The food is phenomenal. My friends and I come here annually before annual event we attend. We usually order several appetizers and main meals. Love the mahi tacos and truffle tatter tots. We love the lamb burgers. The lamb burgers had just the right seasoning. So yummy. The drinks are to die for. Can't go wrong with the lemon sorbet margaritas... Delicious. Great atmosphere and service. Highly recommend if you are in the area. read more

This is one of these restaurants where you walk in you determine it has a lot of potential but it is the lack of attention to detail that makes it a mediocre experience. For example, the floor is very slippery (greasy); I had to walk carefully. Wine glasses that get delivered and they are not clean. The restaurant was nearly empty but yet, because we had a group of 7 (3 kids) we were placed in a side room with poor acoustics. Well next to a group of 12 loud women that showed up later. We requested to get moved which they honored. Into a corner where a cold air conditioning vent was blowing down on us. Sigh! On a good note, the food was great. The braised short ribs were great. My parents really enjoyed the Milanese chicken. The waitress was cool and provided great help. But guys, pay attention to the details. That will kick it up a notch. read more

Pretty tasty food. Bread was excellent, drinks were very good as well. I had the fish tacos - good but could have used a bit more fish. Salads are HUGE. Went on a Thursday night - very family atmosphere around 7pm but by 8 it was mostly adults. Nice for a place not in the city. I'd go back once i get a pay check or two - was a little pricier than anticipated - drinks especially. read more

The space feels very special- bright, cheerful, friendly, warm. The food was ok, but not all that inspired. I had the risotto which was in desparate need of some salt, and my friend had the scallops which were ok, but not terrific. We shared two desserts- a delicious chocolate cake, and a slightly crunchy pumpkin cake (not sure what the crunchiness was about though...). All in all, the space saves this place given that the food is decent but not particularly special. read more

I came here for lunch and got the tortilla soup and salad. Soup was SUPER flavorful and delicious. Salad was more like a pile of garnish... I was still hungry after. The rolls are super yummy. Our waiter was not the best... He asked us FIVE times within 8 minutes if we were ready to order...and once we had our food he was no where to be found! I would go back for the ambiance/brunch. read more

In my opinion The Cottage is one of the better restaurants in the area for the price range. For $15-$25/entree, I'd much rather come here than Papa Razzi, for example. I've been three times now, and all of my food has been very good. I actually almost don't like the menu because so much of it looks good, it's really hard to decide. I particularly like their salads - including the goat cheese salad. read more

It is just OK. We were there for a tam dinner so the menu is very small. The service is pretty bad. We were there without water for at least half an hour. Food is also just so so. My scallop was fine but my friends tastes like detergent. Don't recommend to anyone. read more

The use of fresh, local ingredients never fails to please the palate at the Cottage. I usually sit at the bar, their bartender Brianna is wonderful! She always has great advice on what to try - as their menu is updated often. The drinks are fresh and delish! I am not usually a margarita person, however the Watermelon Margarita (made by Brianna, of course) is out of this world. Perfect and refreshing for the upcoming season - they juice the watermelon themselves, as well as add a cucumber/habanero infusion to the drink that adds a subtle kick. The fish tacos as well as the tortilla soup never fail to disappoint me. ***please note: the town of Wellesley has a liquor law that prohibits you from buying drinks without buying at least an appetizer first! read more

I'm a self proclaimed Cottage superfan, so take this review with a grain of salt. I've never once been disappointed there, and I live around the corner so I've gone at least a dozen times. Amazing morsels I've had: Haddock Parmesan, swirled mashed potatoes, mahi mahi fish tacos, and the California CHEESEBURGER. Yes, I didn't get the Cheeseburger until like the 10th time I was there, because why get a cheeseburger when there are so many other adventurous options. I got it and was blown away. The "uncommon brews" beer menu is awesome too, not many restaurants this side of Worcester have BBC Steel Rail Pale Ale. Allegash White and Cooper's also flow. It's got the clean, wonderfully decorated Wellesley experience and the prices are not bad at all. Also, make sure to sign up for their email list on their website and get a coupon for 20% off sent to you. wink wink. read more

Great dinner, cool atmosphere & friendly staff. Only negative is the parking. The bar staff is great. Awesome Bloody Mary.

I *love* The Cottage in Wellesley. This is where we take out-of-towners, whether for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Their fresh menu has something to suit everyone and their Cape-like decor is casual, yet elegant. The service is usually pretty attentive and it's a fun atmosphere. My favorite salad is this unique grapefruit, beet, avocado number and the chicken salad is pretty wonderful too! It can get busy at times, so plan ahead if it's important to you to get in quickly. It can be pricey, but given the ambiance, I think it's worth it. Their mojitos are tasty, but on the small side. read more

The fact that each person must order food to have a drink -- even a glass of wine -- is not their fault; it's a town bylaw... Luckily for us (we just stopped for a glass of wine), that aggravation forced us to try a couple appetizers. The eggplant fries - amazing! Crab cakes... Very good. Sonoma Cutrer Chard - always good. We'll be back. read more

I go here often for dinners with my grandparents and cousins. The place has a lovely atmosphere, a wide variety in the menu options, and decent prices! Went yesterday and had the tortilla soup and the arugula salad. Both great, and the salad was one of the best I've had! read more

The cottage is a good family or business restaurant. The food is good, I really like the burger and fries but the portions are on the smaller side. They have a pretty generic options brunch menu as well. I come here if I crave a burger or brunch with my family. read more

I met two girlfriends here for dinner on a Tuesday evening and was thankful to have a reservation! I couldn't believe how crowded and on a Tuesday, no-less. The atmosphere of the restaurant was cheerful and bright and I felt like I was at a restaurant on the beach! We started with the Avocado Skins - which were amazing! Think potato skins sans potato add avocado. Simply Delish! We were fighting over the 4th one! I had the Fish Tacos for my dinner - very good. The grilled Mahi-Mahi was perfectly cooked. One friend also had fish tacos and the other had a chicken and goat cheese salad. Both enjoyed their meal as well. We ended the meal with the daily temptation - a blueberry strawberry shortcake. Light and refreshing for a hot day! Was a perfect way to end a great dinner! The service was great and our waitress was pleasant and friendly. The pricing also felt right on for what we had and enjoyed - 1 shared appetizer, 3 entrees, 1 dessert, 1 bottle of wine - about $40 per person. I will definitely be coming back soon!! read more

Had a 1pm lunch at the Cottage this Sunday. It was a gorgeous day, so we opted to sit outside. We got the abridged brunch menu, but it included sandwiches, salads, and other non-breakfast entrees. I had the fish & chips. The fish was delicious and had a very light batter. It came with a mound of jicama slaw and a scant few French fries. The remoulade was delicious. For $15 however, I expected a fuller plate. I tasted the home fries on my friend's plate and they were bland and mealy. I also tasted the lamb burger and if you love lamb, you should get it. The service was incredibly slow. Our waiter came around to fill waters plenty of times, but when it came to take our order, or get us our check, he was nowhere to be found. read more

Catie S.'s write-up was spot on the mark in terms of decor (love the comment about Crate & Barrel Chic - so true!). There aren't a heck of a lot of choices for things other than pizza in Wellesley, the puritanical city elders require a minimum number of tables to get a liquor licence, but The Cottage is definitively worthwhile. Aimed at adults, it has a full bar and two friendly bartenders who know their beverages and are great conversationalists. As far as the cuisine is concerned, the menu is quite creative and everything I've tried has consistently been good. The fish tacos are the best that I have had anywhere, and I eat out a lot while travelling on business. My favorites though are the skirt steak and the brick fried chicken and I usually have a hard time choosing between the two. Long lines for dinner on weekends, but a favorite destination for locals and those who live nearby. read more

I had very, very high expectations for this place. I heard about the opening of the Newton location for months prior to its opening on multiple food blogs I read. I have had a high anticipation of trying this place out. I finally decided to go for a birthday meal with the fam, and they mentioned they love the Wellesley location. Since its closer to them, we went to Wellesley. The service was great. Our server was fast and efficient. A few other waiters stopped by our table and seemed great as well. The atmosphere was perfect. I felt like I could relax and enjoy myself here. It was not loud or too crowded despite still being busy with a decent crowd. The bottle of wine we ordered was highly enjoyable and they offered a large selection. Our server brought over waters before taking a drink order, which I love. She also brought out bread almost instantly at my request as I was starving...huge plus! My meal was the only thing that wasn't great. It certainly wasn't bad, but it wasn't all I had hoped and dreamed my first meal at The Cottage would be. I ordered the Lobster BLT-A. While I will say the lobster meat was fresh, which is the most important...it just lacked in substance. There was not as much lobster meat as your typical lobster roll, which made me a little sad and disappointed. The bread was too crunchy and not so much buttery. The mayo/avocado/bacon additions were good. The fries were also good. I will be back to see if I can order something that matches all of my hopes for this place, as it does seem to be a pretty nice establishment. Their brunch menu has caught my eye and I still have high hopes it will be nothing short of extraordinary! read more

A large group of family went here for a brunch yesterday. Previous reviews mentioned the need for reservations, particularly for a weekend brunch. Luckily the uncle who hosted this, thought of that. Our waitress was very polite in what I call a "New England way" which means polite and attentive, but equally happy to chat about whatever with guests. The prices demonstrate how high end this place aspires to be and I must say the food we had was very high end as well. No one had any complaints of serious nature. (Though my brother-in-law did find the yogurt on the granola too thin and also insufficient for the size of the dish. An additional dish of yogurt seemed to resolve the issue.) The layout is very open space and bright in a cheerful way. The sizes were quite large and half my SoCal omelette came home with us. The highlight of the place for me, was the scone. It was warm, soft, and tasted lighter than air on my tongue! read more

This place is fabulous! I came here with a large group for a work dinner and everything was great. They had a creative menu with plenty of options and everyone was very pleased with their choices. Highlights: White Sangria, Avocado Skins read more

LOVE LOVE LOVE their white sangria--they put peachs soaked in liquour as a finishing touch--best white sangria I have found in the Boston area thus far. Not to sweet, strong, and refreshing! Overall rest of food is good, but nothing out of this world--overpriced in my book. Crab cakes I did enjoy--decent ratio of crab to breading and I loved they they were a little crispy! I do enjoy the ambiance of the space. Very bright, big open windows with clean, beachy styling throughout--reminds me of my parents home... read more

Every time I have gone here, it has been a matter of convenience. The atmosphere is good but the food is simply NOT worth the money. If you do end up here, try the tuna nachos... they are worth mentioning! read more

Food was good, lost a star for service-mostly on the part of the lack of greeting. I arrived first and wasn't acknowledged by any of the many staff-persons milling about the entrance to see if I needed a table, so I went to the bar to wait. When my friend arrived, we tried to approach the host stand to get a table. There were about five staff-persons (dressed in black uniforms) standing there, all with their backs to us, not one of them acknowledging the fact that we were there. It was rather awkward. Then finally one turned around and said a host will seat us when s/he gets back, then the rest scattered. I've worked the service industry, and it wasn't a busy night, so there was really no reason why someone couldn't have said hi to us without making us stand there awkwardly for three minutes...However, I noticed all the parties with children were seated promptly and they have a children's menu, so it seemed to be a pretty family friendly spot. I loved the decor, which reminded me of a Nantucket home with the white wooden walls. It was a bright and a wonderful spot for catching up with old friends. With regards to food, I had the nicoise salad which was good. It was crisp and fresh. We ordered the Orchard Apple Dessert, which was carrot cake (surprised...), but it was yummy! Our server was courteous and the water glasses were always full. EDIT: went back on Monday night and everything was spot on! Turns out the Orchard Apple Dessert is really an apple cake, but as our server put it, had some identity issues and tastes just like a carrot cake! They're also thinking of launching a brunch menu some time in April, which should be awesome! read more

I'd describe it as overrated. It is always crowded but I think that's more because it's one a few restaurants like it in the area so it's special for Wellesley but I don't think it's worth the wait. My favorite items are the organic arugala salad (which made me move this review from 2 stars to 3 stars) and the seafood chowder. Other than that, I have not liked my meals. The lobster mac n cheese tastes cheap to me. If you are in the area, I have no suggestions but don't make a special trip out here. read more

I love the simple goodness of the food here. Good sized portions. Awesome warm bread w/ soft butter to munch on while you wait for your food. They always come over to refill my water a few times and I really appreciate it! The outdoor seating is so nice in the summertime. This is a true feel good place. read more

The Cottage Wellesley - Vegetarian sandwich burger. Sooo yummy! - New American Near Me - Wellesley, Massachusetts

This is a really cute neighbordhood gem! Definitely little more pricey for a college student but whatever, it's worth the money! My friends and i always come here for fun brunch or special birthday dinners. Everything that we've tried is really really good! highly highly recommend fried calamari! Their wait staff is really nice and attentive-- I've had instances where I felt like they were judging me though. It hasn't happened more than few times but definitely puts a damper on your dining experience when you're spending your money there. Not sure if it's because my friends and I are younger than their general customer segment (usually families with little kids or old people) or if it's because we're Asians and there aren't that many Asians in the area. There was one time when I came here with my boyfriend who was visiting me for the weekend and the waiter took forever to take our order and talked to us in a curt manner-- he then went off to the table right next to ours and was all bubbly and happy and uplifted. Hrmmm. Anyways, I still reocmmend this place because they have good food but hopefully I won't ever have to feel like I'm in a wrong place ever again because of my age or my skin/hair color. Meh. read more

Went to the cottage for my husband's birthday dinner. Service was okay - person I talked to on the phone was very curt and our server was nice. Cali Caesar Salad - $10: Didn't love it. The dressing was not particularly caesar-ish. Love the croutons. The server who came with black pepper kept adding more pepper to it. We didn't realize that we had to tell him when to stop. Ended up peppery, but bearable. Crispy Duck Duo - $22: Confit de canard was amazing!! If they had a plate with only that, I would come here all the time. The pan seared duck was good too, but the edges were overcooked. I liked the cabbage; husband didn't. Sweet Potato Crusted Cod - $27: Didn't quite taste the sweet potato. The cod was cooked well, but bland. Rapini was a little tough to chew and had unchewable fibers. Mango was sour. I didn't like it, and felt that it was definitely not worth $27. Chocolate Souffle Cake - $9: Excellent! Yums! read more

Diner review: Service: I really like our server. I think his name is Ben. He's prompt and efficient. Food: I enjoy their food portions. They are just right, not too big not too small. The food is delicious. My husband loves the tacos and I've had the chicken picatta and the BBQ Tenderloin Tips (BBQ sauce on the side). read more

I love the atmosphere at the cottage. Bright, clean and refreshing with it's open floor plan and set up I feel it is inviting. The food is delicious and the staff very pleasant. My favorite place to dine with friends. read more

First time at The Cottage. Great everything. . Daughter's college graduation. I heard that it was expensive, it was less than I expected with a party of 12. read more

The place has a clean, Nantucket style but it is way over-priced for the quality and portions. Okay for a drink and apps but for dinner, the fish tacos and maybe a few of the salads are the only things worth getting. Plus, it's mostly filled with kids and elderly folks. I used to think this was the spot when I was a teen but it quickly has lost it's appeal...although, I've heard it's pretty good for Sunday brunch but busy so definitely make a reservation! Also-whatever the dressing is on the arugula salad is...fantastic! read more

Had dinner at the cottage last night, and it was as great as I had heard from friends. Service was fantastic and the food was well presented. The only thing missing was the bread that was offered but never came. We had a great time and will likely come back in the future. read more

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Solidly average. I was so hoping to see a re-vamp of the Kids' Menu when they renovated, but nope. Same, plain unhealthy food (chicken fingers, hot dog, mac and cheese, etc.) with no mention of veg or fruit for sides. I don't get it, especially when the bread and butter of your business is solidly families. I won't mention names, but another family-friendly restaurant in town, for example, offers apple slices with PB and veggies with ranch as side dishes for kiddos. Such a small addition, but it keeps us coming back. PLEASE make some changes to your kids' menu and move with the times! read more

We went to The Cottage on a company outing. We all had a great time. Our service was excellent and the food came out in a very timely fashion. We ordered a bunch of appetizers, including the Aloha Chicken and the Chicken Mango Quesadillas. They were all awesome! Our lunches were great, too. I had the Beef BBQ Tenderloin Tips... they were amazing. I was really impressed with the simple, clean restaurant and menu. The whole place was beautiful and spotless. Everyone's dishes looked excellent. Lastly, when I got my meal wrapped up, the leftovers were in an eco-friendly biodegradable box. I was so, so happy. read more

I go there from time to time. I really like their menu. I feel its somehow creative and diverse. I always go nuts when I remember their Crab Melt Sandwich. I recently tried their Lobster Risotto it was blasting with both cheese and chilli, which I fell in love with. Looking forward to try another dishes and also I have to try their Sunday Brunch one day! Staff were professional and polite. Not to worry whatsoever about parking. I recently tried their LA Burger. It has been a while since I tasted a good burger with unique toppings. Goat and Gruyere cheese with roasted tomato aioli and roasted shallots. A must try for all people who indulge in burgers. read more

Went for brunch, at a time where the restaurant was half empty, and our entire party was summarily ignored from start to finish. Water, drinks, food, and the check took ages. We were there for 35 minutes longer than was necessary. My Eggs Benedict had been hard poached (didn't know that was a thing) and we're both filled with eggshells. Over priced for mediocre food and terrible service. You are paying for the, albeit lovely, decor. read more

Although I'm disappointed in the redesign that looks more like a cafeteria than a cute place for lunch, the food has remained tasty and the ambiance, while child-friendly, a little more upscale and calm than CPK across the street. We eat at the Cottage once a month or so and find it to be a little inconsistent in terms of service and food quality. Their pricing does bother me--I ordered a seltzer with a splash of cranberry (a drink I order all the time at restaurants), and they charged me $3 for the seltzer and $4 for the cranberry, which is sort of ridiculous. They also price their kids meals at $9, which is totally reasonable--but charged me $7 dollars for an extra kids' side of broccoli. Overall, I find the Cottage a little pricey for what it is, but a good alternative now and then when we want to be near home but are sick of CPK. read more

We had a wonderful time at The Cottage. The staff was courteous and knowledgeable. The food presentation was exquisite. My steak tasted amazing. The vegetables were coated in a delicious source. I loved the ambiance. Their homemade bread was warm and I could have indulged many more pieces had I not wanted to save my appetite. read more

The Cottage Wellesley - Customers sitting in the restaurant. - New American Near Me - Wellesley, Massachusetts

Not only is the food delicious but the setting is perfect. I love the bright, natural light that gives The Cottage the feeling that it really is a waterfront cottage right in the heart of Wellesley. My friend an I split a steak salad that was delicious. The beef was perfectly cooked and the salad had fabulous flavor. We also got eggplant fries and crab cakes - both were fried to perfection. There was plenty of food and the drinks were yummy too. I love this place. Always Great service. read more

The Cottage Wellesley - Steak salad! This is a half. So good. - New American Near Me - Wellesley, Massachusetts

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I'm not sure what happened to this place, I came here for my birthday and the food was meh, it used to be decorated like a Cape Cod home and now it's changed and not for the better. I was dissapointed in the overpriced meal and won't be returning. The Chestnut Hill Cottage is still really good. read more