Alcove

This was my last meal as a resident in Boston. I know a transplant Chicagoan after 17 years a Bostonian transplant. Took my good friend to brunch. The food was just as good as the company. It's in a great area with lovely views of the harbor and the Zakim. Would have loved to eat outside but 1) it just rained and 2) it was like 1000000 degrees. (Near end of June). Definitely make a reservation. It's a great brunch place!

Another time, Alcove!When you have dined at a restaurant once and loved it and then came back a second time but was disappointed, should you give it another chance? Alcove is one of these restaurants in particular. We used to love coming here. The ambiance of the restaurant is absolutely stunning. It is so warm inside with their low lights and decor. We enjoyed our time here except for this past one.We had reservations, which I do recommend since it's in a busy area right across from the Boston Garden. We were going to see a comedy show and made early reservations. Upon arrival, we didn't get that friendly welcome that you usually see and feel. I assumed it was the manager that checked us in, but I am not 100 % sure. The good: We sat down and our server Tyler came over immediately and asked what we wanted to drink. I will say the service was impeccable. Since I am in the wine industry I really enjoyed a server who also has this passion. When I asked about tasting a few wines he brought over every bottle and explained what each was. I truly was impressed. We both enjoyed one of their red wines from the Loire Valley, France.The food: We started with the Panzanella which was ok. Panzanella usually doesn't have lettuce but every restaurant does it differently. They did use lettuce/arugula in theirs but it was just ok. For entrees, we split the Pork Chop which was a bit dry. It came with a creamy polenta and this was the best part of the dish. For dessert, we ended up ordering the Chocolate Mousse with pistachios and sea salt. I will have to say the dessert was the highlight of our meal.I know they changed Chefs so this could be the reason for the lack of food, flavor, etc. I do believe they will improve but hopefully sooner than later so we can all return and have a better experience. Cheers!

4% Kitchen Appreciation fee on the check in 2024, not during COVID. What is this nonsense about and than they have a line for you to leave a tip. I found this to be extremely sneaky. I am not sure if this is targeted to try and get more money out of Taurus who might not recognize this gimmick, but with all of those in the Boston area for travel this would certainly be an area that you might come to or you might be coming down to this area for an event at the TD Garden.This restaurant was very strange at best subpar food, mediocre size portions, and a server that was almost nonexistent. Even the restaurant was dead at the time that we were there. This is definitely a one and done for me as I see absolutely no reason to come back to this place

The smoked salmon pâté was incredible. Service was great and the view is nice. I definitely recommend visiting Alcove.

On the evening of Sunday, September 3rd, 2023, my spouse and I were lured by the flawless weather to indulge in a delightful dinner outing. The choice that attracted us was none other than Alcove, primarily for its enchanting backdrop that offers panoramic views of the Zakim bridge and serene waterscape. Booking a table at Alcove was a breeze, and it promised a seamless experience right from the start. However, it's worth noting that the parking situation was a bit of a hassle, as one would expect considering its prime location. We eventually secured a spot at the North End and walked to the restaurant.As we settled into our seats at Alcove, my enthusiasm was met with a bit of disappointment. The menu offerings were surprisingly limited, not aligning with our expectations for the evening. After some contemplation, we made the decision to opt for a simpler fare, choosing to indulge in a selection of fresh oysters and cocktails (Spritz and Scarlet Begonia) while preserving our appetite for a more extensive dining experience elsewhere.In summary, while Alcove certainly captivates with its splendid view and effortless reservation process, it falls short in terms of its dining options. Nevertheless, the charming location and ambiance make it an ideal choice for pre-dinner drinks and appetizers, allowing you to savor the views before embarking on a culinary journey elsewhere.

I went to alcove for drinks last night and had a great experience. We got a Friday 7:15pm patio reservation (for 2) just a few hours in advance. The view from the patio is stunning. It is a bit windy because of its location, but it's great for adding a breeze on a hot day. My friend and I just went for drinks and we loved their cocktails and the prices were not bad. Service was timely and overall we loved alcove.

Came in before a concert at big night live with my partner. I cannot describe in words how sophisticated and attentive the two bartenders on staff were. The second we walked through the door, there was a full bar. Stefan the bartender directed us to the next available seats. Once sat, we had nothing but the best attention, they made us custom cocktails based on what we were in the mood for. Stefan and Jamie made us feel at home and it was almost like a performance with how they made their cocktails and all the while taking care of a very crowded bar.10/10 experience and cannot recommend them more, will absolutely be coming back because of just the two of them.

One of the worst restaurant experiences I have ever had. I ordered a drink and had to ask again for it after ten minutes. They apologized when they brought it and my dinner companions ordered wine and over twenty minutes later we still didn't get the wine. I had to go to the bar to ask them to send someone over. To top it off the fire alarm (with spot lights) went off because of smoke in the kitchen and no one ever came by and told us what was going on or acknowledged that the dining experience was ruined. I can't imaging this place will last another week!

Really wanted to like this restaurant a lot more than what my ranking is for them and even though they were able to open up a table that didn't have a reservation because we preferred not to sit at a high top, the food and the service fell short.Located at the Lovejoy Wharf steps away from the TD Banknorth Garden, the atmosphere is dimmer due to the track lights not illuminating the area sufficiently to read the menu comfortably. Known gluttons for espresso martinis, my friend and I ordered the restaurant's own concoction with cardamon, which was worked deftly and was very tasty, but it was contained in a smaller glass meant for liquor, when it's typically in more or less a martini-styled glass. So for the same price as other restaurants, the volume has been reduced by half.We went straight to the entrées and a side: mushroom radiatori, duck breast, sirloin steak, and roasted brussels spouts.The duck breast was dry and not as enjoyable as I would've hoped for and the sirloin steak, while cooked to a perfect medium rare lacked seasoning. The mushroom radiatori was by far the best dish with the pasta nicely al dente. This speak volumes that their station for preparing and cooking meat could use improvement while the pasta station doesn't need any.After ordering a glass of Nebbiolo (Italian red wine), it took nearly 20 minutes for its arrival. More specifically, I couldn't get a sense that our waiter gave 100% of the service quality a customer tends to expect, so either he was having a bad day, the restaurant doesn't pay him well, he just doesn't like working there, or he doesn't care at all. But if any of that, or all of it, is projected onto the customers, it will sour the overall dining experience.If we return another time, I really hope the restaurant elevates their service and food quality to avoid dissatisfied customers.

Had an excellent meal at the bar with Emma as my exceptional bartender. Crab cake and arugula salad were wonderful, wine selection was lovely, atmosphere was perfect. Will definitely come back the next time I'm in Boston!