Barcelona Wine Bar South End

★★★★☆ 4.4 (1535) • $$

"I may have reached the point of no return where I've become the old man that yells "Get off my lawn, you rotten kids!" I realized that when Jamie W and I entered this darkly stylish tapas restaurant. We were drawn here because the name Barcelona evoked one of our favorite travel destinations. However, this was more of a Gen Z gathering spot given the deafening music they were playing over their speakers.One song that got on my nerves was "Don't Trust Me" by 30H!3 where they repeated the lyric "Do the Helen Keller and talk with your hips!" Ugh. How juvenile. Good thing we were separated from all the cool people who couldn't see me pinching my nose during the song. Fortunately the food was a marked improvement over the cacophonous music. We decided to share four plates since it was a tapas place after all.The rustic sourdough toast sticks and olive oil arrived at our table (photo: https://yelp.to/53BAII0AwY). We started with the $9.50 Grilled Chicken Thigh which was ladled with mojo verde (photo: https://yelp.to/LZ_3TVgz1N). Tasty and tender with a spicy kick. This was followed by a couple of veggie plates, the $9.50 Roasted Mushrooms with a thick scallion chimichurri sauce (photo: https://yelp.to/QfIdSmWRKs) and the $8 Grilled Zucchini with salsa verde and Calabrian pepper (photo: https://yelp.to/f6k8rh_Iv3). Both were just fine.The last dish was the $28 half order of Paella Salvaje where the savory bomba rice was mixed with chicken, pork belly, chorizo, chickpeas, green olives, carrot, and cilantro (photo: https://yelp.to/YGYir71IHS). That was easily the most satisfying part of our meal. Perhaps it was the curmudgeon in me, but the club-like atmosphere just wasn't enhancing our dining experience at all. I might be the wrong demographic to do the Helen Keller.FOOD - 4 stars...paella was stellar, everything else was pretty goodAMBIANCE - 2 stars...there's an audience for dark, loud and crowded...it's just not meSERVICE - 3 stars...they blitzed around usTOTAL - 3 stars...too dark and loud for my tasteRELATED - Exploring Boston? Here's my collection of places I've patronized and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3XtfnFc"

Sarma

★★★★☆ 4.4 (1257)

"Thank you Sarma for giving me a favorite restaurant in Boston! They're rated by several sources as one of Boston's top restaurants, for good reason. Reservations are difficult to come by but they seem to have a decent amount of seating by the bar.Dishes are not delicious and made with high quality ingredients, they're also beautifully presented and very creative with the flavors. My favorites were the cornbread (very filling, loved the peppers and feta inside) and duck (super juicy and flavorful); would 100% order again. Fried chicken (off-menu; from what I can tell, it comes out about every hour, starting roughly at 5:30) was very solid. I greatly enjoyed the Brussels sprouts, which also were super flavorful (loved that garlic aioli on the bottom). For dessert we had the "baklava cones", which was a light, refreshing way to end the meal."

Coppa Enoteca

★★★★☆ 4 (1055) • $$$

"Attentive service, romantic ambiance, and dinner reservations weren't too hard to get on a weeknight. Best dishes of the night:- Spaghetti Carbonara (Pancetta, Maine uni, egg yolk, black pepper, parmesan)- Beef Heart Pastrami- Coppa di Testa (Crispy braised pigshead croqueta, apricot mostarda, golden beets, grain mustard, cress) Good but not the faves: - Zeppole (Ricotta donuts, raspberries, yogurt, vanilla milk crumble)- Cavatelli (Chicken sausage, tomato broccoli sugo, fennel pollen, parmesan)They also make a delicious negroni and their lavender soda is very refreshing. Would absolutely come back to Coppa for more beef heart pastrami and carbonara!! One of the best meals of my visit to Boston."

Little Donkey

★★★★☆ 3.9 (1011) • $$$

"Little Doneky is a great spot! I've been there a handful of times, only for drinks, but I've heard the food is pretty good. On my most recent visit, I ordered the Painkiller, which had a nice flavor and was actually a very large drink. I was able to nurse it for about 2 hours with no issue! I recall having the sangria on another occasion and it was also decent.Location wise, it's super convenient, right in the middle of Central Square. I'd recommend sitting at the bar if you're looking for more of a casual vibe."

Gustazo Cuban Kitchen & Bar - Cambridge

★★★★☆ 4.3 (416)

"Came here for a work related dinner with a group of 10. It was a Saturday night so they were very busy. We had a pre arranged menu which allowed us to taste so many different dishes. My favorites were the vegetarian empanadas, beet salad, squash salad, vegetarian ropa vieja. And don't forget to try their churros, they are so fluffy and light. There were other dishes such as mussels, chicken, regular ropa vieja, but I didn't try them. Also, great mocktails!Our server Frank was amazing even though the kitchen and bar were very slow that night."

Mahaniyom

★★★★★ 4.5 (326) • $$

"I can't count the number of times I've been here, the only thing I remember is how amazing all of the food is. I could pick items off the menu with a blindfold and I'm confident that I would enjoy each of the dishes. The seasonal salad is always refreshing and a great way to kick off the meal. The fried chicken is always crispy, juicy, and flavorful. The drinks here are amazing. Their cocktails aren't too strong and the Cafe Thai is one of my favorites. I highly recommend making a reservation for a date or a small group."

Viale

★★★★☆ 4.1 (358) • $$$

"Wow... haven't had a meal this delicious in a long time! Cannot stop thinking about it, I'm going to have to come back. Drinks: they have a very short cocktail list, but there wasn't one I didn't like. Do not skip the clockwork orange! I typically don't like whiskey but this was incredible- a favorite by a long shot. It has a slightly spicy aftertaste. The fiore rosso was refreshingly sweet and not too heavy on the florals. Food: omg. The saffron lumache is to DIE FOR! Generous on the clams/shrimp, pasta shape is so fun, and the garlic white wine sauce is perfect- not too heavy or overly garlicky- 100% would reorder this dish. As for apps, the shaved brussel sprouts were the best I've had (whatever sauce they're in is delicious) but I wouldn't call it a salad. The meatballs were decent, but my friend did not like them. If anything, I'd subtract half a point for service- our waitress wasn't the friendliest, and drinks took forever to come out. There was also a large delay between appetizer delivery which I thought was strange, but the main dishes were delivered timely."

Brighton Bodega

★★★★☆ 4.4 (290) • $$

"Our dinner here was spectacular! We loved the food, ambiance and service. The dishes were so flavorful. Everyone who works here was so good to us and super helpful. They accommodated our request to sit at a corner table and went out of their way to make sure we were comfortable. Even the hostess was so nice and helpful. Our server was Tess and she is amazing. She is the most compassionate server I have ever met and mind you, I eat out a lot. She is super patient and also very helpful with suggestions on the menu. She knows the menu very well and gives her honest opinion. When we ate here, it was our first time dining outside with our newborn and I was feeling anxious and overwhelmed. But Tess helped us so much without any judgement. She was very accommodating. We need more people like her in this world. Thank you Tess for making my first dinner outside with my baby a memorable one."

Venetian Moon Ristorante & Martini Bar

★★★★☆ 3.9 (366) • $$

"Always an outstanding experience here! It can get extremely busy on Friday night and Saturday, so plan ahead or come during the week.The service is excellent from the host to the waitstaff to the bus staff. Very accommodating and flexible if you need to make minor substitutions to the menu items.The food is delicious. I have had multiple dishes here including the gnocchi, vodka pasta, chicken braciolettine, eggplant rollatini, and aranchini to name a few, and loved all of them. Even the bread is delicious (not cheap supermarket rolls). Portions are good and prices are reasonable.A taste of the North End with better parking and less tourists."

T'ahpas 529

★★★★☆ 3.9 (335) • $$

"Made an online reservations for weekend lunch; was surprised that it was quite empty upon arrival.Usually an indoor diner but preferred outside in the after-effects of a pandemic; appreciate that it was available (reason we chose this place to begin with). Entered restaurant in the front and was told to loop around the block to the parking space-turned patio. Odd but ok.Interior decor is very nice; makes you feel like you're in a tapas-eating country. Only small inconvenience is that one has to loop around the block again from the outdoor area to the front of restaurant in order to use the restroom. Food:- the whiskey in Old Fashion is very smooth, my friend highly recommended it and it didn't disappoint. - Patata Bravas was ON POINT -- soooo good! - Burrata was not quite oozy as expected, but the plate was great overall with the flavor combo. - the waffle in the Chicken & Waffle a bit too soggy, but appreciate the savory flavors. - Churrasquisto would be the biggest letdown in the meal by comparison -- it was simply too well-done for quality beef, even at medium. Maybe it's a cultural difference in cuisines, but please don't do beef medium and up. If this beef really is Wagyu, then all I can say is that I'm sorry the cow sacrificed its life to become this. *sad face* Despite the hiccups, it was a fantastic meal overall.Service:- attentive and adequate- wait staff friendly and courteous- looks like they want to be there so it's a great plus. Price tag:- $130 for two people's brunch, but take away the 4 drinks (LOL) it'll bring you to $60-70 tab, which is a fair price rangeWould definitely be back if I'm in the area again."

GRECO

★★★★☆ 4.2 (159) • $$

"Yum! This place is right next door to my workplace in Seaport. Was craving something indulgent but also healthy - this was perfect. Got the bowl with the dips, spicy feta and roasted eggplant, both delish - but the feta was just insane! Halloumi for protein - get the spicy honey!! A few fries to indulge. I was a very happy girl after this lunch!"

LoLa 42

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (228) • $$$

"Lola 42 in Boston Seaport is undeniably a local gem that has become my go-to spot for the perfect hangout/dining experience. This is one of the premier spots for a weekend date night. But, you really can't go wrong with stopping by here any time of day. The vibrant atmosphere and chic decor create the perfect setting for any occasion.The bar, has an extensive selection of cocktails and attentive bartenders, which adds a lively energy to the place. The staff at Lola 42 are not just service providers; they elevate the entire dining experience with their warmth and professionalism.Now, let's talk about the mac and cheese--it's phenomenal. Cheesy, nutty, buttery, indulgent, and loaded with flavor, the pasta has the perfect consistency with a crispy breadcrumb like topping. It's a must-try that keeps me coming back for more.Lola 42 serves a wide array of Asian fusion food options, and everything on the menu is pretty darn good. Love this spot!"

Buttermilk & Bourbon

★★★★☆ 3.6 (195)

"I have no clue why this place isn't higher rated here on Yelp. The four of us had an outstanding Saturday dinner a few weeks ago. We were greeted warmly and seated promptly (had reservations). Easy parking. The restaurant is gorgeous.We were immediately brought water and promptly ordered drinks, which were all good when they shortly arrived.The menu is not large but had plenty of really good sounding items. We narrowed down our choices to sharing the biscuits, the brisket nachos, carrot "salad" and a tater tot special of the night. Doesn't sound like a lot for four people, but it was just right for four people. Favorite had to be the amazing tot dish. They MUST add this to the permanent menu! We all loved the brisket nachos and the biscuits certainly lived up to their mammoth delicious reputation. Note: if the menu calls for pickled onions of any kind, just go ahead and order it. They know how to make them and it adds to everything.The only slight disappointment were the carrots. They were just not what was expected. Not a salad at all. But beautifully roasted carrots. Very rich. Still very good, but no one fought me for the rest of them. All the food is rich, but surprisingly the prices are not for rich folks. For the four of us, the total bill (before tip) was only $115. A STEAL in this part of the world for this quality."

Savinos

★★★★☆ 3.7 (184)

"Splurged and ordered the scallop and tuna over black pepper linguine with leeks, sugar snap peas, grape tomatoes, in a saffron cream sauce ($28). Absolutely terrific. I didn't want to finish it and ended up licking the plate clean. I did find saffron in the cream sauce!I don't recommend the chocolate cake dessert. Overpriced $12 slice of store bought cake. They bring out a plate of all the desserts available, feel free to ask for their pricing. The complimentary bread is cold and slightly stale but garlic oil makes up for it. Service is what it is when there's only one other table other than yours. Savinos is an expensive celebration place and I had the pleasure to dine at because of Nift gift.Plenty of street parking. Inspect your plates/glassware for being used."

Tulum Mexican Cuisine

★★★★★ 4.5 (56)

"Came here on a Saturday evening and the place was decently busy, but we were lucky enough to get a table for two without waiting for long and without a reservation. We got one of their high tops in a back room that had great decor and wasn't too tight; overall, comfy vibes. The menu had a good mix of food and drinks; when we came, they didn't have their liquor license yet so everything was non alcoholic, but I could already tell their bartenders were pretty skilled just by their mocktails - great flavor.We got an app as well as their dish for two people, all plenty of food. The volcano was a huge amount of food and did not disappoint. While their app had good flavor, I honestly would only return for the volcano - huge, tasty, and just great value. Service was also pretty solid throughout the night. Overall, could not recommend Tulum more. Nice spot to grab a drink or enjoy a good dinner - the only con is that you kind of need a car to get here, but other than that, yummy food and a great dinner! Can't wait to come back to try their alcoholic drinks!"

La Gallina

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (86)

"La Gallina is lovely inside and I've had nothing but the nicest bartenders and servers. However, the food is just okay. I'd still go and have appetizers as it's a different cuisine than the rest of market street. The trouble is, the drinks are some of the worst I've ever had. Their signature drinks are all incredibly sweet. They all taste like melted candy. Classic drinks are presented well but lack any bite. I feel with a new bar program Gallina could improve greatly. Maybe charge more for the drinks but actually put enough of the liquor in the drink that it tastes balanced and not solely of simple syrup or other sweeteners. The location is convenient so hopefully the quality of food and drinks will improve!!"