The food was fine, but the wait staff was really rude. I would go to Blue Ginger instead!

Although the food was delicious, our server was so uninterested in us that she soured our entire experience. She delayed coming to our table for a long time. When we finished our first glass of wine, she whisked away the glasses before we had a chance to ask for another and then disappeared. When she finally came back, she took our dinner plates although many of us were still eating. We had to ask her for coffees and when she brought them, she did NOT give us the decaf we requested which left at least 2 of us up for half the night. Very poor experience. Will be a while before I come again and will NEVER sit in this particular server's station again. read more

I've been here for lunch and dinner and both experiences were great. The food was fresh & delicious. I look forward to coming here again.

What is going on at this place? Was a nice restaurant/bar until I was pretty much assaulted on two different occasions by male patrons in the last year!! Are we becoming more interested in keeping the place full than preserving the safety of the people visiting here??? I'm totally confused as to where the proprietors of this "used to be nice restaurant" want to make of their business. I truly am afraid to go back there as a female. Two bad experiences of violent behavior from men when I just walked in to be seated by their manager. A few years ago, as I was returning from a wake with my husband, a man approached me to take a chair at our table where I had set my purse, packages and coat. Without knowing what was happening, the man and his party of 4 became violent, screaming and swearing to the point where I had to call the police department to be safely walked to our car. They were served and allowed to stay at the restaurant even when the staff recognized they were drunk and disruptive. My husband refused to return, I gave them the benefit of the doubt. This evening, I went in, asked for a seat at the bar, no other patrons were waiting so the manager told me this couple was leaving for their table in 5 minutes and I could have their seat. I approached the bar and pulled a seat when they left... a woman came up to me and yelled that she was here with her husband and I had to get off that seat so she could sit with him. What??? I turned to ask to see what the problem was and her husband, a man in his 70's started to swear at me and to get the F off the chair or else! I'm in Wellesley MA in a town I've lived in for 36 years, a restaurant I frequented since it has opened and I've again been made to feel as if I've done the wrong thing. The bartender was short with me, served the couple their drinks, all the while when this man swore out loud... The Wellesley Cottage has failed to recognize that this type of behavior is wrong, abusive and dangerous. It is in Wellesley, MA and Laura and John have preferred to allow their staff to make the good guy feel as if they're doing something bad. The drunk aggressive men that abuse and confront a female in their establishment should be sent away and not allowed to stay. I have never in my life been accosted in that manner, anywhere in the USA or the rest of world, and I've travelled my fair share. I'm only writing all this... because it's not OK to be treated this way and for Laura and John to allow this to happen. read more

We came in for a quite late lunch. We were seated immediately and I ordered a turkey burger and my husband ordered a grilled chicken sandwich. The turkey burger was PERFECT--very moist and flavorful. The french fries were to die for. My husband really liked his chicken sandwich minus the avocado. I would definitely return if we did not live in South Carolina! read more

Everything was amazing at this comfortable and pretty restaurant. The salad and dressing were delicious. The tacos fresh and packed, the service friendly and courteous. Highly recommend! read more

Although I loved the atmosphere - I thought both the service and food were more than disappointing last night. I felt rushed from our waitress from the moment we sat down, my meal (braised short rib) was fair - no sign of the wine reduction sauce mentioned and the brussel sprouts on the plate were burned. For dessert we tried the white chocolate/rasberry bread pudding which was also dry and had no hint of white chocolate and barely a hint of rasberry. This restaurant should focus on slowing down and serving what they advertise... read more

I loved the food and the atmosphere. I had crabcakes eggs benedict. It was melt in your mouth good!!!! Make sure you make a reservation. It takes a while for your food to come out. So go with friends, and enjoy a long chat while waiting. read more

The cottage use to be great, now not so much. Had lunch there today. We were literally the 1st people in the place for lunch, and although I asked the hostess to sit us in a corner booth (because we were going to be doing business and did not want to disturb other patrons) she sat the very next couple in the booth right next to us. Again, all other tables in the place were empty. We felt bad that the couple had to listen to us talk biz while they ate. Next up, horrible service. had a coconut drink which had zero coconut flavor. When I told the waiter her said "yah, it doesn't taste like coconut at all". If he had mentioned that while I was ordering, I would have passed instead of sending it back. That should have been the 1st red flag for him. Our service was bad. Had to ask a couple of times for things. By the time we got the dessert menus, we decided not to order it cuz of how long it would probably take to get it. He didnt seem to want to wait on us. I usually am a good tipper, sorry buddy 15% was more than generous for the service you provided. The food was fair, nothing special. 2nd time with bad food and service. Adios the Cottage. read more

Stopped by for a light dinner - haven't been in quite a while. The food was mediocre and over-priced. Low value. Service was fine. No vegan or vegetarian options. Menu needs updating and quality of food needs to be improved. We won't go back - it just wasn't worth the $60 for a glass of wine, beer, salad, and fish tacos (we shared). read more

Came here for dinner a few nights ago after a friend suggested this place recalling he had an awesome experience with impecable service and nice steak dinner. When we got here around 6 it seemed a little busy but not packed. The interior was aesthetically pleasing and seemed very welcoming. We waited for around 15 minutes before we got menus and water. Our waiter seemed irritated and/or distracted when taking our drink orders which probably explains why it took over 20 minutes to get a martini and a couple sangrias. We ordered a calamari to start which seemed over fried with batter falling off, it was very chewy and unpleasant. I ordered a cáprese salad with chicken which came out extremely underdressed and unseasoned. I thought it would be hard to screw up something so simple but I guess salt and some attention to cooking temperatures could go a long way. It was extremely dry. I contemplated ordering something else but I was past irritated and the waiter seemed busy so I didn't feel like waiting another 30 minutes. My other friend also said his steak was pretty bland and the sauce or meat needed salt and just lacked flavor. It's apparently homemade but seemed like a generic A1. He said the fries were the highlight of his meal, which looked gas station frozen section quality. The other person ordered scallops who said the risotto was mushy and also bland. Overall this place seems like it's trying to target the local elderly/rich population with its high prices and monotonous plates . Presentation looked like something you would get from a 90's country club, maybe that's why it's called the cottage... lol. All in all save your money you're better off traveling a few extra miles closer to Boston if you're looking for something you can't find at Wegmans. read more

Eh. Nothing special. I thought our meals were mediocre. Not sure what all the hype is about. Ordered were: fish tacos, hamburger, fish & chips. Service was great. So what? I'm there for the food. Very ho hum. read more

Great atmosphere. And my table was tucked away in the corner so very private and comfortable. I recommend making a reservation on a Friday night because people were definitely waiting. The waiter was very friendly but not on par. He kept forgetting things and to ask the typical questions that come with eating out. The food was okay and reasonablly priced. I'm glad I tried but not rushing to go back. read more

My wife and I went on a Tuesday night and the place was pretty dead. We were greeted by our server who seemed a bit angry. We ordered two glasses of wine, both of which were nice, although the pours were a bit short. Our eggplant fries were okay but a little lacking in flavor except for the dipping sauce. We finished the appetizer and then the wait was on. After 30 minutes our server finally returned to our table to report that our food would be right out. After another 15 minutes a different person appeared with our food. Our order was pretty simple: fish tacos and blackened mahi mahi. When I asked the woman what took so long, she said, "I think the mahi took a while." Then she asked who our server was and said she'd get her to explain. The server explained that there was a problem with the computer and that our order didn't go through when it was supposed to. I asked her what that meant and she said that she put the order in but that the kitchen doesn't always get orders. Maybe the printer jammed. Did it jam after our appetizer order, which we placed at the same time as the entree orders? Why did our server not tell us there was a problem or even offer to bring us more wine? These are Cottage mysteries the answers to which we will never know. Absent server and tardy entrees aside, the food was fine but not worth the kitchen printer roulette. read more

Great atmosphere but they pour very small glasses of wine.

Nice looking place but small portions for the price. My very small salad was $9 but with 4 small shrimp on top it was $21!!! For a tiny salad with 4 shrimp. read more

Have been wanting to go to The Cottage so when I did finally, my expectations were very high. We were seated almost immediately since reservations were made prior. The decor is pleasant and through the noise our server took our orders. Wine was good. Pasta with roasted veggies had more pasta (orechietti) and I really had to look for a piece of zucchini and a tiny piece of squash. Parmesan crusted sole came with a few grilled asparagus stalks. Although the fish was well prepared, it was a small piece and needed some rice pilaf or potatoes or something as accompaniment. The noisy atmosphere does not allow for relaxed meals. And meals are priced a bit high. There are other options in Wellesley without the Wellesley pricing. read more

Very good food and nice, sleek atmosphere. Have never had to wait long for a table, especially with a smaller party. Would get 5 stars but the quality of the service is hit or miss. read more

Wicky sticks to die for. Just be sure to take them out of your pockets before you put your clothes in the wash (happens to the best of us).

I've been to The Cottage about 20 times, and it's always just what I want. It gets 5 stars for being just what it should be: good quality food with great ingredients, reproducibly, at moderate prices. It may not be an ultra-expensive, once a year restaurant with food that surprises you, but that's not what it's trying to be. Instead, it's a clean, pleasant place to get a reliably great meal. The fish tacos are terrific, and the salads are crisp and fresh. Ask for sweet potato fries! This is the place we take visitors who aren't pretentious and just want to eat good food and share company. If The Cottage ever closes, I dread the day we'll have to turn to some of the big chain restaurants for that. read more

I have eaten dozens of times since this restaurant opened in Wellesley. The food is consistently very good to excellent , the service outstanding and the decor a pleasant modern experience. The only issue here is noise if you are sitting in the center of the restaurant. Sit along the windows, in the patio when the weather is nice or if you want a much quieter experience, the room to back left of the restaurant. Overall, with Blue Ginger the exception, the best dining choice in Wellesley. read more

it is kinda pricy but the crab cakes were worth it. it is a good place to take a date. it will cost you like 45 or so but the food is good, not sloppy, and a little bit finer than the usual. service is reliable too though. all that and they serve root beer. score. read more

Way too pricey, even for hoity toity Swellesley. The $14 grilled chicken sandwich was too spicy, the ciabatta bland, and the chicken breasts were thin and forgettable. The salad had more lettuce than meat. The burger was also pricey and for the $, Cheesecake Factory and other options in the area are preferable. The environment was nice, but the wait for food was way too long and our waiter was clearly overwhelmed. I wouldn't go back unless someone else was treating. read more

So good. Great location and service and the place is nicely decorated and clean. Feels like a really refreshing spot. Ordered so much food. Pancakes burgers and sandwiches. All were so good. Prices were a little high but worth it. They give decent portions and plenty of extras. Defs worth a try if you're in the area for brunch or lunch read more

I think this place deserves 2.5 stars mostly because of the lack of service. We went on a Sunday at 1pm and we were seated within 3 minutes but we waited 15 minutes for our waitress to acknowledge our presence. Then, it took an additional 10 minutes for her to take our order. I got the fish tacos which were good. I think if the service was better, I'd definitely bump this place up an extra star... read more

Not sure I would go back. Could be a good spot, but it's not for me. Too bright. They keep the place too lit. It takes away from any ambiance they want to create. I had a tuna nacho appetizer which was a bunch of wontons that were fried, then slices of seared tuna on top. Over it they drizzled some type of sauce...maybe it was a mayo thing. I don't know. The tuna was okay, but the nacho/wonton thing was pretty silly. My wife had a polenta cake that was covered in this same drizzle. Also, I ordered a chicken/mango quesadilla that was covered in this same sauce. The dishes weren't horrible, but it's not a place I would go back to. The place was relatively busy...so I guess people like it. But don't count me in. I would have rather gone to Alta Strada....or somewhere else. read more

Great friendly service. Delicious food. We were somewhat leisurely caught up in talking and the server never tried to move the table during a busy Friday lunch service. I love the half and half choice on the menu...half a sandwich and I had a delicious arugula salad on the side. Just enough and satisfying. read more

Disappointed. We meet friends for brunch Sunday of the July 4th weekend. The restaurant was empty. Staffing seemed poor. They were out of gruyere and Brie cheese which were ingredients in their listed omelets. The fruit cup looked pretty but fruit was not ripe. I wanted some butter for my scone. The waitress was no were to be found. Water glasses never refilled. Could not find waitress to get check. Fortunately had cash to pay as she never came back to our table. The restaurant is sunny and very pleasant. We obviously were not rushed. They were nice about substitutions (fruit cup for home fried) and had gluten free rolls. read more

An excellent lunch place with many healthy and creative choices. Quiet enough for a business lunch. Service was excellent, as usual.

Very good dinner in Wellesley. The restaurant is very comfortable and has an attractive interior. The service is excellent? They always have several good salads as well as enter fish options which we always find very fresh and perfectly cooked. Beer and wine menu by the glass are extensive. read more

DO NOT EAT HERE. They served a hot dog to my daughter that had dairy in it, despite promising that it was safe for her to eat. Once she started having a reaction, we asked again and they provided the brand name but no ingredients and only "we've never had a problem with it and there was no cross contamination." I immediately googled the brand name and found that the brand had several varieties of hot dogs, and all but one had dairy as an ingredient. We insisted on knowing the specific hot dog they served and the ingredients; after awhile longer the manager told us again that the couldn't get the ingredients and would call the head chef (at home I guess?). At this point it became clear that if they didn't have the ingredients on hand in the kitchen, the cook clearly could not have guaranteed that this is dairy free. We left for the hospital but my husband stayed behind, continuing to demand the ingredients and an answer. It took them 40 MINUTES from the time we reported the reaction to admit that they served a hotdog with dairy in it. Still to this day no one from the restaurant called to follow up or see if my daughter is OK. Not only did they make a tremendous mistake, but they also don't care and clearly the staff are not really educated on allergies. read more

Have had lunch here a half a dozen times or so & while the food & service has always been consistent, it seems the dining room noise is getting louder & louder with each visit. This last time was almost unbearable - really could not hear the conversation our foursome was having. Desserts were subpar this visit as well. Strawberry shortcake was a soggy crumbled up biscuit, barely any berries & mostly juice. Brownie sundae was small cut up brownie pieces wedged into a tall sundae glass with minimal ice cream underneath and scant chocolate sauce. May be time to try a new place. read more

Pretty good food. We get take out from there a lot. My favorite dish is the granola encrusted mahi mahi. So good, but I can't bare the sight of it now because I played it out! The fish tacos are pretty good too. They have some really good specials sometimes. They're known for their granola...its ok, but I like more fruit in mine. Theirs only has a little cranberry in it and coconut I think. read more

Really lovely brunch - great service, good food. We will be back!

My friends have been eyeing this restaurant, so they took me here for Saturday brunch. Normally they've seen long lines, but fortunately we didn't have to wait. The ambiance is new, clean, with a Restoration Hardware feel. I couldn't decide between ordering off the brunch or lunch menu but I settled for the Eggs Linden-a benedict with canadian bacon, sauteed mushrooms, spinach & tomato, touched with garlic & balsamic vinegar. It was ok, but I wanted to try something different. My friends had the Country Style French Toast w/ fruit and Short Rib Hash - both looked delicious, but they were chintzy on the fruit. Also, most breakfast/brunch items come w/ a scone - that was good (warm & buttery). They have a wide variety of food on the lunch menu, and I can't imagine how dinner might be. The place has a lot of potential and the service could improve - no one refilled my coffee :( I'll definitely be back during my next visit in the Spring. read more

I like the Cottage. I have been dining there since it opened. I was disappointed because they changed the recipe for the chicken tortilla soup. Is has a more tomato taste and is spicier. The white sangria, salad and bread are very good. read more

Wow, am I disappointed. The wait staff was extremely rude and made us feel like we were an inconvenience to them. I would not recommend this place to anyone and will not be dining here again. read more

Food was ok, service was sub par.

So far I have been to the Cottage twice, once for Sunday brunch and the other for Saturday dinner. Both dining experiences have been quite pleasant. The decor is cute - it feels like a minimalist Cape cottage. The staff is great - everyone from the hostesses to the waitstaff have been nothing but friendly and attentive. The menu is quite broad and everything looks great. We did not have an unhappy customer in either of my dining experiences. The Baked Haddock Parmesan was excellent. I would also recommend the Cottage Nachos as a group friendly appetizer. The crowd was mixed on both occasions. I did notice a lot of families with young children for Sunday brunch. All of the children were well behaved so it wasn't a problem with us, but if you prefer a childless dinner you may have to go elsewhere. A big plus is that they take reservations for brunch; however they do not have many tables able to sit large groups so if you have a group of 5 or more I would suggest calling a couple days in advance. (We called the day before for a party of 7 and the earliest they could seat us was 2pm.) My fiance and I are on a mission to try everything on the menu so we will definitely be back! read more

so excited to see the cottage is coming to the chestnut hill shopping center, can't wait for it to open!!!!