One ot their employees there was definitely racist. I went there yesterday with a party of friends. There was one black guy, one asian girl amongst the party of 5. The only reason why I think we were treated the way we were, and I can't imagine any other reason was unfortunately the race card. We had come around 10 pm and were told to come back at 11.30 pm. Then we were told to wait for 15 minutes for EITHER bar or table service when we asked for table. Then a nicely dressed waspy couple sauntered by us and were ushered in immediately. So our black friend asks why the couple was ushered in straight away in his enthusiastic but polite manner and the hostess says "Its none of your business." My boyfriend comes up and says, "We understand if they were vips, but you should not talk to him that way and you should be open about it". And the hostess says, "I don't own you an explanation". At this point we are shocked at the service "even my local vietnamese restaurant serves us better" and ask for the manager. The hostess tells him we are drunken bums or some sort and we tell him what just happened. The manager says "I'm sorry I can't serve you tonight". So...sober ivy educated doctors, accountants and investment bankers come to have a good time and this is what happens? There's no reason for this. The night was saved by another hostess who saw what was happening and gave us a table and sweet talked us into calming down. But frankly, I don't see the reason for this highly inappropriate treatment. There was no forthcoming apology from the manager. And our night was ruined for awhile. The restaurant unfortunately hires people that either judge their guests on the color of their skin or the clothes they wear (though we were all dressed fine). You make your own conclusions.
(1)
Juliann R.
It was meant to be a very special evening out. Our last mother/son evening to out before he turned 18. With an eye usually on a tight budget, this was a night to splurge- to play grown-ups, go into town, dine with elegance, and taste cuisine that would normally be beyond our usual fair. We should have heeded the omen of the clouds. Somehow, we thought we would be above them. We weren't. The night was so overcast we could not see the Prudential from the Pike.. strike one- should have switched course right then and there. We chose to press on thinking at least the food will be a treat. When we entered the atmosphere was lovely- relaxed, live mellow jazz playing, perfect lighting. They took our coats away to the coat check, and the maitre'd was kind when she asked my son to remove his hat. We are foodies by nature, but its rare we dress up ;-) As it was overcast we could not see the lovely Boston lightscape below.. in fact the clouds were so thick the glass showed only grey, as though we were in a silvery basement- It would have been a plus for the hostess to work with this weather/view handicap and seat us facing INTO the dining room rather than at a drab shiny wall as is likely their usually wise habit. ( no points off for them, we own the fact that we chose to dine there on such a rediculous night) Our waiter was sublime. Handsome, African sounding accent, authentically polite with an easeful manner - he knew his wines, and kindly offered me the opportunity to sample a few to choose the right one for my meal. He asked if we were celebrating anything- and bouyeed our spirits with a meaningful congratulations toward my son's birthday. We delighted in a special little sample of the chef's muscle soup-- a sweet little unexpected treat brought out by another waiter compliment of the chef. It was a SUCH a delight in fact that our expectations for the meal ahead were affirmed. So we thought. The beat salad, spinach salad, watery clam chowder were SO mediocre, honestly I thought I was eating at Applebees- over salted, under flavoured, very generic, and overpriced for the fair. Simple dishes can and ought still be delightful. I chose not to order an Entree as a result.. My son ordered his favourite- lamb. It too was awkwardly presented with bland mashed potatoes and some unmemorable veg. He ate only a few bites. and asked for the check. We took it home and re-appropriated the left over into another dish.. not about to waste the cash we spent, but it really needed doctoring. eh. We were so bummed out by the meal we did not stay for desert- can't say what we missed. So-- For service, very very high marks- worthy of its reputation for fine dining and why this has any stars at all. Low stars for being way too overpriced for the actual meal served. For being made to feel special when dining out is a rate treat-- also many thumbs up. For the actual Food- no stars. really- go to 99, chili's, applebees, etc.. and pay less... unless the actual chef who was making the sweet muscle soup is on duty.. THAT was increadible. And DON't be foolish, as we were, and go to the Top of the Hub on a cloudy night.. save it for another night and come back for the wine.
(2)
Sheila D.
Top of the Hub is TOP on my list! My husband took me to Boston for mothers day, and it was a great memorable place to take me for brunch. First off, our table was to die for! The view was absolutely breath taking, it made me want to move to Boston (which by the way is a great town!). The service was fabulous, the food was delicious. The only thing I did get discouraged about was that they were insistant on taking my 6 month old daughters stroller away when she could not sit up on her own yet on a high chair!! They didn't want the high chair b/c it was a "eye sore" I did like the fact that we got complementary ticket to go to the floor above us to do a tour of the city. So I would assume that this is the place to be if you are from out of town.
(4)
Mrs. R.
I have not eaten a full meal here for years but the place has become a monthly ritual. My friends love meeting here for cocktails and light bites when they get into town. You can't beat the view late afternoon or evening and they have delightful small bites so you won't get too tipsy before dinner. The drinks are very reasonable and they serve up one of my favorite New Zealand white wines. You have to try the Chicken Lollipops and Baby Back Ribs. Great smooth jazz in case your looking for a romantic place to hang out after dinner. I have rediscovered Top of the Hub which is a great memory from my childhood. I thought it was a place where the old crowd hung out which is partially true but it's more so where the successful trendy Beantown people gather. But I guess I'm also part if that old crowd now! Great service, small bites, booze and music.
(4)
Katie V.
I went here for lunch and thought for the view and the food quality, it was worth it. I've heard that the dinner menu is pretty pricey, but lunch was not too bad. And it is the best view of Boston, which is part of what you're paying for. I had a lobster roll, which was very very good. Granted, it's hard to fuck up fresh lobster, mayo and a buttery roll, but it was worth $22 for the amount of lobster in the roll. The yuca fries were a surprising and delicious accommodation-- not as greasy as real fries, but very tasty. My mom got the mussels and for $15, it was a huge portion and the mussels were juicy and big. This is not a place I'd casually visit -- I only went because I had family in town and wanted to impress them with the view. I was expecting the food to be mediocre, but it was good. I'd give it 3.5 stars if I could. I guess the only reason I'm hesitant to give them 4 is that the lunch menu is kind of limited. Sandwiches, basically. So nothing super innovative. I think they make most of their $$ on dinner and focus on that.
(3)
Eli E.
Came here for Valentine's day a couple years back. It had a great view and good ambiance. Waiters were on point. Knew exactly when to drop by and didn't unnecessarily interrupt us. The food.. well, it didn't cut it and was overpriced for the holiday. Came back for restaurant week one year for lunch and the food was actually better this time around. Maybe it was the price tag that justified it? Either way, you should give this a try.
(4)
Erin C.
If anything, this place could get an excellent rating just for its view and service. The food is average, but certainly not worth the prices. However, the service and view is really what you are paying for. They have live jazz every night so I would love to return for drinks in the lounge!
(3)
Ryan K.
I went with three friends late on a Thursday night. We had appetizers, salad/soup, and dessert. We decided to eat in the lounge because we felt like there was more flexibility. The lounge is basically a dining room with a view facing south in Boston, whereas the dining room faces north towards Cambridge (Charles river view). The lounge was great. It was surprisingly empty but with live jazz music and a waiter all to ourselves who was pretty good about knowing when to serve and when to leave us alone, we were able to basically order a bunch of stuff a la carte. Everything was fresh, from the chicken on the salad to the cookies we had as dessert. Honestly, the fresh-baked cookies seem juvenile but they're damn good. I mean okay, you don't go to Top of the Hub for the food. It's not the best in Boston, but the view, classiness and service more than make up for the less-than-perfect (but still very, very good) food. I feel like for a bunch of college students, we got pretty good service because we 1)dressed up pretty nicely (suits and dresses), 2) ordered drinks and stuff. I tipped pretty well at the end. I don't know about the dining room because I feel like for the price increase, the food should be significantly better, but for a classy hang-out, the lounge was more than enough. Great evening.
(5)
Aia Y.
Was there many times just for the view the food is not good at all! The serves is good :)
(3)
Flora B.
Top of the Hub: check! Awesome views... got a table at the window... it was a bit chilly (right next to a wrap around vent) but worth it to be able to see the city bustling down below. Our waitress was friendly and attentive, but come on, Top of the Hub -- diet coke refills should come for free :( I enjoyed my dinner -- salad, steak, fries, and FRESHLY BAKED CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES!!! Also I liked the live jazz trio in the lounge. Nice touch!
(4)
Anna L.
The ambiance, service, and view at Top of the Hub are all spectacular. The food and drinks? Pretty darn good too! Recently, my Father came to visit me from Washington state and I took him to Top of the Hub for an early dinner so he could take some pictures of the city. The prixe fixe menu choices were great. I would definitely recommend all of the dishes I got: App: Lobster soup w/coconut milk Entree: Seared scallops Dessert: Creme Brulee The manager on shift was even nice enough to walk us to the Skywalk Observatory after dinner so we could get in for free. Overall, I had a great experience and I know my Dad definitely did too!
(5)
Alan B.
I'm not sure I understand how anybody can rate this less than five stars. It's the highest place in Boston you can eat, and you can go whenever you want. Even if they serve week old pretzels for $10 a bowl, you won't get that experience anywhere else. But still, let's talk about what's good about them. First, you can get beer (and good, seasonal beer) for $5 a pint. That's right, I went after work with a few friends and enjoyed a pint of Hacker Pschorr for $5. 907 feet in the air. Yes, the menu is pricey, but there are some great deals on it as well. I had the BLT, which was on incredible bread that melted in your mouth, and fresh, homemade potato chips that had some sort of garlic-romano taste to them. That was $13. For the best view in Boston, I'll gladly pay $3 more than what I pay at a bar three football fields below me.
(5)
Tina D.
I've been here once before and really enjoyed it so I decided to book our Company Holiday Party here. Pros: The Sales and Catering Manager, Meaghan, was incredibly nice and helpful through the whole process. I was able to reserve the Fenway room and part of the lounge (for a room fee of $500, yikes, but totally worth it) for a group of 30 people. We were also able to estimate our attendance and give a final count 3 days in advance. By only offering beer and wine, we avoided the additional bar tender fee, and still had a very nice person serving the drinks from behind a table. The staff was polite and helpful throughout the night and we were able to do a gift exchange and have a toys for tots donation table. A live band began playing pleasant, but not too loud, music at 8:30... oh, and of course the view was amazing! Cons: By not having a traditional bar set-up, or perhaps just to make us drink more, I was not able to easily receive a status of how many beverages we had consumed throughout the night. Also, the price per person for a reception menu is $45 (no drinks included). This includes a stationary display (very small cheese and cracker plate) and 5 selections for butlered hor d'oeurves at 72 pieces each (we had Figs with Gorgonzola, Spring Rolls, Coconut Chicken, Asparagus wrapped in proscuitto, and scallops wrapped in bacon). This is their pre-set menu, and was no where near enough food for a cocktail reception. While the food was good, there were very small pieces and it all went quickly leaving people asking for more. Being that this is a pre-set menu and is charged per person, I did not think I'd have to worry about having enough food to everyone. Also, there are a few hidden fees to be aware of. The administrative fee ($200 for us) takes care of set-up break-down after the party and even though gratuity is included, that line is very small on the receipt and there is a larger space for additional tip. They validate parking, but it is still $12 in the Prudential Center lot. I would love to have another event here, but due to the fact that I had to combine two months budget to pay for the drink tab and room rental fee, that likely will not happen unless it's another Holiday party. Overall, If you can afford it, it's a very nice venue and I think it's worth the hastle.
(4)
cosette h.
Oh my! Fantastic experience. The waiter was so attentive that my water glass was never half empty/half full. I went for a friend's birthday and the night could not have been more memorable. The strawberry basil lemonade is my new favorite cocktail. Muddled like a Mojito, this drink is savory and sweet, with a tangy zing. ($12) I would have never ordered this drink if it were not for the waiter's recommendation. I recommend the 3-Course Prix Fixe dinner for $38. High quality food served hot and in a timely manor. With my steak, I paired a wine, suggested again by the excellent waiter. When dessert came, the waiter had put a candle in the cookie tray (dessert for the prix fixe) and the jazz band began to play "Happy Birthday" I have been waiting since to moment we left to return to the Top of the Hub. *note, the view is great, but the best part is atmosphere inside this gem
(5)
Stephanie J.
I lived in Boston for 2 years, and had never been here. After coming up to visit, my former roommates and I decided on our standard 'take a walk up Boylston' Saturday afternoon routine. Except once we all met up in the Pru, we realized it was just a little too cold to enjoy the walk. So what can we do? Drinks at Top of the Hub? Why not? The view is unsurpassed. It's true. After we chose a table for drinks instead of the bar, we were seated in an empty corner overlooking Fenway (where we used to live/they currently live), so we spent a long time enjoying the view and noticing just how far we could see. We each had two drinks each - I had the Berry Bubbly martin - really tasty, and the Belvedere Cosmopolitan - good, not as good as my first drink, though. We also split the calamari - we had originally ordered one plate, and it was so good, we ordered another - so tender, and the sauce was perfection. We had been to Restaurant Week lunch at Atlantic Fish Co. the day before, and had split an appetizer of calamari there - this blew AFC's away. The service was also very good. I would definitely go back for drinks and to enjoy the view - and for the calamari.
(4)
Cindy W.
I've been here twice and I have to say, I'm really happy that they always put us by the window with a beautiful view. The food is delish, service is great. The wine selection isn't as great as other fine dining places, but it was still good wine nonetheless. I love that you have the option to sit at the bar and socialize with a drink. Though, the prices for the drinks are a little pricey.
(4)
Shannon R.
First time---I took my partner for her birthday- It was a Thursday evening, we had a seat by the window- nice ambiance-simply gorgeous views. Scallops for an appetizer (two for $16)- Although they were insanely delicious they were on the smaller/medium size. My entree was the swordfish (over a barley type pasta), it was perfectly cooked and literally melted in my mouth. The server was delightful, she wasn't pushy or intrusive and had good "table readability" - she did offer us a taste of the most expensive wine by the glass ($23 a glass) and it was truly amazing (however when I looked it up it was a $38 bottle-but the fact that I actually looked it up afterward speaks volumes). My girlfriend ordered the salmon - she devoured every bite :) Overall it was a wonderful experience, I'd recommend it.
(4)
Sara M.
If you want to enjoy this place, once piece of advice: Come for lunch during restaurant week. I did that once and it is amazing. You can enjoy the beautiful view, upscale ambiance, and delicious food for such a steal. It is much more calm than it normally is, which means the service is much more personal. For example, the afternoon I went I happened to order two bottles of wine (one after the other) that the restaurant was out of. The third time the waiter came back to the table, he brought the sommelier with a free bottle of wine. Classy, huh? If you go to Top of the Hub for dinner any other time of the year, you will probably be underwhelmed. It is crowded, you have to luck out to get a seat-with-a-view, and the food is not *that* great. It will probably not be worth whatever it costs you. Also, beware that jeans are NOT allowed... and the hostess will check to make sure you are not wearing them before she seats you.
(3)
Ruby O.
They don't let you walk around the restaurant and you can't see the view from the bar. I think there are better bars in Boston. I went there for the view but I wasn't allowed to see it.
(3)
M C.
Went during Christmas time, before going to see the Boston Pops. Wonderful experience. Amazing views like nothing I had ever seen. It truly captures Boston, and will be the best view of Boston you can possibly see, while eating an amazing meal! When I went, I was dressed very fancy along with my family, black pants a fancy top and men in blazers, chinos ...what not. However this does not mean the dress code is like that. I just so happened to be dressed for an event. Many women had on fancy jeans, but it is by no means on the casual side. Its very upscale and pricey, but the food is exceptional and the manager was very accommodating. Would love to go back again, very nice experience. Atmosphere is lovely and bathrooms are exceptionally nice and clean
(5)
Princess M.
We had Sunday brunch here and it was surprisingly good! I always thought this place was too touristy. But we surprisingly enjoyed our food and the atmosphere. It was quiet the Sunday we were there. There was a live jazz pianist and saxophonist also, which was really awesome. Brunch is a $35 prix-fix. It included a tiny yogurt parfait w berries, a choice of appetizer, entree and dessert. We were stuffed at the end of it. The smoked salmon appetizer was great. The short rib entree was very flavorful. I also really enjoyed the key lime tart and the creme brulee they offered for dessert. View of course can't get better than this. Definitely a good pick for out-of-towners or if you are looking for some place special for a leisurely brunch!
(4)
Florina K.
The best atmosphere ever the food is okay. But the most romantic place ever if you get window seating:)
(4)
Hannah L.
i came here for drinks on a sunday, so i didn't actually get to eat the food...it looked good though. with live jazz playing and an amazing view of boston from up high, it is probably a really romantic dinner spot. the drinks were expensive but delicious. it was classy in there and i definitely was wearing a syracuse t-shirt...whoops! oh well. the bar was really full and the bartenders seemed cranky/stressed so we hung out by the jazz corner and moseyed around. if you have some cash hanging out, i would def say come here for a nice dinner date. jazz and views = kisses!
(4)
Henrietta H.
My boyfriend and I each tried the prix fixe meal paired with wines. It was absolutely beautiful. Gorgeous views, attentive service, exquisite food and wine. I had veal with gnocchi and creme brulee for dessert, it was one of my most memorable dining experiences.
(5)
Milee S.
Two words: THE VIEW! Amazing, on a clear night, views of Boston. I hold the Hub especially near and dear to my heart because it was where my boyfriend and I went on our first date. I had a great bottle of chardonnay there, and there was some incredible jazz music playing while we got to know each other. I didn't think the service was overbearing, and our waiter had some good suggestions on wines. I plan on going back this weekend, hopefully for some dessert! But seriously, the view can't be beat!
(5)
Jillian Y.
Food rating: 5 stars View rating: 3 stars Decor rating: 2 stars Service rating: 5 stars I'll start with the negative - despite it being lunch at 1:30 and relatively empty, the hostess seated us away from the window. Annoying. Oh well, at least the lounge was emptyish and we could peek out the windows there. The decor is hideous - though the bar is pretty, I'd expect so much more from a place with such fantastic food - the white tablecloth didn't really match the faux-retro lighting and tacky walls. Oh well. Perhaps we got lucky, but our server was perfect - no hovering, very kind, excellent suggestions. He even suggested the perfect wine pairing for my main course (seriously perfect). Saving the best for last, the food was EXQUISITE! It was Restaurant Week, so I did the prix-fixe lunch (though the server noted that their prix-fixe lunch is ALWAYS $20) - delectable chilled strawberry-rhubarb soup (which yes, is basically thick juice), scallops with corn polenta (so flavorful! I'm still dreaming of the herbs they used), and for dessert, a tasty - and quite large - creme brulee. I think the view probably is better at night and I plan to come back for apps, drinks, and some lounge music soon.
(4)
Serena H.
For three years, I only heard about this place and never went. And then in one summer, I went half a dozen times. It's stupid. The breathtaking view is cool the first time. The people that frequent here repeatedly are stupid. The waitress is stupid. The waiter is slightly less stupid. The Cobb salad looks like it came from a salad bar from Cambridgeside. The food makes you feel stupid.
(1)
Aditi R.
I'm such a sucker for views. The worst of food/company can be tolerable if I have a view to distract me. And when the food and company is good WITH great views like Top of the Hub has, then it's just a great time all in all. I love this place. I have a lot of friends come to town and this is a staple for me to take them to. The drinks are great (give the green tea mojito a go!), the bartenders are always nice and cordial, the jazz band is a great touch, and the appetizers at the bar are phenomenal. Basically, great all in all. If you've never given it a try, then definitely do so. And if you have, then go there again :)
(4)
Bea M.
It's summer vacation and all I wanted to do was bring my kids up there for the view and dessert, but it didn't happen because the manager on duty on 6/29 was awful. There is a 25 dollar food min for dessert for each adult, which is fine for me, but to charge my 12 year old is a little ridiculous. So it would have been $75 for 30mins for a piece of cake!!! Very bad customer service.
(1)
stephanie c.
Gorgeous view...morning and evening. Live Jazz. Good wine. What else is there to say? The chocolate warm cake dessert is delicious. I still have yet to try a meal here...I hear the food is just soso. but I'd come just for jazz, wine, and view. It's definitely relaxing after a stressful week.
(5)
C S.
I'm being an obnoxious Yelper here - if the entrees were cheaper, I would've given three stars, for adequate food. But everything was definitely overpriced - I've enjoyed much tastier dishes of similar quality for much less. The view is great, but this is a food review, so, two stars.
Dig if you will the picture of a table for two by a window looking out onto ... nothing. A thick wall of swirling white. I pretended we were having drinks on the Hindenburg (prior to landing). So yes, we had drinks and, despite the late hour, a couple of appetizers. The reuben eggrolls were satisfyingly flavorful, with a crispy exterior and just the right amount of cheese, sauerkraut, and pastrami within. The "chicken lollipops" (I was hoping they would be something like tsukune; in fact they were chicken wings in a bland soy-ginger glaze) were not so tasty. But we really weren't there for the food, but to relax and chat over drinks in a lovely setting. There was a nice jazz quartet, and after an hour or so the fog lifted a bit and the lights of the city twinkled below. A perfect place to while away a few hours in good company.
(3)
Annie K.
Go for the view, which is probably the best in Boston. The food is okay. Drinks aren't as expensive as one would think, and they are pretty tasty, so I would stick to that. My family has had a couple private parties here, which is relatively affordable and the service is excellent, but again, the food is nothing to write home about.
(4)
Sanhita C.
Stick to drinks and dessert. DO NOT let the company you keep and the view dazzle you into thinking that your dinner was good. Because it wasn't. Trust me. It was shitty. (Why haven't they changed their chef/menu in the past bazillion years?)
(2)
Em G.
I will start by saying that you cannot beat the ambience that Top of the Hub offers. However, do not eat dinner here. It is overpriced and the food is terrible. I ordered the steak and all that came on the plate with it was a small, miniscule portion of mashed potatoes. No bread or salad came for the entree. The steak was not flavorful. I asked for a side of spinach, and they charged me an extra $6. If you want to experience the atmosphere, simply go to the bar and order a martini. It's the best use of your money.
(2)
Vassiliki K.
You don't visit Top of the Hub for the food.. At least I don't.. The reason one goes to the Top of the Hub is for the view which on a clear day is amazing, and on a cloudy one can be interesting as you realize how high up you really are and it feels like dining in the clouds. I always bring friends that are visiting Boston from out of town here for lunch, as it is a fun place to get an idea of Boston's geography, especially since the John Hancock Observation deck is now closed to the public. However, I find that the food itself can be hit or miss so that is just something to be aware of.
(3)
Grace H.
As my friend warned me, the food was not stellar. Bread was mediocore. Only offered two options of white and some sort of loaded grain/fruit blend. I work at Land O'Lakes so I can recognize good butter. The butter here had poor spreadibility. Clam chowder tasted kind of diluted and the spicy lobster bisque wasn't really that spicy. Lobster was ok. The crab stuffing was kind of weird. I would have rather had plain boiled lobster. I did however enjoy the live jazz music. The Boston skyline view was breathtaking. Definitely worth a try for the ambiance.
Top of the Hub in Boston reminds me of The Signature Room in Chicago. You go for the view. The view is outstanding. If the view wasn't a factor, I don't know if I would necessarily go here to eat. The food is good but it wouldn't be the first place I'd think of if I was hungry. However, with the gorgeous and obstructed view, the fact you can get decent food is actually a plus for the overall experience.
(4)
Michael B.
Everything was excellent except the service. Greeted with an Eye-Roll from our server, wine was never poured and he was non existent. Overheard other servers mentioning specials... but we weren't told about them. Ordered a lot, enjoyed the meal and the view but the tip definitely reflected the service.
(3)
Maria C.
The views are outstanding, and the live jazz band is awesome!! I had the Boston creme pie...it was delicious. You must visit the top of the hub!
(5)
Alex G.
Very rude, when asked to be seated the host took a Long time "looking" for a table and we were told to wait outside the door, then when we grew tired of waiting and said we were leaving the host had the audacity to say "Okay, good." Such rude service, the view is gorgeous but not worth made feeling like a second class citizen.
(1)
Michelle Åš.
Great views, overrated food. Steak was tasteless and chewy. Clam chowder was greasy. The only part of my meal is recommend was the tar tar - but even for that item there wasn't a good chip to fish ratio (rookie mistake). However - the service was really great so no complaints there.
(2)
Julia G.
After three experiences here, my best advice is not to come to the Top of the Hub hungry because you will not be satisfied. Food wise, this place is a one-star (if that). View wise, this place is 5+ stars. I'll start with the pros... Great atmosphere, especially with the live classical music. Absolutely stunning views, specially at night. The service is good, depending on which wait staff is assigned to your table. The first time I ate here, the service was awful (as in waiting 20 min for my waitress to come back so I could order a drink -- and by then I needed double the amount of alcohol). The second and third time, I had great service. There is a spending requirement of $24 per person but that wasn't an issue, as I expected it. Okay, now to the food. I rarely say this when it comes to food, but it's awful here. I guess one word that would summarize the food is bland. It just had no taste, no flavor really. I've had everything from pasta to Filet Mignon here and none of the food deserves more than one star. For example, to compare their pasta to Chef Boyardee would be unfair -- to Chef Boyardee because it actually has flavor. Nevertheless, despite eating food that tasted as though it was from an expired can I will be back. Why? Because the view is absolutely captivating. However, my advice is to eat before you come. Instead, come to the Top of the Hub for drinks and a gorgeous view.
(3)
Elaine Y.
Tried the chicken spaghetti and clam chowder, not so great. But the view of Boston is spectacular!
(3)
Sravan M.
We have been there in over marriage anniversary, and my wife really loved the place. It has the stunning Downtown view. And even more awesome food. Do take the advice from the serving people they would recommend the food which you might like. We got $16 parking as a discount if you show them that you visited top of the hub. I would recommend to be there at night as you can enjoy the boston view better combined with delicious food and can take some nice pics. They don't take a lot of time serve either so that's a good thing to. But yes it's a bit expensive though to have a dinner for 2, but again it's worth the visit.
(4)
Cui-Lyn H.
Good, if you're willing to pay for the view. Service was good, very attentive, took our special requests and delivered without any complaint from my side which is increasingly rare nowadays. Definitely a great way to take in Boston from above, but the food was nothing to rave about. If you took the view away from the experience, you'd be left with a marginally above average restaurant at a steep price point. The whole atmosphere felt extremely commercial. I felt like our entire meal was rushed, trying to get us in and out as fast as possible, to cater to the small group that was forming at the door. Whilst I'm not one to get particular about presentation, I expected more at that price point. We ordered the arugula salad, which although is a literal pile of leaves and crumbles of gorgonzola, it would've been nice to see a little bit of effort put into its presentation. I ordered the fra diavola which turned out to be glaringly overcooked - and that's easily avoidable. The food might as well have come from some mass-producing chain establishment. Whilst it wasn't bad, per se, I just would have wanted something of a higher quality.
(3)
Matthew C.
Don't know what the food is like because we never got ours. After waiting 7 minutes, our waiter finally took our drink order, not before serving tables seated after us. We were stopping for coffee and dessert, so placed our cake order at the same time. Eventually we got our water. Then an excuse that a new coffee pot had to be brewed came with empty coffee cups. Another 10 minutes. No coffee. No cake. When we finally got the coffee, we gave him 5 more minutes. With the cake still nowhere in site, we asked for the bill, sans cake. We got back talk about how the order was already placed. No apology for the ridiculous wait. We got change from the bartender faster than he took our bill. The best part, right as we were getting up, a waitress brought "our" cake - it was the wrong order. 45 minutes for 2 cups of crappy coffee. Awful service. Great view. Lovely jazz. I'm sure the food is good if you're served.
(1)
E F.
Had brunch. Shrimp and grits plate was excellent! Little char on the shrimp and bits of bacon make this plate great! Lobster omelette was bland and lacked flavor. Eggs benedict with Crab was bland and lacked flavor as well. $42 per person for brunch (4 course meal). Most of the meal is mediocre quality. I had high expectations, and unfortunately I was let down. The waiters are nice. The view from each table is great (52nd floor of Prudential Tower). But I think you can find better places on Newbury if you're looking for a higher end dining experience.
(2)
Michael C.
I've been to the Top of the Hub on a number of occasions. Sometimes for dinner and other times just for drinks. Dinner here is good but for the price you have to realize a lot of what you are paying is for the view. It is romantic and a definite over the top date spot, great for a special occasion. The best way to experience the Top of the Hub in my opinion is to go up for a cocktail, sit at the bar and enjoy the view. It is cheaper than paying the cover charge for the skywalk one floor up.
(3)
Simon P.
Fantastic panoramic views of Boston and a mean Margarita! Friendly helpful staff too... Well worth the trip!
(5)
Nadia T.
My boyfriend surprised me with a romantic dinner here just because, and everything was so delicious. He had French onion Soup as an appetizer and it was completely delicious! For dinner he had the Filet Mignon and I had the Braised Lamb Shank which was to die for! For dessert we had the warm chocolate cake which was ooey gooey yum. Unfortunately we went on a cloudy night but we plan to come back when the weather gets better.
(5)
Lynn J.
Tourists take to top of the hub for its unmatched views of the entire city. Its five star food does not disappoint, but it's surprisingly affordable prices Are a sweet surprise in expensive Back Bay. The staff is friendly, not snotty, and the food is all made from scratch. Weekends welcome a live jazz Trio for dinner! The deal: glasses of wine start at only $12, which, is typical for this part of Boston. Homemade lunch specialties are $12- $15, And, again, prices are par for the course.
(5)
Andrea B.
I came back to Top of the Hub for the first time in four years for a joint birthday celebration for me, my sister, and my mom. My family may be a bit of a hot mess (my sister spilled her mojito, my dad tipped over his chair), but none of that could stop us from having a great experience here the other night. Service was professional despite a few little snafus, food was decent, drinks were good, view was amazing. My parents don't live in the area, so of course, we ended up at a touristy spot, which is what Top of the Hub is. I had a whole long list of other restaurants in mind (200+ businesses bookmarked on Yelp and counting!), but overall I was pleased. We were seated at a table where we could enjoy a gorgeous view of wonderful, beautiful, amazing Boston. While we were deciding what to order, a basket of bread was brought out for the table. It wasn't warm, but it was freshly baked and quite delicious. They've got a decent drink menu, so I couldn't pass that up. Both my mango mojito and my sour apple martini were very tasty. If you're not sure what to start with, I would go with the spicy lobster soup. It is thick, creamy, spicy (as expected), and full of succulent chunks of lobster. It was by far the best part of the meal, and I finished my bowl wishing I could have another, and another, and another... One soup, however, that I would stay away from is the clam chowder. It was watery and without much in way of clams. My entree sadly did not shine as brightly as that amazing soup. I got the veal sirloin, and it was chewy and under-seasoned. Definitely the disappointment of the night. But dessert hit a sugary sweet high note! I got the assortment of freshly baked cookies (yup, all for myself... but I shared!). They came out warm, doughy, and incredible in every way possible. Someone had overheard that we were celebrating my birthday, along with my mother's and sister's, so we each had a candle and "Happy Birthday" written on our plates, which was a nice touch. I mentioned earlier that there were a few little snafus throughout the evening. Hey, it happens! But what I really appreciated was how professionally they were handled. My entree was supposed to come with gnocchi, but I was given polenta instead. I informed my server of this, and was brought a whole bowl of delicious gnocchi in a rich, creamy sauce almost instantly. My sister was brought the wrong dessert, and same deal - she got a replacement within moments. So while the food isn't always stellar, the experience definitely is. Whether you're a tourist or a local, Top of the Hub is definitely a must-try.
(4)
Kaye H.
Food was delicious. Service was just ok. The view was pretty good, nothing that had druling. I had the chipotle chicken Cobb salad and my sister and I kept nodding our approval about 15 times throughout the meal. Lunch you don't need a reservation but I recommend it to have a better view. At night, you definitely want a reservation or you'll be waiting awhile. Definitely recommend the place just for the experience.
(4)
Rachele R.
Great view but terrible service. Came to the bar for drinks with a large group on a quiet Thursday evening and ended up sitting/standing in the lounge area between the bar and the dining room. Asked to order from the menu and the waiter told me it wasn't an option since I wasn't sitting at a table and walked away. There were TONS of empty tables at this point, but the waiter didn't give me any options -- like, you can sit here and order or sit at the bar and order. Nothing -- he just walked away. That's pretty unacceptable considering the caliber the restaurant aims to be of. A group then wanted to sit down for a meal and the host told us that it was a $24 minimum for each person, excluding the drinks that we had already ordered from the bar. Excuse me? With tip, 2 cocktails I had were over $30. I probably would have ordered more than $24 worth of drinks/food but I was so disgusted by being told this. It was also an extremely slow night -- there were many window-side tables open. All in all, awful service. I won't be back there; the view isn't worth the pretentious attitude from the waitstaff.
(2)
Caitlin C.
My boyfriend took me out here for an early Valentine's Day dinner and I was super impressed at first because we just moved to the city and I had no idea this place existed. I mean, how can you beat a superb view of the city at night along with fine dining? Unfortunately, it can be beaten. This isn't to say that the food was terrible - however, it was sub par for what they're shooting for. I'd compare Top of the Hub to the typical cruise dinner you receive in the main dining room each night. There's even a guy to stop by your table every 5 seconds to offer you bread! The appetizers were surprisingly the best part of the meal - we had the crispy duck with goat cheese taquito, which was a strange but surprisingly tasteful combination. I also had the beet salad, which was super fresh. It's really hard to screw up a beet salad but I have to give them kudos for presentation. We also received a chef's compliment of roasted horseradish squash with bacon, which was very tasty. Unfortunately the meal went downhill from there. I ordered the lobster linguine which by the description, reads to me like a cream sauce with fresh tomatoes chopped up on top. It's my fault for assuming that lobster pasta would be in cream sauce (cream accentuates the sweetness of the lobster), so I take the blame on that, but the whole bowl ended up being doused in stewed tomatoes which dragged the whole dish downhill. The saving grace was the amount of lobster - they chopped up a whole tail which I was pleasantly surprised with. My boyfriend's veal was average - nothing to write home about, especially for the price tag. I suppose it was my fault for having high hopes due to the location, but really, if you're going to run a fine dining establishment regardless of location there are key pieces that can't be missing. I feel like Top of the Hub is hiding behind the view.
(3)
Jo Y.
I love this place! Mainly for 2 reasons. The ambiance and the lobster soup, which I feel is more of a bisque, but I'm no expert. All I know is it's amazing! I recommend it to all locals as well as folks visiting from out of town that want a great view of the city and a pleasant dining experience. I've been here about a dozen times over the years and have always experienced good service and good food. The menu is somewhat limited, and the portions can be small, but that's because this place is meant for dining, not gorging. If you want to do that, head to the Cheesecake Factory downstairs. I only have 2 cons, which is why I gave it 4 out of 5 stars. 1. You have to spend a minimum of $25 per person to get a window seat in the lounge. I understand that this is Top of the Hub, and that everyone wants to sit by the window, but come on. This place is too classy to be so openly tacky. Implying that I'm not important enough to warrant a window seat because I only want to enjoy the view with one drink is a tad rude. 2. You cannot reserve seats in the lounge. I understand that this is true of most establishments, bars are typically first come first serve, but the lounge is where all the action is. If I want to reserve a seat right by the jazz band on the night of my birthday I feel they should be able to make this happen. Anyways, I left my complaints for the end because I didn't want to deter anyone from making the trip. This place is worth it.
(4)
AJ U.
OVER-RATED. Went here for lunch with some co-workers for a nice end-of-year treat. While the environment and the view is spectacular, the food leaves A LOT to be desired. I don't think anybody at our table really enjoyed their meal, unfortunately. To start I got the mussels, which were I had the "shrimp with crab special" which consisted of three tiny shrimp, not even jumbo, stuffed with a bland filling. Monday lunch special seafood = my mistake, should have smelled that a mile away. Anyway, save your time and money and go elsewhere for dinner. Come for a drink or two and jet.
(2)
Bangie D.
This place is just all about the view and ambiance. I've been to the lounge a couple of times and enjoyed myself. This time I tried the dinning room and was disappointed. The food is good but just not worth it, you would expect to pay half for the quality of the food. It's really nothing special, very average. The portion sizes are way too large and heavy, I couldn't finish my meal. The dessert was pretty good, even though it was light, it was hard to finish after the giant entree. The service is good but not great. I'm pretty sure that the server didn't really know much about the menu, I asked him to suggest a wine and he seemed lost. The bartender is great though, he made excellent drinks. Stick to the lounge, the dinning room is a rip off.
(3)
Lita M.
Very disappointed.. Came here with my boyfriend for my birthday and we asked if we could be seated by the window, they said no problem just 5 minutes.. We sat in the lounge area and waited maybe half hour and we asked why the long wait and the lady felt bad they had forgotten about us. We waited a few more minutes and they apologized again once we were seated. It was okay it happens I guess. The drinks were good but the food was okay. Expected better quality, maybe it was just a bad night to go? But worse calamari I've ever had.. Also my bf had asked them to bring out a bday desert and they completely forgot about that too. I think the waitress overheard me asks my bf what happened and they didn't seem to care to address that problem. Left very disappointed. Only good thing were the drinks and the view. Other than that I wouldn't recommended coming here.
(1)
Jan R.
A woman can not help but feel like a princess when she steps out onto the 52nd floor of the prudential tower into this magnificent restaurant. My husband surprised me for our 23rd anniversary with an in readable meal at the top of the hub. We started with fois gras that was out of this world. We also tried the Then we had a tender and juicy steak that was cooked to perfection. My husband had o e of their specialty items the crab Louis. With Jonah crab meat and a special dressing. The other extravagance was a very expensive bottle of wine but it was the best wine I have ever had so it was an experience. When the bil came I knew my husband was going to have a heart attack but when you go to this restaurant you are getting an entire experience. Luxury and top level servers are hard to find now days but we will never forget our beautiful dinner at top the hub!
(5)
Annie G.
My boyfriend took me here for our anniversary dinner. I'd been up to the skywalk observatory last month, so I was super excited to spend a few hours over dinner enjoying the nighttime scene. Despite the fact that it'd been dreary all day, the view was amazing! It was fun looking out over Boston, trying to pick out landmarks in the dark. And the service was just lovely. I've been to Gordon Ramsay at the London, and ToTH blew Ramsay's restaurant out of water as far as service goes despite the fact that food quality is comparable. Actually, on second thought, ToTH is more generous with portion sizes. Winning! So on to the actual dining experience. We made the reservation via Open Table and requested a window seat, and I was super psyched that they were able to honor our request. Our server was super nice and the epitome of attentiveness. Our water glasses were never past half full (or empty depending on your perspective), and another server would occasionally walk by with yummy bread. Rosemary focaccia was the bomb. We each opted for the 3-course dinners. Appetizer: spicy lobster soup and braised short ribs. Mmm... every bit of each of these was delicious. I'm a huge fan of coconut milk-based soups, and there were biggish chunks of succulent lobster to boot! And to top it all off, the bowl of soup was quite large. I was semi-filled on just appetizers and bread. This also happened to be the first time I've ever had gnocchi. Not much flavor to them, is there? The short ribs, however, were packed full of flavor. Main: Braised lamb shank and veal (with bone!) sirloin. When the lamb came, I was astounded by how big it was. I've had lamb at nice restaurants before...but they usually leave me wanting more. At ToTH, this was not the case. It was both delicious AND huge. It may sound gross, but the little strips of fat on the lamb were the most heavenly things I've ever tasted. Drool. We asked for the veal to be medium-rare, but it came out more medium-well. Normally, I'd send it back, but it still tasted so good, I didn't feel like I'd been cheated. In retrospect, I think I should have sent it back. You never know. Maybe instead of being merely delicious, it could have been mind-blowingly orgasmic. Dessert: Maple crème brulee and apple cobbler. You can't go wrong with either normally, and this is especially true at ToTH. We almost couldn't finish the crème brulee... there was just so much food provided during this meal. My only complaint about the apple cobbler was that it had raisins, but I'm sure many more people actually enjoy raisins... In the end, we left super happy and content. I couldn't have asked for a better anniversary dinner. It was definitely one of the more expensive dinners I've had in a while, but the wonderful service made this meal a memorable experience.
(5)
Caroline H.
OK, yes, the view is amazing. Our group of 6 chose to sit at the bar because of the greater than $24 per person tab requirement for sitting at a table. We got to ToTH at 11pm on a Tuesday night and it was relatively desolate in there and closing in 2 hours. I can understand the policy during more busy hours, it just seemed a little unnecessary when the place was so empty. There was still live jazz going on -- a nice touch -- and the bartender was medium friendly and promptly delivered our drinks. Not unreasonable cocktail (~$12) or wine (~$8) prices and I'm sure if we were sitting more comfortably at a table we probably would have all ordered more than one drink and hit that $24 limit. It just seemed a little off for a place as "classy" as this one to force you to commit to staying for two or more drinks before you even take off your coat. So we didn't. But yes, the view is great.
(3)
Kim H.
it makes me super sad to give this awesome place a 2 star ! customer service: excellent !! food: not so much i rather go to fridays or flemins price: very pricey !! atmostphere: great romantic lets get in dept of why i gave this iconic place such a poor rating. for my birthday dinner i decided to go here, mainly for the view. but i decided to have the three course pre fix meal. 60$ per person. my partner and i only took 3 bites out of the appetizer and the entre, and the dessert. it was all not very pleasing for the price. i would of been better off at fridays, or at flemins. i give this place 2 stars because.. our waiter surpirsed me with a "happy birthday" creme brule. he was very nice. he said "you don't eat very much" --- because the food was not good duh!!! my advice to first time people !!! only go and get an appetizer or for dessert.. not worth your money for a whole meal.. :(
(2)
Alana L.
I debated between 3 and 4 stars because what I actually want to give is 3 1/2, but the service is kinda slow so I'm rounding down. I came in with a party of 4 on a Monday night around 10 and we were seated promptly at the window. Being a native Bostonian, I avoid touristy places like it's my job, but my boyfriend recently moved to the city from Colorado and has this thing for going to the highest point in any given place, so we went to Top of the Hub so he could satisfy that urge and took some friends along with us. We were dressed casually so mildly worried that we would be turned away, but no one seemed to care that I was in my t-shirt and jeans from work, and waited around for our waiter, who turned up about 10 minutes later. He was nice if appearing to be more interested in serving the table next to us. It wasn't enough to be bothersome, though. We ordered cocktails which struck me as overpriced but were tasty nonetheless. I didn't try my companions' drinks, but mine was the Hendrick's Gin Fizz, which I recommend trying unless you're not a fan of gin. The calamari we shared was actually quite good, one of the better preparations I can recall having. I then had the Valrhona chocolate cake, which was sort of strange in that it would have been disappointing if not for the Valrhona milk chocolate. My companion said the clam chowder was pretty good, and the open-faced salmon sandwich was also tasty if slightly overdone. Very well seasoned, though, and the dill sauce was great. I suppose I have to agree with a previous reviewer in that Top of the Hub would be a three-star establishment if not for the incredible view. It's worth going once for that alone. Also - their food is not especially expensive nor is it especially good (though it's certainly not bad, just middle-of-the-road). We discussed it a bit over our drinks and came to the conclusion that Top of the Hub both relies on its view and reputation as well as makes its money on alcohol. The specialty cocktails are $13-15 apiece, and even a simple vodka cranberry will set you back $10. Where they truly make their money is the $600 bottles of wine and $75-per-serving Macallan 25 year. (Tip: you can get an entire bottle of Macallan 25 year for not too much more than Top of the Hub sells a single snifter for.) In summary: if you're looking for a place that has incredible food, go somewhere else, but if you're looking for the view and are interested in ponying up for wine and liquor, you'll like it here.
(3)
Angela L.
The chef should go back and change to sell sweet potatoes. I gave it one star coz the light clam chowder is light enough. But anyway, I still love the side of the main course -- sweet potato:) I would have given a zero star if I could
(1)
Lisa B.
I like it up here! I can't comment on the food, but the cocktails have always been refreshing. Laid-back jazz + amazing view = great Friday night!
(4)
Hannah D.
Instead of paying the $15 to see the sights from the top of Prudential on the Skywalk, my roommate and I decided to make reservations at the restaurant 2 stories up for when our parents came to town for parents weekend. Couldn't have made a better decision! With reservations for 5:30, we got there just before the sunset and took many, many beautiful pictures of the view and ourselves with it. So. Stunning. As far as food goes, I was a little disappointed at the lack of vegetarian, let alone vegan-izable options, and I'll admit, when our food finally came I was a bit envious of my sister's embarassing-but-delicious buttered noodles order. Instead, I got some kind of vegetable lasagna that was okay, and watched the fish and meat eaters devour their elegantly prepared dishes. The bread though was delicious! And it was all worth it when it was time for desserts! For my birthday, they brought me this beautiful (and unbelievably delicious) crème brulee with a candle in it and "Happy Birthday" written in chocolate cursive around the plate, and we ordered a couple other things to share like a chocolate cake and cookies. Those cookies were so, so good! And fresh and warm... However, the service was really, really slow (even before it got busier) and for whatever reason it seemed like our waiter would completely disappear for 20 minutes at a time. Not cool, sir, not cool. I'm still a fan though, and I'd absolutely go back again just to have more crème brulee and cookies while looking out over this amazing city! And someday maybe even just go there to get drinks with my friends. Seems like a fun 21+ thing to do, right? Someday.
(4)
Nicole A.
A group of 4 of us had dinner down on Charles street and decided to have a few more drinks at Top of the Hub. As we were here for a conference, I guess we count as tourists. When I was an undergraduate in the area (over 5 years ago) I heard about TotH and never tried it, being a poor undergraduate. We walked through the Pru mall to the elevators where a security guard wanted to see someone's ID. Fine. Then we took the elevator quickly to the 52nd floor. Now, we weren't exactly fancily dressed. And we had had 2 bottles of wine already, so we may not have been on our best behaviour. I wasn't entirely sure they would let us in, but they did. The hostess explained that we could sit at the bar, but if we wanted to sit at a table by the windows we needed to order at least $24 a person. She clarified that this would be about 2 drinks. We decided this sounded like a challenge worth taking. The views were absolutely amazing. I can't say much about the food - one of us got the creme brulee and said it was very good. Otherwise, we just drank. I was a little let down by their cocktail list. I love classic cocktails - negroni, mahattan, etc - and most of their menu was fairly fruity cocktails. I got a ruby manhattan, which was ok. For the second round, I wanted to go with a bartender's choice. Unfortunately our waiter didn't seem very comfortable with that. I tried to explain the sort of thing I like (he didn't know what a negroni was) with the hope I wouldn't end up with a fruity cocktail. I ended up with something interesting, tasty, and different - I think the waiter called it a tropical manhattan (or something, I was a few drinks into the night by then). If I am in Boston again, especially with other visitors, I will try to go back. I might try to sit at the bar so I can actually talk to the bartended directly, or else I would probably just drink whiskey.
(3)
William D.
Overpriced, but one meal in particular was oh-so-good I just had to write a raving review for Top of the Hub... About a month or so back I had the lobster bisque on a date with my girlfriend, and it was literally the best soup I ever had in my life. I highly recommend it to anyone that goes to Top of the Hub. The fact that it's only 1 item deters me from rating Top of the Hub 5 stars (as opposed to 4) as a restaurant, but I will surely go back at some point just to try it again.
(4)
Ilya E.
This is a review of their lounge. The lounge experience is identical to the main room, and worth going to, because it does not require reservations. The menu is trimmed down, but the good stuff, such as the garlic fries, and the spicy lobster bisque soup, are still part of it. On a busy saturday night at 8pm, we only waited about 20 minutes, which is outstanding for boston. Other service perks include the legendary boston view and quick coat check. Service: There was some confusion in the beginning, and I did have to wait 10 minutes to be approached by a waitress (I was very cranky-hungry and wanted a snack), but once things got going, it was smooth sailing. Drinks: The capirhinas and the various flavored mojitos were very good, especially the pomagranate mojito I had. Food: This is where I give 5 stars and 1 star at the same time. The garlic fries were delicious and everyone destroyed them quickly. The spicy lobster bisque soup was good enough by itself to come to the restaurant by itself. It is absolutely amazing. Unfortunately what they call a hangar steak, came out absolutely terrible, and I wish I got my money back for it. I SPECIFICALLY requested it be cooked nice juicy red (medium rare-rare), and I specifically said juicy red, so that they would relay this to the chef. However the waitress INSISTED on a clasification, and I picked medium rare. I guess in Top of the Hub, medium rare means grey on the inside, dry, and low quality meat. The meat I received seemed more of a flank steak and was very sub par; a major dissappointment, which fortunately did not take away from other parts of the evening. If they redid their Hangar steak and announced it, I would consider going back again and trying it again. As it stands, I would go back, but I would NOT Order that particular dish.
(3)
Christopher S.
Awesome view but you will pay for it. A must due when in Niagara Falls but I wont be doing it again. The food was good but not worth the price. The view on the other hand is worth the price. The restaurant spins as you eat so you have a 360 degree view of the city. Check it out.
(4)
Julia H.
The atmosphere is breathtaking and the service is excellent, but the food is ever so disappointing. The haddock entree is terrible. The fish is a strange texture, the broth is salty, the clams were salty. The pork chop entree was only marginally better - very charred and little flavor. Surprisingly, the clam chowder was actually very good. I have to commend our waiter for being extremely polite and attentive - it definitely added to our experience, even if the food was disappointing. Come once for the experience (maybe for drinks and appetizers?), but you probably won't want to come again.
(3)
Ellen H.
Four stars is definitely generous - let me start with that. TOTH earns its prided four for (no pun intended) great drinks, live jazz, and the incredible view (duh). It could be awesome if there were more seating for walk-ins. Came here on a weekend (yes) off-night (aka not valentines, etc.) and the bar was PACKED. No reservations (at least for some seats?? it felt like others HAD reservations...) - waiting list only. Bar was full, so we stood for drinks and went to the jazz area. The jazz area is comprised of many handrails around large glass windows that overlook all of Boston & its suburbs, and seating for many dining guests. Allow me to interject by saying if i had made reservations for a weekend night and had waiting in line for said reservations, I would not be happy sitting next to a bunch of listless souls listening to jazz while drinking strong drinks on the edge of a plate of glass overlooking a very -- veeerryyyyyy - high ledge (alcohol + heights anyone?). That aside, I will judge on my own experience. We waited at the bar behind a seated couple -- always a bit awkward -- and got our drinks. Our drinks were well-made - strong but not too strong, worth the price for sure. We hedged our bets lingering around the bar but quickly realized it was a worthless wait. We took our drinks towards the live jazz music -- awesome! -- and hung around leaning on the handrails that surrounded the windows. I felt awkward the whole time but we weren't the only ones so it wasn't SO bad... The fact that I think TOTH still gets 4 stars besides the wait, the weird atmosphere I experienced, and the no-res policy means that their drinks are major. I didn't even try the food. But for $10+ per drink, if you get the bartender we had, you won't be disappointed! I will definitely try TOTH for dinner sometime soon. Stay tuned!
(4)
Aboud Y.
Meh
(2)
Farrah F.
The star is because it's prettyyy effing pricey here. We also should have asked for a table by the window, but it is a-okay. But it was Thanksgiving and I'd run off to Boston to hang out with my friend because I was too poor to fly across the country to hang out with my family, so this was our celebratory meal of sorts (to celebrate the fact that we actually stopped playing games + watching movies and TV shows to leave the apartment...and Thanksgiving, of course :O ). Between the two of us, we had...the duck confit, acorn butternut squash bisque, slow smoked rib eye, traditional roasted turkey, alsatian salad, cranberry cheese cake, and spicy roasted pear tart in puff pastry. Plus a whole lot of bread. I ate all of mine and sampled a little of everything my friend ordered (he declined my offer to split some of the things i ordered with him :O ), so by the time we were done eating, I was definitely pretty stuffed. The food was pretty fantastic. :] Service was attentive and friendly. The view was definitely awesome, and since this is only going to happen once in my lifetime, it was worth it, despite the price. Just don't tell that to my wallet. ._.
(4)
Andrea H.
Once restaurant week rolled around I knew I had to try something exciting, Top of the Hub was on the top of my list. (This was in March, so I'm a bit late with my review) The view was ahhhhmaaazzinggg. I can't do it justice with words. The service was great and the place was very spacious, and very clean. The rest of the menu was what I expected to be (the normal American food you'd expect). I ordered from the restaurant week menu. The carrot soup with goat cheese and bacon was delicious. I believe my entree was the tiger shrimp with sweet basil Parmesan cream. That was also very very good. For dessert, I ordered the creme brulee. Very pretty! Overall it was a very good experience. Our water even comped our drinks after someone had mistakenly charged us for 4 drinks instead of 2. The place is a bit pricey for what I'd consider a place I'd go to again on a whim, but it is definitely a great place to take someone on a nice date or a family dinner.
(5)
Ken J.
I have start by saying the food surpassed my expectations. We had the brunch menu, which was the only option. It was a price fixed 4 course meal. Service was slow but it was brunch and this, from my experience, is typical on a Sunday. What upset me was how we were treated as "Second class citizens" because we didn't make a reservation @ 1:15 for a Sunday in a very slow restaurant. Even though the restaurant was half empty and no one waiting, they sat us in the "non city view". The other side of the restaurant had betters views along with more upscale setting and furniture. When I asked about this a server told me they reserved the "good side" side for reservation guests. If I had known I would have called from the elevator because clearly their 1st class guests didn't show up Sunday.
(2)
F D.
Even though I frequent this place, no one from the staff gets to know you. That said, whenever I mention a special occasion- they do make the celebrated guests feel special. The view will make up for any mistakes- and these folks don't make many. I really like this place and think that you get a solid performance for "pay for the view" dollars. I never feel ripped off.
(4)
Sara C.
my friends and i came here in mid afternoon on a sunday after already having a HUGE lunch @ fenway park so we just came for the view and some drinks. this restaurant is on the 52nd floor of the prudential building....and wow, what an amazing view of the city! even though it was a little cloudy, we were still able to see the whole city and beyond. the restaurant is kinda fancy schmancy......would be a perfect place for a date or something. they have a green tea mojito which is delicious! i cant rate the food since we didnt eat there, but i'll gladly rate the view and drinks 4 stars!
(4)
Kate S.
I love Top of the Hub! I've gone a few times and it is great! The food is really good but it is known for it's view..which is gorgeous! I've seen people say that you can't take pictures but I've walked around taken photos there before of the skyline and they didn't have a problem, maybe it depends on the staff at the time? I really just love the whole feel of Top of the Hub it has the feel of a high class restaurant and I just love that! It is expensive but their entres are decorated really nicely and it's a good splurge once and a while! Great for a date or just going before a Sox game (it's a fun pedicab ride from Fenway)
(5)
J. Scott P.
I was taken here for my birthday yesterday. It was a surprise from my friend R. I didn't know where were going but once we got to the elevator of the Pru my eyes lit up like diamonds! I have always wanted to eat here and was super excited. The first thing to note is it's 52 floors above ground. The view is like no other save for perhaps the space needle in Seattle. This to me was reason enough to go. We were met by our lovely server, Jana [pronounced yana]. She was pleasant, knowledgeable and accommodating. With the slow lunch crowd it would have been nice to have her more available than she was. That said she was fairly decent. The drink menu was quite impressive. They offer a wide variety of wines and some decadent liquors, some going to $100.00 a shot. We went with plain old water and some diet cokes. I was a bit miffed when we found out after the fact that there weren't free refills on the soft drinks. For what is being charged this should be in my opinion should be a given. The menu for lunch was decent. It wasn't an inspiring selection but it covered all the bases. On retrospect I may have done better with a sandwich offering but I digress. We started off with the Fried Point Judith Calamari which was finished with tomato coulis, banana peppers, and lemon parmesan peppercorn aioli. i make no exaggeration that this was prepared perfectly. The calamari was tender and crispy and the sauces complemented exquisitely. Entree's things went a tad south. R had the Shrimp Spaghettini Arrabiata which was tossed with huge shrimp, basil, braised fennel, chili flakes and tomatoes. It was quite good, I will not lie. I think i was a bit put off that it was dried pasta instead of fresh. Again, price and notoriety makes one expect more. I had the Hanger Steak with garlic fries, port wine onions and bleu cheese butter. The presentation was gorgeous. A nice cone of crispy garlic fries and a stunning steak. The issue with this is they overcooked to to a well done versus the medium I ordered. plus it was touch as leather. I didn't make a fuss because I was enjoying the notion of being at the Top of the Hub, plus being a gift. It tasted great though. Dessert of course not to be missed. We shared the Chocolate Banana Cream tart. This was truly a work of art. It was a rich custard of chocolate and banana with fresh sliced banana and served in a chocolate wonton shell. The issue - the shell was completely inedible. It had no flavor other than unsweetened cocoa and was hard and chewy. The custard was wonderful but the shell completely took away any merit of calling it a tart. A puff pastry shell, a plain pie crust, anything else could have rescued it. In conclusion I might give it another try. It is truly impressive to be frank. The food however I could have obtained nearly anywhere for a much more modest price. The bill ran about $100.00 for the two of us.
(3)
Huan z.
Food are good but bit pricey. The most I did I remember is a time I went with one of my ex- girlfriend about 5 years ago, we ordered few drinks, appetizers plus 2 main dishes. The damage is around $120. Great place if you go for a romantic date. You don't feel you are having diner atop of Boston if you are not sit next to the window. When you make reservation for a diner, make sure to ask to sit next to the window. Otherwise You won't get one. If you don't like to spend a lot of money, just order drinks at the bar.
(4)
A N.
I went here last night with my boyfriend for our 7 year anniversary. We originally made 5:30 PM reservations (all they had) then the day of I was able to change it to 6:30. We were running late and I called in to let them know - she said they'd honor a reservation up to 20 minutes (which I think is pretty good). We ran even later and got there at 7:15. Ouch - reservation gone. But the hostess was very accommodating and said we could be seated at 8 PM. We got a drink at the bar - which is small but nice. The elevator ride was terrifying!!! I don't love elevators, but this one shakes a little because it goes so fast. I was dizzy when I got out. At least it's a quick ride! The view is incredible no matter where you sit, in my opinion. It's just breathtaking. It's like being in a plane at night during landing for two hours. We sat right at the window (which was a little cold but worth it). Tables didn't seem too close. The lighting is very romantic. People seemed to be dressed in all sorts of outfits - I saw jeans and sweaters, fancy dresses, business casual, suit and tie. We dressed business casual and felt comfortable. Food was good. I think there's better food elsewhere if that's what you're looking for, but for the ambiance and view, the food was good enough. Service was professional but nothing extraordinary. The drink selections were great. All in all I had a great time and I'm happy we chose this place for our special night. If you think it's too touristy - get over yourself like I did and spend a night here :)
(5)
Philip E.
Too many rules!!! The door person rudely told my friend to take off the hat. I guess the restaurant didn't give the person the proper speaking training. Waiter was bad at providing service and made the entire evening experience unpleasant
(2)
Julie B.
I can't believe I've lived in Boston for 5 years, 5 minutes away from the Pru, and had never been to Top of the Hub. I quickly took advantage of restaurant week and booked a table for me and 5 friends. This restaurant, and the view it provides, is absolutely gorgeous. Not even the harshest of critics could deny that. The service was spot on and our table was ready the second I walked in. 5+ stars for atmosphere, view and service. Now onto the food. First, I'm not sure how I felt about the guy walking around with bread. The bread itself was fine, but it felt a little "family resort-ish" to me. I ordered off the RW menu and chose the chilled potato soup, salmon with pea risotto, and chocolate pound cake. The flavor of the soup was delicious, but it was freezing cold. I know it was meant to be "chilled", but the temperature made it almost slightly difficult to eat. The salmon was great-- flaky but juicy, and the pea risotto was really tasty and filled with little baby shrimp! The pound cake was the real downfall of the meal. It was pretty dry and no one at the table seemed to enjoy it too much. I think it's pretty obvious that you go to Top of the Hub for the view, and maybe a little romance ;) If you happen to get a partially great meal that's just a plus. Still worth it.
Food is crap. You're paying for the view. But since you know that, why don't you just go to the Skywalk? (Then, when you're hungry, make sure you have a reservation in the South End or something.) A nice view, smooth jazz (cheesy), average food, high prices (for the quality of the dishes).
(1)
Jenna H.
Dined here for lunch last Saturday. We did make a reservation as we did not know how busy it would be and got a table at a window - breath taking! For lunch I ordered off of the prix-fixe lunch menu, which included the wedge salad, gnocchi with a cream sauce and mushrooms, and cheesecake for desert. Everything was delicious! For the price of $20.10 I thought it was a great deal. I thought prices were reasonable considering the location, ambiance, food quality, and great service. Our server was knowledgeable on the menu, attentive, and friendly. I would love to come back for some drinks and jazz music.
(5)
Bret C.
Absolutely outstanding views. Absolutely rediculous prices. Top of the Hub is just a fantastic place to go- mainly for its location. Prices are equally high- food was very good, but not fantastic. Called ahead a week early for a table near the window and after two confirmation calls, thought I was all set. When we arrived, we weren't seated anywhere the window and it took some work to get them to move us. Everything after that was flawless. People that work here are a little full of themselves it seemed. I think going here for a drink and some jazz music would be better than a full meal! Two and a half stars for dinner, three and a half stars for a place to have a drink.
(2)
Beth M.
My husband was nice enough to make reservations here for my 30th bday. He called a week and a half in advance to make reservations. My bday fell on a Saturday night so it worked out well. When we arrived it was very crowded, not surprisingly. Many tourists going up just for drinks and a view. We were greeted rather unenthusiastically and brought to our table a few minutes later. Now, this is where it all went wrong. From the moment we got there the customer service was pretty much nonexistent. Which I found surprising for such a nice place. Then we were seated at literally the smallest table I've ever been at for a dinner. It was right near the entrance to the dining area. The table was right against the wall divider between the room and hallway everyone was walking down. We had one arm against the wall - not comfortable. Super crammed. I looked around and saw other tables with more space. Somehow we got the major shaft. It seemed like the restaurant added a row of tables, farthest from the window just to add more tables to squeeze as much business as they can out of the space. I honestly don't know how 2 entrees and drinks would fit on the table. Now, if we had just gone up for drinks and hadn't made reservations well in advance, I wouldn't complain. But I was shocked with the space and lack of atmosphere. My husband is also 6'3" and this table was extra uncomfortable for him. He politely went up to the hostess to see if they might possibly have another table. We really did want to stay awhile and just felt that space was not appropriate for a special dinner. Well, they had us stand up and wait over by the hostess area. No one really spoke to us. 5 minute went by then 10. I looked at my husband and said 'we can't spend our money here.' The prices are steep - and in my opinion if you're going to ask top dollar your service should match that. We left - no one said anything. We went to The Capital Grille instead. A place we love and a place with always excellent customer service. We learned our lesson with this one. Top of the Hub feels like a tourist trap now. Maybe good for drinks but I wouldn't spend my money on dinner there. Go to Capital Grill instead - if you are celebrating an occasion they roll out the red carpet. We always feel like our business is appreciated.
(1)
Romulo R.
I have been here a few times and, while I must say I wasn't blow away, it was nice. I just go to the bar and have a few drink,s the bartenders have been very knowlegeable and give great service. The live jazz band has been nice. But honestly, unless you are really into this kinda of thing, there really are MUCH better places to go to in boston. If you have a thing for high altitude food, sure go check it out so that you can say 'oh yeah I went there once' when you r friends ask about it. I would expect this place to be way more dressy, but apparently people feel that it's ok to dress way casual, and the staff doesn't seem to mind.
(3)
K. L.
The food was good, not great. You are basically paying for the view and entertainment. As a visitor for a few business lunches the meal is always hit or miss depending on what you have.
(3)
Yb W.
Spectacular and breathtaking views of Boston, especially at night. Obviously, a table by the window shows that to best advantage, so make reservations on weekends to secure a great seat. The cocktail menu is extensive; everything we tried was delicious. The food has a mediocre reputation, but it isn't bad. It just tends to be a little heavy and salty, and not quite cutting edge.
(4)
Rebecca K.
Extremely disappointing. First off, walking into the restaurant is a daunting task. Once you walk through the Prudential Center shopping mall, you reach a lobby where you must present identification to a security guard in order to access the elevators that take you to Top of the Hub. I found this process to be very off-putting as I have never in my life had to show my driver's license to enter a restaurant. With respect to the food: The spicy lobster soup tasted fishy, was far too sweet (coconut milk?) and lacked any semblance of spice. The scallops were not bad, but the cannelini beans that they sat atop were practically raw. The pork chop that I ordered was so tough I could barely chew it, and the accompanying mac and cheese was vile; all I could taste was white wine and garlic. The blueberry upside down cake for dessert was dry and the whipped cream had melted which led me to believe that it had been sitting around for quite some time. With respect to the service: Tom, our server, took our order and we didn't see him again until he dropped off the bill (a foodrunner served the dishes). Therefore, we never received offers for drink refills, or were asked how the meal was going. I voiced my concerns to Carlo the manager who promised that if I left my name, he would make sure that I received "exceptional" service the next time I visited. I explained to him that he and his staff should offer exceptional service to all the restaurant's customers, complaints or no complaints. I believe that his comment is indicative of why the restaurant has such poor quality in the first place.
(1)
Gokhan U.
The view is absolutely stunning. If you would like to impress an out-of-town visitor with a great Boston view while having some good food, this is the place. I was there with my party on a busy Friday night at 8:30. The service and treatment was acceptable. The waiter can disappear for minutes at a time, but he was courteous and helpful. The sommelier was also very nice. I had a bisque soup and braised lamb shank, which were delicious. Everyone else was also happy with their choices. The portion of shank was really generous. They offer nice prix-fixe tasting or chefs menus, optionally paired with wines. Later at night on the bar side of the restaurant, there is live music. Although it was a crowded night, we did not feel rushed. Again, the experience is heavily carried by the view, so if you had the same food somewhere at the same prices, you might have an issue. I found the prices commensurate with the location, ambience and food (I felt a slight premium on the food due to location, I suppose). When you go make sure, you call ahead and ask for a window seating. Yes, inside tables have views but to me it does not compare. Also it goes without saying that the view quality will depend on the weather. Parking at Prudential is $14 with validation.
(4)
Jennifer P.
Excellent service, food and view! The arugula salad was delicious. I will definitely go back.
(5)
Ashley C.
We came here for drinks around happy hour time in part of our walk Boston (which involved many stops at local places). I wanted to go here for the view - a bird's eye view of Boston. Why go up and pay for the observation deck when you can have a drink at the restaurant with the same view? The hostess quickly accommodated our request for a table at a window. The views were absolutely beautiful. We found that the environment was very intimate which was just what we were looking for at the time. Of course, with the views (and tourists), comes the higher prices, but I didn't think they were that bad for what you got. The drinks were good and packed a nice punch. Our waiter was very helpful and went above and beyond. When we asked him about a particular type of whiskey and a comparison, he brought a generous taste of both. Overall, it was a pleasant experience.
(4)
Jessica L.
I've been here a few times in the past to enjoy a delicious drink and the beautiful view. However, I had never had the chance until recently to make it up there for dinner. Unfortunately, it was an extremely disappointing experience. This review is particularly about Valentine's Day, but I think that my experience illuminates some of the questionable business practices this restaurant has. My boyfriend and I made a Valentine's Day reservation in mid-January (so about 3-4 weeks before February 14th) with no issue. We made a reservation for 9:30 at night - which is quite late, but we figured it would be well worth the wait! The day of the 14th, he received a call from the restaurant confirming our reservation. The person on the phone mentioned to him that there was a Valentine's Day Special - but was unwilling to give further information besides that. My boyfriend asked what the "Valentine's Day Special" was - was it a different menu? Was it a special meal option? What was it? The woman on the other line was very brusque and said along the lines of - "Oh, it's just a special we offer" and "you can look online if you'd like." Overall, her tone was quite rude. He was sort of put off by that, and he looked online at what was called the "Valentine's Day Special" - a $125 dollar per person, 5-course meal. Nothing online indicated that this was the ONLY thing available on February 14th. We were really looking forward to eating off of the regular menu. We both have some dietary restrictions, and both knew that there were things on the regular menu that we would really enjoy. (I'm sure you can all see where this story is going). We arrive to the restaurant on Friday, after waiting to eat until 9:30. We are seated and given the menu and are told that the $125/person meal is the ONLY thing available to us. We, of course, expressed that we were NOT told accurate information, even when we asked specifically during the afternoon confirmation call. Our server was really quite nice, and we knew it wasn't his fault, but we told him that we really wouldn't be able to do the $125/person meal. We were expecting and willing to pay quite a bit for this meal (the regular menu is quite pricey as well) but NOT $250 dollars before tax, tip, and drinks. Not to mention that there were a few things that we would not have been able to even been able to eat! Our server brought over the manager (I'm assuming?), who apologized for the miscommunication and told us that we are not the first people this happened to tonight. He offered us each a free drink as a consolation, which was nice....but it didn't take away from the fact that it was then 10:00 pm and we had not eaten dinner, and every restaurant in the city was full/booked. So, we sipped our "free" drinks (we of course still tipped our poor server who was now making no money off of our table) and tried to enjoy the view....while overhearing the SAME conversation happen again the next table over between a couple and their server - they were also not made aware of the different menu and reacted quite similarly to us. I think they decided to just pay for it - which makes me concerned that this might be something that Top of the Hub does on purpose or something - they can get a few people to pay a bit more than they would normally be willing to pay by not disclosing that there is a change in menu/prices until customers are seated. I hope this isn't true. Word of warning to all of those who may try to come here on Valentine's Day or any other sort of holiday. Know what they're offering that night, and be PUSHY to get the right information. Otherwise, you might end up hungry (like us) or suckered into paying 300 dollars for a meal for two (like the people next to us). Top of the Hub - if you want to charge that much for a meal on holidays - that's your prerogative, I suppose. Maybe people will pay for it if they're aware before they make the reservation (or even just what is ON the menu, for us who can't eat everything!) Just don't be so deceptive. You're not gaining any loyal customers that way.
(2)
Tony C.
Top of the Hub is a great spot to go for a nice drink and a bite to eat while enjoying an aerial view of Boston. No need to book the proper restaurant, and definitely don't pay for the viewing deck, because you can go to the bar and get a reasonably priced meal and cocktail while enjoying the view. Jazz kicks off around 8 o'clock most nights. A great spot to bring visitors.
(5)
Alex F.
From a service oriented perspective , this place is horrible. From the manager to their boss, their attitudes were unacceptable. For having a whole dining area closed and pushing customers to wait by the elevator where people are constantly moving around and waiting for it's arrival, can only be described as abysmal. Coming from the service and hospitality field, this was totally the opposite of what a restaurant should strive for. The young man and young lady seemed extremely illfit for handling customers. It appeared obvious that they could lose it with only a little bit of pressure. The older foriegn gentleman, not quite a gentleman seemed highly defensive and offputting. He had the warmth of a rebel soldier that would resort to gorilla like warfar. They need an attitude adjustment or quite frankly a good spanking. From a food perspective, the fare was only so so. From the calamari, crabcakes to their seafood, it appeared clear they relied on their skyscraper rooftop view and especially on foreign tourists. Their unprofessionalism drove us away to a restaurant down the road, Atlantic Fish Company. It was clear where we ended up wasn't relying on anything other than their food. Take my advice and save yourself from nasty and unprofessional managers and staff.
(1)
Maria S.
Much like with the Eiffel Tower, the real question is whether to go during the day or night. This restaurant sits atop of the Prudential Tower, and all the tables have city views. The drinks and meals are expensive, and with the wide choice of fabulous cuisine in Boston, I would save Top of the Hub for clear nights or sunny days, since the views are the main attraction. I've gone for drinks on various occasions and the martinis were good as was the cookie platter--definitely enough to share. As far as food though, I would save TOTH for restaurant week.
(4)
Brian W.
Hugely disappointing on so many levels. For my Daughter's birthday I took her and a few of her friends for lunch at a "special" restaurant. They would have been thrilled with Cheesecake Factory but I thought this would be a great experience. Mind you this was mid afternoon on a Saturday and the place was 1/4 full. Here I go... First we were sat and it took a while for our strangely discombobulated waitress to come over. Then it took a while for drinks after she made odd comments about my daughter and her friends. She was trying to be nice but really seemed strangely off. We couldn't decide what to order when she finally came to ask us the first time and then took forever to come back. We finally ordered and the food took forever while we ate our frozen butter and cold bread. When the food did come we only received 3 of the 5 meals which were basically just dropped off on the table by the back waiters without clearing the bread plates. They literally just put the food down in the middle of the table. After about 10 minutes of the other food not arriving, with no sign of our waitress, we grabbed her and asked. She went to check and came back to say she didn't ring in the meal right and the kitchen didn't make it (she held it). It took around 10-15 minutes more for us to get a turkey club and pulled pork sandwich. Still can't figure out what took so long since all they had to do was warm the pork and cook bacon. After dropping off the food the magical disappearing waitress didn't come right back to check on us. If she had I would have told her that most of the bacon on my daughter's sandwich was way undercooked and my $17 pulled pork sandwich was nothing like described on the menu. We did order pedestrian food but for the price they were charging I would have expected great quality and a little creativity at least. I got pulled pork on a bun with cloeslaw and my daughter got a below average $14 club sandwich. When our friend finally did come by she asked blithely how things were as if they were expected to have been fine an hour+ into what was supposed to be a simple meal. When I complained about the many issues she went to talk to the manager. At this point I would have expected the manager to come over given how royally messed up our meal was. I am probably only saying half the things that were either weird or bad about the experience so far. But no, the waitress came back and said "she told the manager she messed up" and they comped my sandwich and drink and offered us 1 free dessert as if the other 4 ppl were going to sit there and watch which, of course, we didn't want to wait for. Oh yeah, when I complained about my sandwich the waitress tried to convince me to order a burger because they were better. Again, we had been there over an hour with me and 4 teenage girls and she is proposing I wait for the slow as crap kitchen to cook me a freaking burger? Even when I asked for the check she again tried pushing a burger on me. Really? The very capable waiter waiting on the tables around us cleared all our dishes and seemed normal and competent. He was the only person there who seemed to understand that this was supposed to be a decent restaurant. Never saw the manager. Boooo most of all to him or her. Even if the meal had gone perfectly, the food here is way overpriced and of average quality. Basically a fancy chain style restaurant with a great view and absolutely nothing more.
(1)
Michael D.
I can't say much about the view CAUSE WE WENT ON A CLOUDY DAY. AND i thought the minimum charge for a table was 24 bones total.. turns out its 24 bones PER PERSON, so unless you're planning to drink a lot or order a meal, SIT at the BAR.. its FREE! The drinks were strong enough, the service is great, and the FRESHLY BAKED COOKIES ARE TO DIE FOR ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ). They might have been a little undercooked, but they were SATURATED with SUGAR and BUTTER, so they literally MELTED in your mouth.. SO FREAKIN GOOD! SO to conclude, here's what I recommend: 1. Sit at the bar (there's no minimum charge)... I HAD TO LEARN THIS THE HARD WAY. 2. Get the plate of assorted cookies.. best cookies of my life. 3. GO ON A CLEAR NIGHT.
(4)
Younghae C.
Went here for my 30th with my husband on a late Thursday night. We sat in the lounge area, which is first come first served. There is a min $25 spending limit per person. So, we ordered 2 entrees, 1 drink, and 1 dessert (Chocolate molten cake) that pretty much met the minimum. Food was okay. Ordered crab cake and kobe beef hot dog sliders. Definitely not worth the $, but again, you don't come here for the food, but the atmosphere. Live jazz music and sitting by the window was worth it. Note: The host first told us that there were no window seats available, but when we told him we would wait, 2 secs later, he sat us around the corner by the window. That was odd, wonder if he was being racist?! Service was really nice. The waitress gave us her recommendations and checked in periodically. Would consider coming back for another 'special' occasion.
(3)
John B.
The food is average,but the views of the city are amazing! I personally like the desserts and cocktails.
(3)
Calla G.
Love it here! Views are amazing, service is great and a higher altitude means less drinks!! Most people go for special events but I love going on a regular Tuesday afternoon.
(4)
Lin M.
Location...Location...Location This iconic restaurant lives up to the hype. We went after a Sunday matinee performance of War Horse. We were seated in the Northeast corner of the restaurant which was perfect. A view of the waterfront and the Charles on a bright crisp fall day. When the sun set the city lights were a wonderful backdrop. Oh yeah and the food. The best Cosmos I've had, I think ever. All of our dinners were superb. Not any complaints. And the service was marvelous. Definitely worth the price tag.
(5)
John X.
You should only come here for one reason and one reason at all... dining with a view. We only went for the lounge area and got a bottle of wine to meet the $24 per person requirement. The restaurant was very nicely decorated with comfortable seating and nice furniture, and we had a spectacular view of Boston (some views are better than others though). Service was good also, and our wine was decent enough. If you're looking for a spectacular finish for the evening, the view is sure to impress.
(4)
Andi R.
I give it 3 stars ONLY for the fantastic view and good (but WAY overpriced) food. The only truely good thing about our experience was the view. We waited for almost an hour for our table that we had reservations for. Okay, the previous party took a little longer than expected, not the restaurants fault. After being told we could not order from the bar, someone would come to us in the lounge, no one even glanced our way. We had to ask the host to send someone over. The waiter seemed like he had something lodged up his posterior when finally coming over. After being seated, we were told our menus were on their way...maybe from New York because it took 15 minutes. Water 25 mintues. We had to practically beg for bread. Our server was an ass...told us about the special and then said they were out of it, WTF? He was crazy slow, unfriendly and ignored our requests for simple refills, although quick to pick up the signed check, of course. Our kids, who have eaten at every type of restaurant, even fancy-schmancy places, have impeccible table manners, yet were not even acknowledged. We had to ask 3 times to get them a refill...and were charged for the refills!!! Friggin' Applebee's can give free refills on soda, why can't Top of the Hub?! I don't know if we were treated like crap because we had kids with us and everyone assumes people with kids tip like crap (a lot do, but we don't). They totally take for granted (and don't deserve) the kind of money they make. Oh, and make sure you ask for parking validation if you park at the Prudential, or you'll pay like $48 instead of $12. I think I'll try the Skywalk next time I want a great view. A lot cheaper and way less insulting!
(3)
Erica A.
Worth going to at least once for the view alone. I went during a snow storm. Beautiful.
(3)
Justin Gwailo H.
The reason why I went here a few times was to bring out-of-towners to see the Boston view. I also love the live Jazz on weekends. However, food was always so-so.
(3)
Jackie Y.
Top of the Hub is perfect if you want: -Breathtaking views of Boston at night -Relaxing Live Jazz Music -Delicious Wine and Cocktails -Yummy Dessert - Get the Freshly Baked Cookies, Seasonal Berries served with Chantilly Cream It's one of the few places my mom actually remembers and wants to go to (b/c the cookies were so friggin' awesome) when I take her back to Boston. Con: There was a $25(?) minimum per person to get a table. A little tough to reach if you're just getting 1 dessert and you don't want to have more than 1 drink per person (assuming 2 ppl in your party). But it's definitely worth it b/c the bar has obstructed views...
(4)
Irapuca P.
Incredible view of Boston. Incredible atmosphere. Great service although some waiters have attitude problem. don't come here expecting great tasting food, however. This is a good place to come if you are on a date. Just have some dessert and skip everything else on their menu. They get 2 stars for food plus 1 extra star for the unbelivable view.
(3)
David V.
My wife and I went to the Top of the Hub last year (2008) for our anniversary and it was EXCELLENT. So, we decided to return this year (2009) for our anniversary, and it was not as good. The service was wonderful, the restaurant is beautiful, the views are beautiful, but this time the food was not as impressive. I started with the clam chowder, it was kind of watery and just average. My wife started with the crab cake, which was excellent. For dinner I had the lobster mac & cheese which was good, but for $34 it should be better than "good". My wife had the macadamia nut encrusted tuna, which was considerably smaller than the portion she received last year (ordered the same thing last year). My wife also had the pumpkin martini which was very good, but over-priced. Overall, the food was just OK, but for the price, it should be much better. I guess when you go to the Top of the Hub you are really paying for the view. We were just hoping for as good of an experience as we had the year before, but we did not get that. It is a great place for a "romantic dinner", but just be prepared to pay a lot of money.
(3)
Brendan P.
Whether your eating or just want a drink, the ambiance and view here is unparallelled. It's worth it to make the mission up the elevator if only to check it out for a few minutes. Tourists: toss this place on your Boston to-do list already!
(4)
Kim T.
Went to dinner tonight with my bf for our one year anniversary, our reservation was at 9 and they sat us early in a perfect little booth with an amazing view. We were greeted by Mario, and let me tell you he was so friendly, and hospitable. I am a waitress in a nice italian restaurant and can't help but judge other servers when I go to eat, and he is one of the best. Our appetizers were amazing. For dinner my bf got the lamb shank, and I got the sole special, stuffed with crab meat, the bf is an executive chef, and said it was some of the the best lamb he has ever had. For dessert we got the warm chocolate cake and pumpkin icecream, and Mario had a candle put in it for us, so nice and thoughtful, and the live jazz was awesome. Just the view alone was breathtaking. Honestly, this is one of my favorite places now, I will definitely be back..hopefully we get Mario again for some awesome service! This place is great, keep up the great work guys!! Thanks for an awesome and memorable night!
(5)
Alan Y.
The food here is decent, but not worth the $100 dollars I spent for their tasting menu. Although the view is great, not all tables have a good view, which you should definitely consider beforehand.
(3)
Sara G.
Who knew that this city was beautiful from up above?! It was amazing to see the area in autumn, going from day to sunset to night. You can see everything from the different neighborhoods to the Harbor Islands to the mountains in the far off distance. I had the chicken flatbread (with marscapone cheese and yellow and red tomatoes). Yum!! I also had a Level 151 Martini which was mixed nice and strong. It's not the best value up front for the food. But when you add in the fact that you're paying for an amazing view, it's totally worth it. (Probably a bad idea to go here when the weather's foggy or gross).
(5)
Melinda H.
I came here to celebrate my birthday with about 15 friends and the service was sooo unbelievably appalling that it has inspired me to write my first Yelp review in over a year and a half. Yes, it was THAT BAD. I can understand that they have a $24 minimum/person if you want to sit, but I'm a little less understanding when I have 15 friends who are buying drinks and dessert at the bar and half of the dining room/lounge area is empty, and they still insist that we spend $24 on top of what we paid for at the bar just to sit. What is even more completely and utterly unacceptable is how rude they are about this. There was literally a man following us around, first telling us we can't sit down on a sofa even though nobody is there b/c of the $24/limit. When we were standing, he then comes up to us and says "I dont mean to be a prick but you need to move. You're crowding the live music area." I would expect a lot more from a place like this and using that language is absolutely unacceptable. I then say I'd like to talk to the manager and he says, "fine, I'll get him." The manager never shows up so I ask him where he is and he points to the manager across the room - making me then go and hound down the manager myself. Later on that night, the manager finally lets 3 of us sit down on a sofa in the lounge that happens to open up and the waitress immediately comes and says "you can't sit there, you have to spend $24 each." When I tell her the mgr said we could, she then says without skipping a beat, "fine, then give me the cookies. you can't have food on the sofas." At that point, I couldn't take it anymore - the tone was so competely unacceptable, especially given the significant amount of money we had spent on drinks and dessert, that I went and talked to a second manager. The manager finally said we could have a table, but at that point all of my friends were tired from standing around for an hour that they all wanted to go home. Top of the Hub - if you had let us sit at one of your many empty tables to begin with, I guarantee we would have stayed longer, which means more money spent on food and drinks, and 20 happy customers who would leave with a great impression and come back. Instead, we all only ordered 1 drink, and I guarantee NONE of us will be going back, On top of that, I am so appalled that I feel compelled to write this long negative review to warn other consumers to think twice about going. It is time you trained your staff to learn to speak to customers in an appropriate tone and manner, and to learn what most nice establishments have mastered long ago - to place the customer first.
(1)
Meghan R.
I brought my husband here when I landed my first big gig as it really captured the mood -- I truly was at the top of the hub. You can't beat the view. You can't. The cocktails are amazing. I love that they leave the mini shaker at your table so you can pour and suck it dry at your discretion. I prefer the lounge for the cushy chairs and relaxed luxury of the jazz. It feels just like what I thought being grownup in the city would. I am not a fan of elevators, so 50-plus floors later, I like feeling that I really earned a drink. Cheers to me overcoming.
(5)
Erik S.
Great service, excellent views and decent food. A lot of restaurants that try to play at a higher than they are end up having snobby waiters to make you think that their product is better. It never works for me. Justin, our server, was great. He didn't need to explain to me what an prix fix menu is but maybe they get a lot of people in here that do? I dunno. Anyway, he made it very clear that he wanted to ensure that we were comfortable and had a pleasant experience. Great service. The only issue I had was that they seemed to have a number of sommeliers, but one never came by our table. I guess maybe they got the sense that my wife and I weren't going to buy one of the $500 bottles of wine with our meal, so they didn't want to make the effort. Our waiter took care of us just fine, however. He also asked about our parking ticket, which I might have forgotten to validate if not for him. Overall, great service. The views were nice but our table was set fairly far back from the windows so we really couldn't see out. Also, they cram as many tables as they can by the windows so whenever I looked out the window, I felt like I was staring at someone at one of the tables. The food was good, but not great. My wife thought it was excellent, but I think they left the flavor out of the product. I started with the clam chowder which was quite good, but rather thin. I prefer a nice thick clam chowder. This chowder was also fairly spicy. Fine for me, but it meant my wife couldn't try any. I followed that with the prime sirloin. It was a nice cut of meat, seasoned nicely and well marbled but the meat just seriously lacked flavor. What this tells me is that the $47 meat was not the best quality stuff. Maybe an issue with the food source of the bovine. It was still good, but not great. The bottom line here is that this is another restaurant that is good, but doesn't meet my price/taste ratio. When I spend over $150 on a meal, it had better be amazing. I would have preferred to eat at Jardiniere in SF or the London in NYC.
(4)
Jamison K.
I went here with my dad and a few of his friends last week after a conference. None of us were dressed all that well so we weren't all that surprised that we didn't get the best treatment. The service was alright, we got what we needed in a timely fashion however the waiter didn't even introduce himself and we only saw him once or twice. The food however was absolutely fantastic. The four of us were blown away by the quality of everything that we had, even right down to the french fries. We did all opt for the prix fix 3 course meal if that had any weight on the quality.
(3)
Matt S.
this place is amazing.. I went here with my girlfriend for our anniversary recently and the view of boston truely is amazing... The waitstaff is friendly and more then helpfull.. It is very clean and not messy whatsoever. The lounge area is incredible.. my only compliant is for the price you pay the portions are very small but the food is great
(4)
mike y.
food : eh~ drinks : $$$ view : the only thing good
(2)
Christopher D.
I live in Boston and have been here over 17 times... But after this last time I shall not return. This past time I went with my girlfriend, and after being seated in front of the "stage," ( where the piano is) water began to drip down on her. We asked to be moved and a "manager" came to reseat us. He spilled my girlfriends entire cocktail on my lap In the process of moving us and did NOT APPOLOGIZE. Let me reiterate that... He DID NOT APPOLOGIZE... He simply looked at my wet pants and said, " let me get you another drink." SERIOUSLY?!?!?' This of course detracted from our dinning experience and so at the conclusion of our meal I asked for this "manager" in question so that he could explain to our server (blond haired female who was actually excellent) why she was not getting any tip... after 10 minutes where the manager in question did not come, I had to once again request the actual manager that we were dealing with and when he did come it seemed to be such a BURDEN to him... I myself worked in the customer service industry for over five years and what my girlfriend and I experienced here is by far THE WORST customer service ever. I love the views from this restaurant, but due to the utter lack of competency in the management department I shall never return.
(1)
J B.
This review covers two separate visits. Short version; this place is a rip off that is over priced & over rated. The management & hosts are terrible, the waitstaff / bartenders tend to be nicer but unskilled. Will not go back there again. One: Dinner I went there for my anniversary. I called in advance and asked for a nice table, I didn't need a window or anything but I didn't want to be near the bathroom or the kitchen or shoved in a corner. We arrived and were seated at a table that was across from the waiter station, shoved in a corner, and near the kitchen. I am so glad they listened to me. For the prices we were about to pay, I figured it would be close to "fine dining". I was really really wrong. The food was meh at best, the service was horrible, although our waiter was nice. Two: Drinking & Eating at the bar So the cocktails were meh, although from the group we had (about 8 people) some of the drinks were good. The cheese plate was good, the flatbread was meh, the cookies were awesome. I asked the bartender for a whiskey old fashioned, he gave me some fruity crap in a glass (not an old fashioned). Right, the drinks and food were a mixed bag.. mostly the food lacked flavor and the drinks lacked alcohol. The cookies were still good. So it was a Tuesday night, celebrating a birthday. We were racking up a big bill and the place was basically empty. The manager at some point stood at the end of the bar and glared at us for a long while. Then while we were still drinking the bartender handed us one check for the group. Basically so they could hit us with the group gratuity. The manager was a total ass, and while the bartender was nice, his skills were not so good. Its not like we ordered 1 cheap drink and that was it, we spent around $500... Not sure why the manager was a jerk, but no one in our group will ever go back there again.
(1)
Scoobie U.
The views are fantastic, but the food is overpriced and not very good. A drink is pricey too, around $7 bucks for a beer and more expensive for mixed drinks. It's cool to walk around the floor and see all of Boston's skyline, however wouldn't go there to dinner. A redeeming factor is not having to pay for entrance to the Top of the Hub. The bar is small/non-existent, but they do have little spaces in each corner of the restaurant to gaze out the windows to the skyline.
(3)
Undercova A.
Great bar with a nice view. Respectable selection of wine and beer options. The bar tender was friendly and very easy going. We didn't eat there but I looked at the menus and thought they were terrific. There is a fine dining side with a $55 prix fix menu ($75 if paired with wine) that looked great. The bar menu had some interesting options, including a Rueben egg roll.
(5)
Laurie C.
Went here last night for our 1 year anniversary and it was very nice. The wait staff was very attentive and kind. They surprised us both with a complimentary dessert that was unexpected. The filet and pork tenderloin were excellent. Views at our table made the dinner extremely nice. This is a must go.
(5)
calamity chang c.
The service was great. My chowder was a bit soupy but good, the tartar of yellow fin tuna was pretty good (japanese style infusion ginger). My duck cob was. ok. It would have been great if I would have asked for the dressing on the side. I guess I don't learn any life lessons from other dressing with lettuce experiences. The creme brulee was freaking awesome. Get coffee and dessert and check out the view.
(4)
Hans M.
During my college years, I had to save up to bring a date to Top of the Hub (TOTH). Great view, no question, you can see all Boston on a clear day. Good for dates in the evening, friends from out of town and rest your legs from shopping in Copley.
(4)
David D.
I have yet to find a better high-rise view of boston than this place (what do you expect being on the prudential). The food, like everyone is saying, really isn't that great. But the drinks are solid and the view is amazing. It's def. a kind of place where you throw on a blazer and order a martini, but there are plenty of people who want to party up there too (not just be old and sit around). Free to get up, good drinks with a great view, and overall awesome.
(4)
Iwen C.
I would only recommend this place to people who enjoy rude services with beautiful night view.
(1)
Heather E.
The food here is good but not great and forgettable. What is notable is the view from the top of the Prudential Center, the 2nd largest building in Boston, which is stunning! The food & drinks are overpriced. If you would like to see the view of the city you would be better off going to the "Skywalk Observatory" where you can see a 360 degree panoramic view of the Greater Boston area. This is located in the Prudential as well.
(3)
R D.
By far the best place to eat with a breathtaking view all of Boston. I went for valentine's day with my husband for lunch and it was amazing! Our waiter Martin was on point with our whole experience. Being from hometown NY, the city that never sleeps. Definitely this place by far will be my favorite #1 restaurant to go to. So if your in town visiting, passing through, or just moved here you must make a reservation to the #1 restaurant Boston has to offer.
(5)
Dawn W.
SO BAD WE WALKED OUT My friend was having a special birthday so a small group of us wanted to go out to celebrate. I called on a Saturday evening and asked for a reservation for drinks and desserts for that night. The woman who picked up the phone suggested the lounge, but warned us that live music would start at 9pm and it gets quite loud. I asked if we could have a table in the dining room because we wanted a more quiet evening and she said sure. She went through the whole "let me have your name and number" and "may I ask if you're celebrating anything tonight?" thing. However, when we arrived and were seated, we asked for the dessert menu and were told we would have to move! Apparently our reservation wasn't for the dining room (although the women who took our reservation assured me it was!) and the staff (who were extremely rude) demanded that we give up our seats because we couldn't only have dessert and drinks in the dining room. THAT'S FINE IF THAT'S THE POLICY BUT WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT OVER THE PHONE. To make matters worse, they treated me as if *I* had made a mistake, when in fact I had told the person taking the reservation very clearly that we only wanted drinks and desserts. (And they couldn't find the person who took our reservation, of course.) Not only did they demand that we move, but they had no seating in the lounge so we would have to wait AND then there would be a minimum $25 per person charge for eating in the lounge! So we walked out. We went to the BEST bar in Boston (The Oak Bar in the Copley Plaza Hotel), spent way more than $25 per person because they were so NICE to us, not because we were forced to, and we'll never go back to the Top of the Hub again
(1)
George F.
I wasn't going to write a review, but felt compelled after reading a recent review where a patron felt he was looked down upon. I was in Boston with my wife and daughter for the weekend and wanted to show my daughter the view from the Skywalk (the observation deck from the 50th floor of the Prudential building.); however, it was closed due to a function. My wife was shopping and my daughter seemed so disappointed, so I decided I would take her to the restaurant and get a drink and let her get a peek. I thought they would let her in the bar area since it was an establishment that sold food. I was wrong, so I told the host the situation and told him I'd be willing to get a couple of drinks and an appetizer, but we were planning to have dinner later and had to meet my wife in 45 min. I waited about 3 min. (maybe less) and he found us a table by the window and I was told "Take your time". This was a Saturday night around 6pm. The place was busy and not one table near the window was vacant. I was clearly under dressed for this place and no one said anything about spending $25 (like the other review mentioned). It was a hot day and going to the Red Sox game was a possibility when we left the hotel, so my attire was more for having dinner at a sports bar. My daughter and I were treated like we were regulars. I ordered an appetizer and I had a scotch and beer. I believe the bill was around $40 and I made sure to leave around 30% tip. My only regret was not getting the host's name because he was the best. What I ate was good and the 18 year old scotch was priced about right. The scotch selection was very good. I would definitely bring my family here to eat on my next visit to Boston.
(5)
Elizabeth G.
I recently visited Top of the Hub during Restaurant Week and had a fantastic experience! Obviously part of the fun of Restaurant Week is getting to go to restaurants you wouldn't ordinarily choose due to their "price points." My girlfriends and I chose TOH for a treat! With this came some reservations that perhaps the service wouldn' t be great seeing as they know you'll be ordering off the RW menu (lower prices than their standard menus, thus less tip), but this couldn't be farther from our experience! We received 4 star treatment from the moment we set foot in the restaurant- chais pulled out, napkins placed in our laps, etc. Our server was attentive and informative- offering his own insight on the menu- and could not have been more professional. When our entrees arrived, four servers were carrying them and placed them all down in front of us at the same time. What service! As for the food, the regular menu looked so delicious that we ended up ordering off the regular menu instead of going with the RW menu! The duck confit appetizer was incredible- amazingly tender and flavorful. Two of my friends had the beef tenderloin which they raved about. I had the scrod which was creatively done (crusted with potato with leeks) and delicious. All in all it was a lovely evening! Thank you TOH!
(4)
Melissa B.
Gorgeous view, terrific food, a must try! We or the 5 course dinner which was amazing. Beef au poivre and chocolate souffle were my favorites. Next time Ill def opt for the wine pairings with dinner. We're already planning our next trip!
(5)
Layla L.
we went there during restaurant week, it's definitely worth it during that time. it's kind of a pity that it rained that day so there has not been any kind of view, but it is indeed a fancy restaurant. Everything is pretty nice. Nothing exceeded my expectation, but didn't let me down either.
(4)
Daphne X.
Took mom here for restaurant week and it was a great choice. We had reservations at 6:30pm and it was the perfect time to catch sunset. I've been around Boston my entire life but viewing the entire cityscape is all new to me. It was amazing.
(4)
Hatra M.
The tenderloin steak is amazing one of the most delicious, tender, juicy steaks I've ever had. The side of blue cheese is just amazing. The service was also great. Maybe the negative reviews are because of the price, but I think the price is totally worth it for what you get. the steak is $37 and the salmon is $29 which both are very delicious we were a party of 2 and got a bill of $100 for 2 main course one soup and one dessert
(5)
Byron M.
I have eaten here for lunch and I have eaten here for dinner and I have yet to be impressed. You are paying for the view which is very very special. The food and the service has room for improvement. Nevertheless, it is not bad, or awful, but not inspiring. The view is worth your trip however.
(3)
Cory M.
Since I moved to Boston, I had always wanted to go here. So when my friend suggested that we go there for lunch to take advantage of restaurant week, of course, I was in. And I have to say, it was totally worth the visit in every way. First of all, the view is amazing. You can literally see all of Boston from there and I bet the view is even better at night. Secondly, my lunch was very very good. I had strawberry rhubarb soup, then scallops with polenta, and finally an orange mouse. I can honestly say that it was one of the best meals I've ever had. I would love to go back again, probably at night to check out their cocktails and to see the gorgeous view one more time.
(5)
melinda j.
For our last night in Boston, we wanted to watch the amber and magenta hues fill the evening sky as the sun set over Cambridge and this place was perfect. However, for a restaurant that prides itself on being a fine dining desitination, they have very rude and testy hostesses! One balked at giving us a receipt of some sort when we checked in an item, and another practically threw our stuff at us when we were ready to retrieve it -- so minus one star for an otherwise five star experience. The three course prixe fixe ($55) will leave you completely stuffed. We chose the following courses: 1) Duck confit: a savory braised duck leg served with a pulled breast and truffle salad 2) 10 oz. bone-in veal sirloin with tomato confit, chanterelle sauce, and lemon gremolata: intensely flavorful jus 3) Caramelized pineapple vanilla bean tea cake: moist and fantastic with the homemade chai ice cream I didn't mean to be a voyeur, but the gentleman setting at the table next to ours proposed to his girlfriend and it was so very romantic and sweet! The restaurant offered to serve them complimentary glasses of wine afterward, a kind gesture on their part.
(4)
Jeff I.
In my recent Boston trip I definitely wanted to try a nice high class restaurant with the best viewing pleasure in Boston and I certainly did at Top of the Hub. This restaurant is really cool. you're practically at the highest point in boston and able to have a overlook of the whole city of Boston. The view is simply amazing and if you want to take a date here, I could see why. Drinks are pretty pricey, as well as the food, but the food is well worth it. I do agree, this place is most stunning for the view more than the food, but the food in my opinion was delicious. only downside of the restaurant in my opinion would be that the bar area is small and the place to sit by the bar they need more of. It's a reservation only type of restaurant in my eyes and while waiting and having drinks, they need to figure out a better way to accommodate the people and have room to sit down and enjoy drinks. Overall, I highly recommend.
(5)
mustafa a.
amazing view of the city. food was ok... nothing too spectacular
(4)
Bo F.
Expensive but you don't come here for the food. Food was pretty good but I don't remember what I had. All I could think about was the view and the fact that I was there. You can go there for drinks but it's a 26 dollar minimum if you sit down. Not minimum at the crowded bar. Desserts were delicious too! Staff was extremely nice. Two of them told my girlfriend how "dazzling" she looked while waiting on us. It made her feel really good so I have to take her back again.
(4)
Sunny M.
Pretty view, great food, the drinks r ok. Spicy lobster soup was amazing, n so was the halibut. The peardrop martini was ok, too much of a pear taste not enough vodka.
(4)
J B.
I do not know anything about how they are for individualized dinners but they do a great job for large corporate parties. Their food is always great, as is the service and the view is incredible. I give them 5 stars based on my two experiences there. update: i was there again and had an even better experience than the last two times! there were 250+ people and the space was perfect, the food was great, and most importantly- there is validated parking in the garage below so i did not have to stumble too far in my heels once the night was over (unfortunately i drank a little bit and forgot to get my parking ticket validated so i had to pay $32. while everyone else paid $10).
(5)
Irene F.
I did totally dig this place. Yes, touristy, yes, a little pretentious, but overall, fabulous. Natasha and I came to grab some drinks and dessert. The Level 52 is a serious serious drinky-drink kids, so watch yourself on this one, but so delicious at the same time! We also got the coconut and white chocolate mousse, amazing. To top things off, Natasha got a glass of sav blanc, and I got my usual, belvedere tonic, 2 limes. The service was stellar, and my first vodka tonic came with soda water instead of tonic. It was promptly replaced, and our waiter was attentive without being annoying. The live jazz band was quite nice, and it was overall and excellent atmosphere. So why 1 star off? Because of the retarded people (aka tourists) that showed up here. Now, I know I am technically a tourist too, but i know better than to show up at a place like this in my stained sweatpants. Who the hell goes out on a Saturday night in sweatpants anyway? But I digress. The truly stomach turning thing was a couple that showed up as we were in the middle of our wonderful evening, and proceeded to make out all over the place. Yes, I know it is romantic, yes I know it is great, but keep your tongue in your mouth, please!! It was absolutely gross, not like cutesy "oh look at that happy couple" stuff, it was "get a room and get away from me" stuff. Everyone was staring at this couple and wishing they would die, fall out the window, or just go away. We couldn't take it, asked for the check, and bounced. Too bad, because it was splendid before that.
(4)
Jason M.
This is a special location. The view is phenomenal especially when seated in the NE corner dining area. Overlooking Beacon Hill and the North End. I also believe the service is top notch. The wait staff is alert, informed and attentive. That said the food is not to the quality I would expect for the price paid. I have had far better culinary experiences for the price charged here. You are really paying a premium for the view with dinner, but what a view it is.
(3)
Simon L.
Maybe it was how we looked (young) and when we went in (restaurant week), but the Top of the Hub totally dropped the ball--no excuses. From the gazpacho that came straight from the fridge from the night before, condensation on the plate and all, to the wayyyy over-salted entree (chicken of some sort, in my case, though hard to tell much else about it, as there was nothing distinctive about the preparation), everything seemed careless, as though the view was supposed to be enough to satisfy me. The waiter was jock-ish and inattentive, which was the icing on the cake. We left disappointed.
(2)
Shan C.
Three and a half stars on 289 reviews.. WOW.. yes-- it is about 2 stars worthy I would say. The service and views are excellent, food, eh, not so much. I ordered the chicken no less and it was dry, I think they should bring the price down to match the quality of food.
(2)
Kristina L.
went here many years ago with a date who was clearly trying to impress me. best time to go is obviously at night. of course, when we went, we were penniless and in our early 20's, right out of college. translation: we drank sodas and enjoyed the view while the waiters gave us glaring looks of disdain for taking up valuable table space. oh well. would be nice to go back some time, now that i am older and penniless.
(4)
Michelle W.
The only reason brought me to the restaurant is its fantastic boston city view. The food part, appetizers were fine but entrees were awful.
My friend took me here one of my first nights in Boston, and the view at night is amazing. There was a live jazz band, but the restaurant is not big enough to accommodate a trumpet player blaring away as "background" music. Also, I wasn't too impressed with the desserts that we had, but I did like the dessert wine Nivole (Michele Chiarlo moscato d'asti). My tiny glass of wine cost nearly as much as an entire bottle costs at a liquor store, though. I would probably go again to take some visitors up to see the view, but otherwise I'm not very keen on this place. Edited review: I went again and basically got the same impression. This time we got appetizers, and while the food wasn't bad, it definitely didn't feel worth the high prices. Furthermore, my friends who went to the Pru first waited for an hour just to get seated in the lounge (luckily I was running late and just joined them in line). PS: I made a reservation via OpenTable a few days ago (Tuesday) since my sister is coming to town. Top of the Hub just cancelled my reservation this morning (Saturday), no explanations given. My experience with them just gets worse every time.
(1)
Matt L.
Overpriced and old fashioned make this a dud! I had brunch here and for the seventy dollar price tag I was unimpressed! th only thing that gives it flair is the view of th city on top of the Pru! It was boring and resembled the Rainbow Room in NYC. I coulnt believe the crowd at this place. Not hip and resembling a buffet. Skip this place!
(1)
Nam T.
first off the view is nothing short of incredible. There's no denying that if you go high enough in the prudential center, you'll be guaranteed a great view. The decor is nice. It's classy and intimate, but unfortunately it's nothing special in the sea of fine dining restaurants in Boston. Food was wayyyy overpriced. We had the tuna tar tar and also the kobe burger. We also had a couple glasses of wine. Overall the dinner came close to $100 dollars. The food wasn't bad but nowhere near the quality I would expect for that price range. When going to the hub, expect to pay for the view which is very nice.
(2)
Dana M.
I've been here twice, both with my boyfriend and its been impressive and lived up to the hype both times. I will never forget the dinner I had there this past Sunday night. My date and I decided to go big and order the Chef's Tasting Menu ($95 ea) but really memorable. We started with an amuse busche (not sure how you spell that) of a creamy beet shooter. This was followed by a glass of champagne and duck confit. Then came the best scallop dish I've ever had in my life. Two seared scallops served with fresh yellow tomatoes, capers, and a delightful citrus cream sauce. I can't wait to try something like this myself. Thank goodness the food was a tasting portion (though generous) because I really had reached a satisfying fullness by the fourth dish! and there was more! By the time they brought out the filet of beef accompanied with a puff pastry crusted gratin potato and spear of grilled asparagus, I had reached capacity! The wine kept coming, the flavors grew in complexity, and the experience was gluttonously amazing. The wine pairings were incredibly tasteful. The only surprise came in getting a cold beet salad as the last course. Unexpected but also delicious. My recommendation is to go on a very empty stomach and get ready for the meal of a lifetime. Its needless to speak of the amazing atmosphere and views because that's expected. The more remarkable thing for me was how very well cooked each dish was and how timely doted on we were. I heart TOP OF THE HUB.
(5)
Stacy R.
I have always wanted to go here. This past weekend I got my chance. My fiance took me here as a birhday surprise. It was really special. The view is beautiful to say the least. Our waiter was great. Our food was delicious. It was a great night out that I truly enjoyed. Would I spend the money again for dinner? Not sure. Next time I might go just for drinks.
(4)
Marcus C.
What an awesome way to spend a beautiful (but cold) day! We stopped by here to rest our weary shopped-out feet and enjoy the view and a few delish cocktails. I shall do this again!
(4)
Dena N.
I went here some time ago and I just wanted to put a review before I forgot. The view was extremely beautiful and the wait was not long sicne we had a reservation. But aside from that, I think the food is way too over priced. I could have had better steak elsewhere.
(2)
Kelly L.
This was the worst dining experience of recent memory. I made reservations for my boyfriend's birthday because we had been talking about going there. I knew the food wouldn't be great, but the view is suppose to be spectacular. Well, I never did find out about the food because we left before ordering. Our server came to the table 10 minutes after we were seated and promptly said "What do you want to drink?" That was it, the entire extent of our first interaction. Then it took another 5 minutes to get the water we requested while we pondered the wine list. We never saw our waiter again. Since we wanted to enjoy the view we asked to be re-seated in another section and were told that there was a line so the only other option was to eat in the bar. My though was, just re-seat us elsewhere and put the person waiting in line at our table. Having made a reservation a week in advance I wasn't that jazzed about sitting the bar. After being seated for 20 minutes and the crappy service, we left and went to Via Matta's, always a great standby.
(1)
Bob G.
Went there for cocktails after setting up for PAX. Nice view, but very pretentious... I guess if your looking for a fancy place to eat while visiting then it might be ok.
(2)
Heidi W.
I came here for lunch on a weekday with my boyfriend at the time. There were approximately 10-15 people dining. Pros: Nice view, but you may as well go downstairs to the Skywalk. Cons: It took 5+ minutes to get water. Then the waitress took 15 minutes just to come back to take our order. It took 45 minutes to get our food (sandwich & a salad). The salad was mediocre. The sandwich ended up giving him a stomach ache. Lastly, our waitress didn't look us in the eye at all, not even once. This place is over priced, over hyped, no sense of good service and does not have a unique atmosphere. Needless to day, I've never been back. I don't want to pay to be offended and get food poisoning.
(2)
Amy Y.
I went there for my vacation. The food was really bad. Views are great! and the service was really really disappointment. I will not give them the 2nd chance for the price with the low grade service and unchewable steak
(1)
irene p.
this place is simply amazing for the view. it is on the 52nd floor of the prudential building, right in the heart of copley. i have been here three times, and each time i have never been disappointed with the service or the taste of the food. that said, i have to mention that the chef/cooks have left a LARGE PLASTIC bag in my wilted spinach with my salmon. the few bites i had of the salmon was very good, and so was the spinach, and i was enjoying every bit of my meal until i had cut into a piece of salmon, with plastic attached to the bottom of it. after i dug through the rest of my plate, i discovered an entire plastic bag that had been covered up by the salmon and the spinach. the service, bless his heart, immediately took the plate to the chef, and docked off the meal off our bill. apparently the chefs were not paying attention and the bag that the spinach had come in was cooked along with the veggies. they asked me if i wanted something else or the same dish again. along with the meal docked off, they gave us complimentary dessert. very nice of them. but i still had a plastic bag in my meal. its best for you to make a reservation, as it is a romantic place to have dinner, candlelit, looking over the view of boston. and if you walk in unannounced, it is difficult to get seating next to the windows. and don't forget to be prepared to shell out the moolah. 3.5 stars for food, service, atmosphere. but i still can't bring myself to give the restaurant another star after that disaster, no matter how good the service and the apologies/groveling was.
(3)
Pablo R.
(Note: Keep in mind I went for the live jazz and cocktails) Great live jazz bands and no cover charge, instead, a $24 minimum after 8pm. I found this to be quite reasonable considering the place has the decor and service of a 5 star restaurant. The view is breathtaking and the cocktails are great. The drinks are a little pricey, but honestly, they are expensive almost everywhere you go in Boston. I especially recommend the Berry Bubbly Martini, it's even better than it sounds. There are cheaper places to eat that are just as good, but if you can find a more classy and enjoyable jazz lounge, please do share the intel.
(4)
Alexis D.
Top of the Hub will make you feel like you are on top of the world...in Boston! Best to go near sunset because the light coming into the room enhances the dining experience making it exceptionally beautiful. Bring your date at sunset, he/she will love it. I go when I have the chunk change to back me up, one time I went and it was rainy! However, the Hub redeemed itself because the food is that good. From the hostesses to the servers, the service was excellent in that they were not snobby, did not talk down to us, helpful in making dinner and wine selections, attentive and friendly. Our waiter volunteered to take our group photo. The staff does get annoyed at patrons who have finished their meals and want to walk around to look at the view because they bump into servers and clog up the flow. So be respectful and try and not be in their way when they politely ask you to step aside. Crowds that come in there are the sex and the city girls (those that want a girls night out with cocktails) in the lounge area, yuppies pregaming at the bar, families and their college kid get the long tables, business men talk over their power dinners and dates take in the view from their window seats. If you need an excuse to dress up, this is one of the places to do it, but don't feel out of place if you are not dressed up. The experience is worth every penny!
(5)
Sally L.
What an amazing spot! This really is where you should take out of town guests. I completely under estimated how amazing the view was going to be. We went in time to watch the sun set and make all the buildings glow. Beautiful. Ordered the 3 coarse meal with a visiting couple and had a wonderful time. Great food, little slow on getting the entree out but it was prime time and we were in no hurry. My only complaint was that I wished they had cut my hanger steak but I just tore through it anyways. What a fun spot. Actually reasonably priced I think the Pre fixe was only $38! It was the cocktails that did us in. I had my first cream brulee. Loves it. * * * * *
(5)
Joshua S.
The view is what makes this place. Without that I wouldn't want to waste my cash here. 5 stars if you can just go up and get a drink at the bar or manage to get a table just for drinks. Drinks are about the same price as anywhere in Boston, maybe mixed drinks cost a little more. But they have the quality stuff too. As for dinner, not so much. The food is good, but not as good as the price tag is high. Our service was good, but it seems like it could be really spotty (when we were waiting in line some of the people seemed to have an attitude). For the money you pay everyone should be required to pretend to like you. Some of the other people there acted like they took this kind of stuff for granted, like somebody drops that kind of cash on them every night. Luckily the person I was with was not like that. They have a jazzy sort of band there sometimes, which is kinda cool. Overall considering the view, this place really isn't too expensive! Just don't get into the habit of eating there!
(3)
Katheen C.
My boyfriend and I just went here as part of Boston Restaurant Week. Though some people have commented negatively on the service, our waiter fabulous. The pre fixed menu for lunch was delicious; we both got the Endive Salad, Cocoa Rubbed Salmon, and Lime Cheesecake (the cheesecake in particular was incredible- the graham cracker crust was the best I've ever had). Portions were perfect and the coffee at the end was the perfect to finish to a fabulous lunch. The hostess was even kind enough to take our picture for us on the way out. :) I'd definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a romantic meal out, it's a great place!
(4)
Gino T.
I went there for my birthday this month and I have to say that the view of Boston was great. The atmosphere was very classy, jazz music, drinks, candle light. Very inviting. The service was great, not snobby, or patronizing, our waiter was from Albania, nice guy, was very helpful. Yeah the thing about this place it just screams out tourist hot spot. I was trying to hate this place but it was very comfortable. The food on the other hand, I have mix reviews, I had an appetizer of crab cakes, main course was steak, and a Mojito. I have to say, I've to plenty of upscale restaurants from Chicago to Charlotte, and I would rate this place just better than average. The restaurant left a bigger impression than the food. I will definitely go back but just for drinks and dessert.
(3)
Jeff D.
The only reason I give top of the hub 4 stars is because its a bit pricy. But the brunch /breakfast is awesome and the food is tremendous. I loved the german chocolate cake and the meal. The view from the top of the hub is amazing you can see all around boston. Plus you get to take a cool elevator ride up.
(4)
Stephanie H.
I will prefece by saying I have only gone here for drinks and apps and to listen to the jazz in the bar area. I have not gone to eat here because I have heard from a few friends that the food is ok and it is way over priced for what it is. Someday I will go here for dinner. With that said, the view is great, it makes you feel chic going here (atleast I think) and is a fun atmosphere. I like the music they have at night. Very classy.
(4)
Martha D.
I had about five martinis too many at the bar and it was an amazing time. The pear martinis are delicious, and they also make a variety of good mojitos. Plus, sit on the left side and you have a perfect view of airplanes landing at Logan!
(4)
CW P.
This place is great for out of town visitors. It's not as touristy as Fanueil Hall or the Duck Tours, and it brings your heart closer to Boston. If you want to impress your date or your parents, get a window seat and point out all the city landmarks. Your date will appreciate your knowledge of the structural and political background of the big dig and the geographic relation of across the river to the rest of the town. Your parents will love it too. As nice as it is during the day, my best experiences have been having drinks and dessert in the evening. I once came during a heavy snow storm and up here we were sitting in a snow globe. Awesome.
(5)
Captain H.
It's worth it to come here for drinks and check out a view of the city. The sangria (a special) was delicious. The bar food we had was pretty good. Our waiter was nice too. I can't give this more than 2 stars though because of the laundry list of rules. We came with a larger party (6) and, understandably, they could not seat us right away. But in order to get a table, some member of our party had to stand in line. Not only did this mean that we couldn't leave and come back, we couldn't even check out the bar. We literally had to be in line. And while we were standing there they kept trying to move us around and get us out of the way. We ended up splitting into two table so we could get seated sooner, and they made it clear that we were not to go "milling about", moving chairs, or basically communicating with the other members of our group. It was pretty akward. I was also surprised at the casual attired (jeans, sneakers) of many of the patrons. I always thought it would be more classy.
(2)
kevin d.
Easily the best view in Boston, but why they just can't be a bit friendlier is beyond me. One reviewer summed it up best when she said they treat you like they are doing you a favor. This is exactly how it feels when you are there. The place is usually half empty, except for hallmark holidays of course, and they will fuss over their seating charts like it is such a chore to accommodate you. Oh, you just want drinks? Just go to the bar and try not to look out the window, the view is expensive you know. They do have nice bartenders, although everyone is constantly on the up-sell in this place to the point where it is obnoxious. The food ranges from mediocre to slightly above average. Prices are high, but not ridiculous. Great place for a date if you want a calm place for a drink & conversation with a romantic view. Just be careful not to seem pretentious.
(2)
Ben M.
There are three ways to do the top of the Prudential center: 1) Tourists go to the observation deck and pay a fee 2) Couples about to become engaged go to the restaurant 3) People who seek out classy adventures in Boston go to the lounge. This review is for the lounge, which is fully a restaurant just sans tablecloth. The affable hostess made sure we got a table with the best view. All you need to do is smile. Seeing the view for the first time, I said out loud, "What did I do to deserve this?" The service was a bit slow, but that's okay, because it gave us more time to enjoy the sunset. There is a house wine available by the glass that is excellent, a Merlot called Top of The Hub from California with ripe plum and chalky earth flavor profiles. I loved every bite of the gigantic burger. My date had fun stealing my seasoned french fries (think Arby's, but not curly) because she wanted to use the paper cone of ketchup, which was situated in a wire base. Entrees are in the $10-$20 range and wine/cocktails by the glass are $7-15. According to the local things-to-do rags there is jazz at 8pm most nights. The bar and Steinway piano are beautiful.
(5)
Louis P.
I went here for my anniversary... I wasn't too impressed. The service was fantastic but the food was very disappointed... Although, I didn't go here for the food, but overall dining experience was just OK... I'd probably come here again, b/c I do like the atmosphere, but it's not a place I'd recommend to anyone... I was also very dissatisfied b/c our waiter did not validate our valet parking and we ended up paying $30 for parking on top of our $150 bill... If you want good food, go else where. If you're like me and like to go somewhere for the atmosphere, then try Top of the hub.
(3)
Ash T.
Brunch here is divine. $39 for a four course meal + a bucket full of splendid chocolate croissants. Also, terrific wine list and views that never seem to get old, no matter how many times you come up here.
(5)
Cecilia H.
The Top of the Hub is an experience. If you're a tourist or a new resident of Boston, this place can make you feel like you've been formally acquainted to the modern side of Boston. The service my husband and I received, when we went, was excellent and made our evening a pleasure! The food was delicious but nothing spectacular. The view was stunning and it sealed the whole affair for me. If you're wondering about the price... well it can be expensive but just remember that you're not just paying for food and service but for a memorable adventure.
(4)
Pink Cigarette T.
Pretty romantic, nice classy atmosphere, great view, polite service...Food was not great though, but still edible. It was just extremely rich and somewhat bland. The lobster soup was extremely creamy and on top of that there was this huge chunk of butter on it. My bf said it didn't even taste like lobster, cept for the pieces of lobster in it of course. My bf ordered the 10 oz filet mignon and I had a bite and it was sweet! He said it was the worst filet he's ever had but edible. It was very chewy. My dish was not bad although it was lacking something - I can't put my finger on it what it was lacking, like some flavor maybe? I had the spiced tuna which was also a lil on the bland and rich side. But we loved it because of the venue itself. It just had a romantic ambience and we had an enjoyable time there regardless of what the food tasted like.
(4)
Nathan W.
This is the type of place you bring your girlfriend, me on the other hand went with my dad. Food was decent, a bit pricey but was a good spot if you want to go some place nice
(4)
Shell D.
My boyfriend and I absolutely love this restaurant. The food is amazing, the view is amazing, and the service is amazing. It's our favorite place to go in Boston (thus far)!
(5)
Jin Y.
great place to go when you have visitors from out of town. i only went here for dessert/drinks. the live band is always a great ambiance setter, and the dark lighting is forgiving if you're looking a bit haggard from a day of shopping. dress is more BC, formal. lots of young people try to sneak in, which is pretty annoying. sometimes pretentious but the pretty desserts make up for it. great great view.
(4)
Rob J.
This place is not that good at all if your table is not next to the window, which a good percentage aren't. I agree that its very cool eating eating atop a very tall building, but the food quality should match the view and ambiance of the restaurant. Also I found the service to be lacking. The second time I was here I felt like I was disrespected as I was given a crappy table, and felt unwanted because I was one of the younger people there. If youre going to go here, I recommend going for a an appetizer and/or drinks, and not spending 75 per person to eat a meal that is not worth nearly that much. That way you can reap the benifits of the view, and go somewhere with better food for dinner. I also would agree that its a great place to take someone special from out of town. Anyone ever heard of the Boston College club in the Bank of America Building? It is what the Top of the Hub should be.
(2)
Bill A.
This is a good place to take out-of-towner's, but everyone in town should go here at least once. The menu as mentioned before is not very adventurous, but not too many places can brag a view this amazing. I always try to call ahead at least a week in advance to make a reservation and put in a request for a window table which they have thus far always been able to accommodate even though over the phone it's not guaranteed.
(4)
Jamie L.
Until I find another place I can order a dozen fresh baked cookies served hot in four varieties this place will always have 5 stars in my heart!
(5)
Lisa C.
I've been here a few times, but the last time was clearly the best. the view is absolutely beautiful. The first time i came here was an evening appetizer/cocktail hour and it was quite nice. on a beautiful, clear night...it's a great place to go. the appetizers were, sadly, only ok. We came here for lunch the other day and I had a great experience this time. We were a group of 5 and didn't get the best table, but the view was still nice. We each did the prix-fixe menu and everyone walked away full, satisfied, and a little sleepy. I, personally, started with a butternut squash soup, then had pan seared duck breast with a duck breast confit risotto and asparagus. Both courses were delicious. The soup was flavorful and warming (esp on a cold winter day) and the duck and risotto were also incredibly tasty. As a dessert, I had the creme brulee which wasnt anything special but was still delicious and HUGE. The rest of the party felt the same way even though we ordered quite an assortment. For the price and quality of the food, this place is a great lunch spot. It is, however, based around the view, so they take their time...which can make for a very looooong lunch. Of course, if you tell them you need to speed things up they will. great experience...will go back (for lunch at least).
(3)
Renee G.
We went to Top of the Hub for Lunch.The food was great. I had the Lobster Bisque and Baked Stuffed Lobster and it was perfect! My coworkers also enjoyed the Salmon & Swordfish and Flatbread Pizza. The service was excellent and the view spectacular. They have a Pre Fixe menu available for lunch that is very reasonably priced.
(5)
tony w.
I've had many dates here and the jazz around the cocktail tables are a great time if you're not looking for a full on meal. The atmosphere is better than the food.
(4)
Joshua C.
This place has a spectacular view. I have been twice, once for dinner, once for drinks. I have never been during the day. The views at night are second to none. The time I went for dinner, I got a NY Strip which was amazing. The service was great and I was overall pleased with the dining experience. The second trip was just for drinks. There were three of us and we had approximately 6 drinks. I believe the bill was around $80. You are definitely paying for the view and the very classy atmosphere. The bartender definitely took the time to talk to us and was johnny on the spot with the drinks. The only reason for four stars as opposed to five is the steep price tag.
(4)
mickey l.
This is where to go in Boston if you want a view (aka San Francisco) of a city that is bigger than your fist. The Drinks will be your primary target, and don't forget the biggest deal on the menu is the Fried Calimari appetizer, which is a frickin' huge plate of tasty morsels with jalapeno and citrus, order a salad and you'll get bread too. I wash it down with their fantastic Greg Norman Shiraz. It is decanted perfectly every time I go and at 9 bucks it is fair for the view is worth much more. I've never had a real sit down dinner hear, but my bro says the Filet was quite good. Tourists be damned, I am a tourist, you are too, if you go here, so just enjoy picking out your neighborhood from 800 or so feet up.
(4)
Crystal S.
As a Boston resident, you are supposed to snub your nose at the Top of the Hub because with a view like this, do they need to even think about the food? Fortunately for me, I'm a Somervillian so this snob rule does not apply to me. I've been here for lunch AND dinner and for Restaurant Week AND non-Restaurant Week. They've been consistent throughout and they have some of the most courteous waiters I've encountered in Boston. Not all of the dishes are perfection, but they're good enough that I don't have an issue coming back. Also, face it, the view is breathtaking! So if you want to spend the money, go! and if you don't, having a few drinks is fabulous, but arrive before 8 pm (I think) and you won't have to pay that silly $20 something dollar fee to get in (ridiculous really).
(4)
Mike D.
As a new Yelper wanting to write a good review I decided to write this article both before and after going there. I am going there for my girlfriend's birthday. We have never been so I thought it would be a nice occasion. I'm a little hesitant in going here after reading the reviews about being treated poorly. I'm 23 and plan on wearing at least a shirt and tie. I also plan on spending about $250 on the meal. For me, spending $250 on a 2 person meal is quite extravagant so I have some expectations and I hope I'm not disappointed. I made a reservation about two weeks before the night we went. I asked for a window seat. The woman on the phone told me that she would add a note to our reservation that we requested a window seat. However, window seats are not guaranteed and that we could wait until one is available. This in itself makes me uncomfortable because to me it means, "when you get here and we'll size you up and see if you're good enough for a window seat." --------------------------------------------------Â--------------------------------- My girlfriend and I arrived promptly for our reservation. I decided to go all out and wear a suit. She wore a black cocktail dress. As we walked into the Prudential tower we were greeted by the first hostess. She asked for my name and reservation and said that I could go right on up. We were very excited and full of anticipation as the elevator traveled to the "Top of the Hub." We walked to the counter and were not welcomed by the hostess. I had to initiate the, "Hi we have reservations chat." The hostess found us on their computer and said she could seat us right away. She then took us to a table that sat farthest away from the windows. I said, "We asked for a window seat when we made our reservation." The hostess said, "Oh, well they are not guaranteed and you could wait 45 minutes for a window seat." So she took us to the bar where we waited for a window seat. The two bartenders were awful and didn't have enough time to take drink orders from people sitting at the bar while also servicing the rest of the restaurant. After about a 5 minute wait I was able to order a beer and a glass of merlot for $15. Beer is not served in a pint glass either; it's smaller like the kind you get orange juice in. I sat in the chair and looked around. In a suit and tie you are almost overdressed for the place. There were a handful of tourist families wearing jeans and t-shirts in the place. Approximately 15 minutes later the hostess came over to the bar to get us. In what was the rudest move of the night she asked the couple to my right if they were me; in what was the worst attempt at pronouncing my last name that I have ever heard in my life. As I made eye contact with her she skipped over me and asked the couple to my left if they were me. I then said, I think you're trying to say my name. After that she took us to a nice window seat with a view of Cambridge. After being seated we ordered the Top of the Hub tasting menu with wines. The food was very good and my girlfriend complimented the wine pairings. The beef was a little burnt on the outside for what was supposed to be medium rare. The service appeared good but that was probably because the waiter had to return to deliver each course of the 5 course meal. He failed to refill my glass of water. All in all, we did enjoy the restaurant. We walked away thinking the dinner and night out was very fancy. The food was generally very good and the view was amazing. However, I do expect to receive better service than I did after dropping $275. Going to a fancy restaurant is not just created with good food the atmosphere has to be right. Even with the Boston skylight the staff's performance makes the atmosphere pretty grim. To the restaurant: 1. You should either take reservations for window seats or don't. Don't create this middle ground where anyone off the street can request a window seat when I made reservations two weeks in advance. To the hostess: 1. If someone requests a window seat and you don't have one you should let them know prior to taking them to the table farthest from the window. 2. Don't discriminate against young couples- especially when they are dressed nicer than you could afford. 3. Don't act haughty like your some high class broad, you're a hostess for what has become a tourist attraction. And you're not the attraction... 4. Jump off the observation deck.
(3)
Lila S.
The third star is entirely for the view of America's most beautiful city: Boston. The service was fantastic (I went for brunch) and the mimosas were refreshing and delicious. As for the food... ugh.. It was like a new manager came to town and made smaller portions and outrageous prices. My steak wasn't even cooked well enough.. it was bleeding left and right and was basically cold. I never really send stuff back but I did and when it came back it was an inedible piece of bark, so overcooked and so dry... it really ruined everything. The waitress was a doll and took my entree off the bill. Stick to the drinks, and maybe some dessert. I have to say they do have the best Apple Martini around Boston.
(3)
Greg G.
Very classy place and breathtaking views of the city. This would be a perfect place to take a date. The staff was very friendly and did not mind that we walked around a bit to take in the views. To eat I had a few appetizers and they were superb.
(5)
Bill Y.
Was late in seeking a reservation for Christmas Eve. All the available primo places were booked so I went to plan "B" which was to go to a place that was memorable for things other than the food. Top of the Hub fit because of the stunning views. We had reservations but when I got there I was told it would be a wait of 30 minutes and four different young people were staring at their computer which was not a good sign. I have a cane (back problems) so I notched up my "serious restaurants know how to honor a reservation" mode, leaned on the cane, looked powerfully annoyed and we were seated five minutes later. The menu was, quite fairly, limited. The waiter, whilst a decent guy, had a hard time getting our order straight, but things began to flow. I thought the menu was a tad "froo-froo" with lots of ingredients/components for each item. The food was "Good" but no more than that and the prices extremely high for what one got. On the other hand, for that night and because of my slothful preparation, I had a take a hit somewhere and it was in the cost. The views are great and it was a nice night. Doubt that I'd go back unless it was for a cocktail...they have a very nice bar. In fairness it must be recalled that few places are at the top of their game on a very busy night such as Christmas Eve.
(3)
Al A.
Great service. Good food (desserts dissapointing). Great view. Expensive.
(4)
Oleana B.
I am giving it 2 stars for the view. I went there a few days ago with my husband. We were seated in the lounge by the window. They do not heat the place well. It was pretty cold by the window and I ended up putting on my winter coat. The candle light thing on the table was not lit. We asked our waiter to light it, but when he did it smelled of some kind of smelly lighter fluid and we ended up turning it off. We ordered a glass of wine each which was nothing special. I ordered the lobster bisque and my husband the cobe beef hot dogs. The lobster bisque came with over boiled lobster that tasted fishy. One piece still had the shell on it! The cobe beef dogs were tasteless and had skin on the thickness of plastic. The super market brand hot dogs taste a lot better. We ended up leaving our food and going somewhere else where we could actually eat something. I understand this place does not have to try very hard because they have a beautiful view of the city but it seems like they've completely given up on the food aspect.
(2)
Madras M.
The view was incredible! It is on the 52nd floor and you can see entire Boston in lights when you go there for dinner!! The bar is big and dinning seems to be very formal! The food was very good. I had a padthai which was totally different from other padthai's I had in the past. The padthai had thai noodles and on top of that a single large slice of tofu and then on top that a single large slice of pineapple. On the side of padthai it had small pieces of banana. It was delicious!!
(4)
Ulli K.
I won't even waste your time but I will say this: View: AWESOME Service: AWESOME Bar: Pricey, but worth FOOD: SUCKED. Seriously, I can name 10 restaurants that had better food. I was so disappointed. Our waiter however was great. Just to say that again, but I will never go here again for dinner. Waste of money.
(1)
Bonnie G.
C'mon...you came here for the VIEW and da HUB DELIVERED! Fuckin A, 5 stars for the amazing view of the city. 1) Came here with four friends all wearing like t-shirts, ripped off shorts, fucking up looking sneakers or flip-flops, all smelly from riding or hungover at around 5:30, like we belonged in Allston, not in a 'classy' place like Hub-but the lady didn't blink, sat us at the sofa area (away from the window), but when I saw a table clear in front of us at the window, I just went for it, and they accomidated no problem. 2) The martinis started at like 11-way too much and not that great and in incredibly cheesy spencers gifts like glasses. My Level 52 wasn't half bad. 3) We were all so hungry we buckled and got the pizza for 14 bucks, and it tasted like...not real pizza? Like fake restaurant pizza? But I was so hungry I didn't give a shit. But don't order food. Just order drinks up here...(or one drink and refill it with your own private stock). 4) The decor just feels bad-uninspired hotel like...no CORPORATE, like when you go to a 'fancy' corporate conference dinner...yeah. That is what it feels like. 5) I thought the bathroom would be nicer? 6) FUCKIN A THE VIEW makes everything else not worth your time reading! We got to see Critical Mass take off, the clouds appear for the thunderstorm, lightening hit Hancock, then the clouds and just the rain and the city change from day to night. It was amazing. All my friends are coming back to it. I wish I had thought of it sooner in my time Boston. Don't be as jaded as I am, take the 52 floor, baby.
(5)
Andrew A.
With an incredible view from Boston's highest point, its no wonder Top of the Hub is the fail-safe destination for would-be fiances. The bar has live jazz many nights of the week, and for the location the drinks are reasonably priced. The food is fair for the price, but you aren't really paying for the food. If you're looking to impress, this is one of the best places in Boston, but if you're looking for nothing more than an incredible meal (for a reasonable price) look elsewhere.
(4)
Sara S.
Came here on a Monday night for drinks and dessert for a friends birthday. For this purpose, it was a five star experience. Sat at the bar to avoid the minimum, and enjoyed fantastic drinks prepared by John, our bartender. Seriously, this guy knows his stuff and made AWESOME stuff that were both on and off the menu, including a pumpkin martini, a mint chocolate martini (and also a frozen variety), caramel apple martini, birthday cake shots, and more. Got the plate of freshy baked cookies, which came with fresh pumpkin whipped cream. YUM. One of the best places in the city for dessert and drinks!
(5)
Karina K.
Beware of undisclosed prices on specials at dinner. We had a nice meal at the Top of the Hub. Great view, good food. However, when we got the bill we discovered that the steak special was $62 (typical entree is around $30). Not worth it and more important, they never mentioned it was twice what you'd expect to pay. We called the manager later (didn't want to complain at the time since it was a birthday dinner for my sister and she had the steak, she would have been mortified) but the response was lackluster. So, enjoy the view, but ask before you order anything that's not on the menu.
(2)
Paul I.
Went there for brunch with my parents on my birthday. The food was absurdly expensive and not tasty at all. Service was poor, as well. I felt embarrased. I can recommend coming up for drinks, but don't push your luck.
(2)
Annette M.
This is a great place to go and have a GREAT view of the city. The food is amazing and the menu changes pretty frequently. They have a good bar menu and the dining room menu is fantastic. The bar tenders are great and they make good drinks (their lemon drop martini is my favorite). And the wait staff is very attentive to your every need. However, a few of the hostesses can be a bit abrupt and judge you the minute you walk in the door. That is the reason I didn't give them 5 stars. I love everything else about this place but have been a bit put off by the hostesses on more than one occasion. But, otherwise I recommend giving them a try. The dining room opens at 5:30PM but the bar is open earlier and serves food as well.
(4)
Alec Y.
could not be any prettier. when it comes down to it, this place's food just didn't wow me. but the view sure did. oh, and wow, the elevator up to the hub, is the fastest elevator i've ever been in. takes maybe 20 seconds to travel 52 floors. when we got out of the elevator, the view was gorgeous. boston was absolutely gorgeous. this, by itself, sold me. i would've given this place 1000 stars if it was solely based on looks. but it isn't. the decor itself isn't bad. its nice. but i don't care about that. the service was decent. he was nice, but he creeped me out. its because he liked to hover. a lot. he just kept on staring at my table. and that's what turned me off a lot. he was very kind and accomodating though. so when it comes down to it, he was just doing his job. the food here, in my opinion, is just very classically american. its like comfort food. i had the pork tenderloin wrapped in bacon with sausage and spinach over a potato puree. everything in that, to me defines classic comfort food. so i loved it. but it's a rather simple dish, so i wasn't super impressed. my friends got the scallops and the bucatini pasta. and the scallops apparently weren't amazing. and the pasta i thought was too creamy. the creme brulee however, i thought was quite good. it was super heavy. i filled me up in a second. so that's always good. overall, i definitely enjoyed it, and i would love to go back again.
(4)
Vern B.
Top of the hub is so nice. it reminded me of chef Zs in tokyo on the 72 floor in some building of tokyo. the layout is wonderful. the food was so tastey. i had a wild mushroom pasta... it was orgasmic. and i have an expresso martini. The view is wonderful. and the service was great. but its a pretty penny 2 people cost about 100 bucks
(5)
Hannah D.
If you're not from the city, then the view from this place is amazing. My boyfriend brought me at night, and I have to say I agree with most of the reviews, which breaks it down to... - View is amazing at night, given a clear night. - Martinis are pretty darn good, I don't know what the watered-down person was talking about, I thought they were just right. - Food is just okay, but the food presentation is great. Clam chowder was definitely good, crab cakes were good, didn't love the pasta. - Creme brulee was great :) Basically, go there to wow an out-of-towner, or to say you've been. Unfortunately there's not a lot of time to make out in the elevator on the way up. Wait, I mean... uhh.. the elevator ride is pretty darn quick. Tips: Make friends with the hostess and your servers. Then they'll move you to a window seat first thing ;)
(4)
Allison B.
wow! they must've swanked up the menu, because the food was significantly better this time around then my first visit 3-4 years ago. granted, that first visit was while i was a student, so it's possible that i fixated too much on the price and not enough on the food - but honestly, i remember being seriously underwhelmed. now that we're a part of the yuppie "young professional" class, we went all out with the prix fixe menu with wine ( selectrestaurants.com/to… ). the starter was the standout of the meal - a creamy lobster bisque with - to my great surprise - huge chunks of lobster scattered throughout, and hints of coconut milk and lemongrass. i'd even come here for this dish alone - at $11 i think it's a great deal, as it was super decadent and satisfying. the riesling was perfectly paired, and brought a lightness to such a creamy soup. the second round brought a cut of veal for the bf and salmon for me. again i was surprised to discover that the fish had a flavor of bbq sauce. both were good, but at that point we were already so impressed by the soup i can't imagine much could've superseded it. again, the wines were a fantastic complement. i already knew the creme brulee was outstanding here, and this time was no exception. of course the view was amazing, but you already knew that. this time we had the unique experience of dining alongside a groom and bridge in a full-on princess gown. counter-intuitively, i found them charming. the service was excellent - lightyears away from my first experiences. with multiple people serving different roles for a single table, service was quick, attentive, and friendly. counting the cocktails we had at the bar while waiting for our table, we left the restaurant drunk, happy, and full :)
(4)
genevieve r.
The views here are magnificent! The service is on and off...The hostess was a little strange, making the intial feel of the restraurant more like a hotel. She'd make a great bell hop. The drinks are good but tend to be on the higher price side (12+). I must say that the chowder is the best anywhere! Me and my husband will come here just for chowder. The rest of the food doesn't seem all that...Maybe the crab cakes???
(4)
Francis W.
The view is really amazing. The Bloody Mary I ordered was not... But the appetizers we ordered were great, including an arugula salad and mussels.
(4)
Christine M.
Went for the observation deck, last minute decided to go for dinner. The service leaves a lot to be desired. I think it's inappropriate when 1) your waiter forgets that he hasn't taken your order yet, 2) he leaves the silverware and bread plates from the previous patrons when resetting a nearby table and 3) can't figure out to take empty plates and glasses away when you are finished. The only good thing was the view and the mac 'n cheese.
(3)
Bryanne R.
Yep, took my parents here when they came to visit. Since it's way expensive (for my budget) we had drinks at the bar and enjoyed the AWESOME view and people watching. If nothing else, come up here for a one of a kind view of Boston and a drink at the bar (you can just get a soda...). Hopefully I'll have an updated review when I get the chance to eat here...
(5)
Nicole B.
came here for drinks. service still sucks. prices still a joke. but god what a view!
(1)
Hailey T.
We came only for drinks and dessert so I can't attest to the food, but it looked good. The view is so pretty at night. I brought my sister here when she was visiting because we hit up places like this in every city we visit. The jazz band was a great extra for our evening. We each had a glass of prosecco, pretty good, not the best glass I've had, but definitely enjoyable. The dessert we had was some sort of freshly baked cake with a liquid like chocolate inside, spread on raspberry sauce with a scoop of blackberry ice cream. Amazing. We like chocolate and that was divine. Combine it with the prosecco and it's a damn good night. There is definitely a side with a better view, we unfortunately did not get seated on that side, but it was still at great night's end.
(4)
R F.
Thursday night was the best birthday I've ever had in all of 23 years!!! This place is amazing, chill, gorgeous, clean, and the light music playing in the bathroom is awesome too. My twin brother and 2 friends and I had a reservation for Thursday at 7, we got there at 6, drank for probably 2 hours (wicked drunk) then finally ordered food... It was great. The service wasn't overly friendly, but the staff is attentive, smiling, happy, clean, and know what they're doing. The bill for lots and lots of drinking and 4 full dinners was only about $280, which is fine with me, especially since it was our birthday... I can't wait to come back here for another special occasion with other friends... Oh yea... one more thing... The view is incredible and indescribable. I'll try to post some of my birthday pictures and you can check it out for yourself...
(5)
Andrew C.
I was at top of the Hub last week and the experience in general was pretty good. The waiter was polite, made some good suggestions, and all the food arrived on time. The Hearts of Romaine were good but I just wish they had more dressing. I would definitely go back.
(4)
Beth B.
Great lunch prix fixe menu with wine pairings! A bit pricey for dinner but lunch is a great deal...good food, excellent views of Boston.
(4)
Jennifer D.
The view is nice, but you only get to have a view if you're eating. My coworker and I got a drink at the bar, where the view is impeded by all the bottles of alcohol. The drink was okay, nothing special, and pretty expensive, as you'd expect on top of the Prudential building.
(3)
Erika R.
Went here tonight for a birthday celebration. All of the staff was extraordinarily attentive and helpful (wouldn't expect much less for the money). The view -- well it speaks for itself. The vegetarian option I had, although I did basically get to request what I wanted off the menu from other dishes that involved veggies, was nothing special to talk about. i ended up requesting a dish with saffron gnocchi and veggies. The drinks and dessert were quite good though! I would totally go to the bar here to hang out, the drinks at around $9-13 were reasonable for such an upscale place.
(3)
Jeannette S.
Went there on my last visit to Boston. It was a cloudy night, so we couldn't see too far out. But it was nice just to see the city lights. At times, I felt like I was in San Francisco because I couldn't make out much of what I was looking at in the dark night sky. We went on a Saturday, so there was a bit of a wait, but it wasn't nearly as long as they had said it would be (45 min-1 hr). We actually waited 20 minutes tops. We were able to get a window seat by the bar so we were looking out towards Copley Square. There was a live jazz band so it turned out to be a very romantic night. The staff was great, from the hostess to the waiter. Our waiter was very good and a great conversationalist. He really took his time with us. He even found us a table in the lounge area so we could be closer to the music and check out a different view. We ordered calamari and a chicken pizza and they were typical for appetizers. Their specialty drinks were good, and their wine list was pretty extensive. Overall, a great spot to hang out and spend some money.
(4)
Sun Y.
I'm addicted to the lobster avocado salad here. This is a GREAT date spot.
(4)
Steph H.
I feel kinda funny reviewing a place after visiting for restaurant week, but I will. My food was fantastic and the views were AMAZING. I could spend all day and night just sitting up there trying to point out my favorite city landmarks. I would think this would be a great place for visitors to the city and a simply perfect place to grab a swanky drink . Atmosphere was a little cold but your eyes aren't on the decor when you're in there. Reservations are strongly encouraged (probably necessary in fact) and requesting a seat near the window would be a good idea too (I feel like a date planner).
(5)
Candy H.
It was such a Great experience...Its a Great place to go for any special occasions, Great atmosphere and night view..Excellent service!! Except for the hostess..the waiter/Waitress are Great!!! The dishes are highly decorated with simple and elegant..the dishes are a bit small for me..but it's expected..
(5)
Marilyn T.
You can go to Top of the Hub purely for the view. We went on a clear night and chose to sit in the lounge area by the window. We had some wine, a salad, and shared a pizza, so it wasn't too bad. The food wasn't amazing, but we didn't expect much from it. Prices are definitely higher due to the tourist factor, but I felt like it was something I had to experience in Boston before I move away.
(2)
Tina L.
I think the view is great - it definitely adds to the atmosphere and makes this a fun place to eat. Drinks taste ok - but they are pricey. I've had dinner here twice and the food was only okay. For what you're paying, you can definitely find another restaurant that has higher quality food. Nothing memorable on the menu that I tasted. I actually like coming here most for dessert - they are good (it's hard to screw up fresh cookies - which is a good choice btw) and it's nice to be above all the sparkly lights. =) It's usually very chill and they have a good jazz band on Friday/Saturday nights.
(3)
Aretha B.
Gorgeous, mind boggling view. I love watching the planes line up to land at the airport. I love watching the flow of traffic on 93. I love peering over to fenway park. I love the chowder!!!!! Among my top 3 favorite chowders in boston. Probably #2 on that list, actually. And it's not badly priced at 7 bucks. A good light lunch. I love bringing friends up there who have never been... for a drink, the view, and if it's after 8pm the live jazz. It's expensive all around, but worth the price now and again. I'd rather go for drinks and apps than a full on dinner. Have gone dressed in street clothes several times (and with tattoos and whatnot) and have never experienced and unfavorable treatment. Tip: you NEED a reservation on the weekend evening.
(5)
Bailes B.
My wife and I went here the day after our wedding, because it was our one big night out back when we were college students. Our expectation was that the food would be so-so (given the price tag), but that the fancy cocktails and the view would more than make up for it. Indeed, the drinks were wonderful - the ginger lemon drop was of particular note, and the wine pairings were appropriate. But we were also highly impressed with the food. The braised lamb shank was amazing, probably the best lamb I've ever eaten! The lobster bisque was also quite good.
(5)
Mabel C.
I like Top of the Hub. Even though it was raining and cloudy so I couldn't see anything outside, I still had a great time. I have heard the food was so-so from other people so I was surprised. I went for Restaurant Week, and I thought that the salmon was done very well - it had beets on top and mash potatoes underneath, and the whole combo was great. The clam chowder soup was ok (I think manhattan-style), although I really liked the bowl it came in - it looked like a miniature circle chair to sit in. Since they ran out of creme brulee that night, we got to choose desserts off of the regular menu, and I liked the sorbet (champagne flavored?) the best.
(4)
Kristen S.
Whether you're a tourist or from the area, you need to go at least once, just to take in the view. It really is that worth it. Personally, I like making reservations there for about half an hour earlier than sunset. Then you can watch dusk coming over the city with the buildings turning all different shades from the sunset. I don't think they'll take reservations requesting this but it's worth it to wait for a table next to a window. It's a perfect special occasion restaurant. But if your budget doesn't allow for dinner, you can still go to the bar, have one drink while you take in the view, and call it quits.
(5)
Tanya A.
Top of the Hub is the place my husband and I like to go when we want a nice dinner. Not a fantastic, ultra-special-occasion dinner, but a nice dinner with a romantic atmosphere. The prices aren't that bad; we usually get the prix fixe menu, and we'll always get something we wouldn't otherwise have tried but which we end up loving. Their lobster-avocado salad is something I still try to recreate at home (unsuccessfully, unfortunately). And their seared foie gras is something I'm drooling just thinking about. ;) I don't know why people are so annoyed about the service, our servers have always been polite and professional. Heck, once my husband joking requested a candle for the table for a more romantic atmosphere, and our waiter wet out of his way to find us one. And of course, you can't beat the view.
(4)
Kevin H.
My girlfriend and I came here in early April with reservations. We were quickly seated to our table and our waiter came promptly afterwards. For those that have heard great things about the view, I can assure you that it is quite spectacular regardless of the weather. When we arrived, snow was everywhere. But from our window seats, it seemed as though we were sitting in a magnificent snow globe, which added to the romantic ambience. This atmosphere alone justifies the bill, as you are paying for the thrill of a fancy night out. The food, however, leaves much to be desired. I ordered the steak special, that was supposedly marinated for days. She ordered the daily fish special. Both tasted OK, but there are better restaurants out there for far cheaper. If you go into Top of the Hub with a window seat reservation and the right mentality, this is highly recommended for the ambience. But if you're hungry and just looking to grab a bite to eat with your date, save your money and go to the North End.
(3)
Jeff V.
My girlfriend and I came here for lunch during restaurant week on a Saturday, and it exceeded our expectations. While the menu is normally quite pricey, we had a fantastic lunch including wine overlooking the Charles for under $30 per person. The menu included delicious soup and salad, a mouth-watering pork loin wrapped in bacon, and probably the best creme brulee I've had in my life. Our waiter was friendly and attentive. Though the dinner atmosphere can be very different (and restaurant week is certainly not year-round) I have to say we were very pleased with the experience.
(5)
courtney d.
Everyone should do this once, just like a duck tour..its tourist-y but totally worth the experience. The view is amazing although I've heard the food isn't anything to speak of. Dessert is absolutely something you should look into though...dessert and drinks is all you need..and a window seat if you can get it. Plus the elevator ride up is realllly fast :)
(4)
Mindy M.
My husband and I love this place! We typically go here 3-4 times a year. The prices are very reasonalbe, the food is perfect, the view is to die for and the service is outstanding. My husband casually mentioned to the host that it was my birthday and they seated us in a semi private room and had the band sing happy birthday to me. Nice touch!
(5)
Brandon L.
Tourist spot, great view but the food is a joke. I wonder if they're paying so much for the rent that not much money left for the food? Very disappointed, another typical "crab cakes, tuna tartare" type of typical place in Boston, uninspired menu, average service. Avoid this place unless you'd like to bring out-of-town friends to show them the view. The night I went there although there were empty tables by the window, they would not let us have one and had us sit very very close to a couple in the middle. Then a bunch of very loud tv producers from a show I never watch showed up and they allowed them to be so obnoxious. If you're trying to impress your tourist friends try the Bristol Lounge and request a window table.
(1)
may l.
the location. beautiful view.. both day and night.. I love to have my lunch here.. very reasonable pricing with fantastic food .. the salmon is just right... love it.. The evening is a little bit expensive ..but considering the view.. well. it is worthy. And the food is already quite good prepared..
(4)
Katia M.
Frankly, I work halfway up the Hancock, and I'd just assume take friends and visitors up there if they'd like to see the view (it's just as good). The "Top" is expensive, makes me dress up (not that I mind, but it forces the issue), and generally doesn't much interest me. There are better views in Boston, I swear. But if you can't find them, this place will do. Get a table, get a drink. But beware, they'll run you a fair bit of change.
(2)
Hiroko S.
New review They just started new system from this week, after the 8pm, you have to pay very expensive charge(I don't remember, it was either $12 or $24 I guess.....) to have drink. I usually love to use top of the hub to take my friends who visit me from out of the town to show Boston. However, it is no longer affordable. I thought instead of paying about $10 for skywalk, it is better to go top of the hub to have drink with using that $10. ---------------------Former Review 4stars---------------------------------------- Saturday 5pm for the cookie plate. I only waited 3minutes. However, that day was kind of storming day!! I like soft type of cookie, so this is good. However, if you get the cookie dough at the supermarket and baked it and decorate like this the taste will be the same. Not super special. You know cookie is always special, so hard to make a difference. Even the storming day the view was great! I have a picture of cookies as always, but i think if I post it here, I will take someone's happiness away. Go there and try it!!
(3)
Christopher F.
We've been to Top of the Hub on several occasions. Special dinners, drinks, New Year's Eve and even a few lunches sprinkled in, and it has never failed to delight. First of all and most obviously, the view is unparalleled. Panoramic Boston from one of the two tallest buildings in town, it's just breathtaking to see the old town laid out like that in front of you, and I had the most fun trying to imagine how it might have looked in the 17th and 18th centuries - something you can really only do from a vantage point like that. Equally dazzling in the day or night, you should eat here once for the view alone. But come back because it's also a high quality restaurant. We've never been disappointed in the food, though like anywhere some dishes we've enjoyed more than others. Of course we have our favorites, but everything has been well prepared and tasted great. On top of that they have all of the traditional cocktails and some fun ones on their list as well, and a strong if expensive wine list. They have many recognizable selections and their prices are generally in line with the typical restaurant markups, perhaps a bit over, but not outrageously so. And at this point we're picking nits...I'll happy throw in a few more dollars for a great cabernet to enjoy it 50 stories above Boston. Go, and enjoy!
(5)
Sue S.
My boyfriend and I went here for an anniversary and ordered off the prix fixe menu. The salmon is probably the best I have ever had-- moist, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Plus, the restaurant's view is unbeatable. I agree that the service was only average, and the prices are outrageous, but the food is good, the setting is lovely, and the experience truly unforgettable.
(4)
Hubert C.
Great view. Decent food.
(4)
Todd K.
I had an excellent lunch here today. With all of the poor reviews on Yelp I was pleasantly surprised with the quality and quantity of food at Top of the Hub. I was with party of 7 and it happened to be Restaurant Week. Nearly all of our party ordered off of the preset menu and all of us agreed the food was good. As you'd imagine the view was spectacular. I'd go back in a second.
(4)
Nico S.
Ordered: Boston creme pie and cobbler. Cobbler is packed with brown sugar ... not pleasant. Boston creme pie is too foofoo/designer. It lacked the flavor I was seeking from a creme pie. Sent it back. Drinks were good. And the view obviously is grade A.
(3)
Kristine M.
Never had the food and it's unlikely that I ever will, due to the cost. I'm frugal. Four stars for the view. I went there for a drink one afternoon with some out-of-town guests. It's definitely a nice place to go for a drink or two during off hours. The view will not disappoint.
(4)
Mags L.
some young couple got engaged in corny, cliche fashion. so minus 1 star 'cos i'm bitter and cynical. what was sad for them was that i got a seat by the window and they were seated in one of the inner tables. otherwise, it was fun. didn't have dinner. martinis and apps (baby spinach salad, crab cakes, salmon sandwich - split between 2 people). near the window (apparently, on the crap side, but i wasn't complaining). i quite enjoyed the food. maybe it was because i was on the crap side, but i didn't think it was much more expensive than what i would pay at a gastro-pub. the service was good. my martini was lovely. i don't mind falling into tourist traps. these are the kind of places that make me feel like mary richards from the mary tyler moore show (hey look! little suburban girl living it up in the "big city"). sorry for all the parentheses. (i went a little berserko!)
(3)
Kree K.
love this place! i gave the view 5 stars :) drinks and food are good as well.
(5)
Ellie H.
I've lived in boston for 5 years now, and for some reason never made it to the top of the hub. It was not worth the wait. I brought a visiting family member here for a drink-thought the view would be worth the trek up the 50 something floor. We ordered a round of drinks-4 total people total, then pushed our way towards the window to see what all the hype is about. Thats why they got one star. Its a great view. We saw some open arm chairs in this lounge/living room type of setting which was set back from the glass-away from the diners. We squished ourselves into 3 seats and started to have a very nice conversation with a couple that was sitting on one of the couches. About 5 seconds later, a host comes out of nowhere and ackwardly tries to tell me as quietly as he can that these "seats" have a $25 minimum per person. My response was a rather loud, "Really?!" Keep in mind we all had brand new mixed drinks-which all averaged between 12-15 bucks. I know clubs have minimums for packed tables, suites etc.. but a couple of arm chairs in the middle of a bar when nobody else is waiting for them?! Needless to say, we would have easily hit up the $25 min with another round, but didn't want to give this establishment any more of our time. Check out the view, but don't expect to have a fabulous time while you're doing it.
(1)
Jennie P.
Absolutely incredible view that should be seen by anyone living in or visiting the Boston area. HOWEVER Snotty hosting staff, mediocre waitstaff, extremely overpriced not that great food (but go figure, it's at the top of a really tall building with a great view, so maybe sort of to be expected). But here's the real catch: even if there is not a soul in the dining room, you can only get a table near a window if you're spending over a certain amount (i.e. purchasing a full meal with drinks). And if you go there for just drinks, the bar is not close enough to the window to enjoy the view at all. But if you so go there for drinks, pricing is mid-scale bar and the drinks are pretty good, and you can, if you are stealthy, wander over to the window and sneak a peak at the Blue Hills to the south, Wachusett Mountain/the sunset/a Fenway game in progress to the west, the Atlantic to the East... you get the idea. So it's worth it once or twice, but do not expect to feel welcome there unless you are quite clearly a tourist. They are not fond of locals, even if you are dressed way up.
(2)
Pablo S.
Stay away from this horrible place and rude management who doesn't care about their costumers !!!! Mediocre food not worth the $ and very expensive.
(1)
Stephen S.
I can't say I was enthralled with the food, but I was certainly impressed. Thanks to restaurant week I was able to weasel my way into Top of the Hub with some coworkers for lunch. Curiously enough the standout dish of the meal was the salad. It was basically just tomatoes and onions but both were extremely fresh and packed with flavor. The citrus-y balsamic vinaigrette was both refreshing and playfully light on the palate. Next up...salmon. Salmon's pretty hard to screw up and props to them for not doing so! The bed of risotto was good, although it could have used a little more salt. The texture was right on though. Apparently I was suppose to eat the skin though, which is considered a delicacy, but I neglected to do so and thus deprived myself of the meal which some of my more sophisticated dining companions savored. Clearly I'm not up on my fish etiquette. To finish I went with the chocolate caramel tart thingy over the creme brulee. It was...adequate but not memorable. Big ups to the service though, they were ridiculously attentive. I like to play this game where I order flat or sparkling bottled water and those around me get tap. I judge the attention of the servers (usually at least 3, only one of which actually brought the bottle to the table) by the frequency with which they refill my glass and whether or not they remember that mine came from the bottle and not the pitcher. They almost failed today but the water server noticed his mistake at the last moment and averted a catastrophe by withdrawing the pitcher at the last moment. Good for them!
(3)
Angela H.
You're here for the view, not really so much for the food. (The food is okay.) If you're a tourist, definitely go. If you live in Boston, still go, just because. Especially at night.
(3)
Sweaty P.
Get the platter of cookies and nothing else. It's the best.
(5)
Joanna C.
I visited the first day of Restaurant Week for dinner with my roommates. Thus, our waiter could not give us his opinion on the RWeek menu. But we tried it anyway: Bread: room temperature, ok Arugula salad with Goat cheese & Caramelized onions: nothing special Manhattan clam chowder: eh, and very hot Salmon with Bearnaise reduction and Beets: ok Rigatoni with Veal, Porcini mushrooms, & Roasted garlic: VERY GOOD (I'm glad I chose this, the overly cheerful waiter described the meat having been braised and simmered for 6 hours - VERY tender.) Creme brulee: good enough, not amazing Honey yogurt with Walnuts & Orange puree: GOOD (the top gelatin layer of orange puree merged so well with the yogurt layer, and was grounded with the crunchy crust. The hard pistachio bubble sugar piece was the best part.) Aside from the set menu, we tried the Tartar of Yellowfin Tuna. The avocado and tuna mixed well with the soy-based sauce. But it reminded me of something you'd have at a sushi joint - and it'd probably be done better. The Rasberry Martini was doing its job, apparent by the color of my roommate's face. According to my other roommate, the Sauvignon blanc paired well with the Salmon. Being the DD, I stuck with water. But all the better to taste the food, I guess. The view was nice enough, pre-sunset, sunset, and especially post - all those lights. But things like that don't keep my attention for long. Unfortunately, neither did the food. Although there were some hits, there were more misses. I probably would not come back again if I had the choice.
(3)
Tiffany A.
My husband and our friends took me here for my birthday. The plan was drinks and an amazing view, and neither proved disappointing. The drinks are strong and well worth the price. I especially liked my berry bubbly martini, complete with martini soaked raspberries and blueberries. DELICIOUS! I ordered a Chocotini for my next drink, and that was all I needed to feel pleasantly buzzed. These people don't mess with their drinks. We ordered and split two plates of cookies, which were served with a super yummy whipped cream dip. These cookies are to die for (I was partial to the sugar cookies). There was not a crumb left on those plates by the end of the night. The service is incredible; our waitress has no issue splitting our bill multiple ways, and she even offered to take lots of pictures for us with all our different cameras. She was fantastic, and very quick to offer a drink suggestion based on personal preferences. The views are exactly as everyone claims: the best in the city. You can see the entire spread of Boston and greater Boston from up there. It was gorgeous; not as magnificent as NYC, obviously, but still really, really nice. The decor is gorgeous; it's dimly lit and the jazz lounge has a really chill vibe. We felt incredibly relaxed and at our leisure. I will certainly look forward to our next trip back here!
(5)
Andrew A.
When you're up 52 stories its going to blow hard...and this place did. I had a $14 burger that was made at Denny's and presented as "Top of the Hub's" very own. The staff sucked too...they were rude, slow, and un-accommodating. I gave this place 1 star instead of none partly because "none" is not an option and also because the view kicks ass. Dont go here unless you know the owner and/or are feeling charitable.
(1)
Kristen H.
Once you get over the breath-taking view of Boston, you get back to reality and realize that it is an expensive, crowded bar, with minimal sitting room, and stuffy. I found the bar to be very overrated! If you can get there early enough to get a table with a $24 minimum PER PERSON (yeah the website says PER TABLE but we were told otherwise) or a cozy, romantic table for 2 by a window, seek drinks elsewhere. My friends got mixed drinks and said they paid $8 for tonic with a splash of alcohol.
(2)
Lisa M.
I've read other reviews that said that the food is ok but everything else was great. I thought that the food was great. Of course it's pricey, but you expect that in this setting. I would imagine that lunch would be a nice meal there because it's probably less crowded and a little more relaxed. We brought a family of five, including two children. We were concerned about the food options for the children, but the server was very nice and accomodating when I asked her if a simple pasta dish could be provided. My cioppini was perfection. My son said that his steak as the best he ever had. We did have reservations and they wouldn't take us one minute before even though there were tables. We didn't realize that this is how the restaurant is set up, they do "seatings" at certain times. Now that I know that, I will make sure not to get there too early because the bar area was quite crowded. Desserts were wonderful. Service was attentive and prompt. I would do it again for a special occasion.
(4)
Nick C.
I will start by saying I've been to The Top of the Hub before and had a good experience (just didn't yelp at that time). This visit was a very different experience. First, I called at the beginning of the week and asked for a window table. Yes, lots of people probably make this request and no they won't guarantee a window table but I was told by the gentleman I spoke with that preference is given to reservations. Good enough for me. We arrive on time for our 9:30pm res., I check in and we are immediately seated but at a table as far from the window as you could get AND on the other side of a pole. Ok, maybe just bad luck. Literally 5 minutes after we sit down a couple finishes at their table by the window. So its clear the hostess didnt look at my request nor did she let me know there wasnt a window table. Well it gets worst. Our waiter, although a very nice guy (who did get better at the end) took 10 minutes to even take our drink order and another 5 to ask if we were ready to put in apps. Once finished with dinner we moved to the lounge to have a few more drinks and desert. Guess what, at least 3 servers working in that area walked right by us several times without even saying a word. It wasnt until one of the servers overheard me asking the table next to us about servers that he came over and said "yes there are servers but there is a $50 minimum and we assumed you just wanted to sit here". Interesting assumption and by the way, there is no minimum if you've moved to the lounge after eating. The food...ehhh decent. I had the crab cake (not great at all and I like crab cakes), salad was decent, tuna main course was alright, and my date said the salmon was good. The drinks were pretty good. This whole experience at a restaurant where dinner was $190 and drinks were $60....I would expect far more from a place like this.
(2)
Eun Jae G.
view and desserts were amazing.. boston cream pie was amazing.. my friend said they had the best margarita in town.. well.. i didn't really like it too strong.. they had it a bit too strong for me.. otherwise if ure okay with it, it was excellent! :)
(4)
Andrenaline R.
I don't think I would have gone here, if it wasn't for the view. If you have reservations, don't expect to be seated on time. The food preparation could have been better. I started out with the tuna tartare with avocado, which was kind of mushy for me. It also lacked the lime taste for me. The prime sirloin was lathered in butter, which was good. My coworker ordered her prime sirloin medium, but came well done. So, she sent her plate back. At least the chef gave her a salad to munch on while she waited for her entree. I initially wanted the lobster tail, but they ran out. I ordered fresh baked cookies for dessert. It was like a dozen full size cookies, but they came out not fully cooked. I had to send them back. They did give me a different batch of cookies the second time, but still a bit raw. I gave up and just accepted my cookies as is. This place is ok, but you know it is what it is. Food that is mediocre with an awesome view. We have plenty of places like this in SF. I have to talk about our waiter, because he's a cheese ball. Always making jokes, but after awhile it gets old. Then I have to start rolling my eyes.
(3)
ALINA F.
Great place for romantic dinner. The view is spectacular. Food is good but overpriced for the quality. My husband has ordered lamb and loved it.I had 12 oz steak, it was ok.
(4)
Alex Z.
best view in boston.. slightly tourist heavy, but expected
(4)
Layla P.
This has been mentioned before, but I'll go ahead and say it again..the plate of fresh baked cookies is awesome, only if you like chewy warm goodness of course (which I do). We stopped by here for a drink and dessert and to hear some music. The lounge has a $48 minimum per person after 8 PM (this was a monday night by the way) when there is live music. Some of the cocktails are pretty fruity, I loved them, but men beware if you feel sketchy drinking a pink drink. When we went, it was totally foggy and we couldn't see a thing, but it was still cool because you could see the fog moving past the window crazy fast and it felt like you were in the clouds. The service was good, drinks and cookies fabulous, music very good, all in all a good experience and I would recommend it. :) It is pricey, but it is to be expected at such a place.
(4)
Gabriel W.
The food was good, by no means great. The service was good. Their reputation was clearly built on the location. It is a great place to be, you can see all of Boston and beyond. It's especially fun if you've never been up there. But like I said, the food was good, not great.
(2)
Josh C.
Tourist spot but.......great cocktails and the food is great. Try the lobster bisque and tuna tar tar. oh ya..... the views not to bad either :-)
(4)
I Before E.
Incredible view. I can see for miles and miles and miles and miles........ The food was creative, the service was great. I'd highly recommend this for a special occasion (or an everyday occasion). It's not nearly as expensive as you might think. Went here for a pre-Valentines dinner. (Waited too long to make a reservation for the 14th, so had to substitute the 13th. Ouch!) I overcame the moral pangs and started with the Foie Gras. It was very tender and well prepared. A minor nit - the chef obviously hadn't tempered it before cooking, probably took it right from the fridge to the pan, so the center was slightly cool, but is was still very good. It was served on top of apple fritters with a wonderful rum honey glaze. Very, very tasty. I followed with the potato crusted cod. This doesn't look anything like what it sounds. It was a generous size piece of what must have been day boat cod. The fish was exquisitely fresh. My family is in the seafood business. I know fresh fish. This was unbelievably fresh fish. The fish was lightly dusted with coarse potato flour, cooked, and then topped with a ceviche of lime juice and Jonah crab. The fish rested in a sauce that I would guess was made from butter and reduced red and white wine. There might have been a little port in there too. Each of the flavors, the sauce, the fish and the crab, was individually wonderful. The combination of them together was a little bit too aggressive for my liking, but this was an inventive and impressive dish. I can highly recommend it. The chef gets an A+ for effort. If I could rate Top of the Hub 4.5 stars I would, but I have to choose between 4.0 and 5.0. It's not at the same level as Alex at the Wynn or GR at 68 Royal in London, and we do have to save some room at the top don't we, so I'm giving it a 4.0, but it is very, very good. Did I mention the view?
Went here for lunch, first time there but wasn't very impressed considering all of the talk I have heard. The views are obviously nice, and can't really be beat. The food was okay, calamari was cold, but other than that was not bad overall. Service was quick and courteous, nothing special. 4 stars because wasn't overly impressed but wasn't too disappointed either
(4)
Anna G.
I love this place! You must, must come here either as a tourist, to bring tourists, or as a local. I recommend not making a reservation and sitting in the cocktail area. The views are unbelievable and there is live jazz every single night! What else do I need to say?? Order dirty martinis and calamari, listen to the tunes, enjoy the beautiful views of the Harbor Islands -- thank me later.
Yes I'm a tourist - we only came for drinks and for the view - great view for sure - the restaurant wraps practically all the way around. I was surprised that there aren't much taller buildings in Boston - this is one of the tallest. The drinks were just fine - and actually not that pricey considering that I'd expect this to be a full tourist trap. We came right at sunset so it was perfect, got a couple of pretty pictures. I imagine if I lived here it might be nice to come and celebrate something.
(4)
Ryan J.
Made a reservation for a birthday dinner. Wrote a note for the online reservation that I would like to coordinate serving an ice cream cake that I would bring. Didn't receive any reply. Wasn't informed of the "no outside cakes" rule until getting there. That was reasonable, all things considered, but it would have been nice to be informed beforehand with the contact info I provided. They offered to hold the cake for me during the dinner, and I was thankful, feeling no need to request an exemption to their cake policy. However, even though I had told them it was an ice cream cake, they had put it in the chilled wine area or something instead of freezing it. We only realized when we got home that our $40 dollar cake was now a puddle. In addition they were rude to a female guest in my party and explicitly told her that she had no reservation when she arrived and asked to join our party of 4 (as our expected 4th member). We were seated in the lounge area and had not been seated yet. As far as food we had the Fra Diavolo and Pork Chop. Food was mediocre and frankly not up to standard for the type of venue. My Fra Diavolo dish had enough meat but the sauce reminded me of cafeteria food. It was very bland and masked both the taste and texture of the seafood ingredients. My guests mentioned that the Pork Chop was alright but not at the level they were expecting. Overall a enjoyable night due to the company and psudo fine-dining atmosphere. However, the hosts and food quality served to diminish an otherwise pleasant meal. Please be aware of standard of service and food to expect from this venue, as well as their policies. If you neglect this and are not a patient individual you may be in for a frustrating or distasteful experience.
(2)
Tim G.
Great views and ambiance. Definitely something that all Bostonians (and visitors) need to check out. I've never eaten here, only been here for drinks a few times, but sitting down with family, friends, co-workers, or clients and sipping on a cocktail with the Boston area as your backdrop is prettayy prettayy nice. Drinks are understandably pricey ($15+ for cocktails I think, if not more), but you are paying for the awesome location and views.
Slow, slow, slow service. Rather unpleasant experience. Not the fault of our waiter, who was very kind, or the fault of our chef, who was astounding (fantastic food), but the restaurant was not staffed well enough at all. I will most likely never return. Also, they did not hold customers to dress code, which lowered the caliber of the establishment.
(3)
Gyda S.
Unfortunate to have a bad experience at a place that has such a high reputation. We had to wait past our reservation time to be seated then upon being seated after ten minutes we were asked to move to a different table. Although the food was great, the service was slow because the restaurant was under staffed. Not the fault of the waiter it was purely poor management.
(2)
Alvin W.
This place has got to be the biggest scam ever for numerous reasons - The food was mediocre, the filet mignon was overcooked as was the salmon my wife and I ordered -The service was "half-assed", promising to take our photo but never coming back. He did not even bring our food yet he continuously asked for more tips -And finally the management of this place is a scam as a whole; always constantly telling us we cannot sit by the windows tables because there is over an hour wait, when in actuality the place was half empty with numerous windows tables open Our bill and out to be around 200 dollars, while the service and food is not worth remotely close to that amount. Why would you have the view as a selling point but not allow customers to sit and enjoy the view, placing us further in. BAD FOOD, BAD SERVICE, AND A SCAM!
(1)
Virginia C.
Anyone from Boston knows the locals don't come here for food. There are plenty of other establishments for the quality and price. However, you can't beat the 360 view. I would def. Come here for drinks. But I was here for lunch, they have a pretty damn tasty veggie burger!!! Other than that, I was never a fan of my steak dinners here or pasta dishes. It's just all very bland - but the view. Yes, one most go at least once if you are in town for an extended period of time!!!
(3)
Al Y.
Two stars just for the great view of Boston, which by the way, you can get from the top of many other tall buildings in Boston these days. I definitely like the daylight view better than night when it is sunny out there. Now to the food, ughhhhh...... Visited with a group from work, I had clam chowder for starters. The soup was cold and tasted like nothing. For main 10 oz iron steak which was low quality meat, tasteless and undercooked ( I asked for medium-well done). You couldn't cut it with knife. Seriously the Worst steak I have ever had anywhere. For desert, the coffee was as sh** as all the others. I ended up having stomach ache. My boss paid the cheque from company budget so I wasn't bothered with that part but I am sure they charged too much for that junk food. Such s disappointing experience. I mean, come on people, this is a landmark of the city of Boston and tourists come here from around the globe. Is this how Boston food tastes like? Or maybe it does!
(2)
Amanda S.
I think this restaurant/bar is a must-visit in Boston. I went to the bar and had a Bloody Mary that cost about $10 (which was less than I expected). It was an excellent Bloody Mary, but what was even better were the gorgeous views of the city. We planned to go down to the observation deck (two floors down), but when we got down there, we found it was $16 to enter... To see the same views we had enjoyed when we were at the restaurant. Needless to say, that cocktail was well worth its cost in many ways!
(4)
Mona W.
Typically, trademark rooftop bars don't have very good food. However, I was pleasantly surprised. Granted, we were only hungry enough to get dessert. The chocolate cake actually had Top of the Hub written out in gold, and was very tasty. Our drinks were also decent. The views were amazing, and service was pretty good. Overall, it was nice welcome back to Boston :)
The view is breathtaking and that's about it. I asked for medium rare steak and I got well done. The server was sweet enough to notice and return it. Unfortunately, the second steak was inconsistent and full of olive oil. My sister got the crab cake and it smelled awful. The bread and chips were decent.
(1)
Alka A.
Two stars: one for the view, one for our bartender who got our orders in right before last call and made them super strong The rest of the staff there was very rude: "you can't sit there, you can't put your drinks here" etc - they are supposed to close at 2am on Friday but at 1:15 they stop serving anything and then randomly start moving the furniture around - taking sofas across the room, and mopping right in front of our feet We even called ahead and whoever we talked to said the kitchen was open til 1:30am but they were wrong so no desserts for us who walked in at 1:06am Beautiful view, but shaddy service
(2)
Sharon K.
Fantastic view of the City. Kind of a scene to get a table, but it moved quickly. perfect date spot.
(4)
Lauren H.
I went to Top of the Hub for this first time for brunch this past weekend. It was a clear sunny day, so the view was gorgeous. There were eight of us seated at a large round table, and the staff were very attentive and my water glass was never empty. The brunch menu is 4 courses, starting with a Greek yogurt/berry/granola parfait, served in a wine glass. The parfait was fine, but it was a little awkward to eat it out of a small-mouthed wine glass using the large spoon provided. The double cut bacon steak, lobster vol au-vent and tiramisu were all fantastic. Definitely did not leave hungry!
(4)
Sargam B.
Went to Boston this past weekend and obviously didn't think the trip would be complete without visiting this place. I'm very big on rooftop bars, as it's the only thing I ever do in NYC once spring hits. Even on a Sunday, this place was relatively packed. We preferred a table but as soon as we entered the lobby of the building, they told us we would have to wait 40 mins for a table. If not, we can just go up and grab a drink at the bar. So we decided to do the latter as we were pressed on time. The bar was super crowded but we managed to get a drink after a while. What was really disappointing was that they had closed off all ways to get near the windows to see the view. I thought that was the whole point of the restaurant. So I somehow sneaked my way around and luckily got a picture in but was told I couldn't be in the area and had to go back to the bar. You can't see the view at all from the bar as they have shelves and shelves of liquor bottles obstructing the view. Who interior designed this place?! The drinks were subpar. I ordered a whiskey sour and it wasn't well prepared and was most likely made with just regular sour mix as opposed to the proper way of making one (fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, egg whites). Only drank 1/4 of my whiskey sour and headed out. A very mediocre experience.
(3)
Nancy L.
If only I could give it 0 stars! I had an incredibly disappointing experience here. My friend and I went there at night for desserts (with a reservation). After 20 minute wait, we were seated near the window. After another 20 minutes, a waiter came and rudely told us that we couldn't sit there if we were only there for desserts. We said that we had reservations for the table but we were told that we had to leave for the other guests who were willing to pay for the dinner!
(1)
Ivy L.
Great views of Boston! A must go if you're in the area. You can find Top of the Hub in the Prudential Tower. Prices are pretty high...but if you just want to check out the views, I'd definitely recommend this place. My friend and I went for the bar and got a few drinks there instead of getting food (the prices are ridiculous for food and even high for drinks!). I got the Organic Cucumber Mojito, and I really liked it, minus the cane sugar. I thought it made it too sweet. My friend ordered one both of the Pumpkin drinks and she liked the Biscotti one more (I agree, it had a better flavor and texture- more creamy!). Check this place out if you want a view of Boston!
(4)
B P.
The view was amazing! The food and service were pretty good too. Not the most epic meal I've ever had. Tthe lobster soup was delicious.
(4)
Sam B.
The views of Boston are really what makes this place. The food is subpar, and the chowdah is way below that. There are a few good drinks here though. The Melon Mule and the spicy margarita are the high points. Bottom line, come for the views and the drinks. Steer clear of the food, especially the chowdah.
(2)
Anna V.
1 star for the cocktails and another for the view. Food and service were really disappointing. For what I expected to be a fine dining restaurant, this place is severely lacking. I'm no snob when it comes to food by any means, but if you're paying more than $30 for a plate of pasta, you do expect a certain level of quality. We had the crabcake for an appetizer, which was good but overpriced for only 1 crabcake. I got the fra diavolo, which aside from not being spicy at all, was just straight disgusting. You know the marinara they put on spaghetti in a diner in the middle of a strip mall? That's the same sauce Top of the Hub serves. My boyfriend ordered the veal, medium, and it came out rare. Like, bleeding, maybe still breathing, rare. It took the waiter over 10 minutes to come check on us and we had to flag someone down in order to send his food back. It took another 15 for them to bring it back (and after all that it was pretty bland) so we had a lovely time taking turns watching each other eat. The view is really breathtaking but my advice is to save yourself $100, get the full view a floor below at the Skywalk for 11 bucks, then hit up Top of the Hub for a drink. Stay away from the food.
I made an online reservation with a special request and my request was not fulfilled. I asked to be seated next to the window as I am a first timer wanting to experience the whole view and dining. My friend and I were not greeted as we came in to check in. Fine, I moved on. Then the hostess who sat us down was completely snobby and rude. (She has long blonde hair.) I didn't even get to sit in my seat and settle down when she tossed the cloth on my lap discourteously. I notice a bunch of open tables near the window seat, so I'm still wondering why I didn't get seated there. Then I look over to the table on my right and see there was a party of TWO sitting in a table of FOUR. Unless they paid extra money to be seated there, then that is understandable but I've never heard of anything like that so please... Give me a damn good reason as to why I didn't get it. The only decent person there was our server. He wasn't even all that great at serving us but he at least had the manners for his job. As for the food, um can you talking about a disaster?! The place probably is only good for the view. Trying to chew and digest my pork tenderloin was horrifying. I felt like I was eating rocks. Then I flip the pork over to see how soggy it was at the bottom. While I'm eating some dry hard pork, my friend's pasta was so bland, watery and NO flavor. She was definitely struggling to eat it. I mean I didn't expect much out of this place for their food. What really ticks me off is the people who work there. Treating me like I'm some low class peasant. Is the owner aware of his workers actions? Do they even take these things seriously?
(2)
Jessica T.
I've always wanted to go here with my husband and it did not disappoint. The view in of itself was so worth it. Very romantic atmosphere. We had a brie appetizer and a few drinks. Both were very good and the service was great.
(5)
Alicia S.
Honestly, one star because I have to. I'm from Dallas (home of the city with the most restaurants per square mileage.) I know what good and terrible service is. This was the worst. For a place that should consider themselves a lot more "stylish, and welcoming" it is awful. It was not full at all 30% if anything. It took 15 minutes to get greeted after being sat by two insuperable and unpleasant hostesses. Our drinks came after 18 minutes... EIGHTEEN minutes for a restaurant filled at 30% capacity. There were plenty on staff. Other than a cool view, not worth it at all. Horrible. Horrible. Horrible service. Please tell your staff to actually say hi..pay them more. Do whatever.
(1)
Chris W.
Great place to grab dinner and/or drinks best view of the city from the tallest building in Boston. Phenominal views. I had the Tuna and it was cooked to perfection. Great menu choices. Highly recommend it for the view alone it is worth it.
(5)
Jake J.
A great place to have an amazing dining experience and view for the visiting tourist or a Boston resident. It is on the 52nd floor of Prudential building. Be sure to make a reservation for a window seat overlooking Boston! The ambiance is fantastic and servers are very friendly. There is a dining room, full bar and a dance floor. Fantastic place to impress your first date or dine with your lover. Be prepared to drop a good $200 for two people(it can be a little bit cheaper if you try) trust me, it is worth it. I will say that you are paying more for the experience rather than the cuisine. I was not impressed with the dishes my girlfriend and I ordered but still had a fantastic time! Maybe I ordered something that the chef has not yet perfected. I would definitely go back to see if that was the case. Dress to impress!
(4)
Sarah G.
It took me almost 5 years to finally come and try out Top of the Hub, and I wish I had sooner! Yes it is a tourist trap, yes their cocktails are around $13 each which is not cheap, and yes it is technically on top of a mall, BUT the view from up here really is just pretty awesome. I went at night time which I think has to be the best time to go, since you get to see all of Boston lit up--it is pretty phenomenal. And our cocktails were all pretty good too on top the view! They even serve one Bully Boy cocktail here which is Boston's only real distillery and it just opened recently, so that's cool that they support that. We also got their baked brie and as people have said, I would skip the food and just get some cocktails and enjoy the view! They have live jazz later on in the night which then changes the lounge tables to be a $24 minimum per person but with cocktails being that pricey it isn't hard not to do that. But it is a relaxing spot to grab a drink or two, you don't need reservations for the lounge area early enough in the night at all--we walked right in. So glad I can mark this off my Boston Bucket List now!
(4)
Tania P.
Beautiful view. Service was just ok. Restaurant had good ambience, but we were sat next to some irritating guests! Would go back and give it another shot.
(3)
Ro K.
Overrated, over-pricey, not worth it if you can't sit by the window. I brought my mom here for her birthday (we were traveling from Los Angeles) and we were seated away from the window, even though I made reservations ahead of time for window-seats. When I requested a seat-change, the male server huffed and puffed and gave us attitude throughout the entire meal. I had read the Yelp reviews about the staff being rude and terrible service was definitely the case here. If you're paying that much for food, the service should be commensurate with payment. The only thing that seemed to make the server happy was the fact that we kept ordering more food. They charged us $20 for a complimentary birthday cake. A complimentary...birthday cake. They seated us away from the jazz band and we couldn't hear the music.. despite my special instructions to be seated near them. The whole thing was a disaster. If you're out of town tourists like we were, go to there for a drink and an appetizer and make sure you are seated by the window and near the band. Otherwise, not worth your time and money. If you want great food (the best ribs) and great jazz music, go to the Beehive instead.
(1)
Pam C.
Have been here twice for dinner. Definitely make a reservation - it's very easy with OpenTable or a call, and when you walk in and see the small mob of people in the elevator bay trying to get a seat, it'll definitely be worth it. The restaurant is a little bit hard to find, but if you follow the signs and refer to the maps in the mall it's not that bad. It is in the Prudential tower, so you have to walk through the Prudential center mall to get there. I firstly want to echo other reviewers in saying that the hostess staff is quite rude. The first time I tried to call to make a reservation, the hostess hung up on me. The waitstaff was great, however - extremely attentive and very knowledgeable about the menu. They have a great wine and cocktails list, but a lot of the wine can be hit or miss. Their mixed drinks are quite good, but absolutely on the pricey side ($13+ each). The food is pretty so-so, especially for the price you pay. The foie gras was extremely buttery, to the point where it really just tasted like a lump of pure fat - there wasn't much additional complexity to it. The entrees tend to be unoffensive - the fra diavolo was really just spaghetti with tomato sauce, and some clams and shrimp thrown in. The steak was fine, and so is the chicken. Honestly, my impression of Top of the Hub is that there's a huge focus on the fact that it's a ritzy, fancy restaurant. They focus so much on the extensive wine menu, the flashy cocktails, and the impeccable waitstaff that it seems like they just forget about the food. The drinks are extremely strong, but every article of food I've had at Top of the Hub has simply been alright - not great, and absolutely not worth the prices that they charge. The view is very nice, but there are definitely certain sides that have more interesting sights. My favorite is definitely the portion of the tower that faces the Hancock tower. Overall, I think Top of the Hub is absolutely a place that you should check out. Advice though - instead of shelling out for the full meal, or waiting forever to get into the bar/lounge (they don't take reservations for the bar), instead make a later reservation for the dining area, split a desert or an appetizer and some drinks. You get the same experience and view, minus the lackluster food and having to get sneered at by the hostess staff as you wait for hours to get let into the bar.
If you are an out-of-towner or entertaining one, this should certainly be on your places to visit. Even if for only a drink or a dessert, the views of the city (and a great deal of eastern Massachusetts if the weather cooperates) are spectacular. The service is prompt but not pretentious and attentive without being intrusive. My out of town guest was blown away by the view and very impressed with the restaurant itself. Its always great to show off this city from this height!
(4)
Di L.
I'm surprised how much I like Top of the Hub. I expected a tacky-snooty, overpriced tourist trap, but there's a lot of great things to say about it, not to mention the view. It's great for business meals, dates, site-seeing, pretty much any reason to be fancy. There's live music in the evenings, usually a small jazz ensemble. The staff is friendly and the ambiance is relaxed yet posh. The bar is phenomenally well-stocked, carrying some wonderful craft beers and flavorful, strong cocktails. The food is beautifully presented, but not spectacular. Most menu items are not worth the price, with the exception of the 3-course prix fixe lunch, which is comparable to restaurant week prices and always generously portioned and tasty. I would recommend getting whatever seafood is offered. They serve very fresh seafood, and fresh seafood is naturally seasoned and almost impossible to f*** up. I didn't like the night time dessert menu. The chocolate cake was too dense and not chocolatey enough. The cheesecake had a rubbery texture and a cloying blandness to it that is like how I imagine shortening to taste, if it were eaten by itself. The creme brulee was nice though, not too eggy and served in an extra-wide ramekin to maximize surface area, creating a delightfully crunchy and sweet ratio of custard to caramelized sugar. I like coming here for lunch or drinks. I don't know what the other reviewers are talking about. I've been to the restaurant many times and it has never been packed. There are more people in the evenings, but every time I've been here for lunch or brunch, it has at most been at half capacity.
(5)
Trudy V.
Food was fine, a bit expensive for what you're getting. But the service was great and the view was amazing! Overall a great dining experience!
(5)
John H.
We didn't eat here, but for getting a drink while taking in the view of Boston at night was awesome. Add to that a great 3-pc Jazz band and it was a perfect finish to a night in Boston.
(5)
Tati A.
Save your money and just sit at the bar, have a drink, look at the beautiful view and then go somewhere else to eat. This place is expensive and SO NOT WORTH IT!!!
(1)
Shirley L.
I don't normally come here for food just because I think it's overrated. I was here with a friend for a quick drink but we haven't seen each other in awhile so we were taking longer catching up than usual. I chilled at the bar and ordered the organic mojito. It was very refreshing, as most mojitos are. Then I ordered the mussels which were very disappointing. Not enough broth and it was tomato based. The mussels were very small and dry. The two pieces of toast that it came with was burnt and bitter. As for the service, the bartenders are nice but the hosts need some work. They're more focused on talking with each other and wasn't inviting at all. As great as the view is, I don't think I will be returning any time soon. If you're new to Boston, I would recommend to go at least once just for the view but buy a drink and relax. Don't bother with the food. Oh and not to mention their stupid $24 minimum to sit near the window (so if you want the view and drinks, order it at a table near the window) the drinks you order at the bar doesn't count towards the $24 minimum.
(2)
Kaveh Z.
Very beautiful view and very good food. The portion size was just right, not large, not small either. We had a very good dinner with my girlfriend there and we both left happy. And very polite and professional waiter that we had made the experience even better.
(5)
April A.
We went to the lounge at Top of the Hub after only living in Boston for 9 months for my partner's 30th birthday. I knew the view would be great but yelp reviews made me think we would not be excited about the food, especially being vegan. We went up expecting to wait decent time for seating at the lounge, and within 2 minutes were whisked away to a table. Servers were great and the view was great. I ordered a basic salad that had a light asian dressing and the flatbread with no cheese (so tomato and basil). Both were absolutely delicious. I had assumed it was a "you have to try it once kind of thing then don't need to go back" but I will definitely go back :)
(5)
Jackie C.
THis review is for the lounge for drinks and dessert. This is the 3rd time we have been and I have no idea why I haven't checked in before so first of all - Sorry! IT was not a long wait for a table in the lounge section, it is HUGE so don't stress too much. The jazz band is just wonderful for a nicer night out without being too loud. The view is to die for but anyone who goes up there will attest to that. I want to make a special shout out to our serview Jackie (sp) who was just a doll! She had a great suggestion for wine without it breaking the bank and she gave us her opinon on the two best desserts; the carmel creme brule and the chocole cake with ice cream which she totally nailed. Definitely get those! She was very attentive, sweet and just made us feel very special. My brother was visiting so we wanted to show him a good time and she definitely made us look good. When you are there, ask to sit with her - you will not be disspointed with service.
(5)
Lexi S.
You come here for the experience more than anything. My boyfriend took me to the Top of the Hub for my 18th birthday last July. We got dressed up nicely (black dress and heels for me, button down with dress pants and dress shoes for him) and drove into Boston to the Prudential. The wait serves was fabulous and the seating and views were nothing less than magnificent. You could see all of Boston from where we were sitting. Everything was exquisite. The food was decent, but maybe because mine was cooked a little too well. Overall, would definitely recommend coming here on
(5)
Margaret M.
You know, I have to say I was pretty disappointed with this place. Definitely not what it is advertised to be - and I am not sure if the other reviewers were all experience altitude hallucinations or had too much to drink but this place is absolutely not 4 or 5 stars. Here's a quick run down of the pros & cons to help you make your decision" Pros: View Coat Check Quick bar staff Kind & Knowledgeable wait staff Cons: Incredibly rude & pretentious host staff Inability to seat on time even if you have a reservation Barely decent food WAY overpriced for the quality Jazz music tucked in the back corner where only about 1/4 of the seats in the place can even see or hear them I would suggest hitting this place for a pre-dinner drink and maybe an appetizer just so that you can see the views, but do not plan on staying for dinner. There are FAR better spots to fill your belly in the city.
(2)
Dan C.
PLEASE DO NOT RESERVE THIS CRAPPY SPOT FOR A SPECIAL OCCASION, what a mess, spent $200 for 2... Worst experience ever.. The welcome hostess was a pig, no manners , the waiter had a lack of enthusiasm, no sort of experience... Disgusting poor quality and shameful class Boston has to offer... Visitors and locals beware, it may be best to take a chopper ride for $300 bucks for the classic view!! This place is the pitts!! Trust me!!
(1)
Scott K.
Last time I went skiing on Aspen, I picked up a pair of fashionable Patagonia custom made snow boots, and brought them back to Boston. Let's be honest- our winter felt like Aspen without the luxurious ski slopes. During on of the snowstorms of 2015, I was out and about after I left my job as the SVP of Contractual Finance and Litigation at a high-powered financial firm that I got shortly after I graduated with my MBA from HBS. I decided to stop up in an attempt to grab a few cocktails with my associates. I was wearing my boots, as it was coming down harder outside than my boss does on me if sales are down (as if I've ever let that happen, lol). The hostess made it so obvious she didn't like my boots that when she was walking behind me, her neck was so extended I could practically see her eyes. She was so snobby and obnoxious I took my deep pockets and high credit limit to The Pour House down the street.
To describe our dining experience at top of the hub I would use the words: butter, bad service and tourist trap. My fiance and I did our research. We Yelped Top of the Hub before we arrived and knew what we were going to order. Here is what we ordered: Spicy Lobster Soup - Butter. Drinking this soup felt like consuming melted butter. The soup was not spicy as described. Roasted Beet Salad - Fantastic! It was fresh, colorful and the best thing on the menu in my opinion. Pan Seared Haddock - Fried. Not Pan-Seared. Very disappointing. Freshly Baked Cookies - Butter, again. We ate them all because we were really hungry. Although I didn't expect the service to be very good it was particularly bad at Top of the Hub. My fiance and I didn't have much of the soup. Yet the waiter kept standing around not asking what we thought of the soup. In fact, he never asked us if we liked anything for the entire meal. He also just stood around a lot instead of waiting on tables. The views are gorgeous here. We came on a cloudy day and we still really enjoyed being able to see the city from the Top of the Hub. I will definitely never return to this place, especially when Legal Seafoods is located downstairs.
(1)
Kim N.
You come here for the view. Make reservations just in case. The server we had was a little cold. He tried to be friendly and joke with us though. The drinks were yummy, you can definitely taste the alcohol. The food was disappointing. I think I just expected a lot more since the place was so nice. It wasn't bad...Just average...With a big price tag for the price. I'm glad we didn't order too much because I think I would have been disappointed. Again, you come for the view. They don't rush you out either, so stay there and enjoy. We saw a man propose here (she said yes!), so it's that kind of place... The nice part was that when we told our server that we were celebrating my boyfriend's birthday, he got the manager to get us into the observatory below for free, so we could enjoy the night view. (The sun set during our dinner.) It was nice walk around and enjoy the sight. I would only come again for dessert and drinks and the view. I can go without the food.
(3)
Michael H.
I booked my reservation through open table and I requested window dining. Well the staff seated us My Mom, my Niece and me in the lounge closest to the wall farthest from the window! But they seated about 15 minutes early. Now it states on the reservation that window can't be guaranteed and I can understand that. But the furthest away jeez! Then my mom and niece ordered the $27.00 steak and all the menu says is steak and tells you about what's on the steak like onions and basil curry. Now my mom simply asked does it come with a potatoe the waiter said tots or French fries! Never mentioned any vegetables or bread... I got the $17 Chicken pot pie which I've had just as good at Bob Evan's. Now I get that your paying for ambiance! But seriously tater tots and French fries! As side dish. Our drink glasses sat empty three different times. I saw another table get bread so I asked the waiter if we can get some he said he'd bring some out he did but it took a while and I had to ask about it. So after our dining experience I paid then I thought this was so bad I'll mention it to the Manager. So this young guy came out in a jacket and stated he was the manager. I told him I have a couple critiques! I said for one let people know what all the menu offers ie. Bread and vegetables, he proceeded to tell me that it's an up charge! I told him if I'm eating at a restaurant like that I'm not going to be worried about the price of vegetables! Then I told him about the poor service and that I've had better service at Denny's . I told him the waitors here make close to 3x the money a Denny's server would make. He proceeded to tell me that I don't have any experience to make that statement. So then I told the manager mind you. That it's simple math! If here it cost me 100.00 to eat and Denny's cost me 30 dollars even a bad 10% tipper is still tipping 3 x's as much. But luckily I don't live in Boston and won't have to eat there again! TOP THE HUB. should be THE SLUB!
(1)
Beth L.
Loved it!!! Brought my mom and gram with my sister for Mother's Day Brunch here!!! Delicious!!!! Had amazing pastries to start! Had the shrimp sausage grits at an app my sister had their duck soup!! Very good. Had a margarita which was very good with fresh raspberries in it! Had the cinnamon bun french toast with bananas foster poured atop and topped off with cinnamon toast crunch!!! Omg amazing!! Lobster omlet...bbq short ribs...eggs benedict all were amazing. View was gorgeous!! We were sat in the corner of the room near the window!! Perfect!! Service was great! Dessert was different but good...wedge salad was fresh!! Skywalk included in brunch Will be back!!
(5)
M. M.
What to say. Unbelievable views, great food and atmosphere. Daytime city views turn to sunset beauty and night light wonder. A must do.. at some point in your trip to Boston.
(5)
Terrance R.
Ok. Let's call this "restaurant" what it really is: it's a nice bar with a view. The food wasn't terrible, but it wasn't worth the money. Again, the view was AWESOME, but I can't eat a view. I got the lobster with crab stuffing, and it was sooooooo average. I honestly would have enjoyed it if the price was more inline with the quality. I've made lobster at my house that tastes better. I'm sure there are some items on the menu that taste good. My friends had good food that had the view premiere in the price but still taste good. My advice... Go here for good cocktails and a nice view. Save money on your food and to one of the many great places in Boston that are known for food and not their view
(3)
Alice M.
Eaten here a few times now, and the view is the only memorable thing about the place. The rest was quite lacking for an upscale establishment they pretend to be. The food is good, not amazing as the price tag would suggest, but solidly good. They have a good wine selection, as long as you are in the $60+ per bottle range, which is OK for this type of place. The service is an elaborately staged upscale show, with lots of busy looking workers all over the place. However, they forget the most important thing, the customer. Speed and timeliness are also not relevant in the world of Top of the Hub. Obviously we are all there just to gawk at the view, not actually, you know, eat. Or drink really. My previous experiences of this place have always left me with a lukewarm feeling. I accept it as an obligatory cocktail to which I must always bring my out of town friends. But tonight really lowers that lukewarm feeling to quite chilly. Had a dinner reservation for five people, celebrating a birthday. Got a good table, not next to the window, but close enough. The server, and his trainee right behind him, came over quickly. Good start. Got us water, but no bread. We were still deciding on drinks, so he said he would return shortly to take our drink order. And then he disappeared for 10 minutes.. So we waited. He returned, chatted us up about the various wine choices, took the wine order and left. Then he once again disappeared for over 5 minutes, before returning to take our dinner order. After our food was brought by someone else, he materialized to check on us a few minutes later. And to give one of us a missing fork. But at this point we are eating, drinking wine, and generally happy and willing to overlook the previous disappearances as a fluke. It wasn't a fluke. All 5 of us finished our meals and then just sat there twiddling our thumbs for quite some time before anyone came to check on us. The server finally came to clear the plates and ask us about desert. Brought us a few desert menus and then ran away again. As we sat there, the night falling outside, patiently waiting for the server to return to take our order. He finally did. After quickly eating the creme brule, we were ready to leave. But hotel Top of the Hub is not the kind of place you just leave. The server was busy helping the table next to us take pictures, and then the table on the other side of us decide on a drink. When he quickly walked by us, he completely ignored me trying to get his attention to get the check. The check eventually came, and he eventually cashed us out. In the end the meal took three hours, while we were looking to leave in two, the extra hour went to waiting for Godot. We left feeling agitated at being hostage by slow service. TLTR: Definitely get a drink there, check out the awesome views of the city. Make sure you go on a clear day, because the clouds can really ruin the view, seeing as you are above them sometimes. Don't eat there. Its overpriced, not anything spectacular, and the service is slow.
(2)
Jeremy G.
Worth coming for the view, wouldn't make this a regular stop, as its pretty pricey. A fun place to start the night with some friends, particularly if you've never been. Solid standard craft drinks. Come for an hour, get a drink, and head out.
(3)
Kale H.
(They don't card) I was visiting Boston and saw this restaurant recommended a few times online when I was looking for places to go. I guess just like in New York, you should never go anywhere that attracts a lot of tourists. I was so disappointed when I realised you do indeed pay for the view than for the food. I had such great expectations as Top of the Hub was not the first restaurant of its kind I dined in, but my experience was just... mediocre and for a ~100pp check, it was a big regret. I don't think you can ask for a window seat when you make a reservation, but they do tell you when you arrive that you can wait at the bar until a window table is open. I wish I had done that, as I decided not to wait and just sat behind the window tables and watched jealously as other couples enjoyed the view. The meal was just not worth it when you don't get to sit next to a window. I also expected superb service, since I watched our server talk to his other tables and engage in such deep conversation. I appreciate it when servers try to get to know you, who doesn't? Maybe we just gave off a vibe that we wanted our space, but it felt like we were the only table he didn't try to be very friendly with. I thought it was because we ordered wine pairings for each course in our meal and he might have thought we were underage, so he didn't want to talk to us? But I wasn't sure. Our first course, the spicy lobster soup, was TOO good. I'm a huge fan of creamy soups, and the lobster addition was just perfect. However, it quickly became too overwhelming to the point that I wasn't sure if I wanted to finish it. After that, the rest of our courses were nothing special and definitely not worth the price we paid for. We didn't finish our main entrees, and dessert wasn't amazing. Maybe come if you're a tourist and you get the chance to get a window table. But I don't know why you would come here if you're from Boston.
(2)
Darren F.
This is a complete tourist trap restaurant. The mediocre food has always been overpriced because of the the location and there are far better restaurants closer to ground level in Boston. If you're visiting, do not get caught in the net. Try Union Oyster House or the waterfront for fine Boston dining.
(2)
Jennifer M.
Beautiful view! Live music is playing often & the service is great & the food is good.
(5)
E K.
Extremely limited vegetarian entrees. Forget it for vegans unless they want a tiny overpriced salad.
(1)
Pooja D.
Loved the place. Visited this place with a friend for dinner. Live jazz music perfectly added to the ambience. We had tempura shrimp and chicken yakitori for appetizers. For entree we had shrimp scampi and for dessert we ordered boston creme pie. All the dishes were amazing. Also, I liked the service it was pretty quick and we didn't have to wait much between our meals. The view from the top was fabulous. They also have a good bar if some one just wanna go there for drinks. Overall it was a good experience.
(4)
Lili L.
It is of tremendous disappointment to me today that I brought international visitors to this restaurant only to have a hugely disappointing experience. We arrived at 5pm when there was no crowd whatsoever and yet had to wait fifteen minutes. The staff claimed they were "setting a table" for our group of five people. While waiting, no other guests left the restaurant, and yet, when we were finally seated, we five adults were seated in a small square table for four people. Basically, all they did was add a place setting to a table. Moreover, while waiting for our table, we were informed that there would now suddenly be a $24 minimum per person per table. The website clearly states that this charge does not happen until 8pm, yet the staff said they have suddenly decided to change the rules, without any warning. This is unfathomable to me. Finally, we made sure to order enough food to meet the minimum, even though we had dinner plans afterward, and, rather than bringing the food out appropriately in a reasonable order, and given the ridiculously small amount of space on our table, all the food was brought out all at once. One server even just dropped a the huge bowl of salad right on top of my plate and walked off like she was serving me at a fast food burger joint. We had to ask 3 different waiters before anyone bothered to add a table so that we could actually move the dishes from the plates we were supposed to eat off of. For an upscale restaurant, this was a huge tourist trap with no sense of integrity, service, or even food worthy of this great city. I took my colleagues here representing my work, and instead, I was shamed.
(1)
Daniel P.
Ok folks, this place is here purely for tourists. There is an AMAZING view here, and the jazz music is fantastic. Thats honestly where it ends. The drinks here are good, but they cost a pretty penny. And the food here also costs a good amount. However, if you have a bit of money to splurge, and want to have one of the best views in boston over a cocktail and a dance over the skyline, this is the place.
(3)
Dana D.
Great view and atmosphere. The good is great and the drinks are through the roof. Make reservations really
(5)
Ariel Z.
The food and drinks were excellent both times I came here, even though I can't recall what I ordered :p I have heard of people just ordering drinks or dessert if you are in the mood for that. The views are spectacular, but you have to pray you get a table by the window, or else you really won't be able to see anything. The best time to score a good table would be in the afternoon for lunch. Also, if you want to reserve a large table for graduation or other special event, I would recommend that it be done way in advance (I found out the hard way), as they book up quickly.
(4)
Chris M.
Came up to the top of the hub for some drinks after dinner to take in the nice view on a cold winter clear evening. Views are amazing and was surprised to see they have some awesome beers on tap. I dont think they even had bud light on tap which was a relief to see. I remember them having 2 IPAs and some german beers which was extremely refreshing to see. Beers probably costed around 7.00 which was fine for the view this place offered. Only reason i dont give them 5 stars is the hostesses were snooty as hell, maybe they are trained to be that way.
(4)
Mary T.
I came here on a Friday night because they had a live jazz band. I sat at the lounge area near the windows to look at the nice view while I enjoyed some food and drinks. The hostess at the front told us that there was a $24.00 minimum per person if we wanted to sit at the lounge, and we were fine with that. It was nice of her to notify us before you get a surprise at the end when the bill comes. I ordered 2 drinks, the kobe beef hotdogs, margherita flat bread, and a dessert. The hotdogs were delicious. The skin of the sausage was crunchy and the meat was flavored perfectly. I like how the hotdogs sat on the buttery brioche buns. They had ketchup and relish on the side of the dish for you to add as much as you need on the hot dog. As for the margherita flat bread, it did not do it for me. It was not hot enough, which means it did not taste like it came straight out from the oven. The portion was rather small. I would suggest trying something else instead of this. I paired the food I ordered with a chardonnay and the dessert with my favorite wine--Nivole Moscato D'Asti. As for the dessert, we ordered the valrhona warm chocolate cake. It was delicious! It had chocolate toffee icecream as well. The cake is more of a souffle. The dessert wine I got came in a small glass, kind of like the glasses they use to serve sherry. I basically finished it in 1 gulp. Our server was really nice as well. It was my friend's birthday and she tried to accomodate with us and brought out the dessert with candles and had the chef write happy birthday on the plate for my friend. Why did I give it 4 stars? I agree with the other yelpers on how the quality of the food is suppar, but the location alone deserves this rating. The prices of the food were decen The servers are really nice. Also, you can walk around the area freely and enjoy the scenery of Boston from 52 floors above the ground. If you are going to complain, then pay $14 to go 1 floor up and look at the scenery there. But that $14 does not cover and food or drinks, just the view.
(4)
Becca L.
I love coming here when I have friends from out of town that have never seen Boston - it's a chance to do something "touristy" without feeling "touristy". (If that makes sense) Remarkable drink menu! Romantic view.
(5)
Bogdan X.
Amazing view .Food was delicious ,prices not too high.Service was good as well.We had a table next to the window.Get the tu a tartar ,Haddock and Veal ,they are amazing.
(5)
A. C.
This restaurant is probably the best if you want to go for the best ambience experience. My husband and I enjoy good quality dishes and we thought dishes that were served here didn't taste any better than 3-4 stars hotel bars. We would like be here to hangout with family and friends though.
(4)
Liya B.
The views are to die for. Every time I go to Boston, I HAVE to visit the Top of the Hub and devour in the Spicy Lobster Soup. This last time I went, I had this Elixir (vodka and champagne) cocktail. Delicious and quite the happy buzz from a couple martinis!
(3)
Kelly S.
Went here for dinner with my husband and we had a lovely time. We went spur of the moment and were pleased to find that there was no dress code. Although we had no reservation we were seated promptly. The view from up here is lovely. Food was good. Not the most amazing food in the world, but satisfying and I was quite satisfied with my pasta. Prices are steep, but you're also paying for the view so it's not too unexpected. Drink were good and there was a bar up there that we will definitely be back to again. Had the warm lava cake and it was ok. I'd probably try something different next time though. Our waitress was very attentive and her personality completed the experience. I'd recommend this place for anyone who wants to have a great view and a good meal. Definitely a nice date place or anniversary location.
(4)
Cristina C.
Amazing place, wonderful view! This was a beatiful experience for me! And food is delicious!
(5)
Yinong L.
The view was awesome~ They finally managed to clean their windows. But I remember the food used to be much better. Nothing was quite there... The waiter was pretty nice and friendly, checking on us once in a while, so 3 stars for the view and service and -1 stars for the food.
(2)
Alvin D.
Very romantic scenery. This place has the best view of downtown Boston. Good time to go is just before sunset. You'll experience the view both daytime and night. The food was good not great. I ordered salmon which was good. The service was my least favorite part. Our server was foreign, he was nice, but for the High status and elegant theme this restaurant is going for you'd expect more from every server. I'd come back for the view, probably grab a drink at the bar.
(3)
Jenn K.
2 stars in terms of food. 4/5 stars for the view. But then again, that's kind of essentially what we're all paying for, no? The food is most definitely overpriced. It's not bad food, but I could get it for about $5-10 cheaper at a much higher rated restaurant... OR i could get it tasting better at another restaurant for the same price. It is kind of a place you only need to come once or very few times for. It is a very touristy spot so keep that in mind. There is the sky walk which you have to pay $16 to get the top of the hub view instead of dining at the restaurant.
(3)
Emily S.
Was in Boston for a weekend and heard this place had great views. Yes, there are high views, only okay, but blinded by the 'less than stellar' time. If you're only here for drinks then there's no view since its blocked by the bar which defeats the point of why you're there. Sit at a table, expect okay service then a bad response from the manager (it was not busy, after 10pm with open tables all around). There are a ton of great places in Boston as a tourist... this isn't one of them. Dont waste your time. Whats a great rooftop experience? Signature Lounge in Chicago or Wythe Hotel in Brooklyn. Hope they change to better accommodate those who want to see the view and enjoy a drink (and accept how expensive that drink is)
(1)
Fatty A.
This place sucks. The rest of the reviews are correct the service here blows. Pretentious aholes
(1)
Kristin W.
Let the words "ambiance" and "view" become a mantra when you look at the prices and taste the food at Top of the Hub. I went here for lunch with a friend and ordered the jumbo lump crab cake sandwich, and she had the native lobster roll salad and we split both. Don't get me wrong, the food isn't bad, but for the price and the atmosphere, I think my expectations were a little inflated. Between the two sandwiches, the crab cake was best - served on a soft and lightly toasted bun, and definitely more crab than cake - but I've had a comparable (if not slightly more flavorful) lobster roll at Faneuil Hall. The near-panoramic view of the sun setting over Boston against the back drop of live jazz musicians is, however, breathtaking and worth seeing - especially if you're from out-of-town or have out-of-town company with you. If I was in a particular mood, I'd go here for happy hour drinks and to enjoy the view.
(3)
Christine L.
Given all the mixed yelp reviews, I was nervous about coming here. Thanks to all those reviews, I knew what to stay away from on the menu and had a WONDERFUL time. I made a reso on open table and called them to request a window seat. Guess what - they gave me one. We came here 30 minutes before sunset and got to really enjoy the view and see the city light up. The food was tasty! AND it's so cheap! I recommend: Crab meat cake (this ain't no butter and bread filled cake, it's straight crab), scallop appetizer (I had it as my main), any steak (they cook it right, but it needs more salt). You can order anything as a side dish even tho it's not on the menu. I ordered a side of truffle Mac and cheese- when I got the bill, they charged me FIVE DOLLARS for a huge serving. I expected to pay at least 3x that. The house cab (just $8) and the brut rose ($9) were so pleasant. Our server was a really nice guy and even offered to take our photo. He asked if we were celebrating and had the kitchen write a special message on the dessert plate. A great view, a total steal on prices (especially coming from NYC), and friendly service. Jazz in the background. What more could you ask for?
(5)
Kristin A.
The short of it: - amazing view of Boston - great place to grab drinks - tourist spot - can be a bit pricey The long of it: While I was visiting in Boston my friend took me to the Top of the Hub for some cocktails. Just the view alone gives this place 5 stars! It was a great treat for a tourist like myself and we had timed it so that we would catch the sunset. I'm sure this place is great for romantic dinners. We even caught a proposal while we were here! Even the whole restaurant cheered haha! While I can't comment on the food, the cocktails were pretty tasty and they were around the $12 price range. My cocktail was pretty strong too so I think we got our money's worth with the view and our drinks. The servers were very nice and they didn't mind taking pictures (several pictures) of us and the sunset views. Extra tip for them! I'm sure they get it a lot everyday but its still great that they treat us so nicely! Overall, I really enjoyed this spot and would highly recommend it even if you just want to come for some drinks and the view!
(5)
Marissa A.
I made a reservation for my hubby's birthday, more for the ambiance than anything. I've never had dinner there before, just drinks. In the reservation, I requested a table by the window as well as 2 dirty martinis with blue cheese stuffed olives. When we were seated, we of course had the most amazing view. Since I didn't specify vodka or gin for the martinis, they were not there, but they did arrive quickly after we were seated. Our server was very attentive but not overbearing. The pleasant surprise was that the food was very good. My "hub" (haha) ordered a caesar salad (standard) and the filet mignon. He said the filet was good - comparable to a good steak house. I ordered the baby spinach salad. I thought it was a very nice combination of sweet and savory - it had a healthy dollop of goat cheese and they did not skimp on the sweet/spicy candied walnuts, among other toppings. Presentation was very nice as well. For my main course, I had the Ahi tuna. The noodles had a sweet chili sauce and my sesame crusted seared tuna was exactly what I had wanted. For dessert, we ordered the Boston creme pie. However, a nice touch was that they added a candle and wrote "Happy Birthday" on the plate without a request. Love those little details. I would recommend this restaurant for any special occasion - the ambiance and service alone are amazing but we both enjoyed our food as well.
(4)
Aj T.
So it's honestly not that expensive. $25 cover charge but I got a cocktail for $12/13 and a vegetarian burger (which comes with fries and some salad I guess) for another $12/13. It's the experience. They had live music (piano) and have a mini dance floor in front of the piano for couples to sway... The view at night is incredible! And since it's classy and elegant, there's no rush. Go with a few friends, get a table and a drink / some food and spend a few hours up there. It's worth!!
(4)
Roberta D.
Headed to Top of The Hub last night after having a gift card laying around for a few months. Walked through the Pru to get to the elevators and was surprised that we had to check in and show our IDs to even get upstairs. I understand security reasons but it was somewhat of a turnoff. Took the quick elevator ride and checked in for our reservation and was promptly seated. My boyfriend and I both started with the spicy lobster soup which was delicious! I order the Fra Diavolo for my main meal. It was alright, pretty average - I wish it came with a white sauce or was oil based as opposed to the red sauce. My boyfriend had the strip steak which was pretty bland he said, there was really no flavor at all. We both had dessert, him the chocolate cake and I had the pear tart. I wasn't a fan of the tart personally but he absolutely loved the chocolate cake. Overall it wasn't a bad experience. I think it's overpriced, you're definitely paying for the views not the food.
(3)
Emlchach C.
If you feel compelled to experience the Top of the Hub, just get a drink or appetizer and sit in the lounge area. While the food was decent, it was so overpriced that I would never contemplate going back. The view is definitely what keeps this place running.
(3)
Victoria K.
Alright here goes. I think it's only right that I update my review for Top of the Hub. Since visiting for the first few times years ago, I feel like things have changed (or maybe my palate has just developed more). The food... is pretty good, but it's not great on its own. If you draped curtains over the windows and took away the breathtaking view it would hardly be worth a visit. Without anything else considered, I'd give the food 3 to 3 1/2 stars depending on my mood. Adding the incredible view to the equation definitely helps sway me in the "me likey" direction. Service is very nice as well. I recently had lunch here with a large party and we were all very pleased with the view and the service. Overall, the guests were happy with their meals, but it just didn't quite live up to my memories and high expectations. All in all, I still think Top of the Hub is a fine spot to visit, a great place to bring out of town guests, or a date. If you've never been, the view is certainly worth your time. But a better meal overall can be found on solid ground not too far away. I have mixed feelings. If I was still living in Boston I probably would never come here, but for out of towners it's a whole other story. The 4th star is there because the view makes my knees weak.
(4)
Devon A.
Went here for our anniversary in November. Had a few apps at the bar, calamari was out of this world. The Grey Goose mule was good as well. Bartenders worked their a** off over there. It was a Saturday and they were simply killing it. We had dinner with a beautiful view of course. Once we got to our dinner seats we were greeted with menus. Our waiter was very timid and not what we thought he would be for a place like this. My lady had a glass of Chardonnay from the bar and brought it to the table, so we proceeded to get a bottle of a different Chardonnay for dinner. For whatever reason after I told him her Chardonnay was different he kept coming around and pouring the opposite Chard into her glass? I realize this is protocol if you order a bottle, but not if the wines are from different vineyards. It was almost baffling to me. Food was eh. This place is very expensive and you'd think the food would be out of this world but it was simply okay. I may have caught you guys on an off night, which I understand. I'm from Boston originally and would hate to see a place like this have qualities like so. I will definitely be back. No hard feelings.
(3)
Morgan S.
The food is average, and maybe a few dishes are above average. The wine list is extensive. The view is beautiful! This is a great place to have appetizers and drinks or dessert and drinks.
(3)
Melanie D.
Always a go to for birthdays and other celebrations. The view of the city is amazing and never gets old. The service has been good so far every time what we have gone. The food, while somewhat limited, has been delicious. I would highly suggest trying the beet salad and lamb shank. Good sized portions and great quality. Top of the Hub is definitely worth a visit once while you're in the city!
(4)
Natalie J.
I had a friend visiting from out of town, and I wanted to show her the city .Despite booking the reservation several weeks in advance and requesting a window seat, we were given a table far away from the window, blocked by several large parties where we couldn't see the view at all. I went to the hostess and asked if we could switch tables, and she said that it would be a 35-40 minute wait. The bar was full so there was nowhere for us to wait. So, we stayed at our less than desirable table. No one ever offered to take our coats, so I had my bulky winter coat taking up space on my chair...I have never been at a restaurant this "upscale" that didn't offer a coat check upon arrival. We ordered drinks and then each ordered a filet mignon, medium well. The filets came out well done and extremely dry. I have had much better meals for a fraction of the price. I truthfully wasn't expecting the best food and figured we'd be paying for the view, but we didn't get a view either. I was hoping we could have another cocktail in the lounge after dinner, but nope. We were told we'd have to pay $24 each to sit at that table, even though we'd already paid $150+ on dinner. It was very disappointing. With so many great restaurants in Boston, I definitely squandered a night of my friend's stay in town on this place. The only saving grace is that our server was very courteous and kind. But great service doesn't make up for poor food with no view. I doubt I'd come back here.
(2)
Mike K.
Overpriced as far as the food goes in terms of quality - not a 5 star steak house by any means, but drinks are not ridiculous and I keep coming back for the views and ambiance. I usually make it here once or twice a year - very good spot for a date. I also find it a great spot to go for a casual drink more frequently in the bar area
(3)
Andrew S.
Hard to not give a place with the best view in boston 5 stars. While I only experienced the bar it was a flawless experience. The risotto croquettes and flatbread pizza were both to amazing. Food came fast, service was outstanding and the view even better.
(5)
Danny L.
Food - 2.5 stars Service - 1 star Atmosphere - Depend if you get a window view table DON'T waste your money going to Top of Hub. The food was mediocre. The manager/host/servers all seemed like they hate their jobs and don't want to be there. The whole experience was just weird and disappointed...we didn't receive any smile nor acknowledgement even though my friends and I were all well dressed (casual polo & slacks). Especially want to call out the middle age white woman who hosts the reservation desk. She was extremely arrogant and rude...didn't crack a smile and just said "two hours" when we asked her "how long does it takes if we want to wait for a window table". FYI we already made a reservation two weeks in advance.
(1)
Fadi O.
Pricy, you basically pay for the view, not for the food. Not to many optoons on the menu. The service was Ok.
(3)
Jamie R.
Nice view. Definitely not worth it at all. Made reservations for a party of 7 as a celebration. Did not see anything on their site or open-table about a dress code. We arrived, on time, as soon as we walked in we were given a "once over". It's not like we were poorly dressed, we were wearing nice clothes. Only thing I can think of for their disgusted look was maybe we were too young? Who knows. We weren't greeted with any type of friendly response, more like a "yeah?" After they looked us up and down. We stated we had reservations for 7, and two of our party were already there behind the bar. The hostess rolled her eyes and said "I don't think so." What?! We again said two were there, sitting by the windows behind the bar. Hostess claimed they were not there. At this time the manager comes up. He looks us up and down again and asks us to leave because they head of the group was dressed inappropriately. He was wearing a pair of $100+ nike pants. Not sweat paints, not even pants that looked like athletic pants at all. They were not going to allow us to grab our friends from behind the bar because they believed they weren't there!! They actually blocked us from getting them, we finally managed to get behind the bar to get our friends, who SURPRISE, actually existed! There's a way to present yourself, as floor manager and hostess of a restaurant. You are not suppose to judge by looks. Most of the time, the people who dress up in the suits to go to restaurants like that are people who want everyone to think they are rich, or trying to prove theirselves as 'worthy customers'. Those who go in dressed in every day clothes are usually the ones with money. You'd think, they'd know that. Little did they know the head of our group is a multimillionaire and between the 7 of us we were planning on dropping a couple thousand on food and drinks. Oh well, their loss. The food probably wouldn't have been too good anyways, it screamed tourist trap. Instead we went to a sandwich shop down the road for dinner (Parish Cafe, please go see my review in them). The food was delicious, the service was amazing (we all made fun of Top of the Hub with the servers). We were in such a good mood we ended up secretly buying other tables dinner and drinks. Top of the Hub is not worth it. They definitely missed out. Sure the view is great, but head to Marriott Custom Homes for a better view on the observation deck.
(1)
Kat V.
4 stars for the view alone!!! I am a sucker for romance and scenic views and this place was just wonderful. The food was great, definitely not the best I've had for the price but still delicious. Wait staff was friendly and attentive. I was on a date and loved the touch of live music. I could have sat in my chair and looked out the window all night. Simply gorgeous view!!!
(4)
Lindsey M.
Went here the night we got engaged. They knew we were coming right after becoming engaged, we asked for a nice table with a view to celebrate but were given a table in the corner with no view at all. No one even acknowledged our night or us for that matter. We ended up going to sit in the lounge where our server was great but overall food and atmosphere were terrible. DO NOT GO HERE FOR A BIG OCCASION! They do not care!! I work in fine dining and know how easy it is to make people feel special and this place did nothing of the sort. Do not waste your time or money
(1)
Phung N.
I give this place 4.5 stars! Because I find the food very expensive, but hey I guess since you're sitting in such a lovely place why not 5? Iuno I'm very mixed lol especially since I couldn't get a window seat. It was a very busy day. Staff is very friendly and attentive. They make sure what allergies you may have so that they can inform you what meals you can eat. Quick service and when they clean your plates for the next meal, they make sure the table is clean. They literally pick up every piece of crumb up. I went with a few friends and did a 3 course meal, I believe it was the christmas meal? Not sure. But the appetizers were so good! Each person received a lobster ravioli, a pizza to share, and also some home smoked salmon with some delicious sauce. We then moved onto the main course: choice of salmon, short ribs with lump crab, and venision (deer). Went for the short ribs, and oh, it was tender and the lump crab just made the dish oh so delicious. I did find after a while of eating, the meal was a bit salty. It was ok after I sipped a bit of water though. For dessert, I don't know the name, but you get this white chocolate cone decorated to look like a tree that is filled with chocolate mousse, topped on a small chocolate cake that have rum flavored cherries. A bit too strong for my tastes but I was so full I could not finish my dessert. All and all, this place is very lovely. Very nice staff and friendly! I definitely recommend this place to anyone that wants to have a classy lunch/dinner or even romantic. However this place can get pricey for those that are in a pinch, so make sure you have the money lol. Also make sure you have a reservation!
(4)
Christa C.
delicious food with amazing city views!! Very romantic for date nights. One of my favorite places in Boston.
(5)
Saby M.
I am really embarrassed right now for recommending this place to someone! I have previously been to this establishment. I came in for a drink, my companion had food and drink, and remembered that we enjoyed it and the view was amazing. So, we, my best friend, several other people, and her brother came in for this convention. He is a big name at this convention and tonight wanted to celebrate the success of the convention. We recommended Top of the Hub. Reservations were made...and then... turned away because he wasn't wearing the right pants. FINE, ok, but did the hostess have to be a jerk about it?!!! Seriously!!! Totally out of the way to go here! Like, two separate taxis for the big party, just to be rudely turned away. Last time I was here, I was wearing ripped jeggings and uggs and wasn't turned away! What's the deal?!
(1)
chris N.
Just got to the top of the hub no view Snow White out the the view for my date she was very disappointed. Plus not a care was given by host once we booked locked in for evening not worth $125 tab per person required to even sit I found it funny you can't order what ever you want for a fix price in seems great way to hike up the price on a valentine day but waiter was excellent but didn't tip but am sure top of the hub pays well
(1)
Adam B.
Such a disappointment! We went on a Saturday night being recommended by several locals. We waited 30 minutes before we our drink orders were even taken. Our server was not knowledgable of the drinks at all. We waited several more minutes for the drinks to come. Ordered a few appetizers and the haddock Rockefeller. The Chorizo in a blanket was disgusting. We sent it back and the server said he would "see" about taking it off the bill. Our clam chowder was cold and we told the server who did not apologize (not Offer to warm it back up or bring a fresh cup). I will say the calamari app was delicious. Over an hour out entree came and was very good. If you go,go for a drink and the amazing view maybe a quick app. I wouldn't eat here again.
(2)
Juan M.
Our friends from Boston took my wife and I. We had a great experience the server was great the food was fantastic and the view was amazing !!
(4)
Mary Ellen C.
The food is good and the view grand BUT trying to get a return phone call to discuss a particular reservation just doesn't happen. This had happened 3 conservative times there won't be a 4th!
(1)
P'raka ..
I will be honest. My review for TOTH is a happy one since I stopped by with a friend after we attended a wine tasting. We continued the wine theme by getting some small appetizers and wine at top of the hub. I do not recall anything about the waitstaff but I believe they polite since no one gave us any grief for taking quick camera-phone pictures of the view, which is just lovely. The food was not memorable but it was still a fun experience.
(3)
Tsa Y.
Great view, so so food, good service and odd decor.
(3)
Edric K.
I went to this place while visiting Boston and celebrating my friend's birthday. It was a really nice spot and a great place for visitors if you're willing to pay the price. You get an AMAZING view of Boston and pretty good food. I ordered a NY steak that was on point! It looks like they have live jazz performances but they weren't playing while I was there. It looks like the lounge or bar would be a pretty nice place to hang out with friends, so I'll probably check it out the next time I'm in the city! Definitely coming back here! Probably not for dinner unless it's another special occassion.
(5)
Jane C.
Apparently they close their main dining area after 11:00pm on Fridays? It's whatever, because the place we were seated had the same view - only a different menu. Though, this "special" menu was not as appetizing as their normal one. House wine meh. One thing was that I had to ask them to light candle thing on the table multiple times. Excellent view + they don't card + pretty good service + not-so-good-bread + oh, did I mention excellent view = four stars.
(4)
Brenda W.
Made reservations at 6pm on a Friday but got hungry way before that so dropped by at 3:30pm. Sad to find out seating in the dining room didn't start until 5:30pm but the lounge was open and offered a limited menu so we opted for that. My dinner date and I ordered off the fixed-price menu -- 3 offerings for 30.00 each. I had a salad, shrimp in spaghetti (ok, it had a more glamorous name), and creme brulee, while my date had shrimp appetizzer, steak and fries, and pear dessert. Mostly we came here for the view of Boston from the top of the Prudential Center and some hoped-for ambiance a week before our wedding. I just assumed the quality of the food would match. Well, the views were ok; it was of the south side from the lounge; the service was just ok; and the food was average but not stellar. Of the bites I tried of everything I'd say the battered shrimp appetizer and creme brulee were the best. Anyway, once was enough of the lounge area anyway. Maybe one day we'll be back to try the main dining room. But with so many other dining options available in Boston, they really should have tried harder to please my palate.
(3)
tammy l.
The typical expensive place with a good view and over-priced food. Not impressed. Good for date. Bar is a bit crowded.
(3)
Marie P.
Amazing view, delicious food, mediocre service. Our server was un-attentive, short and a bit rude. Everything else was absolutely perfect.
(4)
Lauren W.
We went for his birthday. You're paying for the ambiance. We went with the prix-fixe menu, and it was lovely. The food itself really wasn't that mind blowing, but the entire experience was downright special. When I made the reservation, I had said it was his birthday, and they brought him out a candle with birthday wishes on his creme-brulee, which was a nice touch. The jazz band was positively delightful. I would save this for special occasions or to bring out of towners.
(4)
Jay K.
Top of the Hub. Of course it is awesome for the views (especially when Fenway is lit up), but I took away a star because of the intense way they notify you of the $24 per person minimum. Of course I'd rather know before I sit down, but it's a little off-putting when you get up there to the 52nd floor, all dressed up and excited, and they deflate you a bit with that. ANYWAY, the food was delicious, the waitress was very nice, and when the clouds rolled by it was so very cool. Live music was very nice too. I like to get here once every few years.
(4)
Elica Y.
Nice view, the worst service EVER. I have heard from my friends that Top of the Hub was not a great restaurant. I intended to come here for drinks but left IMMEDIATELY. First of all, the hostess was not welcoming whatsoever. Next, our waitress completely ignored us for a good 15 minutes after being seated. Then, I saw many dirty dishes left on random tables/stands throughout the restaurant. I remember trying to find the bathroom and thinking to myself "what is that foul smell?" Little did I know that when I turned my head I discovered a mountain of dirty dishes piled on top of one another. Absolutely disgusting. The worst part of all, our waitress was completely oblivious of the fact that we left because of the shitty service. Other than the nice view, you will be wasting your time here. There are lots of nice views in Boston, don't waste your time/money at Top of the Hub.
(1)
Tim S.
Great view, mediocre service, abominable cuisine and possibly the worst value in Boston. We ordered two appetizers, calimari & Kobe beef hot dog sliders, and both were cold, flavorless and disappointing. The calimari is obviously a pre-breaded, frozen product and the "Kobe beef" sliders could have easily been pigeon. Terrible. The night rolled on into a suckfest with shady salad, overcooked skirt steak and a boxed dessert (which was a replacement, as our pre-ordered original selection was unavailable) Tons of attitude (from servers and host) and very little skill at work here. Come for the view and a cocktail, but split before the epic disappointment that is all that emerges from the kitchen. I'm mystified that there's actually a chef putting his name on this garbage. Fine dining...with tater tots. More like, Top of the FLUB. Avoid this culinary clown show.
(1)
Julia T.
The food was mediocre at best. I was not blown away by the dishes but it wasn't terrible either. Like others have mentioned, it's more for the nice view. I would like to come back and visit during daytime. The waitress was really friendly as well as the host. We arrived 20 minutes late after our reservation time (gotta love Boston parking) but they didn't give us a problem. There isn't any fancy schmancy dress code either - people were in sweats, sneakers, and backpacks. Make sure to get your ticket validated if you park in the Prudential!
(3)
Jess L.
Chowder was cold !! Caesar Salad was not good and it's like salad . Only go for the view , not for food or service, waiters are so rude. Drinks at bar ok and bar tenders are ok.
(3)
Jon-Paul B.
Food is not bad but overpriced. It used to be better. I also used to bring out of town guests here to check out the view from each side but recently, the staff is very rude. They yelled at us and blocked us from walking around at all, even though we had purchased food and drinks.
(2)
Ryan A.
Food was decent, view was phenomenal.
(3)
Carrie S.
Terrible customer service. Would not allow my family to take one picture. RUDE. My one star was an over-statement.
(1)
allison p.
I went here with my boyfriend and we were told to wait in line for the bar. While we waited two other couples came in after us and we heard them also ask for the bar and proceed to get in line. The host came over and sat both of those couples ahead of us, asking if they'd be okay with a table. When we asked him why they went ahead of us, he yelled at us asking if we thought we could do a better job and made up a lie that one of the couples had a reservation when we definitely heard them come in and ask about the bar. Regardless of whether or not they had a reservation, yelling at potential patrons is classless and we left immediately after. Not worth the overpriced cocktails and nasty service at the door.
(1)
Andy R.
Great experience. Great service and they were able to work around my dietary restrictions very easily. Also large helpings for a fancy restaurant. I expected to still be hungry after my meal but the pork chops were huge!
(5)
Alisha F.
The two stars are ONLY for the view (and the attractive decor.) Service is as bad as every other review points out. The food, from what I tried, is too. The view is incredible, and that is the ONLY reason to shell out the cash for some drinks and maybe an app. They do have a per person minimum to be seated at a table, which I have NO issue with at all, and their entire menu looks pretty appetizing. I will summarize what was a very long and painful experience by saying, everything took FOR-EVERRRRRR. Forever for my server to come over. Forever for my server to bring back 2 oz of scotch in a glass. Forever for him to return to take my order. (i knew i was in trouble by this point) Shockingly, not forever for my baked brie to arrive.... and that is because it was refrigerator cold in the center. Not melted, not hot, not warm, not even room temperature. The "baked" brie was rolled in whatever delicious crust, but i don't know that it ever made it too the oven. I asked to speak with the manager. Forever for him to arrive. I kindly asked for him to remove the brie & bring my check ASAP. My drink long gone, I was moments from walking when i caught the eye of the manager, and instead of coming over again, he scurried away. I got my hopes up that this would at least produce a check....but you guessed it. Forever later.... i finally left. I had read the reviews before my visit. Thank God my expectations were low, and there is a distractingly gorgeous view, but I didn't really enjoy my visit. I was glad I was by myself; I didn't feel bad telling the manager nicely, but firmly, that i had had enough... but if you are considering bringing someone here to impress or to share a special night..... I would suggest another place; it would feel horrible to be in the same situation I was in, but on a special night. Somewhat unrelated- but you can get a great view from the Skywalk Observatory one floor below.It is $16 or part of the city pass, and a great way to start your visit to boston. I highly recommend doing that over Top of the Hub.
(2)
Marie V.
Shitty service if you are just coming for a drink... You have to beg to have some sugar and a spoon with your tea. What a pitty as the place and view are great
(1)
Carrie B.
Everyone goes to Top of the Hub for the gorgeous view, but believe it or not it's actually a pretty decent spot for reasonably-priced drinks in an upscale but not snooty setting. There is a $24 per person minimum (food/drink/combo) to get a table, but there is no minimum to sit at the bar or to take your drink and wander. Cocktails are about $11-15, there are many wines sold by the glass under $12, and beer and liquor is comparable to anywhere else downtown. A worthy stop for tourists and locals alike.
I really wanted to love my experience here-- I've been a waitress and a bartender for a year and am pretty forgiving about service, but the way we were treated here was pretty appalling considering how fine dining the place is. Came for my first year anniversary with my boyfriend, since we wanted to take in the view and have fun pretending to be fancy. We were about 5 minutes late for our reservation but the hostess was very friendly and showed us promptly to our table. After that, we waited 20 minutes for water. Legit. Twenty minutes. People who sat down next to us later had been given water and ordered drinks before we were ever acknowledged. We were starting to think they just didn't like us haha, and even debated leaving as we were both so hungry... Finally someone brings us water. About ten minutes after that our waiter (a very scattered older guy) showed up and gave us the menus and told us about some specials. Ten minutes later he was back to take our drink orders. Then it was fifteen minutes til our drinks came. We tried signaling him over in the meantime because we wanted to get our food order going, but he didn't take notice. When he brought the drinks, we ordered our food, including a special appetizer (meatballs) he had talked us into. He disappeared again, then came back ten minutes later to tell us they didn't have that special. The meat dishes were good. Could've used more jelly with the lamb, but it was tasty, as was the Vermont chicken. Our drinks were pretty standard, and the creme brulee we ordered for dessert was ice cold. This establishment really needs to step up their service game! Spending that much money for a fancy night out and being treated like we didn't exist was ultra laaame. Fantastic view, of course, but nothing else special here.
(2)
Nathanael M.
I have eaten here twice now. The first time, I learned why wine pairings matter. The second, we had stellar service from Carl. Not only was he friendly and attentive, but he also had great recommendations. We love the view and the food here.
(5)
Devika G.
It was my consecutive visit on back to back weekends. Yes, I love the place. The only thing worth seeing is the view. Boston doesnt have a many tall buildings so you may literally feel 'On the Top'. First time we went for dinner and they have mimimum $25 charge per person if u get a table. We had heard about the food being below average we order for cocktails, appetizer and desserts. Creme brulee is to die for!! Love it, absolutely delicious!! Second time I went for drinks and the bar was over flooded. we had to wait about 20 mins to place our order. after getting our drinks we headed to live orchestra and enjoyed the over looking view of Boston. The ambiance was lively. I would definitely recommend for nice night.
(4)
Caitlin M.
This is a place you definitely go for the view and it is 100% worth it. I have eaten at this restaurant many times now and have always enjoyed my meal as well. Make a reservation in advance! But if you cannot make a reservation, there is a huge bar and a whole lounge area that serves the full menu that is first come first serve. In the lounge there are also tables next to the windows, so you will still get a great view! I have been here during the day and at night, both times have beautiful views!! Definitely check this place out!
(4)
Wes S.
The view was great and the service is next to wonderful but I wasn't not as impress with the food, a bit pricey and did not quite satisfy my taste. It is a romantic place and I would recommend it but I wouldn't recommend it if you are hungry and want a good meal.
(3)
Chris C.
Well the views are great! The atmosphere is also very nice but if you are sitting at the bar don't sit near a well or the service bar unless you are looking for a shower! The bartender was making drinks and sprayed and spilled alcohol on us.... Not that fun... Also the bar was not that busy but the bartender felt that he needed to move 1,000,000 miles an hour making a lot of noise and actually startling my mother when he threw an empty bottle in the trash. I do understand that he needs to keep up with the service bar but be considerate of the people sitting at the bar too.
(3)
Charlene E.
I have to say this place is pretty decent. As a Bostonian from the stories I heard prior, I figured that this place was a bit overrated but then my beau took me there on my birthday. I have to say I am quite a sucker for views and we had the best seats in the house. There's nothing like watching the sun go down while enjoying a nice glass of Sauvignon blanc and great company, life. We had three courses and since this is not your average place, don't expect average prices, but for what it's worth, I think it's worth the experience. Didn't enjoy my lobster bisque so much, it was on the sweeter side and didn't cooperate well with my stomach. My second course however, was enjoyable. I had the pan seared haddock and I recommend this dish to anyone who doesn't mind a soupy type of dish. I had to take my third course to go but I had the cheesecake and that also was pretty good and my beau had the fillet mignon which he also enjoyed. All in all we ended up staying there for at least 3 hours and enjoyed every minute. Our waiter took his time between each course which we didn't mind, I'd say we got the next course about 15-20 mins after eating the previous course which I also didn't mind because we had time to digest each course, chat, and admire the view.
(4)
M B.
What a great night! Awesome view by the window. Great food. Our waiter, Aidian, was the fantastic. He made our dinner even more special. I suggest requesting him! Loved him and had a great night!
We only had drinks, so I don't know about the food. The view was, obviously, spectacular, but more spectacular than I had imagined. I was not super enthusiastic about going because a) it's a tourist attraction, and b) I thought it would be difficult to get in or you'd have to pay a cover charge or something, but on a Friday afternoon at about 4:00pm, there were plenty of window seats and the drinks cost less than most of the fancy bars I've been to around town ($12 cocktails). The wait staff was also very attentive and welcoming.
(4)
Elizabeth W.
Okay, maybe I sold out for the top floor dining experience here, but I loved this place. We made dinner reservations for 6pm on a Friday in April, figuring we'd be ahead of the dinner rush by a little bit and would be able to enjoy the view during sunlight, sunset, and nighttime. As expected, the restaurant wasn't too crowded when we arrived, but most tables seemed full by the time we were leaving. Under my mom's urging that we splurge and treat ourselves a bit (okay, her treat) we ordered the three-course prix-fixe with wine pairing. It was simply amazing. I started with the beet salad, but after tasting the spicy lobster soup I wish I had gone for that instead. Not that the beet salad wasn't good, but trust me when I say order the spicy lobster soup. For the main course I had the pan seared scallops which were cooked and dressed perfectly over warm couscous. If it weren't frowned upon I probably would have liked my plate. I had the caramel creme brulee for dessert which was good, but for me was the least exciting part of my meal - kind of similar to a creme brulee you can get elsewhere for cheaper. The wine pairings were excellent, and we left there quite happy customers. I should also mention that we each had a pre-meal cocktail as well, and I can see why many people enjoy coming just to the bar area for a nice cocktail while enjoying the view. The view of course is amazing. Have your camera ready! The wait staff is fancy and formal, and I found our server to be friendly and helpful as we were ordering. This is a fancier restaurant, so i wouldn't recommend showing up in your most casual of clothes. Be sensible. Business casual is fine, but there will be people dressed nicer as well. As we were leaving a jazz band was setting up to play over by the bar which I'm sure makes for an enjoyable evening for those showing up a bit later.
(5)
Mina L.
I am never going back to this place. Service very poor. The host was ignoring me when I asked if it would be possible to have a table near the window because my parents were visiting from overseas. There were three tables near the window available and when I asked if we can sit there they said that the were all booked. You are paying the view in this place not only the food. You can get much better food & cocktails anywhere else.
(1)
Ellen C.
It's pretty hit or miss. The view is pretty (obviously) but getting a window table definitely seems to be first-come, regardless of reservation requests. Some of the dishes I had were great, and some were very mediocre. I remember the terrine and dessert were great, but I was underwhelmed by the entree. Maybe worth it once if you want to see the view anyway, and get some advice on exactly what to order from friends who've been recently beforehand. Otherwise just pass it up and find somewhere closer to the ground with better food.
(2)
Brian S.
This place blew my mind when I first walked in on a Saturday night. The ambiance is absolutely beautiful and the back drop of Boston serves as an excellent view of the city. You absolutely must book a reservation if you plan on dining here at night. The food was delicious but a little bit on the pricey side. Regardless, you wouldn't be going here unless you plan on spending money. The wine menu for both glass and bottle are standard prices but it all adds up. Their variety of drinks are pretty vast as well. This is definitely a good place to grab a drink and watch Boston. Again, the view of boston is beautiful and the actual restaurant is nice. The bar and lounge area were pretty crowded but the dining area was not The service was pretty good and the waiter knew what he was talking about and was very friendly. Overall: Go here for a special occasion and book beforehand. Be prepared to pay a good price for the experience.
(5)
Jenna C.
After reading the reviews, I was very skeptical going in but I have nothing bad to say about my experience at Top of the Hub. I'm a Boston native but have never gotten around to eating here until this past week. The boyfriend and I made reservations for July 3rd for our anniversary and lucked out since Boston moved the fireworks to that night! We were nervous about his attire since he really only had black jeans (no "slacks") to wear with a nice shirt and jacket, but we called prior and they said it would be alright. After we got seated, we quickly noticed that we were hardly the most casually dressed in the room. Maybe they were a little lax because of the holiday festivities? Either way, we had no issues concerning what we were wearing. We both got the three course meal option and loved it. I ordered the Double Bacon Steak & Hot House Tomato Salad (not so much a salad but a bacon steak on a tomato.. delicious nonetheless), the 10z Braised Short Rib (so so rich and tasty), and the Espresso Creme Brulee (best thing I ate all day). We paired our meals with the wines and I was a bit disappointed in the serving size for this, but I suppose I should have seen it coming. Our waitress was an absolute sweetheart. Our reservations were for 8:30 and the fireworks weren't supposed to start until 10:30, but she encouraged us to take our time with our meals. She even gave us free ice cream after learning it was our anniversary! The fireworks show ended up starting early at 10 PM and they had everyone go down to the observation deck so as not to crowd around the patrons eating their dinners. We had to pay before we could go down there, and when the waitress saw us rushing to write out the tips and split the amounts on our cards, she said she'd hold our cards for us so we wouldn't miss the show and we could figure it out when we got back. Awesome! All in all, a great experience. Every employee was nothing but friendly and kind to us. My only criticism would be that the food is overpriced, which everybody seems to know going in anyway.
(4)
Vincci L.
For my husband's birthday, I decided to take him on a little trip to Boston. One of my friend's recommended the Top of the Hub as a must-do. I needed a fancy birthday dinner place anyways, so sure, why not. Reservations, done. First of all, I'm really glad I read some Yelp reviews before we went, because I wouldn't have known that you need to go through a mall in order to get to these elevators with a front desk that seems to only lead to offices instead of an observation deck and a restaurant. Why so hidden, Boston? Last chance to sell me souvenirs before I go? Well, it worked. I bought a plate at a souvenir store on my way to dinner. Are you happy? We got up there, and I understood why my friend recommended this place. This place is 52 stories high (higher than the observation deck) with almost a 360 view of the city of Boston. Absolutely beautiful. Even with our reservations, we still had a 10 minutes wait, and when it was time, the hostess seated us at this little table that was really far away from the windows. Oh, heck no. My husband is going to have that amazing view with this dinner. It's his birthday, gosh darn it! I'm usually very easy going and don't complain, but I definitely flagged the hostess down and told her it was his birthday and I wanted a window seat. I think she copped a little bit of an attitude with me (probably b/c everyone demands a window seat) and told me it would be an additional 45 mins wait. Whatevers, I'm waiting. So we went back to the bar area, which had a really nice view, and enjoyed a cocktail. 30 minutes later, the hostess came back to us and led us to our table with a view, and she seemed much nicer this time. Maybe I just caught her at a bad time in the beginning, maybe bc I was already a bit buzzed, I don't know. I saw foie gras on the menu and jumped at the chance to order it (it's banned in California, and I'm sorry ducks, but I love foie gras). My husband had a lamb chop, I had a steak. I was on my second mojito. Balance was restored. To be honest, the food was mediocre. I know my foie gras was just okay when I offered to give some to my husband, and I never share my foie gras. No, it can't be because I love him. I can't say I had a good meal, but the view was memorable. I would still recommend this place to any of my friends who decide to visit Boston, but probably just for drinks to soak in that amazing Boston view, without the mediocre food. All 3 stars go to the view.
(3)
Miriam A.
Beautiful view!! Top of the Hub is spectacular for admiring the beauty of Boston. Food isn't great so knocked off a star for that! If you think Top of the Hub has good food, you should get out a little more. It's pricey here but that's okay with me, the cost of your meal and drinks is really paying for the view in my opinion. Also service is great, spacious dining area, live music on certain nights...you can't beat that! For anyone visiting Boston, a visit to the Top of the Hub is worth it!
(4)
Michael H.
We went there for drinks the other night and the place was very nice. Good crowd. Good atmosphere. Solid drinks menu. Prices are a big high but the view you are getting us worth it. Beautiful view over all of Boston especially at night.
This place is amazing for the views. The Restaurant itself is nice but the food definitely does not live up to the feel of the place. Highly recommend it for the view though...The lamb shank was BAD and had stomach issues afterwards - never would expect that from this restaurant but it happened.. Also, Tuna was okay. Creme Brulee was good! So grab some drinks & desserts and enjoy the view ..
(3)
Calla F.
I want to start out by saying that this is the only time I was really unhappy with our service, but it made enough of an impression that we will not return next year. I gave it a 3 star as on most other occasions I was very pleased with our experience but had I just rated our last experience it would probably be more like a 1 or 2. My Husband and I have been going to Top of the Hub for a number of years and for 3 consecutive years gone on Christmas Eve. Year one was the best but totally unplanned and we sat at the bar. The past two years we reserved tables this year being the earliest (maybe this was problem number one?) We had a reservation for 5:30 and as usual were seated right away. The view is typically gorgeous but due to weather no one had a view that night except for the random cloud openings which gave a glimpse into what appeared to be Gotham City (very cool looking). Right off the bat we were given the prefixed menu. Once we placed our order the bread came out immediately. Then the soup within a couple minutes. The soup was delicious but the waiter and helpers seemed to be constantly checking in on us to see if we were done. Initially we thought nothing of it but then once our soup was taken up the entree was placed on the table. All of this within the first 15-20 min of sitting. Now maybe if you were looking to eat on the fly that would be great but the purpose of paying ALL this money is to enjoy your time, the food and the atmosphere. During dinner they asked me multiple times if I needed another drink when my glass was still half full but never thought to ask my husband who's glass had been empty for quite some time. After dinner they brought a salad. It came so quickly that I didn't know how I was supposed to start eating again. At this point we decided to just sit and chat a while which was when we began to get annoyed as staff kept asking if we were done. Dessert came and at the end of the meal we were just unhappy with our experience. The overall issue had nothing to do with the food per say but with the service. It felt like a cattle call which is the last thing you want at dinner on Christmas Eve. Unfortunately we got the impression very quickly that they were trying to turn as many tables as quick as they could while increasing the bill by focusing only on refilling alcoholic beverages. Hopefully the next time we return they will have calmed down with chasing the dollar and started to focus on their customers.
(3)
Duke C.
We wanted a place to relax so decided to check out the Top of the Hub for some drinks and the view while in Beantown. There's a $24 minimum to sit in the lounge by the window, which isn't really a problem since the minimum is pretty easily reached, especially with the drinks' prices. I ended up getting a few whiskey cocktails and a dessert for the evening. Favorite cocktail was probably the Boston Bully Boy Smash. Bully Boy White Whiskey, lemon, mint, and cane sugar for the cocktail. Bully Boy Whiskey is actually a small distillery in Boston! Pretty cool. Generally I hate white whiskey, since it is just unaged, or aka moonshine, but very surprised with Bully Boy. Decent whiskey list for the straight up folks. Strawberry Basil Lemonade is also a good way to go, especially for the ladies that's not looking for anything too strong. Since we went after dinner, I got the Valrhona Warm Chocolate Cake for dessert. It's a super rich molten chocolate cake with chocolate toffee crunch ice cream and cherry sauce. The best part is probably opening up the chocolate cake and watching the chocolate lava slowly oozing out. There was also a live jazz band playing! With the view and the music, we didn't really talk much and just sat, enjoyed the drinks and the music. Good spot to stop by if visiting, at least for the view!
(4)
Jennafir E.
I have never had a better Martini then when I was here. I'm a picky martini drinker, if I don't like it I won't drink it or I'll give it away, because someone doesn't know how to proportion the amounts correctly. That being said, holy schizer. BEST MARTINI ever. I loved it, I wanted more. I will return when I want to celebrate a big event, because it is pricey and I am not that rich. The appetizers were also very good and the waiter was fabulous. This is a ritzy place, but at lunch you can go in wearing whatever and they don't care. You are still given fantastic service. The view is also astounding. I loved it. 52 flights high and the charles off to the side makes the view fun. As for dinner or anything other then martini's or app's, i cannot assist. but they are given a 5 for having the best martini's so far in this city and for that they will forever be in my hearts with the steep price.
(5)
Brian M.
For the view, this place gets 10 stars. You won't find a better view of Boston anywhere. This is the kind of place you take your girlfriend on Valentine's Day or some equally arbitrary special occasion you wouldn't celebrate if you were single. The food is nothing too special - not good enough to make dining here a regular occasion but good enough OH MY GOOD GOD LOOK AT THAT VIEW OF THE SUNSET OVER THE CHARLES RIVER!! IS THAT NOT THE MOST GLORIOUS THING YOU'VE EVER SEEN IN YOUR ENTIRE LIFE?!?! So yeah, Top of the Hub. The view doesn't suck.
(3)
S L.
The views are great, and the menu has become a bit more inventive since our last visit there a year or two ago, but the reality of the food fails to inspire. Given the fact that the prices, as well as the altitude, will induce nosebleeds, this is quite disappointing. The spicy lobster bisque was neither hot (as in temperature) or spicy. The crab cake was the high point of our meal, as the sole was mushy and bland. The service was quite uneven despite the intentions of our cheerful waiter. The runners brought the soup out without a spoon (!) and while the waiter volunteered to take it off the bill, he did not do so. Bottom line, if you want to go someplace that has a great view, this place is fine. But if you want first-rate cuisine primarily, there is certainly better food to be had in Boston.
(2)
Catherine D.
Went to Top of the Hub with my boyfriend last night for after-dinner drinks and dessert after dining at Papa Razzi. The view was breathtaking. We were sat immediately, without a reservation at a table next to the window. Like I said, gorgeous view of the city. Our waiter was very pleasant and was even nice enough to take a picture for us. We enjoyed our drinks but were far from impressed with our dessert. We had the Warm Chocolate Cake. The portion was tiny, it wasn't exactly "warm", and overall I was just not impressed with the dish. It kind of made me wish I stayed and ate dessert at Papa Razzi. For drinks and the view Top of the Hub is a must go but I definitely wouldn't return for the food.
(3)
Matt C.
This place is bizarre. First things first: you're paying for the view. The view, especially at night, is amazing and romantic and totally great. Unless you sit at the bar, in which case you're staring at...the back of the bar. Luckily, we sat at a table by the window. $24 minimum per person. I got a beer, she got some kind of fruity chick drink, and since it was late and we had already eaten dinner, we ordered some apps. Chicken lollipops and flatbread pizza margherita. The chicken "lollipops" are basically barbecue buffalo wings that you pay 15 bucks for. The pizza was a notch up from Red Baron. The food just isn't that great. My beer tasted like it was passed through a keg line with more bacteria than the town in the movie Outbreak (yes, I'm aware that was a virus, screw you, nerd). Go here for: a sweet view. Do not go here for: an exceptional gustatory experience.
(2)
Alexander D.
I wanted to take my girl to what I thought was one of the best places to eat in boston. I went on a weeknight and it was somewhat busy. There was more noise and smaller table space than an upscale eatery like this should have. Although my 16 dollar appetizer of two scallops was tiny, they were the best I've ever had. My girlfriends swordfish entree was big and delicious and my entree was also very good. The View is the best in Boston and the food is right up there. I wanted a place to dress up for but I saw people in jeans and even a few children. Don't know if I would go back but it is something you'd have to do once.
(4)
Terry W.
I went here with my wife and daughter for dessert and drinks....don't worry the 5 year old only had milk... But we went there because of FRESH MADE COOKIES! WOW. Awesome...Drinks weren't too bad either. Didn't eat the real food...as a BLT was $14 and didn't think it was worth it, but desserts were good.
(4)
Jamie S.
I stopped by with a friend on a clear afternoon for a quick drink and a bite to eat. I enjoyed the clam chowder I had, though it would have been overpriced if not for (you guessed it) the stunning view. Same goes for drink prices. On the service side of things, the bar staff was downright cordial. Bottom line: you're paying for the view. If can't be honest with yourself about that, go somewhere else. There are plenty of fantastic restaurants around on street level.
(4)
Beth G.
Other than the view, there was nothing special about this place. The food, decor, service was just alright. When people come to visit, I would never think of going there. It's not so much bad as it's just disappointing. But the view is what made it two stars, in my opinion. The view is spectacular on a clear day. And whenever the sun decides to grace us with it's presence, that would be great time to go. But for the view only, I can't stress that point enough.
(2)
Lily C.
The now BF took me here for a first date. + pros - cons + delish food + delish dessert + kick ass view if you get a window table + service was great, very attentive staff (they didn't lose my coat either! YES!) + validates parking + nice bar + it's in the pru + not an obnoxious crowd + not stuffy - will put a slight dent in your wallet - better make a reservation
(4)
Colin L.
Top of the Hub is nice for what it is. The view is spectacular, but it doesn't come cheap. The food is always delicious, but you're paying for the view with every bite, which is fine. It's a great setting for a fine-dining meal. Especially the nights with live jazz, those guys are always excellent. the only thing that's ever disappointed me was the "lounge minimum" of like $32 per person or something, so if i wanted to have a martini and a snack with someone, we would need to rack up a $75 bill with tip, or else be fined! That's kind of BS, especially on a slow night like a monday or tuesday. Either way, worth a stop, but bring a rich uncle or something.
(3)
DeeJay M.
Come here, grab a drink, enjoy the 360 degree views of all of Boston! A great place to get your bearings and see all the city and surrounding areas have to offer. Awesome bartender, upscale atmosphere, felt like I was at the Rockefellar Center again....but better....because this is Boston!
(4)
Yvonne W.
People come here for the view and little else. The per person drink minimum is $24 if you want your own table, so be prepared if you want to sit down and enjoy the city lights. If you are a wine connoisseur or have any deeper interest in alcoholic drinks, be forewarned that your server will probably not know a single thing about what you may ask him. My boyfriend asked him about a particular Napa Valley wine last night, and the server replied in the most serious tone of voice, "If it is from the Napa Valley, then it is very, very good." What a moron. If he had no clue, all he had to do was say he could ask the bartender. On a positive note, the live jazz is an added bonus to having drinks here. Just don't ask your server questions about the wine, especially if he is tall with dirty blonde hair and pale skin.
(2)
Wally C.
I took my mom here for the first time, the place was packed but we were able to sit by the bar, the view was amazing, we order some martinis that were out of this world, but the star of the day was the two appetizers that we ate, the fried calamari was soft and sweet, with a delicious tomato sauce that did not overpower the full flavor of the seafood, we also had the margarita pizza and it was hot and cheesy with just the perfect touch of basil, the staff was prompt and courteous but I must admit, they need to smile a little bit more, they are too serious and makes you feel like they don't want to be there, this is the reason i don't give them a higher score...
(3)
kevin k.
I loved the view of the city. That is the only thing I remember liking here. Two friends and I (a district manager, medical doctor, and accountant), decided we would all go for a chilled Saturday guys night. We are all mid to late 20s and we tend to look younger but were prepared to spend quite a bit. We got up there--went to the area with the view, and as we were entering a woman told us "excuse me, you do realize that you have to spend 25 dollars to be in here"? We did not want to disapoint the woman who stereotyped us as apparantly being not worthy of the restuarant. We got our tab up to the bare minimun, cashed out, and took our money to another bar.
(2)
todd h.
The bartender was lovely and the view was amazing. Don't come to this place if you enjoy good food or good service.
(1)
David G.
This place still holds the title of "worst service by an expensive restaurant" for me. I actually went here a year ago and I forgot to review it, but luckily the memory of the night still burns strong... So it was a special occasion and I had called ahead and told them this when I made my reservation. I arrived in my suit with girl in tow to be greeted by an uninterested hostess. "Hi I have an 8 o'clock reservation" her reply "Uh yeah..I don't know when we'll have a table, so if you want to hang out at the bar and we'll let you know". So much for the reservation...It turns out that she tells people with no reservation the same thing who arrive on a whim. So basically the reservation was pointless. I love when I get seated at the same time as someone else who just showed up with no reservation. Wonderful. So we sit around for 40 minutes at the bar while the hostesses chat. The place doesn't seem busy and there are some tables open, but we continue to sit wasting time. There were no updates from the hostess, so after watching them for a good while and sipping drinks I went over to speak with them. "Uh yeah, I think I've got something" she says. While I stand there some random folks show up off the elevator with no reservations and get seated at the same time I do. This is a fine restaurant?? I get better service at Vinny T's haha. So we got a table and ordered. The waiter was average- not bad not good-just going through the motions. The food itself was dissapointing-in fact I clearly remember being irritated that the food was of such blah quality. I thought the appetizer was a goof, but the entree was also very mediocre. I was letdown and had much higher expectations. The prices do not suit the food in the least, and to be honest even if the food had been less expensive I would have still been dissapointed. It was just not good and certainly not fresh. The only thing nice about this place is the view, which of course is wonderful, but I cannot recommend this place for an important occasion, or for a culinary experience of any sort. Go for drinks and the view, but do not go for the food.
(2)
Vera S.
This was a great dining experience. The restaurant is beautiful, and the view was amazing. We had requested a window table and one wasn't available, but that's okay. I got the tuna (amazing), he got the lobster mac and cheese (amazing). I got the hearts of romaine salad, which tasted great, but was sort of awkward and annoying to cut and eat... It is literally 4-5 giant hearts of romaine. We each got a few martinis and finished off with the creme brulee. Yum!!! The elevator ride up was scary to me... The thing wiggles and shakes a little. :-)
(4)
Alex L.
The view was nice...and...well...the view was nice! I went here last weekend for lunch and the food was...edible. Nothing impressive by any means. The food was slightly expensive for what it was, and a coke costs you about $4 (with no free refills). Is it worth the experience of being on the 52nd floor of the building? Yeah...but I'd get something cheap, enjoy the view and then get out of there...
(3)
Matt S.
Rating an establishment like the Top of the Hub is difficult for me because I am not the type of individual that fits their demographic nor am I one that can afford to fake it on a regular basis. You're more apt to find me in jeans and a t-shirt than slacks and a button up, and more likely to see me devouring a steak than braised lamb and profiteroles. That said, I do enjoy the finer things in life (I do KNOW what braised lamb and profiteroles are, so that counts for something), so dressing up and taking the girlfriend to the Top of the Hub for her 21st was not only a treat for her but one for me too. There are people that will say most of the positive ratings here are based on the view, and to that I can't necessarily disagree. This is the finest view of Boston you'll get short of the observatory, and you can soak in in while you sip a drink and partake in a meal. Naturally, the location of a restaurant is reflective of it's price, and given the fact that the Top of the Hub is on floor 52 of the Pru, I hadn't planned on docking it for it's price tag - it's an expensive place and makes no attempt to hide it. So the view and the ambience are top notch, and can't truly be matched at any other restaurant in Boston. Going for dinner or drinks at the onset of the evening is a great idea, so you can watch the sunlight fade and the city lights take it's place. It's qualities like this that make the Top of the Hub unrivaled in the ritzy eatery scene in Boston. The service matched the atmosphere nicely. Our waiter was attentive and kind, offering not only efficient service but recommendations for us. He knew from the manner in which we handled ourselves that this was likely a rarity, and he accomodated us well. The food was good. It wasn't unbelieveable, and I know many will come down hard on a place such as this when the price tag doesn't match the quality perfectly. I'll fully admit that the 10 oz. veal sirloin I had was, frankly, not anything impressive. If I were to weigh the bill specifically on that, Top of the Hub would have come up majorly short, but as it stands I know the bill factors in many aspects of the experience. The Creme Brulee was great, though - no negative marks for dessert. When the bill came, it was easily the largest bill I had ever paid at a Restaurant for a two person meal. But it wasn't a difficult thing to stomach, either. I could've saved some cabbage by taking my girlfriend to the Outback, but I wanted an experience. Would she have been able to consume ritzy, high class food while surrounded by equally ritzy individuals elsewhere? Would she be able to look over the lip of her Cosmo and see the city ablaze with lights? I contend that she wouldn't, and that's why the Top of the Hub is a Boston legend.
(4)
Mimi K.
I'm in love with the panoramic city views that really are the gem of this restaurant. The service is impeccable and although the menu IMO is limited and uninspired, whatever I had (Braised lamb shank) was delicious and satiating. The wine list however, is a whole other story. Excellent wines from all around the world, hard to resist. I dined here at sunset on a warm summer day and I'm sold because nothing beats a good bottle of wine over a panoramic orange sunset, then coincidentally, fireworks over the Charles River. The live jazz bar overall crowned the pleasant experience
(4)
Angela A.
I wanted to be the one who had a great experience here. My husband and I had friends in from Paris, and they wanted to go to Top of the Hub. They thought the menu looked good online, and they were excited about the view. Well, the view was great, no doubt about it! We got there before the sun set. We watched as the sun set, and then as the lights of the city blinked on. It was beautiful. Three of us wanted the tasting menu, but one party didn't. We asked if she could do the prix-fixe menu while we got the tasting menu, but the server said that the kitchen would become disorganized. Now, I know it says so on the menu, but it says so on the L'Espalier menu as well, and if you ask at L'Espalier, they will serve you whatever you wish. It took a while for our server to come over to us the first time. Then it took a while to get our glass of prosecco. Finally we ordered our meals. Before the starters arrived, they brought our main courses out. They placed my scallops in front of me, and I thought they had misunderstood that I wanted a salad first, and then the scallop appetizer. But then I looked at my husband's plate, and saw that the lamb shank was in front of him. Our waiter came rushing over and said ,"No, no, this isn't right." So, clearly the kitchen is already disorganized! When we finally got our food, it was average. The seared scallops were nice, and the crabcake was nice as well. I definitely wasn't the one person to have a great experience here. I would recommend going for a drink at the bar, and having an appetizer or two. The dinner experience leaves a lot to be desired.
(3)
Jennifer F.
Horrible experience. Yes a great view, but bartenders and staff were rude and unfriendly. Went for drinks to celebrate a night out and the evening was ruined with the bartenders complete lack of costumer service. Will never be going again and will encourage friends and families to never go as well.
(1)
Brian D.
If you are coming in from out of town and want to get the best view of the city and surrounding area, you pretty much have to come to the Top of the Hub. Especially if you want to enjoy this view with a drink, I mean you could do it on the roof I guess but you would probably die - so that would suck. Basically (even if you have been here a long time or are a native) you are a jerk if you don't come up here at least once. The food is OK, in fact the spicy lobster soup is more than OK- it's actually quite good. I've had a few dishes here nothing worth raving about and also nothing worth puking back up. The staff is attentive for the most part and the bartenders know how to make some decent enough drinks. Honestly, I would stick with a cocktail and an appetizer and head elsewhere for dinner but that's just me. I give it 4 stars because it's a 'Boston Classic'. The prices aren't insane, you aren't a douche for coming here (like you would be for say going to Cheers), the view is the best thing since porn, and the food is pretty decent (if you are a food guru you may spt on me for saying that).
(4)
Blair H.
Wohoo! I'm the 200nd reviewer of Top of the Hub! Went here for cocktails...ahem...beer on Friday afternoon. Good prices and not as snoody as you might imagine. Totally worth the view.
(4)
Arturo Z.
I have very mixed feelings about the Top of the Hub: Let's have the good first: -The view -Live music (fine...not great) -Semi-fancy honestly, that's about it. Now the bad: -You can only sit at a table if you are ordering a minimum of $25/person, and they are crazy strict about this point -The only other option is to sit at the bar, which offers no view out of the windows. Also, there are only about ten seats which are always occupied. -Almost everything is overpriced, though not as bad as it could be considering it is Boston. -Mediocre wine list (to be fair, there are a few nice choices, but they are spread out between easy-outs) Overall, if a friend is visiting from out of town or you are celebrating your 20th anniversary, go for it. Otherwise, not worth it. I would much rather be somewhere fun and fancy in the North End (Enoteca Monica, for instance) and get my money's worth/have good service. The Hancock observatory bar (in Chicago), though more casual, is a better deal in my opinion.
(3)
Anita D.
The view is great but not compared to the skylines of San Francisco, New York CIty, or Hawaii. Drinks here are expected to be pricey and that's fine. What you're paying for is the view and the ambiance. There was a live jazz band, very classy and sophisticated. People making out in the corner, not so much. Get out of here! Our party of five just ordered 1 drink each, given that we had a very late start and did not arrive until about 1130pm. Not overly crowded so a conversation can be carried and heard. Our bartender was a little pretentious or maybe our party was just a bit disorganized. He had very little patience. Overall, a must see at least one time while you're in Boston. But if you have been to swanky and posh top of the floor bars/restaurants like this one, you will not be too impressed.
(3)
Meg C.
My wife and I chose Top of the Hub for our one-year anniversary dinner. We arrived at 6:30 so we got to see the city views in daylight, at sunset, and in the dark. I highly reccomend arriving at a time that let's you see all 3! We had a great experience. Our waitor was laid back, but professional. We had spicy lobster soup (really amazing) and the spinach salad- standard, but good. For entrees we had the chicken and a swordfish special (amazing). I've heard that the food isn't that great at Top of the Hub, but we were very pleased. And you can't beat the views!
(4)
Meghan K.
Great atmosphere - killer view of the city. Service is good, but the food is definitely overpriced for what it is. I'd recommend just coming and getting a drink from the bar if you want to experience the amazing view and going to one of the many restaurants just blocks away that are way better.
(3)
Jennifer M.
The view is amazing - can't beat it in Boston! We went for an after work drink and some food and decided to sit in the lounge. The service was blah - after our table being ignored for a while, we finally had to stop a waiter. When our waiter finally came over he seemed a little annoyed to be bothered, and was very dramatic in carding us - it was like he was looking for an excuse not to serve us! But the food was delicious!! It actually was unbelievably good. We split 3 appetizers - the crab cake, calamari, and the brie with walnuts = so yummy!! I have been here several other times for dinner, the the main dining room. It is wonderful for a special occasion. But of course it's super expensive - so I won't be back on a regular basis!
(4)
Parker H.
This is perhaps the worst restaurant I have ever been to in my life. I have managed, owned, run, and done real estate for restaurants for over twenty years. I understand a bad shift, a bad meal, and even an arrogant server, but I do not understand how a restaurant charging these prices can have such offensive and incompetent servers and management. The series of disasters started on Mother's Day of this year. Granted, Mother's Day is a day that is bound for failure as many rookies navigate restaurants for the only time of year and inundate restaurants not properly trained or managed, Although it is tough to toss a mulligan at a restaurant charging $350 for two adults, two children and an infant to eat, nonetheless, I did. From the beginning, the entire experience was doomed to failure. The poorly trained service staff and the mediocre food was miserable. However, each guest on Mother's Day was "treated" to a $50 Gift Card to return. Instantly, my reaction was to toss it out- how desperate to have to give away this much to bribe people to return. However, I decided to give the restaurant another chance. Poor choice. Soup ($11.00 bisque) came out cold. Told server that although it was flavorful, the soup was cold. He took it (with an attitude) and returned ten minutes later with another bowl. Colder than the first one. Oh well, I thought, no soup for me tonight. Next course was Top Of Hub Chopped Salad. Menu listed lettuce, tomato, haricots verts, and cheese, Salad came out with little resemblance to description. Lacking some of the ingredients and adding scores of olives as the most prominent ingredient. After twenty minutes of no server involvement, it was clear I was stuck with a salad that I could not eat (being allergic to olives). After the server finally arrived, I decided that I would consider the two mistakes bad luck and press on with dessert and asked for the menu. Server rudely mentioned that we better make it quick since the kitchen was closing in fifteen minutes. To me, it hardly seems appropriate to mention kitchen closing time this far ahead of actual closing time. I reviewed menu and noticed that the salad description was as I had read it originally and decided it was too late to order dessert. Server arrived and smugly asked if we were having anything. I politely noted that the salad description lacked olives and I was not happy with that. Server said that I should have said something earlier (again, he was never present). To which I replied that I would like to speak with a manager. Of course, manager never arrived, and the check was presented by arrogant server nastily pointing out that the soup was comped. As the server looked on, my wife crossed out the tip line, totaled the check, adding nothing, and politely said good night. The server was incensed that he received no tip and was very vocal about it. This is outrageous for a server to comment on a tip. I asked for the manager and a young man no older than 22 arrived ten minutes later. I explained the horrors of not only the food, but the service, and the best he was able to say was that he comped the soup. Long story short, incompetent kitchen, incompetent service and most importantly incompetent management. HIGHLY not recommended.
(1)
Hagan B.
There are a few reasons why I have a thing for going to the tallest restaurant in the city: 1) It costs a lot less to go get a drink at the top than to pay to go to the observation deck (plus, you get a drink at the restaurant) 2) You really get a feel for the layout of the city and suburbia (that's my engineer talking) 3) It satisfies all of my king-of-the-mountain unfulfilled ego needs from childhood (but Dr. Freud exhumed and arisen might consider the shape of the building while psychoanalyzing me and claim a phallic fixation) So Boston was the latest city to meet my acquaintance from above. Whether you're satisfying your hunger or desire to be inside the head of a giant penis, you'll be pleased with the Top Of The Hub. I went for Brunch, and besides a varied prix fixe menu, the service was fantastic. I recall the mini almond croissants being a table favorite, but each course was dressed to the nines. Aesthetically pleasing plating and interesting flavor juxtapositions kept me entranced from the first sight to my last bite. My mother pledged to take us out each year (for Mother's day . . . maybe that was a hint for my brother and I to pay next time) for the views, exquisite fare, great service, and pretty people watching. Notice the low reviews of the people complaining about the per-person minimum. Go figure that it ain't their type of place!
(4)
Miriam L.
Service and flexibility bump Top of the Hub up from three stars to four. On a relatively crowded Friday night, I was surprised by how young the crowd was; the average age was probably around 27. We were told that we couldn't wait at the bar while our table (for six people) was being set up. Though we were originally a little annoyed that they had us wait out in the lobby, the table was ready within minutes. When two more people joined us, the hostess had no problem adding a couple more chairs to our table. Our server was friendly and attentive. She took our drink order within minutes of us being seated. My pomegranate martini was excellent, but the server noticed that my friend wasn't drinking her tomato thyme martini (which was very strong) and let her order a different drink for free. We ordered the tuna tartar appetizer, which was delicious, as was the baked brie. I also ordered the macaroni and cheese, which was good, though not the best I've ever had. The drink prices are on par with other high end bars and lounges in Boston, but I don't think I'd come back for food unless someone else was paying. I just can't afford it.
(4)
Tristan H.
I'll make this short and sweet: 1. I completely agree with the masses and will add nothing new with this review. You have been warned. 2. Definitely worth one try, at least for the view. This should be obvious. 3. The food is quality, but not stunning or unique or noteworthy. It's not worth the price you'll pay on a normal night, but it's worth the Restaurant Week price. 4. The service is fine, again, nothing spectacular. 5. I'd definitely come back for drinks and atmosphere, especially with visitors - dinner is not really worth the view surcharge, which you'll already be paying on the drinks anyway. The moral of the story is exactly what you'd expect - there are no surprises, unique highlights, or out of the ordinary novelties - this place is just a decent quality, normal, run-of-the-mill no-frills no-surprises nice restaurant where you get right around 60% of what you pay for. Except for the view. There's nothing quite like watching a jazz band play with that kind of backdrop, or having dinner with such a view of this beautiful city. And that's why you go.
(3)
John C.
This one is a tough one to review. The view? Unbeatable...A+++. If you are looking for a romantic place to take a date? Search over guys, make a reservation here around sunset and make a second reservation for breakfast. Even a blind squirrel can find nuts, and so can you, if you take your date here. Food? Mediocre and overpriced. Drinks? Overpriced, but a great pour and with creative mixes. Service? The maitre d' ( a maitresse in this case) was obnoxious, overbearing, full of herself, condescending and arrogant...and those were her good qualities. Waitress? average. Go for the view...have a drink or two and find another restaurant for your dinner...and, BTW, enjoy breakfast, you dog you. ;)
(2)
J Y.
Loved my experience here today! My friends and I went to the lounge for some cocktails and appetizers. Friday night at 10, but we only had to wait 20 minutes or so to get a table for four. I LOVED my mango mojito. Hardly tastes of alcohol. My friend enjoyed her Purple Rain Martini, other friend said her pear martini was very sweet. Level 52 Martini tastes like cough syrup... but if you're into that kinda thing it's the drink for you. It's also very strong. For apps, we ordered calamari, margherita flatbread, kobe beef hot dogs, and BLT. Calamari was okay, it was somewhat soggy. The margherita flatbread was DELICIOUS! Kobe beef hot dogs ... weren't anything special. Tastes like your typical hot dogs. I didn't have any of the BLT, but the potato chips were good. I LOVED the atmosphere. Live jazz band, dimmed lights, candles on each table, and the beautiful night view of Boston. The atmosphere made the high price worth it. And I'm not even complaining about the price, since cocktails were your typical $10-13. Apps were also in the same price range, but had HUGE portions. The apps were the size of a full meal. Just a note: If you want a table at the lounge, the minimum is $24 a person. You can feel free to mingle or sit at the bar, where there is no minimum, however, seats aren't guaranteed.
(4)
Mark F.
I went here twice for drinks and desert while in Boston. The views are great! The drinks are good too (I had the Farmer's Breeze cocktail). The deserts are delicious (we tried the creme brulee, the fresh cookies and the pineapple cake). Service can be a little slow at times.
(3)
Jamie G.
This is the BEST place to take a visitor/tourist who is new to Boston. Instead of paying like $15 to go to the viewing deck at the Pru, go to the bar at The Top of the Hub and get a drink ($8-$11).- it's cheaper, and you get a drink, and you can relax at the bar! Saturday afternoon is a great time to go, right when they open at 11:30am- easily get a seat at the bar, or a table if you prefer. You can walk around and see the GORGEOUS views, or enjoy them from where you are seated. I have always had friendly bar tenders and servers. I've tried several of their cocktails, which are all good, but they do make a mean mudslide! Had their prosecco on Saturday, which was great. For food, their clam chowder is very good, their cobb salad is HUGE, and their flatbreads are delish. Of course everything is WAY overpriced, but c'mon, for the view, it's worth it! But my recommendation is, go up for a drink, enjoy yourself, get a snack if you are starving, but go elsewhere for your lunch/dinner.
(4)
Tom E.
For some reason I always call this place 'Hop of the Tub' - it could be the result of some sort of mental affliction that has been with for life, but no matter how retarded it turns out that I may be, I am at least intelligent enough to know not to come back here again. The view is good, great if you're lucky enough to get a window seat - but you shouldn't have to pay $24 minimum per person for the pleasure. It's better value to just do Sky Walk beneath (and you also get to walk around and see the whole 360 there). And you certainly shouldn't have to pay $24 per person when you've had 5 different people serve/ignore you all night, no-one warn you of the minimum spend and your all food had all tasted Sysco pre-packaged. Simply zero stars for the dated TGIF-style food and minus zero for the service (we were made to wait like criminals for 15 mins for a verdict after not spending enough). The clientle was embarrassing drunk office workers flashing the cash and the inside decor is tacky as hell. Our hour here ruined our Friday night. Never again Hop o' the Tub. I'll spend my money getting high in other ways.
(2)
Portia K.
The views were fantastic and the food wasn't bad but a note to mgmt about the hostesses doing the seating....If a customer requests a specific area of the restaurant, please don't say no. Your hostess said "they were trying to spread out the guests" and the next couple that came in were seated exactly where we wanted to sit. Almost felt a bit prejudice...but then one of your waiters was kind enough to move us to the side we requested away from the sun glaring side. So he made up for a very inconsiderate hostess. So people, if you want a specific seat, ask for it. For those prices, you should get to sit where you want.
(3)
Jessica M.
Went for drinks after dinner on a Saturday, and found it to be a tad bit crowded. Hard to get a seat at the bar, but the view, even on a foggy night, was amazing and worth it. Wine choices were not bad. I'd recommend getting a seat by a window if possible to truly relax and enjoy the focus of the establishment. The jazz band playing in the far corner added to the upscale ambiance, automatically creating a relaxed and romantic atmosphere.
(4)
Stacy K.
We were pretty unimpressed with Top of the Hub's restaurant week menu. I had the salad, chicken, and mousse and my dining companion had the soup, salmon and creme brulee, and pretty much none of it was anything to write home about. The ambiance was nice, but kind of generic, and the service was very fast, but not especially warm or pleasant. I suppose the regular menu might be better, but based on the overall experience I don't think it would be worth returning to find out. There are so many other wonderful restaurants in the city where I'd much rather spend my money.
(2)
Josaphine B.
Face it, you visit here for the view. But for $300 on dinner for 3 you should enjoy your dinner too, right? The service was comparable to a diner, not the 5 star you would expect, and 2 out of 3 dinners were sent back. The fish was spoiled and gross. The steak overcooked. Not a little bad, uneatable. If you want to see the view just order the cookies and a cup of coffee. In the end you'll be happy you didn't eat the disgusting food at the high price, you will have possibly saved yourself from a night over the toilet and enjoyed the view, some cookies and spent $15 instead of $300.
(1)
Christina K.
The night started out great.. We showed up early and the bartender made us 2 GREAT Mojitos! Our reservation was for 9:00 and we got sat around 9:15; understandable since the place was packed! Our table was in a great spot and the view was incredible! Once our waiter came over; his eyes went right to the "Restaurant Week" menus that we had. Once he noticed they were the only menus that we had; he became very short with us; mostly one word answers. He took our order and since we didn't know what we wanted for dessert; we decided to wait until we were done with our meals. The food was excellent. I had the Rocket Arugula as my appetizer and it was surprisingly amazing! Our entrees came out immediately after our appetizer dishes were removed from the table. The Salmon was fantastic and the potatoes with the pumpkin sauce were very tasty. When it was time for dessert; I was almost certain that I didn't want any. But after our plates were cleared, the waiter brought us 3 desserts for our table, but didn't even ask what we actually wanted. There were only 2 options since we were ordering from the Restaurant Week menu, but it would have been nice if the waiter would have taken the time out to ask which of the two we wanted; and maybe he would have known that 2 of us, didn't actually want dessert because we were too full! Overall, the food was great, but the service left something to be desired.
(3)
Katy D.
Braved the ride up the elevator and came with my boyfriend for dinner one night a year or two ago. Oh the looks we got from the hostess as we came in the door...yes we were 19 but we had every intention of having a full meal. Once we got our table (in the corner overlooking the back bay, god knows how we got that one!) and made it clear that we wouldn't be having drinks (obviously) we ordered our meal from a very gracious server (the highlight of the night, besides the view) Our food was so bland. Nothing remotely spectacular about it whatsoever. I remember the mixed service and I remember the wonderful views but I don't think I could even tell you what I ate that night. Came back for coffee and dessert a year later and it was the exact same run-around. All in all, skip this place and head to the SkyWalk
(2)
Melissa M.
You must know, the view here is amazing. I prefer to go at sunset, preferably in the spring or summer or winter and/or fall. You, see the view is just that amazing. I know that Boston is the greatest city in th world and this view is a testament to that. The food is 3 star worthy. Typical blue blood food, but I don't think the menu changes that much. The bar is the best, in my book, the drinks are all delightful and overpriced. But you are paying for the view, so why not come by around sunset for a change? You won't regret it.
(4)
Selena J.
Went for restaurant week and the food was... underwhelming. Service was lovely and drinks were good. Got the cookie plate afterward in the lounge, which was fantastic. Wine list is pretty impressive. Had I consumed this quality of food at the price generally charged, I would honestly be pretty pissed off. But I guess it wasn't bad for the experience of eating there, which I otherwise never would have. And probably wouldn't again.
(3)
Grace F.
Definitely on the to do list for out-of-towners. At Top of the Hub you get a 360 view of Boston which is awesome--from the Citgo sign to the Charles to the fact that the ocean is really, like, right there! Some deets: - How to you get there? You need to go into the Prudential mall and resist urges to stop at the Vineyard Vines store and the Legal Sea Foods (mmm, another day, okay?) and make your way to the office-building-y area, where there will be a receptionist who looks at your ID (for security reasons), and then you head up to the Top of the Hub. - How much will it cost you? So you could go to the viewing area, which is pretty pricey itself, and not eat, or you can go to the bar (usually full) or spend $25/person to eat dinner/lunch at a table. I recommend the latter. Then make sure to take enough sortees through the restaurant to see all the angles and sights. No one minds. - Best timing? Before sunset, so you can see the day and night views. Easiest to get a seat mid afternoon on weekends and in the evenings on weekdays.
(4)
Archana V.
Love the view! Can't be beat. The food? It's alright. You will definitely find better food for better value at many places. But if sitting on the 50th floor of a building right in the middle of Boston, surrounded by glass walls and a spectacular sunset over the Charles can't make an event special, what else can?
(4)
Christina K.
I have lived in Boston for 6+ years and have only visited Top of the Hub this year! How can this be?! This place is classic. Classic fine dining with an EXCEPTIONAL view. I was expecting a great meal but not the best food of my life, and with these expectations I was not disappointed. Service was very good, and my boyfriend and I had a great night.
(4)
LuLu M.
Debated on what to rate Top of the Hub - the view alone is worth 5 stars but the food was only worth 3 stars. We ordered the lobster roll and fancy "hot dogs" (maybe we should have ordered better menu items?) - and it just tasted like overpriced fair food. BUT, because of the view, I would probably come here again when I visit Boston and give it another chance with other menu items.
(4)
Austin T.
So I came here a long, long time ago for Restaurant Week 2009 and I've forgotten about it until now. That's pretty much how unexciting and unmemorable my experience was. Granted, my expectations were high. And the view was indeed spectacular. But I felt caught between two worlds: one with annoying tourists and students posing for pictures amidst another with sappy romantics who pre-ordered tall vases of roses that ended up blocking the view. The food was sort of boring. I'm pretty sure even my chowder yawned. The chicken was decent - well-cooked, and garnished flavorfully with a sweet potato puree. And the dessert... some kind of yogurt cake? It was weird - there were gritty layers in the middle... I should have ordered safely. My friends definitely enjoyed the creme brulee. =/ The elevator ride up was pretty cool though. Don't forget to pop your ears.
(3)
Chris F.
The view is awesome. Except on cloudy days. The cookie plate is the best thing other than the view. Don't miss it. If you want to impress someone, take em here, but try to get a window seat. Especially facing east.
(4)
nicola s.
Scenic view At night the view sets the scene for a romantic interlude Wine is good, the food awesome but very small quantity for that price.
(5)
Liz L.
My husband and I dined here for our anniversary. It was early evening [6PM] Wednesday & we were promptly seated in a quiet little corner area right next to west facing window; Cambridge, Charles River, MIT, etc.. It was cloudy, overcast but still spectacular. We began with complimentary offering, a petite cup of velvety rich mushroom bisque with two tiny toasted garlicky croutons, no spoon, pick it up, take two sips and viola! Gone. Very good. We each had an appetizer (me: roasted beet salad & scallops for him) For entree I ordered the tenderloin w/chimichurri sauce, he got pork chop & it came with mac& cheese, gourmet version. We both ordered dessert, creme brulee.. The waitstaff were very good, no snooty people at our visit. TOH is special & I'm glad we tried it but the food didn't blow me away. Please don't get me wrong; atmosphere is fantastic, waitstaff is terrific & food was decent but not spectacular.. With drinks; three glasses of champagne, one glass red [Oregon Big Fire '07] & one cappuccino, the bill came to about $182, not bad. Add tip & parking & it was approx $260. There are so many great restaurants in Boston & TOH is most certainly one of them but for the next special occasion we'll give another restaurant a try. Thanks.
(4)
Christine M.
I was recently in Boston for a girls weekend with my college roommates from out of town. We wanted to end our 2 day stay with a night cap with a beautiful view of the city. It was a Sunday night and the inside bar (with no view had no seats) and there were many empty cocktail tables by the windows. Our group of 5 was not allowed to sit at the table unless we spend $28.00 minimum per person. All we wanted was one martini each..and those probably would have been $15.00 at least..We are not cheap..all in our early 50's with nice careers...it was the principle of the the thing. Sorry Top of the Hub..we left and spent our money somewhere else.
(1)
Jackie C.
The food is mediocre and overpriced. For a place that is supposedly one of the best in Boston, they completely fail to live up to the hype. I've come here a few times for special occasions and every time, they fail to impress me with their bland dishes and overly sweet desserts. Their portions are also embarrassingly small for the price. If anything, I recommend that Bostonians come here at least once in their lifetime to enjoy the beautiful scenery atop the hub. But if the hostess ends up sitting your party far from the windows.. joke's on you, you just got stuck paying for an overpriced dinner with a crappy view.
(2)
Christopher R.
I took the BF here last night for his Bday....after having made a reservation like two months ago through Opentable.com I had heard that they are very strict on dress, and have not let people in based on what they are wearing. So we stressed about what to wear and both wound up wearing suits. I was very disappointed to see so many people NOT dressed up. Tons of people in jeans, tshirts and hats. So I guess the only real dress code rule they follow through on is ...NO HATS. I was also very disappointed to see so many children. I really didnt think people would bring children to such an expensive and supossedly nice restaurant. On the contrary, there were a lot of children there. Who takes thier children to a restaurant where you are probably going to drop $300 on a meal? WTF? Even if I had children, I'd think you would want to experience the restaurant without the children and all that noise. Get a god damn babysitter! Our meal was interuppted several times by this one paticular kid that was running up and down the restaurant. Even when I went to the bathroom, the kid was hanging out in the door way, opening and closing the door repeatedly. I actually had to stop him, take the door out of his hands just to get into the bathroom. AND...no parent in site. So they bring their kids, let them run all over the restaurant, ruining everyone elses meals, while they sit at thier table in silence. I was so mad I was looking for the parents, to tell them off. Finally the hostess made them stop and be quiet. NOT her job. Parents like this have no respect, and probably should not even have children. We did manage to get seated right at our reservation time so that was good. Prior to being seated we walked around the restaurant and admired the views. It was a clear and sunny afternoon so we could see everything for miles. Great view of Fenway from up there. As we were seated the sun started to set, and the lights came on as the city went dark. By the end of the meal the city looked like someone had just sprinkled glitter out the window. BEAUTIFUL!!! We really had the perfect timing with the sunset and being seated. The food was good, nothing spectacular or that I would crave that i would have to go back for. They have only ONE Veggie option though. Other than the annoying children, over all it was a good experience. Its defintely more about the view from up there than anything else at the restaurant. Also, thier wine/champagne list is marked up A LOT!! Earlier in the day we bought a bottle fo Veuve Clicqot at a liqour store for $35 (usually about $45). We paid $100 for a bottle at TOTH. Outrageous.
(4)
Ed H.
Went for Restaurant Week last week. The view and atmosphere were great, the food not. Had Manhattan Clam Chowder, some Honey Chicken, and Creme Brulee. All three items were disappointing - clam chowder had an astringent taste, honey chick was rubbery, and creme brulee's top shell was burnt to a bitter crisp. Don't come here for the food.
(2)
Yuki K.
Since I was there to visit for the first time, I couldn't ask for anything better. I think it's a great place if someone's here to visit for the first time. I had few drinks there with my Friend, we got to sit by the beautiful night view. Jazz Trio was there for audiences request. Not too loud nor awkwardly silent so it was perfect for drinks and conversation.
(5)
David F.
Depends on what you're going in expecting. At 5pm on a weekend the place was crawling with large groups of tourists. I don't mean tourists sitting down at tables to enjoy a drink, I mean glued to the window, picture-taking, pointing, yelling tourists. I didn't mind this so much because I was there just for a drink and the views myself, but if I had made a reservation for dinner - forget it. Zero atmosphere. On the other hand, the drinks were decent and large and the appetizer we got was rather tasty and creative (brie and walnuts baked on bread). For about the price of a ride to observatory, I had a well-crafted vodka martini, some impressive views and several background photo ops - not the worst afternoon I could imagine.
(3)
Damon C.
Perfect place for a date or drinks with friends. The service was good. They made a mistake in the kitchen, and my server was pissed as he quickly corrected it. The food was excellent, the drinks poured right, and the dessert was awesome. There was a wait to get in without reservations, but after 11pm it was easy to cruise in for a late night cocktail. The view is the best. The live jazz was a really nice touch.
(4)
Ivy C.
A must go in Boston! Went here on a snowy Saturday night. The view was beyond breathtaking, especially when the snow began to come down. The food was just as delicious! We had the calamari and their special appetizer of the night *which was prosciutto with lettuce, crackers and balsamic vinagrette*. Holy bejesus was that delicious! Their drinks are strong and delicious *and within my poor man's budget* . I must recommend their Belvedere Cosmo! Very smooth and yummy! Overall, a wonderful experience in Boston.
(5)
Eric K.
WARNING: Only been here for lunch... so take it with a hint of salt. Or chili pepper... whatever toteschogoates. Okay, I'm just going to go and say that the view obviously deserves five stars. And for the view, I personally think that lunch is worth it (especially when considering that the sky view from one floor down is about $10, rather spend another 10-12 for lunch on top of the view) The prices for lunch I think are pretty reasonable for a well known swanky place, they even have a pre-fixed 3 course lunch for about 23 ish dollars. So price and view are pretty. yeah, pretty. Food is not so great. Their shrimp flatbread is pretty big, but oily. The lobster in the lobster role seems very fresh AND in huge chunks, but the roll is buttered like crazy. (Some people may be a fan of this, I'm not) I will say though that it is presented well, aesthetically pleasing. Its not the best in terms of food but I would take my parents there to enjoy the view. And my girlfriend. But not my brother, when we're together, its strictly about food, as it should be.
(3)
Stephanie S.
best view of the city! the panoramic spans all the way around. perfect sunset spot to watch the twinkle of the lights reflect on the water. i had just flown in an hour prior and my friend suggested this spot as a way to orient myself with the city - bird's eye view from the 52nd floor. brilliant plan. plus, they have special wine made just for them from california! from top of the hub vineyards.
My favorite bar in town. Show up there early before a pub crawl or regular day of debauchery, 2-3 Level 51's and your half loaded on the elevator down. Come for the food, stay for the cocktails.
(5)
Wayne D.
Would you expect to find great seafood at nearly 1,000 feet in the air? If you said no, your right. Fish does not belong any further than the dining table on the first floor, never mind the 52nd. I went to the Top of the Hub and the best thing there was the wine and the view. Well, the friends complimented the experince as well (we were celebrating a birthday). I elected to have the tuna tartare (bad idea). The food was mediocre at best and I felt like I was at a brasserie eating typical hotel food. The cookies that came out on a platter were stuck into a microwave so it seemed. Even worse than the food was the service. We had a pompous waiter who was polite in the beginning and as the night went on he was just hovering over us in a rude fashion. Sometimes these places take their guests for granted. A never again experience. 2 stars.
(2)
Rimi A.
Amazing views and delicious food. The mac & cheese and pear cobbler were mouthwatering!
(5)
Melissa C.
I would only recommend this place to someone who was trying to do something touristy even while they were eating. The menu was exactly what one would expect. I mean that in a very bored way. The food was good enough not to complain about, but again, really just squeaking by as average. Worst thing about the restaurant, a seat by kitchen. I had to listen to the waitstaff gossip and cuss the whole night. Not just little cuss words, seriously foul language. So, it's average, to be honest, in it's class it might even deserve a lower rating. But definitely, take tourists there if seeing little lights is impressive to them.
(3)
Mike G.
brunch is blah. but definite stars for the obvious - the boston view. and live jazz. and service. and instead of paying to go to the view deck, go for espresso and dessert, which are pretty good. ideal spot to cool down in hot summer or thaw in winter.
(3)
Megan H.
Im giving this place 4 stars- mainly for the view and the atmosphere. Nothing even comes close to comparing to this restaurant. , its totally worth it. My boyfriend brought me here for my birthday, and I had been dying to try it out. Its not the type of place you would frequent- definitely save it for special occasions. It is really quite expensive, and I wouldnt say you come here for the food- which is why I only gave it 4 stars. But if you are visiting Boston or have visitors coming, this is the place to take them, even if its just for a drink at the bar. If you go for dinner, even though there isnt a bad seat in the house, I would just recommend that you ask for a window seat....youll be happy you sepcified!!
(4)
Liz K.
The jazz band was wonderful. We went at 8 on a Friday night and just got a drink at the bar to enjoy the view. There is a little space you can stand next to the jazz band where you can have the view and the music and not pay oodles for a table and food. The band started at 9. But you pretty much go here for the view for a couple hours and then head somewhere else.
(5)
Meredith F.
I came here for Easter brunch, and I have to say I was surprised by how delicious the food was. I usually hear that the view is the main attraction here, but I'm still thinking about my shortribs over cheesy grits. The meat was fork-tender and pulled apart effortlessly, and the grits were salty, cheesy, and absolutely delicious. As part of the pre-fixe menu I also got a berry-granola-yogurt parfait made with Greek yogurt; an iceberg wedge with bleu cheese dressing, bacon, and tomatoes; and an adorable little pot de creme Easter dessert inside a chocolate top hat with sugar bunny ears sticking out. That was accompanied by a little carrot cake with cream cheese filling. The service was great, and we had a sunny day with clear views of the entire city. You are definitely paying somewhat for the view, but it's worth it to try the experience at least once.
(4)
Amy K.
The Top of the Hub is an excellent place to come for a drink when you want to get off your feet and enjoy a spectacular view. Sure, it's a little pricey, but I think it's worth it. I enjoyed a raspberry martini when I was here, and sat in a super-comfortable chair and relaxed. Perfect for cocktails late in the afternoon. If you like aerial view of cities, this is the place for you.
(4)
Daisy F.
5 stars for the fantastic view. Perfect place for a tourist like me...if only the service and food was better. I ordered a mojito that was so awful I had to send it back. I heard the bartendar complaining that "the woman doesn't know shit." Fortunately, I refused to let the bad bartendar ruin my night, so I ordered a glass of wine. I also had an order of crab cakes. The presentation was beautiful, but the crab cake was soggy and over salted. I would probably go back again for the view, but not order food and stick to wine.
(2)
Jennifer D.
After having a great experience there 4 years ago, I was expecting the same this past year (November) when I went for my birthday. Yeah...not the same. I mean the ambience/view is truly great and special. But the food? Nothing very exciting here, esp. for the price. We started off with the lobster soup, meh...good flavor/heavy, a couple scant pieces of lobster meat. Asked for a basic salad and asked specifically for NO feta and dressing on the side. I got a lot of feta and dressing tossed with my salad, awesome. But I still picked at it, the dressing was pretty tasty. My fiance got the same as me pretty much except for the entrees. I got the braised lamb shank which was truly the highlight, it was delish, and huge! Meat fell off the bone, excellent flavor....but the sides, rustic it is! But not modern rustic, like here's some blah mashed potatoes and one single carrot....crap presentation. My hunnie got the veal, which was also delish, cooked amazingly well. His sides, crap. And our server was a bit condescending while still being polite. I guess he assumed we didn't have the money to eat there so he didn't try as hard (my fiance did look very presentable but not pretentiously so, but I always think he looks amazing). Appearances are deceiving aren't they, which is why you should never assume and should treat everyone with the same amount of respect, please and thank you. And for dessert, great pumpkin ice cream with your typical warm choco cake (lava cake) whatever. Money well spent on 3 single items yay! Will not return anytime soon. PS you're lucky my fiance is very generous, I wouldn't have been so nice with the tip. p.s. cute b-day presentation on the desert.
(2)
JEM C.
Great views, good (strong) drinks, nice ambiance. Of course, you pay for it (each drink is $12 or more). The downside is that there are always tourists coming in, but for a tourist, thats an upsell--pay $12 for the observatory or get the views and a drink for the same money. You decide.
(4)
Tara F.
My boyfriend took me here for my birthday dinner. The only reason I am giving it 3 stars is we were sat in a weird place and I would think they would have sat us in a nicer spot. Other then that the dinner was amazing. I had the lobster soup to start and then a filet! It was all so very yummy! The service was stellar and I couldnt have been happier!
(3)
Julie B.
if i were to give Top a rating based on the experience, I'd give it a 4, but for what it is (yes, a restaurant), I'll give it what it deserves, and that's a 3. being that Top is trying to make itself out to at least SEEM like it is a 5 star kind of place (placing napkins in the lap for you, etc etc), it should at least follow through. DO NOT serve me 'fresh baked bread' that is freezing cold, with similar butter in tow (sadly i forgot my defroster at home that night). DO NOT give me a waiter that will insist on flirting with a table full of blonde skanks and thus bring me my food out 25 minutes after it is ready, which makes it cold as well. sigh. however, the food was still ok, and the view was excellent, and although i'm not sure i'd go back, it was fun.
(3)
Lynn W.
I, yet again, will be out of the norm for reveiws here as I will not be singing any praises of this Boston tourist trap of a restaurant... I am starting to think that a bitterness is enveloping me little by little with each additional new restaurant I try b/c as I have ranted about in a number of my other reviews, service in the Boston food industry (even at the upper echelon of restaurants) always falls way below expectations (and trust me my friends, I worked in the food industry for a couple of years so I am actually very understanding and flexbile in the majority of problematic instances!). Case in point, my experience at the Top of the Hub... My husband's sister was in town for a convention on her birthday and staying at the Sheraton so we decided to take her out to this "fine establishment" for a view of the city, some good drinks and tasty food. Everything seemed fine as we were seated, the view was beautiful and the dim lit atmosphere made us feel very relaxed - that all changed when our waiter approached the table and you could see from the look on his face that he was pissed off we were there b/c I'm sure he thought he was at the end of his shift. He proceeded to give us the run-down on specials in the fastest manner possible, and then scurried away to assist other tables. When we placed our order for food, the waiter was impatient in answering my husbands questions but finally entered our completed order. When the food arrived, my husbands dish was something completely different from what he was expecting - now I agree that this mistake falls on my husbands lap, and he understood this and very graciously asked to speak with the waiter. This is where all hell breaks loose b/c this guy is pissed that he even had to serve us, but then he proceeds to practically chide my husband and then says that the kitchen is closing and he doubts anything can be switched out... Now this is where I get confused...isn't this supposed to be (as stated in their own advertising words) " One of Boston's finest dining destinations, the award-winning Top of the Hub features outstanding cuisine, impeccable service, and a sophisticated ambiance. " ???? My husband was basically forced to keep the dish, and even our other dishes left much to be desired considering the supposed stature of this dining destination. From most of the other reviews posted here, it seems that the majority only go here for music and drinks (very smart people I might add lol) but for anything else besides this, I would take your money elsewhere (I suggest Masa in the South End). Haven't been back since and I pretty much tell visitors to steer clear of this tourist trap - much better options are available on a few streets away!
(2)
Jen H.
Came for the view, and the cocktails. I had the three-berry martini and savored every last drop. My friend, however, had a Level-52 or something like that (forget the exact name, one of their signature martinis) he wasn't too pleased. I don't know if it just wasn't what he was expecting or the champagne that they topped it off with was flat, or something else. View of Boston on a clear day - can't beat it.
(5)
Christine V.
Don't pay for the tour, just go straight to the restaurant on the 52nd floor and buy some drinks and enjoy the view. Absoutely gorgeous views of Boston and Cambridge! Drinks are very pricey though, as expected.
(4)
Renee W.
The 4-star rating is based on the view alone. I've been here a few times, never for dinner - too pricey for my taste - but for dessert and drinks. Each time we went on a weeknight and quickly and easily got a window seat with a gorgeous view of the city lights after dark. The desserts are expensive and nothing to write home about - I'd rather have a big brownie sundae from Uno's - but the drinks are nice and strong, good martinis, and like I said, it's all about the view.
(4)
Matt W.
The cookies are amazing! The view is spectacular! Everything else, is average at best. I've never been here for dinner so can't comment on the food, but the drinks are nothing special. The service is lousy, what you might expect from a pretentious bar atop the Prudential building. On a Friday or Saturday night the wait to get upstairs can be almost unbearable....they have you stand in a line similar to an amusement park and give you no accurate gauge of the wait. If you have to play tour guide, I would consider including the Top of the Hub, otherwise I would buy cookies from a bakery and get a drink at street-level bar.
(2)
Emily F.
We went here for a friend's first legal drink. We were dressed the part, whatever that means, but we were definitely judged by staff and patrons for being a group (there were about 8 or so of us) of 21 year olds. We awkwardly ordered drinks at the bar, crowding the area and all the "classy professionals" who filled all the bar seats in an unintentionally obnoxious way. Once we got our drinks, we perched over by the instrumentalists. We danced a little, which other customers and the musicians definitely enjoyed, but we didn't stay after finishing our drink. The view is fantastic, can't deny that. A little too pretentious, most of its appeal comes from the view it offers, not from food/drink quality. It's nice, but I have no desire to return.
(3)
Max M.
I've never had the food, but this place is well worth a drink (or two) and the AMAZING view. It isn't cheap, but since you have to pay to go to the observation deck, which is below Top of the Hub, why not go up a few more floors, spend a little more, and have a drink?
(4)
Daniel N.
Went here for my 2nd year anniversary with my girlfriend. The lobster soup was excellent, and the entree was good. The creme brulee we had was nothing like Finale's though. Overall, it was a nice experience. Make sure you get a window table to enjoy the view.
(4)
Emily C.
Yes, the view is amazing. Yes the ambiance is great and the band is cute and yes I think it's just one of those fundamental things on your bostonian-to-do list. The service is alright and the food is okay. The tripleberry martini is yummy and we had a beautiful dessert wine that I don't really remember the name of.... The creme brulee was not crispy on the top!!!! We made reservations and we were about 10 minutes late yet we still had to wait another 20 minutes for our table even though it was not very busy. However, we were not complaining as the bar tended to our needs for pregaming for a big event after.
(3)
Arnab M.
Boston's answer to the Signature Room in Chicago. Not nearly as spectacular a view but the hostess thought my then boyfriend and made the cutest and hottest couple (she told us so, extra points for that), so she gave us window table even though there was a one and half hour wait for one of those despite reservations. Food was delicious, and the portions were large, which is always a surprise at these high society places. The waitress even took a ton of pictures of us. Fun night. Totally a special occasions or client dinner place.
(4)
Enday G.
I had lunch in The Top Of The Hub as part of the restaurants week. The food was very good, professional service and the view, oh the view... I highly recommend!
(5)
Amy W.
i've lived in boston for 9.5 years now. i probably heard about top of the hub 9.4 years ago. i was always under the impression that it was touristy, stuffy, and way too expensive. i was completely wrong (something i don't admit often, so be sure that this is high praise). last night my boyfriend decided to do a little something special for me. after going to an art supply store (i've been dying to do some paintings for our apartment), he surprised me by saying we were going to top of the hub for drinks and "amazing cookies". now, he's only lived here for 1.5 months, and got this recommendation from his best friend, so i was impressed, as i have never heard about these cookies. once up on floor 52, we had to wait about 15 minutes for a table in the lounge. but once we got our table, it was just awesomeness from there on out. first off, the hostess was super nice, which shocked me. she kept apologizing for the wait, and thanking us for understanding. once we got out seats, we ordered up some martinis (one espresso, one mocha). they were both delicious, and definitely strong. we sipped on those while watching the incredible jazz trio (my boy's a drummer who has played in jazz trios, and he kept saying how amazing these guys were). the martinis range from $11-15, but that's the kind of crap you have to deal with at most places, right? i was actually surprised at the menu, since you really can spend not that much money and have a great night. next, we decided to order some dinner...him in the form of the cobb salad, me the chicken lollipops. the salad was great, complete with very tasty duck. my chicken lollipops (a fancy(?) word for wings) were delicious. then came dessert. the cookies and the chocolate cake. i had been craving chocolate cake for some time now, and while this one had delicious melted chocolate inside, it wasn't mind-blowing. but it did come with mint ice cream, so that was sweet. the cookies. they need their own paragraph. oh. my. god. there were 3 different kinds...chocolate chip, peanut butter, and plain sugar. there were 4 of each. they came with some kind of whipped creamy stuff that was cinnamon flavored. they made me wet in my pants. they were warm, slighty crunchy-ish on the outside, but oh-so-slightly gooey on the inside. honestly, i have no idea how they did it, but these were by far the best cookies i have ever put in my mouth. and they were $9, which really isn't that bad for being able to put pure bliss directly onto your tongue. in summary...i was shocked at how not too snobby the place was. the waitstaff were incredibly friendly and incredibly attentive. the view is amazing. the jazz was solid. the prices were actually manageable, and i WILL be going back soon just to have the cookies.
(5)
Elizabeth C.
I went with my husband and in-laws for a light lunch during the afternoon on a perfect sunny, clear day. The food was pretty good, though of course you really go for the view. The brie, which was yummy, should have included more of the bread pieces. What was otherwise a special experience, however, was marred by the very snooty waiter mentioned in another post already, who refused to let us go look at a window on the other side in a rather rude way. So 4 stars overall, minus 2 for the rude waiter. (Come on, people -- customer service is your job, and all it would take is a little human decency.)
(2)
Cee L.
I've been here twice and on both occasions I've been impressed with their amazing customer service. On a busy Friday night, BF and I switched from sitting at the regular seating area, then to the bar, and then back to the lounge cause we're sooooo indecisive. The staff was very accommodating and allowed us to move around. The view is breathtaking especially when the sun sets, and the general ambiance of the place is very nice. The food was okay, but it didn't stand out to me as amazing, but it wasn't horrible. Overall a really nice place to go.
(4)
steve p.
I made reservations a week ago. The plan was for my girlfriend and me to take my mother and niece from out of town to an exciting locale for dessert after our very nice dinner in Back Bay (Casa Romero). Upon arrival they promptly refused us seating, saying that I should have known we couldn't have dessert in their dining room. They did offer to let us get at the back of some line to wait for a seat in their bar... where there was a $24 per person minimum for the privilege of eating their desserts. We asked if they would make an exception and they said no. I was willing to pay exorbitant prices for mediocre desserts in exchange for a nice view, but not to wait in a long line and pay $100 for the four of us to just sit in their bar. It was insulting and embarrassing. And it was something they at least could have mentioned when I made the reservation a week ahead of time. Fortunately we chose to leave this over-rated, pretension restaurant and have dessert at a far superior spot down the street... J.P. Licks.
(1)
John R.
I almost forgot about this one! We did Easter Sunday here this year and it was great. I had a really good Rib Eye dinner and I got a second piece of meat it was that good, My GF had the Duck Confit she said it was delicious, Sorry but I forget what everyone else had. The view is awesome the atmosphere is great all in all one place in Boston you have to experience at least once while your here. We also did NYE here for the Boston Resolution Ball my favorite NYE party of all time. I hope this year will be as good. I am surprised we do not eat here more often considering my GF works in the same building.
(4)
Ken M.
It's expensive for dinner, but a great place to go with friends to enjoy some cocktails especially on a clear night. The cocktails are still pricey (making it easy to hit the $25pp minimum to sit near a window), but very tasty and you can't beat the view.
(4)
Hannah T.
This review is for the restaurant week price-fix menu. Two of those stars are for the ambiance and our adorable waiter who insisted that everything was "his pleasure." ONE star is for the food. They sure get away with alot because of their location. Maybe they think that because the air is thinner up there, our light-headedness will disguise the food's true nature; which is in fact incredibly mediocre. Diner 1 (me): Strawberry Rhubarb soup with Lavendar Creme Peppered Scallops with some corn mumbo-jumbo Mango mousse Diner 2: Endive and Arugala salad with some random salady ecoutrement Pork Medallions with figs Creme Brule Diner 2 all together chose the better meal although that's not saying much. The salad was forgetable, the pork medallions were maybe the best thing we had and the creme brule was very very average. My choices were potentially delicious but were alas, well just bad. Strawberry-Rhubarb soup (which should be dessert) was alright and the lavendar cream was actually delicious, but my scallops were tiny, overcooked and sitting in a porrage of canned corn and random herbs. To boot, my mango mousse tasted like something I've had at Super 88. Ain't nothin' gourmet about gelatinous mangoey flavored fluff. What is the Top of the Hub trying to get at? Vaguely Franco-American cuisine? Make up your mind! In my opinion just because you're on top of a tower does not entitle you to imposed snootiness. Your food is not better at an altitude. Though we had a lovely time oooing and aaahing over the breath-taking view, I would not go back. Snap some pictures, get a drink and bounce.
(3)
Jenifer T.
I had dinner here with my mom, it was okay. I can't recall what we had, however it was average. Just another american restaurant for me, the sad part was, I came when it was storming so the view wasn't much at all. Nevertheless, I can't deny that it is possibly lovely if and only if it wasn't storming. Just my luck...
(3)
Christine K.
I went for the Restaurant Week deal for a nice dinner with my friends. It was a rainy day and we were worried we wouldn't get a nice view, but luckily it was still beautiful and the fog cleared up by the end of the evening. I ordered the Romaine Wedge, Scallops, and Creme Brulee. The Romaine Wedge was disappointing as it was an actual Romaine wedge (with stem and all) with the dressing and bacon bits sprinkled over it. You had to do all of the cutting yourself to make your own salad.. I had hoped for something different than what the name implied. I had some of my friend's Tomato Bisque and it was delicious! The scallops were alright. The lamb chops my friends had were pretty good as well. We didn't try the pasta. The creme brulee was decent, but nothing spectacular. The waiter was very talkative and friendly and service was pretty good. All in all, a pretty good night. Though I wished we could've heard the live jazz band that started at 8 pm.
(4)
Enrique D.
ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. great view of boston on a clear day. good jazz on monday nights. good liquor selection. made for tourists. if uve never been, come for the view. if uve been more than once, u probably already know its nothing special otherwise. food is very mediocre. frankly its pretty sad when u think how amazing it should be considering the location. its cool for some good live jazz and some drinks . other than that, whateverrrrrrr.
(2)
Chris C.
Went there for anniversary on Friday, if you do this you won't get window seat unless you wait "30-45 min". Got a seat next to a group of 10, loud ten. Appetizers were good, entrees were very average and not worth money, we had linguini and chicken. Waiter was awkward and forgot about us numerous time, had to ask other help to fill my drink, did not receive little anniversary dessert, didn't want to any more after trying entree. Tips: don't go on night when it might rain, can't see view from table and observatory is closed. Plan on getting there early because you probably will get lost in the mall if you don't know the area. One star for one good appetizer. If you go here get apps, maybe drinks only at lounge
(1)
Hannah Q.
I'm glad I got to eat here. The view was phenomenal, as would be expected. The service was excellent, the food, well, "eh." I don't recall what I ate, so that oughtta say something... When entree prices starting at well over $20, the food had better be memorable. I found the menu to be woefully thin on vegetarian selections. Okay, nothing new there, really, since, unless you go out of your way to go to a vegetarian restaurant, you'll likely be limited to one or two pasta dishes as your choice at any non-asian restaurant. What is particularly annoying, though, is that they've clearly THOUGHT about vegetarians at the Top of the Hub, because they've bothered to create a special, downloadable PDF Vegetarian Menu ( topofthehub.net/restaura… ). This is SO LAUGHABLE because it includes EXACTLY ONE truly vegetarian entree option, which is, of course, not even close to vegan, since it's a Wild Mushroom Lasagna (as of this writing, I'm assuming the menu changes seasonally, but you get the drift). Sure, there are plenty of salad options, but the rest of the entree choices on the "VEGETARIAN" menu include such delights as "smoked chicken," "braised baby clams," and "hazelnut encrusted salmon." Now, I'm not a vegetarian, but I've played one on TV, and let me tell you this shit don't fly when you're really someone who doesn't eat things that used to have faces or mothers (I know, I know... I'm getting all PETA here). I don't tend to eat much meat, and 9 times out of 10 when I'm eating out I opt for the vegetarian meal (meat-based dishes are always DOMINATED by the meat in the US, leaving only a slight smattering of afterthought vegetables on the side), so that's why I keep an eye on this stuff. So, final synopsis... I would go back for tea and appetizers, but again, that's really just for the pleasure of the view and having an occassion to dress all fancy... Oooo!!! Mama's puttin' on her pearls tonight!
(4)
Jungmin L.
I would not eat here if I were paying for myself. The views, interior, and the live music is great. The food, meh.
(3)
Shawn F.
I remember coming here for lunch with my family once and being able to choose from a wonderful prix fixe menu that included an incredible fruit salad and awesome steak. Unfortunately we didn't snag a table by a window and I can't for the life of me remember what the view was like. I'm withholding one star because we literally spent about three hours on our meal. This was mainly due to the obscenely long waits between courses, during which my stomach would growl like a polar bear that's just been stabbed with a thousand angry toothpicks.
(4)
Christine C.
My boyfriend and I went here last night for our anniversary and it actually met up to my high hopes! While I would never want to come here on a regular basis (the wine is terribly overpriced) it was great fo a special occasion. We didn't have reservations as we had been away for the weekend and my boyfriend decided to surprise me at the last minute with a romantic dinner. We walked in and were greeted and seated within a minute. We had a great window table which was nice since the view is the real reason to go here. The atmosphere is classy and luxurious and the live music is the perfect volume to drown out your fellow diners but still make intimiate conversation possible. Our food was incredible, I was tempted to go for the three course prix fixe but since I wasn't interested in dessert went for my choice of appetizers and dinner. The chef sent out a complimentary appetizer that was to die for! The service was exactly what you would expect at those prices and made the whole experience great.
(4)
Kelly N Z R.
Good for a vegetarian-- I just asked the waiter to ask the chef to whip up something vegan, and they complied. They recently had a terrific asparagus special menu, whence I ordered a light asparagus appetizer that I still dream about.
(4)
Todd M.
We went for the Sunday brunch, so our experience was a little different from some of the other writers. We made reservations and were seated at a window table, as soon as we got there. They were almost full, but I think that we may have been able to slip in without a reservation, at least on that Sunday. The food was excellent, and the service was very good. Our waiter did try to sell us expensive bottled water, but quickly took it back when I said that we didn't want it. The view is wonderful. We were on the airport side, so it was fun to see the planes come in and out. Helicopters flew by at eye level or below....this place really is very high up. We paid about $5 more per meal than I would have expected to pay in a similar ground level restaurant. The view was worth it. They have an excellent web site, so I was well prepared with the price info before we got there.
(4)
Helen L.
Okay, if anything, the atmosphere and the GORGEOUS view is worth going in itself. Go for being at the top of the Prudential and enjoying the beautiful view while dining. I went during the day when the weather is GORGEOUS so the view looked even more amazing. We went for restaurant week, and the food was great. I had a beet salad that was DELICIOUS, scallops were pretty good (small portion though) and creme brulee for dessert. Our waiter was very nice, accommodating, formal, and since I was on a limited lunch hour, he made sure that the food didn't come out too slowly. Very good experience!
(4)
Mike W.
I took my girlfriend here last night for her birthday. The view is definately what sets the restauraunt apart. The drinks are ver good. The Appetizers are great but tiny. Scallops and bacon on the menu was literally 2 scallops, We also orderd the crabe cake appetizer, 1 crab cake. I had a 12oz steak that was just so-so, her lobster linguini dish was good. Again, you are definately paying for the view. All in all everyone should go at least once to see the city from the top of the hub
(4)
Michelle L.
I made reservations through open table, and called in to request a window seat. While they technically don't reserve table seats, they told me they'd make note of it and would try their best. When we arrived that evening, we checked in and they mentioned we might have to wait a bit for a window table. Totally fine, we'll just sit in the lounge area and sip on some wine. About 20 minutes go by, and the hostess comes over to tell us that our table is ready. She proceeds to bring us to the far back corner of the restaurant where a rectangular table was rotated obscurely to fit by the window and alarmingly close to the table next to us. We all look at each other and say, "Isn't there an ACTUAL window table that we can wait for, without us being ridiculously uncomfortable?" The hostess responded, "Oh yes, I just didn't think you would want to wait any longer." Um, here's a thought: you could ASK! I just thought it was really sneaky that they tried to stick us at a makeshift table without even asking us if we minded waiting a little bit more. Hmph. So we went back to the lounge area and enjoyed the jazz music and gorgeous view of such a gorgeous city. After another 10 minutes, we were taken to a completely adequate window table and the hostess apologized to us profusely. Our waiter greeted us and answered any questions we had about the menu and gave recommendations as well. There was nothing on the menu that stood out for me; it seemed there was always one ingredient in the dishes that I found unappealing. I ended up getting the spinach salad and the pork chop. Both were okay, but nothing spectacular. At this point we're all extremely full and not even thinking about dessert when the hostess comes back over with a huge plate of delicious smelling cookies and puts it right in the center of our table. She apologizes again for the misunderstanding before and we all decide that we now love her. The cookies were soft and moist and totally made up for our pre-meal malady. So it ended up being a decent meal, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend this restaurant, as I think there's much finer places to eat in Boston. But it is a great view.
(3)
Chase W.
"Top of the Hub" is pretty much as cheesey as it gets; but that's not nesessarily a bad thing if you know how to play that game. I'd disagree that it's a good date spot, unless you're going to pop the question to your Mail-Order Former Communist block bride, but it does have some value in the sense that it's more fun and cheaper to head up for a cocktail at the bar, than paying the ten bucks to just walk around and the observation floor without a cheaky beverage in hand. Don't eat here- just head up for a gin and tonic or two- it's pretty hard to screw up a tangueray and tonic.
(3)
GlobeTrotter M.
Never actually had dinner here, but a great place to go for drinks. Fact is, you're going to pay a lot in Boston for drinks anyway so why not get a view of the North End, John Hancock Tower, and the airport from 600' up? Expect delays on seating on Friday-Saturday nights. I visit the Hub about once every two weeks and have gotten to know the employees, they are all very talented and have interesting backgrounds. You won't get ripped on your drinks, at this place you actually get what you pay for. They have an extensive wine menu and almost every kind of liquor you might want.
(5)
Shanya K.
My boyfriend and I went to Top of the Hub last night for our "Valentine's Day" dinner. We're both in the industry, so we never get to celebrate on the actual day, haha. Anyway, we were warmly greeted upon our arrival and ushered right to our table. Unfortunately we did not have window seats, but i'm sure if we had requested them when we made our reservations we would have. Our waiter was quick to our table and very knowledgeable, although I wouldn't say overly friendly. Food service was timed perfectly. We started with the crab cake and spicy lobster soup. The crab cake was incredible!! For the main course I had Veal Sirloin and he had the Spaghettelli (i think), angel hair with clams. Again our entrees were amazing. Great Service. The ambiance is really great and they have live Jazz music that starts around 8pm. Great place for a special dinner or to go relax with a cocktail and listen to some Jazz.
(4)
Peter P.
NEW REVIEW! Took away all the stars, would have given it zero if it had been an option. I said I would never go back after the last time I went, but a friend was here from out of town, her sister wanted to show her the view, you know how it is. Well let me tell you, I have never been treated by a member of the food service personel as badly as I was at the top of the hub last night. I was downright disrespected by the hostess, to the point where I wanted to see the manager, but refused to stay in the building and wait the 10 minutes it would have taken to find a manager. I was by no means under dressed, as a matter of fact, I was fairly over-dressed. I couldn't have been more polite, and I was treated like a homeless man trying to enter the ritz. I will never go back, and I hope this review makes you think twice about going there yourself. OLD REVIEW BELOW Humm, top of the hub. Don't exact ally know how to rate this one. The service, not so good, the drinks, weak, and also not very good and VERY expensive ($15 for patron silver on the rocks, ARMANI IS CHEAPER! so is #9 for that matter). The view is breathtaking. Luckily i was here with a friend, because she had to listen to what I said, and we could leave when i wanted or it would have cost me a fortune. The lounge has a great view, of wait, is that Roxbury, maybe it's Dorchester? Are those blue flashing lights, I'm scared. The building, being so tall, sways in the breeze. When it moves, you feel as if you're on a cruise ship and it makes you nauseous. Now, I did still give it 3 stars, go here, please, go here, but just once, once is all you need. See the view, hear the music, and then stop being a pseudo-tourist, and go to a real Boston joint. The biggest plus is that you can see right into fenway park! Sox Game anyone?
(1)
Solomon B.
This place's big secret - the plate of cookies. 4 decently large cookies for $12. More importantly, it gives you and your cheap friends an excuse to go to this really swanky place with a gorgeous view completely underdressed (though there's no real dress code...I think....) and enjoy the view on a lazy night for $3 a person. If you're feeling classy, buy a few glasses of wine too.
(5)
Josie C.
This is not an everyday dining experience, and for us "regulars" I wouldn't even call it a once a year experience. I've only been here once on a super fancy anniversary date, so we were willing to splurge, but it was so worth it! The location is obviously the winning factor, as you sit atop the highest floor in the Prudential building and look outside the giant glass windows overlooking the harbor/all of Boston. The service is TOP notch, as they will cater to your every need (you certainly get what you pay for!). As food the food, it was the best steak (or at least I think it was steak, or at least some sort of meat dish...this was over a year ago) I had ever eaten. The boyfriend didn't quite enjoy his meal as much though, which is sad, but then again he's used to fried everything so his taste pallet isnt as refined...haha. But no really if you want to indulge in fine dine, scenery, and service you can get no better in the Boston area.
(4)
Beka S.
Went with my friends on a Friday for a birthday night kickoff. We arrived around 7:15, had a few drinks, enjoyed the view, and ate dessert first. (Cookies!) Drinks are about $10-$13, about the same as Faneuil Hall area. There's a $25 min/person after 9, but not before that. It was excellent, and the view - spectacular. A Boston must.
(4)
Nicholas L.
I brought my wife here for a romantic evening and nice view of the city - for that, it was worth it. The food, to be fair, was good. We got the veal, the sirloin, and the crab cake for appetizer. For the price it was nothing special, overall. The drinks were very good; our martinis and wine were everything they should have been, price included. But, there are many restaurants in Boston where you can spend less money for more memorable food, good drinks, and a nice atmosphere. This one, of course, has something none of the others has - a very nice view. And for that - you will pay.
(3)
Chris W.
brought my girl there on our anniversary and we enjoyed the experience. We're simple people that are happy with applebees, so we felt like this place too expensive and a little ridiculous but it was a nice place.
(4)
elizabeth l.
skip the dining room (food is overpriced and just ok) and head straight for the lounge (wine/cocktail list is excellent). best place to take out of town guests or to just dress up and be fancy for the evening. great live jazz. order the "level 52" cocktail. or two.
(5)
Alice J.
If you are dining here, request a window-seat when making reservations. The atmosphere is romantic with stunning panoramic views of Boston and live jazz in the lounge area. Much of the food was mediocre except the wonderfully prepared clam chowder. I would skip dining here and go straight to dessert and/or drinks in the lounge area. Oftentimes, there is a long wait on Friday, Saturday, Sunday nights to be seated at the lounge.
(4)
Alyssa N.
Yummy drinks. Fab view. Overpriced food. Slightly weird-tasting desserts-- mint + raspberry does not make the taste buds jump for joy.
(4)
Mark C.
Hands down, this is the best spot to take clients, visiting friends, and your GF - the view just can't be beat. Although landing a table right by the window gives an evening that added touch, almost any spot in the place is fine. Trendy, downtown atmosphere with jazzy/loungey music in the background makes it one of my favorite places to enjoy a glass of wine. I usually go later in the evening so as to avoid the tourists and kids, but it's never really a major problem - people enjoy themselves there and it shows. Friendly staff (in my experiences), good-enough food, and easy to get to. If you haven't yet, definitely check it.
(4)
U V.
This review is long over due....i been meaning to write about this place for some time.....i went there back in late March 2009.....i love their food plus the view is breath taking.....i wish i could go here every night & eat dinner there....unfortunately my paycheck is the only reason that's stopping me......1 thing i hate about this place is though even though u reserve a table way ahead u still have to wait about over an hr just to get the table....how is that possible? (i'm taking 1 star away for that reason) am i supposed to slip a $20 or something to get the table the time that was reserved ahead of time?
(4)
Adrienne M.
if you ever find yourself in the position of needing to take someone out on a truly impressive date/business meeting/'I'm sorry and I love you' dinner, this is the place to do it. 360 degree views of the city + first class service + a gourmet cookie dessert plate= a fantastic time. The drinks are surprisingly affordable ($12 martinis.. I know I know, but you can see all the way to Malden while you're drinking them!) and the hostess won't bat an eyelash if you show up wearing skull hoodies and pajama pants, like my best friend and I did one ill-fated night. I can't say much about the food, other than that it sounded and smelled delicious.
(3)
Ayanna B.
This place is the business. It's at the top of the world!!! The all-round glass windows offer the best views of Boston. You can't get a bad table in the place. The food is great. It's not any more expensive than the better North End restaurants, but I'm not going to front: it's not cheap. Try to work it as a work expense if you want. The jazz is not the best in Boston, but it's pretty darn good, and all in this perfect location. MAKE A RESERVATION, or you'll be waiting downstairs in a line of tourists forever. Or go in the middle of the afternoon, but there's no jazz then. Heed my warning!
(5)
Brendan M.
I can't say anything about the restaurant: we only went for drinks and dessert after dinner somewhere else. The views are great and the drinks are surprisingly reasonable. Martinis and cocktails are $11-12 which is a little bit more than some other places but given the live music and sophisticated atmosphere are well worth it. The bar menu also seemed to have a decent list of moderately priced nibbles and desserts. We got the fresh-baked cookies which were lovely and could easily feed 4 or 5 - we brought over half home. I'll definitely be coming back
(4)
Joyce K.
I don't think the food was anything amazing. I had clam chowder which I didn't touch because my friend wanted it. I think he said it was good. I ordered the salmon with saffron rice in a black bean sauce. Honestly, it was kind of a hit or miss dish and I'm still confused as to whether I liked it or not. It tasted kind of ketchup-y but it was well cooked and the first bite was amazing. But as I kept eating it...I got more and more conflicted about whether I actually enjoyed it. My friend got a burger which...is a burger. The view, of course, was phenomenal and made the whole dining experience something special. For dessert, I got a tea cake which was very good and beautiful to look at. The front desk was just snooty but I would've been disappointed if that hadn't been the case. The decor was airy and refreshing. Our waiter was a nice guy. No big f- ups which is a plus. Lastly, the coat room lady was kind of sad. She didn't speak english and was reading a picture dictionary...just a random observation. I think everyone should tip her.
(4)
Jeffrey N.
last time i was here, it was in the middle of a snow storm at night. the view made my feel like i lived in a snow globe. i liked that feeling, or was it the whiskey that i was drinking that made me feel good? either way, this place is a bit over rated, but worth it for a martini with a special someone, or in a snow storm. what ever comes first. and yeah, the view is nice, blah blah blah...
(4)
Billy E.
My wife and I ventured in on one off night in June and was very apprehensive given the bad but consistent yelping. I told myself, i need to go to top of hub before i leave Boston (yay..soon!!) So, we started with the Arugala Salad and Lobster Bisque. Arugula salad was a good size of salad and had decent flavor of dressing. I would most likely not get the salad because it didn't blow me away for the price. My wife had the lobster bisque and it was fantastic. I had a similiar but better lobster bisque in Kauai but this one was close. It was perfect warm temperature and nice chunks of lobster. i ordered myself one too. The only difference b/w this bisque and the Hyatt Regency Kauai bisque was the lack of vanilla..which was evident in the Hyatt's version...I loved it either way. The Filet was ordered by my wife and i had the sirloin.....skip the sirloin get the FILET...the filet was perfectly cooked and had a great smokey (liquid smoke) flavor to it. The sirloine...eh...waste of money...mine was medium...and I wanted medium rare...which to me is a no-no....i hate overdone meat. If the Filet fell short...i would of given 3 stars...but the Filet delievered. The service that night was good...each server called me by the formal and were very quick to clear the plates..another pet-peeve...finished plates sitting on the table. I hope to have a repeat performance some time.
(4)
The Jazz Master M.
I've only been here once because the food was *that* bad. The food was so bad, that I only had one bite before deciding I couldn't eat anymore. I wasn't impressed with the service, since the waiter didn't bother to ask how my plate was, when it was evident that I was not eating it. It was overpriced, and the the vibe of the place was very stuffy. This is definitely an overpriced tourist trap.
(1)
Laura L.
Wow, where can I start. So a group of 5 of us went there for my girlfriends 21st birthday dinner. We had reservations that Tuesday night and when we arrived had to wait 30 minutes before being seated at out table. Even when sitting in the lounge place we knew the service would be terrible. The first 15 minutes no one offered a drink and finally one of the guys in our group and to go wave down a server. In general in an upper scale restaurant you should be offered water or a drink in the lounge in the first 5 minutes! I guess the view can add some positive enlightenment however still doesn't excuse the bad service. After waiting for 30 minutes we are finally seated at our table. The area was deserted! The menu looked delicious. I got a skirt steak which wasn't that bad but nothing memorable and the birthday girl got a hanger steak cooked well done and we seriously had to send it back 4 times. NO JOKE! It came first bloody and didn't look any different when they returned the first 3 times. Atleast they didn't get the cake wrong and the view was amazing. It could have just been this one experience but from what I have heard you pay for the view and that's it.
(2)
Pixie Y.
I like Top of the Hub a lot, I like it's ambiance, I like the view, the drinks, especially martinis are really good. The drinks are not over priced. It's about $10 - $12 a martini around town. The staff are friendly, and are well mannered and the bartender have a great knowledge of the different kind of wine they carry. The food is however, slightly over priced, and a little blant. I also love love love their life jazz band. It's a great romantic place for couples and small circle of friends to hang out.
(4)
Melissa H.
We went for brunch the other day, very snowy so there was no view to be had, despite getting THE best table in the house (corner window table). The service was fine, most of the food was fine, but beware. What they call French Toast is really fried dough covered in marmalade. The arugula salad was good, my boyfriend RAVED over the Salmon tartare. Great Creme Brulee. A $12 mimosa in a champagne glass was a bit much, but it is Top of the Hub after all.
(3)
Rebecca Y.
Who knew I'd be impressed? I always thought Top of the Hub = Tourist Cheese. While the view is impressive, the food was too! Expensive yes, but the Tuna was well prepared and served. I was also surprised that they restaurant wasn't fine dining stuffy - quite the opposite! Rumor has it the bar menu is the way to make the restaurant and the view more affordable.
(4)
john s.
incredible views, good waiters
(3)
Wei-ying W.
Very pricey, but great for dates, special occassions. Not good for vegetarians. If you don't include the salads, there's really only one entree for us veggies. The creme brulee's good though. Nice view, if it's not cloudy. Service is excellent.
(3)
mimi o.
The bar is great, lounge is even better with a 360 deg view of Boston! 52 floors up on the Prudential building, Live jazz, Cozy, I am yet to taste the food but I loved the drinks..... Plus free coat-check. Oh and it is also open till late. Just get ready to dress nicely. Girls, bring your dates here and boys...this is the place to celebrate big moments with her.
(3)
Yelp Z.
I think the secret to a good Top of the Hub experience is go at lunch. Had the restaurant week lunch today, sweet potato soup, salmon with tomatillo and cappuccino mousse with a red Zinfandel. My friend had the salad and salmon and creme Brule. The salad was creative, had an appropriate coating of dressing and was fairly large. My soup was piping hot with a dab of butter on top and large as well. The chef accommodated my friends shrimp allergy and removed any shrimp crust that would have been on her salmon so she could eat (and not die), which is thoughtful especially on a prix fixe menu. Top of the Hub cooks an amazing piece of fish, DO order fish regularly. We went on a cloudy day so there was no real view but the white light of the clouds lights everyone's face with the stark white linen in a refreshing way. Wine list is ok, but expect to pay at least $10 a glass for anything. Service is nice and attentive and seems to care if you are happy or not. Only draw backs are that the correct elevator to get up to the top is a little bit of a maze to get to if you don't know the building or the city. The bar has totally been done over and now they have a cute "lounge" area with a separate menu ($24 minimum) that opens around 8pm every night. So go for a drink at the least if you can't afford a meal. This place seems great for Mom or Dad is in town and has never seen Boston and jazzy hipster dates.
(4)
Melissa B.
This place is a tourist trap, albeit for a reason. The view is AMAZING. Go at least once, ok to send out-of-towners to check it out, but ONLY for a drink at the bar. The view is worth it. Then go downstairs, walk over to the South End and go somewhere nice for dinner, don't waste your $$ or calories on food here.
(2)
Jesse N.
Top of the Hub gets an A+ for atmoshpere...I mean, where else can you go and see all of Boston through a window? My problem with this restaurant is that the quality of the food does not match with the prices. I feel like Top of the Hub uses its decor and setting as an excuse to maintain ridiculous menu prices for average fancy dishes. If you want to say you've been to a famous Boston landmark, check it out once. If you want high-class food that is worth your money, you'd be better off at Grille 23, or Excelsior.
(2)
Alice K.
A view like no other! And the food's not bad either, though it does tend to come in dishware that's more artistic than the entrees within. Go late on Friday or Saturday nights where you can hang out in the lounge (appetizers, drinks and desserts only, no full meals) usually with live jazz music. (Try the Pearl Vodka martini.) You'll savor the experience more than the food, but that's to be expected with the view. :)
(4)
Cassie B.
I had lunch here as part of restaurant week and it was delicious. We requested a window seat the day before and although it wasn't guaranteed, we were happy to see that we were seated by the window when we arrived. The food was excellent and the service was great as well. And the view overlooking the Charles and into cambridge was great!! Definately try to get a window seat so you don't miss out. Overall, I'd definately recommend
(5)
Jake W.
I normally do not write reviews for restaurants after a bad dining experience, but after my fiancee and I have eaten at nearly all of the top-rated restaurants in Boston--Dante (Cambridge), Zephyr (Cambridge), Fleming's Steakhouse (Boston), Capital Grille (Boston), North End (Strega, Lucca, Giacomo), Stella (South End)--and it was a very special occasion (her 26th birthday), I felt compelled and have earned the right to write this review. To preface this review, I made my reservation on Opentable and made the request online to make it a special experience and next to a window because it was her birthday. I even made the reservation 1 month 1/2 in advance. I also had Boston Coach chauffeur us to the restaurant. I thought it would be the perfect celebration given the amazing views, service, and cuisine. But, boy, were we in for something different. None of my requests were met. Our night started out in dissatisfaction when we were seated a row away from the window seating. After our first request to be moved to a window table, our server told us that we should get in line and the wait would be another 45 minutes for a window table. She suggested that we could go to the bar and have a drink before our meals. How crass I thought? I told her I made the request a month-and-a-half in advance, it was my fiancee's birthday, we had a driver transport us to the restaurant, all to no avail. My fiancee told me it was fine, and we could just sit where we were, but I could tell she was disappointed. So we decided to stay put; however when we saw 3 open tables open up near the window, I decided to ask again. I thought for sure with the vacancy near the windows, our special occasion, and our reservations made nearly 2 months in advance, they would move our seating. Yet, when I asked another server, he said with rather Italian accent that they "never accomodate requests for window seating--for no one," but he said he would ask a manager and see if it was possible. Our server and the one asked returned, and they told us that could not do it, even though 4 tables (now) were open, because they were going to be seating those soon, and once we "started eating" we could not be reseated. How unhelpful the service was I thought. I was not aware that it was against restaurant policy and code to move a party once they had started eating for a special request. I reiterated my plea that it was her birthday, the reservations were made a long time ago, but all I recieved was the same response except stronger now: NO! Now onto the meals. While we watched longingly as 5 tables vacated, we were served our Spicy Lobster Soup, sub-par at best. It was not spicy, too creamy (it felt like we were just drinking heavy cream), and the bowl and plate lacked any creative garnish. The salmon was bland, certainly not worth their asking price of $28. Chef Ramsey of Hell's Kitchen would have been up-in-arms about it and dumped it in the trash. My fiancee's dish, the lamb, was cooked but flavorless. Overall, neither great service, nor cuisine, and, for that, we declined dessert at the same time and asked for the check. The final disgrace came with the bill. Our server had the gall to say, "have a great birthday," to my fiancee as I was autographing my name on a $110 Bill. How rude, how terrible I thought. It was as if they had not listened to a single thing we said the entire night. I thought fine dining was about excellent service and cuisine, and the Top of the Hub delivers on neither. For that, double-damning: 1 star.
(1)
Eliz O.
I first went to the top for my husband's birthday a few years ago. We were seated at a nice table, the food was mediocre and super expensive. I don't like paying $10 for a salad of lettuce (Cesar whatever...) or $12 for a plate of microwaved cookies. But it was a nice occasion, so we didn't complain about it. After our meal we moved to the jazz side and had a few drinks. I was surprised to know that that side of the place is different from the restaurant and has a different menu, much more affordable and I actually liked those things better than the items in the restaurant. The music was very relaxing and you can just on the couch or on a table and listen and dance to the music. After that time, we have gone back a few times and have sat down at the lounge, ordered some drinks and listened to the band. I would recommend that, if you really are looking for something different to do. You don't have to pay crazy amounts of money to eat there... you can just get drinks and listen to the music.
(4)
Susan J.
This seems to be the place to impress a date with its incredible skyline view and upscale prices, but it isn't the ONLY place. Food and service were both excellent, but at those prices I would expect that. Dessert was the best part. ;-)
(4)
Sandra C.
Food was unspectacular and the service was horrible! The waitresses were rude and wouldn't make eye contact with you when you tried to flag them down. It's only worth going to with out-of-town friends if you can get a seat by the window. For us, sitting in the middle of the restaurant, it wasn't worth it. You couldn't even see out the windows over everyone else's heads.
(1)
So S.
Here is where the ambience and view becomes more important than the food. Panaramic view of Boston Skyline and live jazz band! Every tourists comes here but they make the mistake of eating dinner here which takes away from the lovely view....not to mention the dinner is not very good and very expensive. INSTEAD...go directly to the bar seating and order food there. The menu is pretty good, good appetizers and sandwiches and not too expensive. GREAT DRINKS at a good price. WHAT I LOVE here are the deserts---the freshly baked cookies are great!! Great place to impress your date w/ wonderful music and views.......forget the dinner and just get the drinks.
(4)
Anika K.
Fabulous views. We went after dinner for cocktails and dessert - and I was impressed by the size of that cookie plate! I would take a date there.. then, we would compete to see who could eat the most cookies. And that's how I would know it was true love. Try to get a window table.
(5)
Greg S.
My parents took me here for brunch on my birthday one year. It was fun going up 60 stories in 30 seconds and having your ears pop. The view was absolutely gorgeous. However, for brunch, the food was not all that spectacular, especially for what the price ended up being, which was about $100 for three people (with no alcohol) but when you're eating up there looking down at all the little ants below you do feel like High Society (terrible pun). Anyway, if you have $100 to spend on brunch you'd be better of getting it elsewhere and then just walking the sky view floor instead.
(2)
Jen J.
Go here after you eat dinner at a restaurant that has excellent food. Get desert and drinks up here with your honey...I was up lucky enough to see the Northern Lights...it was amazing. The food here isn't that great...like I said pass on that and head up for desert and cocktails and enjoy some life jazz music!
(4)
Michael G.
The only reason to come here is for the view. At the top of the Prudential building, you can see 360-degree views of Boston. The food, however, is average and almost depressing for the price you have to pay. Also, if you're a vegetarian, you don't want to go there, as the only dish they have for you is vegetable lasagna made mostly of eggplant. The drinks, however, are a fair price as long as you don't go overboard with the expensive wines, brandy, etc., and it costs less to hang out there than you would expect.
(3)
Anne B.
The view is incredible, definitely worth seeing once in your life, which at the going rate that may be all I could afford. The food and drinks here are ridiculously expensive but the food might have been the best I've ever tasted (though I'm used to eating cafeteria food). It's a good place to go with people who've never been to the city before, maybe hit it for drinks then go somewhere else to eat. But view is AMAZING.
(4)
Julie F.
Great martinis, fabulous creme brulee. And of course, you can't beat the view! Have your meal elsewhere in the Pru, but make sure you finish off with a trip upstairs to the TOTH. Relax and take in the best view Boston has to offer!
(4)
Lauren C.
I took my girlfriend here for Valentine's Day in '04 and it was breathtaking. The view is amazing, and definitely something everyone should experience at least once. We were lucky to go on a nice sunny day, and I reserved way in advance to get a window table. I think both of us were awed by the beautiful view. The food was ok, we had the Valentine's Day brunch special, so it definitely wasn't as expensive as dinner, we got a great deal, but still sort of pricey, so if you're not rolling in the dough (as many of us struggling college aged persons are) and interested in going, keep an eye out for these special pricing packages, and try brunch or lunch instead of dinner. I feel like the entire experience was definitely worth it, and I'd love to have the opportunity to go again and see it at night.
(4)
Kathleen T.
Okay, so this is a tough one. With amazing food and a look out over the whole city, the Top of the Hub is a spectacular place. The price, however, is very expensive and when mixed with the small portions of such great food, doesn't seem worth it. Instead, try going ot for dinner at another one of Boston's great, but cheaper, eateries andthen visit the skywalk of the HUB just to get the view of the city.
(4)
Dan W.
Best restaurant in Boston and well-worth the price. An unparalleled view from the top of the Prudential Center, live jazz combos, and truly great food. The tuna tartare is the best I've ever had, and the martinis are very, very strong. The waitstaff is highly professional, the clientele well-connected and gorgeous, and the food orgasmic. I took my girlfriend here for our one year anniversary, and I'm happy to say it was a night I won't soon forget. If you can splurge on one dining experience, make it Top of the Hub.
(5)
Mark J.
Nice, classy place with a great view. If you stop in for a drink after dinner order the plate of warm cookies, you won't be disappointed.
(4)
Susan W.
Let's be honest. When you go to the Top of the Hub you are not paying all that money for the mediocre food. You're paying for the view. Hopefully you don't go at sunset. While it seems romantic in theory, the horizontal sun is just going to hit you in the eyes for the whole meal. People make such a big deal out of Top of the Hub. It's not even Mobile 4-Star (of which Boston has five.) If you must take in the view, just go to the observation desk. But save your wallet and calories for food that is worth raving over.
(2)
Ruth P.
Great view, expensive but good food. I think this place is a bit overrated however. If you ask any bostonian "whats the most romantic place to go for dinner in boston?" almost everyone will say - top of the hub... which makes it so darn generic. I'd take L'espalier or some random quirky ethnic place over the top of the hub anyday but maybe my opinion of romantic is skewed or i'm just too damn jaded....
(4)
Michelle I.
one of the first bars i went to on my recent business trip to boston.... it reminded me of a smaller, less upscale version of SF's Top of the Mark. gorgeous views and appealing atmosphere, but not a lot of energy/excitement in the air.... i'm not sure what i was expecting really but over all i liked it. there's nothing better (to me) than things that are asthetically pleasing to the eye... and the sparkling lights of bostons skyline were definintely that. we made this our first stop of a long night of drinking!
(4)
Avid E.
This place is more of a tourist trap than anything else, but I have been here a couple of times and have always had reasonable meals. I'm not sure that this I'd recommend this place as one of the best places in Boston, but is worth a visit if for no other reason than the view.
(4)
Justin P.
You kidding me with these reviews!? 5 stars for this place!! YOUR PAYING FOR THE VIEW!! I did this once, because you kind of feel obligated to if you are from Boston. The meal wasn't TOO pricey(about $120 with tip, for two) but the food was awful. You get more bang for your buck at a Chillis or Longhorn. Both my date and i ate our small portions, and then grabbed something to eat at the Finagle A Bagel after the fact! No taste, did i mention that already...Abe and Louies is right around the corner, and makes these guys look like amateurs. Pass on the meal, do the Skywalk for the view....8 bucks
(1)
nancy l.
The view cannot be beat! I was taken here for a work function for lunch, and the food was okay, overpriced for what it was. But if you ever want to take a date for a drink, and their $12 for 12 freshly baked cookies deal, it can be a wonderful deal.
(3)
Roshni R.
i've never had a real meal at the top of the hub, and from what i've heard, i have no desire to. that said, my friends took me here for dessert on the night of my 20th birthday, and i had a fabulous time. the views of boston sparkling in the night were simply splendid, and the desserts were quite scrumptious (the chocolate cookies in particular were quite memorable). there was also a good live jazz quintet playing.
(4)
Scott B.
the food is not bad but everytime i go i dont know what it is i feel like i have been really ripped off. i would say its a good date place if you dont know boston to well - you cant fail up there unless its a cloudy night.
(3)
Melissa B.
Exceptional view. Food is way overpriced for what you get, but everyone should experience this place at least once. A more affordable option would be to sit at the bar for a drink ($15-20) and enjoy the view from there.
(3)
Jill M.
This restaurant is certain to impress the pants off anyone. Most noteworthy is the panoramic views of the city. Go on a clear night and you'll have a view for miles. The drinks are excellent - they have an extensive menu of specialty drinks and martinis. They also usually have some form of live entertainment, most often a piano player or a jazz band. The food's pretty good too. Last time I went they had plates of assorted homeade cookies! What's better than that? Just beware - you're ears are going to pop on the elevator up there.
(5)
Juliette V.
Eh, I have gone here twice in the past year and if it were not for the view I would say it is a waste of time. Maybe nice on a date if someone else is paying and it does not matter who else pays attention to you but the person you are with. The service was unfriendly and the food was overpriced for the quality. They need to get over themselves. Also, I went there on an evening that was not crowded and still did not get seated at the window- hello? why else would someone go there.
(2)
D.A. L.
Seriously dissapointing, overpriced, and poorly managed. Saturday late evening jazz and cocktails was the objective and Top of the Hub was recomended. Upon arrival we were greeted and told of the $26/pp ( 2 drinks/ea) minimum for the lounge - no problem here, party of four. Our first round of cocktals arrived and to our surprise two of the four were poorly made as there was little to no alchohol in the Grey Goose Cosmopolitans, compared any other decent bar/restaurant. Neither the server, assistant manager, or manager would make the situation right. Instead they decided that what they served was good enough. They had NO problem taking our money or treating us like Jake and Elwood and their wives, if they were married. So, the drinks were poorly made and undrinkable, overpriced, and no one working there cared enough to make it right. As a proud Bostonian I find this embaressing and suggest that you pass on this badly managed and overpriced joke of nice place.
(1)
Eric K.
Absolute class dining in this city; with the best view in the city! The food was very good, though not mind blowing. But the view, service, decor, and stocked bar make this place well worth 5 stars. Want to make a hell of an impression? Go here.
(5)
Agnes C.
I met a friend who was in town to attend a conference for a drink. View of Boston is amazing at sunset and at night. Service was amazing, highly recommend reservations. Ask the server for recommendations on the food if you aren't sure what you want. Why go anywhere else?
(5)
Chrizzle D.
We came for New Year's on our anniversary and were excited that it was a beautiful day. We ended up having to do the brunch menu because that was all that was available at the time, but it was okay. The hostess was SO rude and snooty. My boyfriend was wearing a hat (as he usually does) and she scoffed at him rudely to take his hat off. Geez, could've asked nicely. It wouldn't have been so bad if we didn't notice another girl wearing a beenie on our walk to our table! So much for the no hat rule. Our waiter was really nice and helpful. I can't remember what we ordered (we were pretty peeved by the way our hostess treated us). What we do remember is the view. BEAUTIFUL. It was a clear day so you could see everything. Definitely the highlight of this place (the food was, eh....). On the way out, our waiter thanked us. As we passed by the snooty hostess, not even a thank you or acknowledged that we existed. Wow. I've worked in the service industry before, and the hostesses main job is to greet and thank the guests and also make them feel welcome. I got NEITHER of that. So if you come, enjoy the view. If I could pass on the snooty hostess, I would ANY DAY! I'm definitely not coming back here thanks to my poor experience. Oh and I did mention in my booking that it was my anniversary. Nothing. I don't care that we didn't get cake or whatever, but a happy anniversary would've been nice. So if you're coming here for a special occasion, you can scratch exceptional service on that too. I hope management reads this so they can talk to their hostess. Thanks for nothing, guys.
(1)
Russ G.
Service is fairly decent for ordering just appetizers, no meal. Chicken lollipops (drumsticks) were outstanding, and the mussels were excellent as well. Our server brought out a giant basket of bread upon a request to have a little more bread to sop up the mussel broth, which included some outstanding-tasting cranberry nut bread and sourdough with butter. A couple extra points/recognition for that gesture! Views, as expected, are unbelievable and allow a full outlay of Boston and environs for miles. Both times I've been here the weather has been great, thus visibility ran clear for miles. Overall, the experience gets a solid 4/5 in my book.
(4)
Katie C.
I came in by myself to grab a quick bite to eat and a drink (or two) and since there was a MAJOR event in the Back Bay, I wanted to go somewhere with chances there wouldn't be a ton of people. So when all the bars along Boylston Street are packed, you have to look up. So Top of the Hub it was. There was no one at the bar. Seriously. I was quickly served with a drink and I ordered a bowl of their lobster bisque to start my lunch. The soup was creamy and it had a kick to it. But two small pieces of (rubbery) lobster. I'm not even kidding. Honestly, I wish I could have just grabbed soup from the clam chowder place in the food court of the Prudential Center because that probably would have been better. I really didn't want anything else after that experience because it left such a bad impression. Two beers and the soup equaled $26. Clearly not a cheap lunch by any means, but it hit the spot. I've had some great experiences at Top of the Hub, but I will have to rethink going here after this experience.
(2)
Jenn C.
I had a great time here while I was visiting my boyfriend, who goes to Boston University. Unfortunately, we came here after having dinner because he insisted that we go, for the view... so we couldn't try a lot of the food D: It was breathtaking... You can see all of Boston in that rooftop and the food is great. They played jazz music with a live band so the whole experience was amazing. The only reason why I gave it 4 stars because the alcohol wasn't great. It was way too strong... to the point where I took about 45 minutes to drink my martini... It didn't taste anything like watermelon. I guess really strong drinks are awesome to other people, but I like getting a buzz while drinking something that tastes good. Good place for an anniversary or a special occasion.
(4)
Makalo L.
If you want to enjoy a great meal and the best view of Boston, please go here.
(4)
Zig W.
#NAME?
(5)
Jason L.
Upon arriving I was greeted by a super friendly host who helped me and my boyfriend find a perfect seat next to the window even though they were busy, and we only wanted to get a drink. The view was gorgeous and everything was going good, until it happened. We were sitting at our table, enjoying the view and we looked over towards the bar and saw a waiter using a straw to pick multiple pieces of something out of someones drink (I'm guessing pieces of leaf since it looked like a mojito). He kept going at it, all while wiping his fingers all over the straw and putting it back in her drink. He then goes on to literally wipe down the straw stringing his entire fingers along the straw and put it back in the drink and deliver it to the customer, who ends up unknowingly drink her drink, along with ALL the germs on the waiters fingers. GROSS. I will not return, nor can I recommend this place to anyone.
(1)
Aaron M.
Honestly love taking family here. The best view in the city followed up with superb food. Come here for Sunday brunch and you will not be disappointed. ps. Make reservations.
(5)
Cindy A.
After watching the Lion King at the Boston Opera House we walked over to the Top of the Hub. Service is awful seriously. The restaurant was maybe 20% occupied, took 20 mins to be greeted by waitress and be offered water. Took my boyfriend here for his birthday and we were totally disappointed. The view and dessert only positive. Drinks poorly made. Food not that impressive.
(2)
Tarin L.
This was an ok experience - the views are great, of course. The atmosphere was very sophisticated. I ordered the filet mignon which was a decently good choice. Good wine selection as well, although our waiter really didn't seem to know too much about wine. I would return, but next time it will probably just be for a drink at the bar prior to having dinner elsewhere.
(3)
Anna M.
The view is absolutely amazing, I would recommend eating during sunset for the best views of the city. I ordered the Ahi Tuna it was fantastic. Cocktails are definitely over priced, but you're essentially paying for the view. I would recommend going at least once to enjoy the view.
(5)
Chong C.
Good sight, quiet, nice looking dishes and all. Actual food isn't bad either. But I don't see it worth the price it has. Way too expensive for fine food and drinks. I would go there again but only for special occasions :)
(3)
Chris S.
Super meal and Fantastic view of city! If you are visiting Boston you must eat here during the day so you can see Boston.
(5)
Stacie R.
I'm struggling to rate this one. While I don't think the food here is a 5 star, maybe a 3, it is a must see view on the 52nd floor of the Prudential building. I recommend it to all out of town visitors because of the brilliant view of the city from the Harbor Islands to the Charles River. Granted you can pay for a view that includes Fenway on the 50th floor Skywalk, I'd rather have a seat and a nice cocktail while I take in the view. At night you can see the airplanes arriving and departing from Logan Airport which is pretty romantic as well.
(5)
Valeska A.
great for a special occasion! worth the wait to get the table near the window because the view is amazing! really pricey but the pasta i ordered was good. would come back for my birthday or on a date or something!
(5)
Jack F.
What makes Top of the Hub unique is the view. The food's good; it's upscale American cuisine and it's priced that way. All the flavors match and the dishes are arranged nicely. They have a very wide selection of wines, and cocktails and these, also, are priced for an upscale restaurant. The waitstaff are attentive and informed. But hey, maybe half the reason the meals are so delicious, the fine scotch so good, and the desserts so sweet, half the reason we looked at the hefty bill, nodded and knew it was what we expected, is watching the sun set over the city from on high. That's the kind of pleasant vision that just makes your food taste better. Of course, the tables right by the window can actually be difficult to get, so it does involve some awkward looking over somebody's shoulder. I imagine if you have a table by the window, it involves having somebody else look awkwardly over YOUR shoulder. It's worth eating here at least once, for an occasion, when money isn't any object and you know that some of what you're paying for is being in the sky.
(4)
Madeline N.
This was an atypical review for a private reception I attended here for a graduation. The views were spectacular (you could almost watch the game at Fenway) and the staff were very helpful at keeping the chaos at bay with piles of drink cups and plates quickly cleaned up as they accumulated. Also, loved the quick elevator!
(4)
Thaddeus P.
I went to Top of the Hub with the wife and we had the best time ever. The drinks were amazing and the food was great. The waiter took his time and educated us on the tasty looking menu. The view of the city at the restaurant was very romantic and created a wonderful memory for us that we will never forget. I recommend the pork chop cooked medium and the mango mojito. Will be back again.
(5)
Jenny H.
I came here for lunch today and they seriously have amazing views of Boston, 360 degrees at every side of the restaurant- a prime spot to eat!! They have a nice prix-fixe menu and I got their salad in the beginning, which was miniscule, a few spears of romaine with barely-there chipotle dressing and a sprinkling of Mexican cheese, and two tiny tomatoes- this salad was barely a salad. Their halibut was not very good, the skin was soggy on the fish, and I had a hard time eating it. The crème brulee was pretty good, a nice, vanilla custard with a crispy top. The salmon dish here actually looked really good (a nicely charred sliver), as did the lamb sausage flatbread. I would come back here for the views, but try some other dishes.
(2)
Kenneth R.
Here's a summary of the yelp reviews that I read before coming: "The view is great, but the food is mediocre and overpriced. Go up for a drink and then head back down for your dinner." That's easy to say and probably good advice, but I was invited for a business dinner and made the best of it. Folks, the food here is actually very good and there are relative bargains on the wine list. We had the 2009 ABC (Au Bon Climat) chardonnay, which was maybe a little over the hill but still completely enjoyable. It was around $40, maybe $45. Our red was the 2002 Ridgeline cabernet @85. You can read about this wine on the Web, and you'll see that it's good stuff: "Ridgeline Vineyards is a new boutique brand debuted by the ever-reliable Codorniu of Spain; the winemaker is talented Dave Dobson, who makes wine for Artesa Winery, also owned by Codorniu; grapes were sourced from the 80-acre Oak Mountain Ranch Estate Vineyard, at elevations ranging from 800 to 1,500 feet above the Alexander Valley floor in northern Sonoma County." Our sommelier insisted on decanting this wine, which probably wasn't necessary. It was completely yummy. I ate the crab cake appetizer, which I liked, and the free range chicken main dish -- it was cooked with bacon and a leafy green (kale, maybe). Both were better than just "fine." I was very happy. The main chef was off somewhere, but the sous-chefs were at their stations and doing a good job. Obviously there are better restaurants in Boston, but this one is not an embarrassment. If fate takes you here, just relax and have a good time. The view is fantastic, by the way.
(4)
Brendon M.
Food was delicious, great for special occasions. View of Boston is incredible and the staff was extremely friendly. The food is somewhat expensive but well worth it.
(4)
Sebastian Y.
Talk about Foot-in-Mouth, I'm shocked and appalled. A family of four went here on the strength of a reccomendation I gave them and ended up having their holiday ruined by this place. They were not seated by the window as the staff had assured them they would when they made the reservation, the person actually told them "You can sit by the window if you want, you'll just have to wait maybe 30 minutes, I mean this is the top of the hub" , I couldnt be more embarrassed for sending them here, clearly the service has slid into a crevace since my last visit. To top it all off they said the food was brought out like a conveyor belt, no time to savor between dishes and their daughters chicken, after she had eaten half of it, turned out to be still raw in the middle and the only thing management did was to comp that one dish, THAT ONE DISH. IF YOU SERVE RAW MEAT TO SOMEONE YOU COMP THE MEAL. NOT JUST THAT DISH. What a disgrace.
(1)
Sooks M.
My experience here was just at the bar. I had a great time as the views are amazing. The service was good and drinks are expensive. The bar doesn't have a lot of seating so we had to wait for 15 minutes. Overall it's a great experience and I will be going back...When I get a bonus.
(4)
Matt O.
Hella slow service. Mediocre steak with limp, cold fries. Terrible old fashioneds. Pretty decent mussels. $90 for the experience.
(2)
Jiyea C.
Not bad food, but was expecting more. Felt too much like a tourist trap and the tables are really close together so you don't get very much privacy and it was hard to have a conversation because of the noise. (Perhaps it is better on weeknights; I was there on a Saturday evening.) Also, as far as I could see, there are no tables for two near the windows, which I was disappointed about because the view really is AMAZING and I wish I could have seen more of it while having my meal. I got the 4 course meal and the only really memorable dish was the lobster bisque. Creamy but with a kick to it. Delicious. They do have a lounge area that featured live jazz which seemed pretty nice. They do have a small bar but I didn't get anything there so I don't know anything about it.
(3)
Julie T.
I absolutely love this place! This was probably the most relaxing dinner I had in Boston - being on top the city, with a magnificent view, and being served bubbly with a delicious steak dinner... what more can you ask for? I remember the shrimp and noodle appetizer being oh-so-delicious! I came here with a friend and we couldn't get enough of this place. I could sit near that window staring out into the city lights for days. The service was amazing. We were treated very well. We spent a good 3 hours eating and drinking our cocktails away. I will definitely be back here when I visit Boston again. I so miss you, Top of the Hub!
(5)
J G.
I haven't yet read through the other reviews but I'm almost certain the negative ones will also be alluding to the incredibly rude waiters that I encountered. I'm wary to make broad generalizations about an establishment so big in which I'm sure not everyone is incompetent. I went here for my birthday about a month ago and was appalled when the waiter kept making jokes about us being Indian and requiring more hot sauce. Some might thank him for his thoughtfulness when he brought over three kinds of hot sauce without us requesting them. Then my dad got a rubber band intact in his eggplant dish after he had eaten half of it. He didn't want to make a scene because it was my birthday so he called over a waiter who without much apology whisked it away so there was no photographic evidence. Then our original snarky waiter came back without apology or concern for my dad (who is by the way a doctor and well aware of the hazards of choking on a rubber band). He suggested that he bring a new dish, which my dad refused and then a dessert, which my dad also refused because we had already ordered desert. He then brought it out anyways, once again showing disregard for what we actually wanted. To top it all off we spoke to two managers on the floor. One of which smirked at my aunt and said "these things happen." The other one who said nothing really. I'm incredibly disappointed because in the past I've loved top of the hub. The new service leaves a lot to be desired.
(2)
Ryan T.
This is a review of the drink, only. A friend and I figured we'd make it to the top of the prudential and buy drinks instead of a ticket up to the top. The panoramic view of Boston is wonderful - I'd like to go back at night! The drinks are strong and delicious! They had a limited food menu since they were redoing the kitchen - didn't bother us as we were only interested in the drinks! The waitress was very kind and we have a very pleasant conversation as we were there midweek after lunch time. All drinks were ~$13 which is fair considering that they're 1) good, 2) strong, 3) same price as paying to go one floor up. Pomegranate Mojito Bacardi Superior, Fresh Mint, Lemon, Pomegranate Juice -This drink, on the rocks, might have been our least favorite. In general, I would avoid on the rocks unless you want a drink that isn't quite as strong (and a little bit sweeter). Level 52 Level Vodka, Chambord, Splash of Champagne -Named after the floor of the restaurant, Level 52 was a very strong cocktail. They like to pour them from the shaker and into your glass tableside. I think it helps them from spilling and adds a nice presentation to your drink. Be careful with chamboard as this black raspberry liquor can taste a bit like cough syrup... Farmer's Gin Breeze Farmer's Gin, Grapefruit Juice, Lemon Juice, Brown Sugar Light, fresh, and delightful! Strong as the rest of them and just the right balance of sweet and tart! Ginger Lemondrop Absolut Citron, Canton Ginger Liqueur, Lemon Juice I would probably give this drink the highest mark! Ginger isn't for everyone, but damn it is good! Next time I should just order two of these! Enjoy your time at this restaurant, it's very classy without being pretentious. With great service and great drinks, how can you leave unhappy!?
(5)
Alicia D.
Top of the Hub was incredible for a Sunday brunch. We celebrated my Mom's birthday and the service was impeccable, doing everything possible to make her feel special. The views of course are unparalleled, the food is delicious (especially loved the broiled grapefruit) and brunch is a really good value. I love bringing guests from out of town to Top of the Hub!
(5)
Antonio C.
I should gave 5 star for them, but I was expecting the food be better. I have been in others restaurants inferior at this one, and the food was lot tasty. I probably came back for the bar that have live orchestra and very good atmosphere with lots beautiful people hanging around and nice view from Downtown Boston.
(3)
Matt F.
Had drinks at Top of the Hub while in town because we were told it had the best views of Boston. If you go for this reason, try to get a table, because sitting at the bar doesn't even provide you with a view. I would also recommend going at night ... didn't really enjoy the broad daylight views of Boston, but still a great 360 view of Boston. Drink menu was reasonable ... $9 for a Woodford Reserve on the rocks and $14 for a Dirty Martini (made with Stoli vodka). We did not order food, so that's really all I can say about this place.
(3)
Bianca C.
Went here for drinks with friends. Felt like we might have been dressed a bit too casually, but I was completely at ease. Great atmosphere, very trendy. I enjoyed the view of Boston at night, and loooved the live Jazz music! :)
(4)
Shuo W.
Really nice view. Food is okie ish...
(4)
Justin M.
The best part of this place is the magnificent view of Boston. Just working your way up to the top floor, anticipation just builds. Once you finally see it, you just appreciate the beauty this city has to offer whether there is rain or shine. The food was great but definitely expensive. I guess you're also paying for the view. But this is a definitely a place to try at least once here in Boston.
(4)
Brenna P.
I came with my boyfriend for out second anniversary. It was an amazing experience! We had the five course meal. My favorite course was the scallop and dessert, of course (chocolate lava cake with caramel ice cream). The service was excellent. The view was amazing. And the live jazz was the icing on the cake. We could not have asked for a better night.
(5)
Theresa B.
The view, drinks, and dessert are good. The service is awful and the food is bland at best. The rude hostess announced that we had to spend a certain $ amount, but didn't bother to give us menu's or a waiter. The food, when they eventually took our order, was really boring. The busboy dropped my food on the table and didn't clean it or replace it. Our waiter was nowhere to be found. It was the kind of food where you take older people who like overcooked peas. My advice: buy drinks, enjoy the view and avoid all staff except bartenders.
(3)
Daniel S.
Top of the Hub is definitely one of the places a tourist should visit. NOTE It's not necessary to purchase a meal. My friend and I enjoyed a glass of wine along with an amazing view of Boston for a cheap price. + Fantastic view + Superb service + Reasonable prices
(4)
Jeremy G.
This was our first stop in Boston. I couldn't have picked a better restaurant to start our trip. This is the best view in the city and the food is great as well. We ordered the spicy lobster bisque which could have been the best I've ever had. We also had the veal and the filet mignon. Both were outstanding as well. The service was also great. A very pricey restaurant. I don't know why they have only 3 money signs for this place. Expect to pay over $60 per person here. But I would say it's worth it.
(5)
Karen W.
I would have given Top of the Hub a 3-star for having such small portions of food at such an expensive price, BUT since they taste different compared to other places and are surprisingly filling, a 4-star it is! I went with a group of people during Restaurant Week. There were many people eating here but the wait wasn't long. All three of the courses came out pretty fast one after another. I really enjoyed my Grilled Black Tiger Shrimp dish. Definitely planning on going back-when it's Restaurant Week again! It still is a bit pricey for a regular lunch or dinner. I would suggest to go with 4 or less people, that is, if you want to sit near the window. I went with 6 other people and we were just one table from the window. The view is magnificent for picture taking! Even if you cannot sit at the tables near the windows, you can still see farther places of the view from where you're sitting. You can see the whole Boston area.
(4)
Eunice E.
It's like stepping into a dream when you come to Top of the Hub; from the elevators that take you up to the 52nd floor, to the breathtaking panoramic views of the city when you first set foot into the restaurant, to the melt-in-your-mouth food, it is ALL absolutely incredible. I've had the pleasure of coming here twice now--both times on a Sunday evening--and I'm eagerly awaiting the next special occasion that will bring me back. The first time I came here was for post-dinner drinks (two drink minimum per person). We enjoyed our cocktails while listening to the live jazz band that plays every Sunday, and yours truly even got up to swing dance! It could have been the Oban; it could have been the sparkling city lights; it could have been the amazing pianist... whatever it was, it inspired me to get up and have a blast on the dance floor. It was a night that I won't soon forget! Fast forward a year. We came back for Restaurant Week, and I'm so glad we did because it was. The. Best. RW dinner. Ever. We started off with the bread (that brown cranberry kind was so good that we ended up ordering a second basket with more butter... more butter balls for the butterballs!), and I had a glass of the Top of the Hub Cabernet, which was fantastic. Then, the chopped salad. WOW. And the short ribs! Tender, falling-off-the-bone, juicy meat, on top of grits (which I usually detest) that were actually totally tasty. The dessert (creme brulee) was simply icing on the cake. Everything was perfection, from the drinks to the entrees to the service. And, of course, we couldn't leave without first checking out the rest of the views all around the restaurant and listening to the jazz band. Overall, it's an incredibly impressive venue and, like I said, I'm simply waiting for that special occasion that will bring me back to the 52nd floor of the Prudential Tower!
(5)
Daisy R.
This place reminded me of Vegas just with a more subsidized view. Located at the famous prudential tower, we came on a jazz night it was superb. I reserved through open table and didn't get the check in after I told them too that was the only con.
(4)
Chengzhe Y.
I have been to this place before, but that was over 3 years ago when I fist came to Boston. So today, we thought it would be a good idea to give them another try. Man, our lunch was one of the worst I have ever had. Let's start with the service. The service was mediocre at best with our server never coming to ask us wether our food was good, never give us fresh plates after appetizer, we waited 30 mins for an appetizer, and the same for a main course. The worst thing is that it's not like there is a shortage of staff, they are just walking around like headless chickens and never noticing anything! Now the bad service I can put up with if the food is worth dying for. But it isn't. I would give this place a 0 star if I could. The calamari was okay, but that's fried food. The flatbread I had was under seasoned, with cheese that is rather tasteless, and over cooked chicken. Please just stay away from this place. It's not worth it!
AMAZING SKY HIGH VIEWS OF BOSTON from the 52nd floor of the prudential tower.. too bad it was so cloudy the day i went that all i saw was GRAY =( sit at the bar if you plan to get just a couple of drinks OR sit in the lounge IF you're down for the minimum $24 charge per person LOVED EVERYTHING WE ORDERED (we came for dessert) ----delicious bottle of moscato ----strawberry basil lemonade cocktail was YUMMY ----plate of 12 COOKIES (chocolate chip, toffee, white chocolate, & peanut butter) w/ divine CINNAMON CHANTILLY CREAM.. soOOooo good! BEST PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES ever.. i usually hate peanut butter cookies the cookies tasted homemade! HOWEVER you must have a preference for SOFT baked cookies b/c some of these were perfect & others were underbaked (although i love raw cookie dough so i didnt mind too much) waiter was SUPER nice plus they've got live jazz & a dance floor
(4)
Stephanie Hobby A.
It is a must do on buck list in Boston. Having said that it's about location only. The view is out of this world. Our children bought us a gift certificate for Christmas. After reading reviews, looking forward to the drinks and dessert. Those even disappointed. Service was cold, artificial and lacked attention. Food was poor, if you have food restrictions, to average. Our dishes were cold after being delivered to an empty table while we took a moment to take in the view. Drinks were below average. Irish coffee was even cold. We throw in the towel at this point and skipped dessert. Been there, done that, will not be returning.
(1)
Jonathan N.
Just went for dinner here tonight (12/6/2013). Over all experiences was bad. I think this place is over rated! The only good thing about this restaurant was the views of the city of Boston. Otherwise the foods here are over prices. Not to mention it came out cold and in small portion. The services was bad, waited for about 30 minutes to get our foods order and another 30 minutes to get it out. I ordered a lobster and my girl had a filet mignon. The lobster cost $65.00 and filet mignon cost $35. We also have a cocktail and one coke that cost $16 in total. This place is totally a riff off. The restaurant was dark with little lighting (at night) and the walking aisle was small and crampy. I wouldn't recommends this place to anyone. This would be my first and last time here.
(2)
Sarah B.
Really good Duck Confit! Beautiful view and very nice service of course. Worth every penny.
(4)
Remie M.
3 stars for the view!!! My "boston" decided 2 be romantic and plan a "date night" he made reservations for us. after a loooooong day of being a tourist. . .this was a perfect way 2 end the night. . . luckily we stayed in the Boston Sheraton so it was connected to the hotel and was a 5-8min walk from our hotel room. Its always fun to dress up and get all pretty once in awhile :) We took the elevator to the 54th floor and walked into the restaraunt It was beautiful and fancy. . . We ckd in and was seated rt away. The restauraunt was full but not as busy as i expected. We were seated right next to a window, which was awesome b/c it over looks the whole city and the charles river. The ambiance was perfect! We ordered for starters: lobster bisque, crab cakes, and scallops. The lobster bisque was amazing! as for the crab cakes and scallops was a bit 2 salty for my taste. our entrees: 2lb lobster and beef tip (?) . . . both r HUGE portions!!! We should've just shared one. . . Drinks: watermelon mojito and watermelon martini. . .which were both strong liquor wise. . . i got buzzed off one! Our waiter was friendly and assisted us with whatever we needed. I had an amazing time there. . .perfect date spot if u have balls enough 2 spend a couple of benjamins! :)
(3)
Paul C.
We went here for our anniversary and were seated towards a quieter end (pseudo-separate room). The service was great. The food was good (not great, but good). We did the prix-fixe menu - which we felt was on the pricier side for the quality. I feel you're definitely paying for the location. It's worth trying once (especially during sunset in a window seat)
(3)
Jasper J.
I had thought that Top of The Hub was going to be a super intimidating dining experience, but found that everyone was very welcoming. Our waiter was very knowledgable and patient when we asked him a million questions about different items on the menu. We ended up going with the Prix Fixe three course meal. I have the, duck confit, short rib, and creme brulee. My girlfriend had the duck confit, chicked, and pear. We also splurged and paired each course with a wine. The food was great. The view was obviously amazing as well. It was dark when we arrived, but I can imagine the sunset views would be stunning. I don't plan on making dinner here a regular event, but maybe a drink once in a while would be a good idea.
(4)
John M.
The service was great; good waiter from Napal. The food was blah and tiny and the pricing was obscene. If this is one of Boston's best they need to reconsider.
(2)
Katherine M.
Let's start with the good. I was heading up to the observation deck as it was recommended to see all of Boston but decided to stay to get the view and food. The Spicy Lobster Soup was very good and admittedly worth the $11. It was smooth and nicely seasoned, not over powering. I wouldn't even call it spicy. Okay two stars for food, would've been three if not for the price. Now the service, which gets one star. They didn't get my order wrong which is always good but it took the waitress 15 minutes to even greet me. She brought me my sparkling water with lemon and the soup came out 15 minutes later. The problem is that I also ordered a Caesar salad which came out 30 minutes after I finished my soup. The salad was nothing to write home about, good or bad. the S-L-O-W service would have been fine because of the view except people were leaning over tables with their cameras taking pictures and blocking the view I did have. It seemed that the wait staff was slowed down because people having their photo taken. I feel like this place could be really nice, except the behavior of the patrons and the delay of the wait staff.
(3)
Fred B.
Here's my advice - go have a drink at the bar, wander around the place and look out the windows, listen to a little jazz....and then leave and eat someplace else, anyplace else. The view is the best in Boston, but the food is average to awful, and the service is worse. And (in my case) if you have a party of 6, they slam an automatic 18% gratuity on the bill.
(1)
Cardy O.
i took my boyfriend here on restaurant week this past August... I told him it was such a great place to go as recommended to me by quite a few friends... to our disappointment it was probably the worst service we encountered in the last year. We got there early and had a seat at the crowded bar, we were lucky enough to get seats.. we got 2 cocktails which were just OK, as there was more pineapple juice than alcohol in them... we then sat down for dinner to find an absolutely astonishing veiw of this beautiful city that is Boston, thinking this night was going so well.... then came along the waiter.... he sucked!!!!! we ordered our appetizers and he came back with bread which was pretty nice... then we waited....... and waited....... and waited...... after nearly a hour a second waiter came out with our main course, I was so frustrated that i just wanted to leave at this point but i was told to be patient....i confronted the embarrassed waiter who fixed his rookie mistake then we ate our then cold appetizer.. our main cousre was just ok as well and I could name at least 10 other restaurants in the same area that have way better food and service....
(1)
Caroline M.
My husband and I ate at Top of the Hub on the last night of our honeymoon in Boston and it was a great experience! We called the day before asking for a reservation on a Friday night, and although they only had a 5:45pm reservation available, it actually worked out perfectly because we were able to watch the beautiful sunset while we ate. The view as we sat down of sunny Boston was amazing, the sunset was to die for, and the view of the city lights of Boston when it was dark out and we were enjoying the end of our meal was awesome. We had a great waiter who took our photo (very touristy of us) and did not rush us out at all. I think we were there for almost 2 hours, and he was patient and willing to let us sit and hang out and fully enjoy the last night of our honeymoon. The California wine that we had with our meal was really good, and the food was really delicious as well. I had the chicken and polenta which was great, and my husband had the filet mignon and loved it. We hope to go back to Boston and re-live our honeymoon sometime in the future, and we definitely will put Top of the Hub on our list of must-do's again!!
(4)
Kayla V.
Food was good, not great - particularly for the price point. Views are nice but there are tables all along the windows so unless you're actually at one of the window seats (we were not) they're mostly obstructed, and there are no places to take photos. Three stars for the HORRIBLE service. Waiter was rude and unattentive (we were there for nearly three hours). After telling him we were there for a special event (celebrating our roommate leaving for medical school), he got very aggressive, literally to the point of insulting us. Wanted to complain to a manager, but after three hours, we just wanted to get the hell out of there. Definitely worth it for visitors but Boston locals will get nothing out of this place they couldn't find somewhere cheaper and with better service.
For a place that asked me to take my winter hat off prior to welcoming me to the restaurant, I expected to be waited on in far fewer than the 20 minutes it took to get noticed by a server, who brought us the wrong drinks on her first attempt. She ended up being nice about it and comped us the messed up drinks, but I still expected much better from a place that tries to act as fancy as they do...
(2)
Marie B.
Honestly, I feel like this place gets to coast on the terrific view even though its food is a bit lacking. It presents itself as being fine dining, with prices to match, but the truthfully it isn't fantastic. Our server was attentive and polite, although he neglected to bring our friend the wine pairings that came with the meal he ordered. Later, he also forgot to bring a mojito. I ordered the halibut, which was seared nicely, but overall a bit dry and overdone. Two of our party ordered the filet, which they were pleased with. Our vegan friend had nothing to choose from and ultimately decided to get a salad without the cheese. Despite explaining that he was vegan, our waiter brought him cheese on the side. Although I didn't try it, my friend said the salad wasn't even that good. My boyfriend ordered the vegetarian bolognese, and it was pretty bland. My other friend, who is a vegetarian, ordered the pad thai and it was basically disgusting. The tofu had absolutely no flavor, and the noodles were overcooked and also bland except for one slight flavor we couldn't pick out but was bad. The whole place gets to be overpriced because you feel like you're fancy eating at the top of a skyscraper. Stick to the drinks; those were always good.
(3)
Yulia K.
Visiting Boston we were pointed to visit this bar as they have amazing views. My throat wasn't ok so i got some hot tea downstairs to join my husband and my son while enjoying some drinks and the view. As soon as we stepped inside a hostess blocked our way stating we can't go in with drinks from other places. I explained that it was a hot tea for my throat but she only offered to help me to toss it or i could finish it outside their door. I explained again that i needed my tea and it is too hot to finish it right away and i just got it and don't want to trow away the whole "venti" size cup of tea. But she became rude and just block the entrance with her body. The other guy behind her (maybe manager or supervisor) just looked at us and didn't even asked what was the problem. I felt very offended from all this situation. This is a prime location for tourists and you are not flexible to people's needs... Super sad! Not going back again!!!!!!!! You expect prime customer service from this type of place and you get the opposite, rude and kicked out for heaving a cup of hot tea! A pleasant afternoon of drinks and dining with family and view turned into a "no welcome, get your tea and chug it down outside or leave the premises"
Their drinks are all mediocre. Some desserts are okay and pretty fairly priced. Food is generally pretty bad, but the service is abysmal. The staff simply do not care about you. They brought us 5 menus all at once (wine, cocktail, dessert, specials, food)--which seems really silly. Our waitress was super slow and obviously didn't care about her job. I've seen better service at IHOP. But the view is nice--I think it's the only reason this subpar restaurant still survives.
Fabulous view, expensive drinks. There was a jazz trio or quartet when we were there too which was nice. I got a blueberry martini for $13 and treated my friend to a $8 glass of wine. You're definitely paying for the view but it might just be worth it.
(4)
Joanna F.
Overpriced, but you're paying for the view. I've been here a few times now, and it's especially fun after work for drinks since it's usually pretty quiet and you can get a table before the dinner rush. I think to sit at a table, food is mandatory (even if no one's there). Most recently, the husband and I came in at 2 pm on a Sunday and had to sit at the bar because we didn't have a reservation. Ok... I got the "spicy" lobster soup (which was really unspicy lobster bisque) and a slightly overdressed arugula, walnut and gorgonzola salad. My husband got the turkey club which looked huge and delicious with what appeared to me homemade chips on the side. I'll be back for the view alone. The best view in Boston.
(3)
Gabriel G.
Great for special occasion because the view ...here I proposed my wife :) Food was ok but not great ... but we did not care :)
(4)
Chad C.
Above and beyond my expectations! I reserved our table via open table and noted that we will be getting engaged prior to our arrival. Not only did they reserve the best table in the entire restaurant for us but they also had champagne for us! Our waiter was great, atmosphere was unbelievable, food was delicious and the view was memorizing. I can't thank Top of the Hub enough for making our special night even more special. We will be back to celebrate every year!
(5)
Edward F.
Love Top of the Hub for the view -- that's mainly it. The food is good, but price is excessive because you're paying for the view. I've dined in the main dining section many times, but for the past few years, we visit here just to have drinks, lunch or a light dinner in the lounge section. We come here mainly for the delicious LOBSTER ROLLS.
(3)
James W.
Beautiful views and excellent food. Definitely worth checking out. Dress to impress and plan on spending some cake. Pricey but worth it!
(5)
Brian A.
My girlfriend and I were visiting from the Philly area and wanted to go to a nice dinner on our first night in Boston, so we picked Top of the Hub; we weren't disappointed. First and foremost, the view was pretty amazing. Protip: Make a reservation for 6:30-7:00 and watch the sun set. You won't be sorry. Both the food and service were fantastic. I wouldn't change a single thing on any of the dishes we received, and our waiter was attentive, polite, and very friendly. Icing on the cake: No kids. Everyone was at least in their 20s, dressed nicely, and acted classy. If you're looking for some good food, good wine, and a one-of-a-kind view, check out Top of the Hub.
Top of the Hub is the kind of place every Bostonian (or visitor to Beantown) should visit at least once. I checked it off my list for dessert and drinks with my special lady last weekend. Our cobbler was fine and the drinks were good -- my girlfriend had a chocolate cafe martini that she thoroughly enjoyed, while I stuck with red wine. And the prices are surprisingly reasonable, at least from my New Yorker perspective. You can get cocktails for $10-15, while there were several by-the-glass wine options for $9. Still, there's a $24 per person minimum if you get a table, so you're looking at two drinks each and a dessert to share. But it's really all about the view. The city lights stretch out for miles in every direction, especially on a clear night. Boston doesn't have the same kind of skyline as NYC, but it's still fun to feel like you're on top of the world. Head here for a romantic night with your special someone, enjoy the smooth jazz and high-class ambiance, and get Top of the Hub checked off your Boston bucket list.
(4)
Jackie V.
This place is absolutely amazing. Love the view, love the food and the staff is very friendly. This is not the place to look for a deal, it is a bit pricey but well worth it for a special date night, or a fun night out in the town. I had the arugula salad with goat cheese, pine nuts and balsamic dressing, the 7 oz filet mignon and a melted chocolate cake with mango ice cream. Just typing it all makes me drool a bit. It was delish, the portion size was great and I can not wait to go back. Try to a get a table by the window to fully appreciate the view but the bar also overlooks the city. They have a piano man at night, which adds to a already awesome experience! p.s not much of a beer selection, but the drinks are yummy!
(5)
K C.
Loved everything! Amazing views and ambiance. Really good food. Good service. And pretty well priced too.
(5)
Tom W.
Great view and great service. Food was very good. Crab cake appetizer was outstanding. Fillet perfectly cooked and delicious but mashed potato and asparagus sides were bland and only lukewarm. The unique version of Boston Cream Pie was very tasty.
(4)
Amy G.
This is by far my favorite place to hold celebrations in Boston. The food is to be honest, quite average. I was pretty disappointed with the food having come here twice for restaurant week in two separate years. While the presentation and everything is great, the food quite honestly is just not that fresh. There's something about it that doesn't quite match up with the upscale level of what the restaurant is supposed to be. The service however, is impeccable as expected. Views are amazing. This is totally what I come here for. The experience cannot be recreated -- it's really like stepping into a dream.
(4)
Ana A.
Great place to go to if you are visiting. The views and the live orchestra make for an enchanting environment. It does not get the five stars because food and service were average in my opinion, but other than that it is worth the visit.
(4)
Sophia L.
The Top of the Hub is definitely one of my favorite spots in Boston. It's a romantic spot with fantastic views! The food is blah though so don't expect anything gourmet, but it is definitely a place that one should go to at least once in your life time.
(5)
Alyshia S.
A popular tourist attraction, this is a place to take out-of-towners to enjoy the spectacular view of Boston. However, the food is not anything special. If you'd like to save some money I'd suggest simply enjoying the view from the bar and grab a well-made drink. I've also heard the cookies are divine.
(3)
VC V.
My son graduated and went for lunch afterwards. It was perfect. So glad we chose Top of the Hub to celebrate this special day.
(5)
Kenny T.
Top of the Hub, view of the city of Boston. My friend and I went here at night, so we see the city lights, great view of Boston. We went late, upon our arrival, my friend asked if we can get a table and check out the view, and the host said "it will be a $24 per person minimum" I'm thinking uh.....that's not very professional of him, you should never talk about money for a high class restaurant like that, trust me, no one with $10 in their pocket will go here, people are not stupid ya know, plus, what's $24 really? That's nothing! We actually just had dinner, so we just wanted to go here for dessert, so for $50 minimum for two of us, we decided to order some very expensive dessert. lol So we seated, my friend ordered the Chocolate & Praline Layer Cake with Green Tea Ice Cream. OMG, when the waitress brought it out to us, it was huge. lol Luckily my friend and I share that. I also ordered the New England Clam Chowder, ya know, I'm in New England, so I thought I must tried some of their clam chowder, it was just A-Okay, but the Chocolate dessert was great. I can't really give the food rating on this restaurant, because I only tried the Clam Chowder and the Chocolate Cake, but if you looking to impress someone, this is a great place to take them, and also good for the travelers to visit I will probably go back just to tried their food next time
(4)
Barbara J.
Straight to the Point: We were seated immediately since - we had dinner reservations. Service: Good Drinks: Good - not much alcohol Menu: Seafood, Pasta, Steak etc. Food: My entree was good. The view of Boston...AMAZING AND BEAUTIFUL!!!! Give it a try.
(4)
Yuliya M.
My favorite place to dine in the city! Excellent food. Perfect service. Breathtaking views of the city. This place is our go-to. We make the trip out here from Cape Cod whenever we can. The menu is small but there is something for all tastes, on Sunday, my boyfriend and I both had the hanger steak, it was cooked perfectly. Tonight I am having the haddock. I always expect and receive the best here. I highly recommend the lounge.
(5)
Reid F.
This review is specific to the Fourth of July bash at the Top of the Hub. At first, it might seem expensive, until you realize that prior to having an amazing view of the fireworks, you are treated to a cocktail hour with a full bar and tons of amazing hors d'oeuvres brought right to your table, followed by an outstanding five-course meal prepared especially by chef Jason Banusiewicz. This is a wonderful adventure that is well worth the money
(5)
Peter Y.
The view? Incredible. The drinks? Delicious. The food? Meh... You can definitely get a better deal for food elsewhere, but hey, you're paying for the experience right?
(4)
Christopher H.
My girlfriend and I reserved a table for our anniversary about a week ahead of time. I had requested a window seat at the initial reservation but when we got there we did not get a window seat. The meal and service was decent but one big issue. We are wine drinkers so my girlfriend ordered white wine and I ordered red. Her white wine had a very strange taste so we informed the server but she claimed it was the type of wine. We drink a lot of wine and knew it wasn't right. Before we could even order entrees my girlfriend got so sick we had to leave. They did nothing to help and as a native Bostonian i was extremely disappointed with the whole experience. If you are going to Top of the Hub for the view i'd skip the restaurant and just go to the SkyWalk. If you are going for the food most of the local restaurants are much better and cheaper. Just a disappointing experience overall...
(1)
Ariana Z.
Went on two separate occasions, once as a part of a large group and the second time with one friend. Got their angus burger both times because it was quite delicious. It usually comes with the onions, but the second time around they were ok with replacing it with the regular lettuce, tomato and cheese. The fries were excellent too! As an appetizer we had the fried calamari, which were quite exceptional. These I really recommend. We also had the risotto rice balls in tomato sauce. The sauce really complemented the rice balls perfectly. Service was great, staff were friendly. The view is beyond phenomenal if you get the seats by the windows. The ambience is very classy. My only concern was the amount of tourist-y ness going on. Everyone takes a bajillion pictures by the windows and the flashing is kind of annoying. Nevertheless, this is a fantastic place to go.
(4)
Marilyn C.
Can't beat the views! I've been here twice with friends visiting from out of town and both experiences were nice. Please note I have never eaten any food here - just consumed drinks and took photos. The most recent time I stopped in I sat at the couch/chair area right near where you walk in - it is set up nicely though so you don't realize you are by the entrance. It felt kind of like sitting in a nice hotel lobby, but 52 floors up. I sat contently for a long while sipping a strong cocktail and chatting with 2 friends. We came at a good time - around 3/4 so it wasn't too crowded. Once we were asked if there was anything else we needed and being happy to sit and chat for a while we were left alone - maybe for a little too long. Overall, it has was a pleasant experience both times. The service was fine, the views terrific, and the drinks not bad.
(4)
Benitez J.
The food was great! The service marvelous! The price for what you pay is fair. In addition, you have the view of the city. I love this place and I'll definitely come back.
(5)
B T.
The view is nice. We stopped by for drinks after dinner. It was about 11:30pm on a Saturday, and there were about 10 tables open in the dining area - that we could see. We asked if we could get a table, and the hostess said they are for reservations only. Who makes a reservation after 11:30pm, not sure. Anyway - we sat in a couch area, since they said we could order drinks there - as long as it was a $25 minimum. The bar was wayyy to crowded, and it looked like alot of barely 21 year olds. We waited for about 30 minutes for a someone to come take our order. No one came, so we left. Like I said - the view is nice.
(3)
Nikhil P.
This is a 3.5 but out of generosity, we'll peg 'em as a 4. Top of the Hub is one of those "experience" places. You go here for your anniversary, for your 50th birthday, and when your Nona turns 100. But that's kind of it. It's got a nice view and we got a beautiful table right at the corner of the restaurant, which made for more than a few drunken conversations while we haphazardly tried to figure out where key spots in Boston were (from 52 floors up). The drinks are so damn strong. We got two cocktails to start off the night and felt like we were buzzed (read: hammered) from the start. Then, out of interest in making our 2nd anniversary extra special, added on the wine pairings, and got progressively, positively loaded. It made for a good time, and probably kept me from really appreciating how the food was good (but not great), the wine pairings were appropriate (but not terribly on point ... you'd expect the choices to be something you wouldn't just have sitting in your own apartment wine rack), and at 4 stars, the price was expected, but didn't entirely seem right. So, the damage was $230 with tip for a three-course meal with wine pairings and two cocktails. The consumption: lobster soup, beet salad, lamb shank, sirloin steak, creme brulee, pineapple cobbler. The lobster soup was amazing, and the salad was really creative with a tonne of mozzarella cheese. The entrees were a bit crushingly BIG. My lamb shank made me feel like I was from the Flintstones, but it was good -- just a lot of it. And the steak probably would have been good if my wife didn't decide "well-done" and got some cooked rubber concoction. Overall we had fun, got quite pleasantly boozed, and the view was oh-so sexy, but when you pay $230 if you're not jumping to a 5-star right away, you kind of think you should be ... So, 3.5 star. Rounding up = 4.0.
(4)
Rachel S.
When I was in college in the late 90's, it was almost unheard of to go to the Top of the Hub for a drink. It was considered a fancy, upper class restaurant and my friends and I all thought we would get kicked out for just showing up wearing "street clothes." We also knew it was really expensive and there's no way we could afford fabulous cocktails. I did end up going once my senior year. Fast forward to last Friday and I was back at Top of the Hub for a friend's celebration. I couldn't believe how touristy and casual it was. Everyone wearing jeans, strollers and large families with babies... there is nothing wrong with this, however, it's totally knocked my world off it's axis. Of course, the cocktails start at about $10 each and beers are about $6-7 each. The view is spectacular-- we could see people sitting at Fenway Park during a Sox game and the the entire city (and beyond, too). I do think a reservation is recommended.
(3)
T F.
Went here last night for dinner. They seated us right away despite our being 15 minutes late. We had a beautiful view overlooking Boston and the Charles river. Our waiter was extremely patient with us when trying to decide what to order. Crab cake appetizer was excellent - all crab. For my entree, I had the chicken which was a little dry but amazing flavor. My husband ordered the lobster roll - one of the best I've had in Boston (comparable to neptunes but with a little more mayo added). We were very happy overall with the food, ambience, and service. Will definitely come back for more!
(5)
Anna A.
It must be when you're in love, everything tastes great, we loved this place, food and atmosphere.
(4)
Kelly G.
The views alone deserve 5 stars, but service can be hit or miss. The bar gets crowded fast, so plan ahead and make reservations for a table by the windows. The food is consistently good, but not outstanding- still the view keeps bringing me back! The parking situation is always interesting, as I'm not a huge fan of hiking through the Pru in heels. The elevator, and the random people in their with you, is always interesting!
(4)
Victor G.
The view of Boston from this bar is amazing. Why would anyone pay an admission ticket to go to the observatory that is two floors below this bar when they can enjoy a cocktail here? I ordered a Strawberry Basil cocktail and enjoyed it. It was sweet and very refreshing. Just what I needed before walking a block from the Prudential Center to take some pictures at the Reflecting Pool by the Christian Science Church.
(4)
Bailey Z.
You get a gorgeous view of downtown Boston from the Top of the Hub, but the bar food and service ultimately fall short of matching up with the classy atmosphere that this place gives off. This place reminds me of The Signature Lounge inside the John Hancock building in downtown Chicago. You have almost a full view the city at night and you have a bar that carries a big selection of mojitos to choose from. I tried some of the mango and cucumber mojitos, which were quite refreshing and I got the strawberry basil lemonade myself. We also ordered the kobe beef hot dogs, which came as miniature versions of itself, but wrapped in delicious buttery toast. I could not distinguish any kobe beef flavor, and it tasted just like any other regular hot dog. The issue at hand tonight was the lackluster service from the bartender. Each time we ordered something new, he would immediately print and reprint a check. We felt very rushed to leave despite the bar being quite vacant. I did appreciate the live jazz and the obligatory nice restrooms, but where was the top notch service at the Top of the Hub?
(3)
Tim Y.
You clearly go here for the atmosphere and the awesome views of the city and not for the food. So don't go here looking for fine cuisine. I took a group of visitors and we dined on the pub side. We ordered burgers, crab cakes, salmon and the chicken after a few appetizers. Out of the 6 of us...no one complimented the food. So go for the views and not the food. Its a shame because there are so many great chefs in the Boston area and this place does not help to showcase the city in that way.
(3)
Reesie R.
Nothing beats the view. Yes, the cocktail drinks are overpriced, but the wine list is reasonable. The desserts are very yummy. And, who can say no to Jazzzzzzz every night!
(5)
Nicole B.
Top of the Hub is a clearly one of those restaurants for special occasions. They have a 5-star menu, a wine list as long as a novel, and the customer service you would expect from such an establishment. I had the salmon with chili glaze and mango, which was heavenly, on a bed of wasabi mashed potatoes. The filet was large and juicy, though flirting with undercooked in the center. The waitress suggested a wine pairing that went very well with the fish. Sadly, we did not get a table directly overlooking the view, but it was still a nice ambiance 3 tables in from the window. I did not like how close our table was to the couple next to us. There was almost less space between us than if we were sitting with them in a booth (a person could not walk in between the tables, even sideways). Yes it's expensive, and yes the food quality doesn't justify the price, but you're paying for the atmosphere, service and prestige too. Stick to special occasions and enjoy this restaurant as a once-in-a-while splurge.
(4)
Rick R.
Checked in on a recommendation from a friend. The view was amazing, wait... is that vomit I smell?? back to the view. It was amazing. We sat at the bar and had a clear line of the city. And right in the mist of a cloud of vomit smell. It was awful. We couldn't get passed it to order food.
(1)
Joe T.
This is the second time I have visited the top of the hub and both times I met extremely unfriendly hostesses. My first experience occurred when I went to dinner with all of my friends - we are all in our early twenties. We told the hostess our party name and she said with an attitude "you do know there is a $24 dollar minimum per person at the table, right?" That may be true, however say it in a nicer way that doesn't make it sound like you are discriminatory against us because of our age. We ended up spending nearly $50 per person that night, and we could have just as easily spent it somewhere else. Last night, again the hostess was rude to us. After having drinks and not dinning, which seemed to bother the hostess, we asked for our checked coats back. The hostess snapped back at us and told us to wait a few minutes because she was busy. We waited for a few minutes, and the entire time the hostess just stood at the stand, looking up and chatting with other staff members about non-work related things. Eventually she asked someone else to help us. Both of these two experiences have turned me off from the top of the hub and I will be sure to tell everyone about the poor service.
(2)
Amanda L.
I've been here once for my moms birthday and the view is amazing. To me, the food is okay. It's not to die for, but its not the worst. You are really just paying for the view honestly speaking. It's a great place to bring your loved ones for a nice romantic date or anniversary or even to celebrate a birthday. The staff was very nice and treated my mom to a nice birthday dessert. Our waiter even offered to take our picture. It's definitely a place I would come back to for very, very, VERY special occasions only!
(4)
Camellia I.
BIG TIP: you can either spend about $15 a person and view Boston from the 50th floor OR you can spend less than that and not only enjoy the view from the 52nd floor, but also dine there. Boston is such a great city, being able to see it all from the top was one of the best parts of my trip!! TIP pt 2: locals call this place "The Pru"
(5)
Nikos M.
After wanting to dine here for quite some time, I finally got the chance a couple of weeks ago. We came for dinner and were seated by the window, as I requested when making a reservation, which was nice. Though the view is probably the best you'll get in the area, it's still a view of Boston which isn't really anything spectacular in my opinion. The ambiance is nice; dimly lit with a live Jazz band. Upon sitting at the table, my expectations for what matters most, the food, started to drop a bit. The silverware and plating looked like it had seen better days, and a few things were a little dirty. This is something that really bothers me. Our plates were taken away regardless, and replaced with those that our meals were served on, so I guess it wasn't a big deal. The service was pretty good, perhaps a tad on the colder side, but good nonetheless. It was later at night, so it's understandable. I decided to go with the 12oz center cut NY strip steak. It was cooked to perfection, medium rare, just as I ordered it. It was flavorful, but still needed to be topped with salt and pepper. I found myself sprinkling quite a bit of salt on it, but I do prefer my steak on the saltier side. The sides were asparagus and potatoes, both of which were good. I ordered their house wine (Cabernet Sauvignon, if I remember correctly) and it was surprisingly really good as well. Our initial plan was to visit the North End for dessert, as the person I was with had never been there, but the Jazz band kept our attention. We ended up sitting back down near the band, on the other side of the venue, and ordered some drinks. They have an extensive, and somewhat impressive, list of liquors including a $300 glass of Richard Hennessy. Needless to say, their mojitos are really good. I forget which one our waiter recommended, might have been mango, but its ingredients were fresh and delicious. I wasn't sure what to expect from Top of the Hub. I was hoping it wouldn't only be about the view and ambiance, with mediocre food, and that wasn't the case. Both my guest and I left satisfied with our meals and overall experience. I'll definitely visit again next time I'm in Boston.
(4)
François S.
Amazing view! But beside that, our dinner ther was really disappointing. The waiter urged us to order, food was ok but considering the price, that's really not enough. It was my wife birthday but we didn't get a small cake with a candle even if 3 other tables around us got it. Managers didn't even say goodbye when we left... Go there for a drink and the view, go somewhere else for dinner!
(2)
Julie D.
I love this place. Impeccable service, great food, a view that can't be beat! This is my "go-to" for special occasions, I love it here!
(5)
Cissy Z.
Came here for friends' graduation celebration. The view might be as good as you can get, but coming from NYC, the skyline is not very impressive. The restaurant is very classic. I would give it 4 stars, but the median-rare bone-in steak I ordered among with 2 other friends all came out well-done! I couldn't cut the steak, so I had mine sent back. The second time, it came out less well done, but was still hard to cut and chew. The lounge section may be better, I know there is live jazz. My review is solely for the restaurant, not the lounge.
(3)
Annie S.
AMAZING VIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I suggest coming a little bit before sunset so that you can see the view during the day and night!! So gorgeous!! In addition to everything that everyone has said, I just want to add one little thing as someone who is not familiar with Boston lingo. If I'm not mistaken, Boston water is tap water. I didn't know that heheheheh. So when the waiter asked if I wanted Boston water or bottled water, I asked for bottled water since I knew what it was. I ended up with a bottle of Saratoga Still Water (tasted great though) that cost $3.75 (?). Hehehehehehe.
(4)
Barry G.
So I dont often do updates on review... especially when It is a five star repeat - but I think this time I should! Top of the Hub Deserves it for my experience last night. Now the food was good, as always. VERY good. Drinks too. But what stood out last night was the service. We went to our table, and there was a wine glass on it - with wine in it!. Odd... so we pointed it out to the hostess, who was mortified. Joking around I said " well to make up for it you should sit as by the window instead " (I really was joking - it wasnt a big deal) They had a wine tasting earlier, and it just got overlooked - not a big deal Then the manager came over about 5-7 minutes later, apologized for the wine glass, explained the issue, and brought us to a prime seat in front of the window, overlooking Boylston, Newbury, Marlborough, and the charles... such a GREAT view... The new waiter we had, was great. super helpful again, showing the BEST service. As I said before, there is a different between going out to eat, and dining. And the service here, once again, was above and beyond making it another great dining experience.
(5)
Julia M.
The Top of the Hub is one of those places I recommend only going on special occasions (birthdays, anniversaries, etc.), because it is très expensive. That being said, it is well worth the $40+ price tag. When I went back in April, I ordered the pan-seared haddock, which was served with clams & chorizo in a garlic herb broth. The haddock was cooked just right, & the broth complemented the fish nicely. Then there was the view of Boston from my table -- breathtaking. I could see most of the city from my table, & every now & then, I could see a plane in the distance take off from Logan. I will certainly return.
(4)
Saibaitong D.
I am a hopeless romantic and the view from this restaurant is beautiful!!! I could just sit staring out the window all night sipping on wine and listening to the piano play. Service is excellent, food is good, and the view is perfect :)
(5)
Julie J.
The only reason why I can't give this beautiful place five stars is because I believe that it needs a stricter dress code. It has such elegance inside and it has such a breathtaking view of the city that it should not be brought down by ruining the ambiance in the audience. We were there for some drinks and appetizers one night and we truly loved the live music playing and the magnificent view of the city. The service was also very attentive and truly great. If you are looking for a nice, elegant, and unique place to grab a drink and a bite, I would definitely recommend this spot.
(4)
N N.
I love this place! I have eaten here several times and I like the food a lot and also the drinks as well. Drinks are decently strong and not watered down. I've always been able to get a table by the window and the view is really amazing up there! Service is usually pretty good...can be a little slow at times. And they validate parking if you park in the Prudential parking lot. It is pricey but remember that you are also paying for the view so it is worth the money.
(5)
Caroli I.
Came here for brunch with my friend since we always wanted to try this place. Brunch was pretty good, better than I had expected. I can say that Sunday brunch is a little on the expensive side ($40 for adults) but it does include quite a bit of food- Greek yogurt parfait, appetizer, main and dessert, so for me it was worth the splurge. It was almost noon by the time we got there, most window seats were already taken up but we managed to get a window seat so I was very happy about that. The views are absolutely beautiful and the restaurant is really bright and spacious. The waiters were very attentive but sometimes it was hard to understand what they were saying because of their accent (appeared to be Indian), this, of course, did not ruin our experience at all though. I think it's definitely worth checking out and I believe I will be back for a nice repeat brunch or perhaps dinner one day.
(4)
Wesley M.
My now-wife and I visited Top of the Hub for lunch at the tail end of our honeymoon before flying home from Boston. The views of the river and downtown were excellent. If we had more time, we might have just relaxed for an extra cocktail and watched the flights on approach into Logan. The food also was very good - we'd recommend the pastry-wrapped chorizo and the brie and walnut spread. Good service and prompt seating, so all in all a great experience!
(5)
Wonder W.
Came for Mother's Day Brunch 2013. Obviously the view is spectacular no matter where you sit and the interiors are lovely. The food was a Prix Fixe so I knew it probably wasn't showcasing the best of what it had to offer food-wise BUT if you're going to advertise a cost for 'Children under 12' then at least put something on the menu that a child under 12 would eat. There was absolutely nothing - maybe a french toast without the bourbon sauce. Would it be so hard to offer a mac & cheese or the like? I'm happy to pay for an inflated kids meal but to pay the cost and her to eat basically nothing annoyed me. Won't be back, even for the view.
(2)
Diane A.
The view is the best thing about this restaurant! Not that the food isn't good but the view is what makes me love it even more! I had the lamb shank and I am not sure what my boyfriend had. My lamb was cooked perfectly and has a great flavor. The waiter was excellent and recommended a great wine for our dinner! My reason for the 4 star review is that the food wasn't that memorable! It was all great and perfectly cooked to our preference but what I remember most is the wonderful view!!!
(4)
Max S.
I went to this place with my girlfriend to celebrate my birthday and I would say, this place beats every other place in term of how romantic it is. I ordered a Foie Gras which melted in your mouth instantly. The sensation was very memorable. However, although the food was amazing and the service was good, the price is not to be underestimated. Do recommend for occasional visit.
(4)
Lori M.
My husband and I had dinner here tonight. We loved the view and service, however we were not happy with the limited menu choices. We have no problem paying for a great meal, but we like to be able to have a choice. When I made the reservations on open table they never stated there was a set menu for the weekend. Had we known we would of made reservations for another night. My husband is not a fan of being told what to eat, like in a school cafeteria. So needless to say after $200 plus for our meal my hubby is still hungry and not happy and is now eating a salad at home and my night had ended earlier then we planned. Response from manager Good afternoon, I have received your email regarding your unsatisfactory experience at our restaurant on February 16th. We strive to offer all of our guests the highest quality of food, hospitality, and service while dining in beautiful surroundings. I am truly sorry that your expectations were not met. The patronage of a guest such as yourself is very important to us. I can assure you that we take all comments, whether they are compliments or constructive criticism, very seriously and do everything possible to utilize these comments to improve on all aspects of our business. Our chef decided to do a special prix fixe menu for all of last weekend due to Valentine's. The information is on our website for our guests and we notify everyone that makes the reservation over the phone. Unfortunately, when a guest makes it on online, the server ( opentable.com ) does not allow us to have a pop up reminder for the guests of any special menus or events on that reservation page. You would have to click on the restaurant information page in order to see it. This is something we have been trying to fix, however it is out of our hands as it is not in our control. Once again, we apologize for falling short of your expectations. We would very much appreciate the opportunity to serve you again with the type of service you expect from Top of the Hub. My response Tu-Uyen, I did check the website and there was no mention of a prefix menu on your website. As a matter of fact several other people mentioned this on their review on Yelp. As a matter of fact both my husband and I both checked the site that day so we can review the menu and my husband was looking forward to the stuffed lobster. Since I made reservations on open-table and you were aware of the glitch, perhaps you could of sent and email to everyone who made reservations online or called them. I have made reservations in the past at restaurants that were offering only a prefixed menus through open table and they always direct you to call the resturant for reservation for that day. Your response that this is out of your control is unacceptable. You had the tools at your disposal to relay the information of the menu change and no one at the top of the hub lifted a finger. If you read the reviews on Yelp you will notice I was not the only one who was not aware of the special menu nor did not see the mention on the website. I could only assume it was a small link at the bottom of the page. I would like a response from the General Manager since you are not offering any way to make this up to us, nor did you even address me by my name in the email and sent a standard company response. I will be posting these emails on yelp, open table and Facebook as well I provided my address and received nothing
My boyfriend and I came to Top of the Hub on a Friday night to celebrate our anniversary. (Yes, we were that shmoopy young couple that everyone hates, and no, I will not apologize for being disgustingly happy that night.) We were lucky enough to be seated at a table with a view -- the city looked stunning. This is really what you're paying for when you go to the Top of the Hub, which I knew going in. Because I understood that you're mostly paying for that breathtaking view, I also assumed that the food wouldn't be all that. With tons of people coming to the restaurant on the strength of its location alone, you figure the chef might be a little complacent. Not so. I was frankly shocked at how delicious our meal was. For our amuse bouche, we were brought some sort of whipped wasabi mousse concoction. I thought it was both inventive and extraordinarily tasty. I sort of wish that I could have ordered a vat of that stuff. Our server helped me pick a wine that would go well with what I ordered: the pan-seared haddock, in a garlicky broth with chorizo and stewed clams. The fish was perfectly cooked and that broth was unbelievably flavorful. The wine that our server suggested was perfect with the dish. My boyfriend had the braised lamb shank, which came with -- get ready -- boursin tater tots. BOURSIN TATER TOTS. The lamb was fall-off-the-bone tender. And I meannnn do I even need to tell you how good those tater tots were? I feel like you already know. Spoiler alert: they were the bomb. We finished our meal with a couple of espressos, cleverly served with rock candy stirrers. While the majority of the food isn't particularly innovative or unique, it is well-prepared and certainly a joy to eat. Is it overpriced? Of course. Those espressos were like 6 bucks each or something. But the whole experience is lovely, and worth having on a special occasion.
(4)
Martin B.
Went for a special occasion. Food is high, but not unreasonable. View is great, but there are no areas set aside so patrons can walk around and enjoy it albeit briefly. Negatives include being pushed (waiter would not refill coffee), claiming a relatively inexpensive bottle of wine was unavailable so a 50% higher priced one could be recommended and a gesture of an ice cream desert in honor of a birthday was actually charged for. Been there, done that.
(3)
Ali G.
Their lobster bisque soup is out of this world phenominal, I dream about it everyday! I go there for the soup, (and spinach salad which is also incredible). Talk about a wonderful meal!!! To top it all off, (no pun intended), the view is to die for!
(5)
Alex R.
Service was great. Food was average. Nothing special. Don't order meat because they cannot cook it right. Atmosphere is beautiful and the view is fantastic. Just go for drinks. Skip the food. Not worth the money.
(2)
Aura S.
Good drinks and sandwiches. Dessert failed (dry and boring)...but oh well, you go here for the view!
(4)
Chris C.
Went to dinner here last night for Valentine's day. What a great night. It started off challenging because we were stuck in 50 minute traffic driving what normally takes 10 minutes because of V Day. We called and they mentioned they could hold the table for 20 minutes passed our scheduled time which wasn't reasurring. Luckily when we called back again another person answered who was much more sweet and said to not worry and to simply drive safe. We called once more and the third person to answer was also understanding so it appears only the first who answered was a bit rough around the edges. When we got there our window seat we asked for was taken by two people who without permission apparently took it and hadn't started ordering anything yet. So the waiter first made us stick on the inner side then a moment later a woman asked the other couple to move as they were not suppose to be sitting there and then we were able to move into our proper seat. The only negative here was that the waiter made us sit in the wrong place rather than simply saying hold on 20 seconds while we get your proper table. The one other bump in the road was that we ordered from the fixed menu and for one of the apps one of us got the wrong item. Luckily we both love food so we were fine with the other item brought out. One extra note, no one told us, but apparently you are suppose to get your ticket validated at Top of the Hub because when we left our parking fee was 36 dollars and would have been 24 less had someone offered to validate it and the overall meal for the fixed menu and 3 cocktails for us both and tip came out to well over 400. So other than those bumps in the road the over all night was amazing. The view was beautiful, the ambiance, food and drinks were amazing and the waitress was very sweet. We stayed talking until pretty much everyone had left and we were come back again.
(3)
K G.
I went for lunch today...whatever you do don't order the hamburger! The Pros: The VIEW! The staff was courteous House Chardonnay was $8 / glass house chips were good the pickle was yummy The Cons: The hamburger was disgusting! When it arrived there was fat oozing out and covering the plate. The entire bottom of the bun was soggy with the fat. I've had hamburgers like this that have great flavor even though they were gross to eat but this one was just disgusting! No good flavor and made me feel yucky all afternoon. I was starving but ended up only eating about half because it was so bad. A fast food burger would have been much tastier, less greasy and much cheaper! Oh and did I mention I paid $16 for this hamburger! For $16 it should be an awesome burger! Or atleast eddible! I really regret not having sent it back.
Stellar views, good food and.. ambience ambience ambience. This place is definitely the best dining establishment I've been to in Boston, even though I've only been to the city once ^^. Pros: I'll start with the jazz band. A pianist, cellist and drummer cranked out tunes on an open dance floor making it oooh so romantic. I'm not a very romantic person, but I melt for these kinds of things. For a very busy restaurant it's also not too loud, making conversations doable at a decent auditory level. The food was awesome. My dining partner and I had 3 courses. We started with lobster soup (thinking about it is making me drool) it was amazing and truffley. We had a beet salad with micro field greens although the cheese was a little bland. For the 2nd course, lamb shank with polenta, and seared sea scallops with a bacony fruity compote. MMmmmmm!! And dessert, raspberry cobbler and creme brulee. The views. Bring your camera. If you park in the garage, it costs ~12$/hr, but the restaurant has a deal with the garage that lets you get the fee waived if you show your receipt to the parking garage guy. Con (yes, singular): It's FUCKING EXPENSIVE. I am a graduate student, which means I don't have much money to throw around, so if I wanted to treat myself and or someone else to restaurants like this it would have to be a rarity. I have also become spoiled when it comes to dining out (I attribute this to my ex boyfriend and his friends for showing me what good food is). I have champagne tastes on a beer budget, so I can't go out to restaurants like this often.
(5)
Angeline K.
The Top of the Hub reminded me a lot of Signature Lounge in Chicago, just not as nice. If you want to come here just for drinks, it will be disappointing. You can't really walk or stand around anywhere without bumping into anyone. It's hard to get seating so everyone tries to fight for a seat at the bar. Since most people can't get a seat, they're left congregating around the bar which happens to be situated right along a main walking pathway. Bad layout. Drinks obviously overpriced and so is dessert and everything else on the menu. The view is not really worth the hassle to come up here. Sorry.
(2)
Jessica R.
2 Stars for Top of the Hub is a shame, especially since I used to feel it a 5 star experience. Here's what changed--the "this place is great, we want you to love its greatness, too" attitude. Now it feels exclusive and swanky. And not in the good senses of the words. We used to go up to the restaurant (floor 52 of the Prudential Center). We'd go up as a group of, say, 4 people... and order a couple desserts for the table, a drink each. And we'd hang out for a while... live jazz, panoramic views, great cookie plate. 3 years later, there's a price limit (each person must spend $24 or more in order to be seated at a table with a view, otherwise you sit at a bar that has been designed to block the entire view!), there are visual obstacles (like a large wine room), and there are private rooms covering half of the floor (meaning less access to 360 views for those who venture to spend $24+ each). So basically you have to pay a lot of money, and you get to see, maybe, a 100 degree view. Not the greatest! These days, maybe not even worth it.
My favorite place in Boston. I have been here with girl friends, family, boyfriends and co workers. It is a fabulously romantic place at the top of Boston, where you can enjoy good food and great drinks. I've eaten here during restaurant week (great price!) and enjoyed normal service, for a special birthday dinner with my man and enjoyed spectacular service and gone just for drinks and jazz on late weekdays. The music is great and there's a little dance floor in front of the band area to sway with your honey while surrounded by the lights of the greatest city in New England.
(5)
Natalie M.
Fun place to get a drink, enjoy the view, and people watch. Nothing like people watching at Top of the Hub on a Friday or Saturday night.
(4)
Randee M.
My boyfriend and I went here on Friday night with reservations for 4. The other couple ended up having to cancel so we told them that when we got there. We asked for a seat next to the windows since it was my first time being there and they didn't do that even though there was an open table right next to us. The hostess stated it was reserved for a party of 4...5 minutes later it was occupied by a couple. So I wasn't happy. Our waiter took our drink order, which was water cause I'm 9 months pregnant. He brought it right away then we didn't see him again for about 20 minutes. We ordered the French Onion soup which was a good size for us to split, but had no flavor. For our entrees I had had the filet, which was cooked perfectly and the red bliss potatoes were fantastic. He had the NY Strip. He said it was ok, not seasoned well. My glass of water was empty many times through out the evening. I feel like he didn't pay attention to us because we weren't drinking. But for the prices here and the atmosphere I expected much better service. Overall, the food was good but terrible service from the hostess and our waiter. We definitely weren't treated as well as every other table around us. I can't even say I enjoyed the view cause I barely saw anything....
(3)
Eva N.
Great view and surrondings. Food was average, creme brulee was terrible, it was a pudding not a creme. It was cold, I assume it was prepared a long time in advance, and had a very peculiar coffee taste. First time ever my children have not finished their creme brulee. This is not a restaurant that takes pride in its cooking, I ordered black cofffee, it was not fresh. It was not drinkable, and I am a nurse and can drink almost any coffee. Hehe The waiter never suggested wines, just handed us the wine menu. He had to many tables to wait. We also had cracks in two plates, got a desssert knife with the main course and two of us got silverware that was not clean. He brought us the check before we even had a chance to say we wanted coffee. Overall a been there done that experience, will not go again or recommend. A visit in the bar to enjoy the view would be much better.
(2)
David T.
When my friend suggested we eat here on a Friday night a few weeks ago I was a bit taken aback. This is a place you take tourists, I said, somewhere you go for the view, not the food! We debated, she won, and I now have a new-found likeness for Top of the Hub. I hadn't eaten here since I was very young; a place we ate at when my mother wanted to "go into town" to do shopping or for special occasion dinners like when mom went through the "I don't want to cook Thanksgiving dinner and hand wash all the formal china" phase of her early 40s. Needless to say I was expecting stuffy service and tons of tourists. The tourists were still there by the Fung-wah busloads but the service was pretty down-to-earth and friendly. We sat in the lounge and were seated in one of the best tables...right in the corner. This meant we had windows on two sides and as it was a lovely day I was very appreciative of our prime spot. We had no reservations (they don't take them for the lounge seating) so just happened to be lucky. The view IS what we came for after all, but the food was actually rather fantastic too. First Course was "Brie and Walnuts Baked with Dried Fruit Compote" ($13). I was in heaven. The flavours in this dish blew my mind. The cheese could have been slightly more melty but it's creaminess was a perfect complement to the sweetness of the figs (and fig sauce). Cocktail was "Purple Rain Martini". This was pretty to look at but the taste was good, not great; slightly too much vodka so balance was a bit off. Main course was "Grilled Angus Burger with bacon, Vermont Cheddar Cheese, Caramelized Onions" ($15). This had sauteed mushrooms on the menu as well but I decided against that option since I don't care for them much. It came with a good-sized side of fries presented in a cool (although somewhat typical) conical device. Burger was cooked exactly the way I ordered (well done) but still retained some moisture. It is hard to do well-done meat and not dry it out; they passed this test. I love burgers and this one didn't disappoint. Could I have gotten a similar quality one elsewhere for a few dollars less? Of course, but not with that amazing view! This is a wonderful place to go for dinner after work or some pre-party cocktails on payday. Go for the view, go for the food...just go! You won't regret it.
(4)
Marge r.
I came into Boston to meet a former business associate for dinner. He was in town on business from Europe and thought it would be a nice place to enjoy the view. I had not been here in several years and while the food was good, view excellent, the service fell short. The waiter seemed to be just "doing his job." I have had wonderful service here in the past, but this time it was just ok. He did the obligatory check on the meal halfway through, but merely seemed to be an order taker and deliverer of the meal. No suggestions on wine when asked for an opinion, and a bit rushed to get us to wrap up for a coveted window table. Many of the other local restaurants (absent the view) have better service and food. It is a nice treat, but I do expect more for the prices. The wait staff should not seem to be going through the motions and consider a little extra dialogue to engage the guests and make them feel welcome.
(3)
Lisa E.
This place is AMAZING! The drinks are good, the service is great and words cannot even begin to describe the views! My boyfriend and I decided to have drinks here on a Friday night and we had such a great time I want to make it a tradition for our Boston trips!
(5)
Jason F.
Everything you would expect. We had the 5 course tasting and we were very happy. Excellent service.
(5)
Michelle S.
I'd always thought that the Top of the Hub was a really fancy place to go have dinner. Boy was I surprised to run into hordes of tourists in shorts, t-shirts and flip flops lining the hallway to get in. I was in the city one day and decided to have a late lunch. I started with the strawberry lemonade with basil mock tail. It was my first mock tail and it was fabulous. I'd never considered putting basil into a drink before but it went so well, I might have to try it at home! I started with the Lobster Bisque and I must say that it's one of the best bisques I've had in New England. It's titled as "Spicy Lobster Soup" but it seems like a bisque to me. There's really no spiciness to it but the coconut milk, lemongrass and ginger give it nice depth and uniqueness. I cleaned the bowl with the bread provided. At the end of my soup, I was asked if there would be anything else I wanted. I informed the server that I'd ordered an entree. She fumbled around for a bit and then walked off, met up with my server and they disappeared. After about a 20 minute wait (after having my soup), my meal arrived. They clearly forgot to put in the entree order which is really inexcusable. There was no apology or offer of something to make it up. I just sat for 20 minutes. Thankfully I was parked at a window so I had the beautiful day to keep me occupied. When my George's Banks Haddock Rockefeller arrived, it was a massive slab of fish. With the coating of cheeses, spinach and bread crumbs, the fish was super moist and very, very good. I was once again content to be eating something that was quite good. When I finished, I decided to top off my meal with the upside down blueberry cake. It was barely edible. I took a couple bites but the cake was so dry that even with the whipped cream, it was hard to get down. I decided to just leave it.
(4)
Paul N.
On a clear day you can see Waltham! The Top of the Hub is a great place to bring out of town guests for lunch or dinner and a great view of Boston. Situated on the 52nd floor of the Prudential Tower. Service is typically real good. Food is good. Entertainment at night. You go for the view most of all.
(4)
Isabella C.
I would give them 3.5 stars if I could. The food is okay - not bad but I didn't think it was that great. The creme brulee though, is DELICIOUS. The service is great. The view is nice but really only if you go during the day and sit by the window (which you could probably request when making reservations). It's a nice restaurant (very nice ambiance) so obviously attire is dressy but guys don't have to wear suits or anything.
(3)
Dan G.
I came here for lunch and enjoyed their prix fixe menu, 3 courses for $22. The food was awesome. I had a vegetable puree/soup that was delicious, salmon that was perfectly looked and an apple strudel served on a Mikasa "Angles" plate which made me laugh....a lot, and almost choke on their very delicious, soft ice cream. Lunch time can get very bright and hot when facing the south (if looking at the windows, the ocean will be on your left), so you might want to try to sit elsewhere. Overall this experience was lovely.
(4)
Moises F.
Top of the hub is a place full of contrasts. I wouldn't recommend going for lunch but I will encourage everyone to go at least once for dinner. During lunch they offer a fix price menu that includes soup, salad and main course for under 30. This is a sweet deal, however if you don't have a reservation it will take ages before you get a sit assigned. Service is slow and food quality is just average. However, if you go between 6-8pm everything changes. The waiters are so much nicer, they are super helpful and fast. Sometimes there is a piano player improving the ambiance and being able to see the sunset and how the bay illuminates with the indoor lightning is breathtaking. The menu is 70% based on fish and seafood, the clamp chowder is their speciality. To be honest, red meat plates are bad, so try to avoid them. I went there 2 weeks ago and they had an amazing brie cheese with fig sauce. Even if food is not that great. The view is worth the try. It's a most for tourists and residents.
(4)
John S.
The food and service was great, the view can not be beat, the atmosphere is warm and has a high class feel. Only thing that bugged me is the price didn't fit well with the items on there menu. Guess we're paying for the view more then the food itself.
(4)
Alice C.
Great view of the city and great service. Even had a jazz band, though could not really hear.
(4)
Ann C.
Pricy meal but well worth it! Loved the scenery! The drinks at the bar were super strong ... I'm not much of an alcohol drinker so it was wasted on me. Food was good although I have to say "Boston Chowda" had better clam chowder. Waiter was awesome! He was super friendly and attentive. Music was playing and it was a great night!
(5)
Jennifer H.
We went at night and loved the view. It is on the 52nd floor and sat in the lounge area. There was also a jazz band playing that added to the vib. I had the crab cake sandwich that was amazing, mostly crab meat not heavy on mayo. The pear martini is a must!
(4)
Joseph L.
how can you not feel like you're king of the world when you're up here? this is a GREAT alternative to the skywalk. use the skywalk ticket money instead to get a drink here, and just soak it all in (the view and the alcohol, of course). very classy atmosphere, but i went at 3 or 4pm and didn't feel judged in casual wear. its touristy identity keeps the dress code somewhat grounded.
(5)
J C.
One of the best dining experiences I've ever had. The ambience, food & service is exceptional. Very pricey though.
(5)
Keith R.
To best take advantage of the view and not having to spend a lot eat somewhere else and then go to the lounge before 8 so there is no minimum. If you go around 7 you can find parking on the street easily and then just order dessert and drinks. If you go before day light savings, you can see the sun set around that time.
(4)
Dandan L.
I'd give 5 stars for the wonderful view of the city at night, but the food quality really keeps me from doing so. I came here twice. Once for drink, and the other time was during restaurant week for a 3-course meal. The service was wonderful the first time I was here. Our waiter was so friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating. The list of the whiskey was decent. The second time, the service was quite bad for a place like this, maybe cuz our waitress just had a bad day. She seemed a bit upset and angry the entire time, and not attentive at all. The food, oh the food... Such a waste of the wonderful view of the restaurant. The presentation was decent, but the taste was really meh for a fine dining restaurant. I'm not saying it was bad, just not worth the money you pay. I will for sure come back, but only for drinks.
(3)
Bree G.
I chose to go to Top of the Hub for Restaurant Week, knowing it was not famous for it's food and not wanting to spend too much on it - but certainly curious to check out the view. The food was even worse than I expected it to be. I think it was downright bad. You could get a better tasting meal at the Cheesecake Factory. I don't know if the chef had just thrown in the towel by 10:30 pm, but whatever the reason it seemed like a complete amateur was making our food. My salad was a tiny bed of shredded lettuce with some raddish slices and a sharp tasting dressing (think "Italian" from a bottle), the short rib was served with a huge hunk of fat and just didn't taste good in general, and the creme brulee was room temperature. The cocktails we ordered were about 12 oz (huge) with 1 oz of liquor in them, for $13 each. Horrible. I was pleased that they offered a gluten-free bread, as I think that is going above and beyond, but the rolls they brought out really tasted like previously frozen hot dog buns. Disappointing (especially after having the PHENOMENAL GF bread that No. 9 Park serves). Finally, the ambiance of the city view was DEFINITELY beautiful, but a bit spoiled by all the patrons taking flash photography. If you go here, sit at the bar and order something on the rocks. You might enjoy yourself!
(2)
Sharad B.
I have a mixed opinion about this place. The view is amazing , the bar is good but I really didn't like the food. It gives a great romantic experience but had the food been little better this would have been the best place in the city. However desert lovers has something to cheer about . They have an awesome chocolate warm cake.
(3)
Angie M.
We love coming here but the waiter was unprofessional. He gave us the wrong order and then argued with us on who was right. Hanger steak vs angus burger? Come on! He didn't even offer to bring us the correct entree. We did however have great drinks and the service at the bar was very nice. We will come back again, we were just very disappointed with the way the server handled his error and without an apology.
(2)
D.j. K.
5 stars on service - Xavier was awesome and they put us at a great seat, despite being very crowded. I liked how they asked if we were celebrating a special event when I called for the reservation (we were btw). 4 stars on food - My steak was perfectly cooked, and the apps we got were great. Also, we each got a Ginger Lemon Drop which was friggin' delicious. My girl got the pork chops which were very good, but not anything like the party in my mouth which was the steak with Gorgonzola on top. 5 Stars on ambiance- This was to be expected. 5 Stars on Price - I thought that this place was the best bang for the buck when I was looking at all surrounding restaurants. Originally we were going to go just for a drink, then leave for somewhere else. We decided to give it a go, and it in the end were very satisfied. Looks like the new Anniversary spot. Cheers!
(5)
James D.
The views are incredible! The food is just ok for the price. But you aren't there for the food, you are there for the views. Going to this restaurant is an event. It is really cool and a memorable night. Yes you will pay too much for the food but you are paying for the views as well so you need to keep that in mind. If you want to go someplace that is much more than the food then go here. Also, its a great place to take people from out of town to see the city from way up top. It's also good to go if you are from Boston as you get a very cool perspective of the city from up there. Overall, its a great spot for a memorable night out!
(4)
Raquel M.
I have dined at this restaurant on several occasions. The view of Boston is GORGEOUS. This is a great place to take your out of town friends. The food is exceptional and the staff is friendly and attentive. Very crowded on the weekends though.
(4)
Andre T.
Amazing food. Great Service. Priceless ambiance and location. Intoxicating view, especially if you are there for sunset. Being a native Bostonian, I can say that this is by far the best restaurant in Boston. Pricey but worth it.
(5)
Nicole K.
Ate the prix fixe without wine pairings. Lobster soup was a bit spicy, but delicious. Scallops were delicious and not as salty as I remembered it. The dessert, pear tart, was disappointing. Would recommend more/better offerings for dessert.
(4)
Court S.
Well, where do I start??? The view is absolutely breathtaking. The cocktails are splendid, the cookies are warm, and the live band is musically talented. We went on a Sunday and luckily it wasn't crowded at all. Our waiter's name was Matt, & from all my years growing up in Cambridge I've never heard a Boston accent so thick and rich ( he reminded me of a character from the movie The Town). He was awesome. Hopefully he's reading this because I told him I was going to mention him in my review. This place is great for lounging with friends or being on a date while watching the sun set. Aside from the screaming uncontrollable child upon entry, this was a perfect Sunday evening.
(4)
TinoX T.
Fantastic place for an Awesome Date.....
(4)
Lydia H.
Edited 5/10/13: We received a voucher for a meal for two, which fully covers the cost of our first meal and shows us that we were heard, so I've upped the rating to what it would have been (see below). We will save the voucher for a special occasion, and I'll let you know how it goes. ;) --- I would have given Top of the Hub 4 stars were it not for a rather unpleasant encounter we had just before leaving. (We contacted the manager afterwards and he is apparently currently reviewing video footage, though I'm not sure what light that would shed, seeing as it wasn't a fist fight, and a security camera wouldn't capture dialogue.) My boyfriend took me here last Friday night for my birthday-- I had never been, and the view was fantastic. We were seated right away with our reservation, and everyone was totally friendly. Our waiter was great: knowledgeable, attentive, kind. The food was good-- my swordfish was a little dry, but my boyfriend's filet mignon was delicious. We both had chopped salads as well, which were good and a perfect start to the meal. Anyway, now to the reason for one star. After we had paid for our meal, all was well and we went to get a picture by the window before leaving-- after all, this place is all about the view, and I wanted a picture to commemorate my birthday dinner. We sought out a spot in the corner where we wouldn't disturb anyone in the middle of a meal, and my boyfriend asked a woman who was playing on her phone (clearly waiting for someone) if she would mind taking a picture of us. She said no, of course not. Just as I was handing her my camera, one of the greeters came over and told us they don't allow people to come in and take pictures where guests have reservations. Thinking she was suggesting we didn't have a reservation, my boyfriend told her that we had a reservation and had just finished eating. She then reiterated that this area was for people with reservations, and my boyfriend reiterated that we, too, were guests, since she seemed to be accusing us of walking in off the street. Then she explained, finally, but rudely, that they don't want to disturb the guests (why didn't she say that to start?). Now that the crux of the issue was more clear, my boyfriend said, "Oh, okay, well then would you mind taking a picture of us?" She seemed to think we were trying to undermine her authority, and she got very defensive, saying more loudly, "No, sir, I will NOT." At this point, my boyfriend had no idea why she was so upset. She said, clearly insincerely, "I would be MORE THAN HAPPY to take a picture of you against the wall or by the entrance." My boyfriend tried to interpret her words in the nicest way possible, but at this point I was on the verge of tears (I've never been so unexpectedly uncomfortable in a restaurant!), and I simply said no and walked away. People generally don't feel like having their picture taken by someone who has accused them of being rude assholes. It was painfully clear to me that this staff member had been trained to enforce a particular policy ("no photos where the guests are dining") but completely UNtrained on how to enforce it (without suggesting that people are walking in off the street, without an accusatory tone of voice, without being rude). Essentially, we were admonished for what was a clear miscommunication of a policy that was poorly enforced. As my boyfriend said afterwards, he wouldn't expect that kind of treatment at McDonald's, let alone at a pricey establishment that prides itself on the atmosphere. The one thing I wanted from my birthday dinner was a picture together, and we didn't get that. We just got a crappy end to what was otherwise an enjoyable evening after a long, stressful week.
(4)
Jiaomin O.
My review if only for the dessert~ So my friend and i were wandering around and decided that we wanted dessert and went there. The security actually checked ID before he let us on the elevator. The minimum purchase for sitting at the table is 24 per person so we sat at the bar. I ordered Valrhona Warm Chocolate Cake and my friend ordered pumpkin cheesecake. I really love the cake, it is warm, and the chocolate is flowing, yet not too hot. just the right temperature, combined with the ice cream, it was perfect. The pumpkin cheesecake was pretty decent too, not overly sweet like the ones at cheesecake factory. It was cloudy and we can see the snow in the air though, but i did wish the sky was clear so that we could have seen the botson skylight.
(4)
Alvaro R.
Great view and Service! That's it... Food? Mmmm we ordered the 3 course menu with paired wines... Not impressed at all... We ate better at Quincy Market. Not word it at all, it felt like an overpriced but "cheap" experience. Talked to the manager, they apologized but they still charged us full price... Management?? Mmm he wasn't sorry at all...
(1)
Vadim K.
came to the restaurant for a few drinks and was treated like total garbage. To be more specific, six individuals were seated in a lounge area and not a single waiter stopped by to offer so much as a water in 20 minutes. I am sure they had their reasons for not being able to offer service to us within a timely manner but I would still say that it is completely inexcusable to treat customers in such a way. Highly do not recommend this place only because of their snobbish attitude but the view is nice. Cheers!
(1)
Gerardo F.
I really like this restaurant; The service is very good, the food is generally excellent, especially their meats, and it never gets extremely noisy. But what really sets the Top of the Hub apart, obviously, is the view. Whether by day or by night, the view never ceases to induce a sense of awe in me.
(4)
Tammy C.
Great experience. The server and food were both very high quality. This is a place not to be missed if visiting Boston like we were.
(5)
Mike S.
In short - Great views of Boston, live music and about as expensive as you'd expect it to be. I was with a party of 4 and we decided to go up for a drink last Saturday night. It was fairly busy, we asked to sit in the lounge and was told there was a $24 dollar minimum per person to sit down. Ok, that sucks but I understand.... We sat down and ordered a bottle of champagne. When it was brought over, the bottle was about 1/2 the normal size. We sent it back and picked another one and then decided to order dessert. We had some kind of assorted cookie tray that was just Meh, kind of dry and hard cookies.... An order of scotch and we were up around $80 bucks and asked for the bill. I don't think I'd come back for dinner but I'd come back up for a drink and dessert again. This is one of those "Been there, done that" type places in Boston that everyone has to do once.
(3)
Dr. Tyler C.
Service is terrible, food over-rated, and unfriendly!
(1)
Peter R.
No "wow", but a pleasant evening.
(3)
Kockyo X.
The food is really bad... it does not worth the money at all except for the view. Two stars for the service but zero for the food. I had spicy lobster soup and the haddock. I felt like I can totally make this by my own. The bread is not good. Spicy lobster soup had too many coconut milk in it and its way to salty.
This is probably as high-class as it gets in Boston! I got taken here for my graduation, and it was a treat!!! We had a bunch of mojitos , clam chowder, hot dogs, chocolate cake, and creme brulee. It was a special night, and I had a blast. That said, next time I come back, I'm definitely gonna take advantage of everything it has to offer. The best time to come I would say is before sunset so that you can get all 3 views. They also have live jazz nights too. Also, if it's your first time, check out the prudential observation deck too. Here, you're just limited to only half of the view. Actually less...part of it is blocked off for private engagements, and you have to intrude on other tables to see some of the rest... Still, I feel mighty ballin' for having dined here! =)
(4)
Rachel A.
The view from here is amazing! Definitely recommend trying to catch the sunset here. We didn't do dinner, but drinks and appetizers in the bar. Considering we went in early Sept. on a Saturday night at 6 pm, the 10 min. wait for a table at a bar was incredibly short. Considering it's a ritzy place, the drink and food prices are reasonable. Definitely a must see if you're visiting the city or to hit up for a first date!
(4)
Carol K.
What a view! We didn't eat here, just drinks and appys in the lounge. Arrived to a summer hail storm, followed by wicked clouds, followed by beautiful colors and clear skies in the space of two hours. I kept waiting for the lounge to revolve like other tall places in other cities. The 360 view as you walk about is phenomenal. Service was very good. Server was sweet and personable and the cocktails inventive. Great place for out of towners, tourists and locals alike. I would love to return for fourth of July fireworks!
(4)
Sharon Z.
Bring your date for a night of lub, Bird's view at Top of the Hub, Boston's best they did dub, Before you look out give your eyes a good rub, Be not too critical of the average grub, Baller service here certainly not sub, Background jazz like a softly singing cherub, But it's ok now to just wear your scrub... Bad it used to be a classier pub, B-grade goes to Top of the Hub.
(3)
Jess H.
My boyfriend wanted to take me out somewhere nice in Boston for dinner, so I asked my friends for suggestions. I got an overwhelming response for Top of the Hub. Surprisingly, I've lived in Boston my entire life, but had yet to dine here! So here was my chance! Overall, it was a very good experience. I made a reservation, and when we arrived they offered to either seat us right away or gave us the option to wait for a window table. We opted to wait and get some drinks at the bar meanwhile. The atmosphere was very nice, and the bar was busy. Since it was a Tuesday night we were seated in no time. The service was excellent in every way. The waiter, water boy, runners, etc. were all very attentive. The view was spectacular. The atmosphere was romantic. Everything was perfect. So why not 5 stars? The food! While the food was not bad, it was only average, especially for the price. Clearly you are paying for the service and the view, because the food just doesn't meet the same standard as everything else. It's really too bad, because the food is the main reason most people go to restaurants. Overall, I am really happy I went, and am glad I finally got my "Top of the Hub experience." One of the servers also offered to take our picture in front of the window, and knew exactly how to do it so the flash wouldn't reflect in the glass, which was a great added touch. So, really, I like Top of the Hub. However, I don't plan on making this a regular trip due to the quality of the food. It is great for a special occasion though, where the overall experience is more important than the food!
(4)
DM G.
The view of Boston is spectacular. The food is average for fine dining. Unfortunately, the customer service leaves much to be desired. In essence, you are really paying for the view.
(2)
elizabeth h.
We went here yesterday for Thankgiving. I feel pretty confident that I got food poisoning or coincidentally came down with a stomach bug about 4 hours after eating here. UGH. I got the Squash bisque, Salmon, and Creme Brulee. They all tasted good but were entirely too rich--so much butter!! I don't typically eat food as rich or as laden in butterso I thought that maybe my body was having a hard time digest the rich food. And cue 8 hours of feverish vomiting. Had I not gotten sick, I'd be giving our experience 4-5 stars. I am afraid, though, that the food may have been compromised and for the price I paid, it may be a while until I can stomach (pun intended) going back. :(
(2)
Nicole T.
AMAZING restaurant!!! Great food great view and great service. Went here for my birthday and ate the most delicious meal. High prices but it's a great night out.
(5)
Jade A.
Pros: I went here on my two year anniversary with my boyfriend. We both expected the "top of hub" so we dressed really fancy and everything. We got to our table and my boyfriend had a fedora on. They asked him to take it off. So we thought it was really fancy. The waitress was really nice and she took a picture of us when we asked her to. There was also a live band. It was kind of loud, but still nice. We were seated next to a window at night so we got a great view of Boston. It seemed great. Cons: we looked around and though we thought the place required formal attire (black tie, jacket required) it was absolutely not. People had on jeans, some weren't even wearing collared shirts. The food was extremely gross. About two steps up from Boston public high school food. It was also extremely cheap. My boyfriend was baffled at how hard he had been working to get enough money to take me there, and he didn't even spend a quarter of the money he made. We had dinner, drinks and dessert. The Creme brulee was delicious, but that is about it. All in all, step it up Top of the hub.
(2)
Christopher R.
Come for the fantastic view and the food, not for the service. I make it a point to come here every time I am in Boston. However every time I make a reservation there is still a wait and the host and/or hostess is rude.
(3)
Nicole D.
If you haven't been...you have to go. The views are awesome, so be sure to request a window table. And check the weather so you go on a clear day or night!! The food is pretty great most of the time, drinks are good but overpriced....but it's a great place for a special occasion or a splurge.
(4)
Jeremy J.
Truth be told, the food, while not outstanding, was better than your average tourist trap (though at the same way over-priced value). This review is for the experience with our waiter (whose name I believe was Justin G). After celebrating my friends 25th here about a month ago, the inevitable bill came. $220. I put down $100, and the other two memeber of my party each put down their plastic. Upon returning from the backroom after swiping the cards, the total on each read $110, instead of $60 (i.e. he never added the Cash). After confronting the waiter, he gave a vague explanation on how this was a simple error, and appeared visibly petrubed that we would make such as accusation. While he was able to void the transcations, this (and of course you are to be the judge) does not seem like a simple mecahnical error, coming from somebody whose worked in the service industry. Anyways, the manager was helpful, although the Hosts reek of arrogance and desperation, making this a place to avoid, except for the view. So, If you decide to come here, walk right past the Doormen (I was wondering if they really need a double-digit number of people pacing impatiently at the entrance) and have an apertif at the bar area, then go elsewhere for Dinner. This place should be renamed the Hub of Gullibe Tourists and the staff that tries to screw them over.
(1)
Harri S.
I feel that no matter how often this place disappoints me, it always will be a go to for 3 principle reasons. 1) I live across the street 2) The view is unrivaled (though M's balcony does give the Pru a run for its money) 3) S and I will always end up here when we hang out. We are way too committed to the mojitos to make it out in a timely, or classy manner. Oy. The drinks here are fantastic, I highly recommend eating at the bar. I only drop the star level because there is a minimum for tables even when they aren't busy and because my wallet is empty every time I leave. (I SHOULD KNOW BETTER, I KNOW). Also, not everything on the menu is four or five star worthy. However it's still a great place to bring people from out of town (I'm looking at you Katie G.), and there's live jazz every night. Worth the visit, but not the stay.
(3)
Christine T.
meh. We came here for drinks/dessert after having dinner elsewhere. we called and made a 10:30pm reservation for dessert. We arrived and were sat in the dining room, cool. great views, great pictures. Our waiter came over and started telling us the dinner specials. We told him we called for a dessert reservation and he was NOT happy. he dropped his head and said he'll go find us a seat in the lounge. you'd think he just found out his family left him. Luckily we never saw that guy again, instead his assistant waiter came over (he served us the rest of the night) and said his manager okay'd us to stay where we were, we didn't care either way - it was just the commotion that was embarrassing. Anyway we settled in and looked at the dessert menu. We got 2 chocolate cakes and an "assortment of freshly baked cookies", along with three (delicious) pomegranate mojitos, several Heineken's and more. The cake was small and kind of mushy. I wouldn't get it again. Our bill was $99 and change, we certainly hit the $24 a person limit and we left a hefty tip - (take that our first dbag waiter!). Our assistant waiter was great, kind of an awkward guy, but i think he was just nervous - he was very attentive and that is what mattered. I doubt we'll go back, the service was awkward and we did not feel welcome. The entire time we were there they made us feel like they were doing us a favor, while we paid a lot and the food was mediocre. I wouldn't recommend it to a friend.
(2)
Sara L.
I'd heard of TOTH for years but never actually been. It IS worth the view alone. The view is gorgeous. Drinks were good but not great, given that it's a little old school and not mixologist stuff with freshly muddled juices and herbs, etc (although the prices would indicate otherwise). My lobster bisque, however, was outstanding. My friend's food looked good, too. Overall, I think you come here for the view, with food and drinks being secondary, but decent.
(3)
Yang W.
Though I rated 4 stars, it was more for the view and service than for the food. The city view from top was fantastic, but unfortunately that day was foggy. You could enjoy the skyview, listening to live band performance, while enjoying the seafood. However, the lobster I ordered was not as good as I expected, which charged over $60
(4)
Chad W.
Meh. The view was the only thing exceptional about this place. The food was around 2 stars, the service around 3 stars, and the value around 3 stars. Come once for the view and experience; otherwise, save your money for the many better Boston offerings.
(3)
Rae M.
The atmosphere and view is spectacular, the service and food- not so hot. We had a 7pm reservation for my birthday last night. We arrived early to have a couple drinks and watch the sunset. Upon walking in, there was no hostess to greet us. When she did show up, she was dressed a little sloppily. And we noticed that the other patrons were dressed in jeans and hoodies and t-shirts. Kids were running around in PJs. I thought this was supposed to be an upscale restaurant! The hostess told us that we could not move our dinner reservation up any earlier. She told us to wait at the packed-full bar and check in closer to our reservation time. While getting less-than-stellar service at the bar (although my espresso martini tasted great), we noticed on our Open Table app that there was still a 5:30 reservation. We brought this to the hostess' attention and asked if we could have it. She replied with an impolite "I guess so." I'm sure if her manager wasn't standing next to her, she would have denied us. We were brought to a wonderful window seat. Our server, Louis F was fantastic. He was extremely professional and made great suggestions. He was also very funny and seemed like he really enjoyed working there. We ordered a Lobster Bisque (phenomenal) and a Baby Spinach Salad (really good too) to start. For our entrees, we ordered the Pork Chop with stuffed acorn squash (okay) and the Cioppino (not good. smelled way too fishy and not very fresh). For dessert, we ordered the Cashew Coconut Mousse, which was delicious. I really wanted to love this place. The experience of eating at such a nice-looking place with a great view was wonderful, but I do not see myself returning.
(2)
Sue B.
Enjoyed the beautiful view while celebrating a graduation!! Great food and attentive waitstaff..
(5)
Lisa W.
Brought my visiting mom up here for lunch. Based on the reviews, I didn't expect great food.. I figured you're really paying for the view, but I was pleasantly surprised! I think the lunch menu is reasonably priced - $15 for mom's delicious chicken pot pie, $22 for prix fix (salad, entree, dessert). The only thing I was not a fan of was the salad - the lettuce was wilting and brown, and the dressing way too salty. The entree I chose the salmon on a bed of wild rice and cranberries topped with avocado... MMMMM! The salmon was perfectly cooked and everything was delicious. For dessert we chose the creme brulee - it was full sized and done well. Our waiter was sweet, and suggested we walk around the dining room to check out the fantastic view. Considering that it costs ~$10 per person to hang out in the observation tower one floor below, it's a pretty good deal. I wouldn't come here just for the food, but it's a nice place to take visitors.
(4)
Brenda P.
Went for after dinner drinks with the hubby. Elevator opens right into the jazz lounge. Got seated right away with a window table. There was a really nice jazz band playing. Had the Boston Cream Pie ( better than the one at the Parker House) and a bottle of wine. There is a $24.00 minimum for the lounge area. Mixed crowd: tourists, locals, young and old.
(5)
Matt H.
Restaurant week, 4/19/12 Ambiance: Fancy but relaxed. View is spectacular. Food: Chili and cocoa crusted salmon, salad, and creme brulee were fantastic. Wine selection was impeccable. Only reason this place doesn't get 5 stars is the service. Don't get me wrong, they were attentive and friendly, but not that personable. If I'm paying $30/head and ask you "What do you think of such-and-such?" please have enough sense to not respond "Oh well I've had everything and it is all good." Really? It's "good"? Can you tell me about it? He proceeded to read the menu line item style. If I wanted the menu read to me I would have asked. Also, a waiter is not a maitre d'. Not sure if this place has one but please hire one. I'm not a wine snob, but again, I'm not paying you to read the menu to me. Worth it for the view and the food, but service needs a boost.
(4)
Steward P.
Classy joint. Can't go here often, I'd be broke. Pricey but delicious. I got the lamb and it was some of the best I've ever had. Definitely a great special occasion type of place. I lucked out and nailed some free street parking, but I'd imagine the pru lot costs a good chunk of change. Wear something nice, don't act like a schmuck.
(4)
ProfessorShadow _.
The manager asked me to leave despite having a reservation and despite being better dressed than he was. He was unapologetic about it as well. The hostesses were shocked that I was asked to leave and apologized emphatically. To the manager on duty, my money was spent elsewhere.
(1)
Regina A.
The 2 stars is for the view alone, our drinks were made wrong, the food took forever, so much so that it was cold when it did arrive and was also badly prepared and poorly presented. Our waiter was gracious and honest, our overall experience was one we will not be repeating.
(2)
Brad S.
Would come back for the view, but not for the food. We were there for restaurant week. The soup was actually very good, but it was lukewarm when it arrived. The short rib was dry- it really needed more of the sauce, and the pickled vegetables on top were flavorless. The dessert was enormous, but pretty uninspired pudding pie. I would have been happier with a smaller dessert that was a bit more creative and/or tasted better. The drinks were expensive, but not stingy. For my Manhattan, I got not just one martini glass full, but also a mini shaker to refill it, so it was like 2.5 drinks for the $14. If you want to come to Top of the Hub, go for drinks in the lounge and the view. Re: experience. Upon being seated, no one took jackets. In fact, looking around the dining room, everyone had jackets on the backs of chairs. Odd for "fine dining" atmosphere and prices. Seated next to window, which was awesome. Waiter was loud and obnoxious. Nothing about the restaurant was appropriate for fine dining, except for the prices. The wine list was pretty unimpressive, as well. Overall, go to the lounge and get drinks, but skip the overpriced food.
(2)
Alyssa M.
Drinks are solid -- a bit overpriced, but duh! It's all for the view! Avoid Diana P. -- poor attitude, curt demeanor and/or totally MIA. Also, she gave us only a $10 bill as change for tip on a $30 bill. Nice play, Diana P., but your service wasn't worth it. The other waitstaff seemed much more charming and attentive. Haven't tried the food.
Came here to the lounge for drinks one evening with friends around 6pm. Was quickly seated without a wait. The restaurant itself is pretty large and impressive. The view is unbeatable - 360degrees of the entirety of Boston. Planes were descending and flying in the periphery. A fantastic place to go in the evenings, especially during sunset. Can only speak for the drinks, but they were standard, the service was timely and friendly. I was a bit irked that they had no clamato juice, for such a busy restaurant, but they said they ran out. When we left, a large line had built up, and the place was pretty packed.
(3)
Jamie H.
we went to top of the hub for my boyfriend's sister's graduation from bc, and had an amazing experience. we loved the food, drinks and service. the chef sent out a pineapple coconut chilled soup shooter to start us off, which was refreshing and tasty. i started with the beet salad as an appetizer, which had both golden and purple beets and was garnished with pistachios and the freshest, creamiest goat cheese i have had in a while. a few others at the table ordered "barry's scallops," which were cooked perfectly, leading my boyfriend to wonder just who barry was and how his scallops were so delicious. for my entree, i ordered the grilled swordfish special which was topped with arugula and had a side of potato gnocchi and charred green beans. a few others also ordered this, and not one of us had a bite remaining. my boyfriend ordered the lamb shank, which came with creamy mashed potatoes, an excellent onion jam, and asparagus. we all loved the entrees, and his sister also really enjoyed the tuna. besides the food, the drinks were excellent as well. the peach martini was really sweet, but in a good way, and strong. the mango mojito was extremely refreshing, and we all enjoyed the pinot noir that we got for the table. overall, we had such a fantastic experience, topped off with a special dessert for the graduate that had a congratulations message in chocolate.
(5)
Tommy W.
Experienced excellent customer service from our waitress. Hostesses - some were nicer than others. View was excellent on the 52nd view - def. one of the best in Boston. Prix Fixe menu provided good value but was 4/5 stars. Overall, great experience.
(4)
Chris G.
Here's the thing - you can't beat the view. Whether you are visiting Boston for the first time or have been in town for years (like us), it is definitely worth taking the roller-coaster-like elevator ride to the 52nd floor and grabbing a table for a drink or two. We grabbed a bite to eat with some friends the other night, and the food was okay. The Lobster soup was definitely a stand-out, but the Caesar salad was over-dressed and a bit fishy (from the anchovy in the dressing). The Kobe beef hot dogs were okay... a bit too "Fenway" for fine dining. The chicken flat bread was bland. The mussels were pretty good. Until... We had a wonderful waitress who unfortunately spilled our incoming tray of waters all over my girlfriend and our friend. The water also got all over the table in addition to their laps, and into the mussels that had just arrived. Of course, these things happen, and we don't blame the waitress. However, what bothered us the most is that first of all, we did not receive an apology from the manager, and secondly, they didn't take the mussels off the bill! When we enquired, the waitress finally obliged. We couldn't believe it was even a question. Luckily, the picturesque view on the way out relieved our frustration. All in all, Top of the Hub is a one hit wonder. We won't be back soon.
(3)
Zack A.
First off the calamari is awesome. May take a while for a seat but you are trying to eat at a well known restaurant overlooking the city on the 52nd floor, what do you expect? Stop complaining the host or hostess didn't greet you properly, the magic of Boston is it is a melting pot of people from all over the world and they may believe they greeted you sufficiently. Also it does not matter The views are amazing, regardless of the reviews of food the views are what you pay for and worth every penny at sunset. Ask for Travis he was my waiter and was very polite and knowledgable, especially on wines.
(5)
Enay V.
From the time we walked into the door until the time we left, it was a great experience. We had a 6:30 reservation - perfect time for a sunset - and got a window seat. Xavier, our waiter, asked us if it was a special occasion (anniversary) and got our drink order and later, explained (in detail) ever special that was offered. He answered all of our questions and even mentioned for me (a non-drinker) that there were non-alcoholic drinks that were nice (which I got a pina colada - so good!). From the waiters, to the bus boys, to the chefs, everyone seemed to take their job seriously & did it so well. My husband had the tasting menu, I had the beet tartare & butternut squash - all were exceptional. For our dessert, we each got "Happy Anniversary" written in chocolate on the bottom of our plates with candles. Loved it. I'll definitely be back!
(5)
Jonny C.
I will not eat here. But I will entertain clients, have a nightcap, sip a bourbon and just soak in the ambiance: old school, swanky, piano and jazz bar, 360 degree amazing view, great cocktails. Uniquely Boston only because it is in Boston, this type of bar exists in every major US city, and the Top of the Hub does it very well. -1 star, because even if they are dead, and there are ample empty tables, they stick stringently to the table minimum policy. Quite the spot.
(4)
Kathleen F.
We came here for drinks with my boyfriend's dad and his wife. Our waiter was friendly but informed us that there were some pretty big minimums to sit at a table, aka we had to have at least 2 drinks and some food. We had already had dinner and drinks so we weren't thrilled at the prospect, but thought it might be nice to give the restaurant and bar there a shot so we sat down and began to order. Our waiter was very nice and we ordered some cocktails off the menu and a dessert. The cocktails were horrible for the price. Overly sweetened and just not mixed very well. They reminded me of the type of drink that you would get at the Cheesecake factory and not at a pricey nice Boston restaurant. We ordered their strawberry shortcake dessert as well, yet again something overly sweetened and not done with a lot of thought, another cheesecake factory style dessert. Definitely not what you would expect at this cailber of a place. We also were walking around because we had never really been up there before and were told we could walk around. We wandered near the dining area but hesitated because we weren't sure if we could go in, but my boyfriend's dad wanted to just got through quickly to look out the windows. He was yelled at very rudely by some extremely rude staff members. It would have been nice if they told us the area we could walk in, even better if there was a sign saying not to go int he dining area, and way better if we were spoken to nicely. I will not be taking out of towners up here again just not worth it.
(2)
Thuy L.
I agree that food is just okay. However, what makes this place better than others is the view. Where else can you have freshly baked cookies while overlooking the city of Boston? And their 5-course Sunday brunch is not too shabby either, but again, I might have been persuaded by the view. Meals are expensive which is why I don't really suggest coming here for a real meal. My suggestion: come here late night, take in the view, get the warm cookie plate, and a cocktail. You'll feel on top of the world.
(4)
Susan L.
This place was recommended for its spectacular view and it certainly didn't disappoint. I arrived around 12:30 on a Friday without reservation and was seated immediately (party of 1). I wasn't seated right next to the window but had an unobstructed view from my table of some skyscrapers and the Charles River. I had the Cesar salad with salmon, which was tasty but nothing spectacular. Service could be faster - I was seated immediately but waited a few minutes before getting a menu and a bit longer before having my order taken. Perhaps this wouldn't be so noticeable if I had a fellow diner to remark on the spectacular view, but I typically travel alone for work. The view is breathtaking but the food and service definitely pale in comparison.
(3)
Justin J.
Went here on a date. The view was really great to see, despite the cloudy night and not getting a table near the windows. Service was great. Food breakdown: Lobster bisque- delicious, a bit on the salty side. Buffalo cheese and beet salad- decent, nothing special really... Scallops- Really good. Well cooked, though the other items on the plate didn't seem to mesh too well with the dish overall, the scallops were delicious. Veal- Large portion of meat but a bit tough though extremely juicy. Creme Brulee and blueberry upside down cake- both left something to be desired. We didn't finish either one of our desserts.
(3)
Michael G.
The view is great, but that is about all. Do not come in here for a late night drink, and expect good service. I came in last night to celebrate a friend's birthday, and ordered an expensive bottle of champagne. The server poured it, and came back two minutes later to inform us that we needed to pick up the pace. We had 40 minutes left before closing. He continued to fill my glass with each and every sip, reminding me constantly that we were an inconvenience to him. I have never experienced worse service. What's worse, the management was nowhere to be found during the ordeal, and has not replied to an email about my experience. If you cannot provide guests with good service late night, than you should not be open late night, and you certainly shouldn't sell a guest a nice bottle of champagne, then rush them through its consumption. What a terrible experience. Wish I could give 0 stars.
(1)
Sandy B.
As a restaurant, this place is just so-so. It gets bumped up for being a cute, albeit tourist-y, experience with a great view. The restaurant is aware that they offer an awesome experience that everyone wants to see, so the food is a little lacking and the prices are a little too high. The service isn't all that great either. I've heard all sorts of things about how this place has a dress code. I walked in and was greeted by a hostess in jeans, with her hair in a messy ponytail. Apparently patrons need to look nice, but the employees can look like college kids going to an 8am class. Am I being kind of a bitch? Yes. Yes I am. I just think this place is a little silly. They set a standard for themselves and then fall short all on their own doing. It could be so much better. Instead, it merely offers a window frame around a beautiful view.
(3)
Jason L.
(3.5 stars - RW lunch) I assume this place is one of those touristy "must-see" areas now. But, for good reason. Dining on the 52nd floor for these prices is one of those things you should do before you leave Boston. Oh, and first time I've seen raisin/walnut bread in the breadbasket! Here's the food I tried: Tomato bisque - creamy, and not too heavy, which I liked. Scallops, potato fingerlings, chorizo emulsion - the scallops themselves were seared and seasoned perfectly with the correct tenderness. The potatoes were a tad undercooked, and while the overall dish was plated well, seemed like the accompaniments of the emulsion and salsa verde were more for show than anything. Creme brulee - huge portion. Classic dessert, was made fine, with the nice crispy finish from the pastry torch, with a dollop of mascarpone and a blackberry. Cherry napoleon, brandy anglaise - beautiful plating. It was quite stingy on the actual cherries or cherry flavor, more as if just a cream filled napoleon decorated with a couple cherries inside. Messy to eat, the anglaise was nice and rich, but lacked the brandy flavor I was expecting. It's a nice and classy place, and the food was on-par, with nothing below average. However, I probably wouldn't pay these prices for a casual dinner out (someone wanna treat me?) unless it was a visitor from out-of-town or a special occasion, because honestly we all know you come here for the view... which, by the way, is gorgeous. *comment on the service - fast, and attentive almost on par with the major elite places in Boston. However, first the soup was spilled accidentally when it was placed down by a busboy. Our waiter, who was GREAT, apologized and joked "oh he's new here." It was absolutely nothing to worry about at all. Then, the champagne tasting as part of the wine flight, came halfway through dessert....(ok not a big deal, still a good meal). Then, our waiter just so happened to charge us for dinner prices instead of lunch. Good thing we caught it.... (first two things, not a problem at all, but then to top it [no pun intended] all off, the bill issue at the end, and forgetting an order of sparkling water makes me think he was a bit cursory on our table). Food (6.5/10) Plating (5/5) Service (3/5) Decor (6/5) - Ok I gave a 6 for the view.....
(3)
Megan S.
So you can wait in line with the tourists and pay $13 to see a view of Boston from the top of the Pru . . . or you can go one flight higher for FREE and have a tasty (albeit pricey) cocktail and look out the window without the crowds. Best time to go is when the sun is setting. Second best is later at night when there's free jazz. Hot tip: Beware, do not go wandering around the restaurant to look out the windows. You will get in trouble. (ask my mom)
(4)
Elizabeth C.
A little late in writing a review, but better late than never, as the saying goes......My husband & I had dinner there a couple of years ago, & we remember it fondly, as one of our BEST dining experiences EVER! From the moment we set foot in the restaurant, we were treated & served like royalty. We went for a 5 course dinner, that was DIVINE! The view is HEAVENLY. This restaurant is worth it in EVERY way.
(5)
Stephanie S.
For such a well regarded and expensive place (restaurant week or not) my recent experience of Top of the Hub was not that good. I took my sister there for her birthday as a special treat last Sunday. When I made the reservation, I asked for a seat by the window and was told they can't guarantee anything -- but I was hopeful. We were seated in what they call the "lounge" area and not the dining room. While my sister was happy with the view of the city, I was annoyed that we were stuffed in among the tourists who just come in for a drink, sit on the couches, and take photos. As we were trying to enjoy our meal several different tourists came by and snapped pictures right over us or got behind our seats. After about 3-4 people did this, one of the hostesses finally asked them to stop. In addition to that, we had a three-course meal in which two of the courses came out within 17 minutes of our arrival. I had to ask the waiter to stall the dessert round so we could enjoy our dinners. My meal was disgusting and so covered in oil that I could barely get the noodle to stay on my folk. My sister, however, enjoyed her dish (spare ribs). The only positives: 1) our waiter was very nice and attentive. He too was annoyed that our courses came out so fast and he asked the chef to accommodate a vegetarian on the restaurant week menu (despite my meal being terrible) and 2) the dessert. I ordered the banana bread with peanut butter topping. It was great and the portion was just right. When I moved to Boston 6 years ago, I remember being turned away at The Top of the Hub because my co-workers were in sneakers. I wish they still had such dress requirements and better management these days!
(2)
Jill G.
Gorgeous view, but make sure you go on a clear night! Kind of pricey, but truly the prettiest view of the entire city. I recommend it mostly for tourists!
(4)
Regan C.
I used to go here for dinner a lot, but now I'm liking going here for lunch. This is one of those places where it's normal to drink two glasses of wine at lunch, THANK GOD. I simply don't see a problem with having a few glasses of rose champagne at lunch, and neither do my servers or anyone else around me when I'm here. If I'm with a few people, I almost always recommend the brie and walnuts as a starter, or dessert. It really does work as both. The fig jam that is served with it is so yummy! My most recent lunch consisted of the open-faced salmon sandwich, but their salads are also pretty solid. The only reason why I'm not giving this place four stars is becase service is a little slow at lunch time. Yes, I'm drinking, but that doesn't mean I want to be up there for an hour and a half. Lately, I've been telling me servers that I'm in a bit of a rush and that seems to speed things up, but it just seems like common sense that lunch on a weekday should be less than an hour.
(4)
Samantha s.
I loved the atmosphere but was not impressed with the food (nor the desert) I actually thought the food was not as good as something I would eat at Friday's Unless someone's taking you there that's paying lol I'd say go with your girlfriends, get dressed up and have a few drinks on the bar side. Save you cash for Dominos afterwards.
(3)
Jerett G.
I came here for lunch one day as I was told that the views of Boston from the restaurant where unbeatable. They definitely where not wrong. We didn't have a reservation which I thought was going to be the downfall of this excursion, but after a short wait we where seated at a table. Now it wasn't on the window Like I had hoped, but you still where able to see spectacular views of the city out of the floor to ceiling windows. Being in Boston I had to get some sort of seafood soup. Since I had clam chowder the night before I figured I would give the lobster bisque a try. I only have three words to describe it, "Oh my God." it was amazing. It had large chunks of lobster and it must have taken me fifteen minutes to eat it as I was savoring every spoonful. For my actual lunch I had the steak sandwich which was good, not the best I have ever had, but good none the less. The service was a little slow, but our waiter was nice which made up for the speed. Plus enjoying the view for a little longer was nice to. This is a great to go on a first date or if you are visiting Boston as the atmosphere and the views are worth it alone. This would even be a great place to grab a few drinks as the bar and lounge have views as well.
(4)
Mike L.
Good service and great view (obviously) but the food was mediocre and way over priced. Just because the restaurant is sky high doesn't mean the prices for this so-so food should be.
(3)
Heather B.
The view gets 5 stars. The attitude gets 2. I've come to Top of the Hub a few times to show out-of-towners the best view in the city. We always go for drinks only. The first couple times, we were seated near a window and treated well. But more recently the staff has been snippy with people who just want to get a couple drinks - not stay and eat. They'll tell you to stand at the bar only, and if you drift off to the side to try to look around the shelf of liquor and actually see the view, they'll come by and request that you step back in front of the bar. Yes, I know we're not there for the full restaurant experience, but the attitude still rubs me the wrong way. If you want a table near a window to relax with a couple drinks, I'd highly suggest coming during brunch hours on a weekend day. Otherwise, be ready to stand at the bar and not see the view.
(4)
Matt E.
Spectacular View Awesome Food Great drinks Kick Ass Jazz Band I love this place!!
(5)
Jay W.
Had a reservation far in advanced and did not get a good table. We were told that a window table was a 45 minute wait due to people arriving early. It was bullshit. The wait staff was great, the hostest was not. The bathrooms were gross. Picked the chef's tasting menu. The froie gras was very good, as well as the salmon. However very small portions considering the price. It was more of an amuse bouche. We got a bottle of wine so our bill was 300 dollars for two people- definitely feel like we could have gotten a better meal at Capital Grill. Less than an hour later I got very sick. I felt awful. My boyfriend felt awful. I was up all night. 300 dollar meal down the toilet. Literally. Out dated, mediocre at best, and most likely not meeting quality standards.
(1)
Monica R.
First time and my experience was not great. We go in, no one acknowledge that we are there. We tried to get drinks at the bar, but it was too crowded. We decided to get a table and get a couple of drinks. Nice table, in front of the jazz band, so i am ok, first impression was not great bit I will give a second chance. The waiter was friendly, took our drink orders and came back to the table with the drinks within a good time frame. Then like 10 min later, he comes and states that there is $24 minimum per person. First of all you shulf have mentioned that before you served us the drinks, and at the very least the host should have mentioned it before they sat us down. First and last. I will never go back.
(2)
Alli B.
As a visitor to Boston, it was a "must" and without a doubt the view from here is FANTASTIC!! Menu is definitely over priced. I had a $17 salad and asked for no chicken (vegetarian) and they didn't give me any discount or options for exchange. Decent wine list but very few beer options. Reservations were not needed which was nice. And the live jazz music was a great touch! I would definitely recommend for visitors but I would suggest a drink and then move on to other local hot spots!
(3)
Alison D.
I used to come to the Prudential with visitors and go to the sightseeing floor. Now I know better - bring them here and spend that money on a drink instead! I've also come for dinner during Restaurant Week. The food is excellent, it's a great atmosphere, and you can't go wrong with the views.
(5)
Edwin M.
I'm glad I'm seeing an average 3 1/2 star rating for top of the hub, because that's what they deserve from me. Don't get me wrong, the food was good and the location and ambiance were fantastic. But service and courtesy goes a long way with me, and unfortunately I had a bad experience walking in the door. Top of the Hub has a no hat policy. I had on a Kangol hat walking in. Now the right thing to do would of been to stop me politely, introduce yourself, kindly explain the policy and ask for me to remove my hat. Bottom line, that didn't happen. The manager had to jump in to correct the first person who I have no idea who she was to properly address me. Wasn't the way to start the night with me, and left a bitter taste with me the rest of the night. On a plus note, I got in a better mood after the 3 craft brews I had in a row that had 10% alcohol content. Of course my wife loved it, as I'm sure most women would. (because of the view). If I came back here, it wouldn't be because I wanted to.
(3)
DD T.
You have to come here because it's one of the must-dos if you live in Boston. Swing by anytime for lunch or drinks during the day, and you don't need a reservation but pretty much given a seat by the window. For dinner, you'd better make a reservation. Otherwise you'll only get to sit/stand at the bar and most of the time ignored by the bar tender. Food and service are good. People had been telling me this was a mediocre restaurant relying on its prime location, and my first visit there changed my mind. The servings are huge though. Desserts are awesome.
(4)
Meems D.
Okay, I must admit after reading all these reviews, I was anticipating on meeting Hannah! I was expecting to wait for an hour and get bad seating since it was a Saturday night and all. As I walk out of the elevator, the hostess greets us immediately, inviting us in while herding the crowd to either sides of the room, asks us if we had a reservation which we did and also requested a window seat, moments later, the hostess brings us to a non-window table but at the same time, 3 parties were getting ready to leave their window tables, so I asked if we can sit there and surprisingly they didn't give me a problem. Guess I got lucky! WOOOO!! As soon as we sat down, the view was gor-geous! So gorgeous that people kept walking up to the window next to my table to look at the view, every time that happened, our waiter would come out of no where and ask them to kindly leave so they won't disturb us, it became quite comical after a while but BOY, did that feel good every time that happened! Our waiter was very nice and knowledgeable, he catered to our needs as much as he was able to however, the bread they serve were pretty gross, it was cold and as hard as a rock! Decided to skip out on that, my guest and I both ordered the Pre-fixed menu and 2 bottles of wine! My spicy lobster soup was too sweet for me to make it worse there was a piece of hair in it!!!! Like, OMG eww! Then it took about an hour for our entrees to come out but we didn't mind cause we had the view and bottle of wine to keep us entertained, when it did come out, it was mui excellente, although, I was looking for more strands of hair... For dessert, don't ever get the gut drenching chocolate ginger mousse cake, it looks very unpleasant and oh what's the word...BOOTLEG!! honestly a dessert that looks like it came out of a box from stop & shop. Go for the melt in your mouth creme brulee!! After 2 1/2 hours of wining and dining, it was overall an okay experience, yes the waitering service was good but I did find it odd that our waiter would curtsey us every time he came over, he wouldn't even look us in the eyes! Odd fellow... 3 stars for the cold and hard bread, the hair in my soup, 1 hr wait for the entree, no jazz music (the musicians were basically sitting on the stage the entire time), people coming over to the table to look out the window, some of them didn't even walk all the way to the window and only stood in front of our table to look at the window which felt like they were watching us eat, but we still tipped the waiter 20% cause we're such nice people!!! awww
(3)
Nora N.
The best crab cakes i've ever had! The view of the city below is beautiful! My only comment is that there is a long delay between services...I almost got hungrier after the first course :)
(4)
Billy B.
My boyfriend took me here for my birthday dinner and It was a great experience! The view was spectacular! Service was excellent, from the hostess, to the servers..they were very efficient, and considerate of our time since we had a show to catch after dinner. Food.. we got the 3 course menu with wine pairing and everything was just perfect. Dessert... one of the best Creme Brulee i have savored! Ambience, romantic! It was a great birthday present from the best boyfriend in the world!! So when you are in Boston, do not miss this place! :))
(5)
Anne W.
I went here finally for food... and if you didn't know.. if you only come for drinks.. you are indeed banished to only one side of the floor. On the restaurant side, you can finally enter the other side. My intention was to go here for Restaurant Week. The place is known to be a little pricey so I thought I was being smart by going here then. The view was gorgeous but of course the restaurant did not make this. So regardless of the food and service... people will continue going here of course. They also are one of the only restaurants that did not confirm my reservation which was surprising... it's high end but I guess they don't care. The service is less than stellar.. they hire probably mediocre to end of the road. When we first got there... we must have waited for over 10 minutes without an update of when our table was ready. Only when I went up again did they tell us it was already ready. The entire time throughout dinner.. the waiter was not attentive when he should have been (when we were waiting for water, drinks, and if our food was good)... and pushy when he shouldn't (collecting our bill.. clearing our table to get us out.. hey, I paid a lot of money to be here!). Sadly enough.. the restaurant week menu was pretty poor. You get exactly what you pay for which is sad. I expect restaurants not to lose money but break even and try to showcase good things... just so I would go back again. I ended up ordering off their more expensive menu of $55 for a three course which had much better selection. The food was a lot more yummy... Lobster Soup - Really good and very lobstery... there were chunks of lobster in it so it made it delish. Scallops - Three scallops on a bed of potatoes I think. The scallops were good but not the best I have ever had. I did not think too much of the potatoes. Should have provided more... Creme Brulee - I was dissapointed in this one... only because I went to Capital Grille the night before and it was soooo much better. My friend who actually went with the RW menu said that the pork tenderloin was so rock hard and overcooked.. bad. And my other friend who went for the prix fixe menu like me did not think her steak was salted enough. Who does not salt their steak and cooks it? Her lamb gnocchi was good though. We also tried the Purple Haze which tasted very Chambord-y. It was just okay... I still think overall it was an okay experience.. pricier than expected.. but it was Top of the Hub and the atmosphere was nice. Very romantic.. good date place.. probably not good for that proposal because the service is kind of bad.
(3)
Cris E.
Food is good, but nothing special. Great place to get together for drinks!! You're paying for the incredible view! Enough said.
(3)
S K.
The view is phenomenal and the food is good but not amazing. I would probably only come here for drinks and to sit in the lounge (they have jazz music starting at 8!). You can eat somewhere else for much cheaper. Service was great though!
(4)
Alyssa L.
I've been here a few times and had a fairly good experience, but the last time I went it made me want to never go back. We had a table of 10- yes, a big party, but we also had 2 waitresses, so it should have been easier. One waitress took a food order for half of the table and the other didn't, so the other half of the table was surprised to see food arrive. We spent the majority of the time asking if they remembered our water, Diet Coke, lamb burger, mac & cheese, etc. etc. We spoke with a manager who promised to take off the meals that arrived late (due to server error), and then she argued with us about the bill and said she couldn't let us eat "for free" (aka $200). There are now 10 people who probably won't go back or recommend the restaurant to anyone else. Don't get me wrong, the view is great - go up for a drink to see the view, but don't stay for dinner.
(2)
Yvette S.
Food was better than ok but not amazing for 100$ bill for two.......11$ for small cocktails. Amazing view And beautiful restaurant decor ....comfortable seating. Food was better than ok but not amazing for 100$ bill for two.......11$ for small cocktails. Amazing view And beautiful restaurant decor ....comfortable seating.
(4)
Mary A.
Food and service was exceptional. Martin was a phenomenal server and took care of everything before I could even think too!!! Stunning experience to accompany a stunning view of the city.
(5)
Rachel K.
This place clearly doesn't care about good service or their reputation. My group was rudely approached/ treated by the "hosts." Not allowed in, even to wait. No we were not drunk, we were appropriately dressed...not sure what the treatment was for. Tried to take a peak over the hosts shoulder to get a sneak of the view, and the host yelled at me not to bother the "paying diners" who were nowhere in sight. I understand they were busy and it was pretty full on a Saturday night, but there was no reason to be rude and lose future clientele. Not impressed.
(1)
Adriana T.
My BF and I went on Top of the Hub with another couple on a busy Saturday night. We arrived around 7:30PM and even though the party was incomplete we got sat right away not to mention that we didn't have a reservation. The restaurant was almost full when we got there and about 30 minutes later it was pact - and on top of that a lot of people were standing waiting for tables. They have a live band (jazz). It doesn't start playing until late (around 10pm). I liked it very much though. People were dancing and having a good time. The server came to the table right away to greet us and brought water. He came back about 5-10 minutes later to take our dink/food order. We got calamari and 2 drinks while waiting for our friends. I loved my martini - it was very, very strong and tasty!!! When our friends arrived and we ordered food the server couldn't remember who got the medium-rare burger and who got the medium one so the food ended up being switched..overall, I liked my dining experience there and I am looking forward to going back for diner and drinks again.
(4)
Sarah R.
This review is only for drinks - I've never eaten here. Top of the Hub is one of my favourite places to go for a drink in Boston, and somewhere we always try to take visitors. The view is just spectacular, and coupled with the atmosphere and service, it is a really special place. Arriving and travelling up in the lift is always pretty cool, and I have always found the hosts/hostesses to be really helpful and professional. Our visits are usually early evening, when it is pretty busy, but we have never had to wait more than a moment or two to be seated, and we've always had a great table near the window. As I mentioned above, the service has always been great - friendly and helpful. The thing that I really like about this place, though, is that the drinks are really reasonable. Given that it is a nice, smart bar with these spectacular views, you might expect to pay well over the odds for drinks - but it is really on a par with similar bars on the ground. I love the fact that it is not prohibitively expensive, and can be a treat without breaking the bank. Highly recommended.
(5)
Jade R.
*Restaurant Week Review I've been to plenty of restaurants for restaurant week and I have to say, Top of the Hub does not skimp out on the amount of food! Both appetizers: minestrone soup and a salad with goat cheese and grapes. The soup was mediocre, nothing amazing. The salad had all my favorite things so I can't complain about that one! Entrees: We chose the salmon and the pork loin. I loved the salmon way more than the pork, however, I felt both were a tad overcooked. BUT I did fall back in love with polenta (on the salmon dish). Dessert: The no bake cheesecake and the creme brule - How can you complain about dessert? Both were delicious! I left off one star simply because I wasn't "WOWed." Nonetheless, it was great!
(4)
Amit A.
Came here for a few drinks and something to munch on at the bar. The view is great but the prices are kind of steep but that's to be expected when you come to place like this. Never had dinner here because from what I hear the food is not that great.
(3)
Samantha G.
Let me preface this by saying that I went for lunch and got a great corner window table. (w/ Cassy H. See below) Had I not gotten that table, I'd give this a solid 3 stars. I was able to make a quick reservation online for 12:30 on a Saturday. Barely anyone was there, so we got that spectacular view. It was a clear day and absolutely gorgeous. Got the 3 course lunch for $22 deal. Normally I would expect that places with great views have mediocre (or at the very least, not-worth-what-you're-paying) food. I found that I was quite happy with my appetizer (salad) and entree (butternut squash pasta). My friend and I were a bit disappointed with our desserts. The creme brulee hadn't had enough time to set, so it was more like a custard than creamy and thick. The chef also put too much sugar on top, so instead of a light crunch, it was thick and burnt, getting stuck in your teeth. The ginger cheesecake was thick and gritty, not creamy. It crumbled when you put your fork through it, and the "ginger" part of it was barely noticeable. Good chef. Pastry chef needs work. By the time we left, the restaurant was packed to the brim. I recommend going at least once, going for lunch if you're on a budget, and getting there on the earlier side to ensure a better view.
(4)
Emily M.
I was highly disappointed in my experience at top of the hub this past Tuesday. I brought my boyfriend to the restaurant for his birthday. We had both taken the day off from work and we were excited for your first trip to top of the hub. We made reservations and we were seated at a beautiful window seat. My boyfriend ordered the pan seared haddock, lamb stew and creme Brule, which were all very good! Our water glasses remained empty for most of the meal, which is unfortunate, but not a deal breaker. I ordered the macaroni and cheese and explained that I'm a vegetarian. The waiter said no problem--he would ask for the bacon to be removed. Upon receiving my meal, I realized that it tasted strange and I asked him again if there was bacon in the meal. He said he asked the cook twice and there was not. I couldn't finish eating the meal... Call it vegetarian's intuition. He came out after the dishes were taken away and told me that the cook did actually use bacon in the dish. Having gone without meat for over eight years as a personal choice, I was shocked. I felt horribly sick. He expressed his apologies, but then billed me for the meal! My boyfriend, birthday now ruined, had to deal with asking a manager for the dish to be removed, since I was now feeling much more sick. Overall, as vegetarianism becomes increasingly popular, I would have expected such an establishment to ensure my dish was meatless, to recommend another dish if that was impossible, or to at least respond to their mistake in a more gracious manner.
(1)
jennifer r.
I visited the Top of the Hub on August 20th for the first time. The view was breathtaking, the live jazz band was absolutely magnificent. I recommend to try and get a window table, if possible. BUT the food was okay. I had salmon for dinner and I've definitely had better elsewhere.
(3)
Hristo K.
Pretty nice place for its prices.Love the jazz band.The food is ok,the service also.The only 2 things that are worth it to spend few dollars there is the view(obviously) and the live music.
(4)
VuAnh N.
Two of us came for a 7pm reservation on a Wednesday, which gave us a chance to see the daytime view as well as the night view when the sun set around 8:30. We had requested a window seat when we made the reservation, but we didn't end up getting one in the end.. guess it just depends on timing because they were pretty busy that day. The food was ok, some bread in the beginning, shared a crab cake for appetizer, which came out nicely presented with garnishes and everything in two separate plates, which confused me because I had only ordered one, and I guess it showed in my expression because the waiter went on to say that he asked the chef to cut the cake in half, as well as give us a little extra. That was a nice surprise. Then the entrees. The Atlantic salmon was pretty good, except for the eggplant under the salmon came out cold, not sure if it was supposed to be like that but it was a little off with the warmer salmon. Veal bone-in steak was a bit on the fatty side, not sure if that's how it's supposed to be, but definitely tender. Dessert- the lemon coconut mousse cake. light and lemony with bits of coconut, nothing special. We finished dining around 8:45 and by then the jazz band had started playing by the lounge, so we went to check it out. They had chairs and small tables there, woud be a nice place to come by and relax one night with a few drinks. Overall, great service and ambiance, not sure if the food is worth the price, but I guess you're paying for the views too.
(4)
Jillian G.
Horrible food, even worse service. Was so psyched to spend our 5 year anniversary here. Instead, I regret spending a single penny in this poor excuse of a restaurant. Waited 20+ minutes between courses and more than 30 mins to speak to a manager. Do not waste a second of your life trying to eat here when there are so many better options around in beantown.
(1)
Katie R.
This place could probably do better considering it's location. Empty at lunch time the food is OK, nothing spectacular and a little over priced. If you go make sure to ask to sit on the side with the city view. We ended up with a view of Milton. I have been to a party up on the viewing deck that this restaurant catered and the food for that was pretty good.
(3)
Jen G.
Nice atmosphere? uh huh. Gorgeous view of Boston? without question! Make a reservation? yeah you better. Knowledgeable and attentive waitstaff? yup. Prices compounded by floor height? oh yeah. Okay, whatever... lets talk about the LOBSTER SOUP! I've prepared some adjectives for the occasion: Mouthwatering. Spectacular. Smooth. Soul warming. Hint of spicy cooled down ever so softly with a sweet creaminess.... and the inexplicable quality that makes me have erotic dreams about it. Admittedly, not all adjectives. But uh yeah... soups good. So lets tally up my vote: +2 view and atmosphere +1 service -1 prices +1 amazing soup -1 claiming that 3 leafs of lettuce, 2 shreds of cheese, and 4 hard pebbles of bread is a ceasar salad. (I'll call this an audacity deduction) =3 stars. Go for the view, stay for the soup.
(3)
Ellen N.
I had been dying to go to Top pf the Hub ever since I moved to Boston and last night for my Birthday was finally my lucky day! I came here for the view and was not disappointed, how can you be? This lived up to my expectations and more. The food however is lacking, which is a shame given the hype. My boyfriend ordered a shrimp pasta meal and couldn't even finish it....and believe me this is the first time I have seen him leave a shrimp meal! It tasted like canned sauce and frozen shrimp. I had steak which was good, but nothing to write home about. We did express this to our waiter who did not seem to care either way. Over all the atmosphere and view don't quiet match up to the quality of food and service received. I hate places that know they can depend on their view (see Tavern on the Water) and cut corners in other ways. Bottom line, they can depend on their view, and for this reason I will be back....but I will probably stick to drinks.
(3)
Heather G.
The skinny: The service is phenomenal, the waiter was very attentive, jovial, fun, knowledgeable about the menu, and had some decent (not stellar, though) menu suggestions. He also let us sit there and enjoy our long dinner for...oh, over 3 hours. The view is amazing, the ambiance of the restaurant very romantic, and they even have a string quartet playing in the side room where you're encouraged to hang out, take in more views, and enjoy the music. Though I had a big coat and a large bag, I was not offered coat-check...was very disappointed in that, as it's generally pretty standard in a nice place. As I said, the service was great, the water was always filled, and they accommodated my multiple bread-requests quickly. The wine list is only mediocre. There were a couple bottles that looked nice to me, but by-and-large, not a great variation of offerings. For food: Ordered the crusted tuna with coconut rice. The tuna was so insanely overcooked that there was only a small patch of pink in the center. It was dry and required a lot of water to choke down. It came atop some sort of sweet soy glaze, which added both much-needed moisture and much-needed flavor. However, they didn't put nearly enough glaze on the plate to compensate for the large, dry chunk of whitish-brown tuna. It is served with a mound of coconut rice that was moister than the fish itself, but still pretty dry as well. Atop the rice was a mound of pea shoots, 3 or 4 edamame beans, and a couple slivers of mushroom. They must have been mainly for presentation, as there were so few of these toppings compared to the giant mound of rice. A bit more mushroom, edamame, and glaze would have gone a long way in saving this really dry and tasteless dish. I wouldn't order this again, it's very sub-par. The 1/2 roasted chicken was also ordered, and it looked nice and smelled aromatic like an upscale-buttery-fry (a la Hamersley's) and had a crisp, golden skin. There was a small snafu in eating it, though, because the meat was (obviously) littered with bones. Picking through the bones to get to the meat in the shallow bowl-like dinnerware it comes served in was inelegant, cumbersome, and difficult. The chicken was laid on a bed of diced veggies and some sort of cous-cous-type grain, and this accompaniment had very subtle flavor (read: bland-ish) but great texture. However, the chicken itself packed enough flavor for the entire dish. Dessert was a plate of warm cookies served with cream and berries on the side. This was easily the highlight of the meal. This is a great sharing-dish, as the plate comes filled (a dozen or so) of warm, chewy cookies right out of the oven. The assortment includes chocolate cookies with white chips, chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cookies, and some other sort that had oatmeal, but I couldn't quite pinpoint the exact flavors inside. Recommendation? I would skip dinner, come hang out at the bar, have a martini (skip the wine list), listen to the band, and perhaps get some delicious, warm cookies.
(3)
Diana A.
We ate in the lounge on a Saturday evening. The atmosphere is the best thing about the restaurant. The view is amazing (obviously) and there was a jazz trio performing as of 9 pm. The service was very good. Our server was friendly, attentive and prompt. The food was disappointing. My group of five ordered from the prix fixe menu. The haddock was ok. The hanger steak was bad. It was only luke warm and it was not a nice cut of meat. The fries and onions that accompanied the steak were cold. The Cobb salad and tempura shrimp were both fine but nothign to get excited about. Overall I would recommend going for drinks and dancing and the view but make sure to eat elsewhere. Atmosphere 10/10 Service 8/10 Food 6/10
(3)
Cara F.
This review is for a drinks and apps outing only - I haven't had a full meal here. Headline: Nice swanky date spot. Or double-date spot, in our case. I have to say, there is something I find very cool about being on top of tall buildings. It was foggy when we were there, which compromised the view, but that in itself was kind of interesting -- it felt like we were in a cloud. I also liked the interior ambiance; it was calm and relaxed, and didn't feel crowded even though it was full. On to the drinking! I was seriously impressed by the generously portioned and admirably strong cocktails. They are pricy, but this is one of the few places in the city where the drinks generally seem to be made from real ingredients, not syrups, and where the highball glasses are not filled with 4/5 ice and 1/5 beverage. I had the Boston Tea, which contains real black tea, lemon, St. Germain, and Absolut Boston, and I'm eager to recreate it at home. I also had tastes of my friends' Blueberry Mojito and Blackberry Goose, which were quite lovely as well. We were tempted to cancel our dinner reservations and just stick around for a meal, but settled on appetizers instead. I really enjoyed the kobe beef hot dog sliders. The dog itself is juicy beefy wonderfulness, but the bun! The bun is a buttery revelation! So for crunchy buttery mini-hot dog buns, for big glasses of booze, and for a place to sit in the clouds: four stars, Pru, four stars.
I went for lunch on a Friday afternoon. I took my out of town cousins here. The lobster soup was tasty. Once we ordered we got up to check out the view by the piano. The view was spectacular and we took some pictures. Our waiter told us we can see Fenway on the other side. We walked down a hallway to the view. Another waiter walked over and told us that we were not allowed back here. We explained that our waiter told us it was okay. He told us we were told wrong and to leave as there was a private party going on in one of the private rooms. The wait service was not great and the hostess when we arrived seemed mad that we made a reservation. Good to say I went but won't take people back to this place.
(2)
Tamara O.
A "touristy" restaurant with good food but bad service and not very exciting decor (except for the view). We went to the lounge area for brunch. The other people in the restaurant were clearly tourist that came in for the view. The decor is very simple, brown cafe tables, brown chairs, ugly yellowish ceiling, with nice big lamps. But the view is amazing so you get distracted and compromise the lack of decor. Our waiter was just below standards for a restaurant with those prices. I ordered a "fletbread" (as written on the menu) and when he came with the food he said "here is your pizza". Although I ordered diet coke I wanted some table water; he looked very annoyed when I asked for it. The food was excellent. We ordered a lobster bisque and tomato soup, and shared a scampi flat-bread. The lobster bisque had big chunks of lobster in it, and was delicious. The tomato soup was very well flavored. The flatbread was a bit too cheezy for my liking. I watch my calorie intake, so was hoping that a scampi flatbread would be less fat. Price: we payed $67 for two soups, two drinks (non-alcoholic) and 1 flatbread. The price is definitely steep, but you pay at least 20$ for the view. Overall: I will go back if a friend from out of town comes to visit. I would only go for drinks though.
(2)
Paul B.
What they said. The view is unbeatable - love watching the planes fly out of Logan, the harbor, Cambridge, etc. My wife and I went on a Sunday night and the bartender was just way off. I know it's a cliche but for these drink prices, the bartender should never have an off night. My wife ordered the berry bubbly martini. It was over-sweetened, almost like cough syrup. This was supposed to be a champagne cocktail but the bartender forgot the champagne. Next up was the pear drop martini. Better, maybe, but still way too sweet. I started with a single malt neat. Can't mess that one up, but the pour was a little stingy. My next drink was a Rob Roy which was just plain bad - drowning in ice chips and way too heavy on the vermouth. I'll chalk it up to an off night since I have had some great cocktails here, but they did mess up both rounds of drinks. It's unfortunate that with a view like this, they really don't have to be that good and people still keep coming. Also a pet peeve - lots of people go here wearing shorts and t-shirts. I know it's a nice place to go after sightseeing, but it does take away from the ambiance.
(2)
Claudia H.
After reading great reviews about the Top of the Hub, I decided to give it another try. This time, I went on a date and it was definitely a success... if you manage to be there at the sunset it really is beautiful! People say the food is over-priced, and maybe it's true, but I cannot complain on the quality: the tartar of Yellowfin Tuna was excellent and the 2lb lobster with crabmeat stuffing was nothing short of spectacular (ok, it was also $60!). You probably know this already but when you book a table, you cannot ask for a window-table in advance. If you don't want to be on a table in the middle of the room (and you definitely don't given that you go there for the view), you have to wait once there until a "side" table is available. I decided to wait, and the waiting time was really pleasant: the bar has good cocktails and there was a jazz band playing! Overall expensive but good!
(5)
Luke A.
I had never been here before. But i decided to give it a try, despite some of my friends saying that this place was not known for its food, but for its view, probably the best in the city. It's also not that cheap either, but when you're going to the top, you might as well go over the top too eh? anyways, i made a reservation for 8:30, and it seemed like a good time, i went on a tuesday, as it seemed moderately busy and hopping. The ambiance was nice, very casual and laid back with a flair of sophistication and elegance. Dim lighting and the jazz music was a nice touch, definitely a place for the business types and the occasional tourist. I got a window seat, which is a must if you come here, since this place is known for its great view, and started things off with a delicious blueberry mojito; this drink is a tad sweet, as i could still taste some chunks of the granulated sugar swirling in my drink. Drink about 3-4 of these and you'll have a good buzz and a cavity to go with it. I made life simple and got the Top of the Hub tasting menu. Everything was delicious, the portions were perfect, and i couldnt even finish the dessert. i was stuffed by the end, but it was a good pain. The Jonah Crab salad is amazing. The basil reduction olive oil that is used to garnish, flavor and enhance the dishes is ridiculously amazing. I literally wanted to lick my plates clean of it, it was so good. The beef tenderloin was delicious, bloody and full of juices, and the dessert of warm volcano chocolate cake and the cookie cone of vanilla ice cream was superb. The food was something that had my smiling, I felt like every penny spent was well deserved. The service was very good too, my waiter was quite helpful and friendly, never too intrusive and tried to make some small talk. Pretty much everything was beyond my expectations, and the bill wasnt too bad either. So my experience here was in short: Amazing. Come here for the special occasion, and make sure you go with a tasting menu. Takes away the hard work and disappointment of choosing something that you may not like even if it sounds good.
(5)
Natalie P.
amazing view. good service.
(4)
Puneet K.
Do not go there if you want any service. First the service was bad and when we complained the manager came and lectured us that how busy they were and so we should be quite. Then to top it off they got wait staff of inidan decent as if we are being discriminated against. I would encourage all Asian Indians to boycott this place. This is worst of any resturant in US I have ever visited. Boston is full of great places just go somewhere else.
(1)
Liana K.
Dinner is okay, well made but noting too noteworthy special. My favorite thing is to come around lunch-time or around sunset in the fall and just grab Lobster Bisque and chat while enjoying the view for a bit.
(4)
Jeremy O.
Yet another excellent Boston restaurant! Those NYC restaurants don't deserve their Michelin stars. Nice view of Boston too! And make sure you have a reservation if you are going on a Friday and Saturday night. Their tasting menu is worth every dollar.
(5)
Meghan P.
Top of the Hub is a great date spot because the views are unbelievable and the prices aren't as ridiculous as they could be for the sights. I always made a reservation before I came here for dinner because it can get a bit busy. Top of the Hub also tends to be fairly quiet because the tables aren't too close together so you can really hear the conversation with whoever you are with. The food is really good too, not the best you've ever had, but totally worth it for the view. There is a store that you walk by on your way out (once you take the elevator down to the bottom again) that sells chocolate covered strawberries which are delicious too! Not sure what it's called but you'll walk right past it...
(4)
Ian W.
I wanted to pick a very special place to mark my 500th review on Yelp. I will Yelp about one of my favorite restaurants in Boston, the Top of the Hub. A most wonderful place for a great dinner and a very popular tourist trap. The Top of the Hub is on the 52nd floor of the Prudential Center with breathtaking views of Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, Charlestown, Charles River & Bridges, the North Shore, Boston Harbor, and various Bohemian places in between. On a clear day, parts of Newton to the west and North Quincy way past the "gas tank" to the south can be seen. This is the perfect place for those special occasions such as romantic dinners, celebrations, or important business meetings. The menu here is very pricey, but this is one of those rare places that the food, the service and the atmosphere is worth paying for. I highly recommend making reservations unless you're just having for a few cocktails from the bar. I dined here a while back with a business associate and made a dinner reservation for 7:30 PM to avoid the peak dinner crowds. "Level 52 please!!!" We were seated by a window with a spectacular view overlooking Downtown Boston, WICKED COOL!!! It felt like we were literally on "top of the hub" although the John Hancock Tower is technically the tallest building in Boston. Light jazz music was playing in the background. We ordered from the Chef's Tasting Menu (prix fixe) minus the wine pairings since we decided on cocktails instead. The portions for each course were small and very nicely plated. We had samplings of Foie Gras, Lobster & Avocado Citrus Salad, Pan Seared Sea Scallops, Rare Tuna, Beef Tenderloin, & dessert sampler (bite size). All of the food was very interesting and delicious. I think even my sister, a chef in NYC, would be very impressed. The service here was stellar, attentive, and very professional. The pace of the meal was slow, but that's great so we could take in the views of the bright city lights and watch the planes takeoff and land at Logan. Our diligent waiter explained each course to us, described the food, kept our water glasses full, and kept the booze comin'. The best part was that my company picked up the tab for the $300 meal, much of it was booze. Drunky McDrunkerson has left the building!! I can't wait to have dinner at the Top of the Hub again. I was very impressed!! I hope next time I can take a very "special date" here, instead of coworkers.
(5)
Julian W.
I ate lunch here with a friend at 1pm on a Tuesday. I had made a reservation the day before online but when I got there I realized there had been no need for the place was pretty empty. One side of the restaurant was hosting some party or event but the side we were in the faced the Boston Common was empty with the exception of a party sitting a few tables away. The service was excellent and I was very pleased that they kept the water glasses filled. I drink a lot of water so many wait-staffs have had difficulty keeping up. The food was brought out quickly but they made it clear that we were welcome to take our time and enjoy. I ordered the Macaroni and Cheese and while pretty expensive ($18) it was probably the best and richest Mac and Cheese I have ever eaten. I was only able to eat 1/3 of it and it made for an excellent meal later. My friend got a Chicken sandwich and he said it was great. The view was amazing and alone worth the price of our meal. I would come back for lunch again! They also seem to be extremely vegetarian friendly!
(4)
Lana R.
Every big city has this kind of place and I try to go there. Boston is just one of them. It is obviously expensive. Has nice cocktails and food. Very typical and nothing phenomenal for this kind of place. I guess if you travel to Boston it is a must.
(4)
Doris T.
I have only been here once when we were being pampered by my graduate school for recruitment. I have just one word for it -Fancy! The food is probably like any other gourmet restaurant but the service and presentation were excellent. The best part about dining here is the gorgeous view of all of Boston. We were blessed with a spectacularly clear day and it was totally worth it! I am more than certain that this place is slightly on the expensive side (not having had to pay the first time around) but I would love to come here to celebrate something special. The Harvard folks wanted to buy us into joining them for the better part of our lives for meager stipend and the Top of the Hub did the trick! Sold! ;)
(4)
Eric F.
Came here last night for drinks in the Jazz lounge and I really enjoyed the cozy feel and, of course, the fantastic view. Though the wine offerings were a bit lackluster and pricey, I did like the vegetarian black bean burger and fries. It inspired enough confidence in me to give them a shot for dinner at some point. Regardless, I'd definitely come back again for the music and lounge.
(4)
Ashley M.
Hands down one of the best brunch locales in Boston. I enjoyed, yet again, the Sunday pre-fixe brunch with my best friend and her three small children for her birthday this weekend. The variety of selections, all a unique twist on more classic brunch fare (beef short ribs benedict - divine) never ceases to amaze me. The "chef's gift" as they call their amus bush was a delightful fruit/yogurt/granola parfait. I followed my morning treat with the angel hair and asparagus frittata, salmon atop a bed of citrus polenta with a corn cream, and the most delightfully rich yet refreshing (and enormous) key lime tart. Even the kids devoured their meals (children eat from the adult pre-fixe menu at a reduced cost of $24 rather than the $39 for adults). Wait staff - equally as spectacular as the food. Ask nicely and they will gladly show children the kitchen. Oh, and there is this view...
(5)
Aaron K.
I gave this place four stars because it accomplished what I wanted out of it. A nice anniversary dinner that was classy. We didn't get a window seat which I was extremely disappointed by, but the view was still good from our table. We did go look out the window by the jazz band setup after our meal and we were able to take in some of the view from there. Some of the food is mediocre, some is good. The caesar salad was really good, don't know if you can justify paying 9$ for a small salad though. I had the lamb which was pretty good, my girlfriends dish wasn't good though. Cookies are overrated, not good, cheesecake dessert is 2 times as good and half the price (go downstairs for dessert). Back to the classy, the service was outstanding. Even though we are on the younger side, and look even younger than our age we were treated with great respect and i felt like a millionaire dining here. My waiter was dressed almost as nice as me (hard to accomplish). He seemed like a classy butler out of some movie or tv show. The service was slow, on purpose, as it was meant to be a nice long romantic dinner. Make sure you have a conversation when you dine here, cause you will be sitting for a very long time, especially between each course you order! The view can be half of your conversation though, it is that good. So if you want to wow your significant other with a great classy atmosphere, which is romantic, or you're looking for that right special occasion place I say come here. For a regular night out I don't see why you would come here with the prices so high and food not so good.
(4)
m f.
This place was great, especially for taking a friend in from out of town to really 'show off Boston". The food was good (tuna tartare and chocolate praline cake) and the wine list was classy without going overboard. Will definitely take more visitors there.
(5)
Jeff S.
Let's put this in perspective...the Skywalk, which is one floor down (or up?) is $13. If you subtract from the cost of your food, then this goes from "overpriced" to "high end." My main complaint is...variety? For a supposedly high end restaurant, you don't get many choices (and one of them is a burger). I ended up with the prix fixe meal ($38, I believe), which was "hanger" steak, fries, Cobb salad, and creme brulee for dessert). It was all right, but hardly anything to salivate over. .
(2)
Andrew K.
What a beautiful, elegant space. AMAZING views from the 52nd story, relaxing jazz band. Great! We arrived after midnight and they told us $24 minimum per person. I think minimums are totally lame. Ironically, the prices aren't bad. So, they basically force you to gorge yourself right before bed, which is bad for society. Either way, if/when my mom is back in Boston, she's coming here. But, well before midnight.
(4)
Ryan M.
The atmosphere is great, had a few drinks at the bar...(for the life of me, can't understand why they cover the view with the design of the bar) but had some good drinks, then were seated for dinner. Our seats were on the Charles River side, but we were happy with that. Dinner was very good, other than the scallops- everything else was very good and we will return upon another big occasion. This is a great spot, with a great view. It's pricey but if you have this view and good food, and still complain about the prices then you probably shouldn't be in the restaurant in the first place. I'd recommend.
(4)
Kevin T.
Lets face it, you get the most amazing and gorgeous view of Boston from this location. I usually take all of my friends who are visiting to this place. It is a bit of a fancy place, but there really isn't a dress code implemented. I just wouldn't show up in shorts and flip flops. If you plan on coming here for drinks, I highly recommend just getting a table with a great view of the city. There is a $23 minimum per person if you are planning on sitting at a table. This is not that bad, considering how each drink is around $12 anyway. My only complaint about sitting at the bar is that with all of my experiences, the bartenders are a bit rude. I would much rather sit at a table comfortably with friendly waiters who are attentive. Their food is actually pretty decent as well...I would highly recommend the kobe beef hot dogs....the bun is a bit buttery...but it makes it taste oh so good. As for drinks, I haven't had bad experiences with any of their mojitos yet...try the mango flavored one..its a definite winner! Oh yeah, how can I forget...they have an amazing jazz band playing live every night.
(4)
Kevin T.
Stop number 2 on my weekend in Boston. Came up here for a nice lunch with a gorgeous view, on the one clear day of our visit. Having just visited Chicago 2 weekends ago, the view is obviously not as spectacular as from the Hancock tower, but it was refreshing and relaxing. I ordered the Prix Fixe lunch. Tomato bisque soup was a tad bland, but good (also, props for not tasting like Chef Boyardee tomato sauce). The fish that I ordered was cooked really well, though the portions were small. Also, the weird potato crepe wasn't very good. However, I WILL rave about the dessert here. I ordered the apple bread pudding, which was absolutely delicious, full of nuts, and with a dollop of vanilla ice cream. Then my friend ordered the "Array of Freshly Baked Cookies" or "Cookie platter" as he called it. 12 fresh from the oven, fall apart in your hands, freaking amazing cookies. There were 4 varieties; chocolate chip, peanut butter, oatmeal raisin, and pistachio. They were all so good. They literally fell apart as I tried to carry them 6 inches from the platter to my plate, yet the bottoms were crispy...we surmised that they must have torched the outsides to get them that perfect. Great view, OK food, amazing desserts. I'd say it's an awesome place for a date... Or just a fun place to hang out with some friends =)
(4)
Timmy V.
The girlfriend and I used to always hit up this hot spot for the drinks, atmosphere, fresh baked cookies and cream, and the fantastic jazz band. It was until about a 2 years ago we stopped going because at the times we went there was no minimum charge per table. Now there is a minimum charge of $40 per person after 8:00pm. I find this to be absolutely absurd and does nothing more than turn away potential customers. Not everyone is a high roller and can afford the prices here. I will forever stop going here until they change this to make it fair to everyone. These are tough times, and we need to stick together.
(1)
Jessica G.
*This is a review for the bar and lounge area only.* We are going to specify that it is 4 stars for the view and the drinks, 3 for the food and 2 for the service. However, the view and drinks outweigh the food and service. So go here, but go here knowing that the service will be hit or miss. Okay - most of the time the servers will be a miss. They will appear disinterested and they will treat you as though you are a burden. The food is just okay. Nothing to rave about. What we will tell you about is how fantastic their drink menu is. Also, they frequently have live jazz in the dinner hours, which makes the experience there even better. So go, take in a view of the city like no other, and enjoy a few cocktails and maybe an appetizer or two. Just make sure it's a clear day.
(4)
Sean D.
This review is based only on the late night menu and not their dinner menu. We went here with some of our out of town friends to show them some of the wonderful views of Boston and get some food. The hostess informed us that there was a minimum of $25.00 per person otherwise we could not get a table next to the window. There were six of us so I guess $150.00 plus maybe 18% tip. The other option was to sit at the bar which is at the center of the restaurant with no views. When these knuckleheads decided to open a restaurant on top of a building chances were people would come here for two reasons. "The food" and "The view". On a week night when there were literally two tables occupied in the entire restaurant this whole minimum charge per person is a little ridiculous. We ordered a bunch of different dishes. The food is nothing spectacular. Just decent enough to be a late night menu. The waitress was totally dis-engaged. She told us that it was a long day and that she was dieing to get out of there. This was confirmed when she came to our table and asked us if we wanted any dessert even before we got our food. Unbelievable. Sweetheart, Its time to find a new day job. The whole check was about $130.00 bucks. We really couldn't eat or drink anymore. They did charge us the difference plus we left a 18% tip based on a $150 check minimum. Five stars for the View Five stars for the fantastic Jazz band. (The bass player sounded like Ray Brown).
(2)
Southie G.
You come to the Top of the Hub to experience an amazing view and a quality level of service. This is a MUST SEE if you are visiting Boston on vacation. That being said, as a Boston resident, this is not a place I would come to on a regular basis. The staff pushes you to order the most expensive items on the menu, and when you fail to do so, your table is no longer a priority. The food is wonderful but not the best in Boston. Bottom line, the Tub of the Hub is all about the experience. Best view in the city, fancy dining room. If your taste buds are your primary motivation, check out another spot.
(3)
Jennifer H.
I'm a sucker for views for miles, this one from the 52nd floor of the Pru. It was a brisk but clear day in Boston. I had the lemondrop with ginger , my friend the equivalent of a Kir Royale martini. We got a table right by the window and looked out on the airport and Back Bay.
(5)
Jamie R.
Didn't have high expectations, and the experience was even worse then I had anticipated. A friend of mine and I decided to have an impromptu late lunch on Wednesday afternoon. The view was great. Larry our server came up, and his demeanor was off-putting to start. It was far too casual, and almost bumbling. It put me off immediately. Having not researched, but knowing it was Restaurant Week, my friend asked if he could see a Restaurant Week menu. The server proceeded to tell us, "Well lunch ended at 2:30, and dinner starts at 5:30, but I can get it for you." It was around 3:30 at this point, and his response what a bit patronizing. Obviously we could've done the research beforehand, but this smugness was uncalled for. Clearly we weren't looking to wait two additional hours to have the dinner menu, so we declined his generous offer to get us the useless Restaurant Week menu. My friend ordered a drink immediately, a Ruby Manhattan I believe, which he loved. I settled on a glass of Cabernet on Larry's suggestion, and it was fantastic. My friend ordered a Pulled Pork sandwich, which was served with chips. He said it was ok. He did finish his entire plate, so it must have been pretty good. I had the 3-course $40 menu, and started with a Cobb Salad which was you know, a Cobb Salad. Good. I ordered my steak medium rare, and it came out mostly well, with some med well pieces, and maybe a low-rent chain's definition of medium. It was a very thin cut of beef, so I made sure to cut it all into slices to get a better sense of how overcooked it was. It was bad. The well done pieces tasted of char, or as my friend said "Like a really bad Burger King burger." Larry never did a check back with us, and never asked me how I was enjoying my meal. It was pretty slow, and I saw him walk by a few times, but he didn't stop by once to ask how our meals were. He even came by and cleared my friends dish away, all the while I had barely touched my steak. He eventually comes over to remind me I have Creme Brulee coming. I'm a pretty big dude, so if he actually thought a small Cobb Salad, and a bite or two of steak filled me up, that's a poor judgment call. At this point I finally get to tell him how overdone the steak was (this was about 15 minutes after he had cleared my friend's plate). He told me in his opinion it was medium, and asked me if I wanted to have another one. We had been there for an hour at this point, so I canceled my dessert and told Larry I was all set for the afternoon. A few minutes later our server came back, clearly just elected Mayor of Excuses Mountain, and said it was the lighting in the dining room, and if I went into the kitchen I could see that it was medium. This was a major problem for a couple reasons. 1) Don't give me a lame excuse 30 minutes after my food was served. 2) The lighting there during an afternoon is mostly dominated my the natural light coming from the windows the are on the perimeter of the restaurant. It wasn't inundated with neon signs or anything quite like that. 3) Maybe it did look medium in the kitchen that really is a moot point. I ordered medium rare. Thanks for telling me that my steak was still overcooked if I looked at in the bright lights of the kitchen. I was so furious at this point I asked for a manager. 5 minutes late the manger stopped by, and he was friendly if not convincing during his speech. While I was explaining the situation, he actually interrupted me to tell my friend he looked familiar. Which was both rude and creepy. He offered a dessert plate as an apology, which I declined at first, but gave in on the second query as I was actually starving and a little tipsy off the wine on an empty stomach. The plate had creme brulee, two tarts with coconut ice cream scooped inside, and a chocolate/boston cream pie thing. It looks delicous. The creme brulee was good, not great. The sugar could've been under the torch a couple more seconds, but it was still good. The Boston Cream Pie was a little bland, and dry. The coconut ice cream was very, very good however. All in all it was poor food, the was made more unappealing by the horrendous service. While we had the dessert plate Larry avoided eye contact with us, and wouldn't even bus our dessert even though we had put our napkins on the serving plate (he was very prompt at all other times of the meal). We finally had to call out for him for the bill, and we were off, never to return. As we were leaving WE wished the host a good afternoon, as he ignored us upon our exit, which truly was the most appropriate farewell.
(2)
Natasha C.
What can I say, after an awesome Labor day weekend in Boston, our friends took us to the top of the hub after a ballgame in Fenway park. The view was amazing, the day was perfect, and the company was also perfect. We didn't have to wait very long for a table and even though it was a seemingly more upscale area to eat, the server and host treated us very well even if we did look like we came from the ballpark in our fan gear. We had some cold beers, had a perfect view, and ordered some nibbles such as the calamari and these mini hot dog sliders that were miniature versions of the Fenway frank. When our party of four turned into a party of six, the server was accommodating and expanded the table to fit us all. Even took our photos and they turned out great. This was the perfect way to end an epic weekend filled with great food, great people, and a great town.
(5)
anthony L.
I went here for their monday night live jazz, and I had a great time! It was the first time I actually went here so I was expecting really expensive drinks, and a cover charge. As it turns out, we didn't face either! The drinks weren't too expensive, their deserts were delicious, and the view -- spectacular. The musicians were talented, and the volume wasn't too loud to hear the people around you. It was really nice. The only down side? It was a monday night, so we haven't gone back. but maybe someday.
(5)
Courtney H.
Most confusing hostess and waiter ever. These are the interactions I had with them when we took our out of town friends there: Us: 6 for the bar for drinks Hostess: The bar is full; you'll have to wait Us: Ok that's fine. Hostess: Wait do you want a table? It's a $24 minimum. For 5 people? Us: Sure, no problem but we have 6. Hostess: Ummm nevermind. (Shakes her head repeatedly.) After being let in: Waiter: It's a $24 minimum. You are just here for drinks? Us: Yes just drinks, the minimum is fine. We would like a round of lemondrops. Waiter: The shot or martini Us: Umm the shot Waiter: We don't serve shots Us: Ok then the martini Brings us out shot versions anyway and we down them. Then we want more: Us: We'll take one more lemondrop and a few other drinks Waiter: The shot one again? Us: Ok whatever you have. And I would like some fries. Waiter: You can't order food here. Us: Ok. . .(while we glance at the food menu on the table that he brought us earlier.) Most confusing service ever. Drinks good but overpriced as expected and great view if it's not cloudy. Guess you have to be straight forward with these folks though.
(3)
CJ N.
Come for the view and music. The food is decent, but could be more memorable. This is a great place for special occasions, especially for visitors. We hosted pre-New Years' dinner with family here. We all had a great time. Book early!
(4)
Gaven C.
Great food, great atmosphere, great view, great service. Just be prepared to spend ~$125 for two people.
(4)
Lindsay F.
the view was great, and the music and the drinks.
(5)
Sara R.
This place was recommended to us by a man who sat in the third seat next to us on the plane over from the Chicago layover, to Boston. I am so glad we met him, otherwise I would never had been lucky enough to experience this gem of a find on this trip! It's at the top of the Prudential Building (52nd floor), and it overlooks the Boston skyline.. a total 180 view of it. Breathtaking at around 10 or 11 in the evening! We walked in, very underdressed (had gotten off the plane a few hours earlier - and eaten a clam chowder at Legal's already), but they did not stick up their noses at us at all.. for being a slightly ritzy yitzy place. The minimum to be seated within the restaurant is $25, so we opted for the bar. We really only wanted some more New England clam chowder. Well, the bartender ended up being so helpful, patient, and nice.. that we also ordered a burger and a salad. :) Could have easily sat in the restaurant, but hey, the view from the bar was still stellar. First off, the clam chowder. BEST BEST BEST EVER! Now, I'm not nearly versed in chowders, but in hindsight and having had a lot of it in the 4 days there, I can say it was my favorite. Legal's was second. Although a very close second. This was definitely homemade (as in, no doubt about it), and creamy creamy creamy, with loads of clams and potatoes.. but I think the clam:potato ratio was in favor of the clams.. yay! :) The salad was a basic spinach with goat cheese and pecans.. excellent and refreshing when paired with the soup. And the burger.. YUM! I was not expecting it to be so good (just craving some beef protein), but was blown away. If the burger, soup, and salad was good, I can imagine that the rest of the menu would not fail, either. The service was again, A+! I love Boston for that! Everyone is nice, and wants to help/give ideas if you're new to the city/visiting.. and they don't give you weird looks even if you're dressed in jeans, Uggs, and an old sweatshirt with the stinky whiffs of the airplane. :) New England clam chowder: GET IT. And enjoy the beautiful view.
(5)
Kristi C.
We were in town for only one night on our way up to Canada, and honestly the only reason I chose the Hub was because it was the most booked restaurant in Boston on Open Table that week. Would have been a fantastic view if it had been clear (definately a summer destination), the food was expensive but ok... (and they were happy to accommodate a vegan)... it just wasn't particularly happening or special...
(2)
Francisca W.
was to go there for drinks after friend's bday dinner; was told there was a wait--understandable, esp on a weekend. but then we were told that we could have the table which obviously had fewer seats than the number of people in our party--what do you expect, a couple of us would just STAND at a table and drink your drinks, while the rest are sitting down??? totally conceited and inconsiderate. verdict: didn't patronize and not care enough to go back, not even for the view. :)
(1)
Jeremy K.
The menu offered a distinct variety of food which isn't as upscale as in most places but the views you have of Boston along with the friendly service and nice decor makes up for it. I had a pasta dish which came out pretty tasty although... it's pasta. Nothing too hard to cook there along with a salad which was good as well. I was in a party of eight individuals and we all seemed to enjoy our food. Their wine menu is pretty stocked as well. Overall despite it's high price the place is good and reliable for a nice meal served over one of the best views you can get.
(4)
Whitney H.
Came here with a bunch of coworkers and got a seat almost right away...pretty good for a Tuesday night at 6:45pm. The place had an amazing view of the city and the water, and it got better at night with all the pretty lights. They had a ton of menus...They gave us one dessert/liquor menu, on cocktails menu, and 3 dinner menus. For five people. The covers were not that different and weren't labelled, so in the dark we had a bit of a hard time figuring out what everything was. Our waiter circled by a number of times to get our drink orders, but with the menu confusion we totally weren't ready, so he came back. Granted we were not decided and not everyone had seen the menu so he came back about 4 times for drink orders, and it was obvious he was not in a good mood. We got the brie and walnuts with the fig compote etc to start...did NOT look like in the yelp photos, we only got one long slice of toast with it, no bread at the table. It was good though. We had to wait for the waiter a long time and stare him down into coming over to take our food orders. I opted for the baby spinach salad, lobster roll, and valrhona warm chocolate cake, with a blueberry mojito. The blueberry mojito was delicious! Good strength, tasted blueberry flavor, and overall very yummy. There were even some blueberries in there! The salad was good. There were two dressings, a white creamy blue cheese sauce (?) and a reddish sweet glaze. Good, but I think I could've done without the glaze. My salad came before everyone else's food even though two others had ordered salad, one was the same salad as mine. The lobster roll was outstanding. Overflowing with lobster, with good bits of crunchy celery flavor coming through and light mayo. The bun is pan toasted in butter and the butter taste really shines through. It might be too rich for some but I loved it. The homemade chips were just okay, not out of this world, and the pickle was soggy. When the waiter cleared our food, he then took away my drink even though I still had about 1/4 left in it. For a $12 drink, that is NOT cool. He didn't even ask. I had put in my order for the Valrhona choco cake with my entree order since the menu says it takes 10-15 minutes, so I expected them to plan accordingly. Nope. It seemed like they waited for my entree plate to get back to the kitchen and then popped the cake in the oven. From the description, I had no idea it was a lava cake. The best part was the raspberry or blackberry ice cream and coulis mixed with the gooey chocolate. I was excited about the Valrhona part, but the quality of the chocolate didn't really show. The ice cream was on top of this REALLY hard meringe swirl, which ruined the structure of the dessert really. Great drink and lobster roll, good salad and dessert, BAD service that was just plain rude. We were very offput by his attitude. Otherwise, I might give it four stars.
(3)
Caroline A.
A typical tourist trap, Top of the Hub reminds me of the Signature Room in Chicago. Great location, spectacular views of the city and pretty atmosphere, but mediocre food, basic drinks and always an interesting group of people (mostly out of towners). Service is eh, and if you don't have a reservation, you'll have to wait a bit. If you're just visiting the city, go ahead and visit. However, there are so many other great places in Boston!
(2)
City P.
I love the Top of the Hub! I know that the three stars I'm giving it isn't much, but that's just for its food, which is overpriced and underwhelming. This is a place to go for drinks, and look at the view, with perhaps an appetizer ... then move on to finer food elsewhere in the city. Some details: They take reservations for dinner only, not for lunch! But, whenever we've been there, we've always gotten a table, without any reservations at all. Food that I have liked, or those in my party have liked: Vegetarian Black Bean Burger Buffalo Shrimp Flatbread Shrimp Spaghettini Arrabiata Kobe Beef Hot Dog Sliders I'm not a red-meat eater, but I can tell you that my partner thinks the burgers here are one of the weaker offerings on the menu. And I was a little disappointed in the Steamed Mussels in Garlic Herb Broth, because it seemed hardly any of the garlic herb broth touched the mussels, and it was hard to get the broth at the bottom onto the mussels ... esp. since we didn't have a spoon. (Duh ,that's easily remedied, just ask for a spoon!) It was my first time having mussels, and I thought they were a bit ... tougher than I was expecting, but I wouldn't take my word as the last word on that. I have had clams & oysters in my life, though, and don't remember making "ick" faces when I ate them, if that's any indication. I had no problem with the staff or the service. Our waiter, Ben, was a very nice and friendly server, and he was very sweet to us. The view from this restaurant is stunning. I love coming here just to get that aerial view of the harbor and the city ... we've only just recently moved to Boston from NYC, and, as a lifelong New Yorker (Long Island, upstate, and "the city"), it was not an easy decision for me. But when I look out those windows, a nice chilled glass of Chardonnay in my mitts, it makes me proud to be a new Bostonian. Wicked awesome! :)
(3)
K E.
The only reason I am giving this even 2 stars is because of the view. The ambience of the restaurant is great, too. But that's where the list of good things ends. The food was only average. I had the Fixe Prix. The Lobster Bisque was good, i'll admit it. But the veal was tough and had no flavor. And the Creme Brulee was soft on top. I expected a lot more from a restaurant that is supposed to be high quality. If you are on a date, it can be very romantic. But if you are going for good food don't go here.
(2)
lily l.
I was extremely unhappy the second time around. I asked the Waiter if the chef has changed his 7 course tasting since the last time I was there (which was in September) he bluntly said yes. I looked at the menu to confirm....no it's the same 7 dishes. I asked him again he said "well he serves the same protein but varies on cooking techniques and accompaniments". Thou shall trust thou server right? WRONG. Every single course was the exact same thing as last time. Both me and my husband agreed that this time around all the dishes seems to be missing that "love". Service was slow and timing on each dish was completely off. If I would've known the tasting would be the same I would've just ordered something else. At the end we informed the Waiter that the tasting was the same (we did not want a discount or anything, just wanted him to know), he STILL denied it. Until my trusty smart phone came out. I showed him the pictures of all the dishes I had in September. He had nothing else to say. Some people just don't know when to stop to just admit they are wrong.
(3)
Karisa G.
My boyfriend took me here for my 21st birthday. I recommend ordering the prix fixe menu paired with wine if you're not that experienced with wine or you haven't been there before. It is pretty pricey but its worth it every once and a while. The lobster bisque was delicious! Luckily that night the sky was clear enough to have a good view...make sure if you're looking for a view that you ask for a window seat and that the weather is clear. Our waiter was really nice and not pushy and stuck up which was relieving. Live music was playing which gave the place a great ambiance. The only reason I didn't give Top of the Hub 5 stars was because of the prices and my previous experiences.. I think Capital Grill's food quality was a tinyyyyyyyy bit higher for the money where I felt like I was missing something here, even with the view and the wine. Maybe that's just me!
(4)
David S.
I had always wanted to check out the view from the top of the Prudential Center... I've been here for over fifteen years, I lived in Back Bay for five and when I went to school there, I used to use the Prudential as my personal blue lighthouse beacon as I stumbled home on the choppy seas of intoxication. But behind the blue lights sits a fancy restaurant with a fantastic view that runs from the Charles all the way to the Mass Pike. I took a friend here as an imprompt holiday gift; I ordered the three-course price fixe menu for $75 and went with the optional wine pairing. Our waiter was smooth and cultured, and didn't make fun of the horrible polyester tie I had thrown on as an afterthought. He was gracious as I fumbled my way around the menu (and ended up letting the chef decide anyway!) and was pretty on the ball, as one would expect for service in such a venue. He also didn't rush us at any point to order, or leave, or really for anything. Nice job, Mike! The soup was fantastic, the scallops were delicious, the creme brulee done perfectly. My only complaint was that I thought the wines were a tad undervalue and more than a little underpoured. Perhaps I should have contested the pairings. (The sparkling wine that came out with dessert, however, was absolutely fantastic.) So, to be blunt, the food was good and the service excellent, but it really was the view that justified the price tab. If you're considering going, check the weather. A heavy fog or a whiteout could really change the experience.
(4)
Jackie D.
We went here the other night and it was delish! It was a Thursday, we had reservations and it looked like we probably needed them. Our waiter was great, friendly and knowledgeable but not pushy. I had the prix fixe with the spicy lobster bisque, scallops and crème brulee. The bisque was awesome and a large portion. Scallops were good but not great or worth the price for that matter, the same could be said for the brulee. The waiter brought out a little cup of onion and leek soup before our meal, "compliments of the chef" not sure if they do this for everyone or not but it made me feel special anyway and it was tasty. I really wish we got a window seat or at the least weren't sitting 2 inches away from the table next to us, especially since there were better seats open. Overall, I'm glad we went and am happy with my experience. I think it's a must try once for Boston goers just for the view alone. If I were to go again, it would be at the bar since it seems to have a window behind it and the menu looks just as good.
(4)
Lauren P.
The service was unprecendented, the food was really good, the view amazing, but the prices just too high, which is why I'm deducting a star. I made reservations for my mom's 60th day, and I ordered a special cake, which was $25 for a 5 person cake. Not too bad. When we arrived they seated us right away - a nice change from a lot of restaurants that make you wait for a few minutes even if you have a reservation. The table was right next to the window, and it is truly an amazing view of the city. The waiter introduced himself, was extremely friendly and gave excellent recommendations. He treated my mom like a queen, already knowing ahead of time it was her bday (also a nice touch). We ordered a round of drinks to start...I got a martini, and now I am never one to say a drink is too strong, but this drink was like pure alcohol. Just not well-made at all... I had to ask for something to water it down. (So unlike me!!) The price on the drinks was what I would expect in the city...like $12-15 for a cocktail. My parents thought this was overpriced, but they are suburbanites, so anything more than Bertuccis would charge for a drink is too much in their mind. We then ordered apps, our meals and a bottle of wine. Of course there was nothing less than $60 bottles on the wine menu... of course. The apps were what I expected...like $9/salad-$15/tartare. And they were very good. Portions were about on par with other Boston restaurants, but others too skimpy. The tuna tartare was awesome - I loved it. The cobb salad was also good. But the scallops only came with 2...kinda short-changed if you ask me. But it was the main courses that were just way too much. $48 for my steak. Now, it was really good steak, but honestly not THE best steak I've ever had. If I'm paying $48 for a steak, you better freakin' show me the cow. I would think that's an appropriate place for a specialty steak restaurant in town. (And if you're wondering why I got it if it was so much...well, I'll be honest... I wasn't paying for the meal... you would've done it too.) I dunno...I just think like other yelpers have agreed, you are paying for the view. Yes, the food was very good. Was it the best meal I've ever had? No. It was great, but had equally decent meals in Boston for way less. You are paying for the view. And the service. You are also paying for the impeccable, over-the-top service. At one point my dad accidentally spilled red wine all over my brother. Oops. And the manager came out and brought my brother a (complimentary) long-sleeved Boston t-shirt. Wait, what!? They don't do that at TGI Fridays!! I do love good service (as you know if you read my other reviews), but take $10 off each meal, skip the ridiculous service and I'd be happy. Overall, the experience was really great. But I am deducting a star because the meals were just too overpriced.
(4)
Mark W.
A big improved difference has been made to this restaurant since my last meal here a few years ago... First off the view is killer! WOW! and then some. For starters I had the Spicy Lobster Soup which was very good my wife had the Foie Gras which she said was excellent. For our entree I had the Salmon which was over cooked but still good non the less my wife had the Swordfish which was also over cooked but still good. For dessert we shared the creme brulee which was very good. In the lounge they had a two piece Jazz Band which was excellent. My three star review is given because the service was poor to good (at best). The hostess was like "OKAY, COME ON FOLLOW ME" very militant I guess you could say. The wait service was fair from the level it should be at for the price they change. In this day and age any restaurant can find over qualified wait staff. Overall a good dinning experience with some reservations.
(3)
Dorise G.
i am a firm believer in cucumber drinks, when made properly. the top of the hub hendrik's cucumber mojito had perfect ratios of cucumber, alcohol, mint, and citrus. i could have sat up there drinking those all night long! drinks are on the pricey side (my mojito was about $13), but given that the view was absolutely incredible and you'd pay pretty much the same thing to go one floor beneath and walk the skywalk, i'd just as soon have a delicious drink to go with my astounding view! i brought my never-been-to-boston cousins up for this view, and i think this was their favorite part of all that they saw. we went up right before sundown so got to see the beautiful lights transformation, and mostly beat the crowds since we got there around 4 on a weekday (i had the day off). my cousin's husband, at nearly every place we visited, remarked how i should "bring my dates" to this place or that place because they were so nice. when we got to top of the hub, tho, he said "forget everything i said. THIS is where you should bring your dates. but only the *really good ones.*"
(4)
Barbara K.
I took a girlfriend here for her 40th birthday with 6 other friends and we all loved it. Our reservation was at 5:30 p.m and didn't get seated until 6 p.m because their policy was not to seat anyone until the whole party has arrived. The menu was amazing! Some of us tried the set 3 menu and some tried 5 course menu, but for me, I went for 7 course menu. Everything tasted good and service were awsome. Drinks were o.k. We were there for the whole package of food, drinks, service and atmosphere. The check came out to be $870 including tips which was reasonable to all of us that were there. Definitely going back.
(4)
Kitty C.
Kind of have mixed feelings about Top of the Hub. Enjoyed my lunch there with friends, and the view of the city was great. The view made me feel very relaxed. The service was excellent. We were obviously just some people meeting for lunch during the workday, but the server was very gracious. She was not intrusive, but very thorough. This is a great place for a special meal. Downside is that the prices were a little steep. The food was good and the prix-fixe lunch menu was a good amount of food for $20. I'm just not completely sold on it, but I will give it a few more chances. There was NO lunch crowd whatsoever, but definitely ask for the city-side view. Don't let the ugly exterior of the Pru tower fool you, the view from within was excellent.
(3)
Trish K.
Panoramic views of the city and fine dining make for a special night out. I went here with my beau on the only sunny Saturday night of May and took in the views, which really create the atmosphere. We ordered the three-course prix fix paired with wines and did not go home hungry. I had the braised short ribs--unbelievably tender!--for the first course. I had ordered the veal sirloin for dinner, however it was incredibly difficult to cut through even with the appropriate knife. I was expecting something tender that would fall off the bone but was sorely disappointed. The manager came over and I eventually was given the braised lamb shank; this meal was to die for! Wonderfully prepared and delectable. The meals are pricey, but that comes with the views. The service was obviously great, as they want their customers to be satisfied. Definitely worth a visit for the experience.
(4)
Michael P.
OVER RATED 2 stars...for the view (view would get 5 of 5 if it was totally based off that). I felt judged as soon as the manager took a look at me. My girlfriend and I asked if there were any cancellations because we would like to dine in the restaurant, but there were none, so we opted for the lounge. The hostess informed us the wait would be about 10 minutes. But as we were standing there waiting, the manager looked at me, then whispered into the hostess' ear...next thing that comes from here mouth is "just to let you know, you need to spend $25 per person here"...I felt insulted. We were sat soon after the insult...I laughed a bit when we were informed of the minimum, so I'm sure that was a 'shouldn't have said that, lets sit them ASAP' signal. The waitress was lovely...she was trying to help us as much as possible. She recommended how things should be preferred. I always enjoy this. We ordered the Cobb salad with shrimp...AMAZING. We also ordered the salmon fillet and the 2lb native lobster....BOTH HORRIBLE (also, both came out 1 hour after ordered). Both dishes were prepared with a ridiculous amount of sugar. The ritz cracker stuffing on the lobster was too much. The shitaki mushrooms were too much. Both main dishes felt like we were eating desserts...not satisfied one bit. The salmon was extremely undercooked...it fell apart and turned into moosh right away. Half the lobster meat felt like I was chewing on rubber bands. The waitress came around at the end and asked how it was....I work in the restaurant industry, I will never be that guy that complains and asks for some kind of compensation...so we said everything was fine...I'm sure she didn't believe us, so a manager came around, I said everything was okay, we were ready for the check. The service (besides our waitress) was horrible. We still left her 20+%, she was great. The main dishes were terrible. The view was great. I DO NOT recommended this place AT ALL.
(2)
Sara W.
Wowzers! What could I possibly say that hasn't been said in 338 reviews of this place?! I'll make this brief. Stopped in for pre-dinner drinks and a sunset. FANTASTIC views of the city. Pricey drinks (minus one star), but they are so worth it for the view. Try the Purple Rain martini - fantastic! Great service too. I'd had three different people recommend this place to me - some Bostonians, some not - and I'm so glad we went. I'll never forget my evening at the Top of the Hub.
(4)
Ling S.
I heard about this place before my 3rd trip to Boston. When we finally got to the restaurant, it easily surpassed my expectations on ambiance alone! Jazz played from the grand piano, the views were breathtaking and the decor- classy and modern. Service was excellent- the staff were warm, friendly and definitely catered to us. Everything was timed perfectly- they were watching us without making it awkward and set our food down in unison. It was like watching graceful ballerinas... graceful ballerinas with our food! And, the food was superb! We had a 3 course meal- both started with lobster bisque. He had the filet mignon, I had the sea scallops which melted in my mouth upon contact. Dessert was probably the best creme brulee I've had! I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Robin S.
The atmosphere, drinks and service at Top of the Hub are all quite good. Unfortunately, the food is painfully overpriced for the quality. It is certainly edible, but for what you pay the food should really be better.
(3)
Ed M.
Made reservations to have dinner here for my wife's birthday, without expecting a table at a window, so I was being realistic. We were sat in the middle, about 6 inches from another table. We ordered the 3 course fixed price menu with wine and our waiter, although nice, really rushed us through the entire meal. We were barely finished with our food and wine, and he was trying to take away our things and bringing out the next wine. From sitting down to paying, we were out in under an hour...not exactly happy with that, or the tight seats practically on top of the couple next to us. We felt like they were watching the clock and trying to have a few more couples rushed through meals before they closed. However, the food was absolutely fantastic and yes it is expensive here, well worth it for a special occasion, and that's about it. We wouldn't randomly go here for dinner and the service really left something to be desired. I was considering 2 stars but the food was really that nice.
(3)
Becky M.
Gorgeous view! You cannot go to Boston and not go here to have a drink! This place is super busy, and in order to find it you have to practically be an investigative super star. But once you find it, be patient, enjoy the view while you wait for your drinks, have some great conversation with friends. Our waiter was very personable and gave us an AMAZING dinner recommendation. Go and have a drink and enjoy the beautiful city-scape!
My housemate and I met several Belarusian girls over the summer while they were here on a work visa program, and got pretty close to two of them. The night before they were heading back to their country, we took them out to Top of the Hub to wrap up a memorable summer. Ambience: Fantastic! The view of Boston through the highest floor of the Prudential is breathtaking, especially at night. If you have never seen Boston illuminated by the city lights, you need to go. Inside, it was tastefully decorated with nice furnishings. When we went, there was a live jazz band playing and couples would occasionally go to the dance floor to dance while they waited between their courses. Overall, the setting had a very nice romantic feeling to it. Food: All of us had the three course dinner. Everyone loved their food, which was complimented with the two bottles of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc we ordered. The timing between the courses was good - just enough time to allow us to catch up on the view and the stories being told before our next meal arrived. Service: Good service. We went there at 10:00pm or so and stayed past their closing time - it must have been around 1:00am when we left. The waiter was patient and realized it was a special night for all of us, and he made sure everything went smoothly. No complaints. Price: The bill was about $318 including tip. It is one of the more expensive restaurants in Boston, but well worth it for a celebration. Overall, it provided a nice memory and a good closer to a special summer.
(5)
Christy D.
Top of the Hub provides great views an delicious eats. Considering you would pay $12 just to see the observation deck at the Prudential building, you might as well buy yourself a meal while scoping out the great views of Boston... I visited Top of the Hub at about 2:30 on MLK day. It was quiet, and my boyfriend and i were seated at the window. The menu is great and provides several tasty options - they even have a prefixed lunch menu (three courses for $20.10). Service isn't speedy, but it's also not the kind of place you run in and out of for a quick bite. The staff were extremely polite and accommodating. Most people who are there to eat (at least when I was there) are out-of-towners. Everyone is taking pictures and walking around (but not in a way that's intrusive or obnoxious). I had the spinach salad, chicken and brie sandwich, and my boyfriend had the mac and cheese. All the food was delicious - moderately priced good sized portions of yumminess. At the end of the day the food as good, the service was great and the views were spectacular. Now I just need to check it out at night...
(4)
Sandy L.
for the more sophisticated visitor and/or DINK type outing. this is a review just for the drinks and standing room. we arrived around 10pm and at the main floor they take a copy of your license before going up to the top. once above, they tell you that there's a minimum $25/person to sit at a table or you can order drinks at the bar and hang out in the standing room where they have live music. it's SO BEAUTIFUL up there and def worth the visit if you have time. you can't dress like a bum though or else they'll ask you to leave. they have a few pages of different mixed/specialty drinks... i got the mango mojito which was very refreshing. hung out in the dance area and listened to jazz while taking in the great views. if you've been to chicago it's like the john hancock where you can get an almost 360 view of the boston area. and yes... i did a tango or two on the dance floor =O)
(4)
Leah R.
I believe for the price, the food is not that fantastic. They do loads of presentations on massive plates with small portions. I am not one to usually complain for a bigger portion, either, but for the price...come on! Above all, its the "extraordinary restaurant" for lovers...but having a group of friends, it could possibly be a magical place that has a spectacular view.
(4)
Eri K.
Now, because I am a foodie I am rating this place low, but in all honesty, I used to go there every week. Why? You cannot beat the view of Boston! My background is in tourism and I would regularly send visitors to the restaurant. Tip: The observation deck of the tower is about $15, whereas a cup of tea to sit and enjoy for 30 minutes costs $2.50. I suggest you skip the deck and hit the restaurant. Try to go in the afternoon when it is slow...then you can walk around and take in all of the views. Or go on a live jazz night for dessert. I do not suggest getting more than dessert or drinks here - they have a lovely facade, but the service is mediocre and the food is a let-down from what you would expect. Incredible tea and view though!
(3)
Juan C.
I went with my girlfriend for restaurant week and we had high hopes. We were well received and had no problems with the reception staff. We were seated overlooking the Cambridge side, which was a bit frustrating since we live there and know the landscape very well. However, this wasn't their fault, as we didn't specify where we wanted to be seated when we reserved. The meal itself was very average. The Bibb lettuce was good and the wines we ordered and rolls were good. Our entrees (my girlfriend got the salmon and I got the pork) were average, but still edible. Nothing special to be honest, but we took the Restaurant Week menu and felt that this was why the meal wasn't out of this world. Then again, given the place, you can't be blamed if you get your hopes up a bit. The killer was the dessert. We both got the chocolate pound cake and were massively disappointed. The cake was dry and tasted old. You could get a better cake at Au Bon Pain and pay 20% of the price you'd pay for this dessert. We both refused to eat it and the waiter and his "assistant" kept thinking we were still eating despite us putting the spoon in the "we're done" position, pushing our plates away and looking up to make eye contact. The clincher was the fact that the waiter asked us if we wanted a box and my girlfriend said "definitely no". Shouldn't this be a sign of "something's wrong"? Nothing. We just got the check. We simply went down to Pinkberry and ate froyo for dessert. Restaurant Week or not, this is unacceptable for a restaurant of this caliber. You can definitely tell where they cut corners to meet the price of the menu. Their attempt at making the cake tasty with a load of cream and a couple of strawberries massively fails. Don't expect the best meal ever at this place. The high price is due to the allure of sitting on he 52nd floor for dinner and, if you're lucky, a nice view. I've had better meals at the Hancock Tower in Chicago and at Sun Dial in Atlanta, and these places offer arguably better views of their respective cities. If you're a flashy person and just want to show off, this might be your place. If, on the other hand, you want to enjoy a great meal, look elsewhere.
(2)
Amy I.
I've eaten here three times now. The first time, which was years ago, the food was amazing. Or maybe it was because I had just graduated college and it was my first fine dining experience. You know, anything other than ramen was delicious back then. The second time I came for a business lunch, and I didn't really like it. But I remembered how good it was the first time so I just decided to forget this experience. I came back recently around the holidays. I ordered lamb and it was just....bad. Like it had been cooked and sitting around a while. The dessert was great though, the blackberry ice cream they serve with their molten cake really compliments the chocolate well. The view is great, but I'd rather just come for drinks and dessert to enjoy the view.
(3)
Ashley F.
This is definitely the nicest place I have ever been to. My boyfriend took me last Christmas and it was so spectacular. It was a cold snowy night and the view from the 52nd floor of the Prudential building during a snowy night couldn't have been more perfect. It is pricey so it's a big treat. I got Spice Crusted Salmon which was VERY good. My boyfriend got lamb. I highly recommend Top of the Hub if you really want to treat someone to a special evening!
(5)
Steph P.
Location: impressive Interior design: very nice View: amazing Food: nothing special the desserts are overpriced and come in small portions. This would be terrific for a date or for some girl friends to spend some time. If you are on a budget, don't come here. If you feel like spending money and feeling important, come here.
(3)
N R.
THIS PLACE REALLY P- - - - - ME OFF !*@*#&$^%. My husband's life expentancy was 35 years and it is his 70th birtthtay! We wanted a special location to celebrate with syblings coming in from three different countries on July 13th. I tried to make a reservation in April and they told me they don't take reservations earlier than one month in advance. I called again May 7th and they told me the same thing. I called back May 31st and they told me they could only give me a 6:00 or 8:00 PM!!!!! I asked why and they told me they were booked and had nothing left. So much for booking after June 12th. I WOULDN'T TAKE MY DOG THERE FOR KIBBLE.
(1)
Veronica V.
I have been here twice and both times were perfect.Besides the food being amazing(porkchop,ceaser salad,and crembrulee the first time-and then the salmon during restraunt week)both dishes were flawless.The service as soon as we walked in both times was great and very friendly.The food also came out at a very good pace.As far as the view, even if you're not seated by the window, it is still very nice.Highly recomend the experience!
(5)
Chantel S.
This was definately a GREAT place to take someone you really care about on a date. The view from the 52nd floor is to die for. It makes all the crazyiness of the city look so beautiful. There's nothing I wouldn't do for a view like that again. This place just has this amazing ambiance to it. Romantic, most definately. The lights are dimmed to perfection, the candles shimmer in their glass cases on every table, a live band plays in the background. It's just a beautiful place to be. It's just that simple. The reason I gave it 4 stars and not 5 is...... because of the food. Yeah I said it. You would think with all the glamor of the restaurant the food would be fantastic. But honestly it was the exact opposite. It was just OK. Maybe it's because we went on a friday. When we arrived (this wasn't our original dinner plans but we decided to go here because we didn't like how this other place looked) a man told us it was first-come-first-serve on this day. So maybe Fridays are just different, the menu as well. I was told from 2 previous couples to expect to spend at least $100 in which I was prepared. But after ordering my grilled chicken and his steak the meal came up to be $47 ($60 after tips). Our waitress was lovely and gave my date a free drink even though we didn't ask for one. We thought about hanging around for a while after eating to watch the band play but we decided to get up and head to our hotel reservations instead ;-) Honestly, I would definately be returning to this restaurant but maybe not on a Friday.......
(4)
L J.
To be honest, for the price you pay here, you could be eating much better food but I suppose this place is a must-see for any first time visitor to Boston. The view is really second to none but as a person who goes to restaurants to eat and not enjoy the view, it could've been better.
(3)
Steph W.
I went to the Top of the Hub today for restaurant week and had a great time. I would give it 3.5 stars. My salad was good but it was a salad so it would be hard to mess up. The braised short rib and grits was easily 4 stars but I had to deduct a star for the banana bread dessert. I chose the banana bread imagining it to be moist and soft banana bread and it said it came with ice cream (I think) but actually had a peanut butter frosting. This wasn't my favorite thing. But the real reason I dust love the banana bread is because it came muffin style but was a bit dry. I am a big banana bread fan and have had much better banana bread and I can bake better. However, you really can't beat the view that this place has! Absolutely stunning. And the staff were nice and took a few pictures for me and my friend. I definitely had a nice time but would probably go else where before coming here when it is not restaurant week.
(3)
J. L.
Beautiful view; unrivaled for downtown. Great drinks: very stiff, unique, creative, and really well-balanced, with fresh ingredients (biggest draw) Good appetizers (best gourmet mini-hotdogs ever, and slightly greasy but very addictive calamari) Excellent, excellent service Nice ambiance (live band, dancing couples)
(5)
Shannon W.
We knew better to go here just for the food, based on reviews, but the view wasn't even that great either. We made the best of it, but the horizon looked very smoggy and ugly. The view was actually better once the sun went down and the city lights showed up. We both got a 3-course meal with wine pairings. For starters, we both got the "spicy" lobster soup. It wasn't spicy. It was like a 50/50 blend of butter and heavy cream with 2 bites of lobster in the bottom. Gross. I didn't eat more than 2 bites. Waitress asked if I wanted to box it up. I gave a somewhat startled "No." She didn't ask if it was ok. For my meal, I got the shortribs. It was good, if somewhat dried out. My man's filet was pretty good, but nothing to write home about. For dessert, I got the creme brulee. It was good, but unremarkable. He got the chocolate cake. I thought the chocolate cake was kinda gross. It had a weird flavor that I can't place (raisin and white chocolate?), but it wasn't good. For having 2 gross things out of 5 things ordered, and a waitress who clearly didn't care, I give this place a thumbs down.
(1)
Ben G.
1. My wife's steak was overcooked 2. My swordfish was room temperature and in some parts cold! 3. Our waitress did not tell us the off menu items (we heard another waiter tell another table). 4. Overall very slow service from the waitress. Just overpriced for such underwhelming service and food. Walking out now to get some drinks and dessert elsewhere!
(1)
Dennis L.
Great view of the city skyline at night. But that's about all its great for. Drinks are overpriced and the bar is small. The live band gives the place an old jazz club kind of feel and the small dance floor was great for a single couple to show off their dance moves. Going to places like this make me appreciate the handcrafted cocktails that have recently become trendy. Flavored mojitos here are marginally different only by what flavored absolut they use. The Jameson mixed with apple cider was an interesting mix which I enjoyed while taking in the view. You can only stare at the lights outside for so long before, however, before it's time to hit up the next spot.
(3)
Cindy G.
I've been contemplating for a while whether I should post such a negative review on yelp. My first experience here was actually quite pleasant. I was here for an anniversary dinner, was seated right next to the window, and had a very friendly waiter. The ambience is romantic, and the view is beautiful. But my second experience here practically killed any positive feelings I have about this place. I came here with a large group of friends from school around 3pm. We were planning on getting drinks and desserts / appetizers as a small pre-dinner treat. The hostess absolutely REFUSED to seat us in the main dining area although there were plenty of empty seats (it was 3pm for gods sake) because those seats were already "reserved for dinner" (which wasn't going to happen for another 2-3 hours). She told us to go order and sit at the bar. Fine. But the problem? There weren't enough open seats at the bar to accommodate all of us, so a couple of us ordered and sat on the couches in the lounge area. Right then, a waitress came over and told us that food and drinks are not allowed in the lounge, which was exclusively a waiting area. So we got kicked out with drinks and food in our hands. No one bothered to tell us where to go or even offered to hold our drinks and food for us as we awkwardly maneuvered around the restaurants with full hands. Frustrated, we decided to go to a standing area between the bar and main dining area to quickly finish our drinks and food, then pay and go. We placed our food down on a ledge and was starting to let our frustration sink when another waitress came over and told us that we can't stand there because it's a fire hazard. EXCUSE ME, but if we can't sit down in the dining area, can't eat in the waiting area, or can't stand in the middle of the restaurant, where exactly are we supposed to go?! The bathroom? Probably not, because there's probably another rule against that too. In response to all our frustration, the waitresses and hostess just said, "please email our manager." (Hi manager, I hope you're reading this!) Needless to say, I will not be coming back. Never have I been treated so poorly at a restaurant before. I didn't pay a tip but honestly wished I didn't have to pay at all. As for the killer view, I'm sure I'll find a substitute in Boston. And the food? Just the same old new American food that I can find anywhere else.
(1)
Carolyn S.
The view here is obviously unparalleled. We went for our 1st wedding anniversary and the staff was wonderful - service was great. Food was only fair, but drinks were great. They have this simple house cabernet which was delicious and really complemented my veal. We had a great time.
(4)
dane j.
My girl friend and i went here just yesterday for our anniversary with high expectations. We both have worked in the service industry for years, and know the ends and outs of a restaurant at a professional level. For being new to boston and still doing all the touristy things going to the top of the prudential is a must, there is great view and you really get a feel for the city. But if your going there to have a fine dining experience, think again. Our server was satisfactory. Other then taking the bottle of Chateauneuf-du-pape and placing it on the table in front of my face before poring it, and most of there specialty cocktails are made with absolute vodka that is not fine dinning by all means. As for the food i was unimpressed, it was comparable to a outback or long horn steak house, bland un-inspirational an totally not worth the price. i will not be returning.
(2)
Tracy K.
It was my first time visiting Boston and I decided to give this place a try since my hotel is conveniently connected to the restaurant through the mall. I made reservations and was told that formal attire was required. I followed the rules and wore a dress and flats. I was riding the elevator to the 52nd floor and there was a gentleman wearing a baseball cap, tennis shoes, and a jacket. I heard the manager tell him that he was not allowed to dine in because of his attire and that he would have to come back another time. Our waiter took a while to come to our table. In the mean time, we thought we would enjoy the view but we came on a very foggy day. I couldn't see outside the window. It was as if I was trapped inside a cloud. We ordered French Onion Soup which was poorly presented. The soup was dripping out of the bowl onto the plate and it was too cheesy. I ordered the seafood cioppino and it was alright. I wasn't even full afterwards and it was a whopping $28. Very unsatisfying. This is where it gets worse. I had to flag down the waiter to get the dessert menu. I asked for the Boston Cream Pie and Warm Chocolate Cake. Simple, right? A few moments later, someone hands us the Warm Chocolate Cake and Creme Brulee. I told him that we didn't order the Creme Brulee so he took it back. We ate the Warm Chocolate Cake which was disgusting. It was around $11 and it was awful. Then, the waiter comes and gives us the Creme Brulee for a SECOND TIME and I was furious. I told him that we didn't order that and I needed the Boston Cream Pie. What part of my dessert order was so complicated? I only asked for 2 items without any modifications. Finally, the Boston Cream Pie comes and it was good. The raspberry sauce on the bottom of the plate killed it for me but it was okay. We had to keep flagging down the waiter since he was no where to be seen. If you're gonna consider your restaurant "high-class" where tennis shoes and caps aren't allowed, then at least pull up your end and make sure that your waiters are more awake and attentive. I won't be coming back.
(1)
Hana C.
Came in at around 9pm without reservation with Boyfriend on a Friday night after having dinner nearby. Here are the pros and cons. Pro: View, view, view (only if seated by window), Live Jazz music, Ambiance Cons: Somewhat Loud, waitstaff doesn't know anything, terrible cocktails. We had about 4 cocktails here, two of which we could not drink- they were terrible. The only one drink I liked was the mango mohito. But we still had a great time- we were seated right by the window and the view was spectacular. Would not eat here. I have eaten here in the past and was dissapointed with the quality of foodies. I honestly don't think people would come here if it wasn't for the view.
(3)
Stacy R.
After living in Cambridge for almost a year, I finally made it to the Top of the Hub! We went on a Friday evening around 9 and were seated in the lounge pretty quickly. We were just having drinks/ apps and the atmosphere was awesome. Lots of young people having a good time, and a great view of Boston @ night. The service was spot on. Our waitress was attentive without hovering too much and everything arrived quickly. The tempura shrimp appetizer came with four jumbo shrimp and was still piping hot when it got to our table. It came with perfectly cooked noodles that were sauced in something soy sauce based, very yummy. The highlight of the night for me was the Boston Cream Pie. The presentation was gorgeous, the cream was rich, and the raspberry sauce had just the right tartness that the dish needed. So good. Yes things are a bit pricey, but c'est la vie.
(5)
Emma H.
Stay away! Not only is this a tourist trap but the food is horrible and the service is horrendous. Listen, I was a waiter for almost 10 years. There were some days when I was completely off, but the type of inexperience and complete disregard I received from our waiter and other staff members was just out of this world. When we were served our initial appetizers and asked the server for some silverware...which they forgot to bring out I assume. We were met with an eye roll, snort, a curse word in Spanish (which I speak fluently) and no silverware. Who knew asking for silverware which is usually part of a table setting would get linger the impression of being "stupid white f-ing white b****". But okay, maybe she was having an off day. I'll let that slide. We have all been there. But our waiter, jesus christ our waiter was a nightmare. I have never met someone who has zero respect for his job in my life. Every single order he got wrong. Every single one! We had to keep reminding him to give us stuff and when we ordered our entrees..he only put one through! When we confronted him about it, we were met with an eye roll and a "whatever". He served us our drinks AFTER our apps. What kind of move is that? Everything was extremely slow, the drinks were watered down, and the staff were complete jerk offs. After speaking to the manager, he told us that they were sending that waiter home at the moment due to the complaints about him. But of course, we saw him serving other people and will most likely continue to work there. Unorganized, terrible food, and rude as heck. Go to a rooftop bar instead, same view for half the price. I only came to this hell hole because I was with people from out of town...but never ever ever ever again. If I could give this place negative stars...I would. Ugh. Just the worst. I'll be ranting about this spot for awhile.
(1)
Mary L.
*** Update: The business manager replies to my review on Yelp, but fails to return any messages I leave on their phones. Maybe you should spend your time checking employee Vy Visa and check 61379 on 8/14. Swore off dining at TotH since my last review, but unfortunately find myself there for cocktails with friends from out of town. We grabbed a quick round of drinks and I found out when the charge posted that the SERVER TOOK THE LIBERTY TO ADD A FEW MORE BUCKS TO THE TIP. Not a noticeable amount, but sneaky employee didn't round to the nearest dollar so the charge stuck out like a sore thumb. Calls to speak with a manager meant they keep transferring me to the nonexistent "accounting office" where no one picks up nor returns your calls. SHADY, SHADY, SHADY. It's got great views so people aren't going to stop visiting the place, but check your charges!
(1)
paul v.
I was 17 when I went here. It was a first year anniversary dinner with my gf (now wife). We were pretty intimidated since this was our first time going to a fancy restaurant. The restaurant is beautiful. It's located on top of the Prudential so we got to see Boston. I wanted to be extra special so I requested to sit next to a window seat. We got to see the sun set over boston and had a romantic meal. Service was pretty good, but the food wasn't as memorable as the view.
(3)
Casey H.
The big selling point of this place is the view which is the best you can get on a nice, clear day. The food is ok, but really you are paying for the view. It's worth it once in a while and perhaps a good place to take out of town visitors (again for the view).
(3)
C P.
Knowing the views would be an event, we made a point to have a meal at the Top of the Hub. Although, I was a bit skeptical due to the negative reviews regarding food and service. Regardless, we wanted the focus to be the views. Located on the 52nd floor of the Prudential building. A few of tips to consider: :Make a reservation to alleviate wait time and greater chances of being seated against the windows. There is a wait for the elevators, ushers manage the traffic. There seems to be a questionable process for the elevators marked for the rearurant. There were several but they only allowed the use of one of them. They have one hostess station functioning with chaos. There is no seating in the waiting areas. Preferred attire for lunch is business casual but they will not turn you away. They will ask to remove hats. The website states causal attire will lead to seating in the lounge but this was not the case. We had reservations for their opening time. Staff was not prepared to seat anyone at the empty readied tables. We were almost seated by one of the bus boys but he could not find our table. He asked another host for directions and the host took over. Thankfully we were granted a spacious table against the window with sprawling views of Boston. You can't have better views anywhere else. Our lunch consisted of the Jumbo Lump Crab Cake Sandwich and the 3 course Prix-Fixe menu consisting of: Chilled Potato and Leek Soup, Chipotle Glazed Short Ribs, and Peach Upside Down Cake. The crab molded into a big thick patty, lightly seasoned. Simply constructed with lettuce, tomato and even spread of remoulade on a soft toasty bun. The crab sweet and chunky without filling. The soup cool and smooth as the pesto oil drizzle adds a hint of garlic. Pieces of ice were still swimming to chill the soup, not impacting the richness in flavor. Short rib was melt in your mouth tender but lacked salt as if forgotten altogether. The sauce is reminiscent of a much tangier less sweet thinned version of barbecue, not chipotle as the menu indicates. The bed of mash potatoes still had chunks avoiding a texture of mush as it laid firm on the plate and a worthy base for the beef. You can smell the healthy mint leaf that adorned the cake before it hit the table. Every fork cut into the cake pulled a piece of peach making a perfect bite. Topped with a gracious dollop hand whipped cream and a fortunate over-drizzling of passion fruit sauce. Our server Karl provided understated service we can appreciate. He was not overbearing, gave us the right amount of attention and dissected our cues expertly. I was thrilled with the lack of disappointment and would recommend the experience as a requirement while visiting Boston.
(4)
Ruth C.
Great view, meh experience. Drinks were just ok, and decently priced. And what's with the waitstaff being such Nazis about not allowing anyone to take photos?? It's obvious when people are paying customers. Let them take pictures of the view.
(3)
Mia M.
Incredible view of the city. The elevator ride was a bit disturbing... the lights weren't working all that well on the floor display, so we weren''t sure when it was going to stop! We only got the cookie plate and some wine... both were good, but nothing incredible. We were all dressed pretty casually and didn't feel out of place at all. Our waitress... horrible. She knew my boyfriend from school and spent her entire time talking to him, hugging him, patting his head... and ignoring me and the other couple with us. I'd probably go back just to show off the view to someone new to Boston, but I highly doubt I'd go again otherwise.
Wanna see the best view in Boston? Look no further than top of the hub. Ask for a spot at the bar tables as they have the best view! Dinner is expensive so we decided to stop in for lunch. Drinks are $13/each so if you don't want to spend a lot, it would be wise to skip! We were able to be seated immediately with no reservation, so I was quite happy about that. I ordered the pear salad with avocado on the side and my traveling companion ordered himself the angus burger. When lunch arrived, we weren't all that impressed. For all the hype of being the best place to eat, the food was not nearly as good as the views! My salad was delicious but not as stellar as I had hoped it would be considering how many great reviews it had. My friends burger was okay but he said it was not anything better than he has had at home. A Our server was quite nice and did check up on us to see how we were doing. However, we were not happy with the manager/ lead hostess telling us we couldn't go to the other part of the restaurant (vacant) to take a picture - even though we just had eaten there and would not disturb anyone. After the ill taste in our mouth by management, we kindly bowed out, paid our tab and left. If management had been kinder and the food would have been better, I think it would be deserving of 5 stars.
(4)
Willie W.
Service, view, and view was fantastic. Little foggy that night for dinner but the view of boston made me felt like a god looking at little ants ... Haha ... Choose the 3 course meal... Cream duck with noodle to start as app... Chicken with this grain on the bottom... Very very tasty... Then dessert was Black Forest cake.... It's a bit expensive but if you haven't been to this place .. Should at least try it once just for the experience and view...
This review is for the lounge area. The view is lovely. The service is terrible, slow, inattentive. Staff seem like they just don't want to be there. The whole room is just filled with tables of people waiting for service, periodically distracted by the view. My dining companion ordered a burger, and asked for it to be cooked rare. When it arrived, after about a 30 minute wait (!), it was very thoroughly well done. Not even a hint of pink in the meat. We waited a good 10 minutes to be able to flag down our waiter, and politely explained that the burger was not cooked to the requested standard. He sneeringly said "is that not rare?!" while peering down into the overcooked meat. He then said "well, I suppose I could put in an order for another one". My companion decided that it was not worth the wait - who knew how long the next one would take to come out! The waiter then ignored us until we were able to flag him down to get the bill. I'm not generally super picky in restaurants, but this was a frustrating experience. The restaurant is better than the lounge in this respect. I've eaten there before and found it to be good, if overpriced. Stiff drinks and decent food, and of course, the view is really lovely.
(2)
Hannah S.
You pay for the good view, but there's pretty good food as well! Split the calamari and the brie appetizers. Calamari was pretty tasty (and I'm not a seafood lover. Yeah yeah I know that I was in Boston). I wasn't even about to try those little baby octopus looking things. The brie dish was good, but the raisin bread toast was a little too tough. Gorgeous views and extensive drink menus!
(4)
Sarah A.
Jake was super friendly and very patient! We walked in after hearing this was a great place to see the Boston view! It's a great place. There's one side of the restaurant (the left) it's a bit fancier, wine glasses and folded napkins etc. The other side is for walk ins. It's a great view!
(4)
Mauro T.
Service destroys the spectacular view of Boston!!! We arrived without reservation but we wait just 15 mins and that's ok! We were seated in a nice table and immediately given with the menus. We were in 4 and we ordered: bottle of champagne, mussels, hot dogs and tempura. After 30 mins we were told that the champagne originally ordered wasn't available. In the meanwhile food was arriving and we didn't have anything to drink. The other bottle arrived when we were almost done with the food. The waitress was totally unpolite and didn't apologize for anything. We were disappointing because the view was spectacular but the service destroyed everything! We WON'T be back!!!!
(1)
Charlie H.
The view is great and the staff were decent, but the "cocktails" are plastic cup party-bar mixers served in glass. Don't waste your time trying anything more than a quick beer or wine and leaving. I understand the need for a $24/person min because it's the only reason to order the second round of drinks.
This is my favorite place to bring out-of-towners. If you live in Boston and haven't been - just do it once. Like others have said, the Top of the Hub is expensive and the food is less than fantastic. To make the experience more affordable, enjoy a leisurely Saturday afternoon cocktail (around 2pm) when the restaurant is a little slower. In the early afternoon you can usually get a table for drinks, minus a reservation. If you stay long enough, Top of the Hub is the best place to watch the Boston sunset. Sounds corny, but trust me, after a couple cocktails you'll appreciate it too. If you start to get hungry, the appetizers are pretty good - but small and expensive. If you need dinner, I'd recommend riding the elevator back down to the ground and checking out a restaurant in the Back Bay instead.
(5)
H H.
This place is a disappointing. I was in Boston with my girlfriend and some friends and this place was suppose to our fancy night out. My friend had made reservations about two weeks in advance. When we arrived we were promptly seated but had to wait about 10 minutes just for water, and another ten for drinks, another 10 to place our order, then about 15 for the first course and about 45 for the main course. This was on a prix fix menu so there is just no excuse for having to wait that long. My girlfriend got the wine pairing but they forgot to bring out the last glass with dessert, and it had been about two hours at this point. Don't get me wrong I can understand eating/dining slowly in such a place but this went beyond what we considered acceptable. we attempted to talk to management about the situation and were less than impressed. They offered about $50 off of a $600 bill. Then we were stuck waiting another 10 minutes for them to pick that up. We spoke to management one last time and they offered free champagne but at that point it was too little too late. Gave it two stars because the appetizer course was actually pretty good. The main course definitely could have been better for the price but was OK and the atmosphere was really good. Unfortunately, the service wasn't up to par. Diner beware, you're paying for the view and not much else.
I don't think you can beat a $20 prix fixe for lunch with that view. And the food is not bad at all. I mean, nothing to die for but absolutely respectable dishes, well presented and creative. It was the perfect place for a special moment.
(3)
R G.
This is a great place to take friends from out of town. Every drink I and my friends have had as been good and the bartenders are always polite and nice even though we're younger than most of the clientele. I've only ordered the calamari once (usually we stick to booze), but it was surprisingly delicious and all the other food that passed us looked great. Most restaurants with touristy locations like this slack off, but they surprised me. Yes, you are paying for the location, but it's very reasonable to get a drink and an appetizer or for a special occasion. (Besides, they charge about the same to just walk around the 'observation deck' a floor lower as it costs to get a cocktail here.) My one complaint that came up the last time we went: after 7pm (I think that was the time) there is a $20 per person minimum to sit at a table. We really just wanted one drink each and weren't going to reach the minimum that way, so we sat at the bar. Now, I get the reason why they do this, and on a crowded weekend night it would definitely seem justified, but we were there late on a Sunday evening and the place was empty. Seriously, maybe 10 table were occupied. The bar is fine, but the view wasn't as nice and towards the end of our stay another group started hovering for our seats making us feel rushed. But really, the best time to be there is right at sunset, so I don't plan on returning when this policy is an issue,
(4)
Suzanne M.
Update - April 2009 This place is back up to 4 stars for me. They must have high chef turnover, but this place is great *right now*. Go now, quick, before the chef leaves! I had my usual tuna dish for my anniversary dinner and it was fabulous! Not as great a flavor as the first time I had it but much better prepared. Ask for *Steve Tuck* for your waiter - he's awesome. Super friendly, great food / wine recommendations, and totally on top of your experience. My glass was refilled the moment I put it down - love that attention. Love you again, TotH! --------------------------------- Update - May 2008 I knocked a star off. Apparently, Top of the Hub has changed chefs and it shows. My all time favorite macadamia nut encrusted tuna is not so nutty and not so tasty. Service was great - as always - but what happened to the food? I miss the old TH :( --------------------------------- Original Review - Nov 2006 I go here every year on my anniversary, foggy or clear. I always get the same thing - the nut encrusted tuna (yum)- so I can't tell you how everything on the menu is. We usually call well in advance to request near - window seating (like a month in advance), but honestly the windows are floor to ceiling there - no matter *what table* you are at you are going to see just fine on a clear night. And if you must look straight down to Boylston St you can walk over and look. Service has always been fair for us, food very good and consistent, and always expensive!
(4)
brett b.
How do you rate a place that is phenomenal and lame at the same time? I guess you give it a three. There's no doubt that you go here for the stunning view. And it truly is amazing... if you're by the windows. If you're not, and you most likely won't be, then it's a total c*ck-tease. You almost want to be that tourist who goes up next to some other couple's table just to get a good look out, and take it all in. But you don't want to be *THAT* guy. You know, the tourist. Alright, so they won't take your reservation for a window seat, and you decide to wait the 2hrs for a window view, then what? I warn you now - go for the 3 course prix fixe ($100 or so, I think) and get the lobster bisque or be sorely disappointed. I tried the lamb, and it was coarse and flavorless. *Sigh*. It's a crap shoot. Patiently wait for the window and order food that is hard to F up (lobster, chicken), and you'll be in good shape. Get bad seats and order a risky dish (steak, lamb), and you will have completely wasted your money.
(3)
george k.
Go for the views. Go before it gets dark so you can see the full effect. The only problem is you've got to order something to eat. Food is not the best but if you go there when you are really hungry it will taste much better. If you with a date then only go at night.
(3)
David L.
YMMV. We showed up for lunch yesterday and got the best seat in the house. The view really is spectacular. In the daytime at least, your unobstructed view of the city surely has value no? YES. The food was much better than I was expecting primarily because of Yelp reviews. It was solid stuff. We had the lunch Prix Fixe for $20.10. The Lobster bisque is tasty and not too salty. The cod special which added $8 to the price was very good. The Creme Brulee was also decent though not mind bending. The service was excellent. It wasn't terribly crowded when we went at noon. I think we overheard a wedding proposal or at the least the subsequent cheering. The dress code was also a bit more lax than I would've guessed but that's probably because it was lunch time and hot out.
(4)
Jared T.
Considering the prestige behind Top of the Hub, I was a little disappointed. Went here today with a few friends for dessert and coffee after having lunch somewhere else. The hosts were nice and found a table for us despite the fact that the restaurant was pretty full. Our waiter took forever to come. Once he finally showed up, he wasn't particularly friendly. He didn't offer us water, we had to ask once we realized we never got any. The coffee was watery and didn't have any flavor. If I'm paying $4.75, I expect a damn good cup of coffee. I ordered the warm chocolate cake, which was okay, but again, for the price I was paying, didn't impress me. The presentation of the cake was attractive, but that's about it. I'm hoping that their food is better, because my experience wasn't all that stellar. It feels like you're paying for the view (which is pretty gorgeous... I'll say that much).
(2)
Julie T.
I'd say 2.5. The only impressive things were the view and the service. The service is something that I will take into consideration when rating though since view just comes along with this place. Everyone gets the awesome view so it doesn't really count. It's like giving a restaurant stars for giving you complimentary cookies when everyone gets cookies. You're not really all that special... Haha. Anyhow, I'd say the service was pretty nice. I'm always impressed at how they remember the apps, entrees, and desserts all at one time with a big group. Whenever I've gone, it's always been with a group of 10 or more and we always send everything in at one time and they remember everything. it's awesome. Besides that, everything else is forgetful. The food is totally mediocre and I only ever come here when dragged, I never go if I have the choice. I think it's a good experience, something that you should do for the experience, just to say "Yeah, I've been there", but really, don't expect very much out of it.
(2)
Alex C.
Great food and an AMAZING view. I would suggest going for dinner on a clear night and you wont be dissappointed. It is pricey but you get what you pay for. After dinner my gf and me took advantage of the live music and danced a little bit. I would say this is a great expeirience and worth trying.
(4)
Lorraine F.
I've been here quite a few times. For dinner, the tasting course menu is pricey, but amazing. I love the dessert with the chocolate cake, ice cream, and raspberry sauce. The wine selections are great. At the lounge, I used to go for the Mediterranean salad. I'm not sure if it's still in their menu, but I loved it the few times I did have it. At the bar, the drinks aren't that much more expensive than drinks in the general area and you get a great view of downtown Boston. All the drinks I've had have been great so far. The servers are always very attentive and very professional. I'm definitely going back, again, and again... ^_^
(5)
Naomi Y.
We managed to get a reservation only a couple of hours before the dinner, so lucky us. The restaurant is very nicely decorated and set up, with a separate dinner and bar area. The view from the top of the Prudential Tower was amazing, until it started raining and got foggy that is. The service was also good, with our waiter checking in on us every time he walked by, and they have a live jazz band playing in the lounge area. The atmosphere is bustling but not too busy, but also not stuffy or making me talk in a whisper. My friend and I both got the 3 course meal, with me choosing the Cobb Salad, Veal Sirloin, and the Date Cake while he got the Lobster (?) Soup, Lamb, and the same dessert. We both ordered the accompanying wine as well. The food was DELICIOUS. It came out at a very good pace and we were never left waiting for too long. The sirloin was juicy and cooked perfectly to medium rare, and the lamb was practically falling off the bone. The portions were also a good size, and I finished the meal full but not overly stuffed. The wine was a little overpriced, but it did go with our meals very well. The amazing food combined with the gorgeous view meant for a great night and we both had a very good time. While I would definitely recommend the 3 course meal ($55, or $75 with wine), the individual items on the menu were a little pricey. However, the atmosphere, service, and of course the view make the meal worth it. I am already planning on taking friends or family here when they come visit me in the future.
(5)
Patrick C.
Freshly baked cookies, great drinks, jazz, romantic lighting, and amazing views. My girlfriend and I love coming here for a night out that's more than a step above the usual at an unexpected reasonable price. Drinks and dessert are the provide the best "value."
(4)
Marco F.
\Here is the deal with the Top of the Hub; this place is merely for ambience, a fine night out, or in most cases a night out for couples or first dates. The food is a bit above average but is priced in a manner to make your significant other feel special. The location is one of Boston's better areas. Depending on how you come in to the location, if it's a first date, the mere approach to the location can cause a bit of excitement because often times people are unaware as it is centered in the mall. Everyone complains about the price of everything but this one of those typical places designed to create spice in couples or a sense of elite if among friends. The staff is almost always friendly. It does not get 5 stars because the food is okay but the location, scenery and live entertainment get 4 stars for me. Its well worth coming here once a year.
(4)
Andrew F.
Nice view and interesting drinks, but the server we had seemed that he had never worked in a bar before. My friend wanted a warm drink an the server suggested a hot toddy...but the server had no idea what was in it when asked. My drink also had irish mist in it and I asked what that was. He told me it is "irishy" and that is what makes the drink brown. Great info! I looked it up on my phone and its as actually the whiskey in the drink.
(2)
Isabel Y.
Great view. Dress hot! I saw a guy wearing sweatpants and adidas slip on flip flops with SOCKS waiting for a table and I definitely judged. I don't care if your sweats say Berklee College of Music. I digress... Wait for a table by the windows, we waited 20 min at the bar which was no hardship with a glass of champagne. We sat at the corner table right next to the jazz band, on the "good window" side (behind the bar looking out at John Hancock). Jazz band was loud but good, they had frequent breaks so the music did not impede conversation across the table. Server was friendly, had personality, talked to us, told us a few proposal stories from earlier in the evening, described our view, and gave us a tour of the other views, even the one back by the kitchen. Don't forget to have your parking ticket validated as soon as you get up there!! We forgot the first time and had to go alllll the way back up to the top. Silly us. As for the food, it was excellent. Foie gras appetizer was delish albeit $$, and I had the swordfish entree which tasted so good and fresh..AMAZING! It wasn't even one of the recommended dishes, so I expect that the other options are great as well. Didn't have dessert, we were too full! All in all, what a great night...nothing was wrong with this restaurant. Worth the $$ once in a while!
(5)
Helon W.
Normally food and service is very very good at Top of the Hub, but today the food took a back seat. The food appeared to have been thrown on the plate and rushed out the kitchen door and thrown at us. We had to remove dishes from table ourselves so server could throw down our plates. The Beet salad was good, Presented well and very tasty. However, the Bolognese looked like a sloppy joe. Many of the Calamari noodles were broken and on longer looked like Calamari rings. The sauce was slopped all over the plate. The Chocolate pound cake was as dry as can be and not good. Waitress was very nice and attentive. (Waitress & server were 2 different people) Very surprised about the food. As usual, the view was excellent.
(2)
Linda T.
My bf brought me here for Valentine's Day and it was romantic until the end. We started at the bar since we were early and drinks were great! Once we were seated, there was nothing but great service. We did have a fixed menu so we did not expect much, but we did not like the food at all. I did not find the food spectacular or even tasty. Waste of money! The view and ambience made up for it and the bf and I were able to have a nice romantic dinner. It was time to leave so we asked the waitor to waive our parking. He came back and said it was all set. NO, it was not. We regret tipping him so well. We got out to the gate and were told that our ticket was not validated. We had to go back, but the elevators were shut off since it was the end of the night. Thankfully, the guard made some arrangements and we were able to get back up. After all that trouble, we got out with free parking only to end up in a car accident!! A drunk driver rear-ended us from behind and we'd like to think that if it wasn't for our delay at Top of the Hub, this would have never happened. I'm not giving them a low rating because of the misfortune, but because the food seriously just sucked and the mistake for the parking validation. I don't recommend the food, but the view is something everyone should experience.
(2)
Ave H.
I like it. I like it a lot. I was somewhat apprehensive about going here the first time after reading all the comments about the food - but was very pleased! The view, of course, sells itself. They have live Jazz in a lounge-esque area, and the food (I thought) was excellent! I had the Spicy Lobster Soup - which was delicious but was very heavily seasoned. I was only able to finish half before it was just too overwhelming. Had the 7 oz Filet Mignon w/ caramelized onions, asparagus, and a blue cheese tart for my entree. Everything was fantastic and very well presented. For dessert they brought out a birthday creme brulee which was cute & super tasty :) Maybe I just got lucky - but I wonder if they have been making some changes to the menu or something because I did not see a lot of the issues mentioned by other reviews.
(4)
Cris L.
The food here is surprisingly good, and despite the prices, this is a place tourists should visit. Lunch is a great option if you don't want to drop a ton of money on dinner--the food is just as good. Also, the view is one-of-a-kind, which makes even the saltiest Bostonians happy. Top-of-the-hub isn't just some tourist trap--it's a place everyone should visit at least once. Try the steak!
(4)
K P.
I made a reservation here two days before my visit. Please specify you want a seat at the window. Although service was good, the food wasn't that great. I ordered their steak, it was dry. My friend ordered the pasta, it was bland. I would go back here for the drinks and view, but the food (probably not). I have yet to try the dessert. Always room for second chances.
(3)
Ryan H.
Great spot. Went in for brunch and had the short rib special with eggs. Meal was delicious!
(5)
Kristine R.
The only thing good about this place is the view. I was so excited to bring my friends from out of town here on my birthday for drinks as they have never been or seen Boston at night, but what I thought was going to be a great time was met with an old racist manager. We were a group of mixed individuals (half of us female, half male, some Asian, Latino, etc). We definitely were not rowdy as we are late 20-something professionals. The entire night we were stared at by the manager which was weird because we were just sitting at the bar. The bar that was empty before we got there. Then as we were putting our coats on to leave the manager came to us and asked us to leave because he said he heard our conversation and heard profanity...? We did not do anything to trigger such a rude request and we also adults in America (free speech). It was fine by us because hey we were on our way out. BUT THEN when we arrived downstairs we saw a young security guard and I didn't think anything of it... until he and another followed us all OUT of the mall. I have never experienced anything like that in my life! I exited the rotating door, looked back, and the guards went back in. All I can say is WOW this stuff still exists? We can take our patronage elsewhere. Footnote: The only employees that were nice to us were the gentlemen playing in the jazz band in the corner and the bartender himself (because we were very polite!)
(1)
Lisa I.
Yes, the view can't be beat. And the pomegranate martinis are TO DIE FOR! But it's $$$ and they're a bit snooty. You can't sit at the tables along the perimeter (to really enjoy the view) unless you order a minimum amount of food, and the views from the bar area are just ok. It's worth going to once, but not worth a repeat visit.
(3)
Dawn P.
My sister and I while visiting Boston decided to take a quick stop here. We thought it might be too expensive to have a whole meal here so decided to have a quick lunch at the food court downstairs in the Prudential food court and only get drinks from here. Food ordered: Warm chocolate cake and pomegranate mojito Price: $12 & $12 respec Parking: No idea Service: Pretty good Ambiance: Classy. We got a seat by the window. AMAZING view on a clear day. We went on a perfect day - no clouds and around 11:45am. Perfect timing. The place grew really busy right after we got seated. Overall: I would def recommend esp for dates.
(5)
Jamie F.
I'm a sucker for nice views and at Top of the Hub, THE VIEW OF BOSTON WAS PHENOMENAL. I enjoyed every moment of it and I've been living in Boston all my life! A thunderstorm was developing when I was here for my birthday lunch last summer :( but somehow, it was beautiful, scary, and cool at the same time. I've never seen lightning so close up before, seeing that I'm 52 floors up. Since the windows were cleaner than a brand new car and clearer than 20/20 vision, it felt like I was *this* close to being electrocuted. Decor was very traditional, classy, upscale. Most tables seated 2-4 people. Ambiance during lunch time was quiet and not busy at all. Service was fine, not outstanding. Was the food memorable? For its presentation, yes but not so much for the taste. My friends did not rave about their dishes, nor complained (drastically). My grilled salmon was a bit overcooked, but edible. The tempura shrimp appetizer was divine though, sans the buckwheat noodles. Bf ordered the chilled blueberry mango soup, and it turned out to be a smoothie served in a bowl. Go figure. I would DEFINITELY come back for the nighttime panoramic view and the dessert cookies that I missed out on. Boo.
(4)
Ryan L.
My review is based off of two lunch trips. Food: good, a little overpriced, but that's what you expect and get when you're in that part of Boston in a nice restaurant. Burger was maybe 10 dollars?? I can't recall but it wasn't that outrageous. Service: awful. I have never received worse service than when I went here (both times). There are fundamentally two sides of the restaurant that are preferable: one facing the ocean, the other facing Fenway. If you're not dressed in a suit then you will not be seated in either of these areas, even if there are plenty of spaces. In both instances I wore khakis and a polo and my company dressed similarly semi-casual. The staff briskly set us "aside" from the other patrons in both instances. In the more recent experience our waiter was snotty and visited our table three times: to take our order, bring our drinks, and to bring the check (the food was brought by someone else). No refills, no asking how things were, no attention whatsoever. Frankly it was the first and only time I refused to tip a server and I don't regret it for a second. I sent an e-mail to the management expounding on our poor service and received a "oh well" for a response. I personally will not patronize this restaurant again, but I can understand the interest in the view. There are many, many restaurants in Boston with better food and service if a view of Boston is not critical to your meal.
(2)
Charmie S.
This is one of those occasions where you are paying for the EXPERIENCE. I love this place. The views are obviously the best part of going here. You can see all of Boston for miles. Drinks are good also. I had this strawberry basil lemonade, which was fantastic. Service at the bar was quick, and we didn't have to wait too long until seats were freed up in the lounge area. Go here for the drinks, lounge, live music, and the spectacular views of Boston.
(5)
Mindy L.
Stopped in for drinks in the lounge. Have to update just to provide drink suggestions... Blueberry Mojito ($13) = delicious Bloody Mary ($7) = not spicy enough The drinks were strong and I was impressed at the pricing. I was at Wally's Cafe drinking substandard Amaretto Sours two weeks ago at $8.00 a pop - so getting a relatively well-mixed Bloody Mary for $7.00 bucks was a pleasant surprise.
(4)
A N.
So I'm not sure if this restaurant is always this underwhelming or if it's just one of those places that puts no effort into (see = secretly hates) restaurant week, but nonetheless my husband and I weren't impressed. I don't want to get too into it, because there's no reason to list all the shortcomings of this restaurant. The only thing I have to tell you is that this is the kind of place with $90 per glass luxury cocktails, chef's tasting menu and a pre fixe menu with wine pairings -- yet they serve cold, slightly stale bread with rock hard butter. That's the worst. All they really have going for them is the view, but I recommend going one floor down, paying $13 and touring the Skywalk instead. That way you make a financially sound decision that doesn't leave a bad taste in your mouth.
(2)
Samantha M.
One of the most stunning, romantic places in Boston and I've lived here all my life. My boyfriend and I sat in the lounge last night, it was a full moon and a clear sky, and the city lights were beautiful! Not sure what all the complaints are about the food, my boyfriend and I ordered the tuna tartar and the baked brie with fruit - both were amazing and fresh. The brie was topped with sticky, sweet, yummy walnuts and there was some sort of crispy crepe underneath that we used to hack apart the brie :) mmm. The tuna was delicious and fresh and topped with avocado. I ordered a gin cocktail that tasted like lemonade - soo good. Then a gin martini that was basically the most perfect martini ever. The bartender was on his game! We were here on a Tuesday night which is apparently the perfect time to go because it's not too buzzing so it's relaxing and we didn't feel rushed at all. Our waiter was on top of things. One of the best nights I've had in a long time...
(5)
Lynne S.
Taking the express elevator up for drinks at the Top of the Hub makes you feel like you've really made it! I felt important. I felt like someone who mattered! I was also prepared to pay for that feeling with an extremely overpriced drink. While they do have those $50 or $90 drinks, yes, the regular drinks are actually quite reasonable - and delicious! At just $12, which is less than I've paid at other trendy restaurants outside of the city, my orange melon martini was full of flavor, not to mention beautiful. And the service was top notch! Call me impressed!
(4)
Em L.
Only came to this place to have drinks. The view of this city was nice at night. The bartender was great and inventive. I was craving a drink with tequila and he made his own concoction which was perfect. It wasn't too sweet and I could still taste and enjoy the tequila flavor. For those visiting the city and looking for a place to enjoy drinks should definitely come to this spot!
(4)
Tanya S.
Beautiful views of Boston included in your meal. We've come for dessert and wine or full meals and it was always a romantic/enjoyable atmosphere. Even though service can be a bit snooty, it's generally attentive and the food has never disappointed. Although you are paying extra for the view.
(4)
Nicole V.
Warning: drinks only I had actually never been here before bringing my Australian friend. We went for the drinks but the why-not-dka (my personal nickname for vodka since we're beyond a first-name-basis relationship) didn't hurt either. I wanted to show her Boston from above since I think it's one of the only cities that actually looks nice from the upper vantage point. We considered the Observatory since we were in flip flops and the same clothes that we had been in all day, but decided we'd rather pay for martinis than tickets. This turned out to be a GREAT decision. We got bar seats at the end and my friend made a casual circle looking out the windows. There's a corner where bar patrons can go take pictures, so she snapped away while the sun was up. I ordered a Ginger Lemondrop and could have had about 6 more; it was delicious! She had a Purple Rain Martini which I didn't try but she raved about. We had a lot of catching up to do since we hadn't seen each other in about three years, so we were at the bar for over an hour. We watched the sun set and then took a few more pictures as the night illuminated the city. I don't think the drinks are pricey at all. Ours were 11 and 12, but well worth it for how strong they were. We were both giggly after one. The service was non-obtrusive even though we were blatantly there just for a drink and the view. I would definitely come up here with more of my guests and recommend it to all Boston visitors! Advice: if you're willing to spend money you can sit at the tables instead of the bar. It's a minimum of $24/pp to sit at the table, but if you order a few drinks and one app you could easily make it. If you're looking to kill time it would be a GREAT way to do so around dusk.
(4)
Jean H.
Great view, okay services, yikes for the main course (food in general), bravo for the live Jazz band--- yum yum for the dessert!
(2)
Snuffles B.
5 stars for the view 2 stars for bouncer hostesses preventing you from looking around 360, even if you've got a table at $24/head 5 stars for the live Jazz Band 2 stars for the snooty 'tude 2 stars for weird, spotty service 4 stars for a surprisingly tasty burger on brioche 3 stars for having a mediocre warm cookie plate, calamari, and banana fritters 1 star for serving ONLY decaf coffee (are you serious?) __________________________________________________Â_____ 3 stars for an overrated but quintessentially Boston experience
(3)
Megan M.
I really enjoyed my experience here! I was dressed down, but I did not feel uncomfortable. The service was great, the food was great, and the view was awesome! Great way to end my trip!
(4)
Kai H.
The hostess was exceptionally rude, the server was stuck up, and there is honestly nothing special about this restaurant. Other customers in the elevator were complaining about the subpar service
(1)
Zizzles A.
If you're planning on dropping serious cash for drinks with special company, there's no place like Top of the Hub to do it. Hey, all drinks at fine dining restaurants, even some gastro pubs run around 13 bucks. There are definitely more creative drink menus out there. Top of the hub hasn't got the creativity and the liquid nitro drinks of blue inc and it isn't part of the hip tiki revival (I'm not old enough to have experienced the original fad), but with the beautiful views and the live music, there isn't a better place to plop that booze $$. I haven't ordered off the regular menu in over half a decade so I can't comment on that, but the bar menu is safe and tasty. Tuna tartar with avacado is solid. The mussels are tasty and a great value since it's big enough to share with several people. I also had a melted brie with fig compote dish that was great as well. Tried an old fashioned, a lemon drink in a martini glass the name of which I cannot recall and also a cucumber vodka drink. The standout here was definitely the cucumber vodka drink. It's really clean. If you sit in the lounge area you'll probably get a view of the harbor or dorchester. I have yet to see across the river or into the financial district so I'm guessing the best views are reserved for the main dining area. Top of the hub is great for out-of-towners as well as local company. There's a reasonable $25 minimum per person if you are going to sit at a table. If the days are long enough, come before sunset and relax for a few hours, the change from day to night atop the prudential is wonderful.
(4)
Catherine W.
Great place for dessert and lounging - had creme brulee and a cobbler. Atmosphere was very chill with live jazz.. A little expensive for drinks but what a great view. Nice service.
(4)
Izzat A.
This place is worth it. It meets the hype and surpasses it. The food here is surprisingly good which is something that I was worried about, and despite the prices, this is a place tourists should visit. Lunch is a great option if you don't want to drop a ton of money on dinner. You can sit at the lounge before 8:30 I believe. We got dessert mostly, creme brulee (very good), their signature cookies (you get a ton and they are good) and my friend got some hot dog sliders (which he liked). The view is well well worth it. Service was friendly. Will definitely come back here again.
(5)
Jon G.
This is a great go-to place if you have people visiting from out of town or a special occasion to celebrate. It's expensive, but not a rip off, if that makes sense. You'd pay just as much for dinner at some crappy chain restaurant, without the benefit of a mesmerizing view of our fair city. If you're thinking of shelling out 10+ bucks or whatever it is to go to the observatory, just ask for a table in the drinks area (facing south) and get a little something for your money. The drinks are like average New York prices -- 8 or 9 bucks for a gin and tonic, for example -- but wonderfully stiff, strong enough to nurse for a while. And like the previous reviewer said, sharing the fresh baked cookie platter is the way to go if you want a snack. I've only eaten real food there at lunch, but the food was fantastic. Again, not at all unreasonable for the quality of service and food. Throw in that view, and you've got a winner. My one gripe is that you have to look fairly presentable to dine here; I feel like, in my younger days, I was actually turned away once, but at the time I was probably looking pretty shabby even by Allston standards.
(5)
Robert P.
The only thing this restaurant has going for it is the view. If the view is what you're interested in, then the SkyWalk on the 50th floor is a better experience, particularly if it's your first time in the city, or you're doing it with kids. Alternatively, you could just go to the bar and get something quick there. As for the restaurant, I've been there 3 times, and the best I would give it is a B. There's quite a few restaurants in Boston that have outstanding chefs, many for less money. So if you're interested in great food - this isn't the place for you. It seems that the employees at this restaurant understand that it's really more of a place people go as a novelty -- something to say you did while in Boston -- than it is a place they expect a lot of repeat business. You can see this in the service, which is good, but not quite what you'd expect for a place this costly. You can certainly see this in the menu, which is uninspired, and in the quality and creativity of the food served.
(2)
Alicia G.
Try Barry's Scallops - so good with the bacon jam! Everything was delicious, server was nice, wouldn't have gone if we hadn't been given a giftcard because, yes, it is a bit pricey. Glad we had the chance to dine here.
(4)
Robbie P.
I had my girlfriend in from out of town and we were exploring the Back Bay. I couldn't wait to show her the restaurant, I have been talking it up ever since I moved to Boston and stumbled in upon it. I take her up on a Sunday at 1:45 pm. The plan was to show her the view, grab a drink, and possibly make dinner reservations or NYE reservations with a group of 6 people. I was greeted with the biggest stuck up, snob host I have ever encountered! I apparently wasn't allowed to check out the view or grab a drink at the bar because of a dress code....at 1:45 on a Sunday! Now let me say, the first time I found the place exploring Boston by myself, and there was no issue. This lady ever so rudely made a point of it and told me with attitude for no reason except to be a snob. It was embarrassing, and if my girlfriend wasn't with me I would let this witch have it. I will never come back here, EVER! I got plenty of others places to spend my money.
(1)
Calvin F.
The good: - unbeatable view of Boston The bad: - expensive - touristey - pretentious The ugly: I went here with some coworkers who were in town for some drinks. After being surprised that they let us in with jeans on (Seriously? Who do they think they are?), we stood around, ordered drinks, took in the view, and chatted. At one point, a staff member asked one of our party not to stand too close to the drums. He wasn't, but okay, whatever. Then later, another coworker and I were heading to examine a different view when we were stopped... Staff: "Excuse me, gentlemen? Excuse me! Gentlemen?" Me: (realizing she's talking to us) "Huh?" Staff: "That area is closed for a private event." Me: (innocent misunderstanding) "Oh! Sure." Owner/Manager: (with annoyance and in very loud voice as we turned around) "JESUS CHRIST!" Then we went and dropped a G on dinner at a *different* restaurant. So, yes, pretentious asshole. Jesus Christ indeed.
(2)
Amanda Z.
I can't thank Dawn E. enough for writing up a blurb about the city of Boston and where she would take friends whom were new to the city and in need of a tour. Her review has brought me to this one: I forget who said it, or how it's really supposed to be stated, but skyscrapers were created to allow heads of industry to have uncluttered air with which to do their work in peace. Again, I've probably not said it correctly, but the point is, I love the view from this place. You can see Boston (and that little peninsula of Cambridge dipping towards Boston) and the Charles River in an unadulterated (minus the window) way. It's so peaceful and surreal no matter how often you see it from that vantage point. That, and the fact that you're paying over $10 for a drink that is actually size appropriate. Read: big money = big drink. Try the mojitos, specifically the Classic. It's tasty. Having gone a few times now, I've also noticed that you don't really need a reservation if you're just looking for a table for two. If you're going to try and bring more than just the one friend, make a reservation. You'll be glad that you did. The wait staff is pleasant (Larry was quite inviting) and well dressed. The food here is pretty good (duck confit quesadilla, chicken pot pie) but the last time we decided to skip the pleasantries and go straight for the jugular: creme brulee. Absolutely divine, but if you're a fan of crack-crack-cracking a creme brulee's surface, you will be disappointed here; the torched-sugar surface is either too thin to withstand a spoon's edge or this thing's been in a fridge environment.
(4)
Eve S.
Love this restaurant! Came here for a birthday dinner with a couple of my friends, we had a fantastic view of Boston. I made reservations a few days ahead of time for a Saturday evening-- we were seated right away. The food is great, definitely pricey but it's worth it. And the dessert was delectabe! The server knew everything on the menu and was very kind/attentive. I will be returning here.
(5)
Rebecca Y.
I went for lunch on Tuesday and was given a delicious meal and fantastic service. It was not busy at noon and we were given a table right by the window. We had a fantastic view of the Charles River. I had the prix-fixe lunch with arugula and orange salad, grilled shrimp pasta, and creme brulee. It was all delicious! The waiter gave some good recommendations for good cocktails and wine pairings for our meal. The only negative was the confusion about the elevators. Not all the elevators in the building go to the 52nd floor and not all elevators seemed to go to the lobby. It was a little confusing to know which elevator to take when leaving the restaurant.
(5)
Boston F.
This is spectacular. Top of the Hub is now a foodie's paradise. While it has always been a place where the views of Boston are second to none the chef clearly is one of the best in Boston. We had some of the lightest, freshest seafood we have ever enjoyed in Boston. Perfectly cooked and very creative sauces. The general manager, Rafael, came by and checked on us, adding to the near perfect service. A wonderful wine list, spectacular food and killer desert and coffee made this foodie very happy to be dining on top of the world (or at least Boston). Do go. Whether you are a local like me or a visitor put this on your must visit list. I promise you will be very happy you did. Boston Foodie
(5)
David R.
I've now been to Top of the Hub five times or so, with the same results each time. The food is near top of the line, the prices, while a little high, are to be expected at a high-quality place like that, and the atmosphere is fantastic. Real candles, lighting that isn't too bright, and full-length windows make it really a fun place to be. The drinks are great, although I've only tried a couple, but I continue to try new items on their menu and haven't been disappointed yet. The real attraction here is the view. Being able to walk to the ends of a couple hallways and look out over the city, especially on a clear evening, is spectacular. I've gotten some amazing pictures from up there, of Fenway, the Charles, and a bunch of other cool sights. I recommend this location to most people as a once-in-a-while special dinner, but for me it's a little expensive to visit every week. Definitely a view you don't get from any other restaurants in Boston, though!
(4)
Paul S.
If you're in Boston and you're looking for something to do, then you've got to try Top of the Hub. It's on the top floor of the Prudential building (53rd floor I think). It does provide for some spectacular views. I ordered the "Prix Fixe" lunch and the wife ordered a BLT. The BLT looked great. Plus, it came with homemade chips. I had a wedge salad, salmon and creme brulee. I think that they should have had other salad choices. I would have been happy with a garden salad with balsamic vinaigrette. Instead, it was a cheese and sauce overlayed iceburg lettuce. Not a good option. The salmon was pretty good (all 4 oz of it - thanks for not filling me up). The creme brulee was okay. I probably should have went with the raspberry cake. Oh well, that's what happens when you take the waiter's suggestion. All in all, it was a good experience. Expect to pay about $25 per person ($35 per person if you have drinks). I would only visit here if you are a tourist. As a Bostonian, there are ample alternatives for food and fare.
(3)
Mary B.
The food is mediocre and not memorable. They cram a ton of tables in the dining room, making it very hard for waiters to slip by you. No joke, every 5min or so, waiters would bang against my chair every time they walked by. Didn't really enjoy that. Of course the view is spectacular and something every Bostonian needs to experience.
(3)
Molly J.
The interior of the restaurant is a bit old fashioned. The overall atmosphere was like a fancy traditional american place. Their winning point is to eat with the great view of Boston. Live jazz band on a saturday night at 9. I would probably go back for a drink but definitely not for food.
(3)
Andrew B.
The view from this restaurant is amazing (worth the price). The food leaves a little bit to be desired, but the view more than makes up for it. I suggest going during restaurant week, so that you get to enjoy the view at a much reduced price.
(4)
Jerry S.
When you review something on Yelp, I feel like you're reviewing the entire experience (this isn't just a restaurant ratings site). Thusly, Top of the Hub, for its location, view, and atmosphere, paired with a perfectly satisfying selection of delicious foods and drinks, is top notch. Certainly there are better places based on taste alone, but not many, and they are usually lacking in the other areas I mentioned. The Jazz Lounge is like a hidden gem, by the way. I wish we had more places like this.
(5)
Julia M.
This is an excellent place to come for lunch while in Boston. I like going for lunch because A) it's less expensive than dinner and B) you have a wonderful bird's eye view of the city. The food was not especially memorable, but the overall ambiance and views were!
(4)
Tiff D.
Food was decent. View was amazing. I think its way overpriced. You are really paying for the view because the food wasnt amazing. I would go back. Nice date spot. I even saw people just hanging out at the bar.
(3)
Abigail B.
We ate there Sunday brunch. Food was good. Had a pre fix menu. They said 4 course, but the 1st course was a tiny bit of yogurt with granola. It was good and i think they don't give you more just because you have more food coming.Had arugula salad that was enjoable. My 3rd course was the omelette of the day, but I was very disappointed, but as soon as I mentioned, they change it for me. I had duck confit hash... Was delicious. 4th course, dessert: only two option. Profiteroles and chocolate panna cota. I had the profiteroles filled with vanilla ice cream. I have to say it was not the best. Warning: Make sure you make reservation. If you want the best views need to seat down in the dinner area. We ended in the lounge because we didn't have reservation but we still have a decent view. They have two guys playing jazz that made it up for the view.
(4)
J E.
A must see.....top of The Prudential Center. The drinks and food are pretty expensive, but this is downtown Boston on the 52 floor. THE VIEW IS TREMENDOUS! This is definitely a spot to take your mate for a nice quiet dinner for hang at the bar with your boys.
(4)
Haley T.
The view is not to be missed. Incredible! Such a pleasant atmosphere as well. I tend to go here with friends from out of town, but I have definitely gone here for drinks on a random girl's night out. You know, the kind of girl's night out where you're all too dressed up to go to your neighborhood dive bar. Excellent food, drink and atmosphere-but they slack a bit on the vegetarian/vegan options. The live jazz almost makes up for it.
(4)
Lily L.
Food is 3 stars. Price is high. View is spectacular is beyond 5 stars. Best to come at dusk so you can see the Boston both during the day and at night. The only reason to come to Top of the Hub is for the view. The food is so so but the drinks are better. Our plates were dusty. And I'm not sure how thoroughly they wash the romaine lettuce, but it's best to cut off the bottom 1/3.
(3)
Megan M.
It's hard to review Top of the Hub. The view is incredible. It reminded me of a place we used to have here in Miami, the Miami City Club. The place has windows going all around the building. You get a view of everything you could ever want to see in Boston. As tourists, this kind of view was a must-do for our trip. This alone is deserving of 5 stars, and the live jazz musicians really added that something extra to the experience. My only complaint is with Top of the Hub as a restaurant/lounge. We ended up better off than we would have been a few floors down at the Skywalk Observatory. The tickets for that viewing were around $10-15, I think. We took a peek, and saw they didn't have any kind of seating, so you're just walking around the indoor observatory until you're tired of the sights. The benefit of Top of the Hub was that we could sit at a table by the window, have a drink, listen to live music, and see the sights at our leisure. So, back to my complaint.....our drinks were gross. My $15 "chocolate" martini was so strong that I had our waiter make it again, and it was still like drinking lighter fluid. Service was friendly, but incredibly slow. For the first 15-20 minutes of being there, no one approached us. We finally had to get up and find someone to come take our drink orders. FYI, the other reviews made it seem like you needed a minimum order to sit at a table, but they didn't give us any problems. We were there in the early weekend afternoon and each ordered a drink, and they had us at a table by the window. I'd normally take away more stars for bad, expensive drinks and poor service, but the views really do make up for it, and for around the same price, it's a better experience that going to the Observatory.
(4)
Jass O.
i was happy thank you :)
(3)
Brian D.
Best advice for this place: Go for the view, not the food. I came here for the first time (yes, I've neglected to actually come here for a bunch of years now since moving to Boston 5 years ago) for my girlfriend and I's anniversary. We made reservations, got our table, no problem, no waiting. We were able to get a table by the window and it was such a wonderful experience taking in the views with my girly. The food was a bit of a disappointment however, I was kinda of expecting more from it. Scallops for my dearest, and I had the fish - maybe swordfish. I thought mine was a bit too salty and left me wanting something else at the end of it. The wait staff was excellent, accommodating my request for a special anniversary candle etc with dessert. Definitely come here for the views, don't expect the food to match, but still a great meal and experience.
(4)
Peter B.
Just went to the siting area of the bar. Yes, you are paying for the view but the drinks are not that expensive (maybe $2 more than on the ground). The view of the city is great, and they have a jazz band every now and then in the evenings. Service is average, but the cocktails we tried were good. I'd advise anyone visiting Boston to go up there for drinks, especially if a table is available (booking is only necessary for the restaurant part).
(4)
Jason B.
Review for the lounge. We came here for drinks after dinner someplace else. The drinks...fantastic. I had pomegranet (however you spell that) martinis, my new favorite drink...she had a great sauvignon blanc, fabulous view, great jazz trio, low lighting, soft cushy chairs...and then I popped the question. She said yes...staff gave us champagne on the house...all was delight.
(4)
Liz S.
I was really disappointed with this place because, frankly, the waiter was an idiot and ruined the experience and my meal. The view is obviously spectacular, and I wanted it to be have a special dinner because it was my 30th birthday dinner with my family. We got there before they opened so sat in the bar area and had drinks till the restaurant opened. The bar service was very slow. When the restaurant opened, we were seated behind a pillar; I asked if we could move to the same-sized table on the other side of the pillar, which was empty, but they told me that it was reserved. It was empty the entire time we were dining, and finally as we were leaving, a group got seated at that table, but the waitstaff changed the number of place settings to do so! Maybe I'm not so well-versed in table arrangements of reserved tables at restaurants, but if the table's reserved for so many hours for a certain number of people, why are they changing the place settings immediately before seating the supposed reserved party? I was disappointed because this was supposed to be a special occasion for us and so many things went wrong (and I am not one of those people who complains because I don't understand how a fine dining experience works). The food itself was pretty good, but I didn't really get to enjoy it as much as I should have because of the waiter. In addition to the regular a la carte menu, they had a couple different prix fixe menus for dinner, which everyone in my party ordered. Although they don't allow substitutions for the prix fixe menus, the waiter let me substitute with something a la carte for one of the courses because of my food allergies, even though he was wrong! Given what the menu said, I didn't think I would have a problem eating the original prix fixe menu's dish. The thing is, I'd told him I am allergic to wheat, so, as many do, he says, "oh a gluten allergy." I told him I can eat gluten, just not wheat. I sometimes don't bother correcting waiters who say this, but a gluten-free diet is more restrictive, and I wanted something that he said I couldn't have. Well, he subsequently pretty much freaked out about the whole thing! I am very familiar with my own dietary restrictions, and am of the opinion that if the waiter fully informs me what's in something and knowing this, I agree to eat it anyway, they are not liable for any allergic reaction I may have. But that's just me, I suppose. I'm VERY surprised that a waiter at such a supposedly high-end restaurant has so much trouble with knowing what's in the restaurant's food, or understanding what food is made of. I have never seen anything like this. We finally settled on my having a spinach salad for the course in question, but he was so paranoid that he had the chef put each ingredient in its own separate ramekin...just in case I couldn't eat one of them (I eat a LOT of salad, b/c half the time it's the only thing I can have on a menu! So I am very familiar with being stuck with salads, but this was uncharted territory). To make matters worse, when it came to dessert, I chose the parfait, which this weird waiter said was safe; maddeningly, it had a layer of CAKE on the bottom! Glaringly obvious bit of wheat there. Yet again, the waiter demonstrated his utter cluelessness about his restaurant's food. So strange....and not okay. It is a nice place, I just had an extremely weird experience.
(1)
Theresa M.
My boyfriend took me to dinner at Top of the Hub for our 6 month anniversary, and I was very impressed! We sat in the longue section at a table next to the window which was nice for the view...which is spectacular by the way For dinner we decided to have the three course meal which was reasonable priced at $38 each. I have to admit that I figured we would be leaving there hungry, but that was not the case. For starters I got the hub chopped salad and my boyfriend got the clam chowder. We were both impressed with how much meat was in the chowder and how full the salad was of kalamata olives and feta cheese. Second I had the rigatoni with Italian sausage and again I was very impressed with how much sausage was in the pasta! Delicious! The freshly baked cookies didn't disappoint either for dessert. The martini I ordered was good, but the one my boyfriend got was not. However, telling the waiter was not an issue and my boyfriend quickly got another drink. Next time I would probably stick with the cordials as they have a lot of offerings that are uncommon such as Sambuca (black). The Jazz music was lovely in the longue although I prefer my Jazz music to be a little zippier and danceable, but it was still very nice. After the experience the other night we will definitely be back...actually we are already planning our next trip to celebrate my best friend's 26th birthday!
For some reason, the city of Boston doesn't seem to believe in clear and well-placed signage. Regardless, we were able to find the Top of the Hub and get seated for an evening cocktail. I had the Blackberry Goose - light and sweet, but the aftertaste was pure vodka. The hubby had a burgundy wine. We were both pretty happy with our drink choices, but the view is really what made it - very fun to look out over Boston and talk about where we had been that day and where we would go later. The waiter was very pleasant, but seemed to have a whole lot going on. Service didn't seem to suffer too much, but it was noticeable. Overall, a great start to the night.
(4)
Kevin H.
This place is a comfortable home for douchebags. If you're fun, avoid it at all costs.
(1)
Fred H.
Good food, good atmosphere, good service, and great views! Definitely one of my favorite restaurants to go for a romantic evening
(5)
Corinne G.
The view is nice but the service and management need major improving. The food was good but nothing to rave about- as the two star rating says - I've experienced better. The most interesting part of our experience here was when the waiter came over to take our salad plates and asked us if he could get us anything else for the night - (we looked at each other perplexed as we had not yet eaten our entrees) - he asked if we wanted the check and my boyfriend jokingly said yes. Next thing you know the waiter shows up with the check! Needless to say he was mortified when we asked him "Are you serious?" and we had to remind him that we had not yet had our dinner. People are human and make mistakes, ok. But the number of mistakes that were made were simply not acceptable for a place like this. We finally ended up talking to a manager who thought that a plate of cookies would make it better, not! When told that we didn't want to have to write a bad review on them, his response was "Oh I have 1,000 bad reviews, we certainly don't want another brick in the wall". What kind of manager tells his customers that he has one thousand bad reviews! Sorry to say, the $25 discount he gave us was nice, but it certainly wasn't enough to deter me from putting "another brick in the wall".
(2)
Geoff F.
Never had the food, but it's worth it -- at least once -- to go and listen to the live jazz, scope out the view, and meet that minimum with a couple of drinks. Even better if you've come well prepared after visiting other, less haughty locales near by...
(3)
Timothy H.
Great Service. Great Drinks. Great Views. Great Atmosphere. AWFUL Food. Opportunity lost.
(2)
Ellie W.
I've been to the Top of the Hub a few times--spectacular views, but the food is pricey and pretty average. I feel like this is a big tourist magnet, because it DOES provide you with an excellent, beautiful view of the city. But for locals, it's one of those places you go to maybe once a year, if that. This is a great location to celebrate a special occasion--the view is just fantastic. But for sure, nobody really comes here with the food in mind.
(4)
Jillianne C.
My husband and I were on a speacial night out and wow what an amazing place this is... The food was phenominal and the best part there was a line and we mentioned we had reservation and we were sat immediately. There was nothing better than that . Definately a restaurant to be on your bucket list views were ok but food was better!
(4)
Patty T.
If you are just in Boston visiting this is a must... It is one of my favorite places in the city to go because you can see all of Boston. You get a full view of Boston. Hint: Unless you are in a big group.. just hit the bar and you can walk around.
(4)
Zorba P.
If you're looking for a restaurant with a dynamite view, vine food and fabulous service, look no further. Yes the prices are high, but then again what do expect for a million dollar view. The service was perfect - spot on. Not too effusive but attentive. When the bill came for our family of 4 I felt that I got more than my money's worth. So will you.
(5)
Rick L.
I dined in this fine establishment for my girlfriend's birthday, which happened to coincide with Boston's Restaurant Week. Don't worry; she came, too. Being the starving student that I am, I always enjoy getting away with dining somewhere nice for less. I really feel like I'm getting away with something when I can do that, for 3 prix-fixe courses, at the top of the tallest building in Boston, and only pay $33.12. But wait! Before you stop reading and settle, I would suggest an alternative: stay home. "BLASPHEMY!" You can't suddenly change plans and expect to be excited about the view from your table at the pub in your neighborhood!! But you have to eat... "Top of the Hub has salads!" Yeah, that's great. I'll go out and get a salad. Next! "I heard their main courses are phenomenal!" I must have had altitude sickness. My salmon was cold, my date's pasta was actually a Lean Cuisine...which I have at home! "Well...there's always dessert! You can't screw that up!" Riigghht. No, it was awful. But seriously....awful, at least in principle. No-bake cheesecake was good but a stab at creative presentation in the form of a green film on top of the cake suddenly reminded me of the foreign filling in a McDonald's fish filet sandwich that's been on the counter for a week. The creme brulee was more like...just "creme". Don't think they applied any heat to the sugar (to which I bet the bus boy $20...still waiting to hear back). I got pissed and started yelling at my date when I ate the custard, as I mistook it for the soup I should have ordered for my first course, thinking she had pulled some kind of "Groundhog Day" prank. I did enjoy the view, or at least what I could see from my table 20+ feet away from the window. Didn't make my food taste any better whatsoever though. Or my neighbors' food! Or their neighbors' food! Subtle complaints at a few tables around us were distinguishable, all of whom had also ordered from the same prix fixe menu. If I haven't persuaded you to stay home, just go. But get plastered before you leave home!
(2)
Gina K.
My friend and I came here on one of my visits to Boston. We wanted to check out the SkyWalk, but didn't want to pay for just a view, so we decided to check out the Top of the Hub lounge area for a drink while we were up there. We took the elevator all the way to the top of the Prudential Center and got off right to the lounge/restaurant. We were led to the bar area, where we sat. The World Cup was playing on the TV by the bar, and there were a few conversations going on about that. Our bartender was friendly and patient. I ordered the Tropical Splash cocktail, which was really good. While we were perusing the menu, we saw they had "luxury" cocktails (the highest priced one was $90!), which I thought was interesting. The bar was in the middle of the restaurant, but the walls of the restaurant were made of windows, so we had a great view. After we finished our drinks, we walked around to check out the view (there is this one room area where you can just stand and look out, so we stayed there for a bit, and located my friend's apartment). This was definitely a really great experience for me because I've never been to Boston before. I would definitely come here again for the view.
(4)
Konstance k.
Bad. Rude. Bad. Rude. If you're looking to Yelp for recommendations, then DO NOT GO TO THIS RESTAURANT!! From the hostess to our waiter, an evening celebrating my son's 16th birthday could not have been any worse. The staff permeates the attitude that they are all a powerful group of bad-asses who JUST MAYBE will seat you and feed you, and only when they feel liKe getting around to it. The view is terrific at the expense of overpriced drinks, food and being treated like a piece of crap. Management doesn't care -- they know that most diners are either visiting from out of town or don't plan on coming back. SHAME on them. They won't be seeing me -- and if I can help it, the 237987297197439321874987 people that I will be coming in contact with over my long life.
(1)
Jason A.
Just by sheer location and classiness, this would have to be one of the best lounge rooms in the city. Located on the 54th floor of the Prudential building, the view on the top stretches all over for a nearly 360 degree view of the Boston area. I think only the John Hancock building may be as tall (or damn near it). The people who went here last night were definitely prepared and came dressed to impress. I actually feel more at ease when surrounded by other well-dressed and classy individuals. There was also live jazz/chamber music, which lends for a nice atmosphere. The drinks at the bar were reasonable, especially given the location and its attraction as a tourist destination. I made sure to not order food, per the other Yelpers earlier. I was also discouraged by the $24.00 minimum purchase per customer if we were to sit in the lounge room, so I opted to sit at the bar, order drinks and walk around. I did order a plate of the freshly baked cookies, as most people here have recommended them. They are the most bang for your buck and actually can last you the entire stay. Eat too much, and you may leave diabetic though. The chocolate chip and the Heath bar flavors were my favorite in my particular combination (which I was told occasionally rotates). A nice cinnamon-flavored butter topping accompanies the cookies. I would recommend coming here at least once, especially if you're from out of town. Just to come here to get a view is worth it. Oh, and be sure to pop your ears upon exiting the elevator.
(5)
Vivian L.
Only go there for the view and drink, not food. I think I am more a food lover, so I will not give 4 or 5 for just the view.
(3)
Marely M.
I love it the food! I went for restaurant week and i liked that the food choice was a good one. The location is awesome, the ambiance, ooh well you are at the TOP OF THE HUB! The server wasnt that nice. We waited a lot and he was rude to our requests. Its expensive if you go there without any specials. I def want to go again for dinner.
(3)
Arnie F.
Fantastic food, service, and views. The lunch, while expensive, was a great value. The only annoying thing was they charged for each soda refill - which was around $4 I believe.
(5)
Valerie K.
My experience at Top of the Hub was just that, an experience! Our waiter, Martin, was very helpful and really tried to make decent conversation with us. He made recommendations and was very knowledgeable about the entire menu. The entire staff actually, from the hostess to the busboys, was very polite and professional, not at all snobby like you might expect. The entire time we spent at the restaurant was pleasant and we never felt rushed. Food was absolutely delicious. Yes, it's a bit expensive, but it's also very good quality. We went for lunch and I got the prix-fixe which included a salad, a salmon entree, and dessert for $24. Everything was so flavorful and we felt completely satisfied afterwards. Hating to sound like a broken record, I know that I must comment on the view. Unfortunately, on the day we went it was rainy and foggy out! But it was still spectacular. The view just adds to the overall wonderful experience we had at Top of the Hub. The food, the service, the atmosphere....A+!
(5)
Melanie H.
Top of the Hub: The next time I am getting married, get a huge job promotion or feel like maxing out my credit card, you can count on my dinner reservation. This is the type of restaurant you go to when your going to propose to your girlfriend, celebrating your parents' 50th wedding anniversary or just got a $10,000 raise. Because, hot damn, you better be ready to put down a couple of Benjamin Franklin's for your meal. I dined at Top of the Hub this past Friday and I will say, there is no better view in Boston. With that, keep in mind that you are not only paying for the food at this restaurant, but also the atmosphere, service & view. Our meal was exquisite- a bottle of white wine and the five course Top of the Hub tasting menu: 1. Crab Louis- served cold with crab meat and egg (kind of like an egg salad), but delicious. 2. Pan Seared Scallop- scallops with pecan butter & cranberry relish- bam! (so good). 3. Grilled Tenderloin of Beef au Poivre- I was so excited after the scallops, but the beef was even better. I eat red meat very infrequently, but this was succulent. It melted in my mouth and went so well with the asparagus that was placed on top. Amazzzing. 4. Diced Beets with Goat Cheese on top- Meh. I have tried beets many times before and as much as I try them, I just can't take a liking to them. I was surprised that the beets were on a tasting menu considering that they are not the most commonly liked vegetable. I tried to stomach half of it, but without much luck. There was also A LOT of goat cheese on these beets, as in enough, to stop you up for 3 days. The menu said beef tartar, but maybe they switched it for the night? Either way, this was the only course that I would ask the chef to swap out for something else. 5. Warm chocolate lava cake- dessert was delightful. I also like anything with 'warm', 'chocolate' and 'cake' in the name, so maybe I am a bit biased? This cake was served with a side of vanilla ice cream and went perfect with the last glass of white wine. The service here was simply outstanding. Our waiter Fernando catered to our every need and was pleasant and made many good suggestions on the menu. Not only was he great, but you could see how attentive the wait staff was to all of their tables. And again, there is no other restaurant in Boston that has a view as good as theirs. Another side note on this restaurant- they have a very reasonable prix fixe lunch menu- $22 for 3 courses, what a steal! Yay! I am a fan!
(4)
Lauren L.
A disappointing return to one of my favorite places in town. Went here last night to enjoy the life Jazz music at 9 in the lounge seating area. This has always been one of my favorite places in Boston, but last night it was just sub par. The service was good. I got the arugula salad with no cheese and a Diet Coke. My buddy got the risotto appetizer. He enjoyed them. There were a few things that ticked me off. -10:30 PM: Screaming bloody murder, a 4-year old was making a scene, and parents literally just sat there doing nothing. I would expect a finer establishment to have one of the managers who was near the host stand go over and intervene. The family's 2nd kid was zonked out, sitting on the chair perpendicularly, head cocked to the side laying on the back rest, asleep, mouth agape. The 3rd kid was not making a fuss. Ugh, this isn't McDonalds people. - The place was ABSOLUTELY FREEZING COLD. My buddy and I sat there crossing our bodies to keep warm. - More time by the jazz band was spent not playing than playing. I'd say they played 40% of the time, max.
(2)
Christina S.
The view is amazing, the atmosphere is amazing and the service...is amazing! My boyfriend and I came here for brunch to celebrate our 1 year and it was definitely an experience. The brunch consisted of a set menu with 4 courses and it was a great meal, to say the least. My favorite part was the lobster omelet with melty brie. Anything with brie and it has my heart! They also created a thoughtful dessert for our 1 year :) It was a little on the pricey end so Top of the Hub would be great for special occasions.
*Disclaimer...Restaurant Week Review! A friend of mine and I had dinner at Top of the Hub last night and were pleasantly surprised. I really didn't expect much from the food or service. The view is, as has been said many times, stunning. We were given a table right by the window. The service was fantastic...Very attentive. I had the arugala salad followed by the rigatoni, both of which were very good. We finished off with the creme brulee which was decent. The lounge where they had the live music looked nice and cozy. I definitely would come back, especially with out-of-towners or for a drink before a special occasion dinner.
In life you have just so few of those transcendent dining experiences and this was one of them. A beautiful view, the chef's tasting menus paired with wines, impeccable service, and a special date evening with someone you love. How many places can you go where you can just take hours languorously enjoying a fine meal? Life doesn't get much better than that. I love the wait staff here they are there instantly when you want or need them, and invisible when you don't. My date had some problems with some of the courses, which the chef happily changed to accommodate her. Just beautiful, a definite destination on all my future trips to Boston.
(5)
Leila T.
Gorgeous views of the city. I came here for my fiance's birthday. We had a few bites compliments of the chef which was nice (I think because I was a vegetarian and their menu was limited). The menu was a bit dull and uninspired, but enjoyable (again, I was limited as a vegetarian). Nobody wants to go to a nice restaurant and have the lasagna as their only choice! Fiance had the lamb which did look good. I don't know if I'd ever come back for dinner, but definitely for the view (and maybe a bottle of wine and dessert!). I'd say, skip the skywalk and come here for drinks.
(3)
Michelle Z.
The experience did not meet my expectations at all. Service: To start, they did not seat us because our whole group was not here yet, even after we told them that we were in a bit of a time crunch. It would have been understandable if the restaurant was busy - however, this was not the case...most of the tables were empty. When the bread waiter came around with the bread basket, he dropped my piece of bread loudly on the bread plate and crumbs went everywhere. I had expected him to say sorry because it seemed like a mistake. However, he just walked away - I guess it was normal for him. Food: The dishes were sloppily plated as my soup bowl was not wiped down - this may be a personal pet peeve, but it just shows that the chef does not care enough to simply take only 3 seconds to have presentable food. For my entree, I got the ribs which were overly dry and really tough. My friend's pasta dish seemed like it had been sitting in the kitchen for a while as the top of the pasta was a darker colour compared to the rest of the dish. Both of our dishes were not warm enough - her pasta had the kind of oil droplets that form when food is not warm enough and has been siting there for a while. My dessert (chocolate cake) tasted good - until i bit into the plastic wrap. I thought it was just 1 piece and did not feel like sending it back to the kitchen. However, I took another bite and bit into another piece of plastic. When I informed my waiter, he simply took it back to the kitchen and came back a few minutes later with a new cake and an insincere one line apology "Sorry about that". We felt very rushed by the waiter as he placed the bill on our table shortly after we got our desserts. This was absolutely no reason for him to do so as the restaurant was not busy. In between the courses, the table was cleared hastily and loudly. There was a lot of clinking and clanking as the waiter seemed to drop the utensils into the plates. -- It is restaurant week in Boston so we did not pay as much as we would've had to on any other occasion. However, this should not have affected their service and food quality simply because they are serving a less expensive menu. The group consensus was that we would not return nor recommend the restaurant to anyone. Even though we did pay less than usual, we still felt like it was an overpriced meal. Even the gorgeous view could not have saved the poor food quality or horrible service.
(1)
Abhi S.
Its a very nice place for a romantic dinner,great view and iloved the food. You can park in prudential center and they will validate parking.
(4)
Anna R.
Tried it out as part of our first visit to Boston as well as to take advantage of Restaurant Week. Beautiful views of the city and great service. The food was delicious. I had the Buccatini Pasta in a cream sauce and the Mango Mousse. Friends had the Scallops with Polenta and the Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin. We all loved each of our meals. Restaurant Week was a nice opportunity to try it out and see Boston from a different vantage point. Otherwise, I don't think I'd frequent the Top of the Hub unless it were a special occasion or out for a romantic evening out.
(3)
Cat B.
I have never been so disappointed with a Valentine's Day dinner in my life. As the parents of two small children we don't often get the chance to get dressed up and go out to a nice dinner so Valentine's Day is always special to us. After having a wonderful dinner meeting at Top of the Hub my husband told me about the amazing menu and service so we decided to abandon our 'usual' restaurant for Top of the Hub for Valentine's Day. When we made our reservation we were told nothing about the special Valentine's Day menu being the only menu available that night. When we arrived and realized that this was the case we almost just left but could not because there was another couple with us. After we sat down and began reading the menu I thought that after speaking with our waiter that he might be able to tone down the or offer other menu choices. After telling the waiter that I don't like egg and asking if they could not put that in two out of the five fixed choice courses I was told there were no changes and no substitutions. Once we finally ordered my husband and I decided not to spend an extra $60 on the wine pairings which the waiter did not seem to appreciate and from that point on after we had finished our first drinks never asked again if we would like something else to drink, he just kept re-filling our water glasses. It was like we were being punished for not getting the wine pairings. I'm happy we didn't get the wine pairings because the other couple we were dining with didn't get the wine on time with any of the courses, they had completely finished their soup before the wine even showed up. Obviously thanks to the presence of the egg I could not enjoy the first course. The mushroom soup was far too heavy for even a cream based soup and I was tasting the soup for the rest of the night until finally hours later I got home and was able to brush my teeth. The minimal entree choices were just depressing, I settled for the beef filet and while it was cooked adequately, I did not enjoy any of the sides that came with it. The salad course at the end also had egg in it, so after trying to pick around the flecks of egg I gave up because the salad just wasn't good enough to warrant such an effort. For dessert there was a mediocre layer cake and once again not what I wanted, I had been looking forward to the warm chocolate cake listed on their regular dessert menu. The best part of the cake was the diamond engagement ring made from sugar, that was a nice touch and honestly the only part I enjoyed aside from my pomegranate mojito. This abysmal meal was given to us for the low low price of $125 per person. Honestly this menu felt like they were just cleaning out their pantries and coolers from the things that would soon be going bad. Never mind the fact that on any other day their tastings menu is only $77. Next year we will be going back to our standby restaurant the Capitol Grille where you can get the meal you want at half the price with significantly better service. So, mediocre food, over embellished menu, mediocre service, and cut throat pricing ruined my Valentine's Day, thank you Top of the Hub for a less than quality experience.
I went to T.O.H to celebrate our anniversary. The View of restaurant is a great and great but foods and services are poor and worst ever. I saw a dirty thing in my desert, it was really really really really disgusting. They said just Im sorry one time, no show manager came to us and give a pice of paper. I think the manager wrotes some words as 10% off entire order on your next visit. How ugly service and poor reaction for the customer's uncomfortable.! And, what a yucky and unsavory foods. Panda Express is way much better than TOB foods.
(1)
Carly L.
First of all, you come here for the skylines not the food. Food is subpar at best. Had brunch here on a sunday. Reservation is required to get a window seat. Egg Benedict was average, the egg muffins tasted old. The profiteroles were horrible this is not how profiteroles should taste. The pâtissier at the Hub should practice quality control. It's a shame really. So you get the point..brunch here is quite pricy , you're paying for the view. If you want decent cuisine and a beautiful view, try the waterfront.
(3)
Lynda M.
Face it people--no one should come here expecting a high end dining experience or great service. It is all about the view. Came here after work for a drink with my husband, the line of diners waiting to be seating wearing tank tops and shorts was already forming (high end dress code as usual). The lounge was pretty empty, so we waited a few minutes (ignored by host and staff) then walked over to grab a seat by the window. As we went to sit, host in a very bad suit yelled and ran over to us, rudely putting his arm out to actually block us "These seats are reserved". Mmmm...no thanks. This place is like a pig wearing lipstick. Underneath it all, it is just a pig.
(1)
Keisuke N.
The food is OK but you can't beat the view. The food is better than average for sure, and you do pay a premium for the view/location, but you won't be disappointed by their food either. They have a classy menu and good desserts. Get a nice bottle of wine and enjoy the view. Great place for a date and/or anniversary dinner!
(4)
Leo H.
I've been to this place several times over the years and find it to be a mixed bag, quality-wise, given the money you pay. That said, last night was a good experience. My family and I spent the evening in the lounge area in order to listen to the live jazz band play. The lounge menu is very good, particularly if you're primarily interested in appetizers. They don't let you order off the main dining room menu, which I found odd. Most restaurants enable that sort of thing in their bars or lounges as that's where all the big bucks are spent (see Oak Bar). Anyways, great views, good food and nice atmosphere. I'd recommend the Reuben egg rolls, ribs and Kobe hot dogs for apps. I wasn't particularly impressed with the mussels nor the calimari, but the rest of my family dug it. Those two plates were fine, just nothing special.
(4)
Julia C.
As a frequenter and lover of Chinatown eateries, I'm not too nitpicky about cleanliness, but here, I wasn't particularly impressed at the visibly smudged silverware, nor at the plate settings that somehow managed to catch an awful lot of dust. Service was timely, efficient, and unobtrusive. I came here for the restaurant week prix-fixe menu, but I did have a small peek at their regular menu. They serve simple American fare, mostly sandwiches and burgers, in the $15-20 range. I had the lemon pepper scallops, strawberry rhubarb soup and the creme brulee, which were all delicious, but wasn't particularly awe-inspiring. Same with the pork medallions that the boy ordered -- "tasty but nothing to write home about." Also, serving portions are impressively tiny, at least for the restaurant week menu. And by tiny, I mean they served me two scallops on a bed of mushed yellow corn that tasted like it came out of a can, which the restaurant proudly dubs as "polenta." Restaurant-enforced portion control is good, though. Overall, I left with the impression that this is a place for tourists to enjoy the view. If you are one, or are a Boston resident who hasn't done the Skywalk, then I'd definitely recommend going here for the excellent view, as the entrance fee for the Skywalk is $12 anyways. But I probably won't consider the Hub someplace that I'd frequent routinely as a local resident.
(3)
Krista H.
Being a Boston native and having never been here, I had the opportunity when a friend from out of town wanted to go last night. We had already had dinner somewhere else, so this was a drinks/dessert experience. When you walk in, they immediately let you know there is a $24/pp min to spend. Not a problem. The views are amazing, yes. But our server brought us the drink menus first and when we just ordered two drinks at first she got antsy and reminded us about the minimum spending limit. A little rude. We planned on dessert but just hate being rushed. Once we ordered dessert, AGAIN with the 'gentle reminder' about the $24/min. Anyways, we had the Warm Chocolate cake which tasted like something out of a package. I chose to take a spinach salad home which was mediocre at best. This place will survive no matter what they serve, but I am at least curious about dinner. The service is way too pushy, though. We heard you...$24/per person minimum. You don't need to keep bringing different menus over!
(3)
Travis D.
We haven't been to the Top of the Hub in a VERY long time. Time was, this was the place to go for a special date or night out. Over the years, I felt that they went downhill and thus haven't been back in a long time. Yesterday, though, I was convinced that we've stayed away too long. My wife and I took the kids there for lunch while spending the day in Boston, and had a fantastic meal. The mussels, a favorite of my six year old, were perfect, and both the kids loved the clam chowder. My steak was perfectly grilled, and the wines by the glass selection was quite good (it was the afternoon and we were with the kids after-all ... a bottle just didn't seem right!). If, like us, you've avoided the Top of the Hub because you felt that they had lost their edge, then I encourage you to re-think your stance and give them another try. Besides, where else can you get a view of Boston like that one?! :)
(5)
Clara L.
Went here again with friends from out of town, and we sat at the bar for some drinks. As we left, we wandered over to the windows to show our friends the view, since we were heading to dinner and didn't want to wait for a table. Not even 30 seconds later, the maitre'd rushed over and admonished us for standing there. We explained that we just wanted a quick view and were leaving, and he told us no. We said that they just lost a customer and he said, "well I don't give a s***". He was really rude and looked like if we didn't leave, he would physically remove us. He was so loud that other diners started looking at us. As we left, we asked for the manager's name so we could tell him about his rude staff, and it was like pulling teeth to get a business card. The hostesses weren't very nice at all either. Not sure if we're going to try going again.
(1)
Christy M.
Went there for restaurant week and had an excellent meal. Tried the cauliflower/carrot soup, short ribs and creme brulee. Everything was delicious. Very good sized portion as well. Some restaurants really cut portions down for restaurant week so I was happy to see they were still very generous! Service was excellent as well. Will definately go back on a clear night!
(4)
Leo F.
I visited this place for dessert once. We were seated next to the window and the dessert we ordered was some sort of chocolate volcano. It was pricey as expected but was sometime to try at least once when friends are visiting from out of town. Of course, the view was great.
(4)
Stephen L.
Spent $82 for 2, so $40 a person for just entree. But tickets to tall buildings with a view tend to be $20-$40. So it really comes out to a $20-30 dinner. If you get the multi-course meal, it's a lot more pricey. The food was good, the pasta had bits of lobster and tasted great. The lamb on the other hand is a lot of lamb and very fatty (I didn't like it). The view was nice, and service was great.
(5)
Shivon R.
I've been here twice, and I think once you accept that you're paying for the view and not necessarily high quality food then it's smooth sailing. The view is of course, fantastic. I've only been at night, but I assume that it would be even better when the sun is setting. On both occasions I thought the food was just okay. Not bad, but not amazing- and honestly a bit underwhelming for what I would expect for a $25-30 entree. Same with the drinks. But still, worth seeing if you don't mind shelling out the cash.
(3)
Amy W.
I went there with my boyfriend during our visit to Boston. Lunch food was pretty good. We had chicken pot pie and the beef tenderloin flatbread. Our waitress was nice too. She even offered to take our picture! HOWEVER, AFTER we had paid and tipped our waitress, we wanted to walk around the restaurant and take pictures of the view of Boston skyline, but we were immediately stopped (even before we took out the camera!) by the restaurant hostess!! She said that we were NOT allowed to take pictures at the tables but told us to go visit the Skywalk two floors below. But the Skywalk admission is $13 per person!! The whole reason we went to this place was for the view!!! So disappointed!! The restaurant wasn't even crowded!
(1)
Nicholas P.
Excellent service, amazing views (a must see for a visitor) and good food. Maybe not the best restaurant in terms of variety and gourmet taste, but good enough. Pricey by Boston standards, ok by NYC standards
(4)
Mike G.
I love this place for a nice dinner out in a romantic atmosphere. :-) The view is fantastic, as are the food and drinks, and so far I've had great service on every visit (3 visits under the belt so far). I'll admit, this isn't the best steak I've ever had (that would be in Nashville if you're curious), but they do a good job and so far it's always been very well cooked and well seasoned as well. There was only one visit where it was a LITTLE "chewy" but I ordered a more meaty (less) fat piece of steak too. So possibly a combination of my selection and their preparation of it - hard to say. Service has always been great, friendly, and prompt. The server has always been attentive to everyone at our table, and offers suggestion upon request. In one particular visit the server (and chef) was nice enough to swap the side vegetable (which I believe was asparagus) for their whipped potatoes. Which the menu claims they usually will not do, so that was great! (I'm not an asparagus fan at all!) The menu can get a bit pricey, but I believe that's to be expected in settings like these. Overall very nice. On two of the visits I got corner window seat (on the north eastern corner of the restaurant) over looking Boylston. Amazing view, especially at Sunset or dusk. I would definitely recommend this for a romantic dinner get-away.
(4)
Krystal L.
You can see all of Boston and it's prettiest at night. I recommend only going for dessert. Lunch and Dinner are not worth it. However, when I went there recently, the hostess wasn't friendly or welcoming at all. Once we were seated, the waiter informed us that there was a minimum amount that we needed to spend. I became a little upset because I had not realized this. I hadn't thought to check because there was no minimum the last two times I went. Both times were at night around dinner time. That was many years ago so things must have changed. It was not worth the price. I recommend going once to see the view of Boston at night but check their website. After I had to pay the minimum, I went online to check. If you go at a certain time then you can avoid the ridiculous minimum requirement.
(3)
Nina S.
This place is amazing!!!! Let's start with the view -- you see whole Boston downtown lit up and it's just breath taking!!! Food is fresh and tastefull... My fiance has steak and I had salmon... both meals were cooked to perfection and tasted delish!!!! We are so planning on going back to Top of the Hub....
(5)
Christina V.
On our last night in Boston we decided to come here for a drink and dinner. As soon as the elevator doors opened up the lovely hostess asked when our reservation was and checked us in. She directed us over to the bar where we ordered a cocktail and waited for our window table to be ready. I had the Tropical Splash.. it was divine. Sweet with a little kick at the end. A few minutes later our table was ready so we sat down and enjoyed our ice water and bread along with the most beautiful view of the city. We barely spoke the first few minutes except to point out all the different things we saw. After reading over the menu I decided on the Lamb Shank while my fiance ordered the Salmon. Both dishes were perfect. I loved every single thing on my plate as did my honey. We clinked our glasses together periodically as we enjoyed these delectable creations. All in all this place is pretty much amazing. From the time we arrived to the moment we left we were laughing and smiling. Something magical happens up there.
(5)
Bobby B.
Great food and excellent views of the city. Perfect place to take a date. Very romantic. Overall: A-
(4)
Daniel R.
Is $9.50 for two basic cups of restaurant coffee ridiculous? Of course it is. But you can't dwell on that. You have to go into Top of the Hub with the same attitude that you go into Disney World with...you're going to spend some money; if you stress over every penny, you'll ruin the experience. We went for brunch...fixed price of $39 for yogurt, choice of appetizer, choice of entree, and dessert. I had gingerbread pancakes, duck confit hash, and a key lime tart. Everything was good...not as good as you'd get at a typical breakfast joint, but typical breakfast joints aren't 52 floors off the ground providing panoramic views of the city. It's no secret to anyone that Top of the Hub is built on the "more style than substance" principle, but it's still worth a visit.
(3)
Doug J.
(score 1-100) - 85. SECRET: I'm starting this review with the best part, the SECRET! People usually come here once on a big date or anniversary but this People ask how do you eat here so often... Are you some sort of secret Billionaire? No, you don't have to blow 200 plus to eat at the Top of the Hub. First, get your seat. Always request a window seat, it's really the biggest reason to be here is the view! They will bring you the dinner menu but here's the SECRET: ask for the bar/pub menu. Essentially this is the lunch menu. I typically order the Black bean burger for 12 bucks or Turkey club for 14. Essential with tip you can eat with a guest for under 35 bucks at the Top of the Hub! Another thing that I do is order 4-5 appetizers and between two people it's pretty filling. Note: I've had a few instances where they've told me to move (hopefully you are thick skinned) to another section but for the most part it's not that full and they are pretty relaxed about seating. This is a great place too to get drinks. It's up on the 52nd floor so great views and what better vibe than looking over the city with cocktails and friends!
(4)
Ashley P.
I was pleasantly surprised by my visit to the Top of the Hub. I had heard mixed reviews, many saying that the food wasn't worth the price. But I feel very differently. Granted, we went during restaurant week at lunch; however, they have a similar lunch menu every day. We started with the calamari which we added to the meal. It was the best calamari I have ever had! I couldn't stop eating it. I then had a beat and cheese salad which was extraordinary and my boyfriend had the potato soup. He liked the soup but would have preferred it warm (we went during the summer so it was meant to be served chilled). We both had the panko crusted scallops which were divine. We both also loved the dessert. We also had a few drinks, and even though they are expensive I definitely had a good buzz going after the first one (and I am not a light weight!). But of course lets get to the real point... the view. It was completely incredible. Absolutely the best view in Boston. The tables all have cushiony seats that makes you want to sit there for hours. The service was also excellent. It was totally worth the money and I will be back!
(5)
Amy X.
Very reasonable prices for delicious, strong drinks, appetizers and desserts. Get a table... it's well worth the minimum, which you can easily meet without feeling ripped off. Otherwise you sit at a bar that blocks your view, which defeats the point of going to the top of the tower. The Baked Brie is amazing. The molten lava chocolate cake with heavenly coconut ice cream is good, but if you have to pick just one dessert, get the cookie platter. The cookies (3 each of chocolate chip, peanut butter, sugar, and white chocolate chip fudge) are amazingly gooey inside while just firm enough on the outside to pick up without it crumbling everywhere. The drinks are amazing and the same price you'd pay at any decent bar. The Ginger Lemon Drop and Italian Cherry Champagne my friends had were good, but the winner of the night was the Blackberry Goose.... with Grey Goose, muddled blackberries, and other deliciousness. And the drinks are strong, so just one plus the Baked Brie and/or a dessert will put you in a very happy place.
(5)
Anna V.
I had my boyfriend take me here for my birthday, and loved every bit of my time here. I requested a window seat which they had reserved for me on my special day, overlooking Boston over a glass of Chianti was heaven enough. But I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of food they presented to you while we were waiting on our order. Our waiter was so personable and friendly, and recomended a wine to go with my chicken dinner. The food is absolutley worth the price and the ambiance. I can not wait to go back to this beautiful place.
(5)
Lilie N.
I didn't eat here, but came for some wine and dessert. Had no reservations, just spontaneously came here for the heck of it after dinner. They graciously seated us right away by the window where you can see all of Boston and near the band. Our server was a beautiful exchange student from Ireland if I remember correctly, very , fun, and a breath of fresh air. She told us of her journey and I was happy we met her. The restaurant seems fancy and potentially snooty, but they were so laid back with us walking the restaurant to check out all the different views. Definitely a romantic place with a live jazz band. Try this place out for a nice date night.
(4)
Paul C.
When you come here, you're definitely paying for the view. I came here with some co-workers as we were looking for something to eat and this place seemed like it should have good food since it comes with a very nice view of Boston. When we first arrived, the hostess greeted us and we asked her how long it would take for a table for 3 and she mentioned it would take about 45 minutes but that we could start in the lounge right away which we agreed to. I don't know if she's required to tell people there is a $24 minimum per person but she probably assumed because were were wearing jeans and not all dressed up that we were poor and could not afford the food. Little did she know, were in town for work and wanted to relax, hence the jeans. Anyways, on to the food. I ordered the clam chowder to start with since I figured we were in New England I should get something that is local to the area. The clam chowder was more like clam soup as it was not as thick as I think it could have been and it wasn't as hearty as the price would indicate. My co-worker had the lobster soup and he said it was pretty good. For the entree, I had the burger which was cooked a perfect medium and was excellent. The bun they used for the burger complimented it perfectly. My co-workers had a salad and a pasta dish which they also said was good. We also had cocktails during our meal and I can say they definitely aren't known for pouring stiff drinks and they are pricey too. Overall, it was a pleasant dining experience and I would come back next time I'm in Boston. I would have given it 4 stars but since the hostess seemed to assume we couldn't afford their place, I had to take away one star.
(3)
Andrew S.
Positives: Classy, well lit, great wine. The staff made my special night (my proposal to my fiance) very memorable... they were so friendly, set up the most beautiful table, and helped me in every way I needed. The table was perfectly placed overlooking our university to the North and downtown Boston. They gave us complimentary champagne to end a very nice night... Averages: The food... not bad, but not amazing, "this changed the way I view cuisine" food. Which is a shame, considering that it could be. I had a huge veal steak that was well prepared but a bit on the salty side. Negatives: None
(4)
Kerry T.
I was in shock when I got there. I've always had a great experience there. However, this time was horrible and I bought a visitor to see the great City of Boston. We were not acknowledged when we first walked in, so we sat at the couches. Saw an open table and asked if it was ok, and told that all seats where first come. We sat there and was told that we needed to leave because there is a group that just walked in and ask for a table by the window. I was going to say something but then just walked away and waited for another table to open up. I did also, let the numerous amount of hostess that was just standing there that I wanted a table at the window. During the whole time (15 minutes) we were never asked for drinks by the waitress. We flagged her down and she finally took our order but with an attitude. I was so apologetic to my friend and said that this is not the typical service we get here. We got our drinks and asked for the tab right away because we didn't want to stay any more. It took her over 20 minutes to get the bill. She rather chat with the other hostess and bartenders then assist customers. THAT IS YOUR JOB as a waitress. If I could give minus stars then I would. I will never bring a visitor there again.
(1)
john d.
Went for a Restaurant Week lunch and was pleasantly surprised. I had heard that the food at TOTH was not so great, that it was a tourist trap, and the waiters were rude and not trained properly. I had the Chicken Fricassee which was delicious! (Pleasantly surprised!) The waiter was helpful and courteous. (Another surprise!) We went on a very clear and sunny day, and the view is breathtaking! Especially if there are a lot of empty tables, you can walk around the dining room and take in the view. A must see...but only on a clear day! Again, RW prices (for lunch) are $20.11...not bad! 2 coffees were $9.50 ($4.75 for a cup?) Soda Water was $3.75.....same with diet coke. Overall, a pleasant lunch, bill was $61.22.....good food, service wonderful view! Do it once!
(3)
Holly G.
I have only had dessert here and the people I was with had drinks and calamari. I enjoyed my dessert but thought it was pretty small for the high price tag. My sister loved her calamari, which she always orders here. And my boyfriend had an espresso martini which he thought lacked cream. I love the views from Prudential. So I would say go to this place for the views and maybe a beer or cocktail. (Both of which also have a high price tag too, though). It is also full of tourists or people on dates. So if you aren't either of those you might feel out of place. Also, dress nice! Or you will also feel out of place.
(4)
Karla g.
The view from the top was worth a million bucks. The drinks in there were very good and the bartenders were generous. I would definitely go back there on my next Boston adventure.
(5)
Katharine T.
We went for jazz and dessert, and didn't eat dinner. None of the desserts looked great. My roommate got the lemongrass parfait, which was mediocre, and I ended up getting the hearts of romaine, which was way overpriced for a caesar salad. We hung around for a while, had a couple of drinks, and ordered the brie appetizer (Our waitress must have been so confused), which was deeeeeeeelicious. Absolutely delicious. Eat the brie. Trust me.
(3)
Ross G.
Been several times for lunch and dinner! It's great really like the chicken and chowder! Def will be back soon!
(4)
Karla V.
This was one of my favorite places to take visitors from out of the city. The view is amazing!! But the last two times the service been very bad.
(2)
Jussy F.
I came here with my sister for pre-dinner drinks. We scored a window seat in the lounge area with a gorgeous view obviously. We had a bottle of pink champagne between us and decided to get the Brie with Walnuts which was absolutely delicious. It was a bit small, but we were going on to dinner later so that was fine by us. I also had their "late harvest margarita" which had an amazing flavour to it. I understand all the gripes about being too pricey, and the staff were all very serious, so I can see where that could be taken as being snooty. But for us it was a perfect start to the evening and well worth the money.
(4)
Liz S.
Everything I am about to say is just stating the obvious.. And for the people who come on here and complain about the pricing... Its Boston, its the top of the prudential center, of course its going to be expensive! Look at the menu online before you go. I went last night for my anniversary with my boyfriend, and we had an amazing time! Everything from the service to the food to the view. They have many employee's at your beck and call if you need anything, whether your trying to find a seat at the bar, or just simply find the bathroom. The bar staff was excellent, they even say cheers after they hand you your drinks which we loved. I recommend the blueberry mojito, yummm! Our waiter (unfortunately I do not remember his name) was excellent! Very attentive, he didnt rush us, very friendly and explained everything in detail when we asked questions. He even offered to take a picture for us. My boyfriend left him a great tip, and the waiter came back afterwards and shook his hand and thanked him. The food was delicious! We asked for an appetizer that we didnt see on the menu, and he made it happen! Overall great experience, it is the perfect place for a special occasion. And I dont think I need to compliment the view! It's simply beautiful!
(5)
Angela M.
Very classy place! Do not even think about going there in regular clothes or after a ball game, and especially with a drunken party bus crew! haha. okay, so we were drunk and loud got kicked out. But anyways, this is a very nice place to bring a date and for a view of the whole city. Just remember that there is a spending minimum and reservations are highly recommended except in the lounge area, which features live jazz.
(2)
Rachel D.
the view is fantastic. the food.. not so much.. I could have gotten that meal at a million other restaurants. The dessert was pretty good, but I don't go to a nice expensive restaurant for their desserts. Make your cuisine a little bit more flavorful and hip, maybe then I will like your food more Top of the Hub.
(2)
Ashley G.
The view was great, obviously. For our entree we both had the hake special, incredible. The menu is pretty limited so I would check it out before you show up : ) Cooked perfectly moist and flaky, the hake sat ontop a medley of lobster and harvest vegetables with a lemon butter drizzle. Amazing!!! The only thing I didn't like was the service...it was a little outdated and just too snooty. I sat down and the hostess tossed my napkin on my lap, awkward... Oh well I deffinately would go back! This is a no jeans
(4)
Katherine J.
This place is all about the view. I've been three times and it is a great place to take guests! My only complaint is that I've been to restaurants like this and they rotate 360 degrees so you get complete views (hyatt in KC and tv tower in Berlin) but this place doesn't. Anyways, I suggest going during the afternoon and just getingt a drink.
(4)
Dara S.
I have been to Top of the Hub previously, and one other time for restaurant week. I was beyond impressed to see a restaurant functioning so fluidly during restaurant week, and was even more impressed by the caliber of the food. It keeps getting better and better every time I go. I am obsessed with the creme brulee. But, the thing that really wowed me this time, was the service. It has been much lousier in the past - rude waiters, girls who seem to know nothing. The waitress, Cara that we had last night was incredible. All four of us at the table have worked in the restaurant industry in the past, and it is sometimes hard to just sit back and relax when we go out. Cara nailed it with wine suggestions, timing of the courses, and overall knowledge of the menu. She was friendly and enthusiastic and we all really appreciated that. She really helped make our night special, and to be honest - if the food was terrible I would still probably come back. Also - I think David? was the bartender, and he made our drinks perfectly and did not even hesitate when we started asking him for something off menu. Thanks Dave! Long paragraph short - I highly recommend Top of the Hub! I actually forgot about the view I had such a great time.
(5)
Christopher M.
I hadn't been to the Top of the Hub in a few years. Last night I picked a friend up from the airport and wanted to welcome her back with a nice drink and maybe desert. She had never been to the Top and we had dinner nearby, so I figured it was a good time to go back. I've been to the Top of the Hub for dinner only a few times - the food was always good, the wine menu solid, service was hit or miss and prices were outrageous, but it was a great spot for a big date. Shows you how few 'big dates' I've had. However, I used to love coming to the bar/lounge - they'd have great jazz playing in the corner and you could just waltz in, grab a bar stool or chair, and enjoy the view over a martini. But some things have changed... The first thing I noticed this time is that they've remodeled since I was last there - they've now moved the bar seats to the other side of the bar, away from the window, thus blocking the bar patron's view with the back of the bar. Furthermore, the remodel has split the 'bar/lounge' into two separate entities - a bar and a lounge. You can still walk in a grab a seat at the bar, which is now limited to one of maybe a dozen stools in a cramped hallway. You now have to wait to be seated in the lounge, which carries a $24 per person minimum. In fact, it seems like you can't even get a drink and walk into the lounge - the couple next to us at the bar last night tried this and was asked to return to the bar. So in essence, the Top of the Hub has gotten cheap on us - the view no longer comes with your bar tab, you have to pay extra. Fortunately our bar tab was well over the $24 per person minimum, so we moved from the bar to the lounge as soon as a table was available. So here are my suggestions for your TOTH experience: This is the definition of the perfect date restaurant. It's also a great place to bring friends and family from out of town. I've been here eight years, and I'm still impressed with the view. Try to sit on the east side of the restaurant - downtown Boston, Cambridge and the river is a much more impressive view. Skip dinner - you can get a better meal for less elsewhere in the city, and still come here for drinks & desert. I'm not a big fan of sweet drinks, but everyone I know who is LOVES their martinis. The best value item on the lounge menu is the cookie plate. For $13 you get a dozen warm, gooey cookies and a small dish of ice cream.
(3)
Bethany F.
Go here for drinks and apps in the lounge. It's the best way to experience this place (I personally think the meals here are awfully expensive for what they are, and the whole Top of the Hub experience can be enjoyed just as much with drinks and apps only). But hey, if you have the money, go for it, it's not disappointing by any means. AMAZING view. Seriously. Go for at least a drink, just to look at Boston Harbor, Southie, Back Bay, and over the Charles to Cambridge. ESPECIALLY go here if you're new in town or a tourist, you will not get a better view anywhere in the city. I had the most delicious caipirinha here that has changed my outlook on life (ok, slight exaggeration, but it's sooo good). The flatbreads are delish. The little Reuben Rolls have the perfect amount of sauerkraut. The staff here is very helpful and top notch. The waiter once had the bartender remake a specialty martini 3 times to try to get it right for me (not on the menu, but I asked if the knew how to make a key lime pie martini. it turned out they did not, in fact, know how to make it...but boy did they try hard). I appreciated the thought and the time he put into it. p.s. Gentlemen, this is the PERFECT little date night surprise for the love of your life...*hint hint*...go ahead, win yourself some brownie points and take her here.
(4)
Julie F.
We came here for drinks one night when we had some friends in town. There was a long wait for a table, so we decided to just stand at the bar. We asked the hostess about the couches, and she said that we could sit at them when someone got up. Well, some people got up. When we went to sit down, someone else stopped us and said that since we started drinking at the bar, we could not sit there. We told the man what the hostess had told us, and he brought over some other lady who said the same thing that he said. I was really bummed. I wanted to order the cookie platter and have a drink or two. Instead, we all finished the drinks we had ordered at the bar and left. The view was really pretty, but the drinks were very expensive and the service sucked.
(1)
Dinara E.
We went to the lounge for lunch because both of us have been here before for dinner services yrs before with others so we wanted to know how the lounge compared. Decided to enjoy the view and grab some food. Well, the kobe hot dogs tasted just that - like hot dogs. They were juicy, plump, and you could hear a nice snap when you bit into it. It comes with a brown mustard relish which didn't add any flavor to it. The best part was honestly the bread! It was buttered, perfectly toasted, and delicious! For $13 - I guess these hot dogs were worth it. I love kobe beef though, and this could have been made out of pork and we would be none the wiser. Which was disappointing. I got the romaine wedge salad which was fine, then the ricotta purses with an amazing cheese sauce and pruscuitto. The dessert was a carrot cake obviously out of the freezer. Nothing special, and too many spices that overpowered it all. He got the mac and cheese specialty - and it was anything but. The cheese sauce was runny and it felt like it was noodles in soup! So here is my favorite part... I just feel that Top of the Hub has gone downhill in the last 3 years. The waitress left our appetizer plates on the table while walking by 3 times and then the same thing happened to our entrees. The table had a little bit of sauces on it because we wanted to share w each other and it wasn't wiped off during the meal. So my issue is with the attentiveness of the staff and also the quality of food I'm paying marked up prices for. How do you expect your guests to come back if I am eating at a dirty table?
(3)
Dave K.
5-star views, 3.5-star food, 4-star service, and hefty prices as one would expect. Plus, it doesn't even rotate! Top of the Hub features a bar, a seated cocktail lounge with $24/person minimum charge, and a restaurant that, much to my daughter's disappointment, did not rotate. On arriving, we were offered a chance to wait for a window table, which was nice, and we took them up on the offer, had a nice glass of champagne, and waited in the seated cocktail lounge. About 15 minutes later -- their time estimate was perfect -- we were taken to a nice window table. The service was great. The amuse bouche was a little weird (room-temperature marinated watermelon). I had the clam chowder to start and I did not like it. The soup was very thin (like milk) with a few chunks of potato and clam. Think: thin, milky, lumpy chowder. I'd prefer Legal's any day and it's literally half the price. My guest started with a crabcake which was good, but again not better than Legal's (where we ate the day before) at half the price. For the main course, we each had the surf and turf special. The steaks were outstanding and perfectly cooked. The baked, stuffed half-lobsters that came with them were not so good -- ridiculously overstuffed, kind of like wrapping a lobster in 1" thick of breadcrumbs. We just tasted the crumb layer, found it lacking in any value-add, and scraped it off. The meat underneath was pretty good, though a little dry as grilling lobster always tends to over-dry it. The wine list was very strong, but unfortunately I just went by the glass where the selection was reasonably good. Net: come for the views, not the food. The best deal in town may be having a few drinks and appetizers (to meet the hefty minimum) in the seated cocktail lounge.
(4)
Dave W.
My wife and I ate here on our first anniversary in 2008, and we booked it a month in advance. I called to make the reservation, and requested a table with a view. The day before, I called to make sure that we had the view we requested. When we arrived, we were seated against the back wall, with two tables between us and the window. As for the food, the wine was the best part. None of the courses impressed us, and for the price we paid, we felt severely underwhelmed. I definitely don't recommend this place for a romantic evening.
(1)
Diane S.
If you want a skyline view of boston go here! I'm pretty sure you don't need to buy a drink, its not like they check. Everything here is expensive, but what do you expect its a one of a kind in boston. Our friend brought us over here and luckily it was located right next to the subway stop. The ambiance was great, there was even live jazz music. There were people making out at the bar & on the dance floor kinda of annoying, I mean what are we in high school, go home!! I had a peach bellini with my friends saw the view, watched a couple waltz & enjoyed the jazz music. Definitely visit with your hubby for a nice classy date in Boston :)
(4)
Justin W.
I have now been to Top of the Hub three times. The first time was in 2006 for my sister's engagement dinner, the second time was last year for my 25th birthday, and this past Saturday for my sister's 30th. The first time may be my favorite because it was a new experience, but there was also crazy lightning that night and being so high up the lightning was close enough I felt like I could reach out and touch it. Anyways, the most recent: We arrived shortly before our 6:00 reservation, and there was quite the crowd, which made me a little nervous, but it seemed most people were waiting for a spot at the bar because once we checked our coats we were seated right away. I was so happy there was a table big enough for five right up against the glass as opposed to sitting more in the middle of the dining room as we had the previous times: each of us had a clear view of the city. Our waiter came over, was very friendly and took our drink orders. We were promptly served, ordered regular water as opposed to bottled still water and listened to the specials. The chef that night was making a special aperitif, some kind of a butternut squash and honey concoction that I was skeptical of but was incredible. I would have ordered a bowl of it if I could. First negative: the sommelier dripped wine down my glass. It was pretty noticeable; the least he could have done was take the glass and wipe it. The wine was good, and an easy recommendation (Barbera D'Asti) for $40. I buy it locally all the time (for $14 but that's just how markups in restaurants work). Our appetizers: there was clam chowder (always delicious), spicy lobster soup (which received four thumbs up from my father and my brother in law) and vegetable tempura, a special that night. Dinner arrived nicely paced after our appetizers and, again, was delicious. My tenderloin beef was tasty and the sides of garlic whipped potato and chimichurri were great. The portions are small when compared to Morton's and other restaurants, but the prices are more reasonable and really, are perfectly adequate. Negative number two came as they cleared our dinner plates. A busboy was behind me and taking things off the table. I felt something hit my right arm, but assumed I was in the way of his clearing, so didn't think anything of it. Ten minutes later my mother, sitting to my right, exclaimed in horror about "What is on your arm!" Turns out that the bump was the butter dish and the butter they serve with the (really delicious) bread. As it had been a couple hours, the butter was, naturally, melted, and was spread all over the sleeve of my new suit (see my review of Frank's Tailoring). She wiped it off as best she could with her napkin but there was a noticeable stain. I took it stride but my father was really upset and brought it to our waiter's attention when he came to see how our meals were. He apologized profusely and sent a manager over. She asked what had happened, gave me her card and said that Top of the Hub would pick up the tab for my dry cleaning and comp dessert. She apologized repeatedly. The situation wasn't as catastrophic as my family was making it out to be because accidents happen, but what did bother me was the busboy must have seen what he did and didn't say anything or apologize. Did he think no one would ever notice? Dessert was delicious (and free), I ordered the warm chocolate cake, and the evening ended on a high note. The waiter apologized to me personally that it had happened as we were leaving. I give it 4 stars for a couple of reasons. First the sommelier incident which isn't much of a big deal but is just something you don't expect at a restaurant like Top of the Hub. Second is the butter incident. Third, their beer list is really....dismal. Our waiter actually apologized to me when I asked "What Belgians do you have?" and he sheepishly answered, "None". He and I laughed as he recited the list of imports, which was Stella Artois (great) Heineken (OK) and Amstel Light (really?) I was pining for a Duvel or Chimay or something, but the Stella was fresh and is always tasty. People say "you pay for the view" and, sure, you do, but the food has always been good each of the times I've been, and for the view you're actually paying less than you would for a meal at Morton's which is in a (nicely decorated) basement. This past time there were lots of pictures being taken, of which we were also guilty and which embarrasses me, but it's a great place for special occasions and special occasions sometimes demand photos. I'm planning to go back for a smaller-scale evening in January, and bought a gift card for my aunt and uncle as a combination Christmas, Birthday, Anniversary gift, so I have no trouble recommending it. With an appetizer, entree and dessert expect to pay about $65 per person, then add on drinks / wine, which ranges from $35 to over $500 per bottle. Good food and service, awesome management and view.
(4)
Robby W.
I went to Top of the Hub on Friday night around 9PM to celebrate my fiancee's graduation with her and her family (6 in total) with after dinner cocktails. When we arrived, we were told that we can sit at the bar and order drinks there OR wait in the lobby (an elevator bank right outside the restaurant with no place to sit) for a table (about a 20-30 minute wait). We asked to sit at the bar and order drinks until a table opened up, which was apparently an unreasonable request. We were told that we could sit at the bar but one member of our party would have to stand, by himself, in the elevator bank for 20-30 minutes in order to secure a table (and he couldn't have a drink either since that was not technically part of the restaurant). Considering that the bar was a mere ten feet from the entrance and there was nobody waiting in line, this policy seemed absolutely ridiculous, not to mention the fact that it costs the restaurant quite a bit of money (really, you would rather have someone stand outside than order $12 drinks at the bar?) I have never heard of such a policy anywhere, especially at what is purported to be a classy establishment. In addition, my fiancee's father has been undergoing chemotherapy and has to wear a hat when he goes out. On multiple occasions, staff members asked him to remove his hat as it violated the restaurant's dress code, which forced us to repeatedly explain the reason for the hat. Disclosing their father's cancer to total strangers during an evening that was supposed to be a celebration was rather painful and I would think that, after seeing the initial awkwardness and discomfort that this caused all parties involved, the staff would make sure not to repeat the same mistake twice. No such luck. And considering that he was wearing a coat and slacks, and we dined at four of the nicest restaurants in Boston that weekend without anyone else asking such a moronic question, this was simply another reflection of the incompetent and tactless service at what should be an amazing place to celebrate special occasions with friends and family. Until Top of the Hub stops acting like a second rate night club, with ridiculous and inflexible "door policies" and an insensitive, rude and obtuse staff, I won't be coming back.
(1)
Dawn E.
Let me begin by saying I have never had food at the Top of the Hub. My boss loves it, so I hear, but I do not go there to eat. I go to the Top of the Hub to drink. Specifically in the afternoon. On a weekend. The restaurant part if usually closed so I couldn't get food if I wanted to (although I have a feeling I'm lying a little and MAY have had an appetizer at the bar but I don't remember it much so I won't commit). I go to the Top of the Hub to drink. Specifically, to drink overpriced martinis with my out-of-town friends while I point out the window all of the places I plan on making them walk to in the next few hours. Sure, we could go up to the Skywalk, but why pay them when I can pay the Top of the Hub AND have a martini for my money to boot? Every time a new friend comes to visit from another state I take them on pretty much the same route, with basically the same stops (tailored, of course, to their personal tastes) to show them the things I love about Boston (some of which are touristy, and most of which are not). The Top of the Hub is almost always where this trip begins, if if it isn't, it's where it ends (to show them where they've been). This is why I love the Top of the Hub. PS The martinis, though overpriced, are really really good.
(4)
Manfred S.
One star for the view and one star for the band on Saturday night. On a clear night the view approaching Logan is just as good. Everything else was somewhat dull. There were lots of empty tables, but they still wanted $24 minimum consumption per person on a table. This made us really feel welcome. We just went there after dinner to show the view a visitor and grab a drink. It was too dark to see much anyway so we went to the bar, which was as empty as the tables. Substance? Not really! $12 for a Pinot Noir that is mediocre at best is rather silly. As the driver I couldn't sample more. Cocktails were okay though - I heard from my companions - but I didn't verify their claim.
(2)
Robert C.
Came here for my 2 year anniversary with my girlfriend and had a good time. We had dinner elsewhere and came here afterwards for dessert and drinks in the lounge. It's a great place to celebrate an occasion, or even to just have drinks. I think my favorite thing about my experience here was the live jazz band that played. I'm a huge fan of live jazz, and it was really nice to have that in the background while we were having dessert. Their chocolate lava cake is amazing, and it's served with strawberry ice cream on the side and I think it just completes each other. As with any high class restaurant there is a elaborate wine and drink list. Had a very nice Riesling that went very well with my dessert.
(4)
EricaLynn J.
The enjoyment of a spectacular view wears off pretty much about twenty seconds after you've sized it all up, pretended to find your house, and hear someone undoubtedly say, "wow, we're really high up!" The chance of sitting by a window during your dining experience is not guaranteed so the food and service really have to be pretty wonderful, given the price tag and hype. And I've found that it's very hit or miss. The first time I dined there, I went for lunch and had a prix fixe menu and the portions were decent, the food was decent, and I wound up foregoing the dessert part of my meal because they only served cheesecake for that particular day, and I do not eat cheesecake. I liked my entree and appetizer enough, however, to gladly return a few months later for dinner. Dinner was also similarly "meh". Nothing really blew me away. A few other times, friends and I went there for drinks and apps after work (I worked in the same building) and I found that to be the most satisfying kind of experience there. But again, it was pretty costly, and it dawned on me that I could just go to Dillon's or any of the myriad of places nearby serving drinks and apps and get the same quality food and not empty my wallet.
(2)
Scott B.
If I was rich I would go to the Top of the Hub all the time If I was rich I would order the five course dinners that are over $100 with special wines with each course If I was rich I would take every first date to the the Top and win their hearts over with the amazing view of Boston If I was rich I'd pay the hostess off to give me a table by the window on each of those first dates If I was rich I'd go to the Top every day just to hang out and drink fancy martinis... even if it was raining If I was rich I'd leave those awesome servers a 100% tip every time If I was rich I'd probably move to a different country.
(4)
Beth G.
I can't believe after over thirty years of living in this city I have never been to the Top of the Hub before last night. Growing up the mention of it would always conjure up thoughts of super stuffy, pretentious, and expensive and since obviously no one loved me enough to take me there - I thought I'd finally check it out for myself last night. The views - I mean, you just can't beat them. Amazing. The service - attentive, personable, knowledgeable. The food - no complaints from my table and they are a tough group. The clientele was completely a mixed crowd of well dressed couples, casual families with infants, and even an Amish family of about ten (which is a rare sight in the city and rather cool) - in other words, anyone would be comfortable here. I will definitely be back - likely for drinks at the bar which is not too large but there was plenty of seating for the after work crowd. If you're a single fellow this may be the place for you - lots of women in pairs dressed to kill.
(4)
A. A.
The view is amazing. When you sit next to the window you think it's like you're soooo above the others and everything. Wait staff is very friendly, food comes fast. No matter what time you go there you will be amazed of the view. At nights they have this jazz band, and I'm not big fan of the jazz, but their music, just make you feel very calm and relaxed especially if it happens to go there after a busy day, but even not, you still be surprised how "soft" the jazz there is. The music, the drinks, the view and the staff will make your day/night.
(5)
Tim B.
Dreadful. Calling the food average would be generous, and the service was unforgiveable for such a place. The waiter was inattentive, but on the few times he managed to interact with us gave the impression that we were keeping him from something much more pressing and enjoyable. The spinach salad was a soggy affair, drowned in an unpleasant dressing. We both had steaks that would have been passable at a chain restaurant in a mall...on a bad night. I had to ask for a second glass of wine, but then it wasn't delivered until near the end of the mains. In short, very poor delivery of what is intended to be a special experience.
(1)
Jeffrey H.
This review is specifically for the bar, so if you're looking for food information, move along. Kthxbai. First of all (as everyone has mentioned), the view is incredible. Walk around and absorb what is Boston on the top floor of one of its highest buildings. The view alone is worth one visit, even if you end up hating the drinks/food. As for the bar, the service was professional and courteous. Our bartender was attractive and resulted in the left number of myself and one of my hags (sexuality couldn't be determined, so he had two options just in case). The drinks were tasty, although rather expensive. Overall, I'd come back for only a couple drinks to save some credit debt. There's something to be said about sipping a cocktail and enjoying the spectacular view of the city you call home. And just to keep you up to date, the bartender called neither of us. I guess he's asexual. Yup, that must be it.
(4)
Jeff K.
Dear Top of the Hub, Situated on the top of Boston, you've crowned yourself king of the city with your extravagant view and intimidating menu. Exclusive ambiance paired with a breathtaking location. You're atmosphere is hip, yet professional, and I enjoy your live music. So I came here for drinks and desserts and was very impressed with the restaurant. Yes, I was a first-time Boston visitor, but this is a restaurant worth checking out regardless of how many times you've been to bean town. Shared a bottle of Red Zin and their dozen cookies, which is an overload of sin for me even on vacation. The Zin was decent and well-served. The cookies were amazing, but I didn't expect anything less. This is a pricey high-end place and you should get what you pay for. Will definitely come back for a date or important meeting. This is a place to "show-off" to clients and girls if you are looking for an upscale spot in town.
(5)
Corey H.
Terrible experience. Avoid this tourist trap.
(1)
Raoul C.
Gorgeous view, strong dirty martinis, expensive ($11/drink) but worth it once in a while. The music is appropriately subdued, jazz or something lounge-y usually keeping the crowd aurally content. Bring an out-of-towner here at sunset in the fall/winter, or at night. They'll freak out, and just might buy the next round.
(3)
John S.
The view is the only thing that saved it from a 2 star. Service.. it was good not spectacular but solid good. waiter attentive, no rushing,friendly Atmosphere, it was just ok, the view was really nice, but with it seemed everyone there that had never been there before. lots of people were taking pictures it really distracted. not only taking pictures of the view but of their food etc.. it seemed as if most of the people there had never been to so a restaurant such as this ( food/ price wise not only view wise) Wine list was robust and decent Food... i was a little disappointed as I expected some solid tasting. The lobster soup was very tasty..... the bread tasty as well. however the entree of veal tenderloin was rubbery? even with a medium cooking, taste it was so so nto spectacular. My wife's lamb shank large but .. not very tasty , it was just ok, her gnocchi apps were like butter and great however. Dessert was good, some pineapple type and her creme brulle were ok, I've had better. All in all if people stopped taking pics of their food every 2 minutes and random people walking to the windows taking photos away from the atmosphere. it would be ok and bearable, but i doubt if I'll ever go back again Again it seemed a very touristy first time in a nice restraurant place where they sort of rely on" the view " to carry them mostly.
(3)
Trevor B.
I've lived in Boston for a year, but I'd never seen anything like the view of it at Top of the Hub, located at the 52nd floor of the Prudential Tower. I came here for Sunday brunch on a beautiful summer day. $39/person is pretty steep, but if you think of it as paying for the view as well as good food, it's well worth it. I appreciated that they offered vegetarian options (though vegans would have a hard time here). I found the service to be friendly, enthusiastic, and not too pretentious. Although the dining room's dress policy is officially "business attire required," it was a hot day and no one batted an eye at customers wearing shorts.
(4)
Chz S.
Visited here last month during a vacation to Boston. Wanted to visit a spot with a nice view and good food and a place to celebrate our anniversary. The room is quite nice, looks newly renovated, with tasteful furnishings and beautiful floral arrangements. Unfortunately, it rained the day we dined there so there was no view to speak of but I'm sure it would have been quite nice! There's a terrific wine and cocktail list. My martini was one of the strongest that I've ever had -- that could either be good or bad, depending who you ask. :) The tables are somewhat close together so this is not the place if you need total privacy. The prices are what you'd expect for this kind of view restaurant but the portions are also very large so it's a decent value. I had a double cut pork chop that was way too much food for one person to eat. A nice spot. No regrets about picking this spot.
(4)
Andrea H.
What a dissapointment! TOTH could derive a great deal of inspiration from Capital City Grill in Portland,OR. My husband took me here for my Birthday dinner a few months back, and I was excited to go as I had wonderful experiences at another skyline view restaraunt (see mention of Portland,OR above). We were expecting quite a bit more than what we recieved during our dining room experience here. Our waiter had a European accent which is not enough to distract me from the high food and drink prices and mediocre food. Our experience was just that: Mediocre. My husband ordered the mushroom ravioli and it was undercooked and completely devoid of any flavor whatsoever, though it was thoroughly saturated in butter. I ordered a seafood entree and had an identical experience. I just don't get it: this place is a completely unique dining venue.....there is none like it in the city. It really doesn't take much to create a tasteful menu: even a dash of salt goes a long way toward this. In my opinion this place needs a complete overhaul. Ditch the high-brow facade and turn it into an upscale loungy atmosphere with excellent fresh and comfort foods. There is so much potential here! There are many places in the city where one can buy upscale seafood and meat...this place is absolutely not one of them. Once my wallet recovers from the shock, I'll be heading to one of my favorite neighborhood locales to enjoy a fantastic meal for less than half the price of this one.
(2)
Julie A.
If you live in Boston, you do have to go to the Top of the Hub. It's just one of those things. The view is breathtaking - even in bigger cities, there's just nothing like it. I have a few suggestions for making your experience a little more enjoyable. 1. Check the weather. You're going for the view, so if it's cloudy, make alternate arrangements. 2. Eat somewhere else. The food is passable, but there are so many other places in this fair city where you can spend the same amount or less for (much) better food. 3. Dress up. It's more fun. 4. Walk the perimeter. The view: Drink it in, mmm, it always goes down smooth. If you walk down the hall, past the restrooms, there's a spectacular view of Fenway Park and you can linger without getting up in the grills of other diners. 5. Drink. It's a beautiful night, you're well-fed, dressed up and surrounded by 360 degrees of gorgeous. Who cares if the drinks are expensive?
(3)
Cherie C.
You can pay a fee to hit the observation deck of the Prudential Center. Or you can use that money to buy a cocktail at Top of the Hub. Why not get a view AND a drink for your money? The drinks here are good, and they have a decent wine selection. The food is pretty good too. I don't think I'd go here just to eat, but when friends visit this is a nice stop on the Boston tour. It's classier than most tourist destinations. The food is better than average and the price is not as bad as you'd think for a restaurant known for more for its views than it's menu. I don't even remember what we've ordered, but I do remember thinking it was well-prepared, not just something they threw together to make money while people look out the window. We even said we might go back for dinner again. One menu item we recommend for a group: the cookie plate. Order some coffee and the plate of fresh-from-the-oven cookies. Mmm...
(4)
Andy M.
I give this place a poor rating because the food and experience was average but I think a restaurant at the top of the Prudential Center should be held to a higher standard!! I took my girlfriend here this weekend for our second anniversary and we were disappointed with the experience. When I made the reservation I requested a window seat. Although they say they cannot accomodate all window requests, I made the reservation over a month in advance and have a hard time believing that all of the other tables who were granted window seats were celebrating such an important occassion. I think the restaurant rests too much on their nice view. The service was just OK. The food was barely warm and average at best (not worth the $$) and when our plates arrived, they just dropped them almost knocking over drinks and appetizer plates. The only enjoyable part of the experience was the dessert. To their credit, they wrote "Happy Anniversary" in chocolate on the rim of our plates..thank you! In summation, we can now say that we had dinner at the Top of The Hub but we will not be returning. The view is nice but I would ultimately like to dine at a good restaurant. Stay on the ground and go to Hamersley's or Eastern Standard.
(2)
Catie C.
Last night was perfect for viewing the skyline of Boston. I sat down at the dining room and was still able to here the live jazz from the lounge which was cool. Either I have a bad memory or they just started implementing $25 min table charge for dining room. The hostess said that there is a $25 table min or we can head to the lounge or bar. I ordered my usual, clam chowder and mussels. I had a berry martini to go along with it. It had a very yummy slice of pineapple and rasberry garnishing the martini. I don't know why; but this is one of the few places that I drink martinis. Perhaps, it's a instinctive trust that the bartenders here will make a good martini. The clam chowder is distinctive to this place. Noone else can beat it being watery. Honestly, I just order it because I like the style of the bowl and not particularly for the chowder which I think should be called soup instead! The mussels were OK. A huge plateful so I think it's worth the $15. It came with toasted bread which was very good.
(3)
Joe W.
Every time I reserve at the Hub the food, seating and the dress code is slackened. It's almost like they're trying to make money by letting as many in as possible. Don't get me wrong, this was not exactly an elitist dining local but since lifting the dress jacket and no jeans requirement the bar crowd has taken over a once romantic setting. The dream of all reserving for a date is a window seat and in fact this is nearly impossible. Instead, you spend most of your night looking over someone's plate, craning over their meal for a view. If you are lucky enough to have secured a window seat it doesn't matter how the food is, the view is that important. Lighting is perfect, table setting and space is optimum. You don't have to shift items around to accommodate plates as there's enough room to place and enjoy. Wine list is great, full of popular and little known gems. Food is hit or miss. What I mean by that is that the menu is small and your taste has to be quite diverse to appreciate one or maybe two on the pamphlet. When the food is a hit you'll excuse the baseball parlance, a home run - it adds to a memorable night. When not a hit it's regulated to a conversation piece as the expectation is so high. I do love this place and will continue to return.
(4)
Chris D.
Top Of The Hub is one of my go-to bars for the proverbial "drink after work." It's overpriced for what it is - the food is uninspired and the ambiance starts and stops with the view. Sometimes, there's a too-loud jazz band. However, the view absolutely cannot be beat. You're on the 50-whatever'th floor, overlooking the entire city of Boston. You can walk almost full circle and point out the sights to your guests. On a clear day you can see the Blue Hills and even catch a glimpse of the Cape. The bar is moderate sized with good space between the tables. I've never seen it overly crowded or too loud. Top of the Hub is a good place to go if you actually want to talk to people rather than shout at each other. Top of the Hub tries to be a fancier restaurant, but it can't overcome the fact that it's a tourist destination situated in a mall. It straddles an uncomfortable divide. It really needs some lower priced entrees, or else to kick out the schlubs and focus on something more interesting than the current American Fusion upscale restaurant standards. Yes yes, seared tuna with a wasabi garnish. I get it. Stop in for a cocktail, and then get food elsewhere. It's also a great place to go with the laptop for a couple of hours in the afternoon to clear your head and do the sort of quiet thinking that requires a view.
(3)
Lameer Y.
went there 4/5 times :) one of the best restaurant in town..their crab cakes was amazing. i had to order 3 times. city view is awesome. i will go back again and agin.
(5)
Bryan K.
This review is for the bar only. We stopped in here early on a Saturday evening for a few cocktails. The drinks were excellent, lots of great summer cocktails. I wished that the bar addressed the view a little more. We were ther for about 1.5 hours and never really got to get a great look around casue we didn't want to go walking through the dining room and people eating. We stopped at the viewing deck on the 50th floor, but they charged more for that so we just bailed. Excellent bar though, even though they did switch over to Sam Adams Octoberfest on tap while we were there on the first Saturday in August still! Summer isn't even close of over yet! I hate that.
(3)
Ciao H.
Like most places in Boston Top of the Hub is way overpriced. That said, the view is spectacular at night and its lovely to hear a jazz band accompanying your dinner there. The food I had was excellent. Safe, but yummy. For the drinks you really have to stick to the menu. I tried to improvise and asked for a sidecar and it was absolutely the worst I've ever had. But when I had a sour apple martini off the menu, it was great. There is this funny $25 minimum you have to spend per person in order to sit at a table, even if there's a bunch of tables open and no one is sitting at them. Its lame, but again, that's Boston for ya. The typical New England attitude of "How much cashola can I squeeze out these yokel tourists before 2am" Ya know. Go for the view, the music, a nice meal and the delicious drinks on the menu. It'll ALMOST make up for the financial assraping you get at the end of the night...
(3)
Aisling H.
Me and my husband went here on restaurant week. Our waiter was super kind and attentive, definately the best service I have ever had. The food was decent, I think if we paid full price I would be a bit disappointed and would of expected more. Great view of course, we requested a window table weeks in advance but were not able to honor that which was disappointing. Overall, I would definately come back for drinks/apps just to enjoy the view and possibly again for the restaurant week menu.
(4)
Loc H.
the view is seriously amazing. as soon as the fog rolls through, you get a view of everything and it is very very pretty. apparently, you can see this same view if you pay for the deck view, but why not get this for free if you dine in?! i had the roasted chicken and it was great but could definitely be more jazzed up. (it was normal but definitely fulfilled my needs) the chocolate panna cotta tasted like a better version of Jellos fudge. you know, the kind that Cosby eats. I had a good time here, but the food just needs to be a little better. This is a one time deal, but it was well worth it.
(3)
Cha Cha W.
# of visits: 9 # of full dinners: 2 # of bar visits: 3 # of unreserved tables sat in: 4 +5 Stars: View of the city (Especially at night) +3 Stars: The bar (Decent place to go to take visitors for a drink) +3 Stars: Live music (Decent jazz band at night) -2 Stars: Poor service (Who's in charge here?) -3 Stars: Quality of food (Bar menu is okay, dinner menu is subpar) -5 Stars: Minimum orders (If you sit, there is a per person minimum spend) --------------------------------------------------Â--------------------------------------------------Â-- =2 Stars Rent is expensive in the Pru and minimum orders is where they gain it all back. There is a $20 something/person minimum when you're not seated for dinner. It might be reasonable If the food was decent and they didn't pressure you to find something. Last time we went for dessert and drinks, we waited 30 minutes for the waiter to come by, then another 45 minutes for a manager to see if it's okay if we missed the minimum by $2 because the waiter doesn't know. On the other hand, the wait staff at dinner was quite nice, wish the quality of food to price ratio was more favorable. Seriously, take your out of town guests, everybody loves to see the city at night. Eat beforehand, you'll all be happier for it.
(2)
Lauren E.
In preparation for our special night out, I made a reservation through Open Table. I had to do the reservation a week in advance, and couldn't get a Friday night, had to do Thursday. There was a little spot on the reservation for comments, which I left blank. Upon receiving my reservation, they sent back a generic confirmation, saying that they couldn't honor requests for window tables, or something like that. Wow. What a great idea, requesting a window table; I hadn't thought of that! I almost responded asking for one, just in case, but didn't bother. However, when we got there for our reservation, I asked for a window table, and she said we could wait in the lounge area for 20 min and we could have one! Well, it was a 30 minute wait, but I am glad we did it. If you're going to spend that much money on a dinner, you might as well get all you can from it! I actually really enjoyed most of our food. The pumpkin spice maritini was nasty, though. Tasted all artificial, and like melted candy with vodka. Not something I'd recommend. They allowed us to order calamari off of the bar menu at our table, which was nice. That was tasty, with sauce drizzled all over it. I ordered a beet salad, which was the highlight of the meal. Much to my surprise, there was almost no arugula, just as a garnish on top, but it was great! Unfortunately, the tuna I ordered for dinner wasn't great. I asked for it to me cooked "medium," and there wasn't even a speck of pinkness in it. But it was good for what it was. I'm glad I saved room for dessert, because the warm chocolate cake was incredible! I dock a star from the place because the price was a bit high, and the guilt the next day just wasn't worth it! Once you factor in tip and the cost of the validated parking, it was a lot of money to spend. Without the view and the pretentiousness, I think you could get the same meal for 1/4 of the price elsewhere! But for a fancy dinner out, if you plan right, order right, and tell yourself not to feel guilty, it's a fun experience. Very special, beautiful, and pretty tasty. Just don't plan to have bare shoulders, as it was quite chilly, and I wanted to keep my coat on even over a shawl all night! I think it's worth checking out the lower priced lunch options, and even the lounge area, where you can still get the view, but you seem to get more bang for your buck.
(3)
Rob P.
The food is crosshatched with elaborate vinaigrettes. The plating is so good it looks like the ghost of Frank Lloyd Wright erected it. But above all else, Top of The Hub is selling the unparalleled view of Boston. The waiters aren't rueful or glum, despite the artisan properties of the place, and are patient with even the most novice of foodies. I made reservations for my girlfriend's birthday, and they sat us next to the window, so that we could stargaze on the circuit-board of lights at night. I ordered the seared tuna, which came out boasting several tiers of flavor. Good consistency, seasoning, size. Top of the Hub is moderately sheik, especially when it sports the lighting of a noir film. Pretty crowded when we went, but the experience, one of feeling dapper and gussied up with a great view of Boston, was an immediate memory maker. Would recommend for special occasions.
(4)
Maleia S.
I've been here a few times and have loved it every single time. It's not just the view, the deliciously strong drinks, and live jazz. The food is decadent. It's filling and perfectly prepared. Your wait staff ensure your enjoyment or they offer alternatives. The view, of course, makes for an incredibly satisfying experience. If you want an exceptional experience in Boston, go to Top-of-the-Hub. It is luxury 52 stories high. :)
(5)
Sean J.
Like other reviewers have said...it's really just about the view. The food is pretty meh, especially for the price, but on a nice day you get an amazing view of the entire city and surrounding towns. Parking is a bitch if you're driving in from somewhere else, and you do have to dress up a little (think things like no hats) to go up. If you haven't done it I would recommend going at least once, but check the weather first.
(3)
Angel M.
I think I may never come back. Perhaps it was the air of entitlement I gave the restaurant before hand, having lived in Boston for two years before my first experience here or it was the elevated pressure recieved from those around speaking of its greatness. But I thought that this place would be so great, it has some repuation behind it being with a great view in a great location. Boy, was I fully dissappointed, more so then when I found out that there was no bay in the back, years ago. In all actuality, the view was the only good thing here. Our food was like cold and stale feeling. The menu had nothing enticing. My cosmo was super heavy on the alcohol even after I asked for less the second time around. And this rude woman kept walking around practically barking the miminum dollar spending limit like some kind of scary troll, it was such a constant hammering i wanted to tell her to leave or to be quiet, it was so gross and rude to continually remind people and say it with disdain, if for this reason alone I may never come back. Its just like, look, nothing on the menu is cheap, so yeah, we can spend some minimum money here, get over it, you have told us twice, and before we ordered you had told my party three times. I'm sorry, I have money, I dont need your grotesque attitude because I dont look the part. Thanks for that. A truly teeth grinding repetoire we overheard someone else say. We ordered some random dessert to go because, though the view outside was so lovely, the dissappointing food inside along with our far too quiet waitress was just too much to bear. The souffle type chocolate was so sub par. Oh, and we never got bread upon requesting such.
(1)
Meghan P.
The view all around is beautiful. I would give the food and the atmosphere both a 5, but all around rating a 4. My boyfriend and I both ordered the price fixed dinner and next time we come here we will just both order an entree that we really want to try. The price fixed menu has VERY limited choices. The food was delicious and the service was okay. Pretty pricey, but worth it for the view :)
(4)
Iv L.
uh.. why are you reading review on this place? You come here for the VIEW only , do not expect great food. The food is average. Expect to spend $30/person for lunch and $60/person for dinner. I like the day view better because you get to see more of Boston. The evening view is okay, but worth a visit. If you can't get a window seat, it may not be worth it to come here because you simply come here for the view. :) The waitstaff all pretends to be professional but are just so so.
(3)
Tony S.
A place that I hate to love. With the exception of very few tasty menu items (their Thai lobster bisque is phenom), the food is entirely mediocre. I don't think I've ever really loved a single meal in and of itself there in over 10 years (but I admit I'm spoiled). It's like the Jaguar cars of yesteryear. You'd buy one with all these expecations, then get all disappointed every time it broke down every 200 miles. So why do I still regularly go or refer the place to others? The view is spectacular (and the single malt scotch selection isn't too bad either). There are precious few places in Boston with the ambience, view, and ..... well.... view that Top of the Hub offers (did I mentioned the view?). Not a place I'd recommend for fine diners that are accustomed to great NY/LA food, but for the overall experience, it is a must-do. If you're only going to do it once, I highly recommend calling in advance and requesting a window seat. If you don't have a window seat, you can still hang around the bar and look outside, but really...... try to get that window seat. Great for families during the day time (keep the kids at home during dinner), and one of the best places to bring parents visitng from out of town, especially for Sunday brunch. In car terms, it's a Honda....... albeit a souped up Honda.
(3)
Adam Z.
I treated my family to a Thanksgiving dinner here and it was not great at all. First I should say we all knew it was a prefixed menu going in. $65 per person we all seemingly liked what we saw on the menu. So we took a chance. First I reserved our table on my card a month in advance. We get there five minutes early and they have us waiting 20 minutes for our table. Then they seat us at a table that's too small for us with no view because the shades are let down. Why they would obstruct the view when people only comw to this place because of the view dumbfounds me. Then we realized that the side we were on was upwards to 90 degrees and we were all sweating. My brother made the hostess aware of all of this. She moved us to a slightly better table but it was a continued horrid experience. The food was all luke warm, the drinks pourly mixed and our waiter seemed over stretched. Also they miscalculated our bill. This place is one of the worst fine dining establishments in Boston. I give them one star for the view that we barely got to see.
(1)
Theresa N.
The view was spectacular. The service was wonderful. The food was ehh. Went here on my birthday last year and it was incredibly romantic. We were seated right as the sun was setting and the view was amazing. As far as I could tell, there wasn't a bad seat in the house. We dressed up a little since it was a special dinner but it isn't required. (Although a few people who were casually dressed looked awkwardly out of place.) Service was excellent. Our waiter was so friendly and we even had great conversation-something you would expect more from a good bartender. We had the scallops and bacon to start-small portion but delicious. Our main courses were the salmon for me and the prime sirloin for the bf. The salmon was ok, not great but not horrible. The steak came incredibly dry and overcooked. When we let our waiter know, he was apologetic and quickly got us another steak. It was better but still not very good. Dessert was the creme brulee which was better than the rest of the dinner. Is it weird that I expected amazing food for the price? The bar was crowded the entire night and had a great array of specialty cocktails. There was also live jazz later on in the night which was nice if you could get a seat nearby the stage. Go for the view and ambiance but don't expect too much from the food.
(3)
Anna W.
I have been to a lot of restaurants around Boston and love the dining out experience. I have never been so disappointed and downright upset by a restaurant as I was by Top of the Hub last night. To be fair, the view is spectacular, however, the view is just as good two floors down so don't get sucked into paying exorbitant prices for mediocre food just to see the view. The dinner menu: mediocre at best - a few interesting a la carte pieces but on the whole overrated and unimpressive. Their prix fixe menus (both for Restaurant Week and their standards) were discouraging at best. Dessert: Now I love most desserts, and I believe that it is rather hard to screw this up. I ordered their rendition of Boston Cream Cake: The plate was beautiful, I will give it that, but the cake itself was HORRENDOUS. Not just bland or plain or average, it was truly disgusting and if I hadn't paid $10 for it, I would have left it on my plate. The cake was dry, the cream was thick and sticky (not rich and creamy), the chocolate ganache was old and drying, and it tasted like it had recently been defrosted. My boyfriend ordered the date pudding cake which should be full of flavor and that too was a disappointment. The Service: Now here is where Top of the Hub has a chance to excel. Not the case. After seeing the standard menu, we decided that we'd prefer the lounge menu - this turned out to mean that we had to be re-seated in another part of the restaurant - I can both understand and forgive this (except for the fact that the side of the restaurant we were in was half empty). HOWEVER, after being re-seated, we had 3 different waiters, none of whom, shockingly, could be there when we needed them. They were rude, slow, and inconsistent - being asked what I want to drink 3 times is the sign of a poorly run restaurant; then having to wait for that drink makes the problem even worse. Summary: good view, everything else is horrid. Recommendation: Go to McDonald's for dinner (at least that food has flavor) and then go to the 50th floor skywalk instead
(1)
Chris S.
Amazing views of Boston. Definitely enhances the experience of eating here. I thought the food was great, however I felt the portions to be slightly smaller than expected. The service was very friendly and knowledgable, however since we weren't a large party (only 2), felt ignored at times. I would recommend this place for bigger parties and anyone looking for a great view of the city while they dine!
(3)
Payal P.
was in town for the weekend and it happened to be restaurant week. had a nice prix-fixe with wine pairing - the group all ordered something different so between us we tried everything - it was good nothing great, my shock was the roasted chicken which was done very well. come for cocktails and the view but for the price we paid - have dinner somewhere else.
(3)
Fahad B.
Here's a short one to save you some time: Excellent atmosphere, day or night, but better at night Friendly staff Great spot to have drinks after work, with friends or a date Everyone should try it at least once Done.
Hannah..Hannah..Hannah where did they find that woman to serve as the hostess? She wouldn't last a day at McDonalds let alone a high end restaurant. My friend and I went to Top of the Hub and requested a window seat. We were willing to have several drinks at the bar and wait till a window seat is available. We waited around 40 minutes till Hannah came and said that a table is available. We found that only half of all the tables were occupied and she sat us down in a non-window seat. When we requested if we can move to one of the 5+ empty tables by the window she said "no" and walked away. We asked our server if we can move he said that he can not do that because "others may come in requesting the window seat and it won't be available" Hannah came by again and I asked once again if we can move to the window and she said "NO those are for other guests. I can't talk right now I have to go" and she went and talked to another waitress about her evening last night! We ordered, ate, had some more drinks as for the other guests that sat by the window....well during the 1.5 hours that we were on our table we did not see anyone come in. As for Hannah...I will write to your manager and on every review site till you lose your job.
(1)
Sarah B.
We started off being told to wait, even though we had a reservation and the tables WERE NOT NEARLY FILLED. So we stood for 20+ minutes (admittedly we arrived 15 minutes early) before being seated. The view was utterly amazing, and the food matched. Creme brule is a must! The downside - the bill. But this is a spectacular spot for a fancy occasion out with a loved one. A must for any lovers looking to drop serious cash on serious romance.
(4)
Elizabeth S.
I had family in town visiting this weekend and after a nice dinner last night, we wanted to go have dessert and a cocktail. I thought Top of the Hub would be the perfect Boston spot for our last outting. The five us headed up and planned to sit in the lounge. However, because of some poor service and inflexibility, we never got that chance. Three of us in our group live in Boston and have been to TOH several times with guests. Always a good if-not-great experience (hence, the second star). However, last night was not the case. We arrived around 9:30pm and stood at the host stand for a minute or two without anyone acknowledging our presence. There was a host on the phone and he appeared to be making a phone reservation. This is fine (didn't expect him to hang up), but he could have given us a simple head nod or mouthed "hello" to welcome us. A few minutes later a hostess arrived. I told her we just wanted to sit in the lounge area for some drinks and dessert. Rather than giving us a genuine welcome or seating us, she immediately barked "it's a $24 minimum! Is he 21?" We were abit taken aback and told her that he (the youngest member of our party) was only 18. "Well then it's a $12 minimum for him" she replied. We paused for a minute to think. "Do you want to sit?" she asked again. We decided to leave. I understand the purpose of a minimum and I'm sure it is necessary at a place like TOH, where people come for the view and may only order a soda, but on a slow night with only one lounge table full, I would think that there would be some flexibility. If there was a line or reservations waiting, I would absolutely understand this policy, but you would think that a restaurant would welcome business on a Monday holiday - especially given the current economy. Granted we were dressed casually and probably screamed "tourist", but the reality is we would have ordered very close to the minimum had we been seated and not treated so rudely. Needless to say, we were all very disappointed. I would like to post a better review of TOH, but I believe that it is how you treat all your guests (not just the regulars/big spenders) that shows your true level of service.
(2)
Jamie P.
Honestly the hype is.the view, & grandeur associated with it....I went here for lunch & $6 small cranberry juice & $25 (dont quote me on it) SMALL chicken pot pie...left feeling ripped off...squished the pie with the fork, & all left gooey chicken mess....u will prob leave satisfied if you spend $100 + on urself
(3)
amber d.
Dropped by this restaurant on my way to New York, with the help of Yelp of course. I can honestly tell you, you won't be disappointed. Great Food! Cute Bartenders! Amazing Ambiance! A bit on the pricey side...but with the right crowd....what more can you ask for, when you're getting all of the above! I enjoyed my time here and again highly recommend it. I also must've really like this place because I tend to only go on yelp and write angry reviews! Hope this helps!
(4)
Angela T.
We went today for a Restaurant Week lunch. I've been to Top of the Hub before (both for previous Restaurant Weeks and just for regular dinner/dessert), and I've always been satisfied but not absolutely WOW-ed. This was pretty much the same. The food was pretty good. The beet salad was simple and small, but the beets were well cooked, and there was just the right amount of cheese and nuts for additional flavor. My scallops were very hot and well-cooked and the risotto was very tasty. The portion was perfect for lunch, too. My chocolate pound cake had a nice taste (the perfect amount of chocolate flavor), but disappointed me by being a bit on the dry side. On the other hand, my fiance's panna cotta was extremely good, with a lovely texture and taste, and a very tangy passion fruit sauce. One big pet peeve: the bread and butter were average. Both were cold and not very impressive, which always turns me off a little at the beginning of the meal. Plenty of restaurants in Boston provide warm, well-baked bread and creamy butter - be like them, Top of the Hub! It makes a much better impression. The service was very good. Our server was attentive, remembered our orders without writing them down (which always impresses me), and cleared away plates and dishes in a timely manner. The courses were brought out reasonably quickly and we spent maybe 45-50 minutes eating, which isn't bad for a three course lunch and comparable to other places I've been. The view, of course, was splendid, especially today with our window seat and the blue sky and puffy clouds. The view is what's supposed to get you, after all. All told, we'll probably be back (at least again at Restuarant Week next time!) - the prices are actually pretty reasonable at lunch, the place is a lot less crowded, and I don't think there is any of their pickiness about spending minimums.
(4)
Pilar P.
My boyfriend and I visited Boston for his b-day weekend and decided to treat him to a nice dinner. The food was good but not the greatest. For an appetizer he had the scallop with bacon at $16 . NOt worth the price. Two pices with no recognizable bacon. (compared to the savory wrapped in bacon scallops we had in Jersey) I had the Lobster soup that was ok. a bit spicy with a combo or sour taste. ( my father was a chef for over 20 yrs. and makes a Lobster soup that is to die for, he has spoiled me somewhat) Dinner was also good. He had a pork chop plate covered with carmalize apples. As a side they had Mac n Cheese... i was thrown back by this but loving mac n cheese i tasted his. Just a regular , simple mac... I was expecting this out of this world flavor. Not so... The food was good and the price is understandable for the location... The view of the city is one to take in and very romantic... I think i would return to see what other plates are like... 4 stars for the location and service.
(4)
Meredith V.
A little advice: come here for drinks and an app. While I'm sure the food is great, the prices are exorbitant and the wait is long. However, I really did have one of the best martinis in my life here: the Ginger Lemondrop. I'm not sure why or how but it tasted exactly like a glazed donut from Krispy Kreme and I was in heaven. Hats off to the bartenders. We also ordered the calamari, seasoned with spicy tomato and lemon and served with a Parmesan peppercorn aoili. WOW. And I dont even like calamari. The chefs are definitley top notch. And of course the views can't be beat.
(4)
Angelica C.
Excellent! The view of course is spectacular. We were 10 minutes late but they still sat us with no problems. I made reservations via Open Table a few weeks ago. They made our anniversary extra special. I had the steak which was perfectly cooked. My wife had the chicken and also loved it.
(5)
Jane B.
Top of the Hub is one of my favorite restaurants in the world! It is located at the top of the Prudential Building. The view overlooking the city of Boston is absolutely breathtaking. It's especially gorgeous during the sunset! My whole family loves it. It's a great place to go for a celebratory meal. Restaurants like this usually do not need to have great food, because people will attend and pay for the view alone. Although the view is breathtaking, the food is just as good. I find myself wanting to try everything whenever I have a meal there. The soup, appetizers and entrees are all delicious. I definitely recommend the spicy lobster bisque. It's among the best I've ever had. My two favorite entrees are the filet mignon and the two-pound stuffed lobster (definitely recommend splitting that meal). I also love the duck confit with goat cheese and balsamic and the Lobster Pepper Bombs. Their dessert menu is also excellent. I'm a huge fan of their Boston Cream Pie. It is beautifully presented and absolutely divine!
(5)
Taj K.
Even though I've been to top of the hub several times, my husband has not. Since we are leaving Boston soon, it was time to knock this off the bucket list. I made a reservation for 6:30pm. We were running late, so I called and they told me they have a grace period of 20 minutes for reservations. We were in that time window. We were sat on the charles river side of the resturant. This is my favorite view so I was extremely pleased. Our server was knowledgeable about the menu and took our drinks and food order. They have a good wine by the glass list. There are about 4 beers on draught. We ordered the tuna tartare appetizer, the steak bacon salad and the rib-eye special to share. The tuna tartare was melt in your mouth fabulous. Excellent presentation, perfect flavor, just the right amount of tart. Loved it! The steak bacon... seriously the thickest and tastiest slab of bacon I've ever eaten. And it was laid over salad to make me feel healthy. Good Move TOH! Our steak, sadly was a bit eh. We asked for medium rare and it came out to be more like medium to medium well. It still tasted great, which is why we didn't send it back. We also didn't send it back because no one asked us how we felt about our meal. It seemed like our server was overworked. He had several tables going and not much help. Didn't see a manager. Luckily there were a few food servers to at least give people their meals. For dessert we had creme brulee. Delectable. TOH is a great, worthwhile experience, but definitely not my first choice for dining. I highly recommend making a reservation and enjoying the view!
(4)
Rachel M.
Very disappointed in the apparent 'dress code' at the top of the hub. Despite it being a place that is fundamentally for tourists it would not accept my friend being in a top without sleeves, despite the fact that I was also in a top with thin straps and there were many people inside in actual less clothing. It is also the height of the summer. Think about equality when setting rules and also not one that is so ridiculous.
(1)
Matthew S.
Everyone knows the views here are excellent, but they have very good food. The mussels here are a great appetizer and are a huge portion (definitely shareable). They serve them in a cast iron pot with bread that you'll be tempted to eat all of so you can mop up the broth. They have an excellent lobster roll on the menu. Very simple preparation, but that's the right way to do a lobster roll in New England. The deserts here are amazing. Best Black Forrest Cake I have ever had. It might be a challenge to have room for desert, though, since they do have most items in a pretty good portion size. The only downside to attending lunch here is that it took us 2 hours to get through lunch because they were somewhat slow in bringing out food.
(5)
Shweta A.
Great view of the city. We decided to only go for drinks and dessert since we have heard this restaurant is not great for food. We enjoyed the drinks and dessert we ordered, however the service could be better. There seemed to be several hosts/hostesses but only one server so it was slower than it really should have been with that many staff working.
(4)
Mr B.
Yep, three star service and maybe even two unfortunately but three star food and five star view. That's a solid three and s half to four star indeed but I found it seriously lacking so went down to three. The service is the killer and price is deterring in proportion to quality of food too. I'm not going to belabor the point as there's enough reviews to reveal the accuracy of it all. In the end I would suggest this is a good lunch spot or sunset drink at the bar only.
I love tub of the Hub! Great place to be, decor is nice, good food, great desserts and amazing view of the whole city! Tub of the hub is like being on top of the Empire State Building but of course your in Boston and indoors! Lol Try the apple martini.
(5)
Sandy C.
5 star view, 3 star food, 4 stars cocktails. Love the specialty cocktails and the service (Tim). Food is mediocre. We ordered the haddock rockafeller and tuna tartare. The haddock, if you like the rockafeller it's a good dish. It's very cheesy and smelly but the flavors are not that strong on the pallet, very strong smelling through. As for the tartare, it's a waste of good fish. Tuna was fresh but there was too much mayo. If you are a sushi or tuna poke fan, don't get the tartare here. All in all, this is a great place to spend an afternoon in Boston and you should visit at least once.
(4)
Sammii S.
I made a reservation for 10 pm that I later had to change to 10:45 - no problem with making the reservation or changing it, the lady I spoke to was very accommodating. We did arrive about 15 minutes late but everything went very smoothly and was seated within 2-3 minutes. The ambiance is great and the jazz music was just a nice touch. Entrees , desert, and drinks were great. I will say the service was a bit slow but being from New York I understand that when a place is busy there is some waiting to be expected. The waiter did forget to bring the appetizer we ordered but we were full with the rest of the food so we didn't mention it. Overall I would say that this place was a good experience especially with that amazing view.
The Hemingway cocktail they serve is perhaps the best drink I have had in recent memory. Maraschino liqueur, grapefruit juice, lime juice, and rum combine for an unforgettable cocktail. Highly recommended. My friend's Malbec wine was also very good. I thought the food was unfortunately subpar and overpriced. I'm willing to try it again and update this review. Likewise, I thought the jazz combo was there just so TopO can say they have live jazz. It wasn't good enough to be as loud as it was. I'm a jazz snob, so take this with that grain of salt. The service was excellent and the atmosphere was great. Those things, compounded with the view and the Hemingway cocktail, earn it four stars and make me look forward to the next time I get the excuse to go!
(4)
Jeanie Q.
Tuna tar tar was amazing. Views were spectacular. Go there for lunch and you won't be as annoyed with the prices. Put on some nice clothes you don't want to be that guy in a t-shirt and sneakers.
Place is great. I got engaged here. Grab a bar table, not fancy dinner table and enjoy the views. Really good bar appies. The level 52 is a great cocktail. I still can't believe my wife hit the lottery here.
(5)
Melissa F.
This is one of my favorite restaurants, thank god it's expensive or I would have no problem justifying coming here every night for dinner. I suggest doing the tasting menu if you are willing to spend the extra money. Don't be fooled by the fancy life of getting served baby portions of exquisite food. You WILL be satisfied after 5-7 courses. My favorite course (and also available as an appetizer alone) is the fois grois. A lot of places will serve you duck liver PASTE which is as disgusting as it sounds. It's considered a "delicacy" in some places which is really a hipster chef term for it's gross but I want to charge you a lot for my obscurity. But top of the hub prepares it RIGHT. If you do decide to order off the menu, anything is fair game. I will say, dare to be bold. Dont just get the chicken dish because its "safe". If you've never had a particular dish, order it, if you've never tried tuna prepared the way the chef is preparing it that night, order it. You. Can't. Go. Wrong. Drinks are delicious. They are known for their wines (and knowledge of, so if you want to pair your meal with a wine, ask your server, he/she will never steer you wrong). Their cocktails are also a fantastic option. They have a variety of refreshing drinks that would be good on any occasion. 5 stars always.
(5)
Brad M.
I'm on Top of the World, er... I mean HUB! The easiest entrance is behind the Cheesecake factory! Don't worry about the $28.00/ person minimum... you'll blow past it without hesitating! Go ahead, and get the seats near the window, order some drinks, and a few appetizers and you'll be home free! The view is fantastic, the food is good, and the service is very nice! 4 STARS!
(4)
Nick L.
Fantastic evening at one of the nicest establishments I've ever been to. Visited the Top of the Hub on the 3rd of July and had a wonderful time with my parents. The $80 prix fixe gave me a great idea of the menu and the amazing wine pairing that is done with each dish I tried. The service was perfect and our view over Boston was nothing short of breathtaking! My deepest gratitude to the staff and management here, well done!
(5)
Jane L.
If you want to romance your girl (or guy), this place is the place to go. Great music and crowds; their cocktails are high quality. I had scallops and chocolate dessert there and those were heavenly. The view is spectacular.
Prefect dating place, but the seats are a little crowded. There's really good quantity in main dishes. Of course the most valuable part is the scenery.
(4)
Katia K.
If I had to write a review based on the atmosphere and views, I'd give this restaurant 10 stars... However, because of the value of the food, I'm giving it a 3/5. I ordered Clam Chowder which was amazing, but only 3 spoons full, seriously. Then I ordered a bacon steak tomato salad. This was NOT a salad. It was literally a tomato with a fat chunk of bacon on top of it. It tasted really good, but I paid way too much for a half tomato and bacon. Glad I ate here while visiting Boston, however, I won't crave anything while I'm back in California.
(3)
Stephanie C.
If I can put zero star on yelp, this would be it. Called and made a reservation for Sunday night asking specifically for a window seat. Upon our arrival, we were informed by the host that the window seat will be an hour wait. We settled for the other seats despite there are couple window tables open. Food was tasteless and overpriced. With that price for food I'm certainly expected better. Service was pretty much in-existed. We've asked our server to help us take a picture, he completely disappeared until we finished our meal. The only good thing about this restaurant is the view, oh wait but I didn't get to see it either. Because the restaurant was too busy putting ghost customers in their empty window tables. Seriously, that shouldn't be the treatment after a $200 meal.
(1)
Kevin J.
Food: 3/5 Stars Service: 4/5 Stars View: 5/5 Stars This was my second visit to Top of the Hub and this time I came for lunch with a couple of friends in a larger group of 9. To be honest, the view is the most redeeming quality of Top of the Hub. As a larger group, we struggled to get a reservation for Monday Lunch without the reservation line forwarding us automatically to the catering department. We walked into the dining area to see very few customers even seated, so didn't see what the fuss was about. We ordered 6 flatbreads (two of each), which were decent in terms of size and taste. I will say the beef had a little bit too much vinegar and the chicken was a little dry. We also ordered the hot dog sliders (which are a novel concept and relatively well executed!), the calamari (flavorless), and the crab cake was a little fishy. There's nothing special about the food: it's not terrible, but it's not amazing. The service is above average given it is supposed to be a class institution. However, you wouldn't come here for the culinary experience. It's for the view.
(3)
David B.
The only real negatives here are the price, it's expensive, and the line to get in if you do not have a reservation. I made a reservation for a family Easter brunch, and everything about the experience was excellent. This is not a place I would go regularly, but for a special event, nothing beats the view, and purchase of a meal also gets you into the skyway walk with even better views.
Amazing views of Boston. Came here for drinks and appetizers and was lucky enough to grab a seat at the bar. I'm not easily impressed by bartenders, but John really impressed me with his bartending skills. I usually hate ordering mojitos because I know they are such a pain to make, but holy crap John made me the most delicious Mango Mojito with such ease. Had the lobster soup and mussels... So divine with an amazing view. Must stop by here if you're visiting Boston.
(5)
Nicole W.
It's a tall building, from which you can see most of boston! We just hit the bar, we only wanted a celebratory beverage and a little snack. Staff was friendly and attentive, although seeing where the dinner plates are prepped and dirty plates brought back. As others have said and it works for most tall buildings, hit the bar instead of paying the fee for the observation deck! The wine was lovely, good suggestion by the bar tender, and the lobster bisque was pretty tasty. Chorizo was a little weird, but tasty. I wish there was a better view, but it's still fun!
(4)
Grace Y.
Beautiful view, swanky atmosphere with a live jazz band. Drinks were carefully made and the bartender was very attentive. Only stopped here for drinks on a snowy night when we didn't want to step foot outside. It's connected to the prudential center, which was connected to our hotel. Pretty sweet especially in the freeeeeezing winter :)
(4)
Danae K.
Food is very mediocre, but the view is amazing! This place has live music in the evenings, which adds a nice touch to the spectacular view of Boston throughout the night. Bar is great allowing for socializing and good times. Right in the Prudential, by the green and orange lines.
I tried to get into Top of the Hub a few years ago for a bachelorette party and instead my friends and I made asses out of ourselves. I decided I needed a re-do for my birthday this year. As someone who grew up about 45 minutes from Boston, it seemed overdue to go to Top of the Hub. I should let you Yelpers know that Atlanta has a restaurant called Sundial that features a glass elevator ride to the top and is 72 stories up, plus has a rotating dining room, so our standards might be a bit high having gone there a year or so ago My husband and I got up to Top of the Hub after an ear-popping elevator (not a complaint! I think that's kind of cool!) ride around 6:00PM on a Thursday night. We warmly greeted the hostess and asked for a seat in the lounge. She essentially said, "Hi, we have a minimum of $24 per person in the lounge". I let her know that wasn't posted anywhere and she responded, "We've changed the policy". Well, five days later, their website still states "Q: Does the lounge/jazz music have a cover charge? A: No, but after 8pm the lounge tables do have a minimum spending requirement of $24 per person for food and beverage." Again, this was 6:00PM. But whatever, it's my birthday week. No biggie. We weren't doing food anyway and I think I misunderstood what the lounge was anyway. She let us know we could sit on a couch (there were a whopping two -- both taken) or at the bar. So we sat at the bar, were addressed by some put-out-seeming bartenders, and ordered our drinks. The drink selection was relatively uninviting -- one or two local beers in a small pond of mass-produced junk beer, wine ranging from semi-reasonable to absurd, a few cocktails. Again, birthday week and I'm stubborn, so my husband ordered the least-lousy beer option, I grabbed a glass of bubbly, and we decided to walk around checking out the view rather than dealing with the attitude from the bartender. I can't speak for the food, at all, other than to say the offerings did not excite me. The view *is* lovely. And despite this fairly negative review, I'm glad I went. I'm glad I went exactly once, but I won't go back. Because at the end of the day the staff made us feel like they were doing us a favor by serving us and they were non-apologetic about their rather unclear policies. For sure, for $25 or so for a beer and wine, it was worth it once. Beautiful view of one of my favorite cities. But I'd rather go somewhere where I feel like my business is appreciated or at least like the staff and I can have a mutual respect.
(2)
Zeni s.
it was okay nothing fancy. They did not have too many to choose from and their food wasn't that great. if it wasn't on top of prudential tower, noone would even pay that much. only thing i like was view n my company
The view is so amazing at night its definitely worth the visit! I had the 2 lb lobster which was really different that what I had pictured in my head. It came out on a silver platter with the lobster cut in half and the lobster stuffed inside of the shell with bread crumbs on the outside. The lobster was really tender and big, it could have been shared by 2-3 people. The bread crumbs were overpowering to the flavor so I ended up taking most of it off. The waiter that helped us was so nice and friendly! He was so helpful with all of our questions about the menu and was around all the time to ask how we were doing. We had a window seat and were next to where the live music was playing. The experience and the view was very worth it.
(4)
Jit B.
This was long due !!! .. Went here a couple of times last year - once in the summer and then once in Nov ... and in both occasions, the view from this place just added to the overall great experience that included an extremely well made - tuna steak and an almost too perfectly made rare Filet Mignon and A very courteous service ! Drinks were ok .. nothing extraordinary ..
(4)
Nick K.
Epic rooftop restaurant/bar in the heart of Boston. Was visiting Beantown for the first time and came here for drinks in the afternoon on a sunny day. Drinks are phenomenal and made very well. Diverse menu with decent prices and again the drinks are tasty. The views are what seal the deal, you basically get a 360 degree view of the city and can see the ocean, Fenway park, and tons of other sights. Would definitely make this a part of your journey when you visit Boston. You only need 30 or so minutes there, and it capped off a nice trip before heading to the airport.
(5)
Tom B.
It was ok. The service was fast with our appetizer, but then slow with other things. No bread on the table which was too bad. My pasta dish was extremely hot (too hot to eat for 5 minutes) and the meat sauce was too chewy for it to be that great. Our appetizer was small and simple with not much to it, although the desserts were fantastic. Great creme brulee.
(2)
Amanda S.
Beautiful place with a great view. The room we were seated in was very crowded with limited walking room between tables. The waiters carring food through the narrow openings made me a bit nervous and I observed them almost bump into people several times. The clam chowder was incredibly cold, and very watery. The portions are not very consistant for the price as my boyfriend and I each got the chowder and mine was an obvious inch lower than his in a tiny bowl. The Fra Diavlo was excellent though.
(3)
Kelly D.
5 star view, 3 star food. The view is amazing. Just grab a drink at the bar to see the view. We had clam chowder, scallops and beet salad for appetizers, they were all delicious. The sourdough bread was great, crispy on the outside but soft in the middle. The entrees were a let down. Got the special rib eye steak and it was pretty hard for being cooked medium. I had a nice time here, but the food could be better.
(3)
Adam G.
This place does not take reservations and is based on first come first served. So come Early for an amazing view! The jazz group that was playing here was on point! Their musical arrangements fit perfectly with the ambiance of the room and the crowd. There is also a standing bar near the group so you can enjoy the music, view, and your cocktail while you wait for your table. There is a cocktail menu with specialty drinks such as the ginger mojito with cane sugar (superb); but if nothing strikes your fancy, there is a more than a full bar here to create whatever your taste buds desire. If there is seating at the bar you can hangout there as well but the view is better on the other side of it. After drinking we were getting a small case of the munchies, and decided on a few of their smaller/more snacky plates. What better to order than fresh cookies and garlic fries?! These cookies...man I don't even know what kind we got--pretty sure it was an assortment--but they were damn good! They had that perfect balance of crunchy and chewy while melting in your mouth. You can never go wrong with fries so that just added to the whole experience of sweet and salty.
(5)
Jasmine C.
Definitely a place to come if someone special is visiting - I don't know why the food gets such a bad reputation, but I think that whilst it is a little expensive the portions aren't skimpy and you can get a decent meal. The view is worth it in itself, and the atmosphere is so lovely that if you can make it there for lunch I'd say go for it. There's also a 27$ prix fixe at lunchtimes so if you'd like value for money you can get that too. What to get: - The salmon sandwich is SO GOOD: its basically a salmon fillet, put on two pieces of bread. So basically salmon. What to skip: - Seafood vongole, because it was quite unremarkable pasta with next to no sauce and not many clams in it as well. - Creme brulee dessert: truly not worth spending time on it.
(4)
Khunravin H.
Came here during Restaurant Week (Dine Out Boston) with a few friends for fine dining. Service was great. The waiter (s) were attentive and friendly. We had reservations so we didn't really wait that long to be seated. What did I have? - Filet Mignon (mmm goood), tater tots with catsup (hahaha), creme brulee dessert (it was good), and deviled eggs (good as well). All this for $35 before tip and tax. So overall, I'd say the food was good, but nothing really special. However, I must say that the view (given its namesake) is like no other, especially for dinner at night-seeing what Boston looks like. Not sure what lunch or dinner with regular menus would be like, but maybe I'll try again someday or night. Do try this place if you haven't, the view alone is worth it!
I would give this 0 stars is I could. The host was a rude terrible man. We are visiting relatives from Boston. 330 pm in the afternoon and 4 open tables and we were told no service at these bar tables as they were preparing them for dinner. Not customer oriented at all. We were finally sat at the back most corner of the bar. Not at all what you would expect for a hundred dollars worth of drinks. Service is very mediocre.
(1)
Venessa R.
Only giving 2 stars because the food was good. This review was based on my ecperiece. Now most people who go here esp for the first time probably go for the view and experience. I called about a month and a half in advance for reservations for my boyfriend and i anniversary, which is at the end of October btw. I requested a window seat which i was told its not guaranteed but they will do our best. We get there and the bar/lounge area seemed busy but the dining area wasnt. We were taken to the back corner or the restaurant to be seated which of course had no view. And while walking to our table we walked by many empty window seat tables! Our server was horrible. He barely came to our table to check on us. And im sorry if were paying good money for this place i expect excellent service. I will never ever be back here again.
(2)
Grace H.
Four stars because it really is the best viewpoint for Boston especially at night. We came in past 10 PM for drinks and dessert and the view of course. It took quite a while to get a window seat at that time (~15+ minutes) but once we got seated the ambiance and the view made everything a-okay. It does seem like Top of the Hub realizes that they have a great viewing spot of Boston and as a result do not feel that they need to bring the best service. However, our waitress was perfectly nice and very accommodating. There is a $24 per person charge to get a table at this time so if you're not willing to spend that, it might be a good idea to get a seat at the bar. The food was okay. Not the best, this place would've gotten three stars if it wasn't for the wonderful view. We tried the Boston Creme pie, which wasn't impressive except for the skyline and "Top of the Hub" printed on the side of it. The calamari however was decent, I loved it topped with banana peppers and the squid was perfectly soft. Drinks are expensive and you can quickly run up your bill. In summary, you're basically paying for the view. Well worth it for the view at nighttime but wouldn't go regularly.
(4)
Leighann F.
Now that my relationship with Top of The Hub has changed a bit, star can be added. Imagine that I once tried to make Top of The Hub my one and only. A long-term thing. A sit-down, three-course, bottle-of-wine commitment. I realized I asked to much. Now that we're just flirt buddies, I can drop by Top anytime I want. No need to worry about staying, making it awkward, who's going to call whom the next day? We both know I'm just here for the drinks and the view. No shame in that. Now that we reevaluated, Top and I are better off. Save the dining room for some other chick...I'll just have some fun on the side.
(3)
Meghan M.
Went there at around 430pm with my mom for a cocktail and possibly an appetizer. We had spent a week already visiting the city and everyone was extremely friendly up until this point. The people at the front desk were great but our server ignored us, didn't ask if we wanted food and looked very frumpy. For a place as gorgeous as it is and expensive ($30 for two cocktails) I would have expected some class. Tasty cocktails and amazing view but I wouldn't go again because of the horrible service.
(3)
Rondal B.
I've been up to the Hub multiple times now and have not been disappointed. They have a decent scotch menu, though it is on the pricey side of things the view is worth it and there is typically a live jazz band playing (at least on the Fridays I have been there) I suggest checking it out if you have the chance.
(4)
Rory M.
It's a great place for a special occasion, or just a change of pace. Obviously it's expensive, but the selection and quality of the food and drink makes it worth it for the right occasion.
(4)
Benjamin S.
Amazing atmosphere. Very classy, dressy attire will blend in. The view is spectacular. Not much value for the food. Portions are smaller compared to similar restaurants. The food is good. not great.I got a 3-course meal with wine pairings. I think it was $75-80/person. You're paying for the view, really, which is worth the premium!
(5)
Steve N.
Great view. The food Blows. The service is laughable.
(2)
Daniel D.
Common wisdom is that Top of the Hub is for tourists and special occasions like engagements, but I've never been here under either of these circumstances, and I really enjoy this restaurant. You get high quality food, a spectacular view, great service, and an enormous quantity of heavenly chocolate chip cookies (order the cookie platter for dessert - do it) for a reasonable price. I definitely recommend the restaurant for dinner, but you can also come just for the cookies and drinks, and eat them in the lounge area.
(5)
Allan F.
My wife and I go here about 4 times a year usually for cocktails and appetizers but several times for lunch. It is the must place for family and friends visiting Boston for the first time because the view is spectacular. I always order the BLT for lunch there and it is very yummy. Favorite appetizers are the mussels and ribs. Be aware that the portion sizes on these are very large. But they taste great. There does tend to be a bit of a snooty attitude but no one has ever been particularly rude to us. Make sure you walk around to the non bar side because the view of Fenway Park is just incredible
(3)
Gwen r.
DO NOT GO HERE! IT'S A TOURIST TRAP. My friend and I were subjected to the worst customer service we have ever experienced. When the waitress seated us at the bar area, she informed us that there was a $24 minimum. She never mentioned, unfortunately, that this fee was per person. My friend and I ordered 2 drinks and a dessert, then promptly asked for the check. The waiter told us that we did not reach our monetary minimum. Obviously we were very confused by this since we were under the impression that we only needed to pay a minimum of $24. We asked to speak with the manager. The manager "Ricardo" approached the table and said "What's your problem". We explained what happened and he called us "liars", that he's the one who trains his staff so he knows what they tell customers when seating them. He refused to believe that we were in fact telling the truth about not knowing, then threatened to call security if we didn't pay because it was "non-negotiable". At no point was he apologetic or sympathetic regarding this issue. Our bill came out to be about $30, however we were forced to pay a total over $50 because of the added fee. I cannot believe that this sort of blatantly false advertising (failing to disclose the charge) can be legal (we didn't see the $$ minimum posted anywhere in the establishment) My friend has left several messages with the owner, Rafael Oliver, none of which have yet been returned. I would also like to mention that we ran into the manager "Ricardo" in the elevator we took to leave the restaurant that night. We asked for his last name so we could file a complaint, which he refused to give us - then he demanded to see our IDs, which he has no legal authority to do. Obviously we refused and were very upset with his irrational behavior. We again asked him again to tell us his name, he refused and said "what are you going to do about it" while literally getting in my friend's face. It was the most absurd scene I have ever witnessed. I personally work in the customer service field, and I am absolutely appalled by the behavior of this manager "Ricardo (Soto?)". We can only guess the last name, since the hostess and 2 waiters that night could not tell us for sure if that was his name. I can't understand how they could work for someone without knowing his name, but that's another story and another obvious sign of a poorly run establishment. I have never been treated so disrespectfully - Top of the Hub needs some serious customer service training .
(1)
Nish N.
Ok, so it's a little touristy, the view is unbelievable, and totally worth it for just that alone. This is the sort of place you bring guest from out of town, like I was, or for a special occasion. We went for a Saturday lunch, and had a relaxed yet boisterous 2 hour meal, it's the sort of place you want to just enjoy and experience. Our service was ok, but the food was surprisingly good. The clam chowder was different but well executed, creamy but not too much so. The lobster salad sandwich was melted perfection. The views, on a clear day, you can see all of Boston. I know that sounds like a cliche, but it's the truth.
(5)
Fan C.
I am a regular diner and consider this one of the more consistent restaurants in the neighborhood despite its appeal to tourists, enjoying the lounge menu and tables next to the window rather than the formality of the restaurant. The views are splendid, service professional and prices are not inflated. We enjoy the burger, salads, tuna tartare, prix fixe and the warm cookies are not to be missed. The crowd gets cheesy on weekend nights. Please reinstate the Reuben eggroll appetizer!
(5)
Lauren H.
I've wanted to try Top of the Hub since I first moved to Mass five years ago, because, well, it's the Top of the Hub. So I went for restaurant week last week. I'd recommend not going during the summer between five and seven PM, because if you're a Bostonian, you know that the fog is pretty crazy most summer days during that time. It was as thick as pea soup when I went, which is unfortunate because the view is really what you're paying for. Once the fog cleared (around 8pm), the view is spectacular. And I've been to the Skywalk on clear days, and the daytime view is the best around. Now, for the food... I should really stop going to restaurants with the $$$$ next to them, because I always expect to be blown away when theh restaurants expect me to pay that much. The food at Top of the Hub is probably really, really good. Like I said, though, I was expecting to be knocked out of my chair. In reality, I felt like I didn't get enough food, and I was constantly stressed about having my napkin folded nicely because everytime it was even remotely messy, someone would come by the table and fold it for me. Maybe this is to be expected at a fancy restaurant 62 floors up. It just didn't sit well with me. A bit too pretentious for my taste. The bar is pretty awesome. I'd definitely recommend going up for a drink on a sunny afternoon.
(3)
Juliana C.
I've had some beef with the Top of the Hub in the past due to bachelorette parties that forced me to eat its food (I'm looking at you, overpriced/room temperature meatballs!). However, yesterday's visit was surprisingly pleasant and has left me with a soft spot. Two lady friends and I were informed by the hostess that snagging a table would require each of us to spend a minimum of $24. We swiftly opted for the bar. Our drinks were insanely alcoholic (I'm convinced mine made my breath flammable), which at $13 a pop is a very good thing. Having only eaten baked goods for most of the day, I started getting tipsy halfway through my Elyx 52 cocktail. The bartender noticed, and turned the rest of my drink into a refreshing lemonade. Serious points for paying attention and getting me hydrated. Service at the bar is attentive. the view is still lovely, and on Sunday nights you will be treated to live jazz wafting from the adjoining room. However, the bar stools are difficult to mount/dismount, so take it easy on the long island iced teas. If you must eat at TOTH, I highly recommend the warm cookie plate (and a sugar daddy).
(3)
Hanae K.
Reminds me of the Willis Tower in Chicago.... only it's less touristy. If you are heading to the bar then you don't have to pay to go up. Live jazz on Monday night's! I came right when the twilight hit. Night views are gorgeous but nothing beats the twilight views! My favorite drink was a berry lemonade cocktail. Fruity and sweet, could barely taste the booze.
(4)
C. W.
Guys, please DO NOT GO TO this place. I got OVERCHARGED by them and currently dispute my charge with bank! This is FIRST time i got overcharged and this is the first restaurant has done SNEAKY and fraud thing to me. Its really unacceptable. The food is not that good compared with prices. The reason why they could charge that high is just location and view of the city! If you go there for views, i will suggest to go the skywalk(the floor downstairs) after you have dinner in any other places near which would be much better. The service is bad too. Nobody served bread until i asked for after 20 min. Waiters are running around and rude. For your good, i will suggest not to go to this place. At least in any other place, you dont get cheated in your bill!!! I am not going to this place ever in my life.
(1)
Janet H.
So-so food with a nice view. I came here with my friend for restaurant week so we got a pretty good deal on their lunch prix fixe for $25. One time my friends and I came here for drinks but it was way too crowded... and so we requested a table. Turned out you needed to spend about ~$20/pp so we just left. Anywho, lucky for us, it was clear skies and sunny! I'm so sick of the snow... and to think spring starts tomorrow, pfft! Of course, because it was prix fixe, picking what to eat was easy... I felt that we were a bit neglected, though, as we weren't dressed up in business attire like most customers were, and we weren't just ordering from their pricy menu. We were even skimped out on the delicious bread... the bread guy never came back to our table :( and everyone else got a basket of bread! So, a bit disappointed with that. Food was pretty good... I ordered the chicken and it was really tender, moist, and flavorful! The portions were really generous, too. I was super stuffed afterwards, and my food coma led to a 2 hour nap. The crem brulee dessert could literally feed 4 people. I was super shocked it was in a huge bowl. Would I dine back here again? Maybe... if there's another good deal. This place is a bit too pricy for me... but then again, for those of you who've never eaten here, I feel like this is a must-experience in Boston.
(3)
Jennifer T.
During our last trip to Boston this was at the top of my list for a romantic dinner. It's definitely pricey but a must and I would likely go again. We decided to go with the Pre Fixe menu. It was awhile ago so unfortunately I can't recall everything we ate. We both had the Veal Chop as our entree and they both were overcooked. Very disappointing but the view made everything better. For dessert we had the Creme Brulee. Service was slow as well but what you would expect for a place like this. As for the views I would give this place 5 stars. Residually if your into that kind of thing as I am. We took many pictures. My next trip I'm sure we will return for the views but will definitely order differently.
(3)
Kyleen K.
You're paying for the view; food is just okay, and very overpriced. Having said that, bringing a date for wine and dessert here is perfectly fine. Like I said, the view is certainly something. Just be sure to get a reservation; God forbid you have to wait at the bar and get knocked all over by drunk tourists trying to grab a glass of wine and snap selfies.
(3)
N E.
The views are the best in Boston. This is why I wanted to take my visiting uncle and his wife (who are on a tour of the US) to experience the Top of the Hub for drinks and dessert during the low/hassle free time of the day (~4pm). They happen to be ethnic looking (note: my uncle is an entrepreneur that has started numerous successful international businesses). Not sure if it factored into our experience, but it's worth mentioning since on arriving the hostess wasn't very welcoming and told us that they might not be able to accommodate us (FYI: there were empty tables immediately visible from where we were). Then she took the two reservation-less Caucasian ladies who arrived after us to sit, and went to *look around*. We were a bit baffled but didn't become alarmed because, well, who knows? Then another employee asked if we were taken care of and when we told them that the hostess was checking to see if there were tables available they looked at us like "uh, never mind that, I'll help you". So we were taken to the section by the piano and on arriving we realized that AT LEAST half that section was completely EMPTY! My wife and I were SHOCKED that the first hostess was *struggling* to find us a table when you couldn't throw a menu without hitting an empty one! (We only had 4 people, mind you, it's not like we showed up with an entourage). From there the waitress arrived with hardly a smile (actually, no smile at all). She took our order and delivered silverware/water, no napkins. We tried to make the best of the situation. The bill arrived and it was for $38 (we only had wine and shared a few dessert dishes). I gave her my credit card and it came back charged for $54. At this point I couldn't believe what was happening. Was this a mistake, or did this waitress include her own tip into the check for a party of 4? When I asked her she said "I'll take care of that" and went off to cancel the transaction. When she came back she barely gave me her "sorry 'bout that!" and took off. (I still tipped her because one of us has to show some class). We didn't complain. We didn't make a scene. Is it possible that all of this was one weird coincidence/chance of bad events? Possibly, but we left embarrassed by the experience. Given the views and food I would certainly recommend this location for anyone looking to experience one of the best vantage points in Boston. However, it is clear that the service rests on knowing this. So do go there; do enjoy the views; do savor the food... but don't expect to be treated with kindness or dignity.
(1)
Teresa C.
Came here for oohing and aahing over Boston's night view. Was seated at bar as we didn't want to spend $24 per person as we just had dinner at Avana. Drinks menu looked yummy but no drinks that night. Chocolate almond cake was a hit. View was not fully visible but walk around the restaurant and you can catch glimpses of Boston lol. We walked towards the kitchen area and there was a window that looked over the town. Pretty cool.
(3)
Rockne H.
When you visit Boston, one of the must sees happens to be at the famous Prudential tower, commonly known to Bostonians as The Pru. Being that this is my first time to Boston, I knew I had to try this place out! We rented some Hubway bikes and took to the streets! The cool thing about this place was the mall on the bottom floor. You have a lot of shops to choose from and a huge food court. What we were wanting to see was the observatory deck but it was $16 to see, so we did the next best thing: Used that money towards food and drinks while getting to see the same views from the Top of the Hub restaurant. This place is definitely a more upscale joint. Dramatic vaulted ceilings, dark color contrasts and servers dressed in all black really made the place seem more chic. Each server came with a servers assistant, it seemed, and the staff was definitely on point. Our server was attentive and really accommodating. He was cordial and really made our experience a good one! For lunch, I got the Arugula salad for $9 and added shrimp to it for $6 more. The salad was arugula, Gorgonzola cheese, toasted pine nuts and a balsamic vinaigrette. I love the spiciness of the arugula. Paired with the sweetness of the balsamic and you've got a nice combination. The pine nuts brought a nice crunchy element and the Gorgonzola cheese really sealed the deal for me. Salty and creamy, I enjoyed every last bite! Along with the salad, I got the clam chowder for $10. This soup is one of Boston's signature dish and was filled with loads of clam, potatoes and onions. The cream was nice but a little soupy. I almost envisioned it being thicker but the flavors were still there. Lots of clams to solidify the name! When you're in Boston, The Pru is definitely the way to go! Instead of paying $16 on the 50th floor, take a couple of levels up to the 52nd floor and use that money towards drinks and food. Top of the hub was great and I will definitely be back!
(4)
Celin W.
4 stars for the amazing view of Boston / Cambridge (depending on where you sit), and 3 stars for the food. I priortize food in my review so that's why I gave it 3 stars. We had mussels, fish, shrimp pasta, and it was all OK. Overall the food didn't taste terrible, was fresh, and not badly done by any means. But nothing memorable or extremely delicious. Portions are huge so sharing is recommended. Service was good, and again the views are fantastic on a clear day!
(3)
Sean F.
Arrived for lunch at 2pm on a Thursday afternoon. Placed our order. After an hour and people who arrived after us were receiving their food we questioned our waitress. She said she had noticed that. We told her if our food wasnt coming out now, it was 3:15pm, we were leaving. Our food showed up a minute later cold. She didn't come over so we got up to go to the desk to pay for or drink. She then came over and asked the manager to talk to us. He couldn't be bothered! She compted our food we never ate. Nice! Not that we even had a bite. Nice to know they are so concerned with regular customers! Won't be back any time soon!!!
(1)
Mike D.
Went there today for lunch and the male hostess was extremely standoffish, and rude. Left before being seated but was extremely disappointed because the menu seemed interesting second only to the phenomenal view.
(1)
Sharon T.
Coming here did cost a pretty penny, but it was worth all the shininess..because Boston shines bright like a diamond (sorry, had to). My friends and I came here on our first night in town, and little did we know that there was a $24 minimum per person. We expected to go for a round of drinks and watch the view. But we were already all dressed up (specifically for this place), and it didn't seem logical to turn around and walk in a bar across the street (no harm intended, Beantown). Boston is a pretty laid-back city, where you will find guys at bars in the typical pretty-hipster polo shirts and shorts, and gals dressed like they just woke up and throw on some random clothes. You will find the former here. The view is absolutely beautiful here, even though we're not talking about Willis Tower-high, but great for Boston. Our host, Kara, seated us by a window, right next to the jazz band that was playing! I don't often find myself in these kinds of places, but it was, no doubt, a very memorable experience. I ordered a Tropical Splash cocktail with an Espresso Creme Brulee, just hitting the minimum. Their selection of drinks--wines from all decades, exotic cocktails, fancy bottles you've probably never heard of--is, by far, one of the most impressive ones I've seen; the drink menu spans through a book of numerous pages.Needles to say, there's a lot of hard liquor on the menu and with their minimum charge policy, it is easily a place you won't walk a straight line out of. The Tropical Splash was very, very strong. There was a huge presence of the Bacardi, and the drink was good, but too much for me to handle. The creme brulee was also great and surprisingly, medium-sized. I'm not a huge fan of coffee in general, but it was rich in flavor and in texture, and the crunch was crispy--can't complain about creme brulee. I highly recommend any tourist to come here at least once and enjoy the view and drinks. I normally don't find myself at these kinds of places, but luckily, the service was exceptional to make it worthwhile.
(4)
Moosa D.
Food: 4/5 Atmosphere: 5/5 Service: 4/5 Been here 4-5 times and the service has been pretty good each time. The food has always been ok, nothing amazing but still good. This is definitely a place you go to for the view and atmosphere if anything.
(4)
Rakesh D.
Good hospitality but the food was ok. We had the Sunday brunch, the yogurt was good, the shrimp and grits were great. But the main course (crab eggs Benedict was not so good) was pretty mediocre. The desert...flan was good, but the red velvet cake was too much for one person.
(3)
Denise M.
We came in for Thanksgiving. It was our fourth year celebrating at the Top of the Hub and it is always a lovely experience. The food and staff were both amazing. They served a traditional New England turkey dinner that was gluten free. No substituations needed. Lovely for me as Thanksgiving is the hardest holiday for me. Breads, stuffing, sides and gravey all are made with gluten without careful consideration. I was delighted!! The service was spectacular. Our waiter Nick was attentive, helpful and remembered our names. There is a reason he works at a high end establishment and the establishment should keep him for as a possible. The views from the restaurant, day or night are wonderful but evening hours are my favorite. If you want a reservation make one well in advance. The food has gotten better and so the crowd gathers quickly and no reservation means you will not get a table. Happy Holidays!
(4)
Tamara W.
I came here in May 2014 to celebrate drinks with a few girls for being done with graduate school. The view is amazing and totally worth going there at least once; but the drinks are watery and nothing special; I am pretty sure they are the type of bar that uses Dole orange juice and pineapple juice in their cocktails. Gross. Especially for the cost. Our waiter was nice and I think it was only required we got 1 app for the 3 of us so there is not a ton of pressure to buy a lot. Overall it's a touristy place and I think it could use a total revamps for the decor/atmosphere. It reminds me of a 1970s Anthonys Pier 4 in the inside and could be totally redone to be much more upscale/swanky. I much prefer places in the South End but its worth going for a celebration or with friends from out of town.
(3)
Barrett S.
Me and my wife came here for the bar and views and it was amazing. If your staying in Boston this is a must see!
(5)
Dave T.
Very pricey but you are paying for the most amazing view of Boston. You can see for miles and the lights of the city after dark are beautiful. Service was terrific with a team of servers waiting on our group. There are countless restaurants in Boston that will provide you a better meal for the prices that Top of the Hub commands, but none of those restaurants can offer the view that they do. This is one of those special occasion restaurants that everyone needs to experience at least once. Expect to pay between $100-$125 per person including tip if ordering off of the regular menu. They do offer several dining options.
(5)
Shaquana E.
Fancy fancy fancy! BEAUTIFUL VIEW! great ambiance, very intimate. Wine selection is amazing.. Menu was good and so was the food. I had the chicken flat bread (pizza). I'll definitely be back when visiting this area again.
(5)
Kimberly M.
Review for Brunch. The view was breath taking! Boston is a beautiful city! I was visiting from out of town and my friends decided to take me here. The brunch was just ok. It didn't Wow me. The only Wow factor was the view from the 52nd floor. I ordered the shrimp and grits (good portion and taste 7/10), lobster omelet (very dry and taste 2/10), and flan (tasted yummy and not too sweet) Next time I would come back again for cocktail but not for the the food.
(3)
Svet M.
We called 3 weeks ahead and made reservation for the window seats. When we arrived, they seat us just like previous guests in the middle of the room. With the neighbors table that you can touch ... Never been there so of course I wanted to experience the view which I did not have that night. My food was ok, but food for the guest of mine was not that great at all. Steak was chewy. Service was terrible and we have to ask few times to look for our waiter. Will not recommend anybody to go. There are restaurants around that can give you excellent experience. Especially that we did not have at View anyway.
(2)
Jenny L.
Located on the 52nd floor of the Prudential building, this place has an amazing view! We ate dinner here for my boyfriends birthday. We ordered the fra diavolo (OMG so good!), the niman ranch porkchop, the grilled filet mignon, and the chocolate & praline layered cake. The food was "okay" for the price we paid. I'm giving 4 stars just because of the atmosphere and view, 3 stars for the food.
(4)
DineoutGal A.
I am a sucker for places with nice views. So, of course, I had to check this place out which is at the top of the Prudential Building (second tallest building in Boston) on the 52nd floor. There's a minimum of $24/per person in the lounge after 8 pm. The minimum applies to the lounge tables but not for seats at the bar. The bar is further away from the windows and it has a slightly obstructed view. We ended up getting some drinks plus appetizers to get to get to that minimum, otherwise they will just charge you for the balance. You really leave with about $35 per person after tax and tips because nothing here adds up perfectly to the $24. The lounge menu prices are pretty fair and same goes for the drinks. The Absolute Elyx 52 - Elyx Vodka, Chambord, Champagne ($13). Martini was not very balanced in flavour so it's not a drink I'd order again. Tartar of Yellowfin Tuna - Avocado, Cilantro, Pickled Ginger ($15) was ok...felt a bit dated in its presentation. I didn't get the massive pile of ginger they gave with this dish as if you're expected to eat that amount of ginger. Grilled Angus Burger Cabbot Cheddar, Crispy Shallot Aioli, Tomatoes, Pretzel Bun ($16) was quite good, very juicy and worth the price. Service was ok here. Overall, the food is fair in its pricing but it's not serving anything interesting. You are here for the view and it is a nice view at night. The jazz lounge was nice as the sound was not overly loud. It gave the place a nice classy vibe.
(4)
Christie L.
Beautiful view of Boston! Once you exit the elevator you can already see the city lights. We came here at night obviously. There is a bar, lounge and restaurant seating. If you want to just come for the view, I suggest sitting at the bar because there isn't a minimum per person. In the lounge its $24 min/person and there is a live jazz band at 9PM. Very romantic spot ;] They don't take reservations, but we were seated in less than 10 minutes in the lounge (and it was a Friday). There are many tables in the lounge area, so I don't think the wait is ever that long. To start off, I got a Mango Mojito. Very sweet and tasted like juice, just the way I like it! :] Tartare of Yellowfin Tuna: Delicate tuna topped with avocado with a side of ginger and seaweed. Very tasty! The flavors and textures of everything together was perfection! mmm yum Grilled Tenderloin of Beef Flatbread: Very delicious!! Chunks of beef with roasted peppers and onions in a cheese on top of a flatbread. SO YUMMY! Great tastes and flavor combination. Grilled Angus Burger: The burger came with a side of fries. The burger was just okay. Nothing about this plate stood out to me. The fries also weren't crispy, more like limp potatoes. Perfect place for a date or special occasions :]
(5)
Elliscope F.
Good dinner with fantastic view. Got lucky to sit next to a window table with friends at night. Ordered steak which was gigantic and took me forever to finish.
We went for a 10:30 reservation on a Friday night. Surprisingly, it's not as busy as I thought. The dining area was not that full - we were able to get window seats - and the bar wasn't TOO packed. I would say 25-30 something's come here for drinks in groups. They also play live jazz in intervals throughout the night, which added a nice touch. My friend and I came for drinks and appetizers. I ordered the whiskey martini, which came with a lemon and it's own shaker. The waiter poured the drink in front of me in an iced martini glass, and had half of the shaker remaining after he finished pouring in my glass. The drink was very strong and a very good choice. I got the duck confit appetizer, which is big enough to be an entree. I LOVED IT. The fig, goat cheese, and spaetzle (egg noodle) mixed in so well with the duck. I was full from the appetizer and I definitely recommend it! It's kind of heavy if you're trying to get an entree after, though. My friend got the cucumber mojito and does not recommend it. I had a very memorable night at Top of the Hub with its great view by the window! A great way to close my senior year in Boston.
(5)
Cameron F.
Certainly a place to check out for the views. With a panoramic view of Boston, Cambridge and the bay you get a good lay of the land! Full bar with little selection for everyone.
(4)
Tab G.
I have to say the food was better in my oppinion than I had previously read in reviews. It is true that you are really paying for the view. I had no problem with my reservation and was seated near the window. We tried the Chefs tasting menu. We found the food very flavorful but seemed to have a lot of repeat items throughout the dishes. I couldn't comment on the actual food specifically as we weren't sure what we were eating throughout the meal. You would think the chefs tasting menu would come with a discription when your food came out. Over all it took about 3 hours to get through all of the courses. We missed our next planned event, but the view and sunset was beautiful to watch go down. We had 3 different members of the staff waiting on us none of who seemed to be amused to be there at all. Be careful of the pricing. We were charged 25 more a person than the menu had said and our wine was 45 dollars more than listed on the menu. Overall 2 people with chefs tasting menu and bottle of wine was about $290 before tip. I recommend at least once to anyone living or visiting Boston, especially for the view.
(3)
Mike K.
Rude rude people at the front door. Rudely asked me to remove my Red Sox hat despite everyone at the place wearing casual attire, shorts and flip flops - typical covert racist dress code that I thought you only see at scummy clubs. Then were extremely rude and didn't want to let me just walk to the table where my friends sat down. The views are nice but the scumbag staff aren't worth it.
(1)
Nigel C.
The top of the hub is an enjoyable and relaxing experience. I love the staff, the service and most importantly the food. I recommend.
(5)
Yeajin L.
Scenery and live music are the good parts. Food isn't bad, but not anything special. I had the chef's table one time and few brunches. They're good, but again nothing special. However, it is definitely a place to visit if you're visiting Boston.
(3)
John H.
This is five stars with one caveat: yes, I realize the place is expensive, but since it costs $16 just to go to the Sky View deck a couple floors down, I can give that a pass. I went here with my wife and her family for brunch, and we all loved it. We got dark chocolate and strawberry & cream pastries first, and I liked them so much that I asked to take an extra dark chocolate one home, and they brought out TEN more in two little boxes for us all to share. Now that's service. The shrimp & grits, salads, and goat cheese and mushroom fondue appetizers were great, and the lobster omelette of the day, eggs benedict, bacon wrapped scallops, and chicken & waffle sliders were excellent too. The red velvet cupcake and caramel flan desserts were tasty, but by then, we were all so full that not one of us could eat it all. I got a reservation a couple weeks in advance and asked for a window seat, and they honored it. The restaurant wasn't full, so they could have even if I didn't ask, probably. But it was nice that they paid attention. The view was good too, of course. Since I could see the airport, I assume we were facing east. Overall, it was great. Not someplace you'd go every day or anything, it's far too expensive for that. But it made for a nice special occasion.
(5)
jay g.
I am not a frequent visitor to the Top of the Hub but have enjoyed every visit to the max. Despite some of the "complaints" made about service or the cost of food or a simple dress code, all I can ask is what do they expect at one of the premier locations in Boston? The way many people dress on a Saturday night is laughable. The way some people complain about a venue that has good jazz, a great view and reasonably priced food & drink is also laughable. If it's too much money then perhaps they should just go to Wendy's. Either that or just stay home and watch television.
(5)
S M.
Living nearby, I love stopping in Sunday evenings for a late glass of wine and some jazz. The trio last night (Aug 2) was a lot of fun. Please keep up the live music!
(4)
Melissa L.
The view is grand, just cross your fingers that you get a table next to the window. We went on a Saturday night and it was packed. Luckily, our reservation got us a table right away. There were some major flaws here. Although the waiter was nice, the drink he recommended, a pear lemon drop, was overwhelmingly sweet and syrupy. It was the first time I returned a drink in my life! The clam chowder was tasty, but not particularly special. We got the lobster - what a sad WASTE of $65! The crab stuffing and asparagus was ok, but they were stars of the show next to the lobster. The lobster was rubbery, tough, chewy. I ate around it. It wasn't hot enough, as in I'm sure they boiled it hours ago and just left out until we ordered it, put some premade crab stuffing on top, and then just gave it a quick oven broil for that charred look. We were so disappointed and disgusted that we couldn't even finish our lobster. Bottom line: This place is all looks. Don't waste your money. Maybe get a drink and try to get a peek of the view, but don't eat here.
(1)
Carolina E.
Service? Impeccable..... Food nothing out of the ordinary.... The view is the price... So be aware
(3)
H S.
Obviously it's a fantastic view, we know that. And while everyone should visit Top of the Hub at least once, whether they're a tourist or a local, everyone visiting should limit themselves to the bar and lounge. Because dinner is just not worth it. My $41 filet mignon (ordered med-rare) was tough, dry, overcooked, and flavorless. I forget what was on the side but it was just eh. My date's chicken dinner was equally eh. Service was okay. Overall, the whole experience was just eh. Eh to sum up everything. PS -- I used to have this perception that Top of the Hub was fine dining with dressy and classy customers. Somewhere to go for celebrating big occasions. We came for dinner on a Sat night in dressy-casual attire, and I felt overdressed. The vibe in here is the same you would get from going to Longhorn's or one of those chains. Nothing special.
(2)
Kelly V.
Beautiful view!! We were lucky to get a reservation with a window seat- we came early and sat at the bar. Great service and delicious food and wine. Definitely a romantic spot (a couple got engaged next to us!). Yes it's a little pricey, but you get what you pay for. We were NOT disappointed.
(5)
Megan Y.
Come for the view, not the food or service. Food was mediocre. The lobster soup basically was creme with some orange dye and the two tiniest pieces of lobster (the pieces were literally the size of my thumbnail.) The best thing there was the calamari- but because they covered the plate with sauce, after 15 minutes into our meal it just became a soggy mess. The mussels were just okay- a bit dry, tomato based sauce. The flatbread with beef and gorgonzola cheese was WAYYY to cheesy- it was overwhelming. Service was pretty poor- we felt unwanted by our server. I think she was annoyed we only ordered appetizers (come on, it was 4 PM- snack time please) and didn't order wine or dessert to complement our meal. We asked for extra bread for our muscles and received (I kid you not) grey colored toast (GREY! It wasn't even burnt.)
(2)
Nola P.
I have eaten at the Top of the Hub a few times and it has always been an amazing experience. The food is delicious!! Service is always professional. The view is to die for. If you want to impress a date this is the place to go.
(5)
Kevin H.
One of the best dinner experiences I've had. The waitress was spot on with attention, detail and attitude. The view was amazing and the meal was perfect. I took a first time Boston visitor here (as well as a first time dinner for me) and it was the ideal mark for everything. I will note that the online pricing off the website did throw expectations off a bit, the pricing being a bit higher. However, you don't go to a penthouse style location expecting it to be cheap. 5 stars here. Would recommend it to anyone!
(5)
Keem H.
My experience with the top of the hub restaurant is very negative and bad due to the following: 1- I made an online reservation then called a day or two after to confirm. I was greeted on the phone with arrogance and bad attitude. The lady who answered the phone was professionally rude and ignorant. 2- I went to the restaurant, I think it was the same lady or maybe another rude and ignorant person. Also greeted with a negative attitude that was full of arrogance. 3- As a result, I left the restaurant instantly and promised them that I will never come to that place again. 4- Success doesn't come because you're classy, it comes only when you treat people with respect and appreciation. Don't go there.. Not really worth it!
(1)
Teena M.
View awesome, mojoto yummy and tasted lots of appetizers from the lobster soup to crab cakes and calamari. All were terrific. Highly recommend stopping in.
(5)
Gabriela D.
Took my boyfriend there this past Wednesday night. Waited 35 mins for our birthday reservation. Told them I was starving, couldn't have bread while I waited. Then when we sat, we didn't get to order our food for another 25mins and we didn't even order drinks. Then after all this they finally brought me bread. Appetizers, lobster soup and duck confit parpadelle were okay. Soup was watery and very under seasoned. Entrees were the worst. Short rib tasted burnt, and my pork chop tasted okay, but was served with an almost uneatable "Mac and cheese", no seasoning and oily like it was microwaved, but somehow that and the two frail ass pieces of brocollinni were cold. Wtf! Cold food? The chefs clearly don't taste their food before they plate. Creme brulee for dessert was okay. I am a chef as well so call me stuck up or whatever, but I know what I'm talking about and my opinion does count. After I told fellow chefs of my experience, they agreed and told me their rep is awful. Individuals who have staged their say they actually do use their microwave ( at this level of food, that's a huge no no). P.s. I work at a fine dining French restaurant and by no means would we ever. Also its been said they use mainly frozen produce. I just can't understand how such a iconic restaurant is still putting out bullshit for food. The view is one thing I could never debate. Its gorgeous, so if you want to enjoy it, go for drinks with friends. The food court in the mall downstairs at least has flavorful hot food for the most part. I will NEVER return for food. And I felt like I had to spread the word , cause it was a disappointment for my bf on his bday and I felt horrible about that. Don't want that happening to anyone else who goes here expecting anything more than shitty food. Get a new chef and a whole new menu!
(1)
Aparna S.
Terrible service. Judged us on our looks. Food sucks. One good thing though.. The two man band was awesome. Nice classical music and they were always happy Friend of this user
(1)
Laura D.
Four stars for the view and the live jazz music on Friday night. Service was good and food as well. Solid choice for a special occasion dinner.
(4)
Juan M.
This's for sure the best restaurant in the city,whit the best view I'm talking lunch and dinner,good hours for dinner they close by 12:30pm,really attentive whit music even between weeks excellent wine list.
(4)
Stephanie K.
Top of the Hub is the ideal tourist stop in Boston for a classy fancy drink and ultimate view of the city. It's very elegant and probably perfect for a romantic date. But... I was a Boston tourist and found it great for an over-priced touristy drink. It's on the 52nd floor of the Prudential Building and has the best view of the city. The ambiance is beautiful and the cocktails are top of the line. Drinks were around $10 so definitely on the high end of Boston night light. I recommend just stopping in for a drink at the bar and enjoying the view. I didn't eat dinner there so I can't comment on the food but I bet there are other amazing restaurants in Boston to enjoy. I heard that it's a great place for live music and dancing after dinner hours. I will definitely have to check it out next time I'm there.
(4)
Caroline K.
My friend had her wedding reception here, and for the most part, it was great. The only negative, and a big one at that, was probably the manager, whose name I never got (since I was just a guest anyway). Everyone else, however, was helpful and so nice. My friend wanted the music turned down so we could better hear a video we were playing on a screen. I asked the manager, and he said that the music was coming from our computers, which was pretty impossible since they were not hooked up at the time. He insisted it was not from the restaurant itself, which was ridiculous since the music (classical) was not anything we had on our laptops and were coming out of speakers that were in the rear of the room, which no one occupied. I brought him over to the music, but we couldn't hear it at the time (bc the video had already started), but we heard it later. I guess he managed to turn it off later, even though the music was supposedly not coming from the restaurant. I asked him to turn on the speakers later for the slideshow and he acted like I was bothering him. Seriously, the rudest manager ever - how did he even get a job in the industry? My friend complained later, but I heard they were not very apologetic about it. What terrible service - I don't recommend having your wedding reception here ever. unless they get a new manager. We had an open bar with a few different liquors to choose from. It wasn't a regular bar but a table set up as one, but it worked fine. The appetizers, which they passed out for the first hour, were decent, but it didn't seem quite enough for all the guests (maybe we were supposed to get only one or two pieces total?). For the main course, I had the scallops and they were delicious, but the mashed potatoes were way salty. The duck leg appetizer was really yummy - had some kind of slightly salty flavoring, but the creme brulee was soggy. Views were gorgeous, and we had a great time despite the sour manager's attitude.
(2)
Ngan T.
We stopped in on a whim on Thursday night and were lucky enough to have found two empty seats at the bar. Doesn't look like the dining room was short of hungry customers either. Bartenders were attentive and fantastic--doling out drinks left and right without a single patron left waiting for long. My only complaint is that both my ginger drink and strawberry basil lemonade were a little too light on the alcohol. We also shared the brie and walnut plate. It was absolutely delicious. Of course everybody recognizes the Top of the Hub as THE romantic place with overrated food, but my casual pitstop was pleasant and surprisingly scrumptious!
(4)
Gigi G.
If I were basing this review on the drinks and the bartenders, it would be five stars. I started my experience out there and it was great! The drinks were delicious and the bartenders were very nice! I then decided to get a table to enjoy the view more and grab some food. The service was HORRENDOUS. When I go to a nice restaurant and pay the high prices I expect at least decent service. The waitress was SO rude and kept trying to rush us out even though there was only one other couple sitting in our area (with about twenty tables). At one point, I think because she was annoyed we were still sitting there, despite just having purchased another round of drinks, she came over with a man who acted like a bouncer and rudely asked if there was anything else we planned on purchasing. As they walked away I kindly asked if they were closing soon (the only thing I could think of that would cause such rude behavior) and found out they were still open for another 50 minutes, with ample seating. Even if her shift were ending, I would have preferred her nicely letting us know that instead of coming over ever five minutes and rudely asking if she could take our food away (which wasn't even half done because we were enjoying ourselves and taking our time) and snarling every time she passed us. With the prices they charge, spend some money on training your staff on customer service. Despite the gorgeous view, I would never eat here again.
(1)
Stella K.
I gave this place a raving review, and then... I found a piece of paper in my port! Both ruining the 20-Tawny and my evening. Really, disgusting - definitely not recommending the place.
(1)
spike h.
I ate here last year for a company event. View is amazing !!!! Food is good, but everyone know when you eat at the 52 floor. You are paying for the view and not the food. The food was good, so that was a plus. Since it was a company event, I didnt have to dress up too much so this was a big plus.
(5)
K. Grace K.
I went back and forth between a three and four. I'ld say three for dinner and four for drinks and a view if you get a good seat. View is fabulous, but other than that, atmosphere is hotel-themed. When we went for drinks we could only sit at a bench facing an empty dance floor. Not ideal for three people talking. Dinner was good and service was attentive. The lobster soup is great but only had three pieces of lobster. The lemongrass was really nice in the soup. I really wish I had ordered a salad as a main course because after the creamy soup, chicken pasta was just too rich. Also, buyer beware. The cookie platter is not a desert for one. Unless you are Cookie Monster. Also for the drinks and view, this is still on my list of must do's with out of town visiters.
(3)
Imma P.
You get a GREAT view of the city and of your date ;). Nice ambience. Feels rich. You feel very special when you're here. The service was very good. The only complaint is the food. Except the bread. Good bread. Because it was free. We ordered the Prix Fixe Dinner special. This was in February. They must have made up that menu to get rid of old ingredients or were trying to make up something new. The food was awful, especially because of the price.
(2)
Kristen D.
One word sums up TOH nicely: PRETENTIOUS. Per my previous dining experience, I didn't come back here for the food. I had family visiting from NJ, so of course the view here made it a must stop during their visit. I booked the reservation over a month in advance for 6:30 on Sunday evening. I arrived with my party of 4, promptly at 630. We were greeted quickly and brought to our table. Upon being seated, there were TWO OPEN window seats, and I kindly asked if we could be moved to one. I was snootily told by the male host that, "someone else was coming for those tables," and I could wait 30 minutes if I wanted a window seat. I politely declined and told him I made the reservation weeks ago, to which he replied, "I know, but I can't help you." Moving on... Our server, Mario, took way too long to greet us, but his service was fine after that. We all ordered martini's, which we enjoyed, especially the pear martini. The specials of the night sounded boring and uninspiring. The entrees ordered were: sesame crusted tuna, lamb shank, halibut and filet. ALL of the entrees were cold. We skipped dessert after remembering they were not worth it the last time. In summary, go here for a drink in the lounge and skip the huge bill, snotty attitude and sub par food. HIGH VIEW, LOW CLASS.
(2)
Zirui Y.
It is hard to say but we are really disappointed today. we made reservation on several says ago and want to have dinner on July 4 and watch firework there. however, when we go there we are told that they just serve for private reservation for watching firework and it is impossible they made reservation on July 4 for us. And then we call them to double check after we go downstairs. They said they just change the date to July 5 for us. The problem is we didn't receive any notice from them before we arrived. It makes us angry because you don't have right to change date for us and If you cannot make it just tell us in advance!! The result is that now we have to change our plan. It is really disappointed on the independence day.
(1)
Linda C.
Located on the 52nd floor of the Prudential building. Amazing view of Boston! Came here for lunch on a Friday. No wait & seated immediately. My boyfriend and I split the lobster roll ($24) and clam chowder ($10). FYI we both weren't hungry. We really just came to see the view. Normally this would probably be enough to only feed one of us. One of the best clam chowders I've ever had! Lobster roll came with house made potato chips, which I thought were bland. The roll itself was delicious. There were a few other things on the menu that caught my eye which I'll have to come back to try. Not the cheapest place but worth it. You're really paying for the experience. Service was good. Everyone was friendly and professional. Didn't see too many smiles though. Definitely want to come back for dinner to see Boston lite up!
(4)
Brittany A.
Food was good, not memorable but the view at night is to die for! Remember to have your parking ticket/receipt validated to avoid the parking attendants trying to charge you a whopping $40. Validated parking is $15
(4)
Stephanie T.
I came here for a birthday dinner, luckily we were able to get a table right by the window, which is a MUST if you come here. The food was actually not as expensive as I was expecting, though the quality was not great. This is a must in Boston for the view, not for the food. I think the best way to experience Top of the Hub is to come for drinks and dessert later on in the evening after a dinner at one of the other, higher quality restaurants nearby in Back bay.
(3)
Harsh P.
This is one of the most attractive places in Boston being on the 52nd floor at the Prudential. We went for desserts at late night but the we did not get the place we wanted and hence the we did not get the anticipated aerial view of Boston. The dessert was good. Overall an average experience.
(3)
Jessica B.
This place has a great view. Besides that, it's pretty much a tourist trap in a mall with sketchy service and opportunistic management. I called to make a reservation for last night, the night of the fireworks in Boston. The woman on the phone told me that no reservations were needed and to come over, there was plenty of room. We parked and were up in about 10 minutes. The bar was full, standing room only. It was crowded and there was no way to politely approach the bar as the sides were roped off. My friend had injured his ankle and standing up for two hours wasn't going to fly. I spoke to a woman who said she was the manager. She said the tables, of which there were many empty, had a $40+ prix fixe menu that you had to order. This seems stupid, wasteful and opportunistic. Sure you have a good view, but you had empty tables and we ended up spending almost the amount requested at another restaurant that had outdoor seating and MUCH better service. The "tough sh*t" type response I got from management when I explained my friend's ankle situation is pretty much enough to keep me out for life. So! Want actual fine dining? Asana Restaurant is very close. Just want better food? There's a Legal Seafood and a Capital Grill right downstairs. Want a nice view, non-stuffy service, and to actually sit outside instead of behind glass? Try Dillon's. That's where we went, and it was awesome. Great view of the fireworks and friendly service.
(2)
Steven M.
I live just outside the city. Every time I go to Boston I go to the Top of the Hub. I tend to hang out in the lounge side. Love just sipping a cocktail and have a bite to eat while looking at the wonderful view. Between lunch and dinner it is full of annoying tourist. I feel bad for the wait staff. They seat these folks and only order a soda or coffee. There is a observation deck just below the restaurant people! Evenings are best. More of a romantic upscale feel at night!
(4)
Rob G.
This goes on the short list of restaurants to visit when you come to Boston. The food was great, but that's not what you come for...the environment and the views were spectacular!
(5)
Cody B.
My friends and I visited Top of the Hub on a wintry Sunday afternoon for hot toddies. The view was excellent, the jazz and was great, and the drinks were moderately priced. My only complaint is the the bar specifically did not have a very sizable area to enjoy the view, as most of the viewing area is reserved for dining. I would gladly go back!
(4)
Ashley L.
My husband and I dined at top of the hub for the first time last night for our first wedding anniversary. I made the reservation for the Tuesday night two weeks in advance, and requested a window table. When we arrived We were seated at a table that was not next to a window, which was very annoying because there were 3 free window tables in my plain sight. I asked our waitress if we could move to one of those and she came back with the response "we can't guarantee anything because of graduation season." I was annoyed, like what is that even supposed to mean?? Let me sit at one of those tables like I requested two weeks ago! Oh well, I didn't bother arguing as I didn't want to ruin the night. I ordered the salmon which was to come with gold potatoes and roasted beets, it arrived and there was one single tiny beet. Salmon was pretty tasteless. My husband ordered the veal, he said it was nothing special but the side of whipped potatoes were delicious. We ordered the chocolate almond cake for 2 for dessert. It was presented beautifully with fresh berries, and one scoop of coconut ice cream. Sadly, the cake was very dry and not very good, the best part was the one scoop of coconut ice cream we shared and the strawberries, and blueberries. The service was Ok, the waitress was nice but nothing spectacular. The best part of the whole experience was the bottle of champagne I ordered. Our bill came to $165 and we were satisfied but not very impressed. We were dressed up and expecting a swanky environment, the decor is very outdated. The light fixtures are like giant lamp shades, not attractive at all. My advice to anyone looking to visit would be do not waste your money on dinner!! The bar lounge area looked very nice and had a nice atmosphere. There was a live jazz band playing, which sounded great, we could not hear or see them at all from our dinner table. So go visit the bar, order a few cocktails or a flat bread for the $25 minimum spend where you can enjoy the spectacular views, and sit on the nice couch style lounge chairs next to the windows or on the high tops around the bar. This is a more sensible and entertaining alternative to spending the $16 per person for the sky walk observatory.
(2)
Bob M.
It gets two stars for the atmosphere and location only. I was very disappointed with the bland food which in no way was representative of the $180 we spent for 4 people. It seems like this place survives on the bar with that area being packed with people who work in the building and tourists. With so many great dining choices within walking distance I would recommend skipping this place except to go up and look out the window.
(2)
Payton F.
Beautiful decor and the dining room is gorgeous. Staff is great.
(5)
Lauren P.
My sister and I came for a drink one night and late lunch another day and I really enjoyed it. We sat at the bar and had drinks, I ordered the chicken skewers and fish, she ordered a salad and for dessert we had this big block of chocolate cake with layers of almond cream. Everything was so good and service was great, the bartender continued to fill my water glass and was very attentive.
(4)
Jim P.
View was great. Try and get a seat facing the north side because the view is better. This is the same side as the bar. Food was good. Calamari was excellent. Tuna Tar Tar was OK. Atmosphere was very relaxing and the wait staff was excellent. Will definitely go back, just to a different table.
(3)
Billy K.
This place is only for tourist and business people eating on their company's dime. Locals avoid this place. If you want a view go to better places along the Charles River. First, they don't return phone calls. I tried calling to make reservations. Left my number and nothing. I guess their crappy service extends to lack of phone skills. Second, the hostess. Rude. When I approached the hostess, I asked about getting a table. He stated rudely of the minimum per person fee. We just had finished eating at Atlantic Fish Company so money was burning through my pockets. Since I prefer sweeter wines, I asked to see the wine menu prior to sitting. After looking through the entire menu, I mentioned that I did not see anything to my taste. The hostess again rudely stated that it was in the wine menu. Annoyed, I asked him to show me. He went through the first wine menu. Oh, it's in the other wine menu. Without any apology, he went to grab the another wine menu. Hmm, if you are wrong, shouldn't there be an apology? I guess not you snotty pretentious hostess. We are walked past the bar. Pro-tip. No minimum if you order drinks by the bar. But as the rude hostess stated, you must be within the bar area. Guess you missed the bar patrons taking pictures by the corner window. Or lounge around the band. Want a view of the Charles? Answer: Only if you are dining. Oh, but dining hours are over. So, does that mean we can get a table with a view of the Charles. No. Where else can you lose my rating? Oh yeah, how about putting the size of the bottle near the prices? Ordered several bottle of wines. Menu didn't mention that they were only 1/2 bottles. Both bottles were only 1/2 bottles. Plus, their markup. Ordered the creme brulee. OMG. Terrible. Can't they afford to hire a real pasty chef? Ordered the warm chocolate cake. She says takes 10-15 minutes. Okay. I can wait for some chocolate cake. OMG. Not good at all. I just wanted to leave. But our server took a break. How do I know? Because she came around 20 minutes later. Both bottle were empty. Dessert less than half eaten. No check. Well, so much for her tip. Thanks for ruining my last night in Boston.
(1)
Ranner F.
This is really a five star restaurant, but when you factor in the price, it's hard not to lower their rating. The positives: Great, great, great (did I say great?) view. It is almost a surreal experience if you have the pleasure of sitting by the windows. I went there in the evening, looking over boston as I picked at my food, I grew to appreciate the city more. Also, their cocktails are really good and of a decent price (unlike most other things there). The not so good? Well, it's not that their food is bad (some of my friends who have been there have affirmed this), it's just that there is nothing special about it. I had the salmon when I went, the presentation was nice, came on a nice wooden prop (cedar plank) that made it look more than it was from a distance. I was expecting it to be amazing, I let my date taste it, to which she remarked "I can make better salmon than that." Overall, if you're looking for a place to have an intimate dinner, celebrate an anniversary, or to mark anything significant that has recently occured in life...This is the place. Being so far up (a fact that will not go unnoticed because your ears will pop at least ten times) and looking at the beautiful canvass that is Boston, one will surely take a moment to appreciate the moment. I did. Tip: Make sure to call if you have a reservation and ask them to consider seating you by the window. The other seats are not as scenic.
(4)
Hayley B.
I came here with my boyfriend when we were 18 or so celebrating our first year together. As both of us have lived in Boston forever, we were pretty excited by the prospect of eating at such a fancy place so high up in the city. We ate there so many years ago that I do not remember what we had ordered. What I do know is that we had a romantic table, there was jazz playing, and we were seated right next to the window and had a stunning view of the entire city. We had coffee to end the night and it was delicious. Thinking back, what I can remember is that we paid quite a lot for this meal. I probably wouldn't eat there again for the food but would return more for the idea of what this place holds for us.
(4)
Edmondo D.
Definitely a restaurant you have to go to if you're in Boston. The view of the city is great. The food was delicious and the service was top notch. It's a romantic restaurant for any occasion.
(5)
Julie T.
I want to throw up when I think about the money I blew for such a mediocre experience here. The hostess was nice and the view is amazing but I'm pretty sure that's where the good comments end. Our waiter was friendly but borderline invasive with his questions and commentary and the service was pretty slow. It was a busy night though so I'll cut them slack in that regard. The food was decent, but not for the price and portion. Honestly, I came here just because I've never been before and it's just "one of those places." Man, talk about regrets. Also, it took 20 minutes to get change for the bill. I wanted to throw myself out the window at this point. You're probably better off going to Uno.
(2)
Adrienne S.
Go for the view, not the service We went a couple of weekends ago, to enjoy some late night jazz, snacks and of course the view of Boston (although it was a pretty foggy night). There is a $24/person minimum spend in the dining area - if you choose to just stay by the bar, there is no minimum. It was not a busy night at all, there was a decent amount of people there, but because of the snow storm that was still happening, perhaps they were a bit short-staffed. It took quite some time to have someone take our order. And when my husband asked for mustard, they forgot and so we had to remind them again. For whatever reason, service was just slow that night. As for the food, my husband ordered a burger and I ordered the tuna tartare and a bowl of clam chowder. I'd say that it was the blandest tuna tartare I've ever had. The clam chowder was alright. The burger was only OK too. Beer selection is very limited, they didn't have any amber or dark beers which seemed unusual. The live jazz was nice to have in the background. Quite a few people danced that evening. I wouldn't say it was full of tourists at all (I had expected it to be a bit of a tourist trap), in fact it appeared that it was mostly full of locals. Most were dressed up, men in jackets and women in dresses. But we didn't seem out of place in jeans. So I suggest this place for the view and a drink. Eat here only if you're starrving.
(1)
Vincent Y.
I asked for several opinions about this restaurant, and everyone seemed to be in agreement that the food was just above average, but not worth the price. I went with a coworker anyway, and I it was the best meal I enjoyed while in Boston that week. We ordered the 3-course Prix-fixe with duck confit, braised ribs, and blueberry upside down cake, which I'll respectively give 4,5,3 ratings. The rib was cut off the bone before serving, and it had this wonderful after-taste which was almost like it was oven-broiled at the end. A couple of appetizers had awesome presentation. Beet Salad and Tuna Tartare (both a 4 in my book). My favorite: Sacchetti Purses (5). This was the first time I was introduced to this kind of pasta, and I absolutely loved it. Filled in the same manner as ravioli, I very much enjoyed the cheese-filled dumpling mixed with a serving of whole lobster (sans lobster shell) in pesto-ey sauce. The dumpling's outer noodle was very delicate - a bit thinner than gyoza. There were a few downsides though: We got a terrible 2-seater table towards the center, which lacked a window view. (tip: get there early, peeps! This means before 7pm on a Thursday night!) The garlic bread that came with my pasta was terribly oily and had a stale taste.. My educated guess is that the oil in which they spread/baked it was very old. (Why didn't they use butter? With so much attention to the other fine foods, they seemed to miss this simple detail). The plantain that was served on top of my avocado (with the Tuna Tartare) also tasted a bit stale. Service could've used some improvement - our waters weren't filled (I think mine was empty for 20-30 minutes). Later, when our belt buckles were about to pop, and our bodies were wanting to walk around to digest this tremendous meal, our waiter took forever to deliver the bill and a second trip to charge our credit cards. Wow, looking back at what I just typed, you might wonder how this received a 4-star review? Well fortunately for the restaurant, I weigh taste far above service.
(4)
Ron S.
I took my wife to the Top of the Hub for our anniversary, and I fully regret it. The tables were cramped together, and the waiter was unintelligible and made us feel awkward and out of place. The view was the only positive. When our appetizers arrived, the server dumped a bowl of hot lobster soup in my wife's lap. She was mortified. After explaining three times to the main waiter why we were so dissatisfied, we settled our bill early and left. Our "dinner" at Top of the Hub was the turning point for our anniversary vacation in Boston. My wife spent the remainder of our anniversary crying in our hotel room. She had such a horrible experience that we'll likely never return to either Boston or Top of the Hub ever again.
(1)
Rosanna Marina A.
Food was excellent, a little pricey but it's worth every penny. We did the Sunday brunch, $40 per adult. The options were good. I tried the ravioli filled with sausage which was truly delicious. Highly recommend it. The view of Boston from the restaurant there are no words to describe it. I will back, this time to enjoy the sunset and check out the entertainment.
(5)
Kevin C.
Amazing place for a date. The view is incredible, the best you can get in all of Boston. Obviously incredibly expensive and they don't give you too much in terms of servings, but anyone who complains about those two aspects of the restaurant obviously isn't very use to high-class establishments. Oh, and the service was great.
(5)
Jaclyn S.
Went for DINE OUT BOSTON (restaurant week). Always fun at the Top of the Hub. The food was delicious, and we ordered wine (I had the "Top of the Hub" Merlot $9/glass, which I liked), my date ordered "Caparinha" ~$12 which he said tasted authentic and strong. We ordered the bean soup, the steak with parmesan tater tots (so delicious! and a large portion), chicken with polenta which was great. For desert we enjoyed creme brule and the chocolate espresso mousse, both were delicious and plated nice. $38/pp. Bread basket. The service was speedy, right after we finished a course the other one was ready. Many servers attended our table. Prices for normal menu aren't too outrageous for Top of the Hub, they have prix fixed options always available, but you can order just an entree for between $25-35. The wine list has glasses from $9-$30 and bottles that cost as much as a flight to europe. The ambience is romantic, but there are a lot of people that wander around during dinner trying to get pictures of the view, which can be disturbing. Dim lighting and pictures are hard to capture with you and the view during the evening since flash ruins it, but it's too dark to see everyone clearly. Go during the day for the cool picture of you and birds-eye Fenway. I'll be going back! Interested in their lunch!
(4)
Amanda L.
This place sounds like it's a tourist trap, but I was pleasantly surprised. We had some time to kill, so we stopped by mid-afternoon, around 4pm, for some drinks and a view. We got a table by the window and got to enjoy the view without having to peek over strangers' heads. It was a clear day, so the view was pretty amazing. Drinks were moderately priced at $12. I'm from New York, so I'm used to it. But my $12 drink here in NYC usually doesn't come with the view. And my $12 drink in NYC isn't humongous! I thought the drinks at Top of the Hub were big. The drinks on the rocks came in big water glasses, and our other cocktails came in huge martini glasses with small shakers on the side (with a little extra drink in them). The drinks tasted good too. Not too boozy, but boozy enough :) We also got a dessert to munch on -- the blueberry upside-down cake. Delicious. Our server was super sweet and attentive (as expected, since it wasn't the dinner rush yet). Overall, it was a good time, and out-of-towners should experience it at least once.
(4)
Aidan M.
Greatest window view of any restaurant I have ever been to. Breathtaking. I had Jameson martini and shared a caeser salad & they both tasted really good. The elevator ride to the top is wicked fast! Be warned!
(5)
Jacqueline N.
View is absolutely gorgeous, we were about 60 stories up! Food was mediocre/decent. I got the salmon sandwich, unfortunately, I am not a fan of sauteed spinach but the salmon was nice and moist. I tried the creme brulee which was decent, but very buttery. High butter to sugar ratio, but that is just me. Portions are small and expensive but it was good. Everything came out to $25 per person with tax and tip. I did not appreciate the waiter mocking me or making snide comments at my questions or the fact that I did not eat my spinach though. That was not appropriate. minus points for bad customer service. All in all, it was an experience mainly because of the gorgeous view of Boston.
(2)
Bob T.
I've been here twice, and both times had a poor experience. On one occasion, I had to send my entree back TWICE, because the kitchen just couldn't seem to wrap their heads around an instruction to cook my steak medium-well, as opposed to (respectively) raw and not-quite-so-raw. On the other, the food was just not up to the quality one would expect with the prices they charge. Yes, the view is great, but I'll tell you what -- eat at a much more moderately priced place with much better seafood, and then do up a deck tour in the Pru. You'll get much more for your buck and a great deal less aggravation. EDIT: Responding to the owner's comment, I don't live in Boston any more, and with any visit can think of a dozen establishments that give me the quality-for-value I appreciate. That being said, while having to return one's entree to the kitchen to have it properly cooked *twice* is always unacceptable (this being, by my count, one of the three times in my life I ever had to send an entree back at all), should such an event happen to a patron in the future, the least you can do is comp the meal. It wouldn't have much helped my mood -- this being the first formal dinner out I had had with my future in-laws -- but even so.
(1)
N D.
Let's just say that the sausage dog I had at Gillette stadium was better than my meal at this place! What a disappointment... We had reservation and still had to wait 45 minutes for a table and the waitress forgot to let the hostess know we were at the bar. Wow! My $48 NY steak tasted like something from the grill at Sizzler.
(2)
Sabrina L.
Do you want the greatest view of Boston? then yes..def check this place out. No need to dine here, just order a few drinks , seat back, and enjoy. The staff is attentive and you will have a great opportunity for those facebook worthy pictures of Boston's skyline.
(4)
Karen N.
The food here is decent... for the price, maybe not exactly the best value in terms of quality and portion- but it is exactly what you expect from a place that has such a beautiful view of the city. Our server was not bad, either- he was also a decent enough waiter. Of all the staff in the place, it was a busboy who would say the most insulting thing to me after my family of six just finished dining. The boy basically treated me as if I was poaching on the view and I think it would have been better if he had just said nothing at all. Anyplace that charges what they do should be giving service that matches. Our last night in Boston and I didn't let him ruin it, but if anyone else has recommendations on where to see an equivalent type of viewpoint, I would pay my money to enjoy Boston from there instead. Nobody likes to spend money to be insulted.
(2)
Elena L.
Top of the Hub it is very very high-end restaurant very nice very classy..... I love it in there is amazing to look outside from the windows... That's the best restaurant ever see in Boston
(5)
Xiao Z.
Hands down, this place is a wonderful date place. That being said, be prepared to spend a fair amount of money for the view, the food, and definitely the drinks. But to be honest, Top of the Hub is really not as expensive as the rumors make it seem to be. I reserved a window-seat on a Monday night with my date and enjoyed a wonderful dinner while watching the sunset and the night sky illuminate with both artificial and star lights. Had I taken my date to any other restaurant, we probably would have spent the same amount of money, but without the beautiful evening views and the live jazz band. As for food, we shared a crab cake for appetizer and ordered fish for dinner - I had the grilled swordfish (served on the rarer side), my date had the salmon served over a cedar board. The crab cake, while certainly delicious, was just a bit pricy ($17+). The swordfish, however, was phenomenal and complemented wonderfully with the butternut squash, the baconbits, and the brussel sprouts. The salmon dish was quite delicious, but I really couldn't taste the cedar board, unless I was actively scraping off pieces of the wood for taste. The pickled vegetable and sweet n' sour brown rice side dishes were great on their own, but contrasted too much with the fish. After dinner, we were escorted to the lounge area, right in front of the live jazz band per compliment of the house. Overall, I had a wonderful time and would recommend it to any new couples. Maybe just once, since my wallet took a pretty good beating afterward. Food: 3 stars Service: 4 stars Drinks: 3 stars (I had the mango mojito, kinda regretted not trying the cucumber one) Ambiance: 5 stars...so I admit, this was indeed the driving factor for good review Price: 3 stars
(4)
Hector C.
Great environment. Great food!! Great view!! We ordered the Trio, it was a great option for me, for my wife I think it was too much food, she was not able to finish her dessert. But otherwise we had a great time.
BEAUTIFUL date spot! Based on milieu alone, this place deserves a 5/5! If someone were to ask me "What is there to do in Boston?" I would DEFINITELY recommend coming to the Top of the Hub on a Friday night around 6PM to watch the sunset, stay until 8 to listen to live jazz music, and enjoy a few of their AMAZING desserts! I highly recommend their Creme Brulee. It's probably one of the best that I've ever had. However, based on dinner alone, they are TERRIBLE. I had their chicken pot pie and I have to argue that even microwaveable chicken pot pie was better. What they made wasn't really a pie, but rather a piece of thick, flaky air-filled bread that lies on top of a thick chicken soup. The only thing I liked about it was the bread. Their brunch is much better. And I would even argue that the view during the day is better too, but not as sexy.
(3)
Kayan H.
Great view! Atmosphere was a bit old school, but i had fun celebrating my birthday with my husband and good friends. I had the cioppino, which was just okay. The broth wasn't as robust as I like. My husband let me try his spicy lobster bisque and that was good.
Top of the hub isn't exactly the most accessible of places - the entrance is hidden in the middle of the prudential mall. But once on board the elevator taking you to that top floor of the Pru, you know you're about to get an amazing view over the city... and a pretty good meal with that actually. A lot of other reviewers find this place overly expensive. Well, I guess it depends on what you expect AND how you order. Remember you are having a meal in the highest spot of the city - and sure, you pay an extra for that. But with the brunch menu going for 40 dollars, you can have both the view AND a nice meal with a view. The brunch includes 2 appetizers, a main and a dessert. I highly recommend Top of the Hub as an ideal lazy/snowy/cold Sunday brunch location!
(4)
Shauna R.
Went for their Sunday brunch. The food was good, not as fantastic as I expected from "Top of the Hub". The waiter was extremely nice and helpful. I would go again, but maybe for restaurant week.
(3)
Adam H.
You are basically paying for the view, which is great so no complaints. Our waitress was very friendly and answered any questions we had, she even let us move to table closer to the window which gave us a better view of Boston. The food was pretty average. I ordered their seafood pasta and it wasn't bad and the portions are generous. All the cocktails that we ordered were surprisingly good and they leave the cocktail mixer at your table so you can top up your glass which i thought was a good idea.
(3)
Kevin p.
I've lived in the Boston area my whole life (27 years) and now I know why this is my first time at the top of the hub. With prices like this I expect a fine dining experience. It was not. View is only thing preventing a 1 star review. 1. No Valet nor do they make it helpful for parking. Ended up paying 30$ for 2 hours in a garage... 2. I made reservations a week or two in advance and told them it was for a birthday...our table was not ready when we got there on time and there was absolutely zero attention to any detail. Capital grille, grille 23, Ruth's...hell even joes bar and grille did such a better job in the past. 3. The steaks were average. Mine was over cooked and the sides were lacking. The only plus is its view. I would not recommend this to anyone for a fine dining experience. Merely a thing you do once just to see the awesome view
(2)
Rebekah A.
Loved this place. Friendly bartenders. Drinks were delicious. And you can't beat the view.
(5)
Anysia -.
The food is great and the food portion is generous for such a high end restaurant. I went for brunch so the menu was pretty confined, but it was a great selection. Sure it is pricey but you are getting lots of food and a great view. We had reservations for 4 people, and 2 of us arrived a few minutes before the other 2 and they would not sit us until they arrived even after explaining they were just entering the tower. That was a little annoying especially since the hostess had an attitude about it. They give a great discount for the public parking (we went from $40 to $14 for a 3 hour fee). The view is great from any table, but arrive earlier than your reservations because they say that window table requested are not guaranteed. You will have your fair share of "high class" diners around, but the waiters are down to earth and really nice and seemed more than happy to answer any questions. Suggestion for brunch: you have 4 courses so take your time!
(4)
Rossi F.
Went here for an anniversary dinner last month. We did the 3 course dinner paired with wine. The food was delicious and the wines were amazing! The service was great too. I had told them it was an anniversary when I made the reservation, so when they sent out the desserts they wrote "Happy Anniversary" on the plates and added a candle. It was very sweet! The view was beautiful, can't beat it.
(4)
Jessica S.
A great view and a great BLT. I don't recall the pricing since I wasn't paying but it was the most impressive Sandwhich I had eaten. I went during the lunch hour and it was a clear day.
(5)
John G.
Excellent service, food and and a spectacular view. Could not ask for a better time. We had to ask of they validate parking. It would have been nice if they asked. Overall we will be back to celebrate a special occasion!!
(5)
Flo S.
the view, of course, is great. and they did accomodate our request for a window table because it was a birthday dinner. the food was average and the portions small. the wait staff was not as attentive as one would expect for an expensive
(3)
Kelly G.
This is a must for any visitor and special occasion. Perfect to bring parents. Spectacular view, wonderful live jazz in the evening and an delicious unpretentious menu on the bar side. Service is a little spotty. It can be impeccable or they can forget about you. The older gentleman who plays host or greeter needs to address his lack of social skills. Regardless, I'll keep going back to one of my go to special places.
(4)
Poh Y.
One my best restaurant experience. Went there for a date on 3rd of July. The waiter was very friendly and helpful. Food was tasty and decently priced for that kind of environment. And we lucked out when the 4th of July fireworks was brought forward a day earlier due to rainy weather. Spectacular view of the fireworks and night-view of Boston was amazing.
(5)
Barbara A.
Terrible restaurant rude staff stay away Boston has much better to offer we asked for a window seat they actually sat us in the main restaurant with a nice view but when I told them I wanted to order iff the lounge menu they made us move to a small side table. Disappointed my daughter it was her first time there never again !
(1)
Naomi B.
Had dinner here for the first time on Feb 1, 2013 after making a reservation via OpenTable. They remembered that we were celebrating a birthday without us having to remind them which was appreciated. Pros: Top of the Hub Tasting Menu was delicious, especially the scallops and beef au poivre. Waitress was very attentive and polite and didn't rush us through our meal. Ambiance and views made for a very romantic and enjoyable night. The "Level 52" cocktail is amazing! (Level Vodka, Chambord, Splash of Champagne). Free coat check. Clean bathrooms. Cons: The dessert was disappointing, creme brulee and chocolate cake lacked flavor but please note that I am a dessert snob. Window seating cannot be reserved. Hostess was polite but not friendly. No one at the restaurant mentioned the observation deck so we missed that opportunity.
It was the second time that I have ever been to Top Of the Hub. The only reason that I would come back is for the view. The first time I went was with some friends, great view, seated by the window, the food was mediocre. My friend ordered steak, requested medium rare, and it came out overcooked. He had it sent back to the kitchen and it came out overcooked again. What are the chances? especially for a fine dining place like this. My friend and I ordered clam chowder and both thought Campbell Soup did better than that. This time I came here with my family, service was not good. We were seated at a rather quiet corner area by the window, view was gorgeous. I did not like the service. Waiter looked angry the whole time, took care of two other tables next to us: frequently checked with them, but checked with us only once the entire time we were dining. If I go there next time and he waits on us, I am going to change tables or even not dine in there.
(2)
Sara S.
Worth it all! especially for a romantic date or something special.. I love it!
(4)
Ximena Sofia B.
Great view and great service. Food ok. Pretty much you pay for the view, not for the food.
(4)
Ashby O.
Very happy to update my last review. I called and spoke with a manager after writing it and he was very nice, understanding and apologetic. He invited us back into the restaurant to correct the situation. I went with three others on a Saturday evening and though it was crowded, service was pretty quick and was much better. All of the cocktails we tried were really great, and even when I requested a specific custom cocktail it was superb. We ate this time, and had a much better experience than many other reviewers seemed to have had. Maybe because we ordered a lot of small plates and no entrees. The manager sent us two appetizers, chicken lollipops (wings..) and calamari. The calamari was seriously awesome. So lightly breaded, tender, and just delicious. The wings were fine, but nothing special. We went on to order clam chowder, which was very good, and the spinach salad, which was excellent. We also tried the crab cake, which was delicious lump crabmeat with little filler; but the salad of olives etc. it was placed on top of was an overpowering and unappropriate match for the dish. The chicken pot pie was warm and comforting, but the broth lacked seasoning. Overall: -the cocktails were amazing and big -the service was much better this time -the food we had was much better than expected, though some dishes did have minor flaws -the view and atmosphere are great I am really looking forward to going back for a cocktail and seeing how things go a third time.
(4)
Laura D.
My boyfriend took me to Top of the Hub for a Tuesday lunch during restaurant week in March. As one could imagine, the view at Top of the Hub was the most memorable aspect of our visit. Not to knock the kitchen right off the bat, but for a restaurant placed so high up over the city, it would need to take spectacular food to be able to give the most lasting impression from our experience. But, alas, the meal just made my fat hurt for the rest of the day. Let's start from the top: We walk in, the hostesses were creepy and uncomfortable; the sunlight hurt my eyes. They sat us at the table overlooking Cambridge. I mean, really, Cambridge? After some hooting and hollering they seated us on the waterfront side and I felt instantly more comfortable. For some reason, that I don't care to ponder, we had about 3 dozen waiters, all shapes, colors, haircuts - you name it. We never saw any of them again more than once. Bizarre. Now let's to get the meat of it. The food was salty, greasy, and hurt my love handles. The first course was tomato soup, with like an herb in the middle. I just wanted one of our waiters to clean it up as soon as they put it down. The initial taste just made me feel queasy. The second course was just a lump of meet. They put, like, a lot of sauce on. The tots made me happy at first, but then I grew to be annoyed with them. They gave me heart burn. For the final course of the restaurant week prie fix menu, we had the most moist, succulent, tender, juicy chocolate cake I could have dreamed of. I just wanted to rub it in between my legs and call the chef, "Daddy". I hope to see you soon my sweet, burning desire. Cheers.
(3)
Michael D.
We (party of 3) went for the Restaurant Week menu, which was $38 pre-tip for a soup, entree, and dessert. The soup and entree (flat iron steak) were both great, but not particularly noteworthy, which was fine. The desserts were amazing! The espresso and chocolate mousse was perfectly sweet and soft and the creme brulee is a good size and as good as any creme brulee can get. The view in the evening is also great if you get a table next to the window. It seems though that most seats are next to the window. Top of the Hub is definitely worth trying once if you can be a little spendy.
(3)
D D.
If I am paying top dollar to eat/ drink here I don't want to put up with your hostesses' shi**y attitude. Our server was great though.
(2)
Ed C.
We went there mainly for the view but were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food and fantastic service. Great experience.
(4)
Kwan Woo K.
The view is fantastic. The food, so so. I did not like that the servers sometimes don't tell you that some of the things they additionally offer are charged. Otherwise, it is a wonderful place to have a dinner with your partner / friend.
(4)
Amanda A.
Come here for a drink and the view. I wouldn't suggest one of their specialty cocktails, considering they aren't really "special". Stick with a basic drink and go somewhere else for dinner. Maybe it's just that every time I have gone and ordered something off their menu I have been very disappointed. The three stars are for the service and what you see when you look out the window.
(3)
Craig R.
Went for a Sunday brunch the other weekend. The ser ice was great and the food was good. I had a very picky teenager with me and she liked everything. It was a great weather day and the view was fantastic. It's a bit pricey but worth the splurge once in awhile.
(4)
Fabrizio G.
Always a classic and surprisingly hip
(4)
Otto T.
I went over last night and everything from view, drinks, food and service was a 5 star, LOVED IT.
(5)
Nick T.
It's hard to give Top of the Hub 5 stars just for doing exactly what they're supposed to be doing. The food's good, and the price is dictated by the location and view. The ambiance is exactly what you'd expect from a restaurant perched atop a Boston skyscraper. If you've never been, Top of the Hub is a great restaurant to book for your anniversary or other special occasion. There's something so memorable about dinner overlooking all of Boston. The food was good, but not all that memorable. I remember being very happy with what I ate, but it wasn't the kind of food that makes you star and circle the place on a map. So now that I've been, there isn't much to bring me back. I am glad I went, though.
(4)
Chappy B.
Went back to TOTH to kick off the summer. Showed up pretty late and the hostess informed us that we would have to spend minimum 24$ a person to be seated, which we were intending on. Top of the Hub isn't exactly a cheap date, I was a little surprised they had to mention that. As the night went on, it all made sense. Great service as usual, great food. FANTASTIC wold class jazz musicians. But the crowd...?? Maybe it was graduation week or a little late in the night but the company was appalling. Drunk 20-somethings EVERYWHERE making out in the lounge. WTF? Last time I checked this place was full of middle aged yuppies with whale belts and great taste. I went to the bathroom an someone had projectile vomited all over the sink area. I left, very confused.
(2)
Al D.
We stopped by on a beautiful sunny early spring day. We all enjoyed our club sandwiches and BLTs. Salads were tasty and fresh. House made chios were great. Good beer and wine offerings. And yes, we loved the amazing city view, especially of Fenway Park on Opening Day. Hostess needs a personality transplant though. Brusque and too cool for school.
(4)
Lynn Y.
Amazing view ofBoston. Located on the 52th floor of the Prudential building. It's better to get a reservation for a drink or dinner
(4)
Dan M.
Okay so when I first moved to Boston, I thought Top of the Hub would be awesome as it's voted one of the most romantic restaurants in the city. As a lot of people have mentioned in yelp, you are really paying for the view. I have eaten there a few times and quite honestly the food was not that good. Do not get me wrong because the food is fine but I think people get swept away with the amazing view of the city that they lose focus on the actual taste of the food. Certain dishes are okay but then others are just forgettable. I am not sure I want to pay high prices for a hit or a complete miss. The ambiance is great and I actually prefer going to the lounge area to have a few drinks listen to the jazz playing. The service is also great which is why im rating this joint a 3 but you can get much better food elsewhere. Definitely a date place that will impress based on the views.
(3)
Stephanie H.
Went to Top of the Hub for a friend's birthday and it was the perfect spot to start the night! Not a long wait for a table (less than 10 minutes) at 5PM on a Saturday night. You can sit at a table without ordering food which is a huge plus. Insanely gorgeous view of Boston and great cocktails. Yes, they are expensive (~$13) but you are paying for view. Cocktails were unique and delicious. We had the fried risotto appetizer which did not disappoint. Great service too.
(4)
Viv B.
First hoity toity place I've ever eaten at really. Was amazing, had an amazing view though I wish we were next to the window. I wonder how you can manage to reserve a table next to it... Anyway, fancy food isn't really for me so I wasn't too keen on the food but it was still a fun experience and the server was great. Though I did really like the spicy lobster soup and the pear tart tatin or whatever it was called. Mmm yummy. EDIT: I had to change a couple things because we had gotten the creme brulee and that was our first time having it so we figured that it being all burnt on the sugar and it being kind of loose in the custard was normal. Turns out that is not the case and our server failed to bring that to our attention. The other desert was great but a little disappointed they didn't let us know. It's a great place for the ambiance and the food that's for sure so I wouldn't shy away if it's your first time.
(3)
Melissa F.
Typical overpriced "tourist trap". The city view may be seen only if dining (we were denied walking up to the window to enjoy the view) and were informed to sit at the bar and order a drink if we wanted to see the view. We continued to order drinks and dessert. The dessert you could tell wasn't fresh. The servers were nice and did a great job engaging in conversation. Pros: View Cons: Expensive low quality food Paying for the view not the food
(3)
Mark A.
Been here more times than I can count, mostly to take my out-of-town friends. Yes, it's very touristy and overpriced. However, you are paying for the ambiance and killer view (and it's worth it). Lunch isn't too overpriced, actually it's priced similar to most high end places in the city, and the view is just a bonus. I would say skip the overpriced dinner and come for lunch. Perfect after a day of shopping at Copley or the Prudential. And the food and service has always been great, these people know what they are doing.
(5)
Rebecca K.
Service and food is still good. We came for lunch and the daytime view is so much prettier than at night, IMHO. Really enjoyed the Grilled Tenderloin of Beef Flat Bread. Horseradish sauch went perfectly with the balsamic-reduced carmalized onions!! I totally recommend eating here for the same amount as admission onto the Skydeck two floors below.
(4)
James A.
So the view is awesome. Other than that the experience was horrible. There were two of us, adults, properly dressed for a night in the city, and they decided to sit us in the family section with crying babies. Seriously? Why would you seat a twosome amongst multiple families? Asked to be reseated and they did accommodate. However after that annoyance, waited 15 minutes and no waiter or bus for water. Noticed that the table around us looked like they had been waiting on their server. Finally asked a passing busser to find our server. He tried but did not find anyone. However there were plenty of workers as walking to be seated you ran into so many. We finally just got up and left. Informed the hostess and the front desk. They asked if anything could be done but at that point wasn't in the mood. So a good place to go and grab a drink and see the view, but continued bad service will only make it a tourist spot that you only go once to.
(1)
Mahina K.
The view is amazing, that's why it's called Top of The Hub. I'm not overly thrilled about the food though. It wasn't like hey I'd pay over $20 for this meal. It was good, but you're paying for your view and location. I been here during the day and at night, both views are spectacular. I had the beef tenderloin flatbread, it was pretty good. Lots of flavor and the beef was tender, but not for the price. I do love that they give you lots of bread, I love anywhere with a good bread plate. I've been here a couple of times, I don't remember what I got the first time but I think it was the chicken plate for dinner. I remember it was decent. I was more impressed with the dessert that said "Happy Birthday, Mahina." Let's face it, my name is not common and could very easily be misspelled which would be bad. Service is impeccable. Everyone is polite, they ask about what type of water you'd like to drink, they're polite and knowledgeable about the menu, and I just appreciate them as waitstaff. You can let them know about you have a special event so they can you know, make you something for an anniversary or birthday.
(3)
Kristen M.
Option A) go to the bar at the top of the hub, get a drink for $13 and enjoy the beautiful view 52 stories up. Option B) go to the observation deck, pay $15, and still watch the beautiful view but 50 stories up. I go with Option A. The blackberry margarita was really good and the view is phenomenal. We were lucky enough to go on a clear sunny day. Although the bartender wasn't overly friendly, he was talkative and helpful. Would we go back? Only if we desperately want to see the view above Boston again...
(3)
Collins F.
Good place to hang out and get a drink with a view. I have not had any food from this restaurant, but they did have very good drinks. The wait staff was attentive and courteous as well.
(4)
Mindy T.
The food and drinks are great! Make a reservation in order to get the seats with a great view.
(5)
Sam N.
If you're going to eat here you have to eat in the dining room not the lounge because there's two different menus. The dining room has way better food. The scallop appetizer is really good but overall the food isn't fantastic but the atmosphere and views of Boston are incredible! I'd recommend coming here at least once on a date and eating, then drinks & dancing in the lounge to the jazz band!
(4)
Minsey L.
This restaurant has an amazing view, but that's kind of all they got going for them... We came here for lunch for two on a Saturday morning. It was quite empty which was nice (or so it seemed... it's a very big restaurant), and we sat on the side overlooking the Charles River. We got the Kobe beef hot dog sliders to start, and I ordered the lobster roll for my entree. The hot dogs certainly looked fancy, and the meat was good. But the bread was surprisingly sweet. Hot dogs aren't meant for sweet buns. I don't think that the flavors mix very well, so this definitely could have been better. My lobster roll was quite disappointing though. It came with waaay too much celery in it. And globs of mayo. It was the worst lobster roll I had. It also came with the same sweet bread as a bun. I ended the meal with a creme brulee, and I think it's pretty hard to mess that one up. This was the most satisfying part of my meal. It was a little on the pricey side. I believe it costed about $40 after tip for my half of the meal. I think I would take away a star if I had paid for my own bill, but since I didn't... I think it's a-okay. It's definitely worth coming to once, because it's the only place you can dine with a view like this.
(3)
Chris R.
So the view was great, we sat down fast because we had a reservation but people just kept invading our space to look at the view. That became annoying; and the staff did very little to stop it. The ambiance was great with the live jazz band and lounge singer. Our food was delicious.
(3)
Oren B.
Ok, this was fun, we had a great time service was great but the food was a 4. I think you should go because the staff & the view make it worth while but they could have better quality meat.
(4)
Sara B.
Just the idea of how high up it was, is AWESOME! sucha pretty view. I was taken there to celebrate my birthday. the entree was ok, the birthday cookies at the end though ROCKED! it was a nice experience because we were there to celebrate. he loved his steak, I was mesmorized by the view. I think i need to go back for a re do!
(3)
Catherine X.
Terrible Service. No one refills my water through my two-hour dining. A simple three-meal restaurant week course took me two hours because the food was served extremely slowly. The food was just ok, not really worth the two-hour wait.
(2)
Crystal F.
While the wine list is extensive and the cocktails and food items are unique, delicious and innovative I was less than impressed. The views were decent but not as spectacular as I was lead to believe I took my dad here for dinner because his favorite place in Vegas is the stratosphere. First our waiter was nonexistent I ordered a martini that took 30 minutes and 3 excuses from the waiter who was nice but after over hearing my dad and I discussing expensive restaurants we'd been to in other places and how the prices here weren't bad he mentioned prices on everything and seemed slightly condescending thinking we had no money for a place like this meanwhile my dad was seriously debating on whether or not to get a $1600 bottle of wine which he decided against after the wait on my drink and the condescension. We also ordered the lobster cake appetizer which he got 2 pieces of shell in and which took another 20 minutes after I got my martini, to come out when we ordered both at the same time (50 minutes in now). 30 minutes after finishing the appetizer our food finally came out. I had the lamb shank and opted for gnocchi instead of mashed potatoes after the waiter inquired whether a couple dollar price difference was an issue or not but the food was delicious and the lamb just fell off the bone. My dad ordered the pork chop which had good flavor but was on the verge of being dry and his potatoes were cold. We wanted to end with coffee for him and a cappuccino for myself, which was the most timely of services we received but not the best in flavor. We walked out full but not impressed and left $15 on a $120 bill 2 hours after sitting down. Ultimately this was a test run to see if I should take my mom and boyfriend there and I'm disappointed to say that I will not be returning unless I'm just there for cocktails at the bar. Get it together Top of the Hub, so much potential in the food that was completely ruined by timing and service. Just for perspective I went to Green Dragon Tavern the night before with a friend and left a $15 tip on $85. So the low tip here was very intentional.
(1)
Duy L.
Stopped by for a drink on a Monday afternoon, Oct 14, 2013. Great view of the entire city! I had a cocktail and a creme brulee, which was nicely done. If I didn't just stuff myself with the lobster roll at Neptune's, I woulda opted for the $24 prix-fixe lunch menu (salad, course, dessert). Looked like a great deal for an awesomely relaxing lunch. I spied a corner where a live band might play in the evenings... I might be back!
(4)
Melanie C.
This place is AMAZING. It was recommended to me by a friend who had dined here before. Great food, great wine, great service and a fantastic view of the city. A great date restaurant. Great ambiance.
(5)
John H.
Word on the street says that this is the MUST experience. And yes, the view of Boston is quite amazing. However, the food served (as part of a meal) is lacking. Portions are small for the price and I found my meal to be bland in both taste and visual presentation. Drinks + Apps + View = Amazing. I can't and won't recommend TOTH as a place to enjoy a great meal. Better to save your money and visit the Capitol Grill or even Morton's Steak House. Both are better dining options overall.
(2)
Cassy H.
Top of the Hub is THE place is go for a gorgeous view of Boston (see photo for picture taken via my android phone) and the Charles River. Located on the 52nd floor of the Prudential Center, this is probably the highest restaurant in Boston. I imagine this is probably a rather romantic place to take that someone special, especially at night (when they have jazz music-- which I haven't been to before, but hope to check out one night). I'd say 3 stars for the food, but definitely 5 stars for the view... so I averaged it and decided it was around a 4 star, but I'm definitely being generous here.. Tip #1: Request to seat by the window... or even better, a window corner table, b/c that's the best view in my humble opinion. :o) Tip#2: Come here for lunch. It's a lot cheaper.. plus you aren't really here for the food, but for the gorgeous VIEW! Although I must say, I ordered the 3 course pre-fixe lunch menu and it was quite, surprisingly delicious. And it was only $22.. for starter, entree, and dessert. For me, I got the arugual salad, pan seared scallops with sweet potato hash (I must say the scallops were perfectly cooked and seasoned), and creme brulee. Tip#3: Bring your camera, take pictures, be a tourist and be proud of it!
(4)
Maximillian M.
The view is undeniably unbeatable. I only wish the food matched the view. I had a turkey club that was good with crispy bacon, but it was ultimately forgettable and not worthy of the high price (yes, I know, "location surcharge"). The house made chips were a nice touch. The Boston ale was good too. Good service.
(3)
Benedict L.
I went for their restaurant week and was mildly amused by their view but the food was mediocre. The food looked a lil fancier but the taste wasn't phenomenally better. It is a nice date spot but I wouldn't go there again if it was for food.
(3)
Serge N.
Went to this place on feb14th. Had an lovely experience, Food was amazing. Waiter did a good job serving us. today i found out that this place validates parking i did know that when we came up the hostess never told us that this place validates parking i paid $40 to park right under this place.
(5)
Sarah M.
I have been warned to "never trust a man who takes you to Top of the Hub on a first date." I have to say, this is pretty good advice. The reason is that Top of the Hub is a tourist trap and it makes up its lack of food quality with the view. It's overly pretentious and showy and not my cup of tea. However, it is one of those things you need to do at least once so you can know what I'm talking about. So try it once but don't become a regular.
(3)
Jeremy S.
Went here on vacation I really wanted to eat somewhere nice with a great view for out last day on vacation. This place has great food that looks just as good as it tastes :-) and the views are beautiful. My partner and I had ordered the three course lunch and a shrimp tempura. Everything was great
(4)
Danan R.
Our reunion event was held on the Skywalk on the 50th floor, with a self-serve buffet spread. The sauteed duck and lobster fajjitas were amazing! I actually went back for thirds. Definitely try the duck - it was tender, juicy, and incredibly flavorful. The shrimp and penne ala vodka was okay, as were the hotdogs and kobe sliders. The canapes were the standard coconut chicken skewers (we did like the sweet dipping sauce a lot) and the bacon-wrapped scallops, but the desserts were amazing. The petit fours were beautiful and deliciously sweet, as were the pistachio crusted truffles. The chocolate-covered strawberries were also immense and very sweet. I did have to ask for cream for the coffee, though. The view of Boston was breath-taking and and the ambiance was beautiful and perfect for an evening with old classmates. Transportation via the T or car is very easy, as well, since it's in the Prudential Ctr.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Garage Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Holly C.
One ot their employees there was definitely racist. I went there yesterday with a party of friends. There was one black guy, one asian girl amongst the party of 5. The only reason why I think we were treated the way we were, and I can't imagine any other reason was unfortunately the race card. We had come around 10 pm and were told to come back at 11.30 pm. Then we were told to wait for 15 minutes for EITHER bar or table service when we asked for table. Then a nicely dressed waspy couple sauntered by us and were ushered in immediately. So our black friend asks why the couple was ushered in straight away in his enthusiastic but polite manner and the hostess says "Its none of your business." My boyfriend comes up and says, "We understand if they were vips, but you should not talk to him that way and you should be open about it". And the hostess says, "I don't own you an explanation". At this point we are shocked at the service "even my local vietnamese restaurant serves us better" and ask for the manager. The hostess tells him we are drunken bums or some sort and we tell him what just happened. The manager says "I'm sorry I can't serve you tonight". So...sober ivy educated doctors, accountants and investment bankers come to have a good time and this is what happens? There's no reason for this. The night was saved by another hostess who saw what was happening and gave us a table and sweet talked us into calming down. But frankly, I don't see the reason for this highly inappropriate treatment. There was no forthcoming apology from the manager. And our night was ruined for awhile. The restaurant unfortunately hires people that either judge their guests on the color of their skin or the clothes they wear (though we were all dressed fine). You make your own conclusions.
(1)Juliann R.
It was meant to be a very special evening out. Our last mother/son evening to out before he turned 18. With an eye usually on a tight budget, this was a night to splurge- to play grown-ups, go into town, dine with elegance, and taste cuisine that would normally be beyond our usual fair. We should have heeded the omen of the clouds. Somehow, we thought we would be above them. We weren't. The night was so overcast we could not see the Prudential from the Pike.. strike one- should have switched course right then and there. We chose to press on thinking at least the food will be a treat. When we entered the atmosphere was lovely- relaxed, live mellow jazz playing, perfect lighting. They took our coats away to the coat check, and the maitre'd was kind when she asked my son to remove his hat. We are foodies by nature, but its rare we dress up ;-) As it was overcast we could not see the lovely Boston lightscape below.. in fact the clouds were so thick the glass showed only grey, as though we were in a silvery basement- It would have been a plus for the hostess to work with this weather/view handicap and seat us facing INTO the dining room rather than at a drab shiny wall as is likely their usually wise habit. ( no points off for them, we own the fact that we chose to dine there on such a rediculous night) Our waiter was sublime. Handsome, African sounding accent, authentically polite with an easeful manner - he knew his wines, and kindly offered me the opportunity to sample a few to choose the right one for my meal. He asked if we were celebrating anything- and bouyeed our spirits with a meaningful congratulations toward my son's birthday. We delighted in a special little sample of the chef's muscle soup-- a sweet little unexpected treat brought out by another waiter compliment of the chef. It was a SUCH a delight in fact that our expectations for the meal ahead were affirmed. So we thought. The beat salad, spinach salad, watery clam chowder were SO mediocre, honestly I thought I was eating at Applebees- over salted, under flavoured, very generic, and overpriced for the fair. Simple dishes can and ought still be delightful. I chose not to order an Entree as a result.. My son ordered his favourite- lamb. It too was awkwardly presented with bland mashed potatoes and some unmemorable veg. He ate only a few bites. and asked for the check. We took it home and re-appropriated the left over into another dish.. not about to waste the cash we spent, but it really needed doctoring. eh. We were so bummed out by the meal we did not stay for desert- can't say what we missed. So-- For service, very very high marks- worthy of its reputation for fine dining and why this has any stars at all. Low stars for being way too overpriced for the actual meal served. For being made to feel special when dining out is a rate treat-- also many thumbs up. For the actual Food- no stars. really- go to 99, chili's, applebees, etc.. and pay less... unless the actual chef who was making the sweet muscle soup is on duty.. THAT was increadible. And DON't be foolish, as we were, and go to the Top of the Hub on a cloudy night.. save it for another night and come back for the wine.
(2)Sheila D.
Top of the Hub is TOP on my list! My husband took me to Boston for mothers day, and it was a great memorable place to take me for brunch. First off, our table was to die for! The view was absolutely breath taking, it made me want to move to Boston (which by the way is a great town!). The service was fabulous, the food was delicious. The only thing I did get discouraged about was that they were insistant on taking my 6 month old daughters stroller away when she could not sit up on her own yet on a high chair!! They didn't want the high chair b/c it was a "eye sore" I did like the fact that we got complementary ticket to go to the floor above us to do a tour of the city. So I would assume that this is the place to be if you are from out of town.
(4)Mrs. R.
I have not eaten a full meal here for years but the place has become a monthly ritual. My friends love meeting here for cocktails and light bites when they get into town. You can't beat the view late afternoon or evening and they have delightful small bites so you won't get too tipsy before dinner. The drinks are very reasonable and they serve up one of my favorite New Zealand white wines. You have to try the Chicken Lollipops and Baby Back Ribs. Great smooth jazz in case your looking for a romantic place to hang out after dinner. I have rediscovered Top of the Hub which is a great memory from my childhood. I thought it was a place where the old crowd hung out which is partially true but it's more so where the successful trendy Beantown people gather. But I guess I'm also part if that old crowd now! Great service, small bites, booze and music.
(4)Katie V.
I went here for lunch and thought for the view and the food quality, it was worth it. I've heard that the dinner menu is pretty pricey, but lunch was not too bad. And it is the best view of Boston, which is part of what you're paying for. I had a lobster roll, which was very very good. Granted, it's hard to fuck up fresh lobster, mayo and a buttery roll, but it was worth $22 for the amount of lobster in the roll. The yuca fries were a surprising and delicious accommodation-- not as greasy as real fries, but very tasty. My mom got the mussels and for $15, it was a huge portion and the mussels were juicy and big. This is not a place I'd casually visit -- I only went because I had family in town and wanted to impress them with the view. I was expecting the food to be mediocre, but it was good. I'd give it 3.5 stars if I could. I guess the only reason I'm hesitant to give them 4 is that the lunch menu is kind of limited. Sandwiches, basically. So nothing super innovative. I think they make most of their $$ on dinner and focus on that.
(3)Eli E.
Came here for Valentine's day a couple years back. It had a great view and good ambiance. Waiters were on point. Knew exactly when to drop by and didn't unnecessarily interrupt us. The food.. well, it didn't cut it and was overpriced for the holiday. Came back for restaurant week one year for lunch and the food was actually better this time around. Maybe it was the price tag that justified it? Either way, you should give this a try.
(4)Erin C.
If anything, this place could get an excellent rating just for its view and service. The food is average, but certainly not worth the prices. However, the service and view is really what you are paying for. They have live jazz every night so I would love to return for drinks in the lounge!
(3)Ryan K.
I went with three friends late on a Thursday night. We had appetizers, salad/soup, and dessert. We decided to eat in the lounge because we felt like there was more flexibility. The lounge is basically a dining room with a view facing south in Boston, whereas the dining room faces north towards Cambridge (Charles river view). The lounge was great. It was surprisingly empty but with live jazz music and a waiter all to ourselves who was pretty good about knowing when to serve and when to leave us alone, we were able to basically order a bunch of stuff a la carte. Everything was fresh, from the chicken on the salad to the cookies we had as dessert. Honestly, the fresh-baked cookies seem juvenile but they're damn good. I mean okay, you don't go to Top of the Hub for the food. It's not the best in Boston, but the view, classiness and service more than make up for the less-than-perfect (but still very, very good) food. I feel like for a bunch of college students, we got pretty good service because we 1)dressed up pretty nicely (suits and dresses), 2) ordered drinks and stuff. I tipped pretty well at the end. I don't know about the dining room because I feel like for the price increase, the food should be significantly better, but for a classy hang-out, the lounge was more than enough. Great evening.
(5)Aia Y.
Was there many times just for the view the food is not good at all! The serves is good :)
(3)Flora B.
Top of the Hub: check! Awesome views... got a table at the window... it was a bit chilly (right next to a wrap around vent) but worth it to be able to see the city bustling down below. Our waitress was friendly and attentive, but come on, Top of the Hub -- diet coke refills should come for free :( I enjoyed my dinner -- salad, steak, fries, and FRESHLY BAKED CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES!!! Also I liked the live jazz trio in the lounge. Nice touch!
(4)Anna L.
The ambiance, service, and view at Top of the Hub are all spectacular. The food and drinks? Pretty darn good too! Recently, my Father came to visit me from Washington state and I took him to Top of the Hub for an early dinner so he could take some pictures of the city. The prixe fixe menu choices were great. I would definitely recommend all of the dishes I got: App: Lobster soup w/coconut milk Entree: Seared scallops Dessert: Creme Brulee The manager on shift was even nice enough to walk us to the Skywalk Observatory after dinner so we could get in for free. Overall, I had a great experience and I know my Dad definitely did too!
(5)Alan B.
I'm not sure I understand how anybody can rate this less than five stars. It's the highest place in Boston you can eat, and you can go whenever you want. Even if they serve week old pretzels for $10 a bowl, you won't get that experience anywhere else. But still, let's talk about what's good about them. First, you can get beer (and good, seasonal beer) for $5 a pint. That's right, I went after work with a few friends and enjoyed a pint of Hacker Pschorr for $5. 907 feet in the air. Yes, the menu is pricey, but there are some great deals on it as well. I had the BLT, which was on incredible bread that melted in your mouth, and fresh, homemade potato chips that had some sort of garlic-romano taste to them. That was $13. For the best view in Boston, I'll gladly pay $3 more than what I pay at a bar three football fields below me.
(5)Tina D.
I've been here once before and really enjoyed it so I decided to book our Company Holiday Party here. Pros: The Sales and Catering Manager, Meaghan, was incredibly nice and helpful through the whole process. I was able to reserve the Fenway room and part of the lounge (for a room fee of $500, yikes, but totally worth it) for a group of 30 people. We were also able to estimate our attendance and give a final count 3 days in advance. By only offering beer and wine, we avoided the additional bar tender fee, and still had a very nice person serving the drinks from behind a table. The staff was polite and helpful throughout the night and we were able to do a gift exchange and have a toys for tots donation table. A live band began playing pleasant, but not too loud, music at 8:30... oh, and of course the view was amazing! Cons: By not having a traditional bar set-up, or perhaps just to make us drink more, I was not able to easily receive a status of how many beverages we had consumed throughout the night. Also, the price per person for a reception menu is $45 (no drinks included). This includes a stationary display (very small cheese and cracker plate) and 5 selections for butlered hor d'oeurves at 72 pieces each (we had Figs with Gorgonzola, Spring Rolls, Coconut Chicken, Asparagus wrapped in proscuitto, and scallops wrapped in bacon). This is their pre-set menu, and was no where near enough food for a cocktail reception. While the food was good, there were very small pieces and it all went quickly leaving people asking for more. Being that this is a pre-set menu and is charged per person, I did not think I'd have to worry about having enough food to everyone. Also, there are a few hidden fees to be aware of. The administrative fee ($200 for us) takes care of set-up break-down after the party and even though gratuity is included, that line is very small on the receipt and there is a larger space for additional tip. They validate parking, but it is still $12 in the Prudential Center lot. I would love to have another event here, but due to the fact that I had to combine two months budget to pay for the drink tab and room rental fee, that likely will not happen unless it's another Holiday party. Overall, If you can afford it, it's a very nice venue and I think it's worth the hastle.
(4)cosette h.
Oh my! Fantastic experience. The waiter was so attentive that my water glass was never half empty/half full. I went for a friend's birthday and the night could not have been more memorable. The strawberry basil lemonade is my new favorite cocktail. Muddled like a Mojito, this drink is savory and sweet, with a tangy zing. ($12) I would have never ordered this drink if it were not for the waiter's recommendation. I recommend the 3-Course Prix Fixe dinner for $38. High quality food served hot and in a timely manor. With my steak, I paired a wine, suggested again by the excellent waiter. When dessert came, the waiter had put a candle in the cookie tray (dessert for the prix fixe) and the jazz band began to play "Happy Birthday" I have been waiting since to moment we left to return to the Top of the Hub. *note, the view is great, but the best part is atmosphere inside this gem
(5)Stephanie J.
I lived in Boston for 2 years, and had never been here. After coming up to visit, my former roommates and I decided on our standard 'take a walk up Boylston' Saturday afternoon routine. Except once we all met up in the Pru, we realized it was just a little too cold to enjoy the walk. So what can we do? Drinks at Top of the Hub? Why not? The view is unsurpassed. It's true. After we chose a table for drinks instead of the bar, we were seated in an empty corner overlooking Fenway (where we used to live/they currently live), so we spent a long time enjoying the view and noticing just how far we could see. We each had two drinks each - I had the Berry Bubbly martin - really tasty, and the Belvedere Cosmopolitan - good, not as good as my first drink, though. We also split the calamari - we had originally ordered one plate, and it was so good, we ordered another - so tender, and the sauce was perfection. We had been to Restaurant Week lunch at Atlantic Fish Co. the day before, and had split an appetizer of calamari there - this blew AFC's away. The service was also very good. I would definitely go back for drinks and to enjoy the view - and for the calamari.
(4)Cindy W.
I've been here twice and I have to say, I'm really happy that they always put us by the window with a beautiful view. The food is delish, service is great. The wine selection isn't as great as other fine dining places, but it was still good wine nonetheless. I love that you have the option to sit at the bar and socialize with a drink. Though, the prices for the drinks are a little pricey.
(4)Shannon R.
First time---I took my partner for her birthday- It was a Thursday evening, we had a seat by the window- nice ambiance-simply gorgeous views. Scallops for an appetizer (two for $16)- Although they were insanely delicious they were on the smaller/medium size. My entree was the swordfish (over a barley type pasta), it was perfectly cooked and literally melted in my mouth. The server was delightful, she wasn't pushy or intrusive and had good "table readability" - she did offer us a taste of the most expensive wine by the glass ($23 a glass) and it was truly amazing (however when I looked it up it was a $38 bottle-but the fact that I actually looked it up afterward speaks volumes). My girlfriend ordered the salmon - she devoured every bite :) Overall it was a wonderful experience, I'd recommend it.
(4)Sara M.
If you want to enjoy this place, once piece of advice: Come for lunch during restaurant week. I did that once and it is amazing. You can enjoy the beautiful view, upscale ambiance, and delicious food for such a steal. It is much more calm than it normally is, which means the service is much more personal. For example, the afternoon I went I happened to order two bottles of wine (one after the other) that the restaurant was out of. The third time the waiter came back to the table, he brought the sommelier with a free bottle of wine. Classy, huh? If you go to Top of the Hub for dinner any other time of the year, you will probably be underwhelmed. It is crowded, you have to luck out to get a seat-with-a-view, and the food is not *that* great. It will probably not be worth whatever it costs you. Also, beware that jeans are NOT allowed... and the hostess will check to make sure you are not wearing them before she seats you.
(3)Ruby O.
They don't let you walk around the restaurant and you can't see the view from the bar. I think there are better bars in Boston. I went there for the view but I wasn't allowed to see it.
(3)M C.
Went during Christmas time, before going to see the Boston Pops. Wonderful experience. Amazing views like nothing I had ever seen. It truly captures Boston, and will be the best view of Boston you can possibly see, while eating an amazing meal! When I went, I was dressed very fancy along with my family, black pants a fancy top and men in blazers, chinos ...what not. However this does not mean the dress code is like that. I just so happened to be dressed for an event. Many women had on fancy jeans, but it is by no means on the casual side. Its very upscale and pricey, but the food is exceptional and the manager was very accommodating. Would love to go back again, very nice experience. Atmosphere is lovely and bathrooms are exceptionally nice and clean
(5)Princess M.
We had Sunday brunch here and it was surprisingly good! I always thought this place was too touristy. But we surprisingly enjoyed our food and the atmosphere. It was quiet the Sunday we were there. There was a live jazz pianist and saxophonist also, which was really awesome. Brunch is a $35 prix-fix. It included a tiny yogurt parfait w berries, a choice of appetizer, entree and dessert. We were stuffed at the end of it. The smoked salmon appetizer was great. The short rib entree was very flavorful. I also really enjoyed the key lime tart and the creme brulee they offered for dessert. View of course can't get better than this. Definitely a good pick for out-of-towners or if you are looking for some place special for a leisurely brunch!
(4)Florina K.
The best atmosphere ever the food is okay. But the most romantic place ever if you get window seating:)
(4)Hannah L.
i came here for drinks on a sunday, so i didn't actually get to eat the food...it looked good though. with live jazz playing and an amazing view of boston from up high, it is probably a really romantic dinner spot. the drinks were expensive but delicious. it was classy in there and i definitely was wearing a syracuse t-shirt...whoops! oh well. the bar was really full and the bartenders seemed cranky/stressed so we hung out by the jazz corner and moseyed around. if you have some cash hanging out, i would def say come here for a nice dinner date. jazz and views = kisses!
(4)Henrietta H.
My boyfriend and I each tried the prix fixe meal paired with wines. It was absolutely beautiful. Gorgeous views, attentive service, exquisite food and wine. I had veal with gnocchi and creme brulee for dessert, it was one of my most memorable dining experiences.
(5)Milee S.
Two words: THE VIEW! Amazing, on a clear night, views of Boston. I hold the Hub especially near and dear to my heart because it was where my boyfriend and I went on our first date. I had a great bottle of chardonnay there, and there was some incredible jazz music playing while we got to know each other. I didn't think the service was overbearing, and our waiter had some good suggestions on wines. I plan on going back this weekend, hopefully for some dessert! But seriously, the view can't be beat!
(5)Jillian Y.
Food rating: 5 stars View rating: 3 stars Decor rating: 2 stars Service rating: 5 stars I'll start with the negative - despite it being lunch at 1:30 and relatively empty, the hostess seated us away from the window. Annoying. Oh well, at least the lounge was emptyish and we could peek out the windows there. The decor is hideous - though the bar is pretty, I'd expect so much more from a place with such fantastic food - the white tablecloth didn't really match the faux-retro lighting and tacky walls. Oh well. Perhaps we got lucky, but our server was perfect - no hovering, very kind, excellent suggestions. He even suggested the perfect wine pairing for my main course (seriously perfect). Saving the best for last, the food was EXQUISITE! It was Restaurant Week, so I did the prix-fixe lunch (though the server noted that their prix-fixe lunch is ALWAYS $20) - delectable chilled strawberry-rhubarb soup (which yes, is basically thick juice), scallops with corn polenta (so flavorful! I'm still dreaming of the herbs they used), and for dessert, a tasty - and quite large - creme brulee. I think the view probably is better at night and I plan to come back for apps, drinks, and some lounge music soon.
(4)Serena H.
For three years, I only heard about this place and never went. And then in one summer, I went half a dozen times. It's stupid. The breathtaking view is cool the first time. The people that frequent here repeatedly are stupid. The waitress is stupid. The waiter is slightly less stupid. The Cobb salad looks like it came from a salad bar from Cambridgeside. The food makes you feel stupid.
(1)Aditi R.
I'm such a sucker for views. The worst of food/company can be tolerable if I have a view to distract me. And when the food and company is good WITH great views like Top of the Hub has, then it's just a great time all in all. I love this place. I have a lot of friends come to town and this is a staple for me to take them to. The drinks are great (give the green tea mojito a go!), the bartenders are always nice and cordial, the jazz band is a great touch, and the appetizers at the bar are phenomenal. Basically, great all in all. If you've never given it a try, then definitely do so. And if you have, then go there again :)
(4)Bea M.
It's summer vacation and all I wanted to do was bring my kids up there for the view and dessert, but it didn't happen because the manager on duty on 6/29 was awful. There is a 25 dollar food min for dessert for each adult, which is fine for me, but to charge my 12 year old is a little ridiculous. So it would have been $75 for 30mins for a piece of cake!!! Very bad customer service.
(1)stephanie c.
Gorgeous view...morning and evening. Live Jazz. Good wine. What else is there to say? The chocolate warm cake dessert is delicious. I still have yet to try a meal here...I hear the food is just soso. but I'd come just for jazz, wine, and view. It's definitely relaxing after a stressful week.
(5)C S.
I'm being an obnoxious Yelper here - if the entrees were cheaper, I would've given three stars, for adequate food. But everything was definitely overpriced - I've enjoyed much tastier dishes of similar quality for much less. The view is great, but this is a food review, so, two stars.
(2)Kay C.
The view is undoubtedly fantastic. Pan Seared Atlantic Salmon and Crème Brûlée are my favor. Crème Brûlée is incredibly delicious. must try!
(4)Rebecca S.
Dig if you will the picture of a table for two by a window looking out onto ... nothing. A thick wall of swirling white. I pretended we were having drinks on the Hindenburg (prior to landing). So yes, we had drinks and, despite the late hour, a couple of appetizers. The reuben eggrolls were satisfyingly flavorful, with a crispy exterior and just the right amount of cheese, sauerkraut, and pastrami within. The "chicken lollipops" (I was hoping they would be something like tsukune; in fact they were chicken wings in a bland soy-ginger glaze) were not so tasty. But we really weren't there for the food, but to relax and chat over drinks in a lovely setting. There was a nice jazz quartet, and after an hour or so the fog lifted a bit and the lights of the city twinkled below. A perfect place to while away a few hours in good company.
(3)Annie K.
Go for the view, which is probably the best in Boston. The food is okay. Drinks aren't as expensive as one would think, and they are pretty tasty, so I would stick to that. My family has had a couple private parties here, which is relatively affordable and the service is excellent, but again, the food is nothing to write home about.
(4)Sanhita C.
Stick to drinks and dessert. DO NOT let the company you keep and the view dazzle you into thinking that your dinner was good. Because it wasn't. Trust me. It was shitty. (Why haven't they changed their chef/menu in the past bazillion years?)
(2)Em G.
I will start by saying that you cannot beat the ambience that Top of the Hub offers. However, do not eat dinner here. It is overpriced and the food is terrible. I ordered the steak and all that came on the plate with it was a small, miniscule portion of mashed potatoes. No bread or salad came for the entree. The steak was not flavorful. I asked for a side of spinach, and they charged me an extra $6. If you want to experience the atmosphere, simply go to the bar and order a martini. It's the best use of your money.
(2)Vassiliki K.
You don't visit Top of the Hub for the food.. At least I don't.. The reason one goes to the Top of the Hub is for the view which on a clear day is amazing, and on a cloudy one can be interesting as you realize how high up you really are and it feels like dining in the clouds. I always bring friends that are visiting Boston from out of town here for lunch, as it is a fun place to get an idea of Boston's geography, especially since the John Hancock Observation deck is now closed to the public. However, I find that the food itself can be hit or miss so that is just something to be aware of.
(3)Grace H.
As my friend warned me, the food was not stellar. Bread was mediocore. Only offered two options of white and some sort of loaded grain/fruit blend. I work at Land O'Lakes so I can recognize good butter. The butter here had poor spreadibility. Clam chowder tasted kind of diluted and the spicy lobster bisque wasn't really that spicy. Lobster was ok. The crab stuffing was kind of weird. I would have rather had plain boiled lobster. I did however enjoy the live jazz music. The Boston skyline view was breathtaking. Definitely worth a try for the ambiance.
(3)Stebs S.
First off, let me begin this review by saying that this is the first time I have ever splurged on dinner so my review may be a bit bias to foodies reading - keep that in mind. _________________________ Hands down the best service I have ever had! Our waiter had EVERYTHING on lock. He knew so much about every wine pairing, was very attentive but not remotely overbearing, and kept our table perfectly in line throughout every course. I had read a review about the service being a bit weak so I was on the look out for it but from the hostess to the waiters, bartenders and chefs walking around everyone was incredibly nice and extremely hospitable. The food was wonderful! Perhaps not a foodies paradise as the dishes seemed on the rather traditional side, but for someone like me it was just right. The lobster soup was absolutely delicious, the veal sirloin sat in a bed of rice and sauce that was scrumptious, and the creme brulé was to DIE for. I suggest the Prix Fixe with wine pairings. The view was the best in Boston, the mix of contemporary and modern jazz and classical echoing from the live band in the lounge area was beautiful and the lighting was just right. I highly recommend this place for any occasion; fancy enough for your grandfather, refined enough for your mother, and hip enough for you.
(5)Jeff M.
Top of the Hub in Boston reminds me of The Signature Room in Chicago. You go for the view. The view is outstanding. If the view wasn't a factor, I don't know if I would necessarily go here to eat. The food is good but it wouldn't be the first place I'd think of if I was hungry. However, with the gorgeous and obstructed view, the fact you can get decent food is actually a plus for the overall experience.
(4)Michael B.
Everything was excellent except the service. Greeted with an Eye-Roll from our server, wine was never poured and he was non existent. Overheard other servers mentioning specials... but we weren't told about them. Ordered a lot, enjoyed the meal and the view but the tip definitely reflected the service.
(3)Maria C.
The views are outstanding, and the live jazz band is awesome!! I had the Boston creme pie...it was delicious. You must visit the top of the hub!
(5)Alex G.
Very rude, when asked to be seated the host took a Long time "looking" for a table and we were told to wait outside the door, then when we grew tired of waiting and said we were leaving the host had the audacity to say "Okay, good." Such rude service, the view is gorgeous but not worth made feeling like a second class citizen.
(1)Michelle Åš.
Great views, overrated food. Steak was tasteless and chewy. Clam chowder was greasy. The only part of my meal is recommend was the tar tar - but even for that item there wasn't a good chip to fish ratio (rookie mistake). However - the service was really great so no complaints there.
(2)Julia G.
After three experiences here, my best advice is not to come to the Top of the Hub hungry because you will not be satisfied. Food wise, this place is a one-star (if that). View wise, this place is 5+ stars. I'll start with the pros... Great atmosphere, especially with the live classical music. Absolutely stunning views, specially at night. The service is good, depending on which wait staff is assigned to your table. The first time I ate here, the service was awful (as in waiting 20 min for my waitress to come back so I could order a drink -- and by then I needed double the amount of alcohol). The second and third time, I had great service. There is a spending requirement of $24 per person but that wasn't an issue, as I expected it. Okay, now to the food. I rarely say this when it comes to food, but it's awful here. I guess one word that would summarize the food is bland. It just had no taste, no flavor really. I've had everything from pasta to Filet Mignon here and none of the food deserves more than one star. For example, to compare their pasta to Chef Boyardee would be unfair -- to Chef Boyardee because it actually has flavor. Nevertheless, despite eating food that tasted as though it was from an expired can I will be back. Why? Because the view is absolutely captivating. However, my advice is to eat before you come. Instead, come to the Top of the Hub for drinks and a gorgeous view.
(3)Elaine Y.
Tried the chicken spaghetti and clam chowder, not so great. But the view of Boston is spectacular!
(3)Sravan M.
We have been there in over marriage anniversary, and my wife really loved the place. It has the stunning Downtown view. And even more awesome food. Do take the advice from the serving people they would recommend the food which you might like. We got $16 parking as a discount if you show them that you visited top of the hub. I would recommend to be there at night as you can enjoy the boston view better combined with delicious food and can take some nice pics. They don't take a lot of time serve either so that's a good thing to. But yes it's a bit expensive though to have a dinner for 2, but again it's worth the visit.
(4)Cui-Lyn H.
Good, if you're willing to pay for the view. Service was good, very attentive, took our special requests and delivered without any complaint from my side which is increasingly rare nowadays. Definitely a great way to take in Boston from above, but the food was nothing to rave about. If you took the view away from the experience, you'd be left with a marginally above average restaurant at a steep price point. The whole atmosphere felt extremely commercial. I felt like our entire meal was rushed, trying to get us in and out as fast as possible, to cater to the small group that was forming at the door. Whilst I'm not one to get particular about presentation, I expected more at that price point. We ordered the arugula salad, which although is a literal pile of leaves and crumbles of gorgonzola, it would've been nice to see a little bit of effort put into its presentation. I ordered the fra diavola which turned out to be glaringly overcooked - and that's easily avoidable. The food might as well have come from some mass-producing chain establishment. Whilst it wasn't bad, per se, I just would have wanted something of a higher quality.
(3)Matthew C.
Don't know what the food is like because we never got ours. After waiting 7 minutes, our waiter finally took our drink order, not before serving tables seated after us. We were stopping for coffee and dessert, so placed our cake order at the same time. Eventually we got our water. Then an excuse that a new coffee pot had to be brewed came with empty coffee cups. Another 10 minutes. No coffee. No cake. When we finally got the coffee, we gave him 5 more minutes. With the cake still nowhere in site, we asked for the bill, sans cake. We got back talk about how the order was already placed. No apology for the ridiculous wait. We got change from the bartender faster than he took our bill. The best part, right as we were getting up, a waitress brought "our" cake - it was the wrong order. 45 minutes for 2 cups of crappy coffee. Awful service. Great view. Lovely jazz. I'm sure the food is good if you're served.
(1)E F.
Had brunch. Shrimp and grits plate was excellent! Little char on the shrimp and bits of bacon make this plate great! Lobster omelette was bland and lacked flavor. Eggs benedict with Crab was bland and lacked flavor as well. $42 per person for brunch (4 course meal). Most of the meal is mediocre quality. I had high expectations, and unfortunately I was let down. The waiters are nice. The view from each table is great (52nd floor of Prudential Tower). But I think you can find better places on Newbury if you're looking for a higher end dining experience.
(2)Michael C.
I've been to the Top of the Hub on a number of occasions. Sometimes for dinner and other times just for drinks. Dinner here is good but for the price you have to realize a lot of what you are paying is for the view. It is romantic and a definite over the top date spot, great for a special occasion. The best way to experience the Top of the Hub in my opinion is to go up for a cocktail, sit at the bar and enjoy the view. It is cheaper than paying the cover charge for the skywalk one floor up.
(3)Simon P.
Fantastic panoramic views of Boston and a mean Margarita! Friendly helpful staff too... Well worth the trip!
(5)Nadia T.
My boyfriend surprised me with a romantic dinner here just because, and everything was so delicious. He had French onion Soup as an appetizer and it was completely delicious! For dinner he had the Filet Mignon and I had the Braised Lamb Shank which was to die for! For dessert we had the warm chocolate cake which was ooey gooey yum. Unfortunately we went on a cloudy night but we plan to come back when the weather gets better.
(5)Lynn J.
Tourists take to top of the hub for its unmatched views of the entire city. Its five star food does not disappoint, but it's surprisingly affordable prices Are a sweet surprise in expensive Back Bay. The staff is friendly, not snotty, and the food is all made from scratch. Weekends welcome a live jazz Trio for dinner! The deal: glasses of wine start at only $12, which, is typical for this part of Boston. Homemade lunch specialties are $12- $15, And, again, prices are par for the course.
(5)Andrea B.
I came back to Top of the Hub for the first time in four years for a joint birthday celebration for me, my sister, and my mom. My family may be a bit of a hot mess (my sister spilled her mojito, my dad tipped over his chair), but none of that could stop us from having a great experience here the other night. Service was professional despite a few little snafus, food was decent, drinks were good, view was amazing. My parents don't live in the area, so of course, we ended up at a touristy spot, which is what Top of the Hub is. I had a whole long list of other restaurants in mind (200+ businesses bookmarked on Yelp and counting!), but overall I was pleased. We were seated at a table where we could enjoy a gorgeous view of wonderful, beautiful, amazing Boston. While we were deciding what to order, a basket of bread was brought out for the table. It wasn't warm, but it was freshly baked and quite delicious. They've got a decent drink menu, so I couldn't pass that up. Both my mango mojito and my sour apple martini were very tasty. If you're not sure what to start with, I would go with the spicy lobster soup. It is thick, creamy, spicy (as expected), and full of succulent chunks of lobster. It was by far the best part of the meal, and I finished my bowl wishing I could have another, and another, and another... One soup, however, that I would stay away from is the clam chowder. It was watery and without much in way of clams. My entree sadly did not shine as brightly as that amazing soup. I got the veal sirloin, and it was chewy and under-seasoned. Definitely the disappointment of the night. But dessert hit a sugary sweet high note! I got the assortment of freshly baked cookies (yup, all for myself... but I shared!). They came out warm, doughy, and incredible in every way possible. Someone had overheard that we were celebrating my birthday, along with my mother's and sister's, so we each had a candle and "Happy Birthday" written on our plates, which was a nice touch. I mentioned earlier that there were a few little snafus throughout the evening. Hey, it happens! But what I really appreciated was how professionally they were handled. My entree was supposed to come with gnocchi, but I was given polenta instead. I informed my server of this, and was brought a whole bowl of delicious gnocchi in a rich, creamy sauce almost instantly. My sister was brought the wrong dessert, and same deal - she got a replacement within moments. So while the food isn't always stellar, the experience definitely is. Whether you're a tourist or a local, Top of the Hub is definitely a must-try.
(4)Kaye H.
Food was delicious. Service was just ok. The view was pretty good, nothing that had druling. I had the chipotle chicken Cobb salad and my sister and I kept nodding our approval about 15 times throughout the meal. Lunch you don't need a reservation but I recommend it to have a better view. At night, you definitely want a reservation or you'll be waiting awhile. Definitely recommend the place just for the experience.
(4)Rachele R.
Great view but terrible service. Came to the bar for drinks with a large group on a quiet Thursday evening and ended up sitting/standing in the lounge area between the bar and the dining room. Asked to order from the menu and the waiter told me it wasn't an option since I wasn't sitting at a table and walked away. There were TONS of empty tables at this point, but the waiter didn't give me any options -- like, you can sit here and order or sit at the bar and order. Nothing -- he just walked away. That's pretty unacceptable considering the caliber the restaurant aims to be of. A group then wanted to sit down for a meal and the host told us that it was a $24 minimum for each person, excluding the drinks that we had already ordered from the bar. Excuse me? With tip, 2 cocktails I had were over $30. I probably would have ordered more than $24 worth of drinks/food but I was so disgusted by being told this. It was also an extremely slow night -- there were many window-side tables open. All in all, awful service. I won't be back there; the view isn't worth the pretentious attitude from the waitstaff.
(2)Caitlin C.
My boyfriend took me out here for an early Valentine's Day dinner and I was super impressed at first because we just moved to the city and I had no idea this place existed. I mean, how can you beat a superb view of the city at night along with fine dining? Unfortunately, it can be beaten. This isn't to say that the food was terrible - however, it was sub par for what they're shooting for. I'd compare Top of the Hub to the typical cruise dinner you receive in the main dining room each night. There's even a guy to stop by your table every 5 seconds to offer you bread! The appetizers were surprisingly the best part of the meal - we had the crispy duck with goat cheese taquito, which was a strange but surprisingly tasteful combination. I also had the beet salad, which was super fresh. It's really hard to screw up a beet salad but I have to give them kudos for presentation. We also received a chef's compliment of roasted horseradish squash with bacon, which was very tasty. Unfortunately the meal went downhill from there. I ordered the lobster linguine which by the description, reads to me like a cream sauce with fresh tomatoes chopped up on top. It's my fault for assuming that lobster pasta would be in cream sauce (cream accentuates the sweetness of the lobster), so I take the blame on that, but the whole bowl ended up being doused in stewed tomatoes which dragged the whole dish downhill. The saving grace was the amount of lobster - they chopped up a whole tail which I was pleasantly surprised with. My boyfriend's veal was average - nothing to write home about, especially for the price tag. I suppose it was my fault for having high hopes due to the location, but really, if you're going to run a fine dining establishment regardless of location there are key pieces that can't be missing. I feel like Top of the Hub is hiding behind the view.
(3)Jo Y.
I love this place! Mainly for 2 reasons. The ambiance and the lobster soup, which I feel is more of a bisque, but I'm no expert. All I know is it's amazing! I recommend it to all locals as well as folks visiting from out of town that want a great view of the city and a pleasant dining experience. I've been here about a dozen times over the years and have always experienced good service and good food. The menu is somewhat limited, and the portions can be small, but that's because this place is meant for dining, not gorging. If you want to do that, head to the Cheesecake Factory downstairs. I only have 2 cons, which is why I gave it 4 out of 5 stars. 1. You have to spend a minimum of $25 per person to get a window seat in the lounge. I understand that this is Top of the Hub, and that everyone wants to sit by the window, but come on. This place is too classy to be so openly tacky. Implying that I'm not important enough to warrant a window seat because I only want to enjoy the view with one drink is a tad rude. 2. You cannot reserve seats in the lounge. I understand that this is true of most establishments, bars are typically first come first serve, but the lounge is where all the action is. If I want to reserve a seat right by the jazz band on the night of my birthday I feel they should be able to make this happen. Anyways, I left my complaints for the end because I didn't want to deter anyone from making the trip. This place is worth it.
(4)AJ U.
OVER-RATED. Went here for lunch with some co-workers for a nice end-of-year treat. While the environment and the view is spectacular, the food leaves A LOT to be desired. I don't think anybody at our table really enjoyed their meal, unfortunately. To start I got the mussels, which were I had the "shrimp with crab special" which consisted of three tiny shrimp, not even jumbo, stuffed with a bland filling. Monday lunch special seafood = my mistake, should have smelled that a mile away. Anyway, save your time and money and go elsewhere for dinner. Come for a drink or two and jet.
(2)Bangie D.
This place is just all about the view and ambiance. I've been to the lounge a couple of times and enjoyed myself. This time I tried the dinning room and was disappointed. The food is good but just not worth it, you would expect to pay half for the quality of the food. It's really nothing special, very average. The portion sizes are way too large and heavy, I couldn't finish my meal. The dessert was pretty good, even though it was light, it was hard to finish after the giant entree. The service is good but not great. I'm pretty sure that the server didn't really know much about the menu, I asked him to suggest a wine and he seemed lost. The bartender is great though, he made excellent drinks. Stick to the lounge, the dinning room is a rip off.
(3)Lita M.
Very disappointed.. Came here with my boyfriend for my birthday and we asked if we could be seated by the window, they said no problem just 5 minutes.. We sat in the lounge area and waited maybe half hour and we asked why the long wait and the lady felt bad they had forgotten about us. We waited a few more minutes and they apologized again once we were seated. It was okay it happens I guess. The drinks were good but the food was okay. Expected better quality, maybe it was just a bad night to go? But worse calamari I've ever had.. Also my bf had asked them to bring out a bday desert and they completely forgot about that too. I think the waitress overheard me asks my bf what happened and they didn't seem to care to address that problem. Left very disappointed. Only good thing were the drinks and the view. Other than that I wouldn't recommended coming here.
(1)Jan R.
A woman can not help but feel like a princess when she steps out onto the 52nd floor of the prudential tower into this magnificent restaurant. My husband surprised me for our 23rd anniversary with an in readable meal at the top of the hub. We started with fois gras that was out of this world. We also tried the Then we had a tender and juicy steak that was cooked to perfection. My husband had o e of their specialty items the crab Louis. With Jonah crab meat and a special dressing. The other extravagance was a very expensive bottle of wine but it was the best wine I have ever had so it was an experience. When the bil came I knew my husband was going to have a heart attack but when you go to this restaurant you are getting an entire experience. Luxury and top level servers are hard to find now days but we will never forget our beautiful dinner at top the hub!
(5)Annie G.
My boyfriend took me here for our anniversary dinner. I'd been up to the skywalk observatory last month, so I was super excited to spend a few hours over dinner enjoying the nighttime scene. Despite the fact that it'd been dreary all day, the view was amazing! It was fun looking out over Boston, trying to pick out landmarks in the dark. And the service was just lovely. I've been to Gordon Ramsay at the London, and ToTH blew Ramsay's restaurant out of water as far as service goes despite the fact that food quality is comparable. Actually, on second thought, ToTH is more generous with portion sizes. Winning! So on to the actual dining experience. We made the reservation via Open Table and requested a window seat, and I was super psyched that they were able to honor our request. Our server was super nice and the epitome of attentiveness. Our water glasses were never past half full (or empty depending on your perspective), and another server would occasionally walk by with yummy bread. Rosemary focaccia was the bomb. We each opted for the 3-course dinners. Appetizer: spicy lobster soup and braised short ribs. Mmm... every bit of each of these was delicious. I'm a huge fan of coconut milk-based soups, and there were biggish chunks of succulent lobster to boot! And to top it all off, the bowl of soup was quite large. I was semi-filled on just appetizers and bread. This also happened to be the first time I've ever had gnocchi. Not much flavor to them, is there? The short ribs, however, were packed full of flavor. Main: Braised lamb shank and veal (with bone!) sirloin. When the lamb came, I was astounded by how big it was. I've had lamb at nice restaurants before...but they usually leave me wanting more. At ToTH, this was not the case. It was both delicious AND huge. It may sound gross, but the little strips of fat on the lamb were the most heavenly things I've ever tasted. Drool. We asked for the veal to be medium-rare, but it came out more medium-well. Normally, I'd send it back, but it still tasted so good, I didn't feel like I'd been cheated. In retrospect, I think I should have sent it back. You never know. Maybe instead of being merely delicious, it could have been mind-blowingly orgasmic. Dessert: Maple crème brulee and apple cobbler. You can't go wrong with either normally, and this is especially true at ToTH. We almost couldn't finish the crème brulee... there was just so much food provided during this meal. My only complaint about the apple cobbler was that it had raisins, but I'm sure many more people actually enjoy raisins... In the end, we left super happy and content. I couldn't have asked for a better anniversary dinner. It was definitely one of the more expensive dinners I've had in a while, but the wonderful service made this meal a memorable experience.
(5)Caroline H.
OK, yes, the view is amazing. Our group of 6 chose to sit at the bar because of the greater than $24 per person tab requirement for sitting at a table. We got to ToTH at 11pm on a Tuesday night and it was relatively desolate in there and closing in 2 hours. I can understand the policy during more busy hours, it just seemed a little unnecessary when the place was so empty. There was still live jazz going on -- a nice touch -- and the bartender was medium friendly and promptly delivered our drinks. Not unreasonable cocktail (~$12) or wine (~$8) prices and I'm sure if we were sitting more comfortably at a table we probably would have all ordered more than one drink and hit that $24 limit. It just seemed a little off for a place as "classy" as this one to force you to commit to staying for two or more drinks before you even take off your coat. So we didn't. But yes, the view is great.
(3)Kim H.
it makes me super sad to give this awesome place a 2 star ! customer service: excellent !! food: not so much i rather go to fridays or flemins price: very pricey !! atmostphere: great romantic lets get in dept of why i gave this iconic place such a poor rating. for my birthday dinner i decided to go here, mainly for the view. but i decided to have the three course pre fix meal. 60$ per person. my partner and i only took 3 bites out of the appetizer and the entre, and the dessert. it was all not very pleasing for the price. i would of been better off at fridays, or at flemins. i give this place 2 stars because.. our waiter surpirsed me with a "happy birthday" creme brule. he was very nice. he said "you don't eat very much" --- because the food was not good duh!!! my advice to first time people !!! only go and get an appetizer or for dessert.. not worth your money for a whole meal.. :(
(2)Alana L.
I debated between 3 and 4 stars because what I actually want to give is 3 1/2, but the service is kinda slow so I'm rounding down. I came in with a party of 4 on a Monday night around 10 and we were seated promptly at the window. Being a native Bostonian, I avoid touristy places like it's my job, but my boyfriend recently moved to the city from Colorado and has this thing for going to the highest point in any given place, so we went to Top of the Hub so he could satisfy that urge and took some friends along with us. We were dressed casually so mildly worried that we would be turned away, but no one seemed to care that I was in my t-shirt and jeans from work, and waited around for our waiter, who turned up about 10 minutes later. He was nice if appearing to be more interested in serving the table next to us. It wasn't enough to be bothersome, though. We ordered cocktails which struck me as overpriced but were tasty nonetheless. I didn't try my companions' drinks, but mine was the Hendrick's Gin Fizz, which I recommend trying unless you're not a fan of gin. The calamari we shared was actually quite good, one of the better preparations I can recall having. I then had the Valrhona chocolate cake, which was sort of strange in that it would have been disappointing if not for the Valrhona milk chocolate. My companion said the clam chowder was pretty good, and the open-faced salmon sandwich was also tasty if slightly overdone. Very well seasoned, though, and the dill sauce was great. I suppose I have to agree with a previous reviewer in that Top of the Hub would be a three-star establishment if not for the incredible view. It's worth going once for that alone. Also - their food is not especially expensive nor is it especially good (though it's certainly not bad, just middle-of-the-road). We discussed it a bit over our drinks and came to the conclusion that Top of the Hub both relies on its view and reputation as well as makes its money on alcohol. The specialty cocktails are $13-15 apiece, and even a simple vodka cranberry will set you back $10. Where they truly make their money is the $600 bottles of wine and $75-per-serving Macallan 25 year. (Tip: you can get an entire bottle of Macallan 25 year for not too much more than Top of the Hub sells a single snifter for.) In summary: if you're looking for a place that has incredible food, go somewhere else, but if you're looking for the view and are interested in ponying up for wine and liquor, you'll like it here.
(3)Angela L.
The chef should go back and change to sell sweet potatoes. I gave it one star coz the light clam chowder is light enough. But anyway, I still love the side of the main course -- sweet potato:) I would have given a zero star if I could
(1)Lisa B.
I like it up here! I can't comment on the food, but the cocktails have always been refreshing. Laid-back jazz + amazing view = great Friday night!
(4)Hannah D.
Instead of paying the $15 to see the sights from the top of Prudential on the Skywalk, my roommate and I decided to make reservations at the restaurant 2 stories up for when our parents came to town for parents weekend. Couldn't have made a better decision! With reservations for 5:30, we got there just before the sunset and took many, many beautiful pictures of the view and ourselves with it. So. Stunning. As far as food goes, I was a little disappointed at the lack of vegetarian, let alone vegan-izable options, and I'll admit, when our food finally came I was a bit envious of my sister's embarassing-but-delicious buttered noodles order. Instead, I got some kind of vegetable lasagna that was okay, and watched the fish and meat eaters devour their elegantly prepared dishes. The bread though was delicious! And it was all worth it when it was time for desserts! For my birthday, they brought me this beautiful (and unbelievably delicious) crème brulee with a candle in it and "Happy Birthday" written in chocolate cursive around the plate, and we ordered a couple other things to share like a chocolate cake and cookies. Those cookies were so, so good! And fresh and warm... However, the service was really, really slow (even before it got busier) and for whatever reason it seemed like our waiter would completely disappear for 20 minutes at a time. Not cool, sir, not cool. I'm still a fan though, and I'd absolutely go back again just to have more crème brulee and cookies while looking out over this amazing city! And someday maybe even just go there to get drinks with my friends. Seems like a fun 21+ thing to do, right? Someday.
(4)Nicole A.
A group of 4 of us had dinner down on Charles street and decided to have a few more drinks at Top of the Hub. As we were here for a conference, I guess we count as tourists. When I was an undergraduate in the area (over 5 years ago) I heard about TotH and never tried it, being a poor undergraduate. We walked through the Pru mall to the elevators where a security guard wanted to see someone's ID. Fine. Then we took the elevator quickly to the 52nd floor. Now, we weren't exactly fancily dressed. And we had had 2 bottles of wine already, so we may not have been on our best behaviour. I wasn't entirely sure they would let us in, but they did. The hostess explained that we could sit at the bar, but if we wanted to sit at a table by the windows we needed to order at least $24 a person. She clarified that this would be about 2 drinks. We decided this sounded like a challenge worth taking. The views were absolutely amazing. I can't say much about the food - one of us got the creme brulee and said it was very good. Otherwise, we just drank. I was a little let down by their cocktail list. I love classic cocktails - negroni, mahattan, etc - and most of their menu was fairly fruity cocktails. I got a ruby manhattan, which was ok. For the second round, I wanted to go with a bartender's choice. Unfortunately our waiter didn't seem very comfortable with that. I tried to explain the sort of thing I like (he didn't know what a negroni was) with the hope I wouldn't end up with a fruity cocktail. I ended up with something interesting, tasty, and different - I think the waiter called it a tropical manhattan (or something, I was a few drinks into the night by then). If I am in Boston again, especially with other visitors, I will try to go back. I might try to sit at the bar so I can actually talk to the bartended directly, or else I would probably just drink whiskey.
(3)William D.
Overpriced, but one meal in particular was oh-so-good I just had to write a raving review for Top of the Hub... About a month or so back I had the lobster bisque on a date with my girlfriend, and it was literally the best soup I ever had in my life. I highly recommend it to anyone that goes to Top of the Hub. The fact that it's only 1 item deters me from rating Top of the Hub 5 stars (as opposed to 4) as a restaurant, but I will surely go back at some point just to try it again.
(4)Ilya E.
This is a review of their lounge. The lounge experience is identical to the main room, and worth going to, because it does not require reservations. The menu is trimmed down, but the good stuff, such as the garlic fries, and the spicy lobster bisque soup, are still part of it. On a busy saturday night at 8pm, we only waited about 20 minutes, which is outstanding for boston. Other service perks include the legendary boston view and quick coat check. Service: There was some confusion in the beginning, and I did have to wait 10 minutes to be approached by a waitress (I was very cranky-hungry and wanted a snack), but once things got going, it was smooth sailing. Drinks: The capirhinas and the various flavored mojitos were very good, especially the pomagranate mojito I had. Food: This is where I give 5 stars and 1 star at the same time. The garlic fries were delicious and everyone destroyed them quickly. The spicy lobster bisque soup was good enough by itself to come to the restaurant by itself. It is absolutely amazing. Unfortunately what they call a hangar steak, came out absolutely terrible, and I wish I got my money back for it. I SPECIFICALLY requested it be cooked nice juicy red (medium rare-rare), and I specifically said juicy red, so that they would relay this to the chef. However the waitress INSISTED on a clasification, and I picked medium rare. I guess in Top of the Hub, medium rare means grey on the inside, dry, and low quality meat. The meat I received seemed more of a flank steak and was very sub par; a major dissappointment, which fortunately did not take away from other parts of the evening. If they redid their Hangar steak and announced it, I would consider going back again and trying it again. As it stands, I would go back, but I would NOT Order that particular dish.
(3)Christopher S.
Awesome view but you will pay for it. A must due when in Niagara Falls but I wont be doing it again. The food was good but not worth the price. The view on the other hand is worth the price. The restaurant spins as you eat so you have a 360 degree view of the city. Check it out.
(4)Julia H.
The atmosphere is breathtaking and the service is excellent, but the food is ever so disappointing. The haddock entree is terrible. The fish is a strange texture, the broth is salty, the clams were salty. The pork chop entree was only marginally better - very charred and little flavor. Surprisingly, the clam chowder was actually very good. I have to commend our waiter for being extremely polite and attentive - it definitely added to our experience, even if the food was disappointing. Come once for the experience (maybe for drinks and appetizers?), but you probably won't want to come again.
(3)Ellen H.
Four stars is definitely generous - let me start with that. TOTH earns its prided four for (no pun intended) great drinks, live jazz, and the incredible view (duh). It could be awesome if there were more seating for walk-ins. Came here on a weekend (yes) off-night (aka not valentines, etc.) and the bar was PACKED. No reservations (at least for some seats?? it felt like others HAD reservations...) - waiting list only. Bar was full, so we stood for drinks and went to the jazz area. The jazz area is comprised of many handrails around large glass windows that overlook all of Boston & its suburbs, and seating for many dining guests. Allow me to interject by saying if i had made reservations for a weekend night and had waiting in line for said reservations, I would not be happy sitting next to a bunch of listless souls listening to jazz while drinking strong drinks on the edge of a plate of glass overlooking a very -- veeerryyyyyy - high ledge (alcohol + heights anyone?). That aside, I will judge on my own experience. We waited at the bar behind a seated couple -- always a bit awkward -- and got our drinks. Our drinks were well-made - strong but not too strong, worth the price for sure. We hedged our bets lingering around the bar but quickly realized it was a worthless wait. We took our drinks towards the live jazz music -- awesome! -- and hung around leaning on the handrails that surrounded the windows. I felt awkward the whole time but we weren't the only ones so it wasn't SO bad... The fact that I think TOTH still gets 4 stars besides the wait, the weird atmosphere I experienced, and the no-res policy means that their drinks are major. I didn't even try the food. But for $10+ per drink, if you get the bartender we had, you won't be disappointed! I will definitely try TOTH for dinner sometime soon. Stay tuned!
(4)Aboud Y.
Meh
(2)Farrah F.
The star is because it's prettyyy effing pricey here. We also should have asked for a table by the window, but it is a-okay. But it was Thanksgiving and I'd run off to Boston to hang out with my friend because I was too poor to fly across the country to hang out with my family, so this was our celebratory meal of sorts (to celebrate the fact that we actually stopped playing games + watching movies and TV shows to leave the apartment...and Thanksgiving, of course :O ). Between the two of us, we had...the duck confit, acorn butternut squash bisque, slow smoked rib eye, traditional roasted turkey, alsatian salad, cranberry cheese cake, and spicy roasted pear tart in puff pastry. Plus a whole lot of bread. I ate all of mine and sampled a little of everything my friend ordered (he declined my offer to split some of the things i ordered with him :O ), so by the time we were done eating, I was definitely pretty stuffed. The food was pretty fantastic. :] Service was attentive and friendly. The view was definitely awesome, and since this is only going to happen once in my lifetime, it was worth it, despite the price. Just don't tell that to my wallet. ._.
(4)Andrea H.
Once restaurant week rolled around I knew I had to try something exciting, Top of the Hub was on the top of my list. (This was in March, so I'm a bit late with my review) The view was ahhhhmaaazzinggg. I can't do it justice with words. The service was great and the place was very spacious, and very clean. The rest of the menu was what I expected to be (the normal American food you'd expect). I ordered from the restaurant week menu. The carrot soup with goat cheese and bacon was delicious. I believe my entree was the tiger shrimp with sweet basil Parmesan cream. That was also very very good. For dessert, I ordered the creme brulee. Very pretty! Overall it was a very good experience. Our water even comped our drinks after someone had mistakenly charged us for 4 drinks instead of 2. The place is a bit pricey for what I'd consider a place I'd go to again on a whim, but it is definitely a great place to take someone on a nice date or a family dinner.
(5)Ken J.
I have start by saying the food surpassed my expectations. We had the brunch menu, which was the only option. It was a price fixed 4 course meal. Service was slow but it was brunch and this, from my experience, is typical on a Sunday. What upset me was how we were treated as "Second class citizens" because we didn't make a reservation @ 1:15 for a Sunday in a very slow restaurant. Even though the restaurant was half empty and no one waiting, they sat us in the "non city view". The other side of the restaurant had betters views along with more upscale setting and furniture. When I asked about this a server told me they reserved the "good side" side for reservation guests. If I had known I would have called from the elevator because clearly their 1st class guests didn't show up Sunday.
(2)F D.
Even though I frequent this place, no one from the staff gets to know you. That said, whenever I mention a special occasion- they do make the celebrated guests feel special. The view will make up for any mistakes- and these folks don't make many. I really like this place and think that you get a solid performance for "pay for the view" dollars. I never feel ripped off.
(4)Sara C.
my friends and i came here in mid afternoon on a sunday after already having a HUGE lunch @ fenway park so we just came for the view and some drinks. this restaurant is on the 52nd floor of the prudential building....and wow, what an amazing view of the city! even though it was a little cloudy, we were still able to see the whole city and beyond. the restaurant is kinda fancy schmancy......would be a perfect place for a date or something. they have a green tea mojito which is delicious! i cant rate the food since we didnt eat there, but i'll gladly rate the view and drinks 4 stars!
(4)Kate S.
I love Top of the Hub! I've gone a few times and it is great! The food is really good but it is known for it's view..which is gorgeous! I've seen people say that you can't take pictures but I've walked around taken photos there before of the skyline and they didn't have a problem, maybe it depends on the staff at the time? I really just love the whole feel of Top of the Hub it has the feel of a high class restaurant and I just love that! It is expensive but their entres are decorated really nicely and it's a good splurge once and a while! Great for a date or just going before a Sox game (it's a fun pedicab ride from Fenway)
(5)J. Scott P.
I was taken here for my birthday yesterday. It was a surprise from my friend R. I didn't know where were going but once we got to the elevator of the Pru my eyes lit up like diamonds! I have always wanted to eat here and was super excited. The first thing to note is it's 52 floors above ground. The view is like no other save for perhaps the space needle in Seattle. This to me was reason enough to go. We were met by our lovely server, Jana [pronounced yana]. She was pleasant, knowledgeable and accommodating. With the slow lunch crowd it would have been nice to have her more available than she was. That said she was fairly decent. The drink menu was quite impressive. They offer a wide variety of wines and some decadent liquors, some going to $100.00 a shot. We went with plain old water and some diet cokes. I was a bit miffed when we found out after the fact that there weren't free refills on the soft drinks. For what is being charged this should be in my opinion should be a given. The menu for lunch was decent. It wasn't an inspiring selection but it covered all the bases. On retrospect I may have done better with a sandwich offering but I digress. We started off with the Fried Point Judith Calamari which was finished with tomato coulis, banana peppers, and lemon parmesan peppercorn aioli. i make no exaggeration that this was prepared perfectly. The calamari was tender and crispy and the sauces complemented exquisitely. Entree's things went a tad south. R had the Shrimp Spaghettini Arrabiata which was tossed with huge shrimp, basil, braised fennel, chili flakes and tomatoes. It was quite good, I will not lie. I think i was a bit put off that it was dried pasta instead of fresh. Again, price and notoriety makes one expect more. I had the Hanger Steak with garlic fries, port wine onions and bleu cheese butter. The presentation was gorgeous. A nice cone of crispy garlic fries and a stunning steak. The issue with this is they overcooked to to a well done versus the medium I ordered. plus it was touch as leather. I didn't make a fuss because I was enjoying the notion of being at the Top of the Hub, plus being a gift. It tasted great though. Dessert of course not to be missed. We shared the Chocolate Banana Cream tart. This was truly a work of art. It was a rich custard of chocolate and banana with fresh sliced banana and served in a chocolate wonton shell. The issue - the shell was completely inedible. It had no flavor other than unsweetened cocoa and was hard and chewy. The custard was wonderful but the shell completely took away any merit of calling it a tart. A puff pastry shell, a plain pie crust, anything else could have rescued it. In conclusion I might give it another try. It is truly impressive to be frank. The food however I could have obtained nearly anywhere for a much more modest price. The bill ran about $100.00 for the two of us.
(3)Huan z.
Food are good but bit pricey. The most I did I remember is a time I went with one of my ex- girlfriend about 5 years ago, we ordered few drinks, appetizers plus 2 main dishes. The damage is around $120. Great place if you go for a romantic date. You don't feel you are having diner atop of Boston if you are not sit next to the window. When you make reservation for a diner, make sure to ask to sit next to the window. Otherwise You won't get one. If you don't like to spend a lot of money, just order drinks at the bar.
(4)A N.
I went here last night with my boyfriend for our 7 year anniversary. We originally made 5:30 PM reservations (all they had) then the day of I was able to change it to 6:30. We were running late and I called in to let them know - she said they'd honor a reservation up to 20 minutes (which I think is pretty good). We ran even later and got there at 7:15. Ouch - reservation gone. But the hostess was very accommodating and said we could be seated at 8 PM. We got a drink at the bar - which is small but nice. The elevator ride was terrifying!!! I don't love elevators, but this one shakes a little because it goes so fast. I was dizzy when I got out. At least it's a quick ride! The view is incredible no matter where you sit, in my opinion. It's just breathtaking. It's like being in a plane at night during landing for two hours. We sat right at the window (which was a little cold but worth it). Tables didn't seem too close. The lighting is very romantic. People seemed to be dressed in all sorts of outfits - I saw jeans and sweaters, fancy dresses, business casual, suit and tie. We dressed business casual and felt comfortable. Food was good. I think there's better food elsewhere if that's what you're looking for, but for the ambiance and view, the food was good enough. Service was professional but nothing extraordinary. The drink selections were great. All in all I had a great time and I'm happy we chose this place for our special night. If you think it's too touristy - get over yourself like I did and spend a night here :)
(5)Philip E.
Too many rules!!! The door person rudely told my friend to take off the hat. I guess the restaurant didn't give the person the proper speaking training. Waiter was bad at providing service and made the entire evening experience unpleasant
(2)Julie B.
I can't believe I've lived in Boston for 5 years, 5 minutes away from the Pru, and had never been to Top of the Hub. I quickly took advantage of restaurant week and booked a table for me and 5 friends. This restaurant, and the view it provides, is absolutely gorgeous. Not even the harshest of critics could deny that. The service was spot on and our table was ready the second I walked in. 5+ stars for atmosphere, view and service. Now onto the food. First, I'm not sure how I felt about the guy walking around with bread. The bread itself was fine, but it felt a little "family resort-ish" to me. I ordered off the RW menu and chose the chilled potato soup, salmon with pea risotto, and chocolate pound cake. The flavor of the soup was delicious, but it was freezing cold. I know it was meant to be "chilled", but the temperature made it almost slightly difficult to eat. The salmon was great-- flaky but juicy, and the pea risotto was really tasty and filled with little baby shrimp! The pound cake was the real downfall of the meal. It was pretty dry and no one at the table seemed to enjoy it too much. I think it's pretty obvious that you go to Top of the Hub for the view, and maybe a little romance ;) If you happen to get a partially great meal that's just a plus. Still worth it.
(4)sondarya R.
There is very little gap among my favorite places. This restaurant would make in my list when I will have guests with us. This place definitely qualifies to be in my list of recommendations at 4.5. After reading mixed reviews, Today I dared coming to On the top of hub for special occasion, table of nine. We were seated as soon as most of us arrived, We couldn't get seated on the window but not very far in the dinning area as we were larger numbers then they can seat near the window. We were facing The Airport. and the west. It was Sunday brunch. I was actually impressed by the full attention of our server Kara without bothering us even though she was busy attending other tables. We started our meal with Greek Yogurt & Seasonal Fruit Granola Parfait and basket of Chocolate or Strawberries and cheese filled pastries. We were served champagne and was just Okay for $140+ but it was bottle of our selection. We ordered every dish on the menu from Appetizers to main meal to dessert. I ordered crab meat stuffing with shrimp, Smoked salmon on Toasted Flat bread ( came with two pouched eggs with smoked salmon topped with asparagus and artichokes,and on the side home style fries. Espresso cream cake was very indulgent but heavy. I was totally flattered as at the end of the meal I was overstuffed because our portions and quality totally justified the price. Cooked Salmon also looked good. Ruby Red Grapefruit Brûlée (Segmented Grapefruit, Sugar in the Raw) looked good. That would have been on my #2 list. # 3rd on my list would have been Lobster even though Lobster would be my top choice. # 4th Would be Burritos. Pasta was with chicken ,and Cooked Salmon was without any eggs. Loved the potato fries were very nice. We were very relaxed. I would say Service and view were fantastic. We would hope for better seating next time. Meal was great. One should go for atmosphere, experience and the view. *1. Server made sure to ask if we consume Pork 2.Made some adjustment to the meal!
(4)Steve L.
Food is crap. You're paying for the view. But since you know that, why don't you just go to the Skywalk? (Then, when you're hungry, make sure you have a reservation in the South End or something.) A nice view, smooth jazz (cheesy), average food, high prices (for the quality of the dishes).
(1)Jenna H.
Dined here for lunch last Saturday. We did make a reservation as we did not know how busy it would be and got a table at a window - breath taking! For lunch I ordered off of the prix-fixe lunch menu, which included the wedge salad, gnocchi with a cream sauce and mushrooms, and cheesecake for desert. Everything was delicious! For the price of $20.10 I thought it was a great deal. I thought prices were reasonable considering the location, ambiance, food quality, and great service. Our server was knowledgeable on the menu, attentive, and friendly. I would love to come back for some drinks and jazz music.
(5)Bret C.
Absolutely outstanding views. Absolutely rediculous prices. Top of the Hub is just a fantastic place to go- mainly for its location. Prices are equally high- food was very good, but not fantastic. Called ahead a week early for a table near the window and after two confirmation calls, thought I was all set. When we arrived, we weren't seated anywhere the window and it took some work to get them to move us. Everything after that was flawless. People that work here are a little full of themselves it seemed. I think going here for a drink and some jazz music would be better than a full meal! Two and a half stars for dinner, three and a half stars for a place to have a drink.
(2)Beth M.
My husband was nice enough to make reservations here for my 30th bday. He called a week and a half in advance to make reservations. My bday fell on a Saturday night so it worked out well. When we arrived it was very crowded, not surprisingly. Many tourists going up just for drinks and a view. We were greeted rather unenthusiastically and brought to our table a few minutes later. Now, this is where it all went wrong. From the moment we got there the customer service was pretty much nonexistent. Which I found surprising for such a nice place. Then we were seated at literally the smallest table I've ever been at for a dinner. It was right near the entrance to the dining area. The table was right against the wall divider between the room and hallway everyone was walking down. We had one arm against the wall - not comfortable. Super crammed. I looked around and saw other tables with more space. Somehow we got the major shaft. It seemed like the restaurant added a row of tables, farthest from the window just to add more tables to squeeze as much business as they can out of the space. I honestly don't know how 2 entrees and drinks would fit on the table. Now, if we had just gone up for drinks and hadn't made reservations well in advance, I wouldn't complain. But I was shocked with the space and lack of atmosphere. My husband is also 6'3" and this table was extra uncomfortable for him. He politely went up to the hostess to see if they might possibly have another table. We really did want to stay awhile and just felt that space was not appropriate for a special dinner. Well, they had us stand up and wait over by the hostess area. No one really spoke to us. 5 minute went by then 10. I looked at my husband and said 'we can't spend our money here.' The prices are steep - and in my opinion if you're going to ask top dollar your service should match that. We left - no one said anything. We went to The Capital Grille instead. A place we love and a place with always excellent customer service. We learned our lesson with this one. Top of the Hub feels like a tourist trap now. Maybe good for drinks but I wouldn't spend my money on dinner there. Go to Capital Grill instead - if you are celebrating an occasion they roll out the red carpet. We always feel like our business is appreciated.
(1)Romulo R.
I have been here a few times and, while I must say I wasn't blow away, it was nice. I just go to the bar and have a few drink,s the bartenders have been very knowlegeable and give great service. The live jazz band has been nice. But honestly, unless you are really into this kinda of thing, there really are MUCH better places to go to in boston. If you have a thing for high altitude food, sure go check it out so that you can say 'oh yeah I went there once' when you r friends ask about it. I would expect this place to be way more dressy, but apparently people feel that it's ok to dress way casual, and the staff doesn't seem to mind.
(3)K. L.
The food was good, not great. You are basically paying for the view and entertainment. As a visitor for a few business lunches the meal is always hit or miss depending on what you have.
(3)Yb W.
Spectacular and breathtaking views of Boston, especially at night. Obviously, a table by the window shows that to best advantage, so make reservations on weekends to secure a great seat. The cocktail menu is extensive; everything we tried was delicious. The food has a mediocre reputation, but it isn't bad. It just tends to be a little heavy and salty, and not quite cutting edge.
(4)Rebecca K.
Extremely disappointing. First off, walking into the restaurant is a daunting task. Once you walk through the Prudential Center shopping mall, you reach a lobby where you must present identification to a security guard in order to access the elevators that take you to Top of the Hub. I found this process to be very off-putting as I have never in my life had to show my driver's license to enter a restaurant. With respect to the food: The spicy lobster soup tasted fishy, was far too sweet (coconut milk?) and lacked any semblance of spice. The scallops were not bad, but the cannelini beans that they sat atop were practically raw. The pork chop that I ordered was so tough I could barely chew it, and the accompanying mac and cheese was vile; all I could taste was white wine and garlic. The blueberry upside down cake for dessert was dry and the whipped cream had melted which led me to believe that it had been sitting around for quite some time. With respect to the service: Tom, our server, took our order and we didn't see him again until he dropped off the bill (a foodrunner served the dishes). Therefore, we never received offers for drink refills, or were asked how the meal was going. I voiced my concerns to Carlo the manager who promised that if I left my name, he would make sure that I received "exceptional" service the next time I visited. I explained to him that he and his staff should offer exceptional service to all the restaurant's customers, complaints or no complaints. I believe that his comment is indicative of why the restaurant has such poor quality in the first place.
(1)Gokhan U.
The view is absolutely stunning. If you would like to impress an out-of-town visitor with a great Boston view while having some good food, this is the place. I was there with my party on a busy Friday night at 8:30. The service and treatment was acceptable. The waiter can disappear for minutes at a time, but he was courteous and helpful. The sommelier was also very nice. I had a bisque soup and braised lamb shank, which were delicious. Everyone else was also happy with their choices. The portion of shank was really generous. They offer nice prix-fixe tasting or chefs menus, optionally paired with wines. Later at night on the bar side of the restaurant, there is live music. Although it was a crowded night, we did not feel rushed. Again, the experience is heavily carried by the view, so if you had the same food somewhere at the same prices, you might have an issue. I found the prices commensurate with the location, ambience and food (I felt a slight premium on the food due to location, I suppose). When you go make sure, you call ahead and ask for a window seating. Yes, inside tables have views but to me it does not compare. Also it goes without saying that the view quality will depend on the weather. Parking at Prudential is $14 with validation.
(4)Jennifer P.
Excellent service, food and view! The arugula salad was delicious. I will definitely go back.
(5)Ashley C.
We came here for drinks around happy hour time in part of our walk Boston (which involved many stops at local places). I wanted to go here for the view - a bird's eye view of Boston. Why go up and pay for the observation deck when you can have a drink at the restaurant with the same view? The hostess quickly accommodated our request for a table at a window. The views were absolutely beautiful. We found that the environment was very intimate which was just what we were looking for at the time. Of course, with the views (and tourists), comes the higher prices, but I didn't think they were that bad for what you got. The drinks were good and packed a nice punch. Our waiter was very helpful and went above and beyond. When we asked him about a particular type of whiskey and a comparison, he brought a generous taste of both. Overall, it was a pleasant experience.
(4)Jessica L.
I've been here a few times in the past to enjoy a delicious drink and the beautiful view. However, I had never had the chance until recently to make it up there for dinner. Unfortunately, it was an extremely disappointing experience. This review is particularly about Valentine's Day, but I think that my experience illuminates some of the questionable business practices this restaurant has. My boyfriend and I made a Valentine's Day reservation in mid-January (so about 3-4 weeks before February 14th) with no issue. We made a reservation for 9:30 at night - which is quite late, but we figured it would be well worth the wait! The day of the 14th, he received a call from the restaurant confirming our reservation. The person on the phone mentioned to him that there was a Valentine's Day Special - but was unwilling to give further information besides that. My boyfriend asked what the "Valentine's Day Special" was - was it a different menu? Was it a special meal option? What was it? The woman on the other line was very brusque and said along the lines of - "Oh, it's just a special we offer" and "you can look online if you'd like." Overall, her tone was quite rude. He was sort of put off by that, and he looked online at what was called the "Valentine's Day Special" - a $125 dollar per person, 5-course meal. Nothing online indicated that this was the ONLY thing available on February 14th. We were really looking forward to eating off of the regular menu. We both have some dietary restrictions, and both knew that there were things on the regular menu that we would really enjoy. (I'm sure you can all see where this story is going). We arrive to the restaurant on Friday, after waiting to eat until 9:30. We are seated and given the menu and are told that the $125/person meal is the ONLY thing available to us. We, of course, expressed that we were NOT told accurate information, even when we asked specifically during the afternoon confirmation call. Our server was really quite nice, and we knew it wasn't his fault, but we told him that we really wouldn't be able to do the $125/person meal. We were expecting and willing to pay quite a bit for this meal (the regular menu is quite pricey as well) but NOT $250 dollars before tax, tip, and drinks. Not to mention that there were a few things that we would not have been able to even been able to eat! Our server brought over the manager (I'm assuming?), who apologized for the miscommunication and told us that we are not the first people this happened to tonight. He offered us each a free drink as a consolation, which was nice....but it didn't take away from the fact that it was then 10:00 pm and we had not eaten dinner, and every restaurant in the city was full/booked. So, we sipped our "free" drinks (we of course still tipped our poor server who was now making no money off of our table) and tried to enjoy the view....while overhearing the SAME conversation happen again the next table over between a couple and their server - they were also not made aware of the different menu and reacted quite similarly to us. I think they decided to just pay for it - which makes me concerned that this might be something that Top of the Hub does on purpose or something - they can get a few people to pay a bit more than they would normally be willing to pay by not disclosing that there is a change in menu/prices until customers are seated. I hope this isn't true. Word of warning to all of those who may try to come here on Valentine's Day or any other sort of holiday. Know what they're offering that night, and be PUSHY to get the right information. Otherwise, you might end up hungry (like us) or suckered into paying 300 dollars for a meal for two (like the people next to us). Top of the Hub - if you want to charge that much for a meal on holidays - that's your prerogative, I suppose. Maybe people will pay for it if they're aware before they make the reservation (or even just what is ON the menu, for us who can't eat everything!) Just don't be so deceptive. You're not gaining any loyal customers that way.
(2)Tony C.
Top of the Hub is a great spot to go for a nice drink and a bite to eat while enjoying an aerial view of Boston. No need to book the proper restaurant, and definitely don't pay for the viewing deck, because you can go to the bar and get a reasonably priced meal and cocktail while enjoying the view. Jazz kicks off around 8 o'clock most nights. A great spot to bring visitors.
(5)Alex F.
From a service oriented perspective , this place is horrible. From the manager to their boss, their attitudes were unacceptable. For having a whole dining area closed and pushing customers to wait by the elevator where people are constantly moving around and waiting for it's arrival, can only be described as abysmal. Coming from the service and hospitality field, this was totally the opposite of what a restaurant should strive for. The young man and young lady seemed extremely illfit for handling customers. It appeared obvious that they could lose it with only a little bit of pressure. The older foriegn gentleman, not quite a gentleman seemed highly defensive and offputting. He had the warmth of a rebel soldier that would resort to gorilla like warfar. They need an attitude adjustment or quite frankly a good spanking. From a food perspective, the fare was only so so. From the calamari, crabcakes to their seafood, it appeared clear they relied on their skyscraper rooftop view and especially on foreign tourists. Their unprofessionalism drove us away to a restaurant down the road, Atlantic Fish Company. It was clear where we ended up wasn't relying on anything other than their food. Take my advice and save yourself from nasty and unprofessional managers and staff.
(1)Maria S.
Much like with the Eiffel Tower, the real question is whether to go during the day or night. This restaurant sits atop of the Prudential Tower, and all the tables have city views. The drinks and meals are expensive, and with the wide choice of fabulous cuisine in Boston, I would save Top of the Hub for clear nights or sunny days, since the views are the main attraction. I've gone for drinks on various occasions and the martinis were good as was the cookie platter--definitely enough to share. As far as food though, I would save TOTH for restaurant week.
(4)Brian W.
Hugely disappointing on so many levels. For my Daughter's birthday I took her and a few of her friends for lunch at a "special" restaurant. They would have been thrilled with Cheesecake Factory but I thought this would be a great experience. Mind you this was mid afternoon on a Saturday and the place was 1/4 full. Here I go... First we were sat and it took a while for our strangely discombobulated waitress to come over. Then it took a while for drinks after she made odd comments about my daughter and her friends. She was trying to be nice but really seemed strangely off. We couldn't decide what to order when she finally came to ask us the first time and then took forever to come back. We finally ordered and the food took forever while we ate our frozen butter and cold bread. When the food did come we only received 3 of the 5 meals which were basically just dropped off on the table by the back waiters without clearing the bread plates. They literally just put the food down in the middle of the table. After about 10 minutes of the other food not arriving, with no sign of our waitress, we grabbed her and asked. She went to check and came back to say she didn't ring in the meal right and the kitchen didn't make it (she held it). It took around 10-15 minutes more for us to get a turkey club and pulled pork sandwich. Still can't figure out what took so long since all they had to do was warm the pork and cook bacon. After dropping off the food the magical disappearing waitress didn't come right back to check on us. If she had I would have told her that most of the bacon on my daughter's sandwich was way undercooked and my $17 pulled pork sandwich was nothing like described on the menu. We did order pedestrian food but for the price they were charging I would have expected great quality and a little creativity at least. I got pulled pork on a bun with cloeslaw and my daughter got a below average $14 club sandwich. When our friend finally did come by she asked blithely how things were as if they were expected to have been fine an hour+ into what was supposed to be a simple meal. When I complained about the many issues she went to talk to the manager. At this point I would have expected the manager to come over given how royally messed up our meal was. I am probably only saying half the things that were either weird or bad about the experience so far. But no, the waitress came back and said "she told the manager she messed up" and they comped my sandwich and drink and offered us 1 free dessert as if the other 4 ppl were going to sit there and watch which, of course, we didn't want to wait for. Oh yeah, when I complained about my sandwich the waitress tried to convince me to order a burger because they were better. Again, we had been there over an hour with me and 4 teenage girls and she is proposing I wait for the slow as crap kitchen to cook me a freaking burger? Even when I asked for the check she again tried pushing a burger on me. Really? The very capable waiter waiting on the tables around us cleared all our dishes and seemed normal and competent. He was the only person there who seemed to understand that this was supposed to be a decent restaurant. Never saw the manager. Boooo most of all to him or her. Even if the meal had gone perfectly, the food here is way overpriced and of average quality. Basically a fancy chain style restaurant with a great view and absolutely nothing more.
(1)Michael D.
I can't say much about the view CAUSE WE WENT ON A CLOUDY DAY. AND i thought the minimum charge for a table was 24 bones total.. turns out its 24 bones PER PERSON, so unless you're planning to drink a lot or order a meal, SIT at the BAR.. its FREE! The drinks were strong enough, the service is great, and the FRESHLY BAKED COOKIES ARE TO DIE FOR ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ). They might have been a little undercooked, but they were SATURATED with SUGAR and BUTTER, so they literally MELTED in your mouth.. SO FREAKIN GOOD! SO to conclude, here's what I recommend: 1. Sit at the bar (there's no minimum charge)... I HAD TO LEARN THIS THE HARD WAY. 2. Get the plate of assorted cookies.. best cookies of my life. 3. GO ON A CLEAR NIGHT.
(4)Younghae C.
Went here for my 30th with my husband on a late Thursday night. We sat in the lounge area, which is first come first served. There is a min $25 spending limit per person. So, we ordered 2 entrees, 1 drink, and 1 dessert (Chocolate molten cake) that pretty much met the minimum. Food was okay. Ordered crab cake and kobe beef hot dog sliders. Definitely not worth the $, but again, you don't come here for the food, but the atmosphere. Live jazz music and sitting by the window was worth it. Note: The host first told us that there were no window seats available, but when we told him we would wait, 2 secs later, he sat us around the corner by the window. That was odd, wonder if he was being racist?! Service was really nice. The waitress gave us her recommendations and checked in periodically. Would consider coming back for another 'special' occasion.
(3)John B.
The food is average,but the views of the city are amazing! I personally like the desserts and cocktails.
(3)Calla G.
Love it here! Views are amazing, service is great and a higher altitude means less drinks!! Most people go for special events but I love going on a regular Tuesday afternoon.
(4)Lin M.
Location...Location...Location This iconic restaurant lives up to the hype. We went after a Sunday matinee performance of War Horse. We were seated in the Northeast corner of the restaurant which was perfect. A view of the waterfront and the Charles on a bright crisp fall day. When the sun set the city lights were a wonderful backdrop. Oh yeah and the food. The best Cosmos I've had, I think ever. All of our dinners were superb. Not any complaints. And the service was marvelous. Definitely worth the price tag.
(5)John X.
You should only come here for one reason and one reason at all... dining with a view. We only went for the lounge area and got a bottle of wine to meet the $24 per person requirement. The restaurant was very nicely decorated with comfortable seating and nice furniture, and we had a spectacular view of Boston (some views are better than others though). Service was good also, and our wine was decent enough. If you're looking for a spectacular finish for the evening, the view is sure to impress.
(4)Andi R.
I give it 3 stars ONLY for the fantastic view and good (but WAY overpriced) food. The only truely good thing about our experience was the view. We waited for almost an hour for our table that we had reservations for. Okay, the previous party took a little longer than expected, not the restaurants fault. After being told we could not order from the bar, someone would come to us in the lounge, no one even glanced our way. We had to ask the host to send someone over. The waiter seemed like he had something lodged up his posterior when finally coming over. After being seated, we were told our menus were on their way...maybe from New York because it took 15 minutes. Water 25 mintues. We had to practically beg for bread. Our server was an ass...told us about the special and then said they were out of it, WTF? He was crazy slow, unfriendly and ignored our requests for simple refills, although quick to pick up the signed check, of course. Our kids, who have eaten at every type of restaurant, even fancy-schmancy places, have impeccible table manners, yet were not even acknowledged. We had to ask 3 times to get them a refill...and were charged for the refills!!! Friggin' Applebee's can give free refills on soda, why can't Top of the Hub?! I don't know if we were treated like crap because we had kids with us and everyone assumes people with kids tip like crap (a lot do, but we don't). They totally take for granted (and don't deserve) the kind of money they make. Oh, and make sure you ask for parking validation if you park at the Prudential, or you'll pay like $48 instead of $12. I think I'll try the Skywalk next time I want a great view. A lot cheaper and way less insulting!
(3)Erica A.
Worth going to at least once for the view alone. I went during a snow storm. Beautiful.
(3)Justin Gwailo H.
The reason why I went here a few times was to bring out-of-towners to see the Boston view. I also love the live Jazz on weekends. However, food was always so-so.
(3)Jackie Y.
Top of the Hub is perfect if you want: -Breathtaking views of Boston at night -Relaxing Live Jazz Music -Delicious Wine and Cocktails -Yummy Dessert - Get the Freshly Baked Cookies, Seasonal Berries served with Chantilly Cream It's one of the few places my mom actually remembers and wants to go to (b/c the cookies were so friggin' awesome) when I take her back to Boston. Con: There was a $25(?) minimum per person to get a table. A little tough to reach if you're just getting 1 dessert and you don't want to have more than 1 drink per person (assuming 2 ppl in your party). But it's definitely worth it b/c the bar has obstructed views...
(4)Irapuca P.
Incredible view of Boston. Incredible atmosphere. Great service although some waiters have attitude problem. don't come here expecting great tasting food, however. This is a good place to come if you are on a date. Just have some dessert and skip everything else on their menu. They get 2 stars for food plus 1 extra star for the unbelivable view.
(3)David V.
My wife and I went to the Top of the Hub last year (2008) for our anniversary and it was EXCELLENT. So, we decided to return this year (2009) for our anniversary, and it was not as good. The service was wonderful, the restaurant is beautiful, the views are beautiful, but this time the food was not as impressive. I started with the clam chowder, it was kind of watery and just average. My wife started with the crab cake, which was excellent. For dinner I had the lobster mac & cheese which was good, but for $34 it should be better than "good". My wife had the macadamia nut encrusted tuna, which was considerably smaller than the portion she received last year (ordered the same thing last year). My wife also had the pumpkin martini which was very good, but over-priced. Overall, the food was just OK, but for the price, it should be much better. I guess when you go to the Top of the Hub you are really paying for the view. We were just hoping for as good of an experience as we had the year before, but we did not get that. It is a great place for a "romantic dinner", but just be prepared to pay a lot of money.
(3)Brendan P.
Whether your eating or just want a drink, the ambiance and view here is unparallelled. It's worth it to make the mission up the elevator if only to check it out for a few minutes. Tourists: toss this place on your Boston to-do list already!
(4)Kim T.
Went to dinner tonight with my bf for our one year anniversary, our reservation was at 9 and they sat us early in a perfect little booth with an amazing view. We were greeted by Mario, and let me tell you he was so friendly, and hospitable. I am a waitress in a nice italian restaurant and can't help but judge other servers when I go to eat, and he is one of the best. Our appetizers were amazing. For dinner my bf got the lamb shank, and I got the sole special, stuffed with crab meat, the bf is an executive chef, and said it was some of the the best lamb he has ever had. For dessert we got the warm chocolate cake and pumpkin icecream, and Mario had a candle put in it for us, so nice and thoughtful, and the live jazz was awesome. Just the view alone was breathtaking. Honestly, this is one of my favorite places now, I will definitely be back..hopefully we get Mario again for some awesome service! This place is great, keep up the great work guys!! Thanks for an awesome and memorable night!
(5)Alan Y.
The food here is decent, but not worth the $100 dollars I spent for their tasting menu. Although the view is great, not all tables have a good view, which you should definitely consider beforehand.
(3)Sara G.
Who knew that this city was beautiful from up above?! It was amazing to see the area in autumn, going from day to sunset to night. You can see everything from the different neighborhoods to the Harbor Islands to the mountains in the far off distance. I had the chicken flatbread (with marscapone cheese and yellow and red tomatoes). Yum!! I also had a Level 151 Martini which was mixed nice and strong. It's not the best value up front for the food. But when you add in the fact that you're paying for an amazing view, it's totally worth it. (Probably a bad idea to go here when the weather's foggy or gross).
(5)Melinda H.
I came here to celebrate my birthday with about 15 friends and the service was sooo unbelievably appalling that it has inspired me to write my first Yelp review in over a year and a half. Yes, it was THAT BAD. I can understand that they have a $24 minimum/person if you want to sit, but I'm a little less understanding when I have 15 friends who are buying drinks and dessert at the bar and half of the dining room/lounge area is empty, and they still insist that we spend $24 on top of what we paid for at the bar just to sit. What is even more completely and utterly unacceptable is how rude they are about this. There was literally a man following us around, first telling us we can't sit down on a sofa even though nobody is there b/c of the $24/limit. When we were standing, he then comes up to us and says "I dont mean to be a prick but you need to move. You're crowding the live music area." I would expect a lot more from a place like this and using that language is absolutely unacceptable. I then say I'd like to talk to the manager and he says, "fine, I'll get him." The manager never shows up so I ask him where he is and he points to the manager across the room - making me then go and hound down the manager myself. Later on that night, the manager finally lets 3 of us sit down on a sofa in the lounge that happens to open up and the waitress immediately comes and says "you can't sit there, you have to spend $24 each." When I tell her the mgr said we could, she then says without skipping a beat, "fine, then give me the cookies. you can't have food on the sofas." At that point, I couldn't take it anymore - the tone was so competely unacceptable, especially given the significant amount of money we had spent on drinks and dessert, that I went and talked to a second manager. The manager finally said we could have a table, but at that point all of my friends were tired from standing around for an hour that they all wanted to go home. Top of the Hub - if you had let us sit at one of your many empty tables to begin with, I guarantee we would have stayed longer, which means more money spent on food and drinks, and 20 happy customers who would leave with a great impression and come back. Instead, we all only ordered 1 drink, and I guarantee NONE of us will be going back, On top of that, I am so appalled that I feel compelled to write this long negative review to warn other consumers to think twice about going. It is time you trained your staff to learn to speak to customers in an appropriate tone and manner, and to learn what most nice establishments have mastered long ago - to place the customer first.
(1)Meghan R.
I brought my husband here when I landed my first big gig as it really captured the mood -- I truly was at the top of the hub. You can't beat the view. You can't. The cocktails are amazing. I love that they leave the mini shaker at your table so you can pour and suck it dry at your discretion. I prefer the lounge for the cushy chairs and relaxed luxury of the jazz. It feels just like what I thought being grownup in the city would. I am not a fan of elevators, so 50-plus floors later, I like feeling that I really earned a drink. Cheers to me overcoming.
(5)Erik S.
Great service, excellent views and decent food. A lot of restaurants that try to play at a higher than they are end up having snobby waiters to make you think that their product is better. It never works for me. Justin, our server, was great. He didn't need to explain to me what an prix fix menu is but maybe they get a lot of people in here that do? I dunno. Anyway, he made it very clear that he wanted to ensure that we were comfortable and had a pleasant experience. Great service. The only issue I had was that they seemed to have a number of sommeliers, but one never came by our table. I guess maybe they got the sense that my wife and I weren't going to buy one of the $500 bottles of wine with our meal, so they didn't want to make the effort. Our waiter took care of us just fine, however. He also asked about our parking ticket, which I might have forgotten to validate if not for him. Overall, great service. The views were nice but our table was set fairly far back from the windows so we really couldn't see out. Also, they cram as many tables as they can by the windows so whenever I looked out the window, I felt like I was staring at someone at one of the tables. The food was good, but not great. My wife thought it was excellent, but I think they left the flavor out of the product. I started with the clam chowder which was quite good, but rather thin. I prefer a nice thick clam chowder. This chowder was also fairly spicy. Fine for me, but it meant my wife couldn't try any. I followed that with the prime sirloin. It was a nice cut of meat, seasoned nicely and well marbled but the meat just seriously lacked flavor. What this tells me is that the $47 meat was not the best quality stuff. Maybe an issue with the food source of the bovine. It was still good, but not great. The bottom line here is that this is another restaurant that is good, but doesn't meet my price/taste ratio. When I spend over $150 on a meal, it had better be amazing. I would have preferred to eat at Jardiniere in SF or the London in NYC.
(4)Jamison K.
I went here with my dad and a few of his friends last week after a conference. None of us were dressed all that well so we weren't all that surprised that we didn't get the best treatment. The service was alright, we got what we needed in a timely fashion however the waiter didn't even introduce himself and we only saw him once or twice. The food however was absolutely fantastic. The four of us were blown away by the quality of everything that we had, even right down to the french fries. We did all opt for the prix fix 3 course meal if that had any weight on the quality.
(3)Matt S.
this place is amazing.. I went here with my girlfriend for our anniversary recently and the view of boston truely is amazing... The waitstaff is friendly and more then helpfull.. It is very clean and not messy whatsoever. The lounge area is incredible.. my only compliant is for the price you pay the portions are very small but the food is great
(4)mike y.
food : eh~ drinks : $$$ view : the only thing good
(2)Christopher D.
I live in Boston and have been here over 17 times... But after this last time I shall not return. This past time I went with my girlfriend, and after being seated in front of the "stage," ( where the piano is) water began to drip down on her. We asked to be moved and a "manager" came to reseat us. He spilled my girlfriends entire cocktail on my lap In the process of moving us and did NOT APPOLOGIZE. Let me reiterate that... He DID NOT APPOLOGIZE... He simply looked at my wet pants and said, " let me get you another drink." SERIOUSLY?!?!?' This of course detracted from our dinning experience and so at the conclusion of our meal I asked for this "manager" in question so that he could explain to our server (blond haired female who was actually excellent) why she was not getting any tip... after 10 minutes where the manager in question did not come, I had to once again request the actual manager that we were dealing with and when he did come it seemed to be such a BURDEN to him... I myself worked in the customer service industry for over five years and what my girlfriend and I experienced here is by far THE WORST customer service ever. I love the views from this restaurant, but due to the utter lack of competency in the management department I shall never return.
(1)J B.
This review covers two separate visits. Short version; this place is a rip off that is over priced & over rated. The management & hosts are terrible, the waitstaff / bartenders tend to be nicer but unskilled. Will not go back there again. One: Dinner I went there for my anniversary. I called in advance and asked for a nice table, I didn't need a window or anything but I didn't want to be near the bathroom or the kitchen or shoved in a corner. We arrived and were seated at a table that was across from the waiter station, shoved in a corner, and near the kitchen. I am so glad they listened to me. For the prices we were about to pay, I figured it would be close to "fine dining". I was really really wrong. The food was meh at best, the service was horrible, although our waiter was nice. Two: Drinking & Eating at the bar So the cocktails were meh, although from the group we had (about 8 people) some of the drinks were good. The cheese plate was good, the flatbread was meh, the cookies were awesome. I asked the bartender for a whiskey old fashioned, he gave me some fruity crap in a glass (not an old fashioned). Right, the drinks and food were a mixed bag.. mostly the food lacked flavor and the drinks lacked alcohol. The cookies were still good. So it was a Tuesday night, celebrating a birthday. We were racking up a big bill and the place was basically empty. The manager at some point stood at the end of the bar and glared at us for a long while. Then while we were still drinking the bartender handed us one check for the group. Basically so they could hit us with the group gratuity. The manager was a total ass, and while the bartender was nice, his skills were not so good. Its not like we ordered 1 cheap drink and that was it, we spent around $500... Not sure why the manager was a jerk, but no one in our group will ever go back there again.
(1)Scoobie U.
The views are fantastic, but the food is overpriced and not very good. A drink is pricey too, around $7 bucks for a beer and more expensive for mixed drinks. It's cool to walk around the floor and see all of Boston's skyline, however wouldn't go there to dinner. A redeeming factor is not having to pay for entrance to the Top of the Hub. The bar is small/non-existent, but they do have little spaces in each corner of the restaurant to gaze out the windows to the skyline.
(3)Undercova A.
Great bar with a nice view. Respectable selection of wine and beer options. The bar tender was friendly and very easy going. We didn't eat there but I looked at the menus and thought they were terrific. There is a fine dining side with a $55 prix fix menu ($75 if paired with wine) that looked great. The bar menu had some interesting options, including a Rueben egg roll.
(5)Laurie C.
Went here last night for our 1 year anniversary and it was very nice. The wait staff was very attentive and kind. They surprised us both with a complimentary dessert that was unexpected. The filet and pork tenderloin were excellent. Views at our table made the dinner extremely nice. This is a must go.
(5)calamity chang c.
The service was great. My chowder was a bit soupy but good, the tartar of yellow fin tuna was pretty good (japanese style infusion ginger). My duck cob was. ok. It would have been great if I would have asked for the dressing on the side. I guess I don't learn any life lessons from other dressing with lettuce experiences. The creme brulee was freaking awesome. Get coffee and dessert and check out the view.
(4)Hans M.
During my college years, I had to save up to bring a date to Top of the Hub (TOTH). Great view, no question, you can see all Boston on a clear day. Good for dates in the evening, friends from out of town and rest your legs from shopping in Copley.
(4)David D.
I have yet to find a better high-rise view of boston than this place (what do you expect being on the prudential). The food, like everyone is saying, really isn't that great. But the drinks are solid and the view is amazing. It's def. a kind of place where you throw on a blazer and order a martini, but there are plenty of people who want to party up there too (not just be old and sit around). Free to get up, good drinks with a great view, and overall awesome.
(4)Iwen C.
I would only recommend this place to people who enjoy rude services with beautiful night view.
(1)Heather E.
The food here is good but not great and forgettable. What is notable is the view from the top of the Prudential Center, the 2nd largest building in Boston, which is stunning! The food & drinks are overpriced. If you would like to see the view of the city you would be better off going to the "Skywalk Observatory" where you can see a 360 degree panoramic view of the Greater Boston area. This is located in the Prudential as well.
(3)R D.
By far the best place to eat with a breathtaking view all of Boston. I went for valentine's day with my husband for lunch and it was amazing! Our waiter Martin was on point with our whole experience. Being from hometown NY, the city that never sleeps. Definitely this place by far will be my favorite #1 restaurant to go to. So if your in town visiting, passing through, or just moved here you must make a reservation to the #1 restaurant Boston has to offer.
(5)Dawn W.
SO BAD WE WALKED OUT My friend was having a special birthday so a small group of us wanted to go out to celebrate. I called on a Saturday evening and asked for a reservation for drinks and desserts for that night. The woman who picked up the phone suggested the lounge, but warned us that live music would start at 9pm and it gets quite loud. I asked if we could have a table in the dining room because we wanted a more quiet evening and she said sure. She went through the whole "let me have your name and number" and "may I ask if you're celebrating anything tonight?" thing. However, when we arrived and were seated, we asked for the dessert menu and were told we would have to move! Apparently our reservation wasn't for the dining room (although the women who took our reservation assured me it was!) and the staff (who were extremely rude) demanded that we give up our seats because we couldn't only have dessert and drinks in the dining room. THAT'S FINE IF THAT'S THE POLICY BUT WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT OVER THE PHONE. To make matters worse, they treated me as if *I* had made a mistake, when in fact I had told the person taking the reservation very clearly that we only wanted drinks and desserts. (And they couldn't find the person who took our reservation, of course.) Not only did they demand that we move, but they had no seating in the lounge so we would have to wait AND then there would be a minimum $25 per person charge for eating in the lounge! So we walked out. We went to the BEST bar in Boston (The Oak Bar in the Copley Plaza Hotel), spent way more than $25 per person because they were so NICE to us, not because we were forced to, and we'll never go back to the Top of the Hub again
(1)George F.
I wasn't going to write a review, but felt compelled after reading a recent review where a patron felt he was looked down upon. I was in Boston with my wife and daughter for the weekend and wanted to show my daughter the view from the Skywalk (the observation deck from the 50th floor of the Prudential building.); however, it was closed due to a function. My wife was shopping and my daughter seemed so disappointed, so I decided I would take her to the restaurant and get a drink and let her get a peek. I thought they would let her in the bar area since it was an establishment that sold food. I was wrong, so I told the host the situation and told him I'd be willing to get a couple of drinks and an appetizer, but we were planning to have dinner later and had to meet my wife in 45 min. I waited about 3 min. (maybe less) and he found us a table by the window and I was told "Take your time". This was a Saturday night around 6pm. The place was busy and not one table near the window was vacant. I was clearly under dressed for this place and no one said anything about spending $25 (like the other review mentioned). It was a hot day and going to the Red Sox game was a possibility when we left the hotel, so my attire was more for having dinner at a sports bar. My daughter and I were treated like we were regulars. I ordered an appetizer and I had a scotch and beer. I believe the bill was around $40 and I made sure to leave around 30% tip. My only regret was not getting the host's name because he was the best. What I ate was good and the 18 year old scotch was priced about right. The scotch selection was very good. I would definitely bring my family here to eat on my next visit to Boston.
(5)Elizabeth G.
I recently visited Top of the Hub during Restaurant Week and had a fantastic experience! Obviously part of the fun of Restaurant Week is getting to go to restaurants you wouldn't ordinarily choose due to their "price points." My girlfriends and I chose TOH for a treat! With this came some reservations that perhaps the service wouldn' t be great seeing as they know you'll be ordering off the RW menu (lower prices than their standard menus, thus less tip), but this couldn't be farther from our experience! We received 4 star treatment from the moment we set foot in the restaurant- chais pulled out, napkins placed in our laps, etc. Our server was attentive and informative- offering his own insight on the menu- and could not have been more professional. When our entrees arrived, four servers were carrying them and placed them all down in front of us at the same time. What service! As for the food, the regular menu looked so delicious that we ended up ordering off the regular menu instead of going with the RW menu! The duck confit appetizer was incredible- amazingly tender and flavorful. Two of my friends had the beef tenderloin which they raved about. I had the scrod which was creatively done (crusted with potato with leeks) and delicious. All in all it was a lovely evening! Thank you TOH!
(4)Melissa B.
Gorgeous view, terrific food, a must try! We or the 5 course dinner which was amazing. Beef au poivre and chocolate souffle were my favorites. Next time Ill def opt for the wine pairings with dinner. We're already planning our next trip!
(5)Layla L.
we went there during restaurant week, it's definitely worth it during that time. it's kind of a pity that it rained that day so there has not been any kind of view, but it is indeed a fancy restaurant. Everything is pretty nice. Nothing exceeded my expectation, but didn't let me down either.
(4)Daphne X.
Took mom here for restaurant week and it was a great choice. We had reservations at 6:30pm and it was the perfect time to catch sunset. I've been around Boston my entire life but viewing the entire cityscape is all new to me. It was amazing.
(4)Hatra M.
The tenderloin steak is amazing one of the most delicious, tender, juicy steaks I've ever had. The side of blue cheese is just amazing. The service was also great. Maybe the negative reviews are because of the price, but I think the price is totally worth it for what you get. the steak is $37 and the salmon is $29 which both are very delicious we were a party of 2 and got a bill of $100 for 2 main course one soup and one dessert
(5)Byron M.
I have eaten here for lunch and I have eaten here for dinner and I have yet to be impressed. You are paying for the view which is very very special. The food and the service has room for improvement. Nevertheless, it is not bad, or awful, but not inspiring. The view is worth your trip however.
(3)Cory M.
Since I moved to Boston, I had always wanted to go here. So when my friend suggested that we go there for lunch to take advantage of restaurant week, of course, I was in. And I have to say, it was totally worth the visit in every way. First of all, the view is amazing. You can literally see all of Boston from there and I bet the view is even better at night. Secondly, my lunch was very very good. I had strawberry rhubarb soup, then scallops with polenta, and finally an orange mouse. I can honestly say that it was one of the best meals I've ever had. I would love to go back again, probably at night to check out their cocktails and to see the gorgeous view one more time.
(5)melinda j.
For our last night in Boston, we wanted to watch the amber and magenta hues fill the evening sky as the sun set over Cambridge and this place was perfect. However, for a restaurant that prides itself on being a fine dining desitination, they have very rude and testy hostesses! One balked at giving us a receipt of some sort when we checked in an item, and another practically threw our stuff at us when we were ready to retrieve it -- so minus one star for an otherwise five star experience. The three course prixe fixe ($55) will leave you completely stuffed. We chose the following courses: 1) Duck confit: a savory braised duck leg served with a pulled breast and truffle salad 2) 10 oz. bone-in veal sirloin with tomato confit, chanterelle sauce, and lemon gremolata: intensely flavorful jus 3) Caramelized pineapple vanilla bean tea cake: moist and fantastic with the homemade chai ice cream I didn't mean to be a voyeur, but the gentleman setting at the table next to ours proposed to his girlfriend and it was so very romantic and sweet! The restaurant offered to serve them complimentary glasses of wine afterward, a kind gesture on their part.
(4)Jeff I.
In my recent Boston trip I definitely wanted to try a nice high class restaurant with the best viewing pleasure in Boston and I certainly did at Top of the Hub. This restaurant is really cool. you're practically at the highest point in boston and able to have a overlook of the whole city of Boston. The view is simply amazing and if you want to take a date here, I could see why. Drinks are pretty pricey, as well as the food, but the food is well worth it. I do agree, this place is most stunning for the view more than the food, but the food in my opinion was delicious. only downside of the restaurant in my opinion would be that the bar area is small and the place to sit by the bar they need more of. It's a reservation only type of restaurant in my eyes and while waiting and having drinks, they need to figure out a better way to accommodate the people and have room to sit down and enjoy drinks. Overall, I highly recommend.
(5)mustafa a.
amazing view of the city. food was ok... nothing too spectacular
(4)Bo F.
Expensive but you don't come here for the food. Food was pretty good but I don't remember what I had. All I could think about was the view and the fact that I was there. You can go there for drinks but it's a 26 dollar minimum if you sit down. Not minimum at the crowded bar. Desserts were delicious too! Staff was extremely nice. Two of them told my girlfriend how "dazzling" she looked while waiting on us. It made her feel really good so I have to take her back again.
(4)Sunny M.
Pretty view, great food, the drinks r ok. Spicy lobster soup was amazing, n so was the halibut. The peardrop martini was ok, too much of a pear taste not enough vodka.
(4)J B.
I do not know anything about how they are for individualized dinners but they do a great job for large corporate parties. Their food is always great, as is the service and the view is incredible. I give them 5 stars based on my two experiences there. update: i was there again and had an even better experience than the last two times! there were 250+ people and the space was perfect, the food was great, and most importantly- there is validated parking in the garage below so i did not have to stumble too far in my heels once the night was over (unfortunately i drank a little bit and forgot to get my parking ticket validated so i had to pay $32. while everyone else paid $10).
(5)Irene F.
I did totally dig this place. Yes, touristy, yes, a little pretentious, but overall, fabulous. Natasha and I came to grab some drinks and dessert. The Level 52 is a serious serious drinky-drink kids, so watch yourself on this one, but so delicious at the same time! We also got the coconut and white chocolate mousse, amazing. To top things off, Natasha got a glass of sav blanc, and I got my usual, belvedere tonic, 2 limes. The service was stellar, and my first vodka tonic came with soda water instead of tonic. It was promptly replaced, and our waiter was attentive without being annoying. The live jazz band was quite nice, and it was overall and excellent atmosphere. So why 1 star off? Because of the retarded people (aka tourists) that showed up here. Now, I know I am technically a tourist too, but i know better than to show up at a place like this in my stained sweatpants. Who the hell goes out on a Saturday night in sweatpants anyway? But I digress. The truly stomach turning thing was a couple that showed up as we were in the middle of our wonderful evening, and proceeded to make out all over the place. Yes, I know it is romantic, yes I know it is great, but keep your tongue in your mouth, please!! It was absolutely gross, not like cutesy "oh look at that happy couple" stuff, it was "get a room and get away from me" stuff. Everyone was staring at this couple and wishing they would die, fall out the window, or just go away. We couldn't take it, asked for the check, and bounced. Too bad, because it was splendid before that.
(4)Jason M.
This is a special location. The view is phenomenal especially when seated in the NE corner dining area. Overlooking Beacon Hill and the North End. I also believe the service is top notch. The wait staff is alert, informed and attentive. That said the food is not to the quality I would expect for the price paid. I have had far better culinary experiences for the price charged here. You are really paying a premium for the view with dinner, but what a view it is.
(3)Simon L.
Maybe it was how we looked (young) and when we went in (restaurant week), but the Top of the Hub totally dropped the ball--no excuses. From the gazpacho that came straight from the fridge from the night before, condensation on the plate and all, to the wayyyy over-salted entree (chicken of some sort, in my case, though hard to tell much else about it, as there was nothing distinctive about the preparation), everything seemed careless, as though the view was supposed to be enough to satisfy me. The waiter was jock-ish and inattentive, which was the icing on the cake. We left disappointed.
(2)Shan C.
Three and a half stars on 289 reviews.. WOW.. yes-- it is about 2 stars worthy I would say. The service and views are excellent, food, eh, not so much. I ordered the chicken no less and it was dry, I think they should bring the price down to match the quality of food.
(2)Kristina L.
went here many years ago with a date who was clearly trying to impress me. best time to go is obviously at night. of course, when we went, we were penniless and in our early 20's, right out of college. translation: we drank sodas and enjoyed the view while the waiters gave us glaring looks of disdain for taking up valuable table space. oh well. would be nice to go back some time, now that i am older and penniless.
(4)Michelle W.
The only reason brought me to the restaurant is its fantastic boston city view. The food part, appetizers were fine but entrees were awful.
(3)Arnie T.
great entrées and deserts oh yea and a incredible view of one of the most beautiful city's Boston
(4)Grace S.
My friend took me here one of my first nights in Boston, and the view at night is amazing. There was a live jazz band, but the restaurant is not big enough to accommodate a trumpet player blaring away as "background" music. Also, I wasn't too impressed with the desserts that we had, but I did like the dessert wine Nivole (Michele Chiarlo moscato d'asti). My tiny glass of wine cost nearly as much as an entire bottle costs at a liquor store, though. I would probably go again to take some visitors up to see the view, but otherwise I'm not very keen on this place. Edited review: I went again and basically got the same impression. This time we got appetizers, and while the food wasn't bad, it definitely didn't feel worth the high prices. Furthermore, my friends who went to the Pru first waited for an hour just to get seated in the lounge (luckily I was running late and just joined them in line). PS: I made a reservation via OpenTable a few days ago (Tuesday) since my sister is coming to town. Top of the Hub just cancelled my reservation this morning (Saturday), no explanations given. My experience with them just gets worse every time.
(1)Matt L.
Overpriced and old fashioned make this a dud! I had brunch here and for the seventy dollar price tag I was unimpressed! th only thing that gives it flair is the view of th city on top of the Pru! It was boring and resembled the Rainbow Room in NYC. I coulnt believe the crowd at this place. Not hip and resembling a buffet. Skip this place!
(1)Nam T.
first off the view is nothing short of incredible. There's no denying that if you go high enough in the prudential center, you'll be guaranteed a great view. The decor is nice. It's classy and intimate, but unfortunately it's nothing special in the sea of fine dining restaurants in Boston. Food was wayyyy overpriced. We had the tuna tar tar and also the kobe burger. We also had a couple glasses of wine. Overall the dinner came close to $100 dollars. The food wasn't bad but nowhere near the quality I would expect for that price range. When going to the hub, expect to pay for the view which is very nice.
(2)Dana M.
I've been here twice, both with my boyfriend and its been impressive and lived up to the hype both times. I will never forget the dinner I had there this past Sunday night. My date and I decided to go big and order the Chef's Tasting Menu ($95 ea) but really memorable. We started with an amuse busche (not sure how you spell that) of a creamy beet shooter. This was followed by a glass of champagne and duck confit. Then came the best scallop dish I've ever had in my life. Two seared scallops served with fresh yellow tomatoes, capers, and a delightful citrus cream sauce. I can't wait to try something like this myself. Thank goodness the food was a tasting portion (though generous) because I really had reached a satisfying fullness by the fourth dish! and there was more! By the time they brought out the filet of beef accompanied with a puff pastry crusted gratin potato and spear of grilled asparagus, I had reached capacity! The wine kept coming, the flavors grew in complexity, and the experience was gluttonously amazing. The wine pairings were incredibly tasteful. The only surprise came in getting a cold beet salad as the last course. Unexpected but also delicious. My recommendation is to go on a very empty stomach and get ready for the meal of a lifetime. Its needless to speak of the amazing atmosphere and views because that's expected. The more remarkable thing for me was how very well cooked each dish was and how timely doted on we were. I heart TOP OF THE HUB.
(5)Stacy R.
I have always wanted to go here. This past weekend I got my chance. My fiance took me here as a birhday surprise. It was really special. The view is beautiful to say the least. Our waiter was great. Our food was delicious. It was a great night out that I truly enjoyed. Would I spend the money again for dinner? Not sure. Next time I might go just for drinks.
(4)Marcus C.
What an awesome way to spend a beautiful (but cold) day! We stopped by here to rest our weary shopped-out feet and enjoy the view and a few delish cocktails. I shall do this again!
(4)Dena N.
I went here some time ago and I just wanted to put a review before I forgot. The view was extremely beautiful and the wait was not long sicne we had a reservation. But aside from that, I think the food is way too over priced. I could have had better steak elsewhere.
(2)Kelly L.
This was the worst dining experience of recent memory. I made reservations for my boyfriend's birthday because we had been talking about going there. I knew the food wouldn't be great, but the view is suppose to be spectacular. Well, I never did find out about the food because we left before ordering. Our server came to the table 10 minutes after we were seated and promptly said "What do you want to drink?" That was it, the entire extent of our first interaction. Then it took another 5 minutes to get the water we requested while we pondered the wine list. We never saw our waiter again. Since we wanted to enjoy the view we asked to be re-seated in another section and were told that there was a line so the only other option was to eat in the bar. My though was, just re-seat us elsewhere and put the person waiting in line at our table. Having made a reservation a week in advance I wasn't that jazzed about sitting the bar. After being seated for 20 minutes and the crappy service, we left and went to Via Matta's, always a great standby.
(1)Bob G.
Went there for cocktails after setting up for PAX. Nice view, but very pretentious... I guess if your looking for a fancy place to eat while visiting then it might be ok.
(2)Heidi W.
I came here for lunch on a weekday with my boyfriend at the time. There were approximately 10-15 people dining. Pros: Nice view, but you may as well go downstairs to the Skywalk. Cons: It took 5+ minutes to get water. Then the waitress took 15 minutes just to come back to take our order. It took 45 minutes to get our food (sandwich & a salad). The salad was mediocre. The sandwich ended up giving him a stomach ache. Lastly, our waitress didn't look us in the eye at all, not even once. This place is over priced, over hyped, no sense of good service and does not have a unique atmosphere. Needless to day, I've never been back. I don't want to pay to be offended and get food poisoning.
(2)Amy Y.
I went there for my vacation. The food was really bad. Views are great! and the service was really really disappointment. I will not give them the 2nd chance for the price with the low grade service and unchewable steak
(1)irene p.
this place is simply amazing for the view. it is on the 52nd floor of the prudential building, right in the heart of copley. i have been here three times, and each time i have never been disappointed with the service or the taste of the food. that said, i have to mention that the chef/cooks have left a LARGE PLASTIC bag in my wilted spinach with my salmon. the few bites i had of the salmon was very good, and so was the spinach, and i was enjoying every bit of my meal until i had cut into a piece of salmon, with plastic attached to the bottom of it. after i dug through the rest of my plate, i discovered an entire plastic bag that had been covered up by the salmon and the spinach. the service, bless his heart, immediately took the plate to the chef, and docked off the meal off our bill. apparently the chefs were not paying attention and the bag that the spinach had come in was cooked along with the veggies. they asked me if i wanted something else or the same dish again. along with the meal docked off, they gave us complimentary dessert. very nice of them. but i still had a plastic bag in my meal. its best for you to make a reservation, as it is a romantic place to have dinner, candlelit, looking over the view of boston. and if you walk in unannounced, it is difficult to get seating next to the windows. and don't forget to be prepared to shell out the moolah. 3.5 stars for food, service, atmosphere. but i still can't bring myself to give the restaurant another star after that disaster, no matter how good the service and the apologies/groveling was.
(3)Pablo R.
(Note: Keep in mind I went for the live jazz and cocktails) Great live jazz bands and no cover charge, instead, a $24 minimum after 8pm. I found this to be quite reasonable considering the place has the decor and service of a 5 star restaurant. The view is breathtaking and the cocktails are great. The drinks are a little pricey, but honestly, they are expensive almost everywhere you go in Boston. I especially recommend the Berry Bubbly Martini, it's even better than it sounds. There are cheaper places to eat that are just as good, but if you can find a more classy and enjoyable jazz lounge, please do share the intel.
(4)Alexis D.
Top of the Hub will make you feel like you are on top of the world...in Boston! Best to go near sunset because the light coming into the room enhances the dining experience making it exceptionally beautiful. Bring your date at sunset, he/she will love it. I go when I have the chunk change to back me up, one time I went and it was rainy! However, the Hub redeemed itself because the food is that good. From the hostesses to the servers, the service was excellent in that they were not snobby, did not talk down to us, helpful in making dinner and wine selections, attentive and friendly. Our waiter volunteered to take our group photo. The staff does get annoyed at patrons who have finished their meals and want to walk around to look at the view because they bump into servers and clog up the flow. So be respectful and try and not be in their way when they politely ask you to step aside. Crowds that come in there are the sex and the city girls (those that want a girls night out with cocktails) in the lounge area, yuppies pregaming at the bar, families and their college kid get the long tables, business men talk over their power dinners and dates take in the view from their window seats. If you need an excuse to dress up, this is one of the places to do it, but don't feel out of place if you are not dressed up. The experience is worth every penny!
(5)Sally L.
What an amazing spot! This really is where you should take out of town guests. I completely under estimated how amazing the view was going to be. We went in time to watch the sun set and make all the buildings glow. Beautiful. Ordered the 3 coarse meal with a visiting couple and had a wonderful time. Great food, little slow on getting the entree out but it was prime time and we were in no hurry. My only complaint was that I wished they had cut my hanger steak but I just tore through it anyways. What a fun spot. Actually reasonably priced I think the Pre fixe was only $38! It was the cocktails that did us in. I had my first cream brulee. Loves it. * * * * *
(5)Joshua S.
The view is what makes this place. Without that I wouldn't want to waste my cash here. 5 stars if you can just go up and get a drink at the bar or manage to get a table just for drinks. Drinks are about the same price as anywhere in Boston, maybe mixed drinks cost a little more. But they have the quality stuff too. As for dinner, not so much. The food is good, but not as good as the price tag is high. Our service was good, but it seems like it could be really spotty (when we were waiting in line some of the people seemed to have an attitude). For the money you pay everyone should be required to pretend to like you. Some of the other people there acted like they took this kind of stuff for granted, like somebody drops that kind of cash on them every night. Luckily the person I was with was not like that. They have a jazzy sort of band there sometimes, which is kinda cool. Overall considering the view, this place really isn't too expensive! Just don't get into the habit of eating there!
(3)Katheen C.
My boyfriend and I just went here as part of Boston Restaurant Week. Though some people have commented negatively on the service, our waiter fabulous. The pre fixed menu for lunch was delicious; we both got the Endive Salad, Cocoa Rubbed Salmon, and Lime Cheesecake (the cheesecake in particular was incredible- the graham cracker crust was the best I've ever had). Portions were perfect and the coffee at the end was the perfect to finish to a fabulous lunch. The hostess was even kind enough to take our picture for us on the way out. :) I'd definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a romantic meal out, it's a great place!
(4)Gino T.
I went there for my birthday this month and I have to say that the view of Boston was great. The atmosphere was very classy, jazz music, drinks, candle light. Very inviting. The service was great, not snobby, or patronizing, our waiter was from Albania, nice guy, was very helpful. Yeah the thing about this place it just screams out tourist hot spot. I was trying to hate this place but it was very comfortable. The food on the other hand, I have mix reviews, I had an appetizer of crab cakes, main course was steak, and a Mojito. I have to say, I've to plenty of upscale restaurants from Chicago to Charlotte, and I would rate this place just better than average. The restaurant left a bigger impression than the food. I will definitely go back but just for drinks and dessert.
(3)Jeff D.
The only reason I give top of the hub 4 stars is because its a bit pricy. But the brunch /breakfast is awesome and the food is tremendous. I loved the german chocolate cake and the meal. The view from the top of the hub is amazing you can see all around boston. Plus you get to take a cool elevator ride up.
(4)Stephanie H.
I will prefece by saying I have only gone here for drinks and apps and to listen to the jazz in the bar area. I have not gone to eat here because I have heard from a few friends that the food is ok and it is way over priced for what it is. Someday I will go here for dinner. With that said, the view is great, it makes you feel chic going here (atleast I think) and is a fun atmosphere. I like the music they have at night. Very classy.
(4)Martha D.
I had about five martinis too many at the bar and it was an amazing time. The pear martinis are delicious, and they also make a variety of good mojitos. Plus, sit on the left side and you have a perfect view of airplanes landing at Logan!
(4)CW P.
This place is great for out of town visitors. It's not as touristy as Fanueil Hall or the Duck Tours, and it brings your heart closer to Boston. If you want to impress your date or your parents, get a window seat and point out all the city landmarks. Your date will appreciate your knowledge of the structural and political background of the big dig and the geographic relation of across the river to the rest of the town. Your parents will love it too. As nice as it is during the day, my best experiences have been having drinks and dessert in the evening. I once came during a heavy snow storm and up here we were sitting in a snow globe. Awesome.
(5)Captain H.
It's worth it to come here for drinks and check out a view of the city. The sangria (a special) was delicious. The bar food we had was pretty good. Our waiter was nice too. I can't give this more than 2 stars though because of the laundry list of rules. We came with a larger party (6) and, understandably, they could not seat us right away. But in order to get a table, some member of our party had to stand in line. Not only did this mean that we couldn't leave and come back, we couldn't even check out the bar. We literally had to be in line. And while we were standing there they kept trying to move us around and get us out of the way. We ended up splitting into two table so we could get seated sooner, and they made it clear that we were not to go "milling about", moving chairs, or basically communicating with the other members of our group. It was pretty akward. I was also surprised at the casual attired (jeans, sneakers) of many of the patrons. I always thought it would be more classy.
(2)kevin d.
Easily the best view in Boston, but why they just can't be a bit friendlier is beyond me. One reviewer summed it up best when she said they treat you like they are doing you a favor. This is exactly how it feels when you are there. The place is usually half empty, except for hallmark holidays of course, and they will fuss over their seating charts like it is such a chore to accommodate you. Oh, you just want drinks? Just go to the bar and try not to look out the window, the view is expensive you know. They do have nice bartenders, although everyone is constantly on the up-sell in this place to the point where it is obnoxious. The food ranges from mediocre to slightly above average. Prices are high, but not ridiculous. Great place for a date if you want a calm place for a drink & conversation with a romantic view. Just be careful not to seem pretentious.
(2)Ben M.
There are three ways to do the top of the Prudential center: 1) Tourists go to the observation deck and pay a fee 2) Couples about to become engaged go to the restaurant 3) People who seek out classy adventures in Boston go to the lounge. This review is for the lounge, which is fully a restaurant just sans tablecloth. The affable hostess made sure we got a table with the best view. All you need to do is smile. Seeing the view for the first time, I said out loud, "What did I do to deserve this?" The service was a bit slow, but that's okay, because it gave us more time to enjoy the sunset. There is a house wine available by the glass that is excellent, a Merlot called Top of The Hub from California with ripe plum and chalky earth flavor profiles. I loved every bite of the gigantic burger. My date had fun stealing my seasoned french fries (think Arby's, but not curly) because she wanted to use the paper cone of ketchup, which was situated in a wire base. Entrees are in the $10-$20 range and wine/cocktails by the glass are $7-15. According to the local things-to-do rags there is jazz at 8pm most nights. The bar and Steinway piano are beautiful.
(5)Louis P.
I went here for my anniversary... I wasn't too impressed. The service was fantastic but the food was very disappointed... Although, I didn't go here for the food, but overall dining experience was just OK... I'd probably come here again, b/c I do like the atmosphere, but it's not a place I'd recommend to anyone... I was also very dissatisfied b/c our waiter did not validate our valet parking and we ended up paying $30 for parking on top of our $150 bill... If you want good food, go else where. If you're like me and like to go somewhere for the atmosphere, then try Top of the hub.
(3)Ash T.
Brunch here is divine. $39 for a four course meal + a bucket full of splendid chocolate croissants. Also, terrific wine list and views that never seem to get old, no matter how many times you come up here.
(5)Cecilia H.
The Top of the Hub is an experience. If you're a tourist or a new resident of Boston, this place can make you feel like you've been formally acquainted to the modern side of Boston. The service my husband and I received, when we went, was excellent and made our evening a pleasure! The food was delicious but nothing spectacular. The view was stunning and it sealed the whole affair for me. If you're wondering about the price... well it can be expensive but just remember that you're not just paying for food and service but for a memorable adventure.
(4)Pink Cigarette T.
Pretty romantic, nice classy atmosphere, great view, polite service...Food was not great though, but still edible. It was just extremely rich and somewhat bland. The lobster soup was extremely creamy and on top of that there was this huge chunk of butter on it. My bf said it didn't even taste like lobster, cept for the pieces of lobster in it of course. My bf ordered the 10 oz filet mignon and I had a bite and it was sweet! He said it was the worst filet he's ever had but edible. It was very chewy. My dish was not bad although it was lacking something - I can't put my finger on it what it was lacking, like some flavor maybe? I had the spiced tuna which was also a lil on the bland and rich side. But we loved it because of the venue itself. It just had a romantic ambience and we had an enjoyable time there regardless of what the food tasted like.
(4)Nathan W.
This is the type of place you bring your girlfriend, me on the other hand went with my dad. Food was decent, a bit pricey but was a good spot if you want to go some place nice
(4)Shell D.
My boyfriend and I absolutely love this restaurant. The food is amazing, the view is amazing, and the service is amazing. It's our favorite place to go in Boston (thus far)!
(5)Jin Y.
great place to go when you have visitors from out of town. i only went here for dessert/drinks. the live band is always a great ambiance setter, and the dark lighting is forgiving if you're looking a bit haggard from a day of shopping. dress is more BC, formal. lots of young people try to sneak in, which is pretty annoying. sometimes pretentious but the pretty desserts make up for it. great great view.
(4)Rob J.
This place is not that good at all if your table is not next to the window, which a good percentage aren't. I agree that its very cool eating eating atop a very tall building, but the food quality should match the view and ambiance of the restaurant. Also I found the service to be lacking. The second time I was here I felt like I was disrespected as I was given a crappy table, and felt unwanted because I was one of the younger people there. If youre going to go here, I recommend going for a an appetizer and/or drinks, and not spending 75 per person to eat a meal that is not worth nearly that much. That way you can reap the benifits of the view, and go somewhere with better food for dinner. I also would agree that its a great place to take someone special from out of town. Anyone ever heard of the Boston College club in the Bank of America Building? It is what the Top of the Hub should be.
(2)Bill A.
This is a good place to take out-of-towner's, but everyone in town should go here at least once. The menu as mentioned before is not very adventurous, but not too many places can brag a view this amazing. I always try to call ahead at least a week in advance to make a reservation and put in a request for a window table which they have thus far always been able to accommodate even though over the phone it's not guaranteed.
(4)Jamie L.
Until I find another place I can order a dozen fresh baked cookies served hot in four varieties this place will always have 5 stars in my heart!
(5)Lisa C.
I've been here a few times, but the last time was clearly the best. the view is absolutely beautiful. The first time i came here was an evening appetizer/cocktail hour and it was quite nice. on a beautiful, clear night...it's a great place to go. the appetizers were, sadly, only ok. We came here for lunch the other day and I had a great experience this time. We were a group of 5 and didn't get the best table, but the view was still nice. We each did the prix-fixe menu and everyone walked away full, satisfied, and a little sleepy. I, personally, started with a butternut squash soup, then had pan seared duck breast with a duck breast confit risotto and asparagus. Both courses were delicious. The soup was flavorful and warming (esp on a cold winter day) and the duck and risotto were also incredibly tasty. As a dessert, I had the creme brulee which wasnt anything special but was still delicious and HUGE. The rest of the party felt the same way even though we ordered quite an assortment. For the price and quality of the food, this place is a great lunch spot. It is, however, based around the view, so they take their time...which can make for a very looooong lunch. Of course, if you tell them you need to speed things up they will. great experience...will go back (for lunch at least).
(3)Renee G.
We went to Top of the Hub for Lunch.The food was great. I had the Lobster Bisque and Baked Stuffed Lobster and it was perfect! My coworkers also enjoyed the Salmon & Swordfish and Flatbread Pizza. The service was excellent and the view spectacular. They have a Pre Fixe menu available for lunch that is very reasonably priced.
(5)tony w.
I've had many dates here and the jazz around the cocktail tables are a great time if you're not looking for a full on meal. The atmosphere is better than the food.
(4)Joshua C.
This place has a spectacular view. I have been twice, once for dinner, once for drinks. I have never been during the day. The views at night are second to none. The time I went for dinner, I got a NY Strip which was amazing. The service was great and I was overall pleased with the dining experience. The second trip was just for drinks. There were three of us and we had approximately 6 drinks. I believe the bill was around $80. You are definitely paying for the view and the very classy atmosphere. The bartender definitely took the time to talk to us and was johnny on the spot with the drinks. The only reason for four stars as opposed to five is the steep price tag.
(4)mickey l.
This is where to go in Boston if you want a view (aka San Francisco) of a city that is bigger than your fist. The Drinks will be your primary target, and don't forget the biggest deal on the menu is the Fried Calimari appetizer, which is a frickin' huge plate of tasty morsels with jalapeno and citrus, order a salad and you'll get bread too. I wash it down with their fantastic Greg Norman Shiraz. It is decanted perfectly every time I go and at 9 bucks it is fair for the view is worth much more. I've never had a real sit down dinner hear, but my bro says the Filet was quite good. Tourists be damned, I am a tourist, you are too, if you go here, so just enjoy picking out your neighborhood from 800 or so feet up.
(4)Crystal S.
As a Boston resident, you are supposed to snub your nose at the Top of the Hub because with a view like this, do they need to even think about the food? Fortunately for me, I'm a Somervillian so this snob rule does not apply to me. I've been here for lunch AND dinner and for Restaurant Week AND non-Restaurant Week. They've been consistent throughout and they have some of the most courteous waiters I've encountered in Boston. Not all of the dishes are perfection, but they're good enough that I don't have an issue coming back. Also, face it, the view is breathtaking! So if you want to spend the money, go! and if you don't, having a few drinks is fabulous, but arrive before 8 pm (I think) and you won't have to pay that silly $20 something dollar fee to get in (ridiculous really).
(4)Mike D.
As a new Yelper wanting to write a good review I decided to write this article both before and after going there. I am going there for my girlfriend's birthday. We have never been so I thought it would be a nice occasion. I'm a little hesitant in going here after reading the reviews about being treated poorly. I'm 23 and plan on wearing at least a shirt and tie. I also plan on spending about $250 on the meal. For me, spending $250 on a 2 person meal is quite extravagant so I have some expectations and I hope I'm not disappointed. I made a reservation about two weeks before the night we went. I asked for a window seat. The woman on the phone told me that she would add a note to our reservation that we requested a window seat. However, window seats are not guaranteed and that we could wait until one is available. This in itself makes me uncomfortable because to me it means, "when you get here and we'll size you up and see if you're good enough for a window seat." --------------------------------------------------Â--------------------------------- My girlfriend and I arrived promptly for our reservation. I decided to go all out and wear a suit. She wore a black cocktail dress. As we walked into the Prudential tower we were greeted by the first hostess. She asked for my name and reservation and said that I could go right on up. We were very excited and full of anticipation as the elevator traveled to the "Top of the Hub." We walked to the counter and were not welcomed by the hostess. I had to initiate the, "Hi we have reservations chat." The hostess found us on their computer and said she could seat us right away. She then took us to a table that sat farthest away from the windows. I said, "We asked for a window seat when we made our reservation." The hostess said, "Oh, well they are not guaranteed and you could wait 45 minutes for a window seat." So she took us to the bar where we waited for a window seat. The two bartenders were awful and didn't have enough time to take drink orders from people sitting at the bar while also servicing the rest of the restaurant. After about a 5 minute wait I was able to order a beer and a glass of merlot for $15. Beer is not served in a pint glass either; it's smaller like the kind you get orange juice in. I sat in the chair and looked around. In a suit and tie you are almost overdressed for the place. There were a handful of tourist families wearing jeans and t-shirts in the place. Approximately 15 minutes later the hostess came over to the bar to get us. In what was the rudest move of the night she asked the couple to my right if they were me; in what was the worst attempt at pronouncing my last name that I have ever heard in my life. As I made eye contact with her she skipped over me and asked the couple to my left if they were me. I then said, I think you're trying to say my name. After that she took us to a nice window seat with a view of Cambridge. After being seated we ordered the Top of the Hub tasting menu with wines. The food was very good and my girlfriend complimented the wine pairings. The beef was a little burnt on the outside for what was supposed to be medium rare. The service appeared good but that was probably because the waiter had to return to deliver each course of the 5 course meal. He failed to refill my glass of water. All in all, we did enjoy the restaurant. We walked away thinking the dinner and night out was very fancy. The food was generally very good and the view was amazing. However, I do expect to receive better service than I did after dropping $275. Going to a fancy restaurant is not just created with good food the atmosphere has to be right. Even with the Boston skylight the staff's performance makes the atmosphere pretty grim. To the restaurant: 1. You should either take reservations for window seats or don't. Don't create this middle ground where anyone off the street can request a window seat when I made reservations two weeks in advance. To the hostess: 1. If someone requests a window seat and you don't have one you should let them know prior to taking them to the table farthest from the window. 2. Don't discriminate against young couples- especially when they are dressed nicer than you could afford. 3. Don't act haughty like your some high class broad, you're a hostess for what has become a tourist attraction. And you're not the attraction... 4. Jump off the observation deck.
(3)Lila S.
The third star is entirely for the view of America's most beautiful city: Boston. The service was fantastic (I went for brunch) and the mimosas were refreshing and delicious. As for the food... ugh.. It was like a new manager came to town and made smaller portions and outrageous prices. My steak wasn't even cooked well enough.. it was bleeding left and right and was basically cold. I never really send stuff back but I did and when it came back it was an inedible piece of bark, so overcooked and so dry... it really ruined everything. The waitress was a doll and took my entree off the bill. Stick to the drinks, and maybe some dessert. I have to say they do have the best Apple Martini around Boston.
(3)Greg G.
Very classy place and breathtaking views of the city. This would be a perfect place to take a date. The staff was very friendly and did not mind that we walked around a bit to take in the views. To eat I had a few appetizers and they were superb.
(5)Bill Y.
Was late in seeking a reservation for Christmas Eve. All the available primo places were booked so I went to plan "B" which was to go to a place that was memorable for things other than the food. Top of the Hub fit because of the stunning views. We had reservations but when I got there I was told it would be a wait of 30 minutes and four different young people were staring at their computer which was not a good sign. I have a cane (back problems) so I notched up my "serious restaurants know how to honor a reservation" mode, leaned on the cane, looked powerfully annoyed and we were seated five minutes later. The menu was, quite fairly, limited. The waiter, whilst a decent guy, had a hard time getting our order straight, but things began to flow. I thought the menu was a tad "froo-froo" with lots of ingredients/components for each item. The food was "Good" but no more than that and the prices extremely high for what one got. On the other hand, for that night and because of my slothful preparation, I had a take a hit somewhere and it was in the cost. The views are great and it was a nice night. Doubt that I'd go back unless it was for a cocktail...they have a very nice bar. In fairness it must be recalled that few places are at the top of their game on a very busy night such as Christmas Eve.
(3)Al A.
Great service. Good food (desserts dissapointing). Great view. Expensive.
(4)Oleana B.
I am giving it 2 stars for the view. I went there a few days ago with my husband. We were seated in the lounge by the window. They do not heat the place well. It was pretty cold by the window and I ended up putting on my winter coat. The candle light thing on the table was not lit. We asked our waiter to light it, but when he did it smelled of some kind of smelly lighter fluid and we ended up turning it off. We ordered a glass of wine each which was nothing special. I ordered the lobster bisque and my husband the cobe beef hot dogs. The lobster bisque came with over boiled lobster that tasted fishy. One piece still had the shell on it! The cobe beef dogs were tasteless and had skin on the thickness of plastic. The super market brand hot dogs taste a lot better. We ended up leaving our food and going somewhere else where we could actually eat something. I understand this place does not have to try very hard because they have a beautiful view of the city but it seems like they've completely given up on the food aspect.
(2)Madras M.
The view was incredible! It is on the 52nd floor and you can see entire Boston in lights when you go there for dinner!! The bar is big and dinning seems to be very formal! The food was very good. I had a padthai which was totally different from other padthai's I had in the past. The padthai had thai noodles and on top of that a single large slice of tofu and then on top that a single large slice of pineapple. On the side of padthai it had small pieces of banana. It was delicious!!
(4)Ulli K.
I won't even waste your time but I will say this: View: AWESOME Service: AWESOME Bar: Pricey, but worth FOOD: SUCKED. Seriously, I can name 10 restaurants that had better food. I was so disappointed. Our waiter however was great. Just to say that again, but I will never go here again for dinner. Waste of money.
(1)Bonnie G.
C'mon...you came here for the VIEW and da HUB DELIVERED! Fuckin A, 5 stars for the amazing view of the city. 1) Came here with four friends all wearing like t-shirts, ripped off shorts, fucking up looking sneakers or flip-flops, all smelly from riding or hungover at around 5:30, like we belonged in Allston, not in a 'classy' place like Hub-but the lady didn't blink, sat us at the sofa area (away from the window), but when I saw a table clear in front of us at the window, I just went for it, and they accomidated no problem. 2) The martinis started at like 11-way too much and not that great and in incredibly cheesy spencers gifts like glasses. My Level 52 wasn't half bad. 3) We were all so hungry we buckled and got the pizza for 14 bucks, and it tasted like...not real pizza? Like fake restaurant pizza? But I was so hungry I didn't give a shit. But don't order food. Just order drinks up here...(or one drink and refill it with your own private stock). 4) The decor just feels bad-uninspired hotel like...no CORPORATE, like when you go to a 'fancy' corporate conference dinner...yeah. That is what it feels like. 5) I thought the bathroom would be nicer? 6) FUCKIN A THE VIEW makes everything else not worth your time reading! We got to see Critical Mass take off, the clouds appear for the thunderstorm, lightening hit Hancock, then the clouds and just the rain and the city change from day to night. It was amazing. All my friends are coming back to it. I wish I had thought of it sooner in my time Boston. Don't be as jaded as I am, take the 52 floor, baby.
(5)Andrew A.
With an incredible view from Boston's highest point, its no wonder Top of the Hub is the fail-safe destination for would-be fiances. The bar has live jazz many nights of the week, and for the location the drinks are reasonably priced. The food is fair for the price, but you aren't really paying for the food. If you're looking to impress, this is one of the best places in Boston, but if you're looking for nothing more than an incredible meal (for a reasonable price) look elsewhere.
(4)Sara S.
Came here on a Monday night for drinks and dessert for a friends birthday. For this purpose, it was a five star experience. Sat at the bar to avoid the minimum, and enjoyed fantastic drinks prepared by John, our bartender. Seriously, this guy knows his stuff and made AWESOME stuff that were both on and off the menu, including a pumpkin martini, a mint chocolate martini (and also a frozen variety), caramel apple martini, birthday cake shots, and more. Got the plate of freshy baked cookies, which came with fresh pumpkin whipped cream. YUM. One of the best places in the city for dessert and drinks!
(5)Karina K.
Beware of undisclosed prices on specials at dinner. We had a nice meal at the Top of the Hub. Great view, good food. However, when we got the bill we discovered that the steak special was $62 (typical entree is around $30). Not worth it and more important, they never mentioned it was twice what you'd expect to pay. We called the manager later (didn't want to complain at the time since it was a birthday dinner for my sister and she had the steak, she would have been mortified) but the response was lackluster. So, enjoy the view, but ask before you order anything that's not on the menu.
(2)Paul I.
Went there for brunch with my parents on my birthday. The food was absurdly expensive and not tasty at all. Service was poor, as well. I felt embarrased. I can recommend coming up for drinks, but don't push your luck.
(2)Annette M.
This is a great place to go and have a GREAT view of the city. The food is amazing and the menu changes pretty frequently. They have a good bar menu and the dining room menu is fantastic. The bar tenders are great and they make good drinks (their lemon drop martini is my favorite). And the wait staff is very attentive to your every need. However, a few of the hostesses can be a bit abrupt and judge you the minute you walk in the door. That is the reason I didn't give them 5 stars. I love everything else about this place but have been a bit put off by the hostesses on more than one occasion. But, otherwise I recommend giving them a try. The dining room opens at 5:30PM but the bar is open earlier and serves food as well.
(4)Alec Y.
could not be any prettier. when it comes down to it, this place's food just didn't wow me. but the view sure did. oh, and wow, the elevator up to the hub, is the fastest elevator i've ever been in. takes maybe 20 seconds to travel 52 floors. when we got out of the elevator, the view was gorgeous. boston was absolutely gorgeous. this, by itself, sold me. i would've given this place 1000 stars if it was solely based on looks. but it isn't. the decor itself isn't bad. its nice. but i don't care about that. the service was decent. he was nice, but he creeped me out. its because he liked to hover. a lot. he just kept on staring at my table. and that's what turned me off a lot. he was very kind and accomodating though. so when it comes down to it, he was just doing his job. the food here, in my opinion, is just very classically american. its like comfort food. i had the pork tenderloin wrapped in bacon with sausage and spinach over a potato puree. everything in that, to me defines classic comfort food. so i loved it. but it's a rather simple dish, so i wasn't super impressed. my friends got the scallops and the bucatini pasta. and the scallops apparently weren't amazing. and the pasta i thought was too creamy. the creme brulee however, i thought was quite good. it was super heavy. i filled me up in a second. so that's always good. overall, i definitely enjoyed it, and i would love to go back again.
(4)Vern B.
Top of the hub is so nice. it reminded me of chef Zs in tokyo on the 72 floor in some building of tokyo. the layout is wonderful. the food was so tastey. i had a wild mushroom pasta... it was orgasmic. and i have an expresso martini. The view is wonderful. and the service was great. but its a pretty penny 2 people cost about 100 bucks
(5)Hannah D.
If you're not from the city, then the view from this place is amazing. My boyfriend brought me at night, and I have to say I agree with most of the reviews, which breaks it down to... - View is amazing at night, given a clear night. - Martinis are pretty darn good, I don't know what the watered-down person was talking about, I thought they were just right. - Food is just okay, but the food presentation is great. Clam chowder was definitely good, crab cakes were good, didn't love the pasta. - Creme brulee was great :) Basically, go there to wow an out-of-towner, or to say you've been. Unfortunately there's not a lot of time to make out in the elevator on the way up. Wait, I mean... uhh.. the elevator ride is pretty darn quick. Tips: Make friends with the hostess and your servers. Then they'll move you to a window seat first thing ;)
(4)Allison B.
wow! they must've swanked up the menu, because the food was significantly better this time around then my first visit 3-4 years ago. granted, that first visit was while i was a student, so it's possible that i fixated too much on the price and not enough on the food - but honestly, i remember being seriously underwhelmed. now that we're a part of the yuppie "young professional" class, we went all out with the prix fixe menu with wine ( selectrestaurants.com/to… ). the starter was the standout of the meal - a creamy lobster bisque with - to my great surprise - huge chunks of lobster scattered throughout, and hints of coconut milk and lemongrass. i'd even come here for this dish alone - at $11 i think it's a great deal, as it was super decadent and satisfying. the riesling was perfectly paired, and brought a lightness to such a creamy soup. the second round brought a cut of veal for the bf and salmon for me. again i was surprised to discover that the fish had a flavor of bbq sauce. both were good, but at that point we were already so impressed by the soup i can't imagine much could've superseded it. again, the wines were a fantastic complement. i already knew the creme brulee was outstanding here, and this time was no exception. of course the view was amazing, but you already knew that. this time we had the unique experience of dining alongside a groom and bridge in a full-on princess gown. counter-intuitively, i found them charming. the service was excellent - lightyears away from my first experiences. with multiple people serving different roles for a single table, service was quick, attentive, and friendly. counting the cocktails we had at the bar while waiting for our table, we left the restaurant drunk, happy, and full :)
(4)genevieve r.
The views here are magnificent! The service is on and off...The hostess was a little strange, making the intial feel of the restraurant more like a hotel. She'd make a great bell hop. The drinks are good but tend to be on the higher price side (12+). I must say that the chowder is the best anywhere! Me and my husband will come here just for chowder. The rest of the food doesn't seem all that...Maybe the crab cakes???
(4)Francis W.
The view is really amazing. The Bloody Mary I ordered was not... But the appetizers we ordered were great, including an arugula salad and mussels.
(4)Christine M.
Went for the observation deck, last minute decided to go for dinner. The service leaves a lot to be desired. I think it's inappropriate when 1) your waiter forgets that he hasn't taken your order yet, 2) he leaves the silverware and bread plates from the previous patrons when resetting a nearby table and 3) can't figure out to take empty plates and glasses away when you are finished. The only good thing was the view and the mac 'n cheese.
(3)Bryanne R.
Yep, took my parents here when they came to visit. Since it's way expensive (for my budget) we had drinks at the bar and enjoyed the AWESOME view and people watching. If nothing else, come up here for a one of a kind view of Boston and a drink at the bar (you can just get a soda...). Hopefully I'll have an updated review when I get the chance to eat here...
(5)Nicole B.
came here for drinks. service still sucks. prices still a joke. but god what a view!
(1)Hailey T.
We came only for drinks and dessert so I can't attest to the food, but it looked good. The view is so pretty at night. I brought my sister here when she was visiting because we hit up places like this in every city we visit. The jazz band was a great extra for our evening. We each had a glass of prosecco, pretty good, not the best glass I've had, but definitely enjoyable. The dessert we had was some sort of freshly baked cake with a liquid like chocolate inside, spread on raspberry sauce with a scoop of blackberry ice cream. Amazing. We like chocolate and that was divine. Combine it with the prosecco and it's a damn good night. There is definitely a side with a better view, we unfortunately did not get seated on that side, but it was still at great night's end.
(4)R F.
Thursday night was the best birthday I've ever had in all of 23 years!!! This place is amazing, chill, gorgeous, clean, and the light music playing in the bathroom is awesome too. My twin brother and 2 friends and I had a reservation for Thursday at 7, we got there at 6, drank for probably 2 hours (wicked drunk) then finally ordered food... It was great. The service wasn't overly friendly, but the staff is attentive, smiling, happy, clean, and know what they're doing. The bill for lots and lots of drinking and 4 full dinners was only about $280, which is fine with me, especially since it was our birthday... I can't wait to come back here for another special occasion with other friends... Oh yea... one more thing... The view is incredible and indescribable. I'll try to post some of my birthday pictures and you can check it out for yourself...
(5)Andrew C.
I was at top of the Hub last week and the experience in general was pretty good. The waiter was polite, made some good suggestions, and all the food arrived on time. The Hearts of Romaine were good but I just wish they had more dressing. I would definitely go back.
(4)Beth B.
Great lunch prix fixe menu with wine pairings! A bit pricey for dinner but lunch is a great deal...good food, excellent views of Boston.
(4)Jennifer D.
The view is nice, but you only get to have a view if you're eating. My coworker and I got a drink at the bar, where the view is impeded by all the bottles of alcohol. The drink was okay, nothing special, and pretty expensive, as you'd expect on top of the Prudential building.
(3)Erika R.
Went here tonight for a birthday celebration. All of the staff was extraordinarily attentive and helpful (wouldn't expect much less for the money). The view -- well it speaks for itself. The vegetarian option I had, although I did basically get to request what I wanted off the menu from other dishes that involved veggies, was nothing special to talk about. i ended up requesting a dish with saffron gnocchi and veggies. The drinks and dessert were quite good though! I would totally go to the bar here to hang out, the drinks at around $9-13 were reasonable for such an upscale place.
(3)Jeannette S.
Went there on my last visit to Boston. It was a cloudy night, so we couldn't see too far out. But it was nice just to see the city lights. At times, I felt like I was in San Francisco because I couldn't make out much of what I was looking at in the dark night sky. We went on a Saturday, so there was a bit of a wait, but it wasn't nearly as long as they had said it would be (45 min-1 hr). We actually waited 20 minutes tops. We were able to get a window seat by the bar so we were looking out towards Copley Square. There was a live jazz band so it turned out to be a very romantic night. The staff was great, from the hostess to the waiter. Our waiter was very good and a great conversationalist. He really took his time with us. He even found us a table in the lounge area so we could be closer to the music and check out a different view. We ordered calamari and a chicken pizza and they were typical for appetizers. Their specialty drinks were good, and their wine list was pretty extensive. Overall, a great spot to hang out and spend some money.
(4)Sun Y.
I'm addicted to the lobster avocado salad here. This is a GREAT date spot.
(4)Steph H.
I feel kinda funny reviewing a place after visiting for restaurant week, but I will. My food was fantastic and the views were AMAZING. I could spend all day and night just sitting up there trying to point out my favorite city landmarks. I would think this would be a great place for visitors to the city and a simply perfect place to grab a swanky drink . Atmosphere was a little cold but your eyes aren't on the decor when you're in there. Reservations are strongly encouraged (probably necessary in fact) and requesting a seat near the window would be a good idea too (I feel like a date planner).
(5)Candy H.
It was such a Great experience...Its a Great place to go for any special occasions, Great atmosphere and night view..Excellent service!! Except for the hostess..the waiter/Waitress are Great!!! The dishes are highly decorated with simple and elegant..the dishes are a bit small for me..but it's expected..
(5)Marilyn T.
You can go to Top of the Hub purely for the view. We went on a clear night and chose to sit in the lounge area by the window. We had some wine, a salad, and shared a pizza, so it wasn't too bad. The food wasn't amazing, but we didn't expect much from it. Prices are definitely higher due to the tourist factor, but I felt like it was something I had to experience in Boston before I move away.
(2)Tina L.
I think the view is great - it definitely adds to the atmosphere and makes this a fun place to eat. Drinks taste ok - but they are pricey. I've had dinner here twice and the food was only okay. For what you're paying, you can definitely find another restaurant that has higher quality food. Nothing memorable on the menu that I tasted. I actually like coming here most for dessert - they are good (it's hard to screw up fresh cookies - which is a good choice btw) and it's nice to be above all the sparkly lights. =) It's usually very chill and they have a good jazz band on Friday/Saturday nights.
(3)Aretha B.
Gorgeous, mind boggling view. I love watching the planes line up to land at the airport. I love watching the flow of traffic on 93. I love peering over to fenway park. I love the chowder!!!!! Among my top 3 favorite chowders in boston. Probably #2 on that list, actually. And it's not badly priced at 7 bucks. A good light lunch. I love bringing friends up there who have never been... for a drink, the view, and if it's after 8pm the live jazz. It's expensive all around, but worth the price now and again. I'd rather go for drinks and apps than a full on dinner. Have gone dressed in street clothes several times (and with tattoos and whatnot) and have never experienced and unfavorable treatment. Tip: you NEED a reservation on the weekend evening.
(5)Bailes B.
My wife and I went here the day after our wedding, because it was our one big night out back when we were college students. Our expectation was that the food would be so-so (given the price tag), but that the fancy cocktails and the view would more than make up for it. Indeed, the drinks were wonderful - the ginger lemon drop was of particular note, and the wine pairings were appropriate. But we were also highly impressed with the food. The braised lamb shank was amazing, probably the best lamb I've ever eaten! The lobster bisque was also quite good.
(5)Mabel C.
I like Top of the Hub. Even though it was raining and cloudy so I couldn't see anything outside, I still had a great time. I have heard the food was so-so from other people so I was surprised. I went for Restaurant Week, and I thought that the salmon was done very well - it had beets on top and mash potatoes underneath, and the whole combo was great. The clam chowder soup was ok (I think manhattan-style), although I really liked the bowl it came in - it looked like a miniature circle chair to sit in. Since they ran out of creme brulee that night, we got to choose desserts off of the regular menu, and I liked the sorbet (champagne flavored?) the best.
(4)Kristen S.
Whether you're a tourist or from the area, you need to go at least once, just to take in the view. It really is that worth it. Personally, I like making reservations there for about half an hour earlier than sunset. Then you can watch dusk coming over the city with the buildings turning all different shades from the sunset. I don't think they'll take reservations requesting this but it's worth it to wait for a table next to a window. It's a perfect special occasion restaurant. But if your budget doesn't allow for dinner, you can still go to the bar, have one drink while you take in the view, and call it quits.
(5)Tanya A.
Top of the Hub is the place my husband and I like to go when we want a nice dinner. Not a fantastic, ultra-special-occasion dinner, but a nice dinner with a romantic atmosphere. The prices aren't that bad; we usually get the prix fixe menu, and we'll always get something we wouldn't otherwise have tried but which we end up loving. Their lobster-avocado salad is something I still try to recreate at home (unsuccessfully, unfortunately). And their seared foie gras is something I'm drooling just thinking about. ;) I don't know why people are so annoyed about the service, our servers have always been polite and professional. Heck, once my husband joking requested a candle for the table for a more romantic atmosphere, and our waiter wet out of his way to find us one. And of course, you can't beat the view.
(4)Kevin H.
My girlfriend and I came here in early April with reservations. We were quickly seated to our table and our waiter came promptly afterwards. For those that have heard great things about the view, I can assure you that it is quite spectacular regardless of the weather. When we arrived, snow was everywhere. But from our window seats, it seemed as though we were sitting in a magnificent snow globe, which added to the romantic ambience. This atmosphere alone justifies the bill, as you are paying for the thrill of a fancy night out. The food, however, leaves much to be desired. I ordered the steak special, that was supposedly marinated for days. She ordered the daily fish special. Both tasted OK, but there are better restaurants out there for far cheaper. If you go into Top of the Hub with a window seat reservation and the right mentality, this is highly recommended for the ambience. But if you're hungry and just looking to grab a bite to eat with your date, save your money and go to the North End.
(3)Jeff V.
My girlfriend and I came here for lunch during restaurant week on a Saturday, and it exceeded our expectations. While the menu is normally quite pricey, we had a fantastic lunch including wine overlooking the Charles for under $30 per person. The menu included delicious soup and salad, a mouth-watering pork loin wrapped in bacon, and probably the best creme brulee I've had in my life. Our waiter was friendly and attentive. Though the dinner atmosphere can be very different (and restaurant week is certainly not year-round) I have to say we were very pleased with the experience.
(5)courtney d.
Everyone should do this once, just like a duck tour..its tourist-y but totally worth the experience. The view is amazing although I've heard the food isn't anything to speak of. Dessert is absolutely something you should look into though...dessert and drinks is all you need..and a window seat if you can get it. Plus the elevator ride up is realllly fast :)
(4)Mindy M.
My husband and I love this place! We typically go here 3-4 times a year. The prices are very reasonalbe, the food is perfect, the view is to die for and the service is outstanding. My husband casually mentioned to the host that it was my birthday and they seated us in a semi private room and had the band sing happy birthday to me. Nice touch!
(5)Brandon L.
Tourist spot, great view but the food is a joke. I wonder if they're paying so much for the rent that not much money left for the food? Very disappointed, another typical "crab cakes, tuna tartare" type of typical place in Boston, uninspired menu, average service. Avoid this place unless you'd like to bring out-of-town friends to show them the view. The night I went there although there were empty tables by the window, they would not let us have one and had us sit very very close to a couple in the middle. Then a bunch of very loud tv producers from a show I never watch showed up and they allowed them to be so obnoxious. If you're trying to impress your tourist friends try the Bristol Lounge and request a window table.
(1)may l.
the location. beautiful view.. both day and night.. I love to have my lunch here.. very reasonable pricing with fantastic food .. the salmon is just right... love it.. The evening is a little bit expensive ..but considering the view.. well. it is worthy. And the food is already quite good prepared..
(4)Katia M.
Frankly, I work halfway up the Hancock, and I'd just assume take friends and visitors up there if they'd like to see the view (it's just as good). The "Top" is expensive, makes me dress up (not that I mind, but it forces the issue), and generally doesn't much interest me. There are better views in Boston, I swear. But if you can't find them, this place will do. Get a table, get a drink. But beware, they'll run you a fair bit of change.
(2)Hiroko S.
New review They just started new system from this week, after the 8pm, you have to pay very expensive charge(I don't remember, it was either $12 or $24 I guess.....) to have drink. I usually love to use top of the hub to take my friends who visit me from out of the town to show Boston. However, it is no longer affordable. I thought instead of paying about $10 for skywalk, it is better to go top of the hub to have drink with using that $10. ---------------------Former Review 4stars---------------------------------------- Saturday 5pm for the cookie plate. I only waited 3minutes. However, that day was kind of storming day!! I like soft type of cookie, so this is good. However, if you get the cookie dough at the supermarket and baked it and decorate like this the taste will be the same. Not super special. You know cookie is always special, so hard to make a difference. Even the storming day the view was great! I have a picture of cookies as always, but i think if I post it here, I will take someone's happiness away. Go there and try it!!
(3)Christopher F.
We've been to Top of the Hub on several occasions. Special dinners, drinks, New Year's Eve and even a few lunches sprinkled in, and it has never failed to delight. First of all and most obviously, the view is unparalleled. Panoramic Boston from one of the two tallest buildings in town, it's just breathtaking to see the old town laid out like that in front of you, and I had the most fun trying to imagine how it might have looked in the 17th and 18th centuries - something you can really only do from a vantage point like that. Equally dazzling in the day or night, you should eat here once for the view alone. But come back because it's also a high quality restaurant. We've never been disappointed in the food, though like anywhere some dishes we've enjoyed more than others. Of course we have our favorites, but everything has been well prepared and tasted great. On top of that they have all of the traditional cocktails and some fun ones on their list as well, and a strong if expensive wine list. They have many recognizable selections and their prices are generally in line with the typical restaurant markups, perhaps a bit over, but not outrageously so. And at this point we're picking nits...I'll happy throw in a few more dollars for a great cabernet to enjoy it 50 stories above Boston. Go, and enjoy!
(5)Sue S.
My boyfriend and I went here for an anniversary and ordered off the prix fixe menu. The salmon is probably the best I have ever had-- moist, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Plus, the restaurant's view is unbeatable. I agree that the service was only average, and the prices are outrageous, but the food is good, the setting is lovely, and the experience truly unforgettable.
(4)Hubert C.
Great view. Decent food.
(4)Todd K.
I had an excellent lunch here today. With all of the poor reviews on Yelp I was pleasantly surprised with the quality and quantity of food at Top of the Hub. I was with party of 7 and it happened to be Restaurant Week. Nearly all of our party ordered off of the preset menu and all of us agreed the food was good. As you'd imagine the view was spectacular. I'd go back in a second.
(4)Nico S.
Ordered: Boston creme pie and cobbler. Cobbler is packed with brown sugar ... not pleasant. Boston creme pie is too foofoo/designer. It lacked the flavor I was seeking from a creme pie. Sent it back. Drinks were good. And the view obviously is grade A.
(3)Kristine M.
Never had the food and it's unlikely that I ever will, due to the cost. I'm frugal. Four stars for the view. I went there for a drink one afternoon with some out-of-town guests. It's definitely a nice place to go for a drink or two during off hours. The view will not disappoint.
(4)Mags L.
some young couple got engaged in corny, cliche fashion. so minus 1 star 'cos i'm bitter and cynical. what was sad for them was that i got a seat by the window and they were seated in one of the inner tables. otherwise, it was fun. didn't have dinner. martinis and apps (baby spinach salad, crab cakes, salmon sandwich - split between 2 people). near the window (apparently, on the crap side, but i wasn't complaining). i quite enjoyed the food. maybe it was because i was on the crap side, but i didn't think it was much more expensive than what i would pay at a gastro-pub. the service was good. my martini was lovely. i don't mind falling into tourist traps. these are the kind of places that make me feel like mary richards from the mary tyler moore show (hey look! little suburban girl living it up in the "big city"). sorry for all the parentheses. (i went a little berserko!)
(3)Kree K.
love this place! i gave the view 5 stars :) drinks and food are good as well.
(5)Ellie H.
I've lived in boston for 5 years now, and for some reason never made it to the top of the hub. It was not worth the wait. I brought a visiting family member here for a drink-thought the view would be worth the trek up the 50 something floor. We ordered a round of drinks-4 total people total, then pushed our way towards the window to see what all the hype is about. Thats why they got one star. Its a great view. We saw some open arm chairs in this lounge/living room type of setting which was set back from the glass-away from the diners. We squished ourselves into 3 seats and started to have a very nice conversation with a couple that was sitting on one of the couches. About 5 seconds later, a host comes out of nowhere and ackwardly tries to tell me as quietly as he can that these "seats" have a $25 minimum per person. My response was a rather loud, "Really?!" Keep in mind we all had brand new mixed drinks-which all averaged between 12-15 bucks. I know clubs have minimums for packed tables, suites etc.. but a couple of arm chairs in the middle of a bar when nobody else is waiting for them?! Needless to say, we would have easily hit up the $25 min with another round, but didn't want to give this establishment any more of our time. Check out the view, but don't expect to have a fabulous time while you're doing it.
(1)Jennie P.
Absolutely incredible view that should be seen by anyone living in or visiting the Boston area. HOWEVER Snotty hosting staff, mediocre waitstaff, extremely overpriced not that great food (but go figure, it's at the top of a really tall building with a great view, so maybe sort of to be expected). But here's the real catch: even if there is not a soul in the dining room, you can only get a table near a window if you're spending over a certain amount (i.e. purchasing a full meal with drinks). And if you go there for just drinks, the bar is not close enough to the window to enjoy the view at all. But if you so go there for drinks, pricing is mid-scale bar and the drinks are pretty good, and you can, if you are stealthy, wander over to the window and sneak a peak at the Blue Hills to the south, Wachusett Mountain/the sunset/a Fenway game in progress to the west, the Atlantic to the East... you get the idea. So it's worth it once or twice, but do not expect to feel welcome there unless you are quite clearly a tourist. They are not fond of locals, even if you are dressed way up.
(2)Pablo S.
Stay away from this horrible place and rude management who doesn't care about their costumers !!!! Mediocre food not worth the $ and very expensive.
(1)Stephen S.
I can't say I was enthralled with the food, but I was certainly impressed. Thanks to restaurant week I was able to weasel my way into Top of the Hub with some coworkers for lunch. Curiously enough the standout dish of the meal was the salad. It was basically just tomatoes and onions but both were extremely fresh and packed with flavor. The citrus-y balsamic vinaigrette was both refreshing and playfully light on the palate. Next up...salmon. Salmon's pretty hard to screw up and props to them for not doing so! The bed of risotto was good, although it could have used a little more salt. The texture was right on though. Apparently I was suppose to eat the skin though, which is considered a delicacy, but I neglected to do so and thus deprived myself of the meal which some of my more sophisticated dining companions savored. Clearly I'm not up on my fish etiquette. To finish I went with the chocolate caramel tart thingy over the creme brulee. It was...adequate but not memorable. Big ups to the service though, they were ridiculously attentive. I like to play this game where I order flat or sparkling bottled water and those around me get tap. I judge the attention of the servers (usually at least 3, only one of which actually brought the bottle to the table) by the frequency with which they refill my glass and whether or not they remember that mine came from the bottle and not the pitcher. They almost failed today but the water server noticed his mistake at the last moment and averted a catastrophe by withdrawing the pitcher at the last moment. Good for them!
(3)Angela H.
You're here for the view, not really so much for the food. (The food is okay.) If you're a tourist, definitely go. If you live in Boston, still go, just because. Especially at night.
(3)Sweaty P.
Get the platter of cookies and nothing else. It's the best.
(5)Joanna C.
I visited the first day of Restaurant Week for dinner with my roommates. Thus, our waiter could not give us his opinion on the RWeek menu. But we tried it anyway: Bread: room temperature, ok Arugula salad with Goat cheese & Caramelized onions: nothing special Manhattan clam chowder: eh, and very hot Salmon with Bearnaise reduction and Beets: ok Rigatoni with Veal, Porcini mushrooms, & Roasted garlic: VERY GOOD (I'm glad I chose this, the overly cheerful waiter described the meat having been braised and simmered for 6 hours - VERY tender.) Creme brulee: good enough, not amazing Honey yogurt with Walnuts & Orange puree: GOOD (the top gelatin layer of orange puree merged so well with the yogurt layer, and was grounded with the crunchy crust. The hard pistachio bubble sugar piece was the best part.) Aside from the set menu, we tried the Tartar of Yellowfin Tuna. The avocado and tuna mixed well with the soy-based sauce. But it reminded me of something you'd have at a sushi joint - and it'd probably be done better. The Rasberry Martini was doing its job, apparent by the color of my roommate's face. According to my other roommate, the Sauvignon blanc paired well with the Salmon. Being the DD, I stuck with water. But all the better to taste the food, I guess. The view was nice enough, pre-sunset, sunset, and especially post - all those lights. But things like that don't keep my attention for long. Unfortunately, neither did the food. Although there were some hits, there were more misses. I probably would not come back again if I had the choice.
(3)Tiffany A.
My husband and our friends took me here for my birthday. The plan was drinks and an amazing view, and neither proved disappointing. The drinks are strong and well worth the price. I especially liked my berry bubbly martini, complete with martini soaked raspberries and blueberries. DELICIOUS! I ordered a Chocotini for my next drink, and that was all I needed to feel pleasantly buzzed. These people don't mess with their drinks. We ordered and split two plates of cookies, which were served with a super yummy whipped cream dip. These cookies are to die for (I was partial to the sugar cookies). There was not a crumb left on those plates by the end of the night. The service is incredible; our waitress has no issue splitting our bill multiple ways, and she even offered to take lots of pictures for us with all our different cameras. She was fantastic, and very quick to offer a drink suggestion based on personal preferences. The views are exactly as everyone claims: the best in the city. You can see the entire spread of Boston and greater Boston from up there. It was gorgeous; not as magnificent as NYC, obviously, but still really, really nice. The decor is gorgeous; it's dimly lit and the jazz lounge has a really chill vibe. We felt incredibly relaxed and at our leisure. I will certainly look forward to our next trip back here!
(5)Andrew A.
When you're up 52 stories its going to blow hard...and this place did. I had a $14 burger that was made at Denny's and presented as "Top of the Hub's" very own. The staff sucked too...they were rude, slow, and un-accommodating. I gave this place 1 star instead of none partly because "none" is not an option and also because the view kicks ass. Dont go here unless you know the owner and/or are feeling charitable.
(1)Kristen H.
Once you get over the breath-taking view of Boston, you get back to reality and realize that it is an expensive, crowded bar, with minimal sitting room, and stuffy. I found the bar to be very overrated! If you can get there early enough to get a table with a $24 minimum PER PERSON (yeah the website says PER TABLE but we were told otherwise) or a cozy, romantic table for 2 by a window, seek drinks elsewhere. My friends got mixed drinks and said they paid $8 for tonic with a splash of alcohol.
(2)Lisa M.
I've read other reviews that said that the food is ok but everything else was great. I thought that the food was great. Of course it's pricey, but you expect that in this setting. I would imagine that lunch would be a nice meal there because it's probably less crowded and a little more relaxed. We brought a family of five, including two children. We were concerned about the food options for the children, but the server was very nice and accomodating when I asked her if a simple pasta dish could be provided. My cioppini was perfection. My son said that his steak as the best he ever had. We did have reservations and they wouldn't take us one minute before even though there were tables. We didn't realize that this is how the restaurant is set up, they do "seatings" at certain times. Now that I know that, I will make sure not to get there too early because the bar area was quite crowded. Desserts were wonderful. Service was attentive and prompt. I would do it again for a special occasion.
(4)Nick C.
I will start by saying I've been to The Top of the Hub before and had a good experience (just didn't yelp at that time). This visit was a very different experience. First, I called at the beginning of the week and asked for a window table. Yes, lots of people probably make this request and no they won't guarantee a window table but I was told by the gentleman I spoke with that preference is given to reservations. Good enough for me. We arrive on time for our 9:30pm res., I check in and we are immediately seated but at a table as far from the window as you could get AND on the other side of a pole. Ok, maybe just bad luck. Literally 5 minutes after we sit down a couple finishes at their table by the window. So its clear the hostess didnt look at my request nor did she let me know there wasnt a window table. Well it gets worst. Our waiter, although a very nice guy (who did get better at the end) took 10 minutes to even take our drink order and another 5 to ask if we were ready to put in apps. Once finished with dinner we moved to the lounge to have a few more drinks and desert. Guess what, at least 3 servers working in that area walked right by us several times without even saying a word. It wasnt until one of the servers overheard me asking the table next to us about servers that he came over and said "yes there are servers but there is a $50 minimum and we assumed you just wanted to sit here". Interesting assumption and by the way, there is no minimum if you've moved to the lounge after eating. The food...ehhh decent. I had the crab cake (not great at all and I like crab cakes), salad was decent, tuna main course was alright, and my date said the salmon was good. The drinks were pretty good. This whole experience at a restaurant where dinner was $190 and drinks were $60....I would expect far more from a place like this.
(2)Eun Jae G.
view and desserts were amazing.. boston cream pie was amazing.. my friend said they had the best margarita in town.. well.. i didn't really like it too strong.. they had it a bit too strong for me.. otherwise if ure okay with it, it was excellent! :)
(4)Andrenaline R.
I don't think I would have gone here, if it wasn't for the view. If you have reservations, don't expect to be seated on time. The food preparation could have been better. I started out with the tuna tartare with avocado, which was kind of mushy for me. It also lacked the lime taste for me. The prime sirloin was lathered in butter, which was good. My coworker ordered her prime sirloin medium, but came well done. So, she sent her plate back. At least the chef gave her a salad to munch on while she waited for her entree. I initially wanted the lobster tail, but they ran out. I ordered fresh baked cookies for dessert. It was like a dozen full size cookies, but they came out not fully cooked. I had to send them back. They did give me a different batch of cookies the second time, but still a bit raw. I gave up and just accepted my cookies as is. This place is ok, but you know it is what it is. Food that is mediocre with an awesome view. We have plenty of places like this in SF. I have to talk about our waiter, because he's a cheese ball. Always making jokes, but after awhile it gets old. Then I have to start rolling my eyes.
(3)ALINA F.
Great place for romantic dinner. The view is spectacular. Food is good but overpriced for the quality. My husband has ordered lamb and loved it.I had 12 oz steak, it was ok.
(4)Alex Z.
best view in boston.. slightly tourist heavy, but expected
(4)Layla P.
This has been mentioned before, but I'll go ahead and say it again..the plate of fresh baked cookies is awesome, only if you like chewy warm goodness of course (which I do). We stopped by here for a drink and dessert and to hear some music. The lounge has a $48 minimum per person after 8 PM (this was a monday night by the way) when there is live music. Some of the cocktails are pretty fruity, I loved them, but men beware if you feel sketchy drinking a pink drink. When we went, it was totally foggy and we couldn't see a thing, but it was still cool because you could see the fog moving past the window crazy fast and it felt like you were in the clouds. The service was good, drinks and cookies fabulous, music very good, all in all a good experience and I would recommend it. :) It is pricey, but it is to be expected at such a place.
(4)Gabriel W.
The food was good, by no means great. The service was good. Their reputation was clearly built on the location. It is a great place to be, you can see all of Boston and beyond. It's especially fun if you've never been up there. But like I said, the food was good, not great.
(2)Josh C.
Tourist spot but.......great cocktails and the food is great. Try the lobster bisque and tuna tar tar. oh ya..... the views not to bad either :-)
(4)I Before E.
Incredible view. I can see for miles and miles and miles and miles........ The food was creative, the service was great. I'd highly recommend this for a special occasion (or an everyday occasion). It's not nearly as expensive as you might think. Went here for a pre-Valentines dinner. (Waited too long to make a reservation for the 14th, so had to substitute the 13th. Ouch!) I overcame the moral pangs and started with the Foie Gras. It was very tender and well prepared. A minor nit - the chef obviously hadn't tempered it before cooking, probably took it right from the fridge to the pan, so the center was slightly cool, but is was still very good. It was served on top of apple fritters with a wonderful rum honey glaze. Very, very tasty. I followed with the potato crusted cod. This doesn't look anything like what it sounds. It was a generous size piece of what must have been day boat cod. The fish was exquisitely fresh. My family is in the seafood business. I know fresh fish. This was unbelievably fresh fish. The fish was lightly dusted with coarse potato flour, cooked, and then topped with a ceviche of lime juice and Jonah crab. The fish rested in a sauce that I would guess was made from butter and reduced red and white wine. There might have been a little port in there too. Each of the flavors, the sauce, the fish and the crab, was individually wonderful. The combination of them together was a little bit too aggressive for my liking, but this was an inventive and impressive dish. I can highly recommend it. The chef gets an A+ for effort. If I could rate Top of the Hub 4.5 stars I would, but I have to choose between 4.0 and 5.0. It's not at the same level as Alex at the Wynn or GR at 68 Royal in London, and we do have to save some room at the top don't we, so I'm giving it a 4.0, but it is very, very good. Did I mention the view?
(4)Jing J.
I went there when the first snow storm hit Boston. Looking through the window I saw beautiful vapon above architectures. The dessert there drew my attention, which was crème brûlée, pretty yummy and sweet. My choice on the drink is also good. I ordered mango mojito.
(5)Deb H.
When coming to Boston, you need to take a stop here for a nice date night/night with friends. The salads were AMAZING to start with. I got the beat salad- and would order it again. The main course was a little lacking, and my boyfriend agreed. I got the scallops. They were cooked fine, but there wasn't much flavor. For dessert, we ordered cookies (ask for milk too!) and creme brûlée. Cookies were the best! Had some to take home for the next day. The best part was the GORGEOUS view of Boston and the fun jazz music that starts at 8! Plan around hearing the Jazz- very fun! We stayed for a drink after just to listen!
(4)Samuel G.
Went here for lunch, first time there but wasn't very impressed considering all of the talk I have heard. The views are obviously nice, and can't really be beat. The food was okay, calamari was cold, but other than that was not bad overall. Service was quick and courteous, nothing special. 4 stars because wasn't overly impressed but wasn't too disappointed either
(4)Anna G.
I love this place! You must, must come here either as a tourist, to bring tourists, or as a local. I recommend not making a reservation and sitting in the cocktail area. The views are unbelievable and there is live jazz every single night! What else do I need to say?? Order dirty martinis and calamari, listen to the tunes, enjoy the beautiful views of the Harbor Islands -- thank me later.
(5)Danielle W.
Please keep in mind when dining here for dinner, you are not really paying for the food (which is decent but not particularly amazing), but you are paying for the view. Service was fine, but again, nothing exceptional. They do have a pretty tasty creme brûlée, though.
(3)Kay C.
Yes I'm a tourist - we only came for drinks and for the view - great view for sure - the restaurant wraps practically all the way around. I was surprised that there aren't much taller buildings in Boston - this is one of the tallest. The drinks were just fine - and actually not that pricey considering that I'd expect this to be a full tourist trap. We came right at sunset so it was perfect, got a couple of pretty pictures. I imagine if I lived here it might be nice to come and celebrate something.
(4)Ryan J.
Made a reservation for a birthday dinner. Wrote a note for the online reservation that I would like to coordinate serving an ice cream cake that I would bring. Didn't receive any reply. Wasn't informed of the "no outside cakes" rule until getting there. That was reasonable, all things considered, but it would have been nice to be informed beforehand with the contact info I provided. They offered to hold the cake for me during the dinner, and I was thankful, feeling no need to request an exemption to their cake policy. However, even though I had told them it was an ice cream cake, they had put it in the chilled wine area or something instead of freezing it. We only realized when we got home that our $40 dollar cake was now a puddle. In addition they were rude to a female guest in my party and explicitly told her that she had no reservation when she arrived and asked to join our party of 4 (as our expected 4th member). We were seated in the lounge area and had not been seated yet. As far as food we had the Fra Diavolo and Pork Chop. Food was mediocre and frankly not up to standard for the type of venue. My Fra Diavolo dish had enough meat but the sauce reminded me of cafeteria food. It was very bland and masked both the taste and texture of the seafood ingredients. My guests mentioned that the Pork Chop was alright but not at the level they were expecting. Overall a enjoyable night due to the company and psudo fine-dining atmosphere. However, the hosts and food quality served to diminish an otherwise pleasant meal. Please be aware of standard of service and food to expect from this venue, as well as their policies. If you neglect this and are not a patient individual you may be in for a frustrating or distasteful experience.
(2)Tim G.
Great views and ambiance. Definitely something that all Bostonians (and visitors) need to check out. I've never eaten here, only been here for drinks a few times, but sitting down with family, friends, co-workers, or clients and sipping on a cocktail with the Boston area as your backdrop is prettayy prettayy nice. Drinks are understandably pricey ($15+ for cocktails I think, if not more), but you are paying for the awesome location and views.
(4)Philip J.
Just had haddock, clam chowder, and cream brûlée with my girlfriend celebrating my birthday. It was really good, and the service is absolutely 5 star all the way to the 52 floor. Absolutely the coolest place to have dinner.
(5)Nicole C.
Slow, slow, slow service. Rather unpleasant experience. Not the fault of our waiter, who was very kind, or the fault of our chef, who was astounding (fantastic food), but the restaurant was not staffed well enough at all. I will most likely never return. Also, they did not hold customers to dress code, which lowered the caliber of the establishment.
(3)Gyda S.
Unfortunate to have a bad experience at a place that has such a high reputation. We had to wait past our reservation time to be seated then upon being seated after ten minutes we were asked to move to a different table. Although the food was great, the service was slow because the restaurant was under staffed. Not the fault of the waiter it was purely poor management.
(2)Alvin W.
This place has got to be the biggest scam ever for numerous reasons - The food was mediocre, the filet mignon was overcooked as was the salmon my wife and I ordered -The service was "half-assed", promising to take our photo but never coming back. He did not even bring our food yet he continuously asked for more tips -And finally the management of this place is a scam as a whole; always constantly telling us we cannot sit by the windows tables because there is over an hour wait, when in actuality the place was half empty with numerous windows tables open Our bill and out to be around 200 dollars, while the service and food is not worth remotely close to that amount. Why would you have the view as a selling point but not allow customers to sit and enjoy the view, placing us further in. BAD FOOD, BAD SERVICE, AND A SCAM!
(1)Virginia C.
Anyone from Boston knows the locals don't come here for food. There are plenty of other establishments for the quality and price. However, you can't beat the 360 view. I would def. Come here for drinks. But I was here for lunch, they have a pretty damn tasty veggie burger!!! Other than that, I was never a fan of my steak dinners here or pasta dishes. It's just all very bland - but the view. Yes, one most go at least once if you are in town for an extended period of time!!!
(3)Al Y.
Two stars just for the great view of Boston, which by the way, you can get from the top of many other tall buildings in Boston these days. I definitely like the daylight view better than night when it is sunny out there. Now to the food, ughhhhh...... Visited with a group from work, I had clam chowder for starters. The soup was cold and tasted like nothing. For main 10 oz iron steak which was low quality meat, tasteless and undercooked ( I asked for medium-well done). You couldn't cut it with knife. Seriously the Worst steak I have ever had anywhere. For desert, the coffee was as sh** as all the others. I ended up having stomach ache. My boss paid the cheque from company budget so I wasn't bothered with that part but I am sure they charged too much for that junk food. Such s disappointing experience. I mean, come on people, this is a landmark of the city of Boston and tourists come here from around the globe. Is this how Boston food tastes like? Or maybe it does!
(2)Amanda S.
I think this restaurant/bar is a must-visit in Boston. I went to the bar and had a Bloody Mary that cost about $10 (which was less than I expected). It was an excellent Bloody Mary, but what was even better were the gorgeous views of the city. We planned to go down to the observation deck (two floors down), but when we got down there, we found it was $16 to enter... To see the same views we had enjoyed when we were at the restaurant. Needless to say, that cocktail was well worth its cost in many ways!
(4)Mona W.
Typically, trademark rooftop bars don't have very good food. However, I was pleasantly surprised. Granted, we were only hungry enough to get dessert. The chocolate cake actually had Top of the Hub written out in gold, and was very tasty. Our drinks were also decent. The views were amazing, and service was pretty good. Overall, it was nice welcome back to Boston :)
(4)kathy y.
This is the highest restaurant that I've been to,and the experience was fun and food was good. We were sitting at the window on a corner, which had an amazing view of the city and the water. You could literally stare at the beautiful view for half an our and forget about ordering food, especially if you go right before sunset. It's a semi casual place so no dress or tires required, just don't wear flip flops :) Food was good and service was great. The creme brûlée was to die for! Very big portion too! Unfortunately my stomach was about to explode, so I had to leave mine 50% unfinished :( Would definitely recommend for special occasions, or just for fun!
(5)Sheba V.
The view is breathtaking and that's about it. I asked for medium rare steak and I got well done. The server was sweet enough to notice and return it. Unfortunately, the second steak was inconsistent and full of olive oil. My sister got the crab cake and it smelled awful. The bread and chips were decent.
(1)Alka A.
Two stars: one for the view, one for our bartender who got our orders in right before last call and made them super strong The rest of the staff there was very rude: "you can't sit there, you can't put your drinks here" etc - they are supposed to close at 2am on Friday but at 1:15 they stop serving anything and then randomly start moving the furniture around - taking sofas across the room, and mopping right in front of our feet We even called ahead and whoever we talked to said the kitchen was open til 1:30am but they were wrong so no desserts for us who walked in at 1:06am Beautiful view, but shaddy service
(2)Sharon K.
Fantastic view of the City. Kind of a scene to get a table, but it moved quickly. perfect date spot.
(4)Lauren H.
I went to Top of the Hub for this first time for brunch this past weekend. It was a clear sunny day, so the view was gorgeous. There were eight of us seated at a large round table, and the staff were very attentive and my water glass was never empty. The brunch menu is 4 courses, starting with a Greek yogurt/berry/granola parfait, served in a wine glass. The parfait was fine, but it was a little awkward to eat it out of a small-mouthed wine glass using the large spoon provided. The double cut bacon steak, lobster vol au-vent and tiramisu were all fantastic. Definitely did not leave hungry!
(4)Sargam B.
Went to Boston this past weekend and obviously didn't think the trip would be complete without visiting this place. I'm very big on rooftop bars, as it's the only thing I ever do in NYC once spring hits. Even on a Sunday, this place was relatively packed. We preferred a table but as soon as we entered the lobby of the building, they told us we would have to wait 40 mins for a table. If not, we can just go up and grab a drink at the bar. So we decided to do the latter as we were pressed on time. The bar was super crowded but we managed to get a drink after a while. What was really disappointing was that they had closed off all ways to get near the windows to see the view. I thought that was the whole point of the restaurant. So I somehow sneaked my way around and luckily got a picture in but was told I couldn't be in the area and had to go back to the bar. You can't see the view at all from the bar as they have shelves and shelves of liquor bottles obstructing the view. Who interior designed this place?! The drinks were subpar. I ordered a whiskey sour and it wasn't well prepared and was most likely made with just regular sour mix as opposed to the proper way of making one (fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, egg whites). Only drank 1/4 of my whiskey sour and headed out. A very mediocre experience.
(3)Nancy L.
If only I could give it 0 stars! I had an incredibly disappointing experience here. My friend and I went there at night for desserts (with a reservation). After 20 minute wait, we were seated near the window. After another 20 minutes, a waiter came and rudely told us that we couldn't sit there if we were only there for desserts. We said that we had reservations for the table but we were told that we had to leave for the other guests who were willing to pay for the dinner!
(1)Ivy L.
Great views of Boston! A must go if you're in the area. You can find Top of the Hub in the Prudential Tower. Prices are pretty high...but if you just want to check out the views, I'd definitely recommend this place. My friend and I went for the bar and got a few drinks there instead of getting food (the prices are ridiculous for food and even high for drinks!). I got the Organic Cucumber Mojito, and I really liked it, minus the cane sugar. I thought it made it too sweet. My friend ordered one both of the Pumpkin drinks and she liked the Biscotti one more (I agree, it had a better flavor and texture- more creamy!). Check this place out if you want a view of Boston!
(4)B P.
The view was amazing! The food and service were pretty good too. Not the most epic meal I've ever had. Tthe lobster soup was delicious.
(4)Sam B.
The views of Boston are really what makes this place. The food is subpar, and the chowdah is way below that. There are a few good drinks here though. The Melon Mule and the spicy margarita are the high points. Bottom line, come for the views and the drinks. Steer clear of the food, especially the chowdah.
(2)Anna V.
1 star for the cocktails and another for the view. Food and service were really disappointing. For what I expected to be a fine dining restaurant, this place is severely lacking. I'm no snob when it comes to food by any means, but if you're paying more than $30 for a plate of pasta, you do expect a certain level of quality. We had the crabcake for an appetizer, which was good but overpriced for only 1 crabcake. I got the fra diavolo, which aside from not being spicy at all, was just straight disgusting. You know the marinara they put on spaghetti in a diner in the middle of a strip mall? That's the same sauce Top of the Hub serves. My boyfriend ordered the veal, medium, and it came out rare. Like, bleeding, maybe still breathing, rare. It took the waiter over 10 minutes to come check on us and we had to flag someone down in order to send his food back. It took another 15 for them to bring it back (and after all that it was pretty bland) so we had a lovely time taking turns watching each other eat. The view is really breathtaking but my advice is to save yourself $100, get the full view a floor below at the Skywalk for 11 bucks, then hit up Top of the Hub for a drink. Stay away from the food.
(2)Joseph E.
Let's start with the good! Our waiter was great. Perfect timing between bread, apps and our meal. Friendly and agreed to my fiancés request of taking a couple pictures of us. View was amazing. I ordered the lamb shank, she had filet mignon.. Both were cooked perfectly. Had a crab cake for appetizer, was pretty good, but not great. Bad: the lobster soup. Felt like I was drinking coconut milk with butter. Hardly any lobster.. Like, literally two small pieces the size of my thumbnail. If it wasn't for the lobster soup, would have given a 4 star review.
(3)Tammy T.
I made an online reservation with a special request and my request was not fulfilled. I asked to be seated next to the window as I am a first timer wanting to experience the whole view and dining. My friend and I were not greeted as we came in to check in. Fine, I moved on. Then the hostess who sat us down was completely snobby and rude. (She has long blonde hair.) I didn't even get to sit in my seat and settle down when she tossed the cloth on my lap discourteously. I notice a bunch of open tables near the window seat, so I'm still wondering why I didn't get seated there. Then I look over to the table on my right and see there was a party of TWO sitting in a table of FOUR. Unless they paid extra money to be seated there, then that is understandable but I've never heard of anything like that so please... Give me a damn good reason as to why I didn't get it. The only decent person there was our server. He wasn't even all that great at serving us but he at least had the manners for his job. As for the food, um can you talking about a disaster?! The place probably is only good for the view. Trying to chew and digest my pork tenderloin was horrifying. I felt like I was eating rocks. Then I flip the pork over to see how soggy it was at the bottom. While I'm eating some dry hard pork, my friend's pasta was so bland, watery and NO flavor. She was definitely struggling to eat it. I mean I didn't expect much out of this place for their food. What really ticks me off is the people who work there. Treating me like I'm some low class peasant. Is the owner aware of his workers actions? Do they even take these things seriously?
(2)Jessica T.
I've always wanted to go here with my husband and it did not disappoint. The view in of itself was so worth it. Very romantic atmosphere. We had a brie appetizer and a few drinks. Both were very good and the service was great.
(5)Alicia S.
Honestly, one star because I have to. I'm from Dallas (home of the city with the most restaurants per square mileage.) I know what good and terrible service is. This was the worst. For a place that should consider themselves a lot more "stylish, and welcoming" it is awful. It was not full at all 30% if anything. It took 15 minutes to get greeted after being sat by two insuperable and unpleasant hostesses. Our drinks came after 18 minutes... EIGHTEEN minutes for a restaurant filled at 30% capacity. There were plenty on staff. Other than a cool view, not worth it at all. Horrible. Horrible. Horrible service. Please tell your staff to actually say hi..pay them more. Do whatever.
(1)Chris W.
Great place to grab dinner and/or drinks best view of the city from the tallest building in Boston. Phenominal views. I had the Tuna and it was cooked to perfection. Great menu choices. Highly recommend it for the view alone it is worth it.
(5)Jake J.
A great place to have an amazing dining experience and view for the visiting tourist or a Boston resident. It is on the 52nd floor of Prudential building. Be sure to make a reservation for a window seat overlooking Boston! The ambiance is fantastic and servers are very friendly. There is a dining room, full bar and a dance floor. Fantastic place to impress your first date or dine with your lover. Be prepared to drop a good $200 for two people(it can be a little bit cheaper if you try) trust me, it is worth it. I will say that you are paying more for the experience rather than the cuisine. I was not impressed with the dishes my girlfriend and I ordered but still had a fantastic time! Maybe I ordered something that the chef has not yet perfected. I would definitely go back to see if that was the case. Dress to impress!
(4)Sarah G.
It took me almost 5 years to finally come and try out Top of the Hub, and I wish I had sooner! Yes it is a tourist trap, yes their cocktails are around $13 each which is not cheap, and yes it is technically on top of a mall, BUT the view from up here really is just pretty awesome. I went at night time which I think has to be the best time to go, since you get to see all of Boston lit up--it is pretty phenomenal. And our cocktails were all pretty good too on top the view! They even serve one Bully Boy cocktail here which is Boston's only real distillery and it just opened recently, so that's cool that they support that. We also got their baked brie and as people have said, I would skip the food and just get some cocktails and enjoy the view! They have live jazz later on in the night which then changes the lounge tables to be a $24 minimum per person but with cocktails being that pricey it isn't hard not to do that. But it is a relaxing spot to grab a drink or two, you don't need reservations for the lounge area early enough in the night at all--we walked right in. So glad I can mark this off my Boston Bucket List now!
(4)Tania P.
Beautiful view. Service was just ok. Restaurant had good ambience, but we were sat next to some irritating guests! Would go back and give it another shot.
(3)Ro K.
Overrated, over-pricey, not worth it if you can't sit by the window. I brought my mom here for her birthday (we were traveling from Los Angeles) and we were seated away from the window, even though I made reservations ahead of time for window-seats. When I requested a seat-change, the male server huffed and puffed and gave us attitude throughout the entire meal. I had read the Yelp reviews about the staff being rude and terrible service was definitely the case here. If you're paying that much for food, the service should be commensurate with payment. The only thing that seemed to make the server happy was the fact that we kept ordering more food. They charged us $20 for a complimentary birthday cake. A complimentary...birthday cake. They seated us away from the jazz band and we couldn't hear the music.. despite my special instructions to be seated near them. The whole thing was a disaster. If you're out of town tourists like we were, go to there for a drink and an appetizer and make sure you are seated by the window and near the band. Otherwise, not worth your time and money. If you want great food (the best ribs) and great jazz music, go to the Beehive instead.
(1)Pam C.
Have been here twice for dinner. Definitely make a reservation - it's very easy with OpenTable or a call, and when you walk in and see the small mob of people in the elevator bay trying to get a seat, it'll definitely be worth it. The restaurant is a little bit hard to find, but if you follow the signs and refer to the maps in the mall it's not that bad. It is in the Prudential tower, so you have to walk through the Prudential center mall to get there. I firstly want to echo other reviewers in saying that the hostess staff is quite rude. The first time I tried to call to make a reservation, the hostess hung up on me. The waitstaff was great, however - extremely attentive and very knowledgeable about the menu. They have a great wine and cocktails list, but a lot of the wine can be hit or miss. Their mixed drinks are quite good, but absolutely on the pricey side ($13+ each). The food is pretty so-so, especially for the price you pay. The foie gras was extremely buttery, to the point where it really just tasted like a lump of pure fat - there wasn't much additional complexity to it. The entrees tend to be unoffensive - the fra diavolo was really just spaghetti with tomato sauce, and some clams and shrimp thrown in. The steak was fine, and so is the chicken. Honestly, my impression of Top of the Hub is that there's a huge focus on the fact that it's a ritzy, fancy restaurant. They focus so much on the extensive wine menu, the flashy cocktails, and the impeccable waitstaff that it seems like they just forget about the food. The drinks are extremely strong, but every article of food I've had at Top of the Hub has simply been alright - not great, and absolutely not worth the prices that they charge. The view is very nice, but there are definitely certain sides that have more interesting sights. My favorite is definitely the portion of the tower that faces the Hancock tower. Overall, I think Top of the Hub is absolutely a place that you should check out. Advice though - instead of shelling out for the full meal, or waiting forever to get into the bar/lounge (they don't take reservations for the bar), instead make a later reservation for the dining area, split a desert or an appetizer and some drinks. You get the same experience and view, minus the lackluster food and having to get sneered at by the hostess staff as you wait for hours to get let into the bar.
(3)Daray N.
If you are ever in Boston and in the mood for fine dining, I have just the place! Let me start by saying that the view of Boston from Top of the Hub is absolutely stunning. The restaurant is located on the 52nd floor at the Prudential Tower. The best live jazz in the city (self-proclaimed by the restaurant) will accompany you while you enjoy the view and, of course, your food. You can order à la carte or opt for the 3-course dinner menu for a set price. My main dish was a braised lamb shank with whipped potatoes, fruit compote, and roasted garlic. Simply delicious. My date for the night (my mother) decided to go with the Vermont misty knolls chicken with English peas, shallots, soubise (a thick, white sauce made with onion purée), and sea salt roasted fingerling potatoes. I had the pleasure of sampling her food and it was also to my liking. I think it was the soubise sauce that won me over. Again, I highly recommend Top of the Hub, especially for couples, formal dinners, or even just a night out on the town.
(5)Joy E.
If you are an out-of-towner or entertaining one, this should certainly be on your places to visit. Even if for only a drink or a dessert, the views of the city (and a great deal of eastern Massachusetts if the weather cooperates) are spectacular. The service is prompt but not pretentious and attentive without being intrusive. My out of town guest was blown away by the view and very impressed with the restaurant itself. Its always great to show off this city from this height!
(4)Di L.
I'm surprised how much I like Top of the Hub. I expected a tacky-snooty, overpriced tourist trap, but there's a lot of great things to say about it, not to mention the view. It's great for business meals, dates, site-seeing, pretty much any reason to be fancy. There's live music in the evenings, usually a small jazz ensemble. The staff is friendly and the ambiance is relaxed yet posh. The bar is phenomenally well-stocked, carrying some wonderful craft beers and flavorful, strong cocktails. The food is beautifully presented, but not spectacular. Most menu items are not worth the price, with the exception of the 3-course prix fixe lunch, which is comparable to restaurant week prices and always generously portioned and tasty. I would recommend getting whatever seafood is offered. They serve very fresh seafood, and fresh seafood is naturally seasoned and almost impossible to f*** up. I didn't like the night time dessert menu. The chocolate cake was too dense and not chocolatey enough. The cheesecake had a rubbery texture and a cloying blandness to it that is like how I imagine shortening to taste, if it were eaten by itself. The creme brulee was nice though, not too eggy and served in an extra-wide ramekin to maximize surface area, creating a delightfully crunchy and sweet ratio of custard to caramelized sugar. I like coming here for lunch or drinks. I don't know what the other reviewers are talking about. I've been to the restaurant many times and it has never been packed. There are more people in the evenings, but every time I've been here for lunch or brunch, it has at most been at half capacity.
(5)Trudy V.
Food was fine, a bit expensive for what you're getting. But the service was great and the view was amazing! Overall a great dining experience!
(5)John H.
We didn't eat here, but for getting a drink while taking in the view of Boston at night was awesome. Add to that a great 3-pc Jazz band and it was a perfect finish to a night in Boston.
(5)Tati A.
Save your money and just sit at the bar, have a drink, look at the beautiful view and then go somewhere else to eat. This place is expensive and SO NOT WORTH IT!!!
(1)Shirley L.
I don't normally come here for food just because I think it's overrated. I was here with a friend for a quick drink but we haven't seen each other in awhile so we were taking longer catching up than usual. I chilled at the bar and ordered the organic mojito. It was very refreshing, as most mojitos are. Then I ordered the mussels which were very disappointing. Not enough broth and it was tomato based. The mussels were very small and dry. The two pieces of toast that it came with was burnt and bitter. As for the service, the bartenders are nice but the hosts need some work. They're more focused on talking with each other and wasn't inviting at all. As great as the view is, I don't think I will be returning any time soon. If you're new to Boston, I would recommend to go at least once just for the view but buy a drink and relax. Don't bother with the food. Oh and not to mention their stupid $24 minimum to sit near the window (so if you want the view and drinks, order it at a table near the window) the drinks you order at the bar doesn't count towards the $24 minimum.
(2)Kaveh Z.
Very beautiful view and very good food. The portion size was just right, not large, not small either. We had a very good dinner with my girlfriend there and we both left happy. And very polite and professional waiter that we had made the experience even better.
(5)April A.
We went to the lounge at Top of the Hub after only living in Boston for 9 months for my partner's 30th birthday. I knew the view would be great but yelp reviews made me think we would not be excited about the food, especially being vegan. We went up expecting to wait decent time for seating at the lounge, and within 2 minutes were whisked away to a table. Servers were great and the view was great. I ordered a basic salad that had a light asian dressing and the flatbread with no cheese (so tomato and basil). Both were absolutely delicious. I had assumed it was a "you have to try it once kind of thing then don't need to go back" but I will definitely go back :)
(5)Jackie C.
THis review is for the lounge for drinks and dessert. This is the 3rd time we have been and I have no idea why I haven't checked in before so first of all - Sorry! IT was not a long wait for a table in the lounge section, it is HUGE so don't stress too much. The jazz band is just wonderful for a nicer night out without being too loud. The view is to die for but anyone who goes up there will attest to that. I want to make a special shout out to our serview Jackie (sp) who was just a doll! She had a great suggestion for wine without it breaking the bank and she gave us her opinon on the two best desserts; the carmel creme brule and the chocole cake with ice cream which she totally nailed. Definitely get those! She was very attentive, sweet and just made us feel very special. My brother was visiting so we wanted to show him a good time and she definitely made us look good. When you are there, ask to sit with her - you will not be disspointed with service.
(5)Lexi S.
You come here for the experience more than anything. My boyfriend took me to the Top of the Hub for my 18th birthday last July. We got dressed up nicely (black dress and heels for me, button down with dress pants and dress shoes for him) and drove into Boston to the Prudential. The wait serves was fabulous and the seating and views were nothing less than magnificent. You could see all of Boston from where we were sitting. Everything was exquisite. The food was decent, but maybe because mine was cooked a little too well. Overall, would definitely recommend coming here on
(5)Margaret M.
You know, I have to say I was pretty disappointed with this place. Definitely not what it is advertised to be - and I am not sure if the other reviewers were all experience altitude hallucinations or had too much to drink but this place is absolutely not 4 or 5 stars. Here's a quick run down of the pros & cons to help you make your decision" Pros: View Coat Check Quick bar staff Kind & Knowledgeable wait staff Cons: Incredibly rude & pretentious host staff Inability to seat on time even if you have a reservation Barely decent food WAY overpriced for the quality Jazz music tucked in the back corner where only about 1/4 of the seats in the place can even see or hear them I would suggest hitting this place for a pre-dinner drink and maybe an appetizer just so that you can see the views, but do not plan on staying for dinner. There are FAR better spots to fill your belly in the city.
(2)Dan C.
PLEASE DO NOT RESERVE THIS CRAPPY SPOT FOR A SPECIAL OCCASION, what a mess, spent $200 for 2... Worst experience ever.. The welcome hostess was a pig, no manners , the waiter had a lack of enthusiasm, no sort of experience... Disgusting poor quality and shameful class Boston has to offer... Visitors and locals beware, it may be best to take a chopper ride for $300 bucks for the classic view!! This place is the pitts!! Trust me!!
(1)Scott K.
Last time I went skiing on Aspen, I picked up a pair of fashionable Patagonia custom made snow boots, and brought them back to Boston. Let's be honest- our winter felt like Aspen without the luxurious ski slopes. During on of the snowstorms of 2015, I was out and about after I left my job as the SVP of Contractual Finance and Litigation at a high-powered financial firm that I got shortly after I graduated with my MBA from HBS. I decided to stop up in an attempt to grab a few cocktails with my associates. I was wearing my boots, as it was coming down harder outside than my boss does on me if sales are down (as if I've ever let that happen, lol). The hostess made it so obvious she didn't like my boots that when she was walking behind me, her neck was so extended I could practically see her eyes. She was so snobby and obnoxious I took my deep pockets and high credit limit to The Pour House down the street.
(2)Karin W.
Went there for lunch with others and had an awesome time by the window (definitely request a window table if you can - the view is amazing). I started off with a delicious cappuccino (the stick of rock sugar is super fun to swirl in the cup) and the lobster soup which had an asian touch to it with the coconut milk and nice chunks of lobster - they didn't skimp on that. For my entrée, I had the lobster sandwich (can't help it. I love lobster and it's so fresh in Boston) and it did not disappoint, it was coated in a light sauce and contained little bits of celery - loved the extra crunch. Lastly, I had the creme brûlée and requested the top extra toasty - my waiter Louis was awesome and got me an extra toasty creme brûlée. I enjoyed the creme brûlée because it was unique in that it had a coffee or espresso taste to it. Unfortunately, I was completely spazzing out because of a long conference this past weekend and did not double my tip as intended. Louis, if you're reading this, I owe you an awesome tip the next time I'm in town! You made us feel so welcomed and I feel bad that I messed up the tip!
(5)Kelly H.
To describe our dining experience at top of the hub I would use the words: butter, bad service and tourist trap. My fiance and I did our research. We Yelped Top of the Hub before we arrived and knew what we were going to order. Here is what we ordered: Spicy Lobster Soup - Butter. Drinking this soup felt like consuming melted butter. The soup was not spicy as described. Roasted Beet Salad - Fantastic! It was fresh, colorful and the best thing on the menu in my opinion. Pan Seared Haddock - Fried. Not Pan-Seared. Very disappointing. Freshly Baked Cookies - Butter, again. We ate them all because we were really hungry. Although I didn't expect the service to be very good it was particularly bad at Top of the Hub. My fiance and I didn't have much of the soup. Yet the waiter kept standing around not asking what we thought of the soup. In fact, he never asked us if we liked anything for the entire meal. He also just stood around a lot instead of waiting on tables. The views are gorgeous here. We came on a cloudy day and we still really enjoyed being able to see the city from the Top of the Hub. I will definitely never return to this place, especially when Legal Seafoods is located downstairs.
(1)Kim N.
You come here for the view. Make reservations just in case. The server we had was a little cold. He tried to be friendly and joke with us though. The drinks were yummy, you can definitely taste the alcohol. The food was disappointing. I think I just expected a lot more since the place was so nice. It wasn't bad...Just average...With a big price tag for the price. I'm glad we didn't order too much because I think I would have been disappointed. Again, you come for the view. They don't rush you out either, so stay there and enjoy. We saw a man propose here (she said yes!), so it's that kind of place... The nice part was that when we told our server that we were celebrating my boyfriend's birthday, he got the manager to get us into the observatory below for free, so we could enjoy the night view. (The sun set during our dinner.) It was nice walk around and enjoy the sight. I would only come again for dessert and drinks and the view. I can go without the food.
(3)Michael H.
I booked my reservation through open table and I requested window dining. Well the staff seated us My Mom, my Niece and me in the lounge closest to the wall farthest from the window! But they seated about 15 minutes early. Now it states on the reservation that window can't be guaranteed and I can understand that. But the furthest away jeez! Then my mom and niece ordered the $27.00 steak and all the menu says is steak and tells you about what's on the steak like onions and basil curry. Now my mom simply asked does it come with a potatoe the waiter said tots or French fries! Never mentioned any vegetables or bread... I got the $17 Chicken pot pie which I've had just as good at Bob Evan's. Now I get that your paying for ambiance! But seriously tater tots and French fries! As side dish. Our drink glasses sat empty three different times. I saw another table get bread so I asked the waiter if we can get some he said he'd bring some out he did but it took a while and I had to ask about it. So after our dining experience I paid then I thought this was so bad I'll mention it to the Manager. So this young guy came out in a jacket and stated he was the manager. I told him I have a couple critiques! I said for one let people know what all the menu offers ie. Bread and vegetables, he proceeded to tell me that it's an up charge! I told him if I'm eating at a restaurant like that I'm not going to be worried about the price of vegetables! Then I told him about the poor service and that I've had better service at Denny's . I told him the waitors here make close to 3x the money a Denny's server would make. He proceeded to tell me that I don't have any experience to make that statement. So then I told the manager mind you. That it's simple math! If here it cost me 100.00 to eat and Denny's cost me 30 dollars even a bad 10% tipper is still tipping 3 x's as much. But luckily I don't live in Boston and won't have to eat there again! TOP THE HUB. should be THE SLUB!
(1)Beth L.
Loved it!!! Brought my mom and gram with my sister for Mother's Day Brunch here!!! Delicious!!!! Had amazing pastries to start! Had the shrimp sausage grits at an app my sister had their duck soup!! Very good. Had a margarita which was very good with fresh raspberries in it! Had the cinnamon bun french toast with bananas foster poured atop and topped off with cinnamon toast crunch!!! Omg amazing!! Lobster omlet...bbq short ribs...eggs benedict all were amazing. View was gorgeous!! We were sat in the corner of the room near the window!! Perfect!! Service was great! Dessert was different but good...wedge salad was fresh!! Skywalk included in brunch Will be back!!
(5)M. M.
What to say. Unbelievable views, great food and atmosphere. Daytime city views turn to sunset beauty and night light wonder. A must do.. at some point in your trip to Boston.
(5)Terrance R.
Ok. Let's call this "restaurant" what it really is: it's a nice bar with a view. The food wasn't terrible, but it wasn't worth the money. Again, the view was AWESOME, but I can't eat a view. I got the lobster with crab stuffing, and it was sooooooo average. I honestly would have enjoyed it if the price was more inline with the quality. I've made lobster at my house that tastes better. I'm sure there are some items on the menu that taste good. My friends had good food that had the view premiere in the price but still taste good. My advice... Go here for good cocktails and a nice view. Save money on your food and to one of the many great places in Boston that are known for food and not their view
(3)Alice M.
Eaten here a few times now, and the view is the only memorable thing about the place. The rest was quite lacking for an upscale establishment they pretend to be. The food is good, not amazing as the price tag would suggest, but solidly good. They have a good wine selection, as long as you are in the $60+ per bottle range, which is OK for this type of place. The service is an elaborately staged upscale show, with lots of busy looking workers all over the place. However, they forget the most important thing, the customer. Speed and timeliness are also not relevant in the world of Top of the Hub. Obviously we are all there just to gawk at the view, not actually, you know, eat. Or drink really. My previous experiences of this place have always left me with a lukewarm feeling. I accept it as an obligatory cocktail to which I must always bring my out of town friends. But tonight really lowers that lukewarm feeling to quite chilly. Had a dinner reservation for five people, celebrating a birthday. Got a good table, not next to the window, but close enough. The server, and his trainee right behind him, came over quickly. Good start. Got us water, but no bread. We were still deciding on drinks, so he said he would return shortly to take our drink order. And then he disappeared for 10 minutes.. So we waited. He returned, chatted us up about the various wine choices, took the wine order and left. Then he once again disappeared for over 5 minutes, before returning to take our dinner order. After our food was brought by someone else, he materialized to check on us a few minutes later. And to give one of us a missing fork. But at this point we are eating, drinking wine, and generally happy and willing to overlook the previous disappearances as a fluke. It wasn't a fluke. All 5 of us finished our meals and then just sat there twiddling our thumbs for quite some time before anyone came to check on us. The server finally came to clear the plates and ask us about desert. Brought us a few desert menus and then ran away again. As we sat there, the night falling outside, patiently waiting for the server to return to take our order. He finally did. After quickly eating the creme brule, we were ready to leave. But hotel Top of the Hub is not the kind of place you just leave. The server was busy helping the table next to us take pictures, and then the table on the other side of us decide on a drink. When he quickly walked by us, he completely ignored me trying to get his attention to get the check. The check eventually came, and he eventually cashed us out. In the end the meal took three hours, while we were looking to leave in two, the extra hour went to waiting for Godot. We left feeling agitated at being hostage by slow service. TLTR: Definitely get a drink there, check out the awesome views of the city. Make sure you go on a clear day, because the clouds can really ruin the view, seeing as you are above them sometimes. Don't eat there. Its overpriced, not anything spectacular, and the service is slow.
(2)Jeremy G.
Worth coming for the view, wouldn't make this a regular stop, as its pretty pricey. A fun place to start the night with some friends, particularly if you've never been. Solid standard craft drinks. Come for an hour, get a drink, and head out.
(3)Kale H.
(They don't card) I was visiting Boston and saw this restaurant recommended a few times online when I was looking for places to go. I guess just like in New York, you should never go anywhere that attracts a lot of tourists. I was so disappointed when I realised you do indeed pay for the view than for the food. I had such great expectations as Top of the Hub was not the first restaurant of its kind I dined in, but my experience was just... mediocre and for a ~100pp check, it was a big regret. I don't think you can ask for a window seat when you make a reservation, but they do tell you when you arrive that you can wait at the bar until a window table is open. I wish I had done that, as I decided not to wait and just sat behind the window tables and watched jealously as other couples enjoyed the view. The meal was just not worth it when you don't get to sit next to a window. I also expected superb service, since I watched our server talk to his other tables and engage in such deep conversation. I appreciate it when servers try to get to know you, who doesn't? Maybe we just gave off a vibe that we wanted our space, but it felt like we were the only table he didn't try to be very friendly with. I thought it was because we ordered wine pairings for each course in our meal and he might have thought we were underage, so he didn't want to talk to us? But I wasn't sure. Our first course, the spicy lobster soup, was TOO good. I'm a huge fan of creamy soups, and the lobster addition was just perfect. However, it quickly became too overwhelming to the point that I wasn't sure if I wanted to finish it. After that, the rest of our courses were nothing special and definitely not worth the price we paid for. We didn't finish our main entrees, and dessert wasn't amazing. Maybe come if you're a tourist and you get the chance to get a window table. But I don't know why you would come here if you're from Boston.
(2)Darren F.
This is a complete tourist trap restaurant. The mediocre food has always been overpriced because of the the location and there are far better restaurants closer to ground level in Boston. If you're visiting, do not get caught in the net. Try Union Oyster House or the waterfront for fine Boston dining.
(2)Jennifer M.
Beautiful view! Live music is playing often & the service is great & the food is good.
(5)E K.
Extremely limited vegetarian entrees. Forget it for vegans unless they want a tiny overpriced salad.
(1)Pooja D.
Loved the place. Visited this place with a friend for dinner. Live jazz music perfectly added to the ambience. We had tempura shrimp and chicken yakitori for appetizers. For entree we had shrimp scampi and for dessert we ordered boston creme pie. All the dishes were amazing. Also, I liked the service it was pretty quick and we didn't have to wait much between our meals. The view from the top was fabulous. They also have a good bar if some one just wanna go there for drinks. Overall it was a good experience.
(4)Lili L.
It is of tremendous disappointment to me today that I brought international visitors to this restaurant only to have a hugely disappointing experience. We arrived at 5pm when there was no crowd whatsoever and yet had to wait fifteen minutes. The staff claimed they were "setting a table" for our group of five people. While waiting, no other guests left the restaurant, and yet, when we were finally seated, we five adults were seated in a small square table for four people. Basically, all they did was add a place setting to a table. Moreover, while waiting for our table, we were informed that there would now suddenly be a $24 minimum per person per table. The website clearly states that this charge does not happen until 8pm, yet the staff said they have suddenly decided to change the rules, without any warning. This is unfathomable to me. Finally, we made sure to order enough food to meet the minimum, even though we had dinner plans afterward, and, rather than bringing the food out appropriately in a reasonable order, and given the ridiculously small amount of space on our table, all the food was brought out all at once. One server even just dropped a the huge bowl of salad right on top of my plate and walked off like she was serving me at a fast food burger joint. We had to ask 3 different waiters before anyone bothered to add a table so that we could actually move the dishes from the plates we were supposed to eat off of. For an upscale restaurant, this was a huge tourist trap with no sense of integrity, service, or even food worthy of this great city. I took my colleagues here representing my work, and instead, I was shamed.
(1)Daniel P.
Ok folks, this place is here purely for tourists. There is an AMAZING view here, and the jazz music is fantastic. Thats honestly where it ends. The drinks here are good, but they cost a pretty penny. And the food here also costs a good amount. However, if you have a bit of money to splurge, and want to have one of the best views in boston over a cocktail and a dance over the skyline, this is the place.
(3)Dana D.
Great view and atmosphere. The good is great and the drinks are through the roof. Make reservations really
(5)Ariel Z.
The food and drinks were excellent both times I came here, even though I can't recall what I ordered :p I have heard of people just ordering drinks or dessert if you are in the mood for that. The views are spectacular, but you have to pray you get a table by the window, or else you really won't be able to see anything. The best time to score a good table would be in the afternoon for lunch. Also, if you want to reserve a large table for graduation or other special event, I would recommend that it be done way in advance (I found out the hard way), as they book up quickly.
(4)Chris M.
Came up to the top of the hub for some drinks after dinner to take in the nice view on a cold winter clear evening. Views are amazing and was surprised to see they have some awesome beers on tap. I dont think they even had bud light on tap which was a relief to see. I remember them having 2 IPAs and some german beers which was extremely refreshing to see. Beers probably costed around 7.00 which was fine for the view this place offered. Only reason i dont give them 5 stars is the hostesses were snooty as hell, maybe they are trained to be that way.
(4)Mary T.
I came here on a Friday night because they had a live jazz band. I sat at the lounge area near the windows to look at the nice view while I enjoyed some food and drinks. The hostess at the front told us that there was a $24.00 minimum per person if we wanted to sit at the lounge, and we were fine with that. It was nice of her to notify us before you get a surprise at the end when the bill comes. I ordered 2 drinks, the kobe beef hotdogs, margherita flat bread, and a dessert. The hotdogs were delicious. The skin of the sausage was crunchy and the meat was flavored perfectly. I like how the hotdogs sat on the buttery brioche buns. They had ketchup and relish on the side of the dish for you to add as much as you need on the hot dog. As for the margherita flat bread, it did not do it for me. It was not hot enough, which means it did not taste like it came straight out from the oven. The portion was rather small. I would suggest trying something else instead of this. I paired the food I ordered with a chardonnay and the dessert with my favorite wine--Nivole Moscato D'Asti. As for the dessert, we ordered the valrhona warm chocolate cake. It was delicious! It had chocolate toffee icecream as well. The cake is more of a souffle. The dessert wine I got came in a small glass, kind of like the glasses they use to serve sherry. I basically finished it in 1 gulp. Our server was really nice as well. It was my friend's birthday and she tried to accomodate with us and brought out the dessert with candles and had the chef write happy birthday on the plate for my friend. Why did I give it 4 stars? I agree with the other yelpers on how the quality of the food is suppar, but the location alone deserves this rating. The prices of the food were decen The servers are really nice. Also, you can walk around the area freely and enjoy the scenery of Boston from 52 floors above the ground. If you are going to complain, then pay $14 to go 1 floor up and look at the scenery there. But that $14 does not cover and food or drinks, just the view.
(4)Becca L.
I love coming here when I have friends from out of town that have never seen Boston - it's a chance to do something "touristy" without feeling "touristy". (If that makes sense) Remarkable drink menu! Romantic view.
(5)Bogdan X.
Amazing view .Food was delicious ,prices not too high.Service was good as well.We had a table next to the window.Get the tu a tartar ,Haddock and Veal ,they are amazing.
(5)A. C.
This restaurant is probably the best if you want to go for the best ambience experience. My husband and I enjoy good quality dishes and we thought dishes that were served here didn't taste any better than 3-4 stars hotel bars. We would like be here to hangout with family and friends though.
(4)Liya B.
The views are to die for. Every time I go to Boston, I HAVE to visit the Top of the Hub and devour in the Spicy Lobster Soup. This last time I went, I had this Elixir (vodka and champagne) cocktail. Delicious and quite the happy buzz from a couple martinis!
(3)Kelly S.
Went here for dinner with my husband and we had a lovely time. We went spur of the moment and were pleased to find that there was no dress code. Although we had no reservation we were seated promptly. The view from up here is lovely. Food was good. Not the most amazing food in the world, but satisfying and I was quite satisfied with my pasta. Prices are steep, but you're also paying for the view so it's not too unexpected. Drink were good and there was a bar up there that we will definitely be back to again. Had the warm lava cake and it was ok. I'd probably try something different next time though. Our waitress was very attentive and her personality completed the experience. I'd recommend this place for anyone who wants to have a great view and a good meal. Definitely a nice date place or anniversary location.
(4)Cristina C.
Amazing place, wonderful view! This was a beatiful experience for me! And food is delicious!
(5)Yinong L.
The view was awesome~ They finally managed to clean their windows. But I remember the food used to be much better. Nothing was quite there... The waiter was pretty nice and friendly, checking on us once in a while, so 3 stars for the view and service and -1 stars for the food.
(2)Alvin D.
Very romantic scenery. This place has the best view of downtown Boston. Good time to go is just before sunset. You'll experience the view both daytime and night. The food was good not great. I ordered salmon which was good. The service was my least favorite part. Our server was foreign, he was nice, but for the High status and elegant theme this restaurant is going for you'd expect more from every server. I'd come back for the view, probably grab a drink at the bar.
(3)Jenn K.
2 stars in terms of food. 4/5 stars for the view. But then again, that's kind of essentially what we're all paying for, no? The food is most definitely overpriced. It's not bad food, but I could get it for about $5-10 cheaper at a much higher rated restaurant... OR i could get it tasting better at another restaurant for the same price. It is kind of a place you only need to come once or very few times for. It is a very touristy spot so keep that in mind. There is the sky walk which you have to pay $16 to get the top of the hub view instead of dining at the restaurant.
(3)Emily S.
Was in Boston for a weekend and heard this place had great views. Yes, there are high views, only okay, but blinded by the 'less than stellar' time. If you're only here for drinks then there's no view since its blocked by the bar which defeats the point of why you're there. Sit at a table, expect okay service then a bad response from the manager (it was not busy, after 10pm with open tables all around). There are a ton of great places in Boston as a tourist... this isn't one of them. Dont waste your time. Whats a great rooftop experience? Signature Lounge in Chicago or Wythe Hotel in Brooklyn. Hope they change to better accommodate those who want to see the view and enjoy a drink (and accept how expensive that drink is)
(1)Fatty A.
This place sucks. The rest of the reviews are correct the service here blows. Pretentious aholes
(1)Kristin W.
Let the words "ambiance" and "view" become a mantra when you look at the prices and taste the food at Top of the Hub. I went here for lunch with a friend and ordered the jumbo lump crab cake sandwich, and she had the native lobster roll salad and we split both. Don't get me wrong, the food isn't bad, but for the price and the atmosphere, I think my expectations were a little inflated. Between the two sandwiches, the crab cake was best - served on a soft and lightly toasted bun, and definitely more crab than cake - but I've had a comparable (if not slightly more flavorful) lobster roll at Faneuil Hall. The near-panoramic view of the sun setting over Boston against the back drop of live jazz musicians is, however, breathtaking and worth seeing - especially if you're from out-of-town or have out-of-town company with you. If I was in a particular mood, I'd go here for happy hour drinks and to enjoy the view.
(3)Christine L.
Given all the mixed yelp reviews, I was nervous about coming here. Thanks to all those reviews, I knew what to stay away from on the menu and had a WONDERFUL time. I made a reso on open table and called them to request a window seat. Guess what - they gave me one. We came here 30 minutes before sunset and got to really enjoy the view and see the city light up. The food was tasty! AND it's so cheap! I recommend: Crab meat cake (this ain't no butter and bread filled cake, it's straight crab), scallop appetizer (I had it as my main), any steak (they cook it right, but it needs more salt). You can order anything as a side dish even tho it's not on the menu. I ordered a side of truffle Mac and cheese- when I got the bill, they charged me FIVE DOLLARS for a huge serving. I expected to pay at least 3x that. The house cab (just $8) and the brut rose ($9) were so pleasant. Our server was a really nice guy and even offered to take our photo. He asked if we were celebrating and had the kitchen write a special message on the dessert plate. A great view, a total steal on prices (especially coming from NYC), and friendly service. Jazz in the background. What more could you ask for?
(5)Kristin A.
The short of it: - amazing view of Boston - great place to grab drinks - tourist spot - can be a bit pricey The long of it: While I was visiting in Boston my friend took me to the Top of the Hub for some cocktails. Just the view alone gives this place 5 stars! It was a great treat for a tourist like myself and we had timed it so that we would catch the sunset. I'm sure this place is great for romantic dinners. We even caught a proposal while we were here! Even the whole restaurant cheered haha! While I can't comment on the food, the cocktails were pretty tasty and they were around the $12 price range. My cocktail was pretty strong too so I think we got our money's worth with the view and our drinks. The servers were very nice and they didn't mind taking pictures (several pictures) of us and the sunset views. Extra tip for them! I'm sure they get it a lot everyday but its still great that they treat us so nicely! Overall, I really enjoyed this spot and would highly recommend it even if you just want to come for some drinks and the view!
(5)Marissa A.
I made a reservation for my hubby's birthday, more for the ambiance than anything. I've never had dinner there before, just drinks. In the reservation, I requested a table by the window as well as 2 dirty martinis with blue cheese stuffed olives. When we were seated, we of course had the most amazing view. Since I didn't specify vodka or gin for the martinis, they were not there, but they did arrive quickly after we were seated. Our server was very attentive but not overbearing. The pleasant surprise was that the food was very good. My "hub" (haha) ordered a caesar salad (standard) and the filet mignon. He said the filet was good - comparable to a good steak house. I ordered the baby spinach salad. I thought it was a very nice combination of sweet and savory - it had a healthy dollop of goat cheese and they did not skimp on the sweet/spicy candied walnuts, among other toppings. Presentation was very nice as well. For my main course, I had the Ahi tuna. The noodles had a sweet chili sauce and my sesame crusted seared tuna was exactly what I had wanted. For dessert, we ordered the Boston creme pie. However, a nice touch was that they added a candle and wrote "Happy Birthday" on the plate without a request. Love those little details. I would recommend this restaurant for any special occasion - the ambiance and service alone are amazing but we both enjoyed our food as well.
(4)Aj T.
So it's honestly not that expensive. $25 cover charge but I got a cocktail for $12/13 and a vegetarian burger (which comes with fries and some salad I guess) for another $12/13. It's the experience. They had live music (piano) and have a mini dance floor in front of the piano for couples to sway... The view at night is incredible! And since it's classy and elegant, there's no rush. Go with a few friends, get a table and a drink / some food and spend a few hours up there. It's worth!!
(4)Roberta D.
Headed to Top of The Hub last night after having a gift card laying around for a few months. Walked through the Pru to get to the elevators and was surprised that we had to check in and show our IDs to even get upstairs. I understand security reasons but it was somewhat of a turnoff. Took the quick elevator ride and checked in for our reservation and was promptly seated. My boyfriend and I both started with the spicy lobster soup which was delicious! I order the Fra Diavolo for my main meal. It was alright, pretty average - I wish it came with a white sauce or was oil based as opposed to the red sauce. My boyfriend had the strip steak which was pretty bland he said, there was really no flavor at all. We both had dessert, him the chocolate cake and I had the pear tart. I wasn't a fan of the tart personally but he absolutely loved the chocolate cake. Overall it wasn't a bad experience. I think it's overpriced, you're definitely paying for the views not the food.
(3)Emlchach C.
If you feel compelled to experience the Top of the Hub, just get a drink or appetizer and sit in the lounge area. While the food was decent, it was so overpriced that I would never contemplate going back. The view is definitely what keeps this place running.
(3)Victoria K.
Alright here goes. I think it's only right that I update my review for Top of the Hub. Since visiting for the first few times years ago, I feel like things have changed (or maybe my palate has just developed more). The food... is pretty good, but it's not great on its own. If you draped curtains over the windows and took away the breathtaking view it would hardly be worth a visit. Without anything else considered, I'd give the food 3 to 3 1/2 stars depending on my mood. Adding the incredible view to the equation definitely helps sway me in the "me likey" direction. Service is very nice as well. I recently had lunch here with a large party and we were all very pleased with the view and the service. Overall, the guests were happy with their meals, but it just didn't quite live up to my memories and high expectations. All in all, I still think Top of the Hub is a fine spot to visit, a great place to bring out of town guests, or a date. If you've never been, the view is certainly worth your time. But a better meal overall can be found on solid ground not too far away. I have mixed feelings. If I was still living in Boston I probably would never come here, but for out of towners it's a whole other story. The 4th star is there because the view makes my knees weak.
(4)Devon A.
Went here for our anniversary in November. Had a few apps at the bar, calamari was out of this world. The Grey Goose mule was good as well. Bartenders worked their a** off over there. It was a Saturday and they were simply killing it. We had dinner with a beautiful view of course. Once we got to our dinner seats we were greeted with menus. Our waiter was very timid and not what we thought he would be for a place like this. My lady had a glass of Chardonnay from the bar and brought it to the table, so we proceeded to get a bottle of a different Chardonnay for dinner. For whatever reason after I told him her Chardonnay was different he kept coming around and pouring the opposite Chard into her glass? I realize this is protocol if you order a bottle, but not if the wines are from different vineyards. It was almost baffling to me. Food was eh. This place is very expensive and you'd think the food would be out of this world but it was simply okay. I may have caught you guys on an off night, which I understand. I'm from Boston originally and would hate to see a place like this have qualities like so. I will definitely be back. No hard feelings.
(3)Morgan S.
The food is average, and maybe a few dishes are above average. The wine list is extensive. The view is beautiful! This is a great place to have appetizers and drinks or dessert and drinks.
(3)Melanie D.
Always a go to for birthdays and other celebrations. The view of the city is amazing and never gets old. The service has been good so far every time what we have gone. The food, while somewhat limited, has been delicious. I would highly suggest trying the beet salad and lamb shank. Good sized portions and great quality. Top of the Hub is definitely worth a visit once while you're in the city!
(4)Natalie J.
I had a friend visiting from out of town, and I wanted to show her the city .Despite booking the reservation several weeks in advance and requesting a window seat, we were given a table far away from the window, blocked by several large parties where we couldn't see the view at all. I went to the hostess and asked if we could switch tables, and she said that it would be a 35-40 minute wait. The bar was full so there was nowhere for us to wait. So, we stayed at our less than desirable table. No one ever offered to take our coats, so I had my bulky winter coat taking up space on my chair...I have never been at a restaurant this "upscale" that didn't offer a coat check upon arrival. We ordered drinks and then each ordered a filet mignon, medium well. The filets came out well done and extremely dry. I have had much better meals for a fraction of the price. I truthfully wasn't expecting the best food and figured we'd be paying for the view, but we didn't get a view either. I was hoping we could have another cocktail in the lounge after dinner, but nope. We were told we'd have to pay $24 each to sit at that table, even though we'd already paid $150+ on dinner. It was very disappointing. With so many great restaurants in Boston, I definitely squandered a night of my friend's stay in town on this place. The only saving grace is that our server was very courteous and kind. But great service doesn't make up for poor food with no view. I doubt I'd come back here.
(2)Mike K.
Overpriced as far as the food goes in terms of quality - not a 5 star steak house by any means, but drinks are not ridiculous and I keep coming back for the views and ambiance. I usually make it here once or twice a year - very good spot for a date. I also find it a great spot to go for a casual drink more frequently in the bar area
(3)Andrew S.
Hard to not give a place with the best view in boston 5 stars. While I only experienced the bar it was a flawless experience. The risotto croquettes and flatbread pizza were both to amazing. Food came fast, service was outstanding and the view even better.
(5)Danny L.
Food - 2.5 stars Service - 1 star Atmosphere - Depend if you get a window view table DON'T waste your money going to Top of Hub. The food was mediocre. The manager/host/servers all seemed like they hate their jobs and don't want to be there. The whole experience was just weird and disappointed...we didn't receive any smile nor acknowledgement even though my friends and I were all well dressed (casual polo & slacks). Especially want to call out the middle age white woman who hosts the reservation desk. She was extremely arrogant and rude...didn't crack a smile and just said "two hours" when we asked her "how long does it takes if we want to wait for a window table". FYI we already made a reservation two weeks in advance.
(1)Fadi O.
Pricy, you basically pay for the view, not for the food. Not to many optoons on the menu. The service was Ok.
(3)Jamie R.
Nice view. Definitely not worth it at all. Made reservations for a party of 7 as a celebration. Did not see anything on their site or open-table about a dress code. We arrived, on time, as soon as we walked in we were given a "once over". It's not like we were poorly dressed, we were wearing nice clothes. Only thing I can think of for their disgusted look was maybe we were too young? Who knows. We weren't greeted with any type of friendly response, more like a "yeah?" After they looked us up and down. We stated we had reservations for 7, and two of our party were already there behind the bar. The hostess rolled her eyes and said "I don't think so." What?! We again said two were there, sitting by the windows behind the bar. Hostess claimed they were not there. At this time the manager comes up. He looks us up and down again and asks us to leave because they head of the group was dressed inappropriately. He was wearing a pair of $100+ nike pants. Not sweat paints, not even pants that looked like athletic pants at all. They were not going to allow us to grab our friends from behind the bar because they believed they weren't there!! They actually blocked us from getting them, we finally managed to get behind the bar to get our friends, who SURPRISE, actually existed! There's a way to present yourself, as floor manager and hostess of a restaurant. You are not suppose to judge by looks. Most of the time, the people who dress up in the suits to go to restaurants like that are people who want everyone to think they are rich, or trying to prove theirselves as 'worthy customers'. Those who go in dressed in every day clothes are usually the ones with money. You'd think, they'd know that. Little did they know the head of our group is a multimillionaire and between the 7 of us we were planning on dropping a couple thousand on food and drinks. Oh well, their loss. The food probably wouldn't have been too good anyways, it screamed tourist trap. Instead we went to a sandwich shop down the road for dinner (Parish Cafe, please go see my review in them). The food was delicious, the service was amazing (we all made fun of Top of the Hub with the servers). We were in such a good mood we ended up secretly buying other tables dinner and drinks. Top of the Hub is not worth it. They definitely missed out. Sure the view is great, but head to Marriott Custom Homes for a better view on the observation deck.
(1)Kat V.
4 stars for the view alone!!! I am a sucker for romance and scenic views and this place was just wonderful. The food was great, definitely not the best I've had for the price but still delicious. Wait staff was friendly and attentive. I was on a date and loved the touch of live music. I could have sat in my chair and looked out the window all night. Simply gorgeous view!!!
(4)Lindsey M.
Went here the night we got engaged. They knew we were coming right after becoming engaged, we asked for a nice table with a view to celebrate but were given a table in the corner with no view at all. No one even acknowledged our night or us for that matter. We ended up going to sit in the lounge where our server was great but overall food and atmosphere were terrible. DO NOT GO HERE FOR A BIG OCCASION! They do not care!! I work in fine dining and know how easy it is to make people feel special and this place did nothing of the sort. Do not waste your time or money
(1)Phung N.
I give this place 4.5 stars! Because I find the food very expensive, but hey I guess since you're sitting in such a lovely place why not 5? Iuno I'm very mixed lol especially since I couldn't get a window seat. It was a very busy day. Staff is very friendly and attentive. They make sure what allergies you may have so that they can inform you what meals you can eat. Quick service and when they clean your plates for the next meal, they make sure the table is clean. They literally pick up every piece of crumb up. I went with a few friends and did a 3 course meal, I believe it was the christmas meal? Not sure. But the appetizers were so good! Each person received a lobster ravioli, a pizza to share, and also some home smoked salmon with some delicious sauce. We then moved onto the main course: choice of salmon, short ribs with lump crab, and venision (deer). Went for the short ribs, and oh, it was tender and the lump crab just made the dish oh so delicious. I did find after a while of eating, the meal was a bit salty. It was ok after I sipped a bit of water though. For dessert, I don't know the name, but you get this white chocolate cone decorated to look like a tree that is filled with chocolate mousse, topped on a small chocolate cake that have rum flavored cherries. A bit too strong for my tastes but I was so full I could not finish my dessert. All and all, this place is very lovely. Very nice staff and friendly! I definitely recommend this place to anyone that wants to have a classy lunch/dinner or even romantic. However this place can get pricey for those that are in a pinch, so make sure you have the money lol. Also make sure you have a reservation!
(4)Christa C.
delicious food with amazing city views!! Very romantic for date nights. One of my favorite places in Boston.
(5)Saby M.
I am really embarrassed right now for recommending this place to someone! I have previously been to this establishment. I came in for a drink, my companion had food and drink, and remembered that we enjoyed it and the view was amazing. So, we, my best friend, several other people, and her brother came in for this convention. He is a big name at this convention and tonight wanted to celebrate the success of the convention. We recommended Top of the Hub. Reservations were made...and then... turned away because he wasn't wearing the right pants. FINE, ok, but did the hostess have to be a jerk about it?!!! Seriously!!! Totally out of the way to go here! Like, two separate taxis for the big party, just to be rudely turned away. Last time I was here, I was wearing ripped jeggings and uggs and wasn't turned away! What's the deal?!
(1)chris N.
Just got to the top of the hub no view Snow White out the the view for my date she was very disappointed. Plus not a care was given by host once we booked locked in for evening not worth $125 tab per person required to even sit I found it funny you can't order what ever you want for a fix price in seems great way to hike up the price on a valentine day but waiter was excellent but didn't tip but am sure top of the hub pays well
(1)Adam B.
Such a disappointment! We went on a Saturday night being recommended by several locals. We waited 30 minutes before we our drink orders were even taken. Our server was not knowledgable of the drinks at all. We waited several more minutes for the drinks to come. Ordered a few appetizers and the haddock Rockefeller. The Chorizo in a blanket was disgusting. We sent it back and the server said he would "see" about taking it off the bill. Our clam chowder was cold and we told the server who did not apologize (not Offer to warm it back up or bring a fresh cup). I will say the calamari app was delicious. Over an hour out entree came and was very good. If you go,go for a drink and the amazing view maybe a quick app. I wouldn't eat here again.
(2)Juan M.
Our friends from Boston took my wife and I. We had a great experience the server was great the food was fantastic and the view was amazing !!
(4)Mary Ellen C.
The food is good and the view grand BUT trying to get a return phone call to discuss a particular reservation just doesn't happen. This had happened 3 conservative times there won't be a 4th!
(1)P'raka ..
I will be honest. My review for TOTH is a happy one since I stopped by with a friend after we attended a wine tasting. We continued the wine theme by getting some small appetizers and wine at top of the hub. I do not recall anything about the waitstaff but I believe they polite since no one gave us any grief for taking quick camera-phone pictures of the view, which is just lovely. The food was not memorable but it was still a fun experience.
(3)Tsa Y.
Great view, so so food, good service and odd decor.
(3)Edric K.
I went to this place while visiting Boston and celebrating my friend's birthday. It was a really nice spot and a great place for visitors if you're willing to pay the price. You get an AMAZING view of Boston and pretty good food. I ordered a NY steak that was on point! It looks like they have live jazz performances but they weren't playing while I was there. It looks like the lounge or bar would be a pretty nice place to hang out with friends, so I'll probably check it out the next time I'm in the city! Definitely coming back here! Probably not for dinner unless it's another special occassion.
(5)Jane C.
Apparently they close their main dining area after 11:00pm on Fridays? It's whatever, because the place we were seated had the same view - only a different menu. Though, this "special" menu was not as appetizing as their normal one. House wine meh. One thing was that I had to ask them to light candle thing on the table multiple times. Excellent view + they don't card + pretty good service + not-so-good-bread + oh, did I mention excellent view = four stars.
(4)Brenda W.
Made reservations at 6pm on a Friday but got hungry way before that so dropped by at 3:30pm. Sad to find out seating in the dining room didn't start until 5:30pm but the lounge was open and offered a limited menu so we opted for that. My dinner date and I ordered off the fixed-price menu -- 3 offerings for 30.00 each. I had a salad, shrimp in spaghetti (ok, it had a more glamorous name), and creme brulee, while my date had shrimp appetizzer, steak and fries, and pear dessert. Mostly we came here for the view of Boston from the top of the Prudential Center and some hoped-for ambiance a week before our wedding. I just assumed the quality of the food would match. Well, the views were ok; it was of the south side from the lounge; the service was just ok; and the food was average but not stellar. Of the bites I tried of everything I'd say the battered shrimp appetizer and creme brulee were the best. Anyway, once was enough of the lounge area anyway. Maybe one day we'll be back to try the main dining room. But with so many other dining options available in Boston, they really should have tried harder to please my palate.
(3)tammy l.
The typical expensive place with a good view and over-priced food. Not impressed. Good for date. Bar is a bit crowded.
(3)Marie P.
Amazing view, delicious food, mediocre service. Our server was un-attentive, short and a bit rude. Everything else was absolutely perfect.
(4)Lauren W.
We went for his birthday. You're paying for the ambiance. We went with the prix-fixe menu, and it was lovely. The food itself really wasn't that mind blowing, but the entire experience was downright special. When I made the reservation, I had said it was his birthday, and they brought him out a candle with birthday wishes on his creme-brulee, which was a nice touch. The jazz band was positively delightful. I would save this for special occasions or to bring out of towners.
(4)Jay K.
Top of the Hub. Of course it is awesome for the views (especially when Fenway is lit up), but I took away a star because of the intense way they notify you of the $24 per person minimum. Of course I'd rather know before I sit down, but it's a little off-putting when you get up there to the 52nd floor, all dressed up and excited, and they deflate you a bit with that. ANYWAY, the food was delicious, the waitress was very nice, and when the clouds rolled by it was so very cool. Live music was very nice too. I like to get here once every few years.
(4)Elica Y.
Nice view, the worst service EVER. I have heard from my friends that Top of the Hub was not a great restaurant. I intended to come here for drinks but left IMMEDIATELY. First of all, the hostess was not welcoming whatsoever. Next, our waitress completely ignored us for a good 15 minutes after being seated. Then, I saw many dirty dishes left on random tables/stands throughout the restaurant. I remember trying to find the bathroom and thinking to myself "what is that foul smell?" Little did I know that when I turned my head I discovered a mountain of dirty dishes piled on top of one another. Absolutely disgusting. The worst part of all, our waitress was completely oblivious of the fact that we left because of the shitty service. Other than the nice view, you will be wasting your time here. There are lots of nice views in Boston, don't waste your time/money at Top of the Hub.
(1)Tim S.
Great view, mediocre service, abominable cuisine and possibly the worst value in Boston. We ordered two appetizers, calimari & Kobe beef hot dog sliders, and both were cold, flavorless and disappointing. The calimari is obviously a pre-breaded, frozen product and the "Kobe beef" sliders could have easily been pigeon. Terrible. The night rolled on into a suckfest with shady salad, overcooked skirt steak and a boxed dessert (which was a replacement, as our pre-ordered original selection was unavailable) Tons of attitude (from servers and host) and very little skill at work here. Come for the view and a cocktail, but split before the epic disappointment that is all that emerges from the kitchen. I'm mystified that there's actually a chef putting his name on this garbage. Fine dining...with tater tots. More like, Top of the FLUB. Avoid this culinary clown show.
(1)Julia T.
The food was mediocre at best. I was not blown away by the dishes but it wasn't terrible either. Like others have mentioned, it's more for the nice view. I would like to come back and visit during daytime. The waitress was really friendly as well as the host. We arrived 20 minutes late after our reservation time (gotta love Boston parking) but they didn't give us a problem. There isn't any fancy schmancy dress code either - people were in sweats, sneakers, and backpacks. Make sure to get your ticket validated if you park in the Prudential!
(3)Jess L.
Chowder was cold !! Caesar Salad was not good and it's like salad . Only go for the view , not for food or service, waiters are so rude. Drinks at bar ok and bar tenders are ok.
(3)Jon-Paul B.
Food is not bad but overpriced. It used to be better. I also used to bring out of town guests here to check out the view from each side but recently, the staff is very rude. They yelled at us and blocked us from walking around at all, even though we had purchased food and drinks.
(2)Ryan A.
Food was decent, view was phenomenal.
(3)Carrie S.
Terrible customer service. Would not allow my family to take one picture. RUDE. My one star was an over-statement.
(1)allison p.
I went here with my boyfriend and we were told to wait in line for the bar. While we waited two other couples came in after us and we heard them also ask for the bar and proceed to get in line. The host came over and sat both of those couples ahead of us, asking if they'd be okay with a table. When we asked him why they went ahead of us, he yelled at us asking if we thought we could do a better job and made up a lie that one of the couples had a reservation when we definitely heard them come in and ask about the bar. Regardless of whether or not they had a reservation, yelling at potential patrons is classless and we left immediately after. Not worth the overpriced cocktails and nasty service at the door.
(1)Andy R.
Great experience. Great service and they were able to work around my dietary restrictions very easily. Also large helpings for a fancy restaurant. I expected to still be hungry after my meal but the pork chops were huge!
(5)Alisha F.
The two stars are ONLY for the view (and the attractive decor.) Service is as bad as every other review points out. The food, from what I tried, is too. The view is incredible, and that is the ONLY reason to shell out the cash for some drinks and maybe an app. They do have a per person minimum to be seated at a table, which I have NO issue with at all, and their entire menu looks pretty appetizing. I will summarize what was a very long and painful experience by saying, everything took FOR-EVERRRRRR. Forever for my server to come over. Forever for my server to bring back 2 oz of scotch in a glass. Forever for him to return to take my order. (i knew i was in trouble by this point) Shockingly, not forever for my baked brie to arrive.... and that is because it was refrigerator cold in the center. Not melted, not hot, not warm, not even room temperature. The "baked" brie was rolled in whatever delicious crust, but i don't know that it ever made it too the oven. I asked to speak with the manager. Forever for him to arrive. I kindly asked for him to remove the brie & bring my check ASAP. My drink long gone, I was moments from walking when i caught the eye of the manager, and instead of coming over again, he scurried away. I got my hopes up that this would at least produce a check....but you guessed it. Forever later.... i finally left. I had read the reviews before my visit. Thank God my expectations were low, and there is a distractingly gorgeous view, but I didn't really enjoy my visit. I was glad I was by myself; I didn't feel bad telling the manager nicely, but firmly, that i had had enough... but if you are considering bringing someone here to impress or to share a special night..... I would suggest another place; it would feel horrible to be in the same situation I was in, but on a special night. Somewhat unrelated- but you can get a great view from the Skywalk Observatory one floor below.It is $16 or part of the city pass, and a great way to start your visit to boston. I highly recommend doing that over Top of the Hub.
(2)Marie V.
Shitty service if you are just coming for a drink... You have to beg to have some sugar and a spoon with your tea. What a pitty as the place and view are great
(1)Carrie B.
Everyone goes to Top of the Hub for the gorgeous view, but believe it or not it's actually a pretty decent spot for reasonably-priced drinks in an upscale but not snooty setting. There is a $24 per person minimum (food/drink/combo) to get a table, but there is no minimum to sit at the bar or to take your drink and wander. Cocktails are about $11-15, there are many wines sold by the glass under $12, and beer and liquor is comparable to anywhere else downtown. A worthy stop for tourists and locals alike.
(4)Chloia S.
I really enjoyed the Top of the Hub. My waiter was helpful and knowledgable about pairings. I had a beet, apple and blue cheese salad to start and it was probably one of the top 10 salads I've ever had. My filet mignon was cooked perfectly rare and the small bed of gnocchi is was next to was something I dream of. I had the espresso creme bruleé, but think it could use some work -- the custard was a bit gelatinous. As far as the atmosphere goes, I loved it. It was a bit noisy, but at 9 a pianist came to play. The only thing I would suggest is that there be a better waiting area.
(4)C. P.
I really wanted to love my experience here-- I've been a waitress and a bartender for a year and am pretty forgiving about service, but the way we were treated here was pretty appalling considering how fine dining the place is. Came for my first year anniversary with my boyfriend, since we wanted to take in the view and have fun pretending to be fancy. We were about 5 minutes late for our reservation but the hostess was very friendly and showed us promptly to our table. After that, we waited 20 minutes for water. Legit. Twenty minutes. People who sat down next to us later had been given water and ordered drinks before we were ever acknowledged. We were starting to think they just didn't like us haha, and even debated leaving as we were both so hungry... Finally someone brings us water. About ten minutes after that our waiter (a very scattered older guy) showed up and gave us the menus and told us about some specials. Ten minutes later he was back to take our drink orders. Then it was fifteen minutes til our drinks came. We tried signaling him over in the meantime because we wanted to get our food order going, but he didn't take notice. When he brought the drinks, we ordered our food, including a special appetizer (meatballs) he had talked us into. He disappeared again, then came back ten minutes later to tell us they didn't have that special. The meat dishes were good. Could've used more jelly with the lamb, but it was tasty, as was the Vermont chicken. Our drinks were pretty standard, and the creme brulee we ordered for dessert was ice cold. This establishment really needs to step up their service game! Spending that much money for a fancy night out and being treated like we didn't exist was ultra laaame. Fantastic view, of course, but nothing else special here.
(2)Nathanael M.
I have eaten here twice now. The first time, I learned why wine pairings matter. The second, we had stellar service from Carl. Not only was he friendly and attentive, but he also had great recommendations. We love the view and the food here.
(5)Devika G.
It was my consecutive visit on back to back weekends. Yes, I love the place. The only thing worth seeing is the view. Boston doesnt have a many tall buildings so you may literally feel 'On the Top'. First time we went for dinner and they have mimimum $25 charge per person if u get a table. We had heard about the food being below average we order for cocktails, appetizer and desserts. Creme brulee is to die for!! Love it, absolutely delicious!! Second time I went for drinks and the bar was over flooded. we had to wait about 20 mins to place our order. after getting our drinks we headed to live orchestra and enjoyed the over looking view of Boston. The ambiance was lively. I would definitely recommend for nice night.
(4)Caitlin M.
This is a place you definitely go for the view and it is 100% worth it. I have eaten at this restaurant many times now and have always enjoyed my meal as well. Make a reservation in advance! But if you cannot make a reservation, there is a huge bar and a whole lounge area that serves the full menu that is first come first serve. In the lounge there are also tables next to the windows, so you will still get a great view! I have been here during the day and at night, both times have beautiful views!! Definitely check this place out!
(4)Wes S.
The view was great and the service is next to wonderful but I wasn't not as impress with the food, a bit pricey and did not quite satisfy my taste. It is a romantic place and I would recommend it but I wouldn't recommend it if you are hungry and want a good meal.
(3)Chris C.
Well the views are great! The atmosphere is also very nice but if you are sitting at the bar don't sit near a well or the service bar unless you are looking for a shower! The bartender was making drinks and sprayed and spilled alcohol on us.... Not that fun... Also the bar was not that busy but the bartender felt that he needed to move 1,000,000 miles an hour making a lot of noise and actually startling my mother when he threw an empty bottle in the trash. I do understand that he needs to keep up with the service bar but be considerate of the people sitting at the bar too.
(3)Charlene E.
I have to say this place is pretty decent. As a Bostonian from the stories I heard prior, I figured that this place was a bit overrated but then my beau took me there on my birthday. I have to say I am quite a sucker for views and we had the best seats in the house. There's nothing like watching the sun go down while enjoying a nice glass of Sauvignon blanc and great company, life. We had three courses and since this is not your average place, don't expect average prices, but for what it's worth, I think it's worth the experience. Didn't enjoy my lobster bisque so much, it was on the sweeter side and didn't cooperate well with my stomach. My second course however, was enjoyable. I had the pan seared haddock and I recommend this dish to anyone who doesn't mind a soupy type of dish. I had to take my third course to go but I had the cheesecake and that also was pretty good and my beau had the fillet mignon which he also enjoyed. All in all we ended up staying there for at least 3 hours and enjoyed every minute. Our waiter took his time between each course which we didn't mind, I'd say we got the next course about 15-20 mins after eating the previous course which I also didn't mind because we had time to digest each course, chat, and admire the view.
(4)M B.
What a great night! Awesome view by the window. Great food. Our waiter, Aidian, was the fantastic. He made our dinner even more special. I suggest requesting him! Loved him and had a great night!
(5)Toni M.
I have mixed emotions on this one. View is breathtaking! We had window seats, but couldn't see the sunset as it was on the other side. Romantic? Not really. They cram as many tables in there as possible. We arrived early before sunset. It was quiet and a bit uncomfortable as you could hear the surrounding tables conversations. After dark the noise level picked up significantly and this wasn't an issue. The food is pricey. My "salad" was literally a tomato sliced in half with a slice of bacon balanced on top. That's it! No lettuce. My husband enjoyed the duck and his main course of shellfish and linguine. My entrée was scallops and they were slimy served with two raw Brussels sprouts. Couldn't eat it. Our server was very nice and he removed it from our bill. We enjoyed dessert. They surprised us with happy anniversary written in chocolate on our dessert plate. If I could do it again, I'd rather visit the observatory and really enjoy the views, and get some good food somewhere else.
(3)Lucretia S.
We only had drinks, so I don't know about the food. The view was, obviously, spectacular, but more spectacular than I had imagined. I was not super enthusiastic about going because a) it's a tourist attraction, and b) I thought it would be difficult to get in or you'd have to pay a cover charge or something, but on a Friday afternoon at about 4:00pm, there were plenty of window seats and the drinks cost less than most of the fancy bars I've been to around town ($12 cocktails). The wait staff was also very attentive and welcoming.
(4)Elizabeth W.
Okay, maybe I sold out for the top floor dining experience here, but I loved this place. We made dinner reservations for 6pm on a Friday in April, figuring we'd be ahead of the dinner rush by a little bit and would be able to enjoy the view during sunlight, sunset, and nighttime. As expected, the restaurant wasn't too crowded when we arrived, but most tables seemed full by the time we were leaving. Under my mom's urging that we splurge and treat ourselves a bit (okay, her treat) we ordered the three-course prix-fixe with wine pairing. It was simply amazing. I started with the beet salad, but after tasting the spicy lobster soup I wish I had gone for that instead. Not that the beet salad wasn't good, but trust me when I say order the spicy lobster soup. For the main course I had the pan seared scallops which were cooked and dressed perfectly over warm couscous. If it weren't frowned upon I probably would have liked my plate. I had the caramel creme brulee for dessert which was good, but for me was the least exciting part of my meal - kind of similar to a creme brulee you can get elsewhere for cheaper. The wine pairings were excellent, and we left there quite happy customers. I should also mention that we each had a pre-meal cocktail as well, and I can see why many people enjoy coming just to the bar area for a nice cocktail while enjoying the view. The view of course is amazing. Have your camera ready! The wait staff is fancy and formal, and I found our server to be friendly and helpful as we were ordering. This is a fancier restaurant, so i wouldn't recommend showing up in your most casual of clothes. Be sensible. Business casual is fine, but there will be people dressed nicer as well. As we were leaving a jazz band was setting up to play over by the bar which I'm sure makes for an enjoyable evening for those showing up a bit later.
(5)Mina L.
I am never going back to this place. Service very poor. The host was ignoring me when I asked if it would be possible to have a table near the window because my parents were visiting from overseas. There were three tables near the window available and when I asked if we can sit there they said that the were all booked. You are paying the view in this place not only the food. You can get much better food & cocktails anywhere else.
(1)Ellen C.
It's pretty hit or miss. The view is pretty (obviously) but getting a window table definitely seems to be first-come, regardless of reservation requests. Some of the dishes I had were great, and some were very mediocre. I remember the terrine and dessert were great, but I was underwhelmed by the entree. Maybe worth it once if you want to see the view anyway, and get some advice on exactly what to order from friends who've been recently beforehand. Otherwise just pass it up and find somewhere closer to the ground with better food.
(2)Brian S.
This place blew my mind when I first walked in on a Saturday night. The ambiance is absolutely beautiful and the back drop of Boston serves as an excellent view of the city. You absolutely must book a reservation if you plan on dining here at night. The food was delicious but a little bit on the pricey side. Regardless, you wouldn't be going here unless you plan on spending money. The wine menu for both glass and bottle are standard prices but it all adds up. Their variety of drinks are pretty vast as well. This is definitely a good place to grab a drink and watch Boston. Again, the view of boston is beautiful and the actual restaurant is nice. The bar and lounge area were pretty crowded but the dining area was not The service was pretty good and the waiter knew what he was talking about and was very friendly. Overall: Go here for a special occasion and book beforehand. Be prepared to pay a good price for the experience.
(5)Jenna C.
After reading the reviews, I was very skeptical going in but I have nothing bad to say about my experience at Top of the Hub. I'm a Boston native but have never gotten around to eating here until this past week. The boyfriend and I made reservations for July 3rd for our anniversary and lucked out since Boston moved the fireworks to that night! We were nervous about his attire since he really only had black jeans (no "slacks") to wear with a nice shirt and jacket, but we called prior and they said it would be alright. After we got seated, we quickly noticed that we were hardly the most casually dressed in the room. Maybe they were a little lax because of the holiday festivities? Either way, we had no issues concerning what we were wearing. We both got the three course meal option and loved it. I ordered the Double Bacon Steak & Hot House Tomato Salad (not so much a salad but a bacon steak on a tomato.. delicious nonetheless), the 10z Braised Short Rib (so so rich and tasty), and the Espresso Creme Brulee (best thing I ate all day). We paired our meals with the wines and I was a bit disappointed in the serving size for this, but I suppose I should have seen it coming. Our waitress was an absolute sweetheart. Our reservations were for 8:30 and the fireworks weren't supposed to start until 10:30, but she encouraged us to take our time with our meals. She even gave us free ice cream after learning it was our anniversary! The fireworks show ended up starting early at 10 PM and they had everyone go down to the observation deck so as not to crowd around the patrons eating their dinners. We had to pay before we could go down there, and when the waitress saw us rushing to write out the tips and split the amounts on our cards, she said she'd hold our cards for us so we wouldn't miss the show and we could figure it out when we got back. Awesome! All in all, a great experience. Every employee was nothing but friendly and kind to us. My only criticism would be that the food is overpriced, which everybody seems to know going in anyway.
(4)Vincci L.
For my husband's birthday, I decided to take him on a little trip to Boston. One of my friend's recommended the Top of the Hub as a must-do. I needed a fancy birthday dinner place anyways, so sure, why not. Reservations, done. First of all, I'm really glad I read some Yelp reviews before we went, because I wouldn't have known that you need to go through a mall in order to get to these elevators with a front desk that seems to only lead to offices instead of an observation deck and a restaurant. Why so hidden, Boston? Last chance to sell me souvenirs before I go? Well, it worked. I bought a plate at a souvenir store on my way to dinner. Are you happy? We got up there, and I understood why my friend recommended this place. This place is 52 stories high (higher than the observation deck) with almost a 360 view of the city of Boston. Absolutely beautiful. Even with our reservations, we still had a 10 minutes wait, and when it was time, the hostess seated us at this little table that was really far away from the windows. Oh, heck no. My husband is going to have that amazing view with this dinner. It's his birthday, gosh darn it! I'm usually very easy going and don't complain, but I definitely flagged the hostess down and told her it was his birthday and I wanted a window seat. I think she copped a little bit of an attitude with me (probably b/c everyone demands a window seat) and told me it would be an additional 45 mins wait. Whatevers, I'm waiting. So we went back to the bar area, which had a really nice view, and enjoyed a cocktail. 30 minutes later, the hostess came back to us and led us to our table with a view, and she seemed much nicer this time. Maybe I just caught her at a bad time in the beginning, maybe bc I was already a bit buzzed, I don't know. I saw foie gras on the menu and jumped at the chance to order it (it's banned in California, and I'm sorry ducks, but I love foie gras). My husband had a lamb chop, I had a steak. I was on my second mojito. Balance was restored. To be honest, the food was mediocre. I know my foie gras was just okay when I offered to give some to my husband, and I never share my foie gras. No, it can't be because I love him. I can't say I had a good meal, but the view was memorable. I would still recommend this place to any of my friends who decide to visit Boston, but probably just for drinks to soak in that amazing Boston view, without the mediocre food. All 3 stars go to the view.
(3)Miriam A.
Beautiful view!! Top of the Hub is spectacular for admiring the beauty of Boston. Food isn't great so knocked off a star for that! If you think Top of the Hub has good food, you should get out a little more. It's pricey here but that's okay with me, the cost of your meal and drinks is really paying for the view in my opinion. Also service is great, spacious dining area, live music on certain nights...you can't beat that! For anyone visiting Boston, a visit to the Top of the Hub is worth it!
(4)Michael H.
We went there for drinks the other night and the place was very nice. Good crowd. Good atmosphere. Solid drinks menu. Prices are a big high but the view you are getting us worth it. Beautiful view over all of Boston especially at night.
(4)Judy N.
Unless I was being held against my will, I will never return to Top of the Hub. My boyfriend surprised me for my birthday because I told him awhile ago that I wanted to go here. I wish he didn't listen to me this one time. He called a month in advance to make the reservation and asked specifically for a window seat. The day of our reservation he called in to confirm that we indeed had a window seat, in which the hostess gave him a firm yes. We get to the restaurant exactly at 8pm (our reservation time) and whoops, they gave the table to someone else. They quickly gave us another table, but it was much smaller and it was NOT a window seat. When my boyfriend explained that he called ahead and made sure it was at the window, the guy that brought us to the table just looked fed up with us. (And listen dude, it's not that much to ask for when we absolutely requested it ahead of time.) So we head back to the hostess and let her know that we would rather have a window seat and she looked aggravated. She said the wait time for the next window seat is 30-45 minutes and that 3 groups were ahead of us. . . She did not give one single ounce of sympathy. My boyfriend didn't want to make a scene so we just took the small table but that ruined the night for me. TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE, TERRIBLE TERRIBLE TERRIBLE. NO ONE EVER APOLOGIZED FOR THEIR LACK OF ORGANIZATION. They made it feel like we were inconveniencing Them! Waitress was ok, they were understaffed so our waitress had a LOT of tables to take care of. Food was eh, nothing to rave about. Let's be honest, people go there for the VIEW. My boyfriend didn't mind his food but I was not a fan of mine. Maybe I still had the bitter taste of bad customer service lingering in my mouth. The only thing i was really looking forward to was the Creme brûlée dessert! But instead the waitress brought out a chocolate cake with ice cream, with a candle for my birthday. And yes, the gesture was nice but I really wanted the Creme brûlée. when the bill came out, she charged us for the cake...that we didn't want... not sure why... They are lucky they have a view no other restaurant has, because otherwise, there's no way they can survive. And I thought maybe I was just being overly annoyed because it was my birthday and I didn't get what I wanted but I read other reviews and customers had similar gripes (hostess/staff not giving a damn about the customers) And you might ask, why didn't she read the reviews before she went there? It's because I've been there years before with a friend for restaurant week and no one was there so the experience was good. So I expected the same level of enjoyment the second time around. Management needs to do something about this. I sure do hope the manager wasn't the hostess. Final thought: Save your money and time and avoid going here!
(1)Sarah N.
This place is amazing for the views. The Restaurant itself is nice but the food definitely does not live up to the feel of the place. Highly recommend it for the view though...The lamb shank was BAD and had stomach issues afterwards - never would expect that from this restaurant but it happened.. Also, Tuna was okay. Creme Brulee was good! So grab some drinks & desserts and enjoy the view ..
(3)Calla F.
I want to start out by saying that this is the only time I was really unhappy with our service, but it made enough of an impression that we will not return next year. I gave it a 3 star as on most other occasions I was very pleased with our experience but had I just rated our last experience it would probably be more like a 1 or 2. My Husband and I have been going to Top of the Hub for a number of years and for 3 consecutive years gone on Christmas Eve. Year one was the best but totally unplanned and we sat at the bar. The past two years we reserved tables this year being the earliest (maybe this was problem number one?) We had a reservation for 5:30 and as usual were seated right away. The view is typically gorgeous but due to weather no one had a view that night except for the random cloud openings which gave a glimpse into what appeared to be Gotham City (very cool looking). Right off the bat we were given the prefixed menu. Once we placed our order the bread came out immediately. Then the soup within a couple minutes. The soup was delicious but the waiter and helpers seemed to be constantly checking in on us to see if we were done. Initially we thought nothing of it but then once our soup was taken up the entree was placed on the table. All of this within the first 15-20 min of sitting. Now maybe if you were looking to eat on the fly that would be great but the purpose of paying ALL this money is to enjoy your time, the food and the atmosphere. During dinner they asked me multiple times if I needed another drink when my glass was still half full but never thought to ask my husband who's glass had been empty for quite some time. After dinner they brought a salad. It came so quickly that I didn't know how I was supposed to start eating again. At this point we decided to just sit and chat a while which was when we began to get annoyed as staff kept asking if we were done. Dessert came and at the end of the meal we were just unhappy with our experience. The overall issue had nothing to do with the food per say but with the service. It felt like a cattle call which is the last thing you want at dinner on Christmas Eve. Unfortunately we got the impression very quickly that they were trying to turn as many tables as quick as they could while increasing the bill by focusing only on refilling alcoholic beverages. Hopefully the next time we return they will have calmed down with chasing the dollar and started to focus on their customers.
(3)Duke C.
We wanted a place to relax so decided to check out the Top of the Hub for some drinks and the view while in Beantown. There's a $24 minimum to sit in the lounge by the window, which isn't really a problem since the minimum is pretty easily reached, especially with the drinks' prices. I ended up getting a few whiskey cocktails and a dessert for the evening. Favorite cocktail was probably the Boston Bully Boy Smash. Bully Boy White Whiskey, lemon, mint, and cane sugar for the cocktail. Bully Boy Whiskey is actually a small distillery in Boston! Pretty cool. Generally I hate white whiskey, since it is just unaged, or aka moonshine, but very surprised with Bully Boy. Decent whiskey list for the straight up folks. Strawberry Basil Lemonade is also a good way to go, especially for the ladies that's not looking for anything too strong. Since we went after dinner, I got the Valrhona Warm Chocolate Cake for dessert. It's a super rich molten chocolate cake with chocolate toffee crunch ice cream and cherry sauce. The best part is probably opening up the chocolate cake and watching the chocolate lava slowly oozing out. There was also a live jazz band playing! With the view and the music, we didn't really talk much and just sat, enjoyed the drinks and the music. Good spot to stop by if visiting, at least for the view!
(4)Jennafir E.
I have never had a better Martini then when I was here. I'm a picky martini drinker, if I don't like it I won't drink it or I'll give it away, because someone doesn't know how to proportion the amounts correctly. That being said, holy schizer. BEST MARTINI ever. I loved it, I wanted more. I will return when I want to celebrate a big event, because it is pricey and I am not that rich. The appetizers were also very good and the waiter was fabulous. This is a ritzy place, but at lunch you can go in wearing whatever and they don't care. You are still given fantastic service. The view is also astounding. I loved it. 52 flights high and the charles off to the side makes the view fun. As for dinner or anything other then martini's or app's, i cannot assist. but they are given a 5 for having the best martini's so far in this city and for that they will forever be in my hearts with the steep price.
(5)Brian M.
For the view, this place gets 10 stars. You won't find a better view of Boston anywhere. This is the kind of place you take your girlfriend on Valentine's Day or some equally arbitrary special occasion you wouldn't celebrate if you were single. The food is nothing too special - not good enough to make dining here a regular occasion but good enough OH MY GOOD GOD LOOK AT THAT VIEW OF THE SUNSET OVER THE CHARLES RIVER!! IS THAT NOT THE MOST GLORIOUS THING YOU'VE EVER SEEN IN YOUR ENTIRE LIFE?!?! So yeah, Top of the Hub. The view doesn't suck.
(3)S L.
The views are great, and the menu has become a bit more inventive since our last visit there a year or two ago, but the reality of the food fails to inspire. Given the fact that the prices, as well as the altitude, will induce nosebleeds, this is quite disappointing. The spicy lobster bisque was neither hot (as in temperature) or spicy. The crab cake was the high point of our meal, as the sole was mushy and bland. The service was quite uneven despite the intentions of our cheerful waiter. The runners brought the soup out without a spoon (!) and while the waiter volunteered to take it off the bill, he did not do so. Bottom line, if you want to go someplace that has a great view, this place is fine. But if you want first-rate cuisine primarily, there is certainly better food to be had in Boston.
(2)Catherine D.
Went to Top of the Hub with my boyfriend last night for after-dinner drinks and dessert after dining at Papa Razzi. The view was breathtaking. We were sat immediately, without a reservation at a table next to the window. Like I said, gorgeous view of the city. Our waiter was very pleasant and was even nice enough to take a picture for us. We enjoyed our drinks but were far from impressed with our dessert. We had the Warm Chocolate Cake. The portion was tiny, it wasn't exactly "warm", and overall I was just not impressed with the dish. It kind of made me wish I stayed and ate dessert at Papa Razzi. For drinks and the view Top of the Hub is a must go but I definitely wouldn't return for the food.
(3)Matt C.
This place is bizarre. First things first: you're paying for the view. The view, especially at night, is amazing and romantic and totally great. Unless you sit at the bar, in which case you're staring at...the back of the bar. Luckily, we sat at a table by the window. $24 minimum per person. I got a beer, she got some kind of fruity chick drink, and since it was late and we had already eaten dinner, we ordered some apps. Chicken lollipops and flatbread pizza margherita. The chicken "lollipops" are basically barbecue buffalo wings that you pay 15 bucks for. The pizza was a notch up from Red Baron. The food just isn't that great. My beer tasted like it was passed through a keg line with more bacteria than the town in the movie Outbreak (yes, I'm aware that was a virus, screw you, nerd). Go here for: a sweet view. Do not go here for: an exceptional gustatory experience.
(2)Alexander D.
I wanted to take my girl to what I thought was one of the best places to eat in boston. I went on a weeknight and it was somewhat busy. There was more noise and smaller table space than an upscale eatery like this should have. Although my 16 dollar appetizer of two scallops was tiny, they were the best I've ever had. My girlfriends swordfish entree was big and delicious and my entree was also very good. The View is the best in Boston and the food is right up there. I wanted a place to dress up for but I saw people in jeans and even a few children. Don't know if I would go back but it is something you'd have to do once.
(4)Terry W.
I went here with my wife and daughter for dessert and drinks....don't worry the 5 year old only had milk... But we went there because of FRESH MADE COOKIES! WOW. Awesome...Drinks weren't too bad either. Didn't eat the real food...as a BLT was $14 and didn't think it was worth it, but desserts were good.
(4)Jamie S.
I stopped by with a friend on a clear afternoon for a quick drink and a bite to eat. I enjoyed the clam chowder I had, though it would have been overpriced if not for (you guessed it) the stunning view. Same goes for drink prices. On the service side of things, the bar staff was downright cordial. Bottom line: you're paying for the view. If can't be honest with yourself about that, go somewhere else. There are plenty of fantastic restaurants around on street level.
(4)Beth G.
Other than the view, there was nothing special about this place. The food, decor, service was just alright. When people come to visit, I would never think of going there. It's not so much bad as it's just disappointing. But the view is what made it two stars, in my opinion. The view is spectacular on a clear day. And whenever the sun decides to grace us with it's presence, that would be great time to go. But for the view only, I can't stress that point enough.
(2)Lily C.
The now BF took me here for a first date. + pros - cons + delish food + delish dessert + kick ass view if you get a window table + service was great, very attentive staff (they didn't lose my coat either! YES!) + validates parking + nice bar + it's in the pru + not an obnoxious crowd + not stuffy - will put a slight dent in your wallet - better make a reservation
(4)Colin L.
Top of the Hub is nice for what it is. The view is spectacular, but it doesn't come cheap. The food is always delicious, but you're paying for the view with every bite, which is fine. It's a great setting for a fine-dining meal. Especially the nights with live jazz, those guys are always excellent. the only thing that's ever disappointed me was the "lounge minimum" of like $32 per person or something, so if i wanted to have a martini and a snack with someone, we would need to rack up a $75 bill with tip, or else be fined! That's kind of BS, especially on a slow night like a monday or tuesday. Either way, worth a stop, but bring a rich uncle or something.
(3)DeeJay M.
Come here, grab a drink, enjoy the 360 degree views of all of Boston! A great place to get your bearings and see all the city and surrounding areas have to offer. Awesome bartender, upscale atmosphere, felt like I was at the Rockefellar Center again....but better....because this is Boston!
(4)Yvonne W.
People come here for the view and little else. The per person drink minimum is $24 if you want your own table, so be prepared if you want to sit down and enjoy the city lights. If you are a wine connoisseur or have any deeper interest in alcoholic drinks, be forewarned that your server will probably not know a single thing about what you may ask him. My boyfriend asked him about a particular Napa Valley wine last night, and the server replied in the most serious tone of voice, "If it is from the Napa Valley, then it is very, very good." What a moron. If he had no clue, all he had to do was say he could ask the bartender. On a positive note, the live jazz is an added bonus to having drinks here. Just don't ask your server questions about the wine, especially if he is tall with dirty blonde hair and pale skin.
(2)Wally C.
I took my mom here for the first time, the place was packed but we were able to sit by the bar, the view was amazing, we order some martinis that were out of this world, but the star of the day was the two appetizers that we ate, the fried calamari was soft and sweet, with a delicious tomato sauce that did not overpower the full flavor of the seafood, we also had the margarita pizza and it was hot and cheesy with just the perfect touch of basil, the staff was prompt and courteous but I must admit, they need to smile a little bit more, they are too serious and makes you feel like they don't want to be there, this is the reason i don't give them a higher score...
(3)kevin k.
I loved the view of the city. That is the only thing I remember liking here. Two friends and I (a district manager, medical doctor, and accountant), decided we would all go for a chilled Saturday guys night. We are all mid to late 20s and we tend to look younger but were prepared to spend quite a bit. We got up there--went to the area with the view, and as we were entering a woman told us "excuse me, you do realize that you have to spend 25 dollars to be in here"? We did not want to disapoint the woman who stereotyped us as apparantly being not worthy of the restuarant. We got our tab up to the bare minimun, cashed out, and took our money to another bar.
(2)todd h.
The bartender was lovely and the view was amazing. Don't come to this place if you enjoy good food or good service.
(1)David G.
This place still holds the title of "worst service by an expensive restaurant" for me. I actually went here a year ago and I forgot to review it, but luckily the memory of the night still burns strong... So it was a special occasion and I had called ahead and told them this when I made my reservation. I arrived in my suit with girl in tow to be greeted by an uninterested hostess. "Hi I have an 8 o'clock reservation" her reply "Uh yeah..I don't know when we'll have a table, so if you want to hang out at the bar and we'll let you know". So much for the reservation...It turns out that she tells people with no reservation the same thing who arrive on a whim. So basically the reservation was pointless. I love when I get seated at the same time as someone else who just showed up with no reservation. Wonderful. So we sit around for 40 minutes at the bar while the hostesses chat. The place doesn't seem busy and there are some tables open, but we continue to sit wasting time. There were no updates from the hostess, so after watching them for a good while and sipping drinks I went over to speak with them. "Uh yeah, I think I've got something" she says. While I stand there some random folks show up off the elevator with no reservations and get seated at the same time I do. This is a fine restaurant?? I get better service at Vinny T's haha. So we got a table and ordered. The waiter was average- not bad not good-just going through the motions. The food itself was dissapointing-in fact I clearly remember being irritated that the food was of such blah quality. I thought the appetizer was a goof, but the entree was also very mediocre. I was letdown and had much higher expectations. The prices do not suit the food in the least, and to be honest even if the food had been less expensive I would have still been dissapointed. It was just not good and certainly not fresh. The only thing nice about this place is the view, which of course is wonderful, but I cannot recommend this place for an important occasion, or for a culinary experience of any sort. Go for drinks and the view, but do not go for the food.
(2)Vera S.
This was a great dining experience. The restaurant is beautiful, and the view was amazing. We had requested a window table and one wasn't available, but that's okay. I got the tuna (amazing), he got the lobster mac and cheese (amazing). I got the hearts of romaine salad, which tasted great, but was sort of awkward and annoying to cut and eat... It is literally 4-5 giant hearts of romaine. We each got a few martinis and finished off with the creme brulee. Yum!!! The elevator ride up was scary to me... The thing wiggles and shakes a little. :-)
(4)Alex L.
The view was nice...and...well...the view was nice! I went here last weekend for lunch and the food was...edible. Nothing impressive by any means. The food was slightly expensive for what it was, and a coke costs you about $4 (with no free refills). Is it worth the experience of being on the 52nd floor of the building? Yeah...but I'd get something cheap, enjoy the view and then get out of there...
(3)Matt S.
Rating an establishment like the Top of the Hub is difficult for me because I am not the type of individual that fits their demographic nor am I one that can afford to fake it on a regular basis. You're more apt to find me in jeans and a t-shirt than slacks and a button up, and more likely to see me devouring a steak than braised lamb and profiteroles. That said, I do enjoy the finer things in life (I do KNOW what braised lamb and profiteroles are, so that counts for something), so dressing up and taking the girlfriend to the Top of the Hub for her 21st was not only a treat for her but one for me too. There are people that will say most of the positive ratings here are based on the view, and to that I can't necessarily disagree. This is the finest view of Boston you'll get short of the observatory, and you can soak in in while you sip a drink and partake in a meal. Naturally, the location of a restaurant is reflective of it's price, and given the fact that the Top of the Hub is on floor 52 of the Pru, I hadn't planned on docking it for it's price tag - it's an expensive place and makes no attempt to hide it. So the view and the ambience are top notch, and can't truly be matched at any other restaurant in Boston. Going for dinner or drinks at the onset of the evening is a great idea, so you can watch the sunlight fade and the city lights take it's place. It's qualities like this that make the Top of the Hub unrivaled in the ritzy eatery scene in Boston. The service matched the atmosphere nicely. Our waiter was attentive and kind, offering not only efficient service but recommendations for us. He knew from the manner in which we handled ourselves that this was likely a rarity, and he accomodated us well. The food was good. It wasn't unbelieveable, and I know many will come down hard on a place such as this when the price tag doesn't match the quality perfectly. I'll fully admit that the 10 oz. veal sirloin I had was, frankly, not anything impressive. If I were to weigh the bill specifically on that, Top of the Hub would have come up majorly short, but as it stands I know the bill factors in many aspects of the experience. The Creme Brulee was great, though - no negative marks for dessert. When the bill came, it was easily the largest bill I had ever paid at a Restaurant for a two person meal. But it wasn't a difficult thing to stomach, either. I could've saved some cabbage by taking my girlfriend to the Outback, but I wanted an experience. Would she have been able to consume ritzy, high class food while surrounded by equally ritzy individuals elsewhere? Would she be able to look over the lip of her Cosmo and see the city ablaze with lights? I contend that she wouldn't, and that's why the Top of the Hub is a Boston legend.
(4)Mimi K.
I'm in love with the panoramic city views that really are the gem of this restaurant. The service is impeccable and although the menu IMO is limited and uninspired, whatever I had (Braised lamb shank) was delicious and satiating. The wine list however, is a whole other story. Excellent wines from all around the world, hard to resist. I dined here at sunset on a warm summer day and I'm sold because nothing beats a good bottle of wine over a panoramic orange sunset, then coincidentally, fireworks over the Charles River. The live jazz bar overall crowned the pleasant experience
(4)Angela A.
I wanted to be the one who had a great experience here. My husband and I had friends in from Paris, and they wanted to go to Top of the Hub. They thought the menu looked good online, and they were excited about the view. Well, the view was great, no doubt about it! We got there before the sun set. We watched as the sun set, and then as the lights of the city blinked on. It was beautiful. Three of us wanted the tasting menu, but one party didn't. We asked if she could do the prix-fixe menu while we got the tasting menu, but the server said that the kitchen would become disorganized. Now, I know it says so on the menu, but it says so on the L'Espalier menu as well, and if you ask at L'Espalier, they will serve you whatever you wish. It took a while for our server to come over to us the first time. Then it took a while to get our glass of prosecco. Finally we ordered our meals. Before the starters arrived, they brought our main courses out. They placed my scallops in front of me, and I thought they had misunderstood that I wanted a salad first, and then the scallop appetizer. But then I looked at my husband's plate, and saw that the lamb shank was in front of him. Our waiter came rushing over and said ,"No, no, this isn't right." So, clearly the kitchen is already disorganized! When we finally got our food, it was average. The seared scallops were nice, and the crabcake was nice as well. I definitely wasn't the one person to have a great experience here. I would recommend going for a drink at the bar, and having an appetizer or two. The dinner experience leaves a lot to be desired.
(3)Jennifer F.
Horrible experience. Yes a great view, but bartenders and staff were rude and unfriendly. Went for drinks to celebrate a night out and the evening was ruined with the bartenders complete lack of costumer service. Will never be going again and will encourage friends and families to never go as well.
(1)Brian D.
If you are coming in from out of town and want to get the best view of the city and surrounding area, you pretty much have to come to the Top of the Hub. Especially if you want to enjoy this view with a drink, I mean you could do it on the roof I guess but you would probably die - so that would suck. Basically (even if you have been here a long time or are a native) you are a jerk if you don't come up here at least once. The food is OK, in fact the spicy lobster soup is more than OK- it's actually quite good. I've had a few dishes here nothing worth raving about and also nothing worth puking back up. The staff is attentive for the most part and the bartenders know how to make some decent enough drinks. Honestly, I would stick with a cocktail and an appetizer and head elsewhere for dinner but that's just me. I give it 4 stars because it's a 'Boston Classic'. The prices aren't insane, you aren't a douche for coming here (like you would be for say going to Cheers), the view is the best thing since porn, and the food is pretty decent (if you are a food guru you may spt on me for saying that).
(4)Blair H.
Wohoo! I'm the 200nd reviewer of Top of the Hub! Went here for cocktails...ahem...beer on Friday afternoon. Good prices and not as snoody as you might imagine. Totally worth the view.
(4)Arturo Z.
I have very mixed feelings about the Top of the Hub: Let's have the good first: -The view -Live music (fine...not great) -Semi-fancy honestly, that's about it. Now the bad: -You can only sit at a table if you are ordering a minimum of $25/person, and they are crazy strict about this point -The only other option is to sit at the bar, which offers no view out of the windows. Also, there are only about ten seats which are always occupied. -Almost everything is overpriced, though not as bad as it could be considering it is Boston. -Mediocre wine list (to be fair, there are a few nice choices, but they are spread out between easy-outs) Overall, if a friend is visiting from out of town or you are celebrating your 20th anniversary, go for it. Otherwise, not worth it. I would much rather be somewhere fun and fancy in the North End (Enoteca Monica, for instance) and get my money's worth/have good service. The Hancock observatory bar (in Chicago), though more casual, is a better deal in my opinion.
(3)Anita D.
The view is great but not compared to the skylines of San Francisco, New York CIty, or Hawaii. Drinks here are expected to be pricey and that's fine. What you're paying for is the view and the ambiance. There was a live jazz band, very classy and sophisticated. People making out in the corner, not so much. Get out of here! Our party of five just ordered 1 drink each, given that we had a very late start and did not arrive until about 1130pm. Not overly crowded so a conversation can be carried and heard. Our bartender was a little pretentious or maybe our party was just a bit disorganized. He had very little patience. Overall, a must see at least one time while you're in Boston. But if you have been to swanky and posh top of the floor bars/restaurants like this one, you will not be too impressed.
(3)Meg C.
My wife and I chose Top of the Hub for our one-year anniversary dinner. We arrived at 6:30 so we got to see the city views in daylight, at sunset, and in the dark. I highly reccomend arriving at a time that let's you see all 3! We had a great experience. Our waitor was laid back, but professional. We had spicy lobster soup (really amazing) and the spinach salad- standard, but good. For entrees we had the chicken and a swordfish special (amazing). I've heard that the food isn't that great at Top of the Hub, but we were very pleased. And you can't beat the views!
(4)Meghan K.
Great atmosphere - killer view of the city. Service is good, but the food is definitely overpriced for what it is. I'd recommend just coming and getting a drink from the bar if you want to experience the amazing view and going to one of the many restaurants just blocks away that are way better.
(3)Jennifer M.
The view is amazing - can't beat it in Boston! We went for an after work drink and some food and decided to sit in the lounge. The service was blah - after our table being ignored for a while, we finally had to stop a waiter. When our waiter finally came over he seemed a little annoyed to be bothered, and was very dramatic in carding us - it was like he was looking for an excuse not to serve us! But the food was delicious!! It actually was unbelievably good. We split 3 appetizers - the crab cake, calamari, and the brie with walnuts = so yummy!! I have been here several other times for dinner, the the main dining room. It is wonderful for a special occasion. But of course it's super expensive - so I won't be back on a regular basis!
(4)Parker H.
This is perhaps the worst restaurant I have ever been to in my life. I have managed, owned, run, and done real estate for restaurants for over twenty years. I understand a bad shift, a bad meal, and even an arrogant server, but I do not understand how a restaurant charging these prices can have such offensive and incompetent servers and management. The series of disasters started on Mother's Day of this year. Granted, Mother's Day is a day that is bound for failure as many rookies navigate restaurants for the only time of year and inundate restaurants not properly trained or managed, Although it is tough to toss a mulligan at a restaurant charging $350 for two adults, two children and an infant to eat, nonetheless, I did. From the beginning, the entire experience was doomed to failure. The poorly trained service staff and the mediocre food was miserable. However, each guest on Mother's Day was "treated" to a $50 Gift Card to return. Instantly, my reaction was to toss it out- how desperate to have to give away this much to bribe people to return. However, I decided to give the restaurant another chance. Poor choice. Soup ($11.00 bisque) came out cold. Told server that although it was flavorful, the soup was cold. He took it (with an attitude) and returned ten minutes later with another bowl. Colder than the first one. Oh well, I thought, no soup for me tonight. Next course was Top Of Hub Chopped Salad. Menu listed lettuce, tomato, haricots verts, and cheese, Salad came out with little resemblance to description. Lacking some of the ingredients and adding scores of olives as the most prominent ingredient. After twenty minutes of no server involvement, it was clear I was stuck with a salad that I could not eat (being allergic to olives). After the server finally arrived, I decided that I would consider the two mistakes bad luck and press on with dessert and asked for the menu. Server rudely mentioned that we better make it quick since the kitchen was closing in fifteen minutes. To me, it hardly seems appropriate to mention kitchen closing time this far ahead of actual closing time. I reviewed menu and noticed that the salad description was as I had read it originally and decided it was too late to order dessert. Server arrived and smugly asked if we were having anything. I politely noted that the salad description lacked olives and I was not happy with that. Server said that I should have said something earlier (again, he was never present). To which I replied that I would like to speak with a manager. Of course, manager never arrived, and the check was presented by arrogant server nastily pointing out that the soup was comped. As the server looked on, my wife crossed out the tip line, totaled the check, adding nothing, and politely said good night. The server was incensed that he received no tip and was very vocal about it. This is outrageous for a server to comment on a tip. I asked for the manager and a young man no older than 22 arrived ten minutes later. I explained the horrors of not only the food, but the service, and the best he was able to say was that he comped the soup. Long story short, incompetent kitchen, incompetent service and most importantly incompetent management. HIGHLY not recommended.
(1)Hagan B.
There are a few reasons why I have a thing for going to the tallest restaurant in the city: 1) It costs a lot less to go get a drink at the top than to pay to go to the observation deck (plus, you get a drink at the restaurant) 2) You really get a feel for the layout of the city and suburbia (that's my engineer talking) 3) It satisfies all of my king-of-the-mountain unfulfilled ego needs from childhood (but Dr. Freud exhumed and arisen might consider the shape of the building while psychoanalyzing me and claim a phallic fixation) So Boston was the latest city to meet my acquaintance from above. Whether you're satisfying your hunger or desire to be inside the head of a giant penis, you'll be pleased with the Top Of The Hub. I went for Brunch, and besides a varied prix fixe menu, the service was fantastic. I recall the mini almond croissants being a table favorite, but each course was dressed to the nines. Aesthetically pleasing plating and interesting flavor juxtapositions kept me entranced from the first sight to my last bite. My mother pledged to take us out each year (for Mother's day . . . maybe that was a hint for my brother and I to pay next time) for the views, exquisite fare, great service, and pretty people watching. Notice the low reviews of the people complaining about the per-person minimum. Go figure that it ain't their type of place!
(4)Miriam L.
Service and flexibility bump Top of the Hub up from three stars to four. On a relatively crowded Friday night, I was surprised by how young the crowd was; the average age was probably around 27. We were told that we couldn't wait at the bar while our table (for six people) was being set up. Though we were originally a little annoyed that they had us wait out in the lobby, the table was ready within minutes. When two more people joined us, the hostess had no problem adding a couple more chairs to our table. Our server was friendly and attentive. She took our drink order within minutes of us being seated. My pomegranate martini was excellent, but the server noticed that my friend wasn't drinking her tomato thyme martini (which was very strong) and let her order a different drink for free. We ordered the tuna tartar appetizer, which was delicious, as was the baked brie. I also ordered the macaroni and cheese, which was good, though not the best I've ever had. The drink prices are on par with other high end bars and lounges in Boston, but I don't think I'd come back for food unless someone else was paying. I just can't afford it.
(4)Tristan H.
I'll make this short and sweet: 1. I completely agree with the masses and will add nothing new with this review. You have been warned. 2. Definitely worth one try, at least for the view. This should be obvious. 3. The food is quality, but not stunning or unique or noteworthy. It's not worth the price you'll pay on a normal night, but it's worth the Restaurant Week price. 4. The service is fine, again, nothing spectacular. 5. I'd definitely come back for drinks and atmosphere, especially with visitors - dinner is not really worth the view surcharge, which you'll already be paying on the drinks anyway. The moral of the story is exactly what you'd expect - there are no surprises, unique highlights, or out of the ordinary novelties - this place is just a decent quality, normal, run-of-the-mill no-frills no-surprises nice restaurant where you get right around 60% of what you pay for. Except for the view. There's nothing quite like watching a jazz band play with that kind of backdrop, or having dinner with such a view of this beautiful city. And that's why you go.
(3)John C.
This one is a tough one to review. The view? Unbeatable...A+++. If you are looking for a romantic place to take a date? Search over guys, make a reservation here around sunset and make a second reservation for breakfast. Even a blind squirrel can find nuts, and so can you, if you take your date here. Food? Mediocre and overpriced. Drinks? Overpriced, but a great pour and with creative mixes. Service? The maitre d' ( a maitresse in this case) was obnoxious, overbearing, full of herself, condescending and arrogant...and those were her good qualities. Waitress? average. Go for the view...have a drink or two and find another restaurant for your dinner...and, BTW, enjoy breakfast, you dog you. ;)
(2)J Y.
Loved my experience here today! My friends and I went to the lounge for some cocktails and appetizers. Friday night at 10, but we only had to wait 20 minutes or so to get a table for four. I LOVED my mango mojito. Hardly tastes of alcohol. My friend enjoyed her Purple Rain Martini, other friend said her pear martini was very sweet. Level 52 Martini tastes like cough syrup... but if you're into that kinda thing it's the drink for you. It's also very strong. For apps, we ordered calamari, margherita flatbread, kobe beef hot dogs, and BLT. Calamari was okay, it was somewhat soggy. The margherita flatbread was DELICIOUS! Kobe beef hot dogs ... weren't anything special. Tastes like your typical hot dogs. I didn't have any of the BLT, but the potato chips were good. I LOVED the atmosphere. Live jazz band, dimmed lights, candles on each table, and the beautiful night view of Boston. The atmosphere made the high price worth it. And I'm not even complaining about the price, since cocktails were your typical $10-13. Apps were also in the same price range, but had HUGE portions. The apps were the size of a full meal. Just a note: If you want a table at the lounge, the minimum is $24 a person. You can feel free to mingle or sit at the bar, where there is no minimum, however, seats aren't guaranteed.
(4)Mark F.
I went here twice for drinks and desert while in Boston. The views are great! The drinks are good too (I had the Farmer's Breeze cocktail). The deserts are delicious (we tried the creme brulee, the fresh cookies and the pineapple cake). Service can be a little slow at times.
(3)Jamie G.
This is the BEST place to take a visitor/tourist who is new to Boston. Instead of paying like $15 to go to the viewing deck at the Pru, go to the bar at The Top of the Hub and get a drink ($8-$11).- it's cheaper, and you get a drink, and you can relax at the bar! Saturday afternoon is a great time to go, right when they open at 11:30am- easily get a seat at the bar, or a table if you prefer. You can walk around and see the GORGEOUS views, or enjoy them from where you are seated. I have always had friendly bar tenders and servers. I've tried several of their cocktails, which are all good, but they do make a mean mudslide! Had their prosecco on Saturday, which was great. For food, their clam chowder is very good, their cobb salad is HUGE, and their flatbreads are delish. Of course everything is WAY overpriced, but c'mon, for the view, it's worth it! But my recommendation is, go up for a drink, enjoy yourself, get a snack if you are starving, but go elsewhere for your lunch/dinner.
(4)Tom E.
For some reason I always call this place 'Hop of the Tub' - it could be the result of some sort of mental affliction that has been with for life, but no matter how retarded it turns out that I may be, I am at least intelligent enough to know not to come back here again. The view is good, great if you're lucky enough to get a window seat - but you shouldn't have to pay $24 minimum per person for the pleasure. It's better value to just do Sky Walk beneath (and you also get to walk around and see the whole 360 there). And you certainly shouldn't have to pay $24 per person when you've had 5 different people serve/ignore you all night, no-one warn you of the minimum spend and your all food had all tasted Sysco pre-packaged. Simply zero stars for the dated TGIF-style food and minus zero for the service (we were made to wait like criminals for 15 mins for a verdict after not spending enough). The clientle was embarrassing drunk office workers flashing the cash and the inside decor is tacky as hell. Our hour here ruined our Friday night. Never again Hop o' the Tub. I'll spend my money getting high in other ways.
(2)Portia K.
The views were fantastic and the food wasn't bad but a note to mgmt about the hostesses doing the seating....If a customer requests a specific area of the restaurant, please don't say no. Your hostess said "they were trying to spread out the guests" and the next couple that came in were seated exactly where we wanted to sit. Almost felt a bit prejudice...but then one of your waiters was kind enough to move us to the side we requested away from the sun glaring side. So he made up for a very inconsiderate hostess. So people, if you want a specific seat, ask for it. For those prices, you should get to sit where you want.
(3)Jessica M.
Went for drinks after dinner on a Saturday, and found it to be a tad bit crowded. Hard to get a seat at the bar, but the view, even on a foggy night, was amazing and worth it. Wine choices were not bad. I'd recommend getting a seat by a window if possible to truly relax and enjoy the focus of the establishment. The jazz band playing in the far corner added to the upscale ambiance, automatically creating a relaxed and romantic atmosphere.
(4)Stacy K.
We were pretty unimpressed with Top of the Hub's restaurant week menu. I had the salad, chicken, and mousse and my dining companion had the soup, salmon and creme brulee, and pretty much none of it was anything to write home about. The ambiance was nice, but kind of generic, and the service was very fast, but not especially warm or pleasant. I suppose the regular menu might be better, but based on the overall experience I don't think it would be worth returning to find out. There are so many other wonderful restaurants in the city where I'd much rather spend my money.
(2)Josaphine B.
Face it, you visit here for the view. But for $300 on dinner for 3 you should enjoy your dinner too, right? The service was comparable to a diner, not the 5 star you would expect, and 2 out of 3 dinners were sent back. The fish was spoiled and gross. The steak overcooked. Not a little bad, uneatable. If you want to see the view just order the cookies and a cup of coffee. In the end you'll be happy you didn't eat the disgusting food at the high price, you will have possibly saved yourself from a night over the toilet and enjoyed the view, some cookies and spent $15 instead of $300.
(1)Christina K.
The night started out great.. We showed up early and the bartender made us 2 GREAT Mojitos! Our reservation was for 9:00 and we got sat around 9:15; understandable since the place was packed! Our table was in a great spot and the view was incredible! Once our waiter came over; his eyes went right to the "Restaurant Week" menus that we had. Once he noticed they were the only menus that we had; he became very short with us; mostly one word answers. He took our order and since we didn't know what we wanted for dessert; we decided to wait until we were done with our meals. The food was excellent. I had the Rocket Arugula as my appetizer and it was surprisingly amazing! Our entrees came out immediately after our appetizer dishes were removed from the table. The Salmon was fantastic and the potatoes with the pumpkin sauce were very tasty. When it was time for dessert; I was almost certain that I didn't want any. But after our plates were cleared, the waiter brought us 3 desserts for our table, but didn't even ask what we actually wanted. There were only 2 options since we were ordering from the Restaurant Week menu, but it would have been nice if the waiter would have taken the time out to ask which of the two we wanted; and maybe he would have known that 2 of us, didn't actually want dessert because we were too full! Overall, the food was great, but the service left something to be desired.
(3)Katy D.
Braved the ride up the elevator and came with my boyfriend for dinner one night a year or two ago. Oh the looks we got from the hostess as we came in the door...yes we were 19 but we had every intention of having a full meal. Once we got our table (in the corner overlooking the back bay, god knows how we got that one!) and made it clear that we wouldn't be having drinks (obviously) we ordered our meal from a very gracious server (the highlight of the night, besides the view) Our food was so bland. Nothing remotely spectacular about it whatsoever. I remember the mixed service and I remember the wonderful views but I don't think I could even tell you what I ate that night. Came back for coffee and dessert a year later and it was the exact same run-around. All in all, skip this place and head to the SkyWalk
(2)Melissa M.
You must know, the view here is amazing. I prefer to go at sunset, preferably in the spring or summer or winter and/or fall. You, see the view is just that amazing. I know that Boston is the greatest city in th world and this view is a testament to that. The food is 3 star worthy. Typical blue blood food, but I don't think the menu changes that much. The bar is the best, in my book, the drinks are all delightful and overpriced. But you are paying for the view, so why not come by around sunset for a change? You won't regret it.
(4)Selena J.
Went for restaurant week and the food was... underwhelming. Service was lovely and drinks were good. Got the cookie plate afterward in the lounge, which was fantastic. Wine list is pretty impressive. Had I consumed this quality of food at the price generally charged, I would honestly be pretty pissed off. But I guess it wasn't bad for the experience of eating there, which I otherwise never would have. And probably wouldn't again.
(3)Grace F.
Definitely on the to do list for out-of-towners. At Top of the Hub you get a 360 view of Boston which is awesome--from the Citgo sign to the Charles to the fact that the ocean is really, like, right there! Some deets: - How to you get there? You need to go into the Prudential mall and resist urges to stop at the Vineyard Vines store and the Legal Sea Foods (mmm, another day, okay?) and make your way to the office-building-y area, where there will be a receptionist who looks at your ID (for security reasons), and then you head up to the Top of the Hub. - How much will it cost you? So you could go to the viewing area, which is pretty pricey itself, and not eat, or you can go to the bar (usually full) or spend $25/person to eat dinner/lunch at a table. I recommend the latter. Then make sure to take enough sortees through the restaurant to see all the angles and sights. No one minds. - Best timing? Before sunset, so you can see the day and night views. Easiest to get a seat mid afternoon on weekends and in the evenings on weekdays.
(4)Archana V.
Love the view! Can't be beat. The food? It's alright. You will definitely find better food for better value at many places. But if sitting on the 50th floor of a building right in the middle of Boston, surrounded by glass walls and a spectacular sunset over the Charles can't make an event special, what else can?
(4)Christina K.
I have lived in Boston for 6+ years and have only visited Top of the Hub this year! How can this be?! This place is classic. Classic fine dining with an EXCEPTIONAL view. I was expecting a great meal but not the best food of my life, and with these expectations I was not disappointed. Service was very good, and my boyfriend and I had a great night.
(4)LuLu M.
Debated on what to rate Top of the Hub - the view alone is worth 5 stars but the food was only worth 3 stars. We ordered the lobster roll and fancy "hot dogs" (maybe we should have ordered better menu items?) - and it just tasted like overpriced fair food. BUT, because of the view, I would probably come here again when I visit Boston and give it another chance with other menu items.
(4)Austin T.
So I came here a long, long time ago for Restaurant Week 2009 and I've forgotten about it until now. That's pretty much how unexciting and unmemorable my experience was. Granted, my expectations were high. And the view was indeed spectacular. But I felt caught between two worlds: one with annoying tourists and students posing for pictures amidst another with sappy romantics who pre-ordered tall vases of roses that ended up blocking the view. The food was sort of boring. I'm pretty sure even my chowder yawned. The chicken was decent - well-cooked, and garnished flavorfully with a sweet potato puree. And the dessert... some kind of yogurt cake? It was weird - there were gritty layers in the middle... I should have ordered safely. My friends definitely enjoyed the creme brulee. =/ The elevator ride up was pretty cool though. Don't forget to pop your ears.
(3)Chris F.
The view is awesome. Except on cloudy days. The cookie plate is the best thing other than the view. Don't miss it. If you want to impress someone, take em here, but try to get a window seat. Especially facing east.
(4)nicola s.
Scenic view At night the view sets the scene for a romantic interlude Wine is good, the food awesome but very small quantity for that price.
(5)Liz L.
My husband and I dined here for our anniversary. It was early evening [6PM] Wednesday & we were promptly seated in a quiet little corner area right next to west facing window; Cambridge, Charles River, MIT, etc.. It was cloudy, overcast but still spectacular. We began with complimentary offering, a petite cup of velvety rich mushroom bisque with two tiny toasted garlicky croutons, no spoon, pick it up, take two sips and viola! Gone. Very good. We each had an appetizer (me: roasted beet salad & scallops for him) For entree I ordered the tenderloin w/chimichurri sauce, he got pork chop & it came with mac& cheese, gourmet version. We both ordered dessert, creme brulee.. The waitstaff were very good, no snooty people at our visit. TOH is special & I'm glad we tried it but the food didn't blow me away. Please don't get me wrong; atmosphere is fantastic, waitstaff is terrific & food was decent but not spectacular.. With drinks; three glasses of champagne, one glass red [Oregon Big Fire '07] & one cappuccino, the bill came to about $182, not bad. Add tip & parking & it was approx $260. There are so many great restaurants in Boston & TOH is most certainly one of them but for the next special occasion we'll give another restaurant a try. Thanks.
(4)Christine M.
I was recently in Boston for a girls weekend with my college roommates from out of town. We wanted to end our 2 day stay with a night cap with a beautiful view of the city. It was a Sunday night and the inside bar (with no view had no seats) and there were many empty cocktail tables by the windows. Our group of 5 was not allowed to sit at the table unless we spend $28.00 minimum per person. All we wanted was one martini each..and those probably would have been $15.00 at least..We are not cheap..all in our early 50's with nice careers...it was the principle of the the thing. Sorry Top of the Hub..we left and spent our money somewhere else.
(1)Jackie C.
The food is mediocre and overpriced. For a place that is supposedly one of the best in Boston, they completely fail to live up to the hype. I've come here a few times for special occasions and every time, they fail to impress me with their bland dishes and overly sweet desserts. Their portions are also embarrassingly small for the price. If anything, I recommend that Bostonians come here at least once in their lifetime to enjoy the beautiful scenery atop the hub. But if the hostess ends up sitting your party far from the windows.. joke's on you, you just got stuck paying for an overpriced dinner with a crappy view.
(2)Christopher R.
I took the BF here last night for his Bday....after having made a reservation like two months ago through Opentable.com I had heard that they are very strict on dress, and have not let people in based on what they are wearing. So we stressed about what to wear and both wound up wearing suits. I was very disappointed to see so many people NOT dressed up. Tons of people in jeans, tshirts and hats. So I guess the only real dress code rule they follow through on is ...NO HATS. I was also very disappointed to see so many children. I really didnt think people would bring children to such an expensive and supossedly nice restaurant. On the contrary, there were a lot of children there. Who takes thier children to a restaurant where you are probably going to drop $300 on a meal? WTF? Even if I had children, I'd think you would want to experience the restaurant without the children and all that noise. Get a god damn babysitter! Our meal was interuppted several times by this one paticular kid that was running up and down the restaurant. Even when I went to the bathroom, the kid was hanging out in the door way, opening and closing the door repeatedly. I actually had to stop him, take the door out of his hands just to get into the bathroom. AND...no parent in site. So they bring their kids, let them run all over the restaurant, ruining everyone elses meals, while they sit at thier table in silence. I was so mad I was looking for the parents, to tell them off. Finally the hostess made them stop and be quiet. NOT her job. Parents like this have no respect, and probably should not even have children. We did manage to get seated right at our reservation time so that was good. Prior to being seated we walked around the restaurant and admired the views. It was a clear and sunny afternoon so we could see everything for miles. Great view of Fenway from up there. As we were seated the sun started to set, and the lights came on as the city went dark. By the end of the meal the city looked like someone had just sprinkled glitter out the window. BEAUTIFUL!!! We really had the perfect timing with the sunset and being seated. The food was good, nothing spectacular or that I would crave that i would have to go back for. They have only ONE Veggie option though. Other than the annoying children, over all it was a good experience. Its defintely more about the view from up there than anything else at the restaurant. Also, thier wine/champagne list is marked up A LOT!! Earlier in the day we bought a bottle fo Veuve Clicqot at a liqour store for $35 (usually about $45). We paid $100 for a bottle at TOTH. Outrageous.
(4)Ed H.
Went for Restaurant Week last week. The view and atmosphere were great, the food not. Had Manhattan Clam Chowder, some Honey Chicken, and Creme Brulee. All three items were disappointing - clam chowder had an astringent taste, honey chick was rubbery, and creme brulee's top shell was burnt to a bitter crisp. Don't come here for the food.
(2)Yuki K.
Since I was there to visit for the first time, I couldn't ask for anything better. I think it's a great place if someone's here to visit for the first time. I had few drinks there with my Friend, we got to sit by the beautiful night view. Jazz Trio was there for audiences request. Not too loud nor awkwardly silent so it was perfect for drinks and conversation.
(5)David F.
Depends on what you're going in expecting. At 5pm on a weekend the place was crawling with large groups of tourists. I don't mean tourists sitting down at tables to enjoy a drink, I mean glued to the window, picture-taking, pointing, yelling tourists. I didn't mind this so much because I was there just for a drink and the views myself, but if I had made a reservation for dinner - forget it. Zero atmosphere. On the other hand, the drinks were decent and large and the appetizer we got was rather tasty and creative (brie and walnuts baked on bread). For about the price of a ride to observatory, I had a well-crafted vodka martini, some impressive views and several background photo ops - not the worst afternoon I could imagine.
(3)Damon C.
Perfect place for a date or drinks with friends. The service was good. They made a mistake in the kitchen, and my server was pissed as he quickly corrected it. The food was excellent, the drinks poured right, and the dessert was awesome. There was a wait to get in without reservations, but after 11pm it was easy to cruise in for a late night cocktail. The view is the best. The live jazz was a really nice touch.
(4)Ivy C.
A must go in Boston! Went here on a snowy Saturday night. The view was beyond breathtaking, especially when the snow began to come down. The food was just as delicious! We had the calamari and their special appetizer of the night *which was prosciutto with lettuce, crackers and balsamic vinagrette*. Holy bejesus was that delicious! Their drinks are strong and delicious *and within my poor man's budget* . I must recommend their Belvedere Cosmo! Very smooth and yummy! Overall, a wonderful experience in Boston.
(5)Eric K.
WARNING: Only been here for lunch... so take it with a hint of salt. Or chili pepper... whatever toteschogoates. Okay, I'm just going to go and say that the view obviously deserves five stars. And for the view, I personally think that lunch is worth it (especially when considering that the sky view from one floor down is about $10, rather spend another 10-12 for lunch on top of the view) The prices for lunch I think are pretty reasonable for a well known swanky place, they even have a pre-fixed 3 course lunch for about 23 ish dollars. So price and view are pretty. yeah, pretty. Food is not so great. Their shrimp flatbread is pretty big, but oily. The lobster in the lobster role seems very fresh AND in huge chunks, but the roll is buttered like crazy. (Some people may be a fan of this, I'm not) I will say though that it is presented well, aesthetically pleasing. Its not the best in terms of food but I would take my parents there to enjoy the view. And my girlfriend. But not my brother, when we're together, its strictly about food, as it should be.
(3)Stephanie S.
best view of the city! the panoramic spans all the way around. perfect sunset spot to watch the twinkle of the lights reflect on the water. i had just flown in an hour prior and my friend suggested this spot as a way to orient myself with the city - bird's eye view from the 52nd floor. brilliant plan. plus, they have special wine made just for them from california! from top of the hub vineyards.
(4)B C.
The boyfriend and I never felt any true inclination to eat here as we've heard that you pay more for the view than for the food, but Boston Restaurant Week makes it a little more affordable, and we managed to score a Friday 6 PM reservation with window seating facing East Boston. The view was unparalleled, of course (as expected). The food was mostly good and with generous portions, except the Romaine wedge appetizer, which was basically a glorified chunk of lettuce, one (1) cherry tomato, and some bacon sprinkled on top. Dessert was probably my favorite - the Cherry Napoleon dessert wasn't too sweet and gave the perfect blend of flaky & creamy, light & heavy. And now what semi-appalled me: the service. We understand that it is Restaurant Week and turnover is extremely important, but the restaurant needs to accept that their patrons will (and should) take at least 1.5 hours to enjoy a 3-course meal! Our appetizers came out within 5 minutes after we ordered, BEFORE the server even brought us our bread bowl! We had multiple servers ask us every 10-15 minutes if we were done eating, etc; at times I felt like I had to physically protect my plate from getting swooped away by an over-zealous server. Worst of all, the server actually handed us our dessert plates before the boyf even finished his entrée! If we had eaten at the pace the servers were pushing for, we would've whirlwinded-out in under an hour. This is my first time eating at a relatively early dinner slot for Restaurant Week, so it may be standard practice (but I hope not), but I definitely expected more from a place like Top of the Hub.
(3)Marion C.
My favorite bar in town. Show up there early before a pub crawl or regular day of debauchery, 2-3 Level 51's and your half loaded on the elevator down. Come for the food, stay for the cocktails.
(5)Wayne D.
Would you expect to find great seafood at nearly 1,000 feet in the air? If you said no, your right. Fish does not belong any further than the dining table on the first floor, never mind the 52nd. I went to the Top of the Hub and the best thing there was the wine and the view. Well, the friends complimented the experince as well (we were celebrating a birthday). I elected to have the tuna tartare (bad idea). The food was mediocre at best and I felt like I was at a brasserie eating typical hotel food. The cookies that came out on a platter were stuck into a microwave so it seemed. Even worse than the food was the service. We had a pompous waiter who was polite in the beginning and as the night went on he was just hovering over us in a rude fashion. Sometimes these places take their guests for granted. A never again experience. 2 stars.
(2)Rimi A.
Amazing views and delicious food. The mac & cheese and pear cobbler were mouthwatering!
(5)Melissa C.
I would only recommend this place to someone who was trying to do something touristy even while they were eating. The menu was exactly what one would expect. I mean that in a very bored way. The food was good enough not to complain about, but again, really just squeaking by as average. Worst thing about the restaurant, a seat by kitchen. I had to listen to the waitstaff gossip and cuss the whole night. Not just little cuss words, seriously foul language. So, it's average, to be honest, in it's class it might even deserve a lower rating. But definitely, take tourists there if seeing little lights is impressive to them.
(3)Mike G.
brunch is blah. but definite stars for the obvious - the boston view. and live jazz. and service. and instead of paying to go to the view deck, go for espresso and dessert, which are pretty good. ideal spot to cool down in hot summer or thaw in winter.
(3)Megan H.
Im giving this place 4 stars- mainly for the view and the atmosphere. Nothing even comes close to comparing to this restaurant. , its totally worth it. My boyfriend brought me here for my birthday, and I had been dying to try it out. Its not the type of place you would frequent- definitely save it for special occasions. It is really quite expensive, and I wouldnt say you come here for the food- which is why I only gave it 4 stars. But if you are visiting Boston or have visitors coming, this is the place to take them, even if its just for a drink at the bar. If you go for dinner, even though there isnt a bad seat in the house, I would just recommend that you ask for a window seat....youll be happy you sepcified!!
(4)Liz K.
The jazz band was wonderful. We went at 8 on a Friday night and just got a drink at the bar to enjoy the view. There is a little space you can stand next to the jazz band where you can have the view and the music and not pay oodles for a table and food. The band started at 9. But you pretty much go here for the view for a couple hours and then head somewhere else.
(5)Meredith F.
I came here for Easter brunch, and I have to say I was surprised by how delicious the food was. I usually hear that the view is the main attraction here, but I'm still thinking about my shortribs over cheesy grits. The meat was fork-tender and pulled apart effortlessly, and the grits were salty, cheesy, and absolutely delicious. As part of the pre-fixe menu I also got a berry-granola-yogurt parfait made with Greek yogurt; an iceberg wedge with bleu cheese dressing, bacon, and tomatoes; and an adorable little pot de creme Easter dessert inside a chocolate top hat with sugar bunny ears sticking out. That was accompanied by a little carrot cake with cream cheese filling. The service was great, and we had a sunny day with clear views of the entire city. You are definitely paying somewhat for the view, but it's worth it to try the experience at least once.
(4)Amy K.
The Top of the Hub is an excellent place to come for a drink when you want to get off your feet and enjoy a spectacular view. Sure, it's a little pricey, but I think it's worth it. I enjoyed a raspberry martini when I was here, and sat in a super-comfortable chair and relaxed. Perfect for cocktails late in the afternoon. If you like aerial view of cities, this is the place for you.
(4)Daisy F.
5 stars for the fantastic view. Perfect place for a tourist like me...if only the service and food was better. I ordered a mojito that was so awful I had to send it back. I heard the bartendar complaining that "the woman doesn't know shit." Fortunately, I refused to let the bad bartendar ruin my night, so I ordered a glass of wine. I also had an order of crab cakes. The presentation was beautiful, but the crab cake was soggy and over salted. I would probably go back again for the view, but not order food and stick to wine.
(2)Jennifer D.
After having a great experience there 4 years ago, I was expecting the same this past year (November) when I went for my birthday. Yeah...not the same. I mean the ambience/view is truly great and special. But the food? Nothing very exciting here, esp. for the price. We started off with the lobster soup, meh...good flavor/heavy, a couple scant pieces of lobster meat. Asked for a basic salad and asked specifically for NO feta and dressing on the side. I got a lot of feta and dressing tossed with my salad, awesome. But I still picked at it, the dressing was pretty tasty. My fiance got the same as me pretty much except for the entrees. I got the braised lamb shank which was truly the highlight, it was delish, and huge! Meat fell off the bone, excellent flavor....but the sides, rustic it is! But not modern rustic, like here's some blah mashed potatoes and one single carrot....crap presentation. My hunnie got the veal, which was also delish, cooked amazingly well. His sides, crap. And our server was a bit condescending while still being polite. I guess he assumed we didn't have the money to eat there so he didn't try as hard (my fiance did look very presentable but not pretentiously so, but I always think he looks amazing). Appearances are deceiving aren't they, which is why you should never assume and should treat everyone with the same amount of respect, please and thank you. And for dessert, great pumpkin ice cream with your typical warm choco cake (lava cake) whatever. Money well spent on 3 single items yay! Will not return anytime soon. PS you're lucky my fiance is very generous, I wouldn't have been so nice with the tip. p.s. cute b-day presentation on the desert.
(2)JEM C.
Great views, good (strong) drinks, nice ambiance. Of course, you pay for it (each drink is $12 or more). The downside is that there are always tourists coming in, but for a tourist, thats an upsell--pay $12 for the observatory or get the views and a drink for the same money. You decide.
(4)Tara F.
My boyfriend took me here for my birthday dinner. The only reason I am giving it 3 stars is we were sat in a weird place and I would think they would have sat us in a nicer spot. Other then that the dinner was amazing. I had the lobster soup to start and then a filet! It was all so very yummy! The service was stellar and I couldnt have been happier!
(3)Julie B.
if i were to give Top a rating based on the experience, I'd give it a 4, but for what it is (yes, a restaurant), I'll give it what it deserves, and that's a 3. being that Top is trying to make itself out to at least SEEM like it is a 5 star kind of place (placing napkins in the lap for you, etc etc), it should at least follow through. DO NOT serve me 'fresh baked bread' that is freezing cold, with similar butter in tow (sadly i forgot my defroster at home that night). DO NOT give me a waiter that will insist on flirting with a table full of blonde skanks and thus bring me my food out 25 minutes after it is ready, which makes it cold as well. sigh. however, the food was still ok, and the view was excellent, and although i'm not sure i'd go back, it was fun.
(3)Lynn W.
I, yet again, will be out of the norm for reveiws here as I will not be singing any praises of this Boston tourist trap of a restaurant... I am starting to think that a bitterness is enveloping me little by little with each additional new restaurant I try b/c as I have ranted about in a number of my other reviews, service in the Boston food industry (even at the upper echelon of restaurants) always falls way below expectations (and trust me my friends, I worked in the food industry for a couple of years so I am actually very understanding and flexbile in the majority of problematic instances!). Case in point, my experience at the Top of the Hub... My husband's sister was in town for a convention on her birthday and staying at the Sheraton so we decided to take her out to this "fine establishment" for a view of the city, some good drinks and tasty food. Everything seemed fine as we were seated, the view was beautiful and the dim lit atmosphere made us feel very relaxed - that all changed when our waiter approached the table and you could see from the look on his face that he was pissed off we were there b/c I'm sure he thought he was at the end of his shift. He proceeded to give us the run-down on specials in the fastest manner possible, and then scurried away to assist other tables. When we placed our order for food, the waiter was impatient in answering my husbands questions but finally entered our completed order. When the food arrived, my husbands dish was something completely different from what he was expecting - now I agree that this mistake falls on my husbands lap, and he understood this and very graciously asked to speak with the waiter. This is where all hell breaks loose b/c this guy is pissed that he even had to serve us, but then he proceeds to practically chide my husband and then says that the kitchen is closing and he doubts anything can be switched out... Now this is where I get confused...isn't this supposed to be (as stated in their own advertising words) " One of Boston's finest dining destinations, the award-winning Top of the Hub features outstanding cuisine, impeccable service, and a sophisticated ambiance. " ???? My husband was basically forced to keep the dish, and even our other dishes left much to be desired considering the supposed stature of this dining destination. From most of the other reviews posted here, it seems that the majority only go here for music and drinks (very smart people I might add lol) but for anything else besides this, I would take your money elsewhere (I suggest Masa in the South End). Haven't been back since and I pretty much tell visitors to steer clear of this tourist trap - much better options are available on a few streets away!
(2)Jen H.
Came for the view, and the cocktails. I had the three-berry martini and savored every last drop. My friend, however, had a Level-52 or something like that (forget the exact name, one of their signature martinis) he wasn't too pleased. I don't know if it just wasn't what he was expecting or the champagne that they topped it off with was flat, or something else. View of Boston on a clear day - can't beat it.
(5)Christine V.
Don't pay for the tour, just go straight to the restaurant on the 52nd floor and buy some drinks and enjoy the view. Absoutely gorgeous views of Boston and Cambridge! Drinks are very pricey though, as expected.
(4)Renee W.
The 4-star rating is based on the view alone. I've been here a few times, never for dinner - too pricey for my taste - but for dessert and drinks. Each time we went on a weeknight and quickly and easily got a window seat with a gorgeous view of the city lights after dark. The desserts are expensive and nothing to write home about - I'd rather have a big brownie sundae from Uno's - but the drinks are nice and strong, good martinis, and like I said, it's all about the view.
(4)Matt W.
The cookies are amazing! The view is spectacular! Everything else, is average at best. I've never been here for dinner so can't comment on the food, but the drinks are nothing special. The service is lousy, what you might expect from a pretentious bar atop the Prudential building. On a Friday or Saturday night the wait to get upstairs can be almost unbearable....they have you stand in a line similar to an amusement park and give you no accurate gauge of the wait. If you have to play tour guide, I would consider including the Top of the Hub, otherwise I would buy cookies from a bakery and get a drink at street-level bar.
(2)Emily F.
We went here for a friend's first legal drink. We were dressed the part, whatever that means, but we were definitely judged by staff and patrons for being a group (there were about 8 or so of us) of 21 year olds. We awkwardly ordered drinks at the bar, crowding the area and all the "classy professionals" who filled all the bar seats in an unintentionally obnoxious way. Once we got our drinks, we perched over by the instrumentalists. We danced a little, which other customers and the musicians definitely enjoyed, but we didn't stay after finishing our drink. The view is fantastic, can't deny that. A little too pretentious, most of its appeal comes from the view it offers, not from food/drink quality. It's nice, but I have no desire to return.
(3)Max M.
I've never had the food, but this place is well worth a drink (or two) and the AMAZING view. It isn't cheap, but since you have to pay to go to the observation deck, which is below Top of the Hub, why not go up a few more floors, spend a little more, and have a drink?
(4)Daniel N.
Went here for my 2nd year anniversary with my girlfriend. The lobster soup was excellent, and the entree was good. The creme brulee we had was nothing like Finale's though. Overall, it was a nice experience. Make sure you get a window table to enjoy the view.
(4)Emily C.
Yes, the view is amazing. Yes the ambiance is great and the band is cute and yes I think it's just one of those fundamental things on your bostonian-to-do list. The service is alright and the food is okay. The tripleberry martini is yummy and we had a beautiful dessert wine that I don't really remember the name of.... The creme brulee was not crispy on the top!!!! We made reservations and we were about 10 minutes late yet we still had to wait another 20 minutes for our table even though it was not very busy. However, we were not complaining as the bar tended to our needs for pregaming for a big event after.
(3)Arnab M.
Boston's answer to the Signature Room in Chicago. Not nearly as spectacular a view but the hostess thought my then boyfriend and made the cutest and hottest couple (she told us so, extra points for that), so she gave us window table even though there was a one and half hour wait for one of those despite reservations. Food was delicious, and the portions were large, which is always a surprise at these high society places. The waitress even took a ton of pictures of us. Fun night. Totally a special occasions or client dinner place.
(4)Enday G.
I had lunch in The Top Of The Hub as part of the restaurants week. The food was very good, professional service and the view, oh the view... I highly recommend!
(5)Amy W.
i've lived in boston for 9.5 years now. i probably heard about top of the hub 9.4 years ago. i was always under the impression that it was touristy, stuffy, and way too expensive. i was completely wrong (something i don't admit often, so be sure that this is high praise). last night my boyfriend decided to do a little something special for me. after going to an art supply store (i've been dying to do some paintings for our apartment), he surprised me by saying we were going to top of the hub for drinks and "amazing cookies". now, he's only lived here for 1.5 months, and got this recommendation from his best friend, so i was impressed, as i have never heard about these cookies. once up on floor 52, we had to wait about 15 minutes for a table in the lounge. but once we got our table, it was just awesomeness from there on out. first off, the hostess was super nice, which shocked me. she kept apologizing for the wait, and thanking us for understanding. once we got out seats, we ordered up some martinis (one espresso, one mocha). they were both delicious, and definitely strong. we sipped on those while watching the incredible jazz trio (my boy's a drummer who has played in jazz trios, and he kept saying how amazing these guys were). the martinis range from $11-15, but that's the kind of crap you have to deal with at most places, right? i was actually surprised at the menu, since you really can spend not that much money and have a great night. next, we decided to order some dinner...him in the form of the cobb salad, me the chicken lollipops. the salad was great, complete with very tasty duck. my chicken lollipops (a fancy(?) word for wings) were delicious. then came dessert. the cookies and the chocolate cake. i had been craving chocolate cake for some time now, and while this one had delicious melted chocolate inside, it wasn't mind-blowing. but it did come with mint ice cream, so that was sweet. the cookies. they need their own paragraph. oh. my. god. there were 3 different kinds...chocolate chip, peanut butter, and plain sugar. there were 4 of each. they came with some kind of whipped creamy stuff that was cinnamon flavored. they made me wet in my pants. they were warm, slighty crunchy-ish on the outside, but oh-so-slightly gooey on the inside. honestly, i have no idea how they did it, but these were by far the best cookies i have ever put in my mouth. and they were $9, which really isn't that bad for being able to put pure bliss directly onto your tongue. in summary...i was shocked at how not too snobby the place was. the waitstaff were incredibly friendly and incredibly attentive. the view is amazing. the jazz was solid. the prices were actually manageable, and i WILL be going back soon just to have the cookies.
(5)Elizabeth C.
I went with my husband and in-laws for a light lunch during the afternoon on a perfect sunny, clear day. The food was pretty good, though of course you really go for the view. The brie, which was yummy, should have included more of the bread pieces. What was otherwise a special experience, however, was marred by the very snooty waiter mentioned in another post already, who refused to let us go look at a window on the other side in a rather rude way. So 4 stars overall, minus 2 for the rude waiter. (Come on, people -- customer service is your job, and all it would take is a little human decency.)
(2)Cee L.
I've been here twice and on both occasions I've been impressed with their amazing customer service. On a busy Friday night, BF and I switched from sitting at the regular seating area, then to the bar, and then back to the lounge cause we're sooooo indecisive. The staff was very accommodating and allowed us to move around. The view is breathtaking especially when the sun sets, and the general ambiance of the place is very nice. The food was okay, but it didn't stand out to me as amazing, but it wasn't horrible. Overall a really nice place to go.
(4)steve p.
I made reservations a week ago. The plan was for my girlfriend and me to take my mother and niece from out of town to an exciting locale for dessert after our very nice dinner in Back Bay (Casa Romero). Upon arrival they promptly refused us seating, saying that I should have known we couldn't have dessert in their dining room. They did offer to let us get at the back of some line to wait for a seat in their bar... where there was a $24 per person minimum for the privilege of eating their desserts. We asked if they would make an exception and they said no. I was willing to pay exorbitant prices for mediocre desserts in exchange for a nice view, but not to wait in a long line and pay $100 for the four of us to just sit in their bar. It was insulting and embarrassing. And it was something they at least could have mentioned when I made the reservation a week ahead of time. Fortunately we chose to leave this over-rated, pretension restaurant and have dessert at a far superior spot down the street... J.P. Licks.
(1)John R.
I almost forgot about this one! We did Easter Sunday here this year and it was great. I had a really good Rib Eye dinner and I got a second piece of meat it was that good, My GF had the Duck Confit she said it was delicious, Sorry but I forget what everyone else had. The view is awesome the atmosphere is great all in all one place in Boston you have to experience at least once while your here. We also did NYE here for the Boston Resolution Ball my favorite NYE party of all time. I hope this year will be as good. I am surprised we do not eat here more often considering my GF works in the same building.
(4)Ken M.
It's expensive for dinner, but a great place to go with friends to enjoy some cocktails especially on a clear night. The cocktails are still pricey (making it easy to hit the $25pp minimum to sit near a window), but very tasty and you can't beat the view.
(4)Hannah T.
This review is for the restaurant week price-fix menu. Two of those stars are for the ambiance and our adorable waiter who insisted that everything was "his pleasure." ONE star is for the food. They sure get away with alot because of their location. Maybe they think that because the air is thinner up there, our light-headedness will disguise the food's true nature; which is in fact incredibly mediocre. Diner 1 (me): Strawberry Rhubarb soup with Lavendar Creme Peppered Scallops with some corn mumbo-jumbo Mango mousse Diner 2: Endive and Arugala salad with some random salady ecoutrement Pork Medallions with figs Creme Brule Diner 2 all together chose the better meal although that's not saying much. The salad was forgetable, the pork medallions were maybe the best thing we had and the creme brule was very very average. My choices were potentially delicious but were alas, well just bad. Strawberry-Rhubarb soup (which should be dessert) was alright and the lavendar cream was actually delicious, but my scallops were tiny, overcooked and sitting in a porrage of canned corn and random herbs. To boot, my mango mousse tasted like something I've had at Super 88. Ain't nothin' gourmet about gelatinous mangoey flavored fluff. What is the Top of the Hub trying to get at? Vaguely Franco-American cuisine? Make up your mind! In my opinion just because you're on top of a tower does not entitle you to imposed snootiness. Your food is not better at an altitude. Though we had a lovely time oooing and aaahing over the breath-taking view, I would not go back. Snap some pictures, get a drink and bounce.
(3)Jenifer T.
I had dinner here with my mom, it was okay. I can't recall what we had, however it was average. Just another american restaurant for me, the sad part was, I came when it was storming so the view wasn't much at all. Nevertheless, I can't deny that it is possibly lovely if and only if it wasn't storming. Just my luck...
(3)Christine K.
I went for the Restaurant Week deal for a nice dinner with my friends. It was a rainy day and we were worried we wouldn't get a nice view, but luckily it was still beautiful and the fog cleared up by the end of the evening. I ordered the Romaine Wedge, Scallops, and Creme Brulee. The Romaine Wedge was disappointing as it was an actual Romaine wedge (with stem and all) with the dressing and bacon bits sprinkled over it. You had to do all of the cutting yourself to make your own salad.. I had hoped for something different than what the name implied. I had some of my friend's Tomato Bisque and it was delicious! The scallops were alright. The lamb chops my friends had were pretty good as well. We didn't try the pasta. The creme brulee was decent, but nothing spectacular. The waiter was very talkative and friendly and service was pretty good. All in all, a pretty good night. Though I wished we could've heard the live jazz band that started at 8 pm.
(4)Enrique D.
ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. great view of boston on a clear day. good jazz on monday nights. good liquor selection. made for tourists. if uve never been, come for the view. if uve been more than once, u probably already know its nothing special otherwise. food is very mediocre. frankly its pretty sad when u think how amazing it should be considering the location. its cool for some good live jazz and some drinks . other than that, whateverrrrrrr.
(2)Chris C.
Went there for anniversary on Friday, if you do this you won't get window seat unless you wait "30-45 min". Got a seat next to a group of 10, loud ten. Appetizers were good, entrees were very average and not worth money, we had linguini and chicken. Waiter was awkward and forgot about us numerous time, had to ask other help to fill my drink, did not receive little anniversary dessert, didn't want to any more after trying entree. Tips: don't go on night when it might rain, can't see view from table and observatory is closed. Plan on getting there early because you probably will get lost in the mall if you don't know the area. One star for one good appetizer. If you go here get apps, maybe drinks only at lounge
(1)Hannah Q.
I'm glad I got to eat here. The view was phenomenal, as would be expected. The service was excellent, the food, well, "eh." I don't recall what I ate, so that oughtta say something... When entree prices starting at well over $20, the food had better be memorable. I found the menu to be woefully thin on vegetarian selections. Okay, nothing new there, really, since, unless you go out of your way to go to a vegetarian restaurant, you'll likely be limited to one or two pasta dishes as your choice at any non-asian restaurant. What is particularly annoying, though, is that they've clearly THOUGHT about vegetarians at the Top of the Hub, because they've bothered to create a special, downloadable PDF Vegetarian Menu ( topofthehub.net/restaura… ). This is SO LAUGHABLE because it includes EXACTLY ONE truly vegetarian entree option, which is, of course, not even close to vegan, since it's a Wild Mushroom Lasagna (as of this writing, I'm assuming the menu changes seasonally, but you get the drift). Sure, there are plenty of salad options, but the rest of the entree choices on the "VEGETARIAN" menu include such delights as "smoked chicken," "braised baby clams," and "hazelnut encrusted salmon." Now, I'm not a vegetarian, but I've played one on TV, and let me tell you this shit don't fly when you're really someone who doesn't eat things that used to have faces or mothers (I know, I know... I'm getting all PETA here). I don't tend to eat much meat, and 9 times out of 10 when I'm eating out I opt for the vegetarian meal (meat-based dishes are always DOMINATED by the meat in the US, leaving only a slight smattering of afterthought vegetables on the side), so that's why I keep an eye on this stuff. So, final synopsis... I would go back for tea and appetizers, but again, that's really just for the pleasure of the view and having an occassion to dress all fancy... Oooo!!! Mama's puttin' on her pearls tonight!
(4)Jungmin L.
I would not eat here if I were paying for myself. The views, interior, and the live music is great. The food, meh.
(3)Shawn F.
I remember coming here for lunch with my family once and being able to choose from a wonderful prix fixe menu that included an incredible fruit salad and awesome steak. Unfortunately we didn't snag a table by a window and I can't for the life of me remember what the view was like. I'm withholding one star because we literally spent about three hours on our meal. This was mainly due to the obscenely long waits between courses, during which my stomach would growl like a polar bear that's just been stabbed with a thousand angry toothpicks.
(4)Christine C.
My boyfriend and I went here last night for our anniversary and it actually met up to my high hopes! While I would never want to come here on a regular basis (the wine is terribly overpriced) it was great fo a special occasion. We didn't have reservations as we had been away for the weekend and my boyfriend decided to surprise me at the last minute with a romantic dinner. We walked in and were greeted and seated within a minute. We had a great window table which was nice since the view is the real reason to go here. The atmosphere is classy and luxurious and the live music is the perfect volume to drown out your fellow diners but still make intimiate conversation possible. Our food was incredible, I was tempted to go for the three course prix fixe but since I wasn't interested in dessert went for my choice of appetizers and dinner. The chef sent out a complimentary appetizer that was to die for! The service was exactly what you would expect at those prices and made the whole experience great.
(4)Kelly N Z R.
Good for a vegetarian-- I just asked the waiter to ask the chef to whip up something vegan, and they complied. They recently had a terrific asparagus special menu, whence I ordered a light asparagus appetizer that I still dream about.
(4)Todd M.
We went for the Sunday brunch, so our experience was a little different from some of the other writers. We made reservations and were seated at a window table, as soon as we got there. They were almost full, but I think that we may have been able to slip in without a reservation, at least on that Sunday. The food was excellent, and the service was very good. Our waiter did try to sell us expensive bottled water, but quickly took it back when I said that we didn't want it. The view is wonderful. We were on the airport side, so it was fun to see the planes come in and out. Helicopters flew by at eye level or below....this place really is very high up. We paid about $5 more per meal than I would have expected to pay in a similar ground level restaurant. The view was worth it. They have an excellent web site, so I was well prepared with the price info before we got there.
(4)Helen L.
Okay, if anything, the atmosphere and the GORGEOUS view is worth going in itself. Go for being at the top of the Prudential and enjoying the beautiful view while dining. I went during the day when the weather is GORGEOUS so the view looked even more amazing. We went for restaurant week, and the food was great. I had a beet salad that was DELICIOUS, scallops were pretty good (small portion though) and creme brulee for dessert. Our waiter was very nice, accommodating, formal, and since I was on a limited lunch hour, he made sure that the food didn't come out too slowly. Very good experience!
(4)Mike W.
I took my girlfriend here last night for her birthday. The view is definately what sets the restauraunt apart. The drinks are ver good. The Appetizers are great but tiny. Scallops and bacon on the menu was literally 2 scallops, We also orderd the crabe cake appetizer, 1 crab cake. I had a 12oz steak that was just so-so, her lobster linguini dish was good. Again, you are definately paying for the view. All in all everyone should go at least once to see the city from the top of the hub
(4)Michelle L.
I made reservations through open table, and called in to request a window seat. While they technically don't reserve table seats, they told me they'd make note of it and would try their best. When we arrived that evening, we checked in and they mentioned we might have to wait a bit for a window table. Totally fine, we'll just sit in the lounge area and sip on some wine. About 20 minutes go by, and the hostess comes over to tell us that our table is ready. She proceeds to bring us to the far back corner of the restaurant where a rectangular table was rotated obscurely to fit by the window and alarmingly close to the table next to us. We all look at each other and say, "Isn't there an ACTUAL window table that we can wait for, without us being ridiculously uncomfortable?" The hostess responded, "Oh yes, I just didn't think you would want to wait any longer." Um, here's a thought: you could ASK! I just thought it was really sneaky that they tried to stick us at a makeshift table without even asking us if we minded waiting a little bit more. Hmph. So we went back to the lounge area and enjoyed the jazz music and gorgeous view of such a gorgeous city. After another 10 minutes, we were taken to a completely adequate window table and the hostess apologized to us profusely. Our waiter greeted us and answered any questions we had about the menu and gave recommendations as well. There was nothing on the menu that stood out for me; it seemed there was always one ingredient in the dishes that I found unappealing. I ended up getting the spinach salad and the pork chop. Both were okay, but nothing spectacular. At this point we're all extremely full and not even thinking about dessert when the hostess comes back over with a huge plate of delicious smelling cookies and puts it right in the center of our table. She apologizes again for the misunderstanding before and we all decide that we now love her. The cookies were soft and moist and totally made up for our pre-meal malady. So it ended up being a decent meal, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend this restaurant, as I think there's much finer places to eat in Boston. But it is a great view.
(3)Chase W.
"Top of the Hub" is pretty much as cheesey as it gets; but that's not nesessarily a bad thing if you know how to play that game. I'd disagree that it's a good date spot, unless you're going to pop the question to your Mail-Order Former Communist block bride, but it does have some value in the sense that it's more fun and cheaper to head up for a cocktail at the bar, than paying the ten bucks to just walk around and the observation floor without a cheaky beverage in hand. Don't eat here- just head up for a gin and tonic or two- it's pretty hard to screw up a tangueray and tonic.
(3)GlobeTrotter M.
Never actually had dinner here, but a great place to go for drinks. Fact is, you're going to pay a lot in Boston for drinks anyway so why not get a view of the North End, John Hancock Tower, and the airport from 600' up? Expect delays on seating on Friday-Saturday nights. I visit the Hub about once every two weeks and have gotten to know the employees, they are all very talented and have interesting backgrounds. You won't get ripped on your drinks, at this place you actually get what you pay for. They have an extensive wine menu and almost every kind of liquor you might want.
(5)Shanya K.
My boyfriend and I went to Top of the Hub last night for our "Valentine's Day" dinner. We're both in the industry, so we never get to celebrate on the actual day, haha. Anyway, we were warmly greeted upon our arrival and ushered right to our table. Unfortunately we did not have window seats, but i'm sure if we had requested them when we made our reservations we would have. Our waiter was quick to our table and very knowledgeable, although I wouldn't say overly friendly. Food service was timed perfectly. We started with the crab cake and spicy lobster soup. The crab cake was incredible!! For the main course I had Veal Sirloin and he had the Spaghettelli (i think), angel hair with clams. Again our entrees were amazing. Great Service. The ambiance is really great and they have live Jazz music that starts around 8pm. Great place for a special dinner or to go relax with a cocktail and listen to some Jazz.
(4)Peter P.
NEW REVIEW! Took away all the stars, would have given it zero if it had been an option. I said I would never go back after the last time I went, but a friend was here from out of town, her sister wanted to show her the view, you know how it is. Well let me tell you, I have never been treated by a member of the food service personel as badly as I was at the top of the hub last night. I was downright disrespected by the hostess, to the point where I wanted to see the manager, but refused to stay in the building and wait the 10 minutes it would have taken to find a manager. I was by no means under dressed, as a matter of fact, I was fairly over-dressed. I couldn't have been more polite, and I was treated like a homeless man trying to enter the ritz. I will never go back, and I hope this review makes you think twice about going there yourself. OLD REVIEW BELOW Humm, top of the hub. Don't exact ally know how to rate this one. The service, not so good, the drinks, weak, and also not very good and VERY expensive ($15 for patron silver on the rocks, ARMANI IS CHEAPER! so is #9 for that matter). The view is breathtaking. Luckily i was here with a friend, because she had to listen to what I said, and we could leave when i wanted or it would have cost me a fortune. The lounge has a great view, of wait, is that Roxbury, maybe it's Dorchester? Are those blue flashing lights, I'm scared. The building, being so tall, sways in the breeze. When it moves, you feel as if you're on a cruise ship and it makes you nauseous. Now, I did still give it 3 stars, go here, please, go here, but just once, once is all you need. See the view, hear the music, and then stop being a pseudo-tourist, and go to a real Boston joint. The biggest plus is that you can see right into fenway park! Sox Game anyone?
(1)Solomon B.
This place's big secret - the plate of cookies. 4 decently large cookies for $12. More importantly, it gives you and your cheap friends an excuse to go to this really swanky place with a gorgeous view completely underdressed (though there's no real dress code...I think....) and enjoy the view on a lazy night for $3 a person. If you're feeling classy, buy a few glasses of wine too.
(5)Josie C.
This is not an everyday dining experience, and for us "regulars" I wouldn't even call it a once a year experience. I've only been here once on a super fancy anniversary date, so we were willing to splurge, but it was so worth it! The location is obviously the winning factor, as you sit atop the highest floor in the Prudential building and look outside the giant glass windows overlooking the harbor/all of Boston. The service is TOP notch, as they will cater to your every need (you certainly get what you pay for!). As food the food, it was the best steak (or at least I think it was steak, or at least some sort of meat dish...this was over a year ago) I had ever eaten. The boyfriend didn't quite enjoy his meal as much though, which is sad, but then again he's used to fried everything so his taste pallet isnt as refined...haha. But no really if you want to indulge in fine dine, scenery, and service you can get no better in the Boston area.
(4)Beka S.
Went with my friends on a Friday for a birthday night kickoff. We arrived around 7:15, had a few drinks, enjoyed the view, and ate dessert first. (Cookies!) Drinks are about $10-$13, about the same as Faneuil Hall area. There's a $25 min/person after 9, but not before that. It was excellent, and the view - spectacular. A Boston must.
(4)Nicholas L.
I brought my wife here for a romantic evening and nice view of the city - for that, it was worth it. The food, to be fair, was good. We got the veal, the sirloin, and the crab cake for appetizer. For the price it was nothing special, overall. The drinks were very good; our martinis and wine were everything they should have been, price included. But, there are many restaurants in Boston where you can spend less money for more memorable food, good drinks, and a nice atmosphere. This one, of course, has something none of the others has - a very nice view. And for that - you will pay.
(3)Chris W.
brought my girl there on our anniversary and we enjoyed the experience. We're simple people that are happy with applebees, so we felt like this place too expensive and a little ridiculous but it was a nice place.
(4)elizabeth l.
skip the dining room (food is overpriced and just ok) and head straight for the lounge (wine/cocktail list is excellent). best place to take out of town guests or to just dress up and be fancy for the evening. great live jazz. order the "level 52" cocktail. or two.
(5)Alice J.
If you are dining here, request a window-seat when making reservations. The atmosphere is romantic with stunning panoramic views of Boston and live jazz in the lounge area. Much of the food was mediocre except the wonderfully prepared clam chowder. I would skip dining here and go straight to dessert and/or drinks in the lounge area. Oftentimes, there is a long wait on Friday, Saturday, Sunday nights to be seated at the lounge.
(4)Alyssa N.
Yummy drinks. Fab view. Overpriced food. Slightly weird-tasting desserts-- mint + raspberry does not make the taste buds jump for joy.
(4)Mark C.
Hands down, this is the best spot to take clients, visiting friends, and your GF - the view just can't be beat. Although landing a table right by the window gives an evening that added touch, almost any spot in the place is fine. Trendy, downtown atmosphere with jazzy/loungey music in the background makes it one of my favorite places to enjoy a glass of wine. I usually go later in the evening so as to avoid the tourists and kids, but it's never really a major problem - people enjoy themselves there and it shows. Friendly staff (in my experiences), good-enough food, and easy to get to. If you haven't yet, definitely check it.
(4)U V.
This review is long over due....i been meaning to write about this place for some time.....i went there back in late March 2009.....i love their food plus the view is breath taking.....i wish i could go here every night & eat dinner there....unfortunately my paycheck is the only reason that's stopping me......1 thing i hate about this place is though even though u reserve a table way ahead u still have to wait about over an hr just to get the table....how is that possible? (i'm taking 1 star away for that reason) am i supposed to slip a $20 or something to get the table the time that was reserved ahead of time?
(4)Adrienne M.
if you ever find yourself in the position of needing to take someone out on a truly impressive date/business meeting/'I'm sorry and I love you' dinner, this is the place to do it. 360 degree views of the city + first class service + a gourmet cookie dessert plate= a fantastic time. The drinks are surprisingly affordable ($12 martinis.. I know I know, but you can see all the way to Malden while you're drinking them!) and the hostess won't bat an eyelash if you show up wearing skull hoodies and pajama pants, like my best friend and I did one ill-fated night. I can't say much about the food, other than that it sounded and smelled delicious.
(3)Ayanna B.
This place is the business. It's at the top of the world!!! The all-round glass windows offer the best views of Boston. You can't get a bad table in the place. The food is great. It's not any more expensive than the better North End restaurants, but I'm not going to front: it's not cheap. Try to work it as a work expense if you want. The jazz is not the best in Boston, but it's pretty darn good, and all in this perfect location. MAKE A RESERVATION, or you'll be waiting downstairs in a line of tourists forever. Or go in the middle of the afternoon, but there's no jazz then. Heed my warning!
(5)Brendan M.
I can't say anything about the restaurant: we only went for drinks and dessert after dinner somewhere else. The views are great and the drinks are surprisingly reasonable. Martinis and cocktails are $11-12 which is a little bit more than some other places but given the live music and sophisticated atmosphere are well worth it. The bar menu also seemed to have a decent list of moderately priced nibbles and desserts. We got the fresh-baked cookies which were lovely and could easily feed 4 or 5 - we brought over half home. I'll definitely be coming back
(4)Joyce K.
I don't think the food was anything amazing. I had clam chowder which I didn't touch because my friend wanted it. I think he said it was good. I ordered the salmon with saffron rice in a black bean sauce. Honestly, it was kind of a hit or miss dish and I'm still confused as to whether I liked it or not. It tasted kind of ketchup-y but it was well cooked and the first bite was amazing. But as I kept eating it...I got more and more conflicted about whether I actually enjoyed it. My friend got a burger which...is a burger. The view, of course, was phenomenal and made the whole dining experience something special. For dessert, I got a tea cake which was very good and beautiful to look at. The front desk was just snooty but I would've been disappointed if that hadn't been the case. The decor was airy and refreshing. Our waiter was a nice guy. No big f- ups which is a plus. Lastly, the coat room lady was kind of sad. She didn't speak english and was reading a picture dictionary...just a random observation. I think everyone should tip her.
(4)Jeffrey N.
last time i was here, it was in the middle of a snow storm at night. the view made my feel like i lived in a snow globe. i liked that feeling, or was it the whiskey that i was drinking that made me feel good? either way, this place is a bit over rated, but worth it for a martini with a special someone, or in a snow storm. what ever comes first. and yeah, the view is nice, blah blah blah...
(4)Billy E.
My wife and I ventured in on one off night in June and was very apprehensive given the bad but consistent yelping. I told myself, i need to go to top of hub before i leave Boston (yay..soon!!) So, we started with the Arugala Salad and Lobster Bisque. Arugula salad was a good size of salad and had decent flavor of dressing. I would most likely not get the salad because it didn't blow me away for the price. My wife had the lobster bisque and it was fantastic. I had a similiar but better lobster bisque in Kauai but this one was close. It was perfect warm temperature and nice chunks of lobster. i ordered myself one too. The only difference b/w this bisque and the Hyatt Regency Kauai bisque was the lack of vanilla..which was evident in the Hyatt's version...I loved it either way. The Filet was ordered by my wife and i had the sirloin.....skip the sirloin get the FILET...the filet was perfectly cooked and had a great smokey (liquid smoke) flavor to it. The sirloine...eh...waste of money...mine was medium...and I wanted medium rare...which to me is a no-no....i hate overdone meat. If the Filet fell short...i would of given 3 stars...but the Filet delievered. The service that night was good...each server called me by the formal and were very quick to clear the plates..another pet-peeve...finished plates sitting on the table. I hope to have a repeat performance some time.
(4)The Jazz Master M.
I've only been here once because the food was *that* bad. The food was so bad, that I only had one bite before deciding I couldn't eat anymore. I wasn't impressed with the service, since the waiter didn't bother to ask how my plate was, when it was evident that I was not eating it. It was overpriced, and the the vibe of the place was very stuffy. This is definitely an overpriced tourist trap.
(1)Laura L.
Wow, where can I start. So a group of 5 of us went there for my girlfriends 21st birthday dinner. We had reservations that Tuesday night and when we arrived had to wait 30 minutes before being seated at out table. Even when sitting in the lounge place we knew the service would be terrible. The first 15 minutes no one offered a drink and finally one of the guys in our group and to go wave down a server. In general in an upper scale restaurant you should be offered water or a drink in the lounge in the first 5 minutes! I guess the view can add some positive enlightenment however still doesn't excuse the bad service. After waiting for 30 minutes we are finally seated at our table. The area was deserted! The menu looked delicious. I got a skirt steak which wasn't that bad but nothing memorable and the birthday girl got a hanger steak cooked well done and we seriously had to send it back 4 times. NO JOKE! It came first bloody and didn't look any different when they returned the first 3 times. Atleast they didn't get the cake wrong and the view was amazing. It could have just been this one experience but from what I have heard you pay for the view and that's it.
(2)Pixie Y.
I like Top of the Hub a lot, I like it's ambiance, I like the view, the drinks, especially martinis are really good. The drinks are not over priced. It's about $10 - $12 a martini around town. The staff are friendly, and are well mannered and the bartender have a great knowledge of the different kind of wine they carry. The food is however, slightly over priced, and a little blant. I also love love love their life jazz band. It's a great romantic place for couples and small circle of friends to hang out.
(4)Melissa H.
We went for brunch the other day, very snowy so there was no view to be had, despite getting THE best table in the house (corner window table). The service was fine, most of the food was fine, but beware. What they call French Toast is really fried dough covered in marmalade. The arugula salad was good, my boyfriend RAVED over the Salmon tartare. Great Creme Brulee. A $12 mimosa in a champagne glass was a bit much, but it is Top of the Hub after all.
(3)Rebecca Y.
Who knew I'd be impressed? I always thought Top of the Hub = Tourist Cheese. While the view is impressive, the food was too! Expensive yes, but the Tuna was well prepared and served. I was also surprised that they restaurant wasn't fine dining stuffy - quite the opposite! Rumor has it the bar menu is the way to make the restaurant and the view more affordable.
(4)john s.
incredible views, good waiters
(3)Wei-ying W.
Very pricey, but great for dates, special occassions. Not good for vegetarians. If you don't include the salads, there's really only one entree for us veggies. The creme brulee's good though. Nice view, if it's not cloudy. Service is excellent.
(3)mimi o.
The bar is great, lounge is even better with a 360 deg view of Boston! 52 floors up on the Prudential building, Live jazz, Cozy, I am yet to taste the food but I loved the drinks..... Plus free coat-check. Oh and it is also open till late. Just get ready to dress nicely. Girls, bring your dates here and boys...this is the place to celebrate big moments with her.
(3)Yelp Z.
I think the secret to a good Top of the Hub experience is go at lunch. Had the restaurant week lunch today, sweet potato soup, salmon with tomatillo and cappuccino mousse with a red Zinfandel. My friend had the salad and salmon and creme Brule. The salad was creative, had an appropriate coating of dressing and was fairly large. My soup was piping hot with a dab of butter on top and large as well. The chef accommodated my friends shrimp allergy and removed any shrimp crust that would have been on her salmon so she could eat (and not die), which is thoughtful especially on a prix fixe menu. Top of the Hub cooks an amazing piece of fish, DO order fish regularly. We went on a cloudy day so there was no real view but the white light of the clouds lights everyone's face with the stark white linen in a refreshing way. Wine list is ok, but expect to pay at least $10 a glass for anything. Service is nice and attentive and seems to care if you are happy or not. Only draw backs are that the correct elevator to get up to the top is a little bit of a maze to get to if you don't know the building or the city. The bar has totally been done over and now they have a cute "lounge" area with a separate menu ($24 minimum) that opens around 8pm every night. So go for a drink at the least if you can't afford a meal. This place seems great for Mom or Dad is in town and has never seen Boston and jazzy hipster dates.
(4)Melissa B.
This place is a tourist trap, albeit for a reason. The view is AMAZING. Go at least once, ok to send out-of-towners to check it out, but ONLY for a drink at the bar. The view is worth it. Then go downstairs, walk over to the South End and go somewhere nice for dinner, don't waste your $$ or calories on food here.
(2)Jesse N.
Top of the Hub gets an A+ for atmoshpere...I mean, where else can you go and see all of Boston through a window? My problem with this restaurant is that the quality of the food does not match with the prices. I feel like Top of the Hub uses its decor and setting as an excuse to maintain ridiculous menu prices for average fancy dishes. If you want to say you've been to a famous Boston landmark, check it out once. If you want high-class food that is worth your money, you'd be better off at Grille 23, or Excelsior.
(2)Alice K.
A view like no other! And the food's not bad either, though it does tend to come in dishware that's more artistic than the entrees within. Go late on Friday or Saturday nights where you can hang out in the lounge (appetizers, drinks and desserts only, no full meals) usually with live jazz music. (Try the Pearl Vodka martini.) You'll savor the experience more than the food, but that's to be expected with the view. :)
(4)Cassie B.
I had lunch here as part of restaurant week and it was delicious. We requested a window seat the day before and although it wasn't guaranteed, we were happy to see that we were seated by the window when we arrived. The food was excellent and the service was great as well. And the view overlooking the Charles and into cambridge was great!! Definately try to get a window seat so you don't miss out. Overall, I'd definately recommend
(5)Jake W.
I normally do not write reviews for restaurants after a bad dining experience, but after my fiancee and I have eaten at nearly all of the top-rated restaurants in Boston--Dante (Cambridge), Zephyr (Cambridge), Fleming's Steakhouse (Boston), Capital Grille (Boston), North End (Strega, Lucca, Giacomo), Stella (South End)--and it was a very special occasion (her 26th birthday), I felt compelled and have earned the right to write this review. To preface this review, I made my reservation on Opentable and made the request online to make it a special experience and next to a window because it was her birthday. I even made the reservation 1 month 1/2 in advance. I also had Boston Coach chauffeur us to the restaurant. I thought it would be the perfect celebration given the amazing views, service, and cuisine. But, boy, were we in for something different. None of my requests were met. Our night started out in dissatisfaction when we were seated a row away from the window seating. After our first request to be moved to a window table, our server told us that we should get in line and the wait would be another 45 minutes for a window table. She suggested that we could go to the bar and have a drink before our meals. How crass I thought? I told her I made the request a month-and-a-half in advance, it was my fiancee's birthday, we had a driver transport us to the restaurant, all to no avail. My fiancee told me it was fine, and we could just sit where we were, but I could tell she was disappointed. So we decided to stay put; however when we saw 3 open tables open up near the window, I decided to ask again. I thought for sure with the vacancy near the windows, our special occasion, and our reservations made nearly 2 months in advance, they would move our seating. Yet, when I asked another server, he said with rather Italian accent that they "never accomodate requests for window seating--for no one," but he said he would ask a manager and see if it was possible. Our server and the one asked returned, and they told us that could not do it, even though 4 tables (now) were open, because they were going to be seating those soon, and once we "started eating" we could not be reseated. How unhelpful the service was I thought. I was not aware that it was against restaurant policy and code to move a party once they had started eating for a special request. I reiterated my plea that it was her birthday, the reservations were made a long time ago, but all I recieved was the same response except stronger now: NO! Now onto the meals. While we watched longingly as 5 tables vacated, we were served our Spicy Lobster Soup, sub-par at best. It was not spicy, too creamy (it felt like we were just drinking heavy cream), and the bowl and plate lacked any creative garnish. The salmon was bland, certainly not worth their asking price of $28. Chef Ramsey of Hell's Kitchen would have been up-in-arms about it and dumped it in the trash. My fiancee's dish, the lamb, was cooked but flavorless. Overall, neither great service, nor cuisine, and, for that, we declined dessert at the same time and asked for the check. The final disgrace came with the bill. Our server had the gall to say, "have a great birthday," to my fiancee as I was autographing my name on a $110 Bill. How rude, how terrible I thought. It was as if they had not listened to a single thing we said the entire night. I thought fine dining was about excellent service and cuisine, and the Top of the Hub delivers on neither. For that, double-damning: 1 star.
(1)Eliz O.
I first went to the top for my husband's birthday a few years ago. We were seated at a nice table, the food was mediocre and super expensive. I don't like paying $10 for a salad of lettuce (Cesar whatever...) or $12 for a plate of microwaved cookies. But it was a nice occasion, so we didn't complain about it. After our meal we moved to the jazz side and had a few drinks. I was surprised to know that that side of the place is different from the restaurant and has a different menu, much more affordable and I actually liked those things better than the items in the restaurant. The music was very relaxing and you can just on the couch or on a table and listen and dance to the music. After that time, we have gone back a few times and have sat down at the lounge, ordered some drinks and listened to the band. I would recommend that, if you really are looking for something different to do. You don't have to pay crazy amounts of money to eat there... you can just get drinks and listen to the music.
(4)Susan J.
This seems to be the place to impress a date with its incredible skyline view and upscale prices, but it isn't the ONLY place. Food and service were both excellent, but at those prices I would expect that. Dessert was the best part. ;-)
(4)Sandra C.
Food was unspectacular and the service was horrible! The waitresses were rude and wouldn't make eye contact with you when you tried to flag them down. It's only worth going to with out-of-town friends if you can get a seat by the window. For us, sitting in the middle of the restaurant, it wasn't worth it. You couldn't even see out the windows over everyone else's heads.
(1)So S.
Here is where the ambience and view becomes more important than the food. Panaramic view of Boston Skyline and live jazz band! Every tourists comes here but they make the mistake of eating dinner here which takes away from the lovely view....not to mention the dinner is not very good and very expensive. INSTEAD...go directly to the bar seating and order food there. The menu is pretty good, good appetizers and sandwiches and not too expensive. GREAT DRINKS at a good price. WHAT I LOVE here are the deserts---the freshly baked cookies are great!! Great place to impress your date w/ wonderful music and views.......forget the dinner and just get the drinks.
(4)Anika K.
Fabulous views. We went after dinner for cocktails and dessert - and I was impressed by the size of that cookie plate! I would take a date there.. then, we would compete to see who could eat the most cookies. And that's how I would know it was true love. Try to get a window table.
(5)Greg S.
My parents took me here for brunch on my birthday one year. It was fun going up 60 stories in 30 seconds and having your ears pop. The view was absolutely gorgeous. However, for brunch, the food was not all that spectacular, especially for what the price ended up being, which was about $100 for three people (with no alcohol) but when you're eating up there looking down at all the little ants below you do feel like High Society (terrible pun). Anyway, if you have $100 to spend on brunch you'd be better of getting it elsewhere and then just walking the sky view floor instead.
(2)Jen J.
Go here after you eat dinner at a restaurant that has excellent food. Get desert and drinks up here with your honey...I was up lucky enough to see the Northern Lights...it was amazing. The food here isn't that great...like I said pass on that and head up for desert and cocktails and enjoy some life jazz music!
(4)Michael G.
The only reason to come here is for the view. At the top of the Prudential building, you can see 360-degree views of Boston. The food, however, is average and almost depressing for the price you have to pay. Also, if you're a vegetarian, you don't want to go there, as the only dish they have for you is vegetable lasagna made mostly of eggplant. The drinks, however, are a fair price as long as you don't go overboard with the expensive wines, brandy, etc., and it costs less to hang out there than you would expect.
(3)Anne B.
The view is incredible, definitely worth seeing once in your life, which at the going rate that may be all I could afford. The food and drinks here are ridiculously expensive but the food might have been the best I've ever tasted (though I'm used to eating cafeteria food). It's a good place to go with people who've never been to the city before, maybe hit it for drinks then go somewhere else to eat. But view is AMAZING.
(4)Julie F.
Great martinis, fabulous creme brulee. And of course, you can't beat the view! Have your meal elsewhere in the Pru, but make sure you finish off with a trip upstairs to the TOTH. Relax and take in the best view Boston has to offer!
(4)Lauren C.
I took my girlfriend here for Valentine's Day in '04 and it was breathtaking. The view is amazing, and definitely something everyone should experience at least once. We were lucky to go on a nice sunny day, and I reserved way in advance to get a window table. I think both of us were awed by the beautiful view. The food was ok, we had the Valentine's Day brunch special, so it definitely wasn't as expensive as dinner, we got a great deal, but still sort of pricey, so if you're not rolling in the dough (as many of us struggling college aged persons are) and interested in going, keep an eye out for these special pricing packages, and try brunch or lunch instead of dinner. I feel like the entire experience was definitely worth it, and I'd love to have the opportunity to go again and see it at night.
(4)Kathleen T.
Okay, so this is a tough one. With amazing food and a look out over the whole city, the Top of the Hub is a spectacular place. The price, however, is very expensive and when mixed with the small portions of such great food, doesn't seem worth it. Instead, try going ot for dinner at another one of Boston's great, but cheaper, eateries andthen visit the skywalk of the HUB just to get the view of the city.
(4)Dan W.
Best restaurant in Boston and well-worth the price. An unparalleled view from the top of the Prudential Center, live jazz combos, and truly great food. The tuna tartare is the best I've ever had, and the martinis are very, very strong. The waitstaff is highly professional, the clientele well-connected and gorgeous, and the food orgasmic. I took my girlfriend here for our one year anniversary, and I'm happy to say it was a night I won't soon forget. If you can splurge on one dining experience, make it Top of the Hub.
(5)Mark J.
Nice, classy place with a great view. If you stop in for a drink after dinner order the plate of warm cookies, you won't be disappointed.
(4)Susan W.
Let's be honest. When you go to the Top of the Hub you are not paying all that money for the mediocre food. You're paying for the view. Hopefully you don't go at sunset. While it seems romantic in theory, the horizontal sun is just going to hit you in the eyes for the whole meal. People make such a big deal out of Top of the Hub. It's not even Mobile 4-Star (of which Boston has five.) If you must take in the view, just go to the observation desk. But save your wallet and calories for food that is worth raving over.
(2)Ruth P.
Great view, expensive but good food. I think this place is a bit overrated however. If you ask any bostonian "whats the most romantic place to go for dinner in boston?" almost everyone will say - top of the hub... which makes it so darn generic. I'd take L'espalier or some random quirky ethnic place over the top of the hub anyday but maybe my opinion of romantic is skewed or i'm just too damn jaded....
(4)Michelle I.
one of the first bars i went to on my recent business trip to boston.... it reminded me of a smaller, less upscale version of SF's Top of the Mark. gorgeous views and appealing atmosphere, but not a lot of energy/excitement in the air.... i'm not sure what i was expecting really but over all i liked it. there's nothing better (to me) than things that are asthetically pleasing to the eye... and the sparkling lights of bostons skyline were definintely that. we made this our first stop of a long night of drinking!
(4)Avid E.
This place is more of a tourist trap than anything else, but I have been here a couple of times and have always had reasonable meals. I'm not sure that this I'd recommend this place as one of the best places in Boston, but is worth a visit if for no other reason than the view.
(4)Justin P.
You kidding me with these reviews!? 5 stars for this place!! YOUR PAYING FOR THE VIEW!! I did this once, because you kind of feel obligated to if you are from Boston. The meal wasn't TOO pricey(about $120 with tip, for two) but the food was awful. You get more bang for your buck at a Chillis or Longhorn. Both my date and i ate our small portions, and then grabbed something to eat at the Finagle A Bagel after the fact! No taste, did i mention that already...Abe and Louies is right around the corner, and makes these guys look like amateurs. Pass on the meal, do the Skywalk for the view....8 bucks
(1)nancy l.
The view cannot be beat! I was taken here for a work function for lunch, and the food was okay, overpriced for what it was. But if you ever want to take a date for a drink, and their $12 for 12 freshly baked cookies deal, it can be a wonderful deal.
(3)Roshni R.
i've never had a real meal at the top of the hub, and from what i've heard, i have no desire to. that said, my friends took me here for dessert on the night of my 20th birthday, and i had a fabulous time. the views of boston sparkling in the night were simply splendid, and the desserts were quite scrumptious (the chocolate cookies in particular were quite memorable). there was also a good live jazz quintet playing.
(4)Scott B.
the food is not bad but everytime i go i dont know what it is i feel like i have been really ripped off. i would say its a good date place if you dont know boston to well - you cant fail up there unless its a cloudy night.
(3)Melissa B.
Exceptional view. Food is way overpriced for what you get, but everyone should experience this place at least once. A more affordable option would be to sit at the bar for a drink ($15-20) and enjoy the view from there.
(3)Jill M.
This restaurant is certain to impress the pants off anyone. Most noteworthy is the panoramic views of the city. Go on a clear night and you'll have a view for miles. The drinks are excellent - they have an extensive menu of specialty drinks and martinis. They also usually have some form of live entertainment, most often a piano player or a jazz band. The food's pretty good too. Last time I went they had plates of assorted homeade cookies! What's better than that? Just beware - you're ears are going to pop on the elevator up there.
(5)Juliette V.
Eh, I have gone here twice in the past year and if it were not for the view I would say it is a waste of time. Maybe nice on a date if someone else is paying and it does not matter who else pays attention to you but the person you are with. The service was unfriendly and the food was overpriced for the quality. They need to get over themselves. Also, I went there on an evening that was not crowded and still did not get seated at the window- hello? why else would someone go there.
(2)D.A. L.
Seriously dissapointing, overpriced, and poorly managed. Saturday late evening jazz and cocktails was the objective and Top of the Hub was recomended. Upon arrival we were greeted and told of the $26/pp ( 2 drinks/ea) minimum for the lounge - no problem here, party of four. Our first round of cocktals arrived and to our surprise two of the four were poorly made as there was little to no alchohol in the Grey Goose Cosmopolitans, compared any other decent bar/restaurant. Neither the server, assistant manager, or manager would make the situation right. Instead they decided that what they served was good enough. They had NO problem taking our money or treating us like Jake and Elwood and their wives, if they were married. So, the drinks were poorly made and undrinkable, overpriced, and no one working there cared enough to make it right. As a proud Bostonian I find this embaressing and suggest that you pass on this badly managed and overpriced joke of nice place.
(1)Eric K.
Absolute class dining in this city; with the best view in the city! The food was very good, though not mind blowing. But the view, service, decor, and stocked bar make this place well worth 5 stars. Want to make a hell of an impression? Go here.
(5)Agnes C.
I met a friend who was in town to attend a conference for a drink. View of Boston is amazing at sunset and at night. Service was amazing, highly recommend reservations. Ask the server for recommendations on the food if you aren't sure what you want. Why go anywhere else?
(5)Chrizzle D.
We came for New Year's on our anniversary and were excited that it was a beautiful day. We ended up having to do the brunch menu because that was all that was available at the time, but it was okay. The hostess was SO rude and snooty. My boyfriend was wearing a hat (as he usually does) and she scoffed at him rudely to take his hat off. Geez, could've asked nicely. It wouldn't have been so bad if we didn't notice another girl wearing a beenie on our walk to our table! So much for the no hat rule. Our waiter was really nice and helpful. I can't remember what we ordered (we were pretty peeved by the way our hostess treated us). What we do remember is the view. BEAUTIFUL. It was a clear day so you could see everything. Definitely the highlight of this place (the food was, eh....). On the way out, our waiter thanked us. As we passed by the snooty hostess, not even a thank you or acknowledged that we existed. Wow. I've worked in the service industry before, and the hostesses main job is to greet and thank the guests and also make them feel welcome. I got NEITHER of that. So if you come, enjoy the view. If I could pass on the snooty hostess, I would ANY DAY! I'm definitely not coming back here thanks to my poor experience. Oh and I did mention in my booking that it was my anniversary. Nothing. I don't care that we didn't get cake or whatever, but a happy anniversary would've been nice. So if you're coming here for a special occasion, you can scratch exceptional service on that too. I hope management reads this so they can talk to their hostess. Thanks for nothing, guys.
(1)Russ G.
Service is fairly decent for ordering just appetizers, no meal. Chicken lollipops (drumsticks) were outstanding, and the mussels were excellent as well. Our server brought out a giant basket of bread upon a request to have a little more bread to sop up the mussel broth, which included some outstanding-tasting cranberry nut bread and sourdough with butter. A couple extra points/recognition for that gesture! Views, as expected, are unbelievable and allow a full outlay of Boston and environs for miles. Both times I've been here the weather has been great, thus visibility ran clear for miles. Overall, the experience gets a solid 4/5 in my book.
(4)Katie C.
I came in by myself to grab a quick bite to eat and a drink (or two) and since there was a MAJOR event in the Back Bay, I wanted to go somewhere with chances there wouldn't be a ton of people. So when all the bars along Boylston Street are packed, you have to look up. So Top of the Hub it was. There was no one at the bar. Seriously. I was quickly served with a drink and I ordered a bowl of their lobster bisque to start my lunch. The soup was creamy and it had a kick to it. But two small pieces of (rubbery) lobster. I'm not even kidding. Honestly, I wish I could have just grabbed soup from the clam chowder place in the food court of the Prudential Center because that probably would have been better. I really didn't want anything else after that experience because it left such a bad impression. Two beers and the soup equaled $26. Clearly not a cheap lunch by any means, but it hit the spot. I've had some great experiences at Top of the Hub, but I will have to rethink going here after this experience.
(2)Jenn C.
I had a great time here while I was visiting my boyfriend, who goes to Boston University. Unfortunately, we came here after having dinner because he insisted that we go, for the view... so we couldn't try a lot of the food D: It was breathtaking... You can see all of Boston in that rooftop and the food is great. They played jazz music with a live band so the whole experience was amazing. The only reason why I gave it 4 stars because the alcohol wasn't great. It was way too strong... to the point where I took about 45 minutes to drink my martini... It didn't taste anything like watermelon. I guess really strong drinks are awesome to other people, but I like getting a buzz while drinking something that tastes good. Good place for an anniversary or a special occasion.
(4)Makalo L.
If you want to enjoy a great meal and the best view of Boston, please go here.
(4)Zig W.
#NAME?
(5)Jason L.
Upon arriving I was greeted by a super friendly host who helped me and my boyfriend find a perfect seat next to the window even though they were busy, and we only wanted to get a drink. The view was gorgeous and everything was going good, until it happened. We were sitting at our table, enjoying the view and we looked over towards the bar and saw a waiter using a straw to pick multiple pieces of something out of someones drink (I'm guessing pieces of leaf since it looked like a mojito). He kept going at it, all while wiping his fingers all over the straw and putting it back in her drink. He then goes on to literally wipe down the straw stringing his entire fingers along the straw and put it back in the drink and deliver it to the customer, who ends up unknowingly drink her drink, along with ALL the germs on the waiters fingers. GROSS. I will not return, nor can I recommend this place to anyone.
(1)Aaron M.
Honestly love taking family here. The best view in the city followed up with superb food. Come here for Sunday brunch and you will not be disappointed. ps. Make reservations.
(5)Cindy A.
After watching the Lion King at the Boston Opera House we walked over to the Top of the Hub. Service is awful seriously. The restaurant was maybe 20% occupied, took 20 mins to be greeted by waitress and be offered water. Took my boyfriend here for his birthday and we were totally disappointed. The view and dessert only positive. Drinks poorly made. Food not that impressive.
(2)Tarin L.
This was an ok experience - the views are great, of course. The atmosphere was very sophisticated. I ordered the filet mignon which was a decently good choice. Good wine selection as well, although our waiter really didn't seem to know too much about wine. I would return, but next time it will probably just be for a drink at the bar prior to having dinner elsewhere.
(3)Anna M.
The view is absolutely amazing, I would recommend eating during sunset for the best views of the city. I ordered the Ahi Tuna it was fantastic. Cocktails are definitely over priced, but you're essentially paying for the view. I would recommend going at least once to enjoy the view.
(5)Chong C.
Good sight, quiet, nice looking dishes and all. Actual food isn't bad either. But I don't see it worth the price it has. Way too expensive for fine food and drinks. I would go there again but only for special occasions :)
(3)Chris S.
Super meal and Fantastic view of city! If you are visiting Boston you must eat here during the day so you can see Boston.
(5)Stacie R.
I'm struggling to rate this one. While I don't think the food here is a 5 star, maybe a 3, it is a must see view on the 52nd floor of the Prudential building. I recommend it to all out of town visitors because of the brilliant view of the city from the Harbor Islands to the Charles River. Granted you can pay for a view that includes Fenway on the 50th floor Skywalk, I'd rather have a seat and a nice cocktail while I take in the view. At night you can see the airplanes arriving and departing from Logan Airport which is pretty romantic as well.
(5)Valeska A.
great for a special occasion! worth the wait to get the table near the window because the view is amazing! really pricey but the pasta i ordered was good. would come back for my birthday or on a date or something!
(5)Jack F.
What makes Top of the Hub unique is the view. The food's good; it's upscale American cuisine and it's priced that way. All the flavors match and the dishes are arranged nicely. They have a very wide selection of wines, and cocktails and these, also, are priced for an upscale restaurant. The waitstaff are attentive and informed. But hey, maybe half the reason the meals are so delicious, the fine scotch so good, and the desserts so sweet, half the reason we looked at the hefty bill, nodded and knew it was what we expected, is watching the sun set over the city from on high. That's the kind of pleasant vision that just makes your food taste better. Of course, the tables right by the window can actually be difficult to get, so it does involve some awkward looking over somebody's shoulder. I imagine if you have a table by the window, it involves having somebody else look awkwardly over YOUR shoulder. It's worth eating here at least once, for an occasion, when money isn't any object and you know that some of what you're paying for is being in the sky.
(4)Madeline N.
This was an atypical review for a private reception I attended here for a graduation. The views were spectacular (you could almost watch the game at Fenway) and the staff were very helpful at keeping the chaos at bay with piles of drink cups and plates quickly cleaned up as they accumulated. Also, loved the quick elevator!
(4)Thaddeus P.
I went to Top of the Hub with the wife and we had the best time ever. The drinks were amazing and the food was great. The waiter took his time and educated us on the tasty looking menu. The view of the city at the restaurant was very romantic and created a wonderful memory for us that we will never forget. I recommend the pork chop cooked medium and the mango mojito. Will be back again.
(5)Jenny H.
I came here for lunch today and they seriously have amazing views of Boston, 360 degrees at every side of the restaurant- a prime spot to eat!! They have a nice prix-fixe menu and I got their salad in the beginning, which was miniscule, a few spears of romaine with barely-there chipotle dressing and a sprinkling of Mexican cheese, and two tiny tomatoes- this salad was barely a salad. Their halibut was not very good, the skin was soggy on the fish, and I had a hard time eating it. The crème brulee was pretty good, a nice, vanilla custard with a crispy top. The salmon dish here actually looked really good (a nicely charred sliver), as did the lamb sausage flatbread. I would come back here for the views, but try some other dishes.
(2)Kenneth R.
Here's a summary of the yelp reviews that I read before coming: "The view is great, but the food is mediocre and overpriced. Go up for a drink and then head back down for your dinner." That's easy to say and probably good advice, but I was invited for a business dinner and made the best of it. Folks, the food here is actually very good and there are relative bargains on the wine list. We had the 2009 ABC (Au Bon Climat) chardonnay, which was maybe a little over the hill but still completely enjoyable. It was around $40, maybe $45. Our red was the 2002 Ridgeline cabernet @85. You can read about this wine on the Web, and you'll see that it's good stuff: "Ridgeline Vineyards is a new boutique brand debuted by the ever-reliable Codorniu of Spain; the winemaker is talented Dave Dobson, who makes wine for Artesa Winery, also owned by Codorniu; grapes were sourced from the 80-acre Oak Mountain Ranch Estate Vineyard, at elevations ranging from 800 to 1,500 feet above the Alexander Valley floor in northern Sonoma County." Our sommelier insisted on decanting this wine, which probably wasn't necessary. It was completely yummy. I ate the crab cake appetizer, which I liked, and the free range chicken main dish -- it was cooked with bacon and a leafy green (kale, maybe). Both were better than just "fine." I was very happy. The main chef was off somewhere, but the sous-chefs were at their stations and doing a good job. Obviously there are better restaurants in Boston, but this one is not an embarrassment. If fate takes you here, just relax and have a good time. The view is fantastic, by the way.
(4)Brendon M.
Food was delicious, great for special occasions. View of Boston is incredible and the staff was extremely friendly. The food is somewhat expensive but well worth it.
(4)Sebastian Y.
Talk about Foot-in-Mouth, I'm shocked and appalled. A family of four went here on the strength of a reccomendation I gave them and ended up having their holiday ruined by this place. They were not seated by the window as the staff had assured them they would when they made the reservation, the person actually told them "You can sit by the window if you want, you'll just have to wait maybe 30 minutes, I mean this is the top of the hub" , I couldnt be more embarrassed for sending them here, clearly the service has slid into a crevace since my last visit. To top it all off they said the food was brought out like a conveyor belt, no time to savor between dishes and their daughters chicken, after she had eaten half of it, turned out to be still raw in the middle and the only thing management did was to comp that one dish, THAT ONE DISH. IF YOU SERVE RAW MEAT TO SOMEONE YOU COMP THE MEAL. NOT JUST THAT DISH. What a disgrace.
(1)Sooks M.
My experience here was just at the bar. I had a great time as the views are amazing. The service was good and drinks are expensive. The bar doesn't have a lot of seating so we had to wait for 15 minutes. Overall it's a great experience and I will be going back...When I get a bonus.
(4)Matt O.
Hella slow service. Mediocre steak with limp, cold fries. Terrible old fashioneds. Pretty decent mussels. $90 for the experience.
(2)Jiyea C.
Not bad food, but was expecting more. Felt too much like a tourist trap and the tables are really close together so you don't get very much privacy and it was hard to have a conversation because of the noise. (Perhaps it is better on weeknights; I was there on a Saturday evening.) Also, as far as I could see, there are no tables for two near the windows, which I was disappointed about because the view really is AMAZING and I wish I could have seen more of it while having my meal. I got the 4 course meal and the only really memorable dish was the lobster bisque. Creamy but with a kick to it. Delicious. They do have a lounge area that featured live jazz which seemed pretty nice. They do have a small bar but I didn't get anything there so I don't know anything about it.
(3)Julie T.
I absolutely love this place! This was probably the most relaxing dinner I had in Boston - being on top the city, with a magnificent view, and being served bubbly with a delicious steak dinner... what more can you ask for? I remember the shrimp and noodle appetizer being oh-so-delicious! I came here with a friend and we couldn't get enough of this place. I could sit near that window staring out into the city lights for days. The service was amazing. We were treated very well. We spent a good 3 hours eating and drinking our cocktails away. I will definitely be back here when I visit Boston again. I so miss you, Top of the Hub!
(5)J G.
I haven't yet read through the other reviews but I'm almost certain the negative ones will also be alluding to the incredibly rude waiters that I encountered. I'm wary to make broad generalizations about an establishment so big in which I'm sure not everyone is incompetent. I went here for my birthday about a month ago and was appalled when the waiter kept making jokes about us being Indian and requiring more hot sauce. Some might thank him for his thoughtfulness when he brought over three kinds of hot sauce without us requesting them. Then my dad got a rubber band intact in his eggplant dish after he had eaten half of it. He didn't want to make a scene because it was my birthday so he called over a waiter who without much apology whisked it away so there was no photographic evidence. Then our original snarky waiter came back without apology or concern for my dad (who is by the way a doctor and well aware of the hazards of choking on a rubber band). He suggested that he bring a new dish, which my dad refused and then a dessert, which my dad also refused because we had already ordered desert. He then brought it out anyways, once again showing disregard for what we actually wanted. To top it all off we spoke to two managers on the floor. One of which smirked at my aunt and said "these things happen." The other one who said nothing really. I'm incredibly disappointed because in the past I've loved top of the hub. The new service leaves a lot to be desired.
(2)Ryan T.
This is a review of the drink, only. A friend and I figured we'd make it to the top of the prudential and buy drinks instead of a ticket up to the top. The panoramic view of Boston is wonderful - I'd like to go back at night! The drinks are strong and delicious! They had a limited food menu since they were redoing the kitchen - didn't bother us as we were only interested in the drinks! The waitress was very kind and we have a very pleasant conversation as we were there midweek after lunch time. All drinks were ~$13 which is fair considering that they're 1) good, 2) strong, 3) same price as paying to go one floor up. Pomegranate Mojito Bacardi Superior, Fresh Mint, Lemon, Pomegranate Juice -This drink, on the rocks, might have been our least favorite. In general, I would avoid on the rocks unless you want a drink that isn't quite as strong (and a little bit sweeter). Level 52 Level Vodka, Chambord, Splash of Champagne -Named after the floor of the restaurant, Level 52 was a very strong cocktail. They like to pour them from the shaker and into your glass tableside. I think it helps them from spilling and adds a nice presentation to your drink. Be careful with chamboard as this black raspberry liquor can taste a bit like cough syrup... Farmer's Gin Breeze Farmer's Gin, Grapefruit Juice, Lemon Juice, Brown Sugar Light, fresh, and delightful! Strong as the rest of them and just the right balance of sweet and tart! Ginger Lemondrop Absolut Citron, Canton Ginger Liqueur, Lemon Juice I would probably give this drink the highest mark! Ginger isn't for everyone, but damn it is good! Next time I should just order two of these! Enjoy your time at this restaurant, it's very classy without being pretentious. With great service and great drinks, how can you leave unhappy!?
(5)Alicia D.
Top of the Hub was incredible for a Sunday brunch. We celebrated my Mom's birthday and the service was impeccable, doing everything possible to make her feel special. The views of course are unparalleled, the food is delicious (especially loved the broiled grapefruit) and brunch is a really good value. I love bringing guests from out of town to Top of the Hub!
(5)Antonio C.
I should gave 5 star for them, but I was expecting the food be better. I have been in others restaurants inferior at this one, and the food was lot tasty. I probably came back for the bar that have live orchestra and very good atmosphere with lots beautiful people hanging around and nice view from Downtown Boston.
(3)Matt F.
Had drinks at Top of the Hub while in town because we were told it had the best views of Boston. If you go for this reason, try to get a table, because sitting at the bar doesn't even provide you with a view. I would also recommend going at night ... didn't really enjoy the broad daylight views of Boston, but still a great 360 view of Boston. Drink menu was reasonable ... $9 for a Woodford Reserve on the rocks and $14 for a Dirty Martini (made with Stoli vodka). We did not order food, so that's really all I can say about this place.
(3)Bianca C.
Went here for drinks with friends. Felt like we might have been dressed a bit too casually, but I was completely at ease. Great atmosphere, very trendy. I enjoyed the view of Boston at night, and loooved the live Jazz music! :)
(4)Shuo W.
Really nice view. Food is okie ish...
(4)Justin M.
The best part of this place is the magnificent view of Boston. Just working your way up to the top floor, anticipation just builds. Once you finally see it, you just appreciate the beauty this city has to offer whether there is rain or shine. The food was great but definitely expensive. I guess you're also paying for the view. But this is a definitely a place to try at least once here in Boston.
(4)Brenna P.
I came with my boyfriend for out second anniversary. It was an amazing experience! We had the five course meal. My favorite course was the scallop and dessert, of course (chocolate lava cake with caramel ice cream). The service was excellent. The view was amazing. And the live jazz was the icing on the cake. We could not have asked for a better night.
(5)Theresa B.
The view, drinks, and dessert are good. The service is awful and the food is bland at best. The rude hostess announced that we had to spend a certain $ amount, but didn't bother to give us menu's or a waiter. The food, when they eventually took our order, was really boring. The busboy dropped my food on the table and didn't clean it or replace it. Our waiter was nowhere to be found. It was the kind of food where you take older people who like overcooked peas. My advice: buy drinks, enjoy the view and avoid all staff except bartenders.
(3)Daniel S.
Top of the Hub is definitely one of the places a tourist should visit. NOTE It's not necessary to purchase a meal. My friend and I enjoyed a glass of wine along with an amazing view of Boston for a cheap price. + Fantastic view + Superb service + Reasonable prices
(4)Jeremy G.
This was our first stop in Boston. I couldn't have picked a better restaurant to start our trip. This is the best view in the city and the food is great as well. We ordered the spicy lobster bisque which could have been the best I've ever had. We also had the veal and the filet mignon. Both were outstanding as well. The service was also great. A very pricey restaurant. I don't know why they have only 3 money signs for this place. Expect to pay over $60 per person here. But I would say it's worth it.
(5)Karen W.
I would have given Top of the Hub a 3-star for having such small portions of food at such an expensive price, BUT since they taste different compared to other places and are surprisingly filling, a 4-star it is! I went with a group of people during Restaurant Week. There were many people eating here but the wait wasn't long. All three of the courses came out pretty fast one after another. I really enjoyed my Grilled Black Tiger Shrimp dish. Definitely planning on going back-when it's Restaurant Week again! It still is a bit pricey for a regular lunch or dinner. I would suggest to go with 4 or less people, that is, if you want to sit near the window. I went with 6 other people and we were just one table from the window. The view is magnificent for picture taking! Even if you cannot sit at the tables near the windows, you can still see farther places of the view from where you're sitting. You can see the whole Boston area.
(4)Eunice E.
It's like stepping into a dream when you come to Top of the Hub; from the elevators that take you up to the 52nd floor, to the breathtaking panoramic views of the city when you first set foot into the restaurant, to the melt-in-your-mouth food, it is ALL absolutely incredible. I've had the pleasure of coming here twice now--both times on a Sunday evening--and I'm eagerly awaiting the next special occasion that will bring me back. The first time I came here was for post-dinner drinks (two drink minimum per person). We enjoyed our cocktails while listening to the live jazz band that plays every Sunday, and yours truly even got up to swing dance! It could have been the Oban; it could have been the sparkling city lights; it could have been the amazing pianist... whatever it was, it inspired me to get up and have a blast on the dance floor. It was a night that I won't soon forget! Fast forward a year. We came back for Restaurant Week, and I'm so glad we did because it was. The. Best. RW dinner. Ever. We started off with the bread (that brown cranberry kind was so good that we ended up ordering a second basket with more butter... more butter balls for the butterballs!), and I had a glass of the Top of the Hub Cabernet, which was fantastic. Then, the chopped salad. WOW. And the short ribs! Tender, falling-off-the-bone, juicy meat, on top of grits (which I usually detest) that were actually totally tasty. The dessert (creme brulee) was simply icing on the cake. Everything was perfection, from the drinks to the entrees to the service. And, of course, we couldn't leave without first checking out the rest of the views all around the restaurant and listening to the jazz band. Overall, it's an incredibly impressive venue and, like I said, I'm simply waiting for that special occasion that will bring me back to the 52nd floor of the Prudential Tower!
(5)Daisy R.
This place reminded me of Vegas just with a more subsidized view. Located at the famous prudential tower, we came on a jazz night it was superb. I reserved through open table and didn't get the check in after I told them too that was the only con.
(4)Chengzhe Y.
I have been to this place before, but that was over 3 years ago when I fist came to Boston. So today, we thought it would be a good idea to give them another try. Man, our lunch was one of the worst I have ever had. Let's start with the service. The service was mediocre at best with our server never coming to ask us wether our food was good, never give us fresh plates after appetizer, we waited 30 mins for an appetizer, and the same for a main course. The worst thing is that it's not like there is a shortage of staff, they are just walking around like headless chickens and never noticing anything! Now the bad service I can put up with if the food is worth dying for. But it isn't. I would give this place a 0 star if I could. The calamari was okay, but that's fried food. The flatbread I had was under seasoned, with cheese that is rather tasteless, and over cooked chicken. Please just stay away from this place. It's not worth it!
(1)Melissa M.
This place is amazing. My fiancé and I went the weekend after Valentine's Day and were treated with such respect and the service was friendly and professional. The food was some of the best I've ever tasted. The prices seem high but that's because you are paying for delicious food which come in great portion sizes as well as the gorgeous view of the city. We went for dinner and watching the night fall over the city was breath taking. From the time we walked in and were greeted by the host stand to the time we left, we were so impressed by how this establishment is run. We will definitely be returning!
(5)Jenny S.
AMAZING SKY HIGH VIEWS OF BOSTON from the 52nd floor of the prudential tower.. too bad it was so cloudy the day i went that all i saw was GRAY =( sit at the bar if you plan to get just a couple of drinks OR sit in the lounge IF you're down for the minimum $24 charge per person LOVED EVERYTHING WE ORDERED (we came for dessert) ----delicious bottle of moscato ----strawberry basil lemonade cocktail was YUMMY ----plate of 12 COOKIES (chocolate chip, toffee, white chocolate, & peanut butter) w/ divine CINNAMON CHANTILLY CREAM.. soOOooo good! BEST PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES ever.. i usually hate peanut butter cookies the cookies tasted homemade! HOWEVER you must have a preference for SOFT baked cookies b/c some of these were perfect & others were underbaked (although i love raw cookie dough so i didnt mind too much) waiter was SUPER nice plus they've got live jazz & a dance floor
(4)Stephanie Hobby A.
It is a must do on buck list in Boston. Having said that it's about location only. The view is out of this world. Our children bought us a gift certificate for Christmas. After reading reviews, looking forward to the drinks and dessert. Those even disappointed. Service was cold, artificial and lacked attention. Food was poor, if you have food restrictions, to average. Our dishes were cold after being delivered to an empty table while we took a moment to take in the view. Drinks were below average. Irish coffee was even cold. We throw in the towel at this point and skipped dessert. Been there, done that, will not be returning.
(1)Jonathan N.
Just went for dinner here tonight (12/6/2013). Over all experiences was bad. I think this place is over rated! The only good thing about this restaurant was the views of the city of Boston. Otherwise the foods here are over prices. Not to mention it came out cold and in small portion. The services was bad, waited for about 30 minutes to get our foods order and another 30 minutes to get it out. I ordered a lobster and my girl had a filet mignon. The lobster cost $65.00 and filet mignon cost $35. We also have a cocktail and one coke that cost $16 in total. This place is totally a riff off. The restaurant was dark with little lighting (at night) and the walking aisle was small and crampy. I wouldn't recommends this place to anyone. This would be my first and last time here.
(2)Sarah B.
Really good Duck Confit! Beautiful view and very nice service of course. Worth every penny.
(4)Remie M.
3 stars for the view!!! My "boston" decided 2 be romantic and plan a "date night" he made reservations for us. after a loooooong day of being a tourist. . .this was a perfect way 2 end the night. . . luckily we stayed in the Boston Sheraton so it was connected to the hotel and was a 5-8min walk from our hotel room. Its always fun to dress up and get all pretty once in awhile :) We took the elevator to the 54th floor and walked into the restaraunt It was beautiful and fancy. . . We ckd in and was seated rt away. The restauraunt was full but not as busy as i expected. We were seated right next to a window, which was awesome b/c it over looks the whole city and the charles river. The ambiance was perfect! We ordered for starters: lobster bisque, crab cakes, and scallops. The lobster bisque was amazing! as for the crab cakes and scallops was a bit 2 salty for my taste. our entrees: 2lb lobster and beef tip (?) . . . both r HUGE portions!!! We should've just shared one. . . Drinks: watermelon mojito and watermelon martini. . .which were both strong liquor wise. . . i got buzzed off one! Our waiter was friendly and assisted us with whatever we needed. I had an amazing time there. . .perfect date spot if u have balls enough 2 spend a couple of benjamins! :)
(3)Paul C.
We went here for our anniversary and were seated towards a quieter end (pseudo-separate room). The service was great. The food was good (not great, but good). We did the prix-fixe menu - which we felt was on the pricier side for the quality. I feel you're definitely paying for the location. It's worth trying once (especially during sunset in a window seat)
(3)Jasper J.
I had thought that Top of The Hub was going to be a super intimidating dining experience, but found that everyone was very welcoming. Our waiter was very knowledgable and patient when we asked him a million questions about different items on the menu. We ended up going with the Prix Fixe three course meal. I have the, duck confit, short rib, and creme brulee. My girlfriend had the duck confit, chicked, and pear. We also splurged and paired each course with a wine. The food was great. The view was obviously amazing as well. It was dark when we arrived, but I can imagine the sunset views would be stunning. I don't plan on making dinner here a regular event, but maybe a drink once in a while would be a good idea.
(4)John M.
The service was great; good waiter from Napal. The food was blah and tiny and the pricing was obscene. If this is one of Boston's best they need to reconsider.
(2)Katherine M.
Let's start with the good. I was heading up to the observation deck as it was recommended to see all of Boston but decided to stay to get the view and food. The Spicy Lobster Soup was very good and admittedly worth the $11. It was smooth and nicely seasoned, not over powering. I wouldn't even call it spicy. Okay two stars for food, would've been three if not for the price. Now the service, which gets one star. They didn't get my order wrong which is always good but it took the waitress 15 minutes to even greet me. She brought me my sparkling water with lemon and the soup came out 15 minutes later. The problem is that I also ordered a Caesar salad which came out 30 minutes after I finished my soup. The salad was nothing to write home about, good or bad. the S-L-O-W service would have been fine because of the view except people were leaning over tables with their cameras taking pictures and blocking the view I did have. It seemed that the wait staff was slowed down because people having their photo taken. I feel like this place could be really nice, except the behavior of the patrons and the delay of the wait staff.
(3)Fred B.
Here's my advice - go have a drink at the bar, wander around the place and look out the windows, listen to a little jazz....and then leave and eat someplace else, anyplace else. The view is the best in Boston, but the food is average to awful, and the service is worse. And (in my case) if you have a party of 6, they slam an automatic 18% gratuity on the bill.
(1)Cardy O.
i took my boyfriend here on restaurant week this past August... I told him it was such a great place to go as recommended to me by quite a few friends... to our disappointment it was probably the worst service we encountered in the last year. We got there early and had a seat at the crowded bar, we were lucky enough to get seats.. we got 2 cocktails which were just OK, as there was more pineapple juice than alcohol in them... we then sat down for dinner to find an absolutely astonishing veiw of this beautiful city that is Boston, thinking this night was going so well.... then came along the waiter.... he sucked!!!!! we ordered our appetizers and he came back with bread which was pretty nice... then we waited....... and waited....... and waited...... after nearly a hour a second waiter came out with our main course, I was so frustrated that i just wanted to leave at this point but i was told to be patient....i confronted the embarrassed waiter who fixed his rookie mistake then we ate our then cold appetizer.. our main cousre was just ok as well and I could name at least 10 other restaurants in the same area that have way better food and service....
(1)Caroline M.
My husband and I ate at Top of the Hub on the last night of our honeymoon in Boston and it was a great experience! We called the day before asking for a reservation on a Friday night, and although they only had a 5:45pm reservation available, it actually worked out perfectly because we were able to watch the beautiful sunset while we ate. The view as we sat down of sunny Boston was amazing, the sunset was to die for, and the view of the city lights of Boston when it was dark out and we were enjoying the end of our meal was awesome. We had a great waiter who took our photo (very touristy of us) and did not rush us out at all. I think we were there for almost 2 hours, and he was patient and willing to let us sit and hang out and fully enjoy the last night of our honeymoon. The California wine that we had with our meal was really good, and the food was really delicious as well. I had the chicken and polenta which was great, and my husband had the filet mignon and loved it. We hope to go back to Boston and re-live our honeymoon sometime in the future, and we definitely will put Top of the Hub on our list of must-do's again!!
(4)Kayla V.
Food was good, not great - particularly for the price point. Views are nice but there are tables all along the windows so unless you're actually at one of the window seats (we were not) they're mostly obstructed, and there are no places to take photos. Three stars for the HORRIBLE service. Waiter was rude and unattentive (we were there for nearly three hours). After telling him we were there for a special event (celebrating our roommate leaving for medical school), he got very aggressive, literally to the point of insulting us. Wanted to complain to a manager, but after three hours, we just wanted to get the hell out of there. Definitely worth it for visitors but Boston locals will get nothing out of this place they couldn't find somewhere cheaper and with better service.
(3)Sarah V.
4 stars because it's definitely a beautiful experience and the drinks are good. Food is only slightly about average BUT they are willing and knowledgeable when working around a food allergy/intolerance. Potential problems for some: they were incredibly slow even though we had a reservation. We waited an hour for our food once ordered (maybe you won't care cause it gives you time to look at the view and not be rushed around). All kids present around the restaurant were very restless. They do not make a point to seat kids and romantic couples apart either, so I ate with a view of two kids hitting each other blocking my view of the window. Another problem: it was really cold. In the wintertime, some heat would be greatly appreciated. Girls, unless you pack A LOT of natural insulation, do not wear a dress! My husband was wearing long underwear under his khakis and sweater and he was even cold! Wear warm things and layers! If I return it will be for drinks and a view (their basil strawberry lemonade drink seemed to have real strawberry purée in it!)
(4)Jesse B.
For a place that asked me to take my winter hat off prior to welcoming me to the restaurant, I expected to be waited on in far fewer than the 20 minutes it took to get noticed by a server, who brought us the wrong drinks on her first attempt. She ended up being nice about it and comped us the messed up drinks, but I still expected much better from a place that tries to act as fancy as they do...
(2)Marie B.
Honestly, I feel like this place gets to coast on the terrific view even though its food is a bit lacking. It presents itself as being fine dining, with prices to match, but the truthfully it isn't fantastic. Our server was attentive and polite, although he neglected to bring our friend the wine pairings that came with the meal he ordered. Later, he also forgot to bring a mojito. I ordered the halibut, which was seared nicely, but overall a bit dry and overdone. Two of our party ordered the filet, which they were pleased with. Our vegan friend had nothing to choose from and ultimately decided to get a salad without the cheese. Despite explaining that he was vegan, our waiter brought him cheese on the side. Although I didn't try it, my friend said the salad wasn't even that good. My boyfriend ordered the vegetarian bolognese, and it was pretty bland. My other friend, who is a vegetarian, ordered the pad thai and it was basically disgusting. The tofu had absolutely no flavor, and the noodles were overcooked and also bland except for one slight flavor we couldn't pick out but was bad. The whole place gets to be overpriced because you feel like you're fancy eating at the top of a skyscraper. Stick to the drinks; those were always good.
(3)Yulia K.
Visiting Boston we were pointed to visit this bar as they have amazing views. My throat wasn't ok so i got some hot tea downstairs to join my husband and my son while enjoying some drinks and the view. As soon as we stepped inside a hostess blocked our way stating we can't go in with drinks from other places. I explained that it was a hot tea for my throat but she only offered to help me to toss it or i could finish it outside their door. I explained again that i needed my tea and it is too hot to finish it right away and i just got it and don't want to trow away the whole "venti" size cup of tea. But she became rude and just block the entrance with her body. The other guy behind her (maybe manager or supervisor) just looked at us and didn't even asked what was the problem. I felt very offended from all this situation. This is a prime location for tourists and you are not flexible to people's needs... Super sad! Not going back again!!!!!!!! You expect prime customer service from this type of place and you get the opposite, rude and kicked out for heaving a cup of hot tea! A pleasant afternoon of drinks and dining with family and view turned into a "no welcome, get your tea and chug it down outside or leave the premises"
(1)Mark W.
Went there for our anniversary during a business trip. Views were great and the food was equally so. Had a marvelous time. Had to wait about 10 minutes for a window table which gave us more time to enjoy the view. A cream brûlée was delivered to us with a candle and a "happy anniversary" written out in chocolate one the plate. Nice touch After we were done with dinner they told us a jazz group would be starting up soon in the lounge. We migrated there and enjoyed the music and the view. Definitely a go to place if you want to enjoy a spectacular view and new experience.
(5)Michael C.
Their drinks are all mediocre. Some desserts are okay and pretty fairly priced. Food is generally pretty bad, but the service is abysmal. The staff simply do not care about you. They brought us 5 menus all at once (wine, cocktail, dessert, specials, food)--which seems really silly. Our waitress was super slow and obviously didn't care about her job. I've seen better service at IHOP. But the view is nice--I think it's the only reason this subpar restaurant still survives.
(3)Rachel W.
Had a great meal but the desserts alone have me wanting to return already! Do yourself a favor and order the chocolate and espresso mousse along with their creamy creme brûlée. Enjoy!
(4)Liz P.
Fabulous view, expensive drinks. There was a jazz trio or quartet when we were there too which was nice. I got a blueberry martini for $13 and treated my friend to a $8 glass of wine. You're definitely paying for the view but it might just be worth it.
(4)Joanna F.
Overpriced, but you're paying for the view. I've been here a few times now, and it's especially fun after work for drinks since it's usually pretty quiet and you can get a table before the dinner rush. I think to sit at a table, food is mandatory (even if no one's there). Most recently, the husband and I came in at 2 pm on a Sunday and had to sit at the bar because we didn't have a reservation. Ok... I got the "spicy" lobster soup (which was really unspicy lobster bisque) and a slightly overdressed arugula, walnut and gorgonzola salad. My husband got the turkey club which looked huge and delicious with what appeared to me homemade chips on the side. I'll be back for the view alone. The best view in Boston.
(3)Gabriel G.
Great for special occasion because the view ...here I proposed my wife :) Food was ok but not great ... but we did not care :)
(4)Chad C.
Above and beyond my expectations! I reserved our table via open table and noted that we will be getting engaged prior to our arrival. Not only did they reserve the best table in the entire restaurant for us but they also had champagne for us! Our waiter was great, atmosphere was unbelievable, food was delicious and the view was memorizing. I can't thank Top of the Hub enough for making our special night even more special. We will be back to celebrate every year!
(5)Edward F.
Love Top of the Hub for the view -- that's mainly it. The food is good, but price is excessive because you're paying for the view. I've dined in the main dining section many times, but for the past few years, we visit here just to have drinks, lunch or a light dinner in the lounge section. We come here mainly for the delicious LOBSTER ROLLS.
(3)James W.
Beautiful views and excellent food. Definitely worth checking out. Dress to impress and plan on spending some cake. Pricey but worth it!
(5)Brian A.
My girlfriend and I were visiting from the Philly area and wanted to go to a nice dinner on our first night in Boston, so we picked Top of the Hub; we weren't disappointed. First and foremost, the view was pretty amazing. Protip: Make a reservation for 6:30-7:00 and watch the sun set. You won't be sorry. Both the food and service were fantastic. I wouldn't change a single thing on any of the dishes we received, and our waiter was attentive, polite, and very friendly. Icing on the cake: No kids. Everyone was at least in their 20s, dressed nicely, and acted classy. If you're looking for some good food, good wine, and a one-of-a-kind view, check out Top of the Hub.
(5)Fancypants X.
$15/person to mosey along the Skywalk on the 50th floor? Or Lounge, Eat,& Drink at Top of the Hub on the 52nd floor for a few bucks more? Seems like an easy choice to me! We loved our dessert drinks, but wish the pour was bigger. Black Muscat for her & a refreshing, but sweet Reisling for me. Creme brûlée was classically delicious...thick, custard inside...burnt sugar topping could've used a few more minutes under the torch to get crispier. Sadly, the Boston Cream Pie was the weakest link...pretty presentation, but hard chocolate shell+soft custard+soft cake=texture nightmare in my mouth. Didn't not have enough flavor. Total: ~$50 not including tip I'm such a sucker restaurants in the sky. We sat in the lounge (first come, first served) & snagged a window seat. It was a clear day out, so we were able to enjoy every mile of Boston skyline. Whoever visits me shall be brought here! Sidenote: $24/person minimum after 8pm.
(4)Julia R.
I've always been skeptical to go here because I've heard the food isn't great and that it's always swarming with tourists. However, I came here last night for my boyfriend's birthday and had an amazing dinner. For an appetizer we shared the crabmeat cake and it was so good. It was pretty small but I'd rather have a small, delicious appetizer so that I can still enjoy my dinner. As my main dish, I had the chicken and my boyfriend had the swordfish special. Both were amazing and cooked perfectly. For dessert, we had the creme brûlée and the chocolate cake and I'm honestly still drooling over both. Besides the food, the view was unbelievable (of course!), and the service was outstanding. Our waiter so attentive, but more importantly, he was SO patient with us while we took our time with everything from our drinks to our dessert. I will definitely be returning to Top of the Hub for a special occasion or maybe drinks in the lounge.
(5)Jonathan N.
Top of the Hub is the kind of place every Bostonian (or visitor to Beantown) should visit at least once. I checked it off my list for dessert and drinks with my special lady last weekend. Our cobbler was fine and the drinks were good -- my girlfriend had a chocolate cafe martini that she thoroughly enjoyed, while I stuck with red wine. And the prices are surprisingly reasonable, at least from my New Yorker perspective. You can get cocktails for $10-15, while there were several by-the-glass wine options for $9. Still, there's a $24 per person minimum if you get a table, so you're looking at two drinks each and a dessert to share. But it's really all about the view. The city lights stretch out for miles in every direction, especially on a clear night. Boston doesn't have the same kind of skyline as NYC, but it's still fun to feel like you're on top of the world. Head here for a romantic night with your special someone, enjoy the smooth jazz and high-class ambiance, and get Top of the Hub checked off your Boston bucket list.
(4)Jackie V.
This place is absolutely amazing. Love the view, love the food and the staff is very friendly. This is not the place to look for a deal, it is a bit pricey but well worth it for a special date night, or a fun night out in the town. I had the arugula salad with goat cheese, pine nuts and balsamic dressing, the 7 oz filet mignon and a melted chocolate cake with mango ice cream. Just typing it all makes me drool a bit. It was delish, the portion size was great and I can not wait to go back. Try to a get a table by the window to fully appreciate the view but the bar also overlooks the city. They have a piano man at night, which adds to a already awesome experience! p.s not much of a beer selection, but the drinks are yummy!
(5)K C.
Loved everything! Amazing views and ambiance. Really good food. Good service. And pretty well priced too.
(5)Tom W.
Great view and great service. Food was very good. Crab cake appetizer was outstanding. Fillet perfectly cooked and delicious but mashed potato and asparagus sides were bland and only lukewarm. The unique version of Boston Cream Pie was very tasty.
(4)Amy G.
This is by far my favorite place to hold celebrations in Boston. The food is to be honest, quite average. I was pretty disappointed with the food having come here twice for restaurant week in two separate years. While the presentation and everything is great, the food quite honestly is just not that fresh. There's something about it that doesn't quite match up with the upscale level of what the restaurant is supposed to be. The service however, is impeccable as expected. Views are amazing. This is totally what I come here for. The experience cannot be recreated -- it's really like stepping into a dream.
(4)Ana A.
Great place to go to if you are visiting. The views and the live orchestra make for an enchanting environment. It does not get the five stars because food and service were average in my opinion, but other than that it is worth the visit.
(4)Sophia L.
The Top of the Hub is definitely one of my favorite spots in Boston. It's a romantic spot with fantastic views! The food is blah though so don't expect anything gourmet, but it is definitely a place that one should go to at least once in your life time.
(5)Alyshia S.
A popular tourist attraction, this is a place to take out-of-towners to enjoy the spectacular view of Boston. However, the food is not anything special. If you'd like to save some money I'd suggest simply enjoying the view from the bar and grab a well-made drink. I've also heard the cookies are divine.
(3)VC V.
My son graduated and went for lunch afterwards. It was perfect. So glad we chose Top of the Hub to celebrate this special day.
(5)Kenny T.
Top of the Hub, view of the city of Boston. My friend and I went here at night, so we see the city lights, great view of Boston. We went late, upon our arrival, my friend asked if we can get a table and check out the view, and the host said "it will be a $24 per person minimum" I'm thinking uh.....that's not very professional of him, you should never talk about money for a high class restaurant like that, trust me, no one with $10 in their pocket will go here, people are not stupid ya know, plus, what's $24 really? That's nothing! We actually just had dinner, so we just wanted to go here for dessert, so for $50 minimum for two of us, we decided to order some very expensive dessert. lol So we seated, my friend ordered the Chocolate & Praline Layer Cake with Green Tea Ice Cream. OMG, when the waitress brought it out to us, it was huge. lol Luckily my friend and I share that. I also ordered the New England Clam Chowder, ya know, I'm in New England, so I thought I must tried some of their clam chowder, it was just A-Okay, but the Chocolate dessert was great. I can't really give the food rating on this restaurant, because I only tried the Clam Chowder and the Chocolate Cake, but if you looking to impress someone, this is a great place to take them, and also good for the travelers to visit I will probably go back just to tried their food next time
(4)Barbara J.
Straight to the Point: We were seated immediately since - we had dinner reservations. Service: Good Drinks: Good - not much alcohol Menu: Seafood, Pasta, Steak etc. Food: My entree was good. The view of Boston...AMAZING AND BEAUTIFUL!!!! Give it a try.
(4)Yuliya M.
My favorite place to dine in the city! Excellent food. Perfect service. Breathtaking views of the city. This place is our go-to. We make the trip out here from Cape Cod whenever we can. The menu is small but there is something for all tastes, on Sunday, my boyfriend and I both had the hanger steak, it was cooked perfectly. Tonight I am having the haddock. I always expect and receive the best here. I highly recommend the lounge.
(5)Reid F.
This review is specific to the Fourth of July bash at the Top of the Hub. At first, it might seem expensive, until you realize that prior to having an amazing view of the fireworks, you are treated to a cocktail hour with a full bar and tons of amazing hors d'oeuvres brought right to your table, followed by an outstanding five-course meal prepared especially by chef Jason Banusiewicz. This is a wonderful adventure that is well worth the money
(5)Peter Y.
The view? Incredible. The drinks? Delicious. The food? Meh... You can definitely get a better deal for food elsewhere, but hey, you're paying for the experience right?
(4)Christopher H.
My girlfriend and I reserved a table for our anniversary about a week ahead of time. I had requested a window seat at the initial reservation but when we got there we did not get a window seat. The meal and service was decent but one big issue. We are wine drinkers so my girlfriend ordered white wine and I ordered red. Her white wine had a very strange taste so we informed the server but she claimed it was the type of wine. We drink a lot of wine and knew it wasn't right. Before we could even order entrees my girlfriend got so sick we had to leave. They did nothing to help and as a native Bostonian i was extremely disappointed with the whole experience. If you are going to Top of the Hub for the view i'd skip the restaurant and just go to the SkyWalk. If you are going for the food most of the local restaurants are much better and cheaper. Just a disappointing experience overall...
(1)Ariana Z.
Went on two separate occasions, once as a part of a large group and the second time with one friend. Got their angus burger both times because it was quite delicious. It usually comes with the onions, but the second time around they were ok with replacing it with the regular lettuce, tomato and cheese. The fries were excellent too! As an appetizer we had the fried calamari, which were quite exceptional. These I really recommend. We also had the risotto rice balls in tomato sauce. The sauce really complemented the rice balls perfectly. Service was great, staff were friendly. The view is beyond phenomenal if you get the seats by the windows. The ambience is very classy. My only concern was the amount of tourist-y ness going on. Everyone takes a bajillion pictures by the windows and the flashing is kind of annoying. Nevertheless, this is a fantastic place to go.
(4)Marilyn C.
Can't beat the views! I've been here twice with friends visiting from out of town and both experiences were nice. Please note I have never eaten any food here - just consumed drinks and took photos. The most recent time I stopped in I sat at the couch/chair area right near where you walk in - it is set up nicely though so you don't realize you are by the entrance. It felt kind of like sitting in a nice hotel lobby, but 52 floors up. I sat contently for a long while sipping a strong cocktail and chatting with 2 friends. We came at a good time - around 3/4 so it wasn't too crowded. Once we were asked if there was anything else we needed and being happy to sit and chat for a while we were left alone - maybe for a little too long. Overall, it has was a pleasant experience both times. The service was fine, the views terrific, and the drinks not bad.
(4)Benitez J.
The food was great! The service marvelous! The price for what you pay is fair. In addition, you have the view of the city. I love this place and I'll definitely come back.
(5)B T.
The view is nice. We stopped by for drinks after dinner. It was about 11:30pm on a Saturday, and there were about 10 tables open in the dining area - that we could see. We asked if we could get a table, and the hostess said they are for reservations only. Who makes a reservation after 11:30pm, not sure. Anyway - we sat in a couch area, since they said we could order drinks there - as long as it was a $25 minimum. The bar was wayyy to crowded, and it looked like alot of barely 21 year olds. We waited for about 30 minutes for a someone to come take our order. No one came, so we left. Like I said - the view is nice.
(3)Nikhil P.
This is a 3.5 but out of generosity, we'll peg 'em as a 4. Top of the Hub is one of those "experience" places. You go here for your anniversary, for your 50th birthday, and when your Nona turns 100. But that's kind of it. It's got a nice view and we got a beautiful table right at the corner of the restaurant, which made for more than a few drunken conversations while we haphazardly tried to figure out where key spots in Boston were (from 52 floors up). The drinks are so damn strong. We got two cocktails to start off the night and felt like we were buzzed (read: hammered) from the start. Then, out of interest in making our 2nd anniversary extra special, added on the wine pairings, and got progressively, positively loaded. It made for a good time, and probably kept me from really appreciating how the food was good (but not great), the wine pairings were appropriate (but not terribly on point ... you'd expect the choices to be something you wouldn't just have sitting in your own apartment wine rack), and at 4 stars, the price was expected, but didn't entirely seem right. So, the damage was $230 with tip for a three-course meal with wine pairings and two cocktails. The consumption: lobster soup, beet salad, lamb shank, sirloin steak, creme brulee, pineapple cobbler. The lobster soup was amazing, and the salad was really creative with a tonne of mozzarella cheese. The entrees were a bit crushingly BIG. My lamb shank made me feel like I was from the Flintstones, but it was good -- just a lot of it. And the steak probably would have been good if my wife didn't decide "well-done" and got some cooked rubber concoction. Overall we had fun, got quite pleasantly boozed, and the view was oh-so sexy, but when you pay $230 if you're not jumping to a 5-star right away, you kind of think you should be ... So, 3.5 star. Rounding up = 4.0.
(4)Rachel S.
When I was in college in the late 90's, it was almost unheard of to go to the Top of the Hub for a drink. It was considered a fancy, upper class restaurant and my friends and I all thought we would get kicked out for just showing up wearing "street clothes." We also knew it was really expensive and there's no way we could afford fabulous cocktails. I did end up going once my senior year. Fast forward to last Friday and I was back at Top of the Hub for a friend's celebration. I couldn't believe how touristy and casual it was. Everyone wearing jeans, strollers and large families with babies... there is nothing wrong with this, however, it's totally knocked my world off it's axis. Of course, the cocktails start at about $10 each and beers are about $6-7 each. The view is spectacular-- we could see people sitting at Fenway Park during a Sox game and the the entire city (and beyond, too). I do think a reservation is recommended.
(3)T F.
Went here last night for dinner. They seated us right away despite our being 15 minutes late. We had a beautiful view overlooking Boston and the Charles river. Our waiter was extremely patient with us when trying to decide what to order. Crab cake appetizer was excellent - all crab. For my entree, I had the chicken which was a little dry but amazing flavor. My husband ordered the lobster roll - one of the best I've had in Boston (comparable to neptunes but with a little more mayo added). We were very happy overall with the food, ambience, and service. Will definitely come back for more!
(5)Anna A.
It must be when you're in love, everything tastes great, we loved this place, food and atmosphere.
(4)Kelly G.
The views alone deserve 5 stars, but service can be hit or miss. The bar gets crowded fast, so plan ahead and make reservations for a table by the windows. The food is consistently good, but not outstanding- still the view keeps bringing me back! The parking situation is always interesting, as I'm not a huge fan of hiking through the Pru in heels. The elevator, and the random people in their with you, is always interesting!
(4)Victor G.
The view of Boston from this bar is amazing. Why would anyone pay an admission ticket to go to the observatory that is two floors below this bar when they can enjoy a cocktail here? I ordered a Strawberry Basil cocktail and enjoyed it. It was sweet and very refreshing. Just what I needed before walking a block from the Prudential Center to take some pictures at the Reflecting Pool by the Christian Science Church.
(4)Bailey Z.
You get a gorgeous view of downtown Boston from the Top of the Hub, but the bar food and service ultimately fall short of matching up with the classy atmosphere that this place gives off. This place reminds me of The Signature Lounge inside the John Hancock building in downtown Chicago. You have almost a full view the city at night and you have a bar that carries a big selection of mojitos to choose from. I tried some of the mango and cucumber mojitos, which were quite refreshing and I got the strawberry basil lemonade myself. We also ordered the kobe beef hot dogs, which came as miniature versions of itself, but wrapped in delicious buttery toast. I could not distinguish any kobe beef flavor, and it tasted just like any other regular hot dog. The issue at hand tonight was the lackluster service from the bartender. Each time we ordered something new, he would immediately print and reprint a check. We felt very rushed to leave despite the bar being quite vacant. I did appreciate the live jazz and the obligatory nice restrooms, but where was the top notch service at the Top of the Hub?
(3)Tim Y.
You clearly go here for the atmosphere and the awesome views of the city and not for the food. So don't go here looking for fine cuisine. I took a group of visitors and we dined on the pub side. We ordered burgers, crab cakes, salmon and the chicken after a few appetizers. Out of the 6 of us...no one complimented the food. So go for the views and not the food. Its a shame because there are so many great chefs in the Boston area and this place does not help to showcase the city in that way.
(3)Reesie R.
Nothing beats the view. Yes, the cocktail drinks are overpriced, but the wine list is reasonable. The desserts are very yummy. And, who can say no to Jazzzzzzz every night!
(5)Nicole B.
Top of the Hub is a clearly one of those restaurants for special occasions. They have a 5-star menu, a wine list as long as a novel, and the customer service you would expect from such an establishment. I had the salmon with chili glaze and mango, which was heavenly, on a bed of wasabi mashed potatoes. The filet was large and juicy, though flirting with undercooked in the center. The waitress suggested a wine pairing that went very well with the fish. Sadly, we did not get a table directly overlooking the view, but it was still a nice ambiance 3 tables in from the window. I did not like how close our table was to the couple next to us. There was almost less space between us than if we were sitting with them in a booth (a person could not walk in between the tables, even sideways). Yes it's expensive, and yes the food quality doesn't justify the price, but you're paying for the atmosphere, service and prestige too. Stick to special occasions and enjoy this restaurant as a once-in-a-while splurge.
(4)Rick R.
Checked in on a recommendation from a friend. The view was amazing, wait... is that vomit I smell?? back to the view. It was amazing. We sat at the bar and had a clear line of the city. And right in the mist of a cloud of vomit smell. It was awful. We couldn't get passed it to order food.
(1)Joe T.
This is the second time I have visited the top of the hub and both times I met extremely unfriendly hostesses. My first experience occurred when I went to dinner with all of my friends - we are all in our early twenties. We told the hostess our party name and she said with an attitude "you do know there is a $24 dollar minimum per person at the table, right?" That may be true, however say it in a nicer way that doesn't make it sound like you are discriminatory against us because of our age. We ended up spending nearly $50 per person that night, and we could have just as easily spent it somewhere else. Last night, again the hostess was rude to us. After having drinks and not dinning, which seemed to bother the hostess, we asked for our checked coats back. The hostess snapped back at us and told us to wait a few minutes because she was busy. We waited for a few minutes, and the entire time the hostess just stood at the stand, looking up and chatting with other staff members about non-work related things. Eventually she asked someone else to help us. Both of these two experiences have turned me off from the top of the hub and I will be sure to tell everyone about the poor service.
(2)Amanda L.
I've been here once for my moms birthday and the view is amazing. To me, the food is okay. It's not to die for, but its not the worst. You are really just paying for the view honestly speaking. It's a great place to bring your loved ones for a nice romantic date or anniversary or even to celebrate a birthday. The staff was very nice and treated my mom to a nice birthday dessert. Our waiter even offered to take our picture. It's definitely a place I would come back to for very, very, VERY special occasions only!
(4)Camellia I.
BIG TIP: you can either spend about $15 a person and view Boston from the 50th floor OR you can spend less than that and not only enjoy the view from the 52nd floor, but also dine there. Boston is such a great city, being able to see it all from the top was one of the best parts of my trip!! TIP pt 2: locals call this place "The Pru"
(5)Nikos M.
After wanting to dine here for quite some time, I finally got the chance a couple of weeks ago. We came for dinner and were seated by the window, as I requested when making a reservation, which was nice. Though the view is probably the best you'll get in the area, it's still a view of Boston which isn't really anything spectacular in my opinion. The ambiance is nice; dimly lit with a live Jazz band. Upon sitting at the table, my expectations for what matters most, the food, started to drop a bit. The silverware and plating looked like it had seen better days, and a few things were a little dirty. This is something that really bothers me. Our plates were taken away regardless, and replaced with those that our meals were served on, so I guess it wasn't a big deal. The service was pretty good, perhaps a tad on the colder side, but good nonetheless. It was later at night, so it's understandable. I decided to go with the 12oz center cut NY strip steak. It was cooked to perfection, medium rare, just as I ordered it. It was flavorful, but still needed to be topped with salt and pepper. I found myself sprinkling quite a bit of salt on it, but I do prefer my steak on the saltier side. The sides were asparagus and potatoes, both of which were good. I ordered their house wine (Cabernet Sauvignon, if I remember correctly) and it was surprisingly really good as well. Our initial plan was to visit the North End for dessert, as the person I was with had never been there, but the Jazz band kept our attention. We ended up sitting back down near the band, on the other side of the venue, and ordered some drinks. They have an extensive, and somewhat impressive, list of liquors including a $300 glass of Richard Hennessy. Needless to say, their mojitos are really good. I forget which one our waiter recommended, might have been mango, but its ingredients were fresh and delicious. I wasn't sure what to expect from Top of the Hub. I was hoping it wouldn't only be about the view and ambiance, with mediocre food, and that wasn't the case. Both my guest and I left satisfied with our meals and overall experience. I'll definitely visit again next time I'm in Boston.
(4)François S.
Amazing view! But beside that, our dinner ther was really disappointing. The waiter urged us to order, food was ok but considering the price, that's really not enough. It was my wife birthday but we didn't get a small cake with a candle even if 3 other tables around us got it. Managers didn't even say goodbye when we left... Go there for a drink and the view, go somewhere else for dinner!
(2)Julie D.
I love this place. Impeccable service, great food, a view that can't be beat! This is my "go-to" for special occasions, I love it here!
(5)Cissy Z.
Came here for friends' graduation celebration. The view might be as good as you can get, but coming from NYC, the skyline is not very impressive. The restaurant is very classic. I would give it 4 stars, but the median-rare bone-in steak I ordered among with 2 other friends all came out well-done! I couldn't cut the steak, so I had mine sent back. The second time, it came out less well done, but was still hard to cut and chew. The lounge section may be better, I know there is live jazz. My review is solely for the restaurant, not the lounge.
(3)Annie S.
AMAZING VIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I suggest coming a little bit before sunset so that you can see the view during the day and night!! So gorgeous!! In addition to everything that everyone has said, I just want to add one little thing as someone who is not familiar with Boston lingo. If I'm not mistaken, Boston water is tap water. I didn't know that heheheheh. So when the waiter asked if I wanted Boston water or bottled water, I asked for bottled water since I knew what it was. I ended up with a bottle of Saratoga Still Water (tasted great though) that cost $3.75 (?). Hehehehehehe.
(4)Barry G.
So I dont often do updates on review... especially when It is a five star repeat - but I think this time I should! Top of the Hub Deserves it for my experience last night. Now the food was good, as always. VERY good. Drinks too. But what stood out last night was the service. We went to our table, and there was a wine glass on it - with wine in it!. Odd... so we pointed it out to the hostess, who was mortified. Joking around I said " well to make up for it you should sit as by the window instead " (I really was joking - it wasnt a big deal) They had a wine tasting earlier, and it just got overlooked - not a big deal Then the manager came over about 5-7 minutes later, apologized for the wine glass, explained the issue, and brought us to a prime seat in front of the window, overlooking Boylston, Newbury, Marlborough, and the charles... such a GREAT view... The new waiter we had, was great. super helpful again, showing the BEST service. As I said before, there is a different between going out to eat, and dining. And the service here, once again, was above and beyond making it another great dining experience.
(5)Julia M.
The Top of the Hub is one of those places I recommend only going on special occasions (birthdays, anniversaries, etc.), because it is très expensive. That being said, it is well worth the $40+ price tag. When I went back in April, I ordered the pan-seared haddock, which was served with clams & chorizo in a garlic herb broth. The haddock was cooked just right, & the broth complemented the fish nicely. Then there was the view of Boston from my table -- breathtaking. I could see most of the city from my table, & every now & then, I could see a plane in the distance take off from Logan. I will certainly return.
(4)Saibaitong D.
I am a hopeless romantic and the view from this restaurant is beautiful!!! I could just sit staring out the window all night sipping on wine and listening to the piano play. Service is excellent, food is good, and the view is perfect :)
(5)Julie J.
The only reason why I can't give this beautiful place five stars is because I believe that it needs a stricter dress code. It has such elegance inside and it has such a breathtaking view of the city that it should not be brought down by ruining the ambiance in the audience. We were there for some drinks and appetizers one night and we truly loved the live music playing and the magnificent view of the city. The service was also very attentive and truly great. If you are looking for a nice, elegant, and unique place to grab a drink and a bite, I would definitely recommend this spot.
(4)N N.
I love this place! I have eaten here several times and I like the food a lot and also the drinks as well. Drinks are decently strong and not watered down. I've always been able to get a table by the window and the view is really amazing up there! Service is usually pretty good...can be a little slow at times. And they validate parking if you park in the Prudential parking lot. It is pricey but remember that you are also paying for the view so it is worth the money.
(5)Caroli I.
Came here for brunch with my friend since we always wanted to try this place. Brunch was pretty good, better than I had expected. I can say that Sunday brunch is a little on the expensive side ($40 for adults) but it does include quite a bit of food- Greek yogurt parfait, appetizer, main and dessert, so for me it was worth the splurge. It was almost noon by the time we got there, most window seats were already taken up but we managed to get a window seat so I was very happy about that. The views are absolutely beautiful and the restaurant is really bright and spacious. The waiters were very attentive but sometimes it was hard to understand what they were saying because of their accent (appeared to be Indian), this, of course, did not ruin our experience at all though. I think it's definitely worth checking out and I believe I will be back for a nice repeat brunch or perhaps dinner one day.
(4)Wesley M.
My now-wife and I visited Top of the Hub for lunch at the tail end of our honeymoon before flying home from Boston. The views of the river and downtown were excellent. If we had more time, we might have just relaxed for an extra cocktail and watched the flights on approach into Logan. The food also was very good - we'd recommend the pastry-wrapped chorizo and the brie and walnut spread. Good service and prompt seating, so all in all a great experience!
(5)Wonder W.
Came for Mother's Day Brunch 2013. Obviously the view is spectacular no matter where you sit and the interiors are lovely. The food was a Prix Fixe so I knew it probably wasn't showcasing the best of what it had to offer food-wise BUT if you're going to advertise a cost for 'Children under 12' then at least put something on the menu that a child under 12 would eat. There was absolutely nothing - maybe a french toast without the bourbon sauce. Would it be so hard to offer a mac & cheese or the like? I'm happy to pay for an inflated kids meal but to pay the cost and her to eat basically nothing annoyed me. Won't be back, even for the view.
(2)Diane A.
The view is the best thing about this restaurant! Not that the food isn't good but the view is what makes me love it even more! I had the lamb shank and I am not sure what my boyfriend had. My lamb was cooked perfectly and has a great flavor. The waiter was excellent and recommended a great wine for our dinner! My reason for the 4 star review is that the food wasn't that memorable! It was all great and perfectly cooked to our preference but what I remember most is the wonderful view!!!
(4)Max S.
I went to this place with my girlfriend to celebrate my birthday and I would say, this place beats every other place in term of how romantic it is. I ordered a Foie Gras which melted in your mouth instantly. The sensation was very memorable. However, although the food was amazing and the service was good, the price is not to be underestimated. Do recommend for occasional visit.
(4)Lori M.
My husband and I had dinner here tonight. We loved the view and service, however we were not happy with the limited menu choices. We have no problem paying for a great meal, but we like to be able to have a choice. When I made the reservations on open table they never stated there was a set menu for the weekend. Had we known we would of made reservations for another night. My husband is not a fan of being told what to eat, like in a school cafeteria. So needless to say after $200 plus for our meal my hubby is still hungry and not happy and is now eating a salad at home and my night had ended earlier then we planned. Response from manager Good afternoon, I have received your email regarding your unsatisfactory experience at our restaurant on February 16th. We strive to offer all of our guests the highest quality of food, hospitality, and service while dining in beautiful surroundings. I am truly sorry that your expectations were not met. The patronage of a guest such as yourself is very important to us. I can assure you that we take all comments, whether they are compliments or constructive criticism, very seriously and do everything possible to utilize these comments to improve on all aspects of our business. Our chef decided to do a special prix fixe menu for all of last weekend due to Valentine's. The information is on our website for our guests and we notify everyone that makes the reservation over the phone. Unfortunately, when a guest makes it on online, the server ( opentable.com ) does not allow us to have a pop up reminder for the guests of any special menus or events on that reservation page. You would have to click on the restaurant information page in order to see it. This is something we have been trying to fix, however it is out of our hands as it is not in our control. Once again, we apologize for falling short of your expectations. We would very much appreciate the opportunity to serve you again with the type of service you expect from Top of the Hub. My response Tu-Uyen, I did check the website and there was no mention of a prefix menu on your website. As a matter of fact several other people mentioned this on their review on Yelp. As a matter of fact both my husband and I both checked the site that day so we can review the menu and my husband was looking forward to the stuffed lobster. Since I made reservations on open-table and you were aware of the glitch, perhaps you could of sent and email to everyone who made reservations online or called them. I have made reservations in the past at restaurants that were offering only a prefixed menus through open table and they always direct you to call the resturant for reservation for that day. Your response that this is out of your control is unacceptable. You had the tools at your disposal to relay the information of the menu change and no one at the top of the hub lifted a finger. If you read the reviews on Yelp you will notice I was not the only one who was not aware of the special menu nor did not see the mention on the website. I could only assume it was a small link at the bottom of the page. I would like a response from the General Manager since you are not offering any way to make this up to us, nor did you even address me by my name in the email and sent a standard company response. I will be posting these emails on yelp, open table and Facebook as well I provided my address and received nothing
(3)Joyce H.
Beautiful 360 degree view and a romantic jazz band playing in the lounge area made this a sweet ending to a busy tourism filled day. M and I unwinded to a few glasses of wine, caramel cream brûlée and a warm chocolate cake with ice cream. The desserts themselves were pretty average but the ambiance really made the place so special. Fantastic views of Boston and a very cozy lounge seating area.
(4)Kamille W.
My boyfriend and I came to Top of the Hub on a Friday night to celebrate our anniversary. (Yes, we were that shmoopy young couple that everyone hates, and no, I will not apologize for being disgustingly happy that night.) We were lucky enough to be seated at a table with a view -- the city looked stunning. This is really what you're paying for when you go to the Top of the Hub, which I knew going in. Because I understood that you're mostly paying for that breathtaking view, I also assumed that the food wouldn't be all that. With tons of people coming to the restaurant on the strength of its location alone, you figure the chef might be a little complacent. Not so. I was frankly shocked at how delicious our meal was. For our amuse bouche, we were brought some sort of whipped wasabi mousse concoction. I thought it was both inventive and extraordinarily tasty. I sort of wish that I could have ordered a vat of that stuff. Our server helped me pick a wine that would go well with what I ordered: the pan-seared haddock, in a garlicky broth with chorizo and stewed clams. The fish was perfectly cooked and that broth was unbelievably flavorful. The wine that our server suggested was perfect with the dish. My boyfriend had the braised lamb shank, which came with -- get ready -- boursin tater tots. BOURSIN TATER TOTS. The lamb was fall-off-the-bone tender. And I meannnn do I even need to tell you how good those tater tots were? I feel like you already know. Spoiler alert: they were the bomb. We finished our meal with a couple of espressos, cleverly served with rock candy stirrers. While the majority of the food isn't particularly innovative or unique, it is well-prepared and certainly a joy to eat. Is it overpriced? Of course. Those espressos were like 6 bucks each or something. But the whole experience is lovely, and worth having on a special occasion.
(4)Martin B.
Went for a special occasion. Food is high, but not unreasonable. View is great, but there are no areas set aside so patrons can walk around and enjoy it albeit briefly. Negatives include being pushed (waiter would not refill coffee), claiming a relatively inexpensive bottle of wine was unavailable so a 50% higher priced one could be recommended and a gesture of an ice cream desert in honor of a birthday was actually charged for. Been there, done that.
(3)Ali G.
Their lobster bisque soup is out of this world phenominal, I dream about it everyday! I go there for the soup, (and spinach salad which is also incredible). Talk about a wonderful meal!!! To top it all off, (no pun intended), the view is to die for!
(5)Alex R.
Service was great. Food was average. Nothing special. Don't order meat because they cannot cook it right. Atmosphere is beautiful and the view is fantastic. Just go for drinks. Skip the food. Not worth the money.
(2)Aura S.
Good drinks and sandwiches. Dessert failed (dry and boring)...but oh well, you go here for the view!
(4)Chris C.
Went to dinner here last night for Valentine's day. What a great night. It started off challenging because we were stuck in 50 minute traffic driving what normally takes 10 minutes because of V Day. We called and they mentioned they could hold the table for 20 minutes passed our scheduled time which wasn't reasurring. Luckily when we called back again another person answered who was much more sweet and said to not worry and to simply drive safe. We called once more and the third person to answer was also understanding so it appears only the first who answered was a bit rough around the edges. When we got there our window seat we asked for was taken by two people who without permission apparently took it and hadn't started ordering anything yet. So the waiter first made us stick on the inner side then a moment later a woman asked the other couple to move as they were not suppose to be sitting there and then we were able to move into our proper seat. The only negative here was that the waiter made us sit in the wrong place rather than simply saying hold on 20 seconds while we get your proper table. The one other bump in the road was that we ordered from the fixed menu and for one of the apps one of us got the wrong item. Luckily we both love food so we were fine with the other item brought out. One extra note, no one told us, but apparently you are suppose to get your ticket validated at Top of the Hub because when we left our parking fee was 36 dollars and would have been 24 less had someone offered to validate it and the overall meal for the fixed menu and 3 cocktails for us both and tip came out to well over 400. So other than those bumps in the road the over all night was amazing. The view was beautiful, the ambiance, food and drinks were amazing and the waitress was very sweet. We stayed talking until pretty much everyone had left and we were come back again.
(3)K G.
I went for lunch today...whatever you do don't order the hamburger! The Pros: The VIEW! The staff was courteous House Chardonnay was $8 / glass house chips were good the pickle was yummy The Cons: The hamburger was disgusting! When it arrived there was fat oozing out and covering the plate. The entire bottom of the bun was soggy with the fat. I've had hamburgers like this that have great flavor even though they were gross to eat but this one was just disgusting! No good flavor and made me feel yucky all afternoon. I was starving but ended up only eating about half because it was so bad. A fast food burger would have been much tastier, less greasy and much cheaper! Oh and did I mention I paid $16 for this hamburger! For $16 it should be an awesome burger! Or atleast eddible! I really regret not having sent it back.
(1)AnnaTrilly L.
MY SUNDAY BRUNCH: Pre Fixe $39 per Adult (03/24/13) $24 for Children under twelve DINING SIDE (LEFT SIDE, there is also a jazz lounge on the right side from entrance) FOOD: 1.Greek Yogurt & Seasonal Fruit (GOOD) Granola Parfait 2. Ruby Red Grapefruit Brûlée (REFRESHING) Segmented Grapefruit, Sugar in the Raw 3. Open Face Short Rib Sandwich (A BIT TOO SALTY) Boursin Aioli, Fried Egg, Smoked Cheddar, Crispy Fried Onions 4. Strawberry Ice Cream Profiterole (CREAMY GOOD) SERVICE: 3 out of 5 ATMOSPHERE: 5; beautiful view by the windows (photo taking friendly). (P.S. beware of the bathrooms being really strong in urine odor, they need to fix this status to a better standard considering it's a sophisticated restaurant!)
(4)Justine C.
Stellar views, good food and.. ambience ambience ambience. This place is definitely the best dining establishment I've been to in Boston, even though I've only been to the city once ^^. Pros: I'll start with the jazz band. A pianist, cellist and drummer cranked out tunes on an open dance floor making it oooh so romantic. I'm not a very romantic person, but I melt for these kinds of things. For a very busy restaurant it's also not too loud, making conversations doable at a decent auditory level. The food was awesome. My dining partner and I had 3 courses. We started with lobster soup (thinking about it is making me drool) it was amazing and truffley. We had a beet salad with micro field greens although the cheese was a little bland. For the 2nd course, lamb shank with polenta, and seared sea scallops with a bacony fruity compote. MMmmmmm!! And dessert, raspberry cobbler and creme brulee. The views. Bring your camera. If you park in the garage, it costs ~12$/hr, but the restaurant has a deal with the garage that lets you get the fee waived if you show your receipt to the parking garage guy. Con (yes, singular): It's FUCKING EXPENSIVE. I am a graduate student, which means I don't have much money to throw around, so if I wanted to treat myself and or someone else to restaurants like this it would have to be a rarity. I have also become spoiled when it comes to dining out (I attribute this to my ex boyfriend and his friends for showing me what good food is). I have champagne tastes on a beer budget, so I can't go out to restaurants like this often.
(5)Angeline K.
The Top of the Hub reminded me a lot of Signature Lounge in Chicago, just not as nice. If you want to come here just for drinks, it will be disappointing. You can't really walk or stand around anywhere without bumping into anyone. It's hard to get seating so everyone tries to fight for a seat at the bar. Since most people can't get a seat, they're left congregating around the bar which happens to be situated right along a main walking pathway. Bad layout. Drinks obviously overpriced and so is dessert and everything else on the menu. The view is not really worth the hassle to come up here. Sorry.
(2)Jessica R.
2 Stars for Top of the Hub is a shame, especially since I used to feel it a 5 star experience. Here's what changed--the "this place is great, we want you to love its greatness, too" attitude. Now it feels exclusive and swanky. And not in the good senses of the words. We used to go up to the restaurant (floor 52 of the Prudential Center). We'd go up as a group of, say, 4 people... and order a couple desserts for the table, a drink each. And we'd hang out for a while... live jazz, panoramic views, great cookie plate. 3 years later, there's a price limit (each person must spend $24 or more in order to be seated at a table with a view, otherwise you sit at a bar that has been designed to block the entire view!), there are visual obstacles (like a large wine room), and there are private rooms covering half of the floor (meaning less access to 360 views for those who venture to spend $24+ each). So basically you have to pay a lot of money, and you get to see, maybe, a 100 degree view. Not the greatest! These days, maybe not even worth it.
(2)Yiwen Z.
the view is super cool with nice environment generally especially if you had a reservation before hand. But the food is OK... Seafood was not good ( I had scallops they were not fresh at all not recommended) but desserts creme brûlée was good.
(3)Numvuyo H.
My favorite place in Boston. I have been here with girl friends, family, boyfriends and co workers. It is a fabulously romantic place at the top of Boston, where you can enjoy good food and great drinks. I've eaten here during restaurant week (great price!) and enjoyed normal service, for a special birthday dinner with my man and enjoyed spectacular service and gone just for drinks and jazz on late weekdays. The music is great and there's a little dance floor in front of the band area to sway with your honey while surrounded by the lights of the greatest city in New England.
(5)Natalie M.
Fun place to get a drink, enjoy the view, and people watch. Nothing like people watching at Top of the Hub on a Friday or Saturday night.
(4)Randee M.
My boyfriend and I went here on Friday night with reservations for 4. The other couple ended up having to cancel so we told them that when we got there. We asked for a seat next to the windows since it was my first time being there and they didn't do that even though there was an open table right next to us. The hostess stated it was reserved for a party of 4...5 minutes later it was occupied by a couple. So I wasn't happy. Our waiter took our drink order, which was water cause I'm 9 months pregnant. He brought it right away then we didn't see him again for about 20 minutes. We ordered the French Onion soup which was a good size for us to split, but had no flavor. For our entrees I had had the filet, which was cooked perfectly and the red bliss potatoes were fantastic. He had the NY Strip. He said it was ok, not seasoned well. My glass of water was empty many times through out the evening. I feel like he didn't pay attention to us because we weren't drinking. But for the prices here and the atmosphere I expected much better service. Overall, the food was good but terrible service from the hostess and our waiter. We definitely weren't treated as well as every other table around us. I can't even say I enjoyed the view cause I barely saw anything....
(3)Eva N.
Great view and surrondings. Food was average, creme brulee was terrible, it was a pudding not a creme. It was cold, I assume it was prepared a long time in advance, and had a very peculiar coffee taste. First time ever my children have not finished their creme brulee. This is not a restaurant that takes pride in its cooking, I ordered black cofffee, it was not fresh. It was not drinkable, and I am a nurse and can drink almost any coffee. Hehe The waiter never suggested wines, just handed us the wine menu. He had to many tables to wait. We also had cracks in two plates, got a desssert knife with the main course and two of us got silverware that was not clean. He brought us the check before we even had a chance to say we wanted coffee. Overall a been there done that experience, will not go again or recommend. A visit in the bar to enjoy the view would be much better.
(2)David T.
When my friend suggested we eat here on a Friday night a few weeks ago I was a bit taken aback. This is a place you take tourists, I said, somewhere you go for the view, not the food! We debated, she won, and I now have a new-found likeness for Top of the Hub. I hadn't eaten here since I was very young; a place we ate at when my mother wanted to "go into town" to do shopping or for special occasion dinners like when mom went through the "I don't want to cook Thanksgiving dinner and hand wash all the formal china" phase of her early 40s. Needless to say I was expecting stuffy service and tons of tourists. The tourists were still there by the Fung-wah busloads but the service was pretty down-to-earth and friendly. We sat in the lounge and were seated in one of the best tables...right in the corner. This meant we had windows on two sides and as it was a lovely day I was very appreciative of our prime spot. We had no reservations (they don't take them for the lounge seating) so just happened to be lucky. The view IS what we came for after all, but the food was actually rather fantastic too. First Course was "Brie and Walnuts Baked with Dried Fruit Compote" ($13). I was in heaven. The flavours in this dish blew my mind. The cheese could have been slightly more melty but it's creaminess was a perfect complement to the sweetness of the figs (and fig sauce). Cocktail was "Purple Rain Martini". This was pretty to look at but the taste was good, not great; slightly too much vodka so balance was a bit off. Main course was "Grilled Angus Burger with bacon, Vermont Cheddar Cheese, Caramelized Onions" ($15). This had sauteed mushrooms on the menu as well but I decided against that option since I don't care for them much. It came with a good-sized side of fries presented in a cool (although somewhat typical) conical device. Burger was cooked exactly the way I ordered (well done) but still retained some moisture. It is hard to do well-done meat and not dry it out; they passed this test. I love burgers and this one didn't disappoint. Could I have gotten a similar quality one elsewhere for a few dollars less? Of course, but not with that amazing view! This is a wonderful place to go for dinner after work or some pre-party cocktails on payday. Go for the view, go for the food...just go! You won't regret it.
(4)Marge r.
I came into Boston to meet a former business associate for dinner. He was in town on business from Europe and thought it would be a nice place to enjoy the view. I had not been here in several years and while the food was good, view excellent, the service fell short. The waiter seemed to be just "doing his job." I have had wonderful service here in the past, but this time it was just ok. He did the obligatory check on the meal halfway through, but merely seemed to be an order taker and deliverer of the meal. No suggestions on wine when asked for an opinion, and a bit rushed to get us to wrap up for a coveted window table. Many of the other local restaurants (absent the view) have better service and food. It is a nice treat, but I do expect more for the prices. The wait staff should not seem to be going through the motions and consider a little extra dialogue to engage the guests and make them feel welcome.
(3)Lisa E.
This place is AMAZING! The drinks are good, the service is great and words cannot even begin to describe the views! My boyfriend and I decided to have drinks here on a Friday night and we had such a great time I want to make it a tradition for our Boston trips!
(5)Jason F.
Everything you would expect. We had the 5 course tasting and we were very happy. Excellent service.
(5)Michelle S.
I'd always thought that the Top of the Hub was a really fancy place to go have dinner. Boy was I surprised to run into hordes of tourists in shorts, t-shirts and flip flops lining the hallway to get in. I was in the city one day and decided to have a late lunch. I started with the strawberry lemonade with basil mock tail. It was my first mock tail and it was fabulous. I'd never considered putting basil into a drink before but it went so well, I might have to try it at home! I started with the Lobster Bisque and I must say that it's one of the best bisques I've had in New England. It's titled as "Spicy Lobster Soup" but it seems like a bisque to me. There's really no spiciness to it but the coconut milk, lemongrass and ginger give it nice depth and uniqueness. I cleaned the bowl with the bread provided. At the end of my soup, I was asked if there would be anything else I wanted. I informed the server that I'd ordered an entree. She fumbled around for a bit and then walked off, met up with my server and they disappeared. After about a 20 minute wait (after having my soup), my meal arrived. They clearly forgot to put in the entree order which is really inexcusable. There was no apology or offer of something to make it up. I just sat for 20 minutes. Thankfully I was parked at a window so I had the beautiful day to keep me occupied. When my George's Banks Haddock Rockefeller arrived, it was a massive slab of fish. With the coating of cheeses, spinach and bread crumbs, the fish was super moist and very, very good. I was once again content to be eating something that was quite good. When I finished, I decided to top off my meal with the upside down blueberry cake. It was barely edible. I took a couple bites but the cake was so dry that even with the whipped cream, it was hard to get down. I decided to just leave it.
(4)Paul N.
On a clear day you can see Waltham! The Top of the Hub is a great place to bring out of town guests for lunch or dinner and a great view of Boston. Situated on the 52nd floor of the Prudential Tower. Service is typically real good. Food is good. Entertainment at night. You go for the view most of all.
(4)Isabella C.
I would give them 3.5 stars if I could. The food is okay - not bad but I didn't think it was that great. The creme brulee though, is DELICIOUS. The service is great. The view is nice but really only if you go during the day and sit by the window (which you could probably request when making reservations). It's a nice restaurant (very nice ambiance) so obviously attire is dressy but guys don't have to wear suits or anything.
(3)Dan G.
I came here for lunch and enjoyed their prix fixe menu, 3 courses for $22. The food was awesome. I had a vegetable puree/soup that was delicious, salmon that was perfectly looked and an apple strudel served on a Mikasa "Angles" plate which made me laugh....a lot, and almost choke on their very delicious, soft ice cream. Lunch time can get very bright and hot when facing the south (if looking at the windows, the ocean will be on your left), so you might want to try to sit elsewhere. Overall this experience was lovely.
(4)Moises F.
Top of the hub is a place full of contrasts. I wouldn't recommend going for lunch but I will encourage everyone to go at least once for dinner. During lunch they offer a fix price menu that includes soup, salad and main course for under 30. This is a sweet deal, however if you don't have a reservation it will take ages before you get a sit assigned. Service is slow and food quality is just average. However, if you go between 6-8pm everything changes. The waiters are so much nicer, they are super helpful and fast. Sometimes there is a piano player improving the ambiance and being able to see the sunset and how the bay illuminates with the indoor lightning is breathtaking. The menu is 70% based on fish and seafood, the clamp chowder is their speciality. To be honest, red meat plates are bad, so try to avoid them. I went there 2 weeks ago and they had an amazing brie cheese with fig sauce. Even if food is not that great. The view is worth the try. It's a most for tourists and residents.
(4)John S.
The food and service was great, the view can not be beat, the atmosphere is warm and has a high class feel. Only thing that bugged me is the price didn't fit well with the items on there menu. Guess we're paying for the view more then the food itself.
(4)Alice C.
Great view of the city and great service. Even had a jazz band, though could not really hear.
(4)Ann C.
Pricy meal but well worth it! Loved the scenery! The drinks at the bar were super strong ... I'm not much of an alcohol drinker so it was wasted on me. Food was good although I have to say "Boston Chowda" had better clam chowder. Waiter was awesome! He was super friendly and attentive. Music was playing and it was a great night!
(5)Jennifer H.
We went at night and loved the view. It is on the 52nd floor and sat in the lounge area. There was also a jazz band playing that added to the vib. I had the crab cake sandwich that was amazing, mostly crab meat not heavy on mayo. The pear martini is a must!
(4)Joseph L.
how can you not feel like you're king of the world when you're up here? this is a GREAT alternative to the skywalk. use the skywalk ticket money instead to get a drink here, and just soak it all in (the view and the alcohol, of course). very classy atmosphere, but i went at 3 or 4pm and didn't feel judged in casual wear. its touristy identity keeps the dress code somewhat grounded.
(5)J C.
One of the best dining experiences I've ever had. The ambience, food & service is exceptional. Very pricey though.
(5)Keith R.
To best take advantage of the view and not having to spend a lot eat somewhere else and then go to the lounge before 8 so there is no minimum. If you go around 7 you can find parking on the street easily and then just order dessert and drinks. If you go before day light savings, you can see the sun set around that time.
(4)Dandan L.
I'd give 5 stars for the wonderful view of the city at night, but the food quality really keeps me from doing so. I came here twice. Once for drink, and the other time was during restaurant week for a 3-course meal. The service was wonderful the first time I was here. Our waiter was so friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating. The list of the whiskey was decent. The second time, the service was quite bad for a place like this, maybe cuz our waitress just had a bad day. She seemed a bit upset and angry the entire time, and not attentive at all. The food, oh the food... Such a waste of the wonderful view of the restaurant. The presentation was decent, but the taste was really meh for a fine dining restaurant. I'm not saying it was bad, just not worth the money you pay. I will for sure come back, but only for drinks.
(3)Bree G.
I chose to go to Top of the Hub for Restaurant Week, knowing it was not famous for it's food and not wanting to spend too much on it - but certainly curious to check out the view. The food was even worse than I expected it to be. I think it was downright bad. You could get a better tasting meal at the Cheesecake Factory. I don't know if the chef had just thrown in the towel by 10:30 pm, but whatever the reason it seemed like a complete amateur was making our food. My salad was a tiny bed of shredded lettuce with some raddish slices and a sharp tasting dressing (think "Italian" from a bottle), the short rib was served with a huge hunk of fat and just didn't taste good in general, and the creme brulee was room temperature. The cocktails we ordered were about 12 oz (huge) with 1 oz of liquor in them, for $13 each. Horrible. I was pleased that they offered a gluten-free bread, as I think that is going above and beyond, but the rolls they brought out really tasted like previously frozen hot dog buns. Disappointing (especially after having the PHENOMENAL GF bread that No. 9 Park serves). Finally, the ambiance of the city view was DEFINITELY beautiful, but a bit spoiled by all the patrons taking flash photography. If you go here, sit at the bar and order something on the rocks. You might enjoy yourself!
(2)Sharad B.
I have a mixed opinion about this place. The view is amazing , the bar is good but I really didn't like the food. It gives a great romantic experience but had the food been little better this would have been the best place in the city. However desert lovers has something to cheer about . They have an awesome chocolate warm cake.
(3)Angie M.
We love coming here but the waiter was unprofessional. He gave us the wrong order and then argued with us on who was right. Hanger steak vs angus burger? Come on! He didn't even offer to bring us the correct entree. We did however have great drinks and the service at the bar was very nice. We will come back again, we were just very disappointed with the way the server handled his error and without an apology.
(2)D.j. K.
5 stars on service - Xavier was awesome and they put us at a great seat, despite being very crowded. I liked how they asked if we were celebrating a special event when I called for the reservation (we were btw). 4 stars on food - My steak was perfectly cooked, and the apps we got were great. Also, we each got a Ginger Lemon Drop which was friggin' delicious. My girl got the pork chops which were very good, but not anything like the party in my mouth which was the steak with Gorgonzola on top. 5 Stars on ambiance- This was to be expected. 5 Stars on Price - I thought that this place was the best bang for the buck when I was looking at all surrounding restaurants. Originally we were going to go just for a drink, then leave for somewhere else. We decided to give it a go, and it in the end were very satisfied. Looks like the new Anniversary spot. Cheers!
(5)James D.
The views are incredible! The food is just ok for the price. But you aren't there for the food, you are there for the views. Going to this restaurant is an event. It is really cool and a memorable night. Yes you will pay too much for the food but you are paying for the views as well so you need to keep that in mind. If you want to go someplace that is much more than the food then go here. Also, its a great place to take people from out of town to see the city from way up top. It's also good to go if you are from Boston as you get a very cool perspective of the city from up there. Overall, its a great spot for a memorable night out!
(4)Raquel M.
I have dined at this restaurant on several occasions. The view of Boston is GORGEOUS. This is a great place to take your out of town friends. The food is exceptional and the staff is friendly and attentive. Very crowded on the weekends though.
(4)Andre T.
Amazing food. Great Service. Priceless ambiance and location. Intoxicating view, especially if you are there for sunset. Being a native Bostonian, I can say that this is by far the best restaurant in Boston. Pricey but worth it.
(5)Nicole K.
Ate the prix fixe without wine pairings. Lobster soup was a bit spicy, but delicious. Scallops were delicious and not as salty as I remembered it. The dessert, pear tart, was disappointing. Would recommend more/better offerings for dessert.
(4)Court S.
Well, where do I start??? The view is absolutely breathtaking. The cocktails are splendid, the cookies are warm, and the live band is musically talented. We went on a Sunday and luckily it wasn't crowded at all. Our waiter's name was Matt, & from all my years growing up in Cambridge I've never heard a Boston accent so thick and rich ( he reminded me of a character from the movie The Town). He was awesome. Hopefully he's reading this because I told him I was going to mention him in my review. This place is great for lounging with friends or being on a date while watching the sun set. Aside from the screaming uncontrollable child upon entry, this was a perfect Sunday evening.
(4)TinoX T.
Fantastic place for an Awesome Date.....
(4)Lydia H.
Edited 5/10/13: We received a voucher for a meal for two, which fully covers the cost of our first meal and shows us that we were heard, so I've upped the rating to what it would have been (see below). We will save the voucher for a special occasion, and I'll let you know how it goes. ;) --- I would have given Top of the Hub 4 stars were it not for a rather unpleasant encounter we had just before leaving. (We contacted the manager afterwards and he is apparently currently reviewing video footage, though I'm not sure what light that would shed, seeing as it wasn't a fist fight, and a security camera wouldn't capture dialogue.) My boyfriend took me here last Friday night for my birthday-- I had never been, and the view was fantastic. We were seated right away with our reservation, and everyone was totally friendly. Our waiter was great: knowledgeable, attentive, kind. The food was good-- my swordfish was a little dry, but my boyfriend's filet mignon was delicious. We both had chopped salads as well, which were good and a perfect start to the meal. Anyway, now to the reason for one star. After we had paid for our meal, all was well and we went to get a picture by the window before leaving-- after all, this place is all about the view, and I wanted a picture to commemorate my birthday dinner. We sought out a spot in the corner where we wouldn't disturb anyone in the middle of a meal, and my boyfriend asked a woman who was playing on her phone (clearly waiting for someone) if she would mind taking a picture of us. She said no, of course not. Just as I was handing her my camera, one of the greeters came over and told us they don't allow people to come in and take pictures where guests have reservations. Thinking she was suggesting we didn't have a reservation, my boyfriend told her that we had a reservation and had just finished eating. She then reiterated that this area was for people with reservations, and my boyfriend reiterated that we, too, were guests, since she seemed to be accusing us of walking in off the street. Then she explained, finally, but rudely, that they don't want to disturb the guests (why didn't she say that to start?). Now that the crux of the issue was more clear, my boyfriend said, "Oh, okay, well then would you mind taking a picture of us?" She seemed to think we were trying to undermine her authority, and she got very defensive, saying more loudly, "No, sir, I will NOT." At this point, my boyfriend had no idea why she was so upset. She said, clearly insincerely, "I would be MORE THAN HAPPY to take a picture of you against the wall or by the entrance." My boyfriend tried to interpret her words in the nicest way possible, but at this point I was on the verge of tears (I've never been so unexpectedly uncomfortable in a restaurant!), and I simply said no and walked away. People generally don't feel like having their picture taken by someone who has accused them of being rude assholes. It was painfully clear to me that this staff member had been trained to enforce a particular policy ("no photos where the guests are dining") but completely UNtrained on how to enforce it (without suggesting that people are walking in off the street, without an accusatory tone of voice, without being rude). Essentially, we were admonished for what was a clear miscommunication of a policy that was poorly enforced. As my boyfriend said afterwards, he wouldn't expect that kind of treatment at McDonald's, let alone at a pricey establishment that prides itself on the atmosphere. The one thing I wanted from my birthday dinner was a picture together, and we didn't get that. We just got a crappy end to what was otherwise an enjoyable evening after a long, stressful week.
(4)Jiaomin O.
My review if only for the dessert~ So my friend and i were wandering around and decided that we wanted dessert and went there. The security actually checked ID before he let us on the elevator. The minimum purchase for sitting at the table is 24 per person so we sat at the bar. I ordered Valrhona Warm Chocolate Cake and my friend ordered pumpkin cheesecake. I really love the cake, it is warm, and the chocolate is flowing, yet not too hot. just the right temperature, combined with the ice cream, it was perfect. The pumpkin cheesecake was pretty decent too, not overly sweet like the ones at cheesecake factory. It was cloudy and we can see the snow in the air though, but i did wish the sky was clear so that we could have seen the botson skylight.
(4)Alvaro R.
Great view and Service! That's it... Food? Mmmm we ordered the 3 course menu with paired wines... Not impressed at all... We ate better at Quincy Market. Not word it at all, it felt like an overpriced but "cheap" experience. Talked to the manager, they apologized but they still charged us full price... Management?? Mmm he wasn't sorry at all...
(1)Vadim K.
came to the restaurant for a few drinks and was treated like total garbage. To be more specific, six individuals were seated in a lounge area and not a single waiter stopped by to offer so much as a water in 20 minutes. I am sure they had their reasons for not being able to offer service to us within a timely manner but I would still say that it is completely inexcusable to treat customers in such a way. Highly do not recommend this place only because of their snobbish attitude but the view is nice. Cheers!
(1)Gerardo F.
I really like this restaurant; The service is very good, the food is generally excellent, especially their meats, and it never gets extremely noisy. But what really sets the Top of the Hub apart, obviously, is the view. Whether by day or by night, the view never ceases to induce a sense of awe in me.
(4)Tammy C.
Great experience. The server and food were both very high quality. This is a place not to be missed if visiting Boston like we were.
(5)Mike S.
In short - Great views of Boston, live music and about as expensive as you'd expect it to be. I was with a party of 4 and we decided to go up for a drink last Saturday night. It was fairly busy, we asked to sit in the lounge and was told there was a $24 dollar minimum per person to sit down. Ok, that sucks but I understand.... We sat down and ordered a bottle of champagne. When it was brought over, the bottle was about 1/2 the normal size. We sent it back and picked another one and then decided to order dessert. We had some kind of assorted cookie tray that was just Meh, kind of dry and hard cookies.... An order of scotch and we were up around $80 bucks and asked for the bill. I don't think I'd come back for dinner but I'd come back up for a drink and dessert again. This is one of those "Been there, done that" type places in Boston that everyone has to do once.
(3)Dr. Tyler C.
Service is terrible, food over-rated, and unfriendly!
(1)Peter R.
No "wow", but a pleasant evening.
(3)Kockyo X.
The food is really bad... it does not worth the money at all except for the view. Two stars for the service but zero for the food. I had spicy lobster soup and the haddock. I felt like I can totally make this by my own. The bread is not good. Spicy lobster soup had too many coconut milk in it and its way to salty.
(2)Shea D.
There are exactly five reasons to come here: 1. The cookie platter 2. The spectacular view 3. The cookie platter 4. The live jazz and opportunity to dance on top of Boston 5. The cookie platter My (new) fiancée (!!) and I came here after a fabulous dinner at No. 9 Park, and it was a nearly perfect follow up to our dinner. I say nearly perfect because the hostess and person who seated us felt the need to remind us several times that there is a $24 minimum to sit in the lounge area...the first time was fine and I said "I know, no problem!" The additional in-your-face reminders made me think "are you kidding? We've just come here from one of Boston's finest restaurants (which meant that we were dressed to the nines) and you think we're going to put down a less than $24 tab in your lounge area after I've already told you that it's no problem? Cool it kids." However, once we were seated, everything was fabulous. The view, the music, the gigantic cookie platter, and the drinks. Great end to our wonderful evening.
(4)David W.
This is probably as high-class as it gets in Boston! I got taken here for my graduation, and it was a treat!!! We had a bunch of mojitos , clam chowder, hot dogs, chocolate cake, and creme brulee. It was a special night, and I had a blast. That said, next time I come back, I'm definitely gonna take advantage of everything it has to offer. The best time to come I would say is before sunset so that you can get all 3 views. They also have live jazz nights too. Also, if it's your first time, check out the prudential observation deck too. Here, you're just limited to only half of the view. Actually less...part of it is blocked off for private engagements, and you have to intrude on other tables to see some of the rest... Still, I feel mighty ballin' for having dined here! =)
(4)Rachel A.
The view from here is amazing! Definitely recommend trying to catch the sunset here. We didn't do dinner, but drinks and appetizers in the bar. Considering we went in early Sept. on a Saturday night at 6 pm, the 10 min. wait for a table at a bar was incredibly short. Considering it's a ritzy place, the drink and food prices are reasonable. Definitely a must see if you're visiting the city or to hit up for a first date!
(4)Carol K.
What a view! We didn't eat here, just drinks and appys in the lounge. Arrived to a summer hail storm, followed by wicked clouds, followed by beautiful colors and clear skies in the space of two hours. I kept waiting for the lounge to revolve like other tall places in other cities. The 360 view as you walk about is phenomenal. Service was very good. Server was sweet and personable and the cocktails inventive. Great place for out of towners, tourists and locals alike. I would love to return for fourth of July fireworks!
(4)Sharon Z.
Bring your date for a night of lub, Bird's view at Top of the Hub, Boston's best they did dub, Before you look out give your eyes a good rub, Be not too critical of the average grub, Baller service here certainly not sub, Background jazz like a softly singing cherub, But it's ok now to just wear your scrub... Bad it used to be a classier pub, B-grade goes to Top of the Hub.
(3)Jess H.
My boyfriend wanted to take me out somewhere nice in Boston for dinner, so I asked my friends for suggestions. I got an overwhelming response for Top of the Hub. Surprisingly, I've lived in Boston my entire life, but had yet to dine here! So here was my chance! Overall, it was a very good experience. I made a reservation, and when we arrived they offered to either seat us right away or gave us the option to wait for a window table. We opted to wait and get some drinks at the bar meanwhile. The atmosphere was very nice, and the bar was busy. Since it was a Tuesday night we were seated in no time. The service was excellent in every way. The waiter, water boy, runners, etc. were all very attentive. The view was spectacular. The atmosphere was romantic. Everything was perfect. So why not 5 stars? The food! While the food was not bad, it was only average, especially for the price. Clearly you are paying for the service and the view, because the food just doesn't meet the same standard as everything else. It's really too bad, because the food is the main reason most people go to restaurants. Overall, I am really happy I went, and am glad I finally got my "Top of the Hub experience." One of the servers also offered to take our picture in front of the window, and knew exactly how to do it so the flash wouldn't reflect in the glass, which was a great added touch. So, really, I like Top of the Hub. However, I don't plan on making this a regular trip due to the quality of the food. It is great for a special occasion though, where the overall experience is more important than the food!
(4)DM G.
The view of Boston is spectacular. The food is average for fine dining. Unfortunately, the customer service leaves much to be desired. In essence, you are really paying for the view.
(2)elizabeth h.
We went here yesterday for Thankgiving. I feel pretty confident that I got food poisoning or coincidentally came down with a stomach bug about 4 hours after eating here. UGH. I got the Squash bisque, Salmon, and Creme Brulee. They all tasted good but were entirely too rich--so much butter!! I don't typically eat food as rich or as laden in butterso I thought that maybe my body was having a hard time digest the rich food. And cue 8 hours of feverish vomiting. Had I not gotten sick, I'd be giving our experience 4-5 stars. I am afraid, though, that the food may have been compromised and for the price I paid, it may be a while until I can stomach (pun intended) going back. :(
(2)Nicole T.
AMAZING restaurant!!! Great food great view and great service. Went here for my birthday and ate the most delicious meal. High prices but it's a great night out.
(5)Jade A.
Pros: I went here on my two year anniversary with my boyfriend. We both expected the "top of hub" so we dressed really fancy and everything. We got to our table and my boyfriend had a fedora on. They asked him to take it off. So we thought it was really fancy. The waitress was really nice and she took a picture of us when we asked her to. There was also a live band. It was kind of loud, but still nice. We were seated next to a window at night so we got a great view of Boston. It seemed great. Cons: we looked around and though we thought the place required formal attire (black tie, jacket required) it was absolutely not. People had on jeans, some weren't even wearing collared shirts. The food was extremely gross. About two steps up from Boston public high school food. It was also extremely cheap. My boyfriend was baffled at how hard he had been working to get enough money to take me there, and he didn't even spend a quarter of the money he made. We had dinner, drinks and dessert. The Creme brulee was delicious, but that is about it. All in all, step it up Top of the hub.
(2)Christopher R.
Come for the fantastic view and the food, not for the service. I make it a point to come here every time I am in Boston. However every time I make a reservation there is still a wait and the host and/or hostess is rude.
(3)Nicole D.
If you haven't been...you have to go. The views are awesome, so be sure to request a window table. And check the weather so you go on a clear day or night!! The food is pretty great most of the time, drinks are good but overpriced....but it's a great place for a special occasion or a splurge.
(4)Jeremy J.
Truth be told, the food, while not outstanding, was better than your average tourist trap (though at the same way over-priced value). This review is for the experience with our waiter (whose name I believe was Justin G). After celebrating my friends 25th here about a month ago, the inevitable bill came. $220. I put down $100, and the other two memeber of my party each put down their plastic. Upon returning from the backroom after swiping the cards, the total on each read $110, instead of $60 (i.e. he never added the Cash). After confronting the waiter, he gave a vague explanation on how this was a simple error, and appeared visibly petrubed that we would make such as accusation. While he was able to void the transcations, this (and of course you are to be the judge) does not seem like a simple mecahnical error, coming from somebody whose worked in the service industry. Anyways, the manager was helpful, although the Hosts reek of arrogance and desperation, making this a place to avoid, except for the view. So, If you decide to come here, walk right past the Doormen (I was wondering if they really need a double-digit number of people pacing impatiently at the entrance) and have an apertif at the bar area, then go elsewhere for Dinner. This place should be renamed the Hub of Gullibe Tourists and the staff that tries to screw them over.
(1)Harri S.
I feel that no matter how often this place disappoints me, it always will be a go to for 3 principle reasons. 1) I live across the street 2) The view is unrivaled (though M's balcony does give the Pru a run for its money) 3) S and I will always end up here when we hang out. We are way too committed to the mojitos to make it out in a timely, or classy manner. Oy. The drinks here are fantastic, I highly recommend eating at the bar. I only drop the star level because there is a minimum for tables even when they aren't busy and because my wallet is empty every time I leave. (I SHOULD KNOW BETTER, I KNOW). Also, not everything on the menu is four or five star worthy. However it's still a great place to bring people from out of town (I'm looking at you Katie G.), and there's live jazz every night. Worth the visit, but not the stay.
(3)Christine T.
meh. We came here for drinks/dessert after having dinner elsewhere. we called and made a 10:30pm reservation for dessert. We arrived and were sat in the dining room, cool. great views, great pictures. Our waiter came over and started telling us the dinner specials. We told him we called for a dessert reservation and he was NOT happy. he dropped his head and said he'll go find us a seat in the lounge. you'd think he just found out his family left him. Luckily we never saw that guy again, instead his assistant waiter came over (he served us the rest of the night) and said his manager okay'd us to stay where we were, we didn't care either way - it was just the commotion that was embarrassing. Anyway we settled in and looked at the dessert menu. We got 2 chocolate cakes and an "assortment of freshly baked cookies", along with three (delicious) pomegranate mojitos, several Heineken's and more. The cake was small and kind of mushy. I wouldn't get it again. Our bill was $99 and change, we certainly hit the $24 a person limit and we left a hefty tip - (take that our first dbag waiter!). Our assistant waiter was great, kind of an awkward guy, but i think he was just nervous - he was very attentive and that is what mattered. I doubt we'll go back, the service was awkward and we did not feel welcome. The entire time we were there they made us feel like they were doing us a favor, while we paid a lot and the food was mediocre. I wouldn't recommend it to a friend.
(2)Sara L.
I'd heard of TOTH for years but never actually been. It IS worth the view alone. The view is gorgeous. Drinks were good but not great, given that it's a little old school and not mixologist stuff with freshly muddled juices and herbs, etc (although the prices would indicate otherwise). My lobster bisque, however, was outstanding. My friend's food looked good, too. Overall, I think you come here for the view, with food and drinks being secondary, but decent.
(3)Yang W.
Though I rated 4 stars, it was more for the view and service than for the food. The city view from top was fantastic, but unfortunately that day was foggy. You could enjoy the skyview, listening to live band performance, while enjoying the seafood. However, the lobster I ordered was not as good as I expected, which charged over $60
(4)Chad W.
Meh. The view was the only thing exceptional about this place. The food was around 2 stars, the service around 3 stars, and the value around 3 stars. Come once for the view and experience; otherwise, save your money for the many better Boston offerings.
(3)Rae M.
The atmosphere and view is spectacular, the service and food- not so hot. We had a 7pm reservation for my birthday last night. We arrived early to have a couple drinks and watch the sunset. Upon walking in, there was no hostess to greet us. When she did show up, she was dressed a little sloppily. And we noticed that the other patrons were dressed in jeans and hoodies and t-shirts. Kids were running around in PJs. I thought this was supposed to be an upscale restaurant! The hostess told us that we could not move our dinner reservation up any earlier. She told us to wait at the packed-full bar and check in closer to our reservation time. While getting less-than-stellar service at the bar (although my espresso martini tasted great), we noticed on our Open Table app that there was still a 5:30 reservation. We brought this to the hostess' attention and asked if we could have it. She replied with an impolite "I guess so." I'm sure if her manager wasn't standing next to her, she would have denied us. We were brought to a wonderful window seat. Our server, Louis F was fantastic. He was extremely professional and made great suggestions. He was also very funny and seemed like he really enjoyed working there. We ordered a Lobster Bisque (phenomenal) and a Baby Spinach Salad (really good too) to start. For our entrees, we ordered the Pork Chop with stuffed acorn squash (okay) and the Cioppino (not good. smelled way too fishy and not very fresh). For dessert, we ordered the Cashew Coconut Mousse, which was delicious. I really wanted to love this place. The experience of eating at such a nice-looking place with a great view was wonderful, but I do not see myself returning.
(2)Sue B.
Enjoyed the beautiful view while celebrating a graduation!! Great food and attentive waitstaff..
(5)Lisa W.
Brought my visiting mom up here for lunch. Based on the reviews, I didn't expect great food.. I figured you're really paying for the view, but I was pleasantly surprised! I think the lunch menu is reasonably priced - $15 for mom's delicious chicken pot pie, $22 for prix fix (salad, entree, dessert). The only thing I was not a fan of was the salad - the lettuce was wilting and brown, and the dressing way too salty. The entree I chose the salmon on a bed of wild rice and cranberries topped with avocado... MMMMM! The salmon was perfectly cooked and everything was delicious. For dessert we chose the creme brulee - it was full sized and done well. Our waiter was sweet, and suggested we walk around the dining room to check out the fantastic view. Considering that it costs ~$10 per person to hang out in the observation tower one floor below, it's a pretty good deal. I wouldn't come here just for the food, but it's a nice place to take visitors.
(4)Brenda P.
Went for after dinner drinks with the hubby. Elevator opens right into the jazz lounge. Got seated right away with a window table. There was a really nice jazz band playing. Had the Boston Cream Pie ( better than the one at the Parker House) and a bottle of wine. There is a $24.00 minimum for the lounge area. Mixed crowd: tourists, locals, young and old.
(5)Matt H.
Restaurant week, 4/19/12 Ambiance: Fancy but relaxed. View is spectacular. Food: Chili and cocoa crusted salmon, salad, and creme brulee were fantastic. Wine selection was impeccable. Only reason this place doesn't get 5 stars is the service. Don't get me wrong, they were attentive and friendly, but not that personable. If I'm paying $30/head and ask you "What do you think of such-and-such?" please have enough sense to not respond "Oh well I've had everything and it is all good." Really? It's "good"? Can you tell me about it? He proceeded to read the menu line item style. If I wanted the menu read to me I would have asked. Also, a waiter is not a maitre d'. Not sure if this place has one but please hire one. I'm not a wine snob, but again, I'm not paying you to read the menu to me. Worth it for the view and the food, but service needs a boost.
(4)Steward P.
Classy joint. Can't go here often, I'd be broke. Pricey but delicious. I got the lamb and it was some of the best I've ever had. Definitely a great special occasion type of place. I lucked out and nailed some free street parking, but I'd imagine the pru lot costs a good chunk of change. Wear something nice, don't act like a schmuck.
(4)ProfessorShadow _.
The manager asked me to leave despite having a reservation and despite being better dressed than he was. He was unapologetic about it as well. The hostesses were shocked that I was asked to leave and apologized emphatically. To the manager on duty, my money was spent elsewhere.
(1)Regina A.
The 2 stars is for the view alone, our drinks were made wrong, the food took forever, so much so that it was cold when it did arrive and was also badly prepared and poorly presented. Our waiter was gracious and honest, our overall experience was one we will not be repeating.
(2)Brad S.
Would come back for the view, but not for the food. We were there for restaurant week. The soup was actually very good, but it was lukewarm when it arrived. The short rib was dry- it really needed more of the sauce, and the pickled vegetables on top were flavorless. The dessert was enormous, but pretty uninspired pudding pie. I would have been happier with a smaller dessert that was a bit more creative and/or tasted better. The drinks were expensive, but not stingy. For my Manhattan, I got not just one martini glass full, but also a mini shaker to refill it, so it was like 2.5 drinks for the $14. If you want to come to Top of the Hub, go for drinks in the lounge and the view. Re: experience. Upon being seated, no one took jackets. In fact, looking around the dining room, everyone had jackets on the backs of chairs. Odd for "fine dining" atmosphere and prices. Seated next to window, which was awesome. Waiter was loud and obnoxious. Nothing about the restaurant was appropriate for fine dining, except for the prices. The wine list was pretty unimpressive, as well. Overall, go to the lounge and get drinks, but skip the overpriced food.
(2)Alyssa M.
Drinks are solid -- a bit overpriced, but duh! It's all for the view! Avoid Diana P. -- poor attitude, curt demeanor and/or totally MIA. Also, she gave us only a $10 bill as change for tip on a $30 bill. Nice play, Diana P., but your service wasn't worth it. The other waitstaff seemed much more charming and attentive. Haven't tried the food.
(3)Alana H.
If Don Draper can drink during lunch why can't I ? Some colleagues and I came here after presenting a workshop at a local conference. We started with drinks at the bar while we waited for the last person in our party. I ordered the Strawberry Basil Lemonade and it was delicious, I could have 3 of them. Gin, fresh basil, strawberry purée, fresh squeezed lemon is simply divine. One of my friends got the level 52 looked amazing as well. It was the last day of restaurant week and we went with this menu. I started with the Sweet Potatoe Minestrone soup, which had nice good chunks of sweet potatoes, sausage, carrots and a few noodles, I really enjoyed. For my entree I got the Cocoa & Chili Rubbed Atlantic Salmon it was served with Herb Polenta, Avocado Salsa Verde, the entree was delicious, I could have licked the plate clean. For my dessert I got the maple creme brûlée which I found ok but not memorable. For me the salmon was the star of the meal. You definitely come here for the view. We were able to get a table by the window and lucky for us it was a clear day and the view was amazing. I can only imagine what it looks like in the evening. This place is definitely a little more on the pricey side so it maybe a place I visit during restaurant week but it's somewhere I've wanting to come for a while and so I'm glad I got to cross off my list. 3.5 stars
(3)Sean C.
View and service is very good. Food is okay....... dessert is too sweet....
(3)CeeCee A.
Needed a place to celebrate an anniversary back in August 2010, and after some research, I made reservations to this place. Upon arriving in the lobby, we needed to show our IDs before entering, and security politely directed us to the elevator. As we entered the restaurant, the hostess was very welcoming, and when she brought us to our table, we were really happy to be seated right by the window. It was such a SPECTACULAR view!! Our server was REALLY nice and polite, and he took the time to answer all our questions. Ambiance was really pretty. We ordered the Three Course Prix-Fixe, paired with wines ($75). First, the Spicy Lobster Soup was so creamy and absolutely DIVINE!! The Braised Shortribs was delicious. Second, braised lamb shank was juicy. Although I thought it was big for one person, I finished that baby up!! The Ginger Cheesecake and Crème Brûlée were sooo good!! The wine pairings for all of them were PERFECT - brought out the flavor. My experience here was wonderful, and it was perfect for my occasion. :-)
(3)M G.
Came here to the lounge for drinks one evening with friends around 6pm. Was quickly seated without a wait. The restaurant itself is pretty large and impressive. The view is unbeatable - 360degrees of the entirety of Boston. Planes were descending and flying in the periphery. A fantastic place to go in the evenings, especially during sunset. Can only speak for the drinks, but they were standard, the service was timely and friendly. I was a bit irked that they had no clamato juice, for such a busy restaurant, but they said they ran out. When we left, a large line had built up, and the place was pretty packed.
(3)Jamie H.
we went to top of the hub for my boyfriend's sister's graduation from bc, and had an amazing experience. we loved the food, drinks and service. the chef sent out a pineapple coconut chilled soup shooter to start us off, which was refreshing and tasty. i started with the beet salad as an appetizer, which had both golden and purple beets and was garnished with pistachios and the freshest, creamiest goat cheese i have had in a while. a few others at the table ordered "barry's scallops," which were cooked perfectly, leading my boyfriend to wonder just who barry was and how his scallops were so delicious. for my entree, i ordered the grilled swordfish special which was topped with arugula and had a side of potato gnocchi and charred green beans. a few others also ordered this, and not one of us had a bite remaining. my boyfriend ordered the lamb shank, which came with creamy mashed potatoes, an excellent onion jam, and asparagus. we all loved the entrees, and his sister also really enjoyed the tuna. besides the food, the drinks were excellent as well. the peach martini was really sweet, but in a good way, and strong. the mango mojito was extremely refreshing, and we all enjoyed the pinot noir that we got for the table. overall, we had such a fantastic experience, topped off with a special dessert for the graduate that had a congratulations message in chocolate.
(5)Tommy W.
Experienced excellent customer service from our waitress. Hostesses - some were nicer than others. View was excellent on the 52nd view - def. one of the best in Boston. Prix Fixe menu provided good value but was 4/5 stars. Overall, great experience.
(4)Chris G.
Here's the thing - you can't beat the view. Whether you are visiting Boston for the first time or have been in town for years (like us), it is definitely worth taking the roller-coaster-like elevator ride to the 52nd floor and grabbing a table for a drink or two. We grabbed a bite to eat with some friends the other night, and the food was okay. The Lobster soup was definitely a stand-out, but the Caesar salad was over-dressed and a bit fishy (from the anchovy in the dressing). The Kobe beef hot dogs were okay... a bit too "Fenway" for fine dining. The chicken flat bread was bland. The mussels were pretty good. Until... We had a wonderful waitress who unfortunately spilled our incoming tray of waters all over my girlfriend and our friend. The water also got all over the table in addition to their laps, and into the mussels that had just arrived. Of course, these things happen, and we don't blame the waitress. However, what bothered us the most is that first of all, we did not receive an apology from the manager, and secondly, they didn't take the mussels off the bill! When we enquired, the waitress finally obliged. We couldn't believe it was even a question. Luckily, the picturesque view on the way out relieved our frustration. All in all, Top of the Hub is a one hit wonder. We won't be back soon.
(3)Zack A.
First off the calamari is awesome. May take a while for a seat but you are trying to eat at a well known restaurant overlooking the city on the 52nd floor, what do you expect? Stop complaining the host or hostess didn't greet you properly, the magic of Boston is it is a melting pot of people from all over the world and they may believe they greeted you sufficiently. Also it does not matter The views are amazing, regardless of the reviews of food the views are what you pay for and worth every penny at sunset. Ask for Travis he was my waiter and was very polite and knowledgable, especially on wines.
(5)Enay V.
From the time we walked into the door until the time we left, it was a great experience. We had a 6:30 reservation - perfect time for a sunset - and got a window seat. Xavier, our waiter, asked us if it was a special occasion (anniversary) and got our drink order and later, explained (in detail) ever special that was offered. He answered all of our questions and even mentioned for me (a non-drinker) that there were non-alcoholic drinks that were nice (which I got a pina colada - so good!). From the waiters, to the bus boys, to the chefs, everyone seemed to take their job seriously & did it so well. My husband had the tasting menu, I had the beet tartare & butternut squash - all were exceptional. For our dessert, we each got "Happy Anniversary" written in chocolate on the bottom of our plates with candles. Loved it. I'll definitely be back!
(5)Jonny C.
I will not eat here. But I will entertain clients, have a nightcap, sip a bourbon and just soak in the ambiance: old school, swanky, piano and jazz bar, 360 degree amazing view, great cocktails. Uniquely Boston only because it is in Boston, this type of bar exists in every major US city, and the Top of the Hub does it very well. -1 star, because even if they are dead, and there are ample empty tables, they stick stringently to the table minimum policy. Quite the spot.
(4)Kathleen F.
We came here for drinks with my boyfriend's dad and his wife. Our waiter was friendly but informed us that there were some pretty big minimums to sit at a table, aka we had to have at least 2 drinks and some food. We had already had dinner and drinks so we weren't thrilled at the prospect, but thought it might be nice to give the restaurant and bar there a shot so we sat down and began to order. Our waiter was very nice and we ordered some cocktails off the menu and a dessert. The cocktails were horrible for the price. Overly sweetened and just not mixed very well. They reminded me of the type of drink that you would get at the Cheesecake factory and not at a pricey nice Boston restaurant. We ordered their strawberry shortcake dessert as well, yet again something overly sweetened and not done with a lot of thought, another cheesecake factory style dessert. Definitely not what you would expect at this cailber of a place. We also were walking around because we had never really been up there before and were told we could walk around. We wandered near the dining area but hesitated because we weren't sure if we could go in, but my boyfriend's dad wanted to just got through quickly to look out the windows. He was yelled at very rudely by some extremely rude staff members. It would have been nice if they told us the area we could walk in, even better if there was a sign saying not to go int he dining area, and way better if we were spoken to nicely. I will not be taking out of towners up here again just not worth it.
(2)Thuy L.
I agree that food is just okay. However, what makes this place better than others is the view. Where else can you have freshly baked cookies while overlooking the city of Boston? And their 5-course Sunday brunch is not too shabby either, but again, I might have been persuaded by the view. Meals are expensive which is why I don't really suggest coming here for a real meal. My suggestion: come here late night, take in the view, get the warm cookie plate, and a cocktail. You'll feel on top of the world.
(4)Susan L.
This place was recommended for its spectacular view and it certainly didn't disappoint. I arrived around 12:30 on a Friday without reservation and was seated immediately (party of 1). I wasn't seated right next to the window but had an unobstructed view from my table of some skyscrapers and the Charles River. I had the Cesar salad with salmon, which was tasty but nothing spectacular. Service could be faster - I was seated immediately but waited a few minutes before getting a menu and a bit longer before having my order taken. Perhaps this wouldn't be so noticeable if I had a fellow diner to remark on the spectacular view, but I typically travel alone for work. The view is breathtaking but the food and service definitely pale in comparison.
(3)Justin J.
Went here on a date. The view was really great to see, despite the cloudy night and not getting a table near the windows. Service was great. Food breakdown: Lobster bisque- delicious, a bit on the salty side. Buffalo cheese and beet salad- decent, nothing special really... Scallops- Really good. Well cooked, though the other items on the plate didn't seem to mesh too well with the dish overall, the scallops were delicious. Veal- Large portion of meat but a bit tough though extremely juicy. Creme Brulee and blueberry upside down cake- both left something to be desired. We didn't finish either one of our desserts.
(3)Michael G.
The view is great, but that is about all. Do not come in here for a late night drink, and expect good service. I came in last night to celebrate a friend's birthday, and ordered an expensive bottle of champagne. The server poured it, and came back two minutes later to inform us that we needed to pick up the pace. We had 40 minutes left before closing. He continued to fill my glass with each and every sip, reminding me constantly that we were an inconvenience to him. I have never experienced worse service. What's worse, the management was nowhere to be found during the ordeal, and has not replied to an email about my experience. If you cannot provide guests with good service late night, than you should not be open late night, and you certainly shouldn't sell a guest a nice bottle of champagne, then rush them through its consumption. What a terrible experience. Wish I could give 0 stars.
(1)Sandy B.
As a restaurant, this place is just so-so. It gets bumped up for being a cute, albeit tourist-y, experience with a great view. The restaurant is aware that they offer an awesome experience that everyone wants to see, so the food is a little lacking and the prices are a little too high. The service isn't all that great either. I've heard all sorts of things about how this place has a dress code. I walked in and was greeted by a hostess in jeans, with her hair in a messy ponytail. Apparently patrons need to look nice, but the employees can look like college kids going to an 8am class. Am I being kind of a bitch? Yes. Yes I am. I just think this place is a little silly. They set a standard for themselves and then fall short all on their own doing. It could be so much better. Instead, it merely offers a window frame around a beautiful view.
(3)Jason L.
(3.5 stars - RW lunch) I assume this place is one of those touristy "must-see" areas now. But, for good reason. Dining on the 52nd floor for these prices is one of those things you should do before you leave Boston. Oh, and first time I've seen raisin/walnut bread in the breadbasket! Here's the food I tried: Tomato bisque - creamy, and not too heavy, which I liked. Scallops, potato fingerlings, chorizo emulsion - the scallops themselves were seared and seasoned perfectly with the correct tenderness. The potatoes were a tad undercooked, and while the overall dish was plated well, seemed like the accompaniments of the emulsion and salsa verde were more for show than anything. Creme brulee - huge portion. Classic dessert, was made fine, with the nice crispy finish from the pastry torch, with a dollop of mascarpone and a blackberry. Cherry napoleon, brandy anglaise - beautiful plating. It was quite stingy on the actual cherries or cherry flavor, more as if just a cream filled napoleon decorated with a couple cherries inside. Messy to eat, the anglaise was nice and rich, but lacked the brandy flavor I was expecting. It's a nice and classy place, and the food was on-par, with nothing below average. However, I probably wouldn't pay these prices for a casual dinner out (someone wanna treat me?) unless it was a visitor from out-of-town or a special occasion, because honestly we all know you come here for the view... which, by the way, is gorgeous. *comment on the service - fast, and attentive almost on par with the major elite places in Boston. However, first the soup was spilled accidentally when it was placed down by a busboy. Our waiter, who was GREAT, apologized and joked "oh he's new here." It was absolutely nothing to worry about at all. Then, the champagne tasting as part of the wine flight, came halfway through dessert....(ok not a big deal, still a good meal). Then, our waiter just so happened to charge us for dinner prices instead of lunch. Good thing we caught it.... (first two things, not a problem at all, but then to top it [no pun intended] all off, the bill issue at the end, and forgetting an order of sparkling water makes me think he was a bit cursory on our table). Food (6.5/10) Plating (5/5) Service (3/5) Decor (6/5) - Ok I gave a 6 for the view.....
(3)Megan S.
So you can wait in line with the tourists and pay $13 to see a view of Boston from the top of the Pru . . . or you can go one flight higher for FREE and have a tasty (albeit pricey) cocktail and look out the window without the crowds. Best time to go is when the sun is setting. Second best is later at night when there's free jazz. Hot tip: Beware, do not go wandering around the restaurant to look out the windows. You will get in trouble. (ask my mom)
(4)Elizabeth C.
A little late in writing a review, but better late than never, as the saying goes......My husband & I had dinner there a couple of years ago, & we remember it fondly, as one of our BEST dining experiences EVER! From the moment we set foot in the restaurant, we were treated & served like royalty. We went for a 5 course dinner, that was DIVINE! The view is HEAVENLY. This restaurant is worth it in EVERY way.
(5)Stephanie S.
For such a well regarded and expensive place (restaurant week or not) my recent experience of Top of the Hub was not that good. I took my sister there for her birthday as a special treat last Sunday. When I made the reservation, I asked for a seat by the window and was told they can't guarantee anything -- but I was hopeful. We were seated in what they call the "lounge" area and not the dining room. While my sister was happy with the view of the city, I was annoyed that we were stuffed in among the tourists who just come in for a drink, sit on the couches, and take photos. As we were trying to enjoy our meal several different tourists came by and snapped pictures right over us or got behind our seats. After about 3-4 people did this, one of the hostesses finally asked them to stop. In addition to that, we had a three-course meal in which two of the courses came out within 17 minutes of our arrival. I had to ask the waiter to stall the dessert round so we could enjoy our dinners. My meal was disgusting and so covered in oil that I could barely get the noodle to stay on my folk. My sister, however, enjoyed her dish (spare ribs). The only positives: 1) our waiter was very nice and attentive. He too was annoyed that our courses came out so fast and he asked the chef to accommodate a vegetarian on the restaurant week menu (despite my meal being terrible) and 2) the dessert. I ordered the banana bread with peanut butter topping. It was great and the portion was just right. When I moved to Boston 6 years ago, I remember being turned away at The Top of the Hub because my co-workers were in sneakers. I wish they still had such dress requirements and better management these days!
(2)Jill G.
Gorgeous view, but make sure you go on a clear night! Kind of pricey, but truly the prettiest view of the entire city. I recommend it mostly for tourists!
(4)Regan C.
I used to go here for dinner a lot, but now I'm liking going here for lunch. This is one of those places where it's normal to drink two glasses of wine at lunch, THANK GOD. I simply don't see a problem with having a few glasses of rose champagne at lunch, and neither do my servers or anyone else around me when I'm here. If I'm with a few people, I almost always recommend the brie and walnuts as a starter, or dessert. It really does work as both. The fig jam that is served with it is so yummy! My most recent lunch consisted of the open-faced salmon sandwich, but their salads are also pretty solid. The only reason why I'm not giving this place four stars is becase service is a little slow at lunch time. Yes, I'm drinking, but that doesn't mean I want to be up there for an hour and a half. Lately, I've been telling me servers that I'm in a bit of a rush and that seems to speed things up, but it just seems like common sense that lunch on a weekday should be less than an hour.
(4)Samantha s.
I loved the atmosphere but was not impressed with the food (nor the desert) I actually thought the food was not as good as something I would eat at Friday's Unless someone's taking you there that's paying lol I'd say go with your girlfriends, get dressed up and have a few drinks on the bar side. Save you cash for Dominos afterwards.
(3)Jerett G.
I came here for lunch one day as I was told that the views of Boston from the restaurant where unbeatable. They definitely where not wrong. We didn't have a reservation which I thought was going to be the downfall of this excursion, but after a short wait we where seated at a table. Now it wasn't on the window Like I had hoped, but you still where able to see spectacular views of the city out of the floor to ceiling windows. Being in Boston I had to get some sort of seafood soup. Since I had clam chowder the night before I figured I would give the lobster bisque a try. I only have three words to describe it, "Oh my God." it was amazing. It had large chunks of lobster and it must have taken me fifteen minutes to eat it as I was savoring every spoonful. For my actual lunch I had the steak sandwich which was good, not the best I have ever had, but good none the less. The service was a little slow, but our waiter was nice which made up for the speed. Plus enjoying the view for a little longer was nice to. This is a great to go on a first date or if you are visiting Boston as the atmosphere and the views are worth it alone. This would even be a great place to grab a few drinks as the bar and lounge have views as well.
(4)Mike L.
Good service and great view (obviously) but the food was mediocre and way over priced. Just because the restaurant is sky high doesn't mean the prices for this so-so food should be.
(3)Heather B.
The view gets 5 stars. The attitude gets 2. I've come to Top of the Hub a few times to show out-of-towners the best view in the city. We always go for drinks only. The first couple times, we were seated near a window and treated well. But more recently the staff has been snippy with people who just want to get a couple drinks - not stay and eat. They'll tell you to stand at the bar only, and if you drift off to the side to try to look around the shelf of liquor and actually see the view, they'll come by and request that you step back in front of the bar. Yes, I know we're not there for the full restaurant experience, but the attitude still rubs me the wrong way. If you want a table near a window to relax with a couple drinks, I'd highly suggest coming during brunch hours on a weekend day. Otherwise, be ready to stand at the bar and not see the view.
(4)Matt E.
Spectacular View Awesome Food Great drinks Kick Ass Jazz Band I love this place!!
(5)Jay W.
Had a reservation far in advanced and did not get a good table. We were told that a window table was a 45 minute wait due to people arriving early. It was bullshit. The wait staff was great, the hostest was not. The bathrooms were gross. Picked the chef's tasting menu. The froie gras was very good, as well as the salmon. However very small portions considering the price. It was more of an amuse bouche. We got a bottle of wine so our bill was 300 dollars for two people- definitely feel like we could have gotten a better meal at Capital Grill. Less than an hour later I got very sick. I felt awful. My boyfriend felt awful. I was up all night. 300 dollar meal down the toilet. Literally. Out dated, mediocre at best, and most likely not meeting quality standards.
(1)Monica R.
First time and my experience was not great. We go in, no one acknowledge that we are there. We tried to get drinks at the bar, but it was too crowded. We decided to get a table and get a couple of drinks. Nice table, in front of the jazz band, so i am ok, first impression was not great bit I will give a second chance. The waiter was friendly, took our drink orders and came back to the table with the drinks within a good time frame. Then like 10 min later, he comes and states that there is $24 minimum per person. First of all you shulf have mentioned that before you served us the drinks, and at the very least the host should have mentioned it before they sat us down. First and last. I will never go back.
(2)Alli B.
As a visitor to Boston, it was a "must" and without a doubt the view from here is FANTASTIC!! Menu is definitely over priced. I had a $17 salad and asked for no chicken (vegetarian) and they didn't give me any discount or options for exchange. Decent wine list but very few beer options. Reservations were not needed which was nice. And the live jazz music was a great touch! I would definitely recommend for visitors but I would suggest a drink and then move on to other local hot spots!
(3)Alison D.
I used to come to the Prudential with visitors and go to the sightseeing floor. Now I know better - bring them here and spend that money on a drink instead! I've also come for dinner during Restaurant Week. The food is excellent, it's a great atmosphere, and you can't go wrong with the views.
(5)Edwin M.
I'm glad I'm seeing an average 3 1/2 star rating for top of the hub, because that's what they deserve from me. Don't get me wrong, the food was good and the location and ambiance were fantastic. But service and courtesy goes a long way with me, and unfortunately I had a bad experience walking in the door. Top of the Hub has a no hat policy. I had on a Kangol hat walking in. Now the right thing to do would of been to stop me politely, introduce yourself, kindly explain the policy and ask for me to remove my hat. Bottom line, that didn't happen. The manager had to jump in to correct the first person who I have no idea who she was to properly address me. Wasn't the way to start the night with me, and left a bitter taste with me the rest of the night. On a plus note, I got in a better mood after the 3 craft brews I had in a row that had 10% alcohol content. Of course my wife loved it, as I'm sure most women would. (because of the view). If I came back here, it wouldn't be because I wanted to.
(3)DD T.
You have to come here because it's one of the must-dos if you live in Boston. Swing by anytime for lunch or drinks during the day, and you don't need a reservation but pretty much given a seat by the window. For dinner, you'd better make a reservation. Otherwise you'll only get to sit/stand at the bar and most of the time ignored by the bar tender. Food and service are good. People had been telling me this was a mediocre restaurant relying on its prime location, and my first visit there changed my mind. The servings are huge though. Desserts are awesome.
(4)Meems D.
Okay, I must admit after reading all these reviews, I was anticipating on meeting Hannah! I was expecting to wait for an hour and get bad seating since it was a Saturday night and all. As I walk out of the elevator, the hostess greets us immediately, inviting us in while herding the crowd to either sides of the room, asks us if we had a reservation which we did and also requested a window seat, moments later, the hostess brings us to a non-window table but at the same time, 3 parties were getting ready to leave their window tables, so I asked if we can sit there and surprisingly they didn't give me a problem. Guess I got lucky! WOOOO!! As soon as we sat down, the view was gor-geous! So gorgeous that people kept walking up to the window next to my table to look at the view, every time that happened, our waiter would come out of no where and ask them to kindly leave so they won't disturb us, it became quite comical after a while but BOY, did that feel good every time that happened! Our waiter was very nice and knowledgeable, he catered to our needs as much as he was able to however, the bread they serve were pretty gross, it was cold and as hard as a rock! Decided to skip out on that, my guest and I both ordered the Pre-fixed menu and 2 bottles of wine! My spicy lobster soup was too sweet for me to make it worse there was a piece of hair in it!!!! Like, OMG eww! Then it took about an hour for our entrees to come out but we didn't mind cause we had the view and bottle of wine to keep us entertained, when it did come out, it was mui excellente, although, I was looking for more strands of hair... For dessert, don't ever get the gut drenching chocolate ginger mousse cake, it looks very unpleasant and oh what's the word...BOOTLEG!! honestly a dessert that looks like it came out of a box from stop & shop. Go for the melt in your mouth creme brulee!! After 2 1/2 hours of wining and dining, it was overall an okay experience, yes the waitering service was good but I did find it odd that our waiter would curtsey us every time he came over, he wouldn't even look us in the eyes! Odd fellow... 3 stars for the cold and hard bread, the hair in my soup, 1 hr wait for the entree, no jazz music (the musicians were basically sitting on the stage the entire time), people coming over to the table to look out the window, some of them didn't even walk all the way to the window and only stood in front of our table to look at the window which felt like they were watching us eat, but we still tipped the waiter 20% cause we're such nice people!!! awww
(3)Nora N.
The best crab cakes i've ever had! The view of the city below is beautiful! My only comment is that there is a long delay between services...I almost got hungrier after the first course :)
(4)Billy B.
My boyfriend took me here for my birthday dinner and It was a great experience! The view was spectacular! Service was excellent, from the hostess, to the servers..they were very efficient, and considerate of our time since we had a show to catch after dinner. Food.. we got the 3 course menu with wine pairing and everything was just perfect. Dessert... one of the best Creme Brulee i have savored! Ambience, romantic! It was a great birthday present from the best boyfriend in the world!! So when you are in Boston, do not miss this place! :))
(5)Anne W.
I went here finally for food... and if you didn't know.. if you only come for drinks.. you are indeed banished to only one side of the floor. On the restaurant side, you can finally enter the other side. My intention was to go here for Restaurant Week. The place is known to be a little pricey so I thought I was being smart by going here then. The view was gorgeous but of course the restaurant did not make this. So regardless of the food and service... people will continue going here of course. They also are one of the only restaurants that did not confirm my reservation which was surprising... it's high end but I guess they don't care. The service is less than stellar.. they hire probably mediocre to end of the road. When we first got there... we must have waited for over 10 minutes without an update of when our table was ready. Only when I went up again did they tell us it was already ready. The entire time throughout dinner.. the waiter was not attentive when he should have been (when we were waiting for water, drinks, and if our food was good)... and pushy when he shouldn't (collecting our bill.. clearing our table to get us out.. hey, I paid a lot of money to be here!). Sadly enough.. the restaurant week menu was pretty poor. You get exactly what you pay for which is sad. I expect restaurants not to lose money but break even and try to showcase good things... just so I would go back again. I ended up ordering off their more expensive menu of $55 for a three course which had much better selection. The food was a lot more yummy... Lobster Soup - Really good and very lobstery... there were chunks of lobster in it so it made it delish. Scallops - Three scallops on a bed of potatoes I think. The scallops were good but not the best I have ever had. I did not think too much of the potatoes. Should have provided more... Creme Brulee - I was dissapointed in this one... only because I went to Capital Grille the night before and it was soooo much better. My friend who actually went with the RW menu said that the pork tenderloin was so rock hard and overcooked.. bad. And my other friend who went for the prix fixe menu like me did not think her steak was salted enough. Who does not salt their steak and cooks it? Her lamb gnocchi was good though. We also tried the Purple Haze which tasted very Chambord-y. It was just okay... I still think overall it was an okay experience.. pricier than expected.. but it was Top of the Hub and the atmosphere was nice. Very romantic.. good date place.. probably not good for that proposal because the service is kind of bad.
(3)Cris E.
Food is good, but nothing special. Great place to get together for drinks!! You're paying for the incredible view! Enough said.
(3)S K.
The view is phenomenal and the food is good but not amazing. I would probably only come here for drinks and to sit in the lounge (they have jazz music starting at 8!). You can eat somewhere else for much cheaper. Service was great though!
(4)Alyssa L.
I've been here a few times and had a fairly good experience, but the last time I went it made me want to never go back. We had a table of 10- yes, a big party, but we also had 2 waitresses, so it should have been easier. One waitress took a food order for half of the table and the other didn't, so the other half of the table was surprised to see food arrive. We spent the majority of the time asking if they remembered our water, Diet Coke, lamb burger, mac & cheese, etc. etc. We spoke with a manager who promised to take off the meals that arrived late (due to server error), and then she argued with us about the bill and said she couldn't let us eat "for free" (aka $200). There are now 10 people who probably won't go back or recommend the restaurant to anyone else. Don't get me wrong, the view is great - go up for a drink to see the view, but don't stay for dinner.
(2)Yvette S.
Food was better than ok but not amazing for 100$ bill for two.......11$ for small cocktails. Amazing view And beautiful restaurant decor ....comfortable seating. Food was better than ok but not amazing for 100$ bill for two.......11$ for small cocktails. Amazing view And beautiful restaurant decor ....comfortable seating.
(4)Mary A.
Food and service was exceptional. Martin was a phenomenal server and took care of everything before I could even think too!!! Stunning experience to accompany a stunning view of the city.
(5)Rachel K.
This place clearly doesn't care about good service or their reputation. My group was rudely approached/ treated by the "hosts." Not allowed in, even to wait. No we were not drunk, we were appropriately dressed...not sure what the treatment was for. Tried to take a peak over the hosts shoulder to get a sneak of the view, and the host yelled at me not to bother the "paying diners" who were nowhere in sight. I understand they were busy and it was pretty full on a Saturday night, but there was no reason to be rude and lose future clientele. Not impressed.
(1)Adriana T.
My BF and I went on Top of the Hub with another couple on a busy Saturday night. We arrived around 7:30PM and even though the party was incomplete we got sat right away not to mention that we didn't have a reservation. The restaurant was almost full when we got there and about 30 minutes later it was pact - and on top of that a lot of people were standing waiting for tables. They have a live band (jazz). It doesn't start playing until late (around 10pm). I liked it very much though. People were dancing and having a good time. The server came to the table right away to greet us and brought water. He came back about 5-10 minutes later to take our dink/food order. We got calamari and 2 drinks while waiting for our friends. I loved my martini - it was very, very strong and tasty!!! When our friends arrived and we ordered food the server couldn't remember who got the medium-rare burger and who got the medium one so the food ended up being switched..overall, I liked my dining experience there and I am looking forward to going back for diner and drinks again.
(4)Sarah R.
This review is only for drinks - I've never eaten here. Top of the Hub is one of my favourite places to go for a drink in Boston, and somewhere we always try to take visitors. The view is just spectacular, and coupled with the atmosphere and service, it is a really special place. Arriving and travelling up in the lift is always pretty cool, and I have always found the hosts/hostesses to be really helpful and professional. Our visits are usually early evening, when it is pretty busy, but we have never had to wait more than a moment or two to be seated, and we've always had a great table near the window. As I mentioned above, the service has always been great - friendly and helpful. The thing that I really like about this place, though, is that the drinks are really reasonable. Given that it is a nice, smart bar with these spectacular views, you might expect to pay well over the odds for drinks - but it is really on a par with similar bars on the ground. I love the fact that it is not prohibitively expensive, and can be a treat without breaking the bank. Highly recommended.
(5)Jade R.
*Restaurant Week Review I've been to plenty of restaurants for restaurant week and I have to say, Top of the Hub does not skimp out on the amount of food! Both appetizers: minestrone soup and a salad with goat cheese and grapes. The soup was mediocre, nothing amazing. The salad had all my favorite things so I can't complain about that one! Entrees: We chose the salmon and the pork loin. I loved the salmon way more than the pork, however, I felt both were a tad overcooked. BUT I did fall back in love with polenta (on the salmon dish). Dessert: The no bake cheesecake and the creme brule - How can you complain about dessert? Both were delicious! I left off one star simply because I wasn't "WOWed." Nonetheless, it was great!
(4)Amit A.
Came here for a few drinks and something to munch on at the bar. The view is great but the prices are kind of steep but that's to be expected when you come to place like this. Never had dinner here because from what I hear the food is not that great.
(3)Samantha G.
Let me preface this by saying that I went for lunch and got a great corner window table. (w/ Cassy H. See below) Had I not gotten that table, I'd give this a solid 3 stars. I was able to make a quick reservation online for 12:30 on a Saturday. Barely anyone was there, so we got that spectacular view. It was a clear day and absolutely gorgeous. Got the 3 course lunch for $22 deal. Normally I would expect that places with great views have mediocre (or at the very least, not-worth-what-you're-paying) food. I found that I was quite happy with my appetizer (salad) and entree (butternut squash pasta). My friend and I were a bit disappointed with our desserts. The creme brulee hadn't had enough time to set, so it was more like a custard than creamy and thick. The chef also put too much sugar on top, so instead of a light crunch, it was thick and burnt, getting stuck in your teeth. The ginger cheesecake was thick and gritty, not creamy. It crumbled when you put your fork through it, and the "ginger" part of it was barely noticeable. Good chef. Pastry chef needs work. By the time we left, the restaurant was packed to the brim. I recommend going at least once, going for lunch if you're on a budget, and getting there on the earlier side to ensure a better view.
(4)Emily M.
I was highly disappointed in my experience at top of the hub this past Tuesday. I brought my boyfriend to the restaurant for his birthday. We had both taken the day off from work and we were excited for your first trip to top of the hub. We made reservations and we were seated at a beautiful window seat. My boyfriend ordered the pan seared haddock, lamb stew and creme Brule, which were all very good! Our water glasses remained empty for most of the meal, which is unfortunate, but not a deal breaker. I ordered the macaroni and cheese and explained that I'm a vegetarian. The waiter said no problem--he would ask for the bacon to be removed. Upon receiving my meal, I realized that it tasted strange and I asked him again if there was bacon in the meal. He said he asked the cook twice and there was not. I couldn't finish eating the meal... Call it vegetarian's intuition. He came out after the dishes were taken away and told me that the cook did actually use bacon in the dish. Having gone without meat for over eight years as a personal choice, I was shocked. I felt horribly sick. He expressed his apologies, but then billed me for the meal! My boyfriend, birthday now ruined, had to deal with asking a manager for the dish to be removed, since I was now feeling much more sick. Overall, as vegetarianism becomes increasingly popular, I would have expected such an establishment to ensure my dish was meatless, to recommend another dish if that was impossible, or to at least respond to their mistake in a more gracious manner.
(1)jennifer r.
I visited the Top of the Hub on August 20th for the first time. The view was breathtaking, the live jazz band was absolutely magnificent. I recommend to try and get a window table, if possible. BUT the food was okay. I had salmon for dinner and I've definitely had better elsewhere.
(3)Hristo K.
Pretty nice place for its prices.Love the jazz band.The food is ok,the service also.The only 2 things that are worth it to spend few dollars there is the view(obviously) and the live music.
(4)VuAnh N.
Two of us came for a 7pm reservation on a Wednesday, which gave us a chance to see the daytime view as well as the night view when the sun set around 8:30. We had requested a window seat when we made the reservation, but we didn't end up getting one in the end.. guess it just depends on timing because they were pretty busy that day. The food was ok, some bread in the beginning, shared a crab cake for appetizer, which came out nicely presented with garnishes and everything in two separate plates, which confused me because I had only ordered one, and I guess it showed in my expression because the waiter went on to say that he asked the chef to cut the cake in half, as well as give us a little extra. That was a nice surprise. Then the entrees. The Atlantic salmon was pretty good, except for the eggplant under the salmon came out cold, not sure if it was supposed to be like that but it was a little off with the warmer salmon. Veal bone-in steak was a bit on the fatty side, not sure if that's how it's supposed to be, but definitely tender. Dessert- the lemon coconut mousse cake. light and lemony with bits of coconut, nothing special. We finished dining around 8:45 and by then the jazz band had started playing by the lounge, so we went to check it out. They had chairs and small tables there, woud be a nice place to come by and relax one night with a few drinks. Overall, great service and ambiance, not sure if the food is worth the price, but I guess you're paying for the views too.
(4)Jillian G.
Horrible food, even worse service. Was so psyched to spend our 5 year anniversary here. Instead, I regret spending a single penny in this poor excuse of a restaurant. Waited 20+ minutes between courses and more than 30 mins to speak to a manager. Do not waste a second of your life trying to eat here when there are so many better options around in beantown.
(1)Katie R.
This place could probably do better considering it's location. Empty at lunch time the food is OK, nothing spectacular and a little over priced. If you go make sure to ask to sit on the side with the city view. We ended up with a view of Milton. I have been to a party up on the viewing deck that this restaurant catered and the food for that was pretty good.
(3)Jen G.
Nice atmosphere? uh huh. Gorgeous view of Boston? without question! Make a reservation? yeah you better. Knowledgeable and attentive waitstaff? yup. Prices compounded by floor height? oh yeah. Okay, whatever... lets talk about the LOBSTER SOUP! I've prepared some adjectives for the occasion: Mouthwatering. Spectacular. Smooth. Soul warming. Hint of spicy cooled down ever so softly with a sweet creaminess.... and the inexplicable quality that makes me have erotic dreams about it. Admittedly, not all adjectives. But uh yeah... soups good. So lets tally up my vote: +2 view and atmosphere +1 service -1 prices +1 amazing soup -1 claiming that 3 leafs of lettuce, 2 shreds of cheese, and 4 hard pebbles of bread is a ceasar salad. (I'll call this an audacity deduction) =3 stars. Go for the view, stay for the soup.
(3)Ellen N.
I had been dying to go to Top pf the Hub ever since I moved to Boston and last night for my Birthday was finally my lucky day! I came here for the view and was not disappointed, how can you be? This lived up to my expectations and more. The food however is lacking, which is a shame given the hype. My boyfriend ordered a shrimp pasta meal and couldn't even finish it....and believe me this is the first time I have seen him leave a shrimp meal! It tasted like canned sauce and frozen shrimp. I had steak which was good, but nothing to write home about. We did express this to our waiter who did not seem to care either way. Over all the atmosphere and view don't quiet match up to the quality of food and service received. I hate places that know they can depend on their view (see Tavern on the Water) and cut corners in other ways. Bottom line, they can depend on their view, and for this reason I will be back....but I will probably stick to drinks.
(3)Heather G.
The skinny: The service is phenomenal, the waiter was very attentive, jovial, fun, knowledgeable about the menu, and had some decent (not stellar, though) menu suggestions. He also let us sit there and enjoy our long dinner for...oh, over 3 hours. The view is amazing, the ambiance of the restaurant very romantic, and they even have a string quartet playing in the side room where you're encouraged to hang out, take in more views, and enjoy the music. Though I had a big coat and a large bag, I was not offered coat-check...was very disappointed in that, as it's generally pretty standard in a nice place. As I said, the service was great, the water was always filled, and they accommodated my multiple bread-requests quickly. The wine list is only mediocre. There were a couple bottles that looked nice to me, but by-and-large, not a great variation of offerings. For food: Ordered the crusted tuna with coconut rice. The tuna was so insanely overcooked that there was only a small patch of pink in the center. It was dry and required a lot of water to choke down. It came atop some sort of sweet soy glaze, which added both much-needed moisture and much-needed flavor. However, they didn't put nearly enough glaze on the plate to compensate for the large, dry chunk of whitish-brown tuna. It is served with a mound of coconut rice that was moister than the fish itself, but still pretty dry as well. Atop the rice was a mound of pea shoots, 3 or 4 edamame beans, and a couple slivers of mushroom. They must have been mainly for presentation, as there were so few of these toppings compared to the giant mound of rice. A bit more mushroom, edamame, and glaze would have gone a long way in saving this really dry and tasteless dish. I wouldn't order this again, it's very sub-par. The 1/2 roasted chicken was also ordered, and it looked nice and smelled aromatic like an upscale-buttery-fry (a la Hamersley's) and had a crisp, golden skin. There was a small snafu in eating it, though, because the meat was (obviously) littered with bones. Picking through the bones to get to the meat in the shallow bowl-like dinnerware it comes served in was inelegant, cumbersome, and difficult. The chicken was laid on a bed of diced veggies and some sort of cous-cous-type grain, and this accompaniment had very subtle flavor (read: bland-ish) but great texture. However, the chicken itself packed enough flavor for the entire dish. Dessert was a plate of warm cookies served with cream and berries on the side. This was easily the highlight of the meal. This is a great sharing-dish, as the plate comes filled (a dozen or so) of warm, chewy cookies right out of the oven. The assortment includes chocolate cookies with white chips, chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cookies, and some other sort that had oatmeal, but I couldn't quite pinpoint the exact flavors inside. Recommendation? I would skip dinner, come hang out at the bar, have a martini (skip the wine list), listen to the band, and perhaps get some delicious, warm cookies.
(3)Diana A.
We ate in the lounge on a Saturday evening. The atmosphere is the best thing about the restaurant. The view is amazing (obviously) and there was a jazz trio performing as of 9 pm. The service was very good. Our server was friendly, attentive and prompt. The food was disappointing. My group of five ordered from the prix fixe menu. The haddock was ok. The hanger steak was bad. It was only luke warm and it was not a nice cut of meat. The fries and onions that accompanied the steak were cold. The Cobb salad and tempura shrimp were both fine but nothign to get excited about. Overall I would recommend going for drinks and dancing and the view but make sure to eat elsewhere. Atmosphere 10/10 Service 8/10 Food 6/10
(3)Cara F.
This review is for a drinks and apps outing only - I haven't had a full meal here. Headline: Nice swanky date spot. Or double-date spot, in our case. I have to say, there is something I find very cool about being on top of tall buildings. It was foggy when we were there, which compromised the view, but that in itself was kind of interesting -- it felt like we were in a cloud. I also liked the interior ambiance; it was calm and relaxed, and didn't feel crowded even though it was full. On to the drinking! I was seriously impressed by the generously portioned and admirably strong cocktails. They are pricy, but this is one of the few places in the city where the drinks generally seem to be made from real ingredients, not syrups, and where the highball glasses are not filled with 4/5 ice and 1/5 beverage. I had the Boston Tea, which contains real black tea, lemon, St. Germain, and Absolut Boston, and I'm eager to recreate it at home. I also had tastes of my friends' Blueberry Mojito and Blackberry Goose, which were quite lovely as well. We were tempted to cancel our dinner reservations and just stick around for a meal, but settled on appetizers instead. I really enjoyed the kobe beef hot dog sliders. The dog itself is juicy beefy wonderfulness, but the bun! The bun is a buttery revelation! So for crunchy buttery mini-hot dog buns, for big glasses of booze, and for a place to sit in the clouds: four stars, Pru, four stars.
(4)Noemi G.
I was really looking forward to a great dining experience overlooking the city I love, boy was I let down! We were seated right in the middle of the restaurant despite the fact I saw about 4 tables right next to the windows. I wanted to ask to be moved to a better table but my party pooper of a husband didn't want me to. We ordered from the restaurant week menu : Shrimp Ceviche, Chicken Sausage Lemon Pasta, Caramel Crème Brullé. My husband had the Tortilla Soup, Flat Iron Steak, and the S'mores. Appetizers: The Ceviche was basically a blob of guacamole with two tiny pieces of shrimp on top and a few shredded plantain chips! It was mediocre to say the least. The tortilla soup tasted like watered down tomato soup. They brought us two cold slices of bread and butter while we had our appetizers! (Horrible) Entrees: The pasta was ok, nothing special. I would say a 3 out of 10. The steak had no flavor and the mashed potatoes tasted like the Sara Lee boxed mashed potatoes. Desert: Another disappointment, the top layer of the creme brullé was not even crispy, barely brown and the "berries" was actually ONE blackberry ! All in all, I regret going to this restaurant. I thought since it's THE restaurant with the best view of the city, the view AND the food would blow my socks off but nope...socks were still snugly on. If you want your socks blown off and your palette to savor a magnificent 3 course meal...head over to Ruth's Chris, Lucca or Capital Grille!
(1)Denise F.
I went for lunch on a Friday afternoon. I took my out of town cousins here. The lobster soup was tasty. Once we ordered we got up to check out the view by the piano. The view was spectacular and we took some pictures. Our waiter told us we can see Fenway on the other side. We walked down a hallway to the view. Another waiter walked over and told us that we were not allowed back here. We explained that our waiter told us it was okay. He told us we were told wrong and to leave as there was a private party going on in one of the private rooms. The wait service was not great and the hostess when we arrived seemed mad that we made a reservation. Good to say I went but won't take people back to this place.
(2)Tamara O.
A "touristy" restaurant with good food but bad service and not very exciting decor (except for the view). We went to the lounge area for brunch. The other people in the restaurant were clearly tourist that came in for the view. The decor is very simple, brown cafe tables, brown chairs, ugly yellowish ceiling, with nice big lamps. But the view is amazing so you get distracted and compromise the lack of decor. Our waiter was just below standards for a restaurant with those prices. I ordered a "fletbread" (as written on the menu) and when he came with the food he said "here is your pizza". Although I ordered diet coke I wanted some table water; he looked very annoyed when I asked for it. The food was excellent. We ordered a lobster bisque and tomato soup, and shared a scampi flat-bread. The lobster bisque had big chunks of lobster in it, and was delicious. The tomato soup was very well flavored. The flatbread was a bit too cheezy for my liking. I watch my calorie intake, so was hoping that a scampi flatbread would be less fat. Price: we payed $67 for two soups, two drinks (non-alcoholic) and 1 flatbread. The price is definitely steep, but you pay at least 20$ for the view. Overall: I will go back if a friend from out of town comes to visit. I would only go for drinks though.
(2)Paul B.
What they said. The view is unbeatable - love watching the planes fly out of Logan, the harbor, Cambridge, etc. My wife and I went on a Sunday night and the bartender was just way off. I know it's a cliche but for these drink prices, the bartender should never have an off night. My wife ordered the berry bubbly martini. It was over-sweetened, almost like cough syrup. This was supposed to be a champagne cocktail but the bartender forgot the champagne. Next up was the pear drop martini. Better, maybe, but still way too sweet. I started with a single malt neat. Can't mess that one up, but the pour was a little stingy. My next drink was a Rob Roy which was just plain bad - drowning in ice chips and way too heavy on the vermouth. I'll chalk it up to an off night since I have had some great cocktails here, but they did mess up both rounds of drinks. It's unfortunate that with a view like this, they really don't have to be that good and people still keep coming. Also a pet peeve - lots of people go here wearing shorts and t-shirts. I know it's a nice place to go after sightseeing, but it does take away from the ambiance.
(2)Claudia H.
After reading great reviews about the Top of the Hub, I decided to give it another try. This time, I went on a date and it was definitely a success... if you manage to be there at the sunset it really is beautiful! People say the food is over-priced, and maybe it's true, but I cannot complain on the quality: the tartar of Yellowfin Tuna was excellent and the 2lb lobster with crabmeat stuffing was nothing short of spectacular (ok, it was also $60!). You probably know this already but when you book a table, you cannot ask for a window-table in advance. If you don't want to be on a table in the middle of the room (and you definitely don't given that you go there for the view), you have to wait once there until a "side" table is available. I decided to wait, and the waiting time was really pleasant: the bar has good cocktails and there was a jazz band playing! Overall expensive but good!
(5)Luke A.
I had never been here before. But i decided to give it a try, despite some of my friends saying that this place was not known for its food, but for its view, probably the best in the city. It's also not that cheap either, but when you're going to the top, you might as well go over the top too eh? anyways, i made a reservation for 8:30, and it seemed like a good time, i went on a tuesday, as it seemed moderately busy and hopping. The ambiance was nice, very casual and laid back with a flair of sophistication and elegance. Dim lighting and the jazz music was a nice touch, definitely a place for the business types and the occasional tourist. I got a window seat, which is a must if you come here, since this place is known for its great view, and started things off with a delicious blueberry mojito; this drink is a tad sweet, as i could still taste some chunks of the granulated sugar swirling in my drink. Drink about 3-4 of these and you'll have a good buzz and a cavity to go with it. I made life simple and got the Top of the Hub tasting menu. Everything was delicious, the portions were perfect, and i couldnt even finish the dessert. i was stuffed by the end, but it was a good pain. The Jonah Crab salad is amazing. The basil reduction olive oil that is used to garnish, flavor and enhance the dishes is ridiculously amazing. I literally wanted to lick my plates clean of it, it was so good. The beef tenderloin was delicious, bloody and full of juices, and the dessert of warm volcano chocolate cake and the cookie cone of vanilla ice cream was superb. The food was something that had my smiling, I felt like every penny spent was well deserved. The service was very good too, my waiter was quite helpful and friendly, never too intrusive and tried to make some small talk. Pretty much everything was beyond my expectations, and the bill wasnt too bad either. So my experience here was in short: Amazing. Come here for the special occasion, and make sure you go with a tasting menu. Takes away the hard work and disappointment of choosing something that you may not like even if it sounds good.
(5)Natalie P.
amazing view. good service.
(4)Puneet K.
Do not go there if you want any service. First the service was bad and when we complained the manager came and lectured us that how busy they were and so we should be quite. Then to top it off they got wait staff of inidan decent as if we are being discriminated against. I would encourage all Asian Indians to boycott this place. This is worst of any resturant in US I have ever visited. Boston is full of great places just go somewhere else.
(1)Liana K.
Dinner is okay, well made but noting too noteworthy special. My favorite thing is to come around lunch-time or around sunset in the fall and just grab Lobster Bisque and chat while enjoying the view for a bit.
(4)Jeremy O.
Yet another excellent Boston restaurant! Those NYC restaurants don't deserve their Michelin stars. Nice view of Boston too! And make sure you have a reservation if you are going on a Friday and Saturday night. Their tasting menu is worth every dollar.
(5)Meghan P.
Top of the Hub is a great date spot because the views are unbelievable and the prices aren't as ridiculous as they could be for the sights. I always made a reservation before I came here for dinner because it can get a bit busy. Top of the Hub also tends to be fairly quiet because the tables aren't too close together so you can really hear the conversation with whoever you are with. The food is really good too, not the best you've ever had, but totally worth it for the view. There is a store that you walk by on your way out (once you take the elevator down to the bottom again) that sells chocolate covered strawberries which are delicious too! Not sure what it's called but you'll walk right past it...
(4)Ian W.
I wanted to pick a very special place to mark my 500th review on Yelp. I will Yelp about one of my favorite restaurants in Boston, the Top of the Hub. A most wonderful place for a great dinner and a very popular tourist trap. The Top of the Hub is on the 52nd floor of the Prudential Center with breathtaking views of Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, Charlestown, Charles River & Bridges, the North Shore, Boston Harbor, and various Bohemian places in between. On a clear day, parts of Newton to the west and North Quincy way past the "gas tank" to the south can be seen. This is the perfect place for those special occasions such as romantic dinners, celebrations, or important business meetings. The menu here is very pricey, but this is one of those rare places that the food, the service and the atmosphere is worth paying for. I highly recommend making reservations unless you're just having for a few cocktails from the bar. I dined here a while back with a business associate and made a dinner reservation for 7:30 PM to avoid the peak dinner crowds. "Level 52 please!!!" We were seated by a window with a spectacular view overlooking Downtown Boston, WICKED COOL!!! It felt like we were literally on "top of the hub" although the John Hancock Tower is technically the tallest building in Boston. Light jazz music was playing in the background. We ordered from the Chef's Tasting Menu (prix fixe) minus the wine pairings since we decided on cocktails instead. The portions for each course were small and very nicely plated. We had samplings of Foie Gras, Lobster & Avocado Citrus Salad, Pan Seared Sea Scallops, Rare Tuna, Beef Tenderloin, & dessert sampler (bite size). All of the food was very interesting and delicious. I think even my sister, a chef in NYC, would be very impressed. The service here was stellar, attentive, and very professional. The pace of the meal was slow, but that's great so we could take in the views of the bright city lights and watch the planes takeoff and land at Logan. Our diligent waiter explained each course to us, described the food, kept our water glasses full, and kept the booze comin'. The best part was that my company picked up the tab for the $300 meal, much of it was booze. Drunky McDrunkerson has left the building!! I can't wait to have dinner at the Top of the Hub again. I was very impressed!! I hope next time I can take a very "special date" here, instead of coworkers.
(5)Julian W.
I ate lunch here with a friend at 1pm on a Tuesday. I had made a reservation the day before online but when I got there I realized there had been no need for the place was pretty empty. One side of the restaurant was hosting some party or event but the side we were in the faced the Boston Common was empty with the exception of a party sitting a few tables away. The service was excellent and I was very pleased that they kept the water glasses filled. I drink a lot of water so many wait-staffs have had difficulty keeping up. The food was brought out quickly but they made it clear that we were welcome to take our time and enjoy. I ordered the Macaroni and Cheese and while pretty expensive ($18) it was probably the best and richest Mac and Cheese I have ever eaten. I was only able to eat 1/3 of it and it made for an excellent meal later. My friend got a Chicken sandwich and he said it was great. The view was amazing and alone worth the price of our meal. I would come back for lunch again! They also seem to be extremely vegetarian friendly!
(4)Lana R.
Every big city has this kind of place and I try to go there. Boston is just one of them. It is obviously expensive. Has nice cocktails and food. Very typical and nothing phenomenal for this kind of place. I guess if you travel to Boston it is a must.
(4)Doris T.
I have only been here once when we were being pampered by my graduate school for recruitment. I have just one word for it -Fancy! The food is probably like any other gourmet restaurant but the service and presentation were excellent. The best part about dining here is the gorgeous view of all of Boston. We were blessed with a spectacularly clear day and it was totally worth it! I am more than certain that this place is slightly on the expensive side (not having had to pay the first time around) but I would love to come here to celebrate something special. The Harvard folks wanted to buy us into joining them for the better part of our lives for meager stipend and the Top of the Hub did the trick! Sold! ;)
(4)Eric F.
Came here last night for drinks in the Jazz lounge and I really enjoyed the cozy feel and, of course, the fantastic view. Though the wine offerings were a bit lackluster and pricey, I did like the vegetarian black bean burger and fries. It inspired enough confidence in me to give them a shot for dinner at some point. Regardless, I'd definitely come back again for the music and lounge.
(4)Ashley M.
Hands down one of the best brunch locales in Boston. I enjoyed, yet again, the Sunday pre-fixe brunch with my best friend and her three small children for her birthday this weekend. The variety of selections, all a unique twist on more classic brunch fare (beef short ribs benedict - divine) never ceases to amaze me. The "chef's gift" as they call their amus bush was a delightful fruit/yogurt/granola parfait. I followed my morning treat with the angel hair and asparagus frittata, salmon atop a bed of citrus polenta with a corn cream, and the most delightfully rich yet refreshing (and enormous) key lime tart. Even the kids devoured their meals (children eat from the adult pre-fixe menu at a reduced cost of $24 rather than the $39 for adults). Wait staff - equally as spectacular as the food. Ask nicely and they will gladly show children the kitchen. Oh, and there is this view...
(5)Aaron K.
I gave this place four stars because it accomplished what I wanted out of it. A nice anniversary dinner that was classy. We didn't get a window seat which I was extremely disappointed by, but the view was still good from our table. We did go look out the window by the jazz band setup after our meal and we were able to take in some of the view from there. Some of the food is mediocre, some is good. The caesar salad was really good, don't know if you can justify paying 9$ for a small salad though. I had the lamb which was pretty good, my girlfriends dish wasn't good though. Cookies are overrated, not good, cheesecake dessert is 2 times as good and half the price (go downstairs for dessert). Back to the classy, the service was outstanding. Even though we are on the younger side, and look even younger than our age we were treated with great respect and i felt like a millionaire dining here. My waiter was dressed almost as nice as me (hard to accomplish). He seemed like a classy butler out of some movie or tv show. The service was slow, on purpose, as it was meant to be a nice long romantic dinner. Make sure you have a conversation when you dine here, cause you will be sitting for a very long time, especially between each course you order! The view can be half of your conversation though, it is that good. So if you want to wow your significant other with a great classy atmosphere, which is romantic, or you're looking for that right special occasion place I say come here. For a regular night out I don't see why you would come here with the prices so high and food not so good.
(4)m f.
This place was great, especially for taking a friend in from out of town to really 'show off Boston". The food was good (tuna tartare and chocolate praline cake) and the wine list was classy without going overboard. Will definitely take more visitors there.
(5)Jeff S.
Let's put this in perspective...the Skywalk, which is one floor down (or up?) is $13. If you subtract from the cost of your food, then this goes from "overpriced" to "high end." My main complaint is...variety? For a supposedly high end restaurant, you don't get many choices (and one of them is a burger). I ended up with the prix fixe meal ($38, I believe), which was "hanger" steak, fries, Cobb salad, and creme brulee for dessert). It was all right, but hardly anything to salivate over. .
(2)Andrew K.
What a beautiful, elegant space. AMAZING views from the 52nd story, relaxing jazz band. Great! We arrived after midnight and they told us $24 minimum per person. I think minimums are totally lame. Ironically, the prices aren't bad. So, they basically force you to gorge yourself right before bed, which is bad for society. Either way, if/when my mom is back in Boston, she's coming here. But, well before midnight.
(4)Ryan M.
The atmosphere is great, had a few drinks at the bar...(for the life of me, can't understand why they cover the view with the design of the bar) but had some good drinks, then were seated for dinner. Our seats were on the Charles River side, but we were happy with that. Dinner was very good, other than the scallops- everything else was very good and we will return upon another big occasion. This is a great spot, with a great view. It's pricey but if you have this view and good food, and still complain about the prices then you probably shouldn't be in the restaurant in the first place. I'd recommend.
(4)Kevin T.
Lets face it, you get the most amazing and gorgeous view of Boston from this location. I usually take all of my friends who are visiting to this place. It is a bit of a fancy place, but there really isn't a dress code implemented. I just wouldn't show up in shorts and flip flops. If you plan on coming here for drinks, I highly recommend just getting a table with a great view of the city. There is a $23 minimum per person if you are planning on sitting at a table. This is not that bad, considering how each drink is around $12 anyway. My only complaint about sitting at the bar is that with all of my experiences, the bartenders are a bit rude. I would much rather sit at a table comfortably with friendly waiters who are attentive. Their food is actually pretty decent as well...I would highly recommend the kobe beef hot dogs....the bun is a bit buttery...but it makes it taste oh so good. As for drinks, I haven't had bad experiences with any of their mojitos yet...try the mango flavored one..its a definite winner! Oh yeah, how can I forget...they have an amazing jazz band playing live every night.
(4)Kevin T.
Stop number 2 on my weekend in Boston. Came up here for a nice lunch with a gorgeous view, on the one clear day of our visit. Having just visited Chicago 2 weekends ago, the view is obviously not as spectacular as from the Hancock tower, but it was refreshing and relaxing. I ordered the Prix Fixe lunch. Tomato bisque soup was a tad bland, but good (also, props for not tasting like Chef Boyardee tomato sauce). The fish that I ordered was cooked really well, though the portions were small. Also, the weird potato crepe wasn't very good. However, I WILL rave about the dessert here. I ordered the apple bread pudding, which was absolutely delicious, full of nuts, and with a dollop of vanilla ice cream. Then my friend ordered the "Array of Freshly Baked Cookies" or "Cookie platter" as he called it. 12 fresh from the oven, fall apart in your hands, freaking amazing cookies. There were 4 varieties; chocolate chip, peanut butter, oatmeal raisin, and pistachio. They were all so good. They literally fell apart as I tried to carry them 6 inches from the platter to my plate, yet the bottoms were crispy...we surmised that they must have torched the outsides to get them that perfect. Great view, OK food, amazing desserts. I'd say it's an awesome place for a date... Or just a fun place to hang out with some friends =)
(4)Timmy V.
The girlfriend and I used to always hit up this hot spot for the drinks, atmosphere, fresh baked cookies and cream, and the fantastic jazz band. It was until about a 2 years ago we stopped going because at the times we went there was no minimum charge per table. Now there is a minimum charge of $40 per person after 8:00pm. I find this to be absolutely absurd and does nothing more than turn away potential customers. Not everyone is a high roller and can afford the prices here. I will forever stop going here until they change this to make it fair to everyone. These are tough times, and we need to stick together.
(1)Jessica G.
*This is a review for the bar and lounge area only.* We are going to specify that it is 4 stars for the view and the drinks, 3 for the food and 2 for the service. However, the view and drinks outweigh the food and service. So go here, but go here knowing that the service will be hit or miss. Okay - most of the time the servers will be a miss. They will appear disinterested and they will treat you as though you are a burden. The food is just okay. Nothing to rave about. What we will tell you about is how fantastic their drink menu is. Also, they frequently have live jazz in the dinner hours, which makes the experience there even better. So go, take in a view of the city like no other, and enjoy a few cocktails and maybe an appetizer or two. Just make sure it's a clear day.
(4)Sean D.
This review is based only on the late night menu and not their dinner menu. We went here with some of our out of town friends to show them some of the wonderful views of Boston and get some food. The hostess informed us that there was a minimum of $25.00 per person otherwise we could not get a table next to the window. There were six of us so I guess $150.00 plus maybe 18% tip. The other option was to sit at the bar which is at the center of the restaurant with no views. When these knuckleheads decided to open a restaurant on top of a building chances were people would come here for two reasons. "The food" and "The view". On a week night when there were literally two tables occupied in the entire restaurant this whole minimum charge per person is a little ridiculous. We ordered a bunch of different dishes. The food is nothing spectacular. Just decent enough to be a late night menu. The waitress was totally dis-engaged. She told us that it was a long day and that she was dieing to get out of there. This was confirmed when she came to our table and asked us if we wanted any dessert even before we got our food. Unbelievable. Sweetheart, Its time to find a new day job. The whole check was about $130.00 bucks. We really couldn't eat or drink anymore. They did charge us the difference plus we left a 18% tip based on a $150 check minimum. Five stars for the View Five stars for the fantastic Jazz band. (The bass player sounded like Ray Brown).
(2)Southie G.
You come to the Top of the Hub to experience an amazing view and a quality level of service. This is a MUST SEE if you are visiting Boston on vacation. That being said, as a Boston resident, this is not a place I would come to on a regular basis. The staff pushes you to order the most expensive items on the menu, and when you fail to do so, your table is no longer a priority. The food is wonderful but not the best in Boston. Bottom line, the Tub of the Hub is all about the experience. Best view in the city, fancy dining room. If your taste buds are your primary motivation, check out another spot.
(3)Jennifer H.
I'm a sucker for views for miles, this one from the 52nd floor of the Pru. It was a brisk but clear day in Boston. I had the lemondrop with ginger , my friend the equivalent of a Kir Royale martini. We got a table right by the window and looked out on the airport and Back Bay.
(5)Jamie R.
Didn't have high expectations, and the experience was even worse then I had anticipated. A friend of mine and I decided to have an impromptu late lunch on Wednesday afternoon. The view was great. Larry our server came up, and his demeanor was off-putting to start. It was far too casual, and almost bumbling. It put me off immediately. Having not researched, but knowing it was Restaurant Week, my friend asked if he could see a Restaurant Week menu. The server proceeded to tell us, "Well lunch ended at 2:30, and dinner starts at 5:30, but I can get it for you." It was around 3:30 at this point, and his response what a bit patronizing. Obviously we could've done the research beforehand, but this smugness was uncalled for. Clearly we weren't looking to wait two additional hours to have the dinner menu, so we declined his generous offer to get us the useless Restaurant Week menu. My friend ordered a drink immediately, a Ruby Manhattan I believe, which he loved. I settled on a glass of Cabernet on Larry's suggestion, and it was fantastic. My friend ordered a Pulled Pork sandwich, which was served with chips. He said it was ok. He did finish his entire plate, so it must have been pretty good. I had the 3-course $40 menu, and started with a Cobb Salad which was you know, a Cobb Salad. Good. I ordered my steak medium rare, and it came out mostly well, with some med well pieces, and maybe a low-rent chain's definition of medium. It was a very thin cut of beef, so I made sure to cut it all into slices to get a better sense of how overcooked it was. It was bad. The well done pieces tasted of char, or as my friend said "Like a really bad Burger King burger." Larry never did a check back with us, and never asked me how I was enjoying my meal. It was pretty slow, and I saw him walk by a few times, but he didn't stop by once to ask how our meals were. He even came by and cleared my friends dish away, all the while I had barely touched my steak. He eventually comes over to remind me I have Creme Brulee coming. I'm a pretty big dude, so if he actually thought a small Cobb Salad, and a bite or two of steak filled me up, that's a poor judgment call. At this point I finally get to tell him how overdone the steak was (this was about 15 minutes after he had cleared my friend's plate). He told me in his opinion it was medium, and asked me if I wanted to have another one. We had been there for an hour at this point, so I canceled my dessert and told Larry I was all set for the afternoon. A few minutes later our server came back, clearly just elected Mayor of Excuses Mountain, and said it was the lighting in the dining room, and if I went into the kitchen I could see that it was medium. This was a major problem for a couple reasons. 1) Don't give me a lame excuse 30 minutes after my food was served. 2) The lighting there during an afternoon is mostly dominated my the natural light coming from the windows the are on the perimeter of the restaurant. It wasn't inundated with neon signs or anything quite like that. 3) Maybe it did look medium in the kitchen that really is a moot point. I ordered medium rare. Thanks for telling me that my steak was still overcooked if I looked at in the bright lights of the kitchen. I was so furious at this point I asked for a manager. 5 minutes late the manger stopped by, and he was friendly if not convincing during his speech. While I was explaining the situation, he actually interrupted me to tell my friend he looked familiar. Which was both rude and creepy. He offered a dessert plate as an apology, which I declined at first, but gave in on the second query as I was actually starving and a little tipsy off the wine on an empty stomach. The plate had creme brulee, two tarts with coconut ice cream scooped inside, and a chocolate/boston cream pie thing. It looks delicous. The creme brulee was good, not great. The sugar could've been under the torch a couple more seconds, but it was still good. The Boston Cream Pie was a little bland, and dry. The coconut ice cream was very, very good however. All in all it was poor food, the was made more unappealing by the horrendous service. While we had the dessert plate Larry avoided eye contact with us, and wouldn't even bus our dessert even though we had put our napkins on the serving plate (he was very prompt at all other times of the meal). We finally had to call out for him for the bill, and we were off, never to return. As we were leaving WE wished the host a good afternoon, as he ignored us upon our exit, which truly was the most appropriate farewell.
(2)Natasha C.
What can I say, after an awesome Labor day weekend in Boston, our friends took us to the top of the hub after a ballgame in Fenway park. The view was amazing, the day was perfect, and the company was also perfect. We didn't have to wait very long for a table and even though it was a seemingly more upscale area to eat, the server and host treated us very well even if we did look like we came from the ballpark in our fan gear. We had some cold beers, had a perfect view, and ordered some nibbles such as the calamari and these mini hot dog sliders that were miniature versions of the Fenway frank. When our party of four turned into a party of six, the server was accommodating and expanded the table to fit us all. Even took our photos and they turned out great. This was the perfect way to end an epic weekend filled with great food, great people, and a great town.
(5)anthony L.
I went here for their monday night live jazz, and I had a great time! It was the first time I actually went here so I was expecting really expensive drinks, and a cover charge. As it turns out, we didn't face either! The drinks weren't too expensive, their deserts were delicious, and the view -- spectacular. The musicians were talented, and the volume wasn't too loud to hear the people around you. It was really nice. The only down side? It was a monday night, so we haven't gone back. but maybe someday.
(5)Courtney H.
Most confusing hostess and waiter ever. These are the interactions I had with them when we took our out of town friends there: Us: 6 for the bar for drinks Hostess: The bar is full; you'll have to wait Us: Ok that's fine. Hostess: Wait do you want a table? It's a $24 minimum. For 5 people? Us: Sure, no problem but we have 6. Hostess: Ummm nevermind. (Shakes her head repeatedly.) After being let in: Waiter: It's a $24 minimum. You are just here for drinks? Us: Yes just drinks, the minimum is fine. We would like a round of lemondrops. Waiter: The shot or martini Us: Umm the shot Waiter: We don't serve shots Us: Ok then the martini Brings us out shot versions anyway and we down them. Then we want more: Us: We'll take one more lemondrop and a few other drinks Waiter: The shot one again? Us: Ok whatever you have. And I would like some fries. Waiter: You can't order food here. Us: Ok. . .(while we glance at the food menu on the table that he brought us earlier.) Most confusing service ever. Drinks good but overpriced as expected and great view if it's not cloudy. Guess you have to be straight forward with these folks though.
(3)CJ N.
Come for the view and music. The food is decent, but could be more memorable. This is a great place for special occasions, especially for visitors. We hosted pre-New Years' dinner with family here. We all had a great time. Book early!
(4)Gaven C.
Great food, great atmosphere, great view, great service. Just be prepared to spend ~$125 for two people.
(4)Lindsay F.
the view was great, and the music and the drinks.
(5)Sara R.
This place was recommended to us by a man who sat in the third seat next to us on the plane over from the Chicago layover, to Boston. I am so glad we met him, otherwise I would never had been lucky enough to experience this gem of a find on this trip! It's at the top of the Prudential Building (52nd floor), and it overlooks the Boston skyline.. a total 180 view of it. Breathtaking at around 10 or 11 in the evening! We walked in, very underdressed (had gotten off the plane a few hours earlier - and eaten a clam chowder at Legal's already), but they did not stick up their noses at us at all.. for being a slightly ritzy yitzy place. The minimum to be seated within the restaurant is $25, so we opted for the bar. We really only wanted some more New England clam chowder. Well, the bartender ended up being so helpful, patient, and nice.. that we also ordered a burger and a salad. :) Could have easily sat in the restaurant, but hey, the view from the bar was still stellar. First off, the clam chowder. BEST BEST BEST EVER! Now, I'm not nearly versed in chowders, but in hindsight and having had a lot of it in the 4 days there, I can say it was my favorite. Legal's was second. Although a very close second. This was definitely homemade (as in, no doubt about it), and creamy creamy creamy, with loads of clams and potatoes.. but I think the clam:potato ratio was in favor of the clams.. yay! :) The salad was a basic spinach with goat cheese and pecans.. excellent and refreshing when paired with the soup. And the burger.. YUM! I was not expecting it to be so good (just craving some beef protein), but was blown away. If the burger, soup, and salad was good, I can imagine that the rest of the menu would not fail, either. The service was again, A+! I love Boston for that! Everyone is nice, and wants to help/give ideas if you're new to the city/visiting.. and they don't give you weird looks even if you're dressed in jeans, Uggs, and an old sweatshirt with the stinky whiffs of the airplane. :) New England clam chowder: GET IT. And enjoy the beautiful view.
(5)Kristi C.
We were in town for only one night on our way up to Canada, and honestly the only reason I chose the Hub was because it was the most booked restaurant in Boston on Open Table that week. Would have been a fantastic view if it had been clear (definately a summer destination), the food was expensive but ok... (and they were happy to accommodate a vegan)... it just wasn't particularly happening or special...
(2)Francisca W.
was to go there for drinks after friend's bday dinner; was told there was a wait--understandable, esp on a weekend. but then we were told that we could have the table which obviously had fewer seats than the number of people in our party--what do you expect, a couple of us would just STAND at a table and drink your drinks, while the rest are sitting down??? totally conceited and inconsiderate. verdict: didn't patronize and not care enough to go back, not even for the view. :)
(1)Jeremy K.
The menu offered a distinct variety of food which isn't as upscale as in most places but the views you have of Boston along with the friendly service and nice decor makes up for it. I had a pasta dish which came out pretty tasty although... it's pasta. Nothing too hard to cook there along with a salad which was good as well. I was in a party of eight individuals and we all seemed to enjoy our food. Their wine menu is pretty stocked as well. Overall despite it's high price the place is good and reliable for a nice meal served over one of the best views you can get.
(4)Whitney H.
Came here with a bunch of coworkers and got a seat almost right away...pretty good for a Tuesday night at 6:45pm. The place had an amazing view of the city and the water, and it got better at night with all the pretty lights. They had a ton of menus...They gave us one dessert/liquor menu, on cocktails menu, and 3 dinner menus. For five people. The covers were not that different and weren't labelled, so in the dark we had a bit of a hard time figuring out what everything was. Our waiter circled by a number of times to get our drink orders, but with the menu confusion we totally weren't ready, so he came back. Granted we were not decided and not everyone had seen the menu so he came back about 4 times for drink orders, and it was obvious he was not in a good mood. We got the brie and walnuts with the fig compote etc to start...did NOT look like in the yelp photos, we only got one long slice of toast with it, no bread at the table. It was good though. We had to wait for the waiter a long time and stare him down into coming over to take our food orders. I opted for the baby spinach salad, lobster roll, and valrhona warm chocolate cake, with a blueberry mojito. The blueberry mojito was delicious! Good strength, tasted blueberry flavor, and overall very yummy. There were even some blueberries in there! The salad was good. There were two dressings, a white creamy blue cheese sauce (?) and a reddish sweet glaze. Good, but I think I could've done without the glaze. My salad came before everyone else's food even though two others had ordered salad, one was the same salad as mine. The lobster roll was outstanding. Overflowing with lobster, with good bits of crunchy celery flavor coming through and light mayo. The bun is pan toasted in butter and the butter taste really shines through. It might be too rich for some but I loved it. The homemade chips were just okay, not out of this world, and the pickle was soggy. When the waiter cleared our food, he then took away my drink even though I still had about 1/4 left in it. For a $12 drink, that is NOT cool. He didn't even ask. I had put in my order for the Valrhona choco cake with my entree order since the menu says it takes 10-15 minutes, so I expected them to plan accordingly. Nope. It seemed like they waited for my entree plate to get back to the kitchen and then popped the cake in the oven. From the description, I had no idea it was a lava cake. The best part was the raspberry or blackberry ice cream and coulis mixed with the gooey chocolate. I was excited about the Valrhona part, but the quality of the chocolate didn't really show. The ice cream was on top of this REALLY hard meringe swirl, which ruined the structure of the dessert really. Great drink and lobster roll, good salad and dessert, BAD service that was just plain rude. We were very offput by his attitude. Otherwise, I might give it four stars.
(3)Caroline A.
A typical tourist trap, Top of the Hub reminds me of the Signature Room in Chicago. Great location, spectacular views of the city and pretty atmosphere, but mediocre food, basic drinks and always an interesting group of people (mostly out of towners). Service is eh, and if you don't have a reservation, you'll have to wait a bit. If you're just visiting the city, go ahead and visit. However, there are so many other great places in Boston!
(2)City P.
I love the Top of the Hub! I know that the three stars I'm giving it isn't much, but that's just for its food, which is overpriced and underwhelming. This is a place to go for drinks, and look at the view, with perhaps an appetizer ... then move on to finer food elsewhere in the city. Some details: They take reservations for dinner only, not for lunch! But, whenever we've been there, we've always gotten a table, without any reservations at all. Food that I have liked, or those in my party have liked: Vegetarian Black Bean Burger Buffalo Shrimp Flatbread Shrimp Spaghettini Arrabiata Kobe Beef Hot Dog Sliders I'm not a red-meat eater, but I can tell you that my partner thinks the burgers here are one of the weaker offerings on the menu. And I was a little disappointed in the Steamed Mussels in Garlic Herb Broth, because it seemed hardly any of the garlic herb broth touched the mussels, and it was hard to get the broth at the bottom onto the mussels ... esp. since we didn't have a spoon. (Duh ,that's easily remedied, just ask for a spoon!) It was my first time having mussels, and I thought they were a bit ... tougher than I was expecting, but I wouldn't take my word as the last word on that. I have had clams & oysters in my life, though, and don't remember making "ick" faces when I ate them, if that's any indication. I had no problem with the staff or the service. Our waiter, Ben, was a very nice and friendly server, and he was very sweet to us. The view from this restaurant is stunning. I love coming here just to get that aerial view of the harbor and the city ... we've only just recently moved to Boston from NYC, and, as a lifelong New Yorker (Long Island, upstate, and "the city"), it was not an easy decision for me. But when I look out those windows, a nice chilled glass of Chardonnay in my mitts, it makes me proud to be a new Bostonian. Wicked awesome! :)
(3)K E.
The only reason I am giving this even 2 stars is because of the view. The ambience of the restaurant is great, too. But that's where the list of good things ends. The food was only average. I had the Fixe Prix. The Lobster Bisque was good, i'll admit it. But the veal was tough and had no flavor. And the Creme Brulee was soft on top. I expected a lot more from a restaurant that is supposed to be high quality. If you are on a date, it can be very romantic. But if you are going for good food don't go here.
(2)lily l.
I was extremely unhappy the second time around. I asked the Waiter if the chef has changed his 7 course tasting since the last time I was there (which was in September) he bluntly said yes. I looked at the menu to confirm....no it's the same 7 dishes. I asked him again he said "well he serves the same protein but varies on cooking techniques and accompaniments". Thou shall trust thou server right? WRONG. Every single course was the exact same thing as last time. Both me and my husband agreed that this time around all the dishes seems to be missing that "love". Service was slow and timing on each dish was completely off. If I would've known the tasting would be the same I would've just ordered something else. At the end we informed the Waiter that the tasting was the same (we did not want a discount or anything, just wanted him to know), he STILL denied it. Until my trusty smart phone came out. I showed him the pictures of all the dishes I had in September. He had nothing else to say. Some people just don't know when to stop to just admit they are wrong.
(3)Karisa G.
My boyfriend took me here for my 21st birthday. I recommend ordering the prix fixe menu paired with wine if you're not that experienced with wine or you haven't been there before. It is pretty pricey but its worth it every once and a while. The lobster bisque was delicious! Luckily that night the sky was clear enough to have a good view...make sure if you're looking for a view that you ask for a window seat and that the weather is clear. Our waiter was really nice and not pushy and stuck up which was relieving. Live music was playing which gave the place a great ambiance. The only reason I didn't give Top of the Hub 5 stars was because of the prices and my previous experiences.. I think Capital Grill's food quality was a tinyyyyyyyy bit higher for the money where I felt like I was missing something here, even with the view and the wine. Maybe that's just me!
(4)David S.
I had always wanted to check out the view from the top of the Prudential Center... I've been here for over fifteen years, I lived in Back Bay for five and when I went to school there, I used to use the Prudential as my personal blue lighthouse beacon as I stumbled home on the choppy seas of intoxication. But behind the blue lights sits a fancy restaurant with a fantastic view that runs from the Charles all the way to the Mass Pike. I took a friend here as an imprompt holiday gift; I ordered the three-course price fixe menu for $75 and went with the optional wine pairing. Our waiter was smooth and cultured, and didn't make fun of the horrible polyester tie I had thrown on as an afterthought. He was gracious as I fumbled my way around the menu (and ended up letting the chef decide anyway!) and was pretty on the ball, as one would expect for service in such a venue. He also didn't rush us at any point to order, or leave, or really for anything. Nice job, Mike! The soup was fantastic, the scallops were delicious, the creme brulee done perfectly. My only complaint was that I thought the wines were a tad undervalue and more than a little underpoured. Perhaps I should have contested the pairings. (The sparkling wine that came out with dessert, however, was absolutely fantastic.) So, to be blunt, the food was good and the service excellent, but it really was the view that justified the price tab. If you're considering going, check the weather. A heavy fog or a whiteout could really change the experience.
(4)Jackie D.
We went here the other night and it was delish! It was a Thursday, we had reservations and it looked like we probably needed them. Our waiter was great, friendly and knowledgeable but not pushy. I had the prix fixe with the spicy lobster bisque, scallops and crème brulee. The bisque was awesome and a large portion. Scallops were good but not great or worth the price for that matter, the same could be said for the brulee. The waiter brought out a little cup of onion and leek soup before our meal, "compliments of the chef" not sure if they do this for everyone or not but it made me feel special anyway and it was tasty. I really wish we got a window seat or at the least weren't sitting 2 inches away from the table next to us, especially since there were better seats open. Overall, I'm glad we went and am happy with my experience. I think it's a must try once for Boston goers just for the view alone. If I were to go again, it would be at the bar since it seems to have a window behind it and the menu looks just as good.
(4)Lauren P.
The service was unprecendented, the food was really good, the view amazing, but the prices just too high, which is why I'm deducting a star. I made reservations for my mom's 60th day, and I ordered a special cake, which was $25 for a 5 person cake. Not too bad. When we arrived they seated us right away - a nice change from a lot of restaurants that make you wait for a few minutes even if you have a reservation. The table was right next to the window, and it is truly an amazing view of the city. The waiter introduced himself, was extremely friendly and gave excellent recommendations. He treated my mom like a queen, already knowing ahead of time it was her bday (also a nice touch). We ordered a round of drinks to start...I got a martini, and now I am never one to say a drink is too strong, but this drink was like pure alcohol. Just not well-made at all... I had to ask for something to water it down. (So unlike me!!) The price on the drinks was what I would expect in the city...like $12-15 for a cocktail. My parents thought this was overpriced, but they are suburbanites, so anything more than Bertuccis would charge for a drink is too much in their mind. We then ordered apps, our meals and a bottle of wine. Of course there was nothing less than $60 bottles on the wine menu... of course. The apps were what I expected...like $9/salad-$15/tartare. And they were very good. Portions were about on par with other Boston restaurants, but others too skimpy. The tuna tartare was awesome - I loved it. The cobb salad was also good. But the scallops only came with 2...kinda short-changed if you ask me. But it was the main courses that were just way too much. $48 for my steak. Now, it was really good steak, but honestly not THE best steak I've ever had. If I'm paying $48 for a steak, you better freakin' show me the cow. I would think that's an appropriate place for a specialty steak restaurant in town. (And if you're wondering why I got it if it was so much...well, I'll be honest... I wasn't paying for the meal... you would've done it too.) I dunno...I just think like other yelpers have agreed, you are paying for the view. Yes, the food was very good. Was it the best meal I've ever had? No. It was great, but had equally decent meals in Boston for way less. You are paying for the view. And the service. You are also paying for the impeccable, over-the-top service. At one point my dad accidentally spilled red wine all over my brother. Oops. And the manager came out and brought my brother a (complimentary) long-sleeved Boston t-shirt. Wait, what!? They don't do that at TGI Fridays!! I do love good service (as you know if you read my other reviews), but take $10 off each meal, skip the ridiculous service and I'd be happy. Overall, the experience was really great. But I am deducting a star because the meals were just too overpriced.
(4)Mark W.
A big improved difference has been made to this restaurant since my last meal here a few years ago... First off the view is killer! WOW! and then some. For starters I had the Spicy Lobster Soup which was very good my wife had the Foie Gras which she said was excellent. For our entree I had the Salmon which was over cooked but still good non the less my wife had the Swordfish which was also over cooked but still good. For dessert we shared the creme brulee which was very good. In the lounge they had a two piece Jazz Band which was excellent. My three star review is given because the service was poor to good (at best). The hostess was like "OKAY, COME ON FOLLOW ME" very militant I guess you could say. The wait service was fair from the level it should be at for the price they change. In this day and age any restaurant can find over qualified wait staff. Overall a good dinning experience with some reservations.
(3)Dorise G.
i am a firm believer in cucumber drinks, when made properly. the top of the hub hendrik's cucumber mojito had perfect ratios of cucumber, alcohol, mint, and citrus. i could have sat up there drinking those all night long! drinks are on the pricey side (my mojito was about $13), but given that the view was absolutely incredible and you'd pay pretty much the same thing to go one floor beneath and walk the skywalk, i'd just as soon have a delicious drink to go with my astounding view! i brought my never-been-to-boston cousins up for this view, and i think this was their favorite part of all that they saw. we went up right before sundown so got to see the beautiful lights transformation, and mostly beat the crowds since we got there around 4 on a weekday (i had the day off). my cousin's husband, at nearly every place we visited, remarked how i should "bring my dates" to this place or that place because they were so nice. when we got to top of the hub, tho, he said "forget everything i said. THIS is where you should bring your dates. but only the *really good ones.*"
(4)Barbara K.
I took a girlfriend here for her 40th birthday with 6 other friends and we all loved it. Our reservation was at 5:30 p.m and didn't get seated until 6 p.m because their policy was not to seat anyone until the whole party has arrived. The menu was amazing! Some of us tried the set 3 menu and some tried 5 course menu, but for me, I went for 7 course menu. Everything tasted good and service were awsome. Drinks were o.k. We were there for the whole package of food, drinks, service and atmosphere. The check came out to be $870 including tips which was reasonable to all of us that were there. Definitely going back.
(4)Kitty C.
Kind of have mixed feelings about Top of the Hub. Enjoyed my lunch there with friends, and the view of the city was great. The view made me feel very relaxed. The service was excellent. We were obviously just some people meeting for lunch during the workday, but the server was very gracious. She was not intrusive, but very thorough. This is a great place for a special meal. Downside is that the prices were a little steep. The food was good and the prix-fixe lunch menu was a good amount of food for $20. I'm just not completely sold on it, but I will give it a few more chances. There was NO lunch crowd whatsoever, but definitely ask for the city-side view. Don't let the ugly exterior of the Pru tower fool you, the view from within was excellent.
(3)Trish K.
Panoramic views of the city and fine dining make for a special night out. I went here with my beau on the only sunny Saturday night of May and took in the views, which really create the atmosphere. We ordered the three-course prix fix paired with wines and did not go home hungry. I had the braised short ribs--unbelievably tender!--for the first course. I had ordered the veal sirloin for dinner, however it was incredibly difficult to cut through even with the appropriate knife. I was expecting something tender that would fall off the bone but was sorely disappointed. The manager came over and I eventually was given the braised lamb shank; this meal was to die for! Wonderfully prepared and delectable. The meals are pricey, but that comes with the views. The service was obviously great, as they want their customers to be satisfied. Definitely worth a visit for the experience.
(4)Michael P.
OVER RATED 2 stars...for the view (view would get 5 of 5 if it was totally based off that). I felt judged as soon as the manager took a look at me. My girlfriend and I asked if there were any cancellations because we would like to dine in the restaurant, but there were none, so we opted for the lounge. The hostess informed us the wait would be about 10 minutes. But as we were standing there waiting, the manager looked at me, then whispered into the hostess' ear...next thing that comes from here mouth is "just to let you know, you need to spend $25 per person here"...I felt insulted. We were sat soon after the insult...I laughed a bit when we were informed of the minimum, so I'm sure that was a 'shouldn't have said that, lets sit them ASAP' signal. The waitress was lovely...she was trying to help us as much as possible. She recommended how things should be preferred. I always enjoy this. We ordered the Cobb salad with shrimp...AMAZING. We also ordered the salmon fillet and the 2lb native lobster....BOTH HORRIBLE (also, both came out 1 hour after ordered). Both dishes were prepared with a ridiculous amount of sugar. The ritz cracker stuffing on the lobster was too much. The shitaki mushrooms were too much. Both main dishes felt like we were eating desserts...not satisfied one bit. The salmon was extremely undercooked...it fell apart and turned into moosh right away. Half the lobster meat felt like I was chewing on rubber bands. The waitress came around at the end and asked how it was....I work in the restaurant industry, I will never be that guy that complains and asks for some kind of compensation...so we said everything was fine...I'm sure she didn't believe us, so a manager came around, I said everything was okay, we were ready for the check. The service (besides our waitress) was horrible. We still left her 20+%, she was great. The main dishes were terrible. The view was great. I DO NOT recommended this place AT ALL.
(2)Sara W.
Wowzers! What could I possibly say that hasn't been said in 338 reviews of this place?! I'll make this brief. Stopped in for pre-dinner drinks and a sunset. FANTASTIC views of the city. Pricey drinks (minus one star), but they are so worth it for the view. Try the Purple Rain martini - fantastic! Great service too. I'd had three different people recommend this place to me - some Bostonians, some not - and I'm so glad we went. I'll never forget my evening at the Top of the Hub.
(4)Ling S.
I heard about this place before my 3rd trip to Boston. When we finally got to the restaurant, it easily surpassed my expectations on ambiance alone! Jazz played from the grand piano, the views were breathtaking and the decor- classy and modern. Service was excellent- the staff were warm, friendly and definitely catered to us. Everything was timed perfectly- they were watching us without making it awkward and set our food down in unison. It was like watching graceful ballerinas... graceful ballerinas with our food! And, the food was superb! We had a 3 course meal- both started with lobster bisque. He had the filet mignon, I had the sea scallops which melted in my mouth upon contact. Dessert was probably the best creme brulee I've had! I can't wait to go back!
(5)Robin S.
The atmosphere, drinks and service at Top of the Hub are all quite good. Unfortunately, the food is painfully overpriced for the quality. It is certainly edible, but for what you pay the food should really be better.
(3)Ed M.
Made reservations to have dinner here for my wife's birthday, without expecting a table at a window, so I was being realistic. We were sat in the middle, about 6 inches from another table. We ordered the 3 course fixed price menu with wine and our waiter, although nice, really rushed us through the entire meal. We were barely finished with our food and wine, and he was trying to take away our things and bringing out the next wine. From sitting down to paying, we were out in under an hour...not exactly happy with that, or the tight seats practically on top of the couple next to us. We felt like they were watching the clock and trying to have a few more couples rushed through meals before they closed. However, the food was absolutely fantastic and yes it is expensive here, well worth it for a special occasion, and that's about it. We wouldn't randomly go here for dinner and the service really left something to be desired. I was considering 2 stars but the food was really that nice.
(3)Becky M.
Gorgeous view! You cannot go to Boston and not go here to have a drink! This place is super busy, and in order to find it you have to practically be an investigative super star. But once you find it, be patient, enjoy the view while you wait for your drinks, have some great conversation with friends. Our waiter was very personable and gave us an AMAZING dinner recommendation. Go and have a drink and enjoy the beautiful city-scape!
(5)Dannie W.
I went there because of the Boston restaurant week. Maybe the menu did not have a lot of good options, the only things I like there is the cream brûlée, the desert wine and the view of Boston. Especially the cream brûlée, I think it is the best that I've ever had so far. But I do see other tables ordered nice looking dishes. Just the service is bad. The waiter either ignored us or pushed us to finish our dish. So I had an unpleasant experience there. But I do plan to go one more time and see how it goes.
(4)John P.
My housemate and I met several Belarusian girls over the summer while they were here on a work visa program, and got pretty close to two of them. The night before they were heading back to their country, we took them out to Top of the Hub to wrap up a memorable summer. Ambience: Fantastic! The view of Boston through the highest floor of the Prudential is breathtaking, especially at night. If you have never seen Boston illuminated by the city lights, you need to go. Inside, it was tastefully decorated with nice furnishings. When we went, there was a live jazz band playing and couples would occasionally go to the dance floor to dance while they waited between their courses. Overall, the setting had a very nice romantic feeling to it. Food: All of us had the three course dinner. Everyone loved their food, which was complimented with the two bottles of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc we ordered. The timing between the courses was good - just enough time to allow us to catch up on the view and the stories being told before our next meal arrived. Service: Good service. We went there at 10:00pm or so and stayed past their closing time - it must have been around 1:00am when we left. The waiter was patient and realized it was a special night for all of us, and he made sure everything went smoothly. No complaints. Price: The bill was about $318 including tip. It is one of the more expensive restaurants in Boston, but well worth it for a celebration. Overall, it provided a nice memory and a good closer to a special summer.
(5)Christy D.
Top of the Hub provides great views an delicious eats. Considering you would pay $12 just to see the observation deck at the Prudential building, you might as well buy yourself a meal while scoping out the great views of Boston... I visited Top of the Hub at about 2:30 on MLK day. It was quiet, and my boyfriend and i were seated at the window. The menu is great and provides several tasty options - they even have a prefixed lunch menu (three courses for $20.10). Service isn't speedy, but it's also not the kind of place you run in and out of for a quick bite. The staff were extremely polite and accommodating. Most people who are there to eat (at least when I was there) are out-of-towners. Everyone is taking pictures and walking around (but not in a way that's intrusive or obnoxious). I had the spinach salad, chicken and brie sandwich, and my boyfriend had the mac and cheese. All the food was delicious - moderately priced good sized portions of yumminess. At the end of the day the food as good, the service was great and the views were spectacular. Now I just need to check it out at night...
(4)Sandy L.
for the more sophisticated visitor and/or DINK type outing. this is a review just for the drinks and standing room. we arrived around 10pm and at the main floor they take a copy of your license before going up to the top. once above, they tell you that there's a minimum $25/person to sit at a table or you can order drinks at the bar and hang out in the standing room where they have live music. it's SO BEAUTIFUL up there and def worth the visit if you have time. you can't dress like a bum though or else they'll ask you to leave. they have a few pages of different mixed/specialty drinks... i got the mango mojito which was very refreshing. hung out in the dance area and listened to jazz while taking in the great views. if you've been to chicago it's like the john hancock where you can get an almost 360 view of the boston area. and yes... i did a tango or two on the dance floor =O)
(4)Leah R.
I believe for the price, the food is not that fantastic. They do loads of presentations on massive plates with small portions. I am not one to usually complain for a bigger portion, either, but for the price...come on! Above all, its the "extraordinary restaurant" for lovers...but having a group of friends, it could possibly be a magical place that has a spectacular view.
(4)Eri K.
Now, because I am a foodie I am rating this place low, but in all honesty, I used to go there every week. Why? You cannot beat the view of Boston! My background is in tourism and I would regularly send visitors to the restaurant. Tip: The observation deck of the tower is about $15, whereas a cup of tea to sit and enjoy for 30 minutes costs $2.50. I suggest you skip the deck and hit the restaurant. Try to go in the afternoon when it is slow...then you can walk around and take in all of the views. Or go on a live jazz night for dessert. I do not suggest getting more than dessert or drinks here - they have a lovely facade, but the service is mediocre and the food is a let-down from what you would expect. Incredible tea and view though!
(3)Juan C.
I went with my girlfriend for restaurant week and we had high hopes. We were well received and had no problems with the reception staff. We were seated overlooking the Cambridge side, which was a bit frustrating since we live there and know the landscape very well. However, this wasn't their fault, as we didn't specify where we wanted to be seated when we reserved. The meal itself was very average. The Bibb lettuce was good and the wines we ordered and rolls were good. Our entrees (my girlfriend got the salmon and I got the pork) were average, but still edible. Nothing special to be honest, but we took the Restaurant Week menu and felt that this was why the meal wasn't out of this world. Then again, given the place, you can't be blamed if you get your hopes up a bit. The killer was the dessert. We both got the chocolate pound cake and were massively disappointed. The cake was dry and tasted old. You could get a better cake at Au Bon Pain and pay 20% of the price you'd pay for this dessert. We both refused to eat it and the waiter and his "assistant" kept thinking we were still eating despite us putting the spoon in the "we're done" position, pushing our plates away and looking up to make eye contact. The clincher was the fact that the waiter asked us if we wanted a box and my girlfriend said "definitely no". Shouldn't this be a sign of "something's wrong"? Nothing. We just got the check. We simply went down to Pinkberry and ate froyo for dessert. Restaurant Week or not, this is unacceptable for a restaurant of this caliber. You can definitely tell where they cut corners to meet the price of the menu. Their attempt at making the cake tasty with a load of cream and a couple of strawberries massively fails. Don't expect the best meal ever at this place. The high price is due to the allure of sitting on he 52nd floor for dinner and, if you're lucky, a nice view. I've had better meals at the Hancock Tower in Chicago and at Sun Dial in Atlanta, and these places offer arguably better views of their respective cities. If you're a flashy person and just want to show off, this might be your place. If, on the other hand, you want to enjoy a great meal, look elsewhere.
(2)Amy I.
I've eaten here three times now. The first time, which was years ago, the food was amazing. Or maybe it was because I had just graduated college and it was my first fine dining experience. You know, anything other than ramen was delicious back then. The second time I came for a business lunch, and I didn't really like it. But I remembered how good it was the first time so I just decided to forget this experience. I came back recently around the holidays. I ordered lamb and it was just....bad. Like it had been cooked and sitting around a while. The dessert was great though, the blackberry ice cream they serve with their molten cake really compliments the chocolate well. The view is great, but I'd rather just come for drinks and dessert to enjoy the view.
(3)Ashley F.
This is definitely the nicest place I have ever been to. My boyfriend took me last Christmas and it was so spectacular. It was a cold snowy night and the view from the 52nd floor of the Prudential building during a snowy night couldn't have been more perfect. It is pricey so it's a big treat. I got Spice Crusted Salmon which was VERY good. My boyfriend got lamb. I highly recommend Top of the Hub if you really want to treat someone to a special evening!
(5)Steph P.
Location: impressive Interior design: very nice View: amazing Food: nothing special the desserts are overpriced and come in small portions. This would be terrific for a date or for some girl friends to spend some time. If you are on a budget, don't come here. If you feel like spending money and feeling important, come here.
(3)N R.
THIS PLACE REALLY P- - - - - ME OFF !*@*#&$^%. My husband's life expentancy was 35 years and it is his 70th birtthtay! We wanted a special location to celebrate with syblings coming in from three different countries on July 13th. I tried to make a reservation in April and they told me they don't take reservations earlier than one month in advance. I called again May 7th and they told me the same thing. I called back May 31st and they told me they could only give me a 6:00 or 8:00 PM!!!!! I asked why and they told me they were booked and had nothing left. So much for booking after June 12th. I WOULDN'T TAKE MY DOG THERE FOR KIBBLE.
(1)Veronica V.
I have been here twice and both times were perfect.Besides the food being amazing(porkchop,ceaser salad,and crembrulee the first time-and then the salmon during restraunt week)both dishes were flawless.The service as soon as we walked in both times was great and very friendly.The food also came out at a very good pace.As far as the view, even if you're not seated by the window, it is still very nice.Highly recomend the experience!
(5)Chantel S.
This was definately a GREAT place to take someone you really care about on a date. The view from the 52nd floor is to die for. It makes all the crazyiness of the city look so beautiful. There's nothing I wouldn't do for a view like that again. This place just has this amazing ambiance to it. Romantic, most definately. The lights are dimmed to perfection, the candles shimmer in their glass cases on every table, a live band plays in the background. It's just a beautiful place to be. It's just that simple. The reason I gave it 4 stars and not 5 is...... because of the food. Yeah I said it. You would think with all the glamor of the restaurant the food would be fantastic. But honestly it was the exact opposite. It was just OK. Maybe it's because we went on a friday. When we arrived (this wasn't our original dinner plans but we decided to go here because we didn't like how this other place looked) a man told us it was first-come-first-serve on this day. So maybe Fridays are just different, the menu as well. I was told from 2 previous couples to expect to spend at least $100 in which I was prepared. But after ordering my grilled chicken and his steak the meal came up to be $47 ($60 after tips). Our waitress was lovely and gave my date a free drink even though we didn't ask for one. We thought about hanging around for a while after eating to watch the band play but we decided to get up and head to our hotel reservations instead ;-) Honestly, I would definately be returning to this restaurant but maybe not on a Friday.......
(4)L J.
To be honest, for the price you pay here, you could be eating much better food but I suppose this place is a must-see for any first time visitor to Boston. The view is really second to none but as a person who goes to restaurants to eat and not enjoy the view, it could've been better.
(3)Steph W.
I went to the Top of the Hub today for restaurant week and had a great time. I would give it 3.5 stars. My salad was good but it was a salad so it would be hard to mess up. The braised short rib and grits was easily 4 stars but I had to deduct a star for the banana bread dessert. I chose the banana bread imagining it to be moist and soft banana bread and it said it came with ice cream (I think) but actually had a peanut butter frosting. This wasn't my favorite thing. But the real reason I dust love the banana bread is because it came muffin style but was a bit dry. I am a big banana bread fan and have had much better banana bread and I can bake better. However, you really can't beat the view that this place has! Absolutely stunning. And the staff were nice and took a few pictures for me and my friend. I definitely had a nice time but would probably go else where before coming here when it is not restaurant week.
(3)J. L.
Beautiful view; unrivaled for downtown. Great drinks: very stiff, unique, creative, and really well-balanced, with fresh ingredients (biggest draw) Good appetizers (best gourmet mini-hotdogs ever, and slightly greasy but very addictive calamari) Excellent, excellent service Nice ambiance (live band, dancing couples)
(5)Shannon W.
We knew better to go here just for the food, based on reviews, but the view wasn't even that great either. We made the best of it, but the horizon looked very smoggy and ugly. The view was actually better once the sun went down and the city lights showed up. We both got a 3-course meal with wine pairings. For starters, we both got the "spicy" lobster soup. It wasn't spicy. It was like a 50/50 blend of butter and heavy cream with 2 bites of lobster in the bottom. Gross. I didn't eat more than 2 bites. Waitress asked if I wanted to box it up. I gave a somewhat startled "No." She didn't ask if it was ok. For my meal, I got the shortribs. It was good, if somewhat dried out. My man's filet was pretty good, but nothing to write home about. For dessert, I got the creme brulee. It was good, but unremarkable. He got the chocolate cake. I thought the chocolate cake was kinda gross. It had a weird flavor that I can't place (raisin and white chocolate?), but it wasn't good. For having 2 gross things out of 5 things ordered, and a waitress who clearly didn't care, I give this place a thumbs down.
(1)Ben G.
1. My wife's steak was overcooked 2. My swordfish was room temperature and in some parts cold! 3. Our waitress did not tell us the off menu items (we heard another waiter tell another table). 4. Overall very slow service from the waitress. Just overpriced for such underwhelming service and food. Walking out now to get some drinks and dessert elsewhere!
(1)Dennis L.
Great view of the city skyline at night. But that's about all its great for. Drinks are overpriced and the bar is small. The live band gives the place an old jazz club kind of feel and the small dance floor was great for a single couple to show off their dance moves. Going to places like this make me appreciate the handcrafted cocktails that have recently become trendy. Flavored mojitos here are marginally different only by what flavored absolut they use. The Jameson mixed with apple cider was an interesting mix which I enjoyed while taking in the view. You can only stare at the lights outside for so long before, however, before it's time to hit up the next spot.
(3)Cindy G.
I've been contemplating for a while whether I should post such a negative review on yelp. My first experience here was actually quite pleasant. I was here for an anniversary dinner, was seated right next to the window, and had a very friendly waiter. The ambience is romantic, and the view is beautiful. But my second experience here practically killed any positive feelings I have about this place. I came here with a large group of friends from school around 3pm. We were planning on getting drinks and desserts / appetizers as a small pre-dinner treat. The hostess absolutely REFUSED to seat us in the main dining area although there were plenty of empty seats (it was 3pm for gods sake) because those seats were already "reserved for dinner" (which wasn't going to happen for another 2-3 hours). She told us to go order and sit at the bar. Fine. But the problem? There weren't enough open seats at the bar to accommodate all of us, so a couple of us ordered and sat on the couches in the lounge area. Right then, a waitress came over and told us that food and drinks are not allowed in the lounge, which was exclusively a waiting area. So we got kicked out with drinks and food in our hands. No one bothered to tell us where to go or even offered to hold our drinks and food for us as we awkwardly maneuvered around the restaurants with full hands. Frustrated, we decided to go to a standing area between the bar and main dining area to quickly finish our drinks and food, then pay and go. We placed our food down on a ledge and was starting to let our frustration sink when another waitress came over and told us that we can't stand there because it's a fire hazard. EXCUSE ME, but if we can't sit down in the dining area, can't eat in the waiting area, or can't stand in the middle of the restaurant, where exactly are we supposed to go?! The bathroom? Probably not, because there's probably another rule against that too. In response to all our frustration, the waitresses and hostess just said, "please email our manager." (Hi manager, I hope you're reading this!) Needless to say, I will not be coming back. Never have I been treated so poorly at a restaurant before. I didn't pay a tip but honestly wished I didn't have to pay at all. As for the killer view, I'm sure I'll find a substitute in Boston. And the food? Just the same old new American food that I can find anywhere else.
(1)Carolyn S.
The view here is obviously unparalleled. We went for our 1st wedding anniversary and the staff was wonderful - service was great. Food was only fair, but drinks were great. They have this simple house cabernet which was delicious and really complemented my veal. We had a great time.
(4)dane j.
My girl friend and i went here just yesterday for our anniversary with high expectations. We both have worked in the service industry for years, and know the ends and outs of a restaurant at a professional level. For being new to boston and still doing all the touristy things going to the top of the prudential is a must, there is great view and you really get a feel for the city. But if your going there to have a fine dining experience, think again. Our server was satisfactory. Other then taking the bottle of Chateauneuf-du-pape and placing it on the table in front of my face before poring it, and most of there specialty cocktails are made with absolute vodka that is not fine dinning by all means. As for the food i was unimpressed, it was comparable to a outback or long horn steak house, bland un-inspirational an totally not worth the price. i will not be returning.
(2)Tracy K.
It was my first time visiting Boston and I decided to give this place a try since my hotel is conveniently connected to the restaurant through the mall. I made reservations and was told that formal attire was required. I followed the rules and wore a dress and flats. I was riding the elevator to the 52nd floor and there was a gentleman wearing a baseball cap, tennis shoes, and a jacket. I heard the manager tell him that he was not allowed to dine in because of his attire and that he would have to come back another time. Our waiter took a while to come to our table. In the mean time, we thought we would enjoy the view but we came on a very foggy day. I couldn't see outside the window. It was as if I was trapped inside a cloud. We ordered French Onion Soup which was poorly presented. The soup was dripping out of the bowl onto the plate and it was too cheesy. I ordered the seafood cioppino and it was alright. I wasn't even full afterwards and it was a whopping $28. Very unsatisfying. This is where it gets worse. I had to flag down the waiter to get the dessert menu. I asked for the Boston Cream Pie and Warm Chocolate Cake. Simple, right? A few moments later, someone hands us the Warm Chocolate Cake and Creme Brulee. I told him that we didn't order the Creme Brulee so he took it back. We ate the Warm Chocolate Cake which was disgusting. It was around $11 and it was awful. Then, the waiter comes and gives us the Creme Brulee for a SECOND TIME and I was furious. I told him that we didn't order that and I needed the Boston Cream Pie. What part of my dessert order was so complicated? I only asked for 2 items without any modifications. Finally, the Boston Cream Pie comes and it was good. The raspberry sauce on the bottom of the plate killed it for me but it was okay. We had to keep flagging down the waiter since he was no where to be seen. If you're gonna consider your restaurant "high-class" where tennis shoes and caps aren't allowed, then at least pull up your end and make sure that your waiters are more awake and attentive. I won't be coming back.
(1)Hana C.
Came in at around 9pm without reservation with Boyfriend on a Friday night after having dinner nearby. Here are the pros and cons. Pro: View, view, view (only if seated by window), Live Jazz music, Ambiance Cons: Somewhat Loud, waitstaff doesn't know anything, terrible cocktails. We had about 4 cocktails here, two of which we could not drink- they were terrible. The only one drink I liked was the mango mohito. But we still had a great time- we were seated right by the window and the view was spectacular. Would not eat here. I have eaten here in the past and was dissapointed with the quality of foodies. I honestly don't think people would come here if it wasn't for the view.
(3)Stacy R.
After living in Cambridge for almost a year, I finally made it to the Top of the Hub! We went on a Friday evening around 9 and were seated in the lounge pretty quickly. We were just having drinks/ apps and the atmosphere was awesome. Lots of young people having a good time, and a great view of Boston @ night. The service was spot on. Our waitress was attentive without hovering too much and everything arrived quickly. The tempura shrimp appetizer came with four jumbo shrimp and was still piping hot when it got to our table. It came with perfectly cooked noodles that were sauced in something soy sauce based, very yummy. The highlight of the night for me was the Boston Cream Pie. The presentation was gorgeous, the cream was rich, and the raspberry sauce had just the right tartness that the dish needed. So good. Yes things are a bit pricey, but c'est la vie.
(5)Emma H.
Stay away! Not only is this a tourist trap but the food is horrible and the service is horrendous. Listen, I was a waiter for almost 10 years. There were some days when I was completely off, but the type of inexperience and complete disregard I received from our waiter and other staff members was just out of this world. When we were served our initial appetizers and asked the server for some silverware...which they forgot to bring out I assume. We were met with an eye roll, snort, a curse word in Spanish (which I speak fluently) and no silverware. Who knew asking for silverware which is usually part of a table setting would get linger the impression of being "stupid white f-ing white b****". But okay, maybe she was having an off day. I'll let that slide. We have all been there. But our waiter, jesus christ our waiter was a nightmare. I have never met someone who has zero respect for his job in my life. Every single order he got wrong. Every single one! We had to keep reminding him to give us stuff and when we ordered our entrees..he only put one through! When we confronted him about it, we were met with an eye roll and a "whatever". He served us our drinks AFTER our apps. What kind of move is that? Everything was extremely slow, the drinks were watered down, and the staff were complete jerk offs. After speaking to the manager, he told us that they were sending that waiter home at the moment due to the complaints about him. But of course, we saw him serving other people and will most likely continue to work there. Unorganized, terrible food, and rude as heck. Go to a rooftop bar instead, same view for half the price. I only came to this hell hole because I was with people from out of town...but never ever ever ever again. If I could give this place negative stars...I would. Ugh. Just the worst. I'll be ranting about this spot for awhile.
(1)Mary L.
*** Update: The business manager replies to my review on Yelp, but fails to return any messages I leave on their phones. Maybe you should spend your time checking employee Vy Visa and check 61379 on 8/14. Swore off dining at TotH since my last review, but unfortunately find myself there for cocktails with friends from out of town. We grabbed a quick round of drinks and I found out when the charge posted that the SERVER TOOK THE LIBERTY TO ADD A FEW MORE BUCKS TO THE TIP. Not a noticeable amount, but sneaky employee didn't round to the nearest dollar so the charge stuck out like a sore thumb. Calls to speak with a manager meant they keep transferring me to the nonexistent "accounting office" where no one picks up nor returns your calls. SHADY, SHADY, SHADY. It's got great views so people aren't going to stop visiting the place, but check your charges!
(1)paul v.
I was 17 when I went here. It was a first year anniversary dinner with my gf (now wife). We were pretty intimidated since this was our first time going to a fancy restaurant. The restaurant is beautiful. It's located on top of the Prudential so we got to see Boston. I wanted to be extra special so I requested to sit next to a window seat. We got to see the sun set over boston and had a romantic meal. Service was pretty good, but the food wasn't as memorable as the view.
(3)Casey H.
The big selling point of this place is the view which is the best you can get on a nice, clear day. The food is ok, but really you are paying for the view. It's worth it once in a while and perhaps a good place to take out of town visitors (again for the view).
(3)C P.
Knowing the views would be an event, we made a point to have a meal at the Top of the Hub. Although, I was a bit skeptical due to the negative reviews regarding food and service. Regardless, we wanted the focus to be the views. Located on the 52nd floor of the Prudential building. A few of tips to consider: :Make a reservation to alleviate wait time and greater chances of being seated against the windows. There is a wait for the elevators, ushers manage the traffic. There seems to be a questionable process for the elevators marked for the rearurant. There were several but they only allowed the use of one of them. They have one hostess station functioning with chaos. There is no seating in the waiting areas. Preferred attire for lunch is business casual but they will not turn you away. They will ask to remove hats. The website states causal attire will lead to seating in the lounge but this was not the case. We had reservations for their opening time. Staff was not prepared to seat anyone at the empty readied tables. We were almost seated by one of the bus boys but he could not find our table. He asked another host for directions and the host took over. Thankfully we were granted a spacious table against the window with sprawling views of Boston. You can't have better views anywhere else. Our lunch consisted of the Jumbo Lump Crab Cake Sandwich and the 3 course Prix-Fixe menu consisting of: Chilled Potato and Leek Soup, Chipotle Glazed Short Ribs, and Peach Upside Down Cake. The crab molded into a big thick patty, lightly seasoned. Simply constructed with lettuce, tomato and even spread of remoulade on a soft toasty bun. The crab sweet and chunky without filling. The soup cool and smooth as the pesto oil drizzle adds a hint of garlic. Pieces of ice were still swimming to chill the soup, not impacting the richness in flavor. Short rib was melt in your mouth tender but lacked salt as if forgotten altogether. The sauce is reminiscent of a much tangier less sweet thinned version of barbecue, not chipotle as the menu indicates. The bed of mash potatoes still had chunks avoiding a texture of mush as it laid firm on the plate and a worthy base for the beef. You can smell the healthy mint leaf that adorned the cake before it hit the table. Every fork cut into the cake pulled a piece of peach making a perfect bite. Topped with a gracious dollop hand whipped cream and a fortunate over-drizzling of passion fruit sauce. Our server Karl provided understated service we can appreciate. He was not overbearing, gave us the right amount of attention and dissected our cues expertly. I was thrilled with the lack of disappointment and would recommend the experience as a requirement while visiting Boston.
(4)Ruth C.
Great view, meh experience. Drinks were just ok, and decently priced. And what's with the waitstaff being such Nazis about not allowing anyone to take photos?? It's obvious when people are paying customers. Let them take pictures of the view.
(3)Mia M.
Incredible view of the city. The elevator ride was a bit disturbing... the lights weren't working all that well on the floor display, so we weren''t sure when it was going to stop! We only got the cookie plate and some wine... both were good, but nothing incredible. We were all dressed pretty casually and didn't feel out of place at all. Our waitress... horrible. She knew my boyfriend from school and spent her entire time talking to him, hugging him, patting his head... and ignoring me and the other couple with us. I'd probably go back just to show off the view to someone new to Boston, but I highly doubt I'd go again otherwise.
(2)Jacqueline C.
Great view. mediocre food. We came here for lunch during restaurant week. Last time we came here we realized it didn't have restaurant week menu on the weekends, so we HAD to come try out this time on weekdays. Food- NOTHING exceptional; they are a little above average food. The highlight was the leek soup ( yummy) other than that the rest were just okay. I don't like the short ribs at all, the tottoglioni pasta with sausage was pretty good, but I feel like it's just a better version of sloppy joes(sorry!). For dessert we had the creme brûlée-- it's good, but compared to the one from capital grille, this one was a no no-- it's more like a heavy thick egg pudding than a well balanced dessert. I don't like the peach upside down cake at all either. It's not bad afterall; just don't carrying high hopes!
(3)Lauren B.
Wanna see the best view in Boston? Look no further than top of the hub. Ask for a spot at the bar tables as they have the best view! Dinner is expensive so we decided to stop in for lunch. Drinks are $13/each so if you don't want to spend a lot, it would be wise to skip! We were able to be seated immediately with no reservation, so I was quite happy about that. I ordered the pear salad with avocado on the side and my traveling companion ordered himself the angus burger. When lunch arrived, we weren't all that impressed. For all the hype of being the best place to eat, the food was not nearly as good as the views! My salad was delicious but not as stellar as I had hoped it would be considering how many great reviews it had. My friends burger was okay but he said it was not anything better than he has had at home. A Our server was quite nice and did check up on us to see how we were doing. However, we were not happy with the manager/ lead hostess telling us we couldn't go to the other part of the restaurant (vacant) to take a picture - even though we just had eaten there and would not disturb anyone. After the ill taste in our mouth by management, we kindly bowed out, paid our tab and left. If management had been kinder and the food would have been better, I think it would be deserving of 5 stars.
(4)Willie W.
Service, view, and view was fantastic. Little foggy that night for dinner but the view of boston made me felt like a god looking at little ants ... Haha ... Choose the 3 course meal... Cream duck with noodle to start as app... Chicken with this grain on the bottom... Very very tasty... Then dessert was Black Forest cake.... It's a bit expensive but if you haven't been to this place .. Should at least try it once just for the experience and view...
(5)Jessica W.
A++ This was my second time there and both times were exceptional! First time I got a bottle of wine, a few appetizers, & lamb chop for my main course. Last night I was fairly full from lunch still so I only ordered three things. Strawberry. Basil. Lemonade. Read that again, you can't go wrong with that! Duck Leg Confit Papparadelle. It was very rich and satisfying that I had to skip an entrée and go straight to desserts. Boston Cream Pie- the picture I've posted is a must see! It has top of the hub written on the side! The skies were clear last night and the view from the top was incredible!
(5)Chloe C.
This review is for the lounge area. The view is lovely. The service is terrible, slow, inattentive. Staff seem like they just don't want to be there. The whole room is just filled with tables of people waiting for service, periodically distracted by the view. My dining companion ordered a burger, and asked for it to be cooked rare. When it arrived, after about a 30 minute wait (!), it was very thoroughly well done. Not even a hint of pink in the meat. We waited a good 10 minutes to be able to flag down our waiter, and politely explained that the burger was not cooked to the requested standard. He sneeringly said "is that not rare?!" while peering down into the overcooked meat. He then said "well, I suppose I could put in an order for another one". My companion decided that it was not worth the wait - who knew how long the next one would take to come out! The waiter then ignored us until we were able to flag him down to get the bill. I'm not generally super picky in restaurants, but this was a frustrating experience. The restaurant is better than the lounge in this respect. I've eaten there before and found it to be good, if overpriced. Stiff drinks and decent food, and of course, the view is really lovely.
(2)Hannah S.
You pay for the good view, but there's pretty good food as well! Split the calamari and the brie appetizers. Calamari was pretty tasty (and I'm not a seafood lover. Yeah yeah I know that I was in Boston). I wasn't even about to try those little baby octopus looking things. The brie dish was good, but the raisin bread toast was a little too tough. Gorgeous views and extensive drink menus!
(4)Sarah A.
Jake was super friendly and very patient! We walked in after hearing this was a great place to see the Boston view! It's a great place. There's one side of the restaurant (the left) it's a bit fancier, wine glasses and folded napkins etc. The other side is for walk ins. It's a great view!
(4)Mauro T.
Service destroys the spectacular view of Boston!!! We arrived without reservation but we wait just 15 mins and that's ok! We were seated in a nice table and immediately given with the menus. We were in 4 and we ordered: bottle of champagne, mussels, hot dogs and tempura. After 30 mins we were told that the champagne originally ordered wasn't available. In the meanwhile food was arriving and we didn't have anything to drink. The other bottle arrived when we were almost done with the food. The waitress was totally unpolite and didn't apologize for anything. We were disappointing because the view was spectacular but the service destroyed everything! We WON'T be back!!!!
(1)Charlie H.
The view is great and the staff were decent, but the "cocktails" are plastic cup party-bar mixers served in glass. Don't waste your time trying anything more than a quick beer or wine and leaving. I understand the need for a $24/person min because it's the only reason to order the second round of drinks.
(1)Francis D.
Mediocrity amidst a stunning city skyline. Two things made the dining experience worthwhile. First and foremost was the view. The breathtaking views of Boston, especially at night, helped make dining at Top of the Hub a memorable experience. The second was our waiter. Our waiter was very professional, and very sociable. Not only was he always attentive and constantly checking up on us, he was very polite and open, telling us how he lost 160 pounds in a little over a year, (which of course didn't help our decision to eat desserts). The food, however, was mediocre at best. For my entrée I had the seared tuna, but also sampled the braised lamb shank and lobster linguine. The tuna dish was a seared furukake crusted Tuna with coconut rice garnished with edamame and daikon sprouts. My first problem, which was more of a pet-peeve rather than a critique was that the menu mispelled daikon for diakon. The presentation of the dish was simple, but elegant, with the tuna placed on top of a drizzled sweet chili sauce, and with a circular mound of rice garnished next to the fish. The fish, in my opinion, was slightly lacking in flavor and could have used a slightly longer/ stronger sear. The rice was a bit mushy and lacked the coconut flavor in which it was described. Overall, the dish was mediocre but had potential. I've had furukake crusted ahi tuna which was marinated with wasabi; and when seared correctly it was delectable and far superior to this version. The lamb shank was pretty good, with the meat somewhat falling off the bone. It could have been slow cooked or braised a little bit longer to make it have the right amount of tenderness, but it wasn't so bad. The lobster linguine was very ordinary, with nothing special or distinct about the dish. The linguine tasted like everyday marinara pasta, while the lobster seemed slightly overcooked, making it a tad too hard. For dessert I had the caramel date pudding with vanilla bean ice cream. The ice cream was rich and decadent but as always, a great accompaniment to a dessert. The pudding, however, wasn't amazing. It was sweet and had decent flavor but seemed, again, too dry and not nearly moist enough for a pudding. If you choose to come to Top of the Hub, I recommend not staying to have a fancy and very expensive meal. Rather, go spend some time at the bar or lounge, hang out with friends, listen to the band and just enjoy the wonderful view that the 52nd floor has to offer.
(3)Jaclyn M.
This is my favorite place to bring out-of-towners. If you live in Boston and haven't been - just do it once. Like others have said, the Top of the Hub is expensive and the food is less than fantastic. To make the experience more affordable, enjoy a leisurely Saturday afternoon cocktail (around 2pm) when the restaurant is a little slower. In the early afternoon you can usually get a table for drinks, minus a reservation. If you stay long enough, Top of the Hub is the best place to watch the Boston sunset. Sounds corny, but trust me, after a couple cocktails you'll appreciate it too. If you start to get hungry, the appetizers are pretty good - but small and expensive. If you need dinner, I'd recommend riding the elevator back down to the ground and checking out a restaurant in the Back Bay instead.
(5)H H.
This place is a disappointing. I was in Boston with my girlfriend and some friends and this place was suppose to our fancy night out. My friend had made reservations about two weeks in advance. When we arrived we were promptly seated but had to wait about 10 minutes just for water, and another ten for drinks, another 10 to place our order, then about 15 for the first course and about 45 for the main course. This was on a prix fix menu so there is just no excuse for having to wait that long. My girlfriend got the wine pairing but they forgot to bring out the last glass with dessert, and it had been about two hours at this point. Don't get me wrong I can understand eating/dining slowly in such a place but this went beyond what we considered acceptable. we attempted to talk to management about the situation and were less than impressed. They offered about $50 off of a $600 bill. Then we were stuck waiting another 10 minutes for them to pick that up. We spoke to management one last time and they offered free champagne but at that point it was too little too late. Gave it two stars because the appetizer course was actually pretty good. The main course definitely could have been better for the price but was OK and the atmosphere was really good. Unfortunately, the service wasn't up to par. Diner beware, you're paying for the view and not much else.
(2)Amanda K.
I had always heard bout the top of the hub but had never had the pleasure of dining there. My best friend and I went on a Sunday evening and were excited! I had a couple glasses of Pinot grigio and decided on the hanger steak for dinner with pomme frittes. Then for dessert I chose the creme brûlée and it was amazing! I also had a cappacino. The best part was the live jazz band! Definitely worth the price range!
(5)Dario B.
I don't think you can beat a $20 prix fixe for lunch with that view. And the food is not bad at all. I mean, nothing to die for but absolutely respectable dishes, well presented and creative. It was the perfect place for a special moment.
(3)R G.
This is a great place to take friends from out of town. Every drink I and my friends have had as been good and the bartenders are always polite and nice even though we're younger than most of the clientele. I've only ordered the calamari once (usually we stick to booze), but it was surprisingly delicious and all the other food that passed us looked great. Most restaurants with touristy locations like this slack off, but they surprised me. Yes, you are paying for the location, but it's very reasonable to get a drink and an appetizer or for a special occasion. (Besides, they charge about the same to just walk around the 'observation deck' a floor lower as it costs to get a cocktail here.) My one complaint that came up the last time we went: after 7pm (I think that was the time) there is a $20 per person minimum to sit at a table. We really just wanted one drink each and weren't going to reach the minimum that way, so we sat at the bar. Now, I get the reason why they do this, and on a crowded weekend night it would definitely seem justified, but we were there late on a Sunday evening and the place was empty. Seriously, maybe 10 table were occupied. The bar is fine, but the view wasn't as nice and towards the end of our stay another group started hovering for our seats making us feel rushed. But really, the best time to be there is right at sunset, so I don't plan on returning when this policy is an issue,
(4)Suzanne M.
Update - April 2009 This place is back up to 4 stars for me. They must have high chef turnover, but this place is great *right now*. Go now, quick, before the chef leaves! I had my usual tuna dish for my anniversary dinner and it was fabulous! Not as great a flavor as the first time I had it but much better prepared. Ask for *Steve Tuck* for your waiter - he's awesome. Super friendly, great food / wine recommendations, and totally on top of your experience. My glass was refilled the moment I put it down - love that attention. Love you again, TotH! --------------------------------- Update - May 2008 I knocked a star off. Apparently, Top of the Hub has changed chefs and it shows. My all time favorite macadamia nut encrusted tuna is not so nutty and not so tasty. Service was great - as always - but what happened to the food? I miss the old TH :( --------------------------------- Original Review - Nov 2006 I go here every year on my anniversary, foggy or clear. I always get the same thing - the nut encrusted tuna (yum)- so I can't tell you how everything on the menu is. We usually call well in advance to request near - window seating (like a month in advance), but honestly the windows are floor to ceiling there - no matter *what table* you are at you are going to see just fine on a clear night. And if you must look straight down to Boylston St you can walk over and look. Service has always been fair for us, food very good and consistent, and always expensive!
(4)brett b.
How do you rate a place that is phenomenal and lame at the same time? I guess you give it a three. There's no doubt that you go here for the stunning view. And it truly is amazing... if you're by the windows. If you're not, and you most likely won't be, then it's a total c*ck-tease. You almost want to be that tourist who goes up next to some other couple's table just to get a good look out, and take it all in. But you don't want to be *THAT* guy. You know, the tourist. Alright, so they won't take your reservation for a window seat, and you decide to wait the 2hrs for a window view, then what? I warn you now - go for the 3 course prix fixe ($100 or so, I think) and get the lobster bisque or be sorely disappointed. I tried the lamb, and it was coarse and flavorless. *Sigh*. It's a crap shoot. Patiently wait for the window and order food that is hard to F up (lobster, chicken), and you'll be in good shape. Get bad seats and order a risky dish (steak, lamb), and you will have completely wasted your money.
(3)george k.
Go for the views. Go before it gets dark so you can see the full effect. The only problem is you've got to order something to eat. Food is not the best but if you go there when you are really hungry it will taste much better. If you with a date then only go at night.
(3)David L.
YMMV. We showed up for lunch yesterday and got the best seat in the house. The view really is spectacular. In the daytime at least, your unobstructed view of the city surely has value no? YES. The food was much better than I was expecting primarily because of Yelp reviews. It was solid stuff. We had the lunch Prix Fixe for $20.10. The Lobster bisque is tasty and not too salty. The cod special which added $8 to the price was very good. The Creme Brulee was also decent though not mind bending. The service was excellent. It wasn't terribly crowded when we went at noon. I think we overheard a wedding proposal or at the least the subsequent cheering. The dress code was also a bit more lax than I would've guessed but that's probably because it was lunch time and hot out.
(4)Jared T.
Considering the prestige behind Top of the Hub, I was a little disappointed. Went here today with a few friends for dessert and coffee after having lunch somewhere else. The hosts were nice and found a table for us despite the fact that the restaurant was pretty full. Our waiter took forever to come. Once he finally showed up, he wasn't particularly friendly. He didn't offer us water, we had to ask once we realized we never got any. The coffee was watery and didn't have any flavor. If I'm paying $4.75, I expect a damn good cup of coffee. I ordered the warm chocolate cake, which was okay, but again, for the price I was paying, didn't impress me. The presentation of the cake was attractive, but that's about it. I'm hoping that their food is better, because my experience wasn't all that stellar. It feels like you're paying for the view (which is pretty gorgeous... I'll say that much).
(2)Julie T.
I'd say 2.5. The only impressive things were the view and the service. The service is something that I will take into consideration when rating though since view just comes along with this place. Everyone gets the awesome view so it doesn't really count. It's like giving a restaurant stars for giving you complimentary cookies when everyone gets cookies. You're not really all that special... Haha. Anyhow, I'd say the service was pretty nice. I'm always impressed at how they remember the apps, entrees, and desserts all at one time with a big group. Whenever I've gone, it's always been with a group of 10 or more and we always send everything in at one time and they remember everything. it's awesome. Besides that, everything else is forgetful. The food is totally mediocre and I only ever come here when dragged, I never go if I have the choice. I think it's a good experience, something that you should do for the experience, just to say "Yeah, I've been there", but really, don't expect very much out of it.
(2)Alex C.
Great food and an AMAZING view. I would suggest going for dinner on a clear night and you wont be dissappointed. It is pricey but you get what you pay for. After dinner my gf and me took advantage of the live music and danced a little bit. I would say this is a great expeirience and worth trying.
(4)Lorraine F.
I've been here quite a few times. For dinner, the tasting course menu is pricey, but amazing. I love the dessert with the chocolate cake, ice cream, and raspberry sauce. The wine selections are great. At the lounge, I used to go for the Mediterranean salad. I'm not sure if it's still in their menu, but I loved it the few times I did have it. At the bar, the drinks aren't that much more expensive than drinks in the general area and you get a great view of downtown Boston. All the drinks I've had have been great so far. The servers are always very attentive and very professional. I'm definitely going back, again, and again... ^_^
(5)Naomi Y.
We managed to get a reservation only a couple of hours before the dinner, so lucky us. The restaurant is very nicely decorated and set up, with a separate dinner and bar area. The view from the top of the Prudential Tower was amazing, until it started raining and got foggy that is. The service was also good, with our waiter checking in on us every time he walked by, and they have a live jazz band playing in the lounge area. The atmosphere is bustling but not too busy, but also not stuffy or making me talk in a whisper. My friend and I both got the 3 course meal, with me choosing the Cobb Salad, Veal Sirloin, and the Date Cake while he got the Lobster (?) Soup, Lamb, and the same dessert. We both ordered the accompanying wine as well. The food was DELICIOUS. It came out at a very good pace and we were never left waiting for too long. The sirloin was juicy and cooked perfectly to medium rare, and the lamb was practically falling off the bone. The portions were also a good size, and I finished the meal full but not overly stuffed. The wine was a little overpriced, but it did go with our meals very well. The amazing food combined with the gorgeous view meant for a great night and we both had a very good time. While I would definitely recommend the 3 course meal ($55, or $75 with wine), the individual items on the menu were a little pricey. However, the atmosphere, service, and of course the view make the meal worth it. I am already planning on taking friends or family here when they come visit me in the future.
(5)Patrick C.
Freshly baked cookies, great drinks, jazz, romantic lighting, and amazing views. My girlfriend and I love coming here for a night out that's more than a step above the usual at an unexpected reasonable price. Drinks and dessert are the provide the best "value."
(4)Marco F.
\Here is the deal with the Top of the Hub; this place is merely for ambience, a fine night out, or in most cases a night out for couples or first dates. The food is a bit above average but is priced in a manner to make your significant other feel special. The location is one of Boston's better areas. Depending on how you come in to the location, if it's a first date, the mere approach to the location can cause a bit of excitement because often times people are unaware as it is centered in the mall. Everyone complains about the price of everything but this one of those typical places designed to create spice in couples or a sense of elite if among friends. The staff is almost always friendly. It does not get 5 stars because the food is okay but the location, scenery and live entertainment get 4 stars for me. Its well worth coming here once a year.
(4)Andrew F.
Nice view and interesting drinks, but the server we had seemed that he had never worked in a bar before. My friend wanted a warm drink an the server suggested a hot toddy...but the server had no idea what was in it when asked. My drink also had irish mist in it and I asked what that was. He told me it is "irishy" and that is what makes the drink brown. Great info! I looked it up on my phone and its as actually the whiskey in the drink.
(2)Isabel Y.
Great view. Dress hot! I saw a guy wearing sweatpants and adidas slip on flip flops with SOCKS waiting for a table and I definitely judged. I don't care if your sweats say Berklee College of Music. I digress... Wait for a table by the windows, we waited 20 min at the bar which was no hardship with a glass of champagne. We sat at the corner table right next to the jazz band, on the "good window" side (behind the bar looking out at John Hancock). Jazz band was loud but good, they had frequent breaks so the music did not impede conversation across the table. Server was friendly, had personality, talked to us, told us a few proposal stories from earlier in the evening, described our view, and gave us a tour of the other views, even the one back by the kitchen. Don't forget to have your parking ticket validated as soon as you get up there!! We forgot the first time and had to go alllll the way back up to the top. Silly us. As for the food, it was excellent. Foie gras appetizer was delish albeit $$, and I had the swordfish entree which tasted so good and fresh..AMAZING! It wasn't even one of the recommended dishes, so I expect that the other options are great as well. Didn't have dessert, we were too full! All in all, what a great night...nothing was wrong with this restaurant. Worth the $$ once in a while!
(5)Helon W.
Normally food and service is very very good at Top of the Hub, but today the food took a back seat. The food appeared to have been thrown on the plate and rushed out the kitchen door and thrown at us. We had to remove dishes from table ourselves so server could throw down our plates. The Beet salad was good, Presented well and very tasty. However, the Bolognese looked like a sloppy joe. Many of the Calamari noodles were broken and on longer looked like Calamari rings. The sauce was slopped all over the plate. The Chocolate pound cake was as dry as can be and not good. Waitress was very nice and attentive. (Waitress & server were 2 different people) Very surprised about the food. As usual, the view was excellent.
(2)Linda T.
My bf brought me here for Valentine's Day and it was romantic until the end. We started at the bar since we were early and drinks were great! Once we were seated, there was nothing but great service. We did have a fixed menu so we did not expect much, but we did not like the food at all. I did not find the food spectacular or even tasty. Waste of money! The view and ambience made up for it and the bf and I were able to have a nice romantic dinner. It was time to leave so we asked the waitor to waive our parking. He came back and said it was all set. NO, it was not. We regret tipping him so well. We got out to the gate and were told that our ticket was not validated. We had to go back, but the elevators were shut off since it was the end of the night. Thankfully, the guard made some arrangements and we were able to get back up. After all that trouble, we got out with free parking only to end up in a car accident!! A drunk driver rear-ended us from behind and we'd like to think that if it wasn't for our delay at Top of the Hub, this would have never happened. I'm not giving them a low rating because of the misfortune, but because the food seriously just sucked and the mistake for the parking validation. I don't recommend the food, but the view is something everyone should experience.
(2)Ave H.
I like it. I like it a lot. I was somewhat apprehensive about going here the first time after reading all the comments about the food - but was very pleased! The view, of course, sells itself. They have live Jazz in a lounge-esque area, and the food (I thought) was excellent! I had the Spicy Lobster Soup - which was delicious but was very heavily seasoned. I was only able to finish half before it was just too overwhelming. Had the 7 oz Filet Mignon w/ caramelized onions, asparagus, and a blue cheese tart for my entree. Everything was fantastic and very well presented. For dessert they brought out a birthday creme brulee which was cute & super tasty :) Maybe I just got lucky - but I wonder if they have been making some changes to the menu or something because I did not see a lot of the issues mentioned by other reviews.
(4)Cris L.
The food here is surprisingly good, and despite the prices, this is a place tourists should visit. Lunch is a great option if you don't want to drop a ton of money on dinner--the food is just as good. Also, the view is one-of-a-kind, which makes even the saltiest Bostonians happy. Top-of-the-hub isn't just some tourist trap--it's a place everyone should visit at least once. Try the steak!
(4)K P.
I made a reservation here two days before my visit. Please specify you want a seat at the window. Although service was good, the food wasn't that great. I ordered their steak, it was dry. My friend ordered the pasta, it was bland. I would go back here for the drinks and view, but the food (probably not). I have yet to try the dessert. Always room for second chances.
(3)Ryan H.
Great spot. Went in for brunch and had the short rib special with eggs. Meal was delicious!
(5)Kristine R.
The only thing good about this place is the view. I was so excited to bring my friends from out of town here on my birthday for drinks as they have never been or seen Boston at night, but what I thought was going to be a great time was met with an old racist manager. We were a group of mixed individuals (half of us female, half male, some Asian, Latino, etc). We definitely were not rowdy as we are late 20-something professionals. The entire night we were stared at by the manager which was weird because we were just sitting at the bar. The bar that was empty before we got there. Then as we were putting our coats on to leave the manager came to us and asked us to leave because he said he heard our conversation and heard profanity...? We did not do anything to trigger such a rude request and we also adults in America (free speech). It was fine by us because hey we were on our way out. BUT THEN when we arrived downstairs we saw a young security guard and I didn't think anything of it... until he and another followed us all OUT of the mall. I have never experienced anything like that in my life! I exited the rotating door, looked back, and the guards went back in. All I can say is WOW this stuff still exists? We can take our patronage elsewhere. Footnote: The only employees that were nice to us were the gentlemen playing in the jazz band in the corner and the bartender himself (because we were very polite!)
(1)Lisa I.
Yes, the view can't be beat. And the pomegranate martinis are TO DIE FOR! But it's $$$ and they're a bit snooty. You can't sit at the tables along the perimeter (to really enjoy the view) unless you order a minimum amount of food, and the views from the bar area are just ok. It's worth going to once, but not worth a repeat visit.
(3)Dawn P.
My sister and I while visiting Boston decided to take a quick stop here. We thought it might be too expensive to have a whole meal here so decided to have a quick lunch at the food court downstairs in the Prudential food court and only get drinks from here. Food ordered: Warm chocolate cake and pomegranate mojito Price: $12 & $12 respec Parking: No idea Service: Pretty good Ambiance: Classy. We got a seat by the window. AMAZING view on a clear day. We went on a perfect day - no clouds and around 11:45am. Perfect timing. The place grew really busy right after we got seated. Overall: I would def recommend esp for dates.
(5)Jamie F.
I'm a sucker for nice views and at Top of the Hub, THE VIEW OF BOSTON WAS PHENOMENAL. I enjoyed every moment of it and I've been living in Boston all my life! A thunderstorm was developing when I was here for my birthday lunch last summer :( but somehow, it was beautiful, scary, and cool at the same time. I've never seen lightning so close up before, seeing that I'm 52 floors up. Since the windows were cleaner than a brand new car and clearer than 20/20 vision, it felt like I was *this* close to being electrocuted. Decor was very traditional, classy, upscale. Most tables seated 2-4 people. Ambiance during lunch time was quiet and not busy at all. Service was fine, not outstanding. Was the food memorable? For its presentation, yes but not so much for the taste. My friends did not rave about their dishes, nor complained (drastically). My grilled salmon was a bit overcooked, but edible. The tempura shrimp appetizer was divine though, sans the buckwheat noodles. Bf ordered the chilled blueberry mango soup, and it turned out to be a smoothie served in a bowl. Go figure. I would DEFINITELY come back for the nighttime panoramic view and the dessert cookies that I missed out on. Boo.
(4)Ryan L.
My review is based off of two lunch trips. Food: good, a little overpriced, but that's what you expect and get when you're in that part of Boston in a nice restaurant. Burger was maybe 10 dollars?? I can't recall but it wasn't that outrageous. Service: awful. I have never received worse service than when I went here (both times). There are fundamentally two sides of the restaurant that are preferable: one facing the ocean, the other facing Fenway. If you're not dressed in a suit then you will not be seated in either of these areas, even if there are plenty of spaces. In both instances I wore khakis and a polo and my company dressed similarly semi-casual. The staff briskly set us "aside" from the other patrons in both instances. In the more recent experience our waiter was snotty and visited our table three times: to take our order, bring our drinks, and to bring the check (the food was brought by someone else). No refills, no asking how things were, no attention whatsoever. Frankly it was the first and only time I refused to tip a server and I don't regret it for a second. I sent an e-mail to the management expounding on our poor service and received a "oh well" for a response. I personally will not patronize this restaurant again, but I can understand the interest in the view. There are many, many restaurants in Boston with better food and service if a view of Boston is not critical to your meal.
(2)Charmie S.
This is one of those occasions where you are paying for the EXPERIENCE. I love this place. The views are obviously the best part of going here. You can see all of Boston for miles. Drinks are good also. I had this strawberry basil lemonade, which was fantastic. Service at the bar was quick, and we didn't have to wait too long until seats were freed up in the lounge area. Go here for the drinks, lounge, live music, and the spectacular views of Boston.
(5)Mindy L.
Stopped in for drinks in the lounge. Have to update just to provide drink suggestions... Blueberry Mojito ($13) = delicious Bloody Mary ($7) = not spicy enough The drinks were strong and I was impressed at the pricing. I was at Wally's Cafe drinking substandard Amaretto Sours two weeks ago at $8.00 a pop - so getting a relatively well-mixed Bloody Mary for $7.00 bucks was a pleasant surprise.
(4)A N.
So I'm not sure if this restaurant is always this underwhelming or if it's just one of those places that puts no effort into (see = secretly hates) restaurant week, but nonetheless my husband and I weren't impressed. I don't want to get too into it, because there's no reason to list all the shortcomings of this restaurant. The only thing I have to tell you is that this is the kind of place with $90 per glass luxury cocktails, chef's tasting menu and a pre fixe menu with wine pairings -- yet they serve cold, slightly stale bread with rock hard butter. That's the worst. All they really have going for them is the view, but I recommend going one floor down, paying $13 and touring the Skywalk instead. That way you make a financially sound decision that doesn't leave a bad taste in your mouth.
(2)Samantha M.
One of the most stunning, romantic places in Boston and I've lived here all my life. My boyfriend and I sat in the lounge last night, it was a full moon and a clear sky, and the city lights were beautiful! Not sure what all the complaints are about the food, my boyfriend and I ordered the tuna tartar and the baked brie with fruit - both were amazing and fresh. The brie was topped with sticky, sweet, yummy walnuts and there was some sort of crispy crepe underneath that we used to hack apart the brie :) mmm. The tuna was delicious and fresh and topped with avocado. I ordered a gin cocktail that tasted like lemonade - soo good. Then a gin martini that was basically the most perfect martini ever. The bartender was on his game! We were here on a Tuesday night which is apparently the perfect time to go because it's not too buzzing so it's relaxing and we didn't feel rushed at all. Our waiter was on top of things. One of the best nights I've had in a long time...
(5)Lynne S.
Taking the express elevator up for drinks at the Top of the Hub makes you feel like you've really made it! I felt important. I felt like someone who mattered! I was also prepared to pay for that feeling with an extremely overpriced drink. While they do have those $50 or $90 drinks, yes, the regular drinks are actually quite reasonable - and delicious! At just $12, which is less than I've paid at other trendy restaurants outside of the city, my orange melon martini was full of flavor, not to mention beautiful. And the service was top notch! Call me impressed!
(4)Em L.
Only came to this place to have drinks. The view of this city was nice at night. The bartender was great and inventive. I was craving a drink with tequila and he made his own concoction which was perfect. It wasn't too sweet and I could still taste and enjoy the tequila flavor. For those visiting the city and looking for a place to enjoy drinks should definitely come to this spot!
(4)Tanya S.
Beautiful views of Boston included in your meal. We've come for dessert and wine or full meals and it was always a romantic/enjoyable atmosphere. Even though service can be a bit snooty, it's generally attentive and the food has never disappointed. Although you are paying extra for the view.
(4)Nicole V.
Warning: drinks only I had actually never been here before bringing my Australian friend. We went for the drinks but the why-not-dka (my personal nickname for vodka since we're beyond a first-name-basis relationship) didn't hurt either. I wanted to show her Boston from above since I think it's one of the only cities that actually looks nice from the upper vantage point. We considered the Observatory since we were in flip flops and the same clothes that we had been in all day, but decided we'd rather pay for martinis than tickets. This turned out to be a GREAT decision. We got bar seats at the end and my friend made a casual circle looking out the windows. There's a corner where bar patrons can go take pictures, so she snapped away while the sun was up. I ordered a Ginger Lemondrop and could have had about 6 more; it was delicious! She had a Purple Rain Martini which I didn't try but she raved about. We had a lot of catching up to do since we hadn't seen each other in about three years, so we were at the bar for over an hour. We watched the sun set and then took a few more pictures as the night illuminated the city. I don't think the drinks are pricey at all. Ours were 11 and 12, but well worth it for how strong they were. We were both giggly after one. The service was non-obtrusive even though we were blatantly there just for a drink and the view. I would definitely come up here with more of my guests and recommend it to all Boston visitors! Advice: if you're willing to spend money you can sit at the tables instead of the bar. It's a minimum of $24/pp to sit at the table, but if you order a few drinks and one app you could easily make it. If you're looking to kill time it would be a GREAT way to do so around dusk.
(4)Jean H.
Great view, okay services, yikes for the main course (food in general), bravo for the live Jazz band--- yum yum for the dessert!
(2)Snuffles B.
5 stars for the view 2 stars for bouncer hostesses preventing you from looking around 360, even if you've got a table at $24/head 5 stars for the live Jazz Band 2 stars for the snooty 'tude 2 stars for weird, spotty service 4 stars for a surprisingly tasty burger on brioche 3 stars for having a mediocre warm cookie plate, calamari, and banana fritters 1 star for serving ONLY decaf coffee (are you serious?) __________________________________________________Â_____ 3 stars for an overrated but quintessentially Boston experience
(3)Megan M.
I really enjoyed my experience here! I was dressed down, but I did not feel uncomfortable. The service was great, the food was great, and the view was awesome! Great way to end my trip!
(4)Kai H.
The hostess was exceptionally rude, the server was stuck up, and there is honestly nothing special about this restaurant. Other customers in the elevator were complaining about the subpar service
(1)Zizzles A.
If you're planning on dropping serious cash for drinks with special company, there's no place like Top of the Hub to do it. Hey, all drinks at fine dining restaurants, even some gastro pubs run around 13 bucks. There are definitely more creative drink menus out there. Top of the hub hasn't got the creativity and the liquid nitro drinks of blue inc and it isn't part of the hip tiki revival (I'm not old enough to have experienced the original fad), but with the beautiful views and the live music, there isn't a better place to plop that booze $$. I haven't ordered off the regular menu in over half a decade so I can't comment on that, but the bar menu is safe and tasty. Tuna tartar with avacado is solid. The mussels are tasty and a great value since it's big enough to share with several people. I also had a melted brie with fig compote dish that was great as well. Tried an old fashioned, a lemon drink in a martini glass the name of which I cannot recall and also a cucumber vodka drink. The standout here was definitely the cucumber vodka drink. It's really clean. If you sit in the lounge area you'll probably get a view of the harbor or dorchester. I have yet to see across the river or into the financial district so I'm guessing the best views are reserved for the main dining area. Top of the hub is great for out-of-towners as well as local company. There's a reasonable $25 minimum per person if you are going to sit at a table. If the days are long enough, come before sunset and relax for a few hours, the change from day to night atop the prudential is wonderful.
(4)Catherine W.
Great place for dessert and lounging - had creme brulee and a cobbler. Atmosphere was very chill with live jazz.. A little expensive for drinks but what a great view. Nice service.
(4)Izzat A.
This place is worth it. It meets the hype and surpasses it. The food here is surprisingly good which is something that I was worried about, and despite the prices, this is a place tourists should visit. Lunch is a great option if you don't want to drop a ton of money on dinner. You can sit at the lounge before 8:30 I believe. We got dessert mostly, creme brulee (very good), their signature cookies (you get a ton and they are good) and my friend got some hot dog sliders (which he liked). The view is well well worth it. Service was friendly. Will definitely come back here again.
(5)Jon G.
This is a great go-to place if you have people visiting from out of town or a special occasion to celebrate. It's expensive, but not a rip off, if that makes sense. You'd pay just as much for dinner at some crappy chain restaurant, without the benefit of a mesmerizing view of our fair city. If you're thinking of shelling out 10+ bucks or whatever it is to go to the observatory, just ask for a table in the drinks area (facing south) and get a little something for your money. The drinks are like average New York prices -- 8 or 9 bucks for a gin and tonic, for example -- but wonderfully stiff, strong enough to nurse for a while. And like the previous reviewer said, sharing the fresh baked cookie platter is the way to go if you want a snack. I've only eaten real food there at lunch, but the food was fantastic. Again, not at all unreasonable for the quality of service and food. Throw in that view, and you've got a winner. My one gripe is that you have to look fairly presentable to dine here; I feel like, in my younger days, I was actually turned away once, but at the time I was probably looking pretty shabby even by Allston standards.
(5)Robert P.
The only thing this restaurant has going for it is the view. If the view is what you're interested in, then the SkyWalk on the 50th floor is a better experience, particularly if it's your first time in the city, or you're doing it with kids. Alternatively, you could just go to the bar and get something quick there. As for the restaurant, I've been there 3 times, and the best I would give it is a B. There's quite a few restaurants in Boston that have outstanding chefs, many for less money. So if you're interested in great food - this isn't the place for you. It seems that the employees at this restaurant understand that it's really more of a place people go as a novelty -- something to say you did while in Boston -- than it is a place they expect a lot of repeat business. You can see this in the service, which is good, but not quite what you'd expect for a place this costly. You can certainly see this in the menu, which is uninspired, and in the quality and creativity of the food served.
(2)Alicia G.
Try Barry's Scallops - so good with the bacon jam! Everything was delicious, server was nice, wouldn't have gone if we hadn't been given a giftcard because, yes, it is a bit pricey. Glad we had the chance to dine here.
(4)Robbie P.
I had my girlfriend in from out of town and we were exploring the Back Bay. I couldn't wait to show her the restaurant, I have been talking it up ever since I moved to Boston and stumbled in upon it. I take her up on a Sunday at 1:45 pm. The plan was to show her the view, grab a drink, and possibly make dinner reservations or NYE reservations with a group of 6 people. I was greeted with the biggest stuck up, snob host I have ever encountered! I apparently wasn't allowed to check out the view or grab a drink at the bar because of a dress code....at 1:45 on a Sunday! Now let me say, the first time I found the place exploring Boston by myself, and there was no issue. This lady ever so rudely made a point of it and told me with attitude for no reason except to be a snob. It was embarrassing, and if my girlfriend wasn't with me I would let this witch have it. I will never come back here, EVER! I got plenty of others places to spend my money.
(1)Calvin F.
The good: - unbeatable view of Boston The bad: - expensive - touristey - pretentious The ugly: I went here with some coworkers who were in town for some drinks. After being surprised that they let us in with jeans on (Seriously? Who do they think they are?), we stood around, ordered drinks, took in the view, and chatted. At one point, a staff member asked one of our party not to stand too close to the drums. He wasn't, but okay, whatever. Then later, another coworker and I were heading to examine a different view when we were stopped... Staff: "Excuse me, gentlemen? Excuse me! Gentlemen?" Me: (realizing she's talking to us) "Huh?" Staff: "That area is closed for a private event." Me: (innocent misunderstanding) "Oh! Sure." Owner/Manager: (with annoyance and in very loud voice as we turned around) "JESUS CHRIST!" Then we went and dropped a G on dinner at a *different* restaurant. So, yes, pretentious asshole. Jesus Christ indeed.
(2)Amanda Z.
I can't thank Dawn E. enough for writing up a blurb about the city of Boston and where she would take friends whom were new to the city and in need of a tour. Her review has brought me to this one: I forget who said it, or how it's really supposed to be stated, but skyscrapers were created to allow heads of industry to have uncluttered air with which to do their work in peace. Again, I've probably not said it correctly, but the point is, I love the view from this place. You can see Boston (and that little peninsula of Cambridge dipping towards Boston) and the Charles River in an unadulterated (minus the window) way. It's so peaceful and surreal no matter how often you see it from that vantage point. That, and the fact that you're paying over $10 for a drink that is actually size appropriate. Read: big money = big drink. Try the mojitos, specifically the Classic. It's tasty. Having gone a few times now, I've also noticed that you don't really need a reservation if you're just looking for a table for two. If you're going to try and bring more than just the one friend, make a reservation. You'll be glad that you did. The wait staff is pleasant (Larry was quite inviting) and well dressed. The food here is pretty good (duck confit quesadilla, chicken pot pie) but the last time we decided to skip the pleasantries and go straight for the jugular: creme brulee. Absolutely divine, but if you're a fan of crack-crack-cracking a creme brulee's surface, you will be disappointed here; the torched-sugar surface is either too thin to withstand a spoon's edge or this thing's been in a fridge environment.
(4)Eve S.
Love this restaurant! Came here for a birthday dinner with a couple of my friends, we had a fantastic view of Boston. I made reservations a few days ahead of time for a Saturday evening-- we were seated right away. The food is great, definitely pricey but it's worth it. And the dessert was delectabe! The server knew everything on the menu and was very kind/attentive. I will be returning here.
(5)Rebecca Y.
I went for lunch on Tuesday and was given a delicious meal and fantastic service. It was not busy at noon and we were given a table right by the window. We had a fantastic view of the Charles River. I had the prix-fixe lunch with arugula and orange salad, grilled shrimp pasta, and creme brulee. It was all delicious! The waiter gave some good recommendations for good cocktails and wine pairings for our meal. The only negative was the confusion about the elevators. Not all the elevators in the building go to the 52nd floor and not all elevators seemed to go to the lobby. It was a little confusing to know which elevator to take when leaving the restaurant.
(5)Boston F.
This is spectacular. Top of the Hub is now a foodie's paradise. While it has always been a place where the views of Boston are second to none the chef clearly is one of the best in Boston. We had some of the lightest, freshest seafood we have ever enjoyed in Boston. Perfectly cooked and very creative sauces. The general manager, Rafael, came by and checked on us, adding to the near perfect service. A wonderful wine list, spectacular food and killer desert and coffee made this foodie very happy to be dining on top of the world (or at least Boston). Do go. Whether you are a local like me or a visitor put this on your must visit list. I promise you will be very happy you did. Boston Foodie
(5)David R.
I've now been to Top of the Hub five times or so, with the same results each time. The food is near top of the line, the prices, while a little high, are to be expected at a high-quality place like that, and the atmosphere is fantastic. Real candles, lighting that isn't too bright, and full-length windows make it really a fun place to be. The drinks are great, although I've only tried a couple, but I continue to try new items on their menu and haven't been disappointed yet. The real attraction here is the view. Being able to walk to the ends of a couple hallways and look out over the city, especially on a clear evening, is spectacular. I've gotten some amazing pictures from up there, of Fenway, the Charles, and a bunch of other cool sights. I recommend this location to most people as a once-in-a-while special dinner, but for me it's a little expensive to visit every week. Definitely a view you don't get from any other restaurants in Boston, though!
(4)Paul S.
If you're in Boston and you're looking for something to do, then you've got to try Top of the Hub. It's on the top floor of the Prudential building (53rd floor I think). It does provide for some spectacular views. I ordered the "Prix Fixe" lunch and the wife ordered a BLT. The BLT looked great. Plus, it came with homemade chips. I had a wedge salad, salmon and creme brulee. I think that they should have had other salad choices. I would have been happy with a garden salad with balsamic vinaigrette. Instead, it was a cheese and sauce overlayed iceburg lettuce. Not a good option. The salmon was pretty good (all 4 oz of it - thanks for not filling me up). The creme brulee was okay. I probably should have went with the raspberry cake. Oh well, that's what happens when you take the waiter's suggestion. All in all, it was a good experience. Expect to pay about $25 per person ($35 per person if you have drinks). I would only visit here if you are a tourist. As a Bostonian, there are ample alternatives for food and fare.
(3)Mary B.
The food is mediocre and not memorable. They cram a ton of tables in the dining room, making it very hard for waiters to slip by you. No joke, every 5min or so, waiters would bang against my chair every time they walked by. Didn't really enjoy that. Of course the view is spectacular and something every Bostonian needs to experience.
(3)Molly J.
The interior of the restaurant is a bit old fashioned. The overall atmosphere was like a fancy traditional american place. Their winning point is to eat with the great view of Boston. Live jazz band on a saturday night at 9. I would probably go back for a drink but definitely not for food.
(3)Andrew B.
The view from this restaurant is amazing (worth the price). The food leaves a little bit to be desired, but the view more than makes up for it. I suggest going during restaurant week, so that you get to enjoy the view at a much reduced price.
(4)Jerry S.
When you review something on Yelp, I feel like you're reviewing the entire experience (this isn't just a restaurant ratings site). Thusly, Top of the Hub, for its location, view, and atmosphere, paired with a perfectly satisfying selection of delicious foods and drinks, is top notch. Certainly there are better places based on taste alone, but not many, and they are usually lacking in the other areas I mentioned. The Jazz Lounge is like a hidden gem, by the way. I wish we had more places like this.
(5)Julia M.
This is an excellent place to come for lunch while in Boston. I like going for lunch because A) it's less expensive than dinner and B) you have a wonderful bird's eye view of the city. The food was not especially memorable, but the overall ambiance and views were!
(4)Tiff D.
Food was decent. View was amazing. I think its way overpriced. You are really paying for the view because the food wasnt amazing. I would go back. Nice date spot. I even saw people just hanging out at the bar.
(3)Abigail B.
We ate there Sunday brunch. Food was good. Had a pre fix menu. They said 4 course, but the 1st course was a tiny bit of yogurt with granola. It was good and i think they don't give you more just because you have more food coming.Had arugula salad that was enjoable. My 3rd course was the omelette of the day, but I was very disappointed, but as soon as I mentioned, they change it for me. I had duck confit hash... Was delicious. 4th course, dessert: only two option. Profiteroles and chocolate panna cota. I had the profiteroles filled with vanilla ice cream. I have to say it was not the best. Warning: Make sure you make reservation. If you want the best views need to seat down in the dinner area. We ended in the lounge because we didn't have reservation but we still have a decent view. They have two guys playing jazz that made it up for the view.
(4)J E.
A must see.....top of The Prudential Center. The drinks and food are pretty expensive, but this is downtown Boston on the 52 floor. THE VIEW IS TREMENDOUS! This is definitely a spot to take your mate for a nice quiet dinner for hang at the bar with your boys.
(4)Haley T.
The view is not to be missed. Incredible! Such a pleasant atmosphere as well. I tend to go here with friends from out of town, but I have definitely gone here for drinks on a random girl's night out. You know, the kind of girl's night out where you're all too dressed up to go to your neighborhood dive bar. Excellent food, drink and atmosphere-but they slack a bit on the vegetarian/vegan options. The live jazz almost makes up for it.
(4)Lily L.
Food is 3 stars. Price is high. View is spectacular is beyond 5 stars. Best to come at dusk so you can see the Boston both during the day and at night. The only reason to come to Top of the Hub is for the view. The food is so so but the drinks are better. Our plates were dusty. And I'm not sure how thoroughly they wash the romaine lettuce, but it's best to cut off the bottom 1/3.
(3)Megan M.
It's hard to review Top of the Hub. The view is incredible. It reminded me of a place we used to have here in Miami, the Miami City Club. The place has windows going all around the building. You get a view of everything you could ever want to see in Boston. As tourists, this kind of view was a must-do for our trip. This alone is deserving of 5 stars, and the live jazz musicians really added that something extra to the experience. My only complaint is with Top of the Hub as a restaurant/lounge. We ended up better off than we would have been a few floors down at the Skywalk Observatory. The tickets for that viewing were around $10-15, I think. We took a peek, and saw they didn't have any kind of seating, so you're just walking around the indoor observatory until you're tired of the sights. The benefit of Top of the Hub was that we could sit at a table by the window, have a drink, listen to live music, and see the sights at our leisure. So, back to my complaint.....our drinks were gross. My $15 "chocolate" martini was so strong that I had our waiter make it again, and it was still like drinking lighter fluid. Service was friendly, but incredibly slow. For the first 15-20 minutes of being there, no one approached us. We finally had to get up and find someone to come take our drink orders. FYI, the other reviews made it seem like you needed a minimum order to sit at a table, but they didn't give us any problems. We were there in the early weekend afternoon and each ordered a drink, and they had us at a table by the window. I'd normally take away more stars for bad, expensive drinks and poor service, but the views really do make up for it, and for around the same price, it's a better experience that going to the Observatory.
(4)Jass O.
i was happy thank you :)
(3)Brian D.
Best advice for this place: Go for the view, not the food. I came here for the first time (yes, I've neglected to actually come here for a bunch of years now since moving to Boston 5 years ago) for my girlfriend and I's anniversary. We made reservations, got our table, no problem, no waiting. We were able to get a table by the window and it was such a wonderful experience taking in the views with my girly. The food was a bit of a disappointment however, I was kinda of expecting more from it. Scallops for my dearest, and I had the fish - maybe swordfish. I thought mine was a bit too salty and left me wanting something else at the end of it. The wait staff was excellent, accommodating my request for a special anniversary candle etc with dessert. Definitely come here for the views, don't expect the food to match, but still a great meal and experience.
(4)Peter B.
Just went to the siting area of the bar. Yes, you are paying for the view but the drinks are not that expensive (maybe $2 more than on the ground). The view of the city is great, and they have a jazz band every now and then in the evenings. Service is average, but the cocktails we tried were good. I'd advise anyone visiting Boston to go up there for drinks, especially if a table is available (booking is only necessary for the restaurant part).
(4)Jason B.
Review for the lounge. We came here for drinks after dinner someplace else. The drinks...fantastic. I had pomegranet (however you spell that) martinis, my new favorite drink...she had a great sauvignon blanc, fabulous view, great jazz trio, low lighting, soft cushy chairs...and then I popped the question. She said yes...staff gave us champagne on the house...all was delight.
(4)Liz S.
I was really disappointed with this place because, frankly, the waiter was an idiot and ruined the experience and my meal. The view is obviously spectacular, and I wanted it to be have a special dinner because it was my 30th birthday dinner with my family. We got there before they opened so sat in the bar area and had drinks till the restaurant opened. The bar service was very slow. When the restaurant opened, we were seated behind a pillar; I asked if we could move to the same-sized table on the other side of the pillar, which was empty, but they told me that it was reserved. It was empty the entire time we were dining, and finally as we were leaving, a group got seated at that table, but the waitstaff changed the number of place settings to do so! Maybe I'm not so well-versed in table arrangements of reserved tables at restaurants, but if the table's reserved for so many hours for a certain number of people, why are they changing the place settings immediately before seating the supposed reserved party? I was disappointed because this was supposed to be a special occasion for us and so many things went wrong (and I am not one of those people who complains because I don't understand how a fine dining experience works). The food itself was pretty good, but I didn't really get to enjoy it as much as I should have because of the waiter. In addition to the regular a la carte menu, they had a couple different prix fixe menus for dinner, which everyone in my party ordered. Although they don't allow substitutions for the prix fixe menus, the waiter let me substitute with something a la carte for one of the courses because of my food allergies, even though he was wrong! Given what the menu said, I didn't think I would have a problem eating the original prix fixe menu's dish. The thing is, I'd told him I am allergic to wheat, so, as many do, he says, "oh a gluten allergy." I told him I can eat gluten, just not wheat. I sometimes don't bother correcting waiters who say this, but a gluten-free diet is more restrictive, and I wanted something that he said I couldn't have. Well, he subsequently pretty much freaked out about the whole thing! I am very familiar with my own dietary restrictions, and am of the opinion that if the waiter fully informs me what's in something and knowing this, I agree to eat it anyway, they are not liable for any allergic reaction I may have. But that's just me, I suppose. I'm VERY surprised that a waiter at such a supposedly high-end restaurant has so much trouble with knowing what's in the restaurant's food, or understanding what food is made of. I have never seen anything like this. We finally settled on my having a spinach salad for the course in question, but he was so paranoid that he had the chef put each ingredient in its own separate ramekin...just in case I couldn't eat one of them (I eat a LOT of salad, b/c half the time it's the only thing I can have on a menu! So I am very familiar with being stuck with salads, but this was uncharted territory). To make matters worse, when it came to dessert, I chose the parfait, which this weird waiter said was safe; maddeningly, it had a layer of CAKE on the bottom! Glaringly obvious bit of wheat there. Yet again, the waiter demonstrated his utter cluelessness about his restaurant's food. So strange....and not okay. It is a nice place, I just had an extremely weird experience.
(1)Theresa M.
My boyfriend took me to dinner at Top of the Hub for our 6 month anniversary, and I was very impressed! We sat in the longue section at a table next to the window which was nice for the view...which is spectacular by the way For dinner we decided to have the three course meal which was reasonable priced at $38 each. I have to admit that I figured we would be leaving there hungry, but that was not the case. For starters I got the hub chopped salad and my boyfriend got the clam chowder. We were both impressed with how much meat was in the chowder and how full the salad was of kalamata olives and feta cheese. Second I had the rigatoni with Italian sausage and again I was very impressed with how much sausage was in the pasta! Delicious! The freshly baked cookies didn't disappoint either for dessert. The martini I ordered was good, but the one my boyfriend got was not. However, telling the waiter was not an issue and my boyfriend quickly got another drink. Next time I would probably stick with the cordials as they have a lot of offerings that are uncommon such as Sambuca (black). The Jazz music was lovely in the longue although I prefer my Jazz music to be a little zippier and danceable, but it was still very nice. After the experience the other night we will definitely be back...actually we are already planning our next trip to celebrate my best friend's 26th birthday!
(4)Laura S.
My boyfriend and I came here on Saturday night for my 30th birthday. The service was good and the waiter was attentive without being over bearing. The hostess was good about accommodating our request for a window seat. We had to wait a little longer to get one but it was worth the view. The view and atmosphere is really the best part of the restaurant. It had a good romantic ambiance especially with the live jazz band. The food was just okay and pricey for the taste, quality, and portion. You can get better elsewhere in the city. We shared the onion soup which was big and just fine. I had the chicken with grits and swiss chard. My chicken was really chewy, just not a good texture so for me it was just a so-so dish. My boyfriend had the salmon with pea purée and purple potatoes. He said the salmon was cooked well but the purée and potatoes had little flavor and didn't add to the dish. We finished off with the molten chocolate cake which was standard but very tiny. My takeaway is come for the experience and view and but do not expect too much from food. This was my first time here and I think once is enough.
(3)Amanda B.
For some reason, the city of Boston doesn't seem to believe in clear and well-placed signage. Regardless, we were able to find the Top of the Hub and get seated for an evening cocktail. I had the Blackberry Goose - light and sweet, but the aftertaste was pure vodka. The hubby had a burgundy wine. We were both pretty happy with our drink choices, but the view is really what made it - very fun to look out over Boston and talk about where we had been that day and where we would go later. The waiter was very pleasant, but seemed to have a whole lot going on. Service didn't seem to suffer too much, but it was noticeable. Overall, a great start to the night.
(4)Kevin H.
This place is a comfortable home for douchebags. If you're fun, avoid it at all costs.
(1)Fred H.
Good food, good atmosphere, good service, and great views! Definitely one of my favorite restaurants to go for a romantic evening
(5)Corinne G.
The view is nice but the service and management need major improving. The food was good but nothing to rave about- as the two star rating says - I've experienced better. The most interesting part of our experience here was when the waiter came over to take our salad plates and asked us if he could get us anything else for the night - (we looked at each other perplexed as we had not yet eaten our entrees) - he asked if we wanted the check and my boyfriend jokingly said yes. Next thing you know the waiter shows up with the check! Needless to say he was mortified when we asked him "Are you serious?" and we had to remind him that we had not yet had our dinner. People are human and make mistakes, ok. But the number of mistakes that were made were simply not acceptable for a place like this. We finally ended up talking to a manager who thought that a plate of cookies would make it better, not! When told that we didn't want to have to write a bad review on them, his response was "Oh I have 1,000 bad reviews, we certainly don't want another brick in the wall". What kind of manager tells his customers that he has one thousand bad reviews! Sorry to say, the $25 discount he gave us was nice, but it certainly wasn't enough to deter me from putting "another brick in the wall".
(2)Geoff F.
Never had the food, but it's worth it -- at least once -- to go and listen to the live jazz, scope out the view, and meet that minimum with a couple of drinks. Even better if you've come well prepared after visiting other, less haughty locales near by...
(3)Timothy H.
Great Service. Great Drinks. Great Views. Great Atmosphere. AWFUL Food. Opportunity lost.
(2)Ellie W.
I've been to the Top of the Hub a few times--spectacular views, but the food is pricey and pretty average. I feel like this is a big tourist magnet, because it DOES provide you with an excellent, beautiful view of the city. But for locals, it's one of those places you go to maybe once a year, if that. This is a great location to celebrate a special occasion--the view is just fantastic. But for sure, nobody really comes here with the food in mind.
(4)Jillianne C.
My husband and I were on a speacial night out and wow what an amazing place this is... The food was phenominal and the best part there was a line and we mentioned we had reservation and we were sat immediately. There was nothing better than that . Definately a restaurant to be on your bucket list views were ok but food was better!
(4)Patty T.
If you are just in Boston visiting this is a must... It is one of my favorite places in the city to go because you can see all of Boston. You get a full view of Boston. Hint: Unless you are in a big group.. just hit the bar and you can walk around.
(4)Zorba P.
If you're looking for a restaurant with a dynamite view, vine food and fabulous service, look no further. Yes the prices are high, but then again what do expect for a million dollar view. The service was perfect - spot on. Not too effusive but attentive. When the bill came for our family of 4 I felt that I got more than my money's worth. So will you.
(5)Rick L.
I dined in this fine establishment for my girlfriend's birthday, which happened to coincide with Boston's Restaurant Week. Don't worry; she came, too. Being the starving student that I am, I always enjoy getting away with dining somewhere nice for less. I really feel like I'm getting away with something when I can do that, for 3 prix-fixe courses, at the top of the tallest building in Boston, and only pay $33.12. But wait! Before you stop reading and settle, I would suggest an alternative: stay home. "BLASPHEMY!" You can't suddenly change plans and expect to be excited about the view from your table at the pub in your neighborhood!! But you have to eat... "Top of the Hub has salads!" Yeah, that's great. I'll go out and get a salad. Next! "I heard their main courses are phenomenal!" I must have had altitude sickness. My salmon was cold, my date's pasta was actually a Lean Cuisine...which I have at home! "Well...there's always dessert! You can't screw that up!" Riigghht. No, it was awful. But seriously....awful, at least in principle. No-bake cheesecake was good but a stab at creative presentation in the form of a green film on top of the cake suddenly reminded me of the foreign filling in a McDonald's fish filet sandwich that's been on the counter for a week. The creme brulee was more like...just "creme". Don't think they applied any heat to the sugar (to which I bet the bus boy $20...still waiting to hear back). I got pissed and started yelling at my date when I ate the custard, as I mistook it for the soup I should have ordered for my first course, thinking she had pulled some kind of "Groundhog Day" prank. I did enjoy the view, or at least what I could see from my table 20+ feet away from the window. Didn't make my food taste any better whatsoever though. Or my neighbors' food! Or their neighbors' food! Subtle complaints at a few tables around us were distinguishable, all of whom had also ordered from the same prix fixe menu. If I haven't persuaded you to stay home, just go. But get plastered before you leave home!
(2)Gina K.
My friend and I came here on one of my visits to Boston. We wanted to check out the SkyWalk, but didn't want to pay for just a view, so we decided to check out the Top of the Hub lounge area for a drink while we were up there. We took the elevator all the way to the top of the Prudential Center and got off right to the lounge/restaurant. We were led to the bar area, where we sat. The World Cup was playing on the TV by the bar, and there were a few conversations going on about that. Our bartender was friendly and patient. I ordered the Tropical Splash cocktail, which was really good. While we were perusing the menu, we saw they had "luxury" cocktails (the highest priced one was $90!), which I thought was interesting. The bar was in the middle of the restaurant, but the walls of the restaurant were made of windows, so we had a great view. After we finished our drinks, we walked around to check out the view (there is this one room area where you can just stand and look out, so we stayed there for a bit, and located my friend's apartment). This was definitely a really great experience for me because I've never been to Boston before. I would definitely come here again for the view.
(4)Konstance k.
Bad. Rude. Bad. Rude. If you're looking to Yelp for recommendations, then DO NOT GO TO THIS RESTAURANT!! From the hostess to our waiter, an evening celebrating my son's 16th birthday could not have been any worse. The staff permeates the attitude that they are all a powerful group of bad-asses who JUST MAYBE will seat you and feed you, and only when they feel liKe getting around to it. The view is terrific at the expense of overpriced drinks, food and being treated like a piece of crap. Management doesn't care -- they know that most diners are either visiting from out of town or don't plan on coming back. SHAME on them. They won't be seeing me -- and if I can help it, the 237987297197439321874987 people that I will be coming in contact with over my long life.
(1)Jason A.
Just by sheer location and classiness, this would have to be one of the best lounge rooms in the city. Located on the 54th floor of the Prudential building, the view on the top stretches all over for a nearly 360 degree view of the Boston area. I think only the John Hancock building may be as tall (or damn near it). The people who went here last night were definitely prepared and came dressed to impress. I actually feel more at ease when surrounded by other well-dressed and classy individuals. There was also live jazz/chamber music, which lends for a nice atmosphere. The drinks at the bar were reasonable, especially given the location and its attraction as a tourist destination. I made sure to not order food, per the other Yelpers earlier. I was also discouraged by the $24.00 minimum purchase per customer if we were to sit in the lounge room, so I opted to sit at the bar, order drinks and walk around. I did order a plate of the freshly baked cookies, as most people here have recommended them. They are the most bang for your buck and actually can last you the entire stay. Eat too much, and you may leave diabetic though. The chocolate chip and the Heath bar flavors were my favorite in my particular combination (which I was told occasionally rotates). A nice cinnamon-flavored butter topping accompanies the cookies. I would recommend coming here at least once, especially if you're from out of town. Just to come here to get a view is worth it. Oh, and be sure to pop your ears upon exiting the elevator.
(5)Vivian L.
Only go there for the view and drink, not food. I think I am more a food lover, so I will not give 4 or 5 for just the view.
(3)Marely M.
I love it the food! I went for restaurant week and i liked that the food choice was a good one. The location is awesome, the ambiance, ooh well you are at the TOP OF THE HUB! The server wasnt that nice. We waited a lot and he was rude to our requests. Its expensive if you go there without any specials. I def want to go again for dinner.
(3)Arnie F.
Fantastic food, service, and views. The lunch, while expensive, was a great value. The only annoying thing was they charged for each soda refill - which was around $4 I believe.
(5)Valerie K.
My experience at Top of the Hub was just that, an experience! Our waiter, Martin, was very helpful and really tried to make decent conversation with us. He made recommendations and was very knowledgeable about the entire menu. The entire staff actually, from the hostess to the busboys, was very polite and professional, not at all snobby like you might expect. The entire time we spent at the restaurant was pleasant and we never felt rushed. Food was absolutely delicious. Yes, it's a bit expensive, but it's also very good quality. We went for lunch and I got the prix-fixe which included a salad, a salmon entree, and dessert for $24. Everything was so flavorful and we felt completely satisfied afterwards. Hating to sound like a broken record, I know that I must comment on the view. Unfortunately, on the day we went it was rainy and foggy out! But it was still spectacular. The view just adds to the overall wonderful experience we had at Top of the Hub. The food, the service, the atmosphere....A+!
(5)Melanie H.
Top of the Hub: The next time I am getting married, get a huge job promotion or feel like maxing out my credit card, you can count on my dinner reservation. This is the type of restaurant you go to when your going to propose to your girlfriend, celebrating your parents' 50th wedding anniversary or just got a $10,000 raise. Because, hot damn, you better be ready to put down a couple of Benjamin Franklin's for your meal. I dined at Top of the Hub this past Friday and I will say, there is no better view in Boston. With that, keep in mind that you are not only paying for the food at this restaurant, but also the atmosphere, service & view. Our meal was exquisite- a bottle of white wine and the five course Top of the Hub tasting menu: 1. Crab Louis- served cold with crab meat and egg (kind of like an egg salad), but delicious. 2. Pan Seared Scallop- scallops with pecan butter & cranberry relish- bam! (so good). 3. Grilled Tenderloin of Beef au Poivre- I was so excited after the scallops, but the beef was even better. I eat red meat very infrequently, but this was succulent. It melted in my mouth and went so well with the asparagus that was placed on top. Amazzzing. 4. Diced Beets with Goat Cheese on top- Meh. I have tried beets many times before and as much as I try them, I just can't take a liking to them. I was surprised that the beets were on a tasting menu considering that they are not the most commonly liked vegetable. I tried to stomach half of it, but without much luck. There was also A LOT of goat cheese on these beets, as in enough, to stop you up for 3 days. The menu said beef tartar, but maybe they switched it for the night? Either way, this was the only course that I would ask the chef to swap out for something else. 5. Warm chocolate lava cake- dessert was delightful. I also like anything with 'warm', 'chocolate' and 'cake' in the name, so maybe I am a bit biased? This cake was served with a side of vanilla ice cream and went perfect with the last glass of white wine. The service here was simply outstanding. Our waiter Fernando catered to our every need and was pleasant and made many good suggestions on the menu. Not only was he great, but you could see how attentive the wait staff was to all of their tables. And again, there is no other restaurant in Boston that has a view as good as theirs. Another side note on this restaurant- they have a very reasonable prix fixe lunch menu- $22 for 3 courses, what a steal! Yay! I am a fan!
(4)Lauren L.
A disappointing return to one of my favorite places in town. Went here last night to enjoy the life Jazz music at 9 in the lounge seating area. This has always been one of my favorite places in Boston, but last night it was just sub par. The service was good. I got the arugula salad with no cheese and a Diet Coke. My buddy got the risotto appetizer. He enjoyed them. There were a few things that ticked me off. -10:30 PM: Screaming bloody murder, a 4-year old was making a scene, and parents literally just sat there doing nothing. I would expect a finer establishment to have one of the managers who was near the host stand go over and intervene. The family's 2nd kid was zonked out, sitting on the chair perpendicularly, head cocked to the side laying on the back rest, asleep, mouth agape. The 3rd kid was not making a fuss. Ugh, this isn't McDonalds people. - The place was ABSOLUTELY FREEZING COLD. My buddy and I sat there crossing our bodies to keep warm. - More time by the jazz band was spent not playing than playing. I'd say they played 40% of the time, max.
(2)Christina S.
The view is amazing, the atmosphere is amazing and the service...is amazing! My boyfriend and I came here for brunch to celebrate our 1 year and it was definitely an experience. The brunch consisted of a set menu with 4 courses and it was a great meal, to say the least. My favorite part was the lobster omelet with melty brie. Anything with brie and it has my heart! They also created a thoughtful dessert for our 1 year :) It was a little on the pricey end so Top of the Hub would be great for special occasions.
(4)S P.
We used our one precious night of restaurant week when we could go out to go here. Oh, the regret! While this place is very pretty, the food was hardly worth the time spent in the elevator. "Romaine Wedge" was a small salad of the undesirable center stalks of a head of lettuce with standard Hillshire Farm ranch dressing, chopped bacon and blue cheese - served 3 seconds after we ordered it, so it had probably been sitting around for a bit. Dessert Chocolate Panna Cotta, the fiancée thought it was inferior of regular store-bough-mix chocolate pudding. Lemon mousse was nothing to write home about. Entrees were unexceptional, although I enjoyed the salmon. They shuffled us out of there in less than 40 minutes less $100. As we walked out through the mall to Back Bay we identified 6 or 8 places we'd have enjoyed more for $40 or less. Oh, and our view was ehhh. Seriously, Top of the Hub, if you disdain the plebes who come in during restaurant week, just DON'T PARTICIPATE anymore. I am working nearby this summer and might have become a repeat customer, but not anymore. Pshh. For that money, go to Ten Tables in JP and get the tasting menu. Those people care about food.
(2)Meghan M.
*Disclaimer...Restaurant Week Review! A friend of mine and I had dinner at Top of the Hub last night and were pleasantly surprised. I really didn't expect much from the food or service. The view is, as has been said many times, stunning. We were given a table right by the window. The service was fantastic...Very attentive. I had the arugala salad followed by the rigatoni, both of which were very good. We finished off with the creme brulee which was decent. The lounge where they had the live music looked nice and cozy. I definitely would come back, especially with out-of-towners or for a drink before a special occasion dinner.
(4)Samantha S.
My husband and I went to celebrate his birthday, which coincided with Restaurant Week this year. We'd heard great things about it and, when faced with two different places, we went here. I kind of wish we hadn't. The view is absolutely amazing. We were in around 6:30 and the sunset over the water was gorgeous. Even not sitting by a window, we had a good view. The service was also very good. Our waitress was prompt and attentive and plates were cleared right away, though not so we felt rushed. The bad? The food was iffy. My wedge salad involved 3 romaine leaves (I counted), two very tasty tomatoes, about six bacon bits, and some amazing dressing. If there'd been an actual salad, it would have been delicious. The entrées were good sized-- my husband's lamb chop was quite big and was quite tasty (this from someone who doesn't like lamb). I should have gone with that, in fact. I had the chicken fricassee. I haven't had it before, so I'm not sure if it's supposed to be incredibly greasy or not, but I couldn't finish it. The potatoes were too buttery, though the gravy was decent. We ended up taking it home, but honestly? Our hoover of a cat wouldn't touch it. The manager was great when we mentioned it and offered to make the salmon without its sauce, which I had not originally gotten due to a food allergy. That, sadly, was also very oily, though the masa it came with was good. Again, another thing the cat wouldn't even touch and I'm sort of sorry I ate. The good part? Dessert was delicious. The panna cotta was amazing and my husband's dessert was also great. It really saved the meal for me. If you do go for Restaurant Week, I recommend getting the wine pairing. I have nothing but good things to say about the wine and it was perfectly matched. The dessert wine is fantastic. Over all, it's not a place I'd ever go for dinner again. It seems more of a place you'd go to impress a date, rather than have a romantic dinner. The portions were small to decent sized and the food wasn't special enough for the sort of prices on the menu. As for drinks and dessert with an amazing view? I wouldn't hesitate to go back for that.
(2)Andy M.
In life you have just so few of those transcendent dining experiences and this was one of them. A beautiful view, the chef's tasting menus paired with wines, impeccable service, and a special date evening with someone you love. How many places can you go where you can just take hours languorously enjoying a fine meal? Life doesn't get much better than that. I love the wait staff here they are there instantly when you want or need them, and invisible when you don't. My date had some problems with some of the courses, which the chef happily changed to accommodate her. Just beautiful, a definite destination on all my future trips to Boston.
(5)Leila T.
Gorgeous views of the city. I came here for my fiance's birthday. We had a few bites compliments of the chef which was nice (I think because I was a vegetarian and their menu was limited). The menu was a bit dull and uninspired, but enjoyable (again, I was limited as a vegetarian). Nobody wants to go to a nice restaurant and have the lasagna as their only choice! Fiance had the lamb which did look good. I don't know if I'd ever come back for dinner, but definitely for the view (and maybe a bottle of wine and dessert!). I'd say, skip the skywalk and come here for drinks.
(3)Michelle Z.
The experience did not meet my expectations at all. Service: To start, they did not seat us because our whole group was not here yet, even after we told them that we were in a bit of a time crunch. It would have been understandable if the restaurant was busy - however, this was not the case...most of the tables were empty. When the bread waiter came around with the bread basket, he dropped my piece of bread loudly on the bread plate and crumbs went everywhere. I had expected him to say sorry because it seemed like a mistake. However, he just walked away - I guess it was normal for him. Food: The dishes were sloppily plated as my soup bowl was not wiped down - this may be a personal pet peeve, but it just shows that the chef does not care enough to simply take only 3 seconds to have presentable food. For my entree, I got the ribs which were overly dry and really tough. My friend's pasta dish seemed like it had been sitting in the kitchen for a while as the top of the pasta was a darker colour compared to the rest of the dish. Both of our dishes were not warm enough - her pasta had the kind of oil droplets that form when food is not warm enough and has been siting there for a while. My dessert (chocolate cake) tasted good - until i bit into the plastic wrap. I thought it was just 1 piece and did not feel like sending it back to the kitchen. However, I took another bite and bit into another piece of plastic. When I informed my waiter, he simply took it back to the kitchen and came back a few minutes later with a new cake and an insincere one line apology "Sorry about that". We felt very rushed by the waiter as he placed the bill on our table shortly after we got our desserts. This was absolutely no reason for him to do so as the restaurant was not busy. In between the courses, the table was cleared hastily and loudly. There was a lot of clinking and clanking as the waiter seemed to drop the utensils into the plates. -- It is restaurant week in Boston so we did not pay as much as we would've had to on any other occasion. However, this should not have affected their service and food quality simply because they are serving a less expensive menu. The group consensus was that we would not return nor recommend the restaurant to anyone. Even though we did pay less than usual, we still felt like it was an overpriced meal. Even the gorgeous view could not have saved the poor food quality or horrible service.
(1)Abhi S.
Its a very nice place for a romantic dinner,great view and iloved the food. You can park in prudential center and they will validate parking.
(4)Anna R.
Tried it out as part of our first visit to Boston as well as to take advantage of Restaurant Week. Beautiful views of the city and great service. The food was delicious. I had the Buccatini Pasta in a cream sauce and the Mango Mousse. Friends had the Scallops with Polenta and the Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin. We all loved each of our meals. Restaurant Week was a nice opportunity to try it out and see Boston from a different vantage point. Otherwise, I don't think I'd frequent the Top of the Hub unless it were a special occasion or out for a romantic evening out.
(3)Cat B.
I have never been so disappointed with a Valentine's Day dinner in my life. As the parents of two small children we don't often get the chance to get dressed up and go out to a nice dinner so Valentine's Day is always special to us. After having a wonderful dinner meeting at Top of the Hub my husband told me about the amazing menu and service so we decided to abandon our 'usual' restaurant for Top of the Hub for Valentine's Day. When we made our reservation we were told nothing about the special Valentine's Day menu being the only menu available that night. When we arrived and realized that this was the case we almost just left but could not because there was another couple with us. After we sat down and began reading the menu I thought that after speaking with our waiter that he might be able to tone down the or offer other menu choices. After telling the waiter that I don't like egg and asking if they could not put that in two out of the five fixed choice courses I was told there were no changes and no substitutions. Once we finally ordered my husband and I decided not to spend an extra $60 on the wine pairings which the waiter did not seem to appreciate and from that point on after we had finished our first drinks never asked again if we would like something else to drink, he just kept re-filling our water glasses. It was like we were being punished for not getting the wine pairings. I'm happy we didn't get the wine pairings because the other couple we were dining with didn't get the wine on time with any of the courses, they had completely finished their soup before the wine even showed up. Obviously thanks to the presence of the egg I could not enjoy the first course. The mushroom soup was far too heavy for even a cream based soup and I was tasting the soup for the rest of the night until finally hours later I got home and was able to brush my teeth. The minimal entree choices were just depressing, I settled for the beef filet and while it was cooked adequately, I did not enjoy any of the sides that came with it. The salad course at the end also had egg in it, so after trying to pick around the flecks of egg I gave up because the salad just wasn't good enough to warrant such an effort. For dessert there was a mediocre layer cake and once again not what I wanted, I had been looking forward to the warm chocolate cake listed on their regular dessert menu. The best part of the cake was the diamond engagement ring made from sugar, that was a nice touch and honestly the only part I enjoyed aside from my pomegranate mojito. This abysmal meal was given to us for the low low price of $125 per person. Honestly this menu felt like they were just cleaning out their pantries and coolers from the things that would soon be going bad. Never mind the fact that on any other day their tastings menu is only $77. Next year we will be going back to our standby restaurant the Capitol Grille where you can get the meal you want at half the price with significantly better service. So, mediocre food, over embellished menu, mediocre service, and cut throat pricing ruined my Valentine's Day, thank you Top of the Hub for a less than quality experience.
(2)S. F.
Spectacular views (weather permitting); mediocre food and drinks (though very pricy); and terrible, deplorable service from the female maitre d' and our server. The staff acted like we were a major inconvenience to them, while treating us with distain and arrogance. Our waitress was not knowledgeable about the menu, couldn't manage to bring half our appetizers before the entrée and brought the wrong entrée for half the table. To make matters worse, she was unapologetic and totally unmotivated to bring the correct entrées in a timely fashion. We had to flag her down after 15 minutes to find out where our food was. REALLY! When the busboy is the most polite and dutiful, you know a restaurant has a major problem. I'll only go back if Top of the Hub comes under new management. Well we went back (only because we were meeting people there) in June 2014 with much the same experience. After being seated for over 15 minutes, we had to flag down a waitress from another section, in order to get any service. To the waitress' credit, she was very nice and took good care of us and, even brought a dessert to us on the house. Due to our previous experience, we only ordered drinks. The weather was spectacular, so we enjoyed the view immensely.
(1)Kevin L.
I went to T.O.H to celebrate our anniversary. The View of restaurant is a great and great but foods and services are poor and worst ever. I saw a dirty thing in my desert, it was really really really really disgusting. They said just Im sorry one time, no show manager came to us and give a pice of paper. I think the manager wrotes some words as 10% off entire order on your next visit. How ugly service and poor reaction for the customer's uncomfortable.! And, what a yucky and unsavory foods. Panda Express is way much better than TOB foods.
(1)Carly L.
First of all, you come here for the skylines not the food. Food is subpar at best. Had brunch here on a sunday. Reservation is required to get a window seat. Egg Benedict was average, the egg muffins tasted old. The profiteroles were horrible this is not how profiteroles should taste. The pâtissier at the Hub should practice quality control. It's a shame really. So you get the point..brunch here is quite pricy , you're paying for the view. If you want decent cuisine and a beautiful view, try the waterfront.
(3)Lynda M.
Face it people--no one should come here expecting a high end dining experience or great service. It is all about the view. Came here after work for a drink with my husband, the line of diners waiting to be seating wearing tank tops and shorts was already forming (high end dress code as usual). The lounge was pretty empty, so we waited a few minutes (ignored by host and staff) then walked over to grab a seat by the window. As we went to sit, host in a very bad suit yelled and ran over to us, rudely putting his arm out to actually block us "These seats are reserved". Mmmm...no thanks. This place is like a pig wearing lipstick. Underneath it all, it is just a pig.
(1)Keisuke N.
The food is OK but you can't beat the view. The food is better than average for sure, and you do pay a premium for the view/location, but you won't be disappointed by their food either. They have a classy menu and good desserts. Get a nice bottle of wine and enjoy the view. Great place for a date and/or anniversary dinner!
(4)Leo H.
I've been to this place several times over the years and find it to be a mixed bag, quality-wise, given the money you pay. That said, last night was a good experience. My family and I spent the evening in the lounge area in order to listen to the live jazz band play. The lounge menu is very good, particularly if you're primarily interested in appetizers. They don't let you order off the main dining room menu, which I found odd. Most restaurants enable that sort of thing in their bars or lounges as that's where all the big bucks are spent (see Oak Bar). Anyways, great views, good food and nice atmosphere. I'd recommend the Reuben egg rolls, ribs and Kobe hot dogs for apps. I wasn't particularly impressed with the mussels nor the calimari, but the rest of my family dug it. Those two plates were fine, just nothing special.
(4)Julia C.
As a frequenter and lover of Chinatown eateries, I'm not too nitpicky about cleanliness, but here, I wasn't particularly impressed at the visibly smudged silverware, nor at the plate settings that somehow managed to catch an awful lot of dust. Service was timely, efficient, and unobtrusive. I came here for the restaurant week prix-fixe menu, but I did have a small peek at their regular menu. They serve simple American fare, mostly sandwiches and burgers, in the $15-20 range. I had the lemon pepper scallops, strawberry rhubarb soup and the creme brulee, which were all delicious, but wasn't particularly awe-inspiring. Same with the pork medallions that the boy ordered -- "tasty but nothing to write home about." Also, serving portions are impressively tiny, at least for the restaurant week menu. And by tiny, I mean they served me two scallops on a bed of mushed yellow corn that tasted like it came out of a can, which the restaurant proudly dubs as "polenta." Restaurant-enforced portion control is good, though. Overall, I left with the impression that this is a place for tourists to enjoy the view. If you are one, or are a Boston resident who hasn't done the Skywalk, then I'd definitely recommend going here for the excellent view, as the entrance fee for the Skywalk is $12 anyways. But I probably won't consider the Hub someplace that I'd frequent routinely as a local resident.
(3)Krista H.
Being a Boston native and having never been here, I had the opportunity when a friend from out of town wanted to go last night. We had already had dinner somewhere else, so this was a drinks/dessert experience. When you walk in, they immediately let you know there is a $24/pp min to spend. Not a problem. The views are amazing, yes. But our server brought us the drink menus first and when we just ordered two drinks at first she got antsy and reminded us about the minimum spending limit. A little rude. We planned on dessert but just hate being rushed. Once we ordered dessert, AGAIN with the 'gentle reminder' about the $24/min. Anyways, we had the Warm Chocolate cake which tasted like something out of a package. I chose to take a spinach salad home which was mediocre at best. This place will survive no matter what they serve, but I am at least curious about dinner. The service is way too pushy, though. We heard you...$24/per person minimum. You don't need to keep bringing different menus over!
(3)Travis D.
We haven't been to the Top of the Hub in a VERY long time. Time was, this was the place to go for a special date or night out. Over the years, I felt that they went downhill and thus haven't been back in a long time. Yesterday, though, I was convinced that we've stayed away too long. My wife and I took the kids there for lunch while spending the day in Boston, and had a fantastic meal. The mussels, a favorite of my six year old, were perfect, and both the kids loved the clam chowder. My steak was perfectly grilled, and the wines by the glass selection was quite good (it was the afternoon and we were with the kids after-all ... a bottle just didn't seem right!). If, like us, you've avoided the Top of the Hub because you felt that they had lost their edge, then I encourage you to re-think your stance and give them another try. Besides, where else can you get a view of Boston like that one?! :)
(5)Clara L.
Went here again with friends from out of town, and we sat at the bar for some drinks. As we left, we wandered over to the windows to show our friends the view, since we were heading to dinner and didn't want to wait for a table. Not even 30 seconds later, the maitre'd rushed over and admonished us for standing there. We explained that we just wanted a quick view and were leaving, and he told us no. We said that they just lost a customer and he said, "well I don't give a s***". He was really rude and looked like if we didn't leave, he would physically remove us. He was so loud that other diners started looking at us. As we left, we asked for the manager's name so we could tell him about his rude staff, and it was like pulling teeth to get a business card. The hostesses weren't very nice at all either. Not sure if we're going to try going again.
(1)Christy M.
Went there for restaurant week and had an excellent meal. Tried the cauliflower/carrot soup, short ribs and creme brulee. Everything was delicious. Very good sized portion as well. Some restaurants really cut portions down for restaurant week so I was happy to see they were still very generous! Service was excellent as well. Will definately go back on a clear night!
(4)Leo F.
I visited this place for dessert once. We were seated next to the window and the dessert we ordered was some sort of chocolate volcano. It was pricey as expected but was sometime to try at least once when friends are visiting from out of town. Of course, the view was great.
(4)Stephen L.
Spent $82 for 2, so $40 a person for just entree. But tickets to tall buildings with a view tend to be $20-$40. So it really comes out to a $20-30 dinner. If you get the multi-course meal, it's a lot more pricey. The food was good, the pasta had bits of lobster and tasted great. The lamb on the other hand is a lot of lamb and very fatty (I didn't like it). The view was nice, and service was great.
(5)Shivon R.
I've been here twice, and I think once you accept that you're paying for the view and not necessarily high quality food then it's smooth sailing. The view is of course, fantastic. I've only been at night, but I assume that it would be even better when the sun is setting. On both occasions I thought the food was just okay. Not bad, but not amazing- and honestly a bit underwhelming for what I would expect for a $25-30 entree. Same with the drinks. But still, worth seeing if you don't mind shelling out the cash.
(3)Amy W.
I went there with my boyfriend during our visit to Boston. Lunch food was pretty good. We had chicken pot pie and the beef tenderloin flatbread. Our waitress was nice too. She even offered to take our picture! HOWEVER, AFTER we had paid and tipped our waitress, we wanted to walk around the restaurant and take pictures of the view of Boston skyline, but we were immediately stopped (even before we took out the camera!) by the restaurant hostess!! She said that we were NOT allowed to take pictures at the tables but told us to go visit the Skywalk two floors below. But the Skywalk admission is $13 per person!! The whole reason we went to this place was for the view!!! So disappointed!! The restaurant wasn't even crowded!
(1)Nicholas P.
Excellent service, amazing views (a must see for a visitor) and good food. Maybe not the best restaurant in terms of variety and gourmet taste, but good enough. Pricey by Boston standards, ok by NYC standards
(4)Mike G.
I love this place for a nice dinner out in a romantic atmosphere. :-) The view is fantastic, as are the food and drinks, and so far I've had great service on every visit (3 visits under the belt so far). I'll admit, this isn't the best steak I've ever had (that would be in Nashville if you're curious), but they do a good job and so far it's always been very well cooked and well seasoned as well. There was only one visit where it was a LITTLE "chewy" but I ordered a more meaty (less) fat piece of steak too. So possibly a combination of my selection and their preparation of it - hard to say. Service has always been great, friendly, and prompt. The server has always been attentive to everyone at our table, and offers suggestion upon request. In one particular visit the server (and chef) was nice enough to swap the side vegetable (which I believe was asparagus) for their whipped potatoes. Which the menu claims they usually will not do, so that was great! (I'm not an asparagus fan at all!) The menu can get a bit pricey, but I believe that's to be expected in settings like these. Overall very nice. On two of the visits I got corner window seat (on the north eastern corner of the restaurant) over looking Boylston. Amazing view, especially at Sunset or dusk. I would definitely recommend this for a romantic dinner get-away.
(4)Krystal L.
You can see all of Boston and it's prettiest at night. I recommend only going for dessert. Lunch and Dinner are not worth it. However, when I went there recently, the hostess wasn't friendly or welcoming at all. Once we were seated, the waiter informed us that there was a minimum amount that we needed to spend. I became a little upset because I had not realized this. I hadn't thought to check because there was no minimum the last two times I went. Both times were at night around dinner time. That was many years ago so things must have changed. It was not worth the price. I recommend going once to see the view of Boston at night but check their website. After I had to pay the minimum, I went online to check. If you go at a certain time then you can avoid the ridiculous minimum requirement.
(3)Nina S.
This place is amazing!!!! Let's start with the view -- you see whole Boston downtown lit up and it's just breath taking!!! Food is fresh and tastefull... My fiance has steak and I had salmon... both meals were cooked to perfection and tasted delish!!!! We are so planning on going back to Top of the Hub....
(5)Christina V.
On our last night in Boston we decided to come here for a drink and dinner. As soon as the elevator doors opened up the lovely hostess asked when our reservation was and checked us in. She directed us over to the bar where we ordered a cocktail and waited for our window table to be ready. I had the Tropical Splash.. it was divine. Sweet with a little kick at the end. A few minutes later our table was ready so we sat down and enjoyed our ice water and bread along with the most beautiful view of the city. We barely spoke the first few minutes except to point out all the different things we saw. After reading over the menu I decided on the Lamb Shank while my fiance ordered the Salmon. Both dishes were perfect. I loved every single thing on my plate as did my honey. We clinked our glasses together periodically as we enjoyed these delectable creations. All in all this place is pretty much amazing. From the time we arrived to the moment we left we were laughing and smiling. Something magical happens up there.
(5)Bobby B.
Great food and excellent views of the city. Perfect place to take a date. Very romantic. Overall: A-
(4)Daniel R.
Is $9.50 for two basic cups of restaurant coffee ridiculous? Of course it is. But you can't dwell on that. You have to go into Top of the Hub with the same attitude that you go into Disney World with...you're going to spend some money; if you stress over every penny, you'll ruin the experience. We went for brunch...fixed price of $39 for yogurt, choice of appetizer, choice of entree, and dessert. I had gingerbread pancakes, duck confit hash, and a key lime tart. Everything was good...not as good as you'd get at a typical breakfast joint, but typical breakfast joints aren't 52 floors off the ground providing panoramic views of the city. It's no secret to anyone that Top of the Hub is built on the "more style than substance" principle, but it's still worth a visit.
(3)Doug J.
(score 1-100) - 85. SECRET: I'm starting this review with the best part, the SECRET! People usually come here once on a big date or anniversary but this People ask how do you eat here so often... Are you some sort of secret Billionaire? No, you don't have to blow 200 plus to eat at the Top of the Hub. First, get your seat. Always request a window seat, it's really the biggest reason to be here is the view! They will bring you the dinner menu but here's the SECRET: ask for the bar/pub menu. Essentially this is the lunch menu. I typically order the Black bean burger for 12 bucks or Turkey club for 14. Essential with tip you can eat with a guest for under 35 bucks at the Top of the Hub! Another thing that I do is order 4-5 appetizers and between two people it's pretty filling. Note: I've had a few instances where they've told me to move (hopefully you are thick skinned) to another section but for the most part it's not that full and they are pretty relaxed about seating. This is a great place too to get drinks. It's up on the 52nd floor so great views and what better vibe than looking over the city with cocktails and friends!
(4)Ashley P.
I was pleasantly surprised by my visit to the Top of the Hub. I had heard mixed reviews, many saying that the food wasn't worth the price. But I feel very differently. Granted, we went during restaurant week at lunch; however, they have a similar lunch menu every day. We started with the calamari which we added to the meal. It was the best calamari I have ever had! I couldn't stop eating it. I then had a beat and cheese salad which was extraordinary and my boyfriend had the potato soup. He liked the soup but would have preferred it warm (we went during the summer so it was meant to be served chilled). We both had the panko crusted scallops which were divine. We both also loved the dessert. We also had a few drinks, and even though they are expensive I definitely had a good buzz going after the first one (and I am not a light weight!). But of course lets get to the real point... the view. It was completely incredible. Absolutely the best view in Boston. The tables all have cushiony seats that makes you want to sit there for hours. The service was also excellent. It was totally worth the money and I will be back!
(5)Amy X.
Very reasonable prices for delicious, strong drinks, appetizers and desserts. Get a table... it's well worth the minimum, which you can easily meet without feeling ripped off. Otherwise you sit at a bar that blocks your view, which defeats the point of going to the top of the tower. The Baked Brie is amazing. The molten lava chocolate cake with heavenly coconut ice cream is good, but if you have to pick just one dessert, get the cookie platter. The cookies (3 each of chocolate chip, peanut butter, sugar, and white chocolate chip fudge) are amazingly gooey inside while just firm enough on the outside to pick up without it crumbling everywhere. The drinks are amazing and the same price you'd pay at any decent bar. The Ginger Lemon Drop and Italian Cherry Champagne my friends had were good, but the winner of the night was the Blackberry Goose.... with Grey Goose, muddled blackberries, and other deliciousness. And the drinks are strong, so just one plus the Baked Brie and/or a dessert will put you in a very happy place.
(5)Anna V.
I had my boyfriend take me here for my birthday, and loved every bit of my time here. I requested a window seat which they had reserved for me on my special day, overlooking Boston over a glass of Chianti was heaven enough. But I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of food they presented to you while we were waiting on our order. Our waiter was so personable and friendly, and recomended a wine to go with my chicken dinner. The food is absolutley worth the price and the ambiance. I can not wait to go back to this beautiful place.
(5)Lilie N.
I didn't eat here, but came for some wine and dessert. Had no reservations, just spontaneously came here for the heck of it after dinner. They graciously seated us right away by the window where you can see all of Boston and near the band. Our server was a beautiful exchange student from Ireland if I remember correctly, very , fun, and a breath of fresh air. She told us of her journey and I was happy we met her. The restaurant seems fancy and potentially snooty, but they were so laid back with us walking the restaurant to check out all the different views. Definitely a romantic place with a live jazz band. Try this place out for a nice date night.
(4)Paul C.
When you come here, you're definitely paying for the view. I came here with some co-workers as we were looking for something to eat and this place seemed like it should have good food since it comes with a very nice view of Boston. When we first arrived, the hostess greeted us and we asked her how long it would take for a table for 3 and she mentioned it would take about 45 minutes but that we could start in the lounge right away which we agreed to. I don't know if she's required to tell people there is a $24 minimum per person but she probably assumed because were were wearing jeans and not all dressed up that we were poor and could not afford the food. Little did she know, were in town for work and wanted to relax, hence the jeans. Anyways, on to the food. I ordered the clam chowder to start with since I figured we were in New England I should get something that is local to the area. The clam chowder was more like clam soup as it was not as thick as I think it could have been and it wasn't as hearty as the price would indicate. My co-worker had the lobster soup and he said it was pretty good. For the entree, I had the burger which was cooked a perfect medium and was excellent. The bun they used for the burger complimented it perfectly. My co-workers had a salad and a pasta dish which they also said was good. We also had cocktails during our meal and I can say they definitely aren't known for pouring stiff drinks and they are pricey too. Overall, it was a pleasant dining experience and I would come back next time I'm in Boston. I would have given it 4 stars but since the hostess seemed to assume we couldn't afford their place, I had to take away one star.
(3)Andrew S.
Positives: Classy, well lit, great wine. The staff made my special night (my proposal to my fiance) very memorable... they were so friendly, set up the most beautiful table, and helped me in every way I needed. The table was perfectly placed overlooking our university to the North and downtown Boston. They gave us complimentary champagne to end a very nice night... Averages: The food... not bad, but not amazing, "this changed the way I view cuisine" food. Which is a shame, considering that it could be. I had a huge veal steak that was well prepared but a bit on the salty side. Negatives: None
(4)Kerry T.
I was in shock when I got there. I've always had a great experience there. However, this time was horrible and I bought a visitor to see the great City of Boston. We were not acknowledged when we first walked in, so we sat at the couches. Saw an open table and asked if it was ok, and told that all seats where first come. We sat there and was told that we needed to leave because there is a group that just walked in and ask for a table by the window. I was going to say something but then just walked away and waited for another table to open up. I did also, let the numerous amount of hostess that was just standing there that I wanted a table at the window. During the whole time (15 minutes) we were never asked for drinks by the waitress. We flagged her down and she finally took our order but with an attitude. I was so apologetic to my friend and said that this is not the typical service we get here. We got our drinks and asked for the tab right away because we didn't want to stay any more. It took her over 20 minutes to get the bill. She rather chat with the other hostess and bartenders then assist customers. THAT IS YOUR JOB as a waitress. If I could give minus stars then I would. I will never bring a visitor there again.
(1)john d.
Went for a Restaurant Week lunch and was pleasantly surprised. I had heard that the food at TOTH was not so great, that it was a tourist trap, and the waiters were rude and not trained properly. I had the Chicken Fricassee which was delicious! (Pleasantly surprised!) The waiter was helpful and courteous. (Another surprise!) We went on a very clear and sunny day, and the view is breathtaking! Especially if there are a lot of empty tables, you can walk around the dining room and take in the view. A must see...but only on a clear day! Again, RW prices (for lunch) are $20.11...not bad! 2 coffees were $9.50 ($4.75 for a cup?) Soda Water was $3.75.....same with diet coke. Overall, a pleasant lunch, bill was $61.22.....good food, service wonderful view! Do it once!
(3)Holly G.
I have only had dessert here and the people I was with had drinks and calamari. I enjoyed my dessert but thought it was pretty small for the high price tag. My sister loved her calamari, which she always orders here. And my boyfriend had an espresso martini which he thought lacked cream. I love the views from Prudential. So I would say go to this place for the views and maybe a beer or cocktail. (Both of which also have a high price tag too, though). It is also full of tourists or people on dates. So if you aren't either of those you might feel out of place. Also, dress nice! Or you will also feel out of place.
(4)Karla g.
The view from the top was worth a million bucks. The drinks in there were very good and the bartenders were generous. I would definitely go back there on my next Boston adventure.
(5)Katharine T.
We went for jazz and dessert, and didn't eat dinner. None of the desserts looked great. My roommate got the lemongrass parfait, which was mediocre, and I ended up getting the hearts of romaine, which was way overpriced for a caesar salad. We hung around for a while, had a couple of drinks, and ordered the brie appetizer (Our waitress must have been so confused), which was deeeeeeeelicious. Absolutely delicious. Eat the brie. Trust me.
(3)Ross G.
Been several times for lunch and dinner! It's great really like the chicken and chowder! Def will be back soon!
(4)Karla V.
This was one of my favorite places to take visitors from out of the city. The view is amazing!! But the last two times the service been very bad.
(2)Jussy F.
I came here with my sister for pre-dinner drinks. We scored a window seat in the lounge area with a gorgeous view obviously. We had a bottle of pink champagne between us and decided to get the Brie with Walnuts which was absolutely delicious. It was a bit small, but we were going on to dinner later so that was fine by us. I also had their "late harvest margarita" which had an amazing flavour to it. I understand all the gripes about being too pricey, and the staff were all very serious, so I can see where that could be taken as being snooty. But for us it was a perfect start to the evening and well worth the money.
(4)Liz S.
Everything I am about to say is just stating the obvious.. And for the people who come on here and complain about the pricing... Its Boston, its the top of the prudential center, of course its going to be expensive! Look at the menu online before you go. I went last night for my anniversary with my boyfriend, and we had an amazing time! Everything from the service to the food to the view. They have many employee's at your beck and call if you need anything, whether your trying to find a seat at the bar, or just simply find the bathroom. The bar staff was excellent, they even say cheers after they hand you your drinks which we loved. I recommend the blueberry mojito, yummm! Our waiter (unfortunately I do not remember his name) was excellent! Very attentive, he didnt rush us, very friendly and explained everything in detail when we asked questions. He even offered to take a picture for us. My boyfriend left him a great tip, and the waiter came back afterwards and shook his hand and thanked him. The food was delicious! We asked for an appetizer that we didnt see on the menu, and he made it happen! Overall great experience, it is the perfect place for a special occasion. And I dont think I need to compliment the view! It's simply beautiful!
(5)Angela M.
Very classy place! Do not even think about going there in regular clothes or after a ball game, and especially with a drunken party bus crew! haha. okay, so we were drunk and loud got kicked out. But anyways, this is a very nice place to bring a date and for a view of the whole city. Just remember that there is a spending minimum and reservations are highly recommended except in the lounge area, which features live jazz.
(2)Rachel D.
the view is fantastic. the food.. not so much.. I could have gotten that meal at a million other restaurants. The dessert was pretty good, but I don't go to a nice expensive restaurant for their desserts. Make your cuisine a little bit more flavorful and hip, maybe then I will like your food more Top of the Hub.
(2)Ashley G.
The view was great, obviously. For our entree we both had the hake special, incredible. The menu is pretty limited so I would check it out before you show up : ) Cooked perfectly moist and flaky, the hake sat ontop a medley of lobster and harvest vegetables with a lemon butter drizzle. Amazing!!! The only thing I didn't like was the service...it was a little outdated and just too snooty. I sat down and the hostess tossed my napkin on my lap, awkward... Oh well I deffinately would go back! This is a no jeans
(4)Katherine J.
This place is all about the view. I've been three times and it is a great place to take guests! My only complaint is that I've been to restaurants like this and they rotate 360 degrees so you get complete views (hyatt in KC and tv tower in Berlin) but this place doesn't. Anyways, I suggest going during the afternoon and just getingt a drink.
(4)Dara S.
I have been to Top of the Hub previously, and one other time for restaurant week. I was beyond impressed to see a restaurant functioning so fluidly during restaurant week, and was even more impressed by the caliber of the food. It keeps getting better and better every time I go. I am obsessed with the creme brulee. But, the thing that really wowed me this time, was the service. It has been much lousier in the past - rude waiters, girls who seem to know nothing. The waitress, Cara that we had last night was incredible. All four of us at the table have worked in the restaurant industry in the past, and it is sometimes hard to just sit back and relax when we go out. Cara nailed it with wine suggestions, timing of the courses, and overall knowledge of the menu. She was friendly and enthusiastic and we all really appreciated that. She really helped make our night special, and to be honest - if the food was terrible I would still probably come back. Also - I think David? was the bartender, and he made our drinks perfectly and did not even hesitate when we started asking him for something off menu. Thanks Dave! Long paragraph short - I highly recommend Top of the Hub! I actually forgot about the view I had such a great time.
(5)Christopher M.
I hadn't been to the Top of the Hub in a few years. Last night I picked a friend up from the airport and wanted to welcome her back with a nice drink and maybe desert. She had never been to the Top and we had dinner nearby, so I figured it was a good time to go back. I've been to the Top of the Hub for dinner only a few times - the food was always good, the wine menu solid, service was hit or miss and prices were outrageous, but it was a great spot for a big date. Shows you how few 'big dates' I've had. However, I used to love coming to the bar/lounge - they'd have great jazz playing in the corner and you could just waltz in, grab a bar stool or chair, and enjoy the view over a martini. But some things have changed... The first thing I noticed this time is that they've remodeled since I was last there - they've now moved the bar seats to the other side of the bar, away from the window, thus blocking the bar patron's view with the back of the bar. Furthermore, the remodel has split the 'bar/lounge' into two separate entities - a bar and a lounge. You can still walk in a grab a seat at the bar, which is now limited to one of maybe a dozen stools in a cramped hallway. You now have to wait to be seated in the lounge, which carries a $24 per person minimum. In fact, it seems like you can't even get a drink and walk into the lounge - the couple next to us at the bar last night tried this and was asked to return to the bar. So in essence, the Top of the Hub has gotten cheap on us - the view no longer comes with your bar tab, you have to pay extra. Fortunately our bar tab was well over the $24 per person minimum, so we moved from the bar to the lounge as soon as a table was available. So here are my suggestions for your TOTH experience: This is the definition of the perfect date restaurant. It's also a great place to bring friends and family from out of town. I've been here eight years, and I'm still impressed with the view. Try to sit on the east side of the restaurant - downtown Boston, Cambridge and the river is a much more impressive view. Skip dinner - you can get a better meal for less elsewhere in the city, and still come here for drinks & desert. I'm not a big fan of sweet drinks, but everyone I know who is LOVES their martinis. The best value item on the lounge menu is the cookie plate. For $13 you get a dozen warm, gooey cookies and a small dish of ice cream.
(3)Bethany F.
Go here for drinks and apps in the lounge. It's the best way to experience this place (I personally think the meals here are awfully expensive for what they are, and the whole Top of the Hub experience can be enjoyed just as much with drinks and apps only). But hey, if you have the money, go for it, it's not disappointing by any means. AMAZING view. Seriously. Go for at least a drink, just to look at Boston Harbor, Southie, Back Bay, and over the Charles to Cambridge. ESPECIALLY go here if you're new in town or a tourist, you will not get a better view anywhere in the city. I had the most delicious caipirinha here that has changed my outlook on life (ok, slight exaggeration, but it's sooo good). The flatbreads are delish. The little Reuben Rolls have the perfect amount of sauerkraut. The staff here is very helpful and top notch. The waiter once had the bartender remake a specialty martini 3 times to try to get it right for me (not on the menu, but I asked if the knew how to make a key lime pie martini. it turned out they did not, in fact, know how to make it...but boy did they try hard). I appreciated the thought and the time he put into it. p.s. Gentlemen, this is the PERFECT little date night surprise for the love of your life...*hint hint*...go ahead, win yourself some brownie points and take her here.
(4)Julie F.
We came here for drinks one night when we had some friends in town. There was a long wait for a table, so we decided to just stand at the bar. We asked the hostess about the couches, and she said that we could sit at them when someone got up. Well, some people got up. When we went to sit down, someone else stopped us and said that since we started drinking at the bar, we could not sit there. We told the man what the hostess had told us, and he brought over some other lady who said the same thing that he said. I was really bummed. I wanted to order the cookie platter and have a drink or two. Instead, we all finished the drinks we had ordered at the bar and left. The view was really pretty, but the drinks were very expensive and the service sucked.
(1)Dinara E.
We went to the lounge for lunch because both of us have been here before for dinner services yrs before with others so we wanted to know how the lounge compared. Decided to enjoy the view and grab some food. Well, the kobe hot dogs tasted just that - like hot dogs. They were juicy, plump, and you could hear a nice snap when you bit into it. It comes with a brown mustard relish which didn't add any flavor to it. The best part was honestly the bread! It was buttered, perfectly toasted, and delicious! For $13 - I guess these hot dogs were worth it. I love kobe beef though, and this could have been made out of pork and we would be none the wiser. Which was disappointing. I got the romaine wedge salad which was fine, then the ricotta purses with an amazing cheese sauce and pruscuitto. The dessert was a carrot cake obviously out of the freezer. Nothing special, and too many spices that overpowered it all. He got the mac and cheese specialty - and it was anything but. The cheese sauce was runny and it felt like it was noodles in soup! So here is my favorite part... I just feel that Top of the Hub has gone downhill in the last 3 years. The waitress left our appetizer plates on the table while walking by 3 times and then the same thing happened to our entrees. The table had a little bit of sauces on it because we wanted to share w each other and it wasn't wiped off during the meal. So my issue is with the attentiveness of the staff and also the quality of food I'm paying marked up prices for. How do you expect your guests to come back if I am eating at a dirty table?
(3)Dave K.
5-star views, 3.5-star food, 4-star service, and hefty prices as one would expect. Plus, it doesn't even rotate! Top of the Hub features a bar, a seated cocktail lounge with $24/person minimum charge, and a restaurant that, much to my daughter's disappointment, did not rotate. On arriving, we were offered a chance to wait for a window table, which was nice, and we took them up on the offer, had a nice glass of champagne, and waited in the seated cocktail lounge. About 15 minutes later -- their time estimate was perfect -- we were taken to a nice window table. The service was great. The amuse bouche was a little weird (room-temperature marinated watermelon). I had the clam chowder to start and I did not like it. The soup was very thin (like milk) with a few chunks of potato and clam. Think: thin, milky, lumpy chowder. I'd prefer Legal's any day and it's literally half the price. My guest started with a crabcake which was good, but again not better than Legal's (where we ate the day before) at half the price. For the main course, we each had the surf and turf special. The steaks were outstanding and perfectly cooked. The baked, stuffed half-lobsters that came with them were not so good -- ridiculously overstuffed, kind of like wrapping a lobster in 1" thick of breadcrumbs. We just tasted the crumb layer, found it lacking in any value-add, and scraped it off. The meat underneath was pretty good, though a little dry as grilling lobster always tends to over-dry it. The wine list was very strong, but unfortunately I just went by the glass where the selection was reasonably good. Net: come for the views, not the food. The best deal in town may be having a few drinks and appetizers (to meet the hefty minimum) in the seated cocktail lounge.
(4)Dave W.
My wife and I ate here on our first anniversary in 2008, and we booked it a month in advance. I called to make the reservation, and requested a table with a view. The day before, I called to make sure that we had the view we requested. When we arrived, we were seated against the back wall, with two tables between us and the window. As for the food, the wine was the best part. None of the courses impressed us, and for the price we paid, we felt severely underwhelmed. I definitely don't recommend this place for a romantic evening.
(1)Diane S.
If you want a skyline view of boston go here! I'm pretty sure you don't need to buy a drink, its not like they check. Everything here is expensive, but what do you expect its a one of a kind in boston. Our friend brought us over here and luckily it was located right next to the subway stop. The ambiance was great, there was even live jazz music. There were people making out at the bar & on the dance floor kinda of annoying, I mean what are we in high school, go home!! I had a peach bellini with my friends saw the view, watched a couple waltz & enjoyed the jazz music. Definitely visit with your hubby for a nice classy date in Boston :)
(4)Justin W.
I have now been to Top of the Hub three times. The first time was in 2006 for my sister's engagement dinner, the second time was last year for my 25th birthday, and this past Saturday for my sister's 30th. The first time may be my favorite because it was a new experience, but there was also crazy lightning that night and being so high up the lightning was close enough I felt like I could reach out and touch it. Anyways, the most recent: We arrived shortly before our 6:00 reservation, and there was quite the crowd, which made me a little nervous, but it seemed most people were waiting for a spot at the bar because once we checked our coats we were seated right away. I was so happy there was a table big enough for five right up against the glass as opposed to sitting more in the middle of the dining room as we had the previous times: each of us had a clear view of the city. Our waiter came over, was very friendly and took our drink orders. We were promptly served, ordered regular water as opposed to bottled still water and listened to the specials. The chef that night was making a special aperitif, some kind of a butternut squash and honey concoction that I was skeptical of but was incredible. I would have ordered a bowl of it if I could. First negative: the sommelier dripped wine down my glass. It was pretty noticeable; the least he could have done was take the glass and wipe it. The wine was good, and an easy recommendation (Barbera D'Asti) for $40. I buy it locally all the time (for $14 but that's just how markups in restaurants work). Our appetizers: there was clam chowder (always delicious), spicy lobster soup (which received four thumbs up from my father and my brother in law) and vegetable tempura, a special that night. Dinner arrived nicely paced after our appetizers and, again, was delicious. My tenderloin beef was tasty and the sides of garlic whipped potato and chimichurri were great. The portions are small when compared to Morton's and other restaurants, but the prices are more reasonable and really, are perfectly adequate. Negative number two came as they cleared our dinner plates. A busboy was behind me and taking things off the table. I felt something hit my right arm, but assumed I was in the way of his clearing, so didn't think anything of it. Ten minutes later my mother, sitting to my right, exclaimed in horror about "What is on your arm!" Turns out that the bump was the butter dish and the butter they serve with the (really delicious) bread. As it had been a couple hours, the butter was, naturally, melted, and was spread all over the sleeve of my new suit (see my review of Frank's Tailoring). She wiped it off as best she could with her napkin but there was a noticeable stain. I took it stride but my father was really upset and brought it to our waiter's attention when he came to see how our meals were. He apologized profusely and sent a manager over. She asked what had happened, gave me her card and said that Top of the Hub would pick up the tab for my dry cleaning and comp dessert. She apologized repeatedly. The situation wasn't as catastrophic as my family was making it out to be because accidents happen, but what did bother me was the busboy must have seen what he did and didn't say anything or apologize. Did he think no one would ever notice? Dessert was delicious (and free), I ordered the warm chocolate cake, and the evening ended on a high note. The waiter apologized to me personally that it had happened as we were leaving. I give it 4 stars for a couple of reasons. First the sommelier incident which isn't much of a big deal but is just something you don't expect at a restaurant like Top of the Hub. Second is the butter incident. Third, their beer list is really....dismal. Our waiter actually apologized to me when I asked "What Belgians do you have?" and he sheepishly answered, "None". He and I laughed as he recited the list of imports, which was Stella Artois (great) Heineken (OK) and Amstel Light (really?) I was pining for a Duvel or Chimay or something, but the Stella was fresh and is always tasty. People say "you pay for the view" and, sure, you do, but the food has always been good each of the times I've been, and for the view you're actually paying less than you would for a meal at Morton's which is in a (nicely decorated) basement. This past time there were lots of pictures being taken, of which we were also guilty and which embarrasses me, but it's a great place for special occasions and special occasions sometimes demand photos. I'm planning to go back for a smaller-scale evening in January, and bought a gift card for my aunt and uncle as a combination Christmas, Birthday, Anniversary gift, so I have no trouble recommending it. With an appetizer, entree and dessert expect to pay about $65 per person, then add on drinks / wine, which ranges from $35 to over $500 per bottle. Good food and service, awesome management and view.
(4)Robby W.
I went to Top of the Hub on Friday night around 9PM to celebrate my fiancee's graduation with her and her family (6 in total) with after dinner cocktails. When we arrived, we were told that we can sit at the bar and order drinks there OR wait in the lobby (an elevator bank right outside the restaurant with no place to sit) for a table (about a 20-30 minute wait). We asked to sit at the bar and order drinks until a table opened up, which was apparently an unreasonable request. We were told that we could sit at the bar but one member of our party would have to stand, by himself, in the elevator bank for 20-30 minutes in order to secure a table (and he couldn't have a drink either since that was not technically part of the restaurant). Considering that the bar was a mere ten feet from the entrance and there was nobody waiting in line, this policy seemed absolutely ridiculous, not to mention the fact that it costs the restaurant quite a bit of money (really, you would rather have someone stand outside than order $12 drinks at the bar?) I have never heard of such a policy anywhere, especially at what is purported to be a classy establishment. In addition, my fiancee's father has been undergoing chemotherapy and has to wear a hat when he goes out. On multiple occasions, staff members asked him to remove his hat as it violated the restaurant's dress code, which forced us to repeatedly explain the reason for the hat. Disclosing their father's cancer to total strangers during an evening that was supposed to be a celebration was rather painful and I would think that, after seeing the initial awkwardness and discomfort that this caused all parties involved, the staff would make sure not to repeat the same mistake twice. No such luck. And considering that he was wearing a coat and slacks, and we dined at four of the nicest restaurants in Boston that weekend without anyone else asking such a moronic question, this was simply another reflection of the incompetent and tactless service at what should be an amazing place to celebrate special occasions with friends and family. Until Top of the Hub stops acting like a second rate night club, with ridiculous and inflexible "door policies" and an insensitive, rude and obtuse staff, I won't be coming back.
(1)Dawn E.
Let me begin by saying I have never had food at the Top of the Hub. My boss loves it, so I hear, but I do not go there to eat. I go to the Top of the Hub to drink. Specifically in the afternoon. On a weekend. The restaurant part if usually closed so I couldn't get food if I wanted to (although I have a feeling I'm lying a little and MAY have had an appetizer at the bar but I don't remember it much so I won't commit). I go to the Top of the Hub to drink. Specifically, to drink overpriced martinis with my out-of-town friends while I point out the window all of the places I plan on making them walk to in the next few hours. Sure, we could go up to the Skywalk, but why pay them when I can pay the Top of the Hub AND have a martini for my money to boot? Every time a new friend comes to visit from another state I take them on pretty much the same route, with basically the same stops (tailored, of course, to their personal tastes) to show them the things I love about Boston (some of which are touristy, and most of which are not). The Top of the Hub is almost always where this trip begins, if if it isn't, it's where it ends (to show them where they've been). This is why I love the Top of the Hub. PS The martinis, though overpriced, are really really good.
(4)Manfred S.
One star for the view and one star for the band on Saturday night. On a clear night the view approaching Logan is just as good. Everything else was somewhat dull. There were lots of empty tables, but they still wanted $24 minimum consumption per person on a table. This made us really feel welcome. We just went there after dinner to show the view a visitor and grab a drink. It was too dark to see much anyway so we went to the bar, which was as empty as the tables. Substance? Not really! $12 for a Pinot Noir that is mediocre at best is rather silly. As the driver I couldn't sample more. Cocktails were okay though - I heard from my companions - but I didn't verify their claim.
(2)Robert C.
Came here for my 2 year anniversary with my girlfriend and had a good time. We had dinner elsewhere and came here afterwards for dessert and drinks in the lounge. It's a great place to celebrate an occasion, or even to just have drinks. I think my favorite thing about my experience here was the live jazz band that played. I'm a huge fan of live jazz, and it was really nice to have that in the background while we were having dessert. Their chocolate lava cake is amazing, and it's served with strawberry ice cream on the side and I think it just completes each other. As with any high class restaurant there is a elaborate wine and drink list. Had a very nice Riesling that went very well with my dessert.
(4)EricaLynn J.
The enjoyment of a spectacular view wears off pretty much about twenty seconds after you've sized it all up, pretended to find your house, and hear someone undoubtedly say, "wow, we're really high up!" The chance of sitting by a window during your dining experience is not guaranteed so the food and service really have to be pretty wonderful, given the price tag and hype. And I've found that it's very hit or miss. The first time I dined there, I went for lunch and had a prix fixe menu and the portions were decent, the food was decent, and I wound up foregoing the dessert part of my meal because they only served cheesecake for that particular day, and I do not eat cheesecake. I liked my entree and appetizer enough, however, to gladly return a few months later for dinner. Dinner was also similarly "meh". Nothing really blew me away. A few other times, friends and I went there for drinks and apps after work (I worked in the same building) and I found that to be the most satisfying kind of experience there. But again, it was pretty costly, and it dawned on me that I could just go to Dillon's or any of the myriad of places nearby serving drinks and apps and get the same quality food and not empty my wallet.
(2)Scott B.
If I was rich I would go to the Top of the Hub all the time If I was rich I would order the five course dinners that are over $100 with special wines with each course If I was rich I would take every first date to the the Top and win their hearts over with the amazing view of Boston If I was rich I'd pay the hostess off to give me a table by the window on each of those first dates If I was rich I'd go to the Top every day just to hang out and drink fancy martinis... even if it was raining If I was rich I'd leave those awesome servers a 100% tip every time If I was rich I'd probably move to a different country.
(4)Beth G.
I can't believe after over thirty years of living in this city I have never been to the Top of the Hub before last night. Growing up the mention of it would always conjure up thoughts of super stuffy, pretentious, and expensive and since obviously no one loved me enough to take me there - I thought I'd finally check it out for myself last night. The views - I mean, you just can't beat them. Amazing. The service - attentive, personable, knowledgeable. The food - no complaints from my table and they are a tough group. The clientele was completely a mixed crowd of well dressed couples, casual families with infants, and even an Amish family of about ten (which is a rare sight in the city and rather cool) - in other words, anyone would be comfortable here. I will definitely be back - likely for drinks at the bar which is not too large but there was plenty of seating for the after work crowd. If you're a single fellow this may be the place for you - lots of women in pairs dressed to kill.
(4)A. A.
The view is amazing. When you sit next to the window you think it's like you're soooo above the others and everything. Wait staff is very friendly, food comes fast. No matter what time you go there you will be amazed of the view. At nights they have this jazz band, and I'm not big fan of the jazz, but their music, just make you feel very calm and relaxed especially if it happens to go there after a busy day, but even not, you still be surprised how "soft" the jazz there is. The music, the drinks, the view and the staff will make your day/night.
(5)Tim B.
Dreadful. Calling the food average would be generous, and the service was unforgiveable for such a place. The waiter was inattentive, but on the few times he managed to interact with us gave the impression that we were keeping him from something much more pressing and enjoyable. The spinach salad was a soggy affair, drowned in an unpleasant dressing. We both had steaks that would have been passable at a chain restaurant in a mall...on a bad night. I had to ask for a second glass of wine, but then it wasn't delivered until near the end of the mains. In short, very poor delivery of what is intended to be a special experience.
(1)Jeffrey H.
This review is specifically for the bar, so if you're looking for food information, move along. Kthxbai. First of all (as everyone has mentioned), the view is incredible. Walk around and absorb what is Boston on the top floor of one of its highest buildings. The view alone is worth one visit, even if you end up hating the drinks/food. As for the bar, the service was professional and courteous. Our bartender was attractive and resulted in the left number of myself and one of my hags (sexuality couldn't be determined, so he had two options just in case). The drinks were tasty, although rather expensive. Overall, I'd come back for only a couple drinks to save some credit debt. There's something to be said about sipping a cocktail and enjoying the spectacular view of the city you call home. And just to keep you up to date, the bartender called neither of us. I guess he's asexual. Yup, that must be it.
(4)Jeff K.
Dear Top of the Hub, Situated on the top of Boston, you've crowned yourself king of the city with your extravagant view and intimidating menu. Exclusive ambiance paired with a breathtaking location. You're atmosphere is hip, yet professional, and I enjoy your live music. So I came here for drinks and desserts and was very impressed with the restaurant. Yes, I was a first-time Boston visitor, but this is a restaurant worth checking out regardless of how many times you've been to bean town. Shared a bottle of Red Zin and their dozen cookies, which is an overload of sin for me even on vacation. The Zin was decent and well-served. The cookies were amazing, but I didn't expect anything less. This is a pricey high-end place and you should get what you pay for. Will definitely come back for a date or important meeting. This is a place to "show-off" to clients and girls if you are looking for an upscale spot in town.
(5)Corey H.
Terrible experience. Avoid this tourist trap.
(1)Raoul C.
Gorgeous view, strong dirty martinis, expensive ($11/drink) but worth it once in a while. The music is appropriately subdued, jazz or something lounge-y usually keeping the crowd aurally content. Bring an out-of-towner here at sunset in the fall/winter, or at night. They'll freak out, and just might buy the next round.
(3)John S.
The view is the only thing that saved it from a 2 star. Service.. it was good not spectacular but solid good. waiter attentive, no rushing,friendly Atmosphere, it was just ok, the view was really nice, but with it seemed everyone there that had never been there before. lots of people were taking pictures it really distracted. not only taking pictures of the view but of their food etc.. it seemed as if most of the people there had never been to so a restaurant such as this ( food/ price wise not only view wise) Wine list was robust and decent Food... i was a little disappointed as I expected some solid tasting. The lobster soup was very tasty..... the bread tasty as well. however the entree of veal tenderloin was rubbery? even with a medium cooking, taste it was so so nto spectacular. My wife's lamb shank large but .. not very tasty , it was just ok, her gnocchi apps were like butter and great however. Dessert was good, some pineapple type and her creme brulle were ok, I've had better. All in all if people stopped taking pics of their food every 2 minutes and random people walking to the windows taking photos away from the atmosphere. it would be ok and bearable, but i doubt if I'll ever go back again Again it seemed a very touristy first time in a nice restraurant place where they sort of rely on" the view " to carry them mostly.
(3)Trevor B.
I've lived in Boston for a year, but I'd never seen anything like the view of it at Top of the Hub, located at the 52nd floor of the Prudential Tower. I came here for Sunday brunch on a beautiful summer day. $39/person is pretty steep, but if you think of it as paying for the view as well as good food, it's well worth it. I appreciated that they offered vegetarian options (though vegans would have a hard time here). I found the service to be friendly, enthusiastic, and not too pretentious. Although the dining room's dress policy is officially "business attire required," it was a hot day and no one batted an eye at customers wearing shorts.
(4)Chz S.
Visited here last month during a vacation to Boston. Wanted to visit a spot with a nice view and good food and a place to celebrate our anniversary. The room is quite nice, looks newly renovated, with tasteful furnishings and beautiful floral arrangements. Unfortunately, it rained the day we dined there so there was no view to speak of but I'm sure it would have been quite nice! There's a terrific wine and cocktail list. My martini was one of the strongest that I've ever had -- that could either be good or bad, depending who you ask. :) The tables are somewhat close together so this is not the place if you need total privacy. The prices are what you'd expect for this kind of view restaurant but the portions are also very large so it's a decent value. I had a double cut pork chop that was way too much food for one person to eat. A nice spot. No regrets about picking this spot.
(4)Andrea H.
What a dissapointment! TOTH could derive a great deal of inspiration from Capital City Grill in Portland,OR. My husband took me here for my Birthday dinner a few months back, and I was excited to go as I had wonderful experiences at another skyline view restaraunt (see mention of Portland,OR above). We were expecting quite a bit more than what we recieved during our dining room experience here. Our waiter had a European accent which is not enough to distract me from the high food and drink prices and mediocre food. Our experience was just that: Mediocre. My husband ordered the mushroom ravioli and it was undercooked and completely devoid of any flavor whatsoever, though it was thoroughly saturated in butter. I ordered a seafood entree and had an identical experience. I just don't get it: this place is a completely unique dining venue.....there is none like it in the city. It really doesn't take much to create a tasteful menu: even a dash of salt goes a long way toward this. In my opinion this place needs a complete overhaul. Ditch the high-brow facade and turn it into an upscale loungy atmosphere with excellent fresh and comfort foods. There is so much potential here! There are many places in the city where one can buy upscale seafood and meat...this place is absolutely not one of them. Once my wallet recovers from the shock, I'll be heading to one of my favorite neighborhood locales to enjoy a fantastic meal for less than half the price of this one.
(2)Julie A.
If you live in Boston, you do have to go to the Top of the Hub. It's just one of those things. The view is breathtaking - even in bigger cities, there's just nothing like it. I have a few suggestions for making your experience a little more enjoyable. 1. Check the weather. You're going for the view, so if it's cloudy, make alternate arrangements. 2. Eat somewhere else. The food is passable, but there are so many other places in this fair city where you can spend the same amount or less for (much) better food. 3. Dress up. It's more fun. 4. Walk the perimeter. The view: Drink it in, mmm, it always goes down smooth. If you walk down the hall, past the restrooms, there's a spectacular view of Fenway Park and you can linger without getting up in the grills of other diners. 5. Drink. It's a beautiful night, you're well-fed, dressed up and surrounded by 360 degrees of gorgeous. Who cares if the drinks are expensive?
(3)Cherie C.
You can pay a fee to hit the observation deck of the Prudential Center. Or you can use that money to buy a cocktail at Top of the Hub. Why not get a view AND a drink for your money? The drinks here are good, and they have a decent wine selection. The food is pretty good too. I don't think I'd go here just to eat, but when friends visit this is a nice stop on the Boston tour. It's classier than most tourist destinations. The food is better than average and the price is not as bad as you'd think for a restaurant known for more for its views than it's menu. I don't even remember what we've ordered, but I do remember thinking it was well-prepared, not just something they threw together to make money while people look out the window. We even said we might go back for dinner again. One menu item we recommend for a group: the cookie plate. Order some coffee and the plate of fresh-from-the-oven cookies. Mmm...
(4)Andy M.
I give this place a poor rating because the food and experience was average but I think a restaurant at the top of the Prudential Center should be held to a higher standard!! I took my girlfriend here this weekend for our second anniversary and we were disappointed with the experience. When I made the reservation I requested a window seat. Although they say they cannot accomodate all window requests, I made the reservation over a month in advance and have a hard time believing that all of the other tables who were granted window seats were celebrating such an important occassion. I think the restaurant rests too much on their nice view. The service was just OK. The food was barely warm and average at best (not worth the $$) and when our plates arrived, they just dropped them almost knocking over drinks and appetizer plates. The only enjoyable part of the experience was the dessert. To their credit, they wrote "Happy Anniversary" in chocolate on the rim of our plates..thank you! In summation, we can now say that we had dinner at the Top of The Hub but we will not be returning. The view is nice but I would ultimately like to dine at a good restaurant. Stay on the ground and go to Hamersley's or Eastern Standard.
(2)Catie C.
Last night was perfect for viewing the skyline of Boston. I sat down at the dining room and was still able to here the live jazz from the lounge which was cool. Either I have a bad memory or they just started implementing $25 min table charge for dining room. The hostess said that there is a $25 table min or we can head to the lounge or bar. I ordered my usual, clam chowder and mussels. I had a berry martini to go along with it. It had a very yummy slice of pineapple and rasberry garnishing the martini. I don't know why; but this is one of the few places that I drink martinis. Perhaps, it's a instinctive trust that the bartenders here will make a good martini. The clam chowder is distinctive to this place. Noone else can beat it being watery. Honestly, I just order it because I like the style of the bowl and not particularly for the chowder which I think should be called soup instead! The mussels were OK. A huge plateful so I think it's worth the $15. It came with toasted bread which was very good.
(3)Joe W.
Every time I reserve at the Hub the food, seating and the dress code is slackened. It's almost like they're trying to make money by letting as many in as possible. Don't get me wrong, this was not exactly an elitist dining local but since lifting the dress jacket and no jeans requirement the bar crowd has taken over a once romantic setting. The dream of all reserving for a date is a window seat and in fact this is nearly impossible. Instead, you spend most of your night looking over someone's plate, craning over their meal for a view. If you are lucky enough to have secured a window seat it doesn't matter how the food is, the view is that important. Lighting is perfect, table setting and space is optimum. You don't have to shift items around to accommodate plates as there's enough room to place and enjoy. Wine list is great, full of popular and little known gems. Food is hit or miss. What I mean by that is that the menu is small and your taste has to be quite diverse to appreciate one or maybe two on the pamphlet. When the food is a hit you'll excuse the baseball parlance, a home run - it adds to a memorable night. When not a hit it's regulated to a conversation piece as the expectation is so high. I do love this place and will continue to return.
(4)Chris D.
Top Of The Hub is one of my go-to bars for the proverbial "drink after work." It's overpriced for what it is - the food is uninspired and the ambiance starts and stops with the view. Sometimes, there's a too-loud jazz band. However, the view absolutely cannot be beat. You're on the 50-whatever'th floor, overlooking the entire city of Boston. You can walk almost full circle and point out the sights to your guests. On a clear day you can see the Blue Hills and even catch a glimpse of the Cape. The bar is moderate sized with good space between the tables. I've never seen it overly crowded or too loud. Top of the Hub is a good place to go if you actually want to talk to people rather than shout at each other. Top of the Hub tries to be a fancier restaurant, but it can't overcome the fact that it's a tourist destination situated in a mall. It straddles an uncomfortable divide. It really needs some lower priced entrees, or else to kick out the schlubs and focus on something more interesting than the current American Fusion upscale restaurant standards. Yes yes, seared tuna with a wasabi garnish. I get it. Stop in for a cocktail, and then get food elsewhere. It's also a great place to go with the laptop for a couple of hours in the afternoon to clear your head and do the sort of quiet thinking that requires a view.
(3)Lameer Y.
went there 4/5 times :) one of the best restaurant in town..their crab cakes was amazing. i had to order 3 times. city view is awesome. i will go back again and agin.
(5)Bryan K.
This review is for the bar only. We stopped in here early on a Saturday evening for a few cocktails. The drinks were excellent, lots of great summer cocktails. I wished that the bar addressed the view a little more. We were ther for about 1.5 hours and never really got to get a great look around casue we didn't want to go walking through the dining room and people eating. We stopped at the viewing deck on the 50th floor, but they charged more for that so we just bailed. Excellent bar though, even though they did switch over to Sam Adams Octoberfest on tap while we were there on the first Saturday in August still! Summer isn't even close of over yet! I hate that.
(3)Ciao H.
Like most places in Boston Top of the Hub is way overpriced. That said, the view is spectacular at night and its lovely to hear a jazz band accompanying your dinner there. The food I had was excellent. Safe, but yummy. For the drinks you really have to stick to the menu. I tried to improvise and asked for a sidecar and it was absolutely the worst I've ever had. But when I had a sour apple martini off the menu, it was great. There is this funny $25 minimum you have to spend per person in order to sit at a table, even if there's a bunch of tables open and no one is sitting at them. Its lame, but again, that's Boston for ya. The typical New England attitude of "How much cashola can I squeeze out these yokel tourists before 2am" Ya know. Go for the view, the music, a nice meal and the delicious drinks on the menu. It'll ALMOST make up for the financial assraping you get at the end of the night...
(3)Aisling H.
Me and my husband went here on restaurant week. Our waiter was super kind and attentive, definately the best service I have ever had. The food was decent, I think if we paid full price I would be a bit disappointed and would of expected more. Great view of course, we requested a window table weeks in advance but were not able to honor that which was disappointing. Overall, I would definately come back for drinks/apps just to enjoy the view and possibly again for the restaurant week menu.
(4)Loc H.
the view is seriously amazing. as soon as the fog rolls through, you get a view of everything and it is very very pretty. apparently, you can see this same view if you pay for the deck view, but why not get this for free if you dine in?! i had the roasted chicken and it was great but could definitely be more jazzed up. (it was normal but definitely fulfilled my needs) the chocolate panna cotta tasted like a better version of Jellos fudge. you know, the kind that Cosby eats. I had a good time here, but the food just needs to be a little better. This is a one time deal, but it was well worth it.
(3)Cha Cha W.
# of visits: 9 # of full dinners: 2 # of bar visits: 3 # of unreserved tables sat in: 4 +5 Stars: View of the city (Especially at night) +3 Stars: The bar (Decent place to go to take visitors for a drink) +3 Stars: Live music (Decent jazz band at night) -2 Stars: Poor service (Who's in charge here?) -3 Stars: Quality of food (Bar menu is okay, dinner menu is subpar) -5 Stars: Minimum orders (If you sit, there is a per person minimum spend) --------------------------------------------------Â--------------------------------------------------Â-- =2 Stars Rent is expensive in the Pru and minimum orders is where they gain it all back. There is a $20 something/person minimum when you're not seated for dinner. It might be reasonable If the food was decent and they didn't pressure you to find something. Last time we went for dessert and drinks, we waited 30 minutes for the waiter to come by, then another 45 minutes for a manager to see if it's okay if we missed the minimum by $2 because the waiter doesn't know. On the other hand, the wait staff at dinner was quite nice, wish the quality of food to price ratio was more favorable. Seriously, take your out of town guests, everybody loves to see the city at night. Eat beforehand, you'll all be happier for it.
(2)Lauren E.
In preparation for our special night out, I made a reservation through Open Table. I had to do the reservation a week in advance, and couldn't get a Friday night, had to do Thursday. There was a little spot on the reservation for comments, which I left blank. Upon receiving my reservation, they sent back a generic confirmation, saying that they couldn't honor requests for window tables, or something like that. Wow. What a great idea, requesting a window table; I hadn't thought of that! I almost responded asking for one, just in case, but didn't bother. However, when we got there for our reservation, I asked for a window table, and she said we could wait in the lounge area for 20 min and we could have one! Well, it was a 30 minute wait, but I am glad we did it. If you're going to spend that much money on a dinner, you might as well get all you can from it! I actually really enjoyed most of our food. The pumpkin spice maritini was nasty, though. Tasted all artificial, and like melted candy with vodka. Not something I'd recommend. They allowed us to order calamari off of the bar menu at our table, which was nice. That was tasty, with sauce drizzled all over it. I ordered a beet salad, which was the highlight of the meal. Much to my surprise, there was almost no arugula, just as a garnish on top, but it was great! Unfortunately, the tuna I ordered for dinner wasn't great. I asked for it to me cooked "medium," and there wasn't even a speck of pinkness in it. But it was good for what it was. I'm glad I saved room for dessert, because the warm chocolate cake was incredible! I dock a star from the place because the price was a bit high, and the guilt the next day just wasn't worth it! Once you factor in tip and the cost of the validated parking, it was a lot of money to spend. Without the view and the pretentiousness, I think you could get the same meal for 1/4 of the price elsewhere! But for a fancy dinner out, if you plan right, order right, and tell yourself not to feel guilty, it's a fun experience. Very special, beautiful, and pretty tasty. Just don't plan to have bare shoulders, as it was quite chilly, and I wanted to keep my coat on even over a shawl all night! I think it's worth checking out the lower priced lunch options, and even the lounge area, where you can still get the view, but you seem to get more bang for your buck.
(3)Rob P.
The food is crosshatched with elaborate vinaigrettes. The plating is so good it looks like the ghost of Frank Lloyd Wright erected it. But above all else, Top of The Hub is selling the unparalleled view of Boston. The waiters aren't rueful or glum, despite the artisan properties of the place, and are patient with even the most novice of foodies. I made reservations for my girlfriend's birthday, and they sat us next to the window, so that we could stargaze on the circuit-board of lights at night. I ordered the seared tuna, which came out boasting several tiers of flavor. Good consistency, seasoning, size. Top of the Hub is moderately sheik, especially when it sports the lighting of a noir film. Pretty crowded when we went, but the experience, one of feeling dapper and gussied up with a great view of Boston, was an immediate memory maker. Would recommend for special occasions.
(4)Maleia S.
I've been here a few times and have loved it every single time. It's not just the view, the deliciously strong drinks, and live jazz. The food is decadent. It's filling and perfectly prepared. Your wait staff ensure your enjoyment or they offer alternatives. The view, of course, makes for an incredibly satisfying experience. If you want an exceptional experience in Boston, go to Top-of-the-Hub. It is luxury 52 stories high. :)
(5)Sean J.
Like other reviewers have said...it's really just about the view. The food is pretty meh, especially for the price, but on a nice day you get an amazing view of the entire city and surrounding towns. Parking is a bitch if you're driving in from somewhere else, and you do have to dress up a little (think things like no hats) to go up. If you haven't done it I would recommend going at least once, but check the weather first.
(3)Angel M.
I think I may never come back. Perhaps it was the air of entitlement I gave the restaurant before hand, having lived in Boston for two years before my first experience here or it was the elevated pressure recieved from those around speaking of its greatness. But I thought that this place would be so great, it has some repuation behind it being with a great view in a great location. Boy, was I fully dissappointed, more so then when I found out that there was no bay in the back, years ago. In all actuality, the view was the only good thing here. Our food was like cold and stale feeling. The menu had nothing enticing. My cosmo was super heavy on the alcohol even after I asked for less the second time around. And this rude woman kept walking around practically barking the miminum dollar spending limit like some kind of scary troll, it was such a constant hammering i wanted to tell her to leave or to be quiet, it was so gross and rude to continually remind people and say it with disdain, if for this reason alone I may never come back. Its just like, look, nothing on the menu is cheap, so yeah, we can spend some minimum money here, get over it, you have told us twice, and before we ordered you had told my party three times. I'm sorry, I have money, I dont need your grotesque attitude because I dont look the part. Thanks for that. A truly teeth grinding repetoire we overheard someone else say. We ordered some random dessert to go because, though the view outside was so lovely, the dissappointing food inside along with our far too quiet waitress was just too much to bear. The souffle type chocolate was so sub par. Oh, and we never got bread upon requesting such.
(1)Meghan P.
The view all around is beautiful. I would give the food and the atmosphere both a 5, but all around rating a 4. My boyfriend and I both ordered the price fixed dinner and next time we come here we will just both order an entree that we really want to try. The price fixed menu has VERY limited choices. The food was delicious and the service was okay. Pretty pricey, but worth it for the view :)
(4)Iv L.
uh.. why are you reading review on this place? You come here for the VIEW only , do not expect great food. The food is average. Expect to spend $30/person for lunch and $60/person for dinner. I like the day view better because you get to see more of Boston. The evening view is okay, but worth a visit. If you can't get a window seat, it may not be worth it to come here because you simply come here for the view. :) The waitstaff all pretends to be professional but are just so so.
(3)Tony S.
A place that I hate to love. With the exception of very few tasty menu items (their Thai lobster bisque is phenom), the food is entirely mediocre. I don't think I've ever really loved a single meal in and of itself there in over 10 years (but I admit I'm spoiled). It's like the Jaguar cars of yesteryear. You'd buy one with all these expecations, then get all disappointed every time it broke down every 200 miles. So why do I still regularly go or refer the place to others? The view is spectacular (and the single malt scotch selection isn't too bad either). There are precious few places in Boston with the ambience, view, and ..... well.... view that Top of the Hub offers (did I mentioned the view?). Not a place I'd recommend for fine diners that are accustomed to great NY/LA food, but for the overall experience, it is a must-do. If you're only going to do it once, I highly recommend calling in advance and requesting a window seat. If you don't have a window seat, you can still hang around the bar and look outside, but really...... try to get that window seat. Great for families during the day time (keep the kids at home during dinner), and one of the best places to bring parents visitng from out of town, especially for Sunday brunch. In car terms, it's a Honda....... albeit a souped up Honda.
(3)Adam Z.
I treated my family to a Thanksgiving dinner here and it was not great at all. First I should say we all knew it was a prefixed menu going in. $65 per person we all seemingly liked what we saw on the menu. So we took a chance. First I reserved our table on my card a month in advance. We get there five minutes early and they have us waiting 20 minutes for our table. Then they seat us at a table that's too small for us with no view because the shades are let down. Why they would obstruct the view when people only comw to this place because of the view dumbfounds me. Then we realized that the side we were on was upwards to 90 degrees and we were all sweating. My brother made the hostess aware of all of this. She moved us to a slightly better table but it was a continued horrid experience. The food was all luke warm, the drinks pourly mixed and our waiter seemed over stretched. Also they miscalculated our bill. This place is one of the worst fine dining establishments in Boston. I give them one star for the view that we barely got to see.
(1)Theresa N.
The view was spectacular. The service was wonderful. The food was ehh. Went here on my birthday last year and it was incredibly romantic. We were seated right as the sun was setting and the view was amazing. As far as I could tell, there wasn't a bad seat in the house. We dressed up a little since it was a special dinner but it isn't required. (Although a few people who were casually dressed looked awkwardly out of place.) Service was excellent. Our waiter was so friendly and we even had great conversation-something you would expect more from a good bartender. We had the scallops and bacon to start-small portion but delicious. Our main courses were the salmon for me and the prime sirloin for the bf. The salmon was ok, not great but not horrible. The steak came incredibly dry and overcooked. When we let our waiter know, he was apologetic and quickly got us another steak. It was better but still not very good. Dessert was the creme brulee which was better than the rest of the dinner. Is it weird that I expected amazing food for the price? The bar was crowded the entire night and had a great array of specialty cocktails. There was also live jazz later on in the night which was nice if you could get a seat nearby the stage. Go for the view and ambiance but don't expect too much from the food.
(3)Anna W.
I have been to a lot of restaurants around Boston and love the dining out experience. I have never been so disappointed and downright upset by a restaurant as I was by Top of the Hub last night. To be fair, the view is spectacular, however, the view is just as good two floors down so don't get sucked into paying exorbitant prices for mediocre food just to see the view. The dinner menu: mediocre at best - a few interesting a la carte pieces but on the whole overrated and unimpressive. Their prix fixe menus (both for Restaurant Week and their standards) were discouraging at best. Dessert: Now I love most desserts, and I believe that it is rather hard to screw this up. I ordered their rendition of Boston Cream Cake: The plate was beautiful, I will give it that, but the cake itself was HORRENDOUS. Not just bland or plain or average, it was truly disgusting and if I hadn't paid $10 for it, I would have left it on my plate. The cake was dry, the cream was thick and sticky (not rich and creamy), the chocolate ganache was old and drying, and it tasted like it had recently been defrosted. My boyfriend ordered the date pudding cake which should be full of flavor and that too was a disappointment. The Service: Now here is where Top of the Hub has a chance to excel. Not the case. After seeing the standard menu, we decided that we'd prefer the lounge menu - this turned out to mean that we had to be re-seated in another part of the restaurant - I can both understand and forgive this (except for the fact that the side of the restaurant we were in was half empty). HOWEVER, after being re-seated, we had 3 different waiters, none of whom, shockingly, could be there when we needed them. They were rude, slow, and inconsistent - being asked what I want to drink 3 times is the sign of a poorly run restaurant; then having to wait for that drink makes the problem even worse. Summary: good view, everything else is horrid. Recommendation: Go to McDonald's for dinner (at least that food has flavor) and then go to the 50th floor skywalk instead
(1)Chris S.
Amazing views of Boston. Definitely enhances the experience of eating here. I thought the food was great, however I felt the portions to be slightly smaller than expected. The service was very friendly and knowledgable, however since we weren't a large party (only 2), felt ignored at times. I would recommend this place for bigger parties and anyone looking for a great view of the city while they dine!
(3)Payal P.
was in town for the weekend and it happened to be restaurant week. had a nice prix-fixe with wine pairing - the group all ordered something different so between us we tried everything - it was good nothing great, my shock was the roasted chicken which was done very well. come for cocktails and the view but for the price we paid - have dinner somewhere else.
(3)Fahad B.
Here's a short one to save you some time: Excellent atmosphere, day or night, but better at night Friendly staff Great spot to have drinks after work, with friends or a date Everyone should try it at least once Done.
(4)Marianne S.
I'm writing this review based on two experiences - one about one week ago and one several years ago (because it was so good that I want to mention it). Earlier this month, I met some old friends for dinner here. I chose it because one of them was visiting from out of town and hadn't been there before and both of them are foodies. I'd forgotten how dressy the Top of the Hub is and was wearing jeans and snow boots but none of the staff gave me any looks, which I appreciated. The staff was friendly and helpful, recommending wines and providing insight on our dinner choices. I had one of the prix fixe options and while it was tasty, my seared scallops entrée contained only medium-large scallops with a tiny pile of sautéed vegetable garnish in the middle while the red meat entrées selected by my friends were piled high with food and a hearty starch side. While I was full by the end of the meal, I felt a little cheated since at least one of my friends had chosen the same prix fixe option so our meals were the same price. However, the scallops were very good and I have no real complaints about the meal as a whole aside from my "perceived value" of it compared to the options my friends chose. The view was fantastic, of course, and the ambiance was perfect for us to relax, chat over the meal, and enjoy the view. The meal was pricey but generally worth it and I would have no qualms about coming here again when I want a more high end dining experience. My first visit here was years ago before I'd moved to the area. Some girlfriends and I were out on the town and decided to stop here since I was the tourist in the group and they wanted to show me the view, and because of the warm cookie dessert plate. The cookies and the view were excellent. In fact, I've been meaning to bring my husband, who has never been here, to do something similar late one night again.
(4)Mel D.
Hannah..Hannah..Hannah where did they find that woman to serve as the hostess? She wouldn't last a day at McDonalds let alone a high end restaurant. My friend and I went to Top of the Hub and requested a window seat. We were willing to have several drinks at the bar and wait till a window seat is available. We waited around 40 minutes till Hannah came and said that a table is available. We found that only half of all the tables were occupied and she sat us down in a non-window seat. When we requested if we can move to one of the 5+ empty tables by the window she said "no" and walked away. We asked our server if we can move he said that he can not do that because "others may come in requesting the window seat and it won't be available" Hannah came by again and I asked once again if we can move to the window and she said "NO those are for other guests. I can't talk right now I have to go" and she went and talked to another waitress about her evening last night! We ordered, ate, had some more drinks as for the other guests that sat by the window....well during the 1.5 hours that we were on our table we did not see anyone come in. As for Hannah...I will write to your manager and on every review site till you lose your job.
(1)Sarah B.
We started off being told to wait, even though we had a reservation and the tables WERE NOT NEARLY FILLED. So we stood for 20+ minutes (admittedly we arrived 15 minutes early) before being seated. The view was utterly amazing, and the food matched. Creme brule is a must! The downside - the bill. But this is a spectacular spot for a fancy occasion out with a loved one. A must for any lovers looking to drop serious cash on serious romance.
(4)Elizabeth S.
I had family in town visiting this weekend and after a nice dinner last night, we wanted to go have dessert and a cocktail. I thought Top of the Hub would be the perfect Boston spot for our last outting. The five us headed up and planned to sit in the lounge. However, because of some poor service and inflexibility, we never got that chance. Three of us in our group live in Boston and have been to TOH several times with guests. Always a good if-not-great experience (hence, the second star). However, last night was not the case. We arrived around 9:30pm and stood at the host stand for a minute or two without anyone acknowledging our presence. There was a host on the phone and he appeared to be making a phone reservation. This is fine (didn't expect him to hang up), but he could have given us a simple head nod or mouthed "hello" to welcome us. A few minutes later a hostess arrived. I told her we just wanted to sit in the lounge area for some drinks and dessert. Rather than giving us a genuine welcome or seating us, she immediately barked "it's a $24 minimum! Is he 21?" We were abit taken aback and told her that he (the youngest member of our party) was only 18. "Well then it's a $12 minimum for him" she replied. We paused for a minute to think. "Do you want to sit?" she asked again. We decided to leave. I understand the purpose of a minimum and I'm sure it is necessary at a place like TOH, where people come for the view and may only order a soda, but on a slow night with only one lounge table full, I would think that there would be some flexibility. If there was a line or reservations waiting, I would absolutely understand this policy, but you would think that a restaurant would welcome business on a Monday holiday - especially given the current economy. Granted we were dressed casually and probably screamed "tourist", but the reality is we would have ordered very close to the minimum had we been seated and not treated so rudely. Needless to say, we were all very disappointed. I would like to post a better review of TOH, but I believe that it is how you treat all your guests (not just the regulars/big spenders) that shows your true level of service.
(2)Jamie P.
Honestly the hype is.the view, & grandeur associated with it....I went here for lunch & $6 small cranberry juice & $25 (dont quote me on it) SMALL chicken pot pie...left feeling ripped off...squished the pie with the fork, & all left gooey chicken mess....u will prob leave satisfied if you spend $100 + on urself
(3)amber d.
Dropped by this restaurant on my way to New York, with the help of Yelp of course. I can honestly tell you, you won't be disappointed. Great Food! Cute Bartenders! Amazing Ambiance! A bit on the pricey side...but with the right crowd....what more can you ask for, when you're getting all of the above! I enjoyed my time here and again highly recommend it. I also must've really like this place because I tend to only go on yelp and write angry reviews! Hope this helps!
(4)Angela T.
We went today for a Restaurant Week lunch. I've been to Top of the Hub before (both for previous Restaurant Weeks and just for regular dinner/dessert), and I've always been satisfied but not absolutely WOW-ed. This was pretty much the same. The food was pretty good. The beet salad was simple and small, but the beets were well cooked, and there was just the right amount of cheese and nuts for additional flavor. My scallops were very hot and well-cooked and the risotto was very tasty. The portion was perfect for lunch, too. My chocolate pound cake had a nice taste (the perfect amount of chocolate flavor), but disappointed me by being a bit on the dry side. On the other hand, my fiance's panna cotta was extremely good, with a lovely texture and taste, and a very tangy passion fruit sauce. One big pet peeve: the bread and butter were average. Both were cold and not very impressive, which always turns me off a little at the beginning of the meal. Plenty of restaurants in Boston provide warm, well-baked bread and creamy butter - be like them, Top of the Hub! It makes a much better impression. The service was very good. Our server was attentive, remembered our orders without writing them down (which always impresses me), and cleared away plates and dishes in a timely manner. The courses were brought out reasonably quickly and we spent maybe 45-50 minutes eating, which isn't bad for a three course lunch and comparable to other places I've been. The view, of course, was splendid, especially today with our window seat and the blue sky and puffy clouds. The view is what's supposed to get you, after all. All told, we'll probably be back (at least again at Restuarant Week next time!) - the prices are actually pretty reasonable at lunch, the place is a lot less crowded, and I don't think there is any of their pickiness about spending minimums.
(4)Pilar P.
My boyfriend and I visited Boston for his b-day weekend and decided to treat him to a nice dinner. The food was good but not the greatest. For an appetizer he had the scallop with bacon at $16 . NOt worth the price. Two pices with no recognizable bacon. (compared to the savory wrapped in bacon scallops we had in Jersey) I had the Lobster soup that was ok. a bit spicy with a combo or sour taste. ( my father was a chef for over 20 yrs. and makes a Lobster soup that is to die for, he has spoiled me somewhat) Dinner was also good. He had a pork chop plate covered with carmalize apples. As a side they had Mac n Cheese... i was thrown back by this but loving mac n cheese i tasted his. Just a regular , simple mac... I was expecting this out of this world flavor. Not so... The food was good and the price is understandable for the location... The view of the city is one to take in and very romantic... I think i would return to see what other plates are like... 4 stars for the location and service.
(4)Meredith V.
A little advice: come here for drinks and an app. While I'm sure the food is great, the prices are exorbitant and the wait is long. However, I really did have one of the best martinis in my life here: the Ginger Lemondrop. I'm not sure why or how but it tasted exactly like a glazed donut from Krispy Kreme and I was in heaven. Hats off to the bartenders. We also ordered the calamari, seasoned with spicy tomato and lemon and served with a Parmesan peppercorn aoili. WOW. And I dont even like calamari. The chefs are definitley top notch. And of course the views can't be beat.
(4)Angelica C.
Excellent! The view of course is spectacular. We were 10 minutes late but they still sat us with no problems. I made reservations via Open Table a few weeks ago. They made our anniversary extra special. I had the steak which was perfectly cooked. My wife had the chicken and also loved it.
(5)Jane B.
Top of the Hub is one of my favorite restaurants in the world! It is located at the top of the Prudential Building. The view overlooking the city of Boston is absolutely breathtaking. It's especially gorgeous during the sunset! My whole family loves it. It's a great place to go for a celebratory meal. Restaurants like this usually do not need to have great food, because people will attend and pay for the view alone. Although the view is breathtaking, the food is just as good. I find myself wanting to try everything whenever I have a meal there. The soup, appetizers and entrees are all delicious. I definitely recommend the spicy lobster bisque. It's among the best I've ever had. My two favorite entrees are the filet mignon and the two-pound stuffed lobster (definitely recommend splitting that meal). I also love the duck confit with goat cheese and balsamic and the Lobster Pepper Bombs. Their dessert menu is also excellent. I'm a huge fan of their Boston Cream Pie. It is beautifully presented and absolutely divine!
(5)Taj K.
Even though I've been to top of the hub several times, my husband has not. Since we are leaving Boston soon, it was time to knock this off the bucket list. I made a reservation for 6:30pm. We were running late, so I called and they told me they have a grace period of 20 minutes for reservations. We were in that time window. We were sat on the charles river side of the resturant. This is my favorite view so I was extremely pleased. Our server was knowledgeable about the menu and took our drinks and food order. They have a good wine by the glass list. There are about 4 beers on draught. We ordered the tuna tartare appetizer, the steak bacon salad and the rib-eye special to share. The tuna tartare was melt in your mouth fabulous. Excellent presentation, perfect flavor, just the right amount of tart. Loved it! The steak bacon... seriously the thickest and tastiest slab of bacon I've ever eaten. And it was laid over salad to make me feel healthy. Good Move TOH! Our steak, sadly was a bit eh. We asked for medium rare and it came out to be more like medium to medium well. It still tasted great, which is why we didn't send it back. We also didn't send it back because no one asked us how we felt about our meal. It seemed like our server was overworked. He had several tables going and not much help. Didn't see a manager. Luckily there were a few food servers to at least give people their meals. For dessert we had creme brulee. Delectable. TOH is a great, worthwhile experience, but definitely not my first choice for dining. I highly recommend making a reservation and enjoying the view!
(4)Rachel M.
Very disappointed in the apparent 'dress code' at the top of the hub. Despite it being a place that is fundamentally for tourists it would not accept my friend being in a top without sleeves, despite the fact that I was also in a top with thin straps and there were many people inside in actual less clothing. It is also the height of the summer. Think about equality when setting rules and also not one that is so ridiculous.
(1)Matthew S.
Everyone knows the views here are excellent, but they have very good food. The mussels here are a great appetizer and are a huge portion (definitely shareable). They serve them in a cast iron pot with bread that you'll be tempted to eat all of so you can mop up the broth. They have an excellent lobster roll on the menu. Very simple preparation, but that's the right way to do a lobster roll in New England. The deserts here are amazing. Best Black Forrest Cake I have ever had. It might be a challenge to have room for desert, though, since they do have most items in a pretty good portion size. The only downside to attending lunch here is that it took us 2 hours to get through lunch because they were somewhat slow in bringing out food.
(5)Shweta A.
Great view of the city. We decided to only go for drinks and dessert since we have heard this restaurant is not great for food. We enjoyed the drinks and dessert we ordered, however the service could be better. There seemed to be several hosts/hostesses but only one server so it was slower than it really should have been with that many staff working.
(4)Mr B.
Yep, three star service and maybe even two unfortunately but three star food and five star view. That's a solid three and s half to four star indeed but I found it seriously lacking so went down to three. The service is the killer and price is deterring in proportion to quality of food too. I'm not going to belabor the point as there's enough reviews to reveal the accuracy of it all. In the end I would suggest this is a good lunch spot or sunset drink at the bar only.
(3)Eva Y.
Love the views and the ambiance at Top of the Hub! But unfortunately the food is not up to par to the spectacular views. Their creme brûlée is pretty good though! The last time i was here, our entrees were served LITERALLY one minute after we got our bread, which also happened to be hard and cold. Double whammy!
(3)Beth M.
I love tub of the Hub! Great place to be, decor is nice, good food, great desserts and amazing view of the whole city! Tub of the hub is like being on top of the Empire State Building but of course your in Boston and indoors! Lol Try the apple martini.
(5)Sandy C.
5 star view, 3 star food, 4 stars cocktails. Love the specialty cocktails and the service (Tim). Food is mediocre. We ordered the haddock rockafeller and tuna tartare. The haddock, if you like the rockafeller it's a good dish. It's very cheesy and smelly but the flavors are not that strong on the pallet, very strong smelling through. As for the tartare, it's a waste of good fish. Tuna was fresh but there was too much mayo. If you are a sushi or tuna poke fan, don't get the tartare here. All in all, this is a great place to spend an afternoon in Boston and you should visit at least once.
(4)Sammii S.
I made a reservation for 10 pm that I later had to change to 10:45 - no problem with making the reservation or changing it, the lady I spoke to was very accommodating. We did arrive about 15 minutes late but everything went very smoothly and was seated within 2-3 minutes. The ambiance is great and the jazz music was just a nice touch. Entrees , desert, and drinks were great. I will say the service was a bit slow but being from New York I understand that when a place is busy there is some waiting to be expected. The waiter did forget to bring the appetizer we ordered but we were full with the rest of the food so we didn't mention it. Overall I would say that this place was a good experience especially with that amazing view.
(4)Marisa J.
My roommate and I traveled to Boston from Canada this past March for a concert and a new experience. While planning our gat away, we made note to make our way to the top of the hub after reading online that it was a fantastic place to go. There, we had an extremely nice waiter. He was attentive, checked onus very often, and had a modest personality, something we did not expect in a restaurant that looks like a very fancy place. As tourists, we fell in love with the view of Boston. It was the evening and the lights memorized us. On top of the amazing view, and great service, we found the food great. We split the french onion soup and caesar salad as appetizers. I had the fillet mignon with gnocchi, and my roommate had the seafood pasta. We finished off the evening sharing the creme brûlée. We really enjoyed ourselves there, and when we find ourselves in Boston again, here is definitely a place that we will be returning
(5)Tim S.
The Hemingway cocktail they serve is perhaps the best drink I have had in recent memory. Maraschino liqueur, grapefruit juice, lime juice, and rum combine for an unforgettable cocktail. Highly recommended. My friend's Malbec wine was also very good. I thought the food was unfortunately subpar and overpriced. I'm willing to try it again and update this review. Likewise, I thought the jazz combo was there just so TopO can say they have live jazz. It wasn't good enough to be as loud as it was. I'm a jazz snob, so take this with that grain of salt. The service was excellent and the atmosphere was great. Those things, compounded with the view and the Hemingway cocktail, earn it four stars and make me look forward to the next time I get the excuse to go!
(4)Jeanie Q.
Tuna tar tar was amazing. Views were spectacular. Go there for lunch and you won't be as annoyed with the prices. Put on some nice clothes you don't want to be that guy in a t-shirt and sneakers.
(4)Jacqui L.
The view is amazing during the early to late evening especially during sunset. AMAZING lobster soup and the duck confit was equally incredible. The veal sirloin was sadly disappointing though the gnocchi that came with it was great. Came here with my mom and her braised short rib was pretty good. The desserts though were perfect for the sweet tooth. Crème brûlée was spot-on and the Black Forest cake nice as well, though pretty much on par. Waiter was so nice and attentive. Checked up on us, asked if we needed anything, and even took a picture for us. Overall, a good place to take a friend if you're in Boston and want a nice view. Just make sure to make your reservation in advance. We got lucky and were able to call last minute but you should call ahead for your most convenient time especially if you have a large party.
(4)Mike C.
Place is great. I got engaged here. Grab a bar table, not fancy dinner table and enjoy the views. Really good bar appies. The level 52 is a great cocktail. I still can't believe my wife hit the lottery here.
(5)Melissa F.
This is one of my favorite restaurants, thank god it's expensive or I would have no problem justifying coming here every night for dinner. I suggest doing the tasting menu if you are willing to spend the extra money. Don't be fooled by the fancy life of getting served baby portions of exquisite food. You WILL be satisfied after 5-7 courses. My favorite course (and also available as an appetizer alone) is the fois grois. A lot of places will serve you duck liver PASTE which is as disgusting as it sounds. It's considered a "delicacy" in some places which is really a hipster chef term for it's gross but I want to charge you a lot for my obscurity. But top of the hub prepares it RIGHT. If you do decide to order off the menu, anything is fair game. I will say, dare to be bold. Dont just get the chicken dish because its "safe". If you've never had a particular dish, order it, if you've never tried tuna prepared the way the chef is preparing it that night, order it. You. Can't. Go. Wrong. Drinks are delicious. They are known for their wines (and knowledge of, so if you want to pair your meal with a wine, ask your server, he/she will never steer you wrong). Their cocktails are also a fantastic option. They have a variety of refreshing drinks that would be good on any occasion. 5 stars always.
(5)Brad M.
I'm on Top of the World, er... I mean HUB! The easiest entrance is behind the Cheesecake factory! Don't worry about the $28.00/ person minimum... you'll blow past it without hesitating! Go ahead, and get the seats near the window, order some drinks, and a few appetizers and you'll be home free! The view is fantastic, the food is good, and the service is very nice! 4 STARS!
(4)Nick L.
Fantastic evening at one of the nicest establishments I've ever been to. Visited the Top of the Hub on the 3rd of July and had a wonderful time with my parents. The $80 prix fixe gave me a great idea of the menu and the amazing wine pairing that is done with each dish I tried. The service was perfect and our view over Boston was nothing short of breathtaking! My deepest gratitude to the staff and management here, well done!
(5)Jane L.
If you want to romance your girl (or guy), this place is the place to go. Great music and crowds; their cocktails are high quality. I had scallops and chocolate dessert there and those were heavenly. The view is spectacular.
(5)Katherine G.
First time eating here, even though I'm a local. I came here for restaurant week and had heirloom carrots for starters, short ribs as an entree, and upside down peach cake for dessert. I also tried a bite of the pan seared salmon. Overall, the food was very well done and had a certain level of artistry in the taste and arrangement you don't see very often. The service was only okay, though, which is why I didn't give this place 5 stars. First off, the timing. Before we had even started our bread, our appetizers came up. Five minutes later the waiter came around with our entrées even when we hadn't even started the appetizers yet. Also, the waiter didn't refill our water at all during the entire meal. I would say that the food is very good, but the service doesn't compare.
(4)Clare Z.
Prefect dating place, but the seats are a little crowded. There's really good quantity in main dishes. Of course the most valuable part is the scenery.
(4)Katia K.
If I had to write a review based on the atmosphere and views, I'd give this restaurant 10 stars... However, because of the value of the food, I'm giving it a 3/5. I ordered Clam Chowder which was amazing, but only 3 spoons full, seriously. Then I ordered a bacon steak tomato salad. This was NOT a salad. It was literally a tomato with a fat chunk of bacon on top of it. It tasted really good, but I paid way too much for a half tomato and bacon. Glad I ate here while visiting Boston, however, I won't crave anything while I'm back in California.
(3)Stephanie C.
If I can put zero star on yelp, this would be it. Called and made a reservation for Sunday night asking specifically for a window seat. Upon our arrival, we were informed by the host that the window seat will be an hour wait. We settled for the other seats despite there are couple window tables open. Food was tasteless and overpriced. With that price for food I'm certainly expected better. Service was pretty much in-existed. We've asked our server to help us take a picture, he completely disappeared until we finished our meal. The only good thing about this restaurant is the view, oh wait but I didn't get to see it either. Because the restaurant was too busy putting ghost customers in their empty window tables. Seriously, that shouldn't be the treatment after a $200 meal.
(1)Kevin J.
Food: 3/5 Stars Service: 4/5 Stars View: 5/5 Stars This was my second visit to Top of the Hub and this time I came for lunch with a couple of friends in a larger group of 9. To be honest, the view is the most redeeming quality of Top of the Hub. As a larger group, we struggled to get a reservation for Monday Lunch without the reservation line forwarding us automatically to the catering department. We walked into the dining area to see very few customers even seated, so didn't see what the fuss was about. We ordered 6 flatbreads (two of each), which were decent in terms of size and taste. I will say the beef had a little bit too much vinegar and the chicken was a little dry. We also ordered the hot dog sliders (which are a novel concept and relatively well executed!), the calamari (flavorless), and the crab cake was a little fishy. There's nothing special about the food: it's not terrible, but it's not amazing. The service is above average given it is supposed to be a class institution. However, you wouldn't come here for the culinary experience. It's for the view.
(3)David B.
The only real negatives here are the price, it's expensive, and the line to get in if you do not have a reservation. I made a reservation for a family Easter brunch, and everything about the experience was excellent. This is not a place I would go regularly, but for a special event, nothing beats the view, and purchase of a meal also gets you into the skyway walk with even better views.
(4)Yuming Z.
As everyone says, fantastic view of Boston. However the service and food is lacking. Went on Saturday night for dinner with a 8:45 reservation. Was on time but the hostess said they were behind so we had to wait about 15-20 minutes more. After being seated (requested a window table but was not given one) and given menus, the waitress did not come around for another 10-15 minutes to take our drink order. Decided on the prix fixe menu with wine pairings. I went with Lobster bisque soup, Veal, and the Crème Brulee and my date the same but the Chicken for the main. Lobster Bisque: Delicious. Took a while to come out after the bread was served but definitely the best thing we ordered. Veal: Good and tender. No complaints. Chicken: Date thought it was overcooked and dry. I had a taste and felt the same way. Sent it back and ordered the Bacon and scallop instead. Scallops came fairly quickly but again we thought it was overcooked but it was too much hassle to send it back again and wait for another entrée. Crème Brulee: As Crème Brulee should be. Nothing bad, nothing great. Wine pairings: I'm not a huge wine person but the pairing with the lobster was solid. Sadly I was not a fan of the pairing for the main entrees. Conclusion: Solid view (despite not having a window seating) but service and food was quite lackluster. Had a table right by the bar/elevators/entrance so there was lots of noise from the busy bar and people waiting. Had trouble hearing and holding a conversation with so much noise. Dress code said it was dressy but that is not strictly enforced (maybe that's for the lounge/bar area) but saw lots of people walking around in shorts. Great to go once for the view and maybe check out the bar and lounge, but for the price of dinner, its not worth it.
(2)Mai T.
Amazing views of Boston. Came here for drinks and appetizers and was lucky enough to grab a seat at the bar. I'm not easily impressed by bartenders, but John really impressed me with his bartending skills. I usually hate ordering mojitos because I know they are such a pain to make, but holy crap John made me the most delicious Mango Mojito with such ease. Had the lobster soup and mussels... So divine with an amazing view. Must stop by here if you're visiting Boston.
(5)Nicole W.
It's a tall building, from which you can see most of boston! We just hit the bar, we only wanted a celebratory beverage and a little snack. Staff was friendly and attentive, although seeing where the dinner plates are prepped and dirty plates brought back. As others have said and it works for most tall buildings, hit the bar instead of paying the fee for the observation deck! The wine was lovely, good suggestion by the bar tender, and the lobster bisque was pretty tasty. Chorizo was a little weird, but tasty. I wish there was a better view, but it's still fun!
(4)Grace Y.
Beautiful view, swanky atmosphere with a live jazz band. Drinks were carefully made and the bartender was very attentive. Only stopped here for drinks on a snowy night when we didn't want to step foot outside. It's connected to the prudential center, which was connected to our hotel. Pretty sweet especially in the freeeeeezing winter :)
(4)Danae K.
Food is very mediocre, but the view is amazing! This place has live music in the evenings, which adds a nice touch to the spectacular view of Boston throughout the night. Bar is great allowing for socializing and good times. Right in the Prudential, by the green and orange lines.
(3)Edna C.
Anyone who's a sucker for city scapes, night scenery, and bars would have a high willingness to pay to see Boston at night over drinks--and the Top of the Hub takes full advantage of that, milking you of any consumer surplus. Nonetheless, I do not complain because I am one of those suckers for city scapes, night scenery, and bars. Add the fact that I'm a San Franciscan in Boston... boom, automatic 4 stars. It's in a sort of random location in a mall building, and we were made in to sign in our names at a security desk before being allowed to enter the elevator. In all its greatness and classiness, the Top of the Hub comes with a bit of attitude. The hostess told us it's only bar seating; if you want a table it's a minimum $24 per person. Are you serious... I almost said yes because I'm a crazy shutterbug like that, but I'm glad my friend kept me in check. Things worked out perfectly because it was relaxing to sit at the bar (and the alcohol bottles with the backdrop of the city looks cool). After we finished our drinks, no one stopped us when we just walked up to the windows to take pictures and admire the scenery. Boston Cream Pie (Raspberry Sauce, Crème Anglaise), $11: In my opinion, the idea of eating a Boston cream pie over Boston scenery and the amazing presentation with the the skyline imprinted on the chocolate was more impressive than the actual tastiness of the dessert. Nothing in particular was wrong with it--a good balance of sweetness, creaminess, and chocolatiness--but it fell short of what my expectations for an $11 dessert an this uber fancy restaurant. (If you are all about the artsy pictures though, this would not be a bad choice, especially with Top of the Hub branded on the chocolate... so top of the line) Native Berry Caipirinha (Leblon Cachaça, Muddled Seasonal Berries, Lime), $12: It's a bit on the edgier side for a cocktail, but still mostly girly and fruity. I just don't really like the muddled berries at the bottom; it was like an alcoholic fruit salad and it was odd having the crunchy blackberry seeds in my drink. Also the alcohol content seemed weak. The "Hub" Cosmopolitan (Absolut Mandarin, Clément Créole Shrub Liqueur, Cranberry, Lime), $12: My friend liked this in terms of flavor and alchyness, so the cosmo may be a fairly good choice for this very cosmopolitan bar.
(4)Kate S.
I tried to get into Top of the Hub a few years ago for a bachelorette party and instead my friends and I made asses out of ourselves. I decided I needed a re-do for my birthday this year. As someone who grew up about 45 minutes from Boston, it seemed overdue to go to Top of the Hub. I should let you Yelpers know that Atlanta has a restaurant called Sundial that features a glass elevator ride to the top and is 72 stories up, plus has a rotating dining room, so our standards might be a bit high having gone there a year or so ago My husband and I got up to Top of the Hub after an ear-popping elevator (not a complaint! I think that's kind of cool!) ride around 6:00PM on a Thursday night. We warmly greeted the hostess and asked for a seat in the lounge. She essentially said, "Hi, we have a minimum of $24 per person in the lounge". I let her know that wasn't posted anywhere and she responded, "We've changed the policy". Well, five days later, their website still states "Q: Does the lounge/jazz music have a cover charge? A: No, but after 8pm the lounge tables do have a minimum spending requirement of $24 per person for food and beverage." Again, this was 6:00PM. But whatever, it's my birthday week. No biggie. We weren't doing food anyway and I think I misunderstood what the lounge was anyway. She let us know we could sit on a couch (there were a whopping two -- both taken) or at the bar. So we sat at the bar, were addressed by some put-out-seeming bartenders, and ordered our drinks. The drink selection was relatively uninviting -- one or two local beers in a small pond of mass-produced junk beer, wine ranging from semi-reasonable to absurd, a few cocktails. Again, birthday week and I'm stubborn, so my husband ordered the least-lousy beer option, I grabbed a glass of bubbly, and we decided to walk around checking out the view rather than dealing with the attitude from the bartender. I can't speak for the food, at all, other than to say the offerings did not excite me. The view *is* lovely. And despite this fairly negative review, I'm glad I went. I'm glad I went exactly once, but I won't go back. Because at the end of the day the staff made us feel like they were doing us a favor by serving us and they were non-apologetic about their rather unclear policies. For sure, for $25 or so for a beer and wine, it was worth it once. Beautiful view of one of my favorite cities. But I'd rather go somewhere where I feel like my business is appreciated or at least like the staff and I can have a mutual respect.
(2)Zeni s.
it was okay nothing fancy. They did not have too many to choose from and their food wasn't that great. if it wasn't on top of prudential tower, noone would even pay that much. only thing i like was view n my company
(2)Christopher W.
Fast, simple , and accurate review for people who don't want to read a novel finding out if a place is good. Ordered: ( 3/3 stars) Had the Duck Leg Confit, Braised Lamb Shank, and Crème Brûlée. Everything was delicious. Good portion size. Everything was perfect. Come near sunset so you can enjoy your meal with the beautiful Boston view by day and have dessert with a beautiful night view of the city. The price is well affordable for what you are getting. Service: (1/1 star) Great service. Cleanliness and parking (1/1 star) Very clean and parking at or around the Prudential Center The date night go to spot!
(5)Abby A.
The view is so amazing at night its definitely worth the visit! I had the 2 lb lobster which was really different that what I had pictured in my head. It came out on a silver platter with the lobster cut in half and the lobster stuffed inside of the shell with bread crumbs on the outside. The lobster was really tender and big, it could have been shared by 2-3 people. The bread crumbs were overpowering to the flavor so I ended up taking most of it off. The waiter that helped us was so nice and friendly! He was so helpful with all of our questions about the menu and was around all the time to ask how we were doing. We had a window seat and were next to where the live music was playing. The experience and the view was very worth it.
(4)Jit B.
This was long due !!! .. Went here a couple of times last year - once in the summer and then once in Nov ... and in both occasions, the view from this place just added to the overall great experience that included an extremely well made - tuna steak and an almost too perfectly made rare Filet Mignon and A very courteous service ! Drinks were ok .. nothing extraordinary ..
(4)Nick K.
Epic rooftop restaurant/bar in the heart of Boston. Was visiting Beantown for the first time and came here for drinks in the afternoon on a sunny day. Drinks are phenomenal and made very well. Diverse menu with decent prices and again the drinks are tasty. The views are what seal the deal, you basically get a 360 degree view of the city and can see the ocean, Fenway park, and tons of other sights. Would definitely make this a part of your journey when you visit Boston. You only need 30 or so minutes there, and it capped off a nice trip before heading to the airport.
(5)Tom B.
It was ok. The service was fast with our appetizer, but then slow with other things. No bread on the table which was too bad. My pasta dish was extremely hot (too hot to eat for 5 minutes) and the meat sauce was too chewy for it to be that great. Our appetizer was small and simple with not much to it, although the desserts were fantastic. Great creme brulee.
(2)Amanda S.
Beautiful place with a great view. The room we were seated in was very crowded with limited walking room between tables. The waiters carring food through the narrow openings made me a bit nervous and I observed them almost bump into people several times. The clam chowder was incredibly cold, and very watery. The portions are not very consistant for the price as my boyfriend and I each got the chowder and mine was an obvious inch lower than his in a tiny bowl. The Fra Diavlo was excellent though.
(3)Kelly D.
5 star view, 3 star food. The view is amazing. Just grab a drink at the bar to see the view. We had clam chowder, scallops and beet salad for appetizers, they were all delicious. The sourdough bread was great, crispy on the outside but soft in the middle. The entrees were a let down. Got the special rib eye steak and it was pretty hard for being cooked medium. I had a nice time here, but the food could be better.
(3)Adam G.
This place does not take reservations and is based on first come first served. So come Early for an amazing view! The jazz group that was playing here was on point! Their musical arrangements fit perfectly with the ambiance of the room and the crowd. There is also a standing bar near the group so you can enjoy the music, view, and your cocktail while you wait for your table. There is a cocktail menu with specialty drinks such as the ginger mojito with cane sugar (superb); but if nothing strikes your fancy, there is a more than a full bar here to create whatever your taste buds desire. If there is seating at the bar you can hangout there as well but the view is better on the other side of it. After drinking we were getting a small case of the munchies, and decided on a few of their smaller/more snacky plates. What better to order than fresh cookies and garlic fries?! These cookies...man I don't even know what kind we got--pretty sure it was an assortment--but they were damn good! They had that perfect balance of crunchy and chewy while melting in your mouth. You can never go wrong with fries so that just added to the whole experience of sweet and salty.
(5)Jasmine C.
Definitely a place to come if someone special is visiting - I don't know why the food gets such a bad reputation, but I think that whilst it is a little expensive the portions aren't skimpy and you can get a decent meal. The view is worth it in itself, and the atmosphere is so lovely that if you can make it there for lunch I'd say go for it. There's also a 27$ prix fixe at lunchtimes so if you'd like value for money you can get that too. What to get: - The salmon sandwich is SO GOOD: its basically a salmon fillet, put on two pieces of bread. So basically salmon. What to skip: - Seafood vongole, because it was quite unremarkable pasta with next to no sauce and not many clams in it as well. - Creme brulee dessert: truly not worth spending time on it.
(4)Khunravin H.
Came here during Restaurant Week (Dine Out Boston) with a few friends for fine dining. Service was great. The waiter (s) were attentive and friendly. We had reservations so we didn't really wait that long to be seated. What did I have? - Filet Mignon (mmm goood), tater tots with catsup (hahaha), creme brulee dessert (it was good), and deviled eggs (good as well). All this for $35 before tip and tax. So overall, I'd say the food was good, but nothing really special. However, I must say that the view (given its namesake) is like no other, especially for dinner at night-seeing what Boston looks like. Not sure what lunch or dinner with regular menus would be like, but maybe I'll try again someday or night. Do try this place if you haven't, the view alone is worth it!
(4)Valerie K.
We showed up spur of the moment, no reservation and actually were seated right away. Having ordered the fixed 3 course my starter was the BEST lobster bisque anywhere. It was buttery and not too creamy with just a kick. I had to try the beet salad with golden and dark beets, goat cheese, arugula, pecans and a light dressing. Delish! Next were scallops wrapped in bacon. Although only 3 large scallops, it was more than enough-I couldn't finish it. Last but by far not least, creme brûlée. It was light, creamy & just enough crunch on the top with fresh berries. Being on the 52nd floor, the views of the city are breathtaking. A must see when in Boston-but make reservations. I think we got lucky!
(4)Theo S.
I would give this 0 stars is I could. The host was a rude terrible man. We are visiting relatives from Boston. 330 pm in the afternoon and 4 open tables and we were told no service at these bar tables as they were preparing them for dinner. Not customer oriented at all. We were finally sat at the back most corner of the bar. Not at all what you would expect for a hundred dollars worth of drinks. Service is very mediocre.
(1)Venessa R.
Only giving 2 stars because the food was good. This review was based on my ecperiece. Now most people who go here esp for the first time probably go for the view and experience. I called about a month and a half in advance for reservations for my boyfriend and i anniversary, which is at the end of October btw. I requested a window seat which i was told its not guaranteed but they will do our best. We get there and the bar/lounge area seemed busy but the dining area wasnt. We were taken to the back corner or the restaurant to be seated which of course had no view. And while walking to our table we walked by many empty window seat tables! Our server was horrible. He barely came to our table to check on us. And im sorry if were paying good money for this place i expect excellent service. I will never ever be back here again.
(2)Grace H.
Four stars because it really is the best viewpoint for Boston especially at night. We came in past 10 PM for drinks and dessert and the view of course. It took quite a while to get a window seat at that time (~15+ minutes) but once we got seated the ambiance and the view made everything a-okay. It does seem like Top of the Hub realizes that they have a great viewing spot of Boston and as a result do not feel that they need to bring the best service. However, our waitress was perfectly nice and very accommodating. There is a $24 per person charge to get a table at this time so if you're not willing to spend that, it might be a good idea to get a seat at the bar. The food was okay. Not the best, this place would've gotten three stars if it wasn't for the wonderful view. We tried the Boston Creme pie, which wasn't impressive except for the skyline and "Top of the Hub" printed on the side of it. The calamari however was decent, I loved it topped with banana peppers and the squid was perfectly soft. Drinks are expensive and you can quickly run up your bill. In summary, you're basically paying for the view. Well worth it for the view at nighttime but wouldn't go regularly.
(4)Leighann F.
Now that my relationship with Top of The Hub has changed a bit, star can be added. Imagine that I once tried to make Top of The Hub my one and only. A long-term thing. A sit-down, three-course, bottle-of-wine commitment. I realized I asked to much. Now that we're just flirt buddies, I can drop by Top anytime I want. No need to worry about staying, making it awkward, who's going to call whom the next day? We both know I'm just here for the drinks and the view. No shame in that. Now that we reevaluated, Top and I are better off. Save the dining room for some other chick...I'll just have some fun on the side.
(3)Meghan M.
Went there at around 430pm with my mom for a cocktail and possibly an appetizer. We had spent a week already visiting the city and everyone was extremely friendly up until this point. The people at the front desk were great but our server ignored us, didn't ask if we wanted food and looked very frumpy. For a place as gorgeous as it is and expensive ($30 for two cocktails) I would have expected some class. Tasty cocktails and amazing view but I wouldn't go again because of the horrible service.
(3)Rondal B.
I've been up to the Hub multiple times now and have not been disappointed. They have a decent scotch menu, though it is on the pricey side of things the view is worth it and there is typically a live jazz band playing (at least on the Fridays I have been there) I suggest checking it out if you have the chance.
(4)Rory M.
It's a great place for a special occasion, or just a change of pace. Obviously it's expensive, but the selection and quality of the food and drink makes it worth it for the right occasion.
(4)Benjamin S.
Amazing atmosphere. Very classy, dressy attire will blend in. The view is spectacular. Not much value for the food. Portions are smaller compared to similar restaurants. The food is good. not great.I got a 3-course meal with wine pairings. I think it was $75-80/person. You're paying for the view, really, which is worth the premium!
(5)Steve N.
Great view. The food Blows. The service is laughable.
(2)Daniel D.
Common wisdom is that Top of the Hub is for tourists and special occasions like engagements, but I've never been here under either of these circumstances, and I really enjoy this restaurant. You get high quality food, a spectacular view, great service, and an enormous quantity of heavenly chocolate chip cookies (order the cookie platter for dessert - do it) for a reasonable price. I definitely recommend the restaurant for dinner, but you can also come just for the cookies and drinks, and eat them in the lounge area.
(5)Allan F.
My wife and I go here about 4 times a year usually for cocktails and appetizers but several times for lunch. It is the must place for family and friends visiting Boston for the first time because the view is spectacular. I always order the BLT for lunch there and it is very yummy. Favorite appetizers are the mussels and ribs. Be aware that the portion sizes on these are very large. But they taste great. There does tend to be a bit of a snooty attitude but no one has ever been particularly rude to us. Make sure you walk around to the non bar side because the view of Fenway Park is just incredible
(3)Gwen r.
DO NOT GO HERE! IT'S A TOURIST TRAP. My friend and I were subjected to the worst customer service we have ever experienced. When the waitress seated us at the bar area, she informed us that there was a $24 minimum. She never mentioned, unfortunately, that this fee was per person. My friend and I ordered 2 drinks and a dessert, then promptly asked for the check. The waiter told us that we did not reach our monetary minimum. Obviously we were very confused by this since we were under the impression that we only needed to pay a minimum of $24. We asked to speak with the manager. The manager "Ricardo" approached the table and said "What's your problem". We explained what happened and he called us "liars", that he's the one who trains his staff so he knows what they tell customers when seating them. He refused to believe that we were in fact telling the truth about not knowing, then threatened to call security if we didn't pay because it was "non-negotiable". At no point was he apologetic or sympathetic regarding this issue. Our bill came out to be about $30, however we were forced to pay a total over $50 because of the added fee. I cannot believe that this sort of blatantly false advertising (failing to disclose the charge) can be legal (we didn't see the $$ minimum posted anywhere in the establishment) My friend has left several messages with the owner, Rafael Oliver, none of which have yet been returned. I would also like to mention that we ran into the manager "Ricardo" in the elevator we took to leave the restaurant that night. We asked for his last name so we could file a complaint, which he refused to give us - then he demanded to see our IDs, which he has no legal authority to do. Obviously we refused and were very upset with his irrational behavior. We again asked him again to tell us his name, he refused and said "what are you going to do about it" while literally getting in my friend's face. It was the most absurd scene I have ever witnessed. I personally work in the customer service field, and I am absolutely appalled by the behavior of this manager "Ricardo (Soto?)". We can only guess the last name, since the hostess and 2 waiters that night could not tell us for sure if that was his name. I can't understand how they could work for someone without knowing his name, but that's another story and another obvious sign of a poorly run establishment. I have never been treated so disrespectfully - Top of the Hub needs some serious customer service training .
(1)Nish N.
Ok, so it's a little touristy, the view is unbelievable, and totally worth it for just that alone. This is the sort of place you bring guest from out of town, like I was, or for a special occasion. We went for a Saturday lunch, and had a relaxed yet boisterous 2 hour meal, it's the sort of place you want to just enjoy and experience. Our service was ok, but the food was surprisingly good. The clam chowder was different but well executed, creamy but not too much so. The lobster salad sandwich was melted perfection. The views, on a clear day, you can see all of Boston. I know that sounds like a cliche, but it's the truth.
(5)Fan C.
I am a regular diner and consider this one of the more consistent restaurants in the neighborhood despite its appeal to tourists, enjoying the lounge menu and tables next to the window rather than the formality of the restaurant. The views are splendid, service professional and prices are not inflated. We enjoy the burger, salads, tuna tartare, prix fixe and the warm cookies are not to be missed. The crowd gets cheesy on weekend nights. Please reinstate the Reuben eggroll appetizer!
(5)Lauren H.
I've wanted to try Top of the Hub since I first moved to Mass five years ago, because, well, it's the Top of the Hub. So I went for restaurant week last week. I'd recommend not going during the summer between five and seven PM, because if you're a Bostonian, you know that the fog is pretty crazy most summer days during that time. It was as thick as pea soup when I went, which is unfortunate because the view is really what you're paying for. Once the fog cleared (around 8pm), the view is spectacular. And I've been to the Skywalk on clear days, and the daytime view is the best around. Now, for the food... I should really stop going to restaurants with the $$$$ next to them, because I always expect to be blown away when theh restaurants expect me to pay that much. The food at Top of the Hub is probably really, really good. Like I said, though, I was expecting to be knocked out of my chair. In reality, I felt like I didn't get enough food, and I was constantly stressed about having my napkin folded nicely because everytime it was even remotely messy, someone would come by the table and fold it for me. Maybe this is to be expected at a fancy restaurant 62 floors up. It just didn't sit well with me. A bit too pretentious for my taste. The bar is pretty awesome. I'd definitely recommend going up for a drink on a sunny afternoon.
(3)Juliana C.
I've had some beef with the Top of the Hub in the past due to bachelorette parties that forced me to eat its food (I'm looking at you, overpriced/room temperature meatballs!). However, yesterday's visit was surprisingly pleasant and has left me with a soft spot. Two lady friends and I were informed by the hostess that snagging a table would require each of us to spend a minimum of $24. We swiftly opted for the bar. Our drinks were insanely alcoholic (I'm convinced mine made my breath flammable), which at $13 a pop is a very good thing. Having only eaten baked goods for most of the day, I started getting tipsy halfway through my Elyx 52 cocktail. The bartender noticed, and turned the rest of my drink into a refreshing lemonade. Serious points for paying attention and getting me hydrated. Service at the bar is attentive. the view is still lovely, and on Sunday nights you will be treated to live jazz wafting from the adjoining room. However, the bar stools are difficult to mount/dismount, so take it easy on the long island iced teas. If you must eat at TOTH, I highly recommend the warm cookie plate (and a sugar daddy).
(3)Hanae K.
Reminds me of the Willis Tower in Chicago.... only it's less touristy. If you are heading to the bar then you don't have to pay to go up. Live jazz on Monday night's! I came right when the twilight hit. Night views are gorgeous but nothing beats the twilight views! My favorite drink was a berry lemonade cocktail. Fruity and sweet, could barely taste the booze.
(4)C. W.
Guys, please DO NOT GO TO this place. I got OVERCHARGED by them and currently dispute my charge with bank! This is FIRST time i got overcharged and this is the first restaurant has done SNEAKY and fraud thing to me. Its really unacceptable. The food is not that good compared with prices. The reason why they could charge that high is just location and view of the city! If you go there for views, i will suggest to go the skywalk(the floor downstairs) after you have dinner in any other places near which would be much better. The service is bad too. Nobody served bread until i asked for after 20 min. Waiters are running around and rude. For your good, i will suggest not to go to this place. At least in any other place, you dont get cheated in your bill!!! I am not going to this place ever in my life.
(1)Janet H.
So-so food with a nice view. I came here with my friend for restaurant week so we got a pretty good deal on their lunch prix fixe for $25. One time my friends and I came here for drinks but it was way too crowded... and so we requested a table. Turned out you needed to spend about ~$20/pp so we just left. Anywho, lucky for us, it was clear skies and sunny! I'm so sick of the snow... and to think spring starts tomorrow, pfft! Of course, because it was prix fixe, picking what to eat was easy... I felt that we were a bit neglected, though, as we weren't dressed up in business attire like most customers were, and we weren't just ordering from their pricy menu. We were even skimped out on the delicious bread... the bread guy never came back to our table :( and everyone else got a basket of bread! So, a bit disappointed with that. Food was pretty good... I ordered the chicken and it was really tender, moist, and flavorful! The portions were really generous, too. I was super stuffed afterwards, and my food coma led to a 2 hour nap. The crem brulee dessert could literally feed 4 people. I was super shocked it was in a huge bowl. Would I dine back here again? Maybe... if there's another good deal. This place is a bit too pricy for me... but then again, for those of you who've never eaten here, I feel like this is a must-experience in Boston.
(3)Jennifer T.
During our last trip to Boston this was at the top of my list for a romantic dinner. It's definitely pricey but a must and I would likely go again. We decided to go with the Pre Fixe menu. It was awhile ago so unfortunately I can't recall everything we ate. We both had the Veal Chop as our entree and they both were overcooked. Very disappointing but the view made everything better. For dessert we had the Creme Brulee. Service was slow as well but what you would expect for a place like this. As for the views I would give this place 5 stars. Residually if your into that kind of thing as I am. We took many pictures. My next trip I'm sure we will return for the views but will definitely order differently.
(3)Kyleen K.
You're paying for the view; food is just okay, and very overpriced. Having said that, bringing a date for wine and dessert here is perfectly fine. Like I said, the view is certainly something. Just be sure to get a reservation; God forbid you have to wait at the bar and get knocked all over by drunk tourists trying to grab a glass of wine and snap selfies.
(3)N E.
The views are the best in Boston. This is why I wanted to take my visiting uncle and his wife (who are on a tour of the US) to experience the Top of the Hub for drinks and dessert during the low/hassle free time of the day (~4pm). They happen to be ethnic looking (note: my uncle is an entrepreneur that has started numerous successful international businesses). Not sure if it factored into our experience, but it's worth mentioning since on arriving the hostess wasn't very welcoming and told us that they might not be able to accommodate us (FYI: there were empty tables immediately visible from where we were). Then she took the two reservation-less Caucasian ladies who arrived after us to sit, and went to *look around*. We were a bit baffled but didn't become alarmed because, well, who knows? Then another employee asked if we were taken care of and when we told them that the hostess was checking to see if there were tables available they looked at us like "uh, never mind that, I'll help you". So we were taken to the section by the piano and on arriving we realized that AT LEAST half that section was completely EMPTY! My wife and I were SHOCKED that the first hostess was *struggling* to find us a table when you couldn't throw a menu without hitting an empty one! (We only had 4 people, mind you, it's not like we showed up with an entourage). From there the waitress arrived with hardly a smile (actually, no smile at all). She took our order and delivered silverware/water, no napkins. We tried to make the best of the situation. The bill arrived and it was for $38 (we only had wine and shared a few dessert dishes). I gave her my credit card and it came back charged for $54. At this point I couldn't believe what was happening. Was this a mistake, or did this waitress include her own tip into the check for a party of 4? When I asked her she said "I'll take care of that" and went off to cancel the transaction. When she came back she barely gave me her "sorry 'bout that!" and took off. (I still tipped her because one of us has to show some class). We didn't complain. We didn't make a scene. Is it possible that all of this was one weird coincidence/chance of bad events? Possibly, but we left embarrassed by the experience. Given the views and food I would certainly recommend this location for anyone looking to experience one of the best vantage points in Boston. However, it is clear that the service rests on knowing this. So do go there; do enjoy the views; do savor the food... but don't expect to be treated with kindness or dignity.
(1)Teresa C.
Came here for oohing and aahing over Boston's night view. Was seated at bar as we didn't want to spend $24 per person as we just had dinner at Avana. Drinks menu looked yummy but no drinks that night. Chocolate almond cake was a hit. View was not fully visible but walk around the restaurant and you can catch glimpses of Boston lol. We walked towards the kitchen area and there was a window that looked over the town. Pretty cool.
(3)Rockne H.
When you visit Boston, one of the must sees happens to be at the famous Prudential tower, commonly known to Bostonians as The Pru. Being that this is my first time to Boston, I knew I had to try this place out! We rented some Hubway bikes and took to the streets! The cool thing about this place was the mall on the bottom floor. You have a lot of shops to choose from and a huge food court. What we were wanting to see was the observatory deck but it was $16 to see, so we did the next best thing: Used that money towards food and drinks while getting to see the same views from the Top of the Hub restaurant. This place is definitely a more upscale joint. Dramatic vaulted ceilings, dark color contrasts and servers dressed in all black really made the place seem more chic. Each server came with a servers assistant, it seemed, and the staff was definitely on point. Our server was attentive and really accommodating. He was cordial and really made our experience a good one! For lunch, I got the Arugula salad for $9 and added shrimp to it for $6 more. The salad was arugula, Gorgonzola cheese, toasted pine nuts and a balsamic vinaigrette. I love the spiciness of the arugula. Paired with the sweetness of the balsamic and you've got a nice combination. The pine nuts brought a nice crunchy element and the Gorgonzola cheese really sealed the deal for me. Salty and creamy, I enjoyed every last bite! Along with the salad, I got the clam chowder for $10. This soup is one of Boston's signature dish and was filled with loads of clam, potatoes and onions. The cream was nice but a little soupy. I almost envisioned it being thicker but the flavors were still there. Lots of clams to solidify the name! When you're in Boston, The Pru is definitely the way to go! Instead of paying $16 on the 50th floor, take a couple of levels up to the 52nd floor and use that money towards drinks and food. Top of the hub was great and I will definitely be back!
(4)Celin W.
4 stars for the amazing view of Boston / Cambridge (depending on where you sit), and 3 stars for the food. I priortize food in my review so that's why I gave it 3 stars. We had mussels, fish, shrimp pasta, and it was all OK. Overall the food didn't taste terrible, was fresh, and not badly done by any means. But nothing memorable or extremely delicious. Portions are huge so sharing is recommended. Service was good, and again the views are fantastic on a clear day!
(3)Sean F.
Arrived for lunch at 2pm on a Thursday afternoon. Placed our order. After an hour and people who arrived after us were receiving their food we questioned our waitress. She said she had noticed that. We told her if our food wasnt coming out now, it was 3:15pm, we were leaving. Our food showed up a minute later cold. She didn't come over so we got up to go to the desk to pay for or drink. She then came over and asked the manager to talk to us. He couldn't be bothered! She compted our food we never ate. Nice! Not that we even had a bite. Nice to know they are so concerned with regular customers! Won't be back any time soon!!!
(1)Mike D.
Went there today for lunch and the male hostess was extremely standoffish, and rude. Left before being seated but was extremely disappointed because the menu seemed interesting second only to the phenomenal view.
(1)Sharon T.
Coming here did cost a pretty penny, but it was worth all the shininess..because Boston shines bright like a diamond (sorry, had to). My friends and I came here on our first night in town, and little did we know that there was a $24 minimum per person. We expected to go for a round of drinks and watch the view. But we were already all dressed up (specifically for this place), and it didn't seem logical to turn around and walk in a bar across the street (no harm intended, Beantown). Boston is a pretty laid-back city, where you will find guys at bars in the typical pretty-hipster polo shirts and shorts, and gals dressed like they just woke up and throw on some random clothes. You will find the former here. The view is absolutely beautiful here, even though we're not talking about Willis Tower-high, but great for Boston. Our host, Kara, seated us by a window, right next to the jazz band that was playing! I don't often find myself in these kinds of places, but it was, no doubt, a very memorable experience. I ordered a Tropical Splash cocktail with an Espresso Creme Brulee, just hitting the minimum. Their selection of drinks--wines from all decades, exotic cocktails, fancy bottles you've probably never heard of--is, by far, one of the most impressive ones I've seen; the drink menu spans through a book of numerous pages.Needles to say, there's a lot of hard liquor on the menu and with their minimum charge policy, it is easily a place you won't walk a straight line out of. The Tropical Splash was very, very strong. There was a huge presence of the Bacardi, and the drink was good, but too much for me to handle. The creme brulee was also great and surprisingly, medium-sized. I'm not a huge fan of coffee in general, but it was rich in flavor and in texture, and the crunch was crispy--can't complain about creme brulee. I highly recommend any tourist to come here at least once and enjoy the view and drinks. I normally don't find myself at these kinds of places, but luckily, the service was exceptional to make it worthwhile.
(4)Moosa D.
Food: 4/5 Atmosphere: 5/5 Service: 4/5 Been here 4-5 times and the service has been pretty good each time. The food has always been ok, nothing amazing but still good. This is definitely a place you go to for the view and atmosphere if anything.
(4)Rakesh D.
Good hospitality but the food was ok. We had the Sunday brunch, the yogurt was good, the shrimp and grits were great. But the main course (crab eggs Benedict was not so good) was pretty mediocre. The desert...flan was good, but the red velvet cake was too much for one person.
(3)Denise M.
We came in for Thanksgiving. It was our fourth year celebrating at the Top of the Hub and it is always a lovely experience. The food and staff were both amazing. They served a traditional New England turkey dinner that was gluten free. No substituations needed. Lovely for me as Thanksgiving is the hardest holiday for me. Breads, stuffing, sides and gravey all are made with gluten without careful consideration. I was delighted!! The service was spectacular. Our waiter Nick was attentive, helpful and remembered our names. There is a reason he works at a high end establishment and the establishment should keep him for as a possible. The views from the restaurant, day or night are wonderful but evening hours are my favorite. If you want a reservation make one well in advance. The food has gotten better and so the crowd gathers quickly and no reservation means you will not get a table. Happy Holidays!
(4)Tamara W.
I came here in May 2014 to celebrate drinks with a few girls for being done with graduate school. The view is amazing and totally worth going there at least once; but the drinks are watery and nothing special; I am pretty sure they are the type of bar that uses Dole orange juice and pineapple juice in their cocktails. Gross. Especially for the cost. Our waiter was nice and I think it was only required we got 1 app for the 3 of us so there is not a ton of pressure to buy a lot. Overall it's a touristy place and I think it could use a total revamps for the decor/atmosphere. It reminds me of a 1970s Anthonys Pier 4 in the inside and could be totally redone to be much more upscale/swanky. I much prefer places in the South End but its worth going for a celebration or with friends from out of town.
(3)Barrett S.
Me and my wife came here for the bar and views and it was amazing. If your staying in Boston this is a must see!
(5)Dave T.
Very pricey but you are paying for the most amazing view of Boston. You can see for miles and the lights of the city after dark are beautiful. Service was terrific with a team of servers waiting on our group. There are countless restaurants in Boston that will provide you a better meal for the prices that Top of the Hub commands, but none of those restaurants can offer the view that they do. This is one of those special occasion restaurants that everyone needs to experience at least once. Expect to pay between $100-$125 per person including tip if ordering off of the regular menu. They do offer several dining options.
(5)Shaquana E.
Fancy fancy fancy! BEAUTIFUL VIEW! great ambiance, very intimate. Wine selection is amazing.. Menu was good and so was the food. I had the chicken flat bread (pizza). I'll definitely be back when visiting this area again.
(5)Kimberly M.
Review for Brunch. The view was breath taking! Boston is a beautiful city! I was visiting from out of town and my friends decided to take me here. The brunch was just ok. It didn't Wow me. The only Wow factor was the view from the 52nd floor. I ordered the shrimp and grits (good portion and taste 7/10), lobster omelet (very dry and taste 2/10), and flan (tasted yummy and not too sweet) Next time I would come back again for cocktail but not for the the food.
(3)Svet M.
We called 3 weeks ahead and made reservation for the window seats. When we arrived, they seat us just like previous guests in the middle of the room. With the neighbors table that you can touch ... Never been there so of course I wanted to experience the view which I did not have that night. My food was ok, but food for the guest of mine was not that great at all. Steak was chewy. Service was terrible and we have to ask few times to look for our waiter. Will not recommend anybody to go. There are restaurants around that can give you excellent experience. Especially that we did not have at View anyway.
(2)Jenny L.
Located on the 52nd floor of the Prudential building, this place has an amazing view! We ate dinner here for my boyfriends birthday. We ordered the fra diavolo (OMG so good!), the niman ranch porkchop, the grilled filet mignon, and the chocolate & praline layered cake. The food was "okay" for the price we paid. I'm giving 4 stars just because of the atmosphere and view, 3 stars for the food.
(4)DineoutGal A.
I am a sucker for places with nice views. So, of course, I had to check this place out which is at the top of the Prudential Building (second tallest building in Boston) on the 52nd floor. There's a minimum of $24/per person in the lounge after 8 pm. The minimum applies to the lounge tables but not for seats at the bar. The bar is further away from the windows and it has a slightly obstructed view. We ended up getting some drinks plus appetizers to get to get to that minimum, otherwise they will just charge you for the balance. You really leave with about $35 per person after tax and tips because nothing here adds up perfectly to the $24. The lounge menu prices are pretty fair and same goes for the drinks. The Absolute Elyx 52 - Elyx Vodka, Chambord, Champagne ($13). Martini was not very balanced in flavour so it's not a drink I'd order again. Tartar of Yellowfin Tuna - Avocado, Cilantro, Pickled Ginger ($15) was ok...felt a bit dated in its presentation. I didn't get the massive pile of ginger they gave with this dish as if you're expected to eat that amount of ginger. Grilled Angus Burger Cabbot Cheddar, Crispy Shallot Aioli, Tomatoes, Pretzel Bun ($16) was quite good, very juicy and worth the price. Service was ok here. Overall, the food is fair in its pricing but it's not serving anything interesting. You are here for the view and it is a nice view at night. The jazz lounge was nice as the sound was not overly loud. It gave the place a nice classy vibe.
(4)Christie L.
Beautiful view of Boston! Once you exit the elevator you can already see the city lights. We came here at night obviously. There is a bar, lounge and restaurant seating. If you want to just come for the view, I suggest sitting at the bar because there isn't a minimum per person. In the lounge its $24 min/person and there is a live jazz band at 9PM. Very romantic spot ;] They don't take reservations, but we were seated in less than 10 minutes in the lounge (and it was a Friday). There are many tables in the lounge area, so I don't think the wait is ever that long. To start off, I got a Mango Mojito. Very sweet and tasted like juice, just the way I like it! :] Tartare of Yellowfin Tuna: Delicate tuna topped with avocado with a side of ginger and seaweed. Very tasty! The flavors and textures of everything together was perfection! mmm yum Grilled Tenderloin of Beef Flatbread: Very delicious!! Chunks of beef with roasted peppers and onions in a cheese on top of a flatbread. SO YUMMY! Great tastes and flavor combination. Grilled Angus Burger: The burger came with a side of fries. The burger was just okay. Nothing about this plate stood out to me. The fries also weren't crispy, more like limp potatoes. Perfect place for a date or special occasions :]
(5)Elliscope F.
Good dinner with fantastic view. Got lucky to sit next to a window table with friends at night. Ordered steak which was gigantic and took me forever to finish.
(4)Arden L.
Let's start with the service. Guard who was downstairs letting people in was rude and... Sexist? I was asking him how to get up and he proceeded to answer my husband, rudely. Waiter who seated us was also rude, and obviously hated his job. If you are in this type of establishment customers expect a certain class of service. The waiter who served us got nothing right. Not their fault, the guy behind us was crude and loud. Made for an unpleasant setting. There were 3 of us, 1 of us got the wrong desert and 2 of us got wrong drinks. Drinks were terrible. 2 stars for the view and the creme brûlée. Prices are reasonable... Maybe too reasonable?
(2)Sophie P.
We went for a 10:30 reservation on a Friday night. Surprisingly, it's not as busy as I thought. The dining area was not that full - we were able to get window seats - and the bar wasn't TOO packed. I would say 25-30 something's come here for drinks in groups. They also play live jazz in intervals throughout the night, which added a nice touch. My friend and I came for drinks and appetizers. I ordered the whiskey martini, which came with a lemon and it's own shaker. The waiter poured the drink in front of me in an iced martini glass, and had half of the shaker remaining after he finished pouring in my glass. The drink was very strong and a very good choice. I got the duck confit appetizer, which is big enough to be an entree. I LOVED IT. The fig, goat cheese, and spaetzle (egg noodle) mixed in so well with the duck. I was full from the appetizer and I definitely recommend it! It's kind of heavy if you're trying to get an entree after, though. My friend got the cucumber mojito and does not recommend it. I had a very memorable night at Top of the Hub with its great view by the window! A great way to close my senior year in Boston.
(5)Cameron F.
Certainly a place to check out for the views. With a panoramic view of Boston, Cambridge and the bay you get a good lay of the land! Full bar with little selection for everyone.
(4)Tab G.
I have to say the food was better in my oppinion than I had previously read in reviews. It is true that you are really paying for the view. I had no problem with my reservation and was seated near the window. We tried the Chefs tasting menu. We found the food very flavorful but seemed to have a lot of repeat items throughout the dishes. I couldn't comment on the actual food specifically as we weren't sure what we were eating throughout the meal. You would think the chefs tasting menu would come with a discription when your food came out. Over all it took about 3 hours to get through all of the courses. We missed our next planned event, but the view and sunset was beautiful to watch go down. We had 3 different members of the staff waiting on us none of who seemed to be amused to be there at all. Be careful of the pricing. We were charged 25 more a person than the menu had said and our wine was 45 dollars more than listed on the menu. Overall 2 people with chefs tasting menu and bottle of wine was about $290 before tip. I recommend at least once to anyone living or visiting Boston, especially for the view.
(3)Mike K.
Rude rude people at the front door. Rudely asked me to remove my Red Sox hat despite everyone at the place wearing casual attire, shorts and flip flops - typical covert racist dress code that I thought you only see at scummy clubs. Then were extremely rude and didn't want to let me just walk to the table where my friends sat down. The views are nice but the scumbag staff aren't worth it.
(1)Nigel C.
The top of the hub is an enjoyable and relaxing experience. I love the staff, the service and most importantly the food. I recommend.
(5)Yeajin L.
Scenery and live music are the good parts. Food isn't bad, but not anything special. I had the chef's table one time and few brunches. They're good, but again nothing special. However, it is definitely a place to visit if you're visiting Boston.
(3)John H.
This is five stars with one caveat: yes, I realize the place is expensive, but since it costs $16 just to go to the Sky View deck a couple floors down, I can give that a pass. I went here with my wife and her family for brunch, and we all loved it. We got dark chocolate and strawberry & cream pastries first, and I liked them so much that I asked to take an extra dark chocolate one home, and they brought out TEN more in two little boxes for us all to share. Now that's service. The shrimp & grits, salads, and goat cheese and mushroom fondue appetizers were great, and the lobster omelette of the day, eggs benedict, bacon wrapped scallops, and chicken & waffle sliders were excellent too. The red velvet cupcake and caramel flan desserts were tasty, but by then, we were all so full that not one of us could eat it all. I got a reservation a couple weeks in advance and asked for a window seat, and they honored it. The restaurant wasn't full, so they could have even if I didn't ask, probably. But it was nice that they paid attention. The view was good too, of course. Since I could see the airport, I assume we were facing east. Overall, it was great. Not someplace you'd go every day or anything, it's far too expensive for that. But it made for a nice special occasion.
(5)jay g.
I am not a frequent visitor to the Top of the Hub but have enjoyed every visit to the max. Despite some of the "complaints" made about service or the cost of food or a simple dress code, all I can ask is what do they expect at one of the premier locations in Boston? The way many people dress on a Saturday night is laughable. The way some people complain about a venue that has good jazz, a great view and reasonably priced food & drink is also laughable. If it's too much money then perhaps they should just go to Wendy's. Either that or just stay home and watch television.
(5)S M.
Living nearby, I love stopping in Sunday evenings for a late glass of wine and some jazz. The trio last night (Aug 2) was a lot of fun. Please keep up the live music!
(4)Melissa L.
The view is grand, just cross your fingers that you get a table next to the window. We went on a Saturday night and it was packed. Luckily, our reservation got us a table right away. There were some major flaws here. Although the waiter was nice, the drink he recommended, a pear lemon drop, was overwhelmingly sweet and syrupy. It was the first time I returned a drink in my life! The clam chowder was tasty, but not particularly special. We got the lobster - what a sad WASTE of $65! The crab stuffing and asparagus was ok, but they were stars of the show next to the lobster. The lobster was rubbery, tough, chewy. I ate around it. It wasn't hot enough, as in I'm sure they boiled it hours ago and just left out until we ordered it, put some premade crab stuffing on top, and then just gave it a quick oven broil for that charred look. We were so disappointed and disgusted that we couldn't even finish our lobster. Bottom line: This place is all looks. Don't waste your money. Maybe get a drink and try to get a peek of the view, but don't eat here.
(1)Carolina E.
Service? Impeccable..... Food nothing out of the ordinary.... The view is the price... So be aware
(3)H S.
Obviously it's a fantastic view, we know that. And while everyone should visit Top of the Hub at least once, whether they're a tourist or a local, everyone visiting should limit themselves to the bar and lounge. Because dinner is just not worth it. My $41 filet mignon (ordered med-rare) was tough, dry, overcooked, and flavorless. I forget what was on the side but it was just eh. My date's chicken dinner was equally eh. Service was okay. Overall, the whole experience was just eh. Eh to sum up everything. PS -- I used to have this perception that Top of the Hub was fine dining with dressy and classy customers. Somewhere to go for celebrating big occasions. We came for dinner on a Sat night in dressy-casual attire, and I felt overdressed. The vibe in here is the same you would get from going to Longhorn's or one of those chains. Nothing special.
(2)Kelly V.
Beautiful view!! We were lucky to get a reservation with a window seat- we came early and sat at the bar. Great service and delicious food and wine. Definitely a romantic spot (a couple got engaged next to us!). Yes it's a little pricey, but you get what you pay for. We were NOT disappointed.
(5)Megan Y.
Come for the view, not the food or service. Food was mediocre. The lobster soup basically was creme with some orange dye and the two tiniest pieces of lobster (the pieces were literally the size of my thumbnail.) The best thing there was the calamari- but because they covered the plate with sauce, after 15 minutes into our meal it just became a soggy mess. The mussels were just okay- a bit dry, tomato based sauce. The flatbread with beef and gorgonzola cheese was WAYYY to cheesy- it was overwhelming. Service was pretty poor- we felt unwanted by our server. I think she was annoyed we only ordered appetizers (come on, it was 4 PM- snack time please) and didn't order wine or dessert to complement our meal. We asked for extra bread for our muscles and received (I kid you not) grey colored toast (GREY! It wasn't even burnt.)
(2)Nola P.
I have eaten at the Top of the Hub a few times and it has always been an amazing experience. The food is delicious!! Service is always professional. The view is to die for. If you want to impress a date this is the place to go.
(5)Kevin H.
One of the best dinner experiences I've had. The waitress was spot on with attention, detail and attitude. The view was amazing and the meal was perfect. I took a first time Boston visitor here (as well as a first time dinner for me) and it was the ideal mark for everything. I will note that the online pricing off the website did throw expectations off a bit, the pricing being a bit higher. However, you don't go to a penthouse style location expecting it to be cheap. 5 stars here. Would recommend it to anyone!
(5)Keem H.
My experience with the top of the hub restaurant is very negative and bad due to the following: 1- I made an online reservation then called a day or two after to confirm. I was greeted on the phone with arrogance and bad attitude. The lady who answered the phone was professionally rude and ignorant. 2- I went to the restaurant, I think it was the same lady or maybe another rude and ignorant person. Also greeted with a negative attitude that was full of arrogance. 3- As a result, I left the restaurant instantly and promised them that I will never come to that place again. 4- Success doesn't come because you're classy, it comes only when you treat people with respect and appreciation. Don't go there.. Not really worth it!
(1)Teena M.
View awesome, mojoto yummy and tasted lots of appetizers from the lobster soup to crab cakes and calamari. All were terrific. Highly recommend stopping in.
(5)Gabriela D.
Took my boyfriend there this past Wednesday night. Waited 35 mins for our birthday reservation. Told them I was starving, couldn't have bread while I waited. Then when we sat, we didn't get to order our food for another 25mins and we didn't even order drinks. Then after all this they finally brought me bread. Appetizers, lobster soup and duck confit parpadelle were okay. Soup was watery and very under seasoned. Entrees were the worst. Short rib tasted burnt, and my pork chop tasted okay, but was served with an almost uneatable "Mac and cheese", no seasoning and oily like it was microwaved, but somehow that and the two frail ass pieces of brocollinni were cold. Wtf! Cold food? The chefs clearly don't taste their food before they plate. Creme brulee for dessert was okay. I am a chef as well so call me stuck up or whatever, but I know what I'm talking about and my opinion does count. After I told fellow chefs of my experience, they agreed and told me their rep is awful. Individuals who have staged their say they actually do use their microwave ( at this level of food, that's a huge no no). P.s. I work at a fine dining French restaurant and by no means would we ever. Also its been said they use mainly frozen produce. I just can't understand how such a iconic restaurant is still putting out bullshit for food. The view is one thing I could never debate. Its gorgeous, so if you want to enjoy it, go for drinks with friends. The food court in the mall downstairs at least has flavorful hot food for the most part. I will NEVER return for food. And I felt like I had to spread the word , cause it was a disappointment for my bf on his bday and I felt horrible about that. Don't want that happening to anyone else who goes here expecting anything more than shitty food. Get a new chef and a whole new menu!
(1)Aparna S.
Terrible service. Judged us on our looks. Food sucks. One good thing though.. The two man band was awesome. Nice classical music and they were always happy Friend of this user
(1)Laura D.
Four stars for the view and the live jazz music on Friday night. Service was good and food as well. Solid choice for a special occasion dinner.
(4)Juan M.
This's for sure the best restaurant in the city,whit the best view I'm talking lunch and dinner,good hours for dinner they close by 12:30pm,really attentive whit music even between weeks excellent wine list.
(4)Stephanie K.
Top of the Hub is the ideal tourist stop in Boston for a classy fancy drink and ultimate view of the city. It's very elegant and probably perfect for a romantic date. But... I was a Boston tourist and found it great for an over-priced touristy drink. It's on the 52nd floor of the Prudential Building and has the best view of the city. The ambiance is beautiful and the cocktails are top of the line. Drinks were around $10 so definitely on the high end of Boston night light. I recommend just stopping in for a drink at the bar and enjoying the view. I didn't eat dinner there so I can't comment on the food but I bet there are other amazing restaurants in Boston to enjoy. I heard that it's a great place for live music and dancing after dinner hours. I will definitely have to check it out next time I'm there.
(4)Caroline K.
My friend had her wedding reception here, and for the most part, it was great. The only negative, and a big one at that, was probably the manager, whose name I never got (since I was just a guest anyway). Everyone else, however, was helpful and so nice. My friend wanted the music turned down so we could better hear a video we were playing on a screen. I asked the manager, and he said that the music was coming from our computers, which was pretty impossible since they were not hooked up at the time. He insisted it was not from the restaurant itself, which was ridiculous since the music (classical) was not anything we had on our laptops and were coming out of speakers that were in the rear of the room, which no one occupied. I brought him over to the music, but we couldn't hear it at the time (bc the video had already started), but we heard it later. I guess he managed to turn it off later, even though the music was supposedly not coming from the restaurant. I asked him to turn on the speakers later for the slideshow and he acted like I was bothering him. Seriously, the rudest manager ever - how did he even get a job in the industry? My friend complained later, but I heard they were not very apologetic about it. What terrible service - I don't recommend having your wedding reception here ever. unless they get a new manager. We had an open bar with a few different liquors to choose from. It wasn't a regular bar but a table set up as one, but it worked fine. The appetizers, which they passed out for the first hour, were decent, but it didn't seem quite enough for all the guests (maybe we were supposed to get only one or two pieces total?). For the main course, I had the scallops and they were delicious, but the mashed potatoes were way salty. The duck leg appetizer was really yummy - had some kind of slightly salty flavoring, but the creme brulee was soggy. Views were gorgeous, and we had a great time despite the sour manager's attitude.
(2)Ngan T.
We stopped in on a whim on Thursday night and were lucky enough to have found two empty seats at the bar. Doesn't look like the dining room was short of hungry customers either. Bartenders were attentive and fantastic--doling out drinks left and right without a single patron left waiting for long. My only complaint is that both my ginger drink and strawberry basil lemonade were a little too light on the alcohol. We also shared the brie and walnut plate. It was absolutely delicious. Of course everybody recognizes the Top of the Hub as THE romantic place with overrated food, but my casual pitstop was pleasant and surprisingly scrumptious!
(4)Gigi G.
If I were basing this review on the drinks and the bartenders, it would be five stars. I started my experience out there and it was great! The drinks were delicious and the bartenders were very nice! I then decided to get a table to enjoy the view more and grab some food. The service was HORRENDOUS. When I go to a nice restaurant and pay the high prices I expect at least decent service. The waitress was SO rude and kept trying to rush us out even though there was only one other couple sitting in our area (with about twenty tables). At one point, I think because she was annoyed we were still sitting there, despite just having purchased another round of drinks, she came over with a man who acted like a bouncer and rudely asked if there was anything else we planned on purchasing. As they walked away I kindly asked if they were closing soon (the only thing I could think of that would cause such rude behavior) and found out they were still open for another 50 minutes, with ample seating. Even if her shift were ending, I would have preferred her nicely letting us know that instead of coming over ever five minutes and rudely asking if she could take our food away (which wasn't even half done because we were enjoying ourselves and taking our time) and snarling every time she passed us. With the prices they charge, spend some money on training your staff on customer service. Despite the gorgeous view, I would never eat here again.
(1)Stella K.
I gave this place a raving review, and then... I found a piece of paper in my port! Both ruining the 20-Tawny and my evening. Really, disgusting - definitely not recommending the place.
(1)spike h.
I ate here last year for a company event. View is amazing !!!! Food is good, but everyone know when you eat at the 52 floor. You are paying for the view and not the food. The food was good, so that was a plus. Since it was a company event, I didnt have to dress up too much so this was a big plus.
(5)K. Grace K.
I went back and forth between a three and four. I'ld say three for dinner and four for drinks and a view if you get a good seat. View is fabulous, but other than that, atmosphere is hotel-themed. When we went for drinks we could only sit at a bench facing an empty dance floor. Not ideal for three people talking. Dinner was good and service was attentive. The lobster soup is great but only had three pieces of lobster. The lemongrass was really nice in the soup. I really wish I had ordered a salad as a main course because after the creamy soup, chicken pasta was just too rich. Also, buyer beware. The cookie platter is not a desert for one. Unless you are Cookie Monster. Also for the drinks and view, this is still on my list of must do's with out of town visiters.
(3)Imma P.
You get a GREAT view of the city and of your date ;). Nice ambience. Feels rich. You feel very special when you're here. The service was very good. The only complaint is the food. Except the bread. Good bread. Because it was free. We ordered the Prix Fixe Dinner special. This was in February. They must have made up that menu to get rid of old ingredients or were trying to make up something new. The food was awful, especially because of the price.
(2)Kristen D.
One word sums up TOH nicely: PRETENTIOUS. Per my previous dining experience, I didn't come back here for the food. I had family visiting from NJ, so of course the view here made it a must stop during their visit. I booked the reservation over a month in advance for 6:30 on Sunday evening. I arrived with my party of 4, promptly at 630. We were greeted quickly and brought to our table. Upon being seated, there were TWO OPEN window seats, and I kindly asked if we could be moved to one. I was snootily told by the male host that, "someone else was coming for those tables," and I could wait 30 minutes if I wanted a window seat. I politely declined and told him I made the reservation weeks ago, to which he replied, "I know, but I can't help you." Moving on... Our server, Mario, took way too long to greet us, but his service was fine after that. We all ordered martini's, which we enjoyed, especially the pear martini. The specials of the night sounded boring and uninspiring. The entrees ordered were: sesame crusted tuna, lamb shank, halibut and filet. ALL of the entrees were cold. We skipped dessert after remembering they were not worth it the last time. In summary, go here for a drink in the lounge and skip the huge bill, snotty attitude and sub par food. HIGH VIEW, LOW CLASS.
(2)Zirui Y.
It is hard to say but we are really disappointed today. we made reservation on several says ago and want to have dinner on July 4 and watch firework there. however, when we go there we are told that they just serve for private reservation for watching firework and it is impossible they made reservation on July 4 for us. And then we call them to double check after we go downstairs. They said they just change the date to July 5 for us. The problem is we didn't receive any notice from them before we arrived. It makes us angry because you don't have right to change date for us and If you cannot make it just tell us in advance!! The result is that now we have to change our plan. It is really disappointed on the independence day.
(1)Linda C.
Located on the 52nd floor of the Prudential building. Amazing view of Boston! Came here for lunch on a Friday. No wait & seated immediately. My boyfriend and I split the lobster roll ($24) and clam chowder ($10). FYI we both weren't hungry. We really just came to see the view. Normally this would probably be enough to only feed one of us. One of the best clam chowders I've ever had! Lobster roll came with house made potato chips, which I thought were bland. The roll itself was delicious. There were a few other things on the menu that caught my eye which I'll have to come back to try. Not the cheapest place but worth it. You're really paying for the experience. Service was good. Everyone was friendly and professional. Didn't see too many smiles though. Definitely want to come back for dinner to see Boston lite up!
(4)Brittany A.
Food was good, not memorable but the view at night is to die for! Remember to have your parking ticket/receipt validated to avoid the parking attendants trying to charge you a whopping $40. Validated parking is $15
(4)Stephanie T.
I came here for a birthday dinner, luckily we were able to get a table right by the window, which is a MUST if you come here. The food was actually not as expensive as I was expecting, though the quality was not great. This is a must in Boston for the view, not for the food. I think the best way to experience Top of the Hub is to come for drinks and dessert later on in the evening after a dinner at one of the other, higher quality restaurants nearby in Back bay.
(3)Harsh P.
This is one of the most attractive places in Boston being on the 52nd floor at the Prudential. We went for desserts at late night but the we did not get the place we wanted and hence the we did not get the anticipated aerial view of Boston. The dessert was good. Overall an average experience.
(3)Jessica B.
This place has a great view. Besides that, it's pretty much a tourist trap in a mall with sketchy service and opportunistic management. I called to make a reservation for last night, the night of the fireworks in Boston. The woman on the phone told me that no reservations were needed and to come over, there was plenty of room. We parked and were up in about 10 minutes. The bar was full, standing room only. It was crowded and there was no way to politely approach the bar as the sides were roped off. My friend had injured his ankle and standing up for two hours wasn't going to fly. I spoke to a woman who said she was the manager. She said the tables, of which there were many empty, had a $40+ prix fixe menu that you had to order. This seems stupid, wasteful and opportunistic. Sure you have a good view, but you had empty tables and we ended up spending almost the amount requested at another restaurant that had outdoor seating and MUCH better service. The "tough sh*t" type response I got from management when I explained my friend's ankle situation is pretty much enough to keep me out for life. So! Want actual fine dining? Asana Restaurant is very close. Just want better food? There's a Legal Seafood and a Capital Grill right downstairs. Want a nice view, non-stuffy service, and to actually sit outside instead of behind glass? Try Dillon's. That's where we went, and it was awesome. Great view of the fireworks and friendly service.
(2)Steven M.
I live just outside the city. Every time I go to Boston I go to the Top of the Hub. I tend to hang out in the lounge side. Love just sipping a cocktail and have a bite to eat while looking at the wonderful view. Between lunch and dinner it is full of annoying tourist. I feel bad for the wait staff. They seat these folks and only order a soda or coffee. There is a observation deck just below the restaurant people! Evenings are best. More of a romantic upscale feel at night!
(4)Rob G.
This goes on the short list of restaurants to visit when you come to Boston. The food was great, but that's not what you come for...the environment and the views were spectacular!
(5)Cody B.
My friends and I visited Top of the Hub on a wintry Sunday afternoon for hot toddies. The view was excellent, the jazz and was great, and the drinks were moderately priced. My only complaint is the the bar specifically did not have a very sizable area to enjoy the view, as most of the viewing area is reserved for dining. I would gladly go back!
(4)Ashley L.
My husband and I dined at top of the hub for the first time last night for our first wedding anniversary. I made the reservation for the Tuesday night two weeks in advance, and requested a window table. When we arrived We were seated at a table that was not next to a window, which was very annoying because there were 3 free window tables in my plain sight. I asked our waitress if we could move to one of those and she came back with the response "we can't guarantee anything because of graduation season." I was annoyed, like what is that even supposed to mean?? Let me sit at one of those tables like I requested two weeks ago! Oh well, I didn't bother arguing as I didn't want to ruin the night. I ordered the salmon which was to come with gold potatoes and roasted beets, it arrived and there was one single tiny beet. Salmon was pretty tasteless. My husband ordered the veal, he said it was nothing special but the side of whipped potatoes were delicious. We ordered the chocolate almond cake for 2 for dessert. It was presented beautifully with fresh berries, and one scoop of coconut ice cream. Sadly, the cake was very dry and not very good, the best part was the one scoop of coconut ice cream we shared and the strawberries, and blueberries. The service was Ok, the waitress was nice but nothing spectacular. The best part of the whole experience was the bottle of champagne I ordered. Our bill came to $165 and we were satisfied but not very impressed. We were dressed up and expecting a swanky environment, the decor is very outdated. The light fixtures are like giant lamp shades, not attractive at all. My advice to anyone looking to visit would be do not waste your money on dinner!! The bar lounge area looked very nice and had a nice atmosphere. There was a live jazz band playing, which sounded great, we could not hear or see them at all from our dinner table. So go visit the bar, order a few cocktails or a flat bread for the $25 minimum spend where you can enjoy the spectacular views, and sit on the nice couch style lounge chairs next to the windows or on the high tops around the bar. This is a more sensible and entertaining alternative to spending the $16 per person for the sky walk observatory.
(2)Bob M.
It gets two stars for the atmosphere and location only. I was very disappointed with the bland food which in no way was representative of the $180 we spent for 4 people. It seems like this place survives on the bar with that area being packed with people who work in the building and tourists. With so many great dining choices within walking distance I would recommend skipping this place except to go up and look out the window.
(2)Payton F.
Beautiful decor and the dining room is gorgeous. Staff is great.
(5)Lauren P.
My sister and I came for a drink one night and late lunch another day and I really enjoyed it. We sat at the bar and had drinks, I ordered the chicken skewers and fish, she ordered a salad and for dessert we had this big block of chocolate cake with layers of almond cream. Everything was so good and service was great, the bartender continued to fill my water glass and was very attentive.
(4)Jim P.
View was great. Try and get a seat facing the north side because the view is better. This is the same side as the bar. Food was good. Calamari was excellent. Tuna Tar Tar was OK. Atmosphere was very relaxing and the wait staff was excellent. Will definitely go back, just to a different table.
(3)Billy K.
This place is only for tourist and business people eating on their company's dime. Locals avoid this place. If you want a view go to better places along the Charles River. First, they don't return phone calls. I tried calling to make reservations. Left my number and nothing. I guess their crappy service extends to lack of phone skills. Second, the hostess. Rude. When I approached the hostess, I asked about getting a table. He stated rudely of the minimum per person fee. We just had finished eating at Atlantic Fish Company so money was burning through my pockets. Since I prefer sweeter wines, I asked to see the wine menu prior to sitting. After looking through the entire menu, I mentioned that I did not see anything to my taste. The hostess again rudely stated that it was in the wine menu. Annoyed, I asked him to show me. He went through the first wine menu. Oh, it's in the other wine menu. Without any apology, he went to grab the another wine menu. Hmm, if you are wrong, shouldn't there be an apology? I guess not you snotty pretentious hostess. We are walked past the bar. Pro-tip. No minimum if you order drinks by the bar. But as the rude hostess stated, you must be within the bar area. Guess you missed the bar patrons taking pictures by the corner window. Or lounge around the band. Want a view of the Charles? Answer: Only if you are dining. Oh, but dining hours are over. So, does that mean we can get a table with a view of the Charles. No. Where else can you lose my rating? Oh yeah, how about putting the size of the bottle near the prices? Ordered several bottle of wines. Menu didn't mention that they were only 1/2 bottles. Both bottles were only 1/2 bottles. Plus, their markup. Ordered the creme brulee. OMG. Terrible. Can't they afford to hire a real pasty chef? Ordered the warm chocolate cake. She says takes 10-15 minutes. Okay. I can wait for some chocolate cake. OMG. Not good at all. I just wanted to leave. But our server took a break. How do I know? Because she came around 20 minutes later. Both bottle were empty. Dessert less than half eaten. No check. Well, so much for her tip. Thanks for ruining my last night in Boston.
(1)Ranner F.
This is really a five star restaurant, but when you factor in the price, it's hard not to lower their rating. The positives: Great, great, great (did I say great?) view. It is almost a surreal experience if you have the pleasure of sitting by the windows. I went there in the evening, looking over boston as I picked at my food, I grew to appreciate the city more. Also, their cocktails are really good and of a decent price (unlike most other things there). The not so good? Well, it's not that their food is bad (some of my friends who have been there have affirmed this), it's just that there is nothing special about it. I had the salmon when I went, the presentation was nice, came on a nice wooden prop (cedar plank) that made it look more than it was from a distance. I was expecting it to be amazing, I let my date taste it, to which she remarked "I can make better salmon than that." Overall, if you're looking for a place to have an intimate dinner, celebrate an anniversary, or to mark anything significant that has recently occured in life...This is the place. Being so far up (a fact that will not go unnoticed because your ears will pop at least ten times) and looking at the beautiful canvass that is Boston, one will surely take a moment to appreciate the moment. I did. Tip: Make sure to call if you have a reservation and ask them to consider seating you by the window. The other seats are not as scenic.
(4)Hayley B.
I came here with my boyfriend when we were 18 or so celebrating our first year together. As both of us have lived in Boston forever, we were pretty excited by the prospect of eating at such a fancy place so high up in the city. We ate there so many years ago that I do not remember what we had ordered. What I do know is that we had a romantic table, there was jazz playing, and we were seated right next to the window and had a stunning view of the entire city. We had coffee to end the night and it was delicious. Thinking back, what I can remember is that we paid quite a lot for this meal. I probably wouldn't eat there again for the food but would return more for the idea of what this place holds for us.
(4)Edmondo D.
Definitely a restaurant you have to go to if you're in Boston. The view of the city is great. The food was delicious and the service was top notch. It's a romantic restaurant for any occasion.
(5)Julie T.
I want to throw up when I think about the money I blew for such a mediocre experience here. The hostess was nice and the view is amazing but I'm pretty sure that's where the good comments end. Our waiter was friendly but borderline invasive with his questions and commentary and the service was pretty slow. It was a busy night though so I'll cut them slack in that regard. The food was decent, but not for the price and portion. Honestly, I came here just because I've never been before and it's just "one of those places." Man, talk about regrets. Also, it took 20 minutes to get change for the bill. I wanted to throw myself out the window at this point. You're probably better off going to Uno.
(2)Adrienne S.
Go for the view, not the service We went a couple of weekends ago, to enjoy some late night jazz, snacks and of course the view of Boston (although it was a pretty foggy night). There is a $24/person minimum spend in the dining area - if you choose to just stay by the bar, there is no minimum. It was not a busy night at all, there was a decent amount of people there, but because of the snow storm that was still happening, perhaps they were a bit short-staffed. It took quite some time to have someone take our order. And when my husband asked for mustard, they forgot and so we had to remind them again. For whatever reason, service was just slow that night. As for the food, my husband ordered a burger and I ordered the tuna tartare and a bowl of clam chowder. I'd say that it was the blandest tuna tartare I've ever had. The clam chowder was alright. The burger was only OK too. Beer selection is very limited, they didn't have any amber or dark beers which seemed unusual. The live jazz was nice to have in the background. Quite a few people danced that evening. I wouldn't say it was full of tourists at all (I had expected it to be a bit of a tourist trap), in fact it appeared that it was mostly full of locals. Most were dressed up, men in jackets and women in dresses. But we didn't seem out of place in jeans. So I suggest this place for the view and a drink. Eat here only if you're starrving.
(1)Vincent Y.
I asked for several opinions about this restaurant, and everyone seemed to be in agreement that the food was just above average, but not worth the price. I went with a coworker anyway, and I it was the best meal I enjoyed while in Boston that week. We ordered the 3-course Prix-fixe with duck confit, braised ribs, and blueberry upside down cake, which I'll respectively give 4,5,3 ratings. The rib was cut off the bone before serving, and it had this wonderful after-taste which was almost like it was oven-broiled at the end. A couple of appetizers had awesome presentation. Beet Salad and Tuna Tartare (both a 4 in my book). My favorite: Sacchetti Purses (5). This was the first time I was introduced to this kind of pasta, and I absolutely loved it. Filled in the same manner as ravioli, I very much enjoyed the cheese-filled dumpling mixed with a serving of whole lobster (sans lobster shell) in pesto-ey sauce. The dumpling's outer noodle was very delicate - a bit thinner than gyoza. There were a few downsides though: We got a terrible 2-seater table towards the center, which lacked a window view. (tip: get there early, peeps! This means before 7pm on a Thursday night!) The garlic bread that came with my pasta was terribly oily and had a stale taste.. My educated guess is that the oil in which they spread/baked it was very old. (Why didn't they use butter? With so much attention to the other fine foods, they seemed to miss this simple detail). The plantain that was served on top of my avocado (with the Tuna Tartare) also tasted a bit stale. Service could've used some improvement - our waters weren't filled (I think mine was empty for 20-30 minutes). Later, when our belt buckles were about to pop, and our bodies were wanting to walk around to digest this tremendous meal, our waiter took forever to deliver the bill and a second trip to charge our credit cards. Wow, looking back at what I just typed, you might wonder how this received a 4-star review? Well fortunately for the restaurant, I weigh taste far above service.
(4)Ron S.
I took my wife to the Top of the Hub for our anniversary, and I fully regret it. The tables were cramped together, and the waiter was unintelligible and made us feel awkward and out of place. The view was the only positive. When our appetizers arrived, the server dumped a bowl of hot lobster soup in my wife's lap. She was mortified. After explaining three times to the main waiter why we were so dissatisfied, we settled our bill early and left. Our "dinner" at Top of the Hub was the turning point for our anniversary vacation in Boston. My wife spent the remainder of our anniversary crying in our hotel room. She had such a horrible experience that we'll likely never return to either Boston or Top of the Hub ever again.
(1)Rosanna Marina A.
Food was excellent, a little pricey but it's worth every penny. We did the Sunday brunch, $40 per adult. The options were good. I tried the ravioli filled with sausage which was truly delicious. Highly recommend it. The view of Boston from the restaurant there are no words to describe it. I will back, this time to enjoy the sunset and check out the entertainment.
(5)Kevin C.
Amazing place for a date. The view is incredible, the best you can get in all of Boston. Obviously incredibly expensive and they don't give you too much in terms of servings, but anyone who complains about those two aspects of the restaurant obviously isn't very use to high-class establishments. Oh, and the service was great.
(5)Jaclyn S.
Went for DINE OUT BOSTON (restaurant week). Always fun at the Top of the Hub. The food was delicious, and we ordered wine (I had the "Top of the Hub" Merlot $9/glass, which I liked), my date ordered "Caparinha" ~$12 which he said tasted authentic and strong. We ordered the bean soup, the steak with parmesan tater tots (so delicious! and a large portion), chicken with polenta which was great. For desert we enjoyed creme brule and the chocolate espresso mousse, both were delicious and plated nice. $38/pp. Bread basket. The service was speedy, right after we finished a course the other one was ready. Many servers attended our table. Prices for normal menu aren't too outrageous for Top of the Hub, they have prix fixed options always available, but you can order just an entree for between $25-35. The wine list has glasses from $9-$30 and bottles that cost as much as a flight to europe. The ambience is romantic, but there are a lot of people that wander around during dinner trying to get pictures of the view, which can be disturbing. Dim lighting and pictures are hard to capture with you and the view during the evening since flash ruins it, but it's too dark to see everyone clearly. Go during the day for the cool picture of you and birds-eye Fenway. I'll be going back! Interested in their lunch!
(4)Amanda L.
This place sounds like it's a tourist trap, but I was pleasantly surprised. We had some time to kill, so we stopped by mid-afternoon, around 4pm, for some drinks and a view. We got a table by the window and got to enjoy the view without having to peek over strangers' heads. It was a clear day, so the view was pretty amazing. Drinks were moderately priced at $12. I'm from New York, so I'm used to it. But my $12 drink here in NYC usually doesn't come with the view. And my $12 drink in NYC isn't humongous! I thought the drinks at Top of the Hub were big. The drinks on the rocks came in big water glasses, and our other cocktails came in huge martini glasses with small shakers on the side (with a little extra drink in them). The drinks tasted good too. Not too boozy, but boozy enough :) We also got a dessert to munch on -- the blueberry upside-down cake. Delicious. Our server was super sweet and attentive (as expected, since it wasn't the dinner rush yet). Overall, it was a good time, and out-of-towners should experience it at least once.
(4)Aidan M.
Greatest window view of any restaurant I have ever been to. Breathtaking. I had Jameson martini and shared a caeser salad & they both tasted really good. The elevator ride to the top is wicked fast! Be warned!
(5)Jacqueline N.
View is absolutely gorgeous, we were about 60 stories up! Food was mediocre/decent. I got the salmon sandwich, unfortunately, I am not a fan of sauteed spinach but the salmon was nice and moist. I tried the creme brulee which was decent, but very buttery. High butter to sugar ratio, but that is just me. Portions are small and expensive but it was good. Everything came out to $25 per person with tax and tip. I did not appreciate the waiter mocking me or making snide comments at my questions or the fact that I did not eat my spinach though. That was not appropriate. minus points for bad customer service. All in all, it was an experience mainly because of the gorgeous view of Boston.
(2)Bob T.
I've been here twice, and both times had a poor experience. On one occasion, I had to send my entree back TWICE, because the kitchen just couldn't seem to wrap their heads around an instruction to cook my steak medium-well, as opposed to (respectively) raw and not-quite-so-raw. On the other, the food was just not up to the quality one would expect with the prices they charge. Yes, the view is great, but I'll tell you what -- eat at a much more moderately priced place with much better seafood, and then do up a deck tour in the Pru. You'll get much more for your buck and a great deal less aggravation. EDIT: Responding to the owner's comment, I don't live in Boston any more, and with any visit can think of a dozen establishments that give me the quality-for-value I appreciate. That being said, while having to return one's entree to the kitchen to have it properly cooked *twice* is always unacceptable (this being, by my count, one of the three times in my life I ever had to send an entree back at all), should such an event happen to a patron in the future, the least you can do is comp the meal. It wouldn't have much helped my mood -- this being the first formal dinner out I had had with my future in-laws -- but even so.
(1)N D.
Let's just say that the sausage dog I had at Gillette stadium was better than my meal at this place! What a disappointment... We had reservation and still had to wait 45 minutes for a table and the waitress forgot to let the hostess know we were at the bar. Wow! My $48 NY steak tasted like something from the grill at Sizzler.
(2)Sabrina L.
Do you want the greatest view of Boston? then yes..def check this place out. No need to dine here, just order a few drinks , seat back, and enjoy. The staff is attentive and you will have a great opportunity for those facebook worthy pictures of Boston's skyline.
(4)Karen N.
The food here is decent... for the price, maybe not exactly the best value in terms of quality and portion- but it is exactly what you expect from a place that has such a beautiful view of the city. Our server was not bad, either- he was also a decent enough waiter. Of all the staff in the place, it was a busboy who would say the most insulting thing to me after my family of six just finished dining. The boy basically treated me as if I was poaching on the view and I think it would have been better if he had just said nothing at all. Anyplace that charges what they do should be giving service that matches. Our last night in Boston and I didn't let him ruin it, but if anyone else has recommendations on where to see an equivalent type of viewpoint, I would pay my money to enjoy Boston from there instead. Nobody likes to spend money to be insulted.
(2)Elena L.
Top of the Hub it is very very high-end restaurant very nice very classy..... I love it in there is amazing to look outside from the windows... That's the best restaurant ever see in Boston
(5)Xiao Z.
Hands down, this place is a wonderful date place. That being said, be prepared to spend a fair amount of money for the view, the food, and definitely the drinks. But to be honest, Top of the Hub is really not as expensive as the rumors make it seem to be. I reserved a window-seat on a Monday night with my date and enjoyed a wonderful dinner while watching the sunset and the night sky illuminate with both artificial and star lights. Had I taken my date to any other restaurant, we probably would have spent the same amount of money, but without the beautiful evening views and the live jazz band. As for food, we shared a crab cake for appetizer and ordered fish for dinner - I had the grilled swordfish (served on the rarer side), my date had the salmon served over a cedar board. The crab cake, while certainly delicious, was just a bit pricy ($17+). The swordfish, however, was phenomenal and complemented wonderfully with the butternut squash, the baconbits, and the brussel sprouts. The salmon dish was quite delicious, but I really couldn't taste the cedar board, unless I was actively scraping off pieces of the wood for taste. The pickled vegetable and sweet n' sour brown rice side dishes were great on their own, but contrasted too much with the fish. After dinner, we were escorted to the lounge area, right in front of the live jazz band per compliment of the house. Overall, I had a wonderful time and would recommend it to any new couples. Maybe just once, since my wallet took a pretty good beating afterward. Food: 3 stars Service: 4 stars Drinks: 3 stars (I had the mango mojito, kinda regretted not trying the cucumber one) Ambiance: 5 stars...so I admit, this was indeed the driving factor for good review Price: 3 stars
(4)Hector C.
Great environment. Great food!! Great view!! We ordered the Trio, it was a great option for me, for my wife I think it was too much food, she was not able to finish her dessert. But otherwise we had a great time.
(4)Tom M.
View is amazing, though you won't feel welcome to walk the circumference. Creme brûlée wasn't very (at all?) brûlée, Old Fashioned was,... well a bit too much soda water and too many mushed up glacé cherries?!
(2)Rose W.
BEAUTIFUL date spot! Based on milieu alone, this place deserves a 5/5! If someone were to ask me "What is there to do in Boston?" I would DEFINITELY recommend coming to the Top of the Hub on a Friday night around 6PM to watch the sunset, stay until 8 to listen to live jazz music, and enjoy a few of their AMAZING desserts! I highly recommend their Creme Brulee. It's probably one of the best that I've ever had. However, based on dinner alone, they are TERRIBLE. I had their chicken pot pie and I have to argue that even microwaveable chicken pot pie was better. What they made wasn't really a pie, but rather a piece of thick, flaky air-filled bread that lies on top of a thick chicken soup. The only thing I liked about it was the bread. Their brunch is much better. And I would even argue that the view during the day is better too, but not as sexy.
(3)Kayan H.
Great view! Atmosphere was a bit old school, but i had fun celebrating my birthday with my husband and good friends. I had the cioppino, which was just okay. The broth wasn't as robust as I like. My husband let me try his spicy lobster bisque and that was good.
(3)Peter Y.
Come here all the time for the view and drinks..and expensive but good food...This time it was kind n of busy and we didn't get a premium seat along the window...and there were 3 of us and so we rotated the table so we all could have a view...The host/manager comes by and angrily rotates the table back...without saying a word and actually bumps the table into my fiancé. ..so rude...so when he left I rotated the table back...we are talking 45 degree rotation. ...we are discussing how rude it was and decided to just eat an appetizer and have a drink and leave...When a second manager comes over and yells at us about the table...I gave it right back to him...and told him not to worry we are leaving. ..and we are not impressed...very rude management. ..needs a change....I hope their bosses see this review. .and I will be telling all my friends not to go there.
(1)Frederic M.
Top of the hub isn't exactly the most accessible of places - the entrance is hidden in the middle of the prudential mall. But once on board the elevator taking you to that top floor of the Pru, you know you're about to get an amazing view over the city... and a pretty good meal with that actually. A lot of other reviewers find this place overly expensive. Well, I guess it depends on what you expect AND how you order. Remember you are having a meal in the highest spot of the city - and sure, you pay an extra for that. But with the brunch menu going for 40 dollars, you can have both the view AND a nice meal with a view. The brunch includes 2 appetizers, a main and a dessert. I highly recommend Top of the Hub as an ideal lazy/snowy/cold Sunday brunch location!
(4)Shauna R.
Went for their Sunday brunch. The food was good, not as fantastic as I expected from "Top of the Hub". The waiter was extremely nice and helpful. I would go again, but maybe for restaurant week.
(3)Adam H.
You are basically paying for the view, which is great so no complaints. Our waitress was very friendly and answered any questions we had, she even let us move to table closer to the window which gave us a better view of Boston. The food was pretty average. I ordered their seafood pasta and it wasn't bad and the portions are generous. All the cocktails that we ordered were surprisingly good and they leave the cocktail mixer at your table so you can top up your glass which i thought was a good idea.
(3)Kevin p.
I've lived in the Boston area my whole life (27 years) and now I know why this is my first time at the top of the hub. With prices like this I expect a fine dining experience. It was not. View is only thing preventing a 1 star review. 1. No Valet nor do they make it helpful for parking. Ended up paying 30$ for 2 hours in a garage... 2. I made reservations a week or two in advance and told them it was for a birthday...our table was not ready when we got there on time and there was absolutely zero attention to any detail. Capital grille, grille 23, Ruth's...hell even joes bar and grille did such a better job in the past. 3. The steaks were average. Mine was over cooked and the sides were lacking. The only plus is its view. I would not recommend this to anyone for a fine dining experience. Merely a thing you do once just to see the awesome view
(2)Rebekah A.
Loved this place. Friendly bartenders. Drinks were delicious. And you can't beat the view.
(5)Anysia -.
The food is great and the food portion is generous for such a high end restaurant. I went for brunch so the menu was pretty confined, but it was a great selection. Sure it is pricey but you are getting lots of food and a great view. We had reservations for 4 people, and 2 of us arrived a few minutes before the other 2 and they would not sit us until they arrived even after explaining they were just entering the tower. That was a little annoying especially since the hostess had an attitude about it. They give a great discount for the public parking (we went from $40 to $14 for a 3 hour fee). The view is great from any table, but arrive earlier than your reservations because they say that window table requested are not guaranteed. You will have your fair share of "high class" diners around, but the waiters are down to earth and really nice and seemed more than happy to answer any questions. Suggestion for brunch: you have 4 courses so take your time!
(4)Rossi F.
Went here for an anniversary dinner last month. We did the 3 course dinner paired with wine. The food was delicious and the wines were amazing! The service was great too. I had told them it was an anniversary when I made the reservation, so when they sent out the desserts they wrote "Happy Anniversary" on the plates and added a candle. It was very sweet! The view was beautiful, can't beat it.
(4)Jessica S.
A great view and a great BLT. I don't recall the pricing since I wasn't paying but it was the most impressive Sandwhich I had eaten. I went during the lunch hour and it was a clear day.
(5)John G.
Excellent service, food and and a spectacular view. Could not ask for a better time. We had to ask of they validate parking. It would have been nice if they asked. Overall we will be back to celebrate a special occasion!!
(5)Flo S.
the view, of course, is great. and they did accomodate our request for a window table because it was a birthday dinner. the food was average and the portions small. the wait staff was not as attentive as one would expect for an expensive
(3)Kelly G.
This is a must for any visitor and special occasion. Perfect to bring parents. Spectacular view, wonderful live jazz in the evening and an delicious unpretentious menu on the bar side. Service is a little spotty. It can be impeccable or they can forget about you. The older gentleman who plays host or greeter needs to address his lack of social skills. Regardless, I'll keep going back to one of my go to special places.
(4)Poh Y.
One my best restaurant experience. Went there for a date on 3rd of July. The waiter was very friendly and helpful. Food was tasty and decently priced for that kind of environment. And we lucked out when the 4th of July fireworks was brought forward a day earlier due to rainy weather. Spectacular view of the fireworks and night-view of Boston was amazing.
(5)Barbara A.
Terrible restaurant rude staff stay away Boston has much better to offer we asked for a window seat they actually sat us in the main restaurant with a nice view but when I told them I wanted to order iff the lounge menu they made us move to a small side table. Disappointed my daughter it was her first time there never again !
(1)Naomi B.
Had dinner here for the first time on Feb 1, 2013 after making a reservation via OpenTable. They remembered that we were celebrating a birthday without us having to remind them which was appreciated. Pros: Top of the Hub Tasting Menu was delicious, especially the scallops and beef au poivre. Waitress was very attentive and polite and didn't rush us through our meal. Ambiance and views made for a very romantic and enjoyable night. The "Level 52" cocktail is amazing! (Level Vodka, Chambord, Splash of Champagne). Free coat check. Clean bathrooms. Cons: The dessert was disappointing, creme brulee and chocolate cake lacked flavor but please note that I am a dessert snob. Window seating cannot be reserved. Hostess was polite but not friendly. No one at the restaurant mentioned the observation deck so we missed that opportunity.
(4)Lisa N.
Went here for dinner to celebrate our anniversary during resteraunt week. We didn't get a window seat, so I could only glance at the view. The view is amazing though (managed to take a few shots when leaving). I ordered off the resteraunt week menu- shrimp ceviche, flat iron steak, and creme brûlée. My fiancé had the clam chowder and lamb. The shrimp ceviche was good, but the steak was delicious. It was small, but very tender and flavorful. His lamb was great too; very tender. The creme brûlée was much too sweet, I could barely finish half. We also got drinks, but mine was a tad too strong for me. Should probably have stuck with a nice wine. Our waiter was just okay. He would take our orders, and then we wouldn't see him for awhile. He also asked every other couple if they were there for a special occasion or if they wanted their parking ticket validated. He missed both with us. It is a very nice place, romantic even. But for a place that classifies their attire as classy or dressy, I didn't see much of that. There were people in jeans and sneakers. I probably wouldn't come back here unless it was another special occasion. I would love a window seat next time because the view is definitely worth coming back for!
(4)Levian L.
It was the second time that I have ever been to Top Of the Hub. The only reason that I would come back is for the view. The first time I went was with some friends, great view, seated by the window, the food was mediocre. My friend ordered steak, requested medium rare, and it came out overcooked. He had it sent back to the kitchen and it came out overcooked again. What are the chances? especially for a fine dining place like this. My friend and I ordered clam chowder and both thought Campbell Soup did better than that. This time I came here with my family, service was not good. We were seated at a rather quiet corner area by the window, view was gorgeous. I did not like the service. Waiter looked angry the whole time, took care of two other tables next to us: frequently checked with them, but checked with us only once the entire time we were dining. If I go there next time and he waits on us, I am going to change tables or even not dine in there.
(2)Sara S.
Worth it all! especially for a romantic date or something special.. I love it!
(4)Ximena Sofia B.
Great view and great service. Food ok. Pretty much you pay for the view, not for the food.
(4)Ashby O.
Very happy to update my last review. I called and spoke with a manager after writing it and he was very nice, understanding and apologetic. He invited us back into the restaurant to correct the situation. I went with three others on a Saturday evening and though it was crowded, service was pretty quick and was much better. All of the cocktails we tried were really great, and even when I requested a specific custom cocktail it was superb. We ate this time, and had a much better experience than many other reviewers seemed to have had. Maybe because we ordered a lot of small plates and no entrees. The manager sent us two appetizers, chicken lollipops (wings..) and calamari. The calamari was seriously awesome. So lightly breaded, tender, and just delicious. The wings were fine, but nothing special. We went on to order clam chowder, which was very good, and the spinach salad, which was excellent. We also tried the crab cake, which was delicious lump crabmeat with little filler; but the salad of olives etc. it was placed on top of was an overpowering and unappropriate match for the dish. The chicken pot pie was warm and comforting, but the broth lacked seasoning. Overall: -the cocktails were amazing and big -the service was much better this time -the food we had was much better than expected, though some dishes did have minor flaws -the view and atmosphere are great I am really looking forward to going back for a cocktail and seeing how things go a third time.
(4)Laura D.
My boyfriend took me to Top of the Hub for a Tuesday lunch during restaurant week in March. As one could imagine, the view at Top of the Hub was the most memorable aspect of our visit. Not to knock the kitchen right off the bat, but for a restaurant placed so high up over the city, it would need to take spectacular food to be able to give the most lasting impression from our experience. But, alas, the meal just made my fat hurt for the rest of the day. Let's start from the top: We walk in, the hostesses were creepy and uncomfortable; the sunlight hurt my eyes. They sat us at the table overlooking Cambridge. I mean, really, Cambridge? After some hooting and hollering they seated us on the waterfront side and I felt instantly more comfortable. For some reason, that I don't care to ponder, we had about 3 dozen waiters, all shapes, colors, haircuts - you name it. We never saw any of them again more than once. Bizarre. Now let's to get the meat of it. The food was salty, greasy, and hurt my love handles. The first course was tomato soup, with like an herb in the middle. I just wanted one of our waiters to clean it up as soon as they put it down. The initial taste just made me feel queasy. The second course was just a lump of meet. They put, like, a lot of sauce on. The tots made me happy at first, but then I grew to be annoyed with them. They gave me heart burn. For the final course of the restaurant week prie fix menu, we had the most moist, succulent, tender, juicy chocolate cake I could have dreamed of. I just wanted to rub it in between my legs and call the chef, "Daddy". I hope to see you soon my sweet, burning desire. Cheers.
(3)Michael D.
We (party of 3) went for the Restaurant Week menu, which was $38 pre-tip for a soup, entree, and dessert. The soup and entree (flat iron steak) were both great, but not particularly noteworthy, which was fine. The desserts were amazing! The espresso and chocolate mousse was perfectly sweet and soft and the creme brulee is a good size and as good as any creme brulee can get. The view in the evening is also great if you get a table next to the window. It seems though that most seats are next to the window. Top of the Hub is definitely worth trying once if you can be a little spendy.
(3)D D.
If I am paying top dollar to eat/ drink here I don't want to put up with your hostesses' shi**y attitude. Our server was great though.
(2)Ed C.
We went there mainly for the view but were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food and fantastic service. Great experience.
(4)Kwan Woo K.
The view is fantastic. The food, so so. I did not like that the servers sometimes don't tell you that some of the things they additionally offer are charged. Otherwise, it is a wonderful place to have a dinner with your partner / friend.
(4)Amanda A.
Come here for a drink and the view. I wouldn't suggest one of their specialty cocktails, considering they aren't really "special". Stick with a basic drink and go somewhere else for dinner. Maybe it's just that every time I have gone and ordered something off their menu I have been very disappointed. The three stars are for the service and what you see when you look out the window.
(3)Craig R.
Went for a Sunday brunch the other weekend. The ser ice was great and the food was good. I had a very picky teenager with me and she liked everything. It was a great weather day and the view was fantastic. It's a bit pricey but worth the splurge once in awhile.
(4)Fabrizio G.
Always a classic and surprisingly hip
(4)Otto T.
I went over last night and everything from view, drinks, food and service was a 5 star, LOVED IT.
(5)Nick T.
It's hard to give Top of the Hub 5 stars just for doing exactly what they're supposed to be doing. The food's good, and the price is dictated by the location and view. The ambiance is exactly what you'd expect from a restaurant perched atop a Boston skyscraper. If you've never been, Top of the Hub is a great restaurant to book for your anniversary or other special occasion. There's something so memorable about dinner overlooking all of Boston. The food was good, but not all that memorable. I remember being very happy with what I ate, but it wasn't the kind of food that makes you star and circle the place on a map. So now that I've been, there isn't much to bring me back. I am glad I went, though.
(4)Chappy B.
Went back to TOTH to kick off the summer. Showed up pretty late and the hostess informed us that we would have to spend minimum 24$ a person to be seated, which we were intending on. Top of the Hub isn't exactly a cheap date, I was a little surprised they had to mention that. As the night went on, it all made sense. Great service as usual, great food. FANTASTIC wold class jazz musicians. But the crowd...?? Maybe it was graduation week or a little late in the night but the company was appalling. Drunk 20-somethings EVERYWHERE making out in the lounge. WTF? Last time I checked this place was full of middle aged yuppies with whale belts and great taste. I went to the bathroom an someone had projectile vomited all over the sink area. I left, very confused.
(2)Al D.
We stopped by on a beautiful sunny early spring day. We all enjoyed our club sandwiches and BLTs. Salads were tasty and fresh. House made chios were great. Good beer and wine offerings. And yes, we loved the amazing city view, especially of Fenway Park on Opening Day. Hostess needs a personality transplant though. Brusque and too cool for school.
(4)Lynn Y.
Amazing view ofBoston. Located on the 52th floor of the Prudential building. It's better to get a reservation for a drink or dinner
(4)Dan M.
Okay so when I first moved to Boston, I thought Top of the Hub would be awesome as it's voted one of the most romantic restaurants in the city. As a lot of people have mentioned in yelp, you are really paying for the view. I have eaten there a few times and quite honestly the food was not that good. Do not get me wrong because the food is fine but I think people get swept away with the amazing view of the city that they lose focus on the actual taste of the food. Certain dishes are okay but then others are just forgettable. I am not sure I want to pay high prices for a hit or a complete miss. The ambiance is great and I actually prefer going to the lounge area to have a few drinks listen to the jazz playing. The service is also great which is why im rating this joint a 3 but you can get much better food elsewhere. Definitely a date place that will impress based on the views.
(3)Stephanie H.
Went to Top of the Hub for a friend's birthday and it was the perfect spot to start the night! Not a long wait for a table (less than 10 minutes) at 5PM on a Saturday night. You can sit at a table without ordering food which is a huge plus. Insanely gorgeous view of Boston and great cocktails. Yes, they are expensive (~$13) but you are paying for view. Cocktails were unique and delicious. We had the fried risotto appetizer which did not disappoint. Great service too.
(4)Viv B.
First hoity toity place I've ever eaten at really. Was amazing, had an amazing view though I wish we were next to the window. I wonder how you can manage to reserve a table next to it... Anyway, fancy food isn't really for me so I wasn't too keen on the food but it was still a fun experience and the server was great. Though I did really like the spicy lobster soup and the pear tart tatin or whatever it was called. Mmm yummy. EDIT: I had to change a couple things because we had gotten the creme brulee and that was our first time having it so we figured that it being all burnt on the sugar and it being kind of loose in the custard was normal. Turns out that is not the case and our server failed to bring that to our attention. The other desert was great but a little disappointed they didn't let us know. It's a great place for the ambiance and the food that's for sure so I wouldn't shy away if it's your first time.
(3)Melissa F.
Typical overpriced "tourist trap". The city view may be seen only if dining (we were denied walking up to the window to enjoy the view) and were informed to sit at the bar and order a drink if we wanted to see the view. We continued to order drinks and dessert. The dessert you could tell wasn't fresh. The servers were nice and did a great job engaging in conversation. Pros: View Cons: Expensive low quality food Paying for the view not the food
(3)Mark A.
Been here more times than I can count, mostly to take my out-of-town friends. Yes, it's very touristy and overpriced. However, you are paying for the ambiance and killer view (and it's worth it). Lunch isn't too overpriced, actually it's priced similar to most high end places in the city, and the view is just a bonus. I would say skip the overpriced dinner and come for lunch. Perfect after a day of shopping at Copley or the Prudential. And the food and service has always been great, these people know what they are doing.
(5)Rebecca K.
Service and food is still good. We came for lunch and the daytime view is so much prettier than at night, IMHO. Really enjoyed the Grilled Tenderloin of Beef Flat Bread. Horseradish sauch went perfectly with the balsamic-reduced carmalized onions!! I totally recommend eating here for the same amount as admission onto the Skydeck two floors below.
(4)James A.
So the view is awesome. Other than that the experience was horrible. There were two of us, adults, properly dressed for a night in the city, and they decided to sit us in the family section with crying babies. Seriously? Why would you seat a twosome amongst multiple families? Asked to be reseated and they did accommodate. However after that annoyance, waited 15 minutes and no waiter or bus for water. Noticed that the table around us looked like they had been waiting on their server. Finally asked a passing busser to find our server. He tried but did not find anyone. However there were plenty of workers as walking to be seated you ran into so many. We finally just got up and left. Informed the hostess and the front desk. They asked if anything could be done but at that point wasn't in the mood. So a good place to go and grab a drink and see the view, but continued bad service will only make it a tourist spot that you only go once to.
(1)Mahina K.
The view is amazing, that's why it's called Top of The Hub. I'm not overly thrilled about the food though. It wasn't like hey I'd pay over $20 for this meal. It was good, but you're paying for your view and location. I been here during the day and at night, both views are spectacular. I had the beef tenderloin flatbread, it was pretty good. Lots of flavor and the beef was tender, but not for the price. I do love that they give you lots of bread, I love anywhere with a good bread plate. I've been here a couple of times, I don't remember what I got the first time but I think it was the chicken plate for dinner. I remember it was decent. I was more impressed with the dessert that said "Happy Birthday, Mahina." Let's face it, my name is not common and could very easily be misspelled which would be bad. Service is impeccable. Everyone is polite, they ask about what type of water you'd like to drink, they're polite and knowledgeable about the menu, and I just appreciate them as waitstaff. You can let them know about you have a special event so they can you know, make you something for an anniversary or birthday.
(3)Kristen M.
Option A) go to the bar at the top of the hub, get a drink for $13 and enjoy the beautiful view 52 stories up. Option B) go to the observation deck, pay $15, and still watch the beautiful view but 50 stories up. I go with Option A. The blackberry margarita was really good and the view is phenomenal. We were lucky enough to go on a clear sunny day. Although the bartender wasn't overly friendly, he was talkative and helpful. Would we go back? Only if we desperately want to see the view above Boston again...
(3)Collins F.
Good place to hang out and get a drink with a view. I have not had any food from this restaurant, but they did have very good drinks. The wait staff was attentive and courteous as well.
(4)Mindy T.
The food and drinks are great! Make a reservation in order to get the seats with a great view.
(5)Sam N.
If you're going to eat here you have to eat in the dining room not the lounge because there's two different menus. The dining room has way better food. The scallop appetizer is really good but overall the food isn't fantastic but the atmosphere and views of Boston are incredible! I'd recommend coming here at least once on a date and eating, then drinks & dancing in the lounge to the jazz band!
(4)Minsey L.
This restaurant has an amazing view, but that's kind of all they got going for them... We came here for lunch for two on a Saturday morning. It was quite empty which was nice (or so it seemed... it's a very big restaurant), and we sat on the side overlooking the Charles River. We got the Kobe beef hot dog sliders to start, and I ordered the lobster roll for my entree. The hot dogs certainly looked fancy, and the meat was good. But the bread was surprisingly sweet. Hot dogs aren't meant for sweet buns. I don't think that the flavors mix very well, so this definitely could have been better. My lobster roll was quite disappointing though. It came with waaay too much celery in it. And globs of mayo. It was the worst lobster roll I had. It also came with the same sweet bread as a bun. I ended the meal with a creme brulee, and I think it's pretty hard to mess that one up. This was the most satisfying part of my meal. It was a little on the pricey side. I believe it costed about $40 after tip for my half of the meal. I think I would take away a star if I had paid for my own bill, but since I didn't... I think it's a-okay. It's definitely worth coming to once, because it's the only place you can dine with a view like this.
(3)Chris R.
So the view was great, we sat down fast because we had a reservation but people just kept invading our space to look at the view. That became annoying; and the staff did very little to stop it. The ambiance was great with the live jazz band and lounge singer. Our food was delicious.
(3)Oren B.
Ok, this was fun, we had a great time service was great but the food was a 4. I think you should go because the staff & the view make it worth while but they could have better quality meat.
(4)Sara B.
Just the idea of how high up it was, is AWESOME! sucha pretty view. I was taken there to celebrate my birthday. the entree was ok, the birthday cookies at the end though ROCKED! it was a nice experience because we were there to celebrate. he loved his steak, I was mesmorized by the view. I think i need to go back for a re do!
(3)Catherine X.
Terrible Service. No one refills my water through my two-hour dining. A simple three-meal restaurant week course took me two hours because the food was served extremely slowly. The food was just ok, not really worth the two-hour wait.
(2)Crystal F.
While the wine list is extensive and the cocktails and food items are unique, delicious and innovative I was less than impressed. The views were decent but not as spectacular as I was lead to believe I took my dad here for dinner because his favorite place in Vegas is the stratosphere. First our waiter was nonexistent I ordered a martini that took 30 minutes and 3 excuses from the waiter who was nice but after over hearing my dad and I discussing expensive restaurants we'd been to in other places and how the prices here weren't bad he mentioned prices on everything and seemed slightly condescending thinking we had no money for a place like this meanwhile my dad was seriously debating on whether or not to get a $1600 bottle of wine which he decided against after the wait on my drink and the condescension. We also ordered the lobster cake appetizer which he got 2 pieces of shell in and which took another 20 minutes after I got my martini, to come out when we ordered both at the same time (50 minutes in now). 30 minutes after finishing the appetizer our food finally came out. I had the lamb shank and opted for gnocchi instead of mashed potatoes after the waiter inquired whether a couple dollar price difference was an issue or not but the food was delicious and the lamb just fell off the bone. My dad ordered the pork chop which had good flavor but was on the verge of being dry and his potatoes were cold. We wanted to end with coffee for him and a cappuccino for myself, which was the most timely of services we received but not the best in flavor. We walked out full but not impressed and left $15 on a $120 bill 2 hours after sitting down. Ultimately this was a test run to see if I should take my mom and boyfriend there and I'm disappointed to say that I will not be returning unless I'm just there for cocktails at the bar. Get it together Top of the Hub, so much potential in the food that was completely ruined by timing and service. Just for perspective I went to Green Dragon Tavern the night before with a friend and left a $15 tip on $85. So the low tip here was very intentional.
(1)Duy L.
Stopped by for a drink on a Monday afternoon, Oct 14, 2013. Great view of the entire city! I had a cocktail and a creme brulee, which was nicely done. If I didn't just stuff myself with the lobster roll at Neptune's, I woulda opted for the $24 prix-fixe lunch menu (salad, course, dessert). Looked like a great deal for an awesomely relaxing lunch. I spied a corner where a live band might play in the evenings... I might be back!
(4)Melanie C.
This place is AMAZING. It was recommended to me by a friend who had dined here before. Great food, great wine, great service and a fantastic view of the city. A great date restaurant. Great ambiance.
(5)John H.
Word on the street says that this is the MUST experience. And yes, the view of Boston is quite amazing. However, the food served (as part of a meal) is lacking. Portions are small for the price and I found my meal to be bland in both taste and visual presentation. Drinks + Apps + View = Amazing. I can't and won't recommend TOTH as a place to enjoy a great meal. Better to save your money and visit the Capitol Grill or even Morton's Steak House. Both are better dining options overall.
(2)Cassy H.
Top of the Hub is THE place is go for a gorgeous view of Boston (see photo for picture taken via my android phone) and the Charles River. Located on the 52nd floor of the Prudential Center, this is probably the highest restaurant in Boston. I imagine this is probably a rather romantic place to take that someone special, especially at night (when they have jazz music-- which I haven't been to before, but hope to check out one night). I'd say 3 stars for the food, but definitely 5 stars for the view... so I averaged it and decided it was around a 4 star, but I'm definitely being generous here.. Tip #1: Request to seat by the window... or even better, a window corner table, b/c that's the best view in my humble opinion. :o) Tip#2: Come here for lunch. It's a lot cheaper.. plus you aren't really here for the food, but for the gorgeous VIEW! Although I must say, I ordered the 3 course pre-fixe lunch menu and it was quite, surprisingly delicious. And it was only $22.. for starter, entree, and dessert. For me, I got the arugual salad, pan seared scallops with sweet potato hash (I must say the scallops were perfectly cooked and seasoned), and creme brulee. Tip#3: Bring your camera, take pictures, be a tourist and be proud of it!
(4)Maximillian M.
The view is undeniably unbeatable. I only wish the food matched the view. I had a turkey club that was good with crispy bacon, but it was ultimately forgettable and not worthy of the high price (yes, I know, "location surcharge"). The house made chips were a nice touch. The Boston ale was good too. Good service.
(3)Benedict L.
I went for their restaurant week and was mildly amused by their view but the food was mediocre. The food looked a lil fancier but the taste wasn't phenomenally better. It is a nice date spot but I wouldn't go there again if it was for food.
(3)Serge N.
Went to this place on feb14th. Had an lovely experience, Food was amazing. Waiter did a good job serving us. today i found out that this place validates parking i did know that when we came up the hostess never told us that this place validates parking i paid $40 to park right under this place.
(5)Sarah M.
I have been warned to "never trust a man who takes you to Top of the Hub on a first date." I have to say, this is pretty good advice. The reason is that Top of the Hub is a tourist trap and it makes up its lack of food quality with the view. It's overly pretentious and showy and not my cup of tea. However, it is one of those things you need to do at least once so you can know what I'm talking about. So try it once but don't become a regular.
(3)Jeremy S.
Went here on vacation I really wanted to eat somewhere nice with a great view for out last day on vacation. This place has great food that looks just as good as it tastes :-) and the views are beautiful. My partner and I had ordered the three course lunch and a shrimp tempura. Everything was great
(4)Danan R.
Our reunion event was held on the Skywalk on the 50th floor, with a self-serve buffet spread. The sauteed duck and lobster fajjitas were amazing! I actually went back for thirds. Definitely try the duck - it was tender, juicy, and incredibly flavorful. The shrimp and penne ala vodka was okay, as were the hotdogs and kobe sliders. The canapes were the standard coconut chicken skewers (we did like the sweet dipping sauce a lot) and the bacon-wrapped scallops, but the desserts were amazing. The petit fours were beautiful and deliciously sweet, as were the pistachio crusted truffles. The chocolate-covered strawberries were also immense and very sweet. I did have to ask for cream for the coffee, though. The view of Boston was breath-taking and and the ambiance was beautiful and perfect for an evening with old classmates. Transportation via the T or car is very easy, as well, since it's in the Prudential Ctr.
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