The Porter Cafe hit all of the marks last night! Cocktails and Sangria were excellent - we started with the meatballs and they were so so good. If you are a Caesar salad connoisseur like myself, I cannot recommend their salad with panko chicken more.... Dare I say one of the best I've ever had?! The burger and fries were also perfection. The Porter Cafe team were so welcoming and kind, interacting with them made us want to come back as soon as possible. The outdoor patio is also fabulous as well! Perfect place for an end of summer dinner. We will be back! read more

Found using Yelp after a sad occasion hunger took over and lucked out here - felt like a neighborhood watering hole - great burger and fries. Ibling got fettuccine alfredo and seemed very happy. now wish it was closer to home. read more

Food is consistently great. Portions are a bit large for entrees but great choices. Menu changes frequently. I keep missing their oysters

Great food. Great music on weeknights. Great bartenders make the place a joy to spend some time.

Fantastic setting and ambiance. Small bar with indoor and outdoor seating. I had the fish and chips and it was phenomenal. Fries were crispy and the fish was breaded and friend perfectly. Highly recommend getting their house chips which are homemade. Will definitely be going back! read more

Great Juicy smashed burger! And I love their fries!! Stuffs are nice ! Kids friendly too!

I wish I took more pictures! I've been twice and every time the food has been pretty good. The have a nice seating arrangement around the building outside. They do have seating inside it's just pretty cozy. Always packed but never had to wait more than 15 minutes. Seems to be a true local favorite. I'm gluten free and although they do not have gluten free bread they are pretty knowledgeable in take extra careful in food preparation. I got the salmon the first time which was so good and I highly recommend. Second time around I went for the poke bowl - not my favorite but was worth the try. read more

Looked like they have a good number of outdoor seating, though we wanted to be seated sooner so sat inside. Food was a bit salty but flavorful. They got the crisp on the Panko Chicken just right/not heavy. My friend told me her chicken parm was one of the best she's had in Boston. Service: 4.5 Food: 4 Ambiance: 3 read more

The food is always amazing and they have a varied menu of items. Cozy atmosphere. great bar, beers, and cocktails

I went to this place today for a burger since I thought to myself, how can someone mess up a burger? Welp. Porter cafe did just that. My food was missing so much flavor. The fries were salty as fu*k. The bun was soggy from all the grease. If I could give this place zero stars I would. Wouldn't recommend this place. The waiters are also super rude. As I was leaving I watched a rat run across someone's foot. NEVER again. Save your self the stomach ache. I've been nauseous since I left this place read more

Food was ok service was very rushed even though the place was fairly empty. Server was taking plate's away while people in my party was still eating. read more

Porter Cafe is my happy place. Absolutely amazing vibe, the food is SPECTACULAR, everyone I bring here has enjoyed it and the man behind the bar always has a story to tell. The staff here are incredible and really make me want to come back every single time. read more

Best place to eat and drink in west Roxbury I've had everything on menu great tacos burger chicken parm

Not sure how to explain this place. It's cozy, comforting, casual, relaxing with great food. A neighborhood spot that you'd wish was in yours. Started with fish taco appetizer, lightly fried fish, with the perfect toppings. Pork schnitzel with roasted potatoe and a slaw on top, delicious! Cheeseburger was awesome with great homemade fresh fries. Staff was friendly and meal was affordable. I will certainly come back, many more times. read more

See all

Delicious food -fresh produce-creative menu and options for everyone in your party-in season lovely patio options for seating-staff is delightful read more

AWESOME bartender and waitress. Best burger in town. Damn fine Guinness. Can't go wrong. Small spaces between tables but still one damn fine place. read more

My first time here but probably my last. Food was decent. Service started off good but near the end of the meal the waiter removed my plate while others in the party were still eating. My husband just put down his fork and the bowl was whisked away. Also, when I was counting the money for the check, the water stood right by the table and asked us if we needed change or if we were we all set. I felt like he was rushing us out, which I would have understood if the restaurant was busy, but we were the only party seated inside. It was such a turnoff. read more

A terrific and cozy bar/restaurant. Great atmosphere, low lighting at the tables against the wall opposite the bar make it seem intimate. Friendly bartender, and kitchen gets things out quickly. read more

My friend had been recommending this place to me for the past month, saying I had to go, I won't be disappointed, blah blah blah. After making plans on a Saturday night to meet up and go to dinner he, of course, suggested Porter Cafe. I'm a big fan of all things Porter. Porter drafts, Porter Robinson, and now Porter Cafe. Our group of 4 arrived, and it's a pretty small outfit. Dimly lit, with a lengthy bar right when you walk in, and maybe 12 tables inside total (another 12 seats if you include bar seating.) Outside seating is available as well. Our wait was a mere 10 minutes, so we took it upon ourselves to explore the "largest craft beer selection in West Roxbury." Great freaking list, I was impressed they had SixPoint always rotating on tap - and how fitting they would have the Bengali IPA. As soon as we got our drinks a table was cleared and we sat. Service from the beginning was excellent (and ended excellent!) I'll start with stating everything is homemade, and the menu holds no bounds with ethnic inspirational offerings. The table ordered beef and cheese empanadas (2 per order) and some guy name 'Paco's' homemade chips which were accompanied with a french onion dip. The empanadas were SO EFFING GOOD and we ordered another; authentic, crispy/flakey exterior and meaty flavorful filling with a fresh salsa picante. The main 4 orders: Hot roasted pork sandwich, Indian butter chicken in a curried tomato sauce over basmati rice, and 2/two/dose/II prime chuck burgers. The roasted pork sandwich tasted insanely good; roasted and shaved thin pork, with flash cooked cherry peppers, draped with melty/bubbly provolone cheese and Lawd.have.mercy fresh cut french fries. I also had the good fortune of having chaps that enjoy sharing. The prime burger was the best I've had in Boston so far. Hands down. #getit. The Indian butter chicken was also true to it's origins and done very well. I paired the main with a Racer 5 IPA. A west coast style IPA that had a great citrus, medium filter, and a grace of sweetness before the mild hop flavor hit. ('twas nice). Yea so this was last week we all went. I've already suggested this twice since, and will be making this a go-to in the neighborhood for good food, drinks, service, and fare. Get some. read more

See all

Love love love the Porter Cafe. Great beer selection and I don't know how they do the fries but they're incredible. Get the pork schnitzel or the burger. For vegetarians the rotating seasonal risotto is excellent. read more

This is what you'd sorta hope for from any restaurant or bar you ever visit. It is a small, quaint, cozy, townie establishment "where everyone knows your name." You'll bump into friends here. You'll make new friends here. You'll enjoy your beers here. You'll experience a great meal here! When you walk in you'll notice the ten or so tables to one side of the small room and the bar on the other. During the warmer months you might be fortunate enough to sit outside. But for my visit, it was mid-winter, a rainy night, and somehow the citizens of West Roxbury surprised me - rather than staying home, they all wanted to go out for a pint. Other than the tad-long wait (dinner rush hour, to be expected). Everything was awesome! (Everything is cool when you're part of a team! Oops, wrong review). To be honest, even with the great Yelp reviews for Porter Cafe, I didn't expect the food to be quite as delicious as it was! I mean, c'mon! it's literally a dark, tiny, hole-in-the-wall pub elbow-to-elbow with townies. You can only *WISH* a place like this would open in your own town! So great! So friendly! Dishes were superb, and the beer selection on-tap was quite perfect. I'm a fan. I'm a believer. Was it a Michelin star restaurant? Heck no. It was comfort food meets modern American gastropub. Whomever owns this place, they've done their city proud for sure. All small eateries could learn from this place. A+++ read more

Porter Cafe - Rigatoni w Pork and Beef Bolognese - Bars Near Me - West Roxbury, Massachusetts

See all

Love the patio and the beer selection. Food was underwhelming. I got the teriyaki salmon dish - the bok choy was inedible and the sauce was lacking flavor. The beet salad was the same, flavors didn't really mesh, was something I could have thrown together in 5 mins. Definitely a spot where you want to stick to a burger! read more

So glad this place opened and glad I finally got to go! We need more gastro pubs like this in the South West part of Boston. Esp one that's only a 7 min drive from me (I live in Hyde Park). I sat at the bar and met some nice strangers. Some old ladies next to me got a salad and burgers and claimed this place had the best burgers in town. The man next to us had raw oysters and a burger and ate everything right up. I myself got a spinach salad with balsamic dressing and tomatoes. I said to hold the mozzarella. It was supposed to also come with basil but I didn't taste any. The balsamic dressing was too thick - I know they are trying to be fancy but it was just too much. For a salad you need it to be a little loose otherwise you can't spread the dressing around and some pieces of spinach are doused while others are bare. I also got a side of brussel sprouts. You aren't supposed to get those as a separate side (they typically only come with the chicken dish) but a lady next to me asked for it so I asked too. And after serving her they couldn't tell me no! They were delicious - a little charred with some olive oil and perfectly cooked. My friend got the mussels and said they were ok. I used the bread that came with it to try out the coconut broth - it was ok. Definitely could have been a better flavor - more curry sauce or something. My friend said since mussels can be fishy sometimes you want a strong broth or sauce to go with it and this was too light. I agreed with my bread dipping trial. The bartender (cute short hair blond lady) was really friendly and helpful. She was also very attentive. I ordered a glass of the pinot grigio (cheapest white wine they had) which did taste a little cheap. Next time I'll pay $1 more and get a step up. The bartender let me try a bit of the Pretty Things beer on tap. So the place is cool - great vibe, decent food. The bar seats get crowded - at 6:30pm it was packed. At 7:30pm the whole place was almost full. For warm nights they have 2 tables outside. It's just pricey for a pub. My salad was $9, my friend's mussels were $11, and the brussel sprouts were $6. Plus the wine was $7 (which was a decent price). I wish they would add more vegetarian and vegan options. They did have some vegetarian risotto dish on the menu but I didn't ask if it could be vegan. Usually risotto cannot be. So please add a vegan dish so I don't just have to eat salads and side dishes I will certainly be back - I imagine this might become a popular joint for me. Also props to them for hanging the fire fighter helmet on the wall as a tribute to the firefighters that died in this location there 3 years ago during that terrible fire. read more

Love. This. Place. We get a lot of takeout from here due to kids and the small space there. The food is just great. The staff are super (for takeout at least). The risotto, smash burger, and kale chicken are some favorites but have not had any dish there that wasn't very good. read more

Yummy! Back again! The best pork schnitzel ever! It was the fish tacos excellent. My husband had the burger and you get your money's worth but I recommend you try everything else because this place is just simply great. read more

See all

Poke bowl was eh. Although this was takeout- presentation still wasn't stellar. There was way too much rice and I would not term this as "sticky rice." This was more like a raw tuna stir fry. Onions were awkward. I would like to give this place a second chance since they do have great reviews. read more

Great neighborhood cafe/bar. Fun cocktails. Outdoor seating too - free street parking

This is my favorite West Roxbury restaurant for date night. The place is cozy and warm, with an attractive bar and a line of small bistro tables across from it. The noise level is perfect for conversation. The food is not weird or fusion, just perfectly prepared bar standards with quality ingredients. We tried several dishes (fish tacos, Vidalia onion rings, pan fried shrimp, oysters) - all delicious. The poutine is particularly great. read more

An hour and a half for take out ordered at 5 PM on a Friday. It's absolutely ridiculous that they act like this is perfectly acceptable. Terrible way to run a business. If you order take out be sure to order the day before. read more

This place is so great. Small but quaint. It gets pretty warm so wear layers so you are comfortable while eating. The food is delicious!!!!! The bolognese is Devine. Haven't had bolognese like this anywhere. The tomato sauce is creamy. The pot roast dish was also incredible. Meat breaks apart at the touch of the fork. The half chicken is delicious with the smashed potatoes! Yumm!! read more

Absolutely amazing ambiance, service and food. When friends are in town--this is the place we recommend. Feels like a piece of Brooklyn or Back Bay right in West Roxbury. Delicious menu items, and my only complaint is that the menu changes seasonally, so some favorites aren't there during some months (hello watermelon arugula salad). The double smash burger, or as I call it--the classiest BigMac ever--is delicious. Maybe the best burger I've ever had. Beer selection is top notch. Great, diverse crowd. Awesome servers and bartenders. Go here--even if you are not in Westie, Rozzie, Hyde Park, Mattapan, JP, Needham, Newton, Dedham. Worth going to--you will not regret it. read more

We love taking our friends from out of town here for dinner and drinks! Great local spot with the best burger around, and fresh unique entrees that change with the seasons. Very small, but we've never waited for a table when we go with a party of 2 or 4. read more

This is a favorite local spot! The food is a creative bar menu and never disappoints. We love the outdoor patio. They have a fantastic beer selection. It's not a large restaurant, so don't be surprised if you might have to wait for a table...but it's totally worth it. read more

My son and I go here a lot. The service is always top notch. The food consistently good. Over the summer they added tables outside along the side and back of the building. This is a great local go to place. Parking can be tough but that's there problem read more

I don't know why, but I love the French fries here. Crispy, crunchy, brown with skin and perfectly salted! So far all the other stuff has been great. Had the fish tacos a few times. They are great, a really nice combo of fried fish, avocado and cilantro. The pastrami Reuben is good too. It's on a bulkie roll - so a slightly different take - but we loved it. Especially paired with those fries!! Updated this to 5 stars. Food is flavorful and sometimes adventurous (like buffalo cauliflower). Service is great (we always sit at the bar). This is definitely one of the best places to eat in W Rox read more

Porter Cafe is a go-to spot for me. It was fantastic before the pandemic, was so reliable for takeout during the past year, and I can't wait to go back when everything fully reopens. Everybody who works here is super friendly and drinks/food are always prepared consistently well. I love the buffalo cauliflower or fish tacos starters. And there's an entree for whatever mood you're in (salad, burger, pasta, or something more "fancy")...just all really good food. read more

I've eaten here a few times and have yet to be disappointed. Although this is a smaller establishment, I find that the food and drinks make up for it's limited space. I've tried the empanadas, jerk chicken, fried brussel sprouts, seafood fra diavolo and last but not least their burger. Everything was great! I do agree with several of the reviews here, the burger here is one of the best in town! They cook it to perfection, nice and juicy. The drinks are also very good! The Manhattans are strong and their elderflower spritz is divine. Lastly, in my few times here service has been pleasant, so I'm planning to make my way back here very soon. read more

Porters is our local choice for great food, friendly service, and relaxed atmosphere, we take guests here to impress them with the neighborhood! We had a special occasion dinner and they did a great job accomdating our group. We were sitted in the back patio and they were super gracious to all. The food is really good but do try the buffalo cauliflower, a revelation to the non-veg people among us. Really almost any dish is a favorite of someone in the family. Oh yeah, the drinks are very satisfying as well. read more

Great bar, great menu, really good service. Came in for dinner on a Tuesday night with two colleagues and was very pleased. Had a couple beers at the bar waiting for someone to arrive. The bartender was very helpful and insightful and an all around good guy to chat with. The menu is concise but has good options. muscles - excellent. Good portion of large muscles and the coconut curry broth had great flavor Pork Schnitzel - really good. It's a large portion and the apple bacon slaw that comes with it is a great pairing. Roasted half chicken - one of my coworkers got this and loved it - ate everything. read more

We came for dinner and ordered burger-14$+0,50c beacon, everything was good, tasty food, in Saturday evening place was busy. read more

See all