My guest and I came by this very unassuming wine bar for happy hour and enjoyed our time here. It shares an entrance with another store so it could use clearer signage and a coat rack or umbrella stand by the door. I only say this because it was raining and would have made us drier and more comfortable at the bar. Staff were welcoming and attentive, we got our food and drink quickly. The kale brussels sprouts caesar was delicious, and we enjoyed our drinks- however he expected his to be a bit sweeter and I expected mine to be a bit saltier. These are personal preferences but I asked for some olives since my cocktail leaned red pepper more than the briney drink I anticipated. read more

Tryst - garden party cocktail and a rum based cocktail - New American Near Me - Arlington, Massachusetts

Always pop in for a drink and an app at the well lit bar overlooking Mass Ave if I'm walking by. Thoughtful tasty cocktails and local friendly bartenders. Only canned beer so looking forward to the tap system coming back online. read more

Food was luke warm, not hot. Disappointing. The bill was wrong, 1/2 as much as it should have been. We let the server know so he wouldn't have to pay for the missing charge. We paid for it. The staff was well meaning but it took a long time to get a drink and then again, and there were very few people in the restaurant so it was strange that things took so long. No oat or plant based milk available for one of our party who can't have dairy but wanted something to mix in their coffee. That seemed antiquated. Someone with us tripped over the rug/mat that wasn't taped down. Coming into the restaurant and leaving. That was dangerous. Oh well. The servers didn't know what the specials were. Just a little too clumsy considering there were only a few guests and we didn't complain. Just asked for Salt and Pepper, and Ketchup (a couple of times). Not the best. read more

Service is pretty quick. The amount of food is fair and pretty tasty. The desserts are large. It's a good place for a celebration meal in Arlington. The dress code is fairly relaxed. read more

Good burgers and I enjoyed salad with salmon on it. Nothing special but there's much I haven't tried. Gets crowded on weekend nights so make a reservation. Giving a 4 bc 3.5 not an option and the servers are friendly. read more

Went in for one drink . Asked for a Tito's and ginger ale . Charged me for tittos , $2 extra for ginger beer and .56 for kitchen fee. Total rip off read more

Celebrated a birthday luncheon here with a party of 15. The service was excellent, the food delicious and beautifully presented. Great hospitality and experience. Thank you, Tryst. read more

My besties surprised me for a milestone birthday with dinner at Tryst. I've been many times before and Tryst did not disappoint. I started with a signature cocktail, I've forgotten the name but it was a fruity (peach maybe?) something served in a martini glass, very tasty. My companions had sauvignon blanc and prosecco, not a dissatisfied person in the bunch. Two of us had the burger which doesn't sound very exciting but if there's a better burger elsewhere I have yet to find it, it's my go-to, and Tryst made it exactly to my order (medium rare), Truffle fries topped the burger off nicely. Others had the salmon and the Crispy Pork Tenderloin Schnitzel which they proclaimed a success. I was brought a dessert with a candle, kudos to Tryst, and since I didn't see the bill not sure if it was gratis or not but I hope it was as it's a nice touch, note to restaurateurs! Tryst has a nice neighborhood vibe, informal but not too. The tables are set far enough apart that you're not finishing your neighbors' sentences. The greeters and wait staff were pleasant and accommodating; thanks to Matthew for making our evening effortless! read more

We ordered from their specials menu: a 14oz prime center-cut sirloin with fries for $55. This steak was everything I expected. Perfectly medium and seasoned to perfection. I couldn't have asked for anything more. The flavor was spot on and the meat was superbly tender. I was not a huge fan of the sauce that was on the plate, but thankfully it was on the side so I could choose not to eat it. It was a little too sour. Fries were pretty good, nothing extraordinarily good or bad. Service was pretty bad. They seemed moderately busy, so I'm not too upset that it took quite a long time for us to get our food. But each step of the ordering process felt really slow, and our waiter hardly noticed us (had to wait for water, had to wait for our menus to be taken away, had to wait for them to pick up the check, lots of trying to flag our waiter down). Even when we were trying to get someone's attention, anyone's attention, it was exceptionally hard. The manager (or I think he was the manager) occasionally came through to give the waiter a hand and point out we needed assistance. If it weren't for the manager, our meal would probably have taken even longer. Food: 5/5 Service: 3/5 Overall: 4/5 That steak was really good. Their menu prices are pretty high, but if their other food is up to par with this steak, then I would say it's worth trying. read more

Tryst - Prime center-cut sirloin with fries - New American Near Me - Arlington, Massachusetts

My recent visit was average but it didn't need to be. The one big flaw for me was that they did not have even one non-alcoholic beer. For a restaurant of this caliber, and these days of so many good non-alc beer choices, it's inexcusable, and it colored the entire experience. It's too bad because the food was good- I had the salmon and it was perfectly cooked- not too dry. Service was great too. They just need to get with the program for those of us who enjoy an Athletic or Sam or Guinness with a good meal without the alcohol. read more

Favorite spot in Arlington. You won't regret coming here. Best DelMonico steak I've ever had.

With Tryst you get consistently delicious food and great service. Love that their menu rotates but they also keep their best sellers like the shrimp taco's. Opted for the mushroom tagliatelle with poached egg. The pasta was al dente and flavors all perfectly executed. read more

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I ate at Tryst for New Year's Eve, where they had a prix-fixe menu. The options for the starters all looked so good that I had a really hard time choosing one. The main dish options were only so-so, and there were not many choices. I settled on a kale/brussels sprouts salad to start, and a butternut squash puree in crepes over ricotta for my main. The salad was excellent - fresh, just the right amount of dressing - chef's kiss. But the main course was so unappetizing. I didn't finish it, which is very rare for me. The filling was more or less just butternut squash; not much flavor. It was wrapped in crepes that tasted stale, and they were fried in some sort of oil that made them super greasy. They were soaked through, and when I bit into one, oil seeped out. The dessert was the oddest combination of anything I've ever had for dessert. We were served small dark chocolate bowls filled with chocolate mousse (that part was fine. Nothing to write home about, but was good overall). The topping was the part that we all were commenting on. The mousse was topped with cotton candy, with what looked like two giant pointy "ears" sticking out on each side. Those were what I called "pita bread cookies," and that's exactly what they tasted like. It was as if the chef asked one of his/her kids "Hey, tell me what you want for dessert, and I will make it." It was so wacky. I uploaded a photo of it for visual reference. The atmosphere and service was fine, but nothing remarkable. For the price, and the experience I had with two of my three dishes, I'd recommend skipping this place. read more

Tryst - Weird NYE dessert... dark chocolate bowl with chocolate mousse, cotton candy, and ? pita bread cookies ? - New American Near Me - Arlington, Massachusetts

Can I even tell you the issues here. Added "tax". Drinks spilled and nothing compensated. Food average. Drinks took forever I would not recommend read more

I was doing s search for nice restaurants near me and this came up and I'm so happy I went here. When you walk in it's very date night feel. Dim lights, beautiful booths and high chairs. I had this delicious jalapeño popper that was nothing I had expected. The jalapeño was fresh with homemade cream cheese and drizzled honey, unbelievably good! My entree was the salmon with and Asian twist it had sesame seeds on top and the salmon was on a bed of rice with bok choy with soy sauce. It was mouth watering and the salmon was exceptionally flavorful. I highly recommend it. Food: 5 Customer service: 5 read more

We put our order in yesterday at 12:55, didn't receive our appetizers until 1:40pm (which were two yogurt parfaits, a salad and some avocado toast). Then we didn't receive our entrees until around 2:10pm (all were egg dishes). That's all you need to know. 45 mins to receive appetizers and then over an hour for entrees that probably take them a total of 5 mins to cook. Stay away from this place unless you enjoy getting really aggravated when you go out for brunch. Our server was also totally useless and mumbled something about it being their "second busiest day of the year" when the restaurant was barely half full read more

Sunday brunch focus. Great quiet understated ambiance, clean, white napkins and an adult crowd at around 1PM. Service was cheery with many seating options. First cup of coffee was a little too much towards room temperature but subsequent cups were hot. Beet salad was excellent, and the wild mushroom omelet wasn't bad and could have used some additional vegetable accompaniments to make it really shine. Outstanding and attentive service gets 4 stars read more

Food was good. Service was excellent and we sat outside, so waitstaff went out of their way to check in with us.

Good food, great presentation, wonderful atmosphere, kind servers, great restaurant, my family has been coming here for about ten years! Highly recommend! read more

Tryst - Spicy pea, ricotta & basil crepes! - New American Near Me - Arlington, Massachusetts

Recently moved to Arlington and have been trying the local restaurants. This place was good/ok. Let's break it down. The place itself is clean, open and well spaced but the table arrangements are odd. Perhaps it's just the structure itself but there really should never be a section where you can't easily see the customer without "walking around the corner" unless a private party. That's where we were seated. It was an early Saturday night and only a few tables were filled. We were greeted with a smile and thought we'd be seated in the front section or even the middle section but were brought around the corner to the very furthest table. I have been in the restaurant business for over 25 yrs. I've been back and front of the house, a server and a manager so I understand being fair to give each server a table etc but if you're going to seat someone in the back, make sure your server is aware and attentive. We were greeted somewhat promptly by a cheerful server who brought us water and then was gone for a VERY long time. My friend and I were almost going to get up to look for our server but instead we waited. I had my head propped by my hand with my eyes closed when our server returned. She tried to make an excuse about giving folks their time to decide when in our eyes we're like you didn't even ask us if we needed a minute or not. The service wasnt "slow" the rest of the meal but our server appeared randomly and I'm pretty sure it's because there is no clear line of sight. Not all the servers fault but again if you can't see your table then you should be used to when you should check on your customers. The food....was good. We tried the broccoli rabe and it wasn't overly sauced or greasy had a nice flavor. My friend had the bourbon tips and they were cooked a smidge under then requested but overall tasty. I had the pork schnitzel, the coating was crisp but needed more seasoning or maybe some side sauce? Both entrees were definitely overpriced by at least $5 if not a little more. We both loved the cheesy tater tots though. Overall the food was good and service not so good. If the prices were lower we'd consider going again but for now we will not be returning. As always never take my word and try it yourself. read more

Very disappointing experience. We've had a good meal in the past here, so we took out of town guests there last night. We were seated promptly, which was the only prompt thing all evening. With the restaurant no more than 2/3s full on a Friday night, we ordered our drinks and food at the same time - we waited 20 minutes to get our drinks, and a solid hour to get our food. No apologies for the delays on either, no comping of an app or the likes in recognition of our wait. The food was good but nothing spectacular, and the menu was quite limited. It's hard to tell if the slow service was due to the kitchen, the bar, the wait staff, or all of the above, but I can no longer recommend this restaurant. They have work to do. read more

My family held a bereavement luncheon at Tryst yesterday. The owner was incredibly accommodating and helpful. The food, drinks, and service were excellent! Thank you for your wonderful hospitality! read more

I was pleasantly surprised by my eggs benedict brunch at Tryst ($15)! Got the traditional Canadian Bacon (it was THICK cut) on top of these deliciously butter-browned (also thicker than average, not-your-lame Thomas) English muffins. The hollandaise sauce (slightly acidic from the lemon juice and lightly buttery) and poached eggs (runny golden yolk) were done perfectly!! Hash browns on the side were crispy on the outside and cooked deliciously as well! Really a great filling meal that kept my tummy happy for several hours! It'd be a nice place to come with friends or family. My friends also seemed to enjoy their steak & eggs and mushroom omelette. Wait staff was attentive and friendly, accommodated my friend who is vegan with her food (making note of allergies). Of note, they keep their brunch menu simple and concise but I think that's because they put more effort into making each item taste great. read more

Tryst - Delicious traditional eggs benedict accompanied by yummy potatoes - New American Near Me - Arlington, Massachusetts

You have to use post-pandemic normal as the context for any review these days. And like everywhere, they were short of kitchen help, and the bartender was new. So we'll forgive the olives in the gin-and-tonic and the twist of lime in the martini and the slightly slow service. The food was very good. In particular beef tips and a vegetarian pasta, as well as the first courses (barbequed shrimp and a couple of different salads. The menu was limited. Thank heavens. So many places are trying to do their regular menus with fewer staff - not the right approach. I know some people find an "extensive" menu the hallmark of a good restaurant. I'm not sure that was ever the case, but it sure isn't now. Eat what they do well. The waitress was outstanding, btw. read more

Tryst punched way above it's weight class! Exceptional service, awesome craft cocktails and food comes out of the kitchen that is WOW! Average food has become the norm and even acceptable when you deliver great service and a solid bar. Tryst has set a higher standard and we are all fortunate to benefit from that approach! read more

We dined at Tryst in Arlington, MA for the first time in many years on a recent Friday night. Street parking can be tricky, but a large lot is available behind and to the right from their Arlington Center location on Mass Ave and close to Rt. 60. Once inside, they have a small bar area at the front of the establishment with an L shaped bar and several high top tables. The dinning area is clean and well lit with bare wool tables available in a few booths, traditional height and high-top tables. The staff starting with our hostess were friendly and full of smiles. Our waitress was energetic and willing to answer questions about the menu with confidence and knowledge. On the menu, the appetizer of Piggy Pops grabbed my attention and we ordered them for the table. Our waitress explained how they were prepared and they came out quickly while still warm as pork on a skewer. The only question was to eat this off the stick like a pop or to use a knife and fork like civilized folks. We tried both with the former being more fun, but obviously more messy. For entrees, the Faroe Island Salmon was served with crispy rice, stir fried vegetables and a maple miso glaze. The salmon was of ample dinner size and the overall plate was filling. On the lighter side, the chopped market salad with added bourbon steak tips was enjoyed with the tips cooked as ordered. We didn't have time or room for dessert. When you are in Arlington and near the center looking for a casual place with very good quality food in a quieter, yet friendly atmosphere, I recommend Tryst. read more

A group of us came here for brunch on a Sunday. The decor is modern and comfortable and our waiter was a friendly 'ol chap. Service was pretty prompt since luckily it wasn't too busy when we arrived. I got the "Pressed ABC Sandwich" with a side of greens (to lessen my guilt I guess was my mindset at the time). My sandwich was tasty though a tad greasy. The greens were there purely for nutritional purposes (if you've had salad before it tastes like a salad). My friends also enjoyed their meals and despite us lingering there after paying our bills, our friendly waiter still refilled our drinks! Not a bad brunch place if you're in the area! read more

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Tryst is terrific, and is a new go-to destination for us. The place has a nice vibe when you walk in, and the service from top to bottom is warm, attentive, and professional. But we were there to eat, and the food was fantastic! I had the Tagliatelle Bolognese with the Grilled Asparagus on the side, and every ingredient seemed both delicious and necessary. The drink menu is good, too -- I'm a beer guy, and among other solid options was one of my personal faves, Cloud Candy, which is brewed locally at Mighty Squirrel in Waltham. Grab some friends and try this place if you haven't already. We'll be back again and again. read more

Very friendly and attentive staff. Great ambience and fantastic food and drinks. Will visit again soon!

I went here years ago and wasn't impressed - strictly 3 star meal - but I think they must have changed their menu/chef/etc. since then because I've ordered takeout twice recently now and it's been amazing. The kale salad, the carrots, the asparagus, the goat cheese stuffed peppers-- all fantastic. The takeout cocktails have also been a hit. The sticky toffee pudding for dessert is a must! Overall so pleasantly surprised by the change in menu. read more

My boyfriend and I had a lovely dinner here the other night. Service was very good and we really enjoyed the food. We had the chicken sausage flatbread, kale and Brussels sprout salad, and singer salmon with drinks. The setting of the restaurant was tasteful overall. I do think a big plant or plant box divider or something by the entrance could help the center tables nearest the doorway not feel like they're floating. Aside from that we had a wonderful time. My only reservation is that the prices were really high. read more

I want it to be so much better than it is, particularly because it's in my neighborhood. There are zero vegetarian entrees from which to choose-not even a dolled up Beyond Meat burger. The charcuterie board has zero variety or creativity and is overpriced to boot. They seem to want to offer a sophisticated menu but then contradict this by offering an item like tater tots. I personally love tater tots, but if I want tater tots, I'm going to go someplace where they are cheaper and tastier. I will say that the atmosphere is great, unless they seat you in the back. It's a bummer. read more

I've been to Tryst a number of times now largely because it is the only "foodie caliber" destination in Arlington that I've found (I could be wrong about this / would love to find others). I have enjoyed every visit. The only complaint I have is that their vegan/vegetarian choices are somewhat limited. Luckily, I am a flexitarian (I prefer vegetarian or vegan, but if I don't like the choices I'll eat pretty much anything). Unfortunately however, during my latest visit I was with a friend who is a strict vegetarian. As a result of the limited choices we had a couple glasses of white sangria and moved on to another destination in Cambridge for dinner. On previous visits I've tried the Lobster Slider, Shrimp Taco, P.E.I. Mussels starters. I've also tried all of their salads at one time or another. I've enjoyed all of them. In addition, Tryst has a great wine selection and a knowledgeable bar staff that can help you with a choice(s) to accompany your food. On this particular visit my date and I enjoyed the house White Sangria. It was excellent, and not too sweet. If you're ever looking for foodie-quality eats in Arlington, head on over to Tryst. read more

Tryst - Likin' Tryst's white sangria. - New American Near Me - Arlington, Massachusetts

THIS WEEKS EPISODE: Of Passive aggressive Yelping The first day of the year, and I'm pretty sure this will end up being the single worst meal I will have in 2020. Not because Tryst is very loud. Not because Tryst has incredibly slow service (20 minutes for a mimosa???). But because of the travesty that is their Eggs Benedict. This would have been an entirely average version of that dish, with smoked salmon, OK home fries and a small salad (wilted from being dressed far too long ago). Except for that one essential thing that ALL Eggs Benedicts all over the world have in common. Something that every culinary student learns the first week in cooking school or on the restaurant line: Hollandaise sauce This wasn't just bad Hollandaise sauce. The emulsion wasn't broken. It didn't have too much lemon. It wasn't accidentally reheated in a microwave. That would have at least made sense. It was...it was...well, it was like... Salad dressing pretending to be Hollandaise sauce. To the chef at Tryst: From now on, every night you go to bed, may your nightmares be populated by the whisk-wielding ghosts of properly trained French chefs (at least until you watch Kenji's 2-minute Hollandaise sauce video on YouTube and learn how to make something that remotely resembles Hollandaise sauce). [2-stars instead of 1 if only because my Alabama-born friend actually thought their fried chicken sandwich was pretty good.] read more

My wife and I each had a cheeseburger, she had a martini, I had ice water, no appetizers, no dessert. $82.00 with tip. $22 per burger, $13 for martini + $3 for what we don't know + $3 more for the olives stuffed with blue cheese, $19 total for martini. + 4% admin fee ????. Never again. read more

Love to eat at the bar at Tryst. The Kale & Brussels Sprouts Caesar is always a winner, especially with added steak tips. But the best part is the snappy young bartender, Irina. She's a lot of fun while being very skilled at her job. read more

We haven't been here for awhile, not because we don't like Tryst, but simply because there are so many choices to go to. We came here last Saturday and made our reservation through OpenTable. The hostess was super nice and gave us a hightop table next to the window. Within 30 minutes, every tables in our section were filled up. James was the one and only waiter in that section. I have to say he did an amazing job. He had his hands full, but I don't think any of his customers felt neglected by him. We certainly didn't. James interacted with us in such a timely fashion, and with the utmost professionalism and efficiency. We started the evening by sharing an appetizer of Crispy Calamari. They were mixed in with scallions and napa cabbage, and marinated in (from what I could taste) sweet & sour sauce with Asian chili. We really enjoyed it. As for entrees, my husband had a delicious looking Tagliatelle Bolognese and I had a thick piece of salmon from Faroe Island. The salmon sat on top of soba noodles that's been drenched in coconut milk. It was crispy pan seared on the outside and perfectly cooked medium rare in the inside. I really admired how the chef prepared this dish. It certainly was not lacking in flavor. As for dessert, we shared a Vanilla Bean Creme Caramel, which I think was a fancy way of writing Flan on the menu because it looked and tasted like Flan. The wine list did not overwhelm us, while the average price per bottle was refreshingly affordable. We had a decent bottle of Cassini Bordeaux. When we left around 8 o'clock, the restaurant was full. So reservation is highly recommended. Plenty of metered parking on Mass Ave (8AM to 8PM), but if you can find a spot on Central St (which is just a block away from Tryst), then it's free :-) read more

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I am very impressed by this place and am so glad my friend suggested to come here for dinner. I came on a Wednesday night and though it wasn't super busy, there was still a decently sized crowd. Our server was amazing and I wish I got her name because she was so patient and friendly and checked in on us / refilled our waters without being annoying. She was also able to accommodate my friend who prefers to make many substitutions including adding things that don't normally come with the meal and removing things that she can't eat. The highlight of the evening would hands down be the calamari. Just thinking about it now makes my mouth water. It was perfectly seasoned, battered, and fried with a light tangy vinaigrette style sauce. The only thing I would have liked was my burger to have some kind of sauce. It just came with cheese, tomato, lettuce and onion with ketchup and pickles on the side, so it was slightly dry. Some caramelized onion or a sharper cheese would have also amped things up, but it was still tasty. I got the truffle fries and they were so good. Prices are a little high - $14 for a burger plus $4 for truffle fry upgrade and the calamari was $12. Overall a splurge but definitely worth it! read more

Street meter parking. Ordered the ultimate burger and substituted my side with truffle fries for additional $3. The BURGER WAS THE SIZE OF MY HEAD. Took a lot of effort to eat the huge burger. I recommend sharing this with a friend if you have a small stomach. The burger was good and greasy. My hands and arms were covered in oil by the time I finished it. Truffle fries was pretty good. The server was nice and did not rush us to leave after we paid. You get your money's worth. Good experience. read more

Tryst - The Ultimate Burger with truffle fries - New American Near Me - Arlington, Massachusetts

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Starter with flatbread and mint and cucumber margarita, Bourbon Steak Tips with tater tots, excellent!