I found myself in familiar territory and surroundings when I returned stay the Lakeview Inn hotel…read morefor a night, away from metro Boston in early May 2025. I arrived here via uber and decided to have dinner at the hotel's main restaurant, the Lakeside Tavern. This Yelp review is for the restaurant only and not the hotel. I arrived here around 9:30pm. I opted to get dinner here first before checking into the hotel for the night. The service that night I was here was crazy slow. They had loud live band music and the vibe here was generally an older crowd on a Thursday evening in May 2025. I found a seat next to the bar near the kitchen and after 15 minutes of waiting for someone to take my order, I walked to the cash register and waited for someone to arrive. I ended up getting one of their signature meals for the evening and that was that. Since it was close to 10pm that evening, the music was winding down. I ended up waiting about 20 minutes for my food to arrive. It came in a takeout container with a plastic bag. I would have gotten something at Boston, Logan International Airport, but it was after 8 PM when I arrived and nothing in the terminal was open for me. With that said, I was happy that the Lakeside Tavern was open for anybody and everybody who was wanting to be there. For lunch, dinner, or just hang out and listen to live music with adult beverages. For me, though, I just need dinner after a long day of travel to Boston from Honolulu. I was glad that they were until 10 PM, otherwise I would have took an Uber to see what was around at the time near the hotel that serve food. The overall experience at the lakeside Tavern here in Wakefield, Massachusetts was typically OK, although I was starving and wanted quicker service that night. While the service was very slow, it was nice to partake in the live music that night. The ambiance was chill and friendly. The service was friendly and welcoming too. For the most part though, the experience here was pretty good and most likely will come back again get my troubles permit me to do so. I'll try to get here as quick as I can, but then again their travel is normally the same as it was 10 years ago. The restaurant itself was very clean, although it was dark enough to wear I can't see much. I just was glad that this restaurant at the hotel I was staying at for the night was open and grateful that they were still serving food while I was there. If you decide to stay at this hotel, consider dining in the Lakeside tavern because it is basically on property. You don't need to go elsewhere for your meals if you don't need to. If you're lazy like me, this restaurant is your best bet if you're staying at the hotel. Definitely recommended if you are one of those people who just don't wanna leave the hotel for some reason if you're staying here at the Lakeside inn in Wakefield Massachusetts. The Lakeside Tavern is located inside the Lakeside Inn in Wakefield, Massachusetts. As soon as you enter the lobby, the entrance to the restaurant is on your left. Can't miss it. It is physically located at 595 North Avenue in Wakefield. They accept major credit cards as well as cash. As far as parking goes, they have a generous and huge parking lot for anybody and everybody who wishes to come here to stay or dine. Or both. Please share the parking spaces with a few other commercial retailers in the vicinity. There is a bank nearby, if you need cash. There is actually public transportation service to and from the hotel into Boston. I did not know this until my most recent trip here and decided to save a little bit of money and ride the local bus service into downtown Boston from Wakefield. It was pretty cool. Don't recommend it if you are traveling in the evening and don't know where you are if you are a tourist. So yes, there is public transportation options to and from the hotel, and they will depend on your original destination, whether it is the Amtrak station or Boston Logan international airport in Boston. And with that said, they have a limited menu, so be prepared for anything they have. The prices here were decent for any restaurant in the area. But if you're desperate and hungry, it's kind of worth it, especially when you're staying at the hotel for the night and you're starving. Which is what my situation was at the time. It was a quick stop for dinner that ended up being something other than quick. But if you like the loud live music to decompress after a nice day of traveling or a hard day at the office, consider coming to the lakeside Tavern for a good meal and to decompress. I'm sure they have alcohol service here, but I did not want to drink so late at night. 3.5 stars for the overall experience, mostly for the slower than normal service. But it is pretty good 5.0 stars for the location, because I was staying here. Support local! C+

Teen Birthday party- I was so pleased with this place for my…read moreTerns bday! The staff were very responsive and so helpful! Katie was an excellent bartender making mocktails for the teens. The food and cupcakes were good. The added some extra touches with the food display. We had the BEST time! We had about 75 kids and the space was perfect. I would definitely use the space again if needed!

Had my first time of many dinners at Laurie's. A place I've driven by but never noticed. I read…read moreabout this place on an online group and had to stop by. I would give the vibe a townie dive bar with good food. We were strangers but welcomed when we walked in. Everyone was ordering food and drinks, all looked yummy. We picked out our table and got some drinks. Looked at the specials and the menu and my mom decided on the steak tips (with baked potato and side salad) and I had the shrimp and scallop with red pepper sauce. The steak tips were big and juicy, great portion. Maybe needed more marinade or some steak sauce. We asked for a hot sauce for the baked potato but there were none. We had also asked for a steak knife, but there were none. Cut the steak with a "sharpish" butter knife. Side salad was just a side salad. When I ordered the shrimp n scallop, it was also on the specials but they were out of scallops (very sad). Instead they added more shrimp but the price remained the same even though shrimp n scallops cost differently. Oh well, I got 8 large shrimps! The sauce was AMAZING, I loved the flavor very much. The noodles were done well and I enjoyed. The shrimp looked a little translucent and tough but ate a few, I was a little nervous. Brought the rest home for leftovers and to heat up the shrimp. The portion was fabulous. Excited for those yummy leftovers. Our service was alright, we had to ask for refills, reminders a few times on other items but the food came out fast. We got to meet the owner Laurie. She was very very sweet and you can see how hard working she is. I love to go to a restaurant where you see the owner cares and enjoys what they do. It was great, she was great. Can't wait to come back again and try some more delicious food!

Best experience and service! B, Chrissy, and Laurie were amazing. I got food to go and it was…read morefantastic. We got the fried chicken sandwich and Nashville chicken sandwich. It is cash only but that's because they want to keep their prices low which is awesome. The vibes were perfect with the penny bar. Definitely will be coming back!

Bartender was fun and the food was good. I had the tomato soup and mini grill cheese and it hit the…read morespot on a cold afternoon. Great beer selection. Great find!

Underwhelming and disappointing brunch…read more Vibe: Clean and modern, bar + tables. Service: Fine, the server was kind enough to change our bill with regards to the below issue. Food: Lots of appetizing looking menu items but the food I got was disappointing. Ordered the French toast off of the brunch menu that lists real maple syrup in the description. The French toast was a good portion with lots of blueberries and strawberries on top, but it was rather dry and served with fake maple syrup. The server said it was the only type that they had and she didn't realize real maple syrup was listed on the menu...I took it to go to eat at home with real maple syrup. Value: The disappointing French toast with fake maple syrup was $21...way over valued, even with the current economy's inflated prices. Accessibility: Side parking lot, street parking, ramp to entrance. Overall food was overpriced, not very good, and not as listed on the menu, would not return.

Another solid lunch at nobility Hill! Went with my daughter again, and the server was so sweet, so…read morekind, and so attentive!

Great attentive staff - we have been in here multiple times after getting out of the theater…read more Seems to have a local crowd that is loyal and it's very warm and welcoming to all. The food is good but the overall family vibe is what separates this place from most. It's just a place you want to do well and thrive.

Stopped in for one last lunch before bidding the Boston area adieu. My sister lives in Stoneham and…read moresuggested this spot, thinking it would have something for everyone in our crew. The menu? Vast. Like, "do-I-need-a-compass-to-navigate-this" vast, with plenty of options. It's always amusing to me how different parts of the U.S. have their own regional food quirks (like here in MA, where steak tips, roast beef sandwiches, and open-faced turkey sammies reign supreme). I was stuck between a couple of local specialties, but our delightful waitress, Haley, steered me in the direction of the Thanksgiving turkey sandwich, mentioning they roast a turkey every day (cue angels singing). I swapped out the fries for onion rings, because, duh! This sandwich? It could have fed a small village. It was a beast. A delicious beast, but an unwieldy one. I ended up abandoning the bread for the good stuff and tackled it with a knife and fork. All in all? Absolutely scrumptious. Bonus points for the bathrooms, which were clean as a whistle, and fear not! If you're afraid of missing the a Celtics 3 pointer or a Red Sox baseball toppling over the "green monstah" while nature calls, there's a giant screen perfectly viewable from the toilet. Yes, you can literally watch the game while you pee. Talk about a win-win situation!

Local 438 has a Mary problem. One of the worst bartenders I've ever encountered. Was in there a few…read moreweeks ago and she told me and my friend to calm down at bar when we're debating sports (no swearing or inappropriate language). Fast forward to tonight and she did the same thing - told me I was being too loud at the bar when everything was fine. Told her it was a bar not a library and she mocked me that I was being a baby. Will NEVER go to Local 438 again (live in the area and go there twice a month at a minimum) and will make sure to spread the word. And for the record, some random guy next to me earlier in night said when Mary doesn't like you, she's incredibly unpleasant and unprofessional. So I know it's not just me. Good job Local 438 - lost a semi regular customer for life.

Early Harvest Diner in Wakefield, MA is a solid neighborhood breakfast spot with a…read moresmall-to-medium-sized dining room and a good amount of seating. They offer regular table seating, counter seats, and booths. The booths, however, are pretty uncomfortable--despite having a cushion, you immediately feel the wooden board underneath when you sit down, which takes away from the experience a bit. We went around 11:00 AM on a Saturday and were seated quickly with no wait, though I can imagine on a busier morning there could be a decent wait time given the diner's size. The menu has a good variety, but pricing can be a little confusing. Some menu prices don't always reflect the final cost due to fluctuating egg prices. There is a sticker noting this, but it's easy to miss and may not be obvious to customers. We ordered the steak and eggs, which came out to $20 and was cooked nicely to a true medium rare. The hash browns weren't overdone and had a great crunch on the outside. The pancake we tried was very fluffy, and their iced coffee was genuinely delicious. We also ordered the Double Double, which also cost $20 and offered a decent portion of food for the price, along with sausage links as a side. They do offer real maple syrup for waffles or pancakes, though it costs extra. One thing I found to be a flaw is that the maple syrup and ketchup on the table had no labels--personally, I like knowing the brand or ingredients of what I'm eating. The same went for the hot sauce they offered; it was served in an unlabeled glass bottle. It tasted very similar to Frank's RedHot and had the same consistency, but it would be nice to know for sure. The staff is kind and attentive when it comes to taking your order and delivering food, but once the plates hit the table, check-ins are minimal. If you need something, you may have to flag someone down. Parking isn't bad since it's located in a plaza, and there's additional parking in the back if the main lot fills up. Overall, Early Harvest Diner is a nice place to grab breakfast with your family or significant other without breaking the bank. The food quality is solid, but the vibe could benefit from a refresh to feel a bit more cozy and modern.

Popped in for breakfast this morning on our way through town. Based on reviews, we thought it would…read morebe a good find and it was - customer service at the door was excellent. Our waitress was not the most pleasant but the rest of the supporting team were superb so for that reason, I'm not going to hold it against the establishment because all around the rest of our customer service experience was terrific. The food is good diner food. It's a diner so don't expect too much ambience. Just expect to be seated and to enjoy some food. I will say the food also arrived very timely. That's good to make out of. I highly recommend getting the patriot you will not regret it. It is an indulgence, but there's fruit involved so consider that Points for yourself sit down and enjoy really a nice fine. Don't let the outside of the place dissuade you from going on inside pop in and enjoy.

Amazing service and amazing food! I tried the buffalo…read morecauliflower, wings, chicken tender and fries plus the farmhouse burger, it was all delicious.

What is not to like about Harrington's? I have been in a couple of times now and have had…read moreconsistently good experiences. On my visits, I had Sam Adams Juicy IPAs with a really good beef stew. Another time, I went with a Maine Lunch and corned beef and cabbage over St. Patrick's weekend. My companion had a chicken wrap and a couple of glasses of Chardonnay on one visit, and the Irish stew with more Chardonnay on another. The menu is strong and covers all the classic pub options well. I have posted photos of it. Inside has that classic Irish pub feel. Cozy, a little tight when it gets busy, but that is part of the charm. It tends to draw a crowd, which is always a good sign. Service was decent. Maybe not the fastest, but always friendly and courteous, which matters more in a place like this. Overall, this is a reliable local spot with good food, solid drinks, and a welcoming atmosphere. I am writing this after just a couple of visits, but I am sure I will be back. Two thumbs up. Sláinte.

Loved the Christmas lights! Locals seemed to know staff, friendly vibe. Nachos were great! Thanks!read more

A nice eatery in downtown Malden MA! We stopped in during a trip to have lunch with family and…read morewhat a nice gem! The service was fast and friendly, the food was quick and tasty! This is a must stop if you're in the area, the cute atmosphere is perfect for a causal dinning experience.