I've been to Ward 8 three times now. Each time hoping it would improve. The food I find expensive and though it tries to be interesting, is merely ok. I thought it might improve/change over the last couple months but it has not. It's really loud in there. Must be the materials they chose for decorating. Nothing absorbs sound - it's almost painfully loud. Very, very tough to have a conversation. Each time I leave with a sore throat from yelling my convo's and a headache from the noise. But the worst was the specialty cocktails. The descriptions sound great, but over three visits, with three different dinner companions, none of them liked their drinks. My drinks were also poorly made. These drinks have several different and interesting ingredients but in all the drinks - one ingredient - usually nothing special but something like the fresh lemon or lime juice or a bitters was WAY too overpowering. I couldn't taste the other interesting (and usually expensive) ingredients. I don't think the bartenders have fine-tuned the drink tastes they just blindly follow the "mixology" recipes and end up ruining them with one overpowering ingredient. The service was ok, I honestly couldn't tell you it was anything special, but it was passable. At least it's open on Sunday's unlike the previous restaurant in that location. read more

Wife and I stopped in here last night on our holiday in Boston and so glad we did. Amber is a great mixologist and skillfully prepared us some great tasting cocktails. Sazerac was one of the best I've had! We had a nice conversation with Matt also who was a really nice guy. Overall, this is a great spot for crafted cocktails and the interior is very warm and welcoming as well. Definitely will be back!! read more

Landed at logan 10:25pm... cab to hotel checked in and walked to ward 8. Sat at bar and had drink in hand by 10:50pm. Ordered off of late night menu... duck wings and lobster "hole", both were extremely legit. I will say that I was the only single dude in the place...must be a date night spot. Would definitely come back! read more

I think I'd summarize this spot as a good place for apps and/or drinks. So what feels like a bit of no-man's land between North End and West End, Ward 8 has taken over Nebo's old spot. On a recent visit, the place was hopping on a Bruins' game night (though we got there after the start of the game). There are a few TVs there, so in theory you could watch a game there. I did enjoy the atmosphere, though it can get a bit loud and tough to hear people if they have a soft voice. Cocktail list was strong and organized by the type of liquor (gin drinks here, scotch drinks there, etc). I opted for a Southside, which was a lemon-mint gin drink. It was made with a drier gin (Beefeater) and I enjoyed it immensely. In addition to the cocktails, there was a decent draft/bottle beer list as well as a handful of wines available by the glass. The food menu seems focused on starters and plates to share as opposed to entrees. Nothing in the entree list really resonated with me the night I visited, so the group (and thanks to reading Yelp reviews in advance) opted to go for a couple of drinks and a snack or two before venturing somewhere else for mains. Our server highlighted a few options that were his favorites, though until we looked at the menu we thought that they were specials for the night. Some highlights of what we chose were the fry sampler (a combination of white and sweet potato fries with ketchup and a truffle mayo) and the flatbread. The duck wings were good, though the quantity of meat on each wing was a bit inconsistent. They were well-prepared and literally fell off the bone. read more

I really really like this place. I'll say I'm more of a fan of their brunch than their dinner but the dinner was still great. I got the pisco punch for my drink and it was sooo good. Super sweet which is just what I like. For brunch I get the breakfast burger and it's one of my favorites in boston. Here's the secret: Get the bacon onion compote from the dinner burger on it too, it's heavenly. It's more sweet than smoky and goes perfectly with the meat. The burger also comes with tots and a salad(ish) which is great. For dinner I also got the burger, shocker, and I even got extra compote on the side. I heard really great things about the five layer dip my friends got and the duck wings were apparently excellent as well. There were 9 of is and they separated the check (we wrote what to charge on the back of the receipt) and they didn't include gratuity which is nice. read more

I finally went back last night to try real food and man.. I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED. I had the miso ginger salmon over quinoa and bok choy and it was soooo good. The salmon was cooked well, the quinoa was fluffy, and the miso-ginger sauce just really married everything together. One "meh" point which I'm not gonna knock off stars for is that the waitress wasn't that great. Note to management: So my friend ordered a malbec but you didn't have any so she brought out a full glass of shiraz. Normally, in these situations, I feel like the server says "Sorry, we don't have malbec but here's a sample of a shiraz," hand over a small quantity of the shiraz to taste, and wait for my friend to try it and see his reaction. She just gave him a full glass and said "let me know what you think" and left. He turned to me and he didn't really like it and was like "hey is it a douche move to tell her I don't like this and want something else?" totally not! In the end, we didn't get charged for the malbec, but at a nicer place like Ward 8 I would expect the server to not put customers in positions that make them wonder if they're being a jerk. Also, you just wasted a pretty full glass of shiraz. I guess it's because in my dining experience, the scenario I listed above is one that I've seen many times and consider it to be "normal behavior" so when the server deviated from what I consider normal, it threw me off. ALL IN ALL -- SOLID PLACE. DEFINITELY will come back! PS Maine Peeper is so good -- I'm dreading the day it will be removed from the rotation PPS I was devastated the 5 layer dip has been removed from the menu. Please excuse me as I go cry in the corner again. read more

I had an excellent dinner at Ward 8 last Friday with my husband and a couple friends. We were able to make reservations the day before. I love the decor of this restaurant and our server was awesome. She didn't hover, but was always around when we needed something. The cocktails seemed small at first, but definitely pack a good punch and were very delicious. My friend and I both got the burger. It was very tasty and I highly recommend. My only complaint is that it was cooked a little more than I typically like. The other two got the ribeye and said it was excellent. I would not hesitate to return to Ward 8! read more

Ward 8 - Ribeye and burger - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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I visited here with a friend for dinner. While my beef taco starter wasn't bad, it was unexciting and unexceptional. The same adjectives could also be used to describe my Pisco Sour, which I was quite looking forward to. However, the chicken Caesar salad may be the best Caesar salad I have encountered, and that counts for a lot. Service was good but not the quickest - I'm fine with that, but people looking for something to complain about may find it. After oscillating between 3 and 4 stars, I've settled for four because my companion was a big fan of the Lobster Hole. read more

This place rocks. The duck wings were terrific and came out very quickly. For my main course, one bite of the lobster salad made my mouth very happy. The house drinks are spectacular, too! I recommend the Bee Sting. I'm sure this place will level up to Food Nirvana when they get a dessert menu together. For now, it's Damn Fabulous. read more

Went for our 5pm reservation and the door was locked. We waited 15 minutes and then left. We went elsewhere since the staff was inside drinking at the bar with the door locked we figured they were closed. read more

Ward 8 is generally a safe bet for above average cocktails and food. Is it the best in the city? No, but it's a welcome oasis in a sea of TD Garden sports bars and North End pasta joints. Try the duck wings and a Moscow Mule. Or if you're feeling entree-licious, the short rib (omg) and a Park Slope. Honestly, you can't really go wrong. The food and cocktails are obviously made with love, and the rotating drafts are intriguing, without being alienating. The wine list could use some help, though none of the by the glass offerings are offensive per se, but they're not inspired either. Pro tip: there's a brunette bartender that works there (can't remember her name). I think she's new. If you see her when you go, feel free to go "off menu" and just trust that she'll make you something delicious. She's really great. Yeah Ward 8, I am a fan. read more

Went to brunch with friends . As for the food , it wasn't anything spectacular , my biggest disappointment was that both of the eggs Benedict that were served to the table were overcooked ( the poached eggs ) the beverages were delightful and a good price point , great atmosphere a great place for brunch with friends but again yes the food is basic . Service wasn't bad , the waitress just seemed over whelmed and " I don't want to be here " . It's a fine line of I feel bad bc I've been swamped and want to have sympathy , then there is where you almost feel bad asking for anything bc you feel like you are asking too much . It shouldn't be that way , especially when I'm going to a place for ambiance and atmosphere to sit and drink with friends . The management should have the place properly staffed and if it is then the people working should not show their misery for working on a Sunday .There's places I frequent where I don't care for the food , but I like sitting and catching up with friends . If I went again just for drinks and the service was the same , I wouldn't return read more

I have been to Ward 8 4 times now and I will not return. Originally, I was excited to have a new go-to bar in the neighborhood, but I have now had my hopes dashed and have been thoroughly disappointed with my experiences there. To be fair I have not eaten there and only have had drinks at the bar. The cocktail list is very nice and the drinks are pretty good. But my main complaint is the service. The bartenders have a serious attitude and have either been bordering on or full on rude each time I've been there. To top things off, my most recent visit resulted in me being double charged on my credit card; not twice the same amount, but in fact my total bill amount was altered, which constitutes theft. I will not be back. read more

This review is only worth 3 stars because the food was good at best. Service on the other hand, not so spectacular. The atmosphere was... loud. We were losing our voices not soon after we arrived. The Moscow mules were served in a copper mug, which was pretty cool. Some places seem to be getting away from this. I thought the drink was a little on the weak side and way too much ice. My girlfriend and I shared the mussels - they were great. The steak frites for a main was good too - its not a special plate but it was well cooked. Sweet potato fries were also really good. The service is my biggest complaint here. I sat with a party of 4 people and we felt so rushed. First, the waitress took the plate from in front of me while I was still eating my mussels. I still had a fork in my hand. She left the mussels plate, but not the one I was still eating off of. Then, the main course came out while we were still working on our apps... this is a real pet peeve of mine. After we ate the main course, we were given one more chance to order drinks. A round came out, but I wasn't ready yet. A few minutes later, I was ready for another Moscow mule, but when the waitress came over, she dropped off the check. She never checked in to see if we were done. Interestingly enough, our reservation was at 8pm and halfway through our meal, 50% of the dining room had opened up. We felt like they were rushing us out to get another sitting in, but this obviously wasn't the case as there was no wait time by then. I was really surprised that we were hurried, it really made me feel like they didn't want our business. Based on the service that night, I most likely wont be going back. read more

This review is only for drinks and atmosphere: Greg and I came here for drinks on Valentines night. Greg had heard good things about it from his coworkers, and wanted to venture here to try it. It is a bit outside of the North End, and nothing like any of the other restaurants in the North End. It has a rustic, trendy, hip environment. It has wooden floors, wooden beams, and a fun table set up, with the bar being in the center of it all. All of the service staff looked genuinely happy to be working, wearing flannels, and all with big smiles on their face. But that also could be because it was valentines night and they all knew they would be getting good tips. I didn't feel well, so I do want to go back to "really" enjoy it. However, I got a "painkiller", my favorite drink from the BVI's, and I think Greg got a Mai Tai. The cups that they came in were so cute! Mine was a fake coconut shell and Greg's was a tiki man. The bar definitely has a fun sense of humor. The bar area was packed, and it all looked like singles that were between 26-32. Overall, the drinks were very high end, very well done, and the atmosphere was fun and trendy. Everything was just right. I can't wait to come back and try some food! read more

What a delightful little brunch. My salmon potato cakes with poached eggs and dill creme fresh were really tasty and hit the spot perfectly, and their cocktails and beers nicely complimented the brunch (note: their milk punch is actually made with milk). The area is still under development though; sketchy mcdouche crackhead walking by started banging on the windows at a random patron, so just be warned. read more

Amazing service & great food. Ward 8 absolutely makes it on my list of places to return. Now, my girlfriend and I have been going through a stretch of incredibly poor service at restaurants, but Ward 8 made us feel good about spending money at restaurants again. Our waiter was incredibly friendly, but never overbearing. We were not ignored, but allowed to enjoy our meal at our own pace, and he was always available if we needed something. It was pretty ideal. The food was quite good! We started with the ahi tuna appetizer, which was very good, and also the bacon cashew caramel popcorn - something that I couldn't leave without trying. That was delicious, and we snacked on it before and after the meal. For $4, how can you not order it? Then for the actual meal we had one fish plate and another shrimp plate (the menu on the website doesn't seem updated, but no worries), and they were quite good. I wish I remembered what they were - but get anything, as I'm sure it'll be delicious. They also had a really neat beer on tap - something about only having it for 21 days before it would be taken off the menu because the brewer wants to make sure it's as fresh as possible. It might be a bit of marketing on their part, but I sure enjoyed it. read more

Great consistent service. Food always comes out quick and hot... The service is always good and the duck wings are a must try. The salmon is cooked to perfection and the tuna tar tar is also a must!! I really enjoy coming here for the atmosphere, drinks and most importantly the food. I have had nothing but good times. read more

A trendy yet rustic addition to the North End/TD Garden area is happily welcomed. The crowd is young, sports games are on at the bar, the dining room is warm and full, and the new-age twists added to classic dishes are delicious. The only downside is portions are small and menu is a bit pricey. The steak tacos, tuna tartare, burger and steak frites were a big hit with us! We will definitely be returning! read more

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Wonderful Sunday brunch spot! I was so happy that I came here. Excellent menu, atmosphere, and service. Highly recommend the "Bucket of Bubbly" if you want to start your brunch off right! Also, the egg sandwich was to die for! So incredibly delicious. Cannot wait to come back! read more

Ward 8 - Most delicious egg sandwich I have ever had! With house-made sausage. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Came here for snacks and drinks for a girls night out. We liked the place as soon as we walked in. It's a bit dark, but it has a very hip lively atmosphere that's perfect for a night out with friends. We ordered sampler fries, 3 cheese spinach dip, and maple chili duck wings (we placed a 2nd order of these because they were so good). The food was delicious. The waitress was very friendly. The drinks were just strong enough. I had a great experience and will definitely be coming back. read more

Ward 8 - Maple chili duck wings, 3 cheese spinach dip, & fry sampler - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

A restaurant/bar conveniently located a few steps from North Station, Ward 8 delivers surprising culinary punch in a stylish package. The Asian fusion items on the menu are highly recommended, especially the duck wings and Miso Glazed Salmon with Coconut Quinoa. They take reservations, which makes them a great spot to eat before a Celtics or Bruins game. read more

Stumbled upon this place a few weeks back, Wife and I walked in on a Saturday night. Place was pretty full but we found a couple seats at the bar. We had planned to be there for an hour and then head elsewhere -- but ended up staying almost 3! Terrific ambience - great for date night. The bartenders were terrific - and we loved the mixed drinks. For food - we ordered a whole bunch from their snacks and sharing menu. We loved the tacos, dumplings (being philly people - we had to try the "cheesesteak" dumplings), wings and oysters. The flatbread and cheese plate were ok. definitely going back soon, read more

Being married for almost 17 years, my husband and I are always looking for ways to avoid the dreaded 'routine'. So for years we have committed to try 1 new restaurant per month. We take turns choosing the place and the rule is that it doesn't have to be good, it just has to be new. Well, Ward 8 fulfilled both! I've had this place bookmarked for a while so I was excited to finally try it. What a wonderful little corner joint! As with most fairly new places, I dig the modern/industrial yet simple designs, and the open air feel to it. I ordered some oysters as an appetizer and then a chicken ceasar salad for dinner. Both were very fresh and tasty! Paired with a cold sauvignon blanc it made for a perfect warm weather meal. My husband ordered a crispy chicken sandwich and said it was really good! Service was friendly enough but a tad slow. Not a game changer but just something we noticed. Overall, we both enjoyed Ward 8 and agreed it would be a place we come back to. read more

After weeks and months of telling myself I'd walk down the street to grab a bite here, we finally did it. And jeebus did we regret it. They weren't decently busy for a saturday evening, but we had a reservation regardless. Even though we were seated by the plates and utensils, and had a continuing traffic of waiters coming by to grab things, we still managed to feel neglected. Let's start. Our waiter failed to ask the manfriend if he wanted another diet coke. When flagged down by said manfriend for another, we also found out they don't do refills here. Ooookay, that's weird, but fine. Our waiter never checked in with us at any part of the appetizers or our entrees. We both needed salt shakers, drinks, and napkins. Tuna tartar was presented well, but small and needed at least two dashes of salt. The taro chips were a creative take and definitely the star of the show. The popcorn that everyone seemed to rave about...was a total miss. It tasted like poppycock/cvs bagged caramel popcorn was 4-5 bits of burnt bacon. It wasn't even warm! The steak tacos were completely bland and so oily. We didn't get extra napkins even as our waiter noticed the mess from the oil dripping from the tacos onto the table. Mac and cheese was interesting--I actually really enjoyed the spinach they put on top. Manfriend's burger was supposed to be medium but it turned out well. Overall, I expected so much better considering the prices here. They have interesting ideas, but so many things just fell through. I won't be back any time soon. read more

My best mate and I flew into Boston a day early before kicking off our week on the Cape. He made a reservation at Ward 8 and it was an excellent choice! We started with the insanely sweet and savory pork lettuce cups, probably one of the best things I've ever eaten! We also had the cheese steak dumplings, more aptly described as cheese steak wontons. Love the whiz! Had the perfectly cooked miso salmon for my main. Excellent flavor with tasty quinoa. The two pisco sours I had were fantastic. Service was superior all around. Fun space and good crowd. read more

Came here last Friday night around 8pm. Place was packed, but this didn't hinder my experience in any way. Love the casual atmosphere. We had the the duck wings, which were phenomenal. Drinks were on point. Main entree of the house burger and 5 spice chicken hit the spot. Definitely recommend this place for a casual night out read more

The barkeep we had certainly took his craft seriously. I've seen less concentration on the face of a surgeon. Both drinks we had were quite artisanal; this isn't the place you're going to go & slam down 3 or 4 while watching a game, but it's not a bad place to stop in for a craft cocktail experience. P.S. I had no idea that so many variety of bitters existed. Go sit at the bar; they're all right in front of you. You could spend hours just reading the labels..... read more

Great food, great beer list, good service, cool interior design, uncomfortable chairs.

Visited Ward 8 for late dinner and had a couple of drinks and appetizers. The bartender was super friendly. The food was good. Recommend getting the beef tacos. We loved them so much, we decided to get a second order! Bar got a little lively after the Bruins game. read more

What a gem in the area! Great place to grab a drink and some food. The space is very modern and clean, and the bartenders were friendly. I would go back when I'm in Boston. read more

Stopped by for a quick dinner a few nights ago. The service was fast and friendly. To start, we ordered the smoked chicken wings. The smoke flavor was as extremely mild, almost nonexistent. The sauce was also relatively bland and flavorless. However the wings were cooked absolutely perfect: crispy skin with incredibly juicy meat. These wings would be seriously amazing if they came with a better sauce. My fiance ordered the grain bowl with salmon. While she loved the salmon and vegetables, she left the quinoa on the plate, as it was covered in some kind of mayonnaise, which she described as absolutely disgusting. The star of the show was my fried chicken sandwich. The chicken was on the dry side, but the sauce and pickled vegetables balanced nicely. This was probably the best fried chicken sandwich I've had in Boston. We will definitely be back. read more

I went for the first time and was very impressed with the cocktails and the apps. I got the strawberry basil smash and it was delicious. For apps we got the Mac and cheese and duck wings that were both excellent. I will say the entrees are a bit boring and didn't blow anyone away. If Ward 8 can add a bit more of creativity to the entrees and add one or two more items I think this place would be an easy five stars. read more

Absolutely love the cute decor in this Place. Duck wings and tuna tartar were awesome and the bartender made excellent well balanced drinks. Totally coming back for the rest of the menu and many more cocktails. read more

CHILI DUCK WANGS, CHILI DUCK WANGS!!! -- I'm going to be another reviewer that will be singing nothing but good praises because they deserve it! The duck itself is tender and succulent. The sauce is divine! I would have licked the entire plate if nobody was looking! Drinks: I was pretty impressed by the cocktail list. The mixologist truly know what they are doing as well. I would love to come back just to sit at the bar. I had the Southside and my partner had a Night Shift brew. We were both pleased w/ our drinks. The Southside was so refreshing and easy to drink but really packed a punch if you weren't paying attention! The braised short rib w/ puree cauliflower was fantastic! The braised short rib was extremely tender and the puree cauliflower was a perfect pair along w/ some broccolini. The broccolini had the right amount of bitterness that complimented that savoriness of the beef. My partner had the Steak Frites which he enjoyed throughly. We thought the fries had the perfect amount of crisp and crunch along w/ salt that kept us coming back for more. He was very pleased w/ the steak butter sauce which we believe consisted of a lot of butter! We weren't complaining I tell you! Overall, our dining experience was a good one! Our server was attentive but not too intrusive which we liked. She was kind and informative. We will be coming back sometime in the near future! read more

Atmosphere was great, location was perfect, staff attentive and friendly. The food portion was on the smaller scale but it was delicious. Super flavorful and creative. They do have an extensive cocktail list, it is as big as their food menu. Kind of pricey to make this place a regular lunch/dinner stop, but a few times a year.... yeah I can do that. read more

Not impressed with our meals tonight! Perfect location when going to an event at the Garden. Comfortable setup - love the bar and decor, has a great vibe. Also like the sliding doors that allow the open air concept for a small place. The bartenders were friendly we had two Martinis, not a fan of the stemware, but the drinks were great! The hostess was super nice - we had a reservation at 5:00 and we were able to have drinks at the bar first as it wasn't crowded yet. The meals were the draw backs we had two lobster rolls - one cold and one hot - there was too much truffle oil mayo - plain would have been better. Then two burgers - these were ok but came out well done zero flavor or juice left in the burger. When ordering I asked the waitress what the "special sauce" was she said it's "like a Big Mac" - thinking the chef may have issue with this reference. glad I put it on the side, not a fan. The place was packed before a concert and may have been some of the issue. Hostess, Waitress, and bartenders were all 5*. read more

Ward 8 was delicious. I went with some of my girl friends, and we started with a couple great cocktails, and two apps/snacks - the duck wings and the dumplings (huh...never realized those kind of sound the same). Both were delightful - the philly cheesesteak dumplings had more steak than cheese, which we were all quite happy about. For my entree, I had the steak frites. The steak perhaps was a tad bit overdone (I had asked for medium rare), but the fries were delicious. The steak came with a blue cheese sauce. The service was fantastic. Our server let us sit at our table with a bottle of wine long after we were finished with our meal (granted, there was no one waiting for our table). I would definitely come back! read more

Always seems to be the go to bar for a night cap right before we head on home. This place can get rather crowded for dinner service and right after work so we end up going later in the night when the large bar is a little less crazy and it far easier to get the bartenders attention. The cocktails and beer selection is solid, as is the overall food selection which leans more American in influence but with a few interesting twists. If you can't make a decision on where to go, Ward 8 is always a good choice and have never had a bad experience, so a definite recommend. read more

I was in Boston last weekend visiting a friend and wanted to go out for girl's night. My friend lives in the North End, so this place was very close to her apartment-walking distance. The four of us walked in around 9- beautiful place but it was very packed. They took our name down and informed that it will be about 30 min wait-not a problem. We put our name down and decided to go around the corner to another bar until our table was ready. They texted my friend about 15 min later, so we walked back ready to be seated. First off, let me just say that the ambiance at Ward 8 is amazing. Low lights, great music and a young, vibrant crowd, perfect place to be on a Saturday night. We started off with drinks that were fantastic. I don't remember what everyone got, but they all were delicious. We knew that this place would be amazing just from drinks. Next, came the food. From start to finish, the food was divine. We ordered a good amount of dishes and decided to share them all. We began with the Fried cheese steak dumplings which were finger licking good. Then came the chicken & polenta poutine. The polenta with the poutine sauce was to die for and the chicken was tender and succulent. I would definitely recommend this dish. The pork lettuce cups-really, really good. I loved the ginger soy glaze. The duck wings arrived next. I have never had duck before so I was a little hesitant to try them but holy cow were the wings good!! The meat was falling off the bone and the sauce was delicious. I HIGHLY recommend getting the wings- you won't regret it. Even though this seems enough food for 4, we didn't stop there! The lobster roll and mac & cheese came out last. Amazing, amazing, amazing. I have no words. Whether you are visiting or live in Boston, Ward 8 is a place you need to try!! read more