Having never been to CitySide, I can't say that I saw it before its recent renovations. I can't really compare the two. What I can say is that the place looks really nice, and the drinks are good. I started out my evening with a Jack and Diet Coke before going over to beer: it was a good start, and the price was decent. Overall, the beer and drinks prices weren't too bad, with most draft beers around $4.75 for the good stuff. I didn't get a chance to try the food, but it looked good. The entire bar/restaurant is really nice: there's a lot of area for people to hang out in, and the upstairs is nice for hanging out (sadly the outside was closed by the time we got up there, but it looked nice). Our waitress was a little overwhelmed so I ended up going straight to the bar, which worked out fine. Service was good upstairs. Also, major ups for having a decent jukebox variety. read more

We went to CitySide last night for the first time since the renovation. My first thought was..For all the time it was closed it looked like they just did a new paint job, closed in the ceilings and blew up the 1950's bathrooms (built and last cleaned the same year). However, the upstairs is completely different with all new windows throughout the building, TV's everywhere and a cleaned upside patio area. Our service was excellent. The food is good bar food. It was served quickly, it was hot and of decent quality. Try the Thia wraps, they are awesome. Several other reviews are dead on about the sound system. When we first arrived it was ok but around 6PM the bartender cranked it up to a deafening level. They really need to work on that aspect of the place or get a bartender with better hearing. read more

I sat out on the roof deck on a beautiful day for a passable Mediterranean salad. The sun was bright, the waitress was friendly, and the company was good. Unfortunately I ignored the somewhat slippery pieces of spinach and wrinkly cherry tomatoes in the salad, and I'm here an hour and a half later to inform the world that I just spent an abysmal 15 minutes in the bathroom. -4 stars for destroying my stomach, +1 star for a really nice roof deck. read more

My girlfriend has lived close to this place for 2 years, and just yesterday was our first time going to it. It is two stories, the second story you can eat outside and look over the view. We went at lunch time and I really enjoyed the food. We had Santa Fe Eggrolls, which had chicken, corn, cilantro, and a bunch of other stuff, in an egg roll shell, with a spicy mayonnaise. They tasted best with the mayo. She had the California Burger with onion rings and I had the Stuffed Fireman Burger with waffle fries (due to hte fact that I have had crappy fries, or frites, at a few other restaurants). Her onion rings looked alot like the Boston Beer Company onion rings, but they didn't explode with grease in your mouth when you ate them. Both of the burgers were very good and made perfectly. The service was friendly. That's a plus. I'm hesitant to put 5 stars on the place. Something seemed off about the place, I can't put my finger on it, but 4 stars is pretty respectable in my view. read more

CitySide is only a decent bar for Boston but it is an above average bar for Cleveland Circle and the other outlying areas (Allston, Brighton, etc.). I will say that the deck makes it an exceptional area to grab a beer and some dinner during the week but I definitely wouldn't make this my ending spot. I've gotten the California burger both times I have come here and was very satisfied both time. They give you a wide variety of sides which is pretty cool so they definitely have the food aspect down. Food is probably a little more expensive than typical bar food, but I will say that it was enjoyable. Decent selection of beer as well, just not a fan of the fact that its simply BC kids (I know don't go to a bar across the street if you don't want to be with BC kids blah blah blah but I'm still going to complain about it). Definitely not the best spot to go to if you are a beer connoisseur though (Publick House is right down the road). Overall, lots of BC kids, decent food for a bar, and the roof deck is sick. read more

Great atmosphere for a sports bar! The food and drinks were delicious. Service was friendly and professional. We went on a Friday night - expect a wait any weekend or big game night for dinner! I recommend the veggie nachos and any flavor of fries. read more

A large group of NC State alums met here last Saturday before heading to the BC/NC State basketball game that afternoon. No real complaints but it seemed like they were not at all prepared for our numbers even though we'd called ahead and let them know who was coming. We had one overtaxed waiter for about 30 people. He did a good job, but could have used some help. The nachos were good, but my Southwestern Turkey Burger order didn't get entered, mainly because of the overtaxed waiter not any purposefully bad service. He was very apologetic when I mentioned it to him just to make sure it wasn't on our bill. I'll definitely go again as I've had good experiences here in the past read more

Jimi D and I finally made it in to City Side a week ago to check out the renovations... it looks great, now with a wrap-around bar, "hidden" kitchen, and dark wood. They also keep the upstairs open late night for drinks as they 86'd the service bar and built another one, maybe 20 seats or so... Not so great? It looks like the Joshua Tree... no more NTN trivia (way better than Stump!), shots are 1/2 the size... and no more Greg. He was the best...! read more

I don't know man. Whenever i have people visiting in the spring or summer I always bring them here. For one reason, outside seating. There is literally no reason to come here otherwise. It smells like beer floor 24 hours a day and the food is a shade above TGI Friday's. I'm not even sure that's true, but it does come off a little fresher. The bar is always busy at night with typically an older 30 somethings crowd which is nice in this little college neighborhood. I want more from City Side, which is unfair, I should just appreciate it for what it is. A place to sit outside 4 months a year and drink a beer read more

5 of us went here for Sunday brunch. The menu was small and unimpressive. The restaurant was not busy but the food took an extremely long time to come out. One of our friends meals never came, our server assured us multiple times it would be out soon and they would speak to the manager to see what they could do about compensating us for the inconvenience. 20-30 minutes after everyone else has gotten their food, his plate came. One of the eggs on his Benedict was soft poached, the other extremely over cooked. When the bill came, there was no discount and no mention of the unpleasant experience we received. Furthermore, for the food we received, the price points should be drastically lowered. Our server was perfectly pleasant but this establishment should step up their kitchen, management and training policies. We will not be returning. read more

Horrible customer service! We made a reservation weeks in advance for a large party that they confirmed two days before. When we got there, the restaurant had canceled out reservation without informing us. They were not willing to work with us at all and would not seat any of us. Very bad experience. read more

The food here is on point. Top three: Spaghetti & meatballs- seriously awesome Steak tip salad - the tomatoes are great Tacos The atmosphere is fun, the service is great ...all around 5 stars read more

Nice local bar not to crowded most of the time bartenders are really nice and the drink prices is reasonable food is OK Nice local place to hangout read more

3 years ago I moved from California to Boston and ended up around the corner from good ol' Cityside. The site of many, many drunken nights. I have to say, it made my year of living there only that much more enjoyable. read more

I was so excited to go back to CitySide since I probably haven't been there since I lived in Brighton, which was oh...about 2 years ago. My cousin just moved to the area so I wanted to show him one my favorite spots. We went upstairs to be seated and the hostess asked if we were eating dinner- we said yes. Then she asked if we were playing trivia- we said no. What does she do? She seats us at a tiny bar table right next to the announcer for trivia! Why didn't she seat us on the left side of the stairs which is diners-only and much quieter? Strange. Maybe she was trying to spread out the tables for the waitresses. Although ours didn't seem too excited to get another table. I don't think she cracked a smile the entire time. I checked the menu online before going, just to confirm that they still had my favorite BBQ Chicken Pizza, which they did. So I ordered it, all excited, and what do I get? Flatbread pizza! I must have made a face when she put it down because she asked if everything was ok. I said yes, and ate it of course, but yuck- why would you put the normal amount of pizza toppings on flatbread? I usually see it used as an appetizer, which just a light amount of toppings. Also- the BBQ sauce was not evenly distributed on the crust- it was only around the outer edge by the crust. Don't get me wrong- I still ate half of it and brought the other half home for my boyfriend- but I was very disappointed that it was not the same. Things can't stay the same forever! I just wish I knew it was under new ownership before I went. My cousin ordered the chicken sandwich with fries and it was good he said. Another positive- I like the new bar upstairs and all the new flatscreens. read more

Do not eat here! The food was horrible and even looked like it was expired! I would never serve anyone the nachos they served us. We also wanted to sit outside and they wouldnt' let us because they said it looked like rain but then 10 minutes later let another group sit outside...if i want to take a chance sitting outside in the rain LET ME! read more

CitySide Tavern - Curdled sour cream - Bars Near Me - Brighton, Massachusetts

Well, I suppose CitySide is good in the sense that it's very convenient to where I live and serves alcohol...but if that's the only thing I needed out of a restaurant, then it would have gotten more stars. The service here is typically very sub par, you'll be seated (or seat yourself downstairs) and it's almost like a game of cat and mouse trying to get your waitress to pay attention to you. If you drink your water, don't even think you'll be getting a second glass, because it likely won't happen. You need to savor your water. The food I've ordered here has always been lacking. From nachos that are pieced together entirely out of canned contents, to queso that's luke warm and chunky, to pizza that's slightly singed...I mean, I'll eat it, but I won't like it. However, they have alcohol, and their bartenders are much more attentive and friendly than their waitstaff, so that's a plus. They make decently strong drinks and will also make you drinks they haven't heard of if you tell them what goes in it. The sangria here is so so, nothing to write home about though. read more

Had the best time at Cityside tonight. Beers were cold, crisp, and delicious; food (new menu!) was AMAZING. Had the cheddar and chive tots and the nachos which were both heavenly. Restaurant was clean, tables being sanitized heavily between customers. Service was very attentive--Karleigh was very friendly. We sat outside on the patio with beautiful lighting and excellent music. I've been coming to Cityside for years, and it's even better than I remember it pre-COVID. read more

Great atmosphere and excellent brunch! Been coming here for years. The bar staff is awesome

Really convenient and cool place to pre-game. Welcoming to the BC opponents, this pub has plenty of tv's, good fare, and drink. There's often a line to get in but it's worth it. You're right at the end of Beacon Street nearest BC. Sit at tables or the bar. There are sandwiches, burgers, with plenty of fixing and apps. Lotsa SAM on tap! Prices are very fair. Service was excellent. Perfect place to relax and fuel up before a game with the family or friends. Will definitely be back game or not. read more

Hmmm. We were greeted at the door by bouncers checking ID, whose power must have gone straight to their head. When my over 40 yr old friends got asked for their ID I said "oh I bet you like that" to then in a fun way. The bouncer then took my ID looked at it and said "your not that much younger Ms 1979!" uhhhhhhhhhh it's too early of a night to act like a Jackhole Mr. Bouncer guy. Seriously, not nice. We sat on the deck that had the loud AC units blaring and blowing the bad air in my face. Totally unimpressed with this join. I had a vodka cranberry. The first one was very good and strong. The second was completely opposite. One of my friends got the fish and chips meal and that looked pretty good. Continuing with the bad service at the door came the bad service at the table when the waitress told us that we had to pay our bill so she could close out (it was before 11pm). Ok. Then we got moved inside where we saw her again and she refused to get us drinks while we were at a table because she wanted to go home and was waiting for other people to pay their tab. Alrightly then. We went to the bar and got drinks. When we left after midnight there was a line at least 30 deep waiting to get inside this joint! Really? Oh yeah college times where that was "the best night of my life" I guess that at 30 years old I must be too old for this place. My college bar days are over and I like decent service and a martini. :) read more

This a quick convenient place to get a bite. They have plenty of space to watch the game which is very convenient and a very nice outdoor patio if you are just looking to hang out with friends. Downstairs they open up the windows onto the street and it's a great place to sit. The food is average to good but the drinks are really fantastic. Also sitting at the bar, the bar tenders are really great. The drinks use a lot of fresh ingredients not syrups and flavoring which is surprising for a sports bar. Overall great option. read more

Fantastic bar. Great food and drinks available all the time. Upstairs deck is very nice during the fall. Gives a great view to watch the hustle and bustle of Cleveland Circle. The loaded tots are one of my favorites. read more

LOVE the Cobb salad. Friendly staff, always got take out haven't dine in, but planning to. read more

I am disappointed that I only ate here once or twice during my time at Boston College since the food was quite delicious. Drinks were reasonably priced and I often had a lot of fun with my friends after splitting a pitcher or two. I am not the biggest fan of one of their bouncers who would not let my friends and I go upstairs one Thursday night, after we waited in a line outside while it was snowing. The bouncer was too busy hitting on a girl to count the 35 people that had left from upstairs before he let us upstairs. He then got in my face and I feared that I was about to be knocked out by the large man, when I asked if we could go upstairs since so many people had left. read more

Let's just say that if you're looking for good food, this is not the place. However, if you're looking for a clubby vibe and some alcoholic beverages, this place will do. We've given this place several chances and the food is never good. Probably a fun place to watch some sports. Just grab something to eat from the Circle or Pino's or Eagles ahead of time. read more

So--this is kind of a cute, typical, corner bar. We ordered the three taco special. The one with the red slaw was decent. A solid B taco--maybe a B+. The other two, with the fried onions on top and the tilapia were pretty bad, honestly. The tilapia taco was quite fishy--not in a good way. The one with the fried onions on top didn't really taste like anything. The waitress was nice if very business-like and with not two seconds to spare or even smile, really. Skip this one and go next door to Jade Monkey. read more

So good wow!!! I got an amazing Buffalo caesar wrap! Such an awesome idea because I can never decide between the Buffalo wrap or the Caesar wrap! The waffle fries were so good too! Great overall vibe at the restaurant as well read more

If City Side had better food, I'd give it five stars, hands down. The location can't be beat (right off of the T, lots of street parking, close to the reservoir). There is indoor and outdoor seating. There are two bars, and two levels. The waitstaff is great (although a little bit slow in bringing the bill). The beer selection is great. But... the food. It's basically bar food on a small menu. It's better than many other bars in the area, but still not worth another star in my rating. Even so, I keep coming back to City Side, especially during the warm months! read more

Great top deck. Friendly crowd. Good service. All around a decent place to hang out. read more

Oh, CitySide. You're located so close to me but you never impress. I come here often with friends to grab a drink or two. When it's busy it can take a very long time to get noticed before you get your drink. I have eaten here many times as well. The last time I came in with my sister and brother-in-law was the worst. We waited about 15 minutes before we were greeted upstairs and it took about another 10 minutes to get waters (which were not what we ordered). We overheard our waiter saying to the table next to us that it was only his 8th day in the country, which explained a lot. We went in on an afternoon the World Cup was on and the place filled up quickly. However, our waiter was the only one on the second floor. We understood the delays, but we couldn't believe a restaurant would leave themselves that short staffed on a big game day. My sister and I got the quesidillas, which were good but very small. Just have to say that if you order an extra salsa (so my sister and I could have our own) they charge an extra .50 per condiment. CItySide is an average place with average food and a good night life. read more

This is solely a review for the Wednesday karaoke night. Nothing annoys me more than a bar where the owners seem to have thought, "hey, we have five square feet in a corner and an electrical outlet, let's have a karaoke night!" The lyrics screen is on the wall, so you have to have your back to the bar in order to see the song. if you're an attention junkie like me, you'll appreciate how awkward the setup is. The KJ had the ability to download new songs, so I am proud to say that I introduced CitySide to some "Gucci, Gucci" karaoke. The sound system just sounded off, though, and I think it made some people sound screechier than they would have otherwise. (Not me, though, I am a veritable nightingale. Oh yes.) Finally, I was beset by both fruitflies trying to get at my drink and roving swarms of bros in suits trying to get at the songbook. Nothing amazing, but I'm sure I'll be back since CitySide is two blocks from where I stay when I'm in town. read more

This is a solid 3 star place. As far as the food goes, nothing here is special. It's probably a fun place to drink and maybe grab food if you are sitting outside but don't come here looking for a fantastic dining experience. You have to leave Cleveland Circle for that. CitySide is pub food, which is sometimes all you're looking for. Anyways I went to brunch last weekend and got a breakfast burrito, hold the bacon (it still has sausage for all you meat lovers out there). I'm pretty sure there were at least 8 eggs in that burrito, which was btw at LEAST 2x as big as chipotle. And it came with home fries and a fruit cup, so you definitely get a good bang for your buck here. I have been other times and the portions are definitely huge. Drinks are reasonably-ish priced, and service was friendly! read more

This review is for the food/service only on an afternoon meal. The outdoor seating is very nice, but the food was less-than-spectacular. The chowder I ate was like water - it really was quite a poor excuse for soup. The steak tips that my friend ordered were actually really good, but my other friend's pulled pork was not that great. We all ordered the chips & artichoke dip as an appetizer - the dip was just like my soup - watery and no flavor. I ate it because I was hungry and the chips were fine, but I got the impression that this place isn't that great for a good meal. read more

This is an update to my 2008 review. Cityside has undergone a renovation of its building and its menu over the last few years, with mixed results. First, the good: The new building is definitely nicer than it used to be. The layout remains fairly spacious with the upstairs and downstairs bars and seating areas, and the roof deck is always fun for good-weather meals (though there can be a bit of a wait to sit there). The general vibe remains pretty relaxed, and with all of the TVs you can definitely keep up to speed on how your teams are doing. Now, the mixed: Though the menu has also seen some improvements, the quality of the food can be really hit or miss. A month ago I had steak tips here that were utterly delectable, and the turkey and pear panini has also been really good when I've ordered it (especially if you get it with the waffle fries, which are always crispy and amazing). But then I tried the fish & chips this past weekend and the dish was borderline inedible: the fish was so overcooked I could barely cut it with a knife -- couldn't cut HADDOCK, one of the flakiest meats in existence. That ain't right. My dining companion also got a burger, and while the meat itself was fine, the waitress did not ask how she'd like it done (which would have been medium) and it came well-done -- so it lost a lot of the flavor. Additionally, the menu here seems to change every six months or so: I came here last year with out of town guests, and one of them got a pulled pork pizza that was to die for, but it's no longer on the menu (and the "build your own pizza" list does not include any of the necessary ingredients). A few other things that had caught my eye in the past have also gone missing, though their chocolate peanut butter pie is finally back, and that's terrific news. Bottom line: I know I'll wind up eating here again at some point, for convenience's sake if nothing else. But I'd advise all patrons to tread carefully when selecting their fare. read more

Trivia Night! Seating is scarce but I'm ok with standing at the bar, especially with the friendly but not too friendly bartender that keeps my beer glass full. Trivia lasts for a couple of hours but has decent variety and a good Trivia Master. Good Times. read more

Came here for the Clemson-BC game on Saturday. The place is decent on the inside with two floors. It seemed pretty clean, then again, we were there at 10 am! The second floor boasts an outside deck, unfortunately, we did not sit out there. The service was good - even though it started getting packed as time went on. Our server was attentive and didn't seem rushed. I cannot speak for the food, since I did not eat. However, some at our table ordered dip and some other apps and said it was good. All in all, seems like good spot to catch the game or pre-party on game-day. read more

It's kind of hard to rate a sports bar when you are not into sports, but I guess I can give it a shot. There certainly are a lot of TV's here, so you can be pretty sure to catch the 'action' so to speak of your favorite team. It can get quite loud, so it's not really a good place to try to stop in for a quick bite and some conversation, but there seems to be a lot of yelling when people watch these sports events, so I guess that is expected, maybe the players can hear you, who knows. The menu is decent and quite yummy. They have a decent beer selection. While in my opinion this place is not worth going out of your way for, I think it's a good place to hang out and catch the game read more

Truly the quintessential college bar and grille in the area. The food is not amazing, it's decent pub faire, but for the price offered and proximity to Boston College it's the prefect place to stop by on your way out into the city or just for a casual meal during the week. The staff could be faster and more attentive, but they're mostly college kids so I suppose you can't expect perfection. The bar attracts a slightly older crowd but is better priced and open later than Roggies and cleaner than Maryanne's. I have heard some horror stories about CitySide and thus can't disagree with some of the other reviews. This hasn't happened to me so I can't really comment on it. read more

Cityside is a good hangout for a neighborhood with few other attractions and the food is not half bad. It's often overcrowded with loud college kids who make it hard to hear yourself think let alone have a conversation with someone else. When the weather is fine the outdoor seating is lovely and it's actually one of the place's main advantages. Sports fans would definitely enjoy the 8(?) HDTVs tuned to ESPN all day round. read more