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Exchange Street Bistro
Categories: Restaurants American (New) Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Nightlife Bars Lounges American (New), Breakfast & Brunch, Lounges [Edit]
67 Exchange StreetMalden, MA 02148
(781) 322-0071
- Nearest Transit:
-
Centre St @ Jackson St (106, 108, 131, 136, 137, 411, 430)
Main St @ Pleasant St (106, 108, 131, 136, 137, 411, 430)
Centre St @ Stop & Shop (101, 104, 105, 106, 108, 131, 136, 137, 411, 430, 99)
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
130 reviews for Exchange Street Bistro
Review Highlights
"Has a great bar and good martinis."
(in 23 reviews)
"The lobster Mac and cheese is awesome."
(in 7 reviews)
"Stuffed French Toast - Peaches, Blueberry Compote and..."
(in 3 reviews)
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130 reviews in English
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Review from Amanda F.
1/31/2012
Ok... I've lived in Malden for... over a year now? So, how is it that I had no idea about this place?!? Sure, I'd seen some of the coupons that would pop up on the valupak thing that comes in the mail every once in a while, but I had no idea what a diamond in the rough this place was. People, I think we need to start giving Malden some more credit for the restaurants it has!
We were entertaining guests that weekend and were trying to figure out a good place to go for Sunday brunch. The usual was out, and we needed a plan B. Enter yelp to save the day. After mulling over some of the usual suspects, this particular place kept catching my eye. Once I found out people felt there was amazing french toast to be had, I was sold. We promptly trekked over and were shocked. This restaurant is beautiful. Worthy of downtown Boston. And, it's in Malden. Kudos. Everything glistens like its brand new, with a catwalk leading you from the entrance to the hostess station where you'll get a gander of the pretty, green-lit bar.
We arrived around noon, and were seated immediately. Soon after that, our party ordered the breakfast burrito, an omelette, the eggs benedict, and the french toast. Oh... and we sort of got our morning drink on, too. (The chambord mimosa is where its at.) Everyone was stuffed and no one was able to finish. The only downside was the wait between putting in our order and getting our food, but it was certainly well worth the wait. -
Review from Tina D.
Boston, MA
12/21/2011
We are always a little apprehensive to walk into upscale restaurants with two kids but it was my birthday so we did it anyway. Upon entering there were two hostesses and when asked how many in our party as if our arrival was welcomed. The other stepped to her computer and asked if we had a reservation as if we couldn't be seated if we didn't. It was a Tuesday and there were 3 tables taken with a handful of people at the bar. By the time we left all the dining room tables were full but there was no one waiting for a table and all the lounge tables were still empty.
Once we were seated, the experience was nothing but positive. Our server informed us of the children's menu since they do not have a printed one. We were offered tasters of wine that we asked about. The food was excellent and not over priced. The caeser dressing is made on site and you can tell by how fresh it tastes. I believe they also make their own croutons. I had the lobster mac and cheese and it had huge clumps of lobster in it. My spouse had the prix fixe menu of seafood stuffed shrimp with spinach and baked potato. It was good but mine was better.
The dining room is small and intimate and yet somehow each table feels quite private.
I'll go back but I might make that reservation just to be safe! -
Review from Liz L.
Melrose, MA
11/15/2011
Ugh. I want to write a great review for this place, but... ugh.
We went to Exchange Street Bistro for a celebration birthday dinner last night and had a great time - until we got our entrees. But, I'll start with all the good.
The decor is great. Very chic and intimate. There are tables in the front and back of the restaurant - back of the restaurant has booths that create the feeling of having a private dining experience. The front of the restaurant, even though the tables are somewhat close together, still has that intimate private feel.
The waitstaff was fabulous. From the hostess to the waitress to the owner (or manager, I didn't ask), everyone is attentive and friendly. A+ customer service.
The selection of wine is pretty decent, especially considering the restaurant is known for their martinis. We got a bottle of Shiraz that was delicious. And the martinis? Mmmm! We saved our martinis for after dinner - I had an Espresso Martini that was to die for. My dining partner got an Iced Pumpkin Latte Martini that was unbelievable. We savored every sip. Delicious.
Ok. Now onto the food - my reason for the low review.
We ordered a whole bunch of food and none of it was particularly great. Considering the prices, I was expecting much better food.
To start, we got a caesar salad and the coconut shrimp. The caesar was just ok and the coconut shrimp was pretty good - nothing fancy, even though it was presented as a fancy dish.
For entrees we ordered the special - a hanger steak with scallops, twice baked potato, and asparagus, and the filet mignon with scalloped potatoes and asparagus. The filet had some sort of demi-glaze, but I've forgotten what it was.
And this is where the disappointment starts. I have never sent back a dish or even considered doing so, but when I saw my steak I was super bummed out. If it wasn't a Monday night and I had more time for dinner, I would have sent it back.
I was expecting a filet and the cut of meat I got may have been a filet... but it was definitely a terrible cut of meat. I asked for medium and my meat was gray inside. Definitely overdone. The scalloped potatoes were ok. The asparagus was the best part of my meal.
As for the special? The twice baked potato was delicious, but the scallops were way overcooked. The hanger steak was cooked poorly, medium rare in some places, well done in others. Ugh.
I would suggest going to Exchange Street for drinks and atmosphere, but avoid the food. Overpriced, overcooked, and a total disappointment.
What a bummer - I realllllly wanted to love this place! -
Review from Robert B.
Malden, MA
2/7/2012 1 photo
Amazing bread pudding and awesome service!!!!
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Review from Teresa J.
Malden, MA
2/7/2012
It is over rated and quite expensive. The front of the restaurant seems attractive and the bar is nice, but small. Then you go to the black hole behind the bar where you feel alone with very little interaction. I think it could be set up a lot better especially if they want more nightlife and bar activity.
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Review from RoseAnne D.
Malden, MA
12/28/2011
I too wanted to love this place, as I have recently moved back to Malden and wanted a nice place to hang. I'll go for drinks, but the food.....yuck!
2 entrees, and app, all bad. French Onion soup with a tomato base? I think not. And they used the same rolls for the top as the bread and butter, way too chewy for the soup. My salad tasted...mmm, I don't know, old lettuce? Not sure. Beef Wellington, could have used just a bit of salt on the fillet, but it was tender and cooked well, but the chef ruined it with the sauce. I think he used the tomato onion soup we didn't finish. A nice brown mushroom sauce would have been better. Short Rib Risotto, was okay, but would have liked bigger pieces of meat. Only had shredded pieces. Spinach side was way bitter, and I'm a spinach lover. Service was excellent and attentive, but Chef.....take a lesson! -
Review from Lisa E.
Malden, MA
1/28/2012
Ok where do I start? I usually love this place! They have the tequilla I drink and their food is out of this world, such a hidden gem for malden, but last night I felt almost broken up with. As a bartender employed in a pretty well known resteraunt I realize it may be easy to be a little overly critical, but I usually take that into account because I understand the inner workings of the industry and know how some nights can be. Last night was a complete bust...with everything. First off I ordered my go to drink, milagro anejo straight up..now any other seasoned server that I know that gets an order for a straight up drink knows the drink should either be in a martini glass or snifter...maybe even scotch glass..I received it in a shot glass. Tequilla doesn't mean shot all of the time. Some people enjoy tequilla as they do wine, ports, scotch, or some other cordial. I hate to be difficult because I know how it feels but only when its unjustified..this was COMPLETELY justified..sooo I asked very politely if I could change it to a snifter. In between the time I asked him that and the time I got it again it was chilled..which I specifically told him I didn't want. I know that sometimes servers don't have the alcohol knowledge of their bartender counterparts so I understood when he replied,"but that's what u asked for" after I had my first sip and politely said mmmm Yah this doesn't taste like what I asked for, slightly cold and verrrrrry diluted, usually the result of a shaken drink. At this point, I feel like I have to prove myself, opting to go to a sister bartender to explain my desires. Oh he said chilled she replied...but almost like she was annoyed that I had challenged her..I'm sorry honey but I work in a tequilla bar where I know the notes, ages and even barrels each tequilla is born in..I'm not challenging you to be a jerk...I just want what I want...which is USUALLY why I come there, even recommend it to MY customers.. even though the bartenders' drinks haven't been that consistent...maybe high turnover..not sure. Drinks aside, when I get people talking at my bar about the food we don't offer I push them towards Exchange. Hoping whatever new guy they have back there can really pull it together for them..or maybe it was just an off night. Coconut rum shrimp and gorgonzola and steak (hangar) with warm bacon vinigrette complete hit, on target as usual...but short rib risotto big F. Way tooooo salty..almost not palettable..risotto was soupy. So for now putting my recommendations on pause and hoping they pull it together for a big win because I usually really love this place. Manager comped prior chilled drinks, but I was going in there with mad money to spend and really didn't want that. Just wanted some nice tequilla and great dinner. Apparently they're out of that bottle now anyway..here's to hoping the bartender wasn't shaking it like that to save what she had. :P feel jipped and dumped..hoping things are better next time..
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Review from Andrea F.
Saugus, MA
1/30/2012
First of all, I'd like to say I have been here numerous times, and the wait for food has always been long, but usually worth it....but not this time. My Saturday night was a meal from hell. We walk in 8 minutes late for our reservation's hostess tells us they can only hold our table for 10 minutes...so you would think everything would be ok...but I guess her clock is fast. So she didn't hold our table and said they don't have a table available even if we came on time.. So, she made us wait for 30 minutes. We luckily found a cocktail table in the bar, ordered drinks..but they never came. So we get seated..order food and the wait begins. 45 minutes to get "OK" apps...and then another 30 minutes until dinner arrived. We were a party of 3, and only 2 meals came out.. after another 5 minutes, my friends scollop's come out stone cold raw. We send them back, the manager says she'll take care of it. So at this point we were ok, mistakes happen. But it gets worse......So instead of making a fresh plate, they reheat her original scallops that she cut into. They come back dry as the desert. So the OWNER comes over and is very abrubt/abrasive. He was interrogating my friend and telling her the story of "sushi grade scallops"
We are all in the medical field and we all know YOU CAN NOT EAT RAW SCALLOPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He then proceeded to stare at my friends Ta-Ta's while trying to make her feel like an idiot for sending back her raw scallop's.
Being the out spoken friend that I am, I found myself trying to help her talk to this jack ass and he has the nerve to put his hand up to my face and said "this is between her and I"
And to top it all off, they didn't even take them off the bill. The owner did nothing to rectify the situation. He made things worse.
The waitress brought us over a round on "Her"
Bottom line, if you treat your paying customers like crap...we will not be back no matter what you try to give us. In a tough economy, people are selective when they go out, and I hope this review will make you choose otherwise. -
Review from Larissa A.
Quincy, MA
10/16/2011
As mentioned Exchange Street Bistro is a total hidden gem. I have now been there twice, once for brunch and once for dinner. I DO need to come in and start working my way through the Martini menu. Luckily I work very close by.
I have not had the issues that others have had with the service. The staff has always been super nice and accommodating. Quick and responsive. One tip that I noticed is that if you or anyone in your party orders an appetizer, you MAY want to tell them to not wait on the entrees. They don't like to rush you, which is great. But I did see some bar patrons get antsy about this.
I look forward to many visits to come -
Review from Stacey B.
Saugus, MA
1/28/2012
I love, love, love this place... Great Martini's, Food and atmosphere. The Bartenders Christine and Rob are the best!!!
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Review from Emily P.
Somerville, MA
11/3/2011
Had a wonderful dinner at Exchange Street. It was pretty busy for a Wednesday night, and we loved our waitress Linda.
We started with the pepper encrusted calamari -- to die for. Husband and I like to think of ourselves as calamari experts, and this was top notch.
I was contemplating the cucumber martini but was hesitant about it being made with gin. Linda suggested I try the cucumber martini but with grey goose. I hadn't even mentioned that I was thinking of trying it -- it was like she read my mind! Also had a flirtini which was yum.
I had the lobster mac & cheese which was delish. There were large hunks of buttery lobster which made me tres happy. Husband had the steak frittes with mashed instead of sweet potato fries and he loved it.
The reason it's getting 4 instead of 5 is because the heavenly rolls we were promised didn't show up until we got our entrees and we had to ask for them.
Overall it's a good spot with a city vibe (and free parking!) without having to venture over the Charles. -
Review from Nancy Z.
8/6/2011
For the love of PEPPERONCINI MARTINIS!
Man. I like wine, and I sure as hell like my beer- but hot damn. Their martinis make me want to pop in a whole season of Sex and the City! All of a sudden, I feel an urge to go into chick-overdrive mode when I hold a martini glass. Is that weird? Do most girls feel like that? Anyways... if you enjoy Dirty Martinis, this will absolutely make your night. Actually, all their drinks will, they have an enormously great selection.
It is also one of the best places to meet up with friends. The decor and music is very trendy and the bar and crowd are always lively at night. Malden has come a long way since I grew up here! One of the best dishes I've had there was the livers that's sauteed with onions and other scrumptious and savory ingredients. It's served on sweet, dense pieces of brown bread. I think there's even some cinnamon in it (clever, you). The flavors work together so well. Note that there is also happy hour here, I think from 4-6ish that includes $1 oysters.
The service has been great every time. During Friday and Saturday nights, it gets pretty crowded, so there may be a wait if you come in late. You could always be safe and make a reservation as well.
Two sets of two words:
Pepperoncini Martini
Do it. -
Review from Jennifer R.
Boston, MA
8/11/2011
The problem: The front of the house is doing their kitchen a huge disservice.
We go for dinner. The food is terrific. All of it. Why two stars?
Let's start with a strong chemical odor that hits us as we come through the door and never lets up. Follow that with Nurse Ratched approaching our table. We recoil. We order a bottle of wine. She brings the wrong vintage. We point out the error. The vintage offered is unavailable. (The wine list has never been updated.) We order a different wine. Meanwhile, we get an edgy visit from Schlubby the Manager. He's dressed like he's just come from the gym. "It's all the same juice", he argues.
This is going down in a place decked out to look swanky and advertised to be fab. (The interior is cool...in a cookie-cutter sort of way. Pussy willow branches, the usual mod "teak" dividers, lots of booths, a back-lit bar.)
All the while, GREAT food lands on our table, though we cringe every time Ms. Brassy Breeches delivers it. Otherwise? The martinis are good. Oh, and you can giggle over the misspellings in the menu as you inhale chemicals and are assaulted by the staff.
If I worked in that kitchen, I'd be furious. -
Review from Michelle P.
Saugus, MA
12/5/2011
Ugh. What a bummer! Went this past Friday for drinks with a couple friends. I have been here before once for dinner and drinks and another time for brunch. Both were decent. Last Friday, however, was not.
I decided to try out a new martini. It was disappointing at best. When the waitress came back around an hour later, she commented that I had barely drank anything but never asked if I did not like it or offer to bring something else. To be fair, I would not have expected her to comp my drink as I freely chose it. However, it would have been nice to offer.
We then decided to order a pitcher of sangria. I have had it in the past and was pleased and really, how can you screw it up? Well, they did. The carafe the sangria came in, our glasses, and the sangria itself all smelled and tasted like NAIR! Yes, as in the stuff you use to remove hair from your legs. It was truly disgusting. When we paid with three full glasses of sangria, the waitress failed to ask if anything was wrong.
This brings me to my next point. We only saw the waitress when she took our initial order, dropped off our drinks, and then gave us the check without offering us another round. We opted to order the sangria despite her bringing the check. She then dropped another check off with the sangria. When we finally approached her asking for change, she provided that and then immediately took the check but still failed to ask why we were leaving three full glasses of sangria.
I was very, very disappointed. I will not be back again. -
Review from Marcy M.
Stoneham, MA
7/28/2011
The martinis were good, but service and food was not impressive. Also, there are numerous misspelled words on the menu.
Overall, the food and service was poor and slow. Not worth the amount of money they charge. I'm surprised because the restaurant was featured on Phantom Gourmet and I've heard so many great things, but it was a big disappointment that ended up costing us a lot of money. -
Review from Susan C.
Malden, MA
8/20/2011
Exchange Street is a hidden gem in Malden. The food and service are very good, it's basically a trendy Boston type restaurant in the burbs.
I've tried their brunch and happy hour, and have yet to be disappointed. Do try their stuffed french toast, and do come for the happy hour. The happy hour is a particular good deal as they have $1 tapas style bar bites and $5 beers on draft. I particularly enjoyed their sliders. -
Review from Kathleen H.
Beverly, MA
5/14/2011
I was here for lunch on a Monday. My drink was good- they have an extensive cocktail list - and I thought the food was great.
We started with hummus - some of the best I've ever had. Hummus is one of those things that's gotten kind of de riguer and bland at parties and on nosh platters, and normally I pass. But this was very, very good, and served with a mint pesto.
The house salad was nothing super special, but fresh and tasty.
My Kobe burger was delicious and cooked rare as ordered, and came with perfectly cooked, kosher-salted, totally addictive fries. Is it just me, or are restaurants doing better with fries these days? Quality fries made for gluttonous stuffing. burp.
I really shouldn't have finished them all, because we sat there drinking and eating and also ordered dessert. I ordered the house made ice cream sandwiches. So - they overdo this a bit. They are chocolate chip cookies of average size, filled with a ice cream: Some chocolate, some vanilla. They gave me SIX. SIX, seis, 6. Sigh. I ate one, and licked some of the ice cream out of the other ones.
Being raised as the menopause baby of Depression Era parents, I had pangs of guilt all the way home for wasting those other chocolate chip cookies.
Aside from that, I look forward to coming back again to try the dinner menu. -
Review from Omeed D.
Malden, MA
6/23/2011
Well, this place has slipped dramatically. When I moved to Malden 18 months ago, this was one of the restaurants I was most excited about. A couple of early visits were encouraging. The martini list is extensive - which is the only reason I give it two stars instead of one.
In the last six months, every visit has been a disappointment. The menu has tended towards the mediocre and every meal I've had has been worse than the previous one.
The end came for me today. My fiancee and I were coming back from running errands and decided to check out their happy hour. They advertise an extensive list of cut rate drinks and eats. I wish that were the case.
As the bartender explained the deals, it became apparent that the happy hour was limited to just a couple of selections. There were two (mediocre sounding) martinis available. When I asked about cocktails, the bartender told me the martinis counted as cocktails - and then offered to whip up some sort of grape-flavored nightmare as well. The happy hour wines were limited to a chardonnay and their cheapest red wine (and it's not like their wine list is pricey; 337 is 12.99 a bottle at Kappys). We just left.
The food selection seemed reasonably priced - but, as I mentioned, I've been disappointed in everything I've eaten there for quite some time.
As much as I like to support local businesses, I'm done with this place. If you're looking for good food in the area, I'd recommend my new favorite: Bistro 5 in Medford. Going to write my review for that... right now! -
Review from Katie D.
Medford, MA
10/24/2011
We went for our first time for brunch on Sunday, and it was great! Breakfast burrito, Monte Cristo sandwich, and eggs over easy with sausage and home fries all were huge portions of deliciousness. The interior is swanky and I definitely want to try out dinner there. The four stars can easily be bumped up to 5 after one more visit...
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Review from Joe Y.
Medford, MA
2/27/2011
Jesus Christmas, the Wellington neighborhood is boring! Strip malls and half-assed chain restaurants will give you some bang for your buck, but when all is said and done, the experience feels like you've stood in line at the supermarket. Blase, sir! Blah Say. A brother wants to be in walking distance of good neighborhood eats and the Wellington neighborhood is not that.
So my girlfriend and I decided to venture out to Malden Center for some local culture and cuisine. It's not quite walking distance, but the T can trick a man into thinking the ride was part of his stroll. We invited 2 friends, investigated Yelp for places to go, decided on Exchange Street Bistro and off we went.
Our friends drove and found ample parking in front of the restaurant at 6pm on a Saturday. We almost passed the front door as it looked like part of the exterior wall. "Better to keep away the riff-raff" I thought. Inside, the restaurant was classier than I had imagined, definitely leaning more to the Bistro side of the name than Exchange Street. High ceilings, deep burgundy walls and some friendly hostesses asking if we had reservations greeted us. We were immediately seated in a booth that made us feel totally separate from the rest of the small crowd and our waitress came by momentarily to make us feel at home. She was sweet, knowledgeable and, most importantly, human. There was nary an R to be heard in any word spoken. Toto, I think we are in Malden. Thank God.
We started with drinks. The drinks at Exchange Street Bistro are huge. These bowls that the staff referred to as Martini glasses might hold a quart of liquor. Needless to say, we were big fans right away. My companions chose martinis from the vast drinks menu and I had the Bourbon Manhattan. The Manhattan was standard. I wish I asked for less Vermouth, but then again, I should just start asking for a bowl of chilled Makers Mark with some fruit in it.
The apps were good, but not great. To be honest, I hate Broccoli Rabe, so the Broccoli Rabe Spring Rolls hardly tempted me. Interstingly enough, when it is called rapini in the pork chop main dish, I eat it like its being taken away from me. Go figure. The Korean Barbeque Spare Ribs with their sesame glaze tasted like run of the mill Chinese food to me, but I am not a huge fan of Asian cuisine. I think this paragraph describes more the cost I paid to eat where I wanted to than the actual meal. Exchange Street does not offer psychological help on the menu, but I am sure the friendly wait staff would listen.
The main courses were much better. I had the Frenched Center Cut Pork Chop with roasted Delicata squash, vinegar peppers and sauteed rapini. The pork chop was succulent, tender and juicy in a rather large portion. The few peppers were delicious, but only made me wish there were more on the plate. The squash and rapini were excellent sides, with the rapini offering a hint of garlic and the tender Delicata offering a nice flavor and change of consistency. Mwah! Delish!
My compatriots had no complaints about their meals really. The Ahi Tuna was adequately portioned and disappeared in a matter of moments. The Veal Saltimbocca featured 2 big pieces of veal with cheese over them. It looked good and was boxed up for a highly anticipated breakfast meal. The Eggplant Napoleon was "too cheesy", but very good otherwise.
I will go to Exchange Street Bistro again as the $200 price tag was okay for the amount of food we received. Thanks Exchange Street Bistro for making my awful neighborhood a little more acceptable. -
Review from Inna H.
Boston, MA
3/28/2011
Very nice place. Has a great bar and good martinis. Very pricey though.
For the amount of money you are going to spend here on two drinks you can have three in Boston. Way overpriced for Malden. -
Review from Jeffrey F.
Boston, MA
10/1/2011
Good after work spot, with good food and wine options. Always an interesting crowd in there.
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Review from ladyjane s.
Cambridge, MA
4/19/2011
I came here for brunch this past Sunday and the service was extremely slow. I had to chase down our waitress more than a couple times just to get our check, food wrapped, etc. Also, the food took an extremely long time to come out. The slow pace wouldn't have bothered me but I didn't really want to spend my entire afternoon there, so it got kind of annoying towards the end.
We got the waffle, a sausage corn dog, tomato basil soup and the lobster mac and cheese.
Waffle was terrible. It was thick and pasty and just...not good. The sausage corn dog had runny batter on the inside but the outside was pretty good and very greasy. The soup was fantastic. They cut up a few pieces of yummy grilled cheese and put it right on top. I really wish they just served a whole grilled cheese with it beacuse I totally would order that next time I come! The lobster mac was good but not great when I ate it at the restaurant but for some reason it was AMAZING the next day when I heated it up in the microwave. Not sure why that is but I ate it for 2 separate meals afterwards so I can't complain. They sure do give you a lot.
I don't think I'd come here again for brunch. I think the prices are too high and it just doesn't seem like a brunch place. However, I will come back and try them for dinner. I think the quality is there, just not for breakfast foods. -
Review from N C.
Stoneham, MA
Updated - 12/12/2011
I've been to this place a couple of times after my review and I think it needs a little updating. I would give the place between 2.5-3 stars. I order meat each time I've been there and there's a waitress that gives me grief each time I order steak medium-well, claiming the kitchen doesn't cook meat medium-well. I basically have to insist that that's how I wanted it cooked, period. Second, the food is insanely salty. Wow. I've ordered the steak frittes a couple of times and between the sauce on the steak and the dressing on the arugula, wow, I needed like 6 glasses of water. They need to lighten up on the salt.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/20/2011
I came here for dinner on a Friday night recently- what a nice place buried in the middle of Malden,… Read more »
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Review from whiskey c.
Everett, MA
Updated - 5/14/2011
Elderflower. Check.
Hot Pepper. Check.
Bee's Knees. Check.
Not to mention, the specials. Sea bass. Aaaah. Again please.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/17/2011
I'm proud to say I live in this area now!! When I moved into the Everett/Malden area, I never… Read more »
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Review from Diane H.
3/15/2011
i'm judging this place on the bar soley!
My friend invited me to check out this place for drinks after dinner, I was always kind of like "ehhh" to this place, a wannabe trying to be all classy in the middle of malden square, seriously? It's probably over priced..and no good.
HAPPY HOUR!!!! Tuesday!
My friends were at the bar, so I joined, the bartender is very nice! Sparked up a convo with my friend that I ALMOST THOUGHT THEY KNEW EACH OTHER, haaha. $5 martinis!!! well, a couple of them anyways, i got the stoli doli? mmm delicious! my friend has the elder..something, that tasted strong!!!! my other friend had the malibu sunset, it was good. and my other friend was offered water by the bartender when she said she was driving and will not be drinking...nice touch.
They have tapas for cheap! I will definitely hit this place up when i'm in town, as i sadly do not live here anymore so i can't come whenever.
my friend did come once on a saturday, she said small portions/high prices.
Ambience: Very nice! They had a crowd, the front tables were mostly filled, not sure about the back. -
Review from Sasha B.
3/15/2011
I loved Exchange Street Bistro! The martinis are amazing, they have (easily drinkable) chunks of fruit floating in them! We had the strawberry gimlet, which was fab, and the pear sidecar. I was truly impressed with both, some of the best I've had. Disclaimer, I am an extra pulp in my juice kind of person, so I may be biased.
I ordered the lobster mac, creamy, big chunks of claw meat, grain mustard, I loved it!!
The service was incredibly nice, my water glass was constantly refilled. -
Review from JEM C.
Malden, MA
4/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
I didn't have high expectations and thats about where this place landed at the end of the experience. We went there for brunch on a Sunday at 11am and had no wait--nice plus.
Its in Malden so the interior and ambiance were nice for the area. The menu sounded good but the flavors are were I felt most let down. I had the french toast (and as an avid bruncher) I can tell you these are amongst my least face ever. If Im doing the calories, I want them to be scrumptious...these just weren't :(
The prices were ok, but really I probably wont go back because I love brunch and have MANY better places around for it. -
Review from Meredith K.
Somerville, MA
Updated - 11/22/2010 1 Check-in Here
I'm so sad the old chef left. When we first started to come here - it was SO delicious and the menu seemed to change frequently (which I like). The mussels with julienned veggies and garlic toast was to die for, but alas - it is no more.
We have gone back maybe 3 times since the (original or at least last chef) left and all 3 times it's just been ok - pretty boring forgetttable meals.
The menu has been the exact same (except specials) all 3 times over a 10 month period and nothing really stands out that much. The mac and cheese - meh I can make it better at home. The steak - I've had better at so many places. the braised short ribs - I've had SO much better elsewhere. It just felt like the quality of food went downhill and so did the flavor (it was bland).
I do have to say the drinks are fun and tasty (lots of specialty martinis) and a decent wine list. Also the servers have always been friendly, but occasionally on the slow side to bring dishes/refills.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/1/2009
I'm not really sure how we randomly found this place one night, but I'm pretty happy we did. Good… Read more »
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Review from tavia m.
Jamaica Plain, MA
1/3/2011
I like the Exchange Street Bistro and have had a pleasant experience every time I have come here. The reason they don't get four stars is because sometimes the service isn't at four star level and their food is hit or miss.
I like the atmosphere of the ESB, and it's very large and good for groups. The wait staff is accommodating and helpful, but tends to disappear for long periods of time. The martini list is extensive and I have tried several of them from the list, most recently the Creamsicle, which is great. The Malden Martini is a bit too sweet for me. I also sampled the Pear Side Car recently, which is tasty.
Overall, the quality of the food at the ESB is good, but overpriced. The menu at the Exchange Street Bistro changes seasonally. There are some staples that are always on the menu, like their lobster mac & cheese, which is pretty tasty but somewhat pricey. Also I have had the pork chop, which was very good and the braised short rib, which was ok. A lot of their food is fine, but unmemorable. Recently, I tried the spring rolls, which had an unpleasant aftertaste. Yuck.
Dessert-wise, the ice cream sandwiches are a MUST. You only need one order for a group of four. The portion size is huge.
Whenever someone suggests the ESB, I always say yes and I always have a fine time. I would recommend this location if you're looking for American fare. -
Review from Ploy K.
Concord, MA
2/22/2011
I have been to Exchange Street for brunch twice now, and will likely go again. It is a nice little place of the beaten path in Malden, with city food at neighborhood prices. Both times I have spent under $20 and been fairly pleased with my food.
The first time I went, I had eggs benedict, which I loved. The second time, I had the BLT omelet, which had Boursin cheese, Lobster, and Truffle oil. Sadly, this dish was NOT worth $14. The cheese was overpowering, the lobster was a bit chewy, and the egg was dry dry dry. I didn't even know there was truffle oil in there. If the ingredients had been mixed together better and the eggs not been overcooked, it might have been delicious. It was, however, disappointing.
Despite one bad dish, I do like Exchange Street. The atmosphere is very chic without being pretentious and the staff is very friendly. I arrived 15 minutes before they opened, and while some restaurants might make you wait outside in the freezing cold, those at Exchange Street allowed me to sit quietly at the bar and read. While there wasn't a line at the door, by 11:45am or so, the place had filled up nicely and had a good, friendly vibe.
I will go back to the Bistro and try some of their sweeter brunch options. I would also love to try their lunch or dinner. -
Review from Kelly C.
7/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
For Malden, this is top notch. We stopped in for brunch, and although VERY noisey (2 different bridal showers going on) it was great! The food was really good - I had the Monte Cristo and it and the fries along with it were some of the best I've had. Hubby had the eggs benedict, that came with greens and fruit salad. We also had the fried calamari (we try it everywhere we go) and it wasn't crispy enough for me, but the pepper sauce they put on it was a unique taste that I enjoyed. The portions were large, our waitress was very attentive, and the atmosphere was upscale. We liked it a lot and will definitely be back!
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Review from John B.
Melrose, MA
1/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Best martinis around! The lobster Mac and cheese is awesome. They have daily tapas that is pretty good......
And! The girl I am with right now wants to " try all of these" martinis on their list... (hopefully I am around to see that) -
Review from Traci K.
10/14/2010
I walk by Exchange Street Bistro every day on my way home from the T. It's pretty hopping and the menu looked tasty enough so a friend and I decided to check it out for lunch.
We both got salads, cobb and nicoise. The cobb was OK. It had lots of stuff in it and the dressing was good, but it wasn't anything really phenomenal. My friend enjoyed her nicoise and didn't have any complaints.
The service was decent. The server was polite and quick and readily available.
Atmosphere wise, Exchange Street confuses me. It seems really upscale, but the food isn't upscale. I felt under dressed, but it was lunch. I'm not sure how I feel about it. -
Review from Joanna F.
9/21/2010
I attended a rehearsal dinner here on Friday night. I was really excited to try this restaurant since I had heard so much about it and I wasn't disappointed. We had a table reserved right in the middle of the restaurant and the service was impeccable. The drink list is spectacular. I opted for wine instead of one of their many martinis, but the martinis were reasonably priced and looked good.
The food was amazing. Every morsel I put in my mouth was absolutely delicious. We started with several appetizers including calamari, hummus, grilled pizza and bruschetta. I have nothing bad to say about any of the apps... all of them were spectacular.
Now, I'm not sure if I'm biased since I never order pasta or a lot of meat sauces at restaurants, but I was blown away by the Wild Boar Bolognese. It was rich and absolutely delicious and the portion was gigantic.
Exchange Street Bistro is everything I like in a restaurant... classy without being stuffy, delicious food without the high prices and spectacular service with a sense of humor. I can't wait to come back.Listed in: Five Stars!
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Review from Ellen S.
Melrose, MA
5/22/2011
So disappointing to finally go somewhere we've had on our running "we should check that place out" list and have such a poor experience. What made it even worse was that after watching people around us who were seated AFTER us get their apps and dinner, we were told that ours would be another 10-15 minutes due to a large function there that evening. We mentioned that this was our first time there and the waiter (who really seemed like he could have cared less - as he brought meals to the other tables that had been seated after us) told us that we really should come in during the week when it is less busy...as if somehow the extended wait for food that was "ok" was somehow our fault. I don't care how many different martini's you have on your drinks menu buddy, I won't be back to try any of the others out.
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Review from Aboud Y.
Cambridge, MA
12/30/2010
Nice spot. Lively bar. Too bad the food isn't that great. I tried the burger, steak, duck leg, korean spare ribs, and lobster mac and everything was ok. Not bad...but not that great either. Service was good but a bit pushy (esp. with dessert).
Anyhow...true litmus test: I doubt I'll be back.
2.5 stars...I'll round up to 3. -
Review from Elle S.
Quincy, MA
8/13/2011
My friend and I went here for Malden's Restaurant Week. Neither of us is that familiar with the area, but the restaurant is about a five minute walk from Malden Center on the Orange line.
Our reservation was for 6:30 on a Friday, but there were hardly any diners. Most of the activity seemed to be around the bar.
We were seated in a tall booth that could have easily sat 6 comfortably, or as comfortably as one can sit against a completely flat backed seat.
I ordered the toasted ravioli, baked stuffed lobster, and lemon sorbet. The toasted ravioli and sorbet were just okay; it is hard to mess those up. The lobster was almost all breading and there was no detecabke seafood in the stuffing as the menu indicated. The lobster claws and zucchini logs were ice cold.
My friend ordered the coconut shrimp, Thai bouillabaisse, and chocolate mousse cake. She liked the shrimp and cake, but said the mussels were overcooked and rubbery.
One thing we both noticed was how quickly our courses came. Given that and how cold our food was, I think the food was precooked, refrigerated, and reheated.
There were two things that I did like about this restaurant however: the bright, clean restrooms and our server, Felisha. She was incredibly nice and attentive without being overbearing.
I will not be returning and do not recommend this restaurant. -
Review from Lucy M.
Malden, MA
6/12/2011
We have been to Exchange st many times for dinner, a couple times for lunch and brunch as well. I enjoy it every time. I have had spectacular food there and food that was just ok. The antipasto plate is probably the best I have ever had, and the cocktails and bar deals at happy hour are great. We had a spectacular brunch recently and it was probably the best meal there so far. I had the steak and portobello benedict and my bo had the Monte Cristo. We each only ate half of our meals, leftovers yay! My bene was only $14 and came with a nice piece of filet. I always feel like I get a good deal for what I am paying there. Its not what you would call cheap, but a good value. We go there atleast once a month as we live in Malden and its so wonderful to have a great restaurant so close.
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Review from Bill Y.
Somerville, MA
8/28/2010
I'm incredibly torn as to what to rate the Exchange Street Bistro. It's a nice-looking place with excellent decor and very good food that severely lacked in service during our recent visit.
My girlfriend and I had never been there, so we decided to give it a shot Friday night. After being seated in a large booth, we waited for 10 minutes before anyone acknowledged us; it was someone bringing us rolls but not greeting us. After 15 minutes, a manager apologized and a waitress was over to take our order. But we seriously considered leaving at this point. The manager, however, did comp our drinks, which was something they didn't have to do but was very nice.
I ordered the $25 prix fixe dinner, consisting of caesar salad, a t-bone steak (ordered medium rare) and the lemon sorbet, while my girlfriend had the scallops. We split an appetizer of the calamari.
While we had to wait about 15 minutes for appetizers after this -- not sure how frying calamari or putting together a simple caesar salad takes this long -- but it wasn't an overly long wait. The big problem happened when my "medium rare" steak showed up. It was cooked between medium well and well-done, and frankly, it was nearly impossible to cut. Although I can't remember ever sending a steak back, I asked the waitress to return it, letting her know it was not medium rare. She questioned me and suggested this was a medium rare steak before I told her it was unacceptable and asked her to return it. For someone in the service industry to question a customer is completely unacceptable -- her job is to make a patron's night, not argue with the guest over the cook times of meat.
When the medium-rare steak did come out, however, it was delicious. The calamari from earlier was as well. My girlfriend only received 4 scallops, however; for a $22 entree, I'd expect more. This seemed like a portion size that was exceedingly small. But they were very tasty.
But our waitress' extreme lack of hospitality made the meal a downer. It continued on to when my girlfriend, after reviewing the dessert menu, asked for the lemon sorbet, which comes with the prix fixe meal, but isn't listed on the dessert menu. The waitress, rather than agreeing, hemmed and hawed, saying she didn't really think that was possible. I let my girlfriend take my sorbet, and ordered the lava cake -- which was really the best part of the entire evening -- but the fact that a $2 scoop of sorbet would cause such an issue with the server is ridiculous.
And while bringing the bill, wouldn't you know it? Our waitress tacked that *free* round of drinks right back onto our bill, even though the manager let us know -- with her there -- that it should be comped. Really disappointing when you deliver bad service and don't follow through on promises. The charges were removed on bringing it to the restaurant's attention.
Bottom line is that the food at Exchange Street Bistro is excellent and while the scallops entree is rather small, other portions are good. The prix fixe meal is a good bargain. But we'll never return because of our waitress' horrible attitude and her lack of attention. One person who fouled up a meal from beginning to end really ruined our experience, and while the manager did give out a free round and was extremely apologetic, it wasn't enough to salvage the awful night we had here.
