Orleans is a great place for either an elegant meal with a date or just to hang out with your friends and couple of drinks. Place especially fun on Friday and Saturday nights; there is a dj and a crowd of people in their mid and late twenties. I recommend it. read more

With a name like Orleans, you'd expect the food to have much more flavor. While the menu sounded impressive, the execution was subpar. We went for a birthday and we're pretty disappointed with the food. Wings are good, though- 50 cent wing night isn't on the menu but they have both hot and dry rub. And a good beer selection. read more

I went in on a Sunday AM right after they had opened for Brunch and was pleasantly suprised at no wait. The AC was blasting which was also great. I really enjoyed the decor I kind of felt like I was in a European Country having brunch. The waitresses were friendly- but because the restaurant wasn't full they were all standing around at the bar which kind of made me feel awkward when I was eating (were they watching me?) The food was great- but kind of pricey given other good breakfast spots in the area that are cheaper. I really want to try it for dinner or a night out because it looks fun when i see people sitting at the high tables with the open doors/windows. read more

I dined here last evening with some friends. I have to say, I walked past the place maybe 25times, while walking to see friends at Tuffs over the last several years... I wondered about it, but never went in... Its a great variety of foods on the menu, between great appetizers, and pizza, to a very small but diverse entree selections... I ordered the muscles with lobster, which were very delicious and had a ton of lobster, calamari was good, but was a little to thin and looked slightly anorexic.. I split the pepperoni pizza and the sweet Italian sausage pizza with red peppers and caramelized onions, which were very tasty... Fellow dinners, had the chicken breast, which had great smashed potatoes, and the burger was quiet large... Glad I went in.. certainly will stop in later... sports fan this is a good place.. a good number of TV's with different baseball games on each one... read more

Nice little bar. I like to come here for a local drink before I head out into the city or stop in for a few after a chill night. Good place to bring a date for some low key drinks if you don't feel like battling the weekend bar scene. The food is a bit pricey but it is nice to eat outside on a warm summer night. They also open up the window in the front on nicer days. Lighting is darker with an enjoyable atmosphere. Every now and then there will be some quiet live cover music. I'm not sure how I feel about the lounge area, I feel like they could make better use of the space. I would say that it is really a 3.5 but this is the closest bar to my house so that in itself gets the extra point. If sitting down for dinner go with the pork chop. I never thought I would have so much to say about Orleans. read more

One of my favorite Davis Square establishments. Orleans is an excellent spot for lunch, dinner, or--my favorite--brunch. Dined there on a recent Sunday during the Jazz brunch and enjoyed tasty Huevos Rancheros and the breakfast tater tots, which were delicious. They've got a great selection of craft beers, the prices are reasonable and the atmosphere is lovely. read more

My only sadness in writing this has been that I've never been to the actual restaurant. What a treat! My boyfriend and I typically order from them once or twice every few weeks. Every time: Timely delivery, warm/hot food, and DELICIOUS! Love the arugula salad and Jumbo pretzel. My two faves thus far! Thanks guys! read more

Got booked for live music here. Clearly--this was a mistake. The service was abysmal, and the drinks were expensive. Two stars for the sound guy--who obviously hated his job--but loved us! read more

If you are looking for a casual place to escape the crowds in Davis Square, this is the place. Even on weekends, the surprisingly spacious dining room and bar areas cater to far more people than one might expect. Unlike other local spots such as The Burren, The Joshua Tree, Johnny D's, and Foundry on Elm, you will not find yourself paying an exhorbitant cover or standing shoulder to shoulder with the people next to you on a Friday night. The menu here could be shaved just a bit, but Orleans has not over-extended itself too much. If you are looking for anything more than munchies and casual drinks, this is not the place for you. The wait service operates at a "relaxed" pace. Presuming Orleans has a bar manager, this person is unaware that IPA draught lines need to be cleaned more frequently given the higher sugar content of most IPAs. As a result, your Harpoon IPA might taste a bit mossy. It's not terrible, but it certainly isn't great either. This is the kind of restaurant to which you just need to except it for what it is. It's not the dining hot-spot, nor is it the party scene of Davis Square. It's an escape from the weekend crowds. It's a decent place for those of us who lead hectic lives and are not a part of the college scene to retreat for a little while, slow down, and share some laughs with friends. read more

As a Tufts student, this restaurant was about the only place in Davis that I have yet to visit. The restaurant has a lovely ambiance and provides an intimate first date like setting. My girlfriend and I were surprised by their slightly pricey entrees, so we stuck to the salad/ sandwich options. We were pleasantly surprised by the quality of their Beet and Onion Salad, as well as their Carribean Chicken Sandwich. The Chicken sandwich perfectly blended avocado, Bacon, and chicken with a delectable sauce. Plus the sandwich was ridiculously sized. The fries that came with the entree were delicious with their blend of Honey Mustard. The Beet and Onion Salad offered a delicious blend of Sweet beets, tangerine, goat cheese and vinaigrette. I could hardly finish the tremendous portion of salad they gave us. (Especially after the heaping helping of some kind of light cornbread and hummus served beforehand). I would definitely visit this place again, but due to budgetary constraints I would definitely avoid the main entree section lol. (Life as a grad student lol) read more

So the fried calamari here was completely unimpressive, and I believe that fried calamari is one of those staple foods by which you can judge an entire establishment. If you can't pull it off, don't offer it on the menu. The calamari itself was fresh but the batter was as though the just rolled the squid in corn meal or something. Disappointing, actually. I would have taken the calamari with no batter over what I was given. On the other hand, the nachos were fantastic. Taking that into consideration, I feel like this joint is a glorified pub and really doesn't merit the posh, loungeish ambiance they tried to create, albeit in a contrived, uninspired kind of way with strangely laid out tables. I can't comment much on the service as I went during the last playoff game and they were crowded as hell, so service was justifiably slower than I would normally expect. They seemed to be hustling, though, so I wouldn't be shocked if that were pretty decent on a regular night. Part of the way it's set up is, I think, to justify charging the prices they do for what amounts to dressed up pub food. I mean, $12 for a burger? On the other hand, portions were huge. Kudos for having an area with comfy couches and chairs to sit on by the window, though it appears to have 4 different kinds of seating - restaurant style table seating, bar seating, those couches, and a strange area set up apart from the bar near the couches with bar-like seating, apparently for viewing the big projector screen set up in the back. Kind of a strange place, honestly, that I don't have figured out. As John D. said, it's schizo. read more

I think that if you consider a place like Orleans you have to know what you are expecting.... it is slightly above the Burren/Joshua Tree in terms of food but certainly not amazing eats. As a first time visiter, I was actually expecting more po boys, red beans, and jambalaya (did i miss something? what is the deal with lack of New Orleans style eats at a place called Orleans?) Instead, we ordered three fancy pizzas to share and partook from numerous options from their great beer selection and specialty cocktails. Our waitress was friendly and patient - although she did temporarily misplace my credit card. The best part in my opinion was the live music they had - a BIG pet peeve of mine is when a restaurant hires a band that plays about 6X too loud while people are trying to chat over dinner and drinks. Orleans had one guy that was playing acoustic guitar and singing a great mix of 80s and 90s songs (like Tom Petty and President of the United States) at the absolute perfect volume that you could listen for a while and then fade back into your conversation without either one really dominating the other - LOVED it! Overall, not the most amazing food I have ever had, but a fun place in Davis with some cool drinks and atmosphere to hang out with some friends. read more

+ The seating in Orleans is excellent. I wish more restaurants/bars would use the living room style setup and add more couches. Nicely done. + Their tap list while not overly impressive has a varied selection of craft beers. + Great for large groups. - The food is mediocre and priced unjustifiably high. - The pours of bourbon are laughable. I thought it may have just been a one time thing, but its almost as if the bartenders are instructed to measure the pour with a precision graduated cylinder, then dump half of it back in the bottle before serving. This is also known as the nail in the coffin for me. - Service, while always friendly, is typically slow. While Orleans isn't bad, I don't usually opt to come here often. There are just too many other better bars in the area. read more

I love bistro-style food and Orleans seemed to have all the essentials on the menu...a chicken dish, a duck dish, a fish dish or two, some meat dishes, gourmet pizzas, calamari, salads etc.. I had a rack of lamb from the specials of the day menu. It was good overall, but a bit too heavy on the balsamic sauce and a bit overcooked. My friend's arugula pizza looked great. Wine selections were limited but had enough for everyone. I like the outside seating area..it is a little removed from the street. Service was good as well. I will definitely give this another shot. read more

Decent food, and while I dig the loungey restaurants, it doesn't really fit in with the rest of Davis' vibe. However, I won't turn down a Sunday afternoon lounging around those couches with a cocktail in my hand... read more

Don't order the expensive stuff! The Orleans menu is basically split in two. There are the reasonably priced burger and pizzas, and then the way overpriced fancy dinners. Do not order one of the expensive dinners, because you will be sorely disappointed. They are decent quality, but not anything remotely deserving of their high price tag. You will much, much happier with the burger or one of the pizzas. read more

Orleans has yet to wow me in a way that knocks it up to 4 stars, though I haven't had a bad experience here. My friend and I were able to find a table in the bar area instantly on a Friday night (bonus points!) and proceeded to order one tasty cocktail after another. The sangria was fair, but the blackberry martinis were rich and tasty. Our server was friendly and attentive. On the downside, we ordered the sliders, which were fine - but there were only 3 of them. Since when do little burgers come in threes? Little burgers always come in fours - so that you can share them evenly among two or four people. If the prices weren't so high, or if the menu was slightly longer (it's a pretty typical Boston bar menu, when you get down to it), I would come here much more often. In summary: Come here for the fabulous drinks, but snack elsewhere. read more

This was the first place I had ever been in Davis Square. Albeit I haven't eaten there in a while, I recall the food being good (obviously not sweep me off my feet memorable). One thing that has been consistent is their cocktails. They bartenders make excellent pomegranate cosmos and lemondroptini's (I love frou-frou drinks). Plus it is a fun social environment to be with friends and also relaxed enough to meet new friends read more

Visited Orleans on a recent trip into Somerville before heading across the street for a music fest in Davis Square. It was a very hot and humid evening; we chose to be seated outdoors and have something a bit lighter than a full dinner. We started with fried calamari which were not bad, coated in crisp corn meal or something like that, served with hot peppers and a lemony butter dip that I didn't like. Plain they were just fine. I had a lovely bowl of gazpacho, chilled and just the right thing. A bit of heat, lots of cilantro. I liked it. Husband had a flatbread pizza with a lot of stuff on it. The crust stayed crisp. Service was good and we enjoyed the experience. read more

I went to this place a long time ago - when it was called the Aquarium. -- but now, it's even better as a cute restaurant with outside seating. One time, I met friends for a drink - and sat at the bar - we were served by a great bartender named Barry - he was talkative, friendly, and made fun drinks -- he even asked what we liked/didn' like and then was able to make suggestions based on our answers. I've also had dinner here and found it to be quite good. Located right in Davis Square, you can walk from Somerville/Tufts area - or access via the Red Line -- read more

It's a bar. They have booze. I hardly ever go here (couple of times a year) but I recognize that it's nice to have around. I always have a good time but I never feel like it's because Orleans did anything "special", more like they provided a place where my fun friends and I could purchase and consume beverages in public. Food is nothing to write home about but it's of reasonable quality and price (read: they aren't trying to screw you over). Not sure why it is called Orleans--does not live up to that name--but it happens. Karaoke night, which I've been to once accidentally, was a mixed bag. Lots of loud intoxicated women getting really stoked on music I don't really like. read more

Orleans at night. The good: 1. I love Davis Square. The area is just great to walk around, there's always people, it's not sketchy--not to mention, it's only like a 15-20 minute walk from my house. 2. The atmosphere is relaxing with the choice of chilling on a couch, sitting at a table or at the bar. 3. A little more upscale so it's not like you're going to a frat party when you just want to have a few drinks and conversation. 4. Most of the interactions I've had with the bartenders have been quite good. They're personable, will engage in conversation (as much as the crowd will allow, of course). The bad: 1. If you want the drinks to keep coming, sit at the bar. The servers are terrible and don't pay attention to you. 2. Bartenders are hit or miss so if you get a weak mixed drink, assume they'll be that way the rest of the night and just pay for beer. 3. Pretty pricey. I still go there despite the bad because I do really like the atmosphere. I usually just stick to beer though for the aforementioned reasons. read more

Came here to have a quick lunch with husband. Didn't expect it is to be so big while we were walking outside. Nice atmosphere with live music, friendly stuff and great food. Will be a nice place to bring some friends and have a great drinking and talking time. read more

Orleans Restaurant - Sports Bars Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

See all

We came in for trivia and some drinks on a Wednesday night. The hostess was awesome! The table she sat us at was perfect for trivia night, and she was eager to make sure we got seated in time for the first question. The drink menu was not amazing, but I'm easy to please so I ordered various seasonal beers that were on tap. We got a bit peckish, so ordered some little pizzas for the table to share. They were tasty and quick, so no complaints there. What made the evening great was our waitress. She was friendly and accommodating. She noticed each time our drinks were getting low and came by to take a new order. She also seemed to have a psychic connection to our stomaches...every time we thought we'd like to get some food, there she was! The rest of the time she left us alone to bang our heads against the table when an answer eluded us. Oh, and we came in second. We're gunning for first next week, so if you are there...it's on! read more

Good ambiance but very noisy. The food was OK-- very disappointing. The burger was not tasty or juicy. The chicken fingers tasted gritty due to the breading and the pot-stickers were alright-- nothing great. The desert was very good but that's about it. Cocktails and beer were also quite pricey. Very expensive bill for the poor quality of the food. The service was fast and good but I won't be back anytime soon. read more

The Orleans' Omelet is a tasty thing. Well, more specifically, the fillings (caramelized onions, chorizo, red peppers, Swiss cheese) are great. Well, more specifically, the red peppers and onions are amazing. The eggs themselves are more or less average, and they're glistening with oil. Not that tiny bit that really adds texture and flavor to eggs either. Just greasy oil that drips off in large drops. It gets in the way of taste and texture sadly. For $10, I expected better. It's a large omelet, granted, and you could easily split it. The homefries and fruit are a welcome break from the grease. Those fillings are delicious though, and one could return just for those. read more

THIS PLACE IS SOOO EXPENSIVE. $6 is not a reasonable price for a yuengling! No way! Food is pretty ok, I have had amazing meals (Southwest flatbread is AMAZING. Pizza with Queso on it! I die!!!) but I have had really just ok meals. I will say they have a really awesome trivia night, pretty significant cash prize if you get greater than 18 questions correctly. (Wednesday nights). read more

Here is your order: Nachos Grande - black beans + Cajun chicken + Extra guac + Buffalo Sauce Trust me. Now the drink specials are usually worth pondering also (although, last night I had a new concoction that I can only image could double as nail polish remover), and the beer is selection has enough variety to get you through. But take my advice and do your best to avoid Karaoke nights. It is painful and even the loud crunching of tortilla chips in my ear can't drown out the bad renditions of "Nothing Compares to You". Orleans is one of my favorite haunts in Davis square for quick nourishment before a night out or to finish one off. read more

I've been here on two separate occasions. I can recommend this place for drinks and apps, but not for dinner. First time was in July, the windows were open to the street, and we lounged on the couches with our girly drinks and snacks. It was a good time. Second time was in November, and we sat for dinner. I got a steak that was overdone. And for the price, it should have been perfect. I really don't remember much about that meal. And for how expensive dinner is, I should have had better food. read more

The biggest selling point for Orleans has to be the outdoor patio. And by outdoor patio I mean a whole area of table and chairs on an actual patio on the side of the bar, as compared to the "outdoor patios" of other places in Somerville (e.g., the Burren) that simply throw out some tables on the sidewalk where people are practically walking on top of you as they pass by. The only negative part about the patio is that there are always a lot of bees. The food here is really good and reasonably priced. They also make really good drinks. I have come here some times at night and its usually just crowded enough where a table may be hard to get but its never packed. Its a nice place to hang out, especially if you are lucky enough to snag the comfy chairs by the window. Ive never been impressed with the musical guests at night but at least they dont make it so loud where its impossible to hear the person next to you talking. read more

I was there on a Friday night, got there at around 6:45pm. As a vegetarian, I had less trouble here than the vegan below. We sat technically in "the bar" section, but really we were at these great comfy couches with a coffee-table like set-up. I liked that part. The server was VERY nice, but seemed to forget us at times. She was helpful with the menu, although the Happy Scottsman (Dewars, elderberry something, bitters & champagne) she let me talk myself into ended up being a martini rather than the short I expected. The leek/feta/baby tomato pizza was fresh and light tasting but under seasoned. The fries were good, and when I asked for mayonnaise to go with she brought it back in about four seconds. The music, which had been not too loud, was replaced at around 9pm by a musician who did covers of 90s alt-rock songs. Not unpleasant, but not my thing. read more

My initial impression = beer bar. I was pretty happy to learn that they make pretty decent cocktails too - try the passion fruit caipirinha. And there's just something really fun (or funny, depending on how you view it) about the shimmering disco ball.. especially since I didn't see anyone dancing. I'd totally come back here, as it was laid back and made beer drinkers and the non-beer lovers among us happy. read more

Besides brunch/$1oysters, nothing special. Strange sangria, so-so food, & slow service. Went to try this spot out for the first time in about a year, and I was reminded why I won't go back: the servers are nice, but service is consistently slow. My friends waited 20 minutes for a drink after asking for "a minute" upon being seated. It took another 20 for the drinks to get there after they were ordered. So we left early. Worse, every other restaurant in the area has its windows open, was packed, and was enjoying the beautiful day. While orleans's patio was packed, it was empty inside. I asked about that and they said it was too muggy. Management should step it up, because the place is nice. Oh yeah, the music selection was off too--all over the place with some really bad tunes mixed in. My table wasn't the only one to notice. Can't think of why I'd go back! read more

Bad sign that the place was pretty empty on a Saturday night but wanted something quick before a show at Somerville theater so gave it a shot anyway. But after more than 15 minutes and they hadn't taken even taken our drink order we walked out. Staff didn't seem to care. read more

As a down-the-street neighbor of Orleans, I am sadly not a fan. Oh, how I wish I could recapitulate the upbeat reviews of their food offerings and great service, but my own experiences with Orleans were so lackluster that I'm reluctant to let it back into my life. While it looks tempting to crash on the nice couches with a cocktail, beer, or wine, I can do that at my own home without having to speak over the sound of some random sports game in the background (If I wanted a sports-bar, the Joshua Tree is down the street and has better beer anyway). The food is so bleh, and the service has been somewhat spotty, and I can't say I'm a huge fan of trivia nights or karaoke. Not that there's anything wrong with those who are... and if you are, then by all means, support the local businesses. As for me, Orleans just doesn't cut it. read more

Orleans is pretty much a miss for me. It seems that the only reason to go there is to take a date. The sofas are a nice addition, Esp for Brunch, and the outside seating is a rare luxury around here. However, the bar is awkward and the decor is outdated and a little 'used'. Not sure the food is the best for the price. read more

We just came back from here for brunch, and it seemed a little disorganized - probably because of the New Year's holiday. It didn't seem ridiculously packed, but we waited over an hour for our food, and the waitress seemed to be hiding. Had to ask twice for hot sauce for my eggs. Food itself was good, or from what I could taste after wolfing it down because we were all pretty starving - coffee wasn't great. I had the American breakfast, which was a good size and delicious. I loved how they brought out toast before our meal with butter and mini chocolate chip muffins, though :) I've been there a few times for dinner and may try brunch there again - just probably not on a holiday. read more

Lots of gluten free options, I've eaten here about 20 times and only gotten sick twice (I have celiacs) - it's pretty good so I'll take my chances here! However, they no longer have the best item on the menu - the honey hot wings. This is a huge disappointment because they were to die for!! Hoping they will bring back the honey hot wings ASAP. This is the closest bar to our house and we are here all the time. The other appetizers just don't compare to the honey hots. read more

The Trivia on Wednesday nights is second to none! The host, Alex Leonard, has an exotic array of topics and questions that keeps the crowd engaged. We enjoyed our food, drinks and the service was awesome! We will definitely be seeing you around again Orleans! read more

The thing about Orleans is that whether you're going with your best gal, your Grandma, or a group of orthodontists, it's impossible to not feel like you're on a date. Like, one of those dates on Melrose Place, with the music pumpin' and the cocktails flowin' and the low, low lights peppered with blue and twinkly. The food's decent, but, save the mussels (adorned with LOBSTER, thank you very much), not worth the price. The cocktails are schmancy and delightful, but the most expensive in the neighborhood. In sum? We can skip dinner, but buy me another minty $8 mojito, married Dr. MacEachern, and you just might get lucky. read more