We came for brunch on Sunday for the Bloody Mary bar. It had a good range of hot sauce to choose from. They also had a bunch of pickled vegetables to choose from as garnishes. Nothing too special or out of the ordinary. The food menu was just average. There was nothing on there that particularly wowed me. I opted to get a grilled chicken sandwich. It sounded amazing on the menu (buffalo mozzarella, sundried tomato jam on ciabatta) but it wasn't that good. It was pretty dry. I thought the bread to chicken ratio was off so that could have contributed to the problem. The reason I'm writing a review though is because of Chris, the restaurant manager. He randomly came to our table and asked how we were doing. We told him that we would have loved to see bleu cheese stuffed olives for the Bloody Mary bar and he had the kitchen make us a bunch for our cocktails! It was a really nice gesture. I'll definitely come back and order something different to eat!
(4)
Mika S.
Great food in a nice and relaxed atmosphere. I came here with 4 other people and ordered a number of the small plates to share. We had the Grilled Pear Salad, Cheese Board, Steamed Edamame, Oven Roasted Goat Cheese, Ahi Tuna Tacos, Blackened Day Boat Scallops, Pan Roasted Shrimp, Tempura Green Beans, Peanut Butter Mousse, Bread Pudding, and Chocolate Torte. My favourite entrees were the Pan Roasted Shrimp, and the Oven Roasted Goat Cheese. The sauce that the shrimp were cooked in was absolutely phenomenal and perfect for dipping the bread into. The goat cheese was surprisingly large, and sat in a bowl of marinara sauce. The exterior of the cheese was slightly crispy, with a gooey and warm interior. I've never had goat cheese with marinara sauce, but the flavours paired together perfectly! I just wish there was a bit more bread with this dish. The best dessert was definitely the Peanut Butter Mousse - it tasted like a peanut butter cup, without sitting like a rock in your stomach. The bread pudding was perfect for anyone who wants something fruity after dinner, whereas the Chocolate Torte was a must-try for those who prefer richer flavours.
They were really great about switching out the English muffin for a salad. And when the eggs came out scrambled (I didn't call it and they didn't ask) they were extremely accommodating to bring eggs over easy. They work well as a team. My server, Rachael, was very helpful when explaining the Bloody Mary bar and got me lots of limes when I requested them. She was really friendly, happy, and cool. Just a really nice vibe from the ladies. The steak looked a little small but it turned out to be plenty of food. All in all a very enjoyable experience!
(4)
Lillian D.
Stellar in all ways: decor, service, food. My date and I searched for a "bougie" place (with "hipster" food and wine) and were not let down. The interior is tightly packed, but the decor is splendid. Our waitress (wish I could remember her name) was so helpful and attentive. And the food... wow. We'd eaten at another restaurant the day before which served decent scallops. Those served here, though smaller, were cooked perfectly. So moist, tender, and faintly reminiscent of their sea home. Same with the shrimp, though the sauce in their dish might have been the bigger highlight. Soak it up with the bread, and you won't be let down. The arancini could have been cooked a little longer for my liking, but the creamy insides were to die for, as was the marinara. Then we had the fall-apart short rib which was served with (once again) perfectly-cooked spinach and (one again) a delectable sauce. Even the celery mash was a surprising delight. The Mercer cab was [expletive deleted] amazing. And the "deconstructed" smores added just enough sweet to the end of an inspired meal. If I'm in the area again, I'll definitely go back.
(5)
Jen D.
Scollay Square is a solid restaurant. I live nearby, so I've had brunch, lunch, and dinner here a few times each. The service is excellent--friendly and just the right amount of attentiveness, even when they're busy. The food's always good. The beef short ribs with celery root puree and mushrooms was especially tasty. Prices are reasonable and there's plenty of seating. If the weather's nice, they have a patio if you're feel al fresco.
(4)
Haydn G.
The food was extremely underwhelming. I ordered the scallops which came with swiss chard and mashed potatoes. The scallops were not seared properly and the dish had seemingly no salt. My friend's dish, on the other hand, was over salted. She ordered the swordfish medallions; everything was cooked well, but after the first medallion, the salt was too much. My other friend ordered the lobster risotto which was extremely basic - just a simple risotto recipe and some chewy lobster thrown in. The service also leaves a bit to be desired. I ordered a gin and tonic and specifically asked for a lemon. I was presented with a lime. All three of our dishes were taken away with a majority of the food left untouched. No one asked if we had any issues, though it was obvious we did not enjoy our meals. I will not be coming here again and urge you to reconsider if you made a reservation. Do not waste your money.
(3)
Serene T.
Absolutely loved this place! We ordered the Caesar salad, calamari, and tomato soup which were all very good! Il the Caesar dressing was on point and just the right amount for the portion of lettuce. The tomato soup was clearly made from scratch, which made it all that great. I loved how they paired the vegetables with the calamari. As for the main course, my sisters and I had the miso salmon, penne with Kobe beef, lobster risotto, and pan roasted shrimp. The salmon was fresh and cooked to perfection. I literally inhaled the food off my plate. The pasta was on point with its made from scratch sauce and tender Kobe beef. Lobster risotto was tasty and creamy. And lastly Chris, the manager, really hooked us up with the pan roasted shrimp. We can't have any alcohol and so he offered to make a special chipotle BBQ sauce instead of the dark beer sauce. Suffice it to say, it was epic! I loved the ambience of the place. Very clean. Not to mention we got our food really quickly! Chris really catered to our table which made the experience even more so pleasurable. I would highly recommend this place!
(5)
Rachel C.
After being on the hunt for oysters, we settled for here. Okay... so no oysters served here anymore, take note. I would have been totally bummed if the meal had turned out to be bad, but it didn't at all. I ordered the tuna nicoise salad, which was very hearty. Only thing it could have used more of was the tuna. It was a really tiny piece of tuna sliced into about 5 thin slices. We also tried the edamole, which was a play on guacamole. I love edamame, but can that translate to a tasty dish? While it definitely didn't have the kick of gauc, I'd compare it more to hummus. Still, it was good. I really liked the crispy chips they served with it. Would have been nice to have more veggies. They only gave us 4 carrot and celery sticks. See a theme here? The dishes were just missing a little bit more. But not necessarily small portions or a deal breaker to come here! I also approve of the Bloody Mary! It came with three olives!! Normally you get around two, so surprise there! But it was spicy, just like if ask for! Only issue was, our server didn't come around at the end of our meal for a good amount of time. No checking in to see if we were ready to bounce. So we waited around for a bit until he finally came over. It wasn't busy, so I'm not sure what happened. Again, not a deal breaker.
(4)
Liz K.
Meh, it's okay. Strictly okay. Beacon Hill prices, good service, and plentiful portions. However, I'm less than thrilled with the fact that some of the food seems fresh when other dishes don't. I stopped by there recently with my grandmother for my umpteenth visit to Scollay Square and ordered two appetizer dishes. One was hot and tasted fresh and the other was greasy and really not appetizing. I had to dump salt on it to finish it. Take my review with a grain of salt (no pun intended) as I've only ever ordered three dishes here. Maybe other things are better.
(3)
Chavi B.
3.8. I got the wasabi mashed potatoes & the mushroom flatbread. My boyfriend got the lobster mac & cheese & he started feeling bad after he Ate half of it. My flatbread was sooo good, but the mashed potatoes had no flavor at all. We got takeout so we didn't get the full experience but I probably wouldn't return here because I feel like I wasted my money. Good luck.
(3)
Alice P.
Back again! Random night in Boston and in Beacon Hill so I decided to meet my niece for dinner/drinks without reservations. Scollay, I heard was hugely busy on Thursday but I thought since we were early it might be a good try around 5Pm. I was right. It was once again the perfect spot. Near empty patio on a warm summer Thursday eve. My niece and I started with a Margherita flatbread and cocktails. Our waitress Rachel (completely a coincidence) suggested a Lucky Pony for me. It was just perfect. Rachel was most attentive without being intrusive and we enjoyed her input when we were trying to decide our orders. After a few minutes,I realized, that this was the very same Rachel we experienced at brunch. Public, be good to your wait staff. They can make your day/ night. Our other family members arrived a few hours later and we ordered the buffalo flat bread, a burger, truffle fries and short rib plate. Not one complaint from our table and not much left to clean on the plates either. Needless to say, another great dining experience. Rachel is a superstar and I hope the other staff is as delightful. I promise we are not related and not stalkers! It was just a nice coincidence and to our benefit. We had a wonderous experience. Too long a story to express how bad my week had been up to this point. I was certain I would fall apart at any second. But, to be treated so well and to enjoy such epicurean delights, all troubles melted away. Yes, hold our seats. We will return.
(5)
Antonio B.
Pretty nice spot. Both from the outside and inside, since the decoration is pretty bad and it looks like a chain, my expectations were pretty low. But I was proven wrong. Their tuna was great and we also had the scallops: fresh and tender. This place really shines for its food. Both decoration and service are at chain-level. They need to fix that.
(4)
Sandy V.
Best mojito ever!! Shared arancini, calamari and lobster mac and cheese for late nite dinner.
(5)
Katie W.
My husband and I came for Sunday brunch. The manager, Chris, greeted and sat us. We ended up choosing the bar. Both Chris and the bartender were lovely; very friendly, great customer service. I got a delicious cocktail (grapefruit and basil martini) and my husband ordered a Bloody Mary. In high maintenance fashion like my husband tends to be, he requested blue cheese olives. Without hesitation they hand stuffed blue cheese olives for him. I got the west coast Benedict and my husband got the buffalo chicken flatbread. Both were very tasty. Mostly the atmosphere and service of this place earn it five stars. I highly recommend it.
(5)
Sean A.
I had dinner here on a Friday night. It was surprisingly empty, but not for lack of good food. We started with the tuna tacos, which were okay, and the calamari, which was really good. The large-dish of scallops was excellent. Our server was great. Overall, I'd give the place a thumbs up.
(4)
David C.
When it comes to brunch at Scollay Square, the price is definitely right. The food certainly isn't mind-blowing, but for around $10-12 per item, you won't be disappointed as long as you keep your eggspectations (see what I did there?) low. I wanted to order the crab cake eggs benedict which I thought would be a steal for $12, but was quickly informed that they had just sold the last one around 1pm. Instead, my server recommended the lobster eggs benedict that was not on the menu, but is apparently an old standard of the restaurant. The benedict wasn't anything special (the lobster tasted a little bit old and I'm not sure the English muffin was even toasted), but the hash browns and lemon dressed greens that came with it were excellent (pretty sad that lettuce and potatoes overshadowed lobster though). Our table split the mascarpone stuffed French toast topped with a strawberry-orange compote, and again, it was just ok. The portion size was kind of small and the toast itself was overly soggy, even before syrup. I probably won't be back anytime soon, but if you're looking for a pre-movie brunch option near the Common, you could certainly do worse.
(3)
Kevin J.
I had the lobster risotto. The risotto was mediocre and the lobster meat had a chewy texture. I'm confident that I could have prepared this dish myself and saved some money. While I did get enough to eat, I left most of my food untouched. However, I enjoyed the atmosphere and my cocktail was decent. Overall, it's not hard to find better food in Boston for these prices.
(2)
Jamaal D.
Hotel doorman recommended this place so we hiked over to this small indoor/outdoor urban eatery. The wait staff was some of the friendliest folk on our Boston trip and the manager was funny and helpful. We started off strong with a mint lime and cucumber tequila mixed drink and an orange juice and champaign flute. Both were good (mimosa was better than the tequila in my opinion) and the manager even comped me a drink when I clumsily (if not drunkenly, drinks were nicely strong) spilled my tequila. We proceeded to order the short rib burrito and the American breakfast. Both were pretty good, especially the burrito. All in all a solid breakfast spot surrounded by beautiful Boston scenery with A plus managers and staff.
(4)
Marine G.
Do not go to this place. Worst waiter ever : dumb / stupid / rude / and dumb again. Never happened to us to leave a place before having lunch (and we were hungry!). The guy did not want our money obviously.... We asked for a table in the shade (they were plenty) but the guy was insisting to put us in the sun. He did not offered us any other solution and was clearly rude so we left. Glad we did as the food also was looking barely ok.
(1)
Mike E.
Enjoyed a delightful brunch on the shady patio out front. Service was prompt and very friendly. The Bacon Bloody Mary was exceptional and fried egg sandwich and blueberry pancakes were delicious.
(4)
Jacqui J.
Penne with mozzarella & tomato sauce = amazing Murray Hill Chicken = amazing The lucky pony (Bulleit bourbon with mint, lemon, peach and whatever else made it so delish) = amazing Thumbs up! Now on to the Orpheum to see of monsters & men (great pre-concert dinner/location)
(5)
Virginia C.
Location. Location. Location. This is right next to the State House when you need to meet someone here for the lunch. The food though.. is just okay. The one thing that stands out on the menu is the Mac n Cheese (add Buffalo Chicken or Lobster). It's very solid and who doesn't love Lobster Mac n Cheese!!!
(3)
Robert W.
The food was great but didn't really fill you up/left you wanting more. and the service was slow. It took us 20-25 to get our meals after placing our order
(3)
Katy W.
It was completely dead when we tried this out on the weekend. I kind of liked how quiet it was actually, but I'm betting that it's kooky during the week. Anyway, I like how they have a cheaper lunch menu. It doesn't have a huge selection, but if you want a sit-down lunch there's not many places nearby that are well-priced. They were still serving brunch (until 2) when we stopped in and I never turn down eggs so I was happy to try a mushroom/swiss omelet while my husband had the "square" breakfast with eggs, toast, hash browns and sausage. I was happy with mine and my husband really liked his. The price was right too. This is a great option if you're in the area. I like the old-school vibe without crummy old-school food. They have classic items, but they are well-cooked and have nice flavors.
(4)
MaryLynne G.
Made a reservation for 6 for Saturday night at 7pm. Prime time and we were making the res a few days ahead of time so choices were obviously limited. I am so glad we took a chance on Scollay Square. Location was great and we were seated right away. Our server was very friendly, food came out quickly, drinks were good; all in all Scollay Square was solid on every count. I got the miso salmon with lobster mashed potatoes, as did one other member of our party. Other diners in the group got a pork entree, fish tacos, fried goat cheese, a veggie stir fry, etc.; quite a variety of foods, and each person completely cleaned their plate. Great option for larger parties on a weekend night when you don't want to wait for hours at other more "in" places. Definitely recommend.
(4)
Jeremy D.
It was pouring rain and miserable and we were wandering around at night desperately looking for dinner. Most of the restaurants close early downtown, but thankfully Scollay was open. When we came in, my sister saw an item she liked on the menu, and we were seated quickly at a nice window table. The waitress was really accommodating to my sisters questions regarding food sensitivities and didn't just guess but actually went to kitchen to find out what was in the dishes. In fact the manager actually came over and offered to modify and change dishes in order to accommodate her. When I asked about the fish and chips since they aren't on the dinner menu (so well talked about on here) he said it was on the bar menu, and brought one over for us. Let me just tell you, I've had a lot of fish and chips in my day, and these were unbelievably good. My sister got an Asian-fusion rice bowl and she loved her dish again. We were just really impressed with the service, the manager's attention, and food. Would HIGHLY recommend this restaurant for anyone in Boston. Best part is that the prices were extremely affordable for the quality of food you are getting.
(5)
Eden O.
Had to get some fish and chips before I headed back West so we found this place a short walk away from Faneuil Hall. The decor I would say is upscale pub style. Really tall ceilings with exposed wood and stark white walls. They do have a couple seats outside on a patio in front of the restaurant. It wasn't overly busy on a Sunday around 3p. Our server wasn't really friendly but did nothing wrong either. The fish and chips was delicious and definitely hit the mark. Fresh fish, not overly greasy and homemade thick fries. Beer selection was short but good. Would recommend for a casual lunch or dinner.
(3)
Chelsea F.
My boyfriend and I had dinner here for my birthday. Everyone was extremely friendly and accommodating when we decided to move seats. Our server was nice, but distant and awkward. It seemed like it may have been her first day. Being a server myself, I always check back with my tables and try to be as quick as possible. This was not the case. Our drinks took about ten minutes to arrive--for a busy Friday night--acceptable. The goat cheese appetizer came out very promptly--although It was luke warm--delicious. After the appetizer we only Saw our server one more time--she was standing by the bar talking a majority of the time. Our dinners were phenomenal. Although they were dropped off abruptly without a word, we were extremely satisfied. I chose the ahi tuna and my boyfriend got the drunken shrimp pasta. If it weren't for the service, this place would get five stars. The good was seriously to die for! After we finished eating, we waited and waited for our server to come over. We finished our drinks and watched her talking to a man sitting at the bar for what seemed like forever. Even after she knew we were ready to leave, we watched her stand at the bar and continue to talk to this man WITH OUR CHECK IN HER HAND. As soon as we put our card in to pay she was right there, though. Hmm, strange. Anyway, great food. Unprofessional service--especially with then knowing it was my birthday. The man at the front door was extremely friendly, though! He even wished me happy birthday when we left!
(4)
Anthony N.
Food was good, but service was really good, no, outstanding! I ordered fish and chips, my mom ordered blackened swordfish, and my fiance ordered the ride bowl. The rice bowl was delicious, my fish and chips was exactly what you would expect, but my mom said the swordfish was like eating salt. The highlight of the trip was Chris the manager. He made my mother another round of swordfish without the salt and jokingly pointed out that if it was too bland there was sea salt on the table. He was funny and very accommodating. The deck is nice but no dogs allowed.
(5)
Samantha G.
This is a good place for a decent lunch during your work week. The salad I had (grilled pear) was good, except I would have liked a more ripe pear. My friends had the veggie stir fry and the ceasar salad with steak tips. No one was really disappointed, I just wasn't thrilled either.
(3)
Janet K.
We went here for my husband's birthday last year and had a blast! Our dinner was amazing and they remembered my request to bring out his birthday dessert. They also have a cool bar area and overall atmosphere is classy/romantic.
(5)
Kayla C.
Big fan of the atmosphere, cocktails, and varied menu. The menu recently changed, but now it seems there are more options for apps/small plates. Seafood is always wonderful (lobster mac and cheese and scallops are kind of my things; and they're totally tasty here). I recently took my parents and grandmothers here when they were in town for my graduation, and we had a very friendly, timely waiter. He knew when to approach - when not. Especially considering my family is terrible with decisions. We also obnoxiously arrived approximately 40 minutes prior to our reservation time, but they made room for us without a fuss, even though we said we could just sit at the bar and "drink responsibly" or something. Because of the recent menu change, the manager had to inform me the scallops I ordered were different than the exact menu item...which didn't make a difference to me, delicious either way! When we ordered desserts, they came with candles (for graduation? cute nonetheless) and they were free! Yay! I'll gladly sit back, grab some calamari and tempura green beans, and enjoy some cocktails here anytime.
(5)
B W.
Scollay Square has very good food (probably around 4 stars for the category), but the service and atmosphere really set it apart. The wait staff is friendly, just the right amount of attentive, and it's a great place to grab an informal business lunch or just relax for a meal after work. The beet salad is excellent, as is their chicken sandwich and fries.
(5)
Samuel M.
I used to love this place, until they took their menu and put it through meat grinder. I would regularly come here for their tuna steak and wasabi mash potatoes. It was amazing. Their buffalo chicken dip was just the right amount of spicy and savory. It was a great first date restaurant and one that my fiancee and I loved to frequent. With the menu "rework" they have removed some of the best items in an attempt to have a more diverse menu. This attempt failed. I had the tuna tacos and while they tasted decent, they looked completely unappetizing. The cole slaw that they served with the tacos was edible at best. We spoke with the staff briefly and they are just as baffled at the removal of some of their most popular items. In closing, the menu "rework" threw out the best dishes and replaced them with dishes that are mediocre at best.
(2)
amanda n.
My family had a great birthday dinner here. Since we made reservations, they even printed up special menus for our party. A nice touch. I don't remember many specifics about my experience here, but everything was quality -- food, service, atmosphere. Excellent. You must try the lobster macaroni & cheese. You must.
(4)
Kiki B.
eh. maybe it's nicer if you get to sit outside on the patio, but the night we were there the inside ambience just felt a little old and dated, and not in the awesome old-school boston way, just in the worn-down way. the food was just okay - met my needs, not much more.
(2)
Martha L.
Do NOT go to this place if you need to be somewhere after dinner. We came here because we were going to the theater a few blocks away. We got there with enough time to eat and make it to the show, but it was a bit tight. I told the waiter when we first sat down that we need to leave by 7:45pm to go to a show at 8pm, giving us about an hour. He was training someone at the time so both of them heard me. The three of us ordered an appetizer and our entrees fairly quickly. The food came SUPER SLOW. The restaurant was not crowded, but things did not seem to be moving. I was concerned and mentioned our time restraint again after our appetizer arrived. No response. Not even an acknowledgement. I finally got up and spoke to the manager at 7:40pm. It was completely ridiculous. Our food was still not done. I was ready to walk out. The manager apologized profusely and tried to rush things. We finally got our food at 7:45 and I was only able to take a few bites before having to leave. This is not just bad service. This is unacceptable service. What makes it worse is that the waiter is actually training someone else. The food is decent. But really, no matter how good the food is, you will still need time to eat it.
(1)
Ashley R.
Amazing food, drinks, and service!!! Moscow mule was delish!!!! Fresh and crisp! We had meatballs and scallops to start with. Meatballs were like something my grandma would make, moist and savory! Scallops were cooked to perfection!!! Also had the miso salmon (which I will forever dream about the flavor) and the short pins were also so amazing sitting on top of lobster mashed potatoes. Finished the dinner with vodka neat and bread pudding! If ever back in Boston I will be back!!!
(5)
Ashley W.
Where else can you get brunch this good?! The Rice Krispies french toast, the FLUFFY (not heavy like most dinners) scrambled eggs, REAL bacon, and the BEST coffee on the planet - all reside here. I've never had dinner here, but if brunch was that good, I can only imagine their other options. Why I gave 5-stars: As many times as I've ordered hot chocolate, this place served it in a glass, which meant I didn't have to re-order those small white tea cups of a kids serving. That, made me very happy.
(5)
Natalie M.
We were looking for a place that was close to the Public Garden after my husband ran the BAA 10k, so our cousins recommended this place. We had reservations but it was still very busy. When we sat down at our table, our waiter warned us that the kitchen was slammed and were looking at 45 mins before our meals would come out. We didn't mind since we were with a big group and wanted to catch up. I decided I didn't want anything heavy like pancakes and French toast (which some of the people who were with us ordered, and looked delicious). I instead ordered the short rib burrito with egg scramble, pulled short rib, cheddar cheese in a flour tortilla. The meat was nice and tender, and flavorful. The waiter brought out desserts which were comp. Good, relaxing atmosphere.
(4)
Lucas W.
Nothing short of phenomenal perfection. Every dish was done perfectly with great flavors. We started with a couple cocktails, I got a bourbon-based cocktail with some mint and sweet tea flavors which was delicious and went down super smoothly. Very strong as well. The gf got a cocktail that basically tasted like liquid pistachio ice cream, said it was great. We then had the tuna tacos which were absolutely heavenly. I loved the wasabi based sauce which pervaded teh tacos and the tuna was plentiful. Three-four massive chunks of top quality tuna made for a superb start to the meal. For her entree, my gf had the miso salmon served over lobster mashed. I can't eat lobster, but the mashed potatoes looked great with massive chunks of lobster. The salmon was good and cooked very well with not an overpowering soy flavor. For me, without a doubt, the highlight of the meal was my swordfish. Cooked to perfection with a delicious bit of blackening spice on the medallions with a hefty amount of beluga lentils around the plate. Just incredible, the swordfish was the perfect choice and I would get it again in a heartbeat.
(5)
Marc F.
Fabulous drink and dinner. Hendricks gin (very rare), baby kale salad, and short ribs. All excellent. Very good service.
(5)
Alison L.
I was slightly disappointed by Scollay Square. Perhaps I ordered wrong. Because the place seemed to be known for seafood, I got the scallops. They were quite small, and not that fresh, so the texture was a bit tough/chewy. So I was sad that I paid $23 for them... The presentation of the food was nice, however.
(2)
Kristen M.
We made what seemed like an unnecessary reservation on Saturday evening at 6:30. When we arrived their were tables open outside and we scooped one up no problem. Dining partner ordered the screaming rooster rock shrimp and buffalo chicken flatbread while I ordered the Murray Hill chicken entree. We ate almost everything we were served, the portions were just right. My chicken was a little dry but the risotto that accompanied it was fantastic. The service was attentive and we received refills without asking. Reasonable prices close to the theaters and State House.
(4)
Rachel M.
We went in at a weird time, so it was pretty dead but the bartender was still SUPER friendly and attentive. We only went for a snack, so we ordered a few apps and they were DELISH. Dayboat scallops, Kobe beef meatballs, and ahi tuna (which came on little rice cake and was stacked with seaweed salad). I could have eaten them all over again!
(5)
Joanne L.
The service was amazing. Such friendly staff. Went there on a weekday evening with three others. We only ordered appetizers and desserts although we sat at a table instead of the bar but the waiter did not judge us one bit. Food was good, prices were reasonable. Would return to have an actual meal some time.
(4)
Shari M.
While the food was decently priced it was incredibly bland. The fish and chips had no flavor and the roasted beet salad was underwhelming. We got the creme brule for dessert and it was gross.
(2)
Evin S.
Too tired for a sit-down dinner after a long work day, I craved seafood and wanted to find a restaurant a block east of Boston Commons that would do takeout. Scollay Square fit the bill. Ordered 2 "small plates" off the dinner menu: blackened day boat scallops & ahi tuna tacos. 2 small plates makes for a perfect small portion dinner for one person. 3 plates would probably be equal to a normal dinner portion. But if you're that hungry, you might as well save money and order one of the larger entrees. Scallops (four 1.75"-2" pieces) had a good texture and probably would have had a nice crust if eaten at the restaurant. It came with a delicious savory sauce; with hints of sage and citrus, not overpowered by horseradish noted on menu description. The ahi tacos had about 3-4 pieces of seared (not blackened) ahi, a good portion of the center was nice and rare. I am usually not a fan of slaw, but the Asian slaw in the tacos was not oozing with mayo... actually the wasabi cream sauce (again, not overly open-up-your-sinuses horseradishy at all) balanced well with the mae ploy chili sauce. Even after 15 minutes steaming in the takeout container, the tortillas were crisp, not mushy & floppy. Used some of the tortilla to soak up the rest of the scallop's sauce. Delicious! I'd come to Scollay Square again and maybe next time, eat at the restaurant to watch Monday Night Football at the bar!
(4)
Kayla C.
Never had better service. Absolutely amazing. The host was so nice. Came on marathon weekend and were seated immediately. We sat at a high top and the host stopped by during our meal to make sure our seat was okay. The food was very good. We just got a salad, burger and fish and chips (bar menu) but seriously if you only come here for the service alone you'll be happy.
(5)
Lily S.
Came here for a work dinner of about 20-22 people visiting from the UK and Sweden. We had one server. One. One person taking drinks. One person taking food orders. By the time I got my food, It was cold. I can only assume that pretty much everyone else had cold food as well since my dining companions were raised with manners and waited to eat only once everyone had a plate in front of them. I literally had to ASK for bread. What an effing embarrassment.
(2)
Julia M.
Scollay Square is one of my favorite spots in Boston, because it is one of those rare places that is great for all three meals. I have been to Scollay Square on quite a few different occasions for brunch, lunch, & dinner, & I have yet to receive a meal with which I was unpleased. In addition to their consistently good food, the service is also friendly & generally quick. If you come for brunch on the weekend, you might find service to be a tad slow, but that is simply due to the fact that Scollay Square tends to be very busy then. Its location near Boston Commons also makes it very easy to reach -- you can take the T to Park Street & walk. Tidbits: -They recently redid the menu & added new items. -The food is very reasonably priced, with dinner entrees ranging from $11 to $23. -Recommendation for brunch: crab cake benedict ($12) -Recommendation for lunch: lobster mac & cheese (market) -Recommendation for dinner: fish & chips ($14.50); broiled scallops ($16.50)
(4)
Roxy L.
The lobster mac and cheese is amazing! The cheese is somewhat light so it isn't super heavy and there is a ton of lobster! Service is wonderful and the patio is a great place to spend some time people watching. Definitely check it out!
(5)
Ellen S.
Good place for a casual lunch meeting or a nice, easy dinner - the interior/furniture always seems a little bit run down to me, but the food is great. Fresh salads (love the vinaigrette that comes on the mixed greens), apps (get the Kobe beef sliders!), sandwiches (they have a great turkey with some sort of cranberry mayo that is excellent) . Their mac and cheese is one of my favorites in Boston. Service is usually really good. Good place to bring a group - they have some nice vegetarian options and a varied menu, everyone will find something they like.
(4)
Theresa M.
I am still in awe of this place. I assumed it would be ok, but I was so impressed. My fiance and I went there for brunch. To start, we had the "clockwork orange" which is their answer to an mimosa...delicious. We then ordered the fried egg sandwich each and an order of french toast to split. Everything was so good. The fried egg sandwich was ridiculously good with fontina cheese, arugula and bacon topped with Lemon Aioli....oh and served on a ciabatta roll. I can't wait to go back and get it again. Also the service was quick and friendly.
(5)
Paige C.
$4 mimosas! YAY! Mimosas made with juice from concentrate...mehh... Food was overall nothing crazy. I ordered the "Western Eggs Benedict" which was supposed to be served with roasted turkey and avocado. I was thoroughly disgusted by the LUNCH MEAT served as "roasted turkey" it wasn't even freshly sliced from the deli. The hollandaise sauce had the consistency of water and not much more flavor. My husbands short rub burrito was tasty but seriously lacking on the titular ingredient. He def wished it had more short rib in it. They do get a bump in stars for the drink menu and like I said $4 mimosas. They sat us quickly, but service was pretty subpar.
(2)
Kenny C.
DIY Bloody Mary bar... check. Delicious filet mignon eggs benedict... check. Great decor... check. Outdoor seating... check. Friends paying for you because it's your birthday... no check for me!
(4)
Jenn B.
The service was great and host was very attentive. Arrived with a few of my girlfriends after work for patio seating and he immediately set up two high tops for us since no other seating was available. Recommended must haves - Any of their Mac & Cheese dishes and the goat cheese plate. They also have a really good wine list and drink menu. Perfect location for out of towners looking for something not too touristy but close to the Commons.
(4)
T P.
Chris and the rest of the staff are exceptional. Went here for dinner and the food is amazing and comes out of the kitchen quickly. Excellent drinks, dessert, and atmosphere. Would highly recommend this place to anyone in the area. Will be back!!
(5)
Annie S.
Heading into Boston at the last minute on Saturday, July 18. We were heading to the Common for the Out of the Box festival and 92.9 stage to catch some music and meet with family. My daughter had pulled up a restaurant she thought I might like to try for dinner. It was Scollay Square. Perfect name for a lifelong Bostonian. Also because my Mother would tell me stories about her younger days around Scollay Square back in the day. Great day on the common and then time to eat and catch the train back. As we walked I could tell my daughter about memories of Mom and I working in Boston and where we would meet. Here we are, Scollay Square, right across from where Mom and I would have breakfast together before heading to the office. I loved the vibe right away. The patio is comfortable and Chris, the manager made us feel right at home. We could sit anywhere we wanted. The patio it is. Our waiter was Brad. He was sweet, knowledgeable and very funny. We did not see the drink on this menu that was on-line, the Hemingway daiquiri. Chris and Brad said they could make it anyway. Super accommodating. Great choice. Delish. We could sit, relax and look over the menu. So many things to try. Brad answered our questions and made recommendations. We had the tempura green beans as an appetizer. They were a great finger food and cooked perfectly. For dinner, with Brad's suggestion I ordered the flat iron steak frites and my daughter got the pan seared scollops. The food looked beautiful when it arrived and tasted even better, the sides, the green, the entree all perfection. We had no room for desert. Which means we will have to return and soon. Chris, the manager, came out often to see how we were and told us some of the history of the building. It turns out, this is the building that had once been a hotel. The one my Mom and Dad spent their honeymoon at back in 1951! Everything had fallen into place the moment we entered Scollay Square. The manager Chris , our waiter Brad, the fab food and ambiance makes this a real winner for us and for Boston. Looking for my next free Saturday night to return. Don't forget to go a bit louder on the speakers playing Sinatra.
Original Date: August 17, 2013 Me and my friend decided to come back to Scollay Square one last time to try their Brunch menu. Since it was a lovely day, we sat outside and bumped into our waiter from dinner two nights ago and he still remember us =) Drinks: Orange Martini for my friend and I FINALLY got to try the Strawberry Jalapeño Margarita sooooooo yummy!! Food: Maine Lobster Roll for my friend and I got the Filet Mignon Eggs Benedict Make sure you stop by and dine here because the food is soooooo delicious!!
(5)
Corey L.
Met my buddy for a Wednesday night dinner on Beacon Hill. We had a nice seat outside, which was easy as it was early and no one else was there. Starting with drinks, their beer menu was quite sad. They had very few options and nothing good (I like hefeweizens and non-crap beer). They had a much bigger wine list, including 2, 6, 10 oz options - which I've never seen. You can get a number of 2 oz tasters. Their single glasses were reported at 6 oz, which is bigger than most - not sure if they actually lived up to that measurement. I just drank water. Started with some bread, which was totally fine. Apparently they recently changed around their menu - which is why the waiter was not able to give us good suggestions on what to eat...or so he said. I ordered the Scallops. They were big, numerous (5 or 6?) and came with some other stuff. It was totally solid - the scallops were well-flavored without being too salty or soy-saucy. I enjoyed them. My buddy got lobster risotto - big bowl of it. He said it was okay, but not that flavorful. That's my overall impression. I think the prices were quite reasonable if not low for the area, and the food matched that. It was totally fine, but not impressive. And Yelpers kept mentioning chocolate chip cookie sliders, which I was SO excited about, but weren't on the menu. BOO!
(3)
Frank H.
While walking on Beacon Hill on a Sunday morning (2/23/2014) we noticed a placard near the door inviting us in for brunch. The restaurant was beautiful - dark wood walls from floor to chair rails and matching crown molding but enough open space to feel comfortable. Our greeting was genuinely friendly and we were seated at a terrific window table from which we could watch Beacon Street. I regret that I can't recall the name of our server because she deserves special mention. The kid's menu had plenty of choices but my son selected a fruit salad with Greek yogurt from the Brunch menu. It was enormous, contained 8-10 kinds of fruit and topped with yogurt. The three of us failed to finish it off. (See photo) My stuffed French toast was great - another slice would have made it greater - and my wife raved about her egg dish. Go to this restaurant! We are going back soon.
(5)
Nikki W.
I kept hearing great things about this place but was really disappointed when I went. We came for a late dinner and sat outside. There is very little lighting outside and had to use my flashlight on my phone to see the menu. I felt bad for the waiter who seemed like he had too many tables to handle for himself. We waited 20 minutes for drinks because the first time he dropped them and had to get them again. Where we waited another ten minutes. He was apologetic but you could tell overwhelmed. The food was OK I had steak tips on a salad but the steak was definitely overcooked. I asked for medium rare. Maybe it is better place at lunch.
(2)
Rachael M.
Great dinner! Didnt have reservations and had a show at 8:00. We called on the way over and they sat us right away outside. Everyone was really happy with their meals and cocktails. We had the "edamole" to start which was great. We had the haddock, pork and tuna dishes and all were really good! The portions are perfectly sized (not huge.) I will definitely be going back!
(4)
Brian W.
Excellent service with delicious food at reasonable prices in Beacon Hill? I didn't believe it also, but Scollay Square lived up to all of the positive Yelp reviews. The restaurant is in a cool space with big exposed pipes, an open kitchen and some old school signs and pictures. The bathrooms are oddly located at the side of the bar and then down a long hot staircase. Most tables are against walls or windows, but we were seated at a little table right in the open. Even with a less-than-ideal table, it wasn't super loud or uncomfortable. Our waiter was awesome and was very aware of gluten allergy restrictions and was good about checking with the kitchen for all of my wife's questions. They don't have a separate menu, but they are able to accommodate very well. For an appetizer we had the pulled pork sliders, one without the bun on a separate plate to be gluten free. The sliders were delicious with just the right amount of spice and cole slaw that wasn't overly creamy. I read so many reviews about the fish and chips I had to get that for dinner. The fish was lightly fried and came in little nugget like shapes. It tasted fresh and delicious and paired perfectly with that great cole slaw and some crispy fries. My wife got the scallop entree modified to be gluten free by eliminating the soy/mustard sauce on top. She practically licked the plate clean so it must have been good. It was a belated birthday celebration for me so my wife surprised me with a chipwich for dessert. Usually it comes with 2 sandwiches, but even without asking they just gave us one chipwich and one gluten free scoop of ice cream with a side of hot fudge. Just that fact that my review is this long should speak volumes for this place. I can't wait to go back and try some other menu items.
(5)
Stacy G.
The food was wonderful. I had the scallops and were cooked to perfection. My son had salmon and lobster mash potatoes and was one of his all times greatest. Just a kids meal, but daughter loved the chicken fingers. Wife had the ahi tuna tacos and said they were great as well. Service was great too!
(4)
Richie F.
Food was very good but the portions were small, and I left still hungry. I had the chicken which was very good but it came with one small piece, my wife had the sword fish, again small portion. The staff and manager were friendly. I enjoyed my visit but would preferred larger portions
(3)
Edward B.
Have been here multiple times for brunch as it is one of the better restaurants in the financial district. The staff is generally pretty attentive and friendly. They have both indoor and outdoor seating which is a plus. The make-it-yourself Bloody Mary bar is my favorite! One of the times I went there they messed up my order and got me an omelette with chicken instead of a vegetarian (which I am!) omelette. After taking one bite, I realized it was not what I ordered. Upon pointing it out to the waitress, she was very apologetic and immediately fixed it. The manager stopped over and told me that my meal was on the house. Mistakes happen (which is why I couldn't give 5 stars), but they did well to salvage a not so good situation. I will definitely go back!
(4)
Erin A.
Delicious food. Creative menu with a nice variety. Beware - menu items that Yelp says are popular are not necessarily on the menu any more. The business has no control over that. We'd definitely come back.
(4)
Chris C.
Lunch: white bean soup and the rice bowl. Soup was thick - perfect for a winter day. The rice bowl was outstanding. Despite its name the rice bowl is a culinary tour de force. The tempura scallops alone are reason to revisit this dish, but the seared tuna just clinched the deal. Highly recommend. The bartender, Brad, was thoughtful, attentive, efficient, friendly, engaging, professional. He knew the menu and his patrons. Well done, Scollay Square. All restaurants should be this proficient.
(5)
Sergio P.
Tourist trap. Not horrible, just mediocre.
(2)
Beth P.
Not much needs to be said for this place. If you come for dinner, get the Rare Tuna. JUST GET IT. You will be blown away. Literally every single thing about this dish is perfection. I asked for more sauce because I basically wanted to drink it, and now I try to replicate it at home. The Prosciutto Mac and Cheese with Truffle oil is too good to be true. The helping isn't huge, but it's good because the dish is SO rich. We had the Philly cheese steak rolls for an app, and they weren't anything special, but I'll have to give their app menu another try sometime. I had the pear martini and it was DElish! Not too sweet, but very refreshing. Great place for a date night or just to get cocktails!
(5)
Stan G.
Excellent food and great service. the outside dining is comfortable and refreshing on a warm summer day. Our server bent over backwards to make everything good for us and the manager came by to say hello. Nice wine list and a great assortment of drinks from the full bar. Just steps away from the Common.
(4)
Alison C.
I came to Scollay Square for dinner with family friends due to its convenient location downtown next to the Boston Commons and because of the relatively good reviews on Yelp. Many raved of the Rare Seared Tuna Loin, so I, along with the majority of the table, ordered that dish. While this dish sounded amazing in theory, the taste and flavors weren't all that impressive. The seared tuna was well cooked, with a red middle and nice gradient to a pink edge, but the seasoning on the outside was very, very salty. It overpowered the tuna taste so much that I ended up scraping the sides of each piece to salvage the tuna in whatever way I could. The tuna is served over a bed of crisp cabbage, carrots, and other greens drizzled with a miso vinaigrette. The veggies weren't soaked in dressing, so the neutral greens helped with the saltiness of the fish when eaten together. The edamame was somewhat bland, but I appreciated the unique take of making it into a mash-like puree. While I and others weren't very happy with our selected dish, people who ordered other entrees were very happy with what they got. These entrees included the lobster mac and cheese and the scallop dish, so maybe there's better luck in taste with those. As for the business itself, the place was pretty empty when we went on a Saturday evening at around 7:00 PM. The restaurant is pretty spacious, and I noticed that most people opted to sit in the outdoor patio area. Parking is very hard to find as Scollay Square IS located downtown, so give yourself extra time if looking for a space. Service was friendly, if a little slow, and our waiter made sure we were taken care of throughout the evening. Overall, I would rate this place more of a 2.5 since I wasn't impressed, but I'll round up on this one.
(3)
Mark R.
Creme brulee was AMAZING!!!
(5)
Bill M.
This place is the most consistent as far as variety , service and quality huge fan of this place for lunch. Never had a bad meal.
(4)
Megan M.
Visited Scollay Square on a Monday and had a lovely dinner. The decor is nice, with the big high ceilings, but I wasn't a huge fan of the tables, they look better suited for a pub atmosphere. They had some excellent choices on the drink menu to start. The food menu is interesting, in a good way. We started with the arancini, which were very good. I had the salmon with the lobster mash pototoes. Arancini to start, salmon with sort of an asian fusion glaze- and paired with lobster mash? Like I said, interesting menu, but it worked. Everything was tasty. Nice option for a fairly priced dinner after work if you are downtown.
(4)
Matt C.
Very friendly staff, great drinks and good food. They saved our night after a near by Italian restaurant treated us horribly. I would absolutely return.
(4)
Katrina B.
This is a go-to place for lunch for my nearby officemates but I can't really understand why. Food is fine but nothing special, definitely overpriced, and the menu seriously never changes. I think it has been the same since I started working in the neighborhood 7 years ago. Much better options at the bottom of Beacon Hill (either Charles or Cambridge St) for the money you'll spend.
(2)
Tom M.
Was in town for a conference. We ordered basically all the sliders on the menu. We had a great waitress, Natalia, who let us order custom drinks and all kinds of random changes. Next time I'm going to get the chicken piccata special. Eric was also in a great mood. I'll be back for sure. Twitter - @tmcleod3 Instagram - @tmcleod
(5)
Dan A.
I stopped in before meeting a few friends for drinks on a Friday evening. It was my first visit to Boston, and I stumbled in after a quick Yelp search for anything that looked good in the few square blocks just north of the Common. I don't care to comment on the ambience and clientele bc I honestly just don't care about these things when I'm flying in solo and just want some good food and a drink. Being that it was just me, I grabbed a seat at the bar inside. I knew I had to go with seafood... I'm originally from AZ and have transplanted to Chicago, so fresh and local seafood are hard to come by and I wasn't going to waste the opportunity. I started with a beer and the scallops appetizer. The bartender was an aloof but pleasant guy. I asked for his recommendation to decide between the swordfish and the tuna filet. Without hesitation he suggested the filet. I'm by no means a foodie and it's difficult to disappoint my easy-going and indiscriminating palate, but I've eaten at many of the 'bests' of AZ and Chicago and it's rare that a dish just blows me away. It's two months later now and I still find myself looking for a similar dish on every menu, and I'm tempted to try and replicate the dish in my own kitchen. Just a fantastic dish... The filet was perfectly cooked and the flavors of the wasabi potatoes coupled with the sweet tang of the teriyaki on the fish and spinach... Just great! I've always been a fan of horseradish and wasabi kicks. If you can say the same of yourself then I strongly recommend that you stop in and order the rare tuna filet.
(5)
Jessica H.
I've only been here for brunch, but it is AWESOME! They have a make your own bloody mary bar that has literally everything you could think of. Celery, large variety of hot sauces, olives, asparagus, the list goes on! Not to mention they give you a healthy serving of vodka too :) They also have $4 mimosas. The food was delicious. Half of our party opted for breakfast and the other half for lunch. Both were delicious. The staff was super friendly too! We had to switch tables (we were in a big party) and they brought us out dessert as a surprise at the end! Totally not necessary but completely welcomed! Loved this place. Convenient location right in Beacon Hill, and they're open on Saturday for brunch - which is rare!
(4)
Christine P.
My friends and I were referred here by a local hotel and were told it was a hidden gem. We think they were totally right! We started with some drinks. My friends all opted for the sangria, which they liked, and I ordered the pear martini. It was fantastic! It tasted of fresh pear rather than the fake pear flavoring you mostly find. It was delicious, refreshing, and one of the best cocktails I've had in a while! We also ordered guacamole as an app and it was good. Not mind blowing, but definitely good. For entrees our table ordered scallops and risotto (very good), thai chicken and vegetables (again, very good) and steak tips (excellent). I loved that all the veggies were cooked perfectly and still maintained a bit of a snap. We tasted each other's meals and liked everything. We were all a big fan of the steak tip marande. It was really good! For dessert we ordered the chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches, which were incredible. Sadly, they give you this little cup filled with what you think will be hot fudge, but it's hershey's syrup. So disapointing. I would say leave that cup off or add some real hot fudge. That would have been awesome. Overall it was a solid meal and we enjoyed it all. There was not one miss that night. We would definitely come here again if we were in the area. Two thumbs up.
(4)
Clint P.
Very slow and inattentive service. Below average food. Nothing special here.
(2)
Jakub W.
Wife had the Fish & Chips and the float while I had the Lobster mac & cheese and a Ginger britton. All of it was nothing short of some of the better food and drinks combo we've had in a while. The lobster was well portioned and the drinks weren't something you'd easily make at home making this a great spot to eat at. To top it all off, we took the odd 2-5pm weekend break when it's neither brunch nor dinner and got a great seat and first class service. Highly recommended.
(5)
Brandon N.
Went for my birthday with three of my friends. It was around 8:30pm on a chilly Thursday night so when we arrived there were plenty of open tables and we were seated right away. The server had the time to focus on only a couple of tables so I think that worked out to our advantage. Our server was friendly and attentive at just the right times without being overly intrusive or insisting on awkward small talk every time he came by, just the service I like. There were some minor hiccups but the server handled it like a pro. Since it was a celebratory dinner, we decided to start by ordering a bottle of one of three champagne options. The server quickly returned to inform us that they did not have it so we went with the next one on the list. The server returned quickly again informing us that had just sold the last of that bottle the day before and that he had found a bottle of the champagne we originally ordered but it had to be chilled since it was warm. I have worked as a server before, so I tend to be rather forgiving when minor situations arise, as long as the server works to make it right. We took it in stride and each ordered a cocktail to drink while the champagne was being chilled, as well as our dinner order. I didn't pay too much attention to the time as we were having good conversation, but the wait did not seem any longer than average. After getting our meals, the champagne came out. The server apologized for the minor mix-up by saying "The champagne is on the house, Happy Birthday!". I hadn't mentioned it was my birthday since I didn't expect special treatment, but he had noticed on my ID and made sure that I wasn't disappointed. Way to go server, we were impressed. Overall the food was delicious, atmosphere just right (casual and affordable, but not divey), and the service happened to be excellent that night. I look forward to returning in the summer when the patio opens.
(5)
Theodore Y.
My buddy raves about their pancakes but they just weren't my style. I think they mix lemon juice into their batter which added a kick to the pancakes which I did not appreciate. They're called "Strawberry Buttermilk Pancakes" came with ONE strawberry sliced into many small pieces. Cheap much? If I'm paying 9 bucks for pancakes, they better be off the field good. They were not. What was redeeming? The hashbrowns were delicious. Our waiter got us what we needed, but according to his schedule. Finally decided to chat us up when time for the bill came. Not again.
(2)
Ginnie C.
I intended a moderate sized group of friends to go out for dinner before we ventured out for drinks. I didn't want a place that would be ridiculously expensive, but have great reviews on yelp. I happened upon Scollay Square during my search. By the time I was ready to book my reservations, my group had grown from 10 ppl to 18 ppl. Scollay was able to accomodate my request. Maybe booking a 8pm dinner had something to do with it? When I got there, the table was ready for us. The manager Chris greeted us right away and was very pleasant. "Anything we needed, don't hesitate to ask. " he said. A couple times during the meal, he checked to make sure everything was good. Yes it was! Thanks for asking! We had shared a couple appetizers. The guacamole dip was decent. Not the best I've had, but not the worst either. We also got the edadame apps which had a nice flavor to it. Sesame seeds sprinkled on top with teriyaki sauce to give the exterior extra flavor while you get the bean out. I order the Tuna Burger. It was delicous. Had a good amount of flavor to it. My fiance ordered the Buffalo Mac n Cheese, which I also picked on here and there. Another friend also took several bites of it. We both agreed that it was tasty. NOTE: I wasn't a fan of the server and here's why. My friend ordered the Prosecco. The waiter told her that they were all out and asked if she wanted a drink that was comparable to it. She said yes. Got the drink and drank it. It wasn't until we received the bill, when we noticed the price of the drink the waiter recommended. Prosecco is $8/glass. The drink he suggest was $16/glass. Understand that she should've asked the price difference, but I think the waiter was very misleading in this situation. I would take marks off the restaurant rating for the waiters poor way of handing the above situation, but the food was good and the rest of the staff was great... so I'm letting it go this time. But I think that this is just a good warning to anyone not only going to Scollay, but any other establishment. Make sure you ask for the price if the waiter is making a suggestion to you. They may not always have your best interest in mind. They may just want to raise the bill. NOTE #2: This place doesn't add automatic 20% gratuity for large parties. So be sure to tip accordingly. Most places do add the tip to the bill, but this place didn't for our bill. Thanks for reading!
(4)
Katerina K.
Fish and chips - yes!!! Kobe sliders - yes!!! Great quick lunch stop!! Seating inside and outside. Draft beer selection.
(4)
Michelle R.
This place has great, affordable food. Wide variety of options from steak tips to scallops to tuna to burgers, all well-executed. Came here with a large group, and everything we ordered was delicious. Would especially recommend the rare tuna filet -- it comes with wasabi mashed potatoes which are sooo good. The lobster mac n cheese and steak tips are solid as well. For dessert we tried the red velvet cake which was very rich and can definitely feed 2-3. Each entree is under $20 which is a super good deal for the quality.
(4)
T F.
Great food...I had the hanger steak and my husband had the haddock. The haddock was a little plain but still tasty. Hanger steak was delicious. Service was amazing, which was surprising after reading all the reviews. Our waiter, Seth, was very helpful and attentive :)
(4)
Mark J.
A few years ago, Scollay Square was setup as semi-formal traditional American restaurant with a reputation for a simple and delicious menu. The restaurant has remained true to the philosophy behind the menu (i.e., doing standard American dishes like seared Ahi Tuna, Steak, Scallops, etc. very well), but the interior, like so many traditional Boston restaurants, has undergone a transformation to a more casual setting that I'd say is more reminiscent of upscale pub seating (the open kitchen remains the same). The open kitchen and photos of old Scollay Square remain. If you don't mind the trend toward casual dining that's forever altered traditional restaurants like Oak Room, then this shouldn't matter. Truthfully, Scollay Square is also one of the few downtown traditional American restaurants where one can have a tasty, gourmet entree for around $20. The overall "value" cannot be denied. More concerning is the decline in service. At the start of the evening, the wait staff was sporadically attentive and occasionally difficult to reach. However, this was not the worst of it. The group I was with was appalled that the wait staff did not offer water at the outset, did not place water glasses or plates directly in front of us, and did not serve us our wine. Instead, they placed everything at the edge of the table as if expecting us to arrange everything for ourselves. The laziness was so bad that we literally had to use kaizen principles to elicit decent service (i.e., by strewing objects at the end of the table to force the wait staff to place our dishes where they belong). All things considered, Scollay is definitely a great choice for a reasonably priced, delicious meal with colleagues or friends in a casual setting.
(3)
Pen R.
there is a super good place. the food is really really good. I just a traveler who come form NY, I really wanna take the food back to NY. If i go to Boston again i will try there again. by the way. the staff is awesome tooooo. im Chinese with super bad English skill but they r very nice and painted. 4.5stars for food, 5 stars for staff and 4 stars for the environment.
(5)
Bon W.
From NYC point of view. Had brunch. Mimosas cant go wrong $4/ pop. Egg white omelette soaked in grease. Menu said lemon dressing on salad but taste like balsamic. Hash brown are overfried rocks. Lobster mac n cheese out of krafts mac n cheese box. Tourist trap. Skip it.
(2)
Michelle W.
I came here for a quick lunch while I was taking a course at Mass Gen the other week and was happy with my Lobster roll. I sat at the bar to eat and the food was there by the time I returned from the restroom. There were huge perfect chunks of lobster in my sandwich, so fresh and perfectly cook. Not tough or chewy at all. SO good! I kind of wish the roll it was on was not grilled though, I think I would have preferred it plain. The bartender was nice, but thought it was kind of annoying that she was texting at the bar. Not that I needed anything, just doesn't scream class when your staff is on their phones on the clock...
(3)
Amy C.
This place still left a bad taste in my mouth so this will be short and to the point: don't come here; it's overpriced and you would need to eat twice as much because the plate look pretty but lack substance. The service sucks; I believe I had 0 refills the entire time I was there. For how many restaurants there are in Boston, this is at the bottom of the barrel for me.
(1)
Vic M.
Pretty bad. Understaffed (substantially), not a bad space though, drinks were ok. Had an awful lamb burger here...definitely avoid that at all costs. Just lackluster all around. Much better options nearby...try silvertone, curleys, etc skip this place.
(2)
Jessica S.
Easter Brunch. Let's discuss. Very nice staff. I like the decor of the place. Good, dark coffee is a must for me and they nailed it. Even the decaf was good. We both got the eggs benedict. I like that they offer salad with their breakfasts, gives it a good balance. Love the crispy hash browns. Overall the food was good enough to go back. Some minor negatives. The special holiday brunch menu was not very well thought out or desirable and we were told we could not order off the regular brunch menu, which was the only reason we even wanted to try this place. We considered going elsewhere but we already had a reservation. We asked someone else and they said we could get a regular benedict instead of a lobster benedict, which worked out because that's what we both wanted anyway. They also only posted the special brunch menu the day before when most places do it at least a week in advance and also let you order off both menus. My friend didn't think the bathroom was nice, sufficient at best. Also, it's bizarre that they have a nice pepper grinder and a bottle of San Pellegrino on the table but then have a big plastic container of grocery store salt there instead of a nice shaker or grinder. Just one of those common sense things that bugs me.
(4)
Amu N.
Good food taste :-) Great hospitality. :-) Very few veg items on menu:-( Great location. :-)
(4)
Debbie B.
A perfect spot on Beacon street to sit outside and people watch. Our service was a bit slow but perked up when we thought he forgot about us. I had a delicious grapefruit vodka,champagne cocktail. My lunch was a very well made chipotle BBQ chicken salad. Wow!! Great flavors. I chose a vinaigrette instead of the ranch dressing. Worked well. Hubby had a well made grey goose and tonic. Refreshing! He ordered the Mediterranean salad w/grilled shrimp. Ample portions. We would and maybe will come back tomorrow. Sunday brunch looks very promising!! p.s. we went back for brunch on Sunday. Perfect!!
(4)
courtney k.
Yelp nation was right again! Fish and chips were great... we have 2 kids under 2 and the ladies here were happy to serve them :) p.s. try the antioxidant martini it's a winner
(4)
E. A.
A great option when you want to eat somewhere a little nicer than Silvertone, but not as nice as Mooo. Yay: Tasty tasty food. Very well executed. Varied menu Decent prices, even on drinks Casual atmosphere Great service Nay: The open kitchen feels a little too open, too close to the dining tables. The place has that "fish 'n' chips" smell characteristic of un-ventilated restaurants. But, some people probably dig that, and it wouldn't keep me from returning because the Yays clearly outweigh the Nays here.
(4)
Alicia S.
Boston restaurant search at 3pm on a cloudy Sunday afternoon. Beacon Hill, $-$$, American (Traditional), Open Now Result: Scollay Square. We walked into the joint at 4pm (still considered lunch) and took a seat. One Boston Lager later we had the Goat Cheese appetizer & Lobster Mac and Cheese in front of us. Hello! The Goat Cheese Appetizer was a tasty little delight (see Laura J.'s review for the description that convinced my sister to order it. Yum...thank ya lady!) but we needed more bread! Not a problem, more was grilled up & brought to us right away. We split the Lobster M&C which was just fine for the portion size and it being lunch. The lobster pieces are small but that's fine because they're in every bite! Curly noodles, cheesy-cheese and a creamy drippy mess of delish...just what the doctor ordered.
(4)
Marilyn T.
I think the first time I heard about Scollay Square may have been on (dare I say) phantom gourmet a long time ago? It was if chow hound... Anyway, this hidden place in Beacon Hill is worth the trek. It's a small place, so make a reservation on their website (no Open Table). I love the more modern cocktails they have. The sparkling pink grapefruit was my favorite - grapefruit vodka, sparkling wine, a splash of ruby red grapefruit juice. The lemon one is good, too, but sweeter. They also have beers on tap, including Stella. The main entrees seemed like a lot of one thing, so we went with a lot of small dishes... - Blackened scallops: $11.50 for 5 diver scallops, blackened with Cajun spices, seared without being burnt, sweet inside. Really good value. - Onion soup: sweet caramelized onion beef broth, well seasoned but not too salty, gruyere crouton on top, could have been hotter. - Shrimp dumplings: I don't usually get this stuff at American restaurants, but the steamed shrimp dumplings had big chunks of shrimp and were lightly fried on be bottom. The dumpling skin had a nice bite, and the dipping sauce was awesome. - Mac n cheese: add lobster ($16 total) or prosciutto and truffle oil. Actual Mac is cavatelli, al dante, which is rare for mac n cheese. It's appropriately cheesy, and the sauce isn't too wet. Everything really hit the spot after a long walk on a cold winter day. I like the open kitchen and the cozy feel. It's good for a date or for groups, but it's not that big. Everything was priced really reasonably, and it's definitely a Beacon Hill gem!
(4)
Catherine D.
Came here a few weeks ago. Not bad--I had the macaroni and cheese with artichoke hearts and spinach (made it seem slightly healthy?). Portions are a little too big, so I took most of it home. The interior is kind of cute. No strong negatives or positives to say about this place. A good restaurant for when you don't know where else to go for dinner.
(3)
Michael W.
Shrimp Dumplings & Mac N Cheese with Buffalo Chicken. Very good.
(4)
Chris H.
Had lobster mac and cheese and the tuna burger. The burger has seaweed salad on top, which was a nice touch. Both were very good. Comfortable space and friendly staff.
(4)
Luis V.
Saturday brunch was phenomenal! Try the short rib breakfast burrito, you will not be disappointed! I've never had a breakfast burrito before. There was the right balance and portioning of juicy short rib with scrambled eggs. The flour tortilla was slightly grilled and tasted very light, but strong enough to keep it breaking apart in my hands. The guacamole, tomatoes and sour cream brought it all together. Can't wait to having it again soon!
(5)
Aaron K.
Really great eggs benedict plate. Came here for brunch over the fall after spending the morning in the common/public garden and walking around beacon hill. This place did not disappoint food wise. Eggs benedict was perfect with what seemed like a homemade hollandaise. Their hash browns are killer! It also came with a small side salad with a nice light lemon dressing. 10$ in this location for this food was a steal. Love it and would come back next time I'm in the area. Fiance's french toast left a little to be desired as the bread was a little flat (I like thick bread personally). Service was a miss as we had to flag down our waitress to place our order. Then a server brought me the wrong benedict (they brought me lobster and I had ordered traditional). They gave mine to someone else. I didn't eat anything off my plate and they brought it to the customer that ordered it. Mine was already dug into and they made me a new plate.....I ended up eating after my fiance had already finished. No comps for the mistake and I was pretty peeved, but the food still won me over in the end. I will go back and up this rating if the service improves. If you make a huge screw up like this you should offer some type of comp for the inconvenience.
(3)
Melissa F.
My friend and I came here for a hearty breakfast before heading to the Harpoon brewery. I love brunch, mostly because I don't get to have it often, so when I get to it better be damn good or I will be one unhappy customer. Ended up picking Scollay Square and I was so glad I did. Love the decor with the old pictures on the walls. Gives the place a lot of charm. We were seated quickly and placed our order since we were both starving. We both got the Scollay Square Breakfast and ate the whole thing. Their coffee is really good too (strong just how I like it. Had like 3 cups) We didn't try the bloody mary bar since we were going to be drinking beer later, but I definitely will try it next time I go. It was quite an impressive spread with all the different hot sauces and fixings. They have very reasonable prices and you get a lot of food. I'm a fan and will be returning
(4)
Ganee F.
I would now consider us regulars, as we venture up to Scolly Square at least once every two weeks. The food is phenomenal and the prices are great, too. Also can't forget to mention the best brunch menu around (with a make-your-own Bloody Mary bar)!
(5)
Johnny Z.
Lobster roll is great.
(3)
Diana C.
I'm a tad disappointed as I had high hopes based on the reviews. ATMOSPHERE: decor is dated. Definitely not a classy feel - the tv's playing at the bar made me feel like I was in a sports bar. Lot of older folks eating at this restaurant as well. SERVICE: nice waitress/hostess but I agree with another reviewer that they get really annoying after a while because they check in on you every 5 minutes, interrupting the conversations. Also there was one time when another staff member came to clean plates off our table and we said we were still working on some fries - she kinda flipped out. She went to the waitress angrily who was standing behind us and said 'I thought you said they were done!' That made us really uncomfortable. After we paid for the bill, we stayed to chat. There was absolutely no service from them whatsoever even though our cups were empty. I guess that's not a huge deal but I thought it was a little rude. We gave them like a 20% tip so it wasn't like we were stingy. FOOD: it came out really fast which was good! lobster mac and cheese: my friends said they could make it better themselves. very watery and not creamy enough. fish and chips: very good! flaked nicely. very crispy. comes w/ cole slaw and fries. calamari: different kick with the banana peppers, but other than that nothing special scallops: slightly overcooked but really good taste - whatever spices they used it worked.
(3)
Sharon L.
I love Scollay Square. The food is excellent and the atmosphere is fun. The dining experience on the patio in the summer is great. I would highly recommend the buffalo chicken mac & cheese. Scollay's bartender, Brian, is excellent! My favorite drink is a skinny margarita and Brian squeezes fresh limes to make the drink (unlike other bars that use lime juice from a bottle) and it is amazing. If you go to Scollay and Brian is bartending, definitely order a drink, you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Camila P.
Went here with my family on Sunday for brunch. I was planning on getting the eggs benedict but convinced myself to get the Tosta Parma Prosciutto sandwich. My father got the Thai Chicken and Shrimp, and my mother got the Scollay Square Breakfast. Everything tasted great (especially the dressing that they put on the greens) but I regret not getting the Eggs Benedict. The service was great, our waiter always checked back with us to see if everything was okay and made a few jokes. Overall, a positive experience and a great Sunday brunch in Beacon Hill! If I lived in Boston, I would come here more often.
(4)
Donna S.
Kinda hidden between state house and Suffolk university. Excellent scallop dish. Good pear salad. Nice eclectic menu, just the right things to make it interesting. Good service and food.
(4)
David K.
Brunch. Steak and eggs: steak a cheap cut, might as well have been steamed for all the sear they got on it. Eggs over medium were a bit beyond that. Hash browns tasty but apparently from the freezer. English muffin served with no jam and just tasted weird. Stuffed French toast: weirdly bitter, served with fake syrup. Really lacking in meaningful flavor. A truly disappointing brunch.
(2)
Victoria R.
Having been to Scollay Square at least a dozen times and for every meal possible, I can say that is hands down my go-to on Beacon Hill right now. The lunch crowd is always hopping with state house staffers, lobbyists, and a whole host of "who's who" in politics, which can make for some great people watching. The dinner vibe is more casual and relaxed, especially on the weekends. And then, there's brunch.... uh-mazing. Having tried at least half the menu items, I can say without a doubt that the spinach and artichoke mac and cheese is a must-try diet-killer. On the lighter side, the chipotle bbq chicken salad is a great lunch time option, as well as the turkey chutney panini. With a group, the steamed edamame is a wonderful appetizer (although very filling!). And if you're so inclined, be sure to check out the cocktail menu - the detox is a personal favorite, although i always seemed to walk out much more "toxed" than "detoxed".... I digress. Service is always wonderful, and I love that I've seen the same handful of people working every time I visit since I started going about five years ago. If you haven't been yet, you have to try -- you won't be disappointed!
(4)
Stacy D.
My boyfriend found this on Yelp when we visited Boston in late February. We went because the prices were reasonable, and the reviews were fantastic. What a great find! We arrived, with a party of five and no reservations at 7:30 on a Saturday night. The hostess was able to seat us right away, which seemed an impossibility. We ordered calamari (served with grape tomatoes, banana peppers and an aioli) and guacamole to start, and both were fantastic. The calamari was the best I've had. The guacamole was also great - very fresh and creamy. Between the five of us, we ordered the fish and chips, seared scallops, seared ahi tuna and french onion soup. Everything was cooked perfectly. The scallops were lightly seared and had a great flavor, accompanied by risotto (creamy but not gooey, as it should be) and spinach. The teriyaki-marinated tuna was served with wasabi mashed potatoes and crispy wonton strips. The tuna was cooked perfectly, and although spicy, had an excellent flavor. The wonton strips provided an interesting texture juxtaposition to the potatoes. The fish and chips, were battered lightly and not greasy. This traditional dish came with french fries and coleslaw, and a scallion leek tartar sauce. My friend said the french onion soup was very good, but that is the one dish I did not try. The service was great and the place has a nice aesthetic - an open kitchen, attractive bar, and a relatively quiet atmosphere (due in part to the adequate spacing between tables) - which is thoughtful, considering it is a small space. I have worked in the food industry and eaten at a multitude of places around the country: many of which I love. This is the first time I have written a review - Scollay Square is that good.
(5)
Brian S.
There's nothing entirely special about this place and was one of the more forgettable meals that my girlfriend and I shared in Boston. She got the scallops and I got the fish a chips.While they were both cooked decently, I think we expected a bit more factoring the price and reviews.
(2)
Andrew R.
Whatever you do, no matter what, any time you're here, day or night, at all hours of the day, regardless of what else is going on either in your life or around you at that moment, never hesitate, not for a second, not for a fraction of a second, never hesitate to order the Miso Salmon. No grammatically error-prone run-on sentence could possibly express that sentiment better.
(4)
Cindy W.
Was able to be seated in a big group on the patio on a holiday weekend without any problems. The shade was fantastic on a hot day but the above AC unit dripped water on some our guests. Wait staff was very friendly but they took their time in bringing out our drinks, which included watered down dark and stormies. The food was excellent. Prosciutto truffle oil mac and cheese was divine. The seared ahi tuna with wasabi mashed potatoes was plate licking good! All of the apps and entrees arrived very quickly. Leave room for the fresh homebaked ice cream cookie sandwich with hot fudge. After such a delicious meal and wonderful evening disaster and incompetence struck. It takes 15 min. to get the waitress to bring our check and another 10 min for it to arrive and over 45 mins and 2 visits to check on the processing before we can sign our bill. We did not receive drinks or other accommodations during our wait. 30 mins. into our 45 min. wait and after checking on our bill (first time), we finally were notified by our waitress that their manager could not operate their POS system to split a check evenly. I've seen this successfully done at every establishment from the Four Seasons to the golden arches. I would have loved to recommend Scollay to everyone BUT realistically I can only recommend it to people who enjoy waiting for over an hour without food or drinks and don't have places to go later in the evening.
(2)
Summer P.
We went here for the lobster roll, as my husband is not a vegetarian. I was happy to see that they had plenty of vegetarian options as well. The lobster roll was served on toasted brioche and looked to be of very high quality. The pieces of lobster meat were huge, pink and fresh. I was told it was good. I had artichoke heart mac & cheese and it was delicious! Delicate flavors and just a nice, warm meal. Service was a bit aloof, but not bad.
(4)
Molly K.
Went out for drinks and apps with a friend last week at Scollay Square...had some delicious drinks (The Absolut Lemonade made of Absolute Citron, St. Germaine, fresh Lemon and Champagne...also known as delicious) with some tasty apps of guac and pulled pork sliders with cole slaw. They also offer outdoor dining in the warm months and a great business lunch! Pictures and more on -- ----
(4)
Lisa P.
Impeccable service. Food was perfectly cooked and seasoned. Portions were good size. Great wine list too! I thoroughly enjoyed my time there.
(5)
Jessie N.
Took my gf here last NYE for dinner and it was great. The ambiance was nice and the food tasted good.
(4)
Luci H.
Went here on a Friday night, great outdoor seating. The wait staff wasnt as attentive as they could be, but not bad either. We started with the buffalo chicken and Kobe sliders, and then shared the miso salmon. All were quite tasty, and large portion sizes. We had the chocolate cookie sliders for dessert and OH MY was it good.
(4)
Shirley Y.
This place is a hidden gem in the Beacon Hill area, right in the center of town catering to the State House population. Lots of suits here, filling up the high ceilings bar area with camaraderie. I escaped the loud, raucous noise to the outdoor seating area, only to move back in when the rain descended again. Tommy was our server, with very a dry wit. If I wanted to order my friend's drink ahead of time, he could do that if i really wanted to prank him considering that it takes the bar two seconds to pour a beer. If I really am pissed at him, he offered to microwave the beer for him. He's been working crazy 16 hour shifts with an upcoming trip to Munich, and if this service reflects how out of it he is, imagine what he is like when the place is more fully staffed! We are imagining a Speedy Gonzalez moving at the speed of light. Draft beer selection was acceptable. Nothing outlandish or spectacular by any means, so we stuck with the tried and true Lagunitas hoppy ale. We had the famed mac and cheese with the thick cut prosciutto and truffle oil. I think the chef poured half a bottle of truffle oil in there. And here I was thinking I was doing so well with my diet! To accompany our "appetizer" of mac and cheese (it really is an entree), we also succumbed to the Philly cheesesteak spring rolls. Like my friend says, it's like Philly landed in China. Brilliant. Especially with the chipotle ketchup. This food was rich enough for our appetites but we could not help ogling at the food that was passing by us, and reaching other tables. They were beautifully presented, and looked delicious and we were reminiscing (read: imagining) tackling the food order, or doing quality control for the restaurant. We looked at the menu again, and because we were full, we managed to not succumb and order the luscious sirloin chop, the ahi tuna, and many other dishes. They do pasta well here. And their chocolate chip ice cream sandwich looks incredible!
(4)
Dylan N.
We went to Scollay Sq on a spontaneous Birthday Dinner. We ordered the Edamame, then my fiancee had the Lobster Mac and Cheese and I had the Tuna Burger w/ the Homemade Potato Chips. The food was incredible. The Mac and Cheese was awesome and the quality and quantity of Lobster was superb. For $16, they put in a lot of Lobster, mostly claw meat, which flakes nicely with the Mac. For an extra $3, we had the mixed greens salad on the side, which was perfectly drizzled with a lemon dressing, really good. The Tuna Burger was great. It was done with a great ginger glaze on this soft amazing roll. The potato chips were perfect, not too greasy and perfectly salted. The service was really good. We had Natalia! She was really nice, quick and attentive. She even gave us this awesome little danish in our to-go bag. We had one of the cheaper wines, by the glass, but really good. The restaurant is situated near the State House up on Beacon, near the Fox 25 studios, Beacon Hill location. It was raining so no outdoor dining, but the interior is nice and cozy. There is ample space between tables and a nice motif for the restaurant. Overall this place was a really good choice and we will continue to go back. My one qualm about the place was the Hostess was also serving as the Expediter and as a Runner, so when you walk in and don't see someone, they will be right with you...we waited less then 1 minute to be sat.
(4)
dan g.
Swordfish chop with lobster risotto is the best! I am getting excited just thinking about this meal again. Definitely worth a visit! Might be a good idea to call ahead and make sure they still have some of this left when you decide to go, it runs out fast.
(5)
Brandy B.
Fantastic for brunch. In town visiting and found Scollary Square on here. The short rib burrito was fantastic! Omelets were great. Chris, I'm assuming he was the manager, was very nice. Patio area was very nice for Sunday brunch. The group was very pleased with this restaurant.
(5)
Fernando K.
Great for lunch! Fried calamari was the best we've had in Boston. Lobster Benedict was superb. Very well prepared, simple and light Haddock. Highly recommended food. Ambiance was so-so; restaurant also a little dark.
(4)
Andrew J.
I've been coming to Boston for many years and somehow I missed this place, but I am so glad I found it! The atmosphere is pub-like, and quite loud, but the service and the food drowns all of that out. This place may have the best fish and chips I've ever had (and I've sampled a lot). Flaky, not greasy at all, and accompanied by a delicious tartar sauce. If you're in the Beacon Hill area, and even if you're not, you have to come to this place.
(5)
Tiana M.
Everything we tried was so flavorful and masterfully plated! For the first course we ordered the Shrimp Dumplings, steamed with the spicy ponzu sauce. Yum! My boyfriend ordered the Rare Seared Filet Mignon of Tuna (Teriyaki Marinated, Wasabi Restuffed Baked Potato, Crispy Wonton Strips, Sesame, Chili Oil) and it was so so SO good! Luckily he grabbed the last filet, even though I wanted the same! I had the Miso Glazed Salmon Filet (Shaved English Cucumber, Sauteed Spinach, Jasmine Rice) and the salmon was cooked to perfection. The sides for all plates were so tasty too. I was really surprised how delicious everything was. The decor was very cute and the ambiance laid back and warm. Too bad I was so full - I was really craving the Chocolate Chip Cookie Sliders with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. Next time!
(5)
Mike D.
Went for brunch. The eggs benedict were good. The blueberry french toast was ok and not nearly blueberry enough for me. The bacon, and I don't know how you do this, wasn't good. It was in that no man's land of not being crispy or fatty. They have a good little patio to sit outside when the weather is nice. It certainly wasn't cheap but I think most items were priced fairly.
(3)
Jennifer C.
Super friendly and comfy spot- the food was pretty good. Buffalo chicken dip is to die for if you're not watching calories! The overall feel of the place is pretty chill and the chef is willing to spill a couple secrets when asked. The food is really reasonably priced, but the drinks are a bit overpriced, especially for the limited mixology selections. If you're not a drinker this will be a $$ restaurant- the cocktails step up the bill considerably. Mostly, just loved the staff and would come back in a heartbeat!
(4)
Marcus W.
I would say this is one of the better and more unknown places in Boston. They have a great vibe and a solid staff. You can go for an after work relaxed drink or a nice sit down date. Either way you are going to have a nice time. Their food is quality but not over priced. I recommend their Calamari, their bay scallops and risotto are fantastic but don't bother with their three cupcake dessert dry and not worth it. Their alcohol service is quality ranging from good cocktails to quality wines. The only problem is that their alcohol is a little pricier than i think its worth but not to the point of excess. As long as your not looking for an upscale night this is really the relaxed atmosphere perfect for most people.
(4)
Michael C.
I took two colleagues here for lunch today before running them over to Logan. Once again I was not disappointed by the food. Oven roasted goat with ciabatta cheese in a tomato sauce was fantastic as was the roasted turkey sandwich. Bloody Mary's are spicy but not over the top. My only real complaint was the wait staff that seemed annoyed that we were taking too long despite the fact the place was half empty. This seems to be common complaint by yelpers. Too bad since the food and atmosphere are terrific.
(4)
CW W.
I asked my bf to take me somewhere that offered a tasty mac n cheese with lobster meat. He looked up reviews and found this place, sadly it was not good. We were seated promptly and the waitress who served us was very nice and friendly. The place was not that busy when we came in around 6pm on a Saturday but were surprised how long our food took. Our waitress apologized for the delay because she said there was a big party that came in before us but sadly I did not believe her. A table of 6 beside us ordered after us and they got there food first (we both ordered appetizers) and a table they sat down after us, they got there food shortly after we got ours. It just didn't seem right. The decor of this place is very drab and old, it could really use some updating. My bf and I both ordered onion soups and that was good. My bf got the hangar steak special while I got the lobster mac n cheese. The hangar steak special was $25 and for what he got, not worth it at all, way overpriced by at least $8-$10 dollars. There wasn't that much and the taste was bland. My lobster mac n cheese was worse. The macaroni was a little hard still, there wasn't that much lobster meat and barely any cheese. Oh and there were breadcrumbs or something sprinkled on top that were really, really hard not like the crunch I would expect, more like stale. Again this dish was overpriced for what I got at least $3-$5 dollars. We ended the meal splitting a piece of red velvet cake with chocolate ganache which was very sweet and rich but pretty good. A big disappointment for us and we wont be returning. As always try it yourself and never take me word.
(2)
Jen M.
Scollay Square has due good service and beautiful decor. Love the authentic architectural details and memorabilia that matches the name. The food, however, leaves a lot to be desired. Overall, it seemed as if management was cutting corners to save money. What was good was served in such small portions (nobody at our table was a big eater, either) that we were hungry afterward. And what was tasteless or just plain bad was in ample portions -- granted, the bread was free but don't bother! Just one example: Cobb salad -- for $12.50 it should've been entree-size but with a tablespoon of bacon bits (they had to be -- couldn't have been real meat!), no chicken, and very little of everything else, it was skimpy. Oh, except for the dressing. They poured it on to makeup for the lack of ingredients! Nice location and maybe a place to get a drink (they were fine, by the way) but go somewhere else to dine.
(2)
Eric B.
Where to have lunch near the State House is a good question. There are lots of choice, but one I've overlooked for years was better than average, quite comfortable, and featured an impressive wine list with better than average selections for wines by the glass, which are a great option when you don't want to get totally loaded during the day. This was a business lunch for me so I wanted to be sure I had both sox on and strained to not dip my tie into the salad while chatting and munching. Later I would discover I had left my wallet at home, thus destroying the carefully honed ambiance leading to my client graciously bailing me out by paying (which I immediately repaid by check). We split a lovely Beet Salad with Goat Cheese, which was tasty, though maybe a bit light on the goat cheese and beets. It all could have been in my guest's half - I'll go with that. My out-of-season lobster roll, though, was quite delicious, not heavy on the mayonnaise, but a nice blend of lobster, celery and other spices in a hotdog-like roll. Her tuna burger appeared excellent, a perception that was affirmed by its prompt disappearance between glasses of Pinot Grigio. Ambiance is on the formal side, a warm wooden hue pervades the dining room which features shards of natural light filtering in from Beacon Street. Not a place I would necessarily place in heavy location - but certainly not a restaurant I would shy away from. Parking is available, though a bit pricey, at one of the ubiquitous VPNE lots next door. Don't even think about parking illegally, as my mommy said - you'll be sorry. Try Scollay Square for a bit of variety in your downtown dining repertoire, to me more of a restaurant for a business meet-up than for dinner with my sweetie.
(4)
Jon D.
Nice selection of draft and bottled beers. Friendly bartender. My gf was unimpressed with the white grape martini (basically just vodka and grape juice) but my Tom Collins was very good. Decent wine list. Pan fried shrimp dumplings were excellent. I thought the dipping sauce was unnecessary; they were so good, they didn't need anything. The oven roasted goat cheese was perfect, and I'm not typically a fan of cheese. Fish and chips were a high-quality version of the standard dish. Nothing surprising, nothing weird. Seared day boat scallops were cooked perfectly and served with a very good risotto. Vanilla bean cheesecake was good, as were the chocolate chip cookie ice cream sliders. Nothing to knock your socks off, but a nice finish on a hot day. The original Scollay Square (torn down long ago and built over with the Government Center) was the location of the Howard Theatre, an infamous burlesque house. The decor of the restaurant is reminiscent of that, with old photos of the area, pictures of burlesque dancers, framed tasseled pasties, etc. Quirky but subtle and tasteful, and if you're not looking for it you might not even notice. Good location, nice decor, very good food. Recommended.
(4)
Alex K.
Let me start by saying I came here for dinner and I very well could have just ordered the wrong thing on the menu. I would be willing to give Scollay another try. When looking for a new place to try in the Beacon Hill area near my friends place we settled here , based solely on the yelp reviews and the fact that we had seen quite a crowd a few times. With all of the great food in Boston, I wish we had gone somewhere else for my last meal back in Boston. I got the fish and chips and it was just a really standard, nothing special dish. The menu seemed pretty basic and the place was absolutely dead . We were literally the only ones in the restaurant which is so surprising since it was the day after Patriots Day and all of the reviews. I would be willing to try again but the menu wasn't overly impressive and both my meal and my friends (she got some sort of flatbread) were above average at best. Maybe we should try it for brunch next time.
(3)
Margot N.
We don't dine in Boston often, but when we do - we go to our standard favorites. This time we wanted to experience something new. How to find a fabulous dining experience on or near the Common or Beacon Hill with fabulous cuisine, atmosphere and service . . . . well thanks to Yelp, we identified our target as Scollay Square and we were not disappointed. We went for dinner - got the table of our choice. Lovely, vintage atmosphere that offers options for large groups of friends and associates, as well as smaller, more intimate parties. Our waiter Tom, helped us with food and wine selections - which featured a soy ginger salmon that was grilled to perfection and their roasted cider brine chicken which was tender and moist (filet) with a delectable sage shallot sauce and an amazing assortment of vegetables including Japanese eggplant. Tom's recommendation of the Austrian white wine (one of their offerings by the glass) was a perfect pairing with the salmon, which surprised me - who typically drinks pinot grigio or chardonnay. I'm told they're particularly well known for their marinated steak tips and NY sirloin - and many diners near us seemed to be ordering and enjoying them. All in all, Scollay Square is a divine, hidden gem! We'll definitely return for a romantic dinner or with a group, as they accommodate both nicely (they also offer Al Fresco dining in season).
(5)
Vanessa V.
Great brunch! The food, drinks, atmosphere, and service were all awesome. We had two egg sandwiches, the crabcake benedict, and stuffed french toast that we all split and it was all delicious. The bacon bloody marys are also great. Great for people-watching on a sunny day - we sat outside and it was lovely. We were mistakenly given regular french toast at first, but the waiter noticed this, brought us stuffed french toast a couple minutes later, and let us eat the regular french toast for free too. The manager, Chris, gave us excellent food recommendations and was very friendly, as was our waiter. I came here for lunch a while back, too, and that was also very good.
(5)
Andy M.
Arrived in Boston late on a Saturday and went looking for a place to slam a few drinks down and a bite to eat close to the Hotel. Started off with the Buffalo Chicken Dip which was good but hot - went well with the Guinness I was drinking. For entree's we had the Thai Chicken and Shrimp and Steak. Both were excellent. Great place for drinks and a good meal. Service was excellent and never had to ask for a beer.
(4)
Amanda D.
Wowszas! I love when I read reviews and almost let a couple negatives hold me back but then go for it anyway. I'm glad I did. In town from Clevaland, my husband and I wanted some fresh and tasty seafood and we found it here. The fish and chips was just out of this world. It's a very light flash fried fish and tasted buttery, soft, pretty much melted in my mouth. The french fries were just ok. The brew selection is on the small side, but good picks. The salmon with lobster mashed potatoes were unbelievably good. The prices were reasonable and the staff was superb. Would go back in a heartbeat.
(5)
Alex S.
Came here for dinner and of course had to order the featured dish, the rare seared tuna. The tuna was probably an 8 or 9 out of 10 as far as a seared tuna at a nice restaurant goes. The wasabi mashed side was amazing. However the restaurant can get slightly loud, even when almost empty. The atmosphere is decent, but leaves something to be desired. Happy with my experience, but will probably choose other local places in the future.
(4)
Tina D.
With many TVs around this place is a great place for dinner if you don't want to miss out on a sox, pats, celtics or bruins game. Decor: good rustic feel, nicely spaced. Choice of low seating, high seating, or bar seating. when the weather is nice there's a choice of outside seating, although the surrounding buildings block out the sun Drinks: offer a good small variety of beers on Tap. Of the three times that I've asked what the special was referring to on the menu, it's been the Allagash White. Food: Kobe sliders are awesome starters. love the juicy meat and the caramelized onions were finger licking good. Our favorite entree was the Seared Ahi Tuna with wasabi flavored mashed potato, crispy wonton strips and sauteed spinach. This is the DISH you have to try! As sushi fans this dish was meant for us. The seared tuna was moist and fresh in the middle, giving the impression of sashimi. Naturally the wasabi flavored mashed potatoes worked really well. The spinach was cooked perfectly, not soggy like most places so it paired well w/ the freshness of the Tuna. The Crispy Wonton strips added nice texture to the plate. Had steak here too, but it was so so and don't remember anything that would stand out. Buffalo boneless tenders were moist and flavorful, good beer snack. Service: if you're sitting outside, the service is a little slow and sometimes you will have to wait for someone to come out. If you're sitting inside for dinner, the service is EXCEPTIONAL. They're very flexible with seating and would always leave it up to us to determine where we would sit. Servers were always courteous and professional. Service is always on point, but not over-bearing. They would take extra steps to please you. For instance our table was a little wobbly with one short leg, the server apologized and asked if we would like to move. After we told him that we didn't mind he took time to place some paper under the short leg to even out the table. Wished we had this kind of service everywhere! We can call ourselves regulars here now. However, one day we will have to get up early enough on Sunday to try their brunch menu as well!
(5)
Caleb F.
What a great find on a Friday night! It wasn't too busy and the interior seating area was quiet (such a rare find on the weekend). It was a sweet reprieve to sit in a quiet restaurant and gawk over a menu. We were able to watch the Red Sox and enjoy a delicious meal. The manager even made a point to come introduce himself. The only reason I didn't rate this restaurant higher was because of the service. Our server rushed us in ordering, made us feel like we were inconveniencing her, and I had to track her down behind the bar to request refills. I can't imagine her service when the place is busy!
(3)
Jaime B.
I had the most delicious meal last night at Scolleys. I started with the rock shrimp appetizer which was super good. For my main course, I had the lobster risotto. Absolutely delicious! Definitely the best I've ever had. There were huge chunks of lobster in the risotto. I loved every bite. Cute ambience right by Boston Common. The service was nothing short of perfect. A++
(5)
Jesse L.
My girlfriend and I were looking for a place for brunch and were excited to see that Scollay Square was related to Sip and Max & Dylan's. We decided to give it a shot. Stepping into Scollay was reminiscent of the opening scene of The Grand Budapest Hotel; there were more staff than patrons. The entire place was a bit run down and had the atmosphere of a great place that has been left to slowly die. The tables had what appeared to be ancient bottles of Pelegrino on them, warm with their labels discolored and peeling. Drinks: I ordered an Irish coffee. It tasted off. When I received the check, I understood why. They had made an Irish coffee with Southern Comfort. My girlfriend said that her mimosa tasted as if someone had poured flat Andre into minute made orange juice concentrate. The food: I ordered the breakfast burrito and my girlfriend the weatcoast benedict. Neither of us finished our dishes. Had my breakfast burrito cost me 4 dollars and come wrapped in saran wrap from a corner store, I would have been satisfied. The hollandaise sauce on the benedict was bland and the only redeeming factor of the dish was the obviously prepackaged frozen hashbrowns. We left Scollay Square feeling robbed and crossing our fingers hoping that the last day of my girlfriend's visit (she lives in NYC), would not be spent running to the toilet repeatedly.
(1)
Kimberly K.
$4 mimosas... That's worth 5 stars. But unfortunately I have to deduct one for a pretty mediocre tuna burger and another for a so-so cheeseburger. The service was awesome and the outdoor seating is great.
(3)
Nick M.
This restaurant was recommended by the concierge at the Omni Parker House. This place was exactly what we were looking for on our first night in Boston. The service was friendly and professional. I recommend the lobster risotto and buffalo flatbread. We will return on our next trip to see what other delectable concoctions this restaurant can serve up.
(4)
Meg B.
I came for brunch a few years ago and fell in love with this place. Had the Lobster Eggs Benedict and it was PHENOMENAL. They had a MYO Bloody Mary bar that was to die for as well! I jotted it down for the next time I was in Boston and... ...that happened to be this weekend! We went for dinner and it was just as amazing, if not more, for dinner! We had the Kobe Sliders to start (soooo good) and I had the Miso Salmon, while my boyfriend had the Beef Short Rib. They were both out of this world! We finished with the Chocolate Chip Cookie Slider. It was no longer on the menu but after seeing all the Yelp reviews of it, we had to ask if it still existed. They made a set for us and I was so happy I asked! Overall, I felt so spoiled here. The food and service were both way above par...I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants to have a fabulous dining experience!
Lovely restaurant! Very cute restaurant/bar with a beautiful outdoor patio. Service was a little slow but the bus girl made up for what the server couldn't get to (it was very busy). The server was very professional and polite. She knew the menu well. The manager stopped to make sure everything was okay with our table twice. The cheeseburger sliders and pasta with butter and parmesan were both big hits with my kids. The chicken with risotto was great and the two really complimented one another. My miso salmon was superb. Everything was cooked perfectly and somehow all came out together, too! We will definitely be going back.
(5)
Erica R.
A friend and I tried out the brunch this past weekend. I think we might have even been the first people in the door right after 10am. We were seated quickly and our server was friendly enough. There were a couple times we were wondering if maybe he had forgotten about us while tending to other tables or whatnot (especially as we were waiting for the check), but nothing too bad. I opted for the "RICE CRISPIE COATED FRENCH TOAST........10.5" and my friend went for the "EGGS BENEDICT..........................................Â. 10" (details from the menu PDF). I'm not entirely sure how the Eggs Benedict were, though everything looked to be prepared well; that said, I have to admit that my Rice Crispie Coated French Toast was a little crispier/thinner than expected (which really just meant smothering them a bit more with the maple syrup, to get rid of any dryness)...though the hint of lemon-y flavor that I tasted in the slices was nice. All in all, a nice experience...but probably not a place I would run back to. Perhaps I'll go back to try the dinner menu sometime, but there are plenty of other places in Boston I'd like to try beforehand.
(3)
Chelsea W.
Dissapointed in both the food and service. The waiter was very hard to get ahold of and it was surprising because the restaurant was only half full. Ordered the Crab Cake Eggs Benedict - left a very bitter aftertaste fir some reason. Presentation of the dishes for brunch weren't great and portions were smaller than expected. Would not come back.
(2)
Julia E.
I've come here twice recently, once for a date night and another time for a friend's birthday brunch. Both times I was really impressed with the service and food. The make-your-own Bloody Mary bar at brunch is the best idea ever, and the blueberry pancakes & breakfast sandwich were equally impressive. I should also mention that the sangria is awesome. On both visits, I was amazed by Scollay Square's warm ambiance and attentive staff. I will be back!
(5)
Kareem S.
Uh. Yeah. 5 stars. FRESH fish, great staff, knowledge of the tap beers. I'm coming back tomorrow.
(5)
Jenny H.
Great food, great ambience. A solid place to eat in Boston. Their scallops with risotto were AMAZING- wow, perfectly sweet and caramelized crispy on the outside on top of a creamy risotto and greens. Some of the best scallops I've had. I liked the scallops better than my dish, which was pretty good too. Ahi tuna steak seared, two pieces on top of wasabi mashed potatoes (this was really spicy but added a good element to the dish) with greens, the chili sauce and sesame oil were KEY to give this dish some good flavor. My friend's shrimp pasta dish was really good too, a good, zesty, cheesey tomato sauce with generous pieces of fresh shrimp. We got their mac and cheese as an appetizer with truffle oil and prosciutto, I liked how the prosciutto was really chunky and it was corkscrew pasta. Not oven-baked but tossed in the cheese sauce with toasted breadcrumbs on top. Very good place.
(4)
Audrea Rachelle G.
We had cocktails & the sliders. Patio is nice - beautiful area!
(4)
Danielle K.
Erm. Um. Eh. Meh. My boyfriend and I had come here while on a weekend visit to Boston and we expected to eat a dish with a burst of flavors because of all the reviews we had read. But alas, this is where I must say Scollay Square got nothing on New York restaurants. The dish was prepared nicely and the scallops I had ordered were cooked well but the flavors were just off. After the first bite, I was just over it. So again, I'm just going to have to say Erm. Um. Eh. Meh.
(2)
Donovan W.
Went here back in the spring with some friends. We all loved the lobster mac. The blackened scallops were prepared well and quite tasty. Don't remember what else but everyone was happily satisfied with their orders. Presentation was nice and prices were reasonable enough for some good quality seafood. Service was a little slow but our waitress was pleasant. -April 2014
(5)
Angelica T.
Before making my trip to Boston, I always read about the Lobster rolls that the city is famous for. Now, after having dinner at Legal Seafoods (yummy), I didn't wanna go to the same place for a Lobster roll. My gf and I were gonna go on the Freedom Trail tour, so I found this place after some researching on yelp. They do serve brunch, but since we were set on having Lobster rolls we passed on that. Had a mimosa to start, so that was good too. As for the lobster roll, OMG! So meaty and not overwhelmed with mayo! I'm pretty sure I almost died at the first bite, but as you can see I survived, as I am writing this review. Okay it may just be me, but why do all fried foods in Boston taste so damn good? The fries that came with the roll were seriously addicting and usually I don't even care for fries. Anywho, this place would've gotten 5 stars if our server took care of our check the right way. It wasn't too big of a deal, but it didn't help he was rushing when he took our orders (not a busy morning either). Great food nonetheless.
(4)
Ryan M.
Scollay Square is a great place to visit if you are looking for a delicious sit down meal near Park Street. This is a frequent stop for my work team due to it's close proximity to our office, friendly staff, and fantastic food. I would have to say that the fish and chips here are some of the best around and would highly recommend them. The waitstaff was very friendly and didn't intrude too much as we discussed a couple projects that we working on. Food came quickly and exact to our specifications. If you are looking to visit a lunch spot with a great atmosphere, outdoor porch, and convenient location then make a stop at Scollay Square for lunch.
(4)
Lakshman S.
I really don't get the hype. Terrible service. Rude waiter. Drinks took forever. Mediocre food.
(1)
Joelle K.
I enjoyed a yummy brunch at Scollay Square with my in-laws and husband. The dining environment is very nice. We would have eaten outside if the weather had been better. I had a delicious omelet and hash browns. I would like to go back for dinner as the menu looks great and I'm sure the food will be just as good as our brunch was!
(4)
Zee R.
We loved this place! They have a great cocktail menu and the food is amazing. The prices are reasonable and the service is attentive but not overbearing. We had small plates and Martinis. It's was located in beacon hill so there are big buildings around you not much of a view of the park. We sat outside on the patio. We would go back to try the other food items.
(5)
Nigel K.
Yelp found this place when barking crab and hook&co were close. Needed something seafoodie for my cousin and this showed pretty good review. The chef was kind enough to make us a lobster roll that is usually served firing lunch hours. Had blackened day boat scallops for starters and they were both amazing. Scallops were soft and juicy with the right amount of horseradish for spiciness. I saw many others digging in to wholesome fishes but I had to let my cousin try his first lobster roll. Lobster was equally as good though you can't go wrong with it so long as the meat is pretty fresh. Perfect setting for a,date or just hang out at the bar on game days.
(4)
Paula F.
Food was amazing. Their cookie ice cream sandwich was no longer on the menu, but they made it for us anyway, even baked a fresh cookie! I highly recommend this place. Lovely staff as well.
(5)
Gia A.
Came here for brunch on my last day in Boston. It's close to Boston Commons. I ordered the Crab Cake Eggs Benedict. It comes with mini hash browns and greens. Everything was very tasty.
(4)
William K.
This is a great lunch spot! My fish and chips was as good as I've ever had... lighter than a feather. And Holly was very reluctant to share her yummy lobster roll... but she did. The service was great. The atmosphere was probably a bit stuffy, but no biggie. Pretty easy 4 bill-stars. yow, bill
(4)
Phil O.
Impeccable service, and everything was reasonably priced. I had a specialty mixed drink that involved bourbon and ginger, which was great. And the Filet Mignon of Tuna was light and delicious. I want to go back to this place soon!
(5)
Susan Z.
Came for dinner. I was impressed by the salad they threw together for me when I said the mac and cheese made me want vegetables. The lobster mac and cheese was fine, but it was on the liquid-y cheese side, whereas I like my mac and cheese to be a little more solid. Fiance got a burger, which he describes as "okay." The servers were very friendly, though, and offered to take our luggage to the back so they wouldn't take up space and I appreciated that. From reading the other yelp reviews it seems we should have come for brunch instead.
(3)
Patty G.
This restaurant was close to our hotel and we decided to stop here for brunch before our flight back home. The doors opened at 10 AM and we were one of the first in but there were already people waiting to be sat. We were sat right away and service was very timely. Our server was very prompt and helpful. I ordered the Eggs Benedict and my hubby ordered the Turkey Sandwich. We were both very happy with our food. My EB were good and came with a side of yummy hash browns. The coffee was good and the server even made a new pot when I told him my second cup tasted over roasted. Very good service. I would recommend for brunch!
(4)
Naveen K.
As per popular suggestion I ordered rare tuna and boy was it delicious. It dint feel like uncooked fish at all. And the seasoning was just perfect. I am sure anybody who loves Indian spices (not spicy) are in for a delight. I wish I could go there again and try the other popular suggestion - fish and chips.
(5)
Bill T.
What a disappointment! I haven't been to Scollay Square for quite a while but remembered it as pretty good from when my girlfriend and I had dinner there. So this past Monday, I recommended the restaurant to some colleagues while we were in Boston for a business meeting. Unfortunately, my coworkers and I went in for dinner and the food was terrible. The appetizers are the only thing keeping this from being a one-star review. They were decent, but nothing better than the apps you can order at Applebee's. Nothing memorable. Four people in our party ordered the steak and it was an embarrassment. We all ordered our steaks medium rare but were given grayish, tough steaks with no flavor. The waitress then informed us that the kitchen had run out of baked potatoes and one of us wouldn't get one. No big deal, I asked for spinach instead. It was steamed but flavorless. The roasted asparagus was overcooked and the red onion jam was an afterthought at best. My colleagues remarked at how terrible their entrees were and I was embarrassed for ever recommending this place. Management at Scollay Square should apologize for serving food this bad.
(2)
Meg W.
All around it was a very mediocre experience. I had a very bad overdressed kale salad- instead of massaging the kale which is standard they cut it very small and added cold corn and a ton of cheese. Another person had a tomato soup that was both the flavor and texture of marinara sauce. The Kobe sliders were ok. Another diner had a salad with salmon- the salmon was decent but again they butchered the mixed greens. The waitress was nice...
(2)
Mike B.
Macaroni and cheese was excellent as was the shrimp po-boy. Brilliant in the words of my 7 year old son.
(4)
Melanie P.
Came here on a Saturday late afternoon with my brother. The service was top-notch, our server was really nice and attentive, and had great suggestions from the menu. The food was standard, I got the fish and chips and my brother got the Po Boy. It hit the spot for a hungover Saturday lunch, but I can't see it was groundbreaking. With that said, it's a comfortable, classic New England pub where I'm sure it would be a lot of fun to watch a game.
(3)
Caitlin M.
I went here with my husband for my birthday on Friday. Service was not very good. We were seated for about 10 minutes before a waiter came to us. The food was excellent, and the prices were good. Someone who cares more about service would probably have given this place 3 stars, but quality of food and price matter most to me.
(4)
Daniel T.
Small seating area but open kitchen so you can see in. Food is good as well at the service. Very dimly light. Service is friendly full bar. Wait can be kind of long after work hours. Wait staff can be iffy on some nights.
(3)
Lindsay Q.
This was an excellent yelp find. It was affordable and everything we had was delicious. Scallops were cooked perfectly and the lobster Mac and cheese had huge chunks of lobster in it. So tasty. The waiter recommended the bread pudding and the peanut butter mousse desserts and we had both and were very happy with both.
(5)
Shuja D.
Great lunch here, we ordered burrito and lobster roll both were amazing and priced very well in the $12-16 range. Nice outside seating. Will definitely be coming here again.
(4)
Martin V.
OK, maybe it was an off night. We came here on a beautiful summer's night on the strength of the Yelp reviews. Wow, what a disappointment! I will admit, it was probably a 2 star, but I'm only giving it 1 because of all the other reviews that I assume are inflated. Someone below raved about the scallops. Overcooked, and therefore rubbery. They were supposed to be served with a horseradish marmalade, which was intriguing. Does a plate of grease count as a marmalade? No hint of horseradish anywhere. I ordered a pretty pricey $20 "full glass" of Pinot (no way was it the 10 oz the bar menu said). It was spoiled, probably from not being properly corked. They replaced it, but still... I chose the Flatiron Steak for my entree because that's usually a pretty tasty cut, although it can be a bit tough if it isn't cut right. It wasn't tough, but it wasn't tasty. In fact, it was devoid of taste. And it was cold. My wife ordered the Ahi Tuna Napoleon. The rice cake the tuna was served on was apparently too hot, so it cooked the minced tuna. She barely touched it. My wife also reported that the bathrooms were not only absolutely stomach-turningly filthy, but you had to walk through a kitchen prep area to get to them. Hey, Carlos, probably not a good idea to be swearing like a sailor when a female customer is walking through. Even my teenaged son commented about how they kept taking plates away without first checking to see if we were finished. Not that they needed to rush us and turn the tables over - it was completely empty by 8:30 on a beautiful July Friday night! Positives? My cocktail was very good. The cheeseboard, I thought, was strong, although two of the three cheeses were similar and it needed more spreadable relishes or a mustard. The Lobster Mac 'n' Cheese was apparently good, although at $27, that's a bit pricey for a few chunks of lobster. This is Boston, lobster's pretty plentiful and therefore cheap. Sorry, we won't be back. Maybe it's better for brunch or lunch.
(1)
Denise L.
Disappointing dinner. Waited a long time to get service. Waitress was friendly, but incredibly slow. Haddock was over cooked and soaked in butter. Spinach was dripping in bad tasting olive oil and vegetables were overcooked and bland. Mixed green salad was wilted with soggy caramelized nuts. Overall disappointing bland meal.
(2)
Addie F.
Went for Brunch. I was with a large group and we were the first customers of the day. The waitress we had was very diligent about refilling our water... that's basically where the "service" ended. Drinks came 20-30 minutes after we ordered. All of the food came out at different times - half of our group was served hour after we ordered and the remaining people in the group about 1 hr and 10-15 minutes. Other tables came and went while we waited for our food. The manager (maybe?) informed us that the kitchen was backed up - which is valid, however its a brunch crew, not every dish is made to order - it was inexcusable. When the food FINALLY came out - it was terrible. I ordered scrambled eggs, "home fries", sausage and an english muffin. The eggs were burned and dry, they were actually crunchy. The sausage was also burned and incredibly dry. The english muffin tasted like it had been in the kitchen for several weeks - it was incredibly stale, and the "home fries" were actually hashbrown patties which weren't bad, but I have tasted better from Dunkin Donuts. I would not recommend this establishment unless you like to wait hours to eat bland, overcooked, yet still cold, food.
(1)
Zhicao F.
A not-so pricey place for some American food and beer. But the cocktail we ordered (rosemary baby) did not live up to our standards, and the beer list was limited in the dining area.
(3)
Roger J.
Lobster risotto was fantastic. Swordfish was a close second. Would definitely eat here again. Not too busy for a Saturday night and dress was casual. Noise level was perfect.
(4)
Couldbe A.
Has some gluten free entree options and a casual cool atmosphere. Nice waitstaff, good bar and a pleasant vibe.
(4)
LeAnne L.
Friends and I were staying at the Omni Parker Hotel, and the concierge recommended this place for brunch. This was one of the best brunches I've had in a while. I started with a bacon bloody mary that was well balanced and had a kick without being too spicy. I originally was just going to get the fruit plate, but our server said that I might want more food. The fruit was fresh and amazing, and the bowlful filled me up. I ended up taking my bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich home. Later that day when I was hungry again, I reheated the sandwich and it was SO GOOD. It was very flavorful and satisfying. All-in-all, it was a great visit!
(5)
Dani M.
Love this place! First of all, all the servers are so friendly and polite, that always makes my day. I've been here a few times and the food has always been outstanding! The mac and cheese is a favorite as well as the ahi tuna. I think it's safe to say you'll never be disappointed here. Even the cocktails are fun and delicious! The outdoor seating is a plus in the summer, great people watching. I'm looking forward to going back for brunch, I've heard great things about their bloody mary bar.
(5)
Lindsey M.
While poking around downtown we stopped in for brunch, yelp almost never steers me wrong! I had the Scollay Square special with scrambled eggs and bacon, & I really liked the scallions on top and the texture of the eggs was light and fluffy. The lemon dressing on the side salad was also excellent. My boyfriend raved about the lobster eggs Benedict but since I'm allergic to shellfish, I was unable to confirm. The blueberry stuffed french toast also looked good but the consensus was that the cream cheese was tasty on the first slice but became a bit too sweet to finish the other two. The bloody mary bar will be something I'd love to try in the future, I had a mimosa but wasn't blown away. I'd rate the drink three stars, but everything else was excellent.
(4)
Marissa S.
Getting here isn't easy and parking is limited so if you are meeting friends leave yourself a little extra time. We didn't sit outside but they have a great outdoor patio. For a starter, I had the Grilled Parma Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus with Fresh Mozzarella and Balsamic Syrup..YUM! People often mess up cooking asparagus, this was crisp and flavorful. For my brunch entree I had the Monterey Jack & Portabella Omelette served with Hash Browns and Lemon Dressed Greens. I'll be honest, I don't know what came over me when I ordered that. I really dislike mushrooms and would never have normally ordered it but I just felt like an omelet. I'm so glad I did because it was delicious! The egg was nice and fluffy the hashbrowns were crisp and the greens were a nice addition for brunch. The mushrooms, you might ask, I actually liked them! For dessert I ordered their strawberry shortcake. Wow. Good. Everything was very fresh and tasted like it was just made -- meaning it hadn't been sitting under a warmer or anything. If you are looking for a fun brunch location downtown I would highly recommend Scollay Square. Full Disclosure: I Attended a brunch event here with Boston Brunchers ( bostonbrunchers.com ) which means my meal was complimentary, however, this review is 100% my own thoughts of the experience.
(5)
Brian D.
I came here the other week for lunch when meeting a work contact. I have lived in beacon hill for many years but have never made it up the hill to check this place out, glad we did today. Small selections for lunch but everything I had was quite good. I enjoyed their onion soup on a cold, rainy day and the fish sandwich I ordered on special was quite good. If you are a potato chip kinda person, definitely check this place out. I opted for the chips than fries and I was gives a huge handful of fresh fried chips. Great atmosphere, I will likely be back!!
Came here for brunch while on a recent visit and WOW! The service was impeccable, the food was absolutely wonderful and the general atmosphere was warm. If I lived in Boston, I would be here at least once a week! Ordered the Eggs Benedict and I can honestly say it was the best I have ever had. Light, fluffy and savory at the same time. The hash browns we perfect and the mimosas flowed like a...boozy river? Yeah they were good. Our server, and I feel endless guilt for not recalling her name, gave us some great suggestions for areas to visit and things to try. I thought our bill was beyond reasonable. Can't wait for my next visit to Boston - you are all wonderful people and your streets are pleasantly clean - and to visit this place again!
(5)
K T.
Eggs Benedict -- egg is NOT runny :-( Four of us ordered eggs bene and were all very disappointed with hard yolks. My other friend got an omelet and the cheese was not even melted and her hash brown was hard.. Service was good, bloody mary bar is good and the atmosphere is cool. Just don't order the eggs bene!
(2)
Brad S.
This place was great. My wife ordered the buffalo mac and cheese and it was Awesome! I had the seared tuna and it was also very good. Reasonably priced I would definitely go back. The Manager Chris came by the table and was very personable and professional! Great Restaurant!
(5)
Jamie G.
I really enjoyed my time here and can't wait to come back! My reason for the visit was the Mad Men premiere costume party they were throwing. For $30, we got 2 cocktails, passed appetizers, and 2 hr TV watching, with the sound on and the show on all their TVs. The cocktails were delicious- I had the Old Fashioneds... they were made perfectly, made with Woodford Reserve- a delicious whiskey. Then later I had woodford reserve on the rocks with a twist of orange. Also delicious. All the passed apps were delicious too- chicken skewers, fresh baked potato chips, etc. The staff were incredibly friendly, especially our bartender. I hope to come back every Sunday, because they will have the TVs on for Mad Men viewing. Win.
(5)
Shelagh M.
DEAR LORD THIS PLACE IS GOOD. I went with 5 people and we got a little bit of everything: Kobe Sliders Broiled Scallops Prosciutto and Truffle oil Mac and Cheese Rare seared Tuna Chocolate chip cookie sliders The ambience was sexy and fun at the same time. I heard this place is great for after-work drinks as well. The impeared martini was very sweet, but you kind of have to expect that. I had the antioxidant martini the second time I went, which is absolute perfection. My friend had an Old Fashioned and loved it. Bartender Will is the greatest!
(5)
Peggy K.
Never again... Boston was amazing, the vibe, the shopping, the breweries, the many delicious restaurants! EXCEPT, THIS PLACE. I'm sorry. I really tried to like this place after my friend found it on yelp, and saw the place with the nice hostess in front ( Hello, Caitlin! sorry for the wrong spelling ). We had reservations that was in 15 mins, and decided to wait outside for our table. Seeing some tables outside enjoying there meals, relaxing with their coffee and mimosa's we asked if can just take a table outside. The hostess said "Sure!" and sat us down, and said the waiter will come out with our menus in a bit. A bit was like 10 mins. Okay no problem. It was nice outside. Our waiter comes by, throws the 4 menus down on the table and says "Hi, what can I get for you to drink?" I ordered a mimosa, after noticing the table in front had about 6 glasses of it, having a good old time. The Mister ordered another drink, that I can't remember at this time, and the others just got water. Ok... 15 mins later our waiter, ( oh did I mention his name?? Sorry, I later found out from the hostess that his name is Bradley or was it Brandon? WTF something that starts with a B, and he didn't introduce himself to us, so I don't care what his name is)... So let me go on... Ok, 15 mins later he comes by with the water and the Mister's drink and tells me that they ran out of mimosa glasses so it's gonna be awhile... Ok, in my mind I see the table in front with 6 glasses that are empty. How about f'ing taking them and cleaning them for your customers... Hmmm... That would be stupid of him to do because he seems to not do that type of work! ( Ahem, bussing tables, or even think about washing a dish) I ask him for a coffee, and he says "sure." We also give him our order and that took another 20 mins. In between that time frame, I did get my mimosa in a HUGE wine glass... Ok, got the mimosa. The coffee is now gonna be tricky. We got our food by another waitress. I ordered the Scollay breakfast, nothing fancy, with a hash brown that looked like it dropped on the floor and stepped on. NICE! Mister and our other friend ordered the steak and eggs that was really good! Looked good, and tasted good! ( Get that if you dare go to this place! ) My other friend ordered an omelet. She didn't say much, which is surprising because she usually goes off saying how good something is if it was. I guess it wasn't... Moving on~ Coffee, oh coffee...where are you? My friend noticed the manager Chris making the rounds outside, She called him over and the Mister told him that I ordered coffee 20 mins ago, and still haven't got it. He apologized, and said he will bring it right over. After a minute, he came back and said that they are brewing a fresh pot and he will bring it right over. Another 5 mins later, I got my stinking coffee, by another waiter who was the main guy taking care of the outdoor area. If only we had him... Maybe our experience would of been different... We saw our waiter inside with a table next to us. After getting our checks, my friend and I went to the ladies room, before heading out for some shopping. The bathroom is located in the basement after passing the kitchen. While coming back up the stairs we heard our waiter and the hostess talking. Our waiter was bitching about his table full of asians... UMmm... what?? Really? The hostess saw us leaving so she just started walking behind us. Before leaving, I asked her what did he say about the table full of asians? She said "oh, he didn't say anything." I told her that we heard him, and she said that he wasn't speaking about us. Okay, fine. Even if he wasn't speaking about us, and maybe the table that was next to us, why even say that?! Seriously, I just didn't want to push it any furthur with this place. BAD EXPERIENCE, WITH A JACKASS WANNABE WAITER.
(1)
Ellen C.
Yummmmmmmm. Seriously. Yummmmmmmm. This restaurant is great - it's intimate and can work as a date place. But it's still casual and fun for friends who are just getting together. It's got a great vibe to it and the area it's in is absolutely charming. The neighborhood is one of those places you would just want to settle down in and raise those kids in. We ordered different entrees and tried everything, and there was not ONE dish that we didn't think tasted anything less than delicious. Ranking them, let's talk about the best from start to finish. Scallops & leek risotto was fabulous. The seared scallops were done perfectly - seared with this caramelized, pan fried outside and medium to rare center. The scallops' sweetness paired so well with the savory leek risotto, which was also done to perfection with its seasoning, its doneness, its creaminess. Seared tuna with wasabi potatoes and spinach was YUM. The only thing that I would comment on is the fact that they don't really mix in the wasabi completely, so there will be times when you get more green than you would like in your mashed potatoes. But when you get a bite with the tuna, a well mixed bit of potatoes, and some spinach? Along with some chili and sesame oil at the bottom of the plate, it's fantastic especially the quality of the tuna. As a sushi lover, this was awesome. Blackened swordfish over jalapeno potatoes was surprising tender and fresh. I generally dislike swordfish due to its rubbery texture when it's even slightly overdone, but this dish was fantastic. The jalapeno potato pieces combined with the tender swordfish were flavored to the nines, delicious. The lobster mac n' cheese was okay. I didn't taste the lobster but the mac n'cheese itself was well seasoned and the cheese was quality, but I'm not a HUGE fan of mac n' cheese so this dish didn't really blow me away. Either way, when I come back to Boston, I would absolutely come back to this restaurant, especially on a date!
(5)
Bree J.
This place was so fantastic, I still can't get over it. It was my first time visiting Boston my husband and I stumbled on this place while walking near the Boston Commons area. For appetizers I got the arborio crusted calamari and grilled pear salad. Both were phenomenal!! I wanted to order seconds but I had to keep my stomach in check. For dinner I got the lemon basted swordfish chop. There is so much to say about this dish I don't even know where to begin! The presentation, the taste, and the very generous portion lobster risotto that came with it, all amazing!!! If I ever come back to Boston I am definitely coming here again!
(5)
Jason M.
Put me in the list of people who don't get this place. It's inexpensive. It's high quality food. It's in a great location. It's got a decent atmosphere. So when you go there, why does it look like Armageddon happen and my boyfriend and I are the only ones left (except for the hostess, waitress, cook and bartender)? It deserves a better crowd. A lot of Yelpers complain about Scollay Square being hit or miss in terms of quality... apparently, we had a good night. I can vouch for the oven roasted goat cheese and the mac & cheese with prosciutto & tuffle oil. The boyfriend ordered the fish & chips. Everything was tasty, pipping hot, creative and rather inexpensive. Our kind (and quiet) waitress informed us next time we dine, we'll order the arborio crusted calamari. I like it when people tell me what to do. Especially if what they tell me what to do is delicious. I like it even more so if I have to check twice to make sure I'm spelling arborio correctly.
(4)
Danielle W.
I've lived in the area for awhile, but somehow never managed to eat at Scollay Square, which is unfortunate! After visiting twice for brunch within the past month, I'll definitely be coming here more often. Since I've only had brunch, I can't comment on the lunch or dinner menus, but I do plan to check those out. The brunch menu is small and pretty standard, but always delicious. The mimosas are especially delicious, and they always have a "Make Your Own Mimosa Bar" on Saturday and Sundays - an extra bonus! The service is top notch and it's in a wonderful location - right on Beacon Street, across from the Boston Anthenaeum and a stone's throw away from the State House. It's a little out of the way and you won't find it unless you're walking down there, but it's worth the trip! I definitely see it becoming one of my go to brunch spots near my apartment.
(4)
Katie W.
HOLY BUFFALO--between the buff chix dip with crispy chips or the mac and cheese, this is the place to come to satisfy your buffalo craving!! I could legit drink the buffalo chicken dip--we came as a large group and ordered one for the table...lets just say it didn't stand a chance. Next I split the buffalo chicken mac and cheese and it was perfection! They use cellentani pasta, my personal favorite for mac and cheese, the swirl of the pasta is large enough to pick up the cheesy buffalo goodness while still having a great texture. Will def be back for my buffalo fix!
(5)
Jeff S.
Friendly place, nice old boston feel, very speedy service and excellent dinner entrees. All four of us were pleased with our meals. Swordfish, seared tuna and haddock. Delicious.
(4)
Saba N.
Had a great time here! When I first walked in.. I was a little skeptical. Although we arrived pretty early.. it was a ghost town. never a good sign. The decor also wasn't really my taste, so I kind of figured I stumbled upon the lamest restaurant in all of beacon hill. Boy, was I wrong. First of all, my drink was amazing. Blackberry Bramble. If you like gin, and you like fresh fruit.. GET THIS. The food was all really good as well.The seafood was cooked properly and really flavorful. I didn't feel like it was the freshest stuff, but not the worst I've ever had. The lobster mac and cheese is divine (I think really its the cheese sauce that does it for me.. the lobster was just eh). I also had a fantastic dessert. All in all, I was totally happy with this place. I wasn't blown away by any one bite of food, but I also didn't dislike anything. It definitely filled up around 9, and the prices were pretty reasonable. Although it's not exactly my taste, I would come back again.
(4)
Andrea S.
I was solidly impressed by their brunch. With $4 mimosas and $7 bloody mary's, one could do a fair amount of Sunday morning damage without a huge hit to the bank account. I had never been before, I think because it's off the beaten path and not top of mind. They were able to seat a large party (9) with limited warning. Kudos to the chefs and waitress who did a great job feeding and entertaining us.
(4)
Dandan L.
3.5 star-the quality was quite good, but I don't know if I like it so much that I'm willing to call myself a fan of this restaurant. The location of the restaurant and the history of Scollay Square (the actual square) make this place a good lunch spot to bring your friends who are not from Boston and interested in the culture/history. I came here for a work lunch (not recommended if you have a large group and you actually would like to talk to everyone - too loud for any third person to join the conversation). It took me a while to decide what to order (which rarely happens), since quite a few items on the menu looked worth trying. I finally decided on the Fire Roasted Turkey Sandwich. It was very good, prob the best turkey sandwich I've ever had. I personally HATE dry meat. The turkey in my sandwich was so juicy. The creamy avocado and the sweet cranberry totally enhanced the taste of the meat, with the well-toasted bread. Additional notes: It was an open kitchen setting last time when I visited, so the smell of food was quite strong inside the restaurant. This is one of the reasons why I'm a little hesitated to go again - I'm not a big fan of smelly clothes which might announce my lunch spot in the office for the entire afternoon.
(3)
Dror B.
Rare tuna filet was Not great as described. I had better.... There was very little lobster in the Mac and cheese dish. Too much money for what you get....
(1)
Angela K.
Four stars is a little high.. but 3 would be too low. Most of their menu is probably way to pricey for my standards but there were some pretty decent brunch deals. Got the stuffed french toast.. very yummy!! Ordered a side a potatoes, decent but not 'amazing'. My companions fries were definitely pretty tasty though. He seemed to enjoy his lobster roll, but made no proclamations about it being absolutely amazing. We lucked out and came in on a very busy day so the service was attentive and the meal was prepared very quickly. Since there was hardly anyone inside, it was a nice quiet relaxing meal. I wasn't blown away by the decor but the place is definitely pretty nice and clean inside.
(4)
Amy L.
First time here for Saturday brunch with a group of about 8 including out of town visitors who were looking forward to a delicious brunch with all the spots boston has to offer. Unfortunately we left very unsatisfied and disappointed. Bloody Mary bar was not stocked and didn't even have olives!! Mimosas were cheap (slightly too much oj though) Food: Half ordered lunch dishes and the other order breakfast. 4 out of 4 Eggs benedict dishes had HARD POACHED eggs. not runny! (they did take 2 off the bill) Sandwiches were ok...lettuce tasted dirty. Shorted someone on a hashbrown. Omelette cheese wasn't melted at all. Simple mistakes that shouldn't have happened. Maybe an off day and I'll give it another try...but then again maybe not. Just to say something positive...the people were nice and the service was good.
(2)
Becca L.
My colleagues and I are in town for a conference and were out and about downtown when we decided to have dinner. We typed into Yelp - seafood and Scollay was a nearby option. The food was surprisingly decent. Everyone was pleased with their meal. The price is decent from what I can tell but it's the first restaurant I've been to in Boston. We ordered: Lobster Mac n Cheese Seared Ahi Steak Tips Beet and goat cheese salad The lobster mac n cheese was good but heavy. We felt like mac n cheese was more of a side dish than a main course. Seared ahi - surprisingly good (served with a side of wasabi mashed potatoes) Steak tips - they were ok. The sauteed spinach on the side was WAAY salty, the side potato lasagna was alright and the steak was cooked well. I prefer my meat on the rare side. Service was Meh at best.
(3)
Amy O.
Went here to celebrate a birthday after a Sox game. In short, I was disappointed. I got the Lobster Mac n Cheese, and being in Boston you expect your seafood is more or less straight off the boat...but the entire dish was terrible..all you could taste was fish, like it wasn't fresh and may have even been frozen first. gross. My friends enjoyed their steak tips, but the veggies were overly salty. Our server was also a total space cadet and didn't exactly seem like she was all there. I was at least happy the manager took notice and removed the Mac from the bill, but this isn't somewhere I'll be returning.
(2)
Cc R.
I've eaten here several times and have been happy every time. I'd probably give it a 3.5 as it's not really stand out, considering that Boston has amazing food everywhere, but I always round up. Their brunch is good, too. I'd definitely suggest it, especially if you want a place where you don't want to take any risks, you just want to have a good, solid meal.
(4)
Harri S.
Patio dining makes me feel like I'm in less classy France....or California. I love it. Calamari under the stars? Yes please. Wait, you don't like the tentacles? More for me. Their food is really good, and as it's close by I don't mind ducking in every now and then for take out. Not that I encourage consuming salad as an entree, but if you're ever on a diet, or miss your vegetables in Boston ($2 Cucumbers? Really, Boston? Really?) they make the best salads, with the PERFECT amount of dressing.
(4)
Tao L.
We were kind of lost for a map error of yelp when we walked into Scollay Square. We had beef spring roll as app, swordfish and boat scallop as entrees. The food was just moderate even when we were starving. Ginger britton tasted like plain vodka. And it is a little pricey. Poorer experience compared to our dinner at Island Creek Oyster Bar, of which the bill amount was almost the same.
(3)
Heather G.
Gah! Why is Scollay Square so hit-or-miss!? I can't take it anymore - it's not consistently "good" enough that I think the rating, for me, lands at 2 stars overall. Popped in for dinner with my boyfriend the other night - we wanted something casual without being dive-y, and tasty without breaking the bank. I thought back to my last SS experience and thought this would, again, be a good option. Sadly, though the service was on-point, the food was not. To branch-out on my menu exploration, we went with three items not previously-tried by us. Perhaps I'd just chosen the best items on the menu last time, so this visit was sure to disappoint. Perhaps they were having a bad night. Or maybe, just maybe, this is just the TJ Maxx of restaurants - a hit-or-miss experience where you could leave full and happy, or empty and disappointed. We started with a couple of Hendrick's martinis and an order of calamari, which was THE highlight of the meal. I suggest, if you want to maximize your experience here, wait til it's warm enough to sit on the patio, head on over for some warm-summer-evening cocktails, and munch on some crispy, light, fried calamari. My date and I ordered a cheeseburger (rare) and the lobster mac. The mac had an option to add a side of greens for $3 (which I went for simply to balance out the heaviness of the rest of our cheesy and fried goodies), but the greens turned out to be a child's-fist-sized portion of about 10 dressed leaves, sadly piled to the side of the serving dish. If this is a $3 portion, then the $1.99 Trader Joe's mixed-green bags should actually sell for $45. It was embarrassing to see what I spent $3 on. Please, if you get the mac&cheese, do NOT opt-in for the $3 side of greens. The lobster mac itself ($16) was creamy yet still light, though it had very sparse lobster-chunks (sparse: about 4 for the entire $16 bowl). The burger came cooked closer to well-done than rare, but was still really juicy, as though lots of butter was added while cooking to keep it moist while the precious meat was being cooked to its death. Oddly, it had a too-perfect patty shape, and my boyfriend informed me that apparently some places order pre-ground, pre-formed patties and then add butter to the cooking to add flavor and moisture. I DO NOT KNOW FOR SURE whether Scollay Square does this. What I mean to say is that I suspected, given the juicy/greasy level of the totally-cooked-through-burger and the patty's symmetry. As per usual, the burger bun was chewy and delicious - this one never lets me down. The fries had an off-night, as some were served well-cooked, and others were nearly raw inside (though not frozen...rather, just warm and still-potato-y and hard). Our server - Brett? Brad? - he was hilarious. Jovial, chatty (but not too chatty), friendly (but didn't linger), entertaining. That man was ON HIS GAME. Was this just a REALLY off night? I don't know, perhaps. Am I being too picky? I don't think so. SO, i guess my recommendation would be to stop by for a delicious martini and some calamari on the patio and check out this scene, but consider dinner elsewhere.
(2)
Liana P.
AMAZING FOOD! I fell so in love with this place but I am so sad that it's in Boston and NOT in Los Angeles. The prices are great the food is amazing MUST try the mac and cheese!!! If I ever return back to Boston I am def coming back here.
(5)
Bill R.
Awesome bloody Mary bar. Not crowded for brunch.
(5)
Kristin M.
Saturday morning, rainy and dreary, gearing up for the Pride parade and festivities. Started our day off with brunch and cocktails at Scollay Square. Friends had mimosas and I tried the glorious 'make your own' bloody mary bar - generous vodka pour, about 30 hot sauces and accoutrements to make the drink my own. Delish. Server was great (we were the only table at the time), food was served within about 15 minutes of ordering. Egg sandwiches were huge (2 eggs each) and really better eaten with a knife and fork. Hash browns were the hit of the table. I preferred the lemon dressed greens. Brunch prices were about $12 each and rightfully so. Cozy seating, floor to ceiling windows makes it great for people watching, central location makes it a perfect place to meet friends from different neighborhoods. Happy with our experience, we'll surely be back.
(3)
Mark W.
We held a graduation party of 15 guests on May 11. The staff and management were very friendly and accommodating. The service was top notch. The food was so good. We all ordered different things so to list out each item would get silly. Just know that it all was wonderful. If I am ever back in Boston I hope to go back.
(5)
Hayley M.
Perfect spot for a leisurely lunch. Went in with a friend, it was 3:00 pm on a Saturday and the first two spots we went to were closed. My friend used to eat lunch there all the time when she worked in the area. We started off with the edamame. It had a soy/miso glaze and white and black sesame seeds. It was amazing. I have eaten a truckload of edamame in my life and have never tried anything but plain ol' salted. Kudos for the creativity, Scollay Square. I had the ahi tuna salad, which came with a dressing remarkably similar to the edamame. It also had some ginger, wanton strips, and yummy seaweed salad on top. It was really good! That's all I can say. Light but filling and very satisfying. Glad Scollay Square was open this afternoon! People gotta eat, even in the off hours.
(4)
Donna J.
Martini was Perfect, service was impeccable and the Lobster Mac and Cheese was very good! Our whole group enjoyed their meals!
(4)
Moranda B.
The truffle oil & proscuitto mac and cheese is to die for. All the mac and cheeses are delicious! The restaurant is really beautiful and has a great ambience. Would definitely recommend it. Food also came out really fast!
(5)
Tracy W.
I absolutely love this place. The service is always fantastic, the food is great, prices reasonable, good ambiance. The fish and chips and mac and cheese (lobster is good, also spinach and artichoke) are my favorites. They also do a great brunch.
(5)
Megan R.
This is a great gem hidden right down Beacon Street from the State House. I originally came across Scollay Square when my roommate and I were looking for someplace with a patio to eat on in between both of our workplaces. We chose Scollay Square because 1.) it was very reasonably priced for the downtown/Beacon Hill area and 2.) we were able to request outdoor seating when we made a reservation for a Friday night at 7:30! Anyone who knows Boston knows that is a rare find in the summer. Once we arrived we could see why- it ended up being super humid and we asked to be seated inside, which was completely empty! Yup, there were only about 4 or 5 other tables filled throughout our entire meal. Apparently this place is a little TOO hidden! They have a great wine list with lots of by-the-glass options. We both started with some white wine. My meal was simple- broiled scallops with fries. But for less than $20, I was absolutely shocked when a plate with about 8-9 scallops showed up at our table. They were cooked perfectly and I was almost too full to finish it all (which is not common of a fish dish). My roommate got white fish which was on a bed of spinach and rice, and was also a very generous portion. I would absolutely recommend this place to anyone looking for an affordable meal in the area. I cannot wait to go back again and dive into the rest of the menu!
(5)
Heidi X.
Excellent variety of martinis, decent wine list. The calamari is a must try starter - cooked just right, and served with a tantalizing spread of sweet tomatoes and sliced jalapeno and banana peppers. Swordfish, seared tuna, and drunken shrimp entrees are hits with my group. Entree sizes are large, but if you can't manage dessert on your own, get some to share. The red velvet cake and cookie sliders are to die for. Service levels are generally good, although it gets much better during the weekends when the restaurant is more well staffed. Nevertheless, I've brought my 8 month old baby along for dinner twice and we were very well taken care of on both occasions.
(4)
Dan D.
I went on a recent business trip based on the recommendation of the concierge at a nearby hotel and was very pleased with the quality of the food and service. I had the seared (rare) tuna filet with wasabi mashed potatoes and highly recommend it.
(5)
Bif P.
Took my family here at the recommendation our hotels concierge and couldn't be happier. The food selection is pretty broad and there is something for everyone. My kids had the buffalo mac and cheese, steak tips and loved it, I went with the tuna burger and my wife had a burger, all were cooked perfectly and served promptly by a real nice knowledgeable waiter. Sometimes places overcook the tuna burger and are dry but the this wasn't the case, it was very good. The atmosphere was very laid back and cozy and good for date night, a few tv's on mute around the room but not overwhelming where they are the focus the restaurant. Nice little bar and beer selection. Mostly with a group of five I found the prices extremely reasonable. My only regret is that I don't live closer to this place.
(5)
James K.
Fun, and great food. We hit the Concierge at the Parker House with a dozen demands/requests for dinner for the family. "Go to Scollay" was his response. Great food, great service, the Mac n Cheese options were all over the top.
(4)
Meredith M.
OH MY GAAWW. Gluttony. Good friends, tasty wine and decadent food... (sigh) For starters we had the most creamy, light, savory artichoke dip. I wanted to lick the bowl clean. But I resisted the urge. The barbeque shrimp were juicy and made this Southern Belle want to smack her lips, lick her fingers and drink sweet tea! Our waitress was phenomenal. She balanced just enough service with friendly and sassy conversation with our boisterous table. My meal was the FAVORITE of the evening. Everyone had to sample my sauteed scallops. They were drenched in this creamy lemon sauce and accompanied by a delicious crab risotto cake! I also tried the delicious grilled salmon fillet with wasabi mashed potatoes. The scallops were very filling, so I was happy to share! For desert we shared a tray of ALL of their offerings. My favorite by far was the peach sorbet. NEVER have I tasted anything more peachy. It was peachier than a peach. And I know my peaches, as some of my family is from Georgia. This is a place to sit down and enjoy dinner. If I were taken here for a date, I'd be very pleased. The interior is like an old brownstone. The service is impeccable. The location is perfect, nestled away from the craziness of downtown. It's nice for a small group or an intimate date. ;)
(5)
Laura J.
Goat cheese....fried.....smothered in tomato sauce.....slathered on grilled bread. Ya, that just happened. Nestled on Beacon St rests this tasty treasure. With a cocktail list featuring a drink called "The Pink Tassel Spinner", I'm sure everyone can find some concoction to enjoy. I met my friend for a mid week after work dinner. A very casual atmosphere greeted us, which was exactly what we were looking for. We started with the aforementioned goat cheese dish, delicious, and then moved on to the grilled steak tips and good ol'cheeseburger. The steak tips were very good. My friends burg was tasty according to her. A couple glasses of wine, a nice leisurely convo, good food, attentive service....no complaints. I'd go back fo shoooo.
(4)
Bobby C.
Had brunch on a Sunday here. We were seated promptly. We were given the dinner menu with the brunch flyer inside the menu. We weren't sure if we were able to order appetizers from the dinner menu. We each got the Scollay Square Breakfast and ordered an appetizer. Our server didn't say anything so we thought maybe one could order from the regular dinner menu. Food was served pretty quickly. That was probably the highlight. Overall food and service was average. We never got our appetizer so it seems you cannot order from the regular menu. We paid and left.
(3)
Justin B.
Good service and large portions my meal at Scollay Square was delightful. Causal ambiance with a patio makes this central location a go to place if your hungry. The steak was good but I recommend the onion soup as it was delicious. $55 for two plus tip.
(3)
Josh S.
Really excellent restaurant, although the space feels a little tired. They offer large pieces of fish, the scallops and sides are excellent. During the summer drinks on the patio are great too.
(4)
Sharon K.
I tasted/had new orleans bbq shrimp, chicken satay skewers, braised short rib w/ polenta cake, cheesecake w/ strawberries. 4 stars is a bit of a stretch for me. Can I give 3.5? I dont know what it was but I didnt LOVE this place, though it was very good. The New Orleans BBQ shrimp was highly seasoned - not exactly like the bbq shrimp I have had in New Orleans but the spicy flavors were there, it was a bit saucy for me. Also, I would have liked the bread to be more crisp/toasted. It was supposed to be grilled bread, but it was a bit soggy. Still tasty - the shrimp was cooked perfectly. The chicken satay had a nice grilled flavor, but the meat was a bit dry. I really enjoyed the plum sauce (as opposed to peanut) that came alongside. i really liked my main: the braised short rib. The meat was very tender. I liked the greens - they were smokey/garlicky/and sweet at the same time! I felt like I didn't get to taste the polenta alone because they put the meat on top of it and then there was sauce everywhere. We shared the cheesecake which was just fine. I wish there were more strawberries, the cheesecake felt a little dry without, but still very yummy. I wish I had experimented more with the drink menu (I had a dark and stormy and a glass of wine). I want to go back to try the Key Lime Martini.
(4)
Alanna L.
After being stranded by my original host in this strange city (I just arrived & from CA), I have been forced to use Yelp to navigate my way to food. Luckily after frantically searching all over for lobster mac and cheese, Yelp brought me here. I took a subway and walked quite a bit to get here but it was easy to find. I was seated instantly and immediately felt comfortable even though I was alone and a little frazzled. A coffee, side salad and my well deserved lobster mac and cheese later, I am a happy camper. I love the slight lemony flavor to the macaroni dish that just made my mouth happy. The service was wonderful as well. Thank you Scollay Square!
(5)
TheBiggestJuiciestPiece a.
Food is excessively heavy and the drinks and service were mediocre. Looks like a good place to grab a few beers after work and maybe a few dishes, but for nothing more. We ordered the buffalo chicken dip, which had indistinguishable clumps of protein (I am still not sure if it was tofu imitating chicken or chicken imitating tofu). The guacamole was good. For entrees I ordered the broiled scallops and my friend ordered the haddock. The haddock was over-cooked and dry. The scallops were overly breaded, the breading was "raw", soggy bread crumbs. It was quite unappetizing. I cannot recommend this to anyone. It was embarrassing to have brought my friend here. I am dumbfounded as to how this place has gotten so many good reviews.
(2)
Albert B.
Why is this place never busy? Beats me. Great location. Prices are reasonable. Scallop appetizer is fantastic. Steak is comparable to any high-end restaurant in Boston at a fraction of the cost. I recommend sitting outside if the weather is nice.
(4)
Lauren K.
Had the boat scallops to start and they were incredible! Well seasoned and not overcooked (which is always a potential issue with scallops). I also had the miso-glazed salmon over rice, spinach and cucumber slices. Another excellent choice. My friend had the haddock but I can't say it was anything more than bland. Drinks were great, too. I'd definitely go back.
(4)
Andrew F.
I have to start off by saying that I can't wait for the warm weather to arrive and for Scollay Square to have outside seating! Arrived at Scollay Sqaure on Saturday afternoon, at the tail end of brunch. Although I did indulge in a mimosa, I opted for the lunch menu. I had a sandwich with prosciutto, mozzarella and greens. It was an excellent preview of summertime flavors. Also tried the buffalo chicken dip - which was the perfect amount of spiciness and creaminess. SO GOOD. They had a make-your-own bloody mary bar featuring different spices, hot sauces and other ingredients. Great for people who enjoy blood mary's (not me though). The service was great - our waitress Wendy was very friendly! Can't wait to go back, and looking forward to enjoying their outside seating!
(4)
Rebecca W.
My new favorite neighborhood spot. I've lived on the hill for a few years, and used to avoid Scollay Square because the menu wasn't too inspiring. But when I heard it had been taken over by a new owner, I decided to give it a shot. I'm glad I did. I've had dinner there three times and lunch two times, and every meal has been good. The service quality has varied a little (mostly because there were some new servers), but the management is great and the menu offers a great range of selections. I'm particularly in love with the rare filet of tuna (and the wasabi mashed potatoes) and the grilled pear salad. The atmosphere is great too - the place evokes old Boston in a tasteful way.
(4)
Elizabeth W.
A fine restaurant with adequate staff. Although we had reservation we were stuffed into a cramped corner that bordered the kitchen. At one point the waiter (after realizing he forgot to get us small plates) leaned over us and grabbed some from the kitchen - tacky. The food, however, was good. I liked my steak and my husband enjoyed his salmon. It wasn't earth shattering good and I wouldn't go back, but it was well cooked and without flaws.
(3)
Lynn W.
I ordered the rare filet of tuna. Incredible! I ate every last bite (and it is quite rare I finish my plate). The wasabi mashed potatoes were just perfect. Every so often you take a bite and get the perfect taste of wasabi. I split the roasted goat cheese appetizer with my friend. All I have to say is that it is like eating a deconstructed grilled cheese and tomato sandwich. There is this delicious tomato sauce on the bottom of the plate that you dip your crostini and cheese into. When we finished the bread we were just eating the sauce up with our spoons. Classy I know. This place is so no frills. Our waiter was super friendly and a little bit silly. The drinks were on point. I want to come back and I was just here a week ago. Yum.
(5)
Shaina P.
Three words: Bloody Mary Bar. That's right, folks, choose from three tomato bases, any vodka, a variety of veggies, bitters, and spices! $6 per drink? If only for this feature, I will return here over and over.
(5)
Rick K.
Summary: Very disappointing after reading so many good reviews. Time: Monday night, 7:00PM Atmosphere: The place looks fantastic but it was completely dead. The bar was near empty and only 1/4 of the dinner tables busy. Service: Hostess and staff were attentive but not very helpful. The waitress didn't have any opinions about menu items and didn't seem interested in suggesting something. Drinks: Scollay Square Sangria - lime juice, grapefruit juice, sprite and a little white zinfandel - sucked! Entrees: My wife had quite possibly, the worst mac-n-cheese ever. A big bowl full of warmish wet macaroni, watery Velveeta cheese in the bottom of the bowl, and toasted bread crumbs sprinkled on top to make it appear freshly baked. I don't think even the lobster could have helped save this dish. I had the Kobe Meatloaf with mashed potatoes, green beans and Shiitake gravy. The waitress finally broke down and gave this dish the thumbs up saying "I love the gravy". Well, the potatoes and beans were good but it was the most tasteless meatloaf I've ever had and the gravy was a sorry watery mess with not a single mushroom in sight. Maybe we picked a bad night but I think next time I need to thoroughly read the reviews. Several reviewers gave 3-stars and then included references to the watery mac-n-cheese. If you can't get mac-n-cheese right, you don't deserve 3 stars!
(2)
K G.
I have only had lunch here, but it is excellent. I have tried the fish and chips and the Lobster Macaroni and Cheese so far and both dishes are full of flavor and made just the way I like it. I would contend the fish and chips here is among the best in Boston. Great tarter sauce. For dessert I find the Key Lime pie to be excellent as well. Nice sweetness with just a hint of sour and very tasty crust. Excellent historic decor inside and out. I will be back.
(4)
Tina W.
Ambiance/decor is very comfortable and unique. Service was average but for the atmosphere I expected more. No complaints though because the prices on the menu items were reasonable. Portions are average to small side for my scallops that came with risotto, the five scallops were sizes of a quarter coin which was unexpected for a $22 entree. I never order macaroni but my husband got the prosciutto macaroni and it was so good and is something I would order if I end up here again.
(4)
Kristine A.
I was here for an office work lunch & was not impressed by any means. They may have been nice people but they lack serious cooking abilities. How hard can it be to find something that is vegetarian that doesn't always have cheese & tastes good? I mean rice & squash w/ like no flavor? That's what I get? It was so not worth it. I took it to go hoping I could give to a homeless person but no luck, so I will have to make it better so I can eat it. My favorite thing was them not having any dessert that didn't contain gelatin or a huge helping of dairy. Amazing how a restaurant which I thought was high caliber could disappoint so much.
(1)
Jill S.
Real good buff chicken dip! Fun atmosphere..nice if you can sit on the patio. Salad with steak tips is delicious as well.
(4)
Nathan I.
If I want lobster mac and cheese, I'm damn sure getting lobster mac and cheese. We stopped here for a quick lunch on my last day to do just that. It was 1 PM and the place was virtually empty. Guess the reservations weren't needed. It was quite a difference from the last time, when we came for dinner. That was fun! Then again, it was the evening, the place was packed, and we had consumed two or three bottles of wine. It may be apples and oranges, but I was so not getting a similar vibe this time.. We sat down and ordered a Diet Pepsi. It was disgusting. It left this after taste that only went away once we started eating. Jen suggested to the waitress that the fountain machine may not be clean. She tasted some, and said since she doesn't drink Diet Pepsi, she didn't know if there was something wrong with it. Riiiiight. It wasn't a big ordeal but I hope they've taken care of the problem. I had one wedge of Jen's bleu cheese salad and it was crisp and flavorful. The lobster mac and cheese was mostly what I expected (it could have used a tad more lobster meat). The cheese sauce seemed a little watery and more processed than I would have wanted. I have a feeling the lobster mac and cheese at the Ivy would have beaten the pants off of this one. It was the most low-key meal of the trip. I like to be in a place that's hopping, and for some reason, this place was just not. Maybe it was a combination of the weather and the holiday, I'm not sure...but if I go back, I'd want to go during dinner, for sure. I'd normally give four stars, but I'm subtracting one this time for a ho-hum lunch.
(3)
Steven C.
I sat outside on a really nice summer evening. The staff were great! I had the lobster roll and the ahi Tuna appetizer. It was very good. I strongly recommend this place!
(4)
Lauren M.
We went here after friends in the neighborhood said they wanted to give it "one more shot". The food was terrible. The goat cheese appetizer was good, but I ordered asta in sauce and it tasted like pureed tomatoes out of a can- hardly any seasoning. Now I do have allergies, so maybe they're just not good with that, but no one liked their food. I went back recently for cocktails, and I must say their cocktails are great and weight staff friendly, but I just don't like the food!
(2)
AD S.
Definitely one of my favorite Boston restaurant/bars. The building is a throw-back kind of architecture and a fun environment for small or medium-sized groups. I've come here for dinner and brunch. Dinner menu is decent, I got Mac and cheese which was pretty good. I highly recommend the brunch--good food, not too fancy/expensive, tasty. I think they also do $4 mamosas, if one is inclined. I have not been here just for drinks, but their outdoor porch would seem to be a nice place to hang out in the early-mid evening in the area. Anytime you are around the Park/Beacon Hill area, this place is certainly worth checking out!
(4)
Jen L.
This place has gone downhill. As in, 2 or 3 years ago I would have rated it a 4 star, but I now feel firmly that it is a 2 star place. I really wish I had read the review from early 2009 that referenced problems with cleanliness standards at the restaurant. If I see even one of those reviews, I usually stay the heck away. My issues with cleanliness (or lack thereof) are as follows: - Scollay Square has a musty kind of smell. Definitely unpleasant. - Based on the taste of the fountain drinks we were served, I'd say that the machines haven't been cleaned in quite some time. If you have ever worked in food service, you know that tons of bacteria build up in those fountain drink machines. - The carpet leading downstairs is old and dirty and needs to be replaced. - The musty smell downstairs is even stronger than upstairs. - The downstairs bathroom area was dirty bordering on sketchy As for the food, I think that "meh" sums it up. I was with a friend from out of town and we both ordered the lobster mac and cheese. I found that the sauce was a little velveeta-y for my taste. I didn't say anything to my friend because I didn't want to be a downer. I was just disappointed, especially when places like Figs and Ivy have such delicious versions of this dish. I will check back for yelp updates, but I think that I'm pretty much staying away considering there are better options in the area.
(2)
DJ D.
Its hard to imagine anyone giving this place a good review. Based on yelp reviews, we went there for brunch last Sunday. I don't know were our food came from, but not the same place as most of the other reviewers. I had eggs Benedict which was nothing if not sub par. How is it possible to make tasteless hollandaise sauce? Just awful. The Canadian bacon was the kind in the shrink wrap you get in the supermarket and the english muffin was less than a Thomas's. They did get the egg done right. 1 for 4, overall lousy. Anyone, with just a little effort, could have done better. One of us had a hamburger and fries. Nothing remarkable about the hamburger but they should think about changing the rancid oil they apparently use to cook Sunday morning french fries, gross. On the positive side, the small salad that came with the eggs was good and the service was good, but why go back? Boston has thousands of restaurants.
(2)
Jessica Y.
Selected this place for our weekend visiting Boston. Not only did they have top notch service and an unpretentious atmosphere, scollay square also had excellent food and drinks. We were seated in a cozy two person table in the tiny corner next to a pillar, the boyfriend and I agreed that it was the perfect kind of table for us. Furthermore, we received prompt and attentive service despite the location of our table. The boyfriend had scallops with risotto and spinach while I had Kobe sliders and onion soup. It was thoroughly enjoyable and it was such a memorable place for my visit in Boston.
(5)
Jim N.
Quick, friendly service and a very appealing menu. Since we were staying on Beacon Hill during our visit to Boston, this was a great find. Thank you, Yelp reviewers!
(4)
Colleen S.
It was such a nice treat treat to get back in to this space after about 20 years. i used to live in the building and would go to the former space occupier The Black Goose. Little has changed in ways of the decor and I ran in to several regulars from years ago. Service was sloppy. I went with the burger because it was that type of day, the burger was huge, bun was freshly made and toasted, burger was pretty undercooked though, had to be sent back, by the time it arrived my lunch mates had already finished. Thank fully we were not in a rush, so I took my time and enjoyed my meal. My new job is 2 doors down so I really look forward to long leisurely lunches on the patio come Spring & Summer, great people watching spot.
(4)
Yolanda R.
Love the S. Square! Just can't figure out why I need a steak knife for my lobster Benedict. What's up w/the English muffins?
(4)
Teresa T.
Scollay Square gives a lot of bang for the buck. I do like the decor despite what others have felt - an old school, historic dark feel w/ a bright stainless steel bright kitchen. Ordered the steak bennedict with coffee and orange juice. I did see quite a few people ordering mimosas and heading to the bloody mary bar (will have to make a note to go back to try one). Orange juice left little to be desired but the steak bennedict and coffee were good. Prices were very reasonable and service was sufficient but not mind blowing. I would come back for a laid back casual atmosphere.
(4)
Milee S.
I love this place! I went here with the bf on our anniversary last month. We walked in and sat at a very intimate table. At 7:30, it wasn't full at all, which surprised me. Our server, Leslie, was fantastic; very attentive. I started with a mojito, and the bf got a glass of merlot. My drink wasn't that great, to be honest. When we opened our menus, Happy Anniversary was printed on the top! I thought that was a very sweet gesture to such a special night! It was the regular menu, but still, made it special to me. There are a ton of options for appetizers, it was hard to choose. I got the goat cheese and crab wontons, which were delicious. It came with a spicy plum sauce and some pickled cabbage, which were equally tasty. The appetizer portions are rather large, FYI. The bf got the rock shrimp egg rolls and he really enjoyed those. For entrees, I got the citrus soy glazed salmon with lobster mashed potatoes and asparagus, which was so good. He got the special, a swordfish steak with lobster risotto and some veg. He said it was incredible. I was too full from dinner for dessert but because it was a special night we ordered the chocolate cake. Sooo rich! And an added touch, the staff gave us copies of our special menus AND a greeting card! So coupled with the service, ambiance and food, I have to rate this 5 stars! Definitely a good choice to impress a date :)
(5)
John L.
My only experience here is at the bar, which I've found to be an incredibly interesting experience. The interior has more of an older late-19th/early-20th century feel, and the restaurant itself seems to be quite well-oriented for both dates (which I've seen mentioned in some of the other reviews) as well as groups, particularly for brunches. As for the bar, it's not only decent on the beer prices, it's also a much more relaxed atmosphere to watch a game in, which, at the end of an evening, is exactly what I need. The bartenders are well-informed and nice, and on top of that, one can actually watch a game comfortably, or sit around and talk with the other people. Also, I've talked with a wide variety of interesting people here, while still being able to watch the game.
(5)
Natalie B.
3 stars = just okay. Although I'm a native Massachusetts resident, longtime Boston-proper, I had never been to Scollay Square and because I had a Rue La La coupon to use, it was a must-do. I checked out the website before making the reservation and it looked cozy and unique and somewhat retro, so I had high-hopes. I have the say that the pictures do it some justice, because it's a bit more dark and crowded and less cozy, in real life. It's, actually, a bit cold feeling. We arrived with a reservation and were seated shortly thereafter. We ordered wine and martinis, which were all served quickly and the service was generally fine with nothing out of the ordinary - for better or worse. It's really the food/price that substantiates the rating of this review. We ordered the goat cheese appetizer which was fine, other than the bruschetta-type topping being more like canned tomato sauce with pureed tomatoes. The goat cheese was tasty but the topping itself wasn't very good. For dinner, we ordered the buffalo chicken mac-n-cheese and my partner found it to be good, as did I. My meal, however, left something to be desired. I had the Bay Scallops with spinach and risotto. The scallops were small (although they are bay, so...) and despite size, they were overcooked and dry. The risotto was oily and starts to separate on your plate and the spinach was SALTY - quite, quite salty. For the price tag ($29, I believe? 23?) it did not live up to the expectations and I found myself eating more of my boyfriends meal than my own. Across the board, for the environment and the quality of the food (at least, in my experience) I feel as though the menu is overpriced. Perhaps focusing on what they do well (mac/cheese and other more bar-style items) and less on trying to force a price tag the kitchen can't support would be a wise choice. Service = fine. Environment = fine (although somewhat deceptive based on photos) - and anyplace that's going to charge what they do should not have multiple TVs displaying sports around the restaurant. Food = leaves something to be desired.
(3)
Sheila T.
When did Scollay Square sell out their menu? And why were they playing magic 106.7 with a little Linkin Park mixed in? Ehh.
(2)
Rebecca R.
If were a Barenaked Lady circa 1998 (and had a million dollars -- HA, get it?), I'd eat at Scollay Square every day of the week. From the intimate, classy ambience to the friendly & knowledgable service, to the flawless food, this place has got to be one of my top three favorite places in Boston. My first few run-ins with Scollay Square involved only drinks at the bar. Their well-poured gin n' tonics and the delicious Sangria Martini convinced me to try out their food. The first sit-down meal happened during Restaurant Week 2009 -- and seriously, what is better than sitting at a window table in Beacon Hill, listening to some tunes by the Rat Pack, and eating a perfect Filet Mignon with your fabulous date? The restaurant is packed with couples and groups lingering over dinner and conversation. Servers never seem to rush, but keep the meal reasonably paced, with each course being presented with magical precision. The food is drool-worthy, from the steak, to the juicy pork chops, to the egg roll appetizer. I could have eaten forever and then come back for more. And come back I will... I would love to sample their lobster mac n' cheese and *need* to try their Bloody Mary bar for brunch.
(5)
Leslie W.
Best brunch in Boston! Make your own bloody bar! So happy that it is warming up so I can sit outside enjoying the perfect bloody mary (cause I made it myself) and eating Rice Krispie french toast!
(5)
Kelly K.
The scallops were amazing. Portion sizes are just right - not overwhelming and not stingy. I also tried my friend's wasabi potatoes and tuna steak (rare) and it had amazing flavor. The service was a little slow, but very friendly,and it was lovely to sit on the patio on a gorgeous spring evening.
(4)
Nadia K.
We came here for brunch last Sunday and it was pretty good- nothing I'd call special, but decent. Two of us ordered the make your own Bloody Mary bar, and that was really good- although along with the extensive assortment of hot sauces I wish they had just had Tabasco... I ordered the egg white omelet with fillings and got cheddar and spinach, it was fine, again nothing special- could have used more cheese honestly, but it was nice to have well cooked egg whites. The hash browns were not what I was expecting and similar to the hash brown patties they serve at McDonald's... I wasn't impressed... I wanted spicy homemade grill top cooked goodness and I got deep fried flattened tator tots. The salad was pretty good, too small in my opinion, I think in the future I'll ask for just salad on the side and skip the "hash browns". The restaurant itself is well decorated and architecturally interesting so it's a good place to meet friends- especially those with a not-so-adventurous palate, for me, I probably wont be back.
(3)
Keo S.
So let me explain the low - 1 star rating here as I'm currently staying in an apartment next door to Scollay Sq. It's always packed in the patio area and since it was gross and rainy outside yesterday, we decided to have dinner there. The service and the food are actually VERY GOOD. My main concern lies in the number of fruit flies that are hanging out on the columns inside, how much dust, and overall "grime" there is inside. The inside needs a good douching and no wonder people sit in the patio. Our high top table butted up against a colums so as we ate our delicious meal, we also got a great view of about 30 fruit flies just hanging around and once in awhile they would buzz around at our level. I hope that management reads this, takes a day off to close down and seriously clean the place. I would give it another shot after they do this and then hopefully it will be a much more pleasant experience.
(1)
Eric T.
It's not amazing, but is surprisingly good--surprisingly because when we walked in I expected little and was quite pleasantly surprised. Fish and chips, Mac and cheese, buffalo chicken sliders, all very good. Chocolate chip cookie sliders, pretty good but not amazing cookies. French fries were the only disappointment. Overall very reliably good.
(4)
David B.
Was looking for a place to eat in the area of Beacon Hill that was quiet, nice ambiance, and an easy walk to the theater district. The location and menu fit the bill beautifully. The hostess and wait staff were great and the dining room, despite a cold night, was warm and toasty. The food was good and satisfied our need for a nice meal before a show. Although I'd go back and give it a try for for lunch, I wasn't all that excited concerning dinner. I started with a grilled pear salad that was quite nice and then moved to a pasta dish that was underwhelming. My partner started with a different salad (the he also enjoyed) and had Kobe beef meatloaf. He thought it was quite good but couldn't really see what the big whoop was over Kobe beef. It didn't taste that much different from well made meatloaf. The wine list was decent..we enjoyed out selections. Dessert was quite good too....white chocolate bread pudding. So, if you are looking for a fine dining establishment in an area of town that doesn't have a lot to choose from, Scollay Square might be the place for you.
(3)
Michael C.
I've been here twice, both times the food was good. The first time I went there the service was bad though. In the middle of lunch they told (yes, told) us we had to switch tables. On my second visit the service was much better. The food both times was a little fancier than your standard bar food, but the portions are on the small side. The main thing that stood out was the lobster mac n' cheese which was very very good. Besides that there was nothing outstanding but everything met my expectations.
(3)
Alan G.
Went for lunch for the first time. Pesto gnocchi with grilled chicken special was really good, perfectly sized portion. Quick service and reasonably priced. I'll go back.
(4)
Jimbeau W.
We like this place. Enough in fact that we signed up for their dining club card. Everything's done right here: excellent (okay, a superlative can't hurt--really excellent)martini, super appetizers (goat cheese a definite choice), delicious and unusual entrees well prepared and seasoned, well presented and well timed. Trained, friendly, ,informative wait staff who haven't fallen victim to the Boston "you're lucky I even approach your table" server attitude, even though this place is next to XV Beacon, which is a reasonably prestigious address. The atmosphere is just casual enough to be comfortable any time, any way you're dressed--straight from the office in suit & tie corporate camouflage or in jeans.
(4)
Paula H.
Delicious steak tips and potato lasagna! Sangria was tasty
(5)
Christina G.
I had a great lunch here a little while back. We had good service and two great dishes. The first... Lobster Mac and Cheese, possibly the best combination ever discovered, and the Acorn and Butternut squash lasagna. It was so different and a nice change from regular Lasagna. Great for this time of year as well. For dessert, the Maine Blueberry Shortcake which was was light and yummy. This is a nice lunch spot if you are in the area. It's nice inside, but if you come during the warmer months they have a nice outdoor patio instead.
(4)
Rock L.
Craving some good food after arriving into Boston. The food is great not badly price. They Plasma all around playing all the major games. Its a nice Small conformable place. Very close to Bostom Commons and easy to find
(4)
Franco C.
My favorite place in Boston. Whenever anyone is in town, we always come here. I'm big on atmosphere and this place has it. It's like a smaller Eastern Standard restaurant (which is near Fenway). I love their prosciutto wrapped cod filet and their cider brined porterhouse pork chop. Flavors are great. Every time I've gone the wait staff has been solid. When making a reservation, definitely request a seat by the window. There are only a few tables with the view (I think three) so it's worth it to get the view. Great atmosphere. Always busy. But it never feels annoying.
(5)
Meghan R.
Ended up here with the boss and a few officemates after a late night of work and boy am I glad I did. Our waiter was excellent and the food was out of this world. I got the salmon (with to-die-for lobster mashed potatoes), my fellow diners got some red meat entrees and the scallops, all delicious. If the legislature is in session, expect the bar to be packed with senators & reps... hang around for a bit and they'll usually disperse to their homes, hotel rooms or other bars, but its definitely worth going by. The atmosphere, though crowded, is cool. It's definitely a great spot for an amazing meal!
(5)
Julia C.
Finally a restaurant tha works at that beautiful location! The place is so nice and thewy set it up as a high end Boston pub. Lunchtime for power player and at night drinks after work and good american food with extra gourmet touches.
(4)
Betty P.
I was in charge of finding a place with outdoor seating for a group of 4 of us last night. I ruled out anywhere near Fenway or Newbury St. since there was a Sox game in town. Ruled out North End since I knew it would be mobbed and not looking forward to paying an arm and a leg for parking. The waterfront doesn't have as many possibilities as one would want. So going through my mental catalog of restaurants, I finally thought of Scollay Square. I had been here years ago with my dining club when it first opened so I was interested to see how it fared many years later. We showed up almost 15 minutes early for our reservation (made quickly and easily on Open Table), but we were seated immediately. I had requested outdoor seating and it was not a problem. The food was pretty impressive, but the service was not of the same quality. Our waitress didn't smile once and although the waitress who waited on our neighboring table made many appearances, ours was an infrequent visitor. She also did not tell us anything about the $22 3-course menu special until I asked about it. Service aside, the food thankfully made up for our waitress' lack of bubbly-ness. My dining companions ordered the Spring Rolls, lobster mac n'cheese, and the acorn & butternut squash lasagna -- all of which received rave reviews. The lasagna eater was licking his plate clean, telling us over and over how great the sage cream was. He said, "I feel like one of those Iron Chef judges. I want to tell the chef how great the dish was!" My daily special of prosciutto wrapped salmon with mashed potatoes and baby carrots was kinda bland and probably the least flavorful dish at the table. Which I guess is fine since I am on a diet. :) We lingered for a bit on the outdoor patio and nobody kicked us out. The patio is definitely great for people watching and I noticed a variety of clientele walk in -- from young professionals in shorts and Crocs to older couples donning pearls in their theater-going duds. Everyone in our party definitely agreed that Scollay Square is going to be a regular place in our dinner rotation. Meals for four people (including 1 beer) came in at around $80 before tip. The $22 menu was definitely worth asking about! The most impressive aspect of this place is that I received a random phone call today on my cell. Turns out it was the restaurant calling to check in on how last night went. Apparently, they said they call everybody who makes reservations the day after to check in and see how their experience was. I thought that was a great touch and makes me think that after a few more visits, I might give SS its 5th star!
(4)
Josh S.
I met a few friends here on a Sunday night for dinner in December. Since it was a Sunday, and cold, it wasn't surprising that there weren't too many people in the restaurant. For appetizers, we wanted something light so we got the edamame, which was pretty good. We got our entrees, however, before we finished the appetizer so we felt a little rushed. For the entrees I ordered the broiled scallops, which were really good and a nice portion size. One friend got the NY Sirloin, which she thought was tasty. Another friend ordered the Tuna Burger, which she liked. The last member of our party ordered the fish and chips, which he thought was okay but it wasn't superb. All in all, we had a good time and enjoyed the food. For dessert, we ordered the cookie sliders, which were okay but the ice cream was hard as a rock. We also shared the red velvet cake which was delicious.
(4)
Jeff W.
I am starting to notice a trend by the owners of this place... First Max and Dylans, then Tavern on the Water (worst), now here... Service Simply Sucks. It really is the worst service in the city for any group of restaurants in Boston. I am not sure if the hiring manager is really nice and hires these waitresses because he/she feels bad for them, or if he/she is truly clueless, but they are all distant and have little foresight. As a quick example... after having to leave my party to find the waitress so we could order (after 22 minutes), I asked a specific question about a wine we were going to buy. She answered with conviction later to find out she answered wrong... And yet, she proceeded to argue with me. It's too bad.. The food was very good and the setting was awesome.
Maybe I'm just being a pessimist, but Scollay didn't really do it for me. I've read though many positive reviews that lauded the comfort food stylings of this hip little place, but I'm just not feeling it. My wife and I hit up Scollay with some friends Saturday night. The service was a little blah, but I was ready for that after reading some reviews. I found the space to be a little strange. The open kitchen didn't make much sense for a place that makes mac n cheese as a specialty. The dining area is very cramped, even on a night when the place didn't seem to have all the tables filled. I tried to shrug off the oddness of the layout to see if the food would make up for it. I got the cheessteak spring rolls first while my wife got a Caesar salad. Both were good, but nothing to awe inspiring. My wife and I decided to share the fish and chips and the esteemed lobster mac n cheese. Again, both were just okay. The fish and chips were more like cod nuggets that lacked seasoning. The mac n cheese was pretty soupy and did not have much lobster meat or lobster flavor. I wanted so much to be drawn into a world of buttery cheesy bliss with the mac n cheese, but it just wasn't happening. We left feeling full from food but unfulfilled in our search for comfort food on Beacon Hill.
(2)
M Y.
Great place for brunch (not sure about dinner). I went with a friend on a Saturday and was pleasantly surprised. The food was great and reasonably priced. Everything was done perfectly and portions were generous for the price. Service staff were personable and friendly too!
(5)
Alison B.
I work here. The food never ceases to amaze me. I recommend everything! but especially the ahi tuna napoleon, spinach and artichoke dip, baked haddock, beet salad, wedge salad, steak tips, squash lasagna, thai chicken and shrimp, roasted half chicken, cheddar grits.. Really I do love everything on the menu. The specials and pre fixe are always new and exciting as well! Mix and match if you want! It's so flexible. You get a fantastic meal for an adequate price. For wine, try the Kenwood or MacMurray PN, Sycamore Chard or Evolution (made from 9 different grapes!) and for dessert, Iniskillen ice wine and white chocolate bread pudding. YUM!
(4)
Tammy H.
First off, I didn't come looking for ingenuity. I just wanted well made food, good service, and a satisfied feeling upon leaving--whatever is worthy of food at this price. The verdict? I was satisfied on all accounts. I know this is the first 5-star review this establishment has reviewed in a while, but it's deserved. Service wasn't perfect through and through, but a REALLY good effort was made. We arrived 10min early for our reservation and waited about 20min to be seated. They were busy with two large groups, and we didn't mind waiting, but I was pleasantly surprised when the hostess came by the table later to apologize for the wait. Of all the people that she had to take care of last night, she remembered us! Our waiter was knowledgeable about both the wines and food, and was enjoyable to talk to. The bread came late, but I'll excuse that since he was great on all other accounts. I loooove attentive service, and I felt like we had a LOT of his attention! As for food, The Boy and I ordered the kobe beef "sliders", wedge salad, side of brussel sprouts mash, hangar steak and seared scallops. I actually wanted a side of the lobster mash, but oh dismay! As of this past Monday, they took out all acoutrements, so now you can't get the lobster mash at all ... I'm super sad about that. However, you can substitute for other sides from other entrees. On the major up-side, the hangar steak was amazing (next time we'll do it rare!), as were the scallops. Each were cooked to the right temperature/point and were complimented well with their respective sides and light sauces. As for the rest, the "sliders" were surely not made from your typical ground beef (in a good way), wedge salad was crunchy with good proportions, and the brussel sprouts mash made for a nice comfort side dish. We also got a glass of the Dashe Cellars zin and a glass of the chianti, but we preferred the zin. So for (1) appetizer, (1) salad, (1) side, (2) entrees, (2) glasses of wine, and good service, it totaled to $125 including tax+tip. We could've done without one or two of the smaller dishes since we were so stuffed!
(5)
Brian B.
oy. I went here on a date? The wine was quite nice. The salads were very good! (I don't understand the wedge but hey -people like it!) The tomato bleu cheese was GREAT! Its tough to make a salad smell good. I had the lobster mac-n-cheese too. Its on the "acoutrements" (sp?) list. IT SHOULD BE A MAIN COURSE!!!!!!!! I have had better only at one other place, and atmosphere-wise this wins! We ate on the front porch, and it was lovely. The apartments above are BEAUTIFUL!! So the restaurant made me super-happy.....the date? I thought great until he downgraded to a "friends" thing....hmmm....can this be turned around?
(4)
Cindy C.
i went to dine after reading all the great reviews on yelp, and i was really disappointed with this place. The slow service was expected since many of the yelpers also mentioned this, however, the food was average at best and i was not at all impressed by my dining experience. FOOD- i ordered the scallops and my friend ordered steak. my scallops were average, and the best part of the dish was the spinach, which was incredibly fresh - but unfortunately it was quite salty. my friend had the hanger steak, which was pretty good, but the spinach was also a little too salty for my taste. my problem with the restaurant occurred mostly when we had dessert. we had ordered one bread budding to share (which was delicious) and one dessert wine. instead, two dessert wines came and we had to send one back - fine, then when the water was replaced, i found a straw wrapper in my water. that was the part which was absolutely unacceptable. and what was worse was when i informed the staff about it, they simply apologized rather insincerely and did not try to, in any way make up for our experience. i don't think i would be returning, ever.
(1)
Ali A.
3 stars is a combo of one 4 star dinner and one 2 star dinner. The cocktail menu is great - a wide selection and lots of new flavors to try. (Key Lime Martini? Sign me up!) The dinner menu is good as well. The BBQ shrimp appetizer is especially delicious, bringing the flavors of New Orleans up here to chilly, snowy Boston. Discovered on visit #1: the entrees are delicious. That is why I do NOT recommend getting the nightly tasting menu. This was our mistake on visit #2. The portions are tiny and the accompanying wines very small glasses. My husband left feeling less than full despite three courses. Speaking of the accompanying wine, they could not quite get the timing down. The wines were served either way too late or way to early, not really corresponding to the courses being served. Visit #2 seemed to be understaffed - hopefully this was the case, as our waitress was certainly nice, but there were huge spans of where we couldn't find her. Moral of the story? Stick to the cocktails and menu entrees and you won't be disappointed.
(3)
sunny g.
For some reason, I really like this place. The food is usually of high quality and the service is really fast (although sometimes a little TOO fast). I usually can find something delicious to eat and nothing is terribly expensive. The locale is great, when you have plans in the city after dinner.
(4)
Tom V.
Great Brunch Spot near the Commons! We wandered into this spot for brunch on Sat while in town for the Cubs game. They accomodated us on a fairly crowded patio, which was great on a much needed sunny day in May. I was going to order an omelet, as the ones I saw others having look huge & delicious, but the lobster eggs benny kept calling my name...tough decision...kinda pricey & probably comes will a few scraps of lobster...screw it, I'm out of town & treating myself! So glad I did! Best meal of the trip!! It was done perfectly & there was a ton of lobster meat...worth every penny!! Hash browns were also solid. Everyone else in the group seemed to enjoy their meals as well. Bloody Mary bar was good too, even if the server spilled my vodka pour all over upon his arrival to the table... :) Great location, great food, great patio. A little pricey for B-fast/Brunch but oh so worth it!! Congrats Bruins!!!!
(5)
Nick R.
Summary: The atmosphere and setting are terrific, the service was pretty good, but my table was sticky and my steak didn't impress me, especially for the price. I was debating between 2 and 3 stars, but went for three because I liked the setting enough that I'd be willing to give it another try, and the other folks in my party liked their dinners (I'll order something different). Time: Monday night, 6:30PM Atmosphere: the building is really cool- it has a 2-story ceiling and the decor of the restaurant harkens back to the early-to-mid nineteenth century, with large black-and-white photo-posters on the upper walls and dark wood and wainscoting down below. I didn't make it to the bar, but it looked inviting. In contrast to the period-styling of the restaurant and bar, the kitchen is open and modern stainless, which seemed to jive well with the rest of the decor. The restaurant wasn't crowded when we were there, and it was easy to have a quiet discussion at a table for four. Service: prompt and no complaints. Food: I had the Grilled All Natural NY Sirloin for $21. It came with Mashed Potatoes, Roasted Asparagus, and Red Onion Jam. The sides were good, but it definitely wasn't a $21 steak. It was a small portion, overcooked (I ordered medium-well, it was definitely well-done (no red on the inside), lacked any significant seasoning, and it had quite a bit of grisly fat on it. I think it's only fair to add the caveat that I lived in Texas for 10 years, so I'm used to tasty, juicy, large, and affordable steaks, so I might be biased, but that didn't make it taste better just because this is Boston. The rest of my party was much happier with their food, which included the Lemon Basted Swordfish Chop at mkt price (it was a surprisingly generous serving), the Miso Glazed Salmon Fillet for $17 and a salmon special that was offered that night ($?). Maybe I should order fish next time? Drinks: we just had beer and ginger ale. They have a limited beer list, but it includes the Boston staples (Harpoon IPA, Sam Adams, Sam Adams Octoberfest, and Stella on draft and a non-interesting list of bottles). The wine list and mixed drink lists looked plentiful, and I was impressed with the selection of dessert wines and top-shelf bourbons, scotches, and cognacs. I'll go back if for no other reason than a night-cap.
(3)
Jennifer T.
We went here for a private function last night. Parking - There is a lot behind the restaurant (go around the block, behind the building) that cost $10. Cant beat that. Atmosphere - We love the old building (late 1800's) and the character inside. SMall restaurant that I think would be a bit cramped normally but for a private function it was nice. Food - I had the filet mignon and my husband had the pork chops. Both were good but nothing fantastic. I would have expected better. Small portions. We had a lot of the appetizers and our favorites were the bacon wrapped scallops and the rice balls (which were AMAZING).
(3)
jun s.
I arrived in Boston for a three day conference, AIA 2008 to be exact , and decided to go out to dinner with my fellow co-worker from SF. Although we were both tired from lacking sleep to catch an early flight, we were energized by the thought of discovering a great new restaurant... at the other coast of the continent...! We walked through beautiful Boston Common (perfect temperature and peaceful dusk lighting) and arrived at the restaurant - comfortable, cool, airy feel, nice hostess, I was pleased. Well, let me make this quick as I really should sleep before another long day of conference tomorrow. The raw oysters were mediocre (slightly fishy and sauce was generic) - how disappointing since I've been craving them for so long now! Tomales Bay here I come when I return to SF! The Chilean Sea Bass, on the other hand, was quite good - the flakes were moist and fluffy, the way I like them! The dish, overall, bothered me a bit... the sauce for the fish was good but lacking... hmm... depth and complexity? It was a light version of Teriyaki sauce...!? The chocolate decadence was my favorite part of the meal which is very unusual for me. Now that I don't drink espresso, I resorted to tea and what a limited selection...! again, generic tea bags and not even one decaf like chamomile.... sigh... I wouldn't go back anytime soon, but I wouldn't have trouble recommending it to anyone. While the food was slightly above average, I just enjoyed the place... maybe it's the open grill that was in front of me, perhaps the high ceiling and comfortable lighting, or the mix of the old and modern decor... it was a good choice overall. :)
(4)
Ted A.
One of my favorite local spots.
(5)
Alex E.
I had a unexpectedly fantastic meal at Scollay Square. I started off the night with a Crown Royal Manhattan, which was impeccably mixed. To my knowledge, this is somewhat of a signature drink for the bar-- and rightly so. The vermouth was fantastic quality, and the drink was served in a small decanter on ice. I had the soy citrus glazed salmon with grilled asparagus and their lobster mashed potatoes. The salmon was fresh, cooked perfectly and the glaze was very nice (subtle, too). The asparagus was crisp, fresh and flavorful. I was also pleasantly surprised by the mashed potatoes. It had large bits of lobster meat in it and the potatoes didn't overpower you with a strong lobster flavor. The potatoes were also fresh, well-seasoned, and had a wonderfully light consistency. My only complaint was that the presentation was a bit sloppy. Nonetheless, it was a delicious dish. For dessert, I had the Maine blueberry shortcake with vanilla gelato. This was really a fantastic dessert. The buttermilk biscuit was light and tasty. The blueberry sauce was very nice. Large, fresh blueberries were used and it was not overly sweetened. Fresh whipped-cream topped the dessert--perfectly done. The gelato was also tasty. I would highly recommend Scollay Square for a Manhattan or an impeccable dinner. N.B. Their kitchen is open late, too.
(4)
Mary D.
Let me just start by saying that if I were to rate this place on food alone, they would be getting 1 star. My salad was overdressed, my husband's food undercooked, and everything over seasoned. Whoever is running the show in their kitchen needs to wake up and take a look around because there are about 15 different restaurants all within a kilometer that have significantly better food. We have eaten there a couple times and the food is consistently poor. My husband and I are from the UK, and it's disappointing indeed when we get food that makes British cuisine seem glamorous. I had the Cobb salad, which was a goopy mess. My husband had the salmon, which was undercooked. His rice was overseasoned and hard. Our spring rolls were greasy, over salted, and the ketchup that was served with it was strange. Our bartender was quick to act on our behalf by sending food back and ensuring it's preparation in proper form. The saving grace was the service. Somewhat. Our bartender was fabulous (Sara?). She was friendly, extremely knowledgable (she even fixed me up a special cocktail that wasn't on the menu, having to rummage up ingredients from the kitchen!), and fast! When I was unsure about the type of vodka cocktail I wanted, she asked me my preferences on coktails (sweet, savory, citus, etc) and made me a custom cocktail that suited my palate. She was able to guide me to a vodka that I liked more than what I normally drink (Absolut). She kept my husband and I entertained for much longer than we planned. It felt like we were sitting in someone's house, laughing and getting to know new friends. For a lovely young girl, she possessed all the traits found in good veteran bartenders. She reminded my husband of his local keep back home. The only problem with service was the other waiters. It seemed the servers like to cluster near the bar. My husband and I overheard a waiter several times complaining about the customers. His use of colourful language was obnoxious. A couple times, we heard our bartender remind staff to mind their language and their work. It seemed unprofessional that their choice of location to complain was so close to our ears. We may return for some cocktails and laughs at the bar, but my husband and I are done with their kitchen.
(3)
Cathy H.
I really enjoyed this place- 4 stars. My date hated it. So, I will be coopertive and go with the ever so boring 3-star rating. Then again, after trying his food and mine, I definitely lucked out on picking my menu items. Service was uber-slow. The tuna was fab.
(3)
Kristie A.
Ok. I'm updating my review for 3 reasons: the make your own bloody mary bar during brunch AND the bar itself AND server Seana! Sure, the food is good; the service is fine. But I'm a fan of sitting at a bar alone and this bar is a great place to sit and DRINK and do a crossword puzzle. It's dark, it's comfortable. Easy.
(4)
Cameron M.
Food was very tasty, one and only merlo is good, service is reasonable, Buffalo chip was spicy and good, Girl was very cute
(4)
Teresa W.
Drinks were good try the lemonade, can't even tell it has alcohol in it. Food was delicious & prices were fair.
(4)
Diane D.
Very good consistent place. Good service, reasonable prices--nothing bad to say about it. Been here 3 times and each time everything was great.
(4)
Ben K.
Awesome: -The manager gave us tastings of three different wines, then later asked us how everything was, and cleared some of our plates Mediocre: -The food, the food, the food. Everything was good. A-OK. But nothing was stunning, nothing was alternative, nothing stood out. The salmon was cooked perfectly, but lacked flavor. The lobster mashed potatoes had chunks of lobster in them, but I swear I couldn't taste it, and the caesar salad was fine but needed more lemon and more anchovies. -The prices. For what you get, it's a little steep, but this is Boston. Bad: -The waiter had one special to remember: "Butternut Squash Lasagna." He read that off a paper, but then when we asked him what went into it besides butternut squash he said, "let me go check with my manager." When we asked him to describe one of the wines, he said "Oh, I don't drink wine. I'm going to have to get my manager." How can you possibly be a seller of food and wine and not know the product you're selling? Especially at a nice restaurant in Beacon Hill? The manager was great, but the server was sub-par. -The parking situation. Pricey if you want to use the lot next door, which can be full, and no real available parking on the street. Oh, and no valet either. All in all, the three of us upon leaving agreed that we wouldn't be going back. With the economy as it is, it's a competitive restaurant market and you have to be choosy.
(3)
Al A.
Awesome location. Meh food. Meh service. Very dirty tables. Almost clean chairs.
(2)
Kevin M.
this place is really cool. It is located inside the former recieving room/lobby area for an old hotel back in the 1800s. (the bellevue hotel) A lof of the original architectural details are still intact. (mirror behind the bar, exposed columns etc...) The menu has something to offer everyone! Chicken, lobster mashed potatoes..... restuffed baked potatoes( YUMM) ... seafood, etc...I had the sirloin steak, which was amazing. Someone else I was with had the Meatloaf, which I tried and was delighted with. (Weird texture, but great taste) I had a cosmo, which was very smooth! definitely worth a trip.
(4)
Jeff B.
I'll be the first to admit that I'm a very picky and unforgiving patron. If you pour tap into my half glass of Saratoga Spring water, I'll ask for new bottle. If my meat is under/overcooked, I'll be looking forward to a new cut, thanks. That said, this place gave me no opportunity to allow them to spit or sprinkle pubes in my food. Everything, EVERYTHING here is done well. This is one of my favorite spots for dinner in Boston. From the spicy cocktails at the well-stocked bar to the simple fact that they have Evolution #9 to complement a nice selection of oysters, Scollay is a great after-work restaurant. The staff knows how to blend upscale and friendly service styles - never pretentious, never distracted, always pleasant, always doting. While the menu itself isn't huge, it's all high-quality, fresh food and good-sized portions - I see huge value in what they prepare and how they prepare it. I haven't gotten past the creme brulee on the dessert menu, I just wish they served Dolce by the glass! I suppose some see Scollay Square having a snooty atmosphere, but it's so small you make it what you want. And the other reviews about this and that being disappointing.. I don't know what to tell you - sit at my table.. . .
(5)
Lindsay L.
Yesterday was my first time at Scollay Square. My internship supervisor took me out to lunch there as an end-of-the-year-thank-you-for-your-hard-work celebration with just us two. This is a go-to spot for her when she wants to take employees for a good lunch. She recommended that I try the Miso Glazed Salmon Fillet or Macaroni and Cheese with Maine Lobster Meat. I ordered the salmon, and it was yummy. It was also just right in terms of food portions. I felt full but not stuffed. Even after eating the whole dish, I had enough room for dessert. I ordered the Red Velvet Cake and then I felt stuffed! Just so you know, the Red Velvet Cake is supposed to serve two. Since I can never resist anything red velvet, I took my leftover cake to go. The location's pretty ideal. If I were shopping around Downtown Crossing or hanging out in the Common, I'd probably stop by Scollay again with some friends. Next time, I hope to hang out on the patio. It was a little too chilly when my supervisor and I had lunch, but the patio was packed later in the afternoon when I passed by the restaurant.
(4)
Caitlin D.
If you have an upcoming birthday, this is the place to go. I reserved a table for 8 on Opentable.com and went for my birthday. They called the day of to confirm I would be arriving and asked if there was a special occasion. I explained that it was my birthday. When I got to the restaurant and opened my menu, they had specially printed a menu that said "Happy birthday Caitlin from all of us at Scollary Square" across the top. The food was really good, it was one of those moments where I kept eating even though I knew I should stop. To top things off, once the dishes had been cleared, the waiter gave me a birthday card signed by the waiters and waitresses in the restaurant. And they did the traditional dessert at the end of the meal where they brought out a small lava cake dessert with a candle in it. All in all, I had a great experience with plenty of great surprises!
(5)
j e.
This is a cool place and ambience is good. Server was nice but there were only like 5 tables in the restaurant seated when we were there and they still did not get my brunch order correct. They realized it after they had served everyone and I watched the other diners finish brunch. And then got my food. Apologies were given but not even a gratis orange juice or something while I waited? I was a server for 10 years and would have always tried to make up for a mistake. Eggs were strange and rubbery in the omelette I had. Service mistakes aside, I still would not go back. There are better places in Boston for sure.
(2)
James G.
Again, we live in the building so its a convenient place to eat. We though we would go here a lot since its right downstairs but every time we go we leave thinking how mediocre the food is. The best thing on the menu is the BBQ shrimp appetizer. I've gotten it every time I've gone for dinner. Brunch, like dinner is just mediocre and after last time will probably never go for brunch again. Would have given 3 stars BUT a friend of mine used to work there and after I told them I had eaten there they strongly suggested not eating there ever again due to poor sanitation. Tempted to go back for their $22, 3 course menu that they always have on the chalk board outside but probably won't due to above mentioned reasons.
(2)
Jenny L.
Went here last night-- I had two friends in town and after going to HH on Newbury St., wanted to go to a fun restaurant in Beacon Hill for dinner before we headed to the Liberty Hotel for the night. I went onto OpenTable.com and saw that they had reservations available around 8:00 and took a gamble--- glad I did! When we arrived, we were able to grab a table on the patio right away. Oysters-- only complaint is there were only 5 and not a 1/2 dozen. One of my friends got the short end of the stick and only had 1 instead of 2. Short rib-- VERY tender and flavorful Lobster Mac n' cheese-- lobster was great-- not too chewy. Great comfort dish Scallops--Cooked to perfection--very smooth, not chewy. Good ambiance too-- most everyone sat on the patio, but has a great atmosphere inside-- not super chic, but not your casual restaurant/bar either.
(4)
Dan C.
We had dindin on 12/26, meaning the place was basically ours. They'd sent some of their waitstaff home early, and we were served by the bartender who was really friendly and helpful. Eventually the manager showed up and started waiting on us. She looked like she could have used a nap. And some stimulants. The look and feel of the place, the food, all very nice. Small enough to be cozy and intimate, but big enough that you didn't have to scrunch into a little ball. Lobster mashed potatoes - mm. Kobe meatloaf was mine mm. Also worth noting. My mom, not the most adventurous eater, calls Legal Seafoods her favorite restaurant of all time and everytime our family goes out somewhere different to eat, she'll ALWAYS assess the restaurant in comparison to Legal Seafoods, usually their Shrimp scampi dish, which she always orders. And of course legal seafoods and shrimp scampi always wins. "the portions are bigger at legal! Legal has shrimp scampi. Legal seafoods is less expensive. Legal seafoods is more popular so it's better!" yes mom, it also gives me diarrhea. It doesn't matter what dish she orders - she could be eating cow ovaries and still manage to compare it to legal seafoods shrimp scampi. But this time. No mention of legal seafoods either way. I was amazed. Some might call that a draw. knowing my mom I call it a significant victory.
(4)
Jaimie S.
Goat cheese is amazing!!!! Friendly service ...
(5)
Jennifer T.
Deliciousness...mac and cheese, filet mignon sandwich, fries, tuna napoleon app (one of my favs). Great menu and atmosphere. Classy but not too expensive, especially for lunch. I've always had good service.
(4)
Anna B.
I have eaten here many times for dinner, brunch and lunch and it is always good, even with a large party. It is also reasonably-priced. The Chocolate Decadence dessert is serious chocolate. The lunchtime Mac & Cheese and steak tips are good too. But the best thing about this place is their Sunday brunch MYO Bloody Mary Bar - I wasn't a Bloody Mary drinker until I tried this and experimented until I found my personal recipe.
(5)
Shang S.
Wow! I was so blown away by my dinner experience here. First off, I organized a party of 6 for a birthday. After reading the reviews here, I went ahead and asked them if they could (1) Print the birthday person's name on the menu (2) if I could bring in a cake. So, the menu happened for sure, and while they charged a $2/person cake fee, they did add candles on top (which I forgot), so a very nice touch in general. Now, on to the food, which was the best part of the meal! It came out in a very reasonable amount of time. Everyone was very happy with their selection, granted, three of us got the miso glazed chilean sea bass. I got the soy glazed salmon, which came with lobster mashed potatoes and very crispy asparagus (not too tough, and not too roasted). Yum! I was extremely surprised by how much lobster there was in the potatoes (probably 2 claws' worth). My appetizer of 6 raw oysters was also great, then again, I'm not a very discriminating oyster fan. I do agree with another person below that the sauce wasn't all that interesting, but at least the oysters were fresh and clean. Our server was very friendly, attentive, patient, and not overly pushy. The restaurant also followed up with a phone call the next day if you have any suggestions, which I think really speaks to their attention to customer service. I'm definitely coming back here again!
(5)
LuLu M.
I was super excited to come here based on Yelp reviews and checking out the menu ahead of time. Unfortunately, it was not a good experience: after we were seated and ordered, literally our appetizers and main entree came out within 5 minutes of each other. The waitress should have watched our table to see when we were about 10 minutes away from being ready for our entree and THEN put our entree order in. When you have both come out so quickly, you end up rushing to eat both so the food doesn't get cold. On top of that, I'm all about customer service, but the waitress came to check on us every two minutes, and then the hostess came to check on us every two minutes, which means we only had one minute of alone time before someone else asked "how is everything?" which made for a disruptive evening. And lastly, we still had a generous amount of food on our plates when they would come check on us but would still ask "can I take your plate away" or "are you done with that?" each time which made us feel super rushed. I don't know what their hurry was since there were only 3 other tables occupied. I guess we picked a night where it was a "miss"! :-(
(2)
Lynn W.
The best meal I had in Boston! I had the sword fish steak with lobster risotto. There were large lobster chunks in the flavorful risotto. The calamari was crisp with a delicious sauce. The roasted pear salad had mixed greens, roasted nuts and pomegranate seeds.. The place was a little loud but highly recommend it.
(5)
Chris T.
My friend took me here last night, she kept building up how amazing the place was, so I was eager to try it. Sadly to say, we were both disappointed. The Oyster appetizer was meh, and the steaks we ordered (Flank and Hanger) were small and flavorless. My friend ordered a glass of Zardetto Prosecco but instead got a glass of Cavit, cheap ass shit. The menu was tiny. If you don't like seafood, which I don't, then you only have about 3 options. That sucks. Didn't even want to stay for dessert. Instead we hopped over next door to Zen and got some good quality food.
(2)
Mary D.
Had dinner here with my husband the other night. Wanted to try someplace different, and he had heard of this restaurant. We were seated right away, even though we were about 15 minutes early for our reservation. Seated right next to open kitchen - not my favorite table, but ok. Ordered a bottle of wine and 2 appetizers - ahi tuna and fried goat cheese. Tuna was nicely prepared; little bit of a kick, but very tasty. Goat cheese was wonderful - gooey, creamy, warm. Nice way to start our meal. I ordered the steak tips, which was perfectly prepared. Husband had a chicken dish, which he liked except for the instant potatoes. All in all, a very good meal. Only problem was with the waiter. From the moment we sat down, he was rushing us. We just wanted a nice relaxing meal - restaurant was not overly crowded, so there was no need to rush us. When we ordered the wine, he asked what we wanted for dinner. Told him we hadnt looked at menu yet. Brought wine to table and asked again. We ordered appetizers but were not ready to order entree. He seemed very put out. When he brought our appetizers out, he asked again. Out of spite, we told him we would wait until we had the appetizers and then decide. After that, he came back twice before we put in our entree requests. Again, it was not crowded, only about 7:30pm at that point - no one should be in such a rush. Atmosphere was a bit bright, open kitchen, bar in the rear. Good location.
(3)
Maitland L.
I had a date here last night. It was fantastic. The service was friendly and fast. The food came out very fast, and it tasted spectacular. We started out with oysters, which were very tasty, but the horseradish cocktail sauce that it came with was pretty mediocre. Dinner was amazing. I had the scallops, which were seared perfectly and served with spinach and some sort of flavored mashed potatoes. My husband got the sirloin steak which was also cooked perfectly. I had a couple of bites of his restuffed baked potato which was superb. Everything was delightful. I'd love to go back.
(5)
Robin A.
Went here on a Fri. night. I had looked at yelp for a nice seafood restaurant, and since I tried for reservations an hour before we wanted to eat, I wasn't very successful. This restaurant was able to seat us, so we hopped in a cab and felt so loved when we arrived. It is so warm and inviting inside. A real local place! Maggie was our server, and she was personable, knowledgeable, and very helpful. Their tuna appetizer was the best we've ever eaten. We had the swordfish with lobster risotto, and both were oh, my god, amazing. Good wine selection and reasonably priced. I will definitely go back when I'm in Boston.
(5)
Melissa C.
Update: I'm increasing their rating after my second experience. The customer service is top notch, seriously 5 stars. I've really been impressed with the service. This time my waiter forgot to put in the calamari app order, which would normally bother me, but he did an excellent job of taking full responsibility for it, and the food came out so quickly that we really never missed it. After trying more menu items, I'm also more impressed. The miso glazed Chilean sea bass was perfectly prepared. As well it was another well balanced plate with lovely, simple presentation. Why four stars not five? Open kitchen lets me watch the chef smack his chewing gum. While I was told that the vegetarian platter was improved, it was altered without addressing the real problem. The main problem is a lack of a substantial protein. This renders the plate an inappropriate meal. Although it has been changed to now include some warm items (mashed potatoes and a vegetable medley with a Thai peanut sauce--which would need a lot of peanuts to constitute a meal-worthy protein), it is still almost literally a salad and french fries plate for the people who wont eat meat. Simple solution: add tofu to the Thai medley. However, vegetarians would probably all appreciate a meal as lovely and balanced and thoughtful as the other meals on the menu. __________________________________ I feel SO mixed about this review. Some things were done so well, and some things were just, nearly unforgivable. I'll start with what was good. The service was excellent. Our table was ready when we arrived. The host took our coats and umbrellas. My sister pointed out to the waitress that it was our mother's birthday, and by the end of the night, there was one of those chocolate volcano cakes and a birthday card signed by the staff. There was none of that embarrassing clapping and singing. It did however, highlight the fact that none of us had gotten her a card... couldn't you guys have slid that card our way to sign too? Thanks for making us look like jerks. ;) No, it was a great touch. The atmosphere, the service, the demeanor of everything was really top notch. The menu was varied and unique. There were several seafood options. The lobster mashed potatoes are DELICIOUS. This is the best side dish ever. The New Orleans BBQ Shrimp are pretty tasty. The scallops were perfectly cooked. The prices are not outrageous. The portions are perfect. They may not be huge, but if you had an app you could definitely split one. Oh, and the bread is great, a savory bread and a sweet. The presentation was beautiful. The negatives: (1) The salmon had a poor color and an inappropriate fishy flavor. (2) I don't eat red meat now, but I used to, and I come from a steak loving family where I learned about cuts of beef. There is not a fine cut of beef anywhere on the menu. This was a BIG problem for the person at the table who only eats red meat. The New York Strip came out just like one would expect, fatty and tough. He got sick of cutting at it and eventually just quit eating it. (3) The vegetarian platter is the worst I've ever seen anywhere. I've been eating vegetarian platters for half my life, and I have never seen one so deficient. It was truly a trashcan for left over vegetables. 2 salads and 4 vegetarian sides sounds nice, but this came out with a Caesar salad, some mixed greens, 2 slices of portobello mushroom, some cubes of pickled radish, asparagus, and a spoonful of tomato mush. There was not a protein on the plate--not a single bean or bit of tofu. I can understand avoiding dairy and egg, but no protein at all is unbalanced. This is not a complete meal; it is an elaborate side dish or a healthy appetizer, not a meal. It couldn't have been worse if he sent out a plate of french fries. There are so many creative and delicious things that can be done with vegetables, why in the world would anyone send out a plate full of veggie scraps. (4) Coats and umbrellas were not returned to us. (5) No courtesy call to confirm the reservation. I'm really borderline on the star thing. There were a lot of things that I really liked, like those lobster mashed potatoes. Those are 5-star mashed potatoes. Otherwise, there are just so many restaurants that give a courtesy call, have excellent vegetarian options, and have better steak options. So despite the excellent service, if I came back, it would only be for the convenience of the location (but I would absolutely get an order of those lobster mashed potatoes).
(4)
Kara L.
We sat outside on a Sunday night, the area was really quite compared to the crowd that was on the other side of town for the tall ships. The drinks were great and so was the food! I got the Salmon with wasabi mashed potatoes, which were awesome. My boyfriend got the three course meal which was also very impressive. Would definitely go back, atmosphere was very relaxed although I am sure it is much more lively on week night with the after work crowd.
(4)
John Paul N.
Friday night, about 6:30pm, and we had no idea what we wanted to do for dinner. It being Lent, we knew we had to go to a place that served seafood. I browsed opentable for a while and was not getting any inspiration from the places we saw online. Either no reservation for the night or places that seemed too expensive for a simple Friday night. Abby, on her iphone, saw some good reviews for Scollay Square on yelp and I noticed that there was plenty of reservations. So I quickly got us a spot and we left the condo for Beacon Hill. We arrived to see that Scollay Square had a nice outdoor area and there were still some after work crowd having beers and loud conversations. The weather had been great so we decided to sit outside. The hostess and waitstaff were all very friendly. It being restaurant week we quickly looked over their priced fix menu special. Not a bad offering actually, with Kobe Sliders and grilled salmon as options. However, we weren't in for a big meal, so we ordered off the regular menu, which consisted of classic pub eats. Abby got the goat cheese appetizer and a pear salad. I went for the fish and chips. Our food came out quickly and everything was delicious. The goat cheese, a cheese I am always 50/50 about, was very smooth and creamy and was laid in a nice complimentary tomato sauce. Spread this cheese and some of the sauce onto the toasted bread and you have yourself a very nice starter. Abby's pear salad came with candied pecans that she couldn't stop raving about. The salad also was not drenched in dressing, which was nice. The pears, which may be out of season, were just ok though. My fish and chips were cooked perfectly. The fries were lightly battered and were very crispy. The fish, cut into small pieces instead of coming out as one huge piece, was very flaky with a batter that did not overpower the fish at all. The tartar sauce was nothing special, but wasn't bad either. Same with the coleslaw. Scollay Square either just hired new chefs or redid their menu or both apparently. I do not know what it was like before, but the night we went the food was definitely way above average and probably better than most standard pub fare. I'd like to go back and try other items on the menu, especially in the summer when the outdoor area will more than likely be really busy. (The next day I got a call from Scollay Square asking how our meal was. I told them everything was great, just like I said in this review, but I was a little nervous that this was some scam afraid someone just wanted to check my phone number to match my credit card I used or something. Then I realized I paid cash for our meal and that the phone number that called me matched the phone number on the website. Guess they just wanted to make sure we had a good dinner.) I give Scollay Square a very strong 3 1/2 out of 5.
(4)
Darius C.
Love this place. Came twice for brunch on Saturday and Sunday with a friend and both days were terrific!! Terrific Food (Photo evidence added!), Friendly Service and $4 Mimosas, what more can you ask for?
this place was so great... the menu was quite diverse, but thoughtful and each dish in my party was tasty. drinks are stiff & delicious- 2 thumbs up to the blood orange martini (they should put a blood orange garnish, instead of regular, but minor detail) oysters were fresh + served with the classics. the lobster mac & cheese was excellent. normally i am not a mac & cheese entree orderin' type of gal... but this was cheesy, new england, deliciousness. my mom got the scallops, which looked lovely but i didn't try. my dad got the hanger steak, which was cooked perfectly & served with a great classic mashed potato. great service! another bonus- open kitchen. =D last bonus- this really is a great value considering the quality of the food and portion sizes. i'll be back.
(4)
Samantha M.
We came here for dinner and were not overly impressed. The prices were reasonable, but the food was nothing to write home about. I had originally wanted to rate Scollay Square a 3, however, a few hours after eating, my friend and I became sick. Thinking back, the calamari tasted a bit off. The best part of the meal was dessert.
(2)
Alvin L.
Scollay Square was a bit overpriced however their attentive staff more than made up for the food. The ambiance is pleasant however parking is very difficult and it would be best if you took the T (subway) for your dining experience. Overall the food was good but not memorable.
(2)
Katlyn R.
Really wonderful food, good prices, nice outdoor patio for good days. The buffalo sliders were awesome, and the service was really great. Definitely will be going again.
(5)
Jodie O.
Food is good here, service is OK. I came here for brunch with my guy and the service was "meh" considering almost everyone was sitting outside on such a gorgeous Saturday. They messed up the most simple thing in my order (no whipped cream on my fruit please?), and neglected to tell us that the reason why the coffee hasn't come out in the 20 minutes since we ordered it, was because they were brewing a new pot. OK, I like it fresh, but let us know because we thought she forgot about us. Dinner is good too, I just with they had some more vegetarian options other than their rice + veggies dish. It's good, I just with there were more of a variety.
(3)
Piyali S.
Meal was good but nothing extraordinary, so I'm a bit surprised it got four stars overall. My suspicion is that its location (right behind the State house) makes Scollay Square a high traffic spot for bright-eyed tourists to dine, which also seems appropriate given its kitschy-all-American decor. We got the chips and guacamole to start but since good guac is like pizza - pretty hard to mess up - I'm always pretty satisfied with it but never really impressed. After vacillating between the lemon basted swordfish chop (which looks very interesting) and the miso glazed salmon filet, I chose the latter because the waitress claimed it was her favorite dish on the menu (that and I was trying not to break the bank that evening with the market price option). The glazed salmon was served on a layered bed of sliced cucumbers, jasmine rice and spinach. While tasty I felt the fish was a tad overcooked and too tender for my taste. Rhea hit the jackpot with the prosciutto and truffle oil mac and cheese. Now I rarely order mac and cheese in restaurants, mostly because I am quite pleased with Easy Mac and so not quite the mac and cheese connoisseur if you will, but this was truly delicious and probably something I'd get if I were to come back to Scollay. I am still curious about that lemon basted swordfish and I do see lobster eggs benedict on their brunch menu so I'll probably have to come back here.
(3)
Jeff R.
I ate at Scollay Square last night with a group of people, and it seemed that we all had a great experience. The restaurant is charming and classy, with old Boston governmental photos and documents decorating the wall space. The atmosphere is probably more appropriate for an outing with friends or a business meal than for a romantic date, but that's not meant to be a detraction. The menu isn't terribly extensive (2 pages) but had some good offerings. Between my meal and what others shared with me, I tried the pear salad, fried calamari, citrus soy glazed salmon fillet, and hangar sirloin, all of which were very good. Portions were decently sized, and I noticed that the side dishes were fairly large. The service was also great, although the place wasn't very crowded, especially for a Thursday night (I'm not sure why). Overall, a big thumbs up!
(5)
Cynthia B.
Love Love Love this place. I live in California but I make a point to visit here when I home visting family and friends. Since, I usually sit at the bar I'm a particular fan of the cocktail menu. It's one of my favorite places to grab a couple drinks and pick and choose from some appetizers and salads for a light dinner. The staff is always freindly and the bartenders are super knowledgeable about everything from aged scotches (my boyfriend is obsessed) to specific wine pairings. The lobster mac n cheese is awesome but when I'm not in the mood for something rich, the ahi tuna is REALLY tasty.
(5)
Finn M.
Scollay Square is a really pleasant and enjoyable dining experience, the sort of place that to me oozes "Boston." The pastrami sandwich (how could I resist?) was one of the better once I've ever tasted, and for those loving the fish and chips, I concur. It's Beacon Hill through and through; if it's good enough for Dianne Wilkerson and her cronies, it's good enough for you.
(4)
tania t.
What a great evening in Beacon Hill (is that right?)! We celebrated my best friend's upcoming wedding (read: bachelorette party) by having dinner here before hitting up mantra for dancing. A MUST: lobster mashed potatoes; it sounds a bit weird, but is ridiculously delicious! You gotta try it. RECOMMENDED: New England Clam Chowder. Watch out: you think you're getting a soup appetizer, but this bowl is the size of your head (if you have a pretty large noggin' as well!)! Share this amazing chowda with a friend or two, because it's scrumptious, but huge. The service is great too; they treated our bride-to-be with a flourless chocolate cake and the manager came over to send his thanks for choosing his restaurant to celebrate. The only negative: Dining area is a bit of a small space and a bit cramped. I guess this is an artifact of being in Boston.
(4)
Thuy L.
After a happy hour at Beacon Street, a group of 12 decided to grab some grub down the street. We were seated promptly after a friend called to make reservations 15 minutes before arriving. We ordered apps and drinks first--I ordered the ahi tuna napoleon with crispy wonton sheets, stacked in layers of four. It was incredible...the seasoning was perfect, a hint of ginger vinaigrette and a pinch of sesame seeds. DELICIOUS!!! I also ordered the key lime martini...this was dessert in a glass. It was so good that I had to lick the graham cracker crust off the rim. I then ordered the braised short ribs after recieving a tip from a customer earlier that night. It definitely exceeded my expectations...the meat was very tender and the sauce was mouth-watering. The best deal of the night was probably their 3-course pre-fixed menu for $22. It starts off with a bowl of bisque as the first course, followed by a steak for the entree, and bread pudding for the dessert. Considering that most of the entrees start at $18-20, the prixe-fixed meal was a steal. The steak was cooked nicely with enough flavors to keep the juices locked in. I wasn't that big of a fan of the bread pudding, but then again, I'm not a big fan of bread pudding period. Other members of our group ordered the lobster mac n'cheese, the salmon fillet and the fish & chips. All the items ordered were delicious. The Lobster Mac N' Cheese rich and has just enough lobster to make you happy. The fish & chips were okay, nothing special. The salmon was reported to be amazing, cooked absolutely at the right temperature and the wasabi mashed potatos were a big hit. The service was great. The front manager had us seated in no time, even though the reservation was for 8, she switched around some tables, and though our party had to split up into two tables, she found places for us. The restaurant isn't that large but she was very accomodating, considering that we were a pretty rowdy group. Our waiter, Seth, was also very attentive and very friendly. We will defintiely be back.
(4)
Paolo D.
Nice atmosphere, decent food. Service sucks, particularly the ugly woman tending bar that looks like a witch. other than that, a pretty good experience!
(3)
Layla P.
Nice place, not the best and I would probably try other places before returning, but good. I was a tad disappointed in the crab cake which was not crisp and was more in a 'large lump' form than in a 'cake' form, but the taste was pretty good. The main dish was the salmon with lobster mashed potatoes which was a great concept and I would recommend it, but it was a tad on the oily side. Service was friendly and timely.
(4)
Dee T.
Scollay Square was recommended by the concierge at a local hotel. The atmosphere was pleasant, though perhaps a bit loud and casual for the price. (We spent $68 plus tip for two, and that was splitting a salad and a dessert and drinking tap water.) The food was pleasant, too--I had the fish and chips, my friend had a flank or a hanger steak--can't remember which--and we both liked our meals, though we weren't particularly blown away by them. But the desserts we had were poor, almost shockingly so. We ordered the blueberry shortcake to share; the menu said it would be warm, but what arrived was not only ice cold but stale. The cake tasted like a Popeye's or KFC biscuit, only half as fresh. The restaurant very accommodatingly offered to bring us something else, so we ordered the bread pudding. This time, the dessert was extremely hot--burning almost--and I assumed they put it in the microwave. But I could have stood the heat if the dessert were fresh and tasty, which unfortunately it was not. It had no discernable flavor other than "burning." The next day we had excellent food at the Grotto--it was cooked the way food should be cooked. In comparison, Scollay Square felt very ordinary.
(3)
Todd B.
I have been to Scollay Square and I have not found one thing wrong with this restaurant. The food is excellent, the staff is very pleasant and it is a great environment. If you are looking to get an excellent meal at a fair price then you need to give Scollay Square a shot.
(4)
Miss P.
hot damn! one of the best meals i've had in a long time. extra points for being a block or so from the hotel i stayed at (Parker House Omni...sucky ass hotel...apparently john wilkes booth stayed here...no wonder he got all cranky and shot up good ol' abe...damn you! home of the parker house rolls and boston cream pie...and cramped rooms...)...oh, wait, this is about food....back to scollay square... kobe sliders were awesome...i hate the fact that the term "kobe" is thrown around though, since it's an actual place in japan, and i know you likely didn't fly in the beef from there. LUMP crab cake, the only way it should be done! awesome bbq shrimp as well. entrees were all good, as well as the desserts (i.e., i think i'm having a senior moment, and can't remember what i ate...)..... can't wait to come back to boston and eat here again!
(5)
Corey L.
The food was good. Nothing incredible, but it was good. Prices were over the top, the most expensive dish was $29, but the average was $16-$23. The place was kinda loud, which for me is a down side. I'd go back.
(3)
P M.
LOVED this place. The atmosphere was really great. My friend and I sat at the bar and kept ordering appetizers. The place had the best Blue Point oysters I've ever tried. They have an oyster sampler plate - choice of 3 oysters. I wish they knew the names of one of the others. (I thought it was a bit lame they didn't - they only knew it was from California. Tasted amazing). We also had a pecan salad that was great. Have to go back for the lobster mac 'n' cheese. We had the chocolate flourless cake which I wasn't crazy about at all. The service here was great. Very friendly. Can't wait to go back and maybe try dinner.
(5)
Andrew D.
Right next door to Mooo, which was one of the best meals of my life so it was a little tough to walk inside here instead of going one door down. Anyway, we went on a Tuesday night and it was pretty empty except for a few people at the bar. Maybe 2 other tables filled, and they sat us literally right next to those 2 and left the rest of the place wide open. I understand you want to keep the diners close so the waitress doesn't have to walk around too much extra, but no need to sit me in someone elses lap. Started with the spinach artichoke dip. The dip itself was solid, could have been a little warmer, but one of the better ones I've had lately. One of biggest things that kills me about dips/nachos/etc is stale chips and they had a few on the plate. I got the salmon which was awesome and date had the lobster ravioli that was huge and she enjoyed. Would recommend this as an after work place to get a burger and beer at the bar or as a date spot maybe on the weekend when its a bit more alive.
(3)
Matt M.
Great food, even better prices. Git one of the largest and most flavorful swordfish steaks I've ever seen. And it came on top of a Lobster Rissotto. Definitely would go back.
(4)
Morgan L.
We had a great experience and a fun time at Scollay Square. We were there for dinner and loved everything about it. The spinach artichoke dip is lovely and definitely use the bread more than the chips when eating it. The cuts of meat were cooked very well and to order! Our waitress was so sweet and a lot of fun! Just an all around good time! I will be taking other visitors back there!
(5)
Christopher N.
I have not eaten a full meal here, but based on the appetizers, wine, location, and service, this place is amazing. It was a weekday visit and the service was great. Laid back waitress, yet attentive. The crowd was mostly upscale, as you would expect downtown. Must confess, I have not been inside, but the patio was great. The appetizers were surprisingly large proportions and flavorful at that! Really, in downtown Boston, that surprised me. I recommend highly and will update when I actually have a full meal here.
(4)
Robyn A.
This place is perfect for the post-work crowd. Great atmosphere - especially during the summer months when you can sit on the patio. The espresso martinis are the best in town. not sure about dinner, but i've tried some of the apps including the calamari and spinach and artichoke dip and they were delicious!
(5)
Tracey N.
Yes, please! Whenever we plan a family gathering we end up here, and I usually bring my out-of-towners, too. The food is excellent, the drinks go down smooth but will knock you on your ass. The mac n' cheese is--for a side dish--one of the biggest and best in the city. The service is always helpful and outstanding. Even better: I can come here with my kid and, not only do I feel zero guilt, but we all leave happy. Speaking of kids' meals, again, one of the biggest and best I've seen anywhere. How great is that?
(5)
S H.
The food here was very good -- the hot dishes were a little cold (lobster mac & cheese and some appetizer), but the flavoring was great. The service during our meal was great We made a reservation on OpenTable.com (through the Yelp link). You provide your name, phone and email address for an account. The next day, Scollay Square called us with the following voicemail: Hi ... this is (employee name) from Scollay Square. I'm just calling to say that you had dinner with us last night & we just like to give a reservations, just a little follow up call & make sure that everything went well & that you had a good time & that there were no issues & to let you know that if you do have any questions or comments or complaints, alright so please give me a call back. My No. here is 16177424900 & if I don't hear from you then hopefully we'll see you again soon. Thanks again. Bye bye. To me, that's like voice mail spam. Other people may think it's great, but when the waitress asked if our meal was okay, and we said "It's great", that should have been the end of the conversation. OpenTable's response was: You would need to contact the restaurant and ask them to please not use your phone number for that purpose. The restaurants are allowed to use their database however they would like and it is up to you to specify otherwise.
(3)
Matt P.
Solid four star resteraunt with friendly service and very decent food. Haven't done much drinking here -- but the bar area is appealing to the eye. Great atmosphere and a good value overall, Scollay Square works for a whole great or just two!
(4)
Andrea B.
This place is great :) The service is outstanding, the food is deeelish, and the atmosphere is very unique. I haven't tasted anything on the menu I didn't like but i especially enjoy the tuna napoleon appetizer and the pomegranate martini...I may just have to head there tonight. Good for couples, business gatherings (i took about 15 people from a conference there a few months back and everyone was raving about it), or just hanging out at the bar with friends. All in all, one of the best places in Boston for food and drinks.
(5)
Nicole B.
i'm torn between 3 and 4 stars. but the food was so good i'll round up to a 4. i had the lobster mac and cheese while my boyfriend had the scallops. both were delicious! there were alot of other things on the menu i'd love to try. i can see myself absolutely going back. the prices were decent too. especially considering it's on beacon hill.
(4)
Steve T.
OK, the sole reason for the 4-star review is because it was Restaurant Week. I'm sure the restaurant was pulling out the stops on service, and the menu was limited; I'd prefer to give a rating based upon the "regular" experience. And I'm already planning to return, because I enjoyed the experience. The service was polite and attentive, and the food was excellent. In fact, the service was so attentive that our waiter arranged a blind taste test to help us choose between two bottles of wine - our choice, and his recommendation. Both were superb. I can easily see this turning into a 5-star review on a second visit. I'm looking forward to the Bloody Mary bar, the Chocolate Decadence, and the Lobster Mac & Cheese. The seating is cozy, but not too cramped, and the prices on the regular menu were reasonable (though I ate off the Restaurant Week menu). Scollay Square has all the makings of a definite winner.
(4)
Lynda M.
I was at the Fed tonight having drinks with friends, and we decided to give this place a try. Upon entering we were greeted warmly, and were seated at a nice window table. There was a good crowd in here, but not too crazy. We ordered wine, and the spinach/artichoke dip. Yum! My friend and I had the beet/feta cheese salad and my other friend the homemade chicken soup. It was perfect for a cold Autumn night! The decor reminds me of Eastern Standard, but less noisy and much better service. The bar in the back is very nice with flat screen tVs. Definitely a must to come back to!
(5)
Alyssa N.
I need to find an excuse to come back here. My drink, a concoction involving toffee and some tasty white chocolate liqueur, was amazing. I also highly recommend you not leave without trying the Lobster Mac n' Cheese, which will make you sad every time you eat the stuff in the blue box from Kraft after trying this decadent dish (a secret- I ordered it as my appetizer).
(4)
sunny g.
For some reason, I really like this place. The food is usually of high quality and the service is really fast (although sometimes a little TOO fast). I usually can find something delicious to eat and nothing is terribly expensive. The locale is great, when you have plans in the city after dinner.
(4)
Diana T.
We came for brunch on Sunday for the Bloody Mary bar. It had a good range of hot sauce to choose from. They also had a bunch of pickled vegetables to choose from as garnishes. Nothing too special or out of the ordinary. The food menu was just average. There was nothing on there that particularly wowed me. I opted to get a grilled chicken sandwich. It sounded amazing on the menu (buffalo mozzarella, sundried tomato jam on ciabatta) but it wasn't that good. It was pretty dry. I thought the bread to chicken ratio was off so that could have contributed to the problem. The reason I'm writing a review though is because of Chris, the restaurant manager. He randomly came to our table and asked how we were doing. We told him that we would have loved to see bleu cheese stuffed olives for the Bloody Mary bar and he had the kitchen make us a bunch for our cocktails! It was a really nice gesture. I'll definitely come back and order something different to eat!
(4)
Mika S.
Great food in a nice and relaxed atmosphere. I came here with 4 other people and ordered a number of the small plates to share. We had the Grilled Pear Salad, Cheese Board, Steamed Edamame, Oven Roasted Goat Cheese, Ahi Tuna Tacos, Blackened Day Boat Scallops, Pan Roasted Shrimp, Tempura Green Beans, Peanut Butter Mousse, Bread Pudding, and Chocolate Torte. My favourite entrees were the Pan Roasted Shrimp, and the Oven Roasted Goat Cheese. The sauce that the shrimp were cooked in was absolutely phenomenal and perfect for dipping the bread into. The goat cheese was surprisingly large, and sat in a bowl of marinara sauce. The exterior of the cheese was slightly crispy, with a gooey and warm interior. I've never had goat cheese with marinara sauce, but the flavours paired together perfectly! I just wish there was a bit more bread with this dish. The best dessert was definitely the Peanut Butter Mousse - it tasted like a peanut butter cup, without sitting like a rock in your stomach. The bread pudding was perfect for anyone who wants something fruity after dinner, whereas the Chocolate Torte was a must-try for those who prefer richer flavours.
They were really great about switching out the English muffin for a salad. And when the eggs came out scrambled (I didn't call it and they didn't ask) they were extremely accommodating to bring eggs over easy. They work well as a team. My server, Rachael, was very helpful when explaining the Bloody Mary bar and got me lots of limes when I requested them. She was really friendly, happy, and cool. Just a really nice vibe from the ladies. The steak looked a little small but it turned out to be plenty of food. All in all a very enjoyable experience!
(4)
Lillian D.
Stellar in all ways: decor, service, food. My date and I searched for a "bougie" place (with "hipster" food and wine) and were not let down. The interior is tightly packed, but the decor is splendid. Our waitress (wish I could remember her name) was so helpful and attentive. And the food... wow. We'd eaten at another restaurant the day before which served decent scallops. Those served here, though smaller, were cooked perfectly. So moist, tender, and faintly reminiscent of their sea home. Same with the shrimp, though the sauce in their dish might have been the bigger highlight. Soak it up with the bread, and you won't be let down. The arancini could have been cooked a little longer for my liking, but the creamy insides were to die for, as was the marinara. Then we had the fall-apart short rib which was served with (once again) perfectly-cooked spinach and (one again) a delectable sauce. Even the celery mash was a surprising delight. The Mercer cab was [expletive deleted] amazing. And the "deconstructed" smores added just enough sweet to the end of an inspired meal. If I'm in the area again, I'll definitely go back.
(5)
Jen D.
Scollay Square is a solid restaurant. I live nearby, so I've had brunch, lunch, and dinner here a few times each. The service is excellent--friendly and just the right amount of attentiveness, even when they're busy. The food's always good. The beef short ribs with celery root puree and mushrooms was especially tasty. Prices are reasonable and there's plenty of seating. If the weather's nice, they have a patio if you're feel al fresco.
(4)
Haydn G.
The food was extremely underwhelming. I ordered the scallops which came with swiss chard and mashed potatoes. The scallops were not seared properly and the dish had seemingly no salt. My friend's dish, on the other hand, was over salted. She ordered the swordfish medallions; everything was cooked well, but after the first medallion, the salt was too much. My other friend ordered the lobster risotto which was extremely basic - just a simple risotto recipe and some chewy lobster thrown in. The service also leaves a bit to be desired. I ordered a gin and tonic and specifically asked for a lemon. I was presented with a lime. All three of our dishes were taken away with a majority of the food left untouched. No one asked if we had any issues, though it was obvious we did not enjoy our meals. I will not be coming here again and urge you to reconsider if you made a reservation. Do not waste your money.
(3)
Liz K.
Meh, it's okay. Strictly okay. Beacon Hill prices, good service, and plentiful portions. However, I'm less than thrilled with the fact that some of the food seems fresh when other dishes don't. I stopped by there recently with my grandmother for my umpteenth visit to Scollay Square and ordered two appetizer dishes. One was hot and tasted fresh and the other was greasy and really not appetizing. I had to dump salt on it to finish it. Take my review with a grain of salt (no pun intended) as I've only ever ordered three dishes here. Maybe other things are better.
(3)
Chavi B.
3.8. I got the wasabi mashed potatoes & the mushroom flatbread. My boyfriend got the lobster mac & cheese & he started feeling bad after he Ate half of it. My flatbread was sooo good, but the mashed potatoes had no flavor at all. We got takeout so we didn't get the full experience but I probably wouldn't return here because I feel like I wasted my money. Good luck.
(3)
Serene T.
Absolutely loved this place! We ordered the Caesar salad, calamari, and tomato soup which were all very good! Il the Caesar dressing was on point and just the right amount for the portion of lettuce. The tomato soup was clearly made from scratch, which made it all that great. I loved how they paired the vegetables with the calamari. As for the main course, my sisters and I had the miso salmon, penne with Kobe beef, lobster risotto, and pan roasted shrimp. The salmon was fresh and cooked to perfection. I literally inhaled the food off my plate. The pasta was on point with its made from scratch sauce and tender Kobe beef. Lobster risotto was tasty and creamy. And lastly Chris, the manager, really hooked us up with the pan roasted shrimp. We can't have any alcohol and so he offered to make a special chipotle BBQ sauce instead of the dark beer sauce. Suffice it to say, it was epic! I loved the ambience of the place. Very clean. Not to mention we got our food really quickly! Chris really catered to our table which made the experience even more so pleasurable. I would highly recommend this place!
(5)
Rachel C.
After being on the hunt for oysters, we settled for here. Okay... so no oysters served here anymore, take note. I would have been totally bummed if the meal had turned out to be bad, but it didn't at all. I ordered the tuna nicoise salad, which was very hearty. Only thing it could have used more of was the tuna. It was a really tiny piece of tuna sliced into about 5 thin slices. We also tried the edamole, which was a play on guacamole. I love edamame, but can that translate to a tasty dish? While it definitely didn't have the kick of gauc, I'd compare it more to hummus. Still, it was good. I really liked the crispy chips they served with it. Would have been nice to have more veggies. They only gave us 4 carrot and celery sticks. See a theme here? The dishes were just missing a little bit more. But not necessarily small portions or a deal breaker to come here! I also approve of the Bloody Mary! It came with three olives!! Normally you get around two, so surprise there! But it was spicy, just like if ask for! Only issue was, our server didn't come around at the end of our meal for a good amount of time. No checking in to see if we were ready to bounce. So we waited around for a bit until he finally came over. It wasn't busy, so I'm not sure what happened. Again, not a deal breaker.
(4)
Jacqui J.
Penne with mozzarella & tomato sauce = amazing Murray Hill Chicken = amazing The lucky pony (Bulleit bourbon with mint, lemon, peach and whatever else made it so delish) = amazing Thumbs up! Now on to the Orpheum to see of monsters & men (great pre-concert dinner/location)
(5)
Kenny C.
DIY Bloody Mary bar... check. Delicious filet mignon eggs benedict... check. Great decor... check. Outdoor seating... check. Friends paying for you because it's your birthday... no check for me!
(4)
Jenn B.
The service was great and host was very attentive. Arrived with a few of my girlfriends after work for patio seating and he immediately set up two high tops for us since no other seating was available. Recommended must haves - Any of their Mac & Cheese dishes and the goat cheese plate. They also have a really good wine list and drink menu. Perfect location for out of towners looking for something not too touristy but close to the Commons.
(4)
Alice P.
Back again! Random night in Boston and in Beacon Hill so I decided to meet my niece for dinner/drinks without reservations. Scollay, I heard was hugely busy on Thursday but I thought since we were early it might be a good try around 5Pm. I was right. It was once again the perfect spot. Near empty patio on a warm summer Thursday eve. My niece and I started with a Margherita flatbread and cocktails. Our waitress Rachel (completely a coincidence) suggested a Lucky Pony for me. It was just perfect. Rachel was most attentive without being intrusive and we enjoyed her input when we were trying to decide our orders. After a few minutes,I realized, that this was the very same Rachel we experienced at brunch. Public, be good to your wait staff. They can make your day/ night. Our other family members arrived a few hours later and we ordered the buffalo flat bread, a burger, truffle fries and short rib plate. Not one complaint from our table and not much left to clean on the plates either. Needless to say, another great dining experience. Rachel is a superstar and I hope the other staff is as delightful. I promise we are not related and not stalkers! It was just a nice coincidence and to our benefit. We had a wonderous experience. Too long a story to express how bad my week had been up to this point. I was certain I would fall apart at any second. But, to be treated so well and to enjoy such epicurean delights, all troubles melted away. Yes, hold our seats. We will return.
(5)
Antonio B.
Pretty nice spot. Both from the outside and inside, since the decoration is pretty bad and it looks like a chain, my expectations were pretty low. But I was proven wrong. Their tuna was great and we also had the scallops: fresh and tender. This place really shines for its food. Both decoration and service are at chain-level. They need to fix that.
(4)
Sandy V.
Best mojito ever!! Shared arancini, calamari and lobster mac and cheese for late nite dinner.
(5)
Katie W.
My husband and I came for Sunday brunch. The manager, Chris, greeted and sat us. We ended up choosing the bar. Both Chris and the bartender were lovely; very friendly, great customer service. I got a delicious cocktail (grapefruit and basil martini) and my husband ordered a Bloody Mary. In high maintenance fashion like my husband tends to be, he requested blue cheese olives. Without hesitation they hand stuffed blue cheese olives for him. I got the west coast Benedict and my husband got the buffalo chicken flatbread. Both were very tasty. Mostly the atmosphere and service of this place earn it five stars. I highly recommend it.
(5)
Sean A.
I had dinner here on a Friday night. It was surprisingly empty, but not for lack of good food. We started with the tuna tacos, which were okay, and the calamari, which was really good. The large-dish of scallops was excellent. Our server was great. Overall, I'd give the place a thumbs up.
(4)
David C.
When it comes to brunch at Scollay Square, the price is definitely right. The food certainly isn't mind-blowing, but for around $10-12 per item, you won't be disappointed as long as you keep your eggspectations (see what I did there?) low. I wanted to order the crab cake eggs benedict which I thought would be a steal for $12, but was quickly informed that they had just sold the last one around 1pm. Instead, my server recommended the lobster eggs benedict that was not on the menu, but is apparently an old standard of the restaurant. The benedict wasn't anything special (the lobster tasted a little bit old and I'm not sure the English muffin was even toasted), but the hash browns and lemon dressed greens that came with it were excellent (pretty sad that lettuce and potatoes overshadowed lobster though). Our table split the mascarpone stuffed French toast topped with a strawberry-orange compote, and again, it was just ok. The portion size was kind of small and the toast itself was overly soggy, even before syrup. I probably won't be back anytime soon, but if you're looking for a pre-movie brunch option near the Common, you could certainly do worse.
(3)
Kevin J.
I had the lobster risotto. The risotto was mediocre and the lobster meat had a chewy texture. I'm confident that I could have prepared this dish myself and saved some money. While I did get enough to eat, I left most of my food untouched. However, I enjoyed the atmosphere and my cocktail was decent. Overall, it's not hard to find better food in Boston for these prices.
(2)
Jamaal D.
Hotel doorman recommended this place so we hiked over to this small indoor/outdoor urban eatery. The wait staff was some of the friendliest folk on our Boston trip and the manager was funny and helpful. We started off strong with a mint lime and cucumber tequila mixed drink and an orange juice and champaign flute. Both were good (mimosa was better than the tequila in my opinion) and the manager even comped me a drink when I clumsily (if not drunkenly, drinks were nicely strong) spilled my tequila. We proceeded to order the short rib burrito and the American breakfast. Both were pretty good, especially the burrito. All in all a solid breakfast spot surrounded by beautiful Boston scenery with A plus managers and staff.
(4)
Marine G.
Do not go to this place. Worst waiter ever : dumb / stupid / rude / and dumb again. Never happened to us to leave a place before having lunch (and we were hungry!). The guy did not want our money obviously.... We asked for a table in the shade (they were plenty) but the guy was insisting to put us in the sun. He did not offered us any other solution and was clearly rude so we left. Glad we did as the food also was looking barely ok.
(1)
Mike E.
Enjoyed a delightful brunch on the shady patio out front. Service was prompt and very friendly. The Bacon Bloody Mary was exceptional and fried egg sandwich and blueberry pancakes were delicious.
(4)
Martha L.
Do NOT go to this place if you need to be somewhere after dinner. We came here because we were going to the theater a few blocks away. We got there with enough time to eat and make it to the show, but it was a bit tight. I told the waiter when we first sat down that we need to leave by 7:45pm to go to a show at 8pm, giving us about an hour. He was training someone at the time so both of them heard me. The three of us ordered an appetizer and our entrees fairly quickly. The food came SUPER SLOW. The restaurant was not crowded, but things did not seem to be moving. I was concerned and mentioned our time restraint again after our appetizer arrived. No response. Not even an acknowledgement. I finally got up and spoke to the manager at 7:40pm. It was completely ridiculous. Our food was still not done. I was ready to walk out. The manager apologized profusely and tried to rush things. We finally got our food at 7:45 and I was only able to take a few bites before having to leave. This is not just bad service. This is unacceptable service. What makes it worse is that the waiter is actually training someone else. The food is decent. But really, no matter how good the food is, you will still need time to eat it.
(1)
Ashley R.
Amazing food, drinks, and service!!! Moscow mule was delish!!!! Fresh and crisp! We had meatballs and scallops to start with. Meatballs were like something my grandma would make, moist and savory! Scallops were cooked to perfection!!! Also had the miso salmon (which I will forever dream about the flavor) and the short pins were also so amazing sitting on top of lobster mashed potatoes. Finished the dinner with vodka neat and bread pudding! If ever back in Boston I will be back!!!
(5)
Ashley W.
Where else can you get brunch this good?! The Rice Krispies french toast, the FLUFFY (not heavy like most dinners) scrambled eggs, REAL bacon, and the BEST coffee on the planet - all reside here. I've never had dinner here, but if brunch was that good, I can only imagine their other options. Why I gave 5-stars: As many times as I've ordered hot chocolate, this place served it in a glass, which meant I didn't have to re-order those small white tea cups of a kids serving. That, made me very happy.
(5)
Natalie M.
We were looking for a place that was close to the Public Garden after my husband ran the BAA 10k, so our cousins recommended this place. We had reservations but it was still very busy. When we sat down at our table, our waiter warned us that the kitchen was slammed and were looking at 45 mins before our meals would come out. We didn't mind since we were with a big group and wanted to catch up. I decided I didn't want anything heavy like pancakes and French toast (which some of the people who were with us ordered, and looked delicious). I instead ordered the short rib burrito with egg scramble, pulled short rib, cheddar cheese in a flour tortilla. The meat was nice and tender, and flavorful. The waiter brought out desserts which were comp. Good, relaxing atmosphere.
(4)
Lucas W.
Nothing short of phenomenal perfection. Every dish was done perfectly with great flavors. We started with a couple cocktails, I got a bourbon-based cocktail with some mint and sweet tea flavors which was delicious and went down super smoothly. Very strong as well. The gf got a cocktail that basically tasted like liquid pistachio ice cream, said it was great. We then had the tuna tacos which were absolutely heavenly. I loved the wasabi based sauce which pervaded teh tacos and the tuna was plentiful. Three-four massive chunks of top quality tuna made for a superb start to the meal. For her entree, my gf had the miso salmon served over lobster mashed. I can't eat lobster, but the mashed potatoes looked great with massive chunks of lobster. The salmon was good and cooked very well with not an overpowering soy flavor. For me, without a doubt, the highlight of the meal was my swordfish. Cooked to perfection with a delicious bit of blackening spice on the medallions with a hefty amount of beluga lentils around the plate. Just incredible, the swordfish was the perfect choice and I would get it again in a heartbeat.
(5)
Roxy L.
The lobster mac and cheese is amazing! The cheese is somewhat light so it isn't super heavy and there is a ton of lobster! Service is wonderful and the patio is a great place to spend some time people watching. Definitely check it out!
(5)
Ellen S.
Good place for a casual lunch meeting or a nice, easy dinner - the interior/furniture always seems a little bit run down to me, but the food is great. Fresh salads (love the vinaigrette that comes on the mixed greens), apps (get the Kobe beef sliders!), sandwiches (they have a great turkey with some sort of cranberry mayo that is excellent) . Their mac and cheese is one of my favorites in Boston. Service is usually really good. Good place to bring a group - they have some nice vegetarian options and a varied menu, everyone will find something they like.
(4)
Theresa M.
I am still in awe of this place. I assumed it would be ok, but I was so impressed. My fiance and I went there for brunch. To start, we had the "clockwork orange" which is their answer to an mimosa...delicious. We then ordered the fried egg sandwich each and an order of french toast to split. Everything was so good. The fried egg sandwich was ridiculously good with fontina cheese, arugula and bacon topped with Lemon Aioli....oh and served on a ciabatta roll. I can't wait to go back and get it again. Also the service was quick and friendly.
(5)
Paige C.
$4 mimosas! YAY! Mimosas made with juice from concentrate...mehh... Food was overall nothing crazy. I ordered the "Western Eggs Benedict" which was supposed to be served with roasted turkey and avocado. I was thoroughly disgusted by the LUNCH MEAT served as "roasted turkey" it wasn't even freshly sliced from the deli. The hollandaise sauce had the consistency of water and not much more flavor. My husbands short rub burrito was tasty but seriously lacking on the titular ingredient. He def wished it had more short rib in it. They do get a bump in stars for the drink menu and like I said $4 mimosas. They sat us quickly, but service was pretty subpar.
(2)
Annie S.
Heading into Boston at the last minute on Saturday, July 18. We were heading to the Common for the Out of the Box festival and 92.9 stage to catch some music and meet with family. My daughter had pulled up a restaurant she thought I might like to try for dinner. It was Scollay Square. Perfect name for a lifelong Bostonian. Also because my Mother would tell me stories about her younger days around Scollay Square back in the day. Great day on the common and then time to eat and catch the train back. As we walked I could tell my daughter about memories of Mom and I working in Boston and where we would meet. Here we are, Scollay Square, right across from where Mom and I would have breakfast together before heading to the office. I loved the vibe right away. The patio is comfortable and Chris, the manager made us feel right at home. We could sit anywhere we wanted. The patio it is. Our waiter was Brad. He was sweet, knowledgeable and very funny. We did not see the drink on this menu that was on-line, the Hemingway daiquiri. Chris and Brad said they could make it anyway. Super accommodating. Great choice. Delish. We could sit, relax and look over the menu. So many things to try. Brad answered our questions and made recommendations. We had the tempura green beans as an appetizer. They were a great finger food and cooked perfectly. For dinner, with Brad's suggestion I ordered the flat iron steak frites and my daughter got the pan seared scollops. The food looked beautiful when it arrived and tasted even better, the sides, the green, the entree all perfection. We had no room for desert. Which means we will have to return and soon. Chris, the manager, came out often to see how we were and told us some of the history of the building. It turns out, this is the building that had once been a hotel. The one my Mom and Dad spent their honeymoon at back in 1951! Everything had fallen into place the moment we entered Scollay Square. The manager Chris , our waiter Brad, the fab food and ambiance makes this a real winner for us and for Boston. Looking for my next free Saturday night to return. Don't forget to go a bit louder on the speakers playing Sinatra.
Original Date: August 17, 2013 Me and my friend decided to come back to Scollay Square one last time to try their Brunch menu. Since it was a lovely day, we sat outside and bumped into our waiter from dinner two nights ago and he still remember us =) Drinks: Orange Martini for my friend and I FINALLY got to try the Strawberry Jalapeño Margarita sooooooo yummy!! Food: Maine Lobster Roll for my friend and I got the Filet Mignon Eggs Benedict Make sure you stop by and dine here because the food is soooooo delicious!!
(5)
Corey L.
Met my buddy for a Wednesday night dinner on Beacon Hill. We had a nice seat outside, which was easy as it was early and no one else was there. Starting with drinks, their beer menu was quite sad. They had very few options and nothing good (I like hefeweizens and non-crap beer). They had a much bigger wine list, including 2, 6, 10 oz options - which I've never seen. You can get a number of 2 oz tasters. Their single glasses were reported at 6 oz, which is bigger than most - not sure if they actually lived up to that measurement. I just drank water. Started with some bread, which was totally fine. Apparently they recently changed around their menu - which is why the waiter was not able to give us good suggestions on what to eat...or so he said. I ordered the Scallops. They were big, numerous (5 or 6?) and came with some other stuff. It was totally solid - the scallops were well-flavored without being too salty or soy-saucy. I enjoyed them. My buddy got lobster risotto - big bowl of it. He said it was okay, but not that flavorful. That's my overall impression. I think the prices were quite reasonable if not low for the area, and the food matched that. It was totally fine, but not impressive. And Yelpers kept mentioning chocolate chip cookie sliders, which I was SO excited about, but weren't on the menu. BOO!
(3)
Frank H.
While walking on Beacon Hill on a Sunday morning (2/23/2014) we noticed a placard near the door inviting us in for brunch. The restaurant was beautiful - dark wood walls from floor to chair rails and matching crown molding but enough open space to feel comfortable. Our greeting was genuinely friendly and we were seated at a terrific window table from which we could watch Beacon Street. I regret that I can't recall the name of our server because she deserves special mention. The kid's menu had plenty of choices but my son selected a fruit salad with Greek yogurt from the Brunch menu. It was enormous, contained 8-10 kinds of fruit and topped with yogurt. The three of us failed to finish it off. (See photo) My stuffed French toast was great - another slice would have made it greater - and my wife raved about her egg dish. Go to this restaurant! We are going back soon.
(5)
Nikki W.
I kept hearing great things about this place but was really disappointed when I went. We came for a late dinner and sat outside. There is very little lighting outside and had to use my flashlight on my phone to see the menu. I felt bad for the waiter who seemed like he had too many tables to handle for himself. We waited 20 minutes for drinks because the first time he dropped them and had to get them again. Where we waited another ten minutes. He was apologetic but you could tell overwhelmed. The food was OK I had steak tips on a salad but the steak was definitely overcooked. I asked for medium rare. Maybe it is better place at lunch.
(2)
Rachael M.
Great dinner! Didnt have reservations and had a show at 8:00. We called on the way over and they sat us right away outside. Everyone was really happy with their meals and cocktails. We had the "edamole" to start which was great. We had the haddock, pork and tuna dishes and all were really good! The portions are perfectly sized (not huge.) I will definitely be going back!
(4)
Brian W.
Excellent service with delicious food at reasonable prices in Beacon Hill? I didn't believe it also, but Scollay Square lived up to all of the positive Yelp reviews. The restaurant is in a cool space with big exposed pipes, an open kitchen and some old school signs and pictures. The bathrooms are oddly located at the side of the bar and then down a long hot staircase. Most tables are against walls or windows, but we were seated at a little table right in the open. Even with a less-than-ideal table, it wasn't super loud or uncomfortable. Our waiter was awesome and was very aware of gluten allergy restrictions and was good about checking with the kitchen for all of my wife's questions. They don't have a separate menu, but they are able to accommodate very well. For an appetizer we had the pulled pork sliders, one without the bun on a separate plate to be gluten free. The sliders were delicious with just the right amount of spice and cole slaw that wasn't overly creamy. I read so many reviews about the fish and chips I had to get that for dinner. The fish was lightly fried and came in little nugget like shapes. It tasted fresh and delicious and paired perfectly with that great cole slaw and some crispy fries. My wife got the scallop entree modified to be gluten free by eliminating the soy/mustard sauce on top. She practically licked the plate clean so it must have been good. It was a belated birthday celebration for me so my wife surprised me with a chipwich for dessert. Usually it comes with 2 sandwiches, but even without asking they just gave us one chipwich and one gluten free scoop of ice cream with a side of hot fudge. Just that fact that my review is this long should speak volumes for this place. I can't wait to go back and try some other menu items.
(5)
Stacy G.
The food was wonderful. I had the scallops and were cooked to perfection. My son had salmon and lobster mash potatoes and was one of his all times greatest. Just a kids meal, but daughter loved the chicken fingers. Wife had the ahi tuna tacos and said they were great as well. Service was great too!
(4)
Richie F.
Food was very good but the portions were small, and I left still hungry. I had the chicken which was very good but it came with one small piece, my wife had the sword fish, again small portion. The staff and manager were friendly. I enjoyed my visit but would preferred larger portions
(3)
Edward B.
Have been here multiple times for brunch as it is one of the better restaurants in the financial district. The staff is generally pretty attentive and friendly. They have both indoor and outdoor seating which is a plus. The make-it-yourself Bloody Mary bar is my favorite! One of the times I went there they messed up my order and got me an omelette with chicken instead of a vegetarian (which I am!) omelette. After taking one bite, I realized it was not what I ordered. Upon pointing it out to the waitress, she was very apologetic and immediately fixed it. The manager stopped over and told me that my meal was on the house. Mistakes happen (which is why I couldn't give 5 stars), but they did well to salvage a not so good situation. I will definitely go back!
(4)
Erin A.
Delicious food. Creative menu with a nice variety. Beware - menu items that Yelp says are popular are not necessarily on the menu any more. The business has no control over that. We'd definitely come back.
(4)
T P.
Chris and the rest of the staff are exceptional. Went here for dinner and the food is amazing and comes out of the kitchen quickly. Excellent drinks, dessert, and atmosphere. Would highly recommend this place to anyone in the area. Will be back!!
(5)
Chris C.
Lunch: white bean soup and the rice bowl. Soup was thick - perfect for a winter day. The rice bowl was outstanding. Despite its name the rice bowl is a culinary tour de force. The tempura scallops alone are reason to revisit this dish, but the seared tuna just clinched the deal. Highly recommend. The bartender, Brad, was thoughtful, attentive, efficient, friendly, engaging, professional. He knew the menu and his patrons. Well done, Scollay Square. All restaurants should be this proficient.
(5)
Sergio P.
Tourist trap. Not horrible, just mediocre.
(2)
Beth P.
Not much needs to be said for this place. If you come for dinner, get the Rare Tuna. JUST GET IT. You will be blown away. Literally every single thing about this dish is perfection. I asked for more sauce because I basically wanted to drink it, and now I try to replicate it at home. The Prosciutto Mac and Cheese with Truffle oil is too good to be true. The helping isn't huge, but it's good because the dish is SO rich. We had the Philly cheese steak rolls for an app, and they weren't anything special, but I'll have to give their app menu another try sometime. I had the pear martini and it was DElish! Not too sweet, but very refreshing. Great place for a date night or just to get cocktails!
(5)
Stan G.
Excellent food and great service. the outside dining is comfortable and refreshing on a warm summer day. Our server bent over backwards to make everything good for us and the manager came by to say hello. Nice wine list and a great assortment of drinks from the full bar. Just steps away from the Common.
(4)
B W.
Scollay Square has very good food (probably around 4 stars for the category), but the service and atmosphere really set it apart. The wait staff is friendly, just the right amount of attentive, and it's a great place to grab an informal business lunch or just relax for a meal after work. The beet salad is excellent, as is their chicken sandwich and fries.
(5)
Samuel M.
I used to love this place, until they took their menu and put it through meat grinder. I would regularly come here for their tuna steak and wasabi mash potatoes. It was amazing. Their buffalo chicken dip was just the right amount of spicy and savory. It was a great first date restaurant and one that my fiancee and I loved to frequent. With the menu "rework" they have removed some of the best items in an attempt to have a more diverse menu. This attempt failed. I had the tuna tacos and while they tasted decent, they looked completely unappetizing. The cole slaw that they served with the tacos was edible at best. We spoke with the staff briefly and they are just as baffled at the removal of some of their most popular items. In closing, the menu "rework" threw out the best dishes and replaced them with dishes that are mediocre at best.
(2)
Alison C.
I came to Scollay Square for dinner with family friends due to its convenient location downtown next to the Boston Commons and because of the relatively good reviews on Yelp. Many raved of the Rare Seared Tuna Loin, so I, along with the majority of the table, ordered that dish. While this dish sounded amazing in theory, the taste and flavors weren't all that impressive. The seared tuna was well cooked, with a red middle and nice gradient to a pink edge, but the seasoning on the outside was very, very salty. It overpowered the tuna taste so much that I ended up scraping the sides of each piece to salvage the tuna in whatever way I could. The tuna is served over a bed of crisp cabbage, carrots, and other greens drizzled with a miso vinaigrette. The veggies weren't soaked in dressing, so the neutral greens helped with the saltiness of the fish when eaten together. The edamame was somewhat bland, but I appreciated the unique take of making it into a mash-like puree. While I and others weren't very happy with our selected dish, people who ordered other entrees were very happy with what they got. These entrees included the lobster mac and cheese and the scallop dish, so maybe there's better luck in taste with those. As for the business itself, the place was pretty empty when we went on a Saturday evening at around 7:00 PM. The restaurant is pretty spacious, and I noticed that most people opted to sit in the outdoor patio area. Parking is very hard to find as Scollay Square IS located downtown, so give yourself extra time if looking for a space. Service was friendly, if a little slow, and our waiter made sure we were taken care of throughout the evening. Overall, I would rate this place more of a 2.5 since I wasn't impressed, but I'll round up on this one.
(3)
Virginia C.
Location. Location. Location. This is right next to the State House when you need to meet someone here for the lunch. The food though.. is just okay. The one thing that stands out on the menu is the Mac n Cheese (add Buffalo Chicken or Lobster). It's very solid and who doesn't love Lobster Mac n Cheese!!!
(3)
Robert W.
The food was great but didn't really fill you up/left you wanting more. and the service was slow. It took us 20-25 to get our meals after placing our order
(3)
Katy W.
It was completely dead when we tried this out on the weekend. I kind of liked how quiet it was actually, but I'm betting that it's kooky during the week. Anyway, I like how they have a cheaper lunch menu. It doesn't have a huge selection, but if you want a sit-down lunch there's not many places nearby that are well-priced. They were still serving brunch (until 2) when we stopped in and I never turn down eggs so I was happy to try a mushroom/swiss omelet while my husband had the "square" breakfast with eggs, toast, hash browns and sausage. I was happy with mine and my husband really liked his. The price was right too. This is a great option if you're in the area. I like the old-school vibe without crummy old-school food. They have classic items, but they are well-cooked and have nice flavors.
(4)
MaryLynne G.
Made a reservation for 6 for Saturday night at 7pm. Prime time and we were making the res a few days ahead of time so choices were obviously limited. I am so glad we took a chance on Scollay Square. Location was great and we were seated right away. Our server was very friendly, food came out quickly, drinks were good; all in all Scollay Square was solid on every count. I got the miso salmon with lobster mashed potatoes, as did one other member of our party. Other diners in the group got a pork entree, fish tacos, fried goat cheese, a veggie stir fry, etc.; quite a variety of foods, and each person completely cleaned their plate. Great option for larger parties on a weekend night when you don't want to wait for hours at other more "in" places. Definitely recommend.
(4)
Jeremy D.
It was pouring rain and miserable and we were wandering around at night desperately looking for dinner. Most of the restaurants close early downtown, but thankfully Scollay was open. When we came in, my sister saw an item she liked on the menu, and we were seated quickly at a nice window table. The waitress was really accommodating to my sisters questions regarding food sensitivities and didn't just guess but actually went to kitchen to find out what was in the dishes. In fact the manager actually came over and offered to modify and change dishes in order to accommodate her. When I asked about the fish and chips since they aren't on the dinner menu (so well talked about on here) he said it was on the bar menu, and brought one over for us. Let me just tell you, I've had a lot of fish and chips in my day, and these were unbelievably good. My sister got an Asian-fusion rice bowl and she loved her dish again. We were just really impressed with the service, the manager's attention, and food. Would HIGHLY recommend this restaurant for anyone in Boston. Best part is that the prices were extremely affordable for the quality of food you are getting.
(5)
Eden O.
Had to get some fish and chips before I headed back West so we found this place a short walk away from Faneuil Hall. The decor I would say is upscale pub style. Really tall ceilings with exposed wood and stark white walls. They do have a couple seats outside on a patio in front of the restaurant. It wasn't overly busy on a Sunday around 3p. Our server wasn't really friendly but did nothing wrong either. The fish and chips was delicious and definitely hit the mark. Fresh fish, not overly greasy and homemade thick fries. Beer selection was short but good. Would recommend for a casual lunch or dinner.
(3)
Amanda D.
Wowszas! I love when I read reviews and almost let a couple negatives hold me back but then go for it anyway. I'm glad I did. In town from Clevaland, my husband and I wanted some fresh and tasty seafood and we found it here. The fish and chips was just out of this world. It's a very light flash fried fish and tasted buttery, soft, pretty much melted in my mouth. The french fries were just ok. The brew selection is on the small side, but good picks. The salmon with lobster mashed potatoes were unbelievably good. The prices were reasonable and the staff was superb. Would go back in a heartbeat.
(5)
Marc F.
Fabulous drink and dinner. Hendricks gin (very rare), baby kale salad, and short ribs. All excellent. Very good service.
(5)
Chelsea F.
My boyfriend and I had dinner here for my birthday. Everyone was extremely friendly and accommodating when we decided to move seats. Our server was nice, but distant and awkward. It seemed like it may have been her first day. Being a server myself, I always check back with my tables and try to be as quick as possible. This was not the case. Our drinks took about ten minutes to arrive--for a busy Friday night--acceptable. The goat cheese appetizer came out very promptly--although It was luke warm--delicious. After the appetizer we only Saw our server one more time--she was standing by the bar talking a majority of the time. Our dinners were phenomenal. Although they were dropped off abruptly without a word, we were extremely satisfied. I chose the ahi tuna and my boyfriend got the drunken shrimp pasta. If it weren't for the service, this place would get five stars. The good was seriously to die for! After we finished eating, we waited and waited for our server to come over. We finished our drinks and watched her talking to a man sitting at the bar for what seemed like forever. Even after she knew we were ready to leave, we watched her stand at the bar and continue to talk to this man WITH OUR CHECK IN HER HAND. As soon as we put our card in to pay she was right there, though. Hmm, strange. Anyway, great food. Unprofessional service--especially with then knowing it was my birthday. The man at the front door was extremely friendly, though! He even wished me happy birthday when we left!
(4)
Anthony N.
Food was good, but service was really good, no, outstanding! I ordered fish and chips, my mom ordered blackened swordfish, and my fiance ordered the ride bowl. The rice bowl was delicious, my fish and chips was exactly what you would expect, but my mom said the swordfish was like eating salt. The highlight of the trip was Chris the manager. He made my mother another round of swordfish without the salt and jokingly pointed out that if it was too bland there was sea salt on the table. He was funny and very accommodating. The deck is nice but no dogs allowed.
(5)
Kayla C.
Big fan of the atmosphere, cocktails, and varied menu. The menu recently changed, but now it seems there are more options for apps/small plates. Seafood is always wonderful (lobster mac and cheese and scallops are kind of my things; and they're totally tasty here). I recently took my parents and grandmothers here when they were in town for my graduation, and we had a very friendly, timely waiter. He knew when to approach - when not. Especially considering my family is terrible with decisions. We also obnoxiously arrived approximately 40 minutes prior to our reservation time, but they made room for us without a fuss, even though we said we could just sit at the bar and "drink responsibly" or something. Because of the recent menu change, the manager had to inform me the scallops I ordered were different than the exact menu item...which didn't make a difference to me, delicious either way! When we ordered desserts, they came with candles (for graduation? cute nonetheless) and they were free! Yay! I'll gladly sit back, grab some calamari and tempura green beans, and enjoy some cocktails here anytime.
(5)
Tina D.
With many TVs around this place is a great place for dinner if you don't want to miss out on a sox, pats, celtics or bruins game. Decor: good rustic feel, nicely spaced. Choice of low seating, high seating, or bar seating. when the weather is nice there's a choice of outside seating, although the surrounding buildings block out the sun Drinks: offer a good small variety of beers on Tap. Of the three times that I've asked what the special was referring to on the menu, it's been the Allagash White. Food: Kobe sliders are awesome starters. love the juicy meat and the caramelized onions were finger licking good. Our favorite entree was the Seared Ahi Tuna with wasabi flavored mashed potato, crispy wonton strips and sauteed spinach. This is the DISH you have to try! As sushi fans this dish was meant for us. The seared tuna was moist and fresh in the middle, giving the impression of sashimi. Naturally the wasabi flavored mashed potatoes worked really well. The spinach was cooked perfectly, not soggy like most places so it paired well w/ the freshness of the Tuna. The Crispy Wonton strips added nice texture to the plate. Had steak here too, but it was so so and don't remember anything that would stand out. Buffalo boneless tenders were moist and flavorful, good beer snack. Service: if you're sitting outside, the service is a little slow and sometimes you will have to wait for someone to come out. If you're sitting inside for dinner, the service is EXCEPTIONAL. They're very flexible with seating and would always leave it up to us to determine where we would sit. Servers were always courteous and professional. Service is always on point, but not over-bearing. They would take extra steps to please you. For instance our table was a little wobbly with one short leg, the server apologized and asked if we would like to move. After we told him that we didn't mind he took time to place some paper under the short leg to even out the table. Wished we had this kind of service everywhere! We can call ourselves regulars here now. However, one day we will have to get up early enough on Sunday to try their brunch menu as well!
(5)
Caleb F.
What a great find on a Friday night! It wasn't too busy and the interior seating area was quiet (such a rare find on the weekend). It was a sweet reprieve to sit in a quiet restaurant and gawk over a menu. We were able to watch the Red Sox and enjoy a delicious meal. The manager even made a point to come introduce himself. The only reason I didn't rate this restaurant higher was because of the service. Our server rushed us in ordering, made us feel like we were inconveniencing her, and I had to track her down behind the bar to request refills. I can't imagine her service when the place is busy!
(3)
Jaime B.
I had the most delicious meal last night at Scolleys. I started with the rock shrimp appetizer which was super good. For my main course, I had the lobster risotto. Absolutely delicious! Definitely the best I've ever had. There were huge chunks of lobster in the risotto. I loved every bite. Cute ambience right by Boston Common. The service was nothing short of perfect. A++
(5)
Jesse L.
My girlfriend and I were looking for a place for brunch and were excited to see that Scollay Square was related to Sip and Max & Dylan's. We decided to give it a shot. Stepping into Scollay was reminiscent of the opening scene of The Grand Budapest Hotel; there were more staff than patrons. The entire place was a bit run down and had the atmosphere of a great place that has been left to slowly die. The tables had what appeared to be ancient bottles of Pelegrino on them, warm with their labels discolored and peeling. Drinks: I ordered an Irish coffee. It tasted off. When I received the check, I understood why. They had made an Irish coffee with Southern Comfort. My girlfriend said that her mimosa tasted as if someone had poured flat Andre into minute made orange juice concentrate. The food: I ordered the breakfast burrito and my girlfriend the weatcoast benedict. Neither of us finished our dishes. Had my breakfast burrito cost me 4 dollars and come wrapped in saran wrap from a corner store, I would have been satisfied. The hollandaise sauce on the benedict was bland and the only redeeming factor of the dish was the obviously prepackaged frozen hashbrowns. We left Scollay Square feeling robbed and crossing our fingers hoping that the last day of my girlfriend's visit (she lives in NYC), would not be spent running to the toilet repeatedly.
(1)
Kimberly K.
$4 mimosas... That's worth 5 stars. But unfortunately I have to deduct one for a pretty mediocre tuna burger and another for a so-so cheeseburger. The service was awesome and the outdoor seating is great.
(3)
Nick M.
This restaurant was recommended by the concierge at the Omni Parker House. This place was exactly what we were looking for on our first night in Boston. The service was friendly and professional. I recommend the lobster risotto and buffalo flatbread. We will return on our next trip to see what other delectable concoctions this restaurant can serve up.
(4)
Meg B.
I came for brunch a few years ago and fell in love with this place. Had the Lobster Eggs Benedict and it was PHENOMENAL. They had a MYO Bloody Mary bar that was to die for as well! I jotted it down for the next time I was in Boston and... ...that happened to be this weekend! We went for dinner and it was just as amazing, if not more, for dinner! We had the Kobe Sliders to start (soooo good) and I had the Miso Salmon, while my boyfriend had the Beef Short Rib. They were both out of this world! We finished with the Chocolate Chip Cookie Slider. It was no longer on the menu but after seeing all the Yelp reviews of it, we had to ask if it still existed. They made a set for us and I was so happy I asked! Overall, I felt so spoiled here. The food and service were both way above par...I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants to have a fabulous dining experience!
(5)
Alison L.
I was slightly disappointed by Scollay Square. Perhaps I ordered wrong. Because the place seemed to be known for seafood, I got the scallops. They were quite small, and not that fresh, so the texture was a bit tough/chewy. So I was sad that I paid $23 for them... The presentation of the food was nice, however.
(2)
Kristen M.
We made what seemed like an unnecessary reservation on Saturday evening at 6:30. When we arrived their were tables open outside and we scooped one up no problem. Dining partner ordered the screaming rooster rock shrimp and buffalo chicken flatbread while I ordered the Murray Hill chicken entree. We ate almost everything we were served, the portions were just right. My chicken was a little dry but the risotto that accompanied it was fantastic. The service was attentive and we received refills without asking. Reasonable prices close to the theaters and State House.
(4)
Evin S.
Too tired for a sit-down dinner after a long work day, I craved seafood and wanted to find a restaurant a block east of Boston Commons that would do takeout. Scollay Square fit the bill. Ordered 2 "small plates" off the dinner menu: blackened day boat scallops & ahi tuna tacos. 2 small plates makes for a perfect small portion dinner for one person. 3 plates would probably be equal to a normal dinner portion. But if you're that hungry, you might as well save money and order one of the larger entrees. Scallops (four 1.75"-2" pieces) had a good texture and probably would have had a nice crust if eaten at the restaurant. It came with a delicious savory sauce; with hints of sage and citrus, not overpowered by horseradish noted on menu description. The ahi tacos had about 3-4 pieces of seared (not blackened) ahi, a good portion of the center was nice and rare. I am usually not a fan of slaw, but the Asian slaw in the tacos was not oozing with mayo... actually the wasabi cream sauce (again, not overly open-up-your-sinuses horseradishy at all) balanced well with the mae ploy chili sauce. Even after 15 minutes steaming in the takeout container, the tortillas were crisp, not mushy & floppy. Used some of the tortilla to soak up the rest of the scallop's sauce. Delicious! I'd come to Scollay Square again and maybe next time, eat at the restaurant to watch Monday Night Football at the bar!
(4)
Kayla C.
Never had better service. Absolutely amazing. The host was so nice. Came on marathon weekend and were seated immediately. We sat at a high top and the host stopped by during our meal to make sure our seat was okay. The food was very good. We just got a salad, burger and fish and chips (bar menu) but seriously if you only come here for the service alone you'll be happy.
(5)
Lily S.
Came here for a work dinner of about 20-22 people visiting from the UK and Sweden. We had one server. One. One person taking drinks. One person taking food orders. By the time I got my food, It was cold. I can only assume that pretty much everyone else had cold food as well since my dining companions were raised with manners and waited to eat only once everyone had a plate in front of them. I literally had to ASK for bread. What an effing embarrassment.
(2)
Julia M.
Scollay Square is one of my favorite spots in Boston, because it is one of those rare places that is great for all three meals. I have been to Scollay Square on quite a few different occasions for brunch, lunch, & dinner, & I have yet to receive a meal with which I was unpleased. In addition to their consistently good food, the service is also friendly & generally quick. If you come for brunch on the weekend, you might find service to be a tad slow, but that is simply due to the fact that Scollay Square tends to be very busy then. Its location near Boston Commons also makes it very easy to reach -- you can take the T to Park Street & walk. Tidbits: -They recently redid the menu & added new items. -The food is very reasonably priced, with dinner entrees ranging from $11 to $23. -Recommendation for brunch: crab cake benedict ($12) -Recommendation for lunch: lobster mac & cheese (market) -Recommendation for dinner: fish & chips ($14.50); broiled scallops ($16.50)
(4)
Rachel M.
We went in at a weird time, so it was pretty dead but the bartender was still SUPER friendly and attentive. We only went for a snack, so we ordered a few apps and they were DELISH. Dayboat scallops, Kobe beef meatballs, and ahi tuna (which came on little rice cake and was stacked with seaweed salad). I could have eaten them all over again!
(5)
Joanne L.
The service was amazing. Such friendly staff. Went there on a weekday evening with three others. We only ordered appetizers and desserts although we sat at a table instead of the bar but the waiter did not judge us one bit. Food was good, prices were reasonable. Would return to have an actual meal some time.
(4)
Shari M.
While the food was decently priced it was incredibly bland. The fish and chips had no flavor and the roasted beet salad was underwhelming. We got the creme brule for dessert and it was gross.
(2)
Alex S.
Came here for dinner and of course had to order the featured dish, the rare seared tuna. The tuna was probably an 8 or 9 out of 10 as far as a seared tuna at a nice restaurant goes. The wasabi mashed side was amazing. However the restaurant can get slightly loud, even when almost empty. The atmosphere is decent, but leaves something to be desired. Happy with my experience, but will probably choose other local places in the future.
(4)
Anny G.
Lovely restaurant! Very cute restaurant/bar with a beautiful outdoor patio. Service was a little slow but the bus girl made up for what the server couldn't get to (it was very busy). The server was very professional and polite. She knew the menu well. The manager stopped to make sure everything was okay with our table twice. The cheeseburger sliders and pasta with butter and parmesan were both big hits with my kids. The chicken with risotto was great and the two really complimented one another. My miso salmon was superb. Everything was cooked perfectly and somehow all came out together, too! We will definitely be going back.
This is a good place for a decent lunch during your work week. The salad I had (grilled pear) was good, except I would have liked a more ripe pear. My friends had the veggie stir fry and the ceasar salad with steak tips. No one was really disappointed, I just wasn't thrilled either.
(3)
Janet K.
We went here for my husband's birthday last year and had a blast! Our dinner was amazing and they remembered my request to bring out his birthday dessert. They also have a cool bar area and overall atmosphere is classy/romantic.
(5)
Erica R.
A friend and I tried out the brunch this past weekend. I think we might have even been the first people in the door right after 10am. We were seated quickly and our server was friendly enough. There were a couple times we were wondering if maybe he had forgotten about us while tending to other tables or whatnot (especially as we were waiting for the check), but nothing too bad. I opted for the "RICE CRISPIE COATED FRENCH TOAST........10.5" and my friend went for the "EGGS BENEDICT..........................................Â. 10" (details from the menu PDF). I'm not entirely sure how the Eggs Benedict were, though everything looked to be prepared well; that said, I have to admit that my Rice Crispie Coated French Toast was a little crispier/thinner than expected (which really just meant smothering them a bit more with the maple syrup, to get rid of any dryness)...though the hint of lemon-y flavor that I tasted in the slices was nice. All in all, a nice experience...but probably not a place I would run back to. Perhaps I'll go back to try the dinner menu sometime, but there are plenty of other places in Boston I'd like to try beforehand.
(3)
Chelsea W.
Dissapointed in both the food and service. The waiter was very hard to get ahold of and it was surprising because the restaurant was only half full. Ordered the Crab Cake Eggs Benedict - left a very bitter aftertaste fir some reason. Presentation of the dishes for brunch weren't great and portions were smaller than expected. Would not come back.
(2)
Julia E.
I've come here twice recently, once for a date night and another time for a friend's birthday brunch. Both times I was really impressed with the service and food. The make-your-own Bloody Mary bar at brunch is the best idea ever, and the blueberry pancakes & breakfast sandwich were equally impressive. I should also mention that the sangria is awesome. On both visits, I was amazed by Scollay Square's warm ambiance and attentive staff. I will be back!
(5)
Kareem S.
Uh. Yeah. 5 stars. FRESH fish, great staff, knowledge of the tap beers. I'm coming back tomorrow.
(5)
Jenny H.
Great food, great ambience. A solid place to eat in Boston. Their scallops with risotto were AMAZING- wow, perfectly sweet and caramelized crispy on the outside on top of a creamy risotto and greens. Some of the best scallops I've had. I liked the scallops better than my dish, which was pretty good too. Ahi tuna steak seared, two pieces on top of wasabi mashed potatoes (this was really spicy but added a good element to the dish) with greens, the chili sauce and sesame oil were KEY to give this dish some good flavor. My friend's shrimp pasta dish was really good too, a good, zesty, cheesey tomato sauce with generous pieces of fresh shrimp. We got their mac and cheese as an appetizer with truffle oil and prosciutto, I liked how the prosciutto was really chunky and it was corkscrew pasta. Not oven-baked but tossed in the cheese sauce with toasted breadcrumbs on top. Very good place.
(4)
Audrea Rachelle G.
We had cocktails & the sliders. Patio is nice - beautiful area!
(4)
Danielle K.
Erm. Um. Eh. Meh. My boyfriend and I had come here while on a weekend visit to Boston and we expected to eat a dish with a burst of flavors because of all the reviews we had read. But alas, this is where I must say Scollay Square got nothing on New York restaurants. The dish was prepared nicely and the scallops I had ordered were cooked well but the flavors were just off. After the first bite, I was just over it. So again, I'm just going to have to say Erm. Um. Eh. Meh.
(2)
Donovan W.
Went here back in the spring with some friends. We all loved the lobster mac. The blackened scallops were prepared well and quite tasty. Don't remember what else but everyone was happily satisfied with their orders. Presentation was nice and prices were reasonable enough for some good quality seafood. Service was a little slow but our waitress was pleasant. -April 2014
(5)
Angelica T.
Before making my trip to Boston, I always read about the Lobster rolls that the city is famous for. Now, after having dinner at Legal Seafoods (yummy), I didn't wanna go to the same place for a Lobster roll. My gf and I were gonna go on the Freedom Trail tour, so I found this place after some researching on yelp. They do serve brunch, but since we were set on having Lobster rolls we passed on that. Had a mimosa to start, so that was good too. As for the lobster roll, OMG! So meaty and not overwhelmed with mayo! I'm pretty sure I almost died at the first bite, but as you can see I survived, as I am writing this review. Okay it may just be me, but why do all fried foods in Boston taste so damn good? The fries that came with the roll were seriously addicting and usually I don't even care for fries. Anywho, this place would've gotten 5 stars if our server took care of our check the right way. It wasn't too big of a deal, but it didn't help he was rushing when he took our orders (not a busy morning either). Great food nonetheless.
(4)
Ryan M.
Scollay Square is a great place to visit if you are looking for a delicious sit down meal near Park Street. This is a frequent stop for my work team due to it's close proximity to our office, friendly staff, and fantastic food. I would have to say that the fish and chips here are some of the best around and would highly recommend them. The waitstaff was very friendly and didn't intrude too much as we discussed a couple projects that we working on. Food came quickly and exact to our specifications. If you are looking to visit a lunch spot with a great atmosphere, outdoor porch, and convenient location then make a stop at Scollay Square for lunch.
(4)
Lakshman S.
I really don't get the hype. Terrible service. Rude waiter. Drinks took forever. Mediocre food.
(1)
Joelle K.
I enjoyed a yummy brunch at Scollay Square with my in-laws and husband. The dining environment is very nice. We would have eaten outside if the weather had been better. I had a delicious omelet and hash browns. I would like to go back for dinner as the menu looks great and I'm sure the food will be just as good as our brunch was!
(4)
Zee R.
We loved this place! They have a great cocktail menu and the food is amazing. The prices are reasonable and the service is attentive but not overbearing. We had small plates and Martinis. It's was located in beacon hill so there are big buildings around you not much of a view of the park. We sat outside on the patio. We would go back to try the other food items.
(5)
Nigel K.
Yelp found this place when barking crab and hook&co were close. Needed something seafoodie for my cousin and this showed pretty good review. The chef was kind enough to make us a lobster roll that is usually served firing lunch hours. Had blackened day boat scallops for starters and they were both amazing. Scallops were soft and juicy with the right amount of horseradish for spiciness. I saw many others digging in to wholesome fishes but I had to let my cousin try his first lobster roll. Lobster was equally as good though you can't go wrong with it so long as the meat is pretty fresh. Perfect setting for a,date or just hang out at the bar on game days.
(4)
Paula F.
Food was amazing. Their cookie ice cream sandwich was no longer on the menu, but they made it for us anyway, even baked a fresh cookie! I highly recommend this place. Lovely staff as well.
(5)
Gia A.
Came here for brunch on my last day in Boston. It's close to Boston Commons. I ordered the Crab Cake Eggs Benedict. It comes with mini hash browns and greens. Everything was very tasty.
(4)
William K.
This is a great lunch spot! My fish and chips was as good as I've ever had... lighter than a feather. And Holly was very reluctant to share her yummy lobster roll... but she did. The service was great. The atmosphere was probably a bit stuffy, but no biggie. Pretty easy 4 bill-stars. yow, bill
(4)
Phil O.
Impeccable service, and everything was reasonably priced. I had a specialty mixed drink that involved bourbon and ginger, which was great. And the Filet Mignon of Tuna was light and delicious. I want to go back to this place soon!
(5)
Susan Z.
Came for dinner. I was impressed by the salad they threw together for me when I said the mac and cheese made me want vegetables. The lobster mac and cheese was fine, but it was on the liquid-y cheese side, whereas I like my mac and cheese to be a little more solid. Fiance got a burger, which he describes as "okay." The servers were very friendly, though, and offered to take our luggage to the back so they wouldn't take up space and I appreciated that. From reading the other yelp reviews it seems we should have come for brunch instead.
(3)
Patty G.
This restaurant was close to our hotel and we decided to stop here for brunch before our flight back home. The doors opened at 10 AM and we were one of the first in but there were already people waiting to be sat. We were sat right away and service was very timely. Our server was very prompt and helpful. I ordered the Eggs Benedict and my hubby ordered the Turkey Sandwich. We were both very happy with our food. My EB were good and came with a side of yummy hash browns. The coffee was good and the server even made a new pot when I told him my second cup tasted over roasted. Very good service. I would recommend for brunch!
(4)
Naveen K.
As per popular suggestion I ordered rare tuna and boy was it delicious. It dint feel like uncooked fish at all. And the seasoning was just perfect. I am sure anybody who loves Indian spices (not spicy) are in for a delight. I wish I could go there again and try the other popular suggestion - fish and chips.
(5)
Bill T.
What a disappointment! I haven't been to Scollay Square for quite a while but remembered it as pretty good from when my girlfriend and I had dinner there. So this past Monday, I recommended the restaurant to some colleagues while we were in Boston for a business meeting. Unfortunately, my coworkers and I went in for dinner and the food was terrible. The appetizers are the only thing keeping this from being a one-star review. They were decent, but nothing better than the apps you can order at Applebee's. Nothing memorable. Four people in our party ordered the steak and it was an embarrassment. We all ordered our steaks medium rare but were given grayish, tough steaks with no flavor. The waitress then informed us that the kitchen had run out of baked potatoes and one of us wouldn't get one. No big deal, I asked for spinach instead. It was steamed but flavorless. The roasted asparagus was overcooked and the red onion jam was an afterthought at best. My colleagues remarked at how terrible their entrees were and I was embarrassed for ever recommending this place. Management at Scollay Square should apologize for serving food this bad.
(2)
Meg W.
All around it was a very mediocre experience. I had a very bad overdressed kale salad- instead of massaging the kale which is standard they cut it very small and added cold corn and a ton of cheese. Another person had a tomato soup that was both the flavor and texture of marinara sauce. The Kobe sliders were ok. Another diner had a salad with salmon- the salmon was decent but again they butchered the mixed greens. The waitress was nice...
(2)
Mike B.
Macaroni and cheese was excellent as was the shrimp po-boy. Brilliant in the words of my 7 year old son.
(4)
Melanie P.
Came here on a Saturday late afternoon with my brother. The service was top-notch, our server was really nice and attentive, and had great suggestions from the menu. The food was standard, I got the fish and chips and my brother got the Po Boy. It hit the spot for a hungover Saturday lunch, but I can't see it was groundbreaking. With that said, it's a comfortable, classic New England pub where I'm sure it would be a lot of fun to watch a game.
(3)
Caitlin M.
I went here with my husband for my birthday on Friday. Service was not very good. We were seated for about 10 minutes before a waiter came to us. The food was excellent, and the prices were good. Someone who cares more about service would probably have given this place 3 stars, but quality of food and price matter most to me.
(4)
Daniel T.
Small seating area but open kitchen so you can see in. Food is good as well at the service. Very dimly light. Service is friendly full bar. Wait can be kind of long after work hours. Wait staff can be iffy on some nights.
(3)
Lindsay Q.
This was an excellent yelp find. It was affordable and everything we had was delicious. Scallops were cooked perfectly and the lobster Mac and cheese had huge chunks of lobster in it. So tasty. The waiter recommended the bread pudding and the peanut butter mousse desserts and we had both and were very happy with both.
(5)
Shuja D.
Great lunch here, we ordered burrito and lobster roll both were amazing and priced very well in the $12-16 range. Nice outside seating. Will definitely be coming here again.
(4)
Martin V.
OK, maybe it was an off night. We came here on a beautiful summer's night on the strength of the Yelp reviews. Wow, what a disappointment! I will admit, it was probably a 2 star, but I'm only giving it 1 because of all the other reviews that I assume are inflated. Someone below raved about the scallops. Overcooked, and therefore rubbery. They were supposed to be served with a horseradish marmalade, which was intriguing. Does a plate of grease count as a marmalade? No hint of horseradish anywhere. I ordered a pretty pricey $20 "full glass" of Pinot (no way was it the 10 oz the bar menu said). It was spoiled, probably from not being properly corked. They replaced it, but still... I chose the Flatiron Steak for my entree because that's usually a pretty tasty cut, although it can be a bit tough if it isn't cut right. It wasn't tough, but it wasn't tasty. In fact, it was devoid of taste. And it was cold. My wife ordered the Ahi Tuna Napoleon. The rice cake the tuna was served on was apparently too hot, so it cooked the minced tuna. She barely touched it. My wife also reported that the bathrooms were not only absolutely stomach-turningly filthy, but you had to walk through a kitchen prep area to get to them. Hey, Carlos, probably not a good idea to be swearing like a sailor when a female customer is walking through. Even my teenaged son commented about how they kept taking plates away without first checking to see if we were finished. Not that they needed to rush us and turn the tables over - it was completely empty by 8:30 on a beautiful July Friday night! Positives? My cocktail was very good. The cheeseboard, I thought, was strong, although two of the three cheeses were similar and it needed more spreadable relishes or a mustard. The Lobster Mac 'n' Cheese was apparently good, although at $27, that's a bit pricey for a few chunks of lobster. This is Boston, lobster's pretty plentiful and therefore cheap. Sorry, we won't be back. Maybe it's better for brunch or lunch.
(1)
Denise L.
Disappointing dinner. Waited a long time to get service. Waitress was friendly, but incredibly slow. Haddock was over cooked and soaked in butter. Spinach was dripping in bad tasting olive oil and vegetables were overcooked and bland. Mixed green salad was wilted with soggy caramelized nuts. Overall disappointing bland meal.
(2)
Addie F.
Went for Brunch. I was with a large group and we were the first customers of the day. The waitress we had was very diligent about refilling our water... that's basically where the "service" ended. Drinks came 20-30 minutes after we ordered. All of the food came out at different times - half of our group was served hour after we ordered and the remaining people in the group about 1 hr and 10-15 minutes. Other tables came and went while we waited for our food. The manager (maybe?) informed us that the kitchen was backed up - which is valid, however its a brunch crew, not every dish is made to order - it was inexcusable. When the food FINALLY came out - it was terrible. I ordered scrambled eggs, "home fries", sausage and an english muffin. The eggs were burned and dry, they were actually crunchy. The sausage was also burned and incredibly dry. The english muffin tasted like it had been in the kitchen for several weeks - it was incredibly stale, and the "home fries" were actually hashbrown patties which weren't bad, but I have tasted better from Dunkin Donuts. I would not recommend this establishment unless you like to wait hours to eat bland, overcooked, yet still cold, food.
(1)
Zhicao F.
A not-so pricey place for some American food and beer. But the cocktail we ordered (rosemary baby) did not live up to our standards, and the beer list was limited in the dining area.
(3)
Roger J.
Lobster risotto was fantastic. Swordfish was a close second. Would definitely eat here again. Not too busy for a Saturday night and dress was casual. Noise level was perfect.
(4)
Couldbe A.
Has some gluten free entree options and a casual cool atmosphere. Nice waitstaff, good bar and a pleasant vibe.
(4)
Megan M.
Visited Scollay Square on a Monday and had a lovely dinner. The decor is nice, with the big high ceilings, but I wasn't a huge fan of the tables, they look better suited for a pub atmosphere. They had some excellent choices on the drink menu to start. The food menu is interesting, in a good way. We started with the arancini, which were very good. I had the salmon with the lobster mash pototoes. Arancini to start, salmon with sort of an asian fusion glaze- and paired with lobster mash? Like I said, interesting menu, but it worked. Everything was tasty. Nice option for a fairly priced dinner after work if you are downtown.
(4)
Matt C.
Very friendly staff, great drinks and good food. They saved our night after a near by Italian restaurant treated us horribly. I would absolutely return.
(4)
Katrina B.
This is a go-to place for lunch for my nearby officemates but I can't really understand why. Food is fine but nothing special, definitely overpriced, and the menu seriously never changes. I think it has been the same since I started working in the neighborhood 7 years ago. Much better options at the bottom of Beacon Hill (either Charles or Cambridge St) for the money you'll spend.
(2)
Tom M.
Was in town for a conference. We ordered basically all the sliders on the menu. We had a great waitress, Natalia, who let us order custom drinks and all kinds of random changes. Next time I'm going to get the chicken piccata special. Eric was also in a great mood. I'll be back for sure. Twitter - @tmcleod3 Instagram - @tmcleod
(5)
Dan A.
I stopped in before meeting a few friends for drinks on a Friday evening. It was my first visit to Boston, and I stumbled in after a quick Yelp search for anything that looked good in the few square blocks just north of the Common. I don't care to comment on the ambience and clientele bc I honestly just don't care about these things when I'm flying in solo and just want some good food and a drink. Being that it was just me, I grabbed a seat at the bar inside. I knew I had to go with seafood... I'm originally from AZ and have transplanted to Chicago, so fresh and local seafood are hard to come by and I wasn't going to waste the opportunity. I started with a beer and the scallops appetizer. The bartender was an aloof but pleasant guy. I asked for his recommendation to decide between the swordfish and the tuna filet. Without hesitation he suggested the filet. I'm by no means a foodie and it's difficult to disappoint my easy-going and indiscriminating palate, but I've eaten at many of the 'bests' of AZ and Chicago and it's rare that a dish just blows me away. It's two months later now and I still find myself looking for a similar dish on every menu, and I'm tempted to try and replicate the dish in my own kitchen. Just a fantastic dish... The filet was perfectly cooked and the flavors of the wasabi potatoes coupled with the sweet tang of the teriyaki on the fish and spinach... Just great! I've always been a fan of horseradish and wasabi kicks. If you can say the same of yourself then I strongly recommend that you stop in and order the rare tuna filet.
(5)
Jessica H.
I've only been here for brunch, but it is AWESOME! They have a make your own bloody mary bar that has literally everything you could think of. Celery, large variety of hot sauces, olives, asparagus, the list goes on! Not to mention they give you a healthy serving of vodka too :) They also have $4 mimosas. The food was delicious. Half of our party opted for breakfast and the other half for lunch. Both were delicious. The staff was super friendly too! We had to switch tables (we were in a big party) and they brought us out dessert as a surprise at the end! Totally not necessary but completely welcomed! Loved this place. Convenient location right in Beacon Hill, and they're open on Saturday for brunch - which is rare!
(4)
Theodore Y.
My buddy raves about their pancakes but they just weren't my style. I think they mix lemon juice into their batter which added a kick to the pancakes which I did not appreciate. They're called "Strawberry Buttermilk Pancakes" came with ONE strawberry sliced into many small pieces. Cheap much? If I'm paying 9 bucks for pancakes, they better be off the field good. They were not. What was redeeming? The hashbrowns were delicious. Our waiter got us what we needed, but according to his schedule. Finally decided to chat us up when time for the bill came. Not again.
(2)
Christine P.
My friends and I were referred here by a local hotel and were told it was a hidden gem. We think they were totally right! We started with some drinks. My friends all opted for the sangria, which they liked, and I ordered the pear martini. It was fantastic! It tasted of fresh pear rather than the fake pear flavoring you mostly find. It was delicious, refreshing, and one of the best cocktails I've had in a while! We also ordered guacamole as an app and it was good. Not mind blowing, but definitely good. For entrees our table ordered scallops and risotto (very good), thai chicken and vegetables (again, very good) and steak tips (excellent). I loved that all the veggies were cooked perfectly and still maintained a bit of a snap. We tasted each other's meals and liked everything. We were all a big fan of the steak tip marande. It was really good! For dessert we ordered the chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches, which were incredible. Sadly, they give you this little cup filled with what you think will be hot fudge, but it's hershey's syrup. So disapointing. I would say leave that cup off or add some real hot fudge. That would have been awesome. Overall it was a solid meal and we enjoyed it all. There was not one miss that night. We would definitely come here again if we were in the area. Two thumbs up.
(4)
Mark R.
Creme brulee was AMAZING!!!
(5)
Bill M.
This place is the most consistent as far as variety , service and quality huge fan of this place for lunch. Never had a bad meal.
(4)
Clint P.
Very slow and inattentive service. Below average food. Nothing special here.
(2)
Jakub W.
Wife had the Fish & Chips and the float while I had the Lobster mac & cheese and a Ginger britton. All of it was nothing short of some of the better food and drinks combo we've had in a while. The lobster was well portioned and the drinks weren't something you'd easily make at home making this a great spot to eat at. To top it all off, we took the odd 2-5pm weekend break when it's neither brunch nor dinner and got a great seat and first class service. Highly recommended.
(5)
Amy C.
This place still left a bad taste in my mouth so this will be short and to the point: don't come here; it's overpriced and you would need to eat twice as much because the plate look pretty but lack substance. The service sucks; I believe I had 0 refills the entire time I was there. For how many restaurants there are in Boston, this is at the bottom of the barrel for me.
(1)
Vic M.
Pretty bad. Understaffed (substantially), not a bad space though, drinks were ok. Had an awful lamb burger here...definitely avoid that at all costs. Just lackluster all around. Much better options nearby...try silvertone, curleys, etc skip this place.
(2)
Brandon N.
Went for my birthday with three of my friends. It was around 8:30pm on a chilly Thursday night so when we arrived there were plenty of open tables and we were seated right away. The server had the time to focus on only a couple of tables so I think that worked out to our advantage. Our server was friendly and attentive at just the right times without being overly intrusive or insisting on awkward small talk every time he came by, just the service I like. There were some minor hiccups but the server handled it like a pro. Since it was a celebratory dinner, we decided to start by ordering a bottle of one of three champagne options. The server quickly returned to inform us that they did not have it so we went with the next one on the list. The server returned quickly again informing us that had just sold the last of that bottle the day before and that he had found a bottle of the champagne we originally ordered but it had to be chilled since it was warm. I have worked as a server before, so I tend to be rather forgiving when minor situations arise, as long as the server works to make it right. We took it in stride and each ordered a cocktail to drink while the champagne was being chilled, as well as our dinner order. I didn't pay too much attention to the time as we were having good conversation, but the wait did not seem any longer than average. After getting our meals, the champagne came out. The server apologized for the minor mix-up by saying "The champagne is on the house, Happy Birthday!". I hadn't mentioned it was my birthday since I didn't expect special treatment, but he had noticed on my ID and made sure that I wasn't disappointed. Way to go server, we were impressed. Overall the food was delicious, atmosphere just right (casual and affordable, but not divey), and the service happened to be excellent that night. I look forward to returning in the summer when the patio opens.
(5)
Luis V.
Saturday brunch was phenomenal! Try the short rib breakfast burrito, you will not be disappointed! I've never had a breakfast burrito before. There was the right balance and portioning of juicy short rib with scrambled eggs. The flour tortilla was slightly grilled and tasted very light, but strong enough to keep it breaking apart in my hands. The guacamole, tomatoes and sour cream brought it all together. Can't wait to having it again soon!
(5)
Aaron K.
Really great eggs benedict plate. Came here for brunch over the fall after spending the morning in the common/public garden and walking around beacon hill. This place did not disappoint food wise. Eggs benedict was perfect with what seemed like a homemade hollandaise. Their hash browns are killer! It also came with a small side salad with a nice light lemon dressing. 10$ in this location for this food was a steal. Love it and would come back next time I'm in the area. Fiance's french toast left a little to be desired as the bread was a little flat (I like thick bread personally). Service was a miss as we had to flag down our waitress to place our order. Then a server brought me the wrong benedict (they brought me lobster and I had ordered traditional). They gave mine to someone else. I didn't eat anything off my plate and they brought it to the customer that ordered it. Mine was already dug into and they made me a new plate.....I ended up eating after my fiance had already finished. No comps for the mistake and I was pretty peeved, but the food still won me over in the end. I will go back and up this rating if the service improves. If you make a huge screw up like this you should offer some type of comp for the inconvenience.
(3)
Ginnie C.
I intended a moderate sized group of friends to go out for dinner before we ventured out for drinks. I didn't want a place that would be ridiculously expensive, but have great reviews on yelp. I happened upon Scollay Square during my search. By the time I was ready to book my reservations, my group had grown from 10 ppl to 18 ppl. Scollay was able to accomodate my request. Maybe booking a 8pm dinner had something to do with it? When I got there, the table was ready for us. The manager Chris greeted us right away and was very pleasant. "Anything we needed, don't hesitate to ask. " he said. A couple times during the meal, he checked to make sure everything was good. Yes it was! Thanks for asking! We had shared a couple appetizers. The guacamole dip was decent. Not the best I've had, but not the worst either. We also got the edadame apps which had a nice flavor to it. Sesame seeds sprinkled on top with teriyaki sauce to give the exterior extra flavor while you get the bean out. I order the Tuna Burger. It was delicous. Had a good amount of flavor to it. My fiance ordered the Buffalo Mac n Cheese, which I also picked on here and there. Another friend also took several bites of it. We both agreed that it was tasty. NOTE: I wasn't a fan of the server and here's why. My friend ordered the Prosecco. The waiter told her that they were all out and asked if she wanted a drink that was comparable to it. She said yes. Got the drink and drank it. It wasn't until we received the bill, when we noticed the price of the drink the waiter recommended. Prosecco is $8/glass. The drink he suggest was $16/glass. Understand that she should've asked the price difference, but I think the waiter was very misleading in this situation. I would take marks off the restaurant rating for the waiters poor way of handing the above situation, but the food was good and the rest of the staff was great... so I'm letting it go this time. But I think that this is just a good warning to anyone not only going to Scollay, but any other establishment. Make sure you ask for the price if the waiter is making a suggestion to you. They may not always have your best interest in mind. They may just want to raise the bill. NOTE #2: This place doesn't add automatic 20% gratuity for large parties. So be sure to tip accordingly. Most places do add the tip to the bill, but this place didn't for our bill. Thanks for reading!
(4)
Katerina K.
Fish and chips - yes!!! Kobe sliders - yes!!! Great quick lunch stop!! Seating inside and outside. Draft beer selection.
(4)
Michelle R.
This place has great, affordable food. Wide variety of options from steak tips to scallops to tuna to burgers, all well-executed. Came here with a large group, and everything we ordered was delicious. Would especially recommend the rare tuna filet -- it comes with wasabi mashed potatoes which are sooo good. The lobster mac n cheese and steak tips are solid as well. For dessert we tried the red velvet cake which was very rich and can definitely feed 2-3. Each entree is under $20 which is a super good deal for the quality.
(4)
T F.
Great food...I had the hanger steak and my husband had the haddock. The haddock was a little plain but still tasty. Hanger steak was delicious. Service was amazing, which was surprising after reading all the reviews. Our waiter, Seth, was very helpful and attentive :)
(4)
Mark J.
A few years ago, Scollay Square was setup as semi-formal traditional American restaurant with a reputation for a simple and delicious menu. The restaurant has remained true to the philosophy behind the menu (i.e., doing standard American dishes like seared Ahi Tuna, Steak, Scallops, etc. very well), but the interior, like so many traditional Boston restaurants, has undergone a transformation to a more casual setting that I'd say is more reminiscent of upscale pub seating (the open kitchen remains the same). The open kitchen and photos of old Scollay Square remain. If you don't mind the trend toward casual dining that's forever altered traditional restaurants like Oak Room, then this shouldn't matter. Truthfully, Scollay Square is also one of the few downtown traditional American restaurants where one can have a tasty, gourmet entree for around $20. The overall "value" cannot be denied. More concerning is the decline in service. At the start of the evening, the wait staff was sporadically attentive and occasionally difficult to reach. However, this was not the worst of it. The group I was with was appalled that the wait staff did not offer water at the outset, did not place water glasses or plates directly in front of us, and did not serve us our wine. Instead, they placed everything at the edge of the table as if expecting us to arrange everything for ourselves. The laziness was so bad that we literally had to use kaizen principles to elicit decent service (i.e., by strewing objects at the end of the table to force the wait staff to place our dishes where they belong). All things considered, Scollay is definitely a great choice for a reasonably priced, delicious meal with colleagues or friends in a casual setting.
(3)
Pen R.
there is a super good place. the food is really really good. I just a traveler who come form NY, I really wanna take the food back to NY. If i go to Boston again i will try there again. by the way. the staff is awesome tooooo. im Chinese with super bad English skill but they r very nice and painted. 4.5stars for food, 5 stars for staff and 4 stars for the environment.
(5)
Bon W.
From NYC point of view. Had brunch. Mimosas cant go wrong $4/ pop. Egg white omelette soaked in grease. Menu said lemon dressing on salad but taste like balsamic. Hash brown are overfried rocks. Lobster mac n cheese out of krafts mac n cheese box. Tourist trap. Skip it.
(2)
Michelle W.
I came here for a quick lunch while I was taking a course at Mass Gen the other week and was happy with my Lobster roll. I sat at the bar to eat and the food was there by the time I returned from the restroom. There were huge perfect chunks of lobster in my sandwich, so fresh and perfectly cook. Not tough or chewy at all. SO good! I kind of wish the roll it was on was not grilled though, I think I would have preferred it plain. The bartender was nice, but thought it was kind of annoying that she was texting at the bar. Not that I needed anything, just doesn't scream class when your staff is on their phones on the clock...
(3)
Jessica S.
Easter Brunch. Let's discuss. Very nice staff. I like the decor of the place. Good, dark coffee is a must for me and they nailed it. Even the decaf was good. We both got the eggs benedict. I like that they offer salad with their breakfasts, gives it a good balance. Love the crispy hash browns. Overall the food was good enough to go back. Some minor negatives. The special holiday brunch menu was not very well thought out or desirable and we were told we could not order off the regular brunch menu, which was the only reason we even wanted to try this place. We considered going elsewhere but we already had a reservation. We asked someone else and they said we could get a regular benedict instead of a lobster benedict, which worked out because that's what we both wanted anyway. They also only posted the special brunch menu the day before when most places do it at least a week in advance and also let you order off both menus. My friend didn't think the bathroom was nice, sufficient at best. Also, it's bizarre that they have a nice pepper grinder and a bottle of San Pellegrino on the table but then have a big plastic container of grocery store salt there instead of a nice shaker or grinder. Just one of those common sense things that bugs me.
(4)
Amu N.
Good food taste :-) Great hospitality. :-) Very few veg items on menu:-( Great location. :-)
(4)
Debbie B.
A perfect spot on Beacon street to sit outside and people watch. Our service was a bit slow but perked up when we thought he forgot about us. I had a delicious grapefruit vodka,champagne cocktail. My lunch was a very well made chipotle BBQ chicken salad. Wow!! Great flavors. I chose a vinaigrette instead of the ranch dressing. Worked well. Hubby had a well made grey goose and tonic. Refreshing! He ordered the Mediterranean salad w/grilled shrimp. Ample portions. We would and maybe will come back tomorrow. Sunday brunch looks very promising!! p.s. we went back for brunch on Sunday. Perfect!!
(4)
courtney k.
Yelp nation was right again! Fish and chips were great... we have 2 kids under 2 and the ladies here were happy to serve them :) p.s. try the antioxidant martini it's a winner
(4)
E. A.
A great option when you want to eat somewhere a little nicer than Silvertone, but not as nice as Mooo. Yay: Tasty tasty food. Very well executed. Varied menu Decent prices, even on drinks Casual atmosphere Great service Nay: The open kitchen feels a little too open, too close to the dining tables. The place has that "fish 'n' chips" smell characteristic of un-ventilated restaurants. But, some people probably dig that, and it wouldn't keep me from returning because the Yays clearly outweigh the Nays here.
(4)
Alicia S.
Boston restaurant search at 3pm on a cloudy Sunday afternoon. Beacon Hill, $-$$, American (Traditional), Open Now Result: Scollay Square. We walked into the joint at 4pm (still considered lunch) and took a seat. One Boston Lager later we had the Goat Cheese appetizer & Lobster Mac and Cheese in front of us. Hello! The Goat Cheese Appetizer was a tasty little delight (see Laura J.'s review for the description that convinced my sister to order it. Yum...thank ya lady!) but we needed more bread! Not a problem, more was grilled up & brought to us right away. We split the Lobster M&C which was just fine for the portion size and it being lunch. The lobster pieces are small but that's fine because they're in every bite! Curly noodles, cheesy-cheese and a creamy drippy mess of delish...just what the doctor ordered.
(4)
Marilyn T.
I think the first time I heard about Scollay Square may have been on (dare I say) phantom gourmet a long time ago? It was if chow hound... Anyway, this hidden place in Beacon Hill is worth the trek. It's a small place, so make a reservation on their website (no Open Table). I love the more modern cocktails they have. The sparkling pink grapefruit was my favorite - grapefruit vodka, sparkling wine, a splash of ruby red grapefruit juice. The lemon one is good, too, but sweeter. They also have beers on tap, including Stella. The main entrees seemed like a lot of one thing, so we went with a lot of small dishes... - Blackened scallops: $11.50 for 5 diver scallops, blackened with Cajun spices, seared without being burnt, sweet inside. Really good value. - Onion soup: sweet caramelized onion beef broth, well seasoned but not too salty, gruyere crouton on top, could have been hotter. - Shrimp dumplings: I don't usually get this stuff at American restaurants, but the steamed shrimp dumplings had big chunks of shrimp and were lightly fried on be bottom. The dumpling skin had a nice bite, and the dipping sauce was awesome. - Mac n cheese: add lobster ($16 total) or prosciutto and truffle oil. Actual Mac is cavatelli, al dante, which is rare for mac n cheese. It's appropriately cheesy, and the sauce isn't too wet. Everything really hit the spot after a long walk on a cold winter day. I like the open kitchen and the cozy feel. It's good for a date or for groups, but it's not that big. Everything was priced really reasonably, and it's definitely a Beacon Hill gem!
(4)
Catherine D.
Came here a few weeks ago. Not bad--I had the macaroni and cheese with artichoke hearts and spinach (made it seem slightly healthy?). Portions are a little too big, so I took most of it home. The interior is kind of cute. No strong negatives or positives to say about this place. A good restaurant for when you don't know where else to go for dinner.
(3)
Michael W.
Shrimp Dumplings & Mac N Cheese with Buffalo Chicken. Very good.
(4)
Chris H.
Had lobster mac and cheese and the tuna burger. The burger has seaweed salad on top, which was a nice touch. Both were very good. Comfortable space and friendly staff.
(4)
Melissa F.
My friend and I came here for a hearty breakfast before heading to the Harpoon brewery. I love brunch, mostly because I don't get to have it often, so when I get to it better be damn good or I will be one unhappy customer. Ended up picking Scollay Square and I was so glad I did. Love the decor with the old pictures on the walls. Gives the place a lot of charm. We were seated quickly and placed our order since we were both starving. We both got the Scollay Square Breakfast and ate the whole thing. Their coffee is really good too (strong just how I like it. Had like 3 cups) We didn't try the bloody mary bar since we were going to be drinking beer later, but I definitely will try it next time I go. It was quite an impressive spread with all the different hot sauces and fixings. They have very reasonable prices and you get a lot of food. I'm a fan and will be returning
(4)
Ganee F.
I would now consider us regulars, as we venture up to Scolly Square at least once every two weeks. The food is phenomenal and the prices are great, too. Also can't forget to mention the best brunch menu around (with a make-your-own Bloody Mary bar)!
(5)
Johnny Z.
Lobster roll is great.
(3)
Diana C.
I'm a tad disappointed as I had high hopes based on the reviews. ATMOSPHERE: decor is dated. Definitely not a classy feel - the tv's playing at the bar made me feel like I was in a sports bar. Lot of older folks eating at this restaurant as well. SERVICE: nice waitress/hostess but I agree with another reviewer that they get really annoying after a while because they check in on you every 5 minutes, interrupting the conversations. Also there was one time when another staff member came to clean plates off our table and we said we were still working on some fries - she kinda flipped out. She went to the waitress angrily who was standing behind us and said 'I thought you said they were done!' That made us really uncomfortable. After we paid for the bill, we stayed to chat. There was absolutely no service from them whatsoever even though our cups were empty. I guess that's not a huge deal but I thought it was a little rude. We gave them like a 20% tip so it wasn't like we were stingy. FOOD: it came out really fast which was good! lobster mac and cheese: my friends said they could make it better themselves. very watery and not creamy enough. fish and chips: very good! flaked nicely. very crispy. comes w/ cole slaw and fries. calamari: different kick with the banana peppers, but other than that nothing special scallops: slightly overcooked but really good taste - whatever spices they used it worked.
(3)
Sharon L.
I love Scollay Square. The food is excellent and the atmosphere is fun. The dining experience on the patio in the summer is great. I would highly recommend the buffalo chicken mac & cheese. Scollay's bartender, Brian, is excellent! My favorite drink is a skinny margarita and Brian squeezes fresh limes to make the drink (unlike other bars that use lime juice from a bottle) and it is amazing. If you go to Scollay and Brian is bartending, definitely order a drink, you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Camila P.
Went here with my family on Sunday for brunch. I was planning on getting the eggs benedict but convinced myself to get the Tosta Parma Prosciutto sandwich. My father got the Thai Chicken and Shrimp, and my mother got the Scollay Square Breakfast. Everything tasted great (especially the dressing that they put on the greens) but I regret not getting the Eggs Benedict. The service was great, our waiter always checked back with us to see if everything was okay and made a few jokes. Overall, a positive experience and a great Sunday brunch in Beacon Hill! If I lived in Boston, I would come here more often.
(4)
Donna S.
Kinda hidden between state house and Suffolk university. Excellent scallop dish. Good pear salad. Nice eclectic menu, just the right things to make it interesting. Good service and food.
(4)
Victoria R.
Having been to Scollay Square at least a dozen times and for every meal possible, I can say that is hands down my go-to on Beacon Hill right now. The lunch crowd is always hopping with state house staffers, lobbyists, and a whole host of "who's who" in politics, which can make for some great people watching. The dinner vibe is more casual and relaxed, especially on the weekends. And then, there's brunch.... uh-mazing. Having tried at least half the menu items, I can say without a doubt that the spinach and artichoke mac and cheese is a must-try diet-killer. On the lighter side, the chipotle bbq chicken salad is a great lunch time option, as well as the turkey chutney panini. With a group, the steamed edamame is a wonderful appetizer (although very filling!). And if you're so inclined, be sure to check out the cocktail menu - the detox is a personal favorite, although i always seemed to walk out much more "toxed" than "detoxed".... I digress. Service is always wonderful, and I love that I've seen the same handful of people working every time I visit since I started going about five years ago. If you haven't been yet, you have to try -- you won't be disappointed!
(4)
Andrew J.
I've been coming to Boston for many years and somehow I missed this place, but I am so glad I found it! The atmosphere is pub-like, and quite loud, but the service and the food drowns all of that out. This place may have the best fish and chips I've ever had (and I've sampled a lot). Flaky, not greasy at all, and accompanied by a delicious tartar sauce. If you're in the Beacon Hill area, and even if you're not, you have to come to this place.
(5)
Tiana M.
Everything we tried was so flavorful and masterfully plated! For the first course we ordered the Shrimp Dumplings, steamed with the spicy ponzu sauce. Yum! My boyfriend ordered the Rare Seared Filet Mignon of Tuna (Teriyaki Marinated, Wasabi Restuffed Baked Potato, Crispy Wonton Strips, Sesame, Chili Oil) and it was so so SO good! Luckily he grabbed the last filet, even though I wanted the same! I had the Miso Glazed Salmon Filet (Shaved English Cucumber, Sauteed Spinach, Jasmine Rice) and the salmon was cooked to perfection. The sides for all plates were so tasty too. I was really surprised how delicious everything was. The decor was very cute and the ambiance laid back and warm. Too bad I was so full - I was really craving the Chocolate Chip Cookie Sliders with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. Next time!
(5)
Stacy D.
My boyfriend found this on Yelp when we visited Boston in late February. We went because the prices were reasonable, and the reviews were fantastic. What a great find! We arrived, with a party of five and no reservations at 7:30 on a Saturday night. The hostess was able to seat us right away, which seemed an impossibility. We ordered calamari (served with grape tomatoes, banana peppers and an aioli) and guacamole to start, and both were fantastic. The calamari was the best I've had. The guacamole was also great - very fresh and creamy. Between the five of us, we ordered the fish and chips, seared scallops, seared ahi tuna and french onion soup. Everything was cooked perfectly. The scallops were lightly seared and had a great flavor, accompanied by risotto (creamy but not gooey, as it should be) and spinach. The teriyaki-marinated tuna was served with wasabi mashed potatoes and crispy wonton strips. The tuna was cooked perfectly, and although spicy, had an excellent flavor. The wonton strips provided an interesting texture juxtaposition to the potatoes. The fish and chips, were battered lightly and not greasy. This traditional dish came with french fries and coleslaw, and a scallion leek tartar sauce. My friend said the french onion soup was very good, but that is the one dish I did not try. The service was great and the place has a nice aesthetic - an open kitchen, attractive bar, and a relatively quiet atmosphere (due in part to the adequate spacing between tables) - which is thoughtful, considering it is a small space. I have worked in the food industry and eaten at a multitude of places around the country: many of which I love. This is the first time I have written a review - Scollay Square is that good.
(5)
Brian S.
There's nothing entirely special about this place and was one of the more forgettable meals that my girlfriend and I shared in Boston. She got the scallops and I got the fish a chips.While they were both cooked decently, I think we expected a bit more factoring the price and reviews.
(2)
David K.
Brunch. Steak and eggs: steak a cheap cut, might as well have been steamed for all the sear they got on it. Eggs over medium were a bit beyond that. Hash browns tasty but apparently from the freezer. English muffin served with no jam and just tasted weird. Stuffed French toast: weirdly bitter, served with fake syrup. Really lacking in meaningful flavor. A truly disappointing brunch.
(2)
Andrew R.
Whatever you do, no matter what, any time you're here, day or night, at all hours of the day, regardless of what else is going on either in your life or around you at that moment, never hesitate, not for a second, not for a fraction of a second, never hesitate to order the Miso Salmon. No grammatically error-prone run-on sentence could possibly express that sentiment better.
(4)
Fernando K.
Great for lunch! Fried calamari was the best we've had in Boston. Lobster Benedict was superb. Very well prepared, simple and light Haddock. Highly recommended food. Ambiance was so-so; restaurant also a little dark.
(4)
Mike D.
Went for brunch. The eggs benedict were good. The blueberry french toast was ok and not nearly blueberry enough for me. The bacon, and I don't know how you do this, wasn't good. It was in that no man's land of not being crispy or fatty. They have a good little patio to sit outside when the weather is nice. It certainly wasn't cheap but I think most items were priced fairly.
(3)
Jennifer C.
Super friendly and comfy spot- the food was pretty good. Buffalo chicken dip is to die for if you're not watching calories! The overall feel of the place is pretty chill and the chef is willing to spill a couple secrets when asked. The food is really reasonably priced, but the drinks are a bit overpriced, especially for the limited mixology selections. If you're not a drinker this will be a $$ restaurant- the cocktails step up the bill considerably. Mostly, just loved the staff and would come back in a heartbeat!
(4)
Marcus W.
I would say this is one of the better and more unknown places in Boston. They have a great vibe and a solid staff. You can go for an after work relaxed drink or a nice sit down date. Either way you are going to have a nice time. Their food is quality but not over priced. I recommend their Calamari, their bay scallops and risotto are fantastic but don't bother with their three cupcake dessert dry and not worth it. Their alcohol service is quality ranging from good cocktails to quality wines. The only problem is that their alcohol is a little pricier than i think its worth but not to the point of excess. As long as your not looking for an upscale night this is really the relaxed atmosphere perfect for most people.
(4)
Michael C.
I took two colleagues here for lunch today before running them over to Logan. Once again I was not disappointed by the food. Oven roasted goat with ciabatta cheese in a tomato sauce was fantastic as was the roasted turkey sandwich. Bloody Mary's are spicy but not over the top. My only real complaint was the wait staff that seemed annoyed that we were taking too long despite the fact the place was half empty. This seems to be common complaint by yelpers. Too bad since the food and atmosphere are terrific.
(4)
Dani M.
Love this place! First of all, all the servers are so friendly and polite, that always makes my day. I've been here a few times and the food has always been outstanding! The mac and cheese is a favorite as well as the ahi tuna. I think it's safe to say you'll never be disappointed here. Even the cocktails are fun and delicious! The outdoor seating is a plus in the summer, great people watching. I'm looking forward to going back for brunch, I've heard great things about their bloody mary bar.
(5)
CW W.
I asked my bf to take me somewhere that offered a tasty mac n cheese with lobster meat. He looked up reviews and found this place, sadly it was not good. We were seated promptly and the waitress who served us was very nice and friendly. The place was not that busy when we came in around 6pm on a Saturday but were surprised how long our food took. Our waitress apologized for the delay because she said there was a big party that came in before us but sadly I did not believe her. A table of 6 beside us ordered after us and they got there food first (we both ordered appetizers) and a table they sat down after us, they got there food shortly after we got ours. It just didn't seem right. The decor of this place is very drab and old, it could really use some updating. My bf and I both ordered onion soups and that was good. My bf got the hangar steak special while I got the lobster mac n cheese. The hangar steak special was $25 and for what he got, not worth it at all, way overpriced by at least $8-$10 dollars. There wasn't that much and the taste was bland. My lobster mac n cheese was worse. The macaroni was a little hard still, there wasn't that much lobster meat and barely any cheese. Oh and there were breadcrumbs or something sprinkled on top that were really, really hard not like the crunch I would expect, more like stale. Again this dish was overpriced for what I got at least $3-$5 dollars. We ended the meal splitting a piece of red velvet cake with chocolate ganache which was very sweet and rich but pretty good. A big disappointment for us and we wont be returning. As always try it yourself and never take me word.
(2)
Jen M.
Scollay Square has due good service and beautiful decor. Love the authentic architectural details and memorabilia that matches the name. The food, however, leaves a lot to be desired. Overall, it seemed as if management was cutting corners to save money. What was good was served in such small portions (nobody at our table was a big eater, either) that we were hungry afterward. And what was tasteless or just plain bad was in ample portions -- granted, the bread was free but don't bother! Just one example: Cobb salad -- for $12.50 it should've been entree-size but with a tablespoon of bacon bits (they had to be -- couldn't have been real meat!), no chicken, and very little of everything else, it was skimpy. Oh, except for the dressing. They poured it on to makeup for the lack of ingredients! Nice location and maybe a place to get a drink (they were fine, by the way) but go somewhere else to dine.
(2)
Molly K.
Went out for drinks and apps with a friend last week at Scollay Square...had some delicious drinks (The Absolut Lemonade made of Absolute Citron, St. Germaine, fresh Lemon and Champagne...also known as delicious) with some tasty apps of guac and pulled pork sliders with cole slaw. They also offer outdoor dining in the warm months and a great business lunch! Pictures and more on -- ----
(4)
Lisa P.
Impeccable service. Food was perfectly cooked and seasoned. Portions were good size. Great wine list too! I thoroughly enjoyed my time there.
(5)
Jessie N.
Took my gf here last NYE for dinner and it was great. The ambiance was nice and the food tasted good.
(4)
Eric B.
Where to have lunch near the State House is a good question. There are lots of choice, but one I've overlooked for years was better than average, quite comfortable, and featured an impressive wine list with better than average selections for wines by the glass, which are a great option when you don't want to get totally loaded during the day. This was a business lunch for me so I wanted to be sure I had both sox on and strained to not dip my tie into the salad while chatting and munching. Later I would discover I had left my wallet at home, thus destroying the carefully honed ambiance leading to my client graciously bailing me out by paying (which I immediately repaid by check). We split a lovely Beet Salad with Goat Cheese, which was tasty, though maybe a bit light on the goat cheese and beets. It all could have been in my guest's half - I'll go with that. My out-of-season lobster roll, though, was quite delicious, not heavy on the mayonnaise, but a nice blend of lobster, celery and other spices in a hotdog-like roll. Her tuna burger appeared excellent, a perception that was affirmed by its prompt disappearance between glasses of Pinot Grigio. Ambiance is on the formal side, a warm wooden hue pervades the dining room which features shards of natural light filtering in from Beacon Street. Not a place I would necessarily place in heavy location - but certainly not a restaurant I would shy away from. Parking is available, though a bit pricey, at one of the ubiquitous VPNE lots next door. Don't even think about parking illegally, as my mommy said - you'll be sorry. Try Scollay Square for a bit of variety in your downtown dining repertoire, to me more of a restaurant for a business meet-up than for dinner with my sweetie.
(4)
Jon D.
Nice selection of draft and bottled beers. Friendly bartender. My gf was unimpressed with the white grape martini (basically just vodka and grape juice) but my Tom Collins was very good. Decent wine list. Pan fried shrimp dumplings were excellent. I thought the dipping sauce was unnecessary; they were so good, they didn't need anything. The oven roasted goat cheese was perfect, and I'm not typically a fan of cheese. Fish and chips were a high-quality version of the standard dish. Nothing surprising, nothing weird. Seared day boat scallops were cooked perfectly and served with a very good risotto. Vanilla bean cheesecake was good, as were the chocolate chip cookie ice cream sliders. Nothing to knock your socks off, but a nice finish on a hot day. The original Scollay Square (torn down long ago and built over with the Government Center) was the location of the Howard Theatre, an infamous burlesque house. The decor of the restaurant is reminiscent of that, with old photos of the area, pictures of burlesque dancers, framed tasseled pasties, etc. Quirky but subtle and tasteful, and if you're not looking for it you might not even notice. Good location, nice decor, very good food. Recommended.
(4)
LeAnne L.
Friends and I were staying at the Omni Parker Hotel, and the concierge recommended this place for brunch. This was one of the best brunches I've had in a while. I started with a bacon bloody mary that was well balanced and had a kick without being too spicy. I originally was just going to get the fruit plate, but our server said that I might want more food. The fruit was fresh and amazing, and the bowlful filled me up. I ended up taking my bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich home. Later that day when I was hungry again, I reheated the sandwich and it was SO GOOD. It was very flavorful and satisfying. All-in-all, it was a great visit!
(5)
Andrew D.
Right next door to Mooo, which was one of the best meals of my life so it was a little tough to walk inside here instead of going one door down. Anyway, we went on a Tuesday night and it was pretty empty except for a few people at the bar. Maybe 2 other tables filled, and they sat us literally right next to those 2 and left the rest of the place wide open. I understand you want to keep the diners close so the waitress doesn't have to walk around too much extra, but no need to sit me in someone elses lap. Started with the spinach artichoke dip. The dip itself was solid, could have been a little warmer, but one of the better ones I've had lately. One of biggest things that kills me about dips/nachos/etc is stale chips and they had a few on the plate. I got the salmon which was awesome and date had the lobster ravioli that was huge and she enjoyed. Would recommend this as an after work place to get a burger and beer at the bar or as a date spot maybe on the weekend when its a bit more alive.
(3)
Matt M.
Great food, even better prices. Git one of the largest and most flavorful swordfish steaks I've ever seen. And it came on top of a Lobster Rissotto. Definitely would go back.
(4)
Morgan L.
We had a great experience and a fun time at Scollay Square. We were there for dinner and loved everything about it. The spinach artichoke dip is lovely and definitely use the bread more than the chips when eating it. The cuts of meat were cooked very well and to order! Our waitress was so sweet and a lot of fun! Just an all around good time! I will be taking other visitors back there!
(5)
Christopher N.
I have not eaten a full meal here, but based on the appetizers, wine, location, and service, this place is amazing. It was a weekday visit and the service was great. Laid back waitress, yet attentive. The crowd was mostly upscale, as you would expect downtown. Must confess, I have not been inside, but the patio was great. The appetizers were surprisingly large proportions and flavorful at that! Really, in downtown Boston, that surprised me. I recommend highly and will update when I actually have a full meal here.
(4)
Alex K.
Let me start by saying I came here for dinner and I very well could have just ordered the wrong thing on the menu. I would be willing to give Scollay another try. When looking for a new place to try in the Beacon Hill area near my friends place we settled here , based solely on the yelp reviews and the fact that we had seen quite a crowd a few times. With all of the great food in Boston, I wish we had gone somewhere else for my last meal back in Boston. I got the fish and chips and it was just a really standard, nothing special dish. The menu seemed pretty basic and the place was absolutely dead . We were literally the only ones in the restaurant which is so surprising since it was the day after Patriots Day and all of the reviews. I would be willing to try again but the menu wasn't overly impressive and both my meal and my friends (she got some sort of flatbread) were above average at best. Maybe we should try it for brunch next time.
(3)
Margot N.
We don't dine in Boston often, but when we do - we go to our standard favorites. This time we wanted to experience something new. How to find a fabulous dining experience on or near the Common or Beacon Hill with fabulous cuisine, atmosphere and service . . . . well thanks to Yelp, we identified our target as Scollay Square and we were not disappointed. We went for dinner - got the table of our choice. Lovely, vintage atmosphere that offers options for large groups of friends and associates, as well as smaller, more intimate parties. Our waiter Tom, helped us with food and wine selections - which featured a soy ginger salmon that was grilled to perfection and their roasted cider brine chicken which was tender and moist (filet) with a delectable sage shallot sauce and an amazing assortment of vegetables including Japanese eggplant. Tom's recommendation of the Austrian white wine (one of their offerings by the glass) was a perfect pairing with the salmon, which surprised me - who typically drinks pinot grigio or chardonnay. I'm told they're particularly well known for their marinated steak tips and NY sirloin - and many diners near us seemed to be ordering and enjoying them. All in all, Scollay Square is a divine, hidden gem! We'll definitely return for a romantic dinner or with a group, as they accommodate both nicely (they also offer Al Fresco dining in season).
(5)
Vanessa V.
Great brunch! The food, drinks, atmosphere, and service were all awesome. We had two egg sandwiches, the crabcake benedict, and stuffed french toast that we all split and it was all delicious. The bacon bloody marys are also great. Great for people-watching on a sunny day - we sat outside and it was lovely. We were mistakenly given regular french toast at first, but the waiter noticed this, brought us stuffed french toast a couple minutes later, and let us eat the regular french toast for free too. The manager, Chris, gave us excellent food recommendations and was very friendly, as was our waiter. I came here for lunch a while back, too, and that was also very good.
(5)
Andy M.
Arrived in Boston late on a Saturday and went looking for a place to slam a few drinks down and a bite to eat close to the Hotel. Started off with the Buffalo Chicken Dip which was good but hot - went well with the Guinness I was drinking. For entree's we had the Thai Chicken and Shrimp and Steak. Both were excellent. Great place for drinks and a good meal. Service was excellent and never had to ask for a beer.
(4)
Lindsey M.
While poking around downtown we stopped in for brunch, yelp almost never steers me wrong! I had the Scollay Square special with scrambled eggs and bacon, & I really liked the scallions on top and the texture of the eggs was light and fluffy. The lemon dressing on the side salad was also excellent. My boyfriend raved about the lobster eggs Benedict but since I'm allergic to shellfish, I was unable to confirm. The blueberry stuffed french toast also looked good but the consensus was that the cream cheese was tasty on the first slice but became a bit too sweet to finish the other two. The bloody mary bar will be something I'd love to try in the future, I had a mimosa but wasn't blown away. I'd rate the drink three stars, but everything else was excellent.
(4)
Marissa S.
Getting here isn't easy and parking is limited so if you are meeting friends leave yourself a little extra time. We didn't sit outside but they have a great outdoor patio. For a starter, I had the Grilled Parma Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus with Fresh Mozzarella and Balsamic Syrup..YUM! People often mess up cooking asparagus, this was crisp and flavorful. For my brunch entree I had the Monterey Jack & Portabella Omelette served with Hash Browns and Lemon Dressed Greens. I'll be honest, I don't know what came over me when I ordered that. I really dislike mushrooms and would never have normally ordered it but I just felt like an omelet. I'm so glad I did because it was delicious! The egg was nice and fluffy the hashbrowns were crisp and the greens were a nice addition for brunch. The mushrooms, you might ask, I actually liked them! For dessert I ordered their strawberry shortcake. Wow. Good. Everything was very fresh and tasted like it was just made -- meaning it hadn't been sitting under a warmer or anything. If you are looking for a fun brunch location downtown I would highly recommend Scollay Square. Full Disclosure: I Attended a brunch event here with Boston Brunchers ( bostonbrunchers.com ) which means my meal was complimentary, however, this review is 100% my own thoughts of the experience.
(5)
Brian D.
I came here the other week for lunch when meeting a work contact. I have lived in beacon hill for many years but have never made it up the hill to check this place out, glad we did today. Small selections for lunch but everything I had was quite good. I enjoyed their onion soup on a cold, rainy day and the fish sandwich I ordered on special was quite good. If you are a potato chip kinda person, definitely check this place out. I opted for the chips than fries and I was gives a huge handful of fresh fried chips. Great atmosphere, I will likely be back!!
Came here for brunch while on a recent visit and WOW! The service was impeccable, the food was absolutely wonderful and the general atmosphere was warm. If I lived in Boston, I would be here at least once a week! Ordered the Eggs Benedict and I can honestly say it was the best I have ever had. Light, fluffy and savory at the same time. The hash browns we perfect and the mimosas flowed like a...boozy river? Yeah they were good. Our server, and I feel endless guilt for not recalling her name, gave us some great suggestions for areas to visit and things to try. I thought our bill was beyond reasonable. Can't wait for my next visit to Boston - you are all wonderful people and your streets are pleasantly clean - and to visit this place again!
(5)
K T.
Eggs Benedict -- egg is NOT runny :-( Four of us ordered eggs bene and were all very disappointed with hard yolks. My other friend got an omelet and the cheese was not even melted and her hash brown was hard.. Service was good, bloody mary bar is good and the atmosphere is cool. Just don't order the eggs bene!
(2)
Brad S.
This place was great. My wife ordered the buffalo mac and cheese and it was Awesome! I had the seared tuna and it was also very good. Reasonably priced I would definitely go back. The Manager Chris came by the table and was very personable and professional! Great Restaurant!
(5)
Jamie G.
I really enjoyed my time here and can't wait to come back! My reason for the visit was the Mad Men premiere costume party they were throwing. For $30, we got 2 cocktails, passed appetizers, and 2 hr TV watching, with the sound on and the show on all their TVs. The cocktails were delicious- I had the Old Fashioneds... they were made perfectly, made with Woodford Reserve- a delicious whiskey. Then later I had woodford reserve on the rocks with a twist of orange. Also delicious. All the passed apps were delicious too- chicken skewers, fresh baked potato chips, etc. The staff were incredibly friendly, especially our bartender. I hope to come back every Sunday, because they will have the TVs on for Mad Men viewing. Win.
(5)
Shelagh M.
DEAR LORD THIS PLACE IS GOOD. I went with 5 people and we got a little bit of everything: Kobe Sliders Broiled Scallops Prosciutto and Truffle oil Mac and Cheese Rare seared Tuna Chocolate chip cookie sliders The ambience was sexy and fun at the same time. I heard this place is great for after-work drinks as well. The impeared martini was very sweet, but you kind of have to expect that. I had the antioxidant martini the second time I went, which is absolute perfection. My friend had an Old Fashioned and loved it. Bartender Will is the greatest!
(5)
Peggy K.
Never again... Boston was amazing, the vibe, the shopping, the breweries, the many delicious restaurants! EXCEPT, THIS PLACE. I'm sorry. I really tried to like this place after my friend found it on yelp, and saw the place with the nice hostess in front ( Hello, Caitlin! sorry for the wrong spelling ). We had reservations that was in 15 mins, and decided to wait outside for our table. Seeing some tables outside enjoying there meals, relaxing with their coffee and mimosa's we asked if can just take a table outside. The hostess said "Sure!" and sat us down, and said the waiter will come out with our menus in a bit. A bit was like 10 mins. Okay no problem. It was nice outside. Our waiter comes by, throws the 4 menus down on the table and says "Hi, what can I get for you to drink?" I ordered a mimosa, after noticing the table in front had about 6 glasses of it, having a good old time. The Mister ordered another drink, that I can't remember at this time, and the others just got water. Ok... 15 mins later our waiter, ( oh did I mention his name?? Sorry, I later found out from the hostess that his name is Bradley or was it Brandon? WTF something that starts with a B, and he didn't introduce himself to us, so I don't care what his name is)... So let me go on... Ok, 15 mins later he comes by with the water and the Mister's drink and tells me that they ran out of mimosa glasses so it's gonna be awhile... Ok, in my mind I see the table in front with 6 glasses that are empty. How about f'ing taking them and cleaning them for your customers... Hmmm... That would be stupid of him to do because he seems to not do that type of work! ( Ahem, bussing tables, or even think about washing a dish) I ask him for a coffee, and he says "sure." We also give him our order and that took another 20 mins. In between that time frame, I did get my mimosa in a HUGE wine glass... Ok, got the mimosa. The coffee is now gonna be tricky. We got our food by another waitress. I ordered the Scollay breakfast, nothing fancy, with a hash brown that looked like it dropped on the floor and stepped on. NICE! Mister and our other friend ordered the steak and eggs that was really good! Looked good, and tasted good! ( Get that if you dare go to this place! ) My other friend ordered an omelet. She didn't say much, which is surprising because she usually goes off saying how good something is if it was. I guess it wasn't... Moving on~ Coffee, oh coffee...where are you? My friend noticed the manager Chris making the rounds outside, She called him over and the Mister told him that I ordered coffee 20 mins ago, and still haven't got it. He apologized, and said he will bring it right over. After a minute, he came back and said that they are brewing a fresh pot and he will bring it right over. Another 5 mins later, I got my stinking coffee, by another waiter who was the main guy taking care of the outdoor area. If only we had him... Maybe our experience would of been different... We saw our waiter inside with a table next to us. After getting our checks, my friend and I went to the ladies room, before heading out for some shopping. The bathroom is located in the basement after passing the kitchen. While coming back up the stairs we heard our waiter and the hostess talking. Our waiter was bitching about his table full of asians... UMmm... what?? Really? The hostess saw us leaving so she just started walking behind us. Before leaving, I asked her what did he say about the table full of asians? She said "oh, he didn't say anything." I told her that we heard him, and she said that he wasn't speaking about us. Okay, fine. Even if he wasn't speaking about us, and maybe the table that was next to us, why even say that?! Seriously, I just didn't want to push it any furthur with this place. BAD EXPERIENCE, WITH A JACKASS WANNABE WAITER.
(1)
Ellen C.
Yummmmmmmm. Seriously. Yummmmmmmm. This restaurant is great - it's intimate and can work as a date place. But it's still casual and fun for friends who are just getting together. It's got a great vibe to it and the area it's in is absolutely charming. The neighborhood is one of those places you would just want to settle down in and raise those kids in. We ordered different entrees and tried everything, and there was not ONE dish that we didn't think tasted anything less than delicious. Ranking them, let's talk about the best from start to finish. Scallops & leek risotto was fabulous. The seared scallops were done perfectly - seared with this caramelized, pan fried outside and medium to rare center. The scallops' sweetness paired so well with the savory leek risotto, which was also done to perfection with its seasoning, its doneness, its creaminess. Seared tuna with wasabi potatoes and spinach was YUM. The only thing that I would comment on is the fact that they don't really mix in the wasabi completely, so there will be times when you get more green than you would like in your mashed potatoes. But when you get a bite with the tuna, a well mixed bit of potatoes, and some spinach? Along with some chili and sesame oil at the bottom of the plate, it's fantastic especially the quality of the tuna. As a sushi lover, this was awesome. Blackened swordfish over jalapeno potatoes was surprising tender and fresh. I generally dislike swordfish due to its rubbery texture when it's even slightly overdone, but this dish was fantastic. The jalapeno potato pieces combined with the tender swordfish were flavored to the nines, delicious. The lobster mac n' cheese was okay. I didn't taste the lobster but the mac n'cheese itself was well seasoned and the cheese was quality, but I'm not a HUGE fan of mac n' cheese so this dish didn't really blow me away. Either way, when I come back to Boston, I would absolutely come back to this restaurant, especially on a date!
(5)
Bree J.
This place was so fantastic, I still can't get over it. It was my first time visiting Boston my husband and I stumbled on this place while walking near the Boston Commons area. For appetizers I got the arborio crusted calamari and grilled pear salad. Both were phenomenal!! I wanted to order seconds but I had to keep my stomach in check. For dinner I got the lemon basted swordfish chop. There is so much to say about this dish I don't even know where to begin! The presentation, the taste, and the very generous portion lobster risotto that came with it, all amazing!!! If I ever come back to Boston I am definitely coming here again!
(5)
Jason M.
Put me in the list of people who don't get this place. It's inexpensive. It's high quality food. It's in a great location. It's got a decent atmosphere. So when you go there, why does it look like Armageddon happen and my boyfriend and I are the only ones left (except for the hostess, waitress, cook and bartender)? It deserves a better crowd. A lot of Yelpers complain about Scollay Square being hit or miss in terms of quality... apparently, we had a good night. I can vouch for the oven roasted goat cheese and the mac & cheese with prosciutto & tuffle oil. The boyfriend ordered the fish & chips. Everything was tasty, pipping hot, creative and rather inexpensive. Our kind (and quiet) waitress informed us next time we dine, we'll order the arborio crusted calamari. I like it when people tell me what to do. Especially if what they tell me what to do is delicious. I like it even more so if I have to check twice to make sure I'm spelling arborio correctly.
(4)
Danielle W.
I've lived in the area for awhile, but somehow never managed to eat at Scollay Square, which is unfortunate! After visiting twice for brunch within the past month, I'll definitely be coming here more often. Since I've only had brunch, I can't comment on the lunch or dinner menus, but I do plan to check those out. The brunch menu is small and pretty standard, but always delicious. The mimosas are especially delicious, and they always have a "Make Your Own Mimosa Bar" on Saturday and Sundays - an extra bonus! The service is top notch and it's in a wonderful location - right on Beacon Street, across from the Boston Anthenaeum and a stone's throw away from the State House. It's a little out of the way and you won't find it unless you're walking down there, but it's worth the trip! I definitely see it becoming one of my go to brunch spots near my apartment.
(4)
Katie W.
HOLY BUFFALO--between the buff chix dip with crispy chips or the mac and cheese, this is the place to come to satisfy your buffalo craving!! I could legit drink the buffalo chicken dip--we came as a large group and ordered one for the table...lets just say it didn't stand a chance. Next I split the buffalo chicken mac and cheese and it was perfection! They use cellentani pasta, my personal favorite for mac and cheese, the swirl of the pasta is large enough to pick up the cheesy buffalo goodness while still having a great texture. Will def be back for my buffalo fix!
(5)
Jeff S.
Friendly place, nice old boston feel, very speedy service and excellent dinner entrees. All four of us were pleased with our meals. Swordfish, seared tuna and haddock. Delicious.
(4)
Saba N.
Had a great time here! When I first walked in.. I was a little skeptical. Although we arrived pretty early.. it was a ghost town. never a good sign. The decor also wasn't really my taste, so I kind of figured I stumbled upon the lamest restaurant in all of beacon hill. Boy, was I wrong. First of all, my drink was amazing. Blackberry Bramble. If you like gin, and you like fresh fruit.. GET THIS. The food was all really good as well.The seafood was cooked properly and really flavorful. I didn't feel like it was the freshest stuff, but not the worst I've ever had. The lobster mac and cheese is divine (I think really its the cheese sauce that does it for me.. the lobster was just eh). I also had a fantastic dessert. All in all, I was totally happy with this place. I wasn't blown away by any one bite of food, but I also didn't dislike anything. It definitely filled up around 9, and the prices were pretty reasonable. Although it's not exactly my taste, I would come back again.
(4)
Amy O.
Went here to celebrate a birthday after a Sox game. In short, I was disappointed. I got the Lobster Mac n Cheese, and being in Boston you expect your seafood is more or less straight off the boat...but the entire dish was terrible..all you could taste was fish, like it wasn't fresh and may have even been frozen first. gross. My friends enjoyed their steak tips, but the veggies were overly salty. Our server was also a total space cadet and didn't exactly seem like she was all there. I was at least happy the manager took notice and removed the Mac from the bill, but this isn't somewhere I'll be returning.
(2)
Bill R.
Awesome bloody Mary bar. Not crowded for brunch.
(5)
Dandan L.
3.5 star-the quality was quite good, but I don't know if I like it so much that I'm willing to call myself a fan of this restaurant. The location of the restaurant and the history of Scollay Square (the actual square) make this place a good lunch spot to bring your friends who are not from Boston and interested in the culture/history. I came here for a work lunch (not recommended if you have a large group and you actually would like to talk to everyone - too loud for any third person to join the conversation). It took me a while to decide what to order (which rarely happens), since quite a few items on the menu looked worth trying. I finally decided on the Fire Roasted Turkey Sandwich. It was very good, prob the best turkey sandwich I've ever had. I personally HATE dry meat. The turkey in my sandwich was so juicy. The creamy avocado and the sweet cranberry totally enhanced the taste of the meat, with the well-toasted bread. Additional notes: It was an open kitchen setting last time when I visited, so the smell of food was quite strong inside the restaurant. This is one of the reasons why I'm a little hesitated to go again - I'm not a big fan of smelly clothes which might announce my lunch spot in the office for the entire afternoon.
(3)
Dror B.
Rare tuna filet was Not great as described. I had better.... There was very little lobster in the Mac and cheese dish. Too much money for what you get....
(1)
Angela K.
Four stars is a little high.. but 3 would be too low. Most of their menu is probably way to pricey for my standards but there were some pretty decent brunch deals. Got the stuffed french toast.. very yummy!! Ordered a side a potatoes, decent but not 'amazing'. My companions fries were definitely pretty tasty though. He seemed to enjoy his lobster roll, but made no proclamations about it being absolutely amazing. We lucked out and came in on a very busy day so the service was attentive and the meal was prepared very quickly. Since there was hardly anyone inside, it was a nice quiet relaxing meal. I wasn't blown away by the decor but the place is definitely pretty nice and clean inside.
(4)
Amy L.
First time here for Saturday brunch with a group of about 8 including out of town visitors who were looking forward to a delicious brunch with all the spots boston has to offer. Unfortunately we left very unsatisfied and disappointed. Bloody Mary bar was not stocked and didn't even have olives!! Mimosas were cheap (slightly too much oj though) Food: Half ordered lunch dishes and the other order breakfast. 4 out of 4 Eggs benedict dishes had HARD POACHED eggs. not runny! (they did take 2 off the bill) Sandwiches were ok...lettuce tasted dirty. Shorted someone on a hashbrown. Omelette cheese wasn't melted at all. Simple mistakes that shouldn't have happened. Maybe an off day and I'll give it another try...but then again maybe not. Just to say something positive...the people were nice and the service was good.
(2)
Becca L.
My colleagues and I are in town for a conference and were out and about downtown when we decided to have dinner. We typed into Yelp - seafood and Scollay was a nearby option. The food was surprisingly decent. Everyone was pleased with their meal. The price is decent from what I can tell but it's the first restaurant I've been to in Boston. We ordered: Lobster Mac n Cheese Seared Ahi Steak Tips Beet and goat cheese salad The lobster mac n cheese was good but heavy. We felt like mac n cheese was more of a side dish than a main course. Seared ahi - surprisingly good (served with a side of wasabi mashed potatoes) Steak tips - they were ok. The sauteed spinach on the side was WAAY salty, the side potato lasagna was alright and the steak was cooked well. I prefer my meat on the rare side. Service was Meh at best.
(3)
Cc R.
I've eaten here several times and have been happy every time. I'd probably give it a 3.5 as it's not really stand out, considering that Boston has amazing food everywhere, but I always round up. Their brunch is good, too. I'd definitely suggest it, especially if you want a place where you don't want to take any risks, you just want to have a good, solid meal.
(4)
Harri S.
Patio dining makes me feel like I'm in less classy France....or California. I love it. Calamari under the stars? Yes please. Wait, you don't like the tentacles? More for me. Their food is really good, and as it's close by I don't mind ducking in every now and then for take out. Not that I encourage consuming salad as an entree, but if you're ever on a diet, or miss your vegetables in Boston ($2 Cucumbers? Really, Boston? Really?) they make the best salads, with the PERFECT amount of dressing.
(4)
Tao L.
We were kind of lost for a map error of yelp when we walked into Scollay Square. We had beef spring roll as app, swordfish and boat scallop as entrees. The food was just moderate even when we were starving. Ginger britton tasted like plain vodka. And it is a little pricey. Poorer experience compared to our dinner at Island Creek Oyster Bar, of which the bill amount was almost the same.
(3)
Kristin M.
Saturday morning, rainy and dreary, gearing up for the Pride parade and festivities. Started our day off with brunch and cocktails at Scollay Square. Friends had mimosas and I tried the glorious 'make your own' bloody mary bar - generous vodka pour, about 30 hot sauces and accoutrements to make the drink my own. Delish. Server was great (we were the only table at the time), food was served within about 15 minutes of ordering. Egg sandwiches were huge (2 eggs each) and really better eaten with a knife and fork. Hash browns were the hit of the table. I preferred the lemon dressed greens. Brunch prices were about $12 each and rightfully so. Cozy seating, floor to ceiling windows makes it great for people watching, central location makes it a perfect place to meet friends from different neighborhoods. Happy with our experience, we'll surely be back.
(3)
Mark W.
We held a graduation party of 15 guests on May 11. The staff and management were very friendly and accommodating. The service was top notch. The food was so good. We all ordered different things so to list out each item would get silly. Just know that it all was wonderful. If I am ever back in Boston I hope to go back.
(5)
Heather G.
Gah! Why is Scollay Square so hit-or-miss!? I can't take it anymore - it's not consistently "good" enough that I think the rating, for me, lands at 2 stars overall. Popped in for dinner with my boyfriend the other night - we wanted something casual without being dive-y, and tasty without breaking the bank. I thought back to my last SS experience and thought this would, again, be a good option. Sadly, though the service was on-point, the food was not. To branch-out on my menu exploration, we went with three items not previously-tried by us. Perhaps I'd just chosen the best items on the menu last time, so this visit was sure to disappoint. Perhaps they were having a bad night. Or maybe, just maybe, this is just the TJ Maxx of restaurants - a hit-or-miss experience where you could leave full and happy, or empty and disappointed. We started with a couple of Hendrick's martinis and an order of calamari, which was THE highlight of the meal. I suggest, if you want to maximize your experience here, wait til it's warm enough to sit on the patio, head on over for some warm-summer-evening cocktails, and munch on some crispy, light, fried calamari. My date and I ordered a cheeseburger (rare) and the lobster mac. The mac had an option to add a side of greens for $3 (which I went for simply to balance out the heaviness of the rest of our cheesy and fried goodies), but the greens turned out to be a child's-fist-sized portion of about 10 dressed leaves, sadly piled to the side of the serving dish. If this is a $3 portion, then the $1.99 Trader Joe's mixed-green bags should actually sell for $45. It was embarrassing to see what I spent $3 on. Please, if you get the mac&cheese, do NOT opt-in for the $3 side of greens. The lobster mac itself ($16) was creamy yet still light, though it had very sparse lobster-chunks (sparse: about 4 for the entire $16 bowl). The burger came cooked closer to well-done than rare, but was still really juicy, as though lots of butter was added while cooking to keep it moist while the precious meat was being cooked to its death. Oddly, it had a too-perfect patty shape, and my boyfriend informed me that apparently some places order pre-ground, pre-formed patties and then add butter to the cooking to add flavor and moisture. I DO NOT KNOW FOR SURE whether Scollay Square does this. What I mean to say is that I suspected, given the juicy/greasy level of the totally-cooked-through-burger and the patty's symmetry. As per usual, the burger bun was chewy and delicious - this one never lets me down. The fries had an off-night, as some were served well-cooked, and others were nearly raw inside (though not frozen...rather, just warm and still-potato-y and hard). Our server - Brett? Brad? - he was hilarious. Jovial, chatty (but not too chatty), friendly (but didn't linger), entertaining. That man was ON HIS GAME. Was this just a REALLY off night? I don't know, perhaps. Am I being too picky? I don't think so. SO, i guess my recommendation would be to stop by for a delicious martini and some calamari on the patio and check out this scene, but consider dinner elsewhere.
(2)
Liana P.
AMAZING FOOD! I fell so in love with this place but I am so sad that it's in Boston and NOT in Los Angeles. The prices are great the food is amazing MUST try the mac and cheese!!! If I ever return back to Boston I am def coming back here.
(5)
Hayley M.
Perfect spot for a leisurely lunch. Went in with a friend, it was 3:00 pm on a Saturday and the first two spots we went to were closed. My friend used to eat lunch there all the time when she worked in the area. We started off with the edamame. It had a soy/miso glaze and white and black sesame seeds. It was amazing. I have eaten a truckload of edamame in my life and have never tried anything but plain ol' salted. Kudos for the creativity, Scollay Square. I had the ahi tuna salad, which came with a dressing remarkably similar to the edamame. It also had some ginger, wanton strips, and yummy seaweed salad on top. It was really good! That's all I can say. Light but filling and very satisfying. Glad Scollay Square was open this afternoon! People gotta eat, even in the off hours.
(4)
Donna J.
Martini was Perfect, service was impeccable and the Lobster Mac and Cheese was very good! Our whole group enjoyed their meals!
(4)
Moranda B.
The truffle oil & proscuitto mac and cheese is to die for. All the mac and cheeses are delicious! The restaurant is really beautiful and has a great ambience. Would definitely recommend it. Food also came out really fast!
(5)
Cindy W.
Was able to be seated in a big group on the patio on a holiday weekend without any problems. The shade was fantastic on a hot day but the above AC unit dripped water on some our guests. Wait staff was very friendly but they took their time in bringing out our drinks, which included watered down dark and stormies. The food was excellent. Prosciutto truffle oil mac and cheese was divine. The seared ahi tuna with wasabi mashed potatoes was plate licking good! All of the apps and entrees arrived very quickly. Leave room for the fresh homebaked ice cream cookie sandwich with hot fudge. After such a delicious meal and wonderful evening disaster and incompetence struck. It takes 15 min. to get the waitress to bring our check and another 10 min for it to arrive and over 45 mins and 2 visits to check on the processing before we can sign our bill. We did not receive drinks or other accommodations during our wait. 30 mins. into our 45 min. wait and after checking on our bill (first time), we finally were notified by our waitress that their manager could not operate their POS system to split a check evenly. I've seen this successfully done at every establishment from the Four Seasons to the golden arches. I would have loved to recommend Scollay to everyone BUT realistically I can only recommend it to people who enjoy waiting for over an hour without food or drinks and don't have places to go later in the evening.
(2)
Summer P.
We went here for the lobster roll, as my husband is not a vegetarian. I was happy to see that they had plenty of vegetarian options as well. The lobster roll was served on toasted brioche and looked to be of very high quality. The pieces of lobster meat were huge, pink and fresh. I was told it was good. I had artichoke heart mac & cheese and it was delicious! Delicate flavors and just a nice, warm meal. Service was a bit aloof, but not bad.
(4)
Luci H.
Went here on a Friday night, great outdoor seating. The wait staff wasnt as attentive as they could be, but not bad either. We started with the buffalo chicken and Kobe sliders, and then shared the miso salmon. All were quite tasty, and large portion sizes. We had the chocolate cookie sliders for dessert and OH MY was it good.
(4)
Shirley Y.
This place is a hidden gem in the Beacon Hill area, right in the center of town catering to the State House population. Lots of suits here, filling up the high ceilings bar area with camaraderie. I escaped the loud, raucous noise to the outdoor seating area, only to move back in when the rain descended again. Tommy was our server, with very a dry wit. If I wanted to order my friend's drink ahead of time, he could do that if i really wanted to prank him considering that it takes the bar two seconds to pour a beer. If I really am pissed at him, he offered to microwave the beer for him. He's been working crazy 16 hour shifts with an upcoming trip to Munich, and if this service reflects how out of it he is, imagine what he is like when the place is more fully staffed! We are imagining a Speedy Gonzalez moving at the speed of light. Draft beer selection was acceptable. Nothing outlandish or spectacular by any means, so we stuck with the tried and true Lagunitas hoppy ale. We had the famed mac and cheese with the thick cut prosciutto and truffle oil. I think the chef poured half a bottle of truffle oil in there. And here I was thinking I was doing so well with my diet! To accompany our "appetizer" of mac and cheese (it really is an entree), we also succumbed to the Philly cheesesteak spring rolls. Like my friend says, it's like Philly landed in China. Brilliant. Especially with the chipotle ketchup. This food was rich enough for our appetites but we could not help ogling at the food that was passing by us, and reaching other tables. They were beautifully presented, and looked delicious and we were reminiscing (read: imagining) tackling the food order, or doing quality control for the restaurant. We looked at the menu again, and because we were full, we managed to not succumb and order the luscious sirloin chop, the ahi tuna, and many other dishes. They do pasta well here. And their chocolate chip ice cream sandwich looks incredible!
(4)
Bobby C.
Had brunch on a Sunday here. We were seated promptly. We were given the dinner menu with the brunch flyer inside the menu. We weren't sure if we were able to order appetizers from the dinner menu. We each got the Scollay Square Breakfast and ordered an appetizer. Our server didn't say anything so we thought maybe one could order from the regular dinner menu. Food was served pretty quickly. That was probably the highlight. Overall food and service was average. We never got our appetizer so it seems you cannot order from the regular menu. We paid and left.
(3)
Justin B.
Good service and large portions my meal at Scollay Square was delightful. Causal ambiance with a patio makes this central location a go to place if your hungry. The steak was good but I recommend the onion soup as it was delicious. $55 for two plus tip.
(3)
Dylan N.
We went to Scollay Sq on a spontaneous Birthday Dinner. We ordered the Edamame, then my fiancee had the Lobster Mac and Cheese and I had the Tuna Burger w/ the Homemade Potato Chips. The food was incredible. The Mac and Cheese was awesome and the quality and quantity of Lobster was superb. For $16, they put in a lot of Lobster, mostly claw meat, which flakes nicely with the Mac. For an extra $3, we had the mixed greens salad on the side, which was perfectly drizzled with a lemon dressing, really good. The Tuna Burger was great. It was done with a great ginger glaze on this soft amazing roll. The potato chips were perfect, not too greasy and perfectly salted. The service was really good. We had Natalia! She was really nice, quick and attentive. She even gave us this awesome little danish in our to-go bag. We had one of the cheaper wines, by the glass, but really good. The restaurant is situated near the State House up on Beacon, near the Fox 25 studios, Beacon Hill location. It was raining so no outdoor dining, but the interior is nice and cozy. There is ample space between tables and a nice motif for the restaurant. Overall this place was a really good choice and we will continue to go back. My one qualm about the place was the Hostess was also serving as the Expediter and as a Runner, so when you walk in and don't see someone, they will be right with you...we waited less then 1 minute to be sat.
(4)
dan g.
Swordfish chop with lobster risotto is the best! I am getting excited just thinking about this meal again. Definitely worth a visit! Might be a good idea to call ahead and make sure they still have some of this left when you decide to go, it runs out fast.
(5)
Brandy B.
Fantastic for brunch. In town visiting and found Scollary Square on here. The short rib burrito was fantastic! Omelets were great. Chris, I'm assuming he was the manager, was very nice. Patio area was very nice for Sunday brunch. The group was very pleased with this restaurant.
(5)
Josh S.
Really excellent restaurant, although the space feels a little tired. They offer large pieces of fish, the scallops and sides are excellent. During the summer drinks on the patio are great too.
(4)
Andrea S.
I was solidly impressed by their brunch. With $4 mimosas and $7 bloody mary's, one could do a fair amount of Sunday morning damage without a huge hit to the bank account. I had never been before, I think because it's off the beaten path and not top of mind. They were able to seat a large party (9) with limited warning. Kudos to the chefs and waitress who did a great job feeding and entertaining us.
(4)
AD S.
Definitely one of my favorite Boston restaurant/bars. The building is a throw-back kind of architecture and a fun environment for small or medium-sized groups. I've come here for dinner and brunch. Dinner menu is decent, I got Mac and cheese which was pretty good. I highly recommend the brunch--good food, not too fancy/expensive, tasty. I think they also do $4 mamosas, if one is inclined. I have not been here just for drinks, but their outdoor porch would seem to be a nice place to hang out in the early-mid evening in the area. Anytime you are around the Park/Beacon Hill area, this place is certainly worth checking out!
(4)
Sharon K.
I tasted/had new orleans bbq shrimp, chicken satay skewers, braised short rib w/ polenta cake, cheesecake w/ strawberries. 4 stars is a bit of a stretch for me. Can I give 3.5? I dont know what it was but I didnt LOVE this place, though it was very good. The New Orleans BBQ shrimp was highly seasoned - not exactly like the bbq shrimp I have had in New Orleans but the spicy flavors were there, it was a bit saucy for me. Also, I would have liked the bread to be more crisp/toasted. It was supposed to be grilled bread, but it was a bit soggy. Still tasty - the shrimp was cooked perfectly. The chicken satay had a nice grilled flavor, but the meat was a bit dry. I really enjoyed the plum sauce (as opposed to peanut) that came alongside. i really liked my main: the braised short rib. The meat was very tender. I liked the greens - they were smokey/garlicky/and sweet at the same time! I felt like I didn't get to taste the polenta alone because they put the meat on top of it and then there was sauce everywhere. We shared the cheesecake which was just fine. I wish there were more strawberries, the cheesecake felt a little dry without, but still very yummy. I wish I had experimented more with the drink menu (I had a dark and stormy and a glass of wine). I want to go back to try the Key Lime Martini.
(4)
Alanna L.
After being stranded by my original host in this strange city (I just arrived & from CA), I have been forced to use Yelp to navigate my way to food. Luckily after frantically searching all over for lobster mac and cheese, Yelp brought me here. I took a subway and walked quite a bit to get here but it was easy to find. I was seated instantly and immediately felt comfortable even though I was alone and a little frazzled. A coffee, side salad and my well deserved lobster mac and cheese later, I am a happy camper. I love the slight lemony flavor to the macaroni dish that just made my mouth happy. The service was wonderful as well. Thank you Scollay Square!
(5)
TheBiggestJuiciestPiece a.
Food is excessively heavy and the drinks and service were mediocre. Looks like a good place to grab a few beers after work and maybe a few dishes, but for nothing more. We ordered the buffalo chicken dip, which had indistinguishable clumps of protein (I am still not sure if it was tofu imitating chicken or chicken imitating tofu). The guacamole was good. For entrees I ordered the broiled scallops and my friend ordered the haddock. The haddock was over-cooked and dry. The scallops were overly breaded, the breading was "raw", soggy bread crumbs. It was quite unappetizing. I cannot recommend this to anyone. It was embarrassing to have brought my friend here. I am dumbfounded as to how this place has gotten so many good reviews.
(2)
Albert B.
Why is this place never busy? Beats me. Great location. Prices are reasonable. Scallop appetizer is fantastic. Steak is comparable to any high-end restaurant in Boston at a fraction of the cost. I recommend sitting outside if the weather is nice.
(4)
Lauren K.
Had the boat scallops to start and they were incredible! Well seasoned and not overcooked (which is always a potential issue with scallops). I also had the miso-glazed salmon over rice, spinach and cucumber slices. Another excellent choice. My friend had the haddock but I can't say it was anything more than bland. Drinks were great, too. I'd definitely go back.
(4)
Andrew F.
I have to start off by saying that I can't wait for the warm weather to arrive and for Scollay Square to have outside seating! Arrived at Scollay Sqaure on Saturday afternoon, at the tail end of brunch. Although I did indulge in a mimosa, I opted for the lunch menu. I had a sandwich with prosciutto, mozzarella and greens. It was an excellent preview of summertime flavors. Also tried the buffalo chicken dip - which was the perfect amount of spiciness and creaminess. SO GOOD. They had a make-your-own bloody mary bar featuring different spices, hot sauces and other ingredients. Great for people who enjoy blood mary's (not me though). The service was great - our waitress Wendy was very friendly! Can't wait to go back, and looking forward to enjoying their outside seating!
(4)
Rebecca W.
My new favorite neighborhood spot. I've lived on the hill for a few years, and used to avoid Scollay Square because the menu wasn't too inspiring. But when I heard it had been taken over by a new owner, I decided to give it a shot. I'm glad I did. I've had dinner there three times and lunch two times, and every meal has been good. The service quality has varied a little (mostly because there were some new servers), but the management is great and the menu offers a great range of selections. I'm particularly in love with the rare filet of tuna (and the wasabi mashed potatoes) and the grilled pear salad. The atmosphere is great too - the place evokes old Boston in a tasteful way.
(4)
Elizabeth W.
A fine restaurant with adequate staff. Although we had reservation we were stuffed into a cramped corner that bordered the kitchen. At one point the waiter (after realizing he forgot to get us small plates) leaned over us and grabbed some from the kitchen - tacky. The food, however, was good. I liked my steak and my husband enjoyed his salmon. It wasn't earth shattering good and I wouldn't go back, but it was well cooked and without flaws.
(3)
Lynn W.
I ordered the rare filet of tuna. Incredible! I ate every last bite (and it is quite rare I finish my plate). The wasabi mashed potatoes were just perfect. Every so often you take a bite and get the perfect taste of wasabi. I split the roasted goat cheese appetizer with my friend. All I have to say is that it is like eating a deconstructed grilled cheese and tomato sandwich. There is this delicious tomato sauce on the bottom of the plate that you dip your crostini and cheese into. When we finished the bread we were just eating the sauce up with our spoons. Classy I know. This place is so no frills. Our waiter was super friendly and a little bit silly. The drinks were on point. I want to come back and I was just here a week ago. Yum.
(5)
Shaina P.
Three words: Bloody Mary Bar. That's right, folks, choose from three tomato bases, any vodka, a variety of veggies, bitters, and spices! $6 per drink? If only for this feature, I will return here over and over.
(5)
Rick K.
Summary: Very disappointing after reading so many good reviews. Time: Monday night, 7:00PM Atmosphere: The place looks fantastic but it was completely dead. The bar was near empty and only 1/4 of the dinner tables busy. Service: Hostess and staff were attentive but not very helpful. The waitress didn't have any opinions about menu items and didn't seem interested in suggesting something. Drinks: Scollay Square Sangria - lime juice, grapefruit juice, sprite and a little white zinfandel - sucked! Entrees: My wife had quite possibly, the worst mac-n-cheese ever. A big bowl full of warmish wet macaroni, watery Velveeta cheese in the bottom of the bowl, and toasted bread crumbs sprinkled on top to make it appear freshly baked. I don't think even the lobster could have helped save this dish. I had the Kobe Meatloaf with mashed potatoes, green beans and Shiitake gravy. The waitress finally broke down and gave this dish the thumbs up saying "I love the gravy". Well, the potatoes and beans were good but it was the most tasteless meatloaf I've ever had and the gravy was a sorry watery mess with not a single mushroom in sight. Maybe we picked a bad night but I think next time I need to thoroughly read the reviews. Several reviewers gave 3-stars and then included references to the watery mac-n-cheese. If you can't get mac-n-cheese right, you don't deserve 3 stars!
(2)
K G.
I have only had lunch here, but it is excellent. I have tried the fish and chips and the Lobster Macaroni and Cheese so far and both dishes are full of flavor and made just the way I like it. I would contend the fish and chips here is among the best in Boston. Great tarter sauce. For dessert I find the Key Lime pie to be excellent as well. Nice sweetness with just a hint of sour and very tasty crust. Excellent historic decor inside and out. I will be back.
(4)
Tina W.
Ambiance/decor is very comfortable and unique. Service was average but for the atmosphere I expected more. No complaints though because the prices on the menu items were reasonable. Portions are average to small side for my scallops that came with risotto, the five scallops were sizes of a quarter coin which was unexpected for a $22 entree. I never order macaroni but my husband got the prosciutto macaroni and it was so good and is something I would order if I end up here again.
(4)
Meghan R.
Ended up here with the boss and a few officemates after a late night of work and boy am I glad I did. Our waiter was excellent and the food was out of this world. I got the salmon (with to-die-for lobster mashed potatoes), my fellow diners got some red meat entrees and the scallops, all delicious. If the legislature is in session, expect the bar to be packed with senators & reps... hang around for a bit and they'll usually disperse to their homes, hotel rooms or other bars, but its definitely worth going by. The atmosphere, though crowded, is cool. It's definitely a great spot for an amazing meal!
(5)
Julia C.
Finally a restaurant tha works at that beautiful location! The place is so nice and thewy set it up as a high end Boston pub. Lunchtime for power player and at night drinks after work and good american food with extra gourmet touches.
(4)
Nathan I.
If I want lobster mac and cheese, I'm damn sure getting lobster mac and cheese. We stopped here for a quick lunch on my last day to do just that. It was 1 PM and the place was virtually empty. Guess the reservations weren't needed. It was quite a difference from the last time, when we came for dinner. That was fun! Then again, it was the evening, the place was packed, and we had consumed two or three bottles of wine. It may be apples and oranges, but I was so not getting a similar vibe this time.. We sat down and ordered a Diet Pepsi. It was disgusting. It left this after taste that only went away once we started eating. Jen suggested to the waitress that the fountain machine may not be clean. She tasted some, and said since she doesn't drink Diet Pepsi, she didn't know if there was something wrong with it. Riiiiight. It wasn't a big ordeal but I hope they've taken care of the problem. I had one wedge of Jen's bleu cheese salad and it was crisp and flavorful. The lobster mac and cheese was mostly what I expected (it could have used a tad more lobster meat). The cheese sauce seemed a little watery and more processed than I would have wanted. I have a feeling the lobster mac and cheese at the Ivy would have beaten the pants off of this one. It was the most low-key meal of the trip. I like to be in a place that's hopping, and for some reason, this place was just not. Maybe it was a combination of the weather and the holiday, I'm not sure...but if I go back, I'd want to go during dinner, for sure. I'd normally give four stars, but I'm subtracting one this time for a ho-hum lunch.
(3)
Steven C.
I sat outside on a really nice summer evening. The staff were great! I had the lobster roll and the ahi Tuna appetizer. It was very good. I strongly recommend this place!
(4)
Lauren M.
We went here after friends in the neighborhood said they wanted to give it "one more shot". The food was terrible. The goat cheese appetizer was good, but I ordered asta in sauce and it tasted like pureed tomatoes out of a can- hardly any seasoning. Now I do have allergies, so maybe they're just not good with that, but no one liked their food. I went back recently for cocktails, and I must say their cocktails are great and weight staff friendly, but I just don't like the food!
(2)
Kristine A.
I was here for an office work lunch & was not impressed by any means. They may have been nice people but they lack serious cooking abilities. How hard can it be to find something that is vegetarian that doesn't always have cheese & tastes good? I mean rice & squash w/ like no flavor? That's what I get? It was so not worth it. I took it to go hoping I could give to a homeless person but no luck, so I will have to make it better so I can eat it. My favorite thing was them not having any dessert that didn't contain gelatin or a huge helping of dairy. Amazing how a restaurant which I thought was high caliber could disappoint so much.
(1)
Jill S.
Real good buff chicken dip! Fun atmosphere..nice if you can sit on the patio. Salad with steak tips is delicious as well.
(4)
Jen L.
This place has gone downhill. As in, 2 or 3 years ago I would have rated it a 4 star, but I now feel firmly that it is a 2 star place. I really wish I had read the review from early 2009 that referenced problems with cleanliness standards at the restaurant. If I see even one of those reviews, I usually stay the heck away. My issues with cleanliness (or lack thereof) are as follows: - Scollay Square has a musty kind of smell. Definitely unpleasant. - Based on the taste of the fountain drinks we were served, I'd say that the machines haven't been cleaned in quite some time. If you have ever worked in food service, you know that tons of bacteria build up in those fountain drink machines. - The carpet leading downstairs is old and dirty and needs to be replaced. - The musty smell downstairs is even stronger than upstairs. - The downstairs bathroom area was dirty bordering on sketchy As for the food, I think that "meh" sums it up. I was with a friend from out of town and we both ordered the lobster mac and cheese. I found that the sauce was a little velveeta-y for my taste. I didn't say anything to my friend because I didn't want to be a downer. I was just disappointed, especially when places like Figs and Ivy have such delicious versions of this dish. I will check back for yelp updates, but I think that I'm pretty much staying away considering there are better options in the area.
(2)
DJ D.
Its hard to imagine anyone giving this place a good review. Based on yelp reviews, we went there for brunch last Sunday. I don't know were our food came from, but not the same place as most of the other reviewers. I had eggs Benedict which was nothing if not sub par. How is it possible to make tasteless hollandaise sauce? Just awful. The Canadian bacon was the kind in the shrink wrap you get in the supermarket and the english muffin was less than a Thomas's. They did get the egg done right. 1 for 4, overall lousy. Anyone, with just a little effort, could have done better. One of us had a hamburger and fries. Nothing remarkable about the hamburger but they should think about changing the rancid oil they apparently use to cook Sunday morning french fries, gross. On the positive side, the small salad that came with the eggs was good and the service was good, but why go back? Boston has thousands of restaurants.
(2)
Jessica Y.
Selected this place for our weekend visiting Boston. Not only did they have top notch service and an unpretentious atmosphere, scollay square also had excellent food and drinks. We were seated in a cozy two person table in the tiny corner next to a pillar, the boyfriend and I agreed that it was the perfect kind of table for us. Furthermore, we received prompt and attentive service despite the location of our table. The boyfriend had scallops with risotto and spinach while I had Kobe sliders and onion soup. It was thoroughly enjoyable and it was such a memorable place for my visit in Boston.
(5)
Jim N.
Quick, friendly service and a very appealing menu. Since we were staying on Beacon Hill during our visit to Boston, this was a great find. Thank you, Yelp reviewers!
(4)
Colleen S.
It was such a nice treat treat to get back in to this space after about 20 years. i used to live in the building and would go to the former space occupier The Black Goose. Little has changed in ways of the decor and I ran in to several regulars from years ago. Service was sloppy. I went with the burger because it was that type of day, the burger was huge, bun was freshly made and toasted, burger was pretty undercooked though, had to be sent back, by the time it arrived my lunch mates had already finished. Thank fully we were not in a rush, so I took my time and enjoyed my meal. My new job is 2 doors down so I really look forward to long leisurely lunches on the patio come Spring & Summer, great people watching spot.
(4)
Yolanda R.
Love the S. Square! Just can't figure out why I need a steak knife for my lobster Benedict. What's up w/the English muffins?
(4)
Teresa T.
Scollay Square gives a lot of bang for the buck. I do like the decor despite what others have felt - an old school, historic dark feel w/ a bright stainless steel bright kitchen. Ordered the steak bennedict with coffee and orange juice. I did see quite a few people ordering mimosas and heading to the bloody mary bar (will have to make a note to go back to try one). Orange juice left little to be desired but the steak bennedict and coffee were good. Prices were very reasonable and service was sufficient but not mind blowing. I would come back for a laid back casual atmosphere.
(4)
Milee S.
I love this place! I went here with the bf on our anniversary last month. We walked in and sat at a very intimate table. At 7:30, it wasn't full at all, which surprised me. Our server, Leslie, was fantastic; very attentive. I started with a mojito, and the bf got a glass of merlot. My drink wasn't that great, to be honest. When we opened our menus, Happy Anniversary was printed on the top! I thought that was a very sweet gesture to such a special night! It was the regular menu, but still, made it special to me. There are a ton of options for appetizers, it was hard to choose. I got the goat cheese and crab wontons, which were delicious. It came with a spicy plum sauce and some pickled cabbage, which were equally tasty. The appetizer portions are rather large, FYI. The bf got the rock shrimp egg rolls and he really enjoyed those. For entrees, I got the citrus soy glazed salmon with lobster mashed potatoes and asparagus, which was so good. He got the special, a swordfish steak with lobster risotto and some veg. He said it was incredible. I was too full from dinner for dessert but because it was a special night we ordered the chocolate cake. Sooo rich! And an added touch, the staff gave us copies of our special menus AND a greeting card! So coupled with the service, ambiance and food, I have to rate this 5 stars! Definitely a good choice to impress a date :)
(5)
John L.
My only experience here is at the bar, which I've found to be an incredibly interesting experience. The interior has more of an older late-19th/early-20th century feel, and the restaurant itself seems to be quite well-oriented for both dates (which I've seen mentioned in some of the other reviews) as well as groups, particularly for brunches. As for the bar, it's not only decent on the beer prices, it's also a much more relaxed atmosphere to watch a game in, which, at the end of an evening, is exactly what I need. The bartenders are well-informed and nice, and on top of that, one can actually watch a game comfortably, or sit around and talk with the other people. Also, I've talked with a wide variety of interesting people here, while still being able to watch the game.
(5)
Natalie B.
3 stars = just okay. Although I'm a native Massachusetts resident, longtime Boston-proper, I had never been to Scollay Square and because I had a Rue La La coupon to use, it was a must-do. I checked out the website before making the reservation and it looked cozy and unique and somewhat retro, so I had high-hopes. I have the say that the pictures do it some justice, because it's a bit more dark and crowded and less cozy, in real life. It's, actually, a bit cold feeling. We arrived with a reservation and were seated shortly thereafter. We ordered wine and martinis, which were all served quickly and the service was generally fine with nothing out of the ordinary - for better or worse. It's really the food/price that substantiates the rating of this review. We ordered the goat cheese appetizer which was fine, other than the bruschetta-type topping being more like canned tomato sauce with pureed tomatoes. The goat cheese was tasty but the topping itself wasn't very good. For dinner, we ordered the buffalo chicken mac-n-cheese and my partner found it to be good, as did I. My meal, however, left something to be desired. I had the Bay Scallops with spinach and risotto. The scallops were small (although they are bay, so...) and despite size, they were overcooked and dry. The risotto was oily and starts to separate on your plate and the spinach was SALTY - quite, quite salty. For the price tag ($29, I believe? 23?) it did not live up to the expectations and I found myself eating more of my boyfriends meal than my own. Across the board, for the environment and the quality of the food (at least, in my experience) I feel as though the menu is overpriced. Perhaps focusing on what they do well (mac/cheese and other more bar-style items) and less on trying to force a price tag the kitchen can't support would be a wise choice. Service = fine. Environment = fine (although somewhat deceptive based on photos) - and anyplace that's going to charge what they do should not have multiple TVs displaying sports around the restaurant. Food = leaves something to be desired.
(3)
Rebecca R.
If were a Barenaked Lady circa 1998 (and had a million dollars -- HA, get it?), I'd eat at Scollay Square every day of the week. From the intimate, classy ambience to the friendly & knowledgable service, to the flawless food, this place has got to be one of my top three favorite places in Boston. My first few run-ins with Scollay Square involved only drinks at the bar. Their well-poured gin n' tonics and the delicious Sangria Martini convinced me to try out their food. The first sit-down meal happened during Restaurant Week 2009 -- and seriously, what is better than sitting at a window table in Beacon Hill, listening to some tunes by the Rat Pack, and eating a perfect Filet Mignon with your fabulous date? The restaurant is packed with couples and groups lingering over dinner and conversation. Servers never seem to rush, but keep the meal reasonably paced, with each course being presented with magical precision. The food is drool-worthy, from the steak, to the juicy pork chops, to the egg roll appetizer. I could have eaten forever and then come back for more. And come back I will... I would love to sample their lobster mac n' cheese and *need* to try their Bloody Mary bar for brunch.
(5)
Leslie W.
Best brunch in Boston! Make your own bloody bar! So happy that it is warming up so I can sit outside enjoying the perfect bloody mary (cause I made it myself) and eating Rice Krispie french toast!
(5)
Kelly K.
The scallops were amazing. Portion sizes are just right - not overwhelming and not stingy. I also tried my friend's wasabi potatoes and tuna steak (rare) and it had amazing flavor. The service was a little slow, but very friendly,and it was lovely to sit on the patio on a gorgeous spring evening.
(4)
Nadia K.
We came here for brunch last Sunday and it was pretty good- nothing I'd call special, but decent. Two of us ordered the make your own Bloody Mary bar, and that was really good- although along with the extensive assortment of hot sauces I wish they had just had Tabasco... I ordered the egg white omelet with fillings and got cheddar and spinach, it was fine, again nothing special- could have used more cheese honestly, but it was nice to have well cooked egg whites. The hash browns were not what I was expecting and similar to the hash brown patties they serve at McDonald's... I wasn't impressed... I wanted spicy homemade grill top cooked goodness and I got deep fried flattened tator tots. The salad was pretty good, too small in my opinion, I think in the future I'll ask for just salad on the side and skip the "hash browns". The restaurant itself is well decorated and architecturally interesting so it's a good place to meet friends- especially those with a not-so-adventurous palate, for me, I probably wont be back.
(3)
Keo S.
So let me explain the low - 1 star rating here as I'm currently staying in an apartment next door to Scollay Sq. It's always packed in the patio area and since it was gross and rainy outside yesterday, we decided to have dinner there. The service and the food are actually VERY GOOD. My main concern lies in the number of fruit flies that are hanging out on the columns inside, how much dust, and overall "grime" there is inside. The inside needs a good douching and no wonder people sit in the patio. Our high top table butted up against a colums so as we ate our delicious meal, we also got a great view of about 30 fruit flies just hanging around and once in awhile they would buzz around at our level. I hope that management reads this, takes a day off to close down and seriously clean the place. I would give it another shot after they do this and then hopefully it will be a much more pleasant experience.
(1)
Eric T.
It's not amazing, but is surprisingly good--surprisingly because when we walked in I expected little and was quite pleasantly surprised. Fish and chips, Mac and cheese, buffalo chicken sliders, all very good. Chocolate chip cookie sliders, pretty good but not amazing cookies. French fries were the only disappointment. Overall very reliably good.
(4)
David B.
Was looking for a place to eat in the area of Beacon Hill that was quiet, nice ambiance, and an easy walk to the theater district. The location and menu fit the bill beautifully. The hostess and wait staff were great and the dining room, despite a cold night, was warm and toasty. The food was good and satisfied our need for a nice meal before a show. Although I'd go back and give it a try for for lunch, I wasn't all that excited concerning dinner. I started with a grilled pear salad that was quite nice and then moved to a pasta dish that was underwhelming. My partner started with a different salad (the he also enjoyed) and had Kobe beef meatloaf. He thought it was quite good but couldn't really see what the big whoop was over Kobe beef. It didn't taste that much different from well made meatloaf. The wine list was decent..we enjoyed out selections. Dessert was quite good too....white chocolate bread pudding. So, if you are looking for a fine dining establishment in an area of town that doesn't have a lot to choose from, Scollay Square might be the place for you.
(3)
Michael C.
I've been here twice, both times the food was good. The first time I went there the service was bad though. In the middle of lunch they told (yes, told) us we had to switch tables. On my second visit the service was much better. The food both times was a little fancier than your standard bar food, but the portions are on the small side. The main thing that stood out was the lobster mac n' cheese which was very very good. Besides that there was nothing outstanding but everything met my expectations.
(3)
Alan G.
Went for lunch for the first time. Pesto gnocchi with grilled chicken special was really good, perfectly sized portion. Quick service and reasonably priced. I'll go back.
(4)
Jimbeau W.
We like this place. Enough in fact that we signed up for their dining club card. Everything's done right here: excellent (okay, a superlative can't hurt--really excellent)martini, super appetizers (goat cheese a definite choice), delicious and unusual entrees well prepared and seasoned, well presented and well timed. Trained, friendly, ,informative wait staff who haven't fallen victim to the Boston "you're lucky I even approach your table" server attitude, even though this place is next to XV Beacon, which is a reasonably prestigious address. The atmosphere is just casual enough to be comfortable any time, any way you're dressed--straight from the office in suit & tie corporate camouflage or in jeans.
(4)
Paula H.
Delicious steak tips and potato lasagna! Sangria was tasty
(5)
Megan R.
This is a great gem hidden right down Beacon Street from the State House. I originally came across Scollay Square when my roommate and I were looking for someplace with a patio to eat on in between both of our workplaces. We chose Scollay Square because 1.) it was very reasonably priced for the downtown/Beacon Hill area and 2.) we were able to request outdoor seating when we made a reservation for a Friday night at 7:30! Anyone who knows Boston knows that is a rare find in the summer. Once we arrived we could see why- it ended up being super humid and we asked to be seated inside, which was completely empty! Yup, there were only about 4 or 5 other tables filled throughout our entire meal. Apparently this place is a little TOO hidden! They have a great wine list with lots of by-the-glass options. We both started with some white wine. My meal was simple- broiled scallops with fries. But for less than $20, I was absolutely shocked when a plate with about 8-9 scallops showed up at our table. They were cooked perfectly and I was almost too full to finish it all (which is not common of a fish dish). My roommate got white fish which was on a bed of spinach and rice, and was also a very generous portion. I would absolutely recommend this place to anyone looking for an affordable meal in the area. I cannot wait to go back again and dive into the rest of the menu!
(5)
Heidi X.
Excellent variety of martinis, decent wine list. The calamari is a must try starter - cooked just right, and served with a tantalizing spread of sweet tomatoes and sliced jalapeno and banana peppers. Swordfish, seared tuna, and drunken shrimp entrees are hits with my group. Entree sizes are large, but if you can't manage dessert on your own, get some to share. The red velvet cake and cookie sliders are to die for. Service levels are generally good, although it gets much better during the weekends when the restaurant is more well staffed. Nevertheless, I've brought my 8 month old baby along for dinner twice and we were very well taken care of on both occasions.
(4)
Dan D.
I went on a recent business trip based on the recommendation of the concierge at a nearby hotel and was very pleased with the quality of the food and service. I had the seared (rare) tuna filet with wasabi mashed potatoes and highly recommend it.
(5)
Bif P.
Took my family here at the recommendation our hotels concierge and couldn't be happier. The food selection is pretty broad and there is something for everyone. My kids had the buffalo mac and cheese, steak tips and loved it, I went with the tuna burger and my wife had a burger, all were cooked perfectly and served promptly by a real nice knowledgeable waiter. Sometimes places overcook the tuna burger and are dry but the this wasn't the case, it was very good. The atmosphere was very laid back and cozy and good for date night, a few tv's on mute around the room but not overwhelming where they are the focus the restaurant. Nice little bar and beer selection. Mostly with a group of five I found the prices extremely reasonable. My only regret is that I don't live closer to this place.
(5)
James K.
Fun, and great food. We hit the Concierge at the Parker House with a dozen demands/requests for dinner for the family. "Go to Scollay" was his response. Great food, great service, the Mac n Cheese options were all over the top.
(4)
Tracy W.
I absolutely love this place. The service is always fantastic, the food is great, prices reasonable, good ambiance. The fish and chips and mac and cheese (lobster is good, also spinach and artichoke) are my favorites. They also do a great brunch.
(5)
Meredith M.
OH MY GAAWW. Gluttony. Good friends, tasty wine and decadent food... (sigh) For starters we had the most creamy, light, savory artichoke dip. I wanted to lick the bowl clean. But I resisted the urge. The barbeque shrimp were juicy and made this Southern Belle want to smack her lips, lick her fingers and drink sweet tea! Our waitress was phenomenal. She balanced just enough service with friendly and sassy conversation with our boisterous table. My meal was the FAVORITE of the evening. Everyone had to sample my sauteed scallops. They were drenched in this creamy lemon sauce and accompanied by a delicious crab risotto cake! I also tried the delicious grilled salmon fillet with wasabi mashed potatoes. The scallops were very filling, so I was happy to share! For desert we shared a tray of ALL of their offerings. My favorite by far was the peach sorbet. NEVER have I tasted anything more peachy. It was peachier than a peach. And I know my peaches, as some of my family is from Georgia. This is a place to sit down and enjoy dinner. If I were taken here for a date, I'd be very pleased. The interior is like an old brownstone. The service is impeccable. The location is perfect, nestled away from the craziness of downtown. It's nice for a small group or an intimate date. ;)
(5)
Laura J.
Goat cheese....fried.....smothered in tomato sauce.....slathered on grilled bread. Ya, that just happened. Nestled on Beacon St rests this tasty treasure. With a cocktail list featuring a drink called "The Pink Tassel Spinner", I'm sure everyone can find some concoction to enjoy. I met my friend for a mid week after work dinner. A very casual atmosphere greeted us, which was exactly what we were looking for. We started with the aforementioned goat cheese dish, delicious, and then moved on to the grilled steak tips and good ol'cheeseburger. The steak tips were very good. My friends burg was tasty according to her. A couple glasses of wine, a nice leisurely convo, good food, attentive service....no complaints. I'd go back fo shoooo.
(4)
Tammy H.
First off, I didn't come looking for ingenuity. I just wanted well made food, good service, and a satisfied feeling upon leaving--whatever is worthy of food at this price. The verdict? I was satisfied on all accounts. I know this is the first 5-star review this establishment has reviewed in a while, but it's deserved. Service wasn't perfect through and through, but a REALLY good effort was made. We arrived 10min early for our reservation and waited about 20min to be seated. They were busy with two large groups, and we didn't mind waiting, but I was pleasantly surprised when the hostess came by the table later to apologize for the wait. Of all the people that she had to take care of last night, she remembered us! Our waiter was knowledgeable about both the wines and food, and was enjoyable to talk to. The bread came late, but I'll excuse that since he was great on all other accounts. I loooove attentive service, and I felt like we had a LOT of his attention! As for food, The Boy and I ordered the kobe beef "sliders", wedge salad, side of brussel sprouts mash, hangar steak and seared scallops. I actually wanted a side of the lobster mash, but oh dismay! As of this past Monday, they took out all acoutrements, so now you can't get the lobster mash at all ... I'm super sad about that. However, you can substitute for other sides from other entrees. On the major up-side, the hangar steak was amazing (next time we'll do it rare!), as were the scallops. Each were cooked to the right temperature/point and were complimented well with their respective sides and light sauces. As for the rest, the "sliders" were surely not made from your typical ground beef (in a good way), wedge salad was crunchy with good proportions, and the brussel sprouts mash made for a nice comfort side dish. We also got a glass of the Dashe Cellars zin and a glass of the chianti, but we preferred the zin. So for (1) appetizer, (1) salad, (1) side, (2) entrees, (2) glasses of wine, and good service, it totaled to $125 including tax+tip. We could've done without one or two of the smaller dishes since we were so stuffed!
(5)
Brian B.
oy. I went here on a date? The wine was quite nice. The salads were very good! (I don't understand the wedge but hey -people like it!) The tomato bleu cheese was GREAT! Its tough to make a salad smell good. I had the lobster mac-n-cheese too. Its on the "acoutrements" (sp?) list. IT SHOULD BE A MAIN COURSE!!!!!!!! I have had better only at one other place, and atmosphere-wise this wins! We ate on the front porch, and it was lovely. The apartments above are BEAUTIFUL!! So the restaurant made me super-happy.....the date? I thought great until he downgraded to a "friends" thing....hmmm....can this be turned around?
(4)
Robyn A.
This place is perfect for the post-work crowd. Great atmosphere - especially during the summer months when you can sit on the patio. The espresso martinis are the best in town. not sure about dinner, but i've tried some of the apps including the calamari and spinach and artichoke dip and they were delicious!
(5)
Cindy C.
i went to dine after reading all the great reviews on yelp, and i was really disappointed with this place. The slow service was expected since many of the yelpers also mentioned this, however, the food was average at best and i was not at all impressed by my dining experience. FOOD- i ordered the scallops and my friend ordered steak. my scallops were average, and the best part of the dish was the spinach, which was incredibly fresh - but unfortunately it was quite salty. my friend had the hanger steak, which was pretty good, but the spinach was also a little too salty for my taste. my problem with the restaurant occurred mostly when we had dessert. we had ordered one bread budding to share (which was delicious) and one dessert wine. instead, two dessert wines came and we had to send one back - fine, then when the water was replaced, i found a straw wrapper in my water. that was the part which was absolutely unacceptable. and what was worse was when i informed the staff about it, they simply apologized rather insincerely and did not try to, in any way make up for our experience. i don't think i would be returning, ever.
(1)
Ali A.
3 stars is a combo of one 4 star dinner and one 2 star dinner. The cocktail menu is great - a wide selection and lots of new flavors to try. (Key Lime Martini? Sign me up!) The dinner menu is good as well. The BBQ shrimp appetizer is especially delicious, bringing the flavors of New Orleans up here to chilly, snowy Boston. Discovered on visit #1: the entrees are delicious. That is why I do NOT recommend getting the nightly tasting menu. This was our mistake on visit #2. The portions are tiny and the accompanying wines very small glasses. My husband left feeling less than full despite three courses. Speaking of the accompanying wine, they could not quite get the timing down. The wines were served either way too late or way to early, not really corresponding to the courses being served. Visit #2 seemed to be understaffed - hopefully this was the case, as our waitress was certainly nice, but there were huge spans of where we couldn't find her. Moral of the story? Stick to the cocktails and menu entrees and you won't be disappointed.
(3)
amanda n.
My family had a great birthday dinner here. Since we made reservations, they even printed up special menus for our party. A nice touch. I don't remember many specifics about my experience here, but everything was quality -- food, service, atmosphere. Excellent. You must try the lobster macaroni & cheese. You must.
(4)
Kiki B.
eh. maybe it's nicer if you get to sit outside on the patio, but the night we were there the inside ambience just felt a little old and dated, and not in the awesome old-school boston way, just in the worn-down way. the food was just okay - met my needs, not much more.
(2)
Lynda M.
I was at the Fed tonight having drinks with friends, and we decided to give this place a try. Upon entering we were greeted warmly, and were seated at a nice window table. There was a good crowd in here, but not too crazy. We ordered wine, and the spinach/artichoke dip. Yum! My friend and I had the beet/feta cheese salad and my other friend the homemade chicken soup. It was perfect for a cold Autumn night! The decor reminds me of Eastern Standard, but less noisy and much better service. The bar in the back is very nice with flat screen tVs. Definitely a must to come back to!
(5)
Nick R.
Summary: The atmosphere and setting are terrific, the service was pretty good, but my table was sticky and my steak didn't impress me, especially for the price. I was debating between 2 and 3 stars, but went for three because I liked the setting enough that I'd be willing to give it another try, and the other folks in my party liked their dinners (I'll order something different). Time: Monday night, 6:30PM Atmosphere: the building is really cool- it has a 2-story ceiling and the decor of the restaurant harkens back to the early-to-mid nineteenth century, with large black-and-white photo-posters on the upper walls and dark wood and wainscoting down below. I didn't make it to the bar, but it looked inviting. In contrast to the period-styling of the restaurant and bar, the kitchen is open and modern stainless, which seemed to jive well with the rest of the decor. The restaurant wasn't crowded when we were there, and it was easy to have a quiet discussion at a table for four. Service: prompt and no complaints. Food: I had the Grilled All Natural NY Sirloin for $21. It came with Mashed Potatoes, Roasted Asparagus, and Red Onion Jam. The sides were good, but it definitely wasn't a $21 steak. It was a small portion, overcooked (I ordered medium-well, it was definitely well-done (no red on the inside), lacked any significant seasoning, and it had quite a bit of grisly fat on it. I think it's only fair to add the caveat that I lived in Texas for 10 years, so I'm used to tasty, juicy, large, and affordable steaks, so I might be biased, but that didn't make it taste better just because this is Boston. The rest of my party was much happier with their food, which included the Lemon Basted Swordfish Chop at mkt price (it was a surprisingly generous serving), the Miso Glazed Salmon Fillet for $17 and a salmon special that was offered that night ($?). Maybe I should order fish next time? Drinks: we just had beer and ginger ale. They have a limited beer list, but it includes the Boston staples (Harpoon IPA, Sam Adams, Sam Adams Octoberfest, and Stella on draft and a non-interesting list of bottles). The wine list and mixed drink lists looked plentiful, and I was impressed with the selection of dessert wines and top-shelf bourbons, scotches, and cognacs. I'll go back if for no other reason than a night-cap.
(3)
Jennifer T.
We went here for a private function last night. Parking - There is a lot behind the restaurant (go around the block, behind the building) that cost $10. Cant beat that. Atmosphere - We love the old building (late 1800's) and the character inside. SMall restaurant that I think would be a bit cramped normally but for a private function it was nice. Food - I had the filet mignon and my husband had the pork chops. Both were good but nothing fantastic. I would have expected better. Small portions. We had a lot of the appetizers and our favorites were the bacon wrapped scallops and the rice balls (which were AMAZING).
(3)
Sheila T.
When did Scollay Square sell out their menu? And why were they playing magic 106.7 with a little Linkin Park mixed in? Ehh.
(2)
jun s.
I arrived in Boston for a three day conference, AIA 2008 to be exact , and decided to go out to dinner with my fellow co-worker from SF. Although we were both tired from lacking sleep to catch an early flight, we were energized by the thought of discovering a great new restaurant... at the other coast of the continent...! We walked through beautiful Boston Common (perfect temperature and peaceful dusk lighting) and arrived at the restaurant - comfortable, cool, airy feel, nice hostess, I was pleased. Well, let me make this quick as I really should sleep before another long day of conference tomorrow. The raw oysters were mediocre (slightly fishy and sauce was generic) - how disappointing since I've been craving them for so long now! Tomales Bay here I come when I return to SF! The Chilean Sea Bass, on the other hand, was quite good - the flakes were moist and fluffy, the way I like them! The dish, overall, bothered me a bit... the sauce for the fish was good but lacking... hmm... depth and complexity? It was a light version of Teriyaki sauce...!? The chocolate decadence was my favorite part of the meal which is very unusual for me. Now that I don't drink espresso, I resorted to tea and what a limited selection...! again, generic tea bags and not even one decaf like chamomile.... sigh... I wouldn't go back anytime soon, but I wouldn't have trouble recommending it to anyone. While the food was slightly above average, I just enjoyed the place... maybe it's the open grill that was in front of me, perhaps the high ceiling and comfortable lighting, or the mix of the old and modern decor... it was a good choice overall. :)
(4)
Ted A.
One of my favorite local spots.
(5)
Alex E.
I had a unexpectedly fantastic meal at Scollay Square. I started off the night with a Crown Royal Manhattan, which was impeccably mixed. To my knowledge, this is somewhat of a signature drink for the bar-- and rightly so. The vermouth was fantastic quality, and the drink was served in a small decanter on ice. I had the soy citrus glazed salmon with grilled asparagus and their lobster mashed potatoes. The salmon was fresh, cooked perfectly and the glaze was very nice (subtle, too). The asparagus was crisp, fresh and flavorful. I was also pleasantly surprised by the mashed potatoes. It had large bits of lobster meat in it and the potatoes didn't overpower you with a strong lobster flavor. The potatoes were also fresh, well-seasoned, and had a wonderfully light consistency. My only complaint was that the presentation was a bit sloppy. Nonetheless, it was a delicious dish. For dessert, I had the Maine blueberry shortcake with vanilla gelato. This was really a fantastic dessert. The buttermilk biscuit was light and tasty. The blueberry sauce was very nice. Large, fresh blueberries were used and it was not overly sweetened. Fresh whipped-cream topped the dessert--perfectly done. The gelato was also tasty. I would highly recommend Scollay Square for a Manhattan or an impeccable dinner. N.B. Their kitchen is open late, too.
(4)
Mary D.
Let me just start by saying that if I were to rate this place on food alone, they would be getting 1 star. My salad was overdressed, my husband's food undercooked, and everything over seasoned. Whoever is running the show in their kitchen needs to wake up and take a look around because there are about 15 different restaurants all within a kilometer that have significantly better food. We have eaten there a couple times and the food is consistently poor. My husband and I are from the UK, and it's disappointing indeed when we get food that makes British cuisine seem glamorous. I had the Cobb salad, which was a goopy mess. My husband had the salmon, which was undercooked. His rice was overseasoned and hard. Our spring rolls were greasy, over salted, and the ketchup that was served with it was strange. Our bartender was quick to act on our behalf by sending food back and ensuring it's preparation in proper form. The saving grace was the service. Somewhat. Our bartender was fabulous (Sara?). She was friendly, extremely knowledgable (she even fixed me up a special cocktail that wasn't on the menu, having to rummage up ingredients from the kitchen!), and fast! When I was unsure about the type of vodka cocktail I wanted, she asked me my preferences on coktails (sweet, savory, citus, etc) and made me a custom cocktail that suited my palate. She was able to guide me to a vodka that I liked more than what I normally drink (Absolut). She kept my husband and I entertained for much longer than we planned. It felt like we were sitting in someone's house, laughing and getting to know new friends. For a lovely young girl, she possessed all the traits found in good veteran bartenders. She reminded my husband of his local keep back home. The only problem with service was the other waiters. It seemed the servers like to cluster near the bar. My husband and I overheard a waiter several times complaining about the customers. His use of colourful language was obnoxious. A couple times, we heard our bartender remind staff to mind their language and their work. It seemed unprofessional that their choice of location to complain was so close to our ears. We may return for some cocktails and laughs at the bar, but my husband and I are done with their kitchen.
(3)
Cathy H.
I really enjoyed this place- 4 stars. My date hated it. So, I will be coopertive and go with the ever so boring 3-star rating. Then again, after trying his food and mine, I definitely lucked out on picking my menu items. Service was uber-slow. The tuna was fab.
(3)
Kristie A.
Ok. I'm updating my review for 3 reasons: the make your own bloody mary bar during brunch AND the bar itself AND server Seana! Sure, the food is good; the service is fine. But I'm a fan of sitting at a bar alone and this bar is a great place to sit and DRINK and do a crossword puzzle. It's dark, it's comfortable. Easy.
(4)
Cameron M.
Food was very tasty, one and only merlo is good, service is reasonable, Buffalo chip was spicy and good, Girl was very cute
(4)
Teresa W.
Drinks were good try the lemonade, can't even tell it has alcohol in it. Food was delicious & prices were fair.
(4)
Diane D.
Very good consistent place. Good service, reasonable prices--nothing bad to say about it. Been here 3 times and each time everything was great.
(4)
Ben K.
Awesome: -The manager gave us tastings of three different wines, then later asked us how everything was, and cleared some of our plates Mediocre: -The food, the food, the food. Everything was good. A-OK. But nothing was stunning, nothing was alternative, nothing stood out. The salmon was cooked perfectly, but lacked flavor. The lobster mashed potatoes had chunks of lobster in them, but I swear I couldn't taste it, and the caesar salad was fine but needed more lemon and more anchovies. -The prices. For what you get, it's a little steep, but this is Boston. Bad: -The waiter had one special to remember: "Butternut Squash Lasagna." He read that off a paper, but then when we asked him what went into it besides butternut squash he said, "let me go check with my manager." When we asked him to describe one of the wines, he said "Oh, I don't drink wine. I'm going to have to get my manager." How can you possibly be a seller of food and wine and not know the product you're selling? Especially at a nice restaurant in Beacon Hill? The manager was great, but the server was sub-par. -The parking situation. Pricey if you want to use the lot next door, which can be full, and no real available parking on the street. Oh, and no valet either. All in all, the three of us upon leaving agreed that we wouldn't be going back. With the economy as it is, it's a competitive restaurant market and you have to be choosy.
(3)
Al A.
Awesome location. Meh food. Meh service. Very dirty tables. Almost clean chairs.
(2)
Kevin M.
this place is really cool. It is located inside the former recieving room/lobby area for an old hotel back in the 1800s. (the bellevue hotel) A lof of the original architectural details are still intact. (mirror behind the bar, exposed columns etc...) The menu has something to offer everyone! Chicken, lobster mashed potatoes..... restuffed baked potatoes( YUMM) ... seafood, etc...I had the sirloin steak, which was amazing. Someone else I was with had the Meatloaf, which I tried and was delighted with. (Weird texture, but great taste) I had a cosmo, which was very smooth! definitely worth a trip.
(4)
Jeff B.
I'll be the first to admit that I'm a very picky and unforgiving patron. If you pour tap into my half glass of Saratoga Spring water, I'll ask for new bottle. If my meat is under/overcooked, I'll be looking forward to a new cut, thanks. That said, this place gave me no opportunity to allow them to spit or sprinkle pubes in my food. Everything, EVERYTHING here is done well. This is one of my favorite spots for dinner in Boston. From the spicy cocktails at the well-stocked bar to the simple fact that they have Evolution #9 to complement a nice selection of oysters, Scollay is a great after-work restaurant. The staff knows how to blend upscale and friendly service styles - never pretentious, never distracted, always pleasant, always doting. While the menu itself isn't huge, it's all high-quality, fresh food and good-sized portions - I see huge value in what they prepare and how they prepare it. I haven't gotten past the creme brulee on the dessert menu, I just wish they served Dolce by the glass! I suppose some see Scollay Square having a snooty atmosphere, but it's so small you make it what you want. And the other reviews about this and that being disappointing.. I don't know what to tell you - sit at my table.. . .
(5)
Lindsay L.
Yesterday was my first time at Scollay Square. My internship supervisor took me out to lunch there as an end-of-the-year-thank-you-for-your-hard-work celebration with just us two. This is a go-to spot for her when she wants to take employees for a good lunch. She recommended that I try the Miso Glazed Salmon Fillet or Macaroni and Cheese with Maine Lobster Meat. I ordered the salmon, and it was yummy. It was also just right in terms of food portions. I felt full but not stuffed. Even after eating the whole dish, I had enough room for dessert. I ordered the Red Velvet Cake and then I felt stuffed! Just so you know, the Red Velvet Cake is supposed to serve two. Since I can never resist anything red velvet, I took my leftover cake to go. The location's pretty ideal. If I were shopping around Downtown Crossing or hanging out in the Common, I'd probably stop by Scollay again with some friends. Next time, I hope to hang out on the patio. It was a little too chilly when my supervisor and I had lunch, but the patio was packed later in the afternoon when I passed by the restaurant.
(4)
Caitlin D.
If you have an upcoming birthday, this is the place to go. I reserved a table for 8 on Opentable.com and went for my birthday. They called the day of to confirm I would be arriving and asked if there was a special occasion. I explained that it was my birthday. When I got to the restaurant and opened my menu, they had specially printed a menu that said "Happy birthday Caitlin from all of us at Scollary Square" across the top. The food was really good, it was one of those moments where I kept eating even though I knew I should stop. To top things off, once the dishes had been cleared, the waiter gave me a birthday card signed by the waiters and waitresses in the restaurant. And they did the traditional dessert at the end of the meal where they brought out a small lava cake dessert with a candle in it. All in all, I had a great experience with plenty of great surprises!
(5)
j e.
This is a cool place and ambience is good. Server was nice but there were only like 5 tables in the restaurant seated when we were there and they still did not get my brunch order correct. They realized it after they had served everyone and I watched the other diners finish brunch. And then got my food. Apologies were given but not even a gratis orange juice or something while I waited? I was a server for 10 years and would have always tried to make up for a mistake. Eggs were strange and rubbery in the omelette I had. Service mistakes aside, I still would not go back. There are better places in Boston for sure.
(2)
James G.
Again, we live in the building so its a convenient place to eat. We though we would go here a lot since its right downstairs but every time we go we leave thinking how mediocre the food is. The best thing on the menu is the BBQ shrimp appetizer. I've gotten it every time I've gone for dinner. Brunch, like dinner is just mediocre and after last time will probably never go for brunch again. Would have given 3 stars BUT a friend of mine used to work there and after I told them I had eaten there they strongly suggested not eating there ever again due to poor sanitation. Tempted to go back for their $22, 3 course menu that they always have on the chalk board outside but probably won't due to above mentioned reasons.
(2)
Jenny L.
Went here last night-- I had two friends in town and after going to HH on Newbury St., wanted to go to a fun restaurant in Beacon Hill for dinner before we headed to the Liberty Hotel for the night. I went onto OpenTable.com and saw that they had reservations available around 8:00 and took a gamble--- glad I did! When we arrived, we were able to grab a table on the patio right away. Oysters-- only complaint is there were only 5 and not a 1/2 dozen. One of my friends got the short end of the stick and only had 1 instead of 2. Short rib-- VERY tender and flavorful Lobster Mac n' cheese-- lobster was great-- not too chewy. Great comfort dish Scallops--Cooked to perfection--very smooth, not chewy. Good ambiance too-- most everyone sat on the patio, but has a great atmosphere inside-- not super chic, but not your casual restaurant/bar either.
(4)
Dan C.
We had dindin on 12/26, meaning the place was basically ours. They'd sent some of their waitstaff home early, and we were served by the bartender who was really friendly and helpful. Eventually the manager showed up and started waiting on us. She looked like she could have used a nap. And some stimulants. The look and feel of the place, the food, all very nice. Small enough to be cozy and intimate, but big enough that you didn't have to scrunch into a little ball. Lobster mashed potatoes - mm. Kobe meatloaf was mine mm. Also worth noting. My mom, not the most adventurous eater, calls Legal Seafoods her favorite restaurant of all time and everytime our family goes out somewhere different to eat, she'll ALWAYS assess the restaurant in comparison to Legal Seafoods, usually their Shrimp scampi dish, which she always orders. And of course legal seafoods and shrimp scampi always wins. "the portions are bigger at legal! Legal has shrimp scampi. Legal seafoods is less expensive. Legal seafoods is more popular so it's better!" yes mom, it also gives me diarrhea. It doesn't matter what dish she orders - she could be eating cow ovaries and still manage to compare it to legal seafoods shrimp scampi. But this time. No mention of legal seafoods either way. I was amazed. Some might call that a draw. knowing my mom I call it a significant victory.
(4)
Jaimie S.
Goat cheese is amazing!!!! Friendly service ...
(5)
Alyssa N.
I need to find an excuse to come back here. My drink, a concoction involving toffee and some tasty white chocolate liqueur, was amazing. I also highly recommend you not leave without trying the Lobster Mac n' Cheese, which will make you sad every time you eat the stuff in the blue box from Kraft after trying this decadent dish (a secret- I ordered it as my appetizer).
(4)
Jennifer T.
Deliciousness...mac and cheese, filet mignon sandwich, fries, tuna napoleon app (one of my favs). Great menu and atmosphere. Classy but not too expensive, especially for lunch. I've always had good service.
(4)
Anna B.
I have eaten here many times for dinner, brunch and lunch and it is always good, even with a large party. It is also reasonably-priced. The Chocolate Decadence dessert is serious chocolate. The lunchtime Mac & Cheese and steak tips are good too. But the best thing about this place is their Sunday brunch MYO Bloody Mary Bar - I wasn't a Bloody Mary drinker until I tried this and experimented until I found my personal recipe.
(5)
Shang S.
Wow! I was so blown away by my dinner experience here. First off, I organized a party of 6 for a birthday. After reading the reviews here, I went ahead and asked them if they could (1) Print the birthday person's name on the menu (2) if I could bring in a cake. So, the menu happened for sure, and while they charged a $2/person cake fee, they did add candles on top (which I forgot), so a very nice touch in general. Now, on to the food, which was the best part of the meal! It came out in a very reasonable amount of time. Everyone was very happy with their selection, granted, three of us got the miso glazed chilean sea bass. I got the soy glazed salmon, which came with lobster mashed potatoes and very crispy asparagus (not too tough, and not too roasted). Yum! I was extremely surprised by how much lobster there was in the potatoes (probably 2 claws' worth). My appetizer of 6 raw oysters was also great, then again, I'm not a very discriminating oyster fan. I do agree with another person below that the sauce wasn't all that interesting, but at least the oysters were fresh and clean. Our server was very friendly, attentive, patient, and not overly pushy. The restaurant also followed up with a phone call the next day if you have any suggestions, which I think really speaks to their attention to customer service. I'm definitely coming back here again!
(5)
LuLu M.
I was super excited to come here based on Yelp reviews and checking out the menu ahead of time. Unfortunately, it was not a good experience: after we were seated and ordered, literally our appetizers and main entree came out within 5 minutes of each other. The waitress should have watched our table to see when we were about 10 minutes away from being ready for our entree and THEN put our entree order in. When you have both come out so quickly, you end up rushing to eat both so the food doesn't get cold. On top of that, I'm all about customer service, but the waitress came to check on us every two minutes, and then the hostess came to check on us every two minutes, which means we only had one minute of alone time before someone else asked "how is everything?" which made for a disruptive evening. And lastly, we still had a generous amount of food on our plates when they would come check on us but would still ask "can I take your plate away" or "are you done with that?" each time which made us feel super rushed. I don't know what their hurry was since there were only 3 other tables occupied. I guess we picked a night where it was a "miss"! :-(
(2)
Franco C.
My favorite place in Boston. Whenever anyone is in town, we always come here. I'm big on atmosphere and this place has it. It's like a smaller Eastern Standard restaurant (which is near Fenway). I love their prosciutto wrapped cod filet and their cider brined porterhouse pork chop. Flavors are great. Every time I've gone the wait staff has been solid. When making a reservation, definitely request a seat by the window. There are only a few tables with the view (I think three) so it's worth it to get the view. Great atmosphere. Always busy. But it never feels annoying.
(5)
Mary D.
Had dinner here with my husband the other night. Wanted to try someplace different, and he had heard of this restaurant. We were seated right away, even though we were about 15 minutes early for our reservation. Seated right next to open kitchen - not my favorite table, but ok. Ordered a bottle of wine and 2 appetizers - ahi tuna and fried goat cheese. Tuna was nicely prepared; little bit of a kick, but very tasty. Goat cheese was wonderful - gooey, creamy, warm. Nice way to start our meal. I ordered the steak tips, which was perfectly prepared. Husband had a chicken dish, which he liked except for the instant potatoes. All in all, a very good meal. Only problem was with the waiter. From the moment we sat down, he was rushing us. We just wanted a nice relaxing meal - restaurant was not overly crowded, so there was no need to rush us. When we ordered the wine, he asked what we wanted for dinner. Told him we hadnt looked at menu yet. Brought wine to table and asked again. We ordered appetizers but were not ready to order entree. He seemed very put out. When he brought our appetizers out, he asked again. Out of spite, we told him we would wait until we had the appetizers and then decide. After that, he came back twice before we put in our entree requests. Again, it was not crowded, only about 7:30pm at that point - no one should be in such a rush. Atmosphere was a bit bright, open kitchen, bar in the rear. Good location.
(3)
Maitland L.
I had a date here last night. It was fantastic. The service was friendly and fast. The food came out very fast, and it tasted spectacular. We started out with oysters, which were very tasty, but the horseradish cocktail sauce that it came with was pretty mediocre. Dinner was amazing. I had the scallops, which were seared perfectly and served with spinach and some sort of flavored mashed potatoes. My husband got the sirloin steak which was also cooked perfectly. I had a couple of bites of his restuffed baked potato which was superb. Everything was delightful. I'd love to go back.
(5)
Tracey N.
Yes, please! Whenever we plan a family gathering we end up here, and I usually bring my out-of-towners, too. The food is excellent, the drinks go down smooth but will knock you on your ass. The mac n' cheese is--for a side dish--one of the biggest and best in the city. The service is always helpful and outstanding. Even better: I can come here with my kid and, not only do I feel zero guilt, but we all leave happy. Speaking of kids' meals, again, one of the biggest and best I've seen anywhere. How great is that?
(5)
Chris T.
My friend took me here last night, she kept building up how amazing the place was, so I was eager to try it. Sadly to say, we were both disappointed. The Oyster appetizer was meh, and the steaks we ordered (Flank and Hanger) were small and flavorless. My friend ordered a glass of Zardetto Prosecco but instead got a glass of Cavit, cheap ass shit. The menu was tiny. If you don't like seafood, which I don't, then you only have about 3 options. That sucks. Didn't even want to stay for dessert. Instead we hopped over next door to Zen and got some good quality food.
(2)
John Paul N.
Friday night, about 6:30pm, and we had no idea what we wanted to do for dinner. It being Lent, we knew we had to go to a place that served seafood. I browsed opentable for a while and was not getting any inspiration from the places we saw online. Either no reservation for the night or places that seemed too expensive for a simple Friday night. Abby, on her iphone, saw some good reviews for Scollay Square on yelp and I noticed that there was plenty of reservations. So I quickly got us a spot and we left the condo for Beacon Hill. We arrived to see that Scollay Square had a nice outdoor area and there were still some after work crowd having beers and loud conversations. The weather had been great so we decided to sit outside. The hostess and waitstaff were all very friendly. It being restaurant week we quickly looked over their priced fix menu special. Not a bad offering actually, with Kobe Sliders and grilled salmon as options. However, we weren't in for a big meal, so we ordered off the regular menu, which consisted of classic pub eats. Abby got the goat cheese appetizer and a pear salad. I went for the fish and chips. Our food came out quickly and everything was delicious. The goat cheese, a cheese I am always 50/50 about, was very smooth and creamy and was laid in a nice complimentary tomato sauce. Spread this cheese and some of the sauce onto the toasted bread and you have yourself a very nice starter. Abby's pear salad came with candied pecans that she couldn't stop raving about. The salad also was not drenched in dressing, which was nice. The pears, which may be out of season, were just ok though. My fish and chips were cooked perfectly. The fries were lightly battered and were very crispy. The fish, cut into small pieces instead of coming out as one huge piece, was very flaky with a batter that did not overpower the fish at all. The tartar sauce was nothing special, but wasn't bad either. Same with the coleslaw. Scollay Square either just hired new chefs or redid their menu or both apparently. I do not know what it was like before, but the night we went the food was definitely way above average and probably better than most standard pub fare. I'd like to go back and try other items on the menu, especially in the summer when the outdoor area will more than likely be really busy. (The next day I got a call from Scollay Square asking how our meal was. I told them everything was great, just like I said in this review, but I was a little nervous that this was some scam afraid someone just wanted to check my phone number to match my credit card I used or something. Then I realized I paid cash for our meal and that the phone number that called me matched the phone number on the website. Guess they just wanted to make sure we had a good dinner.) I give Scollay Square a very strong 3 1/2 out of 5.
(4)
Darius C.
Love this place. Came twice for brunch on Saturday and Sunday with a friend and both days were terrific!! Terrific Food (Photo evidence added!), Friendly Service and $4 Mimosas, what more can you ask for?
this place was so great... the menu was quite diverse, but thoughtful and each dish in my party was tasty. drinks are stiff & delicious- 2 thumbs up to the blood orange martini (they should put a blood orange garnish, instead of regular, but minor detail) oysters were fresh + served with the classics. the lobster mac & cheese was excellent. normally i am not a mac & cheese entree orderin' type of gal... but this was cheesy, new england, deliciousness. my mom got the scallops, which looked lovely but i didn't try. my dad got the hanger steak, which was cooked perfectly & served with a great classic mashed potato. great service! another bonus- open kitchen. =D last bonus- this really is a great value considering the quality of the food and portion sizes. i'll be back.
(4)
Samantha M.
We came here for dinner and were not overly impressed. The prices were reasonable, but the food was nothing to write home about. I had originally wanted to rate Scollay Square a 3, however, a few hours after eating, my friend and I became sick. Thinking back, the calamari tasted a bit off. The best part of the meal was dessert.
(2)
Alvin L.
Scollay Square was a bit overpriced however their attentive staff more than made up for the food. The ambiance is pleasant however parking is very difficult and it would be best if you took the T (subway) for your dining experience. Overall the food was good but not memorable.
(2)
Katlyn R.
Really wonderful food, good prices, nice outdoor patio for good days. The buffalo sliders were awesome, and the service was really great. Definitely will be going again.
(5)
Jodie O.
Food is good here, service is OK. I came here for brunch with my guy and the service was "meh" considering almost everyone was sitting outside on such a gorgeous Saturday. They messed up the most simple thing in my order (no whipped cream on my fruit please?), and neglected to tell us that the reason why the coffee hasn't come out in the 20 minutes since we ordered it, was because they were brewing a new pot. OK, I like it fresh, but let us know because we thought she forgot about us. Dinner is good too, I just with they had some more vegetarian options other than their rice + veggies dish. It's good, I just with there were more of a variety.
(3)
Piyali S.
Meal was good but nothing extraordinary, so I'm a bit surprised it got four stars overall. My suspicion is that its location (right behind the State house) makes Scollay Square a high traffic spot for bright-eyed tourists to dine, which also seems appropriate given its kitschy-all-American decor. We got the chips and guacamole to start but since good guac is like pizza - pretty hard to mess up - I'm always pretty satisfied with it but never really impressed. After vacillating between the lemon basted swordfish chop (which looks very interesting) and the miso glazed salmon filet, I chose the latter because the waitress claimed it was her favorite dish on the menu (that and I was trying not to break the bank that evening with the market price option). The glazed salmon was served on a layered bed of sliced cucumbers, jasmine rice and spinach. While tasty I felt the fish was a tad overcooked and too tender for my taste. Rhea hit the jackpot with the prosciutto and truffle oil mac and cheese. Now I rarely order mac and cheese in restaurants, mostly because I am quite pleased with Easy Mac and so not quite the mac and cheese connoisseur if you will, but this was truly delicious and probably something I'd get if I were to come back to Scollay. I am still curious about that lemon basted swordfish and I do see lobster eggs benedict on their brunch menu so I'll probably have to come back here.
(3)
Jeff R.
I ate at Scollay Square last night with a group of people, and it seemed that we all had a great experience. The restaurant is charming and classy, with old Boston governmental photos and documents decorating the wall space. The atmosphere is probably more appropriate for an outing with friends or a business meal than for a romantic date, but that's not meant to be a detraction. The menu isn't terribly extensive (2 pages) but had some good offerings. Between my meal and what others shared with me, I tried the pear salad, fried calamari, citrus soy glazed salmon fillet, and hangar sirloin, all of which were very good. Portions were decently sized, and I noticed that the side dishes were fairly large. The service was also great, although the place wasn't very crowded, especially for a Thursday night (I'm not sure why). Overall, a big thumbs up!
(5)
Cynthia B.
Love Love Love this place. I live in California but I make a point to visit here when I home visting family and friends. Since, I usually sit at the bar I'm a particular fan of the cocktail menu. It's one of my favorite places to grab a couple drinks and pick and choose from some appetizers and salads for a light dinner. The staff is always freindly and the bartenders are super knowledgeable about everything from aged scotches (my boyfriend is obsessed) to specific wine pairings. The lobster mac n cheese is awesome but when I'm not in the mood for something rich, the ahi tuna is REALLY tasty.
(5)
Finn M.
Scollay Square is a really pleasant and enjoyable dining experience, the sort of place that to me oozes "Boston." The pastrami sandwich (how could I resist?) was one of the better once I've ever tasted, and for those loving the fish and chips, I concur. It's Beacon Hill through and through; if it's good enough for Dianne Wilkerson and her cronies, it's good enough for you.
(4)
tania t.
What a great evening in Beacon Hill (is that right?)! We celebrated my best friend's upcoming wedding (read: bachelorette party) by having dinner here before hitting up mantra for dancing. A MUST: lobster mashed potatoes; it sounds a bit weird, but is ridiculously delicious! You gotta try it. RECOMMENDED: New England Clam Chowder. Watch out: you think you're getting a soup appetizer, but this bowl is the size of your head (if you have a pretty large noggin' as well!)! Share this amazing chowda with a friend or two, because it's scrumptious, but huge. The service is great too; they treated our bride-to-be with a flourless chocolate cake and the manager came over to send his thanks for choosing his restaurant to celebrate. The only negative: Dining area is a bit of a small space and a bit cramped. I guess this is an artifact of being in Boston.
(4)
Thuy L.
After a happy hour at Beacon Street, a group of 12 decided to grab some grub down the street. We were seated promptly after a friend called to make reservations 15 minutes before arriving. We ordered apps and drinks first--I ordered the ahi tuna napoleon with crispy wonton sheets, stacked in layers of four. It was incredible...the seasoning was perfect, a hint of ginger vinaigrette and a pinch of sesame seeds. DELICIOUS!!! I also ordered the key lime martini...this was dessert in a glass. It was so good that I had to lick the graham cracker crust off the rim. I then ordered the braised short ribs after recieving a tip from a customer earlier that night. It definitely exceeded my expectations...the meat was very tender and the sauce was mouth-watering. The best deal of the night was probably their 3-course pre-fixed menu for $22. It starts off with a bowl of bisque as the first course, followed by a steak for the entree, and bread pudding for the dessert. Considering that most of the entrees start at $18-20, the prixe-fixed meal was a steal. The steak was cooked nicely with enough flavors to keep the juices locked in. I wasn't that big of a fan of the bread pudding, but then again, I'm not a big fan of bread pudding period. Other members of our group ordered the lobster mac n'cheese, the salmon fillet and the fish & chips. All the items ordered were delicious. The Lobster Mac N' Cheese rich and has just enough lobster to make you happy. The fish & chips were okay, nothing special. The salmon was reported to be amazing, cooked absolutely at the right temperature and the wasabi mashed potatos were a big hit. The service was great. The front manager had us seated in no time, even though the reservation was for 8, she switched around some tables, and though our party had to split up into two tables, she found places for us. The restaurant isn't that large but she was very accomodating, considering that we were a pretty rowdy group. Our waiter, Seth, was also very attentive and very friendly. We will defintiely be back.
(4)
Paolo D.
Nice atmosphere, decent food. Service sucks, particularly the ugly woman tending bar that looks like a witch. other than that, a pretty good experience!
(3)
Layla P.
Nice place, not the best and I would probably try other places before returning, but good. I was a tad disappointed in the crab cake which was not crisp and was more in a 'large lump' form than in a 'cake' form, but the taste was pretty good. The main dish was the salmon with lobster mashed potatoes which was a great concept and I would recommend it, but it was a tad on the oily side. Service was friendly and timely.
(4)
Dee T.
Scollay Square was recommended by the concierge at a local hotel. The atmosphere was pleasant, though perhaps a bit loud and casual for the price. (We spent $68 plus tip for two, and that was splitting a salad and a dessert and drinking tap water.) The food was pleasant, too--I had the fish and chips, my friend had a flank or a hanger steak--can't remember which--and we both liked our meals, though we weren't particularly blown away by them. But the desserts we had were poor, almost shockingly so. We ordered the blueberry shortcake to share; the menu said it would be warm, but what arrived was not only ice cold but stale. The cake tasted like a Popeye's or KFC biscuit, only half as fresh. The restaurant very accommodatingly offered to bring us something else, so we ordered the bread pudding. This time, the dessert was extremely hot--burning almost--and I assumed they put it in the microwave. But I could have stood the heat if the dessert were fresh and tasty, which unfortunately it was not. It had no discernable flavor other than "burning." The next day we had excellent food at the Grotto--it was cooked the way food should be cooked. In comparison, Scollay Square felt very ordinary.
(3)
Todd B.
I have been to Scollay Square and I have not found one thing wrong with this restaurant. The food is excellent, the staff is very pleasant and it is a great environment. If you are looking to get an excellent meal at a fair price then you need to give Scollay Square a shot.
(4)
Miss P.
hot damn! one of the best meals i've had in a long time. extra points for being a block or so from the hotel i stayed at (Parker House Omni...sucky ass hotel...apparently john wilkes booth stayed here...no wonder he got all cranky and shot up good ol' abe...damn you! home of the parker house rolls and boston cream pie...and cramped rooms...)...oh, wait, this is about food....back to scollay square... kobe sliders were awesome...i hate the fact that the term "kobe" is thrown around though, since it's an actual place in japan, and i know you likely didn't fly in the beef from there. LUMP crab cake, the only way it should be done! awesome bbq shrimp as well. entrees were all good, as well as the desserts (i.e., i think i'm having a senior moment, and can't remember what i ate...)..... can't wait to come back to boston and eat here again!
(5)
Christina G.
I had a great lunch here a little while back. We had good service and two great dishes. The first... Lobster Mac and Cheese, possibly the best combination ever discovered, and the Acorn and Butternut squash lasagna. It was so different and a nice change from regular Lasagna. Great for this time of year as well. For dessert, the Maine Blueberry Shortcake which was was light and yummy. This is a nice lunch spot if you are in the area. It's nice inside, but if you come during the warmer months they have a nice outdoor patio instead.
(4)
Rock L.
Craving some good food after arriving into Boston. The food is great not badly price. They Plasma all around playing all the major games. Its a nice Small conformable place. Very close to Bostom Commons and easy to find
(4)
Betty P.
I was in charge of finding a place with outdoor seating for a group of 4 of us last night. I ruled out anywhere near Fenway or Newbury St. since there was a Sox game in town. Ruled out North End since I knew it would be mobbed and not looking forward to paying an arm and a leg for parking. The waterfront doesn't have as many possibilities as one would want. So going through my mental catalog of restaurants, I finally thought of Scollay Square. I had been here years ago with my dining club when it first opened so I was interested to see how it fared many years later. We showed up almost 15 minutes early for our reservation (made quickly and easily on Open Table), but we were seated immediately. I had requested outdoor seating and it was not a problem. The food was pretty impressive, but the service was not of the same quality. Our waitress didn't smile once and although the waitress who waited on our neighboring table made many appearances, ours was an infrequent visitor. She also did not tell us anything about the $22 3-course menu special until I asked about it. Service aside, the food thankfully made up for our waitress' lack of bubbly-ness. My dining companions ordered the Spring Rolls, lobster mac n'cheese, and the acorn & butternut squash lasagna -- all of which received rave reviews. The lasagna eater was licking his plate clean, telling us over and over how great the sage cream was. He said, "I feel like one of those Iron Chef judges. I want to tell the chef how great the dish was!" My daily special of prosciutto wrapped salmon with mashed potatoes and baby carrots was kinda bland and probably the least flavorful dish at the table. Which I guess is fine since I am on a diet. :) We lingered for a bit on the outdoor patio and nobody kicked us out. The patio is definitely great for people watching and I noticed a variety of clientele walk in -- from young professionals in shorts and Crocs to older couples donning pearls in their theater-going duds. Everyone in our party definitely agreed that Scollay Square is going to be a regular place in our dinner rotation. Meals for four people (including 1 beer) came in at around $80 before tip. The $22 menu was definitely worth asking about! The most impressive aspect of this place is that I received a random phone call today on my cell. Turns out it was the restaurant calling to check in on how last night went. Apparently, they said they call everybody who makes reservations the day after to check in and see how their experience was. I thought that was a great touch and makes me think that after a few more visits, I might give SS its 5th star!
(4)
Josh S.
I met a few friends here on a Sunday night for dinner in December. Since it was a Sunday, and cold, it wasn't surprising that there weren't too many people in the restaurant. For appetizers, we wanted something light so we got the edamame, which was pretty good. We got our entrees, however, before we finished the appetizer so we felt a little rushed. For the entrees I ordered the broiled scallops, which were really good and a nice portion size. One friend got the NY Sirloin, which she thought was tasty. Another friend ordered the Tuna Burger, which she liked. The last member of our party ordered the fish and chips, which he thought was okay but it wasn't superb. All in all, we had a good time and enjoyed the food. For dessert, we ordered the cookie sliders, which were okay but the ice cream was hard as a rock. We also shared the red velvet cake which was delicious.
(4)
Jeff W.
I am starting to notice a trend by the owners of this place... First Max and Dylans, then Tavern on the Water (worst), now here... Service Simply Sucks. It really is the worst service in the city for any group of restaurants in Boston. I am not sure if the hiring manager is really nice and hires these waitresses because he/she feels bad for them, or if he/she is truly clueless, but they are all distant and have little foresight. As a quick example... after having to leave my party to find the waitress so we could order (after 22 minutes), I asked a specific question about a wine we were going to buy. She answered with conviction later to find out she answered wrong... And yet, she proceeded to argue with me. It's too bad.. The food was very good and the setting was awesome.
Maybe I'm just being a pessimist, but Scollay didn't really do it for me. I've read though many positive reviews that lauded the comfort food stylings of this hip little place, but I'm just not feeling it. My wife and I hit up Scollay with some friends Saturday night. The service was a little blah, but I was ready for that after reading some reviews. I found the space to be a little strange. The open kitchen didn't make much sense for a place that makes mac n cheese as a specialty. The dining area is very cramped, even on a night when the place didn't seem to have all the tables filled. I tried to shrug off the oddness of the layout to see if the food would make up for it. I got the cheessteak spring rolls first while my wife got a Caesar salad. Both were good, but nothing to awe inspiring. My wife and I decided to share the fish and chips and the esteemed lobster mac n cheese. Again, both were just okay. The fish and chips were more like cod nuggets that lacked seasoning. The mac n cheese was pretty soupy and did not have much lobster meat or lobster flavor. I wanted so much to be drawn into a world of buttery cheesy bliss with the mac n cheese, but it just wasn't happening. We left feeling full from food but unfulfilled in our search for comfort food on Beacon Hill.
(2)
M Y.
Great place for brunch (not sure about dinner). I went with a friend on a Saturday and was pleasantly surprised. The food was great and reasonably priced. Everything was done perfectly and portions were generous for the price. Service staff were personable and friendly too!
(5)
Alison B.
I work here. The food never ceases to amaze me. I recommend everything! but especially the ahi tuna napoleon, spinach and artichoke dip, baked haddock, beet salad, wedge salad, steak tips, squash lasagna, thai chicken and shrimp, roasted half chicken, cheddar grits.. Really I do love everything on the menu. The specials and pre fixe are always new and exciting as well! Mix and match if you want! It's so flexible. You get a fantastic meal for an adequate price. For wine, try the Kenwood or MacMurray PN, Sycamore Chard or Evolution (made from 9 different grapes!) and for dessert, Iniskillen ice wine and white chocolate bread pudding. YUM!
(4)
S H.
The food here was very good -- the hot dishes were a little cold (lobster mac & cheese and some appetizer), but the flavoring was great. The service during our meal was great We made a reservation on OpenTable.com (through the Yelp link). You provide your name, phone and email address for an account. The next day, Scollay Square called us with the following voicemail: Hi ... this is (employee name) from Scollay Square. I'm just calling to say that you had dinner with us last night & we just like to give a reservations, just a little follow up call & make sure that everything went well & that you had a good time & that there were no issues & to let you know that if you do have any questions or comments or complaints, alright so please give me a call back. My No. here is 16177424900 & if I don't hear from you then hopefully we'll see you again soon. Thanks again. Bye bye. To me, that's like voice mail spam. Other people may think it's great, but when the waitress asked if our meal was okay, and we said "It's great", that should have been the end of the conversation. OpenTable's response was: You would need to contact the restaurant and ask them to please not use your phone number for that purpose. The restaurants are allowed to use their database however they would like and it is up to you to specify otherwise.
(3)
Matt P.
Solid four star resteraunt with friendly service and very decent food. Haven't done much drinking here -- but the bar area is appealing to the eye. Great atmosphere and a good value overall, Scollay Square works for a whole great or just two!
(4)
Andrea B.
This place is great :) The service is outstanding, the food is deeelish, and the atmosphere is very unique. I haven't tasted anything on the menu I didn't like but i especially enjoy the tuna napoleon appetizer and the pomegranate martini...I may just have to head there tonight. Good for couples, business gatherings (i took about 15 people from a conference there a few months back and everyone was raving about it), or just hanging out at the bar with friends. All in all, one of the best places in Boston for food and drinks.
(5)
Nicole B.
i'm torn between 3 and 4 stars. but the food was so good i'll round up to a 4. i had the lobster mac and cheese while my boyfriend had the scallops. both were delicious! there were alot of other things on the menu i'd love to try. i can see myself absolutely going back. the prices were decent too. especially considering it's on beacon hill.
(4)
Steve T.
OK, the sole reason for the 4-star review is because it was Restaurant Week. I'm sure the restaurant was pulling out the stops on service, and the menu was limited; I'd prefer to give a rating based upon the "regular" experience. And I'm already planning to return, because I enjoyed the experience. The service was polite and attentive, and the food was excellent. In fact, the service was so attentive that our waiter arranged a blind taste test to help us choose between two bottles of wine - our choice, and his recommendation. Both were superb. I can easily see this turning into a 5-star review on a second visit. I'm looking forward to the Bloody Mary bar, the Chocolate Decadence, and the Lobster Mac & Cheese. The seating is cozy, but not too cramped, and the prices on the regular menu were reasonable (though I ate off the Restaurant Week menu). Scollay Square has all the makings of a definite winner.
(4)
Tom V.
Great Brunch Spot near the Commons! We wandered into this spot for brunch on Sat while in town for the Cubs game. They accomodated us on a fairly crowded patio, which was great on a much needed sunny day in May. I was going to order an omelet, as the ones I saw others having look huge & delicious, but the lobster eggs benny kept calling my name...tough decision...kinda pricey & probably comes will a few scraps of lobster...screw it, I'm out of town & treating myself! So glad I did! Best meal of the trip!! It was done perfectly & there was a ton of lobster meat...worth every penny!! Hash browns were also solid. Everyone else in the group seemed to enjoy their meals as well. Bloody Mary bar was good too, even if the server spilled my vodka pour all over upon his arrival to the table... :) Great location, great food, great patio. A little pricey for B-fast/Brunch but oh so worth it!! Congrats Bruins!!!!
(5)
Corey L.
The food was good. Nothing incredible, but it was good. Prices were over the top, the most expensive dish was $29, but the average was $16-$23. The place was kinda loud, which for me is a down side. I'd go back.
(3)
P M.
LOVED this place. The atmosphere was really great. My friend and I sat at the bar and kept ordering appetizers. The place had the best Blue Point oysters I've ever tried. They have an oyster sampler plate - choice of 3 oysters. I wish they knew the names of one of the others. (I thought it was a bit lame they didn't - they only knew it was from California. Tasted amazing). We also had a pecan salad that was great. Have to go back for the lobster mac 'n' cheese. We had the chocolate flourless cake which I wasn't crazy about at all. The service here was great. Very friendly. Can't wait to go back and maybe try dinner.
(5)
Robin A.
Went here on a Fri. night. I had looked at yelp for a nice seafood restaurant, and since I tried for reservations an hour before we wanted to eat, I wasn't very successful. This restaurant was able to seat us, so we hopped in a cab and felt so loved when we arrived. It is so warm and inviting inside. A real local place! Maggie was our server, and she was personable, knowledgeable, and very helpful. Their tuna appetizer was the best we've ever eaten. We had the swordfish with lobster risotto, and both were oh, my god, amazing. Good wine selection and reasonably priced. I will definitely go back when I'm in Boston.
(5)
Melissa C.
Update: I'm increasing their rating after my second experience. The customer service is top notch, seriously 5 stars. I've really been impressed with the service. This time my waiter forgot to put in the calamari app order, which would normally bother me, but he did an excellent job of taking full responsibility for it, and the food came out so quickly that we really never missed it. After trying more menu items, I'm also more impressed. The miso glazed Chilean sea bass was perfectly prepared. As well it was another well balanced plate with lovely, simple presentation. Why four stars not five? Open kitchen lets me watch the chef smack his chewing gum. While I was told that the vegetarian platter was improved, it was altered without addressing the real problem. The main problem is a lack of a substantial protein. This renders the plate an inappropriate meal. Although it has been changed to now include some warm items (mashed potatoes and a vegetable medley with a Thai peanut sauce--which would need a lot of peanuts to constitute a meal-worthy protein), it is still almost literally a salad and french fries plate for the people who wont eat meat. Simple solution: add tofu to the Thai medley. However, vegetarians would probably all appreciate a meal as lovely and balanced and thoughtful as the other meals on the menu. __________________________________ I feel SO mixed about this review. Some things were done so well, and some things were just, nearly unforgivable. I'll start with what was good. The service was excellent. Our table was ready when we arrived. The host took our coats and umbrellas. My sister pointed out to the waitress that it was our mother's birthday, and by the end of the night, there was one of those chocolate volcano cakes and a birthday card signed by the staff. There was none of that embarrassing clapping and singing. It did however, highlight the fact that none of us had gotten her a card... couldn't you guys have slid that card our way to sign too? Thanks for making us look like jerks. ;) No, it was a great touch. The atmosphere, the service, the demeanor of everything was really top notch. The menu was varied and unique. There were several seafood options. The lobster mashed potatoes are DELICIOUS. This is the best side dish ever. The New Orleans BBQ Shrimp are pretty tasty. The scallops were perfectly cooked. The prices are not outrageous. The portions are perfect. They may not be huge, but if you had an app you could definitely split one. Oh, and the bread is great, a savory bread and a sweet. The presentation was beautiful. The negatives: (1) The salmon had a poor color and an inappropriate fishy flavor. (2) I don't eat red meat now, but I used to, and I come from a steak loving family where I learned about cuts of beef. There is not a fine cut of beef anywhere on the menu. This was a BIG problem for the person at the table who only eats red meat. The New York Strip came out just like one would expect, fatty and tough. He got sick of cutting at it and eventually just quit eating it. (3) The vegetarian platter is the worst I've ever seen anywhere. I've been eating vegetarian platters for half my life, and I have never seen one so deficient. It was truly a trashcan for left over vegetables. 2 salads and 4 vegetarian sides sounds nice, but this came out with a Caesar salad, some mixed greens, 2 slices of portobello mushroom, some cubes of pickled radish, asparagus, and a spoonful of tomato mush. There was not a protein on the plate--not a single bean or bit of tofu. I can understand avoiding dairy and egg, but no protein at all is unbalanced. This is not a complete meal; it is an elaborate side dish or a healthy appetizer, not a meal. It couldn't have been worse if he sent out a plate of french fries. There are so many creative and delicious things that can be done with vegetables, why in the world would anyone send out a plate full of veggie scraps. (4) Coats and umbrellas were not returned to us. (5) No courtesy call to confirm the reservation. I'm really borderline on the star thing. There were a lot of things that I really liked, like those lobster mashed potatoes. Those are 5-star mashed potatoes. Otherwise, there are just so many restaurants that give a courtesy call, have excellent vegetarian options, and have better steak options. So despite the excellent service, if I came back, it would only be for the convenience of the location (but I would absolutely get an order of those lobster mashed potatoes).
(4)
Kara L.
We sat outside on a Sunday night, the area was really quite compared to the crowd that was on the other side of town for the tall ships. The drinks were great and so was the food! I got the Salmon with wasabi mashed potatoes, which were awesome. My boyfriend got the three course meal which was also very impressive. Would definitely go back, atmosphere was very relaxed although I am sure it is much more lively on week night with the after work crowd.
(4)
Lynn W.
The best meal I had in Boston! I had the sword fish steak with lobster risotto. There were large lobster chunks in the flavorful risotto. The calamari was crisp with a delicious sauce. The roasted pear salad had mixed greens, roasted nuts and pomegranate seeds.. The place was a little loud but highly recommend it.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Diana T.
We came for brunch on Sunday for the Bloody Mary bar. It had a good range of hot sauce to choose from. They also had a bunch of pickled vegetables to choose from as garnishes. Nothing too special or out of the ordinary. The food menu was just average. There was nothing on there that particularly wowed me. I opted to get a grilled chicken sandwich. It sounded amazing on the menu (buffalo mozzarella, sundried tomato jam on ciabatta) but it wasn't that good. It was pretty dry. I thought the bread to chicken ratio was off so that could have contributed to the problem. The reason I'm writing a review though is because of Chris, the restaurant manager. He randomly came to our table and asked how we were doing. We told him that we would have loved to see bleu cheese stuffed olives for the Bloody Mary bar and he had the kitchen make us a bunch for our cocktails! It was a really nice gesture. I'll definitely come back and order something different to eat!
(4)Mika S.
Great food in a nice and relaxed atmosphere. I came here with 4 other people and ordered a number of the small plates to share. We had the Grilled Pear Salad, Cheese Board, Steamed Edamame, Oven Roasted Goat Cheese, Ahi Tuna Tacos, Blackened Day Boat Scallops, Pan Roasted Shrimp, Tempura Green Beans, Peanut Butter Mousse, Bread Pudding, and Chocolate Torte. My favourite entrees were the Pan Roasted Shrimp, and the Oven Roasted Goat Cheese. The sauce that the shrimp were cooked in was absolutely phenomenal and perfect for dipping the bread into. The goat cheese was surprisingly large, and sat in a bowl of marinara sauce. The exterior of the cheese was slightly crispy, with a gooey and warm interior. I've never had goat cheese with marinara sauce, but the flavours paired together perfectly! I just wish there was a bit more bread with this dish. The best dessert was definitely the Peanut Butter Mousse - it tasted like a peanut butter cup, without sitting like a rock in your stomach. The bread pudding was perfect for anyone who wants something fruity after dinner, whereas the Chocolate Torte was a must-try for those who prefer richer flavours.
(4)Max B.
Classy NE joint. Was looking for a nice place to eat and fortunately found this place on Yelp. Their front porch was full but I snagged a spot at the bar. I told the bartender that I was hungry. She ended up recommending a chicken and risotto entrée and then was able to get the kitchen to make me a half size beet salad for a starter! The meal was one of the best that I have had on the road in a long time. The bartender was engaging and made the evening that much better. Four stars all the way.
(4)Kayla O.
They were really great about switching out the English muffin for a salad. And when the eggs came out scrambled (I didn't call it and they didn't ask) they were extremely accommodating to bring eggs over easy. They work well as a team. My server, Rachael, was very helpful when explaining the Bloody Mary bar and got me lots of limes when I requested them. She was really friendly, happy, and cool. Just a really nice vibe from the ladies. The steak looked a little small but it turned out to be plenty of food. All in all a very enjoyable experience!
(4)Lillian D.
Stellar in all ways: decor, service, food. My date and I searched for a "bougie" place (with "hipster" food and wine) and were not let down. The interior is tightly packed, but the decor is splendid. Our waitress (wish I could remember her name) was so helpful and attentive. And the food... wow. We'd eaten at another restaurant the day before which served decent scallops. Those served here, though smaller, were cooked perfectly. So moist, tender, and faintly reminiscent of their sea home. Same with the shrimp, though the sauce in their dish might have been the bigger highlight. Soak it up with the bread, and you won't be let down. The arancini could have been cooked a little longer for my liking, but the creamy insides were to die for, as was the marinara. Then we had the fall-apart short rib which was served with (once again) perfectly-cooked spinach and (one again) a delectable sauce. Even the celery mash was a surprising delight. The Mercer cab was [expletive deleted] amazing. And the "deconstructed" smores added just enough sweet to the end of an inspired meal. If I'm in the area again, I'll definitely go back.
(5)Jen D.
Scollay Square is a solid restaurant. I live nearby, so I've had brunch, lunch, and dinner here a few times each. The service is excellent--friendly and just the right amount of attentiveness, even when they're busy. The food's always good. The beef short ribs with celery root puree and mushrooms was especially tasty. Prices are reasonable and there's plenty of seating. If the weather's nice, they have a patio if you're feel al fresco.
(4)Haydn G.
The food was extremely underwhelming. I ordered the scallops which came with swiss chard and mashed potatoes. The scallops were not seared properly and the dish had seemingly no salt. My friend's dish, on the other hand, was over salted. She ordered the swordfish medallions; everything was cooked well, but after the first medallion, the salt was too much. My other friend ordered the lobster risotto which was extremely basic - just a simple risotto recipe and some chewy lobster thrown in. The service also leaves a bit to be desired. I ordered a gin and tonic and specifically asked for a lemon. I was presented with a lime. All three of our dishes were taken away with a majority of the food left untouched. No one asked if we had any issues, though it was obvious we did not enjoy our meals. I will not be coming here again and urge you to reconsider if you made a reservation. Do not waste your money.
(3)Serene T.
Absolutely loved this place! We ordered the Caesar salad, calamari, and tomato soup which were all very good! Il the Caesar dressing was on point and just the right amount for the portion of lettuce. The tomato soup was clearly made from scratch, which made it all that great. I loved how they paired the vegetables with the calamari. As for the main course, my sisters and I had the miso salmon, penne with Kobe beef, lobster risotto, and pan roasted shrimp. The salmon was fresh and cooked to perfection. I literally inhaled the food off my plate. The pasta was on point with its made from scratch sauce and tender Kobe beef. Lobster risotto was tasty and creamy. And lastly Chris, the manager, really hooked us up with the pan roasted shrimp. We can't have any alcohol and so he offered to make a special chipotle BBQ sauce instead of the dark beer sauce. Suffice it to say, it was epic! I loved the ambience of the place. Very clean. Not to mention we got our food really quickly! Chris really catered to our table which made the experience even more so pleasurable. I would highly recommend this place!
(5)Rachel C.
After being on the hunt for oysters, we settled for here. Okay... so no oysters served here anymore, take note. I would have been totally bummed if the meal had turned out to be bad, but it didn't at all. I ordered the tuna nicoise salad, which was very hearty. Only thing it could have used more of was the tuna. It was a really tiny piece of tuna sliced into about 5 thin slices. We also tried the edamole, which was a play on guacamole. I love edamame, but can that translate to a tasty dish? While it definitely didn't have the kick of gauc, I'd compare it more to hummus. Still, it was good. I really liked the crispy chips they served with it. Would have been nice to have more veggies. They only gave us 4 carrot and celery sticks. See a theme here? The dishes were just missing a little bit more. But not necessarily small portions or a deal breaker to come here! I also approve of the Bloody Mary! It came with three olives!! Normally you get around two, so surprise there! But it was spicy, just like if ask for! Only issue was, our server didn't come around at the end of our meal for a good amount of time. No checking in to see if we were ready to bounce. So we waited around for a bit until he finally came over. It wasn't busy, so I'm not sure what happened. Again, not a deal breaker.
(4)Liz K.
Meh, it's okay. Strictly okay. Beacon Hill prices, good service, and plentiful portions. However, I'm less than thrilled with the fact that some of the food seems fresh when other dishes don't. I stopped by there recently with my grandmother for my umpteenth visit to Scollay Square and ordered two appetizer dishes. One was hot and tasted fresh and the other was greasy and really not appetizing. I had to dump salt on it to finish it. Take my review with a grain of salt (no pun intended) as I've only ever ordered three dishes here. Maybe other things are better.
(3)Chavi B.
3.8. I got the wasabi mashed potatoes & the mushroom flatbread. My boyfriend got the lobster mac & cheese & he started feeling bad after he Ate half of it. My flatbread was sooo good, but the mashed potatoes had no flavor at all. We got takeout so we didn't get the full experience but I probably wouldn't return here because I feel like I wasted my money. Good luck.
(3)Alice P.
Back again! Random night in Boston and in Beacon Hill so I decided to meet my niece for dinner/drinks without reservations. Scollay, I heard was hugely busy on Thursday but I thought since we were early it might be a good try around 5Pm. I was right. It was once again the perfect spot. Near empty patio on a warm summer Thursday eve. My niece and I started with a Margherita flatbread and cocktails. Our waitress Rachel (completely a coincidence) suggested a Lucky Pony for me. It was just perfect. Rachel was most attentive without being intrusive and we enjoyed her input when we were trying to decide our orders. After a few minutes,I realized, that this was the very same Rachel we experienced at brunch. Public, be good to your wait staff. They can make your day/ night. Our other family members arrived a few hours later and we ordered the buffalo flat bread, a burger, truffle fries and short rib plate. Not one complaint from our table and not much left to clean on the plates either. Needless to say, another great dining experience. Rachel is a superstar and I hope the other staff is as delightful. I promise we are not related and not stalkers! It was just a nice coincidence and to our benefit. We had a wonderous experience. Too long a story to express how bad my week had been up to this point. I was certain I would fall apart at any second. But, to be treated so well and to enjoy such epicurean delights, all troubles melted away. Yes, hold our seats. We will return.
(5)Antonio B.
Pretty nice spot. Both from the outside and inside, since the decoration is pretty bad and it looks like a chain, my expectations were pretty low. But I was proven wrong. Their tuna was great and we also had the scallops: fresh and tender. This place really shines for its food. Both decoration and service are at chain-level. They need to fix that.
(4)Sandy V.
Best mojito ever!! Shared arancini, calamari and lobster mac and cheese for late nite dinner.
(5)Katie W.
My husband and I came for Sunday brunch. The manager, Chris, greeted and sat us. We ended up choosing the bar. Both Chris and the bartender were lovely; very friendly, great customer service. I got a delicious cocktail (grapefruit and basil martini) and my husband ordered a Bloody Mary. In high maintenance fashion like my husband tends to be, he requested blue cheese olives. Without hesitation they hand stuffed blue cheese olives for him. I got the west coast Benedict and my husband got the buffalo chicken flatbread. Both were very tasty. Mostly the atmosphere and service of this place earn it five stars. I highly recommend it.
(5)Sean A.
I had dinner here on a Friday night. It was surprisingly empty, but not for lack of good food. We started with the tuna tacos, which were okay, and the calamari, which was really good. The large-dish of scallops was excellent. Our server was great. Overall, I'd give the place a thumbs up.
(4)David C.
When it comes to brunch at Scollay Square, the price is definitely right. The food certainly isn't mind-blowing, but for around $10-12 per item, you won't be disappointed as long as you keep your eggspectations (see what I did there?) low. I wanted to order the crab cake eggs benedict which I thought would be a steal for $12, but was quickly informed that they had just sold the last one around 1pm. Instead, my server recommended the lobster eggs benedict that was not on the menu, but is apparently an old standard of the restaurant. The benedict wasn't anything special (the lobster tasted a little bit old and I'm not sure the English muffin was even toasted), but the hash browns and lemon dressed greens that came with it were excellent (pretty sad that lettuce and potatoes overshadowed lobster though). Our table split the mascarpone stuffed French toast topped with a strawberry-orange compote, and again, it was just ok. The portion size was kind of small and the toast itself was overly soggy, even before syrup. I probably won't be back anytime soon, but if you're looking for a pre-movie brunch option near the Common, you could certainly do worse.
(3)Kevin J.
I had the lobster risotto. The risotto was mediocre and the lobster meat had a chewy texture. I'm confident that I could have prepared this dish myself and saved some money. While I did get enough to eat, I left most of my food untouched. However, I enjoyed the atmosphere and my cocktail was decent. Overall, it's not hard to find better food in Boston for these prices.
(2)Jamaal D.
Hotel doorman recommended this place so we hiked over to this small indoor/outdoor urban eatery. The wait staff was some of the friendliest folk on our Boston trip and the manager was funny and helpful. We started off strong with a mint lime and cucumber tequila mixed drink and an orange juice and champaign flute. Both were good (mimosa was better than the tequila in my opinion) and the manager even comped me a drink when I clumsily (if not drunkenly, drinks were nicely strong) spilled my tequila. We proceeded to order the short rib burrito and the American breakfast. Both were pretty good, especially the burrito. All in all a solid breakfast spot surrounded by beautiful Boston scenery with A plus managers and staff.
(4)Marine G.
Do not go to this place. Worst waiter ever : dumb / stupid / rude / and dumb again. Never happened to us to leave a place before having lunch (and we were hungry!). The guy did not want our money obviously.... We asked for a table in the shade (they were plenty) but the guy was insisting to put us in the sun. He did not offered us any other solution and was clearly rude so we left. Glad we did as the food also was looking barely ok.
(1)Mike E.
Enjoyed a delightful brunch on the shady patio out front. Service was prompt and very friendly. The Bacon Bloody Mary was exceptional and fried egg sandwich and blueberry pancakes were delicious.
(4)Jacqui J.
Penne with mozzarella & tomato sauce = amazing Murray Hill Chicken = amazing The lucky pony (Bulleit bourbon with mint, lemon, peach and whatever else made it so delish) = amazing Thumbs up! Now on to the Orpheum to see of monsters & men (great pre-concert dinner/location)
(5)Virginia C.
Location. Location. Location. This is right next to the State House when you need to meet someone here for the lunch. The food though.. is just okay. The one thing that stands out on the menu is the Mac n Cheese (add Buffalo Chicken or Lobster). It's very solid and who doesn't love Lobster Mac n Cheese!!!
(3)Robert W.
The food was great but didn't really fill you up/left you wanting more. and the service was slow. It took us 20-25 to get our meals after placing our order
(3)Katy W.
It was completely dead when we tried this out on the weekend. I kind of liked how quiet it was actually, but I'm betting that it's kooky during the week. Anyway, I like how they have a cheaper lunch menu. It doesn't have a huge selection, but if you want a sit-down lunch there's not many places nearby that are well-priced. They were still serving brunch (until 2) when we stopped in and I never turn down eggs so I was happy to try a mushroom/swiss omelet while my husband had the "square" breakfast with eggs, toast, hash browns and sausage. I was happy with mine and my husband really liked his. The price was right too. This is a great option if you're in the area. I like the old-school vibe without crummy old-school food. They have classic items, but they are well-cooked and have nice flavors.
(4)MaryLynne G.
Made a reservation for 6 for Saturday night at 7pm. Prime time and we were making the res a few days ahead of time so choices were obviously limited. I am so glad we took a chance on Scollay Square. Location was great and we were seated right away. Our server was very friendly, food came out quickly, drinks were good; all in all Scollay Square was solid on every count. I got the miso salmon with lobster mashed potatoes, as did one other member of our party. Other diners in the group got a pork entree, fish tacos, fried goat cheese, a veggie stir fry, etc.; quite a variety of foods, and each person completely cleaned their plate. Great option for larger parties on a weekend night when you don't want to wait for hours at other more "in" places. Definitely recommend.
(4)Jeremy D.
It was pouring rain and miserable and we were wandering around at night desperately looking for dinner. Most of the restaurants close early downtown, but thankfully Scollay was open. When we came in, my sister saw an item she liked on the menu, and we were seated quickly at a nice window table. The waitress was really accommodating to my sisters questions regarding food sensitivities and didn't just guess but actually went to kitchen to find out what was in the dishes. In fact the manager actually came over and offered to modify and change dishes in order to accommodate her. When I asked about the fish and chips since they aren't on the dinner menu (so well talked about on here) he said it was on the bar menu, and brought one over for us. Let me just tell you, I've had a lot of fish and chips in my day, and these were unbelievably good. My sister got an Asian-fusion rice bowl and she loved her dish again. We were just really impressed with the service, the manager's attention, and food. Would HIGHLY recommend this restaurant for anyone in Boston. Best part is that the prices were extremely affordable for the quality of food you are getting.
(5)Eden O.
Had to get some fish and chips before I headed back West so we found this place a short walk away from Faneuil Hall. The decor I would say is upscale pub style. Really tall ceilings with exposed wood and stark white walls. They do have a couple seats outside on a patio in front of the restaurant. It wasn't overly busy on a Sunday around 3p. Our server wasn't really friendly but did nothing wrong either. The fish and chips was delicious and definitely hit the mark. Fresh fish, not overly greasy and homemade thick fries. Beer selection was short but good. Would recommend for a casual lunch or dinner.
(3)Chelsea F.
My boyfriend and I had dinner here for my birthday. Everyone was extremely friendly and accommodating when we decided to move seats. Our server was nice, but distant and awkward. It seemed like it may have been her first day. Being a server myself, I always check back with my tables and try to be as quick as possible. This was not the case. Our drinks took about ten minutes to arrive--for a busy Friday night--acceptable. The goat cheese appetizer came out very promptly--although It was luke warm--delicious. After the appetizer we only Saw our server one more time--she was standing by the bar talking a majority of the time. Our dinners were phenomenal. Although they were dropped off abruptly without a word, we were extremely satisfied. I chose the ahi tuna and my boyfriend got the drunken shrimp pasta. If it weren't for the service, this place would get five stars. The good was seriously to die for! After we finished eating, we waited and waited for our server to come over. We finished our drinks and watched her talking to a man sitting at the bar for what seemed like forever. Even after she knew we were ready to leave, we watched her stand at the bar and continue to talk to this man WITH OUR CHECK IN HER HAND. As soon as we put our card in to pay she was right there, though. Hmm, strange. Anyway, great food. Unprofessional service--especially with then knowing it was my birthday. The man at the front door was extremely friendly, though! He even wished me happy birthday when we left!
(4)Anthony N.
Food was good, but service was really good, no, outstanding! I ordered fish and chips, my mom ordered blackened swordfish, and my fiance ordered the ride bowl. The rice bowl was delicious, my fish and chips was exactly what you would expect, but my mom said the swordfish was like eating salt. The highlight of the trip was Chris the manager. He made my mother another round of swordfish without the salt and jokingly pointed out that if it was too bland there was sea salt on the table. He was funny and very accommodating. The deck is nice but no dogs allowed.
(5)Samantha G.
This is a good place for a decent lunch during your work week. The salad I had (grilled pear) was good, except I would have liked a more ripe pear. My friends had the veggie stir fry and the ceasar salad with steak tips. No one was really disappointed, I just wasn't thrilled either.
(3)Janet K.
We went here for my husband's birthday last year and had a blast! Our dinner was amazing and they remembered my request to bring out his birthday dessert. They also have a cool bar area and overall atmosphere is classy/romantic.
(5)Kayla C.
Big fan of the atmosphere, cocktails, and varied menu. The menu recently changed, but now it seems there are more options for apps/small plates. Seafood is always wonderful (lobster mac and cheese and scallops are kind of my things; and they're totally tasty here). I recently took my parents and grandmothers here when they were in town for my graduation, and we had a very friendly, timely waiter. He knew when to approach - when not. Especially considering my family is terrible with decisions. We also obnoxiously arrived approximately 40 minutes prior to our reservation time, but they made room for us without a fuss, even though we said we could just sit at the bar and "drink responsibly" or something. Because of the recent menu change, the manager had to inform me the scallops I ordered were different than the exact menu item...which didn't make a difference to me, delicious either way! When we ordered desserts, they came with candles (for graduation? cute nonetheless) and they were free! Yay! I'll gladly sit back, grab some calamari and tempura green beans, and enjoy some cocktails here anytime.
(5)B W.
Scollay Square has very good food (probably around 4 stars for the category), but the service and atmosphere really set it apart. The wait staff is friendly, just the right amount of attentive, and it's a great place to grab an informal business lunch or just relax for a meal after work. The beet salad is excellent, as is their chicken sandwich and fries.
(5)Samuel M.
I used to love this place, until they took their menu and put it through meat grinder. I would regularly come here for their tuna steak and wasabi mash potatoes. It was amazing. Their buffalo chicken dip was just the right amount of spicy and savory. It was a great first date restaurant and one that my fiancee and I loved to frequent. With the menu "rework" they have removed some of the best items in an attempt to have a more diverse menu. This attempt failed. I had the tuna tacos and while they tasted decent, they looked completely unappetizing. The cole slaw that they served with the tacos was edible at best. We spoke with the staff briefly and they are just as baffled at the removal of some of their most popular items. In closing, the menu "rework" threw out the best dishes and replaced them with dishes that are mediocre at best.
(2)amanda n.
My family had a great birthday dinner here. Since we made reservations, they even printed up special menus for our party. A nice touch. I don't remember many specifics about my experience here, but everything was quality -- food, service, atmosphere. Excellent. You must try the lobster macaroni & cheese. You must.
(4)Kiki B.
eh. maybe it's nicer if you get to sit outside on the patio, but the night we were there the inside ambience just felt a little old and dated, and not in the awesome old-school boston way, just in the worn-down way. the food was just okay - met my needs, not much more.
(2)Martha L.
Do NOT go to this place if you need to be somewhere after dinner. We came here because we were going to the theater a few blocks away. We got there with enough time to eat and make it to the show, but it was a bit tight. I told the waiter when we first sat down that we need to leave by 7:45pm to go to a show at 8pm, giving us about an hour. He was training someone at the time so both of them heard me. The three of us ordered an appetizer and our entrees fairly quickly. The food came SUPER SLOW. The restaurant was not crowded, but things did not seem to be moving. I was concerned and mentioned our time restraint again after our appetizer arrived. No response. Not even an acknowledgement. I finally got up and spoke to the manager at 7:40pm. It was completely ridiculous. Our food was still not done. I was ready to walk out. The manager apologized profusely and tried to rush things. We finally got our food at 7:45 and I was only able to take a few bites before having to leave. This is not just bad service. This is unacceptable service. What makes it worse is that the waiter is actually training someone else. The food is decent. But really, no matter how good the food is, you will still need time to eat it.
(1)Ashley R.
Amazing food, drinks, and service!!! Moscow mule was delish!!!! Fresh and crisp! We had meatballs and scallops to start with. Meatballs were like something my grandma would make, moist and savory! Scallops were cooked to perfection!!! Also had the miso salmon (which I will forever dream about the flavor) and the short pins were also so amazing sitting on top of lobster mashed potatoes. Finished the dinner with vodka neat and bread pudding! If ever back in Boston I will be back!!!
(5)Ashley W.
Where else can you get brunch this good?! The Rice Krispies french toast, the FLUFFY (not heavy like most dinners) scrambled eggs, REAL bacon, and the BEST coffee on the planet - all reside here. I've never had dinner here, but if brunch was that good, I can only imagine their other options. Why I gave 5-stars: As many times as I've ordered hot chocolate, this place served it in a glass, which meant I didn't have to re-order those small white tea cups of a kids serving. That, made me very happy.
(5)Natalie M.
We were looking for a place that was close to the Public Garden after my husband ran the BAA 10k, so our cousins recommended this place. We had reservations but it was still very busy. When we sat down at our table, our waiter warned us that the kitchen was slammed and were looking at 45 mins before our meals would come out. We didn't mind since we were with a big group and wanted to catch up. I decided I didn't want anything heavy like pancakes and French toast (which some of the people who were with us ordered, and looked delicious). I instead ordered the short rib burrito with egg scramble, pulled short rib, cheddar cheese in a flour tortilla. The meat was nice and tender, and flavorful. The waiter brought out desserts which were comp. Good, relaxing atmosphere.
(4)Lucas W.
Nothing short of phenomenal perfection. Every dish was done perfectly with great flavors. We started with a couple cocktails, I got a bourbon-based cocktail with some mint and sweet tea flavors which was delicious and went down super smoothly. Very strong as well. The gf got a cocktail that basically tasted like liquid pistachio ice cream, said it was great. We then had the tuna tacos which were absolutely heavenly. I loved the wasabi based sauce which pervaded teh tacos and the tuna was plentiful. Three-four massive chunks of top quality tuna made for a superb start to the meal. For her entree, my gf had the miso salmon served over lobster mashed. I can't eat lobster, but the mashed potatoes looked great with massive chunks of lobster. The salmon was good and cooked very well with not an overpowering soy flavor. For me, without a doubt, the highlight of the meal was my swordfish. Cooked to perfection with a delicious bit of blackening spice on the medallions with a hefty amount of beluga lentils around the plate. Just incredible, the swordfish was the perfect choice and I would get it again in a heartbeat.
(5)Marc F.
Fabulous drink and dinner. Hendricks gin (very rare), baby kale salad, and short ribs. All excellent. Very good service.
(5)Alison L.
I was slightly disappointed by Scollay Square. Perhaps I ordered wrong. Because the place seemed to be known for seafood, I got the scallops. They were quite small, and not that fresh, so the texture was a bit tough/chewy. So I was sad that I paid $23 for them... The presentation of the food was nice, however.
(2)Kristen M.
We made what seemed like an unnecessary reservation on Saturday evening at 6:30. When we arrived their were tables open outside and we scooped one up no problem. Dining partner ordered the screaming rooster rock shrimp and buffalo chicken flatbread while I ordered the Murray Hill chicken entree. We ate almost everything we were served, the portions were just right. My chicken was a little dry but the risotto that accompanied it was fantastic. The service was attentive and we received refills without asking. Reasonable prices close to the theaters and State House.
(4)Rachel M.
We went in at a weird time, so it was pretty dead but the bartender was still SUPER friendly and attentive. We only went for a snack, so we ordered a few apps and they were DELISH. Dayboat scallops, Kobe beef meatballs, and ahi tuna (which came on little rice cake and was stacked with seaweed salad). I could have eaten them all over again!
(5)Joanne L.
The service was amazing. Such friendly staff. Went there on a weekday evening with three others. We only ordered appetizers and desserts although we sat at a table instead of the bar but the waiter did not judge us one bit. Food was good, prices were reasonable. Would return to have an actual meal some time.
(4)Shari M.
While the food was decently priced it was incredibly bland. The fish and chips had no flavor and the roasted beet salad was underwhelming. We got the creme brule for dessert and it was gross.
(2)Evin S.
Too tired for a sit-down dinner after a long work day, I craved seafood and wanted to find a restaurant a block east of Boston Commons that would do takeout. Scollay Square fit the bill. Ordered 2 "small plates" off the dinner menu: blackened day boat scallops & ahi tuna tacos. 2 small plates makes for a perfect small portion dinner for one person. 3 plates would probably be equal to a normal dinner portion. But if you're that hungry, you might as well save money and order one of the larger entrees. Scallops (four 1.75"-2" pieces) had a good texture and probably would have had a nice crust if eaten at the restaurant. It came with a delicious savory sauce; with hints of sage and citrus, not overpowered by horseradish noted on menu description. The ahi tacos had about 3-4 pieces of seared (not blackened) ahi, a good portion of the center was nice and rare. I am usually not a fan of slaw, but the Asian slaw in the tacos was not oozing with mayo... actually the wasabi cream sauce (again, not overly open-up-your-sinuses horseradishy at all) balanced well with the mae ploy chili sauce. Even after 15 minutes steaming in the takeout container, the tortillas were crisp, not mushy & floppy. Used some of the tortilla to soak up the rest of the scallop's sauce. Delicious! I'd come to Scollay Square again and maybe next time, eat at the restaurant to watch Monday Night Football at the bar!
(4)Kayla C.
Never had better service. Absolutely amazing. The host was so nice. Came on marathon weekend and were seated immediately. We sat at a high top and the host stopped by during our meal to make sure our seat was okay. The food was very good. We just got a salad, burger and fish and chips (bar menu) but seriously if you only come here for the service alone you'll be happy.
(5)Lily S.
Came here for a work dinner of about 20-22 people visiting from the UK and Sweden. We had one server. One. One person taking drinks. One person taking food orders. By the time I got my food, It was cold. I can only assume that pretty much everyone else had cold food as well since my dining companions were raised with manners and waited to eat only once everyone had a plate in front of them. I literally had to ASK for bread. What an effing embarrassment.
(2)Julia M.
Scollay Square is one of my favorite spots in Boston, because it is one of those rare places that is great for all three meals. I have been to Scollay Square on quite a few different occasions for brunch, lunch, & dinner, & I have yet to receive a meal with which I was unpleased. In addition to their consistently good food, the service is also friendly & generally quick. If you come for brunch on the weekend, you might find service to be a tad slow, but that is simply due to the fact that Scollay Square tends to be very busy then. Its location near Boston Commons also makes it very easy to reach -- you can take the T to Park Street & walk. Tidbits: -They recently redid the menu & added new items. -The food is very reasonably priced, with dinner entrees ranging from $11 to $23. -Recommendation for brunch: crab cake benedict ($12) -Recommendation for lunch: lobster mac & cheese (market) -Recommendation for dinner: fish & chips ($14.50); broiled scallops ($16.50)
(4)Roxy L.
The lobster mac and cheese is amazing! The cheese is somewhat light so it isn't super heavy and there is a ton of lobster! Service is wonderful and the patio is a great place to spend some time people watching. Definitely check it out!
(5)Ellen S.
Good place for a casual lunch meeting or a nice, easy dinner - the interior/furniture always seems a little bit run down to me, but the food is great. Fresh salads (love the vinaigrette that comes on the mixed greens), apps (get the Kobe beef sliders!), sandwiches (they have a great turkey with some sort of cranberry mayo that is excellent) . Their mac and cheese is one of my favorites in Boston. Service is usually really good. Good place to bring a group - they have some nice vegetarian options and a varied menu, everyone will find something they like.
(4)Theresa M.
I am still in awe of this place. I assumed it would be ok, but I was so impressed. My fiance and I went there for brunch. To start, we had the "clockwork orange" which is their answer to an mimosa...delicious. We then ordered the fried egg sandwich each and an order of french toast to split. Everything was so good. The fried egg sandwich was ridiculously good with fontina cheese, arugula and bacon topped with Lemon Aioli....oh and served on a ciabatta roll. I can't wait to go back and get it again. Also the service was quick and friendly.
(5)Paige C.
$4 mimosas! YAY! Mimosas made with juice from concentrate...mehh... Food was overall nothing crazy. I ordered the "Western Eggs Benedict" which was supposed to be served with roasted turkey and avocado. I was thoroughly disgusted by the LUNCH MEAT served as "roasted turkey" it wasn't even freshly sliced from the deli. The hollandaise sauce had the consistency of water and not much more flavor. My husbands short rub burrito was tasty but seriously lacking on the titular ingredient. He def wished it had more short rib in it. They do get a bump in stars for the drink menu and like I said $4 mimosas. They sat us quickly, but service was pretty subpar.
(2)Kenny C.
DIY Bloody Mary bar... check. Delicious filet mignon eggs benedict... check. Great decor... check. Outdoor seating... check. Friends paying for you because it's your birthday... no check for me!
(4)Jenn B.
The service was great and host was very attentive. Arrived with a few of my girlfriends after work for patio seating and he immediately set up two high tops for us since no other seating was available. Recommended must haves - Any of their Mac & Cheese dishes and the goat cheese plate. They also have a really good wine list and drink menu. Perfect location for out of towners looking for something not too touristy but close to the Commons.
(4)T P.
Chris and the rest of the staff are exceptional. Went here for dinner and the food is amazing and comes out of the kitchen quickly. Excellent drinks, dessert, and atmosphere. Would highly recommend this place to anyone in the area. Will be back!!
(5)Annie S.
Heading into Boston at the last minute on Saturday, July 18. We were heading to the Common for the Out of the Box festival and 92.9 stage to catch some music and meet with family. My daughter had pulled up a restaurant she thought I might like to try for dinner. It was Scollay Square. Perfect name for a lifelong Bostonian. Also because my Mother would tell me stories about her younger days around Scollay Square back in the day. Great day on the common and then time to eat and catch the train back. As we walked I could tell my daughter about memories of Mom and I working in Boston and where we would meet. Here we are, Scollay Square, right across from where Mom and I would have breakfast together before heading to the office. I loved the vibe right away. The patio is comfortable and Chris, the manager made us feel right at home. We could sit anywhere we wanted. The patio it is. Our waiter was Brad. He was sweet, knowledgeable and very funny. We did not see the drink on this menu that was on-line, the Hemingway daiquiri. Chris and Brad said they could make it anyway. Super accommodating. Great choice. Delish. We could sit, relax and look over the menu. So many things to try. Brad answered our questions and made recommendations. We had the tempura green beans as an appetizer. They were a great finger food and cooked perfectly. For dinner, with Brad's suggestion I ordered the flat iron steak frites and my daughter got the pan seared scollops. The food looked beautiful when it arrived and tasted even better, the sides, the green, the entree all perfection. We had no room for desert. Which means we will have to return and soon. Chris, the manager, came out often to see how we were and told us some of the history of the building. It turns out, this is the building that had once been a hotel. The one my Mom and Dad spent their honeymoon at back in 1951! Everything had fallen into place the moment we entered Scollay Square. The manager Chris , our waiter Brad, the fab food and ambiance makes this a real winner for us and for Boston. Looking for my next free Saturday night to return. Don't forget to go a bit louder on the speakers playing Sinatra.
(5)Kiesha E.
Loved this place! The wait staff is so accommodating and warm. I went on a Wednesday evening and there were about 3 other tables and a handful at the bar so kind of quiet. The menu looked amazing and I was torn between the beef, pork and chicken. Get the pork!! It was so delicious and the serving size, including the "mashed potatoes" (not mashed) and asparagus were the perfect serving amount. The creme brûlée was 'ok', not great but overall the experience was lovely. I thought about going back to my hotel but the service and food were awesome. Go eat here!
(4)Anna H.
Original Date: August 17, 2013 Me and my friend decided to come back to Scollay Square one last time to try their Brunch menu. Since it was a lovely day, we sat outside and bumped into our waiter from dinner two nights ago and he still remember us =) Drinks: Orange Martini for my friend and I FINALLY got to try the Strawberry Jalapeño Margarita sooooooo yummy!! Food: Maine Lobster Roll for my friend and I got the Filet Mignon Eggs Benedict Make sure you stop by and dine here because the food is soooooo delicious!!
(5)Corey L.
Met my buddy for a Wednesday night dinner on Beacon Hill. We had a nice seat outside, which was easy as it was early and no one else was there. Starting with drinks, their beer menu was quite sad. They had very few options and nothing good (I like hefeweizens and non-crap beer). They had a much bigger wine list, including 2, 6, 10 oz options - which I've never seen. You can get a number of 2 oz tasters. Their single glasses were reported at 6 oz, which is bigger than most - not sure if they actually lived up to that measurement. I just drank water. Started with some bread, which was totally fine. Apparently they recently changed around their menu - which is why the waiter was not able to give us good suggestions on what to eat...or so he said. I ordered the Scallops. They were big, numerous (5 or 6?) and came with some other stuff. It was totally solid - the scallops were well-flavored without being too salty or soy-saucy. I enjoyed them. My buddy got lobster risotto - big bowl of it. He said it was okay, but not that flavorful. That's my overall impression. I think the prices were quite reasonable if not low for the area, and the food matched that. It was totally fine, but not impressive. And Yelpers kept mentioning chocolate chip cookie sliders, which I was SO excited about, but weren't on the menu. BOO!
(3)Frank H.
While walking on Beacon Hill on a Sunday morning (2/23/2014) we noticed a placard near the door inviting us in for brunch. The restaurant was beautiful - dark wood walls from floor to chair rails and matching crown molding but enough open space to feel comfortable. Our greeting was genuinely friendly and we were seated at a terrific window table from which we could watch Beacon Street. I regret that I can't recall the name of our server because she deserves special mention. The kid's menu had plenty of choices but my son selected a fruit salad with Greek yogurt from the Brunch menu. It was enormous, contained 8-10 kinds of fruit and topped with yogurt. The three of us failed to finish it off. (See photo) My stuffed French toast was great - another slice would have made it greater - and my wife raved about her egg dish. Go to this restaurant! We are going back soon.
(5)Nikki W.
I kept hearing great things about this place but was really disappointed when I went. We came for a late dinner and sat outside. There is very little lighting outside and had to use my flashlight on my phone to see the menu. I felt bad for the waiter who seemed like he had too many tables to handle for himself. We waited 20 minutes for drinks because the first time he dropped them and had to get them again. Where we waited another ten minutes. He was apologetic but you could tell overwhelmed. The food was OK I had steak tips on a salad but the steak was definitely overcooked. I asked for medium rare. Maybe it is better place at lunch.
(2)Rachael M.
Great dinner! Didnt have reservations and had a show at 8:00. We called on the way over and they sat us right away outside. Everyone was really happy with their meals and cocktails. We had the "edamole" to start which was great. We had the haddock, pork and tuna dishes and all were really good! The portions are perfectly sized (not huge.) I will definitely be going back!
(4)Brian W.
Excellent service with delicious food at reasonable prices in Beacon Hill? I didn't believe it also, but Scollay Square lived up to all of the positive Yelp reviews. The restaurant is in a cool space with big exposed pipes, an open kitchen and some old school signs and pictures. The bathrooms are oddly located at the side of the bar and then down a long hot staircase. Most tables are against walls or windows, but we were seated at a little table right in the open. Even with a less-than-ideal table, it wasn't super loud or uncomfortable. Our waiter was awesome and was very aware of gluten allergy restrictions and was good about checking with the kitchen for all of my wife's questions. They don't have a separate menu, but they are able to accommodate very well. For an appetizer we had the pulled pork sliders, one without the bun on a separate plate to be gluten free. The sliders were delicious with just the right amount of spice and cole slaw that wasn't overly creamy. I read so many reviews about the fish and chips I had to get that for dinner. The fish was lightly fried and came in little nugget like shapes. It tasted fresh and delicious and paired perfectly with that great cole slaw and some crispy fries. My wife got the scallop entree modified to be gluten free by eliminating the soy/mustard sauce on top. She practically licked the plate clean so it must have been good. It was a belated birthday celebration for me so my wife surprised me with a chipwich for dessert. Usually it comes with 2 sandwiches, but even without asking they just gave us one chipwich and one gluten free scoop of ice cream with a side of hot fudge. Just that fact that my review is this long should speak volumes for this place. I can't wait to go back and try some other menu items.
(5)Stacy G.
The food was wonderful. I had the scallops and were cooked to perfection. My son had salmon and lobster mash potatoes and was one of his all times greatest. Just a kids meal, but daughter loved the chicken fingers. Wife had the ahi tuna tacos and said they were great as well. Service was great too!
(4)Richie F.
Food was very good but the portions were small, and I left still hungry. I had the chicken which was very good but it came with one small piece, my wife had the sword fish, again small portion. The staff and manager were friendly. I enjoyed my visit but would preferred larger portions
(3)Edward B.
Have been here multiple times for brunch as it is one of the better restaurants in the financial district. The staff is generally pretty attentive and friendly. They have both indoor and outdoor seating which is a plus. The make-it-yourself Bloody Mary bar is my favorite! One of the times I went there they messed up my order and got me an omelette with chicken instead of a vegetarian (which I am!) omelette. After taking one bite, I realized it was not what I ordered. Upon pointing it out to the waitress, she was very apologetic and immediately fixed it. The manager stopped over and told me that my meal was on the house. Mistakes happen (which is why I couldn't give 5 stars), but they did well to salvage a not so good situation. I will definitely go back!
(4)Erin A.
Delicious food. Creative menu with a nice variety. Beware - menu items that Yelp says are popular are not necessarily on the menu any more. The business has no control over that. We'd definitely come back.
(4)Chris C.
Lunch: white bean soup and the rice bowl. Soup was thick - perfect for a winter day. The rice bowl was outstanding. Despite its name the rice bowl is a culinary tour de force. The tempura scallops alone are reason to revisit this dish, but the seared tuna just clinched the deal. Highly recommend. The bartender, Brad, was thoughtful, attentive, efficient, friendly, engaging, professional. He knew the menu and his patrons. Well done, Scollay Square. All restaurants should be this proficient.
(5)Sergio P.
Tourist trap. Not horrible, just mediocre.
(2)Beth P.
Not much needs to be said for this place. If you come for dinner, get the Rare Tuna. JUST GET IT. You will be blown away. Literally every single thing about this dish is perfection. I asked for more sauce because I basically wanted to drink it, and now I try to replicate it at home. The Prosciutto Mac and Cheese with Truffle oil is too good to be true. The helping isn't huge, but it's good because the dish is SO rich. We had the Philly cheese steak rolls for an app, and they weren't anything special, but I'll have to give their app menu another try sometime. I had the pear martini and it was DElish! Not too sweet, but very refreshing. Great place for a date night or just to get cocktails!
(5)Stan G.
Excellent food and great service. the outside dining is comfortable and refreshing on a warm summer day. Our server bent over backwards to make everything good for us and the manager came by to say hello. Nice wine list and a great assortment of drinks from the full bar. Just steps away from the Common.
(4)Alison C.
I came to Scollay Square for dinner with family friends due to its convenient location downtown next to the Boston Commons and because of the relatively good reviews on Yelp. Many raved of the Rare Seared Tuna Loin, so I, along with the majority of the table, ordered that dish. While this dish sounded amazing in theory, the taste and flavors weren't all that impressive. The seared tuna was well cooked, with a red middle and nice gradient to a pink edge, but the seasoning on the outside was very, very salty. It overpowered the tuna taste so much that I ended up scraping the sides of each piece to salvage the tuna in whatever way I could. The tuna is served over a bed of crisp cabbage, carrots, and other greens drizzled with a miso vinaigrette. The veggies weren't soaked in dressing, so the neutral greens helped with the saltiness of the fish when eaten together. The edamame was somewhat bland, but I appreciated the unique take of making it into a mash-like puree. While I and others weren't very happy with our selected dish, people who ordered other entrees were very happy with what they got. These entrees included the lobster mac and cheese and the scallop dish, so maybe there's better luck in taste with those. As for the business itself, the place was pretty empty when we went on a Saturday evening at around 7:00 PM. The restaurant is pretty spacious, and I noticed that most people opted to sit in the outdoor patio area. Parking is very hard to find as Scollay Square IS located downtown, so give yourself extra time if looking for a space. Service was friendly, if a little slow, and our waiter made sure we were taken care of throughout the evening. Overall, I would rate this place more of a 2.5 since I wasn't impressed, but I'll round up on this one.
(3)Mark R.
Creme brulee was AMAZING!!!
(5)Bill M.
This place is the most consistent as far as variety , service and quality huge fan of this place for lunch. Never had a bad meal.
(4)Megan M.
Visited Scollay Square on a Monday and had a lovely dinner. The decor is nice, with the big high ceilings, but I wasn't a huge fan of the tables, they look better suited for a pub atmosphere. They had some excellent choices on the drink menu to start. The food menu is interesting, in a good way. We started with the arancini, which were very good. I had the salmon with the lobster mash pototoes. Arancini to start, salmon with sort of an asian fusion glaze- and paired with lobster mash? Like I said, interesting menu, but it worked. Everything was tasty. Nice option for a fairly priced dinner after work if you are downtown.
(4)Matt C.
Very friendly staff, great drinks and good food. They saved our night after a near by Italian restaurant treated us horribly. I would absolutely return.
(4)Katrina B.
This is a go-to place for lunch for my nearby officemates but I can't really understand why. Food is fine but nothing special, definitely overpriced, and the menu seriously never changes. I think it has been the same since I started working in the neighborhood 7 years ago. Much better options at the bottom of Beacon Hill (either Charles or Cambridge St) for the money you'll spend.
(2)Tom M.
Was in town for a conference. We ordered basically all the sliders on the menu. We had a great waitress, Natalia, who let us order custom drinks and all kinds of random changes. Next time I'm going to get the chicken piccata special. Eric was also in a great mood. I'll be back for sure. Twitter - @tmcleod3 Instagram - @tmcleod
(5)Dan A.
I stopped in before meeting a few friends for drinks on a Friday evening. It was my first visit to Boston, and I stumbled in after a quick Yelp search for anything that looked good in the few square blocks just north of the Common. I don't care to comment on the ambience and clientele bc I honestly just don't care about these things when I'm flying in solo and just want some good food and a drink. Being that it was just me, I grabbed a seat at the bar inside. I knew I had to go with seafood... I'm originally from AZ and have transplanted to Chicago, so fresh and local seafood are hard to come by and I wasn't going to waste the opportunity. I started with a beer and the scallops appetizer. The bartender was an aloof but pleasant guy. I asked for his recommendation to decide between the swordfish and the tuna filet. Without hesitation he suggested the filet. I'm by no means a foodie and it's difficult to disappoint my easy-going and indiscriminating palate, but I've eaten at many of the 'bests' of AZ and Chicago and it's rare that a dish just blows me away. It's two months later now and I still find myself looking for a similar dish on every menu, and I'm tempted to try and replicate the dish in my own kitchen. Just a fantastic dish... The filet was perfectly cooked and the flavors of the wasabi potatoes coupled with the sweet tang of the teriyaki on the fish and spinach... Just great! I've always been a fan of horseradish and wasabi kicks. If you can say the same of yourself then I strongly recommend that you stop in and order the rare tuna filet.
(5)Jessica H.
I've only been here for brunch, but it is AWESOME! They have a make your own bloody mary bar that has literally everything you could think of. Celery, large variety of hot sauces, olives, asparagus, the list goes on! Not to mention they give you a healthy serving of vodka too :) They also have $4 mimosas. The food was delicious. Half of our party opted for breakfast and the other half for lunch. Both were delicious. The staff was super friendly too! We had to switch tables (we were in a big party) and they brought us out dessert as a surprise at the end! Totally not necessary but completely welcomed! Loved this place. Convenient location right in Beacon Hill, and they're open on Saturday for brunch - which is rare!
(4)Christine P.
My friends and I were referred here by a local hotel and were told it was a hidden gem. We think they were totally right! We started with some drinks. My friends all opted for the sangria, which they liked, and I ordered the pear martini. It was fantastic! It tasted of fresh pear rather than the fake pear flavoring you mostly find. It was delicious, refreshing, and one of the best cocktails I've had in a while! We also ordered guacamole as an app and it was good. Not mind blowing, but definitely good. For entrees our table ordered scallops and risotto (very good), thai chicken and vegetables (again, very good) and steak tips (excellent). I loved that all the veggies were cooked perfectly and still maintained a bit of a snap. We tasted each other's meals and liked everything. We were all a big fan of the steak tip marande. It was really good! For dessert we ordered the chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches, which were incredible. Sadly, they give you this little cup filled with what you think will be hot fudge, but it's hershey's syrup. So disapointing. I would say leave that cup off or add some real hot fudge. That would have been awesome. Overall it was a solid meal and we enjoyed it all. There was not one miss that night. We would definitely come here again if we were in the area. Two thumbs up.
(4)Clint P.
Very slow and inattentive service. Below average food. Nothing special here.
(2)Jakub W.
Wife had the Fish & Chips and the float while I had the Lobster mac & cheese and a Ginger britton. All of it was nothing short of some of the better food and drinks combo we've had in a while. The lobster was well portioned and the drinks weren't something you'd easily make at home making this a great spot to eat at. To top it all off, we took the odd 2-5pm weekend break when it's neither brunch nor dinner and got a great seat and first class service. Highly recommended.
(5)Brandon N.
Went for my birthday with three of my friends. It was around 8:30pm on a chilly Thursday night so when we arrived there were plenty of open tables and we were seated right away. The server had the time to focus on only a couple of tables so I think that worked out to our advantage. Our server was friendly and attentive at just the right times without being overly intrusive or insisting on awkward small talk every time he came by, just the service I like. There were some minor hiccups but the server handled it like a pro. Since it was a celebratory dinner, we decided to start by ordering a bottle of one of three champagne options. The server quickly returned to inform us that they did not have it so we went with the next one on the list. The server returned quickly again informing us that had just sold the last of that bottle the day before and that he had found a bottle of the champagne we originally ordered but it had to be chilled since it was warm. I have worked as a server before, so I tend to be rather forgiving when minor situations arise, as long as the server works to make it right. We took it in stride and each ordered a cocktail to drink while the champagne was being chilled, as well as our dinner order. I didn't pay too much attention to the time as we were having good conversation, but the wait did not seem any longer than average. After getting our meals, the champagne came out. The server apologized for the minor mix-up by saying "The champagne is on the house, Happy Birthday!". I hadn't mentioned it was my birthday since I didn't expect special treatment, but he had noticed on my ID and made sure that I wasn't disappointed. Way to go server, we were impressed. Overall the food was delicious, atmosphere just right (casual and affordable, but not divey), and the service happened to be excellent that night. I look forward to returning in the summer when the patio opens.
(5)Theodore Y.
My buddy raves about their pancakes but they just weren't my style. I think they mix lemon juice into their batter which added a kick to the pancakes which I did not appreciate. They're called "Strawberry Buttermilk Pancakes" came with ONE strawberry sliced into many small pieces. Cheap much? If I'm paying 9 bucks for pancakes, they better be off the field good. They were not. What was redeeming? The hashbrowns were delicious. Our waiter got us what we needed, but according to his schedule. Finally decided to chat us up when time for the bill came. Not again.
(2)Ginnie C.
I intended a moderate sized group of friends to go out for dinner before we ventured out for drinks. I didn't want a place that would be ridiculously expensive, but have great reviews on yelp. I happened upon Scollay Square during my search. By the time I was ready to book my reservations, my group had grown from 10 ppl to 18 ppl. Scollay was able to accomodate my request. Maybe booking a 8pm dinner had something to do with it? When I got there, the table was ready for us. The manager Chris greeted us right away and was very pleasant. "Anything we needed, don't hesitate to ask. " he said. A couple times during the meal, he checked to make sure everything was good. Yes it was! Thanks for asking! We had shared a couple appetizers. The guacamole dip was decent. Not the best I've had, but not the worst either. We also got the edadame apps which had a nice flavor to it. Sesame seeds sprinkled on top with teriyaki sauce to give the exterior extra flavor while you get the bean out. I order the Tuna Burger. It was delicous. Had a good amount of flavor to it. My fiance ordered the Buffalo Mac n Cheese, which I also picked on here and there. Another friend also took several bites of it. We both agreed that it was tasty. NOTE: I wasn't a fan of the server and here's why. My friend ordered the Prosecco. The waiter told her that they were all out and asked if she wanted a drink that was comparable to it. She said yes. Got the drink and drank it. It wasn't until we received the bill, when we noticed the price of the drink the waiter recommended. Prosecco is $8/glass. The drink he suggest was $16/glass. Understand that she should've asked the price difference, but I think the waiter was very misleading in this situation. I would take marks off the restaurant rating for the waiters poor way of handing the above situation, but the food was good and the rest of the staff was great... so I'm letting it go this time. But I think that this is just a good warning to anyone not only going to Scollay, but any other establishment. Make sure you ask for the price if the waiter is making a suggestion to you. They may not always have your best interest in mind. They may just want to raise the bill. NOTE #2: This place doesn't add automatic 20% gratuity for large parties. So be sure to tip accordingly. Most places do add the tip to the bill, but this place didn't for our bill. Thanks for reading!
(4)Katerina K.
Fish and chips - yes!!! Kobe sliders - yes!!! Great quick lunch stop!! Seating inside and outside. Draft beer selection.
(4)Michelle R.
This place has great, affordable food. Wide variety of options from steak tips to scallops to tuna to burgers, all well-executed. Came here with a large group, and everything we ordered was delicious. Would especially recommend the rare tuna filet -- it comes with wasabi mashed potatoes which are sooo good. The lobster mac n cheese and steak tips are solid as well. For dessert we tried the red velvet cake which was very rich and can definitely feed 2-3. Each entree is under $20 which is a super good deal for the quality.
(4)T F.
Great food...I had the hanger steak and my husband had the haddock. The haddock was a little plain but still tasty. Hanger steak was delicious. Service was amazing, which was surprising after reading all the reviews. Our waiter, Seth, was very helpful and attentive :)
(4)Mark J.
A few years ago, Scollay Square was setup as semi-formal traditional American restaurant with a reputation for a simple and delicious menu. The restaurant has remained true to the philosophy behind the menu (i.e., doing standard American dishes like seared Ahi Tuna, Steak, Scallops, etc. very well), but the interior, like so many traditional Boston restaurants, has undergone a transformation to a more casual setting that I'd say is more reminiscent of upscale pub seating (the open kitchen remains the same). The open kitchen and photos of old Scollay Square remain. If you don't mind the trend toward casual dining that's forever altered traditional restaurants like Oak Room, then this shouldn't matter. Truthfully, Scollay Square is also one of the few downtown traditional American restaurants where one can have a tasty, gourmet entree for around $20. The overall "value" cannot be denied. More concerning is the decline in service. At the start of the evening, the wait staff was sporadically attentive and occasionally difficult to reach. However, this was not the worst of it. The group I was with was appalled that the wait staff did not offer water at the outset, did not place water glasses or plates directly in front of us, and did not serve us our wine. Instead, they placed everything at the edge of the table as if expecting us to arrange everything for ourselves. The laziness was so bad that we literally had to use kaizen principles to elicit decent service (i.e., by strewing objects at the end of the table to force the wait staff to place our dishes where they belong). All things considered, Scollay is definitely a great choice for a reasonably priced, delicious meal with colleagues or friends in a casual setting.
(3)Pen R.
there is a super good place. the food is really really good. I just a traveler who come form NY, I really wanna take the food back to NY. If i go to Boston again i will try there again. by the way. the staff is awesome tooooo. im Chinese with super bad English skill but they r very nice and painted. 4.5stars for food, 5 stars for staff and 4 stars for the environment.
(5)Bon W.
From NYC point of view. Had brunch. Mimosas cant go wrong $4/ pop. Egg white omelette soaked in grease. Menu said lemon dressing on salad but taste like balsamic. Hash brown are overfried rocks. Lobster mac n cheese out of krafts mac n cheese box. Tourist trap. Skip it.
(2)Michelle W.
I came here for a quick lunch while I was taking a course at Mass Gen the other week and was happy with my Lobster roll. I sat at the bar to eat and the food was there by the time I returned from the restroom. There were huge perfect chunks of lobster in my sandwich, so fresh and perfectly cook. Not tough or chewy at all. SO good! I kind of wish the roll it was on was not grilled though, I think I would have preferred it plain. The bartender was nice, but thought it was kind of annoying that she was texting at the bar. Not that I needed anything, just doesn't scream class when your staff is on their phones on the clock...
(3)Amy C.
This place still left a bad taste in my mouth so this will be short and to the point: don't come here; it's overpriced and you would need to eat twice as much because the plate look pretty but lack substance. The service sucks; I believe I had 0 refills the entire time I was there. For how many restaurants there are in Boston, this is at the bottom of the barrel for me.
(1)Vic M.
Pretty bad. Understaffed (substantially), not a bad space though, drinks were ok. Had an awful lamb burger here...definitely avoid that at all costs. Just lackluster all around. Much better options nearby...try silvertone, curleys, etc skip this place.
(2)Jessica S.
Easter Brunch. Let's discuss. Very nice staff. I like the decor of the place. Good, dark coffee is a must for me and they nailed it. Even the decaf was good. We both got the eggs benedict. I like that they offer salad with their breakfasts, gives it a good balance. Love the crispy hash browns. Overall the food was good enough to go back. Some minor negatives. The special holiday brunch menu was not very well thought out or desirable and we were told we could not order off the regular brunch menu, which was the only reason we even wanted to try this place. We considered going elsewhere but we already had a reservation. We asked someone else and they said we could get a regular benedict instead of a lobster benedict, which worked out because that's what we both wanted anyway. They also only posted the special brunch menu the day before when most places do it at least a week in advance and also let you order off both menus. My friend didn't think the bathroom was nice, sufficient at best. Also, it's bizarre that they have a nice pepper grinder and a bottle of San Pellegrino on the table but then have a big plastic container of grocery store salt there instead of a nice shaker or grinder. Just one of those common sense things that bugs me.
(4)Amu N.
Good food taste :-) Great hospitality. :-) Very few veg items on menu:-( Great location. :-)
(4)Debbie B.
A perfect spot on Beacon street to sit outside and people watch. Our service was a bit slow but perked up when we thought he forgot about us. I had a delicious grapefruit vodka,champagne cocktail. My lunch was a very well made chipotle BBQ chicken salad. Wow!! Great flavors. I chose a vinaigrette instead of the ranch dressing. Worked well. Hubby had a well made grey goose and tonic. Refreshing! He ordered the Mediterranean salad w/grilled shrimp. Ample portions. We would and maybe will come back tomorrow. Sunday brunch looks very promising!! p.s. we went back for brunch on Sunday. Perfect!!
(4)courtney k.
Yelp nation was right again! Fish and chips were great... we have 2 kids under 2 and the ladies here were happy to serve them :) p.s. try the antioxidant martini it's a winner
(4)E. A.
A great option when you want to eat somewhere a little nicer than Silvertone, but not as nice as Mooo. Yay: Tasty tasty food. Very well executed. Varied menu Decent prices, even on drinks Casual atmosphere Great service Nay: The open kitchen feels a little too open, too close to the dining tables. The place has that "fish 'n' chips" smell characteristic of un-ventilated restaurants. But, some people probably dig that, and it wouldn't keep me from returning because the Yays clearly outweigh the Nays here.
(4)Alicia S.
Boston restaurant search at 3pm on a cloudy Sunday afternoon. Beacon Hill, $-$$, American (Traditional), Open Now Result: Scollay Square. We walked into the joint at 4pm (still considered lunch) and took a seat. One Boston Lager later we had the Goat Cheese appetizer & Lobster Mac and Cheese in front of us. Hello! The Goat Cheese Appetizer was a tasty little delight (see Laura J.'s review for the description that convinced my sister to order it. Yum...thank ya lady!) but we needed more bread! Not a problem, more was grilled up & brought to us right away. We split the Lobster M&C which was just fine for the portion size and it being lunch. The lobster pieces are small but that's fine because they're in every bite! Curly noodles, cheesy-cheese and a creamy drippy mess of delish...just what the doctor ordered.
(4)Marilyn T.
I think the first time I heard about Scollay Square may have been on (dare I say) phantom gourmet a long time ago? It was if chow hound... Anyway, this hidden place in Beacon Hill is worth the trek. It's a small place, so make a reservation on their website (no Open Table). I love the more modern cocktails they have. The sparkling pink grapefruit was my favorite - grapefruit vodka, sparkling wine, a splash of ruby red grapefruit juice. The lemon one is good, too, but sweeter. They also have beers on tap, including Stella. The main entrees seemed like a lot of one thing, so we went with a lot of small dishes... - Blackened scallops: $11.50 for 5 diver scallops, blackened with Cajun spices, seared without being burnt, sweet inside. Really good value. - Onion soup: sweet caramelized onion beef broth, well seasoned but not too salty, gruyere crouton on top, could have been hotter. - Shrimp dumplings: I don't usually get this stuff at American restaurants, but the steamed shrimp dumplings had big chunks of shrimp and were lightly fried on be bottom. The dumpling skin had a nice bite, and the dipping sauce was awesome. - Mac n cheese: add lobster ($16 total) or prosciutto and truffle oil. Actual Mac is cavatelli, al dante, which is rare for mac n cheese. It's appropriately cheesy, and the sauce isn't too wet. Everything really hit the spot after a long walk on a cold winter day. I like the open kitchen and the cozy feel. It's good for a date or for groups, but it's not that big. Everything was priced really reasonably, and it's definitely a Beacon Hill gem!
(4)Catherine D.
Came here a few weeks ago. Not bad--I had the macaroni and cheese with artichoke hearts and spinach (made it seem slightly healthy?). Portions are a little too big, so I took most of it home. The interior is kind of cute. No strong negatives or positives to say about this place. A good restaurant for when you don't know where else to go for dinner.
(3)Michael W.
Shrimp Dumplings & Mac N Cheese with Buffalo Chicken. Very good.
(4)Chris H.
Had lobster mac and cheese and the tuna burger. The burger has seaweed salad on top, which was a nice touch. Both were very good. Comfortable space and friendly staff.
(4)Luis V.
Saturday brunch was phenomenal! Try the short rib breakfast burrito, you will not be disappointed! I've never had a breakfast burrito before. There was the right balance and portioning of juicy short rib with scrambled eggs. The flour tortilla was slightly grilled and tasted very light, but strong enough to keep it breaking apart in my hands. The guacamole, tomatoes and sour cream brought it all together. Can't wait to having it again soon!
(5)Aaron K.
Really great eggs benedict plate. Came here for brunch over the fall after spending the morning in the common/public garden and walking around beacon hill. This place did not disappoint food wise. Eggs benedict was perfect with what seemed like a homemade hollandaise. Their hash browns are killer! It also came with a small side salad with a nice light lemon dressing. 10$ in this location for this food was a steal. Love it and would come back next time I'm in the area. Fiance's french toast left a little to be desired as the bread was a little flat (I like thick bread personally). Service was a miss as we had to flag down our waitress to place our order. Then a server brought me the wrong benedict (they brought me lobster and I had ordered traditional). They gave mine to someone else. I didn't eat anything off my plate and they brought it to the customer that ordered it. Mine was already dug into and they made me a new plate.....I ended up eating after my fiance had already finished. No comps for the mistake and I was pretty peeved, but the food still won me over in the end. I will go back and up this rating if the service improves. If you make a huge screw up like this you should offer some type of comp for the inconvenience.
(3)Melissa F.
My friend and I came here for a hearty breakfast before heading to the Harpoon brewery. I love brunch, mostly because I don't get to have it often, so when I get to it better be damn good or I will be one unhappy customer. Ended up picking Scollay Square and I was so glad I did. Love the decor with the old pictures on the walls. Gives the place a lot of charm. We were seated quickly and placed our order since we were both starving. We both got the Scollay Square Breakfast and ate the whole thing. Their coffee is really good too (strong just how I like it. Had like 3 cups) We didn't try the bloody mary bar since we were going to be drinking beer later, but I definitely will try it next time I go. It was quite an impressive spread with all the different hot sauces and fixings. They have very reasonable prices and you get a lot of food. I'm a fan and will be returning
(4)Ganee F.
I would now consider us regulars, as we venture up to Scolly Square at least once every two weeks. The food is phenomenal and the prices are great, too. Also can't forget to mention the best brunch menu around (with a make-your-own Bloody Mary bar)!
(5)Johnny Z.
Lobster roll is great.
(3)Diana C.
I'm a tad disappointed as I had high hopes based on the reviews. ATMOSPHERE: decor is dated. Definitely not a classy feel - the tv's playing at the bar made me feel like I was in a sports bar. Lot of older folks eating at this restaurant as well. SERVICE: nice waitress/hostess but I agree with another reviewer that they get really annoying after a while because they check in on you every 5 minutes, interrupting the conversations. Also there was one time when another staff member came to clean plates off our table and we said we were still working on some fries - she kinda flipped out. She went to the waitress angrily who was standing behind us and said 'I thought you said they were done!' That made us really uncomfortable. After we paid for the bill, we stayed to chat. There was absolutely no service from them whatsoever even though our cups were empty. I guess that's not a huge deal but I thought it was a little rude. We gave them like a 20% tip so it wasn't like we were stingy. FOOD: it came out really fast which was good! lobster mac and cheese: my friends said they could make it better themselves. very watery and not creamy enough. fish and chips: very good! flaked nicely. very crispy. comes w/ cole slaw and fries. calamari: different kick with the banana peppers, but other than that nothing special scallops: slightly overcooked but really good taste - whatever spices they used it worked.
(3)Sharon L.
I love Scollay Square. The food is excellent and the atmosphere is fun. The dining experience on the patio in the summer is great. I would highly recommend the buffalo chicken mac & cheese. Scollay's bartender, Brian, is excellent! My favorite drink is a skinny margarita and Brian squeezes fresh limes to make the drink (unlike other bars that use lime juice from a bottle) and it is amazing. If you go to Scollay and Brian is bartending, definitely order a drink, you won't be disappointed.
(5)Camila P.
Went here with my family on Sunday for brunch. I was planning on getting the eggs benedict but convinced myself to get the Tosta Parma Prosciutto sandwich. My father got the Thai Chicken and Shrimp, and my mother got the Scollay Square Breakfast. Everything tasted great (especially the dressing that they put on the greens) but I regret not getting the Eggs Benedict. The service was great, our waiter always checked back with us to see if everything was okay and made a few jokes. Overall, a positive experience and a great Sunday brunch in Beacon Hill! If I lived in Boston, I would come here more often.
(4)Donna S.
Kinda hidden between state house and Suffolk university. Excellent scallop dish. Good pear salad. Nice eclectic menu, just the right things to make it interesting. Good service and food.
(4)David K.
Brunch. Steak and eggs: steak a cheap cut, might as well have been steamed for all the sear they got on it. Eggs over medium were a bit beyond that. Hash browns tasty but apparently from the freezer. English muffin served with no jam and just tasted weird. Stuffed French toast: weirdly bitter, served with fake syrup. Really lacking in meaningful flavor. A truly disappointing brunch.
(2)Victoria R.
Having been to Scollay Square at least a dozen times and for every meal possible, I can say that is hands down my go-to on Beacon Hill right now. The lunch crowd is always hopping with state house staffers, lobbyists, and a whole host of "who's who" in politics, which can make for some great people watching. The dinner vibe is more casual and relaxed, especially on the weekends. And then, there's brunch.... uh-mazing. Having tried at least half the menu items, I can say without a doubt that the spinach and artichoke mac and cheese is a must-try diet-killer. On the lighter side, the chipotle bbq chicken salad is a great lunch time option, as well as the turkey chutney panini. With a group, the steamed edamame is a wonderful appetizer (although very filling!). And if you're so inclined, be sure to check out the cocktail menu - the detox is a personal favorite, although i always seemed to walk out much more "toxed" than "detoxed".... I digress. Service is always wonderful, and I love that I've seen the same handful of people working every time I visit since I started going about five years ago. If you haven't been yet, you have to try -- you won't be disappointed!
(4)Stacy D.
My boyfriend found this on Yelp when we visited Boston in late February. We went because the prices were reasonable, and the reviews were fantastic. What a great find! We arrived, with a party of five and no reservations at 7:30 on a Saturday night. The hostess was able to seat us right away, which seemed an impossibility. We ordered calamari (served with grape tomatoes, banana peppers and an aioli) and guacamole to start, and both were fantastic. The calamari was the best I've had. The guacamole was also great - very fresh and creamy. Between the five of us, we ordered the fish and chips, seared scallops, seared ahi tuna and french onion soup. Everything was cooked perfectly. The scallops were lightly seared and had a great flavor, accompanied by risotto (creamy but not gooey, as it should be) and spinach. The teriyaki-marinated tuna was served with wasabi mashed potatoes and crispy wonton strips. The tuna was cooked perfectly, and although spicy, had an excellent flavor. The wonton strips provided an interesting texture juxtaposition to the potatoes. The fish and chips, were battered lightly and not greasy. This traditional dish came with french fries and coleslaw, and a scallion leek tartar sauce. My friend said the french onion soup was very good, but that is the one dish I did not try. The service was great and the place has a nice aesthetic - an open kitchen, attractive bar, and a relatively quiet atmosphere (due in part to the adequate spacing between tables) - which is thoughtful, considering it is a small space. I have worked in the food industry and eaten at a multitude of places around the country: many of which I love. This is the first time I have written a review - Scollay Square is that good.
(5)Brian S.
There's nothing entirely special about this place and was one of the more forgettable meals that my girlfriend and I shared in Boston. She got the scallops and I got the fish a chips.While they were both cooked decently, I think we expected a bit more factoring the price and reviews.
(2)Andrew R.
Whatever you do, no matter what, any time you're here, day or night, at all hours of the day, regardless of what else is going on either in your life or around you at that moment, never hesitate, not for a second, not for a fraction of a second, never hesitate to order the Miso Salmon. No grammatically error-prone run-on sentence could possibly express that sentiment better.
(4)Cindy W.
Was able to be seated in a big group on the patio on a holiday weekend without any problems. The shade was fantastic on a hot day but the above AC unit dripped water on some our guests. Wait staff was very friendly but they took their time in bringing out our drinks, which included watered down dark and stormies. The food was excellent. Prosciutto truffle oil mac and cheese was divine. The seared ahi tuna with wasabi mashed potatoes was plate licking good! All of the apps and entrees arrived very quickly. Leave room for the fresh homebaked ice cream cookie sandwich with hot fudge. After such a delicious meal and wonderful evening disaster and incompetence struck. It takes 15 min. to get the waitress to bring our check and another 10 min for it to arrive and over 45 mins and 2 visits to check on the processing before we can sign our bill. We did not receive drinks or other accommodations during our wait. 30 mins. into our 45 min. wait and after checking on our bill (first time), we finally were notified by our waitress that their manager could not operate their POS system to split a check evenly. I've seen this successfully done at every establishment from the Four Seasons to the golden arches. I would have loved to recommend Scollay to everyone BUT realistically I can only recommend it to people who enjoy waiting for over an hour without food or drinks and don't have places to go later in the evening.
(2)Summer P.
We went here for the lobster roll, as my husband is not a vegetarian. I was happy to see that they had plenty of vegetarian options as well. The lobster roll was served on toasted brioche and looked to be of very high quality. The pieces of lobster meat were huge, pink and fresh. I was told it was good. I had artichoke heart mac & cheese and it was delicious! Delicate flavors and just a nice, warm meal. Service was a bit aloof, but not bad.
(4)Molly K.
Went out for drinks and apps with a friend last week at Scollay Square...had some delicious drinks (The Absolut Lemonade made of Absolute Citron, St. Germaine, fresh Lemon and Champagne...also known as delicious) with some tasty apps of guac and pulled pork sliders with cole slaw. They also offer outdoor dining in the warm months and a great business lunch! Pictures and more on -- ----
(4)Lisa P.
Impeccable service. Food was perfectly cooked and seasoned. Portions were good size. Great wine list too! I thoroughly enjoyed my time there.
(5)Jessie N.
Took my gf here last NYE for dinner and it was great. The ambiance was nice and the food tasted good.
(4)Luci H.
Went here on a Friday night, great outdoor seating. The wait staff wasnt as attentive as they could be, but not bad either. We started with the buffalo chicken and Kobe sliders, and then shared the miso salmon. All were quite tasty, and large portion sizes. We had the chocolate cookie sliders for dessert and OH MY was it good.
(4)Shirley Y.
This place is a hidden gem in the Beacon Hill area, right in the center of town catering to the State House population. Lots of suits here, filling up the high ceilings bar area with camaraderie. I escaped the loud, raucous noise to the outdoor seating area, only to move back in when the rain descended again. Tommy was our server, with very a dry wit. If I wanted to order my friend's drink ahead of time, he could do that if i really wanted to prank him considering that it takes the bar two seconds to pour a beer. If I really am pissed at him, he offered to microwave the beer for him. He's been working crazy 16 hour shifts with an upcoming trip to Munich, and if this service reflects how out of it he is, imagine what he is like when the place is more fully staffed! We are imagining a Speedy Gonzalez moving at the speed of light. Draft beer selection was acceptable. Nothing outlandish or spectacular by any means, so we stuck with the tried and true Lagunitas hoppy ale. We had the famed mac and cheese with the thick cut prosciutto and truffle oil. I think the chef poured half a bottle of truffle oil in there. And here I was thinking I was doing so well with my diet! To accompany our "appetizer" of mac and cheese (it really is an entree), we also succumbed to the Philly cheesesteak spring rolls. Like my friend says, it's like Philly landed in China. Brilliant. Especially with the chipotle ketchup. This food was rich enough for our appetites but we could not help ogling at the food that was passing by us, and reaching other tables. They were beautifully presented, and looked delicious and we were reminiscing (read: imagining) tackling the food order, or doing quality control for the restaurant. We looked at the menu again, and because we were full, we managed to not succumb and order the luscious sirloin chop, the ahi tuna, and many other dishes. They do pasta well here. And their chocolate chip ice cream sandwich looks incredible!
(4)Dylan N.
We went to Scollay Sq on a spontaneous Birthday Dinner. We ordered the Edamame, then my fiancee had the Lobster Mac and Cheese and I had the Tuna Burger w/ the Homemade Potato Chips. The food was incredible. The Mac and Cheese was awesome and the quality and quantity of Lobster was superb. For $16, they put in a lot of Lobster, mostly claw meat, which flakes nicely with the Mac. For an extra $3, we had the mixed greens salad on the side, which was perfectly drizzled with a lemon dressing, really good. The Tuna Burger was great. It was done with a great ginger glaze on this soft amazing roll. The potato chips were perfect, not too greasy and perfectly salted. The service was really good. We had Natalia! She was really nice, quick and attentive. She even gave us this awesome little danish in our to-go bag. We had one of the cheaper wines, by the glass, but really good. The restaurant is situated near the State House up on Beacon, near the Fox 25 studios, Beacon Hill location. It was raining so no outdoor dining, but the interior is nice and cozy. There is ample space between tables and a nice motif for the restaurant. Overall this place was a really good choice and we will continue to go back. My one qualm about the place was the Hostess was also serving as the Expediter and as a Runner, so when you walk in and don't see someone, they will be right with you...we waited less then 1 minute to be sat.
(4)dan g.
Swordfish chop with lobster risotto is the best! I am getting excited just thinking about this meal again. Definitely worth a visit! Might be a good idea to call ahead and make sure they still have some of this left when you decide to go, it runs out fast.
(5)Brandy B.
Fantastic for brunch. In town visiting and found Scollary Square on here. The short rib burrito was fantastic! Omelets were great. Chris, I'm assuming he was the manager, was very nice. Patio area was very nice for Sunday brunch. The group was very pleased with this restaurant.
(5)Fernando K.
Great for lunch! Fried calamari was the best we've had in Boston. Lobster Benedict was superb. Very well prepared, simple and light Haddock. Highly recommended food. Ambiance was so-so; restaurant also a little dark.
(4)Andrew J.
I've been coming to Boston for many years and somehow I missed this place, but I am so glad I found it! The atmosphere is pub-like, and quite loud, but the service and the food drowns all of that out. This place may have the best fish and chips I've ever had (and I've sampled a lot). Flaky, not greasy at all, and accompanied by a delicious tartar sauce. If you're in the Beacon Hill area, and even if you're not, you have to come to this place.
(5)Tiana M.
Everything we tried was so flavorful and masterfully plated! For the first course we ordered the Shrimp Dumplings, steamed with the spicy ponzu sauce. Yum! My boyfriend ordered the Rare Seared Filet Mignon of Tuna (Teriyaki Marinated, Wasabi Restuffed Baked Potato, Crispy Wonton Strips, Sesame, Chili Oil) and it was so so SO good! Luckily he grabbed the last filet, even though I wanted the same! I had the Miso Glazed Salmon Filet (Shaved English Cucumber, Sauteed Spinach, Jasmine Rice) and the salmon was cooked to perfection. The sides for all plates were so tasty too. I was really surprised how delicious everything was. The decor was very cute and the ambiance laid back and warm. Too bad I was so full - I was really craving the Chocolate Chip Cookie Sliders with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. Next time!
(5)Mike D.
Went for brunch. The eggs benedict were good. The blueberry french toast was ok and not nearly blueberry enough for me. The bacon, and I don't know how you do this, wasn't good. It was in that no man's land of not being crispy or fatty. They have a good little patio to sit outside when the weather is nice. It certainly wasn't cheap but I think most items were priced fairly.
(3)Jennifer C.
Super friendly and comfy spot- the food was pretty good. Buffalo chicken dip is to die for if you're not watching calories! The overall feel of the place is pretty chill and the chef is willing to spill a couple secrets when asked. The food is really reasonably priced, but the drinks are a bit overpriced, especially for the limited mixology selections. If you're not a drinker this will be a $$ restaurant- the cocktails step up the bill considerably. Mostly, just loved the staff and would come back in a heartbeat!
(4)Marcus W.
I would say this is one of the better and more unknown places in Boston. They have a great vibe and a solid staff. You can go for an after work relaxed drink or a nice sit down date. Either way you are going to have a nice time. Their food is quality but not over priced. I recommend their Calamari, their bay scallops and risotto are fantastic but don't bother with their three cupcake dessert dry and not worth it. Their alcohol service is quality ranging from good cocktails to quality wines. The only problem is that their alcohol is a little pricier than i think its worth but not to the point of excess. As long as your not looking for an upscale night this is really the relaxed atmosphere perfect for most people.
(4)Michael C.
I took two colleagues here for lunch today before running them over to Logan. Once again I was not disappointed by the food. Oven roasted goat with ciabatta cheese in a tomato sauce was fantastic as was the roasted turkey sandwich. Bloody Mary's are spicy but not over the top. My only real complaint was the wait staff that seemed annoyed that we were taking too long despite the fact the place was half empty. This seems to be common complaint by yelpers. Too bad since the food and atmosphere are terrific.
(4)CW W.
I asked my bf to take me somewhere that offered a tasty mac n cheese with lobster meat. He looked up reviews and found this place, sadly it was not good. We were seated promptly and the waitress who served us was very nice and friendly. The place was not that busy when we came in around 6pm on a Saturday but were surprised how long our food took. Our waitress apologized for the delay because she said there was a big party that came in before us but sadly I did not believe her. A table of 6 beside us ordered after us and they got there food first (we both ordered appetizers) and a table they sat down after us, they got there food shortly after we got ours. It just didn't seem right. The decor of this place is very drab and old, it could really use some updating. My bf and I both ordered onion soups and that was good. My bf got the hangar steak special while I got the lobster mac n cheese. The hangar steak special was $25 and for what he got, not worth it at all, way overpriced by at least $8-$10 dollars. There wasn't that much and the taste was bland. My lobster mac n cheese was worse. The macaroni was a little hard still, there wasn't that much lobster meat and barely any cheese. Oh and there were breadcrumbs or something sprinkled on top that were really, really hard not like the crunch I would expect, more like stale. Again this dish was overpriced for what I got at least $3-$5 dollars. We ended the meal splitting a piece of red velvet cake with chocolate ganache which was very sweet and rich but pretty good. A big disappointment for us and we wont be returning. As always try it yourself and never take me word.
(2)Jen M.
Scollay Square has due good service and beautiful decor. Love the authentic architectural details and memorabilia that matches the name. The food, however, leaves a lot to be desired. Overall, it seemed as if management was cutting corners to save money. What was good was served in such small portions (nobody at our table was a big eater, either) that we were hungry afterward. And what was tasteless or just plain bad was in ample portions -- granted, the bread was free but don't bother! Just one example: Cobb salad -- for $12.50 it should've been entree-size but with a tablespoon of bacon bits (they had to be -- couldn't have been real meat!), no chicken, and very little of everything else, it was skimpy. Oh, except for the dressing. They poured it on to makeup for the lack of ingredients! Nice location and maybe a place to get a drink (they were fine, by the way) but go somewhere else to dine.
(2)Eric B.
Where to have lunch near the State House is a good question. There are lots of choice, but one I've overlooked for years was better than average, quite comfortable, and featured an impressive wine list with better than average selections for wines by the glass, which are a great option when you don't want to get totally loaded during the day. This was a business lunch for me so I wanted to be sure I had both sox on and strained to not dip my tie into the salad while chatting and munching. Later I would discover I had left my wallet at home, thus destroying the carefully honed ambiance leading to my client graciously bailing me out by paying (which I immediately repaid by check). We split a lovely Beet Salad with Goat Cheese, which was tasty, though maybe a bit light on the goat cheese and beets. It all could have been in my guest's half - I'll go with that. My out-of-season lobster roll, though, was quite delicious, not heavy on the mayonnaise, but a nice blend of lobster, celery and other spices in a hotdog-like roll. Her tuna burger appeared excellent, a perception that was affirmed by its prompt disappearance between glasses of Pinot Grigio. Ambiance is on the formal side, a warm wooden hue pervades the dining room which features shards of natural light filtering in from Beacon Street. Not a place I would necessarily place in heavy location - but certainly not a restaurant I would shy away from. Parking is available, though a bit pricey, at one of the ubiquitous VPNE lots next door. Don't even think about parking illegally, as my mommy said - you'll be sorry. Try Scollay Square for a bit of variety in your downtown dining repertoire, to me more of a restaurant for a business meet-up than for dinner with my sweetie.
(4)Jon D.
Nice selection of draft and bottled beers. Friendly bartender. My gf was unimpressed with the white grape martini (basically just vodka and grape juice) but my Tom Collins was very good. Decent wine list. Pan fried shrimp dumplings were excellent. I thought the dipping sauce was unnecessary; they were so good, they didn't need anything. The oven roasted goat cheese was perfect, and I'm not typically a fan of cheese. Fish and chips were a high-quality version of the standard dish. Nothing surprising, nothing weird. Seared day boat scallops were cooked perfectly and served with a very good risotto. Vanilla bean cheesecake was good, as were the chocolate chip cookie ice cream sliders. Nothing to knock your socks off, but a nice finish on a hot day. The original Scollay Square (torn down long ago and built over with the Government Center) was the location of the Howard Theatre, an infamous burlesque house. The decor of the restaurant is reminiscent of that, with old photos of the area, pictures of burlesque dancers, framed tasseled pasties, etc. Quirky but subtle and tasteful, and if you're not looking for it you might not even notice. Good location, nice decor, very good food. Recommended.
(4)Alex K.
Let me start by saying I came here for dinner and I very well could have just ordered the wrong thing on the menu. I would be willing to give Scollay another try. When looking for a new place to try in the Beacon Hill area near my friends place we settled here , based solely on the yelp reviews and the fact that we had seen quite a crowd a few times. With all of the great food in Boston, I wish we had gone somewhere else for my last meal back in Boston. I got the fish and chips and it was just a really standard, nothing special dish. The menu seemed pretty basic and the place was absolutely dead . We were literally the only ones in the restaurant which is so surprising since it was the day after Patriots Day and all of the reviews. I would be willing to try again but the menu wasn't overly impressive and both my meal and my friends (she got some sort of flatbread) were above average at best. Maybe we should try it for brunch next time.
(3)Margot N.
We don't dine in Boston often, but when we do - we go to our standard favorites. This time we wanted to experience something new. How to find a fabulous dining experience on or near the Common or Beacon Hill with fabulous cuisine, atmosphere and service . . . . well thanks to Yelp, we identified our target as Scollay Square and we were not disappointed. We went for dinner - got the table of our choice. Lovely, vintage atmosphere that offers options for large groups of friends and associates, as well as smaller, more intimate parties. Our waiter Tom, helped us with food and wine selections - which featured a soy ginger salmon that was grilled to perfection and their roasted cider brine chicken which was tender and moist (filet) with a delectable sage shallot sauce and an amazing assortment of vegetables including Japanese eggplant. Tom's recommendation of the Austrian white wine (one of their offerings by the glass) was a perfect pairing with the salmon, which surprised me - who typically drinks pinot grigio or chardonnay. I'm told they're particularly well known for their marinated steak tips and NY sirloin - and many diners near us seemed to be ordering and enjoying them. All in all, Scollay Square is a divine, hidden gem! We'll definitely return for a romantic dinner or with a group, as they accommodate both nicely (they also offer Al Fresco dining in season).
(5)Vanessa V.
Great brunch! The food, drinks, atmosphere, and service were all awesome. We had two egg sandwiches, the crabcake benedict, and stuffed french toast that we all split and it was all delicious. The bacon bloody marys are also great. Great for people-watching on a sunny day - we sat outside and it was lovely. We were mistakenly given regular french toast at first, but the waiter noticed this, brought us stuffed french toast a couple minutes later, and let us eat the regular french toast for free too. The manager, Chris, gave us excellent food recommendations and was very friendly, as was our waiter. I came here for lunch a while back, too, and that was also very good.
(5)Andy M.
Arrived in Boston late on a Saturday and went looking for a place to slam a few drinks down and a bite to eat close to the Hotel. Started off with the Buffalo Chicken Dip which was good but hot - went well with the Guinness I was drinking. For entree's we had the Thai Chicken and Shrimp and Steak. Both were excellent. Great place for drinks and a good meal. Service was excellent and never had to ask for a beer.
(4)Amanda D.
Wowszas! I love when I read reviews and almost let a couple negatives hold me back but then go for it anyway. I'm glad I did. In town from Clevaland, my husband and I wanted some fresh and tasty seafood and we found it here. The fish and chips was just out of this world. It's a very light flash fried fish and tasted buttery, soft, pretty much melted in my mouth. The french fries were just ok. The brew selection is on the small side, but good picks. The salmon with lobster mashed potatoes were unbelievably good. The prices were reasonable and the staff was superb. Would go back in a heartbeat.
(5)Alex S.
Came here for dinner and of course had to order the featured dish, the rare seared tuna. The tuna was probably an 8 or 9 out of 10 as far as a seared tuna at a nice restaurant goes. The wasabi mashed side was amazing. However the restaurant can get slightly loud, even when almost empty. The atmosphere is decent, but leaves something to be desired. Happy with my experience, but will probably choose other local places in the future.
(4)Tina D.
With many TVs around this place is a great place for dinner if you don't want to miss out on a sox, pats, celtics or bruins game. Decor: good rustic feel, nicely spaced. Choice of low seating, high seating, or bar seating. when the weather is nice there's a choice of outside seating, although the surrounding buildings block out the sun Drinks: offer a good small variety of beers on Tap. Of the three times that I've asked what the special was referring to on the menu, it's been the Allagash White. Food: Kobe sliders are awesome starters. love the juicy meat and the caramelized onions were finger licking good. Our favorite entree was the Seared Ahi Tuna with wasabi flavored mashed potato, crispy wonton strips and sauteed spinach. This is the DISH you have to try! As sushi fans this dish was meant for us. The seared tuna was moist and fresh in the middle, giving the impression of sashimi. Naturally the wasabi flavored mashed potatoes worked really well. The spinach was cooked perfectly, not soggy like most places so it paired well w/ the freshness of the Tuna. The Crispy Wonton strips added nice texture to the plate. Had steak here too, but it was so so and don't remember anything that would stand out. Buffalo boneless tenders were moist and flavorful, good beer snack. Service: if you're sitting outside, the service is a little slow and sometimes you will have to wait for someone to come out. If you're sitting inside for dinner, the service is EXCEPTIONAL. They're very flexible with seating and would always leave it up to us to determine where we would sit. Servers were always courteous and professional. Service is always on point, but not over-bearing. They would take extra steps to please you. For instance our table was a little wobbly with one short leg, the server apologized and asked if we would like to move. After we told him that we didn't mind he took time to place some paper under the short leg to even out the table. Wished we had this kind of service everywhere! We can call ourselves regulars here now. However, one day we will have to get up early enough on Sunday to try their brunch menu as well!
(5)Caleb F.
What a great find on a Friday night! It wasn't too busy and the interior seating area was quiet (such a rare find on the weekend). It was a sweet reprieve to sit in a quiet restaurant and gawk over a menu. We were able to watch the Red Sox and enjoy a delicious meal. The manager even made a point to come introduce himself. The only reason I didn't rate this restaurant higher was because of the service. Our server rushed us in ordering, made us feel like we were inconveniencing her, and I had to track her down behind the bar to request refills. I can't imagine her service when the place is busy!
(3)Jaime B.
I had the most delicious meal last night at Scolleys. I started with the rock shrimp appetizer which was super good. For my main course, I had the lobster risotto. Absolutely delicious! Definitely the best I've ever had. There were huge chunks of lobster in the risotto. I loved every bite. Cute ambience right by Boston Common. The service was nothing short of perfect. A++
(5)Jesse L.
My girlfriend and I were looking for a place for brunch and were excited to see that Scollay Square was related to Sip and Max & Dylan's. We decided to give it a shot. Stepping into Scollay was reminiscent of the opening scene of The Grand Budapest Hotel; there were more staff than patrons. The entire place was a bit run down and had the atmosphere of a great place that has been left to slowly die. The tables had what appeared to be ancient bottles of Pelegrino on them, warm with their labels discolored and peeling. Drinks: I ordered an Irish coffee. It tasted off. When I received the check, I understood why. They had made an Irish coffee with Southern Comfort. My girlfriend said that her mimosa tasted as if someone had poured flat Andre into minute made orange juice concentrate. The food: I ordered the breakfast burrito and my girlfriend the weatcoast benedict. Neither of us finished our dishes. Had my breakfast burrito cost me 4 dollars and come wrapped in saran wrap from a corner store, I would have been satisfied. The hollandaise sauce on the benedict was bland and the only redeeming factor of the dish was the obviously prepackaged frozen hashbrowns. We left Scollay Square feeling robbed and crossing our fingers hoping that the last day of my girlfriend's visit (she lives in NYC), would not be spent running to the toilet repeatedly.
(1)Kimberly K.
$4 mimosas... That's worth 5 stars. But unfortunately I have to deduct one for a pretty mediocre tuna burger and another for a so-so cheeseburger. The service was awesome and the outdoor seating is great.
(3)Nick M.
This restaurant was recommended by the concierge at the Omni Parker House. This place was exactly what we were looking for on our first night in Boston. The service was friendly and professional. I recommend the lobster risotto and buffalo flatbread. We will return on our next trip to see what other delectable concoctions this restaurant can serve up.
(4)Meg B.
I came for brunch a few years ago and fell in love with this place. Had the Lobster Eggs Benedict and it was PHENOMENAL. They had a MYO Bloody Mary bar that was to die for as well! I jotted it down for the next time I was in Boston and... ...that happened to be this weekend! We went for dinner and it was just as amazing, if not more, for dinner! We had the Kobe Sliders to start (soooo good) and I had the Miso Salmon, while my boyfriend had the Beef Short Rib. They were both out of this world! We finished with the Chocolate Chip Cookie Slider. It was no longer on the menu but after seeing all the Yelp reviews of it, we had to ask if it still existed. They made a set for us and I was so happy I asked! Overall, I felt so spoiled here. The food and service were both way above par...I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants to have a fabulous dining experience!
(5)Vivian C.
First order of business - entering Scollay Square. You wouldn't think this would be an issue, but I was not the only one of our party to walk pass the patio, look at the entrance just to the right of the establishment and think confusedly to myself - this doesn't look like it would get me into the restaurant. That's because it isn't. Turns out you have to head towards the left of the restaurant (the side closest to the State House), go through the patio, and weave pass all the folks seated beneath the umbrellas to find the way in under the maroon awning imprinted with their name. But once you are in, things are good. Service is swell - although I am thoroughly confused by the $0 bread basket noted on my bill at the end of the evening, since no such basket of bread had ever touched down on our table - with the server patient as we waited for the remainder of our entire party to arrive before we began to order, our water glasses refilled several times, and separate checks considerately offered. The restaurant was nice yet dimly lit, with an open kitchen to the left, a bar against the back, and bathrooms in the basement with a single unisex one right off the bar. The ARBORIO CRUSTED CALAMARI Teardrop Tomatoes, Banana Peppers, Aioli $9.50 was lightly crisp, with the majority of the flavoring not in the crust, but in the creamy aioli and the more pickled than spicy peppers. As the server had named seafood the specialty of the house, we elected to order both the MISO GLAZED SALMON FILLET Shaved English Cucumber, Sauteed Spinach, Jasmine Rice $17 and the SEARED DAY BOAT SCALLOPS Sautéed Spinach, Creamy Leek Risotto, Lemon Buerre Blanc, Chive Oil $22. How would you like the salmon to be prepared? The chef recommends medium rare, so medium rare it is! But it came fully cooked. However, it was still tasty, and was matched well with the jasmine rice which was also rather tasty with the miso soy sauce drizzled on the plate. The jasmine rice was also felt refreshing and healthy in contrast with the bites of rich creamy risotto that had accompanied the scallop entree. The scallops themselves, varying in size, numbered five and were tender and served nicely browned, but they, and the entree as a whole, were rather scanty, leaving plenty of room for both appetizer and dessert. As we, as well as two other parties that evening, were celebrating a birthday, dessert was not something housemade, but a cake brought in. As I was guest and not organizer, I do not know if there was a cake fee, but I will comment that the manager served the cake at the table, and slices distributed on real plates with silverware. Please note - prices on the online menu are a bit off - some prices lower (namely the calamari app at $11), some higher (both entrees - $16.50 and $21). PS - the market price of the LEMON BASTED SWORDFISH CHOP Lobster Risotto, Roasted Asparagus, Tomato Vinaigrette on the night of our visit was $29.
(4)Anny G.
Lovely restaurant! Very cute restaurant/bar with a beautiful outdoor patio. Service was a little slow but the bus girl made up for what the server couldn't get to (it was very busy). The server was very professional and polite. She knew the menu well. The manager stopped to make sure everything was okay with our table twice. The cheeseburger sliders and pasta with butter and parmesan were both big hits with my kids. The chicken with risotto was great and the two really complimented one another. My miso salmon was superb. Everything was cooked perfectly and somehow all came out together, too! We will definitely be going back.
(5)Erica R.
A friend and I tried out the brunch this past weekend. I think we might have even been the first people in the door right after 10am. We were seated quickly and our server was friendly enough. There were a couple times we were wondering if maybe he had forgotten about us while tending to other tables or whatnot (especially as we were waiting for the check), but nothing too bad. I opted for the "RICE CRISPIE COATED FRENCH TOAST........10.5" and my friend went for the "EGGS BENEDICT..........................................Â. 10" (details from the menu PDF). I'm not entirely sure how the Eggs Benedict were, though everything looked to be prepared well; that said, I have to admit that my Rice Crispie Coated French Toast was a little crispier/thinner than expected (which really just meant smothering them a bit more with the maple syrup, to get rid of any dryness)...though the hint of lemon-y flavor that I tasted in the slices was nice. All in all, a nice experience...but probably not a place I would run back to. Perhaps I'll go back to try the dinner menu sometime, but there are plenty of other places in Boston I'd like to try beforehand.
(3)Chelsea W.
Dissapointed in both the food and service. The waiter was very hard to get ahold of and it was surprising because the restaurant was only half full. Ordered the Crab Cake Eggs Benedict - left a very bitter aftertaste fir some reason. Presentation of the dishes for brunch weren't great and portions were smaller than expected. Would not come back.
(2)Julia E.
I've come here twice recently, once for a date night and another time for a friend's birthday brunch. Both times I was really impressed with the service and food. The make-your-own Bloody Mary bar at brunch is the best idea ever, and the blueberry pancakes & breakfast sandwich were equally impressive. I should also mention that the sangria is awesome. On both visits, I was amazed by Scollay Square's warm ambiance and attentive staff. I will be back!
(5)Kareem S.
Uh. Yeah. 5 stars. FRESH fish, great staff, knowledge of the tap beers. I'm coming back tomorrow.
(5)Jenny H.
Great food, great ambience. A solid place to eat in Boston. Their scallops with risotto were AMAZING- wow, perfectly sweet and caramelized crispy on the outside on top of a creamy risotto and greens. Some of the best scallops I've had. I liked the scallops better than my dish, which was pretty good too. Ahi tuna steak seared, two pieces on top of wasabi mashed potatoes (this was really spicy but added a good element to the dish) with greens, the chili sauce and sesame oil were KEY to give this dish some good flavor. My friend's shrimp pasta dish was really good too, a good, zesty, cheesey tomato sauce with generous pieces of fresh shrimp. We got their mac and cheese as an appetizer with truffle oil and prosciutto, I liked how the prosciutto was really chunky and it was corkscrew pasta. Not oven-baked but tossed in the cheese sauce with toasted breadcrumbs on top. Very good place.
(4)Audrea Rachelle G.
We had cocktails & the sliders. Patio is nice - beautiful area!
(4)Danielle K.
Erm. Um. Eh. Meh. My boyfriend and I had come here while on a weekend visit to Boston and we expected to eat a dish with a burst of flavors because of all the reviews we had read. But alas, this is where I must say Scollay Square got nothing on New York restaurants. The dish was prepared nicely and the scallops I had ordered were cooked well but the flavors were just off. After the first bite, I was just over it. So again, I'm just going to have to say Erm. Um. Eh. Meh.
(2)Donovan W.
Went here back in the spring with some friends. We all loved the lobster mac. The blackened scallops were prepared well and quite tasty. Don't remember what else but everyone was happily satisfied with their orders. Presentation was nice and prices were reasonable enough for some good quality seafood. Service was a little slow but our waitress was pleasant. -April 2014
(5)Angelica T.
Before making my trip to Boston, I always read about the Lobster rolls that the city is famous for. Now, after having dinner at Legal Seafoods (yummy), I didn't wanna go to the same place for a Lobster roll. My gf and I were gonna go on the Freedom Trail tour, so I found this place after some researching on yelp. They do serve brunch, but since we were set on having Lobster rolls we passed on that. Had a mimosa to start, so that was good too. As for the lobster roll, OMG! So meaty and not overwhelmed with mayo! I'm pretty sure I almost died at the first bite, but as you can see I survived, as I am writing this review. Okay it may just be me, but why do all fried foods in Boston taste so damn good? The fries that came with the roll were seriously addicting and usually I don't even care for fries. Anywho, this place would've gotten 5 stars if our server took care of our check the right way. It wasn't too big of a deal, but it didn't help he was rushing when he took our orders (not a busy morning either). Great food nonetheless.
(4)Ryan M.
Scollay Square is a great place to visit if you are looking for a delicious sit down meal near Park Street. This is a frequent stop for my work team due to it's close proximity to our office, friendly staff, and fantastic food. I would have to say that the fish and chips here are some of the best around and would highly recommend them. The waitstaff was very friendly and didn't intrude too much as we discussed a couple projects that we working on. Food came quickly and exact to our specifications. If you are looking to visit a lunch spot with a great atmosphere, outdoor porch, and convenient location then make a stop at Scollay Square for lunch.
(4)Lakshman S.
I really don't get the hype. Terrible service. Rude waiter. Drinks took forever. Mediocre food.
(1)Joelle K.
I enjoyed a yummy brunch at Scollay Square with my in-laws and husband. The dining environment is very nice. We would have eaten outside if the weather had been better. I had a delicious omelet and hash browns. I would like to go back for dinner as the menu looks great and I'm sure the food will be just as good as our brunch was!
(4)Zee R.
We loved this place! They have a great cocktail menu and the food is amazing. The prices are reasonable and the service is attentive but not overbearing. We had small plates and Martinis. It's was located in beacon hill so there are big buildings around you not much of a view of the park. We sat outside on the patio. We would go back to try the other food items.
(5)Nigel K.
Yelp found this place when barking crab and hook&co were close. Needed something seafoodie for my cousin and this showed pretty good review. The chef was kind enough to make us a lobster roll that is usually served firing lunch hours. Had blackened day boat scallops for starters and they were both amazing. Scallops were soft and juicy with the right amount of horseradish for spiciness. I saw many others digging in to wholesome fishes but I had to let my cousin try his first lobster roll. Lobster was equally as good though you can't go wrong with it so long as the meat is pretty fresh. Perfect setting for a,date or just hang out at the bar on game days.
(4)Paula F.
Food was amazing. Their cookie ice cream sandwich was no longer on the menu, but they made it for us anyway, even baked a fresh cookie! I highly recommend this place. Lovely staff as well.
(5)Gia A.
Came here for brunch on my last day in Boston. It's close to Boston Commons. I ordered the Crab Cake Eggs Benedict. It comes with mini hash browns and greens. Everything was very tasty.
(4)William K.
This is a great lunch spot! My fish and chips was as good as I've ever had... lighter than a feather. And Holly was very reluctant to share her yummy lobster roll... but she did. The service was great. The atmosphere was probably a bit stuffy, but no biggie. Pretty easy 4 bill-stars. yow, bill
(4)Phil O.
Impeccable service, and everything was reasonably priced. I had a specialty mixed drink that involved bourbon and ginger, which was great. And the Filet Mignon of Tuna was light and delicious. I want to go back to this place soon!
(5)Susan Z.
Came for dinner. I was impressed by the salad they threw together for me when I said the mac and cheese made me want vegetables. The lobster mac and cheese was fine, but it was on the liquid-y cheese side, whereas I like my mac and cheese to be a little more solid. Fiance got a burger, which he describes as "okay." The servers were very friendly, though, and offered to take our luggage to the back so they wouldn't take up space and I appreciated that. From reading the other yelp reviews it seems we should have come for brunch instead.
(3)Patty G.
This restaurant was close to our hotel and we decided to stop here for brunch before our flight back home. The doors opened at 10 AM and we were one of the first in but there were already people waiting to be sat. We were sat right away and service was very timely. Our server was very prompt and helpful. I ordered the Eggs Benedict and my hubby ordered the Turkey Sandwich. We were both very happy with our food. My EB were good and came with a side of yummy hash browns. The coffee was good and the server even made a new pot when I told him my second cup tasted over roasted. Very good service. I would recommend for brunch!
(4)Naveen K.
As per popular suggestion I ordered rare tuna and boy was it delicious. It dint feel like uncooked fish at all. And the seasoning was just perfect. I am sure anybody who loves Indian spices (not spicy) are in for a delight. I wish I could go there again and try the other popular suggestion - fish and chips.
(5)Bill T.
What a disappointment! I haven't been to Scollay Square for quite a while but remembered it as pretty good from when my girlfriend and I had dinner there. So this past Monday, I recommended the restaurant to some colleagues while we were in Boston for a business meeting. Unfortunately, my coworkers and I went in for dinner and the food was terrible. The appetizers are the only thing keeping this from being a one-star review. They were decent, but nothing better than the apps you can order at Applebee's. Nothing memorable. Four people in our party ordered the steak and it was an embarrassment. We all ordered our steaks medium rare but were given grayish, tough steaks with no flavor. The waitress then informed us that the kitchen had run out of baked potatoes and one of us wouldn't get one. No big deal, I asked for spinach instead. It was steamed but flavorless. The roasted asparagus was overcooked and the red onion jam was an afterthought at best. My colleagues remarked at how terrible their entrees were and I was embarrassed for ever recommending this place. Management at Scollay Square should apologize for serving food this bad.
(2)Meg W.
All around it was a very mediocre experience. I had a very bad overdressed kale salad- instead of massaging the kale which is standard they cut it very small and added cold corn and a ton of cheese. Another person had a tomato soup that was both the flavor and texture of marinara sauce. The Kobe sliders were ok. Another diner had a salad with salmon- the salmon was decent but again they butchered the mixed greens. The waitress was nice...
(2)Mike B.
Macaroni and cheese was excellent as was the shrimp po-boy. Brilliant in the words of my 7 year old son.
(4)Melanie P.
Came here on a Saturday late afternoon with my brother. The service was top-notch, our server was really nice and attentive, and had great suggestions from the menu. The food was standard, I got the fish and chips and my brother got the Po Boy. It hit the spot for a hungover Saturday lunch, but I can't see it was groundbreaking. With that said, it's a comfortable, classic New England pub where I'm sure it would be a lot of fun to watch a game.
(3)Caitlin M.
I went here with my husband for my birthday on Friday. Service was not very good. We were seated for about 10 minutes before a waiter came to us. The food was excellent, and the prices were good. Someone who cares more about service would probably have given this place 3 stars, but quality of food and price matter most to me.
(4)Daniel T.
Small seating area but open kitchen so you can see in. Food is good as well at the service. Very dimly light. Service is friendly full bar. Wait can be kind of long after work hours. Wait staff can be iffy on some nights.
(3)Lindsay Q.
This was an excellent yelp find. It was affordable and everything we had was delicious. Scallops were cooked perfectly and the lobster Mac and cheese had huge chunks of lobster in it. So tasty. The waiter recommended the bread pudding and the peanut butter mousse desserts and we had both and were very happy with both.
(5)Shuja D.
Great lunch here, we ordered burrito and lobster roll both were amazing and priced very well in the $12-16 range. Nice outside seating. Will definitely be coming here again.
(4)Martin V.
OK, maybe it was an off night. We came here on a beautiful summer's night on the strength of the Yelp reviews. Wow, what a disappointment! I will admit, it was probably a 2 star, but I'm only giving it 1 because of all the other reviews that I assume are inflated. Someone below raved about the scallops. Overcooked, and therefore rubbery. They were supposed to be served with a horseradish marmalade, which was intriguing. Does a plate of grease count as a marmalade? No hint of horseradish anywhere. I ordered a pretty pricey $20 "full glass" of Pinot (no way was it the 10 oz the bar menu said). It was spoiled, probably from not being properly corked. They replaced it, but still... I chose the Flatiron Steak for my entree because that's usually a pretty tasty cut, although it can be a bit tough if it isn't cut right. It wasn't tough, but it wasn't tasty. In fact, it was devoid of taste. And it was cold. My wife ordered the Ahi Tuna Napoleon. The rice cake the tuna was served on was apparently too hot, so it cooked the minced tuna. She barely touched it. My wife also reported that the bathrooms were not only absolutely stomach-turningly filthy, but you had to walk through a kitchen prep area to get to them. Hey, Carlos, probably not a good idea to be swearing like a sailor when a female customer is walking through. Even my teenaged son commented about how they kept taking plates away without first checking to see if we were finished. Not that they needed to rush us and turn the tables over - it was completely empty by 8:30 on a beautiful July Friday night! Positives? My cocktail was very good. The cheeseboard, I thought, was strong, although two of the three cheeses were similar and it needed more spreadable relishes or a mustard. The Lobster Mac 'n' Cheese was apparently good, although at $27, that's a bit pricey for a few chunks of lobster. This is Boston, lobster's pretty plentiful and therefore cheap. Sorry, we won't be back. Maybe it's better for brunch or lunch.
(1)Denise L.
Disappointing dinner. Waited a long time to get service. Waitress was friendly, but incredibly slow. Haddock was over cooked and soaked in butter. Spinach was dripping in bad tasting olive oil and vegetables were overcooked and bland. Mixed green salad was wilted with soggy caramelized nuts. Overall disappointing bland meal.
(2)Addie F.
Went for Brunch. I was with a large group and we were the first customers of the day. The waitress we had was very diligent about refilling our water... that's basically where the "service" ended. Drinks came 20-30 minutes after we ordered. All of the food came out at different times - half of our group was served hour after we ordered and the remaining people in the group about 1 hr and 10-15 minutes. Other tables came and went while we waited for our food. The manager (maybe?) informed us that the kitchen was backed up - which is valid, however its a brunch crew, not every dish is made to order - it was inexcusable. When the food FINALLY came out - it was terrible. I ordered scrambled eggs, "home fries", sausage and an english muffin. The eggs were burned and dry, they were actually crunchy. The sausage was also burned and incredibly dry. The english muffin tasted like it had been in the kitchen for several weeks - it was incredibly stale, and the "home fries" were actually hashbrown patties which weren't bad, but I have tasted better from Dunkin Donuts. I would not recommend this establishment unless you like to wait hours to eat bland, overcooked, yet still cold, food.
(1)Zhicao F.
A not-so pricey place for some American food and beer. But the cocktail we ordered (rosemary baby) did not live up to our standards, and the beer list was limited in the dining area.
(3)Roger J.
Lobster risotto was fantastic. Swordfish was a close second. Would definitely eat here again. Not too busy for a Saturday night and dress was casual. Noise level was perfect.
(4)Couldbe A.
Has some gluten free entree options and a casual cool atmosphere. Nice waitstaff, good bar and a pleasant vibe.
(4)LeAnne L.
Friends and I were staying at the Omni Parker Hotel, and the concierge recommended this place for brunch. This was one of the best brunches I've had in a while. I started with a bacon bloody mary that was well balanced and had a kick without being too spicy. I originally was just going to get the fruit plate, but our server said that I might want more food. The fruit was fresh and amazing, and the bowlful filled me up. I ended up taking my bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich home. Later that day when I was hungry again, I reheated the sandwich and it was SO GOOD. It was very flavorful and satisfying. All-in-all, it was a great visit!
(5)Dani M.
Love this place! First of all, all the servers are so friendly and polite, that always makes my day. I've been here a few times and the food has always been outstanding! The mac and cheese is a favorite as well as the ahi tuna. I think it's safe to say you'll never be disappointed here. Even the cocktails are fun and delicious! The outdoor seating is a plus in the summer, great people watching. I'm looking forward to going back for brunch, I've heard great things about their bloody mary bar.
(5)Lindsey M.
While poking around downtown we stopped in for brunch, yelp almost never steers me wrong! I had the Scollay Square special with scrambled eggs and bacon, & I really liked the scallions on top and the texture of the eggs was light and fluffy. The lemon dressing on the side salad was also excellent. My boyfriend raved about the lobster eggs Benedict but since I'm allergic to shellfish, I was unable to confirm. The blueberry stuffed french toast also looked good but the consensus was that the cream cheese was tasty on the first slice but became a bit too sweet to finish the other two. The bloody mary bar will be something I'd love to try in the future, I had a mimosa but wasn't blown away. I'd rate the drink three stars, but everything else was excellent.
(4)Marissa S.
Getting here isn't easy and parking is limited so if you are meeting friends leave yourself a little extra time. We didn't sit outside but they have a great outdoor patio. For a starter, I had the Grilled Parma Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus with Fresh Mozzarella and Balsamic Syrup..YUM! People often mess up cooking asparagus, this was crisp and flavorful. For my brunch entree I had the Monterey Jack & Portabella Omelette served with Hash Browns and Lemon Dressed Greens. I'll be honest, I don't know what came over me when I ordered that. I really dislike mushrooms and would never have normally ordered it but I just felt like an omelet. I'm so glad I did because it was delicious! The egg was nice and fluffy the hashbrowns were crisp and the greens were a nice addition for brunch. The mushrooms, you might ask, I actually liked them! For dessert I ordered their strawberry shortcake. Wow. Good. Everything was very fresh and tasted like it was just made -- meaning it hadn't been sitting under a warmer or anything. If you are looking for a fun brunch location downtown I would highly recommend Scollay Square. Full Disclosure: I Attended a brunch event here with Boston Brunchers ( bostonbrunchers.com ) which means my meal was complimentary, however, this review is 100% my own thoughts of the experience.
(5)Brian D.
I came here the other week for lunch when meeting a work contact. I have lived in beacon hill for many years but have never made it up the hill to check this place out, glad we did today. Small selections for lunch but everything I had was quite good. I enjoyed their onion soup on a cold, rainy day and the fish sandwich I ordered on special was quite good. If you are a potato chip kinda person, definitely check this place out. I opted for the chips than fries and I was gives a huge handful of fresh fried chips. Great atmosphere, I will likely be back!!
(4)April T.
Unreal oven roasted goat cheese w tomato purée appetizer and both the swordfish and cod are my go-to's but by far the best part are the Chocolate Chip Cookie Sliders w amaaaazing chocolate sauce. This is a hidden gem in Beacon Hill and probably my favorite restaurant in Boston.
(5)Kristin W.
Came here for brunch while on a recent visit and WOW! The service was impeccable, the food was absolutely wonderful and the general atmosphere was warm. If I lived in Boston, I would be here at least once a week! Ordered the Eggs Benedict and I can honestly say it was the best I have ever had. Light, fluffy and savory at the same time. The hash browns we perfect and the mimosas flowed like a...boozy river? Yeah they were good. Our server, and I feel endless guilt for not recalling her name, gave us some great suggestions for areas to visit and things to try. I thought our bill was beyond reasonable. Can't wait for my next visit to Boston - you are all wonderful people and your streets are pleasantly clean - and to visit this place again!
(5)K T.
Eggs Benedict -- egg is NOT runny :-( Four of us ordered eggs bene and were all very disappointed with hard yolks. My other friend got an omelet and the cheese was not even melted and her hash brown was hard.. Service was good, bloody mary bar is good and the atmosphere is cool. Just don't order the eggs bene!
(2)Brad S.
This place was great. My wife ordered the buffalo mac and cheese and it was Awesome! I had the seared tuna and it was also very good. Reasonably priced I would definitely go back. The Manager Chris came by the table and was very personable and professional! Great Restaurant!
(5)Jamie G.
I really enjoyed my time here and can't wait to come back! My reason for the visit was the Mad Men premiere costume party they were throwing. For $30, we got 2 cocktails, passed appetizers, and 2 hr TV watching, with the sound on and the show on all their TVs. The cocktails were delicious- I had the Old Fashioneds... they were made perfectly, made with Woodford Reserve- a delicious whiskey. Then later I had woodford reserve on the rocks with a twist of orange. Also delicious. All the passed apps were delicious too- chicken skewers, fresh baked potato chips, etc. The staff were incredibly friendly, especially our bartender. I hope to come back every Sunday, because they will have the TVs on for Mad Men viewing. Win.
(5)Shelagh M.
DEAR LORD THIS PLACE IS GOOD. I went with 5 people and we got a little bit of everything: Kobe Sliders Broiled Scallops Prosciutto and Truffle oil Mac and Cheese Rare seared Tuna Chocolate chip cookie sliders The ambience was sexy and fun at the same time. I heard this place is great for after-work drinks as well. The impeared martini was very sweet, but you kind of have to expect that. I had the antioxidant martini the second time I went, which is absolute perfection. My friend had an Old Fashioned and loved it. Bartender Will is the greatest!
(5)Peggy K.
Never again... Boston was amazing, the vibe, the shopping, the breweries, the many delicious restaurants! EXCEPT, THIS PLACE. I'm sorry. I really tried to like this place after my friend found it on yelp, and saw the place with the nice hostess in front ( Hello, Caitlin! sorry for the wrong spelling ). We had reservations that was in 15 mins, and decided to wait outside for our table. Seeing some tables outside enjoying there meals, relaxing with their coffee and mimosa's we asked if can just take a table outside. The hostess said "Sure!" and sat us down, and said the waiter will come out with our menus in a bit. A bit was like 10 mins. Okay no problem. It was nice outside. Our waiter comes by, throws the 4 menus down on the table and says "Hi, what can I get for you to drink?" I ordered a mimosa, after noticing the table in front had about 6 glasses of it, having a good old time. The Mister ordered another drink, that I can't remember at this time, and the others just got water. Ok... 15 mins later our waiter, ( oh did I mention his name?? Sorry, I later found out from the hostess that his name is Bradley or was it Brandon? WTF something that starts with a B, and he didn't introduce himself to us, so I don't care what his name is)... So let me go on... Ok, 15 mins later he comes by with the water and the Mister's drink and tells me that they ran out of mimosa glasses so it's gonna be awhile... Ok, in my mind I see the table in front with 6 glasses that are empty. How about f'ing taking them and cleaning them for your customers... Hmmm... That would be stupid of him to do because he seems to not do that type of work! ( Ahem, bussing tables, or even think about washing a dish) I ask him for a coffee, and he says "sure." We also give him our order and that took another 20 mins. In between that time frame, I did get my mimosa in a HUGE wine glass... Ok, got the mimosa. The coffee is now gonna be tricky. We got our food by another waitress. I ordered the Scollay breakfast, nothing fancy, with a hash brown that looked like it dropped on the floor and stepped on. NICE! Mister and our other friend ordered the steak and eggs that was really good! Looked good, and tasted good! ( Get that if you dare go to this place! ) My other friend ordered an omelet. She didn't say much, which is surprising because she usually goes off saying how good something is if it was. I guess it wasn't... Moving on~ Coffee, oh coffee...where are you? My friend noticed the manager Chris making the rounds outside, She called him over and the Mister told him that I ordered coffee 20 mins ago, and still haven't got it. He apologized, and said he will bring it right over. After a minute, he came back and said that they are brewing a fresh pot and he will bring it right over. Another 5 mins later, I got my stinking coffee, by another waiter who was the main guy taking care of the outdoor area. If only we had him... Maybe our experience would of been different... We saw our waiter inside with a table next to us. After getting our checks, my friend and I went to the ladies room, before heading out for some shopping. The bathroom is located in the basement after passing the kitchen. While coming back up the stairs we heard our waiter and the hostess talking. Our waiter was bitching about his table full of asians... UMmm... what?? Really? The hostess saw us leaving so she just started walking behind us. Before leaving, I asked her what did he say about the table full of asians? She said "oh, he didn't say anything." I told her that we heard him, and she said that he wasn't speaking about us. Okay, fine. Even if he wasn't speaking about us, and maybe the table that was next to us, why even say that?! Seriously, I just didn't want to push it any furthur with this place. BAD EXPERIENCE, WITH A JACKASS WANNABE WAITER.
(1)Ellen C.
Yummmmmmmm. Seriously. Yummmmmmmm. This restaurant is great - it's intimate and can work as a date place. But it's still casual and fun for friends who are just getting together. It's got a great vibe to it and the area it's in is absolutely charming. The neighborhood is one of those places you would just want to settle down in and raise those kids in. We ordered different entrees and tried everything, and there was not ONE dish that we didn't think tasted anything less than delicious. Ranking them, let's talk about the best from start to finish. Scallops & leek risotto was fabulous. The seared scallops were done perfectly - seared with this caramelized, pan fried outside and medium to rare center. The scallops' sweetness paired so well with the savory leek risotto, which was also done to perfection with its seasoning, its doneness, its creaminess. Seared tuna with wasabi potatoes and spinach was YUM. The only thing that I would comment on is the fact that they don't really mix in the wasabi completely, so there will be times when you get more green than you would like in your mashed potatoes. But when you get a bite with the tuna, a well mixed bit of potatoes, and some spinach? Along with some chili and sesame oil at the bottom of the plate, it's fantastic especially the quality of the tuna. As a sushi lover, this was awesome. Blackened swordfish over jalapeno potatoes was surprising tender and fresh. I generally dislike swordfish due to its rubbery texture when it's even slightly overdone, but this dish was fantastic. The jalapeno potato pieces combined with the tender swordfish were flavored to the nines, delicious. The lobster mac n' cheese was okay. I didn't taste the lobster but the mac n'cheese itself was well seasoned and the cheese was quality, but I'm not a HUGE fan of mac n' cheese so this dish didn't really blow me away. Either way, when I come back to Boston, I would absolutely come back to this restaurant, especially on a date!
(5)Bree J.
This place was so fantastic, I still can't get over it. It was my first time visiting Boston my husband and I stumbled on this place while walking near the Boston Commons area. For appetizers I got the arborio crusted calamari and grilled pear salad. Both were phenomenal!! I wanted to order seconds but I had to keep my stomach in check. For dinner I got the lemon basted swordfish chop. There is so much to say about this dish I don't even know where to begin! The presentation, the taste, and the very generous portion lobster risotto that came with it, all amazing!!! If I ever come back to Boston I am definitely coming here again!
(5)Jason M.
Put me in the list of people who don't get this place. It's inexpensive. It's high quality food. It's in a great location. It's got a decent atmosphere. So when you go there, why does it look like Armageddon happen and my boyfriend and I are the only ones left (except for the hostess, waitress, cook and bartender)? It deserves a better crowd. A lot of Yelpers complain about Scollay Square being hit or miss in terms of quality... apparently, we had a good night. I can vouch for the oven roasted goat cheese and the mac & cheese with prosciutto & tuffle oil. The boyfriend ordered the fish & chips. Everything was tasty, pipping hot, creative and rather inexpensive. Our kind (and quiet) waitress informed us next time we dine, we'll order the arborio crusted calamari. I like it when people tell me what to do. Especially if what they tell me what to do is delicious. I like it even more so if I have to check twice to make sure I'm spelling arborio correctly.
(4)Danielle W.
I've lived in the area for awhile, but somehow never managed to eat at Scollay Square, which is unfortunate! After visiting twice for brunch within the past month, I'll definitely be coming here more often. Since I've only had brunch, I can't comment on the lunch or dinner menus, but I do plan to check those out. The brunch menu is small and pretty standard, but always delicious. The mimosas are especially delicious, and they always have a "Make Your Own Mimosa Bar" on Saturday and Sundays - an extra bonus! The service is top notch and it's in a wonderful location - right on Beacon Street, across from the Boston Anthenaeum and a stone's throw away from the State House. It's a little out of the way and you won't find it unless you're walking down there, but it's worth the trip! I definitely see it becoming one of my go to brunch spots near my apartment.
(4)Katie W.
HOLY BUFFALO--between the buff chix dip with crispy chips or the mac and cheese, this is the place to come to satisfy your buffalo craving!! I could legit drink the buffalo chicken dip--we came as a large group and ordered one for the table...lets just say it didn't stand a chance. Next I split the buffalo chicken mac and cheese and it was perfection! They use cellentani pasta, my personal favorite for mac and cheese, the swirl of the pasta is large enough to pick up the cheesy buffalo goodness while still having a great texture. Will def be back for my buffalo fix!
(5)Jeff S.
Friendly place, nice old boston feel, very speedy service and excellent dinner entrees. All four of us were pleased with our meals. Swordfish, seared tuna and haddock. Delicious.
(4)Saba N.
Had a great time here! When I first walked in.. I was a little skeptical. Although we arrived pretty early.. it was a ghost town. never a good sign. The decor also wasn't really my taste, so I kind of figured I stumbled upon the lamest restaurant in all of beacon hill. Boy, was I wrong. First of all, my drink was amazing. Blackberry Bramble. If you like gin, and you like fresh fruit.. GET THIS. The food was all really good as well.The seafood was cooked properly and really flavorful. I didn't feel like it was the freshest stuff, but not the worst I've ever had. The lobster mac and cheese is divine (I think really its the cheese sauce that does it for me.. the lobster was just eh). I also had a fantastic dessert. All in all, I was totally happy with this place. I wasn't blown away by any one bite of food, but I also didn't dislike anything. It definitely filled up around 9, and the prices were pretty reasonable. Although it's not exactly my taste, I would come back again.
(4)Andrea S.
I was solidly impressed by their brunch. With $4 mimosas and $7 bloody mary's, one could do a fair amount of Sunday morning damage without a huge hit to the bank account. I had never been before, I think because it's off the beaten path and not top of mind. They were able to seat a large party (9) with limited warning. Kudos to the chefs and waitress who did a great job feeding and entertaining us.
(4)Dandan L.
3.5 star-the quality was quite good, but I don't know if I like it so much that I'm willing to call myself a fan of this restaurant. The location of the restaurant and the history of Scollay Square (the actual square) make this place a good lunch spot to bring your friends who are not from Boston and interested in the culture/history. I came here for a work lunch (not recommended if you have a large group and you actually would like to talk to everyone - too loud for any third person to join the conversation). It took me a while to decide what to order (which rarely happens), since quite a few items on the menu looked worth trying. I finally decided on the Fire Roasted Turkey Sandwich. It was very good, prob the best turkey sandwich I've ever had. I personally HATE dry meat. The turkey in my sandwich was so juicy. The creamy avocado and the sweet cranberry totally enhanced the taste of the meat, with the well-toasted bread. Additional notes: It was an open kitchen setting last time when I visited, so the smell of food was quite strong inside the restaurant. This is one of the reasons why I'm a little hesitated to go again - I'm not a big fan of smelly clothes which might announce my lunch spot in the office for the entire afternoon.
(3)Dror B.
Rare tuna filet was Not great as described. I had better.... There was very little lobster in the Mac and cheese dish. Too much money for what you get....
(1)Angela K.
Four stars is a little high.. but 3 would be too low. Most of their menu is probably way to pricey for my standards but there were some pretty decent brunch deals. Got the stuffed french toast.. very yummy!! Ordered a side a potatoes, decent but not 'amazing'. My companions fries were definitely pretty tasty though. He seemed to enjoy his lobster roll, but made no proclamations about it being absolutely amazing. We lucked out and came in on a very busy day so the service was attentive and the meal was prepared very quickly. Since there was hardly anyone inside, it was a nice quiet relaxing meal. I wasn't blown away by the decor but the place is definitely pretty nice and clean inside.
(4)Amy L.
First time here for Saturday brunch with a group of about 8 including out of town visitors who were looking forward to a delicious brunch with all the spots boston has to offer. Unfortunately we left very unsatisfied and disappointed. Bloody Mary bar was not stocked and didn't even have olives!! Mimosas were cheap (slightly too much oj though) Food: Half ordered lunch dishes and the other order breakfast. 4 out of 4 Eggs benedict dishes had HARD POACHED eggs. not runny! (they did take 2 off the bill) Sandwiches were ok...lettuce tasted dirty. Shorted someone on a hashbrown. Omelette cheese wasn't melted at all. Simple mistakes that shouldn't have happened. Maybe an off day and I'll give it another try...but then again maybe not. Just to say something positive...the people were nice and the service was good.
(2)Becca L.
My colleagues and I are in town for a conference and were out and about downtown when we decided to have dinner. We typed into Yelp - seafood and Scollay was a nearby option. The food was surprisingly decent. Everyone was pleased with their meal. The price is decent from what I can tell but it's the first restaurant I've been to in Boston. We ordered: Lobster Mac n Cheese Seared Ahi Steak Tips Beet and goat cheese salad The lobster mac n cheese was good but heavy. We felt like mac n cheese was more of a side dish than a main course. Seared ahi - surprisingly good (served with a side of wasabi mashed potatoes) Steak tips - they were ok. The sauteed spinach on the side was WAAY salty, the side potato lasagna was alright and the steak was cooked well. I prefer my meat on the rare side. Service was Meh at best.
(3)Amy O.
Went here to celebrate a birthday after a Sox game. In short, I was disappointed. I got the Lobster Mac n Cheese, and being in Boston you expect your seafood is more or less straight off the boat...but the entire dish was terrible..all you could taste was fish, like it wasn't fresh and may have even been frozen first. gross. My friends enjoyed their steak tips, but the veggies were overly salty. Our server was also a total space cadet and didn't exactly seem like she was all there. I was at least happy the manager took notice and removed the Mac from the bill, but this isn't somewhere I'll be returning.
(2)Cc R.
I've eaten here several times and have been happy every time. I'd probably give it a 3.5 as it's not really stand out, considering that Boston has amazing food everywhere, but I always round up. Their brunch is good, too. I'd definitely suggest it, especially if you want a place where you don't want to take any risks, you just want to have a good, solid meal.
(4)Harri S.
Patio dining makes me feel like I'm in less classy France....or California. I love it. Calamari under the stars? Yes please. Wait, you don't like the tentacles? More for me. Their food is really good, and as it's close by I don't mind ducking in every now and then for take out. Not that I encourage consuming salad as an entree, but if you're ever on a diet, or miss your vegetables in Boston ($2 Cucumbers? Really, Boston? Really?) they make the best salads, with the PERFECT amount of dressing.
(4)Tao L.
We were kind of lost for a map error of yelp when we walked into Scollay Square. We had beef spring roll as app, swordfish and boat scallop as entrees. The food was just moderate even when we were starving. Ginger britton tasted like plain vodka. And it is a little pricey. Poorer experience compared to our dinner at Island Creek Oyster Bar, of which the bill amount was almost the same.
(3)Heather G.
Gah! Why is Scollay Square so hit-or-miss!? I can't take it anymore - it's not consistently "good" enough that I think the rating, for me, lands at 2 stars overall. Popped in for dinner with my boyfriend the other night - we wanted something casual without being dive-y, and tasty without breaking the bank. I thought back to my last SS experience and thought this would, again, be a good option. Sadly, though the service was on-point, the food was not. To branch-out on my menu exploration, we went with three items not previously-tried by us. Perhaps I'd just chosen the best items on the menu last time, so this visit was sure to disappoint. Perhaps they were having a bad night. Or maybe, just maybe, this is just the TJ Maxx of restaurants - a hit-or-miss experience where you could leave full and happy, or empty and disappointed. We started with a couple of Hendrick's martinis and an order of calamari, which was THE highlight of the meal. I suggest, if you want to maximize your experience here, wait til it's warm enough to sit on the patio, head on over for some warm-summer-evening cocktails, and munch on some crispy, light, fried calamari. My date and I ordered a cheeseburger (rare) and the lobster mac. The mac had an option to add a side of greens for $3 (which I went for simply to balance out the heaviness of the rest of our cheesy and fried goodies), but the greens turned out to be a child's-fist-sized portion of about 10 dressed leaves, sadly piled to the side of the serving dish. If this is a $3 portion, then the $1.99 Trader Joe's mixed-green bags should actually sell for $45. It was embarrassing to see what I spent $3 on. Please, if you get the mac&cheese, do NOT opt-in for the $3 side of greens. The lobster mac itself ($16) was creamy yet still light, though it had very sparse lobster-chunks (sparse: about 4 for the entire $16 bowl). The burger came cooked closer to well-done than rare, but was still really juicy, as though lots of butter was added while cooking to keep it moist while the precious meat was being cooked to its death. Oddly, it had a too-perfect patty shape, and my boyfriend informed me that apparently some places order pre-ground, pre-formed patties and then add butter to the cooking to add flavor and moisture. I DO NOT KNOW FOR SURE whether Scollay Square does this. What I mean to say is that I suspected, given the juicy/greasy level of the totally-cooked-through-burger and the patty's symmetry. As per usual, the burger bun was chewy and delicious - this one never lets me down. The fries had an off-night, as some were served well-cooked, and others were nearly raw inside (though not frozen...rather, just warm and still-potato-y and hard). Our server - Brett? Brad? - he was hilarious. Jovial, chatty (but not too chatty), friendly (but didn't linger), entertaining. That man was ON HIS GAME. Was this just a REALLY off night? I don't know, perhaps. Am I being too picky? I don't think so. SO, i guess my recommendation would be to stop by for a delicious martini and some calamari on the patio and check out this scene, but consider dinner elsewhere.
(2)Liana P.
AMAZING FOOD! I fell so in love with this place but I am so sad that it's in Boston and NOT in Los Angeles. The prices are great the food is amazing MUST try the mac and cheese!!! If I ever return back to Boston I am def coming back here.
(5)Bill R.
Awesome bloody Mary bar. Not crowded for brunch.
(5)Kristin M.
Saturday morning, rainy and dreary, gearing up for the Pride parade and festivities. Started our day off with brunch and cocktails at Scollay Square. Friends had mimosas and I tried the glorious 'make your own' bloody mary bar - generous vodka pour, about 30 hot sauces and accoutrements to make the drink my own. Delish. Server was great (we were the only table at the time), food was served within about 15 minutes of ordering. Egg sandwiches were huge (2 eggs each) and really better eaten with a knife and fork. Hash browns were the hit of the table. I preferred the lemon dressed greens. Brunch prices were about $12 each and rightfully so. Cozy seating, floor to ceiling windows makes it great for people watching, central location makes it a perfect place to meet friends from different neighborhoods. Happy with our experience, we'll surely be back.
(3)Mark W.
We held a graduation party of 15 guests on May 11. The staff and management were very friendly and accommodating. The service was top notch. The food was so good. We all ordered different things so to list out each item would get silly. Just know that it all was wonderful. If I am ever back in Boston I hope to go back.
(5)Hayley M.
Perfect spot for a leisurely lunch. Went in with a friend, it was 3:00 pm on a Saturday and the first two spots we went to were closed. My friend used to eat lunch there all the time when she worked in the area. We started off with the edamame. It had a soy/miso glaze and white and black sesame seeds. It was amazing. I have eaten a truckload of edamame in my life and have never tried anything but plain ol' salted. Kudos for the creativity, Scollay Square. I had the ahi tuna salad, which came with a dressing remarkably similar to the edamame. It also had some ginger, wanton strips, and yummy seaweed salad on top. It was really good! That's all I can say. Light but filling and very satisfying. Glad Scollay Square was open this afternoon! People gotta eat, even in the off hours.
(4)Donna J.
Martini was Perfect, service was impeccable and the Lobster Mac and Cheese was very good! Our whole group enjoyed their meals!
(4)Moranda B.
The truffle oil & proscuitto mac and cheese is to die for. All the mac and cheeses are delicious! The restaurant is really beautiful and has a great ambience. Would definitely recommend it. Food also came out really fast!
(5)Tracy W.
I absolutely love this place. The service is always fantastic, the food is great, prices reasonable, good ambiance. The fish and chips and mac and cheese (lobster is good, also spinach and artichoke) are my favorites. They also do a great brunch.
(5)Megan R.
This is a great gem hidden right down Beacon Street from the State House. I originally came across Scollay Square when my roommate and I were looking for someplace with a patio to eat on in between both of our workplaces. We chose Scollay Square because 1.) it was very reasonably priced for the downtown/Beacon Hill area and 2.) we were able to request outdoor seating when we made a reservation for a Friday night at 7:30! Anyone who knows Boston knows that is a rare find in the summer. Once we arrived we could see why- it ended up being super humid and we asked to be seated inside, which was completely empty! Yup, there were only about 4 or 5 other tables filled throughout our entire meal. Apparently this place is a little TOO hidden! They have a great wine list with lots of by-the-glass options. We both started with some white wine. My meal was simple- broiled scallops with fries. But for less than $20, I was absolutely shocked when a plate with about 8-9 scallops showed up at our table. They were cooked perfectly and I was almost too full to finish it all (which is not common of a fish dish). My roommate got white fish which was on a bed of spinach and rice, and was also a very generous portion. I would absolutely recommend this place to anyone looking for an affordable meal in the area. I cannot wait to go back again and dive into the rest of the menu!
(5)Heidi X.
Excellent variety of martinis, decent wine list. The calamari is a must try starter - cooked just right, and served with a tantalizing spread of sweet tomatoes and sliced jalapeno and banana peppers. Swordfish, seared tuna, and drunken shrimp entrees are hits with my group. Entree sizes are large, but if you can't manage dessert on your own, get some to share. The red velvet cake and cookie sliders are to die for. Service levels are generally good, although it gets much better during the weekends when the restaurant is more well staffed. Nevertheless, I've brought my 8 month old baby along for dinner twice and we were very well taken care of on both occasions.
(4)Dan D.
I went on a recent business trip based on the recommendation of the concierge at a nearby hotel and was very pleased with the quality of the food and service. I had the seared (rare) tuna filet with wasabi mashed potatoes and highly recommend it.
(5)Bif P.
Took my family here at the recommendation our hotels concierge and couldn't be happier. The food selection is pretty broad and there is something for everyone. My kids had the buffalo mac and cheese, steak tips and loved it, I went with the tuna burger and my wife had a burger, all were cooked perfectly and served promptly by a real nice knowledgeable waiter. Sometimes places overcook the tuna burger and are dry but the this wasn't the case, it was very good. The atmosphere was very laid back and cozy and good for date night, a few tv's on mute around the room but not overwhelming where they are the focus the restaurant. Nice little bar and beer selection. Mostly with a group of five I found the prices extremely reasonable. My only regret is that I don't live closer to this place.
(5)James K.
Fun, and great food. We hit the Concierge at the Parker House with a dozen demands/requests for dinner for the family. "Go to Scollay" was his response. Great food, great service, the Mac n Cheese options were all over the top.
(4)Meredith M.
OH MY GAAWW. Gluttony. Good friends, tasty wine and decadent food... (sigh) For starters we had the most creamy, light, savory artichoke dip. I wanted to lick the bowl clean. But I resisted the urge. The barbeque shrimp were juicy and made this Southern Belle want to smack her lips, lick her fingers and drink sweet tea! Our waitress was phenomenal. She balanced just enough service with friendly and sassy conversation with our boisterous table. My meal was the FAVORITE of the evening. Everyone had to sample my sauteed scallops. They were drenched in this creamy lemon sauce and accompanied by a delicious crab risotto cake! I also tried the delicious grilled salmon fillet with wasabi mashed potatoes. The scallops were very filling, so I was happy to share! For desert we shared a tray of ALL of their offerings. My favorite by far was the peach sorbet. NEVER have I tasted anything more peachy. It was peachier than a peach. And I know my peaches, as some of my family is from Georgia. This is a place to sit down and enjoy dinner. If I were taken here for a date, I'd be very pleased. The interior is like an old brownstone. The service is impeccable. The location is perfect, nestled away from the craziness of downtown. It's nice for a small group or an intimate date. ;)
(5)Laura J.
Goat cheese....fried.....smothered in tomato sauce.....slathered on grilled bread. Ya, that just happened. Nestled on Beacon St rests this tasty treasure. With a cocktail list featuring a drink called "The Pink Tassel Spinner", I'm sure everyone can find some concoction to enjoy. I met my friend for a mid week after work dinner. A very casual atmosphere greeted us, which was exactly what we were looking for. We started with the aforementioned goat cheese dish, delicious, and then moved on to the grilled steak tips and good ol'cheeseburger. The steak tips were very good. My friends burg was tasty according to her. A couple glasses of wine, a nice leisurely convo, good food, attentive service....no complaints. I'd go back fo shoooo.
(4)Bobby C.
Had brunch on a Sunday here. We were seated promptly. We were given the dinner menu with the brunch flyer inside the menu. We weren't sure if we were able to order appetizers from the dinner menu. We each got the Scollay Square Breakfast and ordered an appetizer. Our server didn't say anything so we thought maybe one could order from the regular dinner menu. Food was served pretty quickly. That was probably the highlight. Overall food and service was average. We never got our appetizer so it seems you cannot order from the regular menu. We paid and left.
(3)Justin B.
Good service and large portions my meal at Scollay Square was delightful. Causal ambiance with a patio makes this central location a go to place if your hungry. The steak was good but I recommend the onion soup as it was delicious. $55 for two plus tip.
(3)Josh S.
Really excellent restaurant, although the space feels a little tired. They offer large pieces of fish, the scallops and sides are excellent. During the summer drinks on the patio are great too.
(4)Sharon K.
I tasted/had new orleans bbq shrimp, chicken satay skewers, braised short rib w/ polenta cake, cheesecake w/ strawberries. 4 stars is a bit of a stretch for me. Can I give 3.5? I dont know what it was but I didnt LOVE this place, though it was very good. The New Orleans BBQ shrimp was highly seasoned - not exactly like the bbq shrimp I have had in New Orleans but the spicy flavors were there, it was a bit saucy for me. Also, I would have liked the bread to be more crisp/toasted. It was supposed to be grilled bread, but it was a bit soggy. Still tasty - the shrimp was cooked perfectly. The chicken satay had a nice grilled flavor, but the meat was a bit dry. I really enjoyed the plum sauce (as opposed to peanut) that came alongside. i really liked my main: the braised short rib. The meat was very tender. I liked the greens - they were smokey/garlicky/and sweet at the same time! I felt like I didn't get to taste the polenta alone because they put the meat on top of it and then there was sauce everywhere. We shared the cheesecake which was just fine. I wish there were more strawberries, the cheesecake felt a little dry without, but still very yummy. I wish I had experimented more with the drink menu (I had a dark and stormy and a glass of wine). I want to go back to try the Key Lime Martini.
(4)Alanna L.
After being stranded by my original host in this strange city (I just arrived & from CA), I have been forced to use Yelp to navigate my way to food. Luckily after frantically searching all over for lobster mac and cheese, Yelp brought me here. I took a subway and walked quite a bit to get here but it was easy to find. I was seated instantly and immediately felt comfortable even though I was alone and a little frazzled. A coffee, side salad and my well deserved lobster mac and cheese later, I am a happy camper. I love the slight lemony flavor to the macaroni dish that just made my mouth happy. The service was wonderful as well. Thank you Scollay Square!
(5)TheBiggestJuiciestPiece a.
Food is excessively heavy and the drinks and service were mediocre. Looks like a good place to grab a few beers after work and maybe a few dishes, but for nothing more. We ordered the buffalo chicken dip, which had indistinguishable clumps of protein (I am still not sure if it was tofu imitating chicken or chicken imitating tofu). The guacamole was good. For entrees I ordered the broiled scallops and my friend ordered the haddock. The haddock was over-cooked and dry. The scallops were overly breaded, the breading was "raw", soggy bread crumbs. It was quite unappetizing. I cannot recommend this to anyone. It was embarrassing to have brought my friend here. I am dumbfounded as to how this place has gotten so many good reviews.
(2)Albert B.
Why is this place never busy? Beats me. Great location. Prices are reasonable. Scallop appetizer is fantastic. Steak is comparable to any high-end restaurant in Boston at a fraction of the cost. I recommend sitting outside if the weather is nice.
(4)Lauren K.
Had the boat scallops to start and they were incredible! Well seasoned and not overcooked (which is always a potential issue with scallops). I also had the miso-glazed salmon over rice, spinach and cucumber slices. Another excellent choice. My friend had the haddock but I can't say it was anything more than bland. Drinks were great, too. I'd definitely go back.
(4)Andrew F.
I have to start off by saying that I can't wait for the warm weather to arrive and for Scollay Square to have outside seating! Arrived at Scollay Sqaure on Saturday afternoon, at the tail end of brunch. Although I did indulge in a mimosa, I opted for the lunch menu. I had a sandwich with prosciutto, mozzarella and greens. It was an excellent preview of summertime flavors. Also tried the buffalo chicken dip - which was the perfect amount of spiciness and creaminess. SO GOOD. They had a make-your-own bloody mary bar featuring different spices, hot sauces and other ingredients. Great for people who enjoy blood mary's (not me though). The service was great - our waitress Wendy was very friendly! Can't wait to go back, and looking forward to enjoying their outside seating!
(4)Rebecca W.
My new favorite neighborhood spot. I've lived on the hill for a few years, and used to avoid Scollay Square because the menu wasn't too inspiring. But when I heard it had been taken over by a new owner, I decided to give it a shot. I'm glad I did. I've had dinner there three times and lunch two times, and every meal has been good. The service quality has varied a little (mostly because there were some new servers), but the management is great and the menu offers a great range of selections. I'm particularly in love with the rare filet of tuna (and the wasabi mashed potatoes) and the grilled pear salad. The atmosphere is great too - the place evokes old Boston in a tasteful way.
(4)Elizabeth W.
A fine restaurant with adequate staff. Although we had reservation we were stuffed into a cramped corner that bordered the kitchen. At one point the waiter (after realizing he forgot to get us small plates) leaned over us and grabbed some from the kitchen - tacky. The food, however, was good. I liked my steak and my husband enjoyed his salmon. It wasn't earth shattering good and I wouldn't go back, but it was well cooked and without flaws.
(3)Lynn W.
I ordered the rare filet of tuna. Incredible! I ate every last bite (and it is quite rare I finish my plate). The wasabi mashed potatoes were just perfect. Every so often you take a bite and get the perfect taste of wasabi. I split the roasted goat cheese appetizer with my friend. All I have to say is that it is like eating a deconstructed grilled cheese and tomato sandwich. There is this delicious tomato sauce on the bottom of the plate that you dip your crostini and cheese into. When we finished the bread we were just eating the sauce up with our spoons. Classy I know. This place is so no frills. Our waiter was super friendly and a little bit silly. The drinks were on point. I want to come back and I was just here a week ago. Yum.
(5)Shaina P.
Three words: Bloody Mary Bar. That's right, folks, choose from three tomato bases, any vodka, a variety of veggies, bitters, and spices! $6 per drink? If only for this feature, I will return here over and over.
(5)Rick K.
Summary: Very disappointing after reading so many good reviews. Time: Monday night, 7:00PM Atmosphere: The place looks fantastic but it was completely dead. The bar was near empty and only 1/4 of the dinner tables busy. Service: Hostess and staff were attentive but not very helpful. The waitress didn't have any opinions about menu items and didn't seem interested in suggesting something. Drinks: Scollay Square Sangria - lime juice, grapefruit juice, sprite and a little white zinfandel - sucked! Entrees: My wife had quite possibly, the worst mac-n-cheese ever. A big bowl full of warmish wet macaroni, watery Velveeta cheese in the bottom of the bowl, and toasted bread crumbs sprinkled on top to make it appear freshly baked. I don't think even the lobster could have helped save this dish. I had the Kobe Meatloaf with mashed potatoes, green beans and Shiitake gravy. The waitress finally broke down and gave this dish the thumbs up saying "I love the gravy". Well, the potatoes and beans were good but it was the most tasteless meatloaf I've ever had and the gravy was a sorry watery mess with not a single mushroom in sight. Maybe we picked a bad night but I think next time I need to thoroughly read the reviews. Several reviewers gave 3-stars and then included references to the watery mac-n-cheese. If you can't get mac-n-cheese right, you don't deserve 3 stars!
(2)K G.
I have only had lunch here, but it is excellent. I have tried the fish and chips and the Lobster Macaroni and Cheese so far and both dishes are full of flavor and made just the way I like it. I would contend the fish and chips here is among the best in Boston. Great tarter sauce. For dessert I find the Key Lime pie to be excellent as well. Nice sweetness with just a hint of sour and very tasty crust. Excellent historic decor inside and out. I will be back.
(4)Tina W.
Ambiance/decor is very comfortable and unique. Service was average but for the atmosphere I expected more. No complaints though because the prices on the menu items were reasonable. Portions are average to small side for my scallops that came with risotto, the five scallops were sizes of a quarter coin which was unexpected for a $22 entree. I never order macaroni but my husband got the prosciutto macaroni and it was so good and is something I would order if I end up here again.
(4)Kristine A.
I was here for an office work lunch & was not impressed by any means. They may have been nice people but they lack serious cooking abilities. How hard can it be to find something that is vegetarian that doesn't always have cheese & tastes good? I mean rice & squash w/ like no flavor? That's what I get? It was so not worth it. I took it to go hoping I could give to a homeless person but no luck, so I will have to make it better so I can eat it. My favorite thing was them not having any dessert that didn't contain gelatin or a huge helping of dairy. Amazing how a restaurant which I thought was high caliber could disappoint so much.
(1)Jill S.
Real good buff chicken dip! Fun atmosphere..nice if you can sit on the patio. Salad with steak tips is delicious as well.
(4)Nathan I.
If I want lobster mac and cheese, I'm damn sure getting lobster mac and cheese. We stopped here for a quick lunch on my last day to do just that. It was 1 PM and the place was virtually empty. Guess the reservations weren't needed. It was quite a difference from the last time, when we came for dinner. That was fun! Then again, it was the evening, the place was packed, and we had consumed two or three bottles of wine. It may be apples and oranges, but I was so not getting a similar vibe this time.. We sat down and ordered a Diet Pepsi. It was disgusting. It left this after taste that only went away once we started eating. Jen suggested to the waitress that the fountain machine may not be clean. She tasted some, and said since she doesn't drink Diet Pepsi, she didn't know if there was something wrong with it. Riiiiight. It wasn't a big ordeal but I hope they've taken care of the problem. I had one wedge of Jen's bleu cheese salad and it was crisp and flavorful. The lobster mac and cheese was mostly what I expected (it could have used a tad more lobster meat). The cheese sauce seemed a little watery and more processed than I would have wanted. I have a feeling the lobster mac and cheese at the Ivy would have beaten the pants off of this one. It was the most low-key meal of the trip. I like to be in a place that's hopping, and for some reason, this place was just not. Maybe it was a combination of the weather and the holiday, I'm not sure...but if I go back, I'd want to go during dinner, for sure. I'd normally give four stars, but I'm subtracting one this time for a ho-hum lunch.
(3)Steven C.
I sat outside on a really nice summer evening. The staff were great! I had the lobster roll and the ahi Tuna appetizer. It was very good. I strongly recommend this place!
(4)Lauren M.
We went here after friends in the neighborhood said they wanted to give it "one more shot". The food was terrible. The goat cheese appetizer was good, but I ordered asta in sauce and it tasted like pureed tomatoes out of a can- hardly any seasoning. Now I do have allergies, so maybe they're just not good with that, but no one liked their food. I went back recently for cocktails, and I must say their cocktails are great and weight staff friendly, but I just don't like the food!
(2)AD S.
Definitely one of my favorite Boston restaurant/bars. The building is a throw-back kind of architecture and a fun environment for small or medium-sized groups. I've come here for dinner and brunch. Dinner menu is decent, I got Mac and cheese which was pretty good. I highly recommend the brunch--good food, not too fancy/expensive, tasty. I think they also do $4 mamosas, if one is inclined. I have not been here just for drinks, but their outdoor porch would seem to be a nice place to hang out in the early-mid evening in the area. Anytime you are around the Park/Beacon Hill area, this place is certainly worth checking out!
(4)Jen L.
This place has gone downhill. As in, 2 or 3 years ago I would have rated it a 4 star, but I now feel firmly that it is a 2 star place. I really wish I had read the review from early 2009 that referenced problems with cleanliness standards at the restaurant. If I see even one of those reviews, I usually stay the heck away. My issues with cleanliness (or lack thereof) are as follows: - Scollay Square has a musty kind of smell. Definitely unpleasant. - Based on the taste of the fountain drinks we were served, I'd say that the machines haven't been cleaned in quite some time. If you have ever worked in food service, you know that tons of bacteria build up in those fountain drink machines. - The carpet leading downstairs is old and dirty and needs to be replaced. - The musty smell downstairs is even stronger than upstairs. - The downstairs bathroom area was dirty bordering on sketchy As for the food, I think that "meh" sums it up. I was with a friend from out of town and we both ordered the lobster mac and cheese. I found that the sauce was a little velveeta-y for my taste. I didn't say anything to my friend because I didn't want to be a downer. I was just disappointed, especially when places like Figs and Ivy have such delicious versions of this dish. I will check back for yelp updates, but I think that I'm pretty much staying away considering there are better options in the area.
(2)DJ D.
Its hard to imagine anyone giving this place a good review. Based on yelp reviews, we went there for brunch last Sunday. I don't know were our food came from, but not the same place as most of the other reviewers. I had eggs Benedict which was nothing if not sub par. How is it possible to make tasteless hollandaise sauce? Just awful. The Canadian bacon was the kind in the shrink wrap you get in the supermarket and the english muffin was less than a Thomas's. They did get the egg done right. 1 for 4, overall lousy. Anyone, with just a little effort, could have done better. One of us had a hamburger and fries. Nothing remarkable about the hamburger but they should think about changing the rancid oil they apparently use to cook Sunday morning french fries, gross. On the positive side, the small salad that came with the eggs was good and the service was good, but why go back? Boston has thousands of restaurants.
(2)Jessica Y.
Selected this place for our weekend visiting Boston. Not only did they have top notch service and an unpretentious atmosphere, scollay square also had excellent food and drinks. We were seated in a cozy two person table in the tiny corner next to a pillar, the boyfriend and I agreed that it was the perfect kind of table for us. Furthermore, we received prompt and attentive service despite the location of our table. The boyfriend had scallops with risotto and spinach while I had Kobe sliders and onion soup. It was thoroughly enjoyable and it was such a memorable place for my visit in Boston.
(5)Jim N.
Quick, friendly service and a very appealing menu. Since we were staying on Beacon Hill during our visit to Boston, this was a great find. Thank you, Yelp reviewers!
(4)Colleen S.
It was such a nice treat treat to get back in to this space after about 20 years. i used to live in the building and would go to the former space occupier The Black Goose. Little has changed in ways of the decor and I ran in to several regulars from years ago. Service was sloppy. I went with the burger because it was that type of day, the burger was huge, bun was freshly made and toasted, burger was pretty undercooked though, had to be sent back, by the time it arrived my lunch mates had already finished. Thank fully we were not in a rush, so I took my time and enjoyed my meal. My new job is 2 doors down so I really look forward to long leisurely lunches on the patio come Spring & Summer, great people watching spot.
(4)Yolanda R.
Love the S. Square! Just can't figure out why I need a steak knife for my lobster Benedict. What's up w/the English muffins?
(4)Teresa T.
Scollay Square gives a lot of bang for the buck. I do like the decor despite what others have felt - an old school, historic dark feel w/ a bright stainless steel bright kitchen. Ordered the steak bennedict with coffee and orange juice. I did see quite a few people ordering mimosas and heading to the bloody mary bar (will have to make a note to go back to try one). Orange juice left little to be desired but the steak bennedict and coffee were good. Prices were very reasonable and service was sufficient but not mind blowing. I would come back for a laid back casual atmosphere.
(4)Milee S.
I love this place! I went here with the bf on our anniversary last month. We walked in and sat at a very intimate table. At 7:30, it wasn't full at all, which surprised me. Our server, Leslie, was fantastic; very attentive. I started with a mojito, and the bf got a glass of merlot. My drink wasn't that great, to be honest. When we opened our menus, Happy Anniversary was printed on the top! I thought that was a very sweet gesture to such a special night! It was the regular menu, but still, made it special to me. There are a ton of options for appetizers, it was hard to choose. I got the goat cheese and crab wontons, which were delicious. It came with a spicy plum sauce and some pickled cabbage, which were equally tasty. The appetizer portions are rather large, FYI. The bf got the rock shrimp egg rolls and he really enjoyed those. For entrees, I got the citrus soy glazed salmon with lobster mashed potatoes and asparagus, which was so good. He got the special, a swordfish steak with lobster risotto and some veg. He said it was incredible. I was too full from dinner for dessert but because it was a special night we ordered the chocolate cake. Sooo rich! And an added touch, the staff gave us copies of our special menus AND a greeting card! So coupled with the service, ambiance and food, I have to rate this 5 stars! Definitely a good choice to impress a date :)
(5)John L.
My only experience here is at the bar, which I've found to be an incredibly interesting experience. The interior has more of an older late-19th/early-20th century feel, and the restaurant itself seems to be quite well-oriented for both dates (which I've seen mentioned in some of the other reviews) as well as groups, particularly for brunches. As for the bar, it's not only decent on the beer prices, it's also a much more relaxed atmosphere to watch a game in, which, at the end of an evening, is exactly what I need. The bartenders are well-informed and nice, and on top of that, one can actually watch a game comfortably, or sit around and talk with the other people. Also, I've talked with a wide variety of interesting people here, while still being able to watch the game.
(5)Natalie B.
3 stars = just okay. Although I'm a native Massachusetts resident, longtime Boston-proper, I had never been to Scollay Square and because I had a Rue La La coupon to use, it was a must-do. I checked out the website before making the reservation and it looked cozy and unique and somewhat retro, so I had high-hopes. I have the say that the pictures do it some justice, because it's a bit more dark and crowded and less cozy, in real life. It's, actually, a bit cold feeling. We arrived with a reservation and were seated shortly thereafter. We ordered wine and martinis, which were all served quickly and the service was generally fine with nothing out of the ordinary - for better or worse. It's really the food/price that substantiates the rating of this review. We ordered the goat cheese appetizer which was fine, other than the bruschetta-type topping being more like canned tomato sauce with pureed tomatoes. The goat cheese was tasty but the topping itself wasn't very good. For dinner, we ordered the buffalo chicken mac-n-cheese and my partner found it to be good, as did I. My meal, however, left something to be desired. I had the Bay Scallops with spinach and risotto. The scallops were small (although they are bay, so...) and despite size, they were overcooked and dry. The risotto was oily and starts to separate on your plate and the spinach was SALTY - quite, quite salty. For the price tag ($29, I believe? 23?) it did not live up to the expectations and I found myself eating more of my boyfriends meal than my own. Across the board, for the environment and the quality of the food (at least, in my experience) I feel as though the menu is overpriced. Perhaps focusing on what they do well (mac/cheese and other more bar-style items) and less on trying to force a price tag the kitchen can't support would be a wise choice. Service = fine. Environment = fine (although somewhat deceptive based on photos) - and anyplace that's going to charge what they do should not have multiple TVs displaying sports around the restaurant. Food = leaves something to be desired.
(3)Sheila T.
When did Scollay Square sell out their menu? And why were they playing magic 106.7 with a little Linkin Park mixed in? Ehh.
(2)Rebecca R.
If were a Barenaked Lady circa 1998 (and had a million dollars -- HA, get it?), I'd eat at Scollay Square every day of the week. From the intimate, classy ambience to the friendly & knowledgable service, to the flawless food, this place has got to be one of my top three favorite places in Boston. My first few run-ins with Scollay Square involved only drinks at the bar. Their well-poured gin n' tonics and the delicious Sangria Martini convinced me to try out their food. The first sit-down meal happened during Restaurant Week 2009 -- and seriously, what is better than sitting at a window table in Beacon Hill, listening to some tunes by the Rat Pack, and eating a perfect Filet Mignon with your fabulous date? The restaurant is packed with couples and groups lingering over dinner and conversation. Servers never seem to rush, but keep the meal reasonably paced, with each course being presented with magical precision. The food is drool-worthy, from the steak, to the juicy pork chops, to the egg roll appetizer. I could have eaten forever and then come back for more. And come back I will... I would love to sample their lobster mac n' cheese and *need* to try their Bloody Mary bar for brunch.
(5)Leslie W.
Best brunch in Boston! Make your own bloody bar! So happy that it is warming up so I can sit outside enjoying the perfect bloody mary (cause I made it myself) and eating Rice Krispie french toast!
(5)Kelly K.
The scallops were amazing. Portion sizes are just right - not overwhelming and not stingy. I also tried my friend's wasabi potatoes and tuna steak (rare) and it had amazing flavor. The service was a little slow, but very friendly,and it was lovely to sit on the patio on a gorgeous spring evening.
(4)Nadia K.
We came here for brunch last Sunday and it was pretty good- nothing I'd call special, but decent. Two of us ordered the make your own Bloody Mary bar, and that was really good- although along with the extensive assortment of hot sauces I wish they had just had Tabasco... I ordered the egg white omelet with fillings and got cheddar and spinach, it was fine, again nothing special- could have used more cheese honestly, but it was nice to have well cooked egg whites. The hash browns were not what I was expecting and similar to the hash brown patties they serve at McDonald's... I wasn't impressed... I wanted spicy homemade grill top cooked goodness and I got deep fried flattened tator tots. The salad was pretty good, too small in my opinion, I think in the future I'll ask for just salad on the side and skip the "hash browns". The restaurant itself is well decorated and architecturally interesting so it's a good place to meet friends- especially those with a not-so-adventurous palate, for me, I probably wont be back.
(3)Keo S.
So let me explain the low - 1 star rating here as I'm currently staying in an apartment next door to Scollay Sq. It's always packed in the patio area and since it was gross and rainy outside yesterday, we decided to have dinner there. The service and the food are actually VERY GOOD. My main concern lies in the number of fruit flies that are hanging out on the columns inside, how much dust, and overall "grime" there is inside. The inside needs a good douching and no wonder people sit in the patio. Our high top table butted up against a colums so as we ate our delicious meal, we also got a great view of about 30 fruit flies just hanging around and once in awhile they would buzz around at our level. I hope that management reads this, takes a day off to close down and seriously clean the place. I would give it another shot after they do this and then hopefully it will be a much more pleasant experience.
(1)Eric T.
It's not amazing, but is surprisingly good--surprisingly because when we walked in I expected little and was quite pleasantly surprised. Fish and chips, Mac and cheese, buffalo chicken sliders, all very good. Chocolate chip cookie sliders, pretty good but not amazing cookies. French fries were the only disappointment. Overall very reliably good.
(4)David B.
Was looking for a place to eat in the area of Beacon Hill that was quiet, nice ambiance, and an easy walk to the theater district. The location and menu fit the bill beautifully. The hostess and wait staff were great and the dining room, despite a cold night, was warm and toasty. The food was good and satisfied our need for a nice meal before a show. Although I'd go back and give it a try for for lunch, I wasn't all that excited concerning dinner. I started with a grilled pear salad that was quite nice and then moved to a pasta dish that was underwhelming. My partner started with a different salad (the he also enjoyed) and had Kobe beef meatloaf. He thought it was quite good but couldn't really see what the big whoop was over Kobe beef. It didn't taste that much different from well made meatloaf. The wine list was decent..we enjoyed out selections. Dessert was quite good too....white chocolate bread pudding. So, if you are looking for a fine dining establishment in an area of town that doesn't have a lot to choose from, Scollay Square might be the place for you.
(3)Michael C.
I've been here twice, both times the food was good. The first time I went there the service was bad though. In the middle of lunch they told (yes, told) us we had to switch tables. On my second visit the service was much better. The food both times was a little fancier than your standard bar food, but the portions are on the small side. The main thing that stood out was the lobster mac n' cheese which was very very good. Besides that there was nothing outstanding but everything met my expectations.
(3)Alan G.
Went for lunch for the first time. Pesto gnocchi with grilled chicken special was really good, perfectly sized portion. Quick service and reasonably priced. I'll go back.
(4)Jimbeau W.
We like this place. Enough in fact that we signed up for their dining club card. Everything's done right here: excellent (okay, a superlative can't hurt--really excellent)martini, super appetizers (goat cheese a definite choice), delicious and unusual entrees well prepared and seasoned, well presented and well timed. Trained, friendly, ,informative wait staff who haven't fallen victim to the Boston "you're lucky I even approach your table" server attitude, even though this place is next to XV Beacon, which is a reasonably prestigious address. The atmosphere is just casual enough to be comfortable any time, any way you're dressed--straight from the office in suit & tie corporate camouflage or in jeans.
(4)Paula H.
Delicious steak tips and potato lasagna! Sangria was tasty
(5)Christina G.
I had a great lunch here a little while back. We had good service and two great dishes. The first... Lobster Mac and Cheese, possibly the best combination ever discovered, and the Acorn and Butternut squash lasagna. It was so different and a nice change from regular Lasagna. Great for this time of year as well. For dessert, the Maine Blueberry Shortcake which was was light and yummy. This is a nice lunch spot if you are in the area. It's nice inside, but if you come during the warmer months they have a nice outdoor patio instead.
(4)Rock L.
Craving some good food after arriving into Boston. The food is great not badly price. They Plasma all around playing all the major games. Its a nice Small conformable place. Very close to Bostom Commons and easy to find
(4)Franco C.
My favorite place in Boston. Whenever anyone is in town, we always come here. I'm big on atmosphere and this place has it. It's like a smaller Eastern Standard restaurant (which is near Fenway). I love their prosciutto wrapped cod filet and their cider brined porterhouse pork chop. Flavors are great. Every time I've gone the wait staff has been solid. When making a reservation, definitely request a seat by the window. There are only a few tables with the view (I think three) so it's worth it to get the view. Great atmosphere. Always busy. But it never feels annoying.
(5)Meghan R.
Ended up here with the boss and a few officemates after a late night of work and boy am I glad I did. Our waiter was excellent and the food was out of this world. I got the salmon (with to-die-for lobster mashed potatoes), my fellow diners got some red meat entrees and the scallops, all delicious. If the legislature is in session, expect the bar to be packed with senators & reps... hang around for a bit and they'll usually disperse to their homes, hotel rooms or other bars, but its definitely worth going by. The atmosphere, though crowded, is cool. It's definitely a great spot for an amazing meal!
(5)Julia C.
Finally a restaurant tha works at that beautiful location! The place is so nice and thewy set it up as a high end Boston pub. Lunchtime for power player and at night drinks after work and good american food with extra gourmet touches.
(4)Betty P.
I was in charge of finding a place with outdoor seating for a group of 4 of us last night. I ruled out anywhere near Fenway or Newbury St. since there was a Sox game in town. Ruled out North End since I knew it would be mobbed and not looking forward to paying an arm and a leg for parking. The waterfront doesn't have as many possibilities as one would want. So going through my mental catalog of restaurants, I finally thought of Scollay Square. I had been here years ago with my dining club when it first opened so I was interested to see how it fared many years later. We showed up almost 15 minutes early for our reservation (made quickly and easily on Open Table), but we were seated immediately. I had requested outdoor seating and it was not a problem. The food was pretty impressive, but the service was not of the same quality. Our waitress didn't smile once and although the waitress who waited on our neighboring table made many appearances, ours was an infrequent visitor. She also did not tell us anything about the $22 3-course menu special until I asked about it. Service aside, the food thankfully made up for our waitress' lack of bubbly-ness. My dining companions ordered the Spring Rolls, lobster mac n'cheese, and the acorn & butternut squash lasagna -- all of which received rave reviews. The lasagna eater was licking his plate clean, telling us over and over how great the sage cream was. He said, "I feel like one of those Iron Chef judges. I want to tell the chef how great the dish was!" My daily special of prosciutto wrapped salmon with mashed potatoes and baby carrots was kinda bland and probably the least flavorful dish at the table. Which I guess is fine since I am on a diet. :) We lingered for a bit on the outdoor patio and nobody kicked us out. The patio is definitely great for people watching and I noticed a variety of clientele walk in -- from young professionals in shorts and Crocs to older couples donning pearls in their theater-going duds. Everyone in our party definitely agreed that Scollay Square is going to be a regular place in our dinner rotation. Meals for four people (including 1 beer) came in at around $80 before tip. The $22 menu was definitely worth asking about! The most impressive aspect of this place is that I received a random phone call today on my cell. Turns out it was the restaurant calling to check in on how last night went. Apparently, they said they call everybody who makes reservations the day after to check in and see how their experience was. I thought that was a great touch and makes me think that after a few more visits, I might give SS its 5th star!
(4)Josh S.
I met a few friends here on a Sunday night for dinner in December. Since it was a Sunday, and cold, it wasn't surprising that there weren't too many people in the restaurant. For appetizers, we wanted something light so we got the edamame, which was pretty good. We got our entrees, however, before we finished the appetizer so we felt a little rushed. For the entrees I ordered the broiled scallops, which were really good and a nice portion size. One friend got the NY Sirloin, which she thought was tasty. Another friend ordered the Tuna Burger, which she liked. The last member of our party ordered the fish and chips, which he thought was okay but it wasn't superb. All in all, we had a good time and enjoyed the food. For dessert, we ordered the cookie sliders, which were okay but the ice cream was hard as a rock. We also shared the red velvet cake which was delicious.
(4)Jeff W.
I am starting to notice a trend by the owners of this place... First Max and Dylans, then Tavern on the Water (worst), now here... Service Simply Sucks. It really is the worst service in the city for any group of restaurants in Boston. I am not sure if the hiring manager is really nice and hires these waitresses because he/she feels bad for them, or if he/she is truly clueless, but they are all distant and have little foresight. As a quick example... after having to leave my party to find the waitress so we could order (after 22 minutes), I asked a specific question about a wine we were going to buy. She answered with conviction later to find out she answered wrong... And yet, she proceeded to argue with me. It's too bad.. The food was very good and the setting was awesome.
(2)Justin W.
My fiancé and I both had a great dinner here. They were very accommodating for gluten free diets. The pairings of foods was delicious in both the haddock and scallop meals that we had.
(4)Paul S.
Maybe I'm just being a pessimist, but Scollay didn't really do it for me. I've read though many positive reviews that lauded the comfort food stylings of this hip little place, but I'm just not feeling it. My wife and I hit up Scollay with some friends Saturday night. The service was a little blah, but I was ready for that after reading some reviews. I found the space to be a little strange. The open kitchen didn't make much sense for a place that makes mac n cheese as a specialty. The dining area is very cramped, even on a night when the place didn't seem to have all the tables filled. I tried to shrug off the oddness of the layout to see if the food would make up for it. I got the cheessteak spring rolls first while my wife got a Caesar salad. Both were good, but nothing to awe inspiring. My wife and I decided to share the fish and chips and the esteemed lobster mac n cheese. Again, both were just okay. The fish and chips were more like cod nuggets that lacked seasoning. The mac n cheese was pretty soupy and did not have much lobster meat or lobster flavor. I wanted so much to be drawn into a world of buttery cheesy bliss with the mac n cheese, but it just wasn't happening. We left feeling full from food but unfulfilled in our search for comfort food on Beacon Hill.
(2)M Y.
Great place for brunch (not sure about dinner). I went with a friend on a Saturday and was pleasantly surprised. The food was great and reasonably priced. Everything was done perfectly and portions were generous for the price. Service staff were personable and friendly too!
(5)Alison B.
I work here. The food never ceases to amaze me. I recommend everything! but especially the ahi tuna napoleon, spinach and artichoke dip, baked haddock, beet salad, wedge salad, steak tips, squash lasagna, thai chicken and shrimp, roasted half chicken, cheddar grits.. Really I do love everything on the menu. The specials and pre fixe are always new and exciting as well! Mix and match if you want! It's so flexible. You get a fantastic meal for an adequate price. For wine, try the Kenwood or MacMurray PN, Sycamore Chard or Evolution (made from 9 different grapes!) and for dessert, Iniskillen ice wine and white chocolate bread pudding. YUM!
(4)Tammy H.
First off, I didn't come looking for ingenuity. I just wanted well made food, good service, and a satisfied feeling upon leaving--whatever is worthy of food at this price. The verdict? I was satisfied on all accounts. I know this is the first 5-star review this establishment has reviewed in a while, but it's deserved. Service wasn't perfect through and through, but a REALLY good effort was made. We arrived 10min early for our reservation and waited about 20min to be seated. They were busy with two large groups, and we didn't mind waiting, but I was pleasantly surprised when the hostess came by the table later to apologize for the wait. Of all the people that she had to take care of last night, she remembered us! Our waiter was knowledgeable about both the wines and food, and was enjoyable to talk to. The bread came late, but I'll excuse that since he was great on all other accounts. I loooove attentive service, and I felt like we had a LOT of his attention! As for food, The Boy and I ordered the kobe beef "sliders", wedge salad, side of brussel sprouts mash, hangar steak and seared scallops. I actually wanted a side of the lobster mash, but oh dismay! As of this past Monday, they took out all acoutrements, so now you can't get the lobster mash at all ... I'm super sad about that. However, you can substitute for other sides from other entrees. On the major up-side, the hangar steak was amazing (next time we'll do it rare!), as were the scallops. Each were cooked to the right temperature/point and were complimented well with their respective sides and light sauces. As for the rest, the "sliders" were surely not made from your typical ground beef (in a good way), wedge salad was crunchy with good proportions, and the brussel sprouts mash made for a nice comfort side dish. We also got a glass of the Dashe Cellars zin and a glass of the chianti, but we preferred the zin. So for (1) appetizer, (1) salad, (1) side, (2) entrees, (2) glasses of wine, and good service, it totaled to $125 including tax+tip. We could've done without one or two of the smaller dishes since we were so stuffed!
(5)Brian B.
oy. I went here on a date? The wine was quite nice. The salads were very good! (I don't understand the wedge but hey -people like it!) The tomato bleu cheese was GREAT! Its tough to make a salad smell good. I had the lobster mac-n-cheese too. Its on the "acoutrements" (sp?) list. IT SHOULD BE A MAIN COURSE!!!!!!!! I have had better only at one other place, and atmosphere-wise this wins! We ate on the front porch, and it was lovely. The apartments above are BEAUTIFUL!! So the restaurant made me super-happy.....the date? I thought great until he downgraded to a "friends" thing....hmmm....can this be turned around?
(4)Cindy C.
i went to dine after reading all the great reviews on yelp, and i was really disappointed with this place. The slow service was expected since many of the yelpers also mentioned this, however, the food was average at best and i was not at all impressed by my dining experience. FOOD- i ordered the scallops and my friend ordered steak. my scallops were average, and the best part of the dish was the spinach, which was incredibly fresh - but unfortunately it was quite salty. my friend had the hanger steak, which was pretty good, but the spinach was also a little too salty for my taste. my problem with the restaurant occurred mostly when we had dessert. we had ordered one bread budding to share (which was delicious) and one dessert wine. instead, two dessert wines came and we had to send one back - fine, then when the water was replaced, i found a straw wrapper in my water. that was the part which was absolutely unacceptable. and what was worse was when i informed the staff about it, they simply apologized rather insincerely and did not try to, in any way make up for our experience. i don't think i would be returning, ever.
(1)Ali A.
3 stars is a combo of one 4 star dinner and one 2 star dinner. The cocktail menu is great - a wide selection and lots of new flavors to try. (Key Lime Martini? Sign me up!) The dinner menu is good as well. The BBQ shrimp appetizer is especially delicious, bringing the flavors of New Orleans up here to chilly, snowy Boston. Discovered on visit #1: the entrees are delicious. That is why I do NOT recommend getting the nightly tasting menu. This was our mistake on visit #2. The portions are tiny and the accompanying wines very small glasses. My husband left feeling less than full despite three courses. Speaking of the accompanying wine, they could not quite get the timing down. The wines were served either way too late or way to early, not really corresponding to the courses being served. Visit #2 seemed to be understaffed - hopefully this was the case, as our waitress was certainly nice, but there were huge spans of where we couldn't find her. Moral of the story? Stick to the cocktails and menu entrees and you won't be disappointed.
(3)sunny g.
For some reason, I really like this place. The food is usually of high quality and the service is really fast (although sometimes a little TOO fast). I usually can find something delicious to eat and nothing is terribly expensive. The locale is great, when you have plans in the city after dinner.
(4)Tom V.
Great Brunch Spot near the Commons! We wandered into this spot for brunch on Sat while in town for the Cubs game. They accomodated us on a fairly crowded patio, which was great on a much needed sunny day in May. I was going to order an omelet, as the ones I saw others having look huge & delicious, but the lobster eggs benny kept calling my name...tough decision...kinda pricey & probably comes will a few scraps of lobster...screw it, I'm out of town & treating myself! So glad I did! Best meal of the trip!! It was done perfectly & there was a ton of lobster meat...worth every penny!! Hash browns were also solid. Everyone else in the group seemed to enjoy their meals as well. Bloody Mary bar was good too, even if the server spilled my vodka pour all over upon his arrival to the table... :) Great location, great food, great patio. A little pricey for B-fast/Brunch but oh so worth it!! Congrats Bruins!!!!
(5)Nick R.
Summary: The atmosphere and setting are terrific, the service was pretty good, but my table was sticky and my steak didn't impress me, especially for the price. I was debating between 2 and 3 stars, but went for three because I liked the setting enough that I'd be willing to give it another try, and the other folks in my party liked their dinners (I'll order something different). Time: Monday night, 6:30PM Atmosphere: the building is really cool- it has a 2-story ceiling and the decor of the restaurant harkens back to the early-to-mid nineteenth century, with large black-and-white photo-posters on the upper walls and dark wood and wainscoting down below. I didn't make it to the bar, but it looked inviting. In contrast to the period-styling of the restaurant and bar, the kitchen is open and modern stainless, which seemed to jive well with the rest of the decor. The restaurant wasn't crowded when we were there, and it was easy to have a quiet discussion at a table for four. Service: prompt and no complaints. Food: I had the Grilled All Natural NY Sirloin for $21. It came with Mashed Potatoes, Roasted Asparagus, and Red Onion Jam. The sides were good, but it definitely wasn't a $21 steak. It was a small portion, overcooked (I ordered medium-well, it was definitely well-done (no red on the inside), lacked any significant seasoning, and it had quite a bit of grisly fat on it. I think it's only fair to add the caveat that I lived in Texas for 10 years, so I'm used to tasty, juicy, large, and affordable steaks, so I might be biased, but that didn't make it taste better just because this is Boston. The rest of my party was much happier with their food, which included the Lemon Basted Swordfish Chop at mkt price (it was a surprisingly generous serving), the Miso Glazed Salmon Fillet for $17 and a salmon special that was offered that night ($?). Maybe I should order fish next time? Drinks: we just had beer and ginger ale. They have a limited beer list, but it includes the Boston staples (Harpoon IPA, Sam Adams, Sam Adams Octoberfest, and Stella on draft and a non-interesting list of bottles). The wine list and mixed drink lists looked plentiful, and I was impressed with the selection of dessert wines and top-shelf bourbons, scotches, and cognacs. I'll go back if for no other reason than a night-cap.
(3)Jennifer T.
We went here for a private function last night. Parking - There is a lot behind the restaurant (go around the block, behind the building) that cost $10. Cant beat that. Atmosphere - We love the old building (late 1800's) and the character inside. SMall restaurant that I think would be a bit cramped normally but for a private function it was nice. Food - I had the filet mignon and my husband had the pork chops. Both were good but nothing fantastic. I would have expected better. Small portions. We had a lot of the appetizers and our favorites were the bacon wrapped scallops and the rice balls (which were AMAZING).
(3)jun s.
I arrived in Boston for a three day conference, AIA 2008 to be exact , and decided to go out to dinner with my fellow co-worker from SF. Although we were both tired from lacking sleep to catch an early flight, we were energized by the thought of discovering a great new restaurant... at the other coast of the continent...! We walked through beautiful Boston Common (perfect temperature and peaceful dusk lighting) and arrived at the restaurant - comfortable, cool, airy feel, nice hostess, I was pleased. Well, let me make this quick as I really should sleep before another long day of conference tomorrow. The raw oysters were mediocre (slightly fishy and sauce was generic) - how disappointing since I've been craving them for so long now! Tomales Bay here I come when I return to SF! The Chilean Sea Bass, on the other hand, was quite good - the flakes were moist and fluffy, the way I like them! The dish, overall, bothered me a bit... the sauce for the fish was good but lacking... hmm... depth and complexity? It was a light version of Teriyaki sauce...!? The chocolate decadence was my favorite part of the meal which is very unusual for me. Now that I don't drink espresso, I resorted to tea and what a limited selection...! again, generic tea bags and not even one decaf like chamomile.... sigh... I wouldn't go back anytime soon, but I wouldn't have trouble recommending it to anyone. While the food was slightly above average, I just enjoyed the place... maybe it's the open grill that was in front of me, perhaps the high ceiling and comfortable lighting, or the mix of the old and modern decor... it was a good choice overall. :)
(4)Ted A.
One of my favorite local spots.
(5)Alex E.
I had a unexpectedly fantastic meal at Scollay Square. I started off the night with a Crown Royal Manhattan, which was impeccably mixed. To my knowledge, this is somewhat of a signature drink for the bar-- and rightly so. The vermouth was fantastic quality, and the drink was served in a small decanter on ice. I had the soy citrus glazed salmon with grilled asparagus and their lobster mashed potatoes. The salmon was fresh, cooked perfectly and the glaze was very nice (subtle, too). The asparagus was crisp, fresh and flavorful. I was also pleasantly surprised by the mashed potatoes. It had large bits of lobster meat in it and the potatoes didn't overpower you with a strong lobster flavor. The potatoes were also fresh, well-seasoned, and had a wonderfully light consistency. My only complaint was that the presentation was a bit sloppy. Nonetheless, it was a delicious dish. For dessert, I had the Maine blueberry shortcake with vanilla gelato. This was really a fantastic dessert. The buttermilk biscuit was light and tasty. The blueberry sauce was very nice. Large, fresh blueberries were used and it was not overly sweetened. Fresh whipped-cream topped the dessert--perfectly done. The gelato was also tasty. I would highly recommend Scollay Square for a Manhattan or an impeccable dinner. N.B. Their kitchen is open late, too.
(4)Mary D.
Let me just start by saying that if I were to rate this place on food alone, they would be getting 1 star. My salad was overdressed, my husband's food undercooked, and everything over seasoned. Whoever is running the show in their kitchen needs to wake up and take a look around because there are about 15 different restaurants all within a kilometer that have significantly better food. We have eaten there a couple times and the food is consistently poor. My husband and I are from the UK, and it's disappointing indeed when we get food that makes British cuisine seem glamorous. I had the Cobb salad, which was a goopy mess. My husband had the salmon, which was undercooked. His rice was overseasoned and hard. Our spring rolls were greasy, over salted, and the ketchup that was served with it was strange. Our bartender was quick to act on our behalf by sending food back and ensuring it's preparation in proper form. The saving grace was the service. Somewhat. Our bartender was fabulous (Sara?). She was friendly, extremely knowledgable (she even fixed me up a special cocktail that wasn't on the menu, having to rummage up ingredients from the kitchen!), and fast! When I was unsure about the type of vodka cocktail I wanted, she asked me my preferences on coktails (sweet, savory, citus, etc) and made me a custom cocktail that suited my palate. She was able to guide me to a vodka that I liked more than what I normally drink (Absolut). She kept my husband and I entertained for much longer than we planned. It felt like we were sitting in someone's house, laughing and getting to know new friends. For a lovely young girl, she possessed all the traits found in good veteran bartenders. She reminded my husband of his local keep back home. The only problem with service was the other waiters. It seemed the servers like to cluster near the bar. My husband and I overheard a waiter several times complaining about the customers. His use of colourful language was obnoxious. A couple times, we heard our bartender remind staff to mind their language and their work. It seemed unprofessional that their choice of location to complain was so close to our ears. We may return for some cocktails and laughs at the bar, but my husband and I are done with their kitchen.
(3)Cathy H.
I really enjoyed this place- 4 stars. My date hated it. So, I will be coopertive and go with the ever so boring 3-star rating. Then again, after trying his food and mine, I definitely lucked out on picking my menu items. Service was uber-slow. The tuna was fab.
(3)Kristie A.
Ok. I'm updating my review for 3 reasons: the make your own bloody mary bar during brunch AND the bar itself AND server Seana! Sure, the food is good; the service is fine. But I'm a fan of sitting at a bar alone and this bar is a great place to sit and DRINK and do a crossword puzzle. It's dark, it's comfortable. Easy.
(4)Cameron M.
Food was very tasty, one and only merlo is good, service is reasonable, Buffalo chip was spicy and good, Girl was very cute
(4)Teresa W.
Drinks were good try the lemonade, can't even tell it has alcohol in it. Food was delicious & prices were fair.
(4)Diane D.
Very good consistent place. Good service, reasonable prices--nothing bad to say about it. Been here 3 times and each time everything was great.
(4)Ben K.
Awesome: -The manager gave us tastings of three different wines, then later asked us how everything was, and cleared some of our plates Mediocre: -The food, the food, the food. Everything was good. A-OK. But nothing was stunning, nothing was alternative, nothing stood out. The salmon was cooked perfectly, but lacked flavor. The lobster mashed potatoes had chunks of lobster in them, but I swear I couldn't taste it, and the caesar salad was fine but needed more lemon and more anchovies. -The prices. For what you get, it's a little steep, but this is Boston. Bad: -The waiter had one special to remember: "Butternut Squash Lasagna." He read that off a paper, but then when we asked him what went into it besides butternut squash he said, "let me go check with my manager." When we asked him to describe one of the wines, he said "Oh, I don't drink wine. I'm going to have to get my manager." How can you possibly be a seller of food and wine and not know the product you're selling? Especially at a nice restaurant in Beacon Hill? The manager was great, but the server was sub-par. -The parking situation. Pricey if you want to use the lot next door, which can be full, and no real available parking on the street. Oh, and no valet either. All in all, the three of us upon leaving agreed that we wouldn't be going back. With the economy as it is, it's a competitive restaurant market and you have to be choosy.
(3)Al A.
Awesome location. Meh food. Meh service. Very dirty tables. Almost clean chairs.
(2)Kevin M.
this place is really cool. It is located inside the former recieving room/lobby area for an old hotel back in the 1800s. (the bellevue hotel) A lof of the original architectural details are still intact. (mirror behind the bar, exposed columns etc...) The menu has something to offer everyone! Chicken, lobster mashed potatoes..... restuffed baked potatoes( YUMM) ... seafood, etc...I had the sirloin steak, which was amazing. Someone else I was with had the Meatloaf, which I tried and was delighted with. (Weird texture, but great taste) I had a cosmo, which was very smooth! definitely worth a trip.
(4)Jeff B.
I'll be the first to admit that I'm a very picky and unforgiving patron. If you pour tap into my half glass of Saratoga Spring water, I'll ask for new bottle. If my meat is under/overcooked, I'll be looking forward to a new cut, thanks. That said, this place gave me no opportunity to allow them to spit or sprinkle pubes in my food. Everything, EVERYTHING here is done well. This is one of my favorite spots for dinner in Boston. From the spicy cocktails at the well-stocked bar to the simple fact that they have Evolution #9 to complement a nice selection of oysters, Scollay is a great after-work restaurant. The staff knows how to blend upscale and friendly service styles - never pretentious, never distracted, always pleasant, always doting. While the menu itself isn't huge, it's all high-quality, fresh food and good-sized portions - I see huge value in what they prepare and how they prepare it. I haven't gotten past the creme brulee on the dessert menu, I just wish they served Dolce by the glass! I suppose some see Scollay Square having a snooty atmosphere, but it's so small you make it what you want. And the other reviews about this and that being disappointing.. I don't know what to tell you - sit at my table.. . .
(5)Lindsay L.
Yesterday was my first time at Scollay Square. My internship supervisor took me out to lunch there as an end-of-the-year-thank-you-for-your-hard-work celebration with just us two. This is a go-to spot for her when she wants to take employees for a good lunch. She recommended that I try the Miso Glazed Salmon Fillet or Macaroni and Cheese with Maine Lobster Meat. I ordered the salmon, and it was yummy. It was also just right in terms of food portions. I felt full but not stuffed. Even after eating the whole dish, I had enough room for dessert. I ordered the Red Velvet Cake and then I felt stuffed! Just so you know, the Red Velvet Cake is supposed to serve two. Since I can never resist anything red velvet, I took my leftover cake to go. The location's pretty ideal. If I were shopping around Downtown Crossing or hanging out in the Common, I'd probably stop by Scollay again with some friends. Next time, I hope to hang out on the patio. It was a little too chilly when my supervisor and I had lunch, but the patio was packed later in the afternoon when I passed by the restaurant.
(4)Caitlin D.
If you have an upcoming birthday, this is the place to go. I reserved a table for 8 on Opentable.com and went for my birthday. They called the day of to confirm I would be arriving and asked if there was a special occasion. I explained that it was my birthday. When I got to the restaurant and opened my menu, they had specially printed a menu that said "Happy birthday Caitlin from all of us at Scollary Square" across the top. The food was really good, it was one of those moments where I kept eating even though I knew I should stop. To top things off, once the dishes had been cleared, the waiter gave me a birthday card signed by the waiters and waitresses in the restaurant. And they did the traditional dessert at the end of the meal where they brought out a small lava cake dessert with a candle in it. All in all, I had a great experience with plenty of great surprises!
(5)j e.
This is a cool place and ambience is good. Server was nice but there were only like 5 tables in the restaurant seated when we were there and they still did not get my brunch order correct. They realized it after they had served everyone and I watched the other diners finish brunch. And then got my food. Apologies were given but not even a gratis orange juice or something while I waited? I was a server for 10 years and would have always tried to make up for a mistake. Eggs were strange and rubbery in the omelette I had. Service mistakes aside, I still would not go back. There are better places in Boston for sure.
(2)James G.
Again, we live in the building so its a convenient place to eat. We though we would go here a lot since its right downstairs but every time we go we leave thinking how mediocre the food is. The best thing on the menu is the BBQ shrimp appetizer. I've gotten it every time I've gone for dinner. Brunch, like dinner is just mediocre and after last time will probably never go for brunch again. Would have given 3 stars BUT a friend of mine used to work there and after I told them I had eaten there they strongly suggested not eating there ever again due to poor sanitation. Tempted to go back for their $22, 3 course menu that they always have on the chalk board outside but probably won't due to above mentioned reasons.
(2)Jenny L.
Went here last night-- I had two friends in town and after going to HH on Newbury St., wanted to go to a fun restaurant in Beacon Hill for dinner before we headed to the Liberty Hotel for the night. I went onto OpenTable.com and saw that they had reservations available around 8:00 and took a gamble--- glad I did! When we arrived, we were able to grab a table on the patio right away. Oysters-- only complaint is there were only 5 and not a 1/2 dozen. One of my friends got the short end of the stick and only had 1 instead of 2. Short rib-- VERY tender and flavorful Lobster Mac n' cheese-- lobster was great-- not too chewy. Great comfort dish Scallops--Cooked to perfection--very smooth, not chewy. Good ambiance too-- most everyone sat on the patio, but has a great atmosphere inside-- not super chic, but not your casual restaurant/bar either.
(4)Dan C.
We had dindin on 12/26, meaning the place was basically ours. They'd sent some of their waitstaff home early, and we were served by the bartender who was really friendly and helpful. Eventually the manager showed up and started waiting on us. She looked like she could have used a nap. And some stimulants. The look and feel of the place, the food, all very nice. Small enough to be cozy and intimate, but big enough that you didn't have to scrunch into a little ball. Lobster mashed potatoes - mm. Kobe meatloaf was mine mm. Also worth noting. My mom, not the most adventurous eater, calls Legal Seafoods her favorite restaurant of all time and everytime our family goes out somewhere different to eat, she'll ALWAYS assess the restaurant in comparison to Legal Seafoods, usually their Shrimp scampi dish, which she always orders. And of course legal seafoods and shrimp scampi always wins. "the portions are bigger at legal! Legal has shrimp scampi. Legal seafoods is less expensive. Legal seafoods is more popular so it's better!" yes mom, it also gives me diarrhea. It doesn't matter what dish she orders - she could be eating cow ovaries and still manage to compare it to legal seafoods shrimp scampi. But this time. No mention of legal seafoods either way. I was amazed. Some might call that a draw. knowing my mom I call it a significant victory.
(4)Jaimie S.
Goat cheese is amazing!!!! Friendly service ...
(5)Jennifer T.
Deliciousness...mac and cheese, filet mignon sandwich, fries, tuna napoleon app (one of my favs). Great menu and atmosphere. Classy but not too expensive, especially for lunch. I've always had good service.
(4)Anna B.
I have eaten here many times for dinner, brunch and lunch and it is always good, even with a large party. It is also reasonably-priced. The Chocolate Decadence dessert is serious chocolate. The lunchtime Mac & Cheese and steak tips are good too. But the best thing about this place is their Sunday brunch MYO Bloody Mary Bar - I wasn't a Bloody Mary drinker until I tried this and experimented until I found my personal recipe.
(5)Shang S.
Wow! I was so blown away by my dinner experience here. First off, I organized a party of 6 for a birthday. After reading the reviews here, I went ahead and asked them if they could (1) Print the birthday person's name on the menu (2) if I could bring in a cake. So, the menu happened for sure, and while they charged a $2/person cake fee, they did add candles on top (which I forgot), so a very nice touch in general. Now, on to the food, which was the best part of the meal! It came out in a very reasonable amount of time. Everyone was very happy with their selection, granted, three of us got the miso glazed chilean sea bass. I got the soy glazed salmon, which came with lobster mashed potatoes and very crispy asparagus (not too tough, and not too roasted). Yum! I was extremely surprised by how much lobster there was in the potatoes (probably 2 claws' worth). My appetizer of 6 raw oysters was also great, then again, I'm not a very discriminating oyster fan. I do agree with another person below that the sauce wasn't all that interesting, but at least the oysters were fresh and clean. Our server was very friendly, attentive, patient, and not overly pushy. The restaurant also followed up with a phone call the next day if you have any suggestions, which I think really speaks to their attention to customer service. I'm definitely coming back here again!
(5)LuLu M.
I was super excited to come here based on Yelp reviews and checking out the menu ahead of time. Unfortunately, it was not a good experience: after we were seated and ordered, literally our appetizers and main entree came out within 5 minutes of each other. The waitress should have watched our table to see when we were about 10 minutes away from being ready for our entree and THEN put our entree order in. When you have both come out so quickly, you end up rushing to eat both so the food doesn't get cold. On top of that, I'm all about customer service, but the waitress came to check on us every two minutes, and then the hostess came to check on us every two minutes, which means we only had one minute of alone time before someone else asked "how is everything?" which made for a disruptive evening. And lastly, we still had a generous amount of food on our plates when they would come check on us but would still ask "can I take your plate away" or "are you done with that?" each time which made us feel super rushed. I don't know what their hurry was since there were only 3 other tables occupied. I guess we picked a night where it was a "miss"! :-(
(2)Lynn W.
The best meal I had in Boston! I had the sword fish steak with lobster risotto. There were large lobster chunks in the flavorful risotto. The calamari was crisp with a delicious sauce. The roasted pear salad had mixed greens, roasted nuts and pomegranate seeds.. The place was a little loud but highly recommend it.
(5)Chris T.
My friend took me here last night, she kept building up how amazing the place was, so I was eager to try it. Sadly to say, we were both disappointed. The Oyster appetizer was meh, and the steaks we ordered (Flank and Hanger) were small and flavorless. My friend ordered a glass of Zardetto Prosecco but instead got a glass of Cavit, cheap ass shit. The menu was tiny. If you don't like seafood, which I don't, then you only have about 3 options. That sucks. Didn't even want to stay for dessert. Instead we hopped over next door to Zen and got some good quality food.
(2)Mary D.
Had dinner here with my husband the other night. Wanted to try someplace different, and he had heard of this restaurant. We were seated right away, even though we were about 15 minutes early for our reservation. Seated right next to open kitchen - not my favorite table, but ok. Ordered a bottle of wine and 2 appetizers - ahi tuna and fried goat cheese. Tuna was nicely prepared; little bit of a kick, but very tasty. Goat cheese was wonderful - gooey, creamy, warm. Nice way to start our meal. I ordered the steak tips, which was perfectly prepared. Husband had a chicken dish, which he liked except for the instant potatoes. All in all, a very good meal. Only problem was with the waiter. From the moment we sat down, he was rushing us. We just wanted a nice relaxing meal - restaurant was not overly crowded, so there was no need to rush us. When we ordered the wine, he asked what we wanted for dinner. Told him we hadnt looked at menu yet. Brought wine to table and asked again. We ordered appetizers but were not ready to order entree. He seemed very put out. When he brought our appetizers out, he asked again. Out of spite, we told him we would wait until we had the appetizers and then decide. After that, he came back twice before we put in our entree requests. Again, it was not crowded, only about 7:30pm at that point - no one should be in such a rush. Atmosphere was a bit bright, open kitchen, bar in the rear. Good location.
(3)Maitland L.
I had a date here last night. It was fantastic. The service was friendly and fast. The food came out very fast, and it tasted spectacular. We started out with oysters, which were very tasty, but the horseradish cocktail sauce that it came with was pretty mediocre. Dinner was amazing. I had the scallops, which were seared perfectly and served with spinach and some sort of flavored mashed potatoes. My husband got the sirloin steak which was also cooked perfectly. I had a couple of bites of his restuffed baked potato which was superb. Everything was delightful. I'd love to go back.
(5)Robin A.
Went here on a Fri. night. I had looked at yelp for a nice seafood restaurant, and since I tried for reservations an hour before we wanted to eat, I wasn't very successful. This restaurant was able to seat us, so we hopped in a cab and felt so loved when we arrived. It is so warm and inviting inside. A real local place! Maggie was our server, and she was personable, knowledgeable, and very helpful. Their tuna appetizer was the best we've ever eaten. We had the swordfish with lobster risotto, and both were oh, my god, amazing. Good wine selection and reasonably priced. I will definitely go back when I'm in Boston.
(5)Melissa C.
Update: I'm increasing their rating after my second experience. The customer service is top notch, seriously 5 stars. I've really been impressed with the service. This time my waiter forgot to put in the calamari app order, which would normally bother me, but he did an excellent job of taking full responsibility for it, and the food came out so quickly that we really never missed it. After trying more menu items, I'm also more impressed. The miso glazed Chilean sea bass was perfectly prepared. As well it was another well balanced plate with lovely, simple presentation. Why four stars not five? Open kitchen lets me watch the chef smack his chewing gum. While I was told that the vegetarian platter was improved, it was altered without addressing the real problem. The main problem is a lack of a substantial protein. This renders the plate an inappropriate meal. Although it has been changed to now include some warm items (mashed potatoes and a vegetable medley with a Thai peanut sauce--which would need a lot of peanuts to constitute a meal-worthy protein), it is still almost literally a salad and french fries plate for the people who wont eat meat. Simple solution: add tofu to the Thai medley. However, vegetarians would probably all appreciate a meal as lovely and balanced and thoughtful as the other meals on the menu. __________________________________ I feel SO mixed about this review. Some things were done so well, and some things were just, nearly unforgivable. I'll start with what was good. The service was excellent. Our table was ready when we arrived. The host took our coats and umbrellas. My sister pointed out to the waitress that it was our mother's birthday, and by the end of the night, there was one of those chocolate volcano cakes and a birthday card signed by the staff. There was none of that embarrassing clapping and singing. It did however, highlight the fact that none of us had gotten her a card... couldn't you guys have slid that card our way to sign too? Thanks for making us look like jerks. ;) No, it was a great touch. The atmosphere, the service, the demeanor of everything was really top notch. The menu was varied and unique. There were several seafood options. The lobster mashed potatoes are DELICIOUS. This is the best side dish ever. The New Orleans BBQ Shrimp are pretty tasty. The scallops were perfectly cooked. The prices are not outrageous. The portions are perfect. They may not be huge, but if you had an app you could definitely split one. Oh, and the bread is great, a savory bread and a sweet. The presentation was beautiful. The negatives: (1) The salmon had a poor color and an inappropriate fishy flavor. (2) I don't eat red meat now, but I used to, and I come from a steak loving family where I learned about cuts of beef. There is not a fine cut of beef anywhere on the menu. This was a BIG problem for the person at the table who only eats red meat. The New York Strip came out just like one would expect, fatty and tough. He got sick of cutting at it and eventually just quit eating it. (3) The vegetarian platter is the worst I've ever seen anywhere. I've been eating vegetarian platters for half my life, and I have never seen one so deficient. It was truly a trashcan for left over vegetables. 2 salads and 4 vegetarian sides sounds nice, but this came out with a Caesar salad, some mixed greens, 2 slices of portobello mushroom, some cubes of pickled radish, asparagus, and a spoonful of tomato mush. There was not a protein on the plate--not a single bean or bit of tofu. I can understand avoiding dairy and egg, but no protein at all is unbalanced. This is not a complete meal; it is an elaborate side dish or a healthy appetizer, not a meal. It couldn't have been worse if he sent out a plate of french fries. There are so many creative and delicious things that can be done with vegetables, why in the world would anyone send out a plate full of veggie scraps. (4) Coats and umbrellas were not returned to us. (5) No courtesy call to confirm the reservation. I'm really borderline on the star thing. There were a lot of things that I really liked, like those lobster mashed potatoes. Those are 5-star mashed potatoes. Otherwise, there are just so many restaurants that give a courtesy call, have excellent vegetarian options, and have better steak options. So despite the excellent service, if I came back, it would only be for the convenience of the location (but I would absolutely get an order of those lobster mashed potatoes).
(4)Kara L.
We sat outside on a Sunday night, the area was really quite compared to the crowd that was on the other side of town for the tall ships. The drinks were great and so was the food! I got the Salmon with wasabi mashed potatoes, which were awesome. My boyfriend got the three course meal which was also very impressive. Would definitely go back, atmosphere was very relaxed although I am sure it is much more lively on week night with the after work crowd.
(4)John Paul N.
Friday night, about 6:30pm, and we had no idea what we wanted to do for dinner. It being Lent, we knew we had to go to a place that served seafood. I browsed opentable for a while and was not getting any inspiration from the places we saw online. Either no reservation for the night or places that seemed too expensive for a simple Friday night. Abby, on her iphone, saw some good reviews for Scollay Square on yelp and I noticed that there was plenty of reservations. So I quickly got us a spot and we left the condo for Beacon Hill. We arrived to see that Scollay Square had a nice outdoor area and there were still some after work crowd having beers and loud conversations. The weather had been great so we decided to sit outside. The hostess and waitstaff were all very friendly. It being restaurant week we quickly looked over their priced fix menu special. Not a bad offering actually, with Kobe Sliders and grilled salmon as options. However, we weren't in for a big meal, so we ordered off the regular menu, which consisted of classic pub eats. Abby got the goat cheese appetizer and a pear salad. I went for the fish and chips. Our food came out quickly and everything was delicious. The goat cheese, a cheese I am always 50/50 about, was very smooth and creamy and was laid in a nice complimentary tomato sauce. Spread this cheese and some of the sauce onto the toasted bread and you have yourself a very nice starter. Abby's pear salad came with candied pecans that she couldn't stop raving about. The salad also was not drenched in dressing, which was nice. The pears, which may be out of season, were just ok though. My fish and chips were cooked perfectly. The fries were lightly battered and were very crispy. The fish, cut into small pieces instead of coming out as one huge piece, was very flaky with a batter that did not overpower the fish at all. The tartar sauce was nothing special, but wasn't bad either. Same with the coleslaw. Scollay Square either just hired new chefs or redid their menu or both apparently. I do not know what it was like before, but the night we went the food was definitely way above average and probably better than most standard pub fare. I'd like to go back and try other items on the menu, especially in the summer when the outdoor area will more than likely be really busy. (The next day I got a call from Scollay Square asking how our meal was. I told them everything was great, just like I said in this review, but I was a little nervous that this was some scam afraid someone just wanted to check my phone number to match my credit card I used or something. Then I realized I paid cash for our meal and that the phone number that called me matched the phone number on the website. Guess they just wanted to make sure we had a good dinner.) I give Scollay Square a very strong 3 1/2 out of 5.
(4)Darius C.
Love this place. Came twice for brunch on Saturday and Sunday with a friend and both days were terrific!! Terrific Food (Photo evidence added!), Friendly Service and $4 Mimosas, what more can you ask for?
(5)Jess P.
My friends and I went to Scollay Square for the first time and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. I personally liked the décor...retro with a little bit of charm. My friends and I ordered drinks which were made really well (strong and tasty). I ordered the mac & cheese with prosciutto and truffle oil. I thought that it was pretty tasty and I'm usually very strict about my mac and cheese. The only problem is that I wished the prosciutto pieces were cut a little thinner but overall the meal was yummy. My friends ordered the mac and cheese with lobster mac & cheese and broiled scallop which I heard no complaints about. For dessert, we ordered chocolate chip cookie sliders, vanilla bean ice cream which was okay...nothing special. Besides that, everything else was great so I would definitely come back here again!
(4)Sara Y.
this place was so great... the menu was quite diverse, but thoughtful and each dish in my party was tasty. drinks are stiff & delicious- 2 thumbs up to the blood orange martini (they should put a blood orange garnish, instead of regular, but minor detail) oysters were fresh + served with the classics. the lobster mac & cheese was excellent. normally i am not a mac & cheese entree orderin' type of gal... but this was cheesy, new england, deliciousness. my mom got the scallops, which looked lovely but i didn't try. my dad got the hanger steak, which was cooked perfectly & served with a great classic mashed potato. great service! another bonus- open kitchen. =D last bonus- this really is a great value considering the quality of the food and portion sizes. i'll be back.
(4)Samantha M.
We came here for dinner and were not overly impressed. The prices were reasonable, but the food was nothing to write home about. I had originally wanted to rate Scollay Square a 3, however, a few hours after eating, my friend and I became sick. Thinking back, the calamari tasted a bit off. The best part of the meal was dessert.
(2)Alvin L.
Scollay Square was a bit overpriced however their attentive staff more than made up for the food. The ambiance is pleasant however parking is very difficult and it would be best if you took the T (subway) for your dining experience. Overall the food was good but not memorable.
(2)Katlyn R.
Really wonderful food, good prices, nice outdoor patio for good days. The buffalo sliders were awesome, and the service was really great. Definitely will be going again.
(5)Jodie O.
Food is good here, service is OK. I came here for brunch with my guy and the service was "meh" considering almost everyone was sitting outside on such a gorgeous Saturday. They messed up the most simple thing in my order (no whipped cream on my fruit please?), and neglected to tell us that the reason why the coffee hasn't come out in the 20 minutes since we ordered it, was because they were brewing a new pot. OK, I like it fresh, but let us know because we thought she forgot about us. Dinner is good too, I just with they had some more vegetarian options other than their rice + veggies dish. It's good, I just with there were more of a variety.
(3)Piyali S.
Meal was good but nothing extraordinary, so I'm a bit surprised it got four stars overall. My suspicion is that its location (right behind the State house) makes Scollay Square a high traffic spot for bright-eyed tourists to dine, which also seems appropriate given its kitschy-all-American decor. We got the chips and guacamole to start but since good guac is like pizza - pretty hard to mess up - I'm always pretty satisfied with it but never really impressed. After vacillating between the lemon basted swordfish chop (which looks very interesting) and the miso glazed salmon filet, I chose the latter because the waitress claimed it was her favorite dish on the menu (that and I was trying not to break the bank that evening with the market price option). The glazed salmon was served on a layered bed of sliced cucumbers, jasmine rice and spinach. While tasty I felt the fish was a tad overcooked and too tender for my taste. Rhea hit the jackpot with the prosciutto and truffle oil mac and cheese. Now I rarely order mac and cheese in restaurants, mostly because I am quite pleased with Easy Mac and so not quite the mac and cheese connoisseur if you will, but this was truly delicious and probably something I'd get if I were to come back to Scollay. I am still curious about that lemon basted swordfish and I do see lobster eggs benedict on their brunch menu so I'll probably have to come back here.
(3)Jeff R.
I ate at Scollay Square last night with a group of people, and it seemed that we all had a great experience. The restaurant is charming and classy, with old Boston governmental photos and documents decorating the wall space. The atmosphere is probably more appropriate for an outing with friends or a business meal than for a romantic date, but that's not meant to be a detraction. The menu isn't terribly extensive (2 pages) but had some good offerings. Between my meal and what others shared with me, I tried the pear salad, fried calamari, citrus soy glazed salmon fillet, and hangar sirloin, all of which were very good. Portions were decently sized, and I noticed that the side dishes were fairly large. The service was also great, although the place wasn't very crowded, especially for a Thursday night (I'm not sure why). Overall, a big thumbs up!
(5)Cynthia B.
Love Love Love this place. I live in California but I make a point to visit here when I home visting family and friends. Since, I usually sit at the bar I'm a particular fan of the cocktail menu. It's one of my favorite places to grab a couple drinks and pick and choose from some appetizers and salads for a light dinner. The staff is always freindly and the bartenders are super knowledgeable about everything from aged scotches (my boyfriend is obsessed) to specific wine pairings. The lobster mac n cheese is awesome but when I'm not in the mood for something rich, the ahi tuna is REALLY tasty.
(5)Finn M.
Scollay Square is a really pleasant and enjoyable dining experience, the sort of place that to me oozes "Boston." The pastrami sandwich (how could I resist?) was one of the better once I've ever tasted, and for those loving the fish and chips, I concur. It's Beacon Hill through and through; if it's good enough for Dianne Wilkerson and her cronies, it's good enough for you.
(4)tania t.
What a great evening in Beacon Hill (is that right?)! We celebrated my best friend's upcoming wedding (read: bachelorette party) by having dinner here before hitting up mantra for dancing. A MUST: lobster mashed potatoes; it sounds a bit weird, but is ridiculously delicious! You gotta try it. RECOMMENDED: New England Clam Chowder. Watch out: you think you're getting a soup appetizer, but this bowl is the size of your head (if you have a pretty large noggin' as well!)! Share this amazing chowda with a friend or two, because it's scrumptious, but huge. The service is great too; they treated our bride-to-be with a flourless chocolate cake and the manager came over to send his thanks for choosing his restaurant to celebrate. The only negative: Dining area is a bit of a small space and a bit cramped. I guess this is an artifact of being in Boston.
(4)Thuy L.
After a happy hour at Beacon Street, a group of 12 decided to grab some grub down the street. We were seated promptly after a friend called to make reservations 15 minutes before arriving. We ordered apps and drinks first--I ordered the ahi tuna napoleon with crispy wonton sheets, stacked in layers of four. It was incredible...the seasoning was perfect, a hint of ginger vinaigrette and a pinch of sesame seeds. DELICIOUS!!! I also ordered the key lime martini...this was dessert in a glass. It was so good that I had to lick the graham cracker crust off the rim. I then ordered the braised short ribs after recieving a tip from a customer earlier that night. It definitely exceeded my expectations...the meat was very tender and the sauce was mouth-watering. The best deal of the night was probably their 3-course pre-fixed menu for $22. It starts off with a bowl of bisque as the first course, followed by a steak for the entree, and bread pudding for the dessert. Considering that most of the entrees start at $18-20, the prixe-fixed meal was a steal. The steak was cooked nicely with enough flavors to keep the juices locked in. I wasn't that big of a fan of the bread pudding, but then again, I'm not a big fan of bread pudding period. Other members of our group ordered the lobster mac n'cheese, the salmon fillet and the fish & chips. All the items ordered were delicious. The Lobster Mac N' Cheese rich and has just enough lobster to make you happy. The fish & chips were okay, nothing special. The salmon was reported to be amazing, cooked absolutely at the right temperature and the wasabi mashed potatos were a big hit. The service was great. The front manager had us seated in no time, even though the reservation was for 8, she switched around some tables, and though our party had to split up into two tables, she found places for us. The restaurant isn't that large but she was very accomodating, considering that we were a pretty rowdy group. Our waiter, Seth, was also very attentive and very friendly. We will defintiely be back.
(4)Paolo D.
Nice atmosphere, decent food. Service sucks, particularly the ugly woman tending bar that looks like a witch. other than that, a pretty good experience!
(3)Layla P.
Nice place, not the best and I would probably try other places before returning, but good. I was a tad disappointed in the crab cake which was not crisp and was more in a 'large lump' form than in a 'cake' form, but the taste was pretty good. The main dish was the salmon with lobster mashed potatoes which was a great concept and I would recommend it, but it was a tad on the oily side. Service was friendly and timely.
(4)Dee T.
Scollay Square was recommended by the concierge at a local hotel. The atmosphere was pleasant, though perhaps a bit loud and casual for the price. (We spent $68 plus tip for two, and that was splitting a salad and a dessert and drinking tap water.) The food was pleasant, too--I had the fish and chips, my friend had a flank or a hanger steak--can't remember which--and we both liked our meals, though we weren't particularly blown away by them. But the desserts we had were poor, almost shockingly so. We ordered the blueberry shortcake to share; the menu said it would be warm, but what arrived was not only ice cold but stale. The cake tasted like a Popeye's or KFC biscuit, only half as fresh. The restaurant very accommodatingly offered to bring us something else, so we ordered the bread pudding. This time, the dessert was extremely hot--burning almost--and I assumed they put it in the microwave. But I could have stood the heat if the dessert were fresh and tasty, which unfortunately it was not. It had no discernable flavor other than "burning." The next day we had excellent food at the Grotto--it was cooked the way food should be cooked. In comparison, Scollay Square felt very ordinary.
(3)Todd B.
I have been to Scollay Square and I have not found one thing wrong with this restaurant. The food is excellent, the staff is very pleasant and it is a great environment. If you are looking to get an excellent meal at a fair price then you need to give Scollay Square a shot.
(4)Miss P.
hot damn! one of the best meals i've had in a long time. extra points for being a block or so from the hotel i stayed at (Parker House Omni...sucky ass hotel...apparently john wilkes booth stayed here...no wonder he got all cranky and shot up good ol' abe...damn you! home of the parker house rolls and boston cream pie...and cramped rooms...)...oh, wait, this is about food....back to scollay square... kobe sliders were awesome...i hate the fact that the term "kobe" is thrown around though, since it's an actual place in japan, and i know you likely didn't fly in the beef from there. LUMP crab cake, the only way it should be done! awesome bbq shrimp as well. entrees were all good, as well as the desserts (i.e., i think i'm having a senior moment, and can't remember what i ate...)..... can't wait to come back to boston and eat here again!
(5)Corey L.
The food was good. Nothing incredible, but it was good. Prices were over the top, the most expensive dish was $29, but the average was $16-$23. The place was kinda loud, which for me is a down side. I'd go back.
(3)P M.
LOVED this place. The atmosphere was really great. My friend and I sat at the bar and kept ordering appetizers. The place had the best Blue Point oysters I've ever tried. They have an oyster sampler plate - choice of 3 oysters. I wish they knew the names of one of the others. (I thought it was a bit lame they didn't - they only knew it was from California. Tasted amazing). We also had a pecan salad that was great. Have to go back for the lobster mac 'n' cheese. We had the chocolate flourless cake which I wasn't crazy about at all. The service here was great. Very friendly. Can't wait to go back and maybe try dinner.
(5)Andrew D.
Right next door to Mooo, which was one of the best meals of my life so it was a little tough to walk inside here instead of going one door down. Anyway, we went on a Tuesday night and it was pretty empty except for a few people at the bar. Maybe 2 other tables filled, and they sat us literally right next to those 2 and left the rest of the place wide open. I understand you want to keep the diners close so the waitress doesn't have to walk around too much extra, but no need to sit me in someone elses lap. Started with the spinach artichoke dip. The dip itself was solid, could have been a little warmer, but one of the better ones I've had lately. One of biggest things that kills me about dips/nachos/etc is stale chips and they had a few on the plate. I got the salmon which was awesome and date had the lobster ravioli that was huge and she enjoyed. Would recommend this as an after work place to get a burger and beer at the bar or as a date spot maybe on the weekend when its a bit more alive.
(3)Matt M.
Great food, even better prices. Git one of the largest and most flavorful swordfish steaks I've ever seen. And it came on top of a Lobster Rissotto. Definitely would go back.
(4)Morgan L.
We had a great experience and a fun time at Scollay Square. We were there for dinner and loved everything about it. The spinach artichoke dip is lovely and definitely use the bread more than the chips when eating it. The cuts of meat were cooked very well and to order! Our waitress was so sweet and a lot of fun! Just an all around good time! I will be taking other visitors back there!
(5)Christopher N.
I have not eaten a full meal here, but based on the appetizers, wine, location, and service, this place is amazing. It was a weekday visit and the service was great. Laid back waitress, yet attentive. The crowd was mostly upscale, as you would expect downtown. Must confess, I have not been inside, but the patio was great. The appetizers were surprisingly large proportions and flavorful at that! Really, in downtown Boston, that surprised me. I recommend highly and will update when I actually have a full meal here.
(4)Robyn A.
This place is perfect for the post-work crowd. Great atmosphere - especially during the summer months when you can sit on the patio. The espresso martinis are the best in town. not sure about dinner, but i've tried some of the apps including the calamari and spinach and artichoke dip and they were delicious!
(5)Tracey N.
Yes, please! Whenever we plan a family gathering we end up here, and I usually bring my out-of-towners, too. The food is excellent, the drinks go down smooth but will knock you on your ass. The mac n' cheese is--for a side dish--one of the biggest and best in the city. The service is always helpful and outstanding. Even better: I can come here with my kid and, not only do I feel zero guilt, but we all leave happy. Speaking of kids' meals, again, one of the biggest and best I've seen anywhere. How great is that?
(5)S H.
The food here was very good -- the hot dishes were a little cold (lobster mac & cheese and some appetizer), but the flavoring was great. The service during our meal was great We made a reservation on OpenTable.com (through the Yelp link). You provide your name, phone and email address for an account. The next day, Scollay Square called us with the following voicemail: Hi ... this is (employee name) from Scollay Square. I'm just calling to say that you had dinner with us last night & we just like to give a reservations, just a little follow up call & make sure that everything went well & that you had a good time & that there were no issues & to let you know that if you do have any questions or comments or complaints, alright so please give me a call back. My No. here is 16177424900 & if I don't hear from you then hopefully we'll see you again soon. Thanks again. Bye bye. To me, that's like voice mail spam. Other people may think it's great, but when the waitress asked if our meal was okay, and we said "It's great", that should have been the end of the conversation. OpenTable's response was: You would need to contact the restaurant and ask them to please not use your phone number for that purpose. The restaurants are allowed to use their database however they would like and it is up to you to specify otherwise.
(3)Matt P.
Solid four star resteraunt with friendly service and very decent food. Haven't done much drinking here -- but the bar area is appealing to the eye. Great atmosphere and a good value overall, Scollay Square works for a whole great or just two!
(4)Andrea B.
This place is great :) The service is outstanding, the food is deeelish, and the atmosphere is very unique. I haven't tasted anything on the menu I didn't like but i especially enjoy the tuna napoleon appetizer and the pomegranate martini...I may just have to head there tonight. Good for couples, business gatherings (i took about 15 people from a conference there a few months back and everyone was raving about it), or just hanging out at the bar with friends. All in all, one of the best places in Boston for food and drinks.
(5)Nicole B.
i'm torn between 3 and 4 stars. but the food was so good i'll round up to a 4. i had the lobster mac and cheese while my boyfriend had the scallops. both were delicious! there were alot of other things on the menu i'd love to try. i can see myself absolutely going back. the prices were decent too. especially considering it's on beacon hill.
(4)Steve T.
OK, the sole reason for the 4-star review is because it was Restaurant Week. I'm sure the restaurant was pulling out the stops on service, and the menu was limited; I'd prefer to give a rating based upon the "regular" experience. And I'm already planning to return, because I enjoyed the experience. The service was polite and attentive, and the food was excellent. In fact, the service was so attentive that our waiter arranged a blind taste test to help us choose between two bottles of wine - our choice, and his recommendation. Both were superb. I can easily see this turning into a 5-star review on a second visit. I'm looking forward to the Bloody Mary bar, the Chocolate Decadence, and the Lobster Mac & Cheese. The seating is cozy, but not too cramped, and the prices on the regular menu were reasonable (though I ate off the Restaurant Week menu). Scollay Square has all the makings of a definite winner.
(4)Lynda M.
I was at the Fed tonight having drinks with friends, and we decided to give this place a try. Upon entering we were greeted warmly, and were seated at a nice window table. There was a good crowd in here, but not too crazy. We ordered wine, and the spinach/artichoke dip. Yum! My friend and I had the beet/feta cheese salad and my other friend the homemade chicken soup. It was perfect for a cold Autumn night! The decor reminds me of Eastern Standard, but less noisy and much better service. The bar in the back is very nice with flat screen tVs. Definitely a must to come back to!
(5)Alyssa N.
I need to find an excuse to come back here. My drink, a concoction involving toffee and some tasty white chocolate liqueur, was amazing. I also highly recommend you not leave without trying the Lobster Mac n' Cheese, which will make you sad every time you eat the stuff in the blue box from Kraft after trying this decadent dish (a secret- I ordered it as my appetizer).
(4)sunny g.
For some reason, I really like this place. The food is usually of high quality and the service is really fast (although sometimes a little TOO fast). I usually can find something delicious to eat and nothing is terribly expensive. The locale is great, when you have plans in the city after dinner.
(4)Diana T.
We came for brunch on Sunday for the Bloody Mary bar. It had a good range of hot sauce to choose from. They also had a bunch of pickled vegetables to choose from as garnishes. Nothing too special or out of the ordinary. The food menu was just average. There was nothing on there that particularly wowed me. I opted to get a grilled chicken sandwich. It sounded amazing on the menu (buffalo mozzarella, sundried tomato jam on ciabatta) but it wasn't that good. It was pretty dry. I thought the bread to chicken ratio was off so that could have contributed to the problem. The reason I'm writing a review though is because of Chris, the restaurant manager. He randomly came to our table and asked how we were doing. We told him that we would have loved to see bleu cheese stuffed olives for the Bloody Mary bar and he had the kitchen make us a bunch for our cocktails! It was a really nice gesture. I'll definitely come back and order something different to eat!
(4)Mika S.
Great food in a nice and relaxed atmosphere. I came here with 4 other people and ordered a number of the small plates to share. We had the Grilled Pear Salad, Cheese Board, Steamed Edamame, Oven Roasted Goat Cheese, Ahi Tuna Tacos, Blackened Day Boat Scallops, Pan Roasted Shrimp, Tempura Green Beans, Peanut Butter Mousse, Bread Pudding, and Chocolate Torte. My favourite entrees were the Pan Roasted Shrimp, and the Oven Roasted Goat Cheese. The sauce that the shrimp were cooked in was absolutely phenomenal and perfect for dipping the bread into. The goat cheese was surprisingly large, and sat in a bowl of marinara sauce. The exterior of the cheese was slightly crispy, with a gooey and warm interior. I've never had goat cheese with marinara sauce, but the flavours paired together perfectly! I just wish there was a bit more bread with this dish. The best dessert was definitely the Peanut Butter Mousse - it tasted like a peanut butter cup, without sitting like a rock in your stomach. The bread pudding was perfect for anyone who wants something fruity after dinner, whereas the Chocolate Torte was a must-try for those who prefer richer flavours.
(4)Max B.
Classy NE joint. Was looking for a nice place to eat and fortunately found this place on Yelp. Their front porch was full but I snagged a spot at the bar. I told the bartender that I was hungry. She ended up recommending a chicken and risotto entrée and then was able to get the kitchen to make me a half size beet salad for a starter! The meal was one of the best that I have had on the road in a long time. The bartender was engaging and made the evening that much better. Four stars all the way.
(4)Kayla O.
They were really great about switching out the English muffin for a salad. And when the eggs came out scrambled (I didn't call it and they didn't ask) they were extremely accommodating to bring eggs over easy. They work well as a team. My server, Rachael, was very helpful when explaining the Bloody Mary bar and got me lots of limes when I requested them. She was really friendly, happy, and cool. Just a really nice vibe from the ladies. The steak looked a little small but it turned out to be plenty of food. All in all a very enjoyable experience!
(4)Lillian D.
Stellar in all ways: decor, service, food. My date and I searched for a "bougie" place (with "hipster" food and wine) and were not let down. The interior is tightly packed, but the decor is splendid. Our waitress (wish I could remember her name) was so helpful and attentive. And the food... wow. We'd eaten at another restaurant the day before which served decent scallops. Those served here, though smaller, were cooked perfectly. So moist, tender, and faintly reminiscent of their sea home. Same with the shrimp, though the sauce in their dish might have been the bigger highlight. Soak it up with the bread, and you won't be let down. The arancini could have been cooked a little longer for my liking, but the creamy insides were to die for, as was the marinara. Then we had the fall-apart short rib which was served with (once again) perfectly-cooked spinach and (one again) a delectable sauce. Even the celery mash was a surprising delight. The Mercer cab was [expletive deleted] amazing. And the "deconstructed" smores added just enough sweet to the end of an inspired meal. If I'm in the area again, I'll definitely go back.
(5)Jen D.
Scollay Square is a solid restaurant. I live nearby, so I've had brunch, lunch, and dinner here a few times each. The service is excellent--friendly and just the right amount of attentiveness, even when they're busy. The food's always good. The beef short ribs with celery root puree and mushrooms was especially tasty. Prices are reasonable and there's plenty of seating. If the weather's nice, they have a patio if you're feel al fresco.
(4)Haydn G.
The food was extremely underwhelming. I ordered the scallops which came with swiss chard and mashed potatoes. The scallops were not seared properly and the dish had seemingly no salt. My friend's dish, on the other hand, was over salted. She ordered the swordfish medallions; everything was cooked well, but after the first medallion, the salt was too much. My other friend ordered the lobster risotto which was extremely basic - just a simple risotto recipe and some chewy lobster thrown in. The service also leaves a bit to be desired. I ordered a gin and tonic and specifically asked for a lemon. I was presented with a lime. All three of our dishes were taken away with a majority of the food left untouched. No one asked if we had any issues, though it was obvious we did not enjoy our meals. I will not be coming here again and urge you to reconsider if you made a reservation. Do not waste your money.
(3)Liz K.
Meh, it's okay. Strictly okay. Beacon Hill prices, good service, and plentiful portions. However, I'm less than thrilled with the fact that some of the food seems fresh when other dishes don't. I stopped by there recently with my grandmother for my umpteenth visit to Scollay Square and ordered two appetizer dishes. One was hot and tasted fresh and the other was greasy and really not appetizing. I had to dump salt on it to finish it. Take my review with a grain of salt (no pun intended) as I've only ever ordered three dishes here. Maybe other things are better.
(3)Chavi B.
3.8. I got the wasabi mashed potatoes & the mushroom flatbread. My boyfriend got the lobster mac & cheese & he started feeling bad after he Ate half of it. My flatbread was sooo good, but the mashed potatoes had no flavor at all. We got takeout so we didn't get the full experience but I probably wouldn't return here because I feel like I wasted my money. Good luck.
(3)Serene T.
Absolutely loved this place! We ordered the Caesar salad, calamari, and tomato soup which were all very good! Il the Caesar dressing was on point and just the right amount for the portion of lettuce. The tomato soup was clearly made from scratch, which made it all that great. I loved how they paired the vegetables with the calamari. As for the main course, my sisters and I had the miso salmon, penne with Kobe beef, lobster risotto, and pan roasted shrimp. The salmon was fresh and cooked to perfection. I literally inhaled the food off my plate. The pasta was on point with its made from scratch sauce and tender Kobe beef. Lobster risotto was tasty and creamy. And lastly Chris, the manager, really hooked us up with the pan roasted shrimp. We can't have any alcohol and so he offered to make a special chipotle BBQ sauce instead of the dark beer sauce. Suffice it to say, it was epic! I loved the ambience of the place. Very clean. Not to mention we got our food really quickly! Chris really catered to our table which made the experience even more so pleasurable. I would highly recommend this place!
(5)Rachel C.
After being on the hunt for oysters, we settled for here. Okay... so no oysters served here anymore, take note. I would have been totally bummed if the meal had turned out to be bad, but it didn't at all. I ordered the tuna nicoise salad, which was very hearty. Only thing it could have used more of was the tuna. It was a really tiny piece of tuna sliced into about 5 thin slices. We also tried the edamole, which was a play on guacamole. I love edamame, but can that translate to a tasty dish? While it definitely didn't have the kick of gauc, I'd compare it more to hummus. Still, it was good. I really liked the crispy chips they served with it. Would have been nice to have more veggies. They only gave us 4 carrot and celery sticks. See a theme here? The dishes were just missing a little bit more. But not necessarily small portions or a deal breaker to come here! I also approve of the Bloody Mary! It came with three olives!! Normally you get around two, so surprise there! But it was spicy, just like if ask for! Only issue was, our server didn't come around at the end of our meal for a good amount of time. No checking in to see if we were ready to bounce. So we waited around for a bit until he finally came over. It wasn't busy, so I'm not sure what happened. Again, not a deal breaker.
(4)Jacqui J.
Penne with mozzarella & tomato sauce = amazing Murray Hill Chicken = amazing The lucky pony (Bulleit bourbon with mint, lemon, peach and whatever else made it so delish) = amazing Thumbs up! Now on to the Orpheum to see of monsters & men (great pre-concert dinner/location)
(5)Kenny C.
DIY Bloody Mary bar... check. Delicious filet mignon eggs benedict... check. Great decor... check. Outdoor seating... check. Friends paying for you because it's your birthday... no check for me!
(4)Jenn B.
The service was great and host was very attentive. Arrived with a few of my girlfriends after work for patio seating and he immediately set up two high tops for us since no other seating was available. Recommended must haves - Any of their Mac & Cheese dishes and the goat cheese plate. They also have a really good wine list and drink menu. Perfect location for out of towners looking for something not too touristy but close to the Commons.
(4)Alice P.
Back again! Random night in Boston and in Beacon Hill so I decided to meet my niece for dinner/drinks without reservations. Scollay, I heard was hugely busy on Thursday but I thought since we were early it might be a good try around 5Pm. I was right. It was once again the perfect spot. Near empty patio on a warm summer Thursday eve. My niece and I started with a Margherita flatbread and cocktails. Our waitress Rachel (completely a coincidence) suggested a Lucky Pony for me. It was just perfect. Rachel was most attentive without being intrusive and we enjoyed her input when we were trying to decide our orders. After a few minutes,I realized, that this was the very same Rachel we experienced at brunch. Public, be good to your wait staff. They can make your day/ night. Our other family members arrived a few hours later and we ordered the buffalo flat bread, a burger, truffle fries and short rib plate. Not one complaint from our table and not much left to clean on the plates either. Needless to say, another great dining experience. Rachel is a superstar and I hope the other staff is as delightful. I promise we are not related and not stalkers! It was just a nice coincidence and to our benefit. We had a wonderous experience. Too long a story to express how bad my week had been up to this point. I was certain I would fall apart at any second. But, to be treated so well and to enjoy such epicurean delights, all troubles melted away. Yes, hold our seats. We will return.
(5)Antonio B.
Pretty nice spot. Both from the outside and inside, since the decoration is pretty bad and it looks like a chain, my expectations were pretty low. But I was proven wrong. Their tuna was great and we also had the scallops: fresh and tender. This place really shines for its food. Both decoration and service are at chain-level. They need to fix that.
(4)Sandy V.
Best mojito ever!! Shared arancini, calamari and lobster mac and cheese for late nite dinner.
(5)Katie W.
My husband and I came for Sunday brunch. The manager, Chris, greeted and sat us. We ended up choosing the bar. Both Chris and the bartender were lovely; very friendly, great customer service. I got a delicious cocktail (grapefruit and basil martini) and my husband ordered a Bloody Mary. In high maintenance fashion like my husband tends to be, he requested blue cheese olives. Without hesitation they hand stuffed blue cheese olives for him. I got the west coast Benedict and my husband got the buffalo chicken flatbread. Both were very tasty. Mostly the atmosphere and service of this place earn it five stars. I highly recommend it.
(5)Sean A.
I had dinner here on a Friday night. It was surprisingly empty, but not for lack of good food. We started with the tuna tacos, which were okay, and the calamari, which was really good. The large-dish of scallops was excellent. Our server was great. Overall, I'd give the place a thumbs up.
(4)David C.
When it comes to brunch at Scollay Square, the price is definitely right. The food certainly isn't mind-blowing, but for around $10-12 per item, you won't be disappointed as long as you keep your eggspectations (see what I did there?) low. I wanted to order the crab cake eggs benedict which I thought would be a steal for $12, but was quickly informed that they had just sold the last one around 1pm. Instead, my server recommended the lobster eggs benedict that was not on the menu, but is apparently an old standard of the restaurant. The benedict wasn't anything special (the lobster tasted a little bit old and I'm not sure the English muffin was even toasted), but the hash browns and lemon dressed greens that came with it were excellent (pretty sad that lettuce and potatoes overshadowed lobster though). Our table split the mascarpone stuffed French toast topped with a strawberry-orange compote, and again, it was just ok. The portion size was kind of small and the toast itself was overly soggy, even before syrup. I probably won't be back anytime soon, but if you're looking for a pre-movie brunch option near the Common, you could certainly do worse.
(3)Kevin J.
I had the lobster risotto. The risotto was mediocre and the lobster meat had a chewy texture. I'm confident that I could have prepared this dish myself and saved some money. While I did get enough to eat, I left most of my food untouched. However, I enjoyed the atmosphere and my cocktail was decent. Overall, it's not hard to find better food in Boston for these prices.
(2)Jamaal D.
Hotel doorman recommended this place so we hiked over to this small indoor/outdoor urban eatery. The wait staff was some of the friendliest folk on our Boston trip and the manager was funny and helpful. We started off strong with a mint lime and cucumber tequila mixed drink and an orange juice and champaign flute. Both were good (mimosa was better than the tequila in my opinion) and the manager even comped me a drink when I clumsily (if not drunkenly, drinks were nicely strong) spilled my tequila. We proceeded to order the short rib burrito and the American breakfast. Both were pretty good, especially the burrito. All in all a solid breakfast spot surrounded by beautiful Boston scenery with A plus managers and staff.
(4)Marine G.
Do not go to this place. Worst waiter ever : dumb / stupid / rude / and dumb again. Never happened to us to leave a place before having lunch (and we were hungry!). The guy did not want our money obviously.... We asked for a table in the shade (they were plenty) but the guy was insisting to put us in the sun. He did not offered us any other solution and was clearly rude so we left. Glad we did as the food also was looking barely ok.
(1)Mike E.
Enjoyed a delightful brunch on the shady patio out front. Service was prompt and very friendly. The Bacon Bloody Mary was exceptional and fried egg sandwich and blueberry pancakes were delicious.
(4)Martha L.
Do NOT go to this place if you need to be somewhere after dinner. We came here because we were going to the theater a few blocks away. We got there with enough time to eat and make it to the show, but it was a bit tight. I told the waiter when we first sat down that we need to leave by 7:45pm to go to a show at 8pm, giving us about an hour. He was training someone at the time so both of them heard me. The three of us ordered an appetizer and our entrees fairly quickly. The food came SUPER SLOW. The restaurant was not crowded, but things did not seem to be moving. I was concerned and mentioned our time restraint again after our appetizer arrived. No response. Not even an acknowledgement. I finally got up and spoke to the manager at 7:40pm. It was completely ridiculous. Our food was still not done. I was ready to walk out. The manager apologized profusely and tried to rush things. We finally got our food at 7:45 and I was only able to take a few bites before having to leave. This is not just bad service. This is unacceptable service. What makes it worse is that the waiter is actually training someone else. The food is decent. But really, no matter how good the food is, you will still need time to eat it.
(1)Ashley R.
Amazing food, drinks, and service!!! Moscow mule was delish!!!! Fresh and crisp! We had meatballs and scallops to start with. Meatballs were like something my grandma would make, moist and savory! Scallops were cooked to perfection!!! Also had the miso salmon (which I will forever dream about the flavor) and the short pins were also so amazing sitting on top of lobster mashed potatoes. Finished the dinner with vodka neat and bread pudding! If ever back in Boston I will be back!!!
(5)Ashley W.
Where else can you get brunch this good?! The Rice Krispies french toast, the FLUFFY (not heavy like most dinners) scrambled eggs, REAL bacon, and the BEST coffee on the planet - all reside here. I've never had dinner here, but if brunch was that good, I can only imagine their other options. Why I gave 5-stars: As many times as I've ordered hot chocolate, this place served it in a glass, which meant I didn't have to re-order those small white tea cups of a kids serving. That, made me very happy.
(5)Natalie M.
We were looking for a place that was close to the Public Garden after my husband ran the BAA 10k, so our cousins recommended this place. We had reservations but it was still very busy. When we sat down at our table, our waiter warned us that the kitchen was slammed and were looking at 45 mins before our meals would come out. We didn't mind since we were with a big group and wanted to catch up. I decided I didn't want anything heavy like pancakes and French toast (which some of the people who were with us ordered, and looked delicious). I instead ordered the short rib burrito with egg scramble, pulled short rib, cheddar cheese in a flour tortilla. The meat was nice and tender, and flavorful. The waiter brought out desserts which were comp. Good, relaxing atmosphere.
(4)Lucas W.
Nothing short of phenomenal perfection. Every dish was done perfectly with great flavors. We started with a couple cocktails, I got a bourbon-based cocktail with some mint and sweet tea flavors which was delicious and went down super smoothly. Very strong as well. The gf got a cocktail that basically tasted like liquid pistachio ice cream, said it was great. We then had the tuna tacos which were absolutely heavenly. I loved the wasabi based sauce which pervaded teh tacos and the tuna was plentiful. Three-four massive chunks of top quality tuna made for a superb start to the meal. For her entree, my gf had the miso salmon served over lobster mashed. I can't eat lobster, but the mashed potatoes looked great with massive chunks of lobster. The salmon was good and cooked very well with not an overpowering soy flavor. For me, without a doubt, the highlight of the meal was my swordfish. Cooked to perfection with a delicious bit of blackening spice on the medallions with a hefty amount of beluga lentils around the plate. Just incredible, the swordfish was the perfect choice and I would get it again in a heartbeat.
(5)Roxy L.
The lobster mac and cheese is amazing! The cheese is somewhat light so it isn't super heavy and there is a ton of lobster! Service is wonderful and the patio is a great place to spend some time people watching. Definitely check it out!
(5)Ellen S.
Good place for a casual lunch meeting or a nice, easy dinner - the interior/furniture always seems a little bit run down to me, but the food is great. Fresh salads (love the vinaigrette that comes on the mixed greens), apps (get the Kobe beef sliders!), sandwiches (they have a great turkey with some sort of cranberry mayo that is excellent) . Their mac and cheese is one of my favorites in Boston. Service is usually really good. Good place to bring a group - they have some nice vegetarian options and a varied menu, everyone will find something they like.
(4)Theresa M.
I am still in awe of this place. I assumed it would be ok, but I was so impressed. My fiance and I went there for brunch. To start, we had the "clockwork orange" which is their answer to an mimosa...delicious. We then ordered the fried egg sandwich each and an order of french toast to split. Everything was so good. The fried egg sandwich was ridiculously good with fontina cheese, arugula and bacon topped with Lemon Aioli....oh and served on a ciabatta roll. I can't wait to go back and get it again. Also the service was quick and friendly.
(5)Paige C.
$4 mimosas! YAY! Mimosas made with juice from concentrate...mehh... Food was overall nothing crazy. I ordered the "Western Eggs Benedict" which was supposed to be served with roasted turkey and avocado. I was thoroughly disgusted by the LUNCH MEAT served as "roasted turkey" it wasn't even freshly sliced from the deli. The hollandaise sauce had the consistency of water and not much more flavor. My husbands short rub burrito was tasty but seriously lacking on the titular ingredient. He def wished it had more short rib in it. They do get a bump in stars for the drink menu and like I said $4 mimosas. They sat us quickly, but service was pretty subpar.
(2)Annie S.
Heading into Boston at the last minute on Saturday, July 18. We were heading to the Common for the Out of the Box festival and 92.9 stage to catch some music and meet with family. My daughter had pulled up a restaurant she thought I might like to try for dinner. It was Scollay Square. Perfect name for a lifelong Bostonian. Also because my Mother would tell me stories about her younger days around Scollay Square back in the day. Great day on the common and then time to eat and catch the train back. As we walked I could tell my daughter about memories of Mom and I working in Boston and where we would meet. Here we are, Scollay Square, right across from where Mom and I would have breakfast together before heading to the office. I loved the vibe right away. The patio is comfortable and Chris, the manager made us feel right at home. We could sit anywhere we wanted. The patio it is. Our waiter was Brad. He was sweet, knowledgeable and very funny. We did not see the drink on this menu that was on-line, the Hemingway daiquiri. Chris and Brad said they could make it anyway. Super accommodating. Great choice. Delish. We could sit, relax and look over the menu. So many things to try. Brad answered our questions and made recommendations. We had the tempura green beans as an appetizer. They were a great finger food and cooked perfectly. For dinner, with Brad's suggestion I ordered the flat iron steak frites and my daughter got the pan seared scollops. The food looked beautiful when it arrived and tasted even better, the sides, the green, the entree all perfection. We had no room for desert. Which means we will have to return and soon. Chris, the manager, came out often to see how we were and told us some of the history of the building. It turns out, this is the building that had once been a hotel. The one my Mom and Dad spent their honeymoon at back in 1951! Everything had fallen into place the moment we entered Scollay Square. The manager Chris , our waiter Brad, the fab food and ambiance makes this a real winner for us and for Boston. Looking for my next free Saturday night to return. Don't forget to go a bit louder on the speakers playing Sinatra.
(5)Kiesha E.
Loved this place! The wait staff is so accommodating and warm. I went on a Wednesday evening and there were about 3 other tables and a handful at the bar so kind of quiet. The menu looked amazing and I was torn between the beef, pork and chicken. Get the pork!! It was so delicious and the serving size, including the "mashed potatoes" (not mashed) and asparagus were the perfect serving amount. The creme brûlée was 'ok', not great but overall the experience was lovely. I thought about going back to my hotel but the service and food were awesome. Go eat here!
(4)Anna H.
Original Date: August 17, 2013 Me and my friend decided to come back to Scollay Square one last time to try their Brunch menu. Since it was a lovely day, we sat outside and bumped into our waiter from dinner two nights ago and he still remember us =) Drinks: Orange Martini for my friend and I FINALLY got to try the Strawberry Jalapeño Margarita sooooooo yummy!! Food: Maine Lobster Roll for my friend and I got the Filet Mignon Eggs Benedict Make sure you stop by and dine here because the food is soooooo delicious!!
(5)Corey L.
Met my buddy for a Wednesday night dinner on Beacon Hill. We had a nice seat outside, which was easy as it was early and no one else was there. Starting with drinks, their beer menu was quite sad. They had very few options and nothing good (I like hefeweizens and non-crap beer). They had a much bigger wine list, including 2, 6, 10 oz options - which I've never seen. You can get a number of 2 oz tasters. Their single glasses were reported at 6 oz, which is bigger than most - not sure if they actually lived up to that measurement. I just drank water. Started with some bread, which was totally fine. Apparently they recently changed around their menu - which is why the waiter was not able to give us good suggestions on what to eat...or so he said. I ordered the Scallops. They were big, numerous (5 or 6?) and came with some other stuff. It was totally solid - the scallops were well-flavored without being too salty or soy-saucy. I enjoyed them. My buddy got lobster risotto - big bowl of it. He said it was okay, but not that flavorful. That's my overall impression. I think the prices were quite reasonable if not low for the area, and the food matched that. It was totally fine, but not impressive. And Yelpers kept mentioning chocolate chip cookie sliders, which I was SO excited about, but weren't on the menu. BOO!
(3)Frank H.
While walking on Beacon Hill on a Sunday morning (2/23/2014) we noticed a placard near the door inviting us in for brunch. The restaurant was beautiful - dark wood walls from floor to chair rails and matching crown molding but enough open space to feel comfortable. Our greeting was genuinely friendly and we were seated at a terrific window table from which we could watch Beacon Street. I regret that I can't recall the name of our server because she deserves special mention. The kid's menu had plenty of choices but my son selected a fruit salad with Greek yogurt from the Brunch menu. It was enormous, contained 8-10 kinds of fruit and topped with yogurt. The three of us failed to finish it off. (See photo) My stuffed French toast was great - another slice would have made it greater - and my wife raved about her egg dish. Go to this restaurant! We are going back soon.
(5)Nikki W.
I kept hearing great things about this place but was really disappointed when I went. We came for a late dinner and sat outside. There is very little lighting outside and had to use my flashlight on my phone to see the menu. I felt bad for the waiter who seemed like he had too many tables to handle for himself. We waited 20 minutes for drinks because the first time he dropped them and had to get them again. Where we waited another ten minutes. He was apologetic but you could tell overwhelmed. The food was OK I had steak tips on a salad but the steak was definitely overcooked. I asked for medium rare. Maybe it is better place at lunch.
(2)Rachael M.
Great dinner! Didnt have reservations and had a show at 8:00. We called on the way over and they sat us right away outside. Everyone was really happy with their meals and cocktails. We had the "edamole" to start which was great. We had the haddock, pork and tuna dishes and all were really good! The portions are perfectly sized (not huge.) I will definitely be going back!
(4)Brian W.
Excellent service with delicious food at reasonable prices in Beacon Hill? I didn't believe it also, but Scollay Square lived up to all of the positive Yelp reviews. The restaurant is in a cool space with big exposed pipes, an open kitchen and some old school signs and pictures. The bathrooms are oddly located at the side of the bar and then down a long hot staircase. Most tables are against walls or windows, but we were seated at a little table right in the open. Even with a less-than-ideal table, it wasn't super loud or uncomfortable. Our waiter was awesome and was very aware of gluten allergy restrictions and was good about checking with the kitchen for all of my wife's questions. They don't have a separate menu, but they are able to accommodate very well. For an appetizer we had the pulled pork sliders, one without the bun on a separate plate to be gluten free. The sliders were delicious with just the right amount of spice and cole slaw that wasn't overly creamy. I read so many reviews about the fish and chips I had to get that for dinner. The fish was lightly fried and came in little nugget like shapes. It tasted fresh and delicious and paired perfectly with that great cole slaw and some crispy fries. My wife got the scallop entree modified to be gluten free by eliminating the soy/mustard sauce on top. She practically licked the plate clean so it must have been good. It was a belated birthday celebration for me so my wife surprised me with a chipwich for dessert. Usually it comes with 2 sandwiches, but even without asking they just gave us one chipwich and one gluten free scoop of ice cream with a side of hot fudge. Just that fact that my review is this long should speak volumes for this place. I can't wait to go back and try some other menu items.
(5)Stacy G.
The food was wonderful. I had the scallops and were cooked to perfection. My son had salmon and lobster mash potatoes and was one of his all times greatest. Just a kids meal, but daughter loved the chicken fingers. Wife had the ahi tuna tacos and said they were great as well. Service was great too!
(4)Richie F.
Food was very good but the portions were small, and I left still hungry. I had the chicken which was very good but it came with one small piece, my wife had the sword fish, again small portion. The staff and manager were friendly. I enjoyed my visit but would preferred larger portions
(3)Edward B.
Have been here multiple times for brunch as it is one of the better restaurants in the financial district. The staff is generally pretty attentive and friendly. They have both indoor and outdoor seating which is a plus. The make-it-yourself Bloody Mary bar is my favorite! One of the times I went there they messed up my order and got me an omelette with chicken instead of a vegetarian (which I am!) omelette. After taking one bite, I realized it was not what I ordered. Upon pointing it out to the waitress, she was very apologetic and immediately fixed it. The manager stopped over and told me that my meal was on the house. Mistakes happen (which is why I couldn't give 5 stars), but they did well to salvage a not so good situation. I will definitely go back!
(4)Erin A.
Delicious food. Creative menu with a nice variety. Beware - menu items that Yelp says are popular are not necessarily on the menu any more. The business has no control over that. We'd definitely come back.
(4)T P.
Chris and the rest of the staff are exceptional. Went here for dinner and the food is amazing and comes out of the kitchen quickly. Excellent drinks, dessert, and atmosphere. Would highly recommend this place to anyone in the area. Will be back!!
(5)Chris C.
Lunch: white bean soup and the rice bowl. Soup was thick - perfect for a winter day. The rice bowl was outstanding. Despite its name the rice bowl is a culinary tour de force. The tempura scallops alone are reason to revisit this dish, but the seared tuna just clinched the deal. Highly recommend. The bartender, Brad, was thoughtful, attentive, efficient, friendly, engaging, professional. He knew the menu and his patrons. Well done, Scollay Square. All restaurants should be this proficient.
(5)Sergio P.
Tourist trap. Not horrible, just mediocre.
(2)Beth P.
Not much needs to be said for this place. If you come for dinner, get the Rare Tuna. JUST GET IT. You will be blown away. Literally every single thing about this dish is perfection. I asked for more sauce because I basically wanted to drink it, and now I try to replicate it at home. The Prosciutto Mac and Cheese with Truffle oil is too good to be true. The helping isn't huge, but it's good because the dish is SO rich. We had the Philly cheese steak rolls for an app, and they weren't anything special, but I'll have to give their app menu another try sometime. I had the pear martini and it was DElish! Not too sweet, but very refreshing. Great place for a date night or just to get cocktails!
(5)Stan G.
Excellent food and great service. the outside dining is comfortable and refreshing on a warm summer day. Our server bent over backwards to make everything good for us and the manager came by to say hello. Nice wine list and a great assortment of drinks from the full bar. Just steps away from the Common.
(4)B W.
Scollay Square has very good food (probably around 4 stars for the category), but the service and atmosphere really set it apart. The wait staff is friendly, just the right amount of attentive, and it's a great place to grab an informal business lunch or just relax for a meal after work. The beet salad is excellent, as is their chicken sandwich and fries.
(5)Samuel M.
I used to love this place, until they took their menu and put it through meat grinder. I would regularly come here for their tuna steak and wasabi mash potatoes. It was amazing. Their buffalo chicken dip was just the right amount of spicy and savory. It was a great first date restaurant and one that my fiancee and I loved to frequent. With the menu "rework" they have removed some of the best items in an attempt to have a more diverse menu. This attempt failed. I had the tuna tacos and while they tasted decent, they looked completely unappetizing. The cole slaw that they served with the tacos was edible at best. We spoke with the staff briefly and they are just as baffled at the removal of some of their most popular items. In closing, the menu "rework" threw out the best dishes and replaced them with dishes that are mediocre at best.
(2)Alison C.
I came to Scollay Square for dinner with family friends due to its convenient location downtown next to the Boston Commons and because of the relatively good reviews on Yelp. Many raved of the Rare Seared Tuna Loin, so I, along with the majority of the table, ordered that dish. While this dish sounded amazing in theory, the taste and flavors weren't all that impressive. The seared tuna was well cooked, with a red middle and nice gradient to a pink edge, but the seasoning on the outside was very, very salty. It overpowered the tuna taste so much that I ended up scraping the sides of each piece to salvage the tuna in whatever way I could. The tuna is served over a bed of crisp cabbage, carrots, and other greens drizzled with a miso vinaigrette. The veggies weren't soaked in dressing, so the neutral greens helped with the saltiness of the fish when eaten together. The edamame was somewhat bland, but I appreciated the unique take of making it into a mash-like puree. While I and others weren't very happy with our selected dish, people who ordered other entrees were very happy with what they got. These entrees included the lobster mac and cheese and the scallop dish, so maybe there's better luck in taste with those. As for the business itself, the place was pretty empty when we went on a Saturday evening at around 7:00 PM. The restaurant is pretty spacious, and I noticed that most people opted to sit in the outdoor patio area. Parking is very hard to find as Scollay Square IS located downtown, so give yourself extra time if looking for a space. Service was friendly, if a little slow, and our waiter made sure we were taken care of throughout the evening. Overall, I would rate this place more of a 2.5 since I wasn't impressed, but I'll round up on this one.
(3)Virginia C.
Location. Location. Location. This is right next to the State House when you need to meet someone here for the lunch. The food though.. is just okay. The one thing that stands out on the menu is the Mac n Cheese (add Buffalo Chicken or Lobster). It's very solid and who doesn't love Lobster Mac n Cheese!!!
(3)Robert W.
The food was great but didn't really fill you up/left you wanting more. and the service was slow. It took us 20-25 to get our meals after placing our order
(3)Katy W.
It was completely dead when we tried this out on the weekend. I kind of liked how quiet it was actually, but I'm betting that it's kooky during the week. Anyway, I like how they have a cheaper lunch menu. It doesn't have a huge selection, but if you want a sit-down lunch there's not many places nearby that are well-priced. They were still serving brunch (until 2) when we stopped in and I never turn down eggs so I was happy to try a mushroom/swiss omelet while my husband had the "square" breakfast with eggs, toast, hash browns and sausage. I was happy with mine and my husband really liked his. The price was right too. This is a great option if you're in the area. I like the old-school vibe without crummy old-school food. They have classic items, but they are well-cooked and have nice flavors.
(4)MaryLynne G.
Made a reservation for 6 for Saturday night at 7pm. Prime time and we were making the res a few days ahead of time so choices were obviously limited. I am so glad we took a chance on Scollay Square. Location was great and we were seated right away. Our server was very friendly, food came out quickly, drinks were good; all in all Scollay Square was solid on every count. I got the miso salmon with lobster mashed potatoes, as did one other member of our party. Other diners in the group got a pork entree, fish tacos, fried goat cheese, a veggie stir fry, etc.; quite a variety of foods, and each person completely cleaned their plate. Great option for larger parties on a weekend night when you don't want to wait for hours at other more "in" places. Definitely recommend.
(4)Jeremy D.
It was pouring rain and miserable and we were wandering around at night desperately looking for dinner. Most of the restaurants close early downtown, but thankfully Scollay was open. When we came in, my sister saw an item she liked on the menu, and we were seated quickly at a nice window table. The waitress was really accommodating to my sisters questions regarding food sensitivities and didn't just guess but actually went to kitchen to find out what was in the dishes. In fact the manager actually came over and offered to modify and change dishes in order to accommodate her. When I asked about the fish and chips since they aren't on the dinner menu (so well talked about on here) he said it was on the bar menu, and brought one over for us. Let me just tell you, I've had a lot of fish and chips in my day, and these were unbelievably good. My sister got an Asian-fusion rice bowl and she loved her dish again. We were just really impressed with the service, the manager's attention, and food. Would HIGHLY recommend this restaurant for anyone in Boston. Best part is that the prices were extremely affordable for the quality of food you are getting.
(5)Eden O.
Had to get some fish and chips before I headed back West so we found this place a short walk away from Faneuil Hall. The decor I would say is upscale pub style. Really tall ceilings with exposed wood and stark white walls. They do have a couple seats outside on a patio in front of the restaurant. It wasn't overly busy on a Sunday around 3p. Our server wasn't really friendly but did nothing wrong either. The fish and chips was delicious and definitely hit the mark. Fresh fish, not overly greasy and homemade thick fries. Beer selection was short but good. Would recommend for a casual lunch or dinner.
(3)Amanda D.
Wowszas! I love when I read reviews and almost let a couple negatives hold me back but then go for it anyway. I'm glad I did. In town from Clevaland, my husband and I wanted some fresh and tasty seafood and we found it here. The fish and chips was just out of this world. It's a very light flash fried fish and tasted buttery, soft, pretty much melted in my mouth. The french fries were just ok. The brew selection is on the small side, but good picks. The salmon with lobster mashed potatoes were unbelievably good. The prices were reasonable and the staff was superb. Would go back in a heartbeat.
(5)Marc F.
Fabulous drink and dinner. Hendricks gin (very rare), baby kale salad, and short ribs. All excellent. Very good service.
(5)Chelsea F.
My boyfriend and I had dinner here for my birthday. Everyone was extremely friendly and accommodating when we decided to move seats. Our server was nice, but distant and awkward. It seemed like it may have been her first day. Being a server myself, I always check back with my tables and try to be as quick as possible. This was not the case. Our drinks took about ten minutes to arrive--for a busy Friday night--acceptable. The goat cheese appetizer came out very promptly--although It was luke warm--delicious. After the appetizer we only Saw our server one more time--she was standing by the bar talking a majority of the time. Our dinners were phenomenal. Although they were dropped off abruptly without a word, we were extremely satisfied. I chose the ahi tuna and my boyfriend got the drunken shrimp pasta. If it weren't for the service, this place would get five stars. The good was seriously to die for! After we finished eating, we waited and waited for our server to come over. We finished our drinks and watched her talking to a man sitting at the bar for what seemed like forever. Even after she knew we were ready to leave, we watched her stand at the bar and continue to talk to this man WITH OUR CHECK IN HER HAND. As soon as we put our card in to pay she was right there, though. Hmm, strange. Anyway, great food. Unprofessional service--especially with then knowing it was my birthday. The man at the front door was extremely friendly, though! He even wished me happy birthday when we left!
(4)Anthony N.
Food was good, but service was really good, no, outstanding! I ordered fish and chips, my mom ordered blackened swordfish, and my fiance ordered the ride bowl. The rice bowl was delicious, my fish and chips was exactly what you would expect, but my mom said the swordfish was like eating salt. The highlight of the trip was Chris the manager. He made my mother another round of swordfish without the salt and jokingly pointed out that if it was too bland there was sea salt on the table. He was funny and very accommodating. The deck is nice but no dogs allowed.
(5)Kayla C.
Big fan of the atmosphere, cocktails, and varied menu. The menu recently changed, but now it seems there are more options for apps/small plates. Seafood is always wonderful (lobster mac and cheese and scallops are kind of my things; and they're totally tasty here). I recently took my parents and grandmothers here when they were in town for my graduation, and we had a very friendly, timely waiter. He knew when to approach - when not. Especially considering my family is terrible with decisions. We also obnoxiously arrived approximately 40 minutes prior to our reservation time, but they made room for us without a fuss, even though we said we could just sit at the bar and "drink responsibly" or something. Because of the recent menu change, the manager had to inform me the scallops I ordered were different than the exact menu item...which didn't make a difference to me, delicious either way! When we ordered desserts, they came with candles (for graduation? cute nonetheless) and they were free! Yay! I'll gladly sit back, grab some calamari and tempura green beans, and enjoy some cocktails here anytime.
(5)Tina D.
With many TVs around this place is a great place for dinner if you don't want to miss out on a sox, pats, celtics or bruins game. Decor: good rustic feel, nicely spaced. Choice of low seating, high seating, or bar seating. when the weather is nice there's a choice of outside seating, although the surrounding buildings block out the sun Drinks: offer a good small variety of beers on Tap. Of the three times that I've asked what the special was referring to on the menu, it's been the Allagash White. Food: Kobe sliders are awesome starters. love the juicy meat and the caramelized onions were finger licking good. Our favorite entree was the Seared Ahi Tuna with wasabi flavored mashed potato, crispy wonton strips and sauteed spinach. This is the DISH you have to try! As sushi fans this dish was meant for us. The seared tuna was moist and fresh in the middle, giving the impression of sashimi. Naturally the wasabi flavored mashed potatoes worked really well. The spinach was cooked perfectly, not soggy like most places so it paired well w/ the freshness of the Tuna. The Crispy Wonton strips added nice texture to the plate. Had steak here too, but it was so so and don't remember anything that would stand out. Buffalo boneless tenders were moist and flavorful, good beer snack. Service: if you're sitting outside, the service is a little slow and sometimes you will have to wait for someone to come out. If you're sitting inside for dinner, the service is EXCEPTIONAL. They're very flexible with seating and would always leave it up to us to determine where we would sit. Servers were always courteous and professional. Service is always on point, but not over-bearing. They would take extra steps to please you. For instance our table was a little wobbly with one short leg, the server apologized and asked if we would like to move. After we told him that we didn't mind he took time to place some paper under the short leg to even out the table. Wished we had this kind of service everywhere! We can call ourselves regulars here now. However, one day we will have to get up early enough on Sunday to try their brunch menu as well!
(5)Caleb F.
What a great find on a Friday night! It wasn't too busy and the interior seating area was quiet (such a rare find on the weekend). It was a sweet reprieve to sit in a quiet restaurant and gawk over a menu. We were able to watch the Red Sox and enjoy a delicious meal. The manager even made a point to come introduce himself. The only reason I didn't rate this restaurant higher was because of the service. Our server rushed us in ordering, made us feel like we were inconveniencing her, and I had to track her down behind the bar to request refills. I can't imagine her service when the place is busy!
(3)Jaime B.
I had the most delicious meal last night at Scolleys. I started with the rock shrimp appetizer which was super good. For my main course, I had the lobster risotto. Absolutely delicious! Definitely the best I've ever had. There were huge chunks of lobster in the risotto. I loved every bite. Cute ambience right by Boston Common. The service was nothing short of perfect. A++
(5)Jesse L.
My girlfriend and I were looking for a place for brunch and were excited to see that Scollay Square was related to Sip and Max & Dylan's. We decided to give it a shot. Stepping into Scollay was reminiscent of the opening scene of The Grand Budapest Hotel; there were more staff than patrons. The entire place was a bit run down and had the atmosphere of a great place that has been left to slowly die. The tables had what appeared to be ancient bottles of Pelegrino on them, warm with their labels discolored and peeling. Drinks: I ordered an Irish coffee. It tasted off. When I received the check, I understood why. They had made an Irish coffee with Southern Comfort. My girlfriend said that her mimosa tasted as if someone had poured flat Andre into minute made orange juice concentrate. The food: I ordered the breakfast burrito and my girlfriend the weatcoast benedict. Neither of us finished our dishes. Had my breakfast burrito cost me 4 dollars and come wrapped in saran wrap from a corner store, I would have been satisfied. The hollandaise sauce on the benedict was bland and the only redeeming factor of the dish was the obviously prepackaged frozen hashbrowns. We left Scollay Square feeling robbed and crossing our fingers hoping that the last day of my girlfriend's visit (she lives in NYC), would not be spent running to the toilet repeatedly.
(1)Kimberly K.
$4 mimosas... That's worth 5 stars. But unfortunately I have to deduct one for a pretty mediocre tuna burger and another for a so-so cheeseburger. The service was awesome and the outdoor seating is great.
(3)Nick M.
This restaurant was recommended by the concierge at the Omni Parker House. This place was exactly what we were looking for on our first night in Boston. The service was friendly and professional. I recommend the lobster risotto and buffalo flatbread. We will return on our next trip to see what other delectable concoctions this restaurant can serve up.
(4)Meg B.
I came for brunch a few years ago and fell in love with this place. Had the Lobster Eggs Benedict and it was PHENOMENAL. They had a MYO Bloody Mary bar that was to die for as well! I jotted it down for the next time I was in Boston and... ...that happened to be this weekend! We went for dinner and it was just as amazing, if not more, for dinner! We had the Kobe Sliders to start (soooo good) and I had the Miso Salmon, while my boyfriend had the Beef Short Rib. They were both out of this world! We finished with the Chocolate Chip Cookie Slider. It was no longer on the menu but after seeing all the Yelp reviews of it, we had to ask if it still existed. They made a set for us and I was so happy I asked! Overall, I felt so spoiled here. The food and service were both way above par...I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants to have a fabulous dining experience!
(5)Alison L.
I was slightly disappointed by Scollay Square. Perhaps I ordered wrong. Because the place seemed to be known for seafood, I got the scallops. They were quite small, and not that fresh, so the texture was a bit tough/chewy. So I was sad that I paid $23 for them... The presentation of the food was nice, however.
(2)Kristen M.
We made what seemed like an unnecessary reservation on Saturday evening at 6:30. When we arrived their were tables open outside and we scooped one up no problem. Dining partner ordered the screaming rooster rock shrimp and buffalo chicken flatbread while I ordered the Murray Hill chicken entree. We ate almost everything we were served, the portions were just right. My chicken was a little dry but the risotto that accompanied it was fantastic. The service was attentive and we received refills without asking. Reasonable prices close to the theaters and State House.
(4)Evin S.
Too tired for a sit-down dinner after a long work day, I craved seafood and wanted to find a restaurant a block east of Boston Commons that would do takeout. Scollay Square fit the bill. Ordered 2 "small plates" off the dinner menu: blackened day boat scallops & ahi tuna tacos. 2 small plates makes for a perfect small portion dinner for one person. 3 plates would probably be equal to a normal dinner portion. But if you're that hungry, you might as well save money and order one of the larger entrees. Scallops (four 1.75"-2" pieces) had a good texture and probably would have had a nice crust if eaten at the restaurant. It came with a delicious savory sauce; with hints of sage and citrus, not overpowered by horseradish noted on menu description. The ahi tacos had about 3-4 pieces of seared (not blackened) ahi, a good portion of the center was nice and rare. I am usually not a fan of slaw, but the Asian slaw in the tacos was not oozing with mayo... actually the wasabi cream sauce (again, not overly open-up-your-sinuses horseradishy at all) balanced well with the mae ploy chili sauce. Even after 15 minutes steaming in the takeout container, the tortillas were crisp, not mushy & floppy. Used some of the tortilla to soak up the rest of the scallop's sauce. Delicious! I'd come to Scollay Square again and maybe next time, eat at the restaurant to watch Monday Night Football at the bar!
(4)Kayla C.
Never had better service. Absolutely amazing. The host was so nice. Came on marathon weekend and were seated immediately. We sat at a high top and the host stopped by during our meal to make sure our seat was okay. The food was very good. We just got a salad, burger and fish and chips (bar menu) but seriously if you only come here for the service alone you'll be happy.
(5)Lily S.
Came here for a work dinner of about 20-22 people visiting from the UK and Sweden. We had one server. One. One person taking drinks. One person taking food orders. By the time I got my food, It was cold. I can only assume that pretty much everyone else had cold food as well since my dining companions were raised with manners and waited to eat only once everyone had a plate in front of them. I literally had to ASK for bread. What an effing embarrassment.
(2)Julia M.
Scollay Square is one of my favorite spots in Boston, because it is one of those rare places that is great for all three meals. I have been to Scollay Square on quite a few different occasions for brunch, lunch, & dinner, & I have yet to receive a meal with which I was unpleased. In addition to their consistently good food, the service is also friendly & generally quick. If you come for brunch on the weekend, you might find service to be a tad slow, but that is simply due to the fact that Scollay Square tends to be very busy then. Its location near Boston Commons also makes it very easy to reach -- you can take the T to Park Street & walk. Tidbits: -They recently redid the menu & added new items. -The food is very reasonably priced, with dinner entrees ranging from $11 to $23. -Recommendation for brunch: crab cake benedict ($12) -Recommendation for lunch: lobster mac & cheese (market) -Recommendation for dinner: fish & chips ($14.50); broiled scallops ($16.50)
(4)Rachel M.
We went in at a weird time, so it was pretty dead but the bartender was still SUPER friendly and attentive. We only went for a snack, so we ordered a few apps and they were DELISH. Dayboat scallops, Kobe beef meatballs, and ahi tuna (which came on little rice cake and was stacked with seaweed salad). I could have eaten them all over again!
(5)Joanne L.
The service was amazing. Such friendly staff. Went there on a weekday evening with three others. We only ordered appetizers and desserts although we sat at a table instead of the bar but the waiter did not judge us one bit. Food was good, prices were reasonable. Would return to have an actual meal some time.
(4)Shari M.
While the food was decently priced it was incredibly bland. The fish and chips had no flavor and the roasted beet salad was underwhelming. We got the creme brule for dessert and it was gross.
(2)Alex S.
Came here for dinner and of course had to order the featured dish, the rare seared tuna. The tuna was probably an 8 or 9 out of 10 as far as a seared tuna at a nice restaurant goes. The wasabi mashed side was amazing. However the restaurant can get slightly loud, even when almost empty. The atmosphere is decent, but leaves something to be desired. Happy with my experience, but will probably choose other local places in the future.
(4)Anny G.
Lovely restaurant! Very cute restaurant/bar with a beautiful outdoor patio. Service was a little slow but the bus girl made up for what the server couldn't get to (it was very busy). The server was very professional and polite. She knew the menu well. The manager stopped to make sure everything was okay with our table twice. The cheeseburger sliders and pasta with butter and parmesan were both big hits with my kids. The chicken with risotto was great and the two really complimented one another. My miso salmon was superb. Everything was cooked perfectly and somehow all came out together, too! We will definitely be going back.
(5)Vivian C.
First order of business - entering Scollay Square. You wouldn't think this would be an issue, but I was not the only one of our party to walk pass the patio, look at the entrance just to the right of the establishment and think confusedly to myself - this doesn't look like it would get me into the restaurant. That's because it isn't. Turns out you have to head towards the left of the restaurant (the side closest to the State House), go through the patio, and weave pass all the folks seated beneath the umbrellas to find the way in under the maroon awning imprinted with their name. But once you are in, things are good. Service is swell - although I am thoroughly confused by the $0 bread basket noted on my bill at the end of the evening, since no such basket of bread had ever touched down on our table - with the server patient as we waited for the remainder of our entire party to arrive before we began to order, our water glasses refilled several times, and separate checks considerately offered. The restaurant was nice yet dimly lit, with an open kitchen to the left, a bar against the back, and bathrooms in the basement with a single unisex one right off the bar. The ARBORIO CRUSTED CALAMARI Teardrop Tomatoes, Banana Peppers, Aioli $9.50 was lightly crisp, with the majority of the flavoring not in the crust, but in the creamy aioli and the more pickled than spicy peppers. As the server had named seafood the specialty of the house, we elected to order both the MISO GLAZED SALMON FILLET Shaved English Cucumber, Sauteed Spinach, Jasmine Rice $17 and the SEARED DAY BOAT SCALLOPS Sautéed Spinach, Creamy Leek Risotto, Lemon Buerre Blanc, Chive Oil $22. How would you like the salmon to be prepared? The chef recommends medium rare, so medium rare it is! But it came fully cooked. However, it was still tasty, and was matched well with the jasmine rice which was also rather tasty with the miso soy sauce drizzled on the plate. The jasmine rice was also felt refreshing and healthy in contrast with the bites of rich creamy risotto that had accompanied the scallop entree. The scallops themselves, varying in size, numbered five and were tender and served nicely browned, but they, and the entree as a whole, were rather scanty, leaving plenty of room for both appetizer and dessert. As we, as well as two other parties that evening, were celebrating a birthday, dessert was not something housemade, but a cake brought in. As I was guest and not organizer, I do not know if there was a cake fee, but I will comment that the manager served the cake at the table, and slices distributed on real plates with silverware. Please note - prices on the online menu are a bit off - some prices lower (namely the calamari app at $11), some higher (both entrees - $16.50 and $21). PS - the market price of the LEMON BASTED SWORDFISH CHOP Lobster Risotto, Roasted Asparagus, Tomato Vinaigrette on the night of our visit was $29.
(4)Samantha G.
This is a good place for a decent lunch during your work week. The salad I had (grilled pear) was good, except I would have liked a more ripe pear. My friends had the veggie stir fry and the ceasar salad with steak tips. No one was really disappointed, I just wasn't thrilled either.
(3)Janet K.
We went here for my husband's birthday last year and had a blast! Our dinner was amazing and they remembered my request to bring out his birthday dessert. They also have a cool bar area and overall atmosphere is classy/romantic.
(5)Erica R.
A friend and I tried out the brunch this past weekend. I think we might have even been the first people in the door right after 10am. We were seated quickly and our server was friendly enough. There were a couple times we were wondering if maybe he had forgotten about us while tending to other tables or whatnot (especially as we were waiting for the check), but nothing too bad. I opted for the "RICE CRISPIE COATED FRENCH TOAST........10.5" and my friend went for the "EGGS BENEDICT..........................................Â. 10" (details from the menu PDF). I'm not entirely sure how the Eggs Benedict were, though everything looked to be prepared well; that said, I have to admit that my Rice Crispie Coated French Toast was a little crispier/thinner than expected (which really just meant smothering them a bit more with the maple syrup, to get rid of any dryness)...though the hint of lemon-y flavor that I tasted in the slices was nice. All in all, a nice experience...but probably not a place I would run back to. Perhaps I'll go back to try the dinner menu sometime, but there are plenty of other places in Boston I'd like to try beforehand.
(3)Chelsea W.
Dissapointed in both the food and service. The waiter was very hard to get ahold of and it was surprising because the restaurant was only half full. Ordered the Crab Cake Eggs Benedict - left a very bitter aftertaste fir some reason. Presentation of the dishes for brunch weren't great and portions were smaller than expected. Would not come back.
(2)Julia E.
I've come here twice recently, once for a date night and another time for a friend's birthday brunch. Both times I was really impressed with the service and food. The make-your-own Bloody Mary bar at brunch is the best idea ever, and the blueberry pancakes & breakfast sandwich were equally impressive. I should also mention that the sangria is awesome. On both visits, I was amazed by Scollay Square's warm ambiance and attentive staff. I will be back!
(5)Kareem S.
Uh. Yeah. 5 stars. FRESH fish, great staff, knowledge of the tap beers. I'm coming back tomorrow.
(5)Jenny H.
Great food, great ambience. A solid place to eat in Boston. Their scallops with risotto were AMAZING- wow, perfectly sweet and caramelized crispy on the outside on top of a creamy risotto and greens. Some of the best scallops I've had. I liked the scallops better than my dish, which was pretty good too. Ahi tuna steak seared, two pieces on top of wasabi mashed potatoes (this was really spicy but added a good element to the dish) with greens, the chili sauce and sesame oil were KEY to give this dish some good flavor. My friend's shrimp pasta dish was really good too, a good, zesty, cheesey tomato sauce with generous pieces of fresh shrimp. We got their mac and cheese as an appetizer with truffle oil and prosciutto, I liked how the prosciutto was really chunky and it was corkscrew pasta. Not oven-baked but tossed in the cheese sauce with toasted breadcrumbs on top. Very good place.
(4)Audrea Rachelle G.
We had cocktails & the sliders. Patio is nice - beautiful area!
(4)Danielle K.
Erm. Um. Eh. Meh. My boyfriend and I had come here while on a weekend visit to Boston and we expected to eat a dish with a burst of flavors because of all the reviews we had read. But alas, this is where I must say Scollay Square got nothing on New York restaurants. The dish was prepared nicely and the scallops I had ordered were cooked well but the flavors were just off. After the first bite, I was just over it. So again, I'm just going to have to say Erm. Um. Eh. Meh.
(2)Donovan W.
Went here back in the spring with some friends. We all loved the lobster mac. The blackened scallops were prepared well and quite tasty. Don't remember what else but everyone was happily satisfied with their orders. Presentation was nice and prices were reasonable enough for some good quality seafood. Service was a little slow but our waitress was pleasant. -April 2014
(5)Angelica T.
Before making my trip to Boston, I always read about the Lobster rolls that the city is famous for. Now, after having dinner at Legal Seafoods (yummy), I didn't wanna go to the same place for a Lobster roll. My gf and I were gonna go on the Freedom Trail tour, so I found this place after some researching on yelp. They do serve brunch, but since we were set on having Lobster rolls we passed on that. Had a mimosa to start, so that was good too. As for the lobster roll, OMG! So meaty and not overwhelmed with mayo! I'm pretty sure I almost died at the first bite, but as you can see I survived, as I am writing this review. Okay it may just be me, but why do all fried foods in Boston taste so damn good? The fries that came with the roll were seriously addicting and usually I don't even care for fries. Anywho, this place would've gotten 5 stars if our server took care of our check the right way. It wasn't too big of a deal, but it didn't help he was rushing when he took our orders (not a busy morning either). Great food nonetheless.
(4)Ryan M.
Scollay Square is a great place to visit if you are looking for a delicious sit down meal near Park Street. This is a frequent stop for my work team due to it's close proximity to our office, friendly staff, and fantastic food. I would have to say that the fish and chips here are some of the best around and would highly recommend them. The waitstaff was very friendly and didn't intrude too much as we discussed a couple projects that we working on. Food came quickly and exact to our specifications. If you are looking to visit a lunch spot with a great atmosphere, outdoor porch, and convenient location then make a stop at Scollay Square for lunch.
(4)Lakshman S.
I really don't get the hype. Terrible service. Rude waiter. Drinks took forever. Mediocre food.
(1)Joelle K.
I enjoyed a yummy brunch at Scollay Square with my in-laws and husband. The dining environment is very nice. We would have eaten outside if the weather had been better. I had a delicious omelet and hash browns. I would like to go back for dinner as the menu looks great and I'm sure the food will be just as good as our brunch was!
(4)Zee R.
We loved this place! They have a great cocktail menu and the food is amazing. The prices are reasonable and the service is attentive but not overbearing. We had small plates and Martinis. It's was located in beacon hill so there are big buildings around you not much of a view of the park. We sat outside on the patio. We would go back to try the other food items.
(5)Nigel K.
Yelp found this place when barking crab and hook&co were close. Needed something seafoodie for my cousin and this showed pretty good review. The chef was kind enough to make us a lobster roll that is usually served firing lunch hours. Had blackened day boat scallops for starters and they were both amazing. Scallops were soft and juicy with the right amount of horseradish for spiciness. I saw many others digging in to wholesome fishes but I had to let my cousin try his first lobster roll. Lobster was equally as good though you can't go wrong with it so long as the meat is pretty fresh. Perfect setting for a,date or just hang out at the bar on game days.
(4)Paula F.
Food was amazing. Their cookie ice cream sandwich was no longer on the menu, but they made it for us anyway, even baked a fresh cookie! I highly recommend this place. Lovely staff as well.
(5)Gia A.
Came here for brunch on my last day in Boston. It's close to Boston Commons. I ordered the Crab Cake Eggs Benedict. It comes with mini hash browns and greens. Everything was very tasty.
(4)William K.
This is a great lunch spot! My fish and chips was as good as I've ever had... lighter than a feather. And Holly was very reluctant to share her yummy lobster roll... but she did. The service was great. The atmosphere was probably a bit stuffy, but no biggie. Pretty easy 4 bill-stars. yow, bill
(4)Phil O.
Impeccable service, and everything was reasonably priced. I had a specialty mixed drink that involved bourbon and ginger, which was great. And the Filet Mignon of Tuna was light and delicious. I want to go back to this place soon!
(5)Susan Z.
Came for dinner. I was impressed by the salad they threw together for me when I said the mac and cheese made me want vegetables. The lobster mac and cheese was fine, but it was on the liquid-y cheese side, whereas I like my mac and cheese to be a little more solid. Fiance got a burger, which he describes as "okay." The servers were very friendly, though, and offered to take our luggage to the back so they wouldn't take up space and I appreciated that. From reading the other yelp reviews it seems we should have come for brunch instead.
(3)Patty G.
This restaurant was close to our hotel and we decided to stop here for brunch before our flight back home. The doors opened at 10 AM and we were one of the first in but there were already people waiting to be sat. We were sat right away and service was very timely. Our server was very prompt and helpful. I ordered the Eggs Benedict and my hubby ordered the Turkey Sandwich. We were both very happy with our food. My EB were good and came with a side of yummy hash browns. The coffee was good and the server even made a new pot when I told him my second cup tasted over roasted. Very good service. I would recommend for brunch!
(4)Naveen K.
As per popular suggestion I ordered rare tuna and boy was it delicious. It dint feel like uncooked fish at all. And the seasoning was just perfect. I am sure anybody who loves Indian spices (not spicy) are in for a delight. I wish I could go there again and try the other popular suggestion - fish and chips.
(5)Bill T.
What a disappointment! I haven't been to Scollay Square for quite a while but remembered it as pretty good from when my girlfriend and I had dinner there. So this past Monday, I recommended the restaurant to some colleagues while we were in Boston for a business meeting. Unfortunately, my coworkers and I went in for dinner and the food was terrible. The appetizers are the only thing keeping this from being a one-star review. They were decent, but nothing better than the apps you can order at Applebee's. Nothing memorable. Four people in our party ordered the steak and it was an embarrassment. We all ordered our steaks medium rare but were given grayish, tough steaks with no flavor. The waitress then informed us that the kitchen had run out of baked potatoes and one of us wouldn't get one. No big deal, I asked for spinach instead. It was steamed but flavorless. The roasted asparagus was overcooked and the red onion jam was an afterthought at best. My colleagues remarked at how terrible their entrees were and I was embarrassed for ever recommending this place. Management at Scollay Square should apologize for serving food this bad.
(2)Meg W.
All around it was a very mediocre experience. I had a very bad overdressed kale salad- instead of massaging the kale which is standard they cut it very small and added cold corn and a ton of cheese. Another person had a tomato soup that was both the flavor and texture of marinara sauce. The Kobe sliders were ok. Another diner had a salad with salmon- the salmon was decent but again they butchered the mixed greens. The waitress was nice...
(2)Mike B.
Macaroni and cheese was excellent as was the shrimp po-boy. Brilliant in the words of my 7 year old son.
(4)Melanie P.
Came here on a Saturday late afternoon with my brother. The service was top-notch, our server was really nice and attentive, and had great suggestions from the menu. The food was standard, I got the fish and chips and my brother got the Po Boy. It hit the spot for a hungover Saturday lunch, but I can't see it was groundbreaking. With that said, it's a comfortable, classic New England pub where I'm sure it would be a lot of fun to watch a game.
(3)Caitlin M.
I went here with my husband for my birthday on Friday. Service was not very good. We were seated for about 10 minutes before a waiter came to us. The food was excellent, and the prices were good. Someone who cares more about service would probably have given this place 3 stars, but quality of food and price matter most to me.
(4)Daniel T.
Small seating area but open kitchen so you can see in. Food is good as well at the service. Very dimly light. Service is friendly full bar. Wait can be kind of long after work hours. Wait staff can be iffy on some nights.
(3)Lindsay Q.
This was an excellent yelp find. It was affordable and everything we had was delicious. Scallops were cooked perfectly and the lobster Mac and cheese had huge chunks of lobster in it. So tasty. The waiter recommended the bread pudding and the peanut butter mousse desserts and we had both and were very happy with both.
(5)Shuja D.
Great lunch here, we ordered burrito and lobster roll both were amazing and priced very well in the $12-16 range. Nice outside seating. Will definitely be coming here again.
(4)Martin V.
OK, maybe it was an off night. We came here on a beautiful summer's night on the strength of the Yelp reviews. Wow, what a disappointment! I will admit, it was probably a 2 star, but I'm only giving it 1 because of all the other reviews that I assume are inflated. Someone below raved about the scallops. Overcooked, and therefore rubbery. They were supposed to be served with a horseradish marmalade, which was intriguing. Does a plate of grease count as a marmalade? No hint of horseradish anywhere. I ordered a pretty pricey $20 "full glass" of Pinot (no way was it the 10 oz the bar menu said). It was spoiled, probably from not being properly corked. They replaced it, but still... I chose the Flatiron Steak for my entree because that's usually a pretty tasty cut, although it can be a bit tough if it isn't cut right. It wasn't tough, but it wasn't tasty. In fact, it was devoid of taste. And it was cold. My wife ordered the Ahi Tuna Napoleon. The rice cake the tuna was served on was apparently too hot, so it cooked the minced tuna. She barely touched it. My wife also reported that the bathrooms were not only absolutely stomach-turningly filthy, but you had to walk through a kitchen prep area to get to them. Hey, Carlos, probably not a good idea to be swearing like a sailor when a female customer is walking through. Even my teenaged son commented about how they kept taking plates away without first checking to see if we were finished. Not that they needed to rush us and turn the tables over - it was completely empty by 8:30 on a beautiful July Friday night! Positives? My cocktail was very good. The cheeseboard, I thought, was strong, although two of the three cheeses were similar and it needed more spreadable relishes or a mustard. The Lobster Mac 'n' Cheese was apparently good, although at $27, that's a bit pricey for a few chunks of lobster. This is Boston, lobster's pretty plentiful and therefore cheap. Sorry, we won't be back. Maybe it's better for brunch or lunch.
(1)Denise L.
Disappointing dinner. Waited a long time to get service. Waitress was friendly, but incredibly slow. Haddock was over cooked and soaked in butter. Spinach was dripping in bad tasting olive oil and vegetables were overcooked and bland. Mixed green salad was wilted with soggy caramelized nuts. Overall disappointing bland meal.
(2)Addie F.
Went for Brunch. I was with a large group and we were the first customers of the day. The waitress we had was very diligent about refilling our water... that's basically where the "service" ended. Drinks came 20-30 minutes after we ordered. All of the food came out at different times - half of our group was served hour after we ordered and the remaining people in the group about 1 hr and 10-15 minutes. Other tables came and went while we waited for our food. The manager (maybe?) informed us that the kitchen was backed up - which is valid, however its a brunch crew, not every dish is made to order - it was inexcusable. When the food FINALLY came out - it was terrible. I ordered scrambled eggs, "home fries", sausage and an english muffin. The eggs were burned and dry, they were actually crunchy. The sausage was also burned and incredibly dry. The english muffin tasted like it had been in the kitchen for several weeks - it was incredibly stale, and the "home fries" were actually hashbrown patties which weren't bad, but I have tasted better from Dunkin Donuts. I would not recommend this establishment unless you like to wait hours to eat bland, overcooked, yet still cold, food.
(1)Zhicao F.
A not-so pricey place for some American food and beer. But the cocktail we ordered (rosemary baby) did not live up to our standards, and the beer list was limited in the dining area.
(3)Roger J.
Lobster risotto was fantastic. Swordfish was a close second. Would definitely eat here again. Not too busy for a Saturday night and dress was casual. Noise level was perfect.
(4)Couldbe A.
Has some gluten free entree options and a casual cool atmosphere. Nice waitstaff, good bar and a pleasant vibe.
(4)Megan M.
Visited Scollay Square on a Monday and had a lovely dinner. The decor is nice, with the big high ceilings, but I wasn't a huge fan of the tables, they look better suited for a pub atmosphere. They had some excellent choices on the drink menu to start. The food menu is interesting, in a good way. We started with the arancini, which were very good. I had the salmon with the lobster mash pototoes. Arancini to start, salmon with sort of an asian fusion glaze- and paired with lobster mash? Like I said, interesting menu, but it worked. Everything was tasty. Nice option for a fairly priced dinner after work if you are downtown.
(4)Matt C.
Very friendly staff, great drinks and good food. They saved our night after a near by Italian restaurant treated us horribly. I would absolutely return.
(4)Katrina B.
This is a go-to place for lunch for my nearby officemates but I can't really understand why. Food is fine but nothing special, definitely overpriced, and the menu seriously never changes. I think it has been the same since I started working in the neighborhood 7 years ago. Much better options at the bottom of Beacon Hill (either Charles or Cambridge St) for the money you'll spend.
(2)Tom M.
Was in town for a conference. We ordered basically all the sliders on the menu. We had a great waitress, Natalia, who let us order custom drinks and all kinds of random changes. Next time I'm going to get the chicken piccata special. Eric was also in a great mood. I'll be back for sure. Twitter - @tmcleod3 Instagram - @tmcleod
(5)Dan A.
I stopped in before meeting a few friends for drinks on a Friday evening. It was my first visit to Boston, and I stumbled in after a quick Yelp search for anything that looked good in the few square blocks just north of the Common. I don't care to comment on the ambience and clientele bc I honestly just don't care about these things when I'm flying in solo and just want some good food and a drink. Being that it was just me, I grabbed a seat at the bar inside. I knew I had to go with seafood... I'm originally from AZ and have transplanted to Chicago, so fresh and local seafood are hard to come by and I wasn't going to waste the opportunity. I started with a beer and the scallops appetizer. The bartender was an aloof but pleasant guy. I asked for his recommendation to decide between the swordfish and the tuna filet. Without hesitation he suggested the filet. I'm by no means a foodie and it's difficult to disappoint my easy-going and indiscriminating palate, but I've eaten at many of the 'bests' of AZ and Chicago and it's rare that a dish just blows me away. It's two months later now and I still find myself looking for a similar dish on every menu, and I'm tempted to try and replicate the dish in my own kitchen. Just a fantastic dish... The filet was perfectly cooked and the flavors of the wasabi potatoes coupled with the sweet tang of the teriyaki on the fish and spinach... Just great! I've always been a fan of horseradish and wasabi kicks. If you can say the same of yourself then I strongly recommend that you stop in and order the rare tuna filet.
(5)Jessica H.
I've only been here for brunch, but it is AWESOME! They have a make your own bloody mary bar that has literally everything you could think of. Celery, large variety of hot sauces, olives, asparagus, the list goes on! Not to mention they give you a healthy serving of vodka too :) They also have $4 mimosas. The food was delicious. Half of our party opted for breakfast and the other half for lunch. Both were delicious. The staff was super friendly too! We had to switch tables (we were in a big party) and they brought us out dessert as a surprise at the end! Totally not necessary but completely welcomed! Loved this place. Convenient location right in Beacon Hill, and they're open on Saturday for brunch - which is rare!
(4)Theodore Y.
My buddy raves about their pancakes but they just weren't my style. I think they mix lemon juice into their batter which added a kick to the pancakes which I did not appreciate. They're called "Strawberry Buttermilk Pancakes" came with ONE strawberry sliced into many small pieces. Cheap much? If I'm paying 9 bucks for pancakes, they better be off the field good. They were not. What was redeeming? The hashbrowns were delicious. Our waiter got us what we needed, but according to his schedule. Finally decided to chat us up when time for the bill came. Not again.
(2)Christine P.
My friends and I were referred here by a local hotel and were told it was a hidden gem. We think they were totally right! We started with some drinks. My friends all opted for the sangria, which they liked, and I ordered the pear martini. It was fantastic! It tasted of fresh pear rather than the fake pear flavoring you mostly find. It was delicious, refreshing, and one of the best cocktails I've had in a while! We also ordered guacamole as an app and it was good. Not mind blowing, but definitely good. For entrees our table ordered scallops and risotto (very good), thai chicken and vegetables (again, very good) and steak tips (excellent). I loved that all the veggies were cooked perfectly and still maintained a bit of a snap. We tasted each other's meals and liked everything. We were all a big fan of the steak tip marande. It was really good! For dessert we ordered the chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches, which were incredible. Sadly, they give you this little cup filled with what you think will be hot fudge, but it's hershey's syrup. So disapointing. I would say leave that cup off or add some real hot fudge. That would have been awesome. Overall it was a solid meal and we enjoyed it all. There was not one miss that night. We would definitely come here again if we were in the area. Two thumbs up.
(4)Mark R.
Creme brulee was AMAZING!!!
(5)Bill M.
This place is the most consistent as far as variety , service and quality huge fan of this place for lunch. Never had a bad meal.
(4)Clint P.
Very slow and inattentive service. Below average food. Nothing special here.
(2)Jakub W.
Wife had the Fish & Chips and the float while I had the Lobster mac & cheese and a Ginger britton. All of it was nothing short of some of the better food and drinks combo we've had in a while. The lobster was well portioned and the drinks weren't something you'd easily make at home making this a great spot to eat at. To top it all off, we took the odd 2-5pm weekend break when it's neither brunch nor dinner and got a great seat and first class service. Highly recommended.
(5)Amy C.
This place still left a bad taste in my mouth so this will be short and to the point: don't come here; it's overpriced and you would need to eat twice as much because the plate look pretty but lack substance. The service sucks; I believe I had 0 refills the entire time I was there. For how many restaurants there are in Boston, this is at the bottom of the barrel for me.
(1)Vic M.
Pretty bad. Understaffed (substantially), not a bad space though, drinks were ok. Had an awful lamb burger here...definitely avoid that at all costs. Just lackluster all around. Much better options nearby...try silvertone, curleys, etc skip this place.
(2)Brandon N.
Went for my birthday with three of my friends. It was around 8:30pm on a chilly Thursday night so when we arrived there were plenty of open tables and we were seated right away. The server had the time to focus on only a couple of tables so I think that worked out to our advantage. Our server was friendly and attentive at just the right times without being overly intrusive or insisting on awkward small talk every time he came by, just the service I like. There were some minor hiccups but the server handled it like a pro. Since it was a celebratory dinner, we decided to start by ordering a bottle of one of three champagne options. The server quickly returned to inform us that they did not have it so we went with the next one on the list. The server returned quickly again informing us that had just sold the last of that bottle the day before and that he had found a bottle of the champagne we originally ordered but it had to be chilled since it was warm. I have worked as a server before, so I tend to be rather forgiving when minor situations arise, as long as the server works to make it right. We took it in stride and each ordered a cocktail to drink while the champagne was being chilled, as well as our dinner order. I didn't pay too much attention to the time as we were having good conversation, but the wait did not seem any longer than average. After getting our meals, the champagne came out. The server apologized for the minor mix-up by saying "The champagne is on the house, Happy Birthday!". I hadn't mentioned it was my birthday since I didn't expect special treatment, but he had noticed on my ID and made sure that I wasn't disappointed. Way to go server, we were impressed. Overall the food was delicious, atmosphere just right (casual and affordable, but not divey), and the service happened to be excellent that night. I look forward to returning in the summer when the patio opens.
(5)Luis V.
Saturday brunch was phenomenal! Try the short rib breakfast burrito, you will not be disappointed! I've never had a breakfast burrito before. There was the right balance and portioning of juicy short rib with scrambled eggs. The flour tortilla was slightly grilled and tasted very light, but strong enough to keep it breaking apart in my hands. The guacamole, tomatoes and sour cream brought it all together. Can't wait to having it again soon!
(5)Aaron K.
Really great eggs benedict plate. Came here for brunch over the fall after spending the morning in the common/public garden and walking around beacon hill. This place did not disappoint food wise. Eggs benedict was perfect with what seemed like a homemade hollandaise. Their hash browns are killer! It also came with a small side salad with a nice light lemon dressing. 10$ in this location for this food was a steal. Love it and would come back next time I'm in the area. Fiance's french toast left a little to be desired as the bread was a little flat (I like thick bread personally). Service was a miss as we had to flag down our waitress to place our order. Then a server brought me the wrong benedict (they brought me lobster and I had ordered traditional). They gave mine to someone else. I didn't eat anything off my plate and they brought it to the customer that ordered it. Mine was already dug into and they made me a new plate.....I ended up eating after my fiance had already finished. No comps for the mistake and I was pretty peeved, but the food still won me over in the end. I will go back and up this rating if the service improves. If you make a huge screw up like this you should offer some type of comp for the inconvenience.
(3)Ginnie C.
I intended a moderate sized group of friends to go out for dinner before we ventured out for drinks. I didn't want a place that would be ridiculously expensive, but have great reviews on yelp. I happened upon Scollay Square during my search. By the time I was ready to book my reservations, my group had grown from 10 ppl to 18 ppl. Scollay was able to accomodate my request. Maybe booking a 8pm dinner had something to do with it? When I got there, the table was ready for us. The manager Chris greeted us right away and was very pleasant. "Anything we needed, don't hesitate to ask. " he said. A couple times during the meal, he checked to make sure everything was good. Yes it was! Thanks for asking! We had shared a couple appetizers. The guacamole dip was decent. Not the best I've had, but not the worst either. We also got the edadame apps which had a nice flavor to it. Sesame seeds sprinkled on top with teriyaki sauce to give the exterior extra flavor while you get the bean out. I order the Tuna Burger. It was delicous. Had a good amount of flavor to it. My fiance ordered the Buffalo Mac n Cheese, which I also picked on here and there. Another friend also took several bites of it. We both agreed that it was tasty. NOTE: I wasn't a fan of the server and here's why. My friend ordered the Prosecco. The waiter told her that they were all out and asked if she wanted a drink that was comparable to it. She said yes. Got the drink and drank it. It wasn't until we received the bill, when we noticed the price of the drink the waiter recommended. Prosecco is $8/glass. The drink he suggest was $16/glass. Understand that she should've asked the price difference, but I think the waiter was very misleading in this situation. I would take marks off the restaurant rating for the waiters poor way of handing the above situation, but the food was good and the rest of the staff was great... so I'm letting it go this time. But I think that this is just a good warning to anyone not only going to Scollay, but any other establishment. Make sure you ask for the price if the waiter is making a suggestion to you. They may not always have your best interest in mind. They may just want to raise the bill. NOTE #2: This place doesn't add automatic 20% gratuity for large parties. So be sure to tip accordingly. Most places do add the tip to the bill, but this place didn't for our bill. Thanks for reading!
(4)Katerina K.
Fish and chips - yes!!! Kobe sliders - yes!!! Great quick lunch stop!! Seating inside and outside. Draft beer selection.
(4)Michelle R.
This place has great, affordable food. Wide variety of options from steak tips to scallops to tuna to burgers, all well-executed. Came here with a large group, and everything we ordered was delicious. Would especially recommend the rare tuna filet -- it comes with wasabi mashed potatoes which are sooo good. The lobster mac n cheese and steak tips are solid as well. For dessert we tried the red velvet cake which was very rich and can definitely feed 2-3. Each entree is under $20 which is a super good deal for the quality.
(4)T F.
Great food...I had the hanger steak and my husband had the haddock. The haddock was a little plain but still tasty. Hanger steak was delicious. Service was amazing, which was surprising after reading all the reviews. Our waiter, Seth, was very helpful and attentive :)
(4)Mark J.
A few years ago, Scollay Square was setup as semi-formal traditional American restaurant with a reputation for a simple and delicious menu. The restaurant has remained true to the philosophy behind the menu (i.e., doing standard American dishes like seared Ahi Tuna, Steak, Scallops, etc. very well), but the interior, like so many traditional Boston restaurants, has undergone a transformation to a more casual setting that I'd say is more reminiscent of upscale pub seating (the open kitchen remains the same). The open kitchen and photos of old Scollay Square remain. If you don't mind the trend toward casual dining that's forever altered traditional restaurants like Oak Room, then this shouldn't matter. Truthfully, Scollay Square is also one of the few downtown traditional American restaurants where one can have a tasty, gourmet entree for around $20. The overall "value" cannot be denied. More concerning is the decline in service. At the start of the evening, the wait staff was sporadically attentive and occasionally difficult to reach. However, this was not the worst of it. The group I was with was appalled that the wait staff did not offer water at the outset, did not place water glasses or plates directly in front of us, and did not serve us our wine. Instead, they placed everything at the edge of the table as if expecting us to arrange everything for ourselves. The laziness was so bad that we literally had to use kaizen principles to elicit decent service (i.e., by strewing objects at the end of the table to force the wait staff to place our dishes where they belong). All things considered, Scollay is definitely a great choice for a reasonably priced, delicious meal with colleagues or friends in a casual setting.
(3)Pen R.
there is a super good place. the food is really really good. I just a traveler who come form NY, I really wanna take the food back to NY. If i go to Boston again i will try there again. by the way. the staff is awesome tooooo. im Chinese with super bad English skill but they r very nice and painted. 4.5stars for food, 5 stars for staff and 4 stars for the environment.
(5)Bon W.
From NYC point of view. Had brunch. Mimosas cant go wrong $4/ pop. Egg white omelette soaked in grease. Menu said lemon dressing on salad but taste like balsamic. Hash brown are overfried rocks. Lobster mac n cheese out of krafts mac n cheese box. Tourist trap. Skip it.
(2)Michelle W.
I came here for a quick lunch while I was taking a course at Mass Gen the other week and was happy with my Lobster roll. I sat at the bar to eat and the food was there by the time I returned from the restroom. There were huge perfect chunks of lobster in my sandwich, so fresh and perfectly cook. Not tough or chewy at all. SO good! I kind of wish the roll it was on was not grilled though, I think I would have preferred it plain. The bartender was nice, but thought it was kind of annoying that she was texting at the bar. Not that I needed anything, just doesn't scream class when your staff is on their phones on the clock...
(3)Jessica S.
Easter Brunch. Let's discuss. Very nice staff. I like the decor of the place. Good, dark coffee is a must for me and they nailed it. Even the decaf was good. We both got the eggs benedict. I like that they offer salad with their breakfasts, gives it a good balance. Love the crispy hash browns. Overall the food was good enough to go back. Some minor negatives. The special holiday brunch menu was not very well thought out or desirable and we were told we could not order off the regular brunch menu, which was the only reason we even wanted to try this place. We considered going elsewhere but we already had a reservation. We asked someone else and they said we could get a regular benedict instead of a lobster benedict, which worked out because that's what we both wanted anyway. They also only posted the special brunch menu the day before when most places do it at least a week in advance and also let you order off both menus. My friend didn't think the bathroom was nice, sufficient at best. Also, it's bizarre that they have a nice pepper grinder and a bottle of San Pellegrino on the table but then have a big plastic container of grocery store salt there instead of a nice shaker or grinder. Just one of those common sense things that bugs me.
(4)Amu N.
Good food taste :-) Great hospitality. :-) Very few veg items on menu:-( Great location. :-)
(4)Debbie B.
A perfect spot on Beacon street to sit outside and people watch. Our service was a bit slow but perked up when we thought he forgot about us. I had a delicious grapefruit vodka,champagne cocktail. My lunch was a very well made chipotle BBQ chicken salad. Wow!! Great flavors. I chose a vinaigrette instead of the ranch dressing. Worked well. Hubby had a well made grey goose and tonic. Refreshing! He ordered the Mediterranean salad w/grilled shrimp. Ample portions. We would and maybe will come back tomorrow. Sunday brunch looks very promising!! p.s. we went back for brunch on Sunday. Perfect!!
(4)courtney k.
Yelp nation was right again! Fish and chips were great... we have 2 kids under 2 and the ladies here were happy to serve them :) p.s. try the antioxidant martini it's a winner
(4)E. A.
A great option when you want to eat somewhere a little nicer than Silvertone, but not as nice as Mooo. Yay: Tasty tasty food. Very well executed. Varied menu Decent prices, even on drinks Casual atmosphere Great service Nay: The open kitchen feels a little too open, too close to the dining tables. The place has that "fish 'n' chips" smell characteristic of un-ventilated restaurants. But, some people probably dig that, and it wouldn't keep me from returning because the Yays clearly outweigh the Nays here.
(4)Alicia S.
Boston restaurant search at 3pm on a cloudy Sunday afternoon. Beacon Hill, $-$$, American (Traditional), Open Now Result: Scollay Square. We walked into the joint at 4pm (still considered lunch) and took a seat. One Boston Lager later we had the Goat Cheese appetizer & Lobster Mac and Cheese in front of us. Hello! The Goat Cheese Appetizer was a tasty little delight (see Laura J.'s review for the description that convinced my sister to order it. Yum...thank ya lady!) but we needed more bread! Not a problem, more was grilled up & brought to us right away. We split the Lobster M&C which was just fine for the portion size and it being lunch. The lobster pieces are small but that's fine because they're in every bite! Curly noodles, cheesy-cheese and a creamy drippy mess of delish...just what the doctor ordered.
(4)Marilyn T.
I think the first time I heard about Scollay Square may have been on (dare I say) phantom gourmet a long time ago? It was if chow hound... Anyway, this hidden place in Beacon Hill is worth the trek. It's a small place, so make a reservation on their website (no Open Table). I love the more modern cocktails they have. The sparkling pink grapefruit was my favorite - grapefruit vodka, sparkling wine, a splash of ruby red grapefruit juice. The lemon one is good, too, but sweeter. They also have beers on tap, including Stella. The main entrees seemed like a lot of one thing, so we went with a lot of small dishes... - Blackened scallops: $11.50 for 5 diver scallops, blackened with Cajun spices, seared without being burnt, sweet inside. Really good value. - Onion soup: sweet caramelized onion beef broth, well seasoned but not too salty, gruyere crouton on top, could have been hotter. - Shrimp dumplings: I don't usually get this stuff at American restaurants, but the steamed shrimp dumplings had big chunks of shrimp and were lightly fried on be bottom. The dumpling skin had a nice bite, and the dipping sauce was awesome. - Mac n cheese: add lobster ($16 total) or prosciutto and truffle oil. Actual Mac is cavatelli, al dante, which is rare for mac n cheese. It's appropriately cheesy, and the sauce isn't too wet. Everything really hit the spot after a long walk on a cold winter day. I like the open kitchen and the cozy feel. It's good for a date or for groups, but it's not that big. Everything was priced really reasonably, and it's definitely a Beacon Hill gem!
(4)Catherine D.
Came here a few weeks ago. Not bad--I had the macaroni and cheese with artichoke hearts and spinach (made it seem slightly healthy?). Portions are a little too big, so I took most of it home. The interior is kind of cute. No strong negatives or positives to say about this place. A good restaurant for when you don't know where else to go for dinner.
(3)Michael W.
Shrimp Dumplings & Mac N Cheese with Buffalo Chicken. Very good.
(4)Chris H.
Had lobster mac and cheese and the tuna burger. The burger has seaweed salad on top, which was a nice touch. Both were very good. Comfortable space and friendly staff.
(4)Melissa F.
My friend and I came here for a hearty breakfast before heading to the Harpoon brewery. I love brunch, mostly because I don't get to have it often, so when I get to it better be damn good or I will be one unhappy customer. Ended up picking Scollay Square and I was so glad I did. Love the decor with the old pictures on the walls. Gives the place a lot of charm. We were seated quickly and placed our order since we were both starving. We both got the Scollay Square Breakfast and ate the whole thing. Their coffee is really good too (strong just how I like it. Had like 3 cups) We didn't try the bloody mary bar since we were going to be drinking beer later, but I definitely will try it next time I go. It was quite an impressive spread with all the different hot sauces and fixings. They have very reasonable prices and you get a lot of food. I'm a fan and will be returning
(4)Ganee F.
I would now consider us regulars, as we venture up to Scolly Square at least once every two weeks. The food is phenomenal and the prices are great, too. Also can't forget to mention the best brunch menu around (with a make-your-own Bloody Mary bar)!
(5)Johnny Z.
Lobster roll is great.
(3)Diana C.
I'm a tad disappointed as I had high hopes based on the reviews. ATMOSPHERE: decor is dated. Definitely not a classy feel - the tv's playing at the bar made me feel like I was in a sports bar. Lot of older folks eating at this restaurant as well. SERVICE: nice waitress/hostess but I agree with another reviewer that they get really annoying after a while because they check in on you every 5 minutes, interrupting the conversations. Also there was one time when another staff member came to clean plates off our table and we said we were still working on some fries - she kinda flipped out. She went to the waitress angrily who was standing behind us and said 'I thought you said they were done!' That made us really uncomfortable. After we paid for the bill, we stayed to chat. There was absolutely no service from them whatsoever even though our cups were empty. I guess that's not a huge deal but I thought it was a little rude. We gave them like a 20% tip so it wasn't like we were stingy. FOOD: it came out really fast which was good! lobster mac and cheese: my friends said they could make it better themselves. very watery and not creamy enough. fish and chips: very good! flaked nicely. very crispy. comes w/ cole slaw and fries. calamari: different kick with the banana peppers, but other than that nothing special scallops: slightly overcooked but really good taste - whatever spices they used it worked.
(3)Sharon L.
I love Scollay Square. The food is excellent and the atmosphere is fun. The dining experience on the patio in the summer is great. I would highly recommend the buffalo chicken mac & cheese. Scollay's bartender, Brian, is excellent! My favorite drink is a skinny margarita and Brian squeezes fresh limes to make the drink (unlike other bars that use lime juice from a bottle) and it is amazing. If you go to Scollay and Brian is bartending, definitely order a drink, you won't be disappointed.
(5)Camila P.
Went here with my family on Sunday for brunch. I was planning on getting the eggs benedict but convinced myself to get the Tosta Parma Prosciutto sandwich. My father got the Thai Chicken and Shrimp, and my mother got the Scollay Square Breakfast. Everything tasted great (especially the dressing that they put on the greens) but I regret not getting the Eggs Benedict. The service was great, our waiter always checked back with us to see if everything was okay and made a few jokes. Overall, a positive experience and a great Sunday brunch in Beacon Hill! If I lived in Boston, I would come here more often.
(4)Donna S.
Kinda hidden between state house and Suffolk university. Excellent scallop dish. Good pear salad. Nice eclectic menu, just the right things to make it interesting. Good service and food.
(4)Victoria R.
Having been to Scollay Square at least a dozen times and for every meal possible, I can say that is hands down my go-to on Beacon Hill right now. The lunch crowd is always hopping with state house staffers, lobbyists, and a whole host of "who's who" in politics, which can make for some great people watching. The dinner vibe is more casual and relaxed, especially on the weekends. And then, there's brunch.... uh-mazing. Having tried at least half the menu items, I can say without a doubt that the spinach and artichoke mac and cheese is a must-try diet-killer. On the lighter side, the chipotle bbq chicken salad is a great lunch time option, as well as the turkey chutney panini. With a group, the steamed edamame is a wonderful appetizer (although very filling!). And if you're so inclined, be sure to check out the cocktail menu - the detox is a personal favorite, although i always seemed to walk out much more "toxed" than "detoxed".... I digress. Service is always wonderful, and I love that I've seen the same handful of people working every time I visit since I started going about five years ago. If you haven't been yet, you have to try -- you won't be disappointed!
(4)Andrew J.
I've been coming to Boston for many years and somehow I missed this place, but I am so glad I found it! The atmosphere is pub-like, and quite loud, but the service and the food drowns all of that out. This place may have the best fish and chips I've ever had (and I've sampled a lot). Flaky, not greasy at all, and accompanied by a delicious tartar sauce. If you're in the Beacon Hill area, and even if you're not, you have to come to this place.
(5)Tiana M.
Everything we tried was so flavorful and masterfully plated! For the first course we ordered the Shrimp Dumplings, steamed with the spicy ponzu sauce. Yum! My boyfriend ordered the Rare Seared Filet Mignon of Tuna (Teriyaki Marinated, Wasabi Restuffed Baked Potato, Crispy Wonton Strips, Sesame, Chili Oil) and it was so so SO good! Luckily he grabbed the last filet, even though I wanted the same! I had the Miso Glazed Salmon Filet (Shaved English Cucumber, Sauteed Spinach, Jasmine Rice) and the salmon was cooked to perfection. The sides for all plates were so tasty too. I was really surprised how delicious everything was. The decor was very cute and the ambiance laid back and warm. Too bad I was so full - I was really craving the Chocolate Chip Cookie Sliders with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. Next time!
(5)Stacy D.
My boyfriend found this on Yelp when we visited Boston in late February. We went because the prices were reasonable, and the reviews were fantastic. What a great find! We arrived, with a party of five and no reservations at 7:30 on a Saturday night. The hostess was able to seat us right away, which seemed an impossibility. We ordered calamari (served with grape tomatoes, banana peppers and an aioli) and guacamole to start, and both were fantastic. The calamari was the best I've had. The guacamole was also great - very fresh and creamy. Between the five of us, we ordered the fish and chips, seared scallops, seared ahi tuna and french onion soup. Everything was cooked perfectly. The scallops were lightly seared and had a great flavor, accompanied by risotto (creamy but not gooey, as it should be) and spinach. The teriyaki-marinated tuna was served with wasabi mashed potatoes and crispy wonton strips. The tuna was cooked perfectly, and although spicy, had an excellent flavor. The wonton strips provided an interesting texture juxtaposition to the potatoes. The fish and chips, were battered lightly and not greasy. This traditional dish came with french fries and coleslaw, and a scallion leek tartar sauce. My friend said the french onion soup was very good, but that is the one dish I did not try. The service was great and the place has a nice aesthetic - an open kitchen, attractive bar, and a relatively quiet atmosphere (due in part to the adequate spacing between tables) - which is thoughtful, considering it is a small space. I have worked in the food industry and eaten at a multitude of places around the country: many of which I love. This is the first time I have written a review - Scollay Square is that good.
(5)Brian S.
There's nothing entirely special about this place and was one of the more forgettable meals that my girlfriend and I shared in Boston. She got the scallops and I got the fish a chips.While they were both cooked decently, I think we expected a bit more factoring the price and reviews.
(2)David K.
Brunch. Steak and eggs: steak a cheap cut, might as well have been steamed for all the sear they got on it. Eggs over medium were a bit beyond that. Hash browns tasty but apparently from the freezer. English muffin served with no jam and just tasted weird. Stuffed French toast: weirdly bitter, served with fake syrup. Really lacking in meaningful flavor. A truly disappointing brunch.
(2)Andrew R.
Whatever you do, no matter what, any time you're here, day or night, at all hours of the day, regardless of what else is going on either in your life or around you at that moment, never hesitate, not for a second, not for a fraction of a second, never hesitate to order the Miso Salmon. No grammatically error-prone run-on sentence could possibly express that sentiment better.
(4)Fernando K.
Great for lunch! Fried calamari was the best we've had in Boston. Lobster Benedict was superb. Very well prepared, simple and light Haddock. Highly recommended food. Ambiance was so-so; restaurant also a little dark.
(4)Mike D.
Went for brunch. The eggs benedict were good. The blueberry french toast was ok and not nearly blueberry enough for me. The bacon, and I don't know how you do this, wasn't good. It was in that no man's land of not being crispy or fatty. They have a good little patio to sit outside when the weather is nice. It certainly wasn't cheap but I think most items were priced fairly.
(3)Jennifer C.
Super friendly and comfy spot- the food was pretty good. Buffalo chicken dip is to die for if you're not watching calories! The overall feel of the place is pretty chill and the chef is willing to spill a couple secrets when asked. The food is really reasonably priced, but the drinks are a bit overpriced, especially for the limited mixology selections. If you're not a drinker this will be a $$ restaurant- the cocktails step up the bill considerably. Mostly, just loved the staff and would come back in a heartbeat!
(4)Marcus W.
I would say this is one of the better and more unknown places in Boston. They have a great vibe and a solid staff. You can go for an after work relaxed drink or a nice sit down date. Either way you are going to have a nice time. Their food is quality but not over priced. I recommend their Calamari, their bay scallops and risotto are fantastic but don't bother with their three cupcake dessert dry and not worth it. Their alcohol service is quality ranging from good cocktails to quality wines. The only problem is that their alcohol is a little pricier than i think its worth but not to the point of excess. As long as your not looking for an upscale night this is really the relaxed atmosphere perfect for most people.
(4)Michael C.
I took two colleagues here for lunch today before running them over to Logan. Once again I was not disappointed by the food. Oven roasted goat with ciabatta cheese in a tomato sauce was fantastic as was the roasted turkey sandwich. Bloody Mary's are spicy but not over the top. My only real complaint was the wait staff that seemed annoyed that we were taking too long despite the fact the place was half empty. This seems to be common complaint by yelpers. Too bad since the food and atmosphere are terrific.
(4)Dani M.
Love this place! First of all, all the servers are so friendly and polite, that always makes my day. I've been here a few times and the food has always been outstanding! The mac and cheese is a favorite as well as the ahi tuna. I think it's safe to say you'll never be disappointed here. Even the cocktails are fun and delicious! The outdoor seating is a plus in the summer, great people watching. I'm looking forward to going back for brunch, I've heard great things about their bloody mary bar.
(5)CW W.
I asked my bf to take me somewhere that offered a tasty mac n cheese with lobster meat. He looked up reviews and found this place, sadly it was not good. We were seated promptly and the waitress who served us was very nice and friendly. The place was not that busy when we came in around 6pm on a Saturday but were surprised how long our food took. Our waitress apologized for the delay because she said there was a big party that came in before us but sadly I did not believe her. A table of 6 beside us ordered after us and they got there food first (we both ordered appetizers) and a table they sat down after us, they got there food shortly after we got ours. It just didn't seem right. The decor of this place is very drab and old, it could really use some updating. My bf and I both ordered onion soups and that was good. My bf got the hangar steak special while I got the lobster mac n cheese. The hangar steak special was $25 and for what he got, not worth it at all, way overpriced by at least $8-$10 dollars. There wasn't that much and the taste was bland. My lobster mac n cheese was worse. The macaroni was a little hard still, there wasn't that much lobster meat and barely any cheese. Oh and there were breadcrumbs or something sprinkled on top that were really, really hard not like the crunch I would expect, more like stale. Again this dish was overpriced for what I got at least $3-$5 dollars. We ended the meal splitting a piece of red velvet cake with chocolate ganache which was very sweet and rich but pretty good. A big disappointment for us and we wont be returning. As always try it yourself and never take me word.
(2)Jen M.
Scollay Square has due good service and beautiful decor. Love the authentic architectural details and memorabilia that matches the name. The food, however, leaves a lot to be desired. Overall, it seemed as if management was cutting corners to save money. What was good was served in such small portions (nobody at our table was a big eater, either) that we were hungry afterward. And what was tasteless or just plain bad was in ample portions -- granted, the bread was free but don't bother! Just one example: Cobb salad -- for $12.50 it should've been entree-size but with a tablespoon of bacon bits (they had to be -- couldn't have been real meat!), no chicken, and very little of everything else, it was skimpy. Oh, except for the dressing. They poured it on to makeup for the lack of ingredients! Nice location and maybe a place to get a drink (they were fine, by the way) but go somewhere else to dine.
(2)Molly K.
Went out for drinks and apps with a friend last week at Scollay Square...had some delicious drinks (The Absolut Lemonade made of Absolute Citron, St. Germaine, fresh Lemon and Champagne...also known as delicious) with some tasty apps of guac and pulled pork sliders with cole slaw. They also offer outdoor dining in the warm months and a great business lunch! Pictures and more on -- ----
(4)Lisa P.
Impeccable service. Food was perfectly cooked and seasoned. Portions were good size. Great wine list too! I thoroughly enjoyed my time there.
(5)Jessie N.
Took my gf here last NYE for dinner and it was great. The ambiance was nice and the food tasted good.
(4)Eric B.
Where to have lunch near the State House is a good question. There are lots of choice, but one I've overlooked for years was better than average, quite comfortable, and featured an impressive wine list with better than average selections for wines by the glass, which are a great option when you don't want to get totally loaded during the day. This was a business lunch for me so I wanted to be sure I had both sox on and strained to not dip my tie into the salad while chatting and munching. Later I would discover I had left my wallet at home, thus destroying the carefully honed ambiance leading to my client graciously bailing me out by paying (which I immediately repaid by check). We split a lovely Beet Salad with Goat Cheese, which was tasty, though maybe a bit light on the goat cheese and beets. It all could have been in my guest's half - I'll go with that. My out-of-season lobster roll, though, was quite delicious, not heavy on the mayonnaise, but a nice blend of lobster, celery and other spices in a hotdog-like roll. Her tuna burger appeared excellent, a perception that was affirmed by its prompt disappearance between glasses of Pinot Grigio. Ambiance is on the formal side, a warm wooden hue pervades the dining room which features shards of natural light filtering in from Beacon Street. Not a place I would necessarily place in heavy location - but certainly not a restaurant I would shy away from. Parking is available, though a bit pricey, at one of the ubiquitous VPNE lots next door. Don't even think about parking illegally, as my mommy said - you'll be sorry. Try Scollay Square for a bit of variety in your downtown dining repertoire, to me more of a restaurant for a business meet-up than for dinner with my sweetie.
(4)Jon D.
Nice selection of draft and bottled beers. Friendly bartender. My gf was unimpressed with the white grape martini (basically just vodka and grape juice) but my Tom Collins was very good. Decent wine list. Pan fried shrimp dumplings were excellent. I thought the dipping sauce was unnecessary; they were so good, they didn't need anything. The oven roasted goat cheese was perfect, and I'm not typically a fan of cheese. Fish and chips were a high-quality version of the standard dish. Nothing surprising, nothing weird. Seared day boat scallops were cooked perfectly and served with a very good risotto. Vanilla bean cheesecake was good, as were the chocolate chip cookie ice cream sliders. Nothing to knock your socks off, but a nice finish on a hot day. The original Scollay Square (torn down long ago and built over with the Government Center) was the location of the Howard Theatre, an infamous burlesque house. The decor of the restaurant is reminiscent of that, with old photos of the area, pictures of burlesque dancers, framed tasseled pasties, etc. Quirky but subtle and tasteful, and if you're not looking for it you might not even notice. Good location, nice decor, very good food. Recommended.
(4)LeAnne L.
Friends and I were staying at the Omni Parker Hotel, and the concierge recommended this place for brunch. This was one of the best brunches I've had in a while. I started with a bacon bloody mary that was well balanced and had a kick without being too spicy. I originally was just going to get the fruit plate, but our server said that I might want more food. The fruit was fresh and amazing, and the bowlful filled me up. I ended up taking my bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich home. Later that day when I was hungry again, I reheated the sandwich and it was SO GOOD. It was very flavorful and satisfying. All-in-all, it was a great visit!
(5)Andrew D.
Right next door to Mooo, which was one of the best meals of my life so it was a little tough to walk inside here instead of going one door down. Anyway, we went on a Tuesday night and it was pretty empty except for a few people at the bar. Maybe 2 other tables filled, and they sat us literally right next to those 2 and left the rest of the place wide open. I understand you want to keep the diners close so the waitress doesn't have to walk around too much extra, but no need to sit me in someone elses lap. Started with the spinach artichoke dip. The dip itself was solid, could have been a little warmer, but one of the better ones I've had lately. One of biggest things that kills me about dips/nachos/etc is stale chips and they had a few on the plate. I got the salmon which was awesome and date had the lobster ravioli that was huge and she enjoyed. Would recommend this as an after work place to get a burger and beer at the bar or as a date spot maybe on the weekend when its a bit more alive.
(3)Matt M.
Great food, even better prices. Git one of the largest and most flavorful swordfish steaks I've ever seen. And it came on top of a Lobster Rissotto. Definitely would go back.
(4)Morgan L.
We had a great experience and a fun time at Scollay Square. We were there for dinner and loved everything about it. The spinach artichoke dip is lovely and definitely use the bread more than the chips when eating it. The cuts of meat were cooked very well and to order! Our waitress was so sweet and a lot of fun! Just an all around good time! I will be taking other visitors back there!
(5)Christopher N.
I have not eaten a full meal here, but based on the appetizers, wine, location, and service, this place is amazing. It was a weekday visit and the service was great. Laid back waitress, yet attentive. The crowd was mostly upscale, as you would expect downtown. Must confess, I have not been inside, but the patio was great. The appetizers were surprisingly large proportions and flavorful at that! Really, in downtown Boston, that surprised me. I recommend highly and will update when I actually have a full meal here.
(4)Alex K.
Let me start by saying I came here for dinner and I very well could have just ordered the wrong thing on the menu. I would be willing to give Scollay another try. When looking for a new place to try in the Beacon Hill area near my friends place we settled here , based solely on the yelp reviews and the fact that we had seen quite a crowd a few times. With all of the great food in Boston, I wish we had gone somewhere else for my last meal back in Boston. I got the fish and chips and it was just a really standard, nothing special dish. The menu seemed pretty basic and the place was absolutely dead . We were literally the only ones in the restaurant which is so surprising since it was the day after Patriots Day and all of the reviews. I would be willing to try again but the menu wasn't overly impressive and both my meal and my friends (she got some sort of flatbread) were above average at best. Maybe we should try it for brunch next time.
(3)Margot N.
We don't dine in Boston often, but when we do - we go to our standard favorites. This time we wanted to experience something new. How to find a fabulous dining experience on or near the Common or Beacon Hill with fabulous cuisine, atmosphere and service . . . . well thanks to Yelp, we identified our target as Scollay Square and we were not disappointed. We went for dinner - got the table of our choice. Lovely, vintage atmosphere that offers options for large groups of friends and associates, as well as smaller, more intimate parties. Our waiter Tom, helped us with food and wine selections - which featured a soy ginger salmon that was grilled to perfection and their roasted cider brine chicken which was tender and moist (filet) with a delectable sage shallot sauce and an amazing assortment of vegetables including Japanese eggplant. Tom's recommendation of the Austrian white wine (one of their offerings by the glass) was a perfect pairing with the salmon, which surprised me - who typically drinks pinot grigio or chardonnay. I'm told they're particularly well known for their marinated steak tips and NY sirloin - and many diners near us seemed to be ordering and enjoying them. All in all, Scollay Square is a divine, hidden gem! We'll definitely return for a romantic dinner or with a group, as they accommodate both nicely (they also offer Al Fresco dining in season).
(5)Vanessa V.
Great brunch! The food, drinks, atmosphere, and service were all awesome. We had two egg sandwiches, the crabcake benedict, and stuffed french toast that we all split and it was all delicious. The bacon bloody marys are also great. Great for people-watching on a sunny day - we sat outside and it was lovely. We were mistakenly given regular french toast at first, but the waiter noticed this, brought us stuffed french toast a couple minutes later, and let us eat the regular french toast for free too. The manager, Chris, gave us excellent food recommendations and was very friendly, as was our waiter. I came here for lunch a while back, too, and that was also very good.
(5)Andy M.
Arrived in Boston late on a Saturday and went looking for a place to slam a few drinks down and a bite to eat close to the Hotel. Started off with the Buffalo Chicken Dip which was good but hot - went well with the Guinness I was drinking. For entree's we had the Thai Chicken and Shrimp and Steak. Both were excellent. Great place for drinks and a good meal. Service was excellent and never had to ask for a beer.
(4)Lindsey M.
While poking around downtown we stopped in for brunch, yelp almost never steers me wrong! I had the Scollay Square special with scrambled eggs and bacon, & I really liked the scallions on top and the texture of the eggs was light and fluffy. The lemon dressing on the side salad was also excellent. My boyfriend raved about the lobster eggs Benedict but since I'm allergic to shellfish, I was unable to confirm. The blueberry stuffed french toast also looked good but the consensus was that the cream cheese was tasty on the first slice but became a bit too sweet to finish the other two. The bloody mary bar will be something I'd love to try in the future, I had a mimosa but wasn't blown away. I'd rate the drink three stars, but everything else was excellent.
(4)Marissa S.
Getting here isn't easy and parking is limited so if you are meeting friends leave yourself a little extra time. We didn't sit outside but they have a great outdoor patio. For a starter, I had the Grilled Parma Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus with Fresh Mozzarella and Balsamic Syrup..YUM! People often mess up cooking asparagus, this was crisp and flavorful. For my brunch entree I had the Monterey Jack & Portabella Omelette served with Hash Browns and Lemon Dressed Greens. I'll be honest, I don't know what came over me when I ordered that. I really dislike mushrooms and would never have normally ordered it but I just felt like an omelet. I'm so glad I did because it was delicious! The egg was nice and fluffy the hashbrowns were crisp and the greens were a nice addition for brunch. The mushrooms, you might ask, I actually liked them! For dessert I ordered their strawberry shortcake. Wow. Good. Everything was very fresh and tasted like it was just made -- meaning it hadn't been sitting under a warmer or anything. If you are looking for a fun brunch location downtown I would highly recommend Scollay Square. Full Disclosure: I Attended a brunch event here with Boston Brunchers ( bostonbrunchers.com ) which means my meal was complimentary, however, this review is 100% my own thoughts of the experience.
(5)Brian D.
I came here the other week for lunch when meeting a work contact. I have lived in beacon hill for many years but have never made it up the hill to check this place out, glad we did today. Small selections for lunch but everything I had was quite good. I enjoyed their onion soup on a cold, rainy day and the fish sandwich I ordered on special was quite good. If you are a potato chip kinda person, definitely check this place out. I opted for the chips than fries and I was gives a huge handful of fresh fried chips. Great atmosphere, I will likely be back!!
(4)April T.
Unreal oven roasted goat cheese w tomato purée appetizer and both the swordfish and cod are my go-to's but by far the best part are the Chocolate Chip Cookie Sliders w amaaaazing chocolate sauce. This is a hidden gem in Beacon Hill and probably my favorite restaurant in Boston.
(5)Kristin W.
Came here for brunch while on a recent visit and WOW! The service was impeccable, the food was absolutely wonderful and the general atmosphere was warm. If I lived in Boston, I would be here at least once a week! Ordered the Eggs Benedict and I can honestly say it was the best I have ever had. Light, fluffy and savory at the same time. The hash browns we perfect and the mimosas flowed like a...boozy river? Yeah they were good. Our server, and I feel endless guilt for not recalling her name, gave us some great suggestions for areas to visit and things to try. I thought our bill was beyond reasonable. Can't wait for my next visit to Boston - you are all wonderful people and your streets are pleasantly clean - and to visit this place again!
(5)K T.
Eggs Benedict -- egg is NOT runny :-( Four of us ordered eggs bene and were all very disappointed with hard yolks. My other friend got an omelet and the cheese was not even melted and her hash brown was hard.. Service was good, bloody mary bar is good and the atmosphere is cool. Just don't order the eggs bene!
(2)Brad S.
This place was great. My wife ordered the buffalo mac and cheese and it was Awesome! I had the seared tuna and it was also very good. Reasonably priced I would definitely go back. The Manager Chris came by the table and was very personable and professional! Great Restaurant!
(5)Jamie G.
I really enjoyed my time here and can't wait to come back! My reason for the visit was the Mad Men premiere costume party they were throwing. For $30, we got 2 cocktails, passed appetizers, and 2 hr TV watching, with the sound on and the show on all their TVs. The cocktails were delicious- I had the Old Fashioneds... they were made perfectly, made with Woodford Reserve- a delicious whiskey. Then later I had woodford reserve on the rocks with a twist of orange. Also delicious. All the passed apps were delicious too- chicken skewers, fresh baked potato chips, etc. The staff were incredibly friendly, especially our bartender. I hope to come back every Sunday, because they will have the TVs on for Mad Men viewing. Win.
(5)Shelagh M.
DEAR LORD THIS PLACE IS GOOD. I went with 5 people and we got a little bit of everything: Kobe Sliders Broiled Scallops Prosciutto and Truffle oil Mac and Cheese Rare seared Tuna Chocolate chip cookie sliders The ambience was sexy and fun at the same time. I heard this place is great for after-work drinks as well. The impeared martini was very sweet, but you kind of have to expect that. I had the antioxidant martini the second time I went, which is absolute perfection. My friend had an Old Fashioned and loved it. Bartender Will is the greatest!
(5)Peggy K.
Never again... Boston was amazing, the vibe, the shopping, the breweries, the many delicious restaurants! EXCEPT, THIS PLACE. I'm sorry. I really tried to like this place after my friend found it on yelp, and saw the place with the nice hostess in front ( Hello, Caitlin! sorry for the wrong spelling ). We had reservations that was in 15 mins, and decided to wait outside for our table. Seeing some tables outside enjoying there meals, relaxing with their coffee and mimosa's we asked if can just take a table outside. The hostess said "Sure!" and sat us down, and said the waiter will come out with our menus in a bit. A bit was like 10 mins. Okay no problem. It was nice outside. Our waiter comes by, throws the 4 menus down on the table and says "Hi, what can I get for you to drink?" I ordered a mimosa, after noticing the table in front had about 6 glasses of it, having a good old time. The Mister ordered another drink, that I can't remember at this time, and the others just got water. Ok... 15 mins later our waiter, ( oh did I mention his name?? Sorry, I later found out from the hostess that his name is Bradley or was it Brandon? WTF something that starts with a B, and he didn't introduce himself to us, so I don't care what his name is)... So let me go on... Ok, 15 mins later he comes by with the water and the Mister's drink and tells me that they ran out of mimosa glasses so it's gonna be awhile... Ok, in my mind I see the table in front with 6 glasses that are empty. How about f'ing taking them and cleaning them for your customers... Hmmm... That would be stupid of him to do because he seems to not do that type of work! ( Ahem, bussing tables, or even think about washing a dish) I ask him for a coffee, and he says "sure." We also give him our order and that took another 20 mins. In between that time frame, I did get my mimosa in a HUGE wine glass... Ok, got the mimosa. The coffee is now gonna be tricky. We got our food by another waitress. I ordered the Scollay breakfast, nothing fancy, with a hash brown that looked like it dropped on the floor and stepped on. NICE! Mister and our other friend ordered the steak and eggs that was really good! Looked good, and tasted good! ( Get that if you dare go to this place! ) My other friend ordered an omelet. She didn't say much, which is surprising because she usually goes off saying how good something is if it was. I guess it wasn't... Moving on~ Coffee, oh coffee...where are you? My friend noticed the manager Chris making the rounds outside, She called him over and the Mister told him that I ordered coffee 20 mins ago, and still haven't got it. He apologized, and said he will bring it right over. After a minute, he came back and said that they are brewing a fresh pot and he will bring it right over. Another 5 mins later, I got my stinking coffee, by another waiter who was the main guy taking care of the outdoor area. If only we had him... Maybe our experience would of been different... We saw our waiter inside with a table next to us. After getting our checks, my friend and I went to the ladies room, before heading out for some shopping. The bathroom is located in the basement after passing the kitchen. While coming back up the stairs we heard our waiter and the hostess talking. Our waiter was bitching about his table full of asians... UMmm... what?? Really? The hostess saw us leaving so she just started walking behind us. Before leaving, I asked her what did he say about the table full of asians? She said "oh, he didn't say anything." I told her that we heard him, and she said that he wasn't speaking about us. Okay, fine. Even if he wasn't speaking about us, and maybe the table that was next to us, why even say that?! Seriously, I just didn't want to push it any furthur with this place. BAD EXPERIENCE, WITH A JACKASS WANNABE WAITER.
(1)Ellen C.
Yummmmmmmm. Seriously. Yummmmmmmm. This restaurant is great - it's intimate and can work as a date place. But it's still casual and fun for friends who are just getting together. It's got a great vibe to it and the area it's in is absolutely charming. The neighborhood is one of those places you would just want to settle down in and raise those kids in. We ordered different entrees and tried everything, and there was not ONE dish that we didn't think tasted anything less than delicious. Ranking them, let's talk about the best from start to finish. Scallops & leek risotto was fabulous. The seared scallops were done perfectly - seared with this caramelized, pan fried outside and medium to rare center. The scallops' sweetness paired so well with the savory leek risotto, which was also done to perfection with its seasoning, its doneness, its creaminess. Seared tuna with wasabi potatoes and spinach was YUM. The only thing that I would comment on is the fact that they don't really mix in the wasabi completely, so there will be times when you get more green than you would like in your mashed potatoes. But when you get a bite with the tuna, a well mixed bit of potatoes, and some spinach? Along with some chili and sesame oil at the bottom of the plate, it's fantastic especially the quality of the tuna. As a sushi lover, this was awesome. Blackened swordfish over jalapeno potatoes was surprising tender and fresh. I generally dislike swordfish due to its rubbery texture when it's even slightly overdone, but this dish was fantastic. The jalapeno potato pieces combined with the tender swordfish were flavored to the nines, delicious. The lobster mac n' cheese was okay. I didn't taste the lobster but the mac n'cheese itself was well seasoned and the cheese was quality, but I'm not a HUGE fan of mac n' cheese so this dish didn't really blow me away. Either way, when I come back to Boston, I would absolutely come back to this restaurant, especially on a date!
(5)Bree J.
This place was so fantastic, I still can't get over it. It was my first time visiting Boston my husband and I stumbled on this place while walking near the Boston Commons area. For appetizers I got the arborio crusted calamari and grilled pear salad. Both were phenomenal!! I wanted to order seconds but I had to keep my stomach in check. For dinner I got the lemon basted swordfish chop. There is so much to say about this dish I don't even know where to begin! The presentation, the taste, and the very generous portion lobster risotto that came with it, all amazing!!! If I ever come back to Boston I am definitely coming here again!
(5)Jason M.
Put me in the list of people who don't get this place. It's inexpensive. It's high quality food. It's in a great location. It's got a decent atmosphere. So when you go there, why does it look like Armageddon happen and my boyfriend and I are the only ones left (except for the hostess, waitress, cook and bartender)? It deserves a better crowd. A lot of Yelpers complain about Scollay Square being hit or miss in terms of quality... apparently, we had a good night. I can vouch for the oven roasted goat cheese and the mac & cheese with prosciutto & tuffle oil. The boyfriend ordered the fish & chips. Everything was tasty, pipping hot, creative and rather inexpensive. Our kind (and quiet) waitress informed us next time we dine, we'll order the arborio crusted calamari. I like it when people tell me what to do. Especially if what they tell me what to do is delicious. I like it even more so if I have to check twice to make sure I'm spelling arborio correctly.
(4)Danielle W.
I've lived in the area for awhile, but somehow never managed to eat at Scollay Square, which is unfortunate! After visiting twice for brunch within the past month, I'll definitely be coming here more often. Since I've only had brunch, I can't comment on the lunch or dinner menus, but I do plan to check those out. The brunch menu is small and pretty standard, but always delicious. The mimosas are especially delicious, and they always have a "Make Your Own Mimosa Bar" on Saturday and Sundays - an extra bonus! The service is top notch and it's in a wonderful location - right on Beacon Street, across from the Boston Anthenaeum and a stone's throw away from the State House. It's a little out of the way and you won't find it unless you're walking down there, but it's worth the trip! I definitely see it becoming one of my go to brunch spots near my apartment.
(4)Katie W.
HOLY BUFFALO--between the buff chix dip with crispy chips or the mac and cheese, this is the place to come to satisfy your buffalo craving!! I could legit drink the buffalo chicken dip--we came as a large group and ordered one for the table...lets just say it didn't stand a chance. Next I split the buffalo chicken mac and cheese and it was perfection! They use cellentani pasta, my personal favorite for mac and cheese, the swirl of the pasta is large enough to pick up the cheesy buffalo goodness while still having a great texture. Will def be back for my buffalo fix!
(5)Jeff S.
Friendly place, nice old boston feel, very speedy service and excellent dinner entrees. All four of us were pleased with our meals. Swordfish, seared tuna and haddock. Delicious.
(4)Saba N.
Had a great time here! When I first walked in.. I was a little skeptical. Although we arrived pretty early.. it was a ghost town. never a good sign. The decor also wasn't really my taste, so I kind of figured I stumbled upon the lamest restaurant in all of beacon hill. Boy, was I wrong. First of all, my drink was amazing. Blackberry Bramble. If you like gin, and you like fresh fruit.. GET THIS. The food was all really good as well.The seafood was cooked properly and really flavorful. I didn't feel like it was the freshest stuff, but not the worst I've ever had. The lobster mac and cheese is divine (I think really its the cheese sauce that does it for me.. the lobster was just eh). I also had a fantastic dessert. All in all, I was totally happy with this place. I wasn't blown away by any one bite of food, but I also didn't dislike anything. It definitely filled up around 9, and the prices were pretty reasonable. Although it's not exactly my taste, I would come back again.
(4)Amy O.
Went here to celebrate a birthday after a Sox game. In short, I was disappointed. I got the Lobster Mac n Cheese, and being in Boston you expect your seafood is more or less straight off the boat...but the entire dish was terrible..all you could taste was fish, like it wasn't fresh and may have even been frozen first. gross. My friends enjoyed their steak tips, but the veggies were overly salty. Our server was also a total space cadet and didn't exactly seem like she was all there. I was at least happy the manager took notice and removed the Mac from the bill, but this isn't somewhere I'll be returning.
(2)Bill R.
Awesome bloody Mary bar. Not crowded for brunch.
(5)Dandan L.
3.5 star-the quality was quite good, but I don't know if I like it so much that I'm willing to call myself a fan of this restaurant. The location of the restaurant and the history of Scollay Square (the actual square) make this place a good lunch spot to bring your friends who are not from Boston and interested in the culture/history. I came here for a work lunch (not recommended if you have a large group and you actually would like to talk to everyone - too loud for any third person to join the conversation). It took me a while to decide what to order (which rarely happens), since quite a few items on the menu looked worth trying. I finally decided on the Fire Roasted Turkey Sandwich. It was very good, prob the best turkey sandwich I've ever had. I personally HATE dry meat. The turkey in my sandwich was so juicy. The creamy avocado and the sweet cranberry totally enhanced the taste of the meat, with the well-toasted bread. Additional notes: It was an open kitchen setting last time when I visited, so the smell of food was quite strong inside the restaurant. This is one of the reasons why I'm a little hesitated to go again - I'm not a big fan of smelly clothes which might announce my lunch spot in the office for the entire afternoon.
(3)Dror B.
Rare tuna filet was Not great as described. I had better.... There was very little lobster in the Mac and cheese dish. Too much money for what you get....
(1)Angela K.
Four stars is a little high.. but 3 would be too low. Most of their menu is probably way to pricey for my standards but there were some pretty decent brunch deals. Got the stuffed french toast.. very yummy!! Ordered a side a potatoes, decent but not 'amazing'. My companions fries were definitely pretty tasty though. He seemed to enjoy his lobster roll, but made no proclamations about it being absolutely amazing. We lucked out and came in on a very busy day so the service was attentive and the meal was prepared very quickly. Since there was hardly anyone inside, it was a nice quiet relaxing meal. I wasn't blown away by the decor but the place is definitely pretty nice and clean inside.
(4)Amy L.
First time here for Saturday brunch with a group of about 8 including out of town visitors who were looking forward to a delicious brunch with all the spots boston has to offer. Unfortunately we left very unsatisfied and disappointed. Bloody Mary bar was not stocked and didn't even have olives!! Mimosas were cheap (slightly too much oj though) Food: Half ordered lunch dishes and the other order breakfast. 4 out of 4 Eggs benedict dishes had HARD POACHED eggs. not runny! (they did take 2 off the bill) Sandwiches were ok...lettuce tasted dirty. Shorted someone on a hashbrown. Omelette cheese wasn't melted at all. Simple mistakes that shouldn't have happened. Maybe an off day and I'll give it another try...but then again maybe not. Just to say something positive...the people were nice and the service was good.
(2)Becca L.
My colleagues and I are in town for a conference and were out and about downtown when we decided to have dinner. We typed into Yelp - seafood and Scollay was a nearby option. The food was surprisingly decent. Everyone was pleased with their meal. The price is decent from what I can tell but it's the first restaurant I've been to in Boston. We ordered: Lobster Mac n Cheese Seared Ahi Steak Tips Beet and goat cheese salad The lobster mac n cheese was good but heavy. We felt like mac n cheese was more of a side dish than a main course. Seared ahi - surprisingly good (served with a side of wasabi mashed potatoes) Steak tips - they were ok. The sauteed spinach on the side was WAAY salty, the side potato lasagna was alright and the steak was cooked well. I prefer my meat on the rare side. Service was Meh at best.
(3)Cc R.
I've eaten here several times and have been happy every time. I'd probably give it a 3.5 as it's not really stand out, considering that Boston has amazing food everywhere, but I always round up. Their brunch is good, too. I'd definitely suggest it, especially if you want a place where you don't want to take any risks, you just want to have a good, solid meal.
(4)Harri S.
Patio dining makes me feel like I'm in less classy France....or California. I love it. Calamari under the stars? Yes please. Wait, you don't like the tentacles? More for me. Their food is really good, and as it's close by I don't mind ducking in every now and then for take out. Not that I encourage consuming salad as an entree, but if you're ever on a diet, or miss your vegetables in Boston ($2 Cucumbers? Really, Boston? Really?) they make the best salads, with the PERFECT amount of dressing.
(4)Tao L.
We were kind of lost for a map error of yelp when we walked into Scollay Square. We had beef spring roll as app, swordfish and boat scallop as entrees. The food was just moderate even when we were starving. Ginger britton tasted like plain vodka. And it is a little pricey. Poorer experience compared to our dinner at Island Creek Oyster Bar, of which the bill amount was almost the same.
(3)Kristin M.
Saturday morning, rainy and dreary, gearing up for the Pride parade and festivities. Started our day off with brunch and cocktails at Scollay Square. Friends had mimosas and I tried the glorious 'make your own' bloody mary bar - generous vodka pour, about 30 hot sauces and accoutrements to make the drink my own. Delish. Server was great (we were the only table at the time), food was served within about 15 minutes of ordering. Egg sandwiches were huge (2 eggs each) and really better eaten with a knife and fork. Hash browns were the hit of the table. I preferred the lemon dressed greens. Brunch prices were about $12 each and rightfully so. Cozy seating, floor to ceiling windows makes it great for people watching, central location makes it a perfect place to meet friends from different neighborhoods. Happy with our experience, we'll surely be back.
(3)Mark W.
We held a graduation party of 15 guests on May 11. The staff and management were very friendly and accommodating. The service was top notch. The food was so good. We all ordered different things so to list out each item would get silly. Just know that it all was wonderful. If I am ever back in Boston I hope to go back.
(5)Heather G.
Gah! Why is Scollay Square so hit-or-miss!? I can't take it anymore - it's not consistently "good" enough that I think the rating, for me, lands at 2 stars overall. Popped in for dinner with my boyfriend the other night - we wanted something casual without being dive-y, and tasty without breaking the bank. I thought back to my last SS experience and thought this would, again, be a good option. Sadly, though the service was on-point, the food was not. To branch-out on my menu exploration, we went with three items not previously-tried by us. Perhaps I'd just chosen the best items on the menu last time, so this visit was sure to disappoint. Perhaps they were having a bad night. Or maybe, just maybe, this is just the TJ Maxx of restaurants - a hit-or-miss experience where you could leave full and happy, or empty and disappointed. We started with a couple of Hendrick's martinis and an order of calamari, which was THE highlight of the meal. I suggest, if you want to maximize your experience here, wait til it's warm enough to sit on the patio, head on over for some warm-summer-evening cocktails, and munch on some crispy, light, fried calamari. My date and I ordered a cheeseburger (rare) and the lobster mac. The mac had an option to add a side of greens for $3 (which I went for simply to balance out the heaviness of the rest of our cheesy and fried goodies), but the greens turned out to be a child's-fist-sized portion of about 10 dressed leaves, sadly piled to the side of the serving dish. If this is a $3 portion, then the $1.99 Trader Joe's mixed-green bags should actually sell for $45. It was embarrassing to see what I spent $3 on. Please, if you get the mac&cheese, do NOT opt-in for the $3 side of greens. The lobster mac itself ($16) was creamy yet still light, though it had very sparse lobster-chunks (sparse: about 4 for the entire $16 bowl). The burger came cooked closer to well-done than rare, but was still really juicy, as though lots of butter was added while cooking to keep it moist while the precious meat was being cooked to its death. Oddly, it had a too-perfect patty shape, and my boyfriend informed me that apparently some places order pre-ground, pre-formed patties and then add butter to the cooking to add flavor and moisture. I DO NOT KNOW FOR SURE whether Scollay Square does this. What I mean to say is that I suspected, given the juicy/greasy level of the totally-cooked-through-burger and the patty's symmetry. As per usual, the burger bun was chewy and delicious - this one never lets me down. The fries had an off-night, as some were served well-cooked, and others were nearly raw inside (though not frozen...rather, just warm and still-potato-y and hard). Our server - Brett? Brad? - he was hilarious. Jovial, chatty (but not too chatty), friendly (but didn't linger), entertaining. That man was ON HIS GAME. Was this just a REALLY off night? I don't know, perhaps. Am I being too picky? I don't think so. SO, i guess my recommendation would be to stop by for a delicious martini and some calamari on the patio and check out this scene, but consider dinner elsewhere.
(2)Liana P.
AMAZING FOOD! I fell so in love with this place but I am so sad that it's in Boston and NOT in Los Angeles. The prices are great the food is amazing MUST try the mac and cheese!!! If I ever return back to Boston I am def coming back here.
(5)Hayley M.
Perfect spot for a leisurely lunch. Went in with a friend, it was 3:00 pm on a Saturday and the first two spots we went to were closed. My friend used to eat lunch there all the time when she worked in the area. We started off with the edamame. It had a soy/miso glaze and white and black sesame seeds. It was amazing. I have eaten a truckload of edamame in my life and have never tried anything but plain ol' salted. Kudos for the creativity, Scollay Square. I had the ahi tuna salad, which came with a dressing remarkably similar to the edamame. It also had some ginger, wanton strips, and yummy seaweed salad on top. It was really good! That's all I can say. Light but filling and very satisfying. Glad Scollay Square was open this afternoon! People gotta eat, even in the off hours.
(4)Donna J.
Martini was Perfect, service was impeccable and the Lobster Mac and Cheese was very good! Our whole group enjoyed their meals!
(4)Moranda B.
The truffle oil & proscuitto mac and cheese is to die for. All the mac and cheeses are delicious! The restaurant is really beautiful and has a great ambience. Would definitely recommend it. Food also came out really fast!
(5)Cindy W.
Was able to be seated in a big group on the patio on a holiday weekend without any problems. The shade was fantastic on a hot day but the above AC unit dripped water on some our guests. Wait staff was very friendly but they took their time in bringing out our drinks, which included watered down dark and stormies. The food was excellent. Prosciutto truffle oil mac and cheese was divine. The seared ahi tuna with wasabi mashed potatoes was plate licking good! All of the apps and entrees arrived very quickly. Leave room for the fresh homebaked ice cream cookie sandwich with hot fudge. After such a delicious meal and wonderful evening disaster and incompetence struck. It takes 15 min. to get the waitress to bring our check and another 10 min for it to arrive and over 45 mins and 2 visits to check on the processing before we can sign our bill. We did not receive drinks or other accommodations during our wait. 30 mins. into our 45 min. wait and after checking on our bill (first time), we finally were notified by our waitress that their manager could not operate their POS system to split a check evenly. I've seen this successfully done at every establishment from the Four Seasons to the golden arches. I would have loved to recommend Scollay to everyone BUT realistically I can only recommend it to people who enjoy waiting for over an hour without food or drinks and don't have places to go later in the evening.
(2)Summer P.
We went here for the lobster roll, as my husband is not a vegetarian. I was happy to see that they had plenty of vegetarian options as well. The lobster roll was served on toasted brioche and looked to be of very high quality. The pieces of lobster meat were huge, pink and fresh. I was told it was good. I had artichoke heart mac & cheese and it was delicious! Delicate flavors and just a nice, warm meal. Service was a bit aloof, but not bad.
(4)Luci H.
Went here on a Friday night, great outdoor seating. The wait staff wasnt as attentive as they could be, but not bad either. We started with the buffalo chicken and Kobe sliders, and then shared the miso salmon. All were quite tasty, and large portion sizes. We had the chocolate cookie sliders for dessert and OH MY was it good.
(4)Shirley Y.
This place is a hidden gem in the Beacon Hill area, right in the center of town catering to the State House population. Lots of suits here, filling up the high ceilings bar area with camaraderie. I escaped the loud, raucous noise to the outdoor seating area, only to move back in when the rain descended again. Tommy was our server, with very a dry wit. If I wanted to order my friend's drink ahead of time, he could do that if i really wanted to prank him considering that it takes the bar two seconds to pour a beer. If I really am pissed at him, he offered to microwave the beer for him. He's been working crazy 16 hour shifts with an upcoming trip to Munich, and if this service reflects how out of it he is, imagine what he is like when the place is more fully staffed! We are imagining a Speedy Gonzalez moving at the speed of light. Draft beer selection was acceptable. Nothing outlandish or spectacular by any means, so we stuck with the tried and true Lagunitas hoppy ale. We had the famed mac and cheese with the thick cut prosciutto and truffle oil. I think the chef poured half a bottle of truffle oil in there. And here I was thinking I was doing so well with my diet! To accompany our "appetizer" of mac and cheese (it really is an entree), we also succumbed to the Philly cheesesteak spring rolls. Like my friend says, it's like Philly landed in China. Brilliant. Especially with the chipotle ketchup. This food was rich enough for our appetites but we could not help ogling at the food that was passing by us, and reaching other tables. They were beautifully presented, and looked delicious and we were reminiscing (read: imagining) tackling the food order, or doing quality control for the restaurant. We looked at the menu again, and because we were full, we managed to not succumb and order the luscious sirloin chop, the ahi tuna, and many other dishes. They do pasta well here. And their chocolate chip ice cream sandwich looks incredible!
(4)Bobby C.
Had brunch on a Sunday here. We were seated promptly. We were given the dinner menu with the brunch flyer inside the menu. We weren't sure if we were able to order appetizers from the dinner menu. We each got the Scollay Square Breakfast and ordered an appetizer. Our server didn't say anything so we thought maybe one could order from the regular dinner menu. Food was served pretty quickly. That was probably the highlight. Overall food and service was average. We never got our appetizer so it seems you cannot order from the regular menu. We paid and left.
(3)Justin B.
Good service and large portions my meal at Scollay Square was delightful. Causal ambiance with a patio makes this central location a go to place if your hungry. The steak was good but I recommend the onion soup as it was delicious. $55 for two plus tip.
(3)Dylan N.
We went to Scollay Sq on a spontaneous Birthday Dinner. We ordered the Edamame, then my fiancee had the Lobster Mac and Cheese and I had the Tuna Burger w/ the Homemade Potato Chips. The food was incredible. The Mac and Cheese was awesome and the quality and quantity of Lobster was superb. For $16, they put in a lot of Lobster, mostly claw meat, which flakes nicely with the Mac. For an extra $3, we had the mixed greens salad on the side, which was perfectly drizzled with a lemon dressing, really good. The Tuna Burger was great. It was done with a great ginger glaze on this soft amazing roll. The potato chips were perfect, not too greasy and perfectly salted. The service was really good. We had Natalia! She was really nice, quick and attentive. She even gave us this awesome little danish in our to-go bag. We had one of the cheaper wines, by the glass, but really good. The restaurant is situated near the State House up on Beacon, near the Fox 25 studios, Beacon Hill location. It was raining so no outdoor dining, but the interior is nice and cozy. There is ample space between tables and a nice motif for the restaurant. Overall this place was a really good choice and we will continue to go back. My one qualm about the place was the Hostess was also serving as the Expediter and as a Runner, so when you walk in and don't see someone, they will be right with you...we waited less then 1 minute to be sat.
(4)dan g.
Swordfish chop with lobster risotto is the best! I am getting excited just thinking about this meal again. Definitely worth a visit! Might be a good idea to call ahead and make sure they still have some of this left when you decide to go, it runs out fast.
(5)Brandy B.
Fantastic for brunch. In town visiting and found Scollary Square on here. The short rib burrito was fantastic! Omelets were great. Chris, I'm assuming he was the manager, was very nice. Patio area was very nice for Sunday brunch. The group was very pleased with this restaurant.
(5)Josh S.
Really excellent restaurant, although the space feels a little tired. They offer large pieces of fish, the scallops and sides are excellent. During the summer drinks on the patio are great too.
(4)Andrea S.
I was solidly impressed by their brunch. With $4 mimosas and $7 bloody mary's, one could do a fair amount of Sunday morning damage without a huge hit to the bank account. I had never been before, I think because it's off the beaten path and not top of mind. They were able to seat a large party (9) with limited warning. Kudos to the chefs and waitress who did a great job feeding and entertaining us.
(4)AD S.
Definitely one of my favorite Boston restaurant/bars. The building is a throw-back kind of architecture and a fun environment for small or medium-sized groups. I've come here for dinner and brunch. Dinner menu is decent, I got Mac and cheese which was pretty good. I highly recommend the brunch--good food, not too fancy/expensive, tasty. I think they also do $4 mamosas, if one is inclined. I have not been here just for drinks, but their outdoor porch would seem to be a nice place to hang out in the early-mid evening in the area. Anytime you are around the Park/Beacon Hill area, this place is certainly worth checking out!
(4)Sharon K.
I tasted/had new orleans bbq shrimp, chicken satay skewers, braised short rib w/ polenta cake, cheesecake w/ strawberries. 4 stars is a bit of a stretch for me. Can I give 3.5? I dont know what it was but I didnt LOVE this place, though it was very good. The New Orleans BBQ shrimp was highly seasoned - not exactly like the bbq shrimp I have had in New Orleans but the spicy flavors were there, it was a bit saucy for me. Also, I would have liked the bread to be more crisp/toasted. It was supposed to be grilled bread, but it was a bit soggy. Still tasty - the shrimp was cooked perfectly. The chicken satay had a nice grilled flavor, but the meat was a bit dry. I really enjoyed the plum sauce (as opposed to peanut) that came alongside. i really liked my main: the braised short rib. The meat was very tender. I liked the greens - they were smokey/garlicky/and sweet at the same time! I felt like I didn't get to taste the polenta alone because they put the meat on top of it and then there was sauce everywhere. We shared the cheesecake which was just fine. I wish there were more strawberries, the cheesecake felt a little dry without, but still very yummy. I wish I had experimented more with the drink menu (I had a dark and stormy and a glass of wine). I want to go back to try the Key Lime Martini.
(4)Alanna L.
After being stranded by my original host in this strange city (I just arrived & from CA), I have been forced to use Yelp to navigate my way to food. Luckily after frantically searching all over for lobster mac and cheese, Yelp brought me here. I took a subway and walked quite a bit to get here but it was easy to find. I was seated instantly and immediately felt comfortable even though I was alone and a little frazzled. A coffee, side salad and my well deserved lobster mac and cheese later, I am a happy camper. I love the slight lemony flavor to the macaroni dish that just made my mouth happy. The service was wonderful as well. Thank you Scollay Square!
(5)TheBiggestJuiciestPiece a.
Food is excessively heavy and the drinks and service were mediocre. Looks like a good place to grab a few beers after work and maybe a few dishes, but for nothing more. We ordered the buffalo chicken dip, which had indistinguishable clumps of protein (I am still not sure if it was tofu imitating chicken or chicken imitating tofu). The guacamole was good. For entrees I ordered the broiled scallops and my friend ordered the haddock. The haddock was over-cooked and dry. The scallops were overly breaded, the breading was "raw", soggy bread crumbs. It was quite unappetizing. I cannot recommend this to anyone. It was embarrassing to have brought my friend here. I am dumbfounded as to how this place has gotten so many good reviews.
(2)Albert B.
Why is this place never busy? Beats me. Great location. Prices are reasonable. Scallop appetizer is fantastic. Steak is comparable to any high-end restaurant in Boston at a fraction of the cost. I recommend sitting outside if the weather is nice.
(4)Lauren K.
Had the boat scallops to start and they were incredible! Well seasoned and not overcooked (which is always a potential issue with scallops). I also had the miso-glazed salmon over rice, spinach and cucumber slices. Another excellent choice. My friend had the haddock but I can't say it was anything more than bland. Drinks were great, too. I'd definitely go back.
(4)Andrew F.
I have to start off by saying that I can't wait for the warm weather to arrive and for Scollay Square to have outside seating! Arrived at Scollay Sqaure on Saturday afternoon, at the tail end of brunch. Although I did indulge in a mimosa, I opted for the lunch menu. I had a sandwich with prosciutto, mozzarella and greens. It was an excellent preview of summertime flavors. Also tried the buffalo chicken dip - which was the perfect amount of spiciness and creaminess. SO GOOD. They had a make-your-own bloody mary bar featuring different spices, hot sauces and other ingredients. Great for people who enjoy blood mary's (not me though). The service was great - our waitress Wendy was very friendly! Can't wait to go back, and looking forward to enjoying their outside seating!
(4)Rebecca W.
My new favorite neighborhood spot. I've lived on the hill for a few years, and used to avoid Scollay Square because the menu wasn't too inspiring. But when I heard it had been taken over by a new owner, I decided to give it a shot. I'm glad I did. I've had dinner there three times and lunch two times, and every meal has been good. The service quality has varied a little (mostly because there were some new servers), but the management is great and the menu offers a great range of selections. I'm particularly in love with the rare filet of tuna (and the wasabi mashed potatoes) and the grilled pear salad. The atmosphere is great too - the place evokes old Boston in a tasteful way.
(4)Elizabeth W.
A fine restaurant with adequate staff. Although we had reservation we were stuffed into a cramped corner that bordered the kitchen. At one point the waiter (after realizing he forgot to get us small plates) leaned over us and grabbed some from the kitchen - tacky. The food, however, was good. I liked my steak and my husband enjoyed his salmon. It wasn't earth shattering good and I wouldn't go back, but it was well cooked and without flaws.
(3)Lynn W.
I ordered the rare filet of tuna. Incredible! I ate every last bite (and it is quite rare I finish my plate). The wasabi mashed potatoes were just perfect. Every so often you take a bite and get the perfect taste of wasabi. I split the roasted goat cheese appetizer with my friend. All I have to say is that it is like eating a deconstructed grilled cheese and tomato sandwich. There is this delicious tomato sauce on the bottom of the plate that you dip your crostini and cheese into. When we finished the bread we were just eating the sauce up with our spoons. Classy I know. This place is so no frills. Our waiter was super friendly and a little bit silly. The drinks were on point. I want to come back and I was just here a week ago. Yum.
(5)Shaina P.
Three words: Bloody Mary Bar. That's right, folks, choose from three tomato bases, any vodka, a variety of veggies, bitters, and spices! $6 per drink? If only for this feature, I will return here over and over.
(5)Rick K.
Summary: Very disappointing after reading so many good reviews. Time: Monday night, 7:00PM Atmosphere: The place looks fantastic but it was completely dead. The bar was near empty and only 1/4 of the dinner tables busy. Service: Hostess and staff were attentive but not very helpful. The waitress didn't have any opinions about menu items and didn't seem interested in suggesting something. Drinks: Scollay Square Sangria - lime juice, grapefruit juice, sprite and a little white zinfandel - sucked! Entrees: My wife had quite possibly, the worst mac-n-cheese ever. A big bowl full of warmish wet macaroni, watery Velveeta cheese in the bottom of the bowl, and toasted bread crumbs sprinkled on top to make it appear freshly baked. I don't think even the lobster could have helped save this dish. I had the Kobe Meatloaf with mashed potatoes, green beans and Shiitake gravy. The waitress finally broke down and gave this dish the thumbs up saying "I love the gravy". Well, the potatoes and beans were good but it was the most tasteless meatloaf I've ever had and the gravy was a sorry watery mess with not a single mushroom in sight. Maybe we picked a bad night but I think next time I need to thoroughly read the reviews. Several reviewers gave 3-stars and then included references to the watery mac-n-cheese. If you can't get mac-n-cheese right, you don't deserve 3 stars!
(2)K G.
I have only had lunch here, but it is excellent. I have tried the fish and chips and the Lobster Macaroni and Cheese so far and both dishes are full of flavor and made just the way I like it. I would contend the fish and chips here is among the best in Boston. Great tarter sauce. For dessert I find the Key Lime pie to be excellent as well. Nice sweetness with just a hint of sour and very tasty crust. Excellent historic decor inside and out. I will be back.
(4)Tina W.
Ambiance/decor is very comfortable and unique. Service was average but for the atmosphere I expected more. No complaints though because the prices on the menu items were reasonable. Portions are average to small side for my scallops that came with risotto, the five scallops were sizes of a quarter coin which was unexpected for a $22 entree. I never order macaroni but my husband got the prosciutto macaroni and it was so good and is something I would order if I end up here again.
(4)Meghan R.
Ended up here with the boss and a few officemates after a late night of work and boy am I glad I did. Our waiter was excellent and the food was out of this world. I got the salmon (with to-die-for lobster mashed potatoes), my fellow diners got some red meat entrees and the scallops, all delicious. If the legislature is in session, expect the bar to be packed with senators & reps... hang around for a bit and they'll usually disperse to their homes, hotel rooms or other bars, but its definitely worth going by. The atmosphere, though crowded, is cool. It's definitely a great spot for an amazing meal!
(5)Julia C.
Finally a restaurant tha works at that beautiful location! The place is so nice and thewy set it up as a high end Boston pub. Lunchtime for power player and at night drinks after work and good american food with extra gourmet touches.
(4)Nathan I.
If I want lobster mac and cheese, I'm damn sure getting lobster mac and cheese. We stopped here for a quick lunch on my last day to do just that. It was 1 PM and the place was virtually empty. Guess the reservations weren't needed. It was quite a difference from the last time, when we came for dinner. That was fun! Then again, it was the evening, the place was packed, and we had consumed two or three bottles of wine. It may be apples and oranges, but I was so not getting a similar vibe this time.. We sat down and ordered a Diet Pepsi. It was disgusting. It left this after taste that only went away once we started eating. Jen suggested to the waitress that the fountain machine may not be clean. She tasted some, and said since she doesn't drink Diet Pepsi, she didn't know if there was something wrong with it. Riiiiight. It wasn't a big ordeal but I hope they've taken care of the problem. I had one wedge of Jen's bleu cheese salad and it was crisp and flavorful. The lobster mac and cheese was mostly what I expected (it could have used a tad more lobster meat). The cheese sauce seemed a little watery and more processed than I would have wanted. I have a feeling the lobster mac and cheese at the Ivy would have beaten the pants off of this one. It was the most low-key meal of the trip. I like to be in a place that's hopping, and for some reason, this place was just not. Maybe it was a combination of the weather and the holiday, I'm not sure...but if I go back, I'd want to go during dinner, for sure. I'd normally give four stars, but I'm subtracting one this time for a ho-hum lunch.
(3)Steven C.
I sat outside on a really nice summer evening. The staff were great! I had the lobster roll and the ahi Tuna appetizer. It was very good. I strongly recommend this place!
(4)Lauren M.
We went here after friends in the neighborhood said they wanted to give it "one more shot". The food was terrible. The goat cheese appetizer was good, but I ordered asta in sauce and it tasted like pureed tomatoes out of a can- hardly any seasoning. Now I do have allergies, so maybe they're just not good with that, but no one liked their food. I went back recently for cocktails, and I must say their cocktails are great and weight staff friendly, but I just don't like the food!
(2)Kristine A.
I was here for an office work lunch & was not impressed by any means. They may have been nice people but they lack serious cooking abilities. How hard can it be to find something that is vegetarian that doesn't always have cheese & tastes good? I mean rice & squash w/ like no flavor? That's what I get? It was so not worth it. I took it to go hoping I could give to a homeless person but no luck, so I will have to make it better so I can eat it. My favorite thing was them not having any dessert that didn't contain gelatin or a huge helping of dairy. Amazing how a restaurant which I thought was high caliber could disappoint so much.
(1)Jill S.
Real good buff chicken dip! Fun atmosphere..nice if you can sit on the patio. Salad with steak tips is delicious as well.
(4)Jen L.
This place has gone downhill. As in, 2 or 3 years ago I would have rated it a 4 star, but I now feel firmly that it is a 2 star place. I really wish I had read the review from early 2009 that referenced problems with cleanliness standards at the restaurant. If I see even one of those reviews, I usually stay the heck away. My issues with cleanliness (or lack thereof) are as follows: - Scollay Square has a musty kind of smell. Definitely unpleasant. - Based on the taste of the fountain drinks we were served, I'd say that the machines haven't been cleaned in quite some time. If you have ever worked in food service, you know that tons of bacteria build up in those fountain drink machines. - The carpet leading downstairs is old and dirty and needs to be replaced. - The musty smell downstairs is even stronger than upstairs. - The downstairs bathroom area was dirty bordering on sketchy As for the food, I think that "meh" sums it up. I was with a friend from out of town and we both ordered the lobster mac and cheese. I found that the sauce was a little velveeta-y for my taste. I didn't say anything to my friend because I didn't want to be a downer. I was just disappointed, especially when places like Figs and Ivy have such delicious versions of this dish. I will check back for yelp updates, but I think that I'm pretty much staying away considering there are better options in the area.
(2)DJ D.
Its hard to imagine anyone giving this place a good review. Based on yelp reviews, we went there for brunch last Sunday. I don't know were our food came from, but not the same place as most of the other reviewers. I had eggs Benedict which was nothing if not sub par. How is it possible to make tasteless hollandaise sauce? Just awful. The Canadian bacon was the kind in the shrink wrap you get in the supermarket and the english muffin was less than a Thomas's. They did get the egg done right. 1 for 4, overall lousy. Anyone, with just a little effort, could have done better. One of us had a hamburger and fries. Nothing remarkable about the hamburger but they should think about changing the rancid oil they apparently use to cook Sunday morning french fries, gross. On the positive side, the small salad that came with the eggs was good and the service was good, but why go back? Boston has thousands of restaurants.
(2)Jessica Y.
Selected this place for our weekend visiting Boston. Not only did they have top notch service and an unpretentious atmosphere, scollay square also had excellent food and drinks. We were seated in a cozy two person table in the tiny corner next to a pillar, the boyfriend and I agreed that it was the perfect kind of table for us. Furthermore, we received prompt and attentive service despite the location of our table. The boyfriend had scallops with risotto and spinach while I had Kobe sliders and onion soup. It was thoroughly enjoyable and it was such a memorable place for my visit in Boston.
(5)Jim N.
Quick, friendly service and a very appealing menu. Since we were staying on Beacon Hill during our visit to Boston, this was a great find. Thank you, Yelp reviewers!
(4)Colleen S.
It was such a nice treat treat to get back in to this space after about 20 years. i used to live in the building and would go to the former space occupier The Black Goose. Little has changed in ways of the decor and I ran in to several regulars from years ago. Service was sloppy. I went with the burger because it was that type of day, the burger was huge, bun was freshly made and toasted, burger was pretty undercooked though, had to be sent back, by the time it arrived my lunch mates had already finished. Thank fully we were not in a rush, so I took my time and enjoyed my meal. My new job is 2 doors down so I really look forward to long leisurely lunches on the patio come Spring & Summer, great people watching spot.
(4)Yolanda R.
Love the S. Square! Just can't figure out why I need a steak knife for my lobster Benedict. What's up w/the English muffins?
(4)Teresa T.
Scollay Square gives a lot of bang for the buck. I do like the decor despite what others have felt - an old school, historic dark feel w/ a bright stainless steel bright kitchen. Ordered the steak bennedict with coffee and orange juice. I did see quite a few people ordering mimosas and heading to the bloody mary bar (will have to make a note to go back to try one). Orange juice left little to be desired but the steak bennedict and coffee were good. Prices were very reasonable and service was sufficient but not mind blowing. I would come back for a laid back casual atmosphere.
(4)Milee S.
I love this place! I went here with the bf on our anniversary last month. We walked in and sat at a very intimate table. At 7:30, it wasn't full at all, which surprised me. Our server, Leslie, was fantastic; very attentive. I started with a mojito, and the bf got a glass of merlot. My drink wasn't that great, to be honest. When we opened our menus, Happy Anniversary was printed on the top! I thought that was a very sweet gesture to such a special night! It was the regular menu, but still, made it special to me. There are a ton of options for appetizers, it was hard to choose. I got the goat cheese and crab wontons, which were delicious. It came with a spicy plum sauce and some pickled cabbage, which were equally tasty. The appetizer portions are rather large, FYI. The bf got the rock shrimp egg rolls and he really enjoyed those. For entrees, I got the citrus soy glazed salmon with lobster mashed potatoes and asparagus, which was so good. He got the special, a swordfish steak with lobster risotto and some veg. He said it was incredible. I was too full from dinner for dessert but because it was a special night we ordered the chocolate cake. Sooo rich! And an added touch, the staff gave us copies of our special menus AND a greeting card! So coupled with the service, ambiance and food, I have to rate this 5 stars! Definitely a good choice to impress a date :)
(5)John L.
My only experience here is at the bar, which I've found to be an incredibly interesting experience. The interior has more of an older late-19th/early-20th century feel, and the restaurant itself seems to be quite well-oriented for both dates (which I've seen mentioned in some of the other reviews) as well as groups, particularly for brunches. As for the bar, it's not only decent on the beer prices, it's also a much more relaxed atmosphere to watch a game in, which, at the end of an evening, is exactly what I need. The bartenders are well-informed and nice, and on top of that, one can actually watch a game comfortably, or sit around and talk with the other people. Also, I've talked with a wide variety of interesting people here, while still being able to watch the game.
(5)Natalie B.
3 stars = just okay. Although I'm a native Massachusetts resident, longtime Boston-proper, I had never been to Scollay Square and because I had a Rue La La coupon to use, it was a must-do. I checked out the website before making the reservation and it looked cozy and unique and somewhat retro, so I had high-hopes. I have the say that the pictures do it some justice, because it's a bit more dark and crowded and less cozy, in real life. It's, actually, a bit cold feeling. We arrived with a reservation and were seated shortly thereafter. We ordered wine and martinis, which were all served quickly and the service was generally fine with nothing out of the ordinary - for better or worse. It's really the food/price that substantiates the rating of this review. We ordered the goat cheese appetizer which was fine, other than the bruschetta-type topping being more like canned tomato sauce with pureed tomatoes. The goat cheese was tasty but the topping itself wasn't very good. For dinner, we ordered the buffalo chicken mac-n-cheese and my partner found it to be good, as did I. My meal, however, left something to be desired. I had the Bay Scallops with spinach and risotto. The scallops were small (although they are bay, so...) and despite size, they were overcooked and dry. The risotto was oily and starts to separate on your plate and the spinach was SALTY - quite, quite salty. For the price tag ($29, I believe? 23?) it did not live up to the expectations and I found myself eating more of my boyfriends meal than my own. Across the board, for the environment and the quality of the food (at least, in my experience) I feel as though the menu is overpriced. Perhaps focusing on what they do well (mac/cheese and other more bar-style items) and less on trying to force a price tag the kitchen can't support would be a wise choice. Service = fine. Environment = fine (although somewhat deceptive based on photos) - and anyplace that's going to charge what they do should not have multiple TVs displaying sports around the restaurant. Food = leaves something to be desired.
(3)Rebecca R.
If were a Barenaked Lady circa 1998 (and had a million dollars -- HA, get it?), I'd eat at Scollay Square every day of the week. From the intimate, classy ambience to the friendly & knowledgable service, to the flawless food, this place has got to be one of my top three favorite places in Boston. My first few run-ins with Scollay Square involved only drinks at the bar. Their well-poured gin n' tonics and the delicious Sangria Martini convinced me to try out their food. The first sit-down meal happened during Restaurant Week 2009 -- and seriously, what is better than sitting at a window table in Beacon Hill, listening to some tunes by the Rat Pack, and eating a perfect Filet Mignon with your fabulous date? The restaurant is packed with couples and groups lingering over dinner and conversation. Servers never seem to rush, but keep the meal reasonably paced, with each course being presented with magical precision. The food is drool-worthy, from the steak, to the juicy pork chops, to the egg roll appetizer. I could have eaten forever and then come back for more. And come back I will... I would love to sample their lobster mac n' cheese and *need* to try their Bloody Mary bar for brunch.
(5)Leslie W.
Best brunch in Boston! Make your own bloody bar! So happy that it is warming up so I can sit outside enjoying the perfect bloody mary (cause I made it myself) and eating Rice Krispie french toast!
(5)Kelly K.
The scallops were amazing. Portion sizes are just right - not overwhelming and not stingy. I also tried my friend's wasabi potatoes and tuna steak (rare) and it had amazing flavor. The service was a little slow, but very friendly,and it was lovely to sit on the patio on a gorgeous spring evening.
(4)Nadia K.
We came here for brunch last Sunday and it was pretty good- nothing I'd call special, but decent. Two of us ordered the make your own Bloody Mary bar, and that was really good- although along with the extensive assortment of hot sauces I wish they had just had Tabasco... I ordered the egg white omelet with fillings and got cheddar and spinach, it was fine, again nothing special- could have used more cheese honestly, but it was nice to have well cooked egg whites. The hash browns were not what I was expecting and similar to the hash brown patties they serve at McDonald's... I wasn't impressed... I wanted spicy homemade grill top cooked goodness and I got deep fried flattened tator tots. The salad was pretty good, too small in my opinion, I think in the future I'll ask for just salad on the side and skip the "hash browns". The restaurant itself is well decorated and architecturally interesting so it's a good place to meet friends- especially those with a not-so-adventurous palate, for me, I probably wont be back.
(3)Keo S.
So let me explain the low - 1 star rating here as I'm currently staying in an apartment next door to Scollay Sq. It's always packed in the patio area and since it was gross and rainy outside yesterday, we decided to have dinner there. The service and the food are actually VERY GOOD. My main concern lies in the number of fruit flies that are hanging out on the columns inside, how much dust, and overall "grime" there is inside. The inside needs a good douching and no wonder people sit in the patio. Our high top table butted up against a colums so as we ate our delicious meal, we also got a great view of about 30 fruit flies just hanging around and once in awhile they would buzz around at our level. I hope that management reads this, takes a day off to close down and seriously clean the place. I would give it another shot after they do this and then hopefully it will be a much more pleasant experience.
(1)Eric T.
It's not amazing, but is surprisingly good--surprisingly because when we walked in I expected little and was quite pleasantly surprised. Fish and chips, Mac and cheese, buffalo chicken sliders, all very good. Chocolate chip cookie sliders, pretty good but not amazing cookies. French fries were the only disappointment. Overall very reliably good.
(4)David B.
Was looking for a place to eat in the area of Beacon Hill that was quiet, nice ambiance, and an easy walk to the theater district. The location and menu fit the bill beautifully. The hostess and wait staff were great and the dining room, despite a cold night, was warm and toasty. The food was good and satisfied our need for a nice meal before a show. Although I'd go back and give it a try for for lunch, I wasn't all that excited concerning dinner. I started with a grilled pear salad that was quite nice and then moved to a pasta dish that was underwhelming. My partner started with a different salad (the he also enjoyed) and had Kobe beef meatloaf. He thought it was quite good but couldn't really see what the big whoop was over Kobe beef. It didn't taste that much different from well made meatloaf. The wine list was decent..we enjoyed out selections. Dessert was quite good too....white chocolate bread pudding. So, if you are looking for a fine dining establishment in an area of town that doesn't have a lot to choose from, Scollay Square might be the place for you.
(3)Michael C.
I've been here twice, both times the food was good. The first time I went there the service was bad though. In the middle of lunch they told (yes, told) us we had to switch tables. On my second visit the service was much better. The food both times was a little fancier than your standard bar food, but the portions are on the small side. The main thing that stood out was the lobster mac n' cheese which was very very good. Besides that there was nothing outstanding but everything met my expectations.
(3)Alan G.
Went for lunch for the first time. Pesto gnocchi with grilled chicken special was really good, perfectly sized portion. Quick service and reasonably priced. I'll go back.
(4)Jimbeau W.
We like this place. Enough in fact that we signed up for their dining club card. Everything's done right here: excellent (okay, a superlative can't hurt--really excellent)martini, super appetizers (goat cheese a definite choice), delicious and unusual entrees well prepared and seasoned, well presented and well timed. Trained, friendly, ,informative wait staff who haven't fallen victim to the Boston "you're lucky I even approach your table" server attitude, even though this place is next to XV Beacon, which is a reasonably prestigious address. The atmosphere is just casual enough to be comfortable any time, any way you're dressed--straight from the office in suit & tie corporate camouflage or in jeans.
(4)Paula H.
Delicious steak tips and potato lasagna! Sangria was tasty
(5)Megan R.
This is a great gem hidden right down Beacon Street from the State House. I originally came across Scollay Square when my roommate and I were looking for someplace with a patio to eat on in between both of our workplaces. We chose Scollay Square because 1.) it was very reasonably priced for the downtown/Beacon Hill area and 2.) we were able to request outdoor seating when we made a reservation for a Friday night at 7:30! Anyone who knows Boston knows that is a rare find in the summer. Once we arrived we could see why- it ended up being super humid and we asked to be seated inside, which was completely empty! Yup, there were only about 4 or 5 other tables filled throughout our entire meal. Apparently this place is a little TOO hidden! They have a great wine list with lots of by-the-glass options. We both started with some white wine. My meal was simple- broiled scallops with fries. But for less than $20, I was absolutely shocked when a plate with about 8-9 scallops showed up at our table. They were cooked perfectly and I was almost too full to finish it all (which is not common of a fish dish). My roommate got white fish which was on a bed of spinach and rice, and was also a very generous portion. I would absolutely recommend this place to anyone looking for an affordable meal in the area. I cannot wait to go back again and dive into the rest of the menu!
(5)Heidi X.
Excellent variety of martinis, decent wine list. The calamari is a must try starter - cooked just right, and served with a tantalizing spread of sweet tomatoes and sliced jalapeno and banana peppers. Swordfish, seared tuna, and drunken shrimp entrees are hits with my group. Entree sizes are large, but if you can't manage dessert on your own, get some to share. The red velvet cake and cookie sliders are to die for. Service levels are generally good, although it gets much better during the weekends when the restaurant is more well staffed. Nevertheless, I've brought my 8 month old baby along for dinner twice and we were very well taken care of on both occasions.
(4)Dan D.
I went on a recent business trip based on the recommendation of the concierge at a nearby hotel and was very pleased with the quality of the food and service. I had the seared (rare) tuna filet with wasabi mashed potatoes and highly recommend it.
(5)Bif P.
Took my family here at the recommendation our hotels concierge and couldn't be happier. The food selection is pretty broad and there is something for everyone. My kids had the buffalo mac and cheese, steak tips and loved it, I went with the tuna burger and my wife had a burger, all were cooked perfectly and served promptly by a real nice knowledgeable waiter. Sometimes places overcook the tuna burger and are dry but the this wasn't the case, it was very good. The atmosphere was very laid back and cozy and good for date night, a few tv's on mute around the room but not overwhelming where they are the focus the restaurant. Nice little bar and beer selection. Mostly with a group of five I found the prices extremely reasonable. My only regret is that I don't live closer to this place.
(5)James K.
Fun, and great food. We hit the Concierge at the Parker House with a dozen demands/requests for dinner for the family. "Go to Scollay" was his response. Great food, great service, the Mac n Cheese options were all over the top.
(4)Tracy W.
I absolutely love this place. The service is always fantastic, the food is great, prices reasonable, good ambiance. The fish and chips and mac and cheese (lobster is good, also spinach and artichoke) are my favorites. They also do a great brunch.
(5)Meredith M.
OH MY GAAWW. Gluttony. Good friends, tasty wine and decadent food... (sigh) For starters we had the most creamy, light, savory artichoke dip. I wanted to lick the bowl clean. But I resisted the urge. The barbeque shrimp were juicy and made this Southern Belle want to smack her lips, lick her fingers and drink sweet tea! Our waitress was phenomenal. She balanced just enough service with friendly and sassy conversation with our boisterous table. My meal was the FAVORITE of the evening. Everyone had to sample my sauteed scallops. They were drenched in this creamy lemon sauce and accompanied by a delicious crab risotto cake! I also tried the delicious grilled salmon fillet with wasabi mashed potatoes. The scallops were very filling, so I was happy to share! For desert we shared a tray of ALL of their offerings. My favorite by far was the peach sorbet. NEVER have I tasted anything more peachy. It was peachier than a peach. And I know my peaches, as some of my family is from Georgia. This is a place to sit down and enjoy dinner. If I were taken here for a date, I'd be very pleased. The interior is like an old brownstone. The service is impeccable. The location is perfect, nestled away from the craziness of downtown. It's nice for a small group or an intimate date. ;)
(5)Laura J.
Goat cheese....fried.....smothered in tomato sauce.....slathered on grilled bread. Ya, that just happened. Nestled on Beacon St rests this tasty treasure. With a cocktail list featuring a drink called "The Pink Tassel Spinner", I'm sure everyone can find some concoction to enjoy. I met my friend for a mid week after work dinner. A very casual atmosphere greeted us, which was exactly what we were looking for. We started with the aforementioned goat cheese dish, delicious, and then moved on to the grilled steak tips and good ol'cheeseburger. The steak tips were very good. My friends burg was tasty according to her. A couple glasses of wine, a nice leisurely convo, good food, attentive service....no complaints. I'd go back fo shoooo.
(4)Tammy H.
First off, I didn't come looking for ingenuity. I just wanted well made food, good service, and a satisfied feeling upon leaving--whatever is worthy of food at this price. The verdict? I was satisfied on all accounts. I know this is the first 5-star review this establishment has reviewed in a while, but it's deserved. Service wasn't perfect through and through, but a REALLY good effort was made. We arrived 10min early for our reservation and waited about 20min to be seated. They were busy with two large groups, and we didn't mind waiting, but I was pleasantly surprised when the hostess came by the table later to apologize for the wait. Of all the people that she had to take care of last night, she remembered us! Our waiter was knowledgeable about both the wines and food, and was enjoyable to talk to. The bread came late, but I'll excuse that since he was great on all other accounts. I loooove attentive service, and I felt like we had a LOT of his attention! As for food, The Boy and I ordered the kobe beef "sliders", wedge salad, side of brussel sprouts mash, hangar steak and seared scallops. I actually wanted a side of the lobster mash, but oh dismay! As of this past Monday, they took out all acoutrements, so now you can't get the lobster mash at all ... I'm super sad about that. However, you can substitute for other sides from other entrees. On the major up-side, the hangar steak was amazing (next time we'll do it rare!), as were the scallops. Each were cooked to the right temperature/point and were complimented well with their respective sides and light sauces. As for the rest, the "sliders" were surely not made from your typical ground beef (in a good way), wedge salad was crunchy with good proportions, and the brussel sprouts mash made for a nice comfort side dish. We also got a glass of the Dashe Cellars zin and a glass of the chianti, but we preferred the zin. So for (1) appetizer, (1) salad, (1) side, (2) entrees, (2) glasses of wine, and good service, it totaled to $125 including tax+tip. We could've done without one or two of the smaller dishes since we were so stuffed!
(5)Brian B.
oy. I went here on a date? The wine was quite nice. The salads were very good! (I don't understand the wedge but hey -people like it!) The tomato bleu cheese was GREAT! Its tough to make a salad smell good. I had the lobster mac-n-cheese too. Its on the "acoutrements" (sp?) list. IT SHOULD BE A MAIN COURSE!!!!!!!! I have had better only at one other place, and atmosphere-wise this wins! We ate on the front porch, and it was lovely. The apartments above are BEAUTIFUL!! So the restaurant made me super-happy.....the date? I thought great until he downgraded to a "friends" thing....hmmm....can this be turned around?
(4)Robyn A.
This place is perfect for the post-work crowd. Great atmosphere - especially during the summer months when you can sit on the patio. The espresso martinis are the best in town. not sure about dinner, but i've tried some of the apps including the calamari and spinach and artichoke dip and they were delicious!
(5)Cindy C.
i went to dine after reading all the great reviews on yelp, and i was really disappointed with this place. The slow service was expected since many of the yelpers also mentioned this, however, the food was average at best and i was not at all impressed by my dining experience. FOOD- i ordered the scallops and my friend ordered steak. my scallops were average, and the best part of the dish was the spinach, which was incredibly fresh - but unfortunately it was quite salty. my friend had the hanger steak, which was pretty good, but the spinach was also a little too salty for my taste. my problem with the restaurant occurred mostly when we had dessert. we had ordered one bread budding to share (which was delicious) and one dessert wine. instead, two dessert wines came and we had to send one back - fine, then when the water was replaced, i found a straw wrapper in my water. that was the part which was absolutely unacceptable. and what was worse was when i informed the staff about it, they simply apologized rather insincerely and did not try to, in any way make up for our experience. i don't think i would be returning, ever.
(1)Ali A.
3 stars is a combo of one 4 star dinner and one 2 star dinner. The cocktail menu is great - a wide selection and lots of new flavors to try. (Key Lime Martini? Sign me up!) The dinner menu is good as well. The BBQ shrimp appetizer is especially delicious, bringing the flavors of New Orleans up here to chilly, snowy Boston. Discovered on visit #1: the entrees are delicious. That is why I do NOT recommend getting the nightly tasting menu. This was our mistake on visit #2. The portions are tiny and the accompanying wines very small glasses. My husband left feeling less than full despite three courses. Speaking of the accompanying wine, they could not quite get the timing down. The wines were served either way too late or way to early, not really corresponding to the courses being served. Visit #2 seemed to be understaffed - hopefully this was the case, as our waitress was certainly nice, but there were huge spans of where we couldn't find her. Moral of the story? Stick to the cocktails and menu entrees and you won't be disappointed.
(3)amanda n.
My family had a great birthday dinner here. Since we made reservations, they even printed up special menus for our party. A nice touch. I don't remember many specifics about my experience here, but everything was quality -- food, service, atmosphere. Excellent. You must try the lobster macaroni & cheese. You must.
(4)Kiki B.
eh. maybe it's nicer if you get to sit outside on the patio, but the night we were there the inside ambience just felt a little old and dated, and not in the awesome old-school boston way, just in the worn-down way. the food was just okay - met my needs, not much more.
(2)Lynda M.
I was at the Fed tonight having drinks with friends, and we decided to give this place a try. Upon entering we were greeted warmly, and were seated at a nice window table. There was a good crowd in here, but not too crazy. We ordered wine, and the spinach/artichoke dip. Yum! My friend and I had the beet/feta cheese salad and my other friend the homemade chicken soup. It was perfect for a cold Autumn night! The decor reminds me of Eastern Standard, but less noisy and much better service. The bar in the back is very nice with flat screen tVs. Definitely a must to come back to!
(5)Nick R.
Summary: The atmosphere and setting are terrific, the service was pretty good, but my table was sticky and my steak didn't impress me, especially for the price. I was debating between 2 and 3 stars, but went for three because I liked the setting enough that I'd be willing to give it another try, and the other folks in my party liked their dinners (I'll order something different). Time: Monday night, 6:30PM Atmosphere: the building is really cool- it has a 2-story ceiling and the decor of the restaurant harkens back to the early-to-mid nineteenth century, with large black-and-white photo-posters on the upper walls and dark wood and wainscoting down below. I didn't make it to the bar, but it looked inviting. In contrast to the period-styling of the restaurant and bar, the kitchen is open and modern stainless, which seemed to jive well with the rest of the decor. The restaurant wasn't crowded when we were there, and it was easy to have a quiet discussion at a table for four. Service: prompt and no complaints. Food: I had the Grilled All Natural NY Sirloin for $21. It came with Mashed Potatoes, Roasted Asparagus, and Red Onion Jam. The sides were good, but it definitely wasn't a $21 steak. It was a small portion, overcooked (I ordered medium-well, it was definitely well-done (no red on the inside), lacked any significant seasoning, and it had quite a bit of grisly fat on it. I think it's only fair to add the caveat that I lived in Texas for 10 years, so I'm used to tasty, juicy, large, and affordable steaks, so I might be biased, but that didn't make it taste better just because this is Boston. The rest of my party was much happier with their food, which included the Lemon Basted Swordfish Chop at mkt price (it was a surprisingly generous serving), the Miso Glazed Salmon Fillet for $17 and a salmon special that was offered that night ($?). Maybe I should order fish next time? Drinks: we just had beer and ginger ale. They have a limited beer list, but it includes the Boston staples (Harpoon IPA, Sam Adams, Sam Adams Octoberfest, and Stella on draft and a non-interesting list of bottles). The wine list and mixed drink lists looked plentiful, and I was impressed with the selection of dessert wines and top-shelf bourbons, scotches, and cognacs. I'll go back if for no other reason than a night-cap.
(3)Jennifer T.
We went here for a private function last night. Parking - There is a lot behind the restaurant (go around the block, behind the building) that cost $10. Cant beat that. Atmosphere - We love the old building (late 1800's) and the character inside. SMall restaurant that I think would be a bit cramped normally but for a private function it was nice. Food - I had the filet mignon and my husband had the pork chops. Both were good but nothing fantastic. I would have expected better. Small portions. We had a lot of the appetizers and our favorites were the bacon wrapped scallops and the rice balls (which were AMAZING).
(3)Sheila T.
When did Scollay Square sell out their menu? And why were they playing magic 106.7 with a little Linkin Park mixed in? Ehh.
(2)jun s.
I arrived in Boston for a three day conference, AIA 2008 to be exact , and decided to go out to dinner with my fellow co-worker from SF. Although we were both tired from lacking sleep to catch an early flight, we were energized by the thought of discovering a great new restaurant... at the other coast of the continent...! We walked through beautiful Boston Common (perfect temperature and peaceful dusk lighting) and arrived at the restaurant - comfortable, cool, airy feel, nice hostess, I was pleased. Well, let me make this quick as I really should sleep before another long day of conference tomorrow. The raw oysters were mediocre (slightly fishy and sauce was generic) - how disappointing since I've been craving them for so long now! Tomales Bay here I come when I return to SF! The Chilean Sea Bass, on the other hand, was quite good - the flakes were moist and fluffy, the way I like them! The dish, overall, bothered me a bit... the sauce for the fish was good but lacking... hmm... depth and complexity? It was a light version of Teriyaki sauce...!? The chocolate decadence was my favorite part of the meal which is very unusual for me. Now that I don't drink espresso, I resorted to tea and what a limited selection...! again, generic tea bags and not even one decaf like chamomile.... sigh... I wouldn't go back anytime soon, but I wouldn't have trouble recommending it to anyone. While the food was slightly above average, I just enjoyed the place... maybe it's the open grill that was in front of me, perhaps the high ceiling and comfortable lighting, or the mix of the old and modern decor... it was a good choice overall. :)
(4)Ted A.
One of my favorite local spots.
(5)Alex E.
I had a unexpectedly fantastic meal at Scollay Square. I started off the night with a Crown Royal Manhattan, which was impeccably mixed. To my knowledge, this is somewhat of a signature drink for the bar-- and rightly so. The vermouth was fantastic quality, and the drink was served in a small decanter on ice. I had the soy citrus glazed salmon with grilled asparagus and their lobster mashed potatoes. The salmon was fresh, cooked perfectly and the glaze was very nice (subtle, too). The asparagus was crisp, fresh and flavorful. I was also pleasantly surprised by the mashed potatoes. It had large bits of lobster meat in it and the potatoes didn't overpower you with a strong lobster flavor. The potatoes were also fresh, well-seasoned, and had a wonderfully light consistency. My only complaint was that the presentation was a bit sloppy. Nonetheless, it was a delicious dish. For dessert, I had the Maine blueberry shortcake with vanilla gelato. This was really a fantastic dessert. The buttermilk biscuit was light and tasty. The blueberry sauce was very nice. Large, fresh blueberries were used and it was not overly sweetened. Fresh whipped-cream topped the dessert--perfectly done. The gelato was also tasty. I would highly recommend Scollay Square for a Manhattan or an impeccable dinner. N.B. Their kitchen is open late, too.
(4)Mary D.
Let me just start by saying that if I were to rate this place on food alone, they would be getting 1 star. My salad was overdressed, my husband's food undercooked, and everything over seasoned. Whoever is running the show in their kitchen needs to wake up and take a look around because there are about 15 different restaurants all within a kilometer that have significantly better food. We have eaten there a couple times and the food is consistently poor. My husband and I are from the UK, and it's disappointing indeed when we get food that makes British cuisine seem glamorous. I had the Cobb salad, which was a goopy mess. My husband had the salmon, which was undercooked. His rice was overseasoned and hard. Our spring rolls were greasy, over salted, and the ketchup that was served with it was strange. Our bartender was quick to act on our behalf by sending food back and ensuring it's preparation in proper form. The saving grace was the service. Somewhat. Our bartender was fabulous (Sara?). She was friendly, extremely knowledgable (she even fixed me up a special cocktail that wasn't on the menu, having to rummage up ingredients from the kitchen!), and fast! When I was unsure about the type of vodka cocktail I wanted, she asked me my preferences on coktails (sweet, savory, citus, etc) and made me a custom cocktail that suited my palate. She was able to guide me to a vodka that I liked more than what I normally drink (Absolut). She kept my husband and I entertained for much longer than we planned. It felt like we were sitting in someone's house, laughing and getting to know new friends. For a lovely young girl, she possessed all the traits found in good veteran bartenders. She reminded my husband of his local keep back home. The only problem with service was the other waiters. It seemed the servers like to cluster near the bar. My husband and I overheard a waiter several times complaining about the customers. His use of colourful language was obnoxious. A couple times, we heard our bartender remind staff to mind their language and their work. It seemed unprofessional that their choice of location to complain was so close to our ears. We may return for some cocktails and laughs at the bar, but my husband and I are done with their kitchen.
(3)Cathy H.
I really enjoyed this place- 4 stars. My date hated it. So, I will be coopertive and go with the ever so boring 3-star rating. Then again, after trying his food and mine, I definitely lucked out on picking my menu items. Service was uber-slow. The tuna was fab.
(3)Kristie A.
Ok. I'm updating my review for 3 reasons: the make your own bloody mary bar during brunch AND the bar itself AND server Seana! Sure, the food is good; the service is fine. But I'm a fan of sitting at a bar alone and this bar is a great place to sit and DRINK and do a crossword puzzle. It's dark, it's comfortable. Easy.
(4)Cameron M.
Food was very tasty, one and only merlo is good, service is reasonable, Buffalo chip was spicy and good, Girl was very cute
(4)Teresa W.
Drinks were good try the lemonade, can't even tell it has alcohol in it. Food was delicious & prices were fair.
(4)Diane D.
Very good consistent place. Good service, reasonable prices--nothing bad to say about it. Been here 3 times and each time everything was great.
(4)Ben K.
Awesome: -The manager gave us tastings of three different wines, then later asked us how everything was, and cleared some of our plates Mediocre: -The food, the food, the food. Everything was good. A-OK. But nothing was stunning, nothing was alternative, nothing stood out. The salmon was cooked perfectly, but lacked flavor. The lobster mashed potatoes had chunks of lobster in them, but I swear I couldn't taste it, and the caesar salad was fine but needed more lemon and more anchovies. -The prices. For what you get, it's a little steep, but this is Boston. Bad: -The waiter had one special to remember: "Butternut Squash Lasagna." He read that off a paper, but then when we asked him what went into it besides butternut squash he said, "let me go check with my manager." When we asked him to describe one of the wines, he said "Oh, I don't drink wine. I'm going to have to get my manager." How can you possibly be a seller of food and wine and not know the product you're selling? Especially at a nice restaurant in Beacon Hill? The manager was great, but the server was sub-par. -The parking situation. Pricey if you want to use the lot next door, which can be full, and no real available parking on the street. Oh, and no valet either. All in all, the three of us upon leaving agreed that we wouldn't be going back. With the economy as it is, it's a competitive restaurant market and you have to be choosy.
(3)Al A.
Awesome location. Meh food. Meh service. Very dirty tables. Almost clean chairs.
(2)Kevin M.
this place is really cool. It is located inside the former recieving room/lobby area for an old hotel back in the 1800s. (the bellevue hotel) A lof of the original architectural details are still intact. (mirror behind the bar, exposed columns etc...) The menu has something to offer everyone! Chicken, lobster mashed potatoes..... restuffed baked potatoes( YUMM) ... seafood, etc...I had the sirloin steak, which was amazing. Someone else I was with had the Meatloaf, which I tried and was delighted with. (Weird texture, but great taste) I had a cosmo, which was very smooth! definitely worth a trip.
(4)Jeff B.
I'll be the first to admit that I'm a very picky and unforgiving patron. If you pour tap into my half glass of Saratoga Spring water, I'll ask for new bottle. If my meat is under/overcooked, I'll be looking forward to a new cut, thanks. That said, this place gave me no opportunity to allow them to spit or sprinkle pubes in my food. Everything, EVERYTHING here is done well. This is one of my favorite spots for dinner in Boston. From the spicy cocktails at the well-stocked bar to the simple fact that they have Evolution #9 to complement a nice selection of oysters, Scollay is a great after-work restaurant. The staff knows how to blend upscale and friendly service styles - never pretentious, never distracted, always pleasant, always doting. While the menu itself isn't huge, it's all high-quality, fresh food and good-sized portions - I see huge value in what they prepare and how they prepare it. I haven't gotten past the creme brulee on the dessert menu, I just wish they served Dolce by the glass! I suppose some see Scollay Square having a snooty atmosphere, but it's so small you make it what you want. And the other reviews about this and that being disappointing.. I don't know what to tell you - sit at my table.. . .
(5)Lindsay L.
Yesterday was my first time at Scollay Square. My internship supervisor took me out to lunch there as an end-of-the-year-thank-you-for-your-hard-work celebration with just us two. This is a go-to spot for her when she wants to take employees for a good lunch. She recommended that I try the Miso Glazed Salmon Fillet or Macaroni and Cheese with Maine Lobster Meat. I ordered the salmon, and it was yummy. It was also just right in terms of food portions. I felt full but not stuffed. Even after eating the whole dish, I had enough room for dessert. I ordered the Red Velvet Cake and then I felt stuffed! Just so you know, the Red Velvet Cake is supposed to serve two. Since I can never resist anything red velvet, I took my leftover cake to go. The location's pretty ideal. If I were shopping around Downtown Crossing or hanging out in the Common, I'd probably stop by Scollay again with some friends. Next time, I hope to hang out on the patio. It was a little too chilly when my supervisor and I had lunch, but the patio was packed later in the afternoon when I passed by the restaurant.
(4)Caitlin D.
If you have an upcoming birthday, this is the place to go. I reserved a table for 8 on Opentable.com and went for my birthday. They called the day of to confirm I would be arriving and asked if there was a special occasion. I explained that it was my birthday. When I got to the restaurant and opened my menu, they had specially printed a menu that said "Happy birthday Caitlin from all of us at Scollary Square" across the top. The food was really good, it was one of those moments where I kept eating even though I knew I should stop. To top things off, once the dishes had been cleared, the waiter gave me a birthday card signed by the waiters and waitresses in the restaurant. And they did the traditional dessert at the end of the meal where they brought out a small lava cake dessert with a candle in it. All in all, I had a great experience with plenty of great surprises!
(5)j e.
This is a cool place and ambience is good. Server was nice but there were only like 5 tables in the restaurant seated when we were there and they still did not get my brunch order correct. They realized it after they had served everyone and I watched the other diners finish brunch. And then got my food. Apologies were given but not even a gratis orange juice or something while I waited? I was a server for 10 years and would have always tried to make up for a mistake. Eggs were strange and rubbery in the omelette I had. Service mistakes aside, I still would not go back. There are better places in Boston for sure.
(2)James G.
Again, we live in the building so its a convenient place to eat. We though we would go here a lot since its right downstairs but every time we go we leave thinking how mediocre the food is. The best thing on the menu is the BBQ shrimp appetizer. I've gotten it every time I've gone for dinner. Brunch, like dinner is just mediocre and after last time will probably never go for brunch again. Would have given 3 stars BUT a friend of mine used to work there and after I told them I had eaten there they strongly suggested not eating there ever again due to poor sanitation. Tempted to go back for their $22, 3 course menu that they always have on the chalk board outside but probably won't due to above mentioned reasons.
(2)Jenny L.
Went here last night-- I had two friends in town and after going to HH on Newbury St., wanted to go to a fun restaurant in Beacon Hill for dinner before we headed to the Liberty Hotel for the night. I went onto OpenTable.com and saw that they had reservations available around 8:00 and took a gamble--- glad I did! When we arrived, we were able to grab a table on the patio right away. Oysters-- only complaint is there were only 5 and not a 1/2 dozen. One of my friends got the short end of the stick and only had 1 instead of 2. Short rib-- VERY tender and flavorful Lobster Mac n' cheese-- lobster was great-- not too chewy. Great comfort dish Scallops--Cooked to perfection--very smooth, not chewy. Good ambiance too-- most everyone sat on the patio, but has a great atmosphere inside-- not super chic, but not your casual restaurant/bar either.
(4)Dan C.
We had dindin on 12/26, meaning the place was basically ours. They'd sent some of their waitstaff home early, and we were served by the bartender who was really friendly and helpful. Eventually the manager showed up and started waiting on us. She looked like she could have used a nap. And some stimulants. The look and feel of the place, the food, all very nice. Small enough to be cozy and intimate, but big enough that you didn't have to scrunch into a little ball. Lobster mashed potatoes - mm. Kobe meatloaf was mine mm. Also worth noting. My mom, not the most adventurous eater, calls Legal Seafoods her favorite restaurant of all time and everytime our family goes out somewhere different to eat, she'll ALWAYS assess the restaurant in comparison to Legal Seafoods, usually their Shrimp scampi dish, which she always orders. And of course legal seafoods and shrimp scampi always wins. "the portions are bigger at legal! Legal has shrimp scampi. Legal seafoods is less expensive. Legal seafoods is more popular so it's better!" yes mom, it also gives me diarrhea. It doesn't matter what dish she orders - she could be eating cow ovaries and still manage to compare it to legal seafoods shrimp scampi. But this time. No mention of legal seafoods either way. I was amazed. Some might call that a draw. knowing my mom I call it a significant victory.
(4)Jaimie S.
Goat cheese is amazing!!!! Friendly service ...
(5)Alyssa N.
I need to find an excuse to come back here. My drink, a concoction involving toffee and some tasty white chocolate liqueur, was amazing. I also highly recommend you not leave without trying the Lobster Mac n' Cheese, which will make you sad every time you eat the stuff in the blue box from Kraft after trying this decadent dish (a secret- I ordered it as my appetizer).
(4)Jennifer T.
Deliciousness...mac and cheese, filet mignon sandwich, fries, tuna napoleon app (one of my favs). Great menu and atmosphere. Classy but not too expensive, especially for lunch. I've always had good service.
(4)Anna B.
I have eaten here many times for dinner, brunch and lunch and it is always good, even with a large party. It is also reasonably-priced. The Chocolate Decadence dessert is serious chocolate. The lunchtime Mac & Cheese and steak tips are good too. But the best thing about this place is their Sunday brunch MYO Bloody Mary Bar - I wasn't a Bloody Mary drinker until I tried this and experimented until I found my personal recipe.
(5)Shang S.
Wow! I was so blown away by my dinner experience here. First off, I organized a party of 6 for a birthday. After reading the reviews here, I went ahead and asked them if they could (1) Print the birthday person's name on the menu (2) if I could bring in a cake. So, the menu happened for sure, and while they charged a $2/person cake fee, they did add candles on top (which I forgot), so a very nice touch in general. Now, on to the food, which was the best part of the meal! It came out in a very reasonable amount of time. Everyone was very happy with their selection, granted, three of us got the miso glazed chilean sea bass. I got the soy glazed salmon, which came with lobster mashed potatoes and very crispy asparagus (not too tough, and not too roasted). Yum! I was extremely surprised by how much lobster there was in the potatoes (probably 2 claws' worth). My appetizer of 6 raw oysters was also great, then again, I'm not a very discriminating oyster fan. I do agree with another person below that the sauce wasn't all that interesting, but at least the oysters were fresh and clean. Our server was very friendly, attentive, patient, and not overly pushy. The restaurant also followed up with a phone call the next day if you have any suggestions, which I think really speaks to their attention to customer service. I'm definitely coming back here again!
(5)LuLu M.
I was super excited to come here based on Yelp reviews and checking out the menu ahead of time. Unfortunately, it was not a good experience: after we were seated and ordered, literally our appetizers and main entree came out within 5 minutes of each other. The waitress should have watched our table to see when we were about 10 minutes away from being ready for our entree and THEN put our entree order in. When you have both come out so quickly, you end up rushing to eat both so the food doesn't get cold. On top of that, I'm all about customer service, but the waitress came to check on us every two minutes, and then the hostess came to check on us every two minutes, which means we only had one minute of alone time before someone else asked "how is everything?" which made for a disruptive evening. And lastly, we still had a generous amount of food on our plates when they would come check on us but would still ask "can I take your plate away" or "are you done with that?" each time which made us feel super rushed. I don't know what their hurry was since there were only 3 other tables occupied. I guess we picked a night where it was a "miss"! :-(
(2)Franco C.
My favorite place in Boston. Whenever anyone is in town, we always come here. I'm big on atmosphere and this place has it. It's like a smaller Eastern Standard restaurant (which is near Fenway). I love their prosciutto wrapped cod filet and their cider brined porterhouse pork chop. Flavors are great. Every time I've gone the wait staff has been solid. When making a reservation, definitely request a seat by the window. There are only a few tables with the view (I think three) so it's worth it to get the view. Great atmosphere. Always busy. But it never feels annoying.
(5)Mary D.
Had dinner here with my husband the other night. Wanted to try someplace different, and he had heard of this restaurant. We were seated right away, even though we were about 15 minutes early for our reservation. Seated right next to open kitchen - not my favorite table, but ok. Ordered a bottle of wine and 2 appetizers - ahi tuna and fried goat cheese. Tuna was nicely prepared; little bit of a kick, but very tasty. Goat cheese was wonderful - gooey, creamy, warm. Nice way to start our meal. I ordered the steak tips, which was perfectly prepared. Husband had a chicken dish, which he liked except for the instant potatoes. All in all, a very good meal. Only problem was with the waiter. From the moment we sat down, he was rushing us. We just wanted a nice relaxing meal - restaurant was not overly crowded, so there was no need to rush us. When we ordered the wine, he asked what we wanted for dinner. Told him we hadnt looked at menu yet. Brought wine to table and asked again. We ordered appetizers but were not ready to order entree. He seemed very put out. When he brought our appetizers out, he asked again. Out of spite, we told him we would wait until we had the appetizers and then decide. After that, he came back twice before we put in our entree requests. Again, it was not crowded, only about 7:30pm at that point - no one should be in such a rush. Atmosphere was a bit bright, open kitchen, bar in the rear. Good location.
(3)Maitland L.
I had a date here last night. It was fantastic. The service was friendly and fast. The food came out very fast, and it tasted spectacular. We started out with oysters, which were very tasty, but the horseradish cocktail sauce that it came with was pretty mediocre. Dinner was amazing. I had the scallops, which were seared perfectly and served with spinach and some sort of flavored mashed potatoes. My husband got the sirloin steak which was also cooked perfectly. I had a couple of bites of his restuffed baked potato which was superb. Everything was delightful. I'd love to go back.
(5)Tracey N.
Yes, please! Whenever we plan a family gathering we end up here, and I usually bring my out-of-towners, too. The food is excellent, the drinks go down smooth but will knock you on your ass. The mac n' cheese is--for a side dish--one of the biggest and best in the city. The service is always helpful and outstanding. Even better: I can come here with my kid and, not only do I feel zero guilt, but we all leave happy. Speaking of kids' meals, again, one of the biggest and best I've seen anywhere. How great is that?
(5)Chris T.
My friend took me here last night, she kept building up how amazing the place was, so I was eager to try it. Sadly to say, we were both disappointed. The Oyster appetizer was meh, and the steaks we ordered (Flank and Hanger) were small and flavorless. My friend ordered a glass of Zardetto Prosecco but instead got a glass of Cavit, cheap ass shit. The menu was tiny. If you don't like seafood, which I don't, then you only have about 3 options. That sucks. Didn't even want to stay for dessert. Instead we hopped over next door to Zen and got some good quality food.
(2)John Paul N.
Friday night, about 6:30pm, and we had no idea what we wanted to do for dinner. It being Lent, we knew we had to go to a place that served seafood. I browsed opentable for a while and was not getting any inspiration from the places we saw online. Either no reservation for the night or places that seemed too expensive for a simple Friday night. Abby, on her iphone, saw some good reviews for Scollay Square on yelp and I noticed that there was plenty of reservations. So I quickly got us a spot and we left the condo for Beacon Hill. We arrived to see that Scollay Square had a nice outdoor area and there were still some after work crowd having beers and loud conversations. The weather had been great so we decided to sit outside. The hostess and waitstaff were all very friendly. It being restaurant week we quickly looked over their priced fix menu special. Not a bad offering actually, with Kobe Sliders and grilled salmon as options. However, we weren't in for a big meal, so we ordered off the regular menu, which consisted of classic pub eats. Abby got the goat cheese appetizer and a pear salad. I went for the fish and chips. Our food came out quickly and everything was delicious. The goat cheese, a cheese I am always 50/50 about, was very smooth and creamy and was laid in a nice complimentary tomato sauce. Spread this cheese and some of the sauce onto the toasted bread and you have yourself a very nice starter. Abby's pear salad came with candied pecans that she couldn't stop raving about. The salad also was not drenched in dressing, which was nice. The pears, which may be out of season, were just ok though. My fish and chips were cooked perfectly. The fries were lightly battered and were very crispy. The fish, cut into small pieces instead of coming out as one huge piece, was very flaky with a batter that did not overpower the fish at all. The tartar sauce was nothing special, but wasn't bad either. Same with the coleslaw. Scollay Square either just hired new chefs or redid their menu or both apparently. I do not know what it was like before, but the night we went the food was definitely way above average and probably better than most standard pub fare. I'd like to go back and try other items on the menu, especially in the summer when the outdoor area will more than likely be really busy. (The next day I got a call from Scollay Square asking how our meal was. I told them everything was great, just like I said in this review, but I was a little nervous that this was some scam afraid someone just wanted to check my phone number to match my credit card I used or something. Then I realized I paid cash for our meal and that the phone number that called me matched the phone number on the website. Guess they just wanted to make sure we had a good dinner.) I give Scollay Square a very strong 3 1/2 out of 5.
(4)Darius C.
Love this place. Came twice for brunch on Saturday and Sunday with a friend and both days were terrific!! Terrific Food (Photo evidence added!), Friendly Service and $4 Mimosas, what more can you ask for?
(5)Jess P.
My friends and I went to Scollay Square for the first time and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. I personally liked the décor...retro with a little bit of charm. My friends and I ordered drinks which were made really well (strong and tasty). I ordered the mac & cheese with prosciutto and truffle oil. I thought that it was pretty tasty and I'm usually very strict about my mac and cheese. The only problem is that I wished the prosciutto pieces were cut a little thinner but overall the meal was yummy. My friends ordered the mac and cheese with lobster mac & cheese and broiled scallop which I heard no complaints about. For dessert, we ordered chocolate chip cookie sliders, vanilla bean ice cream which was okay...nothing special. Besides that, everything else was great so I would definitely come back here again!
(4)Sara Y.
this place was so great... the menu was quite diverse, but thoughtful and each dish in my party was tasty. drinks are stiff & delicious- 2 thumbs up to the blood orange martini (they should put a blood orange garnish, instead of regular, but minor detail) oysters were fresh + served with the classics. the lobster mac & cheese was excellent. normally i am not a mac & cheese entree orderin' type of gal... but this was cheesy, new england, deliciousness. my mom got the scallops, which looked lovely but i didn't try. my dad got the hanger steak, which was cooked perfectly & served with a great classic mashed potato. great service! another bonus- open kitchen. =D last bonus- this really is a great value considering the quality of the food and portion sizes. i'll be back.
(4)Samantha M.
We came here for dinner and were not overly impressed. The prices were reasonable, but the food was nothing to write home about. I had originally wanted to rate Scollay Square a 3, however, a few hours after eating, my friend and I became sick. Thinking back, the calamari tasted a bit off. The best part of the meal was dessert.
(2)Alvin L.
Scollay Square was a bit overpriced however their attentive staff more than made up for the food. The ambiance is pleasant however parking is very difficult and it would be best if you took the T (subway) for your dining experience. Overall the food was good but not memorable.
(2)Katlyn R.
Really wonderful food, good prices, nice outdoor patio for good days. The buffalo sliders were awesome, and the service was really great. Definitely will be going again.
(5)Jodie O.
Food is good here, service is OK. I came here for brunch with my guy and the service was "meh" considering almost everyone was sitting outside on such a gorgeous Saturday. They messed up the most simple thing in my order (no whipped cream on my fruit please?), and neglected to tell us that the reason why the coffee hasn't come out in the 20 minutes since we ordered it, was because they were brewing a new pot. OK, I like it fresh, but let us know because we thought she forgot about us. Dinner is good too, I just with they had some more vegetarian options other than their rice + veggies dish. It's good, I just with there were more of a variety.
(3)Piyali S.
Meal was good but nothing extraordinary, so I'm a bit surprised it got four stars overall. My suspicion is that its location (right behind the State house) makes Scollay Square a high traffic spot for bright-eyed tourists to dine, which also seems appropriate given its kitschy-all-American decor. We got the chips and guacamole to start but since good guac is like pizza - pretty hard to mess up - I'm always pretty satisfied with it but never really impressed. After vacillating between the lemon basted swordfish chop (which looks very interesting) and the miso glazed salmon filet, I chose the latter because the waitress claimed it was her favorite dish on the menu (that and I was trying not to break the bank that evening with the market price option). The glazed salmon was served on a layered bed of sliced cucumbers, jasmine rice and spinach. While tasty I felt the fish was a tad overcooked and too tender for my taste. Rhea hit the jackpot with the prosciutto and truffle oil mac and cheese. Now I rarely order mac and cheese in restaurants, mostly because I am quite pleased with Easy Mac and so not quite the mac and cheese connoisseur if you will, but this was truly delicious and probably something I'd get if I were to come back to Scollay. I am still curious about that lemon basted swordfish and I do see lobster eggs benedict on their brunch menu so I'll probably have to come back here.
(3)Jeff R.
I ate at Scollay Square last night with a group of people, and it seemed that we all had a great experience. The restaurant is charming and classy, with old Boston governmental photos and documents decorating the wall space. The atmosphere is probably more appropriate for an outing with friends or a business meal than for a romantic date, but that's not meant to be a detraction. The menu isn't terribly extensive (2 pages) but had some good offerings. Between my meal and what others shared with me, I tried the pear salad, fried calamari, citrus soy glazed salmon fillet, and hangar sirloin, all of which were very good. Portions were decently sized, and I noticed that the side dishes were fairly large. The service was also great, although the place wasn't very crowded, especially for a Thursday night (I'm not sure why). Overall, a big thumbs up!
(5)Cynthia B.
Love Love Love this place. I live in California but I make a point to visit here when I home visting family and friends. Since, I usually sit at the bar I'm a particular fan of the cocktail menu. It's one of my favorite places to grab a couple drinks and pick and choose from some appetizers and salads for a light dinner. The staff is always freindly and the bartenders are super knowledgeable about everything from aged scotches (my boyfriend is obsessed) to specific wine pairings. The lobster mac n cheese is awesome but when I'm not in the mood for something rich, the ahi tuna is REALLY tasty.
(5)Finn M.
Scollay Square is a really pleasant and enjoyable dining experience, the sort of place that to me oozes "Boston." The pastrami sandwich (how could I resist?) was one of the better once I've ever tasted, and for those loving the fish and chips, I concur. It's Beacon Hill through and through; if it's good enough for Dianne Wilkerson and her cronies, it's good enough for you.
(4)tania t.
What a great evening in Beacon Hill (is that right?)! We celebrated my best friend's upcoming wedding (read: bachelorette party) by having dinner here before hitting up mantra for dancing. A MUST: lobster mashed potatoes; it sounds a bit weird, but is ridiculously delicious! You gotta try it. RECOMMENDED: New England Clam Chowder. Watch out: you think you're getting a soup appetizer, but this bowl is the size of your head (if you have a pretty large noggin' as well!)! Share this amazing chowda with a friend or two, because it's scrumptious, but huge. The service is great too; they treated our bride-to-be with a flourless chocolate cake and the manager came over to send his thanks for choosing his restaurant to celebrate. The only negative: Dining area is a bit of a small space and a bit cramped. I guess this is an artifact of being in Boston.
(4)Thuy L.
After a happy hour at Beacon Street, a group of 12 decided to grab some grub down the street. We were seated promptly after a friend called to make reservations 15 minutes before arriving. We ordered apps and drinks first--I ordered the ahi tuna napoleon with crispy wonton sheets, stacked in layers of four. It was incredible...the seasoning was perfect, a hint of ginger vinaigrette and a pinch of sesame seeds. DELICIOUS!!! I also ordered the key lime martini...this was dessert in a glass. It was so good that I had to lick the graham cracker crust off the rim. I then ordered the braised short ribs after recieving a tip from a customer earlier that night. It definitely exceeded my expectations...the meat was very tender and the sauce was mouth-watering. The best deal of the night was probably their 3-course pre-fixed menu for $22. It starts off with a bowl of bisque as the first course, followed by a steak for the entree, and bread pudding for the dessert. Considering that most of the entrees start at $18-20, the prixe-fixed meal was a steal. The steak was cooked nicely with enough flavors to keep the juices locked in. I wasn't that big of a fan of the bread pudding, but then again, I'm not a big fan of bread pudding period. Other members of our group ordered the lobster mac n'cheese, the salmon fillet and the fish & chips. All the items ordered were delicious. The Lobster Mac N' Cheese rich and has just enough lobster to make you happy. The fish & chips were okay, nothing special. The salmon was reported to be amazing, cooked absolutely at the right temperature and the wasabi mashed potatos were a big hit. The service was great. The front manager had us seated in no time, even though the reservation was for 8, she switched around some tables, and though our party had to split up into two tables, she found places for us. The restaurant isn't that large but she was very accomodating, considering that we were a pretty rowdy group. Our waiter, Seth, was also very attentive and very friendly. We will defintiely be back.
(4)Paolo D.
Nice atmosphere, decent food. Service sucks, particularly the ugly woman tending bar that looks like a witch. other than that, a pretty good experience!
(3)Layla P.
Nice place, not the best and I would probably try other places before returning, but good. I was a tad disappointed in the crab cake which was not crisp and was more in a 'large lump' form than in a 'cake' form, but the taste was pretty good. The main dish was the salmon with lobster mashed potatoes which was a great concept and I would recommend it, but it was a tad on the oily side. Service was friendly and timely.
(4)Dee T.
Scollay Square was recommended by the concierge at a local hotel. The atmosphere was pleasant, though perhaps a bit loud and casual for the price. (We spent $68 plus tip for two, and that was splitting a salad and a dessert and drinking tap water.) The food was pleasant, too--I had the fish and chips, my friend had a flank or a hanger steak--can't remember which--and we both liked our meals, though we weren't particularly blown away by them. But the desserts we had were poor, almost shockingly so. We ordered the blueberry shortcake to share; the menu said it would be warm, but what arrived was not only ice cold but stale. The cake tasted like a Popeye's or KFC biscuit, only half as fresh. The restaurant very accommodatingly offered to bring us something else, so we ordered the bread pudding. This time, the dessert was extremely hot--burning almost--and I assumed they put it in the microwave. But I could have stood the heat if the dessert were fresh and tasty, which unfortunately it was not. It had no discernable flavor other than "burning." The next day we had excellent food at the Grotto--it was cooked the way food should be cooked. In comparison, Scollay Square felt very ordinary.
(3)Todd B.
I have been to Scollay Square and I have not found one thing wrong with this restaurant. The food is excellent, the staff is very pleasant and it is a great environment. If you are looking to get an excellent meal at a fair price then you need to give Scollay Square a shot.
(4)Miss P.
hot damn! one of the best meals i've had in a long time. extra points for being a block or so from the hotel i stayed at (Parker House Omni...sucky ass hotel...apparently john wilkes booth stayed here...no wonder he got all cranky and shot up good ol' abe...damn you! home of the parker house rolls and boston cream pie...and cramped rooms...)...oh, wait, this is about food....back to scollay square... kobe sliders were awesome...i hate the fact that the term "kobe" is thrown around though, since it's an actual place in japan, and i know you likely didn't fly in the beef from there. LUMP crab cake, the only way it should be done! awesome bbq shrimp as well. entrees were all good, as well as the desserts (i.e., i think i'm having a senior moment, and can't remember what i ate...)..... can't wait to come back to boston and eat here again!
(5)Christina G.
I had a great lunch here a little while back. We had good service and two great dishes. The first... Lobster Mac and Cheese, possibly the best combination ever discovered, and the Acorn and Butternut squash lasagna. It was so different and a nice change from regular Lasagna. Great for this time of year as well. For dessert, the Maine Blueberry Shortcake which was was light and yummy. This is a nice lunch spot if you are in the area. It's nice inside, but if you come during the warmer months they have a nice outdoor patio instead.
(4)Rock L.
Craving some good food after arriving into Boston. The food is great not badly price. They Plasma all around playing all the major games. Its a nice Small conformable place. Very close to Bostom Commons and easy to find
(4)Betty P.
I was in charge of finding a place with outdoor seating for a group of 4 of us last night. I ruled out anywhere near Fenway or Newbury St. since there was a Sox game in town. Ruled out North End since I knew it would be mobbed and not looking forward to paying an arm and a leg for parking. The waterfront doesn't have as many possibilities as one would want. So going through my mental catalog of restaurants, I finally thought of Scollay Square. I had been here years ago with my dining club when it first opened so I was interested to see how it fared many years later. We showed up almost 15 minutes early for our reservation (made quickly and easily on Open Table), but we were seated immediately. I had requested outdoor seating and it was not a problem. The food was pretty impressive, but the service was not of the same quality. Our waitress didn't smile once and although the waitress who waited on our neighboring table made many appearances, ours was an infrequent visitor. She also did not tell us anything about the $22 3-course menu special until I asked about it. Service aside, the food thankfully made up for our waitress' lack of bubbly-ness. My dining companions ordered the Spring Rolls, lobster mac n'cheese, and the acorn & butternut squash lasagna -- all of which received rave reviews. The lasagna eater was licking his plate clean, telling us over and over how great the sage cream was. He said, "I feel like one of those Iron Chef judges. I want to tell the chef how great the dish was!" My daily special of prosciutto wrapped salmon with mashed potatoes and baby carrots was kinda bland and probably the least flavorful dish at the table. Which I guess is fine since I am on a diet. :) We lingered for a bit on the outdoor patio and nobody kicked us out. The patio is definitely great for people watching and I noticed a variety of clientele walk in -- from young professionals in shorts and Crocs to older couples donning pearls in their theater-going duds. Everyone in our party definitely agreed that Scollay Square is going to be a regular place in our dinner rotation. Meals for four people (including 1 beer) came in at around $80 before tip. The $22 menu was definitely worth asking about! The most impressive aspect of this place is that I received a random phone call today on my cell. Turns out it was the restaurant calling to check in on how last night went. Apparently, they said they call everybody who makes reservations the day after to check in and see how their experience was. I thought that was a great touch and makes me think that after a few more visits, I might give SS its 5th star!
(4)Josh S.
I met a few friends here on a Sunday night for dinner in December. Since it was a Sunday, and cold, it wasn't surprising that there weren't too many people in the restaurant. For appetizers, we wanted something light so we got the edamame, which was pretty good. We got our entrees, however, before we finished the appetizer so we felt a little rushed. For the entrees I ordered the broiled scallops, which were really good and a nice portion size. One friend got the NY Sirloin, which she thought was tasty. Another friend ordered the Tuna Burger, which she liked. The last member of our party ordered the fish and chips, which he thought was okay but it wasn't superb. All in all, we had a good time and enjoyed the food. For dessert, we ordered the cookie sliders, which were okay but the ice cream was hard as a rock. We also shared the red velvet cake which was delicious.
(4)Jeff W.
I am starting to notice a trend by the owners of this place... First Max and Dylans, then Tavern on the Water (worst), now here... Service Simply Sucks. It really is the worst service in the city for any group of restaurants in Boston. I am not sure if the hiring manager is really nice and hires these waitresses because he/she feels bad for them, or if he/she is truly clueless, but they are all distant and have little foresight. As a quick example... after having to leave my party to find the waitress so we could order (after 22 minutes), I asked a specific question about a wine we were going to buy. She answered with conviction later to find out she answered wrong... And yet, she proceeded to argue with me. It's too bad.. The food was very good and the setting was awesome.
(2)Justin W.
My fiancé and I both had a great dinner here. They were very accommodating for gluten free diets. The pairings of foods was delicious in both the haddock and scallop meals that we had.
(4)Paul S.
Maybe I'm just being a pessimist, but Scollay didn't really do it for me. I've read though many positive reviews that lauded the comfort food stylings of this hip little place, but I'm just not feeling it. My wife and I hit up Scollay with some friends Saturday night. The service was a little blah, but I was ready for that after reading some reviews. I found the space to be a little strange. The open kitchen didn't make much sense for a place that makes mac n cheese as a specialty. The dining area is very cramped, even on a night when the place didn't seem to have all the tables filled. I tried to shrug off the oddness of the layout to see if the food would make up for it. I got the cheessteak spring rolls first while my wife got a Caesar salad. Both were good, but nothing to awe inspiring. My wife and I decided to share the fish and chips and the esteemed lobster mac n cheese. Again, both were just okay. The fish and chips were more like cod nuggets that lacked seasoning. The mac n cheese was pretty soupy and did not have much lobster meat or lobster flavor. I wanted so much to be drawn into a world of buttery cheesy bliss with the mac n cheese, but it just wasn't happening. We left feeling full from food but unfulfilled in our search for comfort food on Beacon Hill.
(2)M Y.
Great place for brunch (not sure about dinner). I went with a friend on a Saturday and was pleasantly surprised. The food was great and reasonably priced. Everything was done perfectly and portions were generous for the price. Service staff were personable and friendly too!
(5)Alison B.
I work here. The food never ceases to amaze me. I recommend everything! but especially the ahi tuna napoleon, spinach and artichoke dip, baked haddock, beet salad, wedge salad, steak tips, squash lasagna, thai chicken and shrimp, roasted half chicken, cheddar grits.. Really I do love everything on the menu. The specials and pre fixe are always new and exciting as well! Mix and match if you want! It's so flexible. You get a fantastic meal for an adequate price. For wine, try the Kenwood or MacMurray PN, Sycamore Chard or Evolution (made from 9 different grapes!) and for dessert, Iniskillen ice wine and white chocolate bread pudding. YUM!
(4)S H.
The food here was very good -- the hot dishes were a little cold (lobster mac & cheese and some appetizer), but the flavoring was great. The service during our meal was great We made a reservation on OpenTable.com (through the Yelp link). You provide your name, phone and email address for an account. The next day, Scollay Square called us with the following voicemail: Hi ... this is (employee name) from Scollay Square. I'm just calling to say that you had dinner with us last night & we just like to give a reservations, just a little follow up call & make sure that everything went well & that you had a good time & that there were no issues & to let you know that if you do have any questions or comments or complaints, alright so please give me a call back. My No. here is 16177424900 & if I don't hear from you then hopefully we'll see you again soon. Thanks again. Bye bye. To me, that's like voice mail spam. Other people may think it's great, but when the waitress asked if our meal was okay, and we said "It's great", that should have been the end of the conversation. OpenTable's response was: You would need to contact the restaurant and ask them to please not use your phone number for that purpose. The restaurants are allowed to use their database however they would like and it is up to you to specify otherwise.
(3)Matt P.
Solid four star resteraunt with friendly service and very decent food. Haven't done much drinking here -- but the bar area is appealing to the eye. Great atmosphere and a good value overall, Scollay Square works for a whole great or just two!
(4)Andrea B.
This place is great :) The service is outstanding, the food is deeelish, and the atmosphere is very unique. I haven't tasted anything on the menu I didn't like but i especially enjoy the tuna napoleon appetizer and the pomegranate martini...I may just have to head there tonight. Good for couples, business gatherings (i took about 15 people from a conference there a few months back and everyone was raving about it), or just hanging out at the bar with friends. All in all, one of the best places in Boston for food and drinks.
(5)Nicole B.
i'm torn between 3 and 4 stars. but the food was so good i'll round up to a 4. i had the lobster mac and cheese while my boyfriend had the scallops. both were delicious! there were alot of other things on the menu i'd love to try. i can see myself absolutely going back. the prices were decent too. especially considering it's on beacon hill.
(4)Steve T.
OK, the sole reason for the 4-star review is because it was Restaurant Week. I'm sure the restaurant was pulling out the stops on service, and the menu was limited; I'd prefer to give a rating based upon the "regular" experience. And I'm already planning to return, because I enjoyed the experience. The service was polite and attentive, and the food was excellent. In fact, the service was so attentive that our waiter arranged a blind taste test to help us choose between two bottles of wine - our choice, and his recommendation. Both were superb. I can easily see this turning into a 5-star review on a second visit. I'm looking forward to the Bloody Mary bar, the Chocolate Decadence, and the Lobster Mac & Cheese. The seating is cozy, but not too cramped, and the prices on the regular menu were reasonable (though I ate off the Restaurant Week menu). Scollay Square has all the makings of a definite winner.
(4)Tom V.
Great Brunch Spot near the Commons! We wandered into this spot for brunch on Sat while in town for the Cubs game. They accomodated us on a fairly crowded patio, which was great on a much needed sunny day in May. I was going to order an omelet, as the ones I saw others having look huge & delicious, but the lobster eggs benny kept calling my name...tough decision...kinda pricey & probably comes will a few scraps of lobster...screw it, I'm out of town & treating myself! So glad I did! Best meal of the trip!! It was done perfectly & there was a ton of lobster meat...worth every penny!! Hash browns were also solid. Everyone else in the group seemed to enjoy their meals as well. Bloody Mary bar was good too, even if the server spilled my vodka pour all over upon his arrival to the table... :) Great location, great food, great patio. A little pricey for B-fast/Brunch but oh so worth it!! Congrats Bruins!!!!
(5)Corey L.
The food was good. Nothing incredible, but it was good. Prices were over the top, the most expensive dish was $29, but the average was $16-$23. The place was kinda loud, which for me is a down side. I'd go back.
(3)P M.
LOVED this place. The atmosphere was really great. My friend and I sat at the bar and kept ordering appetizers. The place had the best Blue Point oysters I've ever tried. They have an oyster sampler plate - choice of 3 oysters. I wish they knew the names of one of the others. (I thought it was a bit lame they didn't - they only knew it was from California. Tasted amazing). We also had a pecan salad that was great. Have to go back for the lobster mac 'n' cheese. We had the chocolate flourless cake which I wasn't crazy about at all. The service here was great. Very friendly. Can't wait to go back and maybe try dinner.
(5)Robin A.
Went here on a Fri. night. I had looked at yelp for a nice seafood restaurant, and since I tried for reservations an hour before we wanted to eat, I wasn't very successful. This restaurant was able to seat us, so we hopped in a cab and felt so loved when we arrived. It is so warm and inviting inside. A real local place! Maggie was our server, and she was personable, knowledgeable, and very helpful. Their tuna appetizer was the best we've ever eaten. We had the swordfish with lobster risotto, and both were oh, my god, amazing. Good wine selection and reasonably priced. I will definitely go back when I'm in Boston.
(5)Melissa C.
Update: I'm increasing their rating after my second experience. The customer service is top notch, seriously 5 stars. I've really been impressed with the service. This time my waiter forgot to put in the calamari app order, which would normally bother me, but he did an excellent job of taking full responsibility for it, and the food came out so quickly that we really never missed it. After trying more menu items, I'm also more impressed. The miso glazed Chilean sea bass was perfectly prepared. As well it was another well balanced plate with lovely, simple presentation. Why four stars not five? Open kitchen lets me watch the chef smack his chewing gum. While I was told that the vegetarian platter was improved, it was altered without addressing the real problem. The main problem is a lack of a substantial protein. This renders the plate an inappropriate meal. Although it has been changed to now include some warm items (mashed potatoes and a vegetable medley with a Thai peanut sauce--which would need a lot of peanuts to constitute a meal-worthy protein), it is still almost literally a salad and french fries plate for the people who wont eat meat. Simple solution: add tofu to the Thai medley. However, vegetarians would probably all appreciate a meal as lovely and balanced and thoughtful as the other meals on the menu. __________________________________ I feel SO mixed about this review. Some things were done so well, and some things were just, nearly unforgivable. I'll start with what was good. The service was excellent. Our table was ready when we arrived. The host took our coats and umbrellas. My sister pointed out to the waitress that it was our mother's birthday, and by the end of the night, there was one of those chocolate volcano cakes and a birthday card signed by the staff. There was none of that embarrassing clapping and singing. It did however, highlight the fact that none of us had gotten her a card... couldn't you guys have slid that card our way to sign too? Thanks for making us look like jerks. ;) No, it was a great touch. The atmosphere, the service, the demeanor of everything was really top notch. The menu was varied and unique. There were several seafood options. The lobster mashed potatoes are DELICIOUS. This is the best side dish ever. The New Orleans BBQ Shrimp are pretty tasty. The scallops were perfectly cooked. The prices are not outrageous. The portions are perfect. They may not be huge, but if you had an app you could definitely split one. Oh, and the bread is great, a savory bread and a sweet. The presentation was beautiful. The negatives: (1) The salmon had a poor color and an inappropriate fishy flavor. (2) I don't eat red meat now, but I used to, and I come from a steak loving family where I learned about cuts of beef. There is not a fine cut of beef anywhere on the menu. This was a BIG problem for the person at the table who only eats red meat. The New York Strip came out just like one would expect, fatty and tough. He got sick of cutting at it and eventually just quit eating it. (3) The vegetarian platter is the worst I've ever seen anywhere. I've been eating vegetarian platters for half my life, and I have never seen one so deficient. It was truly a trashcan for left over vegetables. 2 salads and 4 vegetarian sides sounds nice, but this came out with a Caesar salad, some mixed greens, 2 slices of portobello mushroom, some cubes of pickled radish, asparagus, and a spoonful of tomato mush. There was not a protein on the plate--not a single bean or bit of tofu. I can understand avoiding dairy and egg, but no protein at all is unbalanced. This is not a complete meal; it is an elaborate side dish or a healthy appetizer, not a meal. It couldn't have been worse if he sent out a plate of french fries. There are so many creative and delicious things that can be done with vegetables, why in the world would anyone send out a plate full of veggie scraps. (4) Coats and umbrellas were not returned to us. (5) No courtesy call to confirm the reservation. I'm really borderline on the star thing. There were a lot of things that I really liked, like those lobster mashed potatoes. Those are 5-star mashed potatoes. Otherwise, there are just so many restaurants that give a courtesy call, have excellent vegetarian options, and have better steak options. So despite the excellent service, if I came back, it would only be for the convenience of the location (but I would absolutely get an order of those lobster mashed potatoes).
(4)Kara L.
We sat outside on a Sunday night, the area was really quite compared to the crowd that was on the other side of town for the tall ships. The drinks were great and so was the food! I got the Salmon with wasabi mashed potatoes, which were awesome. My boyfriend got the three course meal which was also very impressive. Would definitely go back, atmosphere was very relaxed although I am sure it is much more lively on week night with the after work crowd.
(4)Lynn W.
The best meal I had in Boston! I had the sword fish steak with lobster risotto. There were large lobster chunks in the flavorful risotto. The calamari was crisp with a delicious sauce. The roasted pear salad had mixed greens, roasted nuts and pomegranate seeds.. The place was a little loud but highly recommend it.
(5)