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Categories: Bars, American (New) [Edit]
535 Columbus AveMassachusetts Ave (Orange)
Symphony (Green)
Worcester Square (Silver)
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Tastier than the Balloon Boy stories.
Wow that's some good cavatelli. Salty in just the right way. Completely agreeable to all of us. We had the corn/crab soup, which was soft enough but had a great spice. The mac and cheese was also a winner. Even great the next day.
The only deduction is having the establishment in two different places. I'ts kind of annoying to sit and wait in one room w/ a drink and then move to another room totally apart from each other. Granted, both rooms are great, but it's still annoying to have to go outside. Particularly when its snowing in October.
This place was exactly what I was looking for tonight. Awesome drinks, not pretentious, not crowded and an old school ambiance.
I had a dark & stormy, Italian Lemonade & a Chocolate Martini... my boyfriend requested a long island & the bartender refused for obvious reasons.... he ended up with a white Russian after some convincing, a whisky sour (after being talked up from an amaretto sour), a gimlet (the best one I've EVER tried ever, suggested by the waiter), & a rum & coke.
Every drink was good.
I also saw they had plantains on the menu, so I'm definitely going to have to go back for those.
The brunch here is SO GOOD. The morning after a night out with friends (in other words, we were tired and hungover), we stumbled upon Columbus Cafe. It was about 90 degrees out, so while they had a nice patio, we opted for the table in the deepest, darkest corner we could find away from the heat and sun.
I had the eggs benedict and my friend had eggs and some assortment of lots of meat. Pretty hearty portions and overall just delicious. Not sure if it was just because it was the morning post-partying (i'm sure popcorn chicken would've satisfied us), but the food here was the bommmb.
Verdict: I've found a new favorite brunch spot.
People thought this was:
This little place is really good for a freshly prepared meal before taking in some jazz at Wallys. I've enjoyed every meal I've had there. Great place to meet friends with a very down to earth staff and it's small, neighborhood feel. The outside seating is perfect for Boston summer evenings. Highly recommended.
Came here for Sunday brunch and was not disappointed by anything! Every dish that came past us looked amazing (esp. the french toast), though i can only vouch for the Frittata of the day. The omelette of the day, which was what my friend had, was similar. Came with buttered english muffin, side of salsa, potatoes, and the frittata/omelette. Absolutely amazing! yum.
Brunch is delicious (try the eggs benedict or the french toast)! A table was open for us as soon as we arrived, and the food didn't take very long to make it out to us (I've read other reviews that said the opposite). I think there are some breakfast places in Boston that succeed because of their cult following and some that really deserve their reputation, and this is one of the second kind.
First off: Allow me to apologize to *Phillip*. Not Mark. Phillip. This is the first time I have ever been called out upon the carpet for a Yelp review. And even though called out I was, *Phillip* was very, very cool about it.
Too cool to later have to suffer through me being a drunk a-hole. Sorry about that, too Phillip.
This place is cooler than any of you will ever be. They have coasters with pictures of famous Bobs in them. They do "Shatner Night". Phillip has an eidetic memory. Really - test him on it. OK, don't test him. But he really does have a shocking recall for pretty much everything you say and do. Which is one of the reasons I'm apologizing for being a drunk loser. Because Phillip will remember, but I will brave the bar again, this time consuming less booze.
You should join me. Because the Columbus Cafe is that rad. You heard me. RAD.
The place gets an extra star for Mark, the bartender, who will chat with you over an absinthe… Read more »
I was upset in one morning dealing with the first place at Colonnades with the waitress' disastrous work attitude, We walked off to look for some better alternative to Cheesecake factory nearby. So, we headed South. And, the next block down, we found this fancy setting-outdoor seating area with rugged hunky guys, yay!
And, we were seated wherever we desired-of course outside. Our wobbly table bottom was fixed right in a flash second, and, our waitress was Ms. Smiley to everyone every time!
The food we ordered was delivered within 7-10min. and healthy'n'yummy! The success of any service business is how much heart you put in there and respond to customers' needs and expectations. They obviously have winning combination. Now, I found one solid brunch place in my hood. It was a very pleasant experience even thinking about that morning after weeks today.
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.
People thought this was:
Columbus Cafe makes me want to review it as if I was the Kool-Aid man.
Vermont Scramble? Ohhhh yeaaahh!!!
Outdoor seating? Ohhh yeaaahhhh!!!!
People watching? Ohh yeaaahhhh!!
Puppy watching? Ohhhh yeaahhh!!
Great service? Ohhh yeahhh!!!
Will I be back? Ohhh YEAH!!!!
People thought this was:
I'm not really a brunch person, but I AM a "drinks on the patio as soon as the weather is warm enough to venture out in a cute top and not freeze your butt off" kind of person. Columbus Cafe is comfortably compliant in that category (hellz yes, alliteration!). Thus, this review is more for the bar side than the restaurant side of things.
Drinks are a little on the pricier side for what they are; not bad but definitely not amazing. I do however, really like the patio; but that could be because I love the South End in the summertime. The atmosphere at night is nice; very relaxed and friendly with that "everyone here may or may not be friends of friends" kind of feel. The food wasn't bad, but still not anything to write home about. Service is friendly but slow.
I think that overall, CC has what I call "Flour Syndrome": more of a cult following than anything. People can do better, they just don't want to ;)
People thought this was:
Good, basic food. Nothing specular and because of that, maybe slightly over priced. I had the Chicken with artichoke hearts, olives, and broccoli, my friend had the Argentine steak. The bread was OK and the olive oil was fresh and had flavor. A glass of Merlot was excellent. No table clothes.
I'm slowly discovering all these South End gems.. and I'm pleased.
Went here with some friends for dinner on a Wednesday night (they are regulars) and the whole experience was great! The food was delicious (I wasn't crazy for my entree, but my friend got the enchiladas and they were TO DIE FOR!), the service was amazing-- the waiter was so personable and really funny. And he runs the whole show alone!
The best part is, this place will NOT break your bank! I think for all three of us, with apps and drinks cost about $60! And we left waddling.
I heard brunch is great - I cannot wait to go back to this place!
People thought this was:
I used to come here when this was Claremont Cafe. I'm not sure if there is new ownership or just a name change, but I came in last night with a group for dinner. The ambiance is very small and beautiful as it always has been. The waitress was attentive and the menu was enticing, if not a bit all over the place. There were many specials too.
I ordered the pan seared mahi mahi with risotto and lemony shrimp. The dish overall was good, although both the mahi mahi and the risotto were a little dry. Everyone seemed to enjoy their meals though.
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...
People thought this was:
BEST MARGARITAS!! Ask for their Columbus Margarita... I Love Love Love their margaritas!!! Columbus… Read more »
this was my second time at the columbus cafe for dinner/drinks, and i must give this place an enthusiastic 5-star rating. last time i just drank and had one of their caprhinas, which was pretty darn tasty, and this time i had the mac and cheese with asparagus which was gooey and crisp and exactly what i was looking for.
both times i've been here i was attending events with about 25 people. they were able to seat this large group in a rather small space, but we did plenty of getting up and moving around so we still all got to interact with each other.
our waiter, kevin, was outstanding. tonight was a going-away party, and he chatted with the guest of honor to hear his story, was very kind to us, and even brought us 3 dishes of bread pudding for the table to share, on the house.
friendly, prompt service, tasty food, and nice ambiance. not the first place you'd think of to have a large gathering, but both of my experiences here have been wonderful!
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!
People thought this was:
Nice-sized, well done cafe with great food. In particular, the brunch is quite good (omelets are… Read more »
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.
People thought this was:
I went to the Columbus Cafe on a whim one night. They had open patio seats and looked better than the dark cafe across the street.
The waiters were nice but we had about three different guys. They brought lots of water and bread which was nice.
I had the baked mac and cheese and my friend had a beef stew. It was moderately priced but a little bit much for my liking. The baked mac was $11 and the lowest entree on the menu. It was definitely worth it though because it was so yummy! It was crunchy on the top with nice cheeses in the middle. However, it was one of two vegetarian options. It didn't seem like a good spot for kids though as the couples who brought kids went to NY Pizza across to the street to get them food. The wait staff didn't seem to mind which makes me think they don't have anything for kids. It shouldn't be hard to ask them to make grilled cheese or something if you do have kids though!
And as Purvi R. said, there is a ton of puppy watching! There are so many people walking by. I never realized this was such a big area to go but I will probably be back since it's good food close by!
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.
People thought this was:
I am rarely disappointed by Columbus Cafe. The creativity of dishes and quality of food is almost always simply delicious. Favorite brunch dishes: Huevos Rancheros and Eggs Benedict are very tasty, and the french toast is to die for. The smoked salmon dish is also very good, which is noteworthy because it's easy to get stuck with really crappy smoked salmon.
For dinner my husband and I usually order off the specials menu, which changes regularly. A couple of favorites from the regular menu are: argentine steak & chili verde (but most of the regular menu I've not had...again, usually order off the specials menu because the dishes just sound too tasty). If you stop by when split pea soup is on the menu, get it. I once ordered it as an appetizer with a salad for dinner, and then ended up ordering a whole second bowl as part of the dinner. It was too good.
There's a good amount of space in the outdoor seating area, and the volume never gets too loud.
People thought this was:
Just got back from having brunch here so I can only review that meal. I have lived around the corner for about 2 years now and this is the first time I went. What a mistake! Very friendly and attentive service, great food selection and food that was delicious with big portions (that is usually my issue with other area brunches, too expensive and tiny portions). I had the Breakfast Burrito and my friend had the Huevos Rancheros. We were both really happy with the food. I ordered a side of chorizo, which I highly recommend. The scone wasn't so much a scone, but delicious none the less. Leftovers will make a great snack later when I feel a bit peckish. Done are the days when I travel 20-30 minutes to take visiting friends to brunch. This place is perfect for that and with the nice weather coming, the patio is a great option to enjoy your meal, talk with friends and "people watch".
People thought this was:
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.
People thought this was:
My partner and I were looking for a place to grab a drink and some grub before meeting up with friends in the South End on a Friday night. We happened upon the bar and went inside.
Tiny place, maybe 8 tables inside? A handful of barstools at the bar? More on the patio, but it was cool that night and no one was out there. One bartender working the room. They have a full bar and the menu from the cafe/restaurant next door. It was 7 on a Friday night and steadily busy.
Our drinks came within 10 min, but the food took like 30 and I'm not exaggerating. How hard is it to scoop some spinach & artichoke dip from a vat? I highly doubt it's made on the spot. I was starving and those 30 min seemed like forever. Once it came, it was quite yummy and filling and the chips that come with it are delish.
Nice lil neighborhood spot for a drink. Beware some obnoxious businessmen in suits and singing along loudly to the music.
People thought this was:
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.
People thought this was:
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!
People thought this was:
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.
People thought this was:
What a strange experience. While waiting for my pizza from Mangia, I ducked into Columbus Cafe for a drink. There was one couple inside sitting at a table in the corner - the only sound the scraping of their utensils on their plates. A silent black and white movie played on the tv - perhaps echoing the very silent bartender who only used the bare minimum number of words necessary to conduct business. Seriously, I think he said three words to me the entire time I was there - "Sure" and "Nick Drake" when I couldn't quite put my finger on the voice coming from the speakers. Nick was replaced by Lulu and the combination of the two seems to sum the place up pretty well. 60s retro and croony hipster. The walls feature old 8x10s of actors and actresses from the 60s and 70s, save the one photo behind the bar lit up like a shrine. Man I wish I could've gotten a picture - it's a youngish gray haired woman with "Holy Crap" eyes and a weird smile. It's hilarious and a little unsettling. On the other wall is one of those backlit nature photos that were popular in the 60s/70s - you know the ones, pine trees around a lake, on a piece of plastic, with light behind and a big wooden frame? Like the menus in the food court but with happy trees instead of lo mein?
My favorite was the bar itself. Off in the corner sat a plant, some fliers, and the book "Running Your Rock Band" next to a tiny plastic pig oinking to the sky.
Quirky. Obscure. I dig it.
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I've been to Columbus Cafe many times over the last couple of years. I've never been absolutely bowled over, but I've always loved their brunch on the patio and their casual vibe.
This past Monday I stopped by for a solo dinner on the patio -- I had the crab cake special and a steak quesadilla -- and their normally "casual" service was borderline non-existent. I had to ask for the check three times before receiving it -- while the bartender/server took his time chatting with his friend at the table just behind me.
To add injury to insult, that night I woke up in the middle of the night with a stomachache -- and was laid up for the next 24 hours with a pretty severe case of food poisoning.
(Full disclosure: Food poisoning can happen at any time -- not necessarily because of an establishment's cleanliness, and after returning to let the management know about it they were extremely apologetic. Sometimes it happens and there's not much you can do, but you never know).
People thought this was:
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.
People thought this was:
Great food, friendly service, nice atmosphere. Their artichoke dip is amazing, but beware, quite filling as well; plan your entree accordingly.
This place hits the spot. My girlfriends I have enjoyed brunch here a couple times and love it. It's a cozy little spot and what makes it for me is the friendly staff. We once came in with about 7 of us and our host helped us to squeeze in and our waitress felt like she should be joining us. And the scramblers are good - really good. Can't wait to come back for dinner!
People thought this was:
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.
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I just had the opportunity to be at the bar, but what an adorable bar it was!
It is tiny - really just enough room for 10-15 people, not quite sardined in. They play silly movies like Barbarella when a group of social workers are there for an event, so the ownership/management strikes me as a fun bunch. Drinks are drinks, but the food is pretty good - I just had nachos, but they also served us calamari, for those who enjoy squid.
Very nice neighborhood place - great South End fun!
People thought this was:
I arrived for breakfast at around 10:30am on a Saturday. Was lead to a table with a greasy top, and haphazard setting. The floor was filthy. The cream was served in a small lidded pitcher that was...no exageration...encrusted with matter the origins of which I do not wish to ponder. My order arrived lukewarm. They kindly took the plate away and threw it under the broiler. So the garnishes were now compotes. No one seemed to give a shit. Sloppy service on a Saturday morning I can forgive. But the lack of attention to basic cleanliness is a show stopper.
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.
People thought this was:
The mac & cheese with asparagus was delicious. I love how tiny this place is and how intimate. The bartender was cute and made a good manhattan. Bit pricey for me to go often, but otherwise I'd be there.
I usually adore Columbus Cafe but I was so upset last night by the horrible service I am writting my first review I have ever written in my life! I live about two blocks away and I usually love CC. I don't have any outside space at my home in the south end so it's a great place to go. But, last night was a disaster.
My 6 person party sits down on the great patio and....
1)The waiter had to ask us for our order repeatedly because he kept forgetting. He totally wasn't paying attention and had this attitude that we should be lucky he was even taking our order.
2) After he finally got our order right and could repeat it back to us he thought it was funny to make comments to me and my table and had this mocking sarcastic attitude.
3) This Columbus Cafe staff member refused to put my water glass on the table himself. He just kept handing it to me for me to put it down and there was plenty of room for him to reach and set it down properly.
4) After we ordered and about 20 minutes went by we asked if we could have some bread or something because we were very hungry. He said, with out apology, "We only have one cook, it's going to take longer, and we are out of bread." When we finally got our meal ---bread suddenly appeared!!! That didn't help when we waiting in excess of 30 minutes and needed some sort of snack to hold us over.
I am extremely upset and disappointed about how we were treated. I hope to be able to go back at somepoint but I will be staying away for awhile and it's a shame.
* Average entree cost ~$15-20; Credit Cards Accepted.
* Outdoor (sidewalk) seating available.
This is a great place for a simple, comfortable meal. Whether hanging out with friends or out for a first date, the CC has charm and an interesting selection of well-priced items on the menu (and a good selection from the bar as well). The entree's were simple / straightforward and made from seemingly quality ingredients. For the appetizer try the fried plantain chips (served with guacamole, vegetable salsa, and chipotle horseradish).
People thought this was:
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.
People thought this was:
Sunday and Monday $12 Entrees!
Neighborhood: Charlestown
Special Offer: Box Office…
Neighborhood: Central Square
Neighborhood: South End
Category: French
Neighborhood: Back Bay
Category: American (New)
Boston, MA
Category: Sushi Bars
Boston, MA
Category: Pizza
Boston, MA
Category: Coffee & Tea
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