We took our friends here on their last night during their visit from California. Partly for them to experience the north end but also because we had a gift card. We made reservations and were sat right away. Initially we thought the seating was great. It was upstairs in a smaller dining room. It was quiet and we were ready to have a nice evening, but then a large party of drunk middle aged professionals were sat next to us...They were extremely loud and obnoxious. We started to get a headache due to the noise and couldn't even hear our own thoughts. Luckily our waiter, a real gentleman and a scholar, asked the manager if we could be moved to a different table. The manager agreed but said we would have to wait ~20 minutes. During this time we did enjoy the shrimp cocktail, single serving of a 6-7 per/lb shrimp, ~12.99, several oysters , and a burrata salad. All of the appetizers were delicious. Our friends also had a couple of glasses of wine which they enjoyed. We were then moved to a table downstairs that was open when we first arrived. I had the Frutti de Mare, which I really liked, but I did find that I am not the biggest fan of gnocchi which comprises ~60% of the dish. My wife got a tomato based pasta, which was served in large pan. We were all amused by the plating because it looked like you were eating out of the same pan they cooked it in. Our friends got the Cacio e pepe and a lobster roll. They also liked their food, but my friend did mention that he prefers lobster rolls cold as this one is served hot. Overall a good experience aside from the other drunk patrons. read more

Delicious drinks, impeccable service, and excellent food made for an absolutely perfect night. The spicy martini, Maine stuffed lobster, lobster ravioli and arugula salad were all hits. read more

Another wonderful dinner at Mare! Great food, great outdoor dining and great service. We had the oysters and crudo to start. Both were good but the real star of the night was the lobster ravioli. So flavorful and not too heavy. In addition to the excellent waitstaff, we also made friends with the couple next to us. Everyone there is so lovely! read more

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Enjoyable, relaxing place for us. Service was excellent - provided by competent, professional pleasant staff. We sat outside, so I can't speak to what the interior is like. Outside seating is set up in the alleyway that where the entrance is located. So you are just looking at the brick wall of the adjacent bldg. However, it was surprisingly enjoyable due to it being fairly secluded and quiet. Food choices were all quite good. I've also experienced the same quality in Boston's north end for a somewhat lower price point, so that's why I'm four stars instead of five. Complimentary bread included olives (which seems to be a Boston thing we also received at other local restaurants, but not in other cities), oil, and an oil/pesto mix. The pesto option was a real treat. I really like pesto on bread, and don't normally encounter it eating out. My oysters on 1/2 shell starter was excellent. I cannot remember the oyster type I selected, but it tasted exactly as described - sweet with a buttery finish. The provided sauces included horseradish, cocktail, and an oniony vinaigrette. The vinaigrette worked especially well to add a little zip. Crabcakes were done well, as was the bufala mozzarella salad. The wife really liked her wild mushroom spaghetti. I'm not a big truffle fan, so I took her word for it. But I did taste the house made spaghetti, which had a spot on thickness and chew. I thought my lobster roll was excellent. It wasn't overstuffed with lobster - they go for quality rather than quantity. The lobster is torn into fairly small pieces, and mixed with green onions & other small green leaf garnishes. This gave it a full flavor beyond just buttery lobster. A win for Mare. Bread pudding dessert was delicious, if a bit small for splitting between two. And the dinner ended with our server bringing two complimentary glasses of limoncello as a digestif. How nice! read more

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This place over achieved in an amazing way. The oysters were amazing and the seafood risotto was insanely good. The service was great. I would recommend this place to anyone in Boston looking for local flavor and flair. read more

Reliable spot to take visitors, or just for a night out. The patio is fabulous in the summer as well as the fall, and the food is always good read more

I've only come here for restaurant week and the service was good even on a busy night, but the food was alright. A lot of the food was kind of bland/didn't have a lot of flavor, like the steak and pasta. The seafood was good though (as expected from an oyster bar). I would recommend them for the seafood, but maybe not for steak. read more

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This is the place to be. Our concierge recommended Mare and it did not disappoint. It's a bustling, packed, active atmosphere which was awesome. Definitely the place to be! We got a seafood tower, soup, and salad and loved it. Clams and oysters were not "fishy" at all. Our waiter was great and we got a bottle of Vernaccia we had in San Gimignano, Italy. Then, of course, a couple "famous" espresso martinis and the berries for dessert. All really good. We heard of fire pits there, but we didn't see them. We sat near the entrance. Speaking of which, the entrance wasn't obvious to us at first. It was down a little side alley. There's a sign pointing the way off the main road. If you want to go to the happening place in town, this is it. If you're looking for a quiet dinner, this wouldn't be the place on a Saturday night. Next time we are in Boston, we will be back. read more

Mare - Espresso Martinis - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Charged us a $10 bottle of Still water. Couldn't understand the hostess. Wanted tap. Rip off. Won't be back. read more

My first impression of Mare was fantastic, unfortunately- the service and food quality was not consistent. I was at Mare last week and our server was Adolfo. He was awesome, brought great energy and recommended wonderful dishes. Today, our server ignored our table for a good 20 minutes after we were seated, drinks were given to us half way though our meal and food was trying to be taken away as we were still working on it. They didn't ask if we were done or still working on it. We had to physically show them that we were still eating our food. I think icing on the cake was when they charged us for things we didn't even order, and mixing up our order when our meal was being served. Service and atmosphere are a HUGE importance to the vibe and experience. If you don't care too much about that, let talk about the food (combined food from both visits). We got the Surf & Turf, dozen oysters, some clams, truffle arancini and the sautéed mussels & clams. The surf & turf and oysters were great, would recommend getting these! The others- I'd pass. For entrees , we got the linguine & clams vongole, salmon, and filet mignon. All were ok.. The linguine was dry and wasn't well seasoned, pasta was chewy. For the filet mignon- Honestly, I didn't know what to expect coming from a predominately seafood restaurant. It was presented well on a cutting board, the sides were -- lighter dipping sauce, sautéed spinach and creamy mashed potatoes. The server didn't even ask how we wanted it cooked (Ended up being medium rare). The salmon was mediocre - honestly could've air fried salmon and laid it on a bed of caramelized onions. For dessert, I got the chocolate soufflé - which tasted more like a half cooked cake or brownie. Souffle are supposed to be light and airy. This dessert tasted dense and very sweet. Overall my rating is average of both my experiences. But at the end of the day, I probably won't go back. read more

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Best oyster selection in Boston. Wonderful appetizers and pastas. The best pasta was the mushroom pasta for sure, but everything we had was done really well. The bartender made excellent cocktails and our server Judy was the best. She didn't rush anything and made excellent recommendations. I also thought it was really nice that the managers came by our table to check on everything. Thank you for a fantastic experience. read more

Perfection! They have the best outdoor seating that is heated. The oysters were so delicious. I didn't try any other dishes. Their Nutella martini was very good, drinks are strong. read more

Mare - Nutella Martini @food_ie_gram - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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The service was amazing! We have never had a cleaner table before. The food was perfection. We had the octopus appetizer, scallop appetizer, and linguistini and all of it was insane. We also loved the Caccio peppe. Awesome food great service. 10/10 read more

We had a reservation, and grabbed a seat by the bar while we waited for them to get the table ready. Had some peroni beers while we watched them shuck oysters, and saw the display of seafood behind. My boyfriend and I thought that we were kind of hurried through, in terms of the service. Aside from that aspect though, it was a delicious meal. We did the Dine Out Boston 3 course meal. The standout, for me, were the oysters. It was chef's choice, and I thought it was a good variety- all extremely fresh, and none too overpowering. Before I knew it was chef's choice I was thinking to order all Wellfleet's because I love those, and have enjoyed them while in Wellfleet in the past. My main was the salmon, which came with fennel and onion underneath, and a delicious creamy sauce that complimented the salmon well. The salmon was slightly more under in one part than I would have liked, so I guess specify if you would like it cooked a little more. The dessert was excellent. They took a humble bread pudding to the next level. Dried figs inside are a great idea! read more

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Ambiance: music quite loud Wine: Pinot Noir was corked, and last bottle. Food: oysters were excellent. Seafood salad was okay, but the vinegar overpowered the seafood. The saving grace was the pesto and olives served with the bread. read more

I have been coming to Boston for my husband Business trip. This just became the most favorite Italian seafood restaurant! Circumstance: outdoor to look at the high buildings in the day time to night time. It's very cool! This setting makes you feel like somehow you are trapped to the small alley restaurant in Italy. Taste: all the flavors are very tasty! Texture of the homemade pasta is incredible. Presentation: very sophisticated Such a jewel! We found. read more

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Very pricey and not the best portions but they had nice decorations and a great overall vibe. We got free tiramisu for our birthday guest and it was really tasty! Food was great but definitely felt a bit overpriced. read more

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Had the most beautiful meal here last night for my birthday. Absolutely delicious, the food is the best quality I've had in the north end. Oysters, montepulciano, bufala, gnocchi and dark chocolate mouse were all a DREAM! read more

Mare - Homemade Gnocchi Frutti di Mare - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Elegant decor. Warm, friendly atmosphere. Great interaction with the team. Adina keeps us coming back each year when we are in town. Drinks were phenomenal. Lemon drop martini with limoncello. Nutella martini. Fabulous award-winning traditional recipe espresso martini. We will be sure to stop back by next year when we are in town. read more

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Mare is one of my favorites in the North End, and at this point I've tried most of the restaurants. Great oyster selection/wide range of choices for Raw bar, cocktail menu, the pasta is to die for, and the vibe is lively and exciting. The Tagliatelle is unbeatable, it has a wonderful truffle based sauce that is light yet flavorful and the lobster portion was pretty generous! Finish the night with espresso martinis or their "Sunshine" cocktail and I guarantee this will become a go to in the neighborhood! read more

Mare - Tagliatelle con Aragosta - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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The fresh seafood was superb. We also tried the tagliatelle and the risotto, both were great. Cocktails were on point. Service was flawless. It's not a huge place so reservations are a good idea. Pretty atmosphere. Seems like most seating is outdoors on a front or side patio, so pick a nice weather night to go. read more

Mare - Mare Half Shellfish Tower - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Went here for my girlfriend's birthday. The restaurant is a little hidden from the main street. The service is really great here. The food is very flavorful and just filling enough. We got more bread to use with the sauce! The waiter was really sweet and surprised us with a complementary "Happy Birthday" dessert. read more

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Best seafood in the north end and fun vibes. I'd recommend the seafood tower and the lobster ravioli. Get there early enough to sit around the fire, fire seats are the best ones in the house! read more

Mare - Drinks and my grandma - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

The gnocchi was delicious. Must try! Lobster ravioli obviously delicious. The zucchini blossom was very good as well. Very creamy and tasty. Small portions though especially the mozzarella. The wild mushroom spaghetti wasn't my favorite. Was a bit dry for me. read more

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Horrible service - seems like the servers/hosts are not well mannered. Very disappointed and not worth money / time. read more

Celebrated a birthday here during Dine out Boston and had such a pleasant time! If you particularly love seafood, you'll have a great time here because the seafood here is fresh and cooked wonderfully. For my three-course meal, I chose the following dishes: First Course--Mussels and Clams: I found this dish to be really, really good. I loved the broth that it was cooked in; super flavorful that I found myself just sipping on the broth all on its own once I finished all the seafood Second Course-- Risotto Frutti di Mare: again, really good! The risotto and seafood were cooked to perfection and the serving of seafood very generous so you got some heavenly seafood in each bite. Third Course--Chocolate Tortino: omg, so decadent. Really can't go wrong with this one, it was the perfect way to top off the meal! All in all, I had a really good experience here at Mare. I would say this is a pretty solid option if you're looking to eat at Boston's North End. I particularly love the atmosphere here--they have an outdoor eating area (though it is insulated during the winter) and there are bonfires right in the middle of the restaurant that you can actually sit right in front of (on a first come first serve basis). It makes the place feel very cozy and intimate, which I love! read more

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Amazing vibes and delicious seafood, the views and fire pits are so breathtaking, it's in its own private area right off Hanover street, we enjoyed the tableside service too. Wonderful bartender and servers. We love coming by! read more

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What a disappointment! I ordered coco e Pepe and for $40 I expected a delicious entre. It was served cold! The Branzino was a good sized portion . It was fair: lacked taste and seasoning. I ordered a cannoli for desert and they came out with 3 mini unexciting pieces. I sent it back as the menu misrepresented it. We also ordered a chocolate soufflé which turned out to be a lava cake. None of the waiters knew anything about the food and could not answer simple questions about it. All in all, it was nice sitting outside on a pleasant night but the food was disappointing. read more

I checked out Mare to kickoff my 2023 Dine Out Boston experience. The menu was full of delicious choices and it was hard to pick, which I thought was a good sign. I started with the surf & turf. The scallop was perfectly seared and the braised short-rib was tender and soft. The mashed potatoes were also seared into a delicious potato cake. I recommend getting a little bit of everything in your fork for a perfect bite of bliss. For my main entree, I had the linguine & clams. It was beautifully arranged and the pasta tasted so fresh. The sauce was yummy but did not overwhelm the natural flavor of the clams which I really enjoyed. It was a little difficult to get the clams out of the shell but eating them is worth the work. Finally, I concluded the meal with a chocolate soufflé. It was warm and gooey. The whip cream went well with it but I wish I had vanilla ice cream. All of the portions were perfect, not too much and not too little. The place had a nice upscale vibe to it and it was well attended. I'm only giving it 4 stars because I felt the service could have been a little better. The person greeting at the entrance was not the most helpful when we asked about a coat check/closet. I also felt we were rushed. It was not terrible service but it lacked the warmth and hospitality of other Italian restaurants I've visited in the area. read more

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As a Bostonian, I'm always on the hunt for a great oyster. Mare had a nice offering of local oysters, we enjoyed selecting and found the descriptions listed to be accurate and helpful!! Tagliatelle Con Aragosta was delicious, lobster tail was a bit stuck in. Restaurant itself felt odd- we were sat in enclosed patio which had wobbly seating and tables , and was rather drafty. Waitstaff seemed to be a little disinterested and on the snooty side which was a bummer. We ordered a decent amount of seafood and found our treatment to be a little rude! Probably won't go back--food was great, but service was not. read more

Fantastic server- he was great! Food was so fresh! The branzino was delicious as were the squash blossoms and drinks. Will definitely be back. read more

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Fresh cacio cheese with black pepper and black truffle pasta made table side is a must so delicious, fresh oysters and tuna tartar. Nice restaurant would recommend read more

Mare - Tuna tartar - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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The restaurant is tucked away in the busy north end of Boston, but such a great hidden gem. We started with their famous Espresso Martini which was refreshing and delicious. For entrees, we had the Lobster Ravioli, Tagliatelle Con Aragonsta, and the 12oz Filet with a side of Lobster Mashed Potatoes. The Lobster Ravioli was our favorite. It was exceptional, filled with large chunks of lobster topped with a creamy sauce. The ambiance and service are 10/10. They are very attentive to you and give great recommendations. I highly suggest Mare. read more

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This is one of our favorite Boston restaurants - especially in the summer when the roof to the "patio" is open. The food has been consistently delicious and is versatile enough for all sorts of pallets and preferences. Consequently, it's been a great place to bring friends. I like to try different dishes every time we go and my wife always gets the same thing. We both come away happy. The only way that Mare could improve is with the vibe. It feels very busy and impersonal. The service is great; however, my preference is for a friendly/familial vibe. We've been to Mare a number of times and we see different staff every time and nobody has acknowledged that we're repeat diners. read more

Absolutely delicious and awesome vibes on a summer Saturday night! We sat by the outdoor section and had nice airflow and enjoyed oysters, lobster ravioli and pasta. My husband and I enjoy a date night in the north end away from the kids and this did not disappoint. The tiramisu at the end was displayed and put together at the table and was SO tasty. Can't wait to go back! read more

Mare - Decaf coffee with surprise cookie on the side with Tiramisú - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Lovely ambiance, an amazing stuffed lobster and out of this world Carpaccio and Gnocchi. read more

Mare - Seafood Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Food was great! Standard Italian fare - we tried raw oysters, lobster cocktail, table side cacio e pepe, and the squid ink pasta. Our waiter was attentive and we always got what we needed. Came a little early and sat at the bar with delicious drinks. Seating is super important for the vibe here! We were seated in the rooms upstairs, so it was much more intimate and quiet. Downstairs definitely had more party vibes. Valet parking is available are Bricco down the block. read more

We had dinner here during restaurant week and it was amazing! The surf and turf appetizer is to die for! I can't wait to go back and get that as my meal! The salmon was also fantastic although I wasn't asked how I'd like it cooked and a section was a bit too raw. My boyfriend enjoyed his steak as well. The restaurant was full of waitstaff and they were very quick, at times we did feel a bit rushed but overall the experience was great. read more

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I went to Mare during dine out Boston week, I loved everything about it. Food was amazing,service great!atmosphere beautiful,can't wait to go back.!! read more

My family went there for Christmas, the food was delicious, but we got charged $20 for water. Not happy