True Score: 4.0 Stars This is a superb restaurant. Focus on the food, no fuss, but everything as it should be. It's not trying to be all things to all people. Rather, it has integrity and does what it does very well - authentic Scots food in a pub atmosphere. Service is friendly, timely, relaxed yet professional. TIP: THE BURGER, it's award winning for a reason. Thanks read more

This place has a great vibe for an afternoon drink or for dinner with a large group. Fish Supper was off the chain and the original Space Jam on the bar TV was a nice touch. read more

The Haven - Fish Supper - Gastropubs Near Me - Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts

Honestly this place was great! This is usually not my favorite type of cuisine but everything was cooked really well. They had a wide range of drinks including beers and ciders. It's a great spot for large groups (we had 9) because they have a large tables and booths that almost feel like you're alone. Service was also great! read more

My boyfriend was really excited to take me to The Haven as he LOVED visiting it when it was in Hyde Square. Unfortunately, this experience was not stellar. We ordered the Scotch Egg as that's what The Haven is known for. The egg came out burnt and the yolk wasn't deviled like at the previous location. We then both ordered the steak with broccolini. The steak was good, had nice seasoning, but was overcooked. The broccolini flowers tasted as if we were licking salt! We would have mentioned it to the server, but nobody ever came over to check on us or ask how our meal was. While I normally wouldn't be upset about having more quality time on a date, our table was placed directly under a speaker that started blaring music halfway through our dinner. It was impossible to hear each other. When the time came to leave, the host/ person who took our order came back with the bill. Instead of placing it on the table for us to review, he announced our total for neighboring tables to hear and handed the device (then walked away). This was very weird, rude, and completely unacceptable! We are so incredible put off by this experience and sadly will not be back despite the convenience. I hope they find this review and find ways to improve. read more

Updating my review. Gave it 5 stars long ago and giving it another 5 stars. Place has a fantastic and unique beer list, the best selection of scotch in the city and my favorite cheeseburger. Love the bartenders as well. FYI. When you see a 1 star review from someone it's 99% because that person is a terrible human being. Try clicking on their profile and see all the other terrible reviews they give. read more

Festive local restaurant with a hearty Scottish vibe, flair and menu. Don't worry there are normal food options too! Jason the proprietor is on hand all the time, great guy with a strong Scots and neighborhood pride. if you are in town in January check out the Burns Dinner which tends to sell out. read more

The Haven makes you feel like a regular. It's a great spot to have a pint or whiskey with your bros, or to take the family out to dinner. Authentic Scottish food with a warm ambiance this is a great destination in Jamaica Plain and one of my go-to spots in my neighborhood. read more

Not sure why Yelp thinks this place is closed. It's open and awesome. This place is a scottish bar. They have a fantastic collection of scotch and they are super knowledgable about it too. You can find some interesting bottles there. They also have a great list of beers, a lot of scottish beers too. I didn't try the cocktails but they seemed to have a good list. The food was great, I had the fish and chips and it was fantastic. The owner, Jason, is the nicest guy in the world. He knows his scotch really well. And he really puts in a lot of effort and time into making the Haven a special place. They do regular scotch tastings and bring in distillers. And they have other regular events. PLEASE SEE THE END WHEN FOR WHAT MY STARS MEAN. Food - 4/5 - I need to try some more of the food here but everything I've had has been good. The fish and chips are pretty quintessential. Drinks - 5/5 - Great scotch list. Great beer list. Lot of unique offerings. Drinks look good too. Ambiance - 5/5 - The decor in here is really cool. Mix of trendy and hole in the wall. Both done and mixed the right way. Just feels like a place you can bring any type of friend group to and ppl will feel comfortable. They also do a bunch of events on different nights. Waitstaff - 5/5 - Everyone is really nice. The staff seem like theyre a group of friends too. So it just feels like a very welcoming and accommodating environment. Overall - 5/5 - Great spot. I'd go out of my way to go here. Lot of new restaurants in boston almost feel manufactured or cookie cutter. This one feels like a work of love by the owner. My Ranking System: 5 stars - I will go out of my way to eat here 4 stars - If I am in the area, I will like to eat here 3 stars - Not my first option, but if other people want to go here then fine 2 stars - I'll eat here only under special circumstances 1 star - I rather not go out read more

This is a great spot for a big group! We were able to get a reservation for 10 on Friday, which was fabulous. We enjoyed the ambiance, although the volume of the music was such that you couldn't hear anyone at the other end of the table. I enjoyed the Betty Burke cocktail to start, which was very tasty. Everyone seemed pleased with the drink menu-- the whisky menu was pretty extensive. The oatcakes, cheeseboard, and cheese bridies were great to share a few orders of amongst our group as appetizers. I wish there had been a classic cheese pizza, but instead there was a four cheese garlic pizza, which sounded great until I realized it has blue cheese (I wish my tastebuds enjoyed blue cheese). The vegan pizza, however, shocked me with how flavorful it was-- the sauce was quite yummy! Who would've guessed that a Scottish place would do tasty pizza more generally and tasty vegan pizza more specifically. We also sampled all of the dessert menu items, which were also pretty good. read more

Great family friendly restaurant with quality food just outside of old town Alexandria. Pizzas are good and decent selection of beers.

Great atmosphere, service and food! Highly recommend! Will definitely be back. The fish and chips was awesome!

I had the shepherds pie, partner had the veggie curry. Started with the scotch egg and a glass of wine. Everything missed the mark. Scotch egg was far over cooked, no gooey center, completely blanched yolk. Shepherds pie was said to include lamb (as most do) but seemed to have only been infused with a lamb adjacent flavoring. Gravy wasnt particularly cooked well, seemed like beef stock was added at the last minute in prayer that the instant potatoes would react as a thickening agent. The veggie curry, branded as a "masala style" curry, had far too heavy a pinch of cinnamon, overpowering the dish. The spice was there, but clearly cooked by a person with little to no experience integrating british-indian flavors into a dish worth retailing. Only reason I'm willing to bump the restaurant from a 1 to a 2 is the soundtrack and ambiance. Felt very posh-pubby. Music was nice. Place was far overpriced for the food crossing the counter, save your money and eat elsewhere. read more

The Haven - Receipt - Gastropubs Near Me - Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts

My husband and I came for dinner and were very impressed! The ambiance and atmosphere are amazing and great for a date night or just relaxing night out. We both had the burger and it was absolutely delicious, one of the best I've ever had. As to be expected, incredible scotch and whiskey selection. I look forward to returning. read more

The "Fish Dinner", more commonly known as Fish & Chips, was excellent: really nice piece of whitefish, cooked to crispy perfection. Washed down with a pint of arguably the best Scottish ale, Belhaven. The atmosphere is nothing special (a bit too dark, multiple TV screens), but the service is friendly and efficient. read more

The Haven - Fish and chips - Gastropubs Near Me - Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts

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We were greeted warmly by the host, our server was pleasant and skilled, the food was delicious and the atmosphere was comfortable and fun. I would highly recommend read more

Visiting from out of town and needed food after a long flight. Happened across The Haven, ended up walking over and was absolutely amazed. Walked in and found a nice little spot, reminds you of a Scottish bar in the highlands would look like. The server was amazing, gave great advice on food, ended up going with the Lamb Birdie, which was amazing, flakey and full of filling. Also ended up getting the hot dog, and if you do ask for a side of the cherry pepper aioli, it goes great with the hotdog and fries. Sticky pudding to top things off and the fresh strawberries with the warm toffee sauce and ice cream was an amazing way to end the meal. Would strongly suggest you swing by and try this amazing joint. read more

I was only here once but three out of five of us ordered pizza only to find out they had none left. Then someone wanted a martini with olives and they had no olives left. (this place is a short walk from the JP Stop and Shop) Anyway the menu is or was limited so it wasn't the best. read more

Would not recommend this place if you enjoy your food seasoned. Service wasn't horrible and ambiance was great, but unfortunately the food wasn't edible. read more

Went for brunch at 1pm today. Out of iced tea, diet coke and creme Brulee. Advertised as a Scottish resturant. Nothing resembled Scottish food dishes read more

Love the new location. Everything is amazing.. recommend the burger and scotch egg.. and Mac n Cheese.. mmm

We strolled over to the Haven from the Sam Adams brewery on Father's Day and were very pleasantly surprised. The food is great! We sampled the Shepherd's pie and the burgers. Everything was delicious. The service was slow the day we were there and we were seated in a room that had heavy dark shades on all the windows which we moved ourselves to let the sun in (since staff was largely hard to find.). The food was and beverages are worth giving this place a try! read more

Second update: the owner of this place, Jason, reached out to me privately to ask me to take the review down. He said it was likely not his restaurant that made us all sick, but as all 5 of us were only together for this one meal and only 3 of us ate the scotch egg (the same three that got sick), I'm pretty sure our diarrhea was from the scotch egg. He also mansplained to me how scotch eggs are prepared and said a jammy yolk isn't possible (which is untrue), so definitely would never go back here now that I know this place is run by a very rude man who can't handle feedback! Jason, if you're reading this, you could not pay me to take down this review at this point given the insulting manner you've handled my feedback and perspective in our private messages. Please take this feedback and improve your restaurant (and guest service) so nobody else has to have the same experience we did in the future. And by that I mean the experience of getting sick from your food and now being yelled at by you privately. Updating my review to 1 star cause 3 of the 5 of us got sick to our stomachs after eating here last night. It was definitely the pre-made scotch eggs so avoid those like the plague (that they probably carry!) Not Scottish food. I wouldn't come here for anything but drinks, they had a nice Scotch/Whisky list and decent cocktails, but the food was bland bland bland (and not even in a Scottish way). The Scotch egg was disgusting, basically inedible. We asked for a runny yolk in the traditional scotch egg style and were informed these are PRE-MADE SCOTCH EGGS. That should have been our first sign to bolt but we went ahead and it was just chewy and tasteless and super over boiled. The sausage roll barely had any pastry on it and the flavor of the meat was just mediocre. We also got oat cakes which were like unflavored cookies, not a crispy oat cake, just a very soft and thick pile of bland mush. The fish for the fish and chips was a gigantic size but unfortunately came with less than a dozen chips. The mushy peas were also not minty enough and were more like "chopped" peas than mushy. Would never go back for food, would likely only go for drinks (and only if coerced). read more

The Haven - Fish Supper - Gastropubs Near Me - Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts

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The haven is a great restaurant with a nice array of Scottish style, meals, and drinks. The restaurant is top quality, but very relaxed and enjoyable for an evening out. Highly recommend. read more

Yes your place is slide to the t and blue bike but I'm disabled and live in Dorchester so there are no short cuts , driving is my only option . Next time I'll put that in a review! read more

Came here with high expectations because of the reviews. It was very underwhelming. Ordered the Scotch egg. Although it was good, it's literally ONE egg for $10. Order the fish dinner which is fine and chips as well as the Haven burger. The portion of the fish was really good which was good but the batter could've been better. It was kinda thick and overpowering the fish that I picked most of it off. Came with peas, which I didn't bother and steak cut fries. Fries were a little too thick for my liking. Came with a side of Tatar sauce and freshly made real ketchup which was different to see. The meal itself was good quality but I would say it definitely lacked seasoning. Same goes for the burger. Asked for a medium rare but got more of a rare than anything. Again, good but nothing too special and wish there was more seasoning or sauce on burger. Overall, kinda meh - not horrible but not great. Glad I tried it but wouldn't come back but it just doesn't live up to the price cause it was more on the expensive end and there were more cons than pros read more

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Was unsure what to expect seeing this was my first time visiting and eating at the haven. Very disappointed with the food absolutely not a kids friendly no kids menu no kids cups . When in New England area and you see sea food platers you think fried Not. They make the own ketchup nice you think not flavorful not a replacement for real thing. Good location and size.. read more

I love this place. The new location is fantastic and has parking (always good option for rainy days) Best burger in JP read more

Excellent food and service for a Scottish Restaurant! Great selection of scotches! Great servers great food ! Try the Scottish Breakfast for brunch ! read more

This is the place to go for Scottish food and excellent Scotch. They host a variety of events/tastings that will please both the newbie to Scotch as well as the aficionado. Be sure to follow them on Eventbrite or through their webpage for upcoming events. read more

Delicious food, great drinks, and a warm and cozy - yet spacious - atmosphere. All-around enjoyable meal! The menu is decidedly Scottish which was refreshing and different for us. Great drink selection, including many Scotch whiskeys, beer and a few ciders on tap, and many other choices. Especially enjoyed the fried fish dinner and the sticky toffee pudding. Our server was pleasant and our food arrived promptly, but we were not rushed at all. read more

This place is wonderful. The vibe in the new space is comfortable and spacious with a lovely outdoor area. The food was really excellent -- we had the scotch egg (I mean, WONDERFUL), pizza, salad, and cod fritters. The service was kind and attentive. I really can't say enough good things. It's a little off the beaten path, but once you're there, it is worth it. Go check it out! read more

When I think of Scottish food I immediately think of things like haggis and that most Scottish food is based on a dare.....but don't let those food misconceptions scare you away from this restaurant. The food here is amazing! Tucked away in Jamaica Plain this restaurant is cozy and charming. It feels warm and is a great spot for a cocktail or to take a date. While the food seems adventurous....try it. It's all amazing. The appetizers are all worth a try. Also the menu changes seasonally, so worth going regularly to try new offerings. Staff is lovely and the food comes out in a timely manner. Price is reasonable. Worth the trip. Parking can be a little tricky here. Easy walk from orange line if you don't drive. read more

The Haven's fare is simple-- it has a small menu that does not change frequently. Since the food has a Scottish theme, it's not overly spiced (or really spicy at all), so it's a great place to take picky eaters, or people who prefer a meat-and-potatoes style dinner. That said, I still visit this restaurant a few times a month because everything they do here is SO excellently prepared. Some personal highlights: - Seared salmon over vegetables (they change seasonally) is always amazing, complete with crispy skin and tangy aioli - The burger comes juicy on a toasted brioche, topped with blue cheese crumbles, bacon-onion marmalade, etc. Along with hand-cut French fries and homemade ketchup, it's a solid meal (half is enough for me, tbh) and a major crowd-pleaser. - Fish and chips. You're just not going to get any better than The Haven's light, crispy batter. - Filet mignon is always cooked perfectly, paired with creamy mashed potatoes. Keep in mind... salads as meals aren't really a thing here. Also, the default scotch whiskey in mixed drinks is very smoky/peaty. If you're not feeling that intensity, ask for something with less smoke flavor, because they've got it. read more

The Haven has been on our list to visit for a while now and after finally going, we wish that we had gone sooner. We went for lunch and everything was wonderful; lovely atmosphere, fine Scottish ales on tap, traditional food as well as American fare and an impressive whisky selection. Our waiter, Chase could not have been nicer and added a lot to a perfect afternoon. Already looking forward to returning for brunch, dinner or a televised sporting event. A little slice of our beloved Scotland right in JP. read more

My mother and I went here with some family friends for a Mother's Day dinner this past Sunday, and it was a good experience. Overall the food was good and the service was friendly and efficient. As somebody who does not eat Scottish food this was definitely a good place to try something new. The only complaint I have about this restaurant is the lack of comfort the seating has to offer. If you live in Boston, or in the area and are looking for a different kind of food, or enjoy eating this kind of stuff, I would give it a try. We all had a good experience. read more

If you're in Jamaica Plain, and it's a little late...you're not really in the mood to eat a filling meal but you want to munch on SOMETHING. A little greasy, a lotta satisfying -- get yourself into Haven and order a side of their steak fries and wash it down with one of their Irish beers on draft. The ketchup is made in-house too. Super tasty. I've also had the burger here, which has been recognized before as one of the best burgers in Boston. It's simple, juicy and full of beefy goodness. The rest of the menu was intriguing too. There were plenty of dishes on the menu that included only what I imagine to be authentic Irish comfort food. Irish I tried other things as well, but alas, my wallet cries 'no'. read more

went there for brunch and ordered the smoked fish cakes. presentation was very nice and the taste was good too albeit a bit on the salty side. the eggs were poached to perfection and the accompanying salad was very fresh. would like to go again and try some other dishes s as well as the bar. they've had to cut down the menu due to covid but will accommodate special requests. atmosphere was true to my travels in Edinburgh looks like it'd be a fun place to visit the evenings. service is friendly and attentive. read more

The Haven - Smoked Fish Cakes - Gastropubs Near Me - Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts

One of my favorite Boston spots ever. The beer list is great but the cocktails are even better, and the food is to die for. I'm a bit of a mac and cheese purist, and theirs sits in my top 3 that I've had here in Boston. Also obsessed with the shepherds pie and the burger. Super friendly staff and very spacious inside and outside. Definitely worth a visit and worth the price! read more

I've been coming to The Haven since it opened, almost 15 years ago. It's my favorite restaurant, no caveats. The burger is the best I've had. The scotch list is long, but immaculately curated. Everything is good. The deep fried Mars Bar is the go-to dessert. And at the new location, they have pizza. Why expect great pizza at a Scottish restaurant? Because it's The Haven. Every server and bartender is knowledgeable and friendly. The service is prompt and attentive. It's clean. And Jason, the owner, is about the nicest dude you'll ever meet. Go here. read more

Huge fan of The Haven. The food is delicious and it is great to have vegetarian versions of Scottish classics along with traditional recipes, as our family has both vegetarians and meat eaters. read more