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Scarlet Oak Tavern
Category: Restaurants American (New) American (New) [Edit]
1217 Main StHingham, MA 02043
(781) 749-8200
- Hours:
Mon-Wed, Sun 11:30 am - 9 pm
Thu-Fri 11:30 am - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
77 reviews for Scarlet Oak Tavern
Review Highlights
"I got the chicken pot pie--seriously the best I've ever..."
(in 5 reviews)
"The goat cheese was, well, goat cheese."
(in 6 reviews)
"We substituted the rosemary truffle fries for the potato."
(in 4 reviews)
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77 reviews in English
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Review from P. S.
San Diego, CA
12/31/2011
This is what Sun Tavern deludes itself to be.
I was here last month for a casual dinner with a relative who has lived in the area (South Shore) for 50 years. We both agreed, it was one of the best meals to be had in a 30 mile radius. (Boston is 31 miles)
I started with a pear salad that was bright and colorful in the mouth. Then I had a filet with risotto (which I don't even see on the online menu now) while my companion had a marinated steak served with mac&cheese that sent her over the edge. The risotto was probably the highlight and I forget exactly what, but we even had a dessert, which is a fine indicator that we didn't want the taste sensations to end.
I see pumpkin ravioli on the menu now - I'm going tonight!*
The room is classic club like, the bar inviting, and the waitron competent and cheery.
*UPDATED - New Years Eve, early dinner, just walked in to find a booth in the tavern. It was kinda loud and had sports on the tv, but hey, I didn't have a reservation for the dining room! My same companion and another hanger-on just pleased to have found a spot at all, and not big drinkers, we looked over the special menus for the night and dished the bitch that was 2011.
Companion #1 had the chicken dish from the entree menu, with some chorizo corn side and spinach, which she liked very much. "This is one of the best meals I've had in years" were her exact words. Companion #2 had the smoked sirloin, which she also raved about. I had the lamb from the prix fix menu, starting with "Angels on Horseback - Grilled Island Creek (i.e., my adopted 'hood - Duxbury) oysters wrapped in smoked bacon." Angelic indeed, and I rarely eat bacon and never eat oysters. The lamb was juicy and plentiful with a nice gratin.
We all had dessert but only mine really made my meal a deal at $61.
(The waitron lost a full 5% or more for not asking the chef if we could get the pumpkin ravioli, not on the special menu tonight. She answered for the kitchen; No. BAAAHH! Wrong Answer! Also, I had to ask for each coffee refill.)
UPDATE again. We went back for lunch on the holiday (this year being Monday the 2nd of Jan due to the 1st being on a Sunday. Got that? No? Don't fret your pretty little head, you have 7 years to figure it out before it happens again.)
I had lobster pizza, leftovers of which I'm enjoying as I type this. It might even be better than the first time. Other guests had the burger which was eaten all up, another the chicken sandwich, reported to be yummy, and the other only had chowdah which she raved about.
The prices weren't bad for lunch if you, like me, don't think a 10$ burger is too much in a nice place.
It took a little while and I had to get the host to hustle it for us. The waitron asked if I wanted refills on my coffee.
Yes, thank you. Keep all those 5 stars. -
Review from Debra L.
1/9/2012
I have never had anything bad from here. I have even had some really amazing things from here. The best things about the Scarlet Oak Tavern:
- The space. It's enormous and incredibly diverse. You can have a quiet dinner in the dining room or a private event upstairs (I have done neither) or you can sit at a table in the Tavern by the cozy fireplace (love) or you can eat right at the bar (my favorite).
- The tuna tartare appetizer. Spicy, fresh, light, delicious.
- The tuna Nicoise salad, which was only available on the tavern menu for lunch (though on a quiet Sunday night in the tavern they did make it for me once). Sadly, I think this item may no longer be on the menu at all, which shocks me since it's probably the best thing I've eaten here.
- The Scarlet salad - it's just a basic salad of mixed greens with cranberries and crispy shallots on top. It's the shallots that make this salad stand out.
- The frites in the "steak frites". Yeah, they're just french fries but they're super thin and crispy and have a hint of truffle oil on them. Delicious.
- All of their salads (Baby Spinach and Honey Roasted Pear, to name a few) are pretty great, as are the Shellfish platters. I realize it may not be that hard to serve decent chilled seafood or a salad, but it does take something special to make them memorable, in my opinion.
The not as great things about the Scarlet Oak Tavern:
- Service is hit or miss. Waitstaff in the tavern often have attitude but I have found the bartenders to be incredibly kind, attentive and helpful.
- The mussels themselves are cooked wonderfully and they're pretty good. However, they're cooked in/served over a creamy sauce that's a bit one-dimensional ( I borrowed that term from listening to the judges on cooking shows, but now I think I actually understand what they mean). All you really taste is the cream with a hint of Tasso ham, but there's no acidity. I prefer my mussels to be cooked with some white wine or something similar. So basically, I like the flavors the Scarlet Oak use but I think they could work on the sauce a bit.
- The steaks are good. They're just not phenomenal. Quality cuts of meat, cooked well, but not exactly memorable. You'll never leave here thinking you had a bad steak but you probably won't dream about having the steak again, if you know what I mean.
- The crab dip is too rich. It tastes like there is a lot of cream cheese in it which overpowers the dip and you can't really taste the crab.
- The flatbread pizzas are ok, but I'm spoiled by Café Tosca and now I won't order this anywhere else.
So, while some things stand out for me and others are just ok, I'm a definite fan of the Scarlet Oak Tavern. -
Review from Max L.
Weymouth, MA
12/10/2011
Had been a while since the Missus and myself headed out to some fine dining and decided on the Scarlet. Great evening (12/10/2011). Our server was Bailie, She is GREAT!! Very attentive, her timing was great, never a time where we were wondering where had she gone.
We had salads to start, and my Wife enjoyed her ceasar salad, I went for the honey roasted pears salad that was Fantastic (had goat cheese, arugula, pickled red onions, and toasted hazelnuts), what a hook-up of sweet and sour, it worked!
Then my wife just ordered an appetizer (lobstar tail), and from the steak add-ons some scallops, I had a NY Strip steak 12 oz., medium and were VERY happy. Steak was well seasoned and done, juicy.
For dessert it was the creme brulee, and I had the bread pudding. Can you say FULL & HAPPY?? Man, it had been too long since coming here. The ambiance was great, and the place was packed. Yet the service was on the money, the team works well here, they really have their service together. I am allergic to shellfish, and the manager stopped by to tell me that everything would be fine, not to worry. Heck, Bailie came by before bringing my pudding over because she had forgotten to tell them about my allergy, so she refused the first pudding for me! Thanks for looking out Bailie!! Keep up the fine work S.O.T. -
Review from sue d.
Boston, MA
2/7/2012
Love the Scarlet Oak Tavern! Easy American/Bistro fare. Had a steak on NYE that was excellent and steakhouse caliber. I love a nice dark, farmhouse, wood accented environment and this has it. I've only sat at the bar and the bar service was excellent and professional by one of the bartenders and disinterested and jaded by another. When I ask if you have a particular vodka, you can say "no" if you don't instead of shaking your head without any offer of an alternative. But that's one time and the Tavern should not be shunned because of one employee. They are putting out a great product and the prices are reasonable. 18-22 for the average entree. The wine list is better than average but there are many familiar bottles on the list.
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Review from Ryan C.
Hanford, CA
1/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place gets a solid five stars for ambiance and cuisine combined. My wife and I went here for New Years Eve and it was a really nice dinner. The restaurant was very busy, as expected, and they had a prix fix menu, as expected. The food was expertly prepared with a solid wine list. The restaurant itself is in an old, New England home and it's beautiful. It has a really classy bar, if that suits your tastes.
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Review from Carrie K.
Scituate, MA
1/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
GG cosmo was a cloudy bubble gum color - kind of freaked me out. Too much triple sec? Rough tasting, didn't finish. Filet medium was simple & incredible. Baked potato a bit dry. Food star tonight? Jonah crab cocktail. Clean, a touch spicy. Marvelous. Service was impeccable esp w/ my allergies. A+. Bathroom freezing - just FYI.
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Review from Christine C.
Norwell, MA
11/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
Scarlet Oak Tavern is outstanding in all areas- ambiance, food and service. The restaurant itself is gorgeous. It is tastefully decorated, and the lighting is warm. It's romantic, but not so much so that you can't have a platonic or a family dinner here. It's very warm and homey.
Our server made great suggestions and knew the menu well. She also stopped by just enough to make sure we had everything that we needed, without being intrusive.
The food was just terrific. I had the spinach, goat cheese and strawberry salad with balsamic vinegar. Yum. I also had the meatloaf which was delicious. My friend had the salmon which she loved, and the pear salad that she also said was wonderful.
We didn't have room for dessert, maybe next time. -
Review from Michael P.
Marshfield, MA
12/7/2011
We had our firehouse district 9 Christmas dinner here upstairs in the North Creek room and bar area which holds 70. We had a 3 course dinner selection with choices I had Pumpkin Ravioli-braised escarole, chili roasted pecans, maple mascarpone for appetizer it was amazing then the 6oz petite filet prepared perfectly med rare followed by Warm Vermont Maple Bread Pudding-vanilla ice cream that just finished off my meal perfectly
The service was outstanding and the atmosphere for the holiday season was incredible alot of couples traveled a good distance and stated it was well worth it
overall it was a great night thanks to Alex our Banquet Manager and Kenny the GM and their staff -
Review from Michael V.
Humarock, MA
1/29/2012
My wife and I visited The Scarlet Oak Tavern at the suggestion of my wife's hairdresser. We need to thank her. It is a very nice place and fit our tastes perfectly. Everything my wife and I had was very enjoyable. My "Cowboy" bone-in ribeye that was cooked and spiced perfectly (for me). My wife had the cedar planked Salmon which was also fabulous. The sides were good enough to make a meal of by themselves. Our server, Ashley S. was also personable and attentive and one of the best we have met in the area. She had a good understanding of the menu and offered some very tasty suggestions. We will go back again.
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Review from Tyler R.
8/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
We went here without a reservation early on a Thursday night. It was nice out, so we chose to sit outside - but not before I got a glance at the interior of the classically updated 19th century homestead. It was upscale yet casual, classy yet comforting -- all mixed together into a big pot of awesome.
Beverages:
One word. (well, 3.) Allagash. White. Maine. Probably one of the best beers i've ever had, it is reminiscent of a belgian white (think blue moon) with more of a focus on hops/spices to finish. It is damn delicious and they were not in short supply. A+.
Foodeats:
The bread basket contains some of the best cornbread i've ever had - and they aren't shy about replenishing it. Make sure you save room for the food.
Besides that, we consumed the calamari appetizer, a burger, the cedar plank salmon, and oven roasted chicken, accompanied by a side of maple carrots.
The food was amazing - I recommend ordering everything I listed, but be aware that the maple glazed carrots are [quite] mapley. Seriously, they are sweet. I got through about 1/4 of them before it got a bit overwhelming.
If I lived in the area I would most certainly become a regular. The waitstaff was attentive, but certainly didn't rush us. We wanted to go somewhere where we could have drinks to start, meander on to apps, and eventually order dinner. We did just that - and for not rushing us or becoming frustrated when we didn't order dinner until more or less an hour after we got there - our waiter was tipped accordingly. -
Review from H L.
Duxbury, MA
8/23/2011
Enjoyed a nice Sunday evening dinner here recently. The last time I was in this place, it was still Blackfin. Family friendly as many parties had young children. There is a specific kids' menu too. The restaurant has the typical casual elegance feel -- modern with classic touches. Our server was very friendly and attentive, but it wasn't very busy in the bar/tavern (where we opted to sit) so it is tough to accurately judge after only one visit.
The menu is pretty simple actually, covering mostly popular items (i.e., steak, chicken, pizza). Nothing overly creative but the food was very good. They serve some of the most delicious truffle fries with their Hanger Steak Frites in the tavern. Matchstick cut potatoes with just enough truffle oil to give them that incredible and unique taste. (Miel in the Intercontinental Boston serves similar fries!)
The Scarlet Oak does remind me of Burton's Grill (at Derby Street Shoppes), and in many ways they are similar. Don't get me wrong -- I like the food at Burton's but the ambiance differs greatly from Scarlet Oak. You probably won't find the snooty and pretentious host/hostess at the front door "greeting" you at Scarlet Oak, but you may find them at Burton's. -
Review from Amy R.
Waltham, MA
8/8/2011
I am a former regular of the Scarlet Oak Tavern. I have nothing but accolades for this restaurant. There isn't anything on the menu that I've never been able to gobble up completely.
I actually returned to Scarlet Oak on Friday night for my father's birthday. I made a reservation on Open Table, something I usually do. I have my confirmations over email... great. The Oak takes it one step further and calls to confirm my reservation the night before. I think that's really great and courteous, on top of already receiving confirmations online.
My go to drink is always the Red Sangria. It's amazing. It's made fresh, not in one of those hoses that spew out pre-made Sangria. Plus, the fruit added to the bottom of the glass is super fresh - always!
Friday night - we started off with an always go-too app of their Blue Crab dip. Delicious. We also had the crab cakes and their special of the evening, baked stuffed clams. They were tasty, but nothing compares to that crab dip!
Since I experienced crab/seafood overload for apps, my boyfriend and I ordered steak tips for ourselves and my father ordered the 6oz. filet mignon. The meat just melted in your mouth, perfection!
For dessert, my father got a complimentary bread pudding (we got to select a dessert of his choice, which I find aces). The boy and I split the special dessert of the night - peach cobbler. Yummmm.
The only downside to our meal was that my father's meat was undercooked the first time around. However, he still found it super delicious and our waiter took care of this when it came down to the tab at the end of our meal.
Keep it up Oak! -
Review from Richard C.
Boston, MA
7/20/2011
I've explored the depths of non-city burgers once or twice, most recently here. I'm a city boy, more or less, but I have no qualms about traveling all over this state, region, or country for great eats, never mind a great burger. Hingham isn't exactly the farthest destination, but far enough for the SBK and I to enjoy a little car ride while I swear at traffic all the while. Scarlet Oak Tavern was the destination, and I'm happy to report it was worth the trip. I opted for the Gus Burger (cheddar cheese, smoked bacon and a fried egg) for a mere $12. Arriving hot, juicy, and with a dominating char aroma, it was satisfying and worthy of the price tag. Not without flaws, but if you've read anything on this website before, that shouldn't surprise you.
The beef on the Scarlet Oak Tavern burger is enjoyable; it's not flashy, complicated or unique, but it fits the bill. Cooked with just a hint of pink, it's your standard Chuck burger, and sometimes that's all a burger needs. They aren't trying to reinvent the (burger) wheel here, and quite frankly, they don't have to. The bacon plays its part, although I would have enjoyed a little more snap and a little less chew. The fried egg bursts with creaminess upon the first interaction, and that yellow yolk truly is a spectacle when done right. The bun works well, a soft but firm offering that is similar to a Kaiser Roll, it's a good selection if not a tad large for the burger itself. We like the fries too, eerily reminiscent of the Beehive fries, they are cut irregluarly, with a half-fry, half-chip quality. Salty enough, they are crunchy and a good counterpart to the accompanying sandwich.
Although not a complete one-of-a-kind experience, and a fairly typical burger in many regards, the Scarlet Oak Tavern at least hits all the right notes. The burger is cooked properly, and if this burger were any closer to the city, it'd probably cost a few dollars more. For $12 you feel like you're getting away with something, maybe not unique enough for a two-hour round trip jaunt to Hingham, but delicious nonetheless. -
Review from Allan F.
Abington, MA
1/16/2012
I have been here many times and even had a work event there. Seconding many of the reviews the bar is huge, the service at the bar is good, the ambiance is terrific (love the patio in the Summer time) but the food is very underwhelming. Do have some good appetizers (personal favorite is the brisket sliders). We usually have a few drinks and an appetizer here and then go to Bella's or Square Cafe for dinner after.
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Review from ika m.
Allston, MA
11/26/2011
Okay, here's the deal; I hate to drink water. This place deserves 3 stars because it made me drink lotsss of water.
I can't say I was too impressed with anything else about this restaurant. We arrived at a pretty late hour, 9PM, and it took the wait staff half an hour to bring the bread basket. The butter was extremely underwhelming, straight out of the supermarket aisle - weekly special - kind of stuff. I usually judge my meal based on the butter and this dining experience was already off to a bad start.
I ordered their house special, 6oz fillet mignon w/ lobster in hollandaise sauce asparagus, mash taters = very normal fare. The food came quick enough but the mash taters was really thin and I couldn't taste any taters! I must have been starving by 9:30PM so anything remotely decent should have tasted good, but these mashed taters tasted bad. Bad even when a salad would have tasted like a four star meal.
And then to the meat...oh the meat. Or was it a grilled hunk of seasalt. My mouth can't remember...
Well needless to say I've been drinking water ever since. I even ordered a creme brulee after the meal in hopes of being less thirsty :( ... granted that was very eggy (I like my creme brulee that way) and it was tasty but after eating the hunk of seasalt, I wasn't in the mood to fully enjoy my dessert. I'll drive a bit further and head down to Barker Tavern next time I'm craving my steak and lobster! -
Review from daniel m.
Hingham, MA
7/21/2011
This review is long in coming. We've been to the Scarlet Oak on many occasions and have never been disappointed. The scene is 18th Century tavern meets hip hang out restaurant. From the heavy stone fireplace to the low, people-were-short-two-hundred-years-ago ceilings to the knowledgeable, black clad bartenders and sometimes lively lounge, the place is a wonderful amalgam.
We've been for the a la carte brunch, a celebration dinner, snacks and a date or two. Every time has been an enjoyable experience. The food is upscale, well-conceived and reasonably priced (for upscale). There is a concerted attempt at using local and small producers. For foodies in the area, think Fat Cat meets Capital Grill. In a good way.
Our last visit, my wife and I sat at the bar, enjoyed a cocktail and sampled the goat cheese appetizer. Complete hit. The goat cheese was, well, goat cheese. It's baked, covered in a delightful fresh pico de gallo- like topping and served with light crispy tortilla strips. This simple thing was so good that we stayed to split a steak for dinner.
A note on au poive, there are a million different ways to do it. I've had great versions, but my favorite so far is Scarlett Oak's. It's classic. New York strip coated in pungent black peppercorns, seared to medium rare then topped with cream, demi-infused pan sauce. Really: to die for.
We substituted the rosemary truffle fries for the potato. Truffle? Fries? How could you go wrong. You can't. They're perfect. Get them. In fact just go to the bar order a drink and the fries. You're good to... um, stay?
Try it. -
Review from Elizabeth W.
Quincy, MA
6/2/2011
My husband and I have been to Scarlet Oak Tavern twice now, and it's been great every time. On the most recent visit I had the best, nicely cooked meal that I'd had in months and we left totally satisfied. Delicious steak, chicken, potatoes, mac-n-cheese and asparagus. The little bread basket with fresh cornbread at the beginning of the meal is a nice touch too. Our server was such a nice guy and paid attention to all details.
I was disappointed wih the Scarlet Sangria -- it tasted like Sprite with a couple splashes of red wine. No real booze flavors in there at all, so don't waste your $$ if you want more punch in your punch. -
Review from Nick B.
Norwell, MA
Updated - 5/22/2011
Scarlet Oak is consistent, but unfortunately it is always underwhelming.
The atmosphere and services is good, but the food is just mediocre. The prices aren't worth the quality of food being offered. For instance, I had a rib eye with mac and cheese and steak fries. The steak was good, but the two sides were awful. I think they need to focus on developing a few great dishes.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/4/2010
I recently went here for my birthday. I have eaten here several times, but never been the bar.
I… Read more »
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Review from Jillian P.
Braintree, MA
8/1/2011 Seated via OpenTable
We walked in for our 7:00 reservation Friday night to a CRAZY busy restaurant and bar and our server noted happily, "And it's the off season!" I was glad to have the reservation, as we were seated right away.
The ambiance here is really great. It feels sort of upscale Vermont-y, by which I mean it's classy but still cozy. Sort of loud, but intimate.
We had a bottle of white wine and the tuna tartare appetizer to start. The tuna was delish, with little specsof ginger in it, which really amped up the flavor. Plus, it was served with homemade potato chips on top... perfectly salted. Yum.
My husband went with the steak frites and I had the potato crusted haddock (my server said it's their most popular dish). First of all. Make sure someone at your table orders the steak frites so you can steal some of their truffle fries. I'm talking, I might consider ordering them even though I'm not into red meat. Just for the fries. (I just checked to make sure they aren't offered as a side, but alas...)
My haddock was really good. The fish itself was perfect. It was served in a sweet corn and bacon "soup", essentially a sauce served under instead of over. I was skeptical of the bacon part, but it worked. I'd order it again and recommend it. We ordered creme brulee for dessert and it wasn't properly set, so we returned it and they took it off the check, no prob.
I'm seriously counting down to some cool November weather so I can order a bottle of dry red wine and meatloaf for some solid comfort food. Finally a great place on the South Shore that's easy to get to, moderately priced, and competitive with the city. We'll be back! -
Review from Linda T.
Quincy, MA
9/26/2011
First off, two things about me... I'm a busy, busy mom that really doesn't have time to review restaurants unless the establishment REALLY deserves it - be it good or bad. This leads me to number two: when my husband and I only get a night out a month from our kids, I WANT PERFECTION - I refuse to waste a night out for a mediocre dinner.
Scarlet Oak hits the nail on the head for us. From the ambiance to the appetizers (garlic shrimp is my fav) straight on to to AMAZING dinners (My husband claims that their steak is the best on the South Shore - beating Alma Nove's easily). The seafood is caught locally and without a question as fresh as can be. The fantastic wine list would impress anyone.
The General Manager, Ken, makes us feel so welcome every time we visit, be it with our 1 and 3 year old on an early evening or on a busy Saturday night when we are out enjoying ourselves. In my opinion, he really sets the standard high for other GM's at restaurants in the area. We've never felt so welcome at any other restaurant on a continual basis.
Thank you so much Scarlet Oak for giving a picky girl like me a sure bet for a perfect dining experience, every time! -
Review from liz M.
Hingham, MA
1/23/2012
Although the building is beautiful and the setting grand, my experience at the scarlet oak tavern was just well, sort of sad. I went with my boyfriend for brunch on Sunday and our meal and are service was just not great. I ordered a bloody mary which was neither interesting or well garnished- just celery and a lemon slice in a mild tomato base. Boyfriend's grapefruit based cocktail was better, but expensive at almost eleven dollars. He had the lobster benedict and I had the crab cake benedict. The eggs were PERFECT. Seriously, I need their cooks to teach me to poach an egg like that! Sadly, that's all I have to say about the dish. My crab cakes were overly lemony, and it almost felt like they were left over from the previous nights dinner service. Home fries were seasoned well but otherwise boring. His lobster was freezing cold, straight from the fridge, and made the dish feel like a collection of ingredients and not a cohesive dish. Our server came over exactly three times, once for a drink order, once more to deliver the drinks, and again to drop the check. I was excited to find an upscale brunch place in my town, but I'm sorry scarlet oak, it's just not going to work out. I'll eat at Stars on the other side of town instead.
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Review from Greg j.
Boston, MA
7/2/2011
First off I'd like to say this place isn't just a cougar haven like it was told to me whenever I mention this place to people. But it was a nice place that's works well if you do wanna have a nice night out. and it had amazing food.
The place was kind of crowded very common on a friday night.
I ended up sitting at the bar with the gf and getting some crab and cheese dip it was very good with big chuncks of crab in it and I followed it up with the one of the best ideas that I've seen on a bar menu which was the lobster bake pizza . It was fantastic it had big chunks of lobster and potato and corn it was a great mix and a must have for anyone who is a lobster fiend like my grandma Audrey . -
Review from Evan W.
Weymouth, MA
12/11/2011
I went with my family for Thanksgiving and everything was really good. Zero complaints on the food, service, and atmosphere. I've been a few times before, and have never had a bad experience. The Scarlet Oak Tavern is a good choice.
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Review from Renee B.
Bedford, MA
9/24/2011
I enjoyed it and would definitely return. The crab tip was a tip in four square and all though I would have liked a little more crab (they all need more crab) the crab that was in there was nice and meaty. Delicious. I have been playing with the idea of getting a lobster roll all summer but ironically bartenders often talk me out of it with their meh talk. This time the bartender unequivically recommended it - and he was RIGHT. Full of lobster (not mayo) and very flavorful. Good choice. He got the tuna steak with spicy avocado and it was great. Seared perfectly nice piece of tuna and the spicy avocado added without being overwhelming. The home made fries were good as well as the homemade chips. The first batch of homemade chips were soggy but the bartender was awesome and got me a fresh batch. Seemed like a nice place and we would probably be regulars if we lived near by.
They are open on Saturday even though Yelp does not list hours. -
Review from Richard B.
Hingham, MA
7/4/2011
Late Saturday lunch & Sam Adams @ Scarlet
Oak Tavern. The twin lobster roll were
Delicious full of fresh sweet lobster meat, and accompanied by
In house made potato chips. A competitive value for $17.00.
Service at the bar was quick and pleasant. We will
Most certainly be making a return visit for the lobster rolls. -
Review from Jonathan M.
Boston, MA
4/20/2011
I debated between giving this place three or four stars. For entrees, the food is a solid 3. Good, but not worthy of the high prices for many entrees. However, appetizers are a four, particularly the pizza cooked to order in a brick oven. The friendly staff and cozy atmosphere keep me coming back for more.
My main problem is the consistency with entrees/sides. On a recent visit, the meatloaf was good, but mashed potatoes teetered between baby food mush for some bites to huge lumps of potatoes in other bites. My friend's chicken pot pie was good, but needed more flavor (a hint of salt and pepper greatly improved the dish). My boyfriend's flank steak was dry and chewy, I've had better quality steak at Applebee's.
The expansive bar area is my number one attraction to this place. Especially with the fireplace roaring, it's one of my favorite places to be on a winter weekend evening. -
Review from David Y.
Weymouth, MA
11/14/2011
My wife and I go here twice a year, for each of our birthdays. We really should try and go more because it's always impeccable. The low-lit ambiance is very relaxing and the building has a great historic vibe to it. The service is always outstanding, with just the right balance of attention and space. And the food is absolutely delicious, no matter what we order. Recently I had the swordfish with Romesco sauce and grilled veggies with fingerling potatoes. I nearly ate the place itself it was so succulent. They also practice "Farm To Fork", which means most if not all of the produce and protein comes from local farms. The drinks are always spot on as well, I got a couple of Old Fashioned cocktails the last time and they were perfectly muddled and really well balanced. Can't say enough good things about the place, although I do have a couple of minor gripes. One is the unfortunate proximity of the bar to the dining area, which carries the raucous noise level right to what should be the more quiet area of the restaurant. The other is the inexplicable presence of kids. Who brings their kids to a fine dining place like this, especially when they're usually running around and being loud? It can sometimes make it feel like the 99. I kinda wish The Scarlet Oak adopted that no kids policy that Pennsylvanian restaurant recently in the news has. But ah well, minor gripes. Good food and fine drink, definitely give it a shot on date night.
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Review from Gwen S.
Cambridge, MA
6/5/2011
Scarlet Oak is actually a very good place to eat. The menu will satisfy anyone's taste. Entrees range from moderate priced home meals to the usual upscale dinners. Normally, they're pretty decent. The sirloins could be better, but they're okay. This is really a great location for drinks and meals inside the bar.
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Review from Heather S.
Boston, MA
2/22/2011
The best meal I have had in a very long time.
We went for Valentine's Day, were an hour late for our reservation and were still accommodated with (what I could tell was) the best seat in the house. I had the duck with this amazing fig and goat cheese torte, and my fiance had a steak. For desert we had fruit dipped in Mexican cocoa. I'm telling you - I have not had a meal this good in a years. Not in NY or Boston.
This is going to be our go-to place from now on. FANTASTIC! -
Review from Michelle S.
Braintree, MA
8/24/2011
Had dinner with friends here recently and enjoyed myself. we arrived for a 5pm reservation and the staff was very friendly.
This was on a Saturday and within about 15-20 minutes, the place filled up pretty quickly so you should make a reservation for the weekend.
We had the chipotle fries app, which was on the spicier side than I expected but very good and nice and sweet. For my entree I ordered some steak sides: 1 lobster tail and 2 grilled shrimp, with a mussels app.
The mussels were well prepared but not as flavorful as I would have preferred. The shrimp was great and the lobster tail was nice BUT I had to send the first one back as it was overboiled and very tough. The waitress was super nice about it and resolved it right away. She also took the order off the bill as well.
A friend ordered fish, I do forget which kind, but it was good and his veggie sides were good as well. My husband ordered a special burger that comes with a fried egg on it, the yolk runny and unbroken. It was messy but tasty according to him.
We all had the s'mores dessert and were well pleased with it :)
Lastly, we don't drink so I can't comment on the liquor/wine but the overall atmosphere and the look of the restaurant are very pleasant and you will enjoy a more quiet dinner as they do not blast obnoxious music that must be shouted over.
The only reason why I gave a 3 star rating is that the food is moderately tasty, not as flavorful as I would prefer and the menu is not very diverse. I feel with a tight menu the dishes would be more memorable.
Still, a nice place for a pleasant evening meal with a couple friends or family. -
Review from Laura K.
Scituate, MA
9/9/2011
My friend and I had dinner here. What a wonderful experience! It is officially one of my favorite restaurants on the South Shore. Cozy, intimate, beautiful decor, attention to detail noted throughout the restaurant from food, service, to decor. I had a watermelon salad and the chicken pot pie. AMAZING!! We finished out meal splitting the carrot cake- out of this world. The menu is excellent and everything we had was fresh. I can't wait to go back. You feel like you are in a beautiful, cozy, victorian, home that has been redone into a restaurant. You can sit in different areas that have different types of atmosphere: dining room, small room by the fire, bar area, as well as a variety of different spaces. IThey did a great job managing sound by their decor/layout so it doesn't get loud.
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Review from victoria l.
Whitman, MA
10/5/2010
Great service! My favorite appetizer is the braised beef it is soooo tender and flavorful! I am a sucker for Caesar salad and they have a great one! My husband loves the chicken pot pie and the meatloaf claiming it is the best he's had (and he is picky!) "even their simple less expensive meals seem like they should be a lot of money"- hubby
Its really nice for birthdays or a romantic night.
We went here for mothers day and they certainly have the best eggs benedict! Try going to brunch here on sunday if you get a chance! It's pricey and worth it!
White Sangria= YUMMMMM -
Review from Ken M.
Weymouth, MA
11/9/2010
Atmosphere- Excellent. Warm, inviting. Plenty of Parking, no noise seeping into the dining room from the bar. Decor was nice as well. Not too loud or quiet. Quite nice.
Service- Prompt, attentive and never awkward or rushed. Aces.
Food- Not so great unfortunately. So-So at best. This was really disappointing as we read some amazing reviews about the place here on yelp and while there were things like the service and atmosphere that were great, the food really misses the mark.
The Scarlet Oak Tavern bills itself as a fine dining restaurant that specializes in upscale comfort food. I figured this was a great idea, and if executed perfectly would be amazing, and a great thing for the South Shore! It is also very hard to find a place that makes their steaks "Au Poivre"...meaning it is served with a crusted layer of peppercorns.
The appetizer we shared was rather good, a Fresh Mozzarella Risotto. Although the rice was a bit overcooked, the mix was very flavorful and creative.
For Dinner, we each ordered Steaks Au Poivre. I had the Sirloin, and She had the Filet Mignon. Her steak was decent, mine was tough and under seasoned, with the only flavor coming from the peppercorn. The sides were what killed it for me.
We wanted to get a taste of how one would go about making "Upscale Comfort Food" so we went a little risky with the garnishes. We ordered Macaroni and Cheese and Onion Rings. I was a bit thrown off when we got served our onion rings, as they appeared to come from the same bag that you find at any sub shop out there. They were not even hand battered, just pulled out of the bag and into the deep fryer. Unacceptable at a restaurant that charges city-like prices. The mac and cheese was crunchy and bland. Just overall not good on the garnishes.
This restaurant has potential. They need to come up with some better sides and season their steaks better. Just a few rookie mistakes, that if tweaked, you could have a much better restaurant. You have a great staff here, complimented by a romantic atmosphere. The only obstacle holding you back from achieving GREATNESS is the food. Don't charge me for an upscale meal if you can't provide one....No matter how great the staff and restaurant is, the meal needs to be priced to what it is, and in this case, it should cost half of what you get for it. -
Review from Stephanie A.
Hull, MA
1/5/2011
This place is OK. I was there with another couple and I thought the app portions small, the calamari salty, and the shrimp app just not good over cooked and small shrimp. My pork chop was cooked well but my lentils so-so. my husband did like his meatloaf but I am only reviewing on my experience not his.
The service was good but lacked in the attention dept. more wine bread etc. I will not go back anytime soon not horrible but ho-hum and no attention to detail. -
Review from Joe M.
Dallas, TX
7/25/2010
We went for lunch, large group, only people there.
Food - medicore, but not bad
Service - she was polite, but not overly attentive, which was annoying
Atmosphere - gets an A+
Really is a 3 or a 3.5, but is such a nice place to visit that I bumped it to a four. Guessing that for weddings and events it is a lot better and they improve the food. All staff were nice, just not very attentive since they knew they were adding an 18% charge to the bill.
People, please improve the food. You owe it to your supporters! -
Review from Jessica P.
Suffolk, MA
2/26/2010
"A" for atmosphere "A" for drinks "D-" for food. And at a restaurant food is kind of a big deal, don't you think?
Scarlet Oak has a nice bar with a cozy atmosphere, complete with fire place. Their wine selection is great and I have never had anything less than good service at the bar.
My beef with this place is that they absolutely must have some hacks in the kitchen. I have always had success ordering from their raw bar, so that's a plus and the pizza is usually alright too but the remainder of the menu is borderline horrendous. My brother's steak was raw. He likes it medium rare but the center was still chilled. The broth for the mussels was terrible, as in none of the alcohol had cooked off and the crostini that accompanied the mussels was burnt. Last January I was there and asked the waitress what the soup of the day was. She told me it was gazpatcho. I made a confused face. She said "it's a chilled tomato soup" and I said "I don't mean to be rude by saying this at all, so don't take it the wrong way: I know what gazpatcho is, I'm just wondering what the heck you guys are doing serving it in the middle of January?"
As a restaurant industry veteran I know it's hard to run a good kitchen on a busy night but what disappoints me is that this place is just running by on fumes. The bar and dining rooms are always packed, yet the food, on every single visit, has been mostly miss. I strongly believe a restaurant that offers 27 dollar a plate specials should be nailing it every time. There are a number of restaurants all over the South Shore that do just that every night. Do better Scarlet Oak! -
Review from Erin G.
Boston, MA
3/31/2011
We went for dinner with out an reservation on a Sat night. Got a high top table at the bar. The menu was boring. but we stayed anyway. The food was just so so. we ordered the sliders, which would have been good, if they were hot. My salmon was over cooked. Clearly they have no idea how to cook a salmon to temp. ( they did take it off the bill) The food was under seasoned. We did not order dessert.
I like the atmosphere, service was ok. would return for drinks only! Will not go back for the food! -
Review from Joy E.
Rockland, MA
5/8/2008
Great place if you are out having drinks with friends. The bar area is huge and there is a nice, comfortable lounge-like seating area (though it is small). Friday and Saturday night can be fun - lots of interesting people and you don't have to scream in your friend's ear to have a conversation.
The food is why I only gave it 3 stars - with so many good reviews, I may have just had bad experiences, but on 3 separate occasions the food (and appetizers) were awful. The steaks were either under or over cooked (on different occasions) and the sides tasted as if they had been kept warm under a heat lamp.
I will definitely go back - but not to eat. -
Review from Kim K.
I'd been hearing about this place for a while and had been meaning to go. Finally!
The food here was exquisite. That is the main attraction for sure however the ambiance is very nice, local diners looking for an elegant yet unpretentious dinner. The whole place is very clean, the service is great, and the valet is an added perk.
The goat cheese and flatbread appetizer was creamy, decadent, and savory. For dinner I had the pork osso bucco which was heaven on a plate - comforting, perfectly spiced, melt in your mouth pork. The smores dessert was another layer of decadence - a fun twist on an old favorite and executed perfectly.
I can't recommend this place high enough. I'm dying to go back! -
Review from John S.
I loved everything about this place, from the rich but unstuffy appointments to the friendly service to the dressed up comfort food in generous portions.
The Scarlet Oak Tavern has vaulted into position as one of my favorite surburban restaurants, and I've only been there once. It's a busy place, since apparently many folks in the greater Hingham area hold it in such high regard, but it didn't seem crowded. The dining area is a series of large halls and side rooms, giving you the sense that you're eating in a vast Bed and Breakfast, full of old money and young foodies. There was at least one, wine bottle-lined side room that could be rented for private parties, which got me thinking about what I could potentially celebrate that would be a big enough deal to come back.
The food was nothing short of superb. The sourdough bread packed a flavorful whallop from the strong starter they must use in it. The cheddar and crab dip was hearty and piping hot. My main course, short rib bolognese over goat cheese gnocchi, ranks as one of the best meals I've eaten all year. It was complex, texturally enthralling, and absolutely delicious.
I hate a homemade carrot cake for dessert, and tried their homemade s'more, then left and promptly started telling everyone I met that they should go to this wonderful Hingham gem as soon as they are able.
Bravo, Scarlet Oak Tavern.Listed in: The Absolute Best of…
