Pros: 1.) Awesome cocktails 2.) Awesome food 3.) The fritters 4.) The fried buffalo Brussel sprouts 5.) The fritters 6.) Friendly staff 7.) The short rib gnocchi 8.) The fritters 9.) The Sunday Brunch 10.) The food specials Cons: It's always crowded because it's so good. read more

Highland Kitchen - Corn and Oil drink (terrible name, awesome drink) - New American Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Love love love highland kitchen. We live around the corner and the food, service and drinks are always great. The one thing that would make us come more often is changing up the set-up. The two-person tables in the back are just way too close to each other - that plus the loud music can make it really tough to hear each other / have a normal conversation - we've experienced that a few times including tonight, when we could barely hear our (otherwise awesome) server. Minus one table there would help space them out just enough to make it bearable! read more

This review is for brunch! Went with 2 friends for brunch on a Sunday at noon and boy was it packed! Had to wait 30 minutes. The vibe was chill and there was live music which was awesome. I got the chicken liver omelette which was surprisingly good. The liver was a little chewy but the omelette was flavorful. I tried the shrimp and grits as well which was fuking bomb! The Dirty Bird (chicken and biscuits smothered in gravy) was delicious as well. Although I don't like brunch, this place isn't a bad place to be! read more

Highland Kitchen - Chicken liver omelette and grits - New American Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Neighborhood gem. Great traditional local bar / restaurant with a bit more character than most. Menu was small but quite broad, and they are great with any customizations or substitutions. There will be a crowd, and likely a bit of a wait, but they do a great job managing that. We enjoyed waiting at the bar for 1 while a table opens up. read more

I've had dreams about the shaved kale salad. Nice place for grabbing a quick drink at the bar or dinner inside or outdoor with friends/family. read more

I've tried most of this menu and I haven't had a thing I didn't like. The atmosphere is a warm, low key pub vibe and is almost always hopping with people. The food is consistently delicious, the cocktails are very good, and the service is fantastic. Definitely a gem I wish I'd discovered sooner. read more

So good! Packed house for Sunday brunch but the service was great and the food was even better. We got seats by the bar started off with the Texas Chili with skillet cornbread - amazing! Also on the menu - pulled pork sandwhich with grits and house-made pickles. The Carolina BBQ sauce was super vinegar-y and hit the spot. The grits, let's just have a moment to appreciate their deliciousness. Last but not least we also had the huevos rancheros. This was a recommendation from our server and I'm so happy I listened to him!! It's truly an art form to make the perfect runny egg that cures all hangovers and highland kitchen did just that. Didn't try the bloody Mary's but they looked perfect. Must go back for dinner! read more

Highland Kitchen - Texas-Style Chili! Such a spicy and delicious appetizer for brunch. The skillet cornbread makes it! - New American Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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Great food! Especially when it's cold! When I walked in the door, I was a little confused because there was a thick curtain blocking the entrance but once we passed it we were met with good, fast service even though they were extremely busy! Awesome!!! read more

** READ THE ENTIRE REVIEW I came here and waited over 40 minutes for a table that was estimated 20 minutes...HOWEVER, Sarah is a phenomenal manager and rectified the situation as soon as she was aware. The food is phenomenal and staff are just as great!! read more

3.5 stars Came for Sunday brunch so there was a wait as expected. The place was packed and there was a live band playing. Overall fun vibe and good atmosphere for brunch! We were seated after ~45 minutes. The drinks were good, but some of the food items weren't all that great. We started with beignets which I was really excited about, but to my dismay, they were extremely undercooked - major bummer. I got the shrimp and grits as my entrée with a side of grilled cornbread. The shrimp and grits were served with collards, smoked bacon, and mushrooms - all things I love! The sauce it was topped with was also tangy and delicious. However the cornbread was so dry I didn't even bother with it after a couple bites. There are much better brunch spots to go to in the Boston area, but I would like to try Highland Kitchen again - maybe for dinner next time. read more

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I never reviewed Highland Kitchen? I WORD OF MOUTH THE SHIT OUT OF THIS PLACE. Everything I've ever had here has filled my mouth with joy and delight, but, most especially. The Mark and Stormys. This is the cocktail OF MY DREAMS. HK. I love you. I loved you more when you has a sexy ginger bartender to oogle. But I still love you now anyway. read more

Found this place through Yelp and came here after 9pm on a Thursday night. It was packed. The bar and all the tables. People started to filter out as the evening progressed, but what a crowd! The food portions were generous and we had a great meal and service. The roast 1/2 chicken was super fragrant and moist. The mussels were in a tasty sauce! We ended the meal with warm brownie and ice cream. Mhmm! Would definitely recommend! read more

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man this place is good. We got there super early as we were starving (like 530) and Just missed the waiting game rush! Yay us! He got a PBR (cheap) and I had water but the food. Oh the food! That goat stew? Try it= who cares if youve never had goat ?Youll love the carribean flavor - and heat! I had the 1/2 chickem- and yeah super flavorful and yummy. The brownish gravy was just a tad salty for my tatses but I loves the sweet potatoe hash too. JUst go- you dont need my review or anyone elses to try this place. Its a win win read more

Highland Kitchen - New American Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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Great place to have some drinks And to have decent food with affordable prices. I enjoyed my grilled chicken with broccolo and it tastes fresh and juicy. The only disadvantage is the waiting! This place do not accept reservation so you will have to wait and sometime can be more than 40 min. Luckily you can have few drinks on the bar while waiting! read more

Highland Kitchen - Grilled chicken - New American Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

My colleague told me about this place 4 years ago and it took me 3 years later to start coming here. Why did it take me so long? When I come here, sometimes I feel like I'm coming here for my crack fix... that is the Fried Catfish and Grits with a side order of pancake, coffee and on occasion, that damn delicious Bloody Mary. With its unique offering of Southern comfort brunch food, it's no surprise why there's always a wait. (On average, I wait about 25-45 min because it's so worth it and very reasonably priced!) The Dish: A perfectly fried catfish atop half grits and half okra-tomato gumbo with 2 fried eggs over that! It's perfect. Sometimes I just really want to lick the plate clean. Now, that pancake. Let me tell you, it's just perfectly fluff with the right sweetness sprinkled with a little of powdered sugar. I mean really, how do they do that. It's not your average diner-esque cakey, dry, unexciting, dull pancake. This one literally makes you giddy inside. When you take bite after bite, you just can't help but keep that mouth closed savoring every second of sweetness and good aroma until you have to swallow. I try not to talk when I'm having that pancake because the goodness is over before you know it. Oh, and on Sunday's (the only day I've gone) there's a live, small band that plays in the corner. Nice addition. read more

Overall I would give this place a 3.5: The goat stew was fantastic- I wasn't sure how I would like the goat, but everything blended nicely with a light spicy kick to it Bolognese was a huge disappointment- it looked amazing but had a weird sour taste to it Mac and cheese as a side- good but could've been cheesier with a stronger taste Banana bread pudding- can never go wrong with this menu item, but can't compare to some of best I've had like at Magnolia Bakery read more

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Great breakfast,very hospitable owner but just a little slow on table service but if your not in a rush I recommend it.

I've been craving fried chicken for weeks, and I'm so disappointed. I love Highland Fried, so I figured I would order from the pop up. What I got was cold, soggy chicken, cold and greasy fries, and a CHILDRENS JUICEBOX. I'm not kidding. Seriously disappointed, won't be coming back. read more

Love this place awesome food great people, cocktails out of this world, killer vibe, always makes me smile!

Don't bother. It is a shell of it's old self. Food stinks. Portions are small: The regulars have been chased away. Sad times in Somerville. I was a steadfast regular but now it is sad remnant of times past. read more

Fun neighborhood spot with delicious appetizers and main courses. Everything we ordered was good. Service was friendly and attentive but not intrusive. We will go back again soon. read more

One of the true local "gems"... unfortunately, from opening to closing, they are packed. Fans wish that they would move into a stadium sized location... but would then lament the loss of the personal space atmosphere (as humans, we always want our cake and eat it too, but can't have it both ways... but still want it all). What makes them so special is that they reject the standard Irish/American/processed food, fast-frozen BS bar food menus. OH, and their beer selection doesn't suck either, but good luck getting close enough to the bar to order one. One positive - in the time of Covid... probably 90+ % of their customers have been vaccinated... because THEY BELIEVE IN SCIENCE. read more

This place is totally adorable. Love the lights, the bustling atmosphere, the homey/comfy feel, the delicious-looking menu. We came on a Sunday night and were seated right away. We started with the FRIED CALAMARI, possibly the best I've had, great crispy coating and a smoky dipping sauce. The BLACKENED CATFISH PO' BOY was ridiculous, just like melts in your mouth with this really good remoulade. UGH. So good. The JAMBALAYA SPECIAL was just okay... like nothing notable about it at all except they put oysters in, which were good. But 2/3 winners on the menu, reasonable prices, and a great venue ain't too shabby, I'd totally come back. Although... it is a freaking TREK to get out here. Had to take the T and then a bus in the freezing cold.. and yet I would STILL come back for some of that po' boy... read more

The first time my husband and I went here, it was a cold winter Wednesday night and the wait time was 1/2 hr. Pregnant and too hungry to wait, we left vowing to return. The second time, we went right when the restaurant opened for dinner. No wait. For appetizer, we had the lamb taco. It was wrapped in double layers of this soft taco with a a slightly burnt taste. You have to be careful when biting into the taco. The juices will gush out. Maybe this is why there is two layer of soft taco? In my opinion, too much soft taco and the burnt taste makes the taco taste even more dry. The lamb was a bit gamey in this dish and I didn't quite enjoyed it as much. The lime didn't help either. Maybe a crunchy taco would have been better? The second dish we tried was the shrimp and grits with mushroom. I thought my husband was silly to order this entree but it turned out to be the best dish of the night. Everything was cooked perfectly. I love the buttery taste of the grits, goes well with the saltiness of the shrimp, and the earthiness of the mushrooms. Well balanced dish. However, the dish that drew me to this restaurant was the spicy goat stew. As it turned out, this dish was absolutely delicious. The only complaint I had was the taste of the goat meat was very noticeable. I mean, I know I am eating goat meat and it tasted just as it should but for some reason, I was hoping the goat would not taste like goat meat but that is silly of me. Overall, still a very solid creamy and slightly spicy curry dish. Great take on curry. Decent size portion. Great for sharing and not consuming all by oneself since I think the goat flavor is a bit overwhelming if you are not used to eating goat meat. Definitely going to come back and try more dishes. Great customer service. Restaurant has parking. Restaurant can get packed very quickly. read more

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This place is a gem. My MO with Yelp is 4 stars / 2 $$. Highland Kitchen was a winner. We got there are 830 pm for a late dinner. The service was prompt. The food was excellent. I had the Pappardelle Bolognese and my wife had the Ratatouille . Both meals were excellent. The restaurant was busy. It is noisy but heck it has a bar on one side of the room. If I lived in the neighborhood, it would be on my regular rotation. read more

Omg the food here!!!!chef's kiss. I got the half chicken and it was delicious. I would definitely return.

Came here on a busy night and had to wait about half an hour before being seated. The staff was very friendly throughout our experience; however, it was slow at times when we were waiting for our main entrees. I got the spicy coconut goat stew with plantains. If you can't handle heat, shy away from the goat stew. I thought I had a high heat tolerance before I tried this dish. Don't get me wrong--it was very delicious--but my mouth was practically numb halfway through. I also got the Kale and Shaved Brussels salad. This was simple and delicious. No other comments needed. I would return to try more things on the menu, and possibly to eat the goat stew once more. read more

My friend was super excited to finally check out Highland Kitchen. He apparently watched a foodie video way back when that seriously raved about the Goat Stew. So for our foodie adventuring, we had to come! Location-wise, it is super inconvenient if you're not from the area. The nearest T stop is about a 20 min walk away, so you gotta depend on some pretty unreliable buses to get you here. When we arrived on a Friday night around 6:30pm, we were seated instantly. The place was packed and bustling, but we still got a good amount of attention and great service. My friend ordered the famous Goat Stew and I ordered the Spaghetti Squash Pancakes. The goat stew was gooooood. It had awesome spices and flavors that were very Asian-influenced. I liked that it wasn't too rich nor too creamy, making it easy to eat spoonful after spoonful without being bored by the flavors. My spaghetti squash pancakes were above average. They were a bit too mushy for my taste, and I was a little disappointed how small the portions were. But it was a surprisingly healthy find on the menu! Overall it was a pretty tasty, affordable meal. I don't think it's worth the trek though unless you're already in the area. read more

Highland Kitchen - Spaghetti Squash Pancakes were a bit too mushy for my taste. - New American Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Went here for brunch. Loved the ambiance and the live music. The service was really great but the brunch itself was super underwhelming. I hate when the entree descriptions make your mouth water yet the actual food itself is so bland. The cocktails on the other hand were great! I would honestly come back for lunch or dinner as I'm willing to see if it was just the brunch that was the misstep. Over I thought the food was average. 3/5 Food 5/5 Ambiance 5/5 Service read more

In addition to a welcoming atmosphere, the food experience was exceptional. Our party of four ordered at least 10 different menu items which offered a wonderful balance of flavors. The kitchen staff need to be applauded for both preparation and presentation. We ended up sharing everything we ordered because all of the food was just "that good". We are from out of town, but will certainly be back on our next visit to the Boston area. read more

Spicy Nashville sandwich is as spicy as advertised, beware. Fries were unreal, decent beer selection. Atmosphere was great and service was excellent. read more

This place gets a %100 across the board atmosphere, food, and especially service Me and the fam here from ny visiting her sis And had a awesome time thanks Guys read more

Highland Kitchen - Buttermilk pancakes - New American Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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We came from Daytona Beach to Boston to spend my 51st birthday with our daughter who had just moved to Somerville. Thanks to Yelp she found Highland Kitchen and the reviews served this establishment well! I was on the tail end of a SUPER STRICT diet. Our server was amazing and very understanding! All I could have (that was offered due to the strict regime) was the Romaine Lettuce (paid for a large Caesar salad) add in large grilled shrimp (nothing allowed to be cooked in shrimp -no oil or butter - just Shrimp, salt/pepper. I used a fresh sliced lemon as the dressing. My husband and daughter were able to enjoy their amazing dishes that was mouth watering! The overall ambiance is super cool! Funky yet Relaxing. Highly recommend this not only for the superior service but the food, & bar is outstanding! read more

Highland Kitchen - New American Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Food drinks and service were all real good, price was a bit high for what it was. Will probably be tho

Great good and vibe. A pain to get into much of the time, but worth it if you do.

I lived in Somerville years ago and came across this gem. I still go out of my way twice a year to come back for the Jambalaya or Fried Chicken. The Juevos Rancheros is also legit for breakfast. Worth a stop by read more

Perfect neighborhood spot (although sadly not my neighborhood). It amazes me how this place is always packed! But don't let the inevitable swarm of hungry people discourage you - the wait for bar seats is shorter than tables (and makes for a more fun meal in my opinon!) and the window seats are first come, first serve. For dinner: the buffalo brussels and the goat stew are as good as you've heard. For brunch: don't skip the hushpuppies: the perfect appetizer after a long wait. The huevos rancheros and fried catfish reminded me of my favorite North Carolina and Texas brunch spots. Great for a low key date night, brunch with the girls, or weeknight dinner at the bar. read more

Highland Kitchen - Huevos rancheros and catfish + grits - New American Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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This review is based on my first impressions... In a nutshell, the things I like about this place is the ambience and the food. What I don't like as much -- the location and the staff. Let me start by clarifying the "dislikes". It's not that the staff is unfriendly. It's that they appear to be more "staff" than "your waiter". They come by, take your order, then take your order to the back. Our waiter was friendly but seemed to always be "in a rush", which is not the type of energy I like to be feeling when I'm sitting with a group of friends for brunch. Despite this, I would like to point out that our waiter was very accommodating in that he helped separate my tab from the table's check so that I may place a separate to-go order for myself (it was the beignets. I had to take some home, I could not resist!) When you walk in, you may notice that right above the hostess's head, is the head of a mounted antelope, or stag. Don't be frightened -- he's there for all the same reasons you are. I love the "old saloon" feel of this place. Now, the food. I ordered The Dirty Bird, which is their customer favorite: bacon, an egg and fried chicken, all sandwiched between a biscuit, generously dressed in meat gravy! Personally, it felt like the presentation was more appetizing than the dish itself. That's not to say it wasn't good, but that the meal was a tad on the dry side and was easy to fall apart. My friend ordered the Shrimp and Grits. Very tasty! if you and your company are down to split some appetizers, I recommend you go for it. They all look good. Our group went with the beignets and the hush puppies. Lastly, Somerville is on the opposite side of where I spend most of my days, so this place is certainly out of the way unless you live here. Just remember, there WILL be a line to wait in so make sure you plan accordingly! read more

Highland Kitchen - Beignets! So fluffy! - New American Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

The food is delicious, the atmosphere is great and there's talented live music on Sunday's. Great experience every time

5/5 stars. Great prices, great quality. I got some starters--Shrimp N Grits 10/10; Calamari 9/10; and fries 10/10. The portion size of the Shrimp N Grits was perfect and the dish was very flavorful. The calamari were crispy, but I wasn't a huge fan of the red sauce for dipping. The fries were crispy and just the way I like them! I will be back! I think I just found my go-to place. read more

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