Visited for a late-ish Sunday brunch at the recommendation of some local friends and loved it. Higher end jazz brunch--unique combo of an accordion (!) and guitarist as lovely background music. Nice cocktail menu (but we didn't partake...). Casual diner-ish seating around an old school bar with a cool take on breakfast classics. The biscuit with butter and hot honey is big (share it) and outstanding. Our awesome server recommended the burrito ... but we went with a classic breakfast plate (great bacon) and their unique take on chilaquiles ... delicious all around. Can tell a lot about a restaurant by how they handle a hiccup. One of our dishes came out cold, and they were quick to remake it with courtesy, professionalism, and an apology. Bravo. Five stars for service, food, and ambience. Highly recommend. read more

Located on a corner in downtown Newton, Bluebird Bar is a welcoming restaurant with a warm mix of locals and business travelers. They offer a daily blue plate special along with a simple yet diverse menu. Started with 1/2 dz oyster and they were fantastic! Had the Sautéed 6oz Filet Mignon special. The special comes with a Caesar salad. And a side of scallop potatoes. And it ends with a chocolate mousse! Patrick Jr was behind the bar and serving me tonight. All around great food and service and a wonderful location. read more

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Ethan is the BOMB.COM !!! (Alll the hand claps) my drinks were tasty AF the Lemon Drop was... the French Martini was meh they didn't have Chambord. French Fries and the Pate was so good! The music was on point as well! What a beautiful Sunday with my besties. Respectfully Reviewed. read more

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I've been wanting to go to the Bluebird for a while. I love a place that focuses mostly on the sides and appetizers. We ordered a bunch of things to share as a table (which, IMO, is the best way of eating), ranked in order of favorites: 1. Beets with a side of whipped ricotta. A very simple dish but executed beautifully. The beets were perfectly seasoned and paired so well with the cheese. It's something I would try to replicate at home. 2. Chicken thighs and swordfish on skewers. I liked how you can order these as the proteins for a salad. Though they looked a little dry being presented to the table, they were actually very tender. 3. Charred chicken wings. I'm a huge spice wimp so couldn't eat much of it but everyone else loved them. The not so greats: The warm grain bowl is exactly what you can get at Cava: not terrible, just a little boring if all you want are some grains, chickpeas, and tzatziki. Would not recommend either the Brussels sprouts (very generous portion for a size but drowning in grease, needed a massive blot) or the baba ghanoush (needed a lot more salt, which is something I almost never say, and was very watery in texture, like they may have left out the tahini as a binding agent. The bread on the side, again, was very oily). For all of that food, plus one cocktail, it was about $104 for three people, so not terrible for a dinner. Parking: if you come after 6pm, there's a decent amount of free parking spots along the street in front of the restaurant, as well as the lot behind it once you turn a right onto Waltham Street. read more

The Bluebird Bar - Baba ghanoush - New American Near Me - West Newton, Massachusetts

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Great cocktail bar - elevated, tasty, creative drinks. Very chill bartender happy to share tips for home bars. Ol' dude and mango a go go were awesome. Espresso cocktail was a bit creamy, but I like my espresso martinis black vs with baileys. Will be back for the Picasso of loneliness and to try the food. read more

The Bluebird Bar - Ol' Dude - New American Near Me - West Newton, Massachusetts

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It was a bit more upscale than we had meant to go for the evening...! But we had a fantastic time. The restaurant feels cozy and fancy. it has the tin ceiling effect going on. We both got the burger, and a table side of brussel sprouts with bacon. The burger came with fries and some slices of a excellent pickle. For the first time ever, I had an $18 burger at a restaurant and actually felt like I got what I paid for. The plate was so very good. The brussels were also good. Our waiter was really great. My husband was apparently dehydrated and the waiter was on top of it and refilled his glass like, 5 or 6 times. We didn't wait for any service and he seemed to be the only one?! The cocktail menu was kind of entertaining. A really solid date night - one of the few things open in this neighborhood after the last movie showings at the West Newton Cinema across the street. Loved it. Expensive though. read more

The Bluebird Bar - Lakeside spritz bitters soda prosecco - New American Near Me - West Newton, Massachusetts

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Blue bird, blue sky, Blue ribbon!!!! You cannot go wrong here, especially for a perfectly crafted cocktail!!! I brought my friend here on a weekday for a birthday lunch, and we were blown away. The cocktails were absolutely top notch. And in case you actually wanted to do more than imbibe, we were also very pleased with our falafel wrap, and fattoush salad! The decor was beautiful with gilded ceilings and a very relaxed vibe, although I can imagine it could be a poppin happy hour scene. Service was very helpful and prompt. Newton locals have a true gem in the neighborhood!! read more

The Bluebird Bar - New American Near Me - West Newton, Massachusetts

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$1 fresh local oysters from 3-5 pm *DAILY* is enough reason for anyone nearby to become a regular. Now add a cool calm vibe during those hours, a respectful crowd, great drink selections, decent food options, and really nice bartenders/staff, you really have *every* reason to be a regular. Stay a bit longer on Monday nights for live jazz to soothe the soul. Just saying, I'll definitely see you around sometime! read more

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In Newton, Mondays got a little more interesting!! I discovered BlueBird a few months ago and was drawn in by the daily oyster deals and surprise Monday night specials + Jazz. The food went on to blow me away with some of the freshest, tastiest oysters ($1 from 3-5pm daily) and some of the best Fish n' chips (Monday blue plate special) and Eggs Benny + Homefries (Sunday brunch) I've had. Great cocktail menu and friendly atmosphere make this a spot to return to with friends, a date, or solo! read more

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Came for their $1 happy hour oysters and they were delicious! The catch is they cap you at a dozen per person I believe and it's a minimum $10 purchase not including the oysters. But the service was very speedy and it's pretty cute inside. Would recommend the crispy Brussels sprouts with bacon as well. read more

The Bluebird Bar - New American Near Me - West Newton, Massachusetts

Cozy parking spot for a dozen oysters and a glass of reasonable white wine. Have heard about Bluebird from friends regarding their drinks. Went in to find - no draft - canned or bottled beer only served in bland, but clean surrounds. Dollar oyster / per person ($10 food per person besides the oysters). Ordered swordfish...slightly overcharged + small portion + edgy smell - tasted excellent as did the fries. No yellow mustard. Mussels came with an upcharge for extra bread ...Iggy's. Caesar slightly overdressed in need of lemon which may be procured from the bartender. Best part ... every plate of oysters escorted to the bar personally by Mopsy and Flopsy. Well worth a trip back for their performance. read more

Pretty overrated... saw someone say this is the best restaurant in Newton, MA-- I wouldn't count on it. Came here before watching a movie at West Newton cinema as it's right across the street. Consider it a one and done kinda deal. Average service, small venue, limited menu, and mediocre food. My mom and I walked in on a Saturday with a reservation, place was empty. My mom ordered a cappuccino which was more like an espresso, she was shocked at how strong it was but it tasted good nonetheless. I ordered a burger, it was below average. It came with bacon-onion jam, which made it sweet, subjectively speaking it was not my thing. My mom ordered the falafel wrap, which was better than my burger but very dry and didn't have much falafel. Pita was hard and the sandwich lacked sauce. Tasted better though. I would order it to try once but not again. Fries were the star of the show, absolutely delicious. But, when the fries are better than the entree it's not the greatest. Asked for yellow mustard and got Dijon. Burger bun was overly fluffy, fell apart, so I didn't eat it. Host was working three jobs, felt bad. I'd skip this one unless you have no other option. read more

The Bluebird Bar - Burger & falafel pita - New American Near Me - West Newton, Massachusetts

Very poor experience here...besides the oysters, nothing else is particularly good in my opinion, but it gets worse. Despite the fact that the restaurant's website advertises $1 oysters daily between 3pm to 5pm (see restaurant website and Yelp page screenshots), the restaurant has imposed a RECENT "secret" unannounced new oyster limit -- "sometime in the past couple of weeks" -- of one dozen $1 oysters per person. This is contrary to their longstanding practice of unlimited $1 oysters since inception and the information provided on their website, official Yelp business page, menu, and/or verbally by restaurant employees. You only learn about this new limitation unless and until you try to reorder additional oysters -- well Into your meal. So, how do they inform people about the new rule? It's prettydisingenuous, at best...not through their website, not through the supplemental daily special menu page,, and not from the waitress when ordering...Only after you've consumed your initial one dozen oysters (and whatever else you might have ordered), and attempt to order additional $1 oysters are you informed about the new limit and shut off. Had we know about $1 oyster limit, we would not have come to dine at this establishment at the odd hours of 3-5PM, ediecially given the food quality, having tried numerous items on the menu during this and prior visits. The lack of customers in the establishment after 5PM clearly attests to this lack of interest. Dismayed at having been shut off after having made the treck to this restaurant at 4 PM -- we appealed to the owner and explained that we came for unlimited $1 oysters based the combination of our prior experience here and their own publicly available information. However, the owner's response downright aggressive and rude, alluding to the fact that he can't make money with unlimited $1 oysters, despite the fact that his overhead is paid for at this time and the incremental labor costs are pretty low. Perhaps this is because many others agree that the food just isn't very good and there's nothing there worth eating besides the $1 oysters, albeit they should be able to make it up on alcohol with $9 beers and $15 cocktails, but I'm not trying to tell him how to run his business; I just feel he has an obligation to provide appropriate notice regarding such a meaningful limitation (and change in policy), especially for people who make an effort to come to his restaurant at the odd and otherwise unappealing time of 3pm to 5pm. Very poor taste for food that doesn't taste very good, except for the oysters which are/were excellent. read more

The Bluebird Bar - Restaurants own Yelp page promoting their one dollar oyster special without limitation from 3 to 5 PM daily. - New American Near Me - West Newton, Massachusetts

Great for date night (there is a movie theater across the street too)! This accidental find was amazing! The staff is welcoming and willing to tell you about their favorites. Bar seating is comfortable for one or inviting friends. The sautéed calamari is a flavor marvel, with a surprising kick The mashed potatoes were light and complimented the calamari. Outside seating is available when the weather permits. Street parking is available and free after 6pm. Can't wait to go back and have entrees!! read more

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I had always wanted to try to this place and it was easy to get a reservation on a Sunday night. We tried a variety of dishes. For apps, calamari (special) very tender and tasty, black garlic buffalo wings - good flavor but some wings were kind of dry, mushroom toast - really yummy. For entrees, we got the ribeye special - delicious, perfectly cooked, roasted chicken - solid entree, bolognese - good - but not spectacular, and a shrimp and chicken kofta shish kebab. The kebab's were really disappointing - only 3 shrimp - no real seasoning or flavor. The chicken kofta was very dry. Portion very small for $22. I guess I just expected more from the kebabs. Nice atmosphere, service was good in the beginning and as it got busier, we had to ask the hostess to send the waitress to our table. Overall I think the food was fine but prices were slightly high for what you got (mushroom toast, kebabs). I'm glad I tried the restaurant but not sure I will go back. read more

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I really enjoyed dining at The Bluebird. The room and bar were both beautiful, and the service was impeccable. Unfortunately, the food did not live up to expectations. The Caesar salad was chopped into tiny pieces and dressed with a subtle dressing that lacked flavor. The major issue was that nearly every dish was overly charred. For instance, my swordfish skewer was so burned that I couldn't even tell what vegetables were between the pieces--presumably onions, but they were completely black. The swordfish pieces themselves were very small. Similarly, the steak tips were not simply overcooked; they were entirely burned on the outside, which gave them an unpleasant flavor. While the cocktails and wine were excellent, given the upscale pricing, I think next time I'll opt for a seat at the bar instead and enjoy one of their fine cocktails read more

We came for $1 oyster happy hour (3-5pm daily). The oysters are delicious, not sandy at all. A few were a little briny, but the vast majority were delicious. Really one of the best oyster happy hours in the area. Their sauces are also really good. This is such a good deal. We got the fries as well. While they were delicious, the $9 price tag is way too hefty. I would have expected a lot more fries for that price. Service was EXCELLENT. The waitstaff were super attentive and checked back frequently to see if we needed anything. Seating is plentiful, but Saturdays can be busy. Try to come at a different time to guarantee a table. read more

Cute little place with a great $1 oyster deal! We went with our baby in a stroller. Despite the size, they were able to accommodate us. It was just past 5 when we went to order our second batch of oysters, but our waitress talked to the manager and was able to send our order in. We had a few more dishes and drinks and everything was delicious. Definitely coming here again! read more

The restaurant is nice inside. The food was fantastic. The crispy fried chicken sandwich was excellent and the fries might be some of the best I ever had. The sweet potato grain bowl was very good. The waiter was on top of everything. The service was quick. I work in the neighborhood and will be back for sure. read more

Relaxed atmosphere with fun cocktails and super friendly staff! I would definitely go back.

I've been here approximately 8 times now and the consistency is really impressive. The staff, the food, the value and the vibe are just excellent. Food: Love their Mon night specials but I've been other nights and the specials are great as well. I haven't made it for $1 Oysters, but their raw bar is equivalent to a Row 34 and a much better value. Staff/Service: I always sit at the bar and the bartenders are just pros, all of them. Great drinks, very attentive service, without being too much, and just great all around. Vibe: To me, this is like the ideal neighborhood joint with elevated comfort food and spot on service. Fair amount of parking nearby as well. Wish: This is really a great bar from a drinks/beers/wines selection. My ONLY wish is that they had a few beers on Draft rather than cans only, minor, I know. read more

The Bluebird Bar - Local oysters and perfectly done shrimp cocktail - New American Near Me - West Newton, Massachusetts

Overall, this was a nice dinner, especially since the staff were friendly and quick to take our orders...and the vibe was good. Drinks were out in no time and we had lots to talk about so didn't really notice time. They forgot about the chowder we ordered, which we only noticed as the burgers came out. Though the burgers looked very inviting without being oversized, they were a bit greasy and the buns weren't substantial enough to absorb it all. Still we shared a dessert which was unusual and delicious. A beautiful presentation (should have taken a picture- next time!). I think it was a fried ricotta cake, tasted great! read more

DO NOT COME here if you are a family! The waitstaff and management loathe families and small children. I have never been treated so rudely by staff at a restaurant in my life. I came with my family and 1 year olds twins for Mother's Day lunch on Saturday 5/13/23. We live in the area, so this was my third time at this establishment, first time with my small children. Towards the end of the meal we noticed the on staff manager giving our table dirty looks and making comments about the small amount of spilled water and food droppings under the high chairs of our 1 year old twins. See attached pictures below. The male manager seemed very shocked and visibly disgruntled with us, at no point did our waitress or manager make any effort to clean the spilled water or provide us with napkins to clean it up. Our waitress who was a tall blonde women with a eastern European accent and tattoos on her arm. Took the insults a step further by berating our skills as parents and insulting the behavior of my 1 year old twins. She made it a point as she was dropping of the check to rudely tell us verbatim "please pick up your mess it's the worse we have ever seen, and it is your jobs as parents to teach children table manners." My twins are 1 year old babies by the way. The experience was absolutely degrading and to experience this as a mother on Mother's Day weekend was absolutely shameful. I also would like to note the restaurant was empty at the time of our reservation except for a family of three seated a few tables away who told us they where equally horrified by the staffs remarks and the treatment of our family. I called the restaurant as soon as we left to voice a complaint. The man who answered was the same rude manager who had overseen our table and refused to give us his name or the name of any manager and rudely hung up the phone. In case there is anyone at this restaurant who actually cares, he was the short heavyset man with a beard. As a member of the community I sincerely hope the owners have a retraining of the managers and waitstaff on how to properly serve families with small children with dignity and respect. Or maybe they should post a sign that families aren't welcome here. read more

The Bluebird Bar - New American Near Me - West Newton, Massachusetts

On Sunday 17 Sep 23, my wife and I were returning from a family get together for a celebration of life. We were on a mission to get oysters to go for family members. Found this absolute GEM on Yelp and jumped into the bar an hour before they closed that evening. We ordered a dozen oysters to give them a try before asking if take-out oysters was even a possibility. Well, first things first. The bartenders were super kind and the service was quick. Secondly, the oysters were scrumptious (as were the roasted brussel sprouts AND the beets with whipped ricotta). While we were devouring our "test meal", a gentleman who turned out to be one of the owners dropped by and we asked him if taking oysters take-out was something they could do. Sure enough, Dave (that's the rockstar co-owner's name) said, "SURE"! Not only did they partially shuck a dozen Duxberry delicious oysters and place them on ice, but they also were able to accommodate an order for shrimp cocktail "to go". It took me a few days to write this review, because I live in Hawai'i and wanted to ensure I took the time to put into words how impressed we were (and are) with this restaurant. In closing, I will just say... if Dave and his partner opened a place in Honolulu, we'd make it our new "date spot". LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this restaurant. We will go back every time we visit Boston, and in the interim, have raved to our family who live there, so hopefully they will hit it up soon, too. MAHALO, Dave and team! read more

The Bluebird Bar - the front of the restaurant - New American Near Me - West Newton, Massachusetts

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The food is good, but don't go unless you enjoy shouting to converse. The place is way too loud to have a nice evening out.

Went for Sunday brunch and it was delicious. The fried egg sandwich was perfect. Definitely recommend getting the pink flamingo for a cocktail! The owner, Patrick, was very nice! Street parking in that area can be tricky, but there is a lot right down the side street the restaurant is on! It was also fair pricing! read more

The Bluebird Bar - Fried egg sandwich, mimosa, pink flamingo drink - New American Near Me - West Newton, Massachusetts

I liked the place. The food tasted great. You can choose from salad or a warm grain bowl and add there a shish kebab. They have different options for shish kebabs. I ordered a Caesar salad with chicken kebab. It was great. They have a nice drink menu. They even had 3 different options of Spritzes which is nice because I like them. My friends and I had a good time, we ordered desserts. We had Pot de Crème and some kind of donuts. Everything was so tasty. However, our waiter took forever to place our orders each time and to bring our checks. And he was always mumbling something. It was not a great experience. Other than that everything was perfect. There is parking available behind the building. This place is kinda small, I highly recommend making a reservation before you go there. read more

The Bluebird Bar - New American Near Me - West Newton, Massachusetts

This cozy neighborhood bar is a step up from your usual neighborhood pub. The bar area is pretty and the small shareable plates are a nice add to the menu. We had the kebabs, which were yummy as were the beets. We started with the pickled vegetables, I did not care for that but did enjoy the ceviche. The drink and wine choices were nice as well. I will be coming back here! read more

The Bluebird Bar - Bar area - New American Near Me - West Newton, Massachusetts

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We live nearby - but this was our first time eating here. Place has a nice casual vibe to it. The host and our server were very welcoming. We both had the grain bowl with steak kebab and enjoyed our meal. While there isn't much in the bowl aside from rice and quinoa and some minimal veggies - it was tasty and filling. The grapefruit cocktail was a standout! We will definitely be back. read more

Great spot in West Newton for good cocktails and upgraded "bar food". Hummus is good, garnished well but a bit heavy on the EVOO. Burgers are great too! read more

Oof. Five stars for the cocktails. 0 stars for the food. The food situation is outrageous and I will NEVER eat here again. My friend ordered the $56 ribeye, which somehow was a moderately sized steak that was well done after he ordered medium. I got the mussels, which tasted SO fishy and otherwise flavorless. I get that mussels are seafood, but this was not a fresh type of fishy. If you eat seafood, you get it. My friend had a dried up lamb skewer over flavorless couscous. 2 stars for the service because it's friendly but SO SLOW. SO SO SO SO SLOW. EVEN WHEN THE BAR IS EMPTY. read more

Very nice atmosphere. The food was delicious and the staff great, too. When I emailed them and told them it was our anniversary I wasn't expecting them to comp with ur dessert and coffees. read more

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Replacing the now defunct French restaurant Lumière, The Bluebird Bar is a breath of fresh air in an otherwise relatively stale Newton dining scene, bringing a modern mixology program and food. We just went for cocktails and had a wonderful time, with stellar service and even better drinks. My Mai Tai ($13) was quite possibly the best iteration of the drink I've ever had and my other drink, the Desdemona ($14) was also delightful and tasted like a vacation I can't afford with those tropical notes from the passion fruit and orgeat syrup. The olives ($8) were a tad pricey but delicious - and were marinated in garlic and citrus. I very much look forward to returning in the future for more drinks and some of their food. Glad there's something so vibrant in this sleepy part of town. read more

Small little bar with personable wait staff. Just came here for drinks (which were delicious) and had options for snacks rather than an entire appetizer. Excited to go back! read more

Very disappointed. Thought I heard good things about this place but unfortunately that's not the case. Where do I begin, pleasant staff..food just not good. Severed overcooked and cold, their is something I cannt even begin to describe just stay away for it,was told the chef put his love into it, maybe today the love was not flowing. Babagunus was good, swordfish dry and overcooked..bottling for me I will not go back...oh BTW next table over felt the same read more

Huge bar. Very interesting menu and reasonable pricing. Booth tables and casual eats at the bar. Definitely worth checking out..Booths are big enough for four adults. The bar seems to turn from dinner hour to cocktail hour around 8:30pm but it's too early in the opening to tell how the vibe will change. Food: I tried their version of the Cheese Burger and it was cooked perfect to my order. Very tasty beef with a BBQ seasoning sauce on the potato bun. Fantastic. The beef skewers were seasoned and grilled, tender delicious starters paired with the Arugula salad is a generous portion, so save room for more. Bar Craft: Bartenders are friendly and attentive considering how busy evenings are. Very nice choice in wine by the glass and bottle. Bartenders appear to be very experienced and make nice cocktails Ambience: One obvious note is that this is not a sports type bar. No TVs playing during dinner and cocktail evening hours which is a welcome change. "Bar" is the operative word here. People talking, classic soul music playing in the background, accent lighting at the bar, much credit to whoever designed the bar ..nice work. The music by way ...they are spinning Vinyl! I expect the Bluebird Bar will be the "Go to" spot moving forward in West Newton Center and definitely a complement to the other established restaurants in the area. Guys...leave your ball cap in the car. The clientele appear to be between mid twenties to the older professional types, nice mix of both women and men. read more

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Delicious food and very attentive service at this new neighborhood spot. They have a nice selection of small plates + some larger entrees--the two of us shared the hummus dip, which came with some amazing fresh flatbread; the steamed mussels appetizer, which tasted nice and fresh and were served in a lemony sauce I wanted to spoon right up; and the chicory salad with dates, which was perfectly dressed. We had wine, but will look forward to trying cocktails next time. We finished with cinnamon espresso brownie with homemade marshmallow--how could you go wrong? (my only note: it would have been even better if the brownie was warm!) Dropped by before 6 pm on a Wednesday night without a reservation & got seated right away--though by the time we left, plenty of tables were full and the bar was lively. One of the owners came over to introduce himself and said they'll be continuing to expand and refine the menu as they get up and running in the next few weeks. All the staff were fully masked, which was great to see--our server was lovely & did a great job noting a nut allergy and making sure we had everything we need. We'll look forward to being back soon! read more

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Stopped in after the movies and the meal was not commensurate with the value we paid. For the positives, salt cod fritters were tasty and palomas were good. The service was very slow for the most part and our server seemed generally apathetic. A lot of the staff was standing around chatting, which is fine, given everything is cooked well, fast service, etc. My wife had the caesar salad with two kabobs and said it was all inedible with too much dressing. The kabobs were torched. I had a little piece of one and it was all burnt. We told our server about the salad and kabobs and they showed zero reaction nor did anyone come by to talk to us. My half chicken was fine but portions were small like others have mentioned. On top of everything else, the high top we were at was dusty. Not gross but but when you're dropping $150+ on a meal not ideal. read more

My second time there. The staff is mega-welcoming and friendly. The baba ghanoush was great. The grain bowl was excellent as was the steak kebab. There was live music (on a Monday!), and the place was bustling. read more

As a local, I gave this place fair a few chances to prove itself. I've been consistently underwhelmed by the food, and especially by an "acclaimed" burger that disintegrated with a cheap, soggy bottom. But the last straw was when I, as a solo diner at the bar, was asked -- mid-bite -- if I would move seats to accommodate some sort of "Newton VIP" When I suggested that that was rude I was told that the bar was "not a public space." I was going to ask to speak to the manager/owner, but when I saw that he was already aware and not at all concerned, I decided to just leave instead. read more