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5 Napkin Burger
Category: Restaurants Burgers Burgers [Edit]
105 Huntington AveBoston, MA 02199
Neighborhood: Back Bay
(617) 375-2277
- Nearest Transit:
-
Huntington Ave @ Ring Rd (9)
Prudential Station - Outbound (Green Line)
Prudential Station - Inbound (Green Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:30 am - 11 pm
Fri 11:30 am - 12 am
Sat-Sun 11 am - 12 am
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street, Validated
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Drive-Thru:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
241 reviews for 5 Napkin Burger
Review Highlights
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"The sweet potato fries were nice and crisp." In 18 reviews -
"The Tater Tots were really delicious crunchy, crispy and..." In 31 reviews -
"Salted caramel is a must for anyone with a sweet tooth." In 4 reviews
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241 reviews in English
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Review from Courtney P.
Boston, MA
5/6/2012
I had high hopes like other people on here, and was a bit disappointed. They atmosphere is great so that's why it gets 3 stars, and the staff is attentive. In fact, our waiter would get a bit too attentive at times, but he took care of everything so it was appreciated.
I was actually kind of disappointed in the 5 Napkin Burger. It was good, but definitely not fantastic. I kind of can't understand what all the fuss was about. Maybe I should have gotten something else and would have been more pleased. I don't know what it is about the Pru, but it needs a few more options for good restaurants. I'm sure I'll come by again, because it's not too bad, but it is not my favorite, so maybe just for a drink! -
Review from Cindy T.
Boston, MA
5/2/2012
Having high hopes for the 5N franchise, I hoped that today would be the day I would meet an uncommonly delicious burger there. However, the service was dearly lacking and the food was also quite closely behind.
After having been shown to my booth for one (I decided to try eating alone in public and handily brought a book), I waited for what seemed like ages before I broke down and flagged a waitress to order. (In this time period, I had also not been offered any water.)
I ordered the Cheeseburger and fries. And I guess to make this ambivalent review sting a bit less, I must say that the fries were tasty. They were of a shoestring variation and were satisfyingly crisp on the outside and enticingly mealy on the inside. Lightly-salted and hot.
The burger, though, was a big disappointment. It was on a too-soft bun that easily turned soggy at the slightest maneuvering and the beef patty, though thick, was tasteless and bland. I tried to save the burger with the extra condiments (Tabasco sauce, Grey Poupon, pepper) provided at the table, but it was a taxing effort that I resented for a $13.00 burger.
On my top ten list of "burgers-you-should-eat-at-least-once-or-else-you- will-die-unfullfilled, this would be like a negative 3 X 10^6. On my top ten list of "burgers-that are-good-in-a-fix" it would probably also not make the list solely because I felt pretty greasy and tired after that meal, and not in a good way.
Lackluster. -
Review from Chandler M.
Los Angeles, CA
4/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
As I walked around the Hynes complex, I found this gourmet burger place and it looked really good. It looked comparable to the Counter, or Umami Burger in California. After a few days I came back To really try it.
Ordered the bacon cheeseburger and tater tots. The staff was very nice and I began to get hyped when I received the tater tots. These tots, are not like the tots you get in school. No, These are little puffs of clouds: Whipped mashed potatoes with cheddar cheese coated in bread crumbs and fried. They were so good. So good I wish we had them out here in CA.
The burger, while good, was definitely not what I expected. the bun was not as soft as it first appeared, and the burger - for all it's deliciousness and in any other situation would be very good, simply did not match the hype built up for it. That is not to say it's bad! The burgers may be $2 more expensive than they need to be, or they should change where they get their buns to make the price worth it. After tasting the incredible appetizers I definitely want to love this place, but the burgers are just...a bit...shy of that level. I look forward though, to seeing how they will be improving by next year! -
Review from Jay F.
5/15/2012
2 napkins at best = 3 stars in my book. How do you like that math?
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Review from Michael R.
Boston, MA
4/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
A little disappointed. Here are the pluses and minuses.
(+) Waitstaff: They accommodated our large party pretty easily, and our waiter was easy to talk to and friendly. However, several of our orders didn't come out quite right, although they weren't truly major mistakes.
(-) Burgers: Go figure, right? A burger place with just average tasting and overpriced burgers. I had a chance to try the Turkey Burger and the Original 5 Napkin Burger. Both were just "meh", nothing truly special. I've had many a better burger for much less coin.
(+) Apps and sides: Sweet potato fries are killer, plus the Deep Fried Pickles & Pastrami was a neat little appetizer, though I wish there was just a little more on the plate.
(+) Beer menu: Huge selection of craft brews, nice move 5 Napkin.
What surprised me the most was that 5 Napkin Burger really doesn't have good burgers. Their secondary offerings were definitely up-to-par, but so are a lot of other local restaurants. I might come back again, but I really hope they can step up their entree game soon, at least to justify their namesake. -
Review from Linda C.
Cambridge, MA
3/20/2012
Wow, for $13-$18 a burger, I would of expected to be full....
But what a rip-off for a 'still hungry' stomach!!
This place is a trap. The burgers are tinier than any burger ever and the bill is bigger than any burger bill ever.
Stay away. Believe it or not, a W burger at Wendy's is way more tastier and more economical than this junk. This place is 10X worse than Five Guys and 10X pricier.
There you have it, folks. This place is a JOKE. -
Review from Ashley W.
Boston, MA
3/20/2012
I've been to five napkin once for lunch and once for "slider happy hour". I had the lamb burger for lunch-- way too thick and the flavor was lacking. For happy hour - you cannot modify the sliders ( add cheese, etc)... So I'm guessing they are frozen or pre packaged, or... Lazy ?
On the upside their sweet potato fries are yummy. -
Review from George S.
Boston, MA
2/13/2012
5 napkins, 2 stars.
I went into this burger with high expectations, but the overall experience was a letdown. I had bad service, and felt very much like I was at a chain.
Just my personal opinion - if you are going to be a burger shop you cook your burger correctly. I brought up my well-done rare burger to the waitress, and after the meal the manager came over and gave me dessert coupons for next time. What you are supposed to do is take the burger back and cook another one correctly, not give coupons for dessert (which isn't what your specialty is) for the NEXT time you come.
My apps and my wife's apps were blah, and she didn't care for her burger either. -
Review from Holly B.
Waltham, MA
4/29/2012
I was really surprised to see such a low rating for this place! I originally went to the one in NYC and was very happy to hear that they would be opening one in Boston. I just LOVE their Five Napkin Burger, to me it is just so darn delicious. Even though it was a bit more cooked then I would have preferred the toppings help make it amazing. If you want an awesome burger I would definitely recommend coming here!
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Review from S. M. S.
Boston, MA
Updated - 4/15/2012
Finally went back to try 5NB again...what a waste of 1,500 calories and $40--for 2 disappointing burgers and 2 Diet Cokes!! Service was crappy (again). Certified not good after two visits (and $110).
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/26/2011
I have a fundamental problem with going out for an order of fried crappetizers, 2 burgers and 4… Read more »
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Review from Caitlin G.
Boston, MA
3/10/2012 Seated via OpenTable
I really liked this place! We had a fun dinner here for Valentine's Day, all of us ordered cheeseburgers and everyone was pleased with their choice. We split a bottle of wine that was very reasonable, the pinot noir, and were not disappointed.
My burger had American cheese and all the typical trimmings, it was very yummy despite that it had been cooked a little too long for my liking. We all got a different side so that we could share the wealth. The sweet potato fries were amazing -- simply delicious. The regular fries were a close second, fresh and hot, nice and crisp. The "tots", meh, not so much. They weren't your typical tater tots but were more like mashed potato balls that were slightly fried, they weren't crispy and crunchy like we had anticipated. And they were very filling.
For dessert, we all split the Espresso Brownie Sundae. Now, I am not a fan of coffee anything except the drink, but this dessert changed my tune. It was HEAVENLY. The only drawback was that there should have been more of that delicious espresso caramel sauce on it! And the salted peanuts that come on top... um... fantastic?
Our waitress was sweet, a nice girl. I thought that the atmosphere was a bit loud but it was a good place to go. And it's pretty well-priced for what you get. I'll definitely be back! -
Review from David F.
Boston, MA
2/4/2012
Poor service, and mediocre food.
I don't mind paying $13.95 for a burger - but it just wasn't really all that great. -
Review from Lucia F.
Medford, MA
2/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
Meh is what really describes my recent experience at 5 Napkin Burger.
First, I found the entrance to the restaurant from the Prudential Center mall very confusing. I followed the signs down the escalator to find an oddly tucked away entrance that didn't seem particularly inviting. I meandered through a maze-like corridor into the restaurant. I figured the hostess station would be right at the edge of the actual restaurant space from the mall side, but oh no, it was totally on the other side near the street entrance. Odd.
After being directed to the correct location to be seated, I was placed at a half booth table. I found the seating kind of awkward--since it was one long booth seat with a bunch of tables for two. Luckily no one else was seated next to me on either side.
I think the best part of the restaurant was the prompt service. The waiter was extremely attentive and took care of our needs quickly.
I ordered the signature burger and was underwhelmed. I understand serving a decent portion for your money, but I found the burger too big to easily handle. I honestly think the burgers at 5 Guys Burgers and Fries are 100 times tastier, have better toppings, and are easier to eat.
My side was the tater tots. These were also size huge--picture a large deep water scallop. They honestly reminded me of mashed potatoes that were coated in cornmeal and fried.
I also ordered a Geary's. 5 Napkin has an extensive beer list, however my friend was disappointed that they had little to offer on tap. I found the prices to be on the steep side.
To sum it up my meal was okay. There are definitely many way better dining options at the same price point in Back Bay. Next time I will be choosing somewhere else to eat. -
Review from Jason M.
1/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
Forget the review... it doesn't matter. This place is a nightmare come true.
I made the mistake of watching Texas Chainsaw Massacre on IFC last weekend.
5 Napkin Burger decorates with meat hooks dangling from the ceiling. This is not okay.
(The mac & cheese is pretty bad, btw)
(Don't spend full price on a burger... sit a bar and get the $2 slider during happy hour)
Again... I'll repeat for our home viewers... they have meat hooks dangling from the ceiling (and it was actually Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning...sorry if I mislead you).
(And if you go to their webpage and click on BLOG, it takes you to their beer list instead)
MEAT HOOKS! -
Review from Alex E.
Boston, MA
4/23/2012
My friends and I come here a lot. Good service, decent prices. Being a vegetarian, the first couple times we came I stuck with the Mac'n'Cheese because I'm always weary of ordering veggie burgers, they're almost always the frozen grocery store kind. Not here, 5 Napkin makes their own and they are DELICIOUS!
I would give 3 stars, but I'm going to add the 4th for having such a delicious veggie burger. Thank you, 5 Napkin!!!! -
Review from Rich N.
Boston, MA
1/18/2012
GOOD: The burgers and fries are the top 5 I've ever had in my life, service was perfect as well so no complaints there.
BAD: 15$ for a burger is well worth the price, but $7-8 for bottled beers is highway robbery. Especially when the draft selection isn't very large 5-6 drafts. They can charge those prices if they had it at 16 oz on draft but not 12 oz bottles.
I would go back and get the happy hour menu next time but no beers to cheapen the night. -
Review from Hans B.
Manhattan, NY
1/30/2012
These burger joints just keep coming... This one tries to be fancy, but the burgers aren't great. They are big for sure, but that's about all they got going for them.
The fries... well, skip them if you can. $15+ for a burger that I can barely remember, not my style.
Beers are pretty expensive too $7-8. If you really have to come here, show up for happy hour menu. A little more reasonable. -
Review from Andrew H.
Somerville, MA
1/15/2012
The service is pleasant, accommodating, and pretty quick, which is nice. However, if you want a good burger and very hot fries, go to the Cheesecake Factory.
Please season your meat (or season it more) before cooking it and serve the aioli on the side as it is overpowering, even though it is tasty. I think with some more thought and balance, you'd have a greater burger. -
Review from Oliver C.
San Jose, CA
1/2/2012
If you like your food with no real flavor... this is your place. Came here with two other people, and we were all equally uninspired. 3 burgers, appetizer and drinks. With tip about $80. None of us were impressed. All the descriptions are colorful, but just no follow through.
The onion rings have a corn meal type crust or something, and served with two sauces. Just didn't do the trick. Need to get a nice beer batter or even use frozen rings... they taste better.
I got the 5 napkins burger and the burger was seriously lacking flavor. I used ketchup, the dijon mustard, the A-1 sauce, the Honey Mustard which I requested and was barely sweet, and those two misc. sauces from the onion ring app. No dice.
Their tater tots are deep fried nuggets of something... and their sweet potatoe fries are seriously salted.
I would give this even less stars, but there was seating available with no wait, and the wait staff was pleasant. But there are better burgers in town. Likely won't repeat here. -
Review from Susan C.
12/19/2011
2.5 stars for food and service.
I've been wanting to try 5 Napkins for a while, but was disappointed with the price and quality of the burgers here. The ambiance is nice enough, another generic contemporary-ish interior, but the service isn't too great and the food just meh.
My friends and I met up in the Prudential area on a Friday night and were looking for some place in the area to have dinner. 5 Napkin had the shortest wait time, and I've been meaning to try it, so we sat at the bar and got some drinks while we waited for a table. Bar service was efficient and the drinks were good, not too weak and not too strong.
When we finally got seated, 4 of us got burgers, one of us got the mac and cheese, and we got onion rings and spinach and artichoke dip to share. The dip and the onion rings were good. I like how the dip came with endives, which made me feel like it was slightly healthier than other places.
I ordered the lamb burger. It was a stinky sucker, but the flavors were tasty enough. I also like how you could get salad as a side for your burger; I got the Tomato, Avocado & Cotija Salad. As for the burger, the bun and meat were on the dry side. I'm still amazed at how the burger was dry, but tremendously greasy at the same time. I love lamb, and the seasoning was good enough, but for a $10+ burger, I expected a lot more. I've tried the lamb burger at Cafeteria, which is comparable in price to the 5 Napkin lamb burger, and I must say I prefer Cafeteria's.
Also, service was so-so, I never got a refill on my water and the waitress took a while with our bill.
I wouldn't say I'll never come back to 5 Napkin, but I likely won't. -
Review from Kenneth F.
Cambridge, MA
12/12/2011 1 photo
Wow this place gets ragged on! When I see 2 or 2.5 stars that generally means pretty bad and to stay away from it, but given I live 5 minutes away I had to give it a try. Went here with the roommate for a Friday night dinner. The problem with the store though I think is that there's too much going on! You got chill place to hang out, fancy atmosphere, expensive hamburgers, but cheap happy hour, and then sushi???
I had a burger - no complaints. Good bun and cheese, enjoyed the tater tots. A bit expensive but not terribly out of range for what I was expecting. I would actually be tempted to check out the happy hour since I know what the burger tastes like and wouldn't mind nomming on some yummy bites at a cheaper price.
Go for the atmosphere and to hang out with friends. Don't moan and complain about the price, and enjoy your food! Grab a beer. I got the Yeti which I probably wont' do again. That's some thick and dark stuff! -
Review from Jocelyn C.
Jamaica Plain, MA
12/8/2011
Okay, two things before I begin:
1) Upon first glance, I was surprised by all of the negative reviews here for this place because (spoiler alert!), I had a pleasant experience, and
2) I didn't realize this was a chain before, but it does sort of make sense now that I think about it...
A group of friends and I came here after a failed attempt at eating elsewhere nearby on a chilly Tuesday night. We almost walked by but then saw the "slider happy hour" sign, realized it was 9pm on the nose, and thought "why not?" We saddled up to the bar (because I guess that how people approach bars?) and we ordered our beers and chose one of everything on the happy hour menu to share, except the veggie burger.
Our bartender was very attentive, but it probably helped that we were pretty much the only people sitting at the bar. Our food came out quickly, with extra wings thrown into our order because one of my friends had tried ordering a couple of beers they were out of. We enjoyed everything and even order a second round of food!
I would definitely come back here, maybe on a busier night to see how they handle crowds. I also need to come back here because that bartender owes me a shot, but that's a whole other story. -
Review from Suki K.
Boston, MA
5/9/2012
amazing milkshake.
burger was great, fries were perfect. -
Review from Al C.
Cambridge, MA
2/6/2012
For the past several Sundays, several friends of mine (as many as 16) have joined me at 5 Napkin Burger for lunch. Among the members of the group, we have tried many of the menu items. The salad with lamb burger, the traditional hamburger, the ahi tuna burger have all gotten very positive reviews from the group. The french fries and sweet potato fries are also favorites.
We sit at the tables near the bar, and the customer service has been exceptionally good. -
Review from Jeannie H.
Boston, MA
1/16/2012
ATMOSPHERE - It's clean and has an atmosphere of a diner. Let's be serious but offering sushi at a burger joint is plain whacky. No one wants their raw fish prepared with kilos of ground chuck in the kitchen.
SERVICE - Perfectly attentive. We were seated right by their computer entry station so I'm not sure if that's why service was not an issue for us.
FOOD - This isn't the best burger I've had but it certainly doesn't come close to being the worst so I can't understand the 2*
Original 5 Napkin Burger (10 oz. fresh ground beef, gruyere cheese, caramelized onions, rosemary aioli, soft white roll) - The patty was perfectly medium and the meat was lean but not dry. The beef wasn't too finely ground so it had some good texture but it was definitely in need of some seasoning. There was also no good char to the patty. The rosemary aioli was heavy on garlic but I can't say I tasted any rosemary. Overall, It added a little too much unnecessary grease to the burger. The soft white roll was a little too floury, airy and textureless. In the end, it was like eating a giant ground beef patty, which was excessive in size and overwhelmed all other ingredients.
Onion Rings - These were perfectly fried and delicious. The batter was a little thick for my taste but it had a great crunch to it since it was panko-based.
Sweet Potato Fries - These were crinkle cut and perfectly crispy and delicious. I did not have a problem with them being over-salted.
I would come back for the sides but I'm indifferent towards the burger. I will definitely request for the aoli on the side or none at all the next time around. I love burgers but think Cheesecake Factory across the hall offers a better burger with a nicely grilled patty and a more balanced patty to bread ratio. -
Review from Chuckie T.
Boston, MA
1/17/2012
OK, since 213 people have already reviewed this, I'll keep it quick. Came here for lunch and it was dead at noon on a Tuesday. Waiter was very attentive, but give us a second or two to look at the menu. Seriously, we're there 4 mins and you've made s trips to the table.
Speaking of quick, once ordered, the food arrived in maybe 7 mins. Not complaining, but it just doesn't seem possible. Anyway, the 5 Napkin burger was pretty good and well presented. Standard fried, but they were also pretty good. In the end, the food was about as interesting as this review, but I will certainly be back.
How's the turkey burger? -
Review from Vikas B.
Plainview, NY
1/9/2012 Seated via OpenTable
We went with our two year old and the waitress was attentive and helpful - with suggestions, etc.
Lamb burger is delish for those who don't eat beef.
We had a great time. We've been to the one in NY and this one is on par.
Great wine selection too! -
Review from Simon L.
12/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Oh wont you buy me a diamond ring, err, burger, err mediocre. The bun held together well and was buttered. The caramelized onions were sweet. The Gruyere smooth and drippy. The meat? Cooked perfect med-rare but with no seasoning. A very lean, low fat content affair. Definitely good meat (as in tender, nicely shaped and held together well) but lacking much juiciness.
Fries are good with rosemary and salt.
Bloody Mary nice and spicy. House amber ale was smooth and full.
Best part of the meal? A nice variation on franks red hot sauce wings. Add a bit of pepper, maybe some brown sugar. Good heat on theze juicy little wings.
The service was very indifferent. When asked how everything was going, the server seemed to be wary of possible negative replies. It took three times to ask for a side of mayo and 15 minutes for round two of beer to arrive. Avery ok experience inside a well-decorated faux meat packing shop replete with hooks on tracks, white tiles, comfortable leather booths and a big bar with flat screens for the game.
Many tastier a burger there is in this city. -
Review from Karina L.
12/6/2011
I had been starving for approx. 5 hours as we came in here at around 10:45pm (props for the late hours)...and the food still tasted mediocre. I was disappointed, as I've had 5 Napkin Burger in NY and it was delicious.
Menu has the standard sit-down burger place feel, with a couple of interesting burgers (lamb, they also have turkey). They also have sushi (which they told us they didn't have rice for).
My bacon cheeseburger was dry and tasteless. Every bite just consisted of a mouthful of stale bread and shriveled up cheese. Tater tots (although I was given fair warning that it wasn't a "school cafeteria" tater-tot) was essentially a ball of fried mashed potatoes. I hate them for ruining a childhood staple. Fries and sweet potato fries were the only redeeming factor of this meal, if not overpriced! -
Review from Sean O.
Coventry, RI
3/31/2012
We were in Boston and going to go somewhere else when we came across this restaurant. We had the orings for an app and they were great. I had the namesake burger and it lived up to its name. I got the side of tater tots. These were out of this world I've never had better. Then for dessert the manager recommended the s'mores shake. This came topped with homemade marshmallows it was the perfect touch. If your looking for a good burger in Boston head to the prudential center
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Review from Erik G.
Jamaica Plain, MA
11/15/2011
This is a weird thing to say about a burger place, but: I don't get the impression that Five Napkins knows what it is that they can do well. The menu is eclectic without any purpose--why would I get overpriced sushi from a burger place when they share a wall with a real sushi restaurant? They're really expensive for what they are--I have made peace with the $5-6 pricetag on pints served downtown, but here they're $7; onion rings are $5 for 6 rings; their $12 signature burger isn't too expensive by sit-down-burger standards, but there are so many places nearby that make a better $12 burger (Coda and Back Bay Social Club are just around the corner) that I can't really give them credit for it. Compounding the problem, I ordered my tuna burger rare, and it came out medium-well; they also brought out the wrong beer for my second pint.
Maybe it's a better scene over at the bar with cheap sliders and wings, but for my money, I'd steer clear of Five Napkins. -
Review from Martin N.
Manchester, NH
1/18/2012
Great burger joint. I've had the original, bacon/cheese and the lamb burger (Kofta). All excellent. I go at least once a month and get the lamb burger mostly. It's like a kabob with the veggies ground up perfectly.
The fries (regular/sweet potato/tuscan) are excellent.
Great business lunch place also. -
Review from Roscoe R.
Cambridge, MA
2/11/2012
"5 Hour Burger" is our nickname for this place. Went there last night and we were vurrrry unimpressed! One word: AVOID! Similarly good burgers can be had at much lower prices and with much less hassle at Five Guys, TastyBurger, UBurger, b.good (DEFINITELY!), and Flat Patties.
AMBIANCE. So, a few people mentioned this in their reviews, and it really IS pretty creepy ... MEAT HOOKS adorn the walls around entire restaurant. It's bizarre, considering much of the food (all the sides we got) tasted like they were anything but made on the premises (they tasted like mass-produced fries and onion rings). I was waiting for Hannibal Lechter to come out and take my order.
SERVICE. Two of us went on a Friday night at about 10pm. It was about 1/3 full when we arrived and rapidly emptied. Despite the few patrons and seemingly large wait staff, service was awful. We were seated and proceeded to wait, wait, wait ... until finally my dehydration became near-fatal, so I took matters into my own hands and grabbed the pitcher of water behind me. Apparently THAT got the attention of some "manager"-type dude -- a guy in a blue shirt who was doing a lot of running around but not in any way helping our situation. As I was filling our water glasses, he came up to our table and said, in a very pissed-off voice, "Can I help you?" (he clearly said this because he was pissed I was filling our own water glasses -- not because he was offering to actually do anything). I replied, "Yeah, we were just thirsty, so I got us water." As soon as I was done filling the last glass, he literally tore the pitcher out of my hand and took it away. He didn't do a thing to actually get us a server, take our order, etc. Several minutes later, our REAL server arrived. He was extremely polite, though very long gaps passed between the times that we saw him (we had to ask the hostess to go get him at one point). It took an extraordinarily long time to make everything we ordered. The sushi appetizer took so long that the waiter said, "This one's on us -- no cost to you -- since it's taking forever to make. We have a new sushi chef." Maybe they had a new burger chef too, since the entrees took even longer!
FOOD. We got a special sushi dish (not on the menu) that we split as an appetizer. It was fine -- nothing special, but tasty enough. But considering it took about 30 minutes to make this RAW FISH dish in a restaurant that was largely empty, it left much to be desired. We split two entrees -- the Ahi Tuna Burger and the Lamb Burger. Both were served warm -- should've been hotter. The tuna burger came with a pile of 100% tasteless onion rings (failed tempura attempt?) atop the fish -- vurrrry strange! We had to dip them in soy sauce to make them taste like something. The sesame bun that came with the ahi burger was too dry. The lamb burger was the best of the two. The meat was flavorful and the topping (tahini, etc.) was well spiced. We got two sides: Tuscan Fries (parmesan and rosemary), and Onion Rings. The tuscan fries were nothing special at all -- basically grated cheese and a little spice sprinkled on McDonald's french fries. The onion rings had a different batter than the ones that came with the ahi burger. These onion rings were a bit tastier, but still tasted like a mass-produced frozen food product.
Dessert was the high point of the meal, largely because we knew we'd be getting out of there really soon! We made our server promise that the kitchen would make dessert really quickly (after waiting forever for everything else), and he delivered as promised. We got the Espresso Brownie Sundae with peanuts and caramel. It was really good -- by far, the least objectionable part of the meal.
SUMMARY. As I said before, the sushi appetizer was free because it took forever to make. The total bill, after tax & tip, was $51. That was for the 2 burgers (ahi tuna & lamb) plus 1 dessert and 1 cup of coffee (no other beverages). Even with the free sushi app, we felt ripped off. Avoid this place! I'm giving it 2 stars (vs. 1) only because our server was super nice -- a nice contrast to the incompetent, surly, blue-shirted dude who ripped the water outta my hands and might've been his boss. -
Review from Karyn V.
11/18/2011
My boyfriend and I are hamburger connoisseurs so we were very excited to try 5 Napkin Burger. We ordered the Original 5 Napkin Burger (10 oz of fresh ground beef, Gruyere cheese, caramelized onions, and rosemary aioli, on a white bun) and the Inside Out Burger (10 oz fresh ground beef, b&b pickles wrapped in lettuce with tomatoes, and 5N sauce) with a side of tater tots and coleslaw.
The burgers were very good (as well as enormous in size), but definitely not the best hamburgers we have ever had. I ordered my burger well done, and it was more red than my boyfriend's medium rare. The beef also lacked any real flavor or personality of its own. For me, a "five star burger" should be one that not only has good toppings but is well seasoned.
The tater tots are also extremely disappointing and definitely not worth the price. They are essentially tasteless mashed potatoes that have been fried.
Will I go back again? Sure, if I am in the area. There are just so many better burgers out there to try. Not that I completely agree with this person's reviews, but to find an even better burger, go to "Boston Better Burger Blog". -
Review from Gaftie M.
Washington, DC
3/5/2012
The lamb burger was excellent!!!
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Review from J G.
Raleigh, NC
10/8/2011
Burger with cheddah and bacon - decent
Sweet potato fries - good
Service - ok
Raw turkey burger - not so good! But they were nice about it and took it off the bill. Also said all thier turkey burgers were always pink due to the marinade used. Not worth the risk to me! -
Review from Rich K.
Boston, MA
8/11/2011
Short Review: NO!
Slightly Longer Review: Have you seen the "Scott Tennorman Must Die" episode of South Park? Where Eric tricks Scott into eating a bowl of chili made from Scott's dead parents, and then tells Scott whats in it when he finishes his meal...Suffice to say, I was slightly more upset than Scott at the end of my visit to 5 Crapkin. Ordered medium-rare and got medium-well, sat at the bar and didn't get a refill of my fountain soda, and the Olympic symbol has more rings than their pricey order of onion rings. The one positive was the pristine bathrooms. I'd imagine they will provide a good spot to purge your meal when you are done. Note: I don't advocate bulimia. -
Review from liz g.
Boston, MA
11/3/2011
Nice feel and friendly server, but the food was disappointing. Friend and I went there for veggie burgers. The burgers themselves were tasty and homemade-seeming, but fell apart easily. What was worse was the frighteningly stale buns. They were super dry and inedible. There were tons of little pickles on top, which, though they had a nice flavor and crunch, couldn't redeem the bun mishap. The sauce on the burger seemed to be a combination of ketchup, mayo, and relish, which was ok.
Sides were just ok too. My friend got the sweet potato fries. They were crunchy and salty, but there was something pre-made or double-fried about them. I got the tomato avocado salad, which was pretty good, though I was a little afraid to eat it because of the quality control issues with the bun.
There were beverage issues as well. When my friend tried to order a draft beer we were told there was something wrong with the draft so only bottles were available (though mysteriously we saw other patrons drinking drafts later). Then they were out of her first choice bottle.
All in all, I didn't like 5 Napkin as much as I wanted to. It's expensive for what you get, and if I'm craving an awesome beet-based veggie burger, I will probably head to that big restaurant in Government Center. Considering that they might have just had an off night, I'd possibly go back and try 5 Napkin again. -
Review from Robo t.
Rough and Ready, CA
8/21/2011
THE GOOD: The burger was about $10 and I didnt feel ripped off It was thick, juicy and tasty. The service was great and attentive. The beer selection was very good - lots of fruity whites like Sam Cherry Wheat and Sea Dog Blueberry.
THE BAD: The a la carte sides were inconsistent. We got regular french fries which tasted good however a neighboring table received the same size plate with fries piled a lot higher. We ordered onion rings which were salty and tasty but there were only six rings on the plate. Six onion rings for $4.29!!! For dessert I tried the chocolate cake which was dry as hell and a lot smaller than I expected for the price.
I havent decided if I would try it again... -
Review from Tina B.
Cambridge, MA
8/4/2011
I was really excited to go here after having a great experience at the New York location.
(1) Although we had a large party, they didn't let us make a reservation, so we had to wait for an hour to be seated.
(2) I was REALLY annoyed to discover that $15 gets you only a burger, with no sides.
(3) The service was probably the worst I've ever experienced in any restaurant, ANYWHERE. They sent us food we didn't order, and forgot several things we did order. Some food didn't show up for 1.5 hours. I ordered a medium rare burger and got a burnt hockey puck, while my friend's "well-done" burger was just raw, not even rare. It looked dangerous to eat.
(4) Finally, when we tried to get the check so we could leave, the waitress took our credit card and then left for 30 mins to learn how to use the cappuccino machine (none of us ordered cappuccinos). It was a truly horrible dining experience.
Luckily, I was with some lovely people.
