A nice, quiet place to get brunch but beware of the slow service. Each time I've come here I'm always happy with the food, but it takes forever to get/pay the check afterwards. For brunch, they always offer you a complimentary snack like a fruit smoothie or house made donuts. So that's a great perk.
(4)
Rudolf A.
Where to begin....Towne is a very versatile place for a restaurant. It has the more casual bar at the beginning of the restaurant for your casual after work gathering and the occasional bar food.Then in the next room is another bar for the more "dressier" crowd who are there to either have the proper dinner at the bar (business types on travel) or Theyre wiating for their party to arrive or the reservation. What surprised me was that on my second visit to Towne (on my birthday) was that they had a second floor and another and less crowded bar!! ^_^ so thumbs up for a nice restaurant with three bars right? The drinks are not bad and price is in the mid higher range. Now as for the food, I like their food here because they have an "international menu". Let's get this clear, you dont go to Town to eat the Turkish dish they have there, if you want a freakin authentic Turkish or whatever ethnic meal you want you go to a restaurant that specifically caters to that. Meals are obviously "americanized" and they have a hint of that taste rather than the authnetic meal. Nonetheless, it gives the customer a huge variety of flavors to select from and the prices are from about 18-30 dollars which for Boston that's about the upper end of the mid-range. The duck, and the lobster pizza were good! unfortunately thos were my friends' meals and I had a taste (mine was the swordfish octopus ans it was meh..) ...for appetizers, the little necks, and oysters were also good. overall I enjoyed the experience and the decor is modern contemporary, I mean we had beakers as the water glass, which sorta made me wanna steal one for my alcoholic concotions that i make at home....but iI digress...awesome place for dinners or just drinks. check it out.
(4)
TJ L.
I loved the white eggs omelette with chanterelles and the fact that the snow day made seating immediately so easy!
(4)
David G.
I am a fan of the bar only, the food is over priced for the quality. The bartenders are on point and make drinking here an enjoyment.
(4)
Ngoc K.
Had Tuna Belly appetizer. It was seared tuna, but when you cut into it, all you could see was the fat from the tuna strung together in a slimmy, disgusting way. On top of that, the waitresses had full on convos with each other, at the bar, in front of patrons. They shared photos from their phones and talking about their mother's yam recipes. Dirty martini consisted of un-pitted olives. Nothing sexier than watching someone spit out pits, Towne.
(1)
Sam H.
I've been to Towne a few times and it's huge. There are 4 bars, varying in size, and a lot of seating. Although I've never been with a group, I suspect it would be a good place to take a group due to their size. The food is good, in fact, I don't think I've ever had a bad dish, but I haven't LOVED anything (except maybe the brussels sprouts) and it's overpriced. Now, I live in the immediate area and I KNOW everything is overpriced, but for what you get, it's good, but not worth what they charge. If you sit at the bar, all of the bartenders I've ever met have been fabulous as have been the hostesses. The servers are good, but I've actually only sat in the dining room twice and it wasn't memorable. If you go, I recommend sitting at one of the bars.
(3)
Steven C.
HOW TOWNE RUINED VALENTINE'S DAY.... First of all, if I could give zero stars, trust me, I would. I have eaten here before, and that experience was lackluster in its own right. Based on the previous experience, would've gotten 3 stars. However, tonight was a whole new ball game... The story includes bad service, ignorance, and RACISM... yes, racism. Please read on and decide for yourself if you would like to support such an establishment... My wife and I arrived right on time for our reservation on Valentine's Day at 8:45 pm. They were busy, so they told us it'd be another "10 to 15 minutes." So, this is definitely my pet peeve.... I have a reservation... honor it. But fine, it's V-day, I understand, we decide to wait patiently. It becomes 9:00 pm, and they start to seat people THAT ARRIVED AFTER US.... We all had 8:45 reservations... is there a reason we are getting seated later? At 9:10 pm, I start to hear my name getting mentioned. They can't find us... even though we are standing FIVE FREAKIN' FEET AWAY. So what does the hostess do? SHE MAKES THE SLANTY EYE GESTURE TO HER COWORKER TO IDENTIFY US. ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDING ME?!! Am I not in one of the most highly educated cities on the east coast? Is ignorance seriously still this rampant? Growing up in California, I never dealt with this type of thing... and I was just floored... I immediately walk up to her and proceed to say, "Are you kidding me? Is this seriously how you needed to find us? Would you like me to build a railroad for you??? (ok, this last one was probably both lost on them and unnecessary...). Management comes over, tries to smooth things over. Management says, "We're sorry, she doesn't represent all of us. I hope you trust us that we do not all feel this way." I respond, "Well, your choice to employ such a person who is the face of your restaurant makes it seem that way." What's her answer? "I can't believe she did that! I mean, she's a foreigner too, so she should understand." REALLY? Your answer is that she's ALSO A FOREIGNER SO SHE SHOULDN'T BE RACIST? How about.... SHE SHOULDN'T BE RACIST...PERIOD!?? They offered to comp us a drink each.... not worth it. No way I am supporting this kind of business. So if you agree, and would rather not support an ignorant business that hires folks that disparage others BASED ON RACE.... BOYCOTT THIS RESTAURANT NOW.
(1)
J P.
The food was DELICIOUS, but they were playing really loud music. I felt like I had to scream during dinner so people could hear me. So, if you want great food, but only so-so ambiance, I would recommend it. If looking for a romantic night out, I would recommend steering clear.
(3)
Holly M.
I like Towne for its fashionable decor, fashionable people, and fun vibe. I have been a few times for special events like birthdays and parties and it has been very consistent. The drinks are always the highlight for me, but the creativity is very fun and unique. I can always count on a craft cocktail and a lovely meal at Towne.
(3)
E F.
I've only eaten here once with 3 other people, and we came for brunch. It was delicious. The french toast was full of flavor and fresh, great sides, the eggs Benedict was excellent, and the other dishes were great. We liked the decor and the free donut holes that were served. Based on brunch a lone, this place was great
(5)
Julie R.
When I first walked in Towne, I immediately loved it. The place had a glam factor with a red carpet and a Towne wall to photograph in front of. Lots of pretty people stood at the doors to let you in. It was like, is this LA or Boston? Then inside it was so new, contemporary and huge! The large party we had took a few high tops at the bar in the second half of the restaurant. We got a bunch of food to share and drinks. There is a devoted lobster menu available at the bar with all lobster options. I had the signature lobster popovers at Scampo previously and knew I wanted them again. We were able to glance at the dining room menu but I don't think anyone ordered off it. The popovers were again delicious. I wished they were larger or more given cause $10 for 2 small phyllo rolls filled with a spoonful of lobster was lame. The $17 flat breads were not the best. The duxelles had locally harvested mushrooms and truffle oil. It was better then the margarita, which was dry. The lobster tails were small and tough. Other items were consumed but I don't remember what cause they weren't memorable. The warm chocolate cake was good but the cherry loaded ice cream wasn't liked too much. Nothing we had really wowed me. I did love the cotton candy that came out comp cause dessert took forever. Since I was there for over 2 hours I got a good look around the dining room. I noticed a lot of wood paneling that was bringing back the 70's vibe along with the red gusseted booths. All all the rooms have different decor cause the first one I entered looked more modern. The choice of artwork is interesting. The mural in the back dining room shows nipple and the ladies room sketch has man's butt. Sexy!! Service was friendly and got slower as the place filled up. The bill was $370 for 7 people with drinks, apps, and 1 dessert. Drinks are pricey, as are basic glasses of wine. Towards the end of the night the place got packed with cougars! I'd say its worth a drink to check out the city's newest scene, though you can definitely get a better value/food at many other nearby places.
(3)
Kavitha M.
Very sad to say that I will no longer be going here for brunch and this used to be one of my favorite brunch spots. They changed the fried chicken in the "fried chicken and waffles" to tasteless, bad quality chicken strips!! How could they??
(2)
Clara L.
This place is hoppin'. Went here around 7:30 pm on a Friday night, and it was packed. Their drinks were solid, but their food was pretty overpriced. They don't really have a bar menu, and most of the food is difficult to eat when it is packed and you're standing, smushed in the back of the room. I did notice that they had a $35 3-course prix fixe lunch deal going on, probably worth trying out. Would try to get a seat upstairs in the future to grab a bite. Fun atmosphere, lots of young professionals.
(3)
Jeffrey H.
I came here on a Thursday night with a bunch for a get-together. The service was good, my water was never empty. The food was decent but my favorite is the lobster popover. It was so flavorful and sweet. However, it was a tad too loud where we were seated other then that the ambience was okay. The desserts did take a while to come out. 3 stars because it was okay.
(3)
Ann M.
I loved Towne Stove and Spirits, and am awarding this restaurant my first 5 star Yelp rating. The design of the restaurant is beautiful, and creatively straddles the line between fun and dignified. When you arrive at Towne, you feel you can be merry and witty, all at once. The attention to detail is stirring, and before you've had a mouthful, it's a feast for the senses. The splendid window fabrics, the gray and red tones of the leather upholstered chairs, and the mural that colorfully dances across a wall are captivating and pleasing. Light fixtures create attitude and ambiance and stand out as ICA contenders all on their own. I appreciated the way light and images refracted around me from strategically placed mirrors, providing all dining guests views of either the kitchen team in action, or Bostonians making pace along Boylston Street. To lift you from any serious mood that often besets a Bostonian, you'll find salt and pepper shakers at your table reminding you of Restoration Hardware lavatory faucets, and beaker water glasses that bring back to mind the mess you created with your middle school chemistry lab partner. Karen, our server, made wonderful recommendations for both food and wine. I took all her advice and was delighted. My Peking Chicken and Pot Pie were moist, delicious and fragrant from a dusting of salt and Chinese Five Spices. The garnish of toasted ginger further awakened my senses. My son raved about his Swordfish Steak with White Clam Risotto, and topped his meal off with a chocolate pudding he found soul satisfying. Afterwards, we headed to Fenway Park for a game. When we later got home, my son remarked to me that he enjoyed the game, but that the best part of the night was his Swordfish entree, asking me when we might return to Towne. If Lydia and Jasper's culinary boldness and heart felt wizardry topped the Boston Red Sox for my son, imagine what a visit to Towne can do for you.
(5)
Denise M.
This is an upscale bar tailoring to the new Boylston St crowd. While it was very crowded, the bartenders at the back bar held up their end great, making good drinks and giving us reasonable service. The good: bartenders, location and a unique drink menu The not-so-good: pretty over priced - $15 martini's just aren't realistic. The clientele is also VERY uppity and revel in that. You aren't going here to meet new people, you're going to snub others.
(3)
Jamie T.
My Mother was in town and I had been wanting to try this place for a while. Since she is as much of a foodie as I am I thought it would be a perfect place to go for lunch. And trust me when I say... it definitely was! We had a fabulous lunch (shared three dishes). We had the tuna salad, which was uniquely plated and tasted great, we had the beef carpaccio with homemade burrata which was also delish, as well as the crab cake. All would be suggested. I had some lemonade-ish martini that was UNREAL. I will definitely be returning. Oh, and a shout out to our waiter (I believe his name was Tommy? I could totally be wrong and I am sorry if that's the case) but he was super friendly and really great! Definitely recommended!
(4)
Jessica G.
Not bad. Got the lobster roll and clam strips. Sat at the bar for dinner and it was so dark, I wasn't sure if they were trying to hide the food! But it was good. Wine selection wasn't all that impressive.
(3)
Courtney M.
Overall great, but it definitely has some areas where it could be improved upon! We looked forward to each part of the meal and enjoyed the experience. First, the space is huge and two floors! There are three bars, and the ones downstairs are hip and crowded. I'd definitely like to come back to the main bar near the entrance after work some time or on the weekend because of its lively atmosphere--lots of young professionals! We were seated on the second floor near the window, which overlooked their soon-to-be outdoor seating that will also be used in the wintertime. So...even more seating at this already huge restaurant. What I liked about the menu is that it took some traditional dishes and prepared them in a new style, i.e., lamb chops with Indian influences. They also show the flag of the country whose dish they were preparing, i.e., the ravioli has the Italian flag next to its description. I must admit that we all enjoyed our appetizers the best. We ordered the fettuccine alfredo, the lobster & corn pizza, the razor clams, and the avocado salad. The pizza blew us away! We would order it again in a heartbeat. The others were very good too. Our friends commented that the pasta was just like how it's prepared in Italy, so they enjoyed it very much. The avocado salad was very fresh, but the pork crackling served along with it seemed an usual pairing. For the entrees: we ordered the Peking chicken, the lamb chops, the chicken "brick" style, and the beef short ribs. I'd say that although we enjoyed our dishes, none of us raved about it except for the lamb chops. They were beautifully presented and all tasted very good, but they seemed to lack a "wow" factor that we were hoping for. The side dishes were also 50/50. The potatoes gratin and portabello mushrooms were excellent, but the creamed spinach was fair. We were all happy with our choices and definitely ate all of it (fatties that we are!), but the appetizers are what we most enjoyed. The most disappointing part of the meal: the dessert!! We ordered the pavlova (spelling?) and the warm dark chocolate which sounds like it would be a warm dark chocolate cake but instead it's a vanilla cake with caramelized sugar with a hint of chocolate in it (at least that's what it appeared to be). So disappointing! None of us finished the desserts. About the service: overall quite good and very attentive. Friendly, helpful waiter although he seemed a little inexperienced in opening the wine bottle and pouring our wine and coffee (that he only filled half a cup of). That's just a little thing and something that will likely be improved upon with time. Not a big deal! Bottom line: GO! Enjoy the drinks and the appetizers and the overall ambiance! And perhaps you'll have a different opinion about the main dishes. But... I wouldn't recommend dessert (at least not for right now). It's definitely a welcomed addition to the Boston restaurant scene!
(4)
Paula A.
the food is ok (my burger was raw, but they were quick to replace it). the setting is ok. the location is good. after 10 pm -- it basically turns into a fancy/loud frat party. seriously, there was a girl puking in the bathroom surrounded by 6 of her scantily clad BFFs. not blaming Towne, but that's the kind of clientele that hangs out there. so if you're over the age of 23, clear out by then. i didn't like it the first time. went back w/ an open mind for a friend's bday, & am in NO hurry to return.
(2)
Shannon C.
Towne is RIGHT next to my new office so I was hoping this would become my new go-to spot after work. Sadly, it's the furthest thing from it...well...that's not true, as there are plenty of other worthy neighborhood joints nearby. Anyway, you walk into Towne expecting all that a Lydia Shire production should offer and it doesn't disappoint. The dark polished oak (?) bar stands out as you enter. They've done a great job with the space to make it feel intimate though the wrap-around bar is actually rather large. The sound is not cacophonous so you don't find yourself shouting to your friend 2 feet away which is nice. The dining room is also well designed and provides a comfortable yet unobtrusive din. (I didn't get a chance to see the upstairs and I'll have to save the outdoor gazebo for another visit as it was unfinished during my visit.) Food was better than amazing. We ordered a few apps, a few sides and a salad as we were only there for drinks. I can't speak to the entrees but I was pleased with our ordering and very satisfied with what ended up being quite a meal in the end though we had intended to keep it light. Fabulous decor and delicious food aside, the service was horrendous. Shockingly horrendous. If I could have FOUND a manager to complain to, I would have. I'll chalk it up to the trials of opening week at a new restaurant. To be fair, I fully intend to give Towne another go.
(3)
Rick B.
Went last night for the first time and had an unbelievable meal. Duck was insane. Salmon and Swordfish were excellent and the ice cream sundae with peanut butter cotton candy stole the show. I have no words. Ahhmazing. Server was prompt and attentive. Only negative (and should lose 2 stars for it) is how insanely LOUD the dining room is. They need to add dampeners to help offset the idiot who developed the ceiling. Looks cool but the way it's constructed you cannot hear yourself think on a busy night. Last night was literally deafening. The food was some of the best we have had in a very long time.
(5)
Craig D.
(3.5) ~ Overall Food & Service
(4)
Sarah F.
Enjoyed a delightful date night with my husband at Towne. They did a great job with the service all the way around, from our request on seating to every last detail. The wait staff were very attentive and personable, and the food and drinks arrived promptly. The lobster popovers are the thing to get - delicious! The main courses were flavorful, good, not terribly exciting, but well prepared. Some options have an international flare, which is a plus in my book. The key lime tart with macadamia crust was to die for.
(4)
Lala I.
average drinks and food. plenty of seating
(3)
Tesia K.
Everything from the bread basket to dessert was absolutely amazing. I ordered the tuna and my friend ordered the duck and we both loved our dishes. The ambiance was beautiful with their velvet chairs and the outdoor seating. I especially loved how you can see the kitchen on the second floor. Servers came to our table often to check on us and our waters were always full. The price is a little on the higher end but definitely worth it.
(5)
Danielle C.
I'm completely in love with Towne. Starting with booking my reservation, about a week before it opened, for about a week after it opened (8.8), I had a good feeling. There was no snobbery and the woman I spoke with was very pleasant. She confirmed my res by sending me an email, which I received within minutes of hanging up. When I realized we'd be running about 10 minutes late, I called to let them know and spoke with another very pleasant person, who thanked me and made note. Walking in, I was smitten-- the decor is warm and hip simultaneously. There's a cute little robot theme running throughout-- see if you notice! Our waiter, and all of his assistants, were friendly, attentive, professional and- again- refreshingly free of pompousness! My friend and I split a pitcher of white white sangria that was to die for-- since they had to make another batch, we actually each got an extra glass on the house, which was another perk. The rotisserie chicken was delicious-- very moist, satisfying, well done. But my favorite part was the vanilla 'mosaic' with mango and blackberries-- you NEED to get this. I haven't had a better dessert in years! Drink prices were standard for an upscale locale (about $8-12) and although I couldn't afford to eat here every night, it's not outrageous for the caliber it brings to the table. It's a success!
(5)
Jan H.
Terrible.....No stars for this. Lobster chowder was watery and fishy...could not finish. Asked for a 2009 vintage on wine and got 2010 for which the waiter insulted our guest who is a sommelier. Lemon ravioli was tasteless and paid a boat load for halibut that was overcooked and dry. French fries were ok but forgot the truffle oil. Pop overs were good but lobster was cooked poorly and old. Thank heaven Boston has so many restaurants so I will never have to go back there
(1)
M J.
Towne is ambitious. It's big and bold and beautiful and it's goal is to serve many purposes, which I applaud. Who else offers eclectic fine dining by two top chefs in three very different dining rooms with three bars, outdoor dining (soon) and a primo location in the heart of the city? Um, no one. You also need to bump up the stars because it's filled a huge void in the Back Bay with it's vibrant, large bar scene for adults. Some comments here are ridiculous social commentary, and not a review of the venue. Snarky, unhappy singles taking aim at the over 40 crowd: please stop and think. The world just might not be revolving around you. Maybe try some yoga breathing. I'm thrilled with Towne. They were slammed right off the bat becuase they're offering something in very high demand. They've hit their groove now - it's been a big undertaking but they are industry professionals and great at what they do. Go. Dress up or not, eat, drink and enjoy.
(5)
Alison Z.
Towne seems out of place. Or confused. It's a scene-y bar on the bottom, a restaurant in the middle and more bar-like on the sides. And it doesn't seem to know it's in the service or hospitality industry. We stopped in for a drink and a quick bit to eat. There was exactly one thing on the menu I could eat (no meat or fish for me) and it was awful. A burnt, oozing excuse for a grilled cheese. My husband's food wasn't any better. And the service was terrible. Rude and way too cool to talk to us or recommend things. The people who hang out here don't seem interested in the quality of the service. Or the food. Or the drinks. They're just there to be seen. So if that's your thing, then this place might be for you. If not, head down the street.
(2)
Jainy S.
If you asked me to describe Towne in one sentence, I'd fail. In fact, we asked our waiter to describe the theme...and he gave us..."fun? hip? we're a bar, we're a club...we are everything." I guess when it boils down to it, it's a little eclectic. The Ambiance: We were seated on the bottom floor aka "down-Towne" and the feel was best described as being in a fancy cabin...or getting to eat inside a Crate and Barrel. The upstairs aka "up-Towne" and the Back Bay room each have a unique feel to them, so can get up to 3 different dining experiences. The Menu: Well, it's slim pickings for vegetarians. They have 2 veggie pizzas - I went with one of them. It was good but not the greatest thing I have ever had. On the plus side, it was huge and I did have some left overs for home. For my meat-eating friends, the menu featured a lot of strange combos. From pork to fish to steak to lobster pizza, everyone was very satisfied with their meals. The Pro's -If you have a reservation, you have access to the other bars located upstairs and downstairs -The staff is incredibly friendly and make great suggestions - The food is good. - It seems fun, hip and crowded. I think it's a fun place to grab a late dinner and then enjoy some drinks. The Con's - The overall lack of theme is really evident - It is a little pricey and there are probably better dining experiences in Boston - Limited vegetarian options. Booo. Overall - I'd go back for a meal but only after ruling out other possible options.
(3)
Will S.
Worst martini ever. Bartender put more olive juice than vodka in the drink. What an amateur. Ughhh!!!!!!
(1)
Rachele V.
My boss and I took a client here for dinner and it did not go well. Our waitress was pushy and kept trying to convince us to order more food and wine. The food was good but the prices seemed high for what they were offering. I had the lobster popovers as an appetizer. They were $14 for 3 and they were okay, not as fantastic as the waitress claimed when she pushed me to order them. My client complained about the volume of the music, but our request to turn down the music fell on deaf ears (no pun intended). It was very loud - almost night club loud and this was a weeknight. My boss and my client ordered the same steak dish, but they came out two completely different sizes. My client called the manager over and he told him steaks tend to be 13 - 14 ounces. One was on the high end of 14 while one was on the low end of 13. I thought that sounded like a lame excuse, but we decided not to fight it. My duck breast was good but pricey. It was a large portion and I was full from the app so I left more than half on my plate so I could take leftovers home. I turned to talk to my client and when I turned back my plate was gone! No one even asked me if I was done! I stood up to stop whoever took my food, but they were nowhere in sight. I told the waitress - she came back from the kitchen and told me the bus boy had thrown it away and she told him not to do that again. No offer to replace or comp my food was made at that point. As I was leaving the waitress stopped me because they were making a new order of duck for me, which was the only redeeming thing she did all night. Talk about an embarrassing experience! We took our client out to a much nicer lunch the next day to make up for it... I would give the place a 3 on food but a 1 on service. I haven't been back since and I will continue to steer coworkers and clients away from Towne.
(2)
Courteney M.
Ever since I heard that Jasper White and Lydia Shire were collaborating on a new restaurant, I was dying to try it. It was not a disappointing experience. Towne is located adjacent to the Hynes Convention Center on the Prudential side of Boylston - upon entering, the bar is right in front of you, and you go down the hallway on the left to get to the restaurant. The menu had a variety of mouthwatering options - I had the prime rib (no sauce from the "sauce cart", and we ordered the miso-ginger green beans (AMAZING), portobello mushrooms, and sweet potato mash for sides for the table. The wine list is reasonable with solid options on both red and white, and the white sangria is the best white sangria I've had in Boston. It was reasonably priced - the bill before tip for the three of us (each ordering a steak, 2 drinks, dessert and splitting the sides) was $250. And the "spun sugar" dessert is to die for. The downsides? The service was on the slower side (but in their defense, the place was packed) and it was LOUD (we were seated on the first floor next to the second bar area - I imagine that the dining room on the second floor is quieter). I loved the decorations, and there were several menu items I wanted to try - I'll definitely be going back.
(4)
Kristen P.
I ventured to Towne one very rainy Friday with a group of girls for some cocktails and late night snacks, and I must say I was quite impressed. We managed to snag a cozy bar table within minutes of arriving which was definitely a plus. The atmosphere was a bit lack luster when we arrived (circa 10pm), but it picked up within the following hour with quite the lively bunch. We ordered a few rounds of cocktails which were AMAZING (albeit pricey); I highly recommend the Gypsy cocktail. We also indulged in a few bar snacks including the margarita pizza, cajun spiced fries, and grilled cheese. THE GRILLED CHEESE WAS TO DIE FOR! The bread was perfectly fluffy, the cheese was spot on, and there was a hint of sweetness from fig preserves. Hands down the best grilled cheese I have EVER tasted! And to top it off, it came with a side of potato chips baked in truffle oil... Amazing. Our waitress was a doll and got us a basket of just the chips even though it wasn't a menu item.
(4)
Leslie T.
Not great. I stopped in here for a quick bite to eat at the bar on a Saturday afternoon. Instead of a friendly greeting from the bartender, I got, "Gimme a minute, okay?" Hmm. Okay. As was the rest of my stay there. Just "okay." I ordered a lobster Cobb salad without the blue cheese. It took forever to arrive, and when it finally did it was covered with blue cheese and I had to send it back. Took forever to get the replacement. Once the salad did arrive, it was decent and nicely arranged on the plate, although the lobster was a little raw. I was not about to send it back, though, as I was afraid if I did I'd never get out of there. So, in all, I give it a hearty "meh."
(2)
Cece K.
Great food, but surprisingly pricey. From the outside, Towne looks like a hip, modern hang out..that also serves food. It actually turns out to be a high quality restaurant with delicious food and drinks. Huge venue and great locations... great spot for a special occasion or group event. Not the most "Boston-like" atmosphere... so if you are visiting from out of town, and only had one place to go, I would try something that served more authentic NE cuisine. The food: Bread basket in the beginning was great, and was served with several interesting spreads. I tried the chix thighs, swordfish pup steak, and skirt steak wagyu... all were amazing... but I was particularly impressed with the chix thighs, which had an amazing rotisserie flavor. For dessert, I some sort of caramel and angel food cake creation that was mouthwatering... it was topped with homemade caramel cotton candy. Drinks: one word = amazing! I had the gypsy dancer which was very well made (heavy on the vodka) and the combination of mix-ins made it very refreshing. Towne has a huge bar in the front... that may be a great place to hang out even if you are not planning on having dinner.
(4)
Kristen C.
Stopped in for drinks at this hot new trendy place. The space itself is nice, not too big, with funky lit up bar counters and separate bar tables and stools for people to congregate at besides just the bar itself. Though, the acoustics made it very, very noisy so it is not a place to talk over drinks. Interesting cocktail menu was ambitious, but maybe a bit too much as nothing really stood out and attracted me right away, which is rare. I tried one of their tequila cocktails that was unfortunately light on the tequila, and filled primarily with a lot of ice. For $10 to $12 a drink, I do expect a real cocktail. I would definitely go back and check it out again and see if drinks are better on a different night. It does show promise.
(3)
Sarah R.
I went there on a Thursday night. I loved the location and atmosphere, drinks were great and the food was good, but nothing mind blowing. I highly recommend the sangria it was mixed to perfection. It was extremely delicious and potent. We only order appetizers and a side so I cannot fully judge the food. The pizza was alright. Steak tartar came with nothing to accompany it and did not have much flavor. The side of gnocchi was cooked well but I did not care for it in bolognese sauce. I would try it again but I will not rush back there.
(3)
Thanh L.
It was just a little to crowd for my taste. We were hanging out on friday here. The drinks were pricey and the noise was overbearing. You couldn't hear the people next to you. Its was a pretty place to look at, but I think we came in at the wrong time.
(3)
D H.
I'm just getting around to reviewing this place. I ate her a year or so ago. I confess I do not remember precisely what I had, but I recall being very impressed and telling myself to review it on yelp.
(4)
Amelia D.
I had gone to Towne in the past and absolutely loved it. However this time around I went with my boyfriend and another couple, and it was a slightly different story. We sat outside on the patio and felt right away that the waiter was rather detached and unfriendly. The service was slow, so we were off to a bad start. No bread was served or anything to start us off, and we were hungry. We got some lemony raviolis with artichoke for an app, and I thought it was quite good, but that is where the enjoyment ends. Our friends got caesar salads and a bus boy came over with a plate and asked us if it was ours. We said what is it? He said it was a fried egg or something like that. We all said no, we didn't order that. Five minutes later he comes back and says "it goes with your caesar salad." Uhh...okay. Were we supposed to know that?? Weird. Our friends were half done with their salads. Would have been nice if they had just served the dish appropriately. Here's the thing that bothered me the most: the water glasses had warm water in them with no ice, and the glasses smelled funny (like a dirty dishwasher or like they had been washed with cold water and no soap). That totally grossed me out. This should never happen at an "upscale" restaurant! No excuse! Luckily I had a cocktail, so I sipped that and tried to ignore the yucky water glasses. For dinner I got the wagyu steak with polenta which I thought was pretty good, but nothing amazing. My boyfriend got the NY Sirloin and wasn't impressed. He thought it was bland and not very tender. Our friends both got fish of some sort, and they said it was just alright. I don't know if the poor service just sorta put a cloud over the rest of the experience or what, but as we were leaving we all decided that it was over-priced and unimpressive, and we would probably not go back again. It's too bad, cause the first time I dined at Towne (inside, upstairs) I had really loved it, and thought the food and service was fabulous. So for this reason, I'm giving Towne an overall rating of 3 stars instead of just 2.
(3)
Amanda W.
Came in for brunch and was more than pleased with the result. Our waitress was kind and attentive and explained the menu thoroughly, despite her thick accent. The spread was hearty and perfect for a weekend's first meal, though a tad over-priced. The kitchen sink sandwich and extreme fries certainly hit the spot! I think Towne was going for a more upscale kind of atmosphere, but people in Boston just don't seem to dress appropriately anyway... Overall, 3 stars for the food and service and an extra star for having the guts to try out a more modern feeling restaurant on Boylston! PS: LOVE the beakers and S&P shakers.
(4)
Marcus C.
Overpriced - The food isn't very special, considering how much the restaurant charges. Discordant - The IKEA-inspired menu design suggests a playfulness that isn't present in the dining experience. Expansive - Like an over-dressed Cheesecake Factory. Some might like this scale though. Star-studded - Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen were at the next table. My food was just average. I had the potato-wrapped cod, which was sort of bland and less interesting than I hoped. One dining companion had the sausage/pepperoni pizza and he disliked it. The other dining companion had the lobster roll, which she enjoyed - it being lobster and all. In my opinion, the best dish was my avocado/pork-belly salad. You can't go wrong with pork belly!
(2)
Robyn R.
I'm only reviewing this place on apps and drinks. The place has a great idea...I just don't feel it has been executed well enough. It would be a fabulous cocktail/late night snack place, however, the layout is not great. The lounge is small and seperated from the bar...and is waitress service only. So if you want a drink, you order from waitress or go "behind the curtains" to the back bar. The bar snack/lounge menu is below par - we ordered 2 or 3 items out of pure hunger. I would think a place like this could be more creative, and offer more for the location. The bar in the back is secluded and is more like a restaurant bar, but it's the only bar open. Drinks are good, but they have a lot to improve on in my opinion. I think the space is what is failing them...however, I haven't had dinner there and will def try it at some point.
(3)
Brian O.
Good but way too expensive
(3)
Paul F.
Great stuff This is a creative place: perfect for the foodie in you. Not a 10 and not a 5: you know what I mean. Lydia does it all.
(3)
Jamie H.
i went to towne stove and spirits with about 7 colleagues for lunch. overall, the food was pretty good but the service was extremely slow. it took us almost an hour and a half for the whole ordeal, but most of that was upfront time and by the time we actually got our food we pretty much shoveled it in and left in the last 15 minutes. the first strange part was that when we sat down at the table, we were not given menus. also, i'll note that we were one of the first parties to arrive for lunch, so the restaurant was not busy. after taking our drink order, the waitress came back looking at us expectantly. we looked at her expectantly, and the finally i asked if we might be able to get menus. we ordered fairly quickly, and then waited. and waited. and waited longer. a few people at the table had gotten soups, and these came, and then we waited. and then waited. and then waited longer. we tried desperately to make some eye contact with our waitress, but she was avoiding the situation. it would have been nice to at least get a reason why we were waiting, and why all of the other tables around us had been served food and left. most of us canceled our next meeting, some people had to get up from the table. we finally got our food over an hour into the lunch, and i'll be honest, it was just salads and sandwiches. i had ordered a salad with grilled chicken, asparagus, tomatoes, cucumber, and carrots. the chicken was cold! how did it take an hour to produce cold chicken? my vegetables were fresh and the lemon juice dressing was tangy, but it certainly did not make up for the wait. i also enjoyed the pita chips and hummus that all diners receive upon arriving, and this seems to be house-made. i also sampled a few of the sweet potato fries, and they were really good, slightly salty and pretty crispy. everyone else seemed to enjoy their food, but was also put off by the extremely long wait.
(3)
Squidy D.
Is it OK to serve raw duck? I don't know, but that's what I got when I ordered the Peking style duck from the specials menu. The service was slow, I don't think it was the waitress's fault as the drinks were on time and refills were not an issue. The food just took forever and it wasn't like the duck spent a lot of time on the stove. If it is OK to serve rare/raw duck I would have liked to have been asked my preference as I would prefer my duck cooked.
(1)
Corey L.
Went with a family group after a graduation. Showed up on a Friday night around 6:30 and it was surprisingly empty. Pleasantly. First, our waitress was incredible. Quite helpful, though she oversold the drinks a bit, though I think was trying to be honest. So I got the Sangria and margarita. Sangria was pretty good - not super sweet, but also pretty weak. I was then quite excited for the margarita, which was similar - well made, but pretty weak. So I'd say they use good ingredients, but are shy with liquor. I'm not a lush, but I like my drinks to taste like they have alcohol in them We shared a number of appetizers and stuff in the bar, including: -Sweet potato fries: good -regular fries: good fries -white truffle Polenta fries: typical for polenta fries - wanted better with the truffle -lemon grass Chicken skewers: pretty good -Chips/ chipotle guacamole: woulda liked more chipotle (I like spicy) but good. -margarita flatbread: really good -fig and duck confit: tasty We had a good time, and the food and drinks were good. Both were sort of like fancy gourmet-light. Had great ingredients, and tasted good, but just fell a bit short of my expectations given the price and location.
(3)
Melanie D.
I visited Towne for lunch with colleagues last week. While certainly on the pricey side, the food and service were outstanding. The atmosphere was also very elegant and welcoming. Before we placed our orders, we were brought something which I believe they said was a fava bean puree (although it was green so I'm not sure what else was in it?) with some sort of chip/cracker - a fun alternative to bread and surprisingly tasty snack before our meal. We also each ordered a glass of wine - the sauvignon blanc I had was really refreshing and crisp, and paired perfectly with my lunch. For lunch, I had the soup and half sandwich, with a butternut squash bisque and a fresh roasted chicken salad sandwich. I really enjoyed every bite of it and left feeling perfectly full. It also came with a small side salad which I wasn't expecting. Our service throughout the meal was impeccable - attentive, friendly and very much a fine-dining experience. I will definitely be back to Towne again!
(4)
Nate Y.
I haven't been here since the Yelp Elite Event in 2011 which was great, but quite frankly the average Yelp rating of 3 stars was deterring me from giving Towne a chance with my dining dollars. I came here with a group on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, but only because our original meeting spot had a wait list. Someone recommended Towne saying that the patio was usually open, which was the case. The patio was set in a great spot away from the traffic on Boylston St. and a good choice of seating of shade or sun. We were served complimentary coffee cake and maple glazed doughnuts! The coffee cake was served warm, personally ate several of these bite size morsels, and a friend ate most of the doughnuts. I usually order sweet versus savory brunch items, but with all the coffee cake I just ate I decided on the eggs benedict. Turned out to be a great choice. The eggs were cooked the way I like (yolk was a nice and gooey) with bacon on an english muffin served with a side of fried potatoes that were perfectly crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Service was excellent, accommodating someone's request to switch out the watermelon on his fruit plate for more of the other fruit being offered. All in all an unexpected satisfying brunch and would come back again.
(4)
Warren C.
Saturday brunch here. I got the chicken and waffles, which ended up being surprisingly tasty, as it was served with bacon and Tabasco sauce. The place was nice, it wasn't busy. Service was fast and friendly. I'd have to try the dinner here sometime.
(4)
Jessica N.
Came here for a private party. Cute ambience but service was a little lacking. Food was decent (yummy sliders), but couldn't get over the non-accomodating servers.
(3)
Big S.
i am surprised this has 3 stars. yes the prices are awful and way too expensive for what you are paying for, but that is standard in back bay. the food is pretty good. we got a couple different flat breads and the filets, and everything tasted great. service was alright, nothing incredible but not bad either. i would try and eat upstairs, its louder downstairs near the bar. good bread and dipping hummus when they serve you as well. drinks are strong but good. overall, good option for this area.
(4)
Perry V.
A few evenings back my partner Thom and I stopped by Towne for a quick bite to eat and a Cocktail or two. Thom and I were immediately impressed by the modern facade, We are new in Boston and this is the first time seeing the establishment. We were greeted by a beautiful hostess, short, dark hair, Charlene I think? Regardless she was the extremely personable and whoever hired that one deserves a round of applause! But I digress, The hostess was able to squeeze the two of us in a lovely little spot by the bar. After being seated I spent a few minuted of dalliance, eyeing the rest of the restaurant. We got seated by a rather provocative picture of a girl topless...LOVED IT! It was a fun touch to spice up the evening. We were quickly greeted by Nia, who provided a cocktail menu. I Ordered the Towne lemonade and let me tell you.... it was just to die for! The perfect blend of sweet and sexy that brought me back to the insouciant days of my childhood! Both Thom and I made our picks off the menu and I must say, Whoever's cooking that food deserves some sort of Nobel prize! I could have eaten everything off the menu and then some! We topped of our meal with a succulent key lime mouse which was just exquisite. Nia was quick and on her game all night, not one complaint! When Thom was freshening up I was able to chitchat with some of the staff, very nice folk! We will defiantly be making Towne one of our go to Cock@Apps in ol' Beantown... 9/10 doctors recommend Towne for a healthy, happy tongue. ;)
(5)
Thomas S.
Towne is a great BAR - but not a great restaurant. The location is excellent, right on Bolyston and part of the Mandarin hotel/Prudential center. The decoration, music and ambiance is perfect for a bar. They have good burgers/Pizza too. BUT as far as a "restaurant" - the quality of food and price are way, way off. My wife and I had dinner there last night. We split an appetizer and each had an entree, no alcohol no dessert, and the bill was $100. I am OK with paying that kind of money for 1 appetizer and 2 entrees, provided the food is superb, but here is was average at best. The fritto mitto was a train wreck of over fried food with little taste. The baked ziti with cherry tomatoes and lobster sounds promising but was also surprisingly bland and seemingly cooked in a rush. The filet mignon, at $39 with NO sides, should be fantastic but it was overly covered in blue cheese, so much so that it was hard to taste the steak. All in all, great for a drink and a burger, no good for dinner. Were the prices 33% of what they are, I may say the quality/price ratio was fair.
(2)
Amy O.
So shocked to see this place only has 3 stars overall. I had the best filet mignon of my life here. All of the other courses were amazing, too. Service was impeccable. I must disclose, though, that I was there for a private party so perhaps they added additional staff for the occasion. So if you're looking for a location to host a private party, Towne is your spot in the city!
(5)
Frank W.
Went in for a holiday dinner and everything was great as usual. Nice dinner selections and the raw bar apps are excellent. Everything was cooked as requested and nice side selections. Overall a really nice place in Boston.
(5)
Susan C.
Came here for brunch a few weeks ago with a few friends. We ordered the Lobster Cobb, Chicken and Waffles, and Beef Hash. The Lobster Cobb was unimpressive, and to make things worse, the croutons were stale (i.e. lacked any crunch whatsoever). The chicken and waffles and the hash were very good though. Chicken was crisp, but not really a traditional chicken and waffle as it was a boneless piece of chicken breast. The hash was salty in a good way. I'd definitely get it again. I also like how Towne serves little doughnuts and banana bread as a side when you sit down. The doughnut looked like a mini glazed munchkin, and was delicious. I'd be back to Towne, but only if I was craving the hash or the chicken and waffles, everything else on the menu seemed unimpressive and I could probably get a lot better for less at another spot.
(3)
Jessie J.
Too much! I wanted to love it, but it was just a s#$t storm. Food came out late, and the branzino was like leather (and that's hard to do). Sorry. Never again.
(2)
Lynn J.
I like Towne for drinks with friends, and the menu offers high end delights too. FOOD: I had the lobster popover...DELISH! STAFF: The bartenders were flirty, and attentive, getting us seats as soon as they opened. THE DEAL: This is a great place to meet up for your first or last drink, before or after dinner.
(4)
Chirag P.
Had one drink here after sessions ended at my meeting. And just happened to have placed myself at a seat directly across from a picture of a lady flashing her boob... so if conversation got boring I had a nice visual to distract me. Had only one drink and no food, it was an interesting cucumber vodka concoction that the bartender recommended and I wasn't disappointed. Very friendly guy and a nice place overall, small but I'm guessing with all the other restaurants and bars on the same street not too many were going here as the place to party.
(4)
James C.
Went here for some apps and a few drinks. Nothing too special, cool ambiance but on par for other happenings in the back bay. Don't expect proper cocktails here, they topped my old fashioned off with soda water. AKA the worst way to make an old fashioned. I tried my dates martini which was good. The food was decent, nothing special. I would go back if I had friends adamantly set on going but definitely not on my own.
I went to Towne on a rainy Saturday night with a group of friends. Our mission was to crash the date of a girl in the group who was not entirely sure how she felt about the guy she was meeting at Towne. One the plus side, the date seemed to end up going well. On the down side, we were approached by some wannabe pickup artists who seemed to be practicing the art of inane questions. I had a nice cocktail for $13, which is not atypical for that kind of bar, but I would much rather have enjoyed a nice cheap cider. Alas, they did not have any, which is strike against any bar for me. The beer on the menu seemed to be priced reasonably though. The ambiance was classy and it seemed like a decent date spot. I probably will not be returning to Towne, but I will always remember it as the bar where I was approached by a strange man and asked what my favorite color of leaf is. (I said red.)
(3)
Marcy L.
Looking to show some international friends a "Boston high-roller" night out, we headed to Towne on Saturday night. The vibe: "young club", bub. Loads of twenty-somethings dressed in their hottie best / the music was a loud, steady beat / laughter and clinking glasses could be heard above the roar. Outside: there is an eloquent patio space available for imbibing (a great view of the Pru and the fountain).....until 11pm, anyway. But you can only get to the patio by first being carded at the front, then winding your way past the front bar, past the back bar and dinner seating, and then back outside (only a few feet from where you began). Our party arrived at 10:55p, pulled up a couple of chairs, and then was asked to head back inside (apparently a law about serving outside past a certain hour *?*). Upstairs: private function room, bar, and dining with a view of the open kitchen! When our party-o-four arrived around 11pm the second floor bar provided the perfect space for our group; we were able to spread out (only about six other people had wandered upstairs) and converse at regular vocal levels (music was loud enough to dance to, but not too loud to actually carry on conversation). I loved the lighting fixtures (looked like recycled glass), and it felt nice to be part of the cool-kid-club scene downstairs. Even better: there was NO TV behind the bar (I came here to be social...not to hear ya-dudes scream at plasma). The price - yowza (but, really, what were you expecting from a hot club at the base of the Pru??). Our cocktails were ~$13ea, but there were certainly selections which were *much* more expensive. The cocktail menu: personally I felt that it looked a little uninspired (as did our bartendress who seemed like she'd seen enough for one evening). The two that intrigued my friend and I the most: Mr.Brownstone (bourbon and maple liquor) and the Limeade (cucumber vodka, lime, cucumber). Unfortunately *I* was the one who ordered Mr.Brownestone (NOT the mapley delicious treat that I thought I had ordered - a little too heavy on the musky bourbon and burned cinnamon). The Limeade, however, was perfectly refreshing! We stayed until closing and left of our own accord (not ushered out by staff, nor by blinding "go home now" houselights!). I was happy to have remembered Towne (I attended a 2011 Elite event here and was totally blown away), as well as to discover that, while it was trendy, it wasn't obnoxiously exclusive like some other Boston spots. A great time out if you're looking to feel like party of the who's-who without having to buy a new wardrobe and prepare your wallet (too too much).
(3)
Meizi H.
I do like this place. The atmosphere during weekday lunch is more business like and dinner is romantic and proper. Tired dinner and lunch and the experiences were good. Services were attentive and food presentation were top-notch. It is in back bay and in prime location, good for quick bite and big party size. Heard a lot of gossip about their brunch. Def give it a try someday.
(4)
Naomi B.
Pros: Easy to find seating in the bar Attentive service Relaxing and fun environment Clean bathrooms Recommend the lobster popovers and eggplant pizza! Cons: Can't comment on the entrees as we only ordered appetizers. Don't have any compliants!
(4)
Nicole B.
When we walked in we saw the bar, we found someone and let them know we wanted to eat dinner and she sat us at the far end of the bar. We both thought it was weird that this place is pretty new and didn't have a dining room. By the end of the meal I had realized there was a full dining room since I had to walk through it to get to the restrooms. We then decided that she must have sat us in the bar because my dining partner had on jeans. The food was good, but pricey enough that I would not eat there regularly.
(4)
Hana K.
Been here almost 6 times now and I still say, BEST BRUNCH in all Boston hands down -- never been disappointed! If it's one thing Americans do right, it's brunch. Towne adds a contemporary twist to all your favorite classic American brunch dishes. For starters, you are given complementary mini doughnuts and lemon cake that are the perfect amont of sweetness and so small and cute they don't fill you up! Must-trys: Lobster & Avocado Eggs Benedict (perfectly cooked and just melts in your mouth; they were not stingy with their lobster) Chicken & Waffle with grits, bacon, tabasco (it sounds weird but once you try it, you're hooked! even the grits got compliments from my non-grits loving friends and the Tabasco comes in the cutest small bottle you'll ever see) French Dip Sandwhich Au Juis (the sauce for dipping the sandwich in is outstanding you want to dip everything in it) Everything on the brunch menu looks and tastes amazing but I would not order the Kitchen Sink BLT... Was not too crazy with the flavors. As obsessed as I am with their WEEKEND brunch, I don't recommend this place for the WEEKDAY lunch or dinner which is a little overpriced and the menu selection is not as good.
(5)
Michelle P.
Went here after work with colleagues when the weather was a bit nicer. We sat on the patio and ordered wine, oysters, dinner meals and even dessert (we stayed for hours). The service was impeccable (as was the company) which is what kept us there; in general, not the food or the ambiance. That being said, we did love our cotton candy concoction of a dessert. Would I recommend it? Sure, but only to someone with deep pockets and shallow taste.
(3)
Mr. O.
This is a great option for a weekend brunch or a Saturday night drink. Not a fan of the dinner menu, but brunch is fabulous. The freshly made mini donuts in the pastry basket are worth the trip (if you don't have a donut in your basket request some). The brunch food and service work, though they should sue Simon properties for turning their once beautiful view of Boylston into a work site. Oh, no they didn't! The subtle 80s music in the background worked for me, especially when me and my boo started singing "Like a Virgin" with the next table. It felt right. It felt right. Mr. O out.
(4)
Megan C.
Great interior, good people watching + something to nibble on Love sitting at the bar to have a bite. The bartenders are friendly and attentive. The menu has range, and the dishes are interesting. Salads are a little smaller in portion size than I would like. I guess if you navigate the menu carefully you will end up a happy camper. Though at a restaurant like Towne, with the beautiful interior and service you would hope that everything on the menu would be amazing. Date Rating: 7 (it get's a little noisy) Pick up Scale: 8 (this place can be a meet market, not a fan when it's busy) Strong Suggestion: check out the bar upstairs if there isn't room downstairs.
The steak tartar & osso bucco were both great. However, when the maitre d' came by and asked about the meal, I told him the kale was dry and bland. He apologized, but did nothing. For dessert I ordered a "Towne Bar" - a small, homemade candy bar that the waitress handed to me in a wrapper. Poorly presented, and a tiny portion for $8. While eating the bar, which was very good, if small, I noticed a small creature with a tail run from under the table across from us to the adjacent banquette. The waitress and manager were very apologetic, but did not offer to comp our meal or provide us any incentive to come back. We will NOT be returning.
(1)
Bos G.
"Towne" as locals call it, is a large restaurant and bar located on Boylston Street in Boston's Back Bay. Towne's brunch menu is reasonably priced with most options between $10 - $16. Because of the time of day, my friend and I opted for their chicken salad sandwich for $12 and their bacon and cheddar burger for $16. Eating at the bar can sometimes be risky business depending on how crowded or busy the staff is but on our visit the bar was mostly empty and the bar staff was both attentive and helpful answering the few questions we had about menu options. The chicken salad sandwich is served on toasted multi-grain bread and comes with a side salad. The chopped chicken with cucumber was filling and satisfying. Towne's burger is presented with the top bun upside down with ketchup. Both proved satisfying but not particularly memorable. I've had a few meals at Towne and with few exceptions I've found the food average. However, the space is very comfortable and the service is generally very good. That combined with its convenient location in the Back Bay is what accounts for its success - or at least that is what I've concluded.
(2)
Jeff K.
Am I judging this on the food or the gorgeous ladies there tonight? Both get 5 stars! Short and sweet review, food was great, I had the best steak I have had in a long time, simple but tasteful. Bartender, where I ate, was great keeping a watchful eye on us. Decor was cool, it's really a huge place when you take into account the upstairs and back room. Loved it, I'll be back!
(5)
Daniel B.
Cool location and atmosphere, but you're hit with Boylston Street prices. My girlfriend and I sat down for dessert and a drink later on a Friday night and the waitstaff was surprisingly inattentive. I ordered the Back Bay Smash....was very boring for a $13 drink!
(3)
Jerry C.
What can i say about this place.. its like a place you would go on a date but then when you got there you would be unhappy about the noise and lack of intimacy. I was here for a show in the convention center so my coworker and i were trolling around for a place to heat and this one looked great. We were sat rather quick, staff was nice and friendly. The inside was very decorative but i didn't feel comfortable. I was at one of those tall tables but looking around it felt like people were really on top of each other. It was sort of loud for a fancy, up-scale looking place. Food came out rather quick, i got the duck. The dish looked great, 5/5 for presentation and it had a great taste also. I was upset because it wasn't that much food. Also, it was very expensive $29 for a not-so-big entree is uber-expensive. I didn't get an appetizer or dessert because the price was so high.
(3)
Kelly O.
I went here for a post-work drink with a coworker on a Wednesday, and thought the interior was really cool. You enter into what looks like a small slick dark room with a bar in the middle and high tables around the edges of the room, that was already packed with local finance-type people getting their drink on. Then you go through a back hallway and magically reappear into a spacious and bright restaurant with another small bar, also packed already. Then we realized there was a big stairway leading to yet another big room upstairs, where the bar was thankfully empty, so we snagged two seats and settled in for some cocktails. The bartenders were attentive and skilled, the cocktails were strong and tasty (and typically priced, $10-12, with beers $4-6), and the complimentary bread basket we asked for (because we weren't planning on ordering food but realized we had better eat something) was really tasty... hot and freshly baked, with slices of bread, croissant-like thingies, and thin crackerish thingies. The scene was mixed, there was a lot of happy hour people in their 20s and 30s, but also some dates, some older friend groups, and so on. All in all, we had a great time for drinks, but I doubt I'd want to come here to eat based on the prices (as well as all the food reviews here on Yelp).
(3)
Lia B.
I came here with a big group (14 people) for an end-of-term dinner. I've walked past here often enough, and I'm glad that I had the opportunity to try it. Despite the enormous table and the many people, the waiter was courteous and adept. He took everyone's orders, and there were no mistakes. To start, we had the lobster popovers, the little gem salad and the iceberg baby salad. The lobster popovers were a little too sweet for my taste, but the dough was flaky and light, and the lobster meat was good. The little gem salad came with creamed feta which was the highlight. The peeled grapes were strangely flavorless. Overall, it was good. The iceberg salad had pieces of bacon that were delicious, along with a creamy blue cheese on the side. It was pretty good. For the main course, I had the chicken with mashed potato, and my boyfriend ordered the skirt steak, cooked medium. Another guest at our table ordered the skirt steak, also medium. Both steaks came out at the same time, one was a medium-rare, easy on the medium, and the other was medium-well. My boyfriend sent back his steak, and they finished cooking it, and it was decent. My chicken, on the other hand, was the juiciest, most incredible chicken I've ever eaten. The potatoes were creamy and the perfect complement. For dessert, we ordered the buttermilk panna cotta and the white chocolate lime cheesecake. The panna cotta was divine, perfectly tangy and sweet. It came with a beautiful blackberry sauce on the side, and sugared black berries and mint leaves as a garnish. Amazing. The white chocolate lime cheesecake was good, as well, but it didn't shine the way the panna cotta. I'd love to come back here for brunch, and see what it's like. I'd also definitely come back with a smaller party.
(3)
TinoX T.
Ohhhh Boy,Good Luck...,,
(3)
Adam M.
I have been to Towne several times for drinks was excited to finally try dinner on a Saturday night. Unfortunately, I was pretty disappointed with the experience. I love Mojito's and I'm always looking for the best in the Boston area. Of course I asked for one, but what I was given was a disgrace. It was literally alcohol, 7 up, a little half melted ice, couple lime wedges, and a couple of mint leaves thrown in there. It was warm, absolutely disgusting and was priced for about $11/$12. I sent it back and the next one was even worse! To add insult to injury, it was in a pint glass. FYI, you don't put a Mojito in a pint glass! Granted it was not on the bill, but it's a shame because at that point, a business has the deck stacked against them. Your giving a bad impression and your customer is already not happy with the place. Now it becomes much more difficult to make them give you a good review. I understand you can say, "It's just a drink". That is true, but the reason I am writing this is because it was so obvious that the bartender was just lazy, disrespectful, and did not want to make a Mojito. They made a horrible drink, it was not done right, they sent it out, and it was served anyway. You do that because your lazy, because you don't care! Being lazy and making something that bad is an embarrassment and any person should be ashamed of themselves for doing so! I understand mistakes happen and normally I would not be so critical, but it's about behavior of being lazy, the attitude of not caring. That is something I'm critical of every time. I think others would be as well. I'm not one to complain and then not offer ways to fix it or help. So, if something like that happens again, it would help to try one of these: 1. Send over a manager to chat and help out. 2. Have another bar tender make the second one. They have 3 or 4 bars there. Having the same person make the second one is just a sign that they are unintelligent or don't care. 3. I had a beer instead, so how about taking it off the bill? I don't care about the $6, but it's means you care and it would take ones attention off the bad experience. It could completely change my review because it shows effort, that you want your customers to be happy. Trust me, I am in advertising and serve clients all day. The smallest mistake can kill you if you are lazy and don't care because it becomes about the behavior, not the mistake. As for the food? Our Sever? Atmosphere? Doesn't matter, at this point I'll never go back and it's not my thought of this place being horrible or not having good food. Simply put, why would I go there and take a chance when I can go across the street, around the corner, and know for a fact I am going to be happy, get great drinks, and service. Naturally I am going to go with something I am sure of. Hopefully Towne can ensure they don't repeat this type of service in future.
(2)
Erin D.
Worst bar and host service I have encountered ever. Front bar staff was rude, more interested in flirting with their male customers, and were 100% unprofessional. I will never spend my money there again.
I was here with my girlfriend on 02/23/13 while visiting her since she works not too far from Boston now. I was spending a week there to see her so she wanted to take me to a nice place to eat on her day off. Man, what a joke this place turned out to be. I found far better food and selections in Worcester, although the service was actually good until our waitress charged us for the fries that we returned because it was too salty. We ate maybe 4 before telling our server and she charged us for it anyway. We even told her when she brought us the check! I just checked my card and yup the final amount still included the fries. Maybe I should have deducted that amount from her tip. The steak was very salty, too. If being in a higher-end restaurant is a must for you, then by any means enjoy this place. If you want good food go somewhere else.
(2)
David T.
Very good food overall. Was pretty empty in the dining area other than a few families with small children. Odd atmosphere for such a trendy dining experience. Overall very good food and service!
(4)
M B.
Came here for drinks and bar food on a Tuesday night, sat at a high-stop near the bar. Service was absolutely horrible. We ordered waters as soon as we were seated, and they didn't come until after we had already ordered beer, food, AND received our beer. We had to ask for them multiple times. My friend and I ordered two cups of pumpkin soup. They were dropped off at the table and the person running it didn't ask if we needed silverware, which we clearly didn't have. Our server didn't come over for a while so I went up to the bar to ask for silverware. No spoons in the rollups, so I had to wait and ask specifically for spoons. By the time I got to start eating my soup had cooled down a lot....and I found that it was not pumpkin, it was lobster bisque. In the past few years I have grown out of a shellfish allergy, and know how dangerous it can be to accidentally serve a shellfish dish to a guest. A few years ago I would have had to call an ambulance! When our server finally came over, I told her we received the wrong soup. She looked at it and said "Nope, that's the pumpkin" even though it was clearly red in color. She took it back to the kitchen, and came back with ONE bowl of pumpkin soup (which was golden in color, didn't look like the lobster at all), which she put in front of my friend. She said "My manager wanted to give you a bowl instead of a cup because of the mistake." She then told me mine would be right out. She came back a minute later with a new spoon for my friend, saw that my soup still hadn't come out, and did nothing. I waited almost a full five minutes for my soup to come back out....and it was a cup. Not a bowl, like my friend received. When we asked why I got a smaller portion, the server responded, "Well my manager just grabbed the closest dish to her and put the soup in it, then told me to run it out." Made no sense considering we sent two cups of soup back, and was completely unprofessional. I said it was ok and asked for a new spoon since I had some anxiety about eating any more lobster bisque. She never came back with a new spoon and I ended up sharing with my friend. I don't typically write negative reviews as I am a restaurant industry vet of 10 years and more often than not empathize with whatever issues arise during a dining experience. This was just a total downer.
(1)
Michele G.
After a few good experiences at Towne, I'm afraid I must downgrade my rating. First, the Key Lime Salmon is gone, although it's still listed on the website. Secondly, we had the most hover-ific waitress that would constantly interrupt our conversations. Maybe she was bored? Lastly, my husband's red snapper was beyond mediocre and he's stated that he'll never come back. Sadness./.
(2)
Carter D.
I don't come here to eat, I come here to do drink. The cocktails are good, the service is good and the atmosphere is much better than Back Bay Social Club across the street. The front room is a little drab and crowded, but the larger back area has a great bar and really friendly staff. I always leave very drunk and very happy. One time I left and went on a vacation I had booked while drinking recklessly at the bar back there. You can eat somewhere else in the neighborhood, come here for a few drinks before and/or after.
(4)
Jill G.
Great drinks, great apps, great meals. An awesome date spot. I had a good experience with the service, too. A little pricey, but definitely you definitely won;t be let down!
(4)
Doug J.
(score 1-100) - 89. This is almost a 5 star experience for me. I really love Towne in comparison to other dining options in the back bay. You get high quality food and while some of the entrees can be expensive (but definitely not anymore than anything in the surrounding area) it is reasonable. They have great presentation with their burgers and offer a variety of unique dining choices. It has plenty of room, two floors and the ambience is high end hipster. Think of lots of black clothing. The lighting is a little on the dark side. They do have Valet Parking so if you have a new Ferrari 458 Italia feel free to showboat and leave it out front while all the diners watch you stroll in! Another great thing about this place is the staff. They tend to remember everyone that comes in. I've always had fantastic service and maybe the best service I've received in the city. This places hits the big three: Great Service, Great Good, Great Ambience...hmmm maybe I should rethink my score!
(4)
Abigail P.
A friend and I had dinner here on Wednesday, after I discovered they had charged me TWICE on my credit card, two different charges. I emailed them at their info address & no surprise it came back that the person involved was not in office. I've told my bank to stop one charge, but this is unacceptable. The venue was very, very noisy. The water waiter was the best - thoughtful and continually topping up. The lobster popover was good, but our meals were not memorable. Too loud to have an enjoyable evening with someone you want to chat with.
(1)
Arben N.
I did not like it at all. We went there for a birthday party and we had to use our phones as a flash light to see the menu. The drinks were ok but bit to expensive!!! I ordered 8 oz filet that cost me 38 dollars. I asked for it to be medium ant it was more like well done. You could go to Ruth Chris for that amount of money and have a great steak!!! Over all it was not to my satisfaction!!! Would not recommend it to anyone and for sure I won't go there again!!!!!!
(1)
Thomas N.
lunch recently.....very big and lovely facility, upstairs is beautiful and you can watch the cooks or look at the neat old range they have (not used) we took the walk the the special meetings room in front and it too was lovely...we ate downstairs at the bar and had a great experience, bartender was congenial and attentive, drinks were very good, swordfish was excellent and burger great and cooked (rare) as ordered....seems in reading reviews that a lot of reviews (places ) are bad as people are visiting them at their most busy stressed times when it can be hard for anyplace to be really special....this place was excellent and we will revisit oh and taught the bartender about geocaching!!(nearest one 241 feet)
(4)
A.K. A.
We hosted an event with Towne and our guests loved the venue and the food. The atmosphere is wonderful and the staff were very accomodating. I'd highly recommend the Back Bay room for group private dining.
(4)
Edwin C.
Came here friday night with the gf (wanted to go to Eastern Standard), had been here before for drinks and knew what I was getting myself into. But this time it was strictly a night out for the food. Place is big (2 floors, 3 bars) and so if you can imagine the place is loud, which kind of ruins the dining experience. I mean I couldn't even hear my server and I barely heard my gf sitting next to me. Found it weird that they sat the 2 of us at a round table that could easily fit 6, when we there were many 2 person tables all around us. To the food though, they have a variety of foods from surf to turf, but I wanted to switch it up and leave the veal alone tonight. We started off with like any other place, with our drinks, I actually liked mine, which was gin soda and lemonade, wish I could say the same for the gf. The bread basket was a good compliment to the drinks we were having and it came with interesting sauces for us to spread. We liked it so much we asked for another. For apps we ordered half a dozen oysters (only one type to choose from) garlic naan, and lobster pop overs. Oysters weren't great, garlic naan was dripping with butter along with an abundance of scallions on top, lobster pop overs were good, but don't think it's worth how much they were. For entrees, the gf ordered a salad, but had to get a new one, because it looked like a gallon of dressing was poured onto it. So because I felt daring that night, I ordered fried rabbit (yeah I ate Bugs Bunny haha), it turned out okay, wasn't too happy about it though, wouldn't order again, it really tasted like a cross between dark meat chicken and pork. The server was attentive and knowledgeable, but the food is just lacking for the prices they charge, definitely much better in that area. Good place to have drinks, but not if you're trying to have a quieter dinner at a somewhat nice place. I'd return for drinks and maybe apps.
Amazing restaurant. I ordered the seabass and was mistakenly brought the fluke than made up for by attentive service and the most amazing salmon dish in the city- so fresh. Waitstaff professional and beyond courteous. Chefs above average if not suburb. I highly recommend giving this one a try.
So I went here a couple months back, and it's pretty cool. I had walked by a few times & said I'd check it out, so I finally did. Not bad. It's definitely on the pricey side, and the service is ehhh (average at best) but if you're looking for a fancy cocktail and some different barfood options, give it a whirl! The atmosphere wasn't as douchey as I thought it would be either. Cool place!
(3)
Nna C.
I planned a party for 35 people at Towne which we had tonight. Everyone from the very beginning was helpful, attentive, flexible. Tonight, they were amazing,setting up both in the solarium and the upstairs private room in the event of rain ( they watched the weather all day and called me to give me updates) the food was fabulous and the service very attentive and they made me and my guests feel welcome and special. I highly recommend Towne. I will definitely recommend this venue to friends for events and I will use it again. Kudos to Terrilynn and Levi. As an aside, I've eaten dinner here a few times, and highly recommend it for that as well.
(5)
Liz S.
Went here this past Sunday night (12/23) with my family visiting for the holidays. There were nine of us. The meal was fine, nothing great and definitely overpriced but it was overall an ok experience given our large group. We had just walked in without a reservation so there were no real high expectations anyhow. The horrible experience came a day later for seven out of the nine who suffererd the unfortunate fate of food poisoning. There was no other logical explanation given the rapid onset of symptoms amongst the group and the fact that the Towne was the only common thread. We left a message with the Towne on X-mas day while some of us were still gathering around the bathroom instead of the christmas tree. They chose not to return that call and so to yelp it is. This place is overpriced with medoicre food that potentially will make you sick and managed by people that could clearly care less about any of that.
(1)
Tiffany T.
I'm surprised that Towne doesn't have better reviews. Maybe it's a hit or miss? My partner and I came for Valentine's day and we were both thoroughly satisfied with the quality of the food, the presentation and the atmosphere. Our server was fine, but didn't seem as enthusiastic as the other servers around us. We had lobster popovers, tuna tartare, duck crisp and the valentine's day halibut special. Everything was phenomenal and fresh. The lobster popovers were good but a little pricey for 2 popovers, I would do without it. If I could recommend one thing, I would say order the duck crisp. I give it 4.5 stars but since Yelp doesn't allow that, 5 it is.
(5)
Arun L.
Overall, definitely better than the other reviews suggest. Though an expensive endeavor, Towne is well worth a try. We went here on a double date and had an absolute blast. I loved: - the food, not as eclectic as the menu would lead you to believe, but excellent. As in, excellent. - the wine list, diverse but short and manageable - the ambiance, large and hip with an open kitchen - the bar(s), lively and full of people looking their best - the cocktails, fresh and inventive I wasn't crazy about: - the service, the whole meal took 2.5 hours. Granted that's 3-4 courses, but it felt slow. The waiter gave very blunt opinions despite openly admitting he's never tried the food. - the menu aesthetic, it's weird and does not reflect the style or quality of the food
(4)
H. G.
I have had a few things here that were only ok, including the caesar salad that came with a not-runny panko fried egg. Very disappointing. But I have also ordered two things here with lobster (ravioli and pizza) and both were fantastic. Add to that the ease of getting a seat outdoors in the summer on a weeknight, and this place is pretty good.
(3)
Rake O.
I used to like this place a lot, but I realized it was mostly for mingling and people watching. When I really think about the place itself I realize the martinis are often not made well, the service can be slow, and it can be shoulder-to-shoulder crowded. There are other nice interiors within a very short walk. Go there instead.
(2)
Angie C.
RUDE! I give this place negative 10 stars. Experience: I will never come here ever again. If our party was being rude and deserved such ill treatment then I will take full responsibility. However, if you're rude without justification then you can go ____ yourself. Especially after the amount of money we spent. I had left the bar at 12:30 to go home. My friend was kind enough to walk me to the cab stand right out front. When he went back to the bar where the rest of our party was and his jacket they refused to let him back in. We were definitely not drunk and acting foolish. In fact, they saw us walk out, saw my friend walk me to the cabs and saw him come right back. Their reasoning: "there's no re-entry this late" REALLY?!? If we weren't with a group how else would he had gotten his stuff? When your drinks and food are overpriced you NEED to offer better service.
(1)
Layla A.
This place is HORRIBLE. I had 7 friends visiting me in Boston and wanted to take them out and invite them to dinner. We picked Towne and it was a HUGE mistake. I had a reservation for 9:30. The place was empty but somehow they took 1 hour to seat us and gave us plenty of attitude while we waited. Then once we were finally seated, the service was horrible. The food is forgetable and the atmosphere is weak and not very lively. WORST service. The rudest hostesses. DO NOT go here. I called the manager after to give her some advice on what could go better and she tried to have a debate with me! Anyway do yourself a favor and go to Sonsie.
(1)
Jaime B.
One word. Boring. I can't speak for the food, but we came here after dinner for drinks on my birthday. The whole first floor smelled. I won't say like what, but it was bad. It was so packed we could barely move. Upstairs was less crowded, but still took forever to get a drink. Music was barely audible, and what I could hear sucked. Oh, and everyone was really old. Don't get me wrong, I'm 30, so I know I'm no spring chicken, but most people were in their 50's and 60's! And almost all creepy looking men. No thanks.
(1)
Nick M.
While I love to check out new places in Boston and the surrounding areas, I was pretty disappointed when we went to Towne. The atmosphere was definitely a "I want to be seen here" sort of vibe, making this place seem more like a bar out in Hollywood -- let's be clear -- this is Boston, not Hollywood The service was so-so -- we sat at the bar in the back and were able to find a few seats right away. A bartender came over with a drink menu and then left. 10 minutes later, they came back, asked my wife what she wanted and walked away to make it.... Hello? Am I invisible? Wouldn't it be easier to take both of our drink orders at the same time and save yourself a trip? Definitely not cool As the night progressed, a few friends of ours showed up and we had the corner of the bar. Now it seemed to be a younger audience, with sweaty dudes reaching their arms across the bar to try and get the bartenders attention. Overall, I wasn't a fan and will not be returning.
(3)
Simon L.
a simply exellent spot. 9:00 pm, saturday evening, no reservation, table should be ready in 20-30 minutes at a tall table upstairs. put name on list, order michters manhattans, perfect, and the table is ready. even better, it's a normal sit down table on the first floor although the upstairs area is a bit more cozy, our party of four, once seated, experienced a pleasant service, and a perfect people watchin.g atmosphere. all in all, dim and very comfortable. if possible, formal without pretentiousness. east coast oysters were sweet and salty, nice plump meat. lobster popovers, a crispy pastry encasing a nice serving of tendrer lobster salad. one order split four ways allowed everyone a taste of these crispy lobster creations. while on lobster, a novel concept of having a lobster bar is an excellent take on the traditional oyster bar. broiled lobster, lobster salad, lobster tails. very creative. meat, foul and fish. the pan seared salmon filet was incredibly tender with a deliciously buttery layer of fat held between the meat and the crisped skin. crispy duck was served so. Excellent. Double cut pork chop in wine reduction: excellent med rare presentation. Steak, an excellent combination. Theres a reason this place has some cache. Try it out. You will love it. Very friendly service, excellent food and even better drinks.
(5)
Cody C.
Not many good things to talk about this place. Their bar is weirdly set up apart from the restaurant , it wasn't anything to brag about compared to other trendy locations right across the street. The dining room is beautifull but with a ballroom feel, not like a restaurant , it felt like the place was a function room from the Hynes convention center turned into a dining room. I had the lobster popovers which weren't that great as other reviews have sAid. The main course took forever and our waitress had an attitude , everyone seem to have an attitude whenever we would ask for help. We never saw a manager during our experience but he did say bye on the bar downstairs on the way out ( Michael?) with a fake smile. I won't recomend this place unless you are renting out the dining room for a private event , it has a feeling of being watched and not cozy private at all. Hope my review helps we won't be coming back.
(1)
Jillian W.
We go here for the Duck Quesadilla which is incredible and the Mr. Brownstone specialty cocktail that really is something special. We've been lucky enough to get seats right away each time we went and always have a good time. I'm going giving Towne a 3 though because really the bartenders could stand to be much nicer. Though beautiful, they rarely smile, are stand offish most of the time and we usually get the impression we're bothering them with our order. This place has so many other things going for it that if they just focused on providing some friendly service, it would be a real find.
(3)
Marissa R.
I came here for restaurant week lunch for a few friends and have to give the following reviews: Food: 2.5 stars Service: 1 star Atmosphere: 4 stars We sat outside in patio area which was very nice. There were flowers and some nice music playing. I ordered the peach and burrata salad which was solid, but my main course of salmon was drenched in oil. It was also of poor quality and had a lot of fat that I had to cut around. The rice that it came with was pretty good, but overall not an impressive dish even for $15.00. Our server was not only inattentive; only coming by to drop off our plates of food and never refilling water or asking if we needed anything, but also had a very rude attitude. Two of us at the table ordered salmon and asked for different cooking temperatures (medium rare vs medium well). When we explained this to our server she had no idea what we were talking about, dropped the hot plates in front of whoever was closer to her and took off. Both entrees were clearly well done. They also forgot to bring one person's entree and it took about ten minutes with everyone else's food sitting there and getting cold before it arrived. I would certainly not go back or recommend for anyone to pay full price.
(2)
Samantha L.
Overall, this was a good experience. The food was expensive, but pretty good... The lobster pizza was amazing, drinks were surprisingly good and not that pricey, and the entree was well-cooked and large, though a tad boring (I had chicken). The service was good, though very rushed... Clearing our plates before the appetizer was gone and without asking if we were done. The atmosphere was chic and modern, though nothing incredibly original. All and all, a good place for a dinner on expense account.
(3)
H and K.
Good atmosphere, good service. Normally I'd give them 3 stars, or less, for overcooking my $60 "2 lb" lobster on the grill. However, the Lobster Popovers were absolutely excellent. A perfectly cooked delicate popover surrounding chunks of lobster in a light maple sauce. One of the best things I've eaten all year!
(4)
Kristen C.
I wanted to love it, really I did. Heard great things and the menu looked so fun! I tried to make a reservation for 2 for 8:30 on opentable, it wasn't available...but 8:15 and 8:45 were?! So I took the 8:15 and it was pretty empty when we arrived, what?! Waitress was super friendly and the table was decent - but we ordered an appetizer and it never came!!! Kinda screwed up the entire experience as cocktails were supposed to be followed by wine but since our dinner came without the apps, it just didn't work out. Also, I ordered the special because all of the ingredients sounds awesome, it came out with nothing the waitress sold me on! I mentioned something and she apologized and brought out a side of the missing "stuff" - wasn't quite the same! They did, however, comp us a dessert to make up for "forgetting" to put in the appetizer but it was mediocre at best.
(2)
Melissa C.
Definitely not worth the hype. I'm glad I tried it because if I didn't I would keep saying, "Oh yeah, I really should try Towne." Now, I can stop that. The drinks were bad. The atmosphere was bad. The food was bad. The service was bad. That said, I came in the daytime, maybe it's a different scene at night.
(1)
Heather G.
Brunch-menu review: It's a damn shame that the brunch menu didn't wow me, because this place makes a mean Bloody Mary. A few ladies agreed to meet for brunch at 11:30 one Sunday morning. Due to a daylight savings snafu, one of our friends was left to her own devices (read: two Bloody Marys and an eBook) while waiting for the rest of us to show up. Luckily, the place wasn't crowded enough at 11:30am on a Sunday to make this lingering an annoyance. When the rest of the party arrived, they sat us at a 6-top in the bar area. This is prime-real estate for people-watching passers by on Boylston Street, but is also EXTREMELY COLD and drafty, as the table is nearest the ever-opening front door. The bar area was also pretty empty for the 2+ hours we were there, so next time I would insist on sitting in the actual dining room for brunch, as the empty-bar-area did not provide the much-desired feeling of warmth and coziness I look for while brunching. The server was very nice and kept us flush with Bloody Marys, all while accommodating our slowly growing brunch party. Sadly, the food not only didn't wow me, but was an all-around disappointment. The meal is started with a basket of homemade, glazed donut holes (very tasty) and some slices of grilled lemon poppyseed bread. The bread, if eaten right on arrival, is warm and chewy. Left sitting for awhile, it became hard, dry, dense, and much less pleasant. The brunch menu is very small, and has a few offerings from each brunch category (a couple egg dishes, a couple pastas, a couple sandwiches, a couple bread-like breakfast items, etc), though most entrees (even the egg dishes!) fall in the $16-18 range. For breakfast, I find this to be just a tad steep for breakfast fare, but I suppose you're paying for the atmosphere (which, again, you'd better-experience in one of the restaurant's actual dining rooms rather than in the bar/lounge). On a budget (and making up for my two-bloody-mary morning at about $11 each), I went with one of the more affordable offerings - the Kitchen Sink sandwich ($11). Turns out, it's just a BLT. My sandwich had a few slices of drippy-fatty bacon, some thick tomato slabs, a bit of lettuce, and a dollop of mayo. It was served on oiled-and-grilled thick bread, which, after the grilling and sitting out waiting to be served to me, the thick bread became hard and crunchy with more a crouton-like consistency, which would have been OK if the slices were thinner, but because they were so thick, overpowered the meager innards. The sandwich came with a small handful of chips that must have been fried in-house, because they were glistening and dripping with oil. Also served alongside were three potato-puffs, and these were also drenched in grease. For some reason, the chef sent us out two complimentary orders of lobster popovers (which we did not order), which, after reviewing our bill, were comped as a "Yelp discount". We had no idea how the restaurant knew we were having a Yelp-ladies brunch, but the gesture was nice. The popovers were filled with chunks of juicy lobster, but like my entree, were filled with butter (and perhaps brown sugar or maple, as they were very sweet), making them a bit heavy in my stomach. Overall, the experience was a fun one, though I just wasn't blown away by the food. I certainly plan to return for dinner (or some people-watching and drinks at the bar/lounge), but I can't say I'd get excited about coming back for brunch again.
(2)
Kelsey F.
I have been wanting to try Towne since it opened. I had the chance to choose a restaurant for a company dinner (just 6 of us) so I suggested here. Food was really good. Started with a bread basket that came with 3 different types and then 3 different butters/tapenades. Everyone enjoyed their meals. I chose the pork chop that came with sweet potatoes & marshmallows - sweet and savory! Decor was nice. I was hoping our table would be upstairs by a window but it was kind of stuck in a corner in the back room. Service was alright. The bussers were more attentive than our actual server. Made sure to keep our wine and water full. The waiter seemed a bit out of it. When our meals came 3 of us didn't have a knife and I had to ask someone else. They brought me a butter knife that was a bit difficult to cut through my pork chop. I also had forgotten my ID so couldn't have a glass of wine. I get it, I look young, it's the law - but still a bit annoying. Overall I think for the prices - I expected much better service and was a bit dissappointed. I'll probably give it another shot at some point and hopefully will be more impressed.
(3)
Bronwen Y.
I was really disappointed in Towne. I was so interested to go there, and then it definitely did not live up to expectations. The atmosphere is really cool as is the decor (minus the weird picture of a naked breast that stared me down from across the bar all night), and the drinks were good and generously poured. What killed me was the clientele. A bunch of 20-something women and a bunch of 45+ men. Weird! Ok, I'm being unfair. There were younger guys there. They were on dates. I was not there to "pick someone up," but the older male clientele was really aggressive in trying to pick up the various girls in my party. It got old fast (pun intended), and so we split. Glad I've seen it, but I'm over it.
(2)
Laura B.
I had an excellent lunch there. It was definitely a business crowd (noon through 2:00). We had a great waiter, good food and it was at a very reasonable price for an upscale lunch in that area (Back Bay). I would definitely go back there with clients or book it for someone out of town.
(4)
ash l.
Jaguars are in an interesting car niche. They are supposed to be a symbol of luxury, class, and taste. Yet any Jag owner knows that the car comes with as many problems as a high maintenance girlfriend that constantly requires facials, manicures, shopping trips, and of course, a regular oil cleaning. The joy of owning one (Jag or girl, you pick), isn't always worth the bragging rights. Towne is my restaurant Jaguar. It's hip looking, cool, classy (in a fromage wavelength), and has some nice wheels. I love the social ambiance, but can't stand the food, nor do I think the place is as large as it appears. Somehow I always feel cramped if there are more than 10 people in the lounge. Unlike a Jaguar dealership, however, the service is awesome. I had Sarah the bartender, who was very easy on the eyes, and refreshingly nice. The guy bartender that was on his shift was very cool too, but I don't recall his name due to his lack of ... um... assets. I'll keep coming back, but I really wish they improve the menu. The fettuccine alfredo is a disaster.
(4)
David C.
Fantastic spot for dinner. Great service... fantastic drinks... loved this spot. I had an amazing dish... Partridge... the flavors were fantastic. I will be craving this dish for a while... loved it! The maple cotton candy was also a fun end to the evening.
(5)
Whytnee B.
This place is awful. I have a few, separate incidents that culminate into me never coming here again. 1) Cleared my friends' nearly full drinks when they went for a cig. Tried to rectify the problem by bringing out the tray that the said drinks were sitting on, amongst the rest of the bar's discards. Disgusting. One of my nice friends explained to the waitress that it is better for the restaurant to simply replace the drinks and keep the customers. They argued about this for a few minutes, and finally another employee offered a handful of gift cards. Which I would want to use EXCEPT ... 2) I was with another group and we were seated at a table, given water and menus, and were told the kitchen was still open. Several waiters passed our table over the next 20 minutes and did not acknowledge us whatsoever. We left and went over to Eastern Standard, where the service is absolutely superb. 3) Last but not least, a friend of mine worked here for a few months and recently left because they were not paying her money she had earned from them. Maybe this is why we couldn't get service the other night; the waiters are unmotivated because they are treated poorly. Needless to say I will NEVER return to this place, which is filled with a bunch of desperate people that are over the hill. Shame on you Jasper White and Lydia Shire, for thinking that your names override the facts that the customer is always right and you need to treat your employees with respect. You would think with their combined experience they would know a little better.
(1)
Lili M.
This place didn't quite do it for me. I ate in the upstairs part, by a window, which was nice and quiet/romantic but the food was just alright. I ordered chicken and a salad (forget which) but neither were that flavorful. Then for dessert we asked the waitress what she would suggest and she said their best and most popular dish was the bread pudding. We ordered it and it was GROSS. It also looked really sloppy and watery. For a special occasion and a more privatish setting, it's an option. For a dinner on a night when you have thousands of other options that offer the same sort of menu, I'd choose the other places.
(2)
Mrs. G.
Towne is a great spot for cocktails. They aren't outrageously expensive and they are well-done. I had a cucumber martini with honey sugar on the rim and it was really tasty. It was strong but it was smooth and perfect. I can't wait to go back to test out the food. The drinks are awesome.
(4)
Colleen Y.
Maybe when I live in the penthouse at the Taj, and when I can walk in without a reso, I'll throw a couple more stars Towne's way. Towne, where the sun shines: 1. 36-24-36, and she's only 5'3. From her hips to her rack, Towne has got it going on from top-to-bottom. 2. Eye candy take two. If you get bored looking at the decor, check out the crowd...tight ass jeans, lipsticked glasses galore, and heels clicking in every direction. Get ready for sexiliciousness, and a bevy of botoxed bostonians. No complaints here, if you got it on at 40 or 50 -- I've got no shame in taking a look. 3. Local lush. You want to get drunk close to home? Towne is probably close to you. From my friends in JP, to my spot in Cambridge, my industry crew from Beacon Hill, or grad students in Brookline...they can all be at Towne in like 5 minutes. Buuut, they best not be driving there. Unless they want to start their night with a 25 buck valet and a 15 buck drink. Ouch. 4. Senior Staff They pulled out all the stops, and their staff has got in popping. I don't think I have EVER been to a new restaurant that ran so smoothly. I see they swooped up the past GM from Harvest. He's got hospitality skills - and clearly did a great job picking up some vets in the industry to deal with the sell out crowds they'd be dealing with. Towne, Where the sun don't shine: 1. Identity crisis. They want the yuppies, but can't favor the nouveau riche over the bald-headed bankers and their 2 favorite accessories: blondes with fake boobies and animal print blanhniks + wallets weighed down by metal credit cards. They try to keep the downstairs bar rowdy, and the upstairs one chill...but that is asking for a "do you know who I am" comment from some chauch mcgees. 2. Foodie fascination, followed by foodie frowns. If you love Clio, and O Ya, and Menton -- you might be tempted to go to Towne for the food. Hell, its chefs are better known than those of arguably anywhere in Boston. But just as Olives turned into the McDonalds of fine dining, Towne is a classic 3. You're pretty hot, especially with your mouth shut. Watched the douchiest loser yell at staff member after staff member after HE knocked a plate out of a food runners hands. Then the "big shot" demanded they pay for his jeans, or at least the 10 dollar bill for dry cleaning. Maybe a chill request if he hadn't just acted like a king amongst slave people. I wouldn't ever, ever, ever date a loser like that. And I hope that escort he had with him felt the same way after that display. 4. For singles looking to mingle, but only singles that carry around more than just single...dollar bills. I've got to add Towne to the list of places I used to go to when I had a leading man in town. But I can promise we'd only check it out for a night, not because of the staff or even really the food or bevs. True, true, Towne great for girls night out, but too expensive for my typical lady friend. And most likely yours too. That is, unless your favorite female to frolic with in town and at Town, is with your super hot sugarmomma gf. A stella, a glass of wine or two, and a mushroom duxelle pizza later I spent enough to get a pair of jeans that might make my ass cheeks look as tight as the face cheeks on the cougars huddle around the bar at Towne. SO, WHATS THE REAL DEAL Sure, I'll meet you at town. If I'm not planning on eating, drinking, or talking to anyone else. Or, I'll do all of the above if you want to take me out on the town, to Towne. Otherwise...I think I'll stick to other options that amass the douche bags of Boston, I hear there might be a few in the financial district?
(2)
Chris D.
This is a review of brunch at Towne. Brunch was a bust at Towne. I went with two friends. One had eggs benedict which he thought was ok. My other friend had lemon pancakes which he found disappointing. I believe it was just plate of a few pancakes and a couple of strawberries and some silly cotton candy? Cotton candy, really?!? What adult wants to play with spun sugar cotton candy. It simply melts all over your hands. My entree was chicken and waffles. Or should I say, chicken wings and waffles! I expected at least a cutlet or a breast and a thigh, but wings? Yuck. They were huge, but what a mess. I was not prepared for the greasy mess of trying to eat wings. You can't use utensils so you have to eat with your hands. Not smart folks - greasy fingers which you then have to use on your utensils to eat the waffles. Come on, this is supposed to be a "high-end" restaurant by one of Boston's top chefs. Fried chicken wings, really?!? At least the menu should have said the chicken and waffles was really chicken WINGS and waffles. I felt ripped off. The wings weren't even very good. If I had known it was wings I would not have ordered it. Honestly, the best part of my meal was the coffee and the teeny, tiny, itsy, bitsy donut that they come around and offer you as a amuse-bouche. It was simply perfect, light and airy and not greasy.....but a little too cutsy for me. The service was ok, except the really long wait for our waiter to pick up the check. When my meal is finished I really dislike it when service falls off a cliff and I have to wait a long time for the wait staff to come back to pick up the check after I have put my card in the check folder. I won't be going back.
(1)
Gail F.
I've been driving by Towne every day on my way in to work vowing to try it ASAP. I finally gave it a shot the week after it opened with one of my girlfriends...and I was not impressed. The decor was great, very warm and welcoming. There's two different bar areas, upstairs and the front bar when you walk in. I was seated downstairs in the dining room so I didn't venture upstairs but it looked nice and open. The dining room was relatively busy for 630pm on a Thursday night and we were seated immediately. We ordered some apps and sides to share and everything was absolutely delicious. However the service was terrible. And when I say terrible, I mean TERRIBLE. Our waitress was no where to be found the entire night and when we finally got our check (30 minutes after our meal was finished) she wasn't even apologetic for the wait. I will give Towne another shot, because the food truly was delicious, but I hope they get their act together with service before my next visit.
(2)
Shelly D.
1st time to Towne. Wont be my last. Interesting decor. The process of getting seating was a bit confusing, but the host staff were very professional. The upstair restaurant area is beautiful. OPen display kitchen that boasts some serious equiptment (and oversized props- who doesnt love those). The server was Ok. Polite and efficient. Food: Lobster Popovers....now if I am to be exicuted and asked for my last meal choices- this would be one of them on a short list. I can't describe how incredible they are... Lobster Pizza....Was a B+. The Duck...Very good. Moist. Perfect portion. Wasnt sure what was going on on the plate, but everything seemed to work. I would order again and recommend. Dessert...Blah...Wasnt a fan. Wish I got more Everyone else had different things. Everyone was very pleased with their choices.
(4)
Ian C.
Towne had a really fun atmosphere. I was there with a group of 16, and they were very accommodating. Despite the large group size (and other large groups around us) it wasn't too noisy. The appetizers were pretty good. I got the iceberg salad and tried a lobster popover. The cheese on the salad was interesting, but a little heavy. The bacon was excellent, though! I ordered the skirt steak for my entree. I ordered it medium, but it came out medium rare. The potatoes were cold (not just room temperature, actually cold). I told the waiter, and he didn't hesitate to take it back to the kitchen and fix it. The put the steak on the grill, and it was excellent. They returned the same half eaten potato, which was okay, but I would have preferred a not reheated one. I also tried the chicken, and it was delicious! For dessert, I had a cappuccino (I asked for a double, but apparently they can only do singles?). The white chocolate lime cheesecake was amazing, and I'm very glad I got it. The waiters were extremely nice, and I'd like to go back to try brunch.
(3)
Susan P.
Loved loved loved! Loved the grapefruit cocktail, loved the lobster popovers and loved my dinner. ambience was GREAT! Sit outside if the weather is nice!
(5)
Eve S.
I really like this place! I went late on a Saturday night, the bartenders make some great drinks/shots. The waitresses are less than appealing, they weren't as pleasant as the bartenders and seemed as if they didn't want to be there, but the place is great. Tough to find seating on a Saturday night, but it's a pretty big place so something eventually opens up.
(4)
Anto A.
Went out for a drink on Sunday night here with coworkers. We were all staying around the corner at the Sheraton, so it was very conveniently located. The atmosphere was decent and the drinks of average price. It was fairly slow, obviously it was Sunday night, just a birthday party and a few other guests from the Sheraton.
(3)
Katie W.
Came here for a Birthday Brunch and was pleasantly surprised. I am a die hard Sel de la Terre brunch fan, but since downsizing their breakfast options (removing their amazing twist on eggs Benedict from the menu), I have been in search for a new special occasion brunch spot, and I think I may have found it. We had no problem getting a table on a Sunday around lunch time, and first ordered drinks, Mimosa was delicious (heavy on the champagne which is always nice) and the bloody mary was mediocre--I prefer them to be spicy and thick, this one was a little thin and lacked that spicy kick. They bring complimentary corn bread and these little donuts hot and just glazed that are amazing! Think Krispy Kreme donut holes. I ordered the Eggs Benedict (although I was very intrigued by the authentic Chicken and Waffles) which was amazing, flavorful and had a great creamy hollandaise which was in abundance. I had plenty to dip my side of hash browns in. I also LOVE that they serve it with bacon rather than Canadian Bacon, only qualm was the bacon could have been a little crispier. Also got the Cheesy Grits which were a nice treat. My boyfriend ordered the Lobster and Chive omelet which was delicious as well, seemed to have a reasonable amount of lobster chunks for the price. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by how good the meal was. Not a place I would frequent every weekend because of the price, but if your looking for a splurge or a special occasion treat, this is your place!
(4)
Elina H.
This place is extremely expensive for what it is and the execution of the dishes isn't even good. I got the lobster roll, which mysteriously seems to come on and off the menu, and while the lobster part was good the bun was soggy in seconds. It was a disaster! [My husband's fried clams were just average, and at $21 we both expected more.] Will definitely not be back! I'm not sure if links are allowed, but I wrote a longer review here: healthyandsane.com/2011/…
(2)
Joanna L.
Have been here for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as just for drinks. Breakfast and lunch are the best meals here, despite dinner having the best ambience time at Towne. Entrees are plentiful and well-done, but not terribly original. Sandwiches are good at lunch time, but the salads are on the small side. Dinner menu is always a little tricky - I'm never completely in love with the choices provided, and my thoughts are that it's, on average, $4-5 overpriced. Sitting at Towne for a meal is a great place to see, and be seen, and is great for late-night dinners - but it's much more style than quality eats.
(3)
Michael D.
I never felt totally comfortable with Towne Stove and Spirits. Until now. The recent menu changes now offer simplicity and at the same time maintain elegance. You can't fully appreciate a 14oz bone-in filet mignon until you try it. Gone are the over-complicated dishes and replaced instead with ingredients that are allowed to speak for themselves. The sides like the baked sweet potato with brown sugar and butter, the crispy hash browns, and the grilled sweet corn are must tries. On my two most recent visits, I also noticed an attitude change. Same attentive service but it seems like more smiles abound. Not sure what the story is there but the difference is palpable. If this is a Towne reinvention count me in as a huge supporter.
(5)
Leo L.
Just a horrible experience... Went there for a quick bite of food and had a seat at the bar, I ordered the Lobster and side of rice, after a long wait the dish finally arrived and the rice was so raw that it could brake a tooth, after sending it back I could tell that the bartender wasn't very happy about it and walked to kitchen, after 8 minutes or so he comes back to finally ask if I wanted anything else instead, I told him I would try any other type rice instead, over 15 minutes later (my lobster was cold by the time I got the other side of rice) the rice finally arrived and the chef came to serve it to me with a super rude attitude, and guess what?! It was not ready to be served again! I had two bites of it paid for the bill and left... and still left 5% tip which was really nice of me! Do not go here if you're expecting good food!
(1)
Kathleen M.
Made last minute reservations for my birthday on Friday afternoon. They were able to get my large group in at 9PM, perfect!! I had been here before for drinks, never explored upstairs, what a beautiful dining room. Perfect for groups!! Our waiter was wonderful, paid the perfect amount of attention (at least 4 of us at the table have been in the food&beverage industry at some point, so really appreciate the attentive, but not overly attentive service.) Loved the drink menu, had a few birthday Mai Tais, delicious! Menu had a great selection, the chef even volunteered to prepare a special plate for one of my vegetarian friends. There were vegetarian options on the menu so he definitely didn't have to. 2 thumbs up!! I started with some oysters on the half shell and had the swordfish for my entree, which was cooked to perfection. Sampled a bite of the coconut jasmine rice, which was so tasty!! Ended my meal with a slice of birthday melt in your mouth chocolate cake with marshmallow ice cream (can it be my birthday every night?!) My entire party enjoyed the drinks, food & ambiance agreeing they would all come back & giving me kudos for picking a great spot! We ended up staying downstairs to have some more cocktails. Again, great service. I'm glad I went off the Boston's best reviews, I'm not sure how the reviews on yelp aren't that great. Will be back for sure! Thanks Towne, and staff for making my birthday a great night! And for squeezing us in last minute!!
(5)
Alison H.
I went to Towne last Saturday night with some friends for drinks. We arrived at 10 and the bar areas were all packed both upstairs and downstairs. We grabbed a drink upstairs but quickly realized we were constantly standing in the wrong place. My friend went downstairs to check for more room downstairs and the hostess offered to set our growing group now up to 8+ friends with a big table. They let us sit at a big table for just drinks and as our group grew, they were very accommodating and even added on another table and chairs for us. I know I'm giving them a five for just drinks but the level of service for just drinks was amazing.
All in all fantastic! Dinner is great great - brunch is grater - for Boston it's one of those spots for breakfast, dinner AND drinks! SO that's good right? Ask for the upstairs room and get a seat near the window... it's essentially a nice city feel. I dig it.
(4)
Lala L.
Besides it's location and it's dessert, I wouldn't really go back to this restaurant. Yes, it's new and opened by a couple of celebrity chefs in Boston. The wait is horrible if you don't have reservations.....line is out the door. Would you want to be roped off like you're waiting to get into a club just for mediocre food? The best thing I was oooh-ing over was their Brown Sugar Angel Food Cake with Maple Cotton Candy and Caramel Ice Cream. Yes! It does exist and it's as wonderful as it sounds! I'd definitely go back for this after a day out shopping and need a pick me up and coffee break. The food wasn't fantastic. The tartar duo was alright, - ok, forgettable. The fois gras appetizer was over cooked. I'm sure I can get the raw oysters elsewhere in the area. My entree was the tuna steak. I've had many in the past. In fact, I love my sushi. This tuna wasn't exactly "sashimi grade". Actually, it was a bit overcooked. I can get one better done at Legal Seafoods practically a skip and a hop away. One of my friends got the braised short ribs. It looks yummy, but like all the other dishes, including my tuna...they encrusted it in ALOT of salt to give it more flavor. Also, can I just mention that all the mashed potatoes in the dishes it came in was over-whipped? Yes, it was gummy potatoes. (this happens when you over-whip potatoes and it gets VERY starchy and glutinous.)
(3)
Susan P.
Attended a function on a Friday evening and the food and service was spectacular! Lydia Shire came out to greet us - which was a very nice surprise. Will visit Towne again soon.
(5)
aaron t.
good drinks. Good bread food, incredibly greasy and way over priced. Not so good. service, good. Seems like a place for overpriced food, large portions, but not much taste, besides the bar drinks. Come here for drinks, not food. Bad experience. a friend and I came here and it cost us over $70 each. for 1 pizza, 2 appetizers, and 2-3 drinks each. If in back bay, i'd say go to Sel de la ter, atlantic fish, tapeos, or a bit further down to south end to coppa, toro, or chinatown for a good meal.
(1)
Tammie P.
Had the lamb and lobster popovers for dinner a couple of times. There's a lobster omelet that's decent, too.
(3)
Stephen M.
Been here a few times but this is my first review. Cool venue, decent menu, mediocre wine list and unamazing food. Would definitely go back to hit the bar for drinks, or maybe even for say a group dinner, but the food is nowhere near good enough to seek the place out for "just" dinner.
(3)
Sean H.
Ambiance - Trendy yet warm. Very comfortable Food - Very, VERY Good Menu - A bit limited...I half expected more lobster dishes. The menu is international in scope, but could use more items. Sides are numerous and outstanding. Service - A+ Wine List - A+ Thank you. We will be back!
(4)
L S.
The food and service were great - it was just too dark to enjoy the experience. Turn up the lights a bit please.
Keep this simple. 5 stars for service and hospitality from the bartender to our waitress. Couldn't be more affable or attentive. Food was pretty good, but taking one star off. Had the pizza, pea soup, ravioli, and other items that were shared. All were enjoyed, but portions pretty small - esp the ravioli @ $17(!!!). 2 more stars off for value. This is Towne's problem. The food prices are sky-high - at least 20% more than what is reasonable for what you get ...which is decent quality and small portions. Just can't see myself coming back here to eat. Drink, yes, but eat, no.
(2)
TBone A.
Nice location, nice ambient. I expected more from the food. We started off with Tar tare appetizer. It's OK. Nothing memorable. I ordered crispy duck. My friends had Cod "Bullet" and Pork Chop. The portion is quite generous. They must have put my dish under heat lamp, waiting for other dishes to be finished because by the time it hit the table. The sauce was congealed. However , the Cod and Pork Chop seems OK. I like Pork Chop best, then the Cod. The duck dish was a bit disappointed. Lastly we ordered Brown sugar angel food cake with caramel ice cream and maple cotton candy for dessert. Everything on the plate is really sweet. Personally I founded their food almost like "trying to hard". Every dish has lots of component but somehow doesn't tied together. Most of the garnish are deep fried and oily. I won't hurry back.
(2)
Sheila B.
Lot's of trend for the spend.... I will say if you don't like anything on this menu you do have issues. There are a ton of choices, menu that includes Indian, Chinese, Italian, american fare, printed on a large print menu, incase you forgot your glasses ! What they ARE that's a cute, swanky spot on Boylston with a varied menu, which doesn't quite make sense to me. But again, lots of options, I tend to want to eat a more focused cuisine. So I took the plunge and went to the indian food, which definitely did not tast authentic, just because you throw some cumin. clilantro, and garlic on some chicken doesn't make it Indian. I did like the lobster popover, not bad for a little appetizer. Portion sizes where fair, I got the brick chicken, and my friend got the thighs bothwere ok. Would pass on the chicken next time and go try something else. I would go back again, but don't expect my opinion to change a ton. Also Lydia's lobster pizza, I almost shunned $26 REALLY.. how much meat is on that thing.. that's a lot.. I have eaten that at the Excelsior bar menu back in the day for maybe half that price.. I don't know it just don't seem right.. Again I leave you with , lots of trend for the spend..........
(3)
Cahaya S.
Very shi-shi place with 3 or 4 rooms...definitely one of the happening, new joints in Boston. We ordered appetizers in the "bar" room -- the first room as you enter. I had a lobster dog and my friend had another lobster concoction, which she thought was going to be a stew -- but it was actually some kind of "jellified" stew! lol! ick!!! I dunno -- I wasn't that impressed...(plus my lobsterdog was like a regular hotdog --with no toppings. Couldn't really taste the lobster -- unfortunately....
(3)
Kimberly P.
I returned to Towne for dinner and had a great experience. Our server was charming, timely and knowledgeable about the menu... he made great recommendations!
I went here the other night with my best friend for the 1 st time. I love the outdoor tent they have set up, it's like something you would see in a fairy tale, it's so cool, we didn't sit in it though. We sat at the bar we each had 2 of their signature cocktails, which I honestly felt were overpriced at $12.00 each. I guess I felt if it was worth it, I wouldn't mind paying for it, but they weren't really that good. We also ordered the crab dip. It was good, it needed just a few more chips with it. I didn't have enough for my dip. We also decided to share the peanut butter sundae that came with maple cotton candy. Yes maple cotton candy, all I have to say is wow, it was awesome.
(4)
Katie H.
I attended a fabulous cooking class here and was very impressed with the entire experience. The restaurant is cozy and chic. The kitchen, with its glass walls that allows diners to see what's happening, was superb and very clean. The food was melt in your mouth enjoyable and the wine pairings were perfect. I'd go back any time for drinks in the lower level or dinner on the second floor. It's obviously on the pricier side of things but well worth the occasional splurge for a great meal.
(4)
Sara C.
This review is based on the brunch only! It was unique and very good. They give you mini glazed donuts and biscotti at your table while you wait, which were really good. Everyone loved their meals. I got the pancakes and they came with maple syrup cotton candy on top! It was so cute and different. It happened to be my birthday so at the end of the meal instead of bringing a cake or other dessert, they brought a giant serving of the cotton candy with a candle and chocolate piece that said Happy Birthday on it. Needless to say it was eaten up quickly by all and was very addictive. We will definiately be coming back here for brunch.
(5)
Jacqueline C.
I hadn't been to this restaurant in a year so was a little worried since it has gotten mixed reviews lately. However we went with another couple on Saturday night and loved it. The bar scene was no longer a scene...it was just where people were hanging out waiting for their tables. That's a little sad, but nice at the same time since it wasn't a big deal to actually sit at the bar and have a drink before dinner instead of getting jostled around. We arrived early with the intention of having a drink before dinner but our table ended up being ready an hour early so we sat down. This was a tad annoying since I had called that day and asked if it was possible to get an earlier reservation and was told that we couldn't. The room is funky and loud. We couldn't really hear the waiter, but it didn't matter. We ordered apps and dinner and wine. The lobster popovers, which I remember being totally amazing, were just 'meh' but the shrimp tempurah was delicious. For dinner I had the duck, which is one of their signature dishes, and it was AMAZING. perfectly cooked, cool looking on my plate and scrumptious. I ate every bite. My husband had the schnitzel minus the anchovies and it was delicious. We both loved our meals. We would absolutely go back to this place.
(4)
Lee D.
Headed to Towne about a week after it opened its doors. It's always nice to go to a restaurant soon after it opens -- the waiters are helpful and positive, not jaded and disinterested, the decor is current and interesting, not outdated and overplayed. You get caught up in the excitement and newness of it all. Since I wasn't particularly hungry, I ordered the Beet Caprese and app-sized fettuccine alfredo. The beet dish was amazing. The fettuccine alfredo wasn't too impressive -- just pasta and butter -- but good. My friends ordered the duck and steak. I tried some of each and thought they were great. So, Towne was exciting, had great service and decent food, certainly had a great vibe going on, and was decorated in a very interesting way (check out the crystal gun on the third floor!). Downsides were the lack of a fully operational bar (no maraschino!!), the incredibly noisy first and second floors (great wooden floors, walls and ceilings, but nothing to absorb the overwhelming din of such a large facility), and the fact that despite a wonderfully varied menu there aren't too many healthy options.
(3)
Gerald H.
Bar scene fun, and food decent. Service horrible. Party of 12 for my brother's 50th birthday. Took 45 minutes to place our order, despite trying to flag the waiter. Had to complain twice before service picked up. Sommelier recommended a brunello that they did not carry. Overall poor experience and would not go back.
(2)
Jennifer B.
Towne has a fantastic brunch. The cocktails were tasty, as was the food. Good atmosphere and great and attentive waitstaff. The omelet I had was very tasty and I loved the tater tots (less like a tot and more like a homefry- but delicious nonetheless). It seems like a great spot for somewhat large parties and they were very accommodating. I look forward to going back soon.
(4)
Maddie H.
Bathrooms did not have any handsoap. Food was overwhelmingly salty. Overpriced. Slow to refill water glasses. Took bread away without asking.
(2)
Karen K.
Amazing! Came here for my birthday and was blown away by everything-service, food and atmosphere. We will be back soon for sure!
(5)
Jillian T.
So surprised by all the bad reviews on here! My boyfriend and I have been living in Boston for almost a year and eat out quite a bit, and Towne is absolutely one of our favorites. First went for Valentine's Day, but have been back since. Solid service, nice atmosphere and DELICIOUS food!!! We've sampled several dishes and everything is absolutely amazing.. you can tell it's made w/ quality ingredients. Highly recommended!
(4)
Julia W.
Second visit, feeling pretty open-minded about this place. It is large and comprised of different spaces with different feels to them. Last time we were upstairs in a more formal space with tablecloths. This time we were in a large room. Lots of hard surfaces, so, it was a bit loud although the room was not full. The service was very professional, nice. Food was very slow. This was fine for the appetizer but got tedious with the main course. I had the roasted kale/bay scallops appetizer, it was excellent. The short ribs on pappardelle special was also excellent; my sole florentine very good. The parmesan roasted broccoli and cauliflower also excellent. Apologies for the slowness of the kitchen were offered, and we were given a glass of a very nice pinot noir which was a nice surprise. To top that off, we were also comped a dessert. Totally not necessary, but very generous of them. We had a nice meal and will be back.
(4)
Pickle P.
We were given a gift certificate and used it on a weeknight. Overall quite dissapointing. First of all, it's hard to find the restaurant as the doors lead you into the bar. Clientele was standard Back Bay goober, but with middle management jobs. Service was hot and cold, alternating between overattentive and completely absent. Food was standard (pork chop/duck confit) but overpriced. One good point - the Willamette Valley pinot I chose blindly from the list was great. Oh, and the bartender on the restaurant side looked like a stripper. Note to owners - while this might attract men to the bar, it doesn't class up the joint.
(2)
Casey H.
We had made reservations for a large group on Sat night and they sat us at a table that was way too small. They were not willing to find us a larger table. Typically when you see a group our size, you know the bill will be over $1000, and its very interesting when a restaurant still provides poor service right from the start. The food was ok. It is a bit overpriced for what you get, but passable. I had the sea bass. I would recommend this place for drinks, but not for dinner, particularly because of the bad service.
(2)
Eric S.
I tried to book an event with Towne and they were very unresponsive! I called multiple times and never got an answer back. Seems like they don't need the business! These guys are unprofessional ... don't waste your time. Go somewhere else! Lots of venues in Boston ...
(1)
Arturo H.
I heard this place was the greatest thing since slice bread. It was good, but given the build up I was a little disappointed. Pretty pricey too. They cotton candy as a dessert option which someone in my group got. That was pretty impressive and not usual for a restaurant. Everyone, including myself seemed pretty satisfied with their dinner but no one was glowing. I would go back if it was cheaper, and glad I tried it once.
(3)
Jason W.
I had the avocado and lobster eggs benedict and side of cheese grits, a greyhound beverage, and a coffee. The meal was superb, the service was pleasant, and the location and setting near the Prudential Building is very convenient. There are many parking options and tons of shopping. What makes this place even better is there current manager. I had a slight mishap when my leftovers (half my meal) was discarded instead of packaged to go as requested. The waitress apologized. I did not want to make a fuss or make my friends wait being new years day and all, so I paid the bill and left. The food was so good, I kept thinking about it the next day and decided to email the manager to explain the mistake. His replies and response was expedious and very satisfactory. I will definitely be back and will bring others.
I went to Towne for a big event on their second floor reserved for private functions and I was so impressed. The service staff was top notch and about all the food I had was excellent. Since most of it was served on trays by servers I can't really comment on particular dishes. There were some items that stood out, the flash fried blue cheese shrimp and their homemade ice cream were top notch and I will be back again just to have them. They also made some delicious peanut brittle that was more like honey comb that was out of this world, they said it is usually not on the regular menu, I hope they add it soon!
(4)
Anthony C.
I have since returned to Towne at least three times, and my newest discovery there worth raving about is the bar menu! It's great. I can't say enough about it. There are a number of Jasper White-designed lobster dishes on the bar menu as well as a few Lydia Shire gastronomic concoctions... but what sticks out? THE BURGER. Yes, seriously. It is 70% ground skirt steak and 30% ground short rib... and 110% amazing. It goes for $11 and comes with homemade chips which are the icing on the cake, so to speak. Usually there is some combination of potato chips, sweet potato chips and plantain chips. Brilliant. Paired with a martini or bourbon or beer, the burger is a perfect treat and a quick lunch. Oysters and littlenecks are available (although to be fair, they are usually cheaper during the early evening at Jasper White's Back Bay location of the Summer Shack), as well as innovative creations like lobster popovers or stacked zucchini boards. The cocktails are diverse, interesting and truly satisfying. The whiskey and bar offerings are deep, and there are a number of unique entries. My waiter and waitress service has continued to be top notch, while I've had a couple cranky bartenders (but nonetheless, still professional). One strange drawback to stopping by for lunch, or early eats before the dining room opens, is that table bread is not available. With the fantastic breads and spreads offered in the dining room, I am unclear as to why it is not prepared for earlier service even in smaller quantities, available only "as requested." It was explained to me that the breads are not even prepared each day until about 4:00 for dinner service and yet it seems like a reasonable expectation when patrons have to walk by several more cost-effective eateries to get to Towne particularly during the daytime (when specials are plentiful and readily available). Interestingly, on one occasion, a large party came in and we offered up our table as we had just arrived and they needed a few more seats, and to thank us they bought us a round of cocktails. Needless to say, everything about this hot spot has been rewarding and worth visiting. I can't say enough about how much I love Towne. Highly, highly recommended for a visit!
(5)
Michael D.
With prices like these you'd think the bartenders wouldn't botch two routine cocktails. When the cherry was omitted from my Manhattan I was willing to overlook it, but when the lemon juice was omitted from my friend's sidecar I was irritated. Have you tried a sidecar sans lemon juice? It's undrinkable. But if you're loaded and 40 and single and you want to make out at a bar you should head on over.
(2)
Anne R.
Just finished a fantastic meal. I really loved the menu, fabulous food and excellent flavors. Our server Chris was attentive but not intrusive and knowledgeable about the menu and made excellent suggestions. It was busy Monday night and that is always a good indicator for a restaurant. Great experience. Can't wait to return.
(5)
Monta L.
We had a large family dinner here on Saturday night. The food was pretty impressive, the service was prompt, I'd come back here to try other things on the menu. I was immediately skeptical of the "little international flags" on the poorly designed menu (if you're going to be high end like this, please hire a professional), but the sweet/spicy/sour dip that came with our calamari really deserved that little thai flag, and hey- the scallion pancakes were not too shabby either. My rating is somewhat prejudiced by (1) bad graphic design, (2) the clientele- I'm sorry, but the food just doesn't taste good when I have to look at self-gratifying men in untucked shirts with first two buttons undone (hello chest hair), toting along some leggy blonde. But I must admit, the food isn't bad, and if you like looking at them leggy blondes, this is the place for you. If you seek humble dining, look elsewhere.
(3)
Ashley L.
Awesome atmosphere and great cocktails.
(5)
Christina Z.
Towney, I love your quirks. You have maple cotton candy on the menu. You serve beakers for water glasses. The upstairs kitchen hosts a gigantic cheese grater and gigantic kitchen aide mixer. I have no idea if they are props or functional, but I love whimsical touches such as these. The waiter also debated with me on whether Black Swan is the greatest movie of all time. We added people to our party, and rather than squeeze on extra chairs, they moved us to a more comfortable table at 10p on a weekend night. That's hospitality. I ordered the Gypsy Dancer, which packs a vodka PUNCH and also tried my friend's Shiva's Envy, which is addicting and complex. The food I thought overly expensive for what you're getting. My $16 fettucine alfredo was uninspired, but they luckily removed it from the menu. I wish their items were more cohesive. They seem kind of helter-skelter. This is the kind of place that can't stand alone on good strong cocktails. Their food needs to wow, and I think right now they are concerned with trend, but all in all, good food is what brings ya to the yard. If I could eat the decor, I would. It would certainly be more delicious than my meal. Again, maybe I got the wrong thing?
(3)
Jen L.
OK, I did not want to like this place as soon as I walked in. I got a fancy-schmancy, trying-too-hard vibe. But I was there to meet a large group so I sucked it up. Thankfully, we were seated around the back, which avoided the bar feeling you get at the door. The server was fun and attentive (which is always a surprise when you have a table over 4). The RW menu (salad, salmon, chocolate) was delish, and the cocktail (mr. brownstone) was swell. A surprise hit.
(4)
Shell D.
My boyfriend and I were on a day trip to Boston and decided that Towne would be right up our alley. The service was very good - our waiter was helpful and attentive. I ordered the duck for dinner, I wasn't overly impressed - I've had better - but it was very good. My boyfriend ordered the prime rib and it was delicious. This restaurant has a lot of potential to be excellent, but the food is not completely where it should be.
(4)
Alex E.
Very, very, disappointing. Experience #1-- Drinks: At about 1:45am, four of us stopped by for a little night-cap. The bartender was pleasant, made some fairly solid drinks off the menu (this was a while back, so I don't remember which we ordered). At about 1:55am we were approached by large men in suits who instructed us to hand them our drinks. We weren't even half-finished. They told us they had to be careful about "getting shutdown." Isn't that what last call is for? Don't serve drinks if you're going to take them away from people. We weren't drunk, loud or rowdy. Just thirsty, by the time we were rudely kicked-out. Experience #2-- Brunch (party of 12): This morning we had a large family brunch. The reservation was made for an early 11am and the restaurant had just opened. We were literally one of two parties on the second floor (the other was a 4-top). Aside from how strange it is that they serve water in Kimax beakers (I really felt like I was dining in a chemistry lab), the service was very brusque. I was deciding between the crab omelette and the lobster omelette. When the waiter came to take my order, I asked "which do you recommend? Crab or lobster?" he responded by telling me: "oh, they're two different omelettes." Thanks for that. Once the food was brought out, my girlfriend sat without food for about 10 minutes. Then when her omelette finally came out, it wasn't what she had asked for. On top of that, the waiters stood next to the table bickering about who took the order for seat #3 and why it got screwed-up. It can definitely be dicey with a large party, but guys-- have some class. Figure it out in the kitchen and don't argue in front of your table! The food: Literally the worst omelette I have ever had. In fact, a few of us tried the lobster and chive omelette and all were equally disgusted. The omelette itself was dry, overcooked, and underseasoned (and cold, too!). I eat quite a bit of lobster and the meat "garnishing" the omelette was a small, overcooked piece of meat with a greenish tinge. Maybe using body meat with the green "tamale" or digestive gland as garnish isn't the best idea... Inside the omelette was.... well... nothing! There was one lonely piece of tail meat in the omelette. It sort of looked like it had all fallen out. I'm really not that difficult to please when it comes to omelettes, but this was disgusting. Where were the chives? This cold, overcooked egg pancake folded in half with a stray piece of lobster in it looked like a mistake. Not sure what the cherry tomato was stuffed with, but it didn't taste fresh. Given the prices Towne charges and the fact that they market themselves as an upscale, gourmet American kitchen-- Towne should be embarrassed to serve the garbage they put on the table. Sorry, Towne, I'm sticking to Metropolis Cafe for brunch!
(1)
Julian H.
Mehch. The space is nice, but everything else about my dinner here was totally lackluster. Food was overpriced, over sweetened, and kinda bland. The crowd seems like they all graduated and got jobs at Fidelity so they don't really go to the foggy goggle anymore. I overheard one of the guys at the next table talking about "banging his neighbor". Awesome! I'm not sure what's up with the decor. Maybe it's some new design trend that I missed, but mostly it reads as schizophrenic. Beakers for glasses, boudoir style velvet chairs, plaid napkins, vaulted subway ceilings, and a room fulla white people...
(2)
Julia F.
After the Elite Event at Towne I felt I had to go back and get more, I asked a bunch of ladies (and Tony) to meet me for Brunch on Sunday. What Sunday? Mmm, the one where we lost an hour of sleep. That said, only one of us was on time. I ordered a bloody mary cause everybody else did, and I figured I should finally try one since I managed to avoid ordering them my entire drinking career. They said they were tasty. Turns out I don't like bloody marys. Shame, at $11 each. Our waiter was very nice and personable. He checked in appropriately- especially cause our group showed up in phases. We got a basket full of glazed donut holes and lemon poppyseed bread which were delicious while warm, but quickly turned rock hard when they cooled. The next thing to get to the table? Compliments of the kitchen, four lobster filled popovers for the five of us. Later we saw it said "comp Yelp" on reciept- huh? I checked in well after our meal... The popovers were good, but very full of butter, and shockingly sweet. Not your grandmas' popovers. I was a little disappointed with the brunch menu. It was fairly short. I got chicken and waffles, as I have always been intrigued by the combo. Holy dry food. I had to finish my water to get through it. Highlight of the meal? Teeny doll sized bottle of tabasco stuck in one of the waffles. I've had better waffles, and chicken, just not on the same plate. Grits were good and cheesy though. The bar table we sat at was a chilly location, yet it provided excellent people-watching. This may have been due to the proximity to the door, but I think it was also located right under an hvac vent that was pushing cold air down on our heads. I would return for dinner, or drinks. But being that it's in an annoying location for somebody like me (who drives everywhere) I'd have to say it's unlikely that I'd return. I was sad to find the brunch menu disappointing. I had a gift card, which when I put it on the table, I realized it had an expiration date. We asked if we could still try to use it- the waiter came back and said the manager said no, but that they had comped $20 worth of popovers- nice, but we hadn't asked for them...
(2)
Chris C.
Food was outstanding. This is my first Yelp review I do more on trip advisor. We started with lobster pop overs so good we could of ate them all night. To correct other reviewer they are drizzled in Kyles maple syrup. I had crispy duck, wife had pizza that she said tasted like she was back in Italy. Desserts and drinks were also good. We were sat down stairs at seven it was a bit noisy with the afterwork crowd. Tables filled fast as Friday nights usually do. Matt our server was excellent and was prompt and there when we needed him.
(4)
Diana C.
Came here several times. Food is good and price is ok for the location. My main complaint for this place is inconsistency!!! First, service is quite slow even though there is NO ONE there. To get a cup of coffee refill you have to wait 10 min for the waitress to come by. The food comes out sometimes good, sometimes blah..you never know...what a surprise! The only consistent thing about this place is the fresh made donuts. But really, if you want to charge $13 for an eggs benedicts,there should be consistency and there should be better service. You would have to wait about 30 min for a not very well done food.
(3)
Barney B.
Damn you Chronicle for featuring this place and making me think I wanted to really come here and damn you Barney B for being such a follower sometimes. You know what this place is? it's a local, expensive, loud, trendy version of a Cheesecake Factory. I mean seriously, look at the menu and come up with a theme. I even asked the waiter "OK, so what's the deal here" the explanation, in a word, was dizzying. So was his service, so at least there's consistency. For the food, it was definitely tasty. But a $21 burger better blow my socks off (or just blow something), and it didn't. the special added requests to the plate I can't comment on, because they never got delivered after requested (see dizzying service reference). I applaud them for the space. I applaud them for catering to the conventioneers nearby and I applaud all the locals that will flock here, deal with the loud tinny bar, the expensive food, and the stumbling, bumbling servers. and I applaud myself for another review that isn't likely to have an update due to lack of repeat visit. another pair of multi-resto chefs to add to the English, Lynch list of 'quantity over quality' local ventures.
(2)
Claire O.
I really liked the atmosphere and decor at Towne: it's huge but the layout means it still feels cozy and it has that lighting/ambience effect which makes you feel like you're cooler and more fun than you are. The service was fine but not outstanding. It took forever to get our bottle of wine, which is my one pet hate for restaurants - seriously, if a table is drinking, it's a happy table. The food had highs and lows. The cauliflower tasted out of this world, but it cost $11 and they gave us the entire cauliflower head which seemed a smidgen excessive. I also got the sirloin - it was cooked perfectly and tasty but again - it was expensive ($42) and I don't think justified the price - portion size was large but the meat was fattier than I'd expect for sirloin and it didn't come with any sides. Overall, Towne is fun and the food is good but it is over-priced
(3)
Craig S.
Met Kevin Garnet here the other day - and every time I have been back it has gotten progressively better
(5)
Mark Z.
I wanted to write a review on something in recent memory that was just average to me, and the first thing that came to mind...Towne. I don't exactly eat fancy a lot, but when I do, I expect it to be worth the price. Although Towne's modern decor, wealth of beautiful women, and trendier environment made for a great setting, the food was just so-so considering the price. I went for a steak, which was a little overcooked and came with Applebee's quality veggies. The meal was fine, but again, not what you hope for at this price. All in all, it's worth going once, but I'd personally rather be at Mistral, Capital Grille, Mooo, Del Frisco's, Davios, etc......
(2)
Alissa D.
Came here for dinner and had the lobster popovers and a salad. I didn't finish the popovers because I disliked them so much. The texture of the popover with the lobster did not work at all and it was sugary sweet. The salad was pretty uninspired. For the price of the dishes at Towne, I expected more. The cocktails were definitely a highlight though!
(3)
Andrea B.
Just saw 3 mice running around upstairs. The manager said, "there's nothing we can do there's construction next door." GROSS!!!! Don't eat at Towne.
(1)
Mrs. G.
This is one of those tricky restaurants to write a review for. The food was phenomenal. I am a foodie--I have eaten at a lot of very nice restaurants, and I (humbly) think I have a good palate. I came to Towne with a party of 8. We made a reservation a month in advance. I read about the slow service so I prepared myself. We were there for three hours (from sitting until we finished eating dessert--and then we sat for a bit longer than the three hours). That is how long it took for our food to come out. We did order appetizers, entrees, and dessert. The service was not just slow...it was like crawling around a high school track, trying to complete a mile. Let's take this one step further...the waitress was absolutely miserable. We all tried to overcompensate by being ultra friendly, and she was so rude, it became almost comical. We were definitely inconveniencing her by being there. Out of the eight of us, we tried many dishes, and everyone raved about their food. We all live in and around Boston, so we have been to many of the restaurants. But as delicious as the food was, it was very small portions. I ordered a scallop special and received a half a cup of risotto and four medium-sized scallops. Between the eight of us, our bill came to close to $600, so it is pricey enough, that I would have appreciated bigger portions and a waitress that was at least neutral in her temperament toward us. And if you go a little bit later, be prepared that this turns into a weird, nightclub feel. We will not be returning. Positives-- Delicious food, nice ambiance Negatives--slightly small portions, unfriendly waitress, very long wait time
(2)
Bryan R.
$16 manhattan. Ok, that's the basis for my review. It could go two ways. Oh, it was $16 but it was really fucking good. Or, it was $16 and I really regret coming here. It was one of those.
(2)
Dan S.
Emily N is possibly the most friendly and professional waitress that I have encountered. My travels take me to at least two cities per week so I can attest to what I view as a five star rating. Importantly, the food was superb. Excellent quality for the price. This place is a "must go." Ask for Emily's section !
(5)
Nigel F.
My girlfriend, Liz and I saw Towne Stove and Spirits in the Dine Out Boston (formerly Restaurant Week) lineup and thought we'd give it a shot. I had the truffle mushroom soup, the porchetta, and the chocolate cake, and Liz had the arugula salad, the salmon with jasmine rice, and the lemon sorbet with blueberry compote. The soup was really hearty and Liz's salad was well dressed (with a sherry vinaigrette) and had tasty and creative accents like shaved green apple slices, black truffle cheese, and candied walnuts. My entree, the porchetta, came with asparagus, shallots, sweet potato gnocchi (which were delightfully fluffy and full of flavor) and a sweet huckleberry sauce. Liz's entree, the salmon, was perfectly cooked, juicy and flaky and the bok choy soaked up the soy and ginger sauce. My dessert, the chocolate cake, was fantastic, dense and fudge like under a chocolate shell. Very filling. Liz's lemon sorbet was certainly the lighter of our two desserts, but was not without loads of flavor. As for drinks, we both got beers, as the cocktails and wines by the glass were a little more than we wanted to pay. Their wine list is extensive however, though most are by the bottle only. This isn't a big downside for us though, merely a mark of a stellar restaurant. The service was great, ambience was pleasant. If you are looking for a fantastic meal, you should really stop by Towne Stove and Spirits during Dine Out Boston!!
(5)
Warren M.
Normally wouldn't review a restaurant with so many reviews, both good and bad, but I did go there with past reviews in mind so I'll address my pre-conceived notions. Front bar was noisy but comfortable. Bartender couldn't have been more friendly or prompt. Seating was on time. Waiter friendly, knowledgable and efficient. Longer than expected time to get a second glass of wine but he obviously had waited himself because his tray was loaded. NOISE, way too loud! Table for four had to lean into each other and yell to be heard. Wood floor and ceramic, subway restroom style ceiling tiles, though both nice, were the culprit. Given the age of the building I have to assume this was intentional, probably to create a frenetic drinking atmosphere. Not for me. FOOD: other couple have been there numerous times, like it and had favorite meals. I did notice that their steaks didn't come with any vegetables but a tiny amount of greens. I didn't want a whole meal. Offerings were limited. I got the Marguerita pizza. Very disappointing. Was actually appetizer sized. The thinnest of cardboard crust sparsely covered with several pieces of tomato and Mozzarella and an equal amount of uncovered cardboardy space. It did taste better than it looked. Spouse had a steak described as pounded for tenderness and spicy with "spices" described as salt and pepper. The finished product was a paper thin plank about the thickness of my cardboard pizza, "very over spiced with other spices" again with no vegetables and greens, also over spiced. So, I must concur that this is a good place for a loud after work drink. Adequate red wine list by the glass, extensive white wine list, oddly enough. I would consider meeting people at one of the bars but would not return to eat. Oh, one very good attribute for cold or inclement weather, but for about 50 yards from the door, one can walk from the restaurant to Back Bay Station inside.
(2)
Alex B.
BRUNCH Bread pudding ... Bread pudding ... Bread pudding! Typed it 3 times and already salivating just a few short hours after eating it. Also asked one of the hostesses there to sneak a tray out the back door for me. Still waiting on her response. Hopefully she agrees. As a disclaimer I did attend brunch free of charge with the Boston Brunchers but being that I live two blocks away I will sure as shit be back and spend the $38 for the buffet on another future hungover sunday AM. Chances are I will pay that and just end up piling a plate of this 500 cal per bite (complete estimate but I loved it so much I just assume it's not good for you) bread pudding. Other favorites of mine included their short rib hash, oyster tower, and pancake bar. They also several cheese wheels out with a brie, cheddar, roquefort (unbelievable), and bleu. I skipped over the juicy fresh sliced pork at the carving station but other brunchers had great things to say about it. DINNER Have paid for dinner several times. Just as a prelude with a $40 brunch, you could probably imagine dinner would get kind of pricey too. At times I have definitely thought it is a little too expensive for what you get but I still enjoy it quite a bit and keep coming back. Maybe it is the preppy / yuppie vibe, not really sure. I do need to say though, that it gets very loud in the dining area around dinner time. I think it is the wide open space and bad acoustics but it is kind of hard to hear people talk at certain tables. I think that is hard to adjust but worth pointing out. Anyway, always quick to jump on the oysters which are always fresh and oyster-y perfection. Their pizzas / flatbreads are pretty good too. Lobster, leek, black truffle one is out of this world but then again so is the price at $27 so almost not worth it but if you are feeling generous, go for it. As for dinner, I have gotten both their scallops and pork chop which both left my tummy feeling very very happy. I have also heard tons and tons of people talk up their burger so I probably need to get in there and try that. Bar is always hopping as well on the weekends. I should probably stop in more for drinks. I mean drinks are always a good reason to go somewhere, so why not?
(4)
Jo-Ellen D.
Came here last night to catch up with a friend I hadn't seen in forever, proceeded to spend almost 4 hours there. The food was great (I had oysters and lobster ravioli) and they had a fantastic scotch selection. We kept talking and weren't ready to order like the first 3 times she asked, and we never got one bit of a hint of attitude or irritation about that. Same goes for how long we stayed after the bill was paid. It was pricey, but that's to be expected for the area. So be prepared to drop some dough. I would definitely go back if I still lived in the area.
(5)
Sara M.
SHAMEFUL!! My mom, brother and I all got the monkfish only to spend the next 3 days dealing with food poisoning. Three days of vomiting and diarrhea was enough to make my first experience here my last! The so called lemon sauce was nothing more than melted butter with a few squirts of lemon juice in it. The fish was barely seasoned or even hot. When we ordered the Towne "cookies" for dessert, they had the audacity to bring a total of 4 pieces of some chocolate wrapped up in a plastic bag and charged us 8 bucks for it!! Seriously???! I can critique so much more but the thought of that place makes me sick to my stomach, again!!
(1)
Andy H.
I and a friend went there Saturday night and had a phenomenal time. Every dish was well presented, had a wonderful flavor profile, and the servers were able to recommend pairings that accented the dish marvelously. I will be back again and again.
(4)
Lia M.
I love Towne for drinks. The location is perfect. The drinks are well-made and strong. I had a Mr. Brownstone (bourbon, maple liqueur, lemon, and cinnamon simple syrup) and an El Diablo Fizz (tequila, crème de cassis, lime juice, soda water, and ginger beer). The Mr. Brownstone was not as sweet as it may seem from the ingredients and I enjoyed the cinnamon flavor. The El Diablo Fizz was a bit sweeter, and went down extremely easy. I was basically drunk after both of those, so I was happy. Kate's Gin Daisy (gin, lemon juice, house made grenadine, and simple syrup) was quite light and refreshing. We just shared a few appetizers, but I did not love either of them. The duck quesadilla had the potential to be really great, but overall, it was just blah, and the meat a tad too salty. Plus, there was sour cream on it, when it was asked to be served without. Surprisingly, I preferred the popcorn shrimp. I tend not to be a fan of this appetizer, but this one had a good flavor and nice, crisp batter. I still do not really like this dish, but if I had to order it, I'd order it here. Service was prompt and friendly. We did need to ask for the bar menu, as we were automatically given the dinner menu while sitting at the bar. Overall, I'm a huge fan, and Towne is definitely on my radar for a return visit.
(4)
Lisa R.
I really want to give Towne 4 stars, but my visit on Saturday night was a 2 star experience. We had 8pm reservations and were seated right on time. Our waitress took our drink and dinner orders in a timely and polite fashion. It was downhill from there. Our dinners didn't arrive until 10pm. When we asked she didn't have an answer. One guest was only drinking water and she had to be tracked down to fill his water glass (which seems odd because she was filling water glasses at the surrounding tables). The food was excellent, as it always is. The service I received will make me think twice about recommending Towne.
(2)
Katie C.
Totally underwhelming to say the least. My friend and I were at the HOW Design Conference next door at the Hynes one Saturday morning and we decided to go to Towne for brunch next door. Our plan was to discuss what we learned at the conference, but really we just wanted to get caught up on the latest gossip. The good news was they had a patio with a slight breeze that was rather covered and not directly in the sun. We were seated promptly and one staff member came over with water for us. Wonderful. Then another came over with fresh breakfast bites -- banana bread with an orange glaze or a homemade donut hole with the same orange glaze. I had the banana bread that was nothing real special since the glaze was just completely too sweet and too overpowering. Just when we thought we could finally place our order, another staff member came by and poured "fresh squeezed orange juice" with no solicitation from us. Whether it was a language barrier or procedure, she poured and we drank. Ten minutes went by and we were finally able to place our order. If you're looking for hearty breakfast foods, this is the place for you. Homemade waffles, omelettes, eggs benedict just to name a few. In terms of "lunch" foods, there are a few sandwiches available. However, if you're looking for something relatively healthy, this is definitely not for you. No salads just to start with. Probably the healthiest offering was the fruit plate as an appetizer. We finally placed our order -- two french dip sandwiches that came with caramelized onions (none for me, thanks), brie, and fries. It was a perfect Saturday morning lunch. Our food arrived and the french dip sandwich was served with au jus but was more like a cheesesteak in terms of consistency. The bread was hard and crispy (my favorite) but the brie cheese was just one large glob in the middle of the sandwich. I don't like a lot of cheese, so at least it was easy to pick aside. It was a lot of food for $14 and I probably shouldn't have ate both halves of the sandwich. The fries were hot and crispy, too. When we finally received our bill, we found out we were charged $4/apiece for the orange juice at the beginning of the meal. Was it worth $4 a glass? Hell to the no. Were we even asked if we wanted orange juice after we sat down? Hell to the no again! After finishing my lunch (prior to receiving the bill), I was willing to give them another chance. After this experience, certainly not. Now, I know $8 total isn't a lot to bitch about and it certainly didn't cause me to eat ramen noodles for the rest of the particular pay period, but it left a bad impression with me. For my next brunch, I want healthier options and no "surprises" at the end of the meal. So Towne certainly won't be it.
(2)
S. B.
I have celiac. I had a delicious soup, salad and side and all were prepared safely and I did not get sick. They have a lot of other options for meat/seafood eaters, I just happen to be vegetarian. The menu is marked with gluten-free items, and the staff all knew what "celiac" was (which is always a good sign) and our waitress let the chef know that's why I ordered GF. Would visit again!! (Same review left at findmeglutenfree)
(5)
Daisy P.
We were in a lobster mood that night and we tried the lobster pizza, lobster popovers (they are fabulous!), lobster bisque, and had tuna for my entree along with the spinach and the corn. The corn was probably the best prepared corn I've ever had and everything is worth returning for. The tuna for the main entree was probably my least favorite so I would order something else the next time. Do not leave without trying the lobster popovers or the corn. Beautiful decor too!
(4)
Jeff D.
I can't believe I never reviewed Towne before, especially after getting the chance to attend the Yelp Elite event there that was essentially the grand opening. Two words, people: Lobster popover. I've had the cowboy steak and branzino for dinner and just some apps at the bar. No complaints about the food or service, everything was excellent even when we came for my mother-in-law's birthday with a pretty large party. My wife and I love hanging out at the bar and watching things go down. Vicarious living at its finest!
(4)
Ash C.
We tried ribeye for two the other night and it was fabulous. The meat was juicy and tender, well seasoned. The side of brussel sprouts with bacon was to die for. I would love to come back for Sunday brunch
(4)
Dorothy C.
Came here with 6 other people with no reservation around 6pm on a Saturday night. I was expecting to wait a while since since 6 people is a lot but we were seated immediately. It was kind of quiet for a Saturday night, not sure if it's like that everyday but it didn't bother me. We chose oysters for appetizers which were so fresh - everyone agreed it tasted amazing. I ordered Venison well done but had the waiter quickly suggest at most a medium since venison is so lean. Food came rather quickly - all the dinner plates seemed to be a nice sized portion so you definitely won't be leaving hungry. All in all, it was pretty good food but don't expect your taste buds to be wowed by anything crazy.
(3)
David B.
Once again, location trumps quality. This restaurant has a captive audience of people who work in and around the Prudential Center. The bar and the restaurant are always crowded. But the food is really lacking. I was there last night and with the exception of some appetizers which were good, the meal was rather disappointing. The filet mignon, while well cooked, was flavorless. The duck, which was billed to be Peking duck style, was also flavorless. The portions are large, which I suppose is to help you forget that the flavors are weak. To top it off, the upstairs bathroom which is Uni sex was filthy. The only real positive I can say is that the service was very good.
(1)
Cole D.
Wow, I just don't know where to start. I wish i could give negative stars. Both service and food is absolutely appalling. I was at the bar waiting for my fiance to arrive and got one of the house martinis with the goat cheese olives, which was actually pretty good. I got the same drink at the table and it was definitely not the same, and no olives or garnish. We ordered the calamari to start and then the salmon and lamb. All the food was completely bland and tasteless. The calamari we ate about half because after a certain point it just was mushy breading in a pile of oil. The salmon came with crispy rice and a horseradish sauce, which sounded amazing, but in reality the skin was mushy and there was a pool of half melted butter on the plate. The salmon was rubbery and no seasoning , my fiance's lamb was completely bland as well, and came with potatoes that you could tell were previously frozen. They were that crumbly chalky texture, as well as some beans straight from a can. No part of the meal was enjoyable, and to top it off, when we asked for the check after barely touching our meal, the server obviously asked about any problems, and said he would go get his manager, BUT still ran the bill in the meantime AND the manager never came. We didn't skimp on the tip ( I've worked in the restaurant industry and have many friends in the industry here in Boston). We eventually left after waiting 10 minutes for the manager, who ultimately I doubt was even notified. We asked the hostesses to get the manager on our way out and after 10 minutes of running around trying to find one, we told her not to worry and just left. Completely PISSED that this was $150 meal and no one seems to care. I will never go back, and will tell anyone to avoid this place at all cost. I've never had an experience such as this.
(1)
Brandi W.
A little over a week ago, a girlfriend and I stopped by Towne for a few drinks and dessert post dinner. There was a mouse that was running around the bar area for at least an hour. Some people did end up leaving the bar....we honestly should have as well, but had already ordered.... so we were trying to be good sports about it. What really got to us was that the bartenders thought it was hilarious, were making jokes, and calling the mouse 'Stewart' (apparently, he is a regular). When they finally let the manager know, he came out and gave a half-assed apology. BUT after everything, we weren't comped for any of our food or drinks.
(1)
Chelsea F.
Drinks were great and food was delicious! Peking style duck was great, different than what I had expected but very good. My friends ordered the margarita pizza and the filet and both were pleased. Cheesecake dessert was fantastic as it wasn't too sweet! After dinner we walked to the 52nd(?) floor of the Prudential building for a nightcap and highly recommend for tourists :)
(4)
Aman S.
This place was just okay. The service was super slow and the wine selection left a lot to be desired. I probably won't return.
(2)
Yasa E.
Honestly, not a fan. I've been here a bunch of times and I just don't get a very good vibe from this place. The space is aboslutely gorgeous and the location is great, other than that....blahh. It's usually a bit more of an upscale crowd, and when this place is busy it's PACKED, but when it's slow, there is literally not a soul in sight. Drinks are expensive, even by Back Bay standards. Service is hit or miss. I've had a good experience once (i think the bartender's name was Tim), but every other time i've come here, the cocktail waitresses and female bartenders seemed to have an attitude problem. The late night apps i've tried were super bland. Overall, not impressed.
(2)
Mark R.
Went here with a group of 8. Service was good but the food was not up to my expectations for a Lydia joint. Lobster popovers were good, oysters were extremely fresh and good, but the Peking Style Duck fatty and the meat was metallic tasting. Also the Bok choi under the duck was a miserable overcooked lump of blah. And sides of mashed potatoes, asparagus, and squash were all ok but nothing special . Other diners also said it was just ok. 2nd time and 2nd so-so meal. Probably won't return unless something changes- might try brunch
(2)
Greg P.
Hit and Miss... "NFFF"- Not fit for foodies My wife and I had heard a lot about Towne... both good and bad... and when a friend suggested it for a place for all of us to grab dinner, we were excited to try it. Towne has a very nice location right on Boylston St. They have valet parking ($16 for 4 hours) and also validate for the Prudential garage. The restaurant itself is spacious and attractive. It can get noisy later in the night but early own it's very easy to hold a conversation. We sat outside on their patio which was nice and airy. The food is American with an emphasis on some Asian fusion, seafood, steaks, and comfort food. My wife and I started with the lobster pop-overs (which came highly recommended on Yelp and by our water). We were somewhat disappointed actually. The pop-overs were rather dry and the kitchen douses them with honey-butter to moisten them up. Regardless, dry is dry, and we could still tell. There was an OK amount of lobster in each but certainly not overflowing. My wife ordered a salad for her meal that was rather simple and underwhelming. I ordered the wagyu skirt steak which was good. The wasabi cream was a nice accompaniment. It comes with two very small polenta fries. More would have been nice. We ordered a side of mash potatoes which the waiter said would be a generous portion. Not really. It was a pretty small plate of runny mashed potatoes. Certainly would not fly at a steak house. None of us felt like trying the desserts because the food was underwhelming. The bar is well stocked although my two mixed drinks were very watery. There are much better places in Back Bay for drinks. Overall, a decent option if you find yourself in Back Bay at dinner time. There are other better options. And some worse options. For it's prices the food out to be better. You're probably not going to feel like you got good value for your money. We didn't. Foodies might want to go elsewhere.
(3)
Kitty C.
So we came back this year to try the bar in the dining area. The service was marginally better, but the drink selection is still pretty slim. No reason to come here as far as I can see.
(2)
Hayley M.
Above and beyond! So after the incident happened at our last visit to Towne, my friend whose birthday it was emailed the manager. She told him that we have always had great experiences at Towne and while the food was exceptional, the service was not and one friend had been offended by a racially insensitive comment. She was articulate and not angry, she simply wanted to communicate the situation and make the manager aware. Needless to say, the manager asked us to please come back to the restaurant so they could provide us with a "special dining experience." Special was the right word for it. 12 out of the 14 of us could go, and we sat down at the same table as the incident from last time. The waiter and waitress immediately set down six orders of the Lobster Popovers for us. This is the signature appetizer of the restaurant, and I can see why. Who wouldn't love a flaky, buttery popover, filled with huge chunks of lobster? Absolutely delicious. They also set down two margherita pizzas for us. Then we could order. After what happened last time, they must have had their very best waitstaff work with us. The waiter and waitress we had could not have been nicer. When I was having trouble deciding what to order and was the last person looking at my menu, our A-game waiter came over to help me decide. He asked me which I was deciding between, and described each of the dishes to me. I could tell he wasn't worried about price, his motivation was to help me find the dish I would like the most. Ultimately, I decided to go with the Lobster Bisque and Ahi Tuna. The bisque was wonderful. Creamy and peppery (although too peppery according to a friend who also ordered it), and this also had lots and lots of lobster. I could have eaten a cauldron of it. The ahi tuna was also delicious. Crusted with white and black sesame seeds, barely seared. Perfection. My boy and two others ordered the Petite Filet Mignon and they all loved it. There were several sides on the table, including the brussel sprouts (I didn't try because they had bacon but everyone else loved), and the wonderful sauteed spinach with garlic. For dessert, they brought my friend whose birthday it had been a cotton candy apple sundae. Wow, it was wonderful! The boy and I split the chocolate cake, which was the only part of the meal that didn't blow me away. It was dry, so I ended up dipping it in my friend's ice cream sundae. The good folks at Towne really impressed me. They had the opportunity to make up what happened last time, and they absolutely jumped on it. They made us feel like valued guests in their restaurant. Now, instead of saying, "someone at Towne made a racist comment to my friend," I will say, "have you HAD the lobster popovers? If not, eat them immediately!" Well done, Towne.
(5)
Alan W.
My first visit, last week was wonderful. This week terrible. Not sure what to believe about this restaurant. May (or may not) try again. Bad experiences always seems to trump good when it comes to restaurants.
(1)
Rani P.
Towne is one of my favorite spots for brunching in Boston. The food in incredible, the outdoor seating gets the perfect amount of sun, and I can stroll around the Pru and Newbury Street post brunch. my recommendations: THE TRUE fettuccine alfredo (WITH the sunnyside egg) OR eggs benedict on north country bacon (also comes with delightful homefries) Their freebies include a choice of doughnuts and cornbread. These are the two parts of the brunch that are underwhelming. They are good- but I just think they can be so much better!
(4)
Briana C.
I was there for dinner the other night. I love the dining room - you're not cramped in like some smaller places, but it still feels warm and cozy. The food was great - my date had the steak arabiata and I had the kale salad with scallops, as well as the sweet potato fries (not enough rosemary). That being said, the service was....interesting. They checked on us so many times that it severely interrupted some intense conversation. We were charged $8 for still water, when I thought I was ordering tap water. They have a "Towne" bar on their dessert menu, which sounds like homemade cookies dipped in chocolate and stacked with caramel sauce, or something to that effect. What it actually is, is a prepackaged candy bar that's somewhere between a twix and a kit kat and not as good as either. I almost broke a tooth on it! So, I'd go back for dinner because the food tasted good and the prices were reasonable, but I would make smarter ordering decisions.
(3)
Michael B.
Dined at Towne on 3/21 while entertaining some out of town guests. The atmosphere was energetic and our waitress was knowledgeable of the menu offerings and attentive to our needs throughout our lengthy stay. The lobster popovers were a huge hit with my our of town visitors, and then we all enjoyed our salads and main courses. The filet was cooked to perfection and the salmon was tasty. We also enjoyed a couple of bottles of Peay Pinot Noir!! All in all, it was a great night on the town at Towne Stove & Spirits!!
(4)
Jeff M.
Towne seriously sucks. Honestly, just trust me. The chef in charge here needs to practice some restraint. Foie gras served over a waffle with maple syrup and bananas makes sense until you have the celery root puree on the side that added absolutely nothing. Wagu skirt steak was cooked perfectly in butter but the onion rings and other tid bits really did not add much. Clams casino featured cherry stones big enough to be quahogs. I've only seen clams casino with small to medium sized clams, so, this may be a personal preference. On the bright side the fried zucchini sticks were good!
(1)
Sooks M.
Went here for date night on a Tuesday! Sat at the bar and had a great time. The bar has dim lighting (veryy dim) and the atmosphere is nice. They had an interesting list of cocktails. I tried the newbury sparkler and a gin/lavender/rosemary drink. The drinks were great and the bartender was friendly and attentive. I would go back again for drinks!
(4)
Soly Z.
I loved the vibe, location, and the bartender. However, the price for a drink was high, especially since my drink was mostly ice and not filled to the top.
(3)
Ariel Z.
The drink I ordered was strong, but right down my alley. The location is premier, right next to the Pru. We ordered the Chinese dumplings to share, which I really liked, but I love everything that is dumpling. Trendy spot to catch up with some friends or socialize with colleagues on a week night.
(4)
Liz H.
Revising my two-year old review as Towne seems to finally have found its culinary footing. Multiple visits have yielded both good and great results, from the recent acorn squash (which I described as "Christmas and thanksgiving in one!) to different flatbreads, to the famous lobster popovers...everything has been much more what I'd expect from a place of this caliber and price point. The drinks are still strong, though the poor second floor bartender on valentines day was brand new and too green to be working such a busy night. She was apologetic though, and ultimately we ended up being fine. A solid, if still on the pricier side, option for a night out where a 30 year old won't feel ancient.
(3)
Ilene F.
THE WORSE MEAL I have ever had in Boston. A nice dinner on Christmas eve not close! I ordered a gluten free lobster Pizza it was sopping with grease after taking a few bites I started to feel sick. It the took 10 minutes to get the waiter to come over he left the plate in front of me. after 5 mins and no menu or response to my horrible meal I flagged the waiter down to ask him to remove my plate and to bring me a menu. He did now feeling sick to my stomach after eating a half of a piece of the greasiest pizza I ordered a shrimp cocktail which ate but was not fresh and the cocktail sauce way too spicy, BTW my shrimp came 10 minutes after my husband had completed his meal. I went looking for the manager who made a lot of excuses about what happened and offered nothing, After my I completed the shrimp and we were ready for a check the waiter comes out with another pizza, Almost just as greasy as the first. I was feeling sicker we were on our way to church and we ddi not accept the pizza. My bill come and I was charged for the shrimp. I talked to the "manager" about this and how I was sick from his food our dinner was a terrible experience and how I have never gone to a restaurant where they screwed up and did nothing to take care of me. So of $20 this manager pissed me off so much that I am not out to broadcast how bad my experience was. PLEASE Do no Eat there they have no idea what service means and they are clueless on how to make good food,
(1)
Matt I.
Drinks were good. Lobster popovers were amazing, if just a bit too sweet. My steak was good, but my date's fish was on the boring side. Luckily, I was sat on the 2nd floor, away from the college bar crowd on the 1st floor. I'd come back for the atmosphere of the 2nd floor alone.
(4)
Abir H.
Been here several times. They have some really good dishes. Came here after the santa speedo run and saw most of the runners run in to get warm which was really entertaining. They start u off with some great fresh and warm doughnut balls and mini muffins, i love those! Try their burger its really good and their fries came out nice and hot! They also make a good eggs Benedict. Most of their brunch dishes are good and if ur in the mood for fish their fish n chips is pretty good too.
(4)
Katherine D.
I finally got a chance to come in for an actual meal, and I was extremely impressed. The dining room is even more beautiful when you're sitting in it, and I loved the mirrored columns the the wood and glass sconces attached and the great big beams criss-crossing the ceiling. From the moment we sat down service was perfect. We needed a little time to decide and our server actually said "whatever you want, as long as I'm not keeping you waiting" and then showed up exactly when we needed her. I also appreciate that we had utensils refreshed as we moved through the courses. And I truly love when someone comes by with one of those little scraper gadgets to make sure your table cloth remains a pristine white. Cocktails were pretty good. The bread basked was stellar. We split the lobster popovers and while I was hoping they would be slathered in clarified butter, the arrived with a sweet glaze of sorts and were delicious. He got the chowder and it was great. It had a nice creamy base and the addition of chili oil made it over the top good. I had the pork schnitzel and it was so good. The garlic oil and green garlic puree over the mashed potatoes were incredible ways to round out the perfectly cooked, juicy round of thin friend pork. He got the roasted chicken, and even though mine was outstanding I had order envy while he devoured his plate. The chicken was crispy, yet juicy and falling off the bone. He was very satisfied. For dessert we ordered the apple cider sorbet and the raspberry champagne mousse. Sorbet was sorbet, good but nothing exceptional. That mousse however, was divine. So good in fact, that it will be hard to resist grabbing a drink and a bite of heavenly tart and fresh mousse next time I'm out running errands in the Copley area. The service was perfect all night, the setting wonderful, and the food was from start to finish spectacular. I'm very happy to know this place exists for fancy nights out.
(5)
Brian D.
I think the best complement I can give a restaurant is to say that it made me want to go back. I wasn't in the mood for a steak when I went into towne, but after seeing their menu and trying some of their other food I really want to know what they'd do with a good steak! I was actually quiet interested in the Apps when I went in, so I had the BBQ Chicken flatbread with scallions and corn. It was excellent! A bit of a spicy sauce and a thin layer of cheese worked well together to give the flavor a great base. The BBQ wasn't too sweet, and it was nicely understated so that all the flavors worked in conjunction. The Scallion Pancake with duck was also very nice...one of the better scallion pancakes with a small piece of duck on each third for $8 seemed fairly reasonable. I also had the potato hash with horseradish cream side. It will turn some people off to know that it was greasy and starchy, but I promise it was greasy and starchy in exactly the way someone who loves crispy fried potatoes knows that they are signing up for! towne is on the higher end of the price scale, but from what I've seen doesn't seem too terribly excessive. On the price to quality scale it ranked pretty well (except maybe the cocktails), and the space is just interesting! Dark but playful, non-hipster waiters who are still allowed interesting facial hair...I was intrigued by the whole thing. There are plenty of restaurants that would seem ridiculous playing a sexy, trance version of "No Diggity" in the dining room. But not this one. This one is both fancy enough, and strange enough, that it actually works! A provisional five stars, until I can try an entree.
(5)
Shannon D.
I've been here a few times in the past year. I work in the finance industry and my coworkers were always excited to go to Towne! - I, however, was always less enthused. The first few times I had gone, it wasn't terrible but it also wasn't great. Lots of old men hiding their wedding rings (or flashing that shiz because some women are into that) hitting on young scantily clad women looking for a free drink. Last night I was getting together with a few lady friends and we decided to go to Towne since it was easy for all of us to get to from work. It was early still, around 6 so we got a nice high-top table in the second room and for awhile things seemed much better than I had expected - for awhile. Our server was quite attentive at first, filling up our water, asking us if we needed anything else. I'm not sure if something happened to him at some point during the night or if we said something terribly wrong because he started to ignore us. I had to ask for my water to be filled up three times! A friend met us a bit later and our server didn't give him a glass of water until he asked. The drinks were pretty terrible for the price. When I'm paying 12$ for a cocktail I expect amazingness to happen in my mouth. I got two drinks off their menu, one was a fall sour which was okay, the other I don't remember but I couldn't even finish it. My boyfriend and I then ordered a whiskey smash, one of my favorite drinks. No, its not on the menu but a nice "high end" place like Towne should have educated bartenders that know how to make a classic. I couldn't even take more than one sip, it was so bad. I looked over at the bartender and I'm sorry but she clearly wasn't hired for her drink crafting skills. We got the duck confit pizza which was good but very rich. My friends got the oysters, which I noticed when the waiter brought them over he didn't say where they were from. Every time I've ordered oysters from various places around Boston they've always told me where they were from, its the little things that make me happy. There was a group of highly intoxicated older men in suits sitting next to us, throughout the night they were eying us, a table of four professional women under 30 years old. Luckily right as one of them started talking to us, telling us how we're all *so beautiful* my boyfriend came into the bar and saved us. It was actually really quite epic. The drunk men then broke up a couple on a date, one of them even started putting his arm around the girl while her boyfriend sat there and laughed with them. (clearly her boyfriend sucked compared to mine) I'm adding this into the review because this is what Towne wants - Doucebag business men with lots of money to throw around but zero class to realize they're spending it on crap drinks, food and service.
(1)
Wonder W.
Went for dinner and sat outside in their very cool sort of birdcage pergola - was lovely. Food was great - nothing mind blowing but the wagyu skirt strip was extremely good and my friend commented that the lobster bisque was awesome. They make a mean martini too. Service was a little patchy but it was Saturday night and extremely busy so it was no real problem. Great spot if you're looking for something amongst the hub of Boylston street.
(4)
S P.
Very ordinary. Not impressed at all. Portions were very generous, but the food was gourmet-ish TGIFridays fare.
(1)
Jenn S.
My friends & I went to Towne last week for an early dinner & drinks to catch up with each other. I arrived a few minutes before 5:30 and had a hard time figuring out exactly where to go, as no one greeted or helped me. When I finally found the hostess stand, I was told that the dining room doesn't open until 5:30, so I could sit at the bar to wait. It was 5:26. REALLY? Ok, fine. I sat at a table in the bar area - I'm sure the waitress was so happy I was taking up a table while waiting for my friends. When the first friend arrived, we went back to the hostesses and were brought upstairs to a nice round booth right in front of the open view into the kitchen (although we had our backs to it). This places, by the way, is HUMONGOUS. I love the decor and ambiance. Definitely bumps it up on the star value! And we all loved the bread basket (a mix of nice, warm white bread and thin flatbreads) with the red pepper hummus (I think) and the amazing salted butter. OMG. I didn't try the cod caviar hummos or whatever it was - too weird for me! Our waiter was very nice, patient and helpful. We wanted to get an appetizer my friend had previously tried that was not on the menu (the not-so-dirty chicken wings, or something like that). When he realized what we were talking about, he immediately said "we can do that for you!" We shared the chicken wings, two of the simple mesclun salads and the butternut squash pizza w/smoked bacon, stracchino cheese, pear mostarda & crushed amaretti. We asked what some of those items were (amaretti, etc.) and the waiter explained them very nicely. I got 1 glass of delicious Prosecco and tried a sip of my friend's Towne Lemonade (cold river blueberry vodka, fresh lemon and pomegranate served up), which was so tasty. With 5 drinks, the wings, salads & pizza, the bill came to about $100 + tip. I thought that wasn't bad for dinner for 3 at a fancy-ish place. None of us left hungry, but we also didn't leave with any leftovers. I would definitely go back, although I'm sure a full sit-down dinner would cost a lot more.
(4)
Mike G.
and yet another once bright spot descends to mediocrity. a new item on the menu - Peking Chicken $33 - just can't compare with a $10 whole roast that Foodie's churns out by the dozens daily. Monday's market catch of rock shrimp (5 runts, smear of pesto, 2 boiled fingerlings) was an overpriced bore-of-a-dish for $37.50 and i said so. GM took it off the bill so props for that and still tasty lobster popovers.
(3)
Jennifer W.
This review is just for their brunch, have never been for dinner, and probably won't due to the prices. However, I LOVE brunch there! They make my favorite sangria in the city, nice and warmly spiced! I love their lobster cobb salad, the dressings are especially yum! Clam chowder also very good. On a nice summer day, it's a treat sitting on their patio with a glass of sangria and some good brunch food.
(4)
Sarah A.
I really wanted to like this place, but overall, I was underwhelmed. The location is definitely super convenient and a very short walk from my work. The atmosphere is gorgeous and I was very impressed with the dining room. I was a little annoyed that although there was a great deal of space in the restaurant, my friend and I were seated at a table, that although nice, was a bit too close to the kitchen. We could hear some of the kitchen equipment buzzing away in the background and some of the servers seemed to congregate behind us when they weren't busy to chat. Annoying. I was impressed with the generous bread basket provided that included a flat bread, a nut and fruit bread and more traditional rolls with fresh, salted butter. Our waiter was helpful in answering questions about the menu, but was a bit overbearing, repeatedly coming back to check to see if we were ready to order after we told him twice we needed more time. Also, when we told him our appetizer order, he abruptly disappeared, leaving us with menus on the table instead of taking our entree order. Weird. I ordered the lobster bisque and my friend and I shared the shrimp appetizer. The bisque was AWFUL. I was so glad that I got the cup instead of the bowl. It was hard to finish. The small piece of lobster was the only redeeming aspect. The bisque was not well blended and even had a clump of flour in it. Eww. Also, in my opinion, there was not enough flavor. It was neither creamy nor broth-like. It was just bad. Thankfully, the shrimp appetizer was much better. The shrimp were coated in a light tempura batter and it was also served with a generous portion of green beans and chips that reminded me of the Terra brand veggie chips. It also came with a wasabi cream sauce and soy sauce on the side. I'd definitely get this again. For my entree, I had the salmon. This was very tasty and well prepared. It was also a large portion and I had to take most of it home. The best part of this dish was the purple yam puree that accompanied the salmon. There was also some bok choy on it. I am not sure I'd get this again since it seemed a bit overpriced to me at $31, but it was good. Other things I did not like: the waiter took away our appetizer before we'd finished and he tried to clear my drink before I'd finished. I snatched it away from him but he didn't even apologize! After we finished eating, we walked around to explore the place. There is another bar area on the second floor that also seems to have a small bar menu. I kinda wish we'd gone there. The menu options looked way tastier and the prices were much more reasonable. I think I will come back and hit up the bar for drinks, apps or the bar menu. Unless someone else is paying, I think I'm done with the dining room. Bad bisque and bad service make this a solid 3 star review.
(3)
Milla J.
Went to Sunday Brunch buffet last week. It was really good. I don't normally like buffet food because it's usually not impressive. Towne has a variety of food to choose from oyster, to pancake, to steak etc. I was very happy. The seating is very spacious as well so I don't feel rushed. Highly recommended.
(5)
Jaime M.
Bottom line: Staff needs more training if restaurant is going to charge so much. It had been years since I went to Towne for dinner so I was excited when my friend suggested it for dinner last night. I told the waiter I wanted something on the LIGHTER side-- a seafood dish... he recommended the snapper. I ordered it and it came dripping in oil and butter and a weird 'sauce' (no mention of it on the menu or by him)... it was sort of luke warm and just not good at all. Apps were caesar and shrimp cocktail-- they were pretty standard-- not that hard to mess these up. Little things happened-- drinks took forever, the wrong side dish was brought, at one point the food runner brought us another tables' meal. Service was poorly timed. We couldn't find our waiter half the time and I didn't feel taken care of properly. The meal came to around $200 without the tip. I started laughing because I felt completely cheated. If Towne is going to charge so much for food they need to train their staff better; have them KNOW the menu, have set "check in" points during your guests' meal. This place is so not worth it & I won't be back any time soon.
(1)
Bobby C.
If you are looking for a more slightly creative brunch, Towne is an option. A friend and I went on a Sunday. No wait...lots of tables as there are two floors. We both had the roast beef skillet hash crisped with organic eggs. Great presentation. Food and ambiance was ok. Probably not the best place if you want a casual brunch date. Service was decent also.
(3)
Neal R.
My wife and I had been here for dinner before and had a good experience. Although pricey, the food and atmosphere were good and the service pretty good as well. We decided to bring our daughter in last night for her 20th birthday and were greeted warmly by Keisha, the receptionist, who took our coats and was quick with a smile. Once we were seated, however, the warm welcome was quickly dampened by our server who clearly didn't want to be there. He was seemingly inexperienced and in a hurry all night and was never available when we had questions. He was short with us and didn't listen to our request and subsequently made several errors with our orders. Although, despite the service, most of the meal was quite good, we all agreed we'd had much better for far less. The atmosphere is ok but this particular experience was certainly not worth of the price and we will not be in a hurry to return. There are a lot of exceptional restaurants in Boston and Towne fell well short of that last night. For a place with such a good reputation we feel the wait staff should be of much higher caliber and will not recommend Towne to our friends.
(2)
N D.
Stopped in for drinks with a couple of girlfriends tonight. While sitting at the downstairs bar (in the front room, facing Boylston), I thought I saw a shadow bolt across the floor. I wrote it off until a few minutes later, another MOUSE ran under the table. Within minutes, no fewer than FOUR mice were scampering about, fearlessly exploring the restaurant floor. It was disgusting. We reported this to the Bartender, who said he would tell management. He came back a few minutes later and said they would like to offer us a complimentary dessert for our poor experience. Thanks, but no thanks. I don't think I want any food from here if the mice are bold enough to go exploring while customers are still sitting around! I did like this bar, but now I doubt I'll go back anytime soon.
(1)
Noshii R.
So I want to like this place and for some masacistic reason we keep returning to Towne. However, lately the place has taken a new twist. 1) a few months ago they had a horrible sewage leak in the middle of the restaurant...seriously it stunk and instead of shutting down the place they offered their patrons cotton candy...as if to brainwash them into thinking that they were at the circus and that the stench was the porter potty's???? Suffice to say we just had like 4 bottles of vino and bypassed dinner altogether. 2) The second time we returned a fight broke out!! Like really...it went on and on an....it started at the opposite side of the bar and somehow ended up in our laps. I had to hide the steak knives off of our table as I was afraid they would be used by someone. The most surprising thing about this fight was the fact that not single server, manager or security person stepped in...what the heck? You are suppose to be a 'fine dinning' establishment and yet you have no security. No police were called and no one was asked to leave...DOES THIS SOUND SAFE??? I will never ever be going to Towne again...its just a sh*tshow...actually the name is befitting as it is a perfect spot for Townies.
(1)
Mike O.
*** THIS REVIEW IS BASED ON THE SCENE, ALONE *** The goods: Great location, lovely decor, friendly staff and a fair selection of standards you'd find at most mainstream bars. The bads: Typical Boylston St crowd, just with a bit more money to throw around, and maybe five years past the Pour House days. The restrooms are on the far end of the restaurant, making it a terribly long trip if you're hanging out at the bar. You may want to pass on coming here on a Saturday night unless you like the body-to-body "we're packed in here like we're on a train in India at rush hour" vibe. Ladies, you will be hit on, several times over, by young lads and old grampies, alike. Some will tickle your fancy with some entertaining conversation, no doubt, and some will just tickle you. So if your keen on the creep factor, this may be your place!
(2)
Megan L.
Love. Had brunch for a party of 12 here (today) and it was fantastic! There was much debate about what to order, and the majority of the table ended up with the minute steak with a deep fried poached egg and creamed spinach. Feeling like a bit of a lemming, I got this too. It was DELICIOUS. My steak was done perfectly, the creamed spinach was wonderful and the poached egg was such a nice element of the dish. Other favorites included the malted waffle with salted caramel and bananas foster, and a LOT of sangria. Also the hot mini donuts were fantastic. Service was friendly, quick and efficient. As much of a pain as it must have been, they gave us separate checks with no hassle at all. Shout out to our waiter Chris!! The decor is beautiful and it's in such a convenient location. I was super impressed--will definitely be back!
(5)
S T.
Tuesday - Lunch - Restaurant Week ($15.13) Choice of soup or salad, I chose salad and entree" Burrata & Kumato Tomato Salad with white anchovies, old balsamic Giannone Roto Chicken with Yukon garlic mashed, roasted shallot jus My Mom had: New England Clam Chowder Vermont crackers Lemon Sole "Fish & Chips" with tarragon-tartar sauce, malt vinegar I enjoyed the Giannone Roto CHicken very much but the baby carrots were ... a whee bit hard to chew but the whole dish was delicious. The salad was oh good. Especially with the anchovies. My Mom's lemon sole fish and chips was okay. Perfectly fried not greasy but wasn't all that amazing..the fries was great! I don't believe our waiter even came back to ask how things are going or even asked if we wanted desert menu. Restaurant Week is when I go to restaurants I never go to and maybe come back in the future. Towne is a maybe I'll come back ... based on the mediocre service I received. Oh and why's the dinning room entrance behind the bar? How can people who never came here see it? We definitely didn't see any hostess or anyone. The bartender saw us wandering and pointed to the back.
(3)
S S.
Excellent food and service. The brussel sprouts are seriously better than any others I've ever had- with cream and bacon no less. Halibut with beurre blanc- yum, yum, yum! Wine list was impressive. The space is nicely designed, but not enough attention paid to the acoustics. Really loud and hard to hear my dinner mate over the clanking of dishes and overall volume of everyone around us.
(4)
Sandra J.
I want to love The Towne. SO MUCH potential! Location: Perfect Available Parking: Perfect Menu: Great! -- the food is a tad too salty (not only my opinion, I've taken a poll -- I am happy to present graphs and charts, if asked). Waitstaff: SLOW! Hostess: Comes across as snooty but I think they are just young and unseasoned. During my most recent visit, there were fifteen of us with reserved seating. The waitress was terribly slow and overwhelmed. Not sure how. We were an easy group...ordered appetizers and pitchers of Sangria. At one point we ordered more Sangria, she left and returned FORTY MINUTES later to tell us they were out of Sangria. Huh?! How does THAT happen. Okay, so we ordered wine. Um....crickets. We had to ask for another waiter. And, while you may be thinking it was crazy busy and we weren't patient. It was not. The service is that bad every time I go. But yet, I keep returning, hoping "this time" the service will be better.
(3)
Adriana T.
I ve been to Towne many times before but I have never written a review on it. It's a huge place - gigantic!!! 2 bars, 2 dining rooms + the bar dining room!! 2 story restaurant!!! I have had diner at Towne 3 times so far - the food is good- it better be good for how much it costs. Based on the sever you have you can have a nice or a not so nice dining experience..I have had both of them. The bars are always pact- last weekend in particular but it was too hot and we couldn't even stay there for longer than a drink. The crowd is mid-late 20s to mid-late 30s. Forgot to mention..the drinks are expensive $10-$16. It is a nice bar and great location but Lolita or Red Lantern have a much better vibe than Towne.
(3)
D M.
I came for the Yelp Elite Event in 2011, and also just recently for post Red Sox game cocktails. I really enjoyed hanging out at the bar when we came in, and the setting is really nice. The crowd was an interesting mix of people, and went from an older crowd when we first got in to bachelorettes in the bar area around the time we left. The waitstaff was very pleasant and our cocktails came out quickly. I ordered the blueberry lemonade because it was a super humid night, and it was a mix of blueberry vodka, house lemonade, pomegranate juice and blueberries. It was tasty, and I think I'd go with a gin based cocktail next time. Cocktails are around $13, which is a little steep, but not awful for the area. The bar menu looked great, and while we didn't order anything, the food coming out smelled good. I'll be back to try some fried zucchini sticks soon!
(4)
Johnna M.
How sweet it is to be loved by Towne. I attended an unexpected brunch here with some lovely yelpers and I must say I really enjoyed myself. Our service was topnotch. The waiter was attentive and fun-he answered our questions, dealt with our daylight savings time adjusting stragglers, and even picked my jacket up off the floor (glad someone cares about my personal belongings!) Towne delivers a unique and fun experience, starting with its interesting patrons (think Old Navy commercial big glasses lady dress-alike, babies in their Easter best, every well dressed man in the city, and some loudmouth chick wearing her clothes from the night before who was captured by brunch attendees while trying to make her way home from an oh too late party and is now forced to make best with the fit and fabulous crowd Towne attracts) Beyond being the place to see and be seen (or in my walk of shame gone brunch case, attempt not to be seen) every detail of Towne's atmosphere is creative and welcoming-from the overall design of the space to the fun (sometimes borderline risque) decor to the lively background music. The menu continues to play with the unusual and creative and like a chick experiencing with thrift store shopping for the first time,--sometimes it works and sometimes it just doesn't. The donut holes were melt in your mouth warm, sweet and sticky. The lemon poppy seed bread didn't work quite so well. My heart skipped a beat when a tray of lobster popovers arrived- I've been dreaming of these babies since the elite event. What a clever and well executed combination-perfectly flaky popover filled with succulent lobster meat with a surprisingly sweet after taste (The writer in me says stop saying sweet, the food lover in me can't avoid it). Unfortunately my main course, chicken and waffles, was one of the things that didn't work so well. The chicken was extremely dry and almost impossible to find any meat on the bone and the waffles were just too, well, sweet. (grr) However, the grits were absolutely fantastic and so I'll raise my AOK Bloody Mary to that. Despite a slight letdown in my main course, Towne continues to work hard to ensure a dining experience that is equal parts special, delicious, and homey and I'll certainly return to explore more things on the menu (looking forward to trying dinner!) and continue some fantastic people watching. Pretty sweet, guys.
(3)
Colby C.
Many of these reviews mention the Lobster Popovers and I will agree that they are probably the best thing on the menu. We were here with a party of 20 so we were seated in the private dining room. Good thing because otherwise I probably would have been deaf by the end of the meal. When I navigated trough the main restaurant in search of the restroom, I was confronted with a wall of noise from the 200 or so people eating and drinking in this cozy establishment. The food was okay. Sorry to say, but it was not worth the price tag. Overall I would rank it in at Food 2/5 stars, Taste 3/5 stars. The atmosphere was modern yet sophisticated, but I wasn't sure if I was at a nightclub or a gourmet restaurant. The menu prices told me the later, but the noise and liveliness told me the former. It is for this reason that I have to break my atmosphere rating down to two subsets: Social Atmosphere 4/5 stars, Dining Atmosphere (assuming you are seated in the main restaurant) 2/5 stars. As far as service goes I would rate this restaurant closer to 4/5 stars, but in regards to price 2/5 stars. Overall, come here with friends for the social aspect. Be weary of ordering too much food as the bill may add up quickly.
(3)
Amanda G.
Went here for drinks one night, dinner the next (weird, I know) and I have to say, I'm surprised by all the Negative Nancy reviews. I understand that people had high hopes for a Lydia Shire / Jasper White venture, but I don't think Towne is bad at all, and my own expectations were exceeded given the number of mediocre restaurants in Back Bay. So, the upsides... I love that this place is big and airy, and has personal rustic touches (bright red patterened napkins, blue suede chairs). The restaurant felt more like NYC than Boston just based on size/location and the high ceilings and open kitchen, and I loved that. Now the food was all very good - maybe not A-mazing, but consistently well cooked and seasoned. I will say I like salt, and clearly so does Jasper White. The bread came with some yummy dipping sauce, salted butter and red pepper (?) dip. Fun way to start the meal. Then we shared the mixed greens and 'Zucchini Tangle' which is fried zucchini on a spear, over fried calamari and yummy tartar and cocktail sauces. SO good. The calamari was oily and hot, and the portion size was perfect for three people - there's a larger portion size you can get for an even bigger group. One of us got the halibut special, I had the roasted chicken with broccolini, and another one of us had the salmon. All the proteins were cooked perfectly, I thought, and because I'm a huge broccolini fan, I was content. The star of the meal funnily enough was the side we ordered of grilled king mushrooms and creamy polenta. Big portion for a side dish (although $12 so makes sense) and it was delicious! Service was spot on for a nicer restaurant - our waitress was very attentive and my water glass was never empty. The only downsides were the cost and my drink, which I enjoyed, the Baja Breeze (tequila, house-made soda and pomegranate juice) was tasty and refreshing but light on booze. Also, the prices are hefty but I think worth the ambiance, inventive/crazy menu and a genuine ability to appreciate something grande and different in downtown Boston. I definitely would like to return (and try the desserts!)
(4)
Jim M.
Sunday brunch. Great price, great food. $~40 per person. You get oysters, shrimp, steak, king crab eggs benedict and so many pastries. It is amazing. I love it.
(5)
Rosemary H.
I tried this place for dinner for the first time last night and really liked it! It was a Tuesday pretty early (about 6:30 when my boyfriend and I arrived) so we were seated promptly. The inside is really pretty and classy, and I enjoyed the trancey music they were playing. There are two bars downstairs and a nice, open dining room. There's an upstairs area as well, though I did not get a chance to see it. Both my boyfriend and I ordered martinis. They were quite strong but still delicious, so an A+ goes to the bartender. We started our dinner with the duck confit pizza. It was AMAZING. It had roasted garlic and squash on it, yum yum. For entrees, I ordered the red snapper with pineapple salsa, and my boyfriend had the ahi tuna (crusted in something I can't remember). I didn't try his, but he crushed the whole thing and said it was delicious. My snapper was quite good. I do wish it had a bit more of the salsa, but other than that I really liked it. We split the brussels sprouts as a side. They were awesome. They were roasted with candied ginger in a yummy creamy sauce. I really want to try and make them at home...mmm Definitely enjoyed my dinner here and I will be coming back. It IS a little pricey (we split the bill and each spent about $80, including the tip) but for a once in a while treat it's totally worth it. I also want to check the bar out here as it seems like a nice, classy place to hang out on the weekend.
(4)
Michelle R.
Went back to Towne with some clients and coworkers last night and I must say they have made great changes regarding service. Our waitress was attentive, helpful, and accomodating. Very impressed - drinks were always full! *IF YOU WORK IN THE PRU TIP!: She let us know that with your work badge (we all work in the tower) you get their special $3 food menu. It's all appetizers and we literally got the entire menu. Highlights: fish fritters (I forget the name but they were the best!, sweet potato fries, the crusted bread with the fish dip (again.. can't remember the name, I was drinking a lot at this point), and the duck app. I still think $9 is outrageous for shoddy Pinot G BUT it is the copley are and about the same everything. Just make the wine a little better, please!
(3)
Diana G.
Two words: Lobster Pizza. Go there & try it now.. Location is convenient, & service is prompt and friendly. Prices are a bit, well.. pricey, but this is only because the restaurant clearly caters to out-of-towners who are most likely going to a convention at the Hynes.. Other than that, this place is worth trying... I'm sure I'll be back..
(4)
J P.
I was excited to try to the brunch at Towne because I heard good things. Things started off a little rocky with awkward service. Then went way, way downhill. I ordered the chicken and waffles after seeing it arrive at the table next to us. Not only did mine come with a piece of chicken that was pink and undercooked, another piece had a feather on it. A FEATHER. So gross. I should have sent it back. But instead, I pushed the chicken aside and ate the waffles. Big mistake. I ended up with food poisoning, so bad it required a visit to the emergency room. The doctor said my symptoms were consistent with salmonella. Thanks, Towne.
(1)
Steve S.
I was ready to hate this place. It is huge, and good restaurants are never this big. Townes is a beautiful 3 story bar, restaurant and patio bar in the corner of The Hynes near The Pru. This is one large place, but the atmosphere is well designed as well as well decorated. There is a meat market bar on the first floor and the dining rooms on the second and third floor with a function room I arrived around 7:30 and sat at one of the three bars. Our server, JP, was attentive and knew her wine and menu. The menu as well as the wine list is extensive with choices for all. The seafood seems the most interesting with tuna, salmon and arctic char. The food leads to more fusion of different cuisines than a traditional steakhouse or restaurant. Its a nice change I settled for the salmon, which excelled with many different flavors and textures including the veggies. My friend had the duck and it was meticulously sliced and prepared well. The wine was good and the bread basket is a nice touch Very likeable experience
(4)
Mahina K.
I will say this much the food was decent. HOWEVER, the service was pretty awful. Came here for mother's day, my parents are from Hawaii, so I was trying to do this right. It took about 20 minutes to get water and another 15 to have a waiter ask for our orders. I ordered the chicken and waffles after reading rave reviews. My mom the fried eggs benedict and my dad a bacon sandwich. We noticed people that came in after us got their food, people that came in at the same time FINISHED their food. Our food took 40 minutes or so to get with us and that was only after prompting from my father. My dad goes, "could you please check on our food? We've been waiting for a good amount of time now." The waiter replies, "Well, we have four full dining rooms." Now if the waiter had said, "Sure, let me check on that, but it's Mother's day, so it's kind of busy back there." That's one thing, but the answer my dad got actually kind of pissed him off. We finally got our food, I didn't get the chicken and waffles, just waffles. I asked him if there was chicken coming, he said no. So if he were to just charge us for waffles and not the chicken part I'd be good. So that was resolved. However, when my dad's bacon sandwich came out it was cold. Like cold, probably sitting out for 20 minutes cold and if there's one thing you don't really want to eat cold, that's probably bacon. The chips they sprinkled on top were officially soggy. So it wasn't a RUINED mother's day. But it definitely wasn't the best. I just wanted a place that took reservations because I knew restaurants would be busy, but next time I might want to chance it. I wanted to like this place, I wanted to be that yelper that was like oh hey, they're great you people are all wrong. But Alas, I lost this round. Ps. Their artwork choice is kind of strange.
(2)
Georgina C.
I gave Towne a 3 because the service was only so-so as are the far too frou-frou cocktails with ingredients that just did not seem to mix well. My dining companion was looking forward to a particular seafood dish and our waitress unapologetically stated the kitchen was out of the ingredients necessary to prepare it. I adore the cupcake dessert plate (heavenly) and order it each time I visit. The decor is gorgeous, atmosphere fun and I love the beakers they use to serve water in. Great attention to detail and valet parking
(3)
Gabi R.
Yum & yum. Was here for a company event during MBA recruiting. Despite that looming "uncertainty" of knowing I was being observed by potential recruiters and evaluated, I managed to enjoy a delicious meal and some fine wine. Food: got the filet mignon, rare. WOW. I know I'm supposed to be demure at these events, but I couldn't stop myself from actually eating this delicious steak. It was juicy to the freshest extreme, well seasoning and salted, and just barely warm on the inside. What an amazing way to wile away a few stressful hours. I also had the chocolate pudding and some espresso. Both delicious. But nothing to top the finest steak of my time in Boston. Thank god I'll be back there for more this week! Service: incredibly sweet and accommodating. My neighbor, the recruiter, had a gluten allergy, and despite the fact that we were a large group with many plates to coordinate, they graciously put together a separate menu to make sure she was accommodated. I also love a place where staff takes your request for recommendations seriously. I asked the waiter to help me decide between the filet and a lobster ravioli (I love lobster), and his reco was unequivocal: "the lobster dish is good, you'll enjoy it, but you'll envy those with the steak." Could not have said it better :) Ambience: beautiful, classical, almost romantic except for the non-romantic purpose of my visit.
(4)
Karlee H.
I have been here a decent amount, only for drinks or appetizers. Dark cavern-like bar in the front, fun crowds young & old, overall vibe is lively yet unpretentious. I like you Towne, but last night might have put us in love. Four of us went out (Wednesday) for a belated birthday celebration. As other Yelpers have noted, the service isn't always very swift but thanks to the hospitality of Mike (?) the Manager, we were very well taken care of. We were seated for about 45 minutes before a random waitress asked us if someone had taken our drink order (no one had)--so we put in for a pitcher of sangria with her. 25 minutes later still nothing. So we pull Mike over and tell him the situation. He comes back post haste with the sad unfortunate news that no sangria (white or red) is made, but if we'd like to select from one of their signature punches he'd be happy to make that instead. We picked the Uptowne Punch (cider, cinnamon, fall deliciousness). He brings out a glass just to make sure we like it before we commit to the full pitcher (we ended up having 2 pitchers). Great time with friends, outdoor seating area was fantastic on a late August evening with festive string lights. Both the arugula and short-rib flatbreads were great. I think the cards and gifts beside me gave it away, but I had 3 staff members wish me a happy birthday and then bring over cotton candy without us saying anything. Best present of the night, Mike took care of the first pitcher. I guess I'm easy to win over (liquor & candy) but its unfortunately rare that people go to great lengths to improve your dining (& drinking) experience, so thanks Towne! Now off to continue the birthday celebrations...
(4)
Jackie L.
Let me start this review by saying this is a place I wanted to love, that for all intents and purposes I SHOULD have loved, but something was just missing. If I could award half stars it would be a 3.5 star review, but since it was absent of that "something to write home about" factor, its going in as a 3. I came here with my husband and a couple of friends for Sunday brunch. My friends brought their 15 month old as well, who loves food and is also an excellent restaurant critic. He enjoyed his fruit plate and gourmet smoothie (served in a champagne glass mind you) and wasn't at all fussy, so suffice to say it has baby approval (at least for brunch). The 4 (er, 5) of us were seated outside. It was a gorgeous August day, and despite it being 11:00 AM there were plenty of available tables outside. (As an aside, 11:00 AM is when they open for brunch. I usually like to eat earlier so I can get an earlier start to my day, but anyway, the timing isn't bad if you've had a late Saturday night.) We received all the water, coffee, juice, and cocktails we ordered promptly and service was overall very good. We were also given a gratis basket of mini cornbread muffins and donut holes with sweet icing. This bread basket was really the highlight of the meal. The menu didn't excite me all that much - 3 out of 4 of us ordered eggs with tater tots. Tater tots make people excited - especially tater tots at an otherwise upscale restaurant. Unfortunately, what we got was a side of uninteresting large pieces of fried potato; we were all disappointed. The eggs and the potatoes were good, but when you're expecting tater tots... what can I say? My friend seemingly had the pick of the litter with her order of lemon ricotta pancakes, which she said were really good (and a hefty portion). Oh, and the price. Pretty standard for the area. If everyone gets a coffee, cocktail, and entree, expect to pay about $60/couple with tax & tip. The verdict? The convenient, downtown location (next to Prudential shopping center), nice (and available) patio seating, and the fact that I love brunch so freaking much will probably bring me back here. I'm also intrigued enough to want to try this place for dinner or happy hour.
(3)
Sarah C.
I came here for lunch and ordered the rotisserie chicken sandwich. I waited more than 25 mins but still no sign of food. I see why a lot of yelpers complained about slow service. When my order came, then I realized why they took so long. It was so tasty! Probably my best rotisserie chicken sandwich I had in a long time. I also noticed a lot of older men near the bar area. They didn't bother me but just when I was leaving the restaurant, they started to be obnoxious.
(3)
Karolyn B.
We were so excited to enjoy drinks before dinner in the lovely outside space - twinkling string lights, colorful flowers and people watching on a perfect summer weather weekend. While a Saturday night, only two other tables were occupied so we we didn't feel too guilty about just ordering cocktails and an appetizer. The cocktail menu promised new versions of classic combinations - gin and sparkling rose - all seemed so promising! Unfortunately, the service - excepting water refills (thank you!) was so bad that we left after 20 minutes - never even meeting our waitress. I think I saw her across the garden as she talked with her friends and ignored the two different servers who - after conscientiously refilling our water glasses - passed on my requests to order. Go to the Back Bay Social Club across the street - my gin drink was refreshing, we could still see Towne's lovely garden, but the service was polite and efficient.
(1)
Katherine S.
Very odd experience. We sat down. Woman comes up and asks about tap vs bottle water. Some guy pours some water. We sit. 15 minutes. Nothing. Then another woman comes up "do you want juice or coffee?" stated as if these are the only options. "um, i want an iced tea...." can we not get anything else? weird. 15 minutes pass. finally we get some tea. wait more. A DIFFERENT guy comes up, "did you want bread?" Dear LORD it's been like 40 minutes, can we ORDER FOOD!? so weird. Brunch/lunch menu is very minimal. I was trying to eat healthy and could not really find anything that was a good option. Ended up getting pancakes, one side of them was burned. Not impressed by much of anything in this place. Excellent location that is going to waste.
(2)
Melissa P.
Huge space. Lots of different rooms. Multiple bars. Varied menu. Bustling and loud. None of these things usually bother me in a restaurant. Put them all together in one place, though, and that's a whole different story. Towne needs to get a little more organized. You walk in and there's no direction, no host, no way to know where to go. The hallways get backed up, there seem to be about 10 different hosts once you do find them, and I can't figure out why you can seat yourself at one of the bars but not the other. All this confusion and we hadn't even looked at the menu yet. Speaking of the menu, omg overwhelming much??? And wait, there's actually three menus? One for dinner, one for the bar, and then an entirely different lobster menu? What is going on here, Towne? Someone having a little bit of trouble making decisions? With this many options, we ordered a lot and, unfortunately, were only happy with one out of four items. Dates wrapped in bacon? Fine. They are kind of impossible to mess up. Chicken wings? Completely tasteless with breading that just made my mouth dry. Crostini trio with eggplant and artichoke? Kind of a mess--so much spread weighing down a paper thin crostini. The only saving grace was the burger, which was incredibly juicy and flavorful. But, what did it come with? Not the usual lettuce, tomato, and onion. No, instead we had a plate of cold shoestring french fries. That's just sad. Attentive servers can't carry this place on their own. They need some help! Towne needs some serious organization and attention to detail.
(2)
Tony S.
... and the Winner... of this year's Oscar for Total Luncheon Letdown IS....... Towne! I'd been in here for drinks several times and absolutely love the bar scene and overall ambiance. I was hoping the dining experience would be equally good, so I opted to celebrate a special family occasion in the dining room. Alas, like all things Kevin Costner, the initial 'booya' turned into a lasting 'boo hoo'. The bread, in all shapes and forms, from starter rolls to sandwiches to carnival bread, just plain..... well..... SUCKED!! The starter rolls tasted like dried tooth plaque, the ciabatta on one of our sandwiches must have been a plastic stage prop from the set of 'Waterworld', and the carnival bread on my bbq pork sandwich tasted like deep-fried sponge and pork rinds. Were there any good points? Service was excellent. The hostesses were incredibly professional, and our water, Rick, was awesome. Can't complain there at all. Also, the Caesar salad was decent, as was the coffee, but I don't think I'll be coming back to dine here for a while until they figure the menu out. Funny.... if they just copied the Sonsie menu and served it here, it would be a far more superior dining experience.
(2)
Steph W.
So, I haven't eaten at Towne yet so I can only comment on the drinks. I went to Towne this weekend and got The Cathy. It had gin, aperol and a few other ingredients. It was strong and well made but I felt like $13 was a little steep for Towne since the environment isn't as great as other places and I think City Bar right next door has drinks for about $11/12. But, I still enjoyed my drink. The only thing is I'd say it is almost too dark in here where I had to use my candle (that eventually burnt out) to read the menu. So, a little more lighting would be nice. Also, the TV screens playing the football game sort of took away from the high-end ambiance that I was looking for. I love a good football game, but I felt as if it made the whole experience a bit more casual. Also, the crowd at Towne tends to be a little bit older (e.g., old creeper men or older ladies spraying their hair w/hair spray in the bathroom). So, it's not the best place for mid-twenties crowd.
Please note, this review is for drinks only. Bottom line: Pretentious environment, terrible bartending skills, but average prices. Went here after a Papa Razzi dinner to grab some drinks. The place was packed with suits and girls going after them, but we were able to snag a table which was helpful. After ordering a few drinks that were not 2 part-ers (ie: vodka tonic) we concluded that the bartenders had ZERO clue how to make anything that wasn't on the cocktail menu. Seriously, they asked me what was in a Tom Collins (that one's not difficult) and even after I told her.. it was still horrible. Don't know how. Vom. I got 3 drinks and the price was 34 though, so the only thing that saved this place was that I didn't cry TOO many tears as I signed the bill. I had expected to be weeping for my bank account. With so many places on Boylston, why the hell go here? Unless you're chasing "generous" folks... yikes
(2)
Michelle C.
Brunch was pretty good. Cute dining area, loved the comfy chairs. Eggs Benedict was good, the sauce was wonderful and lemony, just how I like it and the eggs were PERFECTLY cooked, but wasn't a fan of the bacon which was overpowering, I think I'm more of a ham girl. I really dug the potatoes... huge chunks that I think were deep fried? but didn't taste/feel greasy. The breakfast "appetizers" weren't that great...the lemon poppyseed bread was odd, it had a weird gummy texture but dry at the same time, and the donut icing was waaaay too sweet for me, I could only eat a small bite. The bloody mary had too much worcestershire and seemed to be missing the extra spice I requested, plus, it was a virgin and cost $9! I thought that was overpriced. The service was outstanding, very attentive & friendly. All the food coming out of the kitchen looked yummy, especially the french toast which I'll have to try next time. I also want to try the lobster popovers which sound so wonderful. I love that they have lots of lobster options on the menu, so I'll definitely be back to give it a try.
I've only been here two times, (once for lunch, once for dinner), and both times, it was phenomenal! Bruce was my waiter both times, and he is very good waiter. I think he may actually be the head waiter. Both times I had the margarhita pizza and it was very good.
(5)
Angel M.
I went to town on Towne on a Friday night. And, boy, did I paint it red. The crowd was lively but not crazy, the drinks were pricey but not expensive, the servers were busy but not unattentive. Basically, besides a slightly higher average of hotter and taller people, there wasnt much at Towne to make it a night out on it. But, seeing as how I had already towned a few drinks earlier in Kenmore, it was an altruistic nuisance. I might go back, I would recommend dressing it up, just a little bit, though, I was rocking the quiet celebrity look: baseball cap, ironic t shirt, tacky jewelry, faux leather jacket and gold sneaks.
(3)
James D.
I really like this place. They have three bars and two dining rooms on two different levels. The food is really good. The menu changes often with fresh items but they are always original and unique. The whole atmosphere and look of this restaurant is really cool and very city-ish. It's a really fun night out. I didn't give them 5 stars because the service can sometimes be inconsistent. But for this type of place the service if good enough. My wife and I come here a lot and will continue to do so!
(4)
Gloria C.
Reasonably priced brunch! Perfect portions. Great attention to detail. Def recommend this place. Only downside is they don't open til 11 even for brunch on the weekends. The lobster omelette is super yummy. Entrees come w/ pan fried potatoes and they are amazing!!!!!!
(5)
U V.
The food is ok.... nothing special or memorable about it.... for the price i'm paying i do expect the food to be above average.... the wait for the table took forever..... i ended up kept walking to them to ask if the table is ready... about literally almost 2 hrs finally the table is ready.... my friend and i were there around 5:30.... we didn't end up eating till almost 7:30....i think my friend and i only got the table because we kept asking them if the table is ready... there are about 4 tables free the whole time..... we can see them from where we were standing... we thought someone might have reservation there already but about 2 hrs we were just staring at those empty tables.... seriously! we should have go somewhere else to eat and come here for the drink.... The waiter was nice and it does make up for the wait but like i mentioned earlier the food was ok.... it's definitely not worth the wait... might come back for the drink though....
(3)
Liz W.
Overall, I really do love this restaurant. I have been here a few times, really just for drinks, and have had great experiences. The drinks are fantastic, the bartenders are always very attentive, and the atmosphere is great. So needless to say when my boyfriend and I went here for dinner the other night, I was shocked at the terrible, and really downright rude service we received from our waiter. The hostess was great, she was very friendly and accommodating, and seated us an hour prior to our reservation! Our waiter seemed like he was in a terrible mood right away, like he was doing us a favor by waiting on us! The food at Towne is delicious, but they don't have very many vegetarian options. Since, I don't eat meat, I ordered the gnocchi off of the appetizer menu (which was excellent!) The waiter seemed very irritated I didn't order an entree, but sorry, buddy, I'm not going to eat meat just so our bill can be higher for you! After that, we saw him once, only when he stopped over briefly to ask if we liked our dinner. He never came over and asked if we wanted another round of drinks, and we sat for 20 minutes after the busboy cleared our plates and waited, drinks and water glasses empty. He then had to audacity to ask if we wanted desert! We decided to get some more drinks elsewhere after. I'd like to try Towne again, but after the experience in the dining room, I can't say that I will. All three stars are for food and beverage, zero for service in the dining area. If you go to Towne, stick to the bar area!
(3)
Jamie M.
We usually come here late on Saturday nights for a drink, but finally came in for dinner last week. Our server was friendly, knowledgeable and "just the right" level of attentive for a married couple out on a not so frequent "date night". The second floor dining area (we usually only see the downstairs bars) was unconventional yet classy, with beautiful high ceilings and a view of the kitchen. Everything we had was good, but I particularly enjoyed the simple butter lettuce & avocado salad, which had a refreshing citrusy vinaigrette & crisp lettuce; and the lobster popovers. These popovers are amazing! A *must* for anyone who comes here-nice chunks of fresh lobster and a great flaky crust. My husband had the duck and thought that it was cooked perfectly (a big deal for him, because more often than not when he orders duck, it's overcooked) and the combination of sweet pineapple, gingery vinegar and root vegetable was a great complement to the grilled duck. We didn't order dessert, but have heard great things, so based on this visit, and the promise of a delicious finish, we will be back, and not just for an end of the evening nitecap!
(5)
Ro P.
We had lobster popovers, lobster pizza and some salad. Each dish was excellent!
(5)
Kareem F.
Fantastic service & food. The Fish & chips are fresh and delectable. Their Lobster & poached eggs were the best I've ever had! Their bloody mary's are equally delicious. Awesome decor: Contemporary yet warm. Had a blast here for lunch!
(5)
Tater M.
I've only been to Towne once, with another, for their Christmas menu (we got a la carte, not prie fix). It was delicious. My friend got their Lobster Salad with Popover dish and I got their Sugar Pumpkin Ravioli with Mascarpone dish. My ravioli portion was quite tiny I admit, there were like a grand total of 9 raviolis? But man, they were yummy and infused with great pumpkin flavor and had a wonderful cheesey bite to it. They also did something to a couple of green leaf garnishes that made them fantastically crunchy. The lobster salad was delicious and was a larger portion. There was a row of lobster meat, row of lettuce or some sort of chopped salad, row of crunchy fresh bread cubes, row of little red onion, row of blue cheese, row of avocado, and a big popover bread. Very yummy. We chose their Chocolate Pudding with one New Orleans peanut brittle dessert. D-e-ca-dent. rich, slightly bitter cocoa flavor and nicely paired with the salty peanut brittle. (I got tired of it after the first 6 bites though, NOT because it tasted like cheap chocolate with lots of sugar, but because it was just really RICH and CREAMY. Guilt got to me.) Unexpected, because although the cup holding the pudding looks small, it's actually quite filling. Servers were all very courteous, you can really tell they're all very experienced and nice. Decor was fab, modern and unusual. Wish I took pictures.
(4)
Susan R.
Went on a random day at a random time for a sandwich and to check out the bar. The service was very very good, and the cocktails were a-ok... I just wasn't super impressed with the menu. Really expensive comfort food that left me feeling gross. I will check it out again, JUST because the bartender at the small bar downstairs near Boylston St was so nice.
(3)
Sonia D.
I attended brunch on Saturday here and I have to say those donuts are AMAZING!!! If I could eat donuts all day everyday I would be there. They are warm and goey and great!!!! There were 10 of us there and we had alot of fun! There was a baby with us as well and that didn't seem be a problem. Our server was nice and honest about what food choices we were thinking about making. I went with the lobster cobb salad and was a little nervous thinking I wasn't getting enough lobster but they gave me a TON. The presentation of the salad was great. Instead of mixing everything in the salad together they actually separated everything out. The salad also came with 3 different types of dressing. They were all soooo yummy. They also sell my favorite wine...Joel Gott cab! Tasty and smooth. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a nice brunch place before your shopping spree or just hanging with friends. Haven't tried dinner there but will soon.
(4)
Danielle B.
Scene! Was there on a Friday night with a college friend and her friend, and we had quite a night. Started out with some tasty drinks---champagne + elderflower out front at the bar. After a 45-minute wait or so, we were seated in the back restaurant part. We started with the ravioli and this lobster thing for apps. I got the tuna (my favorite fish), which was quite tasty. Overall, the food was solid, nothing spectacular, nothing horrible. The atmosphere was very lively all night. Maybe I've gotten used to the laid back scene in SF and was craving the craziness that this place had. We had some entertainment in the form of a former athlete trying to use his status to his advantage (didn't work, sorry). I liked this place, will try to come back the next time I'm in Boston.
(4)
Saba N.
Note: reviewing BRUNCH only ------------------------------ I had a great brunch experience here! I like the space a lot - it's open and spacious... I wasn't expecting such a large room in the back! I definitely recommend for a large party. The service was fantastic. The waiter was really nice and always filled up our coffee... I think i might have been super wired by the end of the meal. Fine by me though! The food was my favorite part. First of all, they bring you HOT donuts to start. Like... are you kidding me? That's the best idea ever? I'm serious. It was unreal. I ordered the lobster Cobb salad (OK.. so I had chocolate chip pancakes a couple hours earlier... whoops!) and it was really unusual and yummy. First off, the presentation was insane. The salad came in rows... One row of avocado, one row of lobster, one row of lettuce.. etc etc. It was really beautiful and also delicious (the lobster was a little chewy though). Still, I ate pretty much the entire thing. The highlight of the meal for sure was my friend's blueberry pancakes. They looked amazing and the kicker was the HOMEMADE MAPLE & BROWN SUGAR COTTON CANDY they put on top. I had to put that in caps to make sure you fully digest what I'm saying. Cotton candy. On the pancakes. What?? The prices are reasonable and I'm definitely coming back.
(4)
Mike D.
The restaurant is decent. The service was very good but the food was average. The food is a bit expensive for what you get. The space is very nice with a downstairs and upstairs with two full bars. The nightlife is pretty fun for the back bay area with a younger crowd that is usually busy on the weekends.
(3)
Natasha A.
I was a little skeptical about Towne. The menu just seemed to be a bit all over the place, with dishes in many different styles (highlights from thai, indian, mexican, italian, french flavors). I wandered - can they really be good at such a wide variety of dishes? Well, I was pleasantly surprised. The pig chop with a side of fried milk was nothing short of extraordinary. A perfectly cooked and Chinese flavored juicy chop, with a side of fatty riblets and fried milk was very rich and flavorful (will be eating half of it for lunch). The pancetta and short ribs (with thai flavors of lime and chilis) ordered by others were also superb. Another highlight of the menu is the Lobster menu, which one must specifically ask for. The lobster popovers were delicious, flaky, filled with honey and lobster. We also had the tartars of bluefin and sirloin and my favorites - the grilled razor clams. The wine list had a good price range and an extensive selection. Cocktails were priced at 9-12, reasonable for the place. I also liked the interior design, although I usually hate very large restaurants. The space was divided into enough subsections to make it a bit more intimate and the open kitchen on the second floor was fun to watch. Two minor complaints - floors are way too slippery - I almost took a dive. Also, the menu lacked a soup which I was craving on the rainy September day. I will be back to try the wagyu skirt steak next!
(5)
LeiLei R.
Love their Beef Hash! After brunch at Towne, many of my following weekends were spent scouring local brunch shops for something comparable. No luck. I'd come back more often if parking wasn't such a pain in the butt, but I'll just have to suck it up to get my fill of the hash. Meat, eggs, hollandaise, potatoes.. not too oily nor too salty. Instead of sourdough bread that typically comes at the beginning of the meal, we got little glazed donuts and banana bread. Both delicious and light as well. Overall, everything was tasty. I walked away that day feeling full and satisfied without the food coma that typically accompanies brunch.
(4)
Connor T.
We've been for Brunch a few times and it was delicious every time. We've also been for Dinner which was really good. Most notably, we help a private brunch there, and it was perfect! The food was delicious, the staff was easy to work with, the space was gorgeous, and it was all very reasonably prices (as it always in there). Definitely recommended!
(5)
Jeff F.
Towne is a really cool multi-level space worth checking out - 3 bars and a couple different dining options depending on what you're looking for. If you're looking for an after work cocktail, I absolutely recommend Towne. If you're planning an event, the private room they have overlooking Boylston should be considered. But if you're looking for a great meal (as I was) I'd pass. Here's a rundown on what I tried: -Pork & Chive Dumplings - ok, but nothing I'd recommend -Grilled Unagi - underwhelmed -Aragula Salad w/ fresh picked lima beans and warm spiced lobster oil - exceptional and worth trying -Tartare: jasper's sirloin & cleanseas bluefin tuna - the Tuna was great, but the sirloin was questionable at best.
(3)
Kevin M.
I went here on date night last week with my wife and was expecting so much more from this hipster place in the Back Bay. Cool decor and fun vibe with lively three bars, but this is not a good return on time or cash invested here. First thought: Whoa, the prices!! Food nor service quality comes close to justifying the prices on the menu. Servers didn't refresh utensils or plates. Timing with other tables around us was uneven. Entrees didn't have much of a side and the waiter didn't inform us that we may want to order a side dish to share. But for these mid to high $30 entree prices, come on! I am perplexed how this won a best new restaurant nod. Lobster mini-menu: nice idea. We tried the Lobster popover as an app. For $15, how about 3-4 popovers, or at least more more meat in the two you get. Lots of popover dough and lots of forkover the dough. #1 Tuna: number 1 where? Yes, Tuna was very tasty and seared perfectly. But the tuna needed a sauce or something more. And the Parsnip mash with the tuna is very dry like it had been sitting under a warmer for 30 minutes. My wife was more pleased than I with her house specialty salmon crisp. But it still lacked any heft in the sides. The wine list was varied, very solid and was probably more reasonably priced than the food. All in all, I won't be going back; there are many finer dining spots delivering much better value.
(2)
Josephine L.
Gorgeous space, friendly staff, tasty food, frou frou prices (though not the worst I've experienced), convenient location. There. Everything you need to know.
(4)
Drew C.
How this dump got even two stars is beyond me. It's really too bad because it has a lot of potential - the decor and locations are great. I went to Towne for a friends' birthday a few weeks back, and I really was looking forward to going and enjoying myself. Didn't happen. We had a reservation at 7:30 and were not seated until past 8:00 PM despite the fact that everyone in the seven-member party was there. What's the point of having a res? Apparently they were really working hard to set up our table... When we were finally taken to our table, we noticed that the table was indeed set for a bachelorette party - which we were not a part of. Back to the drawing board - they had to find us a new table. The server came over to take our order after about a half hour. We'll start with some drinks thanks. We order a bottle of wine and some cocktails. That was the last we saw of any type of beverage besides water; the waiter never came back to ask us if we wanted more drinks at all. Funny - I thought that's how restaurants made their money. Guess not. We also asked for some more bread, which was brough over by a young lady who seemed so inconvenienced to be bringing us more bread that you would have thought she was bringing out a basket of rats from the kitchen. Why the long face, pumpkin? I must say, the food was good, but for all the hassle, waiting, and the price (it was about $70 for each of us, and, as I said, that's only with one adult beverage) it didn't do much to please. I would have a hard time being urged to come back.
(1)
Sammi N.
was unexpectedly impressed... I'm not typically a fan of touristy restaurants and I guess I quickly categorized Towne as that due to its location and lobster-focused menu. Bar is a great place to dine... I recommend sitting there versus the dining room, which appeared a little stuffy and prententious. Like most yelpers, lobster popovers was rich and delectable. My fave was actually a side dish - the roasted cauliflower is phenomal and huge portion which could easily be an entree. I definitely wouldn't go out of my way to dine here, but if I happen to already be in the city, it would definitely be high on my list for dinner.
(4)
Carla G.
Go here on a Monday night....front bar, ask for Nick, order an Armada, rinse, repeat...then order a flatbread....stagger home; thank me later.
(4)
Diana M.
Extremely pretentious! They pretend to be at capacity so a line forms. After we're told we're in line because they're full, they then let a group of 15 in because one of the guys knows someone at the door. After standing in the rain another 5 minutes, I ask what the wait is, the kid says "I can let you in now". Then the head door man takes a look at my rain boots, and yells " Yeah, not yet." Um, okay. We then leave. As we're walking away, three women in their 40s come up to the door they let them in. Don't waste your time there if you're under 40 and you're a down to earth person. They're trying too hard to make it be like a place that would be in NYC. I heard too the drinks there are $15. They want only people in there that look like they have $$, so they'll pay for the over-priced drinks. Thanks but no thanks.
(1)
Steve K.
I was fortunate enough to go to Towne on the second night and I must say I was very impressed. I usually give a place a few weeks to work out the bugs, but the impeccable design and the diligent staff made for a great experience. The staff was attentive at all times, but never intrusive, and the fact that there were alot of staff made things move with a sense of purpose without feeling rushed. Christine was working the tables around the second bar on the main level and she was awesome! We even had a manager stop by to check in, which was a nice touch during the hectic opening. For food I recommend anything Lobster...cocktail, tail app with horseradish and pesto sauce. Awesome! I also had the skirt steak and portobello on the side. For dessert, I don't have a sweet tooth, so it was definitely the artisan cheese plate. My only complaint was that the skirt steak did not come split, since I was sharing - but they did bring two plates. Also, the cheese plate was not explained, and there were four options of cheeses, so more information would have been helpful. I am definitely a fan of this place, and will be going back because the bacon wrapped dates sound too awesome to pass up. This place also has range - anything from business dinner to late night out. Definitely check it out. There is something for everyone there.
(4)
Billy Su B.
i've now had numerous 5 star nights out on the towne ;) 1. are you a rowdy hussy in search of a suit to bed, or vice versa? try the first bar on the first floor. dark, noisy, casual, and packed with young horny singles trying to act polished and stylish, but really just looking for a wallet full of money and a romp in the sack. they aren't fooling anyone. we see those hungry bedroom eyes. ...actually, i don't know if they're there for the sex or the ravioli. having had both, it's sort of a toss up to be honest. (the ravioli is SO good!) 2. bar #2, on the first floor, is lighter, more civilized and older. the attached diningroom is spacious and lively- perfect for a party or large, festive get-together. 3. bar #3, upstairs, is the more private, quiet area. try this for a conversational, low key night or more intimate date or dinner party. (find me here) FOOD* 1. CHICKEN THIGHS- buddha on a bicycle, this dish was rich, savory, culinary perfection, from the juicy thighs to the flavor-saturated garlic bread they came on 2. DUCK CRISP- *sound of rejoicing 3. PORTABELLO MUSHROOMS- compare to devient sex act of thine own naughty choice 4. VALENCIA RICE- so clever. so dream inducing. 5. SOFT SHELL CRAB- light weight, flavorful and the reason i'm generally obsessed with soft shell crab! 6. TARTARE- praise be to raw food! ************** 7. since seven is heaven, i'll end here: THE ANGEL FOOD CAKE WITH MAPLE ICE CREAM AND COTTON CANDY ::chorus of angels singing:: **!!**hands down, the cleverest and most delicious dessert in this sweet city. +final instructions: do not bring stretchy pants, tattered shoes or baseball caps and be sure to fully load your wallet with monies prior to arrival end of rave.
(5)
ells w.
...wtf.........East Coast Oysters 2.50 each in Boston? Just another over thought, under performing 'corporate' restaurant aimed straight at unsuspecting conventioneers, and unsuspecting foodies who think they're going to see Lydia and Jasper dancing their magic to the sounds of pots and pans....beware of the star power. They are as vacuous as the space.
(1)
Richard C.
Beware the gourmet burger they say, expensive burgers can't be trusted. If people start talking about a burger, there's probably a reason for it, although in the case of Towne, most of the chatter seems to have vanished after a hot start. Priced at $16, I've somehow avoided this burger for months, but like most things, this was worth the wait. To make the upper tier, you must nail execution, flavor, and offer something that other burgers can't. Ironically labeled the "Deluxe All-American Bacon Burger," it's all about the meat, but for the gourmet crowd it should go without saying. How premium the entire package is and how much value is attributed to a hefty price tag is the question. A unique blend of Short Rib and Skirt Steak is used, which is about as fatty as you can get, probably why I liked it so much. The beef has a superior crust and very generous seasoning, funky enough to be different but not too far from the norm to sway any burger enthusiast. It's requested on the menu that you order it rare, which I do, and for the most part it's cooked properly. Certainly far from rare as the patty reaches the outer edges, the middle of the burger is perfectly rare without going into raw territory. Perfectly hand-formed and thus loosely packed, the meat sings with robust flavor in each bite. A curious sweet chili sauce tops the burger, not much more than a glorified ketchup that seems out of place, distracting from the meaty patty, the sweetness is a mere distraction. Melted cheddar and bacon round out the burger, the cheddar almost an afterthought, and the crispy bacon offering texture but little flavor. The bun is sort of a Brioche/Kaiser Roll hybrid and it works; slightly sweet and almost too large, it supports the massive patty and all its juiciness. Very ordinary fries are almost a bore, especially after the delicious burger, they are very hollow and taste nothing like potato, albeit seasoned very nicely. Towne boasts a burger that is to be reckoned with, it's all about the beef and rightfully so. The meat is exciting, different and wonderful, and as a complete package, it at least deserves any mention to hang with Boston's best. It's the same predicament as past burgers; expensive, and hard to justify too many return visits. Less delicious than the burger across the street at Back Bay Social Club, but $6 cheaper. Not as news-worthy as Radius, but definitely beefier. It's absolutely in the running, and worthy of a closer look by burger enthusiasts everywhere.
(4)
Ken C.
Loved the lobster pizza and the duck entree. Service was nice but oddly nervous. Tuna was not overcooked, which is key. Great location and impressive decor. Ate upstairs, but could have easily enjoyed a few G&T's downstairs.
(4)
Karen C.
At $250/couple, I guess I expect great food. Didn't happen - surf-turf special was 1/2 an overcooked lobster tail and medium filet was well done. Apps were good but not remarkable. Atmosphere was great as was service. Done with Lydia Shire joints, on to Barbara Lynch and others.
(2)
Thuy L.
What a stark contrast from the Soft Opening. I was excited and interested to see how it would all pan out once it was opened. I have been here twice for drinks and my experiences were so opposite that I had to give it another try. The first time was at 5:00 on a Wednesday--not very crowded and not loud at all. We went straight upstairs to the bar. The second time was a Friday evening around 9:00pm and luckily I got there in time to snag a couple of tables in the back. The volume was ridiculous--I couldn't even hear the person next to me. Finally, I thought I'd put those two experiences behind and try dinner here. I was completely shocked. For a 7:15 Thursday reservation, there was a man with a rope to the left taking names (as if we were in some high profile club) and not in a restaurant attached to a Convention Center. The guy had a clipboard and suggested that I wait at the overly crowded bar until my friend arrived. They couldn't even just sit me? I couldn't have even ordered a drink if I wanted to. I was surprised how loud the restaurant was as it was still fairly early in the evening. The sound carried over into the dining rooms as well. My voice was hoarse the next day from screaming to my friend who sat just 2 feet away from me. Drinks were okay. Oysters were adequate, they only served Wellfleet Oysters. Service was decent but our server could not for the life of him remember the special. He kept looking around and then finally looked down at his notes to remember the fish of the day. After describing the fish, he never once quoted me a price. I was definitely shocked when the bill came out and it was a $38 meal. For that price, I would have expected some Swarovski crystals embedded into it. Additionally, he said that the fish was de-boned, however I found like 10 bones in my fish. It was pretty irritating to start chewing and then you gag yourself with a bone that wasn't supposed to be there. My girlfriend ordered the linguine and clams off of the appetizer menu. We asked the server if it would be enough for one person as their meal, and he said No. We took a chance and it was plenty. There was enough to bring home in a doggy bag. Not sure if they are taught to try to get the customer to order as much as possible, but I though the food was decent, nothing spectacular and way overpriced. I shall not be returning here for dinner anytime soon nor will I be coming back for drinks. Go somewhere else.
(2)
Deb L.
been here for brunch a few times and the food is very good (pancakes, french toast) they provide a basket of pound cake and mini glazed maple donuts when you sit down. OMG these donuts are out of this world (they deserve 5 stars). Once in awhile, I'll go in and get a few dozen to go (which they sell for 50 cents each) and take them to friends (and it's a real hit).
(4)
Mark W.
Great place for drinks but big disappointment on the quality of the food. The lamb was all fat the salmon was over cooked the tuna was ok and the chicken dish was dry. Oysters were good but how could that go wrong. Stick with drinks at the bar... Oh, get to the place early. The line outside was ridiculous.
(2)
Cheryl G.
Service was fast and friendly. Atmosphere and decor very nice, but strange Saturday menu, only brunch, no lunch. So don't bother if you are looking for lunch on a Saturday. Definitely would like to try Towne again for dinner. Didn't seem to be much in terms of vegan options, but vegetarian flatbread pizza was salty and oily, in a good way.
(3)
Alicia F.
Towne is the bomb! The service was exceptional and the food was so delicious, particularly the pizza (mushroom, and margherita equally delish) and "the truth" fettucini alfredo is off the charts! I don't eat meat but but my husband and friends went bizerk over the burger and the peking chicken. And bonus, the cocktails yummy too.
(5)
Soumendra B.
The snozzberries taste like snozzberries... you will constantly ask yourself 'is this for real' at towne... and no, not always in a good way. Imagine a place with red checkered napkins, beakers as water glasses, and a menu that includes Indian, Chinese, Italian, and English food with strange accompaniments. Think burned tuna steak with sweet root vegetables...unbelievably large portions of chicken...Indian appetizers. You can call it "fusion" but that doesn't quite mean it fused. The flavors were not complimentary, and sometimes it wasn't even clear what they were supposed to be. The blueberry dessert was unquestionably the highlight of the meal, though the sauce was a little too sweet... imagine willy wonka announced your dessert... with a flourish! "you are eating dessert! This is sweet!" Speaking of Willy Wonka...our server kept coming over and whispering in our ears "how is your food?"..."I just LOVE what your ordered"..."where I come from this is a fancyyyyy dessert" and then announcing each course with a flourish of his arm "Here is the PHARATAAAAAAA". Ok, thanks, please leave us be now. We basically decided that we would not come here again, but that it's great for people going to conferences at the convention center because they will most definitely remember the experience.
(2)
Tatsu I.
White Tablecloth Service for a Party of 380 x 4, I'll Take All Seating Times Please! I have no scruples when it comes to sniping FTR, it's immature, self-indulgent and you love me for it. But I'll give you a g-ddam honest review and you will learn something. Leighann graciously extended an invite to attend Towne Stove & Spirit's soft opening, a fundraiser for Mass Eye And Ear Infirmary. I do not know how this new venue escaped me, let's just say the rate of openings in Q2 to Q3 2010 is pretty astonishing as of right now. Lydia Shire of Locke-Ober and Scampo fame has paired with a surprising choice in Jasper White, the man behind Summer Shack and many books on New England style fare. The backing power comes from the Lyons Brothers and they definitely brought it. Big time. The real estate is mind-bogglingly prime, basically a T-bone sized chunk of the Northeast corner of the Hynes Convention Center. I would of named it "The N.E. Corner of Hynes C.C.". It occupies both levels, and the view from the more enclosed banquet style room has a stunning view of Boylston due to windows arrangement above and all sides of the room, nearly 180 and above your head. It also peers into the Hynes main hallway adjacent, an extended view of easily 150 meters across the entire length of the Hynes. The main room is also gorgeous, with a modern open kitchen, yet charming whimsical touches throughout that is very Lydia. The downstairs has yet another room, looking into the expansive not-so-gorgeous cement courtyard of the Prudential Mall. The bar as you enter rivals anything on Boylston, and in fact, being the corner part of the Hynes affords the luxury of massive and tall plate glass windows in every room. Quite frankly it is second to none in terms of curbside and inside appeal compared to anything inside the Mandarin, and that is quite the architectural boast. The menu and food is decidedly safely chosen, an amalgam of Jasper's and Lydia's greatest hits, with some crowd pleasers thrown in. The menu is actually a bit longer than expected for such a nice looking venue, no doubt an effort to quickly appeal to the many conventioneers who will be peering into the banquet room and saying "What is THAT?". Lobster Popovers, from Scampo are being ported over, along with some of Jasper's previous dishes. Also seen were flatbreads, skirt steaks, even a burger. Frites are typically served with the meat dishes. The fish on the other hand, various rice sides or veggies can be ordered, separately. Aside from various duck and lamb entrees, that is pretty much it, very simple and not confusing, again I suspect a nod to traffic they anticipate from within the Hynes. From my judgement (Very little fish was served on this soft-opening, (In fact none of the kitchen equipment was hooked up, all the cooking was done patio-side in a temporary tent.) but Jasper did come out with skin-on pan-seared Salmon dressed in cucumber and accoutrements. Undoubtably wild from the taste of the oil coming off the salmon. I was frankly distraught to see Bluefin Tuna on the menu, unless it is of the farmed Kindai variety, I will encourage it's removal from the menu. The stellar menu item is Lydia's Colorado Lamb Ribs. When I used to eat meat, I sourced my lamb from New Hampshire, from Halal butchers and it was night and day from New Zealand. No gameyness, or strings, just smooth as silk meat. Lydia goes further, to Colorado using more fully grown sheep. The result is an enormous eye in the rib, larger than a diver scallop unbelievably, absolutely succulent, pleasing non-gamey aroma, a texture between tenderloin of beef and sirloin. It was so appealing I cheated and tried one, it simply surpassed any Lamb Rib I've tried, which was formerly my favorite cut of meat, any type of BBQ or skirt steak be damned. So I would order that for you, while I resumed on Jasper's side of the menu because I'm supposed to be a vegetarian. Perhaps the menu does not have the savoir faire of Scampo, or say Clink next door to Scampo in the Liberty Hotel. None-the-less this is destined to be hallmark establishment, known outside of Boston, that Back Bay really needs, something you might see editorialized in in-flight magazines as a hot spot in the future, but also a very swank rendezvous for the citizens of Boston herself with solid food from Team Shire/White and their underlings. Quite frankly, as an event planner, I would have my convention inside Towne and skip the Hynes all-together. The service was ridiculously well-prepared, an army of staff picking up glasses at all times in nylon picnic baskets shows serious party planning skills. You can fit 1000 conventioneers in a 380 seat restaurant in one evening. And thus the title of my review. So, KapOW! another FTR, and I lay my piece down. I'm a one-shot cold bore sniper.. Oh drinks, yes I got a bit tipsy. Thanks again to Leighann for this very exclusive opening! You know it was good if I cheated.
(5)
A B.
Not worth the money. Inexperienced servers who can't get out of their own way. The m.o.d. was named Chuck. He was arrogant, unhelpful and cocky at best. He should not be dealing with guests. I will never go back to this place. The food didn't live up to it's expectations.
(1)
Anne-Marie A.
This is a tough one, since I've been to Towne several times and have always had a splendid experience, complete with Chef Lydia stopping by to say hello. But last night was different -- 12 of us for a birthday celebration and things did not go very well. First of all, the fire alarms went off and continued blaring for 10 - 15 minutes. The manager did come by and reassure us that we did not have to leave (Phew-- we had not even had our first cocktails yet!), but this started our evening out on the wrong note. Service was good, but for some reason, someone (the waiter? the kitchen?) kept forgetting something or other: first all the side dishes we ordered, which came out when we were almost finished with our meal. Then, dessert -- and again, one of the desserts arrived (after we reminded them) after everyone else was finished with theirs. What can I say -- I will give Towne another try but several of our guests left unimpressed.
(3)
Joelle S.
My boyfriend and i had gone to Towne a couple months back, maybe in May. There was a little congestion outside of the doorway and as soon as we got in there was an inviting, yet confusing set up. There was a bar and then no Host stand... odd. I asked the bartender if there was a host, and he was rude and said, " Ya, ova there" and pointed behind him. Um, alright? Cool. Not a great first impression as we passed the cougar hunting/affair-filled bar. So we go to the host stand, tell them we have a reservation and said it will be just a cpl minutes. We go to the bar, and order a drink from a very sloppy looking girl who was just shy of rude and then she threw away the leftovers of the people next to us, after they asked her to wrap it up for them. OKay. So far, not great in hospitality. This is a new restaurant, figured they would have higher standards. Oh well. And then as soon as we got a drink, one of the sloppy hostesses walked past my boyfriend, and kicked the bar stool our from under him, didn't pick it up, and just said "Oh, sorry." And walked away!! Even odder. SO then we get sat after about 15 minutes (by the way, we had made reservations, it was not busy at all, and the restaurant was maybe half full.) We went upstairs where the ambiance was very nice, and from there it got much better! yay! They played fun music upstairs(Beegees marley. justthe way you are. Captain of her heart) and we got a very attentive Bulgarian waitress whom was very sweet and hospitable. App: Calamari zucchini tangle thing. great tempura batter! wish it were bigger Entree:Lobster pizza. We shared it and it was delish! had an awesome creamy sauce drizzle, def would get this again Salad: Ceasar spears. nice and lightly dressed, the way i like. ALmost warm like they grilled it, delish either way. and they served it with this Burnt bread that i loved. Food: 4 out of 5 stars. Service: 2.5 out of 5 stars. (If it weren't for our great waitress, it would have made this a 2-star rating)
(3)
Tomoko M.
I love this place! Came here during the daytime on a weekend and was able to sit at the bar right away. Their martini was delicious - I tried the Gypsy Dancer martini (cucumber vodka, aloe & honey). Also ordered the "cajun dusted french fries". I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that they were not really your typical fries. The potatoes melt in your mouth...Looking forward to coming back soon.
(4)
Gigi B.
I was finally able to check out Towne Stove & Spirits a few weeks ago. Unfortunately I was disappointed. Towne seems to have an identity crisis. The menu is absurdly expensive and not cohesive. Some portions were massive while others were minuscule. If the food were outstanding I'd be much more forgiving, but as a Lydia Shire-Jasper White venture, there is no excuse. I feel Towne caters to out-of-towners more than the Bostonians the famous chefs love to please. The ambiance somehow made me feel uncomfortable, although the service was terrific. I'm willing to give Towne another chance once they've worked out the kinks, but for now there are dozens of restaurants in Boston I'd rather spend my money at, especially in the immediate Back Bay area.
(2)
Jamie G.
Came here for a Yelp Elite event and had a wonderful time. It definitely got me wanting to come back and try their typical food and drink. The atmosphere and decor are classy and fun. The food and drink we had the event was very good and the staff was superb,... nicely dealing with some really stupid and rude guests (which really saddened me, because, HELLO, we were there for free, at least be nice!!). Hopefully their normal food and service is just as good!
(4)
G K.
great food. the tomahawk steak is great. so is the duck. food was amazing. a little too high priced for the place.
(4)
Jourdan R.
I LOOOOOOVEEEEEED Towne Stove & Spirits! At first I was worried that it was going to be out of my price range, but when I got there the menu had a wide range of reasonable prices. The place looked FANTASTIC...I loved the unique light fixtures and the different feels of each dining room...they make the place have an amazing ambiance! And what a great location! I was warmly welcomed and greeted the second I walked in the door. Cassie, my hostess, was SUCH a sweetheart. She made us feel like we were the celebrities of the night. I loved it - and I'm glad I wore my new LBD :) (I highly suggest requesting her as your hostess!) Anyway, when we got to our table (after only five minutes of waiting - we didn't make a reservation - but it was great because we got to chat it up with our hostess) we felt like VIPs because it seemed as though we were seated in the best table in the house. We could see right into the kitchen, which was cool because no other restaurant I've been to has ever had that layout. We ordered the Tuna TarTar for our appetizer, which was DELICIOUS. I highly recommend it. My friends and I each ordered an entree which we shared and each one was equally delicious. The Sirloin was so tender and juicy...it was like Heaven in my mouth. The Lobster Roll was the best lobster I've had in Boston. And that's saying something! (I strongly disagree with the comment below.) The Caesar Salad was SO tasty and fresh - I must know Lydia's secret to cooking the egg! For dessert, we got the Angel Food Cake. It comes with brown sugar cotton candy! It was absolutely melt-in-your-mouth delish. The best part was when Lydia herself brought us an extra stick of cotton candy. Again, we felt like CELEBRITIES. I mean, SHE'S a celebrity! I hope she does it again next time! I can't believe the treatment I received. We will for SURE be going back to Towne again very soon. I want to personally thank everyone who made this night special for us. I'm going to have a hard time choosing what to order when I go back next time! If you want star treatment, I highly suggest Towne :)
(5)
Alex F.
Went to Towne on a recommendation from a friend that read about it in a magazine. I have lived in Boston for four years now, and this is my new favorite restaurant. The food was exceptional from the tartar appetizer to the short rib crisp tender and finally ending on the angel food cake with an extreme, yet delicious amount of cotton candy. The drinks were also excellent, and the service was phenomenal. I highly recommend Towne to anyone, looking for great food, drinks, and atmosphere. I cannot wait to go back!
(5)
Mindy A.
I went to Towne last night with a group of six for a birthday dinner. We sat in the bar first for a drink or two, then went into the upstairs restuarant for dinner. I really liked the bar atmosphere a lot. The mixed drinks were good -- I had the Baja breeze and it was pretty tasty. I would definitely go back to the bar and try some of their bar snacks--the bacon-wrapped dates caught my eye but we didn't order anything. Next time! For dinner, we were seated upstairs. My first impression is that Towne is going for fusion of everything, everywhere. The decor is a mix of Excelsior (fancy drapes, big windows, fancy tables & chairs, elevator) and the neighborhood dive (oversized plastic/laminated menu, checkered napkins, measuring glasses for water glasses). The menu is the same--there is fusion of everything, all over the place. Every item on the menu has some Asian, Bistro, or "American" type element. The result of this is that it took every person in our group forever to figure out what we wanted, since so many things were kind of unfamilier. I finally settled for the Crispy Duck, and I wasn't dissappointed. Others in my group tried the short ribs, salmon, swordfish, and rib roast. Everything that came to our table had amazing, beautiful presentation. That was definitely impressive. After trying a bite of all the entrees, I have to say although I liked my Crispy Duck, the Rib Roast was my favorite because I loved the sauce selection they give you--the horseradish and blue cheese sauces were my favorite. Oh....I should also mention that we started with the foie gras and it was heaven (as foie gras always is). A couple people got dessert, I think the creme broule and pavlova. They looked good; someone at another table got the spun sugar (cotton candy) and I immediately was jealous of their order. With the gorgeous presentation I think there were definitely some entrees that were excellent, and some that were "pretty good." I was kind of put off by the prices. One person in our group ordered the clam linguine and it was pretty ordinary w/o much taste and had about 7 tiny clams (and I mean, mini baby clams the size of my thumbnail), and it was $17 for a small portion. That seems high to me. The woodfired pizzas also seemed high at $16 or $17 and the burger is $21. Those are the least expensive things on the menu; most entrees are around $35+. It's not the prices alone, it's the weird combination of the high prices and the fact that we are ordering off of plastic menus. I feel like if I'm paying fine dining prices, then I want fine dining....not a fusion of fine dining and casual neighborhood restaurant. That came off as weird to me. But I was glad I tried Towne and I would go back to the bar, for sure.
(3)
Eric B.
I've been here twice. Overall I find the place energetic and fairly welcoming. The whole gatekeeper at the door thing was a bit off putting. The back bars are not THAT crowded. The food and drinks here are pretty good. I'd recommend this place for groups small or large. I hope I get to go back soon.
(4)
Richard P.
Not impressed. Waiter seemed impatient and menu was an odd mix. Enjoyed the lamb kabob. Nothing else was exceptional as you would expect from the price and atmosphere.
GREAT PLACE, loved the service, food was incredible, we started with the lobster and corn pizza, out of this world, then I had the sword fish cooked perfectly, will come back soon.
(4)
Amber C.
At the last minute we decided to forgo the South End and take a chance at finding a table at the new hot spot Towne. We walked up to the door and were warmly greeted by the 6ft plus door gentlemen. The bar was a buzzing with an exuberant energy that was contagious! It was a lucky night because we found the perfect table in the bar to have a cocktail and a small bite! We ordered the g & j's mushroom duxelles w/ scallion & fresh homemade cheese OMG to die for each bite was an explosion of flavor and with my yummy glass of Malbec that was perfection! We also had two sides that will be new addictions for me - "green beans... twice fried w/ white soy & ginger juice and creamed spinach... devilish". Our tasty tidbits were served by our gorgeous waitress that was providing killer service with a smile! As we finished and savored the deliciousness of our outstanding bar food experience we began the dessert discussion. As always we had to check the menu at least! The dessert choices were divine! We chose a dessert that had an angel food cake with spun maple sugar (cotton candy), caramel ice cream, and caramel brickle it was to die for! I can hardly wait to go back and have dinner in the restaurant!!
(5)
Shannon C.
This is a bar review only - My BF and some of my fabulous friends arranged a surprise birthday drink celebration here for me Friday night. We had a table in the back of the bar & our waitress was quick & efficient. I had 2 drinks (something with tequila & flavored soda) which were great & they didn't skimp on the tequila which was even better. Will definitely come back for dinner.
(4)
Stephanie H.
Went to Towne last night for the first time. We were meeting up with friends (who chose the place) but I had heard mixed reviews so I was slightly interested in seeing this for myself. I won't ever go there again! We arrived at 9:45pm on a Friday night after going to the Ballet and were meeting up with friends who had already bee there for a couple of hours, celebrating a birthday. There was only one cocktail waitress working the entire floor and though our friends had a tab running at their table, they advised us to go to the bar. We ordered at the bar from a bartender who just stared at us blankly from under his eyebrows. My friend ordered the Towne Lemonade, one of their speciality cocktails and was given a pint glass of normal lemonade. When she tried to get his attention to complain/exchange the drink, he ignored her. I ordered a round of three cocktails and he served several other customers between taking my order and delivering my drinks. I then tried to order a couple of bar bites from him since we had not eaten between racing from work to the Ballet. He yelled at me three times during my attempt to order that he couldn't hear me (though he obviously heard my drink orders fine) and then told me to order from the cocktail waitress if I wanted food. We never saw that cocktail waitress until 10:50pm (10 minutes before the kitchen closes) when she finally came by the table to pick up a couple empty glasses. (There were many empty glasses that had been ignored at our table of ten people.) We ordered our food and received it fairly quickly compared to the timing of service thus far. She dropped our check and we paid it before we finished eating. As soon as the money was on the table, she picked everything up, including the basket of sweet potato fries that we were still eating. (She piled other dishes in the basket before we could say anything so then we didn't want them anyway.) The cocktails and food, though good, were overpriced, and not worth the trouble to order them. The DJ was atrocious. There was dead air between songs, and at midnight on a Friday night in a packed bar on Bolyston, he was playing live acoustic versions of Gaga songs. What a downer! My evening at Towne what a waste of my time and money.
(1)
Mo B.
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! Went for Sunday Brunch. Started off w/ a fruit dish of raspberries & strawberriestopped w/ a dollup of whipped cream. Muffins included a poppyseed, a cornbread drenched in lemon & warm, honey-dipped donuts~~~Mmmm! We had a lobster salad that was delicious. The dessert to die for! Everyone was friendly & accomodating& went above & beyond. It is a neighborhood gem! Will definitely be back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(5)
Liza A.
I've been here twice now, once for just drinks and then again last night for dinner. The bar is, well, a bar. The one nice thing is there is a decent amount of seating considering the size. As for dinner. Apps were good... then it went downhill. Main course was average at best and dessert was subpar. What a disappointment. On top of that service is sloppy.... I'd avoid, at least until they get their act together.
(2)
Liz K.
Very trendy bar with good mixed drinks. Went here on a Thursday night and sat at the bar. It had lights under this cracked red plexiglass slab so it looked really cool. The bartenders were very friendly. Will definitely be back!
(4)
Elle W.
This review is difficult for me as I have been to Towne twice and had very different experiences. This most recent experience being the worst, so let's start with that. Review #1 - Got there at 6:30, put our name in for a table of 3. Was told 30-45 minutes. No problem, we'll have some drinks at the bar while we wait. An hour later I go to check on the table, we weren't in a rush, but we were just wondering whether we should order another drink or close our bar tab. The hostess apologizes and says we're first on the list but it will probably be another 30 minutes. Okay, another drink it is. 45 more minutes later, I ask again, and this time the hostess says she just doesn't know when we will be seated (I should mention there are EMPTY tables in the dining room). It's now 8:15 and we're starving and annoyed. So...we left and went across the street to the Back Bay Social Club (to be reviewed). Honestly, if you have too many reservations or too long of a waitlist just TELL ME. We don't need to sit in your restaurant for almost 2 hours while you continue to give us hope that our table is going to become available. I would much rather be turned away and come back another day. BUT: Review #2 - the week before, we had a reservation. We were seated on time, and we had an attentive and pleasant waiter. We ordered: Lobster/Corn Pizza - Wow. Tadiq - My friend's mother makes Tadiq. He said it wasn't quite as good as his mom's but was pretty good. I, never having had Tadiq before, thought it was pretty crispy and buttery, and delicious. I never order rice dishes, but I was really impressed with this one. Mushroom Appetizer - skip this. It was ok. Nothing special. And for dessert, we got the Pavlova and the Melted Chocolate dish. I can't believe I am saying this, but pass on the chocolate dish. The Pavlova was amazing, I never heard of this dish before, but it was recommended by our server, and I'm so glad it was. If I could split this review between Food and Customer Service, I'd give it FOUR stars for food, and ONE for customer service.
(2)
Danielle P.
I've been here a few times but mostly just for drinks or drinks and apps. I really like it here I personally am a huge fan of the cheese plate that is on the desert menu. I usually get it as an app but it comes with about 5 cheeses, honeycomb, quince, and nuts. There is also a really nice bread that I think has fennel in it? But i'm not positive. The bread basket with hummus and babaganoush is yummy too. I personally also LOVE the "END CUTS" at the back of the wine list. These are wines that they are taking off the menu, due to unpopularity, suppliers running out of the vintage or w/e. I had a nice bottle of pinot gris for $25 the other day and considering the prices here I thought it was a great deal. I like the atmosphere and I think all the food items ive had have been good. I will be back!
(4)
Emma S.
What a fantastic meal! My boyfriend and I split two fish dishes, which were absolute perfection, and were huge cuts of fish. The drinks were good, and the bread basket had diverse types of bread to begin your meal. Yum! The place is beautiful too, very trendy, busy and sexy atmosphere. However, it is SO freaking loud. They had to move our table upstairs, and even then did we have to articulate loudly to hear the conversation. That was unpleasant.
(4)
Jillian Q.
I went for after work drinks and apps with a friend who goes here often. It was crowded up front, but they had a really nice bar in the back with a nice bartender and a friendly crowd. This is not usually my after work scene, but I liked Towne. We ordered the flatbread and the tar tare for apps. The flatbread was ok, although using pomodoro sauce instead of straight tomato sauce was a nice touch. I would ask for a little bit more of the fantastic cheese they used next time. The tar tare was excellent and I enjoyed that it was both tuna and sirloin. We enjoyed some excellent wine and had a nice time. Be warned, though, that it's expensive (well, expensive for my budget). I left there paying what I might pay for an entire dinner elsewhere. I did have fun, though, and I would return as a "splurge".
(3)
Kimberly H.
Completely overrated. Food and service were abhorrent considering the price. This place is clearly trying way too hard and unfortunately, not succeeding. Two of my colleagues ordered the tuna - when the dishes came out, you almost couldn't tell that it was the same dish. One colleague scored and her tuna was what you would have expected - seard. The other - not so lucky. His was cut differently - much thinner and completely overcooked. If you are going to serve different cuts of fish I would not recommend doing so at the same table and the chef definitely should have adjusted cooking time for the thinner pieces. My salmon was also overcooked. And the sides did nothing for the dish - didn't make it bad but certainly didn't enhance any of the flavors. The service was really poor. Both the appetizers and entrees were given to the wrong individuals - rookie mistakes. The server never came back to check on us once the food was served by support staff. No one came to check on us for at least 15 minutes - during which time, two of the four of us had empty water glasses and one colleague had dropped her fork - but there weren't even people passing by to flag down. I'd prefer to not have to stalk the staff to get something when I'm paying $30 per entree. Really too bad as it seemed like it could be a fun, eclectic place - good vibe. Alas - I wouldn't go here for the food.
(1)
Dan W.
Great place, huge patio with a menu that is very unique. 2 stories with very modern chic touches. This is one of my number one recommendations to visitors in the area. 3 bars through out the place with each one so different. Great social area and like I said great food. Sent my family there for a meal and they were pleased. Some things are very interesting combinations on the menu but thats what they want. Unique dining with a downtown Boston fits perfectly. You go here when you want a variety for food not known for one thing over the other. Well, aside for there super rich and tasty lobster popovers!
(5)
Honesta A.
generally, people like to go clubbing after dinner, not while they're eating. cool space, but it's wasted by lack of ambience. the hostess introduces you with an a wanna-be nyc exclusive attitude. luckily, the music is so loud overhead, you barely notice her bitchy tone of voice. the food is ok, but they try so hard by putting way too much creativity into it. can't have a piece of without it being wassabe-fied. ok food is not an option for the price you pay. i recommend people don't go there unless they don't care about ambience and good food.
(1)
Zach D.
I went there for drinks on a Friday night after work. Drinks are a little expensive but that was expected. What wasn't expected was waiting 20 minutes to get our check, then having to ask our waitress again for it. From the time we first wanted it to the time we were able to leave, it was at least 25 minutes. Unacceptable. And even though I went to the front desk to say something so that we could get our check, no manager or anyone came to apologize or speak to us about it. I know it's a different place than what's already on Boylston, but with that type of service and with other great options in the area, there's no reason I would go back there.
(1)
Howe L.
A great place to drop by after work for a drink and chat. The scene is up there, and I noticed subtle hints of condescension. Still, the atmosphere is inviting, and we tried the lobster sandwiches with fried whole clams. Pretty good!
(4)
Claire W.
Friend took my here for a birthday lunch. The service was excellent. My friend had a medical procedure the day before and could only have soup. She has severe food allergies to poultry or seafood, and asked if the kitchen had any beef broth. They had veal broth, and were very accommodating in this request and a few others we had. I had the crab cakes, and we each had a glass of champagne, picked by my friend. Very nice meal (although I didn't realize until I arrived at lunch that my friend should have stayed home).
(4)
Tyler F.
So myself and 2 of my girlfriends decide to go and have drinks at Towne last thursday and we were denied access into the bar. It was 9 pm on a thursday and some a-hole at the door told us that we could not get in. We asked if we could just wait a few minutes until a few people came out then we would walk in. He said they were not letting anyone in for the rest of the night without a reservation. We told him we just wanted a few drinks but said we could not come in. It really ruined our night because we were planning on spending some time and some money at the bar while our friends all met us there. After that we were very discouraged and told everyone we know to forget it and met somewhere else. Not a very good first impression for this place. To the managers: try to be a little more accommodating and less snooty when patrons want to come spend some money at your bar, especially when you just opened up.
(1)
Kristen C.
Our waiter - in a word - awesome. We were seated by the open kitchen, perfect seats. Food pretty decent, but very overpriced. We had wine, so I can't judge the drinks. Good place, but I'm more likely to come drink and enjoy the scene than to eat here.
(3)
Jennifer J.
It was too big for me to be honest. I felt like we were in a factory. The design was nice but all over the place. This was my third time going and i was told that we could not stand and drink at the bar. Strange, right? Who knows maybe we will go back. it is very adult looking and I think Boston needs more of that. i did go across the street to The Social Club which I am told the same people own. It was really nice. Review to follow.
(2)
Sasha B.
Let's start with the food. It's decent, definitely far from exceptional. Nothing creative or unique. The service was awful and simply unacceptable from start to finish. Yes, reservation was made on opentable and we checked in with our name. After we leave I get an email from opentable that we were a no show. Ok no big deal. Our server was absolutely arrogant. Our bread was delivered with some butter/dips. The lady who delivered them had a thick accent when describing the dip. He comes over right after and says let me translate that for you. Wow classy. Food took forever, our server came over and told us our mains would be right out after clearing apps....45 minutes later they came. Never came back check on us even once. Check please
(2)
Jay G.
Another fantastic brunch! That makes three exceptional experiences, two for brunch and one very delicious dinner. The service was impeccable yet very warm and friendly. The food is what is expected from a world class chef and then some, and the vibe is what Boston has needed for years, fun, hip and yes, cool!
(5)
Marlene M.
Get dessert! There are many things I liked about Towne, but what I loved the most was the brown sugar angel food cake with maple cotton candy, and the citron cheesecake with lemongrass sorbet - both mind-blowingly decadent and delicious! All of the staff are extremely kind and attentive, the decor is elegant yet fun (love the beakers as water glasses) and the prices are reasonable for the high quality food you receive. One last note, it could be a good or bad thing depending upon how you look at it, but the cocktails at the ground floor bar are STRONG, so strong myself and someone else in my party could only handle a couple sips of our drinks.
(5)
Maria A.
I went here for the first time a few weeks ago. It was a Wednesday night and suprisingly really crowded. We had to wait a little while for a table because we didnt have a reservation. But we were able to enjoy a drink at the bar while we waited. The atmosphere was young and it seemed to be the place to go after work or for the evening. The restaurant is huge. I think 2 levels with a couple different bars. We ended up ordering a few apps instead of main entrees. We started with calamari which was ok. Nothing special. Next we ordered the lobster pizza which was amazing!! It was really filling and great. After that, we ordered some scordalia which was horrible! It didnt taste right so we sent it back. We ended up with the cupcakes which were really cute but kinda sweet. The best was the pizza and i would def go back! Our waitress was such a doll. Her name is Lauren and if i go again i would totally want to sit in her section again! All in all....this was a cool, hip place to go to, but the food wasnt necesarily the best. A great place to try out though!
(3)
John S.
I went to Towne for the first time today with two friends for brunch. It was the absolute worst service I have ever had in Boston in the 10 years I've lived here. We sat down and it took 15 minutes for the waiter to even greet us and acknowledge that we were there. We ordered beverages. It took another 15 minutes for them to be served. We received tea with no cream, milk, sugars, etc. Then the waiter never came back. We had to ask one of the other waiters to find him to take our order! We got our food. I asked the food server to ask our waiter to bring a side of mayo, which he never did. I couldn't eat my food for 20 minutes because once again our waiter was nowhere to be found. Our waters were all empty, never once refilled. Then we had to ask for the bill and he practically threw it at us. Never asked how the meal was, etc. This restaurant needs to establish a training program for their wait staff to go through ASAP. Utterly shocking for a Back Bay restaurant. The worst service ever in my life I repeat! Go to Mistral - they get it right every time!!
(2)
Gina R.
Definitely an upscale place for dinner and drinks on a Friday or Saturday night. The crowd is young and professional, and it's been busy each time I've been there. The bar can be a little crowded and you may wait a few minutes to be served, but there's a second bar in the back that's also open. A good spot to check out after work or for Sunday brunch.
(3)
PT V.
Lobster Pizza....I mean seriously, how can that not be awesome? It's lobster and its Pizza. It was really good. A big scene at this place these days, but legit food, and good people watching...I work across the street so it's convenient and I think I will start going here more. That being said, don't creep on me...unless you're a hot a girl and like shorter dudes...
(4)
Jasmine I.
Great cocktails and tasty food. The staff was amazing! I will have more dinners there in the future... And the desserts are delicious!
(4)
Aashna S.
Great service, great brunch, very accomodating. Get the eggs benedict veggie style. So good.
(5)
Jon R.
Towne is a good looking joint with decent service. I was surprised at how big the place was inside. We didn't try the food as we were on a Sunday Funday mission. So there.
(3)
Courtney R.
Towne has three bars: the immediate entryway with large windows facing the street, a backroom downstairs, and upstairs. If you are there after work, like we were, I say head for the back downstairs bar. For dinner, make sure to get reservations upstairs. The bartenders are friendly and make strong drinks. The crowd was bubbly and mid-30s for the bar scene on weeknights. Great ambiance.
(4)
A. A. R.
This review is for the front bar (with windows facing Boylston street). Went here on a Monday night around 11:30 (don't judge me - I had the next day off!) with a couple friends, and it was relatively full compared to other places in the area. The crowd was also more stylish and sophisticated - we were at Pour House before, which is all college students, and then at Whiskey's, which seemed to be filled with old men (full disclosure: I'm in college). The crowd at Towne's bar was probably ages 25-30, but I didn't feel uncomfortable being younger. Some guys bought my friends and I shots and we each ordered a drink. I was pleasantly surprised that my vodka soda was only $7.50! At most "upscale" bars, drinks are usually $10-12. I'd love to come back and check out Towne on a more happening night, but the upscale vibe mixed with affordable prices gives this place a 4 star review in my book!
(4)
Alexandra B.
Definitely love this place. Sunday nights are my favorite nights out and we always start at Towne! Tim is our favorite bartender and he's always there and part of our conversation. It gets crowded during the week, but if you can grab a seat at the bar I'd recommend getting to know the friendly staff
(4)
Leah L.
I stopped by Towne for a quick bite with a friend the other day. Really neat decor - love the light fixtures. More importantly, they had yummy cocktails. The martini I ordered was great and just strong enough. Would like to go again and try some of their more adventurous dishes - we just got the margherita pizza. The pizza was great, especially because it was wood grilled. Overall, I would definitely try Towne again.
(4)
Steve S.
Went to Towne a few weeks back for lunch. Had the Lobster Cobb Salad at the recommendation of the waiter (who was very good - though a bit over friendly.) While the meal was good - the wait for it to arrive while the rest of the restaurant was relatively empty - was a tad disappointing. That said, the food was good and those eating with me enjoyed theirs. I will say the cake for dessert was excellent.
(3)
jordan n.
GET OUTTA TOWNE... I had have been to towne a bunch of times for drinks but never tried the food. Last night we showed up around 8:30 and decided to get dinner. Started off with the bread assortment with hummus and an eggplant puree which turned out to be the best part of our meal. Our Pizza (g & j's mushroom pie) showed up first it was so it was sitting in a pool of grease maybe have been good other wise but it was so saturated I could not tell. Then our other apps showed up ravioli and some zucchini and eggplant chips. The ravioli had no taste and the chips were battered, some burnt and DRIPPING with Grease it also came with a nasty pesto dip which was way to oily as well. The entire meal came to $140 that was including five $10 drinks. If it hadn't been for a great service and good drinks I do not think I could have even given towne 1 star. If your in area I suggest going to Sel de la Terre to Eat (just next door ) then head over to Towne for drinks.
(1)
Jacki F.
Oh Towne, you started off swinging when you first opened about a year ago, but you aren't quite as bumping these days.... there's not even a line to get in most nights. I guess I shouldn't complain since this means I have been able to go there more frequently due to the abscence of said line. ANYWAYS.... Generally I would say I like Towne. There was definitely alot more elligible attractive bachelors there when they first opened, but it still has potential. The clientele seems to be a bit older now. Last time we were there, men in their forties were buying us drink and shots, which really i love a free drink, but id rather pay for my drink if i could flirt with a men in his 20's or 30's! I actually recently recommended this place to my mother on her next visit to Boston with her girlfriends. I have never eaten here and I honestly havent heard much about the food. All in all, the place is decent, I will be back mostly just because it's not full of college students and the people are noticeably classier than most of the bars in Boston.
(3)
Christian S.
Pricy and the cocktails are not great.
(2)
Abby S.
I want to give Towne more stars, but since I've only had one meal there I'm going to hold off. I heard about the wait for reservations, so I decided to try it for brunch with 2 of my girlfriends. The food was stellar, 2 of us had the blueberry pancakes with maple brown sugar cotton candy on top. The other friend had the eggs benedict and she seemed to really enjoy it too. We all split the hot cheddar grits which were awesome. If I was just writing this review based on the food, I would give it a 4.5 of 5 stars. But since I work in the advertising/marketing/design world, I am always influenced by visual cues. So I was a little disappointed in the identity of the place. There are touches of rustic farmhouse to it: wood plank floors, red checkered napkins, salt and pepper shakers in the shape of old faucets, the brunch menu with elaborate rooster illustrations on it. BUT then other things seem out of place: the water glasses are scientific beakers, the main menus are modern with sans-serif fonts and simple illustrations, much like their website. The overall atmosphere is hard to figure out, there's another side room that seems to be done in shades of grey, with cool glass globes hanging from the ceiling, middle-eastern nods....how does THAT fit in with the farmhouse/scientific vibe? Therefore, I don't know how to describe what the place stands for...and perhaps most people won't care, but as someone who really enjoyed both the food and decor at Locke-Ober, and now Scampo, I expect amazing things from Lydia Shire. But instead, it feels kind of hodge-podge. I will definitely go back, to try dinner mid-week when there aren't crowds, and possibly drinks some night. Although, I'll be honest, back when it opened, me and 2 other friends tried to go there for a drink, and were completely turned off by the "meat-market" vibe in the first floor bar. Now that I know there is also one on the second floor, I'll try that too. And maybe over more time, their identity will get as strong as the first few food items I tasted.
(3)
Mary R.
Lobster Pizza and Fried Green Beans Delicious! Service was great - Really nice atmosphere-and fun crowd.
(4)
Lauren S.
I really liked Towne. I went about two weeks after it opened, and was able to get a reservation for the same night I called (a Wednesday). I was expecting the service to be snooty and pretentious (as some other semi-upscale restaurants similar to Towne tend to be...) but everyone we interacted with was pleasant and helpful. Our waitress offered to literally go over the WHOLE menu with us, since it was our first time there. She answered all of our questions, and was attentive throughout the night. However when the dining room got super busy she was MIA for about 20 minutes after we finished our dinner. The decor on both floors was really interesting to say the least, and while it wasn't ground-breaking, it created a nice ambiance. Now onto the best part, the food! I started at the bar with the white sangria. It was fine, but I've had much better in Boston at places I wouldn't consider as nice. I was surprised by the bartender, who looked about 18, and honestly a little trashy (too much bad make-up, glitter eye shadow, and realllllly low top) but oh well, not a huge deal. For dinner, I ordered the shortrib, and my friend ordered the swordfish. They both were very good, and I think I liked the accompaniments to the dishes almost more than the meat(s). The sweet potato (I think?) puree that came with the short rib was amazing but there was hardly any of it on the plate; I ate it in tiny little bites to make it last longer. The clams that came with the swordfish were delicious, too - and I usually only "sort of like" clams. Simply put, the dessert was unbelievable. We ordered the angel food cake, which came with caramelized brown sugar crumbles, homemade caramel ice cream and a brown sugar/maple-y type cotton candy they make there as well. To die for.
(4)
Skip P.
Loved it. For an appetizer our table split the lobster pizza. spicy with a touch of honey, it was fantastic. I had the "Tuna #1" and it was great! I agree that the the laminated menu layout is odd and doesn't match the rest of the restaurant.
(4)
Sarah M.
One of my favorite things is to check out the new next hot spot. This place seemed to fall a bit short in all areas. I found lobster shell in my bisque and the waiter seemed extremely Jr. as he kept interrupting me and my date at strange times. I will give it a second try but will not do a 3rd if the experience is the same.
(2)
Andrea P.
It pains me to write this. I really really wanted to like this place. On the plus side: the service was great. From the host and hostesses to the bus boy- everyone was attentive and courteous. Our server was efficient and knowledgeable. Decor was decent. Bars were hopping. Drinks were legit. Unfortunately all of these positives could not overshadow the unimpressive food. We started with a fettuchini alfredo, which lacked seasonings, flavor, and sauce. It was pretty dry and boring. But the presentation was nice... We then moved onto the chicken thighs (under seasoned and undercooked,) softshell crab (tiny and lacking substance) and the portobello mushrooms (gritty, oily, and basically uneatable.) I left feeling hungry. It was a big disappointment. Despite the unremarkable food, I would return... to the bar. The drinks and service were both solid enough for me to come back. Being a new establishment, I expected some kinks in the staff, wait time, etc. This was not the case at all. Maybe it's just what we ordered, but I'm hopeful the food will soon follow the service.
(2)
Paul B.
Returned here on a Monday night to celebrate a birthday. Made a reservation via Open Table, we arrived on time and were immediately seated at the downstairs dining room . At 7:30 the place was mercifully not at all crowded and conversation was possible without straining one's vocal cords. Our party of three ordered two starters, the lobster popovers and the oysters on the half shell. In addition, a bread basket featured crispy flatbread and two spreads as well as a large pat of butter. The taramasalata was exceptional. The oysters were very fresh and briny but with a slight sweetness to their plump flesh. A special touch was a pea green sauce to go along with the usual cocktail sauce. Not sure of the ingredients, but it was an unusual accompaniment to the oysters. My guess is that they were Island Creek. Popovers were good too, with a surprising touch of maple syrup. For mains we ordered the partridge, skirt steak and salmon. The bird was excellent, the steak tender but very salty (arrived in a pool of pureed parsnips...yummy. We also ordered two sides: the lobster mashed potatoes and the fried onion rings. My companions had enough room for the maple cotton candy and an off the menu chocolate pudding. All that, plus four glasses of wine and two beers came to $210 before tax. Not all that bad, especially when considering that the service was efficient and sort of friendly, and the taste of the food was incredible. Towne can be either fine dining or meat market. Early on a Monday is was clearly the former and the atmosphere highly conducive to enjoying great food.
(4)
Jill M.
I went to Towne the first weekend it opened. I was really excited to try it as I'd been getting Urban Daddy emails about it. What I loved about Towne: Loved the decor, I thought it had a really great retro vibe. Loved my margarita, they use agave nectar which really makes for a great marg in my opinion. My meal!!! I had the short ribs with young ginger and lemon grass. Absolutely TO DIE FOR. (In fact, at one point, I said to my friends that I wished Lydia Shire was there so I could compliment her on my meal and I looked up from dinner and there she was! She did come over to the table to say hello eventually and I did in fact get to thank her for the great meal). The management, Tim who is the GM or the director offered us a tour of the restaurant at the end of our meal. He was extremely friendly and it was nice chatting with him What I disliked about Towne: Service... I can't say it was bad, but everyone seemed very nervous and unsure. Also, there were wayyyyyyy too many people there. I'd say at any given time there were at least 5 or 6 people standing against the wall looking for something to do. Menu, one thing about it was the abundance of unique ingredients. I'd looked up the menu prior to going and had to look up a bunch of the ingredients. (examples: nasurtium, burrata, raita, poori, robiolo) Prices, I thought they were a bit steep. Our bill was around $225 for 3 people. Overall, I'm definitely a fan. I thought it was a really great experience. The food and drinks were terrific and I would love to go back.
(4)
John C.
Excellent place for a Sunday brunch. The restaurant is clean and beautiful and the eggs benedict are amazing. It's 13 dollars for it and it comes with potatoes and some pastry kind of like a powdered donut hole. Service was pretty slow though even on a not so busy morning. The paper towels in the bathroom are the best paper towels I've ever used for whatever that's worth.
(4)
eliza b.
An upscale overdone greasy spoon. Everything is to excess, too sweet, too saucy, too greasy-- hello where's the edit button! Maybe, to test the waters start at the bar. I may be jaded; but restaurants this big you are a VERY small fish in a VERY big pond. There are so many other places I prefer to drop $100 per person for dinner (inclusive of tax & tip) - this is not it.
(2)
Ken V.
the food is great, the drinks are great, service is great. it's a nice place to go if you like seafood and are feeling a little spendy.
(4)
Carrie R.
is it possible to rate this restaurant LESS than one star?! everything about my dining experience at Towne was ATROCIOUS! from the service to the staff to the food! out of 3 people that ordered steak (of which the portion was ridiculously small) all three had to be sent back because (a) they were dangerously undercooked even though they were ordered medium and (b) b/c they were SO fatty you could barely chew them! a 4th person dining with me ordered the short ribs and asked over half a dozen times for the sauce cart and waited over 20 minutes for it. eventually the general manager brought it over. and my absolute FAVORITE part of the evening was when my friend ordered the lobster roll which came with a side of potato chips. however, instead of the potato chips, he substituted sauteed mushrooms for the chips. when the waiter brought out his "lobster roll" ... there was NO LOBSTER. rather, his hot dog roll was FILLED WITH SAUTEED MUSHROOMS WITH A SIDE OF POTATO CHIPS! after our steaks had been sent back once and still came back drastically undercooked and fatty, they were sent back a third time and came back drastically OVERcooked ... clearly the kitchen was overcompensating for their first two mistakes. our waiter was flighty and unattentive and the busboys seemed to have no idea what was going on ... and made it abundantly clear when one of them actually SAID to me "I have no idea what's going on." the manager did deduct a portion of the meals from our bill (about 50% ... but if you ask me, it should have been more). upon leaving, i was appalled to see there was a line to get into the TINY bar at the front of the restaurant. this place is OVERRATED and UNDER-delivered on EVERY aspect of the dining experience. i will NEVER set foot in that restaurant again! and, so long as you don't want to waste your time and money, i suggest you don't either!
(1)
Laura R.
We went on Friday night. Great place for 30 somethings although a little bit of a meat market. I gave it a mediocre rating because the sangria was disgusting. Not really sure what went wrong since sangria really isn't that hard to make, but it tasted like they forgot the sugar and watered it down with seltzer water. Also, the bouncers were like bathroom nazis. You have to walk through the back room to get to the bathrooms and for some reason, they would only let one girl from a group go through at a time. When she returned, he would let another one go. Strange.
(3)
A C.
I AGREE COMPLETELY WITH CARRIE R. Honestly, I know it is in its first weeks, but things like cooking steak properly and putting lobster in a "lobster roll" are not something to be forgiven especially when you have two renowned chefs in the kitchen. Service I can understand SOMEWHAT but food no way. I will day the decor was kinda cool except for the laminated menus which were so wrong.
(1)
Ryan D.
So far I have visited towne 3 times. But I feel like after last nights visit i can pretty much sum it up With a 3 star review. First of all the decor of this restaurant is super chic and contemporary, the style of the restaurant flows as each room has a corky theme. Unfortunately I wish I could rave about the product as much as the design. My first visit I only went for drinks. The drink menu is limited with 7 house cocktails. I started off with a cocktail called race day. Woodford reserve,cointreau,orange,eggwhite and angostura bitters. Now on paper this sounds like a beautiful cocktail but the bartender that made it was not so experienced. No dry shake and she just free poured everything. The thing that bugged me was that....i understand when you have a full bar you want to take short cuts, But when im paying $14 per cocktail i expect nothing but perfect. It honestly tasted like pure whisky, wasn't balanced couldn't taste any of the other ingredients and no froth from the egg whites. I was lucky enough to have Alexie the Bar Manager personally make another one which was good but to be honest it didn't wow me. My second Visit i had a few bar apps and decided to just go with beer just to be safe. THE LOBSTER POP OVER IS A MUST TRY. they add just a touch of honey which really made the flavors pop. The lobster pizza was also great. Finished it off with a few clown shoes. Last nights visit, we had reservation for 9:30pm made personally by chef lydia shire. I have been a big fan on her cooking since Locke Ober. We arrived around 9:20 waited for about 20-25 min until being seated. Our waiter was J.L which i guess stood for jonathan something...jonathan didn't have a clue about what was on the drink or food menu. He kept getting help from other staff members to answer for him. We started off with a bottle of Gewürztraminer which we figured would have been great with the tuna tar tar and lobster pop overs. The only problem here is...we drank 2 bottles of wine before our first corse arrived which took about a hour. : ( . Our main corse took about another 45 min. we ordered crispy duck, grilled tuna, prime rib roast , and lobster tail. My prime rib roast was so salty that it was inedible. It did come with a sauce cart which all the sauces were good but when combined with the meat the salt overpowered everything. The food was all decent....but thats just it.... decent.....not bad but not amazing. No wow factor.... 2 hours for dinner ended up being a little under $500.00. It didn't live up to the hype but this place does have potential. Give it a few months it will get better... cool fact: alot of cougars
(3)
Diana P.
I met a friend here for drinks that I hadn't seen in awhile and wanted to check it out. Based on the photos on their website I had a clear picture in my mind. I didn't make it around the place that much just in the bar area so my review is a little skewed I guess. The place was definitely popular, it was packed which was fine but people were kind of bumping into you constantly and it was pretty loud - not the best place to meet a friend you really wanted to catch up with but fine for a night out with the your usual suspects. The drinks were ok nothing special in my opinion although they seemed to have a decent specialty drink llist. The wait staff was great though I have to say. We were sitting on stools off to the side and someone came up and took our drink order which was pretty awesome. My number one downfall of this place is the music though. The way it was portrayed online I seemed a bit more swanky like a "Dirty Laundry" song type or something, I wasn't a huge fan of the random selection which included Ace of Base haha. Overall, good hot spot I guess for young professionals. I heard mixed things on the food.
(3)
J S.
Had dinner at Towne last night and I was surprisingly disappointed. The space is beautiful, specifically the large windows in the private dining room where we were seated for dinner. However the vibe in that part of the restaurant was unfortunately dull. It seemed more like being in a hotel event space which I'm assuming it's normally supposed to be used for. The space would have been much better utilized with as a bar area. That being said the dining room bar on the 2nd floor was a totally different place. It almost felt like we were in a different restaurant altogether. It was hip and happening and if we had dined in there it would have been a much better experience. The bars downstairs also had a great vibe and I could see myself going there for drinks often. Now on to the food. I was extremely disappointed, especially because I had such high expectations due to it being a Lydia Shire establishment. Most of what we ordered was either very salty or very bland. I order the lobster bisque for an appetizer which was pretty pricey at $15 for a small portion. It was extremely salty and I was shocked the kitchen would even send it out. For the entree I had the cod fillet which after reading the description on the menu sounded delicious. It was not. The fish itself was very bland which I expected as cod usually is but the accompaniments were bland as well. The chowder sauce they had it in was good but definitely not enough of it. For a $30 entree it should have been delicious. My friend had the avocado salad with pork crackling which was just ok. The pork was dry and the portion was small. All that being said, my other friend had the seared tuna and said it was amazing. The green beans were also very yummy. The bread basket was good but not enough of it and the fact that they charge $4.00 if you ask for more was ludicrous considering how pricey the entrees are. That put a bad taste in my mouth...no pun intended. The desserts were just ok. The chocolate cake or strudel was not what we expected. The angel food cake and creme brulee were decent. The service was really good and everyone was friendly including our waitress. She did an awesome job. All in all I think it's a great space and will be a neighborhood hot spot for years to come, however they need to improve the food. I did take into consideration that it was the first night so perhaps things will improve as time goes on. I would definitely go back for drinks but would be hesitant to go for dinner again. It was not worth the expensive bill.
(3)
Paula E.
The food was excellent. The service was excellent. Between the 8 people in our party, we tried the majority of the menu. The only reason I can't give this restaurant 5 stars is because a live mouse ran across the floor while we were still seated, but after we'd already eaten. The waiter explained that there has been some construction in the area and the mice are a result. He was very nice, and comped our dessert. I'd want to know about the mice, and that's why I'm sharing with you....
(3)
David m.
The first time I went, after waiting at the bar for 10 minutes, we left without getting a drink because we got 0 service. Tried again and it was less crowded and sat at the bar. I had a good dirty martini, only $9! the lobster popovers were awesome, a little on the sweet side, but lots of lobster meat. maybe the third visit will add more stars...
(3)
Lynda M.
My husband and I stopped in for brunch today, after hitting the Pru Mall. The 1st floor bar was dead, so we dined upstairs in the large dining room. The space is beautiful, and I like the atmosphere. It was pretty quiet. Our waiter was nice, but the pace of the meal seemed a bit slow. We ordered drinks, Prosecco and an Irish Coffee. We had to ask twice for sugar for the table. By the time the sugar arrived the coffee was lukewarm. Eww. Hubby enjoyed the donut like bread options. I ordered the cheddar omelet, and my husband the bacon sandwich with "extreme fries". Then we waited. And waited. When the food arrived, it was lukewarm. I saw full plates just sitting at the kitchen waiting, and waiting. I am sure our meals were amongst them. The food was decent, my omelet was yummy, it just would have been really good if it was hot. Same for the stuffed tomato. That was more like ice cold. My husband's extreme fries were about 5 potato chips. Not sure where the word extreme fits in. We would come back again to give it a try, maybe this time the food will be warmer, but I think it will be more of a drink place for us when we are in the area.
(3)
Helen B.
Towne for brunch/lunch - that is my most recent and best experience yet. The food was amazingly delicious. The de-constructed fish chowder a true surprise and very good. The pizza was so good and filling. We tried to shop afterward but we were so full !!! Service very good - which I have to mention because it has been my main complaint of Boston restaurants for the last 18 months. Everyone thinks I'm picky, but the service was professional and pleasant.
(4)
MJ S.
Went for a Saturday night dinner on the early side. It may be a "scene" but the food (dry Peking Duck and oily schnitzel) was mediocre at best. All appearance, no taste. Restaurant wasn't busy so wait staff stood in place appearing to glare at us. Sort of unsettling. Passed on dessert. With so many fine restaurants in the city why go here? Maybe the tourist and convention trade can keep Towne going, but I don't think that the restaurant deserves to make it.
(2)
Catherine H.
I have been to Towne for drinks and apps, and wasn't very impressed. We had a pizza that was NOT good, but the lobster pop overs were tasty. Yesterday, we went for a pre-Valentine's day brunch. They totally redeemed themselves! I had eggs benedict, and the BF had fried chicken and waffles. Both were amazing! I don't know if I would go back for dinner, but this is definitely on our brunch rotation.
(3)
Michelle H.
Towne is just what Boston needed! The front bar is a hot scene - loud and lively, but for a special treat, head to the back bar and ask for Michael. The bar is adjacent to the first floor dining room and is a more intimate experience. If you are lucky enough to score seats, settle in for celebrity treatment . Michael will whip up a cocktail to suit your tastes or help you select just the right wines to go with decadent, beautifully plated food. This bar can also be four rows deep on busy night, but even then you are in good hands and will not wait long for an expertly mixed drink.
(5)
Thomas G.
Great food & service! The lobster pizza is a must! We went on opening night, so I hope the restaurant remains at this caliber. The atmosphere is trendy but casual. Fun night out, especially for special occasions!
(5)
Yoli D.
I have been to Towne three times but have only eaten there twice. The first time I ate there, it was downstairs in the room closest to the entrance. I liked the atmosphere. The server was friendly and attentive even though it was extremely busy that night. Food and drinks were great. My friend and I enjoyed the entire experience. After that night, it became my friend's favorite restaurant. The second time I went there it was for a brunch to celebrate a friend's birthday. We sat in semi-private room upstairs. We were the only table that our server was waiting on (that I know of) and we went without water for so long a couple times, that one of the ladies in our party got up, walked across the room to get the pitcher of water, walked all the way back over to the table, filled 10 glasses with water and returned the pitcher without anyone at the restaurant noticing. The server didn't have any menu knowledge at all! Didn't know what chanterelles were mushrooms and didn't know that the deep fried poached eggs were deep fried after being poached. My food was served cold... a pet peeve of mine, but I let that slide since I was with a large party. The chicken and waffles that I had heard so many good things about from one friend ended up being okay, yep, just okay. I don't have a desire to go back here, but would go with my friend that loves it.
(3)
Hao W.
very nice food and desserts, good service too.
(4)
tureg u.
Trendy, bar, restaurant, in great location. excellent bar food. did not try the restaurant. good and friendly service.
(3)
Bianca D.
Finally a great eat in experience! I ate here last weekend with a group of friends from work and must say not only was the food great, but the service as well! One of the better dine in experiences I've had in Boston! I definitely recommend this restaurant and the wasabi steak!
(4)
Bob H.
My new favorite restaurant. Brunch was terrific. The dinner menu seemed expensive, but brunch was very reasonable. I had a crispy haddock with a blueberry muffin, my wife had smoked salmon and my daughter had an "over the sink" BLT. All meals were great.
(5)
Anya R.
I have only gone to Towne to grab drinks and have only stayed downstairs. I think on the weekends, this place is great for getting a drink before you head out as it does get fairly packed around midnight. At that time, the bouncers also love making people wait in line outside (I swear it's for show only). The drinks are nothing special but it's usually a pretty fun crowd (20s-30s with some creepy old men). Unlike other places in Boston, men actually offer to buy you drinks (but this could be because there are a lot of out of towners that come here). Anyways, overall a pretty fun and trendy spot for a night out!
(4)
Pete M.
My wife and I had dinner at Towne on Friday night. I was so excited as I've wanted to try this place out ever since I saw that it had opened. Jasper White and Lydia Shire, what could go wrong. Unfortunately we were both hugely disappointed with this spot, would not go back, and would definitely recommend people take their hard earned money elsewhere. We started off with the lobster popover for an appetizer. This, actually, was quite good. I good combination of the doughy popover with the lobster meat and a sweet, syrup like glaze made for a great start to the meal. That's where things went wrong! My wife ordered the swordfish and I had the salmon. After one bit of her swordfish, we realized that it was completely raw. Our waiter apologized and took it back to the kitchen and my wife thought she would get a new, properly cooked piece of fish, but they brought out the same one that she cut into. Now I would expect this from the 99, but when you're shelling out half your mortgage for a piece of swordfish I demand better! This is when we realized that this place was all hype and no delivery. My salmon was standard. Nothing that you couldn't do at home with a fresh piece of fish. I was excited that it came with yams but instead of some hearty potatoes, it was more of a drop of puree used more for decoration. We finished the night off with an apple tart for desert. Again, this was nothing that you couldn't make at home, except the ice cream they used had a weird, tart aftertaste. Instead of trying to be fancy or on the cutting edge, they should have just used regular vanilla ice cream for this dish. I think that this place is a growing problem for new restaurants in Boston. There is all this hype about getting a famous celebrity chef (or two) and that will be enough for a successful restaurant. Towne is extremely expensive and if I was going to recommend a nice spot for people to spend a lot of money on, this would NOT be it. If you want celebrity chef restaurants that are worth the money, try any of Chef Jaime Mammano's restaurants (Mistral, Sorrellina, Moo, etc.)
(2)
Paul B.
Went for brunch with my brother on Saturday afternoon cause they sent me a free $25 gift card good only for lunch or brunch that was about to expire at the end of the month. Too bad $23.50 was taken to pay for two very small glasses of OJ and two pots of tea. Nothing on the menus about price on coffee, tea or OJ. Both were nice, but with no liquor in either prep, I would never expect to pay more than $10 for 4 beverages. Also, the portions of food are pretty stingy for the price, you'll need that side of bacon and cheese grits to feel right in the belly when you're done. The food was good and service was OK, but I'll never go back; not to pay $85 including tip for breakfast food for two.
(2)
Leandrew R.
Went here for a work dinner on a Saturday evening. Lively crowd at the bar while I wanted, great photography on the wall. Was promptly seated upstairs in a gorgeous room and proceeded to have a delicious dinner. Waitress was nice, personable and took great care of us. Food was pretty good ... got scallops appetizer (uummm) + skirt steak with fried green onions. Can't go wrong. Once you get through the crowd and actually get a table you'll be a happy camper.
(5)
Abbey L.
I went back to Towne for brunch and it was great. I had the lobster omelet and my husband had poached eggs on steak hash, both of which were excellent. Brunch came with free donuts and lemon poppy bread - both delicious. Service was excellent as well.
(3)
Jack F.
Had dinner with a bunch of friends on a Tuesday night. Had heard about this place and wanted to try it out. I thought the menu was a bit weird. Had a difficult time making my choice. Food was average. One of the dinner portions was so small we thought it was an appetizer. Expensive.
I loved almost everything about Towne. The decor is beautiful and really makes you feel like you've stepped out of Boston. They paid such attention to detail when designing this place, and I can't help but rave about it. We made a reservation but had to wait 15 minutes but it was no big deal and got a drink in the bar, which was packed! I couldn't believe how full the restaurant was for it being so new. For dinner, between the 4 of us, we ordered the caesar salad (not your average ceasar), the tartare duo (amazing! tuna and sirloin tartare were unreal.), the fettuccine (mediocre and fairly small), and the duck (a little overdone but the huckleberry sauce complemented the duck so well that it was still so delicious), and the creme brulee for dessert (so good!). We ordered a bottle of wine that finally came to the table when we were basically finished eating and for the most part our server was never around when we needed her. You could see the server getting in arguments with the food runner when he brought out extra dishes, which was so unprofessional. All in all, Towne was amazing - the food, the decor, the drinks, and overall experience- but definitely needs to brush up on their service skills. Since its a new restaurant, I'm sure it will just take a little time for Towne to be one of Boston's best.
(4)
Caroline O.
We went to Towne on a Friday night with our favorite foodie couple to sample the fare and spend quality time together over the Thanksgiving holiday. We were really hoping to love it. Hubby and I and our 2 friends made reservations and we were glad we did since without a reservation-you would feel like a bum walking in off the street. We were unimpressed with the pretentiousness at the front door along with the red rope that led us into the place that made me feel like I might just be entering Zanizibar back in the early 90's again. Mr. White & Ms. Shire? Try Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. This is the personality disorder restaurant of our lives. Everything was so disjointed. The too crowded bar in the front with the investment bankers trying to impress the hoochie mamas, the noisy hipster lounge in the back with the wanna be's, the awkward ride in the elevator to actually take us up to our table in the upstairs restaurant which was quiet as a tomb. The equally akward elevator ride down again to use the bathroom. But we had to walk through the crowded back bar to get there. Bizzarre. The decor was totally mismatched as was the menu. Nothing made sense. Were we in a fine dining restaurant or an industrial chic warehouse? Were we looking at the menu options from the Cheesecake Factory where you can order a multitude of any country's cuisine with the watered down american twist added? I just don't know. I had the lobster bisque to start and while there was plenty of chunky lobster meat in it-the meat was too chewy and the bisque too watery. It took a long time for our meals to arrive and the restaurant was not packed. I ordered the short ribs for my meal and while they were the right consistency and cooked right -the dish was way too salty. The sides were not impressive and I felt the service to be lackluster. After dinner-I just wanted to go home and bathe my toungue in lemon water bath but our group insisted on ordering desert. I ordered an expresso and it was just again, not great. I had a bite of hubby's dessert which was so forgettable-I actually forget what it was. Biba, I will always remember you fondly, Summer Shack-you had me at hello, Towne Stove and Spirits (What was it supposed to be a Pub? I Just don't know!) I would rather watch Sybill do her thing on T.V. than experience it in a restaurant.
(2)
Lili M.
This place didn't quite do it for me. I ate in the upstairs part, by a window, which was nice and quiet/romantic but the food was just alright. I ordered chicken and a salad (forget which) but neither were that flavorful. Then for dessert we asked the waitress what she would suggest and she said their best and most popular dish was the bread pudding. We ordered it and it was GROSS. It also looked really sloppy and watery. For a special occasion and a more privatish setting, it's an option. For a dinner on a night when you have thousands of other options that offer the same sort of menu, I'd choose the other places.
(2)
Mrs. G.
Towne is a great spot for cocktails. They aren't outrageously expensive and they are well-done. I had a cucumber martini with honey sugar on the rim and it was really tasty. It was strong but it was smooth and perfect. I can't wait to go back to test out the food. The drinks are awesome.
(4)
Sammi N.
was unexpectedly impressed... I'm not typically a fan of touristy restaurants and I guess I quickly categorized Towne as that due to its location and lobster-focused menu. Bar is a great place to dine... I recommend sitting there versus the dining room, which appeared a little stuffy and prententious. Like most yelpers, lobster popovers was rich and delectable. My fave was actually a side dish - the roasted cauliflower is phenomal and huge portion which could easily be an entree. I definitely wouldn't go out of my way to dine here, but if I happen to already be in the city, it would definitely be high on my list for dinner.
(4)
Shell D.
My boyfriend and I were on a day trip to Boston and decided that Towne would be right up our alley. The service was very good - our waiter was helpful and attentive. I ordered the duck for dinner, I wasn't overly impressed - I've had better - but it was very good. My boyfriend ordered the prime rib and it was delicious. This restaurant has a lot of potential to be excellent, but the food is not completely where it should be.
(4)
Jeffrey H.
I came here on a Thursday night with a bunch for a get-together. The service was good, my water was never empty. The food was decent but my favorite is the lobster popover. It was so flavorful and sweet. However, it was a tad too loud where we were seated other then that the ambience was okay. The desserts did take a while to come out. 3 stars because it was okay.
(3)
J P.
The food was DELICIOUS, but they were playing really loud music. I felt like I had to scream during dinner so people could hear me. So, if you want great food, but only so-so ambiance, I would recommend it. If looking for a romantic night out, I would recommend steering clear.
(3)
Holly M.
I like Towne for its fashionable decor, fashionable people, and fun vibe. I have been a few times for special events like birthdays and parties and it has been very consistent. The drinks are always the highlight for me, but the creativity is very fun and unique. I can always count on a craft cocktail and a lovely meal at Towne.
(3)
E F.
I've only eaten here once with 3 other people, and we came for brunch. It was delicious. The french toast was full of flavor and fresh, great sides, the eggs Benedict was excellent, and the other dishes were great. We liked the decor and the free donut holes that were served. Based on brunch a lone, this place was great
(5)
Ann M.
I loved Towne Stove and Spirits, and am awarding this restaurant my first 5 star Yelp rating. The design of the restaurant is beautiful, and creatively straddles the line between fun and dignified. When you arrive at Towne, you feel you can be merry and witty, all at once. The attention to detail is stirring, and before you've had a mouthful, it's a feast for the senses. The splendid window fabrics, the gray and red tones of the leather upholstered chairs, and the mural that colorfully dances across a wall are captivating and pleasing. Light fixtures create attitude and ambiance and stand out as ICA contenders all on their own. I appreciated the way light and images refracted around me from strategically placed mirrors, providing all dining guests views of either the kitchen team in action, or Bostonians making pace along Boylston Street. To lift you from any serious mood that often besets a Bostonian, you'll find salt and pepper shakers at your table reminding you of Restoration Hardware lavatory faucets, and beaker water glasses that bring back to mind the mess you created with your middle school chemistry lab partner. Karen, our server, made wonderful recommendations for both food and wine. I took all her advice and was delighted. My Peking Chicken and Pot Pie were moist, delicious and fragrant from a dusting of salt and Chinese Five Spices. The garnish of toasted ginger further awakened my senses. My son raved about his Swordfish Steak with White Clam Risotto, and topped his meal off with a chocolate pudding he found soul satisfying. Afterwards, we headed to Fenway Park for a game. When we later got home, my son remarked to me that he enjoyed the game, but that the best part of the night was his Swordfish entree, asking me when we might return to Towne. If Lydia and Jasper's culinary boldness and heart felt wizardry topped the Boston Red Sox for my son, imagine what a visit to Towne can do for you.
(5)
Denise M.
This is an upscale bar tailoring to the new Boylston St crowd. While it was very crowded, the bartenders at the back bar held up their end great, making good drinks and giving us reasonable service. The good: bartenders, location and a unique drink menu The not-so-good: pretty over priced - $15 martini's just aren't realistic. The clientele is also VERY uppity and revel in that. You aren't going here to meet new people, you're going to snub others.
(3)
Jamie T.
My Mother was in town and I had been wanting to try this place for a while. Since she is as much of a foodie as I am I thought it would be a perfect place to go for lunch. And trust me when I say... it definitely was! We had a fabulous lunch (shared three dishes). We had the tuna salad, which was uniquely plated and tasted great, we had the beef carpaccio with homemade burrata which was also delish, as well as the crab cake. All would be suggested. I had some lemonade-ish martini that was UNREAL. I will definitely be returning. Oh, and a shout out to our waiter (I believe his name was Tommy? I could totally be wrong and I am sorry if that's the case) but he was super friendly and really great! Definitely recommended!
(4)
Jessica G.
Not bad. Got the lobster roll and clam strips. Sat at the bar for dinner and it was so dark, I wasn't sure if they were trying to hide the food! But it was good. Wine selection wasn't all that impressive.
(3)
Jillian Q.
I went for after work drinks and apps with a friend who goes here often. It was crowded up front, but they had a really nice bar in the back with a nice bartender and a friendly crowd. This is not usually my after work scene, but I liked Towne. We ordered the flatbread and the tar tare for apps. The flatbread was ok, although using pomodoro sauce instead of straight tomato sauce was a nice touch. I would ask for a little bit more of the fantastic cheese they used next time. The tar tare was excellent and I enjoyed that it was both tuna and sirloin. We enjoyed some excellent wine and had a nice time. Be warned, though, that it's expensive (well, expensive for my budget). I left there paying what I might pay for an entire dinner elsewhere. I did have fun, though, and I would return as a "splurge".
(3)
Kimberly H.
Completely overrated. Food and service were abhorrent considering the price. This place is clearly trying way too hard and unfortunately, not succeeding. Two of my colleagues ordered the tuna - when the dishes came out, you almost couldn't tell that it was the same dish. One colleague scored and her tuna was what you would have expected - seard. The other - not so lucky. His was cut differently - much thinner and completely overcooked. If you are going to serve different cuts of fish I would not recommend doing so at the same table and the chef definitely should have adjusted cooking time for the thinner pieces. My salmon was also overcooked. And the sides did nothing for the dish - didn't make it bad but certainly didn't enhance any of the flavors. The service was really poor. Both the appetizers and entrees were given to the wrong individuals - rookie mistakes. The server never came back to check on us once the food was served by support staff. No one came to check on us for at least 15 minutes - during which time, two of the four of us had empty water glasses and one colleague had dropped her fork - but there weren't even people passing by to flag down. I'd prefer to not have to stalk the staff to get something when I'm paying $30 per entree. Really too bad as it seemed like it could be a fun, eclectic place - good vibe. Alas - I wouldn't go here for the food.
(1)
Dan W.
Great place, huge patio with a menu that is very unique. 2 stories with very modern chic touches. This is one of my number one recommendations to visitors in the area. 3 bars through out the place with each one so different. Great social area and like I said great food. Sent my family there for a meal and they were pleased. Some things are very interesting combinations on the menu but thats what they want. Unique dining with a downtown Boston fits perfectly. You go here when you want a variety for food not known for one thing over the other. Well, aside for there super rich and tasty lobster popovers!
(5)
Honesta A.
generally, people like to go clubbing after dinner, not while they're eating. cool space, but it's wasted by lack of ambience. the hostess introduces you with an a wanna-be nyc exclusive attitude. luckily, the music is so loud overhead, you barely notice her bitchy tone of voice. the food is ok, but they try so hard by putting way too much creativity into it. can't have a piece of without it being wassabe-fied. ok food is not an option for the price you pay. i recommend people don't go there unless they don't care about ambience and good food.
(1)
Tyler F.
So myself and 2 of my girlfriends decide to go and have drinks at Towne last thursday and we were denied access into the bar. It was 9 pm on a thursday and some a-hole at the door told us that we could not get in. We asked if we could just wait a few minutes until a few people came out then we would walk in. He said they were not letting anyone in for the rest of the night without a reservation. We told him we just wanted a few drinks but said we could not come in. It really ruined our night because we were planning on spending some time and some money at the bar while our friends all met us there. After that we were very discouraged and told everyone we know to forget it and met somewhere else. Not a very good first impression for this place. To the managers: try to be a little more accommodating and less snooty when patrons want to come spend some money at your bar, especially when you just opened up.
(1)
Kristen C.
Our waiter - in a word - awesome. We were seated by the open kitchen, perfect seats. Food pretty decent, but very overpriced. We had wine, so I can't judge the drinks. Good place, but I'm more likely to come drink and enjoy the scene than to eat here.
(3)
Sasha B.
Let's start with the food. It's decent, definitely far from exceptional. Nothing creative or unique. The service was awful and simply unacceptable from start to finish. Yes, reservation was made on opentable and we checked in with our name. After we leave I get an email from opentable that we were a no show. Ok no big deal. Our server was absolutely arrogant. Our bread was delivered with some butter/dips. The lady who delivered them had a thick accent when describing the dip. He comes over right after and says let me translate that for you. Wow classy. Food took forever, our server came over and told us our mains would be right out after clearing apps....45 minutes later they came. Never came back check on us even once. Check please
(2)
Jay G.
Another fantastic brunch! That makes three exceptional experiences, two for brunch and one very delicious dinner. The service was impeccable yet very warm and friendly. The food is what is expected from a world class chef and then some, and the vibe is what Boston has needed for years, fun, hip and yes, cool!
(5)
Marlene M.
Get dessert! There are many things I liked about Towne, but what I loved the most was the brown sugar angel food cake with maple cotton candy, and the citron cheesecake with lemongrass sorbet - both mind-blowingly decadent and delicious! All of the staff are extremely kind and attentive, the decor is elegant yet fun (love the beakers as water glasses) and the prices are reasonable for the high quality food you receive. One last note, it could be a good or bad thing depending upon how you look at it, but the cocktails at the ground floor bar are STRONG, so strong myself and someone else in my party could only handle a couple sips of our drinks.
(5)
Maria A.
I went here for the first time a few weeks ago. It was a Wednesday night and suprisingly really crowded. We had to wait a little while for a table because we didnt have a reservation. But we were able to enjoy a drink at the bar while we waited. The atmosphere was young and it seemed to be the place to go after work or for the evening. The restaurant is huge. I think 2 levels with a couple different bars. We ended up ordering a few apps instead of main entrees. We started with calamari which was ok. Nothing special. Next we ordered the lobster pizza which was amazing!! It was really filling and great. After that, we ordered some scordalia which was horrible! It didnt taste right so we sent it back. We ended up with the cupcakes which were really cute but kinda sweet. The best was the pizza and i would def go back! Our waitress was such a doll. Her name is Lauren and if i go again i would totally want to sit in her section again! All in all....this was a cool, hip place to go to, but the food wasnt necesarily the best. A great place to try out though!
(3)
John S.
I went to Towne for the first time today with two friends for brunch. It was the absolute worst service I have ever had in Boston in the 10 years I've lived here. We sat down and it took 15 minutes for the waiter to even greet us and acknowledge that we were there. We ordered beverages. It took another 15 minutes for them to be served. We received tea with no cream, milk, sugars, etc. Then the waiter never came back. We had to ask one of the other waiters to find him to take our order! We got our food. I asked the food server to ask our waiter to bring a side of mayo, which he never did. I couldn't eat my food for 20 minutes because once again our waiter was nowhere to be found. Our waters were all empty, never once refilled. Then we had to ask for the bill and he practically threw it at us. Never asked how the meal was, etc. This restaurant needs to establish a training program for their wait staff to go through ASAP. Utterly shocking for a Back Bay restaurant. The worst service ever in my life I repeat! Go to Mistral - they get it right every time!!
(2)
Gina R.
Definitely an upscale place for dinner and drinks on a Friday or Saturday night. The crowd is young and professional, and it's been busy each time I've been there. The bar can be a little crowded and you may wait a few minutes to be served, but there's a second bar in the back that's also open. A good spot to check out after work or for Sunday brunch.
(3)
PT V.
Lobster Pizza....I mean seriously, how can that not be awesome? It's lobster and its Pizza. It was really good. A big scene at this place these days, but legit food, and good people watching...I work across the street so it's convenient and I think I will start going here more. That being said, don't creep on me...unless you're a hot a girl and like shorter dudes...
(4)
Jasmine I.
Great cocktails and tasty food. The staff was amazing! I will have more dinners there in the future... And the desserts are delicious!
(4)
Aashna S.
Great service, great brunch, very accomodating. Get the eggs benedict veggie style. So good.
(5)
A. A. R.
This review is for the front bar (with windows facing Boylston street). Went here on a Monday night around 11:30 (don't judge me - I had the next day off!) with a couple friends, and it was relatively full compared to other places in the area. The crowd was also more stylish and sophisticated - we were at Pour House before, which is all college students, and then at Whiskey's, which seemed to be filled with old men (full disclosure: I'm in college). The crowd at Towne's bar was probably ages 25-30, but I didn't feel uncomfortable being younger. Some guys bought my friends and I shots and we each ordered a drink. I was pleasantly surprised that my vodka soda was only $7.50! At most "upscale" bars, drinks are usually $10-12. I'd love to come back and check out Towne on a more happening night, but the upscale vibe mixed with affordable prices gives this place a 4 star review in my book!
(4)
Alexandra B.
Definitely love this place. Sunday nights are my favorite nights out and we always start at Towne! Tim is our favorite bartender and he's always there and part of our conversation. It gets crowded during the week, but if you can grab a seat at the bar I'd recommend getting to know the friendly staff
(4)
Leah L.
I stopped by Towne for a quick bite with a friend the other day. Really neat decor - love the light fixtures. More importantly, they had yummy cocktails. The martini I ordered was great and just strong enough. Would like to go again and try some of their more adventurous dishes - we just got the margherita pizza. The pizza was great, especially because it was wood grilled. Overall, I would definitely try Towne again.
(4)
Steve S.
Went to Towne a few weeks back for lunch. Had the Lobster Cobb Salad at the recommendation of the waiter (who was very good - though a bit over friendly.) While the meal was good - the wait for it to arrive while the rest of the restaurant was relatively empty - was a tad disappointing. That said, the food was good and those eating with me enjoyed theirs. I will say the cake for dessert was excellent.
(3)
jordan n.
GET OUTTA TOWNE... I had have been to towne a bunch of times for drinks but never tried the food. Last night we showed up around 8:30 and decided to get dinner. Started off with the bread assortment with hummus and an eggplant puree which turned out to be the best part of our meal. Our Pizza (g & j's mushroom pie) showed up first it was so it was sitting in a pool of grease maybe have been good other wise but it was so saturated I could not tell. Then our other apps showed up ravioli and some zucchini and eggplant chips. The ravioli had no taste and the chips were battered, some burnt and DRIPPING with Grease it also came with a nasty pesto dip which was way to oily as well. The entire meal came to $140 that was including five $10 drinks. If it hadn't been for a great service and good drinks I do not think I could have even given towne 1 star. If your in area I suggest going to Sel de la Terre to Eat (just next door ) then head over to Towne for drinks.
(1)
Jacki F.
Oh Towne, you started off swinging when you first opened about a year ago, but you aren't quite as bumping these days.... there's not even a line to get in most nights. I guess I shouldn't complain since this means I have been able to go there more frequently due to the abscence of said line. ANYWAYS.... Generally I would say I like Towne. There was definitely alot more elligible attractive bachelors there when they first opened, but it still has potential. The clientele seems to be a bit older now. Last time we were there, men in their forties were buying us drink and shots, which really i love a free drink, but id rather pay for my drink if i could flirt with a men in his 20's or 30's! I actually recently recommended this place to my mother on her next visit to Boston with her girlfriends. I have never eaten here and I honestly havent heard much about the food. All in all, the place is decent, I will be back mostly just because it's not full of college students and the people are noticeably classier than most of the bars in Boston.
(3)
Christian S.
Pricy and the cocktails are not great.
(2)
Abby S.
I want to give Towne more stars, but since I've only had one meal there I'm going to hold off. I heard about the wait for reservations, so I decided to try it for brunch with 2 of my girlfriends. The food was stellar, 2 of us had the blueberry pancakes with maple brown sugar cotton candy on top. The other friend had the eggs benedict and she seemed to really enjoy it too. We all split the hot cheddar grits which were awesome. If I was just writing this review based on the food, I would give it a 4.5 of 5 stars. But since I work in the advertising/marketing/design world, I am always influenced by visual cues. So I was a little disappointed in the identity of the place. There are touches of rustic farmhouse to it: wood plank floors, red checkered napkins, salt and pepper shakers in the shape of old faucets, the brunch menu with elaborate rooster illustrations on it. BUT then other things seem out of place: the water glasses are scientific beakers, the main menus are modern with sans-serif fonts and simple illustrations, much like their website. The overall atmosphere is hard to figure out, there's another side room that seems to be done in shades of grey, with cool glass globes hanging from the ceiling, middle-eastern nods....how does THAT fit in with the farmhouse/scientific vibe? Therefore, I don't know how to describe what the place stands for...and perhaps most people won't care, but as someone who really enjoyed both the food and decor at Locke-Ober, and now Scampo, I expect amazing things from Lydia Shire. But instead, it feels kind of hodge-podge. I will definitely go back, to try dinner mid-week when there aren't crowds, and possibly drinks some night. Although, I'll be honest, back when it opened, me and 2 other friends tried to go there for a drink, and were completely turned off by the "meat-market" vibe in the first floor bar. Now that I know there is also one on the second floor, I'll try that too. And maybe over more time, their identity will get as strong as the first few food items I tasted.
(3)
Mary R.
Lobster Pizza and Fried Green Beans Delicious! Service was great - Really nice atmosphere-and fun crowd.
(4)
Naomi B.
Pros: Easy to find seating in the bar Attentive service Relaxing and fun environment Clean bathrooms Recommend the lobster popovers and eggplant pizza! Cons: Can't comment on the entrees as we only ordered appetizers. Don't have any compliants!
(4)
Alex H.
A nice, quiet place to get brunch but beware of the slow service. Each time I've come here I'm always happy with the food, but it takes forever to get/pay the check afterwards. For brunch, they always offer you a complimentary snack like a fruit smoothie or house made donuts. So that's a great perk.
(4)
Paul F.
Great stuff This is a creative place: perfect for the foodie in you. Not a 10 and not a 5: you know what I mean. Lydia does it all.
(3)
Andrea B.
Just saw 3 mice running around upstairs. The manager said, "there's nothing we can do there's construction next door." GROSS!!!! Don't eat at Towne.
(1)
Mrs. G.
This is one of those tricky restaurants to write a review for. The food was phenomenal. I am a foodie--I have eaten at a lot of very nice restaurants, and I (humbly) think I have a good palate. I came to Towne with a party of 8. We made a reservation a month in advance. I read about the slow service so I prepared myself. We were there for three hours (from sitting until we finished eating dessert--and then we sat for a bit longer than the three hours). That is how long it took for our food to come out. We did order appetizers, entrees, and dessert. The service was not just slow...it was like crawling around a high school track, trying to complete a mile. Let's take this one step further...the waitress was absolutely miserable. We all tried to overcompensate by being ultra friendly, and she was so rude, it became almost comical. We were definitely inconveniencing her by being there. Out of the eight of us, we tried many dishes, and everyone raved about their food. We all live in and around Boston, so we have been to many of the restaurants. But as delicious as the food was, it was very small portions. I ordered a scallop special and received a half a cup of risotto and four medium-sized scallops. Between the eight of us, our bill came to close to $600, so it is pricey enough, that I would have appreciated bigger portions and a waitress that was at least neutral in her temperament toward us. And if you go a little bit later, be prepared that this turns into a weird, nightclub feel. We will not be returning. Positives-- Delicious food, nice ambiance Negatives--slightly small portions, unfriendly waitress, very long wait time
(2)
Bryan R.
$16 manhattan. Ok, that's the basis for my review. It could go two ways. Oh, it was $16 but it was really fucking good. Or, it was $16 and I really regret coming here. It was one of those.
(2)
Dan S.
Emily N is possibly the most friendly and professional waitress that I have encountered. My travels take me to at least two cities per week so I can attest to what I view as a five star rating. Importantly, the food was superb. Excellent quality for the price. This place is a "must go." Ask for Emily's section !
(5)
Nigel F.
My girlfriend, Liz and I saw Towne Stove and Spirits in the Dine Out Boston (formerly Restaurant Week) lineup and thought we'd give it a shot. I had the truffle mushroom soup, the porchetta, and the chocolate cake, and Liz had the arugula salad, the salmon with jasmine rice, and the lemon sorbet with blueberry compote. The soup was really hearty and Liz's salad was well dressed (with a sherry vinaigrette) and had tasty and creative accents like shaved green apple slices, black truffle cheese, and candied walnuts. My entree, the porchetta, came with asparagus, shallots, sweet potato gnocchi (which were delightfully fluffy and full of flavor) and a sweet huckleberry sauce. Liz's entree, the salmon, was perfectly cooked, juicy and flaky and the bok choy soaked up the soy and ginger sauce. My dessert, the chocolate cake, was fantastic, dense and fudge like under a chocolate shell. Very filling. Liz's lemon sorbet was certainly the lighter of our two desserts, but was not without loads of flavor. As for drinks, we both got beers, as the cocktails and wines by the glass were a little more than we wanted to pay. Their wine list is extensive however, though most are by the bottle only. This isn't a big downside for us though, merely a mark of a stellar restaurant. The service was great, ambience was pleasant. If you are looking for a fantastic meal, you should really stop by Towne Stove and Spirits during Dine Out Boston!!
(5)
Warren M.
Normally wouldn't review a restaurant with so many reviews, both good and bad, but I did go there with past reviews in mind so I'll address my pre-conceived notions. Front bar was noisy but comfortable. Bartender couldn't have been more friendly or prompt. Seating was on time. Waiter friendly, knowledgable and efficient. Longer than expected time to get a second glass of wine but he obviously had waited himself because his tray was loaded. NOISE, way too loud! Table for four had to lean into each other and yell to be heard. Wood floor and ceramic, subway restroom style ceiling tiles, though both nice, were the culprit. Given the age of the building I have to assume this was intentional, probably to create a frenetic drinking atmosphere. Not for me. FOOD: other couple have been there numerous times, like it and had favorite meals. I did notice that their steaks didn't come with any vegetables but a tiny amount of greens. I didn't want a whole meal. Offerings were limited. I got the Marguerita pizza. Very disappointing. Was actually appetizer sized. The thinnest of cardboard crust sparsely covered with several pieces of tomato and Mozzarella and an equal amount of uncovered cardboardy space. It did taste better than it looked. Spouse had a steak described as pounded for tenderness and spicy with "spices" described as salt and pepper. The finished product was a paper thin plank about the thickness of my cardboard pizza, "very over spiced with other spices" again with no vegetables and greens, also over spiced. So, I must concur that this is a good place for a loud after work drink. Adequate red wine list by the glass, extensive white wine list, oddly enough. I would consider meeting people at one of the bars but would not return to eat. Oh, one very good attribute for cold or inclement weather, but for about 50 yards from the door, one can walk from the restaurant to Back Bay Station inside.
(2)
Alex B.
BRUNCH Bread pudding ... Bread pudding ... Bread pudding! Typed it 3 times and already salivating just a few short hours after eating it. Also asked one of the hostesses there to sneak a tray out the back door for me. Still waiting on her response. Hopefully she agrees. As a disclaimer I did attend brunch free of charge with the Boston Brunchers but being that I live two blocks away I will sure as shit be back and spend the $38 for the buffet on another future hungover sunday AM. Chances are I will pay that and just end up piling a plate of this 500 cal per bite (complete estimate but I loved it so much I just assume it's not good for you) bread pudding. Other favorites of mine included their short rib hash, oyster tower, and pancake bar. They also several cheese wheels out with a brie, cheddar, roquefort (unbelievable), and bleu. I skipped over the juicy fresh sliced pork at the carving station but other brunchers had great things to say about it. DINNER Have paid for dinner several times. Just as a prelude with a $40 brunch, you could probably imagine dinner would get kind of pricey too. At times I have definitely thought it is a little too expensive for what you get but I still enjoy it quite a bit and keep coming back. Maybe it is the preppy / yuppie vibe, not really sure. I do need to say though, that it gets very loud in the dining area around dinner time. I think it is the wide open space and bad acoustics but it is kind of hard to hear people talk at certain tables. I think that is hard to adjust but worth pointing out. Anyway, always quick to jump on the oysters which are always fresh and oyster-y perfection. Their pizzas / flatbreads are pretty good too. Lobster, leek, black truffle one is out of this world but then again so is the price at $27 so almost not worth it but if you are feeling generous, go for it. As for dinner, I have gotten both their scallops and pork chop which both left my tummy feeling very very happy. I have also heard tons and tons of people talk up their burger so I probably need to get in there and try that. Bar is always hopping as well on the weekends. I should probably stop in more for drinks. I mean drinks are always a good reason to go somewhere, so why not?
(4)
Jo-Ellen D.
Came here last night to catch up with a friend I hadn't seen in forever, proceeded to spend almost 4 hours there. The food was great (I had oysters and lobster ravioli) and they had a fantastic scotch selection. We kept talking and weren't ready to order like the first 3 times she asked, and we never got one bit of a hint of attitude or irritation about that. Same goes for how long we stayed after the bill was paid. It was pricey, but that's to be expected for the area. So be prepared to drop some dough. I would definitely go back if I still lived in the area.
(5)
Big S.
i am surprised this has 3 stars. yes the prices are awful and way too expensive for what you are paying for, but that is standard in back bay. the food is pretty good. we got a couple different flat breads and the filets, and everything tasted great. service was alright, nothing incredible but not bad either. i would try and eat upstairs, its louder downstairs near the bar. good bread and dipping hummus when they serve you as well. drinks are strong but good. overall, good option for this area.
(4)
Jamie H.
i went to towne stove and spirits with about 7 colleagues for lunch. overall, the food was pretty good but the service was extremely slow. it took us almost an hour and a half for the whole ordeal, but most of that was upfront time and by the time we actually got our food we pretty much shoveled it in and left in the last 15 minutes. the first strange part was that when we sat down at the table, we were not given menus. also, i'll note that we were one of the first parties to arrive for lunch, so the restaurant was not busy. after taking our drink order, the waitress came back looking at us expectantly. we looked at her expectantly, and the finally i asked if we might be able to get menus. we ordered fairly quickly, and then waited. and waited. and waited longer. a few people at the table had gotten soups, and these came, and then we waited. and then waited. and then waited longer. we tried desperately to make some eye contact with our waitress, but she was avoiding the situation. it would have been nice to at least get a reason why we were waiting, and why all of the other tables around us had been served food and left. most of us canceled our next meeting, some people had to get up from the table. we finally got our food over an hour into the lunch, and i'll be honest, it was just salads and sandwiches. i had ordered a salad with grilled chicken, asparagus, tomatoes, cucumber, and carrots. the chicken was cold! how did it take an hour to produce cold chicken? my vegetables were fresh and the lemon juice dressing was tangy, but it certainly did not make up for the wait. i also enjoyed the pita chips and hummus that all diners receive upon arriving, and this seems to be house-made. i also sampled a few of the sweet potato fries, and they were really good, slightly salty and pretty crispy. everyone else seemed to enjoy their food, but was also put off by the extremely long wait.
(3)
Squidy D.
Is it OK to serve raw duck? I don't know, but that's what I got when I ordered the Peking style duck from the specials menu. The service was slow, I don't think it was the waitress's fault as the drinks were on time and refills were not an issue. The food just took forever and it wasn't like the duck spent a lot of time on the stove. If it is OK to serve rare/raw duck I would have liked to have been asked my preference as I would prefer my duck cooked.
(1)
Corey L.
Went with a family group after a graduation. Showed up on a Friday night around 6:30 and it was surprisingly empty. Pleasantly. First, our waitress was incredible. Quite helpful, though she oversold the drinks a bit, though I think was trying to be honest. So I got the Sangria and margarita. Sangria was pretty good - not super sweet, but also pretty weak. I was then quite excited for the margarita, which was similar - well made, but pretty weak. So I'd say they use good ingredients, but are shy with liquor. I'm not a lush, but I like my drinks to taste like they have alcohol in them We shared a number of appetizers and stuff in the bar, including: -Sweet potato fries: good -regular fries: good fries -white truffle Polenta fries: typical for polenta fries - wanted better with the truffle -lemon grass Chicken skewers: pretty good -Chips/ chipotle guacamole: woulda liked more chipotle (I like spicy) but good. -margarita flatbread: really good -fig and duck confit: tasty We had a good time, and the food and drinks were good. Both were sort of like fancy gourmet-light. Had great ingredients, and tasted good, but just fell a bit short of my expectations given the price and location.
(3)
Melanie D.
I visited Towne for lunch with colleagues last week. While certainly on the pricey side, the food and service were outstanding. The atmosphere was also very elegant and welcoming. Before we placed our orders, we were brought something which I believe they said was a fava bean puree (although it was green so I'm not sure what else was in it?) with some sort of chip/cracker - a fun alternative to bread and surprisingly tasty snack before our meal. We also each ordered a glass of wine - the sauvignon blanc I had was really refreshing and crisp, and paired perfectly with my lunch. For lunch, I had the soup and half sandwich, with a butternut squash bisque and a fresh roasted chicken salad sandwich. I really enjoyed every bite of it and left feeling perfectly full. It also came with a small side salad which I wasn't expecting. Our service throughout the meal was impeccable - attentive, friendly and very much a fine-dining experience. I will definitely be back to Towne again!
(4)
Nate Y.
I haven't been here since the Yelp Elite Event in 2011 which was great, but quite frankly the average Yelp rating of 3 stars was deterring me from giving Towne a chance with my dining dollars. I came here with a group on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, but only because our original meeting spot had a wait list. Someone recommended Towne saying that the patio was usually open, which was the case. The patio was set in a great spot away from the traffic on Boylston St. and a good choice of seating of shade or sun. We were served complimentary coffee cake and maple glazed doughnuts! The coffee cake was served warm, personally ate several of these bite size morsels, and a friend ate most of the doughnuts. I usually order sweet versus savory brunch items, but with all the coffee cake I just ate I decided on the eggs benedict. Turned out to be a great choice. The eggs were cooked the way I like (yolk was a nice and gooey) with bacon on an english muffin served with a side of fried potatoes that were perfectly crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Service was excellent, accommodating someone's request to switch out the watermelon on his fruit plate for more of the other fruit being offered. All in all an unexpected satisfying brunch and would come back again.
(4)
Warren C.
Saturday brunch here. I got the chicken and waffles, which ended up being surprisingly tasty, as it was served with bacon and Tabasco sauce. The place was nice, it wasn't busy. Service was fast and friendly. I'd have to try the dinner here sometime.
(4)
Jessica N.
Came here for a private party. Cute ambience but service was a little lacking. Food was decent (yummy sliders), but couldn't get over the non-accomodating servers.
(3)
Meizi H.
I do like this place. The atmosphere during weekday lunch is more business like and dinner is romantic and proper. Tired dinner and lunch and the experiences were good. Services were attentive and food presentation were top-notch. It is in back bay and in prime location, good for quick bite and big party size. Heard a lot of gossip about their brunch. Def give it a try someday.
(4)
Perry V.
A few evenings back my partner Thom and I stopped by Towne for a quick bite to eat and a Cocktail or two. Thom and I were immediately impressed by the modern facade, We are new in Boston and this is the first time seeing the establishment. We were greeted by a beautiful hostess, short, dark hair, Charlene I think? Regardless she was the extremely personable and whoever hired that one deserves a round of applause! But I digress, The hostess was able to squeeze the two of us in a lovely little spot by the bar. After being seated I spent a few minuted of dalliance, eyeing the rest of the restaurant. We got seated by a rather provocative picture of a girl topless...LOVED IT! It was a fun touch to spice up the evening. We were quickly greeted by Nia, who provided a cocktail menu. I Ordered the Towne lemonade and let me tell you.... it was just to die for! The perfect blend of sweet and sexy that brought me back to the insouciant days of my childhood! Both Thom and I made our picks off the menu and I must say, Whoever's cooking that food deserves some sort of Nobel prize! I could have eaten everything off the menu and then some! We topped of our meal with a succulent key lime mouse which was just exquisite. Nia was quick and on her game all night, not one complaint! When Thom was freshening up I was able to chitchat with some of the staff, very nice folk! We will defiantly be making Towne one of our go to Cock@Apps in ol' Beantown... 9/10 doctors recommend Towne for a healthy, happy tongue. ;)
(5)
Thomas S.
Towne is a great BAR - but not a great restaurant. The location is excellent, right on Bolyston and part of the Mandarin hotel/Prudential center. The decoration, music and ambiance is perfect for a bar. They have good burgers/Pizza too. BUT as far as a "restaurant" - the quality of food and price are way, way off. My wife and I had dinner there last night. We split an appetizer and each had an entree, no alcohol no dessert, and the bill was $100. I am OK with paying that kind of money for 1 appetizer and 2 entrees, provided the food is superb, but here is was average at best. The fritto mitto was a train wreck of over fried food with little taste. The baked ziti with cherry tomatoes and lobster sounds promising but was also surprisingly bland and seemingly cooked in a rush. The filet mignon, at $39 with NO sides, should be fantastic but it was overly covered in blue cheese, so much so that it was hard to taste the steak. All in all, great for a drink and a burger, no good for dinner. Were the prices 33% of what they are, I may say the quality/price ratio was fair.
(2)
Amy O.
So shocked to see this place only has 3 stars overall. I had the best filet mignon of my life here. All of the other courses were amazing, too. Service was impeccable. I must disclose, though, that I was there for a private party so perhaps they added additional staff for the occasion. So if you're looking for a location to host a private party, Towne is your spot in the city!
(5)
Frank W.
Went in for a holiday dinner and everything was great as usual. Nice dinner selections and the raw bar apps are excellent. Everything was cooked as requested and nice side selections. Overall a really nice place in Boston.
(5)
Susan C.
Came here for brunch a few weeks ago with a few friends. We ordered the Lobster Cobb, Chicken and Waffles, and Beef Hash. The Lobster Cobb was unimpressive, and to make things worse, the croutons were stale (i.e. lacked any crunch whatsoever). The chicken and waffles and the hash were very good though. Chicken was crisp, but not really a traditional chicken and waffle as it was a boneless piece of chicken breast. The hash was salty in a good way. I'd definitely get it again. I also like how Towne serves little doughnuts and banana bread as a side when you sit down. The doughnut looked like a mini glazed munchkin, and was delicious. I'd be back to Towne, but only if I was craving the hash or the chicken and waffles, everything else on the menu seemed unimpressive and I could probably get a lot better for less at another spot.
(3)
Jessie J.
Too much! I wanted to love it, but it was just a s#$t storm. Food came out late, and the branzino was like leather (and that's hard to do). Sorry. Never again.
(2)
Lynn J.
I like Towne for drinks with friends, and the menu offers high end delights too. FOOD: I had the lobster popover...DELISH! STAFF: The bartenders were flirty, and attentive, getting us seats as soon as they opened. THE DEAL: This is a great place to meet up for your first or last drink, before or after dinner.
(4)
Chirag P.
Had one drink here after sessions ended at my meeting. And just happened to have placed myself at a seat directly across from a picture of a lady flashing her boob... so if conversation got boring I had a nice visual to distract me. Had only one drink and no food, it was an interesting cucumber vodka concoction that the bartender recommended and I wasn't disappointed. Very friendly guy and a nice place overall, small but I'm guessing with all the other restaurants and bars on the same street not too many were going here as the place to party.
(4)
James C.
Went here for some apps and a few drinks. Nothing too special, cool ambiance but on par for other happenings in the back bay. Don't expect proper cocktails here, they topped my old fashioned off with soda water. AKA the worst way to make an old fashioned. I tried my dates martini which was good. The food was decent, nothing special. I would go back if I had friends adamantly set on going but definitely not on my own.
I went to Towne on a rainy Saturday night with a group of friends. Our mission was to crash the date of a girl in the group who was not entirely sure how she felt about the guy she was meeting at Towne. One the plus side, the date seemed to end up going well. On the down side, we were approached by some wannabe pickup artists who seemed to be practicing the art of inane questions. I had a nice cocktail for $13, which is not atypical for that kind of bar, but I would much rather have enjoyed a nice cheap cider. Alas, they did not have any, which is strike against any bar for me. The beer on the menu seemed to be priced reasonably though. The ambiance was classy and it seemed like a decent date spot. I probably will not be returning to Towne, but I will always remember it as the bar where I was approached by a strange man and asked what my favorite color of leaf is. (I said red.)
(3)
Marcy L.
Looking to show some international friends a "Boston high-roller" night out, we headed to Towne on Saturday night. The vibe: "young club", bub. Loads of twenty-somethings dressed in their hottie best / the music was a loud, steady beat / laughter and clinking glasses could be heard above the roar. Outside: there is an eloquent patio space available for imbibing (a great view of the Pru and the fountain).....until 11pm, anyway. But you can only get to the patio by first being carded at the front, then winding your way past the front bar, past the back bar and dinner seating, and then back outside (only a few feet from where you began). Our party arrived at 10:55p, pulled up a couple of chairs, and then was asked to head back inside (apparently a law about serving outside past a certain hour *?*). Upstairs: private function room, bar, and dining with a view of the open kitchen! When our party-o-four arrived around 11pm the second floor bar provided the perfect space for our group; we were able to spread out (only about six other people had wandered upstairs) and converse at regular vocal levels (music was loud enough to dance to, but not too loud to actually carry on conversation). I loved the lighting fixtures (looked like recycled glass), and it felt nice to be part of the cool-kid-club scene downstairs. Even better: there was NO TV behind the bar (I came here to be social...not to hear ya-dudes scream at plasma). The price - yowza (but, really, what were you expecting from a hot club at the base of the Pru??). Our cocktails were ~$13ea, but there were certainly selections which were *much* more expensive. The cocktail menu: personally I felt that it looked a little uninspired (as did our bartendress who seemed like she'd seen enough for one evening). The two that intrigued my friend and I the most: Mr.Brownstone (bourbon and maple liquor) and the Limeade (cucumber vodka, lime, cucumber). Unfortunately *I* was the one who ordered Mr.Brownestone (NOT the mapley delicious treat that I thought I had ordered - a little too heavy on the musky bourbon and burned cinnamon). The Limeade, however, was perfectly refreshing! We stayed until closing and left of our own accord (not ushered out by staff, nor by blinding "go home now" houselights!). I was happy to have remembered Towne (I attended a 2011 Elite event here and was totally blown away), as well as to discover that, while it was trendy, it wasn't obnoxiously exclusive like some other Boston spots. A great time out if you're looking to feel like party of the who's-who without having to buy a new wardrobe and prepare your wallet (too too much).
(3)
Nicole B.
When we walked in we saw the bar, we found someone and let them know we wanted to eat dinner and she sat us at the far end of the bar. We both thought it was weird that this place is pretty new and didn't have a dining room. By the end of the meal I had realized there was a full dining room since I had to walk through it to get to the restrooms. We then decided that she must have sat us in the bar because my dining partner had on jeans. The food was good, but pricey enough that I would not eat there regularly.
(4)
Hana K.
Been here almost 6 times now and I still say, BEST BRUNCH in all Boston hands down -- never been disappointed! If it's one thing Americans do right, it's brunch. Towne adds a contemporary twist to all your favorite classic American brunch dishes. For starters, you are given complementary mini doughnuts and lemon cake that are the perfect amont of sweetness and so small and cute they don't fill you up! Must-trys: Lobster & Avocado Eggs Benedict (perfectly cooked and just melts in your mouth; they were not stingy with their lobster) Chicken & Waffle with grits, bacon, tabasco (it sounds weird but once you try it, you're hooked! even the grits got compliments from my non-grits loving friends and the Tabasco comes in the cutest small bottle you'll ever see) French Dip Sandwhich Au Juis (the sauce for dipping the sandwich in is outstanding you want to dip everything in it) Everything on the brunch menu looks and tastes amazing but I would not order the Kitchen Sink BLT... Was not too crazy with the flavors. As obsessed as I am with their WEEKEND brunch, I don't recommend this place for the WEEKDAY lunch or dinner which is a little overpriced and the menu selection is not as good.
(5)
Michelle P.
Went here after work with colleagues when the weather was a bit nicer. We sat on the patio and ordered wine, oysters, dinner meals and even dessert (we stayed for hours). The service was impeccable (as was the company) which is what kept us there; in general, not the food or the ambiance. That being said, we did love our cotton candy concoction of a dessert. Would I recommend it? Sure, but only to someone with deep pockets and shallow taste.
(3)
Mr. O.
This is a great option for a weekend brunch or a Saturday night drink. Not a fan of the dinner menu, but brunch is fabulous. The freshly made mini donuts in the pastry basket are worth the trip (if you don't have a donut in your basket request some). The brunch food and service work, though they should sue Simon properties for turning their once beautiful view of Boylston into a work site. Oh, no they didn't! The subtle 80s music in the background worked for me, especially when me and my boo started singing "Like a Virgin" with the next table. It felt right. It felt right. Mr. O out.
(4)
Megan C.
Great interior, good people watching + something to nibble on Love sitting at the bar to have a bite. The bartenders are friendly and attentive. The menu has range, and the dishes are interesting. Salads are a little smaller in portion size than I would like. I guess if you navigate the menu carefully you will end up a happy camper. Though at a restaurant like Towne, with the beautiful interior and service you would hope that everything on the menu would be amazing. Date Rating: 7 (it get's a little noisy) Pick up Scale: 8 (this place can be a meet market, not a fan when it's busy) Strong Suggestion: check out the bar upstairs if there isn't room downstairs.
The steak tartar & osso bucco were both great. However, when the maitre d' came by and asked about the meal, I told him the kale was dry and bland. He apologized, but did nothing. For dessert I ordered a "Towne Bar" - a small, homemade candy bar that the waitress handed to me in a wrapper. Poorly presented, and a tiny portion for $8. While eating the bar, which was very good, if small, I noticed a small creature with a tail run from under the table across from us to the adjacent banquette. The waitress and manager were very apologetic, but did not offer to comp our meal or provide us any incentive to come back. We will NOT be returning.
(1)
Bos G.
"Towne" as locals call it, is a large restaurant and bar located on Boylston Street in Boston's Back Bay. Towne's brunch menu is reasonably priced with most options between $10 - $16. Because of the time of day, my friend and I opted for their chicken salad sandwich for $12 and their bacon and cheddar burger for $16. Eating at the bar can sometimes be risky business depending on how crowded or busy the staff is but on our visit the bar was mostly empty and the bar staff was both attentive and helpful answering the few questions we had about menu options. The chicken salad sandwich is served on toasted multi-grain bread and comes with a side salad. The chopped chicken with cucumber was filling and satisfying. Towne's burger is presented with the top bun upside down with ketchup. Both proved satisfying but not particularly memorable. I've had a few meals at Towne and with few exceptions I've found the food average. However, the space is very comfortable and the service is generally very good. That combined with its convenient location in the Back Bay is what accounts for its success - or at least that is what I've concluded.
(2)
Jeff D.
I can't believe I never reviewed Towne before, especially after getting the chance to attend the Yelp Elite event there that was essentially the grand opening. Two words, people: Lobster popover. I've had the cowboy steak and branzino for dinner and just some apps at the bar. No complaints about the food or service, everything was excellent even when we came for my mother-in-law's birthday with a pretty large party. My wife and I love hanging out at the bar and watching things go down. Vicarious living at its finest!
(4)
Ash C.
We tried ribeye for two the other night and it was fabulous. The meat was juicy and tender, well seasoned. The side of brussel sprouts with bacon was to die for. I would love to come back for Sunday brunch
(4)
Dorothy C.
Came here with 6 other people with no reservation around 6pm on a Saturday night. I was expecting to wait a while since since 6 people is a lot but we were seated immediately. It was kind of quiet for a Saturday night, not sure if it's like that everyday but it didn't bother me. We chose oysters for appetizers which were so fresh - everyone agreed it tasted amazing. I ordered Venison well done but had the waiter quickly suggest at most a medium since venison is so lean. Food came rather quickly - all the dinner plates seemed to be a nice sized portion so you definitely won't be leaving hungry. All in all, it was pretty good food but don't expect your taste buds to be wowed by anything crazy.
(3)
David B.
Once again, location trumps quality. This restaurant has a captive audience of people who work in and around the Prudential Center. The bar and the restaurant are always crowded. But the food is really lacking. I was there last night and with the exception of some appetizers which were good, the meal was rather disappointing. The filet mignon, while well cooked, was flavorless. The duck, which was billed to be Peking duck style, was also flavorless. The portions are large, which I suppose is to help you forget that the flavors are weak. To top it off, the upstairs bathroom which is Uni sex was filthy. The only real positive I can say is that the service was very good.
(1)
Katie C.
Totally underwhelming to say the least. My friend and I were at the HOW Design Conference next door at the Hynes one Saturday morning and we decided to go to Towne for brunch next door. Our plan was to discuss what we learned at the conference, but really we just wanted to get caught up on the latest gossip. The good news was they had a patio with a slight breeze that was rather covered and not directly in the sun. We were seated promptly and one staff member came over with water for us. Wonderful. Then another came over with fresh breakfast bites -- banana bread with an orange glaze or a homemade donut hole with the same orange glaze. I had the banana bread that was nothing real special since the glaze was just completely too sweet and too overpowering. Just when we thought we could finally place our order, another staff member came by and poured "fresh squeezed orange juice" with no solicitation from us. Whether it was a language barrier or procedure, she poured and we drank. Ten minutes went by and we were finally able to place our order. If you're looking for hearty breakfast foods, this is the place for you. Homemade waffles, omelettes, eggs benedict just to name a few. In terms of "lunch" foods, there are a few sandwiches available. However, if you're looking for something relatively healthy, this is definitely not for you. No salads just to start with. Probably the healthiest offering was the fruit plate as an appetizer. We finally placed our order -- two french dip sandwiches that came with caramelized onions (none for me, thanks), brie, and fries. It was a perfect Saturday morning lunch. Our food arrived and the french dip sandwich was served with au jus but was more like a cheesesteak in terms of consistency. The bread was hard and crispy (my favorite) but the brie cheese was just one large glob in the middle of the sandwich. I don't like a lot of cheese, so at least it was easy to pick aside. It was a lot of food for $14 and I probably shouldn't have ate both halves of the sandwich. The fries were hot and crispy, too. When we finally received our bill, we found out we were charged $4/apiece for the orange juice at the beginning of the meal. Was it worth $4 a glass? Hell to the no. Were we even asked if we wanted orange juice after we sat down? Hell to the no again! After finishing my lunch (prior to receiving the bill), I was willing to give them another chance. After this experience, certainly not. Now, I know $8 total isn't a lot to bitch about and it certainly didn't cause me to eat ramen noodles for the rest of the particular pay period, but it left a bad impression with me. For my next brunch, I want healthier options and no "surprises" at the end of the meal. So Towne certainly won't be it.
(2)
S. B.
I have celiac. I had a delicious soup, salad and side and all were prepared safely and I did not get sick. They have a lot of other options for meat/seafood eaters, I just happen to be vegetarian. The menu is marked with gluten-free items, and the staff all knew what "celiac" was (which is always a good sign) and our waitress let the chef know that's why I ordered GF. Would visit again!! (Same review left at findmeglutenfree)
(5)
Daisy P.
We were in a lobster mood that night and we tried the lobster pizza, lobster popovers (they are fabulous!), lobster bisque, and had tuna for my entree along with the spinach and the corn. The corn was probably the best prepared corn I've ever had and everything is worth returning for. The tuna for the main entree was probably my least favorite so I would order something else the next time. Do not leave without trying the lobster popovers or the corn. Beautiful decor too!
(4)
Cole D.
Wow, I just don't know where to start. I wish i could give negative stars. Both service and food is absolutely appalling. I was at the bar waiting for my fiance to arrive and got one of the house martinis with the goat cheese olives, which was actually pretty good. I got the same drink at the table and it was definitely not the same, and no olives or garnish. We ordered the calamari to start and then the salmon and lamb. All the food was completely bland and tasteless. The calamari we ate about half because after a certain point it just was mushy breading in a pile of oil. The salmon came with crispy rice and a horseradish sauce, which sounded amazing, but in reality the skin was mushy and there was a pool of half melted butter on the plate. The salmon was rubbery and no seasoning , my fiance's lamb was completely bland as well, and came with potatoes that you could tell were previously frozen. They were that crumbly chalky texture, as well as some beans straight from a can. No part of the meal was enjoyable, and to top it off, when we asked for the check after barely touching our meal, the server obviously asked about any problems, and said he would go get his manager, BUT still ran the bill in the meantime AND the manager never came. We didn't skimp on the tip ( I've worked in the restaurant industry and have many friends in the industry here in Boston). We eventually left after waiting 10 minutes for the manager, who ultimately I doubt was even notified. We asked the hostesses to get the manager on our way out and after 10 minutes of running around trying to find one, we told her not to worry and just left. Completely PISSED that this was $150 meal and no one seems to care. I will never go back, and will tell anyone to avoid this place at all cost. I've never had an experience such as this.
(1)
Brandi W.
A little over a week ago, a girlfriend and I stopped by Towne for a few drinks and dessert post dinner. There was a mouse that was running around the bar area for at least an hour. Some people did end up leaving the bar....we honestly should have as well, but had already ordered.... so we were trying to be good sports about it. What really got to us was that the bartenders thought it was hilarious, were making jokes, and calling the mouse 'Stewart' (apparently, he is a regular). When they finally let the manager know, he came out and gave a half-assed apology. BUT after everything, we weren't comped for any of our food or drinks.
(1)
Chelsea F.
Drinks were great and food was delicious! Peking style duck was great, different than what I had expected but very good. My friends ordered the margarita pizza and the filet and both were pleased. Cheesecake dessert was fantastic as it wasn't too sweet! After dinner we walked to the 52nd(?) floor of the Prudential building for a nightcap and highly recommend for tourists :)
(4)
Aman S.
This place was just okay. The service was super slow and the wine selection left a lot to be desired. I probably won't return.
(2)
Yasa E.
Honestly, not a fan. I've been here a bunch of times and I just don't get a very good vibe from this place. The space is aboslutely gorgeous and the location is great, other than that....blahh. It's usually a bit more of an upscale crowd, and when this place is busy it's PACKED, but when it's slow, there is literally not a soul in sight. Drinks are expensive, even by Back Bay standards. Service is hit or miss. I've had a good experience once (i think the bartender's name was Tim), but every other time i've come here, the cocktail waitresses and female bartenders seemed to have an attitude problem. The late night apps i've tried were super bland. Overall, not impressed.
(2)
Mark R.
Went here with a group of 8. Service was good but the food was not up to my expectations for a Lydia joint. Lobster popovers were good, oysters were extremely fresh and good, but the Peking Style Duck fatty and the meat was metallic tasting. Also the Bok choi under the duck was a miserable overcooked lump of blah. And sides of mashed potatoes, asparagus, and squash were all ok but nothing special . Other diners also said it was just ok. 2nd time and 2nd so-so meal. Probably won't return unless something changes- might try brunch
(2)
Greg P.
Hit and Miss... "NFFF"- Not fit for foodies My wife and I had heard a lot about Towne... both good and bad... and when a friend suggested it for a place for all of us to grab dinner, we were excited to try it. Towne has a very nice location right on Boylston St. They have valet parking ($16 for 4 hours) and also validate for the Prudential garage. The restaurant itself is spacious and attractive. It can get noisy later in the night but early own it's very easy to hold a conversation. We sat outside on their patio which was nice and airy. The food is American with an emphasis on some Asian fusion, seafood, steaks, and comfort food. My wife and I started with the lobster pop-overs (which came highly recommended on Yelp and by our water). We were somewhat disappointed actually. The pop-overs were rather dry and the kitchen douses them with honey-butter to moisten them up. Regardless, dry is dry, and we could still tell. There was an OK amount of lobster in each but certainly not overflowing. My wife ordered a salad for her meal that was rather simple and underwhelming. I ordered the wagyu skirt steak which was good. The wasabi cream was a nice accompaniment. It comes with two very small polenta fries. More would have been nice. We ordered a side of mash potatoes which the waiter said would be a generous portion. Not really. It was a pretty small plate of runny mashed potatoes. Certainly would not fly at a steak house. None of us felt like trying the desserts because the food was underwhelming. The bar is well stocked although my two mixed drinks were very watery. There are much better places in Back Bay for drinks. Overall, a decent option if you find yourself in Back Bay at dinner time. There are other better options. And some worse options. For it's prices the food out to be better. You're probably not going to feel like you got good value for your money. We didn't. Foodies might want to go elsewhere.
(3)
Kitty C.
So we came back this year to try the bar in the dining area. The service was marginally better, but the drink selection is still pretty slim. No reason to come here as far as I can see.
(2)
Hayley M.
Above and beyond! So after the incident happened at our last visit to Towne, my friend whose birthday it was emailed the manager. She told him that we have always had great experiences at Towne and while the food was exceptional, the service was not and one friend had been offended by a racially insensitive comment. She was articulate and not angry, she simply wanted to communicate the situation and make the manager aware. Needless to say, the manager asked us to please come back to the restaurant so they could provide us with a "special dining experience." Special was the right word for it. 12 out of the 14 of us could go, and we sat down at the same table as the incident from last time. The waiter and waitress immediately set down six orders of the Lobster Popovers for us. This is the signature appetizer of the restaurant, and I can see why. Who wouldn't love a flaky, buttery popover, filled with huge chunks of lobster? Absolutely delicious. They also set down two margherita pizzas for us. Then we could order. After what happened last time, they must have had their very best waitstaff work with us. The waiter and waitress we had could not have been nicer. When I was having trouble deciding what to order and was the last person looking at my menu, our A-game waiter came over to help me decide. He asked me which I was deciding between, and described each of the dishes to me. I could tell he wasn't worried about price, his motivation was to help me find the dish I would like the most. Ultimately, I decided to go with the Lobster Bisque and Ahi Tuna. The bisque was wonderful. Creamy and peppery (although too peppery according to a friend who also ordered it), and this also had lots and lots of lobster. I could have eaten a cauldron of it. The ahi tuna was also delicious. Crusted with white and black sesame seeds, barely seared. Perfection. My boy and two others ordered the Petite Filet Mignon and they all loved it. There were several sides on the table, including the brussel sprouts (I didn't try because they had bacon but everyone else loved), and the wonderful sauteed spinach with garlic. For dessert, they brought my friend whose birthday it had been a cotton candy apple sundae. Wow, it was wonderful! The boy and I split the chocolate cake, which was the only part of the meal that didn't blow me away. It was dry, so I ended up dipping it in my friend's ice cream sundae. The good folks at Towne really impressed me. They had the opportunity to make up what happened last time, and they absolutely jumped on it. They made us feel like valued guests in their restaurant. Now, instead of saying, "someone at Towne made a racist comment to my friend," I will say, "have you HAD the lobster popovers? If not, eat them immediately!" Well done, Towne.
(5)
Alan W.
My first visit, last week was wonderful. This week terrible. Not sure what to believe about this restaurant. May (or may not) try again. Bad experiences always seems to trump good when it comes to restaurants.
(1)
Rani P.
Towne is one of my favorite spots for brunching in Boston. The food in incredible, the outdoor seating gets the perfect amount of sun, and I can stroll around the Pru and Newbury Street post brunch. my recommendations: THE TRUE fettuccine alfredo (WITH the sunnyside egg) OR eggs benedict on north country bacon (also comes with delightful homefries) Their freebies include a choice of doughnuts and cornbread. These are the two parts of the brunch that are underwhelming. They are good- but I just think they can be so much better!
(4)
Briana C.
I was there for dinner the other night. I love the dining room - you're not cramped in like some smaller places, but it still feels warm and cozy. The food was great - my date had the steak arabiata and I had the kale salad with scallops, as well as the sweet potato fries (not enough rosemary). That being said, the service was....interesting. They checked on us so many times that it severely interrupted some intense conversation. We were charged $8 for still water, when I thought I was ordering tap water. They have a "Towne" bar on their dessert menu, which sounds like homemade cookies dipped in chocolate and stacked with caramel sauce, or something to that effect. What it actually is, is a prepackaged candy bar that's somewhere between a twix and a kit kat and not as good as either. I almost broke a tooth on it! So, I'd go back for dinner because the food tasted good and the prices were reasonable, but I would make smarter ordering decisions.
(3)
Michael B.
Dined at Towne on 3/21 while entertaining some out of town guests. The atmosphere was energetic and our waitress was knowledgeable of the menu offerings and attentive to our needs throughout our lengthy stay. The lobster popovers were a huge hit with my our of town visitors, and then we all enjoyed our salads and main courses. The filet was cooked to perfection and the salmon was tasty. We also enjoyed a couple of bottles of Peay Pinot Noir!! All in all, it was a great night on the town at Towne Stove & Spirits!!
(4)
Jeff M.
Towne seriously sucks. Honestly, just trust me. The chef in charge here needs to practice some restraint. Foie gras served over a waffle with maple syrup and bananas makes sense until you have the celery root puree on the side that added absolutely nothing. Wagu skirt steak was cooked perfectly in butter but the onion rings and other tid bits really did not add much. Clams casino featured cherry stones big enough to be quahogs. I've only seen clams casino with small to medium sized clams, so, this may be a personal preference. On the bright side the fried zucchini sticks were good!
(1)
Sooks M.
Went here for date night on a Tuesday! Sat at the bar and had a great time. The bar has dim lighting (veryy dim) and the atmosphere is nice. They had an interesting list of cocktails. I tried the newbury sparkler and a gin/lavender/rosemary drink. The drinks were great and the bartender was friendly and attentive. I would go back again for drinks!
(4)
Soly Z.
I loved the vibe, location, and the bartender. However, the price for a drink was high, especially since my drink was mostly ice and not filled to the top.
(3)
Ariel Z.
The drink I ordered was strong, but right down my alley. The location is premier, right next to the Pru. We ordered the Chinese dumplings to share, which I really liked, but I love everything that is dumpling. Trendy spot to catch up with some friends or socialize with colleagues on a week night.
(4)
Liz H.
Revising my two-year old review as Towne seems to finally have found its culinary footing. Multiple visits have yielded both good and great results, from the recent acorn squash (which I described as "Christmas and thanksgiving in one!) to different flatbreads, to the famous lobster popovers...everything has been much more what I'd expect from a place of this caliber and price point. The drinks are still strong, though the poor second floor bartender on valentines day was brand new and too green to be working such a busy night. She was apologetic though, and ultimately we ended up being fine. A solid, if still on the pricier side, option for a night out where a 30 year old won't feel ancient.
(3)
Ilene F.
THE WORSE MEAL I have ever had in Boston. A nice dinner on Christmas eve not close! I ordered a gluten free lobster Pizza it was sopping with grease after taking a few bites I started to feel sick. It the took 10 minutes to get the waiter to come over he left the plate in front of me. after 5 mins and no menu or response to my horrible meal I flagged the waiter down to ask him to remove my plate and to bring me a menu. He did now feeling sick to my stomach after eating a half of a piece of the greasiest pizza I ordered a shrimp cocktail which ate but was not fresh and the cocktail sauce way too spicy, BTW my shrimp came 10 minutes after my husband had completed his meal. I went looking for the manager who made a lot of excuses about what happened and offered nothing, After my I completed the shrimp and we were ready for a check the waiter comes out with another pizza, Almost just as greasy as the first. I was feeling sicker we were on our way to church and we ddi not accept the pizza. My bill come and I was charged for the shrimp. I talked to the "manager" about this and how I was sick from his food our dinner was a terrible experience and how I have never gone to a restaurant where they screwed up and did nothing to take care of me. So of $20 this manager pissed me off so much that I am not out to broadcast how bad my experience was. PLEASE Do no Eat there they have no idea what service means and they are clueless on how to make good food,
(1)
Lisa R.
I really want to give Towne 4 stars, but my visit on Saturday night was a 2 star experience. We had 8pm reservations and were seated right on time. Our waitress took our drink and dinner orders in a timely and polite fashion. It was downhill from there. Our dinners didn't arrive until 10pm. When we asked she didn't have an answer. One guest was only drinking water and she had to be tracked down to fill his water glass (which seems odd because she was filling water glasses at the surrounding tables). The food was excellent, as it always is. The service I received will make me think twice about recommending Towne.
(2)
J P.
I was excited to try to the brunch at Towne because I heard good things. Things started off a little rocky with awkward service. Then went way, way downhill. I ordered the chicken and waffles after seeing it arrive at the table next to us. Not only did mine come with a piece of chicken that was pink and undercooked, another piece had a feather on it. A FEATHER. So gross. I should have sent it back. But instead, I pushed the chicken aside and ate the waffles. Big mistake. I ended up with food poisoning, so bad it required a visit to the emergency room. The doctor said my symptoms were consistent with salmonella. Thanks, Towne.
(1)
Katherine D.
I finally got a chance to come in for an actual meal, and I was extremely impressed. The dining room is even more beautiful when you're sitting in it, and I loved the mirrored columns the the wood and glass sconces attached and the great big beams criss-crossing the ceiling. From the moment we sat down service was perfect. We needed a little time to decide and our server actually said "whatever you want, as long as I'm not keeping you waiting" and then showed up exactly when we needed her. I also appreciate that we had utensils refreshed as we moved through the courses. And I truly love when someone comes by with one of those little scraper gadgets to make sure your table cloth remains a pristine white. Cocktails were pretty good. The bread basked was stellar. We split the lobster popovers and while I was hoping they would be slathered in clarified butter, the arrived with a sweet glaze of sorts and were delicious. He got the chowder and it was great. It had a nice creamy base and the addition of chili oil made it over the top good. I had the pork schnitzel and it was so good. The garlic oil and green garlic puree over the mashed potatoes were incredible ways to round out the perfectly cooked, juicy round of thin friend pork. He got the roasted chicken, and even though mine was outstanding I had order envy while he devoured his plate. The chicken was crispy, yet juicy and falling off the bone. He was very satisfied. For dessert we ordered the apple cider sorbet and the raspberry champagne mousse. Sorbet was sorbet, good but nothing exceptional. That mousse however, was divine. So good in fact, that it will be hard to resist grabbing a drink and a bite of heavenly tart and fresh mousse next time I'm out running errands in the Copley area. The service was perfect all night, the setting wonderful, and the food was from start to finish spectacular. I'm very happy to know this place exists for fancy nights out.
(5)
Brian D.
I think the best complement I can give a restaurant is to say that it made me want to go back. I wasn't in the mood for a steak when I went into towne, but after seeing their menu and trying some of their other food I really want to know what they'd do with a good steak! I was actually quiet interested in the Apps when I went in, so I had the BBQ Chicken flatbread with scallions and corn. It was excellent! A bit of a spicy sauce and a thin layer of cheese worked well together to give the flavor a great base. The BBQ wasn't too sweet, and it was nicely understated so that all the flavors worked in conjunction. The Scallion Pancake with duck was also very nice...one of the better scallion pancakes with a small piece of duck on each third for $8 seemed fairly reasonable. I also had the potato hash with horseradish cream side. It will turn some people off to know that it was greasy and starchy, but I promise it was greasy and starchy in exactly the way someone who loves crispy fried potatoes knows that they are signing up for! towne is on the higher end of the price scale, but from what I've seen doesn't seem too terribly excessive. On the price to quality scale it ranked pretty well (except maybe the cocktails), and the space is just interesting! Dark but playful, non-hipster waiters who are still allowed interesting facial hair...I was intrigued by the whole thing. There are plenty of restaurants that would seem ridiculous playing a sexy, trance version of "No Diggity" in the dining room. But not this one. This one is both fancy enough, and strange enough, that it actually works! A provisional five stars, until I can try an entree.
(5)
Shannon D.
I've been here a few times in the past year. I work in the finance industry and my coworkers were always excited to go to Towne! - I, however, was always less enthused. The first few times I had gone, it wasn't terrible but it also wasn't great. Lots of old men hiding their wedding rings (or flashing that shiz because some women are into that) hitting on young scantily clad women looking for a free drink. Last night I was getting together with a few lady friends and we decided to go to Towne since it was easy for all of us to get to from work. It was early still, around 6 so we got a nice high-top table in the second room and for awhile things seemed much better than I had expected - for awhile. Our server was quite attentive at first, filling up our water, asking us if we needed anything else. I'm not sure if something happened to him at some point during the night or if we said something terribly wrong because he started to ignore us. I had to ask for my water to be filled up three times! A friend met us a bit later and our server didn't give him a glass of water until he asked. The drinks were pretty terrible for the price. When I'm paying 12$ for a cocktail I expect amazingness to happen in my mouth. I got two drinks off their menu, one was a fall sour which was okay, the other I don't remember but I couldn't even finish it. My boyfriend and I then ordered a whiskey smash, one of my favorite drinks. No, its not on the menu but a nice "high end" place like Towne should have educated bartenders that know how to make a classic. I couldn't even take more than one sip, it was so bad. I looked over at the bartender and I'm sorry but she clearly wasn't hired for her drink crafting skills. We got the duck confit pizza which was good but very rich. My friends got the oysters, which I noticed when the waiter brought them over he didn't say where they were from. Every time I've ordered oysters from various places around Boston they've always told me where they were from, its the little things that make me happy. There was a group of highly intoxicated older men in suits sitting next to us, throughout the night they were eying us, a table of four professional women under 30 years old. Luckily right as one of them started talking to us, telling us how we're all *so beautiful* my boyfriend came into the bar and saved us. It was actually really quite epic. The drunk men then broke up a couple on a date, one of them even started putting his arm around the girl while her boyfriend sat there and laughed with them. (clearly her boyfriend sucked compared to mine) I'm adding this into the review because this is what Towne wants - Doucebag business men with lots of money to throw around but zero class to realize they're spending it on crap drinks, food and service.
(1)
Wonder W.
Went for dinner and sat outside in their very cool sort of birdcage pergola - was lovely. Food was great - nothing mind blowing but the wagyu skirt strip was extremely good and my friend commented that the lobster bisque was awesome. They make a mean martini too. Service was a little patchy but it was Saturday night and extremely busy so it was no real problem. Great spot if you're looking for something amongst the hub of Boylston street.
(4)
S P.
Very ordinary. Not impressed at all. Portions were very generous, but the food was gourmet-ish TGIFridays fare.
(1)
Jenn S.
My friends & I went to Towne last week for an early dinner & drinks to catch up with each other. I arrived a few minutes before 5:30 and had a hard time figuring out exactly where to go, as no one greeted or helped me. When I finally found the hostess stand, I was told that the dining room doesn't open until 5:30, so I could sit at the bar to wait. It was 5:26. REALLY? Ok, fine. I sat at a table in the bar area - I'm sure the waitress was so happy I was taking up a table while waiting for my friends. When the first friend arrived, we went back to the hostesses and were brought upstairs to a nice round booth right in front of the open view into the kitchen (although we had our backs to it). This places, by the way, is HUMONGOUS. I love the decor and ambiance. Definitely bumps it up on the star value! And we all loved the bread basket (a mix of nice, warm white bread and thin flatbreads) with the red pepper hummus (I think) and the amazing salted butter. OMG. I didn't try the cod caviar hummos or whatever it was - too weird for me! Our waiter was very nice, patient and helpful. We wanted to get an appetizer my friend had previously tried that was not on the menu (the not-so-dirty chicken wings, or something like that). When he realized what we were talking about, he immediately said "we can do that for you!" We shared the chicken wings, two of the simple mesclun salads and the butternut squash pizza w/smoked bacon, stracchino cheese, pear mostarda & crushed amaretti. We asked what some of those items were (amaretti, etc.) and the waiter explained them very nicely. I got 1 glass of delicious Prosecco and tried a sip of my friend's Towne Lemonade (cold river blueberry vodka, fresh lemon and pomegranate served up), which was so tasty. With 5 drinks, the wings, salads & pizza, the bill came to about $100 + tip. I thought that wasn't bad for dinner for 3 at a fancy-ish place. None of us left hungry, but we also didn't leave with any leftovers. I would definitely go back, although I'm sure a full sit-down dinner would cost a lot more.
(4)
Mike G.
and yet another once bright spot descends to mediocrity. a new item on the menu - Peking Chicken $33 - just can't compare with a $10 whole roast that Foodie's churns out by the dozens daily. Monday's market catch of rock shrimp (5 runts, smear of pesto, 2 boiled fingerlings) was an overpriced bore-of-a-dish for $37.50 and i said so. GM took it off the bill so props for that and still tasty lobster popovers.
(3)
Jennifer J.
It was too big for me to be honest. I felt like we were in a factory. The design was nice but all over the place. This was my third time going and i was told that we could not stand and drink at the bar. Strange, right? Who knows maybe we will go back. it is very adult looking and I think Boston needs more of that. i did go across the street to The Social Club which I am told the same people own. It was really nice. Review to follow.
(2)
Courtney M.
Overall great, but it definitely has some areas where it could be improved upon! We looked forward to each part of the meal and enjoyed the experience. First, the space is huge and two floors! There are three bars, and the ones downstairs are hip and crowded. I'd definitely like to come back to the main bar near the entrance after work some time or on the weekend because of its lively atmosphere--lots of young professionals! We were seated on the second floor near the window, which overlooked their soon-to-be outdoor seating that will also be used in the wintertime. So...even more seating at this already huge restaurant. What I liked about the menu is that it took some traditional dishes and prepared them in a new style, i.e., lamb chops with Indian influences. They also show the flag of the country whose dish they were preparing, i.e., the ravioli has the Italian flag next to its description. I must admit that we all enjoyed our appetizers the best. We ordered the fettuccine alfredo, the lobster & corn pizza, the razor clams, and the avocado salad. The pizza blew us away! We would order it again in a heartbeat. The others were very good too. Our friends commented that the pasta was just like how it's prepared in Italy, so they enjoyed it very much. The avocado salad was very fresh, but the pork crackling served along with it seemed an usual pairing. For the entrees: we ordered the Peking chicken, the lamb chops, the chicken "brick" style, and the beef short ribs. I'd say that although we enjoyed our dishes, none of us raved about it except for the lamb chops. They were beautifully presented and all tasted very good, but they seemed to lack a "wow" factor that we were hoping for. The side dishes were also 50/50. The potatoes gratin and portabello mushrooms were excellent, but the creamed spinach was fair. We were all happy with our choices and definitely ate all of it (fatties that we are!), but the appetizers are what we most enjoyed. The most disappointing part of the meal: the dessert!! We ordered the pavlova (spelling?) and the warm dark chocolate which sounds like it would be a warm dark chocolate cake but instead it's a vanilla cake with caramelized sugar with a hint of chocolate in it (at least that's what it appeared to be). So disappointing! None of us finished the desserts. About the service: overall quite good and very attentive. Friendly, helpful waiter although he seemed a little inexperienced in opening the wine bottle and pouring our wine and coffee (that he only filled half a cup of). That's just a little thing and something that will likely be improved upon with time. Not a big deal! Bottom line: GO! Enjoy the drinks and the appetizers and the overall ambiance! And perhaps you'll have a different opinion about the main dishes. But... I wouldn't recommend dessert (at least not for right now). It's definitely a welcomed addition to the Boston restaurant scene!
(4)
Paula A.
the food is ok (my burger was raw, but they were quick to replace it). the setting is ok. the location is good. after 10 pm -- it basically turns into a fancy/loud frat party. seriously, there was a girl puking in the bathroom surrounded by 6 of her scantily clad BFFs. not blaming Towne, but that's the kind of clientele that hangs out there. so if you're over the age of 23, clear out by then. i didn't like it the first time. went back w/ an open mind for a friend's bday, & am in NO hurry to return.
(2)
Shannon C.
Towne is RIGHT next to my new office so I was hoping this would become my new go-to spot after work. Sadly, it's the furthest thing from it...well...that's not true, as there are plenty of other worthy neighborhood joints nearby. Anyway, you walk into Towne expecting all that a Lydia Shire production should offer and it doesn't disappoint. The dark polished oak (?) bar stands out as you enter. They've done a great job with the space to make it feel intimate though the wrap-around bar is actually rather large. The sound is not cacophonous so you don't find yourself shouting to your friend 2 feet away which is nice. The dining room is also well designed and provides a comfortable yet unobtrusive din. (I didn't get a chance to see the upstairs and I'll have to save the outdoor gazebo for another visit as it was unfinished during my visit.) Food was better than amazing. We ordered a few apps, a few sides and a salad as we were only there for drinks. I can't speak to the entrees but I was pleased with our ordering and very satisfied with what ended up being quite a meal in the end though we had intended to keep it light. Fabulous decor and delicious food aside, the service was horrendous. Shockingly horrendous. If I could have FOUND a manager to complain to, I would have. I'll chalk it up to the trials of opening week at a new restaurant. To be fair, I fully intend to give Towne another go.
(3)
Rick B.
Went last night for the first time and had an unbelievable meal. Duck was insane. Salmon and Swordfish were excellent and the ice cream sundae with peanut butter cotton candy stole the show. I have no words. Ahhmazing. Server was prompt and attentive. Only negative (and should lose 2 stars for it) is how insanely LOUD the dining room is. They need to add dampeners to help offset the idiot who developed the ceiling. Looks cool but the way it's constructed you cannot hear yourself think on a busy night. Last night was literally deafening. The food was some of the best we have had in a very long time.
(5)
Craig D.
(3.5) ~ Overall Food & Service
(4)
Sarah F.
Enjoyed a delightful date night with my husband at Towne. They did a great job with the service all the way around, from our request on seating to every last detail. The wait staff were very attentive and personable, and the food and drinks arrived promptly. The lobster popovers are the thing to get - delicious! The main courses were flavorful, good, not terribly exciting, but well prepared. Some options have an international flare, which is a plus in my book. The key lime tart with macadamia crust was to die for.
(4)
Lala I.
average drinks and food. plenty of seating
(3)
Tesia K.
Everything from the bread basket to dessert was absolutely amazing. I ordered the tuna and my friend ordered the duck and we both loved our dishes. The ambiance was beautiful with their velvet chairs and the outdoor seating. I especially loved how you can see the kitchen on the second floor. Servers came to our table often to check on us and our waters were always full. The price is a little on the higher end but definitely worth it.
(5)
Danielle C.
I'm completely in love with Towne. Starting with booking my reservation, about a week before it opened, for about a week after it opened (8.8), I had a good feeling. There was no snobbery and the woman I spoke with was very pleasant. She confirmed my res by sending me an email, which I received within minutes of hanging up. When I realized we'd be running about 10 minutes late, I called to let them know and spoke with another very pleasant person, who thanked me and made note. Walking in, I was smitten-- the decor is warm and hip simultaneously. There's a cute little robot theme running throughout-- see if you notice! Our waiter, and all of his assistants, were friendly, attentive, professional and- again- refreshingly free of pompousness! My friend and I split a pitcher of white white sangria that was to die for-- since they had to make another batch, we actually each got an extra glass on the house, which was another perk. The rotisserie chicken was delicious-- very moist, satisfying, well done. But my favorite part was the vanilla 'mosaic' with mango and blackberries-- you NEED to get this. I haven't had a better dessert in years! Drink prices were standard for an upscale locale (about $8-12) and although I couldn't afford to eat here every night, it's not outrageous for the caliber it brings to the table. It's a success!
(5)
Jan H.
Terrible.....No stars for this. Lobster chowder was watery and fishy...could not finish. Asked for a 2009 vintage on wine and got 2010 for which the waiter insulted our guest who is a sommelier. Lemon ravioli was tasteless and paid a boat load for halibut that was overcooked and dry. French fries were ok but forgot the truffle oil. Pop overs were good but lobster was cooked poorly and old. Thank heaven Boston has so many restaurants so I will never have to go back there
(1)
M J.
Towne is ambitious. It's big and bold and beautiful and it's goal is to serve many purposes, which I applaud. Who else offers eclectic fine dining by two top chefs in three very different dining rooms with three bars, outdoor dining (soon) and a primo location in the heart of the city? Um, no one. You also need to bump up the stars because it's filled a huge void in the Back Bay with it's vibrant, large bar scene for adults. Some comments here are ridiculous social commentary, and not a review of the venue. Snarky, unhappy singles taking aim at the over 40 crowd: please stop and think. The world just might not be revolving around you. Maybe try some yoga breathing. I'm thrilled with Towne. They were slammed right off the bat becuase they're offering something in very high demand. They've hit their groove now - it's been a big undertaking but they are industry professionals and great at what they do. Go. Dress up or not, eat, drink and enjoy.
(5)
Alison Z.
Towne seems out of place. Or confused. It's a scene-y bar on the bottom, a restaurant in the middle and more bar-like on the sides. And it doesn't seem to know it's in the service or hospitality industry. We stopped in for a drink and a quick bit to eat. There was exactly one thing on the menu I could eat (no meat or fish for me) and it was awful. A burnt, oozing excuse for a grilled cheese. My husband's food wasn't any better. And the service was terrible. Rude and way too cool to talk to us or recommend things. The people who hang out here don't seem interested in the quality of the service. Or the food. Or the drinks. They're just there to be seen. So if that's your thing, then this place might be for you. If not, head down the street.
(2)
Jainy S.
If you asked me to describe Towne in one sentence, I'd fail. In fact, we asked our waiter to describe the theme...and he gave us..."fun? hip? we're a bar, we're a club...we are everything." I guess when it boils down to it, it's a little eclectic. The Ambiance: We were seated on the bottom floor aka "down-Towne" and the feel was best described as being in a fancy cabin...or getting to eat inside a Crate and Barrel. The upstairs aka "up-Towne" and the Back Bay room each have a unique feel to them, so can get up to 3 different dining experiences. The Menu: Well, it's slim pickings for vegetarians. They have 2 veggie pizzas - I went with one of them. It was good but not the greatest thing I have ever had. On the plus side, it was huge and I did have some left overs for home. For my meat-eating friends, the menu featured a lot of strange combos. From pork to fish to steak to lobster pizza, everyone was very satisfied with their meals. The Pro's -If you have a reservation, you have access to the other bars located upstairs and downstairs -The staff is incredibly friendly and make great suggestions - The food is good. - It seems fun, hip and crowded. I think it's a fun place to grab a late dinner and then enjoy some drinks. The Con's - The overall lack of theme is really evident - It is a little pricey and there are probably better dining experiences in Boston - Limited vegetarian options. Booo. Overall - I'd go back for a meal but only after ruling out other possible options.
(3)
Will S.
Worst martini ever. Bartender put more olive juice than vodka in the drink. What an amateur. Ughhh!!!!!!
(1)
Rachele V.
My boss and I took a client here for dinner and it did not go well. Our waitress was pushy and kept trying to convince us to order more food and wine. The food was good but the prices seemed high for what they were offering. I had the lobster popovers as an appetizer. They were $14 for 3 and they were okay, not as fantastic as the waitress claimed when she pushed me to order them. My client complained about the volume of the music, but our request to turn down the music fell on deaf ears (no pun intended). It was very loud - almost night club loud and this was a weeknight. My boss and my client ordered the same steak dish, but they came out two completely different sizes. My client called the manager over and he told him steaks tend to be 13 - 14 ounces. One was on the high end of 14 while one was on the low end of 13. I thought that sounded like a lame excuse, but we decided not to fight it. My duck breast was good but pricey. It was a large portion and I was full from the app so I left more than half on my plate so I could take leftovers home. I turned to talk to my client and when I turned back my plate was gone! No one even asked me if I was done! I stood up to stop whoever took my food, but they were nowhere in sight. I told the waitress - she came back from the kitchen and told me the bus boy had thrown it away and she told him not to do that again. No offer to replace or comp my food was made at that point. As I was leaving the waitress stopped me because they were making a new order of duck for me, which was the only redeeming thing she did all night. Talk about an embarrassing experience! We took our client out to a much nicer lunch the next day to make up for it... I would give the place a 3 on food but a 1 on service. I haven't been back since and I will continue to steer coworkers and clients away from Towne.
(2)
Courteney M.
Ever since I heard that Jasper White and Lydia Shire were collaborating on a new restaurant, I was dying to try it. It was not a disappointing experience. Towne is located adjacent to the Hynes Convention Center on the Prudential side of Boylston - upon entering, the bar is right in front of you, and you go down the hallway on the left to get to the restaurant. The menu had a variety of mouthwatering options - I had the prime rib (no sauce from the "sauce cart", and we ordered the miso-ginger green beans (AMAZING), portobello mushrooms, and sweet potato mash for sides for the table. The wine list is reasonable with solid options on both red and white, and the white sangria is the best white sangria I've had in Boston. It was reasonably priced - the bill before tip for the three of us (each ordering a steak, 2 drinks, dessert and splitting the sides) was $250. And the "spun sugar" dessert is to die for. The downsides? The service was on the slower side (but in their defense, the place was packed) and it was LOUD (we were seated on the first floor next to the second bar area - I imagine that the dining room on the second floor is quieter). I loved the decorations, and there were several menu items I wanted to try - I'll definitely be going back.
(4)
Kristen P.
I ventured to Towne one very rainy Friday with a group of girls for some cocktails and late night snacks, and I must say I was quite impressed. We managed to snag a cozy bar table within minutes of arriving which was definitely a plus. The atmosphere was a bit lack luster when we arrived (circa 10pm), but it picked up within the following hour with quite the lively bunch. We ordered a few rounds of cocktails which were AMAZING (albeit pricey); I highly recommend the Gypsy cocktail. We also indulged in a few bar snacks including the margarita pizza, cajun spiced fries, and grilled cheese. THE GRILLED CHEESE WAS TO DIE FOR! The bread was perfectly fluffy, the cheese was spot on, and there was a hint of sweetness from fig preserves. Hands down the best grilled cheese I have EVER tasted! And to top it off, it came with a side of potato chips baked in truffle oil... Amazing. Our waitress was a doll and got us a basket of just the chips even though it wasn't a menu item.
(4)
Leslie T.
Not great. I stopped in here for a quick bite to eat at the bar on a Saturday afternoon. Instead of a friendly greeting from the bartender, I got, "Gimme a minute, okay?" Hmm. Okay. As was the rest of my stay there. Just "okay." I ordered a lobster Cobb salad without the blue cheese. It took forever to arrive, and when it finally did it was covered with blue cheese and I had to send it back. Took forever to get the replacement. Once the salad did arrive, it was decent and nicely arranged on the plate, although the lobster was a little raw. I was not about to send it back, though, as I was afraid if I did I'd never get out of there. So, in all, I give it a hearty "meh."
(2)
Cece K.
Great food, but surprisingly pricey. From the outside, Towne looks like a hip, modern hang out..that also serves food. It actually turns out to be a high quality restaurant with delicious food and drinks. Huge venue and great locations... great spot for a special occasion or group event. Not the most "Boston-like" atmosphere... so if you are visiting from out of town, and only had one place to go, I would try something that served more authentic NE cuisine. The food: Bread basket in the beginning was great, and was served with several interesting spreads. I tried the chix thighs, swordfish pup steak, and skirt steak wagyu... all were amazing... but I was particularly impressed with the chix thighs, which had an amazing rotisserie flavor. For dessert, I some sort of caramel and angel food cake creation that was mouthwatering... it was topped with homemade caramel cotton candy. Drinks: one word = amazing! I had the gypsy dancer which was very well made (heavy on the vodka) and the combination of mix-ins made it very refreshing. Towne has a huge bar in the front... that may be a great place to hang out even if you are not planning on having dinner.
(4)
Kristen C.
Stopped in for drinks at this hot new trendy place. The space itself is nice, not too big, with funky lit up bar counters and separate bar tables and stools for people to congregate at besides just the bar itself. Though, the acoustics made it very, very noisy so it is not a place to talk over drinks. Interesting cocktail menu was ambitious, but maybe a bit too much as nothing really stood out and attracted me right away, which is rare. I tried one of their tequila cocktails that was unfortunately light on the tequila, and filled primarily with a lot of ice. For $10 to $12 a drink, I do expect a real cocktail. I would definitely go back and check it out again and see if drinks are better on a different night. It does show promise.
(3)
Sarah R.
I went there on a Thursday night. I loved the location and atmosphere, drinks were great and the food was good, but nothing mind blowing. I highly recommend the sangria it was mixed to perfection. It was extremely delicious and potent. We only order appetizers and a side so I cannot fully judge the food. The pizza was alright. Steak tartar came with nothing to accompany it and did not have much flavor. The side of gnocchi was cooked well but I did not care for it in bolognese sauce. I would try it again but I will not rush back there.
(3)
Thanh L.
It was just a little to crowd for my taste. We were hanging out on friday here. The drinks were pricey and the noise was overbearing. You couldn't hear the people next to you. Its was a pretty place to look at, but I think we came in at the wrong time.
(3)
D H.
I'm just getting around to reviewing this place. I ate her a year or so ago. I confess I do not remember precisely what I had, but I recall being very impressed and telling myself to review it on yelp.
(4)
Amelia D.
I had gone to Towne in the past and absolutely loved it. However this time around I went with my boyfriend and another couple, and it was a slightly different story. We sat outside on the patio and felt right away that the waiter was rather detached and unfriendly. The service was slow, so we were off to a bad start. No bread was served or anything to start us off, and we were hungry. We got some lemony raviolis with artichoke for an app, and I thought it was quite good, but that is where the enjoyment ends. Our friends got caesar salads and a bus boy came over with a plate and asked us if it was ours. We said what is it? He said it was a fried egg or something like that. We all said no, we didn't order that. Five minutes later he comes back and says "it goes with your caesar salad." Uhh...okay. Were we supposed to know that?? Weird. Our friends were half done with their salads. Would have been nice if they had just served the dish appropriately. Here's the thing that bothered me the most: the water glasses had warm water in them with no ice, and the glasses smelled funny (like a dirty dishwasher or like they had been washed with cold water and no soap). That totally grossed me out. This should never happen at an "upscale" restaurant! No excuse! Luckily I had a cocktail, so I sipped that and tried to ignore the yucky water glasses. For dinner I got the wagyu steak with polenta which I thought was pretty good, but nothing amazing. My boyfriend got the NY Sirloin and wasn't impressed. He thought it was bland and not very tender. Our friends both got fish of some sort, and they said it was just alright. I don't know if the poor service just sorta put a cloud over the rest of the experience or what, but as we were leaving we all decided that it was over-priced and unimpressive, and we would probably not go back again. It's too bad, cause the first time I dined at Towne (inside, upstairs) I had really loved it, and thought the food and service was fabulous. So for this reason, I'm giving Towne an overall rating of 3 stars instead of just 2.
(3)
Amanda W.
Came in for brunch and was more than pleased with the result. Our waitress was kind and attentive and explained the menu thoroughly, despite her thick accent. The spread was hearty and perfect for a weekend's first meal, though a tad over-priced. The kitchen sink sandwich and extreme fries certainly hit the spot! I think Towne was going for a more upscale kind of atmosphere, but people in Boston just don't seem to dress appropriately anyway... Overall, 3 stars for the food and service and an extra star for having the guts to try out a more modern feeling restaurant on Boylston! PS: LOVE the beakers and S&P shakers.
(4)
Marcus C.
Overpriced - The food isn't very special, considering how much the restaurant charges. Discordant - The IKEA-inspired menu design suggests a playfulness that isn't present in the dining experience. Expansive - Like an over-dressed Cheesecake Factory. Some might like this scale though. Star-studded - Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen were at the next table. My food was just average. I had the potato-wrapped cod, which was sort of bland and less interesting than I hoped. One dining companion had the sausage/pepperoni pizza and he disliked it. The other dining companion had the lobster roll, which she enjoyed - it being lobster and all. In my opinion, the best dish was my avocado/pork-belly salad. You can't go wrong with pork belly!
(2)
Robyn R.
I'm only reviewing this place on apps and drinks. The place has a great idea...I just don't feel it has been executed well enough. It would be a fabulous cocktail/late night snack place, however, the layout is not great. The lounge is small and seperated from the bar...and is waitress service only. So if you want a drink, you order from waitress or go "behind the curtains" to the back bar. The bar snack/lounge menu is below par - we ordered 2 or 3 items out of pure hunger. I would think a place like this could be more creative, and offer more for the location. The bar in the back is secluded and is more like a restaurant bar, but it's the only bar open. Drinks are good, but they have a lot to improve on in my opinion. I think the space is what is failing them...however, I haven't had dinner there and will def try it at some point.
(3)
Brian O.
Good but way too expensive
(3)
Chris D.
This is a review of brunch at Towne. Brunch was a bust at Towne. I went with two friends. One had eggs benedict which he thought was ok. My other friend had lemon pancakes which he found disappointing. I believe it was just plate of a few pancakes and a couple of strawberries and some silly cotton candy? Cotton candy, really?!? What adult wants to play with spun sugar cotton candy. It simply melts all over your hands. My entree was chicken and waffles. Or should I say, chicken wings and waffles! I expected at least a cutlet or a breast and a thigh, but wings? Yuck. They were huge, but what a mess. I was not prepared for the greasy mess of trying to eat wings. You can't use utensils so you have to eat with your hands. Not smart folks - greasy fingers which you then have to use on your utensils to eat the waffles. Come on, this is supposed to be a "high-end" restaurant by one of Boston's top chefs. Fried chicken wings, really?!? At least the menu should have said the chicken and waffles was really chicken WINGS and waffles. I felt ripped off. The wings weren't even very good. If I had known it was wings I would not have ordered it. Honestly, the best part of my meal was the coffee and the teeny, tiny, itsy, bitsy donut that they come around and offer you as a amuse-bouche. It was simply perfect, light and airy and not greasy.....but a little too cutsy for me. The service was ok, except the really long wait for our waiter to pick up the check. When my meal is finished I really dislike it when service falls off a cliff and I have to wait a long time for the wait staff to come back to pick up the check after I have put my card in the check folder. I won't be going back.
(1)
Gail F.
I've been driving by Towne every day on my way in to work vowing to try it ASAP. I finally gave it a shot the week after it opened with one of my girlfriends...and I was not impressed. The decor was great, very warm and welcoming. There's two different bar areas, upstairs and the front bar when you walk in. I was seated downstairs in the dining room so I didn't venture upstairs but it looked nice and open. The dining room was relatively busy for 630pm on a Thursday night and we were seated immediately. We ordered some apps and sides to share and everything was absolutely delicious. However the service was terrible. And when I say terrible, I mean TERRIBLE. Our waitress was no where to be found the entire night and when we finally got our check (30 minutes after our meal was finished) she wasn't even apologetic for the wait. I will give Towne another shot, because the food truly was delicious, but I hope they get their act together with service before my next visit.
(2)
Shelly D.
1st time to Towne. Wont be my last. Interesting decor. The process of getting seating was a bit confusing, but the host staff were very professional. The upstair restaurant area is beautiful. OPen display kitchen that boasts some serious equiptment (and oversized props- who doesnt love those). The server was Ok. Polite and efficient. Food: Lobster Popovers....now if I am to be exicuted and asked for my last meal choices- this would be one of them on a short list. I can't describe how incredible they are... Lobster Pizza....Was a B+. The Duck...Very good. Moist. Perfect portion. Wasnt sure what was going on on the plate, but everything seemed to work. I would order again and recommend. Dessert...Blah...Wasnt a fan. Wish I got more Everyone else had different things. Everyone was very pleased with their choices.
(4)
Ian C.
Towne had a really fun atmosphere. I was there with a group of 16, and they were very accommodating. Despite the large group size (and other large groups around us) it wasn't too noisy. The appetizers were pretty good. I got the iceberg salad and tried a lobster popover. The cheese on the salad was interesting, but a little heavy. The bacon was excellent, though! I ordered the skirt steak for my entree. I ordered it medium, but it came out medium rare. The potatoes were cold (not just room temperature, actually cold). I told the waiter, and he didn't hesitate to take it back to the kitchen and fix it. The put the steak on the grill, and it was excellent. They returned the same half eaten potato, which was okay, but I would have preferred a not reheated one. I also tried the chicken, and it was delicious! For dessert, I had a cappuccino (I asked for a double, but apparently they can only do singles?). The white chocolate lime cheesecake was amazing, and I'm very glad I got it. The waiters were extremely nice, and I'd like to go back to try brunch.
(3)
Susan P.
Loved loved loved! Loved the grapefruit cocktail, loved the lobster popovers and loved my dinner. ambience was GREAT! Sit outside if the weather is nice!
(5)
Eve S.
I really like this place! I went late on a Saturday night, the bartenders make some great drinks/shots. The waitresses are less than appealing, they weren't as pleasant as the bartenders and seemed as if they didn't want to be there, but the place is great. Tough to find seating on a Saturday night, but it's a pretty big place so something eventually opens up.
(4)
Veronica A.
All in all fantastic! Dinner is great great - brunch is grater - for Boston it's one of those spots for breakfast, dinner AND drinks! SO that's good right? Ask for the upstairs room and get a seat near the window... it's essentially a nice city feel. I dig it.
(4)
Jen L.
OK, I did not want to like this place as soon as I walked in. I got a fancy-schmancy, trying-too-hard vibe. But I was there to meet a large group so I sucked it up. Thankfully, we were seated around the back, which avoided the bar feeling you get at the door. The server was fun and attentive (which is always a surprise when you have a table over 4). The RW menu (salad, salmon, chocolate) was delish, and the cocktail (mr. brownstone) was swell. A surprise hit.
(4)
Katie W.
Came here for a Birthday Brunch and was pleasantly surprised. I am a die hard Sel de la Terre brunch fan, but since downsizing their breakfast options (removing their amazing twist on eggs Benedict from the menu), I have been in search for a new special occasion brunch spot, and I think I may have found it. We had no problem getting a table on a Sunday around lunch time, and first ordered drinks, Mimosa was delicious (heavy on the champagne which is always nice) and the bloody mary was mediocre--I prefer them to be spicy and thick, this one was a little thin and lacked that spicy kick. They bring complimentary corn bread and these little donuts hot and just glazed that are amazing! Think Krispy Kreme donut holes. I ordered the Eggs Benedict (although I was very intrigued by the authentic Chicken and Waffles) which was amazing, flavorful and had a great creamy hollandaise which was in abundance. I had plenty to dip my side of hash browns in. I also LOVE that they serve it with bacon rather than Canadian Bacon, only qualm was the bacon could have been a little crispier. Also got the Cheesy Grits which were a nice treat. My boyfriend ordered the Lobster and Chive omelet which was delicious as well, seemed to have a reasonable amount of lobster chunks for the price. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by how good the meal was. Not a place I would frequent every weekend because of the price, but if your looking for a splurge or a special occasion treat, this is your place!
(4)
Elina H.
This place is extremely expensive for what it is and the execution of the dishes isn't even good. I got the lobster roll, which mysteriously seems to come on and off the menu, and while the lobster part was good the bun was soggy in seconds. It was a disaster! [My husband's fried clams were just average, and at $21 we both expected more.] Will definitely not be back! I'm not sure if links are allowed, but I wrote a longer review here: healthyandsane.com/2011/…
(2)
Joanna L.
Have been here for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as just for drinks. Breakfast and lunch are the best meals here, despite dinner having the best ambience time at Towne. Entrees are plentiful and well-done, but not terribly original. Sandwiches are good at lunch time, but the salads are on the small side. Dinner menu is always a little tricky - I'm never completely in love with the choices provided, and my thoughts are that it's, on average, $4-5 overpriced. Sitting at Towne for a meal is a great place to see, and be seen, and is great for late-night dinners - but it's much more style than quality eats.
(3)
Michael D.
I never felt totally comfortable with Towne Stove and Spirits. Until now. The recent menu changes now offer simplicity and at the same time maintain elegance. You can't fully appreciate a 14oz bone-in filet mignon until you try it. Gone are the over-complicated dishes and replaced instead with ingredients that are allowed to speak for themselves. The sides like the baked sweet potato with brown sugar and butter, the crispy hash browns, and the grilled sweet corn are must tries. On my two most recent visits, I also noticed an attitude change. Same attentive service but it seems like more smiles abound. Not sure what the story is there but the difference is palpable. If this is a Towne reinvention count me in as a huge supporter.
(5)
Leo L.
Just a horrible experience... Went there for a quick bite of food and had a seat at the bar, I ordered the Lobster and side of rice, after a long wait the dish finally arrived and the rice was so raw that it could brake a tooth, after sending it back I could tell that the bartender wasn't very happy about it and walked to kitchen, after 8 minutes or so he comes back to finally ask if I wanted anything else instead, I told him I would try any other type rice instead, over 15 minutes later (my lobster was cold by the time I got the other side of rice) the rice finally arrived and the chef came to serve it to me with a super rude attitude, and guess what?! It was not ready to be served again! I had two bites of it paid for the bill and left... and still left 5% tip which was really nice of me! Do not go here if you're expecting good food!
(1)
Kathleen M.
Made last minute reservations for my birthday on Friday afternoon. They were able to get my large group in at 9PM, perfect!! I had been here before for drinks, never explored upstairs, what a beautiful dining room. Perfect for groups!! Our waiter was wonderful, paid the perfect amount of attention (at least 4 of us at the table have been in the food&beverage industry at some point, so really appreciate the attentive, but not overly attentive service.) Loved the drink menu, had a few birthday Mai Tais, delicious! Menu had a great selection, the chef even volunteered to prepare a special plate for one of my vegetarian friends. There were vegetarian options on the menu so he definitely didn't have to. 2 thumbs up!! I started with some oysters on the half shell and had the swordfish for my entree, which was cooked to perfection. Sampled a bite of the coconut jasmine rice, which was so tasty!! Ended my meal with a slice of birthday melt in your mouth chocolate cake with marshmallow ice cream (can it be my birthday every night?!) My entire party enjoyed the drinks, food & ambiance agreeing they would all come back & giving me kudos for picking a great spot! We ended up staying downstairs to have some more cocktails. Again, great service. I'm glad I went off the Boston's best reviews, I'm not sure how the reviews on yelp aren't that great. Will be back for sure! Thanks Towne, and staff for making my birthday a great night! And for squeezing us in last minute!!
(5)
Anto A.
Went out for a drink on Sunday night here with coworkers. We were all staying around the corner at the Sheraton, so it was very conveniently located. The atmosphere was decent and the drinks of average price. It was fairly slow, obviously it was Sunday night, just a birthday party and a few other guests from the Sheraton.
(3)
Alison H.
I went to Towne last Saturday night with some friends for drinks. We arrived at 10 and the bar areas were all packed both upstairs and downstairs. We grabbed a drink upstairs but quickly realized we were constantly standing in the wrong place. My friend went downstairs to check for more room downstairs and the hostess offered to set our growing group now up to 8+ friends with a big table. They let us sit at a big table for just drinks and as our group grew, they were very accommodating and even added on another table and chairs for us. I know I'm giving them a five for just drinks but the level of service for just drinks was amazing.
Besides it's location and it's dessert, I wouldn't really go back to this restaurant. Yes, it's new and opened by a couple of celebrity chefs in Boston. The wait is horrible if you don't have reservations.....line is out the door. Would you want to be roped off like you're waiting to get into a club just for mediocre food? The best thing I was oooh-ing over was their Brown Sugar Angel Food Cake with Maple Cotton Candy and Caramel Ice Cream. Yes! It does exist and it's as wonderful as it sounds! I'd definitely go back for this after a day out shopping and need a pick me up and coffee break. The food wasn't fantastic. The tartar duo was alright, - ok, forgettable. The fois gras appetizer was over cooked. I'm sure I can get the raw oysters elsewhere in the area. My entree was the tuna steak. I've had many in the past. In fact, I love my sushi. This tuna wasn't exactly "sashimi grade". Actually, it was a bit overcooked. I can get one better done at Legal Seafoods practically a skip and a hop away. One of my friends got the braised short ribs. It looks yummy, but like all the other dishes, including my tuna...they encrusted it in ALOT of salt to give it more flavor. Also, can I just mention that all the mashed potatoes in the dishes it came in was over-whipped? Yes, it was gummy potatoes. (this happens when you over-whip potatoes and it gets VERY starchy and glutinous.)
(3)
Susan P.
Attended a function on a Friday evening and the food and service was spectacular! Lydia Shire came out to greet us - which was a very nice surprise. Will visit Towne again soon.
(5)
Kimberly P.
I returned to Towne for dinner and had a great experience. Our server was charming, timely and knowledgeable about the menu... he made great recommendations!
I went here the other night with my best friend for the 1 st time. I love the outdoor tent they have set up, it's like something you would see in a fairy tale, it's so cool, we didn't sit in it though. We sat at the bar we each had 2 of their signature cocktails, which I honestly felt were overpriced at $12.00 each. I guess I felt if it was worth it, I wouldn't mind paying for it, but they weren't really that good. We also ordered the crab dip. It was good, it needed just a few more chips with it. I didn't have enough for my dip. We also decided to share the peanut butter sundae that came with maple cotton candy. Yes maple cotton candy, all I have to say is wow, it was awesome.
(4)
Katie H.
I attended a fabulous cooking class here and was very impressed with the entire experience. The restaurant is cozy and chic. The kitchen, with its glass walls that allows diners to see what's happening, was superb and very clean. The food was melt in your mouth enjoyable and the wine pairings were perfect. I'd go back any time for drinks in the lower level or dinner on the second floor. It's obviously on the pricier side of things but well worth the occasional splurge for a great meal.
(4)
Sara C.
This review is based on the brunch only! It was unique and very good. They give you mini glazed donuts and biscotti at your table while you wait, which were really good. Everyone loved their meals. I got the pancakes and they came with maple syrup cotton candy on top! It was so cute and different. It happened to be my birthday so at the end of the meal instead of bringing a cake or other dessert, they brought a giant serving of the cotton candy with a candle and chocolate piece that said Happy Birthday on it. Needless to say it was eaten up quickly by all and was very addictive. We will definiately be coming back here for brunch.
(5)
Jacqueline C.
I hadn't been to this restaurant in a year so was a little worried since it has gotten mixed reviews lately. However we went with another couple on Saturday night and loved it. The bar scene was no longer a scene...it was just where people were hanging out waiting for their tables. That's a little sad, but nice at the same time since it wasn't a big deal to actually sit at the bar and have a drink before dinner instead of getting jostled around. We arrived early with the intention of having a drink before dinner but our table ended up being ready an hour early so we sat down. This was a tad annoying since I had called that day and asked if it was possible to get an earlier reservation and was told that we couldn't. The room is funky and loud. We couldn't really hear the waiter, but it didn't matter. We ordered apps and dinner and wine. The lobster popovers, which I remember being totally amazing, were just 'meh' but the shrimp tempurah was delicious. For dinner I had the duck, which is one of their signature dishes, and it was AMAZING. perfectly cooked, cool looking on my plate and scrumptious. I ate every bite. My husband had the schnitzel minus the anchovies and it was delicious. We both loved our meals. We would absolutely go back to this place.
(4)
Lee D.
Headed to Towne about a week after it opened its doors. It's always nice to go to a restaurant soon after it opens -- the waiters are helpful and positive, not jaded and disinterested, the decor is current and interesting, not outdated and overplayed. You get caught up in the excitement and newness of it all. Since I wasn't particularly hungry, I ordered the Beet Caprese and app-sized fettuccine alfredo. The beet dish was amazing. The fettuccine alfredo wasn't too impressive -- just pasta and butter -- but good. My friends ordered the duck and steak. I tried some of each and thought they were great. So, Towne was exciting, had great service and decent food, certainly had a great vibe going on, and was decorated in a very interesting way (check out the crystal gun on the third floor!). Downsides were the lack of a fully operational bar (no maraschino!!), the incredibly noisy first and second floors (great wooden floors, walls and ceilings, but nothing to absorb the overwhelming din of such a large facility), and the fact that despite a wonderfully varied menu there aren't too many healthy options.
(3)
Gerald H.
Bar scene fun, and food decent. Service horrible. Party of 12 for my brother's 50th birthday. Took 45 minutes to place our order, despite trying to flag the waiter. Had to complain twice before service picked up. Sommelier recommended a brunello that they did not carry. Overall poor experience and would not go back.
(2)
Jennifer B.
Towne has a fantastic brunch. The cocktails were tasty, as was the food. Good atmosphere and great and attentive waitstaff. The omelet I had was very tasty and I loved the tater tots (less like a tot and more like a homefry- but delicious nonetheless). It seems like a great spot for somewhat large parties and they were very accommodating. I look forward to going back soon.
(4)
Maddie H.
Bathrooms did not have any handsoap. Food was overwhelmingly salty. Overpriced. Slow to refill water glasses. Took bread away without asking.
(2)
Karen K.
Amazing! Came here for my birthday and was blown away by everything-service, food and atmosphere. We will be back soon for sure!
(5)
Jillian T.
So surprised by all the bad reviews on here! My boyfriend and I have been living in Boston for almost a year and eat out quite a bit, and Towne is absolutely one of our favorites. First went for Valentine's Day, but have been back since. Solid service, nice atmosphere and DELICIOUS food!!! We've sampled several dishes and everything is absolutely amazing.. you can tell it's made w/ quality ingredients. Highly recommended!
(4)
Julia W.
Second visit, feeling pretty open-minded about this place. It is large and comprised of different spaces with different feels to them. Last time we were upstairs in a more formal space with tablecloths. This time we were in a large room. Lots of hard surfaces, so, it was a bit loud although the room was not full. The service was very professional, nice. Food was very slow. This was fine for the appetizer but got tedious with the main course. I had the roasted kale/bay scallops appetizer, it was excellent. The short ribs on pappardelle special was also excellent; my sole florentine very good. The parmesan roasted broccoli and cauliflower also excellent. Apologies for the slowness of the kitchen were offered, and we were given a glass of a very nice pinot noir which was a nice surprise. To top that off, we were also comped a dessert. Totally not necessary, but very generous of them. We had a nice meal and will be back.
(4)
Pickle P.
We were given a gift certificate and used it on a weeknight. Overall quite dissapointing. First of all, it's hard to find the restaurant as the doors lead you into the bar. Clientele was standard Back Bay goober, but with middle management jobs. Service was hot and cold, alternating between overattentive and completely absent. Food was standard (pork chop/duck confit) but overpriced. One good point - the Willamette Valley pinot I chose blindly from the list was great. Oh, and the bartender on the restaurant side looked like a stripper. Note to owners - while this might attract men to the bar, it doesn't class up the joint.
(2)
Casey H.
We had made reservations for a large group on Sat night and they sat us at a table that was way too small. They were not willing to find us a larger table. Typically when you see a group our size, you know the bill will be over $1000, and its very interesting when a restaurant still provides poor service right from the start. The food was ok. It is a bit overpriced for what you get, but passable. I had the sea bass. I would recommend this place for drinks, but not for dinner, particularly because of the bad service.
(2)
Eric S.
I tried to book an event with Towne and they were very unresponsive! I called multiple times and never got an answer back. Seems like they don't need the business! These guys are unprofessional ... don't waste your time. Go somewhere else! Lots of venues in Boston ...
(1)
Arturo H.
I heard this place was the greatest thing since slice bread. It was good, but given the build up I was a little disappointed. Pretty pricey too. They cotton candy as a dessert option which someone in my group got. That was pretty impressive and not usual for a restaurant. Everyone, including myself seemed pretty satisfied with their dinner but no one was glowing. I would go back if it was cheaper, and glad I tried it once.
(3)
Diana M.
Extremely pretentious! They pretend to be at capacity so a line forms. After we're told we're in line because they're full, they then let a group of 15 in because one of the guys knows someone at the door. After standing in the rain another 5 minutes, I ask what the wait is, the kid says "I can let you in now". Then the head door man takes a look at my rain boots, and yells " Yeah, not yet." Um, okay. We then leave. As we're walking away, three women in their 40s come up to the door they let them in. Don't waste your time there if you're under 40 and you're a down to earth person. They're trying too hard to make it be like a place that would be in NYC. I heard too the drinks there are $15. They want only people in there that look like they have $$, so they'll pay for the over-priced drinks. Thanks but no thanks.
(1)
Steve K.
I was fortunate enough to go to Towne on the second night and I must say I was very impressed. I usually give a place a few weeks to work out the bugs, but the impeccable design and the diligent staff made for a great experience. The staff was attentive at all times, but never intrusive, and the fact that there were alot of staff made things move with a sense of purpose without feeling rushed. Christine was working the tables around the second bar on the main level and she was awesome! We even had a manager stop by to check in, which was a nice touch during the hectic opening. For food I recommend anything Lobster...cocktail, tail app with horseradish and pesto sauce. Awesome! I also had the skirt steak and portobello on the side. For dessert, I don't have a sweet tooth, so it was definitely the artisan cheese plate. My only complaint was that the skirt steak did not come split, since I was sharing - but they did bring two plates. Also, the cheese plate was not explained, and there were four options of cheeses, so more information would have been helpful. I am definitely a fan of this place, and will be going back because the bacon wrapped dates sound too awesome to pass up. This place also has range - anything from business dinner to late night out. Definitely check it out. There is something for everyone there.
(4)
Alicia F.
Towne is the bomb! The service was exceptional and the food was so delicious, particularly the pizza (mushroom, and margherita equally delish) and "the truth" fettucini alfredo is off the charts! I don't eat meat but but my husband and friends went bizerk over the burger and the peking chicken. And bonus, the cocktails yummy too.
(5)
Stephen M.
Been here a few times but this is my first review. Cool venue, decent menu, mediocre wine list and unamazing food. Would definitely go back to hit the bar for drinks, or maybe even for say a group dinner, but the food is nowhere near good enough to seek the place out for "just" dinner.
(3)
Sean H.
Ambiance - Trendy yet warm. Very comfortable Food - Very, VERY Good Menu - A bit limited...I half expected more lobster dishes. The menu is international in scope, but could use more items. Sides are numerous and outstanding. Service - A+ Wine List - A+ Thank you. We will be back!
(4)
L S.
The food and service were great - it was just too dark to enjoy the experience. Turn up the lights a bit please.
(2)
Richard C.
Beware the gourmet burger they say, expensive burgers can't be trusted. If people start talking about a burger, there's probably a reason for it, although in the case of Towne, most of the chatter seems to have vanished after a hot start. Priced at $16, I've somehow avoided this burger for months, but like most things, this was worth the wait. To make the upper tier, you must nail execution, flavor, and offer something that other burgers can't. Ironically labeled the "Deluxe All-American Bacon Burger," it's all about the meat, but for the gourmet crowd it should go without saying. How premium the entire package is and how much value is attributed to a hefty price tag is the question. A unique blend of Short Rib and Skirt Steak is used, which is about as fatty as you can get, probably why I liked it so much. The beef has a superior crust and very generous seasoning, funky enough to be different but not too far from the norm to sway any burger enthusiast. It's requested on the menu that you order it rare, which I do, and for the most part it's cooked properly. Certainly far from rare as the patty reaches the outer edges, the middle of the burger is perfectly rare without going into raw territory. Perfectly hand-formed and thus loosely packed, the meat sings with robust flavor in each bite. A curious sweet chili sauce tops the burger, not much more than a glorified ketchup that seems out of place, distracting from the meaty patty, the sweetness is a mere distraction. Melted cheddar and bacon round out the burger, the cheddar almost an afterthought, and the crispy bacon offering texture but little flavor. The bun is sort of a Brioche/Kaiser Roll hybrid and it works; slightly sweet and almost too large, it supports the massive patty and all its juiciness. Very ordinary fries are almost a bore, especially after the delicious burger, they are very hollow and taste nothing like potato, albeit seasoned very nicely. Towne boasts a burger that is to be reckoned with, it's all about the beef and rightfully so. The meat is exciting, different and wonderful, and as a complete package, it at least deserves any mention to hang with Boston's best. It's the same predicament as past burgers; expensive, and hard to justify too many return visits. Less delicious than the burger across the street at Back Bay Social Club, but $6 cheaper. Not as news-worthy as Radius, but definitely beefier. It's absolutely in the running, and worthy of a closer look by burger enthusiasts everywhere.
(4)
Ken C.
Loved the lobster pizza and the duck entree. Service was nice but oddly nervous. Tuna was not overcooked, which is key. Great location and impressive decor. Ate upstairs, but could have easily enjoyed a few G&T's downstairs.
(4)
Karen C.
At $250/couple, I guess I expect great food. Didn't happen - surf-turf special was 1/2 an overcooked lobster tail and medium filet was well done. Apps were good but not remarkable. Atmosphere was great as was service. Done with Lydia Shire joints, on to Barbara Lynch and others.
(2)
Billy Su B.
i've now had numerous 5 star nights out on the towne ;) 1. are you a rowdy hussy in search of a suit to bed, or vice versa? try the first bar on the first floor. dark, noisy, casual, and packed with young horny singles trying to act polished and stylish, but really just looking for a wallet full of money and a romp in the sack. they aren't fooling anyone. we see those hungry bedroom eyes. ...actually, i don't know if they're there for the sex or the ravioli. having had both, it's sort of a toss up to be honest. (the ravioli is SO good!) 2. bar #2, on the first floor, is lighter, more civilized and older. the attached diningroom is spacious and lively- perfect for a party or large, festive get-together. 3. bar #3, upstairs, is the more private, quiet area. try this for a conversational, low key night or more intimate date or dinner party. (find me here) FOOD* 1. CHICKEN THIGHS- buddha on a bicycle, this dish was rich, savory, culinary perfection, from the juicy thighs to the flavor-saturated garlic bread they came on 2. DUCK CRISP- *sound of rejoicing 3. PORTABELLO MUSHROOMS- compare to devient sex act of thine own naughty choice 4. VALENCIA RICE- so clever. so dream inducing. 5. SOFT SHELL CRAB- light weight, flavorful and the reason i'm generally obsessed with soft shell crab! 6. TARTARE- praise be to raw food! ************** 7. since seven is heaven, i'll end here: THE ANGEL FOOD CAKE WITH MAPLE ICE CREAM AND COTTON CANDY ::chorus of angels singing:: **!!**hands down, the cleverest and most delicious dessert in this sweet city. +final instructions: do not bring stretchy pants, tattered shoes or baseball caps and be sure to fully load your wallet with monies prior to arrival end of rave.
(5)
ells w.
...wtf.........East Coast Oysters 2.50 each in Boston? Just another over thought, under performing 'corporate' restaurant aimed straight at unsuspecting conventioneers, and unsuspecting foodies who think they're going to see Lydia and Jasper dancing their magic to the sounds of pots and pans....beware of the star power. They are as vacuous as the space.
(1)
Howe L.
A great place to drop by after work for a drink and chat. The scene is up there, and I noticed subtle hints of condescension. Still, the atmosphere is inviting, and we tried the lobster sandwiches with fried whole clams. Pretty good!
(4)
Claire W.
Friend took my here for a birthday lunch. The service was excellent. My friend had a medical procedure the day before and could only have soup. She has severe food allergies to poultry or seafood, and asked if the kitchen had any beef broth. They had veal broth, and were very accommodating in this request and a few others we had. I had the crab cakes, and we each had a glass of champagne, picked by my friend. Very nice meal (although I didn't realize until I arrived at lunch that my friend should have stayed home).
(4)
Thuy L.
What a stark contrast from the Soft Opening. I was excited and interested to see how it would all pan out once it was opened. I have been here twice for drinks and my experiences were so opposite that I had to give it another try. The first time was at 5:00 on a Wednesday--not very crowded and not loud at all. We went straight upstairs to the bar. The second time was a Friday evening around 9:00pm and luckily I got there in time to snag a couple of tables in the back. The volume was ridiculous--I couldn't even hear the person next to me. Finally, I thought I'd put those two experiences behind and try dinner here. I was completely shocked. For a 7:15 Thursday reservation, there was a man with a rope to the left taking names (as if we were in some high profile club) and not in a restaurant attached to a Convention Center. The guy had a clipboard and suggested that I wait at the overly crowded bar until my friend arrived. They couldn't even just sit me? I couldn't have even ordered a drink if I wanted to. I was surprised how loud the restaurant was as it was still fairly early in the evening. The sound carried over into the dining rooms as well. My voice was hoarse the next day from screaming to my friend who sat just 2 feet away from me. Drinks were okay. Oysters were adequate, they only served Wellfleet Oysters. Service was decent but our server could not for the life of him remember the special. He kept looking around and then finally looked down at his notes to remember the fish of the day. After describing the fish, he never once quoted me a price. I was definitely shocked when the bill came out and it was a $38 meal. For that price, I would have expected some Swarovski crystals embedded into it. Additionally, he said that the fish was de-boned, however I found like 10 bones in my fish. It was pretty irritating to start chewing and then you gag yourself with a bone that wasn't supposed to be there. My girlfriend ordered the linguine and clams off of the appetizer menu. We asked the server if it would be enough for one person as their meal, and he said No. We took a chance and it was plenty. There was enough to bring home in a doggy bag. Not sure if they are taught to try to get the customer to order as much as possible, but I though the food was decent, nothing spectacular and way overpriced. I shall not be returning here for dinner anytime soon nor will I be coming back for drinks. Go somewhere else.
(2)
Deb L.
been here for brunch a few times and the food is very good (pancakes, french toast) they provide a basket of pound cake and mini glazed maple donuts when you sit down. OMG these donuts are out of this world (they deserve 5 stars). Once in awhile, I'll go in and get a few dozen to go (which they sell for 50 cents each) and take them to friends (and it's a real hit).
(4)
Mark W.
Great place for drinks but big disappointment on the quality of the food. The lamb was all fat the salmon was over cooked the tuna was ok and the chicken dish was dry. Oysters were good but how could that go wrong. Stick with drinks at the bar... Oh, get to the place early. The line outside was ridiculous.
(2)
Cheryl G.
Service was fast and friendly. Atmosphere and decor very nice, but strange Saturday menu, only brunch, no lunch. So don't bother if you are looking for lunch on a Saturday. Definitely would like to try Towne again for dinner. Didn't seem to be much in terms of vegan options, but vegetarian flatbread pizza was salty and oily, in a good way.
(3)
Soumendra B.
The snozzberries taste like snozzberries... you will constantly ask yourself 'is this for real' at towne... and no, not always in a good way. Imagine a place with red checkered napkins, beakers as water glasses, and a menu that includes Indian, Chinese, Italian, and English food with strange accompaniments. Think burned tuna steak with sweet root vegetables...unbelievably large portions of chicken...Indian appetizers. You can call it "fusion" but that doesn't quite mean it fused. The flavors were not complimentary, and sometimes it wasn't even clear what they were supposed to be. The blueberry dessert was unquestionably the highlight of the meal, though the sauce was a little too sweet... imagine willy wonka announced your dessert... with a flourish! "you are eating dessert! This is sweet!" Speaking of Willy Wonka...our server kept coming over and whispering in our ears "how is your food?"..."I just LOVE what your ordered"..."where I come from this is a fancyyyyy dessert" and then announcing each course with a flourish of his arm "Here is the PHARATAAAAAAA". Ok, thanks, please leave us be now. We basically decided that we would not come here again, but that it's great for people going to conferences at the convention center because they will most definitely remember the experience.
(2)
Tatsu I.
White Tablecloth Service for a Party of 380 x 4, I'll Take All Seating Times Please! I have no scruples when it comes to sniping FTR, it's immature, self-indulgent and you love me for it. But I'll give you a g-ddam honest review and you will learn something. Leighann graciously extended an invite to attend Towne Stove & Spirit's soft opening, a fundraiser for Mass Eye And Ear Infirmary. I do not know how this new venue escaped me, let's just say the rate of openings in Q2 to Q3 2010 is pretty astonishing as of right now. Lydia Shire of Locke-Ober and Scampo fame has paired with a surprising choice in Jasper White, the man behind Summer Shack and many books on New England style fare. The backing power comes from the Lyons Brothers and they definitely brought it. Big time. The real estate is mind-bogglingly prime, basically a T-bone sized chunk of the Northeast corner of the Hynes Convention Center. I would of named it "The N.E. Corner of Hynes C.C.". It occupies both levels, and the view from the more enclosed banquet style room has a stunning view of Boylston due to windows arrangement above and all sides of the room, nearly 180 and above your head. It also peers into the Hynes main hallway adjacent, an extended view of easily 150 meters across the entire length of the Hynes. The main room is also gorgeous, with a modern open kitchen, yet charming whimsical touches throughout that is very Lydia. The downstairs has yet another room, looking into the expansive not-so-gorgeous cement courtyard of the Prudential Mall. The bar as you enter rivals anything on Boylston, and in fact, being the corner part of the Hynes affords the luxury of massive and tall plate glass windows in every room. Quite frankly it is second to none in terms of curbside and inside appeal compared to anything inside the Mandarin, and that is quite the architectural boast. The menu and food is decidedly safely chosen, an amalgam of Jasper's and Lydia's greatest hits, with some crowd pleasers thrown in. The menu is actually a bit longer than expected for such a nice looking venue, no doubt an effort to quickly appeal to the many conventioneers who will be peering into the banquet room and saying "What is THAT?". Lobster Popovers, from Scampo are being ported over, along with some of Jasper's previous dishes. Also seen were flatbreads, skirt steaks, even a burger. Frites are typically served with the meat dishes. The fish on the other hand, various rice sides or veggies can be ordered, separately. Aside from various duck and lamb entrees, that is pretty much it, very simple and not confusing, again I suspect a nod to traffic they anticipate from within the Hynes. From my judgement (Very little fish was served on this soft-opening, (In fact none of the kitchen equipment was hooked up, all the cooking was done patio-side in a temporary tent.) but Jasper did come out with skin-on pan-seared Salmon dressed in cucumber and accoutrements. Undoubtably wild from the taste of the oil coming off the salmon. I was frankly distraught to see Bluefin Tuna on the menu, unless it is of the farmed Kindai variety, I will encourage it's removal from the menu. The stellar menu item is Lydia's Colorado Lamb Ribs. When I used to eat meat, I sourced my lamb from New Hampshire, from Halal butchers and it was night and day from New Zealand. No gameyness, or strings, just smooth as silk meat. Lydia goes further, to Colorado using more fully grown sheep. The result is an enormous eye in the rib, larger than a diver scallop unbelievably, absolutely succulent, pleasing non-gamey aroma, a texture between tenderloin of beef and sirloin. It was so appealing I cheated and tried one, it simply surpassed any Lamb Rib I've tried, which was formerly my favorite cut of meat, any type of BBQ or skirt steak be damned. So I would order that for you, while I resumed on Jasper's side of the menu because I'm supposed to be a vegetarian. Perhaps the menu does not have the savoir faire of Scampo, or say Clink next door to Scampo in the Liberty Hotel. None-the-less this is destined to be hallmark establishment, known outside of Boston, that Back Bay really needs, something you might see editorialized in in-flight magazines as a hot spot in the future, but also a very swank rendezvous for the citizens of Boston herself with solid food from Team Shire/White and their underlings. Quite frankly, as an event planner, I would have my convention inside Towne and skip the Hynes all-together. The service was ridiculously well-prepared, an army of staff picking up glasses at all times in nylon picnic baskets shows serious party planning skills. You can fit 1000 conventioneers in a 380 seat restaurant in one evening. And thus the title of my review. So, KapOW! another FTR, and I lay my piece down. I'm a one-shot cold bore sniper.. Oh drinks, yes I got a bit tipsy. Thanks again to Leighann for this very exclusive opening! You know it was good if I cheated.
(5)
A B.
Not worth the money. Inexperienced servers who can't get out of their own way. The m.o.d. was named Chuck. He was arrogant, unhelpful and cocky at best. He should not be dealing with guests. I will never go back to this place. The food didn't live up to it's expectations.
(1)
Anne-Marie A.
This is a tough one, since I've been to Towne several times and have always had a splendid experience, complete with Chef Lydia stopping by to say hello. But last night was different -- 12 of us for a birthday celebration and things did not go very well. First of all, the fire alarms went off and continued blaring for 10 - 15 minutes. The manager did come by and reassure us that we did not have to leave (Phew-- we had not even had our first cocktails yet!), but this started our evening out on the wrong note. Service was good, but for some reason, someone (the waiter? the kitchen?) kept forgetting something or other: first all the side dishes we ordered, which came out when we were almost finished with our meal. Then, dessert -- and again, one of the desserts arrived (after we reminded them) after everyone else was finished with theirs. What can I say -- I will give Towne another try but several of our guests left unimpressed.
(3)
aaron t.
good drinks. Good bread food, incredibly greasy and way over priced. Not so good. service, good. Seems like a place for overpriced food, large portions, but not much taste, besides the bar drinks. Come here for drinks, not food. Bad experience. a friend and I came here and it cost us over $70 each. for 1 pizza, 2 appetizers, and 2-3 drinks each. If in back bay, i'd say go to Sel de la ter, atlantic fish, tapeos, or a bit further down to south end to coppa, toro, or chinatown for a good meal.
(1)
Tammie P.
Had the lamb and lobster popovers for dinner a couple of times. There's a lobster omelet that's decent, too.
Keep this simple. 5 stars for service and hospitality from the bartender to our waitress. Couldn't be more affable or attentive. Food was pretty good, but taking one star off. Had the pizza, pea soup, ravioli, and other items that were shared. All were enjoyed, but portions pretty small - esp the ravioli @ $17(!!!). 2 more stars off for value. This is Towne's problem. The food prices are sky-high - at least 20% more than what is reasonable for what you get ...which is decent quality and small portions. Just can't see myself coming back here to eat. Drink, yes, but eat, no.
(2)
TBone A.
Nice location, nice ambient. I expected more from the food. We started off with Tar tare appetizer. It's OK. Nothing memorable. I ordered crispy duck. My friends had Cod "Bullet" and Pork Chop. The portion is quite generous. They must have put my dish under heat lamp, waiting for other dishes to be finished because by the time it hit the table. The sauce was congealed. However , the Cod and Pork Chop seems OK. I like Pork Chop best, then the Cod. The duck dish was a bit disappointed. Lastly we ordered Brown sugar angel food cake with caramel ice cream and maple cotton candy for dessert. Everything on the plate is really sweet. Personally I founded their food almost like "trying to hard". Every dish has lots of component but somehow doesn't tied together. Most of the garnish are deep fried and oily. I won't hurry back.
(2)
Sheila B.
Lot's of trend for the spend.... I will say if you don't like anything on this menu you do have issues. There are a ton of choices, menu that includes Indian, Chinese, Italian, american fare, printed on a large print menu, incase you forgot your glasses ! What they ARE that's a cute, swanky spot on Boylston with a varied menu, which doesn't quite make sense to me. But again, lots of options, I tend to want to eat a more focused cuisine. So I took the plunge and went to the indian food, which definitely did not tast authentic, just because you throw some cumin. clilantro, and garlic on some chicken doesn't make it Indian. I did like the lobster popover, not bad for a little appetizer. Portion sizes where fair, I got the brick chicken, and my friend got the thighs bothwere ok. Would pass on the chicken next time and go try something else. I would go back again, but don't expect my opinion to change a ton. Also Lydia's lobster pizza, I almost shunned $26 REALLY.. how much meat is on that thing.. that's a lot.. I have eaten that at the Excelsior bar menu back in the day for maybe half that price.. I don't know it just don't seem right.. Again I leave you with , lots of trend for the spend..........
(3)
Cahaya S.
Very shi-shi place with 3 or 4 rooms...definitely one of the happening, new joints in Boston. We ordered appetizers in the "bar" room -- the first room as you enter. I had a lobster dog and my friend had another lobster concoction, which she thought was going to be a stew -- but it was actually some kind of "jellified" stew! lol! ick!!! I dunno -- I wasn't that impressed...(plus my lobsterdog was like a regular hotdog --with no toppings. Couldn't really taste the lobster -- unfortunately....
(3)
Jamie G.
Came here for a Yelp Elite event and had a wonderful time. It definitely got me wanting to come back and try their typical food and drink. The atmosphere and decor are classy and fun. The food and drink we had the event was very good and the staff was superb,... nicely dealing with some really stupid and rude guests (which really saddened me, because, HELLO, we were there for free, at least be nice!!). Hopefully their normal food and service is just as good!
(4)
G K.
great food. the tomahawk steak is great. so is the duck. food was amazing. a little too high priced for the place.
(4)
Eric B.
I've been here twice. Overall I find the place energetic and fairly welcoming. The whole gatekeeper at the door thing was a bit off putting. The back bars are not THAT crowded. The food and drinks here are pretty good. I'd recommend this place for groups small or large. I hope I get to go back soon.
(4)
Richard P.
Not impressed. Waiter seemed impatient and menu was an odd mix. Enjoyed the lamb kabob. Nothing else was exceptional as you would expect from the price and atmosphere.
(2)
Joelle S.
My boyfriend and i had gone to Towne a couple months back, maybe in May. There was a little congestion outside of the doorway and as soon as we got in there was an inviting, yet confusing set up. There was a bar and then no Host stand... odd. I asked the bartender if there was a host, and he was rude and said, " Ya, ova there" and pointed behind him. Um, alright? Cool. Not a great first impression as we passed the cougar hunting/affair-filled bar. So we go to the host stand, tell them we have a reservation and said it will be just a cpl minutes. We go to the bar, and order a drink from a very sloppy looking girl who was just shy of rude and then she threw away the leftovers of the people next to us, after they asked her to wrap it up for them. OKay. So far, not great in hospitality. This is a new restaurant, figured they would have higher standards. Oh well. And then as soon as we got a drink, one of the sloppy hostesses walked past my boyfriend, and kicked the bar stool our from under him, didn't pick it up, and just said "Oh, sorry." And walked away!! Even odder. SO then we get sat after about 15 minutes (by the way, we had made reservations, it was not busy at all, and the restaurant was maybe half full.) We went upstairs where the ambiance was very nice, and from there it got much better! yay! They played fun music upstairs(Beegees marley. justthe way you are. Captain of her heart) and we got a very attentive Bulgarian waitress whom was very sweet and hospitable. App: Calamari zucchini tangle thing. great tempura batter! wish it were bigger Entree:Lobster pizza. We shared it and it was delish! had an awesome creamy sauce drizzle, def would get this again Salad: Ceasar spears. nice and lightly dressed, the way i like. ALmost warm like they grilled it, delish either way. and they served it with this Burnt bread that i loved. Food: 4 out of 5 stars. Service: 2.5 out of 5 stars. (If it weren't for our great waitress, it would have made this a 2-star rating)
(3)
Tomoko M.
I love this place! Came here during the daytime on a weekend and was able to sit at the bar right away. Their martini was delicious - I tried the Gypsy Dancer martini (cucumber vodka, aloe & honey). Also ordered the "cajun dusted french fries". I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that they were not really your typical fries. The potatoes melt in your mouth...Looking forward to coming back soon.
(4)
Gigi B.
I was finally able to check out Towne Stove & Spirits a few weeks ago. Unfortunately I was disappointed. Towne seems to have an identity crisis. The menu is absurdly expensive and not cohesive. Some portions were massive while others were minuscule. If the food were outstanding I'd be much more forgiving, but as a Lydia Shire-Jasper White venture, there is no excuse. I feel Towne caters to out-of-towners more than the Bostonians the famous chefs love to please. The ambiance somehow made me feel uncomfortable, although the service was terrific. I'm willing to give Towne another chance once they've worked out the kinks, but for now there are dozens of restaurants in Boston I'd rather spend my money at, especially in the immediate Back Bay area.
(2)
Jourdan R.
I LOOOOOOVEEEEEED Towne Stove & Spirits! At first I was worried that it was going to be out of my price range, but when I got there the menu had a wide range of reasonable prices. The place looked FANTASTIC...I loved the unique light fixtures and the different feels of each dining room...they make the place have an amazing ambiance! And what a great location! I was warmly welcomed and greeted the second I walked in the door. Cassie, my hostess, was SUCH a sweetheart. She made us feel like we were the celebrities of the night. I loved it - and I'm glad I wore my new LBD :) (I highly suggest requesting her as your hostess!) Anyway, when we got to our table (after only five minutes of waiting - we didn't make a reservation - but it was great because we got to chat it up with our hostess) we felt like VIPs because it seemed as though we were seated in the best table in the house. We could see right into the kitchen, which was cool because no other restaurant I've been to has ever had that layout. We ordered the Tuna TarTar for our appetizer, which was DELICIOUS. I highly recommend it. My friends and I each ordered an entree which we shared and each one was equally delicious. The Sirloin was so tender and juicy...it was like Heaven in my mouth. The Lobster Roll was the best lobster I've had in Boston. And that's saying something! (I strongly disagree with the comment below.) The Caesar Salad was SO tasty and fresh - I must know Lydia's secret to cooking the egg! For dessert, we got the Angel Food Cake. It comes with brown sugar cotton candy! It was absolutely melt-in-your-mouth delish. The best part was when Lydia herself brought us an extra stick of cotton candy. Again, we felt like CELEBRITIES. I mean, SHE'S a celebrity! I hope she does it again next time! I can't believe the treatment I received. We will for SURE be going back to Towne again very soon. I want to personally thank everyone who made this night special for us. I'm going to have a hard time choosing what to order when I go back next time! If you want star treatment, I highly suggest Towne :)
(5)
Alex F.
Went to Towne on a recommendation from a friend that read about it in a magazine. I have lived in Boston for four years now, and this is my new favorite restaurant. The food was exceptional from the tartar appetizer to the short rib crisp tender and finally ending on the angel food cake with an extreme, yet delicious amount of cotton candy. The drinks were also excellent, and the service was phenomenal. I highly recommend Towne to anyone, looking for great food, drinks, and atmosphere. I cannot wait to go back!
(5)
Liza A.
I've been here twice now, once for just drinks and then again last night for dinner. The bar is, well, a bar. The one nice thing is there is a decent amount of seating considering the size. As for dinner. Apps were good... then it went downhill. Main course was average at best and dessert was subpar. What a disappointment. On top of that service is sloppy.... I'd avoid, at least until they get their act together.
(2)
Liz K.
Very trendy bar with good mixed drinks. Went here on a Thursday night and sat at the bar. It had lights under this cracked red plexiglass slab so it looked really cool. The bartenders were very friendly. Will definitely be back!
(4)
Mindy A.
I went to Towne last night with a group of six for a birthday dinner. We sat in the bar first for a drink or two, then went into the upstairs restuarant for dinner. I really liked the bar atmosphere a lot. The mixed drinks were good -- I had the Baja breeze and it was pretty tasty. I would definitely go back to the bar and try some of their bar snacks--the bacon-wrapped dates caught my eye but we didn't order anything. Next time! For dinner, we were seated upstairs. My first impression is that Towne is going for fusion of everything, everywhere. The decor is a mix of Excelsior (fancy drapes, big windows, fancy tables & chairs, elevator) and the neighborhood dive (oversized plastic/laminated menu, checkered napkins, measuring glasses for water glasses). The menu is the same--there is fusion of everything, all over the place. Every item on the menu has some Asian, Bistro, or "American" type element. The result of this is that it took every person in our group forever to figure out what we wanted, since so many things were kind of unfamilier. I finally settled for the Crispy Duck, and I wasn't dissappointed. Others in my group tried the short ribs, salmon, swordfish, and rib roast. Everything that came to our table had amazing, beautiful presentation. That was definitely impressive. After trying a bite of all the entrees, I have to say although I liked my Crispy Duck, the Rib Roast was my favorite because I loved the sauce selection they give you--the horseradish and blue cheese sauces were my favorite. Oh....I should also mention that we started with the foie gras and it was heaven (as foie gras always is). A couple people got dessert, I think the creme broule and pavlova. They looked good; someone at another table got the spun sugar (cotton candy) and I immediately was jealous of their order. With the gorgeous presentation I think there were definitely some entrees that were excellent, and some that were "pretty good." I was kind of put off by the prices. One person in our group ordered the clam linguine and it was pretty ordinary w/o much taste and had about 7 tiny clams (and I mean, mini baby clams the size of my thumbnail), and it was $17 for a small portion. That seems high to me. The woodfired pizzas also seemed high at $16 or $17 and the burger is $21. Those are the least expensive things on the menu; most entrees are around $35+. It's not the prices alone, it's the weird combination of the high prices and the fact that we are ordering off of plastic menus. I feel like if I'm paying fine dining prices, then I want fine dining....not a fusion of fine dining and casual neighborhood restaurant. That came off as weird to me. But I was glad I tried Towne and I would go back to the bar, for sure.
GREAT PLACE, loved the service, food was incredible, we started with the lobster and corn pizza, out of this world, then I had the sword fish cooked perfectly, will come back soon.
(4)
Amber C.
At the last minute we decided to forgo the South End and take a chance at finding a table at the new hot spot Towne. We walked up to the door and were warmly greeted by the 6ft plus door gentlemen. The bar was a buzzing with an exuberant energy that was contagious! It was a lucky night because we found the perfect table in the bar to have a cocktail and a small bite! We ordered the g & j's mushroom duxelles w/ scallion & fresh homemade cheese OMG to die for each bite was an explosion of flavor and with my yummy glass of Malbec that was perfection! We also had two sides that will be new addictions for me - "green beans... twice fried w/ white soy & ginger juice and creamed spinach... devilish". Our tasty tidbits were served by our gorgeous waitress that was providing killer service with a smile! As we finished and savored the deliciousness of our outstanding bar food experience we began the dessert discussion. As always we had to check the menu at least! The dessert choices were divine! We chose a dessert that had an angel food cake with spun maple sugar (cotton candy), caramel ice cream, and caramel brickle it was to die for! I can hardly wait to go back and have dinner in the restaurant!!
(5)
Shannon C.
This is a bar review only - My BF and some of my fabulous friends arranged a surprise birthday drink celebration here for me Friday night. We had a table in the back of the bar & our waitress was quick & efficient. I had 2 drinks (something with tequila & flavored soda) which were great & they didn't skimp on the tequila which was even better. Will definitely come back for dinner.
(4)
Stephanie H.
Went to Towne last night for the first time. We were meeting up with friends (who chose the place) but I had heard mixed reviews so I was slightly interested in seeing this for myself. I won't ever go there again! We arrived at 9:45pm on a Friday night after going to the Ballet and were meeting up with friends who had already bee there for a couple of hours, celebrating a birthday. There was only one cocktail waitress working the entire floor and though our friends had a tab running at their table, they advised us to go to the bar. We ordered at the bar from a bartender who just stared at us blankly from under his eyebrows. My friend ordered the Towne Lemonade, one of their speciality cocktails and was given a pint glass of normal lemonade. When she tried to get his attention to complain/exchange the drink, he ignored her. I ordered a round of three cocktails and he served several other customers between taking my order and delivering my drinks. I then tried to order a couple of bar bites from him since we had not eaten between racing from work to the Ballet. He yelled at me three times during my attempt to order that he couldn't hear me (though he obviously heard my drink orders fine) and then told me to order from the cocktail waitress if I wanted food. We never saw that cocktail waitress until 10:50pm (10 minutes before the kitchen closes) when she finally came by the table to pick up a couple empty glasses. (There were many empty glasses that had been ignored at our table of ten people.) We ordered our food and received it fairly quickly compared to the timing of service thus far. She dropped our check and we paid it before we finished eating. As soon as the money was on the table, she picked everything up, including the basket of sweet potato fries that we were still eating. (She piled other dishes in the basket before we could say anything so then we didn't want them anyway.) The cocktails and food, though good, were overpriced, and not worth the trouble to order them. The DJ was atrocious. There was dead air between songs, and at midnight on a Friday night in a packed bar on Bolyston, he was playing live acoustic versions of Gaga songs. What a downer! My evening at Towne what a waste of my time and money.
(1)
Mo B.
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! Went for Sunday Brunch. Started off w/ a fruit dish of raspberries & strawberriestopped w/ a dollup of whipped cream. Muffins included a poppyseed, a cornbread drenched in lemon & warm, honey-dipped donuts~~~Mmmm! We had a lobster salad that was delicious. The dessert to die for! Everyone was friendly & accomodating& went above & beyond. It is a neighborhood gem! Will definitely be back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(5)
Zach D.
I went there for drinks on a Friday night after work. Drinks are a little expensive but that was expected. What wasn't expected was waiting 20 minutes to get our check, then having to ask our waitress again for it. From the time we first wanted it to the time we were able to leave, it was at least 25 minutes. Unacceptable. And even though I went to the front desk to say something so that we could get our check, no manager or anyone came to apologize or speak to us about it. I know it's a different place than what's already on Boylston, but with that type of service and with other great options in the area, there's no reason I would go back there.
(1)
Elle W.
This review is difficult for me as I have been to Towne twice and had very different experiences. This most recent experience being the worst, so let's start with that. Review #1 - Got there at 6:30, put our name in for a table of 3. Was told 30-45 minutes. No problem, we'll have some drinks at the bar while we wait. An hour later I go to check on the table, we weren't in a rush, but we were just wondering whether we should order another drink or close our bar tab. The hostess apologizes and says we're first on the list but it will probably be another 30 minutes. Okay, another drink it is. 45 more minutes later, I ask again, and this time the hostess says she just doesn't know when we will be seated (I should mention there are EMPTY tables in the dining room). It's now 8:15 and we're starving and annoyed. So...we left and went across the street to the Back Bay Social Club (to be reviewed). Honestly, if you have too many reservations or too long of a waitlist just TELL ME. We don't need to sit in your restaurant for almost 2 hours while you continue to give us hope that our table is going to become available. I would much rather be turned away and come back another day. BUT: Review #2 - the week before, we had a reservation. We were seated on time, and we had an attentive and pleasant waiter. We ordered: Lobster/Corn Pizza - Wow. Tadiq - My friend's mother makes Tadiq. He said it wasn't quite as good as his mom's but was pretty good. I, never having had Tadiq before, thought it was pretty crispy and buttery, and delicious. I never order rice dishes, but I was really impressed with this one. Mushroom Appetizer - skip this. It was ok. Nothing special. And for dessert, we got the Pavlova and the Melted Chocolate dish. I can't believe I am saying this, but pass on the chocolate dish. The Pavlova was amazing, I never heard of this dish before, but it was recommended by our server, and I'm so glad it was. If I could split this review between Food and Customer Service, I'd give it FOUR stars for food, and ONE for customer service.
(2)
Danielle P.
I've been here a few times but mostly just for drinks or drinks and apps. I really like it here I personally am a huge fan of the cheese plate that is on the desert menu. I usually get it as an app but it comes with about 5 cheeses, honeycomb, quince, and nuts. There is also a really nice bread that I think has fennel in it? But i'm not positive. The bread basket with hummus and babaganoush is yummy too. I personally also LOVE the "END CUTS" at the back of the wine list. These are wines that they are taking off the menu, due to unpopularity, suppliers running out of the vintage or w/e. I had a nice bottle of pinot gris for $25 the other day and considering the prices here I thought it was a great deal. I like the atmosphere and I think all the food items ive had have been good. I will be back!
(4)
Emma S.
What a fantastic meal! My boyfriend and I split two fish dishes, which were absolute perfection, and were huge cuts of fish. The drinks were good, and the bread basket had diverse types of bread to begin your meal. Yum! The place is beautiful too, very trendy, busy and sexy atmosphere. However, it is SO freaking loud. They had to move our table upstairs, and even then did we have to articulate loudly to hear the conversation. That was unpleasant.
(4)
Lia B.
I came here with a big group (14 people) for an end-of-term dinner. I've walked past here often enough, and I'm glad that I had the opportunity to try it. Despite the enormous table and the many people, the waiter was courteous and adept. He took everyone's orders, and there were no mistakes. To start, we had the lobster popovers, the little gem salad and the iceberg baby salad. The lobster popovers were a little too sweet for my taste, but the dough was flaky and light, and the lobster meat was good. The little gem salad came with creamed feta which was the highlight. The peeled grapes were strangely flavorless. Overall, it was good. The iceberg salad had pieces of bacon that were delicious, along with a creamy blue cheese on the side. It was pretty good. For the main course, I had the chicken with mashed potato, and my boyfriend ordered the skirt steak, cooked medium. Another guest at our table ordered the skirt steak, also medium. Both steaks came out at the same time, one was a medium-rare, easy on the medium, and the other was medium-well. My boyfriend sent back his steak, and they finished cooking it, and it was decent. My chicken, on the other hand, was the juiciest, most incredible chicken I've ever eaten. The potatoes were creamy and the perfect complement. For dessert, we ordered the buttermilk panna cotta and the white chocolate lime cheesecake. The panna cotta was divine, perfectly tangy and sweet. It came with a beautiful blackberry sauce on the side, and sugared black berries and mint leaves as a garnish. Amazing. The white chocolate lime cheesecake was good, as well, but it didn't shine the way the panna cotta. I'd love to come back here for brunch, and see what it's like. I'd also definitely come back with a smaller party.
(3)
TinoX T.
Ohhhh Boy,Good Luck...,,
(3)
Erin D.
Worst bar and host service I have encountered ever. Front bar staff was rude, more interested in flirting with their male customers, and were 100% unprofessional. I will never spend my money there again.
(1)
Claire O.
I really liked the atmosphere and decor at Towne: it's huge but the layout means it still feels cozy and it has that lighting/ambience effect which makes you feel like you're cooler and more fun than you are. The service was fine but not outstanding. It took forever to get our bottle of wine, which is my one pet hate for restaurants - seriously, if a table is drinking, it's a happy table. The food had highs and lows. The cauliflower tasted out of this world, but it cost $11 and they gave us the entire cauliflower head which seemed a smidgen excessive. I also got the sirloin - it was cooked perfectly and tasty but again - it was expensive ($42) and I don't think justified the price - portion size was large but the meat was fattier than I'd expect for sirloin and it didn't come with any sides. Overall, Towne is fun and the food is good but it is over-priced
(3)
M B.
Came here for drinks and bar food on a Tuesday night, sat at a high-stop near the bar. Service was absolutely horrible. We ordered waters as soon as we were seated, and they didn't come until after we had already ordered beer, food, AND received our beer. We had to ask for them multiple times. My friend and I ordered two cups of pumpkin soup. They were dropped off at the table and the person running it didn't ask if we needed silverware, which we clearly didn't have. Our server didn't come over for a while so I went up to the bar to ask for silverware. No spoons in the rollups, so I had to wait and ask specifically for spoons. By the time I got to start eating my soup had cooled down a lot....and I found that it was not pumpkin, it was lobster bisque. In the past few years I have grown out of a shellfish allergy, and know how dangerous it can be to accidentally serve a shellfish dish to a guest. A few years ago I would have had to call an ambulance! When our server finally came over, I told her we received the wrong soup. She looked at it and said "Nope, that's the pumpkin" even though it was clearly red in color. She took it back to the kitchen, and came back with ONE bowl of pumpkin soup (which was golden in color, didn't look like the lobster at all), which she put in front of my friend. She said "My manager wanted to give you a bowl instead of a cup because of the mistake." She then told me mine would be right out. She came back a minute later with a new spoon for my friend, saw that my soup still hadn't come out, and did nothing. I waited almost a full five minutes for my soup to come back out....and it was a cup. Not a bowl, like my friend received. When we asked why I got a smaller portion, the server responded, "Well my manager just grabbed the closest dish to her and put the soup in it, then told me to run it out." Made no sense considering we sent two cups of soup back, and was completely unprofessional. I said it was ok and asked for a new spoon since I had some anxiety about eating any more lobster bisque. She never came back with a new spoon and I ended up sharing with my friend. I don't typically write negative reviews as I am a restaurant industry vet of 10 years and more often than not empathize with whatever issues arise during a dining experience. This was just a total downer.
(1)
Michele G.
After a few good experiences at Towne, I'm afraid I must downgrade my rating. First, the Key Lime Salmon is gone, although it's still listed on the website. Secondly, we had the most hover-ific waitress that would constantly interrupt our conversations. Maybe she was bored? Lastly, my husband's red snapper was beyond mediocre and he's stated that he'll never come back. Sadness./.
(2)
Carter D.
I don't come here to eat, I come here to do drink. The cocktails are good, the service is good and the atmosphere is much better than Back Bay Social Club across the street. The front room is a little drab and crowded, but the larger back area has a great bar and really friendly staff. I always leave very drunk and very happy. One time I left and went on a vacation I had booked while drinking recklessly at the bar back there. You can eat somewhere else in the neighborhood, come here for a few drinks before and/or after.
(4)
Jill G.
Great drinks, great apps, great meals. An awesome date spot. I had a good experience with the service, too. A little pricey, but definitely you definitely won;t be let down!
(4)
Doug J.
(score 1-100) - 89. This is almost a 5 star experience for me. I really love Towne in comparison to other dining options in the back bay. You get high quality food and while some of the entrees can be expensive (but definitely not anymore than anything in the surrounding area) it is reasonable. They have great presentation with their burgers and offer a variety of unique dining choices. It has plenty of room, two floors and the ambience is high end hipster. Think of lots of black clothing. The lighting is a little on the dark side. They do have Valet Parking so if you have a new Ferrari 458 Italia feel free to showboat and leave it out front while all the diners watch you stroll in! Another great thing about this place is the staff. They tend to remember everyone that comes in. I've always had fantastic service and maybe the best service I've received in the city. This places hits the big three: Great Service, Great Good, Great Ambience...hmmm maybe I should rethink my score!
(4)
Abigail P.
A friend and I had dinner here on Wednesday, after I discovered they had charged me TWICE on my credit card, two different charges. I emailed them at their info address & no surprise it came back that the person involved was not in office. I've told my bank to stop one charge, but this is unacceptable. The venue was very, very noisy. The water waiter was the best - thoughtful and continually topping up. The lobster popover was good, but our meals were not memorable. Too loud to have an enjoyable evening with someone you want to chat with.
(1)
Arben N.
I did not like it at all. We went there for a birthday party and we had to use our phones as a flash light to see the menu. The drinks were ok but bit to expensive!!! I ordered 8 oz filet that cost me 38 dollars. I asked for it to be medium ant it was more like well done. You could go to Ruth Chris for that amount of money and have a great steak!!! Over all it was not to my satisfaction!!! Would not recommend it to anyone and for sure I won't go there again!!!!!!
(1)
Thomas N.
lunch recently.....very big and lovely facility, upstairs is beautiful and you can watch the cooks or look at the neat old range they have (not used) we took the walk the the special meetings room in front and it too was lovely...we ate downstairs at the bar and had a great experience, bartender was congenial and attentive, drinks were very good, swordfish was excellent and burger great and cooked (rare) as ordered....seems in reading reviews that a lot of reviews (places ) are bad as people are visiting them at their most busy stressed times when it can be hard for anyplace to be really special....this place was excellent and we will revisit oh and taught the bartender about geocaching!!(nearest one 241 feet)
(4)
Craig S.
Met Kevin Garnet here the other day - and every time I have been back it has gotten progressively better
(5)
Amanda G.
Went here for drinks one night, dinner the next (weird, I know) and I have to say, I'm surprised by all the Negative Nancy reviews. I understand that people had high hopes for a Lydia Shire / Jasper White venture, but I don't think Towne is bad at all, and my own expectations were exceeded given the number of mediocre restaurants in Back Bay. So, the upsides... I love that this place is big and airy, and has personal rustic touches (bright red patterened napkins, blue suede chairs). The restaurant felt more like NYC than Boston just based on size/location and the high ceilings and open kitchen, and I loved that. Now the food was all very good - maybe not A-mazing, but consistently well cooked and seasoned. I will say I like salt, and clearly so does Jasper White. The bread came with some yummy dipping sauce, salted butter and red pepper (?) dip. Fun way to start the meal. Then we shared the mixed greens and 'Zucchini Tangle' which is fried zucchini on a spear, over fried calamari and yummy tartar and cocktail sauces. SO good. The calamari was oily and hot, and the portion size was perfect for three people - there's a larger portion size you can get for an even bigger group. One of us got the halibut special, I had the roasted chicken with broccolini, and another one of us had the salmon. All the proteins were cooked perfectly, I thought, and because I'm a huge broccolini fan, I was content. The star of the meal funnily enough was the side we ordered of grilled king mushrooms and creamy polenta. Big portion for a side dish (although $12 so makes sense) and it was delicious! Service was spot on for a nicer restaurant - our waitress was very attentive and my water glass was never empty. The only downsides were the cost and my drink, which I enjoyed, the Baja Breeze (tequila, house-made soda and pomegranate juice) was tasty and refreshing but light on booze. Also, the prices are hefty but I think worth the ambiance, inventive/crazy menu and a genuine ability to appreciate something grande and different in downtown Boston. I definitely would like to return (and try the desserts!)
(4)
Jim M.
Sunday brunch. Great price, great food. $~40 per person. You get oysters, shrimp, steak, king crab eggs benedict and so many pastries. It is amazing. I love it.
(5)
Jennifer W.
This review is just for their brunch, have never been for dinner, and probably won't due to the prices. However, I LOVE brunch there! They make my favorite sangria in the city, nice and warmly spiced! I love their lobster cobb salad, the dressings are especially yum! Clam chowder also very good. On a nice summer day, it's a treat sitting on their patio with a glass of sangria and some good brunch food.
(4)
Carla G.
Go here on a Monday night....front bar, ask for Nick, order an Armada, rinse, repeat...then order a flatbread....stagger home; thank me later.
(4)
Rosemary H.
I tried this place for dinner for the first time last night and really liked it! It was a Tuesday pretty early (about 6:30 when my boyfriend and I arrived) so we were seated promptly. The inside is really pretty and classy, and I enjoyed the trancey music they were playing. There are two bars downstairs and a nice, open dining room. There's an upstairs area as well, though I did not get a chance to see it. Both my boyfriend and I ordered martinis. They were quite strong but still delicious, so an A+ goes to the bartender. We started our dinner with the duck confit pizza. It was AMAZING. It had roasted garlic and squash on it, yum yum. For entrees, I ordered the red snapper with pineapple salsa, and my boyfriend had the ahi tuna (crusted in something I can't remember). I didn't try his, but he crushed the whole thing and said it was delicious. My snapper was quite good. I do wish it had a bit more of the salsa, but other than that I really liked it. We split the brussels sprouts as a side. They were awesome. They were roasted with candied ginger in a yummy creamy sauce. I really want to try and make them at home...mmm Definitely enjoyed my dinner here and I will be coming back. It IS a little pricey (we split the bill and each spent about $80, including the tip) but for a once in a while treat it's totally worth it. I also want to check the bar out here as it seems like a nice, classy place to hang out on the weekend.
(4)
Michelle R.
Went back to Towne with some clients and coworkers last night and I must say they have made great changes regarding service. Our waitress was attentive, helpful, and accomodating. Very impressed - drinks were always full! *IF YOU WORK IN THE PRU TIP!: She let us know that with your work badge (we all work in the tower) you get their special $3 food menu. It's all appetizers and we literally got the entire menu. Highlights: fish fritters (I forget the name but they were the best!, sweet potato fries, the crusted bread with the fish dip (again.. can't remember the name, I was drinking a lot at this point), and the duck app. I still think $9 is outrageous for shoddy Pinot G BUT it is the copley are and about the same everything. Just make the wine a little better, please!
(3)
Diana G.
Two words: Lobster Pizza. Go there & try it now.. Location is convenient, & service is prompt and friendly. Prices are a bit, well.. pricey, but this is only because the restaurant clearly caters to out-of-towners who are most likely going to a convention at the Hynes.. Other than that, this place is worth trying... I'm sure I'll be back..
(4)
Jon R.
Towne is a good looking joint with decent service. I was surprised at how big the place was inside. We didn't try the food as we were on a Sunday Funday mission. So there.
(3)
Courtney R.
Towne has three bars: the immediate entryway with large windows facing the street, a backroom downstairs, and upstairs. If you are there after work, like we were, I say head for the back downstairs bar. For dinner, make sure to get reservations upstairs. The bartenders are friendly and make strong drinks. The crowd was bubbly and mid-30s for the bar scene on weeknights. Great ambiance.
(4)
Steve S.
I was ready to hate this place. It is huge, and good restaurants are never this big. Townes is a beautiful 3 story bar, restaurant and patio bar in the corner of The Hynes near The Pru. This is one large place, but the atmosphere is well designed as well as well decorated. There is a meat market bar on the first floor and the dining rooms on the second and third floor with a function room I arrived around 7:30 and sat at one of the three bars. Our server, JP, was attentive and knew her wine and menu. The menu as well as the wine list is extensive with choices for all. The seafood seems the most interesting with tuna, salmon and arctic char. The food leads to more fusion of different cuisines than a traditional steakhouse or restaurant. Its a nice change I settled for the salmon, which excelled with many different flavors and textures including the veggies. My friend had the duck and it was meticulously sliced and prepared well. The wine was good and the bread basket is a nice touch Very likeable experience
(4)
Mahina K.
I will say this much the food was decent. HOWEVER, the service was pretty awful. Came here for mother's day, my parents are from Hawaii, so I was trying to do this right. It took about 20 minutes to get water and another 15 to have a waiter ask for our orders. I ordered the chicken and waffles after reading rave reviews. My mom the fried eggs benedict and my dad a bacon sandwich. We noticed people that came in after us got their food, people that came in at the same time FINISHED their food. Our food took 40 minutes or so to get with us and that was only after prompting from my father. My dad goes, "could you please check on our food? We've been waiting for a good amount of time now." The waiter replies, "Well, we have four full dining rooms." Now if the waiter had said, "Sure, let me check on that, but it's Mother's day, so it's kind of busy back there." That's one thing, but the answer my dad got actually kind of pissed him off. We finally got our food, I didn't get the chicken and waffles, just waffles. I asked him if there was chicken coming, he said no. So if he were to just charge us for waffles and not the chicken part I'd be good. So that was resolved. However, when my dad's bacon sandwich came out it was cold. Like cold, probably sitting out for 20 minutes cold and if there's one thing you don't really want to eat cold, that's probably bacon. The chips they sprinkled on top were officially soggy. So it wasn't a RUINED mother's day. But it definitely wasn't the best. I just wanted a place that took reservations because I knew restaurants would be busy, but next time I might want to chance it. I wanted to like this place, I wanted to be that yelper that was like oh hey, they're great you people are all wrong. But Alas, I lost this round. Ps. Their artwork choice is kind of strange.
(2)
Georgina C.
I gave Towne a 3 because the service was only so-so as are the far too frou-frou cocktails with ingredients that just did not seem to mix well. My dining companion was looking forward to a particular seafood dish and our waitress unapologetically stated the kitchen was out of the ingredients necessary to prepare it. I adore the cupcake dessert plate (heavenly) and order it each time I visit. The decor is gorgeous, atmosphere fun and I love the beakers they use to serve water in. Great attention to detail and valet parking
(3)
Gabi R.
Yum & yum. Was here for a company event during MBA recruiting. Despite that looming "uncertainty" of knowing I was being observed by potential recruiters and evaluated, I managed to enjoy a delicious meal and some fine wine. Food: got the filet mignon, rare. WOW. I know I'm supposed to be demure at these events, but I couldn't stop myself from actually eating this delicious steak. It was juicy to the freshest extreme, well seasoning and salted, and just barely warm on the inside. What an amazing way to wile away a few stressful hours. I also had the chocolate pudding and some espresso. Both delicious. But nothing to top the finest steak of my time in Boston. Thank god I'll be back there for more this week! Service: incredibly sweet and accommodating. My neighbor, the recruiter, had a gluten allergy, and despite the fact that we were a large group with many plates to coordinate, they graciously put together a separate menu to make sure she was accommodated. I also love a place where staff takes your request for recommendations seriously. I asked the waiter to help me decide between the filet and a lobster ravioli (I love lobster), and his reco was unequivocal: "the lobster dish is good, you'll enjoy it, but you'll envy those with the steak." Could not have said it better :) Ambience: beautiful, classical, almost romantic except for the non-romantic purpose of my visit.
(4)
Liz S.
Went here this past Sunday night (12/23) with my family visiting for the holidays. There were nine of us. The meal was fine, nothing great and definitely overpriced but it was overall an ok experience given our large group. We had just walked in without a reservation so there were no real high expectations anyhow. The horrible experience came a day later for seven out of the nine who suffererd the unfortunate fate of food poisoning. There was no other logical explanation given the rapid onset of symptoms amongst the group and the fact that the Towne was the only common thread. We left a message with the Towne on X-mas day while some of us were still gathering around the bathroom instead of the christmas tree. They chose not to return that call and so to yelp it is. This place is overpriced with medoicre food that potentially will make you sick and managed by people that could clearly care less about any of that.
(1)
Tiffany T.
I'm surprised that Towne doesn't have better reviews. Maybe it's a hit or miss? My partner and I came for Valentine's day and we were both thoroughly satisfied with the quality of the food, the presentation and the atmosphere. Our server was fine, but didn't seem as enthusiastic as the other servers around us. We had lobster popovers, tuna tartare, duck crisp and the valentine's day halibut special. Everything was phenomenal and fresh. The lobster popovers were good but a little pricey for 2 popovers, I would do without it. If I could recommend one thing, I would say order the duck crisp. I give it 4.5 stars but since Yelp doesn't allow that, 5 it is.
(5)
Arun L.
Overall, definitely better than the other reviews suggest. Though an expensive endeavor, Towne is well worth a try. We went here on a double date and had an absolute blast. I loved: - the food, not as eclectic as the menu would lead you to believe, but excellent. As in, excellent. - the wine list, diverse but short and manageable - the ambiance, large and hip with an open kitchen - the bar(s), lively and full of people looking their best - the cocktails, fresh and inventive I wasn't crazy about: - the service, the whole meal took 2.5 hours. Granted that's 3-4 courses, but it felt slow. The waiter gave very blunt opinions despite openly admitting he's never tried the food. - the menu aesthetic, it's weird and does not reflect the style or quality of the food
(4)
H. G.
I have had a few things here that were only ok, including the caesar salad that came with a not-runny panko fried egg. Very disappointing. But I have also ordered two things here with lobster (ravioli and pizza) and both were fantastic. Add to that the ease of getting a seat outdoors in the summer on a weeknight, and this place is pretty good.
(3)
Rake O.
I used to like this place a lot, but I realized it was mostly for mingling and people watching. When I really think about the place itself I realize the martinis are often not made well, the service can be slow, and it can be shoulder-to-shoulder crowded. There are other nice interiors within a very short walk. Go there instead.
Amazing restaurant. I ordered the seabass and was mistakenly brought the fluke than made up for by attentive service and the most amazing salmon dish in the city- so fresh. Waitstaff professional and beyond courteous. Chefs above average if not suburb. I highly recommend giving this one a try.
(5)
Mark Z.
I wanted to write a review on something in recent memory that was just average to me, and the first thing that came to mind...Towne. I don't exactly eat fancy a lot, but when I do, I expect it to be worth the price. Although Towne's modern decor, wealth of beautiful women, and trendier environment made for a great setting, the food was just so-so considering the price. I went for a steak, which was a little overcooked and came with Applebee's quality veggies. The meal was fine, but again, not what you hope for at this price. All in all, it's worth going once, but I'd personally rather be at Mistral, Capital Grille, Mooo, Del Frisco's, Davios, etc......
(2)
Angie C.
RUDE! I give this place negative 10 stars. Experience: I will never come here ever again. If our party was being rude and deserved such ill treatment then I will take full responsibility. However, if you're rude without justification then you can go ____ yourself. Especially after the amount of money we spent. I had left the bar at 12:30 to go home. My friend was kind enough to walk me to the cab stand right out front. When he went back to the bar where the rest of our party was and his jacket they refused to let him back in. We were definitely not drunk and acting foolish. In fact, they saw us walk out, saw my friend walk me to the cabs and saw him come right back. Their reasoning: "there's no re-entry this late" REALLY?!? If we weren't with a group how else would he had gotten his stuff? When your drinks and food are overpriced you NEED to offer better service.
(1)
Layla A.
This place is HORRIBLE. I had 7 friends visiting me in Boston and wanted to take them out and invite them to dinner. We picked Towne and it was a HUGE mistake. I had a reservation for 9:30. The place was empty but somehow they took 1 hour to seat us and gave us plenty of attitude while we waited. Then once we were finally seated, the service was horrible. The food is forgetable and the atmosphere is weak and not very lively. WORST service. The rudest hostesses. DO NOT go here. I called the manager after to give her some advice on what could go better and she tried to have a debate with me! Anyway do yourself a favor and go to Sonsie.
(1)
Jaime B.
One word. Boring. I can't speak for the food, but we came here after dinner for drinks on my birthday. The whole first floor smelled. I won't say like what, but it was bad. It was so packed we could barely move. Upstairs was less crowded, but still took forever to get a drink. Music was barely audible, and what I could hear sucked. Oh, and everyone was really old. Don't get me wrong, I'm 30, so I know I'm no spring chicken, but most people were in their 50's and 60's! And almost all creepy looking men. No thanks.
(1)
Nick M.
While I love to check out new places in Boston and the surrounding areas, I was pretty disappointed when we went to Towne. The atmosphere was definitely a "I want to be seen here" sort of vibe, making this place seem more like a bar out in Hollywood -- let's be clear -- this is Boston, not Hollywood The service was so-so -- we sat at the bar in the back and were able to find a few seats right away. A bartender came over with a drink menu and then left. 10 minutes later, they came back, asked my wife what she wanted and walked away to make it.... Hello? Am I invisible? Wouldn't it be easier to take both of our drink orders at the same time and save yourself a trip? Definitely not cool As the night progressed, a few friends of ours showed up and we had the corner of the bar. Now it seemed to be a younger audience, with sweaty dudes reaching their arms across the bar to try and get the bartenders attention. Overall, I wasn't a fan and will not be returning.
(3)
Simon L.
a simply exellent spot. 9:00 pm, saturday evening, no reservation, table should be ready in 20-30 minutes at a tall table upstairs. put name on list, order michters manhattans, perfect, and the table is ready. even better, it's a normal sit down table on the first floor although the upstairs area is a bit more cozy, our party of four, once seated, experienced a pleasant service, and a perfect people watchin.g atmosphere. all in all, dim and very comfortable. if possible, formal without pretentiousness. east coast oysters were sweet and salty, nice plump meat. lobster popovers, a crispy pastry encasing a nice serving of tendrer lobster salad. one order split four ways allowed everyone a taste of these crispy lobster creations. while on lobster, a novel concept of having a lobster bar is an excellent take on the traditional oyster bar. broiled lobster, lobster salad, lobster tails. very creative. meat, foul and fish. the pan seared salmon filet was incredibly tender with a deliciously buttery layer of fat held between the meat and the crisped skin. crispy duck was served so. Excellent. Double cut pork chop in wine reduction: excellent med rare presentation. Steak, an excellent combination. Theres a reason this place has some cache. Try it out. You will love it. Very friendly service, excellent food and even better drinks.
(5)
Cody C.
Not many good things to talk about this place. Their bar is weirdly set up apart from the restaurant , it wasn't anything to brag about compared to other trendy locations right across the street. The dining room is beautifull but with a ballroom feel, not like a restaurant , it felt like the place was a function room from the Hynes convention center turned into a dining room. I had the lobster popovers which weren't that great as other reviews have sAid. The main course took forever and our waitress had an attitude , everyone seem to have an attitude whenever we would ask for help. We never saw a manager during our experience but he did say bye on the bar downstairs on the way out ( Michael?) with a fake smile. I won't recomend this place unless you are renting out the dining room for a private event , it has a feeling of being watched and not cozy private at all. Hope my review helps we won't be coming back.
(1)
Jillian W.
We go here for the Duck Quesadilla which is incredible and the Mr. Brownstone specialty cocktail that really is something special. We've been lucky enough to get seats right away each time we went and always have a good time. I'm going giving Towne a 3 though because really the bartenders could stand to be much nicer. Though beautiful, they rarely smile, are stand offish most of the time and we usually get the impression we're bothering them with our order. This place has so many other things going for it that if they just focused on providing some friendly service, it would be a real find.
(3)
Marissa R.
I came here for restaurant week lunch for a few friends and have to give the following reviews: Food: 2.5 stars Service: 1 star Atmosphere: 4 stars We sat outside in patio area which was very nice. There were flowers and some nice music playing. I ordered the peach and burrata salad which was solid, but my main course of salmon was drenched in oil. It was also of poor quality and had a lot of fat that I had to cut around. The rice that it came with was pretty good, but overall not an impressive dish even for $15.00. Our server was not only inattentive; only coming by to drop off our plates of food and never refilling water or asking if we needed anything, but also had a very rude attitude. Two of us at the table ordered salmon and asked for different cooking temperatures (medium rare vs medium well). When we explained this to our server she had no idea what we were talking about, dropped the hot plates in front of whoever was closer to her and took off. Both entrees were clearly well done. They also forgot to bring one person's entree and it took about ten minutes with everyone else's food sitting there and getting cold before it arrived. I would certainly not go back or recommend for anyone to pay full price.
(2)
Samantha L.
Overall, this was a good experience. The food was expensive, but pretty good... The lobster pizza was amazing, drinks were surprisingly good and not that pricey, and the entree was well-cooked and large, though a tad boring (I had chicken). The service was good, though very rushed... Clearing our plates before the appetizer was gone and without asking if we were done. The atmosphere was chic and modern, though nothing incredibly original. All and all, a good place for a dinner on expense account.
(3)
H and K.
Good atmosphere, good service. Normally I'd give them 3 stars, or less, for overcooking my $60 "2 lb" lobster on the grill. However, the Lobster Popovers were absolutely excellent. A perfectly cooked delicate popover surrounding chunks of lobster in a light maple sauce. One of the best things I've eaten all year!
(4)
Kristen C.
I wanted to love it, really I did. Heard great things and the menu looked so fun! I tried to make a reservation for 2 for 8:30 on opentable, it wasn't available...but 8:15 and 8:45 were?! So I took the 8:15 and it was pretty empty when we arrived, what?! Waitress was super friendly and the table was decent - but we ordered an appetizer and it never came!!! Kinda screwed up the entire experience as cocktails were supposed to be followed by wine but since our dinner came without the apps, it just didn't work out. Also, I ordered the special because all of the ingredients sounds awesome, it came out with nothing the waitress sold me on! I mentioned something and she apologized and brought out a side of the missing "stuff" - wasn't quite the same! They did, however, comp us a dessert to make up for "forgetting" to put in the appetizer but it was mediocre at best.
(2)
Melissa C.
Definitely not worth the hype. I'm glad I tried it because if I didn't I would keep saying, "Oh yeah, I really should try Towne." Now, I can stop that. The drinks were bad. The atmosphere was bad. The food was bad. The service was bad. That said, I came in the daytime, maybe it's a different scene at night.
(1)
Heather G.
Brunch-menu review: It's a damn shame that the brunch menu didn't wow me, because this place makes a mean Bloody Mary. A few ladies agreed to meet for brunch at 11:30 one Sunday morning. Due to a daylight savings snafu, one of our friends was left to her own devices (read: two Bloody Marys and an eBook) while waiting for the rest of us to show up. Luckily, the place wasn't crowded enough at 11:30am on a Sunday to make this lingering an annoyance. When the rest of the party arrived, they sat us at a 6-top in the bar area. This is prime-real estate for people-watching passers by on Boylston Street, but is also EXTREMELY COLD and drafty, as the table is nearest the ever-opening front door. The bar area was also pretty empty for the 2+ hours we were there, so next time I would insist on sitting in the actual dining room for brunch, as the empty-bar-area did not provide the much-desired feeling of warmth and coziness I look for while brunching. The server was very nice and kept us flush with Bloody Marys, all while accommodating our slowly growing brunch party. Sadly, the food not only didn't wow me, but was an all-around disappointment. The meal is started with a basket of homemade, glazed donut holes (very tasty) and some slices of grilled lemon poppyseed bread. The bread, if eaten right on arrival, is warm and chewy. Left sitting for awhile, it became hard, dry, dense, and much less pleasant. The brunch menu is very small, and has a few offerings from each brunch category (a couple egg dishes, a couple pastas, a couple sandwiches, a couple bread-like breakfast items, etc), though most entrees (even the egg dishes!) fall in the $16-18 range. For breakfast, I find this to be just a tad steep for breakfast fare, but I suppose you're paying for the atmosphere (which, again, you'd better-experience in one of the restaurant's actual dining rooms rather than in the bar/lounge). On a budget (and making up for my two-bloody-mary morning at about $11 each), I went with one of the more affordable offerings - the Kitchen Sink sandwich ($11). Turns out, it's just a BLT. My sandwich had a few slices of drippy-fatty bacon, some thick tomato slabs, a bit of lettuce, and a dollop of mayo. It was served on oiled-and-grilled thick bread, which, after the grilling and sitting out waiting to be served to me, the thick bread became hard and crunchy with more a crouton-like consistency, which would have been OK if the slices were thinner, but because they were so thick, overpowered the meager innards. The sandwich came with a small handful of chips that must have been fried in-house, because they were glistening and dripping with oil. Also served alongside were three potato-puffs, and these were also drenched in grease. For some reason, the chef sent us out two complimentary orders of lobster popovers (which we did not order), which, after reviewing our bill, were comped as a "Yelp discount". We had no idea how the restaurant knew we were having a Yelp-ladies brunch, but the gesture was nice. The popovers were filled with chunks of juicy lobster, but like my entree, were filled with butter (and perhaps brown sugar or maple, as they were very sweet), making them a bit heavy in my stomach. Overall, the experience was a fun one, though I just wasn't blown away by the food. I certainly plan to return for dinner (or some people-watching and drinks at the bar/lounge), but I can't say I'd get excited about coming back for brunch again.
(2)
Kelsey F.
I have been wanting to try Towne since it opened. I had the chance to choose a restaurant for a company dinner (just 6 of us) so I suggested here. Food was really good. Started with a bread basket that came with 3 different types and then 3 different butters/tapenades. Everyone enjoyed their meals. I chose the pork chop that came with sweet potatoes & marshmallows - sweet and savory! Decor was nice. I was hoping our table would be upstairs by a window but it was kind of stuck in a corner in the back room. Service was alright. The bussers were more attentive than our actual server. Made sure to keep our wine and water full. The waiter seemed a bit out of it. When our meals came 3 of us didn't have a knife and I had to ask someone else. They brought me a butter knife that was a bit difficult to cut through my pork chop. I also had forgotten my ID so couldn't have a glass of wine. I get it, I look young, it's the law - but still a bit annoying. Overall I think for the prices - I expected much better service and was a bit dissappointed. I'll probably give it another shot at some point and hopefully will be more impressed.
(3)
Bronwen Y.
I was really disappointed in Towne. I was so interested to go there, and then it definitely did not live up to expectations. The atmosphere is really cool as is the decor (minus the weird picture of a naked breast that stared me down from across the bar all night), and the drinks were good and generously poured. What killed me was the clientele. A bunch of 20-something women and a bunch of 45+ men. Weird! Ok, I'm being unfair. There were younger guys there. They were on dates. I was not there to "pick someone up," but the older male clientele was really aggressive in trying to pick up the various girls in my party. It got old fast (pun intended), and so we split. Glad I've seen it, but I'm over it.
(2)
Laura B.
I had an excellent lunch there. It was definitely a business crowd (noon through 2:00). We had a great waiter, good food and it was at a very reasonable price for an upscale lunch in that area (Back Bay). I would definitely go back there with clients or book it for someone out of town.
(4)
ash l.
Jaguars are in an interesting car niche. They are supposed to be a symbol of luxury, class, and taste. Yet any Jag owner knows that the car comes with as many problems as a high maintenance girlfriend that constantly requires facials, manicures, shopping trips, and of course, a regular oil cleaning. The joy of owning one (Jag or girl, you pick), isn't always worth the bragging rights. Towne is my restaurant Jaguar. It's hip looking, cool, classy (in a fromage wavelength), and has some nice wheels. I love the social ambiance, but can't stand the food, nor do I think the place is as large as it appears. Somehow I always feel cramped if there are more than 10 people in the lounge. Unlike a Jaguar dealership, however, the service is awesome. I had Sarah the bartender, who was very easy on the eyes, and refreshingly nice. The guy bartender that was on his shift was very cool too, but I don't recall his name due to his lack of ... um... assets. I'll keep coming back, but I really wish they improve the menu. The fettuccine alfredo is a disaster.
(4)
Whytnee B.
This place is awful. I have a few, separate incidents that culminate into me never coming here again. 1) Cleared my friends' nearly full drinks when they went for a cig. Tried to rectify the problem by bringing out the tray that the said drinks were sitting on, amongst the rest of the bar's discards. Disgusting. One of my nice friends explained to the waitress that it is better for the restaurant to simply replace the drinks and keep the customers. They argued about this for a few minutes, and finally another employee offered a handful of gift cards. Which I would want to use EXCEPT ... 2) I was with another group and we were seated at a table, given water and menus, and were told the kitchen was still open. Several waiters passed our table over the next 20 minutes and did not acknowledge us whatsoever. We left and went over to Eastern Standard, where the service is absolutely superb. 3) Last but not least, a friend of mine worked here for a few months and recently left because they were not paying her money she had earned from them. Maybe this is why we couldn't get service the other night; the waiters are unmotivated because they are treated poorly. Needless to say I will NEVER return to this place, which is filled with a bunch of desperate people that are over the hill. Shame on you Jasper White and Lydia Shire, for thinking that your names override the facts that the customer is always right and you need to treat your employees with respect. You would think with their combined experience they would know a little better.
(1)
Colleen Y.
Maybe when I live in the penthouse at the Taj, and when I can walk in without a reso, I'll throw a couple more stars Towne's way. Towne, where the sun shines: 1. 36-24-36, and she's only 5'3. From her hips to her rack, Towne has got it going on from top-to-bottom. 2. Eye candy take two. If you get bored looking at the decor, check out the crowd...tight ass jeans, lipsticked glasses galore, and heels clicking in every direction. Get ready for sexiliciousness, and a bevy of botoxed bostonians. No complaints here, if you got it on at 40 or 50 -- I've got no shame in taking a look. 3. Local lush. You want to get drunk close to home? Towne is probably close to you. From my friends in JP, to my spot in Cambridge, my industry crew from Beacon Hill, or grad students in Brookline...they can all be at Towne in like 5 minutes. Buuut, they best not be driving there. Unless they want to start their night with a 25 buck valet and a 15 buck drink. Ouch. 4. Senior Staff They pulled out all the stops, and their staff has got in popping. I don't think I have EVER been to a new restaurant that ran so smoothly. I see they swooped up the past GM from Harvest. He's got hospitality skills - and clearly did a great job picking up some vets in the industry to deal with the sell out crowds they'd be dealing with. Towne, Where the sun don't shine: 1. Identity crisis. They want the yuppies, but can't favor the nouveau riche over the bald-headed bankers and their 2 favorite accessories: blondes with fake boobies and animal print blanhniks + wallets weighed down by metal credit cards. They try to keep the downstairs bar rowdy, and the upstairs one chill...but that is asking for a "do you know who I am" comment from some chauch mcgees. 2. Foodie fascination, followed by foodie frowns. If you love Clio, and O Ya, and Menton -- you might be tempted to go to Towne for the food. Hell, its chefs are better known than those of arguably anywhere in Boston. But just as Olives turned into the McDonalds of fine dining, Towne is a classic 3. You're pretty hot, especially with your mouth shut. Watched the douchiest loser yell at staff member after staff member after HE knocked a plate out of a food runners hands. Then the "big shot" demanded they pay for his jeans, or at least the 10 dollar bill for dry cleaning. Maybe a chill request if he hadn't just acted like a king amongst slave people. I wouldn't ever, ever, ever date a loser like that. And I hope that escort he had with him felt the same way after that display. 4. For singles looking to mingle, but only singles that carry around more than just single...dollar bills. I've got to add Towne to the list of places I used to go to when I had a leading man in town. But I can promise we'd only check it out for a night, not because of the staff or even really the food or bevs. True, true, Towne great for girls night out, but too expensive for my typical lady friend. And most likely yours too. That is, unless your favorite female to frolic with in town and at Town, is with your super hot sugarmomma gf. A stella, a glass of wine or two, and a mushroom duxelle pizza later I spent enough to get a pair of jeans that might make my ass cheeks look as tight as the face cheeks on the cougars huddle around the bar at Towne. SO, WHATS THE REAL DEAL Sure, I'll meet you at town. If I'm not planning on eating, drinking, or talking to anyone else. Or, I'll do all of the above if you want to take me out on the town, to Towne. Otherwise...I think I'll stick to other options that amass the douche bags of Boston, I hear there might be a few in the financial district?
I went to Towne for a big event on their second floor reserved for private functions and I was so impressed. The service staff was top notch and about all the food I had was excellent. Since most of it was served on trays by servers I can't really comment on particular dishes. There were some items that stood out, the flash fried blue cheese shrimp and their homemade ice cream were top notch and I will be back again just to have them. They also made some delicious peanut brittle that was more like honey comb that was out of this world, they said it is usually not on the regular menu, I hope they add it soon!
(4)
Chris C.
Food was outstanding. This is my first Yelp review I do more on trip advisor. We started with lobster pop overs so good we could of ate them all night. To correct other reviewer they are drizzled in Kyles maple syrup. I had crispy duck, wife had pizza that she said tasted like she was back in Italy. Desserts and drinks were also good. We were sat down stairs at seven it was a bit noisy with the afterwork crowd. Tables filled fast as Friday nights usually do. Matt our server was excellent and was prompt and there when we needed him.
(4)
Anthony C.
I have since returned to Towne at least three times, and my newest discovery there worth raving about is the bar menu! It's great. I can't say enough about it. There are a number of Jasper White-designed lobster dishes on the bar menu as well as a few Lydia Shire gastronomic concoctions... but what sticks out? THE BURGER. Yes, seriously. It is 70% ground skirt steak and 30% ground short rib... and 110% amazing. It goes for $11 and comes with homemade chips which are the icing on the cake, so to speak. Usually there is some combination of potato chips, sweet potato chips and plantain chips. Brilliant. Paired with a martini or bourbon or beer, the burger is a perfect treat and a quick lunch. Oysters and littlenecks are available (although to be fair, they are usually cheaper during the early evening at Jasper White's Back Bay location of the Summer Shack), as well as innovative creations like lobster popovers or stacked zucchini boards. The cocktails are diverse, interesting and truly satisfying. The whiskey and bar offerings are deep, and there are a number of unique entries. My waiter and waitress service has continued to be top notch, while I've had a couple cranky bartenders (but nonetheless, still professional). One strange drawback to stopping by for lunch, or early eats before the dining room opens, is that table bread is not available. With the fantastic breads and spreads offered in the dining room, I am unclear as to why it is not prepared for earlier service even in smaller quantities, available only "as requested." It was explained to me that the breads are not even prepared each day until about 4:00 for dinner service and yet it seems like a reasonable expectation when patrons have to walk by several more cost-effective eateries to get to Towne particularly during the daytime (when specials are plentiful and readily available). Interestingly, on one occasion, a large party came in and we offered up our table as we had just arrived and they needed a few more seats, and to thank us they bought us a round of cocktails. Needless to say, everything about this hot spot has been rewarding and worth visiting. I can't say enough about how much I love Towne. Highly, highly recommended for a visit!
(5)
Michael D.
With prices like these you'd think the bartenders wouldn't botch two routine cocktails. When the cherry was omitted from my Manhattan I was willing to overlook it, but when the lemon juice was omitted from my friend's sidecar I was irritated. Have you tried a sidecar sans lemon juice? It's undrinkable. But if you're loaded and 40 and single and you want to make out at a bar you should head on over.
(2)
Anne R.
Just finished a fantastic meal. I really loved the menu, fabulous food and excellent flavors. Our server Chris was attentive but not intrusive and knowledgeable about the menu and made excellent suggestions. It was busy Monday night and that is always a good indicator for a restaurant. Great experience. Can't wait to return.
(5)
Monta L.
We had a large family dinner here on Saturday night. The food was pretty impressive, the service was prompt, I'd come back here to try other things on the menu. I was immediately skeptical of the "little international flags" on the poorly designed menu (if you're going to be high end like this, please hire a professional), but the sweet/spicy/sour dip that came with our calamari really deserved that little thai flag, and hey- the scallion pancakes were not too shabby either. My rating is somewhat prejudiced by (1) bad graphic design, (2) the clientele- I'm sorry, but the food just doesn't taste good when I have to look at self-gratifying men in untucked shirts with first two buttons undone (hello chest hair), toting along some leggy blonde. But I must admit, the food isn't bad, and if you like looking at them leggy blondes, this is the place for you. If you seek humble dining, look elsewhere.
(3)
Ashley L.
Awesome atmosphere and great cocktails.
(5)
Jason W.
I had the avocado and lobster eggs benedict and side of cheese grits, a greyhound beverage, and a coffee. The meal was superb, the service was pleasant, and the location and setting near the Prudential Building is very convenient. There are many parking options and tons of shopping. What makes this place even better is there current manager. I had a slight mishap when my leftovers (half my meal) was discarded instead of packaged to go as requested. The waitress apologized. I did not want to make a fuss or make my friends wait being new years day and all, so I paid the bill and left. The food was so good, I kept thinking about it the next day and decided to email the manager to explain the mistake. His replies and response was expedious and very satisfactory. I will definitely be back and will bring others.
(4)
Drew C.
How this dump got even two stars is beyond me. It's really too bad because it has a lot of potential - the decor and locations are great. I went to Towne for a friends' birthday a few weeks back, and I really was looking forward to going and enjoying myself. Didn't happen. We had a reservation at 7:30 and were not seated until past 8:00 PM despite the fact that everyone in the seven-member party was there. What's the point of having a res? Apparently they were really working hard to set up our table... When we were finally taken to our table, we noticed that the table was indeed set for a bachelorette party - which we were not a part of. Back to the drawing board - they had to find us a new table. The server came over to take our order after about a half hour. We'll start with some drinks thanks. We order a bottle of wine and some cocktails. That was the last we saw of any type of beverage besides water; the waiter never came back to ask us if we wanted more drinks at all. Funny - I thought that's how restaurants made their money. Guess not. We also asked for some more bread, which was brough over by a young lady who seemed so inconvenienced to be bringing us more bread that you would have thought she was bringing out a basket of rats from the kitchen. Why the long face, pumpkin? I must say, the food was good, but for all the hassle, waiting, and the price (it was about $70 for each of us, and, as I said, that's only with one adult beverage) it didn't do much to please. I would have a hard time being urged to come back.
(1)
Alex E.
Very, very, disappointing. Experience #1-- Drinks: At about 1:45am, four of us stopped by for a little night-cap. The bartender was pleasant, made some fairly solid drinks off the menu (this was a while back, so I don't remember which we ordered). At about 1:55am we were approached by large men in suits who instructed us to hand them our drinks. We weren't even half-finished. They told us they had to be careful about "getting shutdown." Isn't that what last call is for? Don't serve drinks if you're going to take them away from people. We weren't drunk, loud or rowdy. Just thirsty, by the time we were rudely kicked-out. Experience #2-- Brunch (party of 12): This morning we had a large family brunch. The reservation was made for an early 11am and the restaurant had just opened. We were literally one of two parties on the second floor (the other was a 4-top). Aside from how strange it is that they serve water in Kimax beakers (I really felt like I was dining in a chemistry lab), the service was very brusque. I was deciding between the crab omelette and the lobster omelette. When the waiter came to take my order, I asked "which do you recommend? Crab or lobster?" he responded by telling me: "oh, they're two different omelettes." Thanks for that. Once the food was brought out, my girlfriend sat without food for about 10 minutes. Then when her omelette finally came out, it wasn't what she had asked for. On top of that, the waiters stood next to the table bickering about who took the order for seat #3 and why it got screwed-up. It can definitely be dicey with a large party, but guys-- have some class. Figure it out in the kitchen and don't argue in front of your table! The food: Literally the worst omelette I have ever had. In fact, a few of us tried the lobster and chive omelette and all were equally disgusted. The omelette itself was dry, overcooked, and underseasoned (and cold, too!). I eat quite a bit of lobster and the meat "garnishing" the omelette was a small, overcooked piece of meat with a greenish tinge. Maybe using body meat with the green "tamale" or digestive gland as garnish isn't the best idea... Inside the omelette was.... well... nothing! There was one lonely piece of tail meat in the omelette. It sort of looked like it had all fallen out. I'm really not that difficult to please when it comes to omelettes, but this was disgusting. Where were the chives? This cold, overcooked egg pancake folded in half with a stray piece of lobster in it looked like a mistake. Not sure what the cherry tomato was stuffed with, but it didn't taste fresh. Given the prices Towne charges and the fact that they market themselves as an upscale, gourmet American kitchen-- Towne should be embarrassed to serve the garbage they put on the table. Sorry, Towne, I'm sticking to Metropolis Cafe for brunch!
(1)
Julian H.
Mehch. The space is nice, but everything else about my dinner here was totally lackluster. Food was overpriced, over sweetened, and kinda bland. The crowd seems like they all graduated and got jobs at Fidelity so they don't really go to the foggy goggle anymore. I overheard one of the guys at the next table talking about "banging his neighbor". Awesome! I'm not sure what's up with the decor. Maybe it's some new design trend that I missed, but mostly it reads as schizophrenic. Beakers for glasses, boudoir style velvet chairs, plaid napkins, vaulted subway ceilings, and a room fulla white people...
(2)
Christina Z.
Towney, I love your quirks. You have maple cotton candy on the menu. You serve beakers for water glasses. The upstairs kitchen hosts a gigantic cheese grater and gigantic kitchen aide mixer. I have no idea if they are props or functional, but I love whimsical touches such as these. The waiter also debated with me on whether Black Swan is the greatest movie of all time. We added people to our party, and rather than squeeze on extra chairs, they moved us to a more comfortable table at 10p on a weekend night. That's hospitality. I ordered the Gypsy Dancer, which packs a vodka PUNCH and also tried my friend's Shiva's Envy, which is addicting and complex. The food I thought overly expensive for what you're getting. My $16 fettucine alfredo was uninspired, but they luckily removed it from the menu. I wish their items were more cohesive. They seem kind of helter-skelter. This is the kind of place that can't stand alone on good strong cocktails. Their food needs to wow, and I think right now they are concerned with trend, but all in all, good food is what brings ya to the yard. If I could eat the decor, I would. It would certainly be more delicious than my meal. Again, maybe I got the wrong thing?
(3)
Julia F.
After the Elite Event at Towne I felt I had to go back and get more, I asked a bunch of ladies (and Tony) to meet me for Brunch on Sunday. What Sunday? Mmm, the one where we lost an hour of sleep. That said, only one of us was on time. I ordered a bloody mary cause everybody else did, and I figured I should finally try one since I managed to avoid ordering them my entire drinking career. They said they were tasty. Turns out I don't like bloody marys. Shame, at $11 each. Our waiter was very nice and personable. He checked in appropriately- especially cause our group showed up in phases. We got a basket full of glazed donut holes and lemon poppyseed bread which were delicious while warm, but quickly turned rock hard when they cooled. The next thing to get to the table? Compliments of the kitchen, four lobster filled popovers for the five of us. Later we saw it said "comp Yelp" on reciept- huh? I checked in well after our meal... The popovers were good, but very full of butter, and shockingly sweet. Not your grandmas' popovers. I was a little disappointed with the brunch menu. It was fairly short. I got chicken and waffles, as I have always been intrigued by the combo. Holy dry food. I had to finish my water to get through it. Highlight of the meal? Teeny doll sized bottle of tabasco stuck in one of the waffles. I've had better waffles, and chicken, just not on the same plate. Grits were good and cheesy though. The bar table we sat at was a chilly location, yet it provided excellent people-watching. This may have been due to the proximity to the door, but I think it was also located right under an hvac vent that was pushing cold air down on our heads. I would return for dinner, or drinks. But being that it's in an annoying location for somebody like me (who drives everywhere) I'd have to say it's unlikely that I'd return. I was sad to find the brunch menu disappointing. I had a gift card, which when I put it on the table, I realized it had an expiration date. We asked if we could still try to use it- the waiter came back and said the manager said no, but that they had comped $20 worth of popovers- nice, but we hadn't asked for them...
(2)
Barney B.
Damn you Chronicle for featuring this place and making me think I wanted to really come here and damn you Barney B for being such a follower sometimes. You know what this place is? it's a local, expensive, loud, trendy version of a Cheesecake Factory. I mean seriously, look at the menu and come up with a theme. I even asked the waiter "OK, so what's the deal here" the explanation, in a word, was dizzying. So was his service, so at least there's consistency. For the food, it was definitely tasty. But a $21 burger better blow my socks off (or just blow something), and it didn't. the special added requests to the plate I can't comment on, because they never got delivered after requested (see dizzying service reference). I applaud them for the space. I applaud them for catering to the conventioneers nearby and I applaud all the locals that will flock here, deal with the loud tinny bar, the expensive food, and the stumbling, bumbling servers. and I applaud myself for another review that isn't likely to have an update due to lack of repeat visit. another pair of multi-resto chefs to add to the English, Lynch list of 'quantity over quality' local ventures.
(2)
A.K. A.
We hosted an event with Towne and our guests loved the venue and the food. The atmosphere is wonderful and the staff were very accomodating. I'd highly recommend the Back Bay room for group private dining.
(4)
Edwin C.
Came here friday night with the gf (wanted to go to Eastern Standard), had been here before for drinks and knew what I was getting myself into. But this time it was strictly a night out for the food. Place is big (2 floors, 3 bars) and so if you can imagine the place is loud, which kind of ruins the dining experience. I mean I couldn't even hear my server and I barely heard my gf sitting next to me. Found it weird that they sat the 2 of us at a round table that could easily fit 6, when we there were many 2 person tables all around us. To the food though, they have a variety of foods from surf to turf, but I wanted to switch it up and leave the veal alone tonight. We started off with like any other place, with our drinks, I actually liked mine, which was gin soda and lemonade, wish I could say the same for the gf. The bread basket was a good compliment to the drinks we were having and it came with interesting sauces for us to spread. We liked it so much we asked for another. For apps we ordered half a dozen oysters (only one type to choose from) garlic naan, and lobster pop overs. Oysters weren't great, garlic naan was dripping with butter along with an abundance of scallions on top, lobster pop overs were good, but don't think it's worth how much they were. For entrees, the gf ordered a salad, but had to get a new one, because it looked like a gallon of dressing was poured onto it. So because I felt daring that night, I ordered fried rabbit (yeah I ate Bugs Bunny haha), it turned out okay, wasn't too happy about it though, wouldn't order again, it really tasted like a cross between dark meat chicken and pork. The server was attentive and knowledgeable, but the food is just lacking for the prices they charge, definitely much better in that area. Good place to have drinks, but not if you're trying to have a quieter dinner at a somewhat nice place. I'd return for drinks and maybe apps.
So I went here a couple months back, and it's pretty cool. I had walked by a few times & said I'd check it out, so I finally did. Not bad. It's definitely on the pricey side, and the service is ehhh (average at best) but if you're looking for a fancy cocktail and some different barfood options, give it a whirl! The atmosphere wasn't as douchey as I thought it would be either. Cool place!
(3)
Nna C.
I planned a party for 35 people at Towne which we had tonight. Everyone from the very beginning was helpful, attentive, flexible. Tonight, they were amazing,setting up both in the solarium and the upstairs private room in the event of rain ( they watched the weather all day and called me to give me updates) the food was fabulous and the service very attentive and they made me and my guests feel welcome and special. I highly recommend Towne. I will definitely recommend this venue to friends for events and I will use it again. Kudos to Terrilynn and Levi. As an aside, I've eaten dinner here a few times, and highly recommend it for that as well.
(5)
Rudolf A.
Where to begin....Towne is a very versatile place for a restaurant. It has the more casual bar at the beginning of the restaurant for your casual after work gathering and the occasional bar food.Then in the next room is another bar for the more "dressier" crowd who are there to either have the proper dinner at the bar (business types on travel) or Theyre wiating for their party to arrive or the reservation. What surprised me was that on my second visit to Towne (on my birthday) was that they had a second floor and another and less crowded bar!! ^_^ so thumbs up for a nice restaurant with three bars right? The drinks are not bad and price is in the mid higher range. Now as for the food, I like their food here because they have an "international menu". Let's get this clear, you dont go to Town to eat the Turkish dish they have there, if you want a freakin authentic Turkish or whatever ethnic meal you want you go to a restaurant that specifically caters to that. Meals are obviously "americanized" and they have a hint of that taste rather than the authnetic meal. Nonetheless, it gives the customer a huge variety of flavors to select from and the prices are from about 18-30 dollars which for Boston that's about the upper end of the mid-range. The duck, and the lobster pizza were good! unfortunately thos were my friends' meals and I had a taste (mine was the swordfish octopus ans it was meh..) ...for appetizers, the little necks, and oysters were also good. overall I enjoyed the experience and the decor is modern contemporary, I mean we had beakers as the water glass, which sorta made me wanna steal one for my alcoholic concotions that i make at home....but iI digress...awesome place for dinners or just drinks. check it out.
(4)
TJ L.
I loved the white eggs omelette with chanterelles and the fact that the snow day made seating immediately so easy!
(4)
David G.
I am a fan of the bar only, the food is over priced for the quality. The bartenders are on point and make drinking here an enjoyment.
(4)
Ngoc K.
Had Tuna Belly appetizer. It was seared tuna, but when you cut into it, all you could see was the fat from the tuna strung together in a slimmy, disgusting way. On top of that, the waitresses had full on convos with each other, at the bar, in front of patrons. They shared photos from their phones and talking about their mother's yam recipes. Dirty martini consisted of un-pitted olives. Nothing sexier than watching someone spit out pits, Towne.
(1)
Sam H.
I've been to Towne a few times and it's huge. There are 4 bars, varying in size, and a lot of seating. Although I've never been with a group, I suspect it would be a good place to take a group due to their size. The food is good, in fact, I don't think I've ever had a bad dish, but I haven't LOVED anything (except maybe the brussels sprouts) and it's overpriced. Now, I live in the immediate area and I KNOW everything is overpriced, but for what you get, it's good, but not worth what they charge. If you sit at the bar, all of the bartenders I've ever met have been fabulous as have been the hostesses. The servers are good, but I've actually only sat in the dining room twice and it wasn't memorable. If you go, I recommend sitting at one of the bars.
(3)
Steven C.
HOW TOWNE RUINED VALENTINE'S DAY.... First of all, if I could give zero stars, trust me, I would. I have eaten here before, and that experience was lackluster in its own right. Based on the previous experience, would've gotten 3 stars. However, tonight was a whole new ball game... The story includes bad service, ignorance, and RACISM... yes, racism. Please read on and decide for yourself if you would like to support such an establishment... My wife and I arrived right on time for our reservation on Valentine's Day at 8:45 pm. They were busy, so they told us it'd be another "10 to 15 minutes." So, this is definitely my pet peeve.... I have a reservation... honor it. But fine, it's V-day, I understand, we decide to wait patiently. It becomes 9:00 pm, and they start to seat people THAT ARRIVED AFTER US.... We all had 8:45 reservations... is there a reason we are getting seated later? At 9:10 pm, I start to hear my name getting mentioned. They can't find us... even though we are standing FIVE FREAKIN' FEET AWAY. So what does the hostess do? SHE MAKES THE SLANTY EYE GESTURE TO HER COWORKER TO IDENTIFY US. ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDING ME?!! Am I not in one of the most highly educated cities on the east coast? Is ignorance seriously still this rampant? Growing up in California, I never dealt with this type of thing... and I was just floored... I immediately walk up to her and proceed to say, "Are you kidding me? Is this seriously how you needed to find us? Would you like me to build a railroad for you??? (ok, this last one was probably both lost on them and unnecessary...). Management comes over, tries to smooth things over. Management says, "We're sorry, she doesn't represent all of us. I hope you trust us that we do not all feel this way." I respond, "Well, your choice to employ such a person who is the face of your restaurant makes it seem that way." What's her answer? "I can't believe she did that! I mean, she's a foreigner too, so she should understand." REALLY? Your answer is that she's ALSO A FOREIGNER SO SHE SHOULDN'T BE RACIST? How about.... SHE SHOULDN'T BE RACIST...PERIOD!?? They offered to comp us a drink each.... not worth it. No way I am supporting this kind of business. So if you agree, and would rather not support an ignorant business that hires folks that disparage others BASED ON RACE.... BOYCOTT THIS RESTAURANT NOW.
(1)
Kavitha M.
Very sad to say that I will no longer be going here for brunch and this used to be one of my favorite brunch spots. They changed the fried chicken in the "fried chicken and waffles" to tasteless, bad quality chicken strips!! How could they??
(2)
Clara L.
This place is hoppin'. Went here around 7:30 pm on a Friday night, and it was packed. Their drinks were solid, but their food was pretty overpriced. They don't really have a bar menu, and most of the food is difficult to eat when it is packed and you're standing, smushed in the back of the room. I did notice that they had a $35 3-course prix fixe lunch deal going on, probably worth trying out. Would try to get a seat upstairs in the future to grab a bite. Fun atmosphere, lots of young professionals.
(3)
Julie R.
When I first walked in Towne, I immediately loved it. The place had a glam factor with a red carpet and a Towne wall to photograph in front of. Lots of pretty people stood at the doors to let you in. It was like, is this LA or Boston? Then inside it was so new, contemporary and huge! The large party we had took a few high tops at the bar in the second half of the restaurant. We got a bunch of food to share and drinks. There is a devoted lobster menu available at the bar with all lobster options. I had the signature lobster popovers at Scampo previously and knew I wanted them again. We were able to glance at the dining room menu but I don't think anyone ordered off it. The popovers were again delicious. I wished they were larger or more given cause $10 for 2 small phyllo rolls filled with a spoonful of lobster was lame. The $17 flat breads were not the best. The duxelles had locally harvested mushrooms and truffle oil. It was better then the margarita, which was dry. The lobster tails were small and tough. Other items were consumed but I don't remember what cause they weren't memorable. The warm chocolate cake was good but the cherry loaded ice cream wasn't liked too much. Nothing we had really wowed me. I did love the cotton candy that came out comp cause dessert took forever. Since I was there for over 2 hours I got a good look around the dining room. I noticed a lot of wood paneling that was bringing back the 70's vibe along with the red gusseted booths. All all the rooms have different decor cause the first one I entered looked more modern. The choice of artwork is interesting. The mural in the back dining room shows nipple and the ladies room sketch has man's butt. Sexy!! Service was friendly and got slower as the place filled up. The bill was $370 for 7 people with drinks, apps, and 1 dessert. Drinks are pricey, as are basic glasses of wine. Towards the end of the night the place got packed with cougars! I'd say its worth a drink to check out the city's newest scene, though you can definitely get a better value/food at many other nearby places.
(3)
Ryan D.
So far I have visited towne 3 times. But I feel like after last nights visit i can pretty much sum it up With a 3 star review. First of all the decor of this restaurant is super chic and contemporary, the style of the restaurant flows as each room has a corky theme. Unfortunately I wish I could rave about the product as much as the design. My first visit I only went for drinks. The drink menu is limited with 7 house cocktails. I started off with a cocktail called race day. Woodford reserve,cointreau,orange,eggwhite and angostura bitters. Now on paper this sounds like a beautiful cocktail but the bartender that made it was not so experienced. No dry shake and she just free poured everything. The thing that bugged me was that....i understand when you have a full bar you want to take short cuts, But when im paying $14 per cocktail i expect nothing but perfect. It honestly tasted like pure whisky, wasn't balanced couldn't taste any of the other ingredients and no froth from the egg whites. I was lucky enough to have Alexie the Bar Manager personally make another one which was good but to be honest it didn't wow me. My second Visit i had a few bar apps and decided to just go with beer just to be safe. THE LOBSTER POP OVER IS A MUST TRY. they add just a touch of honey which really made the flavors pop. The lobster pizza was also great. Finished it off with a few clown shoes. Last nights visit, we had reservation for 9:30pm made personally by chef lydia shire. I have been a big fan on her cooking since Locke Ober. We arrived around 9:20 waited for about 20-25 min until being seated. Our waiter was J.L which i guess stood for jonathan something...jonathan didn't have a clue about what was on the drink or food menu. He kept getting help from other staff members to answer for him. We started off with a bottle of Gewürztraminer which we figured would have been great with the tuna tar tar and lobster pop overs. The only problem here is...we drank 2 bottles of wine before our first corse arrived which took about a hour. : ( . Our main corse took about another 45 min. we ordered crispy duck, grilled tuna, prime rib roast , and lobster tail. My prime rib roast was so salty that it was inedible. It did come with a sauce cart which all the sauces were good but when combined with the meat the salt overpowered everything. The food was all decent....but thats just it.... decent.....not bad but not amazing. No wow factor.... 2 hours for dinner ended up being a little under $500.00. It didn't live up to the hype but this place does have potential. Give it a few months it will get better... cool fact: alot of cougars
(3)
Diana P.
I met a friend here for drinks that I hadn't seen in awhile and wanted to check it out. Based on the photos on their website I had a clear picture in my mind. I didn't make it around the place that much just in the bar area so my review is a little skewed I guess. The place was definitely popular, it was packed which was fine but people were kind of bumping into you constantly and it was pretty loud - not the best place to meet a friend you really wanted to catch up with but fine for a night out with the your usual suspects. The drinks were ok nothing special in my opinion although they seemed to have a decent specialty drink llist. The wait staff was great though I have to say. We were sitting on stools off to the side and someone came up and took our drink order which was pretty awesome. My number one downfall of this place is the music though. The way it was portrayed online I seemed a bit more swanky like a "Dirty Laundry" song type or something, I wasn't a huge fan of the random selection which included Ace of Base haha. Overall, good hot spot I guess for young professionals. I heard mixed things on the food.
(3)
J S.
Had dinner at Towne last night and I was surprisingly disappointed. The space is beautiful, specifically the large windows in the private dining room where we were seated for dinner. However the vibe in that part of the restaurant was unfortunately dull. It seemed more like being in a hotel event space which I'm assuming it's normally supposed to be used for. The space would have been much better utilized with as a bar area. That being said the dining room bar on the 2nd floor was a totally different place. It almost felt like we were in a different restaurant altogether. It was hip and happening and if we had dined in there it would have been a much better experience. The bars downstairs also had a great vibe and I could see myself going there for drinks often. Now on to the food. I was extremely disappointed, especially because I had such high expectations due to it being a Lydia Shire establishment. Most of what we ordered was either very salty or very bland. I order the lobster bisque for an appetizer which was pretty pricey at $15 for a small portion. It was extremely salty and I was shocked the kitchen would even send it out. For the entree I had the cod fillet which after reading the description on the menu sounded delicious. It was not. The fish itself was very bland which I expected as cod usually is but the accompaniments were bland as well. The chowder sauce they had it in was good but definitely not enough of it. For a $30 entree it should have been delicious. My friend had the avocado salad with pork crackling which was just ok. The pork was dry and the portion was small. All that being said, my other friend had the seared tuna and said it was amazing. The green beans were also very yummy. The bread basket was good but not enough of it and the fact that they charge $4.00 if you ask for more was ludicrous considering how pricey the entrees are. That put a bad taste in my mouth...no pun intended. The desserts were just ok. The chocolate cake or strudel was not what we expected. The angel food cake and creme brulee were decent. The service was really good and everyone was friendly including our waitress. She did an awesome job. All in all I think it's a great space and will be a neighborhood hot spot for years to come, however they need to improve the food. I did take into consideration that it was the first night so perhaps things will improve as time goes on. I would definitely go back for drinks but would be hesitant to go for dinner again. It was not worth the expensive bill.
(3)
Paula E.
The food was excellent. The service was excellent. Between the 8 people in our party, we tried the majority of the menu. The only reason I can't give this restaurant 5 stars is because a live mouse ran across the floor while we were still seated, but after we'd already eaten. The waiter explained that there has been some construction in the area and the mice are a result. He was very nice, and comped our dessert. I'd want to know about the mice, and that's why I'm sharing with you....
(3)
David m.
The first time I went, after waiting at the bar for 10 minutes, we left without getting a drink because we got 0 service. Tried again and it was less crowded and sat at the bar. I had a good dirty martini, only $9! the lobster popovers were awesome, a little on the sweet side, but lots of lobster meat. maybe the third visit will add more stars...
(3)
Lynda M.
My husband and I stopped in for brunch today, after hitting the Pru Mall. The 1st floor bar was dead, so we dined upstairs in the large dining room. The space is beautiful, and I like the atmosphere. It was pretty quiet. Our waiter was nice, but the pace of the meal seemed a bit slow. We ordered drinks, Prosecco and an Irish Coffee. We had to ask twice for sugar for the table. By the time the sugar arrived the coffee was lukewarm. Eww. Hubby enjoyed the donut like bread options. I ordered the cheddar omelet, and my husband the bacon sandwich with "extreme fries". Then we waited. And waited. When the food arrived, it was lukewarm. I saw full plates just sitting at the kitchen waiting, and waiting. I am sure our meals were amongst them. The food was decent, my omelet was yummy, it just would have been really good if it was hot. Same for the stuffed tomato. That was more like ice cold. My husband's extreme fries were about 5 potato chips. Not sure where the word extreme fits in. We would come back again to give it a try, maybe this time the food will be warmer, but I think it will be more of a drink place for us when we are in the area.
(3)
Helen B.
Towne for brunch/lunch - that is my most recent and best experience yet. The food was amazingly delicious. The de-constructed fish chowder a true surprise and very good. The pizza was so good and filling. We tried to shop afterward but we were so full !!! Service very good - which I have to mention because it has been my main complaint of Boston restaurants for the last 18 months. Everyone thinks I'm picky, but the service was professional and pleasant.
(4)
MJ S.
Went for a Saturday night dinner on the early side. It may be a "scene" but the food (dry Peking Duck and oily schnitzel) was mediocre at best. All appearance, no taste. Restaurant wasn't busy so wait staff stood in place appearing to glare at us. Sort of unsettling. Passed on dessert. With so many fine restaurants in the city why go here? Maybe the tourist and convention trade can keep Towne going, but I don't think that the restaurant deserves to make it.
(2)
Catherine H.
I have been to Towne for drinks and apps, and wasn't very impressed. We had a pizza that was NOT good, but the lobster pop overs were tasty. Yesterday, we went for a pre-Valentine's day brunch. They totally redeemed themselves! I had eggs benedict, and the BF had fried chicken and waffles. Both were amazing! I don't know if I would go back for dinner, but this is definitely on our brunch rotation.
(3)
Michelle H.
Towne is just what Boston needed! The front bar is a hot scene - loud and lively, but for a special treat, head to the back bar and ask for Michael. The bar is adjacent to the first floor dining room and is a more intimate experience. If you are lucky enough to score seats, settle in for celebrity treatment . Michael will whip up a cocktail to suit your tastes or help you select just the right wines to go with decadent, beautifully plated food. This bar can also be four rows deep on busy night, but even then you are in good hands and will not wait long for an expertly mixed drink.
(5)
Thomas G.
Great food & service! The lobster pizza is a must! We went on opening night, so I hope the restaurant remains at this caliber. The atmosphere is trendy but casual. Fun night out, especially for special occasions!
(5)
Yoli D.
I have been to Towne three times but have only eaten there twice. The first time I ate there, it was downstairs in the room closest to the entrance. I liked the atmosphere. The server was friendly and attentive even though it was extremely busy that night. Food and drinks were great. My friend and I enjoyed the entire experience. After that night, it became my friend's favorite restaurant. The second time I went there it was for a brunch to celebrate a friend's birthday. We sat in semi-private room upstairs. We were the only table that our server was waiting on (that I know of) and we went without water for so long a couple times, that one of the ladies in our party got up, walked across the room to get the pitcher of water, walked all the way back over to the table, filled 10 glasses with water and returned the pitcher without anyone at the restaurant noticing. The server didn't have any menu knowledge at all! Didn't know what chanterelles were mushrooms and didn't know that the deep fried poached eggs were deep fried after being poached. My food was served cold... a pet peeve of mine, but I let that slide since I was with a large party. The chicken and waffles that I had heard so many good things about from one friend ended up being okay, yep, just okay. I don't have a desire to go back here, but would go with my friend that loves it.
(3)
Hao W.
very nice food and desserts, good service too.
(4)
tureg u.
Trendy, bar, restaurant, in great location. excellent bar food. did not try the restaurant. good and friendly service.
(3)
Bianca D.
Finally a great eat in experience! I ate here last weekend with a group of friends from work and must say not only was the food great, but the service as well! One of the better dine in experiences I've had in Boston! I definitely recommend this restaurant and the wasabi steak!
(4)
Bob H.
My new favorite restaurant. Brunch was terrific. The dinner menu seemed expensive, but brunch was very reasonable. I had a crispy haddock with a blueberry muffin, my wife had smoked salmon and my daughter had an "over the sink" BLT. All meals were great.
(5)
Anya R.
I have only gone to Towne to grab drinks and have only stayed downstairs. I think on the weekends, this place is great for getting a drink before you head out as it does get fairly packed around midnight. At that time, the bouncers also love making people wait in line outside (I swear it's for show only). The drinks are nothing special but it's usually a pretty fun crowd (20s-30s with some creepy old men). Unlike other places in Boston, men actually offer to buy you drinks (but this could be because there are a lot of out of towners that come here). Anyways, overall a pretty fun and trendy spot for a night out!
(4)
Pete M.
My wife and I had dinner at Towne on Friday night. I was so excited as I've wanted to try this place out ever since I saw that it had opened. Jasper White and Lydia Shire, what could go wrong. Unfortunately we were both hugely disappointed with this spot, would not go back, and would definitely recommend people take their hard earned money elsewhere. We started off with the lobster popover for an appetizer. This, actually, was quite good. I good combination of the doughy popover with the lobster meat and a sweet, syrup like glaze made for a great start to the meal. That's where things went wrong! My wife ordered the swordfish and I had the salmon. After one bit of her swordfish, we realized that it was completely raw. Our waiter apologized and took it back to the kitchen and my wife thought she would get a new, properly cooked piece of fish, but they brought out the same one that she cut into. Now I would expect this from the 99, but when you're shelling out half your mortgage for a piece of swordfish I demand better! This is when we realized that this place was all hype and no delivery. My salmon was standard. Nothing that you couldn't do at home with a fresh piece of fish. I was excited that it came with yams but instead of some hearty potatoes, it was more of a drop of puree used more for decoration. We finished the night off with an apple tart for desert. Again, this was nothing that you couldn't make at home, except the ice cream they used had a weird, tart aftertaste. Instead of trying to be fancy or on the cutting edge, they should have just used regular vanilla ice cream for this dish. I think that this place is a growing problem for new restaurants in Boston. There is all this hype about getting a famous celebrity chef (or two) and that will be enough for a successful restaurant. Towne is extremely expensive and if I was going to recommend a nice spot for people to spend a lot of money on, this would NOT be it. If you want celebrity chef restaurants that are worth the money, try any of Chef Jaime Mammano's restaurants (Mistral, Sorrellina, Moo, etc.)
(2)
Paul B.
Went for brunch with my brother on Saturday afternoon cause they sent me a free $25 gift card good only for lunch or brunch that was about to expire at the end of the month. Too bad $23.50 was taken to pay for two very small glasses of OJ and two pots of tea. Nothing on the menus about price on coffee, tea or OJ. Both were nice, but with no liquor in either prep, I would never expect to pay more than $10 for 4 beverages. Also, the portions of food are pretty stingy for the price, you'll need that side of bacon and cheese grits to feel right in the belly when you're done. The food was good and service was OK, but I'll never go back; not to pay $85 including tip for breakfast food for two.
(2)
Leandrew R.
Went here for a work dinner on a Saturday evening. Lively crowd at the bar while I wanted, great photography on the wall. Was promptly seated upstairs in a gorgeous room and proceeded to have a delicious dinner. Waitress was nice, personable and took great care of us. Food was pretty good ... got scallops appetizer (uummm) + skirt steak with fried green onions. Can't go wrong. Once you get through the crowd and actually get a table you'll be a happy camper.
(5)
Abbey L.
I went back to Towne for brunch and it was great. I had the lobster omelet and my husband had poached eggs on steak hash, both of which were excellent. Brunch came with free donuts and lemon poppy bread - both delicious. Service was excellent as well.
(3)
Jack F.
Had dinner with a bunch of friends on a Tuesday night. Had heard about this place and wanted to try it out. I thought the menu was a bit weird. Had a difficult time making my choice. Food was average. One of the dinner portions was so small we thought it was an appetizer. Expensive.
(2)
Rissa F.
I loved almost everything about Towne. The decor is beautiful and really makes you feel like you've stepped out of Boston. They paid such attention to detail when designing this place, and I can't help but rave about it. We made a reservation but had to wait 15 minutes but it was no big deal and got a drink in the bar, which was packed! I couldn't believe how full the restaurant was for it being so new. For dinner, between the 4 of us, we ordered the caesar salad (not your average ceasar), the tartare duo (amazing! tuna and sirloin tartare were unreal.), the fettuccine (mediocre and fairly small), and the duck (a little overdone but the huckleberry sauce complemented the duck so well that it was still so delicious), and the creme brulee for dessert (so good!). We ordered a bottle of wine that finally came to the table when we were basically finished eating and for the most part our server was never around when we needed her. You could see the server getting in arguments with the food runner when he brought out extra dishes, which was so unprofessional. All in all, Towne was amazing - the food, the decor, the drinks, and overall experience- but definitely needs to brush up on their service skills. Since its a new restaurant, I'm sure it will just take a little time for Towne to be one of Boston's best.
We went to Towne on a Friday night with our favorite foodie couple to sample the fare and spend quality time together over the Thanksgiving holiday. We were really hoping to love it. Hubby and I and our 2 friends made reservations and we were glad we did since without a reservation-you would feel like a bum walking in off the street. We were unimpressed with the pretentiousness at the front door along with the red rope that led us into the place that made me feel like I might just be entering Zanizibar back in the early 90's again. Mr. White & Ms. Shire? Try Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. This is the personality disorder restaurant of our lives. Everything was so disjointed. The too crowded bar in the front with the investment bankers trying to impress the hoochie mamas, the noisy hipster lounge in the back with the wanna be's, the awkward ride in the elevator to actually take us up to our table in the upstairs restaurant which was quiet as a tomb. The equally akward elevator ride down again to use the bathroom. But we had to walk through the crowded back bar to get there. Bizzarre. The decor was totally mismatched as was the menu. Nothing made sense. Were we in a fine dining restaurant or an industrial chic warehouse? Were we looking at the menu options from the Cheesecake Factory where you can order a multitude of any country's cuisine with the watered down american twist added? I just don't know. I had the lobster bisque to start and while there was plenty of chunky lobster meat in it-the meat was too chewy and the bisque too watery. It took a long time for our meals to arrive and the restaurant was not packed. I ordered the short ribs for my meal and while they were the right consistency and cooked right -the dish was way too salty. The sides were not impressive and I felt the service to be lackluster. After dinner-I just wanted to go home and bathe my toungue in lemon water bath but our group insisted on ordering desert. I ordered an expresso and it was just again, not great. I had a bite of hubby's dessert which was so forgettable-I actually forget what it was. Biba, I will always remember you fondly, Summer Shack-you had me at hello, Towne Stove and Spirits (What was it supposed to be a Pub? I Just don't know!) I would rather watch Sybill do her thing on T.V. than experience it in a restaurant.
(2)
U V.
The food is ok.... nothing special or memorable about it.... for the price i'm paying i do expect the food to be above average.... the wait for the table took forever..... i ended up kept walking to them to ask if the table is ready... about literally almost 2 hrs finally the table is ready.... my friend and i were there around 5:30.... we didn't end up eating till almost 7:30....i think my friend and i only got the table because we kept asking them if the table is ready... there are about 4 tables free the whole time..... we can see them from where we were standing... we thought someone might have reservation there already but about 2 hrs we were just staring at those empty tables.... seriously! we should have go somewhere else to eat and come here for the drink.... The waiter was nice and it does make up for the wait but like i mentioned earlier the food was ok.... it's definitely not worth the wait... might come back for the drink though....
(3)
Liz W.
Overall, I really do love this restaurant. I have been here a few times, really just for drinks, and have had great experiences. The drinks are fantastic, the bartenders are always very attentive, and the atmosphere is great. So needless to say when my boyfriend and I went here for dinner the other night, I was shocked at the terrible, and really downright rude service we received from our waiter. The hostess was great, she was very friendly and accommodating, and seated us an hour prior to our reservation! Our waiter seemed like he was in a terrible mood right away, like he was doing us a favor by waiting on us! The food at Towne is delicious, but they don't have very many vegetarian options. Since, I don't eat meat, I ordered the gnocchi off of the appetizer menu (which was excellent!) The waiter seemed very irritated I didn't order an entree, but sorry, buddy, I'm not going to eat meat just so our bill can be higher for you! After that, we saw him once, only when he stopped over briefly to ask if we liked our dinner. He never came over and asked if we wanted another round of drinks, and we sat for 20 minutes after the busboy cleared our plates and waited, drinks and water glasses empty. He then had to audacity to ask if we wanted desert! We decided to get some more drinks elsewhere after. I'd like to try Towne again, but after the experience in the dining room, I can't say that I will. All three stars are for food and beverage, zero for service in the dining area. If you go to Towne, stick to the bar area!
(3)
Jamie M.
We usually come here late on Saturday nights for a drink, but finally came in for dinner last week. Our server was friendly, knowledgeable and "just the right" level of attentive for a married couple out on a not so frequent "date night". The second floor dining area (we usually only see the downstairs bars) was unconventional yet classy, with beautiful high ceilings and a view of the kitchen. Everything we had was good, but I particularly enjoyed the simple butter lettuce & avocado salad, which had a refreshing citrusy vinaigrette & crisp lettuce; and the lobster popovers. These popovers are amazing! A *must* for anyone who comes here-nice chunks of fresh lobster and a great flaky crust. My husband had the duck and thought that it was cooked perfectly (a big deal for him, because more often than not when he orders duck, it's overcooked) and the combination of sweet pineapple, gingery vinegar and root vegetable was a great complement to the grilled duck. We didn't order dessert, but have heard great things, so based on this visit, and the promise of a delicious finish, we will be back, and not just for an end of the evening nitecap!
(5)
Sarah A.
I really wanted to like this place, but overall, I was underwhelmed. The location is definitely super convenient and a very short walk from my work. The atmosphere is gorgeous and I was very impressed with the dining room. I was a little annoyed that although there was a great deal of space in the restaurant, my friend and I were seated at a table, that although nice, was a bit too close to the kitchen. We could hear some of the kitchen equipment buzzing away in the background and some of the servers seemed to congregate behind us when they weren't busy to chat. Annoying. I was impressed with the generous bread basket provided that included a flat bread, a nut and fruit bread and more traditional rolls with fresh, salted butter. Our waiter was helpful in answering questions about the menu, but was a bit overbearing, repeatedly coming back to check to see if we were ready to order after we told him twice we needed more time. Also, when we told him our appetizer order, he abruptly disappeared, leaving us with menus on the table instead of taking our entree order. Weird. I ordered the lobster bisque and my friend and I shared the shrimp appetizer. The bisque was AWFUL. I was so glad that I got the cup instead of the bowl. It was hard to finish. The small piece of lobster was the only redeeming aspect. The bisque was not well blended and even had a clump of flour in it. Eww. Also, in my opinion, there was not enough flavor. It was neither creamy nor broth-like. It was just bad. Thankfully, the shrimp appetizer was much better. The shrimp were coated in a light tempura batter and it was also served with a generous portion of green beans and chips that reminded me of the Terra brand veggie chips. It also came with a wasabi cream sauce and soy sauce on the side. I'd definitely get this again. For my entree, I had the salmon. This was very tasty and well prepared. It was also a large portion and I had to take most of it home. The best part of this dish was the purple yam puree that accompanied the salmon. There was also some bok choy on it. I am not sure I'd get this again since it seemed a bit overpriced to me at $31, but it was good. Other things I did not like: the waiter took away our appetizer before we'd finished and he tried to clear my drink before I'd finished. I snatched it away from him but he didn't even apologize! After we finished eating, we walked around to explore the place. There is another bar area on the second floor that also seems to have a small bar menu. I kinda wish we'd gone there. The menu options looked way tastier and the prices were much more reasonable. I think I will come back and hit up the bar for drinks, apps or the bar menu. Unless someone else is paying, I think I'm done with the dining room. Bad bisque and bad service make this a solid 3 star review.
(3)
Matt I.
Drinks were good. Lobster popovers were amazing, if just a bit too sweet. My steak was good, but my date's fish was on the boring side. Luckily, I was sat on the 2nd floor, away from the college bar crowd on the 1st floor. I'd come back for the atmosphere of the 2nd floor alone.
(4)
Abir H.
Been here several times. They have some really good dishes. Came here after the santa speedo run and saw most of the runners run in to get warm which was really entertaining. They start u off with some great fresh and warm doughnut balls and mini muffins, i love those! Try their burger its really good and their fries came out nice and hot! They also make a good eggs Benedict. Most of their brunch dishes are good and if ur in the mood for fish their fish n chips is pretty good too.
(4)
Jaime M.
Bottom line: Staff needs more training if restaurant is going to charge so much. It had been years since I went to Towne for dinner so I was excited when my friend suggested it for dinner last night. I told the waiter I wanted something on the LIGHTER side-- a seafood dish... he recommended the snapper. I ordered it and it came dripping in oil and butter and a weird 'sauce' (no mention of it on the menu or by him)... it was sort of luke warm and just not good at all. Apps were caesar and shrimp cocktail-- they were pretty standard-- not that hard to mess these up. Little things happened-- drinks took forever, the wrong side dish was brought, at one point the food runner brought us another tables' meal. Service was poorly timed. We couldn't find our waiter half the time and I didn't feel taken care of properly. The meal came to around $200 without the tip. I started laughing because I felt completely cheated. If Towne is going to charge so much for food they need to train their staff better; have them KNOW the menu, have set "check in" points during your guests' meal. This place is so not worth it & I won't be back any time soon.
(1)
Bobby C.
If you are looking for a more slightly creative brunch, Towne is an option. A friend and I went on a Sunday. No wait...lots of tables as there are two floors. We both had the roast beef skillet hash crisped with organic eggs. Great presentation. Food and ambiance was ok. Probably not the best place if you want a casual brunch date. Service was decent also.
(3)
Neal R.
My wife and I had been here for dinner before and had a good experience. Although pricey, the food and atmosphere were good and the service pretty good as well. We decided to bring our daughter in last night for her 20th birthday and were greeted warmly by Keisha, the receptionist, who took our coats and was quick with a smile. Once we were seated, however, the warm welcome was quickly dampened by our server who clearly didn't want to be there. He was seemingly inexperienced and in a hurry all night and was never available when we had questions. He was short with us and didn't listen to our request and subsequently made several errors with our orders. Although, despite the service, most of the meal was quite good, we all agreed we'd had much better for far less. The atmosphere is ok but this particular experience was certainly not worth of the price and we will not be in a hurry to return. There are a lot of exceptional restaurants in Boston and Towne fell well short of that last night. For a place with such a good reputation we feel the wait staff should be of much higher caliber and will not recommend Towne to our friends.
(2)
N D.
Stopped in for drinks with a couple of girlfriends tonight. While sitting at the downstairs bar (in the front room, facing Boylston), I thought I saw a shadow bolt across the floor. I wrote it off until a few minutes later, another MOUSE ran under the table. Within minutes, no fewer than FOUR mice were scampering about, fearlessly exploring the restaurant floor. It was disgusting. We reported this to the Bartender, who said he would tell management. He came back a few minutes later and said they would like to offer us a complimentary dessert for our poor experience. Thanks, but no thanks. I don't think I want any food from here if the mice are bold enough to go exploring while customers are still sitting around! I did like this bar, but now I doubt I'll go back anytime soon.
(1)
Noshii R.
So I want to like this place and for some masacistic reason we keep returning to Towne. However, lately the place has taken a new twist. 1) a few months ago they had a horrible sewage leak in the middle of the restaurant...seriously it stunk and instead of shutting down the place they offered their patrons cotton candy...as if to brainwash them into thinking that they were at the circus and that the stench was the porter potty's???? Suffice to say we just had like 4 bottles of vino and bypassed dinner altogether. 2) The second time we returned a fight broke out!! Like really...it went on and on an....it started at the opposite side of the bar and somehow ended up in our laps. I had to hide the steak knives off of our table as I was afraid they would be used by someone. The most surprising thing about this fight was the fact that not single server, manager or security person stepped in...what the heck? You are suppose to be a 'fine dinning' establishment and yet you have no security. No police were called and no one was asked to leave...DOES THIS SOUND SAFE??? I will never ever be going to Towne again...its just a sh*tshow...actually the name is befitting as it is a perfect spot for Townies.
(1)
Mike O.
*** THIS REVIEW IS BASED ON THE SCENE, ALONE *** The goods: Great location, lovely decor, friendly staff and a fair selection of standards you'd find at most mainstream bars. The bads: Typical Boylston St crowd, just with a bit more money to throw around, and maybe five years past the Pour House days. The restrooms are on the far end of the restaurant, making it a terribly long trip if you're hanging out at the bar. You may want to pass on coming here on a Saturday night unless you like the body-to-body "we're packed in here like we're on a train in India at rush hour" vibe. Ladies, you will be hit on, several times over, by young lads and old grampies, alike. Some will tickle your fancy with some entertaining conversation, no doubt, and some will just tickle you. So if your keen on the creep factor, this may be your place!
(2)
Megan L.
Love. Had brunch for a party of 12 here (today) and it was fantastic! There was much debate about what to order, and the majority of the table ended up with the minute steak with a deep fried poached egg and creamed spinach. Feeling like a bit of a lemming, I got this too. It was DELICIOUS. My steak was done perfectly, the creamed spinach was wonderful and the poached egg was such a nice element of the dish. Other favorites included the malted waffle with salted caramel and bananas foster, and a LOT of sangria. Also the hot mini donuts were fantastic. Service was friendly, quick and efficient. As much of a pain as it must have been, they gave us separate checks with no hassle at all. Shout out to our waiter Chris!! The decor is beautiful and it's in such a convenient location. I was super impressed--will definitely be back!
(5)
S T.
Tuesday - Lunch - Restaurant Week ($15.13) Choice of soup or salad, I chose salad and entree" Burrata & Kumato Tomato Salad with white anchovies, old balsamic Giannone Roto Chicken with Yukon garlic mashed, roasted shallot jus My Mom had: New England Clam Chowder Vermont crackers Lemon Sole "Fish & Chips" with tarragon-tartar sauce, malt vinegar I enjoyed the Giannone Roto CHicken very much but the baby carrots were ... a whee bit hard to chew but the whole dish was delicious. The salad was oh good. Especially with the anchovies. My Mom's lemon sole fish and chips was okay. Perfectly fried not greasy but wasn't all that amazing..the fries was great! I don't believe our waiter even came back to ask how things are going or even asked if we wanted desert menu. Restaurant Week is when I go to restaurants I never go to and maybe come back in the future. Towne is a maybe I'll come back ... based on the mediocre service I received. Oh and why's the dinning room entrance behind the bar? How can people who never came here see it? We definitely didn't see any hostess or anyone. The bartender saw us wandering and pointed to the back.
(3)
S S.
Excellent food and service. The brussel sprouts are seriously better than any others I've ever had- with cream and bacon no less. Halibut with beurre blanc- yum, yum, yum! Wine list was impressive. The space is nicely designed, but not enough attention paid to the acoustics. Really loud and hard to hear my dinner mate over the clanking of dishes and overall volume of everyone around us.
(4)
Sandra J.
I want to love The Towne. SO MUCH potential! Location: Perfect Available Parking: Perfect Menu: Great! -- the food is a tad too salty (not only my opinion, I've taken a poll -- I am happy to present graphs and charts, if asked). Waitstaff: SLOW! Hostess: Comes across as snooty but I think they are just young and unseasoned. During my most recent visit, there were fifteen of us with reserved seating. The waitress was terribly slow and overwhelmed. Not sure how. We were an easy group...ordered appetizers and pitchers of Sangria. At one point we ordered more Sangria, she left and returned FORTY MINUTES later to tell us they were out of Sangria. Huh?! How does THAT happen. Okay, so we ordered wine. Um....crickets. We had to ask for another waiter. And, while you may be thinking it was crazy busy and we weren't patient. It was not. The service is that bad every time I go. But yet, I keep returning, hoping "this time" the service will be better.
(3)
Adriana T.
I ve been to Towne many times before but I have never written a review on it. It's a huge place - gigantic!!! 2 bars, 2 dining rooms + the bar dining room!! 2 story restaurant!!! I have had diner at Towne 3 times so far - the food is good- it better be good for how much it costs. Based on the sever you have you can have a nice or a not so nice dining experience..I have had both of them. The bars are always pact- last weekend in particular but it was too hot and we couldn't even stay there for longer than a drink. The crowd is mid-late 20s to mid-late 30s. Forgot to mention..the drinks are expensive $10-$16. It is a nice bar and great location but Lolita or Red Lantern have a much better vibe than Towne.
(3)
D M.
I came for the Yelp Elite Event in 2011, and also just recently for post Red Sox game cocktails. I really enjoyed hanging out at the bar when we came in, and the setting is really nice. The crowd was an interesting mix of people, and went from an older crowd when we first got in to bachelorettes in the bar area around the time we left. The waitstaff was very pleasant and our cocktails came out quickly. I ordered the blueberry lemonade because it was a super humid night, and it was a mix of blueberry vodka, house lemonade, pomegranate juice and blueberries. It was tasty, and I think I'd go with a gin based cocktail next time. Cocktails are around $13, which is a little steep, but not awful for the area. The bar menu looked great, and while we didn't order anything, the food coming out smelled good. I'll be back to try some fried zucchini sticks soon!
(4)
Johnna M.
How sweet it is to be loved by Towne. I attended an unexpected brunch here with some lovely yelpers and I must say I really enjoyed myself. Our service was topnotch. The waiter was attentive and fun-he answered our questions, dealt with our daylight savings time adjusting stragglers, and even picked my jacket up off the floor (glad someone cares about my personal belongings!) Towne delivers a unique and fun experience, starting with its interesting patrons (think Old Navy commercial big glasses lady dress-alike, babies in their Easter best, every well dressed man in the city, and some loudmouth chick wearing her clothes from the night before who was captured by brunch attendees while trying to make her way home from an oh too late party and is now forced to make best with the fit and fabulous crowd Towne attracts) Beyond being the place to see and be seen (or in my walk of shame gone brunch case, attempt not to be seen) every detail of Towne's atmosphere is creative and welcoming-from the overall design of the space to the fun (sometimes borderline risque) decor to the lively background music. The menu continues to play with the unusual and creative and like a chick experiencing with thrift store shopping for the first time,--sometimes it works and sometimes it just doesn't. The donut holes were melt in your mouth warm, sweet and sticky. The lemon poppy seed bread didn't work quite so well. My heart skipped a beat when a tray of lobster popovers arrived- I've been dreaming of these babies since the elite event. What a clever and well executed combination-perfectly flaky popover filled with succulent lobster meat with a surprisingly sweet after taste (The writer in me says stop saying sweet, the food lover in me can't avoid it). Unfortunately my main course, chicken and waffles, was one of the things that didn't work so well. The chicken was extremely dry and almost impossible to find any meat on the bone and the waffles were just too, well, sweet. (grr) However, the grits were absolutely fantastic and so I'll raise my AOK Bloody Mary to that. Despite a slight letdown in my main course, Towne continues to work hard to ensure a dining experience that is equal parts special, delicious, and homey and I'll certainly return to explore more things on the menu (looking forward to trying dinner!) and continue some fantastic people watching. Pretty sweet, guys.
(3)
Colby C.
Many of these reviews mention the Lobster Popovers and I will agree that they are probably the best thing on the menu. We were here with a party of 20 so we were seated in the private dining room. Good thing because otherwise I probably would have been deaf by the end of the meal. When I navigated trough the main restaurant in search of the restroom, I was confronted with a wall of noise from the 200 or so people eating and drinking in this cozy establishment. The food was okay. Sorry to say, but it was not worth the price tag. Overall I would rank it in at Food 2/5 stars, Taste 3/5 stars. The atmosphere was modern yet sophisticated, but I wasn't sure if I was at a nightclub or a gourmet restaurant. The menu prices told me the later, but the noise and liveliness told me the former. It is for this reason that I have to break my atmosphere rating down to two subsets: Social Atmosphere 4/5 stars, Dining Atmosphere (assuming you are seated in the main restaurant) 2/5 stars. As far as service goes I would rate this restaurant closer to 4/5 stars, but in regards to price 2/5 stars. Overall, come here with friends for the social aspect. Be weary of ordering too much food as the bill may add up quickly.
(3)
Lia M.
I love Towne for drinks. The location is perfect. The drinks are well-made and strong. I had a Mr. Brownstone (bourbon, maple liqueur, lemon, and cinnamon simple syrup) and an El Diablo Fizz (tequila, crème de cassis, lime juice, soda water, and ginger beer). The Mr. Brownstone was not as sweet as it may seem from the ingredients and I enjoyed the cinnamon flavor. The El Diablo Fizz was a bit sweeter, and went down extremely easy. I was basically drunk after both of those, so I was happy. Kate's Gin Daisy (gin, lemon juice, house made grenadine, and simple syrup) was quite light and refreshing. We just shared a few appetizers, but I did not love either of them. The duck quesadilla had the potential to be really great, but overall, it was just blah, and the meat a tad too salty. Plus, there was sour cream on it, when it was asked to be served without. Surprisingly, I preferred the popcorn shrimp. I tend not to be a fan of this appetizer, but this one had a good flavor and nice, crisp batter. I still do not really like this dish, but if I had to order it, I'd order it here. Service was prompt and friendly. We did need to ask for the bar menu, as we were automatically given the dinner menu while sitting at the bar. Overall, I'm a huge fan, and Towne is definitely on my radar for a return visit.
(4)
Sara M.
SHAMEFUL!! My mom, brother and I all got the monkfish only to spend the next 3 days dealing with food poisoning. Three days of vomiting and diarrhea was enough to make my first experience here my last! The so called lemon sauce was nothing more than melted butter with a few squirts of lemon juice in it. The fish was barely seasoned or even hot. When we ordered the Towne "cookies" for dessert, they had the audacity to bring a total of 4 pieces of some chocolate wrapped up in a plastic bag and charged us 8 bucks for it!! Seriously???! I can critique so much more but the thought of that place makes me sick to my stomach, again!!
(1)
Andy H.
I and a friend went there Saturday night and had a phenomenal time. Every dish was well presented, had a wonderful flavor profile, and the servers were able to recommend pairings that accented the dish marvelously. I will be back again and again.
(4)
Karlee H.
I have been here a decent amount, only for drinks or appetizers. Dark cavern-like bar in the front, fun crowds young & old, overall vibe is lively yet unpretentious. I like you Towne, but last night might have put us in love. Four of us went out (Wednesday) for a belated birthday celebration. As other Yelpers have noted, the service isn't always very swift but thanks to the hospitality of Mike (?) the Manager, we were very well taken care of. We were seated for about 45 minutes before a random waitress asked us if someone had taken our drink order (no one had)--so we put in for a pitcher of sangria with her. 25 minutes later still nothing. So we pull Mike over and tell him the situation. He comes back post haste with the sad unfortunate news that no sangria (white or red) is made, but if we'd like to select from one of their signature punches he'd be happy to make that instead. We picked the Uptowne Punch (cider, cinnamon, fall deliciousness). He brings out a glass just to make sure we like it before we commit to the full pitcher (we ended up having 2 pitchers). Great time with friends, outdoor seating area was fantastic on a late August evening with festive string lights. Both the arugula and short-rib flatbreads were great. I think the cards and gifts beside me gave it away, but I had 3 staff members wish me a happy birthday and then bring over cotton candy without us saying anything. Best present of the night, Mike took care of the first pitcher. I guess I'm easy to win over (liquor & candy) but its unfortunately rare that people go to great lengths to improve your dining (& drinking) experience, so thanks Towne! Now off to continue the birthday celebrations...
(4)
Katherine S.
Very odd experience. We sat down. Woman comes up and asks about tap vs bottle water. Some guy pours some water. We sit. 15 minutes. Nothing. Then another woman comes up "do you want juice or coffee?" stated as if these are the only options. "um, i want an iced tea...." can we not get anything else? weird. 15 minutes pass. finally we get some tea. wait more. A DIFFERENT guy comes up, "did you want bread?" Dear LORD it's been like 40 minutes, can we ORDER FOOD!? so weird. Brunch/lunch menu is very minimal. I was trying to eat healthy and could not really find anything that was a good option. Ended up getting pancakes, one side of them was burned. Not impressed by much of anything in this place. Excellent location that is going to waste.
(2)
LeiLei R.
Love their Beef Hash! After brunch at Towne, many of my following weekends were spent scouring local brunch shops for something comparable. No luck. I'd come back more often if parking wasn't such a pain in the butt, but I'll just have to suck it up to get my fill of the hash. Meat, eggs, hollandaise, potatoes.. not too oily nor too salty. Instead of sourdough bread that typically comes at the beginning of the meal, we got little glazed donuts and banana bread. Both delicious and light as well. Overall, everything was tasty. I walked away that day feeling full and satisfied without the food coma that typically accompanies brunch.
(4)
Connor T.
We've been for Brunch a few times and it was delicious every time. We've also been for Dinner which was really good. Most notably, we help a private brunch there, and it was perfect! The food was delicious, the staff was easy to work with, the space was gorgeous, and it was all very reasonably prices (as it always in there). Definitely recommended!
(5)
Jackie L.
Let me start this review by saying this is a place I wanted to love, that for all intents and purposes I SHOULD have loved, but something was just missing. If I could award half stars it would be a 3.5 star review, but since it was absent of that "something to write home about" factor, its going in as a 3. I came here with my husband and a couple of friends for Sunday brunch. My friends brought their 15 month old as well, who loves food and is also an excellent restaurant critic. He enjoyed his fruit plate and gourmet smoothie (served in a champagne glass mind you) and wasn't at all fussy, so suffice to say it has baby approval (at least for brunch). The 4 (er, 5) of us were seated outside. It was a gorgeous August day, and despite it being 11:00 AM there were plenty of available tables outside. (As an aside, 11:00 AM is when they open for brunch. I usually like to eat earlier so I can get an earlier start to my day, but anyway, the timing isn't bad if you've had a late Saturday night.) We received all the water, coffee, juice, and cocktails we ordered promptly and service was overall very good. We were also given a gratis basket of mini cornbread muffins and donut holes with sweet icing. This bread basket was really the highlight of the meal. The menu didn't excite me all that much - 3 out of 4 of us ordered eggs with tater tots. Tater tots make people excited - especially tater tots at an otherwise upscale restaurant. Unfortunately, what we got was a side of uninteresting large pieces of fried potato; we were all disappointed. The eggs and the potatoes were good, but when you're expecting tater tots... what can I say? My friend seemingly had the pick of the litter with her order of lemon ricotta pancakes, which she said were really good (and a hefty portion). Oh, and the price. Pretty standard for the area. If everyone gets a coffee, cocktail, and entree, expect to pay about $60/couple with tax & tip. The verdict? The convenient, downtown location (next to Prudential shopping center), nice (and available) patio seating, and the fact that I love brunch so freaking much will probably bring me back here. I'm also intrigued enough to want to try this place for dinner or happy hour.
(3)
Sarah C.
I came here for lunch and ordered the rotisserie chicken sandwich. I waited more than 25 mins but still no sign of food. I see why a lot of yelpers complained about slow service. When my order came, then I realized why they took so long. It was so tasty! Probably my best rotisserie chicken sandwich I had in a long time. I also noticed a lot of older men near the bar area. They didn't bother me but just when I was leaving the restaurant, they started to be obnoxious.
(3)
Karolyn B.
We were so excited to enjoy drinks before dinner in the lovely outside space - twinkling string lights, colorful flowers and people watching on a perfect summer weather weekend. While a Saturday night, only two other tables were occupied so we we didn't feel too guilty about just ordering cocktails and an appetizer. The cocktail menu promised new versions of classic combinations - gin and sparkling rose - all seemed so promising! Unfortunately, the service - excepting water refills (thank you!) was so bad that we left after 20 minutes - never even meeting our waitress. I think I saw her across the garden as she talked with her friends and ignored the two different servers who - after conscientiously refilling our water glasses - passed on my requests to order. Go to the Back Bay Social Club across the street - my gin drink was refreshing, we could still see Towne's lovely garden, but the service was polite and efficient.
(1)
Melissa P.
Huge space. Lots of different rooms. Multiple bars. Varied menu. Bustling and loud. None of these things usually bother me in a restaurant. Put them all together in one place, though, and that's a whole different story. Towne needs to get a little more organized. You walk in and there's no direction, no host, no way to know where to go. The hallways get backed up, there seem to be about 10 different hosts once you do find them, and I can't figure out why you can seat yourself at one of the bars but not the other. All this confusion and we hadn't even looked at the menu yet. Speaking of the menu, omg overwhelming much??? And wait, there's actually three menus? One for dinner, one for the bar, and then an entirely different lobster menu? What is going on here, Towne? Someone having a little bit of trouble making decisions? With this many options, we ordered a lot and, unfortunately, were only happy with one out of four items. Dates wrapped in bacon? Fine. They are kind of impossible to mess up. Chicken wings? Completely tasteless with breading that just made my mouth dry. Crostini trio with eggplant and artichoke? Kind of a mess--so much spread weighing down a paper thin crostini. The only saving grace was the burger, which was incredibly juicy and flavorful. But, what did it come with? Not the usual lettuce, tomato, and onion. No, instead we had a plate of cold shoestring french fries. That's just sad. Attentive servers can't carry this place on their own. They need some help! Towne needs some serious organization and attention to detail.
(2)
Tony S.
... and the Winner... of this year's Oscar for Total Luncheon Letdown IS....... Towne! I'd been in here for drinks several times and absolutely love the bar scene and overall ambiance. I was hoping the dining experience would be equally good, so I opted to celebrate a special family occasion in the dining room. Alas, like all things Kevin Costner, the initial 'booya' turned into a lasting 'boo hoo'. The bread, in all shapes and forms, from starter rolls to sandwiches to carnival bread, just plain..... well..... SUCKED!! The starter rolls tasted like dried tooth plaque, the ciabatta on one of our sandwiches must have been a plastic stage prop from the set of 'Waterworld', and the carnival bread on my bbq pork sandwich tasted like deep-fried sponge and pork rinds. Were there any good points? Service was excellent. The hostesses were incredibly professional, and our water, Rick, was awesome. Can't complain there at all. Also, the Caesar salad was decent, as was the coffee, but I don't think I'll be coming back to dine here for a while until they figure the menu out. Funny.... if they just copied the Sonsie menu and served it here, it would be a far more superior dining experience.
(2)
Milla J.
Went to Sunday Brunch buffet last week. It was really good. I don't normally like buffet food because it's usually not impressive. Towne has a variety of food to choose from oyster, to pancake, to steak etc. I was very happy. The seating is very spacious as well so I don't feel rushed. Highly recommended.
(5)
Steph W.
So, I haven't eaten at Towne yet so I can only comment on the drinks. I went to Towne this weekend and got The Cathy. It had gin, aperol and a few other ingredients. It was strong and well made but I felt like $13 was a little steep for Towne since the environment isn't as great as other places and I think City Bar right next door has drinks for about $11/12. But, I still enjoyed my drink. The only thing is I'd say it is almost too dark in here where I had to use my candle (that eventually burnt out) to read the menu. So, a little more lighting would be nice. Also, the TV screens playing the football game sort of took away from the high-end ambiance that I was looking for. I love a good football game, but I felt as if it made the whole experience a bit more casual. Also, the crowd at Towne tends to be a little bit older (e.g., old creeper men or older ladies spraying their hair w/hair spray in the bathroom). So, it's not the best place for mid-twenties crowd.
Please note, this review is for drinks only. Bottom line: Pretentious environment, terrible bartending skills, but average prices. Went here after a Papa Razzi dinner to grab some drinks. The place was packed with suits and girls going after them, but we were able to snag a table which was helpful. After ordering a few drinks that were not 2 part-ers (ie: vodka tonic) we concluded that the bartenders had ZERO clue how to make anything that wasn't on the cocktail menu. Seriously, they asked me what was in a Tom Collins (that one's not difficult) and even after I told her.. it was still horrible. Don't know how. Vom. I got 3 drinks and the price was 34 though, so the only thing that saved this place was that I didn't cry TOO many tears as I signed the bill. I had expected to be weeping for my bank account. With so many places on Boylston, why the hell go here? Unless you're chasing "generous" folks... yikes
(2)
Michelle C.
Brunch was pretty good. Cute dining area, loved the comfy chairs. Eggs Benedict was good, the sauce was wonderful and lemony, just how I like it and the eggs were PERFECTLY cooked, but wasn't a fan of the bacon which was overpowering, I think I'm more of a ham girl. I really dug the potatoes... huge chunks that I think were deep fried? but didn't taste/feel greasy. The breakfast "appetizers" weren't that great...the lemon poppyseed bread was odd, it had a weird gummy texture but dry at the same time, and the donut icing was waaaay too sweet for me, I could only eat a small bite. The bloody mary had too much worcestershire and seemed to be missing the extra spice I requested, plus, it was a virgin and cost $9! I thought that was overpriced. The service was outstanding, very attentive & friendly. All the food coming out of the kitchen looked yummy, especially the french toast which I'll have to try next time. I also want to try the lobster popovers which sound so wonderful. I love that they have lots of lobster options on the menu, so I'll definitely be back to give it a try.
I've only been here two times, (once for lunch, once for dinner), and both times, it was phenomenal! Bruce was my waiter both times, and he is very good waiter. I think he may actually be the head waiter. Both times I had the margarhita pizza and it was very good.
(5)
Angel M.
I went to town on Towne on a Friday night. And, boy, did I paint it red. The crowd was lively but not crazy, the drinks were pricey but not expensive, the servers were busy but not unattentive. Basically, besides a slightly higher average of hotter and taller people, there wasnt much at Towne to make it a night out on it. But, seeing as how I had already towned a few drinks earlier in Kenmore, it was an altruistic nuisance. I might go back, I would recommend dressing it up, just a little bit, though, I was rocking the quiet celebrity look: baseball cap, ironic t shirt, tacky jewelry, faux leather jacket and gold sneaks.
(3)
James D.
I really like this place. They have three bars and two dining rooms on two different levels. The food is really good. The menu changes often with fresh items but they are always original and unique. The whole atmosphere and look of this restaurant is really cool and very city-ish. It's a really fun night out. I didn't give them 5 stars because the service can sometimes be inconsistent. But for this type of place the service if good enough. My wife and I come here a lot and will continue to do so!
(4)
Gloria C.
Reasonably priced brunch! Perfect portions. Great attention to detail. Def recommend this place. Only downside is they don't open til 11 even for brunch on the weekends. The lobster omelette is super yummy. Entrees come w/ pan fried potatoes and they are amazing!!!!!!
(5)
Ro P.
We had lobster popovers, lobster pizza and some salad. Each dish was excellent!
(5)
Kareem F.
Fantastic service & food. The Fish & chips are fresh and delectable. Their Lobster & poached eggs were the best I've ever had! Their bloody mary's are equally delicious. Awesome decor: Contemporary yet warm. Had a blast here for lunch!
(5)
Tater M.
I've only been to Towne once, with another, for their Christmas menu (we got a la carte, not prie fix). It was delicious. My friend got their Lobster Salad with Popover dish and I got their Sugar Pumpkin Ravioli with Mascarpone dish. My ravioli portion was quite tiny I admit, there were like a grand total of 9 raviolis? But man, they were yummy and infused with great pumpkin flavor and had a wonderful cheesey bite to it. They also did something to a couple of green leaf garnishes that made them fantastically crunchy. The lobster salad was delicious and was a larger portion. There was a row of lobster meat, row of lettuce or some sort of chopped salad, row of crunchy fresh bread cubes, row of little red onion, row of blue cheese, row of avocado, and a big popover bread. Very yummy. We chose their Chocolate Pudding with one New Orleans peanut brittle dessert. D-e-ca-dent. rich, slightly bitter cocoa flavor and nicely paired with the salty peanut brittle. (I got tired of it after the first 6 bites though, NOT because it tasted like cheap chocolate with lots of sugar, but because it was just really RICH and CREAMY. Guilt got to me.) Unexpected, because although the cup holding the pudding looks small, it's actually quite filling. Servers were all very courteous, you can really tell they're all very experienced and nice. Decor was fab, modern and unusual. Wish I took pictures.
(4)
Susan R.
Went on a random day at a random time for a sandwich and to check out the bar. The service was very very good, and the cocktails were a-ok... I just wasn't super impressed with the menu. Really expensive comfort food that left me feeling gross. I will check it out again, JUST because the bartender at the small bar downstairs near Boylston St was so nice.
(3)
Sonia D.
I attended brunch on Saturday here and I have to say those donuts are AMAZING!!! If I could eat donuts all day everyday I would be there. They are warm and goey and great!!!! There were 10 of us there and we had alot of fun! There was a baby with us as well and that didn't seem be a problem. Our server was nice and honest about what food choices we were thinking about making. I went with the lobster cobb salad and was a little nervous thinking I wasn't getting enough lobster but they gave me a TON. The presentation of the salad was great. Instead of mixing everything in the salad together they actually separated everything out. The salad also came with 3 different types of dressing. They were all soooo yummy. They also sell my favorite wine...Joel Gott cab! Tasty and smooth. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a nice brunch place before your shopping spree or just hanging with friends. Haven't tried dinner there but will soon.
(4)
Danielle B.
Scene! Was there on a Friday night with a college friend and her friend, and we had quite a night. Started out with some tasty drinks---champagne + elderflower out front at the bar. After a 45-minute wait or so, we were seated in the back restaurant part. We started with the ravioli and this lobster thing for apps. I got the tuna (my favorite fish), which was quite tasty. Overall, the food was solid, nothing spectacular, nothing horrible. The atmosphere was very lively all night. Maybe I've gotten used to the laid back scene in SF and was craving the craziness that this place had. We had some entertainment in the form of a former athlete trying to use his status to his advantage (didn't work, sorry). I liked this place, will try to come back the next time I'm in Boston.
(4)
Saba N.
Note: reviewing BRUNCH only ------------------------------ I had a great brunch experience here! I like the space a lot - it's open and spacious... I wasn't expecting such a large room in the back! I definitely recommend for a large party. The service was fantastic. The waiter was really nice and always filled up our coffee... I think i might have been super wired by the end of the meal. Fine by me though! The food was my favorite part. First of all, they bring you HOT donuts to start. Like... are you kidding me? That's the best idea ever? I'm serious. It was unreal. I ordered the lobster Cobb salad (OK.. so I had chocolate chip pancakes a couple hours earlier... whoops!) and it was really unusual and yummy. First off, the presentation was insane. The salad came in rows... One row of avocado, one row of lobster, one row of lettuce.. etc etc. It was really beautiful and also delicious (the lobster was a little chewy though). Still, I ate pretty much the entire thing. The highlight of the meal for sure was my friend's blueberry pancakes. They looked amazing and the kicker was the HOMEMADE MAPLE & BROWN SUGAR COTTON CANDY they put on top. I had to put that in caps to make sure you fully digest what I'm saying. Cotton candy. On the pancakes. What?? The prices are reasonable and I'm definitely coming back.
(4)
Mike D.
The restaurant is decent. The service was very good but the food was average. The food is a bit expensive for what you get. The space is very nice with a downstairs and upstairs with two full bars. The nightlife is pretty fun for the back bay area with a younger crowd that is usually busy on the weekends.
(3)
Natasha A.
I was a little skeptical about Towne. The menu just seemed to be a bit all over the place, with dishes in many different styles (highlights from thai, indian, mexican, italian, french flavors). I wandered - can they really be good at such a wide variety of dishes? Well, I was pleasantly surprised. The pig chop with a side of fried milk was nothing short of extraordinary. A perfectly cooked and Chinese flavored juicy chop, with a side of fatty riblets and fried milk was very rich and flavorful (will be eating half of it for lunch). The pancetta and short ribs (with thai flavors of lime and chilis) ordered by others were also superb. Another highlight of the menu is the Lobster menu, which one must specifically ask for. The lobster popovers were delicious, flaky, filled with honey and lobster. We also had the tartars of bluefin and sirloin and my favorites - the grilled razor clams. The wine list had a good price range and an extensive selection. Cocktails were priced at 9-12, reasonable for the place. I also liked the interior design, although I usually hate very large restaurants. The space was divided into enough subsections to make it a bit more intimate and the open kitchen on the second floor was fun to watch. Two minor complaints - floors are way too slippery - I almost took a dive. Also, the menu lacked a soup which I was craving on the rainy September day. I will be back to try the wagyu skirt steak next!
(5)
Jeff F.
Towne is a really cool multi-level space worth checking out - 3 bars and a couple different dining options depending on what you're looking for. If you're looking for an after work cocktail, I absolutely recommend Towne. If you're planning an event, the private room they have overlooking Boylston should be considered. But if you're looking for a great meal (as I was) I'd pass. Here's a rundown on what I tried: -Pork & Chive Dumplings - ok, but nothing I'd recommend -Grilled Unagi - underwhelmed -Aragula Salad w/ fresh picked lima beans and warm spiced lobster oil - exceptional and worth trying -Tartare: jasper's sirloin & cleanseas bluefin tuna - the Tuna was great, but the sirloin was questionable at best.
(3)
Kevin M.
I went here on date night last week with my wife and was expecting so much more from this hipster place in the Back Bay. Cool decor and fun vibe with lively three bars, but this is not a good return on time or cash invested here. First thought: Whoa, the prices!! Food nor service quality comes close to justifying the prices on the menu. Servers didn't refresh utensils or plates. Timing with other tables around us was uneven. Entrees didn't have much of a side and the waiter didn't inform us that we may want to order a side dish to share. But for these mid to high $30 entree prices, come on! I am perplexed how this won a best new restaurant nod. Lobster mini-menu: nice idea. We tried the Lobster popover as an app. For $15, how about 3-4 popovers, or at least more more meat in the two you get. Lots of popover dough and lots of forkover the dough. #1 Tuna: number 1 where? Yes, Tuna was very tasty and seared perfectly. But the tuna needed a sauce or something more. And the Parsnip mash with the tuna is very dry like it had been sitting under a warmer for 30 minutes. My wife was more pleased than I with her house specialty salmon crisp. But it still lacked any heft in the sides. The wine list was varied, very solid and was probably more reasonably priced than the food. All in all, I won't be going back; there are many finer dining spots delivering much better value.
(2)
Josephine L.
Gorgeous space, friendly staff, tasty food, frou frou prices (though not the worst I've experienced), convenient location. There. Everything you need to know.
(4)
Jeff K.
Am I judging this on the food or the gorgeous ladies there tonight? Both get 5 stars! Short and sweet review, food was great, I had the best steak I have had in a long time, simple but tasteful. Bartender, where I ate, was great keeping a watchful eye on us. Decor was cool, it's really a huge place when you take into account the upstairs and back room. Loved it, I'll be back!
(5)
Daniel B.
Cool location and atmosphere, but you're hit with Boylston Street prices. My girlfriend and I sat down for dessert and a drink later on a Friday night and the waitstaff was surprisingly inattentive. I ordered the Back Bay Smash....was very boring for a $13 drink!
(3)
Jerry C.
What can i say about this place.. its like a place you would go on a date but then when you got there you would be unhappy about the noise and lack of intimacy. I was here for a show in the convention center so my coworker and i were trolling around for a place to heat and this one looked great. We were sat rather quick, staff was nice and friendly. The inside was very decorative but i didn't feel comfortable. I was at one of those tall tables but looking around it felt like people were really on top of each other. It was sort of loud for a fancy, up-scale looking place. Food came out rather quick, i got the duck. The dish looked great, 5/5 for presentation and it had a great taste also. I was upset because it wasn't that much food. Also, it was very expensive $29 for a not-so-big entree is uber-expensive. I didn't get an appetizer or dessert because the price was so high.
(3)
Kelly O.
I went here for a post-work drink with a coworker on a Wednesday, and thought the interior was really cool. You enter into what looks like a small slick dark room with a bar in the middle and high tables around the edges of the room, that was already packed with local finance-type people getting their drink on. Then you go through a back hallway and magically reappear into a spacious and bright restaurant with another small bar, also packed already. Then we realized there was a big stairway leading to yet another big room upstairs, where the bar was thankfully empty, so we snagged two seats and settled in for some cocktails. The bartenders were attentive and skilled, the cocktails were strong and tasty (and typically priced, $10-12, with beers $4-6), and the complimentary bread basket we asked for (because we weren't planning on ordering food but realized we had better eat something) was really tasty... hot and freshly baked, with slices of bread, croissant-like thingies, and thin crackerish thingies. The scene was mixed, there was a lot of happy hour people in their 20s and 30s, but also some dates, some older friend groups, and so on. All in all, we had a great time for drinks, but I doubt I'd want to come here to eat based on the prices (as well as all the food reviews here on Yelp).
(3)
Alissa D.
Came here for dinner and had the lobster popovers and a salad. I didn't finish the popovers because I disliked them so much. The texture of the popover with the lobster did not work at all and it was sugary sweet. The salad was pretty uninspired. For the price of the dishes at Towne, I expected more. The cocktails were definitely a highlight though!
(3)
Diana C.
Came here several times. Food is good and price is ok for the location. My main complaint for this place is inconsistency!!! First, service is quite slow even though there is NO ONE there. To get a cup of coffee refill you have to wait 10 min for the waitress to come by. The food comes out sometimes good, sometimes blah..you never know...what a surprise! The only consistent thing about this place is the fresh made donuts. But really, if you want to charge $13 for an eggs benedicts,there should be consistency and there should be better service. You would have to wait about 30 min for a not very well done food.
(3)
Adam M.
I have been to Towne several times for drinks was excited to finally try dinner on a Saturday night. Unfortunately, I was pretty disappointed with the experience. I love Mojito's and I'm always looking for the best in the Boston area. Of course I asked for one, but what I was given was a disgrace. It was literally alcohol, 7 up, a little half melted ice, couple lime wedges, and a couple of mint leaves thrown in there. It was warm, absolutely disgusting and was priced for about $11/$12. I sent it back and the next one was even worse! To add insult to injury, it was in a pint glass. FYI, you don't put a Mojito in a pint glass! Granted it was not on the bill, but it's a shame because at that point, a business has the deck stacked against them. Your giving a bad impression and your customer is already not happy with the place. Now it becomes much more difficult to make them give you a good review. I understand you can say, "It's just a drink". That is true, but the reason I am writing this is because it was so obvious that the bartender was just lazy, disrespectful, and did not want to make a Mojito. They made a horrible drink, it was not done right, they sent it out, and it was served anyway. You do that because your lazy, because you don't care! Being lazy and making something that bad is an embarrassment and any person should be ashamed of themselves for doing so! I understand mistakes happen and normally I would not be so critical, but it's about behavior of being lazy, the attitude of not caring. That is something I'm critical of every time. I think others would be as well. I'm not one to complain and then not offer ways to fix it or help. So, if something like that happens again, it would help to try one of these: 1. Send over a manager to chat and help out. 2. Have another bar tender make the second one. They have 3 or 4 bars there. Having the same person make the second one is just a sign that they are unintelligent or don't care. 3. I had a beer instead, so how about taking it off the bill? I don't care about the $6, but it's means you care and it would take ones attention off the bad experience. It could completely change my review because it shows effort, that you want your customers to be happy. Trust me, I am in advertising and serve clients all day. The smallest mistake can kill you if you are lazy and don't care because it becomes about the behavior, not the mistake. As for the food? Our Sever? Atmosphere? Doesn't matter, at this point I'll never go back and it's not my thought of this place being horrible or not having good food. Simply put, why would I go there and take a chance when I can go across the street, around the corner, and know for a fact I am going to be happy, get great drinks, and service. Naturally I am going to go with something I am sure of. Hopefully Towne can ensure they don't repeat this type of service in future.
(2)
David C.
Fantastic spot for dinner. Great service... fantastic drinks... loved this spot. I had an amazing dish... Partridge... the flavors were fantastic. I will be craving this dish for a while... loved it! The maple cotton candy was also a fun end to the evening.
I was here with my girlfriend on 02/23/13 while visiting her since she works not too far from Boston now. I was spending a week there to see her so she wanted to take me to a nice place to eat on her day off. Man, what a joke this place turned out to be. I found far better food and selections in Worcester, although the service was actually good until our waitress charged us for the fries that we returned because it was too salty. We ate maybe 4 before telling our server and she charged us for it anyway. We even told her when she brought us the check! I just checked my card and yup the final amount still included the fries. Maybe I should have deducted that amount from her tip. The steak was very salty, too. If being in a higher-end restaurant is a must for you, then by any means enjoy this place. If you want good food go somewhere else.
(2)
David T.
Very good food overall. Was pretty empty in the dining area other than a few families with small children. Odd atmosphere for such a trendy dining experience. Overall very good food and service!
(4)
Lauren S.
I really liked Towne. I went about two weeks after it opened, and was able to get a reservation for the same night I called (a Wednesday). I was expecting the service to be snooty and pretentious (as some other semi-upscale restaurants similar to Towne tend to be...) but everyone we interacted with was pleasant and helpful. Our waitress offered to literally go over the WHOLE menu with us, since it was our first time there. She answered all of our questions, and was attentive throughout the night. However when the dining room got super busy she was MIA for about 20 minutes after we finished our dinner. The decor on both floors was really interesting to say the least, and while it wasn't ground-breaking, it created a nice ambiance. Now onto the best part, the food! I started at the bar with the white sangria. It was fine, but I've had much better in Boston at places I wouldn't consider as nice. I was surprised by the bartender, who looked about 18, and honestly a little trashy (too much bad make-up, glitter eye shadow, and realllllly low top) but oh well, not a huge deal. For dinner, I ordered the shortrib, and my friend ordered the swordfish. They both were very good, and I think I liked the accompaniments to the dishes almost more than the meat(s). The sweet potato (I think?) puree that came with the short rib was amazing but there was hardly any of it on the plate; I ate it in tiny little bites to make it last longer. The clams that came with the swordfish were delicious, too - and I usually only "sort of like" clams. Simply put, the dessert was unbelievable. We ordered the angel food cake, which came with caramelized brown sugar crumbles, homemade caramel ice cream and a brown sugar/maple-y type cotton candy they make there as well. To die for.
(4)
Skip P.
Loved it. For an appetizer our table split the lobster pizza. spicy with a touch of honey, it was fantastic. I had the "Tuna #1" and it was great! I agree that the the laminated menu layout is odd and doesn't match the rest of the restaurant.
(4)
Sarah M.
One of my favorite things is to check out the new next hot spot. This place seemed to fall a bit short in all areas. I found lobster shell in my bisque and the waiter seemed extremely Jr. as he kept interrupting me and my date at strange times. I will give it a second try but will not do a 3rd if the experience is the same.
(2)
Andrea P.
It pains me to write this. I really really wanted to like this place. On the plus side: the service was great. From the host and hostesses to the bus boy- everyone was attentive and courteous. Our server was efficient and knowledgeable. Decor was decent. Bars were hopping. Drinks were legit. Unfortunately all of these positives could not overshadow the unimpressive food. We started with a fettuchini alfredo, which lacked seasonings, flavor, and sauce. It was pretty dry and boring. But the presentation was nice... We then moved onto the chicken thighs (under seasoned and undercooked,) softshell crab (tiny and lacking substance) and the portobello mushrooms (gritty, oily, and basically uneatable.) I left feeling hungry. It was a big disappointment. Despite the unremarkable food, I would return... to the bar. The drinks and service were both solid enough for me to come back. Being a new establishment, I expected some kinks in the staff, wait time, etc. This was not the case at all. Maybe it's just what we ordered, but I'm hopeful the food will soon follow the service.
(2)
Paul B.
Returned here on a Monday night to celebrate a birthday. Made a reservation via Open Table, we arrived on time and were immediately seated at the downstairs dining room . At 7:30 the place was mercifully not at all crowded and conversation was possible without straining one's vocal cords. Our party of three ordered two starters, the lobster popovers and the oysters on the half shell. In addition, a bread basket featured crispy flatbread and two spreads as well as a large pat of butter. The taramasalata was exceptional. The oysters were very fresh and briny but with a slight sweetness to their plump flesh. A special touch was a pea green sauce to go along with the usual cocktail sauce. Not sure of the ingredients, but it was an unusual accompaniment to the oysters. My guess is that they were Island Creek. Popovers were good too, with a surprising touch of maple syrup. For mains we ordered the partridge, skirt steak and salmon. The bird was excellent, the steak tender but very salty (arrived in a pool of pureed parsnips...yummy. We also ordered two sides: the lobster mashed potatoes and the fried onion rings. My companions had enough room for the maple cotton candy and an off the menu chocolate pudding. All that, plus four glasses of wine and two beers came to $210 before tax. Not all that bad, especially when considering that the service was efficient and sort of friendly, and the taste of the food was incredible. Towne can be either fine dining or meat market. Early on a Monday is was clearly the former and the atmosphere highly conducive to enjoying great food.
(4)
Jill M.
I went to Towne the first weekend it opened. I was really excited to try it as I'd been getting Urban Daddy emails about it. What I loved about Towne: Loved the decor, I thought it had a really great retro vibe. Loved my margarita, they use agave nectar which really makes for a great marg in my opinion. My meal!!! I had the short ribs with young ginger and lemon grass. Absolutely TO DIE FOR. (In fact, at one point, I said to my friends that I wished Lydia Shire was there so I could compliment her on my meal and I looked up from dinner and there she was! She did come over to the table to say hello eventually and I did in fact get to thank her for the great meal). The management, Tim who is the GM or the director offered us a tour of the restaurant at the end of our meal. He was extremely friendly and it was nice chatting with him What I disliked about Towne: Service... I can't say it was bad, but everyone seemed very nervous and unsure. Also, there were wayyyyyyy too many people there. I'd say at any given time there were at least 5 or 6 people standing against the wall looking for something to do. Menu, one thing about it was the abundance of unique ingredients. I'd looked up the menu prior to going and had to look up a bunch of the ingredients. (examples: nasurtium, burrata, raita, poori, robiolo) Prices, I thought they were a bit steep. Our bill was around $225 for 3 people. Overall, I'm definitely a fan. I thought it was a really great experience. The food and drinks were terrific and I would love to go back.
(4)
John C.
Excellent place for a Sunday brunch. The restaurant is clean and beautiful and the eggs benedict are amazing. It's 13 dollars for it and it comes with potatoes and some pastry kind of like a powdered donut hole. Service was pretty slow though even on a not so busy morning. The paper towels in the bathroom are the best paper towels I've ever used for whatever that's worth.
(4)
eliza b.
An upscale overdone greasy spoon. Everything is to excess, too sweet, too saucy, too greasy-- hello where's the edit button! Maybe, to test the waters start at the bar. I may be jaded; but restaurants this big you are a VERY small fish in a VERY big pond. There are so many other places I prefer to drop $100 per person for dinner (inclusive of tax & tip) - this is not it.
(2)
Ken V.
the food is great, the drinks are great, service is great. it's a nice place to go if you like seafood and are feeling a little spendy.
(4)
Carrie R.
is it possible to rate this restaurant LESS than one star?! everything about my dining experience at Towne was ATROCIOUS! from the service to the staff to the food! out of 3 people that ordered steak (of which the portion was ridiculously small) all three had to be sent back because (a) they were dangerously undercooked even though they were ordered medium and (b) b/c they were SO fatty you could barely chew them! a 4th person dining with me ordered the short ribs and asked over half a dozen times for the sauce cart and waited over 20 minutes for it. eventually the general manager brought it over. and my absolute FAVORITE part of the evening was when my friend ordered the lobster roll which came with a side of potato chips. however, instead of the potato chips, he substituted sauteed mushrooms for the chips. when the waiter brought out his "lobster roll" ... there was NO LOBSTER. rather, his hot dog roll was FILLED WITH SAUTEED MUSHROOMS WITH A SIDE OF POTATO CHIPS! after our steaks had been sent back once and still came back drastically undercooked and fatty, they were sent back a third time and came back drastically OVERcooked ... clearly the kitchen was overcompensating for their first two mistakes. our waiter was flighty and unattentive and the busboys seemed to have no idea what was going on ... and made it abundantly clear when one of them actually SAID to me "I have no idea what's going on." the manager did deduct a portion of the meals from our bill (about 50% ... but if you ask me, it should have been more). upon leaving, i was appalled to see there was a line to get into the TINY bar at the front of the restaurant. this place is OVERRATED and UNDER-delivered on EVERY aspect of the dining experience. i will NEVER set foot in that restaurant again! and, so long as you don't want to waste your time and money, i suggest you don't either!
(1)
Laura R.
We went on Friday night. Great place for 30 somethings although a little bit of a meat market. I gave it a mediocre rating because the sangria was disgusting. Not really sure what went wrong since sangria really isn't that hard to make, but it tasted like they forgot the sugar and watered it down with seltzer water. Also, the bouncers were like bathroom nazis. You have to walk through the back room to get to the bathrooms and for some reason, they would only let one girl from a group go through at a time. When she returned, he would let another one go. Strange.
(3)
A C.
I AGREE COMPLETELY WITH CARRIE R. Honestly, I know it is in its first weeks, but things like cooking steak properly and putting lobster in a "lobster roll" are not something to be forgiven especially when you have two renowned chefs in the kitchen. Service I can understand SOMEWHAT but food no way. I will day the decor was kinda cool except for the laminated menus which were so wrong.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet, Validated Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Alex H.
A nice, quiet place to get brunch but beware of the slow service. Each time I've come here I'm always happy with the food, but it takes forever to get/pay the check afterwards. For brunch, they always offer you a complimentary snack like a fruit smoothie or house made donuts. So that's a great perk.
(4)Rudolf A.
Where to begin....Towne is a very versatile place for a restaurant. It has the more casual bar at the beginning of the restaurant for your casual after work gathering and the occasional bar food.Then in the next room is another bar for the more "dressier" crowd who are there to either have the proper dinner at the bar (business types on travel) or Theyre wiating for their party to arrive or the reservation. What surprised me was that on my second visit to Towne (on my birthday) was that they had a second floor and another and less crowded bar!! ^_^ so thumbs up for a nice restaurant with three bars right? The drinks are not bad and price is in the mid higher range. Now as for the food, I like their food here because they have an "international menu". Let's get this clear, you dont go to Town to eat the Turkish dish they have there, if you want a freakin authentic Turkish or whatever ethnic meal you want you go to a restaurant that specifically caters to that. Meals are obviously "americanized" and they have a hint of that taste rather than the authnetic meal. Nonetheless, it gives the customer a huge variety of flavors to select from and the prices are from about 18-30 dollars which for Boston that's about the upper end of the mid-range. The duck, and the lobster pizza were good! unfortunately thos were my friends' meals and I had a taste (mine was the swordfish octopus ans it was meh..) ...for appetizers, the little necks, and oysters were also good. overall I enjoyed the experience and the decor is modern contemporary, I mean we had beakers as the water glass, which sorta made me wanna steal one for my alcoholic concotions that i make at home....but iI digress...awesome place for dinners or just drinks. check it out.
(4)TJ L.
I loved the white eggs omelette with chanterelles and the fact that the snow day made seating immediately so easy!
(4)David G.
I am a fan of the bar only, the food is over priced for the quality. The bartenders are on point and make drinking here an enjoyment.
(4)Ngoc K.
Had Tuna Belly appetizer. It was seared tuna, but when you cut into it, all you could see was the fat from the tuna strung together in a slimmy, disgusting way. On top of that, the waitresses had full on convos with each other, at the bar, in front of patrons. They shared photos from their phones and talking about their mother's yam recipes. Dirty martini consisted of un-pitted olives. Nothing sexier than watching someone spit out pits, Towne.
(1)Sam H.
I've been to Towne a few times and it's huge. There are 4 bars, varying in size, and a lot of seating. Although I've never been with a group, I suspect it would be a good place to take a group due to their size. The food is good, in fact, I don't think I've ever had a bad dish, but I haven't LOVED anything (except maybe the brussels sprouts) and it's overpriced. Now, I live in the immediate area and I KNOW everything is overpriced, but for what you get, it's good, but not worth what they charge. If you sit at the bar, all of the bartenders I've ever met have been fabulous as have been the hostesses. The servers are good, but I've actually only sat in the dining room twice and it wasn't memorable. If you go, I recommend sitting at one of the bars.
(3)Steven C.
HOW TOWNE RUINED VALENTINE'S DAY.... First of all, if I could give zero stars, trust me, I would. I have eaten here before, and that experience was lackluster in its own right. Based on the previous experience, would've gotten 3 stars. However, tonight was a whole new ball game... The story includes bad service, ignorance, and RACISM... yes, racism. Please read on and decide for yourself if you would like to support such an establishment... My wife and I arrived right on time for our reservation on Valentine's Day at 8:45 pm. They were busy, so they told us it'd be another "10 to 15 minutes." So, this is definitely my pet peeve.... I have a reservation... honor it. But fine, it's V-day, I understand, we decide to wait patiently. It becomes 9:00 pm, and they start to seat people THAT ARRIVED AFTER US.... We all had 8:45 reservations... is there a reason we are getting seated later? At 9:10 pm, I start to hear my name getting mentioned. They can't find us... even though we are standing FIVE FREAKIN' FEET AWAY. So what does the hostess do? SHE MAKES THE SLANTY EYE GESTURE TO HER COWORKER TO IDENTIFY US. ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDING ME?!! Am I not in one of the most highly educated cities on the east coast? Is ignorance seriously still this rampant? Growing up in California, I never dealt with this type of thing... and I was just floored... I immediately walk up to her and proceed to say, "Are you kidding me? Is this seriously how you needed to find us? Would you like me to build a railroad for you??? (ok, this last one was probably both lost on them and unnecessary...). Management comes over, tries to smooth things over. Management says, "We're sorry, she doesn't represent all of us. I hope you trust us that we do not all feel this way." I respond, "Well, your choice to employ such a person who is the face of your restaurant makes it seem that way." What's her answer? "I can't believe she did that! I mean, she's a foreigner too, so she should understand." REALLY? Your answer is that she's ALSO A FOREIGNER SO SHE SHOULDN'T BE RACIST? How about.... SHE SHOULDN'T BE RACIST...PERIOD!?? They offered to comp us a drink each.... not worth it. No way I am supporting this kind of business. So if you agree, and would rather not support an ignorant business that hires folks that disparage others BASED ON RACE.... BOYCOTT THIS RESTAURANT NOW.
(1)J P.
The food was DELICIOUS, but they were playing really loud music. I felt like I had to scream during dinner so people could hear me. So, if you want great food, but only so-so ambiance, I would recommend it. If looking for a romantic night out, I would recommend steering clear.
(3)Holly M.
I like Towne for its fashionable decor, fashionable people, and fun vibe. I have been a few times for special events like birthdays and parties and it has been very consistent. The drinks are always the highlight for me, but the creativity is very fun and unique. I can always count on a craft cocktail and a lovely meal at Towne.
(3)E F.
I've only eaten here once with 3 other people, and we came for brunch. It was delicious. The french toast was full of flavor and fresh, great sides, the eggs Benedict was excellent, and the other dishes were great. We liked the decor and the free donut holes that were served. Based on brunch a lone, this place was great
(5)Julie R.
When I first walked in Towne, I immediately loved it. The place had a glam factor with a red carpet and a Towne wall to photograph in front of. Lots of pretty people stood at the doors to let you in. It was like, is this LA or Boston? Then inside it was so new, contemporary and huge! The large party we had took a few high tops at the bar in the second half of the restaurant. We got a bunch of food to share and drinks. There is a devoted lobster menu available at the bar with all lobster options. I had the signature lobster popovers at Scampo previously and knew I wanted them again. We were able to glance at the dining room menu but I don't think anyone ordered off it. The popovers were again delicious. I wished they were larger or more given cause $10 for 2 small phyllo rolls filled with a spoonful of lobster was lame. The $17 flat breads were not the best. The duxelles had locally harvested mushrooms and truffle oil. It was better then the margarita, which was dry. The lobster tails were small and tough. Other items were consumed but I don't remember what cause they weren't memorable. The warm chocolate cake was good but the cherry loaded ice cream wasn't liked too much. Nothing we had really wowed me. I did love the cotton candy that came out comp cause dessert took forever. Since I was there for over 2 hours I got a good look around the dining room. I noticed a lot of wood paneling that was bringing back the 70's vibe along with the red gusseted booths. All all the rooms have different decor cause the first one I entered looked more modern. The choice of artwork is interesting. The mural in the back dining room shows nipple and the ladies room sketch has man's butt. Sexy!! Service was friendly and got slower as the place filled up. The bill was $370 for 7 people with drinks, apps, and 1 dessert. Drinks are pricey, as are basic glasses of wine. Towards the end of the night the place got packed with cougars! I'd say its worth a drink to check out the city's newest scene, though you can definitely get a better value/food at many other nearby places.
(3)Kavitha M.
Very sad to say that I will no longer be going here for brunch and this used to be one of my favorite brunch spots. They changed the fried chicken in the "fried chicken and waffles" to tasteless, bad quality chicken strips!! How could they??
(2)Clara L.
This place is hoppin'. Went here around 7:30 pm on a Friday night, and it was packed. Their drinks were solid, but their food was pretty overpriced. They don't really have a bar menu, and most of the food is difficult to eat when it is packed and you're standing, smushed in the back of the room. I did notice that they had a $35 3-course prix fixe lunch deal going on, probably worth trying out. Would try to get a seat upstairs in the future to grab a bite. Fun atmosphere, lots of young professionals.
(3)Jeffrey H.
I came here on a Thursday night with a bunch for a get-together. The service was good, my water was never empty. The food was decent but my favorite is the lobster popover. It was so flavorful and sweet. However, it was a tad too loud where we were seated other then that the ambience was okay. The desserts did take a while to come out. 3 stars because it was okay.
(3)Ann M.
I loved Towne Stove and Spirits, and am awarding this restaurant my first 5 star Yelp rating. The design of the restaurant is beautiful, and creatively straddles the line between fun and dignified. When you arrive at Towne, you feel you can be merry and witty, all at once. The attention to detail is stirring, and before you've had a mouthful, it's a feast for the senses. The splendid window fabrics, the gray and red tones of the leather upholstered chairs, and the mural that colorfully dances across a wall are captivating and pleasing. Light fixtures create attitude and ambiance and stand out as ICA contenders all on their own. I appreciated the way light and images refracted around me from strategically placed mirrors, providing all dining guests views of either the kitchen team in action, or Bostonians making pace along Boylston Street. To lift you from any serious mood that often besets a Bostonian, you'll find salt and pepper shakers at your table reminding you of Restoration Hardware lavatory faucets, and beaker water glasses that bring back to mind the mess you created with your middle school chemistry lab partner. Karen, our server, made wonderful recommendations for both food and wine. I took all her advice and was delighted. My Peking Chicken and Pot Pie were moist, delicious and fragrant from a dusting of salt and Chinese Five Spices. The garnish of toasted ginger further awakened my senses. My son raved about his Swordfish Steak with White Clam Risotto, and topped his meal off with a chocolate pudding he found soul satisfying. Afterwards, we headed to Fenway Park for a game. When we later got home, my son remarked to me that he enjoyed the game, but that the best part of the night was his Swordfish entree, asking me when we might return to Towne. If Lydia and Jasper's culinary boldness and heart felt wizardry topped the Boston Red Sox for my son, imagine what a visit to Towne can do for you.
(5)Denise M.
This is an upscale bar tailoring to the new Boylston St crowd. While it was very crowded, the bartenders at the back bar held up their end great, making good drinks and giving us reasonable service. The good: bartenders, location and a unique drink menu The not-so-good: pretty over priced - $15 martini's just aren't realistic. The clientele is also VERY uppity and revel in that. You aren't going here to meet new people, you're going to snub others.
(3)Jamie T.
My Mother was in town and I had been wanting to try this place for a while. Since she is as much of a foodie as I am I thought it would be a perfect place to go for lunch. And trust me when I say... it definitely was! We had a fabulous lunch (shared three dishes). We had the tuna salad, which was uniquely plated and tasted great, we had the beef carpaccio with homemade burrata which was also delish, as well as the crab cake. All would be suggested. I had some lemonade-ish martini that was UNREAL. I will definitely be returning. Oh, and a shout out to our waiter (I believe his name was Tommy? I could totally be wrong and I am sorry if that's the case) but he was super friendly and really great! Definitely recommended!
(4)Jessica G.
Not bad. Got the lobster roll and clam strips. Sat at the bar for dinner and it was so dark, I wasn't sure if they were trying to hide the food! But it was good. Wine selection wasn't all that impressive.
(3)Courtney M.
Overall great, but it definitely has some areas where it could be improved upon! We looked forward to each part of the meal and enjoyed the experience. First, the space is huge and two floors! There are three bars, and the ones downstairs are hip and crowded. I'd definitely like to come back to the main bar near the entrance after work some time or on the weekend because of its lively atmosphere--lots of young professionals! We were seated on the second floor near the window, which overlooked their soon-to-be outdoor seating that will also be used in the wintertime. So...even more seating at this already huge restaurant. What I liked about the menu is that it took some traditional dishes and prepared them in a new style, i.e., lamb chops with Indian influences. They also show the flag of the country whose dish they were preparing, i.e., the ravioli has the Italian flag next to its description. I must admit that we all enjoyed our appetizers the best. We ordered the fettuccine alfredo, the lobster & corn pizza, the razor clams, and the avocado salad. The pizza blew us away! We would order it again in a heartbeat. The others were very good too. Our friends commented that the pasta was just like how it's prepared in Italy, so they enjoyed it very much. The avocado salad was very fresh, but the pork crackling served along with it seemed an usual pairing. For the entrees: we ordered the Peking chicken, the lamb chops, the chicken "brick" style, and the beef short ribs. I'd say that although we enjoyed our dishes, none of us raved about it except for the lamb chops. They were beautifully presented and all tasted very good, but they seemed to lack a "wow" factor that we were hoping for. The side dishes were also 50/50. The potatoes gratin and portabello mushrooms were excellent, but the creamed spinach was fair. We were all happy with our choices and definitely ate all of it (fatties that we are!), but the appetizers are what we most enjoyed. The most disappointing part of the meal: the dessert!! We ordered the pavlova (spelling?) and the warm dark chocolate which sounds like it would be a warm dark chocolate cake but instead it's a vanilla cake with caramelized sugar with a hint of chocolate in it (at least that's what it appeared to be). So disappointing! None of us finished the desserts. About the service: overall quite good and very attentive. Friendly, helpful waiter although he seemed a little inexperienced in opening the wine bottle and pouring our wine and coffee (that he only filled half a cup of). That's just a little thing and something that will likely be improved upon with time. Not a big deal! Bottom line: GO! Enjoy the drinks and the appetizers and the overall ambiance! And perhaps you'll have a different opinion about the main dishes. But... I wouldn't recommend dessert (at least not for right now). It's definitely a welcomed addition to the Boston restaurant scene!
(4)Paula A.
the food is ok (my burger was raw, but they were quick to replace it). the setting is ok. the location is good. after 10 pm -- it basically turns into a fancy/loud frat party. seriously, there was a girl puking in the bathroom surrounded by 6 of her scantily clad BFFs. not blaming Towne, but that's the kind of clientele that hangs out there. so if you're over the age of 23, clear out by then. i didn't like it the first time. went back w/ an open mind for a friend's bday, & am in NO hurry to return.
(2)Shannon C.
Towne is RIGHT next to my new office so I was hoping this would become my new go-to spot after work. Sadly, it's the furthest thing from it...well...that's not true, as there are plenty of other worthy neighborhood joints nearby. Anyway, you walk into Towne expecting all that a Lydia Shire production should offer and it doesn't disappoint. The dark polished oak (?) bar stands out as you enter. They've done a great job with the space to make it feel intimate though the wrap-around bar is actually rather large. The sound is not cacophonous so you don't find yourself shouting to your friend 2 feet away which is nice. The dining room is also well designed and provides a comfortable yet unobtrusive din. (I didn't get a chance to see the upstairs and I'll have to save the outdoor gazebo for another visit as it was unfinished during my visit.) Food was better than amazing. We ordered a few apps, a few sides and a salad as we were only there for drinks. I can't speak to the entrees but I was pleased with our ordering and very satisfied with what ended up being quite a meal in the end though we had intended to keep it light. Fabulous decor and delicious food aside, the service was horrendous. Shockingly horrendous. If I could have FOUND a manager to complain to, I would have. I'll chalk it up to the trials of opening week at a new restaurant. To be fair, I fully intend to give Towne another go.
(3)Rick B.
Went last night for the first time and had an unbelievable meal. Duck was insane. Salmon and Swordfish were excellent and the ice cream sundae with peanut butter cotton candy stole the show. I have no words. Ahhmazing. Server was prompt and attentive. Only negative (and should lose 2 stars for it) is how insanely LOUD the dining room is. They need to add dampeners to help offset the idiot who developed the ceiling. Looks cool but the way it's constructed you cannot hear yourself think on a busy night. Last night was literally deafening. The food was some of the best we have had in a very long time.
(5)Craig D.
(3.5) ~ Overall Food & Service
(4)Sarah F.
Enjoyed a delightful date night with my husband at Towne. They did a great job with the service all the way around, from our request on seating to every last detail. The wait staff were very attentive and personable, and the food and drinks arrived promptly. The lobster popovers are the thing to get - delicious! The main courses were flavorful, good, not terribly exciting, but well prepared. Some options have an international flare, which is a plus in my book. The key lime tart with macadamia crust was to die for.
(4)Lala I.
average drinks and food. plenty of seating
(3)Tesia K.
Everything from the bread basket to dessert was absolutely amazing. I ordered the tuna and my friend ordered the duck and we both loved our dishes. The ambiance was beautiful with their velvet chairs and the outdoor seating. I especially loved how you can see the kitchen on the second floor. Servers came to our table often to check on us and our waters were always full. The price is a little on the higher end but definitely worth it.
(5)Danielle C.
I'm completely in love with Towne. Starting with booking my reservation, about a week before it opened, for about a week after it opened (8.8), I had a good feeling. There was no snobbery and the woman I spoke with was very pleasant. She confirmed my res by sending me an email, which I received within minutes of hanging up. When I realized we'd be running about 10 minutes late, I called to let them know and spoke with another very pleasant person, who thanked me and made note. Walking in, I was smitten-- the decor is warm and hip simultaneously. There's a cute little robot theme running throughout-- see if you notice! Our waiter, and all of his assistants, were friendly, attentive, professional and- again- refreshingly free of pompousness! My friend and I split a pitcher of white white sangria that was to die for-- since they had to make another batch, we actually each got an extra glass on the house, which was another perk. The rotisserie chicken was delicious-- very moist, satisfying, well done. But my favorite part was the vanilla 'mosaic' with mango and blackberries-- you NEED to get this. I haven't had a better dessert in years! Drink prices were standard for an upscale locale (about $8-12) and although I couldn't afford to eat here every night, it's not outrageous for the caliber it brings to the table. It's a success!
(5)Jan H.
Terrible.....No stars for this. Lobster chowder was watery and fishy...could not finish. Asked for a 2009 vintage on wine and got 2010 for which the waiter insulted our guest who is a sommelier. Lemon ravioli was tasteless and paid a boat load for halibut that was overcooked and dry. French fries were ok but forgot the truffle oil. Pop overs were good but lobster was cooked poorly and old. Thank heaven Boston has so many restaurants so I will never have to go back there
(1)M J.
Towne is ambitious. It's big and bold and beautiful and it's goal is to serve many purposes, which I applaud. Who else offers eclectic fine dining by two top chefs in three very different dining rooms with three bars, outdoor dining (soon) and a primo location in the heart of the city? Um, no one. You also need to bump up the stars because it's filled a huge void in the Back Bay with it's vibrant, large bar scene for adults. Some comments here are ridiculous social commentary, and not a review of the venue. Snarky, unhappy singles taking aim at the over 40 crowd: please stop and think. The world just might not be revolving around you. Maybe try some yoga breathing. I'm thrilled with Towne. They were slammed right off the bat becuase they're offering something in very high demand. They've hit their groove now - it's been a big undertaking but they are industry professionals and great at what they do. Go. Dress up or not, eat, drink and enjoy.
(5)Alison Z.
Towne seems out of place. Or confused. It's a scene-y bar on the bottom, a restaurant in the middle and more bar-like on the sides. And it doesn't seem to know it's in the service or hospitality industry. We stopped in for a drink and a quick bit to eat. There was exactly one thing on the menu I could eat (no meat or fish for me) and it was awful. A burnt, oozing excuse for a grilled cheese. My husband's food wasn't any better. And the service was terrible. Rude and way too cool to talk to us or recommend things. The people who hang out here don't seem interested in the quality of the service. Or the food. Or the drinks. They're just there to be seen. So if that's your thing, then this place might be for you. If not, head down the street.
(2)Jainy S.
If you asked me to describe Towne in one sentence, I'd fail. In fact, we asked our waiter to describe the theme...and he gave us..."fun? hip? we're a bar, we're a club...we are everything." I guess when it boils down to it, it's a little eclectic. The Ambiance: We were seated on the bottom floor aka "down-Towne" and the feel was best described as being in a fancy cabin...or getting to eat inside a Crate and Barrel. The upstairs aka "up-Towne" and the Back Bay room each have a unique feel to them, so can get up to 3 different dining experiences. The Menu: Well, it's slim pickings for vegetarians. They have 2 veggie pizzas - I went with one of them. It was good but not the greatest thing I have ever had. On the plus side, it was huge and I did have some left overs for home. For my meat-eating friends, the menu featured a lot of strange combos. From pork to fish to steak to lobster pizza, everyone was very satisfied with their meals. The Pro's -If you have a reservation, you have access to the other bars located upstairs and downstairs -The staff is incredibly friendly and make great suggestions - The food is good. - It seems fun, hip and crowded. I think it's a fun place to grab a late dinner and then enjoy some drinks. The Con's - The overall lack of theme is really evident - It is a little pricey and there are probably better dining experiences in Boston - Limited vegetarian options. Booo. Overall - I'd go back for a meal but only after ruling out other possible options.
(3)Will S.
Worst martini ever. Bartender put more olive juice than vodka in the drink. What an amateur. Ughhh!!!!!!
(1)Rachele V.
My boss and I took a client here for dinner and it did not go well. Our waitress was pushy and kept trying to convince us to order more food and wine. The food was good but the prices seemed high for what they were offering. I had the lobster popovers as an appetizer. They were $14 for 3 and they were okay, not as fantastic as the waitress claimed when she pushed me to order them. My client complained about the volume of the music, but our request to turn down the music fell on deaf ears (no pun intended). It was very loud - almost night club loud and this was a weeknight. My boss and my client ordered the same steak dish, but they came out two completely different sizes. My client called the manager over and he told him steaks tend to be 13 - 14 ounces. One was on the high end of 14 while one was on the low end of 13. I thought that sounded like a lame excuse, but we decided not to fight it. My duck breast was good but pricey. It was a large portion and I was full from the app so I left more than half on my plate so I could take leftovers home. I turned to talk to my client and when I turned back my plate was gone! No one even asked me if I was done! I stood up to stop whoever took my food, but they were nowhere in sight. I told the waitress - she came back from the kitchen and told me the bus boy had thrown it away and she told him not to do that again. No offer to replace or comp my food was made at that point. As I was leaving the waitress stopped me because they were making a new order of duck for me, which was the only redeeming thing she did all night. Talk about an embarrassing experience! We took our client out to a much nicer lunch the next day to make up for it... I would give the place a 3 on food but a 1 on service. I haven't been back since and I will continue to steer coworkers and clients away from Towne.
(2)Courteney M.
Ever since I heard that Jasper White and Lydia Shire were collaborating on a new restaurant, I was dying to try it. It was not a disappointing experience. Towne is located adjacent to the Hynes Convention Center on the Prudential side of Boylston - upon entering, the bar is right in front of you, and you go down the hallway on the left to get to the restaurant. The menu had a variety of mouthwatering options - I had the prime rib (no sauce from the "sauce cart", and we ordered the miso-ginger green beans (AMAZING), portobello mushrooms, and sweet potato mash for sides for the table. The wine list is reasonable with solid options on both red and white, and the white sangria is the best white sangria I've had in Boston. It was reasonably priced - the bill before tip for the three of us (each ordering a steak, 2 drinks, dessert and splitting the sides) was $250. And the "spun sugar" dessert is to die for. The downsides? The service was on the slower side (but in their defense, the place was packed) and it was LOUD (we were seated on the first floor next to the second bar area - I imagine that the dining room on the second floor is quieter). I loved the decorations, and there were several menu items I wanted to try - I'll definitely be going back.
(4)Kristen P.
I ventured to Towne one very rainy Friday with a group of girls for some cocktails and late night snacks, and I must say I was quite impressed. We managed to snag a cozy bar table within minutes of arriving which was definitely a plus. The atmosphere was a bit lack luster when we arrived (circa 10pm), but it picked up within the following hour with quite the lively bunch. We ordered a few rounds of cocktails which were AMAZING (albeit pricey); I highly recommend the Gypsy cocktail. We also indulged in a few bar snacks including the margarita pizza, cajun spiced fries, and grilled cheese. THE GRILLED CHEESE WAS TO DIE FOR! The bread was perfectly fluffy, the cheese was spot on, and there was a hint of sweetness from fig preserves. Hands down the best grilled cheese I have EVER tasted! And to top it off, it came with a side of potato chips baked in truffle oil... Amazing. Our waitress was a doll and got us a basket of just the chips even though it wasn't a menu item.
(4)Leslie T.
Not great. I stopped in here for a quick bite to eat at the bar on a Saturday afternoon. Instead of a friendly greeting from the bartender, I got, "Gimme a minute, okay?" Hmm. Okay. As was the rest of my stay there. Just "okay." I ordered a lobster Cobb salad without the blue cheese. It took forever to arrive, and when it finally did it was covered with blue cheese and I had to send it back. Took forever to get the replacement. Once the salad did arrive, it was decent and nicely arranged on the plate, although the lobster was a little raw. I was not about to send it back, though, as I was afraid if I did I'd never get out of there. So, in all, I give it a hearty "meh."
(2)Cece K.
Great food, but surprisingly pricey. From the outside, Towne looks like a hip, modern hang out..that also serves food. It actually turns out to be a high quality restaurant with delicious food and drinks. Huge venue and great locations... great spot for a special occasion or group event. Not the most "Boston-like" atmosphere... so if you are visiting from out of town, and only had one place to go, I would try something that served more authentic NE cuisine. The food: Bread basket in the beginning was great, and was served with several interesting spreads. I tried the chix thighs, swordfish pup steak, and skirt steak wagyu... all were amazing... but I was particularly impressed with the chix thighs, which had an amazing rotisserie flavor. For dessert, I some sort of caramel and angel food cake creation that was mouthwatering... it was topped with homemade caramel cotton candy. Drinks: one word = amazing! I had the gypsy dancer which was very well made (heavy on the vodka) and the combination of mix-ins made it very refreshing. Towne has a huge bar in the front... that may be a great place to hang out even if you are not planning on having dinner.
(4)Kristen C.
Stopped in for drinks at this hot new trendy place. The space itself is nice, not too big, with funky lit up bar counters and separate bar tables and stools for people to congregate at besides just the bar itself. Though, the acoustics made it very, very noisy so it is not a place to talk over drinks. Interesting cocktail menu was ambitious, but maybe a bit too much as nothing really stood out and attracted me right away, which is rare. I tried one of their tequila cocktails that was unfortunately light on the tequila, and filled primarily with a lot of ice. For $10 to $12 a drink, I do expect a real cocktail. I would definitely go back and check it out again and see if drinks are better on a different night. It does show promise.
(3)Sarah R.
I went there on a Thursday night. I loved the location and atmosphere, drinks were great and the food was good, but nothing mind blowing. I highly recommend the sangria it was mixed to perfection. It was extremely delicious and potent. We only order appetizers and a side so I cannot fully judge the food. The pizza was alright. Steak tartar came with nothing to accompany it and did not have much flavor. The side of gnocchi was cooked well but I did not care for it in bolognese sauce. I would try it again but I will not rush back there.
(3)Thanh L.
It was just a little to crowd for my taste. We were hanging out on friday here. The drinks were pricey and the noise was overbearing. You couldn't hear the people next to you. Its was a pretty place to look at, but I think we came in at the wrong time.
(3)D H.
I'm just getting around to reviewing this place. I ate her a year or so ago. I confess I do not remember precisely what I had, but I recall being very impressed and telling myself to review it on yelp.
(4)Amelia D.
I had gone to Towne in the past and absolutely loved it. However this time around I went with my boyfriend and another couple, and it was a slightly different story. We sat outside on the patio and felt right away that the waiter was rather detached and unfriendly. The service was slow, so we were off to a bad start. No bread was served or anything to start us off, and we were hungry. We got some lemony raviolis with artichoke for an app, and I thought it was quite good, but that is where the enjoyment ends. Our friends got caesar salads and a bus boy came over with a plate and asked us if it was ours. We said what is it? He said it was a fried egg or something like that. We all said no, we didn't order that. Five minutes later he comes back and says "it goes with your caesar salad." Uhh...okay. Were we supposed to know that?? Weird. Our friends were half done with their salads. Would have been nice if they had just served the dish appropriately. Here's the thing that bothered me the most: the water glasses had warm water in them with no ice, and the glasses smelled funny (like a dirty dishwasher or like they had been washed with cold water and no soap). That totally grossed me out. This should never happen at an "upscale" restaurant! No excuse! Luckily I had a cocktail, so I sipped that and tried to ignore the yucky water glasses. For dinner I got the wagyu steak with polenta which I thought was pretty good, but nothing amazing. My boyfriend got the NY Sirloin and wasn't impressed. He thought it was bland and not very tender. Our friends both got fish of some sort, and they said it was just alright. I don't know if the poor service just sorta put a cloud over the rest of the experience or what, but as we were leaving we all decided that it was over-priced and unimpressive, and we would probably not go back again. It's too bad, cause the first time I dined at Towne (inside, upstairs) I had really loved it, and thought the food and service was fabulous. So for this reason, I'm giving Towne an overall rating of 3 stars instead of just 2.
(3)Amanda W.
Came in for brunch and was more than pleased with the result. Our waitress was kind and attentive and explained the menu thoroughly, despite her thick accent. The spread was hearty and perfect for a weekend's first meal, though a tad over-priced. The kitchen sink sandwich and extreme fries certainly hit the spot! I think Towne was going for a more upscale kind of atmosphere, but people in Boston just don't seem to dress appropriately anyway... Overall, 3 stars for the food and service and an extra star for having the guts to try out a more modern feeling restaurant on Boylston! PS: LOVE the beakers and S&P shakers.
(4)Marcus C.
Overpriced - The food isn't very special, considering how much the restaurant charges. Discordant - The IKEA-inspired menu design suggests a playfulness that isn't present in the dining experience. Expansive - Like an over-dressed Cheesecake Factory. Some might like this scale though. Star-studded - Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen were at the next table. My food was just average. I had the potato-wrapped cod, which was sort of bland and less interesting than I hoped. One dining companion had the sausage/pepperoni pizza and he disliked it. The other dining companion had the lobster roll, which she enjoyed - it being lobster and all. In my opinion, the best dish was my avocado/pork-belly salad. You can't go wrong with pork belly!
(2)Robyn R.
I'm only reviewing this place on apps and drinks. The place has a great idea...I just don't feel it has been executed well enough. It would be a fabulous cocktail/late night snack place, however, the layout is not great. The lounge is small and seperated from the bar...and is waitress service only. So if you want a drink, you order from waitress or go "behind the curtains" to the back bar. The bar snack/lounge menu is below par - we ordered 2 or 3 items out of pure hunger. I would think a place like this could be more creative, and offer more for the location. The bar in the back is secluded and is more like a restaurant bar, but it's the only bar open. Drinks are good, but they have a lot to improve on in my opinion. I think the space is what is failing them...however, I haven't had dinner there and will def try it at some point.
(3)Brian O.
Good but way too expensive
(3)Paul F.
Great stuff This is a creative place: perfect for the foodie in you. Not a 10 and not a 5: you know what I mean. Lydia does it all.
(3)Jamie H.
i went to towne stove and spirits with about 7 colleagues for lunch. overall, the food was pretty good but the service was extremely slow. it took us almost an hour and a half for the whole ordeal, but most of that was upfront time and by the time we actually got our food we pretty much shoveled it in and left in the last 15 minutes. the first strange part was that when we sat down at the table, we were not given menus. also, i'll note that we were one of the first parties to arrive for lunch, so the restaurant was not busy. after taking our drink order, the waitress came back looking at us expectantly. we looked at her expectantly, and the finally i asked if we might be able to get menus. we ordered fairly quickly, and then waited. and waited. and waited longer. a few people at the table had gotten soups, and these came, and then we waited. and then waited. and then waited longer. we tried desperately to make some eye contact with our waitress, but she was avoiding the situation. it would have been nice to at least get a reason why we were waiting, and why all of the other tables around us had been served food and left. most of us canceled our next meeting, some people had to get up from the table. we finally got our food over an hour into the lunch, and i'll be honest, it was just salads and sandwiches. i had ordered a salad with grilled chicken, asparagus, tomatoes, cucumber, and carrots. the chicken was cold! how did it take an hour to produce cold chicken? my vegetables were fresh and the lemon juice dressing was tangy, but it certainly did not make up for the wait. i also enjoyed the pita chips and hummus that all diners receive upon arriving, and this seems to be house-made. i also sampled a few of the sweet potato fries, and they were really good, slightly salty and pretty crispy. everyone else seemed to enjoy their food, but was also put off by the extremely long wait.
(3)Squidy D.
Is it OK to serve raw duck? I don't know, but that's what I got when I ordered the Peking style duck from the specials menu. The service was slow, I don't think it was the waitress's fault as the drinks were on time and refills were not an issue. The food just took forever and it wasn't like the duck spent a lot of time on the stove. If it is OK to serve rare/raw duck I would have liked to have been asked my preference as I would prefer my duck cooked.
(1)Corey L.
Went with a family group after a graduation. Showed up on a Friday night around 6:30 and it was surprisingly empty. Pleasantly. First, our waitress was incredible. Quite helpful, though she oversold the drinks a bit, though I think was trying to be honest. So I got the Sangria and margarita. Sangria was pretty good - not super sweet, but also pretty weak. I was then quite excited for the margarita, which was similar - well made, but pretty weak. So I'd say they use good ingredients, but are shy with liquor. I'm not a lush, but I like my drinks to taste like they have alcohol in them We shared a number of appetizers and stuff in the bar, including: -Sweet potato fries: good -regular fries: good fries -white truffle Polenta fries: typical for polenta fries - wanted better with the truffle -lemon grass Chicken skewers: pretty good -Chips/ chipotle guacamole: woulda liked more chipotle (I like spicy) but good. -margarita flatbread: really good -fig and duck confit: tasty We had a good time, and the food and drinks were good. Both were sort of like fancy gourmet-light. Had great ingredients, and tasted good, but just fell a bit short of my expectations given the price and location.
(3)Melanie D.
I visited Towne for lunch with colleagues last week. While certainly on the pricey side, the food and service were outstanding. The atmosphere was also very elegant and welcoming. Before we placed our orders, we were brought something which I believe they said was a fava bean puree (although it was green so I'm not sure what else was in it?) with some sort of chip/cracker - a fun alternative to bread and surprisingly tasty snack before our meal. We also each ordered a glass of wine - the sauvignon blanc I had was really refreshing and crisp, and paired perfectly with my lunch. For lunch, I had the soup and half sandwich, with a butternut squash bisque and a fresh roasted chicken salad sandwich. I really enjoyed every bite of it and left feeling perfectly full. It also came with a small side salad which I wasn't expecting. Our service throughout the meal was impeccable - attentive, friendly and very much a fine-dining experience. I will definitely be back to Towne again!
(4)Nate Y.
I haven't been here since the Yelp Elite Event in 2011 which was great, but quite frankly the average Yelp rating of 3 stars was deterring me from giving Towne a chance with my dining dollars. I came here with a group on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, but only because our original meeting spot had a wait list. Someone recommended Towne saying that the patio was usually open, which was the case. The patio was set in a great spot away from the traffic on Boylston St. and a good choice of seating of shade or sun. We were served complimentary coffee cake and maple glazed doughnuts! The coffee cake was served warm, personally ate several of these bite size morsels, and a friend ate most of the doughnuts. I usually order sweet versus savory brunch items, but with all the coffee cake I just ate I decided on the eggs benedict. Turned out to be a great choice. The eggs were cooked the way I like (yolk was a nice and gooey) with bacon on an english muffin served with a side of fried potatoes that were perfectly crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Service was excellent, accommodating someone's request to switch out the watermelon on his fruit plate for more of the other fruit being offered. All in all an unexpected satisfying brunch and would come back again.
(4)Warren C.
Saturday brunch here. I got the chicken and waffles, which ended up being surprisingly tasty, as it was served with bacon and Tabasco sauce. The place was nice, it wasn't busy. Service was fast and friendly. I'd have to try the dinner here sometime.
(4)Jessica N.
Came here for a private party. Cute ambience but service was a little lacking. Food was decent (yummy sliders), but couldn't get over the non-accomodating servers.
(3)Big S.
i am surprised this has 3 stars. yes the prices are awful and way too expensive for what you are paying for, but that is standard in back bay. the food is pretty good. we got a couple different flat breads and the filets, and everything tasted great. service was alright, nothing incredible but not bad either. i would try and eat upstairs, its louder downstairs near the bar. good bread and dipping hummus when they serve you as well. drinks are strong but good. overall, good option for this area.
(4)Perry V.
A few evenings back my partner Thom and I stopped by Towne for a quick bite to eat and a Cocktail or two. Thom and I were immediately impressed by the modern facade, We are new in Boston and this is the first time seeing the establishment. We were greeted by a beautiful hostess, short, dark hair, Charlene I think? Regardless she was the extremely personable and whoever hired that one deserves a round of applause! But I digress, The hostess was able to squeeze the two of us in a lovely little spot by the bar. After being seated I spent a few minuted of dalliance, eyeing the rest of the restaurant. We got seated by a rather provocative picture of a girl topless...LOVED IT! It was a fun touch to spice up the evening. We were quickly greeted by Nia, who provided a cocktail menu. I Ordered the Towne lemonade and let me tell you.... it was just to die for! The perfect blend of sweet and sexy that brought me back to the insouciant days of my childhood! Both Thom and I made our picks off the menu and I must say, Whoever's cooking that food deserves some sort of Nobel prize! I could have eaten everything off the menu and then some! We topped of our meal with a succulent key lime mouse which was just exquisite. Nia was quick and on her game all night, not one complaint! When Thom was freshening up I was able to chitchat with some of the staff, very nice folk! We will defiantly be making Towne one of our go to Cock@Apps in ol' Beantown... 9/10 doctors recommend Towne for a healthy, happy tongue. ;)
(5)Thomas S.
Towne is a great BAR - but not a great restaurant. The location is excellent, right on Bolyston and part of the Mandarin hotel/Prudential center. The decoration, music and ambiance is perfect for a bar. They have good burgers/Pizza too. BUT as far as a "restaurant" - the quality of food and price are way, way off. My wife and I had dinner there last night. We split an appetizer and each had an entree, no alcohol no dessert, and the bill was $100. I am OK with paying that kind of money for 1 appetizer and 2 entrees, provided the food is superb, but here is was average at best. The fritto mitto was a train wreck of over fried food with little taste. The baked ziti with cherry tomatoes and lobster sounds promising but was also surprisingly bland and seemingly cooked in a rush. The filet mignon, at $39 with NO sides, should be fantastic but it was overly covered in blue cheese, so much so that it was hard to taste the steak. All in all, great for a drink and a burger, no good for dinner. Were the prices 33% of what they are, I may say the quality/price ratio was fair.
(2)Amy O.
So shocked to see this place only has 3 stars overall. I had the best filet mignon of my life here. All of the other courses were amazing, too. Service was impeccable. I must disclose, though, that I was there for a private party so perhaps they added additional staff for the occasion. So if you're looking for a location to host a private party, Towne is your spot in the city!
(5)Frank W.
Went in for a holiday dinner and everything was great as usual. Nice dinner selections and the raw bar apps are excellent. Everything was cooked as requested and nice side selections. Overall a really nice place in Boston.
(5)Susan C.
Came here for brunch a few weeks ago with a few friends. We ordered the Lobster Cobb, Chicken and Waffles, and Beef Hash. The Lobster Cobb was unimpressive, and to make things worse, the croutons were stale (i.e. lacked any crunch whatsoever). The chicken and waffles and the hash were very good though. Chicken was crisp, but not really a traditional chicken and waffle as it was a boneless piece of chicken breast. The hash was salty in a good way. I'd definitely get it again. I also like how Towne serves little doughnuts and banana bread as a side when you sit down. The doughnut looked like a mini glazed munchkin, and was delicious. I'd be back to Towne, but only if I was craving the hash or the chicken and waffles, everything else on the menu seemed unimpressive and I could probably get a lot better for less at another spot.
(3)Jessie J.
Too much! I wanted to love it, but it was just a s#$t storm. Food came out late, and the branzino was like leather (and that's hard to do). Sorry. Never again.
(2)Lynn J.
I like Towne for drinks with friends, and the menu offers high end delights too. FOOD: I had the lobster popover...DELISH! STAFF: The bartenders were flirty, and attentive, getting us seats as soon as they opened. THE DEAL: This is a great place to meet up for your first or last drink, before or after dinner.
(4)Chirag P.
Had one drink here after sessions ended at my meeting. And just happened to have placed myself at a seat directly across from a picture of a lady flashing her boob... so if conversation got boring I had a nice visual to distract me. Had only one drink and no food, it was an interesting cucumber vodka concoction that the bartender recommended and I wasn't disappointed. Very friendly guy and a nice place overall, small but I'm guessing with all the other restaurants and bars on the same street not too many were going here as the place to party.
(4)James C.
Went here for some apps and a few drinks. Nothing too special, cool ambiance but on par for other happenings in the back bay. Don't expect proper cocktails here, they topped my old fashioned off with soda water. AKA the worst way to make an old fashioned. I tried my dates martini which was good. The food was decent, nothing special. I would go back if I had friends adamantly set on going but definitely not on my own.
(3)Adam H.
I would say the location and the Boston atmosphere make this a better place to go eat then it would be otherwise. The prices weren't that great and the food was really good but I just don't think that it would be as good if it wasn't on Boylston Street. I started my night out with a really cool take on an old-fashioned cocktail. Think the regular old-fashioned but mapely and awesome! The bread appetizer was really good and you can tell that it was homemade. For my entrée I got the swordfish and it was very well done with a great sauce. My colleague got the homemade chicken pot pie. At first I was very skeptical about getting a pot pie in a seafood place but it turned out really well! It was actually very large and definitely large enough for two people. I would definitely recommend the chicken pot pie in retrospect. All in all a pretty good restaurant but just be prepared to pay for something that isn't exactly the best food. Got a love Boston!
(4)Kacie M.
I went to Towne on a rainy Saturday night with a group of friends. Our mission was to crash the date of a girl in the group who was not entirely sure how she felt about the guy she was meeting at Towne. One the plus side, the date seemed to end up going well. On the down side, we were approached by some wannabe pickup artists who seemed to be practicing the art of inane questions. I had a nice cocktail for $13, which is not atypical for that kind of bar, but I would much rather have enjoyed a nice cheap cider. Alas, they did not have any, which is strike against any bar for me. The beer on the menu seemed to be priced reasonably though. The ambiance was classy and it seemed like a decent date spot. I probably will not be returning to Towne, but I will always remember it as the bar where I was approached by a strange man and asked what my favorite color of leaf is. (I said red.)
(3)Marcy L.
Looking to show some international friends a "Boston high-roller" night out, we headed to Towne on Saturday night. The vibe: "young club", bub. Loads of twenty-somethings dressed in their hottie best / the music was a loud, steady beat / laughter and clinking glasses could be heard above the roar. Outside: there is an eloquent patio space available for imbibing (a great view of the Pru and the fountain).....until 11pm, anyway. But you can only get to the patio by first being carded at the front, then winding your way past the front bar, past the back bar and dinner seating, and then back outside (only a few feet from where you began). Our party arrived at 10:55p, pulled up a couple of chairs, and then was asked to head back inside (apparently a law about serving outside past a certain hour *?*). Upstairs: private function room, bar, and dining with a view of the open kitchen! When our party-o-four arrived around 11pm the second floor bar provided the perfect space for our group; we were able to spread out (only about six other people had wandered upstairs) and converse at regular vocal levels (music was loud enough to dance to, but not too loud to actually carry on conversation). I loved the lighting fixtures (looked like recycled glass), and it felt nice to be part of the cool-kid-club scene downstairs. Even better: there was NO TV behind the bar (I came here to be social...not to hear ya-dudes scream at plasma). The price - yowza (but, really, what were you expecting from a hot club at the base of the Pru??). Our cocktails were ~$13ea, but there were certainly selections which were *much* more expensive. The cocktail menu: personally I felt that it looked a little uninspired (as did our bartendress who seemed like she'd seen enough for one evening). The two that intrigued my friend and I the most: Mr.Brownstone (bourbon and maple liquor) and the Limeade (cucumber vodka, lime, cucumber). Unfortunately *I* was the one who ordered Mr.Brownestone (NOT the mapley delicious treat that I thought I had ordered - a little too heavy on the musky bourbon and burned cinnamon). The Limeade, however, was perfectly refreshing! We stayed until closing and left of our own accord (not ushered out by staff, nor by blinding "go home now" houselights!). I was happy to have remembered Towne (I attended a 2011 Elite event here and was totally blown away), as well as to discover that, while it was trendy, it wasn't obnoxiously exclusive like some other Boston spots. A great time out if you're looking to feel like party of the who's-who without having to buy a new wardrobe and prepare your wallet (too too much).
(3)Meizi H.
I do like this place. The atmosphere during weekday lunch is more business like and dinner is romantic and proper. Tired dinner and lunch and the experiences were good. Services were attentive and food presentation were top-notch. It is in back bay and in prime location, good for quick bite and big party size. Heard a lot of gossip about their brunch. Def give it a try someday.
(4)Naomi B.
Pros: Easy to find seating in the bar Attentive service Relaxing and fun environment Clean bathrooms Recommend the lobster popovers and eggplant pizza! Cons: Can't comment on the entrees as we only ordered appetizers. Don't have any compliants!
(4)Nicole B.
When we walked in we saw the bar, we found someone and let them know we wanted to eat dinner and she sat us at the far end of the bar. We both thought it was weird that this place is pretty new and didn't have a dining room. By the end of the meal I had realized there was a full dining room since I had to walk through it to get to the restrooms. We then decided that she must have sat us in the bar because my dining partner had on jeans. The food was good, but pricey enough that I would not eat there regularly.
(4)Hana K.
Been here almost 6 times now and I still say, BEST BRUNCH in all Boston hands down -- never been disappointed! If it's one thing Americans do right, it's brunch. Towne adds a contemporary twist to all your favorite classic American brunch dishes. For starters, you are given complementary mini doughnuts and lemon cake that are the perfect amont of sweetness and so small and cute they don't fill you up! Must-trys: Lobster & Avocado Eggs Benedict (perfectly cooked and just melts in your mouth; they were not stingy with their lobster) Chicken & Waffle with grits, bacon, tabasco (it sounds weird but once you try it, you're hooked! even the grits got compliments from my non-grits loving friends and the Tabasco comes in the cutest small bottle you'll ever see) French Dip Sandwhich Au Juis (the sauce for dipping the sandwich in is outstanding you want to dip everything in it) Everything on the brunch menu looks and tastes amazing but I would not order the Kitchen Sink BLT... Was not too crazy with the flavors. As obsessed as I am with their WEEKEND brunch, I don't recommend this place for the WEEKDAY lunch or dinner which is a little overpriced and the menu selection is not as good.
(5)Michelle P.
Went here after work with colleagues when the weather was a bit nicer. We sat on the patio and ordered wine, oysters, dinner meals and even dessert (we stayed for hours). The service was impeccable (as was the company) which is what kept us there; in general, not the food or the ambiance. That being said, we did love our cotton candy concoction of a dessert. Would I recommend it? Sure, but only to someone with deep pockets and shallow taste.
(3)Mr. O.
This is a great option for a weekend brunch or a Saturday night drink. Not a fan of the dinner menu, but brunch is fabulous. The freshly made mini donuts in the pastry basket are worth the trip (if you don't have a donut in your basket request some). The brunch food and service work, though they should sue Simon properties for turning their once beautiful view of Boylston into a work site. Oh, no they didn't! The subtle 80s music in the background worked for me, especially when me and my boo started singing "Like a Virgin" with the next table. It felt right. It felt right. Mr. O out.
(4)Megan C.
Great interior, good people watching + something to nibble on Love sitting at the bar to have a bite. The bartenders are friendly and attentive. The menu has range, and the dishes are interesting. Salads are a little smaller in portion size than I would like. I guess if you navigate the menu carefully you will end up a happy camper. Though at a restaurant like Towne, with the beautiful interior and service you would hope that everything on the menu would be amazing. Date Rating: 7 (it get's a little noisy) Pick up Scale: 8 (this place can be a meet market, not a fan when it's busy) Strong Suggestion: check out the bar upstairs if there isn't room downstairs.
(4)Alexander W.
Very conveniently located at the Hynes Convention Center, this restaurant is quite a bit better than any of the other places in the area I've tried this week. The décor is beautiful - chic and stylish, yet warm and comfortable. The lighting is just right - very cozy. You won't hesitate to bring people you want to impress (or spoil). I was greeted warmly by the hostess, and the waitress was friendly and engaging, but not overbearing. Overall, the service was prompt and professional. A lovely cocktail to start - a rosemary-infused twist on the classic Gimlet, well-rounded and not too sour. The Merlot I had with my steak was nicely rich and balanced. Now for the food: A rich and flavorful pumpkin soup with gnocchi and crisply roasted garlic chips had a refreshing kick coming from a citrusy note - orange, I think. I loved it, although it might have been a bit too dominant for some. The main course was an excellent flank steak (very good quality meat) with bacon wrapped scallions (just one scallion, really) and a spectacular sauce of miso and yuzu kosho. The fried yucca on the side was aromatic and tender. I did have a separate side dish, sauteed spinach with garlic, which was done well (fittingly with a delicate acidic note) and complemented everything beautifully. Dessert was an out-of-this-world apple tartlet - the crust was thin and buttery, not too heavy, so that most of the dish consisted of the gently baked, not overcooked apple.It was prepared lovingly with dried, then soaked cranberries (bursting with flavor), ginger ice cream (with candied ginger sticks) and a dollop of cream on the side. Overall, one of the most satisfying dining experiences I've had all year.
(5)Cory M.
The steak tartar & osso bucco were both great. However, when the maitre d' came by and asked about the meal, I told him the kale was dry and bland. He apologized, but did nothing. For dessert I ordered a "Towne Bar" - a small, homemade candy bar that the waitress handed to me in a wrapper. Poorly presented, and a tiny portion for $8. While eating the bar, which was very good, if small, I noticed a small creature with a tail run from under the table across from us to the adjacent banquette. The waitress and manager were very apologetic, but did not offer to comp our meal or provide us any incentive to come back. We will NOT be returning.
(1)Bos G.
"Towne" as locals call it, is a large restaurant and bar located on Boylston Street in Boston's Back Bay. Towne's brunch menu is reasonably priced with most options between $10 - $16. Because of the time of day, my friend and I opted for their chicken salad sandwich for $12 and their bacon and cheddar burger for $16. Eating at the bar can sometimes be risky business depending on how crowded or busy the staff is but on our visit the bar was mostly empty and the bar staff was both attentive and helpful answering the few questions we had about menu options. The chicken salad sandwich is served on toasted multi-grain bread and comes with a side salad. The chopped chicken with cucumber was filling and satisfying. Towne's burger is presented with the top bun upside down with ketchup. Both proved satisfying but not particularly memorable. I've had a few meals at Towne and with few exceptions I've found the food average. However, the space is very comfortable and the service is generally very good. That combined with its convenient location in the Back Bay is what accounts for its success - or at least that is what I've concluded.
(2)Jeff K.
Am I judging this on the food or the gorgeous ladies there tonight? Both get 5 stars! Short and sweet review, food was great, I had the best steak I have had in a long time, simple but tasteful. Bartender, where I ate, was great keeping a watchful eye on us. Decor was cool, it's really a huge place when you take into account the upstairs and back room. Loved it, I'll be back!
(5)Daniel B.
Cool location and atmosphere, but you're hit with Boylston Street prices. My girlfriend and I sat down for dessert and a drink later on a Friday night and the waitstaff was surprisingly inattentive. I ordered the Back Bay Smash....was very boring for a $13 drink!
(3)Jerry C.
What can i say about this place.. its like a place you would go on a date but then when you got there you would be unhappy about the noise and lack of intimacy. I was here for a show in the convention center so my coworker and i were trolling around for a place to heat and this one looked great. We were sat rather quick, staff was nice and friendly. The inside was very decorative but i didn't feel comfortable. I was at one of those tall tables but looking around it felt like people were really on top of each other. It was sort of loud for a fancy, up-scale looking place. Food came out rather quick, i got the duck. The dish looked great, 5/5 for presentation and it had a great taste also. I was upset because it wasn't that much food. Also, it was very expensive $29 for a not-so-big entree is uber-expensive. I didn't get an appetizer or dessert because the price was so high.
(3)Kelly O.
I went here for a post-work drink with a coworker on a Wednesday, and thought the interior was really cool. You enter into what looks like a small slick dark room with a bar in the middle and high tables around the edges of the room, that was already packed with local finance-type people getting their drink on. Then you go through a back hallway and magically reappear into a spacious and bright restaurant with another small bar, also packed already. Then we realized there was a big stairway leading to yet another big room upstairs, where the bar was thankfully empty, so we snagged two seats and settled in for some cocktails. The bartenders were attentive and skilled, the cocktails were strong and tasty (and typically priced, $10-12, with beers $4-6), and the complimentary bread basket we asked for (because we weren't planning on ordering food but realized we had better eat something) was really tasty... hot and freshly baked, with slices of bread, croissant-like thingies, and thin crackerish thingies. The scene was mixed, there was a lot of happy hour people in their 20s and 30s, but also some dates, some older friend groups, and so on. All in all, we had a great time for drinks, but I doubt I'd want to come here to eat based on the prices (as well as all the food reviews here on Yelp).
(3)Lia B.
I came here with a big group (14 people) for an end-of-term dinner. I've walked past here often enough, and I'm glad that I had the opportunity to try it. Despite the enormous table and the many people, the waiter was courteous and adept. He took everyone's orders, and there were no mistakes. To start, we had the lobster popovers, the little gem salad and the iceberg baby salad. The lobster popovers were a little too sweet for my taste, but the dough was flaky and light, and the lobster meat was good. The little gem salad came with creamed feta which was the highlight. The peeled grapes were strangely flavorless. Overall, it was good. The iceberg salad had pieces of bacon that were delicious, along with a creamy blue cheese on the side. It was pretty good. For the main course, I had the chicken with mashed potato, and my boyfriend ordered the skirt steak, cooked medium. Another guest at our table ordered the skirt steak, also medium. Both steaks came out at the same time, one was a medium-rare, easy on the medium, and the other was medium-well. My boyfriend sent back his steak, and they finished cooking it, and it was decent. My chicken, on the other hand, was the juiciest, most incredible chicken I've ever eaten. The potatoes were creamy and the perfect complement. For dessert, we ordered the buttermilk panna cotta and the white chocolate lime cheesecake. The panna cotta was divine, perfectly tangy and sweet. It came with a beautiful blackberry sauce on the side, and sugared black berries and mint leaves as a garnish. Amazing. The white chocolate lime cheesecake was good, as well, but it didn't shine the way the panna cotta. I'd love to come back here for brunch, and see what it's like. I'd also definitely come back with a smaller party.
(3)TinoX T.
Ohhhh Boy,Good Luck...,,
(3)Adam M.
I have been to Towne several times for drinks was excited to finally try dinner on a Saturday night. Unfortunately, I was pretty disappointed with the experience. I love Mojito's and I'm always looking for the best in the Boston area. Of course I asked for one, but what I was given was a disgrace. It was literally alcohol, 7 up, a little half melted ice, couple lime wedges, and a couple of mint leaves thrown in there. It was warm, absolutely disgusting and was priced for about $11/$12. I sent it back and the next one was even worse! To add insult to injury, it was in a pint glass. FYI, you don't put a Mojito in a pint glass! Granted it was not on the bill, but it's a shame because at that point, a business has the deck stacked against them. Your giving a bad impression and your customer is already not happy with the place. Now it becomes much more difficult to make them give you a good review. I understand you can say, "It's just a drink". That is true, but the reason I am writing this is because it was so obvious that the bartender was just lazy, disrespectful, and did not want to make a Mojito. They made a horrible drink, it was not done right, they sent it out, and it was served anyway. You do that because your lazy, because you don't care! Being lazy and making something that bad is an embarrassment and any person should be ashamed of themselves for doing so! I understand mistakes happen and normally I would not be so critical, but it's about behavior of being lazy, the attitude of not caring. That is something I'm critical of every time. I think others would be as well. I'm not one to complain and then not offer ways to fix it or help. So, if something like that happens again, it would help to try one of these: 1. Send over a manager to chat and help out. 2. Have another bar tender make the second one. They have 3 or 4 bars there. Having the same person make the second one is just a sign that they are unintelligent or don't care. 3. I had a beer instead, so how about taking it off the bill? I don't care about the $6, but it's means you care and it would take ones attention off the bad experience. It could completely change my review because it shows effort, that you want your customers to be happy. Trust me, I am in advertising and serve clients all day. The smallest mistake can kill you if you are lazy and don't care because it becomes about the behavior, not the mistake. As for the food? Our Sever? Atmosphere? Doesn't matter, at this point I'll never go back and it's not my thought of this place being horrible or not having good food. Simply put, why would I go there and take a chance when I can go across the street, around the corner, and know for a fact I am going to be happy, get great drinks, and service. Naturally I am going to go with something I am sure of. Hopefully Towne can ensure they don't repeat this type of service in future.
(2)Erin D.
Worst bar and host service I have encountered ever. Front bar staff was rude, more interested in flirting with their male customers, and were 100% unprofessional. I will never spend my money there again.
(1)Allison R.
Ahh, tradition. Every Christmas Eve, my roommate enjoy a lavish dinner out, since our families don't do anything the night before Christmas, and we were sick of sitting around the house being bored. After last year's fiasco at an Ivy that will remain unnamed, we were desperate for a better experience. The Bristol Lounge was booked (for serious, I tried), and Towne came recommended by my grandma. Despite the mixed reviews, we gave it a shot. We had a 6 pm reservation, and the place wasn't packed by any means. Still, we were seated upstairs at a comfortable distance from three other parties-- so at least it wasn't deserted. Fun lighting fixtures, comfy circular booths for larger parties, and a somewhat open kitchen (a la Sel de la Terre) surrounded us. I was sold when I read this was a Lydia Shire/Jasper White venture, but the nice decor didn't hurt. We were served water in beaker-style glasses, which were cool looking. The flatware was nice, but kind of heavy. The fork felt okay, but the knife and spoon were a bit clunky. A delightful array of rolls, bread, and crunchy flatbread thing were passed our way with butter, hummus, and, I think, a liver pâté kind of spread. All very yummy. We shared a $40 bottle of Prosecco (not bad), and I enjoyed some very juicy oysters as an appetizer. The wasabi served with the horseradish/cocktail sauce was a nice touch. We both chose the 8 oz wagu skirt steak, served in a delightful peanut buttery, thai-inspired sauce. It was decorated with a few chips and veggie tempura, which went well, but I would have preferred a healthier option of mashed potatoes or squash or something. The meat itself was delightful: cooked perfectly and with a rich, succulent flavor that didn't leave me overfull. The side of fried green beans boasted a nice, glazed kind of flavor as well. I can't speak to any sort of 'scene' since the Christmas eve crowd was likely a unique mix. But, the service was great, and the food was better. I would absolutely come back.
(5)Jake H.
I was here with my girlfriend on 02/23/13 while visiting her since she works not too far from Boston now. I was spending a week there to see her so she wanted to take me to a nice place to eat on her day off. Man, what a joke this place turned out to be. I found far better food and selections in Worcester, although the service was actually good until our waitress charged us for the fries that we returned because it was too salty. We ate maybe 4 before telling our server and she charged us for it anyway. We even told her when she brought us the check! I just checked my card and yup the final amount still included the fries. Maybe I should have deducted that amount from her tip. The steak was very salty, too. If being in a higher-end restaurant is a must for you, then by any means enjoy this place. If you want good food go somewhere else.
(2)David T.
Very good food overall. Was pretty empty in the dining area other than a few families with small children. Odd atmosphere for such a trendy dining experience. Overall very good food and service!
(4)M B.
Came here for drinks and bar food on a Tuesday night, sat at a high-stop near the bar. Service was absolutely horrible. We ordered waters as soon as we were seated, and they didn't come until after we had already ordered beer, food, AND received our beer. We had to ask for them multiple times. My friend and I ordered two cups of pumpkin soup. They were dropped off at the table and the person running it didn't ask if we needed silverware, which we clearly didn't have. Our server didn't come over for a while so I went up to the bar to ask for silverware. No spoons in the rollups, so I had to wait and ask specifically for spoons. By the time I got to start eating my soup had cooled down a lot....and I found that it was not pumpkin, it was lobster bisque. In the past few years I have grown out of a shellfish allergy, and know how dangerous it can be to accidentally serve a shellfish dish to a guest. A few years ago I would have had to call an ambulance! When our server finally came over, I told her we received the wrong soup. She looked at it and said "Nope, that's the pumpkin" even though it was clearly red in color. She took it back to the kitchen, and came back with ONE bowl of pumpkin soup (which was golden in color, didn't look like the lobster at all), which she put in front of my friend. She said "My manager wanted to give you a bowl instead of a cup because of the mistake." She then told me mine would be right out. She came back a minute later with a new spoon for my friend, saw that my soup still hadn't come out, and did nothing. I waited almost a full five minutes for my soup to come back out....and it was a cup. Not a bowl, like my friend received. When we asked why I got a smaller portion, the server responded, "Well my manager just grabbed the closest dish to her and put the soup in it, then told me to run it out." Made no sense considering we sent two cups of soup back, and was completely unprofessional. I said it was ok and asked for a new spoon since I had some anxiety about eating any more lobster bisque. She never came back with a new spoon and I ended up sharing with my friend. I don't typically write negative reviews as I am a restaurant industry vet of 10 years and more often than not empathize with whatever issues arise during a dining experience. This was just a total downer.
(1)Michele G.
After a few good experiences at Towne, I'm afraid I must downgrade my rating. First, the Key Lime Salmon is gone, although it's still listed on the website. Secondly, we had the most hover-ific waitress that would constantly interrupt our conversations. Maybe she was bored? Lastly, my husband's red snapper was beyond mediocre and he's stated that he'll never come back. Sadness./.
(2)Carter D.
I don't come here to eat, I come here to do drink. The cocktails are good, the service is good and the atmosphere is much better than Back Bay Social Club across the street. The front room is a little drab and crowded, but the larger back area has a great bar and really friendly staff. I always leave very drunk and very happy. One time I left and went on a vacation I had booked while drinking recklessly at the bar back there. You can eat somewhere else in the neighborhood, come here for a few drinks before and/or after.
(4)Jill G.
Great drinks, great apps, great meals. An awesome date spot. I had a good experience with the service, too. A little pricey, but definitely you definitely won;t be let down!
(4)Doug J.
(score 1-100) - 89. This is almost a 5 star experience for me. I really love Towne in comparison to other dining options in the back bay. You get high quality food and while some of the entrees can be expensive (but definitely not anymore than anything in the surrounding area) it is reasonable. They have great presentation with their burgers and offer a variety of unique dining choices. It has plenty of room, two floors and the ambience is high end hipster. Think of lots of black clothing. The lighting is a little on the dark side. They do have Valet Parking so if you have a new Ferrari 458 Italia feel free to showboat and leave it out front while all the diners watch you stroll in! Another great thing about this place is the staff. They tend to remember everyone that comes in. I've always had fantastic service and maybe the best service I've received in the city. This places hits the big three: Great Service, Great Good, Great Ambience...hmmm maybe I should rethink my score!
(4)Abigail P.
A friend and I had dinner here on Wednesday, after I discovered they had charged me TWICE on my credit card, two different charges. I emailed them at their info address & no surprise it came back that the person involved was not in office. I've told my bank to stop one charge, but this is unacceptable. The venue was very, very noisy. The water waiter was the best - thoughtful and continually topping up. The lobster popover was good, but our meals were not memorable. Too loud to have an enjoyable evening with someone you want to chat with.
(1)Arben N.
I did not like it at all. We went there for a birthday party and we had to use our phones as a flash light to see the menu. The drinks were ok but bit to expensive!!! I ordered 8 oz filet that cost me 38 dollars. I asked for it to be medium ant it was more like well done. You could go to Ruth Chris for that amount of money and have a great steak!!! Over all it was not to my satisfaction!!! Would not recommend it to anyone and for sure I won't go there again!!!!!!
(1)Thomas N.
lunch recently.....very big and lovely facility, upstairs is beautiful and you can watch the cooks or look at the neat old range they have (not used) we took the walk the the special meetings room in front and it too was lovely...we ate downstairs at the bar and had a great experience, bartender was congenial and attentive, drinks were very good, swordfish was excellent and burger great and cooked (rare) as ordered....seems in reading reviews that a lot of reviews (places ) are bad as people are visiting them at their most busy stressed times when it can be hard for anyplace to be really special....this place was excellent and we will revisit oh and taught the bartender about geocaching!!(nearest one 241 feet)
(4)A.K. A.
We hosted an event with Towne and our guests loved the venue and the food. The atmosphere is wonderful and the staff were very accomodating. I'd highly recommend the Back Bay room for group private dining.
(4)Edwin C.
Came here friday night with the gf (wanted to go to Eastern Standard), had been here before for drinks and knew what I was getting myself into. But this time it was strictly a night out for the food. Place is big (2 floors, 3 bars) and so if you can imagine the place is loud, which kind of ruins the dining experience. I mean I couldn't even hear my server and I barely heard my gf sitting next to me. Found it weird that they sat the 2 of us at a round table that could easily fit 6, when we there were many 2 person tables all around us. To the food though, they have a variety of foods from surf to turf, but I wanted to switch it up and leave the veal alone tonight. We started off with like any other place, with our drinks, I actually liked mine, which was gin soda and lemonade, wish I could say the same for the gf. The bread basket was a good compliment to the drinks we were having and it came with interesting sauces for us to spread. We liked it so much we asked for another. For apps we ordered half a dozen oysters (only one type to choose from) garlic naan, and lobster pop overs. Oysters weren't great, garlic naan was dripping with butter along with an abundance of scallions on top, lobster pop overs were good, but don't think it's worth how much they were. For entrees, the gf ordered a salad, but had to get a new one, because it looked like a gallon of dressing was poured onto it. So because I felt daring that night, I ordered fried rabbit (yeah I ate Bugs Bunny haha), it turned out okay, wasn't too happy about it though, wouldn't order again, it really tasted like a cross between dark meat chicken and pork. The server was attentive and knowledgeable, but the food is just lacking for the prices they charge, definitely much better in that area. Good place to have drinks, but not if you're trying to have a quieter dinner at a somewhat nice place. I'd return for drinks and maybe apps.
(3)Salt And P.
I am a fan of Lydia Shire, and a regular customer at all of her restaurants going back to Biba. The kitchen did a great job accommodating a vegan and vegetarian guest at this meal, and the tuna tartare was outstanding. But the swordfish "special" entrée was so fishy and poorly conceived that it was unpleasant, and the sauce on the steak was almost inedible. Setting aside the rest of the dialogue and drama, which included the manager offering to replace my entrée well after everyone else had finished dining, I will just offer the rude comment that the waiter made when I reiterated my complaints, "We knew you would do this. We knew you would do this when you came in." Wow.
(1)Trisha M.
Amazing restaurant. I ordered the seabass and was mistakenly brought the fluke than made up for by attentive service and the most amazing salmon dish in the city- so fresh. Waitstaff professional and beyond courteous. Chefs above average if not suburb. I highly recommend giving this one a try.
(5)Takeyon M.
I wish I could give this place zero stars due to the horrible service. First let me start off by saying, I am in the hospitality industry so I am very attentive when it comes to service. I went to Towne today for lunch with a colleague and upon our arrival into this establishment, I must say, from the décor and location it was very impressive. Upon entering the second room, in order to be seated, there was a group of three women standing around looking for the either a waiter or maître d. Low an behold, a waiter who was standing on the other side of the room staring at either a screen or paper work did not notice us and I mean literally for 5-6 minutes did not lift up his head. The waiter I am referring to is the Caucasian male who worked Dec. 28th, 2012 lunch with the point dexter (Super-man) glasses on. After finally getting the attention of this individual, we were finally seated, now with the bad. Upon inspecting our water glasses we both noticed that their glassware was extremely dirty (heavy soap residue). However, the female waiter we had noticed us inspecting them and offered two new clean glasses promptly. Our orders for appetizers were the Caesar Salad and Lobster Bisque. I must say, the Caesar salad was quite delicious but my friend stated that the Lobster Bisque was under seasoned and bland. For our next course I had the Cheddar Burger well done which was again delicious and my friend had the Crab Spaghetti which he stated was good but not enough crab especially after he ordered "extra crab". When the waiter brought our dishes to the table, he forgot to inform my friend that the plate was extremely hot as it just came out from under the broiler. Unfortunately, my friend burnt his hand and the plate left a burn mark on the table linen which was noticeable after the waiter removed it. During the course of our lunch, the waiter never offered us salt or pepper or inquired about whether our meal was good. I'm not in the habit of complaining as you can tell from my history, I barely ever right a review. However, I must say, when a restaurant charges the prices that Towne does, then the service needs to be that. If the saying is true, you get what you pay for, then we just had lunch at a Pub. Trust me, the Concierge got an earful when we returned to work for recommending that place to the Hotel Manger.
(1)JP S.
So I went here a couple months back, and it's pretty cool. I had walked by a few times & said I'd check it out, so I finally did. Not bad. It's definitely on the pricey side, and the service is ehhh (average at best) but if you're looking for a fancy cocktail and some different barfood options, give it a whirl! The atmosphere wasn't as douchey as I thought it would be either. Cool place!
(3)Nna C.
I planned a party for 35 people at Towne which we had tonight. Everyone from the very beginning was helpful, attentive, flexible. Tonight, they were amazing,setting up both in the solarium and the upstairs private room in the event of rain ( they watched the weather all day and called me to give me updates) the food was fabulous and the service very attentive and they made me and my guests feel welcome and special. I highly recommend Towne. I will definitely recommend this venue to friends for events and I will use it again. Kudos to Terrilynn and Levi. As an aside, I've eaten dinner here a few times, and highly recommend it for that as well.
(5)Liz S.
Went here this past Sunday night (12/23) with my family visiting for the holidays. There were nine of us. The meal was fine, nothing great and definitely overpriced but it was overall an ok experience given our large group. We had just walked in without a reservation so there were no real high expectations anyhow. The horrible experience came a day later for seven out of the nine who suffererd the unfortunate fate of food poisoning. There was no other logical explanation given the rapid onset of symptoms amongst the group and the fact that the Towne was the only common thread. We left a message with the Towne on X-mas day while some of us were still gathering around the bathroom instead of the christmas tree. They chose not to return that call and so to yelp it is. This place is overpriced with medoicre food that potentially will make you sick and managed by people that could clearly care less about any of that.
(1)Tiffany T.
I'm surprised that Towne doesn't have better reviews. Maybe it's a hit or miss? My partner and I came for Valentine's day and we were both thoroughly satisfied with the quality of the food, the presentation and the atmosphere. Our server was fine, but didn't seem as enthusiastic as the other servers around us. We had lobster popovers, tuna tartare, duck crisp and the valentine's day halibut special. Everything was phenomenal and fresh. The lobster popovers were good but a little pricey for 2 popovers, I would do without it. If I could recommend one thing, I would say order the duck crisp. I give it 4.5 stars but since Yelp doesn't allow that, 5 it is.
(5)Arun L.
Overall, definitely better than the other reviews suggest. Though an expensive endeavor, Towne is well worth a try. We went here on a double date and had an absolute blast. I loved: - the food, not as eclectic as the menu would lead you to believe, but excellent. As in, excellent. - the wine list, diverse but short and manageable - the ambiance, large and hip with an open kitchen - the bar(s), lively and full of people looking their best - the cocktails, fresh and inventive I wasn't crazy about: - the service, the whole meal took 2.5 hours. Granted that's 3-4 courses, but it felt slow. The waiter gave very blunt opinions despite openly admitting he's never tried the food. - the menu aesthetic, it's weird and does not reflect the style or quality of the food
(4)H. G.
I have had a few things here that were only ok, including the caesar salad that came with a not-runny panko fried egg. Very disappointing. But I have also ordered two things here with lobster (ravioli and pizza) and both were fantastic. Add to that the ease of getting a seat outdoors in the summer on a weeknight, and this place is pretty good.
(3)Rake O.
I used to like this place a lot, but I realized it was mostly for mingling and people watching. When I really think about the place itself I realize the martinis are often not made well, the service can be slow, and it can be shoulder-to-shoulder crowded. There are other nice interiors within a very short walk. Go there instead.
(2)Angie C.
RUDE! I give this place negative 10 stars. Experience: I will never come here ever again. If our party was being rude and deserved such ill treatment then I will take full responsibility. However, if you're rude without justification then you can go ____ yourself. Especially after the amount of money we spent. I had left the bar at 12:30 to go home. My friend was kind enough to walk me to the cab stand right out front. When he went back to the bar where the rest of our party was and his jacket they refused to let him back in. We were definitely not drunk and acting foolish. In fact, they saw us walk out, saw my friend walk me to the cabs and saw him come right back. Their reasoning: "there's no re-entry this late" REALLY?!? If we weren't with a group how else would he had gotten his stuff? When your drinks and food are overpriced you NEED to offer better service.
(1)Layla A.
This place is HORRIBLE. I had 7 friends visiting me in Boston and wanted to take them out and invite them to dinner. We picked Towne and it was a HUGE mistake. I had a reservation for 9:30. The place was empty but somehow they took 1 hour to seat us and gave us plenty of attitude while we waited. Then once we were finally seated, the service was horrible. The food is forgetable and the atmosphere is weak and not very lively. WORST service. The rudest hostesses. DO NOT go here. I called the manager after to give her some advice on what could go better and she tried to have a debate with me! Anyway do yourself a favor and go to Sonsie.
(1)Jaime B.
One word. Boring. I can't speak for the food, but we came here after dinner for drinks on my birthday. The whole first floor smelled. I won't say like what, but it was bad. It was so packed we could barely move. Upstairs was less crowded, but still took forever to get a drink. Music was barely audible, and what I could hear sucked. Oh, and everyone was really old. Don't get me wrong, I'm 30, so I know I'm no spring chicken, but most people were in their 50's and 60's! And almost all creepy looking men. No thanks.
(1)Nick M.
While I love to check out new places in Boston and the surrounding areas, I was pretty disappointed when we went to Towne. The atmosphere was definitely a "I want to be seen here" sort of vibe, making this place seem more like a bar out in Hollywood -- let's be clear -- this is Boston, not Hollywood The service was so-so -- we sat at the bar in the back and were able to find a few seats right away. A bartender came over with a drink menu and then left. 10 minutes later, they came back, asked my wife what she wanted and walked away to make it.... Hello? Am I invisible? Wouldn't it be easier to take both of our drink orders at the same time and save yourself a trip? Definitely not cool As the night progressed, a few friends of ours showed up and we had the corner of the bar. Now it seemed to be a younger audience, with sweaty dudes reaching their arms across the bar to try and get the bartenders attention. Overall, I wasn't a fan and will not be returning.
(3)Simon L.
a simply exellent spot. 9:00 pm, saturday evening, no reservation, table should be ready in 20-30 minutes at a tall table upstairs. put name on list, order michters manhattans, perfect, and the table is ready. even better, it's a normal sit down table on the first floor although the upstairs area is a bit more cozy, our party of four, once seated, experienced a pleasant service, and a perfect people watchin.g atmosphere. all in all, dim and very comfortable. if possible, formal without pretentiousness. east coast oysters were sweet and salty, nice plump meat. lobster popovers, a crispy pastry encasing a nice serving of tendrer lobster salad. one order split four ways allowed everyone a taste of these crispy lobster creations. while on lobster, a novel concept of having a lobster bar is an excellent take on the traditional oyster bar. broiled lobster, lobster salad, lobster tails. very creative. meat, foul and fish. the pan seared salmon filet was incredibly tender with a deliciously buttery layer of fat held between the meat and the crisped skin. crispy duck was served so. Excellent. Double cut pork chop in wine reduction: excellent med rare presentation. Steak, an excellent combination. Theres a reason this place has some cache. Try it out. You will love it. Very friendly service, excellent food and even better drinks.
(5)Cody C.
Not many good things to talk about this place. Their bar is weirdly set up apart from the restaurant , it wasn't anything to brag about compared to other trendy locations right across the street. The dining room is beautifull but with a ballroom feel, not like a restaurant , it felt like the place was a function room from the Hynes convention center turned into a dining room. I had the lobster popovers which weren't that great as other reviews have sAid. The main course took forever and our waitress had an attitude , everyone seem to have an attitude whenever we would ask for help. We never saw a manager during our experience but he did say bye on the bar downstairs on the way out ( Michael?) with a fake smile. I won't recomend this place unless you are renting out the dining room for a private event , it has a feeling of being watched and not cozy private at all. Hope my review helps we won't be coming back.
(1)Jillian W.
We go here for the Duck Quesadilla which is incredible and the Mr. Brownstone specialty cocktail that really is something special. We've been lucky enough to get seats right away each time we went and always have a good time. I'm going giving Towne a 3 though because really the bartenders could stand to be much nicer. Though beautiful, they rarely smile, are stand offish most of the time and we usually get the impression we're bothering them with our order. This place has so many other things going for it that if they just focused on providing some friendly service, it would be a real find.
(3)Marissa R.
I came here for restaurant week lunch for a few friends and have to give the following reviews: Food: 2.5 stars Service: 1 star Atmosphere: 4 stars We sat outside in patio area which was very nice. There were flowers and some nice music playing. I ordered the peach and burrata salad which was solid, but my main course of salmon was drenched in oil. It was also of poor quality and had a lot of fat that I had to cut around. The rice that it came with was pretty good, but overall not an impressive dish even for $15.00. Our server was not only inattentive; only coming by to drop off our plates of food and never refilling water or asking if we needed anything, but also had a very rude attitude. Two of us at the table ordered salmon and asked for different cooking temperatures (medium rare vs medium well). When we explained this to our server she had no idea what we were talking about, dropped the hot plates in front of whoever was closer to her and took off. Both entrees were clearly well done. They also forgot to bring one person's entree and it took about ten minutes with everyone else's food sitting there and getting cold before it arrived. I would certainly not go back or recommend for anyone to pay full price.
(2)Samantha L.
Overall, this was a good experience. The food was expensive, but pretty good... The lobster pizza was amazing, drinks were surprisingly good and not that pricey, and the entree was well-cooked and large, though a tad boring (I had chicken). The service was good, though very rushed... Clearing our plates before the appetizer was gone and without asking if we were done. The atmosphere was chic and modern, though nothing incredibly original. All and all, a good place for a dinner on expense account.
(3)H and K.
Good atmosphere, good service. Normally I'd give them 3 stars, or less, for overcooking my $60 "2 lb" lobster on the grill. However, the Lobster Popovers were absolutely excellent. A perfectly cooked delicate popover surrounding chunks of lobster in a light maple sauce. One of the best things I've eaten all year!
(4)Kristen C.
I wanted to love it, really I did. Heard great things and the menu looked so fun! I tried to make a reservation for 2 for 8:30 on opentable, it wasn't available...but 8:15 and 8:45 were?! So I took the 8:15 and it was pretty empty when we arrived, what?! Waitress was super friendly and the table was decent - but we ordered an appetizer and it never came!!! Kinda screwed up the entire experience as cocktails were supposed to be followed by wine but since our dinner came without the apps, it just didn't work out. Also, I ordered the special because all of the ingredients sounds awesome, it came out with nothing the waitress sold me on! I mentioned something and she apologized and brought out a side of the missing "stuff" - wasn't quite the same! They did, however, comp us a dessert to make up for "forgetting" to put in the appetizer but it was mediocre at best.
(2)Melissa C.
Definitely not worth the hype. I'm glad I tried it because if I didn't I would keep saying, "Oh yeah, I really should try Towne." Now, I can stop that. The drinks were bad. The atmosphere was bad. The food was bad. The service was bad. That said, I came in the daytime, maybe it's a different scene at night.
(1)Heather G.
Brunch-menu review: It's a damn shame that the brunch menu didn't wow me, because this place makes a mean Bloody Mary. A few ladies agreed to meet for brunch at 11:30 one Sunday morning. Due to a daylight savings snafu, one of our friends was left to her own devices (read: two Bloody Marys and an eBook) while waiting for the rest of us to show up. Luckily, the place wasn't crowded enough at 11:30am on a Sunday to make this lingering an annoyance. When the rest of the party arrived, they sat us at a 6-top in the bar area. This is prime-real estate for people-watching passers by on Boylston Street, but is also EXTREMELY COLD and drafty, as the table is nearest the ever-opening front door. The bar area was also pretty empty for the 2+ hours we were there, so next time I would insist on sitting in the actual dining room for brunch, as the empty-bar-area did not provide the much-desired feeling of warmth and coziness I look for while brunching. The server was very nice and kept us flush with Bloody Marys, all while accommodating our slowly growing brunch party. Sadly, the food not only didn't wow me, but was an all-around disappointment. The meal is started with a basket of homemade, glazed donut holes (very tasty) and some slices of grilled lemon poppyseed bread. The bread, if eaten right on arrival, is warm and chewy. Left sitting for awhile, it became hard, dry, dense, and much less pleasant. The brunch menu is very small, and has a few offerings from each brunch category (a couple egg dishes, a couple pastas, a couple sandwiches, a couple bread-like breakfast items, etc), though most entrees (even the egg dishes!) fall in the $16-18 range. For breakfast, I find this to be just a tad steep for breakfast fare, but I suppose you're paying for the atmosphere (which, again, you'd better-experience in one of the restaurant's actual dining rooms rather than in the bar/lounge). On a budget (and making up for my two-bloody-mary morning at about $11 each), I went with one of the more affordable offerings - the Kitchen Sink sandwich ($11). Turns out, it's just a BLT. My sandwich had a few slices of drippy-fatty bacon, some thick tomato slabs, a bit of lettuce, and a dollop of mayo. It was served on oiled-and-grilled thick bread, which, after the grilling and sitting out waiting to be served to me, the thick bread became hard and crunchy with more a crouton-like consistency, which would have been OK if the slices were thinner, but because they were so thick, overpowered the meager innards. The sandwich came with a small handful of chips that must have been fried in-house, because they were glistening and dripping with oil. Also served alongside were three potato-puffs, and these were also drenched in grease. For some reason, the chef sent us out two complimentary orders of lobster popovers (which we did not order), which, after reviewing our bill, were comped as a "Yelp discount". We had no idea how the restaurant knew we were having a Yelp-ladies brunch, but the gesture was nice. The popovers were filled with chunks of juicy lobster, but like my entree, were filled with butter (and perhaps brown sugar or maple, as they were very sweet), making them a bit heavy in my stomach. Overall, the experience was a fun one, though I just wasn't blown away by the food. I certainly plan to return for dinner (or some people-watching and drinks at the bar/lounge), but I can't say I'd get excited about coming back for brunch again.
(2)Kelsey F.
I have been wanting to try Towne since it opened. I had the chance to choose a restaurant for a company dinner (just 6 of us) so I suggested here. Food was really good. Started with a bread basket that came with 3 different types and then 3 different butters/tapenades. Everyone enjoyed their meals. I chose the pork chop that came with sweet potatoes & marshmallows - sweet and savory! Decor was nice. I was hoping our table would be upstairs by a window but it was kind of stuck in a corner in the back room. Service was alright. The bussers were more attentive than our actual server. Made sure to keep our wine and water full. The waiter seemed a bit out of it. When our meals came 3 of us didn't have a knife and I had to ask someone else. They brought me a butter knife that was a bit difficult to cut through my pork chop. I also had forgotten my ID so couldn't have a glass of wine. I get it, I look young, it's the law - but still a bit annoying. Overall I think for the prices - I expected much better service and was a bit dissappointed. I'll probably give it another shot at some point and hopefully will be more impressed.
(3)Bronwen Y.
I was really disappointed in Towne. I was so interested to go there, and then it definitely did not live up to expectations. The atmosphere is really cool as is the decor (minus the weird picture of a naked breast that stared me down from across the bar all night), and the drinks were good and generously poured. What killed me was the clientele. A bunch of 20-something women and a bunch of 45+ men. Weird! Ok, I'm being unfair. There were younger guys there. They were on dates. I was not there to "pick someone up," but the older male clientele was really aggressive in trying to pick up the various girls in my party. It got old fast (pun intended), and so we split. Glad I've seen it, but I'm over it.
(2)Laura B.
I had an excellent lunch there. It was definitely a business crowd (noon through 2:00). We had a great waiter, good food and it was at a very reasonable price for an upscale lunch in that area (Back Bay). I would definitely go back there with clients or book it for someone out of town.
(4)ash l.
Jaguars are in an interesting car niche. They are supposed to be a symbol of luxury, class, and taste. Yet any Jag owner knows that the car comes with as many problems as a high maintenance girlfriend that constantly requires facials, manicures, shopping trips, and of course, a regular oil cleaning. The joy of owning one (Jag or girl, you pick), isn't always worth the bragging rights. Towne is my restaurant Jaguar. It's hip looking, cool, classy (in a fromage wavelength), and has some nice wheels. I love the social ambiance, but can't stand the food, nor do I think the place is as large as it appears. Somehow I always feel cramped if there are more than 10 people in the lounge. Unlike a Jaguar dealership, however, the service is awesome. I had Sarah the bartender, who was very easy on the eyes, and refreshingly nice. The guy bartender that was on his shift was very cool too, but I don't recall his name due to his lack of ... um... assets. I'll keep coming back, but I really wish they improve the menu. The fettuccine alfredo is a disaster.
(4)David C.
Fantastic spot for dinner. Great service... fantastic drinks... loved this spot. I had an amazing dish... Partridge... the flavors were fantastic. I will be craving this dish for a while... loved it! The maple cotton candy was also a fun end to the evening.
(5)Whytnee B.
This place is awful. I have a few, separate incidents that culminate into me never coming here again. 1) Cleared my friends' nearly full drinks when they went for a cig. Tried to rectify the problem by bringing out the tray that the said drinks were sitting on, amongst the rest of the bar's discards. Disgusting. One of my nice friends explained to the waitress that it is better for the restaurant to simply replace the drinks and keep the customers. They argued about this for a few minutes, and finally another employee offered a handful of gift cards. Which I would want to use EXCEPT ... 2) I was with another group and we were seated at a table, given water and menus, and were told the kitchen was still open. Several waiters passed our table over the next 20 minutes and did not acknowledge us whatsoever. We left and went over to Eastern Standard, where the service is absolutely superb. 3) Last but not least, a friend of mine worked here for a few months and recently left because they were not paying her money she had earned from them. Maybe this is why we couldn't get service the other night; the waiters are unmotivated because they are treated poorly. Needless to say I will NEVER return to this place, which is filled with a bunch of desperate people that are over the hill. Shame on you Jasper White and Lydia Shire, for thinking that your names override the facts that the customer is always right and you need to treat your employees with respect. You would think with their combined experience they would know a little better.
(1)Lili M.
This place didn't quite do it for me. I ate in the upstairs part, by a window, which was nice and quiet/romantic but the food was just alright. I ordered chicken and a salad (forget which) but neither were that flavorful. Then for dessert we asked the waitress what she would suggest and she said their best and most popular dish was the bread pudding. We ordered it and it was GROSS. It also looked really sloppy and watery. For a special occasion and a more privatish setting, it's an option. For a dinner on a night when you have thousands of other options that offer the same sort of menu, I'd choose the other places.
(2)Mrs. G.
Towne is a great spot for cocktails. They aren't outrageously expensive and they are well-done. I had a cucumber martini with honey sugar on the rim and it was really tasty. It was strong but it was smooth and perfect. I can't wait to go back to test out the food. The drinks are awesome.
(4)Colleen Y.
Maybe when I live in the penthouse at the Taj, and when I can walk in without a reso, I'll throw a couple more stars Towne's way. Towne, where the sun shines: 1. 36-24-36, and she's only 5'3. From her hips to her rack, Towne has got it going on from top-to-bottom. 2. Eye candy take two. If you get bored looking at the decor, check out the crowd...tight ass jeans, lipsticked glasses galore, and heels clicking in every direction. Get ready for sexiliciousness, and a bevy of botoxed bostonians. No complaints here, if you got it on at 40 or 50 -- I've got no shame in taking a look. 3. Local lush. You want to get drunk close to home? Towne is probably close to you. From my friends in JP, to my spot in Cambridge, my industry crew from Beacon Hill, or grad students in Brookline...they can all be at Towne in like 5 minutes. Buuut, they best not be driving there. Unless they want to start their night with a 25 buck valet and a 15 buck drink. Ouch. 4. Senior Staff They pulled out all the stops, and their staff has got in popping. I don't think I have EVER been to a new restaurant that ran so smoothly. I see they swooped up the past GM from Harvest. He's got hospitality skills - and clearly did a great job picking up some vets in the industry to deal with the sell out crowds they'd be dealing with. Towne, Where the sun don't shine: 1. Identity crisis. They want the yuppies, but can't favor the nouveau riche over the bald-headed bankers and their 2 favorite accessories: blondes with fake boobies and animal print blanhniks + wallets weighed down by metal credit cards. They try to keep the downstairs bar rowdy, and the upstairs one chill...but that is asking for a "do you know who I am" comment from some chauch mcgees. 2. Foodie fascination, followed by foodie frowns. If you love Clio, and O Ya, and Menton -- you might be tempted to go to Towne for the food. Hell, its chefs are better known than those of arguably anywhere in Boston. But just as Olives turned into the McDonalds of fine dining, Towne is a classic 3. You're pretty hot, especially with your mouth shut. Watched the douchiest loser yell at staff member after staff member after HE knocked a plate out of a food runners hands. Then the "big shot" demanded they pay for his jeans, or at least the 10 dollar bill for dry cleaning. Maybe a chill request if he hadn't just acted like a king amongst slave people. I wouldn't ever, ever, ever date a loser like that. And I hope that escort he had with him felt the same way after that display. 4. For singles looking to mingle, but only singles that carry around more than just single...dollar bills. I've got to add Towne to the list of places I used to go to when I had a leading man in town. But I can promise we'd only check it out for a night, not because of the staff or even really the food or bevs. True, true, Towne great for girls night out, but too expensive for my typical lady friend. And most likely yours too. That is, unless your favorite female to frolic with in town and at Town, is with your super hot sugarmomma gf. A stella, a glass of wine or two, and a mushroom duxelle pizza later I spent enough to get a pair of jeans that might make my ass cheeks look as tight as the face cheeks on the cougars huddle around the bar at Towne. SO, WHATS THE REAL DEAL Sure, I'll meet you at town. If I'm not planning on eating, drinking, or talking to anyone else. Or, I'll do all of the above if you want to take me out on the town, to Towne. Otherwise...I think I'll stick to other options that amass the douche bags of Boston, I hear there might be a few in the financial district?
(2)Chris D.
This is a review of brunch at Towne. Brunch was a bust at Towne. I went with two friends. One had eggs benedict which he thought was ok. My other friend had lemon pancakes which he found disappointing. I believe it was just plate of a few pancakes and a couple of strawberries and some silly cotton candy? Cotton candy, really?!? What adult wants to play with spun sugar cotton candy. It simply melts all over your hands. My entree was chicken and waffles. Or should I say, chicken wings and waffles! I expected at least a cutlet or a breast and a thigh, but wings? Yuck. They were huge, but what a mess. I was not prepared for the greasy mess of trying to eat wings. You can't use utensils so you have to eat with your hands. Not smart folks - greasy fingers which you then have to use on your utensils to eat the waffles. Come on, this is supposed to be a "high-end" restaurant by one of Boston's top chefs. Fried chicken wings, really?!? At least the menu should have said the chicken and waffles was really chicken WINGS and waffles. I felt ripped off. The wings weren't even very good. If I had known it was wings I would not have ordered it. Honestly, the best part of my meal was the coffee and the teeny, tiny, itsy, bitsy donut that they come around and offer you as a amuse-bouche. It was simply perfect, light and airy and not greasy.....but a little too cutsy for me. The service was ok, except the really long wait for our waiter to pick up the check. When my meal is finished I really dislike it when service falls off a cliff and I have to wait a long time for the wait staff to come back to pick up the check after I have put my card in the check folder. I won't be going back.
(1)Gail F.
I've been driving by Towne every day on my way in to work vowing to try it ASAP. I finally gave it a shot the week after it opened with one of my girlfriends...and I was not impressed. The decor was great, very warm and welcoming. There's two different bar areas, upstairs and the front bar when you walk in. I was seated downstairs in the dining room so I didn't venture upstairs but it looked nice and open. The dining room was relatively busy for 630pm on a Thursday night and we were seated immediately. We ordered some apps and sides to share and everything was absolutely delicious. However the service was terrible. And when I say terrible, I mean TERRIBLE. Our waitress was no where to be found the entire night and when we finally got our check (30 minutes after our meal was finished) she wasn't even apologetic for the wait. I will give Towne another shot, because the food truly was delicious, but I hope they get their act together with service before my next visit.
(2)Shelly D.
1st time to Towne. Wont be my last. Interesting decor. The process of getting seating was a bit confusing, but the host staff were very professional. The upstair restaurant area is beautiful. OPen display kitchen that boasts some serious equiptment (and oversized props- who doesnt love those). The server was Ok. Polite and efficient. Food: Lobster Popovers....now if I am to be exicuted and asked for my last meal choices- this would be one of them on a short list. I can't describe how incredible they are... Lobster Pizza....Was a B+. The Duck...Very good. Moist. Perfect portion. Wasnt sure what was going on on the plate, but everything seemed to work. I would order again and recommend. Dessert...Blah...Wasnt a fan. Wish I got more Everyone else had different things. Everyone was very pleased with their choices.
(4)Ian C.
Towne had a really fun atmosphere. I was there with a group of 16, and they were very accommodating. Despite the large group size (and other large groups around us) it wasn't too noisy. The appetizers were pretty good. I got the iceberg salad and tried a lobster popover. The cheese on the salad was interesting, but a little heavy. The bacon was excellent, though! I ordered the skirt steak for my entree. I ordered it medium, but it came out medium rare. The potatoes were cold (not just room temperature, actually cold). I told the waiter, and he didn't hesitate to take it back to the kitchen and fix it. The put the steak on the grill, and it was excellent. They returned the same half eaten potato, which was okay, but I would have preferred a not reheated one. I also tried the chicken, and it was delicious! For dessert, I had a cappuccino (I asked for a double, but apparently they can only do singles?). The white chocolate lime cheesecake was amazing, and I'm very glad I got it. The waiters were extremely nice, and I'd like to go back to try brunch.
(3)Susan P.
Loved loved loved! Loved the grapefruit cocktail, loved the lobster popovers and loved my dinner. ambience was GREAT! Sit outside if the weather is nice!
(5)Eve S.
I really like this place! I went late on a Saturday night, the bartenders make some great drinks/shots. The waitresses are less than appealing, they weren't as pleasant as the bartenders and seemed as if they didn't want to be there, but the place is great. Tough to find seating on a Saturday night, but it's a pretty big place so something eventually opens up.
(4)Anto A.
Went out for a drink on Sunday night here with coworkers. We were all staying around the corner at the Sheraton, so it was very conveniently located. The atmosphere was decent and the drinks of average price. It was fairly slow, obviously it was Sunday night, just a birthday party and a few other guests from the Sheraton.
(3)Katie W.
Came here for a Birthday Brunch and was pleasantly surprised. I am a die hard Sel de la Terre brunch fan, but since downsizing their breakfast options (removing their amazing twist on eggs Benedict from the menu), I have been in search for a new special occasion brunch spot, and I think I may have found it. We had no problem getting a table on a Sunday around lunch time, and first ordered drinks, Mimosa was delicious (heavy on the champagne which is always nice) and the bloody mary was mediocre--I prefer them to be spicy and thick, this one was a little thin and lacked that spicy kick. They bring complimentary corn bread and these little donuts hot and just glazed that are amazing! Think Krispy Kreme donut holes. I ordered the Eggs Benedict (although I was very intrigued by the authentic Chicken and Waffles) which was amazing, flavorful and had a great creamy hollandaise which was in abundance. I had plenty to dip my side of hash browns in. I also LOVE that they serve it with bacon rather than Canadian Bacon, only qualm was the bacon could have been a little crispier. Also got the Cheesy Grits which were a nice treat. My boyfriend ordered the Lobster and Chive omelet which was delicious as well, seemed to have a reasonable amount of lobster chunks for the price. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by how good the meal was. Not a place I would frequent every weekend because of the price, but if your looking for a splurge or a special occasion treat, this is your place!
(4)Elina H.
This place is extremely expensive for what it is and the execution of the dishes isn't even good. I got the lobster roll, which mysteriously seems to come on and off the menu, and while the lobster part was good the bun was soggy in seconds. It was a disaster! [My husband's fried clams were just average, and at $21 we both expected more.] Will definitely not be back! I'm not sure if links are allowed, but I wrote a longer review here: healthyandsane.com/2011/…
(2)Joanna L.
Have been here for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as just for drinks. Breakfast and lunch are the best meals here, despite dinner having the best ambience time at Towne. Entrees are plentiful and well-done, but not terribly original. Sandwiches are good at lunch time, but the salads are on the small side. Dinner menu is always a little tricky - I'm never completely in love with the choices provided, and my thoughts are that it's, on average, $4-5 overpriced. Sitting at Towne for a meal is a great place to see, and be seen, and is great for late-night dinners - but it's much more style than quality eats.
(3)Michael D.
I never felt totally comfortable with Towne Stove and Spirits. Until now. The recent menu changes now offer simplicity and at the same time maintain elegance. You can't fully appreciate a 14oz bone-in filet mignon until you try it. Gone are the over-complicated dishes and replaced instead with ingredients that are allowed to speak for themselves. The sides like the baked sweet potato with brown sugar and butter, the crispy hash browns, and the grilled sweet corn are must tries. On my two most recent visits, I also noticed an attitude change. Same attentive service but it seems like more smiles abound. Not sure what the story is there but the difference is palpable. If this is a Towne reinvention count me in as a huge supporter.
(5)Leo L.
Just a horrible experience... Went there for a quick bite of food and had a seat at the bar, I ordered the Lobster and side of rice, after a long wait the dish finally arrived and the rice was so raw that it could brake a tooth, after sending it back I could tell that the bartender wasn't very happy about it and walked to kitchen, after 8 minutes or so he comes back to finally ask if I wanted anything else instead, I told him I would try any other type rice instead, over 15 minutes later (my lobster was cold by the time I got the other side of rice) the rice finally arrived and the chef came to serve it to me with a super rude attitude, and guess what?! It was not ready to be served again! I had two bites of it paid for the bill and left... and still left 5% tip which was really nice of me! Do not go here if you're expecting good food!
(1)Kathleen M.
Made last minute reservations for my birthday on Friday afternoon. They were able to get my large group in at 9PM, perfect!! I had been here before for drinks, never explored upstairs, what a beautiful dining room. Perfect for groups!! Our waiter was wonderful, paid the perfect amount of attention (at least 4 of us at the table have been in the food&beverage industry at some point, so really appreciate the attentive, but not overly attentive service.) Loved the drink menu, had a few birthday Mai Tais, delicious! Menu had a great selection, the chef even volunteered to prepare a special plate for one of my vegetarian friends. There were vegetarian options on the menu so he definitely didn't have to. 2 thumbs up!! I started with some oysters on the half shell and had the swordfish for my entree, which was cooked to perfection. Sampled a bite of the coconut jasmine rice, which was so tasty!! Ended my meal with a slice of birthday melt in your mouth chocolate cake with marshmallow ice cream (can it be my birthday every night?!) My entire party enjoyed the drinks, food & ambiance agreeing they would all come back & giving me kudos for picking a great spot! We ended up staying downstairs to have some more cocktails. Again, great service. I'm glad I went off the Boston's best reviews, I'm not sure how the reviews on yelp aren't that great. Will be back for sure! Thanks Towne, and staff for making my birthday a great night! And for squeezing us in last minute!!
(5)Alison H.
I went to Towne last Saturday night with some friends for drinks. We arrived at 10 and the bar areas were all packed both upstairs and downstairs. We grabbed a drink upstairs but quickly realized we were constantly standing in the wrong place. My friend went downstairs to check for more room downstairs and the hostess offered to set our growing group now up to 8+ friends with a big table. They let us sit at a big table for just drinks and as our group grew, they were very accommodating and even added on another table and chairs for us. I know I'm giving them a five for just drinks but the level of service for just drinks was amazing.
(5)Mick T.
Summary: get the decadent cauliflower, get the Bolognese. Staff are friendly, efficient and courteous, grub is good, it's not cheap. Been here 3 times and this review is going to be long: - Drinks after an Xmas party at the back bar - Dinner at the front bar - Fantastic, fun, enjoyable, Yelp event upstairs. All three times I enjoyed it and each experience was different. -- The staff were courteous and professional when a load of us showed up after our work's Xmas party and arrived at the back bar. The barman was prompt attentive and professional, the waitress was pleasant and patient but on her 1st night and had to check on a lot of things. The weirdest thing was the huge blond lad in a fur coat who got thick & tried to pick a fight with a member of our party after the ladies told him to please feck off. This isn't Towne's fault and no violence occurred besides some finger wagging. There were 3 of these lads in their ankle-length fur coats which I though was bizarre, and is indicative of the type of people that may frequent this place in the nether-hours. -- Next up was a stop at the bar at 5.30pm on a Saturday. After a fierce-some workout at the Gym, and not enough to eat, and a bit of frantic shopping (me staring at racks of hugely marked down clothes in L&T and giving up), me and the missus went to the front bar as I had a hankering for a good f**king burger. F**k, they didn't have on one the menu. The very pleasant barman said they have a mini-burger that is rather big for a mini-burger (not huge like) it comes with potato chips. But add on their glorious weird extreme fired spud things, and it's a hit (for $6 more). Well he was right, it wasn't a huge burger, but it was glorious and had a good beefy taste, with a good bun and perfectly cooked being a nice medium-well but still moist (yes I like my beef cooked!). Size wise it was about the same diameter as a Bartley's burger and not as tall, flavour was good. The spud-tater fired things reminded me of the frozen-fired spuds the brother get's from Lidel (in Ireland) in the frozen food section only better, being crispy golden on the outside and like a lovely buttery rich mash on the inside. The missus had the Pappardelle de Cecco Bolognese, on the recommendation of the barman, and that was really really good, almost as good as her bolognese with that deep flavour as if it's been cooking all day, for the price, $17 I think this is best inexpensive entrée on the menu and worth trying as it is that good (or I was just that hungry). The other think I added to my order was the the side of cauliflower; she thought I was crazy paying $11 for cauliflower. This is the most decadent cauliflower I've ever had; beautifully roasted, sliced in thirds and covered in pine nuts, raisins, & olive oil. Did I really use decadent and cauliflower in the same sentence? I really think Towne should offer the cauliflower with the Bolognese sauce, as that would be just the most incredible entree and one could pretend to oneself that it's healthy. One quibble, while the staff were friendly and good at their jobs I really don't want to listen to the barman chat up the waitress; just seems a little unprofessional for these prices. However, the lad who brought the food was fantastic and very pleasantly lead the missus to the loo (its hidden way down back), he was also working the Yelp event and was really, really on the ball (I should have gotten his name but he was great). -- The Yelp event was great, the food was fantastic, and the staff were great, and it was cool to get candyfloss and peer into the kitchen, and the views out the windows onto Boylston Street. And I would heartily recommend Towne for a Xmas party, function or some such event. OK, I'm tired after this novella and am going to head over there for some cauliflower, just gotta find me blonde wing and fur coat (seriously who wears fur?).
(4)Veronica A.
All in all fantastic! Dinner is great great - brunch is grater - for Boston it's one of those spots for breakfast, dinner AND drinks! SO that's good right? Ask for the upstairs room and get a seat near the window... it's essentially a nice city feel. I dig it.
(4)Lala L.
Besides it's location and it's dessert, I wouldn't really go back to this restaurant. Yes, it's new and opened by a couple of celebrity chefs in Boston. The wait is horrible if you don't have reservations.....line is out the door. Would you want to be roped off like you're waiting to get into a club just for mediocre food? The best thing I was oooh-ing over was their Brown Sugar Angel Food Cake with Maple Cotton Candy and Caramel Ice Cream. Yes! It does exist and it's as wonderful as it sounds! I'd definitely go back for this after a day out shopping and need a pick me up and coffee break. The food wasn't fantastic. The tartar duo was alright, - ok, forgettable. The fois gras appetizer was over cooked. I'm sure I can get the raw oysters elsewhere in the area. My entree was the tuna steak. I've had many in the past. In fact, I love my sushi. This tuna wasn't exactly "sashimi grade". Actually, it was a bit overcooked. I can get one better done at Legal Seafoods practically a skip and a hop away. One of my friends got the braised short ribs. It looks yummy, but like all the other dishes, including my tuna...they encrusted it in ALOT of salt to give it more flavor. Also, can I just mention that all the mashed potatoes in the dishes it came in was over-whipped? Yes, it was gummy potatoes. (this happens when you over-whip potatoes and it gets VERY starchy and glutinous.)
(3)Susan P.
Attended a function on a Friday evening and the food and service was spectacular! Lydia Shire came out to greet us - which was a very nice surprise. Will visit Towne again soon.
(5)aaron t.
good drinks. Good bread food, incredibly greasy and way over priced. Not so good. service, good. Seems like a place for overpriced food, large portions, but not much taste, besides the bar drinks. Come here for drinks, not food. Bad experience. a friend and I came here and it cost us over $70 each. for 1 pizza, 2 appetizers, and 2-3 drinks each. If in back bay, i'd say go to Sel de la ter, atlantic fish, tapeos, or a bit further down to south end to coppa, toro, or chinatown for a good meal.
(1)Tammie P.
Had the lamb and lobster popovers for dinner a couple of times. There's a lobster omelet that's decent, too.
(3)Stephen M.
Been here a few times but this is my first review. Cool venue, decent menu, mediocre wine list and unamazing food. Would definitely go back to hit the bar for drinks, or maybe even for say a group dinner, but the food is nowhere near good enough to seek the place out for "just" dinner.
(3)Sean H.
Ambiance - Trendy yet warm. Very comfortable Food - Very, VERY Good Menu - A bit limited...I half expected more lobster dishes. The menu is international in scope, but could use more items. Sides are numerous and outstanding. Service - A+ Wine List - A+ Thank you. We will be back!
(4)L S.
The food and service were great - it was just too dark to enjoy the experience. Turn up the lights a bit please.
(2)John V.
Goood stuff!
(4)John B.
I went here for drinks after dinner elsewhere with my fiancée and another couple for a mid March birthday celebration. The front bar was great, a little steep on prices but according to my fiancée the sangria is amazing. Added bonus was that my friend and I, both HUGE Bruins fans, were drinking next to Chara, Kaberle, Kelly, and Hnidy drinking (we didn't say anything because we are both firm believers that the last thing any celebrity wants to do is deal with adoring fans while they are out). A month later my fiancée and I had another reason to celebrate so we decided to head back for dinner. We didn't have a reservation but were able to be seated after half a drink at the bar. Everything was going great... Now, I didn't research the menu at all. If I had I would have discovered a weird array of entrées. Not a problem I like trying new things. The prices were over the top but whatever, we were celebrating. That was my rational before the entrees arrived. I got the Cod Bullet. Picture a tiny piece of cod (a very basic white fish) swimming in runny Thai peanut sauce and lobster raviolis that were about the size of my thumbs top knuckle. Not what I pictured for over $30. My fiancée got the lobster pizza a little bigger than a personal pizza for $26. These entrées were good but not good enough to be priced at over $20. I really want to give Towne 3.5 stars. I'd break it down like this... Bar: 5 stars Atmosphere: 5 stars Staff: 5 stars Price: 2 stars Portions: 2 stars Food: 3 stars
(3)Chuckie T.
Keep this simple. 5 stars for service and hospitality from the bartender to our waitress. Couldn't be more affable or attentive. Food was pretty good, but taking one star off. Had the pizza, pea soup, ravioli, and other items that were shared. All were enjoyed, but portions pretty small - esp the ravioli @ $17(!!!). 2 more stars off for value. This is Towne's problem. The food prices are sky-high - at least 20% more than what is reasonable for what you get ...which is decent quality and small portions. Just can't see myself coming back here to eat. Drink, yes, but eat, no.
(2)TBone A.
Nice location, nice ambient. I expected more from the food. We started off with Tar tare appetizer. It's OK. Nothing memorable. I ordered crispy duck. My friends had Cod "Bullet" and Pork Chop. The portion is quite generous. They must have put my dish under heat lamp, waiting for other dishes to be finished because by the time it hit the table. The sauce was congealed. However , the Cod and Pork Chop seems OK. I like Pork Chop best, then the Cod. The duck dish was a bit disappointed. Lastly we ordered Brown sugar angel food cake with caramel ice cream and maple cotton candy for dessert. Everything on the plate is really sweet. Personally I founded their food almost like "trying to hard". Every dish has lots of component but somehow doesn't tied together. Most of the garnish are deep fried and oily. I won't hurry back.
(2)Sheila B.
Lot's of trend for the spend.... I will say if you don't like anything on this menu you do have issues. There are a ton of choices, menu that includes Indian, Chinese, Italian, american fare, printed on a large print menu, incase you forgot your glasses ! What they ARE that's a cute, swanky spot on Boylston with a varied menu, which doesn't quite make sense to me. But again, lots of options, I tend to want to eat a more focused cuisine. So I took the plunge and went to the indian food, which definitely did not tast authentic, just because you throw some cumin. clilantro, and garlic on some chicken doesn't make it Indian. I did like the lobster popover, not bad for a little appetizer. Portion sizes where fair, I got the brick chicken, and my friend got the thighs bothwere ok. Would pass on the chicken next time and go try something else. I would go back again, but don't expect my opinion to change a ton. Also Lydia's lobster pizza, I almost shunned $26 REALLY.. how much meat is on that thing.. that's a lot.. I have eaten that at the Excelsior bar menu back in the day for maybe half that price.. I don't know it just don't seem right.. Again I leave you with , lots of trend for the spend..........
(3)Cahaya S.
Very shi-shi place with 3 or 4 rooms...definitely one of the happening, new joints in Boston. We ordered appetizers in the "bar" room -- the first room as you enter. I had a lobster dog and my friend had another lobster concoction, which she thought was going to be a stew -- but it was actually some kind of "jellified" stew! lol! ick!!! I dunno -- I wasn't that impressed...(plus my lobsterdog was like a regular hotdog --with no toppings. Couldn't really taste the lobster -- unfortunately....
(3)Kimberly P.
I returned to Towne for dinner and had a great experience. Our server was charming, timely and knowledgeable about the menu... he made great recommendations!
(4)Marcus A.
A couple of friends brought me here for my birthday. The Zagat guide essentially describes this place as trendy, loud, good food and spotty service. Based on my experience, that summation is right on the mark. The restaurant itself is definitely trendy and eclectic but still comfortable. There's dining on two levels and also an outdoor seating area. If your looking for a quiet dining experience, look elsewhere. The noise level is quite high and can sometimes be intrusive to conversation. Oddly enough, it would have been quieter if we had opted for the outdoor seating. Our server was prompt and efficient but everyone agreed he had a bit to much "attitude" despite the fact the his shirt was a half a size to small and his buttons were straining to contain his waist. Appetizers consisted of salads for my two friends and the lobster popovers for myself. My dinner companions said the salads were fine but really, how can you mess up a salad. As for the popovers...AMAZING! I allowed each of my friends a bite and then refused to share anymore. Highly recommended. Entrees included the two orders of the halibut and an order of the cod entrée. The entrees were good but lacked any WOW factor. Good but not exceptional. If you like a starch and/or vegetable with your protein, you'll need to order them separately from the "Sides" section of the menu. The entrees (at least the ones we ordered) came with just the main protein. Overall, not a bad night out but if I ever return, it will be solely to sample the lobster popovers again. Moderately recommended.
(3)Jennifer B.
I went here the other night with my best friend for the 1 st time. I love the outdoor tent they have set up, it's like something you would see in a fairy tale, it's so cool, we didn't sit in it though. We sat at the bar we each had 2 of their signature cocktails, which I honestly felt were overpriced at $12.00 each. I guess I felt if it was worth it, I wouldn't mind paying for it, but they weren't really that good. We also ordered the crab dip. It was good, it needed just a few more chips with it. I didn't have enough for my dip. We also decided to share the peanut butter sundae that came with maple cotton candy. Yes maple cotton candy, all I have to say is wow, it was awesome.
(4)Katie H.
I attended a fabulous cooking class here and was very impressed with the entire experience. The restaurant is cozy and chic. The kitchen, with its glass walls that allows diners to see what's happening, was superb and very clean. The food was melt in your mouth enjoyable and the wine pairings were perfect. I'd go back any time for drinks in the lower level or dinner on the second floor. It's obviously on the pricier side of things but well worth the occasional splurge for a great meal.
(4)Sara C.
This review is based on the brunch only! It was unique and very good. They give you mini glazed donuts and biscotti at your table while you wait, which were really good. Everyone loved their meals. I got the pancakes and they came with maple syrup cotton candy on top! It was so cute and different. It happened to be my birthday so at the end of the meal instead of bringing a cake or other dessert, they brought a giant serving of the cotton candy with a candle and chocolate piece that said Happy Birthday on it. Needless to say it was eaten up quickly by all and was very addictive. We will definiately be coming back here for brunch.
(5)Jacqueline C.
I hadn't been to this restaurant in a year so was a little worried since it has gotten mixed reviews lately. However we went with another couple on Saturday night and loved it. The bar scene was no longer a scene...it was just where people were hanging out waiting for their tables. That's a little sad, but nice at the same time since it wasn't a big deal to actually sit at the bar and have a drink before dinner instead of getting jostled around. We arrived early with the intention of having a drink before dinner but our table ended up being ready an hour early so we sat down. This was a tad annoying since I had called that day and asked if it was possible to get an earlier reservation and was told that we couldn't. The room is funky and loud. We couldn't really hear the waiter, but it didn't matter. We ordered apps and dinner and wine. The lobster popovers, which I remember being totally amazing, were just 'meh' but the shrimp tempurah was delicious. For dinner I had the duck, which is one of their signature dishes, and it was AMAZING. perfectly cooked, cool looking on my plate and scrumptious. I ate every bite. My husband had the schnitzel minus the anchovies and it was delicious. We both loved our meals. We would absolutely go back to this place.
(4)Lee D.
Headed to Towne about a week after it opened its doors. It's always nice to go to a restaurant soon after it opens -- the waiters are helpful and positive, not jaded and disinterested, the decor is current and interesting, not outdated and overplayed. You get caught up in the excitement and newness of it all. Since I wasn't particularly hungry, I ordered the Beet Caprese and app-sized fettuccine alfredo. The beet dish was amazing. The fettuccine alfredo wasn't too impressive -- just pasta and butter -- but good. My friends ordered the duck and steak. I tried some of each and thought they were great. So, Towne was exciting, had great service and decent food, certainly had a great vibe going on, and was decorated in a very interesting way (check out the crystal gun on the third floor!). Downsides were the lack of a fully operational bar (no maraschino!!), the incredibly noisy first and second floors (great wooden floors, walls and ceilings, but nothing to absorb the overwhelming din of such a large facility), and the fact that despite a wonderfully varied menu there aren't too many healthy options.
(3)Gerald H.
Bar scene fun, and food decent. Service horrible. Party of 12 for my brother's 50th birthday. Took 45 minutes to place our order, despite trying to flag the waiter. Had to complain twice before service picked up. Sommelier recommended a brunello that they did not carry. Overall poor experience and would not go back.
(2)Jennifer B.
Towne has a fantastic brunch. The cocktails were tasty, as was the food. Good atmosphere and great and attentive waitstaff. The omelet I had was very tasty and I loved the tater tots (less like a tot and more like a homefry- but delicious nonetheless). It seems like a great spot for somewhat large parties and they were very accommodating. I look forward to going back soon.
(4)Maddie H.
Bathrooms did not have any handsoap. Food was overwhelmingly salty. Overpriced. Slow to refill water glasses. Took bread away without asking.
(2)Karen K.
Amazing! Came here for my birthday and was blown away by everything-service, food and atmosphere. We will be back soon for sure!
(5)Jillian T.
So surprised by all the bad reviews on here! My boyfriend and I have been living in Boston for almost a year and eat out quite a bit, and Towne is absolutely one of our favorites. First went for Valentine's Day, but have been back since. Solid service, nice atmosphere and DELICIOUS food!!! We've sampled several dishes and everything is absolutely amazing.. you can tell it's made w/ quality ingredients. Highly recommended!
(4)Julia W.
Second visit, feeling pretty open-minded about this place. It is large and comprised of different spaces with different feels to them. Last time we were upstairs in a more formal space with tablecloths. This time we were in a large room. Lots of hard surfaces, so, it was a bit loud although the room was not full. The service was very professional, nice. Food was very slow. This was fine for the appetizer but got tedious with the main course. I had the roasted kale/bay scallops appetizer, it was excellent. The short ribs on pappardelle special was also excellent; my sole florentine very good. The parmesan roasted broccoli and cauliflower also excellent. Apologies for the slowness of the kitchen were offered, and we were given a glass of a very nice pinot noir which was a nice surprise. To top that off, we were also comped a dessert. Totally not necessary, but very generous of them. We had a nice meal and will be back.
(4)Pickle P.
We were given a gift certificate and used it on a weeknight. Overall quite dissapointing. First of all, it's hard to find the restaurant as the doors lead you into the bar. Clientele was standard Back Bay goober, but with middle management jobs. Service was hot and cold, alternating between overattentive and completely absent. Food was standard (pork chop/duck confit) but overpriced. One good point - the Willamette Valley pinot I chose blindly from the list was great. Oh, and the bartender on the restaurant side looked like a stripper. Note to owners - while this might attract men to the bar, it doesn't class up the joint.
(2)Casey H.
We had made reservations for a large group on Sat night and they sat us at a table that was way too small. They were not willing to find us a larger table. Typically when you see a group our size, you know the bill will be over $1000, and its very interesting when a restaurant still provides poor service right from the start. The food was ok. It is a bit overpriced for what you get, but passable. I had the sea bass. I would recommend this place for drinks, but not for dinner, particularly because of the bad service.
(2)Eric S.
I tried to book an event with Towne and they were very unresponsive! I called multiple times and never got an answer back. Seems like they don't need the business! These guys are unprofessional ... don't waste your time. Go somewhere else! Lots of venues in Boston ...
(1)Arturo H.
I heard this place was the greatest thing since slice bread. It was good, but given the build up I was a little disappointed. Pretty pricey too. They cotton candy as a dessert option which someone in my group got. That was pretty impressive and not usual for a restaurant. Everyone, including myself seemed pretty satisfied with their dinner but no one was glowing. I would go back if it was cheaper, and glad I tried it once.
(3)Jason W.
I had the avocado and lobster eggs benedict and side of cheese grits, a greyhound beverage, and a coffee. The meal was superb, the service was pleasant, and the location and setting near the Prudential Building is very convenient. There are many parking options and tons of shopping. What makes this place even better is there current manager. I had a slight mishap when my leftovers (half my meal) was discarded instead of packaged to go as requested. The waitress apologized. I did not want to make a fuss or make my friends wait being new years day and all, so I paid the bill and left. The food was so good, I kept thinking about it the next day and decided to email the manager to explain the mistake. His replies and response was expedious and very satisfactory. I will definitely be back and will bring others.
(4)John P.
Long time lurker, first time reviewer (meal was noteworthy enough to serve as catalyst for initial review). The lady and I ate at Towne this past weekend- our first visit for dinner (had been previously for brunch and drinks). A great experience (food and staff particularly). We had an early reservation (~6pm) on a Friday, and were seated upstairs promptly. The second floor is recommended: love the 1) space (clear sightlines to the kitchen/outside to Boyleston) and 2) insulation from the first floor after work drinks crowd. Our joint-order: starters, lobster popovers; entrée, sirloin and duck crisp; sides, roasted potatoes and green beans. Pleased with all facets of the meal, but the star of the evening was the lobster popover. They consist of declawed/shelled lobster, baked into puff-pastry dough, brushed with a sweet honey. The trifecta of the 1) meaty richness of the lobster with the 2) salty pastry and 3) sweet honey drizzle cover almost all pallet basics. I have no doubt we could have made a meal of simply popovers (decorum be damned). It's worth visiting Towne for them alone. Also highly recommend the duck crisp: well-conceived and executed. A final note on service. Our server (Matt) was excellent. He vouched for the duck (which along with the lobster popovers, were the stars of the meal), and otherwise was consummately knowledgeable and warm. As someone who looks significantly younger than I am, I appreciated the collegiality and professionalism of all the staff we encountered (Matt, hostesses, and even the girl at coat check). After one too many patronizing restaurant experiences (perhaps most egregiously at Sorellina), this level of respect was much appreciated. Tl;dr: came for the hype, will return for the popovers, duck, and respectful service.
(4)Michael C.
I went to Towne for a big event on their second floor reserved for private functions and I was so impressed. The service staff was top notch and about all the food I had was excellent. Since most of it was served on trays by servers I can't really comment on particular dishes. There were some items that stood out, the flash fried blue cheese shrimp and their homemade ice cream were top notch and I will be back again just to have them. They also made some delicious peanut brittle that was more like honey comb that was out of this world, they said it is usually not on the regular menu, I hope they add it soon!
(4)Anthony C.
I have since returned to Towne at least three times, and my newest discovery there worth raving about is the bar menu! It's great. I can't say enough about it. There are a number of Jasper White-designed lobster dishes on the bar menu as well as a few Lydia Shire gastronomic concoctions... but what sticks out? THE BURGER. Yes, seriously. It is 70% ground skirt steak and 30% ground short rib... and 110% amazing. It goes for $11 and comes with homemade chips which are the icing on the cake, so to speak. Usually there is some combination of potato chips, sweet potato chips and plantain chips. Brilliant. Paired with a martini or bourbon or beer, the burger is a perfect treat and a quick lunch. Oysters and littlenecks are available (although to be fair, they are usually cheaper during the early evening at Jasper White's Back Bay location of the Summer Shack), as well as innovative creations like lobster popovers or stacked zucchini boards. The cocktails are diverse, interesting and truly satisfying. The whiskey and bar offerings are deep, and there are a number of unique entries. My waiter and waitress service has continued to be top notch, while I've had a couple cranky bartenders (but nonetheless, still professional). One strange drawback to stopping by for lunch, or early eats before the dining room opens, is that table bread is not available. With the fantastic breads and spreads offered in the dining room, I am unclear as to why it is not prepared for earlier service even in smaller quantities, available only "as requested." It was explained to me that the breads are not even prepared each day until about 4:00 for dinner service and yet it seems like a reasonable expectation when patrons have to walk by several more cost-effective eateries to get to Towne particularly during the daytime (when specials are plentiful and readily available). Interestingly, on one occasion, a large party came in and we offered up our table as we had just arrived and they needed a few more seats, and to thank us they bought us a round of cocktails. Needless to say, everything about this hot spot has been rewarding and worth visiting. I can't say enough about how much I love Towne. Highly, highly recommended for a visit!
(5)Michael D.
With prices like these you'd think the bartenders wouldn't botch two routine cocktails. When the cherry was omitted from my Manhattan I was willing to overlook it, but when the lemon juice was omitted from my friend's sidecar I was irritated. Have you tried a sidecar sans lemon juice? It's undrinkable. But if you're loaded and 40 and single and you want to make out at a bar you should head on over.
(2)Anne R.
Just finished a fantastic meal. I really loved the menu, fabulous food and excellent flavors. Our server Chris was attentive but not intrusive and knowledgeable about the menu and made excellent suggestions. It was busy Monday night and that is always a good indicator for a restaurant. Great experience. Can't wait to return.
(5)Monta L.
We had a large family dinner here on Saturday night. The food was pretty impressive, the service was prompt, I'd come back here to try other things on the menu. I was immediately skeptical of the "little international flags" on the poorly designed menu (if you're going to be high end like this, please hire a professional), but the sweet/spicy/sour dip that came with our calamari really deserved that little thai flag, and hey- the scallion pancakes were not too shabby either. My rating is somewhat prejudiced by (1) bad graphic design, (2) the clientele- I'm sorry, but the food just doesn't taste good when I have to look at self-gratifying men in untucked shirts with first two buttons undone (hello chest hair), toting along some leggy blonde. But I must admit, the food isn't bad, and if you like looking at them leggy blondes, this is the place for you. If you seek humble dining, look elsewhere.
(3)Ashley L.
Awesome atmosphere and great cocktails.
(5)Christina Z.
Towney, I love your quirks. You have maple cotton candy on the menu. You serve beakers for water glasses. The upstairs kitchen hosts a gigantic cheese grater and gigantic kitchen aide mixer. I have no idea if they are props or functional, but I love whimsical touches such as these. The waiter also debated with me on whether Black Swan is the greatest movie of all time. We added people to our party, and rather than squeeze on extra chairs, they moved us to a more comfortable table at 10p on a weekend night. That's hospitality. I ordered the Gypsy Dancer, which packs a vodka PUNCH and also tried my friend's Shiva's Envy, which is addicting and complex. The food I thought overly expensive for what you're getting. My $16 fettucine alfredo was uninspired, but they luckily removed it from the menu. I wish their items were more cohesive. They seem kind of helter-skelter. This is the kind of place that can't stand alone on good strong cocktails. Their food needs to wow, and I think right now they are concerned with trend, but all in all, good food is what brings ya to the yard. If I could eat the decor, I would. It would certainly be more delicious than my meal. Again, maybe I got the wrong thing?
(3)Jen L.
OK, I did not want to like this place as soon as I walked in. I got a fancy-schmancy, trying-too-hard vibe. But I was there to meet a large group so I sucked it up. Thankfully, we were seated around the back, which avoided the bar feeling you get at the door. The server was fun and attentive (which is always a surprise when you have a table over 4). The RW menu (salad, salmon, chocolate) was delish, and the cocktail (mr. brownstone) was swell. A surprise hit.
(4)Shell D.
My boyfriend and I were on a day trip to Boston and decided that Towne would be right up our alley. The service was very good - our waiter was helpful and attentive. I ordered the duck for dinner, I wasn't overly impressed - I've had better - but it was very good. My boyfriend ordered the prime rib and it was delicious. This restaurant has a lot of potential to be excellent, but the food is not completely where it should be.
(4)Alex E.
Very, very, disappointing. Experience #1-- Drinks: At about 1:45am, four of us stopped by for a little night-cap. The bartender was pleasant, made some fairly solid drinks off the menu (this was a while back, so I don't remember which we ordered). At about 1:55am we were approached by large men in suits who instructed us to hand them our drinks. We weren't even half-finished. They told us they had to be careful about "getting shutdown." Isn't that what last call is for? Don't serve drinks if you're going to take them away from people. We weren't drunk, loud or rowdy. Just thirsty, by the time we were rudely kicked-out. Experience #2-- Brunch (party of 12): This morning we had a large family brunch. The reservation was made for an early 11am and the restaurant had just opened. We were literally one of two parties on the second floor (the other was a 4-top). Aside from how strange it is that they serve water in Kimax beakers (I really felt like I was dining in a chemistry lab), the service was very brusque. I was deciding between the crab omelette and the lobster omelette. When the waiter came to take my order, I asked "which do you recommend? Crab or lobster?" he responded by telling me: "oh, they're two different omelettes." Thanks for that. Once the food was brought out, my girlfriend sat without food for about 10 minutes. Then when her omelette finally came out, it wasn't what she had asked for. On top of that, the waiters stood next to the table bickering about who took the order for seat #3 and why it got screwed-up. It can definitely be dicey with a large party, but guys-- have some class. Figure it out in the kitchen and don't argue in front of your table! The food: Literally the worst omelette I have ever had. In fact, a few of us tried the lobster and chive omelette and all were equally disgusted. The omelette itself was dry, overcooked, and underseasoned (and cold, too!). I eat quite a bit of lobster and the meat "garnishing" the omelette was a small, overcooked piece of meat with a greenish tinge. Maybe using body meat with the green "tamale" or digestive gland as garnish isn't the best idea... Inside the omelette was.... well... nothing! There was one lonely piece of tail meat in the omelette. It sort of looked like it had all fallen out. I'm really not that difficult to please when it comes to omelettes, but this was disgusting. Where were the chives? This cold, overcooked egg pancake folded in half with a stray piece of lobster in it looked like a mistake. Not sure what the cherry tomato was stuffed with, but it didn't taste fresh. Given the prices Towne charges and the fact that they market themselves as an upscale, gourmet American kitchen-- Towne should be embarrassed to serve the garbage they put on the table. Sorry, Towne, I'm sticking to Metropolis Cafe for brunch!
(1)Julian H.
Mehch. The space is nice, but everything else about my dinner here was totally lackluster. Food was overpriced, over sweetened, and kinda bland. The crowd seems like they all graduated and got jobs at Fidelity so they don't really go to the foggy goggle anymore. I overheard one of the guys at the next table talking about "banging his neighbor". Awesome! I'm not sure what's up with the decor. Maybe it's some new design trend that I missed, but mostly it reads as schizophrenic. Beakers for glasses, boudoir style velvet chairs, plaid napkins, vaulted subway ceilings, and a room fulla white people...
(2)Julia F.
After the Elite Event at Towne I felt I had to go back and get more, I asked a bunch of ladies (and Tony) to meet me for Brunch on Sunday. What Sunday? Mmm, the one where we lost an hour of sleep. That said, only one of us was on time. I ordered a bloody mary cause everybody else did, and I figured I should finally try one since I managed to avoid ordering them my entire drinking career. They said they were tasty. Turns out I don't like bloody marys. Shame, at $11 each. Our waiter was very nice and personable. He checked in appropriately- especially cause our group showed up in phases. We got a basket full of glazed donut holes and lemon poppyseed bread which were delicious while warm, but quickly turned rock hard when they cooled. The next thing to get to the table? Compliments of the kitchen, four lobster filled popovers for the five of us. Later we saw it said "comp Yelp" on reciept- huh? I checked in well after our meal... The popovers were good, but very full of butter, and shockingly sweet. Not your grandmas' popovers. I was a little disappointed with the brunch menu. It was fairly short. I got chicken and waffles, as I have always been intrigued by the combo. Holy dry food. I had to finish my water to get through it. Highlight of the meal? Teeny doll sized bottle of tabasco stuck in one of the waffles. I've had better waffles, and chicken, just not on the same plate. Grits were good and cheesy though. The bar table we sat at was a chilly location, yet it provided excellent people-watching. This may have been due to the proximity to the door, but I think it was also located right under an hvac vent that was pushing cold air down on our heads. I would return for dinner, or drinks. But being that it's in an annoying location for somebody like me (who drives everywhere) I'd have to say it's unlikely that I'd return. I was sad to find the brunch menu disappointing. I had a gift card, which when I put it on the table, I realized it had an expiration date. We asked if we could still try to use it- the waiter came back and said the manager said no, but that they had comped $20 worth of popovers- nice, but we hadn't asked for them...
(2)Chris C.
Food was outstanding. This is my first Yelp review I do more on trip advisor. We started with lobster pop overs so good we could of ate them all night. To correct other reviewer they are drizzled in Kyles maple syrup. I had crispy duck, wife had pizza that she said tasted like she was back in Italy. Desserts and drinks were also good. We were sat down stairs at seven it was a bit noisy with the afterwork crowd. Tables filled fast as Friday nights usually do. Matt our server was excellent and was prompt and there when we needed him.
(4)Diana C.
Came here several times. Food is good and price is ok for the location. My main complaint for this place is inconsistency!!! First, service is quite slow even though there is NO ONE there. To get a cup of coffee refill you have to wait 10 min for the waitress to come by. The food comes out sometimes good, sometimes blah..you never know...what a surprise! The only consistent thing about this place is the fresh made donuts. But really, if you want to charge $13 for an eggs benedicts,there should be consistency and there should be better service. You would have to wait about 30 min for a not very well done food.
(3)Barney B.
Damn you Chronicle for featuring this place and making me think I wanted to really come here and damn you Barney B for being such a follower sometimes. You know what this place is? it's a local, expensive, loud, trendy version of a Cheesecake Factory. I mean seriously, look at the menu and come up with a theme. I even asked the waiter "OK, so what's the deal here" the explanation, in a word, was dizzying. So was his service, so at least there's consistency. For the food, it was definitely tasty. But a $21 burger better blow my socks off (or just blow something), and it didn't. the special added requests to the plate I can't comment on, because they never got delivered after requested (see dizzying service reference). I applaud them for the space. I applaud them for catering to the conventioneers nearby and I applaud all the locals that will flock here, deal with the loud tinny bar, the expensive food, and the stumbling, bumbling servers. and I applaud myself for another review that isn't likely to have an update due to lack of repeat visit. another pair of multi-resto chefs to add to the English, Lynch list of 'quantity over quality' local ventures.
(2)Claire O.
I really liked the atmosphere and decor at Towne: it's huge but the layout means it still feels cozy and it has that lighting/ambience effect which makes you feel like you're cooler and more fun than you are. The service was fine but not outstanding. It took forever to get our bottle of wine, which is my one pet hate for restaurants - seriously, if a table is drinking, it's a happy table. The food had highs and lows. The cauliflower tasted out of this world, but it cost $11 and they gave us the entire cauliflower head which seemed a smidgen excessive. I also got the sirloin - it was cooked perfectly and tasty but again - it was expensive ($42) and I don't think justified the price - portion size was large but the meat was fattier than I'd expect for sirloin and it didn't come with any sides. Overall, Towne is fun and the food is good but it is over-priced
(3)Craig S.
Met Kevin Garnet here the other day - and every time I have been back it has gotten progressively better
(5)Mark Z.
I wanted to write a review on something in recent memory that was just average to me, and the first thing that came to mind...Towne. I don't exactly eat fancy a lot, but when I do, I expect it to be worth the price. Although Towne's modern decor, wealth of beautiful women, and trendier environment made for a great setting, the food was just so-so considering the price. I went for a steak, which was a little overcooked and came with Applebee's quality veggies. The meal was fine, but again, not what you hope for at this price. All in all, it's worth going once, but I'd personally rather be at Mistral, Capital Grille, Mooo, Del Frisco's, Davios, etc......
(2)Alissa D.
Came here for dinner and had the lobster popovers and a salad. I didn't finish the popovers because I disliked them so much. The texture of the popover with the lobster did not work at all and it was sugary sweet. The salad was pretty uninspired. For the price of the dishes at Towne, I expected more. The cocktails were definitely a highlight though!
(3)Andrea B.
Just saw 3 mice running around upstairs. The manager said, "there's nothing we can do there's construction next door." GROSS!!!! Don't eat at Towne.
(1)Mrs. G.
This is one of those tricky restaurants to write a review for. The food was phenomenal. I am a foodie--I have eaten at a lot of very nice restaurants, and I (humbly) think I have a good palate. I came to Towne with a party of 8. We made a reservation a month in advance. I read about the slow service so I prepared myself. We were there for three hours (from sitting until we finished eating dessert--and then we sat for a bit longer than the three hours). That is how long it took for our food to come out. We did order appetizers, entrees, and dessert. The service was not just slow...it was like crawling around a high school track, trying to complete a mile. Let's take this one step further...the waitress was absolutely miserable. We all tried to overcompensate by being ultra friendly, and she was so rude, it became almost comical. We were definitely inconveniencing her by being there. Out of the eight of us, we tried many dishes, and everyone raved about their food. We all live in and around Boston, so we have been to many of the restaurants. But as delicious as the food was, it was very small portions. I ordered a scallop special and received a half a cup of risotto and four medium-sized scallops. Between the eight of us, our bill came to close to $600, so it is pricey enough, that I would have appreciated bigger portions and a waitress that was at least neutral in her temperament toward us. And if you go a little bit later, be prepared that this turns into a weird, nightclub feel. We will not be returning. Positives-- Delicious food, nice ambiance Negatives--slightly small portions, unfriendly waitress, very long wait time
(2)Bryan R.
$16 manhattan. Ok, that's the basis for my review. It could go two ways. Oh, it was $16 but it was really fucking good. Or, it was $16 and I really regret coming here. It was one of those.
(2)Dan S.
Emily N is possibly the most friendly and professional waitress that I have encountered. My travels take me to at least two cities per week so I can attest to what I view as a five star rating. Importantly, the food was superb. Excellent quality for the price. This place is a "must go." Ask for Emily's section !
(5)Nigel F.
My girlfriend, Liz and I saw Towne Stove and Spirits in the Dine Out Boston (formerly Restaurant Week) lineup and thought we'd give it a shot. I had the truffle mushroom soup, the porchetta, and the chocolate cake, and Liz had the arugula salad, the salmon with jasmine rice, and the lemon sorbet with blueberry compote. The soup was really hearty and Liz's salad was well dressed (with a sherry vinaigrette) and had tasty and creative accents like shaved green apple slices, black truffle cheese, and candied walnuts. My entree, the porchetta, came with asparagus, shallots, sweet potato gnocchi (which were delightfully fluffy and full of flavor) and a sweet huckleberry sauce. Liz's entree, the salmon, was perfectly cooked, juicy and flaky and the bok choy soaked up the soy and ginger sauce. My dessert, the chocolate cake, was fantastic, dense and fudge like under a chocolate shell. Very filling. Liz's lemon sorbet was certainly the lighter of our two desserts, but was not without loads of flavor. As for drinks, we both got beers, as the cocktails and wines by the glass were a little more than we wanted to pay. Their wine list is extensive however, though most are by the bottle only. This isn't a big downside for us though, merely a mark of a stellar restaurant. The service was great, ambience was pleasant. If you are looking for a fantastic meal, you should really stop by Towne Stove and Spirits during Dine Out Boston!!
(5)Warren M.
Normally wouldn't review a restaurant with so many reviews, both good and bad, but I did go there with past reviews in mind so I'll address my pre-conceived notions. Front bar was noisy but comfortable. Bartender couldn't have been more friendly or prompt. Seating was on time. Waiter friendly, knowledgable and efficient. Longer than expected time to get a second glass of wine but he obviously had waited himself because his tray was loaded. NOISE, way too loud! Table for four had to lean into each other and yell to be heard. Wood floor and ceramic, subway restroom style ceiling tiles, though both nice, were the culprit. Given the age of the building I have to assume this was intentional, probably to create a frenetic drinking atmosphere. Not for me. FOOD: other couple have been there numerous times, like it and had favorite meals. I did notice that their steaks didn't come with any vegetables but a tiny amount of greens. I didn't want a whole meal. Offerings were limited. I got the Marguerita pizza. Very disappointing. Was actually appetizer sized. The thinnest of cardboard crust sparsely covered with several pieces of tomato and Mozzarella and an equal amount of uncovered cardboardy space. It did taste better than it looked. Spouse had a steak described as pounded for tenderness and spicy with "spices" described as salt and pepper. The finished product was a paper thin plank about the thickness of my cardboard pizza, "very over spiced with other spices" again with no vegetables and greens, also over spiced. So, I must concur that this is a good place for a loud after work drink. Adequate red wine list by the glass, extensive white wine list, oddly enough. I would consider meeting people at one of the bars but would not return to eat. Oh, one very good attribute for cold or inclement weather, but for about 50 yards from the door, one can walk from the restaurant to Back Bay Station inside.
(2)Alex B.
BRUNCH Bread pudding ... Bread pudding ... Bread pudding! Typed it 3 times and already salivating just a few short hours after eating it. Also asked one of the hostesses there to sneak a tray out the back door for me. Still waiting on her response. Hopefully she agrees. As a disclaimer I did attend brunch free of charge with the Boston Brunchers but being that I live two blocks away I will sure as shit be back and spend the $38 for the buffet on another future hungover sunday AM. Chances are I will pay that and just end up piling a plate of this 500 cal per bite (complete estimate but I loved it so much I just assume it's not good for you) bread pudding. Other favorites of mine included their short rib hash, oyster tower, and pancake bar. They also several cheese wheels out with a brie, cheddar, roquefort (unbelievable), and bleu. I skipped over the juicy fresh sliced pork at the carving station but other brunchers had great things to say about it. DINNER Have paid for dinner several times. Just as a prelude with a $40 brunch, you could probably imagine dinner would get kind of pricey too. At times I have definitely thought it is a little too expensive for what you get but I still enjoy it quite a bit and keep coming back. Maybe it is the preppy / yuppie vibe, not really sure. I do need to say though, that it gets very loud in the dining area around dinner time. I think it is the wide open space and bad acoustics but it is kind of hard to hear people talk at certain tables. I think that is hard to adjust but worth pointing out. Anyway, always quick to jump on the oysters which are always fresh and oyster-y perfection. Their pizzas / flatbreads are pretty good too. Lobster, leek, black truffle one is out of this world but then again so is the price at $27 so almost not worth it but if you are feeling generous, go for it. As for dinner, I have gotten both their scallops and pork chop which both left my tummy feeling very very happy. I have also heard tons and tons of people talk up their burger so I probably need to get in there and try that. Bar is always hopping as well on the weekends. I should probably stop in more for drinks. I mean drinks are always a good reason to go somewhere, so why not?
(4)Jo-Ellen D.
Came here last night to catch up with a friend I hadn't seen in forever, proceeded to spend almost 4 hours there. The food was great (I had oysters and lobster ravioli) and they had a fantastic scotch selection. We kept talking and weren't ready to order like the first 3 times she asked, and we never got one bit of a hint of attitude or irritation about that. Same goes for how long we stayed after the bill was paid. It was pricey, but that's to be expected for the area. So be prepared to drop some dough. I would definitely go back if I still lived in the area.
(5)Sara M.
SHAMEFUL!! My mom, brother and I all got the monkfish only to spend the next 3 days dealing with food poisoning. Three days of vomiting and diarrhea was enough to make my first experience here my last! The so called lemon sauce was nothing more than melted butter with a few squirts of lemon juice in it. The fish was barely seasoned or even hot. When we ordered the Towne "cookies" for dessert, they had the audacity to bring a total of 4 pieces of some chocolate wrapped up in a plastic bag and charged us 8 bucks for it!! Seriously???! I can critique so much more but the thought of that place makes me sick to my stomach, again!!
(1)Andy H.
I and a friend went there Saturday night and had a phenomenal time. Every dish was well presented, had a wonderful flavor profile, and the servers were able to recommend pairings that accented the dish marvelously. I will be back again and again.
(4)Lia M.
I love Towne for drinks. The location is perfect. The drinks are well-made and strong. I had a Mr. Brownstone (bourbon, maple liqueur, lemon, and cinnamon simple syrup) and an El Diablo Fizz (tequila, crème de cassis, lime juice, soda water, and ginger beer). The Mr. Brownstone was not as sweet as it may seem from the ingredients and I enjoyed the cinnamon flavor. The El Diablo Fizz was a bit sweeter, and went down extremely easy. I was basically drunk after both of those, so I was happy. Kate's Gin Daisy (gin, lemon juice, house made grenadine, and simple syrup) was quite light and refreshing. We just shared a few appetizers, but I did not love either of them. The duck quesadilla had the potential to be really great, but overall, it was just blah, and the meat a tad too salty. Plus, there was sour cream on it, when it was asked to be served without. Surprisingly, I preferred the popcorn shrimp. I tend not to be a fan of this appetizer, but this one had a good flavor and nice, crisp batter. I still do not really like this dish, but if I had to order it, I'd order it here. Service was prompt and friendly. We did need to ask for the bar menu, as we were automatically given the dinner menu while sitting at the bar. Overall, I'm a huge fan, and Towne is definitely on my radar for a return visit.
(4)Lisa R.
I really want to give Towne 4 stars, but my visit on Saturday night was a 2 star experience. We had 8pm reservations and were seated right on time. Our waitress took our drink and dinner orders in a timely and polite fashion. It was downhill from there. Our dinners didn't arrive until 10pm. When we asked she didn't have an answer. One guest was only drinking water and she had to be tracked down to fill his water glass (which seems odd because she was filling water glasses at the surrounding tables). The food was excellent, as it always is. The service I received will make me think twice about recommending Towne.
(2)Katie C.
Totally underwhelming to say the least. My friend and I were at the HOW Design Conference next door at the Hynes one Saturday morning and we decided to go to Towne for brunch next door. Our plan was to discuss what we learned at the conference, but really we just wanted to get caught up on the latest gossip. The good news was they had a patio with a slight breeze that was rather covered and not directly in the sun. We were seated promptly and one staff member came over with water for us. Wonderful. Then another came over with fresh breakfast bites -- banana bread with an orange glaze or a homemade donut hole with the same orange glaze. I had the banana bread that was nothing real special since the glaze was just completely too sweet and too overpowering. Just when we thought we could finally place our order, another staff member came by and poured "fresh squeezed orange juice" with no solicitation from us. Whether it was a language barrier or procedure, she poured and we drank. Ten minutes went by and we were finally able to place our order. If you're looking for hearty breakfast foods, this is the place for you. Homemade waffles, omelettes, eggs benedict just to name a few. In terms of "lunch" foods, there are a few sandwiches available. However, if you're looking for something relatively healthy, this is definitely not for you. No salads just to start with. Probably the healthiest offering was the fruit plate as an appetizer. We finally placed our order -- two french dip sandwiches that came with caramelized onions (none for me, thanks), brie, and fries. It was a perfect Saturday morning lunch. Our food arrived and the french dip sandwich was served with au jus but was more like a cheesesteak in terms of consistency. The bread was hard and crispy (my favorite) but the brie cheese was just one large glob in the middle of the sandwich. I don't like a lot of cheese, so at least it was easy to pick aside. It was a lot of food for $14 and I probably shouldn't have ate both halves of the sandwich. The fries were hot and crispy, too. When we finally received our bill, we found out we were charged $4/apiece for the orange juice at the beginning of the meal. Was it worth $4 a glass? Hell to the no. Were we even asked if we wanted orange juice after we sat down? Hell to the no again! After finishing my lunch (prior to receiving the bill), I was willing to give them another chance. After this experience, certainly not. Now, I know $8 total isn't a lot to bitch about and it certainly didn't cause me to eat ramen noodles for the rest of the particular pay period, but it left a bad impression with me. For my next brunch, I want healthier options and no "surprises" at the end of the meal. So Towne certainly won't be it.
(2)S. B.
I have celiac. I had a delicious soup, salad and side and all were prepared safely and I did not get sick. They have a lot of other options for meat/seafood eaters, I just happen to be vegetarian. The menu is marked with gluten-free items, and the staff all knew what "celiac" was (which is always a good sign) and our waitress let the chef know that's why I ordered GF. Would visit again!! (Same review left at findmeglutenfree)
(5)Daisy P.
We were in a lobster mood that night and we tried the lobster pizza, lobster popovers (they are fabulous!), lobster bisque, and had tuna for my entree along with the spinach and the corn. The corn was probably the best prepared corn I've ever had and everything is worth returning for. The tuna for the main entree was probably my least favorite so I would order something else the next time. Do not leave without trying the lobster popovers or the corn. Beautiful decor too!
(4)Jeff D.
I can't believe I never reviewed Towne before, especially after getting the chance to attend the Yelp Elite event there that was essentially the grand opening. Two words, people: Lobster popover. I've had the cowboy steak and branzino for dinner and just some apps at the bar. No complaints about the food or service, everything was excellent even when we came for my mother-in-law's birthday with a pretty large party. My wife and I love hanging out at the bar and watching things go down. Vicarious living at its finest!
(4)Ash C.
We tried ribeye for two the other night and it was fabulous. The meat was juicy and tender, well seasoned. The side of brussel sprouts with bacon was to die for. I would love to come back for Sunday brunch
(4)Dorothy C.
Came here with 6 other people with no reservation around 6pm on a Saturday night. I was expecting to wait a while since since 6 people is a lot but we were seated immediately. It was kind of quiet for a Saturday night, not sure if it's like that everyday but it didn't bother me. We chose oysters for appetizers which were so fresh - everyone agreed it tasted amazing. I ordered Venison well done but had the waiter quickly suggest at most a medium since venison is so lean. Food came rather quickly - all the dinner plates seemed to be a nice sized portion so you definitely won't be leaving hungry. All in all, it was pretty good food but don't expect your taste buds to be wowed by anything crazy.
(3)David B.
Once again, location trumps quality. This restaurant has a captive audience of people who work in and around the Prudential Center. The bar and the restaurant are always crowded. But the food is really lacking. I was there last night and with the exception of some appetizers which were good, the meal was rather disappointing. The filet mignon, while well cooked, was flavorless. The duck, which was billed to be Peking duck style, was also flavorless. The portions are large, which I suppose is to help you forget that the flavors are weak. To top it off, the upstairs bathroom which is Uni sex was filthy. The only real positive I can say is that the service was very good.
(1)Cole D.
Wow, I just don't know where to start. I wish i could give negative stars. Both service and food is absolutely appalling. I was at the bar waiting for my fiance to arrive and got one of the house martinis with the goat cheese olives, which was actually pretty good. I got the same drink at the table and it was definitely not the same, and no olives or garnish. We ordered the calamari to start and then the salmon and lamb. All the food was completely bland and tasteless. The calamari we ate about half because after a certain point it just was mushy breading in a pile of oil. The salmon came with crispy rice and a horseradish sauce, which sounded amazing, but in reality the skin was mushy and there was a pool of half melted butter on the plate. The salmon was rubbery and no seasoning , my fiance's lamb was completely bland as well, and came with potatoes that you could tell were previously frozen. They were that crumbly chalky texture, as well as some beans straight from a can. No part of the meal was enjoyable, and to top it off, when we asked for the check after barely touching our meal, the server obviously asked about any problems, and said he would go get his manager, BUT still ran the bill in the meantime AND the manager never came. We didn't skimp on the tip ( I've worked in the restaurant industry and have many friends in the industry here in Boston). We eventually left after waiting 10 minutes for the manager, who ultimately I doubt was even notified. We asked the hostesses to get the manager on our way out and after 10 minutes of running around trying to find one, we told her not to worry and just left. Completely PISSED that this was $150 meal and no one seems to care. I will never go back, and will tell anyone to avoid this place at all cost. I've never had an experience such as this.
(1)Brandi W.
A little over a week ago, a girlfriend and I stopped by Towne for a few drinks and dessert post dinner. There was a mouse that was running around the bar area for at least an hour. Some people did end up leaving the bar....we honestly should have as well, but had already ordered.... so we were trying to be good sports about it. What really got to us was that the bartenders thought it was hilarious, were making jokes, and calling the mouse 'Stewart' (apparently, he is a regular). When they finally let the manager know, he came out and gave a half-assed apology. BUT after everything, we weren't comped for any of our food or drinks.
(1)Chelsea F.
Drinks were great and food was delicious! Peking style duck was great, different than what I had expected but very good. My friends ordered the margarita pizza and the filet and both were pleased. Cheesecake dessert was fantastic as it wasn't too sweet! After dinner we walked to the 52nd(?) floor of the Prudential building for a nightcap and highly recommend for tourists :)
(4)Aman S.
This place was just okay. The service was super slow and the wine selection left a lot to be desired. I probably won't return.
(2)Yasa E.
Honestly, not a fan. I've been here a bunch of times and I just don't get a very good vibe from this place. The space is aboslutely gorgeous and the location is great, other than that....blahh. It's usually a bit more of an upscale crowd, and when this place is busy it's PACKED, but when it's slow, there is literally not a soul in sight. Drinks are expensive, even by Back Bay standards. Service is hit or miss. I've had a good experience once (i think the bartender's name was Tim), but every other time i've come here, the cocktail waitresses and female bartenders seemed to have an attitude problem. The late night apps i've tried were super bland. Overall, not impressed.
(2)Mark R.
Went here with a group of 8. Service was good but the food was not up to my expectations for a Lydia joint. Lobster popovers were good, oysters were extremely fresh and good, but the Peking Style Duck fatty and the meat was metallic tasting. Also the Bok choi under the duck was a miserable overcooked lump of blah. And sides of mashed potatoes, asparagus, and squash were all ok but nothing special . Other diners also said it was just ok. 2nd time and 2nd so-so meal. Probably won't return unless something changes- might try brunch
(2)Greg P.
Hit and Miss... "NFFF"- Not fit for foodies My wife and I had heard a lot about Towne... both good and bad... and when a friend suggested it for a place for all of us to grab dinner, we were excited to try it. Towne has a very nice location right on Boylston St. They have valet parking ($16 for 4 hours) and also validate for the Prudential garage. The restaurant itself is spacious and attractive. It can get noisy later in the night but early own it's very easy to hold a conversation. We sat outside on their patio which was nice and airy. The food is American with an emphasis on some Asian fusion, seafood, steaks, and comfort food. My wife and I started with the lobster pop-overs (which came highly recommended on Yelp and by our water). We were somewhat disappointed actually. The pop-overs were rather dry and the kitchen douses them with honey-butter to moisten them up. Regardless, dry is dry, and we could still tell. There was an OK amount of lobster in each but certainly not overflowing. My wife ordered a salad for her meal that was rather simple and underwhelming. I ordered the wagyu skirt steak which was good. The wasabi cream was a nice accompaniment. It comes with two very small polenta fries. More would have been nice. We ordered a side of mash potatoes which the waiter said would be a generous portion. Not really. It was a pretty small plate of runny mashed potatoes. Certainly would not fly at a steak house. None of us felt like trying the desserts because the food was underwhelming. The bar is well stocked although my two mixed drinks were very watery. There are much better places in Back Bay for drinks. Overall, a decent option if you find yourself in Back Bay at dinner time. There are other better options. And some worse options. For it's prices the food out to be better. You're probably not going to feel like you got good value for your money. We didn't. Foodies might want to go elsewhere.
(3)Kitty C.
So we came back this year to try the bar in the dining area. The service was marginally better, but the drink selection is still pretty slim. No reason to come here as far as I can see.
(2)Hayley M.
Above and beyond! So after the incident happened at our last visit to Towne, my friend whose birthday it was emailed the manager. She told him that we have always had great experiences at Towne and while the food was exceptional, the service was not and one friend had been offended by a racially insensitive comment. She was articulate and not angry, she simply wanted to communicate the situation and make the manager aware. Needless to say, the manager asked us to please come back to the restaurant so they could provide us with a "special dining experience." Special was the right word for it. 12 out of the 14 of us could go, and we sat down at the same table as the incident from last time. The waiter and waitress immediately set down six orders of the Lobster Popovers for us. This is the signature appetizer of the restaurant, and I can see why. Who wouldn't love a flaky, buttery popover, filled with huge chunks of lobster? Absolutely delicious. They also set down two margherita pizzas for us. Then we could order. After what happened last time, they must have had their very best waitstaff work with us. The waiter and waitress we had could not have been nicer. When I was having trouble deciding what to order and was the last person looking at my menu, our A-game waiter came over to help me decide. He asked me which I was deciding between, and described each of the dishes to me. I could tell he wasn't worried about price, his motivation was to help me find the dish I would like the most. Ultimately, I decided to go with the Lobster Bisque and Ahi Tuna. The bisque was wonderful. Creamy and peppery (although too peppery according to a friend who also ordered it), and this also had lots and lots of lobster. I could have eaten a cauldron of it. The ahi tuna was also delicious. Crusted with white and black sesame seeds, barely seared. Perfection. My boy and two others ordered the Petite Filet Mignon and they all loved it. There were several sides on the table, including the brussel sprouts (I didn't try because they had bacon but everyone else loved), and the wonderful sauteed spinach with garlic. For dessert, they brought my friend whose birthday it had been a cotton candy apple sundae. Wow, it was wonderful! The boy and I split the chocolate cake, which was the only part of the meal that didn't blow me away. It was dry, so I ended up dipping it in my friend's ice cream sundae. The good folks at Towne really impressed me. They had the opportunity to make up what happened last time, and they absolutely jumped on it. They made us feel like valued guests in their restaurant. Now, instead of saying, "someone at Towne made a racist comment to my friend," I will say, "have you HAD the lobster popovers? If not, eat them immediately!" Well done, Towne.
(5)Alan W.
My first visit, last week was wonderful. This week terrible. Not sure what to believe about this restaurant. May (or may not) try again. Bad experiences always seems to trump good when it comes to restaurants.
(1)Rani P.
Towne is one of my favorite spots for brunching in Boston. The food in incredible, the outdoor seating gets the perfect amount of sun, and I can stroll around the Pru and Newbury Street post brunch. my recommendations: THE TRUE fettuccine alfredo (WITH the sunnyside egg) OR eggs benedict on north country bacon (also comes with delightful homefries) Their freebies include a choice of doughnuts and cornbread. These are the two parts of the brunch that are underwhelming. They are good- but I just think they can be so much better!
(4)Briana C.
I was there for dinner the other night. I love the dining room - you're not cramped in like some smaller places, but it still feels warm and cozy. The food was great - my date had the steak arabiata and I had the kale salad with scallops, as well as the sweet potato fries (not enough rosemary). That being said, the service was....interesting. They checked on us so many times that it severely interrupted some intense conversation. We were charged $8 for still water, when I thought I was ordering tap water. They have a "Towne" bar on their dessert menu, which sounds like homemade cookies dipped in chocolate and stacked with caramel sauce, or something to that effect. What it actually is, is a prepackaged candy bar that's somewhere between a twix and a kit kat and not as good as either. I almost broke a tooth on it! So, I'd go back for dinner because the food tasted good and the prices were reasonable, but I would make smarter ordering decisions.
(3)Michael B.
Dined at Towne on 3/21 while entertaining some out of town guests. The atmosphere was energetic and our waitress was knowledgeable of the menu offerings and attentive to our needs throughout our lengthy stay. The lobster popovers were a huge hit with my our of town visitors, and then we all enjoyed our salads and main courses. The filet was cooked to perfection and the salmon was tasty. We also enjoyed a couple of bottles of Peay Pinot Noir!! All in all, it was a great night on the town at Towne Stove & Spirits!!
(4)Jeff M.
Towne seriously sucks. Honestly, just trust me. The chef in charge here needs to practice some restraint. Foie gras served over a waffle with maple syrup and bananas makes sense until you have the celery root puree on the side that added absolutely nothing. Wagu skirt steak was cooked perfectly in butter but the onion rings and other tid bits really did not add much. Clams casino featured cherry stones big enough to be quahogs. I've only seen clams casino with small to medium sized clams, so, this may be a personal preference. On the bright side the fried zucchini sticks were good!
(1)Sooks M.
Went here for date night on a Tuesday! Sat at the bar and had a great time. The bar has dim lighting (veryy dim) and the atmosphere is nice. They had an interesting list of cocktails. I tried the newbury sparkler and a gin/lavender/rosemary drink. The drinks were great and the bartender was friendly and attentive. I would go back again for drinks!
(4)Soly Z.
I loved the vibe, location, and the bartender. However, the price for a drink was high, especially since my drink was mostly ice and not filled to the top.
(3)Ariel Z.
The drink I ordered was strong, but right down my alley. The location is premier, right next to the Pru. We ordered the Chinese dumplings to share, which I really liked, but I love everything that is dumpling. Trendy spot to catch up with some friends or socialize with colleagues on a week night.
(4)Liz H.
Revising my two-year old review as Towne seems to finally have found its culinary footing. Multiple visits have yielded both good and great results, from the recent acorn squash (which I described as "Christmas and thanksgiving in one!) to different flatbreads, to the famous lobster popovers...everything has been much more what I'd expect from a place of this caliber and price point. The drinks are still strong, though the poor second floor bartender on valentines day was brand new and too green to be working such a busy night. She was apologetic though, and ultimately we ended up being fine. A solid, if still on the pricier side, option for a night out where a 30 year old won't feel ancient.
(3)Ilene F.
THE WORSE MEAL I have ever had in Boston. A nice dinner on Christmas eve not close! I ordered a gluten free lobster Pizza it was sopping with grease after taking a few bites I started to feel sick. It the took 10 minutes to get the waiter to come over he left the plate in front of me. after 5 mins and no menu or response to my horrible meal I flagged the waiter down to ask him to remove my plate and to bring me a menu. He did now feeling sick to my stomach after eating a half of a piece of the greasiest pizza I ordered a shrimp cocktail which ate but was not fresh and the cocktail sauce way too spicy, BTW my shrimp came 10 minutes after my husband had completed his meal. I went looking for the manager who made a lot of excuses about what happened and offered nothing, After my I completed the shrimp and we were ready for a check the waiter comes out with another pizza, Almost just as greasy as the first. I was feeling sicker we were on our way to church and we ddi not accept the pizza. My bill come and I was charged for the shrimp. I talked to the "manager" about this and how I was sick from his food our dinner was a terrible experience and how I have never gone to a restaurant where they screwed up and did nothing to take care of me. So of $20 this manager pissed me off so much that I am not out to broadcast how bad my experience was. PLEASE Do no Eat there they have no idea what service means and they are clueless on how to make good food,
(1)Matt I.
Drinks were good. Lobster popovers were amazing, if just a bit too sweet. My steak was good, but my date's fish was on the boring side. Luckily, I was sat on the 2nd floor, away from the college bar crowd on the 1st floor. I'd come back for the atmosphere of the 2nd floor alone.
(4)Abir H.
Been here several times. They have some really good dishes. Came here after the santa speedo run and saw most of the runners run in to get warm which was really entertaining. They start u off with some great fresh and warm doughnut balls and mini muffins, i love those! Try their burger its really good and their fries came out nice and hot! They also make a good eggs Benedict. Most of their brunch dishes are good and if ur in the mood for fish their fish n chips is pretty good too.
(4)Katherine D.
I finally got a chance to come in for an actual meal, and I was extremely impressed. The dining room is even more beautiful when you're sitting in it, and I loved the mirrored columns the the wood and glass sconces attached and the great big beams criss-crossing the ceiling. From the moment we sat down service was perfect. We needed a little time to decide and our server actually said "whatever you want, as long as I'm not keeping you waiting" and then showed up exactly when we needed her. I also appreciate that we had utensils refreshed as we moved through the courses. And I truly love when someone comes by with one of those little scraper gadgets to make sure your table cloth remains a pristine white. Cocktails were pretty good. The bread basked was stellar. We split the lobster popovers and while I was hoping they would be slathered in clarified butter, the arrived with a sweet glaze of sorts and were delicious. He got the chowder and it was great. It had a nice creamy base and the addition of chili oil made it over the top good. I had the pork schnitzel and it was so good. The garlic oil and green garlic puree over the mashed potatoes were incredible ways to round out the perfectly cooked, juicy round of thin friend pork. He got the roasted chicken, and even though mine was outstanding I had order envy while he devoured his plate. The chicken was crispy, yet juicy and falling off the bone. He was very satisfied. For dessert we ordered the apple cider sorbet and the raspberry champagne mousse. Sorbet was sorbet, good but nothing exceptional. That mousse however, was divine. So good in fact, that it will be hard to resist grabbing a drink and a bite of heavenly tart and fresh mousse next time I'm out running errands in the Copley area. The service was perfect all night, the setting wonderful, and the food was from start to finish spectacular. I'm very happy to know this place exists for fancy nights out.
(5)Brian D.
I think the best complement I can give a restaurant is to say that it made me want to go back. I wasn't in the mood for a steak when I went into towne, but after seeing their menu and trying some of their other food I really want to know what they'd do with a good steak! I was actually quiet interested in the Apps when I went in, so I had the BBQ Chicken flatbread with scallions and corn. It was excellent! A bit of a spicy sauce and a thin layer of cheese worked well together to give the flavor a great base. The BBQ wasn't too sweet, and it was nicely understated so that all the flavors worked in conjunction. The Scallion Pancake with duck was also very nice...one of the better scallion pancakes with a small piece of duck on each third for $8 seemed fairly reasonable. I also had the potato hash with horseradish cream side. It will turn some people off to know that it was greasy and starchy, but I promise it was greasy and starchy in exactly the way someone who loves crispy fried potatoes knows that they are signing up for! towne is on the higher end of the price scale, but from what I've seen doesn't seem too terribly excessive. On the price to quality scale it ranked pretty well (except maybe the cocktails), and the space is just interesting! Dark but playful, non-hipster waiters who are still allowed interesting facial hair...I was intrigued by the whole thing. There are plenty of restaurants that would seem ridiculous playing a sexy, trance version of "No Diggity" in the dining room. But not this one. This one is both fancy enough, and strange enough, that it actually works! A provisional five stars, until I can try an entree.
(5)Shannon D.
I've been here a few times in the past year. I work in the finance industry and my coworkers were always excited to go to Towne! - I, however, was always less enthused. The first few times I had gone, it wasn't terrible but it also wasn't great. Lots of old men hiding their wedding rings (or flashing that shiz because some women are into that) hitting on young scantily clad women looking for a free drink. Last night I was getting together with a few lady friends and we decided to go to Towne since it was easy for all of us to get to from work. It was early still, around 6 so we got a nice high-top table in the second room and for awhile things seemed much better than I had expected - for awhile. Our server was quite attentive at first, filling up our water, asking us if we needed anything else. I'm not sure if something happened to him at some point during the night or if we said something terribly wrong because he started to ignore us. I had to ask for my water to be filled up three times! A friend met us a bit later and our server didn't give him a glass of water until he asked. The drinks were pretty terrible for the price. When I'm paying 12$ for a cocktail I expect amazingness to happen in my mouth. I got two drinks off their menu, one was a fall sour which was okay, the other I don't remember but I couldn't even finish it. My boyfriend and I then ordered a whiskey smash, one of my favorite drinks. No, its not on the menu but a nice "high end" place like Towne should have educated bartenders that know how to make a classic. I couldn't even take more than one sip, it was so bad. I looked over at the bartender and I'm sorry but she clearly wasn't hired for her drink crafting skills. We got the duck confit pizza which was good but very rich. My friends got the oysters, which I noticed when the waiter brought them over he didn't say where they were from. Every time I've ordered oysters from various places around Boston they've always told me where they were from, its the little things that make me happy. There was a group of highly intoxicated older men in suits sitting next to us, throughout the night they were eying us, a table of four professional women under 30 years old. Luckily right as one of them started talking to us, telling us how we're all *so beautiful* my boyfriend came into the bar and saved us. It was actually really quite epic. The drunk men then broke up a couple on a date, one of them even started putting his arm around the girl while her boyfriend sat there and laughed with them. (clearly her boyfriend sucked compared to mine) I'm adding this into the review because this is what Towne wants - Doucebag business men with lots of money to throw around but zero class to realize they're spending it on crap drinks, food and service.
(1)Wonder W.
Went for dinner and sat outside in their very cool sort of birdcage pergola - was lovely. Food was great - nothing mind blowing but the wagyu skirt strip was extremely good and my friend commented that the lobster bisque was awesome. They make a mean martini too. Service was a little patchy but it was Saturday night and extremely busy so it was no real problem. Great spot if you're looking for something amongst the hub of Boylston street.
(4)S P.
Very ordinary. Not impressed at all. Portions were very generous, but the food was gourmet-ish TGIFridays fare.
(1)Jenn S.
My friends & I went to Towne last week for an early dinner & drinks to catch up with each other. I arrived a few minutes before 5:30 and had a hard time figuring out exactly where to go, as no one greeted or helped me. When I finally found the hostess stand, I was told that the dining room doesn't open until 5:30, so I could sit at the bar to wait. It was 5:26. REALLY? Ok, fine. I sat at a table in the bar area - I'm sure the waitress was so happy I was taking up a table while waiting for my friends. When the first friend arrived, we went back to the hostesses and were brought upstairs to a nice round booth right in front of the open view into the kitchen (although we had our backs to it). This places, by the way, is HUMONGOUS. I love the decor and ambiance. Definitely bumps it up on the star value! And we all loved the bread basket (a mix of nice, warm white bread and thin flatbreads) with the red pepper hummus (I think) and the amazing salted butter. OMG. I didn't try the cod caviar hummos or whatever it was - too weird for me! Our waiter was very nice, patient and helpful. We wanted to get an appetizer my friend had previously tried that was not on the menu (the not-so-dirty chicken wings, or something like that). When he realized what we were talking about, he immediately said "we can do that for you!" We shared the chicken wings, two of the simple mesclun salads and the butternut squash pizza w/smoked bacon, stracchino cheese, pear mostarda & crushed amaretti. We asked what some of those items were (amaretti, etc.) and the waiter explained them very nicely. I got 1 glass of delicious Prosecco and tried a sip of my friend's Towne Lemonade (cold river blueberry vodka, fresh lemon and pomegranate served up), which was so tasty. With 5 drinks, the wings, salads & pizza, the bill came to about $100 + tip. I thought that wasn't bad for dinner for 3 at a fancy-ish place. None of us left hungry, but we also didn't leave with any leftovers. I would definitely go back, although I'm sure a full sit-down dinner would cost a lot more.
(4)Mike G.
and yet another once bright spot descends to mediocrity. a new item on the menu - Peking Chicken $33 - just can't compare with a $10 whole roast that Foodie's churns out by the dozens daily. Monday's market catch of rock shrimp (5 runts, smear of pesto, 2 boiled fingerlings) was an overpriced bore-of-a-dish for $37.50 and i said so. GM took it off the bill so props for that and still tasty lobster popovers.
(3)Jennifer W.
This review is just for their brunch, have never been for dinner, and probably won't due to the prices. However, I LOVE brunch there! They make my favorite sangria in the city, nice and warmly spiced! I love their lobster cobb salad, the dressings are especially yum! Clam chowder also very good. On a nice summer day, it's a treat sitting on their patio with a glass of sangria and some good brunch food.
(4)Sarah A.
I really wanted to like this place, but overall, I was underwhelmed. The location is definitely super convenient and a very short walk from my work. The atmosphere is gorgeous and I was very impressed with the dining room. I was a little annoyed that although there was a great deal of space in the restaurant, my friend and I were seated at a table, that although nice, was a bit too close to the kitchen. We could hear some of the kitchen equipment buzzing away in the background and some of the servers seemed to congregate behind us when they weren't busy to chat. Annoying. I was impressed with the generous bread basket provided that included a flat bread, a nut and fruit bread and more traditional rolls with fresh, salted butter. Our waiter was helpful in answering questions about the menu, but was a bit overbearing, repeatedly coming back to check to see if we were ready to order after we told him twice we needed more time. Also, when we told him our appetizer order, he abruptly disappeared, leaving us with menus on the table instead of taking our entree order. Weird. I ordered the lobster bisque and my friend and I shared the shrimp appetizer. The bisque was AWFUL. I was so glad that I got the cup instead of the bowl. It was hard to finish. The small piece of lobster was the only redeeming aspect. The bisque was not well blended and even had a clump of flour in it. Eww. Also, in my opinion, there was not enough flavor. It was neither creamy nor broth-like. It was just bad. Thankfully, the shrimp appetizer was much better. The shrimp were coated in a light tempura batter and it was also served with a generous portion of green beans and chips that reminded me of the Terra brand veggie chips. It also came with a wasabi cream sauce and soy sauce on the side. I'd definitely get this again. For my entree, I had the salmon. This was very tasty and well prepared. It was also a large portion and I had to take most of it home. The best part of this dish was the purple yam puree that accompanied the salmon. There was also some bok choy on it. I am not sure I'd get this again since it seemed a bit overpriced to me at $31, but it was good. Other things I did not like: the waiter took away our appetizer before we'd finished and he tried to clear my drink before I'd finished. I snatched it away from him but he didn't even apologize! After we finished eating, we walked around to explore the place. There is another bar area on the second floor that also seems to have a small bar menu. I kinda wish we'd gone there. The menu options looked way tastier and the prices were much more reasonable. I think I will come back and hit up the bar for drinks, apps or the bar menu. Unless someone else is paying, I think I'm done with the dining room. Bad bisque and bad service make this a solid 3 star review.
(3)Milla J.
Went to Sunday Brunch buffet last week. It was really good. I don't normally like buffet food because it's usually not impressive. Towne has a variety of food to choose from oyster, to pancake, to steak etc. I was very happy. The seating is very spacious as well so I don't feel rushed. Highly recommended.
(5)Jaime M.
Bottom line: Staff needs more training if restaurant is going to charge so much. It had been years since I went to Towne for dinner so I was excited when my friend suggested it for dinner last night. I told the waiter I wanted something on the LIGHTER side-- a seafood dish... he recommended the snapper. I ordered it and it came dripping in oil and butter and a weird 'sauce' (no mention of it on the menu or by him)... it was sort of luke warm and just not good at all. Apps were caesar and shrimp cocktail-- they were pretty standard-- not that hard to mess these up. Little things happened-- drinks took forever, the wrong side dish was brought, at one point the food runner brought us another tables' meal. Service was poorly timed. We couldn't find our waiter half the time and I didn't feel taken care of properly. The meal came to around $200 without the tip. I started laughing because I felt completely cheated. If Towne is going to charge so much for food they need to train their staff better; have them KNOW the menu, have set "check in" points during your guests' meal. This place is so not worth it & I won't be back any time soon.
(1)Bobby C.
If you are looking for a more slightly creative brunch, Towne is an option. A friend and I went on a Sunday. No wait...lots of tables as there are two floors. We both had the roast beef skillet hash crisped with organic eggs. Great presentation. Food and ambiance was ok. Probably not the best place if you want a casual brunch date. Service was decent also.
(3)Neal R.
My wife and I had been here for dinner before and had a good experience. Although pricey, the food and atmosphere were good and the service pretty good as well. We decided to bring our daughter in last night for her 20th birthday and were greeted warmly by Keisha, the receptionist, who took our coats and was quick with a smile. Once we were seated, however, the warm welcome was quickly dampened by our server who clearly didn't want to be there. He was seemingly inexperienced and in a hurry all night and was never available when we had questions. He was short with us and didn't listen to our request and subsequently made several errors with our orders. Although, despite the service, most of the meal was quite good, we all agreed we'd had much better for far less. The atmosphere is ok but this particular experience was certainly not worth of the price and we will not be in a hurry to return. There are a lot of exceptional restaurants in Boston and Towne fell well short of that last night. For a place with such a good reputation we feel the wait staff should be of much higher caliber and will not recommend Towne to our friends.
(2)N D.
Stopped in for drinks with a couple of girlfriends tonight. While sitting at the downstairs bar (in the front room, facing Boylston), I thought I saw a shadow bolt across the floor. I wrote it off until a few minutes later, another MOUSE ran under the table. Within minutes, no fewer than FOUR mice were scampering about, fearlessly exploring the restaurant floor. It was disgusting. We reported this to the Bartender, who said he would tell management. He came back a few minutes later and said they would like to offer us a complimentary dessert for our poor experience. Thanks, but no thanks. I don't think I want any food from here if the mice are bold enough to go exploring while customers are still sitting around! I did like this bar, but now I doubt I'll go back anytime soon.
(1)Noshii R.
So I want to like this place and for some masacistic reason we keep returning to Towne. However, lately the place has taken a new twist. 1) a few months ago they had a horrible sewage leak in the middle of the restaurant...seriously it stunk and instead of shutting down the place they offered their patrons cotton candy...as if to brainwash them into thinking that they were at the circus and that the stench was the porter potty's???? Suffice to say we just had like 4 bottles of vino and bypassed dinner altogether. 2) The second time we returned a fight broke out!! Like really...it went on and on an....it started at the opposite side of the bar and somehow ended up in our laps. I had to hide the steak knives off of our table as I was afraid they would be used by someone. The most surprising thing about this fight was the fact that not single server, manager or security person stepped in...what the heck? You are suppose to be a 'fine dinning' establishment and yet you have no security. No police were called and no one was asked to leave...DOES THIS SOUND SAFE??? I will never ever be going to Towne again...its just a sh*tshow...actually the name is befitting as it is a perfect spot for Townies.
(1)Mike O.
*** THIS REVIEW IS BASED ON THE SCENE, ALONE *** The goods: Great location, lovely decor, friendly staff and a fair selection of standards you'd find at most mainstream bars. The bads: Typical Boylston St crowd, just with a bit more money to throw around, and maybe five years past the Pour House days. The restrooms are on the far end of the restaurant, making it a terribly long trip if you're hanging out at the bar. You may want to pass on coming here on a Saturday night unless you like the body-to-body "we're packed in here like we're on a train in India at rush hour" vibe. Ladies, you will be hit on, several times over, by young lads and old grampies, alike. Some will tickle your fancy with some entertaining conversation, no doubt, and some will just tickle you. So if your keen on the creep factor, this may be your place!
(2)Megan L.
Love. Had brunch for a party of 12 here (today) and it was fantastic! There was much debate about what to order, and the majority of the table ended up with the minute steak with a deep fried poached egg and creamed spinach. Feeling like a bit of a lemming, I got this too. It was DELICIOUS. My steak was done perfectly, the creamed spinach was wonderful and the poached egg was such a nice element of the dish. Other favorites included the malted waffle with salted caramel and bananas foster, and a LOT of sangria. Also the hot mini donuts were fantastic. Service was friendly, quick and efficient. As much of a pain as it must have been, they gave us separate checks with no hassle at all. Shout out to our waiter Chris!! The decor is beautiful and it's in such a convenient location. I was super impressed--will definitely be back!
(5)S T.
Tuesday - Lunch - Restaurant Week ($15.13) Choice of soup or salad, I chose salad and entree" Burrata & Kumato Tomato Salad with white anchovies, old balsamic Giannone Roto Chicken with Yukon garlic mashed, roasted shallot jus My Mom had: New England Clam Chowder Vermont crackers Lemon Sole "Fish & Chips" with tarragon-tartar sauce, malt vinegar I enjoyed the Giannone Roto CHicken very much but the baby carrots were ... a whee bit hard to chew but the whole dish was delicious. The salad was oh good. Especially with the anchovies. My Mom's lemon sole fish and chips was okay. Perfectly fried not greasy but wasn't all that amazing..the fries was great! I don't believe our waiter even came back to ask how things are going or even asked if we wanted desert menu. Restaurant Week is when I go to restaurants I never go to and maybe come back in the future. Towne is a maybe I'll come back ... based on the mediocre service I received. Oh and why's the dinning room entrance behind the bar? How can people who never came here see it? We definitely didn't see any hostess or anyone. The bartender saw us wandering and pointed to the back.
(3)S S.
Excellent food and service. The brussel sprouts are seriously better than any others I've ever had- with cream and bacon no less. Halibut with beurre blanc- yum, yum, yum! Wine list was impressive. The space is nicely designed, but not enough attention paid to the acoustics. Really loud and hard to hear my dinner mate over the clanking of dishes and overall volume of everyone around us.
(4)Sandra J.
I want to love The Towne. SO MUCH potential! Location: Perfect Available Parking: Perfect Menu: Great! -- the food is a tad too salty (not only my opinion, I've taken a poll -- I am happy to present graphs and charts, if asked). Waitstaff: SLOW! Hostess: Comes across as snooty but I think they are just young and unseasoned. During my most recent visit, there were fifteen of us with reserved seating. The waitress was terribly slow and overwhelmed. Not sure how. We were an easy group...ordered appetizers and pitchers of Sangria. At one point we ordered more Sangria, she left and returned FORTY MINUTES later to tell us they were out of Sangria. Huh?! How does THAT happen. Okay, so we ordered wine. Um....crickets. We had to ask for another waiter. And, while you may be thinking it was crazy busy and we weren't patient. It was not. The service is that bad every time I go. But yet, I keep returning, hoping "this time" the service will be better.
(3)Adriana T.
I ve been to Towne many times before but I have never written a review on it. It's a huge place - gigantic!!! 2 bars, 2 dining rooms + the bar dining room!! 2 story restaurant!!! I have had diner at Towne 3 times so far - the food is good- it better be good for how much it costs. Based on the sever you have you can have a nice or a not so nice dining experience..I have had both of them. The bars are always pact- last weekend in particular but it was too hot and we couldn't even stay there for longer than a drink. The crowd is mid-late 20s to mid-late 30s. Forgot to mention..the drinks are expensive $10-$16. It is a nice bar and great location but Lolita or Red Lantern have a much better vibe than Towne.
(3)D M.
I came for the Yelp Elite Event in 2011, and also just recently for post Red Sox game cocktails. I really enjoyed hanging out at the bar when we came in, and the setting is really nice. The crowd was an interesting mix of people, and went from an older crowd when we first got in to bachelorettes in the bar area around the time we left. The waitstaff was very pleasant and our cocktails came out quickly. I ordered the blueberry lemonade because it was a super humid night, and it was a mix of blueberry vodka, house lemonade, pomegranate juice and blueberries. It was tasty, and I think I'd go with a gin based cocktail next time. Cocktails are around $13, which is a little steep, but not awful for the area. The bar menu looked great, and while we didn't order anything, the food coming out smelled good. I'll be back to try some fried zucchini sticks soon!
(4)Johnna M.
How sweet it is to be loved by Towne. I attended an unexpected brunch here with some lovely yelpers and I must say I really enjoyed myself. Our service was topnotch. The waiter was attentive and fun-he answered our questions, dealt with our daylight savings time adjusting stragglers, and even picked my jacket up off the floor (glad someone cares about my personal belongings!) Towne delivers a unique and fun experience, starting with its interesting patrons (think Old Navy commercial big glasses lady dress-alike, babies in their Easter best, every well dressed man in the city, and some loudmouth chick wearing her clothes from the night before who was captured by brunch attendees while trying to make her way home from an oh too late party and is now forced to make best with the fit and fabulous crowd Towne attracts) Beyond being the place to see and be seen (or in my walk of shame gone brunch case, attempt not to be seen) every detail of Towne's atmosphere is creative and welcoming-from the overall design of the space to the fun (sometimes borderline risque) decor to the lively background music. The menu continues to play with the unusual and creative and like a chick experiencing with thrift store shopping for the first time,--sometimes it works and sometimes it just doesn't. The donut holes were melt in your mouth warm, sweet and sticky. The lemon poppy seed bread didn't work quite so well. My heart skipped a beat when a tray of lobster popovers arrived- I've been dreaming of these babies since the elite event. What a clever and well executed combination-perfectly flaky popover filled with succulent lobster meat with a surprisingly sweet after taste (The writer in me says stop saying sweet, the food lover in me can't avoid it). Unfortunately my main course, chicken and waffles, was one of the things that didn't work so well. The chicken was extremely dry and almost impossible to find any meat on the bone and the waffles were just too, well, sweet. (grr) However, the grits were absolutely fantastic and so I'll raise my AOK Bloody Mary to that. Despite a slight letdown in my main course, Towne continues to work hard to ensure a dining experience that is equal parts special, delicious, and homey and I'll certainly return to explore more things on the menu (looking forward to trying dinner!) and continue some fantastic people watching. Pretty sweet, guys.
(3)Colby C.
Many of these reviews mention the Lobster Popovers and I will agree that they are probably the best thing on the menu. We were here with a party of 20 so we were seated in the private dining room. Good thing because otherwise I probably would have been deaf by the end of the meal. When I navigated trough the main restaurant in search of the restroom, I was confronted with a wall of noise from the 200 or so people eating and drinking in this cozy establishment. The food was okay. Sorry to say, but it was not worth the price tag. Overall I would rank it in at Food 2/5 stars, Taste 3/5 stars. The atmosphere was modern yet sophisticated, but I wasn't sure if I was at a nightclub or a gourmet restaurant. The menu prices told me the later, but the noise and liveliness told me the former. It is for this reason that I have to break my atmosphere rating down to two subsets: Social Atmosphere 4/5 stars, Dining Atmosphere (assuming you are seated in the main restaurant) 2/5 stars. As far as service goes I would rate this restaurant closer to 4/5 stars, but in regards to price 2/5 stars. Overall, come here with friends for the social aspect. Be weary of ordering too much food as the bill may add up quickly.
(3)Amanda G.
Went here for drinks one night, dinner the next (weird, I know) and I have to say, I'm surprised by all the Negative Nancy reviews. I understand that people had high hopes for a Lydia Shire / Jasper White venture, but I don't think Towne is bad at all, and my own expectations were exceeded given the number of mediocre restaurants in Back Bay. So, the upsides... I love that this place is big and airy, and has personal rustic touches (bright red patterened napkins, blue suede chairs). The restaurant felt more like NYC than Boston just based on size/location and the high ceilings and open kitchen, and I loved that. Now the food was all very good - maybe not A-mazing, but consistently well cooked and seasoned. I will say I like salt, and clearly so does Jasper White. The bread came with some yummy dipping sauce, salted butter and red pepper (?) dip. Fun way to start the meal. Then we shared the mixed greens and 'Zucchini Tangle' which is fried zucchini on a spear, over fried calamari and yummy tartar and cocktail sauces. SO good. The calamari was oily and hot, and the portion size was perfect for three people - there's a larger portion size you can get for an even bigger group. One of us got the halibut special, I had the roasted chicken with broccolini, and another one of us had the salmon. All the proteins were cooked perfectly, I thought, and because I'm a huge broccolini fan, I was content. The star of the meal funnily enough was the side we ordered of grilled king mushrooms and creamy polenta. Big portion for a side dish (although $12 so makes sense) and it was delicious! Service was spot on for a nicer restaurant - our waitress was very attentive and my water glass was never empty. The only downsides were the cost and my drink, which I enjoyed, the Baja Breeze (tequila, house-made soda and pomegranate juice) was tasty and refreshing but light on booze. Also, the prices are hefty but I think worth the ambiance, inventive/crazy menu and a genuine ability to appreciate something grande and different in downtown Boston. I definitely would like to return (and try the desserts!)
(4)Jim M.
Sunday brunch. Great price, great food. $~40 per person. You get oysters, shrimp, steak, king crab eggs benedict and so many pastries. It is amazing. I love it.
(5)Rosemary H.
I tried this place for dinner for the first time last night and really liked it! It was a Tuesday pretty early (about 6:30 when my boyfriend and I arrived) so we were seated promptly. The inside is really pretty and classy, and I enjoyed the trancey music they were playing. There are two bars downstairs and a nice, open dining room. There's an upstairs area as well, though I did not get a chance to see it. Both my boyfriend and I ordered martinis. They were quite strong but still delicious, so an A+ goes to the bartender. We started our dinner with the duck confit pizza. It was AMAZING. It had roasted garlic and squash on it, yum yum. For entrees, I ordered the red snapper with pineapple salsa, and my boyfriend had the ahi tuna (crusted in something I can't remember). I didn't try his, but he crushed the whole thing and said it was delicious. My snapper was quite good. I do wish it had a bit more of the salsa, but other than that I really liked it. We split the brussels sprouts as a side. They were awesome. They were roasted with candied ginger in a yummy creamy sauce. I really want to try and make them at home...mmm Definitely enjoyed my dinner here and I will be coming back. It IS a little pricey (we split the bill and each spent about $80, including the tip) but for a once in a while treat it's totally worth it. I also want to check the bar out here as it seems like a nice, classy place to hang out on the weekend.
(4)Michelle R.
Went back to Towne with some clients and coworkers last night and I must say they have made great changes regarding service. Our waitress was attentive, helpful, and accomodating. Very impressed - drinks were always full! *IF YOU WORK IN THE PRU TIP!: She let us know that with your work badge (we all work in the tower) you get their special $3 food menu. It's all appetizers and we literally got the entire menu. Highlights: fish fritters (I forget the name but they were the best!, sweet potato fries, the crusted bread with the fish dip (again.. can't remember the name, I was drinking a lot at this point), and the duck app. I still think $9 is outrageous for shoddy Pinot G BUT it is the copley are and about the same everything. Just make the wine a little better, please!
(3)Diana G.
Two words: Lobster Pizza. Go there & try it now.. Location is convenient, & service is prompt and friendly. Prices are a bit, well.. pricey, but this is only because the restaurant clearly caters to out-of-towners who are most likely going to a convention at the Hynes.. Other than that, this place is worth trying... I'm sure I'll be back..
(4)J P.
I was excited to try to the brunch at Towne because I heard good things. Things started off a little rocky with awkward service. Then went way, way downhill. I ordered the chicken and waffles after seeing it arrive at the table next to us. Not only did mine come with a piece of chicken that was pink and undercooked, another piece had a feather on it. A FEATHER. So gross. I should have sent it back. But instead, I pushed the chicken aside and ate the waffles. Big mistake. I ended up with food poisoning, so bad it required a visit to the emergency room. The doctor said my symptoms were consistent with salmonella. Thanks, Towne.
(1)Steve S.
I was ready to hate this place. It is huge, and good restaurants are never this big. Townes is a beautiful 3 story bar, restaurant and patio bar in the corner of The Hynes near The Pru. This is one large place, but the atmosphere is well designed as well as well decorated. There is a meat market bar on the first floor and the dining rooms on the second and third floor with a function room I arrived around 7:30 and sat at one of the three bars. Our server, JP, was attentive and knew her wine and menu. The menu as well as the wine list is extensive with choices for all. The seafood seems the most interesting with tuna, salmon and arctic char. The food leads to more fusion of different cuisines than a traditional steakhouse or restaurant. Its a nice change I settled for the salmon, which excelled with many different flavors and textures including the veggies. My friend had the duck and it was meticulously sliced and prepared well. The wine was good and the bread basket is a nice touch Very likeable experience
(4)Mahina K.
I will say this much the food was decent. HOWEVER, the service was pretty awful. Came here for mother's day, my parents are from Hawaii, so I was trying to do this right. It took about 20 minutes to get water and another 15 to have a waiter ask for our orders. I ordered the chicken and waffles after reading rave reviews. My mom the fried eggs benedict and my dad a bacon sandwich. We noticed people that came in after us got their food, people that came in at the same time FINISHED their food. Our food took 40 minutes or so to get with us and that was only after prompting from my father. My dad goes, "could you please check on our food? We've been waiting for a good amount of time now." The waiter replies, "Well, we have four full dining rooms." Now if the waiter had said, "Sure, let me check on that, but it's Mother's day, so it's kind of busy back there." That's one thing, but the answer my dad got actually kind of pissed him off. We finally got our food, I didn't get the chicken and waffles, just waffles. I asked him if there was chicken coming, he said no. So if he were to just charge us for waffles and not the chicken part I'd be good. So that was resolved. However, when my dad's bacon sandwich came out it was cold. Like cold, probably sitting out for 20 minutes cold and if there's one thing you don't really want to eat cold, that's probably bacon. The chips they sprinkled on top were officially soggy. So it wasn't a RUINED mother's day. But it definitely wasn't the best. I just wanted a place that took reservations because I knew restaurants would be busy, but next time I might want to chance it. I wanted to like this place, I wanted to be that yelper that was like oh hey, they're great you people are all wrong. But Alas, I lost this round. Ps. Their artwork choice is kind of strange.
(2)Georgina C.
I gave Towne a 3 because the service was only so-so as are the far too frou-frou cocktails with ingredients that just did not seem to mix well. My dining companion was looking forward to a particular seafood dish and our waitress unapologetically stated the kitchen was out of the ingredients necessary to prepare it. I adore the cupcake dessert plate (heavenly) and order it each time I visit. The decor is gorgeous, atmosphere fun and I love the beakers they use to serve water in. Great attention to detail and valet parking
(3)Gabi R.
Yum & yum. Was here for a company event during MBA recruiting. Despite that looming "uncertainty" of knowing I was being observed by potential recruiters and evaluated, I managed to enjoy a delicious meal and some fine wine. Food: got the filet mignon, rare. WOW. I know I'm supposed to be demure at these events, but I couldn't stop myself from actually eating this delicious steak. It was juicy to the freshest extreme, well seasoning and salted, and just barely warm on the inside. What an amazing way to wile away a few stressful hours. I also had the chocolate pudding and some espresso. Both delicious. But nothing to top the finest steak of my time in Boston. Thank god I'll be back there for more this week! Service: incredibly sweet and accommodating. My neighbor, the recruiter, had a gluten allergy, and despite the fact that we were a large group with many plates to coordinate, they graciously put together a separate menu to make sure she was accommodated. I also love a place where staff takes your request for recommendations seriously. I asked the waiter to help me decide between the filet and a lobster ravioli (I love lobster), and his reco was unequivocal: "the lobster dish is good, you'll enjoy it, but you'll envy those with the steak." Could not have said it better :) Ambience: beautiful, classical, almost romantic except for the non-romantic purpose of my visit.
(4)Karlee H.
I have been here a decent amount, only for drinks or appetizers. Dark cavern-like bar in the front, fun crowds young & old, overall vibe is lively yet unpretentious. I like you Towne, but last night might have put us in love. Four of us went out (Wednesday) for a belated birthday celebration. As other Yelpers have noted, the service isn't always very swift but thanks to the hospitality of Mike (?) the Manager, we were very well taken care of. We were seated for about 45 minutes before a random waitress asked us if someone had taken our drink order (no one had)--so we put in for a pitcher of sangria with her. 25 minutes later still nothing. So we pull Mike over and tell him the situation. He comes back post haste with the sad unfortunate news that no sangria (white or red) is made, but if we'd like to select from one of their signature punches he'd be happy to make that instead. We picked the Uptowne Punch (cider, cinnamon, fall deliciousness). He brings out a glass just to make sure we like it before we commit to the full pitcher (we ended up having 2 pitchers). Great time with friends, outdoor seating area was fantastic on a late August evening with festive string lights. Both the arugula and short-rib flatbreads were great. I think the cards and gifts beside me gave it away, but I had 3 staff members wish me a happy birthday and then bring over cotton candy without us saying anything. Best present of the night, Mike took care of the first pitcher. I guess I'm easy to win over (liquor & candy) but its unfortunately rare that people go to great lengths to improve your dining (& drinking) experience, so thanks Towne! Now off to continue the birthday celebrations...
(4)Jackie L.
Let me start this review by saying this is a place I wanted to love, that for all intents and purposes I SHOULD have loved, but something was just missing. If I could award half stars it would be a 3.5 star review, but since it was absent of that "something to write home about" factor, its going in as a 3. I came here with my husband and a couple of friends for Sunday brunch. My friends brought their 15 month old as well, who loves food and is also an excellent restaurant critic. He enjoyed his fruit plate and gourmet smoothie (served in a champagne glass mind you) and wasn't at all fussy, so suffice to say it has baby approval (at least for brunch). The 4 (er, 5) of us were seated outside. It was a gorgeous August day, and despite it being 11:00 AM there were plenty of available tables outside. (As an aside, 11:00 AM is when they open for brunch. I usually like to eat earlier so I can get an earlier start to my day, but anyway, the timing isn't bad if you've had a late Saturday night.) We received all the water, coffee, juice, and cocktails we ordered promptly and service was overall very good. We were also given a gratis basket of mini cornbread muffins and donut holes with sweet icing. This bread basket was really the highlight of the meal. The menu didn't excite me all that much - 3 out of 4 of us ordered eggs with tater tots. Tater tots make people excited - especially tater tots at an otherwise upscale restaurant. Unfortunately, what we got was a side of uninteresting large pieces of fried potato; we were all disappointed. The eggs and the potatoes were good, but when you're expecting tater tots... what can I say? My friend seemingly had the pick of the litter with her order of lemon ricotta pancakes, which she said were really good (and a hefty portion). Oh, and the price. Pretty standard for the area. If everyone gets a coffee, cocktail, and entree, expect to pay about $60/couple with tax & tip. The verdict? The convenient, downtown location (next to Prudential shopping center), nice (and available) patio seating, and the fact that I love brunch so freaking much will probably bring me back here. I'm also intrigued enough to want to try this place for dinner or happy hour.
(3)Sarah C.
I came here for lunch and ordered the rotisserie chicken sandwich. I waited more than 25 mins but still no sign of food. I see why a lot of yelpers complained about slow service. When my order came, then I realized why they took so long. It was so tasty! Probably my best rotisserie chicken sandwich I had in a long time. I also noticed a lot of older men near the bar area. They didn't bother me but just when I was leaving the restaurant, they started to be obnoxious.
(3)Karolyn B.
We were so excited to enjoy drinks before dinner in the lovely outside space - twinkling string lights, colorful flowers and people watching on a perfect summer weather weekend. While a Saturday night, only two other tables were occupied so we we didn't feel too guilty about just ordering cocktails and an appetizer. The cocktail menu promised new versions of classic combinations - gin and sparkling rose - all seemed so promising! Unfortunately, the service - excepting water refills (thank you!) was so bad that we left after 20 minutes - never even meeting our waitress. I think I saw her across the garden as she talked with her friends and ignored the two different servers who - after conscientiously refilling our water glasses - passed on my requests to order. Go to the Back Bay Social Club across the street - my gin drink was refreshing, we could still see Towne's lovely garden, but the service was polite and efficient.
(1)Katherine S.
Very odd experience. We sat down. Woman comes up and asks about tap vs bottle water. Some guy pours some water. We sit. 15 minutes. Nothing. Then another woman comes up "do you want juice or coffee?" stated as if these are the only options. "um, i want an iced tea...." can we not get anything else? weird. 15 minutes pass. finally we get some tea. wait more. A DIFFERENT guy comes up, "did you want bread?" Dear LORD it's been like 40 minutes, can we ORDER FOOD!? so weird. Brunch/lunch menu is very minimal. I was trying to eat healthy and could not really find anything that was a good option. Ended up getting pancakes, one side of them was burned. Not impressed by much of anything in this place. Excellent location that is going to waste.
(2)Melissa P.
Huge space. Lots of different rooms. Multiple bars. Varied menu. Bustling and loud. None of these things usually bother me in a restaurant. Put them all together in one place, though, and that's a whole different story. Towne needs to get a little more organized. You walk in and there's no direction, no host, no way to know where to go. The hallways get backed up, there seem to be about 10 different hosts once you do find them, and I can't figure out why you can seat yourself at one of the bars but not the other. All this confusion and we hadn't even looked at the menu yet. Speaking of the menu, omg overwhelming much??? And wait, there's actually three menus? One for dinner, one for the bar, and then an entirely different lobster menu? What is going on here, Towne? Someone having a little bit of trouble making decisions? With this many options, we ordered a lot and, unfortunately, were only happy with one out of four items. Dates wrapped in bacon? Fine. They are kind of impossible to mess up. Chicken wings? Completely tasteless with breading that just made my mouth dry. Crostini trio with eggplant and artichoke? Kind of a mess--so much spread weighing down a paper thin crostini. The only saving grace was the burger, which was incredibly juicy and flavorful. But, what did it come with? Not the usual lettuce, tomato, and onion. No, instead we had a plate of cold shoestring french fries. That's just sad. Attentive servers can't carry this place on their own. They need some help! Towne needs some serious organization and attention to detail.
(2)Tony S.
... and the Winner... of this year's Oscar for Total Luncheon Letdown IS....... Towne! I'd been in here for drinks several times and absolutely love the bar scene and overall ambiance. I was hoping the dining experience would be equally good, so I opted to celebrate a special family occasion in the dining room. Alas, like all things Kevin Costner, the initial 'booya' turned into a lasting 'boo hoo'. The bread, in all shapes and forms, from starter rolls to sandwiches to carnival bread, just plain..... well..... SUCKED!! The starter rolls tasted like dried tooth plaque, the ciabatta on one of our sandwiches must have been a plastic stage prop from the set of 'Waterworld', and the carnival bread on my bbq pork sandwich tasted like deep-fried sponge and pork rinds. Were there any good points? Service was excellent. The hostesses were incredibly professional, and our water, Rick, was awesome. Can't complain there at all. Also, the Caesar salad was decent, as was the coffee, but I don't think I'll be coming back to dine here for a while until they figure the menu out. Funny.... if they just copied the Sonsie menu and served it here, it would be a far more superior dining experience.
(2)Steph W.
So, I haven't eaten at Towne yet so I can only comment on the drinks. I went to Towne this weekend and got The Cathy. It had gin, aperol and a few other ingredients. It was strong and well made but I felt like $13 was a little steep for Towne since the environment isn't as great as other places and I think City Bar right next door has drinks for about $11/12. But, I still enjoyed my drink. The only thing is I'd say it is almost too dark in here where I had to use my candle (that eventually burnt out) to read the menu. So, a little more lighting would be nice. Also, the TV screens playing the football game sort of took away from the high-end ambiance that I was looking for. I love a good football game, but I felt as if it made the whole experience a bit more casual. Also, the crowd at Towne tends to be a little bit older (e.g., old creeper men or older ladies spraying their hair w/hair spray in the bathroom). So, it's not the best place for mid-twenties crowd.
(3)Michelle G.
Decided to give this place a try with some girlfriends and we were not disappointed. We were able to get seats in the bar area, the lobster popovers were insanely good, and a new rosé they just started offering was suggested to us and it was the perfect cap to our girls night out. All around fantastic spot on Boylston St!
(5)Frank W.
Please note, this review is for drinks only. Bottom line: Pretentious environment, terrible bartending skills, but average prices. Went here after a Papa Razzi dinner to grab some drinks. The place was packed with suits and girls going after them, but we were able to snag a table which was helpful. After ordering a few drinks that were not 2 part-ers (ie: vodka tonic) we concluded that the bartenders had ZERO clue how to make anything that wasn't on the cocktail menu. Seriously, they asked me what was in a Tom Collins (that one's not difficult) and even after I told her.. it was still horrible. Don't know how. Vom. I got 3 drinks and the price was 34 though, so the only thing that saved this place was that I didn't cry TOO many tears as I signed the bill. I had expected to be weeping for my bank account. With so many places on Boylston, why the hell go here? Unless you're chasing "generous" folks... yikes
(2)Michelle C.
Brunch was pretty good. Cute dining area, loved the comfy chairs. Eggs Benedict was good, the sauce was wonderful and lemony, just how I like it and the eggs were PERFECTLY cooked, but wasn't a fan of the bacon which was overpowering, I think I'm more of a ham girl. I really dug the potatoes... huge chunks that I think were deep fried? but didn't taste/feel greasy. The breakfast "appetizers" weren't that great...the lemon poppyseed bread was odd, it had a weird gummy texture but dry at the same time, and the donut icing was waaaay too sweet for me, I could only eat a small bite. The bloody mary had too much worcestershire and seemed to be missing the extra spice I requested, plus, it was a virgin and cost $9! I thought that was overpriced. The service was outstanding, very attentive & friendly. All the food coming out of the kitchen looked yummy, especially the french toast which I'll have to try next time. I also want to try the lobster popovers which sound so wonderful. I love that they have lots of lobster options on the menu, so I'll definitely be back to give it a try.
(3)Tony N.
Service: Knows the menu like the back of his hand. Did not steer me wrong! Very attentive to needs. Water never less than half full. Great job Jeffrey! Appetizers: lobster popovers excellent. Comes with two. Sweet glaze. Good amount of lobster meat inside. Salads looked good, nothing too special. Dining mate loved the clam chowder. Entrees: Cod was an amazing piece of fish hands down. One dining mate had sandy shellfish with hers but mine were excellent. Pork belly was to die for. I will ways order that dish for it. Swordfish and steak was enjoyed by dinner mates. Deserts: Chocolate cheesecake was a fail. The peach dessert was light, sweet, and simply amazing. Very much a peach strudel with a brûlée cream and roasted hazelnuts. Price: Fairly expensive. Would like to see appetizers come down $2 on average and entrees $5. Just think of it as a tax for the location. Ambiance: This is the place to be. Two bars downstairs and one upstairs. Two main dining rooms upstairs, (definitely make sure you get seated upstairs). One dining room is street view and more intimate, The other is with the open kitchen, bar, and is very lively. Also very nice outdoor seating.
(4)Alex M.
I've only been here two times, (once for lunch, once for dinner), and both times, it was phenomenal! Bruce was my waiter both times, and he is very good waiter. I think he may actually be the head waiter. Both times I had the margarhita pizza and it was very good.
(5)Angel M.
I went to town on Towne on a Friday night. And, boy, did I paint it red. The crowd was lively but not crazy, the drinks were pricey but not expensive, the servers were busy but not unattentive. Basically, besides a slightly higher average of hotter and taller people, there wasnt much at Towne to make it a night out on it. But, seeing as how I had already towned a few drinks earlier in Kenmore, it was an altruistic nuisance. I might go back, I would recommend dressing it up, just a little bit, though, I was rocking the quiet celebrity look: baseball cap, ironic t shirt, tacky jewelry, faux leather jacket and gold sneaks.
(3)James D.
I really like this place. They have three bars and two dining rooms on two different levels. The food is really good. The menu changes often with fresh items but they are always original and unique. The whole atmosphere and look of this restaurant is really cool and very city-ish. It's a really fun night out. I didn't give them 5 stars because the service can sometimes be inconsistent. But for this type of place the service if good enough. My wife and I come here a lot and will continue to do so!
(4)Gloria C.
Reasonably priced brunch! Perfect portions. Great attention to detail. Def recommend this place. Only downside is they don't open til 11 even for brunch on the weekends. The lobster omelette is super yummy. Entrees come w/ pan fried potatoes and they are amazing!!!!!!
(5)U V.
The food is ok.... nothing special or memorable about it.... for the price i'm paying i do expect the food to be above average.... the wait for the table took forever..... i ended up kept walking to them to ask if the table is ready... about literally almost 2 hrs finally the table is ready.... my friend and i were there around 5:30.... we didn't end up eating till almost 7:30....i think my friend and i only got the table because we kept asking them if the table is ready... there are about 4 tables free the whole time..... we can see them from where we were standing... we thought someone might have reservation there already but about 2 hrs we were just staring at those empty tables.... seriously! we should have go somewhere else to eat and come here for the drink.... The waiter was nice and it does make up for the wait but like i mentioned earlier the food was ok.... it's definitely not worth the wait... might come back for the drink though....
(3)Liz W.
Overall, I really do love this restaurant. I have been here a few times, really just for drinks, and have had great experiences. The drinks are fantastic, the bartenders are always very attentive, and the atmosphere is great. So needless to say when my boyfriend and I went here for dinner the other night, I was shocked at the terrible, and really downright rude service we received from our waiter. The hostess was great, she was very friendly and accommodating, and seated us an hour prior to our reservation! Our waiter seemed like he was in a terrible mood right away, like he was doing us a favor by waiting on us! The food at Towne is delicious, but they don't have very many vegetarian options. Since, I don't eat meat, I ordered the gnocchi off of the appetizer menu (which was excellent!) The waiter seemed very irritated I didn't order an entree, but sorry, buddy, I'm not going to eat meat just so our bill can be higher for you! After that, we saw him once, only when he stopped over briefly to ask if we liked our dinner. He never came over and asked if we wanted another round of drinks, and we sat for 20 minutes after the busboy cleared our plates and waited, drinks and water glasses empty. He then had to audacity to ask if we wanted desert! We decided to get some more drinks elsewhere after. I'd like to try Towne again, but after the experience in the dining room, I can't say that I will. All three stars are for food and beverage, zero for service in the dining area. If you go to Towne, stick to the bar area!
(3)Jamie M.
We usually come here late on Saturday nights for a drink, but finally came in for dinner last week. Our server was friendly, knowledgeable and "just the right" level of attentive for a married couple out on a not so frequent "date night". The second floor dining area (we usually only see the downstairs bars) was unconventional yet classy, with beautiful high ceilings and a view of the kitchen. Everything we had was good, but I particularly enjoyed the simple butter lettuce & avocado salad, which had a refreshing citrusy vinaigrette & crisp lettuce; and the lobster popovers. These popovers are amazing! A *must* for anyone who comes here-nice chunks of fresh lobster and a great flaky crust. My husband had the duck and thought that it was cooked perfectly (a big deal for him, because more often than not when he orders duck, it's overcooked) and the combination of sweet pineapple, gingery vinegar and root vegetable was a great complement to the grilled duck. We didn't order dessert, but have heard great things, so based on this visit, and the promise of a delicious finish, we will be back, and not just for an end of the evening nitecap!
(5)Ro P.
We had lobster popovers, lobster pizza and some salad. Each dish was excellent!
(5)Kareem F.
Fantastic service & food. The Fish & chips are fresh and delectable. Their Lobster & poached eggs were the best I've ever had! Their bloody mary's are equally delicious. Awesome decor: Contemporary yet warm. Had a blast here for lunch!
(5)Tater M.
I've only been to Towne once, with another, for their Christmas menu (we got a la carte, not prie fix). It was delicious. My friend got their Lobster Salad with Popover dish and I got their Sugar Pumpkin Ravioli with Mascarpone dish. My ravioli portion was quite tiny I admit, there were like a grand total of 9 raviolis? But man, they were yummy and infused with great pumpkin flavor and had a wonderful cheesey bite to it. They also did something to a couple of green leaf garnishes that made them fantastically crunchy. The lobster salad was delicious and was a larger portion. There was a row of lobster meat, row of lettuce or some sort of chopped salad, row of crunchy fresh bread cubes, row of little red onion, row of blue cheese, row of avocado, and a big popover bread. Very yummy. We chose their Chocolate Pudding with one New Orleans peanut brittle dessert. D-e-ca-dent. rich, slightly bitter cocoa flavor and nicely paired with the salty peanut brittle. (I got tired of it after the first 6 bites though, NOT because it tasted like cheap chocolate with lots of sugar, but because it was just really RICH and CREAMY. Guilt got to me.) Unexpected, because although the cup holding the pudding looks small, it's actually quite filling. Servers were all very courteous, you can really tell they're all very experienced and nice. Decor was fab, modern and unusual. Wish I took pictures.
(4)Susan R.
Went on a random day at a random time for a sandwich and to check out the bar. The service was very very good, and the cocktails were a-ok... I just wasn't super impressed with the menu. Really expensive comfort food that left me feeling gross. I will check it out again, JUST because the bartender at the small bar downstairs near Boylston St was so nice.
(3)Sonia D.
I attended brunch on Saturday here and I have to say those donuts are AMAZING!!! If I could eat donuts all day everyday I would be there. They are warm and goey and great!!!! There were 10 of us there and we had alot of fun! There was a baby with us as well and that didn't seem be a problem. Our server was nice and honest about what food choices we were thinking about making. I went with the lobster cobb salad and was a little nervous thinking I wasn't getting enough lobster but they gave me a TON. The presentation of the salad was great. Instead of mixing everything in the salad together they actually separated everything out. The salad also came with 3 different types of dressing. They were all soooo yummy. They also sell my favorite wine...Joel Gott cab! Tasty and smooth. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a nice brunch place before your shopping spree or just hanging with friends. Haven't tried dinner there but will soon.
(4)Danielle B.
Scene! Was there on a Friday night with a college friend and her friend, and we had quite a night. Started out with some tasty drinks---champagne + elderflower out front at the bar. After a 45-minute wait or so, we were seated in the back restaurant part. We started with the ravioli and this lobster thing for apps. I got the tuna (my favorite fish), which was quite tasty. Overall, the food was solid, nothing spectacular, nothing horrible. The atmosphere was very lively all night. Maybe I've gotten used to the laid back scene in SF and was craving the craziness that this place had. We had some entertainment in the form of a former athlete trying to use his status to his advantage (didn't work, sorry). I liked this place, will try to come back the next time I'm in Boston.
(4)Saba N.
Note: reviewing BRUNCH only ------------------------------ I had a great brunch experience here! I like the space a lot - it's open and spacious... I wasn't expecting such a large room in the back! I definitely recommend for a large party. The service was fantastic. The waiter was really nice and always filled up our coffee... I think i might have been super wired by the end of the meal. Fine by me though! The food was my favorite part. First of all, they bring you HOT donuts to start. Like... are you kidding me? That's the best idea ever? I'm serious. It was unreal. I ordered the lobster Cobb salad (OK.. so I had chocolate chip pancakes a couple hours earlier... whoops!) and it was really unusual and yummy. First off, the presentation was insane. The salad came in rows... One row of avocado, one row of lobster, one row of lettuce.. etc etc. It was really beautiful and also delicious (the lobster was a little chewy though). Still, I ate pretty much the entire thing. The highlight of the meal for sure was my friend's blueberry pancakes. They looked amazing and the kicker was the HOMEMADE MAPLE & BROWN SUGAR COTTON CANDY they put on top. I had to put that in caps to make sure you fully digest what I'm saying. Cotton candy. On the pancakes. What?? The prices are reasonable and I'm definitely coming back.
(4)Mike D.
The restaurant is decent. The service was very good but the food was average. The food is a bit expensive for what you get. The space is very nice with a downstairs and upstairs with two full bars. The nightlife is pretty fun for the back bay area with a younger crowd that is usually busy on the weekends.
(3)Natasha A.
I was a little skeptical about Towne. The menu just seemed to be a bit all over the place, with dishes in many different styles (highlights from thai, indian, mexican, italian, french flavors). I wandered - can they really be good at such a wide variety of dishes? Well, I was pleasantly surprised. The pig chop with a side of fried milk was nothing short of extraordinary. A perfectly cooked and Chinese flavored juicy chop, with a side of fatty riblets and fried milk was very rich and flavorful (will be eating half of it for lunch). The pancetta and short ribs (with thai flavors of lime and chilis) ordered by others were also superb. Another highlight of the menu is the Lobster menu, which one must specifically ask for. The lobster popovers were delicious, flaky, filled with honey and lobster. We also had the tartars of bluefin and sirloin and my favorites - the grilled razor clams. The wine list had a good price range and an extensive selection. Cocktails were priced at 9-12, reasonable for the place. I also liked the interior design, although I usually hate very large restaurants. The space was divided into enough subsections to make it a bit more intimate and the open kitchen on the second floor was fun to watch. Two minor complaints - floors are way too slippery - I almost took a dive. Also, the menu lacked a soup which I was craving on the rainy September day. I will be back to try the wagyu skirt steak next!
(5)LeiLei R.
Love their Beef Hash! After brunch at Towne, many of my following weekends were spent scouring local brunch shops for something comparable. No luck. I'd come back more often if parking wasn't such a pain in the butt, but I'll just have to suck it up to get my fill of the hash. Meat, eggs, hollandaise, potatoes.. not too oily nor too salty. Instead of sourdough bread that typically comes at the beginning of the meal, we got little glazed donuts and banana bread. Both delicious and light as well. Overall, everything was tasty. I walked away that day feeling full and satisfied without the food coma that typically accompanies brunch.
(4)Connor T.
We've been for Brunch a few times and it was delicious every time. We've also been for Dinner which was really good. Most notably, we help a private brunch there, and it was perfect! The food was delicious, the staff was easy to work with, the space was gorgeous, and it was all very reasonably prices (as it always in there). Definitely recommended!
(5)Jeff F.
Towne is a really cool multi-level space worth checking out - 3 bars and a couple different dining options depending on what you're looking for. If you're looking for an after work cocktail, I absolutely recommend Towne. If you're planning an event, the private room they have overlooking Boylston should be considered. But if you're looking for a great meal (as I was) I'd pass. Here's a rundown on what I tried: -Pork & Chive Dumplings - ok, but nothing I'd recommend -Grilled Unagi - underwhelmed -Aragula Salad w/ fresh picked lima beans and warm spiced lobster oil - exceptional and worth trying -Tartare: jasper's sirloin & cleanseas bluefin tuna - the Tuna was great, but the sirloin was questionable at best.
(3)Kevin M.
I went here on date night last week with my wife and was expecting so much more from this hipster place in the Back Bay. Cool decor and fun vibe with lively three bars, but this is not a good return on time or cash invested here. First thought: Whoa, the prices!! Food nor service quality comes close to justifying the prices on the menu. Servers didn't refresh utensils or plates. Timing with other tables around us was uneven. Entrees didn't have much of a side and the waiter didn't inform us that we may want to order a side dish to share. But for these mid to high $30 entree prices, come on! I am perplexed how this won a best new restaurant nod. Lobster mini-menu: nice idea. We tried the Lobster popover as an app. For $15, how about 3-4 popovers, or at least more more meat in the two you get. Lots of popover dough and lots of forkover the dough. #1 Tuna: number 1 where? Yes, Tuna was very tasty and seared perfectly. But the tuna needed a sauce or something more. And the Parsnip mash with the tuna is very dry like it had been sitting under a warmer for 30 minutes. My wife was more pleased than I with her house specialty salmon crisp. But it still lacked any heft in the sides. The wine list was varied, very solid and was probably more reasonably priced than the food. All in all, I won't be going back; there are many finer dining spots delivering much better value.
(2)Josephine L.
Gorgeous space, friendly staff, tasty food, frou frou prices (though not the worst I've experienced), convenient location. There. Everything you need to know.
(4)Drew C.
How this dump got even two stars is beyond me. It's really too bad because it has a lot of potential - the decor and locations are great. I went to Towne for a friends' birthday a few weeks back, and I really was looking forward to going and enjoying myself. Didn't happen. We had a reservation at 7:30 and were not seated until past 8:00 PM despite the fact that everyone in the seven-member party was there. What's the point of having a res? Apparently they were really working hard to set up our table... When we were finally taken to our table, we noticed that the table was indeed set for a bachelorette party - which we were not a part of. Back to the drawing board - they had to find us a new table. The server came over to take our order after about a half hour. We'll start with some drinks thanks. We order a bottle of wine and some cocktails. That was the last we saw of any type of beverage besides water; the waiter never came back to ask us if we wanted more drinks at all. Funny - I thought that's how restaurants made their money. Guess not. We also asked for some more bread, which was brough over by a young lady who seemed so inconvenienced to be bringing us more bread that you would have thought she was bringing out a basket of rats from the kitchen. Why the long face, pumpkin? I must say, the food was good, but for all the hassle, waiting, and the price (it was about $70 for each of us, and, as I said, that's only with one adult beverage) it didn't do much to please. I would have a hard time being urged to come back.
(1)Sammi N.
was unexpectedly impressed... I'm not typically a fan of touristy restaurants and I guess I quickly categorized Towne as that due to its location and lobster-focused menu. Bar is a great place to dine... I recommend sitting there versus the dining room, which appeared a little stuffy and prententious. Like most yelpers, lobster popovers was rich and delectable. My fave was actually a side dish - the roasted cauliflower is phenomal and huge portion which could easily be an entree. I definitely wouldn't go out of my way to dine here, but if I happen to already be in the city, it would definitely be high on my list for dinner.
(4)Carla G.
Go here on a Monday night....front bar, ask for Nick, order an Armada, rinse, repeat...then order a flatbread....stagger home; thank me later.
(4)Diana M.
Extremely pretentious! They pretend to be at capacity so a line forms. After we're told we're in line because they're full, they then let a group of 15 in because one of the guys knows someone at the door. After standing in the rain another 5 minutes, I ask what the wait is, the kid says "I can let you in now". Then the head door man takes a look at my rain boots, and yells " Yeah, not yet." Um, okay. We then leave. As we're walking away, three women in their 40s come up to the door they let them in. Don't waste your time there if you're under 40 and you're a down to earth person. They're trying too hard to make it be like a place that would be in NYC. I heard too the drinks there are $15. They want only people in there that look like they have $$, so they'll pay for the over-priced drinks. Thanks but no thanks.
(1)Steve K.
I was fortunate enough to go to Towne on the second night and I must say I was very impressed. I usually give a place a few weeks to work out the bugs, but the impeccable design and the diligent staff made for a great experience. The staff was attentive at all times, but never intrusive, and the fact that there were alot of staff made things move with a sense of purpose without feeling rushed. Christine was working the tables around the second bar on the main level and she was awesome! We even had a manager stop by to check in, which was a nice touch during the hectic opening. For food I recommend anything Lobster...cocktail, tail app with horseradish and pesto sauce. Awesome! I also had the skirt steak and portobello on the side. For dessert, I don't have a sweet tooth, so it was definitely the artisan cheese plate. My only complaint was that the skirt steak did not come split, since I was sharing - but they did bring two plates. Also, the cheese plate was not explained, and there were four options of cheeses, so more information would have been helpful. I am definitely a fan of this place, and will be going back because the bacon wrapped dates sound too awesome to pass up. This place also has range - anything from business dinner to late night out. Definitely check it out. There is something for everyone there.
(4)Billy Su B.
i've now had numerous 5 star nights out on the towne ;) 1. are you a rowdy hussy in search of a suit to bed, or vice versa? try the first bar on the first floor. dark, noisy, casual, and packed with young horny singles trying to act polished and stylish, but really just looking for a wallet full of money and a romp in the sack. they aren't fooling anyone. we see those hungry bedroom eyes. ...actually, i don't know if they're there for the sex or the ravioli. having had both, it's sort of a toss up to be honest. (the ravioli is SO good!) 2. bar #2, on the first floor, is lighter, more civilized and older. the attached diningroom is spacious and lively- perfect for a party or large, festive get-together. 3. bar #3, upstairs, is the more private, quiet area. try this for a conversational, low key night or more intimate date or dinner party. (find me here) FOOD* 1. CHICKEN THIGHS- buddha on a bicycle, this dish was rich, savory, culinary perfection, from the juicy thighs to the flavor-saturated garlic bread they came on 2. DUCK CRISP- *sound of rejoicing 3. PORTABELLO MUSHROOMS- compare to devient sex act of thine own naughty choice 4. VALENCIA RICE- so clever. so dream inducing. 5. SOFT SHELL CRAB- light weight, flavorful and the reason i'm generally obsessed with soft shell crab! 6. TARTARE- praise be to raw food! ************** 7. since seven is heaven, i'll end here: THE ANGEL FOOD CAKE WITH MAPLE ICE CREAM AND COTTON CANDY ::chorus of angels singing:: **!!**hands down, the cleverest and most delicious dessert in this sweet city. +final instructions: do not bring stretchy pants, tattered shoes or baseball caps and be sure to fully load your wallet with monies prior to arrival end of rave.
(5)ells w.
...wtf.........East Coast Oysters 2.50 each in Boston? Just another over thought, under performing 'corporate' restaurant aimed straight at unsuspecting conventioneers, and unsuspecting foodies who think they're going to see Lydia and Jasper dancing their magic to the sounds of pots and pans....beware of the star power. They are as vacuous as the space.
(1)Richard C.
Beware the gourmet burger they say, expensive burgers can't be trusted. If people start talking about a burger, there's probably a reason for it, although in the case of Towne, most of the chatter seems to have vanished after a hot start. Priced at $16, I've somehow avoided this burger for months, but like most things, this was worth the wait. To make the upper tier, you must nail execution, flavor, and offer something that other burgers can't. Ironically labeled the "Deluxe All-American Bacon Burger," it's all about the meat, but for the gourmet crowd it should go without saying. How premium the entire package is and how much value is attributed to a hefty price tag is the question. A unique blend of Short Rib and Skirt Steak is used, which is about as fatty as you can get, probably why I liked it so much. The beef has a superior crust and very generous seasoning, funky enough to be different but not too far from the norm to sway any burger enthusiast. It's requested on the menu that you order it rare, which I do, and for the most part it's cooked properly. Certainly far from rare as the patty reaches the outer edges, the middle of the burger is perfectly rare without going into raw territory. Perfectly hand-formed and thus loosely packed, the meat sings with robust flavor in each bite. A curious sweet chili sauce tops the burger, not much more than a glorified ketchup that seems out of place, distracting from the meaty patty, the sweetness is a mere distraction. Melted cheddar and bacon round out the burger, the cheddar almost an afterthought, and the crispy bacon offering texture but little flavor. The bun is sort of a Brioche/Kaiser Roll hybrid and it works; slightly sweet and almost too large, it supports the massive patty and all its juiciness. Very ordinary fries are almost a bore, especially after the delicious burger, they are very hollow and taste nothing like potato, albeit seasoned very nicely. Towne boasts a burger that is to be reckoned with, it's all about the beef and rightfully so. The meat is exciting, different and wonderful, and as a complete package, it at least deserves any mention to hang with Boston's best. It's the same predicament as past burgers; expensive, and hard to justify too many return visits. Less delicious than the burger across the street at Back Bay Social Club, but $6 cheaper. Not as news-worthy as Radius, but definitely beefier. It's absolutely in the running, and worthy of a closer look by burger enthusiasts everywhere.
(4)Ken C.
Loved the lobster pizza and the duck entree. Service was nice but oddly nervous. Tuna was not overcooked, which is key. Great location and impressive decor. Ate upstairs, but could have easily enjoyed a few G&T's downstairs.
(4)Karen C.
At $250/couple, I guess I expect great food. Didn't happen - surf-turf special was 1/2 an overcooked lobster tail and medium filet was well done. Apps were good but not remarkable. Atmosphere was great as was service. Done with Lydia Shire joints, on to Barbara Lynch and others.
(2)Thuy L.
What a stark contrast from the Soft Opening. I was excited and interested to see how it would all pan out once it was opened. I have been here twice for drinks and my experiences were so opposite that I had to give it another try. The first time was at 5:00 on a Wednesday--not very crowded and not loud at all. We went straight upstairs to the bar. The second time was a Friday evening around 9:00pm and luckily I got there in time to snag a couple of tables in the back. The volume was ridiculous--I couldn't even hear the person next to me. Finally, I thought I'd put those two experiences behind and try dinner here. I was completely shocked. For a 7:15 Thursday reservation, there was a man with a rope to the left taking names (as if we were in some high profile club) and not in a restaurant attached to a Convention Center. The guy had a clipboard and suggested that I wait at the overly crowded bar until my friend arrived. They couldn't even just sit me? I couldn't have even ordered a drink if I wanted to. I was surprised how loud the restaurant was as it was still fairly early in the evening. The sound carried over into the dining rooms as well. My voice was hoarse the next day from screaming to my friend who sat just 2 feet away from me. Drinks were okay. Oysters were adequate, they only served Wellfleet Oysters. Service was decent but our server could not for the life of him remember the special. He kept looking around and then finally looked down at his notes to remember the fish of the day. After describing the fish, he never once quoted me a price. I was definitely shocked when the bill came out and it was a $38 meal. For that price, I would have expected some Swarovski crystals embedded into it. Additionally, he said that the fish was de-boned, however I found like 10 bones in my fish. It was pretty irritating to start chewing and then you gag yourself with a bone that wasn't supposed to be there. My girlfriend ordered the linguine and clams off of the appetizer menu. We asked the server if it would be enough for one person as their meal, and he said No. We took a chance and it was plenty. There was enough to bring home in a doggy bag. Not sure if they are taught to try to get the customer to order as much as possible, but I though the food was decent, nothing spectacular and way overpriced. I shall not be returning here for dinner anytime soon nor will I be coming back for drinks. Go somewhere else.
(2)Deb L.
been here for brunch a few times and the food is very good (pancakes, french toast) they provide a basket of pound cake and mini glazed maple donuts when you sit down. OMG these donuts are out of this world (they deserve 5 stars). Once in awhile, I'll go in and get a few dozen to go (which they sell for 50 cents each) and take them to friends (and it's a real hit).
(4)Mark W.
Great place for drinks but big disappointment on the quality of the food. The lamb was all fat the salmon was over cooked the tuna was ok and the chicken dish was dry. Oysters were good but how could that go wrong. Stick with drinks at the bar... Oh, get to the place early. The line outside was ridiculous.
(2)Cheryl G.
Service was fast and friendly. Atmosphere and decor very nice, but strange Saturday menu, only brunch, no lunch. So don't bother if you are looking for lunch on a Saturday. Definitely would like to try Towne again for dinner. Didn't seem to be much in terms of vegan options, but vegetarian flatbread pizza was salty and oily, in a good way.
(3)Alicia F.
Towne is the bomb! The service was exceptional and the food was so delicious, particularly the pizza (mushroom, and margherita equally delish) and "the truth" fettucini alfredo is off the charts! I don't eat meat but but my husband and friends went bizerk over the burger and the peking chicken. And bonus, the cocktails yummy too.
(5)Soumendra B.
The snozzberries taste like snozzberries... you will constantly ask yourself 'is this for real' at towne... and no, not always in a good way. Imagine a place with red checkered napkins, beakers as water glasses, and a menu that includes Indian, Chinese, Italian, and English food with strange accompaniments. Think burned tuna steak with sweet root vegetables...unbelievably large portions of chicken...Indian appetizers. You can call it "fusion" but that doesn't quite mean it fused. The flavors were not complimentary, and sometimes it wasn't even clear what they were supposed to be. The blueberry dessert was unquestionably the highlight of the meal, though the sauce was a little too sweet... imagine willy wonka announced your dessert... with a flourish! "you are eating dessert! This is sweet!" Speaking of Willy Wonka...our server kept coming over and whispering in our ears "how is your food?"..."I just LOVE what your ordered"..."where I come from this is a fancyyyyy dessert" and then announcing each course with a flourish of his arm "Here is the PHARATAAAAAAA". Ok, thanks, please leave us be now. We basically decided that we would not come here again, but that it's great for people going to conferences at the convention center because they will most definitely remember the experience.
(2)Tatsu I.
White Tablecloth Service for a Party of 380 x 4, I'll Take All Seating Times Please! I have no scruples when it comes to sniping FTR, it's immature, self-indulgent and you love me for it. But I'll give you a g-ddam honest review and you will learn something. Leighann graciously extended an invite to attend Towne Stove & Spirit's soft opening, a fundraiser for Mass Eye And Ear Infirmary. I do not know how this new venue escaped me, let's just say the rate of openings in Q2 to Q3 2010 is pretty astonishing as of right now. Lydia Shire of Locke-Ober and Scampo fame has paired with a surprising choice in Jasper White, the man behind Summer Shack and many books on New England style fare. The backing power comes from the Lyons Brothers and they definitely brought it. Big time. The real estate is mind-bogglingly prime, basically a T-bone sized chunk of the Northeast corner of the Hynes Convention Center. I would of named it "The N.E. Corner of Hynes C.C.". It occupies both levels, and the view from the more enclosed banquet style room has a stunning view of Boylston due to windows arrangement above and all sides of the room, nearly 180 and above your head. It also peers into the Hynes main hallway adjacent, an extended view of easily 150 meters across the entire length of the Hynes. The main room is also gorgeous, with a modern open kitchen, yet charming whimsical touches throughout that is very Lydia. The downstairs has yet another room, looking into the expansive not-so-gorgeous cement courtyard of the Prudential Mall. The bar as you enter rivals anything on Boylston, and in fact, being the corner part of the Hynes affords the luxury of massive and tall plate glass windows in every room. Quite frankly it is second to none in terms of curbside and inside appeal compared to anything inside the Mandarin, and that is quite the architectural boast. The menu and food is decidedly safely chosen, an amalgam of Jasper's and Lydia's greatest hits, with some crowd pleasers thrown in. The menu is actually a bit longer than expected for such a nice looking venue, no doubt an effort to quickly appeal to the many conventioneers who will be peering into the banquet room and saying "What is THAT?". Lobster Popovers, from Scampo are being ported over, along with some of Jasper's previous dishes. Also seen were flatbreads, skirt steaks, even a burger. Frites are typically served with the meat dishes. The fish on the other hand, various rice sides or veggies can be ordered, separately. Aside from various duck and lamb entrees, that is pretty much it, very simple and not confusing, again I suspect a nod to traffic they anticipate from within the Hynes. From my judgement (Very little fish was served on this soft-opening, (In fact none of the kitchen equipment was hooked up, all the cooking was done patio-side in a temporary tent.) but Jasper did come out with skin-on pan-seared Salmon dressed in cucumber and accoutrements. Undoubtably wild from the taste of the oil coming off the salmon. I was frankly distraught to see Bluefin Tuna on the menu, unless it is of the farmed Kindai variety, I will encourage it's removal from the menu. The stellar menu item is Lydia's Colorado Lamb Ribs. When I used to eat meat, I sourced my lamb from New Hampshire, from Halal butchers and it was night and day from New Zealand. No gameyness, or strings, just smooth as silk meat. Lydia goes further, to Colorado using more fully grown sheep. The result is an enormous eye in the rib, larger than a diver scallop unbelievably, absolutely succulent, pleasing non-gamey aroma, a texture between tenderloin of beef and sirloin. It was so appealing I cheated and tried one, it simply surpassed any Lamb Rib I've tried, which was formerly my favorite cut of meat, any type of BBQ or skirt steak be damned. So I would order that for you, while I resumed on Jasper's side of the menu because I'm supposed to be a vegetarian. Perhaps the menu does not have the savoir faire of Scampo, or say Clink next door to Scampo in the Liberty Hotel. None-the-less this is destined to be hallmark establishment, known outside of Boston, that Back Bay really needs, something you might see editorialized in in-flight magazines as a hot spot in the future, but also a very swank rendezvous for the citizens of Boston herself with solid food from Team Shire/White and their underlings. Quite frankly, as an event planner, I would have my convention inside Towne and skip the Hynes all-together. The service was ridiculously well-prepared, an army of staff picking up glasses at all times in nylon picnic baskets shows serious party planning skills. You can fit 1000 conventioneers in a 380 seat restaurant in one evening. And thus the title of my review. So, KapOW! another FTR, and I lay my piece down. I'm a one-shot cold bore sniper.. Oh drinks, yes I got a bit tipsy. Thanks again to Leighann for this very exclusive opening! You know it was good if I cheated.
(5)A B.
Not worth the money. Inexperienced servers who can't get out of their own way. The m.o.d. was named Chuck. He was arrogant, unhelpful and cocky at best. He should not be dealing with guests. I will never go back to this place. The food didn't live up to it's expectations.
(1)Anne-Marie A.
This is a tough one, since I've been to Towne several times and have always had a splendid experience, complete with Chef Lydia stopping by to say hello. But last night was different -- 12 of us for a birthday celebration and things did not go very well. First of all, the fire alarms went off and continued blaring for 10 - 15 minutes. The manager did come by and reassure us that we did not have to leave (Phew-- we had not even had our first cocktails yet!), but this started our evening out on the wrong note. Service was good, but for some reason, someone (the waiter? the kitchen?) kept forgetting something or other: first all the side dishes we ordered, which came out when we were almost finished with our meal. Then, dessert -- and again, one of the desserts arrived (after we reminded them) after everyone else was finished with theirs. What can I say -- I will give Towne another try but several of our guests left unimpressed.
(3)Joelle S.
My boyfriend and i had gone to Towne a couple months back, maybe in May. There was a little congestion outside of the doorway and as soon as we got in there was an inviting, yet confusing set up. There was a bar and then no Host stand... odd. I asked the bartender if there was a host, and he was rude and said, " Ya, ova there" and pointed behind him. Um, alright? Cool. Not a great first impression as we passed the cougar hunting/affair-filled bar. So we go to the host stand, tell them we have a reservation and said it will be just a cpl minutes. We go to the bar, and order a drink from a very sloppy looking girl who was just shy of rude and then she threw away the leftovers of the people next to us, after they asked her to wrap it up for them. OKay. So far, not great in hospitality. This is a new restaurant, figured they would have higher standards. Oh well. And then as soon as we got a drink, one of the sloppy hostesses walked past my boyfriend, and kicked the bar stool our from under him, didn't pick it up, and just said "Oh, sorry." And walked away!! Even odder. SO then we get sat after about 15 minutes (by the way, we had made reservations, it was not busy at all, and the restaurant was maybe half full.) We went upstairs where the ambiance was very nice, and from there it got much better! yay! They played fun music upstairs(Beegees marley. justthe way you are. Captain of her heart) and we got a very attentive Bulgarian waitress whom was very sweet and hospitable. App: Calamari zucchini tangle thing. great tempura batter! wish it were bigger Entree:Lobster pizza. We shared it and it was delish! had an awesome creamy sauce drizzle, def would get this again Salad: Ceasar spears. nice and lightly dressed, the way i like. ALmost warm like they grilled it, delish either way. and they served it with this Burnt bread that i loved. Food: 4 out of 5 stars. Service: 2.5 out of 5 stars. (If it weren't for our great waitress, it would have made this a 2-star rating)
(3)Tomoko M.
I love this place! Came here during the daytime on a weekend and was able to sit at the bar right away. Their martini was delicious - I tried the Gypsy Dancer martini (cucumber vodka, aloe & honey). Also ordered the "cajun dusted french fries". I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that they were not really your typical fries. The potatoes melt in your mouth...Looking forward to coming back soon.
(4)Gigi B.
I was finally able to check out Towne Stove & Spirits a few weeks ago. Unfortunately I was disappointed. Towne seems to have an identity crisis. The menu is absurdly expensive and not cohesive. Some portions were massive while others were minuscule. If the food were outstanding I'd be much more forgiving, but as a Lydia Shire-Jasper White venture, there is no excuse. I feel Towne caters to out-of-towners more than the Bostonians the famous chefs love to please. The ambiance somehow made me feel uncomfortable, although the service was terrific. I'm willing to give Towne another chance once they've worked out the kinks, but for now there are dozens of restaurants in Boston I'd rather spend my money at, especially in the immediate Back Bay area.
(2)Jamie G.
Came here for a Yelp Elite event and had a wonderful time. It definitely got me wanting to come back and try their typical food and drink. The atmosphere and decor are classy and fun. The food and drink we had the event was very good and the staff was superb,... nicely dealing with some really stupid and rude guests (which really saddened me, because, HELLO, we were there for free, at least be nice!!). Hopefully their normal food and service is just as good!
(4)G K.
great food. the tomahawk steak is great. so is the duck. food was amazing. a little too high priced for the place.
(4)Jourdan R.
I LOOOOOOVEEEEEED Towne Stove & Spirits! At first I was worried that it was going to be out of my price range, but when I got there the menu had a wide range of reasonable prices. The place looked FANTASTIC...I loved the unique light fixtures and the different feels of each dining room...they make the place have an amazing ambiance! And what a great location! I was warmly welcomed and greeted the second I walked in the door. Cassie, my hostess, was SUCH a sweetheart. She made us feel like we were the celebrities of the night. I loved it - and I'm glad I wore my new LBD :) (I highly suggest requesting her as your hostess!) Anyway, when we got to our table (after only five minutes of waiting - we didn't make a reservation - but it was great because we got to chat it up with our hostess) we felt like VIPs because it seemed as though we were seated in the best table in the house. We could see right into the kitchen, which was cool because no other restaurant I've been to has ever had that layout. We ordered the Tuna TarTar for our appetizer, which was DELICIOUS. I highly recommend it. My friends and I each ordered an entree which we shared and each one was equally delicious. The Sirloin was so tender and juicy...it was like Heaven in my mouth. The Lobster Roll was the best lobster I've had in Boston. And that's saying something! (I strongly disagree with the comment below.) The Caesar Salad was SO tasty and fresh - I must know Lydia's secret to cooking the egg! For dessert, we got the Angel Food Cake. It comes with brown sugar cotton candy! It was absolutely melt-in-your-mouth delish. The best part was when Lydia herself brought us an extra stick of cotton candy. Again, we felt like CELEBRITIES. I mean, SHE'S a celebrity! I hope she does it again next time! I can't believe the treatment I received. We will for SURE be going back to Towne again very soon. I want to personally thank everyone who made this night special for us. I'm going to have a hard time choosing what to order when I go back next time! If you want star treatment, I highly suggest Towne :)
(5)Alex F.
Went to Towne on a recommendation from a friend that read about it in a magazine. I have lived in Boston for four years now, and this is my new favorite restaurant. The food was exceptional from the tartar appetizer to the short rib crisp tender and finally ending on the angel food cake with an extreme, yet delicious amount of cotton candy. The drinks were also excellent, and the service was phenomenal. I highly recommend Towne to anyone, looking for great food, drinks, and atmosphere. I cannot wait to go back!
(5)Mindy A.
I went to Towne last night with a group of six for a birthday dinner. We sat in the bar first for a drink or two, then went into the upstairs restuarant for dinner. I really liked the bar atmosphere a lot. The mixed drinks were good -- I had the Baja breeze and it was pretty tasty. I would definitely go back to the bar and try some of their bar snacks--the bacon-wrapped dates caught my eye but we didn't order anything. Next time! For dinner, we were seated upstairs. My first impression is that Towne is going for fusion of everything, everywhere. The decor is a mix of Excelsior (fancy drapes, big windows, fancy tables & chairs, elevator) and the neighborhood dive (oversized plastic/laminated menu, checkered napkins, measuring glasses for water glasses). The menu is the same--there is fusion of everything, all over the place. Every item on the menu has some Asian, Bistro, or "American" type element. The result of this is that it took every person in our group forever to figure out what we wanted, since so many things were kind of unfamilier. I finally settled for the Crispy Duck, and I wasn't dissappointed. Others in my group tried the short ribs, salmon, swordfish, and rib roast. Everything that came to our table had amazing, beautiful presentation. That was definitely impressive. After trying a bite of all the entrees, I have to say although I liked my Crispy Duck, the Rib Roast was my favorite because I loved the sauce selection they give you--the horseradish and blue cheese sauces were my favorite. Oh....I should also mention that we started with the foie gras and it was heaven (as foie gras always is). A couple people got dessert, I think the creme broule and pavlova. They looked good; someone at another table got the spun sugar (cotton candy) and I immediately was jealous of their order. With the gorgeous presentation I think there were definitely some entrees that were excellent, and some that were "pretty good." I was kind of put off by the prices. One person in our group ordered the clam linguine and it was pretty ordinary w/o much taste and had about 7 tiny clams (and I mean, mini baby clams the size of my thumbnail), and it was $17 for a small portion. That seems high to me. The woodfired pizzas also seemed high at $16 or $17 and the burger is $21. Those are the least expensive things on the menu; most entrees are around $35+. It's not the prices alone, it's the weird combination of the high prices and the fact that we are ordering off of plastic menus. I feel like if I'm paying fine dining prices, then I want fine dining....not a fusion of fine dining and casual neighborhood restaurant. That came off as weird to me. But I was glad I tried Towne and I would go back to the bar, for sure.
(3)Eric B.
I've been here twice. Overall I find the place energetic and fairly welcoming. The whole gatekeeper at the door thing was a bit off putting. The back bars are not THAT crowded. The food and drinks here are pretty good. I'd recommend this place for groups small or large. I hope I get to go back soon.
(4)Richard P.
Not impressed. Waiter seemed impatient and menu was an odd mix. Enjoyed the lamb kabob. Nothing else was exceptional as you would expect from the price and atmosphere.
(2)isa g.
Awesome brunch this past weekend! I've been avoiding this place due to the mixed reviews but I'm glad I gave it a shot. We were looking for a brunch place before our duck tour with out of town guests so we decided on Towne due to its location. I was outnumbered and was glad because our meal was great as well as the atmosphere. We were seated upstairs at a corner table. The restaurant was spacious, comfortable and décor was modern. Everyone raved about the bloody mary (I don't drink that stuff). All of our meals were great with the exception of the blueberry pancake (flat, chewy, and doughy) which more like a thicker version of crepe. I can't remember what everyone else had since there was 7 of us but everyone said the omelets (choice of crab/lobster) were great. I had the hash& egg and it was the best, better than Abe&Louis which used to be my favorite. But to be honest my absolute favorite was the free basket of the lemon poppy seed biscotti and the doughnut balls. I don't even like poppy seed but these biscotti were awesome. The service was also great as well. My only criticism would be that the bar service was slow even though the restaurant was mostly empty, perhaps this was due to the bar being on the main floor? and they need to find a new pancake recipe preferably one that is fluffy.
(4)Wally C.
GREAT PLACE, loved the service, food was incredible, we started with the lobster and corn pizza, out of this world, then I had the sword fish cooked perfectly, will come back soon.
(4)Amber C.
At the last minute we decided to forgo the South End and take a chance at finding a table at the new hot spot Towne. We walked up to the door and were warmly greeted by the 6ft plus door gentlemen. The bar was a buzzing with an exuberant energy that was contagious! It was a lucky night because we found the perfect table in the bar to have a cocktail and a small bite! We ordered the g & j's mushroom duxelles w/ scallion & fresh homemade cheese OMG to die for each bite was an explosion of flavor and with my yummy glass of Malbec that was perfection! We also had two sides that will be new addictions for me - "green beans... twice fried w/ white soy & ginger juice and creamed spinach... devilish". Our tasty tidbits were served by our gorgeous waitress that was providing killer service with a smile! As we finished and savored the deliciousness of our outstanding bar food experience we began the dessert discussion. As always we had to check the menu at least! The dessert choices were divine! We chose a dessert that had an angel food cake with spun maple sugar (cotton candy), caramel ice cream, and caramel brickle it was to die for! I can hardly wait to go back and have dinner in the restaurant!!
(5)Shannon C.
This is a bar review only - My BF and some of my fabulous friends arranged a surprise birthday drink celebration here for me Friday night. We had a table in the back of the bar & our waitress was quick & efficient. I had 2 drinks (something with tequila & flavored soda) which were great & they didn't skimp on the tequila which was even better. Will definitely come back for dinner.
(4)Stephanie H.
Went to Towne last night for the first time. We were meeting up with friends (who chose the place) but I had heard mixed reviews so I was slightly interested in seeing this for myself. I won't ever go there again! We arrived at 9:45pm on a Friday night after going to the Ballet and were meeting up with friends who had already bee there for a couple of hours, celebrating a birthday. There was only one cocktail waitress working the entire floor and though our friends had a tab running at their table, they advised us to go to the bar. We ordered at the bar from a bartender who just stared at us blankly from under his eyebrows. My friend ordered the Towne Lemonade, one of their speciality cocktails and was given a pint glass of normal lemonade. When she tried to get his attention to complain/exchange the drink, he ignored her. I ordered a round of three cocktails and he served several other customers between taking my order and delivering my drinks. I then tried to order a couple of bar bites from him since we had not eaten between racing from work to the Ballet. He yelled at me three times during my attempt to order that he couldn't hear me (though he obviously heard my drink orders fine) and then told me to order from the cocktail waitress if I wanted food. We never saw that cocktail waitress until 10:50pm (10 minutes before the kitchen closes) when she finally came by the table to pick up a couple empty glasses. (There were many empty glasses that had been ignored at our table of ten people.) We ordered our food and received it fairly quickly compared to the timing of service thus far. She dropped our check and we paid it before we finished eating. As soon as the money was on the table, she picked everything up, including the basket of sweet potato fries that we were still eating. (She piled other dishes in the basket before we could say anything so then we didn't want them anyway.) The cocktails and food, though good, were overpriced, and not worth the trouble to order them. The DJ was atrocious. There was dead air between songs, and at midnight on a Friday night in a packed bar on Bolyston, he was playing live acoustic versions of Gaga songs. What a downer! My evening at Towne what a waste of my time and money.
(1)Mo B.
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! Went for Sunday Brunch. Started off w/ a fruit dish of raspberries & strawberriestopped w/ a dollup of whipped cream. Muffins included a poppyseed, a cornbread drenched in lemon & warm, honey-dipped donuts~~~Mmmm! We had a lobster salad that was delicious. The dessert to die for! Everyone was friendly & accomodating& went above & beyond. It is a neighborhood gem! Will definitely be back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(5)Liza A.
I've been here twice now, once for just drinks and then again last night for dinner. The bar is, well, a bar. The one nice thing is there is a decent amount of seating considering the size. As for dinner. Apps were good... then it went downhill. Main course was average at best and dessert was subpar. What a disappointment. On top of that service is sloppy.... I'd avoid, at least until they get their act together.
(2)Liz K.
Very trendy bar with good mixed drinks. Went here on a Thursday night and sat at the bar. It had lights under this cracked red plexiglass slab so it looked really cool. The bartenders were very friendly. Will definitely be back!
(4)Elle W.
This review is difficult for me as I have been to Towne twice and had very different experiences. This most recent experience being the worst, so let's start with that. Review #1 - Got there at 6:30, put our name in for a table of 3. Was told 30-45 minutes. No problem, we'll have some drinks at the bar while we wait. An hour later I go to check on the table, we weren't in a rush, but we were just wondering whether we should order another drink or close our bar tab. The hostess apologizes and says we're first on the list but it will probably be another 30 minutes. Okay, another drink it is. 45 more minutes later, I ask again, and this time the hostess says she just doesn't know when we will be seated (I should mention there are EMPTY tables in the dining room). It's now 8:15 and we're starving and annoyed. So...we left and went across the street to the Back Bay Social Club (to be reviewed). Honestly, if you have too many reservations or too long of a waitlist just TELL ME. We don't need to sit in your restaurant for almost 2 hours while you continue to give us hope that our table is going to become available. I would much rather be turned away and come back another day. BUT: Review #2 - the week before, we had a reservation. We were seated on time, and we had an attentive and pleasant waiter. We ordered: Lobster/Corn Pizza - Wow. Tadiq - My friend's mother makes Tadiq. He said it wasn't quite as good as his mom's but was pretty good. I, never having had Tadiq before, thought it was pretty crispy and buttery, and delicious. I never order rice dishes, but I was really impressed with this one. Mushroom Appetizer - skip this. It was ok. Nothing special. And for dessert, we got the Pavlova and the Melted Chocolate dish. I can't believe I am saying this, but pass on the chocolate dish. The Pavlova was amazing, I never heard of this dish before, but it was recommended by our server, and I'm so glad it was. If I could split this review between Food and Customer Service, I'd give it FOUR stars for food, and ONE for customer service.
(2)Danielle P.
I've been here a few times but mostly just for drinks or drinks and apps. I really like it here I personally am a huge fan of the cheese plate that is on the desert menu. I usually get it as an app but it comes with about 5 cheeses, honeycomb, quince, and nuts. There is also a really nice bread that I think has fennel in it? But i'm not positive. The bread basket with hummus and babaganoush is yummy too. I personally also LOVE the "END CUTS" at the back of the wine list. These are wines that they are taking off the menu, due to unpopularity, suppliers running out of the vintage or w/e. I had a nice bottle of pinot gris for $25 the other day and considering the prices here I thought it was a great deal. I like the atmosphere and I think all the food items ive had have been good. I will be back!
(4)Emma S.
What a fantastic meal! My boyfriend and I split two fish dishes, which were absolute perfection, and were huge cuts of fish. The drinks were good, and the bread basket had diverse types of bread to begin your meal. Yum! The place is beautiful too, very trendy, busy and sexy atmosphere. However, it is SO freaking loud. They had to move our table upstairs, and even then did we have to articulate loudly to hear the conversation. That was unpleasant.
(4)Jillian Q.
I went for after work drinks and apps with a friend who goes here often. It was crowded up front, but they had a really nice bar in the back with a nice bartender and a friendly crowd. This is not usually my after work scene, but I liked Towne. We ordered the flatbread and the tar tare for apps. The flatbread was ok, although using pomodoro sauce instead of straight tomato sauce was a nice touch. I would ask for a little bit more of the fantastic cheese they used next time. The tar tare was excellent and I enjoyed that it was both tuna and sirloin. We enjoyed some excellent wine and had a nice time. Be warned, though, that it's expensive (well, expensive for my budget). I left there paying what I might pay for an entire dinner elsewhere. I did have fun, though, and I would return as a "splurge".
(3)Kimberly H.
Completely overrated. Food and service were abhorrent considering the price. This place is clearly trying way too hard and unfortunately, not succeeding. Two of my colleagues ordered the tuna - when the dishes came out, you almost couldn't tell that it was the same dish. One colleague scored and her tuna was what you would have expected - seard. The other - not so lucky. His was cut differently - much thinner and completely overcooked. If you are going to serve different cuts of fish I would not recommend doing so at the same table and the chef definitely should have adjusted cooking time for the thinner pieces. My salmon was also overcooked. And the sides did nothing for the dish - didn't make it bad but certainly didn't enhance any of the flavors. The service was really poor. Both the appetizers and entrees were given to the wrong individuals - rookie mistakes. The server never came back to check on us once the food was served by support staff. No one came to check on us for at least 15 minutes - during which time, two of the four of us had empty water glasses and one colleague had dropped her fork - but there weren't even people passing by to flag down. I'd prefer to not have to stalk the staff to get something when I'm paying $30 per entree. Really too bad as it seemed like it could be a fun, eclectic place - good vibe. Alas - I wouldn't go here for the food.
(1)Dan W.
Great place, huge patio with a menu that is very unique. 2 stories with very modern chic touches. This is one of my number one recommendations to visitors in the area. 3 bars through out the place with each one so different. Great social area and like I said great food. Sent my family there for a meal and they were pleased. Some things are very interesting combinations on the menu but thats what they want. Unique dining with a downtown Boston fits perfectly. You go here when you want a variety for food not known for one thing over the other. Well, aside for there super rich and tasty lobster popovers!
(5)Honesta A.
generally, people like to go clubbing after dinner, not while they're eating. cool space, but it's wasted by lack of ambience. the hostess introduces you with an a wanna-be nyc exclusive attitude. luckily, the music is so loud overhead, you barely notice her bitchy tone of voice. the food is ok, but they try so hard by putting way too much creativity into it. can't have a piece of without it being wassabe-fied. ok food is not an option for the price you pay. i recommend people don't go there unless they don't care about ambience and good food.
(1)Zach D.
I went there for drinks on a Friday night after work. Drinks are a little expensive but that was expected. What wasn't expected was waiting 20 minutes to get our check, then having to ask our waitress again for it. From the time we first wanted it to the time we were able to leave, it was at least 25 minutes. Unacceptable. And even though I went to the front desk to say something so that we could get our check, no manager or anyone came to apologize or speak to us about it. I know it's a different place than what's already on Boylston, but with that type of service and with other great options in the area, there's no reason I would go back there.
(1)Howe L.
A great place to drop by after work for a drink and chat. The scene is up there, and I noticed subtle hints of condescension. Still, the atmosphere is inviting, and we tried the lobster sandwiches with fried whole clams. Pretty good!
(4)Claire W.
Friend took my here for a birthday lunch. The service was excellent. My friend had a medical procedure the day before and could only have soup. She has severe food allergies to poultry or seafood, and asked if the kitchen had any beef broth. They had veal broth, and were very accommodating in this request and a few others we had. I had the crab cakes, and we each had a glass of champagne, picked by my friend. Very nice meal (although I didn't realize until I arrived at lunch that my friend should have stayed home).
(4)Tyler F.
So myself and 2 of my girlfriends decide to go and have drinks at Towne last thursday and we were denied access into the bar. It was 9 pm on a thursday and some a-hole at the door told us that we could not get in. We asked if we could just wait a few minutes until a few people came out then we would walk in. He said they were not letting anyone in for the rest of the night without a reservation. We told him we just wanted a few drinks but said we could not come in. It really ruined our night because we were planning on spending some time and some money at the bar while our friends all met us there. After that we were very discouraged and told everyone we know to forget it and met somewhere else. Not a very good first impression for this place. To the managers: try to be a little more accommodating and less snooty when patrons want to come spend some money at your bar, especially when you just opened up.
(1)Kristen C.
Our waiter - in a word - awesome. We were seated by the open kitchen, perfect seats. Food pretty decent, but very overpriced. We had wine, so I can't judge the drinks. Good place, but I'm more likely to come drink and enjoy the scene than to eat here.
(3)Jennifer J.
It was too big for me to be honest. I felt like we were in a factory. The design was nice but all over the place. This was my third time going and i was told that we could not stand and drink at the bar. Strange, right? Who knows maybe we will go back. it is very adult looking and I think Boston needs more of that. i did go across the street to The Social Club which I am told the same people own. It was really nice. Review to follow.
(2)Sasha B.
Let's start with the food. It's decent, definitely far from exceptional. Nothing creative or unique. The service was awful and simply unacceptable from start to finish. Yes, reservation was made on opentable and we checked in with our name. After we leave I get an email from opentable that we were a no show. Ok no big deal. Our server was absolutely arrogant. Our bread was delivered with some butter/dips. The lady who delivered them had a thick accent when describing the dip. He comes over right after and says let me translate that for you. Wow classy. Food took forever, our server came over and told us our mains would be right out after clearing apps....45 minutes later they came. Never came back check on us even once. Check please
(2)Jay G.
Another fantastic brunch! That makes three exceptional experiences, two for brunch and one very delicious dinner. The service was impeccable yet very warm and friendly. The food is what is expected from a world class chef and then some, and the vibe is what Boston has needed for years, fun, hip and yes, cool!
(5)Marlene M.
Get dessert! There are many things I liked about Towne, but what I loved the most was the brown sugar angel food cake with maple cotton candy, and the citron cheesecake with lemongrass sorbet - both mind-blowingly decadent and delicious! All of the staff are extremely kind and attentive, the decor is elegant yet fun (love the beakers as water glasses) and the prices are reasonable for the high quality food you receive. One last note, it could be a good or bad thing depending upon how you look at it, but the cocktails at the ground floor bar are STRONG, so strong myself and someone else in my party could only handle a couple sips of our drinks.
(5)Maria A.
I went here for the first time a few weeks ago. It was a Wednesday night and suprisingly really crowded. We had to wait a little while for a table because we didnt have a reservation. But we were able to enjoy a drink at the bar while we waited. The atmosphere was young and it seemed to be the place to go after work or for the evening. The restaurant is huge. I think 2 levels with a couple different bars. We ended up ordering a few apps instead of main entrees. We started with calamari which was ok. Nothing special. Next we ordered the lobster pizza which was amazing!! It was really filling and great. After that, we ordered some scordalia which was horrible! It didnt taste right so we sent it back. We ended up with the cupcakes which were really cute but kinda sweet. The best was the pizza and i would def go back! Our waitress was such a doll. Her name is Lauren and if i go again i would totally want to sit in her section again! All in all....this was a cool, hip place to go to, but the food wasnt necesarily the best. A great place to try out though!
(3)John S.
I went to Towne for the first time today with two friends for brunch. It was the absolute worst service I have ever had in Boston in the 10 years I've lived here. We sat down and it took 15 minutes for the waiter to even greet us and acknowledge that we were there. We ordered beverages. It took another 15 minutes for them to be served. We received tea with no cream, milk, sugars, etc. Then the waiter never came back. We had to ask one of the other waiters to find him to take our order! We got our food. I asked the food server to ask our waiter to bring a side of mayo, which he never did. I couldn't eat my food for 20 minutes because once again our waiter was nowhere to be found. Our waters were all empty, never once refilled. Then we had to ask for the bill and he practically threw it at us. Never asked how the meal was, etc. This restaurant needs to establish a training program for their wait staff to go through ASAP. Utterly shocking for a Back Bay restaurant. The worst service ever in my life I repeat! Go to Mistral - they get it right every time!!
(2)Gina R.
Definitely an upscale place for dinner and drinks on a Friday or Saturday night. The crowd is young and professional, and it's been busy each time I've been there. The bar can be a little crowded and you may wait a few minutes to be served, but there's a second bar in the back that's also open. A good spot to check out after work or for Sunday brunch.
(3)PT V.
Lobster Pizza....I mean seriously, how can that not be awesome? It's lobster and its Pizza. It was really good. A big scene at this place these days, but legit food, and good people watching...I work across the street so it's convenient and I think I will start going here more. That being said, don't creep on me...unless you're a hot a girl and like shorter dudes...
(4)Jasmine I.
Great cocktails and tasty food. The staff was amazing! I will have more dinners there in the future... And the desserts are delicious!
(4)Aashna S.
Great service, great brunch, very accomodating. Get the eggs benedict veggie style. So good.
(5)Jon R.
Towne is a good looking joint with decent service. I was surprised at how big the place was inside. We didn't try the food as we were on a Sunday Funday mission. So there.
(3)Courtney R.
Towne has three bars: the immediate entryway with large windows facing the street, a backroom downstairs, and upstairs. If you are there after work, like we were, I say head for the back downstairs bar. For dinner, make sure to get reservations upstairs. The bartenders are friendly and make strong drinks. The crowd was bubbly and mid-30s for the bar scene on weeknights. Great ambiance.
(4)A. A. R.
This review is for the front bar (with windows facing Boylston street). Went here on a Monday night around 11:30 (don't judge me - I had the next day off!) with a couple friends, and it was relatively full compared to other places in the area. The crowd was also more stylish and sophisticated - we were at Pour House before, which is all college students, and then at Whiskey's, which seemed to be filled with old men (full disclosure: I'm in college). The crowd at Towne's bar was probably ages 25-30, but I didn't feel uncomfortable being younger. Some guys bought my friends and I shots and we each ordered a drink. I was pleasantly surprised that my vodka soda was only $7.50! At most "upscale" bars, drinks are usually $10-12. I'd love to come back and check out Towne on a more happening night, but the upscale vibe mixed with affordable prices gives this place a 4 star review in my book!
(4)Alexandra B.
Definitely love this place. Sunday nights are my favorite nights out and we always start at Towne! Tim is our favorite bartender and he's always there and part of our conversation. It gets crowded during the week, but if you can grab a seat at the bar I'd recommend getting to know the friendly staff
(4)Leah L.
I stopped by Towne for a quick bite with a friend the other day. Really neat decor - love the light fixtures. More importantly, they had yummy cocktails. The martini I ordered was great and just strong enough. Would like to go again and try some of their more adventurous dishes - we just got the margherita pizza. The pizza was great, especially because it was wood grilled. Overall, I would definitely try Towne again.
(4)Steve S.
Went to Towne a few weeks back for lunch. Had the Lobster Cobb Salad at the recommendation of the waiter (who was very good - though a bit over friendly.) While the meal was good - the wait for it to arrive while the rest of the restaurant was relatively empty - was a tad disappointing. That said, the food was good and those eating with me enjoyed theirs. I will say the cake for dessert was excellent.
(3)jordan n.
GET OUTTA TOWNE... I had have been to towne a bunch of times for drinks but never tried the food. Last night we showed up around 8:30 and decided to get dinner. Started off with the bread assortment with hummus and an eggplant puree which turned out to be the best part of our meal. Our Pizza (g & j's mushroom pie) showed up first it was so it was sitting in a pool of grease maybe have been good other wise but it was so saturated I could not tell. Then our other apps showed up ravioli and some zucchini and eggplant chips. The ravioli had no taste and the chips were battered, some burnt and DRIPPING with Grease it also came with a nasty pesto dip which was way to oily as well. The entire meal came to $140 that was including five $10 drinks. If it hadn't been for a great service and good drinks I do not think I could have even given towne 1 star. If your in area I suggest going to Sel de la Terre to Eat (just next door ) then head over to Towne for drinks.
(1)Jacki F.
Oh Towne, you started off swinging when you first opened about a year ago, but you aren't quite as bumping these days.... there's not even a line to get in most nights. I guess I shouldn't complain since this means I have been able to go there more frequently due to the abscence of said line. ANYWAYS.... Generally I would say I like Towne. There was definitely alot more elligible attractive bachelors there when they first opened, but it still has potential. The clientele seems to be a bit older now. Last time we were there, men in their forties were buying us drink and shots, which really i love a free drink, but id rather pay for my drink if i could flirt with a men in his 20's or 30's! I actually recently recommended this place to my mother on her next visit to Boston with her girlfriends. I have never eaten here and I honestly havent heard much about the food. All in all, the place is decent, I will be back mostly just because it's not full of college students and the people are noticeably classier than most of the bars in Boston.
(3)Christian S.
Pricy and the cocktails are not great.
(2)Abby S.
I want to give Towne more stars, but since I've only had one meal there I'm going to hold off. I heard about the wait for reservations, so I decided to try it for brunch with 2 of my girlfriends. The food was stellar, 2 of us had the blueberry pancakes with maple brown sugar cotton candy on top. The other friend had the eggs benedict and she seemed to really enjoy it too. We all split the hot cheddar grits which were awesome. If I was just writing this review based on the food, I would give it a 4.5 of 5 stars. But since I work in the advertising/marketing/design world, I am always influenced by visual cues. So I was a little disappointed in the identity of the place. There are touches of rustic farmhouse to it: wood plank floors, red checkered napkins, salt and pepper shakers in the shape of old faucets, the brunch menu with elaborate rooster illustrations on it. BUT then other things seem out of place: the water glasses are scientific beakers, the main menus are modern with sans-serif fonts and simple illustrations, much like their website. The overall atmosphere is hard to figure out, there's another side room that seems to be done in shades of grey, with cool glass globes hanging from the ceiling, middle-eastern nods....how does THAT fit in with the farmhouse/scientific vibe? Therefore, I don't know how to describe what the place stands for...and perhaps most people won't care, but as someone who really enjoyed both the food and decor at Locke-Ober, and now Scampo, I expect amazing things from Lydia Shire. But instead, it feels kind of hodge-podge. I will definitely go back, to try dinner mid-week when there aren't crowds, and possibly drinks some night. Although, I'll be honest, back when it opened, me and 2 other friends tried to go there for a drink, and were completely turned off by the "meat-market" vibe in the first floor bar. Now that I know there is also one on the second floor, I'll try that too. And maybe over more time, their identity will get as strong as the first few food items I tasted.
(3)Mary R.
Lobster Pizza and Fried Green Beans Delicious! Service was great - Really nice atmosphere-and fun crowd.
(4)Lauren S.
I really liked Towne. I went about two weeks after it opened, and was able to get a reservation for the same night I called (a Wednesday). I was expecting the service to be snooty and pretentious (as some other semi-upscale restaurants similar to Towne tend to be...) but everyone we interacted with was pleasant and helpful. Our waitress offered to literally go over the WHOLE menu with us, since it was our first time there. She answered all of our questions, and was attentive throughout the night. However when the dining room got super busy she was MIA for about 20 minutes after we finished our dinner. The decor on both floors was really interesting to say the least, and while it wasn't ground-breaking, it created a nice ambiance. Now onto the best part, the food! I started at the bar with the white sangria. It was fine, but I've had much better in Boston at places I wouldn't consider as nice. I was surprised by the bartender, who looked about 18, and honestly a little trashy (too much bad make-up, glitter eye shadow, and realllllly low top) but oh well, not a huge deal. For dinner, I ordered the shortrib, and my friend ordered the swordfish. They both were very good, and I think I liked the accompaniments to the dishes almost more than the meat(s). The sweet potato (I think?) puree that came with the short rib was amazing but there was hardly any of it on the plate; I ate it in tiny little bites to make it last longer. The clams that came with the swordfish were delicious, too - and I usually only "sort of like" clams. Simply put, the dessert was unbelievable. We ordered the angel food cake, which came with caramelized brown sugar crumbles, homemade caramel ice cream and a brown sugar/maple-y type cotton candy they make there as well. To die for.
(4)Skip P.
Loved it. For an appetizer our table split the lobster pizza. spicy with a touch of honey, it was fantastic. I had the "Tuna #1" and it was great! I agree that the the laminated menu layout is odd and doesn't match the rest of the restaurant.
(4)Sarah M.
One of my favorite things is to check out the new next hot spot. This place seemed to fall a bit short in all areas. I found lobster shell in my bisque and the waiter seemed extremely Jr. as he kept interrupting me and my date at strange times. I will give it a second try but will not do a 3rd if the experience is the same.
(2)Andrea P.
It pains me to write this. I really really wanted to like this place. On the plus side: the service was great. From the host and hostesses to the bus boy- everyone was attentive and courteous. Our server was efficient and knowledgeable. Decor was decent. Bars were hopping. Drinks were legit. Unfortunately all of these positives could not overshadow the unimpressive food. We started with a fettuchini alfredo, which lacked seasonings, flavor, and sauce. It was pretty dry and boring. But the presentation was nice... We then moved onto the chicken thighs (under seasoned and undercooked,) softshell crab (tiny and lacking substance) and the portobello mushrooms (gritty, oily, and basically uneatable.) I left feeling hungry. It was a big disappointment. Despite the unremarkable food, I would return... to the bar. The drinks and service were both solid enough for me to come back. Being a new establishment, I expected some kinks in the staff, wait time, etc. This was not the case at all. Maybe it's just what we ordered, but I'm hopeful the food will soon follow the service.
(2)Paul B.
Returned here on a Monday night to celebrate a birthday. Made a reservation via Open Table, we arrived on time and were immediately seated at the downstairs dining room . At 7:30 the place was mercifully not at all crowded and conversation was possible without straining one's vocal cords. Our party of three ordered two starters, the lobster popovers and the oysters on the half shell. In addition, a bread basket featured crispy flatbread and two spreads as well as a large pat of butter. The taramasalata was exceptional. The oysters were very fresh and briny but with a slight sweetness to their plump flesh. A special touch was a pea green sauce to go along with the usual cocktail sauce. Not sure of the ingredients, but it was an unusual accompaniment to the oysters. My guess is that they were Island Creek. Popovers were good too, with a surprising touch of maple syrup. For mains we ordered the partridge, skirt steak and salmon. The bird was excellent, the steak tender but very salty (arrived in a pool of pureed parsnips...yummy. We also ordered two sides: the lobster mashed potatoes and the fried onion rings. My companions had enough room for the maple cotton candy and an off the menu chocolate pudding. All that, plus four glasses of wine and two beers came to $210 before tax. Not all that bad, especially when considering that the service was efficient and sort of friendly, and the taste of the food was incredible. Towne can be either fine dining or meat market. Early on a Monday is was clearly the former and the atmosphere highly conducive to enjoying great food.
(4)Jill M.
I went to Towne the first weekend it opened. I was really excited to try it as I'd been getting Urban Daddy emails about it. What I loved about Towne: Loved the decor, I thought it had a really great retro vibe. Loved my margarita, they use agave nectar which really makes for a great marg in my opinion. My meal!!! I had the short ribs with young ginger and lemon grass. Absolutely TO DIE FOR. (In fact, at one point, I said to my friends that I wished Lydia Shire was there so I could compliment her on my meal and I looked up from dinner and there she was! She did come over to the table to say hello eventually and I did in fact get to thank her for the great meal). The management, Tim who is the GM or the director offered us a tour of the restaurant at the end of our meal. He was extremely friendly and it was nice chatting with him What I disliked about Towne: Service... I can't say it was bad, but everyone seemed very nervous and unsure. Also, there were wayyyyyyy too many people there. I'd say at any given time there were at least 5 or 6 people standing against the wall looking for something to do. Menu, one thing about it was the abundance of unique ingredients. I'd looked up the menu prior to going and had to look up a bunch of the ingredients. (examples: nasurtium, burrata, raita, poori, robiolo) Prices, I thought they were a bit steep. Our bill was around $225 for 3 people. Overall, I'm definitely a fan. I thought it was a really great experience. The food and drinks were terrific and I would love to go back.
(4)John C.
Excellent place for a Sunday brunch. The restaurant is clean and beautiful and the eggs benedict are amazing. It's 13 dollars for it and it comes with potatoes and some pastry kind of like a powdered donut hole. Service was pretty slow though even on a not so busy morning. The paper towels in the bathroom are the best paper towels I've ever used for whatever that's worth.
(4)eliza b.
An upscale overdone greasy spoon. Everything is to excess, too sweet, too saucy, too greasy-- hello where's the edit button! Maybe, to test the waters start at the bar. I may be jaded; but restaurants this big you are a VERY small fish in a VERY big pond. There are so many other places I prefer to drop $100 per person for dinner (inclusive of tax & tip) - this is not it.
(2)Ken V.
the food is great, the drinks are great, service is great. it's a nice place to go if you like seafood and are feeling a little spendy.
(4)Carrie R.
is it possible to rate this restaurant LESS than one star?! everything about my dining experience at Towne was ATROCIOUS! from the service to the staff to the food! out of 3 people that ordered steak (of which the portion was ridiculously small) all three had to be sent back because (a) they were dangerously undercooked even though they were ordered medium and (b) b/c they were SO fatty you could barely chew them! a 4th person dining with me ordered the short ribs and asked over half a dozen times for the sauce cart and waited over 20 minutes for it. eventually the general manager brought it over. and my absolute FAVORITE part of the evening was when my friend ordered the lobster roll which came with a side of potato chips. however, instead of the potato chips, he substituted sauteed mushrooms for the chips. when the waiter brought out his "lobster roll" ... there was NO LOBSTER. rather, his hot dog roll was FILLED WITH SAUTEED MUSHROOMS WITH A SIDE OF POTATO CHIPS! after our steaks had been sent back once and still came back drastically undercooked and fatty, they were sent back a third time and came back drastically OVERcooked ... clearly the kitchen was overcompensating for their first two mistakes. our waiter was flighty and unattentive and the busboys seemed to have no idea what was going on ... and made it abundantly clear when one of them actually SAID to me "I have no idea what's going on." the manager did deduct a portion of the meals from our bill (about 50% ... but if you ask me, it should have been more). upon leaving, i was appalled to see there was a line to get into the TINY bar at the front of the restaurant. this place is OVERRATED and UNDER-delivered on EVERY aspect of the dining experience. i will NEVER set foot in that restaurant again! and, so long as you don't want to waste your time and money, i suggest you don't either!
(1)Laura R.
We went on Friday night. Great place for 30 somethings although a little bit of a meat market. I gave it a mediocre rating because the sangria was disgusting. Not really sure what went wrong since sangria really isn't that hard to make, but it tasted like they forgot the sugar and watered it down with seltzer water. Also, the bouncers were like bathroom nazis. You have to walk through the back room to get to the bathrooms and for some reason, they would only let one girl from a group go through at a time. When she returned, he would let another one go. Strange.
(3)A C.
I AGREE COMPLETELY WITH CARRIE R. Honestly, I know it is in its first weeks, but things like cooking steak properly and putting lobster in a "lobster roll" are not something to be forgiven especially when you have two renowned chefs in the kitchen. Service I can understand SOMEWHAT but food no way. I will day the decor was kinda cool except for the laminated menus which were so wrong.
(1)Ryan D.
So far I have visited towne 3 times. But I feel like after last nights visit i can pretty much sum it up With a 3 star review. First of all the decor of this restaurant is super chic and contemporary, the style of the restaurant flows as each room has a corky theme. Unfortunately I wish I could rave about the product as much as the design. My first visit I only went for drinks. The drink menu is limited with 7 house cocktails. I started off with a cocktail called race day. Woodford reserve,cointreau,orange,eggwhite and angostura bitters. Now on paper this sounds like a beautiful cocktail but the bartender that made it was not so experienced. No dry shake and she just free poured everything. The thing that bugged me was that....i understand when you have a full bar you want to take short cuts, But when im paying $14 per cocktail i expect nothing but perfect. It honestly tasted like pure whisky, wasn't balanced couldn't taste any of the other ingredients and no froth from the egg whites. I was lucky enough to have Alexie the Bar Manager personally make another one which was good but to be honest it didn't wow me. My second Visit i had a few bar apps and decided to just go with beer just to be safe. THE LOBSTER POP OVER IS A MUST TRY. they add just a touch of honey which really made the flavors pop. The lobster pizza was also great. Finished it off with a few clown shoes. Last nights visit, we had reservation for 9:30pm made personally by chef lydia shire. I have been a big fan on her cooking since Locke Ober. We arrived around 9:20 waited for about 20-25 min until being seated. Our waiter was J.L which i guess stood for jonathan something...jonathan didn't have a clue about what was on the drink or food menu. He kept getting help from other staff members to answer for him. We started off with a bottle of Gewürztraminer which we figured would have been great with the tuna tar tar and lobster pop overs. The only problem here is...we drank 2 bottles of wine before our first corse arrived which took about a hour. : ( . Our main corse took about another 45 min. we ordered crispy duck, grilled tuna, prime rib roast , and lobster tail. My prime rib roast was so salty that it was inedible. It did come with a sauce cart which all the sauces were good but when combined with the meat the salt overpowered everything. The food was all decent....but thats just it.... decent.....not bad but not amazing. No wow factor.... 2 hours for dinner ended up being a little under $500.00. It didn't live up to the hype but this place does have potential. Give it a few months it will get better... cool fact: alot of cougars
(3)Diana P.
I met a friend here for drinks that I hadn't seen in awhile and wanted to check it out. Based on the photos on their website I had a clear picture in my mind. I didn't make it around the place that much just in the bar area so my review is a little skewed I guess. The place was definitely popular, it was packed which was fine but people were kind of bumping into you constantly and it was pretty loud - not the best place to meet a friend you really wanted to catch up with but fine for a night out with the your usual suspects. The drinks were ok nothing special in my opinion although they seemed to have a decent specialty drink llist. The wait staff was great though I have to say. We were sitting on stools off to the side and someone came up and took our drink order which was pretty awesome. My number one downfall of this place is the music though. The way it was portrayed online I seemed a bit more swanky like a "Dirty Laundry" song type or something, I wasn't a huge fan of the random selection which included Ace of Base haha. Overall, good hot spot I guess for young professionals. I heard mixed things on the food.
(3)J S.
Had dinner at Towne last night and I was surprisingly disappointed. The space is beautiful, specifically the large windows in the private dining room where we were seated for dinner. However the vibe in that part of the restaurant was unfortunately dull. It seemed more like being in a hotel event space which I'm assuming it's normally supposed to be used for. The space would have been much better utilized with as a bar area. That being said the dining room bar on the 2nd floor was a totally different place. It almost felt like we were in a different restaurant altogether. It was hip and happening and if we had dined in there it would have been a much better experience. The bars downstairs also had a great vibe and I could see myself going there for drinks often. Now on to the food. I was extremely disappointed, especially because I had such high expectations due to it being a Lydia Shire establishment. Most of what we ordered was either very salty or very bland. I order the lobster bisque for an appetizer which was pretty pricey at $15 for a small portion. It was extremely salty and I was shocked the kitchen would even send it out. For the entree I had the cod fillet which after reading the description on the menu sounded delicious. It was not. The fish itself was very bland which I expected as cod usually is but the accompaniments were bland as well. The chowder sauce they had it in was good but definitely not enough of it. For a $30 entree it should have been delicious. My friend had the avocado salad with pork crackling which was just ok. The pork was dry and the portion was small. All that being said, my other friend had the seared tuna and said it was amazing. The green beans were also very yummy. The bread basket was good but not enough of it and the fact that they charge $4.00 if you ask for more was ludicrous considering how pricey the entrees are. That put a bad taste in my mouth...no pun intended. The desserts were just ok. The chocolate cake or strudel was not what we expected. The angel food cake and creme brulee were decent. The service was really good and everyone was friendly including our waitress. She did an awesome job. All in all I think it's a great space and will be a neighborhood hot spot for years to come, however they need to improve the food. I did take into consideration that it was the first night so perhaps things will improve as time goes on. I would definitely go back for drinks but would be hesitant to go for dinner again. It was not worth the expensive bill.
(3)Paula E.
The food was excellent. The service was excellent. Between the 8 people in our party, we tried the majority of the menu. The only reason I can't give this restaurant 5 stars is because a live mouse ran across the floor while we were still seated, but after we'd already eaten. The waiter explained that there has been some construction in the area and the mice are a result. He was very nice, and comped our dessert. I'd want to know about the mice, and that's why I'm sharing with you....
(3)David m.
The first time I went, after waiting at the bar for 10 minutes, we left without getting a drink because we got 0 service. Tried again and it was less crowded and sat at the bar. I had a good dirty martini, only $9! the lobster popovers were awesome, a little on the sweet side, but lots of lobster meat. maybe the third visit will add more stars...
(3)Lynda M.
My husband and I stopped in for brunch today, after hitting the Pru Mall. The 1st floor bar was dead, so we dined upstairs in the large dining room. The space is beautiful, and I like the atmosphere. It was pretty quiet. Our waiter was nice, but the pace of the meal seemed a bit slow. We ordered drinks, Prosecco and an Irish Coffee. We had to ask twice for sugar for the table. By the time the sugar arrived the coffee was lukewarm. Eww. Hubby enjoyed the donut like bread options. I ordered the cheddar omelet, and my husband the bacon sandwich with "extreme fries". Then we waited. And waited. When the food arrived, it was lukewarm. I saw full plates just sitting at the kitchen waiting, and waiting. I am sure our meals were amongst them. The food was decent, my omelet was yummy, it just would have been really good if it was hot. Same for the stuffed tomato. That was more like ice cold. My husband's extreme fries were about 5 potato chips. Not sure where the word extreme fits in. We would come back again to give it a try, maybe this time the food will be warmer, but I think it will be more of a drink place for us when we are in the area.
(3)Helen B.
Towne for brunch/lunch - that is my most recent and best experience yet. The food was amazingly delicious. The de-constructed fish chowder a true surprise and very good. The pizza was so good and filling. We tried to shop afterward but we were so full !!! Service very good - which I have to mention because it has been my main complaint of Boston restaurants for the last 18 months. Everyone thinks I'm picky, but the service was professional and pleasant.
(4)MJ S.
Went for a Saturday night dinner on the early side. It may be a "scene" but the food (dry Peking Duck and oily schnitzel) was mediocre at best. All appearance, no taste. Restaurant wasn't busy so wait staff stood in place appearing to glare at us. Sort of unsettling. Passed on dessert. With so many fine restaurants in the city why go here? Maybe the tourist and convention trade can keep Towne going, but I don't think that the restaurant deserves to make it.
(2)Catherine H.
I have been to Towne for drinks and apps, and wasn't very impressed. We had a pizza that was NOT good, but the lobster pop overs were tasty. Yesterday, we went for a pre-Valentine's day brunch. They totally redeemed themselves! I had eggs benedict, and the BF had fried chicken and waffles. Both were amazing! I don't know if I would go back for dinner, but this is definitely on our brunch rotation.
(3)Michelle H.
Towne is just what Boston needed! The front bar is a hot scene - loud and lively, but for a special treat, head to the back bar and ask for Michael. The bar is adjacent to the first floor dining room and is a more intimate experience. If you are lucky enough to score seats, settle in for celebrity treatment . Michael will whip up a cocktail to suit your tastes or help you select just the right wines to go with decadent, beautifully plated food. This bar can also be four rows deep on busy night, but even then you are in good hands and will not wait long for an expertly mixed drink.
(5)Thomas G.
Great food & service! The lobster pizza is a must! We went on opening night, so I hope the restaurant remains at this caliber. The atmosphere is trendy but casual. Fun night out, especially for special occasions!
(5)Yoli D.
I have been to Towne three times but have only eaten there twice. The first time I ate there, it was downstairs in the room closest to the entrance. I liked the atmosphere. The server was friendly and attentive even though it was extremely busy that night. Food and drinks were great. My friend and I enjoyed the entire experience. After that night, it became my friend's favorite restaurant. The second time I went there it was for a brunch to celebrate a friend's birthday. We sat in semi-private room upstairs. We were the only table that our server was waiting on (that I know of) and we went without water for so long a couple times, that one of the ladies in our party got up, walked across the room to get the pitcher of water, walked all the way back over to the table, filled 10 glasses with water and returned the pitcher without anyone at the restaurant noticing. The server didn't have any menu knowledge at all! Didn't know what chanterelles were mushrooms and didn't know that the deep fried poached eggs were deep fried after being poached. My food was served cold... a pet peeve of mine, but I let that slide since I was with a large party. The chicken and waffles that I had heard so many good things about from one friend ended up being okay, yep, just okay. I don't have a desire to go back here, but would go with my friend that loves it.
(3)Hao W.
very nice food and desserts, good service too.
(4)tureg u.
Trendy, bar, restaurant, in great location. excellent bar food. did not try the restaurant. good and friendly service.
(3)Bianca D.
Finally a great eat in experience! I ate here last weekend with a group of friends from work and must say not only was the food great, but the service as well! One of the better dine in experiences I've had in Boston! I definitely recommend this restaurant and the wasabi steak!
(4)Bob H.
My new favorite restaurant. Brunch was terrific. The dinner menu seemed expensive, but brunch was very reasonable. I had a crispy haddock with a blueberry muffin, my wife had smoked salmon and my daughter had an "over the sink" BLT. All meals were great.
(5)Anya R.
I have only gone to Towne to grab drinks and have only stayed downstairs. I think on the weekends, this place is great for getting a drink before you head out as it does get fairly packed around midnight. At that time, the bouncers also love making people wait in line outside (I swear it's for show only). The drinks are nothing special but it's usually a pretty fun crowd (20s-30s with some creepy old men). Unlike other places in Boston, men actually offer to buy you drinks (but this could be because there are a lot of out of towners that come here). Anyways, overall a pretty fun and trendy spot for a night out!
(4)Pete M.
My wife and I had dinner at Towne on Friday night. I was so excited as I've wanted to try this place out ever since I saw that it had opened. Jasper White and Lydia Shire, what could go wrong. Unfortunately we were both hugely disappointed with this spot, would not go back, and would definitely recommend people take their hard earned money elsewhere. We started off with the lobster popover for an appetizer. This, actually, was quite good. I good combination of the doughy popover with the lobster meat and a sweet, syrup like glaze made for a great start to the meal. That's where things went wrong! My wife ordered the swordfish and I had the salmon. After one bit of her swordfish, we realized that it was completely raw. Our waiter apologized and took it back to the kitchen and my wife thought she would get a new, properly cooked piece of fish, but they brought out the same one that she cut into. Now I would expect this from the 99, but when you're shelling out half your mortgage for a piece of swordfish I demand better! This is when we realized that this place was all hype and no delivery. My salmon was standard. Nothing that you couldn't do at home with a fresh piece of fish. I was excited that it came with yams but instead of some hearty potatoes, it was more of a drop of puree used more for decoration. We finished the night off with an apple tart for desert. Again, this was nothing that you couldn't make at home, except the ice cream they used had a weird, tart aftertaste. Instead of trying to be fancy or on the cutting edge, they should have just used regular vanilla ice cream for this dish. I think that this place is a growing problem for new restaurants in Boston. There is all this hype about getting a famous celebrity chef (or two) and that will be enough for a successful restaurant. Towne is extremely expensive and if I was going to recommend a nice spot for people to spend a lot of money on, this would NOT be it. If you want celebrity chef restaurants that are worth the money, try any of Chef Jaime Mammano's restaurants (Mistral, Sorrellina, Moo, etc.)
(2)Paul B.
Went for brunch with my brother on Saturday afternoon cause they sent me a free $25 gift card good only for lunch or brunch that was about to expire at the end of the month. Too bad $23.50 was taken to pay for two very small glasses of OJ and two pots of tea. Nothing on the menus about price on coffee, tea or OJ. Both were nice, but with no liquor in either prep, I would never expect to pay more than $10 for 4 beverages. Also, the portions of food are pretty stingy for the price, you'll need that side of bacon and cheese grits to feel right in the belly when you're done. The food was good and service was OK, but I'll never go back; not to pay $85 including tip for breakfast food for two.
(2)Leandrew R.
Went here for a work dinner on a Saturday evening. Lively crowd at the bar while I wanted, great photography on the wall. Was promptly seated upstairs in a gorgeous room and proceeded to have a delicious dinner. Waitress was nice, personable and took great care of us. Food was pretty good ... got scallops appetizer (uummm) + skirt steak with fried green onions. Can't go wrong. Once you get through the crowd and actually get a table you'll be a happy camper.
(5)Abbey L.
I went back to Towne for brunch and it was great. I had the lobster omelet and my husband had poached eggs on steak hash, both of which were excellent. Brunch came with free donuts and lemon poppy bread - both delicious. Service was excellent as well.
(3)Jack F.
Had dinner with a bunch of friends on a Tuesday night. Had heard about this place and wanted to try it out. I thought the menu was a bit weird. Had a difficult time making my choice. Food was average. One of the dinner portions was so small we thought it was an appetizer. Expensive.
(2)Bob R.
My wife and I went to Towne with our grad student son who knows how to pick em' when we're paying. I had read about the place and, to be honest, was a little concerned that it might be trying to be too much to too many different people. I walked away pleased that they had pulled it off! First you walk into a very busy bar (8:30pm) with a diverse, fairly casual crowd - very happening. As we were an hour late for our reservation (car trouble and we called in advance), our table upstairs wasn't ready (we wanted to see the kitchen) and we were offered a table in the downstairs dining room. We opted to wait at the bar upstairs for a table there. The place is big but the layout is such (main bar plus two others, two levels, three different dining rooms) that wherever you settle in, you feel like you're in a "regular" size restaurant. We really liked the décor - kind of a modern sophisticated elegance. One round of drinks at the upstairs bar - small bar but nice. My wife had one of their cocktails while my son and I had standard cocktails - all nicely done while we watched the action in the kitchen - very entertaining. On to our table. Very comfortable seats with a great view of everything. There has been much written about the "beaker" water glasses but I thought they were fine - they were actually smooth on the lips while drinking. The laminated menu was also fine - if anything, the wine list was a little awkward to physically handle - the cover flops around. The food. That's what we were here for and it was all great. The bread basket is amazing - served with 3 beautiful spreads: an eggplant, a butter, and a cod roe - all as good to eat as they were to look at. We shared all the food. The oysters - fresh and delicious with two different sauces. The tartare was fresh and very tasty also presented very nicely. The clam linguine with the white sauce was amazing. The pasta was perfect as were the cockles and the sauce... very rich with enough garlic bread to soak it up. The ravioli (6 -three spinach and three meat) were also perfectly cooked - very good. We added a sausage and pepperoni pizza with a wonderfully thin crisp crust. Wanting to try an entrée, we split the short ribs. This was delicious with the meat falling off the bone. It had a nice, almost home style sauce (though more complex) and was served with a sweet potato puree and pea greens which were great. We were full but had to try some deserts: we had the angel food cake with the cotton candy. After initially being afraid of it (it's huge!) we dug in and it was very good and a lot of fun. We also had a very good chocolate dessert with ice cream. The bill? $208, which included 3 cocktails, a glass of wine, 4 beers (a comment on the beer - our second round came in different glasses than the first - what's with that?) and 3 coffees. We were full and very satisfied. $208? Not bad at all. When we left, there was a line full of very attractive young people (ah, to be 30 again) to get into the jammed packed bar. Towne gets knocked for having no single identity - I found that a plus. I can go back again and again (which I plan to do) and have a different experience each time. They really pulled it off nicely.
(5)Rissa F.
I loved almost everything about Towne. The decor is beautiful and really makes you feel like you've stepped out of Boston. They paid such attention to detail when designing this place, and I can't help but rave about it. We made a reservation but had to wait 15 minutes but it was no big deal and got a drink in the bar, which was packed! I couldn't believe how full the restaurant was for it being so new. For dinner, between the 4 of us, we ordered the caesar salad (not your average ceasar), the tartare duo (amazing! tuna and sirloin tartare were unreal.), the fettuccine (mediocre and fairly small), and the duck (a little overdone but the huckleberry sauce complemented the duck so well that it was still so delicious), and the creme brulee for dessert (so good!). We ordered a bottle of wine that finally came to the table when we were basically finished eating and for the most part our server was never around when we needed her. You could see the server getting in arguments with the food runner when he brought out extra dishes, which was so unprofessional. All in all, Towne was amazing - the food, the decor, the drinks, and overall experience- but definitely needs to brush up on their service skills. Since its a new restaurant, I'm sure it will just take a little time for Towne to be one of Boston's best.
(4)Caroline O.
We went to Towne on a Friday night with our favorite foodie couple to sample the fare and spend quality time together over the Thanksgiving holiday. We were really hoping to love it. Hubby and I and our 2 friends made reservations and we were glad we did since without a reservation-you would feel like a bum walking in off the street. We were unimpressed with the pretentiousness at the front door along with the red rope that led us into the place that made me feel like I might just be entering Zanizibar back in the early 90's again. Mr. White & Ms. Shire? Try Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. This is the personality disorder restaurant of our lives. Everything was so disjointed. The too crowded bar in the front with the investment bankers trying to impress the hoochie mamas, the noisy hipster lounge in the back with the wanna be's, the awkward ride in the elevator to actually take us up to our table in the upstairs restaurant which was quiet as a tomb. The equally akward elevator ride down again to use the bathroom. But we had to walk through the crowded back bar to get there. Bizzarre. The decor was totally mismatched as was the menu. Nothing made sense. Were we in a fine dining restaurant or an industrial chic warehouse? Were we looking at the menu options from the Cheesecake Factory where you can order a multitude of any country's cuisine with the watered down american twist added? I just don't know. I had the lobster bisque to start and while there was plenty of chunky lobster meat in it-the meat was too chewy and the bisque too watery. It took a long time for our meals to arrive and the restaurant was not packed. I ordered the short ribs for my meal and while they were the right consistency and cooked right -the dish was way too salty. The sides were not impressive and I felt the service to be lackluster. After dinner-I just wanted to go home and bathe my toungue in lemon water bath but our group insisted on ordering desert. I ordered an expresso and it was just again, not great. I had a bite of hubby's dessert which was so forgettable-I actually forget what it was. Biba, I will always remember you fondly, Summer Shack-you had me at hello, Towne Stove and Spirits (What was it supposed to be a Pub? I Just don't know!) I would rather watch Sybill do her thing on T.V. than experience it in a restaurant.
(2)Lili M.
This place didn't quite do it for me. I ate in the upstairs part, by a window, which was nice and quiet/romantic but the food was just alright. I ordered chicken and a salad (forget which) but neither were that flavorful. Then for dessert we asked the waitress what she would suggest and she said their best and most popular dish was the bread pudding. We ordered it and it was GROSS. It also looked really sloppy and watery. For a special occasion and a more privatish setting, it's an option. For a dinner on a night when you have thousands of other options that offer the same sort of menu, I'd choose the other places.
(2)Mrs. G.
Towne is a great spot for cocktails. They aren't outrageously expensive and they are well-done. I had a cucumber martini with honey sugar on the rim and it was really tasty. It was strong but it was smooth and perfect. I can't wait to go back to test out the food. The drinks are awesome.
(4)Sammi N.
was unexpectedly impressed... I'm not typically a fan of touristy restaurants and I guess I quickly categorized Towne as that due to its location and lobster-focused menu. Bar is a great place to dine... I recommend sitting there versus the dining room, which appeared a little stuffy and prententious. Like most yelpers, lobster popovers was rich and delectable. My fave was actually a side dish - the roasted cauliflower is phenomal and huge portion which could easily be an entree. I definitely wouldn't go out of my way to dine here, but if I happen to already be in the city, it would definitely be high on my list for dinner.
(4)Shell D.
My boyfriend and I were on a day trip to Boston and decided that Towne would be right up our alley. The service was very good - our waiter was helpful and attentive. I ordered the duck for dinner, I wasn't overly impressed - I've had better - but it was very good. My boyfriend ordered the prime rib and it was delicious. This restaurant has a lot of potential to be excellent, but the food is not completely where it should be.
(4)Jeffrey H.
I came here on a Thursday night with a bunch for a get-together. The service was good, my water was never empty. The food was decent but my favorite is the lobster popover. It was so flavorful and sweet. However, it was a tad too loud where we were seated other then that the ambience was okay. The desserts did take a while to come out. 3 stars because it was okay.
(3)J P.
The food was DELICIOUS, but they were playing really loud music. I felt like I had to scream during dinner so people could hear me. So, if you want great food, but only so-so ambiance, I would recommend it. If looking for a romantic night out, I would recommend steering clear.
(3)Holly M.
I like Towne for its fashionable decor, fashionable people, and fun vibe. I have been a few times for special events like birthdays and parties and it has been very consistent. The drinks are always the highlight for me, but the creativity is very fun and unique. I can always count on a craft cocktail and a lovely meal at Towne.
(3)E F.
I've only eaten here once with 3 other people, and we came for brunch. It was delicious. The french toast was full of flavor and fresh, great sides, the eggs Benedict was excellent, and the other dishes were great. We liked the decor and the free donut holes that were served. Based on brunch a lone, this place was great
(5)Ann M.
I loved Towne Stove and Spirits, and am awarding this restaurant my first 5 star Yelp rating. The design of the restaurant is beautiful, and creatively straddles the line between fun and dignified. When you arrive at Towne, you feel you can be merry and witty, all at once. The attention to detail is stirring, and before you've had a mouthful, it's a feast for the senses. The splendid window fabrics, the gray and red tones of the leather upholstered chairs, and the mural that colorfully dances across a wall are captivating and pleasing. Light fixtures create attitude and ambiance and stand out as ICA contenders all on their own. I appreciated the way light and images refracted around me from strategically placed mirrors, providing all dining guests views of either the kitchen team in action, or Bostonians making pace along Boylston Street. To lift you from any serious mood that often besets a Bostonian, you'll find salt and pepper shakers at your table reminding you of Restoration Hardware lavatory faucets, and beaker water glasses that bring back to mind the mess you created with your middle school chemistry lab partner. Karen, our server, made wonderful recommendations for both food and wine. I took all her advice and was delighted. My Peking Chicken and Pot Pie were moist, delicious and fragrant from a dusting of salt and Chinese Five Spices. The garnish of toasted ginger further awakened my senses. My son raved about his Swordfish Steak with White Clam Risotto, and topped his meal off with a chocolate pudding he found soul satisfying. Afterwards, we headed to Fenway Park for a game. When we later got home, my son remarked to me that he enjoyed the game, but that the best part of the night was his Swordfish entree, asking me when we might return to Towne. If Lydia and Jasper's culinary boldness and heart felt wizardry topped the Boston Red Sox for my son, imagine what a visit to Towne can do for you.
(5)Denise M.
This is an upscale bar tailoring to the new Boylston St crowd. While it was very crowded, the bartenders at the back bar held up their end great, making good drinks and giving us reasonable service. The good: bartenders, location and a unique drink menu The not-so-good: pretty over priced - $15 martini's just aren't realistic. The clientele is also VERY uppity and revel in that. You aren't going here to meet new people, you're going to snub others.
(3)Jamie T.
My Mother was in town and I had been wanting to try this place for a while. Since she is as much of a foodie as I am I thought it would be a perfect place to go for lunch. And trust me when I say... it definitely was! We had a fabulous lunch (shared three dishes). We had the tuna salad, which was uniquely plated and tasted great, we had the beef carpaccio with homemade burrata which was also delish, as well as the crab cake. All would be suggested. I had some lemonade-ish martini that was UNREAL. I will definitely be returning. Oh, and a shout out to our waiter (I believe his name was Tommy? I could totally be wrong and I am sorry if that's the case) but he was super friendly and really great! Definitely recommended!
(4)Jessica G.
Not bad. Got the lobster roll and clam strips. Sat at the bar for dinner and it was so dark, I wasn't sure if they were trying to hide the food! But it was good. Wine selection wasn't all that impressive.
(3)Jillian Q.
I went for after work drinks and apps with a friend who goes here often. It was crowded up front, but they had a really nice bar in the back with a nice bartender and a friendly crowd. This is not usually my after work scene, but I liked Towne. We ordered the flatbread and the tar tare for apps. The flatbread was ok, although using pomodoro sauce instead of straight tomato sauce was a nice touch. I would ask for a little bit more of the fantastic cheese they used next time. The tar tare was excellent and I enjoyed that it was both tuna and sirloin. We enjoyed some excellent wine and had a nice time. Be warned, though, that it's expensive (well, expensive for my budget). I left there paying what I might pay for an entire dinner elsewhere. I did have fun, though, and I would return as a "splurge".
(3)Kimberly H.
Completely overrated. Food and service were abhorrent considering the price. This place is clearly trying way too hard and unfortunately, not succeeding. Two of my colleagues ordered the tuna - when the dishes came out, you almost couldn't tell that it was the same dish. One colleague scored and her tuna was what you would have expected - seard. The other - not so lucky. His was cut differently - much thinner and completely overcooked. If you are going to serve different cuts of fish I would not recommend doing so at the same table and the chef definitely should have adjusted cooking time for the thinner pieces. My salmon was also overcooked. And the sides did nothing for the dish - didn't make it bad but certainly didn't enhance any of the flavors. The service was really poor. Both the appetizers and entrees were given to the wrong individuals - rookie mistakes. The server never came back to check on us once the food was served by support staff. No one came to check on us for at least 15 minutes - during which time, two of the four of us had empty water glasses and one colleague had dropped her fork - but there weren't even people passing by to flag down. I'd prefer to not have to stalk the staff to get something when I'm paying $30 per entree. Really too bad as it seemed like it could be a fun, eclectic place - good vibe. Alas - I wouldn't go here for the food.
(1)Dan W.
Great place, huge patio with a menu that is very unique. 2 stories with very modern chic touches. This is one of my number one recommendations to visitors in the area. 3 bars through out the place with each one so different. Great social area and like I said great food. Sent my family there for a meal and they were pleased. Some things are very interesting combinations on the menu but thats what they want. Unique dining with a downtown Boston fits perfectly. You go here when you want a variety for food not known for one thing over the other. Well, aside for there super rich and tasty lobster popovers!
(5)Honesta A.
generally, people like to go clubbing after dinner, not while they're eating. cool space, but it's wasted by lack of ambience. the hostess introduces you with an a wanna-be nyc exclusive attitude. luckily, the music is so loud overhead, you barely notice her bitchy tone of voice. the food is ok, but they try so hard by putting way too much creativity into it. can't have a piece of without it being wassabe-fied. ok food is not an option for the price you pay. i recommend people don't go there unless they don't care about ambience and good food.
(1)Tyler F.
So myself and 2 of my girlfriends decide to go and have drinks at Towne last thursday and we were denied access into the bar. It was 9 pm on a thursday and some a-hole at the door told us that we could not get in. We asked if we could just wait a few minutes until a few people came out then we would walk in. He said they were not letting anyone in for the rest of the night without a reservation. We told him we just wanted a few drinks but said we could not come in. It really ruined our night because we were planning on spending some time and some money at the bar while our friends all met us there. After that we were very discouraged and told everyone we know to forget it and met somewhere else. Not a very good first impression for this place. To the managers: try to be a little more accommodating and less snooty when patrons want to come spend some money at your bar, especially when you just opened up.
(1)Kristen C.
Our waiter - in a word - awesome. We were seated by the open kitchen, perfect seats. Food pretty decent, but very overpriced. We had wine, so I can't judge the drinks. Good place, but I'm more likely to come drink and enjoy the scene than to eat here.
(3)Sasha B.
Let's start with the food. It's decent, definitely far from exceptional. Nothing creative or unique. The service was awful and simply unacceptable from start to finish. Yes, reservation was made on opentable and we checked in with our name. After we leave I get an email from opentable that we were a no show. Ok no big deal. Our server was absolutely arrogant. Our bread was delivered with some butter/dips. The lady who delivered them had a thick accent when describing the dip. He comes over right after and says let me translate that for you. Wow classy. Food took forever, our server came over and told us our mains would be right out after clearing apps....45 minutes later they came. Never came back check on us even once. Check please
(2)Jay G.
Another fantastic brunch! That makes three exceptional experiences, two for brunch and one very delicious dinner. The service was impeccable yet very warm and friendly. The food is what is expected from a world class chef and then some, and the vibe is what Boston has needed for years, fun, hip and yes, cool!
(5)Marlene M.
Get dessert! There are many things I liked about Towne, but what I loved the most was the brown sugar angel food cake with maple cotton candy, and the citron cheesecake with lemongrass sorbet - both mind-blowingly decadent and delicious! All of the staff are extremely kind and attentive, the decor is elegant yet fun (love the beakers as water glasses) and the prices are reasonable for the high quality food you receive. One last note, it could be a good or bad thing depending upon how you look at it, but the cocktails at the ground floor bar are STRONG, so strong myself and someone else in my party could only handle a couple sips of our drinks.
(5)Maria A.
I went here for the first time a few weeks ago. It was a Wednesday night and suprisingly really crowded. We had to wait a little while for a table because we didnt have a reservation. But we were able to enjoy a drink at the bar while we waited. The atmosphere was young and it seemed to be the place to go after work or for the evening. The restaurant is huge. I think 2 levels with a couple different bars. We ended up ordering a few apps instead of main entrees. We started with calamari which was ok. Nothing special. Next we ordered the lobster pizza which was amazing!! It was really filling and great. After that, we ordered some scordalia which was horrible! It didnt taste right so we sent it back. We ended up with the cupcakes which were really cute but kinda sweet. The best was the pizza and i would def go back! Our waitress was such a doll. Her name is Lauren and if i go again i would totally want to sit in her section again! All in all....this was a cool, hip place to go to, but the food wasnt necesarily the best. A great place to try out though!
(3)John S.
I went to Towne for the first time today with two friends for brunch. It was the absolute worst service I have ever had in Boston in the 10 years I've lived here. We sat down and it took 15 minutes for the waiter to even greet us and acknowledge that we were there. We ordered beverages. It took another 15 minutes for them to be served. We received tea with no cream, milk, sugars, etc. Then the waiter never came back. We had to ask one of the other waiters to find him to take our order! We got our food. I asked the food server to ask our waiter to bring a side of mayo, which he never did. I couldn't eat my food for 20 minutes because once again our waiter was nowhere to be found. Our waters were all empty, never once refilled. Then we had to ask for the bill and he practically threw it at us. Never asked how the meal was, etc. This restaurant needs to establish a training program for their wait staff to go through ASAP. Utterly shocking for a Back Bay restaurant. The worst service ever in my life I repeat! Go to Mistral - they get it right every time!!
(2)Gina R.
Definitely an upscale place for dinner and drinks on a Friday or Saturday night. The crowd is young and professional, and it's been busy each time I've been there. The bar can be a little crowded and you may wait a few minutes to be served, but there's a second bar in the back that's also open. A good spot to check out after work or for Sunday brunch.
(3)PT V.
Lobster Pizza....I mean seriously, how can that not be awesome? It's lobster and its Pizza. It was really good. A big scene at this place these days, but legit food, and good people watching...I work across the street so it's convenient and I think I will start going here more. That being said, don't creep on me...unless you're a hot a girl and like shorter dudes...
(4)Jasmine I.
Great cocktails and tasty food. The staff was amazing! I will have more dinners there in the future... And the desserts are delicious!
(4)Aashna S.
Great service, great brunch, very accomodating. Get the eggs benedict veggie style. So good.
(5)A. A. R.
This review is for the front bar (with windows facing Boylston street). Went here on a Monday night around 11:30 (don't judge me - I had the next day off!) with a couple friends, and it was relatively full compared to other places in the area. The crowd was also more stylish and sophisticated - we were at Pour House before, which is all college students, and then at Whiskey's, which seemed to be filled with old men (full disclosure: I'm in college). The crowd at Towne's bar was probably ages 25-30, but I didn't feel uncomfortable being younger. Some guys bought my friends and I shots and we each ordered a drink. I was pleasantly surprised that my vodka soda was only $7.50! At most "upscale" bars, drinks are usually $10-12. I'd love to come back and check out Towne on a more happening night, but the upscale vibe mixed with affordable prices gives this place a 4 star review in my book!
(4)Alexandra B.
Definitely love this place. Sunday nights are my favorite nights out and we always start at Towne! Tim is our favorite bartender and he's always there and part of our conversation. It gets crowded during the week, but if you can grab a seat at the bar I'd recommend getting to know the friendly staff
(4)Leah L.
I stopped by Towne for a quick bite with a friend the other day. Really neat decor - love the light fixtures. More importantly, they had yummy cocktails. The martini I ordered was great and just strong enough. Would like to go again and try some of their more adventurous dishes - we just got the margherita pizza. The pizza was great, especially because it was wood grilled. Overall, I would definitely try Towne again.
(4)Steve S.
Went to Towne a few weeks back for lunch. Had the Lobster Cobb Salad at the recommendation of the waiter (who was very good - though a bit over friendly.) While the meal was good - the wait for it to arrive while the rest of the restaurant was relatively empty - was a tad disappointing. That said, the food was good and those eating with me enjoyed theirs. I will say the cake for dessert was excellent.
(3)jordan n.
GET OUTTA TOWNE... I had have been to towne a bunch of times for drinks but never tried the food. Last night we showed up around 8:30 and decided to get dinner. Started off with the bread assortment with hummus and an eggplant puree which turned out to be the best part of our meal. Our Pizza (g & j's mushroom pie) showed up first it was so it was sitting in a pool of grease maybe have been good other wise but it was so saturated I could not tell. Then our other apps showed up ravioli and some zucchini and eggplant chips. The ravioli had no taste and the chips were battered, some burnt and DRIPPING with Grease it also came with a nasty pesto dip which was way to oily as well. The entire meal came to $140 that was including five $10 drinks. If it hadn't been for a great service and good drinks I do not think I could have even given towne 1 star. If your in area I suggest going to Sel de la Terre to Eat (just next door ) then head over to Towne for drinks.
(1)Jacki F.
Oh Towne, you started off swinging when you first opened about a year ago, but you aren't quite as bumping these days.... there's not even a line to get in most nights. I guess I shouldn't complain since this means I have been able to go there more frequently due to the abscence of said line. ANYWAYS.... Generally I would say I like Towne. There was definitely alot more elligible attractive bachelors there when they first opened, but it still has potential. The clientele seems to be a bit older now. Last time we were there, men in their forties were buying us drink and shots, which really i love a free drink, but id rather pay for my drink if i could flirt with a men in his 20's or 30's! I actually recently recommended this place to my mother on her next visit to Boston with her girlfriends. I have never eaten here and I honestly havent heard much about the food. All in all, the place is decent, I will be back mostly just because it's not full of college students and the people are noticeably classier than most of the bars in Boston.
(3)Christian S.
Pricy and the cocktails are not great.
(2)Abby S.
I want to give Towne more stars, but since I've only had one meal there I'm going to hold off. I heard about the wait for reservations, so I decided to try it for brunch with 2 of my girlfriends. The food was stellar, 2 of us had the blueberry pancakes with maple brown sugar cotton candy on top. The other friend had the eggs benedict and she seemed to really enjoy it too. We all split the hot cheddar grits which were awesome. If I was just writing this review based on the food, I would give it a 4.5 of 5 stars. But since I work in the advertising/marketing/design world, I am always influenced by visual cues. So I was a little disappointed in the identity of the place. There are touches of rustic farmhouse to it: wood plank floors, red checkered napkins, salt and pepper shakers in the shape of old faucets, the brunch menu with elaborate rooster illustrations on it. BUT then other things seem out of place: the water glasses are scientific beakers, the main menus are modern with sans-serif fonts and simple illustrations, much like their website. The overall atmosphere is hard to figure out, there's another side room that seems to be done in shades of grey, with cool glass globes hanging from the ceiling, middle-eastern nods....how does THAT fit in with the farmhouse/scientific vibe? Therefore, I don't know how to describe what the place stands for...and perhaps most people won't care, but as someone who really enjoyed both the food and decor at Locke-Ober, and now Scampo, I expect amazing things from Lydia Shire. But instead, it feels kind of hodge-podge. I will definitely go back, to try dinner mid-week when there aren't crowds, and possibly drinks some night. Although, I'll be honest, back when it opened, me and 2 other friends tried to go there for a drink, and were completely turned off by the "meat-market" vibe in the first floor bar. Now that I know there is also one on the second floor, I'll try that too. And maybe over more time, their identity will get as strong as the first few food items I tasted.
(3)Mary R.
Lobster Pizza and Fried Green Beans Delicious! Service was great - Really nice atmosphere-and fun crowd.
(4)Naomi B.
Pros: Easy to find seating in the bar Attentive service Relaxing and fun environment Clean bathrooms Recommend the lobster popovers and eggplant pizza! Cons: Can't comment on the entrees as we only ordered appetizers. Don't have any compliants!
(4)Alex H.
A nice, quiet place to get brunch but beware of the slow service. Each time I've come here I'm always happy with the food, but it takes forever to get/pay the check afterwards. For brunch, they always offer you a complimentary snack like a fruit smoothie or house made donuts. So that's a great perk.
(4)Paul F.
Great stuff This is a creative place: perfect for the foodie in you. Not a 10 and not a 5: you know what I mean. Lydia does it all.
(3)Andrea B.
Just saw 3 mice running around upstairs. The manager said, "there's nothing we can do there's construction next door." GROSS!!!! Don't eat at Towne.
(1)Mrs. G.
This is one of those tricky restaurants to write a review for. The food was phenomenal. I am a foodie--I have eaten at a lot of very nice restaurants, and I (humbly) think I have a good palate. I came to Towne with a party of 8. We made a reservation a month in advance. I read about the slow service so I prepared myself. We were there for three hours (from sitting until we finished eating dessert--and then we sat for a bit longer than the three hours). That is how long it took for our food to come out. We did order appetizers, entrees, and dessert. The service was not just slow...it was like crawling around a high school track, trying to complete a mile. Let's take this one step further...the waitress was absolutely miserable. We all tried to overcompensate by being ultra friendly, and she was so rude, it became almost comical. We were definitely inconveniencing her by being there. Out of the eight of us, we tried many dishes, and everyone raved about their food. We all live in and around Boston, so we have been to many of the restaurants. But as delicious as the food was, it was very small portions. I ordered a scallop special and received a half a cup of risotto and four medium-sized scallops. Between the eight of us, our bill came to close to $600, so it is pricey enough, that I would have appreciated bigger portions and a waitress that was at least neutral in her temperament toward us. And if you go a little bit later, be prepared that this turns into a weird, nightclub feel. We will not be returning. Positives-- Delicious food, nice ambiance Negatives--slightly small portions, unfriendly waitress, very long wait time
(2)Bryan R.
$16 manhattan. Ok, that's the basis for my review. It could go two ways. Oh, it was $16 but it was really fucking good. Or, it was $16 and I really regret coming here. It was one of those.
(2)Dan S.
Emily N is possibly the most friendly and professional waitress that I have encountered. My travels take me to at least two cities per week so I can attest to what I view as a five star rating. Importantly, the food was superb. Excellent quality for the price. This place is a "must go." Ask for Emily's section !
(5)Nigel F.
My girlfriend, Liz and I saw Towne Stove and Spirits in the Dine Out Boston (formerly Restaurant Week) lineup and thought we'd give it a shot. I had the truffle mushroom soup, the porchetta, and the chocolate cake, and Liz had the arugula salad, the salmon with jasmine rice, and the lemon sorbet with blueberry compote. The soup was really hearty and Liz's salad was well dressed (with a sherry vinaigrette) and had tasty and creative accents like shaved green apple slices, black truffle cheese, and candied walnuts. My entree, the porchetta, came with asparagus, shallots, sweet potato gnocchi (which were delightfully fluffy and full of flavor) and a sweet huckleberry sauce. Liz's entree, the salmon, was perfectly cooked, juicy and flaky and the bok choy soaked up the soy and ginger sauce. My dessert, the chocolate cake, was fantastic, dense and fudge like under a chocolate shell. Very filling. Liz's lemon sorbet was certainly the lighter of our two desserts, but was not without loads of flavor. As for drinks, we both got beers, as the cocktails and wines by the glass were a little more than we wanted to pay. Their wine list is extensive however, though most are by the bottle only. This isn't a big downside for us though, merely a mark of a stellar restaurant. The service was great, ambience was pleasant. If you are looking for a fantastic meal, you should really stop by Towne Stove and Spirits during Dine Out Boston!!
(5)Warren M.
Normally wouldn't review a restaurant with so many reviews, both good and bad, but I did go there with past reviews in mind so I'll address my pre-conceived notions. Front bar was noisy but comfortable. Bartender couldn't have been more friendly or prompt. Seating was on time. Waiter friendly, knowledgable and efficient. Longer than expected time to get a second glass of wine but he obviously had waited himself because his tray was loaded. NOISE, way too loud! Table for four had to lean into each other and yell to be heard. Wood floor and ceramic, subway restroom style ceiling tiles, though both nice, were the culprit. Given the age of the building I have to assume this was intentional, probably to create a frenetic drinking atmosphere. Not for me. FOOD: other couple have been there numerous times, like it and had favorite meals. I did notice that their steaks didn't come with any vegetables but a tiny amount of greens. I didn't want a whole meal. Offerings were limited. I got the Marguerita pizza. Very disappointing. Was actually appetizer sized. The thinnest of cardboard crust sparsely covered with several pieces of tomato and Mozzarella and an equal amount of uncovered cardboardy space. It did taste better than it looked. Spouse had a steak described as pounded for tenderness and spicy with "spices" described as salt and pepper. The finished product was a paper thin plank about the thickness of my cardboard pizza, "very over spiced with other spices" again with no vegetables and greens, also over spiced. So, I must concur that this is a good place for a loud after work drink. Adequate red wine list by the glass, extensive white wine list, oddly enough. I would consider meeting people at one of the bars but would not return to eat. Oh, one very good attribute for cold or inclement weather, but for about 50 yards from the door, one can walk from the restaurant to Back Bay Station inside.
(2)Alex B.
BRUNCH Bread pudding ... Bread pudding ... Bread pudding! Typed it 3 times and already salivating just a few short hours after eating it. Also asked one of the hostesses there to sneak a tray out the back door for me. Still waiting on her response. Hopefully she agrees. As a disclaimer I did attend brunch free of charge with the Boston Brunchers but being that I live two blocks away I will sure as shit be back and spend the $38 for the buffet on another future hungover sunday AM. Chances are I will pay that and just end up piling a plate of this 500 cal per bite (complete estimate but I loved it so much I just assume it's not good for you) bread pudding. Other favorites of mine included their short rib hash, oyster tower, and pancake bar. They also several cheese wheels out with a brie, cheddar, roquefort (unbelievable), and bleu. I skipped over the juicy fresh sliced pork at the carving station but other brunchers had great things to say about it. DINNER Have paid for dinner several times. Just as a prelude with a $40 brunch, you could probably imagine dinner would get kind of pricey too. At times I have definitely thought it is a little too expensive for what you get but I still enjoy it quite a bit and keep coming back. Maybe it is the preppy / yuppie vibe, not really sure. I do need to say though, that it gets very loud in the dining area around dinner time. I think it is the wide open space and bad acoustics but it is kind of hard to hear people talk at certain tables. I think that is hard to adjust but worth pointing out. Anyway, always quick to jump on the oysters which are always fresh and oyster-y perfection. Their pizzas / flatbreads are pretty good too. Lobster, leek, black truffle one is out of this world but then again so is the price at $27 so almost not worth it but if you are feeling generous, go for it. As for dinner, I have gotten both their scallops and pork chop which both left my tummy feeling very very happy. I have also heard tons and tons of people talk up their burger so I probably need to get in there and try that. Bar is always hopping as well on the weekends. I should probably stop in more for drinks. I mean drinks are always a good reason to go somewhere, so why not?
(4)Jo-Ellen D.
Came here last night to catch up with a friend I hadn't seen in forever, proceeded to spend almost 4 hours there. The food was great (I had oysters and lobster ravioli) and they had a fantastic scotch selection. We kept talking and weren't ready to order like the first 3 times she asked, and we never got one bit of a hint of attitude or irritation about that. Same goes for how long we stayed after the bill was paid. It was pricey, but that's to be expected for the area. So be prepared to drop some dough. I would definitely go back if I still lived in the area.
(5)Big S.
i am surprised this has 3 stars. yes the prices are awful and way too expensive for what you are paying for, but that is standard in back bay. the food is pretty good. we got a couple different flat breads and the filets, and everything tasted great. service was alright, nothing incredible but not bad either. i would try and eat upstairs, its louder downstairs near the bar. good bread and dipping hummus when they serve you as well. drinks are strong but good. overall, good option for this area.
(4)Jamie H.
i went to towne stove and spirits with about 7 colleagues for lunch. overall, the food was pretty good but the service was extremely slow. it took us almost an hour and a half for the whole ordeal, but most of that was upfront time and by the time we actually got our food we pretty much shoveled it in and left in the last 15 minutes. the first strange part was that when we sat down at the table, we were not given menus. also, i'll note that we were one of the first parties to arrive for lunch, so the restaurant was not busy. after taking our drink order, the waitress came back looking at us expectantly. we looked at her expectantly, and the finally i asked if we might be able to get menus. we ordered fairly quickly, and then waited. and waited. and waited longer. a few people at the table had gotten soups, and these came, and then we waited. and then waited. and then waited longer. we tried desperately to make some eye contact with our waitress, but she was avoiding the situation. it would have been nice to at least get a reason why we were waiting, and why all of the other tables around us had been served food and left. most of us canceled our next meeting, some people had to get up from the table. we finally got our food over an hour into the lunch, and i'll be honest, it was just salads and sandwiches. i had ordered a salad with grilled chicken, asparagus, tomatoes, cucumber, and carrots. the chicken was cold! how did it take an hour to produce cold chicken? my vegetables were fresh and the lemon juice dressing was tangy, but it certainly did not make up for the wait. i also enjoyed the pita chips and hummus that all diners receive upon arriving, and this seems to be house-made. i also sampled a few of the sweet potato fries, and they were really good, slightly salty and pretty crispy. everyone else seemed to enjoy their food, but was also put off by the extremely long wait.
(3)Squidy D.
Is it OK to serve raw duck? I don't know, but that's what I got when I ordered the Peking style duck from the specials menu. The service was slow, I don't think it was the waitress's fault as the drinks were on time and refills were not an issue. The food just took forever and it wasn't like the duck spent a lot of time on the stove. If it is OK to serve rare/raw duck I would have liked to have been asked my preference as I would prefer my duck cooked.
(1)Corey L.
Went with a family group after a graduation. Showed up on a Friday night around 6:30 and it was surprisingly empty. Pleasantly. First, our waitress was incredible. Quite helpful, though she oversold the drinks a bit, though I think was trying to be honest. So I got the Sangria and margarita. Sangria was pretty good - not super sweet, but also pretty weak. I was then quite excited for the margarita, which was similar - well made, but pretty weak. So I'd say they use good ingredients, but are shy with liquor. I'm not a lush, but I like my drinks to taste like they have alcohol in them We shared a number of appetizers and stuff in the bar, including: -Sweet potato fries: good -regular fries: good fries -white truffle Polenta fries: typical for polenta fries - wanted better with the truffle -lemon grass Chicken skewers: pretty good -Chips/ chipotle guacamole: woulda liked more chipotle (I like spicy) but good. -margarita flatbread: really good -fig and duck confit: tasty We had a good time, and the food and drinks were good. Both were sort of like fancy gourmet-light. Had great ingredients, and tasted good, but just fell a bit short of my expectations given the price and location.
(3)Melanie D.
I visited Towne for lunch with colleagues last week. While certainly on the pricey side, the food and service were outstanding. The atmosphere was also very elegant and welcoming. Before we placed our orders, we were brought something which I believe they said was a fava bean puree (although it was green so I'm not sure what else was in it?) with some sort of chip/cracker - a fun alternative to bread and surprisingly tasty snack before our meal. We also each ordered a glass of wine - the sauvignon blanc I had was really refreshing and crisp, and paired perfectly with my lunch. For lunch, I had the soup and half sandwich, with a butternut squash bisque and a fresh roasted chicken salad sandwich. I really enjoyed every bite of it and left feeling perfectly full. It also came with a small side salad which I wasn't expecting. Our service throughout the meal was impeccable - attentive, friendly and very much a fine-dining experience. I will definitely be back to Towne again!
(4)Nate Y.
I haven't been here since the Yelp Elite Event in 2011 which was great, but quite frankly the average Yelp rating of 3 stars was deterring me from giving Towne a chance with my dining dollars. I came here with a group on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, but only because our original meeting spot had a wait list. Someone recommended Towne saying that the patio was usually open, which was the case. The patio was set in a great spot away from the traffic on Boylston St. and a good choice of seating of shade or sun. We were served complimentary coffee cake and maple glazed doughnuts! The coffee cake was served warm, personally ate several of these bite size morsels, and a friend ate most of the doughnuts. I usually order sweet versus savory brunch items, but with all the coffee cake I just ate I decided on the eggs benedict. Turned out to be a great choice. The eggs were cooked the way I like (yolk was a nice and gooey) with bacon on an english muffin served with a side of fried potatoes that were perfectly crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Service was excellent, accommodating someone's request to switch out the watermelon on his fruit plate for more of the other fruit being offered. All in all an unexpected satisfying brunch and would come back again.
(4)Warren C.
Saturday brunch here. I got the chicken and waffles, which ended up being surprisingly tasty, as it was served with bacon and Tabasco sauce. The place was nice, it wasn't busy. Service was fast and friendly. I'd have to try the dinner here sometime.
(4)Jessica N.
Came here for a private party. Cute ambience but service was a little lacking. Food was decent (yummy sliders), but couldn't get over the non-accomodating servers.
(3)Meizi H.
I do like this place. The atmosphere during weekday lunch is more business like and dinner is romantic and proper. Tired dinner and lunch and the experiences were good. Services were attentive and food presentation were top-notch. It is in back bay and in prime location, good for quick bite and big party size. Heard a lot of gossip about their brunch. Def give it a try someday.
(4)Perry V.
A few evenings back my partner Thom and I stopped by Towne for a quick bite to eat and a Cocktail or two. Thom and I were immediately impressed by the modern facade, We are new in Boston and this is the first time seeing the establishment. We were greeted by a beautiful hostess, short, dark hair, Charlene I think? Regardless she was the extremely personable and whoever hired that one deserves a round of applause! But I digress, The hostess was able to squeeze the two of us in a lovely little spot by the bar. After being seated I spent a few minuted of dalliance, eyeing the rest of the restaurant. We got seated by a rather provocative picture of a girl topless...LOVED IT! It was a fun touch to spice up the evening. We were quickly greeted by Nia, who provided a cocktail menu. I Ordered the Towne lemonade and let me tell you.... it was just to die for! The perfect blend of sweet and sexy that brought me back to the insouciant days of my childhood! Both Thom and I made our picks off the menu and I must say, Whoever's cooking that food deserves some sort of Nobel prize! I could have eaten everything off the menu and then some! We topped of our meal with a succulent key lime mouse which was just exquisite. Nia was quick and on her game all night, not one complaint! When Thom was freshening up I was able to chitchat with some of the staff, very nice folk! We will defiantly be making Towne one of our go to Cock@Apps in ol' Beantown... 9/10 doctors recommend Towne for a healthy, happy tongue. ;)
(5)Thomas S.
Towne is a great BAR - but not a great restaurant. The location is excellent, right on Bolyston and part of the Mandarin hotel/Prudential center. The decoration, music and ambiance is perfect for a bar. They have good burgers/Pizza too. BUT as far as a "restaurant" - the quality of food and price are way, way off. My wife and I had dinner there last night. We split an appetizer and each had an entree, no alcohol no dessert, and the bill was $100. I am OK with paying that kind of money for 1 appetizer and 2 entrees, provided the food is superb, but here is was average at best. The fritto mitto was a train wreck of over fried food with little taste. The baked ziti with cherry tomatoes and lobster sounds promising but was also surprisingly bland and seemingly cooked in a rush. The filet mignon, at $39 with NO sides, should be fantastic but it was overly covered in blue cheese, so much so that it was hard to taste the steak. All in all, great for a drink and a burger, no good for dinner. Were the prices 33% of what they are, I may say the quality/price ratio was fair.
(2)Amy O.
So shocked to see this place only has 3 stars overall. I had the best filet mignon of my life here. All of the other courses were amazing, too. Service was impeccable. I must disclose, though, that I was there for a private party so perhaps they added additional staff for the occasion. So if you're looking for a location to host a private party, Towne is your spot in the city!
(5)Frank W.
Went in for a holiday dinner and everything was great as usual. Nice dinner selections and the raw bar apps are excellent. Everything was cooked as requested and nice side selections. Overall a really nice place in Boston.
(5)Susan C.
Came here for brunch a few weeks ago with a few friends. We ordered the Lobster Cobb, Chicken and Waffles, and Beef Hash. The Lobster Cobb was unimpressive, and to make things worse, the croutons were stale (i.e. lacked any crunch whatsoever). The chicken and waffles and the hash were very good though. Chicken was crisp, but not really a traditional chicken and waffle as it was a boneless piece of chicken breast. The hash was salty in a good way. I'd definitely get it again. I also like how Towne serves little doughnuts and banana bread as a side when you sit down. The doughnut looked like a mini glazed munchkin, and was delicious. I'd be back to Towne, but only if I was craving the hash or the chicken and waffles, everything else on the menu seemed unimpressive and I could probably get a lot better for less at another spot.
(3)Jessie J.
Too much! I wanted to love it, but it was just a s#$t storm. Food came out late, and the branzino was like leather (and that's hard to do). Sorry. Never again.
(2)Lynn J.
I like Towne for drinks with friends, and the menu offers high end delights too. FOOD: I had the lobster popover...DELISH! STAFF: The bartenders were flirty, and attentive, getting us seats as soon as they opened. THE DEAL: This is a great place to meet up for your first or last drink, before or after dinner.
(4)Chirag P.
Had one drink here after sessions ended at my meeting. And just happened to have placed myself at a seat directly across from a picture of a lady flashing her boob... so if conversation got boring I had a nice visual to distract me. Had only one drink and no food, it was an interesting cucumber vodka concoction that the bartender recommended and I wasn't disappointed. Very friendly guy and a nice place overall, small but I'm guessing with all the other restaurants and bars on the same street not too many were going here as the place to party.
(4)James C.
Went here for some apps and a few drinks. Nothing too special, cool ambiance but on par for other happenings in the back bay. Don't expect proper cocktails here, they topped my old fashioned off with soda water. AKA the worst way to make an old fashioned. I tried my dates martini which was good. The food was decent, nothing special. I would go back if I had friends adamantly set on going but definitely not on my own.
(3)Adam H.
I would say the location and the Boston atmosphere make this a better place to go eat then it would be otherwise. The prices weren't that great and the food was really good but I just don't think that it would be as good if it wasn't on Boylston Street. I started my night out with a really cool take on an old-fashioned cocktail. Think the regular old-fashioned but mapely and awesome! The bread appetizer was really good and you can tell that it was homemade. For my entrée I got the swordfish and it was very well done with a great sauce. My colleague got the homemade chicken pot pie. At first I was very skeptical about getting a pot pie in a seafood place but it turned out really well! It was actually very large and definitely large enough for two people. I would definitely recommend the chicken pot pie in retrospect. All in all a pretty good restaurant but just be prepared to pay for something that isn't exactly the best food. Got a love Boston!
(4)Kacie M.
I went to Towne on a rainy Saturday night with a group of friends. Our mission was to crash the date of a girl in the group who was not entirely sure how she felt about the guy she was meeting at Towne. One the plus side, the date seemed to end up going well. On the down side, we were approached by some wannabe pickup artists who seemed to be practicing the art of inane questions. I had a nice cocktail for $13, which is not atypical for that kind of bar, but I would much rather have enjoyed a nice cheap cider. Alas, they did not have any, which is strike against any bar for me. The beer on the menu seemed to be priced reasonably though. The ambiance was classy and it seemed like a decent date spot. I probably will not be returning to Towne, but I will always remember it as the bar where I was approached by a strange man and asked what my favorite color of leaf is. (I said red.)
(3)Marcy L.
Looking to show some international friends a "Boston high-roller" night out, we headed to Towne on Saturday night. The vibe: "young club", bub. Loads of twenty-somethings dressed in their hottie best / the music was a loud, steady beat / laughter and clinking glasses could be heard above the roar. Outside: there is an eloquent patio space available for imbibing (a great view of the Pru and the fountain).....until 11pm, anyway. But you can only get to the patio by first being carded at the front, then winding your way past the front bar, past the back bar and dinner seating, and then back outside (only a few feet from where you began). Our party arrived at 10:55p, pulled up a couple of chairs, and then was asked to head back inside (apparently a law about serving outside past a certain hour *?*). Upstairs: private function room, bar, and dining with a view of the open kitchen! When our party-o-four arrived around 11pm the second floor bar provided the perfect space for our group; we were able to spread out (only about six other people had wandered upstairs) and converse at regular vocal levels (music was loud enough to dance to, but not too loud to actually carry on conversation). I loved the lighting fixtures (looked like recycled glass), and it felt nice to be part of the cool-kid-club scene downstairs. Even better: there was NO TV behind the bar (I came here to be social...not to hear ya-dudes scream at plasma). The price - yowza (but, really, what were you expecting from a hot club at the base of the Pru??). Our cocktails were ~$13ea, but there were certainly selections which were *much* more expensive. The cocktail menu: personally I felt that it looked a little uninspired (as did our bartendress who seemed like she'd seen enough for one evening). The two that intrigued my friend and I the most: Mr.Brownstone (bourbon and maple liquor) and the Limeade (cucumber vodka, lime, cucumber). Unfortunately *I* was the one who ordered Mr.Brownestone (NOT the mapley delicious treat that I thought I had ordered - a little too heavy on the musky bourbon and burned cinnamon). The Limeade, however, was perfectly refreshing! We stayed until closing and left of our own accord (not ushered out by staff, nor by blinding "go home now" houselights!). I was happy to have remembered Towne (I attended a 2011 Elite event here and was totally blown away), as well as to discover that, while it was trendy, it wasn't obnoxiously exclusive like some other Boston spots. A great time out if you're looking to feel like party of the who's-who without having to buy a new wardrobe and prepare your wallet (too too much).
(3)Nicole B.
When we walked in we saw the bar, we found someone and let them know we wanted to eat dinner and she sat us at the far end of the bar. We both thought it was weird that this place is pretty new and didn't have a dining room. By the end of the meal I had realized there was a full dining room since I had to walk through it to get to the restrooms. We then decided that she must have sat us in the bar because my dining partner had on jeans. The food was good, but pricey enough that I would not eat there regularly.
(4)Hana K.
Been here almost 6 times now and I still say, BEST BRUNCH in all Boston hands down -- never been disappointed! If it's one thing Americans do right, it's brunch. Towne adds a contemporary twist to all your favorite classic American brunch dishes. For starters, you are given complementary mini doughnuts and lemon cake that are the perfect amont of sweetness and so small and cute they don't fill you up! Must-trys: Lobster & Avocado Eggs Benedict (perfectly cooked and just melts in your mouth; they were not stingy with their lobster) Chicken & Waffle with grits, bacon, tabasco (it sounds weird but once you try it, you're hooked! even the grits got compliments from my non-grits loving friends and the Tabasco comes in the cutest small bottle you'll ever see) French Dip Sandwhich Au Juis (the sauce for dipping the sandwich in is outstanding you want to dip everything in it) Everything on the brunch menu looks and tastes amazing but I would not order the Kitchen Sink BLT... Was not too crazy with the flavors. As obsessed as I am with their WEEKEND brunch, I don't recommend this place for the WEEKDAY lunch or dinner which is a little overpriced and the menu selection is not as good.
(5)Michelle P.
Went here after work with colleagues when the weather was a bit nicer. We sat on the patio and ordered wine, oysters, dinner meals and even dessert (we stayed for hours). The service was impeccable (as was the company) which is what kept us there; in general, not the food or the ambiance. That being said, we did love our cotton candy concoction of a dessert. Would I recommend it? Sure, but only to someone with deep pockets and shallow taste.
(3)Mr. O.
This is a great option for a weekend brunch or a Saturday night drink. Not a fan of the dinner menu, but brunch is fabulous. The freshly made mini donuts in the pastry basket are worth the trip (if you don't have a donut in your basket request some). The brunch food and service work, though they should sue Simon properties for turning their once beautiful view of Boylston into a work site. Oh, no they didn't! The subtle 80s music in the background worked for me, especially when me and my boo started singing "Like a Virgin" with the next table. It felt right. It felt right. Mr. O out.
(4)Megan C.
Great interior, good people watching + something to nibble on Love sitting at the bar to have a bite. The bartenders are friendly and attentive. The menu has range, and the dishes are interesting. Salads are a little smaller in portion size than I would like. I guess if you navigate the menu carefully you will end up a happy camper. Though at a restaurant like Towne, with the beautiful interior and service you would hope that everything on the menu would be amazing. Date Rating: 7 (it get's a little noisy) Pick up Scale: 8 (this place can be a meet market, not a fan when it's busy) Strong Suggestion: check out the bar upstairs if there isn't room downstairs.
(4)Alexander W.
Very conveniently located at the Hynes Convention Center, this restaurant is quite a bit better than any of the other places in the area I've tried this week. The décor is beautiful - chic and stylish, yet warm and comfortable. The lighting is just right - very cozy. You won't hesitate to bring people you want to impress (or spoil). I was greeted warmly by the hostess, and the waitress was friendly and engaging, but not overbearing. Overall, the service was prompt and professional. A lovely cocktail to start - a rosemary-infused twist on the classic Gimlet, well-rounded and not too sour. The Merlot I had with my steak was nicely rich and balanced. Now for the food: A rich and flavorful pumpkin soup with gnocchi and crisply roasted garlic chips had a refreshing kick coming from a citrusy note - orange, I think. I loved it, although it might have been a bit too dominant for some. The main course was an excellent flank steak (very good quality meat) with bacon wrapped scallions (just one scallion, really) and a spectacular sauce of miso and yuzu kosho. The fried yucca on the side was aromatic and tender. I did have a separate side dish, sauteed spinach with garlic, which was done well (fittingly with a delicate acidic note) and complemented everything beautifully. Dessert was an out-of-this-world apple tartlet - the crust was thin and buttery, not too heavy, so that most of the dish consisted of the gently baked, not overcooked apple.It was prepared lovingly with dried, then soaked cranberries (bursting with flavor), ginger ice cream (with candied ginger sticks) and a dollop of cream on the side. Overall, one of the most satisfying dining experiences I've had all year.
(5)Cory M.
The steak tartar & osso bucco were both great. However, when the maitre d' came by and asked about the meal, I told him the kale was dry and bland. He apologized, but did nothing. For dessert I ordered a "Towne Bar" - a small, homemade candy bar that the waitress handed to me in a wrapper. Poorly presented, and a tiny portion for $8. While eating the bar, which was very good, if small, I noticed a small creature with a tail run from under the table across from us to the adjacent banquette. The waitress and manager were very apologetic, but did not offer to comp our meal or provide us any incentive to come back. We will NOT be returning.
(1)Bos G.
"Towne" as locals call it, is a large restaurant and bar located on Boylston Street in Boston's Back Bay. Towne's brunch menu is reasonably priced with most options between $10 - $16. Because of the time of day, my friend and I opted for their chicken salad sandwich for $12 and their bacon and cheddar burger for $16. Eating at the bar can sometimes be risky business depending on how crowded or busy the staff is but on our visit the bar was mostly empty and the bar staff was both attentive and helpful answering the few questions we had about menu options. The chicken salad sandwich is served on toasted multi-grain bread and comes with a side salad. The chopped chicken with cucumber was filling and satisfying. Towne's burger is presented with the top bun upside down with ketchup. Both proved satisfying but not particularly memorable. I've had a few meals at Towne and with few exceptions I've found the food average. However, the space is very comfortable and the service is generally very good. That combined with its convenient location in the Back Bay is what accounts for its success - or at least that is what I've concluded.
(2)Jeff D.
I can't believe I never reviewed Towne before, especially after getting the chance to attend the Yelp Elite event there that was essentially the grand opening. Two words, people: Lobster popover. I've had the cowboy steak and branzino for dinner and just some apps at the bar. No complaints about the food or service, everything was excellent even when we came for my mother-in-law's birthday with a pretty large party. My wife and I love hanging out at the bar and watching things go down. Vicarious living at its finest!
(4)Ash C.
We tried ribeye for two the other night and it was fabulous. The meat was juicy and tender, well seasoned. The side of brussel sprouts with bacon was to die for. I would love to come back for Sunday brunch
(4)Dorothy C.
Came here with 6 other people with no reservation around 6pm on a Saturday night. I was expecting to wait a while since since 6 people is a lot but we were seated immediately. It was kind of quiet for a Saturday night, not sure if it's like that everyday but it didn't bother me. We chose oysters for appetizers which were so fresh - everyone agreed it tasted amazing. I ordered Venison well done but had the waiter quickly suggest at most a medium since venison is so lean. Food came rather quickly - all the dinner plates seemed to be a nice sized portion so you definitely won't be leaving hungry. All in all, it was pretty good food but don't expect your taste buds to be wowed by anything crazy.
(3)David B.
Once again, location trumps quality. This restaurant has a captive audience of people who work in and around the Prudential Center. The bar and the restaurant are always crowded. But the food is really lacking. I was there last night and with the exception of some appetizers which were good, the meal was rather disappointing. The filet mignon, while well cooked, was flavorless. The duck, which was billed to be Peking duck style, was also flavorless. The portions are large, which I suppose is to help you forget that the flavors are weak. To top it off, the upstairs bathroom which is Uni sex was filthy. The only real positive I can say is that the service was very good.
(1)Katie C.
Totally underwhelming to say the least. My friend and I were at the HOW Design Conference next door at the Hynes one Saturday morning and we decided to go to Towne for brunch next door. Our plan was to discuss what we learned at the conference, but really we just wanted to get caught up on the latest gossip. The good news was they had a patio with a slight breeze that was rather covered and not directly in the sun. We were seated promptly and one staff member came over with water for us. Wonderful. Then another came over with fresh breakfast bites -- banana bread with an orange glaze or a homemade donut hole with the same orange glaze. I had the banana bread that was nothing real special since the glaze was just completely too sweet and too overpowering. Just when we thought we could finally place our order, another staff member came by and poured "fresh squeezed orange juice" with no solicitation from us. Whether it was a language barrier or procedure, she poured and we drank. Ten minutes went by and we were finally able to place our order. If you're looking for hearty breakfast foods, this is the place for you. Homemade waffles, omelettes, eggs benedict just to name a few. In terms of "lunch" foods, there are a few sandwiches available. However, if you're looking for something relatively healthy, this is definitely not for you. No salads just to start with. Probably the healthiest offering was the fruit plate as an appetizer. We finally placed our order -- two french dip sandwiches that came with caramelized onions (none for me, thanks), brie, and fries. It was a perfect Saturday morning lunch. Our food arrived and the french dip sandwich was served with au jus but was more like a cheesesteak in terms of consistency. The bread was hard and crispy (my favorite) but the brie cheese was just one large glob in the middle of the sandwich. I don't like a lot of cheese, so at least it was easy to pick aside. It was a lot of food for $14 and I probably shouldn't have ate both halves of the sandwich. The fries were hot and crispy, too. When we finally received our bill, we found out we were charged $4/apiece for the orange juice at the beginning of the meal. Was it worth $4 a glass? Hell to the no. Were we even asked if we wanted orange juice after we sat down? Hell to the no again! After finishing my lunch (prior to receiving the bill), I was willing to give them another chance. After this experience, certainly not. Now, I know $8 total isn't a lot to bitch about and it certainly didn't cause me to eat ramen noodles for the rest of the particular pay period, but it left a bad impression with me. For my next brunch, I want healthier options and no "surprises" at the end of the meal. So Towne certainly won't be it.
(2)S. B.
I have celiac. I had a delicious soup, salad and side and all were prepared safely and I did not get sick. They have a lot of other options for meat/seafood eaters, I just happen to be vegetarian. The menu is marked with gluten-free items, and the staff all knew what "celiac" was (which is always a good sign) and our waitress let the chef know that's why I ordered GF. Would visit again!! (Same review left at findmeglutenfree)
(5)Daisy P.
We were in a lobster mood that night and we tried the lobster pizza, lobster popovers (they are fabulous!), lobster bisque, and had tuna for my entree along with the spinach and the corn. The corn was probably the best prepared corn I've ever had and everything is worth returning for. The tuna for the main entree was probably my least favorite so I would order something else the next time. Do not leave without trying the lobster popovers or the corn. Beautiful decor too!
(4)Cole D.
Wow, I just don't know where to start. I wish i could give negative stars. Both service and food is absolutely appalling. I was at the bar waiting for my fiance to arrive and got one of the house martinis with the goat cheese olives, which was actually pretty good. I got the same drink at the table and it was definitely not the same, and no olives or garnish. We ordered the calamari to start and then the salmon and lamb. All the food was completely bland and tasteless. The calamari we ate about half because after a certain point it just was mushy breading in a pile of oil. The salmon came with crispy rice and a horseradish sauce, which sounded amazing, but in reality the skin was mushy and there was a pool of half melted butter on the plate. The salmon was rubbery and no seasoning , my fiance's lamb was completely bland as well, and came with potatoes that you could tell were previously frozen. They were that crumbly chalky texture, as well as some beans straight from a can. No part of the meal was enjoyable, and to top it off, when we asked for the check after barely touching our meal, the server obviously asked about any problems, and said he would go get his manager, BUT still ran the bill in the meantime AND the manager never came. We didn't skimp on the tip ( I've worked in the restaurant industry and have many friends in the industry here in Boston). We eventually left after waiting 10 minutes for the manager, who ultimately I doubt was even notified. We asked the hostesses to get the manager on our way out and after 10 minutes of running around trying to find one, we told her not to worry and just left. Completely PISSED that this was $150 meal and no one seems to care. I will never go back, and will tell anyone to avoid this place at all cost. I've never had an experience such as this.
(1)Brandi W.
A little over a week ago, a girlfriend and I stopped by Towne for a few drinks and dessert post dinner. There was a mouse that was running around the bar area for at least an hour. Some people did end up leaving the bar....we honestly should have as well, but had already ordered.... so we were trying to be good sports about it. What really got to us was that the bartenders thought it was hilarious, were making jokes, and calling the mouse 'Stewart' (apparently, he is a regular). When they finally let the manager know, he came out and gave a half-assed apology. BUT after everything, we weren't comped for any of our food or drinks.
(1)Chelsea F.
Drinks were great and food was delicious! Peking style duck was great, different than what I had expected but very good. My friends ordered the margarita pizza and the filet and both were pleased. Cheesecake dessert was fantastic as it wasn't too sweet! After dinner we walked to the 52nd(?) floor of the Prudential building for a nightcap and highly recommend for tourists :)
(4)Aman S.
This place was just okay. The service was super slow and the wine selection left a lot to be desired. I probably won't return.
(2)Yasa E.
Honestly, not a fan. I've been here a bunch of times and I just don't get a very good vibe from this place. The space is aboslutely gorgeous and the location is great, other than that....blahh. It's usually a bit more of an upscale crowd, and when this place is busy it's PACKED, but when it's slow, there is literally not a soul in sight. Drinks are expensive, even by Back Bay standards. Service is hit or miss. I've had a good experience once (i think the bartender's name was Tim), but every other time i've come here, the cocktail waitresses and female bartenders seemed to have an attitude problem. The late night apps i've tried were super bland. Overall, not impressed.
(2)Mark R.
Went here with a group of 8. Service was good but the food was not up to my expectations for a Lydia joint. Lobster popovers were good, oysters were extremely fresh and good, but the Peking Style Duck fatty and the meat was metallic tasting. Also the Bok choi under the duck was a miserable overcooked lump of blah. And sides of mashed potatoes, asparagus, and squash were all ok but nothing special . Other diners also said it was just ok. 2nd time and 2nd so-so meal. Probably won't return unless something changes- might try brunch
(2)Greg P.
Hit and Miss... "NFFF"- Not fit for foodies My wife and I had heard a lot about Towne... both good and bad... and when a friend suggested it for a place for all of us to grab dinner, we were excited to try it. Towne has a very nice location right on Boylston St. They have valet parking ($16 for 4 hours) and also validate for the Prudential garage. The restaurant itself is spacious and attractive. It can get noisy later in the night but early own it's very easy to hold a conversation. We sat outside on their patio which was nice and airy. The food is American with an emphasis on some Asian fusion, seafood, steaks, and comfort food. My wife and I started with the lobster pop-overs (which came highly recommended on Yelp and by our water). We were somewhat disappointed actually. The pop-overs were rather dry and the kitchen douses them with honey-butter to moisten them up. Regardless, dry is dry, and we could still tell. There was an OK amount of lobster in each but certainly not overflowing. My wife ordered a salad for her meal that was rather simple and underwhelming. I ordered the wagyu skirt steak which was good. The wasabi cream was a nice accompaniment. It comes with two very small polenta fries. More would have been nice. We ordered a side of mash potatoes which the waiter said would be a generous portion. Not really. It was a pretty small plate of runny mashed potatoes. Certainly would not fly at a steak house. None of us felt like trying the desserts because the food was underwhelming. The bar is well stocked although my two mixed drinks were very watery. There are much better places in Back Bay for drinks. Overall, a decent option if you find yourself in Back Bay at dinner time. There are other better options. And some worse options. For it's prices the food out to be better. You're probably not going to feel like you got good value for your money. We didn't. Foodies might want to go elsewhere.
(3)Kitty C.
So we came back this year to try the bar in the dining area. The service was marginally better, but the drink selection is still pretty slim. No reason to come here as far as I can see.
(2)Hayley M.
Above and beyond! So after the incident happened at our last visit to Towne, my friend whose birthday it was emailed the manager. She told him that we have always had great experiences at Towne and while the food was exceptional, the service was not and one friend had been offended by a racially insensitive comment. She was articulate and not angry, she simply wanted to communicate the situation and make the manager aware. Needless to say, the manager asked us to please come back to the restaurant so they could provide us with a "special dining experience." Special was the right word for it. 12 out of the 14 of us could go, and we sat down at the same table as the incident from last time. The waiter and waitress immediately set down six orders of the Lobster Popovers for us. This is the signature appetizer of the restaurant, and I can see why. Who wouldn't love a flaky, buttery popover, filled with huge chunks of lobster? Absolutely delicious. They also set down two margherita pizzas for us. Then we could order. After what happened last time, they must have had their very best waitstaff work with us. The waiter and waitress we had could not have been nicer. When I was having trouble deciding what to order and was the last person looking at my menu, our A-game waiter came over to help me decide. He asked me which I was deciding between, and described each of the dishes to me. I could tell he wasn't worried about price, his motivation was to help me find the dish I would like the most. Ultimately, I decided to go with the Lobster Bisque and Ahi Tuna. The bisque was wonderful. Creamy and peppery (although too peppery according to a friend who also ordered it), and this also had lots and lots of lobster. I could have eaten a cauldron of it. The ahi tuna was also delicious. Crusted with white and black sesame seeds, barely seared. Perfection. My boy and two others ordered the Petite Filet Mignon and they all loved it. There were several sides on the table, including the brussel sprouts (I didn't try because they had bacon but everyone else loved), and the wonderful sauteed spinach with garlic. For dessert, they brought my friend whose birthday it had been a cotton candy apple sundae. Wow, it was wonderful! The boy and I split the chocolate cake, which was the only part of the meal that didn't blow me away. It was dry, so I ended up dipping it in my friend's ice cream sundae. The good folks at Towne really impressed me. They had the opportunity to make up what happened last time, and they absolutely jumped on it. They made us feel like valued guests in their restaurant. Now, instead of saying, "someone at Towne made a racist comment to my friend," I will say, "have you HAD the lobster popovers? If not, eat them immediately!" Well done, Towne.
(5)Alan W.
My first visit, last week was wonderful. This week terrible. Not sure what to believe about this restaurant. May (or may not) try again. Bad experiences always seems to trump good when it comes to restaurants.
(1)Rani P.
Towne is one of my favorite spots for brunching in Boston. The food in incredible, the outdoor seating gets the perfect amount of sun, and I can stroll around the Pru and Newbury Street post brunch. my recommendations: THE TRUE fettuccine alfredo (WITH the sunnyside egg) OR eggs benedict on north country bacon (also comes with delightful homefries) Their freebies include a choice of doughnuts and cornbread. These are the two parts of the brunch that are underwhelming. They are good- but I just think they can be so much better!
(4)Briana C.
I was there for dinner the other night. I love the dining room - you're not cramped in like some smaller places, but it still feels warm and cozy. The food was great - my date had the steak arabiata and I had the kale salad with scallops, as well as the sweet potato fries (not enough rosemary). That being said, the service was....interesting. They checked on us so many times that it severely interrupted some intense conversation. We were charged $8 for still water, when I thought I was ordering tap water. They have a "Towne" bar on their dessert menu, which sounds like homemade cookies dipped in chocolate and stacked with caramel sauce, or something to that effect. What it actually is, is a prepackaged candy bar that's somewhere between a twix and a kit kat and not as good as either. I almost broke a tooth on it! So, I'd go back for dinner because the food tasted good and the prices were reasonable, but I would make smarter ordering decisions.
(3)Michael B.
Dined at Towne on 3/21 while entertaining some out of town guests. The atmosphere was energetic and our waitress was knowledgeable of the menu offerings and attentive to our needs throughout our lengthy stay. The lobster popovers were a huge hit with my our of town visitors, and then we all enjoyed our salads and main courses. The filet was cooked to perfection and the salmon was tasty. We also enjoyed a couple of bottles of Peay Pinot Noir!! All in all, it was a great night on the town at Towne Stove & Spirits!!
(4)Jeff M.
Towne seriously sucks. Honestly, just trust me. The chef in charge here needs to practice some restraint. Foie gras served over a waffle with maple syrup and bananas makes sense until you have the celery root puree on the side that added absolutely nothing. Wagu skirt steak was cooked perfectly in butter but the onion rings and other tid bits really did not add much. Clams casino featured cherry stones big enough to be quahogs. I've only seen clams casino with small to medium sized clams, so, this may be a personal preference. On the bright side the fried zucchini sticks were good!
(1)Sooks M.
Went here for date night on a Tuesday! Sat at the bar and had a great time. The bar has dim lighting (veryy dim) and the atmosphere is nice. They had an interesting list of cocktails. I tried the newbury sparkler and a gin/lavender/rosemary drink. The drinks were great and the bartender was friendly and attentive. I would go back again for drinks!
(4)Soly Z.
I loved the vibe, location, and the bartender. However, the price for a drink was high, especially since my drink was mostly ice and not filled to the top.
(3)Ariel Z.
The drink I ordered was strong, but right down my alley. The location is premier, right next to the Pru. We ordered the Chinese dumplings to share, which I really liked, but I love everything that is dumpling. Trendy spot to catch up with some friends or socialize with colleagues on a week night.
(4)Liz H.
Revising my two-year old review as Towne seems to finally have found its culinary footing. Multiple visits have yielded both good and great results, from the recent acorn squash (which I described as "Christmas and thanksgiving in one!) to different flatbreads, to the famous lobster popovers...everything has been much more what I'd expect from a place of this caliber and price point. The drinks are still strong, though the poor second floor bartender on valentines day was brand new and too green to be working such a busy night. She was apologetic though, and ultimately we ended up being fine. A solid, if still on the pricier side, option for a night out where a 30 year old won't feel ancient.
(3)Ilene F.
THE WORSE MEAL I have ever had in Boston. A nice dinner on Christmas eve not close! I ordered a gluten free lobster Pizza it was sopping with grease after taking a few bites I started to feel sick. It the took 10 minutes to get the waiter to come over he left the plate in front of me. after 5 mins and no menu or response to my horrible meal I flagged the waiter down to ask him to remove my plate and to bring me a menu. He did now feeling sick to my stomach after eating a half of a piece of the greasiest pizza I ordered a shrimp cocktail which ate but was not fresh and the cocktail sauce way too spicy, BTW my shrimp came 10 minutes after my husband had completed his meal. I went looking for the manager who made a lot of excuses about what happened and offered nothing, After my I completed the shrimp and we were ready for a check the waiter comes out with another pizza, Almost just as greasy as the first. I was feeling sicker we were on our way to church and we ddi not accept the pizza. My bill come and I was charged for the shrimp. I talked to the "manager" about this and how I was sick from his food our dinner was a terrible experience and how I have never gone to a restaurant where they screwed up and did nothing to take care of me. So of $20 this manager pissed me off so much that I am not out to broadcast how bad my experience was. PLEASE Do no Eat there they have no idea what service means and they are clueless on how to make good food,
(1)Lisa R.
I really want to give Towne 4 stars, but my visit on Saturday night was a 2 star experience. We had 8pm reservations and were seated right on time. Our waitress took our drink and dinner orders in a timely and polite fashion. It was downhill from there. Our dinners didn't arrive until 10pm. When we asked she didn't have an answer. One guest was only drinking water and she had to be tracked down to fill his water glass (which seems odd because she was filling water glasses at the surrounding tables). The food was excellent, as it always is. The service I received will make me think twice about recommending Towne.
(2)J P.
I was excited to try to the brunch at Towne because I heard good things. Things started off a little rocky with awkward service. Then went way, way downhill. I ordered the chicken and waffles after seeing it arrive at the table next to us. Not only did mine come with a piece of chicken that was pink and undercooked, another piece had a feather on it. A FEATHER. So gross. I should have sent it back. But instead, I pushed the chicken aside and ate the waffles. Big mistake. I ended up with food poisoning, so bad it required a visit to the emergency room. The doctor said my symptoms were consistent with salmonella. Thanks, Towne.
(1)Katherine D.
I finally got a chance to come in for an actual meal, and I was extremely impressed. The dining room is even more beautiful when you're sitting in it, and I loved the mirrored columns the the wood and glass sconces attached and the great big beams criss-crossing the ceiling. From the moment we sat down service was perfect. We needed a little time to decide and our server actually said "whatever you want, as long as I'm not keeping you waiting" and then showed up exactly when we needed her. I also appreciate that we had utensils refreshed as we moved through the courses. And I truly love when someone comes by with one of those little scraper gadgets to make sure your table cloth remains a pristine white. Cocktails were pretty good. The bread basked was stellar. We split the lobster popovers and while I was hoping they would be slathered in clarified butter, the arrived with a sweet glaze of sorts and were delicious. He got the chowder and it was great. It had a nice creamy base and the addition of chili oil made it over the top good. I had the pork schnitzel and it was so good. The garlic oil and green garlic puree over the mashed potatoes were incredible ways to round out the perfectly cooked, juicy round of thin friend pork. He got the roasted chicken, and even though mine was outstanding I had order envy while he devoured his plate. The chicken was crispy, yet juicy and falling off the bone. He was very satisfied. For dessert we ordered the apple cider sorbet and the raspberry champagne mousse. Sorbet was sorbet, good but nothing exceptional. That mousse however, was divine. So good in fact, that it will be hard to resist grabbing a drink and a bite of heavenly tart and fresh mousse next time I'm out running errands in the Copley area. The service was perfect all night, the setting wonderful, and the food was from start to finish spectacular. I'm very happy to know this place exists for fancy nights out.
(5)Brian D.
I think the best complement I can give a restaurant is to say that it made me want to go back. I wasn't in the mood for a steak when I went into towne, but after seeing their menu and trying some of their other food I really want to know what they'd do with a good steak! I was actually quiet interested in the Apps when I went in, so I had the BBQ Chicken flatbread with scallions and corn. It was excellent! A bit of a spicy sauce and a thin layer of cheese worked well together to give the flavor a great base. The BBQ wasn't too sweet, and it was nicely understated so that all the flavors worked in conjunction. The Scallion Pancake with duck was also very nice...one of the better scallion pancakes with a small piece of duck on each third for $8 seemed fairly reasonable. I also had the potato hash with horseradish cream side. It will turn some people off to know that it was greasy and starchy, but I promise it was greasy and starchy in exactly the way someone who loves crispy fried potatoes knows that they are signing up for! towne is on the higher end of the price scale, but from what I've seen doesn't seem too terribly excessive. On the price to quality scale it ranked pretty well (except maybe the cocktails), and the space is just interesting! Dark but playful, non-hipster waiters who are still allowed interesting facial hair...I was intrigued by the whole thing. There are plenty of restaurants that would seem ridiculous playing a sexy, trance version of "No Diggity" in the dining room. But not this one. This one is both fancy enough, and strange enough, that it actually works! A provisional five stars, until I can try an entree.
(5)Shannon D.
I've been here a few times in the past year. I work in the finance industry and my coworkers were always excited to go to Towne! - I, however, was always less enthused. The first few times I had gone, it wasn't terrible but it also wasn't great. Lots of old men hiding their wedding rings (or flashing that shiz because some women are into that) hitting on young scantily clad women looking for a free drink. Last night I was getting together with a few lady friends and we decided to go to Towne since it was easy for all of us to get to from work. It was early still, around 6 so we got a nice high-top table in the second room and for awhile things seemed much better than I had expected - for awhile. Our server was quite attentive at first, filling up our water, asking us if we needed anything else. I'm not sure if something happened to him at some point during the night or if we said something terribly wrong because he started to ignore us. I had to ask for my water to be filled up three times! A friend met us a bit later and our server didn't give him a glass of water until he asked. The drinks were pretty terrible for the price. When I'm paying 12$ for a cocktail I expect amazingness to happen in my mouth. I got two drinks off their menu, one was a fall sour which was okay, the other I don't remember but I couldn't even finish it. My boyfriend and I then ordered a whiskey smash, one of my favorite drinks. No, its not on the menu but a nice "high end" place like Towne should have educated bartenders that know how to make a classic. I couldn't even take more than one sip, it was so bad. I looked over at the bartender and I'm sorry but she clearly wasn't hired for her drink crafting skills. We got the duck confit pizza which was good but very rich. My friends got the oysters, which I noticed when the waiter brought them over he didn't say where they were from. Every time I've ordered oysters from various places around Boston they've always told me where they were from, its the little things that make me happy. There was a group of highly intoxicated older men in suits sitting next to us, throughout the night they were eying us, a table of four professional women under 30 years old. Luckily right as one of them started talking to us, telling us how we're all *so beautiful* my boyfriend came into the bar and saved us. It was actually really quite epic. The drunk men then broke up a couple on a date, one of them even started putting his arm around the girl while her boyfriend sat there and laughed with them. (clearly her boyfriend sucked compared to mine) I'm adding this into the review because this is what Towne wants - Doucebag business men with lots of money to throw around but zero class to realize they're spending it on crap drinks, food and service.
(1)Wonder W.
Went for dinner and sat outside in their very cool sort of birdcage pergola - was lovely. Food was great - nothing mind blowing but the wagyu skirt strip was extremely good and my friend commented that the lobster bisque was awesome. They make a mean martini too. Service was a little patchy but it was Saturday night and extremely busy so it was no real problem. Great spot if you're looking for something amongst the hub of Boylston street.
(4)S P.
Very ordinary. Not impressed at all. Portions were very generous, but the food was gourmet-ish TGIFridays fare.
(1)Jenn S.
My friends & I went to Towne last week for an early dinner & drinks to catch up with each other. I arrived a few minutes before 5:30 and had a hard time figuring out exactly where to go, as no one greeted or helped me. When I finally found the hostess stand, I was told that the dining room doesn't open until 5:30, so I could sit at the bar to wait. It was 5:26. REALLY? Ok, fine. I sat at a table in the bar area - I'm sure the waitress was so happy I was taking up a table while waiting for my friends. When the first friend arrived, we went back to the hostesses and were brought upstairs to a nice round booth right in front of the open view into the kitchen (although we had our backs to it). This places, by the way, is HUMONGOUS. I love the decor and ambiance. Definitely bumps it up on the star value! And we all loved the bread basket (a mix of nice, warm white bread and thin flatbreads) with the red pepper hummus (I think) and the amazing salted butter. OMG. I didn't try the cod caviar hummos or whatever it was - too weird for me! Our waiter was very nice, patient and helpful. We wanted to get an appetizer my friend had previously tried that was not on the menu (the not-so-dirty chicken wings, or something like that). When he realized what we were talking about, he immediately said "we can do that for you!" We shared the chicken wings, two of the simple mesclun salads and the butternut squash pizza w/smoked bacon, stracchino cheese, pear mostarda & crushed amaretti. We asked what some of those items were (amaretti, etc.) and the waiter explained them very nicely. I got 1 glass of delicious Prosecco and tried a sip of my friend's Towne Lemonade (cold river blueberry vodka, fresh lemon and pomegranate served up), which was so tasty. With 5 drinks, the wings, salads & pizza, the bill came to about $100 + tip. I thought that wasn't bad for dinner for 3 at a fancy-ish place. None of us left hungry, but we also didn't leave with any leftovers. I would definitely go back, although I'm sure a full sit-down dinner would cost a lot more.
(4)Mike G.
and yet another once bright spot descends to mediocrity. a new item on the menu - Peking Chicken $33 - just can't compare with a $10 whole roast that Foodie's churns out by the dozens daily. Monday's market catch of rock shrimp (5 runts, smear of pesto, 2 boiled fingerlings) was an overpriced bore-of-a-dish for $37.50 and i said so. GM took it off the bill so props for that and still tasty lobster popovers.
(3)Jennifer J.
It was too big for me to be honest. I felt like we were in a factory. The design was nice but all over the place. This was my third time going and i was told that we could not stand and drink at the bar. Strange, right? Who knows maybe we will go back. it is very adult looking and I think Boston needs more of that. i did go across the street to The Social Club which I am told the same people own. It was really nice. Review to follow.
(2)Courtney M.
Overall great, but it definitely has some areas where it could be improved upon! We looked forward to each part of the meal and enjoyed the experience. First, the space is huge and two floors! There are three bars, and the ones downstairs are hip and crowded. I'd definitely like to come back to the main bar near the entrance after work some time or on the weekend because of its lively atmosphere--lots of young professionals! We were seated on the second floor near the window, which overlooked their soon-to-be outdoor seating that will also be used in the wintertime. So...even more seating at this already huge restaurant. What I liked about the menu is that it took some traditional dishes and prepared them in a new style, i.e., lamb chops with Indian influences. They also show the flag of the country whose dish they were preparing, i.e., the ravioli has the Italian flag next to its description. I must admit that we all enjoyed our appetizers the best. We ordered the fettuccine alfredo, the lobster & corn pizza, the razor clams, and the avocado salad. The pizza blew us away! We would order it again in a heartbeat. The others were very good too. Our friends commented that the pasta was just like how it's prepared in Italy, so they enjoyed it very much. The avocado salad was very fresh, but the pork crackling served along with it seemed an usual pairing. For the entrees: we ordered the Peking chicken, the lamb chops, the chicken "brick" style, and the beef short ribs. I'd say that although we enjoyed our dishes, none of us raved about it except for the lamb chops. They were beautifully presented and all tasted very good, but they seemed to lack a "wow" factor that we were hoping for. The side dishes were also 50/50. The potatoes gratin and portabello mushrooms were excellent, but the creamed spinach was fair. We were all happy with our choices and definitely ate all of it (fatties that we are!), but the appetizers are what we most enjoyed. The most disappointing part of the meal: the dessert!! We ordered the pavlova (spelling?) and the warm dark chocolate which sounds like it would be a warm dark chocolate cake but instead it's a vanilla cake with caramelized sugar with a hint of chocolate in it (at least that's what it appeared to be). So disappointing! None of us finished the desserts. About the service: overall quite good and very attentive. Friendly, helpful waiter although he seemed a little inexperienced in opening the wine bottle and pouring our wine and coffee (that he only filled half a cup of). That's just a little thing and something that will likely be improved upon with time. Not a big deal! Bottom line: GO! Enjoy the drinks and the appetizers and the overall ambiance! And perhaps you'll have a different opinion about the main dishes. But... I wouldn't recommend dessert (at least not for right now). It's definitely a welcomed addition to the Boston restaurant scene!
(4)Paula A.
the food is ok (my burger was raw, but they were quick to replace it). the setting is ok. the location is good. after 10 pm -- it basically turns into a fancy/loud frat party. seriously, there was a girl puking in the bathroom surrounded by 6 of her scantily clad BFFs. not blaming Towne, but that's the kind of clientele that hangs out there. so if you're over the age of 23, clear out by then. i didn't like it the first time. went back w/ an open mind for a friend's bday, & am in NO hurry to return.
(2)Shannon C.
Towne is RIGHT next to my new office so I was hoping this would become my new go-to spot after work. Sadly, it's the furthest thing from it...well...that's not true, as there are plenty of other worthy neighborhood joints nearby. Anyway, you walk into Towne expecting all that a Lydia Shire production should offer and it doesn't disappoint. The dark polished oak (?) bar stands out as you enter. They've done a great job with the space to make it feel intimate though the wrap-around bar is actually rather large. The sound is not cacophonous so you don't find yourself shouting to your friend 2 feet away which is nice. The dining room is also well designed and provides a comfortable yet unobtrusive din. (I didn't get a chance to see the upstairs and I'll have to save the outdoor gazebo for another visit as it was unfinished during my visit.) Food was better than amazing. We ordered a few apps, a few sides and a salad as we were only there for drinks. I can't speak to the entrees but I was pleased with our ordering and very satisfied with what ended up being quite a meal in the end though we had intended to keep it light. Fabulous decor and delicious food aside, the service was horrendous. Shockingly horrendous. If I could have FOUND a manager to complain to, I would have. I'll chalk it up to the trials of opening week at a new restaurant. To be fair, I fully intend to give Towne another go.
(3)Rick B.
Went last night for the first time and had an unbelievable meal. Duck was insane. Salmon and Swordfish were excellent and the ice cream sundae with peanut butter cotton candy stole the show. I have no words. Ahhmazing. Server was prompt and attentive. Only negative (and should lose 2 stars for it) is how insanely LOUD the dining room is. They need to add dampeners to help offset the idiot who developed the ceiling. Looks cool but the way it's constructed you cannot hear yourself think on a busy night. Last night was literally deafening. The food was some of the best we have had in a very long time.
(5)Craig D.
(3.5) ~ Overall Food & Service
(4)Sarah F.
Enjoyed a delightful date night with my husband at Towne. They did a great job with the service all the way around, from our request on seating to every last detail. The wait staff were very attentive and personable, and the food and drinks arrived promptly. The lobster popovers are the thing to get - delicious! The main courses were flavorful, good, not terribly exciting, but well prepared. Some options have an international flare, which is a plus in my book. The key lime tart with macadamia crust was to die for.
(4)Lala I.
average drinks and food. plenty of seating
(3)Tesia K.
Everything from the bread basket to dessert was absolutely amazing. I ordered the tuna and my friend ordered the duck and we both loved our dishes. The ambiance was beautiful with their velvet chairs and the outdoor seating. I especially loved how you can see the kitchen on the second floor. Servers came to our table often to check on us and our waters were always full. The price is a little on the higher end but definitely worth it.
(5)Danielle C.
I'm completely in love with Towne. Starting with booking my reservation, about a week before it opened, for about a week after it opened (8.8), I had a good feeling. There was no snobbery and the woman I spoke with was very pleasant. She confirmed my res by sending me an email, which I received within minutes of hanging up. When I realized we'd be running about 10 minutes late, I called to let them know and spoke with another very pleasant person, who thanked me and made note. Walking in, I was smitten-- the decor is warm and hip simultaneously. There's a cute little robot theme running throughout-- see if you notice! Our waiter, and all of his assistants, were friendly, attentive, professional and- again- refreshingly free of pompousness! My friend and I split a pitcher of white white sangria that was to die for-- since they had to make another batch, we actually each got an extra glass on the house, which was another perk. The rotisserie chicken was delicious-- very moist, satisfying, well done. But my favorite part was the vanilla 'mosaic' with mango and blackberries-- you NEED to get this. I haven't had a better dessert in years! Drink prices were standard for an upscale locale (about $8-12) and although I couldn't afford to eat here every night, it's not outrageous for the caliber it brings to the table. It's a success!
(5)Jan H.
Terrible.....No stars for this. Lobster chowder was watery and fishy...could not finish. Asked for a 2009 vintage on wine and got 2010 for which the waiter insulted our guest who is a sommelier. Lemon ravioli was tasteless and paid a boat load for halibut that was overcooked and dry. French fries were ok but forgot the truffle oil. Pop overs were good but lobster was cooked poorly and old. Thank heaven Boston has so many restaurants so I will never have to go back there
(1)M J.
Towne is ambitious. It's big and bold and beautiful and it's goal is to serve many purposes, which I applaud. Who else offers eclectic fine dining by two top chefs in three very different dining rooms with three bars, outdoor dining (soon) and a primo location in the heart of the city? Um, no one. You also need to bump up the stars because it's filled a huge void in the Back Bay with it's vibrant, large bar scene for adults. Some comments here are ridiculous social commentary, and not a review of the venue. Snarky, unhappy singles taking aim at the over 40 crowd: please stop and think. The world just might not be revolving around you. Maybe try some yoga breathing. I'm thrilled with Towne. They were slammed right off the bat becuase they're offering something in very high demand. They've hit their groove now - it's been a big undertaking but they are industry professionals and great at what they do. Go. Dress up or not, eat, drink and enjoy.
(5)Alison Z.
Towne seems out of place. Or confused. It's a scene-y bar on the bottom, a restaurant in the middle and more bar-like on the sides. And it doesn't seem to know it's in the service or hospitality industry. We stopped in for a drink and a quick bit to eat. There was exactly one thing on the menu I could eat (no meat or fish for me) and it was awful. A burnt, oozing excuse for a grilled cheese. My husband's food wasn't any better. And the service was terrible. Rude and way too cool to talk to us or recommend things. The people who hang out here don't seem interested in the quality of the service. Or the food. Or the drinks. They're just there to be seen. So if that's your thing, then this place might be for you. If not, head down the street.
(2)Jainy S.
If you asked me to describe Towne in one sentence, I'd fail. In fact, we asked our waiter to describe the theme...and he gave us..."fun? hip? we're a bar, we're a club...we are everything." I guess when it boils down to it, it's a little eclectic. The Ambiance: We were seated on the bottom floor aka "down-Towne" and the feel was best described as being in a fancy cabin...or getting to eat inside a Crate and Barrel. The upstairs aka "up-Towne" and the Back Bay room each have a unique feel to them, so can get up to 3 different dining experiences. The Menu: Well, it's slim pickings for vegetarians. They have 2 veggie pizzas - I went with one of them. It was good but not the greatest thing I have ever had. On the plus side, it was huge and I did have some left overs for home. For my meat-eating friends, the menu featured a lot of strange combos. From pork to fish to steak to lobster pizza, everyone was very satisfied with their meals. The Pro's -If you have a reservation, you have access to the other bars located upstairs and downstairs -The staff is incredibly friendly and make great suggestions - The food is good. - It seems fun, hip and crowded. I think it's a fun place to grab a late dinner and then enjoy some drinks. The Con's - The overall lack of theme is really evident - It is a little pricey and there are probably better dining experiences in Boston - Limited vegetarian options. Booo. Overall - I'd go back for a meal but only after ruling out other possible options.
(3)Will S.
Worst martini ever. Bartender put more olive juice than vodka in the drink. What an amateur. Ughhh!!!!!!
(1)Rachele V.
My boss and I took a client here for dinner and it did not go well. Our waitress was pushy and kept trying to convince us to order more food and wine. The food was good but the prices seemed high for what they were offering. I had the lobster popovers as an appetizer. They were $14 for 3 and they were okay, not as fantastic as the waitress claimed when she pushed me to order them. My client complained about the volume of the music, but our request to turn down the music fell on deaf ears (no pun intended). It was very loud - almost night club loud and this was a weeknight. My boss and my client ordered the same steak dish, but they came out two completely different sizes. My client called the manager over and he told him steaks tend to be 13 - 14 ounces. One was on the high end of 14 while one was on the low end of 13. I thought that sounded like a lame excuse, but we decided not to fight it. My duck breast was good but pricey. It was a large portion and I was full from the app so I left more than half on my plate so I could take leftovers home. I turned to talk to my client and when I turned back my plate was gone! No one even asked me if I was done! I stood up to stop whoever took my food, but they were nowhere in sight. I told the waitress - she came back from the kitchen and told me the bus boy had thrown it away and she told him not to do that again. No offer to replace or comp my food was made at that point. As I was leaving the waitress stopped me because they were making a new order of duck for me, which was the only redeeming thing she did all night. Talk about an embarrassing experience! We took our client out to a much nicer lunch the next day to make up for it... I would give the place a 3 on food but a 1 on service. I haven't been back since and I will continue to steer coworkers and clients away from Towne.
(2)Courteney M.
Ever since I heard that Jasper White and Lydia Shire were collaborating on a new restaurant, I was dying to try it. It was not a disappointing experience. Towne is located adjacent to the Hynes Convention Center on the Prudential side of Boylston - upon entering, the bar is right in front of you, and you go down the hallway on the left to get to the restaurant. The menu had a variety of mouthwatering options - I had the prime rib (no sauce from the "sauce cart", and we ordered the miso-ginger green beans (AMAZING), portobello mushrooms, and sweet potato mash for sides for the table. The wine list is reasonable with solid options on both red and white, and the white sangria is the best white sangria I've had in Boston. It was reasonably priced - the bill before tip for the three of us (each ordering a steak, 2 drinks, dessert and splitting the sides) was $250. And the "spun sugar" dessert is to die for. The downsides? The service was on the slower side (but in their defense, the place was packed) and it was LOUD (we were seated on the first floor next to the second bar area - I imagine that the dining room on the second floor is quieter). I loved the decorations, and there were several menu items I wanted to try - I'll definitely be going back.
(4)Kristen P.
I ventured to Towne one very rainy Friday with a group of girls for some cocktails and late night snacks, and I must say I was quite impressed. We managed to snag a cozy bar table within minutes of arriving which was definitely a plus. The atmosphere was a bit lack luster when we arrived (circa 10pm), but it picked up within the following hour with quite the lively bunch. We ordered a few rounds of cocktails which were AMAZING (albeit pricey); I highly recommend the Gypsy cocktail. We also indulged in a few bar snacks including the margarita pizza, cajun spiced fries, and grilled cheese. THE GRILLED CHEESE WAS TO DIE FOR! The bread was perfectly fluffy, the cheese was spot on, and there was a hint of sweetness from fig preserves. Hands down the best grilled cheese I have EVER tasted! And to top it off, it came with a side of potato chips baked in truffle oil... Amazing. Our waitress was a doll and got us a basket of just the chips even though it wasn't a menu item.
(4)Leslie T.
Not great. I stopped in here for a quick bite to eat at the bar on a Saturday afternoon. Instead of a friendly greeting from the bartender, I got, "Gimme a minute, okay?" Hmm. Okay. As was the rest of my stay there. Just "okay." I ordered a lobster Cobb salad without the blue cheese. It took forever to arrive, and when it finally did it was covered with blue cheese and I had to send it back. Took forever to get the replacement. Once the salad did arrive, it was decent and nicely arranged on the plate, although the lobster was a little raw. I was not about to send it back, though, as I was afraid if I did I'd never get out of there. So, in all, I give it a hearty "meh."
(2)Cece K.
Great food, but surprisingly pricey. From the outside, Towne looks like a hip, modern hang out..that also serves food. It actually turns out to be a high quality restaurant with delicious food and drinks. Huge venue and great locations... great spot for a special occasion or group event. Not the most "Boston-like" atmosphere... so if you are visiting from out of town, and only had one place to go, I would try something that served more authentic NE cuisine. The food: Bread basket in the beginning was great, and was served with several interesting spreads. I tried the chix thighs, swordfish pup steak, and skirt steak wagyu... all were amazing... but I was particularly impressed with the chix thighs, which had an amazing rotisserie flavor. For dessert, I some sort of caramel and angel food cake creation that was mouthwatering... it was topped with homemade caramel cotton candy. Drinks: one word = amazing! I had the gypsy dancer which was very well made (heavy on the vodka) and the combination of mix-ins made it very refreshing. Towne has a huge bar in the front... that may be a great place to hang out even if you are not planning on having dinner.
(4)Kristen C.
Stopped in for drinks at this hot new trendy place. The space itself is nice, not too big, with funky lit up bar counters and separate bar tables and stools for people to congregate at besides just the bar itself. Though, the acoustics made it very, very noisy so it is not a place to talk over drinks. Interesting cocktail menu was ambitious, but maybe a bit too much as nothing really stood out and attracted me right away, which is rare. I tried one of their tequila cocktails that was unfortunately light on the tequila, and filled primarily with a lot of ice. For $10 to $12 a drink, I do expect a real cocktail. I would definitely go back and check it out again and see if drinks are better on a different night. It does show promise.
(3)Sarah R.
I went there on a Thursday night. I loved the location and atmosphere, drinks were great and the food was good, but nothing mind blowing. I highly recommend the sangria it was mixed to perfection. It was extremely delicious and potent. We only order appetizers and a side so I cannot fully judge the food. The pizza was alright. Steak tartar came with nothing to accompany it and did not have much flavor. The side of gnocchi was cooked well but I did not care for it in bolognese sauce. I would try it again but I will not rush back there.
(3)Thanh L.
It was just a little to crowd for my taste. We were hanging out on friday here. The drinks were pricey and the noise was overbearing. You couldn't hear the people next to you. Its was a pretty place to look at, but I think we came in at the wrong time.
(3)D H.
I'm just getting around to reviewing this place. I ate her a year or so ago. I confess I do not remember precisely what I had, but I recall being very impressed and telling myself to review it on yelp.
(4)Amelia D.
I had gone to Towne in the past and absolutely loved it. However this time around I went with my boyfriend and another couple, and it was a slightly different story. We sat outside on the patio and felt right away that the waiter was rather detached and unfriendly. The service was slow, so we were off to a bad start. No bread was served or anything to start us off, and we were hungry. We got some lemony raviolis with artichoke for an app, and I thought it was quite good, but that is where the enjoyment ends. Our friends got caesar salads and a bus boy came over with a plate and asked us if it was ours. We said what is it? He said it was a fried egg or something like that. We all said no, we didn't order that. Five minutes later he comes back and says "it goes with your caesar salad." Uhh...okay. Were we supposed to know that?? Weird. Our friends were half done with their salads. Would have been nice if they had just served the dish appropriately. Here's the thing that bothered me the most: the water glasses had warm water in them with no ice, and the glasses smelled funny (like a dirty dishwasher or like they had been washed with cold water and no soap). That totally grossed me out. This should never happen at an "upscale" restaurant! No excuse! Luckily I had a cocktail, so I sipped that and tried to ignore the yucky water glasses. For dinner I got the wagyu steak with polenta which I thought was pretty good, but nothing amazing. My boyfriend got the NY Sirloin and wasn't impressed. He thought it was bland and not very tender. Our friends both got fish of some sort, and they said it was just alright. I don't know if the poor service just sorta put a cloud over the rest of the experience or what, but as we were leaving we all decided that it was over-priced and unimpressive, and we would probably not go back again. It's too bad, cause the first time I dined at Towne (inside, upstairs) I had really loved it, and thought the food and service was fabulous. So for this reason, I'm giving Towne an overall rating of 3 stars instead of just 2.
(3)Amanda W.
Came in for brunch and was more than pleased with the result. Our waitress was kind and attentive and explained the menu thoroughly, despite her thick accent. The spread was hearty and perfect for a weekend's first meal, though a tad over-priced. The kitchen sink sandwich and extreme fries certainly hit the spot! I think Towne was going for a more upscale kind of atmosphere, but people in Boston just don't seem to dress appropriately anyway... Overall, 3 stars for the food and service and an extra star for having the guts to try out a more modern feeling restaurant on Boylston! PS: LOVE the beakers and S&P shakers.
(4)Marcus C.
Overpriced - The food isn't very special, considering how much the restaurant charges. Discordant - The IKEA-inspired menu design suggests a playfulness that isn't present in the dining experience. Expansive - Like an over-dressed Cheesecake Factory. Some might like this scale though. Star-studded - Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen were at the next table. My food was just average. I had the potato-wrapped cod, which was sort of bland and less interesting than I hoped. One dining companion had the sausage/pepperoni pizza and he disliked it. The other dining companion had the lobster roll, which she enjoyed - it being lobster and all. In my opinion, the best dish was my avocado/pork-belly salad. You can't go wrong with pork belly!
(2)Robyn R.
I'm only reviewing this place on apps and drinks. The place has a great idea...I just don't feel it has been executed well enough. It would be a fabulous cocktail/late night snack place, however, the layout is not great. The lounge is small and seperated from the bar...and is waitress service only. So if you want a drink, you order from waitress or go "behind the curtains" to the back bar. The bar snack/lounge menu is below par - we ordered 2 or 3 items out of pure hunger. I would think a place like this could be more creative, and offer more for the location. The bar in the back is secluded and is more like a restaurant bar, but it's the only bar open. Drinks are good, but they have a lot to improve on in my opinion. I think the space is what is failing them...however, I haven't had dinner there and will def try it at some point.
(3)Brian O.
Good but way too expensive
(3)Chris D.
This is a review of brunch at Towne. Brunch was a bust at Towne. I went with two friends. One had eggs benedict which he thought was ok. My other friend had lemon pancakes which he found disappointing. I believe it was just plate of a few pancakes and a couple of strawberries and some silly cotton candy? Cotton candy, really?!? What adult wants to play with spun sugar cotton candy. It simply melts all over your hands. My entree was chicken and waffles. Or should I say, chicken wings and waffles! I expected at least a cutlet or a breast and a thigh, but wings? Yuck. They were huge, but what a mess. I was not prepared for the greasy mess of trying to eat wings. You can't use utensils so you have to eat with your hands. Not smart folks - greasy fingers which you then have to use on your utensils to eat the waffles. Come on, this is supposed to be a "high-end" restaurant by one of Boston's top chefs. Fried chicken wings, really?!? At least the menu should have said the chicken and waffles was really chicken WINGS and waffles. I felt ripped off. The wings weren't even very good. If I had known it was wings I would not have ordered it. Honestly, the best part of my meal was the coffee and the teeny, tiny, itsy, bitsy donut that they come around and offer you as a amuse-bouche. It was simply perfect, light and airy and not greasy.....but a little too cutsy for me. The service was ok, except the really long wait for our waiter to pick up the check. When my meal is finished I really dislike it when service falls off a cliff and I have to wait a long time for the wait staff to come back to pick up the check after I have put my card in the check folder. I won't be going back.
(1)Gail F.
I've been driving by Towne every day on my way in to work vowing to try it ASAP. I finally gave it a shot the week after it opened with one of my girlfriends...and I was not impressed. The decor was great, very warm and welcoming. There's two different bar areas, upstairs and the front bar when you walk in. I was seated downstairs in the dining room so I didn't venture upstairs but it looked nice and open. The dining room was relatively busy for 630pm on a Thursday night and we were seated immediately. We ordered some apps and sides to share and everything was absolutely delicious. However the service was terrible. And when I say terrible, I mean TERRIBLE. Our waitress was no where to be found the entire night and when we finally got our check (30 minutes after our meal was finished) she wasn't even apologetic for the wait. I will give Towne another shot, because the food truly was delicious, but I hope they get their act together with service before my next visit.
(2)Shelly D.
1st time to Towne. Wont be my last. Interesting decor. The process of getting seating was a bit confusing, but the host staff were very professional. The upstair restaurant area is beautiful. OPen display kitchen that boasts some serious equiptment (and oversized props- who doesnt love those). The server was Ok. Polite and efficient. Food: Lobster Popovers....now if I am to be exicuted and asked for my last meal choices- this would be one of them on a short list. I can't describe how incredible they are... Lobster Pizza....Was a B+. The Duck...Very good. Moist. Perfect portion. Wasnt sure what was going on on the plate, but everything seemed to work. I would order again and recommend. Dessert...Blah...Wasnt a fan. Wish I got more Everyone else had different things. Everyone was very pleased with their choices.
(4)Ian C.
Towne had a really fun atmosphere. I was there with a group of 16, and they were very accommodating. Despite the large group size (and other large groups around us) it wasn't too noisy. The appetizers were pretty good. I got the iceberg salad and tried a lobster popover. The cheese on the salad was interesting, but a little heavy. The bacon was excellent, though! I ordered the skirt steak for my entree. I ordered it medium, but it came out medium rare. The potatoes were cold (not just room temperature, actually cold). I told the waiter, and he didn't hesitate to take it back to the kitchen and fix it. The put the steak on the grill, and it was excellent. They returned the same half eaten potato, which was okay, but I would have preferred a not reheated one. I also tried the chicken, and it was delicious! For dessert, I had a cappuccino (I asked for a double, but apparently they can only do singles?). The white chocolate lime cheesecake was amazing, and I'm very glad I got it. The waiters were extremely nice, and I'd like to go back to try brunch.
(3)Susan P.
Loved loved loved! Loved the grapefruit cocktail, loved the lobster popovers and loved my dinner. ambience was GREAT! Sit outside if the weather is nice!
(5)Eve S.
I really like this place! I went late on a Saturday night, the bartenders make some great drinks/shots. The waitresses are less than appealing, they weren't as pleasant as the bartenders and seemed as if they didn't want to be there, but the place is great. Tough to find seating on a Saturday night, but it's a pretty big place so something eventually opens up.
(4)Veronica A.
All in all fantastic! Dinner is great great - brunch is grater - for Boston it's one of those spots for breakfast, dinner AND drinks! SO that's good right? Ask for the upstairs room and get a seat near the window... it's essentially a nice city feel. I dig it.
(4)Jen L.
OK, I did not want to like this place as soon as I walked in. I got a fancy-schmancy, trying-too-hard vibe. But I was there to meet a large group so I sucked it up. Thankfully, we were seated around the back, which avoided the bar feeling you get at the door. The server was fun and attentive (which is always a surprise when you have a table over 4). The RW menu (salad, salmon, chocolate) was delish, and the cocktail (mr. brownstone) was swell. A surprise hit.
(4)Katie W.
Came here for a Birthday Brunch and was pleasantly surprised. I am a die hard Sel de la Terre brunch fan, but since downsizing their breakfast options (removing their amazing twist on eggs Benedict from the menu), I have been in search for a new special occasion brunch spot, and I think I may have found it. We had no problem getting a table on a Sunday around lunch time, and first ordered drinks, Mimosa was delicious (heavy on the champagne which is always nice) and the bloody mary was mediocre--I prefer them to be spicy and thick, this one was a little thin and lacked that spicy kick. They bring complimentary corn bread and these little donuts hot and just glazed that are amazing! Think Krispy Kreme donut holes. I ordered the Eggs Benedict (although I was very intrigued by the authentic Chicken and Waffles) which was amazing, flavorful and had a great creamy hollandaise which was in abundance. I had plenty to dip my side of hash browns in. I also LOVE that they serve it with bacon rather than Canadian Bacon, only qualm was the bacon could have been a little crispier. Also got the Cheesy Grits which were a nice treat. My boyfriend ordered the Lobster and Chive omelet which was delicious as well, seemed to have a reasonable amount of lobster chunks for the price. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by how good the meal was. Not a place I would frequent every weekend because of the price, but if your looking for a splurge or a special occasion treat, this is your place!
(4)Elina H.
This place is extremely expensive for what it is and the execution of the dishes isn't even good. I got the lobster roll, which mysteriously seems to come on and off the menu, and while the lobster part was good the bun was soggy in seconds. It was a disaster! [My husband's fried clams were just average, and at $21 we both expected more.] Will definitely not be back! I'm not sure if links are allowed, but I wrote a longer review here: healthyandsane.com/2011/…
(2)Joanna L.
Have been here for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as just for drinks. Breakfast and lunch are the best meals here, despite dinner having the best ambience time at Towne. Entrees are plentiful and well-done, but not terribly original. Sandwiches are good at lunch time, but the salads are on the small side. Dinner menu is always a little tricky - I'm never completely in love with the choices provided, and my thoughts are that it's, on average, $4-5 overpriced. Sitting at Towne for a meal is a great place to see, and be seen, and is great for late-night dinners - but it's much more style than quality eats.
(3)Michael D.
I never felt totally comfortable with Towne Stove and Spirits. Until now. The recent menu changes now offer simplicity and at the same time maintain elegance. You can't fully appreciate a 14oz bone-in filet mignon until you try it. Gone are the over-complicated dishes and replaced instead with ingredients that are allowed to speak for themselves. The sides like the baked sweet potato with brown sugar and butter, the crispy hash browns, and the grilled sweet corn are must tries. On my two most recent visits, I also noticed an attitude change. Same attentive service but it seems like more smiles abound. Not sure what the story is there but the difference is palpable. If this is a Towne reinvention count me in as a huge supporter.
(5)Leo L.
Just a horrible experience... Went there for a quick bite of food and had a seat at the bar, I ordered the Lobster and side of rice, after a long wait the dish finally arrived and the rice was so raw that it could brake a tooth, after sending it back I could tell that the bartender wasn't very happy about it and walked to kitchen, after 8 minutes or so he comes back to finally ask if I wanted anything else instead, I told him I would try any other type rice instead, over 15 minutes later (my lobster was cold by the time I got the other side of rice) the rice finally arrived and the chef came to serve it to me with a super rude attitude, and guess what?! It was not ready to be served again! I had two bites of it paid for the bill and left... and still left 5% tip which was really nice of me! Do not go here if you're expecting good food!
(1)Kathleen M.
Made last minute reservations for my birthday on Friday afternoon. They were able to get my large group in at 9PM, perfect!! I had been here before for drinks, never explored upstairs, what a beautiful dining room. Perfect for groups!! Our waiter was wonderful, paid the perfect amount of attention (at least 4 of us at the table have been in the food&beverage industry at some point, so really appreciate the attentive, but not overly attentive service.) Loved the drink menu, had a few birthday Mai Tais, delicious! Menu had a great selection, the chef even volunteered to prepare a special plate for one of my vegetarian friends. There were vegetarian options on the menu so he definitely didn't have to. 2 thumbs up!! I started with some oysters on the half shell and had the swordfish for my entree, which was cooked to perfection. Sampled a bite of the coconut jasmine rice, which was so tasty!! Ended my meal with a slice of birthday melt in your mouth chocolate cake with marshmallow ice cream (can it be my birthday every night?!) My entire party enjoyed the drinks, food & ambiance agreeing they would all come back & giving me kudos for picking a great spot! We ended up staying downstairs to have some more cocktails. Again, great service. I'm glad I went off the Boston's best reviews, I'm not sure how the reviews on yelp aren't that great. Will be back for sure! Thanks Towne, and staff for making my birthday a great night! And for squeezing us in last minute!!
(5)Anto A.
Went out for a drink on Sunday night here with coworkers. We were all staying around the corner at the Sheraton, so it was very conveniently located. The atmosphere was decent and the drinks of average price. It was fairly slow, obviously it was Sunday night, just a birthday party and a few other guests from the Sheraton.
(3)Alison H.
I went to Towne last Saturday night with some friends for drinks. We arrived at 10 and the bar areas were all packed both upstairs and downstairs. We grabbed a drink upstairs but quickly realized we were constantly standing in the wrong place. My friend went downstairs to check for more room downstairs and the hostess offered to set our growing group now up to 8+ friends with a big table. They let us sit at a big table for just drinks and as our group grew, they were very accommodating and even added on another table and chairs for us. I know I'm giving them a five for just drinks but the level of service for just drinks was amazing.
(5)Mick T.
Summary: get the decadent cauliflower, get the Bolognese. Staff are friendly, efficient and courteous, grub is good, it's not cheap. Been here 3 times and this review is going to be long: - Drinks after an Xmas party at the back bar - Dinner at the front bar - Fantastic, fun, enjoyable, Yelp event upstairs. All three times I enjoyed it and each experience was different. -- The staff were courteous and professional when a load of us showed up after our work's Xmas party and arrived at the back bar. The barman was prompt attentive and professional, the waitress was pleasant and patient but on her 1st night and had to check on a lot of things. The weirdest thing was the huge blond lad in a fur coat who got thick & tried to pick a fight with a member of our party after the ladies told him to please feck off. This isn't Towne's fault and no violence occurred besides some finger wagging. There were 3 of these lads in their ankle-length fur coats which I though was bizarre, and is indicative of the type of people that may frequent this place in the nether-hours. -- Next up was a stop at the bar at 5.30pm on a Saturday. After a fierce-some workout at the Gym, and not enough to eat, and a bit of frantic shopping (me staring at racks of hugely marked down clothes in L&T and giving up), me and the missus went to the front bar as I had a hankering for a good f**king burger. F**k, they didn't have on one the menu. The very pleasant barman said they have a mini-burger that is rather big for a mini-burger (not huge like) it comes with potato chips. But add on their glorious weird extreme fired spud things, and it's a hit (for $6 more). Well he was right, it wasn't a huge burger, but it was glorious and had a good beefy taste, with a good bun and perfectly cooked being a nice medium-well but still moist (yes I like my beef cooked!). Size wise it was about the same diameter as a Bartley's burger and not as tall, flavour was good. The spud-tater fired things reminded me of the frozen-fired spuds the brother get's from Lidel (in Ireland) in the frozen food section only better, being crispy golden on the outside and like a lovely buttery rich mash on the inside. The missus had the Pappardelle de Cecco Bolognese, on the recommendation of the barman, and that was really really good, almost as good as her bolognese with that deep flavour as if it's been cooking all day, for the price, $17 I think this is best inexpensive entrée on the menu and worth trying as it is that good (or I was just that hungry). The other think I added to my order was the the side of cauliflower; she thought I was crazy paying $11 for cauliflower. This is the most decadent cauliflower I've ever had; beautifully roasted, sliced in thirds and covered in pine nuts, raisins, & olive oil. Did I really use decadent and cauliflower in the same sentence? I really think Towne should offer the cauliflower with the Bolognese sauce, as that would be just the most incredible entree and one could pretend to oneself that it's healthy. One quibble, while the staff were friendly and good at their jobs I really don't want to listen to the barman chat up the waitress; just seems a little unprofessional for these prices. However, the lad who brought the food was fantastic and very pleasantly lead the missus to the loo (its hidden way down back), he was also working the Yelp event and was really, really on the ball (I should have gotten his name but he was great). -- The Yelp event was great, the food was fantastic, and the staff were great, and it was cool to get candyfloss and peer into the kitchen, and the views out the windows onto Boylston Street. And I would heartily recommend Towne for a Xmas party, function or some such event. OK, I'm tired after this novella and am going to head over there for some cauliflower, just gotta find me blonde wing and fur coat (seriously who wears fur?).
(4)Lala L.
Besides it's location and it's dessert, I wouldn't really go back to this restaurant. Yes, it's new and opened by a couple of celebrity chefs in Boston. The wait is horrible if you don't have reservations.....line is out the door. Would you want to be roped off like you're waiting to get into a club just for mediocre food? The best thing I was oooh-ing over was their Brown Sugar Angel Food Cake with Maple Cotton Candy and Caramel Ice Cream. Yes! It does exist and it's as wonderful as it sounds! I'd definitely go back for this after a day out shopping and need a pick me up and coffee break. The food wasn't fantastic. The tartar duo was alright, - ok, forgettable. The fois gras appetizer was over cooked. I'm sure I can get the raw oysters elsewhere in the area. My entree was the tuna steak. I've had many in the past. In fact, I love my sushi. This tuna wasn't exactly "sashimi grade". Actually, it was a bit overcooked. I can get one better done at Legal Seafoods practically a skip and a hop away. One of my friends got the braised short ribs. It looks yummy, but like all the other dishes, including my tuna...they encrusted it in ALOT of salt to give it more flavor. Also, can I just mention that all the mashed potatoes in the dishes it came in was over-whipped? Yes, it was gummy potatoes. (this happens when you over-whip potatoes and it gets VERY starchy and glutinous.)
(3)Susan P.
Attended a function on a Friday evening and the food and service was spectacular! Lydia Shire came out to greet us - which was a very nice surprise. Will visit Towne again soon.
(5)Kimberly P.
I returned to Towne for dinner and had a great experience. Our server was charming, timely and knowledgeable about the menu... he made great recommendations!
(4)Marcus A.
A couple of friends brought me here for my birthday. The Zagat guide essentially describes this place as trendy, loud, good food and spotty service. Based on my experience, that summation is right on the mark. The restaurant itself is definitely trendy and eclectic but still comfortable. There's dining on two levels and also an outdoor seating area. If your looking for a quiet dining experience, look elsewhere. The noise level is quite high and can sometimes be intrusive to conversation. Oddly enough, it would have been quieter if we had opted for the outdoor seating. Our server was prompt and efficient but everyone agreed he had a bit to much "attitude" despite the fact the his shirt was a half a size to small and his buttons were straining to contain his waist. Appetizers consisted of salads for my two friends and the lobster popovers for myself. My dinner companions said the salads were fine but really, how can you mess up a salad. As for the popovers...AMAZING! I allowed each of my friends a bite and then refused to share anymore. Highly recommended. Entrees included the two orders of the halibut and an order of the cod entrée. The entrees were good but lacked any WOW factor. Good but not exceptional. If you like a starch and/or vegetable with your protein, you'll need to order them separately from the "Sides" section of the menu. The entrees (at least the ones we ordered) came with just the main protein. Overall, not a bad night out but if I ever return, it will be solely to sample the lobster popovers again. Moderately recommended.
(3)John V.
Goood stuff!
(4)Jennifer B.
I went here the other night with my best friend for the 1 st time. I love the outdoor tent they have set up, it's like something you would see in a fairy tale, it's so cool, we didn't sit in it though. We sat at the bar we each had 2 of their signature cocktails, which I honestly felt were overpriced at $12.00 each. I guess I felt if it was worth it, I wouldn't mind paying for it, but they weren't really that good. We also ordered the crab dip. It was good, it needed just a few more chips with it. I didn't have enough for my dip. We also decided to share the peanut butter sundae that came with maple cotton candy. Yes maple cotton candy, all I have to say is wow, it was awesome.
(4)Katie H.
I attended a fabulous cooking class here and was very impressed with the entire experience. The restaurant is cozy and chic. The kitchen, with its glass walls that allows diners to see what's happening, was superb and very clean. The food was melt in your mouth enjoyable and the wine pairings were perfect. I'd go back any time for drinks in the lower level or dinner on the second floor. It's obviously on the pricier side of things but well worth the occasional splurge for a great meal.
(4)Sara C.
This review is based on the brunch only! It was unique and very good. They give you mini glazed donuts and biscotti at your table while you wait, which were really good. Everyone loved their meals. I got the pancakes and they came with maple syrup cotton candy on top! It was so cute and different. It happened to be my birthday so at the end of the meal instead of bringing a cake or other dessert, they brought a giant serving of the cotton candy with a candle and chocolate piece that said Happy Birthday on it. Needless to say it was eaten up quickly by all and was very addictive. We will definiately be coming back here for brunch.
(5)Jacqueline C.
I hadn't been to this restaurant in a year so was a little worried since it has gotten mixed reviews lately. However we went with another couple on Saturday night and loved it. The bar scene was no longer a scene...it was just where people were hanging out waiting for their tables. That's a little sad, but nice at the same time since it wasn't a big deal to actually sit at the bar and have a drink before dinner instead of getting jostled around. We arrived early with the intention of having a drink before dinner but our table ended up being ready an hour early so we sat down. This was a tad annoying since I had called that day and asked if it was possible to get an earlier reservation and was told that we couldn't. The room is funky and loud. We couldn't really hear the waiter, but it didn't matter. We ordered apps and dinner and wine. The lobster popovers, which I remember being totally amazing, were just 'meh' but the shrimp tempurah was delicious. For dinner I had the duck, which is one of their signature dishes, and it was AMAZING. perfectly cooked, cool looking on my plate and scrumptious. I ate every bite. My husband had the schnitzel minus the anchovies and it was delicious. We both loved our meals. We would absolutely go back to this place.
(4)Lee D.
Headed to Towne about a week after it opened its doors. It's always nice to go to a restaurant soon after it opens -- the waiters are helpful and positive, not jaded and disinterested, the decor is current and interesting, not outdated and overplayed. You get caught up in the excitement and newness of it all. Since I wasn't particularly hungry, I ordered the Beet Caprese and app-sized fettuccine alfredo. The beet dish was amazing. The fettuccine alfredo wasn't too impressive -- just pasta and butter -- but good. My friends ordered the duck and steak. I tried some of each and thought they were great. So, Towne was exciting, had great service and decent food, certainly had a great vibe going on, and was decorated in a very interesting way (check out the crystal gun on the third floor!). Downsides were the lack of a fully operational bar (no maraschino!!), the incredibly noisy first and second floors (great wooden floors, walls and ceilings, but nothing to absorb the overwhelming din of such a large facility), and the fact that despite a wonderfully varied menu there aren't too many healthy options.
(3)Gerald H.
Bar scene fun, and food decent. Service horrible. Party of 12 for my brother's 50th birthday. Took 45 minutes to place our order, despite trying to flag the waiter. Had to complain twice before service picked up. Sommelier recommended a brunello that they did not carry. Overall poor experience and would not go back.
(2)Jennifer B.
Towne has a fantastic brunch. The cocktails were tasty, as was the food. Good atmosphere and great and attentive waitstaff. The omelet I had was very tasty and I loved the tater tots (less like a tot and more like a homefry- but delicious nonetheless). It seems like a great spot for somewhat large parties and they were very accommodating. I look forward to going back soon.
(4)Maddie H.
Bathrooms did not have any handsoap. Food was overwhelmingly salty. Overpriced. Slow to refill water glasses. Took bread away without asking.
(2)Karen K.
Amazing! Came here for my birthday and was blown away by everything-service, food and atmosphere. We will be back soon for sure!
(5)Jillian T.
So surprised by all the bad reviews on here! My boyfriend and I have been living in Boston for almost a year and eat out quite a bit, and Towne is absolutely one of our favorites. First went for Valentine's Day, but have been back since. Solid service, nice atmosphere and DELICIOUS food!!! We've sampled several dishes and everything is absolutely amazing.. you can tell it's made w/ quality ingredients. Highly recommended!
(4)Julia W.
Second visit, feeling pretty open-minded about this place. It is large and comprised of different spaces with different feels to them. Last time we were upstairs in a more formal space with tablecloths. This time we were in a large room. Lots of hard surfaces, so, it was a bit loud although the room was not full. The service was very professional, nice. Food was very slow. This was fine for the appetizer but got tedious with the main course. I had the roasted kale/bay scallops appetizer, it was excellent. The short ribs on pappardelle special was also excellent; my sole florentine very good. The parmesan roasted broccoli and cauliflower also excellent. Apologies for the slowness of the kitchen were offered, and we were given a glass of a very nice pinot noir which was a nice surprise. To top that off, we were also comped a dessert. Totally not necessary, but very generous of them. We had a nice meal and will be back.
(4)Pickle P.
We were given a gift certificate and used it on a weeknight. Overall quite dissapointing. First of all, it's hard to find the restaurant as the doors lead you into the bar. Clientele was standard Back Bay goober, but with middle management jobs. Service was hot and cold, alternating between overattentive and completely absent. Food was standard (pork chop/duck confit) but overpriced. One good point - the Willamette Valley pinot I chose blindly from the list was great. Oh, and the bartender on the restaurant side looked like a stripper. Note to owners - while this might attract men to the bar, it doesn't class up the joint.
(2)Casey H.
We had made reservations for a large group on Sat night and they sat us at a table that was way too small. They were not willing to find us a larger table. Typically when you see a group our size, you know the bill will be over $1000, and its very interesting when a restaurant still provides poor service right from the start. The food was ok. It is a bit overpriced for what you get, but passable. I had the sea bass. I would recommend this place for drinks, but not for dinner, particularly because of the bad service.
(2)Eric S.
I tried to book an event with Towne and they were very unresponsive! I called multiple times and never got an answer back. Seems like they don't need the business! These guys are unprofessional ... don't waste your time. Go somewhere else! Lots of venues in Boston ...
(1)Arturo H.
I heard this place was the greatest thing since slice bread. It was good, but given the build up I was a little disappointed. Pretty pricey too. They cotton candy as a dessert option which someone in my group got. That was pretty impressive and not usual for a restaurant. Everyone, including myself seemed pretty satisfied with their dinner but no one was glowing. I would go back if it was cheaper, and glad I tried it once.
(3)Diana M.
Extremely pretentious! They pretend to be at capacity so a line forms. After we're told we're in line because they're full, they then let a group of 15 in because one of the guys knows someone at the door. After standing in the rain another 5 minutes, I ask what the wait is, the kid says "I can let you in now". Then the head door man takes a look at my rain boots, and yells " Yeah, not yet." Um, okay. We then leave. As we're walking away, three women in their 40s come up to the door they let them in. Don't waste your time there if you're under 40 and you're a down to earth person. They're trying too hard to make it be like a place that would be in NYC. I heard too the drinks there are $15. They want only people in there that look like they have $$, so they'll pay for the over-priced drinks. Thanks but no thanks.
(1)Steve K.
I was fortunate enough to go to Towne on the second night and I must say I was very impressed. I usually give a place a few weeks to work out the bugs, but the impeccable design and the diligent staff made for a great experience. The staff was attentive at all times, but never intrusive, and the fact that there were alot of staff made things move with a sense of purpose without feeling rushed. Christine was working the tables around the second bar on the main level and she was awesome! We even had a manager stop by to check in, which was a nice touch during the hectic opening. For food I recommend anything Lobster...cocktail, tail app with horseradish and pesto sauce. Awesome! I also had the skirt steak and portobello on the side. For dessert, I don't have a sweet tooth, so it was definitely the artisan cheese plate. My only complaint was that the skirt steak did not come split, since I was sharing - but they did bring two plates. Also, the cheese plate was not explained, and there were four options of cheeses, so more information would have been helpful. I am definitely a fan of this place, and will be going back because the bacon wrapped dates sound too awesome to pass up. This place also has range - anything from business dinner to late night out. Definitely check it out. There is something for everyone there.
(4)Alicia F.
Towne is the bomb! The service was exceptional and the food was so delicious, particularly the pizza (mushroom, and margherita equally delish) and "the truth" fettucini alfredo is off the charts! I don't eat meat but but my husband and friends went bizerk over the burger and the peking chicken. And bonus, the cocktails yummy too.
(5)Stephen M.
Been here a few times but this is my first review. Cool venue, decent menu, mediocre wine list and unamazing food. Would definitely go back to hit the bar for drinks, or maybe even for say a group dinner, but the food is nowhere near good enough to seek the place out for "just" dinner.
(3)Sean H.
Ambiance - Trendy yet warm. Very comfortable Food - Very, VERY Good Menu - A bit limited...I half expected more lobster dishes. The menu is international in scope, but could use more items. Sides are numerous and outstanding. Service - A+ Wine List - A+ Thank you. We will be back!
(4)L S.
The food and service were great - it was just too dark to enjoy the experience. Turn up the lights a bit please.
(2)Richard C.
Beware the gourmet burger they say, expensive burgers can't be trusted. If people start talking about a burger, there's probably a reason for it, although in the case of Towne, most of the chatter seems to have vanished after a hot start. Priced at $16, I've somehow avoided this burger for months, but like most things, this was worth the wait. To make the upper tier, you must nail execution, flavor, and offer something that other burgers can't. Ironically labeled the "Deluxe All-American Bacon Burger," it's all about the meat, but for the gourmet crowd it should go without saying. How premium the entire package is and how much value is attributed to a hefty price tag is the question. A unique blend of Short Rib and Skirt Steak is used, which is about as fatty as you can get, probably why I liked it so much. The beef has a superior crust and very generous seasoning, funky enough to be different but not too far from the norm to sway any burger enthusiast. It's requested on the menu that you order it rare, which I do, and for the most part it's cooked properly. Certainly far from rare as the patty reaches the outer edges, the middle of the burger is perfectly rare without going into raw territory. Perfectly hand-formed and thus loosely packed, the meat sings with robust flavor in each bite. A curious sweet chili sauce tops the burger, not much more than a glorified ketchup that seems out of place, distracting from the meaty patty, the sweetness is a mere distraction. Melted cheddar and bacon round out the burger, the cheddar almost an afterthought, and the crispy bacon offering texture but little flavor. The bun is sort of a Brioche/Kaiser Roll hybrid and it works; slightly sweet and almost too large, it supports the massive patty and all its juiciness. Very ordinary fries are almost a bore, especially after the delicious burger, they are very hollow and taste nothing like potato, albeit seasoned very nicely. Towne boasts a burger that is to be reckoned with, it's all about the beef and rightfully so. The meat is exciting, different and wonderful, and as a complete package, it at least deserves any mention to hang with Boston's best. It's the same predicament as past burgers; expensive, and hard to justify too many return visits. Less delicious than the burger across the street at Back Bay Social Club, but $6 cheaper. Not as news-worthy as Radius, but definitely beefier. It's absolutely in the running, and worthy of a closer look by burger enthusiasts everywhere.
(4)Ken C.
Loved the lobster pizza and the duck entree. Service was nice but oddly nervous. Tuna was not overcooked, which is key. Great location and impressive decor. Ate upstairs, but could have easily enjoyed a few G&T's downstairs.
(4)Karen C.
At $250/couple, I guess I expect great food. Didn't happen - surf-turf special was 1/2 an overcooked lobster tail and medium filet was well done. Apps were good but not remarkable. Atmosphere was great as was service. Done with Lydia Shire joints, on to Barbara Lynch and others.
(2)Billy Su B.
i've now had numerous 5 star nights out on the towne ;) 1. are you a rowdy hussy in search of a suit to bed, or vice versa? try the first bar on the first floor. dark, noisy, casual, and packed with young horny singles trying to act polished and stylish, but really just looking for a wallet full of money and a romp in the sack. they aren't fooling anyone. we see those hungry bedroom eyes. ...actually, i don't know if they're there for the sex or the ravioli. having had both, it's sort of a toss up to be honest. (the ravioli is SO good!) 2. bar #2, on the first floor, is lighter, more civilized and older. the attached diningroom is spacious and lively- perfect for a party or large, festive get-together. 3. bar #3, upstairs, is the more private, quiet area. try this for a conversational, low key night or more intimate date or dinner party. (find me here) FOOD* 1. CHICKEN THIGHS- buddha on a bicycle, this dish was rich, savory, culinary perfection, from the juicy thighs to the flavor-saturated garlic bread they came on 2. DUCK CRISP- *sound of rejoicing 3. PORTABELLO MUSHROOMS- compare to devient sex act of thine own naughty choice 4. VALENCIA RICE- so clever. so dream inducing. 5. SOFT SHELL CRAB- light weight, flavorful and the reason i'm generally obsessed with soft shell crab! 6. TARTARE- praise be to raw food! ************** 7. since seven is heaven, i'll end here: THE ANGEL FOOD CAKE WITH MAPLE ICE CREAM AND COTTON CANDY ::chorus of angels singing:: **!!**hands down, the cleverest and most delicious dessert in this sweet city. +final instructions: do not bring stretchy pants, tattered shoes or baseball caps and be sure to fully load your wallet with monies prior to arrival end of rave.
(5)ells w.
...wtf.........East Coast Oysters 2.50 each in Boston? Just another over thought, under performing 'corporate' restaurant aimed straight at unsuspecting conventioneers, and unsuspecting foodies who think they're going to see Lydia and Jasper dancing their magic to the sounds of pots and pans....beware of the star power. They are as vacuous as the space.
(1)Howe L.
A great place to drop by after work for a drink and chat. The scene is up there, and I noticed subtle hints of condescension. Still, the atmosphere is inviting, and we tried the lobster sandwiches with fried whole clams. Pretty good!
(4)Claire W.
Friend took my here for a birthday lunch. The service was excellent. My friend had a medical procedure the day before and could only have soup. She has severe food allergies to poultry or seafood, and asked if the kitchen had any beef broth. They had veal broth, and were very accommodating in this request and a few others we had. I had the crab cakes, and we each had a glass of champagne, picked by my friend. Very nice meal (although I didn't realize until I arrived at lunch that my friend should have stayed home).
(4)Thuy L.
What a stark contrast from the Soft Opening. I was excited and interested to see how it would all pan out once it was opened. I have been here twice for drinks and my experiences were so opposite that I had to give it another try. The first time was at 5:00 on a Wednesday--not very crowded and not loud at all. We went straight upstairs to the bar. The second time was a Friday evening around 9:00pm and luckily I got there in time to snag a couple of tables in the back. The volume was ridiculous--I couldn't even hear the person next to me. Finally, I thought I'd put those two experiences behind and try dinner here. I was completely shocked. For a 7:15 Thursday reservation, there was a man with a rope to the left taking names (as if we were in some high profile club) and not in a restaurant attached to a Convention Center. The guy had a clipboard and suggested that I wait at the overly crowded bar until my friend arrived. They couldn't even just sit me? I couldn't have even ordered a drink if I wanted to. I was surprised how loud the restaurant was as it was still fairly early in the evening. The sound carried over into the dining rooms as well. My voice was hoarse the next day from screaming to my friend who sat just 2 feet away from me. Drinks were okay. Oysters were adequate, they only served Wellfleet Oysters. Service was decent but our server could not for the life of him remember the special. He kept looking around and then finally looked down at his notes to remember the fish of the day. After describing the fish, he never once quoted me a price. I was definitely shocked when the bill came out and it was a $38 meal. For that price, I would have expected some Swarovski crystals embedded into it. Additionally, he said that the fish was de-boned, however I found like 10 bones in my fish. It was pretty irritating to start chewing and then you gag yourself with a bone that wasn't supposed to be there. My girlfriend ordered the linguine and clams off of the appetizer menu. We asked the server if it would be enough for one person as their meal, and he said No. We took a chance and it was plenty. There was enough to bring home in a doggy bag. Not sure if they are taught to try to get the customer to order as much as possible, but I though the food was decent, nothing spectacular and way overpriced. I shall not be returning here for dinner anytime soon nor will I be coming back for drinks. Go somewhere else.
(2)Deb L.
been here for brunch a few times and the food is very good (pancakes, french toast) they provide a basket of pound cake and mini glazed maple donuts when you sit down. OMG these donuts are out of this world (they deserve 5 stars). Once in awhile, I'll go in and get a few dozen to go (which they sell for 50 cents each) and take them to friends (and it's a real hit).
(4)Mark W.
Great place for drinks but big disappointment on the quality of the food. The lamb was all fat the salmon was over cooked the tuna was ok and the chicken dish was dry. Oysters were good but how could that go wrong. Stick with drinks at the bar... Oh, get to the place early. The line outside was ridiculous.
(2)Cheryl G.
Service was fast and friendly. Atmosphere and decor very nice, but strange Saturday menu, only brunch, no lunch. So don't bother if you are looking for lunch on a Saturday. Definitely would like to try Towne again for dinner. Didn't seem to be much in terms of vegan options, but vegetarian flatbread pizza was salty and oily, in a good way.
(3)Soumendra B.
The snozzberries taste like snozzberries... you will constantly ask yourself 'is this for real' at towne... and no, not always in a good way. Imagine a place with red checkered napkins, beakers as water glasses, and a menu that includes Indian, Chinese, Italian, and English food with strange accompaniments. Think burned tuna steak with sweet root vegetables...unbelievably large portions of chicken...Indian appetizers. You can call it "fusion" but that doesn't quite mean it fused. The flavors were not complimentary, and sometimes it wasn't even clear what they were supposed to be. The blueberry dessert was unquestionably the highlight of the meal, though the sauce was a little too sweet... imagine willy wonka announced your dessert... with a flourish! "you are eating dessert! This is sweet!" Speaking of Willy Wonka...our server kept coming over and whispering in our ears "how is your food?"..."I just LOVE what your ordered"..."where I come from this is a fancyyyyy dessert" and then announcing each course with a flourish of his arm "Here is the PHARATAAAAAAA". Ok, thanks, please leave us be now. We basically decided that we would not come here again, but that it's great for people going to conferences at the convention center because they will most definitely remember the experience.
(2)Tatsu I.
White Tablecloth Service for a Party of 380 x 4, I'll Take All Seating Times Please! I have no scruples when it comes to sniping FTR, it's immature, self-indulgent and you love me for it. But I'll give you a g-ddam honest review and you will learn something. Leighann graciously extended an invite to attend Towne Stove & Spirit's soft opening, a fundraiser for Mass Eye And Ear Infirmary. I do not know how this new venue escaped me, let's just say the rate of openings in Q2 to Q3 2010 is pretty astonishing as of right now. Lydia Shire of Locke-Ober and Scampo fame has paired with a surprising choice in Jasper White, the man behind Summer Shack and many books on New England style fare. The backing power comes from the Lyons Brothers and they definitely brought it. Big time. The real estate is mind-bogglingly prime, basically a T-bone sized chunk of the Northeast corner of the Hynes Convention Center. I would of named it "The N.E. Corner of Hynes C.C.". It occupies both levels, and the view from the more enclosed banquet style room has a stunning view of Boylston due to windows arrangement above and all sides of the room, nearly 180 and above your head. It also peers into the Hynes main hallway adjacent, an extended view of easily 150 meters across the entire length of the Hynes. The main room is also gorgeous, with a modern open kitchen, yet charming whimsical touches throughout that is very Lydia. The downstairs has yet another room, looking into the expansive not-so-gorgeous cement courtyard of the Prudential Mall. The bar as you enter rivals anything on Boylston, and in fact, being the corner part of the Hynes affords the luxury of massive and tall plate glass windows in every room. Quite frankly it is second to none in terms of curbside and inside appeal compared to anything inside the Mandarin, and that is quite the architectural boast. The menu and food is decidedly safely chosen, an amalgam of Jasper's and Lydia's greatest hits, with some crowd pleasers thrown in. The menu is actually a bit longer than expected for such a nice looking venue, no doubt an effort to quickly appeal to the many conventioneers who will be peering into the banquet room and saying "What is THAT?". Lobster Popovers, from Scampo are being ported over, along with some of Jasper's previous dishes. Also seen were flatbreads, skirt steaks, even a burger. Frites are typically served with the meat dishes. The fish on the other hand, various rice sides or veggies can be ordered, separately. Aside from various duck and lamb entrees, that is pretty much it, very simple and not confusing, again I suspect a nod to traffic they anticipate from within the Hynes. From my judgement (Very little fish was served on this soft-opening, (In fact none of the kitchen equipment was hooked up, all the cooking was done patio-side in a temporary tent.) but Jasper did come out with skin-on pan-seared Salmon dressed in cucumber and accoutrements. Undoubtably wild from the taste of the oil coming off the salmon. I was frankly distraught to see Bluefin Tuna on the menu, unless it is of the farmed Kindai variety, I will encourage it's removal from the menu. The stellar menu item is Lydia's Colorado Lamb Ribs. When I used to eat meat, I sourced my lamb from New Hampshire, from Halal butchers and it was night and day from New Zealand. No gameyness, or strings, just smooth as silk meat. Lydia goes further, to Colorado using more fully grown sheep. The result is an enormous eye in the rib, larger than a diver scallop unbelievably, absolutely succulent, pleasing non-gamey aroma, a texture between tenderloin of beef and sirloin. It was so appealing I cheated and tried one, it simply surpassed any Lamb Rib I've tried, which was formerly my favorite cut of meat, any type of BBQ or skirt steak be damned. So I would order that for you, while I resumed on Jasper's side of the menu because I'm supposed to be a vegetarian. Perhaps the menu does not have the savoir faire of Scampo, or say Clink next door to Scampo in the Liberty Hotel. None-the-less this is destined to be hallmark establishment, known outside of Boston, that Back Bay really needs, something you might see editorialized in in-flight magazines as a hot spot in the future, but also a very swank rendezvous for the citizens of Boston herself with solid food from Team Shire/White and their underlings. Quite frankly, as an event planner, I would have my convention inside Towne and skip the Hynes all-together. The service was ridiculously well-prepared, an army of staff picking up glasses at all times in nylon picnic baskets shows serious party planning skills. You can fit 1000 conventioneers in a 380 seat restaurant in one evening. And thus the title of my review. So, KapOW! another FTR, and I lay my piece down. I'm a one-shot cold bore sniper.. Oh drinks, yes I got a bit tipsy. Thanks again to Leighann for this very exclusive opening! You know it was good if I cheated.
(5)A B.
Not worth the money. Inexperienced servers who can't get out of their own way. The m.o.d. was named Chuck. He was arrogant, unhelpful and cocky at best. He should not be dealing with guests. I will never go back to this place. The food didn't live up to it's expectations.
(1)Anne-Marie A.
This is a tough one, since I've been to Towne several times and have always had a splendid experience, complete with Chef Lydia stopping by to say hello. But last night was different -- 12 of us for a birthday celebration and things did not go very well. First of all, the fire alarms went off and continued blaring for 10 - 15 minutes. The manager did come by and reassure us that we did not have to leave (Phew-- we had not even had our first cocktails yet!), but this started our evening out on the wrong note. Service was good, but for some reason, someone (the waiter? the kitchen?) kept forgetting something or other: first all the side dishes we ordered, which came out when we were almost finished with our meal. Then, dessert -- and again, one of the desserts arrived (after we reminded them) after everyone else was finished with theirs. What can I say -- I will give Towne another try but several of our guests left unimpressed.
(3)aaron t.
good drinks. Good bread food, incredibly greasy and way over priced. Not so good. service, good. Seems like a place for overpriced food, large portions, but not much taste, besides the bar drinks. Come here for drinks, not food. Bad experience. a friend and I came here and it cost us over $70 each. for 1 pizza, 2 appetizers, and 2-3 drinks each. If in back bay, i'd say go to Sel de la ter, atlantic fish, tapeos, or a bit further down to south end to coppa, toro, or chinatown for a good meal.
(1)Tammie P.
Had the lamb and lobster popovers for dinner a couple of times. There's a lobster omelet that's decent, too.
(3)John B.
I went here for drinks after dinner elsewhere with my fiancée and another couple for a mid March birthday celebration. The front bar was great, a little steep on prices but according to my fiancée the sangria is amazing. Added bonus was that my friend and I, both HUGE Bruins fans, were drinking next to Chara, Kaberle, Kelly, and Hnidy drinking (we didn't say anything because we are both firm believers that the last thing any celebrity wants to do is deal with adoring fans while they are out). A month later my fiancée and I had another reason to celebrate so we decided to head back for dinner. We didn't have a reservation but were able to be seated after half a drink at the bar. Everything was going great... Now, I didn't research the menu at all. If I had I would have discovered a weird array of entrées. Not a problem I like trying new things. The prices were over the top but whatever, we were celebrating. That was my rational before the entrees arrived. I got the Cod Bullet. Picture a tiny piece of cod (a very basic white fish) swimming in runny Thai peanut sauce and lobster raviolis that were about the size of my thumbs top knuckle. Not what I pictured for over $30. My fiancée got the lobster pizza a little bigger than a personal pizza for $26. These entrées were good but not good enough to be priced at over $20. I really want to give Towne 3.5 stars. I'd break it down like this... Bar: 5 stars Atmosphere: 5 stars Staff: 5 stars Price: 2 stars Portions: 2 stars Food: 3 stars
(3)Chuckie T.
Keep this simple. 5 stars for service and hospitality from the bartender to our waitress. Couldn't be more affable or attentive. Food was pretty good, but taking one star off. Had the pizza, pea soup, ravioli, and other items that were shared. All were enjoyed, but portions pretty small - esp the ravioli @ $17(!!!). 2 more stars off for value. This is Towne's problem. The food prices are sky-high - at least 20% more than what is reasonable for what you get ...which is decent quality and small portions. Just can't see myself coming back here to eat. Drink, yes, but eat, no.
(2)TBone A.
Nice location, nice ambient. I expected more from the food. We started off with Tar tare appetizer. It's OK. Nothing memorable. I ordered crispy duck. My friends had Cod "Bullet" and Pork Chop. The portion is quite generous. They must have put my dish under heat lamp, waiting for other dishes to be finished because by the time it hit the table. The sauce was congealed. However , the Cod and Pork Chop seems OK. I like Pork Chop best, then the Cod. The duck dish was a bit disappointed. Lastly we ordered Brown sugar angel food cake with caramel ice cream and maple cotton candy for dessert. Everything on the plate is really sweet. Personally I founded their food almost like "trying to hard". Every dish has lots of component but somehow doesn't tied together. Most of the garnish are deep fried and oily. I won't hurry back.
(2)Sheila B.
Lot's of trend for the spend.... I will say if you don't like anything on this menu you do have issues. There are a ton of choices, menu that includes Indian, Chinese, Italian, american fare, printed on a large print menu, incase you forgot your glasses ! What they ARE that's a cute, swanky spot on Boylston with a varied menu, which doesn't quite make sense to me. But again, lots of options, I tend to want to eat a more focused cuisine. So I took the plunge and went to the indian food, which definitely did not tast authentic, just because you throw some cumin. clilantro, and garlic on some chicken doesn't make it Indian. I did like the lobster popover, not bad for a little appetizer. Portion sizes where fair, I got the brick chicken, and my friend got the thighs bothwere ok. Would pass on the chicken next time and go try something else. I would go back again, but don't expect my opinion to change a ton. Also Lydia's lobster pizza, I almost shunned $26 REALLY.. how much meat is on that thing.. that's a lot.. I have eaten that at the Excelsior bar menu back in the day for maybe half that price.. I don't know it just don't seem right.. Again I leave you with , lots of trend for the spend..........
(3)Cahaya S.
Very shi-shi place with 3 or 4 rooms...definitely one of the happening, new joints in Boston. We ordered appetizers in the "bar" room -- the first room as you enter. I had a lobster dog and my friend had another lobster concoction, which she thought was going to be a stew -- but it was actually some kind of "jellified" stew! lol! ick!!! I dunno -- I wasn't that impressed...(plus my lobsterdog was like a regular hotdog --with no toppings. Couldn't really taste the lobster -- unfortunately....
(3)Jamie G.
Came here for a Yelp Elite event and had a wonderful time. It definitely got me wanting to come back and try their typical food and drink. The atmosphere and decor are classy and fun. The food and drink we had the event was very good and the staff was superb,... nicely dealing with some really stupid and rude guests (which really saddened me, because, HELLO, we were there for free, at least be nice!!). Hopefully their normal food and service is just as good!
(4)G K.
great food. the tomahawk steak is great. so is the duck. food was amazing. a little too high priced for the place.
(4)Eric B.
I've been here twice. Overall I find the place energetic and fairly welcoming. The whole gatekeeper at the door thing was a bit off putting. The back bars are not THAT crowded. The food and drinks here are pretty good. I'd recommend this place for groups small or large. I hope I get to go back soon.
(4)Richard P.
Not impressed. Waiter seemed impatient and menu was an odd mix. Enjoyed the lamb kabob. Nothing else was exceptional as you would expect from the price and atmosphere.
(2)Joelle S.
My boyfriend and i had gone to Towne a couple months back, maybe in May. There was a little congestion outside of the doorway and as soon as we got in there was an inviting, yet confusing set up. There was a bar and then no Host stand... odd. I asked the bartender if there was a host, and he was rude and said, " Ya, ova there" and pointed behind him. Um, alright? Cool. Not a great first impression as we passed the cougar hunting/affair-filled bar. So we go to the host stand, tell them we have a reservation and said it will be just a cpl minutes. We go to the bar, and order a drink from a very sloppy looking girl who was just shy of rude and then she threw away the leftovers of the people next to us, after they asked her to wrap it up for them. OKay. So far, not great in hospitality. This is a new restaurant, figured they would have higher standards. Oh well. And then as soon as we got a drink, one of the sloppy hostesses walked past my boyfriend, and kicked the bar stool our from under him, didn't pick it up, and just said "Oh, sorry." And walked away!! Even odder. SO then we get sat after about 15 minutes (by the way, we had made reservations, it was not busy at all, and the restaurant was maybe half full.) We went upstairs where the ambiance was very nice, and from there it got much better! yay! They played fun music upstairs(Beegees marley. justthe way you are. Captain of her heart) and we got a very attentive Bulgarian waitress whom was very sweet and hospitable. App: Calamari zucchini tangle thing. great tempura batter! wish it were bigger Entree:Lobster pizza. We shared it and it was delish! had an awesome creamy sauce drizzle, def would get this again Salad: Ceasar spears. nice and lightly dressed, the way i like. ALmost warm like they grilled it, delish either way. and they served it with this Burnt bread that i loved. Food: 4 out of 5 stars. Service: 2.5 out of 5 stars. (If it weren't for our great waitress, it would have made this a 2-star rating)
(3)Tomoko M.
I love this place! Came here during the daytime on a weekend and was able to sit at the bar right away. Their martini was delicious - I tried the Gypsy Dancer martini (cucumber vodka, aloe & honey). Also ordered the "cajun dusted french fries". I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that they were not really your typical fries. The potatoes melt in your mouth...Looking forward to coming back soon.
(4)Gigi B.
I was finally able to check out Towne Stove & Spirits a few weeks ago. Unfortunately I was disappointed. Towne seems to have an identity crisis. The menu is absurdly expensive and not cohesive. Some portions were massive while others were minuscule. If the food were outstanding I'd be much more forgiving, but as a Lydia Shire-Jasper White venture, there is no excuse. I feel Towne caters to out-of-towners more than the Bostonians the famous chefs love to please. The ambiance somehow made me feel uncomfortable, although the service was terrific. I'm willing to give Towne another chance once they've worked out the kinks, but for now there are dozens of restaurants in Boston I'd rather spend my money at, especially in the immediate Back Bay area.
(2)Jourdan R.
I LOOOOOOVEEEEEED Towne Stove & Spirits! At first I was worried that it was going to be out of my price range, but when I got there the menu had a wide range of reasonable prices. The place looked FANTASTIC...I loved the unique light fixtures and the different feels of each dining room...they make the place have an amazing ambiance! And what a great location! I was warmly welcomed and greeted the second I walked in the door. Cassie, my hostess, was SUCH a sweetheart. She made us feel like we were the celebrities of the night. I loved it - and I'm glad I wore my new LBD :) (I highly suggest requesting her as your hostess!) Anyway, when we got to our table (after only five minutes of waiting - we didn't make a reservation - but it was great because we got to chat it up with our hostess) we felt like VIPs because it seemed as though we were seated in the best table in the house. We could see right into the kitchen, which was cool because no other restaurant I've been to has ever had that layout. We ordered the Tuna TarTar for our appetizer, which was DELICIOUS. I highly recommend it. My friends and I each ordered an entree which we shared and each one was equally delicious. The Sirloin was so tender and juicy...it was like Heaven in my mouth. The Lobster Roll was the best lobster I've had in Boston. And that's saying something! (I strongly disagree with the comment below.) The Caesar Salad was SO tasty and fresh - I must know Lydia's secret to cooking the egg! For dessert, we got the Angel Food Cake. It comes with brown sugar cotton candy! It was absolutely melt-in-your-mouth delish. The best part was when Lydia herself brought us an extra stick of cotton candy. Again, we felt like CELEBRITIES. I mean, SHE'S a celebrity! I hope she does it again next time! I can't believe the treatment I received. We will for SURE be going back to Towne again very soon. I want to personally thank everyone who made this night special for us. I'm going to have a hard time choosing what to order when I go back next time! If you want star treatment, I highly suggest Towne :)
(5)Alex F.
Went to Towne on a recommendation from a friend that read about it in a magazine. I have lived in Boston for four years now, and this is my new favorite restaurant. The food was exceptional from the tartar appetizer to the short rib crisp tender and finally ending on the angel food cake with an extreme, yet delicious amount of cotton candy. The drinks were also excellent, and the service was phenomenal. I highly recommend Towne to anyone, looking for great food, drinks, and atmosphere. I cannot wait to go back!
(5)Liza A.
I've been here twice now, once for just drinks and then again last night for dinner. The bar is, well, a bar. The one nice thing is there is a decent amount of seating considering the size. As for dinner. Apps were good... then it went downhill. Main course was average at best and dessert was subpar. What a disappointment. On top of that service is sloppy.... I'd avoid, at least until they get their act together.
(2)Liz K.
Very trendy bar with good mixed drinks. Went here on a Thursday night and sat at the bar. It had lights under this cracked red plexiglass slab so it looked really cool. The bartenders were very friendly. Will definitely be back!
(4)Mindy A.
I went to Towne last night with a group of six for a birthday dinner. We sat in the bar first for a drink or two, then went into the upstairs restuarant for dinner. I really liked the bar atmosphere a lot. The mixed drinks were good -- I had the Baja breeze and it was pretty tasty. I would definitely go back to the bar and try some of their bar snacks--the bacon-wrapped dates caught my eye but we didn't order anything. Next time! For dinner, we were seated upstairs. My first impression is that Towne is going for fusion of everything, everywhere. The decor is a mix of Excelsior (fancy drapes, big windows, fancy tables & chairs, elevator) and the neighborhood dive (oversized plastic/laminated menu, checkered napkins, measuring glasses for water glasses). The menu is the same--there is fusion of everything, all over the place. Every item on the menu has some Asian, Bistro, or "American" type element. The result of this is that it took every person in our group forever to figure out what we wanted, since so many things were kind of unfamilier. I finally settled for the Crispy Duck, and I wasn't dissappointed. Others in my group tried the short ribs, salmon, swordfish, and rib roast. Everything that came to our table had amazing, beautiful presentation. That was definitely impressive. After trying a bite of all the entrees, I have to say although I liked my Crispy Duck, the Rib Roast was my favorite because I loved the sauce selection they give you--the horseradish and blue cheese sauces were my favorite. Oh....I should also mention that we started with the foie gras and it was heaven (as foie gras always is). A couple people got dessert, I think the creme broule and pavlova. They looked good; someone at another table got the spun sugar (cotton candy) and I immediately was jealous of their order. With the gorgeous presentation I think there were definitely some entrees that were excellent, and some that were "pretty good." I was kind of put off by the prices. One person in our group ordered the clam linguine and it was pretty ordinary w/o much taste and had about 7 tiny clams (and I mean, mini baby clams the size of my thumbnail), and it was $17 for a small portion. That seems high to me. The woodfired pizzas also seemed high at $16 or $17 and the burger is $21. Those are the least expensive things on the menu; most entrees are around $35+. It's not the prices alone, it's the weird combination of the high prices and the fact that we are ordering off of plastic menus. I feel like if I'm paying fine dining prices, then I want fine dining....not a fusion of fine dining and casual neighborhood restaurant. That came off as weird to me. But I was glad I tried Towne and I would go back to the bar, for sure.
(3)isa g.
Awesome brunch this past weekend! I've been avoiding this place due to the mixed reviews but I'm glad I gave it a shot. We were looking for a brunch place before our duck tour with out of town guests so we decided on Towne due to its location. I was outnumbered and was glad because our meal was great as well as the atmosphere. We were seated upstairs at a corner table. The restaurant was spacious, comfortable and décor was modern. Everyone raved about the bloody mary (I don't drink that stuff). All of our meals were great with the exception of the blueberry pancake (flat, chewy, and doughy) which more like a thicker version of crepe. I can't remember what everyone else had since there was 7 of us but everyone said the omelets (choice of crab/lobster) were great. I had the hash& egg and it was the best, better than Abe&Louis which used to be my favorite. But to be honest my absolute favorite was the free basket of the lemon poppy seed biscotti and the doughnut balls. I don't even like poppy seed but these biscotti were awesome. The service was also great as well. My only criticism would be that the bar service was slow even though the restaurant was mostly empty, perhaps this was due to the bar being on the main floor? and they need to find a new pancake recipe preferably one that is fluffy.
(4)Wally C.
GREAT PLACE, loved the service, food was incredible, we started with the lobster and corn pizza, out of this world, then I had the sword fish cooked perfectly, will come back soon.
(4)Amber C.
At the last minute we decided to forgo the South End and take a chance at finding a table at the new hot spot Towne. We walked up to the door and were warmly greeted by the 6ft plus door gentlemen. The bar was a buzzing with an exuberant energy that was contagious! It was a lucky night because we found the perfect table in the bar to have a cocktail and a small bite! We ordered the g & j's mushroom duxelles w/ scallion & fresh homemade cheese OMG to die for each bite was an explosion of flavor and with my yummy glass of Malbec that was perfection! We also had two sides that will be new addictions for me - "green beans... twice fried w/ white soy & ginger juice and creamed spinach... devilish". Our tasty tidbits were served by our gorgeous waitress that was providing killer service with a smile! As we finished and savored the deliciousness of our outstanding bar food experience we began the dessert discussion. As always we had to check the menu at least! The dessert choices were divine! We chose a dessert that had an angel food cake with spun maple sugar (cotton candy), caramel ice cream, and caramel brickle it was to die for! I can hardly wait to go back and have dinner in the restaurant!!
(5)Shannon C.
This is a bar review only - My BF and some of my fabulous friends arranged a surprise birthday drink celebration here for me Friday night. We had a table in the back of the bar & our waitress was quick & efficient. I had 2 drinks (something with tequila & flavored soda) which were great & they didn't skimp on the tequila which was even better. Will definitely come back for dinner.
(4)Stephanie H.
Went to Towne last night for the first time. We were meeting up with friends (who chose the place) but I had heard mixed reviews so I was slightly interested in seeing this for myself. I won't ever go there again! We arrived at 9:45pm on a Friday night after going to the Ballet and were meeting up with friends who had already bee there for a couple of hours, celebrating a birthday. There was only one cocktail waitress working the entire floor and though our friends had a tab running at their table, they advised us to go to the bar. We ordered at the bar from a bartender who just stared at us blankly from under his eyebrows. My friend ordered the Towne Lemonade, one of their speciality cocktails and was given a pint glass of normal lemonade. When she tried to get his attention to complain/exchange the drink, he ignored her. I ordered a round of three cocktails and he served several other customers between taking my order and delivering my drinks. I then tried to order a couple of bar bites from him since we had not eaten between racing from work to the Ballet. He yelled at me three times during my attempt to order that he couldn't hear me (though he obviously heard my drink orders fine) and then told me to order from the cocktail waitress if I wanted food. We never saw that cocktail waitress until 10:50pm (10 minutes before the kitchen closes) when she finally came by the table to pick up a couple empty glasses. (There were many empty glasses that had been ignored at our table of ten people.) We ordered our food and received it fairly quickly compared to the timing of service thus far. She dropped our check and we paid it before we finished eating. As soon as the money was on the table, she picked everything up, including the basket of sweet potato fries that we were still eating. (She piled other dishes in the basket before we could say anything so then we didn't want them anyway.) The cocktails and food, though good, were overpriced, and not worth the trouble to order them. The DJ was atrocious. There was dead air between songs, and at midnight on a Friday night in a packed bar on Bolyston, he was playing live acoustic versions of Gaga songs. What a downer! My evening at Towne what a waste of my time and money.
(1)Mo B.
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! Went for Sunday Brunch. Started off w/ a fruit dish of raspberries & strawberriestopped w/ a dollup of whipped cream. Muffins included a poppyseed, a cornbread drenched in lemon & warm, honey-dipped donuts~~~Mmmm! We had a lobster salad that was delicious. The dessert to die for! Everyone was friendly & accomodating& went above & beyond. It is a neighborhood gem! Will definitely be back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(5)Zach D.
I went there for drinks on a Friday night after work. Drinks are a little expensive but that was expected. What wasn't expected was waiting 20 minutes to get our check, then having to ask our waitress again for it. From the time we first wanted it to the time we were able to leave, it was at least 25 minutes. Unacceptable. And even though I went to the front desk to say something so that we could get our check, no manager or anyone came to apologize or speak to us about it. I know it's a different place than what's already on Boylston, but with that type of service and with other great options in the area, there's no reason I would go back there.
(1)Elle W.
This review is difficult for me as I have been to Towne twice and had very different experiences. This most recent experience being the worst, so let's start with that. Review #1 - Got there at 6:30, put our name in for a table of 3. Was told 30-45 minutes. No problem, we'll have some drinks at the bar while we wait. An hour later I go to check on the table, we weren't in a rush, but we were just wondering whether we should order another drink or close our bar tab. The hostess apologizes and says we're first on the list but it will probably be another 30 minutes. Okay, another drink it is. 45 more minutes later, I ask again, and this time the hostess says she just doesn't know when we will be seated (I should mention there are EMPTY tables in the dining room). It's now 8:15 and we're starving and annoyed. So...we left and went across the street to the Back Bay Social Club (to be reviewed). Honestly, if you have too many reservations or too long of a waitlist just TELL ME. We don't need to sit in your restaurant for almost 2 hours while you continue to give us hope that our table is going to become available. I would much rather be turned away and come back another day. BUT: Review #2 - the week before, we had a reservation. We were seated on time, and we had an attentive and pleasant waiter. We ordered: Lobster/Corn Pizza - Wow. Tadiq - My friend's mother makes Tadiq. He said it wasn't quite as good as his mom's but was pretty good. I, never having had Tadiq before, thought it was pretty crispy and buttery, and delicious. I never order rice dishes, but I was really impressed with this one. Mushroom Appetizer - skip this. It was ok. Nothing special. And for dessert, we got the Pavlova and the Melted Chocolate dish. I can't believe I am saying this, but pass on the chocolate dish. The Pavlova was amazing, I never heard of this dish before, but it was recommended by our server, and I'm so glad it was. If I could split this review between Food and Customer Service, I'd give it FOUR stars for food, and ONE for customer service.
(2)Danielle P.
I've been here a few times but mostly just for drinks or drinks and apps. I really like it here I personally am a huge fan of the cheese plate that is on the desert menu. I usually get it as an app but it comes with about 5 cheeses, honeycomb, quince, and nuts. There is also a really nice bread that I think has fennel in it? But i'm not positive. The bread basket with hummus and babaganoush is yummy too. I personally also LOVE the "END CUTS" at the back of the wine list. These are wines that they are taking off the menu, due to unpopularity, suppliers running out of the vintage or w/e. I had a nice bottle of pinot gris for $25 the other day and considering the prices here I thought it was a great deal. I like the atmosphere and I think all the food items ive had have been good. I will be back!
(4)Emma S.
What a fantastic meal! My boyfriend and I split two fish dishes, which were absolute perfection, and were huge cuts of fish. The drinks were good, and the bread basket had diverse types of bread to begin your meal. Yum! The place is beautiful too, very trendy, busy and sexy atmosphere. However, it is SO freaking loud. They had to move our table upstairs, and even then did we have to articulate loudly to hear the conversation. That was unpleasant.
(4)Lia B.
I came here with a big group (14 people) for an end-of-term dinner. I've walked past here often enough, and I'm glad that I had the opportunity to try it. Despite the enormous table and the many people, the waiter was courteous and adept. He took everyone's orders, and there were no mistakes. To start, we had the lobster popovers, the little gem salad and the iceberg baby salad. The lobster popovers were a little too sweet for my taste, but the dough was flaky and light, and the lobster meat was good. The little gem salad came with creamed feta which was the highlight. The peeled grapes were strangely flavorless. Overall, it was good. The iceberg salad had pieces of bacon that were delicious, along with a creamy blue cheese on the side. It was pretty good. For the main course, I had the chicken with mashed potato, and my boyfriend ordered the skirt steak, cooked medium. Another guest at our table ordered the skirt steak, also medium. Both steaks came out at the same time, one was a medium-rare, easy on the medium, and the other was medium-well. My boyfriend sent back his steak, and they finished cooking it, and it was decent. My chicken, on the other hand, was the juiciest, most incredible chicken I've ever eaten. The potatoes were creamy and the perfect complement. For dessert, we ordered the buttermilk panna cotta and the white chocolate lime cheesecake. The panna cotta was divine, perfectly tangy and sweet. It came with a beautiful blackberry sauce on the side, and sugared black berries and mint leaves as a garnish. Amazing. The white chocolate lime cheesecake was good, as well, but it didn't shine the way the panna cotta. I'd love to come back here for brunch, and see what it's like. I'd also definitely come back with a smaller party.
(3)TinoX T.
Ohhhh Boy,Good Luck...,,
(3)Erin D.
Worst bar and host service I have encountered ever. Front bar staff was rude, more interested in flirting with their male customers, and were 100% unprofessional. I will never spend my money there again.
(1)Claire O.
I really liked the atmosphere and decor at Towne: it's huge but the layout means it still feels cozy and it has that lighting/ambience effect which makes you feel like you're cooler and more fun than you are. The service was fine but not outstanding. It took forever to get our bottle of wine, which is my one pet hate for restaurants - seriously, if a table is drinking, it's a happy table. The food had highs and lows. The cauliflower tasted out of this world, but it cost $11 and they gave us the entire cauliflower head which seemed a smidgen excessive. I also got the sirloin - it was cooked perfectly and tasty but again - it was expensive ($42) and I don't think justified the price - portion size was large but the meat was fattier than I'd expect for sirloin and it didn't come with any sides. Overall, Towne is fun and the food is good but it is over-priced
(3)M B.
Came here for drinks and bar food on a Tuesday night, sat at a high-stop near the bar. Service was absolutely horrible. We ordered waters as soon as we were seated, and they didn't come until after we had already ordered beer, food, AND received our beer. We had to ask for them multiple times. My friend and I ordered two cups of pumpkin soup. They were dropped off at the table and the person running it didn't ask if we needed silverware, which we clearly didn't have. Our server didn't come over for a while so I went up to the bar to ask for silverware. No spoons in the rollups, so I had to wait and ask specifically for spoons. By the time I got to start eating my soup had cooled down a lot....and I found that it was not pumpkin, it was lobster bisque. In the past few years I have grown out of a shellfish allergy, and know how dangerous it can be to accidentally serve a shellfish dish to a guest. A few years ago I would have had to call an ambulance! When our server finally came over, I told her we received the wrong soup. She looked at it and said "Nope, that's the pumpkin" even though it was clearly red in color. She took it back to the kitchen, and came back with ONE bowl of pumpkin soup (which was golden in color, didn't look like the lobster at all), which she put in front of my friend. She said "My manager wanted to give you a bowl instead of a cup because of the mistake." She then told me mine would be right out. She came back a minute later with a new spoon for my friend, saw that my soup still hadn't come out, and did nothing. I waited almost a full five minutes for my soup to come back out....and it was a cup. Not a bowl, like my friend received. When we asked why I got a smaller portion, the server responded, "Well my manager just grabbed the closest dish to her and put the soup in it, then told me to run it out." Made no sense considering we sent two cups of soup back, and was completely unprofessional. I said it was ok and asked for a new spoon since I had some anxiety about eating any more lobster bisque. She never came back with a new spoon and I ended up sharing with my friend. I don't typically write negative reviews as I am a restaurant industry vet of 10 years and more often than not empathize with whatever issues arise during a dining experience. This was just a total downer.
(1)Michele G.
After a few good experiences at Towne, I'm afraid I must downgrade my rating. First, the Key Lime Salmon is gone, although it's still listed on the website. Secondly, we had the most hover-ific waitress that would constantly interrupt our conversations. Maybe she was bored? Lastly, my husband's red snapper was beyond mediocre and he's stated that he'll never come back. Sadness./.
(2)Carter D.
I don't come here to eat, I come here to do drink. The cocktails are good, the service is good and the atmosphere is much better than Back Bay Social Club across the street. The front room is a little drab and crowded, but the larger back area has a great bar and really friendly staff. I always leave very drunk and very happy. One time I left and went on a vacation I had booked while drinking recklessly at the bar back there. You can eat somewhere else in the neighborhood, come here for a few drinks before and/or after.
(4)Jill G.
Great drinks, great apps, great meals. An awesome date spot. I had a good experience with the service, too. A little pricey, but definitely you definitely won;t be let down!
(4)Doug J.
(score 1-100) - 89. This is almost a 5 star experience for me. I really love Towne in comparison to other dining options in the back bay. You get high quality food and while some of the entrees can be expensive (but definitely not anymore than anything in the surrounding area) it is reasonable. They have great presentation with their burgers and offer a variety of unique dining choices. It has plenty of room, two floors and the ambience is high end hipster. Think of lots of black clothing. The lighting is a little on the dark side. They do have Valet Parking so if you have a new Ferrari 458 Italia feel free to showboat and leave it out front while all the diners watch you stroll in! Another great thing about this place is the staff. They tend to remember everyone that comes in. I've always had fantastic service and maybe the best service I've received in the city. This places hits the big three: Great Service, Great Good, Great Ambience...hmmm maybe I should rethink my score!
(4)Abigail P.
A friend and I had dinner here on Wednesday, after I discovered they had charged me TWICE on my credit card, two different charges. I emailed them at their info address & no surprise it came back that the person involved was not in office. I've told my bank to stop one charge, but this is unacceptable. The venue was very, very noisy. The water waiter was the best - thoughtful and continually topping up. The lobster popover was good, but our meals were not memorable. Too loud to have an enjoyable evening with someone you want to chat with.
(1)Arben N.
I did not like it at all. We went there for a birthday party and we had to use our phones as a flash light to see the menu. The drinks were ok but bit to expensive!!! I ordered 8 oz filet that cost me 38 dollars. I asked for it to be medium ant it was more like well done. You could go to Ruth Chris for that amount of money and have a great steak!!! Over all it was not to my satisfaction!!! Would not recommend it to anyone and for sure I won't go there again!!!!!!
(1)Thomas N.
lunch recently.....very big and lovely facility, upstairs is beautiful and you can watch the cooks or look at the neat old range they have (not used) we took the walk the the special meetings room in front and it too was lovely...we ate downstairs at the bar and had a great experience, bartender was congenial and attentive, drinks were very good, swordfish was excellent and burger great and cooked (rare) as ordered....seems in reading reviews that a lot of reviews (places ) are bad as people are visiting them at their most busy stressed times when it can be hard for anyplace to be really special....this place was excellent and we will revisit oh and taught the bartender about geocaching!!(nearest one 241 feet)
(4)Craig S.
Met Kevin Garnet here the other day - and every time I have been back it has gotten progressively better
(5)Amanda G.
Went here for drinks one night, dinner the next (weird, I know) and I have to say, I'm surprised by all the Negative Nancy reviews. I understand that people had high hopes for a Lydia Shire / Jasper White venture, but I don't think Towne is bad at all, and my own expectations were exceeded given the number of mediocre restaurants in Back Bay. So, the upsides... I love that this place is big and airy, and has personal rustic touches (bright red patterened napkins, blue suede chairs). The restaurant felt more like NYC than Boston just based on size/location and the high ceilings and open kitchen, and I loved that. Now the food was all very good - maybe not A-mazing, but consistently well cooked and seasoned. I will say I like salt, and clearly so does Jasper White. The bread came with some yummy dipping sauce, salted butter and red pepper (?) dip. Fun way to start the meal. Then we shared the mixed greens and 'Zucchini Tangle' which is fried zucchini on a spear, over fried calamari and yummy tartar and cocktail sauces. SO good. The calamari was oily and hot, and the portion size was perfect for three people - there's a larger portion size you can get for an even bigger group. One of us got the halibut special, I had the roasted chicken with broccolini, and another one of us had the salmon. All the proteins were cooked perfectly, I thought, and because I'm a huge broccolini fan, I was content. The star of the meal funnily enough was the side we ordered of grilled king mushrooms and creamy polenta. Big portion for a side dish (although $12 so makes sense) and it was delicious! Service was spot on for a nicer restaurant - our waitress was very attentive and my water glass was never empty. The only downsides were the cost and my drink, which I enjoyed, the Baja Breeze (tequila, house-made soda and pomegranate juice) was tasty and refreshing but light on booze. Also, the prices are hefty but I think worth the ambiance, inventive/crazy menu and a genuine ability to appreciate something grande and different in downtown Boston. I definitely would like to return (and try the desserts!)
(4)Jim M.
Sunday brunch. Great price, great food. $~40 per person. You get oysters, shrimp, steak, king crab eggs benedict and so many pastries. It is amazing. I love it.
(5)Jennifer W.
This review is just for their brunch, have never been for dinner, and probably won't due to the prices. However, I LOVE brunch there! They make my favorite sangria in the city, nice and warmly spiced! I love their lobster cobb salad, the dressings are especially yum! Clam chowder also very good. On a nice summer day, it's a treat sitting on their patio with a glass of sangria and some good brunch food.
(4)Carla G.
Go here on a Monday night....front bar, ask for Nick, order an Armada, rinse, repeat...then order a flatbread....stagger home; thank me later.
(4)Rosemary H.
I tried this place for dinner for the first time last night and really liked it! It was a Tuesday pretty early (about 6:30 when my boyfriend and I arrived) so we were seated promptly. The inside is really pretty and classy, and I enjoyed the trancey music they were playing. There are two bars downstairs and a nice, open dining room. There's an upstairs area as well, though I did not get a chance to see it. Both my boyfriend and I ordered martinis. They were quite strong but still delicious, so an A+ goes to the bartender. We started our dinner with the duck confit pizza. It was AMAZING. It had roasted garlic and squash on it, yum yum. For entrees, I ordered the red snapper with pineapple salsa, and my boyfriend had the ahi tuna (crusted in something I can't remember). I didn't try his, but he crushed the whole thing and said it was delicious. My snapper was quite good. I do wish it had a bit more of the salsa, but other than that I really liked it. We split the brussels sprouts as a side. They were awesome. They were roasted with candied ginger in a yummy creamy sauce. I really want to try and make them at home...mmm Definitely enjoyed my dinner here and I will be coming back. It IS a little pricey (we split the bill and each spent about $80, including the tip) but for a once in a while treat it's totally worth it. I also want to check the bar out here as it seems like a nice, classy place to hang out on the weekend.
(4)Michelle R.
Went back to Towne with some clients and coworkers last night and I must say they have made great changes regarding service. Our waitress was attentive, helpful, and accomodating. Very impressed - drinks were always full! *IF YOU WORK IN THE PRU TIP!: She let us know that with your work badge (we all work in the tower) you get their special $3 food menu. It's all appetizers and we literally got the entire menu. Highlights: fish fritters (I forget the name but they were the best!, sweet potato fries, the crusted bread with the fish dip (again.. can't remember the name, I was drinking a lot at this point), and the duck app. I still think $9 is outrageous for shoddy Pinot G BUT it is the copley are and about the same everything. Just make the wine a little better, please!
(3)Diana G.
Two words: Lobster Pizza. Go there & try it now.. Location is convenient, & service is prompt and friendly. Prices are a bit, well.. pricey, but this is only because the restaurant clearly caters to out-of-towners who are most likely going to a convention at the Hynes.. Other than that, this place is worth trying... I'm sure I'll be back..
(4)Jon R.
Towne is a good looking joint with decent service. I was surprised at how big the place was inside. We didn't try the food as we were on a Sunday Funday mission. So there.
(3)Courtney R.
Towne has three bars: the immediate entryway with large windows facing the street, a backroom downstairs, and upstairs. If you are there after work, like we were, I say head for the back downstairs bar. For dinner, make sure to get reservations upstairs. The bartenders are friendly and make strong drinks. The crowd was bubbly and mid-30s for the bar scene on weeknights. Great ambiance.
(4)Steve S.
I was ready to hate this place. It is huge, and good restaurants are never this big. Townes is a beautiful 3 story bar, restaurant and patio bar in the corner of The Hynes near The Pru. This is one large place, but the atmosphere is well designed as well as well decorated. There is a meat market bar on the first floor and the dining rooms on the second and third floor with a function room I arrived around 7:30 and sat at one of the three bars. Our server, JP, was attentive and knew her wine and menu. The menu as well as the wine list is extensive with choices for all. The seafood seems the most interesting with tuna, salmon and arctic char. The food leads to more fusion of different cuisines than a traditional steakhouse or restaurant. Its a nice change I settled for the salmon, which excelled with many different flavors and textures including the veggies. My friend had the duck and it was meticulously sliced and prepared well. The wine was good and the bread basket is a nice touch Very likeable experience
(4)Mahina K.
I will say this much the food was decent. HOWEVER, the service was pretty awful. Came here for mother's day, my parents are from Hawaii, so I was trying to do this right. It took about 20 minutes to get water and another 15 to have a waiter ask for our orders. I ordered the chicken and waffles after reading rave reviews. My mom the fried eggs benedict and my dad a bacon sandwich. We noticed people that came in after us got their food, people that came in at the same time FINISHED their food. Our food took 40 minutes or so to get with us and that was only after prompting from my father. My dad goes, "could you please check on our food? We've been waiting for a good amount of time now." The waiter replies, "Well, we have four full dining rooms." Now if the waiter had said, "Sure, let me check on that, but it's Mother's day, so it's kind of busy back there." That's one thing, but the answer my dad got actually kind of pissed him off. We finally got our food, I didn't get the chicken and waffles, just waffles. I asked him if there was chicken coming, he said no. So if he were to just charge us for waffles and not the chicken part I'd be good. So that was resolved. However, when my dad's bacon sandwich came out it was cold. Like cold, probably sitting out for 20 minutes cold and if there's one thing you don't really want to eat cold, that's probably bacon. The chips they sprinkled on top were officially soggy. So it wasn't a RUINED mother's day. But it definitely wasn't the best. I just wanted a place that took reservations because I knew restaurants would be busy, but next time I might want to chance it. I wanted to like this place, I wanted to be that yelper that was like oh hey, they're great you people are all wrong. But Alas, I lost this round. Ps. Their artwork choice is kind of strange.
(2)Georgina C.
I gave Towne a 3 because the service was only so-so as are the far too frou-frou cocktails with ingredients that just did not seem to mix well. My dining companion was looking forward to a particular seafood dish and our waitress unapologetically stated the kitchen was out of the ingredients necessary to prepare it. I adore the cupcake dessert plate (heavenly) and order it each time I visit. The decor is gorgeous, atmosphere fun and I love the beakers they use to serve water in. Great attention to detail and valet parking
(3)Gabi R.
Yum & yum. Was here for a company event during MBA recruiting. Despite that looming "uncertainty" of knowing I was being observed by potential recruiters and evaluated, I managed to enjoy a delicious meal and some fine wine. Food: got the filet mignon, rare. WOW. I know I'm supposed to be demure at these events, but I couldn't stop myself from actually eating this delicious steak. It was juicy to the freshest extreme, well seasoning and salted, and just barely warm on the inside. What an amazing way to wile away a few stressful hours. I also had the chocolate pudding and some espresso. Both delicious. But nothing to top the finest steak of my time in Boston. Thank god I'll be back there for more this week! Service: incredibly sweet and accommodating. My neighbor, the recruiter, had a gluten allergy, and despite the fact that we were a large group with many plates to coordinate, they graciously put together a separate menu to make sure she was accommodated. I also love a place where staff takes your request for recommendations seriously. I asked the waiter to help me decide between the filet and a lobster ravioli (I love lobster), and his reco was unequivocal: "the lobster dish is good, you'll enjoy it, but you'll envy those with the steak." Could not have said it better :) Ambience: beautiful, classical, almost romantic except for the non-romantic purpose of my visit.
(4)Liz S.
Went here this past Sunday night (12/23) with my family visiting for the holidays. There were nine of us. The meal was fine, nothing great and definitely overpriced but it was overall an ok experience given our large group. We had just walked in without a reservation so there were no real high expectations anyhow. The horrible experience came a day later for seven out of the nine who suffererd the unfortunate fate of food poisoning. There was no other logical explanation given the rapid onset of symptoms amongst the group and the fact that the Towne was the only common thread. We left a message with the Towne on X-mas day while some of us were still gathering around the bathroom instead of the christmas tree. They chose not to return that call and so to yelp it is. This place is overpriced with medoicre food that potentially will make you sick and managed by people that could clearly care less about any of that.
(1)Tiffany T.
I'm surprised that Towne doesn't have better reviews. Maybe it's a hit or miss? My partner and I came for Valentine's day and we were both thoroughly satisfied with the quality of the food, the presentation and the atmosphere. Our server was fine, but didn't seem as enthusiastic as the other servers around us. We had lobster popovers, tuna tartare, duck crisp and the valentine's day halibut special. Everything was phenomenal and fresh. The lobster popovers were good but a little pricey for 2 popovers, I would do without it. If I could recommend one thing, I would say order the duck crisp. I give it 4.5 stars but since Yelp doesn't allow that, 5 it is.
(5)Arun L.
Overall, definitely better than the other reviews suggest. Though an expensive endeavor, Towne is well worth a try. We went here on a double date and had an absolute blast. I loved: - the food, not as eclectic as the menu would lead you to believe, but excellent. As in, excellent. - the wine list, diverse but short and manageable - the ambiance, large and hip with an open kitchen - the bar(s), lively and full of people looking their best - the cocktails, fresh and inventive I wasn't crazy about: - the service, the whole meal took 2.5 hours. Granted that's 3-4 courses, but it felt slow. The waiter gave very blunt opinions despite openly admitting he's never tried the food. - the menu aesthetic, it's weird and does not reflect the style or quality of the food
(4)H. G.
I have had a few things here that were only ok, including the caesar salad that came with a not-runny panko fried egg. Very disappointing. But I have also ordered two things here with lobster (ravioli and pizza) and both were fantastic. Add to that the ease of getting a seat outdoors in the summer on a weeknight, and this place is pretty good.
(3)Rake O.
I used to like this place a lot, but I realized it was mostly for mingling and people watching. When I really think about the place itself I realize the martinis are often not made well, the service can be slow, and it can be shoulder-to-shoulder crowded. There are other nice interiors within a very short walk. Go there instead.
(2)Salt And P.
I am a fan of Lydia Shire, and a regular customer at all of her restaurants going back to Biba. The kitchen did a great job accommodating a vegan and vegetarian guest at this meal, and the tuna tartare was outstanding. But the swordfish "special" entrée was so fishy and poorly conceived that it was unpleasant, and the sauce on the steak was almost inedible. Setting aside the rest of the dialogue and drama, which included the manager offering to replace my entrée well after everyone else had finished dining, I will just offer the rude comment that the waiter made when I reiterated my complaints, "We knew you would do this. We knew you would do this when you came in." Wow.
(1)Trisha M.
Amazing restaurant. I ordered the seabass and was mistakenly brought the fluke than made up for by attentive service and the most amazing salmon dish in the city- so fresh. Waitstaff professional and beyond courteous. Chefs above average if not suburb. I highly recommend giving this one a try.
(5)Mark Z.
I wanted to write a review on something in recent memory that was just average to me, and the first thing that came to mind...Towne. I don't exactly eat fancy a lot, but when I do, I expect it to be worth the price. Although Towne's modern decor, wealth of beautiful women, and trendier environment made for a great setting, the food was just so-so considering the price. I went for a steak, which was a little overcooked and came with Applebee's quality veggies. The meal was fine, but again, not what you hope for at this price. All in all, it's worth going once, but I'd personally rather be at Mistral, Capital Grille, Mooo, Del Frisco's, Davios, etc......
(2)Angie C.
RUDE! I give this place negative 10 stars. Experience: I will never come here ever again. If our party was being rude and deserved such ill treatment then I will take full responsibility. However, if you're rude without justification then you can go ____ yourself. Especially after the amount of money we spent. I had left the bar at 12:30 to go home. My friend was kind enough to walk me to the cab stand right out front. When he went back to the bar where the rest of our party was and his jacket they refused to let him back in. We were definitely not drunk and acting foolish. In fact, they saw us walk out, saw my friend walk me to the cabs and saw him come right back. Their reasoning: "there's no re-entry this late" REALLY?!? If we weren't with a group how else would he had gotten his stuff? When your drinks and food are overpriced you NEED to offer better service.
(1)Layla A.
This place is HORRIBLE. I had 7 friends visiting me in Boston and wanted to take them out and invite them to dinner. We picked Towne and it was a HUGE mistake. I had a reservation for 9:30. The place was empty but somehow they took 1 hour to seat us and gave us plenty of attitude while we waited. Then once we were finally seated, the service was horrible. The food is forgetable and the atmosphere is weak and not very lively. WORST service. The rudest hostesses. DO NOT go here. I called the manager after to give her some advice on what could go better and she tried to have a debate with me! Anyway do yourself a favor and go to Sonsie.
(1)Jaime B.
One word. Boring. I can't speak for the food, but we came here after dinner for drinks on my birthday. The whole first floor smelled. I won't say like what, but it was bad. It was so packed we could barely move. Upstairs was less crowded, but still took forever to get a drink. Music was barely audible, and what I could hear sucked. Oh, and everyone was really old. Don't get me wrong, I'm 30, so I know I'm no spring chicken, but most people were in their 50's and 60's! And almost all creepy looking men. No thanks.
(1)Nick M.
While I love to check out new places in Boston and the surrounding areas, I was pretty disappointed when we went to Towne. The atmosphere was definitely a "I want to be seen here" sort of vibe, making this place seem more like a bar out in Hollywood -- let's be clear -- this is Boston, not Hollywood The service was so-so -- we sat at the bar in the back and were able to find a few seats right away. A bartender came over with a drink menu and then left. 10 minutes later, they came back, asked my wife what she wanted and walked away to make it.... Hello? Am I invisible? Wouldn't it be easier to take both of our drink orders at the same time and save yourself a trip? Definitely not cool As the night progressed, a few friends of ours showed up and we had the corner of the bar. Now it seemed to be a younger audience, with sweaty dudes reaching their arms across the bar to try and get the bartenders attention. Overall, I wasn't a fan and will not be returning.
(3)Simon L.
a simply exellent spot. 9:00 pm, saturday evening, no reservation, table should be ready in 20-30 minutes at a tall table upstairs. put name on list, order michters manhattans, perfect, and the table is ready. even better, it's a normal sit down table on the first floor although the upstairs area is a bit more cozy, our party of four, once seated, experienced a pleasant service, and a perfect people watchin.g atmosphere. all in all, dim and very comfortable. if possible, formal without pretentiousness. east coast oysters were sweet and salty, nice plump meat. lobster popovers, a crispy pastry encasing a nice serving of tendrer lobster salad. one order split four ways allowed everyone a taste of these crispy lobster creations. while on lobster, a novel concept of having a lobster bar is an excellent take on the traditional oyster bar. broiled lobster, lobster salad, lobster tails. very creative. meat, foul and fish. the pan seared salmon filet was incredibly tender with a deliciously buttery layer of fat held between the meat and the crisped skin. crispy duck was served so. Excellent. Double cut pork chop in wine reduction: excellent med rare presentation. Steak, an excellent combination. Theres a reason this place has some cache. Try it out. You will love it. Very friendly service, excellent food and even better drinks.
(5)Cody C.
Not many good things to talk about this place. Their bar is weirdly set up apart from the restaurant , it wasn't anything to brag about compared to other trendy locations right across the street. The dining room is beautifull but with a ballroom feel, not like a restaurant , it felt like the place was a function room from the Hynes convention center turned into a dining room. I had the lobster popovers which weren't that great as other reviews have sAid. The main course took forever and our waitress had an attitude , everyone seem to have an attitude whenever we would ask for help. We never saw a manager during our experience but he did say bye on the bar downstairs on the way out ( Michael?) with a fake smile. I won't recomend this place unless you are renting out the dining room for a private event , it has a feeling of being watched and not cozy private at all. Hope my review helps we won't be coming back.
(1)Jillian W.
We go here for the Duck Quesadilla which is incredible and the Mr. Brownstone specialty cocktail that really is something special. We've been lucky enough to get seats right away each time we went and always have a good time. I'm going giving Towne a 3 though because really the bartenders could stand to be much nicer. Though beautiful, they rarely smile, are stand offish most of the time and we usually get the impression we're bothering them with our order. This place has so many other things going for it that if they just focused on providing some friendly service, it would be a real find.
(3)Marissa R.
I came here for restaurant week lunch for a few friends and have to give the following reviews: Food: 2.5 stars Service: 1 star Atmosphere: 4 stars We sat outside in patio area which was very nice. There were flowers and some nice music playing. I ordered the peach and burrata salad which was solid, but my main course of salmon was drenched in oil. It was also of poor quality and had a lot of fat that I had to cut around. The rice that it came with was pretty good, but overall not an impressive dish even for $15.00. Our server was not only inattentive; only coming by to drop off our plates of food and never refilling water or asking if we needed anything, but also had a very rude attitude. Two of us at the table ordered salmon and asked for different cooking temperatures (medium rare vs medium well). When we explained this to our server she had no idea what we were talking about, dropped the hot plates in front of whoever was closer to her and took off. Both entrees were clearly well done. They also forgot to bring one person's entree and it took about ten minutes with everyone else's food sitting there and getting cold before it arrived. I would certainly not go back or recommend for anyone to pay full price.
(2)Samantha L.
Overall, this was a good experience. The food was expensive, but pretty good... The lobster pizza was amazing, drinks were surprisingly good and not that pricey, and the entree was well-cooked and large, though a tad boring (I had chicken). The service was good, though very rushed... Clearing our plates before the appetizer was gone and without asking if we were done. The atmosphere was chic and modern, though nothing incredibly original. All and all, a good place for a dinner on expense account.
(3)H and K.
Good atmosphere, good service. Normally I'd give them 3 stars, or less, for overcooking my $60 "2 lb" lobster on the grill. However, the Lobster Popovers were absolutely excellent. A perfectly cooked delicate popover surrounding chunks of lobster in a light maple sauce. One of the best things I've eaten all year!
(4)Kristen C.
I wanted to love it, really I did. Heard great things and the menu looked so fun! I tried to make a reservation for 2 for 8:30 on opentable, it wasn't available...but 8:15 and 8:45 were?! So I took the 8:15 and it was pretty empty when we arrived, what?! Waitress was super friendly and the table was decent - but we ordered an appetizer and it never came!!! Kinda screwed up the entire experience as cocktails were supposed to be followed by wine but since our dinner came without the apps, it just didn't work out. Also, I ordered the special because all of the ingredients sounds awesome, it came out with nothing the waitress sold me on! I mentioned something and she apologized and brought out a side of the missing "stuff" - wasn't quite the same! They did, however, comp us a dessert to make up for "forgetting" to put in the appetizer but it was mediocre at best.
(2)Melissa C.
Definitely not worth the hype. I'm glad I tried it because if I didn't I would keep saying, "Oh yeah, I really should try Towne." Now, I can stop that. The drinks were bad. The atmosphere was bad. The food was bad. The service was bad. That said, I came in the daytime, maybe it's a different scene at night.
(1)Heather G.
Brunch-menu review: It's a damn shame that the brunch menu didn't wow me, because this place makes a mean Bloody Mary. A few ladies agreed to meet for brunch at 11:30 one Sunday morning. Due to a daylight savings snafu, one of our friends was left to her own devices (read: two Bloody Marys and an eBook) while waiting for the rest of us to show up. Luckily, the place wasn't crowded enough at 11:30am on a Sunday to make this lingering an annoyance. When the rest of the party arrived, they sat us at a 6-top in the bar area. This is prime-real estate for people-watching passers by on Boylston Street, but is also EXTREMELY COLD and drafty, as the table is nearest the ever-opening front door. The bar area was also pretty empty for the 2+ hours we were there, so next time I would insist on sitting in the actual dining room for brunch, as the empty-bar-area did not provide the much-desired feeling of warmth and coziness I look for while brunching. The server was very nice and kept us flush with Bloody Marys, all while accommodating our slowly growing brunch party. Sadly, the food not only didn't wow me, but was an all-around disappointment. The meal is started with a basket of homemade, glazed donut holes (very tasty) and some slices of grilled lemon poppyseed bread. The bread, if eaten right on arrival, is warm and chewy. Left sitting for awhile, it became hard, dry, dense, and much less pleasant. The brunch menu is very small, and has a few offerings from each brunch category (a couple egg dishes, a couple pastas, a couple sandwiches, a couple bread-like breakfast items, etc), though most entrees (even the egg dishes!) fall in the $16-18 range. For breakfast, I find this to be just a tad steep for breakfast fare, but I suppose you're paying for the atmosphere (which, again, you'd better-experience in one of the restaurant's actual dining rooms rather than in the bar/lounge). On a budget (and making up for my two-bloody-mary morning at about $11 each), I went with one of the more affordable offerings - the Kitchen Sink sandwich ($11). Turns out, it's just a BLT. My sandwich had a few slices of drippy-fatty bacon, some thick tomato slabs, a bit of lettuce, and a dollop of mayo. It was served on oiled-and-grilled thick bread, which, after the grilling and sitting out waiting to be served to me, the thick bread became hard and crunchy with more a crouton-like consistency, which would have been OK if the slices were thinner, but because they were so thick, overpowered the meager innards. The sandwich came with a small handful of chips that must have been fried in-house, because they were glistening and dripping with oil. Also served alongside were three potato-puffs, and these were also drenched in grease. For some reason, the chef sent us out two complimentary orders of lobster popovers (which we did not order), which, after reviewing our bill, were comped as a "Yelp discount". We had no idea how the restaurant knew we were having a Yelp-ladies brunch, but the gesture was nice. The popovers were filled with chunks of juicy lobster, but like my entree, were filled with butter (and perhaps brown sugar or maple, as they were very sweet), making them a bit heavy in my stomach. Overall, the experience was a fun one, though I just wasn't blown away by the food. I certainly plan to return for dinner (or some people-watching and drinks at the bar/lounge), but I can't say I'd get excited about coming back for brunch again.
(2)Kelsey F.
I have been wanting to try Towne since it opened. I had the chance to choose a restaurant for a company dinner (just 6 of us) so I suggested here. Food was really good. Started with a bread basket that came with 3 different types and then 3 different butters/tapenades. Everyone enjoyed their meals. I chose the pork chop that came with sweet potatoes & marshmallows - sweet and savory! Decor was nice. I was hoping our table would be upstairs by a window but it was kind of stuck in a corner in the back room. Service was alright. The bussers were more attentive than our actual server. Made sure to keep our wine and water full. The waiter seemed a bit out of it. When our meals came 3 of us didn't have a knife and I had to ask someone else. They brought me a butter knife that was a bit difficult to cut through my pork chop. I also had forgotten my ID so couldn't have a glass of wine. I get it, I look young, it's the law - but still a bit annoying. Overall I think for the prices - I expected much better service and was a bit dissappointed. I'll probably give it another shot at some point and hopefully will be more impressed.
(3)Bronwen Y.
I was really disappointed in Towne. I was so interested to go there, and then it definitely did not live up to expectations. The atmosphere is really cool as is the decor (minus the weird picture of a naked breast that stared me down from across the bar all night), and the drinks were good and generously poured. What killed me was the clientele. A bunch of 20-something women and a bunch of 45+ men. Weird! Ok, I'm being unfair. There were younger guys there. They were on dates. I was not there to "pick someone up," but the older male clientele was really aggressive in trying to pick up the various girls in my party. It got old fast (pun intended), and so we split. Glad I've seen it, but I'm over it.
(2)Laura B.
I had an excellent lunch there. It was definitely a business crowd (noon through 2:00). We had a great waiter, good food and it was at a very reasonable price for an upscale lunch in that area (Back Bay). I would definitely go back there with clients or book it for someone out of town.
(4)ash l.
Jaguars are in an interesting car niche. They are supposed to be a symbol of luxury, class, and taste. Yet any Jag owner knows that the car comes with as many problems as a high maintenance girlfriend that constantly requires facials, manicures, shopping trips, and of course, a regular oil cleaning. The joy of owning one (Jag or girl, you pick), isn't always worth the bragging rights. Towne is my restaurant Jaguar. It's hip looking, cool, classy (in a fromage wavelength), and has some nice wheels. I love the social ambiance, but can't stand the food, nor do I think the place is as large as it appears. Somehow I always feel cramped if there are more than 10 people in the lounge. Unlike a Jaguar dealership, however, the service is awesome. I had Sarah the bartender, who was very easy on the eyes, and refreshingly nice. The guy bartender that was on his shift was very cool too, but I don't recall his name due to his lack of ... um... assets. I'll keep coming back, but I really wish they improve the menu. The fettuccine alfredo is a disaster.
(4)Whytnee B.
This place is awful. I have a few, separate incidents that culminate into me never coming here again. 1) Cleared my friends' nearly full drinks when they went for a cig. Tried to rectify the problem by bringing out the tray that the said drinks were sitting on, amongst the rest of the bar's discards. Disgusting. One of my nice friends explained to the waitress that it is better for the restaurant to simply replace the drinks and keep the customers. They argued about this for a few minutes, and finally another employee offered a handful of gift cards. Which I would want to use EXCEPT ... 2) I was with another group and we were seated at a table, given water and menus, and were told the kitchen was still open. Several waiters passed our table over the next 20 minutes and did not acknowledge us whatsoever. We left and went over to Eastern Standard, where the service is absolutely superb. 3) Last but not least, a friend of mine worked here for a few months and recently left because they were not paying her money she had earned from them. Maybe this is why we couldn't get service the other night; the waiters are unmotivated because they are treated poorly. Needless to say I will NEVER return to this place, which is filled with a bunch of desperate people that are over the hill. Shame on you Jasper White and Lydia Shire, for thinking that your names override the facts that the customer is always right and you need to treat your employees with respect. You would think with their combined experience they would know a little better.
(1)Colleen Y.
Maybe when I live in the penthouse at the Taj, and when I can walk in without a reso, I'll throw a couple more stars Towne's way. Towne, where the sun shines: 1. 36-24-36, and she's only 5'3. From her hips to her rack, Towne has got it going on from top-to-bottom. 2. Eye candy take two. If you get bored looking at the decor, check out the crowd...tight ass jeans, lipsticked glasses galore, and heels clicking in every direction. Get ready for sexiliciousness, and a bevy of botoxed bostonians. No complaints here, if you got it on at 40 or 50 -- I've got no shame in taking a look. 3. Local lush. You want to get drunk close to home? Towne is probably close to you. From my friends in JP, to my spot in Cambridge, my industry crew from Beacon Hill, or grad students in Brookline...they can all be at Towne in like 5 minutes. Buuut, they best not be driving there. Unless they want to start their night with a 25 buck valet and a 15 buck drink. Ouch. 4. Senior Staff They pulled out all the stops, and their staff has got in popping. I don't think I have EVER been to a new restaurant that ran so smoothly. I see they swooped up the past GM from Harvest. He's got hospitality skills - and clearly did a great job picking up some vets in the industry to deal with the sell out crowds they'd be dealing with. Towne, Where the sun don't shine: 1. Identity crisis. They want the yuppies, but can't favor the nouveau riche over the bald-headed bankers and their 2 favorite accessories: blondes with fake boobies and animal print blanhniks + wallets weighed down by metal credit cards. They try to keep the downstairs bar rowdy, and the upstairs one chill...but that is asking for a "do you know who I am" comment from some chauch mcgees. 2. Foodie fascination, followed by foodie frowns. If you love Clio, and O Ya, and Menton -- you might be tempted to go to Towne for the food. Hell, its chefs are better known than those of arguably anywhere in Boston. But just as Olives turned into the McDonalds of fine dining, Towne is a classic 3. You're pretty hot, especially with your mouth shut. Watched the douchiest loser yell at staff member after staff member after HE knocked a plate out of a food runners hands. Then the "big shot" demanded they pay for his jeans, or at least the 10 dollar bill for dry cleaning. Maybe a chill request if he hadn't just acted like a king amongst slave people. I wouldn't ever, ever, ever date a loser like that. And I hope that escort he had with him felt the same way after that display. 4. For singles looking to mingle, but only singles that carry around more than just single...dollar bills. I've got to add Towne to the list of places I used to go to when I had a leading man in town. But I can promise we'd only check it out for a night, not because of the staff or even really the food or bevs. True, true, Towne great for girls night out, but too expensive for my typical lady friend. And most likely yours too. That is, unless your favorite female to frolic with in town and at Town, is with your super hot sugarmomma gf. A stella, a glass of wine or two, and a mushroom duxelle pizza later I spent enough to get a pair of jeans that might make my ass cheeks look as tight as the face cheeks on the cougars huddle around the bar at Towne. SO, WHATS THE REAL DEAL Sure, I'll meet you at town. If I'm not planning on eating, drinking, or talking to anyone else. Or, I'll do all of the above if you want to take me out on the town, to Towne. Otherwise...I think I'll stick to other options that amass the douche bags of Boston, I hear there might be a few in the financial district?
(2)John P.
Long time lurker, first time reviewer (meal was noteworthy enough to serve as catalyst for initial review). The lady and I ate at Towne this past weekend- our first visit for dinner (had been previously for brunch and drinks). A great experience (food and staff particularly). We had an early reservation (~6pm) on a Friday, and were seated upstairs promptly. The second floor is recommended: love the 1) space (clear sightlines to the kitchen/outside to Boyleston) and 2) insulation from the first floor after work drinks crowd. Our joint-order: starters, lobster popovers; entrée, sirloin and duck crisp; sides, roasted potatoes and green beans. Pleased with all facets of the meal, but the star of the evening was the lobster popover. They consist of declawed/shelled lobster, baked into puff-pastry dough, brushed with a sweet honey. The trifecta of the 1) meaty richness of the lobster with the 2) salty pastry and 3) sweet honey drizzle cover almost all pallet basics. I have no doubt we could have made a meal of simply popovers (decorum be damned). It's worth visiting Towne for them alone. Also highly recommend the duck crisp: well-conceived and executed. A final note on service. Our server (Matt) was excellent. He vouched for the duck (which along with the lobster popovers, were the stars of the meal), and otherwise was consummately knowledgeable and warm. As someone who looks significantly younger than I am, I appreciated the collegiality and professionalism of all the staff we encountered (Matt, hostesses, and even the girl at coat check). After one too many patronizing restaurant experiences (perhaps most egregiously at Sorellina), this level of respect was much appreciated. Tl;dr: came for the hype, will return for the popovers, duck, and respectful service.
(4)Michael C.
I went to Towne for a big event on their second floor reserved for private functions and I was so impressed. The service staff was top notch and about all the food I had was excellent. Since most of it was served on trays by servers I can't really comment on particular dishes. There were some items that stood out, the flash fried blue cheese shrimp and their homemade ice cream were top notch and I will be back again just to have them. They also made some delicious peanut brittle that was more like honey comb that was out of this world, they said it is usually not on the regular menu, I hope they add it soon!
(4)Chris C.
Food was outstanding. This is my first Yelp review I do more on trip advisor. We started with lobster pop overs so good we could of ate them all night. To correct other reviewer they are drizzled in Kyles maple syrup. I had crispy duck, wife had pizza that she said tasted like she was back in Italy. Desserts and drinks were also good. We were sat down stairs at seven it was a bit noisy with the afterwork crowd. Tables filled fast as Friday nights usually do. Matt our server was excellent and was prompt and there when we needed him.
(4)Anthony C.
I have since returned to Towne at least three times, and my newest discovery there worth raving about is the bar menu! It's great. I can't say enough about it. There are a number of Jasper White-designed lobster dishes on the bar menu as well as a few Lydia Shire gastronomic concoctions... but what sticks out? THE BURGER. Yes, seriously. It is 70% ground skirt steak and 30% ground short rib... and 110% amazing. It goes for $11 and comes with homemade chips which are the icing on the cake, so to speak. Usually there is some combination of potato chips, sweet potato chips and plantain chips. Brilliant. Paired with a martini or bourbon or beer, the burger is a perfect treat and a quick lunch. Oysters and littlenecks are available (although to be fair, they are usually cheaper during the early evening at Jasper White's Back Bay location of the Summer Shack), as well as innovative creations like lobster popovers or stacked zucchini boards. The cocktails are diverse, interesting and truly satisfying. The whiskey and bar offerings are deep, and there are a number of unique entries. My waiter and waitress service has continued to be top notch, while I've had a couple cranky bartenders (but nonetheless, still professional). One strange drawback to stopping by for lunch, or early eats before the dining room opens, is that table bread is not available. With the fantastic breads and spreads offered in the dining room, I am unclear as to why it is not prepared for earlier service even in smaller quantities, available only "as requested." It was explained to me that the breads are not even prepared each day until about 4:00 for dinner service and yet it seems like a reasonable expectation when patrons have to walk by several more cost-effective eateries to get to Towne particularly during the daytime (when specials are plentiful and readily available). Interestingly, on one occasion, a large party came in and we offered up our table as we had just arrived and they needed a few more seats, and to thank us they bought us a round of cocktails. Needless to say, everything about this hot spot has been rewarding and worth visiting. I can't say enough about how much I love Towne. Highly, highly recommended for a visit!
(5)Michael D.
With prices like these you'd think the bartenders wouldn't botch two routine cocktails. When the cherry was omitted from my Manhattan I was willing to overlook it, but when the lemon juice was omitted from my friend's sidecar I was irritated. Have you tried a sidecar sans lemon juice? It's undrinkable. But if you're loaded and 40 and single and you want to make out at a bar you should head on over.
(2)Anne R.
Just finished a fantastic meal. I really loved the menu, fabulous food and excellent flavors. Our server Chris was attentive but not intrusive and knowledgeable about the menu and made excellent suggestions. It was busy Monday night and that is always a good indicator for a restaurant. Great experience. Can't wait to return.
(5)Monta L.
We had a large family dinner here on Saturday night. The food was pretty impressive, the service was prompt, I'd come back here to try other things on the menu. I was immediately skeptical of the "little international flags" on the poorly designed menu (if you're going to be high end like this, please hire a professional), but the sweet/spicy/sour dip that came with our calamari really deserved that little thai flag, and hey- the scallion pancakes were not too shabby either. My rating is somewhat prejudiced by (1) bad graphic design, (2) the clientele- I'm sorry, but the food just doesn't taste good when I have to look at self-gratifying men in untucked shirts with first two buttons undone (hello chest hair), toting along some leggy blonde. But I must admit, the food isn't bad, and if you like looking at them leggy blondes, this is the place for you. If you seek humble dining, look elsewhere.
(3)Ashley L.
Awesome atmosphere and great cocktails.
(5)Jason W.
I had the avocado and lobster eggs benedict and side of cheese grits, a greyhound beverage, and a coffee. The meal was superb, the service was pleasant, and the location and setting near the Prudential Building is very convenient. There are many parking options and tons of shopping. What makes this place even better is there current manager. I had a slight mishap when my leftovers (half my meal) was discarded instead of packaged to go as requested. The waitress apologized. I did not want to make a fuss or make my friends wait being new years day and all, so I paid the bill and left. The food was so good, I kept thinking about it the next day and decided to email the manager to explain the mistake. His replies and response was expedious and very satisfactory. I will definitely be back and will bring others.
(4)Drew C.
How this dump got even two stars is beyond me. It's really too bad because it has a lot of potential - the decor and locations are great. I went to Towne for a friends' birthday a few weeks back, and I really was looking forward to going and enjoying myself. Didn't happen. We had a reservation at 7:30 and were not seated until past 8:00 PM despite the fact that everyone in the seven-member party was there. What's the point of having a res? Apparently they were really working hard to set up our table... When we were finally taken to our table, we noticed that the table was indeed set for a bachelorette party - which we were not a part of. Back to the drawing board - they had to find us a new table. The server came over to take our order after about a half hour. We'll start with some drinks thanks. We order a bottle of wine and some cocktails. That was the last we saw of any type of beverage besides water; the waiter never came back to ask us if we wanted more drinks at all. Funny - I thought that's how restaurants made their money. Guess not. We also asked for some more bread, which was brough over by a young lady who seemed so inconvenienced to be bringing us more bread that you would have thought she was bringing out a basket of rats from the kitchen. Why the long face, pumpkin? I must say, the food was good, but for all the hassle, waiting, and the price (it was about $70 for each of us, and, as I said, that's only with one adult beverage) it didn't do much to please. I would have a hard time being urged to come back.
(1)Alex E.
Very, very, disappointing. Experience #1-- Drinks: At about 1:45am, four of us stopped by for a little night-cap. The bartender was pleasant, made some fairly solid drinks off the menu (this was a while back, so I don't remember which we ordered). At about 1:55am we were approached by large men in suits who instructed us to hand them our drinks. We weren't even half-finished. They told us they had to be careful about "getting shutdown." Isn't that what last call is for? Don't serve drinks if you're going to take them away from people. We weren't drunk, loud or rowdy. Just thirsty, by the time we were rudely kicked-out. Experience #2-- Brunch (party of 12): This morning we had a large family brunch. The reservation was made for an early 11am and the restaurant had just opened. We were literally one of two parties on the second floor (the other was a 4-top). Aside from how strange it is that they serve water in Kimax beakers (I really felt like I was dining in a chemistry lab), the service was very brusque. I was deciding between the crab omelette and the lobster omelette. When the waiter came to take my order, I asked "which do you recommend? Crab or lobster?" he responded by telling me: "oh, they're two different omelettes." Thanks for that. Once the food was brought out, my girlfriend sat without food for about 10 minutes. Then when her omelette finally came out, it wasn't what she had asked for. On top of that, the waiters stood next to the table bickering about who took the order for seat #3 and why it got screwed-up. It can definitely be dicey with a large party, but guys-- have some class. Figure it out in the kitchen and don't argue in front of your table! The food: Literally the worst omelette I have ever had. In fact, a few of us tried the lobster and chive omelette and all were equally disgusted. The omelette itself was dry, overcooked, and underseasoned (and cold, too!). I eat quite a bit of lobster and the meat "garnishing" the omelette was a small, overcooked piece of meat with a greenish tinge. Maybe using body meat with the green "tamale" or digestive gland as garnish isn't the best idea... Inside the omelette was.... well... nothing! There was one lonely piece of tail meat in the omelette. It sort of looked like it had all fallen out. I'm really not that difficult to please when it comes to omelettes, but this was disgusting. Where were the chives? This cold, overcooked egg pancake folded in half with a stray piece of lobster in it looked like a mistake. Not sure what the cherry tomato was stuffed with, but it didn't taste fresh. Given the prices Towne charges and the fact that they market themselves as an upscale, gourmet American kitchen-- Towne should be embarrassed to serve the garbage they put on the table. Sorry, Towne, I'm sticking to Metropolis Cafe for brunch!
(1)Julian H.
Mehch. The space is nice, but everything else about my dinner here was totally lackluster. Food was overpriced, over sweetened, and kinda bland. The crowd seems like they all graduated and got jobs at Fidelity so they don't really go to the foggy goggle anymore. I overheard one of the guys at the next table talking about "banging his neighbor". Awesome! I'm not sure what's up with the decor. Maybe it's some new design trend that I missed, but mostly it reads as schizophrenic. Beakers for glasses, boudoir style velvet chairs, plaid napkins, vaulted subway ceilings, and a room fulla white people...
(2)Christina Z.
Towney, I love your quirks. You have maple cotton candy on the menu. You serve beakers for water glasses. The upstairs kitchen hosts a gigantic cheese grater and gigantic kitchen aide mixer. I have no idea if they are props or functional, but I love whimsical touches such as these. The waiter also debated with me on whether Black Swan is the greatest movie of all time. We added people to our party, and rather than squeeze on extra chairs, they moved us to a more comfortable table at 10p on a weekend night. That's hospitality. I ordered the Gypsy Dancer, which packs a vodka PUNCH and also tried my friend's Shiva's Envy, which is addicting and complex. The food I thought overly expensive for what you're getting. My $16 fettucine alfredo was uninspired, but they luckily removed it from the menu. I wish their items were more cohesive. They seem kind of helter-skelter. This is the kind of place that can't stand alone on good strong cocktails. Their food needs to wow, and I think right now they are concerned with trend, but all in all, good food is what brings ya to the yard. If I could eat the decor, I would. It would certainly be more delicious than my meal. Again, maybe I got the wrong thing?
(3)Julia F.
After the Elite Event at Towne I felt I had to go back and get more, I asked a bunch of ladies (and Tony) to meet me for Brunch on Sunday. What Sunday? Mmm, the one where we lost an hour of sleep. That said, only one of us was on time. I ordered a bloody mary cause everybody else did, and I figured I should finally try one since I managed to avoid ordering them my entire drinking career. They said they were tasty. Turns out I don't like bloody marys. Shame, at $11 each. Our waiter was very nice and personable. He checked in appropriately- especially cause our group showed up in phases. We got a basket full of glazed donut holes and lemon poppyseed bread which were delicious while warm, but quickly turned rock hard when they cooled. The next thing to get to the table? Compliments of the kitchen, four lobster filled popovers for the five of us. Later we saw it said "comp Yelp" on reciept- huh? I checked in well after our meal... The popovers were good, but very full of butter, and shockingly sweet. Not your grandmas' popovers. I was a little disappointed with the brunch menu. It was fairly short. I got chicken and waffles, as I have always been intrigued by the combo. Holy dry food. I had to finish my water to get through it. Highlight of the meal? Teeny doll sized bottle of tabasco stuck in one of the waffles. I've had better waffles, and chicken, just not on the same plate. Grits were good and cheesy though. The bar table we sat at was a chilly location, yet it provided excellent people-watching. This may have been due to the proximity to the door, but I think it was also located right under an hvac vent that was pushing cold air down on our heads. I would return for dinner, or drinks. But being that it's in an annoying location for somebody like me (who drives everywhere) I'd have to say it's unlikely that I'd return. I was sad to find the brunch menu disappointing. I had a gift card, which when I put it on the table, I realized it had an expiration date. We asked if we could still try to use it- the waiter came back and said the manager said no, but that they had comped $20 worth of popovers- nice, but we hadn't asked for them...
(2)Barney B.
Damn you Chronicle for featuring this place and making me think I wanted to really come here and damn you Barney B for being such a follower sometimes. You know what this place is? it's a local, expensive, loud, trendy version of a Cheesecake Factory. I mean seriously, look at the menu and come up with a theme. I even asked the waiter "OK, so what's the deal here" the explanation, in a word, was dizzying. So was his service, so at least there's consistency. For the food, it was definitely tasty. But a $21 burger better blow my socks off (or just blow something), and it didn't. the special added requests to the plate I can't comment on, because they never got delivered after requested (see dizzying service reference). I applaud them for the space. I applaud them for catering to the conventioneers nearby and I applaud all the locals that will flock here, deal with the loud tinny bar, the expensive food, and the stumbling, bumbling servers. and I applaud myself for another review that isn't likely to have an update due to lack of repeat visit. another pair of multi-resto chefs to add to the English, Lynch list of 'quantity over quality' local ventures.
(2)A.K. A.
We hosted an event with Towne and our guests loved the venue and the food. The atmosphere is wonderful and the staff were very accomodating. I'd highly recommend the Back Bay room for group private dining.
(4)Edwin C.
Came here friday night with the gf (wanted to go to Eastern Standard), had been here before for drinks and knew what I was getting myself into. But this time it was strictly a night out for the food. Place is big (2 floors, 3 bars) and so if you can imagine the place is loud, which kind of ruins the dining experience. I mean I couldn't even hear my server and I barely heard my gf sitting next to me. Found it weird that they sat the 2 of us at a round table that could easily fit 6, when we there were many 2 person tables all around us. To the food though, they have a variety of foods from surf to turf, but I wanted to switch it up and leave the veal alone tonight. We started off with like any other place, with our drinks, I actually liked mine, which was gin soda and lemonade, wish I could say the same for the gf. The bread basket was a good compliment to the drinks we were having and it came with interesting sauces for us to spread. We liked it so much we asked for another. For apps we ordered half a dozen oysters (only one type to choose from) garlic naan, and lobster pop overs. Oysters weren't great, garlic naan was dripping with butter along with an abundance of scallions on top, lobster pop overs were good, but don't think it's worth how much they were. For entrees, the gf ordered a salad, but had to get a new one, because it looked like a gallon of dressing was poured onto it. So because I felt daring that night, I ordered fried rabbit (yeah I ate Bugs Bunny haha), it turned out okay, wasn't too happy about it though, wouldn't order again, it really tasted like a cross between dark meat chicken and pork. The server was attentive and knowledgeable, but the food is just lacking for the prices they charge, definitely much better in that area. Good place to have drinks, but not if you're trying to have a quieter dinner at a somewhat nice place. I'd return for drinks and maybe apps.
(3)Takeyon M.
I wish I could give this place zero stars due to the horrible service. First let me start off by saying, I am in the hospitality industry so I am very attentive when it comes to service. I went to Towne today for lunch with a colleague and upon our arrival into this establishment, I must say, from the décor and location it was very impressive. Upon entering the second room, in order to be seated, there was a group of three women standing around looking for the either a waiter or maître d. Low an behold, a waiter who was standing on the other side of the room staring at either a screen or paper work did not notice us and I mean literally for 5-6 minutes did not lift up his head. The waiter I am referring to is the Caucasian male who worked Dec. 28th, 2012 lunch with the point dexter (Super-man) glasses on. After finally getting the attention of this individual, we were finally seated, now with the bad. Upon inspecting our water glasses we both noticed that their glassware was extremely dirty (heavy soap residue). However, the female waiter we had noticed us inspecting them and offered two new clean glasses promptly. Our orders for appetizers were the Caesar Salad and Lobster Bisque. I must say, the Caesar salad was quite delicious but my friend stated that the Lobster Bisque was under seasoned and bland. For our next course I had the Cheddar Burger well done which was again delicious and my friend had the Crab Spaghetti which he stated was good but not enough crab especially after he ordered "extra crab". When the waiter brought our dishes to the table, he forgot to inform my friend that the plate was extremely hot as it just came out from under the broiler. Unfortunately, my friend burnt his hand and the plate left a burn mark on the table linen which was noticeable after the waiter removed it. During the course of our lunch, the waiter never offered us salt or pepper or inquired about whether our meal was good. I'm not in the habit of complaining as you can tell from my history, I barely ever right a review. However, I must say, when a restaurant charges the prices that Towne does, then the service needs to be that. If the saying is true, you get what you pay for, then we just had lunch at a Pub. Trust me, the Concierge got an earful when we returned to work for recommending that place to the Hotel Manger.
(1)JP S.
So I went here a couple months back, and it's pretty cool. I had walked by a few times & said I'd check it out, so I finally did. Not bad. It's definitely on the pricey side, and the service is ehhh (average at best) but if you're looking for a fancy cocktail and some different barfood options, give it a whirl! The atmosphere wasn't as douchey as I thought it would be either. Cool place!
(3)Nna C.
I planned a party for 35 people at Towne which we had tonight. Everyone from the very beginning was helpful, attentive, flexible. Tonight, they were amazing,setting up both in the solarium and the upstairs private room in the event of rain ( they watched the weather all day and called me to give me updates) the food was fabulous and the service very attentive and they made me and my guests feel welcome and special. I highly recommend Towne. I will definitely recommend this venue to friends for events and I will use it again. Kudos to Terrilynn and Levi. As an aside, I've eaten dinner here a few times, and highly recommend it for that as well.
(5)Rudolf A.
Where to begin....Towne is a very versatile place for a restaurant. It has the more casual bar at the beginning of the restaurant for your casual after work gathering and the occasional bar food.Then in the next room is another bar for the more "dressier" crowd who are there to either have the proper dinner at the bar (business types on travel) or Theyre wiating for their party to arrive or the reservation. What surprised me was that on my second visit to Towne (on my birthday) was that they had a second floor and another and less crowded bar!! ^_^ so thumbs up for a nice restaurant with three bars right? The drinks are not bad and price is in the mid higher range. Now as for the food, I like their food here because they have an "international menu". Let's get this clear, you dont go to Town to eat the Turkish dish they have there, if you want a freakin authentic Turkish or whatever ethnic meal you want you go to a restaurant that specifically caters to that. Meals are obviously "americanized" and they have a hint of that taste rather than the authnetic meal. Nonetheless, it gives the customer a huge variety of flavors to select from and the prices are from about 18-30 dollars which for Boston that's about the upper end of the mid-range. The duck, and the lobster pizza were good! unfortunately thos were my friends' meals and I had a taste (mine was the swordfish octopus ans it was meh..) ...for appetizers, the little necks, and oysters were also good. overall I enjoyed the experience and the decor is modern contemporary, I mean we had beakers as the water glass, which sorta made me wanna steal one for my alcoholic concotions that i make at home....but iI digress...awesome place for dinners or just drinks. check it out.
(4)TJ L.
I loved the white eggs omelette with chanterelles and the fact that the snow day made seating immediately so easy!
(4)David G.
I am a fan of the bar only, the food is over priced for the quality. The bartenders are on point and make drinking here an enjoyment.
(4)Ngoc K.
Had Tuna Belly appetizer. It was seared tuna, but when you cut into it, all you could see was the fat from the tuna strung together in a slimmy, disgusting way. On top of that, the waitresses had full on convos with each other, at the bar, in front of patrons. They shared photos from their phones and talking about their mother's yam recipes. Dirty martini consisted of un-pitted olives. Nothing sexier than watching someone spit out pits, Towne.
(1)Sam H.
I've been to Towne a few times and it's huge. There are 4 bars, varying in size, and a lot of seating. Although I've never been with a group, I suspect it would be a good place to take a group due to their size. The food is good, in fact, I don't think I've ever had a bad dish, but I haven't LOVED anything (except maybe the brussels sprouts) and it's overpriced. Now, I live in the immediate area and I KNOW everything is overpriced, but for what you get, it's good, but not worth what they charge. If you sit at the bar, all of the bartenders I've ever met have been fabulous as have been the hostesses. The servers are good, but I've actually only sat in the dining room twice and it wasn't memorable. If you go, I recommend sitting at one of the bars.
(3)Steven C.
HOW TOWNE RUINED VALENTINE'S DAY.... First of all, if I could give zero stars, trust me, I would. I have eaten here before, and that experience was lackluster in its own right. Based on the previous experience, would've gotten 3 stars. However, tonight was a whole new ball game... The story includes bad service, ignorance, and RACISM... yes, racism. Please read on and decide for yourself if you would like to support such an establishment... My wife and I arrived right on time for our reservation on Valentine's Day at 8:45 pm. They were busy, so they told us it'd be another "10 to 15 minutes." So, this is definitely my pet peeve.... I have a reservation... honor it. But fine, it's V-day, I understand, we decide to wait patiently. It becomes 9:00 pm, and they start to seat people THAT ARRIVED AFTER US.... We all had 8:45 reservations... is there a reason we are getting seated later? At 9:10 pm, I start to hear my name getting mentioned. They can't find us... even though we are standing FIVE FREAKIN' FEET AWAY. So what does the hostess do? SHE MAKES THE SLANTY EYE GESTURE TO HER COWORKER TO IDENTIFY US. ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDING ME?!! Am I not in one of the most highly educated cities on the east coast? Is ignorance seriously still this rampant? Growing up in California, I never dealt with this type of thing... and I was just floored... I immediately walk up to her and proceed to say, "Are you kidding me? Is this seriously how you needed to find us? Would you like me to build a railroad for you??? (ok, this last one was probably both lost on them and unnecessary...). Management comes over, tries to smooth things over. Management says, "We're sorry, she doesn't represent all of us. I hope you trust us that we do not all feel this way." I respond, "Well, your choice to employ such a person who is the face of your restaurant makes it seem that way." What's her answer? "I can't believe she did that! I mean, she's a foreigner too, so she should understand." REALLY? Your answer is that she's ALSO A FOREIGNER SO SHE SHOULDN'T BE RACIST? How about.... SHE SHOULDN'T BE RACIST...PERIOD!?? They offered to comp us a drink each.... not worth it. No way I am supporting this kind of business. So if you agree, and would rather not support an ignorant business that hires folks that disparage others BASED ON RACE.... BOYCOTT THIS RESTAURANT NOW.
(1)Kavitha M.
Very sad to say that I will no longer be going here for brunch and this used to be one of my favorite brunch spots. They changed the fried chicken in the "fried chicken and waffles" to tasteless, bad quality chicken strips!! How could they??
(2)Clara L.
This place is hoppin'. Went here around 7:30 pm on a Friday night, and it was packed. Their drinks were solid, but their food was pretty overpriced. They don't really have a bar menu, and most of the food is difficult to eat when it is packed and you're standing, smushed in the back of the room. I did notice that they had a $35 3-course prix fixe lunch deal going on, probably worth trying out. Would try to get a seat upstairs in the future to grab a bite. Fun atmosphere, lots of young professionals.
(3)Julie R.
When I first walked in Towne, I immediately loved it. The place had a glam factor with a red carpet and a Towne wall to photograph in front of. Lots of pretty people stood at the doors to let you in. It was like, is this LA or Boston? Then inside it was so new, contemporary and huge! The large party we had took a few high tops at the bar in the second half of the restaurant. We got a bunch of food to share and drinks. There is a devoted lobster menu available at the bar with all lobster options. I had the signature lobster popovers at Scampo previously and knew I wanted them again. We were able to glance at the dining room menu but I don't think anyone ordered off it. The popovers were again delicious. I wished they were larger or more given cause $10 for 2 small phyllo rolls filled with a spoonful of lobster was lame. The $17 flat breads were not the best. The duxelles had locally harvested mushrooms and truffle oil. It was better then the margarita, which was dry. The lobster tails were small and tough. Other items were consumed but I don't remember what cause they weren't memorable. The warm chocolate cake was good but the cherry loaded ice cream wasn't liked too much. Nothing we had really wowed me. I did love the cotton candy that came out comp cause dessert took forever. Since I was there for over 2 hours I got a good look around the dining room. I noticed a lot of wood paneling that was bringing back the 70's vibe along with the red gusseted booths. All all the rooms have different decor cause the first one I entered looked more modern. The choice of artwork is interesting. The mural in the back dining room shows nipple and the ladies room sketch has man's butt. Sexy!! Service was friendly and got slower as the place filled up. The bill was $370 for 7 people with drinks, apps, and 1 dessert. Drinks are pricey, as are basic glasses of wine. Towards the end of the night the place got packed with cougars! I'd say its worth a drink to check out the city's newest scene, though you can definitely get a better value/food at many other nearby places.
(3)Ryan D.
So far I have visited towne 3 times. But I feel like after last nights visit i can pretty much sum it up With a 3 star review. First of all the decor of this restaurant is super chic and contemporary, the style of the restaurant flows as each room has a corky theme. Unfortunately I wish I could rave about the product as much as the design. My first visit I only went for drinks. The drink menu is limited with 7 house cocktails. I started off with a cocktail called race day. Woodford reserve,cointreau,orange,eggwhite and angostura bitters. Now on paper this sounds like a beautiful cocktail but the bartender that made it was not so experienced. No dry shake and she just free poured everything. The thing that bugged me was that....i understand when you have a full bar you want to take short cuts, But when im paying $14 per cocktail i expect nothing but perfect. It honestly tasted like pure whisky, wasn't balanced couldn't taste any of the other ingredients and no froth from the egg whites. I was lucky enough to have Alexie the Bar Manager personally make another one which was good but to be honest it didn't wow me. My second Visit i had a few bar apps and decided to just go with beer just to be safe. THE LOBSTER POP OVER IS A MUST TRY. they add just a touch of honey which really made the flavors pop. The lobster pizza was also great. Finished it off with a few clown shoes. Last nights visit, we had reservation for 9:30pm made personally by chef lydia shire. I have been a big fan on her cooking since Locke Ober. We arrived around 9:20 waited for about 20-25 min until being seated. Our waiter was J.L which i guess stood for jonathan something...jonathan didn't have a clue about what was on the drink or food menu. He kept getting help from other staff members to answer for him. We started off with a bottle of Gewürztraminer which we figured would have been great with the tuna tar tar and lobster pop overs. The only problem here is...we drank 2 bottles of wine before our first corse arrived which took about a hour. : ( . Our main corse took about another 45 min. we ordered crispy duck, grilled tuna, prime rib roast , and lobster tail. My prime rib roast was so salty that it was inedible. It did come with a sauce cart which all the sauces were good but when combined with the meat the salt overpowered everything. The food was all decent....but thats just it.... decent.....not bad but not amazing. No wow factor.... 2 hours for dinner ended up being a little under $500.00. It didn't live up to the hype but this place does have potential. Give it a few months it will get better... cool fact: alot of cougars
(3)Diana P.
I met a friend here for drinks that I hadn't seen in awhile and wanted to check it out. Based on the photos on their website I had a clear picture in my mind. I didn't make it around the place that much just in the bar area so my review is a little skewed I guess. The place was definitely popular, it was packed which was fine but people were kind of bumping into you constantly and it was pretty loud - not the best place to meet a friend you really wanted to catch up with but fine for a night out with the your usual suspects. The drinks were ok nothing special in my opinion although they seemed to have a decent specialty drink llist. The wait staff was great though I have to say. We were sitting on stools off to the side and someone came up and took our drink order which was pretty awesome. My number one downfall of this place is the music though. The way it was portrayed online I seemed a bit more swanky like a "Dirty Laundry" song type or something, I wasn't a huge fan of the random selection which included Ace of Base haha. Overall, good hot spot I guess for young professionals. I heard mixed things on the food.
(3)J S.
Had dinner at Towne last night and I was surprisingly disappointed. The space is beautiful, specifically the large windows in the private dining room where we were seated for dinner. However the vibe in that part of the restaurant was unfortunately dull. It seemed more like being in a hotel event space which I'm assuming it's normally supposed to be used for. The space would have been much better utilized with as a bar area. That being said the dining room bar on the 2nd floor was a totally different place. It almost felt like we were in a different restaurant altogether. It was hip and happening and if we had dined in there it would have been a much better experience. The bars downstairs also had a great vibe and I could see myself going there for drinks often. Now on to the food. I was extremely disappointed, especially because I had such high expectations due to it being a Lydia Shire establishment. Most of what we ordered was either very salty or very bland. I order the lobster bisque for an appetizer which was pretty pricey at $15 for a small portion. It was extremely salty and I was shocked the kitchen would even send it out. For the entree I had the cod fillet which after reading the description on the menu sounded delicious. It was not. The fish itself was very bland which I expected as cod usually is but the accompaniments were bland as well. The chowder sauce they had it in was good but definitely not enough of it. For a $30 entree it should have been delicious. My friend had the avocado salad with pork crackling which was just ok. The pork was dry and the portion was small. All that being said, my other friend had the seared tuna and said it was amazing. The green beans were also very yummy. The bread basket was good but not enough of it and the fact that they charge $4.00 if you ask for more was ludicrous considering how pricey the entrees are. That put a bad taste in my mouth...no pun intended. The desserts were just ok. The chocolate cake or strudel was not what we expected. The angel food cake and creme brulee were decent. The service was really good and everyone was friendly including our waitress. She did an awesome job. All in all I think it's a great space and will be a neighborhood hot spot for years to come, however they need to improve the food. I did take into consideration that it was the first night so perhaps things will improve as time goes on. I would definitely go back for drinks but would be hesitant to go for dinner again. It was not worth the expensive bill.
(3)Paula E.
The food was excellent. The service was excellent. Between the 8 people in our party, we tried the majority of the menu. The only reason I can't give this restaurant 5 stars is because a live mouse ran across the floor while we were still seated, but after we'd already eaten. The waiter explained that there has been some construction in the area and the mice are a result. He was very nice, and comped our dessert. I'd want to know about the mice, and that's why I'm sharing with you....
(3)David m.
The first time I went, after waiting at the bar for 10 minutes, we left without getting a drink because we got 0 service. Tried again and it was less crowded and sat at the bar. I had a good dirty martini, only $9! the lobster popovers were awesome, a little on the sweet side, but lots of lobster meat. maybe the third visit will add more stars...
(3)Lynda M.
My husband and I stopped in for brunch today, after hitting the Pru Mall. The 1st floor bar was dead, so we dined upstairs in the large dining room. The space is beautiful, and I like the atmosphere. It was pretty quiet. Our waiter was nice, but the pace of the meal seemed a bit slow. We ordered drinks, Prosecco and an Irish Coffee. We had to ask twice for sugar for the table. By the time the sugar arrived the coffee was lukewarm. Eww. Hubby enjoyed the donut like bread options. I ordered the cheddar omelet, and my husband the bacon sandwich with "extreme fries". Then we waited. And waited. When the food arrived, it was lukewarm. I saw full plates just sitting at the kitchen waiting, and waiting. I am sure our meals were amongst them. The food was decent, my omelet was yummy, it just would have been really good if it was hot. Same for the stuffed tomato. That was more like ice cold. My husband's extreme fries were about 5 potato chips. Not sure where the word extreme fits in. We would come back again to give it a try, maybe this time the food will be warmer, but I think it will be more of a drink place for us when we are in the area.
(3)Helen B.
Towne for brunch/lunch - that is my most recent and best experience yet. The food was amazingly delicious. The de-constructed fish chowder a true surprise and very good. The pizza was so good and filling. We tried to shop afterward but we were so full !!! Service very good - which I have to mention because it has been my main complaint of Boston restaurants for the last 18 months. Everyone thinks I'm picky, but the service was professional and pleasant.
(4)MJ S.
Went for a Saturday night dinner on the early side. It may be a "scene" but the food (dry Peking Duck and oily schnitzel) was mediocre at best. All appearance, no taste. Restaurant wasn't busy so wait staff stood in place appearing to glare at us. Sort of unsettling. Passed on dessert. With so many fine restaurants in the city why go here? Maybe the tourist and convention trade can keep Towne going, but I don't think that the restaurant deserves to make it.
(2)Catherine H.
I have been to Towne for drinks and apps, and wasn't very impressed. We had a pizza that was NOT good, but the lobster pop overs were tasty. Yesterday, we went for a pre-Valentine's day brunch. They totally redeemed themselves! I had eggs benedict, and the BF had fried chicken and waffles. Both were amazing! I don't know if I would go back for dinner, but this is definitely on our brunch rotation.
(3)Michelle H.
Towne is just what Boston needed! The front bar is a hot scene - loud and lively, but for a special treat, head to the back bar and ask for Michael. The bar is adjacent to the first floor dining room and is a more intimate experience. If you are lucky enough to score seats, settle in for celebrity treatment . Michael will whip up a cocktail to suit your tastes or help you select just the right wines to go with decadent, beautifully plated food. This bar can also be four rows deep on busy night, but even then you are in good hands and will not wait long for an expertly mixed drink.
(5)Thomas G.
Great food & service! The lobster pizza is a must! We went on opening night, so I hope the restaurant remains at this caliber. The atmosphere is trendy but casual. Fun night out, especially for special occasions!
(5)Yoli D.
I have been to Towne three times but have only eaten there twice. The first time I ate there, it was downstairs in the room closest to the entrance. I liked the atmosphere. The server was friendly and attentive even though it was extremely busy that night. Food and drinks were great. My friend and I enjoyed the entire experience. After that night, it became my friend's favorite restaurant. The second time I went there it was for a brunch to celebrate a friend's birthday. We sat in semi-private room upstairs. We were the only table that our server was waiting on (that I know of) and we went without water for so long a couple times, that one of the ladies in our party got up, walked across the room to get the pitcher of water, walked all the way back over to the table, filled 10 glasses with water and returned the pitcher without anyone at the restaurant noticing. The server didn't have any menu knowledge at all! Didn't know what chanterelles were mushrooms and didn't know that the deep fried poached eggs were deep fried after being poached. My food was served cold... a pet peeve of mine, but I let that slide since I was with a large party. The chicken and waffles that I had heard so many good things about from one friend ended up being okay, yep, just okay. I don't have a desire to go back here, but would go with my friend that loves it.
(3)Hao W.
very nice food and desserts, good service too.
(4)tureg u.
Trendy, bar, restaurant, in great location. excellent bar food. did not try the restaurant. good and friendly service.
(3)Bianca D.
Finally a great eat in experience! I ate here last weekend with a group of friends from work and must say not only was the food great, but the service as well! One of the better dine in experiences I've had in Boston! I definitely recommend this restaurant and the wasabi steak!
(4)Bob H.
My new favorite restaurant. Brunch was terrific. The dinner menu seemed expensive, but brunch was very reasonable. I had a crispy haddock with a blueberry muffin, my wife had smoked salmon and my daughter had an "over the sink" BLT. All meals were great.
(5)Anya R.
I have only gone to Towne to grab drinks and have only stayed downstairs. I think on the weekends, this place is great for getting a drink before you head out as it does get fairly packed around midnight. At that time, the bouncers also love making people wait in line outside (I swear it's for show only). The drinks are nothing special but it's usually a pretty fun crowd (20s-30s with some creepy old men). Unlike other places in Boston, men actually offer to buy you drinks (but this could be because there are a lot of out of towners that come here). Anyways, overall a pretty fun and trendy spot for a night out!
(4)Pete M.
My wife and I had dinner at Towne on Friday night. I was so excited as I've wanted to try this place out ever since I saw that it had opened. Jasper White and Lydia Shire, what could go wrong. Unfortunately we were both hugely disappointed with this spot, would not go back, and would definitely recommend people take their hard earned money elsewhere. We started off with the lobster popover for an appetizer. This, actually, was quite good. I good combination of the doughy popover with the lobster meat and a sweet, syrup like glaze made for a great start to the meal. That's where things went wrong! My wife ordered the swordfish and I had the salmon. After one bit of her swordfish, we realized that it was completely raw. Our waiter apologized and took it back to the kitchen and my wife thought she would get a new, properly cooked piece of fish, but they brought out the same one that she cut into. Now I would expect this from the 99, but when you're shelling out half your mortgage for a piece of swordfish I demand better! This is when we realized that this place was all hype and no delivery. My salmon was standard. Nothing that you couldn't do at home with a fresh piece of fish. I was excited that it came with yams but instead of some hearty potatoes, it was more of a drop of puree used more for decoration. We finished the night off with an apple tart for desert. Again, this was nothing that you couldn't make at home, except the ice cream they used had a weird, tart aftertaste. Instead of trying to be fancy or on the cutting edge, they should have just used regular vanilla ice cream for this dish. I think that this place is a growing problem for new restaurants in Boston. There is all this hype about getting a famous celebrity chef (or two) and that will be enough for a successful restaurant. Towne is extremely expensive and if I was going to recommend a nice spot for people to spend a lot of money on, this would NOT be it. If you want celebrity chef restaurants that are worth the money, try any of Chef Jaime Mammano's restaurants (Mistral, Sorrellina, Moo, etc.)
(2)Paul B.
Went for brunch with my brother on Saturday afternoon cause they sent me a free $25 gift card good only for lunch or brunch that was about to expire at the end of the month. Too bad $23.50 was taken to pay for two very small glasses of OJ and two pots of tea. Nothing on the menus about price on coffee, tea or OJ. Both were nice, but with no liquor in either prep, I would never expect to pay more than $10 for 4 beverages. Also, the portions of food are pretty stingy for the price, you'll need that side of bacon and cheese grits to feel right in the belly when you're done. The food was good and service was OK, but I'll never go back; not to pay $85 including tip for breakfast food for two.
(2)Leandrew R.
Went here for a work dinner on a Saturday evening. Lively crowd at the bar while I wanted, great photography on the wall. Was promptly seated upstairs in a gorgeous room and proceeded to have a delicious dinner. Waitress was nice, personable and took great care of us. Food was pretty good ... got scallops appetizer (uummm) + skirt steak with fried green onions. Can't go wrong. Once you get through the crowd and actually get a table you'll be a happy camper.
(5)Abbey L.
I went back to Towne for brunch and it was great. I had the lobster omelet and my husband had poached eggs on steak hash, both of which were excellent. Brunch came with free donuts and lemon poppy bread - both delicious. Service was excellent as well.
(3)Jack F.
Had dinner with a bunch of friends on a Tuesday night. Had heard about this place and wanted to try it out. I thought the menu was a bit weird. Had a difficult time making my choice. Food was average. One of the dinner portions was so small we thought it was an appetizer. Expensive.
(2)Rissa F.
I loved almost everything about Towne. The decor is beautiful and really makes you feel like you've stepped out of Boston. They paid such attention to detail when designing this place, and I can't help but rave about it. We made a reservation but had to wait 15 minutes but it was no big deal and got a drink in the bar, which was packed! I couldn't believe how full the restaurant was for it being so new. For dinner, between the 4 of us, we ordered the caesar salad (not your average ceasar), the tartare duo (amazing! tuna and sirloin tartare were unreal.), the fettuccine (mediocre and fairly small), and the duck (a little overdone but the huckleberry sauce complemented the duck so well that it was still so delicious), and the creme brulee for dessert (so good!). We ordered a bottle of wine that finally came to the table when we were basically finished eating and for the most part our server was never around when we needed her. You could see the server getting in arguments with the food runner when he brought out extra dishes, which was so unprofessional. All in all, Towne was amazing - the food, the decor, the drinks, and overall experience- but definitely needs to brush up on their service skills. Since its a new restaurant, I'm sure it will just take a little time for Towne to be one of Boston's best.
(4)Bob R.
My wife and I went to Towne with our grad student son who knows how to pick em' when we're paying. I had read about the place and, to be honest, was a little concerned that it might be trying to be too much to too many different people. I walked away pleased that they had pulled it off! First you walk into a very busy bar (8:30pm) with a diverse, fairly casual crowd - very happening. As we were an hour late for our reservation (car trouble and we called in advance), our table upstairs wasn't ready (we wanted to see the kitchen) and we were offered a table in the downstairs dining room. We opted to wait at the bar upstairs for a table there. The place is big but the layout is such (main bar plus two others, two levels, three different dining rooms) that wherever you settle in, you feel like you're in a "regular" size restaurant. We really liked the décor - kind of a modern sophisticated elegance. One round of drinks at the upstairs bar - small bar but nice. My wife had one of their cocktails while my son and I had standard cocktails - all nicely done while we watched the action in the kitchen - very entertaining. On to our table. Very comfortable seats with a great view of everything. There has been much written about the "beaker" water glasses but I thought they were fine - they were actually smooth on the lips while drinking. The laminated menu was also fine - if anything, the wine list was a little awkward to physically handle - the cover flops around. The food. That's what we were here for and it was all great. The bread basket is amazing - served with 3 beautiful spreads: an eggplant, a butter, and a cod roe - all as good to eat as they were to look at. We shared all the food. The oysters - fresh and delicious with two different sauces. The tartare was fresh and very tasty also presented very nicely. The clam linguine with the white sauce was amazing. The pasta was perfect as were the cockles and the sauce... very rich with enough garlic bread to soak it up. The ravioli (6 -three spinach and three meat) were also perfectly cooked - very good. We added a sausage and pepperoni pizza with a wonderfully thin crisp crust. Wanting to try an entrée, we split the short ribs. This was delicious with the meat falling off the bone. It had a nice, almost home style sauce (though more complex) and was served with a sweet potato puree and pea greens which were great. We were full but had to try some deserts: we had the angel food cake with the cotton candy. After initially being afraid of it (it's huge!) we dug in and it was very good and a lot of fun. We also had a very good chocolate dessert with ice cream. The bill? $208, which included 3 cocktails, a glass of wine, 4 beers (a comment on the beer - our second round came in different glasses than the first - what's with that?) and 3 coffees. We were full and very satisfied. $208? Not bad at all. When we left, there was a line full of very attractive young people (ah, to be 30 again) to get into the jammed packed bar. Towne gets knocked for having no single identity - I found that a plus. I can go back again and again (which I plan to do) and have a different experience each time. They really pulled it off nicely.
(5)Caroline O.
We went to Towne on a Friday night with our favorite foodie couple to sample the fare and spend quality time together over the Thanksgiving holiday. We were really hoping to love it. Hubby and I and our 2 friends made reservations and we were glad we did since without a reservation-you would feel like a bum walking in off the street. We were unimpressed with the pretentiousness at the front door along with the red rope that led us into the place that made me feel like I might just be entering Zanizibar back in the early 90's again. Mr. White & Ms. Shire? Try Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. This is the personality disorder restaurant of our lives. Everything was so disjointed. The too crowded bar in the front with the investment bankers trying to impress the hoochie mamas, the noisy hipster lounge in the back with the wanna be's, the awkward ride in the elevator to actually take us up to our table in the upstairs restaurant which was quiet as a tomb. The equally akward elevator ride down again to use the bathroom. But we had to walk through the crowded back bar to get there. Bizzarre. The decor was totally mismatched as was the menu. Nothing made sense. Were we in a fine dining restaurant or an industrial chic warehouse? Were we looking at the menu options from the Cheesecake Factory where you can order a multitude of any country's cuisine with the watered down american twist added? I just don't know. I had the lobster bisque to start and while there was plenty of chunky lobster meat in it-the meat was too chewy and the bisque too watery. It took a long time for our meals to arrive and the restaurant was not packed. I ordered the short ribs for my meal and while they were the right consistency and cooked right -the dish was way too salty. The sides were not impressive and I felt the service to be lackluster. After dinner-I just wanted to go home and bathe my toungue in lemon water bath but our group insisted on ordering desert. I ordered an expresso and it was just again, not great. I had a bite of hubby's dessert which was so forgettable-I actually forget what it was. Biba, I will always remember you fondly, Summer Shack-you had me at hello, Towne Stove and Spirits (What was it supposed to be a Pub? I Just don't know!) I would rather watch Sybill do her thing on T.V. than experience it in a restaurant.
(2)U V.
The food is ok.... nothing special or memorable about it.... for the price i'm paying i do expect the food to be above average.... the wait for the table took forever..... i ended up kept walking to them to ask if the table is ready... about literally almost 2 hrs finally the table is ready.... my friend and i were there around 5:30.... we didn't end up eating till almost 7:30....i think my friend and i only got the table because we kept asking them if the table is ready... there are about 4 tables free the whole time..... we can see them from where we were standing... we thought someone might have reservation there already but about 2 hrs we were just staring at those empty tables.... seriously! we should have go somewhere else to eat and come here for the drink.... The waiter was nice and it does make up for the wait but like i mentioned earlier the food was ok.... it's definitely not worth the wait... might come back for the drink though....
(3)Liz W.
Overall, I really do love this restaurant. I have been here a few times, really just for drinks, and have had great experiences. The drinks are fantastic, the bartenders are always very attentive, and the atmosphere is great. So needless to say when my boyfriend and I went here for dinner the other night, I was shocked at the terrible, and really downright rude service we received from our waiter. The hostess was great, she was very friendly and accommodating, and seated us an hour prior to our reservation! Our waiter seemed like he was in a terrible mood right away, like he was doing us a favor by waiting on us! The food at Towne is delicious, but they don't have very many vegetarian options. Since, I don't eat meat, I ordered the gnocchi off of the appetizer menu (which was excellent!) The waiter seemed very irritated I didn't order an entree, but sorry, buddy, I'm not going to eat meat just so our bill can be higher for you! After that, we saw him once, only when he stopped over briefly to ask if we liked our dinner. He never came over and asked if we wanted another round of drinks, and we sat for 20 minutes after the busboy cleared our plates and waited, drinks and water glasses empty. He then had to audacity to ask if we wanted desert! We decided to get some more drinks elsewhere after. I'd like to try Towne again, but after the experience in the dining room, I can't say that I will. All three stars are for food and beverage, zero for service in the dining area. If you go to Towne, stick to the bar area!
(3)Jamie M.
We usually come here late on Saturday nights for a drink, but finally came in for dinner last week. Our server was friendly, knowledgeable and "just the right" level of attentive for a married couple out on a not so frequent "date night". The second floor dining area (we usually only see the downstairs bars) was unconventional yet classy, with beautiful high ceilings and a view of the kitchen. Everything we had was good, but I particularly enjoyed the simple butter lettuce & avocado salad, which had a refreshing citrusy vinaigrette & crisp lettuce; and the lobster popovers. These popovers are amazing! A *must* for anyone who comes here-nice chunks of fresh lobster and a great flaky crust. My husband had the duck and thought that it was cooked perfectly (a big deal for him, because more often than not when he orders duck, it's overcooked) and the combination of sweet pineapple, gingery vinegar and root vegetable was a great complement to the grilled duck. We didn't order dessert, but have heard great things, so based on this visit, and the promise of a delicious finish, we will be back, and not just for an end of the evening nitecap!
(5)Sarah A.
I really wanted to like this place, but overall, I was underwhelmed. The location is definitely super convenient and a very short walk from my work. The atmosphere is gorgeous and I was very impressed with the dining room. I was a little annoyed that although there was a great deal of space in the restaurant, my friend and I were seated at a table, that although nice, was a bit too close to the kitchen. We could hear some of the kitchen equipment buzzing away in the background and some of the servers seemed to congregate behind us when they weren't busy to chat. Annoying. I was impressed with the generous bread basket provided that included a flat bread, a nut and fruit bread and more traditional rolls with fresh, salted butter. Our waiter was helpful in answering questions about the menu, but was a bit overbearing, repeatedly coming back to check to see if we were ready to order after we told him twice we needed more time. Also, when we told him our appetizer order, he abruptly disappeared, leaving us with menus on the table instead of taking our entree order. Weird. I ordered the lobster bisque and my friend and I shared the shrimp appetizer. The bisque was AWFUL. I was so glad that I got the cup instead of the bowl. It was hard to finish. The small piece of lobster was the only redeeming aspect. The bisque was not well blended and even had a clump of flour in it. Eww. Also, in my opinion, there was not enough flavor. It was neither creamy nor broth-like. It was just bad. Thankfully, the shrimp appetizer was much better. The shrimp were coated in a light tempura batter and it was also served with a generous portion of green beans and chips that reminded me of the Terra brand veggie chips. It also came with a wasabi cream sauce and soy sauce on the side. I'd definitely get this again. For my entree, I had the salmon. This was very tasty and well prepared. It was also a large portion and I had to take most of it home. The best part of this dish was the purple yam puree that accompanied the salmon. There was also some bok choy on it. I am not sure I'd get this again since it seemed a bit overpriced to me at $31, but it was good. Other things I did not like: the waiter took away our appetizer before we'd finished and he tried to clear my drink before I'd finished. I snatched it away from him but he didn't even apologize! After we finished eating, we walked around to explore the place. There is another bar area on the second floor that also seems to have a small bar menu. I kinda wish we'd gone there. The menu options looked way tastier and the prices were much more reasonable. I think I will come back and hit up the bar for drinks, apps or the bar menu. Unless someone else is paying, I think I'm done with the dining room. Bad bisque and bad service make this a solid 3 star review.
(3)Matt I.
Drinks were good. Lobster popovers were amazing, if just a bit too sweet. My steak was good, but my date's fish was on the boring side. Luckily, I was sat on the 2nd floor, away from the college bar crowd on the 1st floor. I'd come back for the atmosphere of the 2nd floor alone.
(4)Abir H.
Been here several times. They have some really good dishes. Came here after the santa speedo run and saw most of the runners run in to get warm which was really entertaining. They start u off with some great fresh and warm doughnut balls and mini muffins, i love those! Try their burger its really good and their fries came out nice and hot! They also make a good eggs Benedict. Most of their brunch dishes are good and if ur in the mood for fish their fish n chips is pretty good too.
(4)Jaime M.
Bottom line: Staff needs more training if restaurant is going to charge so much. It had been years since I went to Towne for dinner so I was excited when my friend suggested it for dinner last night. I told the waiter I wanted something on the LIGHTER side-- a seafood dish... he recommended the snapper. I ordered it and it came dripping in oil and butter and a weird 'sauce' (no mention of it on the menu or by him)... it was sort of luke warm and just not good at all. Apps were caesar and shrimp cocktail-- they were pretty standard-- not that hard to mess these up. Little things happened-- drinks took forever, the wrong side dish was brought, at one point the food runner brought us another tables' meal. Service was poorly timed. We couldn't find our waiter half the time and I didn't feel taken care of properly. The meal came to around $200 without the tip. I started laughing because I felt completely cheated. If Towne is going to charge so much for food they need to train their staff better; have them KNOW the menu, have set "check in" points during your guests' meal. This place is so not worth it & I won't be back any time soon.
(1)Bobby C.
If you are looking for a more slightly creative brunch, Towne is an option. A friend and I went on a Sunday. No wait...lots of tables as there are two floors. We both had the roast beef skillet hash crisped with organic eggs. Great presentation. Food and ambiance was ok. Probably not the best place if you want a casual brunch date. Service was decent also.
(3)Neal R.
My wife and I had been here for dinner before and had a good experience. Although pricey, the food and atmosphere were good and the service pretty good as well. We decided to bring our daughter in last night for her 20th birthday and were greeted warmly by Keisha, the receptionist, who took our coats and was quick with a smile. Once we were seated, however, the warm welcome was quickly dampened by our server who clearly didn't want to be there. He was seemingly inexperienced and in a hurry all night and was never available when we had questions. He was short with us and didn't listen to our request and subsequently made several errors with our orders. Although, despite the service, most of the meal was quite good, we all agreed we'd had much better for far less. The atmosphere is ok but this particular experience was certainly not worth of the price and we will not be in a hurry to return. There are a lot of exceptional restaurants in Boston and Towne fell well short of that last night. For a place with such a good reputation we feel the wait staff should be of much higher caliber and will not recommend Towne to our friends.
(2)N D.
Stopped in for drinks with a couple of girlfriends tonight. While sitting at the downstairs bar (in the front room, facing Boylston), I thought I saw a shadow bolt across the floor. I wrote it off until a few minutes later, another MOUSE ran under the table. Within minutes, no fewer than FOUR mice were scampering about, fearlessly exploring the restaurant floor. It was disgusting. We reported this to the Bartender, who said he would tell management. He came back a few minutes later and said they would like to offer us a complimentary dessert for our poor experience. Thanks, but no thanks. I don't think I want any food from here if the mice are bold enough to go exploring while customers are still sitting around! I did like this bar, but now I doubt I'll go back anytime soon.
(1)Noshii R.
So I want to like this place and for some masacistic reason we keep returning to Towne. However, lately the place has taken a new twist. 1) a few months ago they had a horrible sewage leak in the middle of the restaurant...seriously it stunk and instead of shutting down the place they offered their patrons cotton candy...as if to brainwash them into thinking that they were at the circus and that the stench was the porter potty's???? Suffice to say we just had like 4 bottles of vino and bypassed dinner altogether. 2) The second time we returned a fight broke out!! Like really...it went on and on an....it started at the opposite side of the bar and somehow ended up in our laps. I had to hide the steak knives off of our table as I was afraid they would be used by someone. The most surprising thing about this fight was the fact that not single server, manager or security person stepped in...what the heck? You are suppose to be a 'fine dinning' establishment and yet you have no security. No police were called and no one was asked to leave...DOES THIS SOUND SAFE??? I will never ever be going to Towne again...its just a sh*tshow...actually the name is befitting as it is a perfect spot for Townies.
(1)Mike O.
*** THIS REVIEW IS BASED ON THE SCENE, ALONE *** The goods: Great location, lovely decor, friendly staff and a fair selection of standards you'd find at most mainstream bars. The bads: Typical Boylston St crowd, just with a bit more money to throw around, and maybe five years past the Pour House days. The restrooms are on the far end of the restaurant, making it a terribly long trip if you're hanging out at the bar. You may want to pass on coming here on a Saturday night unless you like the body-to-body "we're packed in here like we're on a train in India at rush hour" vibe. Ladies, you will be hit on, several times over, by young lads and old grampies, alike. Some will tickle your fancy with some entertaining conversation, no doubt, and some will just tickle you. So if your keen on the creep factor, this may be your place!
(2)Megan L.
Love. Had brunch for a party of 12 here (today) and it was fantastic! There was much debate about what to order, and the majority of the table ended up with the minute steak with a deep fried poached egg and creamed spinach. Feeling like a bit of a lemming, I got this too. It was DELICIOUS. My steak was done perfectly, the creamed spinach was wonderful and the poached egg was such a nice element of the dish. Other favorites included the malted waffle with salted caramel and bananas foster, and a LOT of sangria. Also the hot mini donuts were fantastic. Service was friendly, quick and efficient. As much of a pain as it must have been, they gave us separate checks with no hassle at all. Shout out to our waiter Chris!! The decor is beautiful and it's in such a convenient location. I was super impressed--will definitely be back!
(5)S T.
Tuesday - Lunch - Restaurant Week ($15.13) Choice of soup or salad, I chose salad and entree" Burrata & Kumato Tomato Salad with white anchovies, old balsamic Giannone Roto Chicken with Yukon garlic mashed, roasted shallot jus My Mom had: New England Clam Chowder Vermont crackers Lemon Sole "Fish & Chips" with tarragon-tartar sauce, malt vinegar I enjoyed the Giannone Roto CHicken very much but the baby carrots were ... a whee bit hard to chew but the whole dish was delicious. The salad was oh good. Especially with the anchovies. My Mom's lemon sole fish and chips was okay. Perfectly fried not greasy but wasn't all that amazing..the fries was great! I don't believe our waiter even came back to ask how things are going or even asked if we wanted desert menu. Restaurant Week is when I go to restaurants I never go to and maybe come back in the future. Towne is a maybe I'll come back ... based on the mediocre service I received. Oh and why's the dinning room entrance behind the bar? How can people who never came here see it? We definitely didn't see any hostess or anyone. The bartender saw us wandering and pointed to the back.
(3)S S.
Excellent food and service. The brussel sprouts are seriously better than any others I've ever had- with cream and bacon no less. Halibut with beurre blanc- yum, yum, yum! Wine list was impressive. The space is nicely designed, but not enough attention paid to the acoustics. Really loud and hard to hear my dinner mate over the clanking of dishes and overall volume of everyone around us.
(4)Sandra J.
I want to love The Towne. SO MUCH potential! Location: Perfect Available Parking: Perfect Menu: Great! -- the food is a tad too salty (not only my opinion, I've taken a poll -- I am happy to present graphs and charts, if asked). Waitstaff: SLOW! Hostess: Comes across as snooty but I think they are just young and unseasoned. During my most recent visit, there were fifteen of us with reserved seating. The waitress was terribly slow and overwhelmed. Not sure how. We were an easy group...ordered appetizers and pitchers of Sangria. At one point we ordered more Sangria, she left and returned FORTY MINUTES later to tell us they were out of Sangria. Huh?! How does THAT happen. Okay, so we ordered wine. Um....crickets. We had to ask for another waiter. And, while you may be thinking it was crazy busy and we weren't patient. It was not. The service is that bad every time I go. But yet, I keep returning, hoping "this time" the service will be better.
(3)Adriana T.
I ve been to Towne many times before but I have never written a review on it. It's a huge place - gigantic!!! 2 bars, 2 dining rooms + the bar dining room!! 2 story restaurant!!! I have had diner at Towne 3 times so far - the food is good- it better be good for how much it costs. Based on the sever you have you can have a nice or a not so nice dining experience..I have had both of them. The bars are always pact- last weekend in particular but it was too hot and we couldn't even stay there for longer than a drink. The crowd is mid-late 20s to mid-late 30s. Forgot to mention..the drinks are expensive $10-$16. It is a nice bar and great location but Lolita or Red Lantern have a much better vibe than Towne.
(3)D M.
I came for the Yelp Elite Event in 2011, and also just recently for post Red Sox game cocktails. I really enjoyed hanging out at the bar when we came in, and the setting is really nice. The crowd was an interesting mix of people, and went from an older crowd when we first got in to bachelorettes in the bar area around the time we left. The waitstaff was very pleasant and our cocktails came out quickly. I ordered the blueberry lemonade because it was a super humid night, and it was a mix of blueberry vodka, house lemonade, pomegranate juice and blueberries. It was tasty, and I think I'd go with a gin based cocktail next time. Cocktails are around $13, which is a little steep, but not awful for the area. The bar menu looked great, and while we didn't order anything, the food coming out smelled good. I'll be back to try some fried zucchini sticks soon!
(4)Johnna M.
How sweet it is to be loved by Towne. I attended an unexpected brunch here with some lovely yelpers and I must say I really enjoyed myself. Our service was topnotch. The waiter was attentive and fun-he answered our questions, dealt with our daylight savings time adjusting stragglers, and even picked my jacket up off the floor (glad someone cares about my personal belongings!) Towne delivers a unique and fun experience, starting with its interesting patrons (think Old Navy commercial big glasses lady dress-alike, babies in their Easter best, every well dressed man in the city, and some loudmouth chick wearing her clothes from the night before who was captured by brunch attendees while trying to make her way home from an oh too late party and is now forced to make best with the fit and fabulous crowd Towne attracts) Beyond being the place to see and be seen (or in my walk of shame gone brunch case, attempt not to be seen) every detail of Towne's atmosphere is creative and welcoming-from the overall design of the space to the fun (sometimes borderline risque) decor to the lively background music. The menu continues to play with the unusual and creative and like a chick experiencing with thrift store shopping for the first time,--sometimes it works and sometimes it just doesn't. The donut holes were melt in your mouth warm, sweet and sticky. The lemon poppy seed bread didn't work quite so well. My heart skipped a beat when a tray of lobster popovers arrived- I've been dreaming of these babies since the elite event. What a clever and well executed combination-perfectly flaky popover filled with succulent lobster meat with a surprisingly sweet after taste (The writer in me says stop saying sweet, the food lover in me can't avoid it). Unfortunately my main course, chicken and waffles, was one of the things that didn't work so well. The chicken was extremely dry and almost impossible to find any meat on the bone and the waffles were just too, well, sweet. (grr) However, the grits were absolutely fantastic and so I'll raise my AOK Bloody Mary to that. Despite a slight letdown in my main course, Towne continues to work hard to ensure a dining experience that is equal parts special, delicious, and homey and I'll certainly return to explore more things on the menu (looking forward to trying dinner!) and continue some fantastic people watching. Pretty sweet, guys.
(3)Colby C.
Many of these reviews mention the Lobster Popovers and I will agree that they are probably the best thing on the menu. We were here with a party of 20 so we were seated in the private dining room. Good thing because otherwise I probably would have been deaf by the end of the meal. When I navigated trough the main restaurant in search of the restroom, I was confronted with a wall of noise from the 200 or so people eating and drinking in this cozy establishment. The food was okay. Sorry to say, but it was not worth the price tag. Overall I would rank it in at Food 2/5 stars, Taste 3/5 stars. The atmosphere was modern yet sophisticated, but I wasn't sure if I was at a nightclub or a gourmet restaurant. The menu prices told me the later, but the noise and liveliness told me the former. It is for this reason that I have to break my atmosphere rating down to two subsets: Social Atmosphere 4/5 stars, Dining Atmosphere (assuming you are seated in the main restaurant) 2/5 stars. As far as service goes I would rate this restaurant closer to 4/5 stars, but in regards to price 2/5 stars. Overall, come here with friends for the social aspect. Be weary of ordering too much food as the bill may add up quickly.
(3)Lia M.
I love Towne for drinks. The location is perfect. The drinks are well-made and strong. I had a Mr. Brownstone (bourbon, maple liqueur, lemon, and cinnamon simple syrup) and an El Diablo Fizz (tequila, crème de cassis, lime juice, soda water, and ginger beer). The Mr. Brownstone was not as sweet as it may seem from the ingredients and I enjoyed the cinnamon flavor. The El Diablo Fizz was a bit sweeter, and went down extremely easy. I was basically drunk after both of those, so I was happy. Kate's Gin Daisy (gin, lemon juice, house made grenadine, and simple syrup) was quite light and refreshing. We just shared a few appetizers, but I did not love either of them. The duck quesadilla had the potential to be really great, but overall, it was just blah, and the meat a tad too salty. Plus, there was sour cream on it, when it was asked to be served without. Surprisingly, I preferred the popcorn shrimp. I tend not to be a fan of this appetizer, but this one had a good flavor and nice, crisp batter. I still do not really like this dish, but if I had to order it, I'd order it here. Service was prompt and friendly. We did need to ask for the bar menu, as we were automatically given the dinner menu while sitting at the bar. Overall, I'm a huge fan, and Towne is definitely on my radar for a return visit.
(4)Sara M.
SHAMEFUL!! My mom, brother and I all got the monkfish only to spend the next 3 days dealing with food poisoning. Three days of vomiting and diarrhea was enough to make my first experience here my last! The so called lemon sauce was nothing more than melted butter with a few squirts of lemon juice in it. The fish was barely seasoned or even hot. When we ordered the Towne "cookies" for dessert, they had the audacity to bring a total of 4 pieces of some chocolate wrapped up in a plastic bag and charged us 8 bucks for it!! Seriously???! I can critique so much more but the thought of that place makes me sick to my stomach, again!!
(1)Andy H.
I and a friend went there Saturday night and had a phenomenal time. Every dish was well presented, had a wonderful flavor profile, and the servers were able to recommend pairings that accented the dish marvelously. I will be back again and again.
(4)Karlee H.
I have been here a decent amount, only for drinks or appetizers. Dark cavern-like bar in the front, fun crowds young & old, overall vibe is lively yet unpretentious. I like you Towne, but last night might have put us in love. Four of us went out (Wednesday) for a belated birthday celebration. As other Yelpers have noted, the service isn't always very swift but thanks to the hospitality of Mike (?) the Manager, we were very well taken care of. We were seated for about 45 minutes before a random waitress asked us if someone had taken our drink order (no one had)--so we put in for a pitcher of sangria with her. 25 minutes later still nothing. So we pull Mike over and tell him the situation. He comes back post haste with the sad unfortunate news that no sangria (white or red) is made, but if we'd like to select from one of their signature punches he'd be happy to make that instead. We picked the Uptowne Punch (cider, cinnamon, fall deliciousness). He brings out a glass just to make sure we like it before we commit to the full pitcher (we ended up having 2 pitchers). Great time with friends, outdoor seating area was fantastic on a late August evening with festive string lights. Both the arugula and short-rib flatbreads were great. I think the cards and gifts beside me gave it away, but I had 3 staff members wish me a happy birthday and then bring over cotton candy without us saying anything. Best present of the night, Mike took care of the first pitcher. I guess I'm easy to win over (liquor & candy) but its unfortunately rare that people go to great lengths to improve your dining (& drinking) experience, so thanks Towne! Now off to continue the birthday celebrations...
(4)Katherine S.
Very odd experience. We sat down. Woman comes up and asks about tap vs bottle water. Some guy pours some water. We sit. 15 minutes. Nothing. Then another woman comes up "do you want juice or coffee?" stated as if these are the only options. "um, i want an iced tea...." can we not get anything else? weird. 15 minutes pass. finally we get some tea. wait more. A DIFFERENT guy comes up, "did you want bread?" Dear LORD it's been like 40 minutes, can we ORDER FOOD!? so weird. Brunch/lunch menu is very minimal. I was trying to eat healthy and could not really find anything that was a good option. Ended up getting pancakes, one side of them was burned. Not impressed by much of anything in this place. Excellent location that is going to waste.
(2)LeiLei R.
Love their Beef Hash! After brunch at Towne, many of my following weekends were spent scouring local brunch shops for something comparable. No luck. I'd come back more often if parking wasn't such a pain in the butt, but I'll just have to suck it up to get my fill of the hash. Meat, eggs, hollandaise, potatoes.. not too oily nor too salty. Instead of sourdough bread that typically comes at the beginning of the meal, we got little glazed donuts and banana bread. Both delicious and light as well. Overall, everything was tasty. I walked away that day feeling full and satisfied without the food coma that typically accompanies brunch.
(4)Connor T.
We've been for Brunch a few times and it was delicious every time. We've also been for Dinner which was really good. Most notably, we help a private brunch there, and it was perfect! The food was delicious, the staff was easy to work with, the space was gorgeous, and it was all very reasonably prices (as it always in there). Definitely recommended!
(5)Jackie L.
Let me start this review by saying this is a place I wanted to love, that for all intents and purposes I SHOULD have loved, but something was just missing. If I could award half stars it would be a 3.5 star review, but since it was absent of that "something to write home about" factor, its going in as a 3. I came here with my husband and a couple of friends for Sunday brunch. My friends brought their 15 month old as well, who loves food and is also an excellent restaurant critic. He enjoyed his fruit plate and gourmet smoothie (served in a champagne glass mind you) and wasn't at all fussy, so suffice to say it has baby approval (at least for brunch). The 4 (er, 5) of us were seated outside. It was a gorgeous August day, and despite it being 11:00 AM there were plenty of available tables outside. (As an aside, 11:00 AM is when they open for brunch. I usually like to eat earlier so I can get an earlier start to my day, but anyway, the timing isn't bad if you've had a late Saturday night.) We received all the water, coffee, juice, and cocktails we ordered promptly and service was overall very good. We were also given a gratis basket of mini cornbread muffins and donut holes with sweet icing. This bread basket was really the highlight of the meal. The menu didn't excite me all that much - 3 out of 4 of us ordered eggs with tater tots. Tater tots make people excited - especially tater tots at an otherwise upscale restaurant. Unfortunately, what we got was a side of uninteresting large pieces of fried potato; we were all disappointed. The eggs and the potatoes were good, but when you're expecting tater tots... what can I say? My friend seemingly had the pick of the litter with her order of lemon ricotta pancakes, which she said were really good (and a hefty portion). Oh, and the price. Pretty standard for the area. If everyone gets a coffee, cocktail, and entree, expect to pay about $60/couple with tax & tip. The verdict? The convenient, downtown location (next to Prudential shopping center), nice (and available) patio seating, and the fact that I love brunch so freaking much will probably bring me back here. I'm also intrigued enough to want to try this place for dinner or happy hour.
(3)Sarah C.
I came here for lunch and ordered the rotisserie chicken sandwich. I waited more than 25 mins but still no sign of food. I see why a lot of yelpers complained about slow service. When my order came, then I realized why they took so long. It was so tasty! Probably my best rotisserie chicken sandwich I had in a long time. I also noticed a lot of older men near the bar area. They didn't bother me but just when I was leaving the restaurant, they started to be obnoxious.
(3)Karolyn B.
We were so excited to enjoy drinks before dinner in the lovely outside space - twinkling string lights, colorful flowers and people watching on a perfect summer weather weekend. While a Saturday night, only two other tables were occupied so we we didn't feel too guilty about just ordering cocktails and an appetizer. The cocktail menu promised new versions of classic combinations - gin and sparkling rose - all seemed so promising! Unfortunately, the service - excepting water refills (thank you!) was so bad that we left after 20 minutes - never even meeting our waitress. I think I saw her across the garden as she talked with her friends and ignored the two different servers who - after conscientiously refilling our water glasses - passed on my requests to order. Go to the Back Bay Social Club across the street - my gin drink was refreshing, we could still see Towne's lovely garden, but the service was polite and efficient.
(1)Melissa P.
Huge space. Lots of different rooms. Multiple bars. Varied menu. Bustling and loud. None of these things usually bother me in a restaurant. Put them all together in one place, though, and that's a whole different story. Towne needs to get a little more organized. You walk in and there's no direction, no host, no way to know where to go. The hallways get backed up, there seem to be about 10 different hosts once you do find them, and I can't figure out why you can seat yourself at one of the bars but not the other. All this confusion and we hadn't even looked at the menu yet. Speaking of the menu, omg overwhelming much??? And wait, there's actually three menus? One for dinner, one for the bar, and then an entirely different lobster menu? What is going on here, Towne? Someone having a little bit of trouble making decisions? With this many options, we ordered a lot and, unfortunately, were only happy with one out of four items. Dates wrapped in bacon? Fine. They are kind of impossible to mess up. Chicken wings? Completely tasteless with breading that just made my mouth dry. Crostini trio with eggplant and artichoke? Kind of a mess--so much spread weighing down a paper thin crostini. The only saving grace was the burger, which was incredibly juicy and flavorful. But, what did it come with? Not the usual lettuce, tomato, and onion. No, instead we had a plate of cold shoestring french fries. That's just sad. Attentive servers can't carry this place on their own. They need some help! Towne needs some serious organization and attention to detail.
(2)Tony S.
... and the Winner... of this year's Oscar for Total Luncheon Letdown IS....... Towne! I'd been in here for drinks several times and absolutely love the bar scene and overall ambiance. I was hoping the dining experience would be equally good, so I opted to celebrate a special family occasion in the dining room. Alas, like all things Kevin Costner, the initial 'booya' turned into a lasting 'boo hoo'. The bread, in all shapes and forms, from starter rolls to sandwiches to carnival bread, just plain..... well..... SUCKED!! The starter rolls tasted like dried tooth plaque, the ciabatta on one of our sandwiches must have been a plastic stage prop from the set of 'Waterworld', and the carnival bread on my bbq pork sandwich tasted like deep-fried sponge and pork rinds. Were there any good points? Service was excellent. The hostesses were incredibly professional, and our water, Rick, was awesome. Can't complain there at all. Also, the Caesar salad was decent, as was the coffee, but I don't think I'll be coming back to dine here for a while until they figure the menu out. Funny.... if they just copied the Sonsie menu and served it here, it would be a far more superior dining experience.
(2)Milla J.
Went to Sunday Brunch buffet last week. It was really good. I don't normally like buffet food because it's usually not impressive. Towne has a variety of food to choose from oyster, to pancake, to steak etc. I was very happy. The seating is very spacious as well so I don't feel rushed. Highly recommended.
(5)Steph W.
So, I haven't eaten at Towne yet so I can only comment on the drinks. I went to Towne this weekend and got The Cathy. It had gin, aperol and a few other ingredients. It was strong and well made but I felt like $13 was a little steep for Towne since the environment isn't as great as other places and I think City Bar right next door has drinks for about $11/12. But, I still enjoyed my drink. The only thing is I'd say it is almost too dark in here where I had to use my candle (that eventually burnt out) to read the menu. So, a little more lighting would be nice. Also, the TV screens playing the football game sort of took away from the high-end ambiance that I was looking for. I love a good football game, but I felt as if it made the whole experience a bit more casual. Also, the crowd at Towne tends to be a little bit older (e.g., old creeper men or older ladies spraying their hair w/hair spray in the bathroom). So, it's not the best place for mid-twenties crowd.
(3)Michelle G.
Decided to give this place a try with some girlfriends and we were not disappointed. We were able to get seats in the bar area, the lobster popovers were insanely good, and a new rosé they just started offering was suggested to us and it was the perfect cap to our girls night out. All around fantastic spot on Boylston St!
(5)Frank W.
Please note, this review is for drinks only. Bottom line: Pretentious environment, terrible bartending skills, but average prices. Went here after a Papa Razzi dinner to grab some drinks. The place was packed with suits and girls going after them, but we were able to snag a table which was helpful. After ordering a few drinks that were not 2 part-ers (ie: vodka tonic) we concluded that the bartenders had ZERO clue how to make anything that wasn't on the cocktail menu. Seriously, they asked me what was in a Tom Collins (that one's not difficult) and even after I told her.. it was still horrible. Don't know how. Vom. I got 3 drinks and the price was 34 though, so the only thing that saved this place was that I didn't cry TOO many tears as I signed the bill. I had expected to be weeping for my bank account. With so many places on Boylston, why the hell go here? Unless you're chasing "generous" folks... yikes
(2)Michelle C.
Brunch was pretty good. Cute dining area, loved the comfy chairs. Eggs Benedict was good, the sauce was wonderful and lemony, just how I like it and the eggs were PERFECTLY cooked, but wasn't a fan of the bacon which was overpowering, I think I'm more of a ham girl. I really dug the potatoes... huge chunks that I think were deep fried? but didn't taste/feel greasy. The breakfast "appetizers" weren't that great...the lemon poppyseed bread was odd, it had a weird gummy texture but dry at the same time, and the donut icing was waaaay too sweet for me, I could only eat a small bite. The bloody mary had too much worcestershire and seemed to be missing the extra spice I requested, plus, it was a virgin and cost $9! I thought that was overpriced. The service was outstanding, very attentive & friendly. All the food coming out of the kitchen looked yummy, especially the french toast which I'll have to try next time. I also want to try the lobster popovers which sound so wonderful. I love that they have lots of lobster options on the menu, so I'll definitely be back to give it a try.
(3)Tony N.
Service: Knows the menu like the back of his hand. Did not steer me wrong! Very attentive to needs. Water never less than half full. Great job Jeffrey! Appetizers: lobster popovers excellent. Comes with two. Sweet glaze. Good amount of lobster meat inside. Salads looked good, nothing too special. Dining mate loved the clam chowder. Entrees: Cod was an amazing piece of fish hands down. One dining mate had sandy shellfish with hers but mine were excellent. Pork belly was to die for. I will ways order that dish for it. Swordfish and steak was enjoyed by dinner mates. Deserts: Chocolate cheesecake was a fail. The peach dessert was light, sweet, and simply amazing. Very much a peach strudel with a brûlée cream and roasted hazelnuts. Price: Fairly expensive. Would like to see appetizers come down $2 on average and entrees $5. Just think of it as a tax for the location. Ambiance: This is the place to be. Two bars downstairs and one upstairs. Two main dining rooms upstairs, (definitely make sure you get seated upstairs). One dining room is street view and more intimate, The other is with the open kitchen, bar, and is very lively. Also very nice outdoor seating.
(4)Alex M.
I've only been here two times, (once for lunch, once for dinner), and both times, it was phenomenal! Bruce was my waiter both times, and he is very good waiter. I think he may actually be the head waiter. Both times I had the margarhita pizza and it was very good.
(5)Angel M.
I went to town on Towne on a Friday night. And, boy, did I paint it red. The crowd was lively but not crazy, the drinks were pricey but not expensive, the servers were busy but not unattentive. Basically, besides a slightly higher average of hotter and taller people, there wasnt much at Towne to make it a night out on it. But, seeing as how I had already towned a few drinks earlier in Kenmore, it was an altruistic nuisance. I might go back, I would recommend dressing it up, just a little bit, though, I was rocking the quiet celebrity look: baseball cap, ironic t shirt, tacky jewelry, faux leather jacket and gold sneaks.
(3)James D.
I really like this place. They have three bars and two dining rooms on two different levels. The food is really good. The menu changes often with fresh items but they are always original and unique. The whole atmosphere and look of this restaurant is really cool and very city-ish. It's a really fun night out. I didn't give them 5 stars because the service can sometimes be inconsistent. But for this type of place the service if good enough. My wife and I come here a lot and will continue to do so!
(4)Gloria C.
Reasonably priced brunch! Perfect portions. Great attention to detail. Def recommend this place. Only downside is they don't open til 11 even for brunch on the weekends. The lobster omelette is super yummy. Entrees come w/ pan fried potatoes and they are amazing!!!!!!
(5)Ro P.
We had lobster popovers, lobster pizza and some salad. Each dish was excellent!
(5)Kareem F.
Fantastic service & food. The Fish & chips are fresh and delectable. Their Lobster & poached eggs were the best I've ever had! Their bloody mary's are equally delicious. Awesome decor: Contemporary yet warm. Had a blast here for lunch!
(5)Tater M.
I've only been to Towne once, with another, for their Christmas menu (we got a la carte, not prie fix). It was delicious. My friend got their Lobster Salad with Popover dish and I got their Sugar Pumpkin Ravioli with Mascarpone dish. My ravioli portion was quite tiny I admit, there were like a grand total of 9 raviolis? But man, they were yummy and infused with great pumpkin flavor and had a wonderful cheesey bite to it. They also did something to a couple of green leaf garnishes that made them fantastically crunchy. The lobster salad was delicious and was a larger portion. There was a row of lobster meat, row of lettuce or some sort of chopped salad, row of crunchy fresh bread cubes, row of little red onion, row of blue cheese, row of avocado, and a big popover bread. Very yummy. We chose their Chocolate Pudding with one New Orleans peanut brittle dessert. D-e-ca-dent. rich, slightly bitter cocoa flavor and nicely paired with the salty peanut brittle. (I got tired of it after the first 6 bites though, NOT because it tasted like cheap chocolate with lots of sugar, but because it was just really RICH and CREAMY. Guilt got to me.) Unexpected, because although the cup holding the pudding looks small, it's actually quite filling. Servers were all very courteous, you can really tell they're all very experienced and nice. Decor was fab, modern and unusual. Wish I took pictures.
(4)Susan R.
Went on a random day at a random time for a sandwich and to check out the bar. The service was very very good, and the cocktails were a-ok... I just wasn't super impressed with the menu. Really expensive comfort food that left me feeling gross. I will check it out again, JUST because the bartender at the small bar downstairs near Boylston St was so nice.
(3)Sonia D.
I attended brunch on Saturday here and I have to say those donuts are AMAZING!!! If I could eat donuts all day everyday I would be there. They are warm and goey and great!!!! There were 10 of us there and we had alot of fun! There was a baby with us as well and that didn't seem be a problem. Our server was nice and honest about what food choices we were thinking about making. I went with the lobster cobb salad and was a little nervous thinking I wasn't getting enough lobster but they gave me a TON. The presentation of the salad was great. Instead of mixing everything in the salad together they actually separated everything out. The salad also came with 3 different types of dressing. They were all soooo yummy. They also sell my favorite wine...Joel Gott cab! Tasty and smooth. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a nice brunch place before your shopping spree or just hanging with friends. Haven't tried dinner there but will soon.
(4)Danielle B.
Scene! Was there on a Friday night with a college friend and her friend, and we had quite a night. Started out with some tasty drinks---champagne + elderflower out front at the bar. After a 45-minute wait or so, we were seated in the back restaurant part. We started with the ravioli and this lobster thing for apps. I got the tuna (my favorite fish), which was quite tasty. Overall, the food was solid, nothing spectacular, nothing horrible. The atmosphere was very lively all night. Maybe I've gotten used to the laid back scene in SF and was craving the craziness that this place had. We had some entertainment in the form of a former athlete trying to use his status to his advantage (didn't work, sorry). I liked this place, will try to come back the next time I'm in Boston.
(4)Saba N.
Note: reviewing BRUNCH only ------------------------------ I had a great brunch experience here! I like the space a lot - it's open and spacious... I wasn't expecting such a large room in the back! I definitely recommend for a large party. The service was fantastic. The waiter was really nice and always filled up our coffee... I think i might have been super wired by the end of the meal. Fine by me though! The food was my favorite part. First of all, they bring you HOT donuts to start. Like... are you kidding me? That's the best idea ever? I'm serious. It was unreal. I ordered the lobster Cobb salad (OK.. so I had chocolate chip pancakes a couple hours earlier... whoops!) and it was really unusual and yummy. First off, the presentation was insane. The salad came in rows... One row of avocado, one row of lobster, one row of lettuce.. etc etc. It was really beautiful and also delicious (the lobster was a little chewy though). Still, I ate pretty much the entire thing. The highlight of the meal for sure was my friend's blueberry pancakes. They looked amazing and the kicker was the HOMEMADE MAPLE & BROWN SUGAR COTTON CANDY they put on top. I had to put that in caps to make sure you fully digest what I'm saying. Cotton candy. On the pancakes. What?? The prices are reasonable and I'm definitely coming back.
(4)Mike D.
The restaurant is decent. The service was very good but the food was average. The food is a bit expensive for what you get. The space is very nice with a downstairs and upstairs with two full bars. The nightlife is pretty fun for the back bay area with a younger crowd that is usually busy on the weekends.
(3)Natasha A.
I was a little skeptical about Towne. The menu just seemed to be a bit all over the place, with dishes in many different styles (highlights from thai, indian, mexican, italian, french flavors). I wandered - can they really be good at such a wide variety of dishes? Well, I was pleasantly surprised. The pig chop with a side of fried milk was nothing short of extraordinary. A perfectly cooked and Chinese flavored juicy chop, with a side of fatty riblets and fried milk was very rich and flavorful (will be eating half of it for lunch). The pancetta and short ribs (with thai flavors of lime and chilis) ordered by others were also superb. Another highlight of the menu is the Lobster menu, which one must specifically ask for. The lobster popovers were delicious, flaky, filled with honey and lobster. We also had the tartars of bluefin and sirloin and my favorites - the grilled razor clams. The wine list had a good price range and an extensive selection. Cocktails were priced at 9-12, reasonable for the place. I also liked the interior design, although I usually hate very large restaurants. The space was divided into enough subsections to make it a bit more intimate and the open kitchen on the second floor was fun to watch. Two minor complaints - floors are way too slippery - I almost took a dive. Also, the menu lacked a soup which I was craving on the rainy September day. I will be back to try the wagyu skirt steak next!
(5)Jeff F.
Towne is a really cool multi-level space worth checking out - 3 bars and a couple different dining options depending on what you're looking for. If you're looking for an after work cocktail, I absolutely recommend Towne. If you're planning an event, the private room they have overlooking Boylston should be considered. But if you're looking for a great meal (as I was) I'd pass. Here's a rundown on what I tried: -Pork & Chive Dumplings - ok, but nothing I'd recommend -Grilled Unagi - underwhelmed -Aragula Salad w/ fresh picked lima beans and warm spiced lobster oil - exceptional and worth trying -Tartare: jasper's sirloin & cleanseas bluefin tuna - the Tuna was great, but the sirloin was questionable at best.
(3)Kevin M.
I went here on date night last week with my wife and was expecting so much more from this hipster place in the Back Bay. Cool decor and fun vibe with lively three bars, but this is not a good return on time or cash invested here. First thought: Whoa, the prices!! Food nor service quality comes close to justifying the prices on the menu. Servers didn't refresh utensils or plates. Timing with other tables around us was uneven. Entrees didn't have much of a side and the waiter didn't inform us that we may want to order a side dish to share. But for these mid to high $30 entree prices, come on! I am perplexed how this won a best new restaurant nod. Lobster mini-menu: nice idea. We tried the Lobster popover as an app. For $15, how about 3-4 popovers, or at least more more meat in the two you get. Lots of popover dough and lots of forkover the dough. #1 Tuna: number 1 where? Yes, Tuna was very tasty and seared perfectly. But the tuna needed a sauce or something more. And the Parsnip mash with the tuna is very dry like it had been sitting under a warmer for 30 minutes. My wife was more pleased than I with her house specialty salmon crisp. But it still lacked any heft in the sides. The wine list was varied, very solid and was probably more reasonably priced than the food. All in all, I won't be going back; there are many finer dining spots delivering much better value.
(2)Josephine L.
Gorgeous space, friendly staff, tasty food, frou frou prices (though not the worst I've experienced), convenient location. There. Everything you need to know.
(4)Jeff K.
Am I judging this on the food or the gorgeous ladies there tonight? Both get 5 stars! Short and sweet review, food was great, I had the best steak I have had in a long time, simple but tasteful. Bartender, where I ate, was great keeping a watchful eye on us. Decor was cool, it's really a huge place when you take into account the upstairs and back room. Loved it, I'll be back!
(5)Daniel B.
Cool location and atmosphere, but you're hit with Boylston Street prices. My girlfriend and I sat down for dessert and a drink later on a Friday night and the waitstaff was surprisingly inattentive. I ordered the Back Bay Smash....was very boring for a $13 drink!
(3)Jerry C.
What can i say about this place.. its like a place you would go on a date but then when you got there you would be unhappy about the noise and lack of intimacy. I was here for a show in the convention center so my coworker and i were trolling around for a place to heat and this one looked great. We were sat rather quick, staff was nice and friendly. The inside was very decorative but i didn't feel comfortable. I was at one of those tall tables but looking around it felt like people were really on top of each other. It was sort of loud for a fancy, up-scale looking place. Food came out rather quick, i got the duck. The dish looked great, 5/5 for presentation and it had a great taste also. I was upset because it wasn't that much food. Also, it was very expensive $29 for a not-so-big entree is uber-expensive. I didn't get an appetizer or dessert because the price was so high.
(3)Kelly O.
I went here for a post-work drink with a coworker on a Wednesday, and thought the interior was really cool. You enter into what looks like a small slick dark room with a bar in the middle and high tables around the edges of the room, that was already packed with local finance-type people getting their drink on. Then you go through a back hallway and magically reappear into a spacious and bright restaurant with another small bar, also packed already. Then we realized there was a big stairway leading to yet another big room upstairs, where the bar was thankfully empty, so we snagged two seats and settled in for some cocktails. The bartenders were attentive and skilled, the cocktails were strong and tasty (and typically priced, $10-12, with beers $4-6), and the complimentary bread basket we asked for (because we weren't planning on ordering food but realized we had better eat something) was really tasty... hot and freshly baked, with slices of bread, croissant-like thingies, and thin crackerish thingies. The scene was mixed, there was a lot of happy hour people in their 20s and 30s, but also some dates, some older friend groups, and so on. All in all, we had a great time for drinks, but I doubt I'd want to come here to eat based on the prices (as well as all the food reviews here on Yelp).
(3)Alissa D.
Came here for dinner and had the lobster popovers and a salad. I didn't finish the popovers because I disliked them so much. The texture of the popover with the lobster did not work at all and it was sugary sweet. The salad was pretty uninspired. For the price of the dishes at Towne, I expected more. The cocktails were definitely a highlight though!
(3)Diana C.
Came here several times. Food is good and price is ok for the location. My main complaint for this place is inconsistency!!! First, service is quite slow even though there is NO ONE there. To get a cup of coffee refill you have to wait 10 min for the waitress to come by. The food comes out sometimes good, sometimes blah..you never know...what a surprise! The only consistent thing about this place is the fresh made donuts. But really, if you want to charge $13 for an eggs benedicts,there should be consistency and there should be better service. You would have to wait about 30 min for a not very well done food.
(3)Adam M.
I have been to Towne several times for drinks was excited to finally try dinner on a Saturday night. Unfortunately, I was pretty disappointed with the experience. I love Mojito's and I'm always looking for the best in the Boston area. Of course I asked for one, but what I was given was a disgrace. It was literally alcohol, 7 up, a little half melted ice, couple lime wedges, and a couple of mint leaves thrown in there. It was warm, absolutely disgusting and was priced for about $11/$12. I sent it back and the next one was even worse! To add insult to injury, it was in a pint glass. FYI, you don't put a Mojito in a pint glass! Granted it was not on the bill, but it's a shame because at that point, a business has the deck stacked against them. Your giving a bad impression and your customer is already not happy with the place. Now it becomes much more difficult to make them give you a good review. I understand you can say, "It's just a drink". That is true, but the reason I am writing this is because it was so obvious that the bartender was just lazy, disrespectful, and did not want to make a Mojito. They made a horrible drink, it was not done right, they sent it out, and it was served anyway. You do that because your lazy, because you don't care! Being lazy and making something that bad is an embarrassment and any person should be ashamed of themselves for doing so! I understand mistakes happen and normally I would not be so critical, but it's about behavior of being lazy, the attitude of not caring. That is something I'm critical of every time. I think others would be as well. I'm not one to complain and then not offer ways to fix it or help. So, if something like that happens again, it would help to try one of these: 1. Send over a manager to chat and help out. 2. Have another bar tender make the second one. They have 3 or 4 bars there. Having the same person make the second one is just a sign that they are unintelligent or don't care. 3. I had a beer instead, so how about taking it off the bill? I don't care about the $6, but it's means you care and it would take ones attention off the bad experience. It could completely change my review because it shows effort, that you want your customers to be happy. Trust me, I am in advertising and serve clients all day. The smallest mistake can kill you if you are lazy and don't care because it becomes about the behavior, not the mistake. As for the food? Our Sever? Atmosphere? Doesn't matter, at this point I'll never go back and it's not my thought of this place being horrible or not having good food. Simply put, why would I go there and take a chance when I can go across the street, around the corner, and know for a fact I am going to be happy, get great drinks, and service. Naturally I am going to go with something I am sure of. Hopefully Towne can ensure they don't repeat this type of service in future.
(2)David C.
Fantastic spot for dinner. Great service... fantastic drinks... loved this spot. I had an amazing dish... Partridge... the flavors were fantastic. I will be craving this dish for a while... loved it! The maple cotton candy was also a fun end to the evening.
(5)Allison R.
Ahh, tradition. Every Christmas Eve, my roommate enjoy a lavish dinner out, since our families don't do anything the night before Christmas, and we were sick of sitting around the house being bored. After last year's fiasco at an Ivy that will remain unnamed, we were desperate for a better experience. The Bristol Lounge was booked (for serious, I tried), and Towne came recommended by my grandma. Despite the mixed reviews, we gave it a shot. We had a 6 pm reservation, and the place wasn't packed by any means. Still, we were seated upstairs at a comfortable distance from three other parties-- so at least it wasn't deserted. Fun lighting fixtures, comfy circular booths for larger parties, and a somewhat open kitchen (a la Sel de la Terre) surrounded us. I was sold when I read this was a Lydia Shire/Jasper White venture, but the nice decor didn't hurt. We were served water in beaker-style glasses, which were cool looking. The flatware was nice, but kind of heavy. The fork felt okay, but the knife and spoon were a bit clunky. A delightful array of rolls, bread, and crunchy flatbread thing were passed our way with butter, hummus, and, I think, a liver pâté kind of spread. All very yummy. We shared a $40 bottle of Prosecco (not bad), and I enjoyed some very juicy oysters as an appetizer. The wasabi served with the horseradish/cocktail sauce was a nice touch. We both chose the 8 oz wagu skirt steak, served in a delightful peanut buttery, thai-inspired sauce. It was decorated with a few chips and veggie tempura, which went well, but I would have preferred a healthier option of mashed potatoes or squash or something. The meat itself was delightful: cooked perfectly and with a rich, succulent flavor that didn't leave me overfull. The side of fried green beans boasted a nice, glazed kind of flavor as well. I can't speak to any sort of 'scene' since the Christmas eve crowd was likely a unique mix. But, the service was great, and the food was better. I would absolutely come back.
(5)Jake H.
I was here with my girlfriend on 02/23/13 while visiting her since she works not too far from Boston now. I was spending a week there to see her so she wanted to take me to a nice place to eat on her day off. Man, what a joke this place turned out to be. I found far better food and selections in Worcester, although the service was actually good until our waitress charged us for the fries that we returned because it was too salty. We ate maybe 4 before telling our server and she charged us for it anyway. We even told her when she brought us the check! I just checked my card and yup the final amount still included the fries. Maybe I should have deducted that amount from her tip. The steak was very salty, too. If being in a higher-end restaurant is a must for you, then by any means enjoy this place. If you want good food go somewhere else.
(2)David T.
Very good food overall. Was pretty empty in the dining area other than a few families with small children. Odd atmosphere for such a trendy dining experience. Overall very good food and service!
(4)Lauren S.
I really liked Towne. I went about two weeks after it opened, and was able to get a reservation for the same night I called (a Wednesday). I was expecting the service to be snooty and pretentious (as some other semi-upscale restaurants similar to Towne tend to be...) but everyone we interacted with was pleasant and helpful. Our waitress offered to literally go over the WHOLE menu with us, since it was our first time there. She answered all of our questions, and was attentive throughout the night. However when the dining room got super busy she was MIA for about 20 minutes after we finished our dinner. The decor on both floors was really interesting to say the least, and while it wasn't ground-breaking, it created a nice ambiance. Now onto the best part, the food! I started at the bar with the white sangria. It was fine, but I've had much better in Boston at places I wouldn't consider as nice. I was surprised by the bartender, who looked about 18, and honestly a little trashy (too much bad make-up, glitter eye shadow, and realllllly low top) but oh well, not a huge deal. For dinner, I ordered the shortrib, and my friend ordered the swordfish. They both were very good, and I think I liked the accompaniments to the dishes almost more than the meat(s). The sweet potato (I think?) puree that came with the short rib was amazing but there was hardly any of it on the plate; I ate it in tiny little bites to make it last longer. The clams that came with the swordfish were delicious, too - and I usually only "sort of like" clams. Simply put, the dessert was unbelievable. We ordered the angel food cake, which came with caramelized brown sugar crumbles, homemade caramel ice cream and a brown sugar/maple-y type cotton candy they make there as well. To die for.
(4)Skip P.
Loved it. For an appetizer our table split the lobster pizza. spicy with a touch of honey, it was fantastic. I had the "Tuna #1" and it was great! I agree that the the laminated menu layout is odd and doesn't match the rest of the restaurant.
(4)Sarah M.
One of my favorite things is to check out the new next hot spot. This place seemed to fall a bit short in all areas. I found lobster shell in my bisque and the waiter seemed extremely Jr. as he kept interrupting me and my date at strange times. I will give it a second try but will not do a 3rd if the experience is the same.
(2)Andrea P.
It pains me to write this. I really really wanted to like this place. On the plus side: the service was great. From the host and hostesses to the bus boy- everyone was attentive and courteous. Our server was efficient and knowledgeable. Decor was decent. Bars were hopping. Drinks were legit. Unfortunately all of these positives could not overshadow the unimpressive food. We started with a fettuchini alfredo, which lacked seasonings, flavor, and sauce. It was pretty dry and boring. But the presentation was nice... We then moved onto the chicken thighs (under seasoned and undercooked,) softshell crab (tiny and lacking substance) and the portobello mushrooms (gritty, oily, and basically uneatable.) I left feeling hungry. It was a big disappointment. Despite the unremarkable food, I would return... to the bar. The drinks and service were both solid enough for me to come back. Being a new establishment, I expected some kinks in the staff, wait time, etc. This was not the case at all. Maybe it's just what we ordered, but I'm hopeful the food will soon follow the service.
(2)Paul B.
Returned here on a Monday night to celebrate a birthday. Made a reservation via Open Table, we arrived on time and were immediately seated at the downstairs dining room . At 7:30 the place was mercifully not at all crowded and conversation was possible without straining one's vocal cords. Our party of three ordered two starters, the lobster popovers and the oysters on the half shell. In addition, a bread basket featured crispy flatbread and two spreads as well as a large pat of butter. The taramasalata was exceptional. The oysters were very fresh and briny but with a slight sweetness to their plump flesh. A special touch was a pea green sauce to go along with the usual cocktail sauce. Not sure of the ingredients, but it was an unusual accompaniment to the oysters. My guess is that they were Island Creek. Popovers were good too, with a surprising touch of maple syrup. For mains we ordered the partridge, skirt steak and salmon. The bird was excellent, the steak tender but very salty (arrived in a pool of pureed parsnips...yummy. We also ordered two sides: the lobster mashed potatoes and the fried onion rings. My companions had enough room for the maple cotton candy and an off the menu chocolate pudding. All that, plus four glasses of wine and two beers came to $210 before tax. Not all that bad, especially when considering that the service was efficient and sort of friendly, and the taste of the food was incredible. Towne can be either fine dining or meat market. Early on a Monday is was clearly the former and the atmosphere highly conducive to enjoying great food.
(4)Jill M.
I went to Towne the first weekend it opened. I was really excited to try it as I'd been getting Urban Daddy emails about it. What I loved about Towne: Loved the decor, I thought it had a really great retro vibe. Loved my margarita, they use agave nectar which really makes for a great marg in my opinion. My meal!!! I had the short ribs with young ginger and lemon grass. Absolutely TO DIE FOR. (In fact, at one point, I said to my friends that I wished Lydia Shire was there so I could compliment her on my meal and I looked up from dinner and there she was! She did come over to the table to say hello eventually and I did in fact get to thank her for the great meal). The management, Tim who is the GM or the director offered us a tour of the restaurant at the end of our meal. He was extremely friendly and it was nice chatting with him What I disliked about Towne: Service... I can't say it was bad, but everyone seemed very nervous and unsure. Also, there were wayyyyyyy too many people there. I'd say at any given time there were at least 5 or 6 people standing against the wall looking for something to do. Menu, one thing about it was the abundance of unique ingredients. I'd looked up the menu prior to going and had to look up a bunch of the ingredients. (examples: nasurtium, burrata, raita, poori, robiolo) Prices, I thought they were a bit steep. Our bill was around $225 for 3 people. Overall, I'm definitely a fan. I thought it was a really great experience. The food and drinks were terrific and I would love to go back.
(4)John C.
Excellent place for a Sunday brunch. The restaurant is clean and beautiful and the eggs benedict are amazing. It's 13 dollars for it and it comes with potatoes and some pastry kind of like a powdered donut hole. Service was pretty slow though even on a not so busy morning. The paper towels in the bathroom are the best paper towels I've ever used for whatever that's worth.
(4)eliza b.
An upscale overdone greasy spoon. Everything is to excess, too sweet, too saucy, too greasy-- hello where's the edit button! Maybe, to test the waters start at the bar. I may be jaded; but restaurants this big you are a VERY small fish in a VERY big pond. There are so many other places I prefer to drop $100 per person for dinner (inclusive of tax & tip) - this is not it.
(2)Ken V.
the food is great, the drinks are great, service is great. it's a nice place to go if you like seafood and are feeling a little spendy.
(4)Carrie R.
is it possible to rate this restaurant LESS than one star?! everything about my dining experience at Towne was ATROCIOUS! from the service to the staff to the food! out of 3 people that ordered steak (of which the portion was ridiculously small) all three had to be sent back because (a) they were dangerously undercooked even though they were ordered medium and (b) b/c they were SO fatty you could barely chew them! a 4th person dining with me ordered the short ribs and asked over half a dozen times for the sauce cart and waited over 20 minutes for it. eventually the general manager brought it over. and my absolute FAVORITE part of the evening was when my friend ordered the lobster roll which came with a side of potato chips. however, instead of the potato chips, he substituted sauteed mushrooms for the chips. when the waiter brought out his "lobster roll" ... there was NO LOBSTER. rather, his hot dog roll was FILLED WITH SAUTEED MUSHROOMS WITH A SIDE OF POTATO CHIPS! after our steaks had been sent back once and still came back drastically undercooked and fatty, they were sent back a third time and came back drastically OVERcooked ... clearly the kitchen was overcompensating for their first two mistakes. our waiter was flighty and unattentive and the busboys seemed to have no idea what was going on ... and made it abundantly clear when one of them actually SAID to me "I have no idea what's going on." the manager did deduct a portion of the meals from our bill (about 50% ... but if you ask me, it should have been more). upon leaving, i was appalled to see there was a line to get into the TINY bar at the front of the restaurant. this place is OVERRATED and UNDER-delivered on EVERY aspect of the dining experience. i will NEVER set foot in that restaurant again! and, so long as you don't want to waste your time and money, i suggest you don't either!
(1)Laura R.
We went on Friday night. Great place for 30 somethings although a little bit of a meat market. I gave it a mediocre rating because the sangria was disgusting. Not really sure what went wrong since sangria really isn't that hard to make, but it tasted like they forgot the sugar and watered it down with seltzer water. Also, the bouncers were like bathroom nazis. You have to walk through the back room to get to the bathrooms and for some reason, they would only let one girl from a group go through at a time. When she returned, he would let another one go. Strange.
(3)A C.
I AGREE COMPLETELY WITH CARRIE R. Honestly, I know it is in its first weeks, but things like cooking steak properly and putting lobster in a "lobster roll" are not something to be forgiven especially when you have two renowned chefs in the kitchen. Service I can understand SOMEWHAT but food no way. I will day the decor was kinda cool except for the laminated menus which were so wrong.
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