotta dip with lemon zest, mint & toasted focaccia -grilled focaccia with whipped goat cheese & apricot jam -Fluke ceviche -lumache with rock shrimp -Moroccan date butter Sunchoke soup -Wild ramp Comte pierogis with parsnip cream and peas instead of mushrooms -spinach Cavatelli w/wild boar ragu -pot pie -endive pear blue cheese hazelnut salad -boca negra, budino, beignets for dessert Sycamore is definitely in the favorites rotation! read more

Sycamore - Boca negra dessert - New American Near Me - Newton, Massachusetts

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Great food and flavors here. I love that their menu changes seasonally, so you often get to try something new every time you go. Tried the Tuscan Kale + Farro Salad (4/5 maybe a tad too acidic but still good), Ward's Farm Corn Soup (5/5 and great for the cold months), Spicy Moroccan Seafood Stew (5/5 maybe a bit salty but also good), Roasted Maine Carrots (5/5 would definitely recommend these were really good), and the Braised Berkshire Pork Shank for Two (5/5 good braise and flavors). Overall a very warm and comforting meal with great service! read more

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We came here for our seventh year wedding anniversary. I'm really glad we did because it was such a special meal. Everything was really delicious. They had three types of breads: the house made sourdough, the house made focaccia, and a crispy bread that was used to dip the bluefish pate. We ordered the pasta appetizer and the skirt steak. All of the food was delicious, although if I had one small complaint, it was that the steak came with an offensive amounts of fries. And I ate a lot of those fries. Almost ruined my photo. But it was all very, very tasty and our server, Kristen, was a pro. read more

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Sublime. Period. Early dinner with a client. Lovely and quiet (4:45P) Seamless service well trained staff. Started with the cucumber soup with subtle crab, glasses of Les Brebis Pinot Noir and Cabotte Grenache. Grilled Chicken with Frecola Sarda and Cod with Rancho Gordo Beans were enough to tide us over sublimely for the next hour plus. Once it filled up (7P+) the noise level became barely tolerable...regardless, a grand meal inviting one to return again and again. read more

Incredibly friendly service, in spite of being really busy. Interior ambience was soft, lighting and romantic. A little bit on the noisy side, but we sat by the window and overlooked the sidewalk and outdoor dining. The food was delicious from local fish, ceviche, kale, and Farro salad, and homemade pasta. Nice wine selection. We were in town for work and found a nice local spot to celebrate our anniversary, it was memorable. read more

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The other night, after a BC football game, we took my kids here for a late dinner. It was cold and rainy. Most other places were closed. I had been here once before on my own, so we took the chance. No reservations. They were so nice to us. They welcomed us in. Made sure our orders got in before the kitchen closed. I had the housemade lumache, a type of pasta I had never tried before. It was made with a pork ragu--the waitress called it a hug in a bowl. She was right. Perfect for a cold rainy night. This is my second great experience here--the first time I was alone at the bar and was equally welcomed and felt at home. I cannot recommend Sycamore enough. All the accolades don't do it justice. read more

Poor service. A restaurant that cannot accommodate take out orders at dinner service on a week-night (not Friday-Sun or Holiday) is not worth its salt. A sign of poorly run kitchen and front of house if you're "too busy" with dine-in customers on a weekday. Lost my business and I don't/won't recommend this place at all. read more

All dishes are on the small side and expensive  here, but everything  full of flavor and very high in quality. I felt my money was well spent and will gently come here again and try other dishes. Below is what is ate for dinner.  Bluefish pate-  very fresh. Very light ocean taste with a nice combination of spices. The pate was thick and spread nicy over the toasted soughdough chips 4/5 Corn soup- focused on the savory side of corn rather then the sweet. Bursting  with flavor with a nice kick at the back end. The scallops added some nice texture to the soup. 5/5  Swordfish- perfectly cooked with a nice sear on tope. Salsa vede had seep flavor and a mild spiciness that complimented the dish well. 5/5 manjari chocolate budino- basically a higher quality jello pudding. Came with a nice corn caramel sauce and and some Chintelly cream.  This was pretty good. 4/5  I would recommend giving this place shot and is a good excuse to get out of the city. . High quality and delicious food 5/5 read more

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We are dining in this place 15 years in a row,but never get tired or bored. Chef Dave is one of the best chefs in this country in my personal culinary award list). Menu changes often, whatever pasta you see on the menu,take it. It will create a party in your mouth. Any sausages,and he is doing sausages from every meat ,poultry or game meat,try it. This will blow your mind!! If you need to adjust any dish to your dietary restrictions,it will come out from the kitchen as a beautiful concoction. I ordered last night salmon and ask it dairy free and it was most delicious dish,with stunning texture and sauce. I was offered raspberry vegan sorbet,which was delightful end of the dinner.Worth the trip,even if you are driving 100 miles and be patient with reservations ,it's not easy on the weekends. read more

Sycamore - Salmon entree( dairy free version) Delicious!!! - New American Near Me - Newton, Massachusetts

Food - chorizo croquettas were tasty to start, but definitely on the small side. Moroccan sunchoke soup with dates was really good - creamy, savory and sweet, with notes of fall-like spices, this was a fav for me. I loved the roasted carrots and the Bolognese was solid. Mussels were pretty good but the broth was a bit light on flavor. The maple brined pork chop was generous on the meat, but I liked the kale sweet potato side more than the pork. Painted hills filet with blue cheese butter was cooked perfectly and the au gratin and salad side was good - this was my fav main, a classic that was executed well. For dessert the beignets with caramel or "milk jam" were delightful and the peanut butter chocolate bar was really dang good. Drinks - as a bloody Mary aficionado I enjoyed the ghost of mary martini, captured the essence of a bloody remarkably well. The falerno was refreshing with a little kick and I thought the citrus was balanced well with the mezcal and falernum. Service was really good, host, bartender and the server were on top of it. Ambience was nice with the brick wall, kind of standard new American New England feel. Overall, I thought there were some standouts on the food and would definitely return. read more

Sycamore - New American Near Me - Newton, Massachusetts

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Sycamore knocked my socks off. Chef Dave Punch has a winning streak of fantastic restaurants in Newton, otherwise known as the holy trinity in Newton Centre (Jinny's, Big Little Diner, and Sycamore) - I believe he used to helm Buttonwood in Newton Highlands before he sold it, which has a similar vibe and menu to Sycamore. Of the three, Sycamore is pricier and a bit more formal. The menu focuses on only a few starters and mains, which updates every few weeks (days?) to focus on seasonal ingredients. I loved the falerno! cocktail to start, nice blend of tequila, grapefruit, some chili spice, and hellfire bitters. Everything under the starters section looked intriguing but we went with the grilled shrimp ceviche and kale + farro salad. Salads tend to play second fiddle to other dishes but this one may have been my second favorite dish of the night. The combo of pine nuts and farro and pomegranate was genius, a great blend of texture and flavor. Definitely order this. The table next to us got it as soon as they saw us digging in. My favorite was the tandoori spiced swordfish. I'm a sucker for anything remotely curry-flavored and this one, with squash and chickpeas, some sort of yogurt, and ginger on top (come on, just look at that ingredient list), was A+. Swordfish, in my experience, is tricky to cook just right - overcooking makes the texture all stringy, undercooking turns it into rubber. This was THE most tender piece of fish I've ever eaten. It was like fish pudding. My husband's cod cakes were excellent - they had just added it to the menu the day before, to rave reviews - but I preferred the swordfish. We were too stuffed for dessert but Josh was super kind enough to bring us two house-made beignets to sample. They were delicious, as fried pockets of dough are wont to be, but I'd slather that milk caramel/butterscotch sauce over anything and everything. Service was a highlight! Came by often to check in on how we were doing, if we wanted another drink, brought more water, etc. I didn't see any of the issues in other reviews. Josh and the others were more than happy to move customers over to other tables from the windows, which were drafty. A reservation on Thurs-Sat is a must, you can't really blame the restaurant if you're a walk-in and they only have certain seats left. Abundant parking in the lot a few feet away, free after 6pm. read more

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The food is cooked perfectly. I have not seen such a diverse menu. The root vegetables are delicious. The ambience is family style. The tables are close together but not too close. I cannot say enough nice things about the wine menu. The serving portions are generous, the reds robust and the whites chilled. I heartily recommend this neighborhood gem is a must if you live in Newton Center. a Y enough nice things about the the wine menu read more

Excellent food, great service. It's a cozy place. Not too small, not too big. We had the parsnip hummus (5/5) and tuna filled peppers (2/5) as appetizers and scallop/fish cakes (5/5) and steak (5/5) as the main dishes. The cocktails were delicious too. Got the pecan cake (3/5) as dessert. We will be back. read more

Good food (especially tuscan kale + farro salad), AMAZING drinks (bartender Aaron is a genius!).

What a difference a couple of months make. Gone are the snooty hosts though the last time I was here it was much better. Today I went in early again without a rezzie and when I told the host (who happened to be the owner) that I'd be out of there before 6 pm he believed me and offered a corner table. His recs were spot on and as always the food was extraordinary. I had the cold shrimp which was far better than ceviche and the squash salad done deliciously and creatively. The ambiance is wonderful and all in all a great experience. I was alone and felt entirely welcome and listened to. So thank you Dave for remembering me and being so accommodating. read more

Best food I've had in years. Take notes. Staff is incredibly no nonsense and friendly. Highly recommend.

Probably wouldn't go back. The kale and Farro salad was very good. The Moroccan soup wasn't very good at all and i didn't finish it. I thought the swordfish was pretty boring and I definitely wouldn't get it again. We had the little donuts with dessert and there are more like bread, nuts if that's a thing. Jason didn't like them Christine did. The chocolate cake was actually pretty good and even Jason liked it and the mango parfait stuff was interesting. read more

HONEST REVIEW: I went here last night and I really wish I could give a better review but I was disappointed with them. On multiple levels. First, their pricing is wild. Second, my bf got the steak and it was $46 for literally about six pieces of it. Third, service was not great. Four, their food was very very very mediocre for what you're paying. Overall not worth it. Unfortunately, $200 later for 2 people I learn this.... Ambience is nice. But also your squished in together. For $200 I want some room. Overall- dissappointed. Don't waste your money. This is just a farm to table place but not great quality. read more

We loved our date night at Sycamore! The food is fresh and absolutely delicious. The service was great - our waitress was spot on with her drink recommendations for us. It was definitely a cozy spot, and I strongly suggest recommendations as the bar area was very crowded on the Thursday night we visited. Overall, very happy and we will definitely return! read more

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Overall: I would definitely return to Sycamore as their menu changes frequently. I would anticipate that this restaurant is not the most efficient or consistent. A wait may occur for your server (or someone) to take the drink/food order. I would anticipate that workers may have a bad attitude and write off the interaction as they walked away ensuring it doesn't ruin a nice dinner. Food: _Chorizo Croquettas_ small but packed with great flavor. The red pepper romesco sauce that comes underneath is fresh and delish. _Semonlina Rigatoni/Rigatoncini_ wow! this dish was excellent, the venison is seasoned perfectly and the pasta is packed with great flavor. The harmony of flavors in this dish is fantastic _Cassoulet for two_ After having the two amazing starters we were disappointed with the cassoulet. While the meat is very tender, the dish just didn't have the depth, seasoning, and flavors to make it special. The beans needed more seasoning, they felt like an afterthought and the sauce was watery. _Chantenay carrots_ Just get them. They will be some of the best carrots you've tasted for the price. They are amazingly fresh, and sweet while the goat cheese added a touch of tartness. _Roasted brussels sprouts_ Too much going on here, an edit is needed to make sure the flavors that are meant to come through, do come through at the end. A lot of the brussel sprouts were soggy. Service & Hospitality: The restaurant was full for a Thursday night at 7:30. It took a few minutes for someone to greet us, which is understandable considering it was busy. The greeting was quite curt. While we thought they may not be the most welcoming (based on other reviews), the restaurant should work on being more welcoming to guests. The host also has other responsibilities, the energy and vibe can certainly carry over to your table service creating a potentially sour evening. read more

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This restaurant gets great reviews, and the service was good. I think I just ordered the wrong food. The bread and butter and the pork belly (but not the salad it came on) were delicious. The lumache pasta with shrimp came in a watery sauce that left me cold. The beignets were OK with a watery caramel sauce The restaurant staff members were nice and comped our desserts after realizing I hated my main course. I doubt I'll ever eat here again. read more

Not a fan at all.. super limited menu but the true feedback is on the terrible hostess that was so rude cause we got there 5 min early. Not a fan of how loud the place was read more

We sat outdoors. Nice ambience and great food, drinks, and service. Loved both the strawberry daiquiri and ghost of mary for drinks. Also loved the green garlic panisse, ceviche, snap pea salad, and spaghetti. Chilled cucumber soup was okay. read more

This is tough as I really wanted to give more stars but to me, service makes the experience. It's pretty clear on entering that they have a "system" and do NOT expect them to deviate. Unless you are a regular. My husband and I walked in Wednesday night around 7:45 pm. The place was hopping! We like to sit at the bar when we go out to eat, and always prepare to wait. Two seats opened at the end of the bar. We weren't sure if it was first come or on a list. The host/manager was buzzing around like a frantic bee, so I walked over to two newly vacant seats and stood there while my husband waited at door to get someone to confirm. Not ONE singlee person at the bar (3 people, owner and two others all behind small bar) looked at me. Nothing. Manager/Host also put up his finger for my husband to "wait" before he acknowledged him. Finally, my husband asked, "May we sit there?" Answer "no, you may not " and finally FINALLY brought over the couple that was waiting, 10 minutes later. Ok. Whatever. We stood at a teeny tiny counter while we waited for two seats. Ordered a couple Bissell Bros Substances and 20 or so minutes and we were seated. Onto the bar service. Have you ever been to a place where nothing is wrong with service but nothing is quite right. He did his job. He was attentive. He was cordial. And he was COLD !!! No smile, no "how is everything " no recommendations. Just. Did. His. Job. If you like that, you will like this type of service. Food was great and good. Citrus salad. Amazing. Steak frites. Good. $200 bucks later. Meh Space is beautiful, though small! Make a reservation or be a regular if you are a walk in. read more

Worth checking out if you're in the neighborhood. Here's the food rundown: - chorizo croquettas: A+ - lobster gemelli: A - polenta ravioli: B+ - grilled spanish mackerel: B - catalan seafood stew: B+ FOH is....interesting. Solid wines by the glass. read more

So glad for Sycamores take-out program. It's packaged well, is or nearly is the same dine-in menu, and just scrumptious. You should order ahead in the day on their website as pickup times go fast. The area out front is a little tight and might have to double park with flashers on to run in and get food. Luckily, it's always ready for us at the specified time, so easy in and easy out. We love their pimento cheese (with a sleeve of Ritz crackers included!), Gnocchi, chicken cacciatore, pork chop, and lamb shank. Always a great proprotion of sides and sauce so there's just enough but nothing get to soggy on the drive home. There's plenty of Todo booze and provisions too. Yum. read more

I haven't had any of the food, but the cocktails are delicious and the service is excellent. The bartenders were nice without being too in your face, and were willing to do nonalcoholic cocktails. It's wildly overpriced but that's par for the course in that area, and it's not too loud inside which is nice. read more

I remember I came to Sycamore as a young college boy several years back with my family for a birthday, and it was good. But back then, I wasn't a Yelper. Now I am. Neither was I particularly interested in seeking out food substantially better than the usual college dining hall pizza. Now I do. And I recently went back to Sycamore for the first time in years. As soon as we walked in the establishment on a chilly Saturday evening, I was greeted by a cheerful lad working up front. Immediately made us feel like family, seating us very promptly. The restaurant has distanced the tables fairly well, and they did their due diligence to enforce mask wearing. I ordered an old-fashioned - can't go wrong. Classic taste, perhaps could have been stronger and slightly less sweet, but I still enjoyed it very much. We were not so confident with going the whole mile, so we skipped appetizers and went straight for the entrees. I ordered the chicken 'cacciatore'. The chicken was cooked to absolute perfection: seared skin to give some crisp on the outside, tender meat in the inside, and juices flowing. The salsa was basically illegal, because I think they put crack in that thing. She ordered the Berkshire pork chop, which was also very tender and tasty. We ordered the beignets for dessert, the timeless Sycamore classic. Just as delicious as I remember from several years ago. I think we'd all be hearing much much more about this place if it was in downtown Boston instead of in Newton Center. Well done, Sycamore. This is a perfect dinner experience, executed to the teeth. read more

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Great beers, great vibe, super staff. My favorite of all the Charlotte breweries. Love the upgrades - can't wait to go back

Not sure what all the hype is about. This place was just ok. Service was excellent but food is mediocre at best. Pretty expensive for what it is. I wouldn't go back again but it was worth trying at least. Try other places in Newton. read more

Visited from Miami and was not disappointed. Absolutely amazing atmosphere the staff is very tentative. I tried multiple items and enjoyed them all. Wonderful deserts, beignets were my favorites. Must make reservations when in Boston Definitely a must visit. read more

Sycamore - Beignets - New American Near Me - Newton, Massachusetts

Excellent evening! Courteous staff, delicious food and lovely ambiance. Highly recommend for a memorable dining experience.

I don't know where to start. The food? The service? The cocktails? The staff at Sycamore make you feel like they've been waiting for you to get there all day. They make you feel like you're their priority, dear friend, and favorite customer. Everyone. I could review the food, but the menu changes frequently, so all I'll say is simply that you cannot go wrong. There's no wrong answer. Stuck between two dishes? Get both. Portions are small, but flavors are BIG. And the drinks...these are the cocktails of my dreams. The falerno! and penicillin will transport you to a universe of bold flavors, expertly combined, where nothing matter except for the next sip. Sycamore is a sure thing. I am so, so happy they came out of the pandemic strong and together because our town wouldn't be the same without them. Thank you guys read more

I really, really want to like this place, I love their other restaurants, but Sycamore falls short. Service was good, food is ok, not sure it's worth the money you pay. Went specifically tonight for Wednesdays Burger, ordered medium rare, got well done, fries are frozen everyday fries, was hoping for the wonderful fries they have at Buttonwood. They did comp us bignets to make up for it, which were light, fluffy and delicious. Cocktails are creative and good. Would I go back, maybe for a cocktail and some hush puppies, but otherwise, I'll stick to the other 3 restaurants. read more

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Excellent food and excellent cocktails every time we have gone. I think their seating/service has improved.