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Categories: Nightlife, American (Traditional)
Neighborhood: Back BayArlington (Green)
Back Bay (Orange)
Boylston (Green, Silver)
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2 words: quail tacos. Fig-stuffed Vermont quail with black truffle risotto, pumpkin salsa & pomegranate jus, to be exact. Have I ever even had quail? No. Do I even really like most Mexican food to begin with? Not really. Did I think these were possibly the best tacos (or even just dinner period) I have ever eaten? Absolutely.
Holy wow these were amazing, unexpectedly so. I ordered them because the rest of the ingredients were right up my alley and I figured eh, quail probably just tastes like chicken anyways so I may as well just be adventurous and go for it. Wrong- quail (in this version) is farrr superior to chicken. I can't tell if I actually like quail now, or if it was just amazing in this specific dish, but I am telling you GO AND ORDER THEM. Or any of the other crazy combos on the menu now (wild boar or pheasant perhaps?). All for only $12, and you get three big soft tacos; what have you got to lose?
I've been to the Rattlesnake just for drinks multiple times both at night and right after work, and it's a decent place to go. I do like the roof deck in summer, and the music's not bad, top 40 stuff. Our waitress last night was really on top of things, and they created a small dance floor towards the end of the night, which was fun. I do enjoy their pitchers of either beer or mixed drinks, but the crowd can sometimes be full of popped collars and ya dudes, so be wary.
5 stars just for the tacos, 3.5 for Rattlesnake itself.
Oh Chef Brian Poe - where have you been all my life?
I know, the rattlesnake - the place you went when you were 21 and got bombed. It's changed people. I promise. The food is SO FANTASTIC now with the addition of Chef Poe to the menu. Seriously - wild boar tacos? Hello! Tasty time! (try the grilled corn bread also - oh the deliciousness!)
Please give the rattlesnake a second chance. I promise you'll love it.
Sausage 'Fest.
Once a douche bar, always a douche bar
Breakfast at a bar.
One okay dish - Duck tacos. Now the menu reads this: molasses & coca cola marinated duck breast, cranberry, rosemary risotto, truffle cranberry glaze, foie gras truffle butter. How can you not drool just by reading that? The thing that made it just okay was the overt sweetness of it all. It was just too sugary and had little balance. I was quickly overwhelmed. But seriously A+ for presentation. They used taco shells I've never seen before - one continuous piece with two grooves that hold all the goodies. So when you're ready to eat the first one, you just break it off.
One amazing dish - Bloody Mary eggs benedict, whiskey bacon, and chile verde corn bread. They really know how to woo people with their innovative combinations of food. When I tell people about this dish, I get either a really positive or a really negative response. Ultimately, it was delicious. I was amazed at all the flavors going on and I didn't feel overwhelmed by any of it. It is heavy though and I suggest sharing, for your life's sake.
Because both dishes were pretty heavy, I'll save this place for a special occasion brunch.
Most of the time I would rather die than go to a bar/restaurant in this area. I get my fill of popped collars and Aqua di Gio working amongst the masses downtown so I don't need to surround myself with it after hours.
Cut to me coming to the Rattlesnake once a week for nearly two months this summer. Now, this wasn't of my doing it was pre-arranged for my run club but I am glad it was. I'll start with the good.
The food.
Who would have known? I often complain that the Mexican food in this area leaves much to be desired so imagine my surprise when I find non traditional fare that is both delicious and arrives in a decent portion. "Fancy-Mex makes me roll my eyes and if you bring me a plate with squiggles of sauce you might get punched in the face but they've managed to up the ante and remain hearty. Well done there.
Everything I've had here has been absolutely delicious. The chips and salsa alone are worth a sample and the tequila cream cheese...oh man. My favorite items however happen to be the fish tacos and the grilled corn bread. My god the cornbread. I can't possibly explain in words how freaking good the cornbread is you just have to try it. If you get nothing else there get the cornbread.
Now...the bad.
The service is good when it's good and wretched when it's bad. We had one waitress that forgot our water order for nearly 40 minutes after we had asked several times. Most of our requests were answered with "Uh..." and she was defensive when we had to re-explain our orders upon receipt of the wrong items. However, there are great servers here that always bring their A game remember and deliver large orders and manage to do so with a smile and friendly chatter so not all is lost. It's just a crap shoot what you're going to end up with.
If you're in the area and have a rumble in your belly head on in for the corn bread. It's worth the trip for sure.
The Lady and I went on a Friday evening before a show at the Comedy Connection. I was excited to check it out ever since tasting the tuna tartar at their booth during the Yelp event. I must have gone back to that station three more times.
When I got there, the waitress said they didn't have that item anymore.
In fact, several of the items I saw on-line on the menu were not available. Apparently the web updaters did not change the menus as frequently as the chefs. There were two or three items that I had checked out on the web site that morning that were no longer featured.
It was loud in there, even for sitting all the way against the window - the noise from the bar carried towards us. I understand it was after work on a Friday and the baseball playoffs were going on, but there were many other tables in the back that were not being used that might have been a more suitable place to sit.
That being said, the fish tacos were very good. Nice crisp pieces of fish, a decent but not overpowering spice and the tortillas were cooked a little to make it just crunchy enough to hold the weight of everything inside it. She suggested a home made "choco-taco" which was so delicious I finished the whole thing despite already being full. It was a chocolate dipped waffle "shell" with mixed berries and marshmallows. If you're in the mood to satisfy your sweet tooth, it's a good choice.
Point off for service. Although our waitress was very helpful with ordering, she made our tired booties wait a good 20 minutes for waters despite the fact that we very clearly ordered them and said "we're so thirsty!"
+10 Points for pure awesome. The waitress told my "Oh I'm from California and have high standards for Mexican" to order the fish tacos. YUM. This is definitely Shi-Shi, trendy "Southwestern" food and NOT hole-in-the-wall Mexican --- but those are some DAMN GOOD tacos. There might have been a mandolin-ed green onion and pear/apple in that taco, but it was so good I didn't ask questions.
The Nachos are also very unusual but worth ordering. We ordered them piled high with a very sauce-y shredded steak, a creamy white cheese sauce, and some other exotic fixings. I would have been happy with the everyday nachos, but these were quite fabulous. I would have appreciated a bit more in terms of tomatoes and leafy greens, but.... homemade tortilla chips.....
The Wang ordered a Jalapeno Clam Chowder and Jalapeno-fried Chicken. The chowder was more like a confused stew with some fried clams on the top. The chicken was actually a sandwich (it's in the sandwich section...) and over-fried (IS THAT POSSIBLE? -- it ruins the allure of deep-frying). Major NO. I wish we'd asked the waitress for her opinion on these two before ordering.
Overall, we're pleased. Just please remember that the nachos and tacos are enough for two people as long as you decide who gets to eat the third taco beforehand. (I might even choose this over Parish...)
I cast my vote for Rattlesnake as 2009's Most Improved Restaurant in Boston.
I used to detest Rattlesnake. Refuse to go. Tia's and Rattlesnake were the two places in Boston that even if Matt Cassel were there (HEART him), I wouldn't go. Now, it's not uncommon for me to have cravings for their deliciousness at least twice a week! OK, actually, every day.
Brian Poe has done a phenomenal job turning from what used to be pretty terrible bar food into the finest and most refined Southwestern cuisine I have ever had in my entire life. While their menu includes non-traditional and traditional "sounding" Southwestern cuisine, everything is upscale and has a little flair of Poe. You're not getting greasy nachos, overly-dressed tacos, and food that's going to weigh you down the rest of the day. The proportion of ingredients is perfect, allowing all flavors to come through perfectly. Everything is prepared with care with the highest quality ingredients. I had no idea Southwestern food like this existed.
What do I suggest? Everything. Well, kidding... if I've tried everything on the menu, though, I probably wouldn't be kidding. However, my favorites include: Nacho Mama's (great for sharing), Jalapeno Clam Chowder (thin broth dressed with actual fried clams!), Azteca Taco Salad (not served in a greasy gross taco shell, which I appreciate), and their Tuna sandwich- which unfortunately, is not off the menu, but the chef can work his magic in the back and make it if you request it! Cocktail list has improved as well, and I'm looking forward to their pumpkin infused spirits.
Chef Poe's skill is undeniable and I only wish the service was just as good as the talent coming out of the kitchen.
I would've given this place probably 4 stars because the drinks were pretty quality but had to give it ONE because the bartender was probably the rudest girl I've ever dealt with. I have a long, often mispronounced last name so when I asked for her to ring me up at the end of the night, it being very loud in there, I told her my last name then spelled out the first few letters to try and make it easier. This happened 3 times and then she decided to use her brain and realize my last name isn't the 4 letters I gave, it's the NAME I GAVE HER THREE TIMES. So then after complaining that it's "really busy" she decides to start lecturing me on the situation. Thanks sweetie. Just ring up the bill and let me get the F out of here. I don't need to be lectured by you for your own mistake.
Then of course I look at my bank account online a day after and she charged me twice. Perfect.
Atmosphere: 8
Drinks: 8.5
Service: -20
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UPDATE: I was contacted by the executive chef at the Rattlesnake with an apology for the inconvenience and the double charge was fixed. I'm impressed with the level of concern they took and have upped my rating to 4 stars. Thank you Brian and I'll be sure to come back in and give the Rattlesnake another try!
Not sure if you've heard, but there's been some changes at The Rattlesnake. Positive, delicious changes that have lifted this long-standing establishment, notorious for crummy bar nosh and service that wasn't far behind, into a category where you'd actually consider coming here...for the food.
Not long ago, Brian Poe took over the kitchen and has since made an effort to turn soggy quesadillas and boring nachos into crispy fish tacos, tuna tartar with wasabi sorbet and the infamous avocado with lobster! I've been back a few times since my original visit and it's like eating at an entirely different restaurant. The menu as retained it's tex-mex inspired stylings, but has been polished to a culinary shine previously unthinkable for The Rattlesnake. Poe-haps the new chef has something to do with this.
Have the 'yeah-dudes' migrated elsewhere? Unfortunately not. Have the after-work suits suddenly become more interesting? Not a chance. Has the service become more reliable? Slightly. Your best bet is at the bar for top-notch attention, but the theory here is that with remarkably better food, the service and crowd will slowly-but-surely shift upwards too. And the roofdeck? Take it for a spin with a caiparinha in hand before the weather gets too cold!
An impressive selection of brews plus unimpressive service combined with less than stellar food… Read more »
Wow! I was impressed with how much this food has changed. Went here last night for a meal after reading how Brian Poe had updated the food. When I went a few years ago, I just remember eating not so good food. So not so good that I stayed away for a couple years.
Last night I ordered the chips and salsa. The chips were fresh and homemade and I loved the flavored cream cheese. Then my boyfriend and I got the jalapeno fried chicken sandwich to split. YUM! It was very lightly fried, not greasy, and I think it was the juiciest piece of chicken I've ever had on a sandwich. It had a great mayo on it and whatever salsa they put on it as well.
Immediately after eating, I said we had to come back to try more of the new food. And I will definitely be back!
4 stars simply because I enjoyed their roofdeck. Even though it was cold outside it was just less stuffy and nicer to sit and have a drink with friends especially after a terrible experience at another recently opened venue.
The place is pretty big and is on two levels. I haven't had the food, but the drinks are decent and are fairly priced. The music is quite simply bar music with the occasional popular house thrown in.
But most of all, I enjoyed upstairs on their roofdeck. Granted it's squashed between tall buildings and doesn't have a view. But it's just the chance of coming up to have a breather in the fresh (albeit cold) air and that made such a difference. A great way to end a night.
And I certainly wouldn't mind coming back to here to start it either.
five star roof deck and atmosphere, food interesting, yet underseasoned, thus the four stars.
This place is awesome. I used to live in Boston and have had Chef Poe's food before, so when I went back up for a visit I wanted to try Chef Poe's newest project. I only had apps, but the menu looked fantastic. I had the grilled cornbread and the avocado with lobster. Both were great. Really eclectic menu, but very solid choices, not snooty. I will go back for dinner. My bartender, Megan, was awesome. Really nice girl, great service. Fun atmosphere, hip but not pretentious. They have roof top deck with a bar which is really cool. If you haven't been here, put it you list. A "must eat."
The Rattlesnake Bar on Boylston Street is not a newcomer to the Back Bay neighborhood. It's been around since 1990, but it received a well-executed face lift over the summer. The food is also looking good, and better yet, it tastes good, too.
The Rattlesnake became more than just a bar in February with the addition of Poe's Kitchen, the brainchild of Chef Brian Poe, who brings a menu of predominantly Mexican-inspired recipes. With the addition of Poe's impressive ability to create imaginative and fantastic meals to enjoy, the Rattlesnake transforms into a place for hitting a night on the town, as well as for delightful food.
The bar's attendees can be found catching the night's sports game on one of the many large TV screens mounted on the back wall. The décor upholds a smooth and trendy theme of soft black, red, and blue coming from the small tiles lining the walls. The walls feature artwork that reflects the Mexican-style food.
The Rattlesnake Bar and Poe's Kitchen do a commendable job of blending two different scenes into a single downtown hotspot. A trendy bar and late-night destination featuring fun events and attractions such as Latin Nights and DJs also houses a restaurant home to an innovative chef offering dynamic meals. All of the entrees are $15 or less, and cocktails like the Signature Rattlesnake Sangria and Watermelon Margarita are only $7, making the Rattlesnake affordable for a fun night out with friends followed by a satisfying brunch the next morning.
An enthralling and original appetizer featured on Poe's menu is the Infamous Avocado, $12. In a nice presentation, half of a pitted avocado is grilled and cooled, then lobster with black pepper-lavender crème fraiche is placed in the available pocket. Drizzled in San Joaquin avocado oil, this dish starts the meal off on the right foot, bringing the surprisingly agreeable flavors of lobster and avocado together in a single, wonderful bite.
Other appetizers on the menu include homemade Lime-Zested Chips, $7, with fresh salsa and tequila cream cheese, Chipotle Wings, $9, with smoked jalapeños and scallion-poblano-blue cheese dipping sauce, and a small selection of spicy soups and salads.
The Chicken Quesadilla, $11, is a delicious take on what could be a very simple dish. Serrano chile-beer can chicken provides fantastic flavor that is only made better with the addition of spicy Hatch green chiles and sweet Montezuma mango salsa. Other entrees Poe offers include traditional burritos, tacos and sandwiches with an extra spicy kick. The Mexican Meatball Sub, $13, consists of spicy albondigas with pepperjack and cilantro-chipotle juice on a toasted baguette - an interesting combination.
The dessert menu promotes several inventive ideas that play out to be wonderful finales. In particular, the S'mores-Style Ice Cream Sandwich, $6, touches on all of our childhood indulgences while sticking with the restaurant's classy atmosphere. Needless to say, there are two graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows. But here the simple camping treat becomes a well-presented delight with strawberry ice cream resting between the two crackers. And the chocolate and marshmallow are not where you would expect. Instead, the chocolate is drizzled over the entire dish, and mini-marshmallows are sprinkled over that. This dessert ought to be a favorite to anyone with even the slightest sweet tooth.
A small but satiating brunch menu is available on Sundays. Poe's Signature Omelette, $10, is packed with fresh vegetables and fabulous flavors. Crimini mushrooms, truffles, and oven-roasted tomatoes, along with chopped asparagus and minced basil sitting in plenty of fontina cheese create a superb omelet with notable and agreeable flavors. Served with a side of complementary home fries, this omelet is even more enticing with a dash of Cholula hot sauce that sits at every table. Other brunch items available include eggs benedict, $9, with a kick of jalapeno hollandaise and Surf 'n' Turf, $15, a grilled hangar steak with fresh crab meat served with a side of eggs.
This review is solely for their weekend brunch. In reality based on just my meal it would be 5 stars but the service was slow but still friendly and the mimosa and caphirana we ordered were just ok but the real treat was Bloody Mary Eggs Benedict With Bourbon Bacon which was off the charts. While the combination doesn't sounds all that great you're going to have to trust me on this. Instead of an english muffin they use a corn tamale, and the bourbon infused bacon is just crazy. You have to try it!
I didn't get to fully experience The Rattlesnake Bar in all its glory as it was too early for dinner when we stepped in here in search of some kind of happy hour. (FYI - I lived in Boston, but I was never informed that "drink specials" are basically illegal in the state of Massachusetts.) Happy Hour it was not. But become it did gradually...
We sampled several of the special margaritas and the red wine sangria. The sangria was fairly organic, basically no fillers - very little if no carbonated beverage as an additive, just wine and fruit (fruit filtered out). The margaritas were kind of knock-outs when it came to flavor AND impact. Two margaritas was uh, more than plenty. We had one with blue curacao, the chocolate margarita (which, as described by the waiter, tasted like a chocolate orange. Very interesting.), the apple cinnamon margarita and... and another that's just lost in the banks of my memory. As I said - two whole margaritas was plenty.
We had some fresh chips and salsas to accompany our private happy hour. GREAT chips, hot and freshly fried. The red salsa was good and fresh, the tomatillo-mint salsa a little on the minty side, and the tequila cream cheese dips was something I could have made at home.
I would totally try The Rattlesnake for a full meal, as the menu and dessert selection looked surprisingly enticing. Rattlesnake cakes were an appetizer option. The desserts looked unorthodox and totally indulgent.
The only downside, other than margaritas being $10+ (which in Boston is expected) was the staff seemed a little clueless. These were definitely young ladies with jobs, not necessarily epicureans with jobs that excite them. I asked several questions about the house made mix for the strawberry margarita, the cinnamon-sugar rim on the apple margarita. The waitress didn't have the answers, and when she returned from the kitchen where she had to take my questions, her answers were still a little vague. Eh, what can you do.
I'm not in college and don't live in Boston anymore, but I'm glad that my visit back included The Rattlesnake.
I came here with some friends on a Thursday during those precious after work hours that are usually known as happy hour. We went to try the rooftop bar, but it was very crowded and way too hot since it was about 90 degrees outside. So we went back downstairs to find a cooler spot. The cooling system in the bar was lacking (it felt like fans more than air conditioning), so we sat by the open window to at least get the breeze and try to minimize the stuffiness.
I was very happy with the food, but not so impressed with the drinks. We got a pitcher of white sangria, which was basically just white wine watered down with ice, and some fruit was at the bottom of the glass. A lot of people had the red sangria so maybe we just picked the wrong color.
For dinner we shared nachos, which was a nice portion of tortilla chips topped with cheese, shredded chicken, veggies, and spices. The flavor was different than the usual nachos you get other places, and I mean different in a very good way! We also got the grilled green chile cornbread which was really good with bits of corn and a little sweetness to it.
The prices for drinks are reasonable, ranging around $7-10 for cocktails. But even though the food is good, don't come here expecting to find some cheap food to nosh on because even the cheapest appetizer is $7 (besides the $6 soups) and the sandwiches/burgers are about $11-12.
I went on a scavenger hunt and I was reminded of my skills or rather what skills I'm lacking. I am not a riddle expert. As my team, assembled mostly of pairs of strangers, repeatedly went to the wrong spot to find our next clue, half us gave in. One of the couples, my roomie and myself said "screw it let's go eat and drink".
We headed to the roof deck because even though we had been running all over Boston, we haven't forgiven mother nature for the monsoon season in New England. It was a gorgeous day, and we couldn't resist soaking up every ounce of sunlight. A heard of people left as we climbed the stairs, which was in our favor. We seated ourselves at a table, and ordered sangria and a cucumber martini. Nothing says "I quit" quite like a relaxing drink and food. I had the Mexican Monte Cristo sandwich. It was pretty much equal parts of turkey, creamy avocado and melted cheeses.
It's the summer afternoons like this one remind me why I moved to Boston and didn't leave. I can say with certainty, I will be back at Rattlesnake Bar and Grill perhaps on the next sunny day.
I went to Rattlesnake last night with some friends, with hopes of roof deck merriment. Unfortunately, the rain put the kabash on that. So we stayed downstairs.
A friend and I got there earlier for dinner and the friendly, helpful host (who we did have to stand around for 5+ minutes waiting for), gladly let us sort of pick out our own area and commandeer some other tables for our large group. Our waitress was quick & friendly, but once the rest of our group came, she was almost MIA and constantly forgetting checks, drinks, etc. So, not great service for a large group.
Drink-wise, my friend went with the special Watermelon Margarita (on the rocks), which she kept insisting had real watermelon in it. I went with the Blue Wave, which I think had Curacao in it? It was a fun blue, so sweet and tasty!
My friend and I decided to share a salad, as neither of us was that hungry, and we went with the Azteca Taco Salad: Smoked chicken (I don't think it said smoked on the menu, but it certainly was!), Oaxaca cheese, butter-roasted corn (again, didn't say butter-roasted on the menu), refried beans (we went without these), avocado, tomatoes, scallions, Spanish onion, two lettuces & agua fresca vinaigrette.
The real menu listed sun-dried tomato tortilla, which I think was the 2 tortilla chips it came with (it also came with a HOT salsa). I was actually glad it didn't come in a deep-fried shell, as those are just too darn resistable. And the croutons? AMAZING!! So soft and chewy and with great flavor!
We did tell the waitress we were splitting it, so it would have been nice if it came already split, but she did bring 2 plates. It was just a somewhat hard meal to split, as the items weren't mixed in - they were placed in piles around the salad. However, this was FABULOUS and I would totally get it again and did recommend it that evening to friends.
Unfortunately, the place is just SOO loud. We got there early, when it was not too crowded, and ould barely hear each other. Turn down the music, get more attentive servers, and it's a winner.
We ate this past weekend on the rooftop bar of the Rattlesnake. While the rooftop is cool, and the music was decent, the food is decidedly blah with the exception of the avocado lobster thing. It's half an avocado stuffed with a bit of lobster and some balsamic glaze. Tasty. And the red sangria pretty much messed me up, which is always fun. But beyond these features, I can't recommend the rest of the menu.
The chicken tortilla soup was less chicken and broth and very much a syrupy chili that probably came straight out of a big bag or bucket. Not good, but since I was starved, I gulped it down. The soup at Acapulco's in Newton and at the Cactus Club is so so much better.
My date had a meatball sub which he disliked, but ate because it was simply edible and he was hungry.
I may be back for some sangria if the opportunity presents itself but beyond that, nope.
It's a sunny Saturday afternoon and I am walking around the city with 8 strangers. We are on a scavenger hunt and we are not doing well. We are fatigued, hungry and almost bored when my roommate and another couple decide to call it a day and head to the roof deck at Rattlesnake. There was no riddle to decipher or hesitation. We were on a mission to drink and suddenly there we were.
Scavenger hunts are not so fun when you are really only going to meet new people.
So there I was at a table with my roommate and the couple and all of my favorite songs are being played. I ordered the Mexican Monte Cristo which was gooey, flavorful and big enough to split and still leave satisfied. I accompanied it with 2 glasses of sangria and concluded that on this day of searching I had found exactly what I was looking for.
The boy and I came out here for a free tequila and contortionist show last night. We didn't manage to get in, as there was a long long line, and ended up getting a few drinks and watching the Sox game.
We had delicious tanqueray gin and tonics for $6 each, which isn't bad, considering that the bartender was generous with the gin, and it was served in a full pint sized glass.
We also got nachos mama to snack on. I am not a huge fan of your regular greasy nachos covered in gooey cheese that leaves a pile of oil at the bottom. But I really enjoyed Rattlesnake Bar's take on nachos - it was made with homemade tortilla chips, used fresh goat cheese chunks, generous portions of shredded steak, and lots of fresh lettuce, beans and tomatoes. It tasted more like a delicious, guilt-free taco salad.
Our waitress was very friendly and kept checking on us frequently to make sure that our booze and water glasses were filled. I can definitely see myself coming back here on weekday nights to catch up with friends over yummy drinks and trying out more snack foods. Decent find!
Yeah, this place sucks. The food is not good. It's like bad quesadillas and sh1t you would get in a college cafeteria.
The roofdeck has no view, and is always crowded.
Service - not good.
Why 2 stars instead of 1? I guess I'm feeling nice today.
Wu-Tang! Wu-Tang!
Oh, how this place has improved! The service was incredible, and the food was something you can't find anyplace else! The nachos were laced with spicy sensations and topped with cheesey chicken lovliness. As if the food wasn't good enough, the head chef actually came out and conversed with us about the food... thanking us for stopping in, and talking to us about the changes that have been happening at Rattlesnake.
Previously, I've experienced really horrible service on the roof deck, so perhaps the difference is dining inside, downstairs.
I wouldn't brag about this "roof top" bar. If you want a view of windows neighboring buildings, and… Read more »
I really want to like this place, because it's literally 50 paces from my place of employment. Booze + close proximity to cube = happiness, yes?
The Rattlesnake -- much live a real, live Rattlesnake -- seems cool from afar, but upon closer inspection is kinda scary / lame. First of all -- why make the waitstaff dress like prostitiutes? I get that the clientle here is mostly suits and tourists . . . but surely they could walk their asses a few more blocks to Centerfolds for the booty shots, yes? The waitresses don't seem very happy about their lot in life, either. The few times I've been here the service has been really slow or totally scattered -- one girl takes your order, some other girl throws down your drinks. I'm guessing they probably take turns going on break to smoke and cry. I actually feel kinda bad . . . free the Rattlesnake Girls!
The place has earned 2 stars, though. 1 is for the roof deck -- when you can actually get a seat up there, it's pretty cool to dine up on the roof. Star #2 is for the most amazing cornbread I've ever had in my life. Seriously -- its worth it to go for the cornbread -- all buttery and grilled and delicious . . . clearly not good for you, but oh so good!
Oh, Rattlesnake. I don't know what it is about you, but I just can't get into you. I want too. I've tried too, but everytime I go to you, I just want to be going somewhere else.
Your drinks are decent. Your food - well I don't know how your food is because I've never eaten there except for your chips and salsa last week. Except these weren't just chips, they were basically oil and chips because they were the most greasy drenched chips I've had. It was almost after they were deep fried they were then brushed with more oil. I don't know - maybe they were really fresh and I'm just in denial about other chips. Any way.
The roof deck is ok - crowded, but usually if you wait a few minutes a table opens up. One thing that totally sucks - people can smoke up there. Even my smoker friends don't appreciate that. Rattlesnake - PLEASE get rid of this. It will keep me from going back - it's absolutely disgusting. I am spoiled by the no smoking thing here in Boston and I like being able to head home without my clothes and hair reeking of cigarette smoke.
One other thing - the service was horrendous. I won't mention our servers name for fear that perhaps she was just having a bad day, but we sat at our table a solid 10 minutes before anyone came over, and then she came back 5 minutes later and was like "...so.. you wanted a margarita right?" um yeah. We did.
All in all, if it's a nice day and you want a simple cocktail, head up to rattlesnake, but if you're looking for good atmosphere and good service, probably better to head elsewhere.
I went to Rattlesnake for the first time this week for after work drinks. My friends and I arrived at 5:30 and wanted to go up on the roof deck because it was a beautiful day. There was a medium sized line for the roof but the door guy told us it would be about a 20 minute wait so we went for it. It was roughly about 15/20 minutes like he said and in the meantime a waiter came over to us in line and asked if we needed a drink while we waited which I thought was cool. I took in the atmosphere while we waited in line and the bar downstairs looked pretty good. Big screen TV's so you can watch the ball game and plenty of space and tables.
Once we got upstairs to the roof we found a table and set up shop for a while. They managed the flow of people up to the roof really well so it never got over crowded up there (I can't speak for what it's like on a Saturday night, however). If you're looking for a view this isn't the roof deck for you. It's mostly the sides of brick buildings but honestly I didn't care and I doubt you will either as long as the sun is shining.
My biggest complaint was the service. We waited 5 to 10 minutes before our waitress came over to take our drink order. When she finally did it took a while for the first round of drinks to make its way up to us. Having said that, I've had much worse service and we were all having a fun time so it didn't bother me as much.
I didn't get a chance to try out the food but from what I saw it at least looked good. I'll definitely go back here for future happy hours. Check if out if you're a young professional looking for a new place to throw a couple back after work.
A roof deck makes this place a must on hot days, but that's pretty much all it has going for it. The food is pretty awful. We got an order of tortilla chips with three salsas. I figured this is kind of hard for any place to botch, not to mention a TexMex joint. Unfortunately, they did. The salsa fresca was really bland and unseasoned, the minted tomatillo salsa tasted like dishwater and soap, and the tequila cream cheese, while good, just doesn't belong.
One thing this place had that was pretty nice were their bucket specials of beer. However, I went there earlier this week and they didn't have them anymore. Too bad; the food's gone down hill, and now the drinks are slipping, too. Ownership should really take notice.
This place is annoying and not as cool as it thinks it is. Drink prices are decent, esp. given the neighborhood, but the sangria was a store-bought bottle mix garnished with the wrong fruit (lemon and lime as opposed to apples, oranges, grapes, etc).
The food was pretty terrible-- we got some sorry-ass nachos with barely any cheese and the chips were stale. The chipotle wings and calamari were equally disappointing -- small portions and pretty tasteless. The one decent item we ordered off the menu was the cornbread -- that was delicious, buttery with chunks of corn and jalapenos inside.
The roof deck is gorgeous, though it's hard to get the waitress's attention if you're not near the bar and you might have to wait since it gets to capacity quickly and a line forms downstairs. But if you can wait, it's beautiful up there.
I was here with at least 8 people a little while ago when a friend came in from out of town. She had called to reserve 3 booths, but with the threat of snow, not everyone showed up. They did give away one of our booths without really asking (after awhile), but it wasn't a big deal considering we still had a whole other booth and we had all settled into one by the end of the night.
The food was okay. We ordered a slew of unmemorable appetizers. I do recall dipping some chips into an awesome cheese from another dish, but that's about it. I thought the waitress did a fantastic job of handling all of our requests in a timely fashion. And when a person from our group was really not enjoying her drink, she gave her a few options of things she could do (adding something to the drink, offering another type of drink, etc) without giving her grief. This of course should be an "of course" but sometimes doesn't really happen at Boston bars, so I thought I'd take note. The waitress even offered to take a group shot of us when she realized we were struggling a bit. It turned into a total prom shot with multiple cameras. No worries, she was on it.
I'm not the type to wait in lines or head into the center of a meat market, so I probably wouldn't hang out here on weekend nights (when I've seen this place packed), but I'd definitely stop back in for a drink on a weeknight or to hang out on their rooftop (weather pending of course).
Hmmm... I feel like there must be something wrong with me for enjoying this place as much as I did in light of the recent reviews. It's probably important to note that I was thoroughly blazed-y-face upon arrival and departure, although I don't think this should harm my credibility. Deliciousness is deliciousness.
The sandwich I ordered (the Monte Cristo, or something with a similar name) was amazing. I haven't had such a deliciously unhealthy sandwich in some time. I was pretty pumped about life while I shoved it into my mouth, and I definitely intend on returning and ordering it again.
The service was great, and the roof deck was a good time. Highly recommended.
We came here for brunch after there was too long of a wait at our first choice. I've been here to get my drink on, but never my brunch on.
Not exactly crowded, we got to pick the table of our choice. Our waiter was quite nice, and came out to tell us that the soup we had ordered was not up to the chef's standards. I got the nachos, he got the pork tacos. Food was so-so. Not bad, not great...just a-ok.
The rooftop bar/deck and its delicious white sangria took advantage of my friend and I one summer afternoon. And I loved every minute of it.
The food is not that good but the drinks are great and I love the outside deck! Go out to dinner before you come here for drinks.
Despite reading all the Yelps, we still decided to grab dinner and drinks here before a Red Sox game, and man, everything that has been mentioned was experienced.
The Roof Deck was open, but it was cold and it looked like it would rain any second so we got a table inside.
The beer selection is one of the only reasons I gave a second star. The menu SOUNDS really good, but is quite mediocre. The service is some of the slowest I have ever had in Boston.
Our party of 4 agreed to meet here, so my wife and I got there first and grabbed beers at the bar while waiting. When our friends showed up we got a table and the waitress came over and took our friends drink order. Their order was 1 Murphy's (in a can) and 1 Flying Dog IPA (bottle). Their beer took just under 10 minutes to get there. All that needed to be done was grab these from the fridge. There was no slow pouring involved (ie Guinness).
Food we ordered:
Chips and Salsa - the other reason I gave a second star. There were 3 salsas, one green, one red and a cheesy one, very nice
Mexican Monte Cristo - Mediocre, a bit spicy but nothing amazing. Some of the fries were actually undercooked and disgusting.
Duck Tacos - my friend actually enjoyed these, he said they were pretty good and tasty
2 orders of Fish Tacos - both reports indicate that this was bland and almost tasteless
One of my friends didn't order another beer because the service was so slow. It's safe to say that we would never go back here.
My sister and i stumbled in here, completely throwing in the towel on xmas shopping after a whole hour and a half. Bitter cold, biting wind, and persisting snow (as well as my ill-advised decision to rely on chuck taylors to repel the slush for longer than 45 seconds) meant that it just wasn't the day to be trolling for gift ideas.
So it was time to start drinking. And really, it was time to find the nearest bar possible to warm up with a cold beer. In this case, it was the Rattlesnake. I'd been here a few times before, and once during the brief interlude where it was known as something else. It's not bad. It has a great location and a well-known roof-deck. When neither of those other things are relevant, it tends not to be too crowded.
At any rate, they have a decent selection of beers, and the food ranges from okay to really quite tasty. They had an appetizer special which involved popcorn and bacon which didn't really live up to the potential (come on, it had bacon!). The spicy grilled chicken wrap i had was pretty darn tasty, though, and the french fries are also yummy.
Someday i'll have to try the roof deck, but even absent that obvious draw, it's a totally okay place to eat and drink.
This place pretty much annoys me anytime I get dragged there. There really isn't anything good about it besides the roofdeck and it's ruined by the fact that if it's not pouring rain outside it is beyond crowded. Now, I know how to navigate through a packed bar but this is ridiculous. The bartender (or bartenderS...but that is rare despite the fact that it is so darn busy that they need multiple staff) is usually really freakin' slow...almost on purpose slow. The beer is not cheap, the food is not good and the crowd is usually pretty lame. They have a roof, though, they have a roof...
The ONLY reason to visit Rattlesnake is for the roofdeck. The issue here, though, is that as soon… Read more »
I don't know why people have such a problem with this place. The only thing i have a problem with is the fact that their "roof" deck features nothing more than a view of the walls of other buildings that actually surround you. Being able to see the sky is nice, but you can often see that from a sidewalk so I feel like it's a tiny bit over-rated.
Other than that, i've been there twice for lunch and dinner and I found myself enjoying my selections both times... granted, they were sandwiches, but as a sandwich-lover I would say that they were definitely above average. Also... my gin and tonic was served in a large glass and made pretty liberally. The service was also perfectly acceptable (except for one time on the roof deck)
so...
food? tasty
drinks? STRONG
Service? decent
roofdeck? makes this place better than places with out any sort of roofdeck.
On my trip to Boston in September I visited this bar with my cousins. We sat on the rooftop bar which was awesome. We only came for a beer and chips, so for that this place was a great place to hangout.
I'm willing to check it out on my next visit to Boston for the food. If you are in the area, I would recommend checking it out.
Neighborhood: Back Bay
Category: Lounges
Neighborhood: Back Bay
Category: Bars
Neighborhood: Back Bay
Category: Bars
Neighborhood: Back Bay
Category: Nightlife
Neighborhood: North End
Category: Restaurants
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