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    Back Bay Social

    3.5 (844 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Back Bay Social Photos

    Business Info

    BACK BAY SOCIAL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Casual
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Back Bay Social

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    Beer
    Jazzlyn S.

    Probably unfair to give a review but just not worth popping into if you're walking around and not doing research prior.

    Out Front
    Bella T.

    Just steps from the Prudential Center AND the Convention Center, the location is as central as it gets. I've been here a few times, for drinks for dessert, to dine, all sorts of reasons. And every occasion it delivers. Even despite the mid-day rush because Boylston St can be crazyy, service is seamless: welcoming, attentive, and unhurried. There's tables booths and bar seating, on two different levels, and both level has its own unique vibe. Upstairs is more relaxed but downstairs speaks for itself. Fun spot! My dad loves the chicken and waffles, I'm a big fan of the Avocado Toast & Chicken Parm, and my go-to cocktail is the Blackberry Lust. Oh! And they offer tater tots which are also my FAVorite, and they're nice and crispy here.

    Really enjoyed brunch here. Pancakes were fluffy and delicious and the tater tots were just basic tots (probably pre-frozen lol) but was a nice meal.

    Siarhei Z.

    Great food, attentive service, and a lively atmosphere. Everything was well prepared and came out quickly. A solid spot in Back Bay--highly recommended.

    Salmon Caesar Salad 5/5 & Chicken Parmigana 4/5
    Randa J.

    Where you at Yelp? This place came recommended by a friend, and tbh, I generally would not consider bc it's 3.5 and when I searched for lunch/dinner spots in this area, it didn't pop up. Thank goodness we trusted our friend and went because I had the most amazing salmon Caesar salad there. Sounds so basic, but these two items are one of my favorite things to eat and because it's so simple, it's a hit or miss. Sometimes the dressing is bland, sometimes it's over dressed, sometimes the portions are small, sometimes the salmon is dry, sometimes the salmon is too crispy or not crispy at all, too much croutons, not enough Parmesan, blah blah blah, but Back Bay really hit the mark on this dish. I loved the extra umami from the crumbled trout, the light crisp from the salt and vinegar chips, the freshly shredded Parmesan all over the salad top, a massive slab of lightly crisped salmon on top of a perfectly dressed Caesar salad fit for the king of Rome himself or a California girl like me. My goodness, I want to go back just thinking about it. Also, it has a bustling, meet your coworkers after a long week kind of vibe when we were there. Good vibes. We also got the chicken parmigiana which was also really good too. The tomato sauce was slightly tangy which I thoroughly enjoyed and it made a heavy dish a little lighter in feel. Though, personally I would have like the pasta to be more al dente and the sauce more fluid. Again, just a personal preference. Our server Leslie was the sweetest!

    Table setup
    Josiah D.

    Stopped in on a Friday while looking for a place to eat -- very happy we did! Staff was super friendly, from the bouncer out front to the wait staff. The vibes are great, music wasn't too loud and the decor was spot on. We ordered the fish and chips, a garden salad, and two beers. Prices weren't terrible and the portions were good. Food ended up being solid -- nothing crazy, but hit the spot nonetheless. Will stop by again if we're in the area again!

    Mediterranean Bowl
    Madison M.

    Obsessed with the Mediterranean Bowl - went back for lunch recently to order it, unfortunately the service was not great we waited an hour for the food, it was only 3:30 pm it was not busy. Tasted different than the last two times we ordered it as well. The espresso martinis are great tho!

    Salmon
    Ivy V.

    I don't usually eat fish unless it is sushi, I took my chances ordering their salmon entree with jasmine coconut rice because this entree was unique. To my surprise I enjoyed this item a lot! The salmon was fresh, and it didn't have that "fishy" taste that I didn't like with cooked fish. Busy place, loud, and service a little slow, but food came out pretty quick.

    menu
    Winni Z.

    The braised short ribs were surprisingly flavorful and delicious, but the root vegetables had shrunken and were mushy. My friend enjoy her fish and chips though. I like that they were not stingy with the volume of food. Service was as expected. What impressed me is honestly the immaculate vibe. The music selection was fantastic and this is a great spot to catch up with a friend/group of friends. It was very lively and I think a great option for a last minute friday night dinner spot.

    The lovely lead singer from band! She helped our team get points for our competition.
    Francheska D.

    This was my first stop on a St. Patrick's Day pub crawl - our group was in the lower level. All the servers were kind and relatively quick. I tried the signature burger and fries - it was delicious - I loved the mixed in brisket. I just wish there were more fries and pickle slices. I also tried their themed bourbon drink - I think it was called Ready to Patty. It was sooo good - not too sweet and still relatively strong. A live band was performing - AAISHA (spelling?) was the lead singer and she was amazing - singing so many upbeat cover songs. I will definitely check out Back Bay Social again when I'm in that area.

    Sangria
    Adina S.

    My friends and I stopped by Back Bay Social on the way to the Red Sox game. They have lots of options, so there's really something for everyone. One thing I noticed was that the lighting was especially dim, so much so that we had to use our phones as flashlights to view the menus! Our waiter was very kind and accommodated our various requests. We started out with the sangria pitcher, which was perfect for our group. It wasn't the best sangria I've had, especially in comparison with a place like Barcelona Wine Bar. We split a few dishes, including Spicy Sausage Pizza, Truffle Fries, and Buffalo Cauliflower. Each of them were pretty solid, but none of them were out of this world. I wouldn't go out of my way to come back here, but it's a good spot if you're looking to accommodate for various tastes.

    Parmesan Truffle Fries

    I stopped by on a Friday night for a quick drink and appetizer. It's great ambience with outdoor sitting on a nice day. Service was good and there was a great selection of draft beers. I can't speak for the rest of the food, but the Parmesan truffle fries were amazing.

    Eggs Benedict
    Bisma A.

    Came here for brunch and it's a great spot especially if you have a larger group! The staff was super accommodating and moved tables so that all of us could sit together. I tried the salmon eggs Benedict and it did not dissapoint. I only wish the portions of sides were bigger because the potatoes were delicious! I'd definitely recommend coming her for brunch if you're looking for a casual spot in Back Bay.

    Beer and oysters

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    3 years ago

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    Jeremy C.

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    1 year ago

    Dirty glass - bartender serviced guests not based on first come first serve. Very disappointed

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    1 year ago

    Excellent food and service! We really enjoyed the French onion soup, clam chowder, and French dip. And dessert was decadent!

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    Page 2 of 22

    Ask the Community - Back Bay Social

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    Uncle Tetsu

    Uncle Tetsu

    3.9
    (103 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    Stopped by the Boston location after hearing so much about Uncle Tetsu's famous Japanese…read morecheesecake. There was a short wait since they bake the cheesecakes fresh in batches, but it moved pretty quickly. The Original Japanese Cheesecake was warm, soft, and definitely lived up to its signature "jiggle." It's very different from a traditional cheesecake--much lighter, fluffier, and less sweet, almost like a cross between a soufflé and a sponge cake. If you're expecting a rich New York-style cheesecake, this isn't that. Personally, I enjoyed how light it was, and it didn't leave me feeling overly full. The staff was friendly, and the shop was clean and well organized. My only suggestion would be to have a few more seating options since it's mostly grab-and-go. Overall, it's worth checking out if you're in downtown Boston or curious about Japanese-style cheesecake. I'd come back again and would like to try some of their other pastries next time.

    I visited this place on a Sunday morning . When I walked in, there was no staff present and I had…read moreto wait a few minutes before someone came to assist me. I ordered an Ube cheesecake and repeated my order as it seemed there might have been some miscommunication. I was in a bit of a rush due to limited parking and unfortunately didn't check my bag before leaving. When I got home, I realized I had been given a different cheesecake than what I ordered. I decided to keep it rather than return, as going back to Chinatown wasn't convenient at the time. The cheesecake itself was also disappointing in texture and freshness--it felt quite soggy and not as fresh as expected. Overall, the experience did not meet my expectations, and I don't think I would return.

    Photos
    Uncle Tetsu
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    Honey madeleine
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    Entrance
    Corner Cafe Bakery

    Corner Cafe Bakery

    4.1
    (122 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $

    Solid egg tarts, but remember to bring cash because there's a minimum for credit card. Can never go…read morewrong. I've never tried any of their other items though I would assume they are reliable and delicious as well.

    The Chinese name is "Juxiang Mianbao Fang聚香麵包坊". It had the taste of an old-fashioned bakery and…read morewas very cost-effective. Portuguese Egg Tart葡撻: The shop keeps the egg tarts in a warming box, which is very thoughtful. I've always preferred the cookie crust of old-fashioned Hongkongese egg tarts; they don't crumble or feel sticky in your throat. The custard filling looked a bit overbaked on the surface, but it was still smooth and creamy inside. The milk and egg flavors were qualified, and it was not too sweet. While not particularly amazing, it definitely deserved 4 stars, especially for a Cantonese person like me who hasn't had egg tarts in a long time. Hongkongese Egg Tart蛋撻: The crust is the same as the Portuguese egg tart, but the custard filling seems a bit more diluted, with a lighter milk flavor and a stronger egg flavor. People who aren't used to it might find it a bit eggy. I still prefer the former. Custard Bread奶黃包: Recommended by the owner, and it was definitely the best thing there! I ate it the next morning, but the bread was still soft, and the crust wasn't dry. The custard filling was generous, sweet, creamy, moist, and had a slightly grainy texture. Sausage Bread腸仔包: The seasoning was quite interesting, with a hint of wasabi (?). However, the sausage itself was just average, with a slightly starchy texture. Breads generally cost $2-4 each, and here four items were only $8+, enough to last me all day Important Reminder: Cash only for orders of $10 or less.

    Photos
    Cafe Corner on Harrison
    Cafe Corner on Harrison
    Outside
    Outside
    Corner Cafe Bakery

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    Tora Japanese Restaurant

    Tora Japanese Restaurant

    4.4
    (944 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    Extremely fresh fish with generous portions in a casual, underground space…read more I think this is a reasonably priced establishment for the level of fish (phenomenal) and service (reasonable and attentive, but not like a fancier sit down restaurant) that you get. I am always surprised at how full I am when I leave! I'm stuffed every time. There is complementary miso soup with all of the bowls I've tried, outlined below. I really loved all of the bowls I've tried but my favorites are probably the Sake Aisuru Don and Kuromon Don. I just prefer more salmon to more tuna though, and they're all very good! Food: - Sake Aisuru Don: their classic all-salmon bowl! I loved the larger cuts of salmon, and I was pleasantly surprised that even the more pulverized salmon was flavorful! - Kuromon Don: loved the yellowtail in this! Each fish comes with two pieces (except the mackerel for which there are four), and I liked the sampler style for the salmon, tuna, yellowtail, and izumidai. - Maguro Toro Don: so much tuna! And all such high quality. The otoro was so fatty that it practically melted in my mouth without chewing. - Sake Maguro Hamachi Don: a mix of salmon, blue fin tuna, and yellowtail. I liked the yellowtail in this a lot and found that it stood out the most from the other two fish in this particular bowl!

    Came to Boston for a work trip and really wanted to eat something light and healthier. I loved it…read moreso much I came back twice! I came during lunchtime on a Monday. It was adequately busy but still had seats open. The lunch menu is very affordable! If you can, I'd highly recommend going for lunch instead of dinner. Service was really quick! Received my meal in like 5-7 mins after ordering. Fish was super fresh and I really liked the different textures in the Hoseki Don. I also added in negitoro. They gave me a big clump of it! The second time I went back, I ordered take out so I could eat it at the airport for dinner. I ordered the Sake Maguro Hamachi don, added ikura and negitoro. Again, so impressed with the quality of the fish and the size of it. They didn't skimp out and really enjoyed the thickness of the sashimi despite it only being 3 pieces. It was a very satiating bowl. Cant wait to come back next time again!

    Photos
    Inside!
    Inside!
    K11. Sake Maguro Hamachi Don
    K11. Sake Maguro Hamachi Don
    LR2 Lunch menu

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    LR2 Lunch menu
    Top Bread

    Top Bread

    3.8
    (151 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    I'm quite curious about the relationship between the three bakeries in Chinatown…read more(Corner/Top/Taiwan). Although their names seem to have nothing to do with each other, they share paper bags and some products. Are they sister shops run by the same team? Egg Tart蛋撻: Since there was no insulated box, it was cold, which is a shame compared to Corner Cafe. The egg and milk aromas were masked, but there was a slight eggy smell. Portuguese Egg Tart葡撻: Although it was also cold, I preferred the baking. It had a thin crust, and the filling was still smooth and delicate, with a richer egg, milk, and sweet flavor. Butter Bun奶香包: The best product, but I forgot to take a picture... I unexpectedly encountered "Little Swell bread微波麵包," something that has disappeared in China for a long time. It was exactly the soft and moist texture I remembered, and the milk, butter, and salt flavors were even stronger.

    Solid bakery in Boston's Chinatown. Would rate it a 3.5. Everything is individually packaged so…read moreit's nice being able to try a selection of pastries. They've gotten expensive over the years (now it's about $4-5 for a bun) and the quality can be hit or miss. Some things are fantastic such as their milk bread loaves or taro buns. Other items are just okay such as their raisin coconut bread & bolo baos. Those tend to be dry & flavorless. Like many other Chinatown businesses they require a $10 minimum to pay with card, so definitely more convenient to bring cash.

    Photos
    Top Bread
    Portuguese Egg Tart
    Portuguese Egg Tart
    Tiramisu cake

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    Tiramisu cake

    Back Bay Social - newamerican - Updated July 2026

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