Very high cost... $26 Pork Milanese entree without anything else, no sides... $18 individual pizza, inventive, but several dollars too much... First week of operations blues! Took nearly 90 minutes to have entrees. Large party largely ignored... Not returning any time soon
(2)
E B.
Its a new restaurant so they are still working out some of the kinks. There was only two of us, but the waitress still made two mistakes in our order. Right it down, we're not impressed if you try to remember our order and get it wrong. Food is quite good, atmosphere is okay. The bar really detracts from the experience though. Trying to have a nice meal while in the midst of people drinking at a bar and yelling at the football game really lowers the experience. It is pricey for the total package, and the parking is quite limited.
(3)
Rachel R.
I have been here twice. The first was for bunch and I thought the food was great so I decided to give it a shot for dinner. That's when my rating went from four starts to three. At dinner, I started off with the arugula said which I thought was good. Then we tried the sausage app and that was just average. Finally, I had the ribeye for my entree. It was VERY SALTY. My friend had the roasted chicken that was more of a cutlet than a piece of chicken and again, salty! I'd probably go back for brunch but not for dinner. At those prices, I could eat elsewhere and have much better dinner with half the salt!
(3)
Sandie H.
1ST AND LAST TIME!! Horrible. Called and requested reservations for 1ST FLOOR outside dining because our two elderly moms have trouble walking and can't do stairs easily. The hostess had us wait while she "set our table". Little did we know she was pushing two round tables together (awkward seating) on a hot and narrow back deck that overlooked the parking lot. Only enhanced by a kid practicing on his electric guitar next door. I explained that the ladies had trouble walking so they suggested the elevator which was another experience. Out the building, down the hall, up the hall, squeeze through a door with furniture in front of it, through another room, finally to our table. It didn't stop there. Water glasses half full, had to continually ask for ice, food was edible not great. Icing on the cake was one order did not come with the other four orders of food. I finally got up, walked downstairs and told them to cancel the order. Some woman actually showed up with it, another 5 minutes later, and tried to serve it to me or wrap it "to go". Completely missing the point that I would have enjoyed eating with my family. I also told her about the seating and again, instead of just apologizing, she insisted that they like to bring their guests to a sunny deck. Not sure why we were not seated on the patio where we had been assured we would be. Waited and waited for the check and again had to get up and find someone to ask for the check. Finally time to leave and no one to show us the maze to get back to the elevators so we attempted the stairs that left one Mom completely out of breath. Wish I had paid more attention to the reviews already posted but I was hopeful. Sorry I didn't listen!
(1)
Danielle M.
Have been here a few times, and we enjoyed ourselves each time. The food is delicious, especially the linguini and the butternut squash risotto.
(5)
Doug M.
Kind of a strange new spot. The 2 bars are nice and seem cozy. The restaurant itself is rather cold and boring. The menu leaves a lot to be desired -- very small number of items to choose from. We had a table of 5 - we tried: pizza, rib eye, fish and chips, short ribs and Bolognese. They were all ok, but nothing special. I had the Bolognese, which I'd heard was a house specialty, which ended up to be a disappointment. The waiter was friendly and the prices were ok. We'll be back, when the menu improves.
(3)
Trish L.
Love the artichoke appetizer. We've been several times and had great food. The salmon was amazing and we really like the huge shrimp, a salad and the Quattro Fungi pizza. The wait staff was attentive but not clingy. Definitely a good find. We'll be back.
I have been few times with family. Nice to have 29 Sudbury add a very good restaurant to the area. Food has been fresh, tasty and prepared very well. Loved the chicken, risotto entres. Flat breads were great. Arancini's were excellent too. Excellent wine list too.
(4)
Michael S.
Best Italian dining in the area when they opened ... good drinks/bar, too...but they continually slip on something- service is very iffy. Quality is good but not consistent. Not as impressive as I wish.
We had lunch here on a Sunday this winter. The food is great! The decor is fairly modern, but nice. It is a bit overpriced, a side of fries is $7! That is outrageous.
(4)
Device S.
Visited 29 Sudbury for Valentines Day last night. I had the Bolognese and my wife had the Filet and Mushroom Risotto which was a special for the eve. Server took a little longer to attend to us after seating but eventually got to us. He was professional and friendly and quite knowledgeable about the wine and menu item. The food was very good as well as the service once we got rolling. We also had the wedge salad which was fresh crispy wedge with a nice smooth Gorgonzola vinegar dressing and the bacon was nice and crispy. We were surprised that they didn't decorate the tables for valentines day. No flowers or any indication it was a special day. Pretty drab environment for the eve. We sat upstairs and our table was close to the bar which was busy. Didn't quite like that placement but we managed. Eventually the bar quieted down. They did have a singing guitar player who was quite good. The meal for two plus the wedge salad that we split and a glass of wine and a Bloody Mary was about $120.00 with tip which was quite pricey. The overall experience was good. The place was busy due to valentines day eve. We may go back to try the pizza but for the prices, other restaurants would be a better value.
(4)
Susan B.
Not sure why all the negative reviews. My husband and I have been 3 times and all 3 times the food was excellent. Yes, the prices are a bit high, but the quality is definitely there. The antipasti is fantastic...great quality prosciutto. The orechiette and sausage had great flavor and was cooked perfectly. The best was the pumpkin pecan torte...absolutely fantastic.
(4)
Sue L.
I've eaten here twice now. I don't think this restaurant will be successful without making a few changes. The food was good, not great, but good. The issue is the prices. Yes, many in this area have money BUT no one is interested in parting with it when feeling taken advantage of. The prices are absolutely ridiculous. $25 for pasta? Ate at the North End last week and the pasta was better and lesser priced. Another issue? The wine pour. Come on. It's was too stingy for the price. The staff is just not friendly. Had a drink at the bar downstairs and the bartenders were rude, rude, not just unfriendly, rude. Front staff was too busy talking to one another and the waitress never asked if we wanted black pepper or refills on our water. Had to serve ourselves. Not acceptable. Just way too expensive for what it is...
(1)
richard m.
Went to 29 Sudbury on a Saturday night and was very disappointed. First the appetizer arrived as we were still having our drinks. Getting bread with our meal was almost impossible and the bartender didn't know how to make my wife's drink. However what was really bad were the prices. A pasta dish should not be $21. When I was able to finally order a glass of wine it was more than the bottle at retail. This restaurant is a turkey very close to Thanksgiving.
Doesn't deserve 5 stars, but also doesn't deserve the 2.5 that it currently has as an average. Newer restaurant so the wait staff is getting up to speed. Give the palace a chance with that in mind. The good was good, would go again.
(5)
Aaron W.
We will see. Ordered a cup of honey parsnip soup for a starter. Parsnipy. I like. The food was pretty good. Not great. It was tastey, fresh, and it hit the spot. I had the chicken penne. It was a little light on the chicken portion but overall it was very good. It really just didn't pop that much. The atmosphere was clean and nice. The only bad thing was the draft, at the bar. It was brutle. $12 per glass of La Crema Chardonnay was a bit ridiculous. All-in-all, I gave it a 4 instead of a 3 only because the service was really good and the food was good...it just didn't pop. I went at lunch and I will definitely go back for dinner. 12 bucks for LaCrema is really getting to me. Perry's Steakhouse in Austin is cheaper than that...
(4)
Tony K.
Three of us stopped by on Sunday for breakfast/brunch. Everyone enjoyed their meals and I am told the bloody Mary's were great. Homemade seasoning mixture added to the tomato juice and vodka spiced things up nicely. We sat at the bar and the bartender was very pleasant. She didn't know the menu entirely but when she couldn't answer a question we had on the menu she engaged a coworker who was able to answer the question on the spot. I still think prices are a big high ($12 for eggs and sausage - really?). But then again the sausages were real sausages not just cheap breakfast links and the eggs were cooked perfectly. While the toasted flatbread was ok I am a big fan if whole grain bread at breakfast and would have liked that choice. The menu lacked a corned beef hash option so we tried the sausage hash which I am told was great but not corned beef (full disclosure - we actually were looking for a place with corned beef hash when we left he house). So for three of us we ended dropping around $100 for breakfast. Kind of high but drinks made up a lot of it. In truth I'll be back again for breakfast. Might just go lighter on drinks to keep the cost down. Then again maybe not.
(4)
Elaine S.
Went for an early lunch on a Saturday. There is no sign due to local regulations so you really need to look for it. It is located in a new shopping "mall" and is currently the sole tenant. The restaurant was empty at that time (11:30). I ordered the honey glazed salmon on spaghetti squash from the dinner menu and it was cooked perfectly and quite delicious. The waitress couldnt have been nicer as well and was very efficient. The menu is diverse however I wouldnt recommend the pasta dishes as they are really quite exorbitant in price. I enjoyed the place and would definitely return and recommend it.
(4)
T. Nichole K.
Returned to 29 Sudbury for dinner. We began our meal with the mussels, of course, accompanied by the shrimp cocktail...both were fresh and tasty. I ordered the Linguine w/ asparagus cream, the truffle oil made this dish delicious and unforgettable! My friend ordered the rigatoni with bolognese sauce, delicious!!! I snuck a few bites and I will be bringing my husband back for this hearty, authentically prepared dish. I also spoke with the operations manager and I was informed that the wine list is being expanded, and the desert menu will be enhanced by the organic, seasonal bakery that has recently opened next door. That being said, we ordered the raspberry tiramisu, WOW...amazingly fresh, perfection! Staff was professional and friendly, our server was knowledgeable and prompt. Cannot wait to return to 29 Sudbury!
(4)
Karen R.
I'd give this place a better review, except that it really was over priced for the lack of quality. I had one drink and a piece of dry chicken and my portion of the bill was $45. My friends' meal of schrod was cold and had to be sent back. The restaurant itself is nice and the service was okay, but definitely not worth the price. Maybe because it's in Sudbury people don't mind paying more for mediocre food, but the value really wasn't there.
(2)
Katharine O.
Solid 3 stars. In a town where there is really only one legitimate restaurant that is worth continuing to go back to regularly (Bullfinchs) it's nice to have another option. The food here is pretty good, but slightly over priced and I know I know- it's "Sudbury" but I really don't expect to pay $18 for a small pizza (I guess it could be a meal but it's not worthy of that price). The bolognese- great. The roasted chicken- great. The seafood ravioli- meh. The spaghetti- meh. We've had extremely spotty service the handful of times we've been. Some good bartenders, some really horrible rude bartenders. We've sat at a table twice and both times the servers lacked personality. My favorite though was them talking about the tips that they were getting- both good and bad... and also a very good way to ensure that I'm not going to give you a good tip. That's waiting etiquette 101. The desserts are phenomenal- especially the bread pudding- though the servers can't seem to decide if it should be served warm or cold and I really think it should be served warm. They have a great beverage list, decent beer selection. But there's something missing from this place and I can't tell if it's atmosphere related or what. It's extremely loud on busy nights and the odd selection of music (country/rock and roll) doesn't help. Some more decor to help absorb some of the noise might be helpful.
(3)
Terrify J.
I had dinner here with some friends a couple of weeks ago. The decor is interesting, especially on the ground floor. The bar downstairs is really nice looking. The upstairs room is not as interesting. There appears to be at least 3 bars, but one only has a few stools and is right in the open downstairs dining room. The services staff was friendly and fine. However, the food was a big disappointment. There seemed to be no "craft" in the food. It seems like the product of a cook, vs a chef. I thought the prices were high and I expected more for the money. This area needs good restaurants - but this isn't cutting it for me at least.
(2)
John B.
I took some family and friends out to dinner (6) to celebrate a few weeks back. We ate upstairs in one of the large booths. No service complaints here... had the short ribs with the brussels sprouts.... enjoyed them very much, and everyone else seemed happy with what they had. I hope they make it.
(4)
Gerry C.
Great food great service. Neighborhood place everyone's remember you at. High prices are it's downfall. Great steak. For the price it better warm up my car on way out
(4)
Bonnie J.
A very nice dining experience. Was frankly put off by the negative reviews but decided to keep our reservations and glad we did. True, the room is cavernous, but the noise level was fine. The music was focused on the separate bar area and didn't interfere with conversation. Service was attentive and friendly. Our meals came in a timely fashion and were tasty. Seafood risotto...very good. Short rib pizza also good (my dining companion said) and was so large that half of it went home. Fresh and tasty salads. The bill was what one would expect for this type of venue...not overpriced. Hope 29 makes it. We need good dining choices in Sudbury!
(4)
Eileen C.
Dined at 29 Sudbury last night. Our expectations were high but when we walked in I was disappointed in the decor. Too open and noisy. They need to break up the big room with something to make the restaurant a bit more cozy. We dined at the upstairs bar and our bartender was very knowledgeable about the menu. The arugula salad was excellent and the dressing light and flavorful. I had the spagettti with roasted garlic which was cooked al-dente and was delectable. My husband had the orchiette with sausage and enjoyed the flavors. Caesar salad was fresh and not overly dressed. This restaurant has good potential and we wish them well but they will need to improve the flow of traffic. Not relaxing to see waiters running up & down the stairs. Also, they need to break up the room so you don't feel you are eating in a "big hall" Overall, the food is very good and the service friendly and competent. Decor needs some tweeking. Downstairs bar looked fun.
(3)
Rachel B.
Ehhhhhhhhhh. I was really excited about this place opening, but I was totally let down. We went towards the end of the summer, so the patio was still open. However, we got eaten ALIVE by mosquitos the entire time, so that made the whole experience that much less enjoyable. Sangria was good. We split an antipasto special and mushroom pizza (Quattro Funghi). The antipasto was tiny and lacking in many of the ingredients you would typically get in an antipasto. The mushroom pizza was very good, but super expensive for the portion. Service was okay, but much more casual than professional, which I would expect from this type of restaurant. Also, after walking around inside afterwards to check the place out, I hated the decor. It felt like a cold, industrial, jail with tables thrown around in the middle...and it was super loud. Sorry 29, I don't think we'll be back.
(2)
S. D.
We requested upstair seating due to the noise and congestion of the downstair area. After being seated, I noticed my nylons were sticking to the velcro on the front of the seats, changed seats and the same thing. After one pair of nylons ruined, we settled down to cocktails and appetizers. Cocktails were substantial and tasty. The flat bread pizza was superb! The bolognese we ordered was flavorful but very dry, a little more sauce and it would have also been superb. Our waiter was attentive, however, we did have to ask for water and bread. All in all, our party of 4 will return.
(3)
Joseph M.
29 Sudbury is a great new Italian restaurant in Sudbury. The food is excellent, portions are just the right size, you don't leave hungry and no take home bags needed. The staff is courteous and prompt. The bar areas are inviting and I can see this as a great meeting place. The wine menu is very good and there's a great selection. There are some very fine wines listed that are well known but not sold at many restaurants, that is a plus, all of the beverages from the bar are top shelf. I just have to say it is not a family restaurant and for a couple it is a bit to expensive. If there was an Ocean view perhaps, but there isn't. Reign in your prices and there will be more repeat clients.
(4)
Helen C.
A welcome addition to Sudbury, which has been a restaurant vacuum for many years, with the exception of a couple of old favorites such as Bullfinches. We have dined at 29 three times, each visit a little better than the last, which seems to mean they are improving over time. Cocktails are 4 star: icy cold martinis are 1.5 size of most restaurants and served in a glass beaker over ice. A bourbon cocktail called "Babe's Piano" is one of the most delicious we've ever tasted. Their big mistake was to promote the restaurant as a "Boston Experience". They should just call it what it is: a neighborhood place serving Pub and Italian style food where you can go to hang out, see your friends, enjoy a great drink or bottle of wine, watch a game, with plenty of free parking, and all of this less than 2 miles from home. For those of us who don't like to shout to our dining companions, the upstairs space is somewhat quieter than the downstairs dining room, which needs serious attention to the noise level. Possibly some insulation or paneling would help. The food has been consistently served hot and on time. The menu is pretty basic, but everything we've had has been fine: ample portions, fresh local vegetable sides, and the caesar salad was particularly flavorful. Go for the experience, to see your friends and neighbors, for the drinks and if it's a nice night, to sit out on the patio. Keep your expectations moderate and you'll have a good time. Keep the cost down by ordering salad and pizza, which is delicious.
(3)
Julie N.
Super pizza. Perfectly great portions. Nice drink menu. Friendly staff. They know their stuff! Would be awesome to have party on second floor. Looking forward to returning with friends.
(5)
James R.
I have been there once, thats enough. There were a couple of things that did not work but what killed it was the air in the place. They must have to small a ventilation system. The whole place smells like deep fried food. Even after my wife and I got home our eyes were still stinging from the oil in the air. Half way through our meal I had had enough.
(2)
Natanya Z.
Have been there two times, and both were great. The decor on the bottom level is not very nice, but the food is good. The upstairs is a much better atmosphere. I have tried the salmon and also the tomato soup, both were great. My boyfriend has had the seafood risotta and pork milanese, he said they were excellent. My friend also loved the bolognese. The prices really are comparable to a Bullfinch's or low priced meal at Coach Grill, and the food is comparable in quality, being quite good. The service isnt speedy, but it's not terrible either. It is expected for any restaurant that prepares your meal fresh and with such elegance. I'm excited to have another good option in the area
(4)
Nancy H.
I've been here a few times -- once for a meal, twice for appetizers and drinks. My first experience was great, but we sat at the bar and the head chef was in house, so the food and service were good. However, my subsequent visits were only so-so -- drinks seemed on the weak side, service was quite disappointing. I will say the flatbread pizzas are very good. All in all, very inconsistent.
(3)
Tom M.
First time last night after hearing good things. Great location, very friendly staff and nice bar. Went with three others and although we enjoyed our meal we all though the portions were a bit small but good. I thought it strange the bread was not left on the table but was supplied one slice at a time, upon request. At one point I asked our server to leave the loaf, didn't work. I will go back for sure as the bar and raw bar are a big pluse for me. I did have raw oysters and they were the best I have had in some time. I do recommend the place and will try other menu items. Place has great potential.
(3)
Sue B.
Meh. Went there tonight because we wanted a nice meal at an upscale restaurant. Service at the bar started out great, but went downhill (there was a new bartender, so that was excusable). The mushroom bisque was wonderful! My pasta was not hot and not even cooked al dente, not much flavor. For $18 I would expect hot and cooked properly. Hubby's scallops were perfect! Risotto just okay. Tiramisu okay. For the price, we should have gone to Coach Grille for a guaranteed special evening and will next time we want to splurge. Clientele is pretentious and it was clear the bartenders favored the regulars (nicer pours!). Won't be going back. Wish I had read Yelp before going there :-(
(1)
Bill L.
great service! superb food! couldn't be better! had dinner there last night. wow! you've gotta try this place!
(5)
Shannon F.
I took my husband here for his birthday dinner- incredibly disappointing. We ate indoors in the downstairs area. Normally, decor doesn't mean much to me, but it was jarring how bleak it was. It looked like a factory- and not even in a modern, edgy way. The impression was that the restaurant was unfinished. To be fair, we peaked upstairs, which looked nice. Right off the bat, we noticed their incredibly high pricing. $12 for a small glass of sangria is absolutely ridiculous. We got the artichoke hearts and mussels for appetizers. Mussels were served out of the shell... and there were very few. There seemed to be around 10 floating in a sauce in a bowl- not worth it for the price. My husband had the seafood risotto and was happy with it. I had a $22 pasta dish that was plentiful in size, but again, not worth the price. The overall impression that I have is this restaurant is overshooting and trying to be something it isn't. This is not fine dining and the food, although good, is not anywhere near being worth the prices they charge. My husband and I aren't stingy- I have no problem paying a lot for a good meal and a great experience. And while our hopes were very high (perhaps too high) we didn't receive either here. Also concerning- the waitstaff is completely inattentive. I had seen that in other reviews before we went, but hoped the reviewers were being too hard on the place. As a former waitress, I can tolerate a lot. However, waiting over 10 minutes to even be greeted, let alone take a drink order, is completely unacceptable. Especially when the restaurant was quite empty and there were at least 5 staff members hanging out talking a few feet from the table. If the prices come down.. a lot.. I will consider giving it another try. Otherwise, you're better off going a few minutes away to Bistro 20- better quality, atmosphere and value.
(2)
Warren W.
I'm really glad we came here to celebrate a 21st birthday for a family friend. Really glad. I enjoy eating at the bar so as I walked in and there it was. One of the biggest bars in the 'burbs. It was 6:30 on a Wednesday night and there were seats, but alas we were a party of 8. Note to oneself that sitting at the bar next to the door that opens from the front will be some really cold seating in the winter!! I think, after reading some of the reviews, I was more concerned about the service than the food. Frank our server did a great job! Explained the specials of which we ordered 3 of them: the jumbo shrimp, squab, and the roasted tomato soup. Shellfish were priced per piece. They were delicious. Adding to the appetizers was an order of the artichokes, an arugala lemon dressed salad and a ceasar. Martinis are large and the wine selection adequate. We went with a Dutton Goldfield Pinot Noir 2010. Thought it was wonderful and perfect with the meals that were ordered. Bolognese was a genreous portion of rigatoni in a classic sauce that stuck to the pasta. I liked it. The pizzas are flat bread-like and delivered on a pizza skin with a very thin crispy crust. Tonight it was a margherita times 2. Orecchiette with smoked sauage, salmon, clams and linquini and the squab special rounded it out. We kept hearing go up stairs from friends after mentioning our visit. We will do so. Ambience is different. Very commercial and industrial-like. I came for the food. Seating was nicely spread out and I noticed a bar area by the pizza oven where you could sit, eat and watch the action. Cool. I read one review that said they felt underdressed. I just don't think so. Would I go in shorts and t-shirt in the summer...yup. Do I think they would care? Nope. I believe the owners have invested alot and I have a ton of respect for start-ups in this field. Looking for reasons to complain is simply ridiculous. Critiquing to help a good honest business out is the way to go. When I see reviews of no friends and one review ..."I say disgruntled employee/competitor!" So how can we help them out? Probably, a good idea is to figure out where the reservation desk is ...had to search for it. Figure a way to keep those bar customers warm or give them blankets that say "29Sudbury!" Pricing seems fair. Before tip the average for the meal was $72.00 including drinks, meal and wine and no dessert. Maybe a sign that explains there is an upstairs? I don't know if there is a bar up there too! i'm coming back; I'm sitting at the bar; and trying out something altogether different than the first time. I'm not sitting by the cold door and I am going to make friends with thebartender.
(4)
Elizabeth M.
We had a reservation at 29 Sudbury. We were seated out on the patio. We were given menus. Our waitress said she would be right over. We waited and waited and waited, but she never came back.... We even asked a bus boy to find someone to help us. That didn't help. Still ignored. Well, we waited for 20 minutes and finally just got up and walked out! It was a complete and total waste of our time. Very frustrating!
(1)
Liz H.
I had an experience I have never had in a restaurant before. I asked to not be seated in a high traffic area (right in front of the stairs on the upper level) and was told that I was not going to get a different table. Most of the tables were empty so I had no idea what the problem was. I didn't want to embarrass friends I was with so I put up with it but I would have just walked out if I were with my husband. Not the way to build a clientele. I'm not going to even comment on the food since it doesn't matter with "service" like ths.
(1)
Peter B.
Food was very mediocre for the $$$. Service likewise was slow and inattentive. Arancini was soggy. Mussles were served out of their shells. Pizza was ok, but not nearly worth the $18 they charge. Room was overly noisy with patrons competing with the loud music coming from a poorly placed random speaker in the dining room. It's a shame the location and facility has potential, but the execution was poor. I won't be going back. Long and short, poorly executed pizza dinner for 2 with drinks but no deserts should not be $100.
(1)
Scott G.
Expectations were high, so perhaps disappointment was inevitable. Started at the downstairs bar where we met with friends for drinks prior to a later evening (after 7:30) dinner reservation. The highlight of the evening was the cocktails. The blueberry Collins and White and Red Sangrias were all excellent, as were the other drinks I had the opportunity to sample. The wine list is reasonable but the beer selection was surprisingly limited. The downstairs bar was tastefully decorated but the concrete floors, relatively bare walls and significant crowd made it almost impossible to carry on a conversation without shouting. Our party was eventually escorted upstairs to our table a bit later than our reservation. The upstairs dining area and bar were again tastefully decorated, and the area was much quieter than the downstairs bar and dining rooms. The restaurant was packed but there appeared to be an army of waitstaff, so I was surprised that our initial service was fairly slow out of the gate. All of the staff we interacted with were friendly and helpful, however. We ordered a number of appetizers (fried artichoke hearts (~$12), salmon tartare (~$14), and a large plate of oysters (15 @ $2.50 each)). The artichoke hearts and accompanying sauce were quite good, as was the tartare, but the oysters proved problematic. First, they were presented by the waitress as "mussels." Not a serious cause for concern and an easy mistake to make, but slightly disconcerting. When we asked about their origin (billed as "locally sourced" on the menu) we were told that these were "Wellfleet oysters, but they come from Cape Cod." The oysters as presented (on the half-shell) were fresh and attractive, but we were surprised to find that they were all still firmly attached to their shells. None of our party had ever experienced oysters served this way, so after the ungainly attempts of a few members to separate the oysters from their shells with a fork we requested that they be sent back to the kitchen to be properly shucked. The plate returned a short time later, but all of the remaining oysters ended up having significant chunks of shell floating around in the liquor, very much spoiling the enjoyment of eating them. Later, when the manager came out to apologize at the end of the meal, we were informed that the oysters had been brought in from Canada despite having been told no less than three times that they were from Wellfleet. Also disconcerting. The entrees ranged from some quite good pasta dishes to merely passable chicken and pizza. I had the roasted chicken served with wild mushroom ragout and gorgonzola potatoes ($24). It was entirely underwhelming. The chicken breast was encrusted in bread crumbs (unexpected), was tough, clearly overcooked, and I ended up finding multiple fragments of bone ranging from small to quite large. This was apparently not an exception as my neighbor had the same issue with large chunks of bone and cartilage present in the breast meat. The caramelized onions on top were cold, stringy and greasy, and gave me the impression that my plate had sat a bit before being brought out with the other entrees. The gorgonzola potatoes were decent but damp and soupy, apparently as a result of being served submerged in a watery substance that I assume was the mushroom ragout. I have experienced far better chicken dishes in restaurants with far less pretense. Service throughout the meal was fair to good, with the waitstaff showing a somewhat hurried attentiveness. To his great credit, the manager (Paul) came out to discuss the meal with our table and to get our input on the ups and downs of the evening, as well as to comp the troublesome oysters. My impression is that either the prices will need to come down to meet the food, or the food will have to improve to meet the prices for this restaurant to remain viable. I might end up coming back to give this place a second try after getting some follow-up reports from others, but I have a feeling that this will be yet another metrowest restaurant that aspires to (and professes) greatness while delivering only an average meal at prices calculated to impress.
(2)
Tara B.
we keep wanting this place to be great and its not. Quality of food is edible, but definitely not great and certainly not worth the prices. Drinks are weak as well. Have tried it about 4 times and always give it a few months and then come back but we may be done for good.
(2)
Melissa L.
So disappointed tonight. We had been about half a dozen times and had great experiences. Tonight we arrived at 5:30 and we were immediately sat on the patio. It was not busy. We sat at our table for a solid ten minutes without a server coming over. After two servers made eye contact and acknowledged us and then went to serve people seated after us we got up and left. We went to the coach grill in wayland and actually were served upon being seated. Sorry 29 sudbury but at the price point your at decent service is a must. We will not be back.
(2)
Derek A.
The food at 29 is getting better & better , The service is patchy , If you go when its busy you better bring a cushion , Go when its quiet is ok .
(3)
Rita V.
New chef, little tweaks to the menu, and simply superb experience! Amanda to the table, with her delightful smile and command of the menu - won't steer you wrong! Stephanie heading the bar, and Ashlee still helming the troops. Beautifully peppered charcuterie platter and their beef carpaccio sings. I LOVE the Enoki mushrooms - looks like a witches broom, adorning perfectly seared salmon and lovely bok choi. Every dish is really homey, yet with a subtle je ne se quoi, that hits the mark. Wonderful food, outstanding service. You just feel like you belong! AND you can AFFORD IT!
(5)
Fawn L.
Just please have the blueberry Collins, it may change your life. The food is excellent, and the brunch is to die for!
(5)
Tim M.
I've tried a dining here a few times, and each time it seems to fall a bit further off my radar. The Staff: very friendly hostesses, and waiters/tresses. The upside of dining here. The Space: really well designed, overlapping the look for the area while keeping it modern. The Food: As others have noted, falls flat. I would be fine with the price point is the food warranted it. Portions are fine, but the food mimics all other high end bars, while falling flat on flavor. The Bar: stick to the draft and wine lists. Imaginative cocktails in description, but again seem to fall flat, and specifically in the ginger beer for Kentucky/Moscow Mules. I know 29 Sudbury is trying hard to make a new destination in the MetroWest area, but for the time being I'll look to the area's tried and true hits.
(2)
Michael P.
29 Sudbury is positioning itself to be an alternative to driving downtown for a high end meal. There are plenty of options in this class in neighboring Wayland and Wellesley. The setting was nice but did not have the higher end feel that other restaurants of this class do. When I say " this class ",I am referring most specifically to the cost of eating there. Our meal for 2 adults and 2 kids totaled $240. This was before tip. A salad, truffle fries and some oysters were our appetizer. All was good but the Flying Point oysters were disappointingly small though tasty. 2 of the 6 were laughably tiny. At $20 I would expect better. My prosciutto wrapped cod was wonderful and cooked perfectly. Unfortunately, there is no specific kids menu, although they are very accommodating for kids by altering the entree choices to suit your child's taste. My kids split the chicken parmigiana. Another reason why the $240 price seemed a bit high was because it was for only 3 entrees. You will spend Boston prices of $30 - $45 per entree unless you go with the pizza or pasta which looked great as servers brought it by us to other tables. I didn't need to go GF here, but if you do your options are gluten free pizza dough and pasta. Other entrees will be prepared to your needs to ensure it is GF. We enjoyed the outdoor patio space. The weather was beautiful and conducive to an outdoor meal. Overall, the food was good, the drink menu was nicely inclusive, the menu was properly varied, and the service was very good. Why only 3 stars? The pricing. Too high in my opinion. A reduction of T least 10-15% would be more acceptable. When considering a well deserved 20% tip, a total bill of almost $300 for apps, drinks, - dinner and dessert, 3 entrees, 2 desserts is too high for us to come back anytime soon. I recommend it if you aren't too concerned about what the final bill is.
(3)
Pablo A.
The service was good and the atmosphere was decent save for constant bad pop music through some really low quality speakers. More importantly, though, the food was bafflingly bad for its price--expect overcooked scallops, undercooked risotto, lukewarm soup, and unappealing quasi-creative flavor combinations all over the menu. This alone wouldn't merit a one-star rating, but the absurd prices and unfairly inflated expectations for the meal make it a bitter pill to swallow. BYOB to Applebee's then burn a 100 dollar bill for a comparable experience.
(1)
Michelle C.
The service was fine, but I wasn't a fan of the food. It sounded so good on the menu, but was very bland. Fried artichoke ($10) was lacking in flavor which was disappointing since I had read the review that it was supposed to be great. I did like the lemon arincini ($10) but it wasn't very lemony. The halibut ($33) was the biggest disappointment. It came out semi-warm and completely dried out and overcooked. My friends risotto ($20) tasted okay, but nothing special. It all seemed overpriced and under seasoned.
(2)
Joe S.
Food and drink highly over priced. Short draft list with nothing special. Beer in bottles WAY over priced. Food was OK, but portion sizes were a bit ridiculous. $17 antipasto appetizer had a max of $3 worth of food on it. I had the braised short ribs, which were cooked perfectly, but was served on an insultingly large portion of pasta. General atmosphere was a little bit weird too. Very dark and spread out. Feels like it is trying to be fancier than it actually is.
Went for my anniversary. Bartender was great. Food. Well it was disappointing. I ordered the rib eye at $34 I expected a 2inch cut and cooked to order. I received a 1/4 inch steak and med well. Really! They tried to replace it with their short ribs. It was over salted, dry and the potato pancake was cold. My wife's salad was also over salted. Sorry no stars this ship is sinking. YELP want me to post a star rating I am foxed to give it a 1. I wanted 0
(1)
Jim B.
This place sucks! Food is way overpriced and lacking in flavor. I do like the outdoor seating though.
(1)
Steve M.
Hill man needs to step his game up with this place, HIGHLY overpriced, drinks are ok at that and the food is just whatever. On top of that I'm quite sure I got food poisoning from the meatball parm sandwich. The restaurant itself is really nice and outdoor seating is nice but they definitely need to step there game up and lower there prices down.
Food was ok but honestly nothing to write home about. Took forever so- make sure you plan accordingly!! 2 hours for dinner and apps, apps took 45 minutes for cold apps. I had carbonara and it was undercooked and crappy, tasted rubbery and slimy, my friends meat was overcooked she had a $20 sales that sucked. My husband had over cooked cold salmon, a friend had short ribs, decent but not amazing. Way too much money for a mediocre experience. C'mon Greg hill get a better kitchen!!
(2)
Kevin J.
cravings for some Italian food so I decided to stop in to the restaurant in Sudbury Monday nights are typically slow so the wait no way at all good menu selection at a fair price it did take a little while to cook our food to bring us out ranks
(4)
Ed G.
Been here 3 times. The first was a function outside on the back upstairs deck. The food was OK but not real impressive for the price. A buddy and I were heading to lunch and he wanted to go here so I said I'd give them another shot. I ordered a burger medium rare. The burger was a perfect medium rare and was absolutely delicious with the Peppercorn Garlic Mayo and Onion Brioche. The house made potato chips were excellent as well. So good that I went back a third time. The third time I took my wife for lunch and we both got the burger. Again, I had a perfect medium rare burger and loved it. My wife ordered well done and hers was a bit undercooked with some pink in it. She loved the taste though and ate around the edges. We both will definitely go back again, hopefully both of our burgers will be cooked properly. Now we just need to get up our courage to try the dinner menu.
(4)
A G.
Tasty appetizers however quantities need work. Had the fried artichokes on a long plate with a very tasty sauce but they were just not enough. Same with the mussels-not enough. Please work on the quantities as you have good quality food to work with. Service was very good and friendly.
(3)
Paul R.
Horrible service. We sat in the outdoor area and we were ignored for 25 minutes. We eventually left without ever being waited on. The place was dead and the waitresses came out and waited on others sitting outside so there was no excuse.
(1)
Adam R.
Food was OK, but for the price I would say it was a little sub par. Service needs a lot of work, almost seems like the restaurant is being run by a team of high school kids. Wait staff spraying tables with chemicals next to people eating. Drinks tasted watered down. Even the greeting process was very disjointed. May consider going back to have bottled or drinks off the tap, and appetizers. Hopefully the service improves.
(3)
Ron S.
I would give 29 Sudbury zero stars if possible. The service is mediocre at best. The food is discussing! It is very bland and over priced. Wouldn't recommend this place to anyone!
(1)
Reid F.
Unfortunately, it has gone downhill. It's still OK, but not worth the money.
(3)
Rachael S.
Wonderful place! Friends took us there and we have returned ourselves, my picky husband and I. Quiet corners can be found. The service is low-key but attentive, great timing, friendly. The food is well prepared, nice portions. We like small plates, which they do well. And their pizzas are excellent too. We keep this on our list of favorites.
(4)
Michael P.
Awesome looking restaurant with a cool atmosphere, but the food was just ok for the prices they were charging. Services was good, if you go early enough. I will definitely try again and will update my review later.
(3)
Mike P.
Rigatoni with meat sauce is good. Artichoke appetizer is good. Didn't like the cheeseburger. The roll was stale and fell apart. $14 way too much for a burger that is sub par. Other prices are too high as well. No filet mignon. $2.50 per oyster is a lot. Prime burgers way better and oysters are $1 there on Monday nights.
(2)
Susan P.
We went there for brunch on Easter day. The location is beautiful and the inside is decorated beautifully. We had eggs benedict - delicious, cheeseburger - cooked to perfection and the biscuits and gravy and the biscuits were absolutely amazing. A bonus that day was the Bloody Mary bar. They were delicious and the add-ons at the bar were well stocked and fun. The only recommendation would be the Bloody Mary bar was on the lower floor and we were upstairs. So we had to go downstairs for our add ins. This dis prevent us from ordering another round. A bloody mary add on bar in the upstairs bar area would be a bonus. We will definitely be back,
(4)
Lucas S.
Stopped in Sunday for lunch- they were serving brunch and everything we tried was good. I had the Bolognese Burger and it was cooed exactly as I ordered it, opted for fries and sour cream on the side. Nice thick burger with a healthy amount of meaty boolgnese. Fries were a decent portion and were very crispy perhaps twice fried not 100% sure. Had a couple Negronis which had a perfect balance. Wife had The sausage hash and two eggs sunny- the sausage was very good, potatoes were cooked perfectly. Sister had the turkey panini (I think) I had a couple bites and it was good as well- I don't get these cus they cut the roof of my mouth :) The ladies got chocolate cake which was very good not too sweet and a decent portion sprinkled with powdered sugar. all in all a good experience with pleasant service. I will return for diner or a bar visit soon. Easy to find despite previous comment- pull into a plaza and there it is - not too complicated
(4)
Rachel K.
I have been to 29 Sudbury on two occasions now. First sat at the patio on the first day it was opened and ordered apps and drinks, and another time sat at the bar for lunch. The first time we ordered the flatbread which was extremely delicious but a bit overpriced. The overall decor of this restaurant is beautiful, and any place with a patio gains bonus points in my book (and everyone else's I'm sure). The service was a bit off, but it was day one so to be expected; they were probably still working out some kinks. The service at the bar was much better, very personal & friendly as well as timely. The bar set-up is nice and spacious, and the brand spanking new bar top and stools were lovely. I did find it odd that when ordering a vodka bloody mary and a virgin bloody mary that I was still charged for Grey Goose in my virgin. Having worked in the bar industry for many years I have never seen this.......either a bit of a rip off or a mistake. The online menu vs. the restaurant menu vs. what i got charged for did not match up either. The fried artichoke app, which was incredible by the way, was $10 online and what I was charged but the menu in the restaurant said $9. They should make sure their pricing is a bit more accurate. Overall this is a great new spot with great food and drinks, I just think there are a few very standard things that should be fixed in order for them to please customers to keep coming back.
(3)
dan w.
After a return visit, I noticed much improvement. The waitstaff and bartenders are more polished and friendlier and the food, especially the appetizers, are better. I would give it 4 stars except that the prices are too high (e.g. $14 for a fairly small mussels appetizer, and $16 for pizzas), but overall- it is worth a visit.
(3)
Jeff D.
This place is tough to get a read on. My wife and I typically sit in the bar/lounge area on the first floor. The bartenders are super nice, the food is delicious, and the drinks are OK...decent bottled beer list and a few on draft. The prices are a little steep, but I don't mind paying for good food and you're in Sudbury so what do you expect. The biggest problem with this place is the service. The service is a complete joke. I actually feel genuinely bad for the bartenders. They are CONSTANTLY apologizing to guests for the inordinate wait times for food, taking drinks off the bill and/or giving away free dessert because they literally have no other choice. The absurdly small kitchen, and small cook staff, are literally cooking for 2 dining rooms, 2 bar/lounge areas, and an outdoor patio and it looks like a kitchen that you would see at a small diner. The root problem is a small kitchen, with too few cooks, and until they fix this issue I can't see this restaurant elevating into a premier option in the area. We only go here when we aren't super hungry because you WILL wait 45 minutes plus even for simple appetizers.
(3)
Carolyn H.
I was advised not to try this place but had to try it for myself. Ugh. Overpriced. Horrible service with uninformed waiter and depressed looking bread and water server. Weird physical layout. And the food - my mushroom pizza came with a pile of greens that looked like they were just dumped on top of the pizza. No kids menu. Nobody out on the patio except literally one other party yet we were told we couldn't sit at two tables we wanted to because they were reserved. Ashes from the tiki torches flew into our food, eyes, and hair. Save yourself the money and go somewhere else.
Ok for the burbs. Don't expect the utmost perfection, but some decent pasta dishes. The braised short ribs were a bit dry, which is almost impossible, and the artichokes, while good, tasted more like a fried zucchini stick. The orichette was the best dish at the table, the sausage wasn't greasy and was well a nice crumbly texture.
(3)
D J.
I've been here a few times and have been pleased. It isn't inexpensive but the quality is good and portions large. The food is better than most of the other restaurants in the neighborhood. And the drinks are very good. They have a kids menu but that has room for improvement, particularly in such a kid oriented town.
(4)
Lucretia R.
I was disappointed in the food. I ordered the steak medium rare and it was pretty well done with little flavor. Not good at all. The service was very friendly but the food was below average. Especially for the price.
(2)
Nate E.
Went here for Easter brunch, so I have no sense of what the dinner or bar scene is like. I thought the food was great. I had the omelette, which was a bit salty, but I would've otherwise added salt so it worked for me. I also tried my fiancee's short rib benedict,which was amazing. I didn't personally try anything else, but out of the 7 of us, everyone agreed the food was great. The coffee was not amazing, but was good enough. Mimosa was a bit light on the sparkling white, but used fresh squeezed orange juice, which I also had a glass of and was delicious. I also enjoyed the atmosphere. We ate upstairs and it was very open and light. The whole place was clean and well kept, our server was great and very friendly. It's a bit of a far drive for us, but if I had the opportunity to eat here again I definitely would.
(4)
Joanne M.
If you want the Boston experience....go to Boston where prices such these can be expected. This place is just a gloirfied bar for the locals to schmooze. The ambiance is awful....concrete floors, horrible smells coming from the open kitchen, and no defined front entrance. It was our first time and last time there.
(1)
D N.
A mixed bag. The good: the entrees we had (short ribs and salmon) tasted excellent and were cooked perfectly. Good wine and drinks list. The so-so: service was friendly but intermittent. Noise level was high. Upstairs dining area has a large bar, with TVs... Can't get away from 'em. Dessert options were uninspired. Several items on the menu were unavailable. The bad: the portion sizes were too small for the prices. I'd increase the portions by 20%, and drop the prices by 10%. As it stands now the value is too low, even for upscale suburbs.
(3)
Scott M.
A nice lunch spot - a bit had to find - confusing layout of the plaza. Menus are nice with burgers, pizza, and pasta choices for lunch. Overall nice experience. I ordered shrimp scampi, and it was a nice portion with just the right amount of shrimp vs pasta. Service was attentive, and well versed. The dining room is LOUD as the kitchen is open. Be prepared for this even at lunch. Good experience, will try again for dinner. On par with other local choices.
(4)
Sarah R.
After reading the reviews on the way there, we were nervous. Luckily, we had the opposite experience. Service was fine and food was delicious. We all started with salads that were almost large enough to justify $9 each. I had the orichette with sausage. It was a good sized portion and well sauced. Others enjoyed the bone in pork chop, steak and prosciutto flat bread. Everything was delicious. It was kind of expensive for the 'burbs, but we knew that before we went there. Nice atmosphere, too.
(4)
Craig A.
This was my first time at the restaurant. We were sat on time after enjoying a drink at their beautiful bar. A terrific wine, beer, and spirits lineup. The service was perfect and the food was even better. I recommend the pork Milanese, short rib Mac and cheese, and the salted caramel apple pie. The space is beautiful, lighting great, and staff friendly. I highly recommend this place
(5)
S M.
Great evening. Bartender was friendly and welcoming. Believe his name was Paul. Great pizza, Caesar salad and shrimp. Will definitely be back! Next time I will be sure to check out the upstairs as it is a little quieter
(4)
D W.
My first visit to 29 Sudbury will be my only. Horribly overpriced and subpar quality of the food. I ordered the salmon which was cooked nicely. But with the salmon served on a bed of beet mush with carrots buried in the middle of it, it left me digging out the 3 carrots and moving the salmon out of the way of the beet mush. All this at a cost of $28.00. A week later I found myself down the street at Coach Grill where for the same $28.00 I had Beef Wellington which was to die for along with the service and atmosphere. I do hope 29 Sudbury makes it. But at the current pricing and food quality, my money will be spent elsewhere.
(2)
Luke F.
We had a great dinner here tonight! I enjoyed the spaghetti with garlic and oil, and my dad had the orecchiette with sausage. Both dishes were excellent, and reasonably priced at $18 and $20, respectively. Service was quick and polite, and the decor was very pleasant. Will be coming back!
(4)
David A.
Came here for my anniversary. Had a wonderful dinner and great time. Awesome bars food and atmosphere. Definitely coming back.if you go ask for Meredith great waitress!had the mussels and seafood risotto. Honey had the swordfish! Upstairs is much nicer but outside there was a musician with a guitar . Very nice touch.
(4)
Allison M.
Mixed emotions after stopping here for a late lunch...I think this restaurant needs to iron out the kinks of being new. We liked the outdoor patio and the indoor space was very attractive. For $14, the burger was nothing special; in fact, the bun was much larger than the burger, something we don't like. Because I am pregnant, I ordered my burger medium well and the inside of the patty was still pink so I had to send it back. The service was awkward; there were several uncomfortable and unnecessary conversations with our server that made our overall experience odd. When I asked if I could substitute fries for something healthier, the server told me no, which I found inflexible. My husband ordered a couple beers and we didn't get the feeling that our server knew the beer menu very well. The beer selection could also include a few more craft beers. Hopefully the managers will fix a few kinks with service and the chefs, who our server referred to as "the boys" which was strange too. For a restaurant that is trying to be upscale, service should be professional as well.
(3)
Diane Y.
We waited until mid October to try this place. We are huge fans of Stella's in the South End, in fact were there the week before we came here. We sat at the bar at 29 Sudbury(husband and wife) and felt the service and atmosphere were so-so at best. Our food was average. The following Friday I went with a friend and had the same bartender (said he used to work at Coach Grill). I had to ask him if he remembered me or he would not have acknowledged it. He averted our gaze most of the night and the other bartender wasn't much better. The bar was not full .....7pm on Friday night and the service was very slow. We love the bartenders and atmosphere at Stella's but this doesn't even feel like it is related. The bartenders make the scene at the bar (I.e, Prime Grill in Wayland) and now the hugely pooular Local. If 29 Sudbury doesnt step it up in the bar it will be too bad. Metrowest will support good, welcoming establishments, if not....we will go elsewhere. We will not be returning.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Dessert Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Music : Background Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Mon, Tue, Wed Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Geoffrey R.
Very high cost... $26 Pork Milanese entree without anything else, no sides... $18 individual pizza, inventive, but several dollars too much... First week of operations blues! Took nearly 90 minutes to have entrees. Large party largely ignored... Not returning any time soon
(2)E B.
Its a new restaurant so they are still working out some of the kinks. There was only two of us, but the waitress still made two mistakes in our order. Right it down, we're not impressed if you try to remember our order and get it wrong. Food is quite good, atmosphere is okay. The bar really detracts from the experience though. Trying to have a nice meal while in the midst of people drinking at a bar and yelling at the football game really lowers the experience. It is pricey for the total package, and the parking is quite limited.
(3)Rachel R.
I have been here twice. The first was for bunch and I thought the food was great so I decided to give it a shot for dinner. That's when my rating went from four starts to three. At dinner, I started off with the arugula said which I thought was good. Then we tried the sausage app and that was just average. Finally, I had the ribeye for my entree. It was VERY SALTY. My friend had the roasted chicken that was more of a cutlet than a piece of chicken and again, salty! I'd probably go back for brunch but not for dinner. At those prices, I could eat elsewhere and have much better dinner with half the salt!
(3)Sandie H.
1ST AND LAST TIME!! Horrible. Called and requested reservations for 1ST FLOOR outside dining because our two elderly moms have trouble walking and can't do stairs easily. The hostess had us wait while she "set our table". Little did we know she was pushing two round tables together (awkward seating) on a hot and narrow back deck that overlooked the parking lot. Only enhanced by a kid practicing on his electric guitar next door. I explained that the ladies had trouble walking so they suggested the elevator which was another experience. Out the building, down the hall, up the hall, squeeze through a door with furniture in front of it, through another room, finally to our table. It didn't stop there. Water glasses half full, had to continually ask for ice, food was edible not great. Icing on the cake was one order did not come with the other four orders of food. I finally got up, walked downstairs and told them to cancel the order. Some woman actually showed up with it, another 5 minutes later, and tried to serve it to me or wrap it "to go". Completely missing the point that I would have enjoyed eating with my family. I also told her about the seating and again, instead of just apologizing, she insisted that they like to bring their guests to a sunny deck. Not sure why we were not seated on the patio where we had been assured we would be. Waited and waited for the check and again had to get up and find someone to ask for the check. Finally time to leave and no one to show us the maze to get back to the elevators so we attempted the stairs that left one Mom completely out of breath. Wish I had paid more attention to the reviews already posted but I was hopeful. Sorry I didn't listen!
(1)Danielle M.
Have been here a few times, and we enjoyed ourselves each time. The food is delicious, especially the linguini and the butternut squash risotto.
(5)Doug M.
Kind of a strange new spot. The 2 bars are nice and seem cozy. The restaurant itself is rather cold and boring. The menu leaves a lot to be desired -- very small number of items to choose from. We had a table of 5 - we tried: pizza, rib eye, fish and chips, short ribs and Bolognese. They were all ok, but nothing special. I had the Bolognese, which I'd heard was a house specialty, which ended up to be a disappointment. The waiter was friendly and the prices were ok. We'll be back, when the menu improves.
(3)Trish L.
Love the artichoke appetizer. We've been several times and had great food. The salmon was amazing and we really like the huge shrimp, a salad and the Quattro Fungi pizza. The wait staff was attentive but not clingy. Definitely a good find. We'll be back.
(4)Nancy S.
We went the 2nd night they were open and I so wanted to love this place because we live right around the corner. However, after ordering apps, pizza, pasta and entrées, we were less than thrilled. The Bolognese pasta was by far the best thing we ordered. The pizza, thin style crust like we typically like, was dry and unimpressive. Then, we ordered the garlic and olive oil pasta dish and it was almost inedible. The kids pasta was dry with a few pieces of tomatoes and was not a hit. Also, the acoustics made it very loud. On a good note, I loved my Moscow mule!! We are foodies and love good italian. I hope that this was only because it was the 2nd night. We plan to try it again.
(3)Jeff B.
I have been few times with family. Nice to have 29 Sudbury add a very good restaurant to the area. Food has been fresh, tasty and prepared very well. Loved the chicken, risotto entres. Flat breads were great. Arancini's were excellent too. Excellent wine list too.
(4)Michael S.
Best Italian dining in the area when they opened ... good drinks/bar, too...but they continually slip on something- service is very iffy. Quality is good but not consistent. Not as impressive as I wish.
(2)Griffin D.
I have been to 29 Sudbury twice now, and have found the food to be exceptionally good. The food was phenomenal throughout the entire meal. For appetizers, we ordered the crispy fried artichoke hearts, and the beef carpaccio. For entrees, we got rigatoni bolognese, beef short rib in sweet potato purée, and the orechiette. Last, for dessert, the entire table split tiramisu and raspberry sorbet. I highly recommend any of these fantastic dishes. The only reason that this is not a 5-star review is because of... service. It is possible that part of the bumps in service were due to a very busy house, but it still doesn't make up for it. Our waitress was rude, had no personality, and was impatient. She acted as if she had much better things to do than take our orders, and only seemed interested when she came to deliver and pick up her check, hoping for a non-existent generous tip. The service was absolutely horrendous, but most other servers seemed to be OK, she was just bad. All in all, I would highly recommend 29 Sudbury to anyone, because it is a nice, local, trendy, and fun restaurant. If I could force myself to overlook the terrible service, I would give 29 Sudbury a five-star review.
(4)Karyn V.
We had lunch here on a Sunday this winter. The food is great! The decor is fairly modern, but nice. It is a bit overpriced, a side of fries is $7! That is outrageous.
(4)Device S.
Visited 29 Sudbury for Valentines Day last night. I had the Bolognese and my wife had the Filet and Mushroom Risotto which was a special for the eve. Server took a little longer to attend to us after seating but eventually got to us. He was professional and friendly and quite knowledgeable about the wine and menu item. The food was very good as well as the service once we got rolling. We also had the wedge salad which was fresh crispy wedge with a nice smooth Gorgonzola vinegar dressing and the bacon was nice and crispy. We were surprised that they didn't decorate the tables for valentines day. No flowers or any indication it was a special day. Pretty drab environment for the eve. We sat upstairs and our table was close to the bar which was busy. Didn't quite like that placement but we managed. Eventually the bar quieted down. They did have a singing guitar player who was quite good. The meal for two plus the wedge salad that we split and a glass of wine and a Bloody Mary was about $120.00 with tip which was quite pricey. The overall experience was good. The place was busy due to valentines day eve. We may go back to try the pizza but for the prices, other restaurants would be a better value.
(4)Susan B.
Not sure why all the negative reviews. My husband and I have been 3 times and all 3 times the food was excellent. Yes, the prices are a bit high, but the quality is definitely there. The antipasti is fantastic...great quality prosciutto. The orechiette and sausage had great flavor and was cooked perfectly. The best was the pumpkin pecan torte...absolutely fantastic.
(4)Sue L.
I've eaten here twice now. I don't think this restaurant will be successful without making a few changes. The food was good, not great, but good. The issue is the prices. Yes, many in this area have money BUT no one is interested in parting with it when feeling taken advantage of. The prices are absolutely ridiculous. $25 for pasta? Ate at the North End last week and the pasta was better and lesser priced. Another issue? The wine pour. Come on. It's was too stingy for the price. The staff is just not friendly. Had a drink at the bar downstairs and the bartenders were rude, rude, not just unfriendly, rude. Front staff was too busy talking to one another and the waitress never asked if we wanted black pepper or refills on our water. Had to serve ourselves. Not acceptable. Just way too expensive for what it is...
(1)richard m.
Went to 29 Sudbury on a Saturday night and was very disappointed. First the appetizer arrived as we were still having our drinks. Getting bread with our meal was almost impossible and the bartender didn't know how to make my wife's drink. However what was really bad were the prices. A pasta dish should not be $21. When I was able to finally order a glass of wine it was more than the bottle at retail. This restaurant is a turkey very close to Thanksgiving.
(1)Jo D.
I waited a few weeks before visiting this restaurant giving it a chance to get settled. When I decided to give it a try, I went on a Sat night with my husband. The place was very busy and noisy. The main large bar is nice with a trendy look. Overall, there are two standard bars and one raw bar. We sat at the raw bar which faces the open access kitchen. One positive for this restaurant is the look and feel of the main dining areas. The restrooms look like public transportation restrooms which do not fit the restaurant's style and décor. Very limited number of stalls as well, considering the size of the restaurant. Also both restrooms did not have soap or towels. A wet roll of paper towels was left on the counter. There is also a line or kitchen manager that continued to scream at the kitchen staff all night, barking orders and complaints. I think he thought he was Gordon Ramsey? But yelling in your customer's ear is definitely off putting. The quality of the food is on par with going to the Ninety-Nine. Now this restaurant is trying to make the statement why go to Boston for dinner when you can stay in Sudbury and eat Boston quality food? Well, the one true point here is that you will pay Boston prices for this bland sub-par food. All their dishes tasted like pre-frozen or pre-packaged food you could heat up at home. We started with the Butternut Squash soup and Fried Artichoke hearts. I have actually had better soup from a carton in the supermarket. The Artichoke hearts had completely no flavor. We then moved on to one of their coal fired pizzas, a Margherita. Also completely bland with chunk tomatoes not sliced tomatoes. The biggest complaint with the pizza was the completely dirty basil they had used. Every bite gave us a mouthful of sand or dirt. So it appears they don't pre-wash any herbs or vegetables. I have never experienced that at ANY restaurant and at $19 for this pizza, completely unacceptable. The drinks are not impressive either. You can make a better martini at home yourself. My suggestion, keep driving past No. 29 in Sudbury on your way to Boston or Worcester!
(1)Rob W.
Doesn't deserve 5 stars, but also doesn't deserve the 2.5 that it currently has as an average. Newer restaurant so the wait staff is getting up to speed. Give the palace a chance with that in mind. The good was good, would go again.
(5)Aaron W.
We will see. Ordered a cup of honey parsnip soup for a starter. Parsnipy. I like. The food was pretty good. Not great. It was tastey, fresh, and it hit the spot. I had the chicken penne. It was a little light on the chicken portion but overall it was very good. It really just didn't pop that much. The atmosphere was clean and nice. The only bad thing was the draft, at the bar. It was brutle. $12 per glass of La Crema Chardonnay was a bit ridiculous. All-in-all, I gave it a 4 instead of a 3 only because the service was really good and the food was good...it just didn't pop. I went at lunch and I will definitely go back for dinner. 12 bucks for LaCrema is really getting to me. Perry's Steakhouse in Austin is cheaper than that...
(4)Tony K.
Three of us stopped by on Sunday for breakfast/brunch. Everyone enjoyed their meals and I am told the bloody Mary's were great. Homemade seasoning mixture added to the tomato juice and vodka spiced things up nicely. We sat at the bar and the bartender was very pleasant. She didn't know the menu entirely but when she couldn't answer a question we had on the menu she engaged a coworker who was able to answer the question on the spot. I still think prices are a big high ($12 for eggs and sausage - really?). But then again the sausages were real sausages not just cheap breakfast links and the eggs were cooked perfectly. While the toasted flatbread was ok I am a big fan if whole grain bread at breakfast and would have liked that choice. The menu lacked a corned beef hash option so we tried the sausage hash which I am told was great but not corned beef (full disclosure - we actually were looking for a place with corned beef hash when we left he house). So for three of us we ended dropping around $100 for breakfast. Kind of high but drinks made up a lot of it. In truth I'll be back again for breakfast. Might just go lighter on drinks to keep the cost down. Then again maybe not.
(4)Elaine S.
Went for an early lunch on a Saturday. There is no sign due to local regulations so you really need to look for it. It is located in a new shopping "mall" and is currently the sole tenant. The restaurant was empty at that time (11:30). I ordered the honey glazed salmon on spaghetti squash from the dinner menu and it was cooked perfectly and quite delicious. The waitress couldnt have been nicer as well and was very efficient. The menu is diverse however I wouldnt recommend the pasta dishes as they are really quite exorbitant in price. I enjoyed the place and would definitely return and recommend it.
(4)T. Nichole K.
Returned to 29 Sudbury for dinner. We began our meal with the mussels, of course, accompanied by the shrimp cocktail...both were fresh and tasty. I ordered the Linguine w/ asparagus cream, the truffle oil made this dish delicious and unforgettable! My friend ordered the rigatoni with bolognese sauce, delicious!!! I snuck a few bites and I will be bringing my husband back for this hearty, authentically prepared dish. I also spoke with the operations manager and I was informed that the wine list is being expanded, and the desert menu will be enhanced by the organic, seasonal bakery that has recently opened next door. That being said, we ordered the raspberry tiramisu, WOW...amazingly fresh, perfection! Staff was professional and friendly, our server was knowledgeable and prompt. Cannot wait to return to 29 Sudbury!
(4)Karen R.
I'd give this place a better review, except that it really was over priced for the lack of quality. I had one drink and a piece of dry chicken and my portion of the bill was $45. My friends' meal of schrod was cold and had to be sent back. The restaurant itself is nice and the service was okay, but definitely not worth the price. Maybe because it's in Sudbury people don't mind paying more for mediocre food, but the value really wasn't there.
(2)Katharine O.
Solid 3 stars. In a town where there is really only one legitimate restaurant that is worth continuing to go back to regularly (Bullfinchs) it's nice to have another option. The food here is pretty good, but slightly over priced and I know I know- it's "Sudbury" but I really don't expect to pay $18 for a small pizza (I guess it could be a meal but it's not worthy of that price). The bolognese- great. The roasted chicken- great. The seafood ravioli- meh. The spaghetti- meh. We've had extremely spotty service the handful of times we've been. Some good bartenders, some really horrible rude bartenders. We've sat at a table twice and both times the servers lacked personality. My favorite though was them talking about the tips that they were getting- both good and bad... and also a very good way to ensure that I'm not going to give you a good tip. That's waiting etiquette 101. The desserts are phenomenal- especially the bread pudding- though the servers can't seem to decide if it should be served warm or cold and I really think it should be served warm. They have a great beverage list, decent beer selection. But there's something missing from this place and I can't tell if it's atmosphere related or what. It's extremely loud on busy nights and the odd selection of music (country/rock and roll) doesn't help. Some more decor to help absorb some of the noise might be helpful.
(3)Terrify J.
I had dinner here with some friends a couple of weeks ago. The decor is interesting, especially on the ground floor. The bar downstairs is really nice looking. The upstairs room is not as interesting. There appears to be at least 3 bars, but one only has a few stools and is right in the open downstairs dining room. The services staff was friendly and fine. However, the food was a big disappointment. There seemed to be no "craft" in the food. It seems like the product of a cook, vs a chef. I thought the prices were high and I expected more for the money. This area needs good restaurants - but this isn't cutting it for me at least.
(2)John B.
I took some family and friends out to dinner (6) to celebrate a few weeks back. We ate upstairs in one of the large booths. No service complaints here... had the short ribs with the brussels sprouts.... enjoyed them very much, and everyone else seemed happy with what they had. I hope they make it.
(4)Gerry C.
Great food great service. Neighborhood place everyone's remember you at. High prices are it's downfall. Great steak. For the price it better warm up my car on way out
(4)Bonnie J.
A very nice dining experience. Was frankly put off by the negative reviews but decided to keep our reservations and glad we did. True, the room is cavernous, but the noise level was fine. The music was focused on the separate bar area and didn't interfere with conversation. Service was attentive and friendly. Our meals came in a timely fashion and were tasty. Seafood risotto...very good. Short rib pizza also good (my dining companion said) and was so large that half of it went home. Fresh and tasty salads. The bill was what one would expect for this type of venue...not overpriced. Hope 29 makes it. We need good dining choices in Sudbury!
(4)Eileen C.
Dined at 29 Sudbury last night. Our expectations were high but when we walked in I was disappointed in the decor. Too open and noisy. They need to break up the big room with something to make the restaurant a bit more cozy. We dined at the upstairs bar and our bartender was very knowledgeable about the menu. The arugula salad was excellent and the dressing light and flavorful. I had the spagettti with roasted garlic which was cooked al-dente and was delectable. My husband had the orchiette with sausage and enjoyed the flavors. Caesar salad was fresh and not overly dressed. This restaurant has good potential and we wish them well but they will need to improve the flow of traffic. Not relaxing to see waiters running up & down the stairs. Also, they need to break up the room so you don't feel you are eating in a "big hall" Overall, the food is very good and the service friendly and competent. Decor needs some tweeking. Downstairs bar looked fun.
(3)Rachel B.
Ehhhhhhhhhh. I was really excited about this place opening, but I was totally let down. We went towards the end of the summer, so the patio was still open. However, we got eaten ALIVE by mosquitos the entire time, so that made the whole experience that much less enjoyable. Sangria was good. We split an antipasto special and mushroom pizza (Quattro Funghi). The antipasto was tiny and lacking in many of the ingredients you would typically get in an antipasto. The mushroom pizza was very good, but super expensive for the portion. Service was okay, but much more casual than professional, which I would expect from this type of restaurant. Also, after walking around inside afterwards to check the place out, I hated the decor. It felt like a cold, industrial, jail with tables thrown around in the middle...and it was super loud. Sorry 29, I don't think we'll be back.
(2)S. D.
We requested upstair seating due to the noise and congestion of the downstair area. After being seated, I noticed my nylons were sticking to the velcro on the front of the seats, changed seats and the same thing. After one pair of nylons ruined, we settled down to cocktails and appetizers. Cocktails were substantial and tasty. The flat bread pizza was superb! The bolognese we ordered was flavorful but very dry, a little more sauce and it would have also been superb. Our waiter was attentive, however, we did have to ask for water and bread. All in all, our party of 4 will return.
(3)Joseph M.
29 Sudbury is a great new Italian restaurant in Sudbury. The food is excellent, portions are just the right size, you don't leave hungry and no take home bags needed. The staff is courteous and prompt. The bar areas are inviting and I can see this as a great meeting place. The wine menu is very good and there's a great selection. There are some very fine wines listed that are well known but not sold at many restaurants, that is a plus, all of the beverages from the bar are top shelf. I just have to say it is not a family restaurant and for a couple it is a bit to expensive. If there was an Ocean view perhaps, but there isn't. Reign in your prices and there will be more repeat clients.
(4)Helen C.
A welcome addition to Sudbury, which has been a restaurant vacuum for many years, with the exception of a couple of old favorites such as Bullfinches. We have dined at 29 three times, each visit a little better than the last, which seems to mean they are improving over time. Cocktails are 4 star: icy cold martinis are 1.5 size of most restaurants and served in a glass beaker over ice. A bourbon cocktail called "Babe's Piano" is one of the most delicious we've ever tasted. Their big mistake was to promote the restaurant as a "Boston Experience". They should just call it what it is: a neighborhood place serving Pub and Italian style food where you can go to hang out, see your friends, enjoy a great drink or bottle of wine, watch a game, with plenty of free parking, and all of this less than 2 miles from home. For those of us who don't like to shout to our dining companions, the upstairs space is somewhat quieter than the downstairs dining room, which needs serious attention to the noise level. Possibly some insulation or paneling would help. The food has been consistently served hot and on time. The menu is pretty basic, but everything we've had has been fine: ample portions, fresh local vegetable sides, and the caesar salad was particularly flavorful. Go for the experience, to see your friends and neighbors, for the drinks and if it's a nice night, to sit out on the patio. Keep your expectations moderate and you'll have a good time. Keep the cost down by ordering salad and pizza, which is delicious.
(3)Julie N.
Super pizza. Perfectly great portions. Nice drink menu. Friendly staff. They know their stuff! Would be awesome to have party on second floor. Looking forward to returning with friends.
(5)James R.
I have been there once, thats enough. There were a couple of things that did not work but what killed it was the air in the place. They must have to small a ventilation system. The whole place smells like deep fried food. Even after my wife and I got home our eyes were still stinging from the oil in the air. Half way through our meal I had had enough.
(2)Natanya Z.
Have been there two times, and both were great. The decor on the bottom level is not very nice, but the food is good. The upstairs is a much better atmosphere. I have tried the salmon and also the tomato soup, both were great. My boyfriend has had the seafood risotta and pork milanese, he said they were excellent. My friend also loved the bolognese. The prices really are comparable to a Bullfinch's or low priced meal at Coach Grill, and the food is comparable in quality, being quite good. The service isnt speedy, but it's not terrible either. It is expected for any restaurant that prepares your meal fresh and with such elegance. I'm excited to have another good option in the area
(4)Nancy H.
I've been here a few times -- once for a meal, twice for appetizers and drinks. My first experience was great, but we sat at the bar and the head chef was in house, so the food and service were good. However, my subsequent visits were only so-so -- drinks seemed on the weak side, service was quite disappointing. I will say the flatbread pizzas are very good. All in all, very inconsistent.
(3)Tom M.
First time last night after hearing good things. Great location, very friendly staff and nice bar. Went with three others and although we enjoyed our meal we all though the portions were a bit small but good. I thought it strange the bread was not left on the table but was supplied one slice at a time, upon request. At one point I asked our server to leave the loaf, didn't work. I will go back for sure as the bar and raw bar are a big pluse for me. I did have raw oysters and they were the best I have had in some time. I do recommend the place and will try other menu items. Place has great potential.
(3)Sue B.
Meh. Went there tonight because we wanted a nice meal at an upscale restaurant. Service at the bar started out great, but went downhill (there was a new bartender, so that was excusable). The mushroom bisque was wonderful! My pasta was not hot and not even cooked al dente, not much flavor. For $18 I would expect hot and cooked properly. Hubby's scallops were perfect! Risotto just okay. Tiramisu okay. For the price, we should have gone to Coach Grille for a guaranteed special evening and will next time we want to splurge. Clientele is pretentious and it was clear the bartenders favored the regulars (nicer pours!). Won't be going back. Wish I had read Yelp before going there :-(
(1)Bill L.
great service! superb food! couldn't be better! had dinner there last night. wow! you've gotta try this place!
(5)Shannon F.
I took my husband here for his birthday dinner- incredibly disappointing. We ate indoors in the downstairs area. Normally, decor doesn't mean much to me, but it was jarring how bleak it was. It looked like a factory- and not even in a modern, edgy way. The impression was that the restaurant was unfinished. To be fair, we peaked upstairs, which looked nice. Right off the bat, we noticed their incredibly high pricing. $12 for a small glass of sangria is absolutely ridiculous. We got the artichoke hearts and mussels for appetizers. Mussels were served out of the shell... and there were very few. There seemed to be around 10 floating in a sauce in a bowl- not worth it for the price. My husband had the seafood risotto and was happy with it. I had a $22 pasta dish that was plentiful in size, but again, not worth the price. The overall impression that I have is this restaurant is overshooting and trying to be something it isn't. This is not fine dining and the food, although good, is not anywhere near being worth the prices they charge. My husband and I aren't stingy- I have no problem paying a lot for a good meal and a great experience. And while our hopes were very high (perhaps too high) we didn't receive either here. Also concerning- the waitstaff is completely inattentive. I had seen that in other reviews before we went, but hoped the reviewers were being too hard on the place. As a former waitress, I can tolerate a lot. However, waiting over 10 minutes to even be greeted, let alone take a drink order, is completely unacceptable. Especially when the restaurant was quite empty and there were at least 5 staff members hanging out talking a few feet from the table. If the prices come down.. a lot.. I will consider giving it another try. Otherwise, you're better off going a few minutes away to Bistro 20- better quality, atmosphere and value.
(2)Warren W.
I'm really glad we came here to celebrate a 21st birthday for a family friend. Really glad. I enjoy eating at the bar so as I walked in and there it was. One of the biggest bars in the 'burbs. It was 6:30 on a Wednesday night and there were seats, but alas we were a party of 8. Note to oneself that sitting at the bar next to the door that opens from the front will be some really cold seating in the winter!! I think, after reading some of the reviews, I was more concerned about the service than the food. Frank our server did a great job! Explained the specials of which we ordered 3 of them: the jumbo shrimp, squab, and the roasted tomato soup. Shellfish were priced per piece. They were delicious. Adding to the appetizers was an order of the artichokes, an arugala lemon dressed salad and a ceasar. Martinis are large and the wine selection adequate. We went with a Dutton Goldfield Pinot Noir 2010. Thought it was wonderful and perfect with the meals that were ordered. Bolognese was a genreous portion of rigatoni in a classic sauce that stuck to the pasta. I liked it. The pizzas are flat bread-like and delivered on a pizza skin with a very thin crispy crust. Tonight it was a margherita times 2. Orecchiette with smoked sauage, salmon, clams and linquini and the squab special rounded it out. We kept hearing go up stairs from friends after mentioning our visit. We will do so. Ambience is different. Very commercial and industrial-like. I came for the food. Seating was nicely spread out and I noticed a bar area by the pizza oven where you could sit, eat and watch the action. Cool. I read one review that said they felt underdressed. I just don't think so. Would I go in shorts and t-shirt in the summer...yup. Do I think they would care? Nope. I believe the owners have invested alot and I have a ton of respect for start-ups in this field. Looking for reasons to complain is simply ridiculous. Critiquing to help a good honest business out is the way to go. When I see reviews of no friends and one review ..."I say disgruntled employee/competitor!" So how can we help them out? Probably, a good idea is to figure out where the reservation desk is ...had to search for it. Figure a way to keep those bar customers warm or give them blankets that say "29Sudbury!" Pricing seems fair. Before tip the average for the meal was $72.00 including drinks, meal and wine and no dessert. Maybe a sign that explains there is an upstairs? I don't know if there is a bar up there too! i'm coming back; I'm sitting at the bar; and trying out something altogether different than the first time. I'm not sitting by the cold door and I am going to make friends with thebartender.
(4)Elizabeth M.
We had a reservation at 29 Sudbury. We were seated out on the patio. We were given menus. Our waitress said she would be right over. We waited and waited and waited, but she never came back.... We even asked a bus boy to find someone to help us. That didn't help. Still ignored. Well, we waited for 20 minutes and finally just got up and walked out! It was a complete and total waste of our time. Very frustrating!
(1)Liz H.
I had an experience I have never had in a restaurant before. I asked to not be seated in a high traffic area (right in front of the stairs on the upper level) and was told that I was not going to get a different table. Most of the tables were empty so I had no idea what the problem was. I didn't want to embarrass friends I was with so I put up with it but I would have just walked out if I were with my husband. Not the way to build a clientele. I'm not going to even comment on the food since it doesn't matter with "service" like ths.
(1)Peter B.
Food was very mediocre for the $$$. Service likewise was slow and inattentive. Arancini was soggy. Mussles were served out of their shells. Pizza was ok, but not nearly worth the $18 they charge. Room was overly noisy with patrons competing with the loud music coming from a poorly placed random speaker in the dining room. It's a shame the location and facility has potential, but the execution was poor. I won't be going back. Long and short, poorly executed pizza dinner for 2 with drinks but no deserts should not be $100.
(1)Scott G.
Expectations were high, so perhaps disappointment was inevitable. Started at the downstairs bar where we met with friends for drinks prior to a later evening (after 7:30) dinner reservation. The highlight of the evening was the cocktails. The blueberry Collins and White and Red Sangrias were all excellent, as were the other drinks I had the opportunity to sample. The wine list is reasonable but the beer selection was surprisingly limited. The downstairs bar was tastefully decorated but the concrete floors, relatively bare walls and significant crowd made it almost impossible to carry on a conversation without shouting. Our party was eventually escorted upstairs to our table a bit later than our reservation. The upstairs dining area and bar were again tastefully decorated, and the area was much quieter than the downstairs bar and dining rooms. The restaurant was packed but there appeared to be an army of waitstaff, so I was surprised that our initial service was fairly slow out of the gate. All of the staff we interacted with were friendly and helpful, however. We ordered a number of appetizers (fried artichoke hearts (~$12), salmon tartare (~$14), and a large plate of oysters (15 @ $2.50 each)). The artichoke hearts and accompanying sauce were quite good, as was the tartare, but the oysters proved problematic. First, they were presented by the waitress as "mussels." Not a serious cause for concern and an easy mistake to make, but slightly disconcerting. When we asked about their origin (billed as "locally sourced" on the menu) we were told that these were "Wellfleet oysters, but they come from Cape Cod." The oysters as presented (on the half-shell) were fresh and attractive, but we were surprised to find that they were all still firmly attached to their shells. None of our party had ever experienced oysters served this way, so after the ungainly attempts of a few members to separate the oysters from their shells with a fork we requested that they be sent back to the kitchen to be properly shucked. The plate returned a short time later, but all of the remaining oysters ended up having significant chunks of shell floating around in the liquor, very much spoiling the enjoyment of eating them. Later, when the manager came out to apologize at the end of the meal, we were informed that the oysters had been brought in from Canada despite having been told no less than three times that they were from Wellfleet. Also disconcerting. The entrees ranged from some quite good pasta dishes to merely passable chicken and pizza. I had the roasted chicken served with wild mushroom ragout and gorgonzola potatoes ($24). It was entirely underwhelming. The chicken breast was encrusted in bread crumbs (unexpected), was tough, clearly overcooked, and I ended up finding multiple fragments of bone ranging from small to quite large. This was apparently not an exception as my neighbor had the same issue with large chunks of bone and cartilage present in the breast meat. The caramelized onions on top were cold, stringy and greasy, and gave me the impression that my plate had sat a bit before being brought out with the other entrees. The gorgonzola potatoes were decent but damp and soupy, apparently as a result of being served submerged in a watery substance that I assume was the mushroom ragout. I have experienced far better chicken dishes in restaurants with far less pretense. Service throughout the meal was fair to good, with the waitstaff showing a somewhat hurried attentiveness. To his great credit, the manager (Paul) came out to discuss the meal with our table and to get our input on the ups and downs of the evening, as well as to comp the troublesome oysters. My impression is that either the prices will need to come down to meet the food, or the food will have to improve to meet the prices for this restaurant to remain viable. I might end up coming back to give this place a second try after getting some follow-up reports from others, but I have a feeling that this will be yet another metrowest restaurant that aspires to (and professes) greatness while delivering only an average meal at prices calculated to impress.
(2)Tara B.
we keep wanting this place to be great and its not. Quality of food is edible, but definitely not great and certainly not worth the prices. Drinks are weak as well. Have tried it about 4 times and always give it a few months and then come back but we may be done for good.
(2)Melissa L.
So disappointed tonight. We had been about half a dozen times and had great experiences. Tonight we arrived at 5:30 and we were immediately sat on the patio. It was not busy. We sat at our table for a solid ten minutes without a server coming over. After two servers made eye contact and acknowledged us and then went to serve people seated after us we got up and left. We went to the coach grill in wayland and actually were served upon being seated. Sorry 29 sudbury but at the price point your at decent service is a must. We will not be back.
(2)Derek A.
The food at 29 is getting better & better , The service is patchy , If you go when its busy you better bring a cushion , Go when its quiet is ok .
(3)Rita V.
New chef, little tweaks to the menu, and simply superb experience! Amanda to the table, with her delightful smile and command of the menu - won't steer you wrong! Stephanie heading the bar, and Ashlee still helming the troops. Beautifully peppered charcuterie platter and their beef carpaccio sings. I LOVE the Enoki mushrooms - looks like a witches broom, adorning perfectly seared salmon and lovely bok choi. Every dish is really homey, yet with a subtle je ne se quoi, that hits the mark. Wonderful food, outstanding service. You just feel like you belong! AND you can AFFORD IT!
(5)Fawn L.
Just please have the blueberry Collins, it may change your life. The food is excellent, and the brunch is to die for!
(5)Tim M.
I've tried a dining here a few times, and each time it seems to fall a bit further off my radar. The Staff: very friendly hostesses, and waiters/tresses. The upside of dining here. The Space: really well designed, overlapping the look for the area while keeping it modern. The Food: As others have noted, falls flat. I would be fine with the price point is the food warranted it. Portions are fine, but the food mimics all other high end bars, while falling flat on flavor. The Bar: stick to the draft and wine lists. Imaginative cocktails in description, but again seem to fall flat, and specifically in the ginger beer for Kentucky/Moscow Mules. I know 29 Sudbury is trying hard to make a new destination in the MetroWest area, but for the time being I'll look to the area's tried and true hits.
(2)Michael P.
29 Sudbury is positioning itself to be an alternative to driving downtown for a high end meal. There are plenty of options in this class in neighboring Wayland and Wellesley. The setting was nice but did not have the higher end feel that other restaurants of this class do. When I say " this class ",I am referring most specifically to the cost of eating there. Our meal for 2 adults and 2 kids totaled $240. This was before tip. A salad, truffle fries and some oysters were our appetizer. All was good but the Flying Point oysters were disappointingly small though tasty. 2 of the 6 were laughably tiny. At $20 I would expect better. My prosciutto wrapped cod was wonderful and cooked perfectly. Unfortunately, there is no specific kids menu, although they are very accommodating for kids by altering the entree choices to suit your child's taste. My kids split the chicken parmigiana. Another reason why the $240 price seemed a bit high was because it was for only 3 entrees. You will spend Boston prices of $30 - $45 per entree unless you go with the pizza or pasta which looked great as servers brought it by us to other tables. I didn't need to go GF here, but if you do your options are gluten free pizza dough and pasta. Other entrees will be prepared to your needs to ensure it is GF. We enjoyed the outdoor patio space. The weather was beautiful and conducive to an outdoor meal. Overall, the food was good, the drink menu was nicely inclusive, the menu was properly varied, and the service was very good. Why only 3 stars? The pricing. Too high in my opinion. A reduction of T least 10-15% would be more acceptable. When considering a well deserved 20% tip, a total bill of almost $300 for apps, drinks, - dinner and dessert, 3 entrees, 2 desserts is too high for us to come back anytime soon. I recommend it if you aren't too concerned about what the final bill is.
(3)Pablo A.
The service was good and the atmosphere was decent save for constant bad pop music through some really low quality speakers. More importantly, though, the food was bafflingly bad for its price--expect overcooked scallops, undercooked risotto, lukewarm soup, and unappealing quasi-creative flavor combinations all over the menu. This alone wouldn't merit a one-star rating, but the absurd prices and unfairly inflated expectations for the meal make it a bitter pill to swallow. BYOB to Applebee's then burn a 100 dollar bill for a comparable experience.
(1)Michelle C.
The service was fine, but I wasn't a fan of the food. It sounded so good on the menu, but was very bland. Fried artichoke ($10) was lacking in flavor which was disappointing since I had read the review that it was supposed to be great. I did like the lemon arincini ($10) but it wasn't very lemony. The halibut ($33) was the biggest disappointment. It came out semi-warm and completely dried out and overcooked. My friends risotto ($20) tasted okay, but nothing special. It all seemed overpriced and under seasoned.
(2)Joe S.
Food and drink highly over priced. Short draft list with nothing special. Beer in bottles WAY over priced. Food was OK, but portion sizes were a bit ridiculous. $17 antipasto appetizer had a max of $3 worth of food on it. I had the braised short ribs, which were cooked perfectly, but was served on an insultingly large portion of pasta. General atmosphere was a little bit weird too. Very dark and spread out. Feels like it is trying to be fancier than it actually is.
(2)Real Housewife O.
1/2 BRUNCH We just had brunch here for the first time and it was delicious! The food far outshines the regular lunch and dinner menu. While the Bloody Mary bar looked very appealing, we stuck with regular beverages. I had the crab eggs Benedict and got the sauce in the side. Comes on brioche. So, so good. The big highlight was the home fries. Grated, crispy, sautéed onions mixed in...so good. Similar to super tasty potato latkes. My friend got the picture I'm posting with this. Absolutely obscene. Plenty of options for children as well. The kitchen continues to be very, very slow as it has been since the place opened, which is a bummer. The prices also continue to be too high. Two thumbs up for this brunch-best I've had around. Great discovery!
(4)Kenneth B.
Went for my anniversary. Bartender was great. Food. Well it was disappointing. I ordered the rib eye at $34 I expected a 2inch cut and cooked to order. I received a 1/4 inch steak and med well. Really! They tried to replace it with their short ribs. It was over salted, dry and the potato pancake was cold. My wife's salad was also over salted. Sorry no stars this ship is sinking. YELP want me to post a star rating I am foxed to give it a 1. I wanted 0
(1)Jim B.
This place sucks! Food is way overpriced and lacking in flavor. I do like the outdoor seating though.
(1)Steve M.
Hill man needs to step his game up with this place, HIGHLY overpriced, drinks are ok at that and the food is just whatever. On top of that I'm quite sure I got food poisoning from the meatball parm sandwich. The restaurant itself is really nice and outdoor seating is nice but they definitely need to step there game up and lower there prices down.
(2)Hillary C.
We went here for dinner for the first time last night. The food was great my husband ordered bolognese and my friend got the risotto - both were excellent. The ambience was very nice and the service excellent. The desserts were also delicious - the cookie soufflé was pretty amazing. The waiter said a new menu had just been introduced that evening - I would highly recommend this place - it was great. Another plus is that the drink menu was excellent and there was a nice wine list. Great addition to Sudbury
(4)alley s.
Food was ok but honestly nothing to write home about. Took forever so- make sure you plan accordingly!! 2 hours for dinner and apps, apps took 45 minutes for cold apps. I had carbonara and it was undercooked and crappy, tasted rubbery and slimy, my friends meat was overcooked she had a $20 sales that sucked. My husband had over cooked cold salmon, a friend had short ribs, decent but not amazing. Way too much money for a mediocre experience. C'mon Greg hill get a better kitchen!!
(2)Kevin J.
cravings for some Italian food so I decided to stop in to the restaurant in Sudbury Monday nights are typically slow so the wait no way at all good menu selection at a fair price it did take a little while to cook our food to bring us out ranks
(4)Ed G.
Been here 3 times. The first was a function outside on the back upstairs deck. The food was OK but not real impressive for the price. A buddy and I were heading to lunch and he wanted to go here so I said I'd give them another shot. I ordered a burger medium rare. The burger was a perfect medium rare and was absolutely delicious with the Peppercorn Garlic Mayo and Onion Brioche. The house made potato chips were excellent as well. So good that I went back a third time. The third time I took my wife for lunch and we both got the burger. Again, I had a perfect medium rare burger and loved it. My wife ordered well done and hers was a bit undercooked with some pink in it. She loved the taste though and ate around the edges. We both will definitely go back again, hopefully both of our burgers will be cooked properly. Now we just need to get up our courage to try the dinner menu.
(4)A G.
Tasty appetizers however quantities need work. Had the fried artichokes on a long plate with a very tasty sauce but they were just not enough. Same with the mussels-not enough. Please work on the quantities as you have good quality food to work with. Service was very good and friendly.
(3)Paul R.
Horrible service. We sat in the outdoor area and we were ignored for 25 minutes. We eventually left without ever being waited on. The place was dead and the waitresses came out and waited on others sitting outside so there was no excuse.
(1)Adam R.
Food was OK, but for the price I would say it was a little sub par. Service needs a lot of work, almost seems like the restaurant is being run by a team of high school kids. Wait staff spraying tables with chemicals next to people eating. Drinks tasted watered down. Even the greeting process was very disjointed. May consider going back to have bottled or drinks off the tap, and appetizers. Hopefully the service improves.
(3)Ron S.
I would give 29 Sudbury zero stars if possible. The service is mediocre at best. The food is discussing! It is very bland and over priced. Wouldn't recommend this place to anyone!
(1)Reid F.
Unfortunately, it has gone downhill. It's still OK, but not worth the money.
(3)Rachael S.
Wonderful place! Friends took us there and we have returned ourselves, my picky husband and I. Quiet corners can be found. The service is low-key but attentive, great timing, friendly. The food is well prepared, nice portions. We like small plates, which they do well. And their pizzas are excellent too. We keep this on our list of favorites.
(4)Michael P.
Awesome looking restaurant with a cool atmosphere, but the food was just ok for the prices they were charging. Services was good, if you go early enough. I will definitely try again and will update my review later.
(3)Mike P.
Rigatoni with meat sauce is good. Artichoke appetizer is good. Didn't like the cheeseburger. The roll was stale and fell apart. $14 way too much for a burger that is sub par. Other prices are too high as well. No filet mignon. $2.50 per oyster is a lot. Prime burgers way better and oysters are $1 there on Monday nights.
(2)Susan P.
We went there for brunch on Easter day. The location is beautiful and the inside is decorated beautifully. We had eggs benedict - delicious, cheeseburger - cooked to perfection and the biscuits and gravy and the biscuits were absolutely amazing. A bonus that day was the Bloody Mary bar. They were delicious and the add-ons at the bar were well stocked and fun. The only recommendation would be the Bloody Mary bar was on the lower floor and we were upstairs. So we had to go downstairs for our add ins. This dis prevent us from ordering another round. A bloody mary add on bar in the upstairs bar area would be a bonus. We will definitely be back,
(4)Lucas S.
Stopped in Sunday for lunch- they were serving brunch and everything we tried was good. I had the Bolognese Burger and it was cooed exactly as I ordered it, opted for fries and sour cream on the side. Nice thick burger with a healthy amount of meaty boolgnese. Fries were a decent portion and were very crispy perhaps twice fried not 100% sure. Had a couple Negronis which had a perfect balance. Wife had The sausage hash and two eggs sunny- the sausage was very good, potatoes were cooked perfectly. Sister had the turkey panini (I think) I had a couple bites and it was good as well- I don't get these cus they cut the roof of my mouth :) The ladies got chocolate cake which was very good not too sweet and a decent portion sprinkled with powdered sugar. all in all a good experience with pleasant service. I will return for diner or a bar visit soon. Easy to find despite previous comment- pull into a plaza and there it is - not too complicated
(4)Rachel K.
I have been to 29 Sudbury on two occasions now. First sat at the patio on the first day it was opened and ordered apps and drinks, and another time sat at the bar for lunch. The first time we ordered the flatbread which was extremely delicious but a bit overpriced. The overall decor of this restaurant is beautiful, and any place with a patio gains bonus points in my book (and everyone else's I'm sure). The service was a bit off, but it was day one so to be expected; they were probably still working out some kinks. The service at the bar was much better, very personal & friendly as well as timely. The bar set-up is nice and spacious, and the brand spanking new bar top and stools were lovely. I did find it odd that when ordering a vodka bloody mary and a virgin bloody mary that I was still charged for Grey Goose in my virgin. Having worked in the bar industry for many years I have never seen this.......either a bit of a rip off or a mistake. The online menu vs. the restaurant menu vs. what i got charged for did not match up either. The fried artichoke app, which was incredible by the way, was $10 online and what I was charged but the menu in the restaurant said $9. They should make sure their pricing is a bit more accurate. Overall this is a great new spot with great food and drinks, I just think there are a few very standard things that should be fixed in order for them to please customers to keep coming back.
(3)dan w.
After a return visit, I noticed much improvement. The waitstaff and bartenders are more polished and friendlier and the food, especially the appetizers, are better. I would give it 4 stars except that the prices are too high (e.g. $14 for a fairly small mussels appetizer, and $16 for pizzas), but overall- it is worth a visit.
(3)Jeff D.
This place is tough to get a read on. My wife and I typically sit in the bar/lounge area on the first floor. The bartenders are super nice, the food is delicious, and the drinks are OK...decent bottled beer list and a few on draft. The prices are a little steep, but I don't mind paying for good food and you're in Sudbury so what do you expect. The biggest problem with this place is the service. The service is a complete joke. I actually feel genuinely bad for the bartenders. They are CONSTANTLY apologizing to guests for the inordinate wait times for food, taking drinks off the bill and/or giving away free dessert because they literally have no other choice. The absurdly small kitchen, and small cook staff, are literally cooking for 2 dining rooms, 2 bar/lounge areas, and an outdoor patio and it looks like a kitchen that you would see at a small diner. The root problem is a small kitchen, with too few cooks, and until they fix this issue I can't see this restaurant elevating into a premier option in the area. We only go here when we aren't super hungry because you WILL wait 45 minutes plus even for simple appetizers.
(3)Carolyn H.
I was advised not to try this place but had to try it for myself. Ugh. Overpriced. Horrible service with uninformed waiter and depressed looking bread and water server. Weird physical layout. And the food - my mushroom pizza came with a pile of greens that looked like they were just dumped on top of the pizza. No kids menu. Nobody out on the patio except literally one other party yet we were told we couldn't sit at two tables we wanted to because they were reserved. Ashes from the tiki torches flew into our food, eyes, and hair. Save yourself the money and go somewhere else.
(1)Bruins C.
This was our second visit. The first was OK and we thought we'd give it another chance, however this was worse and will be our last. First off, the service here is terrible, I don't know if they are understaffed but if you order a drink be prepared to have it sit empty for long stretches. The only good thing was the crab cake app. The entrées were so bland, we had a chicken carb special and short rib. Both of us couldn't finish. The marinara tasted like and unseasoned can of diced tomatoes. And even the chocolate cake dessert left a lot to desired. For $100 for 2 people, including tip, you can find a much better place than this.
(1)Nikki C.
Ok for the burbs. Don't expect the utmost perfection, but some decent pasta dishes. The braised short ribs were a bit dry, which is almost impossible, and the artichokes, while good, tasted more like a fried zucchini stick. The orichette was the best dish at the table, the sausage wasn't greasy and was well a nice crumbly texture.
(3)D J.
I've been here a few times and have been pleased. It isn't inexpensive but the quality is good and portions large. The food is better than most of the other restaurants in the neighborhood. And the drinks are very good. They have a kids menu but that has room for improvement, particularly in such a kid oriented town.
(4)Lucretia R.
I was disappointed in the food. I ordered the steak medium rare and it was pretty well done with little flavor. Not good at all. The service was very friendly but the food was below average. Especially for the price.
(2)Nate E.
Went here for Easter brunch, so I have no sense of what the dinner or bar scene is like. I thought the food was great. I had the omelette, which was a bit salty, but I would've otherwise added salt so it worked for me. I also tried my fiancee's short rib benedict,which was amazing. I didn't personally try anything else, but out of the 7 of us, everyone agreed the food was great. The coffee was not amazing, but was good enough. Mimosa was a bit light on the sparkling white, but used fresh squeezed orange juice, which I also had a glass of and was delicious. I also enjoyed the atmosphere. We ate upstairs and it was very open and light. The whole place was clean and well kept, our server was great and very friendly. It's a bit of a far drive for us, but if I had the opportunity to eat here again I definitely would.
(4)Joanne M.
If you want the Boston experience....go to Boston where prices such these can be expected. This place is just a gloirfied bar for the locals to schmooze. The ambiance is awful....concrete floors, horrible smells coming from the open kitchen, and no defined front entrance. It was our first time and last time there.
(1)D N.
A mixed bag. The good: the entrees we had (short ribs and salmon) tasted excellent and were cooked perfectly. Good wine and drinks list. The so-so: service was friendly but intermittent. Noise level was high. Upstairs dining area has a large bar, with TVs... Can't get away from 'em. Dessert options were uninspired. Several items on the menu were unavailable. The bad: the portion sizes were too small for the prices. I'd increase the portions by 20%, and drop the prices by 10%. As it stands now the value is too low, even for upscale suburbs.
(3)Scott M.
A nice lunch spot - a bit had to find - confusing layout of the plaza. Menus are nice with burgers, pizza, and pasta choices for lunch. Overall nice experience. I ordered shrimp scampi, and it was a nice portion with just the right amount of shrimp vs pasta. Service was attentive, and well versed. The dining room is LOUD as the kitchen is open. Be prepared for this even at lunch. Good experience, will try again for dinner. On par with other local choices.
(4)Sarah R.
After reading the reviews on the way there, we were nervous. Luckily, we had the opposite experience. Service was fine and food was delicious. We all started with salads that were almost large enough to justify $9 each. I had the orichette with sausage. It was a good sized portion and well sauced. Others enjoyed the bone in pork chop, steak and prosciutto flat bread. Everything was delicious. It was kind of expensive for the 'burbs, but we knew that before we went there. Nice atmosphere, too.
(4)Craig A.
This was my first time at the restaurant. We were sat on time after enjoying a drink at their beautiful bar. A terrific wine, beer, and spirits lineup. The service was perfect and the food was even better. I recommend the pork Milanese, short rib Mac and cheese, and the salted caramel apple pie. The space is beautiful, lighting great, and staff friendly. I highly recommend this place
(5)S M.
Great evening. Bartender was friendly and welcoming. Believe his name was Paul. Great pizza, Caesar salad and shrimp. Will definitely be back! Next time I will be sure to check out the upstairs as it is a little quieter
(4)D W.
My first visit to 29 Sudbury will be my only. Horribly overpriced and subpar quality of the food. I ordered the salmon which was cooked nicely. But with the salmon served on a bed of beet mush with carrots buried in the middle of it, it left me digging out the 3 carrots and moving the salmon out of the way of the beet mush. All this at a cost of $28.00. A week later I found myself down the street at Coach Grill where for the same $28.00 I had Beef Wellington which was to die for along with the service and atmosphere. I do hope 29 Sudbury makes it. But at the current pricing and food quality, my money will be spent elsewhere.
(2)Luke F.
We had a great dinner here tonight! I enjoyed the spaghetti with garlic and oil, and my dad had the orecchiette with sausage. Both dishes were excellent, and reasonably priced at $18 and $20, respectively. Service was quick and polite, and the decor was very pleasant. Will be coming back!
(4)David A.
Came here for my anniversary. Had a wonderful dinner and great time. Awesome bars food and atmosphere. Definitely coming back.if you go ask for Meredith great waitress!had the mussels and seafood risotto. Honey had the swordfish! Upstairs is much nicer but outside there was a musician with a guitar . Very nice touch.
(4)Allison M.
Mixed emotions after stopping here for a late lunch...I think this restaurant needs to iron out the kinks of being new. We liked the outdoor patio and the indoor space was very attractive. For $14, the burger was nothing special; in fact, the bun was much larger than the burger, something we don't like. Because I am pregnant, I ordered my burger medium well and the inside of the patty was still pink so I had to send it back. The service was awkward; there were several uncomfortable and unnecessary conversations with our server that made our overall experience odd. When I asked if I could substitute fries for something healthier, the server told me no, which I found inflexible. My husband ordered a couple beers and we didn't get the feeling that our server knew the beer menu very well. The beer selection could also include a few more craft beers. Hopefully the managers will fix a few kinks with service and the chefs, who our server referred to as "the boys" which was strange too. For a restaurant that is trying to be upscale, service should be professional as well.
(3)Diane Y.
We waited until mid October to try this place. We are huge fans of Stella's in the South End, in fact were there the week before we came here. We sat at the bar at 29 Sudbury(husband and wife) and felt the service and atmosphere were so-so at best. Our food was average. The following Friday I went with a friend and had the same bartender (said he used to work at Coach Grill). I had to ask him if he remembered me or he would not have acknowledged it. He averted our gaze most of the night and the other bartender wasn't much better. The bar was not full .....7pm on Friday night and the service was very slow. We love the bartenders and atmosphere at Stella's but this doesn't even feel like it is related. The bartenders make the scene at the bar (I.e, Prime Grill in Wayland) and now the hugely pooular Local. If 29 Sudbury doesnt step it up in the bar it will be too bad. Metrowest will support good, welcoming establishments, if not....we will go elsewhere. We will not be returning.
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