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Columbus Café
Categories: Nightlife Bars Restaurants American (New) Bars, American (New) [Edit]
535 Columbus Ave(between Claremont Park & Worcester St)
Boston, MA 02118
(617) 247-9001
- Nearest Transit:
-
Massachusetts Ave @ Columbus Ave (1, 170)
Tremont St @ Worcester St (43)
Massachusetts Ave @ Massachusetts Ave Station (1, 170, CT1)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 5 pm - 12 am
Sat-Sun 9 am - 12 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner, Brunch
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Thu, Sun, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
123 reviews for Columbus Café
Review Highlights
"Favorite dish is the Maine Eggs Benedict."
(in 5 reviews)
"Spinach & Goat Cheese salad."
(in 3 reviews)
"This is a fantastic, casual brunch restaurant."
(in 52 reviews)
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123 reviews in English
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Review from Lena C.
Boston, MA
9/27/2011
Really cute and unpretentious spot. I called to ask if the kitchen would still be open for our very late dinner, and the bartender said that closing time varies from night to night but that he'd keep it open until 10:40pm for us. That's service!
Food-wise, we tried the ceviche, plantains, goat cheese salad, swedish cucumbers, Argentine steak. I liked the steak and plantains a lot; my boyfriend enjoyed his food as well. When we were on our way, we were running late with our dog so I called -- not only did the bartender later thank me for calling, but he threw in the ceviche for free. He's super friendly and also made an AWESOME lemonade. (I don't drink soda or alcohol, usually, so I'm picky about these kinds of things.)
Also, they have a patio and are great for dogs! We brought ours along and they brought him water and everything :) -
Review from Lauren E.
2/5/2012
I had a Groupon I needed to use, so we went here for a Saturday dinner. The place is tiny, but we were able to make a reservation the day before.
The thing that is keeping me from giving this place 4 stars is the service.
The staff is disorganized. We waited forever for them to actually take our order. We each ordered a drink, which did not come until after we received our appetizers - and had to remind them.
Throughout the night, I looked around to see how they treated other customers. They were very friendly, but disorganized. They forgot a lady's wine, and another lady sitting next to me had to send back her entree after they brought her food the way she didn't order.
I also noticed their menu is not consistent with their website and what they actually have in stock. I kept overhearing they were out of certain drinks or substituting foods for what they had listed (by the time we got to dessert, our server told us they were serving something else in place of the brownie sundae).
Speaking of the dessert menu, it was very basic and boring. Chocolate cake, tiramisu and cheese cake. Yawn.
I'll give them credit for the main dishes. Try the Platanos Fritos - so, so good! My entree was the Argentine Steak, which was good, juicy and cooked the way I wanted it.
One other plus: they overheard my bf talk about ordering the chocolate cake and brought it to him before he even ordered. That made up somewhat for the slow service we had that night.
I read an article that the Columbus Cafe was set to close last year, so I think the Groupon sales helped keep this place open. Owners, please hire some more experienced waitstaff...and update your website and enable online reservations! Like I said, there wasn't an issue with rudeness, but I felt as if the staff was inexperienced. This place could be amazing. -
Review from chanelle d.
Boston, MA
1/12/2012
I have been to Columbus Cafe twice, both times for brunch. It's very close to my apartment, and I really wanted it to be my new go-to brunch spot. Unfortunately, I cannot lower my standards enough to be a regular at this place.
The service isn't horrible, but that might not be saying much considering it was pretty empty both times I was here. The waitresses were dressed down...almost like they just got out of bed or just came from the gym (oversized hoodies, sweats, running sneakers). Maybe they failed at pulling off the cute pajama brunch the waitstaff does at Tremont 647?
The food is nothing amazing either. Although the menu describes some appealing and interesting dishes, they aren't as good as they sound. The Maine Eggs Benedict (poached eggs over crabcakes with hollandaise) is pretty good, but not good enough to come back for. My friend and I ordered the corned beef hash as a side; it didn't come out as expected (it was a plate full of ham, undercooked potatoes, and green peppers--all cut up into perfect cubes). It was pretty much unseasoned and didn't taste like anything special.
I'd rather walk a few extra blocks to Tremont St., where there are tons of better options for brunch. -
Review from Erwin F.
Walpole, MA
11/11/2011
Sorry to use this on a restaurant, but I just didn't feel a connection. There was no spark, no chemistry, no je ne sais quoi.
I guess you could say it all started when my GF and I arrived for our 7:30PM reservation. I understand restaurants can be packed and that reservations don't guarantee a spot for any exact time. Hey, if anything, it's a compliment to how much people enjoy the food, ambience, and service. What I didn't like though, is that we weren't even acknowledged for the first 7-10 minutes of our arrival. Some acknowledgement would have been apprecated, but I digress. I'll talk to my therapist later about these feelings of neglect and maybe, time-permitting, my daddy issues.
Anyhoo, the ambience of the restaurant was above average. It was a small, intimate space. Lights were dimmed nicedly. It was definitely a good dinner date place.
Service - our waiter was cool. Provided a couple recommendations and checked in here and there.
Food - was average. We started off with spinach and artichoke dip. The dip was lukewarm with big chunks of artichoke in it. The chips were actually pretty good though.
For the main couse, I had the half chicken with garlicky spinach and mashed potatoes. The flavor just wasn't anything special.
Dessert was a cheese cake. Thankfully this was one part of the meal where average was something I looked forward too.
Overall, I can't say that I'd come back again. I came here with a buywithme coupon and I'm definitely not coming back to pay full price for just average. -
Review from Amber J.
Boston, MA
2/2/2012
I used to love Columbus Cafe. I first went there because of a Groupon deal about a year and a half ago and have gone there several times since. I've taken lots of different friends there and recommended the place highly to others.
Unfortunately, my most recent trip to the cafe will be my last. I'll spare you all of the details in this review, but essentially we were very mistreated by the staff for asking a simple question about our bill and eventually asked to "leave and never come back again." You might think "well maybe they deserved it", but I can guarantee you that we did not do or say anything inappropriate. This guy just wanted someone to be angry with, and unfortunately it was us.
I will never return (and I guess I'm not allowed to??) I have never been treated that way in my life and have never witnessed any restaurant or bar staff behave in this way. You may enjoy the nice ambiance and decent food, but be careful because you might get burned. -
Review from Rohit S.
Cambridge, MA
1/13/2012
This place is perfect if you are looking for a cozy, relaxed atmosphere, tasty inventive food and friendly staff. My only complaint was that the desserts were a little blah.
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Review from Kara T.
Boston, MA
10/27/2011
I've been here four times now. The first two times were pretty good, but the last two were so dissatisfying that i'm never going to come back here.
This place is way understaffed. The last two times I came here there was only 1 waitress serving the whole restaurant. We made reservations at 8:30pm, we got seated on an empty table with no drinks, no cutlery... and waited 20 min to order. After that we waited till 10:00 to actually get our entrees. SERIOUSLY? ON A WEDNESDAY NIGHT? I wasn't even hungry anymore when the food arrived, i was ready to just go home. The food itself was below average... I was very unpleased. The waitress didn't even apologize for the long wait, she was running frantically all over the place.
They also seem to run out of things all the time. They didn't even have two of the dishes we wanted or enough Sprite OR Coke to fill our whole table.
In short: 2 hours and $80 wasted. -
Review from Taylor B.
Brighton, MA
12/4/2011
A comfy and cozy place to get good food in the south end.
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Review from Steph U.
Boston, MA
9/19/2011
Had brunch here on Sunday morning, outside. The food and brunch options were plentiful and everything looked so good. I had the Santa Fe Eggs benedict (a spin on the traditional with cornbread, guacamole, and a chipotle hollandaise sauce) which was SO good. It came with a side of perfectly cooked home-fries and a mixed green salad.
The only reason why I gave it 4 stars was because of the service. The servers were often confused and forgot our coffee refills. At one point, we had three different servers offer to take our food orders when we had already ordered.
Overall, a great experience, but don't expect great service. -
Review from Ann W.
Boston, MA
9/11/2011
The only reason I gave two stars: the ambiance, the outdoor patio, and the bartender. Otherwise, the experience was pretty awful.
My boyfriend and I went for dinner on a weekend night. There was no wait for outside but the service was slow. We ordered the scallops wrapped in bacon as an appetizer. The scallops were literally the size of my fingernail and the bacon was hard and overcooked, but the salad portion if it was pretty good. For mains, I got the dijon chicken with mashed potatoes and veggies, and he got the seared tuna over risotto with shrimp special. The dijon chicken and mashed potatoes were good but the veggies were soggy and tasted overwhelmingly of olive, which was hard to eat after the first few bites. The tuna was good and the risotto was cooked well but the shrimp were tiny and looked like the kind you get pre-packaged from the freezer section at the supermarket. But to top it off, both of our dishes were luke warm at best when they finally got to the table.
On a good note, the outdoor seating was nice and the bartender made some pretty awesome drinks. But I cannot say that we will ever be returning. -
Review from Amy L.
Cambridge, MA
11/19/2011
My words will never be able to encapsulate how strongly I feel about this bar. Columbus Cafe is my perfect watering hole. Weird-ass pictures on the walls? Check. B-movies playing on the weekdays? Hell yes. Drinks that are strong and cheap? Of course. I can't ask for much more but a permanent table.
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Review from Julian P.
Boston, MA
8/9/2011
Columbus Cafe is a cute little side-by-side restaurant and bar in the South End with a lovely outdoor patio. It's not too big, particularly on the bar side, so it can sometimes get a little crowded, but not too often is it uncomfortably full.
The drinks are very nice. I've worked my way through the cocktail menu, and the only thing I didn't really like was the Dark 'n Stormy (too much ginger beer in their version).
In terms of food, it's kind of a hit-or-miss situation. Some things are absolutely delicious (like the spinach artichoke dip or the warm spinach and goat cheese salad) while others leave a little to be desired (like the arugula salad with fried mozzarella balls).
Overall, this place is more of a neighborhood favorite than a reason to come specifically to the South End. If you have the time to work through a couple options and figure out your favorites, then it's certainly worth going back. -
Review from Logan J.
10/4/2011
ive eaten here a few times and had a very average experience in general. recently though, i went to columbus cafe and waited at least 30 minutes after sitting before even getting offered water to drink. that pace continued for the entire meal, which in total took nearly 3 hours. the food in general was average, but it wasnt very memorable.
during the summer months, this, and other south end establishments, is a great place to get a meal or drink and eat outside...but not at the expense of having such long waits. i dont think ill be returning here very soon. -
Review from Ben Z.
4/11/2011
Below average on all fronts, except perhaps for the outdoor patio.
The brunch was just ok...and a bad choice considering all the other options in the South End.
The service was particularly terrible. The servers were confused, we waited forever for attention and it didn't appear that the staff knew what they were doing...which made us nervous about the food.
Avoid unless desperate. -
Review from Larissa C.
New Orleans, LA
12/18/2010
huevos rancheros + bloody mary = satisfied
I should really stop ordering huevos rancheros in Boston, they are always average compared to their TX cousins.... I thought this place was pleasant for an afternoon brunch on a Saturday. The bloody mary was good, which is always a crap shoot, and the servings are large. Overall, I could have done better and I could have done worse, but I'm glad I tried. -
Review from Sara E.
Boston, MA
3/27/2011
5 stars for the ambiance, 5 stars for the food, the service was the only thing sub-par. When asked for a recommendation (which I annoyingly do EVERYWHERE I go), our waiter refused and walked away... which was kind of weird, and something I'd never experienced. It also took him 15 minutes to get our change, and I can sympathize, because I wait tables and it was busy... but he didn't seem like he cared/wanted to be there. The place was hopping, and managed to have nearly all the tables full the entire time we were there, yet a large line never accumulated. We sat near the window and that part of Columbus Ave. is great for people watching.
We went for a Sunday afternoon brunch. I got the "Omelet of the Day" - prosciutto, spinach and brie; it came with a heaping portion of home fries, an English muffin and an unexpectedly enjoyable salad/salsa combo - all for somewhere around $10, not a bad deal. My friend got a frittata with asparagus, roasted red peppers and some other yummy things I can't remember. We were both completely satisfied by our meals. Would definitely return for another weekend brunch. -
Review from Jess C.
Boston, MA
2/13/2011
Ok, so I live super close to this place, making it a good option for casual drinks basically any day of the week. They have a decent wine selection and the cocktails are well priced and good too. I have tried the caipirina, sangria, and the mojito, all have been yumm. I will say in the food department, my favorite thing here is the duck taquitos and the plantains. I haven't ever really been too satisfied with my entree for dinner here, which does kind of disappoint me. I have gotten a special seafood pasta and the sea food was odd tasting, the mac n cheese (standard, but easy to not mess up), the Argentine steak, and the burger of the day. Out of those, I'd have to go with the burger as my favorite haha.
Brunch here is also pretty good and there is usually not a wait. Overall, for convenience and charm, I give it 4 stars. -
Review from Lauren B.
Manhattan, NY
8/12/2011
Columbus is great for brunch, but I wasn't too fond of the vegetarian option on the dinner menu.
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Review from Laura B.
Boston, MA
2/14/2011
Before reading this reviews -- I only went for appetizer and drinks at the bar area... I have no idea what dinner is like.
I stopped by here after work for what in other states would be called happy hour. I had two beers, one was good and the other was mislabeled on the menu as an IPA but was actually an ale. Our spinach and artichoke dip was phenomenal and the platanos fritos were yummy as well. The service was really meh, our bartender could only recommend light beers since that is all he likes. I think that is odd for a bartender in the South End. Hey, like what you like, but be able to talk about the beers on your menu.
One odd thing, you had to go outside and into the restaurant to get to the bathroom. -
Review from H. G.
Boston, MA
5/4/2010
I really wanted to like this place.
Isn't that the most annoying way to start a review? I don't know about you, but I really want to like every single restaurant and bar I go to.
Anyway... I have had brunch, dinner, and drinks here (different days). And I would only suggest the last option, because I'm pretty sure I can make better food if I diligently follow a recipe from Alton Brown. Not good eats.Listed in: "Hello, Goodbye"
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Review from Vivian C.
6/17/2010 11 photos
First, if you want to make a reservation, try calling after 4:30pm. Second, they weren't all that busy on the Wednesday evening that we went, at least on the Cafe side, so if you didn't get to call ahead for a reservation, stop by anyways.
There was one waitress handling the dinner shift the entire time we were there, and she was great! She even checked on the bathroom (single unisex with well placed mirrors, it just needs a purse hook) when we mentioned we were waiting for the gentleman to exit so we could wash up to eat the nice warm bread. (Somehow he had managed to leave the bathroom without us seeing him!)
The two of us decided to share a few dishes and were quite full by the time we were done! The slices of baguette were served warm with a crisp crust with a plate of seasoned olive oil.
Spinach and Goat Cheese Salad - Warm spinach salad with Vermont goat cheese and aged balsamic vinaigrette $6.95 was a good portion for 2, or maybe even for 3. I enjoyed spreading the goat cheese on the bread from the basket and treating the bread as self-made croutons in the tasty salad.
I had spotted sweet potato fries listed on the Today's Specials menu beside the Salmon Burger entree. Oooo... sweet potato fries! Can we get a side of that? Yes! A whole basketful of the soft sweet sort of fry for $3.95.
Mini Taquitos - Corn tortillas stuffed with duck confit over an Asian slaw and tamarind drizzle $8.95 was pretty good after we removed some of the spicy dark sauce. The slaw was an interesting touch.
Plátano Frito - Lightly fried plantains served with guacamole and a chipotle crema $6.95 turned out to be the savory sort when we had assumed it to be the sweet type. Still good though, and the mound of fresh chopped tomato salsa was refreshing.
We finished off with a nice serving of Tiramisu $6 garnished with a floral swirl of a mixed berry sauce decorating the plate. Not the best we've tasted, but quite a decent version of the dessert.
I received a tip from our neighboring table to try the enchiladas next time.
(four stars)
*** 11/2010 visit ***
Went back to try the brunch menu. First of all, the prices online are old. Second, they do not take reservations. Third, parking is tough on a Sunday late in the morning.
We shared:
. Farfalle all' Pollo - Farfalle pasta tossed with chicken breast, kalamata olives, button mushrooms and roasted tomatoes
. Maine Eggs Benedict - Poached eggs, Maine crab cakes and Hollandaise
. Southern Breakfast - Fried eggs over southern-style corned beef hash
The two breakfast items also came with a handful of greens and some diced tomatoes which arrived nicely chilled alongside the hot items. The homefries were surprisingly yellow inside and sadly not the crispy sort. The Hollandaise was rich, the crab cakes tasty but soft - I would have preferred a crispy exterior. (Hmmm... Do we sense a theme here?)
The hash wasn't particularly flavorful, but it was okay. The Farfalle was okay, but pretty basic stuff on the whole.
I'd be willing to come back for brunch someday, but I'll probably want to try some new places first.
Three stars... which average out to 3.5 stars for the two visits. -
Review from Katie V.
8/15/2010
Columbus Cafe is A-OK -- nothing to write home about, but nothing really to complain about. Got a nice outdoor table with a large group of people yesterday afternoon and our server was really nice and attentive. Refilled bread and waters, etc, didn't bat an eye when we wanted to split the check on like 6 credit cards.
I was a bit disappointed with my sangria -- it got watery really quickly. But my shrimp and crab ceviche was tasty/super fresh and a larger portion than I was expecting for $10. My friends loved their salmon burgers, but thought the sweet potato fries could have been crispier. I tried one and it was indeed on the soggy/chewy side. -
Review from Leighann F.
Astoria, Queens, NY
4/27/2009
Columbus Cafe became a brunch destination of choice over this past weekend because it qualified in three categories: brunch, patio, reservations. Being a white chick with a penchant for food and being late, I eat brunch every weekend and am constantly trying to find new places to eat this portmanteau of a meal.
On a scale of one to awesome, Columbus Cafe falls in somewhere in the middle, right around the "I might come back and try other meals here" area. Come back for brunch? Maybe. It's teetering on the brink, and with that sunny patio acting as prime people watching of Boston's beau monde, it's hard not to like this place.
In the LOVE column, we have our waiter! He was absolutely adorable and kept calling us "kids," though we clearly had a few years on him. We also have the patio. And the people watching.
In the LIKE column, we have the food. There's no mistaking good solid brunch food. Check on the scramble, check on the Eggs Benedict (served traditionally and also 'Maine' style with crabcakes), check on having it served quickly and correctly.
In the NOT SO MUCH column, we have the first employee who greeted us, who didn't seem to concerned that we had a reservation. We were seated almost 40 minutes after we arrived. Also, the Bloody Mary's. They were so bland, we all ended up dumping half the bottle of hot sauce in them, along with several dashes of pepper to spice them up!
In the end, you know what to expect. You can delightfully spend a Sunday afternoon here, basking in the sun, watching the many puppies walk by and eating decent food. Don't hold you breath waiting to be blown away, but there's something to be said for reliability and the Columbus Cafe has it. -
Review from Jeffrey H.
Washington, DC
2/21/2008 5 photos
What a great little place.
Nestled on a South End street corner, this place is as cute as a box of kittens. Inside, the lighting is dim but complimented by abundant shadows and interesting light fixtures. The space is small, but more intimate than crowded.
The girl who greeted us seemed less than enthused, but I just assumed she was that kind of person--not mean, but just shy. Someone who would probably rather be wrapped up in a book than serving some homos and breeders that night.
Seated by the window, I enjoyed checking out the whole space as well as the action on Columbus Ave. We began the meal with peach and Bellini martinis--both of which were tasty. And strong (which is what really matters). The bread was warm and tasted freshly baked--dib dab in the oil for extra pleasure.
The baby arugula salad was a delicious start--very flavorful with apples, cheese, and nuts served on top. For dinner, the butternut squash ravioli was also quite tasty--very buttery which is fine with me despite what my doctor may advise. Screw him.
Overall I really enjoyed this place. Seems casual enough to make yourself a "regular" but nice enough to visit on a date.Listed in: Always a bridesmaid, never a…
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Review from Ligaya T.
San Francisco, CA
2/20/2008
Everyone has that casual, consistent go-to place in their neighborhood. If I was in walking distance you'd best bet I'd claim a table here. Warm and intimate, with great lighting and shadows but simple and classic, this is lovely place for a date or catching up with friends.
We started out with martinis, pear and bellini which were mixed splendidly. The server seemed a bit curt but attentive and left us to chat. Apps run $6-9, entrees $9-$20. The baby argula salad was great. They didn't skimp on the extra toppings, and the flavors matched well. We both followed it up with the butternut squash ravioli and while the taste of the filling was delicate and seasoned pleasantly, the wrapping was too thin, almost like a won ton skin. The sauce had to be 95% butter which tasted great, but filled the crevices of the raviolis and slid down your throat. Mmmm lubrication.
All in all, chock full of tasty treats; I'd imagine finding myself here at the (South) end of the rainbow!Listed in: South End Dining
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Review from Krys A.
Updated - 10/28/2008
So I'll be honest.
I went to Columbus Cafe for a blind date once. I get out of work earlier then he does so I sat alone drinking a fabulous Margarita. An hour goes by I'm still sitting alone outside on a beautiful day and I decide to order a 2nd Margarita. (Now I'm trying to go slow drinking these things or else before you know it, I'll be hammered!) So I decided to call my date to touch base to make sure he knew where this place was and make sure he wasn't running late, but no answer. I text him, no response. I decide to wait awhile before I call again, but when I did no answer. 2 Hours have gone by I'm sitting alone and the bartender comes outside to check on me knowing I'm a regular at this bar and I finally tell him, I'm being STOOD UP! He's tells me to come inside, so he pours me a shot and says its called The Monday Blues, I drank it and he said it's on me.
Needless to say, how can you not love the people that work there? lol...Listed in: Must Try!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/26/2008
BEST MARGARITAS!! Ask for their Columbus Margarita... I Love Love Love their margaritas!!! Columbus… Read more »
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Review from Gerald D.
Boston, MA
7/14/2008
So you thought that the dozens of speakeasies in the South End all died with the repeal of Prohibition? Wrong. The bar side of the Columbus Cafe is a South End speakeasy, except that all the drinks served are legal.
Leave your obnoxious, self-important Back Bay attitude at the door. This place is the best discovery since George Orwell went under cover in a Paris restaurant in the 1930s and wrote "Down and Out in Paris and London". I write as a barfly regular, someone who actually gets what the owners are trying to accomplish here without an expensive Hollywood soundstage for the theatre piece they are trying to produce. The magical twist is that the theatre depends on the customers. If you come expecting obsequious service, the best filet mingon in Boston, or an expensive and exclusively red Bordeaux wine list, you'll be disappointed. But that will be YOUR problem.
If, instead, you want genuine conversation with fascinating South Enders (almost all of whom walked no more than 5 blocks to get here), over great comfort food, unusual and good beers, wine standards and well-made martinis, and are willing to play your part in the piece, you'll discover the secret life of great cities the world over.
It's about the chemistry, starting with what rises to the surface within yourself after you have eaten well and you are suddenly aware of the warm effect of your cocktail. This place has saved my psyche from overwork on more occasions than I can recall, and for that I'm so happy to have discovered the Columbus Bar. -
Review from JR M.
Boston, MA
11/12/2007
I am a weekly+ regular. I'm friends with the owners. Biased? Probably. But this place attracts good regulars, and I go to see them as much as to eat and drink. I am on at least a first-name basis with half the bar on any given night. It's that kind of place.
At the Columbus, I've met working artists, real estate guys, conspiracy theorist presidential hopefuls (ok, just one of those) - who were just out for a relaxing time. It's easy to go stag - you can chat with the bartender and barflies, or read one of the magazines, or sit in the corner and draw, or watch an old movie. You won't be bothered.
One time, this drunk, young medical student was there (in her scrubs, on a Friday night - "Look At Dr. Me!") She kept whining about how sad the music was and how they should change the wall color from dark green to white, to make the place less depressing. I'd had a few and said loudly, "It's a bar. It's for hiding in." Grammar be damned...her boyfriend laughed. Stella it is not. Thankfully.
The fish is very fresh. Food is always solid and made with love. I've eaten everything on the menu, so I should know. Expertly poured (or opened) drinks.
Cons: The bathroom is in the restaurant and I am firmly seated in the bar; I am always assigned to talk to the crazy people; I stay way past my bedtime; and my credit card statements, riddled with "Columbus Cafe," reveal what a spendthrift lush I am. -
Review from John L.
Updated - 9/28/2008
We need to talk about the Vermont Scramble for a moment.
Hot damn that is good.
So I came here this morning to finally give my dad his Father's Day gift (aka I paid). I ended up having the aforementioned Vermont Scramble with a mimosa (if I'm going to be paying, I might as well have some fun with it :) ). The mimosa was a perfect combination of champagne and orange juice: I could taste the champagne, but it wasn't ridiculously strong.
And the scramble: mmmmmh. A perfect combination of well-scrambled eggs, with goat cheese, tomatoes, and spinach, with a great salad garnish thing on the side that I mixed in, because it was fun. On top of this, the home fries were incredible, and the muffin, while a little burnt, was still yummy. The whole meal was relatively well-priced, and still filled me up.
Service was quite good as well, even though it was crazy busy.
Overall a nice, little nook place to have a nice brunch in the South End!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/20/2008
Nice-sized, well done cafe with great food. In particular, the brunch is quite good (omelets are… Read more »
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Review from Amy E.
Boston, MA
2/17/2008
Maine Eggs Benedict. Enough said.
Okay, a little more explanation: this is probably my favorite brunch spot since I get serious cravings for this dish, which is eggs benedict with crab cakes instead of Canadian bacon. It comes with roasted potatoes and a small green salad, which makes me feel slightly better about myself. The staff is super friendly and funny. Today was the first time I've had to wait for a table at brunch (20 mins at noon on a Sunday), but it was worth it. I've also been here for dinner a couple times and it was equally delicious. -
Review from Jenn T.
Boston, MA
8/29/2008
I went to Columbus Cafe for the second time two nights ago and was very disappointed. The first time was about a year ago for brunch and we sat outside with our dog. Wait staff was friendly and food was decent, for both taste and price. It was definitely a place we'd go back to again on a nice day where we can relax outside on their patio...
Dinner two nights ago was unfortunately just awful. We waited forever to get our water, put our order in and get our food, but you know what? it was a busy night for them and we were in no rush so we didn't mind it. But when our food finally came, the tuna tartare did not taste fresh, my lobster/crab ravioli was BURNT...Not only was it burnt, it also tasted ilke it had been sitting under the heat lamp for over 10 minutes. it was just dry and the sauce was awful. Boyfriend's medium rare burger came out well done and we wondered how much longer we'd have to wait if we sent it back, so we didn't.
We spent roughly $50 on that meal and it was just not worth it. we should have walked a few more blocks down to petit robert. -
Review from Julie N.
11/16/2009
A college friend of mine recommended this place for Eggs Benedict. I immediately thought "What the hell does he know about the Benedict? I'm pushing 30! He hasn't had what I've had." One weekend, I figured screw it. Let's eat.
Uhm, seriously? Their Eggs Benedict just brought a smile to my face as I thought of them. Perfect sauce, perfect home fries, perfect dish.
The only thing I didn't like about Columbus Cafe was the bizarre wait staff who made us feel like they didn't want any customers. It was almost as if they were a front to an illegal business with super yummy food. Lucky me.
So, thank you Joey... you're going to be a great member of the foodie group when you grow up.Listed in: Eggs Benedict
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Review from Steve s.
MA
2/3/2007
Once again, I am a little torn about this review....As I write this, I am fully aware that my neighborhood will be overrun by Yelpers near and far. I am lucky though. I am in the epicenter of all things culinary, Amsterdam, Jaes, Le Petit Bistro, New York Pizza, Wally's, House of Siam are a quick stagger from my home.
I am not writing about the restaurant here, but the small bar on the side. It serves the same food as its namesake...Spinach salad and goat cheese and the enchiladas are my favs, but it is a cool place to have a beer and chill.
They show these wacky 60s and 70s movies without volume. Every time I am there, I wonder why the heck am I watching these? Cold beer will make a man do strange things, I guess. -
Review from Katie M.
Boston, MA
7/17/2008
Columbus Cafe is in a word "Ehh (said with shoulder raise)". It has a bunch of things going for it like outdoor seating, really nice wait staff (not fast but nice) and reasonable prices. Plus its right down the street from my apartment (which may or may not apply to you).
The downside was the food. It was ok. I had the ribs which were fall of the bone but they use a tangy sauce and I am more of a sweet BBQ kind of girl. It also was supposed to have creamed corn which they ran out of. They did substitute a to-die-for bread pudding (I almost licked the plate but my fiancee was giving me the "eye"). My fiancee was not too thrilled about his dish (homemade stuffed cannollini). It needed some flavor other than really creamy.
Its a nice place in the summer. The outdoor seating really does wonders for the restaurant. I just don't know if I would go back in the winter.Listed in: Boston-South End
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Review from Kevin M.
Boston, MA
7/10/2010
The exterior of this place is cute -- and they have a patio seating area
which scores them some points --
However, given the number of amazing restaurants in Boston... and particularly in the South End, I think Columbus Cafe fizzles...
the food was good. I would be willing to go back ... just not dying to do so. -
Review from Peter S.
Roxbury, MA
10/2/2006
Nay, nay, nay. The truth is, this place is just a tad above par as far as brunch locales. Just a tad.
First things first, the coffee. If I'm going to pay $2.50 for a cup, it better not taste anything like Chock Full O' Nuts (you can taste your teeth rotting.) It may not be as bad as all that, but cardboard was definitely the theme in my mug.
Barometer of a good breakfast #2--- The Potatoes. They were edible, but pretty unexciting and a bit overcooked.
The menu is diverse, and everything looks enticing until it comes.
My Huevos Rancheros with Chorizo came out looking like dog doo-doo on my plate. After mashing in the sausage to ruin the effect it tasted OK but, hey, nothing has to look that bad. And I don't know where they're getting their Chorizo, but maybe they should try Mexico. It isn't supposed to be so dry in my experience.
The Huevos themselves were actually pretty good, with corn tortillas that were better than most mass produced ones. Only, when are you Northerners gonna learn that Rancheros salsa is made raw??!! It's so much better to taste fresh raw tomatoes, onions and peppers with your eggs instead of soupy stewy limp stuff.
My friend got the crab cakes Benedict thingy. It was pretty decent. But, if the eggs and hollandaise weren't there you might not be so enthused with the cakes themselves. Not too much crab and a bit too salty and dry.
All in all, this place seems like the menu was created first and then the food. So it was simply throw this and this and this together. Sometimes it worked sometimes it didn't.
I like breakfast. It's the first meal of the day. It's important to get it right. So I'm a pretty tough critic. If I lived in the neighborhood, I might get dragged here a few times, it's not too expensive at least. But don't go here looking for perfection. -
Review from Cameron B.
Washington, DC
4/8/2011
Twas a dark and stormy night! Cold air spilled past the double doors of a small and dimly lit haven onto an attentive and familiar crowd. The locals have taken to Columbus Cafe for the post-work drink and chill location like a fish to water, and for good reason. The drink deals are ok, the mixology, a little better, but what stands out is this places ability to give just the right ambiance. No pretense, no blaring sports, just the bar, the people (that could squeez in) and the conversation! If they'd drop the happy hour prices a dollar and put another restroom in the bar area proper, they'd get the extra star; but a neighborhood favorite, this place will stay!
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Review from Olivia C.
Jamaica Plain, MA
12/11/2006
Small, expensive, yummyish
Fancy Tuna Sandwitch is good. (but more pannini than meat)
Fries with Fresh Parm, my boss says they are better than the fries in braggy Belgium. I'm not making any commitments to these fries, they are not better than BK.. just kidding.
Went here on a first day of work lunch.
Boss says I passed the first test by eating my food.
I guess the last worker had an eating disorder.
I want to try their burger-Listed in: Nobody puts Baby in a Corner
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Review from Rebecca C.
Roslindale, MA
1/23/2006
I LOVED the Columbus Cafe. I've been there twice for brunch, and they are really fabulous. It's a small, inviting cafe that serves wonderful food (at least their brunch is excellent). I am a creature of habit, so I got the same thing both times (Eggs Florentine), but everything looked fantastic. They serve organic foods (though not exclusively I don't think) which is a plus, and everything is fresh and on the less greasy side. There wasn't a wait either time I went, which was a really nice change from every other restaurant that serves brunch in the area. I HIGHLY recommend it.
The wait staff both times were very helpful, sweet and easy to talk to.
Prices were reasonable for the compared high quality of food.
And, hey, they have mimosas. That makes the whole experience even better. -
Review from Stella R.
Jamaica Plain, MA
7/3/2008
This is one of the most awful bars I've experienced in Boston. I used to live in the area and a few of my friends liked going there, so I spent quite a bit of time at the place. Here are the reasons to avoid Columbus Cafe:
1. Since the bar-side of the place is separate from the restaurant, you have to walk outside and re-enter the place to use the bathroom. One night it was very late and freezing, so they let me walk through the kitchen instead. I SWEAR I saw a mouse scurry across the kitchen floor.
2. The bar is tiny, and there is a substantial group of regulars who go there on pretty much a nightly basis. Although some are nice and don't bother you, most of them are rude and HATE when 'outsiders' come in and invade 'their bar'. The first few times I walked in, I was made to feel incredibly uncomfortable and unwelcome. Also, there is one older man (probably in his 60's) with an eyepatch and covered in tattoos who is ALWAYS there. He goes by the name of Diamond and does nothing but make lude comments and stare inappropriately at young womens' breasts (my boyfriend got so angry one night that he walked out of the bar).
3. The service is pretty terrible. The bartendress doesn't even ask if you want another drink, she just hands you another one. Then she'll chat you up and hand you shots that you assume are free...but by the end of the night, your bill is way more than you expected..
4. The food is just so-so. People say it's a good deal, but you can get similar (but better) food for a better price in a much more relaxed and cool atmosphere down the street at the Delux.
5. The people who work there are weird and cold. All the regulars that go to the bar hang out with the staff. It's a very bizarre, unfriendly social clique, and if you start going there frequently you're bound to get gossipped about behind your back.
So if you're looking for a relaxed, clean bar with good service, good food, and nice people that don't gossip like they're in high school, DON'T go to Columbus Cafe! Go to the Delux (on Chandler St.) or Franklin Cafe instead. Trust me on this one.
