Anchovies used to be one of the best neighborhood spots in Boston. A true dive with real character, a mixed crowd, and that perfect "you had to be there" energy. It felt authentic, unpretentious, and a little bit hidden in the best way. Unfortunately, that version of Anchovies is gone. It's been completely overrun by the TikTok crowd. Long lines of college kids out the door, packed shoulder-to-shoulder, and a totally different vibe than what made the place special in the first place. The charm, the personality, the neighborhood feel, it's just not there anymore. It's always a shame when a great spot gets discovered for the wrong reasons and turns into something else entirely. I never thought I'd say this, but I'm taking Anchovies off my list of go-to places. If it ever finds its way back to being more of a 30+ crowd, I'd gladly be there again. Until then, it's just not the same. read more

Loved this place! Cute dive-ish bar in the south end is hard top find - we got the Braddock and a sausage & ricotta pizza and enjoyed both! The pizza crust was super fluffy and airy which we loved and the sandwhich has a good crunch to it from being toasted. read more

Anchovies - The Braddock - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Anchovies is a hidden gem! It has no website, no reservation system, and absolutely zero frills-- a true dive bar meets Italian comfort food. I came in expecting pub snacks, and left with enough penne pasta to feed myself for two more meals. The portion sizes are no joke and your order comes with bread and a salad. No upsell, no fancy plating, just good food served with a side of "you're gonna need a to-go box." If you want quality food, solid vibes, and leftovers for days, Anchovies delivers. read more

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After a few drinks at a previous bar, it was time for me and some friends to get something to eat. Half of the group still wanted to drink more, and they had found a place to get some food with more drinks. Took a fast 10 minute ride share from a hotel and when we came across Anchovies we all thought what a cool place to be in. Walked in to a very busy and crowded place, all the servers and bartenders slammed with no available tables for a party of 5. In the meantime, we stood at the bar ordering from one of the bartenders. Service at the bar was absolutely friendly, beverages were stiff! Wow!! Once our table was available, we got seated and ordered late night dinner. At that point, I honestly can't remember what each of us ordered, how much each dish cost, and neither any of the bartender or servers names were. We are definitely glad we found this place and we will probably eat here again when back in Boston. The environment and atmosphere was very Pub style, the food and drinks were good, the vibe was right. Would definitely recommend! read more

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Soooo goooddd!!!! This place has been on my restaurants to try for so long and finally got the chance to go, I loved the vibe and atmosphere and feel very comfy and close knit vibes. We got a nice booth which was so spacious. We got a pizza and a sandwhich and I would 100% get both of them again!!! If I had one compliant it would be that I like more red sauce on the pizza, it was cheesy but could have had a bit more sauce, but will definitely be back soon!!! read more

Anchovies - The Braddock Sandwich - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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LGBTQ Establishment This is really a bar that has food. The place is quirky, the staff very friendly and helpful. We ordered mussels which was recommended. Quite a nice dish with reasonable sized shellfish. Plenty of bread to soak up the flavours. Drinks were very reasonable and overall a pleasant night. Opens from about 4pm daily until about 2am. Thanks read more

My friends and I go to Anchovies pretty frequently. It's a really cute LGBTQ+ oriented bar in South End. It's typically pretty packed -- standing room only. We most recently went on a Monday night and, while it was busy, we could get a table. The atmosphere was really fun and, despite it being a Monday, felt very relaxed. We ordered a few appetizers -- the onion rings, fries, and a House Salad. We also ordered two cocktails -- the White Peach Cosmo and the Dark Cherry Mule. Both were absolutely fantastic. Highly recommend the Cosmo -- tasted fantastic, it has a unique presentation (I won't ruin the surprise), and you get good bang for your buck. The food was mediocre -- kind of run-of-the-mill bar food, but overall solid. Highly recommend the onion rings! Our server was nice. We had issues with bill having extra drinks on it and the prices being wrong on the bill as well. We caught it before paying. We will definitely be back! read more

Anchovies - White Peach Cosmo - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Stopped in at Anchovies for a drink after work on Wednesday. Cool little divey local haunt. A/C kept the place nice and cool. Got a mixed drink for $12. A fair amount of seating considering the relatively small size of the bar. Hanging Tiffany lamps. Would come back again. read more

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I came here with one other person and enjoyed the lovely atmosphere. It is super cozy and it is seat yourself. There are booths and seating at the bar. I liked the calamari and cod sandwich. They were large portions and favorable. The drinks were also pretty strong and flavorful as well. The cucumber gimlet was a favorite. The service was fast even with a crowded bar. read more

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Checked into our hotel after driving all day and found this place nearby on Yelp. So glad we came here!!! First, they're open until 2:00 AM so it was no problem getting seated at 9:30 (seat yourself). At 10:00 they start checking ID's at the door and lower the lights. Btw, the music is AWESOME! Definitely lends to the cool neighborhood vibe!! We started out with the cheese garlic bread & tomato appetizer. It was great. Then we split a Cesar salad.OMG!! this salad is HUGE! Best to split it or have it as a meal. For the entree, we split the shrimp & scallops fettuccine. It was a generous amount of food and tasted great! Last, the drinks!! I ended up ordering a margarita and it was so good, I had to have two. Another poster wasn't lying when they said they didn't skimp on the pours here! Highly recommend coming to Anchovies! Will definitely come again next time we're in Boston! read more

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Perfection! Anchovies is a great place for drinks and food. The bartenders are so nice and the inside is dark and cool. I went after work to catch up with a friend on a Thursday and watched the place fill up with people. I got the mussels appetizer, a basket of fries and an extra dirty martini. I'd say you get a great deal for whatever you order. The fries could've fed three people and the drinks are a two for one. I can't wait to come back! read more

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Awful awful experience here ! Disappointed the bouncer was the rudest person. He was asked to wipe down our table because it was soaking wet. He came over and said "I'm not a f**cking server why would you guys sit here at a dirty table" I responded and said that it was the only table available and he said "next time wait until it's f**cking clean" we were shocked someone spoke to us like that let alone someone who worked there! read more

don't waste your money here. It's a disaster. After showing our booking via internet, the girl told us: it's not here. After a quarter hour she changed here mind and it was ok. Could happen. First the 'Museum'.....A small room with some old rusty things, a old table with some salt, some video screens with explanations, couple of old photos. Not worth looking at. Then the facory...You may only look through a glass door when they are working. We were there wednesday and were told wednesdays and thursdays no activities at all!! Then we were presented with a small plate with a small piece of anchovies, and some more minimalised pieces of some sort of fish. Ready for the waste basket. The only good thing were bottles of water, but those we had to buy (eur 3,- per small bottle). The internetpage looks very promising, but what a big deception. Wate of money and time !! read more

Always delicious food and drinks with very polite and efficient service. A great place for night out with friends or a cozy and casual date night. All the food is delicious but the Caesar salad, truffle fries, fried ravioli, and bowl of chili are some of my favorites! Pro tip is to order a martini for a very generous drink, as the shaker comes with it! read more

I stumbled into Anchovies in the South End completely by accident, and it has already become my new favorite spot. From the outside it gives classic dive bar energy in the best way, but the food is on a whole different level. The burrata was to die for. Fresh, creamy, and the kind of dish you immediately start planning your next visit around. Everything felt unpretentious, cozy, and effortlessly cool. As someone new to the South End, finding a place that feels both laid-back and legitimately delicious felt like striking gold. If you want dive bar vibes with seriously amazing food, Anchovies is it. read more

The vibe has significantly changed over the last several years and it now smells like 20-something sweat, sounds like heavy metal that no one wants to be listening to, and feels like a place you would go if you would like to contract a casual STD on a Friday night. The drinks were basic and overpriced. The bartenders seemed to be high while on the job. Not a place I ever want to go back to. read more

Food was great, service was better! We got the muscles and the calzone, the daily menu is great, for a late night bite we were so happy! We'll be back! read more

Anchovies - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Late Saturday night, I was at Anchovies with three friends. We sat at a table in the back, ordered drinks, and one friend ordered food to go, paid, and left. Shortly after, the server slammed his bill on our table, saying, "Your friend forgot to tip." The section was left blank; he didn't put down zero. It seemed like an honest mistake, so we apologized and added a 20% tip despite the hostility. A few minutes later, the bar manager came over, asking if something was wrong. We were confused and said everything was fine. Then she asked why our friend didn't tip then and began to yell at us, saying that not tipping was "unacceptable" and they ban people who don't tip. We apologized again, but this felt excessive over a $5 error we'd already fixed. After she left, the server came back and apologized, claiming the manager was supposed to confront a different table. Only a few tables were there, who else would he send her to? I requested the bill but didn't look it over before giving my card because, frankly, I wanted to get out of there. When the server returned after processing the card, I noticed that the bill was $90 when the total should have been $60. A basket of fries and a martini were added to our check that should have been only two martinis and a Cosmo. My friend pointed out the error, asked for the correction, and a void receipt. When the server returned with the corrected bill, he refused to give me a void receipt, giving no clear reason as to why he couldn't. I took photos of both bills, signed with a 20% tip, and left. We didn't get the final bill until 1:50 am. Including a 20% tip, the bar attempted to overcharge us $45, I suspect hoping we wouldn't notice, all over a $5 tip that we had already corrected and apologized for. The whole situation was quite baffling and bizarre. Considering the treatment, I will never go back. It felt scammy. What a great way to end my birthday! read more

I'm a regular here, so trust me when I tell you the place is awful. You won't like it and no one here will like you. Just look at yourself. Really? You can't do better than that? Apparently not. If you do come, you'll probably end up getting thrown out anyway. So don't waste your time -- go elsewhere. The Ricciardi (a unique pasta) is a big favorite. Linguine and clams in white sauce, or just the clams alone (appetizers) is one -- among many -- of my favorites. The pizzas are very good bordering on excellent (some combos are better ordered crispy or well done). The specials have been made, for 20+ years, by one woman who, I'm told, makes them in the morning. Sometimes they're great, at worst just average. The sandwiches are all very good. It's hard to go wrong -- putting aside that you went wrong by coming in the first place. The drinks are made with a lot of love, but not the kind of love your mother (failed to) give you, the kind of love that comes in a bottle. read more

Super cute and quaint! Very narrow and a bit crammed but very cozy. Seat yourself. I got a grapefruit martini, which is probably two drinks in one since they bring you the shaker along with the glass. Strong, great drink! As for food- the fried ravioli were a bit spicy, the arancini were decent, and the eggplant parm sub was giant. Not the best bread I've had but the sub had a great ratio of eggplant/cheese/sauce. Came loaded with a mountain of shoestring fries (weirdly some of the better fries I've had). The anchovies chop salad was enormous and so so good. I will say it was heavy on the dressing. Came with a LOT of grilled chicken. Pleasantly surprised, would 100% come back. read more

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Absolute worst customer service. Waiters are very rude and do not care at all. Yelling and giving attitude to customers is not okay.

I walked here from my air bnb because I saw they had a late night menu. I sat at the bar and the bartenders were very attentive even though the place was packed. If you want a lively environment with great food & drinks, this is the place! read more

Anchovies - Linguine with Littlenecks with a white wine and garlic butter sauce. Perfectly paired with a white ale - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

0 frills. Is it the best food in the world? Absolutely not. But does it do the job at an affordable price in the most over priced city in america? Yes. Their marinara sauce is good on everything. So try the calamari. Drinks are strong and "cheap" for Boston A go to spot for my buddies and I read more

The bouncer working the door Thursday 2/19 verbally berated me for not understanding he wanted to see my ID through a glass window without opening the door. He considerably raised his voice at me with a vitriol I have never been spoken to with by an establishment's employee or otherwise in my life. read more

Great food and drinks. Be sure to get the Italian nachos and a martini -- you get two!!

Truly a hidden gem in the south end. Their pizza and fries are great, and I've heard only good things about the rest of their menu. You definitely have to go early if you want a table (like 5:30 or earlier for dinner....) but it's worth it! Love the interior and sitting by the kitchen was an extra fun perk to see what went in and out. I think their menu rotates, not sure about drinks. read more

The bouncer was incredibly rude, and it smelled like sneeze in there. I usually really enjoy how generous and nice the servers and bartenders are and was so alarmed with how awful this bouncer was. I hope he leaves soon so I can go back read more

Employees are horrendous!! Who knows about the quality of the drinks or food because the customer service is a reason to not visit in the first place. Particularly the bouncer... Anchovies if you'd like us or anyone else to visit again, please fire him!! If by some mistake you do end up visiting and you do want to get in, a pro tip is that he will take cash bribes to let folks in!! read more

The bouncer outside today was EXTREMELY rude. My friend and I were passing by and simply asked him what kind of music they play since we are visiting. He completely brushed us off and said " you guys have to wait " and went inside the bar. Super rude. We simply wanted to know what music they play to see if we wanted to go on. read more

Give This Bouncer a Raise! A few weeks ago the night was absolutely wild at anchovies, and not in a good way. A random, aggressive drunk guy started a fight out of nowhere, and it could've gotten really dangerous. The only reason things didn't spiral out of control was because of the incredible bouncer on duty. He stayed calm, handled the situation professionally, and protected everyone around him without any backup -- not even from the bar manager. The most shocking part? The bar manager didn't even call the police. We had to. This bouncer took charge while others stood back, and he deserves recognition and support. If you're going to drink anywhere, do it somewhere you know you're safe -- thanks only to him, we were. read more

Terrible Management, Incredible Bouncer Let me be clear: the only reason I'm even giving this bar any stars is because of the amazing bouncer who literally had to FIGHT OFF a drunk man who was attacking people. He did it solo, with no help from staff, and the bar manager didn't even call the cops -- WE DID. It's outrageous that someone doing their job that well, under that much pressure, had to also take on the responsibility of crowd safety with zero support. He was calm, strong, and totally in control when things got scary. If this place has any sense, they'll promote him and rethink their management policies. If you ever go here, thank the bouncer -- he's the only one looking out for you. read more

Honestly the worst bar/restaurant experience in Boston. All of the staff was extremely rude, kicking out part of the party for sitting at the table and not ordering food. Upon leaving and asking why we couldn't be seated the bouncer in quotes said "you guys are just a bunch of basic white bitches " instead of our question being answered. I highly recommend you don't spend your time here and avoid being cussed out by the bouncer. read more

Omg the CEASAR SALAD IS ACTUALLY THE BEST THING IVE EVER EATEN IN MY LIFE. I ACTUALLY HAVENT STOPPED THINKING ABOUT IT. The ambience is definitely giving bar but their menu is soo good too. They play popular music and its honestly such a good time. The service is a little slow up the restaurant its self is small and the 2 times I've been its been super busy so you cant get mad if your food takes a little long cause its only 1 server I think for the enti restaurant but PLEASE PLEASE GO AND TRY THE CEASAR SALAD LITERALLY EVERY PIECE OF LETTUCE IS DRENCHED IN DRESSING AND CHEESE. The mozzarella sticks are to die for. We also had the three cheese pasta which is so good everything just had such a good flavor read more

Anchovies - Ceasar Caesar Salad Fried Mozzarella - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Be prepared for a lively crowded spot on the weekend with the strongest drinks in Boston by far. Make sure you get the truffle french fries! You can smell them all around the place and they are a must try. Service is alright but you can't really fault them too much since it's so crowded and they are trying to turn tables quickly read more

Came here for drinks on a Friday night. It's a pretty small venue if you're just there for drinks so keep that in mind. The drinks, however, were awesome! Any drink that comes in a martini glass they give you the rest of the shaker too so it's a great deal. The bartenders were very friendly and the vibes were great. read more

Anchovies is just such a classic spot. If you're looking for an after work drink, a quick bite to eat, or a place to post up with friends and spend some time together -- do not go farther. Do not overthink the "divy" feel. It's intentional and why this place rocks. Their food is super tasty and will surprise you. Lasagna was incredible and came out of the kitchen super fast and hot. They offer a special Lasagna every day! Wings were spicy, crispy and medium/small sized. Not too meaty, not too big. Great flavor. Absurdly large bleu cheese sides which works for me. I'd give the wings a solid B+/B on my made up scale of wing rating. We did not get martinis, however seemed like everyone else in the bar did as they serve them to you and leave the cocktail shaker with you at your table which seemed fun. Since the footprint of the bar is small you may have to wait a few minutes to get a table, slide up to the bar and get a drink because it's worth the wait. Cheers! read more

Anchovies - Lasagna of the Day - Aug 23, 2023 - Sausage, Artichoke, Spinach and Roasted Red Pepper - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Lively neighborhood spot! My first visit to Anchovies did not disappoint and will definitely not be the last. We walked in at 6pm on a Friday night and were able to snag the two last bar seats and the tables were first come first serve. We were quickly greeted and got a chance to look over the menu, which consisted of classic Italian comfort foods. We ordered two martini's (white peach & grapefruit) and the server left the extra in a shaker for us to drink. Both were insanely delicious and we were each able to get multiple pours out of the extras too. For food, we ordered the caesar salad and mussels. Both were generous portions and very tasty. The staff was helpful and attentive making sure we had plenty of bread to get every drop of the delicious butter sauce the mussels were in. Anchovies is a must for a casual night out in the South End. By the time we were leaving, the place was packed and that was no shock to us at all. Fair prices, delicious food, and a chill but lively atmosphere made this a hidden gem and somewhere I look forward to going back to! read more

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Great little neighborhood restaurant and bar with a lively upbeat clientele. Looks like a bit of a dive from the front, but the food and drinks are good and the service is great. read more

Nice late night location for food and d a drink. It's tight in here but it's always a good vibe and atmosphere.

As a person who has worked in food service, I hesitate to ever write a mean review. However, I have never interacted with a more rude or disrespectful staff in my entire life so I felt I should warn people to avoid this place. read more