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29 Newbury Street Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants American (New) Arts & Entertainment Art Galleries Shopping Art Galleries American (New), Art Galleries [Edit]
29 Newbury St(between Arlington St & Berkeley St)
Boston, MA 02116
Neighborhood: Back Bay
(617) 536-0290
- Nearest Transit:
-
Boylston St @ Berkeley St (55, 9)
Arlington Station - Outbound (Green Line)
Arlington Station - Inbound (Green Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11:30 am - 10 pm
Sun 10:30 am - 10 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- By Appointment Only:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
52 reviews for 29 Newbury Street Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"...29 smooch (brownie, vanilla ice cream and raspberry sauce." In 3 reviews -
"...delicious and flavored very well with ginger and soy sauce." In 3 reviews -
"...and lunch; the sangria, fish tacos and heirloom tomato..." In 4 reviews
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52 reviews in English
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Review from Don L.
Bedford, NH
5/13/2012
Nice location very excited to spend mothers day
Calamari good started great, long delay for main course, food over-cooked (burger, chicken curry) fish taco and wife's ahi salad good, wife's bloody Mary very tasty
New staff on a day like this poor planning -
Review from Marina K.
5/14/2012
No wonder this place wasn't packed for brunch on Mother's Day - it isn't worth any kind of wait.
We made reservations and came with a group of five to sit outside on the (admittedly pretty) patio. The service was decent, although it took quite some time for our entrees to arrive. My mom and I split the french toast (bland and dry, ugh) and the eggs benedict (fine, nothing special). Our iced coffee tasted watery, and my brother's drink came in a dirty cup that literally had dried rings of pulpy orange juice inside. He asked for another glass and they brought it out, one no questions asked, but still, that shouldn't be happening at a Newbury Street cafe like this one.
There are many, many better options in the immediate area. Cross this one off your list. -
Review from Elizabeth P.
Medford, MA
10/28/2011
I have to say, I'm surprised by how many negative reviews 29 Newbury Street has received. We had lunch here last weekend, and our experience was very solid. Sure, it's not the best place ever, but everything we ate was tasty and you could do much worse. I'd be interested in trying other places in the area, but I'd definitely come back to 29 Newbury Street again.
Ambiance: The restaurant is a bit on the small side, although in the warmer months it can seat more people because of its outdoor seating. As it was a cool day, we opted to sit indoors. The front of the restaurant is a bar, with the dining room further inside. The space is a bit tight, and the tables are too close together; however, the modern feel and light colors prevent it from feeling too cramped. The most negative thing about the restaurant for me was the music: the "Top Hits" station seemed a bizarre choice, considering the intimate, quiet feel of the place. Maybe it fits better with the nighttime vibe?
Service: Our server was very pleasant, and did a nice job. The food came out relatively quickly, which is pretty important to me for a lunch place.
Menu: The menu is pretty classically American, with a bit of an Asian or Mexican twist here and there. For lunch, options include entree-sized salads, sandwiches, burgers, and classic entrees such as meatloaf and chicken pot pie. There's not much that's ground-breaking, but plenty to make your mouth water.
Food: Though I've lived in New England my entire life, I'd never tried a lobster roll until this past weekend at 29 Newbury Street. It wasn't my favorite thing ever, but I definitely liked it, and those at my table with more lobster roll experience informed me that the restaurant's rendition was a pretty good one. In particular, I liked the inclusion of cilantro and the crunchy french bread on which it was served. I also loved the shoestring fries that came with the sandwich--I'm a total sucker for those! My boyfriend's club sandwich was tasty, and my dad enjoyed the "Over the Top" lobster salad--the combination of flavors was quite nice. The chicken pot pie was the least successful dish we ordered. The crust was nice and flaky, and the chicken was well-cooked; however, the fresh herb that they used in it was overpowering. -
Review from Randy S.
New York, NY
8/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
Good value for the price, but you'd better be willing to wait. The location is great: Close to the park, outdoor seating, on a fantastic street, and nice eye candy. The menu is manageable, and the plates come heaped with goodies. My scramble eggs and bacon also came with Chicken sausage.
The problems start when you sit down. We were there for brunch and the patio was pretty empty. The tables are too close together, and our fairly young waitress did not seem to be very enthused about serving us. My coffee was cold, and I was never offered a re-fill, Finding her to request anything was harder than finding Waldo.
The icing on the cake was when my buddy and I were asked to get up from our table as we were waiting for our bill, so that a larger party could fit in the table behind us. It was the first time were shown attention by the staff all afternoon. Having to pay the bill standing was enough to place this restaurant on my do-not-return list for life. -
Review from Joanna F.
11/18/2011
I'm not sure how this is a hidden gem when it's right on Newbury Street, but it definitely is. Maybe it's because of the negative reviews, which I find surprising. I had heard a lot of good things from my coworkers and I decided to purchase the groupon for 2 when it came up.
My fiance and I went in on a Wednesday night. The groupon was for an appetizer, two entrees and a dessert. I loved the atmosphere... chic yet casual. We were there early, but the place was absolutely empty besides a few people at the bar. Our server was over the top nice.
We decided on the prosciutto wrapped asparagus as a starter, although many of their appetizers looked really good. The asparagus and cheese were really good, but we thought the prosciutto was a bit dried out. I think the layer on the asparagus was really thick. Either way, it was flavorful.
For my entree, I got the pork stir fry. This was fresh, delicious and flavored very well with ginger and soy sauce. My only complaint is that it was fairly salty. My fiance thoroughly enjoyed his steak dish.
The brownie sundae for dessert was disappointing. It was less a sundae and more a brownie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. I was unimpressed and felt like I could make the same or better at home.
Either way, I really enjoyed our experience and would definitely come back. -
Review from Lindsey B.
Boston, MA
2/21/2012
i can't really speak to the restaurant aspect of the 29 but I can tell you that the bartenders are on POINT and the drinks are always fun and flowing at this spot. Mark and Alex are commonly found behind the bar - and both aim to please - and they do! try any cocktail they can conjure up and you'll be so impressed with the taste and presentation the next thing you'll know you'll have had 4 and won't remember your name. love the 29 - see you soon boys!
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Review from Allegra M.
Milton, MA
6/14/2011
I don't really know why so many people gave this restaurant only a one-star rating.
Let's stop and take a reality check for a second here - the restaurant is located on Newbury Street surrounded by some of the most expensive stores and hotels in Boston, and is also in easy walking distance from some of the biggest tourist spots in the city. What about this screams "affordable dining" to you?
With this in mind, this restaurant is obviously tailored to a tourist clientele that is only looking to grab a light and convenient meal in between shopping at Chanel and Burberry and may never come back again.
The food really isn't bad per say - uninspired and a little sloppy on presentation maybe - but definitely passing for decent. I ordered the warm goat cheese salad for lunch, and it was fine. The apple cider vinaigrette wasn't overpowering and the goat cheese was the perfect sized portion for the plate, but the beets were hidden underneath the mound of baby arugula and it wasn't until I was almost done with my lunch that I even knew they were there. I don't know what the point of burying them was - it was like finding a toy in the bottom of the Cracker Jack box, but instead of a decoder ring, I found a root vegetable. Like I said, the plate was sloppy looking, with the spicy pecans and dried cranberries tossed on top Emeril Lagasse-style - BAM!
Service was attentive without being all "up in your business" and although the outdoor seating is not prime for people watching, its nice if you want to eat outdoors without feeling like your in the middle of Times Square.
So, I give 29 Newbury 2-stars because, quite frankly, "meh. I've experienced better." Was it awful? No, but there are other places I would prefer to go. -
Review from Lisa O.
7/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Normally, I'd walk right past 29 Newbury without giving it even a first glance. But last Saturday afternoon, I was about-to-pass-out STARVING, stuck in a torrential downpour, and accompanied by my sometimes-insane mom who was insisting on eating on a patio despite the fact that our umbrellas were useless against the pouring rain. Yeah. She's crazy, at least about al fresco dining. 29 Newbury was the only restaurant to accommodate her psycho request to sit outside, and the host (and server) gamely led us out to the empty patio to a table under a huge umbrella. He was very gracious about the whole thing, even more so when the rain let up 10 minutes in.
I have to say. the patio atmosphere was fantastic. We were sheltered from the rain, surrounded by flowers, and got to watch a whole procession of fancy wedding guests stroll from the Taj to the church. We also got to hear one middle-aged tourist exclaim "No that's not a restaurant, that's an art gallery!" as she gestured towards the patio. Ok. From my short walk to the bathroom, I quickly decided that I would never ever eat inside. Seriously, the atmosphere in here evokes New Jersey 1989. Just...no.
The food was decent. We split fish tacos and they had pretty good flavor, especially for a restaurant that seems like they've never encountered anything south of the border. I didn't pay or even look at the bill so I can't speak for the price. I can honestly say I will probably not be back here when there are so many other options in the area. The service was absolutely OUTSTANDING though. Hi 29 Newbury guy! I'm sorry my mom made you walk through the rain! -
Review from Sara S.
North Andover, MA
8/21/2011
Came here for dinner the other night with my husband and my mom, who was visiting from out of town. We were able to be seated right away, which was nice on a Friday night at 8:30.
I ordered the watermelon-and-feta salad with arugula and prosciutto. It was really delicious, although the watermelon, feta and prosciutto were all closer to room temperature than cold, and the salad would have been more refreshing with cold watermelon chunks.
I also ordered the margherita pizzeta. This, unfortunately, was really, really disappointing. It was basically a greasy, soggy cheese pizza with a few slices of fresh tomato and some torn basil on top. Margherita pizza is normally much lighter: a crust with slices of fresh tomato, fresh basil and thin slices of fresh mozzarella. This was like a frozen pizza with extra grease poured on top. For $14, I would have expected much better.
My husband enjoyed his fish, and my mom had the gazpacho and the chicken Caesar salad. She said both were quite good, so the margherita pizza appears to have been the odd disappointment of the evening. -
Review from Gretchen A.
Burr Ridge, IL
11/18/2011
Groupon! Best thing I can say about 29 Newbury is that I'm glad I didn't playfully price! Our $212.00 (for four people) check totaled only $44.
First off, they could use some PR and advertising. You can barely tell this is a restaurant without literally finding the address of the building and pulling on the door in hops that it's unlocked. Maybe that's where they got the clever, but cliche, name from? Hope they don't have to relocate...
The Groupon included two starters, four entrees, and one/two desserts. (I was under the impression we received two, however our host explained it would only be one, BUT the waitress told us there would be two...and I stopped questioning it at that point.)
Calamari... Pretty good. Needs to have something better than Ragu sauce served with it. The marinara was entirely too bland.
Short Ribs... They're not kidding. 2. Two. And they came with a tiramisu sized slice of cornbread. The short ribs could have been the garnish on the plate for the size comparison to the cornbread.
Salmon... Woah! That was the hugest piece of salmon I'd ever been served! Impressive!! Snow peas were excellent, and the ginger soy sauce was pretty decent as well.
Rack of Lamb... Was not a rack, but more like loli-popped chops. There were three. I only tried a bite, and had never had lamb before, but I thought it was decent.
Creme Brûlée... Good. Entirely too small for what would have been $10. The ramekin was maybe 2" in diameter.
Tiramisu...Excellent. It's not a personal favorite of mine, but this was fabulous.
The atmosphere of the restaurant is nice. Chic, yet stylish. It is very small, and there were only two people at the bar, and maybe 6-8 others in the restaurant when we arrived for a 7pm reservation. By the time we left around 8:45pm business in the bar area had picked up, and a few others had made it to the dining room.
Our waitress could have used some additional experience as well... After clearly still browsing the menu and hesitating with some hmm's and haw's she proceeded to hover over us for what felt like an entire minute or two...and once our menus were closed it took two walk-bys for her to come back and take our orders.
Food was good, and the location felt enticing; but I dont feel the prices were merited. Again, glad we didn't pay full price. -
Review from Katie F.
Boston, MA
4/30/2009
I was scared to come here in the first place when a friend suggested it (and I'd done my yelp homework). Seriously, nothing went right that night. Out of the 5 diners, only 1 got what they wanted right.
For myself, I thought I'd play it safe and order a burger since you can't really fuck up a burger. Well, that's a lie. Apparently, even on snooty Newbury where they charge you up the rear for their culinary masterpieces, they can hear medium and turn out a hockey puck. Are you joking?!
I really hate that I wasted my time coming here and paid an exponentially large sum of money for a burger I could have paid $5 or less for. What I should have done was pay for a strong martini so it wouldn't hurt so bad. -
Review from L C.
Boston, MA
6/10/2009
Pricey place. Kinda shitty service/meals.
+ = pros
- = cons
+ nice place to sit outdoors during nice weather so you can stare people down on newbury st with huge sunglasses thinking you're cooler than every other wannabe eurotrash
+ i really liked their burger..cooked well and to my liking, fat burger
- pricey..i think my goddamn burger was like 15 bucks+ or something like that. WTF?
- the inside of the restaurant is goddamn small and cramped. it's worse than those god awful cheesecake factory tables where you're sitting on top of someone
- can be a major long wait on a nice day to get a table outside
- tables are small
- service sucks. you wait, and wait, and wait, and wait, and wait...to get a glass of water
...What can you expect? It's Newbury St... -
Review from Doug W.
South Boston, MA
2/3/2009
My girlfriend and I ended up here on New Years Eve after scanning a bunch of menus and deciding that the offerings at 29 Newbury sounded like the best.
Unfortunately, neither of us thought to check Yelp beforehand.
If we had, there is a good chance that we wouldn't have been as surprised that the server was practically impossible to flag down throughout the night. He did try to take our order immediately when we took our seats, but when we asked for a few minutes to decide, he took that as a sign to disappear for 15 without ever coming back to check on us. Eventually I was able to stand up, locate him, and flag him down by waving my arms back in forth as if landing a plane. Not the best start.
I started off with the lobster bisque, while my girlfriend had the oysters. I don't particularly like oysters, she loves them. But the look on her face after trying the ones here made me wonder if she'd fallen out of love in a hurry. Not good. The lobster bisque was fine in a 'type you'd buy in a plastic cannister from Costco and then re-heat' sort of way, but it had no actual lobster pieces to speak of and was on the bland side.
Our main courses were an improvement, but still underwhelming. My bay scallops with lemon sauce and cream spinach could have been more accurately described as the world's largest portion of cream spinach with a few tiny scallops dotting the top, cherry-on-a-sundae style. It didn't taste bad, but I was still left feeling like I had been misled. Fortunately her steak was much better.
The chocolate lava cake for dessert was fine. It warrants no further mention.
All in all, I probably would have left far more satisfied (or at least without a bitter taste in my mouth) were it not for two things: 1) the outrageous price for the quality- this was not a meal that warranted the $ I paid for it. 2) the fact that the staff (as in, the on-duty staff) were all taking shots together at the bar when the majority of the tables in the place were being neglected. I get it- it's New Year's Eve and you probably drew a short straw by having to work. But do you really need to be drinking in full view of the patrons at 9:00pm?
Lame. -
Review from Deepa C.
Somerville, MA
8/30/2007
My wonderful boss took me to lunch here in honor of my last day at work. It was good but not stellar.
4 stars: Like the decor, kind of a muted Tim Burton-y feel (with pastel flower paintings - random).
3 stars: The place was fairly dead at noon, which was nice and quiet. We didn't have to fight for attention or seat.
4 stars: Nice outdoor seating, although we opted out bc it was a hot day.
2 stars: But the waitress seemed bored. I don't need someone doing handstands for me, but I do need a wee bit of enthusiasm? Eh.
3 stars: The burger I got was good, but not worth $13. Maybe $10. Big enough to take half home though, so that was nice. Good fries.
Overall, nice lunch, but I probably won't be back on my own.Listed in: Dining Diva
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Review from Nikki I.
Boston, MA
5/5/2009
This place was disappointing. I went here for a nice dinner during the week and we were seated by the kitchen, which would have been fine if they were not blasting rap music that we could hear from our table. This pretty much killed the mood for us.
The food was just OK and was not worth the price, I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone. -
Review from Steve W.
Newton, MA
5/23/2010
I've never really understood this place. It has a decent outdoor patio, which is always welcome during our short summers, but its location isn't one for people watching. You're in the first block of Newbury Street, next to a church that's next to the Taj hotel. Not exactly fertile ground for the strollers and passersby who usually make sidewalk dining more entertaining.
Then there's the inside. Where once there was a lively bar scene at least a couple of nights a week (what happened to that handsome bartender who used to keep the joint jumping and made killer cocktails?), now the crickets chirp. And dining inside? This is what I've really never gotten - it's basically a cave. Cramped, dark, and even further downstairs. Not really subterranean and cool, as some basement restaurants can be, and not really atmospheric and mysterious or romantic, as many dimly lit spaces are. It's more like dining in an overpriced root cellar. There's always the faint aroma of something organic breaking down.
Then there is the food. At least when it had the lively bar scene, you were getting something for your money. Now? Even for Newbury Street, this is overpriced. The burger is usually reliably good and the fries are also usually well prepared. Beyond that? It's a crap shoot. The last time here, our party of four had four different entrees and everyone went home unhappy (we actually stopped for sandwiches at Parish Cafe AFTER our expensive meal here!). Lobster was chewy and seriously overcooked and one pasta dish was swimming in sauce, but the "al dente" pasta must have been prepared by someone who thought al dente is Italian for chipped tooth. I stuck with the burger, and even that was overcooked (I ordered medium rare and got well done) and the side salad with which I replaced the fries was soggy and overdressed.
in short? I don't know how 29 Newbury manages to stay in business. It has the air of someone's tax write off. Decent service, lousy food, wicked overpriced. There are dozens and dozens of finer places to eat within a few blocks. Don't waste your time or your money at 29 Newbury. -
Review from Rae R.
Boston, MA
10/10/2009
Reason for visit:
We had just dropped off some items at Newbury Street Tailors and were looking for a place to have lunch nearby. Without ever hearing about it or reading a Yelp review, we walked into 29 Newbury.
Ambiance:
Contemporary, cramped. Coolish crowd though the people at the bar can come off a bit loud and obnoxious. It's like someone threw up Ed Hardy and True Religion all over the place.
Service:
After waiting much too long at the entrance, someone finally came by to greet and sit us. We then waited another 20 minute before anyone came by to take a drink order, or even say hello, let alone take our meal order.
Food:
I had the chili with cornbread while my boyfriend had the tomato bisque. Both were really well done. We also shared a plate of sweet potato fries (though they were more like chips) which were also good.
However, as good as the food is, I just think the prices are too steep for what you get. I understand it's pricier on Newbury , and I have no problem paying more for good service and food. Heck, we live in downtown so we're used to spending more while living in the city. But my bowl of chili and the tomato bisque were $12 each. Seriously, for a tiny bowl of tomato soup? The food is good, but not oh-my-frickin-goodness good.
Bottom line:
As much as I enjoyed the food, I would likely not return anytime soon simply due to the inattentive service and poor value. -
Review from Jaquie O.
MA
1/19/2007
Faded. That is the best way to describe 29 Newbury. Used to be cool, used to be fun, used to be... no longer is.
Miss Jaquie O -
Review from Elizabeth M.
Cambridge, MA
10/21/2009
Warm late-summer evening on the patio with a strong cocktail is my idea of heaven. Too bad the food was horrendous.
Sad looking food that was served without seasoning and care. Such a shame!Comment from Debbie L. of 29 Newbury Street Restaurant 4/29/2010
Dear Elizabeth, We are glad that you appreciated a lovely… More » -
Review from Don A.
Baton Rouge, LA
5/6/2008
So I went here for a friend of a friends birthday, I showed up and ordered a drink for myself and a drink for my friend. "One extra dry gin martini, made with Bombay sapphire and olives, and a Stoli O with soda" The first round was $19, which is expected for Newbury st. I ordered the same two drinks a few more times, the next round was $20, the third round was $17, so I figured the bar tenders at this place couldn't figure out what to charge. I went up for my fourth martini of the night, just the martini mind you no other drinks and she charged me $20 for just the martini, I mean what the French. So the girl tending bar either had no clue what she was doing or was a total bitch.
Upon looking around I saw that the place was out of balance, you know 2 guys for every one girl, total sausage fest. And this was not the good Bavarian style sausage fests where they actually serve sausage and bratwurst and wear lederhosen. This was the kind of sausage fest where the dudes are total d-bags, you know the kind of guys who wore "popped collars" a few years ago back in college. Well this place is swarming with them, except now they are all employed at financial service companies not making as much money as they wish they were making. They all talk a big game like they have important jobs, and the girls here for some reason seem to just eat it up.
When the women at trendy Newbury st. bars ask me what I do I like to tell them that I have "The most unimportant job at my company" and that "I don't even know why I still have a job, they should have fired me long ago," just for laughs. I actually find it refreshing when a girl gets the joke, and gets a good laugh out of it, but on Newbury st. and at 29 Newbury especially, this is quite infrequent. You would be surprised to find out how many of the women at these places take statements like that at face value. This place just seems to attract that kind of woman, you know the kind that will promptly end aconversation if you don't have a good job, or chiseled abs.
At the appointed hour (about 1:00) practically every unattached lady in the bar bailed out, like rats off of a sinking ship. I find that at some bars this just happens, and this occurrence always seems to coincide with the bar having a lot of d-baggy guys in it. As a scientist I need to figure out why this happens and how the girls communicate with each other and coordinate their mass exodus as nothing is ever said, they all just leave. I would posit, that it happens because deep down they don't want to close out the bar at 2:00 and go home with the d-bag guys that like to go to this kind of place, but that might be giving to much credit to the women at this type of bar.
Anyway I don't think I'll go back to this place the bar/restaurant much like its clientele is very superficial and doesn't have its act together. They try to cram to many people into the bar, but there is a little bit of room to overflow downstairs into the restaurant section, but little ambiance next to overturned chairs and stacked tables. In the end I don't think I'll be heading back to this place, it just isn't all it is cracked up to be. -
Review from Terry W.
Cambridge, MA
6/29/2010
Ok, Went here on Sunday Night. We were one party of 5, and there was only 4 other people eating...should have listened to my fellow yelpers...
Waitress had no idea what any of the food was, other than she heard it was good or that it was new. Didn't ask if we wanted dessert. Food was eh...Sushi....NO DON'T DO IT. Something off about the rice, should have just got the burger. Had Swordfish ok, wifes chicken dry and bland, salmon burnt, and steak ok...there you have it people...if you want OK go to 29 Newbury Street and pay for it. If you want OK and cheap go to McDonalds..about the same standard of goodness..and that might just be an insult to the golden arches.Listed in: Places Never to Go....
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Review from Mihir S.
Chicago, IL
10/15/2007
Seems like 29 Newbury has been laying low. I believe that it was the first restaurant in Boston that named itself after its address. That concept was cool up until Tremont 647, but now it just shows a lack of imagination.
Anyhow, I remember going there because the bartender consistently got best bartender in Boston magazine. My friends and I went and found out why. He served up all his fans and basically ignored the other customers who he didn't know.
We sat at table and the atmosphere was nice but dull and the service was pleasant. But I really don't remember the food or what I ate which says it couldn't have been that good or that bad. But there are plenty of better restaurants you can go to nearby. -
Review from ann c.
Boston, KY
12/18/2006
I can't decide - 2 or 3 stars.
Either or, the dishes were overpriced for what they were and tasted like. The waitress was pleasant, but she kind of sucked. She kept going back and forth informing us that such and such were not available.
fried calamari- you can't go wrong with those.
stuffed mushroom apps- small, but yummy!!! DELISH!
penne pasta dish- bleech! ew! bland and flavorless and they forgot to add chicken. After kindly, but bluntly telling them that this dish was bland and asking where the chicken went- the manager took it off the bill. *high five*
peppered salmon- ok, but too much ground pepper on top. i had to scrape it off.
red snapper- wish i ordered it and i bet you my friend wished she didn't sit next to me because i kept eating hers. fried bananas were so good.
carmalized bananas with ginger icecream- YUM!
as soon after 10 o'clock hit- all sorts of people rolled in and migrated to the tiny bar.
it's a nice, initmate date spot, but too much for what it's really worth. -
Review from Jessi E.
Brookline, MA
3/1/2010
I work literally next door, so I've been here over a dozen times for "work lunches." But come on people, you have to know what you're getting into when you choose to eat lunch on Newbury Street ...
Will the space be ridiculously cramped? Yes. Will the waiters look like they auditioned for Jersey Shore? Of course. Will there be Top 40 Euro new-wave trance beats blasting overhead to complete the "uber-trendy" vibe? Duh.
Yes the food is overpriced, but is it terrible? No. I often get the chili with cornbread, or one of the salads (the one with beets and warm goat cheese is tasty).
I'll only recommend the place if you're not the one paying - which I've never been. Hence the generous 3 stars. -
Review from Sushmita m.
Somerville, MA
9/25/2010
You couldn't pay me to eat here again. I paid 13 bucks for a salad the size of my fist. And any place with $30 entrees should have clean bathrooms and serve a proper bloody mary (i.e. tomato juice & not red vodka water). Decor equals art deco and alpacas...not really sure what's going on with that.
I gave 2 stars instead of 1, only because the waiters were awesome and split a 10-person bill at the end of the meal in the kindest way possible. -
Review from Kevin M.
Boston, MA
3/16/2007
Always wanted to try this place, and boy was I disappointed. The place is dark and cramped. The food was OK (i had the chicken....... dry), the service was decent .... overall not worth the prices.
I've said this before, and it remains true: when it comes to restaurants in Boston, no place can hold a candle to the South End. -
Review from Halle T.
San Francisco, CA
4/5/2010
On a nice day, it's definitely a great spot to enjoy a drink with friends outside. And I must admit, our waiter was very attentive.
But the food is just lousy (and pricey). The fries were soggy, the salad was boring, the lobster was chewy and they were out of oysters.Comment from Debbie L. of 29 Newbury Street Restaurant 4/29/2010
Dear Halle, Thank you for coming to 29 and enjoying our… More » -
Review from S S.
San Francisco, CA
2/16/2008
This place is pathetic. It is trying so hard to be something it's not (consistent with a lot of "trendy" places in Boston). Basically it's just a hang out for friends of the people who work there and hairdressers from the nearby salons. Which is fine if everyone who isn't a "friend" is treated with the same level of service and not left waiting for basics while waiters/hosts are socializing.
The drinks are inconsistent. You'll have one that's ridiculously strong and then the next is weak and too sugary.
The food is insanely overpriced for what it is. Go to Bukowski's if you want burgers and sweet potato fries. The salads sound alright, but the delivery is disappointing. The mini burgers are overcooked and boring. Same thing with the calamari.
The only good point -- it was quiet and empty on a Friday night (long week, I didn't want crowds!), but for a bar/restaurant, can't say that's a good thing! -
Review from Kevin W.
Boston, MA
7/28/2009
Who needs/wants an $11 chicken noodle soup? The $ you pay for this place is not worth it. Only go here if youre desperate.
They have crammed as many seats possible into the joint and it shows... the waitstaff can barely squeeze by when refilling your water. -
Review from Andrew A.
Manhattan, NY
3/11/2010
While of course this Newbury Street Restaurant was expensive, but there are a few good things to say about this place. First off, the outdoor area for eating wasn't cramped. Second, our waitress was very nice and very accommodating.
Most importantly however was the food. I got the tomato bisque which, if I do say so myself was pretty darn good (though they went a little heavy on the fetta cheese). The turkey burger was also very good.
Yes, this place is expensive; yes you will probably have to wait in line if its hot out to get a good table; and yes if you are here at busy times you're probably going to get bad service; but you all know that already, so why am I talking... Regardless, the food was pretty good, so I gave it three stars.Comment from Debbie L. of 29 Newbury Street Restaurant 4/29/2010
Dear Andrew, I wanted to personally thank you for sharing… More » -
Review from Milee S.
8/16/2007
This was my fourth, and last, RW week meal. Of the four restaurants I tried, this was my favorite! Yeah, the ambiance is a little dated, but the wait staff (particularly our waiter) is pretty attractive, so that makes up for it ;)
We were given the option of both the regular menu and the RW menu. Looking at the prices, the RW menu was the way to go. We started with a half bottle of Chardonnay; at $14, it was cheaper than the option of getting 2 glasses at $9 each.
I had the fried calamari, bf had the bruschetta. Compared to my last encounter with calamari at the Zephyr (evil!), this was much better, and what I expected. The sauce was not too spicy,but I wish there were banana peppers. The bruschetta was topped with olive oil and tomatoes. Nothing out of the oridnary.
For entrees, he got the duck; I the salmon. I liked my salmon. It was a soy sauce and ginger marinated piece, on snow peas and brocolli. The ginger was very spicy. The duck was spicy as well, and came with potatoes and veggies. He liked it a lot.
Dessert I had the 29 smooch (brownie, vanilla ice cream and raspberry sauce). He had the 3 sorbet combo--mango, lime and guava. I tried the lime and it was perfect. My dessert was good too.
Service was ok. The orders were correct but the waiter didn't really check on us much during the meal. In fact, no one really came by, but we always saw wait staff going back and forth (and it wasn't full at all).
Something interesting I learned last night was after I got the bill. On the menu it says 20% gratuity would be added to parties of 5 or more. Well when I saw that the 20% was added to our bill, of a party of 2, I questioned it. The waitress said that the gratuity button is located right next to the "PRINT" button on the order screen. Makes it convenient, no? She took it off, but still...keep your eyes open! -
Review from Crystal T.
New York, NY
5/6/2009
On the first warm day of the year, everybody flocked to Newbury Street to shop, people-watch and grab a bite to eat--out on the patio, of course. The downfall here is that the patio happens to be on the North side of the street, where the sun is shining and people are holding up their menus as they eat to shade themselves from the bright heat. Spare yourself the inconvenience and eat inside and cool off or sit on the patio after the sun goes down. It will be a much more pleasant experience even though I know you can't resist the outdoors on a sunny day.
There's a fun and tasty cocktail list to choose from for a nice afternoon delight. I got the fish tacos and my dining buddy got the club sandwich or something along those lines (the bread looked yummy when it walked by). Both were a great for a healthy-feeling lunch. The french fries taste like McDonalds and I couldn't stop eating them. If you don't like McDonalds fries, shame on you. Overall, it was a nice, simple lunch with no complaints (because we sat inside!) and our service was great. -
Review from D A.
New York, NY
10/10/2011
Went here on a sunny Saturday afternoon for lunch. Sat outside on Newbury Street and ordered a round of drinks and some burgers. It was relaxing and not rushed until it got kind of cold when the sun went into hiding. We all got burgers with sweet potato fries and it was fulfilling. The outside dining area was very crowded and the restaurant allows people to bring dogs which is kind of annoying but we didn't let it get to us.
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Review from Brady B.
Dorchester, MA
1/5/2009
Now that Rob no longer tends bar here, there is no reason to walk through the door, plain and simple.
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Review from Lindsey M.
Brookline, MA
6/7/2006 3 photos
As you would suspect it's a chic/trendy joint on Newbury St. The kind of place they display attractive costumers on the outdoor patio and at front window tables.. As someone else put it "they are trying a little too hard".. the food was tasty but pricey and wait staff were sort of snooty. I hear weekends they are packed with people.. I'm still trying to figure out why. Overall the place was OK, nothing to hype about.
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Review from Irina G.
Brooklyn, NY
3/25/2008
Seated at a booth, our table felt very private, even though there was hardly anybody at the restaurant during lunchtime. The waitress seemed nice, but not particularly attentive. My friend and I shared the bland calamari and mediocre crabcakes (that although were decent, I would hesitate to order them again) to start. Then, I had a cobb salad, and my friend had some sort of sandwich, I think - not the least bit memorable. Considering the quality of the food, I was offended at our bill. (I will say, however, the tiramisu is spectacular.)
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Review from Tristan W.
Salem, MA
3/9/2006
To accurately rate something I always find it easiest to relate it back to something everyone will know. For instance are you familiar with Tyra Bank's new talk show? By some misfortune I caught it once. This restaraunt is a lot like her. Trendy, self important, and way past its prime. The food is mediocre, the service ehhhhh, and the ambiance is trying too hard. If you don't want to take my word for it, then I recommend making an evening of it. Watch the show, eat at 29, then bang your head against the wall until you pass out or the neighbor calls the cops. Just remember that the massive migrane, and the numbing of taste buds and brain cells all could have been avoided by reading these reviews. I'm not going to say I told you so...but I probably should.
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Review from anu y.
Boston, MA
10/10/2010
Perfect in the summer for drinks outside and lunch; the sangria, fish tacos and heirloom tomato salad are all very good.
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Review from Angel M.
7/20/2009
I have mixed reviews on this place. I came on a weekday during my lunch hour. I think the place was crowded, and the sun was really hot. The service was not great, but it wasnt bad either, it was just there. my friend got the fish tacos which she loved, and my ham and brie panini was also whatever, but for 15 bucks or whatever, it could have used some more life. The honey mustard sauce to dip in was not complimentary to the sandwich and it was watery to boot. The menu was swanky as was the clientele. i think i need 100 dollars found on the ground to come back and eat here. it was also not meant for parties larger than 2.
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Review from Steve N.
Haverhill, MA
10/15/2007
back in the late 90's i used to go here a lot cuz i knew a bartender or two. went here a few weeks ago, not knowing anybody, and it sucked. bad food, bad service.
all set here.
