4. Restaurants

Walnut Grille

1203 Walnut St, Newton, MA, 02461
  • (617) 964-1029
  • Store is closed

Walnut Grille Menu

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  • David K.

    This place is just stellar. Plenty of parking in back, sometimes we get lucky out front as well. First, it's lovely inside. A long elegant bar along the right edge going back, is there but not in your face. The tables and chairs are beautiful and elegant, and seating is comfortable with chairs and soft benches. The wait staff is attentive, but not over enthusiastic. Just right. The food is to die for! Fresh, gorgeous, creative meals made from the best stuff on Earth. I went with family so we got to try lots of different entrees, from Veg. Lasagna to Chicken Marsala, to Artichoke Pizza, to the amazing roasted eggplant. All fantastic. I had several side orders for my dinner--lentil soup (A+, smoky and spicy, but not overly salty), quinoa pilaf (chilled, hearty and delish), special greens with corn and chick peas and kale, amazingly fantastic, as well as a side of Avocado (it was really guacamole, fyi, they should say that on the menu, my only complaint!) We even tried the desserts--they were also beautiful and deliciious. The decaf coffee was nice, and they brought us milk or soy milk with no hassle. This place is an absolute GEM. I will return soon.

    (5)

  • Melissa P.

    Sangria was kind of watery. Not bad, but not worth $9 per glass. We started with the stuffed artichoke heart app. It was very good. Wifey had the piccata, I had the marsala. The marsala reduction was too sweet, but the dish was otherwise amazing. Piccata was completely great. We shared the vegan chocolate soufflé for dessert. Soufflé was more of a warm, wonderful crusted chocolate pudding than an actual soufflé, but it was completely perfect. Seating is a bit cramped. Patrons and waitstaff unexpectedly crashed into us here and there, but overall service was good and ambiance was pleasant.

    (4)

  • Nicole B.

    Like those before me, I am neither vegetarian or vegan, but am always quite happy with a delicious, filling and flavorful meal from Walnut Grille. The drums of heaven are a yummy vegetable-ish appetizer served in a tangy sauce and piping hot. The polenta napoleon was perfectly cooked with interesting contrasting textures and flavors, including a most amazing sauteed spinach. The quesadilla is SO good, with tasty sweet potatoes and overflowing with other fresh veggies. And of course any of the pizzas -- can't go wrong. All the desserts look heavenly, but I have yet to try one since I'm always so stuffed after dinner. The owner is so attentive and the staff is friendly and prompt. The restaurant is clean and has its own parking lot, shared with nearby businesses -- a rare gem in and of itself. It does get very busy around dinner time: weekday or weekend. Luckily the neighborhood has nice little parts to walk around as you wait. Definitely head to Walnut Grille regardless of your meat/non meat preferences: you'll be in for a great meal.

    (4)

  • Gina L.

    I am visiting from Pittsburgh, and was so excited to stumble upon this place! Very creative menu and my waiter was quick and very nice.

    (4)

  • J K.

    Stoked for a vegan/vegetarian option right around the corner from me. I ordered the vegan BLT with sweet potato fries. Sooooo yummy. I also like that the produce is organic and local. I am looking forward to trying more of the menu. My only complaint was that the waiter called me "M'am" about 4 times. That is just a personal peeve though so no points off.

    (5)

  • Julie R.

    My parents live in Newton so I mainly go to Walnut Grille when visiting them. It's really nice having a top-notch vegetarian restaurant in their neck of the woods. The food at Walnut Grille is beautifully presented and tastes as good as it looks! I especially love the appetizers... BBQ Seitan, Chipotle Soy Fingers with vegan ranch dip (mmm), and Gobi Manchurian. (For some reason, the soy fingers are much better at dinner than lunchtime so I avoid getting them for lunch.) I've only tried one entrée - the Polenta Napoleon - and it was completely delicious. For dessert, definitely go with the chocolate soufflé! It is vegan and comes with your choice of dairy or non-dairy ice cream - be sure to specify. Great service and classy décor too. Looking forward to my next visit!

    (5)

  • Chaya E.

    First things first, the food is delicious. We shared a couple appetizers, the artichoke hearts and the drums of heaven. Both were nice ways to start the meal and I do really recommend the drums. I had the seitan marsala and it was fantastic. And filling. 3-4 big slices of mosit and tender seitan, mashed potatos and greens. And a rich and savory sauce. Yum. Then we had the chocolate souffle and the crumble with vegan ice cream. The crumble was warm and tasty with the perfect proportion of crumble and fruit and ice cream. But I cannot emphasize enough how much you really have to get the souffle. It. is. amazing. Get it. Eat it. It is chocolately, fluffy heaven. But now the bad part, the service needs work. I don't it is too much to ask to be allowed to finish my appetizer before having my entree brought to the table. I was literally still eating and everyone else still had their plates in front of them when the entrees arrived. The waiters awkwardly swapped the plates out and then looked at me awkwardly as I continued to eat my appetizer. We had to ask several times for things like clean silverware and bread on the table. Basics really. They were nice, but it was not professional. Overall, the food overwhelms the mediocre service to make it a good experience, so I do recommend it.

    (4)

  • Jalaj A.

    Great vegetarian place and if people are vegan would recommend this place to them too. Nice smoothies. They use fresh and organic ingredients. The ambience is good. The serving staff was friendly but they can get better.

    (4)

  • R Y.

    Solid choice for a healthy dinner option! Started off with the Drums of Heaven, which tasted like spring rolls with a tangy sauce. I love spring rolls so I liked this too. For entree had the Eggplant Rolatini with cheese: yum! Also had their ABC juice (Apple, beet, carrot), which had a mild flavor compared to other juices with beet that I've had, but still delicious. Got there just in time for an open table before there started to be a wait. This was Friday night around 7p. There is free parking available! Would come again for sure.

    (4)

  • Stacey H.

    I'm an omnivore but I enjoy dining in vegetarian restaurants because I find them to be far more creative when compared to other restaurants. Tonight was my first experience at Walnut Grille - and oh my goodness, it definitely won't be the last. We had the Drums of Heaven for a starter, the Nutty Tofu and Polenta Napoleon for our mains, and the chocolate soufflé for dessert... And it was all fantastic. The food here is delicious... So well prepared, incredibly colorful, with great, well-balanced flavors. Honestly, this is now my go to vegetarian restaurant in the Boston area.

    (5)

  • Meg R.

    It's nice to see the Wellesley/Newton/Needham area finally open up a simple vegan spot for lunch. Came here with friends on a weekday afternoon and it was great! The soups (Lentil & pumpkin) were especially scrumptious and their falafel wrap is full of Mediterranean veggie goodness. Nothing blew me away, but I left with a full belly and thought it overall was a solid place for lunch in the local area.

    (4)

  • Lara V.

    Delicious and almost cruelty free :) I'm all for it.

    (5)

  • Roseli G.

    Prompt service, delicious food. Chocolate souffle is a must. Gobi Manchurian, Baked artichoke hearts ,Chocolate souffle Everything was tasty and flavorful. Muito gostoso você tem que tentar.

    (4)

  • Danielle R.

    Really terrific food and service. The chef/owner of this adorable Newton eatery seated us, made recommendations for our dinner and took our order. I think the dishes were well seasoned (he recommended the nutty tofu) - but what I'd like from this place is perhaps a little bit more attention to grooming their menu. It's full of dishes that don't relate to one another, which is great for the sake of variety but can confuse customers.

    (4)

  • Lindsay D.

    I am a vegan and my husband is omni but decided to take the six week vegan challenge for Earth Day. As a date night we went here under my request and literally closed the place down. The bad first because there are a few tiny irritants but I don't want to dwell. First they brought dinner before we were done with apps and it crowded the table and they even asked if we were done and they could take them while I was literally Mid-mouthful. Second they started closing up shop and doing procedures to leave while we were not even at our dessert order. It was a Friday night and I get staff wants to go out but this is a high end place and our bill was over $150 so yea, slow down. It was ten but it's not like it was way passed closing. Everyone was polite though during service and helpful. The good: the food. The food is awesome and if I could take the chef home to make me piccata and soufflé every night I would. My husband tried to eat all the piccata before I could get to it. His comment was he wanted it with pasta but otherwise was fat and happy. The nachos were amazing the vegan spicy chicken tender type app is awesome. The Marsala was good but I wish they used the same base as the piccata for the faux meat instead of seitan. The rice pudding was also awesome but should have mentioned the excess dried fruit in it. I am used to a simple plain cinnamon hued rice pudding with maybe a sprinkle of something on top. So there was a ton of fruit and it surprised me. It tasted good though but I wanted plain. Soufflé was amazing but said SF which I think meant sugar free but it was dusted with powdered sugar. I didn't care but may be confusing for others. Overall it was so good it melted in my mouth. Would I go back, yup! Everyday? Nope because it's far from my house and kinda pricey. Side note: love the chairs but those crystal brooches are going to catch on someone shirt or dress so be careful!

    (4)

  • Kartik P.

    The place is a charm. Soft lights and calm and quiet ambiance. I was never a big fan of veg or vegan restaurant just coz I eat non veg and if not for a friend of mine I wouldnt have been here. One thing I realized is most veg vegan places have pretty much similar kind of menu revolving around tofu. This place is no different. But I am satisfied given the fact that they do it well whatever they do. Tofu was well marinated and fried (could have used little less oil) and the other things that we had was great as well. A little less on the quantity side. May be a few servings of other stuff might have made it an appealing deal.

    (4)

  • Meenakshi B.

    Just picked up dessert the other night. Got the opera cake and the carrot and walnut cake with cashew cream frosting. Both items were amazing! The opera cake had a nice chocolate flavor without being too overwhelming and the carrot and walnut had a hint of cinnamon. Definitely a must for their desserts.

    (5)

  • Cat R.

    My family and I come here for brunch, lunch and dinner on occasion. Food has always been consistently tasty and filling and the servers are always so warm, professional and overall awesome. Problem though with management. Either he is not paying his servers on time or at all, or not giving them hours, but while we were there for brunch an argument arose between a server and the manager. She clearly wasn't getting paid and angry about it (rightfully so!) Another waitress tried to help her get her money but to no avail. The waitress ended up just walking out the door, totally fed up. Um so that was awkward... This place always has new female servers which means everybody quits after a while and I have a feeling I know why now. I don't want to give my money to a place where waitresses seem to be getting screwed over.

    (2)

  • Sarah S.

    My favorite local restaurant! Even if you are not vegetarian you will be surprised at how much you will enjoy your meal. My husband (non veggie) always loves going to dinner here because the food tastes good, is perfectly portioned and you physically feel good because the ingredients are healthy. My favorite appetizers are the gobi manchurian and bbq seitan (If they bottled the horseradish dipping sauce I would take a few bottles home every time! ) I love the lentil soup as do my two young children. There are so many amazing entrees (including specials every night) it is hard to pick a favorite but I would go with the Vegetable Lasagna. It uses eggplant instead of noodles and is filled with lentils. The tomato sauce has just a hint of sweetness. I especially recommend this entrée to non - vegetarians who may be afraid to venture into tofu or seitan. For desserts the chocolate souffle is amazing - you will find it hard to believe it is both dairy and gluten free. Occasionally they will offer a raw dessert - avocado and blueberry pie or orange and chocolate pie - do not pass on this it will be your new favorite! I have also special ordered a birthday cake from here and not only was it decadent but the presentation was also beautiful. The location is great with public transportation right around the corner and a large free parking lot! Be sure to say hi to chef owner Siva who will happily talk with you about his food and how it is prepared.

    (5)

  • Brian R.

    Ok this review isn't about the food at all. I'm sure other guests have plenty of input on that. This is strictly about the service which was exceptional. My partner and I ate out here after a good week long.... difference of opinion... that turned into a full discussion of an entire year of issues thrown down on the table. The conversation was loud, it was vulgar, it was embarrassing. At one point the table wobbled and we were quickly whisked to another table. Other guests were turning and looking and at that time none of that mattered, you've been there, you know what I'm talking about. My point is that we were recognized (by the staff) for what we were (a fighting couple) and the staff gave us space and service when we needed it. They handled what was (for me now) an embarrassing situation with grace and professionalism. This is the mark of a true service establishment. Hopefully next time I'll be able to enjoy the food and let you know how I feel on that as well.

    (5)

  • Benjamin D.

    I'm neither a vegan, nor a vegetarian. I had a dinner that was wonderfully delicious. I had no clue that a vegan restaurant could prepare such a tasty menu. I tried the drums of heaven which was very good. The butternut squash bisque was saporous! I enjoyed the nutty tofu, it was light but filling. The polenta napoleon was very good. If you still have room after that, I highly recommend the carrot cake or the pineapple upside down cake. The service was spot-on. The presentation was also very well done. It was worth the trip from Boston to Newton! Looking forward to a return trip soon.

    (5)

  • Sammy L.

    Very nice. The food was great! It's very modern and classy. I ordered the pear salad and the sweet potato artichoke pizza. Such a nice twist on vegan. There balsamic dressing is to die for. Although my waiter was a tad clumsy, he was still so friendly. I would defiantly go here again.

    (4)

  • Stephanie K.

    I went for brunch with some friends on a Sunday, and the interior is very nice looking. I got the Vegan Belgian Waffles, which was pretty good, but a little tough to cut. It's food I can finally eat because there is no dairy whatsoever! The seating was a bit informal, as the waiter told us to pick which ever table we wanted to sit at. Also there was a little bit of confusion with the waiters. There only seemed to be two working there during brunch, and they both thought they were serving my table.

    (4)

  • Jess L.

    Tried this place for the first time and we loved it! My husband loved his dish and didn't even miss the bacon he normally can't do without. The gluten free waffles, pancakes and breakfast burritos were delicious. They took our gluten allergy very seriously and we were very happy with the service.

    (5)

  • Pia K.

    Simply amazing. Best food I ever ate. My mom who isnt vegan also loved it. Only Restaurant we went to twice while she visited

    (5)

  • Alex L.

    My girlfriend and I stopped by for lunch around 1pm today. We ordered coffee, a First Kiss smoothie, Vegan Pizza Florentine, and a BLT. Half an hour later, our food still had not arrived and we had to take everything to go. We ordered the Vegan Chocolate Mud Cake dessert and a Tropical Sunshine smoothie to go as well. The restaurant was not too busy so we couldn't determine why we waited so long. The mud cake was supposed to come with Vegan vanilla ice cream. Ours did not. We also did not get any utensils. So if you have 2 hours to waste, this is your spot. Although it's probably a better idea to order food ahead of time then pick it up. The food and drinks really are quite good. But we waited entirely too long for our lunch to arrive.

    (2)

  • Marjoline F.

    Decided to try this place after passing the restaurant on a day out in Newton. The outside banner says, "a vegetarian and vegan experience", so why not? As a life-long vegetarian, this was exactly what I wanted to see. The overwhelming amount of choices made it difficult to choose an entrée. I ended up getting one of the daily specials, a tofu and mashed potato dish. I fell in love after the first bite. I knew I had to come back, which I did two days later for brunch and it was just as delicious. To top it off, the desserts are absolutely amazing!

    (5)

  • Bostonian B.

    We ordered Gobi Manchurian, ravioli, a dish made of green beans which was very delicious, and a vegetarian pizza. The food was full of flavor and inpressive. The best part of the evening was the chocolate souffle. You have to save space for this dessert! It is a must try.

    (4)

  • Kris F.

    I love this place. Consistently delicious food. As I'm sure many have said before me, you simply must try the Gobi Manchurian if you want the full experience! Service can be hit or miss in terms of friendliness/attentiveness, but I'm willing to excuse that and offer a full five star review based on the fact that I can promise anyone I bring with me a delicious meal, non-vegans included!

    (5)

  • Pam A.

    Amazing vegan food!! I had the Gobi Manchurian as an appetizer, the Nutty Tofu as a main dish, and the chocholate soufflé with vegan vanilla bean ice cream for dessert. I ate so much because it was all so delicious. My new favorite restaurant in Newton.

    (5)

  • Mark S.

    Drums of Heaven are a must have. The inside reminded me of an egg roll and the sauce was great. Great selection of food. I enjoyed it as an omnivore. Not a place for an intimate night. The tables are close to each other.

    (4)

  • Ingrid H.

    I've been here before and had a delicious meal. I ordered the macro-bowl and that was a mistake. The pizzas and dessert was outstanding however. This is really tasty food but I would suggest ordering the warm food whenever possible.

    (4)

  • LivelyLajja M.

    Prompt service, delicious food. Chocolate souffle is a must. We ordered 1) Gobi Manchurian 2) Baked artichoke hearts 3) Eggplant rollatini 4) Chocolate souffle Everything was tasty and flavorful. QSouffle was too die for.

    (5)

  • Damian S.

    Simply amazing restaurant. My wife is vegan gluten free and vegetarian and she was in heaven. I am a vegetarian and I had a great meal. Service was great and the food was unbelievable

    (5)

  • Eric B.

    EXCEPTIONAL dining experience. The food was excellent. We had the gobi manchurian (crisp and delicious), seitan marsala, ravioli special, raw cheesecake and chocoloate soufle. WOW. This is the place I will take my friends and family to introduce them to vegan dining. Don't think twice, just go and try it out! We went on a Saturday night around 7pm and there was about a 30 minute wait-they don't take reservations so plan accordingly.

    (5)

  • Bruce W.

    Had the southwest burrito. It was very good, very cheesy (vegan cheese) and filling. The side of chips was basically just store brand bagged, but that wasn't a concern for me. For dessert, had the chocolate souffle and in a word, holysmokes. Vegan or not, it rivaled most any other I've had. Gorgeous. Will return.

    (5)

  • Daisy C.

    Yes, yes, yes! Another great vegetarian-vegan restaurant that I can add to my list! The presentation of the food was artfully created to tempt you to eat the very delicious food. Although, the coconut tofu we had as an appetizer did not have the coconut-flavor that I was expecting, the sauces that came with the tofu were magnificent. And, while I truly enjoyed my Nutty Tofu entree for its crazy amounts of flavors (ginger, cilantro, zesty carrots, oh my, where do I end?), my husband was left a bit jealous of not choosing my entree over his very mellow "Chicken" Piccata. Lastly, who doesn't want to finish a great meal with a dessert? A flour-less chocolate cake with vanilla soy ice cream was the perfect smooth and rich consistency that many other flour-less cakes have. This entire meal (plus two smoothies and an endless refill of tap water) was under $65. Perhaps, it was a Thursday night and not too crowded, but service was immaculate. Bonus--you can actually see the chefs cooking and they looked professional, clean and very organized. Will go again until I finish their entire menu (and, then some)!

    (5)

  • Sim K.

    Beware of the Russian/Ukrainian mafia. :) Food was ambrosia, ambience par excellence. Diet restrictions were handled pretty well by the chefs. Service was close to Hellish. I guess it was a long day for the waitress. Tipped her in excess though. I wish there was a magic wand to set all wrongs right. :))

    (4)

  • Ekta K.

    We tried the drum sticks, artichoke hearts, hobo manchurian and tofu Marsala. Food was very flavorful.. Though I would skip the Marsala entree next time... I tried the wacky lemon coconut cake.. The cake was not very sweet and tasted nice and fresh.. However don't even try the cocktails... Tried the green love Gin cocktail....it was very sweet for my palette.. Overall I would recommend this place for a quick Sunday evening dinner !!

    (4)

  • Skye G.

    Being a fairly new vegan I figured I'd go check this place out. Philly has great vegan places and I'm hoping more places pop up in and around the Boston area. When they come then I should support them. Mr G and I were seated at a table in the center. They have booths and tables opened to the kitchen serving area. I got the veggie lasagna with Daiya cheese. It was layers of eggplant in place of the noodle and not what I was expecting. I'm not sure I like the "cheese" yet and it also costs more. I wasn't in love but I want to be so I'll be back.

    (3)

  • Serena P.

    Came here recently because of my !/&*'# vegan and vegetarian friend (it was their time to pick the restaurant). Yes, there's no meat. And I ate hummus. But nonetheless, for a non vegan person, I enjoyed the food I had. I'll say no more.

    (4)

  • Marisa H.

    Great atmosphere! Vegan eggs Benedict wasn't as good as other vegan Benedict's due to soggy English muffin but the French toast was excellent!

    (4)

  • Rob E.

    Add my name to the list of very happy customers for this incredible hidden gem. We live about an hour away and had never been to the Walnut Grille before. We found it listed through a Vegetarian website and read the yelp reviews and photos decided; why not? We went there for Mother's Day dinner but knowing that they do not take reservations and open at 5PM for dinner, we made the drive early and walked in the door at exactly 5PM. There were already a dozen or more people seated when we got there and they cheerfully seated us and my wife had an organic Pinot Grigio and I had a Peak Organic IPA while we looked over the menu along with the separate specials menu. For appetizers, we had the coconut tofu, uptown nachos, and drums of heaven. Wow, all were just great; the drums of heaven were the best of the three, but all were good enough to reorder again. For entrees, I ordered an entree off the specials menu that was a curry rice and kabob. "Seitan Kebab: House Made Seitan Cutlet, Bell Peppers, Onions, marinated in Tandoori Spices served with Mint Infused Bulgur Pilaf, Vegan Raita, Creamy Tomato Sauce and Cilantro Chutney." Delicious is not sufficient to describe this. Unbelievably tasty and very nicely prepared, this was so enjoyable that my wife and daughter both were like seagulls at the dump swooping in and stealing bites from my entree. We ended up doing a little entree swapping to taste each others selections. My wife had the vegetable lasagna and my daughter had the Macro Bowl; steamed vegetables, pinto beans, brown ride, sea vegetable salad. While this was filling, it didn't have as much flavor as I like and the seaweed was a little overpowering for my tastes. Still it was good but after being spoiled by the kabob I just had my eyes fixed on what I had ordered and now was being quickly taken away by others! I loved the wait staff; they all work together to cover the whole restaurant so you have countless opportunities to ask for anything you need whether it's the person who took your order or not. VERY pleasant and cheerful waitresses and the open kitchen allows the people making the food to be in direct contact with the patrons and they are watching to make sure you're happy. I'll be back here again and soon. Very happy!

    (5)

  • Consuelo V.

    This place was a pleasant surprise. I'm not sure why but I had the impression it was a much more casual vegetarian place like Red Lentil in Watertown. Low and behold when I arrived the ambience was much nicer, not fancy, per se, but nicer than Veggie Galaxy and Red Lentil. I was really impressed with the menu options and the smoothies :-) Not to mention the desserts! Seems like a great place to meet for a girl's night out (based on the crowd I saw! The service was iffy but that was likely to the lateness of my stay. Overall, wonderful experience, must visit again :-)

    (4)

  • Johanna S.

    Great option for vegans, vegetarians, and adventurous diners! We are relatively new to the vegan scene and were very impressed with the variety and tastiness of the entrees we ordered -- especially the "chicken" piccata! Service was a bit irregular but well-intentioned. I agree with the other reviewer that a $1 charge for extra salsa is a big NO NO in my book -- if you have to ask for salsa (and the burrito definitely needed it), then it's because the chef should have put it there in the first place. But we would definitely come back and had a thoroughly enjoyable meal! The portions are large and the prices are reasonable for the quality. Oh, and it seems much of the food is locally sourced, which is great! (Parking in back was nice, too)

    (5)

  • Izzy D.

    Vegetarians/vegans of Metro Boston can I get a kaaale yeah?! This place covers the Fs of good veggie food: flavorful, filling, and (not) forcing it! My biggest gripe with vegetarian places can be trying to make ""meat"" and ""cheese"" everything. Plant-based food can be great without mocking the bejeezus out of Philly Cheese Steaks or Chicken Parmesan. Anyhow! This place does a nice job of presenting flavors in delicious, satisfying ways. My mom and I shared the coconut-breaded tofu which were like mozzarella sticks that came with cilantro and sweet miso dipping sauces. Loved the sauces, tofu wasn't my jam. For dinner I got the black mission fig, oyster mushroom, caramelized onion, roasted red pepper pizza. HOT DIGGITY DAMN! Sweet, savory, melt in your mouth goodness. My mom got the vegetable lasagnsa (eggplant, zucchini, sweet potato, lentils, marinara) which was also supah flavorful. I liked the ambiance and I'd go back!

    (4)

  • Laura W.

    Love this place! Very pretty to core, chandeliers and comfortable seating. Generally vegetarian restaurants are not so lovely. Wonderful waitstaff and owners. Truly passionate about their food! From reasonable lunches with homemade soups Portabella sandwiches wraps and salads to delicious smoothies to gluten-free and vegan optional pizza as well as Tempe-based dishes and Cauliflower Gobi, this place has it all. They have a great wine selection as well as beer and mixed drinks too. The desserts are out of this world beautiful! Hoping they expand to other towns in the MetroWest area. Apple parking on the side of the building as well as in the rear.

    (5)

  • Ayelet R.

    While I've only been here for lunch - I've enjoyed pretty much everything I've tried so far. First off, I think the appetizers are the strongest part of the menu. If you're not super hungry, I would totally settle for making a meal of one of these and a soup or salad. The Gobi Manchurian and Drums of Heaven are particularly amazing. The quesadillas are great and zesty and packed full of veggies and beans. For sandwiches, I really enjoyed the naanini - a pressed naan with portabello mushroooms and cheese. Though I'm fine with dairy, all of their dishes can be made vegan. Their portions are definitely big, even for lunch I usually can't finish my plate. At least on their lunch menu, a lot of dishes come with sweet potato fries, which are wonderful - especially the barbecue dipping sauce they come with. My one complaint is that I kind of wish the menu was a little larger, although I do believe the dinner menu is. I go to vegetarian restaurants to have a wealth of options, and I'm afraid I'm beginning to exhaust them here. Also, the prices are a little high, but it's quality food, and so long as I don't make a habit out of it, it's definitely worth it for a treat.

    (4)

  • Sharon S.

    Five of us came for dinner on a holiday weekend. Overall the food and service was terrific. One of us ordered the nutty tofu, with a spcial order (without the sauce) and thought it was fabulous. Said it was one of the best meals he'd ever had. The kids burrito also got excellent reviews. Taste and quality of food top notch. The wait staff was friendly and helpful but a bit too busy. I think there were only 2 servers for about 35 people. Chocolate dessert worth the wait.

    (5)

  • Natalie B.

    We started with the "gobi manchurian", which was out of this world. It tasted like sweet and sour fried chicken or something like that. So good! Then we got two entrees: the garden loaf and the macro bowl. The garden loaf was OK, it was a little one dimensional in terms of texture and the flavor was alright but not spectacular. I think it just tasted so good compared to the macro bowl which had no flavor at all. It was just bland rice and veggies and very bland tofu. Perhaps we just chose a bad dish, all of the others sound delicious judging by reviews. Decor is pretty tacky, but oh well. Really fast service was a plus.

    (3)

  • Robin F.

    Meet a couple old friends for lunch today at the Walnut Grille for 2 reasons 1) it was about equidistant from where we all live and 2) I am vegan There were 4 of us for lunch and no wait for a table. I arrived first and was at the table for about 20 minutes before my next friend arrived. The waitress brought me tea and made herself available for any questions. I was a little worried that the "modern gourmet vegan" menu might be a bit over the top for my carnivore friends but I figure since there was pizza on the menu, that was always a good backup! Much to my surprise, every ordered something unique to the Grille. After reading so many positive reviews about the Gobi Manchurian, I ordered that and was not disappointed. My 2 girlfriends tried it also and loved it. Another friend ordered the coconut tofu and liked that as well. My third girlfriend ordered the drums of heaven but they just scored a "good" The thick cut sweet potato fries are also great! I would definitely return and recommend it as a great lunch spot.

    (5)

  • Norman F.

    Neat place with its own parking lot. I enjoyed its vegetarian food tremendously. Want to come back to try other dishes while I was enjoying mine. Renovation next door which made banging noise at 8, strange. I highly recommend this place.

    (4)

  • Mel E.

    The food was amazing!!!! Loved the atmosphere and the server was very nice. Unfortunately the servICE was not so great. There were there other tables for lunch when we arrived. We gave our order clearly and he repeated it back to us. (We both wanted or own/two cups of butternut squash bisque). He brought over one single other vegetable bean soup of the day. When we told him he said oh keep that I'll get you the butternut squash- still only brought one. Then our dinner arrived. It was delicious- but I never received my refresher juice I ordered. At this point we were the only table in the restaurant. When he brought the check- my refresher juice was on the tab- I told him I never received it and he took it off the bill. Then I told him to put $10 on the card and I will pay the rest in cash, which he repeated back to me. When he came back the entire bill was charged to the card. Although the food was amazing- (not sure about the juice because I never received it) the service was way below my expectations. The server was very nice besides this.

    (3)

  • Janka L.

    pros * sweet potato fries * "combo" is a lot of food for the price! * the mushroom Panini thing was tasty! * overall prices cons - very quiet at lunch time during the week (could be a pro for some, but I don't like being stared at by the staff all the time) - I'm not into the whole "fake meat" stuff, which is all over their menu, but it's my prerogative to avoid that shit anyway! will need to check it out some weekend, maybe for their brunch just a general complaint about American wait staff/service - bring all the dishes at the same time, and take all the dishes at the same time! it's rude to clear one person's plate while others are still eating!!

    (3)

  • J G.

    My whole family loves Walnut Grille. No matter what we are ordering, we split a bowl of the Greens of the Day - yum! I like their diverse menu, and typically order off their specials menu. The service, which was not great when they first opened, is now fine since they seem to have increased their staff.

    (4)

  • Jay C.

    The food was tasty. We found parking close by. It was a busy night but we still got served in a reasonable time. The space was TIGHT we sat way too close to people so next time I will go in much earlier to avoid the crowds. We went in on a Saturday at 6pm.

    (4)

  • Dylan W.

    Oh boy. It's really hard to get everything wrong at a restaurant. The wait, the waiting area, the service, the decor, the food - someone went out of their way to get it all wrong. My wife and I don't go out to dinner very often, so we decided to spend a little outside our budget for a good meal (around $50). Made us think we should make dinner ourselves more often.

    (1)

  • Susan H.

    The food is interesting but not always as labeled. For instance, very little if anything is LOCAL, or organic! Ask the owner yourself.

    (2)

  • Charlotte M.

    I know this place just opened, and as a server who works at a restaurant that opened a few years ago, I understand that there are growing pains involved when opening up a new place. I came in with not very high expectations of service, but I was even more disappointed! We got there at 5:15 on a Sunday, right after they had opened for dinner, the place was already half full. I got the Coconut Tofu to start, it was okay, the sauces were better tasting than the tofu. The fresh squeezed orange juice was pretty good. For my entree I got the Seitan Marsala, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, seitan can be hit or miss for me, but they do a good job with seitan here. My friend got the butternut soup, that was fine for her. For her entree she got the vegetable lasagna. It was basically all lentils and tomatoes. She didn't enjoy it. Our problem was not with the food though. Usually you expect a server to come by within the first few minutes of getting your meals and asking you how everything is. That never happened. I had to track our server down to tell him that my friend did not want her food. After we told him she didn't want her entree, he left her dish on the table and disappeared for 20 minutes. I was shocked. As a server myself, I know if someone does not like their food and wants to send it back, you don't leave the food on the table in front of them for the duration of the meal. After our server went AWOL my friend was nervous that they would make her pay for the meal and we didn't get that reassurance that it would be taken care of for quite some time. Even when he came back 20 minutes later (after me flagging him down again) and asked if we wanted dessert, he still left our entree plates on the table! That's a big pet peeve of mine, if you're ordering dessert, none of your plates from previous courses should be on the table, especially if you asked to send it back a long time ago. These may seem like trivial things, but this really did put a damper on our experience. Also, there were 4 servers and maybe a bus person that we could see. This place is not that big! If there were only 1 or 2 servers, I would be more sympathetic for the delay in everything, but with that many servers, there's no excuse. This place is only a little bit bigger than True Bistro, and True only has 2 servers on most nights! Again, I tried to be understanding because this place just opened and they're still figuring things out, but service was terrible. I must say on our way out, the chef came out an apologized to us about the lasagna. He was really great about it, very understanding of our situation. I will give this place another chance, but I will go back in a few months, hopefully they'll have worked the kinks out by then, and I can write a more positive review.

    (2)

  • Jessica R.

    Ultimately our Sunday lunch here was great. The food was delicious, and fresh, and our waitress a gem, so we're psyched to have a new place in the neighborhood to check out that's super reasonably priced. However, the service was SLOW. They were clearly under staffed -- our waitress was also making smoothies, and the chef was busing food. We noticed everyone getting complimentary apps and dessert, us included, because of the wait. I really hope they figure this out and speed things up because this place has total potential. Oh, and Walnut Grille -- turn your lights on. That's just weird.

    (4)

  • Stephanie B.

    This place is AMAZING. I have recently discovered that I have a pretty severe wheat/dairy sensitivity. I have spent the past year looking for places that can offer me more than a burger with no bun, nachos with no cheese or sour cream and a salad without croutons. I'm glad to say that my search is OVER! Walnut Grille is an amazing combination of style, sophistication and fun food surprises at every turn. It's cozy and quaint without being crowded and feeling like you are sitting with the people at the next table. The menu is extensive and I was SHOCKED at the number of gluten and dairy free options available. It seemed as if I could order whatever I wanted without the risk of me getting sick. I am not vegan or vegetarian (by any means) and was weary of trying some of the dishes but they are honestly all very good. I went twice and took two girlfriends who are "super carnivores" and they were both shocked at how good the food was. It's safe to say that if you go once that you WILL go back. I recommend the Gobi Manchurian (stellar), the Fig and Oyster Gluten free pizza, the chocolate souffle (TO DIE FOR), the hummus plate w/ gluten free pita and the cakes are yummy too. They had a bar set up but there was no liquor, I was assured that it would be coming soon. The cool thing about this place is that it proudly touts its sustainability without being pompous or too over the top. Using local ingredients from teas, to wine your conscious will feel good about eating here as well! The staff was friendly and attentive and the chef actually went table by table to see if people were satisfied. I'd never seen that before. All in all Walnut Grille is a great little surprise...I'll definitely go back!

    (5)

  • Mon G.

    This is one place I will never recommend anyone, we called ahead for a reservation and after we reach there we were told that the guy who took reservation made a mistake as no table is available. We agreed to wait for 10 mins and that took longer than an hour , the entire hour we were ignored and after we were seated at the table. The food was good and we liked the wine and the lady who served us wine was the lady who served us wine was the only one who apologized. On top of all this at the end the waiter argues with us for giving a tip under 15% and demanded it in between 17-20% when the service deserves less than 5% as tip. I rate this place for '0' on response towards guests, '3' on food and '3' on desserts.

    (1)

  • Blakely S.

    I think I've now been to this place 4-5 times in the last month (coming from Dorchester). The menu is great, many creative dishes. I highly recommend the Drums of heaven as an appetizer and the souffle as a dessert (but beware the souffle takes about 15 minutnes to make). The food is all beautifully presented and extremely tasty. The waitstaff are good - I think they need to increase their table turnover, but I'm assuming that will come over the next few weeks / months. I did come once after the restaurant had been open for about three weeks to find that the restaurant had started taking reservations and that for everyone without a reservation there were long waits. We were told a wait of about 30 minutes but it actually ended up being more than an hour. However, every 20 or so minutes, the staff would come over and offer us free appetizer samples while we waited. When we were seated we also received a free appetizer delivered to our table. I have waited to be seated at restaurants for more than an hour on multiple occasions, but i have never been offered free appetizers while I waited - I was highly impressed by the service. I assume that they'll stop taking reservations soon, but until then make one before heading over.

    (5)

  • Brandie S.

    My first visit to The Walnut Grille was great. I ended up taking my sister there when she came down from Vermont for the weekend. She is not a vegetarian but enjoyed the selection of food and drinks. We were seated promptly, I enjoyed the decor and atmosphere. Our waiter John Pierre was very professional, and knowledgeable about the menu. We ordered the Little Drums of heaven that were quite delicious, we enjoyed them very much. My sister got a smoothie, which was kind of rolling the dice, because she doesn't really like them. She got "The First Kiss" and raved about it all night. My boyfriend got the artichoke pizza and enjoyed it, he gave it a thumbs up. My sister got the nachos and liked those very much as well. I got the polenta (MMMMM POLENTA) layered dish that was a bit under seasoned, but after I added some salt and pepper it was very tasty. One concern I had was that my boyfriend asked the server if they had beer, and they said they did not (not sure if it was the hostess that we asked or not) but then a few minutes after we finished our meal we saw someone with a beer?? Interesting.... The overall pricing was moderate, much less expensive than True Bistro in Somerville. That was our dinner experience. Our Brunch experience was much different. We went to Bruch this past Saturday at around 3 (brunch stopped at 4). We were sat down promptly and waited for our server to take our order. I recognized her from The Red lentil and we chatted a bit. My bf ordered and omelet, we shared the gluten free waffle, and I got tofu florentine. The waffle arrived and I was kinda taken back that it had melon on it, wasn't expecting that, and wasn't very fond of it. Typically banana, strawberries, blackberries, or blueberries go on waffles or pancakes. The waffle it self was very good (but it could use more sugar, it tasted more like the grain that they used than a sweet treat) they ran out of regular whipped cream so they gave me chocolate, that was quite good, but it was more of a mouse than whipped cream. When our main dishes arrived, my bf seemed kinda bummed, his omelet was overly fluffy, and bland. There was no seasoning to it, and he didn't even finish it. My whole order was messed up. They game me eggs (I'm vegan, no no and no) and when I tried to tell them that it wasn't what I ordered all they said was "oh" I told them what I ordered, Gluten free tofu florentine , with a polenta muffin, they said they had regular gluten free muffins, well I'd like a polenta one please. When it came back the second time it was good, under seasoned once again, and the spinach was a little gritty/dirt tasting. The sweet potato fries were really good, but I was confused as to why I didn't get regular homefries?? There was no veggie bacon on it, and didn't feel like talking to the server again about the misunderstanding (or maybe it had gluten in it? Anyway no one told me why I wouldn't be getting it) So my bf isn't really interested in coming here for brunch anymore. Maybe I will have a better experience when I go with my vegan friends. (fingers crossed)

    (3)

  • Smarty T.

    I am not a vegetarian, but enjoyed this restaurant. I did not try to order the faux meat dishes. Instead went for their samosa app and fig pizza. I think I will order my pizza from here henceforth. It was not greasy at all and good combination of figs and goat cheese. The choc dessert was outstanding!

    (5)

  • Emily S.

    Enjoy the atmosphere although its a bit noisy. The arepas portobello are particularly noteworthy. On a recent trip for lunch takeout the owner was working the front door and was very pleasant to chat with.

    (5)

  • Puja A.

    We just got back from a fantastic meal at Walnut Grille. The restaurant was packed, which speaks well of the food, with an easy location and parking on site (critically important !). The ambience is very nice...feels upscale without being pretentious. The owner is charming, attentive, friendly, and actively involved in all the details of the place which clearly shows. His eyes light up as he describes each dish and you can see the love with which he has put together the menu and the restaurant. Now to the food which was simply delicious! We tried the cauliflower miso soup and a lentil soup, both well balanced and spiced without being overpowering...a nice start to the meal. The Gobi Manchurian was absolutely wonderful and a must-try, the Heavenly Drumrolls lovely, and the special of the day (a stuffed pumpkin dish) unexpected and yummy. The dessert (warm chocolate pudding) was to die for. We were so full but still finished the whole thing. I will definitely be back to the Walnut Grille...it's a lovely addition to the area and a much needed addition to Boston!!

    (5)

  • Laura K.

    Excellent selection of vegetarian and vegan fare. Prompt service and good portions - we were not hurried out. Great place to meet a freind for lunch!

    (4)

  • Angela K.

    I was really looking forward to a place like this and thought Boston was finally catching up to NYC or Austin but hate to say I was disappointed - and so didn't want to be. Most items on the menu one could cook at home and if you've been vegetarian for a while you're probably looking for something a little different and that's a treat. Food wise it was okay but my daughter's salad was so over dressed it was inedible. When we mentioned it to a passing staff member they replied, "Yeah, I know" and disappeared and never addressed it, apologized, took it off the menu, etc. The front of the house needs work as well - its fine to use the previous establishment's décor but please bring some character to the place like art work, center pieces, and candles, anything - which will also help absorb the noise. All hard surfaces and no soft surfaces made it impossible to hear our own conversation. The staff seemed disengaged and never did the basics like welcome us; ask if we've been there before, do we have any questions, nothing. My advice - warm up the place, train the staff to be more welcoming, put some innovative items on the menu, and serve ice in water (that we had to ask for twice). All the little things add up to a so so experience.

    (2)

  • K T.

    This restaurant gives me a whole new meaning of being a vegetarian. I could not believe my eyes that all those tasty food were made out of non-meat ingredient. It was very impressive.

    (4)

  • Emes A.

    The food is very good and they have a good variety of dishes. They also have a daily specials menu. However, the service, ambiance, and décor could be improved. My side plate for appetizers was dirty. The waiter went to get me another plate and it took a little while because he said most of the side plates he looked at were dirty. Two entrees, an appetizer, and a soda costs around $50.00. It is definitely worth a try because of the food and selections. The attire is casual.

    (3)

  • Steven A.

    Brunch was great and light and tasty. Also, had the chocolate soufflé, which was crazy tasty!

    (4)

  • Veronica R.

    Went for the first time with a fellow vegan/friend who was in from Florida, and had been already a few times. I'd heard wonderful things about Walnut Grille and I must say, the overall experience far exceeded my expectations, which are based upon regional, .vegan options. I'm always sorry to say that most of the best vegan dining experiences I've had are in NYC and San Fran, not the Boston area. Walnut Grille is the kind of place you would expect to find in NYC. The ambiance and decor was simple yet elegant. The plate presentation was wonderful. The service was friendly, efficient, non invasive (something I always appreciate) and professional. The food was pretty and delicious. Flan and Creme Brulee were my favorite desserts in my pre-vegan, vegetarian and pre-vegetarian days. As a seasoned baker/dessert maker myself, I'm a pretty tough critic of the vegan versions of most any dessert. While the best vegan flan I've experienced thus far is in San Fran, Walnut Grille makes, hands down, the best vegan creme brulee, I've ever had! Walnut Grille will not be able to exist on merely it's vegan/vegetarian audience alone. I encourage vegans/vegetarians and omnivores alike to visit Walnut Grille as often as you can for upscale, flavorfull, organic offerings which will not dissapoint. Places like this need all of our support.

    (5)

  • s f.

    Sophisticated vegetarian menu...the food we chose was outstanding. We will definitely be back often! A much needed addition to this area. This is a top tier vegetarian restaurant. Lovely casual elegant decor, very friendly staff and owners. We had a soup (cauliflower) that was delicious, 2 appetizers that were off the charts fantastic (gobi something and vegetable pops things....sorry don't remember the names). Main courses were also delicious - incredibly filling and savory. The vegan cherry vanilla cake was wonderful (for being vegan) also (though we would have preferred the carrot cake, which they were sold out of). Oh, and the sparkling ginger drink was the real deal --- fresh ginger, sparkling, no sweetness -- just like I'd make at home. Great place for either a date or a family dinner. There is also a bar area with seating, so as an individual, that would be good also. Can't wait to try the lunch and brunch. The menu is fantastic!

    (5)

  • Lara G.

    Ordered food from Walnut Grille recently. I work nearby, and I was so excited that there is finally a place I could get a gluten free sandwich for lunch! I ordered the PLT, which was absolutely delicious and the gluten free bread was very good. I decided to order again today, and ordered the quinoa and black bean burger, gluten free. I picked up my order and brought it back to work, and the roll with the burger looked too good to be true. However, the gluten free sandwich bread from my previous order looked so good so I figured I'd give it a try. When I tried it, I knew it wasn't gluten free (it was just way too fluffy and delicious). I called the restaurant and asked them if it was gluten free, and they said no. When I said that I had ordered it gluten free, they said "sorry" and nothing else. A restaurant that seems to cater to so many different dietary needs should be more careful when preparing their orders. When they do make a mistake, they should be a bit more accommodating by saying "Bring it back and we'll change it for you!" Unfortunately, I didn't have the time at that point to bring it back in for my money back, but I'm very disappointed in their lack of concern on the phone. From reading reviews below, it looks like this isn't the first time they give someone the wrong order. Such a shame because their food does taste quite good!

    (2)

  • Cynthia S.

    I went to Walnut Grille today for the first time. I was so happy to see a restaurant dedicated to vegetarians. I went with my father, the carnivore, and he had a great experience. I LOVED my veggie quesadilla. I can't wait to go back. The salads looked really good. Comfy chairs and nice decor.

    (4)

  • Ann H.

    The menu looks great but I found the food to be bland and not particularly inspired. Cauliflower app was heavy, oily with undercooked onions and peppers. Ocean salad had very little seaweed; basically noodles and greens. Service was quite poor--felt very disorganized, amateurish. The whole place had a bad vibe; I would not return, nor would I recommend it. A shame because we need more veg restaurants in this area.

    (2)

  • Cathy B.

    We went in, armed with the knowledge that the restaurant is new, that reports of the service have been mixed. There was some chaos at the hostess stand, before we could even ask for a table. The restaurant was not completely full, but busy. We noticed several of the smaller tables had reserved signs on them, which we found odd, since they claim to only take reservations for parties of 6 or more. After waiting for about 10 minutes - while empty tables went uncleared, we were finally seated. Menus were left with us and the person seating us departed. No water was offered. After looking over the menu for about 5 minutes, we stopped a passing waiter, who says "do you need something?". Yes, we'd like some water... No question about the menu, no comment asking if we were ready to order, just poured water and departed. Several more minutes passed and we had to flag a waiter again to ask if we could order. Ordered food, no problem. Tried to order a Bloody Mary. Blank, bewildered stare from waiter. We sent her to the bartender... Several more minutes. Bartender appears. "the mix hasn't come in yet". Ok, odd. Asked what type of beer they had. Reply "would you like a list?" Drink menu is presented several minutes later. Food arrived in decent time. Was ok, nothing overwhelmingly exciting. Meal accompaniments (salsa, guac, fries) were definitely on the stingy side. Beer finished, but no offer of another. Waiter checked in once, in a drive-by kind of manner, not particularly interested in our response. By now, people are lined up out the door, but there are several tables empty, only one or two still needing to be cleared. Waiter has to be flagged down again, to request dessert menu. No dessert menu arrived. Several minutes later, waiter does another drive-by, asks if we're done. No, we'd like the dessert menu... Dessert menu dropped off, but I didn't let the waiter leave while I quickly chose a dessert to sample. Dessert arrives fairly quickly - vanilla mango cake, while it has good flavor, and presentation, it has clearly been pre-sliced and sitting in the fridge for a while. Frosting was too cold. More waiting, grabbed waiter yet again for check. Prices are decent. Bathrooms need some help. Water stays on for 1 second before shutting off, repeated attempts to have it stay on longer failed. Paper towel dispenser is broken or not loaded, so a soggy roll sits on the sink. Toilet paper fell out of holder at the slightest touch and rolled around on the floor. Sigh. There are so few veggie restaurants in the Boston area, I really hope this one can survive. Kitchen seems to know what they're doing, as food arrived in a timely manner, but some more creativity is need, and they really need to work out their front of house issues. We'll be back to test the waters again, but not for a good few months...

    (3)

  • Jeremy S.

    Excellent food. A vegan paradise. Outstanding menu. Reasonable prices. Super friendly and attentive staff.

    (5)

  • R F.

    I liked my food but the restaurant was unbearably loud so I got the southwestern burrito (which was good and I would get again) to go. i have a sound meter on my phone and it was up to 90 decibels. Bad for my ears. Could not stay.

    (2)

  • Alexandra W.

    I have been to Walnut Grille twice thus far, once for lunch a few days ago and once for dinner tonight. Although we had a reservation, they were so busy and overwhelmed that we had to wait more than 30 minutes to be seated, but Rich went out of his way to make sure people were taken care of while they were waiting, from free apps (delicious Gobi Manchurian and vegetable "pops") to wine on the house. When we were finally seated, we were also given a complimentary mezze platter (good but not great), more free wine, and a dessert on the house (an excellent chocolate cake). The food was generally quite tasty, with the entrees being less interesting flavor-wise than the appetizers. My Polenta Napolean was the least exciting of the entrees at our table, as the polenta slices were thin and grilled to a crisp all the way through, not creamy on the inside like one would expect. Also, some of the vegetables in the sauce were under-cooked. The lunch I had there was a much less hectic experience, and we were well looked after, including my toddler. The sandwich I had (the Naanini) was very good. I will definitely return for the wide selection of tasty veggie options at reasonable prices, and for Rich's excellent care. I may stick to lunches for now, as they hammer out the kinks in their dinner rush management, at least on weekends.

    (4)

  • Cliff U.

    Excellent food, even for non-veggies! Love both the palenta and the lasagna dinners.

    (5)

  • TIM O.

    The fresh made juices and smoothies are a real treat. I had the All Greens juice and the Garden Quesadilla. The food and service were very good. The acoustics are tough as the place was very loud, partially due to the large crowd. I'd go back as it was a solid experience...plus it just feels good to eat vegan.

    (4)

  • Michael M.

    Just had my first meal at this charming vegetarian restaurant a short walk from my home. The appetizer was a delightful treat called bells of heaven. The entrees were both unusual and delicious. A chocolate soufle dessert provided a perfect ending to what will be the first of many meals at this new and welcome addition to Newton Highlands.

    (5)

  • Sasha A.

    Excellent service, excellent food. The chef and our servers were great! So many awesome choices.

    (5)

  • Claire W.

    I went to Walnut Grille for lunch after having it recommended to me by my dentist. i am always looking for a good vegan restaurant. I had a falafel sandwich and soup and it was fabulous. the service was personable, accommodating and prompt. I was in a rush that day and the wait person was extremely helpful to me in expediting my order. I am going back next week with a group of friends for a leisurely dinner.

    (5)

  • Gayle D.

    Always looking for a new exciting Vegetarian restaurant and after today still looking. Arrived within 5 minutes of others who had the same idea, Brunch at the Walnut Street Grill. Once seated, it took a couple of minutes to get the menu and then the wait began. After noticing that the others at the tables who were seated just after us, had already been helped we waited for our server. The server was very pleasant but she just left the menus then left. About 5 minutes later, she asked if we had any questions and took our order. One gentleman who had come in after us, had his food in about 15 minutes, while the others' meals came slowly. Our order came 40 minutes after entering the restaurant. Excited to taste the food, we hoped the wait was well worth it. Well, it wasn't. I had the "PLT" Portobello, lettuce, tomato and bacon flavored tempeh on bread. The bread had been left on the grill too long and was burned so that part was put on the inside of the sandwich. The outside of the sandwich had it's own grill marks but I couldn't get past the burned inside. The slices of Portabella mushrooms were cooked but barely as it was difficult to bite through a piece of it without the entire piece coming out of the sandwich during each bite. I chose the side salad with my sandwich which was mixed greens with some oil/vinegar dressing. Nothing special but too much dressing for my liking as it left an oil spot on the plate. My guest had Naanini sandwich (Portobello, peppers and cheese) along with the roasted sweet potatoes on the side. The potatoes were cut in large fry cuts and roasted with skins on, which were not crisp but rather limp. The server/manager was clearly frustrated with the kitchen staff's food delays as he paced openly in front of the open kitchen which is clearly seen from all areas of the restaurant. He apologized to two of the nearby tables including ours for the delay. The check back was completed by both our server and the server/manager which was met with dissatisfaction over the burned Panini bread. I was asked if I wanted to send it back but I declined as it already had taken 40 minutes for 2 sandwiches. The server and manager both said they would take it off of my bill which was the best offer that could be had. The food's presentation was dull as well as the tastes and flavors. Doubt whether I will return. Hopefully with a little time and a new exciting chef, the restaurant will make a name for itself in the vegetarian circles.

    (2)

  • S H.

    First of all let me state that Vegetarian/Vegan is my kryptonite. Just show me a vegetarian restaurant, and I will move faster than a speeding bullet away to the nearest fine steakhouse.I do have the great fortunate of daughters who are vegetarians, and so took a chance on opening night, no less, with Walnut Grille. I could not have been more impressed. I am no stranger to vegetarian food, both of the hippy and upscale variety. Walnut Grille proved to be exceptional across the board. The ambience (not changed much, but definitely improved from the former short-lived Christina's) is casual, yet upscale, and very inviting. The Service was as good as can be expected on an opening night. The food was magnificently presented and extremely tasty. I had the California Salad, the Seitan Marsala, and the carrot cake. I tasted my daughters excellent soufflé and nibbled on the nachos. My wife's salad and Napoleon were apparently so good that we practically had to stop her from licking the plate. I am a confirmed omnivore, and love meats of all kinds, but this menu proved exceptionally satisfying, and their brunch looks very , very nice as well. The chef, Shiva, stopped at each table for feedback. We gave ours and thoroughly enjoyed his spirit and enthusiasm. I may have not converted to Vegetarianism, but I will be back, at least once every other week or so, and will be in to try Brunch tomorrow...if they have room for us.

    (5)

  • Elizabeth L.

    I loved the Walnut Grill. The cooking is much more sophisticated than most vegan/vegetarian restaurants, and I found the decor inventive and charming--I can't fathom what other reviewers are complaining about in this respect. The noise level is a little high, but the quality of the food more than makes up for that. I had the cauliflower appetizer, which was more like a rich entree; I'm glad I had someone to share it with, or I wouldn't have been able to eat any more. It was just a little bit spicy-hot, interestingly seasoned, delicious. My entree was one of the daily specials, a nut-encrusted braised tofu served with beautifully prepared mashed potatoes and tangy condiments: delicious, but again too rich to finish. My companion had the Butternut Squash soup to start, which we both found delicious, followed by Seitan Marsala, which he thought was fabulous. The menu and wine list aren't huge, but far better to have a limited selection of really thoughtful choices than a big list of mediocre dishes. As a vegan who loves to eat (and drink good wine!), I was delighted to find that it is still possible to enjoy the kind of fully adult restaurant experience I savored back in the days before I stopped eating animal products. Finally, we found the service excellent--discrete, courteous, prompt, and completely unobtrusive. Maybe it has improved since some of the earlier reviews were written. In any case, I can't wait to go back to the Walnut Grill. Next time: brunch!

    (5)

  • Clare S.

    I work close-by and order to-go from Walnut Grille about once a week. Each time I call I'm told 15-20 minutes and it's always ready when I arrive early. The food is really great, with tons of veggie, vegan, and gluten free options available. Favorites include: Garden Quesadilla and Falafel Wrap. They are still getting their stuff together since opening recently, but are making a huge effort to be quick, attentive, friendly, etc. I recommend WG to all veggie heads!

    (4)

  • Ben T.

    Tried to go one time, but the restaurant closed early, which happens. Owner contacted me to apologize and offer to help us have a better experience. It'll have to wait for our next trip to the area, but I'm looking forward to reviewing the food.

    (3)

  • Liz B.

    I'd like to start off by saying I like meat, but I am trying to eat better. I thought this was a great meal. I went for lunch/brunch on a Saturday. Lots of options. I had a breakfast burrito with seitan bacon - it was very good and the bacon didn't taste fake at all. My daughter had a pizza which I liked, but she thought the sauce tasted like barbeque sauce (which it did, I didn't mind.) My other daughter had a grilled cheese sandwich which she liked, and my husband had a salad/noodle dish which was also good. Bread was not automatically served which is fine with me. When asked, the server brought some. It seems a little expensive but I really did enjoy my meal. The room is brightly painted in a pretty spring green color with pretty light fixtures and gets lots of light from their big front windows. There is a parking lot which is appreciated. I thought the servers were very good. I am looking forward to returning!

    (4)

  • A O.

    Food is consistently delicious. Gobi Manchurian is super yum. Smoothies are wonderful. My husband loves their Eggplant rolatini and the lasagna. The only thing we've ever had here that has been less than great are the salads (shocking really!). We recently had a souffle that was out of control amazing. Had my birthday dinner party here over the summer....18 people and the food came out at the same time, hot, and delicious (5 stars for that). I would give this place 5 stars if it weren't for the service. The servers don't seem like they care to be working there. They are somewhat checked out, and have messed up our orders several times, although, they've seemed to improve over the last several months.

    (4)

  • Sandy M.

    I would say, between "Meh" and "A-Ok." I've eaten here about 8 times. There's a lot of variety, whether you're vegetarian, vegan, non-gluten, or none of the above. The PLT got high reviews, and the quesadilla was good. The vege burger was good at an earlier visit. In fact everything was good until I was charged when I asked for more salsa for my quesadilla. The whole experience would have been A-Ok except when I got attitude about asking about the additional cost ("it says it right here on the menu. But I'll give you your money back."). I run a business, so I'm sympathetic about the costs of running a business. But the attitude is not ok. Please fix this. Then I'm with you for at least 3 stars!

    (2)

  • Kristine A.

    This is some serious vegetarian food that you should all get in on. So many chhoices, I can't wait to go back & try more things from their menu. I was so impressed by what I ate, I just inhaled my meal, it was so damn tasty. it was some kind of lentil/quinoa loaf w/ a stew type thing. They had run out of the appetizer I wanted which was the portabello arepa. My friend got an appetizer that she thought was great & similar to Red Lentil. The sweet potato fries she got w/ her veggie burger were so delicious, never had anything like that & I get sweet potato fries all the time from various places. We of course got dessert, they had run out of vegan ice cream which was a shame since we're both eyeing up the chocolate souffle w/ ice cream. She got a chocolate cake of some kind & I got the marble mousse, yum. I thought the decor was very pretty, simple, elegant w/ out being hoity toity or anything. The space is very nice, clean lines-it is new so... This place is fairly new so I can understand the growing pains it will have, so some Yelp reviewers need to keep that in mind. The service was ok, but as it got busier it did get a bit more lax, no need to be there for 2 hrs.

    (4)

  • Jessy B.

    Came here for father's day because my brother-in-law likes this place and wow, was he right. This place gets 5 stars because they take a difficult thing - vegan/vegetarian - and make it delicious. They also offer Gluten free options. We had two appetizers - the BBQ Seitan, can be mild if you put the wasabi sauce on the side, and the Chipotle Soy Fingers, nice spice kick. Liked them both. Then I had the Seitan Marsala and I believe I was the winner at the table. It was delicious - lovely presentation, great taste. My niece loved her smoothie. For dessert my preference was the chocolate souffle - light, airy and flavorful. Winner. Can't wait to come back.

    (5)

  • Michaelina B.

    Super disappointed. Went for Father's Day. Called at 12pm to see if they had availability. They said they would at 12:30 with a possible 5-10 minute wait (which was the case). When I got there went to check on time and the waiter said that had he answered the phone he would have never had let me make a "reservation" and said they don't take reservations unless for large parties. I said "ok, well that's what I was told" and he aggressively said again that I don't have a reservation but he would be able to sit us in a bit. The place was a mess. Walls are dirty with paint peeling, on the shelf where the kitchen leaves plated dishes to be served there were dirty wash cloths and a water bucket that they use to wash tables and dip dirty rags in. The staff was ridiculously all over the place, arguing with each other loudly in front of guests. I ordered the California salad which was a $10 plate of romaine with less than 1/4 cup of cucumber, tomato and avocado combined. The onions on the salad were also not actually cut, in bunches from not having been cut through. The soy nuggets were delicious, but otherwise service was some of the worst I have ever seen (and the place had 1-2 parties waiting, not too overwhelming). There was no ambiance either. I was surprised there wasn't any music playing and it seemed like there was bad air circulation, especially with the open kitchen. After the way we were treated when we walked in the door we didn't expect a "special" father's day brunch. That said, they were able to even lower our low expectations. Not worth the trip for vegan fare.

    (1)

  • R. B.

    I went there a second time. It was a while ago, so I don't remember the specifics of what my friend and I got, but it was much better than the first time, so wanted to update. Will go again.

    (3)

  • Laura R.

    I eat at the Walnut Grille Quite a bit. I always have a great experience at this restaurant. Try the Gobi Manchurian, it is amazing! I order the butternut squash bisque which has an excellent creamy texture with great flavor. The Artichoke and Sweet Potato Pizza is excellent and we order it every time. I also enjoy the Pink Dolphin Smoothie not too sweet and very refreshing.

    (5)

  • Lauren W.

    This is the best restaurant I've been to so far! I've been vegan for a few months and it just keeps getting better and better especially when you find places like this that amazingly satisfy every craving you may ever have. I ordered the 'chicken' piccata which was one of my favorite meals before I stopped eating meat. It was actually eerie how much is tasted like chicken, at first I was a little nervous that it was chicken! The chocolate soufflé with lavender 'ice cream' was one of the best things I've ever tasted I literally almost cried while eating it. Even my carnivorous dairy-lovin parents admitted that they really enjoyed everything! I just wish the place was closer to my home! GO HERE!

    (5)

  • Kate R.

    There are few Vegan/Vegetarian options that compare to Walnut Grille. Our favorites include the Gobi Manchurian, Chipotle Soy Fingers, Seitan Marsala and pizzas. The fresh juices are refreshing and they also serve wine/beer.

    (4)

  • Meaghan D.

    Great selection and variety of vegan options! Very delicious and flavorful. Service can be a bit awkward, but I'd still come back for the food anytime!

    (4)

  • Rory I.

    So far so good! Just got back from a lovely brunch. I got the vegan Benedict Florentine, which, while it lacked most any Benedictian or Florentinian qualities aside from an english muffin, was one of the best tofu scrambles I've had in Boston. The hash-browns that came with it were perfect. When so many vegan-friendly eateries around here insist on doing them thin-sliced or cubed or overly fried, I really appreciate the simple, spiced wedges that Walnut Grille provided. Hot sauce would've made it perfect, but I was too hungry to ask. The tempeh bacon was also wayyyy salty; fine in some well-balanced bites, totally overwhelming in others. The hollandaise was not hollandaise. Again, still good; real hollandaise might've been weird with the beans etc. in the scramble. But if you want a really good, true vegan hollandaise recipe, Walnut Grille, you gotta do Earth Balance and Veganaise. It's not from scratch, but it works very well. Until then, I will be content with your delicious scramble masquerading as other things. Either that or trying any of the plethora of other good-looking options. Despite already being pretty full (it was not remotely the small portion another reviewer had lead me to expect), I wanted to try the chocolate soufflé. I've never had a soufflé and part of me thought I never would, as a vegan. It was gorgeous and strange, and though my non-vegan partner told me it wasn't exactly what a soufflé is supposed to be (more of a mousse/soufflé hybrid), it was pretty damn good. Perfect with a side serving of vegan ice-cream. The servers were laid back, quietly attentive, and courteous. No facades of over-enthusiasm or familiarity. Just polite, understated interactions that got everybody what they needed. Especially on a sleepy Sunday morning, I really appreciate that. Maybe we just lucked out, but there was a nice balance of enough people to make it not awkwardly quiet, yet few enough that the service was prompt and easy. Two breakfast dishes, coffee, tea, and a dessert ran us 14 dollars each, plus tip. Not bad at all.

    (4)

  • Jenna L.

    First time, second time and third time have all been charms here! I have almost tried every entree. I can honestly say that this is by far an absolute gem! Not only does it excite the taste for experienced vegans but it is also a great place to start if you are just curious. Their foods are composed with something for everyone and you won't hate yourself when you're done! Say goodbye to the stereotypical vegan reputation and say hello to pure culinary genius. The staff is extremely knowledgable of the menu and can recommend the best, if at first it seems overwhelming. They seem like they truly love their jobs which makes the whole experience 5 stars. I'd really give it 10 if it allowed. I name this place - my absolutely favorite and go-to for any occasion.

    (5)

  • Roberta D.

    My boyfriend surprised me by bringing me for dinner here this week. It was a pleasant surprise! I was not expecting such great vegetarian food in Newton. We were immediately seated when upon entering the restaurant. The service was extremely fast. The food was absolutely amazing, made exactly when we ordered. I would recommend to anyone who is vegan or vegetarian or interested in trying new cuisine out. The staff is extremely friendly and willing to help give you recommendations if you're not sure on what to order.

    (5)

  • Barbara M.

    First off, I enjoyed the ambiance as soon as I walked in. It's well decorated with pretty chandeliers. You feel like you are in a fancy restaurant without feeling stuffy. Now on to the food, I've been a few times and enjoyed both of my meals. The first time I went for lunch and got the BBQ seitan with sweet potato fries. So good & pretty affordable! The last time I went was for dinner and I got the seitan marsala and omigoodness it was SO good. I also got dessert to go, the chocolate truffle cake and it was to die for. I've enjoyed both of my experiences and will definitely be back! PS: both times I went the restaurant wasn't overly crowded and the food came out within minutes!

    (4)

  • Robert D.

    My immediate reaction was "finally!" I've eaten at moderate-to-upscale vegetarian/vegan restaurants in San Francisco and in Europe -- and have wondered why Boston lacked one. Red Lentil in Watertown was close but had kinks. Well, judging from the menu, Walnut Grille was a contender. Let's see how the game plays out. What I liked about this menu was that dishes appeared to be substantial, not just salads and noodle dishes, but creative attempts at "real" food. My wife, the soup and salad grazer, would be happy (and she was), but I wanted more. I had eaten a meager lunch so I was hungry. Several things on the menu looked appealing but I couldn't resist the pizza because it had many of my favorites -- butternut squash, caramelized onions, red peppers, arugula I think, and both feta and mozzarella cheese (plenty). With a few tastes of my wife's lentil soup (excellent), I was eventually stuffed. She reported that her salad (the special that included arugula and burrata cheese) was also good. As we ate, I noticed several tempting dishes flow by -- notably the vegetarian lasagna and the polenta napolean (a stack of corn cakes, vegetables, salsa, etc.) -- and I knew we'd return. Glancing at previous reviews, I see complaints about the service. My only criticism is that they were overly attentive as though someone had told them to make sure they were on top of our every need.

    (4)

  • Ann Marie F.

    I went here once so far, and the food was tasty, but there are a few issues that are keeping me from giving Walnut Grille a higher rating. The food: our salad (beet salad with goat cheese) was really tasty, and my husband's pizza special (Mexican themed, with corn, avocado and queso fresco) was decent. The crust was gluten-free, which he didn't need, and it was a little cardboard-y. It also got soft in the center, probably because there were a lot of toppings on the pie. I got the seitan burger with sweet potato fries. The burger was good but very messy, and the potato fries were more like large wedges, not matchsticks. They also have the skins still on, so good to know if you have a potato skin aversion. Our main issue was that everything on the menu seems to have a ton of ingredients, way more than would be necessary for a well-composed dish. I don't like green peppers, and my husband doesn't like mushrooms or olives, so most dishes ended up having one of those ingredients, possibly unnecessarily. Also, the decor is very odd. Not to our taste, but whatever. You just have to ignore it or be cool with it while you eat your veg food. Not sure if the food is worth the moderate price tag, but we'll go there again and re-evaluate.

    (3)

  • Alyssa G.

    Eggplant rollatini was fabulous!

    (4)

  • Dana P.

    Growing pains. Walnut Grille is super new and that's very clear when you walk in. I think they can be great some day (and hope to see that day someday soon) but they have a lot of work to do. I arrived before my friends and had to wait for a table (even though there were a lot of open tables). When everyone arrived, someone came back and seated us and commented that we should have been seated before. Odd. I went for brunch with three other vegan friends this past Sunday. It wasn't super busy when we were there. It took a while before the waitress came and took our order. Three of us ordered tea. We were served individual teapots (love that) but no mugs. That was a problem. Our water glasses were empty and I had to ask a few times for them to be refilled. This is something that should be noticed, you shouldn't have to ask for water (repeatedly). Oh, and it was 10,000 degrees inside. We were roasting. Two of my friends ordered a soup starter to share (it never came). We noticed at the end when we got our bill as we were charged for it. I ordered the tofu florentine. It was ok. The potatoes were great and the tempeh bacon was very tasty, but the sauce was way too lemony and bright, bright yellow (way too much turmeric). A nice vegan hollandaise shouldn't taste like lemon pledge (and should not be fluorescent yellow). It looks like they serve wine, but no mimosas were to be found on the brunch menu. The food was reasonably priced. I think Walnut Grille has a lot of potential, they just need to get over the initial hurdles and improve their service. I look forward to going back in a couple of months once they're past their growing pains.

    (2)

  • John A.

    Heard about this new restaurant via the Boston Vegetarian Society newsletter. Always fantastic when a new vegan/veggie option opens. Had Sat night dinner there last night with friends and the verdict... Cleanliness: (B-) I am a tough grader in this category. I like things gleaming. For a brand new restaurant, it did not feel that way. The glassware and silverware were clean, but not shiny new ... a little streaky. Parking: (B) We got there early and while the parking in front was maxed, we easily found space in the shared lot behind. But I imagine it can be tougher at peak times. Menu: (A-) Bountiful selection for vegans and vegetarians (cow cheese availble). Everything from pizza to salads to Marsala and to Asian-inspired entrees. Food: (A) We devoured apps of BBQ Seitan with delightful horseradish-wasabi sauce and a plate of Spicy chickpea coated Cauliflower. Both tasty. Three of us had the Marsala entree (seitan in wine sauce with mushrooms, garlic spinach, yukon mashed). Delicious, but could have used just a little extra something as a topper...perhaps an onion ring. Our lone omnivore (and trooper) opted for the Gardin chickin piccante and loved it. Vegan desserts were tasty. The chocolate souflee was a hit. Drinks (B+) Not a BYOB. Expect to pay $9/glass with a functional array of wines. Once they get established, would be nice to see them get a little more creative with the wine list. Comfort: (B-) Not huge inside, so defintiely make reservations if you have a party of 6 or more. They open for dinner at 5pm and I'd heard the place had been packed since opening, so we arrived a little early - 5:45...and was already 3/4 full. Tables at the wall are half-bench/half-chair, so are a little more conducive to lingering. Tables away from the wall seem all business. There was a constant line at the door just after 6pm until at least 9pm. Service: (C+) Attentive, but rushed. Throughout the night there were a few dropped dishes/glasses, not affecting us. A few mixups on our wine order. We ordered the coconut cake and by all accoutns got carrot-walnut cake instead. The waitress was there to take an order, not to create a warm experience for the customers. Demonstrated very little knowledge of the menu. A little charm and enthusiasm goes a long way in a new resturant where the majority of diners are first-timers and are there to soak it all in. All in all, a great new option for Boston area vegans and foodies. Defintely will go back again and again.....and hopefully we'll see this go from good+ to great.

    (4)

  • Sammy B.

    Ordered the entree special -- pumpkin seed and herb crusted tofu with sorghum stew, yams, potatoes, and black beans. The dish also game with a yukon potato mash, sautéed bitter greens, and a cilantro chutney. AMAZING--the dish was flavorful, didn't feel heavy or greasy (the tofu was baked). My only complaint was that it was $17.50, which I don't think is entirely justified. We also ordered the garden rolls with avocado and tofu--good, nothing special--and the chips with guacamole and salsa, which was good as well. I will definitely be going back, but for a cheaper entree.

    (4)

  • Kate V.

    Vegan and Vegetarian Heaven! Best farm fresh veggie filled omelet I have had yet. Friendly, attentive service, clean atmoshpere. I will definitely go back.

    (4)

  • Jen M.

    We went at an off time around 1:30 on a Saturday so the place was hopping when we got there but certainly winding down. Highlights: Our server was fantastic, very nice and attentive. Lentil soup was delicious, every vegetarian joint has a lentil soup and it's easy to make at home, but this was worth getting while dining out. Kale and cauliflower soup was delicious & flavorful. Tofu scrambles were a crowd pleaser for me and my two little ones. Hubby's burger looked delicious and he said it was quite good. Sweet potato fries were slightly crisp on the outside, lovely and soft in the middle, the light bbq sauce dipping they came with was a nice touch. Nice menu variety. Lowlights: I asked for vegan and gluten free food for my kids and I. I do believe it was gluten free as I am not sick right now, but I almost ate egg. I had to investigate the vegan gf scramble I received. It looked different than my son's. The person I think was the manager checked on us, I asked if my dish was gf and vegan. He said, "Yes". I said, "Really? My son's really looks like tofu and mine looks a lot like egg". He said, "Oh, It's vegan cheese, you wanted the whole thing vegan?". "Yes". I believe our server that she punched it in correctly (or at least meant to punch it in correctly). Perhaps that was our version of the growing pains. I had sweet potato fries and just had awesome soup so I wasn't too grumpy. They corrected it in a timely manner. They should be a lot more careful in getting orders correct. If they are touting a vegan, vegetarian, & gluten free menu, having accidental wrong orders could be particularly disgusting and possibly very harmful. I want this place to be amazing, I will certainly be back but I hope they are extra careful with anyone who is avoiding dairy, egg, or gluten. There are few places people can eat that are avoiding such things. Walnut Grille could have a very loyal following OR a really grossed out one. Go at an off time and double check your orders folks!

    (3)

  • G S.

    Apparently the restaurant owner isn't reading these reviews. We tried Walnut Grille for the first time today and we were especially disappointed with the service. The food was mediocre - nothing different or flavorful, with portions on the smaller side for brunch. Our server seemed inexperienced and a bit disgruntled, so we did not receive the greetings, courtesies or explanations of specials you would normally expect. The worst part was that our order was wrong twice with no apologies. We asked for a vegan dish and received dairy, then we got a vegan dish without the cheese substitute it normally comes with. The man who appeared to be the owner came in later in the afternoon and casually observed the kitchen and seating area - little did he know that we heard multiple complaints from the tables around us. The dinner menu looks good - we look forward to returning one day when we start reading better reviews. Note to owner: spend some money on trained staff!

    (1)

  • Sue S.

    Went for my birthday midweek, in the early evening. For the most part the food was okay, I did like the sweet potato fries and pizza. Tasted many other things...because I could and they are creative. The manager made us drinks, because the bartender was not there, and they were good too. As for the heat not so good, don't think I could tolerate it any hotter and it was not crowed. More importantly the bathroom faucet didn't work, for me and others, (they have a trick to make it work, but how many people don't ask and return to the table...yuk!) My only other thought would be why would they choose faux alligator on the seating and walls in a vegetarian/vegan restaurant?

    (3)

  • Melanie M.

    I love my meat and my husband is a strict vegetarian. We both thought this place was meh. The food is very creative and offers much more for vegetarians than almost any other place in Boston. I just got a little bored halfway through my dinner. I ordered the "chicken" marsala. In place of chicken they served seitan. I definitely missed the real thing and wished so badly it were real chicken. I also felt like the sauce was off, not very marsala wine taste, more like a gravy. My husband had the special, a paneer "steak" served with mashed sweet potatoes. I did like his dish better than mine, but I did find his to be a bit too dry and a bit too sweet. For dessert we ordered the chocolate strawberry cake. The cake was not fluffy and icing was disappointing. I was really hoping I would come to this restaurant and not miss the meat. But I missed it bad, so bad I felt like eating here was a tease and I just wanted it more.

    (2)

  • Wensley S.

    Awful service, sat there for an hour and watched people who came after us get their food first. Then when our food finally came it was terrible, my boyfriends burrito was obviously microwaved and my so called "pizza" was just bread with cheese, no sauce or anything else. I had also asked for the pizza to be gluten free and once it came it was clearly not. Also a burrito, pizza and two drinks added up to $50 Must say we will not be returning.

    (1)

  • Lola G.

    It was just okay. The portions, however, were enormous, which was a bit of a turn off; Impossible to finish. The pancakes were a bit hard, not fluffy at all. It is quite informal. I got the impression of it being akin to a diner.

    (3)

  • Ama R.

    Absolutely fantastic food each time I go. It's wonderful to have a more upscale vegan food option around. I have taken many non-veg friends and family here and they loved it too, great atmosphere, helpful and friendly staff, amazing menu. 5 Stars to you Walnut Grille!

    (5)

  • Stephanie B.

    I have gone a few times now and I really enjoy it! The first couple of times, the food was great but the restaurant was very new and definitely suffering from being some bad service. We had a waitress who didn't really seem to understand the difference between veganism and being gluten-free and some dishes were messed up. However, the last time I went I received excellent, attentive, and fast service so it seems they are working out the kinks! The food has been very good every time. I recommend the polenta napoleon and if they have the chocolate souffle for dessert, order it! The ambiance is nice a little fancy, but reasonable prices. A few parking spots in the back!

    (4)

  • Milia M.

    Very Nice! I like to eat vegetarian and healthy meaning not to oily. This place has nice a menu not too much variety but enough to chose something. I tried lasagna and eggplant dish with mashed potatoes it was pretty good! The only thing is the cafe itself it is not very cozy and kind of loud for such little place. Definitely not for the ambiance ( although it is fairly new) but to have a quick bite!

    (4)

  • Cindy K.

    In Newton and the surrounding towns, a new restaurant is always big news as we patiently wait to find out what's coming into town (yes, we are big foodie suburbanites and we're proud of it! haha) So when I saw the restaurant sign say "vegetarian and vegan", I was ecstatic! We have great eats around the area but with the addition of a strictly vegetarian and vegan restaurant, we no longer need to go all the way to Cambridge or Somerville. Anyways, on to the actual review of my Friday night dinner experience. The wait was pretty average for a Friday night - approx 15-20 minutes. It is a small restaurant so if you have a group, you're definitely looking at a 25+ min wait on a busy night. The atmosphere is bustling with an open kitchen so you hear, smell and see all the cooking that's done. Here's what hubs and I got for dinner: - Gobi Manchurian appetizer: flavorful and crunchy. Very delicious! - Fig & oyster mushroom pizza: Sooo good! The only thing I wished could have been better were the caramelized onions needed to be a bit more caramelized. It was definitely a popular dish as we kept hearing the order while we sat near the kitchen. - Polenta Napolean: great flavors and the polenta was made just right! The menu is extensive and prices are very affordable - the most expensive item on the dinner menu was around $15. My only criticism about the restaurant is the service which I felt could use improvement. There wasn't anything terrible about the service but it was subpar. I think they were a bit understaffed so the quality of the service is just not quite there yet. Our waiter could have been more attentive rather than just barking orders at the kitchen staff and trying to get orders out to patrons. Again, I don't think this was the waitstaff's fault at all...they are just trying to get food out to tables but it would have been a nicer experience if there was some more attention and customer service. Definitely will be coming back for another meal and hoping that the logistics will be a little less chaotic!

    (4)

  • Ace Z.

    Got there about 15 minutes after opening for dinner on a Sunday, which was about 20 minutes before it got really packed. Really nice decor. Our server was really friendly, but stretched pretty thin - for awhile there didn't seem to be any other servers on the floor, and as a result we felt a little ignored. The BBQ seitan was delicious and plentiful. The nachos were extremely undercheesed and the chips were a little stale. Also, because our server was so busy, it was forever before someone came to take our spent seitan plates and asked if we needed more plates for the untouched nachos, which gave us the opportunity to return them. (The server, when she arrived, was extremely nice about the whole thing). My companion had the piccata, which she said was fine, but a little weird. I had the macro bowl, which was really good: plentiful, with an unexpected spicy undertaste. For dessert we had the zebra cake, which was also delicious. Oh, and the wine was a Bridlewood pinot noir that was absolutely wonderful. Bottom line: we'd definitely go back to try dinner again, and the brunch menu, but it was a little disappointing.

    (3)

  • Jim C.

    The price still remains a bit higher than my liking but the food quality and service are excellent. It has one of my favorite restaurants in the area, and I felt like an upgrade from 4* to a 5* was reasonable.

    (5)

  • Ben S.

    We just got back from a somewhat chaotic but ultimately enjoyable dinner at Walnut Grille. The place has only been open two weeks, and they still clearly have some scheduling and service kinks to work out when it comes to handling the Saturday evening rush, but the food was tasty and the menu offered many choices for our vegan friends. Pros: interesting menu with many vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. Extremely reasonable prices (entrees sub-$15). Staff--especially Rich--went above and beyond to make things right (including appetizers, drinks and dessert on the house). Most dishes were tasty, though the appetizers were the highlight of the meal. Cons: Despite our 7 PM reservation, we didn't get seated until at least 7:30, and another group without a reservation had been waiting for well over an hour. Service was backed up and stressed out the rest of the evening. Entrees were good but not great. Recommended dishes: Gobi Manchurian appetizer, vegan nachos, "drums of heaven" veggie sticks, seitan Marsala, and the vegan/gluten free chocolate cake. We will definitely be back once they've had a chance to get into their groove.

    (4)

  • Dee W.

    My wife and I went here last weekend. It was cute and there was a good crowd. I had the Belgian waffle and my wife had the vegan tex mex. It was all very very good. The cost of brunch was under $30 for 2 people, which is incredibly cheap. We'll definitely be back.

    (4)

  • Amber H.

    I wrote too much already on the tips and pictures. Please read those. ;-)

    (5)

  • Michele S.

    My first visit here was a few weeks ago early on a Friday evening. The food was tasty and I need to get back to try more. Very pretty decor, but service was uneven and a bit confused. Tried the gobi Manchurian - super tasty but a HUGE dish for just two people for an appetizer. Hope to go back soon to get a better sense of more dishes.

    (3)

  • D P R.

    We'll drive 20 miles one way to have brunch! Terrific restaurant.vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options. Very fresh and organic produce make your meal very refreshing. Very speedy service with out any compromise on taste and quality. A sumptuous brunch for two will cost less than $18.

    (5)

  • Beth P.

    Came here for a lunch date with the hubs one day. I heard it just opened so wanted to check it out. We ordered the butternut squash and kale soup for a starter and it was very good. It had just the right amount of curry. The bread on the side was crusty and in the perfect portions (just two small slices) so you don't fill up on it. I had the southwest wrap with tofu and brown rice with the sweet potato fries on the side. They weren't kidding about the rice! The bbq sauce was very tasty so I didn't mind so much there was too much rice, and I also know all of the health benefits in brown rice. My husband had the falafel wrap and, like always, it was much better than mine. I will definitely be returning possibly for a dinner date! And next time I may try desert!

    (4)

  • David G.

    For a vegetarian restaurant it is really good. Service was excellent. The food was good but sauces were a little too sweet. The selection is broad and interesting even for meat eaters. From the apps, spicy coliflower was excellent and coconut tofu. The ravioli special was excellent despite sauce being too sweet. The fake chicken piccata was very good itself but sauce could use spicing up. Presentation was great all around. The only reason we are giving it three stars is because it was SO loud and we could not hear the other end of the table and had to yell across from each other. If they fixed the noise this would be a 4 or 5 star venue.

    (3)

  • Ryan S.

    As I have mentioned before I have many vegan friends and I am happy to try out a new vegan restaurant now and then. The vegan food here was definitely vegan. It tasted vegan ( which some people like that earthy flavor) I on the other hand appreciate vegan food that tastes like regular food. I like when they mimick " normal" dishes and try to get them right. So I can't say this place was bad, just not my thing. However my vegan friends enjoyed their noodle dish they had with tofu.

    (4)

  • Derek W.

    I saw this place featured on Boston.com a few weeks ago. We ate here last weekend, and came back again during the week. Both times the food and service have been great. The first time we ate here, we showed up on a Saturday night and had to wait a little while. Our server gave us a complimentary dessert for our wait. We will eat here again soon.

    (4)

  • Viv C.

    I got take out (dinner) from here. I got a bisque and the garden loaf. Since I saw some criticisms about the flavor and the seasoning I thought I would comment to that and say I enjoy the food exactly as is. The loaf tasted complex and with every delicious bite I tried to figure out what was in it. With that said if someone had threw strong flavors in it they would over power the subtle flavors ( not all the flavors were subtle). The food is prepared in a way where the ingredients are the star not seasonings. I appreciate this as it's hard to find. The staff assisted me right away and the food came out quick. I took away one star since I reserve five stars for my absolute favorite places.

    (4)

  • Sherry B.

    Food was good, service was ok, but reason I give this place only 2 stars is because it's extremely noisy. When one goes out to dine with friends and family you want to be able to carry a conversation. it was NOISY and on top of that they were blasting the music so loud that I finished my food quickly and got out of there

    (2)

  • Eve L.

    This place is owned by one of the two chefs at Red Lentil, which is one of my favorites. It feels a lot like Red Lentil, in style of food and menu, but it's been Newton-ized. That is, it's an upper middle class place in e heart of Newton as opposed to a comfy diner sort of place in working class Watertown. Still, another solidly good vegan/vegetarian option in the Boston area - I approve.

    (4)

  • David P.

    Sadly, I was really disappointed with our meal there last night. The restaurant is very new and will hopefully improve as the concept is good. The good: - the lentil soup was perfect, really well done - the cheese plate was great The OK: - the veggie pizza was decent, my wife's salad was mediocre - other entrees were ok The Bad: - service was really bad. waitress did not know the drinks menu, my dinner mate asked for a white wine, got a recommendation from server, took the recommendation and was served rose. Really?! Also, we were told that all the wines were $8 and were then billed $10 for several of them. I was told they had Malbec, I ordered that and then she said, oh sorry, don't have that. This was exceptionally bad service. - also, the wine list is very uninteresting - dismal decor, especially the bathroom. The black tile is just nasty. A veggie restaurant should be bright and fun, shouldn't it? - also their website was down yesterday, sheesh! This place has the potential to improve a lot. There is a lot of demand for good veggie / vegan food and a lot of the problems with the place are fixable. Note to owners: do something about the bathroom and get the wait staff properly trained. This would improve the place a lot. Good luck, but I will probably not go back.

    (2)

  • Roger L.

    Have been looking forward to this restaurant since their inception because there are not a lot of vegetarian options in this area. Considering every restaurant in the Newton, Needham, Wellesley area on a weekend night will always be busy, we were surprised to have only waited 20min for a table. The atmosphere was obviously busy and hectic this Friday night, but i'm glad the restaurant did not have an earth crunchy atmosphere like Life Alive in Cambridge, but just casual enough to feel comfortable. We started our meal off with fresh fruit juices, tasty and as good as my homemade juicer makes juice. Our appetizer was the Ghobi Manchurian which was very tasty, cooked perfectly with a crunchy skin and tenderness cauliflower, sweet and spicy without any overburdening msg. Then for our meals, I had the Polenta Napolean which was very good, flavorful in every bite and the corn cake was not dry at all. My wife had the Tuscan Fig and Oyster Pizza, wow, amazing, drooling ... Overall, service was good, waitstaff was nice and attentive, price was decent for the area, and I'm just glad I don't have to go as far as Watertown to Red Lentil now.

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:00 am - 10

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : Yes
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Garage, Street, Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : Yes
    Dogs Allowed : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

Walnut Grille

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