This place always delights! Pretty large dining area with plenty of dining seating. They also have a few bar seats, as well as kitchen view seats. SERVICE: Very kind folks here. They greeted us nicely and got us seated and hydrated quickly. Our server was very attentive and friendly! FOOD: Menu was a little more limited than I remember, but we all tried something different and everything was fabulous!! I had the fish tacos and they were able to make them grilled instead of fried (yum - and they were HUGE!!). Drinks were great too. If you are in Natick, this cute place is a must try!! read more

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I was so excited to return here to celebrate a friend's birthday. I'd been here twice before and really enjoyed it, but reservations are hard to come by, so it had been quite a while since my last visit. Unfortunately, this visit didn't live up to my previous experiences. It was an extremely hot evening, with temperatures in the upper 80s, and sadly the restaurant wasn't much cooler inside. We were a party of six and spent most of dinner fanning ourselves with dessert menus. We even asked for cups of ice and were literally holding them against ourselves to cool down! It became almost comical, but no one wants to spend dinner sweating. One bright spot was our server, who was warm, attentive, and very professional. The cocktail list was fairly limited, but the Passion cocktail was delicious--and thankfully served ice cold. As for the food, the cornbread was outstanding, and the tuna tartare was easily the star of the meal. The other women in our group enjoyed their entrees, but mine was a major disappointment. I ordered the fish tacos based on our server's recommendation. The portion was enormous--three tacos, each packed with fish--but the fish itself was incredibly dry and lacked flavor. I even asked for extra aioli, hoping it would help, but the tacos were still nearly inedible. I ate less than half of one taco. What was most disappointing was that no one acknowledged it. When my plate was cleared with almost the entire meal untouched, no one asked if anything was wrong. I didn't want to make a scene during a birthday dinner with friends, but I also don't think I should have had to pay for a meal that was barely edible. Dessert sounded much more exciting than it actually was. The chocolate brownie was dry, the "Cows in Quicksand" dessert looked unappetizing, the cookies were hard, and the champagne mangoes were underripe. We still had a fabulous evening celebrating with friends, but the dining experience itself fell well short of expectations. Between the uncomfortable heat and the disappointing food, this wasn't the memorable return visit I'd been looking forward to. Dining in a sauna simply isn't on most people's list of enjoyable dinner experiences. read more

This always pops up on Yelp, so we finally made reservations for our anniversary dinner. Disappointed they didn't do anything special or acknowledge the special occasion, even after replying to their survey post-visit. Server was nice but you could tell they were understaffed that night and sat too many tables at once. Once we sat done down and given water it took a while before our server appeared. The pacing was off and there were long periods between our order and apps, entree, and dessert. - bread service: kind of expensive ($13) for 5 pieces of bread and a dollop of each dipping sauce. Try just bread and butter for $6 - cornbread: delicious but small portion for $14. Also not a fan of the cutting board presentation - kids Mac and cheese: very cheesy ($12) - tiger shrimp risotto: ($34) good flavor but risotto was underdone - fried chicken: ($30) so crispy and cooked perfectly but had an odd spice in there like cinnamon? The star was the fried green tomatoes and the buttermilk ranch! Perfectly fried and crunchy while the tomatoes stayed firm and a very tasty ranch dressing! - dessert: warm cow sugar cookies were nice and warm sitting in butterscotch pudding, very cute! - the toffee in the butterscotch pudding ($11) was super crunchy, wish there were more cubes mixed in - warm chocolate brownie ($15) was missing the creme anglaise? Or the splatter of it was very small? I liked the open kitchen, high ceilings and farm2table concept but be prepared to spend $$$. Some street parking available and metered lot across the street. read more

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Place is amazing! Lovely mussels! Bartender was great! Hostess is outstanding. We got eggs to go!! Halibut and linguine with clams is the way to go!! Definitely will be back. Love the farm to table experience! read more

I came here for a bridal shower on a Saturday afternoon. There is a parking lot across the street, which is very convenient. The place is small, but we had the whole restaurant to ourselves. There is a bar area and a seating area. They are farm to table, and it shows! All the food tasted so fresh. The staff were very friendly, and they were quick to prepare our dishes once we selected them. Would recommend for a private event but would also try this just going out to eat casually! read more

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Well it's a nice looking restaurant with nice light. But that's not why you go out to dinner. Our party of six sat down and we met our server who seemed annoyed to see us. I asked if he could check with the chef to see if they could make the mushroom risotto without truffle oil and he pretty much said don't worry about it they can make it without truffle oil. Didn't really feel confident that was the case so I ordered another dish. Which was ok but a very small portion as most of the food was. When we finished we felt very rushed as the service team cleared the table very quickly, in fact tried to take the olives which we were still working on. Unfortunately the service team negatively impacted our experience. read more

Me and my girlfriend went here, food was unmatched. The mussels were incredibly fresh. I got the pork and she got the scallops. We will will definitely be returning here. 10/10 service and the food is farm-to-table. read more

Buttercup - Scallops with sweet potatoe purée - Bars Near Me - Natick, Massachusetts

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Everything was good. Food was great. Many fresh and healthy options. I had kombucha with my meal and it was refreshing. read more

Buttercup - Kale salad with salmon. So fresh. - Bars Near Me - Natick, Massachusetts

I enjoy sitting in the bar area. It's actually less noisy and chaotic than the dining room. Service was very attentive. I tried the Your Heart Is In My Pom mocktail. It could use a splash of ginger ale. The food was fantastic. You must try the sweet potato coconut soup. So delicious. Arancini balls were perfectly crispy on the outside and gooey inside. Halibut was fantastic. Nice and meaty. Short ribs were served over pappardelle pasta in a mirepoix. I appreciate the originality, but I'd prefer the short rib with mashed or a crispy potato cake. No dessert this time. We had a great meal. read more

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Such a cute restaurant with great outdoor seating in downtown Natick. The drinks were delicious and the waiter was great. He knew a ton about the menu and had great recommendations. The bruschetta was so good (and small) that we ordered two. I tried some of the kids mac and cheese and it was also yummy! Their cornbread was to die for as well. I definitely recommend going for a date night or a girls night and trying to sit outside! read more

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It was ok for a kind of fancy place, It didn't feel like a chain restaurant which is good but the name conjures up a more feminine eating place, so the guys I was with said something derogatory towards the name . I guess one can't be picky when you're talking about a restaurant in the burbs, it was very tasty and the staff was ok! read more

Tonight I went in for an appetizer and a cocktail. My servers name was Miranda and she was the best. Did a phenomenal job of explaining the new menu. Very personable and the definition of hospitality. Would recommend Buttercup to anyone, make sure to request Miranda's section! read more

Buttercup - Buttermilk Cornbread, *1/2 Dozen Oysters, Old Fashion - Bars Near Me - Natick, Massachusetts

Our family had a wonderful dinner at Buttercup this week. Delish cocktails to start, I had the shrimp / saffron risotto with a roasted beet salad on the side and it was absolutely delish! Great service, fabulous food, and warm environs... will definitely be back! read more

Loved everything about Valentines at Buttercup! The Baby Bee cocktail was fantastic and the mushroom risotto was absolutely delicious. The farm to table vibe of the restaurant was super cozy and welcoming. Can't wait to go back and try more of the menu! read more

Buttercup - Mushroom Risotto, Baby Bee, Halibut, Love Tap - Bars Near Me - Natick, Massachusetts

The food is quite exceptional along with Excellent service and a really nice with menu selection

My wife and I had dinner on their patio on a nice summer day. The servers were attentive but the food was disappointing. We ordered the mussels for an appetizer. The mussels themselves were fine but the coconut broth really didn't have much flavor at all. I would say it lacked spice. And there were perhaps 12 mussels in the dish so it was underwhelming. For our main course, my wife ordered the shrimp risotto and I had the fish tacos. The shrimp dish again lacked any kind of flavor and my wife left most of the risotto on her plate. On the other hand, my fish tacos were excellent and plentiful. One negative note; there was a cart full of dirty dishes adjacent to the mens room which was kind of disgusting. read more

I'm a Southern travel nurse, working in the North and missing home. The cornbread made here not only is better than mine, but it also incorporates complementary flavors and a stellar glaze. The tiger shrimp risotto and cod fritters were also superb! read more

We had an excellent meal at Buttercup! The cornbread and bread pudding were note worthy. Service was relatively quick and helpful as well. Ambiance is casual but nice. read more

Buttercup is a restaurant located at the center of town in Natick. It was my first time going to the restaurant after a last minute reservation with my mother. Having grown up in the area, I was excited since there aren't many farm to table, upscale restaurants in the area. As for food I shared a dozen fresh oysters which were east coast oysters- delicious and tasted fresh! I also received a recommendation to try the Short Rib Pasta, which to be honest was very salty. Not sure if the plate I got was overly salted by accident but it was too salty. Otherwise taste was good and I'll have to try the dish again to see if it's consistently salty. Drinks looked unique with their ingredients (such as dragonfruit!) choice but it was a weekday so opted to skip out on drinks. I would say for the price you pay for the dishes I was expecting a lot more. Next time I would love to see more diversity with the clientele as well- definitely felt a little out of place. We walked into the place at 5:30pm which was 15% full only to be seated at the front door (with a freezing windy draft). It was strange so we asked to be put further into the room and was re-seated only upon asking. Server was quick and kind though so we left a 30% tip despite the okay experience. Ambiance was refined, homey, and warm. Taste: 3.5/5 Service: 4/5 Ambiance: 5/5 read more

Buttercup - Bars Near Me - Natick, Massachusetts

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Was here on a Thursday night with one other person and had such a great experience. I ordered the beet salad and the sourdough bread to start and the spring ravioli for the main. The sourdough was great and the olive spread had great flavor with it. I also asked for some olive oil to go with the bread and I really enjoyed that with it. The beet salad was also well done - the beets were nicely seasoned and was a good size for a starter. The ravioli main had great strong cheese flavor and was extremely buttery on the outside. For dessert I tried the valrhona chocolate brownie and my friend tried the strawberry shortcake. I thought the valrhona chocolate brownie had a really strong chocolate flavor and was quite large for how dense it was - definitely would be best shared. I think the strawberry shortcake had a great strawberry compote and cream, however, the shortcake part was a bit more bread-like than I expected. Overall, I really enjoyed the meal and service and I look forward to returning! read more

Buttercup - Sourdough - Bars Near Me - Natick, Massachusetts

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We love Buttercup! The food is delicious, creative, fresh and beautifully presented. Cocktails are inventive and ample.Servers are friendly and knowledgeable, and create a warm atmosphere where we feel personally hosted. We live in the city and initially got together there with friends from the 'burbs . Now, it has become one of our favorite restaurants and worth the travel to dine there! read more

New diners beware - it was our first visit and we read in the menu that there was a 4% fee to provide an incentive to the kitchen staff. I have yet to see this before but didn't mind the thought behind it. We had a GREAT meal and service. The alcohol charge was relatively high - so imagine our surprise when the bill came and the "kitchen fee" was added to the bar bill! Last I recalled, bartenders do quite well in the restaurant pay hierarchy so now we felt an unethical bait and switch. But wait - there's more! The kitchen fee was also added to our tax - which was 7%, probably due to a town tax. We are 20% tippers but this fee makes it 25% including the tax on the fee - and then add the regular 7% tax - making the bill increase by over 30%! Not only that, but when our server took the fee off (it didn't say this was optional in the menu as it should) the tax amount did not change even though it was previously inclusive of the fee. read more

Very adorable spot in Natick center. I grew up in Natick but moved out so it's been interesting to see what they've built in the past few years. I'm happy to see a nice but inviting upper scale sit down restaurant in downtown. Although it's higher end farm to table it feels sweet & homey. Impressively fast service for a night where it was pretty populated. Ashley was great! The younger girl bussing tables and bringing water was also very efficient and friendly. The cornbread is always amazing. The whipped ricotta and lavender is a great touch. The oysters were flesh and delicious I wish we had room for more! The special of the night sweet potato ravioli in a sage sauce with cookie crumbles was creative and delicious. I tried the Higher Ground cocktail it was sour (but I love sour drinks) and great. The interior of the restaurant is adorable, love the color scheme and open kitchen. Feels very inviting! read more

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Overpriced - average food. Especially insulting are tiny appetizers . For example I will forever laugh at the so-called $13 " bread service" consisting of 5 half slices of grocery store bread and three half thimbles of some non flavorful stuff. I expected caviar and pate at that price. The $18 beet salad is another joke.. 2 small unflavorful cut up beets with about $.25 of lettuce The tiny muffin sized corn bread was tasty but way overpriced Meals : were tasty chicken .. tho small Fish tacos plentiful but mushy taco shells Beef Bourgogne with more pasta than beef All in all a rip off .. avoid unless someone else is paying Thankfully we didn't order the $42 halibut read more

We loved the specialty drinks and the sourdough bread and cornbread were great apps. Everyone loved their meal.

Amazing food, service and ambiance! All the food was so fresh and delicious and the staff were all very friendly and attentive. We will definitely be back! read more

We had to ask to be serviced - we waited 15 minutes and no one came to our table. Once we asked for a waiter to come, he came silent: no hello, no sorry, no asking if we'd like a drink, absolutely nothing. A stoic and unapproachable face, attitude and expression. Very off-putting. Very uncomfortable. I talked up the pappardelle to my adult son and he said it was bland, and we are not picky eaters. Had to call waiter back to ask for a refill as he did not care to see if we needed anything. We've been a few times in the past and this was our first very disappointing experience. It was Christmas Eve and we spent over $200. read more

We were excited to return to Buttercup, as we really enjoyed our last time there. This time was not that good. Oysters had some shell, tuna tartare was over-marinaded/sauced. Salad was tiny, skimpy on the cheese. Fried chicken arrived cold in the middle, sent back came back burned. Dessert was nothing great but was OK. Cocktails good. Service OK. read more

Just off the square in Natick Center, set well back from the street, is Buttercup. Last night, after years of failed attempts, we finally made it. Considering the meal we had, I'm regretting not getting there sooner. Over multiple courses, and 9 different dishes, the food on the plate was nothing short of fantastic, with three of them being arguably the best versions I've ever had. Artfully presented, perfectly timed, and with immaculate flavors that weren't overwrought, it's hard to argue that this isn't a restaurant that is in full stride and is confident and comfortable in who it is. Layer that with a relaxed atmosphere, incredibly friendly, professional service from a staff that goes the extra mile, and you have a place we will be returning to time and again. A word about the room: just beautifully done with lighting that shows the deft touch of a professional. So much so, that on a warm Summer's night, with the doors slide open, you'd be forgiven for thinking for a moment that you were an extra on a movie set. Just Incredibly well done. Buttercup; just go! read more

Had dinner there last night with my family. Able to have a table outside! Perfect service! Delicious wine and the fish tacos were amazing!!!!!!! Great place! read more

Third visit here and continues to disappoint. Bartender is way too busy to accommodate diners, long wait, little service. Food is pretty good not great. I had the ravioli it was satisfying but peas were hard. Hostess was overwhelmed, stood in line some time for my reservation then got a bar seat. Pass 3 strikes read more

Upscale, New American in the heart of downtown Natick. Love the whole vibe of this restaurant. We've been to Buttercup twice now and each visit was an outstanding experience. The Crystal Valley Chicken is our favorite. Delicious and expertly plated (it so pretty that you almost don't want to eat it). Fried chicken is also very tasty. Lots of cocktails and craft beers to choose from on the drinks menu. The only bad thing is that we are always so full from dinner that we've yet to try the desserts (which look yummy). Maybe next time, we will definitely be back the next time we pass through Natick. read more

Buttercup - Crystal Valley Chicken - Bars Near Me - Natick, Massachusetts

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Buttercup has been on my list of places to try but I haven't had any reason to be in Natick- until last weekend. Made a reservation for an early dinner on Saturday when I knew I'd be passing through. What a great menu- both the cocktails and food. I like to ask the servers to tell me about the menu items when I can't decide- my server raved about each dish but also differentiated to help me decide. I appreciate when servers know the menu and like/eat the food so they can describe it. I started with a-mazing squash blossoms and then the pasta bolognese for the entree. The bolognese was outstanding with 3 types of meat. None of the desserts sounded as enticing as the savory dishes so I had the cornbread for dessert (server's suggestion). My server knew I intended to take it to go but wanted me to experience the presentation (and take a bite) before boxing it up. Beautiful and delicious. Had two cocktails- one with vodka and the other with rum. Unique and refreshing. Service was friendly and attentive. Apparently the menu changes seasonally. They have a nice patio and comfortable indoor space with good music- not too loud. Great parking- street parking/meter and a lot down the street. read more

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We had the most amazing dinner last night celebrating our daughter's birthday. The patio was lovely, the food amazing and we really appreciated our server's attention in helping us celebrate. It is the perfect setting for a special occasion. Thank you! read more

Excellent food but they need to turn up the heat!!! If you have a portable space heater bring it along. Nice atmosphere though and great bar for dinner too! read more

This is a very good restaurant. The room was vibrant but not too loud. The drinks were creative and perfectly made and the food was excellent. Oh, and our server was patient, professional and fun. read more

We went here a few times when it first opened and thought it was a great addition to downtown Natick for upscale dining and interesting offerings. The few times we've been back recently haven't been so great. The menu isn't nearly as interesting or exciting and while the prices are still high the food and service is not. Hey, running a restaurant to a high standard month after year can't be easy but they've really slipped into a lower level of offerings and service. I'm not sure we're willing to give it another try for the price point but I'm willing to look at their menu once in a while to see if they have re upped their game. read more

No idea what these other recent reviews are complaining about. Had dinner here last night (Grilled watermelon salad, short rib, and brownie) and it was INCREDIBLE. Pasta is made fresh in house, short rib was cooked perfectly and was basically as soft as the halibut my friend ordered (also awesome). Service was good - friendly staff, didn't rush us, wait for food wasn't too long, pace between courses was great. We sat outside on the patio and the weather was extremely cooperative so no complaints. Didn't go inside so can't comment. If you're interested in a fantastic farm-to-table meal you should definitely check this place out. If I lived closer I would definitely make it a weekly ritual. read more

We Had a reservation but still waited about 30 minutes to be seated. The Drinks had nearly any alcohol in them. We did mention it and the waitress got more alcohol for one of them so at least tasted like a like and soda should. The Wine pour was also small. The food was good, but the portion size was extremely small so if you want to eat less, I recommend going there. They ran out of my husband's side choice and didn't tell him till after we had had our meals . So his meal came later after he picked a new side. The server was nice but drink orders took a long time and she had to be reminded to get them. Added to the bill was a Kitchen service charge of $13. Most people probably don't even notice it and pay a tip on that as well. These Kitchen people are salaried . We asked our waitress about it. Who showed us that on the menu there is a tiny section not noticeable that states they do that . She herself didn't even seem to think it was right to do. It was taken off our bill rather give her the money. Our bill was $350 with out tip. It's a beautiful cozy place, but Not much to choose from on the menu and not worth the money for what we got. read more

It was a busy Saturday evening at the Buttercup, and tables were filling quickly. We were ushered to our table for four, in the middle of this rather loud venue. Our waitress arrived promptly, and discussed the special with us, which was a little difficult to hear over the din from other diners. She invited us to review the menus and said that she would return. One of our party asked if they would provide the table with some bread. The bread and water both arrived quite quickly, and we thought the bread was excellent, fresh, a little salty and doughy. When the waitress returned after a spell, we each ordered a glass of wine, which ranged from $11 to $18 per glass. For appetizers we began with shared salads (we had to ask for plates, to share the salads when they were served): * Sunwashed farm arugula, edamame, English peas, homemade ricotta, preserved lemon vinaigrette - $11 * Quinoa, avocado, delicata squash, tomato, cucumber, champagne vinaigrette - $13 It took a while for the salads to arrive, longer than one might expect for salads. Everyone like the arugula salad better than the quinoa salad. The former had a very tasty champagne vinaigrette, with great flavor which didn't overpower the salad. The latter had an interesting presentation, but we found there to be too much quinoa and too little else. The flavor was underwhelming, and we wouldn't recommend this dish unless you happen to be a quinoa fanatic. For our entrees we selected: * Lamb chops, mashed potato, baby spinach, red wine - $30 * Hanger steak, hen of the woods mushrooms, fingerling potatoes - $30 * Pekin-Long Island duck, hazelnuts, umeboshi plum sauce, figs - $30 Two diners selected the lamb, one thought it was good, the other thought it was too salty and that the portions were too small. The diner who ordered the steak said it was nothing special, and he had a better steak the night before in Boston. I had the duck which I ordered medium rare (as recommended), and as soon as I cut into it, found it to be dry, tough and overcooked. I like restaurants where the wait staff asks diners to cut into their dish to determine if it was correctly served. At Buttercup, the waitress returned several minutes later, and I then informed her that my dish was overdone. She courteously agreed and asked if I'd like another duck. I accepted, but suggested she leave the plate, so I could sample the accouterments. She returned a few minutes later, however, insisting she had to bring the dish back to the kitchen so "they could see" how the original duck was prepared. About 15 to 20 minutes later, my new dish arrived, which was properly cooked, and overall was quite tasty. It would have gone a long way if a manager stopped by to see how the 2nd dish was prepared, or to take our temperature to see how the meal was progressing, or to merely apologize for the misfire. However that did not come to pass at any time during the evening. For dessert we shared an ice cream sandwich ($12) - vanilla ice cream surrounded by two brownies, with whip cream on the side. One diner liked this dish, one diner did not, and two diners though it was "OK". Service was somewhat spotty throughout the meal, with the waitress apologizing many times for the extended waits. I appreciated her polite gesture but would have appreciated attentive service even more. The waitress likely had too many tables and found it difficult to spend sufficient time with each party. The bill totaled $312 with tip. I reviewed the suggested Yelp rankings with the other diners, and received votes of 3, 3, 3.5 and 3.5. On this evening, Buttercup receives a 3-star review. Would I dine here again? Perhaps so, but I wouldn't go out of my way to do so. read more

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