To use the infamous Yelp cliche, I wanted to like it more but I couldn't. I was staying down the street and in need of some dinner, enter Harvard Gardens. It's a nice place, but has a touch of an identity crisis. Most patrons were more casual than one would expect when comparing it to the menu and decor. The space is nice; oblong with lots of dark wood and red-hued lighting. It's sleek and sexy, except for the two plasmas in the bar area. The menu is sophisticated, not your stereotypical bar fare. When I entered, I immediately suspected they were understaffed. It wasn't crowded, but there was only one server and one bartender on duty; no host or anything. By the time I left, the place was slammed and despite their best efforts, service suffered. I ordered a few Stellas and the spinach-artichoke appetizer. The appetizer was just ok, a touch bland but salt gave it the boost it needed. I think that they could have 86'd the parmesan on the tortilla strips, by the time I got one into the dip all of the grated cheese had fallen off. I contemplated ordering the tuna tartare appetizer, but am glad I passed. It looks mouth-watering on the website, but was plated completely differently when delivered to the people next to me. Watching them struggle to eat it from this awkward paint palette-like plate made me glad I decided to pass. This place is decent and the drink prices were quite reasonable, $4.25 for a pint of Stella was great! If I lived in the area I'd probably give it a second shot, and hope that the understaffing was a fluke. read more

What an utter clash of expectations versus reality. I was expecting shitballs on ice when I walked into this place. Dark... boringly boxy... that typically stank and bored feel I get when entering some pub in the middle of nowhere Essex or Franklin county Massachusetts....... Rhode Island even... Then my group of 7 pulled up to the bar. The bartender, a very no-nonsense lady took our drink orders, and we settled into our conversation on girls, sports, toe fungus, and that "hawtie at work" that we all fantasize about doing lewd and crude things to... especially if and when she comes to work without panties (because we all know THAT happens). The a couple of us mustered up the courage to admit...... "hey..... shit..... we haven't eaten over the last few hours.... and that pantie-less co-worker fantasy has kinda got me hungry..... you guys want to...... gulp..... eat something here?" And that was it.... we clocked in our timecards into gastro purgatory, and asked for menus..... and even inquired if the bartender recommended anything..... .... what do you know? A spark in her eye suddenly ..... well..... sparkled. The must-tries were the kobe sliders (I think that's what they were called), and some chili shrimp dish. I expected NOTHING better than cat-ass burgers. I got NOTHING less than PURRFECTION!.. ... and this is where I lose my Boston tuff-guy persona and bring out my inner Martha Stewart. Good LORD the food was amazing. After my first few bites of either dish, I actually avoided sharing it with my friends.... my homies.... my brotherhood of awesomeness..... ... fuck that..... every man for himself. This food is MINE! You may lick the shrimp tails and meat grease off my plate, but NOTHING else!! I don't usually lose my cool when reviewing restaurants....... (Ok..... that's a lie.... I'm an LA drama queen at least twice a month...)..... but HOLY SHITBALLS I LOVE THIS PLACE!!!! Yeah...... this is a gem hidden in plain sight. You HAVE To come here.... and at the very least...... order the shrimp and kobe slider..... with the egg...... omg.... fook this ... I'm going out for more.... read more

This is the kind of place with TV's all over playing the Redsox game although not too loud, unlike Manhattan pubs. Boston has it's charm.

outstanding service... Hostess flew across the room to greet us! manager apologized for the noise at the bar. waiter came to take out order immediately. nice selection of beer, wine and scotch. a wide variety of bar bites, burgers and salads. The deal: college crowd and mgh staff... just down the block from the mgh T stop. read more

I LOVE THIS PLACE! Two reasons: Red Velvet Pancakes and Corned Beef Hash. First of all, their red velvet pancakes is to die for. It's that good. It comes with a cream cheese frosting, and toasted candied walnuts. As if this weren't enough, it comes with a side of crispy bacon. Next, I hate corned beef hash. It's usually mushy, a mess of mushy salty beef and potatoes. This place FORCES ME TO LOVE corned beef hash! It's preposterous! It has big chunks of succulent beef, chopped squares of boiled potatoes and carrots. It goes so well with the eggs and buttered toasted English muffin. I've tried a few other things on their menu, like pork huevos, but it just doesn't compare to what I recommended. Hence, the minus 1 star. read more

Harvard Gardens - Extra side of bacon, only 5 bucks! - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Was in the Beacon Hill area and stopped for lunch at the Harvard Gardens. I immediately felt welcome, sat at the bar, and ordered a craft beer from Jack's Abby. I had the Rueben and truffle fries The Rueben was great and was served with cornichons. The sauerkraut cut through the richness of the corned beef well The truffle fries were good, having been 'truffleized' with truffle oil. Truth be told, the fries were good enough where they didn't need the overhead of the truffle oil. The bar seemed to be more of a standing bar as it was not very deep. We've all heard that it's better to eat in a bar than it is to drink in a restaurant. The Harvard Gardens seemed to blend the 2 very nicely. read more

Moseyed in for lunch on a weekday. It was pretty empty, but the decor was nice and tastefully Halloween-y with orange lights hung up around the space. We were seated at one of the corner tables. Cozy. The soup of the day was butternut squash. It only comes in a bowl, so it could easily be your meal since it's filling. My friend and I split one as s starter, and I'd say this is the way to go. This stuff squashed most of the fall soups I've had! It was creamy but not overly heavy and very flavorful. Like a warm blanket for your insides. The ginger tones really kicked it up a notch! For my entree, I ordered the oven-roasted turkey sandwich. This sammie sounds splendid on the menu. Walnut-pecan bread surrounding turkey, cheese, Granny Smith apple slices, and cranberry sauce. Like Thanksgiving in sandwich form, right? Wrong. It comes cold! Which was a shock considering the "oven-roasted" declaration in the name. The bread is toasted, so was slightly warm and crispy, but all of the innards were refrigerator cold. Boo. After one unsatisfying bite, we asked the waiter if he could warm it up in the oven. He kindly obliged, and after about 10 very hungry minutes, came back with new sandwiches for us. It was MUCH better afterward, with the cheese melting on the turkey and the cranberry sauce soaking into the crispy bread. Although it sounds weird, I actually enjoyed the sandwich more the next day when I reheated the other half for lunch. Everything blended very well and made for a comforting meal. But I wouldn't order something just to be able to enjoy the leftovers! And considering the trouble and delay of getting it warmed up at the restaurant, I'd say to try out something else. The butternut squash soup is better'n most though! Jump on it (or in it) if it's offered. read more

Had a terrible brunch here recently. We came on a Sunday morning, somewhat out of desperation as there are, in my opinion, very few good breakfast/brunch locations in and around Beacon Hill. The food was incredibly bland. Service was poor, somewhat unfriendly, and fairly slow. The place was pretty empty, but they were piping in high-energy rock and EDM like they're trying to suck in the next wave of boozy brunch going 20-somethings. A couple girls sat near us taking boomerangs of their mimosas. I have been here a number of times in the past for dinner - all experiences pretty mediocre. I would skip this place if you can. read more

Harvard Gardens works the "dimly lit funky restaurant" angle perfectly. You feel cooler when you enter, and after conversing with the friendly and attentive wait staff, you get a sense like perhaps you somehow own the place. The food is tasty and unique (lobster roll sliders, anyone), if a touch overpriced. The drinks, given the number of people at the bar, were slung often and well. This is a date place that is slightly more than casual, so hold off until date #3 to take the lucky guy or girl there. read more

This place is surprisingly good considering the price of the food. The Omelette of the day with the Home Fries (amazing) is a good deal. Last night I was surprised to find that they have pizza! I split the squash pizza with a friend. We added prosciutto and it was excellent. It was better than Flatbreads or Upper Crust (which are both over-rated in my opinion). Granted, they don't have a large selection of pizzas, but that is OK with me. Also, the service was good both times I went. read more

Harvard Gardens got a new chef within the last couple of years who definitely raised the bar with food. Unfortunately this also raised the prices. Their truffle fries are my favorite. I have had most of the menu items and I feel confident that everything tastes great. They have decent wines by the glass. The bar area is almost always lively. Located right across the street from MGH makes it an ideal place for after work gatherings. Good spot for sure! read more

Harvard Gardens - Lots if shrimp! - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Our last meal in Boston after a whirlwind trip to move my son to his grad school home. Harvard Gardens does not disappoint! There was some confusion with our order to begin with, as doordash erroneously canceled it. But we received a call from the restaurant stating that they would make it right and contact door dash themselves. We ordered the adult grilled cheese, burger sliders, and kids burgers which were all delicious. There was an issue with the ovens so we didn't get our creme brûlée but we got brownies on the house and a personal call from Chef John promising crime brûlée on our next trip. This will be our first stop on our return! Amazing service! read more

Lunch here is as at least as good as dinner. The reuben is great but I think the French dip has a slight edge. The fig and prosciutto pizza rocks. The French onion soup is pretty much perfect. Bailey is a delightful and skilled bartender/server who happily accommodated my weirdish requests.(Hey, Reubens are a high difficulty dive for me; they hit a solid 9.5. And I'm pickier about martinis than James Bond). The fries are fresh and crisp. With parm is nice, but I skipped the (almost certainly synthetic "white truffle oil."). I recommend you do the same unless they're shaving actual truffles on the fries one day. They have a bunch of beers; I don't drink beer much, but other people seemed happy with the selection. I didn't order it but they had "homemade butternut squash bourbon" and, while I love both, the combo sounds as appealing as chewing gum and peanuts or OJ and toothpaste. Someone braver than me try it and report back? Edit: Bailey let me taste it. Better than expected; a little sweet for my taste but not bad. I don't think I'd be able to drink much of it. Also Thomas is an outstanding server who knows the menu inside out and knows how to hit that perfect balance of attentiveness and too much. You know what I mean. His recommendations were spot on. Overall great experience. Will definitely be going back often. read more

Harvard Gardens - French dip and fig and prosciutto pizza - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Came here for brunch while staying in Beacon Hill. Wonderful service from hostess to waiter, our drinks were never empty, and the breakfast portions were huge and delicious! Also, if you come here during breakfast and don't try the red velvet pancakes, you've made a huge mistake. They. Are. Amazing. read more

Harvard Gardens - Eggs and bacon with potatoes, and a red velvet pancake on the side! - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Very nice place to let the workday behind you and enjoy time with friends! Good meat. Fresh sweet potatoe fries and a delicious dessert. Hot brownie with icecream. It was exactly what I was looking for! read more

Harvard Gardens - Sirloin Steak - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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While a relative was admitted to Mass General, we popped over a couple of times for dinner. The nursing staff recommended Harvard Gardens and we figured they couldn't be wrong. The menu has something for everyone, including tater tots. Maybe it's childish but they were the perfect addition to our burger and chicken sandwich. The service was great and we felt well taken care of. On one if the nights, which was a weekend, there was entertainment, which was helped us relax after a stressful day in the hospital. If we have to be in the area again, we will certainly stop by for a bite to eat read more

Stopped by yesterday with friend visiting for the day. Asked if we could sit outside, there were several tables and the hostess seated us quickly. Only one waitress but she could not have been nicer. My fault I did not get her name/cannot recall her name. My friend got the grilled chicken sandwich and I got the turkey BLT which was delicious, the multigrain bread toasted just right and the fries were really good and crispy. My friend is a picky eater but said the her sandwich was good, to me it looked excellent. Actually she was off a cruise ship for the day and eating light, because it is heavy with food on board. I got a ginger ale and she had water, so cannot comment on alcohol. I'm happy they still had outside patio but to note it is across from the MGH/Mass. General Hospital's Museum and front entrance, so there is the loud screaming of ambulances going by. And my friend's mom had one of those app location trackers and on her phone and it was showing my friend was at MGH -- so her mom panicked but my friend texted her to clarify we were not actually at MGH but at a restaurant nearby. Yup technology. read more

Great bar, good bar food, great place to watch a game or hang out. The bear selection is good and has several local options. The fries are delicious and the pizza is good too. read more

Came here on a late night for beers and snacks. Fantastic service and superb garlic fries. read more

I remember the first time I stood outside of Harvard Gardens. It was summertime, and I was looking at their food menu. Seems so weird now that I think about it. What I love about Harvard Gardens is that it is ALWAYS a scene inside and out. Outside people are arguing with the bouncer and the manager about who knows what. Inside you are usually packed like sardines near the bar and can't really move. I always have enjoyed my time at Harvard Gardens. I have eaten the food, but it was not memorable enough to be good nor bad. Also, Love that HG is far enough away so the north and south shore don't know where it is! HUGE PLUS! read more

Harvard Gardens - Weird light fixture that reminds me of Mac and cheese! 'mmmm - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Although there's typically a wait after shift change the drinks are good and the food is great. Once you finally get a table and order the food comes quickly. I highly recommend the chicken tenders and truffle fries. The Mac and cheese is tasty too. The turkey club always hits the spot as well. read more

Harvard Gardens was a great choice for a group of six for dinner. Great appetizers, very nice entrees from sandwiches to pastas to larger entrees. A nice drink menu including a variety of beers and wines by the glass. A big plus, they take reservations. The place is casual, loud and fun. Nothing amazing but really nice. There was a good crowd on a Friday night, a mix of young and old, a good number of hospital employees as well. I would definitely go back if I was in Boston again. Prices are fair and serving sizes are very nice. read more

Pulled pork sliders are freakn amazing . They put so much meat on I ran out of bread. I'm here for reggae fridays from 4-6 and 2 sliders made me full. Now time to fill up on these delicious drinks. I've come here before for lunch and their fish tacos and wings are also amazing . No complaints ! read more

Harvard Gardens - Pulled pork sliders - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Great pizza and burgers! Drinks were good and Prices were reasonable. It gets really busy so I would suggest a reservation if you do not want to wait. read more

GREAT SPOT AFTER A LONG DAY @MGH. Last night my girlfriend and I went here after finally hearing mom will out of recovery in two hours. We asked the information clerk what was good to eat, and he told us a lot of MGH staff go to Harvard Gardens for a beer and something to eat after work. It was a dark lil place packed with people, and the Bruins game was on, so it was good right out of the gates. The Russian Standard Mule was a great drink. Our waitress Ashley was awesome, she knew her menu, and descriptions were spot on. I ordered the Wagyu burger, which I heard were really good, but never tried. The way it was offered with a fried egg, bacon mayonnaise, and asparagus was interesting to me so I ordered that, or you can get it with plain cheese, both served on a nice big roll. I was also interested in the mac-n-cheese, which was which was a four cheese combo, Romano, Parmesan, Fontina, Mozzarella, they had an option you can get that with peas and prosciutto description so I ordered a side of that as well. My better half ordered the steak frites, which was a nice portion of steak with some awesome hand cut fries. The steak was cooked as she asked and had a nice juicyness to it. The Wagyu burger was awesome, and as soon as the Mrs. saw it she quickly claimed she needed a bite of it, because it looked so awesome. The whole burger and fried egg thing was awesome, the flavor of the beef and the soft texture of the egg was great. Personally the asparagus didn't woo me, and would have just as enjoyable without it. The side of mac-n-cheese was so impressive, after the second bite I asked Ashley for an order to go. The description of the mac and cheese with the prosciutto and peas might make people think Carbonara, but no this was nice and cheesey, they used small shells, which has tendency of getting filled up with cheese sauce in the little slit, and it was like little heavenly cheese explosions eating this stuff. My girl makes home made mac-n-cheese when I ask her to and it is awesome she was very impressed by this. I'm on the way to go visit mom at MGH now, and am already thinking of what time I will go there for lunch. The service - awesome ask for Ashley she'll come by to make sure you water is full, will ask if everything is fine, and actually served the table with a smile; I know unbelievable; the price $75 for three meals (I had the take home order of mac-n-cheese), was very reasonable, and the atmosphere was nice. I'll be back again!!! read more

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Food was good but the service was HORRIBLE. Took 45 mins for our order to be taken and another 45 for our food to come. Not to mention how they forgot one of our meals which took another 15 minutes to prepare on top of the 45. Waitress barely checked on us and when we asked for change for the money we put down for the bill, she took a percentage for herself before we could leave a tip. read more

I have been here a number of times and I have always enjoyed the atmosphere. The drinks are cool too. Tonight, I had the salmon for a second time-- and I am convinced that this is some of the best salmon I've ever had. And that is saying a TON since I'm from the Great Northwest! (Go Hawks!) I know about salmon. But this is so tender and juicy with a perfect flake. It's not overcooked in the slightest. In addition, the service tonight was fantastic. And as an extra bonus, it's right near Mass General Hospital so you have a great chance of meeting an attractive doctor or nurse! I recommend you stop in to Harvard Gardens sometime. Doooooo iiitttt! read more

Our Red Hat Society chapter, the Boston Baked Beings stopped by for lunch recently and the food was fantastic, service was great and we even convinced the General Manager, Mike Minchoff to wear one of our Red Hats for a picture with our ladies. Will definitely be back and if you are in the area and looking for some good food and ambiance you won't go wrong at the Harvard Gardens. read more

Harvard Gardens - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

What can I say? This place has been a staple for almost a hundred years. Ice cold beer, drinks, & great food. Burger + chicken sandwich were killer! read more

Really great place to get brunch on a Sunday morning! The place wasn't too crowded and the ambiance was extremely chill and relaxing! The food was also delicious!i got the avocado toast and it was amazing! I will definitely be going again!! read more

Harvard Gardens - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Ok since yelp seems to want me to finish my review here is my late review. Was in there a week ago today. Before I get going I want to say I have been coming to this place for years. I started going here when I was in college a long long time ago and every time I have come back to Boston I have stopped in there. Always liked this place no matter what changes it went through, place was always good but Harvard Gardens what happened to those big French fries you once had? You got Burger King making your fries for you? Yikes!!! Other than that the burger was really good especially for the price. Oh yeah this place is very reasonably priced. I love the interior of this place and the seats, please don't ever change the interior . The staff was very friendly and the service was good. They were out of a few beers that were on their list but that happens. Under the premise that the Burger King fries were just a temporary thing and for once again being priced very well, I will give a 4. read more

This place has quickly become my girlfriend and I's go to spot when we want a hearty meal, and fast and are too lazy to cook (so easy since it's right around the corner!) I've had both brunch and dinner here and each time it's been solid. For brunch I had the steak and eggs which was delicious, loved the home fries! Had a burger here the other night and it was delish. I had the sunrise burger with bacon instead of ham, my only gripe is it was very messy. I mean, I used a fork and knife, so problem solved. But just an FYI. They also have a great beer selection. Solid choice for something a little more casual in BH. read more

OMG BRUNCH. This place has a great one. We went on a Saturday morning just after 11am (when they open), and it was decently crowded, maybe half the place was full. The menu had pretty standard brunch food, with a couple of unique items. I went with the breakfast burrito, and my boyfriend had the Eggs Benedict. The burrito was especially tasty -- the eggs were nice and moist, accompanied by melted cheddar cheese and a black bean spread. I asked for the sauce on the side, and I'm glad I did because it was super spicy! There were a couple slices of avocado on the side, and the home fries were AMAZING. They were thick cut seasoned, and topped with Parmesan cheese. The best part was the caramelized onions mixed in with the potatoes -- a great surprise! The Eggs Benedict was better than your average Eggs Bene, since it included prosciutto and asparagus. Both dishes were amazing. The ONLY thing I can say for a con is that I really wish they had a patio or even open windows! It's so dark in there! read more

Harvard Gardens - Breakfast Burrito -- DElishhhh!! Best breakfast potatoes -- caramelized onions mixed in, and topped with Parmesan cheese. - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Safe bet. Great food, good drinks. Never had an issue getting a table. Not too much of a scene but a favorite of MGH workers, spotted some public figures dinning in as well. read more

Went there on Monday night for takeout. Ordered a grilled cheese without any sides. Still paid full price for it. It was the worst grilled cheese I've ever had, not to mention the most expensive. One piece of cheese on the sandwich which was burnt. It must've been left on the grill too long. The bread was burnt and the cheese! We couldn't go back to complain because we ate at our hotel and it wasn't worth the trek back. So much for a good last meal before surgery. Would not recommend. read more

This is really a 3.5 star review. Ever since we moved to Beacon Hill a few months ago, I have been asked several times by many people if we have tried Harvard Gardens yet. When my husband finished a shift at MGH and neither of us felt like cooking, the stars finally aligned and we went. It is right across the street from MGH so made for a perfect place to meet. We went on a Sunday night and sat down right away. I had the blueberry lavender lemonade cocktail which was good but had no lavender flavor at all. It was a standard blueberry lemonade. If you're going to have lavender in the name the flavor should be there. We shared the buffalo chicken tenders (I am on the hunt for the best buffalo chicken in Boston) and they were average, I don't think I would get them again. For our meals, I had the steakhouse burger and my husband had the grilled chicken sandwich. Both were extremely messy and difficult to hold/eat but were tasty. The French fries also were good but pretty salty. The service was good also. Overall, everything was good but not show stopping. I'm not dying to come back but would come back for a quick drink at the bar since it's location is fantastic. read more

I have walked by this restaurant for years. The other night I was out with my boyfriend and we decided to try this place. The hostess was super nice and lead us to the bar area. The décor is old Bostonian with dark wood and dim lighting. The bartender was so nice and attentive. She made our drinks REALLY strong. We weren't driving. I got a nice, refreshing Sangria. For dinner we shared the fish tacos which were not fried. They were light and airy with just the right amount of flavoring. They have large booths and ample seating. The bar area offers high top seating. I like this bar/rest because it is not crunchy and you don't feel squished. read more

The service here is not so great. We were basically ignored by the waitstaff for a while when we visited recently. And the food - just basic "meh" pub grub. You can do better than this in both the Beacon Hill and TD Garden neighborhoods read more

Came in with a larger party last week before a show at the garden. The decor is really nice with big leather booths and lots of dark wood. Started at the bar while I waited for the remainder of my group. The bar stools weren't able to be pulled very close to the bar... for someone my height this is important...due to a large bar for taller patrons to put their feet on. The summer breeze was ok. Old fashioned with mid-shelf whiskey was more expensive than I've paid at other places in the area for the exact same thing. When my group arrived we were sat right away and we started with a round of drinks and some dumplings. Flavor was good but too spicy for me. The rest of the table loved them. Once we were ready to order dinner, our waitress was busy chatting with a friend of hers for over 10 minutes. We were finally able to flag her down to order but it did take a while. Our food came out and it was about a 50/50 on the food. I was very happy with the wagyu hot dogs. Those who weren't happy with theirs ordered some variation of steak. My friend ordered the steak and cheese off the specials menu....he was extremely unhappy about what he was delivered. The bread was soggy by the time it came out, the steak was unseasoned and was very overcooked. We urged him to send the food back but he didn't. Another friend ordered the steak tips with awesome sauce. The steak was supposed to be medium rare but came out closer to medium well. The awesome sauce tasted like a weird combination of steak sauce and cocktail sauce mused together. Overall we weren't very impressed with the food or the service as a whole. Guess we should have paid closer attention to the reviews on the yelp page. Definitely won't be back. Which is sad since this place seemed to have a lot of potential. read more

Good food, good drinks, good ambiance. Will always have a special place in my heart as the unofficial MGH bar. But all will feel comfortable here. read more