Black Ruby completely exceeded my expectations. The idea of Thai-American fusion with craft burgers…read moreand pasta sounded intriguing, but the food was genuinely impressive. Our favorites were the Mussels in Red Curry Rice Wine, Red Curry Bolognese, Massaman Beef Burger, and Mango Sticky Rice. Each packed with flavor and executed beautifully. The Thai Iced Tea was also excellent, while the Thai Ice Espresso Martini just wasn't for me. The staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming, and the restaurant itself was clean, cozy, and inviting. The only downsides were that they had run out of their sourdough brioche buns, which I was excited to try, and reservations were tough to get as we had to book about a month in advance. Even so, it's easy to see why this place is so popular. I'll definitely be back and hopefully try some of the burgers with those sourdough buns next time.

I have to admit, given all the hype, I was expecting a bit more from Black Ruby. My friends and I…read morecame on a Thursday night with a reservation, and the restaurant was packed. Now, I suspect this might due in part because of the hype + location + thai/american fusion flavor, but even with a reservation we still ended up waiting about 30 minutes to be seated. Unfortunately, the service throughout dinner wasn't much better. Between the three of us, we ordered the scallion fries (which, for anyone wondering, aren't actually fries tossed in scallion oil or dressing), the fried calamari, the red curry Bolognese, the green curry pasta with steak, and, of course, the much-hyped Massaman burger. The fried calamari was probably the weakest dish. It had a fishier taste than I expected, and the breading was fairly greasy and tended to fall off. The scallion fries were good, though not especially memorable. Of the entrées, we preferred the green curry pasta over the red curry Bolognese, though both became a little heavy after a while. The Massaman burger was solid, but not quite the standout I was hoping for. Across the dishes, our biggest takeaway was that the curry sauces all leaned fairly rich and salty without much contrast. A little acidity or citrus would have gone a long way in brightening the flavors. Overall, Black Ruby was good, just not quite as memorable as I expected. Nothing we ordered really wowed us, but it's still a perfectly solid spot if you're in the area. I'd be open to coming back, though I'd probably try some different items if we were ever around Harvard Square.

Came for dinner with my friends on a Sunday. We were seated right away. We decided to start out…read morewith some Mac n cheese egg rolls- which were great and held us over until our burgers came out. Two of us got the roots burger- bacon, jalapeños, cheese sauce, tater tots and the usual burger toppings. Love the toppings and the flavor combo. The burger itself was ok. I've definitely had better but it wasn't bad. It's silly they're served with chips and baked beans or Cole slaw instead of fries. Really didn't end up needing either in the end barely finished my burger. The milkshake was a good finisher I took most of it home and finished it later on but it as a good milkshake. And they have really extra milkshakes that have like three in one dessert vibes lol. They sound good in theory but it's a lot. Overall a decent burger place in Boston!

Complete robbery! They force you to get kettle chips and if you're craving French fries with your…read moreburger like maybe 99 percent of the population it will be 7 dollars extra. The fries are frozen btw. Ended up spending 30 dollars after a 3 dollar tip for the server. A burger with cheese and onions, French fries and a Pepsi. You can go to a 5 star steak house and order a burger with fries for that price.

A quirky and tiny pub/bar in Inman Square with lots of character everywhere you look. We…read moreunfortunately missed the kitchen as by the time we got there at 10:30pm, they had stopped serving food (on a Tuesday). But we grabbed a drink and enjoyed conversation. They had a lot of local brews and my cider was local too from MA--it was really good and refreshing. It was busy for a weeknight, so I think this is a good spot for locals! We will definitely come back for food another night as we wanted to try their fish and chip.

I came here on a Friday, probably around 2 PM, when it wasn't as busy, but most tables and…read morebarstools were occupied. The service was very warm and friendly, and I felt very well taken care of. The fish and chips were pretty good, with the added charm of being wrapped in newspaper. The portion was pretty big, and the server offered a takeaway container for my leftovers, and I opted for a plastic bag instead since the newspaper already made it quite convenient. Would definitely go back here again, especially to check out the live music for myself.

Great spot for the neighborhood, super cozy vibe with genuinely friendly service. We tried the…read moretequila wings, personal pizza, and chicken sandwich, and loved all three. The wings were huge, juicy, and perfectly crunchy with tons of flavor. The pizza had a crisp crust and really flavorful sauce, and the chicken sandwich was hand-breaded with high-quality ingredients. Highly recommend, we will definitely be coming back!

Hands-down my all-time favorite brunch spot. If I could give it 7/5, I would--giving it the same…read more5/5 rating I've given a number of other restaurants feels unfair to Avenue Kitchen's brunch. It's only open for brunch on Sundays, which combined with always being seated immediately makes it feel like a hidden gem. The back patio is quiet, shaded, and sheltered from wind. The food shines. Of course the egg scramble and the Benedict's were fantastic, but every piece of every plate feels deliberate and done with intention--nothing is an afterthought. - Their home fries are my all-time favorite--thick, well-seasoned, soft on the inside with some crisp on the outside. - - The English muffin toast has a crunchy golden surface and soft inside. - The whipped cream on the French toast feels luxurious. - Oyster shooters are a fun treat, as a lover of both fried clams and bloody Mary's. - They were kind enough to accommodate us with a half order of their (outstanding) French toast for dessert I'd note there's no espresso drinks on the menu, although I did enjoy the black coffee. I like trying new spots, but if the question is Sunday brunch then Avenue is always my answer.

For dinner and drinks, this is a great restaurant in the neighborhood. The ambiance for a cocktail…read moreparty was great, and the hamburger sliders and cocktails were top notch. In particular, there was an orange mezcal cocktail I loved. For brunch, it was good but not great. The pancakes were good, but the eggs Benedict wasn't as good as I hoped. It was trying to be too many things. I think it would be better if the veg was on the side and not on the egg, and the Benedict sauce could benefit from having more flavor, maybe a little more spice. The coffee and cappuccino was also mediocre. The service was friendly and the location convenient, right next to the Cambria hotel with an indoor entrance between the two. Recommend for dinner and drinks!

Let me preface this with I'm a SAVORY GIRL! My favorite foods are lemon, garlic and salt. This…read moreplace made everything the exact way I would want it if I could always have everything my way One of the best meals I've had in a while. I got a martini with the blue cheese olives, the smoked blue cheese in the olive was so unique and CREAMY and salty I'd be happy to back just for the olives alone. Shrimp cocktail came with half a lemon with OLD BAY seasoning!! Genius! Big shrimp, two sauces were great too, horse radish cream sauce and a classic cocktail sauce which was a tad sweet for me but I'll get over it because I'm all about the lemon and old bay. Cesar salad! Big salad! Wish we shared one. Big garlic croutons with a bit of rosemary and you could taste good olive oil on those. Dressing was very lemony and there was a hefty amount of cheese. I'd say even if you're someone who prefers a creamy Cesar you'd probably still like this because there's a lot of cheese which added great texture. Came with a big grilled lemon which is an A++ move in my book. Husband added grilled chicken to his and said it was great. Next time we'll share a Cesar and I can't wait to go back and try the fried artichokes.

I was impressed with this place once I overcame my surprise this is not a stand alone diner car…read more I ordered the bacon cheeseburger since it is a signature dish. It was tasty, greasy (in a good way), and the spiced fries were a nice change up. My wife and I ordered a bottle of wine which was priced quite reasonably. This place has a stealthy good selection of craft beers on tap. Look forward to returning here again.

Walked in on day after thanksgiving for brunch, and this place was relatively quiet. We got an…read moreamazing booth seating, but really wanted their fancy bus seating which gives a classic diner feel to the restaurant. TL;DR - if you are from Bombay, are craving that specific Bombay Chinese food taste, and Vada Pav - look no further - this is the place. Most of their staff are fellow Mumbaikars - shout out to Shiv, Dhvani, and Ronak! Shiv, our server was friendly and our hungry table got straight to ordering which included a flavor packed and well priced Lychee Martini ($10), Masala Chai Hot Toddy ($12), and Spicy 'Lil Rita ($12) - being the best one! Food included some well name dishes like Kashmiri Deviled Eggs ($12), Vada Pav ($12), Rasam Risotto ($15), Butter Chicken Pot Pie ($20), Chicken Steak with Makhani Sauce ($18), Street Fried Noodles ($16), and Penne Pasta with Chicken for the kiddos. Food just hits the right spots and is very flavorful, extremely well seasoned, and perfectly spiced. Interiors and their bar is very inviting. Noise levels during our stay were on the lower end. Service was excellent. What was refreshing was they didn't charge us any automatic gratuity even for our large group - but absolutely deserved a generous one! Highly highly recommend if flavorful food is your thing!

Great pub and good vibes. The staff is always kind and never rushes you. Along with the other…read morecustomers that come in, they are easy going and strike up conversations. While the menu does have good looking items, I must admit I have only come in for beer and wings. The wings here are the best around. They are crispy and have the right amount of sauce on them. They got it down right. They play all of the main sports games. We tend to come in for soccer games. Busy place that draws in a good crowd!

Great Irish pub with REAL CASK ALE which is a rarity around these parts! I havenot seen any cask…read moreale in a decade anywhere in Mass. We tried the curry fries and steak and cheese eggrolls and both were great! Absolutely will be back!!

What a fun little hidden gem!!! Sat at the bar in between lunch and dinner. Good selection of beer…read more The food was really excellent! We tried the artichoke potato fritter things which were quite good. The Old Bay Fried Oysters were super good as were the duck toasts! Definitely going back to try the potato pave and the burger. Service as great also, bartender was very attentive!

Wow talk about a hidden gem!…read more I hadn't heard much about this place so I wasn't sure what to expect-- located in Inman square with nearby limited street parking (there's a metered lot on Springfield street nearby!), Oak Bistro is a medium sized restaurant with a simple but chic decor and true focus on hospitality. When we came in we were greeted and our coats were taken and put away. They have rotating specials that our server walked us through. We ordered all three of the mock tails on the menu -- Odin's Oracle was a sparkling elderflower and passion fruit drink, the Northern Rose was fruity with a slight thick cream of coconut base (and the tables favorite!) and the last drink was a warm ginger drink. They all came out looking beautiful. For food, we started with the Halloumi Cheese which was delicious and perfect for sharing (comes with four pieces), then tried the Blueberry Ricotta Cornbread (really well made and yummy but needed a little more butter spread) and the fried burrata (huge serving of burrata with balsamic, fig jam, warm bread, just as good as it sounds). We tried the Braised Short Rib Croquettes which were stuffed with short rib and topped with sooo much yummy cheese. We also had the Pappardelle braised shore rib Ragu which was truly delicious-- would highly recommend. For dessert we tried a special menu bread pudding which was a perfect end to the night. Our leftovers came perfectly packaged in little baggies with dish names and dates written on them which is so cute and thoughtful! Overall I would order everything we got again and was so pleasantly surprised by the caliber of food at Oak Bistro-- get in and try it before it gets too popular!