Nix’s Mate
89 Broad St, Boston, MA, 02110
Nix’s Mate Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Boston for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Boston for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Boston for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
89 Broad St
Boston, MA, 02110 - Phone (617) 348-1234
- Website https://www.nixsmate.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :7:00 am - 12:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Valet, Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Upscale
Noise Level : Average
Music : Background
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Wed, Thu, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Craig S.
Went there for a couple of drinks in August, in a Friday night. There was one other couple at the bar. We had finished our drinks and waiting for someone to either ask us if we wanted another drink or the check. The other bartender walks past at least 5 times and never asked us anything or made eye contact. The bartender who served us was talking for over 15 minutes to the people next to us about health supplements he was trying to sell them and gave leaflets to them completely ignoring us. We had to interrupt his sales pitch to finally get a check.
(1)Sarah C.
I did not have a meal here, this review is soley based on their Saturday night party, Nix's at Night. I went back home for the weekend, and probably had the best time out I've had in a long time! The combination of the great space, the awesome dj, the yummy drinks and my long lost friends just made for a great time here. Yeah, it's in the Hilton Hotel, but we all had a fabulous time dancing and drinking for a few hours. We weaseled our way into an area with couches and tables, and we had tons of space to lounge. The inside was very modern and urban. As far as my other club experiences have been in Boston, this was one of the best! I would have paid at least $10 to get in here, I've had way crappier times at Fanuiel Hall back in the 21 days. Check out Saturday nights here, it's gonna be a good time!
(5)Mike M.
Good drinks - good apps. The Moscow Mule was advertised as coming in an "authentic copper mug" but came in a glass. The Lobster Caramel was really good - not something I would have ordered unless I saw the reviews. However the place is called Nix's Mate - and they have a picture of Nixes Mate on the wall - I think they misnamed the place.
(4)Barefoot B.
Chef Dave Nevins didn't disappoint with his menus at Nix's Mate. What a great addition to the financial district. Been there three times thus far, once for a "funky brunch" last sunday which was a BLAST, great food, low key awesome dj, (brunch done right) Service has been constantly improving with each visit. Great after work crowd for drinks, and good food. Keep up the good work Nixs!
(5)J R.
I can't believe that I was at the same restaurant as other reviewers. The food was OK but the service was awful. Waitstaff seems in another world and could have cared less about us. They were constantly on their cell phones. From the service alone, I'll never go back
(2)Kate T.
Went it on Friday for after work drinks with some of my co-workers. They don't offer any bar snacks so we ordered a few apps to share. The flatbreads were great and easily shared! The cocktail list was awesome and I cant wait to be back to try some more! I will 100% be returning for after work drinks and maybe even bring clients here!
(4)Gonzalo B.
Based on our one visit here, and the whole package, I'd give this a 4-5 star...err, jus' make it a five-spot. For a restaurant in a Hilton, this is pretty, pretty good. The chef is spot-on. We were here on a saturday night and wasn't too busy when we got in, leaving it had picked up a lot. Nice setting, lighting, seating, service was youngish and trying hard and doing a pretty good job - the bus boy was even good, making sure water was even and filled. The lounge area is soft and inviting, a good spot for some drinx and apps. Great bread basket. Nice selection, small french bread, thick cheesy breadstix...rolls, etc. A nice honey-infused butter for spreadin' as well as an olive tapenade. Ahhh. Comfort...somebody cares. We started with the calamari, and glad we did, a hefty, delish portion slathered with a spicy aioli that, unlike so many apps at so many places which barely serve one person, this would have pleased 3 0r 4. Well done. I opted for the pumpkin risotto, and enjoyed about 50% of it - the other 50% I enjoyed the following night, at home. Another great portion, including the lobster infused throughout, with ginger bread crumbs, sage...a savory treat. GF had the half-chicken w/ mased and spinach and enjoyed hers (and conveyed some home as well) mucho, like me. We had an enjoyable meal here - the beer/wine selection is pretty decent as well. We got a laugh at the 'library' off of the entrance lobby. A nice lil' space - with ridiculous tomes on the stacks. Someone in mgmt. should put up a few decent reads, even some paperbacks - who knows, a visitor on a wintry nite w/ with some time to chill might actually sit and...read a book sometime.
(5)Sam S.
Had dinner here last week. Don't let the Hilton sign fool you, the food was creative and super yum. lobster caramel? yes please.
(4)Victoria T.
Came in midweek for dinner. My boyfriend and I had a Gilt City Voucher which included a 5 course meal and a bottle of wine. When we walked in the door we were greeted and helped right away. The staff was so friendly and helpful. Our waitress was so nice and explained to us what our voucher allowed us to have. For the appetizer we ordered the Friend Maine Lobster Caramel and let me tell you it was amazing. The flavor of the caramel sauce and the lobster combined was just amazing. We then got the Harbor Island Flatbread at first I was a little iffy about it but it was so good had a little kick to it. Never thought that all of those flavors combined would taste so good. For our entrees we got the Steak Frites and Roasted Half Chicken. The Steak Frites was really good the steak was cooked to perfection. The chicken was flavorful and delicious. For dessert we order the strawberry shortcake and it was just amazing. At first I was scared because this jello like thing was on top of the strawberries and didn't look so good. But once I took a bite it was like heaven. This was overall was amazing from the atmosphere, waitstaff to the food I was not disappointed. We even got a complimentary appetizer for being first time dinners. I would come back to this place in a heartbeat.
(5)Milkey S.
Nice bar. Friendly staff, at least the ones that speak English (inside joke). Enjoyed the Lobster caramel, perfect sweet accompaniment with a Guinness. Cheers.
(4)K W.
The food is not good. I ordered a grilled cheese and tomato soup; the grilled cheese had no flavor must be the cheese they are using; the soup tasted like tomato sauce out of a jar. Also, even the soft drinks didn't last good. Very pricey. Serive adequate.
(1)Kathleen F.
Had a quite solid lunch experience here (food 4-5 stars), but I wish the service had been a bit better (2-3 stars). We ordered an array of things, the oysters were excellent, tomato soup topped w' grilled cheese croutons was genuis, my beet salad was melt in your mouth good. My other colleagues got the pumpkin risotto which they said was excellent. For dessert we coupled some (very overpriced) espressos with the chocolate cake. On food alone I could easily have awarded this 4 stars. However, our waitress did not check in with us much and took forever to come over and take our order. It seemed actually that there were not enough waitresses to handle the lunch crowd. I felt like for the prices they were charging the service should have been 100% better. If you are going to pay alot for your (albeit good) food, the service should be top notch to go along with that. I think I would try Nix's mate again, but probably not at a busy time so I can actually get good service.
(3)Carolyn S.
Enjoyed Nix's Mate a lot. It's a very welcome addition to the area. A flexible well-designed space that would work well for a meal any time of day, drinks after work or just a general meeting spot/hang. Good food, good service. Nice wine list. Drinks are a little pricey but very well made. Glad to see it's part of the hotel because so many resto options in the Financial District aren't open/available on weekends. Looking forward to my next visit.
(4)Alexis M.
Really fun. Been there twice so far around 8-10pm and love their drinks and atmosphere. A great lounge seen and seemed like they were setting up for a DJ later on.
(5)Jay B.
When traveling, there is something comforting about a cool lounge/restaurant in the hotel at which I am staying. After an exhausting day, a late dinner and some Patron Cafe at the Hotel lounge before crawling upstairs to bed is the MO. I am in Boston for a week, and staying at the Hilton with the Nix Mate on ground floor. Went in for dinner, checked out the impressive venue, young hip crowd, anticipating a good time. Well, i had counted my chickens too soon. I sat at the bar, the male waiter in the white shirt is chatting sports with a patron, completely ignoring me. I am patient guy, I wait, check my emails on my phone, some people watching, nothing. The other female waiter notices my plight, walks over from the other end of the bar, i ask for the menu. She brought back the menu which i proceeded to peruse. BTW, male waiter is still talking with the guest, female waiter takes off, heads over to where her colleagues are and they are horsing around, she has forgotten about me. Did I mention the place is 3/4 empty? Yours truly waits, my stomach rumbles, i fear i have become invisible; might be hunger induces invisibility. As my former colleague used to say, Patience is a virgin, ahem virtue and is indirectly proportional to state of hunger. I gave up, I got up and left, on the way out I complained to the hostess all I get is a plastic grin for my troubles. what can i say, taking my expense account somewhere else..
(2)Laura S.
Came here w/ a Groupon - a great deal for the price as it also included a bottle of wine. Our server was outstanding. The lobster caramel was awesome. The rock shrimp flatbread should have been 2 different flatbreads- one w/ the pepperoni and meats and one with the shrimp (the spicy sauce on the shrimp and tomato base/meat didn't really go together). Wine was enjoyable considering it was "house" wine. We were overloaded by the amount of fries w/ the steak frites and the salmon needed more awesome pistachio pesto to enjoy. The set menu Groupon was way too much food for us - one app would have been enough b/c the flatbread was huge. The creme brullee could have used more crust on top and not be so cold in the middle. The bar was noisy but it could have been b/c of the holiday parties. Tables weren't too crowded, our space was nice at a table for 4 w/ 2 of us. Overall a nice meal.
(4)Mary Ann D.
We went last Saturday Night and sat at the bar. The place including the bar was very quiet. It was a beautiful bar and the bar menu was excellent lots of great choices. There were a number of bartenders none of whom apparently wished to work that evening. We were able to order food after finally asking one of the bartenders if they wouldn't mind taking our order. I had the tuna nicoise salad and my husband and I shared the fried clams. Both were outstanding. As good as the food was, the service was terrible. I sat with an empty wine glass in front of me for the majority of my meal. The two female bartenders did nothing but chat up a couple of guys at the end of the bar. One of the male bartenders finally came by and took my empty glass but never asked me if I wanted another glass of wine. At that point I could have asked for one but we decided to finish our meal and go somewhere else for a drink. Overall, great atmosphere, great menu, great food but they really need to get a manger to oversee the staff.
(3)Sean D.
Thanks to our fellow yelpers for encouraging us to go to this restaurant. It turned out to be one of the best meals we have had while living in Boston. The menu is very well put together and seems to provide a lot of interesting flavor combinations. All of the food we had was fantastic (can't recommend the short ribs enough) and the service was stellar. Highly recommend that others take a chance on this place. Great dining experience!
(5)Louis F.
My family went to a reception at Nix's Mate in a special semi private room with great decor: wonderful solid wood table with modern chandelier. We enjoyed great food including calamari, cheese plate, beef sliders, multiple salads and best of all the rock shrimp flatbread pizza.
(5)Melee T.
I invited a group of 30 friends to join me to celebrate my birthday. I had never been to this place but after reading about its opening on urban daddy, i figured it would be a nice (not crowded place) to host an event. the spot is beautiful and well designed. the restaurant makes great use of the glass surrounding the venue which gives it a light airy feel. we reserved space in the lounge area and our waitress was fantastic and attentive. i will say that my party was the largest party there and we were certainly the majority of people there all night. after the celtics game was over we asked that the music be switched from something less techno to something to something perhaps more urban or contemporary (which my crowd would have enjoyed more). i was disappointed to learn that the manager had to approve this request. he did accomodate by playing a rihanna song. my party would have certainly stayed longer if not for the music. i think that it is important for the management to be responsive to requests of patrons who are happy to stay, eat, drink and spend money if the atmosphere is right. additionally, it would have been nice for the manager to come say hi as they were aware that it was my birthday and i was hosting a large party. all of my guests enjoyed the space and would be glad to return so attention to letting customers know that you appreciate their business would have gone a long way. my party spent a significant amount with drinks, champagne and food. thanks is always appreciated.
(4)Hugo A.
Good New England fare - oysters, lobster, chowder, daily crudo. Their tuna tartare sandwich is a must-have. Friendly staff (ask for Bob), solid after work oysters and drinks spot. Underrated.
(4)Das E.
Pleasant atmosphere, decent libations, but some of the menu items are unacceptable. Ordered the sashimi platter and was met with old fishy smelling pieces of completely inedible salmon etc. We sent it back immediately and still wonder how it's possible that the 'chefs' could be so inattentive. On another occasion popped in for the 'buck a shuck' only to find that their oysters were also hardly palatable. Bad oysters? Yes, for the first time in my life. In addition to this the service is barely acceptable. On the bright side their buffalo wings are superb (hence the two stars, and not merely 1.5), and I'd return for those. In this neighborhood of Boston I'm frankly shocked to find such low standards. Nice lounge atmosphere, mediocre edibles.
(2)Steve C.
Not much to report on this visit as we only had drinks. As far as aesthetics its a really nice bar, very modern and trendy with a large selection of drinks available. Being attached to the Hilton will ensure that it gets some good foot traffic, plus, there's Mr Dooley's on one side for a great pint of Guiness and there's the new Bostonia that used to be Kitty O'Shea's at the end of the street. Prices were about normal for downtown, staff seemed ok but not over friendly as mentioned in other comments.
(3)Brian C.
The atmosphere was great. The staff was very friendly. Their drink, bees knees, was great. Their $1 oyster was also good. We had their nix burger. It wasn't something you would scream about, but it was a good burger. We would definitely come back for more oysters and drinks.
(3)Judith C.
Came here with my boyfriend and a friend for some $1 oysters on a Saturday evening. My friend and I shared a dozen oysters and a dozen clams. When the oysters arrived, I finally understood what some people mean when they say that oysters look like boogers. Granted, I know these were just $1 each but I've been to other restaurants for $1 oysters and they were much better. Ah well. My boyfriend, who doesn't eat raw food, got a lobster bisque, and it tasted like it came out of a can. It was watery and salty, and the lobster flavor was thin instead of permeating throughout the soup.
(2)Model C.
Usually its a red flag if a bar is attached to a hotel or is a chain resturaunt . This place should shoot off flares how bad it is. Maybe its me ,but when the bartender doesn't know what beer is on tap... ...and then cops an attitude with the customer, well I'll take my money elsewhere. Ive bartended all over Boston. The majority of the customers become my friends. I was always cordial and realized that the customers pay my bills. As I close Ill just say that I was in there on a Saturday night when bars are usually crowded and buselling. Not this place.Id say no more than a dozen people. That was an OBVIESE warning sign ... ...ITS JUST A BAD CHAIN RESTURAUNT.!
(1)Susan L.
Ate here for a quick meal while I was in Boston for a conference. Service was prompt and there was no wait for a table. The portion sizes are generous and the food was reliable standard hotel fare. Would recommend for travelers looking for a quick place to eat.
(3)Brennan B.
Great hotel bar, much better than the Westin because it's comfortable yet still classy. Great food, great service, no complaints.
(5)Mike S.
Absolutely amazing hotel bar. Unlike some of the ones I've been to, this one actually has some energy and a great crowd! Stayed at the Hilton last week for work and was here every night. The beer selection isn't that extensive, but they have a wide variety of beer styles, as well as some good local brews unique to New England - made me miss home! Prices were a little bit up there, but not completely outrageous. I usually came after dinner so I didn't eat, but I saw some people order the clam chowder and lobster roll, both of which looked delicious. The bartenders are always friendly and willing to chat you up, and some of the locals who come here are also extremely friendly. Next time I'm in town, even if I'm not at the Hilton, I'm gonna make it a point to stop back here.
(4)Lindsay W.
I went to nix's mate for New Year's Eve. I had a good time which is why I give 2 stars but I don't think i'd go back when in Boston. I guess I don't understand what it's going for, or the clientele. It's a lounge in the hilton so I guess for a Hilton hotel bar it's above average. It seems like it's trying to be something trendy and hip but I think it's not quite hitting the mark. There's nothing special or exciting about it compared to other lounges - especially for a big city; the space and decor was boring; and it's in the financial district so your neighboring restaurants and bars are limited if you want to hop. They did do an okay job decorating for nye for photo ops. It started picking up it's party around 11 but it wasn't really my scene. Most of the girls were dressed in body con dresses and hooker heels (including servers). Pros: We had a table so there was a place to sit which I like, the music was good, and there was some dancing. For a group of 9, We each paid 140 for 2 bottles of liquor and 4 bottles of champagne. It was plenty enough alcohol for everyone but still slightly too expensive, although comparable to other lounges on nye in Boston but I think we could've found more of a hot spot and trendy scene. For the price, id also assume we would have true table service but our server was not around when we needed her. The clientele and the issues revolved around settling of the bill is why I bring it to a 2 instead of a 3. We are a group that all brought cash. At the end of the night, we take some time to make sure the bill is covered. Everyone had been drinking but we are responsible enough to make sure everything is paid (although our server did plenty of hovering during this process). My boyfriend was lagging behind so while exiting he was pulled aside by the "assistant general manager" who said not only was our bill short by $20 but we didn't tip and she had upset servers. Eager to resolve the issue, my boyfriend offered his credit card to cover the 20 and the 200 the manager recommended for a tip. My sister happened to run back in for him just in time to stop him where she told the manager that gratuity was included on the bill. The manager said that was impossible, and then my sister asked to see the bill and she was right. The manager apologized but I just find that very upsetting and weary that this was genuine. You're the manager and should know what you're charging your clientele, especially before arguing with the customer. It felt manipulative and wrong, especially when you've been serving alcohol to your customers for the past 4 hours. We covered the 20 (although we find it highly unlikely that we counted wrong). Just set a bad tone to the end of the night!
(2)Alba L.
Breakfast buffet has no eggs or bacon. You must get their breakfast platters starting at $15+. Service took forever and servers just said they had a large party to take care of. Seriously? A hotel restaurant and not enough personnel to manage breakfast? I wish they have told us they were short handed and that the credit card system was out of order BEFORE we sat down to eat. After all the waiting the food was meh...
(1)Leah H.
Good bar/restaurant attached to the Hilton. We entered from the street entrance and were a little puzzled by the man sort of standing near the host desk. It wasn't clear whether he was a customer/the host/a manager - still not really sure. Anyhoo - we found seats at the bar and enjoyed a couple of drinks. It was a Sunday night and they were offering "Buck a shuck" so we tried half a dozen oyster. Really fresh and tasty.
(4)David N.
Spottiest service ever. We stayed in the hotel attached to this restaurant for several nights. We ate breakfast in the restaurant a few times. The first time was the worst. The waiter was lethargic and apathetic. He came to our table exactly two times (once to take our order and once to leave the bill.) The food wasn't good. There were five times the staff to the number of people, and the employees were standing around gabbing the entire time. The other times we went, the service was much better, but the food was still bad.
(1)Nick D.
In town on business, staying in the hotel. Was eating alone, so I sat in the bar. Took a bit for the bartender to realize I was there. But once he noted me, the service was good. I started with the bowl of chowder. It is a relatively small bowl, but it was quite good, with nice chunks of potatoes in it. I ordered the "Chicken Cooked Under a Brick" and it was very good. Flattened chicken breast and thigh, served over mashed potatoes, sauteed baby spinach and brown gravy. It was more food than I needed, but I'm not complaining. The only Zinfandel by the glass was okay, if a bit pricey. Overall, I'm glad I stayed in the hotel tonight for dinner.
(4)Brittany C.
I should have written this review months ago but time escaped me. I booked my company's holiday party here after checking out a few other restaurants, venues, menus, etc. because it seemed to be the best set up and it certainly was. I was incredibly nervous about having our first company party (we're a start-up) for 18 people including spouses (one wife is an event planner - even more pressure) but it came together perfectly. The "William Fly" room fit all us comfortably and it was beautifully decorated. We had cocktail hour in the lounge area just outside of the room with appetizers, ate dinner then proceed to the bar to end the evening. The staff could not have been more accommodating and kind. They allowed us to order from the regular menu (not pre-fixed) but I opted to narrow down the choices to cut down on wait time - they printed out menu cards with our company logo (such a nice touch), service was prompt, food was delicious (check out the menu, there's an option for everyone), they even displayed the gifts that we gave to all of our staff on a table in the room for me. It was seamless and I will 100% be booking a future event there.
(5)Don G.
Terrible breakfast service, rude staff and manager. Came down to restaurant for breakfast service before visiting Boston. Waited over 40 minutes for just eggs and bacon. Wait staff rude, did not even bring water to the table! Had to track down waiter to get service. Manager came over after we asked to cancel order and rudely asked what we wanted to do as food was only 2 minutes away...it took 15. No offer for compensation. Never going back. Strongly recommend you do not visit this restaurant.
(1)Collins F.
This place doesn't get enough credit for how good it actually is. It is a great place for a birthday party or just to catch up with friends. The staff is good looking and attentive. The drinks are very good and tastey. I have family in the area so this is a place is a no brainer for an upscale night.
(4)Buckey B.
I met a business colleague for breakfast at Nick's. The service could not have been worse. We had to beg for coffee, which was served with an attitude. Getting water was even harder. The server forgot parts of our meal. I would never go to Nicks.
(1)Kurt B.
I have several customer located in and around Nix's Mate. Conveniently located, very good menu with ample choices and staff is attentive.
(4)Rich W.
Stayed at the Hilton last night and to start the night we had a few adult beverages here. I think this place is really cool, decor/atmosphere/ambience was very cool, chill, etc. Service/staff was great. We had a guy bartender who felt like "Johnny good time" and he was all about making us a killer drink (he did). HUGE step above a "normal" hotel bar. I highly recommend this place!
(4)David Z.
Can a reviewer knock off points in good conscience for a lounge because their food sucks? Well, when the lounge also serves as a hotel restaurant, and when due to either rain or snow, that lounge is the only accessible source of food, then I think a nice, quality meal is in order. First of all, I love staying at the Hilton in the Financial District. It's comfortable, clean, and convenient. However, I've never been a fan of Nix's Mate, starting with the subpar breakfast that they offer (where hot food costs extra), to the subpar dinners on display. Because once you get past the hotel restaurant markup on prices, the food is still average at best. Take for instance, the lobster roll. Small and unfilling, the lobster roll is a far cry from what could be found just half a mile away in the North End. At any rate, Nix's Mate is always a last resort type of restaurant for me. It's not so much the price. It's the simple fact that this is a lounge first and a restaurant second.
(2)Clint M.
I was staying in the hotel and had dinner here expecting it to be average, however I was pleasantly surprised. I had the special for the evening which was a 6 or 8 oz filet mignon, mashed potatoes, and mixed vegetables for $30. The steak was cooked perfectly (medium) and delicious! The staff was friendly and able to give some good recommendations for regional beers. I would certainly eat here again, even if not staying at the hotel.
(4)Vivian C.
The good - they seem to have wisely lowered the price of the lunch option Fried Fish Tacos - Crispy fried cod, avocado sour cream, pico de gallo from $15 posted on their online menu to the $12 I had spied on the menu presented to me in the dining room. More good - the service was pleasant, the portion was plenty - three fat flaky chunks of moist white fish which were not particularly oily despite the fact that they were fried in a lightly crisp batter and bundled in three likely house-made soft tortillas shaped into squares rather than the traditional rounds with a bedding of creamy cool avocado spread, served beside a generous mound of fries. The fries themselves could have been just a tad more crisp, but they were okay. The tacos themselves needed a little something more - they were relatively bland - perhaps a bit of a citrus zing? Same with the tomato salsa served considerately on the side. The not so good - an error in one dining companion's order (wrong dish) caused the rest of our entrees to sit cooling as we waited along with her. The funny - the offset nature of the restaurant from the surrounding sidewalk caused the passing pedestrians to resemble looming giants. Nix's Mate is located in the Hilton in the Financial District. Reservations are available on Opentable. *** 6/2015 *** Seemed odd that they would seat a singleton diner at a table right by a huge (aka loud) party when there were other options available. With some slight persuasion, I was able to be redirected to one of those other seats. After having mulled over the Yelp reviews, I decided to make up my own soup and sandwich combo as my lunch. Warm & Cozy Tomato Bisque grilled cheese croutons cup 5/ bowl 8 Tuna Tartare Eggy spicy tuna tartare, fried eggs, cheddar, caper mayo & cucumber salad, multigrain bread 14 The room was chilly, so I was impatient for the hot soup to warm me up. But instead, both arrived in the same trip nearly 20 minutes after ordering. I decided to forgive them since the croutons (count of 4) were little mini grilled cheese sandwich cubes. Otherwise the soup was quite serviceable, though not especially outstanding in any way. The sandwich, however, was a mix of flavors and textures, with the crisp lended by the pickles and the toasted bread. I did request the tuna tartare a bit on the mild side, however. The accompanying chips (the sandwich came with your choice of fries, garlic chips, and salad) were the crinkle cut thin crisp sort, though a bit light on the garlic. The portion was generous. I ended up taking perhaps half the meal back with me. Their fish taco has gone up to $16 during lunch. Check the prices on the bill; my sandwich was marked a dollar more than was stated on the menu.
(3)Lily F.
Beautiful space, well dressed servers, and a nice vibe. I went for lunch and had the charcuterie app and fish special, which was lovely! Seasonal ingredients welcomed spring and we were well attended to. Our server had beautiful eyes. Only notes that were less than perfect.. It would have been nice to have been offered sparkling or flat water, and to have the bottle left at the table. However our server was nice enough to fetch us extra bread when we ran out of the bread that accompanied out appetizer. I'll be interested to visit this place on a Saturday night.
(4)Bill L.
What a joke, service is lousy! Look across the street or go 2 blocks in any direction for a better choice. They couldn't even handle a simple breakfast order of a bagel sandwich, banana and a glass of juice. Called back 45 minutes later to find out the loser that took my order never put it in. The girl I was talking to could care less. You're in the service business people, you have to provide service!
(1)Meagan D.
One of the best Niçoise salads ever! I cannot wait to go back. I had lunch with a friend if mine and we both had a fantastic meal. So close to our office, we may have to make this a regular spot.
(4)Grace N.
Went there for their Happy Hour - $1 oysters, clams or shrimp from 4pm-6pm. The oysters were the freshiest I've had...super delicious, comes with horseradish, tomato sauce, and vinegar+onion something. Nice ambiance - it is part of the Hilton. Would definitely go back again for happy hour. Service was good.
(4)Ryan W.
We had reservations for 7:30 PM on Saturday night. We showed up on time and they were busy converting from a day party. They weren't ready to seat us until 8 PM. There were only two other tables besides us eating which is kind of odd for a Saturday night. The service staff seemed a little frazzled as it took them a second to figure out who was going to wait on us. Don't get me wrong, the staff was polite to us, but we had to wait a little too long to be attended to once we were seated. The food was actually good. We got the spicy tuna rolls for an app, which were pretty good. I got the rib-eye, which was cooked exactly how I like it (medium rare) and it wasn't too fatty as many rib-eye cuts can be. My wife got the Tuna Steak which was well prepared, but the seaweed salad and spicy sauce was exactly the same thing that you get with the spicy tuna roll. That's not very original... For $33 one would expect a little bit of a twist. Everything here (especially the drinks) seems to be 10-15% over priced for what this place is. If they really tightened up their game and decided to be a high-end dining destination maybe these prices would make sense. But when you have to wait 30 minutes for a table when you have a reservation while the restaurant is empty and then listen to some jam band play 311 and Sublime, it just doesn't go with $15 cocktails and a $120-150 tab. Nix's Mate really needs to figure itself out.
(3)Dan T.
Nix Mate is like drinking in an Anthropolgie store, minus the clothes...and the ladies. Same music too. It's nice, but I'm writing this review after 5 drinks and at most places, I've lost my phone after 5 drinks, and can't type for shite. For $10 a whack, it would've been nice for a little alcohol in the mixies. Lots of operations button pushers from local financial chop shops reliving their Wolf of Wall Street war stories...if Wolf of Wall Street was about a guy that makes 50k and dominates a cubicle. Why go here when Mr Dooley's is a pitching wedge away?
(1)Michael C.
Came in for a midweek lunch. The service was fine, this place would make for a good business/client lunch. On the flip side I walked by here on a Sunday and it looks like they are going for a Vegas style party brunch. It was being run by the 6one7 promotion company and it looked real fun. It had a large and attractive crowd. Here is what I had to eat: American Kobe Beef Cheeseburger - This beast of a burger came topped with Gruyere cheese and some amazing balsamic onion jam that made adding ketchup completely unnecessary. The burger was cooked flawlessly and the meat was perfectly tender.
(4)Rajeeyah S.
Stayed at the hilton for a week. For the chicken under a brick twice it was so good ! The gravy however was flavorless I would ask for it either on the side or not at all. Everything is so juicy it's totally not needed. The chicken was super flavorful and tender with a crispy exterior. Delish ! The clam chowder is also pretty decent. Got this both times as well.
(4)Dave S.
Pretty decent bar restaurant at the Hilton on Broad st downtown. It has street access so you dont have to walk into the Hilton to access the restaurant. I ordered the Lobster roll with truffle fries and it was very good. It was not the best Lobster roll in town as they claim but it was still very good.
(4)Phil O.
I went here with a couple colleagues for drinks, appetizers, and entrees. We enjoyed ourselves. Appetizers: Lobster sliders (7/10), Crab artichoke dip (9.5/10) Entree: Miso Salmon (8.25/10) Beverage: Moscow Mule (8/10) Service: (5/10) Staff wasn't very attentive and appeared inexperienced. One of my colleagues ordered her first ever lobster roll as her entree. Based on aesthetics alone, I'd give it a 10/10. It was overstuffed with lobster and touched up with a golden spicy aioli on a buttery brioche bun. It looked like a steal for $24.
(4)Bill T.
Moron-o-thon! I spoke too soon in my prior review. Went back for breakfast and if this place was competing in the moron olympics, it would have been gold medals all around. I walk up to the hostess stand and she says "What can I help you with today?", which I though was in interesting question. Hmm, I'm walking into a restaurant at breakfast time and she's wondering how she can help me. "Um, I'd like a car loan and a prostate exam please." That's what I felt like saying but I just said I'd like breakfast. She shows me to a dirty table (still food on the table, used plates, etc) and asks if I'd like to sit there. I point to the two clean and prepped tables on either side and ask if it would be okay to sit at one of those. It's a buffet type set up so I go get my food, including a bagel, which they'd kindly toasted for me two days prior. So I'm waiting for coffee and nobody ever comes around. I go over to the service stand where all the waiters keep their carafes and just ask someone to fill me up. I also ask if I can have the bagel I had toasted. "Sure, no problem", the guy says I eat the rest of my food, finish my coffee and wait for the bagel. And wait. After about 15 minutes (yes, I timed it) I ask another server (I don't see the guy I gave the bagel to) if she could check on the plain bagel I gave to the other server (because I saw another patron ask her server to toast a bagel and she'd already received it back and finished eating it while I was still waiting). She checks and returns and says "the only one I saw back there is sesame seed bagel, are you sure that's not yours?". I told her mine was definitely plain and she seemed confused. At that point, I told her not to bother and just left because clearly nobody there had any idea how to work in a restaurant. Oh, and I asked two different people for more coffee and never got it. I haven't worked in a restaurant in years but it is that hard to toast a bagel? P.S. If you want to pay for the hot buffet, that's $24. Would not recommend.
(1)Arana W.
This is the restaurant/bar in the hotel I'm staying in for the week. The menu is more diverse and of better quality than I was anticipating. I had dinner at the bar the night I checked in. A bottle of Grady's pale ale from Maine. A Guinness on tap. A half dozen Wellfleet oysters. Lobster roll with fries. YUM! These were my first Wellfleet oysters. Much, MUCH smaller than the Gulf oysters I am used to - but amazing flavor! These were some of the best little bivalves I have ever tasted. If only they would make this flavor in Gulf size! :) The lobster roll came with far more lobster than I anticipated. It was so rich and buttery it took a LOT of beer for me to make my way through it. The brioche it was served on was fresh and delish. Just the right amount of lettuce and mayo. I wasn't able to get my mouth around it - so fork and knife it was! The fries were skin on and well prepared - but there was just too much food. Luckily, the man next to me at the bar was not filled with his order of wings, and was more than happy to help me get rid of the fries. Normally, I don't plan to eat at hotel restaurants. But this one may be worth another meal before I go!
(4)Shad C.
food is interesting. Drinks are nice. The groups they have performing live out really good.
(4)Holly M.
I needed a place for two separate networking events, and this bar was recommended to me as a spacious, quiet venue. And it really is the best place I've found downtown for any sort of event or company gathering. Here's why: -They keep the music at a very tolerable level so you can actually hear your guests without yelling. -They are super accommodating about groups, and have several gathering spaces and private room options available. -The food we had (flatbreads and calamari to share) was all very good. I look forward to trying other parts of the menu. -The servers were all attentive and friendly. -The drink list was fairly extensive (slightly on the pricier side, but worth it for the setting). Everyone was able to find something they liked. -I don't recall there being any distracting televisions. -The event planner was very responsive and helpful. Overall, I was really just pleased with how easy and pleasant they made the whole experience. Prior to this, I'd always thought of hotel bars as sort of a write-off, but Nix's Mate is good enough to stand alone. Definitely would be a great place for post-work drinks or a date. I'll be back.
(5)Mike O.
We went for a drink. Worst drinks we ever had. Sent them back told the bar tender how to make them and they came back bad again. I really think they were subbing house Vodka for kettle one. Stay away.
(1)Roberta C.
This was surprisingly good. The service was attentive without being invasive. The food was terrific (the Salad Nicoise was outstanding). I would definitely return.
(5)Hans F.
Staying at the Hilton, I went there for breakfast. It is subpar, poor quality and the staff unfriendly and extremely arrogant. Will avoid at all cost
(1)Irina S.
The food and drinks are good--everything I've had here is the quality you'd expect for the price. They also have live music, which was outstanding the night we came. Unfortunately, the space is not equipped to handle such loud productions--it is too small and lacks sufficient sound isolation--so the end result is that conversation becomes impossible. This also has repercussions on the staff's ability to communicate with diners and probably each other. The restaurant can be quiet during the day. The service is lacking. Boyfriend and I arrived on a Thursday night. The restaurant was perhaps at half-capacity. The hostess was in the kitchen so we seated ourselves (it's a loungy, half-empty place so that was fine). We were just about to give up on being served and leave when the hostess finally came over with our menus. Throughout the evening, we struggled to get the staff's attention. Admittedly, the music was so loud it's unsurprising that they didn't notice what the diners were doing or saying. I imagine they were in their own respective parallel universes, as unable to hear as the rest of us. The staff was not rude or neglectful--simply unaware and incredibly disorganized. Waiters and bartenders seemed to congregate in groups rather than covering the whole of the restaurant or bar. The hostess was doubling as a waitress. The ultimate strike against Nix's Mate came with the check. It turns out they charge a 20% gratuity...for parties of any size. The waitress/hostess explained that they get a lot of foreigners who don't tip so their solution is to assess an automatic 20% tip on ALL checks. Their menu has no mention of this Potential Foreigner tip. Their menu simply has the generic warning that parties of 6 or more are charged an 18% gratuity. This, of course, opens up some interesting possibilities: what if you have a table of 6 or more foreigners--will those be charged the (lower) 18% for being a party of 6 or more or the (higher) 20% for being foreign? Are Potentially Foreign women more likely to be charged this hidden gratuity than Potentially Foreign men? Boyfriend insists he wasn't assessed a Potential Foreigner fee when he payed in the past. Don't get me wrong--I understand waiting tables is difficult work and I'm usually more than happy to leave 20% or more. But I have never heard of a SECRET policy of charging a 20% gratuity just for possibly being foreign. I found it kind of offensive, and frankly, un-American.
(3)Edward G.
As guests of the Hilton Downtown / Faneuil Hall, this was our stop for breakfast both days. The breakfast buffet can be had hot with the full selection, or cold with the limited menu. Either way, the staff is attentive and friendly. Patrick, our server, made us feel at home, and was a pleasure to talk to. As an expatriated Alaskan, he had an outsider's take on the city like ours, and clearly loved his adopted hometown. The omelette chef flipped eggs with style and we left full and ready for the day. The restaurant also provides room service for the hotel, so I can also recommend their polenta fries, truffle fries, clam chowder and tomato soup. Enjoy.
(4)Jeff F.
Headed into Nix's Mate last weekend and have to concede that for a Hilton restaurant, it's solid. However, when compared to the rest of restaurant options in Boston, I'm not sure Nix's Mate holds up. Walking in, the restaurant is well laid out and does a great job trying to create a great atmosphere. The issue is that the restaurant on a Saturday night at 8 didn't really have anyone in it (except for some older hotel guests). If they could fill the restaurant out with an average Boston crowd, it would work. Here's the rundown the grub: - Seared Atlantic Salmon (B -) Salmon and octopus were decent, but the beans were undercooked - Bucatini Amatricana (A-) wish I had ordered this - awesome - Nix's Surf 'n' Turf Petite Filet Mignon & Jumbo Shrimp Scampi (B) - average at best - Fresh Mozzarella Tomato Gravy Flatbread (A-) - solid - Tuna Carpaccio Nicoise (B+) - fantastic, but the portion is a bit small Service being terrible had me round this one down to two stars. Ultimately, I couldn't justify spending money here again.
(2)A M.
Shocked!!! I got a living social deal (not knowing it was a hotel restaurant). At the time the yelps were pretty good but I did not have high hopes after seeing the recent yelps. We went (4 of us) after the Irish boxing at city hall plaza. Everything was very good. Drinks:good beer list and cocktails-American Sipper I think. Pork belly slider, short rib taco,charcuterie board (big)-all excellent. Lobster sliders were good but not the best, as was the clam chowder. Sadly out of tuna tacos...and no cold desserts (broken freezer). This was the only downside (it was so hot out I wanted something cold).
(5)Shannon M.
I want to love nix's mate. I want to love it so much. It just seems to always fall flat. I've eaten there about 5 times. In about a month. I travel for work a lot...hotel restaurants have a lot to live up to for me. The Gallop Cheeseburger is good. It's a solid burger. Can't really go wrong there. Pork belly sliders are messy. Unimaginative. I've eaten something super similar in many other restaurants and it's been better/ more imaginative/less dry. Fries are blah. Nothing to write home about. Greens served with entrees are good. I do enjoy the balsamic served with them. But I do wish the greens were cut into smaller pieces. Service varies. The hostesses and servers tend to be super sweet. Bartenders are nice but not overly lovely. Had a beer, wine, cocktail. Nothing stands out. Sigh. I wish I loved you Nix's Mate.
(3)Lisa B.
Had a late lunch here on a Saturday and sat at the bar. The bar is a nice size and wasn't too busy and the bartender was attentive. I ordered the harbor island flat and it was fantastic! The crust was super thin and the rock shrimp was a great topping with a slightly spicy tomato gravy on top. A unique pizza for sure and ill definitely be back to try more menu items.
(4)Denise W.
First and foremost, and probably the primary reason for every star I rated this place: the Mad Hatter on the rocks. This is an incredibly bourbon drink, and I don't believe in bourbon served neat (I just can't), but throw that baby on the rocks, and even at $14 a pop I'll drink them all night. So necessary. That being said, I did have dinner here and it was meh, at best. I think hotel restaurants can be so seriously hit or miss, and I did have a certain expectation for Nix's Mate just based on a random cabbie's review to me (lol, but who knows) and that I frequent Vintage across the street. The layout of the restaurant is actually incredible. It serves as an after-work drinks spot, which is in front of you when you walk in. The left side of the restaurant is partitioned off into two other sections: one being what I'd say is more of a lounge (with seating and tables) and then the restaurant. I was here during the week during a Sox play-off game, and each area was relatively full but I we didn't have a wait. I appreciated the number of televisions in each area, and that in the restaurant part in particular that they were present (I'll admit - I watched the game while dining), if I didn't want to see the tv they weren't super eye level and distracting. Food wise - I got the steak frites rare and my friend got the chicken and waffles. The steak was cooked to perfection and tasted great, but was loaded too heavily with whatever herb aioli (??) that was on it. The polentia fries were hard and cold and without taste. I'd imagine this was what the spicy chimichurri sauce on the side was there to remedy, but I hate a basic side that requires a sauce in order to be even good. My friend's chicken and wasffles were unique and good. She said the waffles were hard/tough, but the sweet potatoe butter and ginger maple glaze were an interesting touch. The chicken was good, but too much batter/"fried" on the outside aka the skin to chicken ratio was just too high. I really like the space and, easily, I love the drinks, so I'd head back for after-work drinks any time but just skip the dinner.
(3)Nicole R.
Went to the opening party last night. The space is actually fantastic! There are two entrances, one from the hotel and one from the street (Broad Street) . The space is very open and well lit. There are seats at the bar as well as high top tables and overstuffed chairs for lounging as well. The high and large windows that line the walls also bring great light into the space as well. Around the side of the venue is also two private dining rooms. The smaller of the two rooms has a curtain that can be drawn shut and a flat screen TV against one wall. The larger of the two rooms has a grand table with large decorative chandeliers and the story of Nix's Mate scrawled in cursive on the far wall. The hors d' oeuvres for the event were delicious as well and the drinks were well made. Based on the feedback I have from friends at the event, I think this venue will do well with the bar/ lounge crowd. it's location in the financial district will also definitely be ideal for the post work crowd.
(5)boom b.
Website advertizes Sunday jazz brunch with waffle and omlette stations. We made reservations and went. No jazz, no music, no waffle and omlette stations. My pals seemed to enjoy their meals but I can't recommend the waffles because they were so, so, so dry.
(2)Joanne M.
Stayed at the hotel and had breakfast few times, good selection for the buffet. Had a light dinner of chicken Caesar salad which was delicious with nice piece of chicken. Beautiful bar and seems like a fun meeting place for a drink.
(4)Andrew H.
So I'm not sure what the other reviewers that gave this place four or five stars are talking about. If you have been to a Todd English joint recently (the chef worked for him for ages) and you really liked it, then you will really like this place. But that means that your sense of taste is irreparably broken unfortunately. First off, do not be swayed by the clean contemporary pictures on the website. The decor actually is quite attractive, but there are two massive TV's hanging over the dining room blaring whatever sporting event that happens to be on. A word of advice, you are either a sports bar, an upscale contemporary dining spot, or a lounge - you cannot be all three at once and succeed. We ate dinner while listening to play by play of the NFL playoffs at high volume. For those older folk (30+) that may be swayed into thinking that this place might be different than all the other meat market-esque places that populate this neighborhood (like I was), it's not. It is just better decorated. People seems to enjoy the food, but we are not sure why. The bread was an eclectic collection of different things, but all equally dried out and tasteless. BTW, tapenade does not mean chopped olives - it is supposed to be a spread. Mini-crabcakes for an appetizer. Clearly frozen, microwave thawed, grilled for 30 seconds, and served with a horseradish sauce that didn't taste anything like horseradish. Weird. They tasted OK, but moist soggy texture was off-putting. I had a special - red snapper stew. For $26 I got three mussels, two clams, and a 1.5oz (if that) piece of snapper, and a dried out grilled octopus tentacle. That was on top of garlic mashed potatoes that were inexplicably buried at the bottom of the 'stew'. This made the whole thing into some kind of weird potato sludge. The sauce could have been something from the Olive Garden. Oversalted nonsense. And ridiculously overpriced. My wife got the lobster roll as the chef apparently came from Neptune Oyster as well and they have the best lobster roll on the planet. Well he clearly forgot something in the transition. Rubbery, bland, and (gasp) with lettuce. Yuk. The service was attentive if novice. Ultimately it was my fault for hoping for something that simply couldn't be true, but now it is my duty to warn everybody else that may be so swayed by the positive Yelp reviews and the recent Boston Globe writeup.
(2)Lisa M.
Terrible lounge/drink service. Have been to Nix's twice after work for drinks. First time, a Friday evening. A little busy, but we didn't have trouble getting a couch seat. Service was slow, and we consistently needed to flag our server over to get service. We ordered food too, so it's not like we were sitting there for two hours sipping on one cocktail. Basically, we got no attention whatsoever until we grabbed the attention of our server. Second time, a Monday evening, less crowded. Server took forever to come over. We were a group of six, and ordered a bottle of champagne. After a decent wait, server comes back and proceeds to pour the entire bottle amongst five glasses, leaving the sixth empty, with no real apology for the disproportionate pours. So we had a to order a sixth glass! We stayed for another round of drinks, which was slow coming, and no one ever came to check if we needed more, wanted food (we did, but said screw it). Won't go there again, which is a shame as it is nice atmosphere to sit and have drinks after work.
(2)Seth D.
Food and beverage good, service lazy, in-attentive when restaurant was only half full Served coffee and condiments with no spoon. Served entrees without replacing cleared utensils.
(1)Larry N.
Loved the live music here on Friday night! However, the waitress was not very attentive. Great selection of beer!
(4)C O.
Really great happy hour specials and cocktail offerings. I usually sit at the bar when in town for business and the food has always been great. Their steak and fries is a great combination!
(4)Stephanie C.
Perfect spot for a Friday night with friends (only night of the week I have been). They seem to always have an awesome band playing. Sweet Tooth and the Sugarbabies play there frequently and are the best cover band I have ever seen. It's worth going just to see them and there is never a cover charge. The menu is decent, nothing special. I've had their sliders and mushroom pizza a couple times and they were both really good.
(4)Todd F.
I stayed at the Hilton on business for a few days and really enjoyed this place. The apps were first rate and there was a great selection of craft beers. The braised short rib tacos are amazing. Nice crowd on Friday night and good live music.
(5)Chris C.
My dinner group went here on a December Friday evening, and rated the restaurant as follows: Food: 3.5 ; Service: 2; Décor: 4.5; Overall: 3 Comments (lightly edited for space): Presently surprised by the cool urban decor, anticipating what was to come, but unfortunately disappointed. The cocktails arrived pretty late, and my salmon dish was covered with a macabre piece of charred octopus,Yikes! There were other things/contraptions swimming around on the dish, which were confusing, but the fish itself was pretty good. I unfortunately don't think I'll return for dinner, but would for drinks at the bar -- great interior and would be a great place to unwind after work for drinks with a very modern feel and good selection of music. As for the food - the bucatini I had was great, and I really enjoyed my beet salad (though I'd have loved more of both the beet and goat cheese). Some of the other entrees looked great, too (venison, chicken and waffles, etc.)! I'd have even considered coming back despite the loud background music were it not for service - the only real issue I had with our evening there. We were there as a large group and our wait staff really struggled with our large group - a party of two seated next to us sat down after us, left before us, so I'm assuming their needs were tended to. All things considered, the menu isn't enough of a draw to bring me back, but if I'm in the neighborhood I with a very small group, I'd consider another visit. -- I thought my beet salad was fine - nothing to write home about, but the lamb chop was excellent. Nice atmosphere but very noisy restaurant. -- Beautifully modern bar and restaurant in a great location. The lobster caramel dish was incredibly delicious and interesting and worth a trip all on its own. Menu was varied in cuisine and price, which I appreciated; however, portions were all over the map. The lobster caramel which was billed as an appetizer could have sufficed for a meal but my friend's venison entree (which was amazing) hardly seemed proportional. Drinks were uninspired and slow to arrive (along with just about everything else with our meal). Service was mostly absent. Glad we had great company to whittle away they hour between being seated and being served. Bottom line: sit at the bar with a cocktail and that lobster caramel and soak in the sexy ambiance. -- ...Modern and inviting. The space was large, and despite a lively bar scene, was not overly noisy. Our party was seated right away, we all had menu's, with the specials attached, but not a single drink menu was placed at the table. After getting our orders in, we waited for our drinks, salty and vervish conversation kept our minds off our delayed food. An amuse bouche, a salmon cake with green salsa was brought out, it was tasty; however, I had the distinct feeling the amuse bouche was more to amuse our stomachs and less our bouche. At one point we questioned if our waiter had been fired, or had been sent home, but after a lengthy delay, the appetizer course came and I enjoyed a pesto chicken flatbread. While not a 5 star flatbread, it was tasty, and hit the spot. For my main course I had the Chicken and Waffles, the waffles were cooked with jalapenos and bacon, and sat atop a creamy maple sauce. The $26 main course lived up to its price and left me wanting nothing more. I would give Nix's Mate another chance to redeem their service score because the food was worth the wait. -- Sleekly modern bar and restaurant with a unique name ( I wish they explained it better on the menu.) . The lobster caramel dish was one of the most inventive dishes I've has this year, my slight quibble being a slightly grainy caramel, but huge props for inventiveness -- though my beet salad was only average. Drinks were boring and service was just terrible. An off night? I'd chance another visit but was hoping to fall in love, but Nix's Mate may only end up being a Friend with Culinary Benefits. -- Food was good, if not consistent. The venison was perfectly prepared and was a really unique, flavorful dish! The portion was quite small though. The beet salad was underwhelming as it was woefully mostly missing both beets and goat cheese (the two stars of any beet salad!). The complimentary amuse-bouche did not amuse my bouche in the slightest. Absolutely atrocious service. After asking for more time to order a drink, I was never asked again until I hunted down the server. Our food order was only taken after we sat there for upwards of 30 minutes, and I had to request the busser to find our server as he had been absent for so long. Food came out slowly and unevenly (... the restaurant wasn't incredibly busy either. Décor was nice, but not particularly unique. I will admit, I love that we had a round table for 8. At this price point, I'm going to have to nix this mate. Too many big flaws detract from what could be a really good meal. Get it together then call me back.
(3)Brittany R.
A very romantic place to go have breakfast with your honey. We selected some items from the breakfast table, a lot of variety. We were planning to eat lunch here, but we had our day filled up so just decided to try eating breakfast here. This is a very classy place. Very nice and beautiful!! Our pleasure eating here!
(5)Allison S.
I came here on a Saturday night for dinner, and it was surprisingly empty. We were dining at the elegant hour (around 9pm), but it was still pretty quiet. Needless to say, we sat right down. The decor was clean, modern and elegant without being too trendy. I really liked their light fixtures, too. The service was a little bit slow considering that there were a lot of empty tables, but the food came out fast and tasted great. I ordered the roasted half chicken, and it was exactly what I wanted to eat for dinner. It was fantastic. The prices are super reasonable, which is a breath of fresh air for the downtown Boston area. I'll definitely be back!
(4)My P.
The worst dinner I ever had! Was here for a surprise bday dinner last night and the service was slow the food was disgusting! It was so bad I don't think I even want to give it a 2nd chance. The chicken and waffles; chicken was over fried and extremely dry no taste what so ever. The tomahawk was blahhh salt and peppering the steak didn't even help. The pork belly slider were over powered by the sauce. This is why I rarely dine at a hotel restaurant. $2000 later and an empty stomach. Just stay to a lounge and bar Nix Nate.
(1)Alee G.
I dropped into this place randomly one night looking for a quick bite. I had the Boston Bibb salad. It sounded good. It even looked good. But, the taste left something to be desired. It just wasn't as flavorful as I thought it would be.
(3)C C.
An associated recommended this place and so a group of us came here for a business luncheon. The decor was impressive with high ceilings and with a bit of a posh feeling. The service was fantastic and very attentive despite the place being very busy. I ordered the smoked salmon salad and it tasted pretty good. It was a great recommendation and I am recommending this place to anyone who is read to go try Nix's Mate.
(5)Carl H.
Awesome improvement from previous menus/themes. Pretty cool menu - the fried chicken with waffle was very good. Excellent service and music playing was a great Pandora selection.
(4)P R.
Stopped in a bite - friendly staff; pretty good food. Had the fish and chips - homemade fries were good.
(3)Purple Orchard 2.
Have a business meeting and need a place to go? Looking for a "nice" place to take your date that is not too fancy, yet sends the message you are interested? Look no further, Nix's Mate has a wonderful menu, food is delicious and is served in a modern, upscale-ish, atmosphere, yet its reasonably priced. I recommend it for a business lunch, a 2nd date, dinner with the family, or a girls night out.
(4)Jim C.
Hip, cool place. Food and service were awesome. You MUST have the "Ice Cream Sandwich" dessert.
(5)Z M.
The food is very tasty, well done and not too bound by tradition. The menu and the wine lists are not overwhelmingly long, but nicely put together. HOWEVER (and this is costing them a star): For a restaurant seemingly catering to business folks and groups enjoying a meal together, the music is cranked WAY too high. In the absence of a dance floor and a raucous bar crowd, there is reallu no excuse for such a cranked-up sound. As it is deals cannot be made nor conversations pursued: You simply cannot hear what the others are saying.
(4)Sofia F.
Had a wonderful time here last Thursday. Organized a large group dinner for 20 people, and Nix's Mate was the perfect spot since they have a large private room in the back. Great service (kudos to manager Barry!), very reasonable price (and no room booking charges!), and solid food/ delicious cocktails. Will think of Nix's Mate again next time I am having a large event. And they have a live band on Thursdays, which I had not even known about!
(5)Robert S.
How the mighty have fallen. We were denied entry out first visit due to "t-shirts"(see my first review.) I was the only one with a v neck tshirt on, with a sport coat. Anyways, went here last night. They had a live band. The place was half full and most people seemed to be friends of the band. The service sucked and half the guys there had on baseball hats and sneakers. There were 3 bartenders, 2 female and one male. The guy was quick but always busy. The two girls were slow and didn't seem too enthusiastic. Bad move letting the Faneuil hall crowd spill over. Won't be back.
(1)K B.
I will start by saying our waitress was very sweet however we ordered six martinis, none of which were full glasses. when you pay that much for a drink they should be full and they were mediocre at best. the actual bar tenders were incredibly rude and are the reason we will not return.
(1)molly b.
This place is really odd. We went for the "funky brunch". Whoever named it that should be fired. Okay, once we got past the name, we were really impressed by the look and feel of the place - gorgeous high vaulted ceilings, lovely chandeliers, etc. The hostess and waitress were very friendly, but in that fake friendly kind of way, which was a bit annoying. We got seated right away and put at a nice table with plenty of room for my infant son. They were very prompt with the service and kept the water and coffee flowing nicely. The menu looked very promising with the array of different choices, but the food ultimately fell flat. We had: -Steak and chorizo tacos - yummy but extremely small portion -Burger - just so so, nothing exciting -Tuna nicoise salad - I think my friend liked it -Eggy tuna tartare - really delicious but the bread got soggy immediately and it was falling apart on me -Fruit and yogurt - bland, very boring The most astounding thing about this place is the DJ and the clientele. It seems to be going for a very young, hip crowd, but hello it's in a Hilton in the financial district! Ultimately we felt very much out of place here and couldn't wait to get out. I'm also going to be one of those moms and complain about the lack of a changing table in the bathroom. I ended up changing my son on the floor of the stall because there was nowhere for me to go. This is very surprising for a hotel lobby restroom!
(2)Elle C.
I want to move in and just eat all the appetizers and drink the wine cellar dry
(4)Caitlin M.
Drinks are superb, I had the Rachel's wall, smooth and not too sweet. Polenta fries were perfect with well cooked hanger steak. Dessert ice cream sandwiches with great burnt caramel sauce. Have been twice both with and without kids and great experience both times with excellent service.
(5)Food E.
Great food! Steak frites with Polenta fries were amazing, and chicken under a brick was cooked perfectly. Friendly staff, nice decor. One note, live music Friday nights is at concert volume, so if you want to talk over dinner, go before 9pm.
(5)Shanna G.
I stayed at the Hilton for a few days on business and after the long days, I didn't really feel like venturing out much. On night 1, I ordered room service which comes from Nix's also and had the Lobster Caramel appetizer. It was so uniquely delicious, a perfect savory/sweet dish if you're into that sort of thing...which you should be! I didn't expect much as this is a hotel restaurant but boy, was I wrong. I arrived back to the hotel tired on day 2 of my stay around happy hour. The bar was hopping but I was feeling tired and kind of antisocial (don't judge me, bro!) so I asked to be seated in a quiet area. They seated me without question in a nice, quiet corner by the window which was perfect. My server's name was Pete and he was super nice and attentive. He made light conversation with me the whole time, but without being annoying. We were joking about the difference in accents from Jersey, NY and Boston and he got a kick on how I say water (rhymes with daughter). Anyway, I ordered the Lobster Roll with truffle fries and I have to say, this was the best damn Lobster Roll I've ever had in my life. It was piled high with fresh warm, claw and tail meat, tossed in the perfect amount of butter and mayo with buttery Bibb lettuce on a brioche bun, garnished with chives. I had to partially eat it with a knife and fork due to size but I ate the entire thing! Amazing! This Jersey girl will be dreaming about it for a long time! The truffle fries were crisp and had a good balance of parmesan and truffle flavor. Truffle is one of those flavors that can either make a dish or ruin it and they did it right. I also had breakfast at Nix's the next morning which was just a slightly above average buffet but again, the service was amazing. I ordered an egg white omelette and the egg station chef said that he saw where I was sitting and told me to go ahead and sit and enjoy some coffee or juice and he would bring it over to me in a few. Not a big deal, but a kind gesture. Good service goes a long way but pair it with great food and I'll be back for sure! Great place for a romantic dinner but also perfect for a business lunch or dinner at the same time.
(5)Nicole V.
Nix's Mate has become our business lunch/dinner go to. It's close to the office, food is good, and prices are reasonable. Food here varies from "good enough" to "absolutely delicious". At the top of my recommendation list is the tuna tartare and egg sandwich from the lunch menu. Since ordering this once at lunch, I have not veered. My coworkers have enjoyed their variety of other sandwiches, flat breads, and fish tacos but I judge them a little every time they don't follow my order. I haven't found a go-to dish for dinner, but haven't been disappointed yet. One person raved over their steak frites which came in an intimidatingly large portion. Everything I've had has always leaned towards the seafood end of the spectrum (shark filet, some other fish dish, and scallops) with no regret from me. The scallop dish came out with four large scallops atop some pureed to silky perfection vegetables. The only turnoff to this dish was that it was then drizzled in butter. I wasn't expecting a lack of butter, but the pure product was overkill. Note that if you order a salad with shrimp you will get three of the biggest shrimp we have seen cooked perfectly on top. It's rare that a salad gets the dish envy of the table, but that certainly happened. Recently one person did order salmon that came out completely uncooked, but we've never had any other faux pas in our handful of visits. Service has always been on point with water glasses being filled regularly and meals well timed, with dinner being notably better than lunch in this category. One time we opted for whiskey instead of dessert. Nix's Mate was out of the first three that were ordered, but the server could not have handled it better. He turned what could have been a mood changer into a comical situation. I wish I remembered his name to commend him by name. Being adjacent to the Hilton lobby, the local choice hotel of our company, makes this an even easier decision for out of town co-workers. This also means that you get a mix of attire in the restaurant. The restaurant is clearly going for a higher class feel but can't get away from the dressed down vacationer. We have never had a problem with this, but I have heard a few of the "old men's club" (you know the type) sneer at it. Overall, we will be back. Especially at lunch for that sandwich that is now calling my name..
(4)Julie P.
It was a Tuesday night at 630pm and my friend and I chose to sit in the cozy nooks they have by the windows with couches and low tables. That was great. I think they went a little overboard with # of tvs given the quaint atmosphere they are otherwise creating. The hostess was charming and smiley and our waitress - Elizabeth acting like her dog just died - her personality was flat, she never smiled and when I asked her questions she acted like it was beyond her job description to know any details. There was a happy hour special with dollar oysters, shrimp and clams. All I asked is if the shrimp were jumbo. " I don't know" was her annoyed answer. She was horrible. She never followed up to ask how our meal was or ask if we needed anything else. She let our drink order stay at the bar for a good 10 minutes until we flagged the hostess to get it for us. The food was delicious- wild mushroom pizza had melt in your mouth dough and the calamari was a touch overly salty but tasty. The short rib tacos were yummy too although I mostly tasted the beans and would have liked to have tasted the meat more. The dollar JUMBO shrimp were a disappointment- they were chalky and not fresh tasting. I would have given 4 stars if not for the poor service.
(2)Mary C.
We had a party of 8 for two birthday's on Saturday. The food was good and plentiful. Their portions are huge in comparison to what other hotel restaurants will serve. Our favorite appetizer were the mac and cheese bites. Some folks from our group do not do cheese but even they had to agree those were damn good. For dessert the creme brulee was really yummy, still warm in the center, totally hit the spot. Our waitress was really sweet, very welcoming, and let us go into their William Fly room to take a girls shot. It came out so nice! For drinks the pear something (I forgot the name but it had st. germain in it) and their moscow mule's were refreshing! We ordered a round of shots and it basically came out as double shots, we had to toast twice to finish it. :) It's definitely a good place for large/small groups for dinner. And you can pretty much stick around for the real party. The bar gets pretty packed, and the music gets louder. They spin a really fun blend of old hiphop and top 40's. I had to knock off one star. I'm assuming because it's in a hotel it can't get too loud, but they kind of started to close down at 12:30PM. :( bummer.
(4)Alicia M.
We went for dinner before the club started and loved it. The waitress seemed new, she didnt remember to bring our drinks (20 minutes later we got a hold of her) but from there it got better. We split the lobster caramel and wish we had more, little pricey but it was very good - you wont find something like that anywhere else. MUST ORDER. We split the steak and shrimp and it was amazing. The flavors and the chimichurri sauce was a perfect touch. Great place give it a try before 10pm if you dont want to club with 21 year olds.
(4)