The Dogwood
3712 Washington St, Jamaica Plain, MA, 02130
The Dogwood Menu
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Address :
3712 Washington St
Jamaica Plain, MA, 02130 - Phone (617) 522-7997
- Website https://www.thedogwoodjp.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :5:00 pm - 1:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Brunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Pizza
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
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Stephen W.
Made a reservation for 18 for a surprise B-day party and we were able to fit easily with the table arrangement. Our waiter Justin D was amazing, handled the crew with ease and was very, very attentive. The food was outstanding, everyone loved their selections and there was enough to share around the table. More than a few in the party commented it was now their new favorite place. We will definitely be visiting again soon.
(5)Sean B.
I've only been for brunch but it's great. It has replaced Doyles as my brunch spot. The food is not nearly as greasy and the service is better. I don't know how much of a selling point this is to most people but I am in love with the fact that I can get raisin bread. Parents seem to like to go for brunch as well. the last thing i need while nursing a hangover or hell any morning, is a screeching/screaming small child. Other than that I am happy.
(4)Jeff I.
I loved this place from the decor to the drinks to the pizza. It's a very comfortable setting. They layout is great and there is plenty of room to maneuver, despite it not being the biggest restaurant in the world. The wood decor offers a very cozy atmosphere. The drink menu and beer list were great. I had a Hendricks Cucumber Sidecar. It was refreshing and STRONG. I ordered a Naughty Pine pizza (portabello, tomatoes, onions) and it was outstanding. The cheese and the thin crust, along with the fresh toppings really made it work. There was also 2 live music acts in the short time we were there. Cannot wait to go back.
(4)Tina P.
i've been to dogwood a number of times and the food has always been pretty good. however, this review is solely for the cuban panini which was a special last tuesday. it was excellent. bread perfectly pressed and the right amount of crispy but not flakey and falling apart...the ham was thin sliced and good quality, and the pork was good. the pork was a bit dry on its own but combined with the pickles, onions, swiss cheese, mustard and i believe a touch of mayo? that they put on gave it great flavor. def one of the better cubans i've had.
(4)Meredith M.
Brunch yummm.. Great service. Friendly, efficient, fast. On a Sunday morning by 11 am they were pretty busy, but not crowded. We both had omelets with PERFECTLY toasted toast and little potato wedges that were mouth watering. Also, note. They can't serve alcohol til after 11am. Our waitress was AWESOME. She put in our drink orders right before 11 and we were drinking by 11:01 am. If you like grapefruit juice, get the Ruby Red Wakeup Call..mmmm champagne, splash of cranberry and shot of ruby red infused vodka. The regular mimosa is also refreshing and wonderful. Omelets can be prepared exactly the way you want. I recommend egg whites with red peppers, mozzarella and broccoli. ALL of the brunch items looked delicious. We will certainly be back for another great brunch!
(4)Robert D.
We love the Dogwood - kid-friendly but still maintains a cool vibe. The friendliest staff you'll find anywhere, and great specials. Pizza is delicious - thin, crispy crust. Live music can be a bit loud at dinner but is a welcome addition. And sans kids, sit at the bar - love the bartenders here.
(4)KayGee G.
Simply awful. I would not recommend this restaurant. Both the food and the service was abhorrent. My experience began with the server bringing me a side of "fresh" vegetables as my appetizer when I had requested something else. This unwelcome dish was overcooked and almost completely composed of red and green peppers and about two florets of broccoli, seasoned with what tasted like Mrs. Dash. Raw vegetables would have been preferred, well, actually, what I had ordered would have been most preferable. My entree was pasta that was undercooked and visually unpleasant. I immediately sent it back and was rudely addressed by the server with, "What! What don't you like about the dish?!" To which I replied that I thought it tasted undercooked. I ordered a veggie burger then which both looked and tasted like a veggie burger produced by the Gardenburger Co. It came with a side of French Fries that were undercooked. I was thoroughly disappointed. The service was slow despite the restaurant being sparse and a Wednesday night. On my way out, I spotted other unattractive and undercooked pizzas.
(1)Leah Z.
A must try for all those in the Jamaica Plain area (even those who are not)! The pizza is pretty good but you must try their wings...they are the best i have had in Boston! The atmosphere is nice but casual and is a great place for birthday dinners or other such occasions.
(4)Rebecca Y.
This place has great pizzas, lengthy bar and is an all around good choice. If you are looking for something with good staples that is off the standard path check out the Doogwood.
(5)D. R.
I've read fairly decent reviews of the Dogwood and we finally decided to give it a try today. Bad news...the place was moderately busy for Sunday brunch and we were seated next to the bar at one of the tall tables. It took over 15 minutes for our waitperson to bring us water and only after we stared down another waiter to let him know that we'd been ignored long enough. I ordered a tuna "panini" and my husband ordered a fish sandwich with side Caesar. My "panini" turned out to be a plain old grilled tuna sandwich which arrived cold as ice...the cheese hadn't even begun to melt. My hubby's fish sandwich was alright but nothing special. We had, then, to ask someone for napkins and cutlery as we had not been given them upon seating. I sent my sandwich back as I'd had enough of this place and it took another 15 minutes to return it to me, so my poor husband had to pick at his meal meaning his fish was now cold. What a mess. I did complain to a blond woman who appeared to be either an owner or a manager...she apologized and to her credit, she comped my sandwich. But that is beside the point, I don't need a free tuna sandwich. I came to enjoy Sunday lunch and to have a good time my first time at Dogwood. Such a terrible experience is uncalled for and totally unnecessary. You need to treat every one who walks through the door as if they are old friends, not just your regulars. We will never go back, and we will never recommend the joint. What people like about this place is a mystery to me.
(1)Kathleen T.
I agree with Little P's Mom- the location can be a bit sketchy. Neverthless, the Dogwood Cafe has a plethora of food to choose from. It is basically all reasonably priced and deliciously tasty. Give it a whirl for a quick bite.
(4)Maureen F.
I have been to the Dogwood more times than I can count and speaking of counting, I can always count on it for decent food and an excellent atmosphere. HAH! Was that a good intro or what? Kind of corny, I know. However, don't let it detract from the Dogwood. It's a great neighborhood place, with good classic American fare: steak tips and burgers and fish and chips and pizza. Their brunch is a little overpriced, hence the 4 stars. I love coming on a Thurs, Fri, or Sat. nt when the place is a little crowded and there is live acoustic music playing (I think that's just Thursdays). Lots of families and adorable kids, cute couples, and good friends. Folks are friendly here and the service is right there in the middle of the bell curve. Admittedly, before the place switched owners, some of the dishes were a little better--particularly the spinach and artichoke dip which while it used to be lusty and vivaciously flavorful is now kind of like really thin glue. Oh well...at least they added a mac and cheese to the menu. Still doesn't out-do the Publick House's mac and cheese though (you'll have to check out that review if you want to know more). I have a lot of good memories from the Dogwood---long dinners w/friends and great conversations..first dates..and morning afters, too;) All hail the Dogwood! But not so much as to give it 5 stars.
(4)Christian M.
The burgers are very good. The drinks were well made, and the staff was attentive, friendly, and professional. We sat on the patio in the back, and there is an awning that provided lots of shade. Our waitress was right on point. She made sure our glasses stayed full. Great place for a cute quick date or after dinner drinks/apps with friends/coworkers
(4)J F.
I started going to the Dogwood about 8 years ago and really loved it. It had a great atmosphere and good food (pizza) and the music made for a fun night particularly when it was cold and snowy. Recently Ive been in to enjoy the same thing and noticed that the quality has gone way down. I think that they are no longer buying quality ingredients. The pizza is no longer good and the salads are thin and lifeless. I agree that the prices are not possibly justifiable. To the owners/managers of the Dogwood, please bring back the Dogwood of old. Until it improves it is off the rotation which is a real shame.
(1)Marie-frances R.
My boyfriend, mother and I decided to grab some late lunch here. I was expecting regular food quality, but your meals (that we ate family style) were really delicious! The dish I would run back there for was the potato gnocchi with lobster, portobello mushrooms and peas in a creamy sauce was out of control. The service was also gray - our waiter was super pleasant and attentive.
(4)Robert H.
Based on the only time we went, I would make a point of going back, so it gets a Four. Excellent draft beer selection. I tried a very hoppy "Baxter". My "DogWood Special" pizza was quite good. Mixed crowd. Surprising number of little kids, but they were well-behaved, and it was brunch so it's all good. Having to pay six bucks to park at the lot kind of blew, but it is not a deal breaker.
(4)Kyle M.
Came here on a late Friday night (10:00pm) looking for a place that was still serving food. Had made reservations for 9:45pm evening though I was late the hostess sat me and my girlfriend soon as we gave her the name. Wasn't a busy night they did seem to have a live musician earlier in the night. We sat at the table waitress came over took our drink order. We ordered some chicken tenders(honey hot) style only came with 4 but they did taste good I really wish they gave more but hey its was just a appetizer. We also ordered some calamari was actually pretty good the lemon aolio(spellcheck) went well with it. Now the dogwood is known for there pizza so I had to try it I'm a fan of Buffalo chicken pizza so I went with that, a buffalo chicken and feta pizza. It came out perfect the crust wasn't to thick it was cooked just right a little crispy on the edges (cooked in a brick oven). All in all the food was good for a last minute pick definitely would return and try some other menu items.
(4)cath e.
Fun friendly great drinks staff focussed on good service young man was very helpful about being safe near our lively toddler Mac and Cheese Bland. Maybe good for toddlers Vod great Drinks great and big Cosmo wonderful with blood Orange flavor Fun guitarist The teacher fun guy good with crowd small dancing people made it sweet night Oooo really good brownie dessert
(4)TinoX T.
Okay place for the area,good food,Cool Staff
(3)Hayley D.
Dogwood has, hands down, the worst service I have experienced in my life. I live close, the food is good, and there is a decent beer selection so I occasionally give it another chance hoping that they've gotten their acts together since the last time. The servers regularly disappear and take forever to fulfill simple orders like a glass of water or another beer. One time at the bar I had to ask twice for water; I felt like jumping over the counter myself and filling up a glass. Another time the same waitress/bartender screwed up our orders and dropped the ball multiple times throughout the meal, then took 15 minutes to get our check only to bring a different tables' slip. Overall there is just zero urgency or professionalism. Last week I stopped in for a beer and to take a pizza home and the bar was full, so I asked if I could sit at one of the 5 empty bar tables while I waited for my boyfriend. The hostess goes "how many of you?" as if she's going to say no depending on my answer. It's these little negative attitude anecdotes that only make the slow unapologetic service even worse. I was pleasantly surprised by how engaged and on-the-ball our waitress seemed at first that night, but even she had adopted the standard Dogwood MO 15 minutes after I was seated. One time I ordered takeout and looked forward to enjoying the salad at home without the miserable service. As I was walking towards the door with my food it seemed like the bag didn't weigh enough, so I checked inside the box and my $17 salad was a box of lettuce with some strawberries and onions on it. Yum! Needless to say I turned around and asked for the real meal, and the "manager" seemed to this oversight was more funny than it was a prime example of their moronic servers' chronic oversights. Two stars because I can't resist the Spruce pizza.
(2)Daniel W.
Horribly overrated. Had the Dogwood Breakfast Pizza with coffee for brunch; the pizza had no taste and the coffee was weak and I could see through it. To cap it off, service was poor, see out waiter three times the hour we were there.
(2)M.K. C.
I rolled in here last night with my sister and brother-in-law. I remember seeing the place when I still lived in the neighborhood, but alas, I never stopped in, and now live in SF. Waiter was very prompt. Sister ordered the drinks, as I'm not usually one for cocktails, but I trust her judgment. Blood orange Cosmo was straight ballin'. I told the waiter such, he gave me a word of caution! Danger! That cocktail is NOT messing around. I forget the name of the pizza I ordered. Spinach, feta, pesto... Yum! Food was out way faster than anticipated, too! Sis and broface split a pizza and a salad. They were very satisfied. I'll be keeping Dogwood in mind next time I'm back in town. In the meantime, I'm gonna eat delicious leftover pizza for breakfast!
(4)Alyssa B.
my boyfriend and I love our Sunday brunch and decided to try out a new place. His friend from the Sam Adams brewery also works here, he was the one who recommended The Dogwood. I do not understand all the bad service reviews. we were seated immediately, they kept the coffee coming, I got The Colcannon and my boyfriend got breakfast pizza, both of which were delicious. We knew we would love the place the second we walked in! By the looks of it they also have a decent beer selection as well. We grew up in Maine so my boyfriend is always happy to see when a place carries Geary's.
(5)Nalin R.
Good breakfast, good service, good memories. A solid hometown neighborhood diner, with everything you'd expect from same.
(3)Leah K.
The atmosphere is great (live music! beautiful interior!) but there are underlying problems...which probably aren't so underlying. The food: decent. My sister and I had a so-so meal here, a small cheese pizza (fine) and vegetable potstickers (pretty good). But one time I ordered a pizza for take out here (pepperoni). I live right down the street, and went to pick it up about 20 minutes after we ordered. By the time we got it home, it wasn't just tepid, it was practically cold. Did they make this pizza hours ago? Yikes! It took us another 20 minutes to heat it in the oven. We were very unhappy! Also the service is INSANELY SLOW. You can't even wave your waiter down. It's like, where did they go? Did they leave? It's a shame. It seems like a great restaurant until you actually eat there. And there aren't a ton of restaurants like it in the area....so maybe next time we'll just go for drinks.
(2)Carol L.
I'm a huge fan of the Dogwood! Their pizza is so great. I went there for a late lunch earlier this month. I got the Willow pizza. My boyfriend ordered their mac & cheese, which comes with a side salad. I love that idea, since mac & cheese is so heavy, and at most places you have to pay extra for a side salad. We shared the potato skins too. All of the food was delicious and the waitress was very kind. They have a fun cocktail menu as well. I've been a few times and have always had a great meal. Beware: there tends to be lots of children there running around. Doesn't bother me, but some people might get annoyed.
(5)DNice C.
We attended Dogwood as a group to celebrate our graduation. As mentioned by other reviewers, the favorite words here is "can't." The service was slow and in attentive- it took forever to get an additional seat, and our drinks were never refilled, unless we asked. The order took 30 minutes to come out, and several of us did not get extras we ordered, and my meal was inedible. The staff was off putting, and acted like they could care less that we were a large party there to eat. The food was nothing to write home about, and we will not be going back.
(1)Tony W.
This is a great place for fancy brunch with family or friends. They have a selection of house offerings, and then 3 or 4 specials. What I ate was wonderful - an egg scramble - but I spent the whole time with order envy as I watched my friend devour a VERY tasty apricot French toast concoction. The transparent glass coffee mugs are a nice touch - I don't think I've seen them used in a Boston restaurant before.
(5)Veronique S.
I have been to this restaurant on several occasions. I haven't been there for a while due to the horrible service I received multiply times. I was surprised to see there were renovation done which inspired a cozy and quaint atmosphere. I was greeted appropriately and seated. I waited 13 mins to be greeted by my server. I then asked hostess if she can kindly get my server. She was polite and informed she get her for me. After 10 minutes I was forced to leave the restaurant. I believe 23 is a long time to wait to be greeted by server. Even if she/he was busy I believe informing me would have change the entire visit. I now remember why I do not go to this restaurant anymore. The food at Dogwood is great and the prices are reasonable. This is the reason I decided to give the place another chance. There will be no chances with the Dogwood Cafe. If your willing to sacrifice service for food this is a wonderful place to go. The restaurant does offer take out which may be a better option so you have to sit around waiting. I will not be going back or recommending to this restaurant.
(1)Lynette S.
Something has been bothering me since I left here carrying my 4 to-go pizza boxes. They felt empty as I was walking out (super-thin crust) and tasted like crap. We ordered 4 different pizzas (the worst was the plain cheese). I cannot for the life of me see why anyone would order pizza from here. It is one of the all-time worst pizzas I've ever had and was embarrassed to serve them to my guests, but had no choice as guests had arrived. Another thing has been bothering me: The fact that I did not take pictures of the pizzas to go with the review. Why 2 stars instead of one? Cozy sit-in restaurant and other foods have been okay (sandwiches). Breakfast burrito was pretty bad though.
(2)Ron H.
Good food, good prices, good service. Maybe it won't astound you but it'll be a pleasant experience.
(4)Devon A.
I had some French Toast here one Saturday morning and I was like "This is pretty damn good." Lol I'm very picky with my French Toast so this was a pretty big deal to me. Cheaper and better quality than iHop's plate so it's pretty good if you are coming to Forest Hills are in the mood for some breakfast. Dogwood is right across the street!
(4)Evan G.
Meh. I've experienced better. Really though-- the pizza was... fine. Not great. The crust was really bland and unexciting and even sort of weirdly spongy (instead of chewy or crispy) for thin crust. The toppings were a pretty good combination (we got the Willow- goat cheese, spinach, caramelized onion, fresh garlic, tomato sauce, mozarella). I liked the sauce. The pizza was on the small side for a "large" and $18 was a bit steep for what we got. This place isn't in my "never return" category, but I'm certainly not going out of my way to come back.
(2)Jazzie F.
To start with, you know that the pizza from last night is good because, you look at a picture of it and you're still thinking about it at 11 am the next day. The Dogwood, hands down, has the best pizza in the city of Boston. I had to update my review of this place, due to my experience from last night. I went in with a friend around 8 pm to share a pizza and have a couple of beers. Although when our pizza arrived, it had pepperoni on it (we ordered one of the specialty pizzas from the menu). The last few times I have ordered the specialty pizza it has been vegetarian, so this time, I didn't check carefully, and both of us, my friend and I, COMPLETELY missed the fact that it said pepperoni on it, it did have like a million ingredients listed. True story, that the manager did give us a bit of an attitude about taking it back, however, fact of the matter remains that it was my mistake, and they took it back, and gave us a fresh new vegetarian pizza. The waitress was a million times nicer than the manager about it, and super helpful and friendly. Service is still slow here, and they really can't seem to get it together on soda refills, however, the small gesture really meant a lot for me. I was going to offer to box the pizza to take it home for my roommate and paying for the replacement pizza but they just replaced it. Great job!
(4)Tina M.
Don't know what happened to our of my favorite restaurants! We've been going there for years, they've been so good about service and food and accommodating young families. They renovated and the place looks so much better, but what the heck happened to their food and service??? Recently was served an absolutely raw burger, after waiting foreeeeeeevvvvvvvvveeeeeeerrrrrrrr, and since we didn't have time to wait, we ate a half luster salad. Although the manager was nice enough to make up for our disappointment, we really just want the old service and food back! So sad...
(2)Jeff C.
Ordered a burger for takeout from The Dogwood. The burger we wanted was on the menu on Menupages for $10. We were told that was no longer on the menu but they'd make it for us anyway. They charged us $15. Asked for the burger to be medium, it came quite rare. Not awesome.
(2)V R.
Love this place particularly because they serve Crispin Cider on Tap. Great food particularly the pizza.
(5)David S.
Fantastic burger, followed by a bartender who proceeded to look up a drink I only half-remembered, then make it for me. Also she wore a miner's hat. Best bartender ever.
(5)Judy H.
The 3 stars are for the food. I love the pizza and the Black and blue burger De-lish. But don't go on a Friday night. It's family night, which would be ok because parents need to de-stress too, but Good Lord, it is bedlam ! Look , I know toddlers dancing to live music is cute, but in the path of the waitress ? How cute would he be with hot mozzarella on his head ? And these are not your regular folk, but the free sprited " let my brat express himself by annoying every one in the world" type of parents. I gave up and left. Avoid Fridays until after 9 and it will be great.
(3)Anthony L.
It was a beautiful Sunday (3/18) when I found myself in Jamaica Plain. As I walked from Central Square, I was really craving a salad. Maybe it was the great summertime feeling weather or me wanting to be healthy, it was stupid. Once I reached Forest Hills, I immediately wanted a burger and french fries. My buddy suggested The Dogwood Cafe, I gladly accepted the suggestion. I really enjoy the warm and cozy atmosphere. The dark wood gives off great vibes and I could tell all of the customers were enjoying their time there. We're off to a great start. The beer selection was great. They had a number of seasonal brews and tons of beer on tap. I opted for the Sam Seasonal (Alpine Spring -- which, if you haven't had yet, you need to. An unfiltered citrus beer... Mmmm!!!) but I really wanted to try the dark chocolate stout they had. Next time. As a hungry little hippo I was, I ordered broccoli and cheddar poppers (I really hate the word popper. I ordered them as "broccoli and cheddar..." while pointing at the item. I don't know why, the word just creeps me out). I doubt they were homemade, but they were great. No complaints there. Although my burger was great (black and blue burger... caramelized onions and bleu cheese) they ran out of veggie burgers (lucky that I'm not a hardcore vegetarian). The waitress told me they had one left and that was on the grill right now. I would expect any restaurant in JP to have a boatload of vegetarian items ready for their hippy neighbors (also, does this mean they don't make their own veggie burgers? Hm!) Regardless, the burger was excellent. I could have used a little more bleu cheese, but I guess I could've just easily asked for that. I would have given The Dogwood Cafe 4 stars, but due to the veggie burger incident, I sadly had to deduct one.
(3)Maureen D.
Cozy but bright restaurant with adjacent bar. I have been there twice for brunch and enjoyed it both times. Also went after jury duty for lunch. I have sampled several pancakes, omelets and sandwiches, and enjoyed them all. They have a nice selection of vegetarian options. I have never had to wait more than 5 minutes for a table and the servers have always been polite and quick. Prices are reasonable.
(4)Glenn P.
Look, Dogwood is a quality place. One of the few neighborhood places that I don't get tired of. The bartenders are generous, the pub-food menu is satisfying, and the interior is comfortable and clean.
(5)Tracy B.
I have only eaten here once. Planned an afternoon of walking at the nearby Harvard Arboretum. Restaurant is right across the street from the T and on our way to the park. Great choice. Inside is clean and spacious. We were seated right away in a comfortable corner booth. Two adults one child. My brother ordered a pizza which smelled amazing and he said was in fact delicious. It is listed as an individual size but is fairly large and bigger than your average individual serving. My 10 year old ordered a cheeseburger off the kids menu with sweet potato fries and I ordered the steak tips and eggs. My son ate every bite of his burger and we all snatched up his fries. My steak and eggs were cooked perfectly. The portion was huge; potatoes on the side we great and the scrambled eggs were nice and fluffy. The steak tips alone would have filled me up. Our server was on the whole pretty attentive and refilled our drinks without prompt. Couldn't find him for a bit but since the meal was good and we had no issues...we really didn't need him again except for the check. I would definitely eat here again.
(4)Ryan C.
Went there with my guy and a buddy to have a nice dinner and a few drinks. I ordered the Steak Tips with Rice and vegetables. The Rice was undercooked and the vegetables were mush. Usually this place is awesome, but I was really disappointed this time. Brunch is still amazing! Go here for brunch. Dinner was a disappointment. Hopefully next time will be better. I will return.
(2)Nicole C.
Service is consistently poor, but for the most part everything is pretty tasty, albeit on the pricey side, e.g. $11 for a basic burger with just lettuce and tomato (other toppings are extra). Being across the street from Forest Hills, they can get away with the prices and I can't expect anything better, really. I particularly recommend the burgers. I don't know what they do to the meat but it's very flavorful. However, I have ordered "medium rare" on two occasions -- once it came burnt, and the other time it was practically alive it was so rare. Their sweet potato fries are among the best I have sampled. Breakfast (omelette and home fries) was forgettable and modestly-portioned. My friends rave about their chocolate fudge/brownie/cookie dough dessert. If you try it, be sure to ask that you not get a corner piece, as the corner pieces are unchewable rocks. Kudos for being one of the surprisingly rare places in Boston that has avocado as an available sandwich/burger topping. Minor point but worth mentioning for the Californian in me. Three stars because it's a great place to get a burger, and passable otherwise -- nothing more, nothing less.
(3)Cait J.
We used to love this place, but over the last year or so, the food has substantially gone down hill. Recently, my husband and I both ordered brick oven pizzas that were absolutely not make in a brick oven. The crusts were perfect circles, exactly the same size, and had the consistency I would expect of a pre-made crust from the grocery store. The toppings were equally as disappointing, including what looked like frozen broccoli. Very disappointing.
(2)Evan H.
This was by far was one of my worst restaurant experiences that I've had in awhile... we went on a Saturday night with a bunch of friends to celebrate a birthday. We had awful service. period. We were told that the cooks do not do adjustments to the menu during busy times... this was after the waitress came back to me two different times after finding out that they ran out of certain things. sorry no more twice baked potatoes... then I asked with the mashed potatoes can we just add bacon and cheese to them, sorry No. Then when I asked for the prime rib to be medium rare, it came out completely brown and dry. I could pick it up with my fingers and could not feel any moisture. gross... Then when I complained, (had to grab another server to get our waitress, to even be able to complain about it), i was told they were out of prime rib, the last one was ordered about 5 mins ago...then she asked if I wanted anything else. I immediately asked for the steak tips because I knew if she left, I probably wouldn't see her in another 15min. she never even asked how our food was initially...also when the steak tips came out, this was after having to ask again what happened to my second order because it was taking so long. I had to tell her I didn't even want the food because the entire dinner party was already done eating. she said it would be just a few more minutes...still a super long wait, then when then steak tips came, that were burnt... when I asked for rare... also to complained that I had to wait because she came back so infrequently. the slowest, unsatisfying, most awful service meal, I've had in a very long time... I had great friends with me so at least the music and conversation was really great. the sangria was decent. one of my friends had to ask a couple times, the waitress said she already put it in, the second time she came around. odd that her husband got his drink the first time around, she would have to wait around for after the second time around.... odd, isn't it? we even had a small ice cream cake that we brought ourselves.. and that took forever to come out... having to ask multiple times for something that they didn't have to cook? even then having to ask and wait for spoons after it was brought out... the server already had the guaranteed 20% tip due to the over 6 party size... she thankfully took off the two appetizers and my meal off from the bill. but even paying the bill took almost an hour. when couples from the group leave cash and go because it's taking so long for the bill to be even picked up... you know it's a long time... I've worked in food service as a server before I'm usually very forgiving because I know it's a tough job. This was by far, one of the worst food experiences in a restaurant that I've had in Boston in years.
(1)Victoria J.
Solid burgers, pizzas, and pulled pork. The service here can be a little brisk, but that's something I've become accustomed to - just refill my beer when my glass is empty please. I totally dig the breakfast pizza for lunch - bacon, scrambled eggs, and cheese. Not too shabby. Wouldn't say no to Dogwood should be suggested.
(3)Mitsy C.
The selection was intriguing. I liked the ambiance--definitely felt like a local neighborhood spot. I wouldn't say that the food blew me away--I ordered the turkey burger and my friend order the salad--but I enjoyed it and felt it was on par with the price. I would recommend as a "let's grab dinner--we should invite Susie too" kind of place. There was live music when I went, and the guitarist was quite talented, so kudos.
(4)Ian S.
Really Dogwood?! well, thanks for the most depressing and miserable lunch i've had in years. went in for a quick bite at the bar - the food was great, service was fine, until i asked her to put subtitles on the television. Why not? There were only about 10 customers in there, and the music was so quiet all i heard for my entire lunch was the sous chef chopping from the kitchen. The bartender told me she wasn't allowed to turn on subtitles! ARE YOU KIDDING ME? upon a customer request?? So I sat there in this dead silent pub, thinking about the crappy food but great atmosphere at the Galway house. I asked again about subtitles, just give me some stimulation - nope, can't do it. Finally, as i paid my bill, I asked to speak to a manager. Bartender went, came back, oh, she's in a meeting, she'll be out soon. REALLY? Customer wants to talk to you and you can't be bothered?? Who's important to the restaurant? The customer!! I've been going to the dogwood for over 15 years, granted not too often, but i certainly won't be going there for lunch. It was so sad. SO SAD. Really Dogwood, what the hell is wrong with you? oh, and why has your website menu been offline for over 6 months?? Really Dogwood? Really??????
(2)Fernanda P.
I love this place. Love the interior and the lice music. They changed the menu and I feel there were more options before, but they said they can still make the blue burger even if it's not on the menu. The service is not terrible, but I have to agree that it's slow. It seems they take their time to place your order and rarely check on you. The portions were bigger before. I've been going to this place for a long time and always had to bring food home bc I was full. I went there last week, ordered chicken marsala (which was phenomenal), but left the place hungry.. even after the dessert. Please, waiters, try to be quicker and more attentive to your customers. Please, kitchen, give more food to your customers
(4)Julie B.
I found myself in Jamaica Plain on Sunday morning and decided to venture into the Dogwood Cafe for some brunch. There was a lot to choose from on the menu and a nice brunch drink list. I ended up ordering a pomosa (mimosa with pomegranate juice instead of orange) which I had never heard of, and the buffalo chicken wrap. The drink was decent but came in a martini glass which my hangover-induced shaky hands couldn't really handle. The wrap was nothing to write home about but certainly got the job done. Our waitress was adorable and super sweet. She did make a mistake with the bill though but happily fixed it as soon as we pointed it out. I'd come back again if I was in the area but it's nothing I'd travel too far for.
(3)Jes S.
We love the Dogwood. We come here all the time, have eaten across the menu, and keep coming back for more. Reliably good, fresh food, reliable service (though service at the bar can be a little slow when it's busy - lots of people for 1-2 people), reasonable prices, and knowledgeable servers. They also have one of the better GF pizzas I've had - so good, in fact, that it's one of two places I've ever eaten that I'm willing to suggest splitting and sharing different pizzas with folks who could otherwise eat a regular pizza crust.
(5)Jess A.
The Dogwood has got some damn good food, considering it's location in Shanty-town. You could never go wrong with their pizza, the beer list is extensive, and there's plenty of options. Burgers, mac and cheese, and hey the brunch menu looks fabulous (and is super affordable)! That being said, $6 for a Stella??? $16 for a 14 inch pizza? Overpriced... Service is touch and go.... Sometimes they're great, sometimes you have to track the waitress down to get a fork, or a refill on your drink, or a plate for your appetizer, etc etc. Lastly, sometimes the atmosphere is pretty shit-tastic. You do NOT want to go on a night where a "musician" is performing... who wants to hear Edwin McCain's "I'll Be" while trying to eat dinner? Overall... tasty food. Cheap for brunch, otherwise a little pricey. Service is a maybe. If you get dessert, get the Blondie. It's super dank!!
(3)Romney D.
Let me start off by saying, I haven't been here. Why am I writing a review? This will be based on the service I received over the phone. I'm huge on customer service and if I get a bad vibe over the phone, RED FLAG. I'm an organizer of a group on meetup.com , with about 100+ members & since my pregnancy I haven't been very active. So I wanted to plan a brunch where I can meet some new members and etc. I was really excited about this place and thought it would be PERFECT. I called Tuesday to make an appointment and the manager there was initially nice and told me that she would be able to fit our party of 20 at 11am, but not at the time I wanted of 1pm. She explained that this was their busiest brunch and she would be able to better accommodate us at 11am. I was a little irked by this because, it's brunch, it will be busy no matter what. I called back Thursday to confirm everything and spoke with a different manager who told me that not only would we need to be there by 11 but we have to be gone by 12:30. 20 people!? By 12:30 I expect we'll be just getting our food. She told me that we are more than welcome to go to the bar but we have to be done by 12:30. What the hell!? So not only do you want me to bring 20 people and rush them to order, eat and be done by 12:30, you then want us to go to your bar and spend more money after we just rushed to eat? I think not. I'd rather take my group of 20 people elsewhere. Your loss Dogwood.
(1)Kelly B.
This review is long overdue. Oh how I wish I could live in the place, the food, the beer, the staff you can't ask for a better atmosphere. We actually had our rehearsal dinner here last summer (they blocked off a section of the restaurant for us how awesome!!) and Joanne the manager is THE best truly allowed us to make the dinner our own with the food and beer. I honestly can't say enough about this place it's a gem!
(5)Jonathan R.
What can I say about this place? The food at the Dogwood is great and the live entertainment is a nice accoutrement. I suggest the broccoli & cheese poppers The only downfall of this place is all the kids running around (Friday night). If you do not want to take it back to your days in preschool do not show up before 8:00
(4)Opal L.
This is a nice place for brunch on the weekends. It's not overly crowded or noisy so you can actually have a conversation without screaming your head off. Maybe it's because I'm getting old but those places that are so noisy that you have to scream to have a conversation, are not for me. This place is like the Doyle's for the locals. All the tourists go to Doyle's while the locals go to Dogwood for better food. The exotic pizzas can be good for dinner. The barbecue chicken was good too but I had that many years ago. Recently, I've been going there for brunch and remember that the breakfast food was nicely done. The portions were reasonable without being too large (or too small). The burgers are pretty impressive with nicely cooked beef patties. I liked the bread, which was not your regular sesame seed bun a la Micky D's. It was not extra fancy but tasted like it was recently baked. I'm also a fan of their chipotle mayo, which is one of their many options that can be added on to any of their burgers. At my most recent visit, I was with 4 friends and we decided to share one serving of blueberry pie with ice cream. They brought us this small round pie with whipped cream and ice cream on top. I had to ask, "is this one serving?" and it was! Anyway, there was enough to go around and it was very good. The blueberries were definitely fresh. The only reason I'm not giving 5 stars is because the friend who ordered huevos rancheros was not 100% impressed. Apparently, the salsa tasted like it came from a can or jar and it was not as great as the last time she had it. Other than that, this is a nice casual place to have a small or large gathering.
(4)heidi l.
usually decent service, though on my husband's birthday they got the order wrong three times. Pizzas are quite good here. Most of the dishes Ive had here were not disappointing.
(3)Marta C.
Delicious pizza. Terrible service. I went here for lunch with co workers. The place was almost empty and we were seated quickly, but the waitress took her time waiting on us. I was in the bathroom when she took my co workers drink orders, and when she brought them their drinks, she neglected to ask me if I wanted anything. I had to yell after her as she was walking away. After our food came, she ignored us. Our drinks weren't refilled (and I really needed another coke) and we had to send up a flare to get our bill. On the upside, our pizza was excellent. I would almost go back just for the pizza, but maybe I'd bring my own drinks and enough cash so that I could just leave it on the table.
(2)Missy S.
We tried a bunch of pizzas and they all were terrible. Way too much garlic on the pesto pizza and the rest of them were just luke-warm and over-cooked all at the same time. Perhaps we hit this place on the wrong night, because it was recommended by a friend... at least the pumpkin beers were deliciously cold and rimmed appropriately with cinnamon and the sweet potato fries were actually out of this world.
(2)Sarah M.
Oh Dogwood. I still love you regardless of your mediocrity and expensive drink prices, but for the love of god bring back the old breakfast potatoes. Just because you cook something in bacon grease doesn't make it better and it makes the vegetarians sad. The old potatoes were perfect. The new ones are a solid meh.
(3)Kurt M.
Man, I've got really mixed feelings about the Dogwood. On the one hand, I've had dinner here a couple times and found the food overpriced, the beer overpriced and the selection adequate. I've had the pizza there twice and the first time it was okay and the second time our pizza was served lukewarm and when we asked to have it reheated, it still came back lukewarm. I will say that the server was apologetic about it, however. You can definitely get better pizza for a cheaper price at other places in JP. On the other hand, I had brunch here the other day and it was great. I had the huevos rancheros and the portion size was good for the price. The server was friendly and attentive. The food was really tasty and looked great, too. So my advice is, when moving, try asking some friends for help instead of hiring professional movers...uh, I mean, try the brunch. (So tired...)
(3)Mike O.
This is what a JP pub should be about: great beer, not overly crowded, and food that's marginally better than good. In the distant enclave that is Forrest Hills such a bar resides, that you can get breakfast, lunch, and dinner at a reasonable price. That the staff will actually pay attention to you too, regardless if you have tattoos and flannel (or not), but suck down one too many Ommegangs and you might be a far ways from Kansas, Dorothy. At night the Forrest Hills train station is not as bustling as one would think so getting a cab out of here may not be your best option. Ideal for an intimate chat over a couple of pops without the pretentiousness of other more common area hot spots, Dogwood will not disappoint.
(4)Ben K.
I live up the hill from Dogwood and it's a favorite of my 'hood, for sure. Especially against its sketchy neighbors (I love the coffee shop- don't get me wrong!), it stands out as a classy affordable nice place to grab a beer and some quality food. The live music is great, although it can't be so loud at times that it becomes hard to catch up with your friends. Service is great, beer selection fantastic, wood-brick oven pizzas superb.
(4)Jesse F.
Always loved the food and the ambiance at this place, just wished it was a bit less pricey
(4)Alex F.
We live nearby and get take-out often. The bar is a great place to grab a bite and watch a game. Highlights include their Maple pizza with sausage and ricotta. Their pot stickers are fantastic, and the beet salad is always a safe bet as well. Cocktails here are fine. The service is mostly friendly and neighborly.
(4)Vanessa C.
My bf just moved to JP and we are in love with this place! The pizza is seriously soooo good and the decor is cozy and the theme is cute and you should just go and check it out. I forget what it's called, but the pizza with the sundried tomatoes (the Birch?) I believe is realllllllly good
(4)Ilya E.
When I came back here last time, I noticed all of the staff had changed, and as I sat at the bar, I inquired about this with the bartender. The bartender informed me that the staff "couldn't cut it." My food seemed to come out much quicker this time (literally less than 5 minutes) and the service was on the spot. I think they've upped their game.
(5)Amanda S.
Why did I have it my head that this place was a run-down dive bar? So untrue. Had brunch at The Dogwood over the weekend and will surely be back- great selection of breakfast items, amazing pancakes (and you can order a single pancake as a side!), and fun day-drinks. Did I mention that the staff is super friendly and helpful, and the interior is spotless and doesn't have the smelly beer scent that most bars/pubs just can't kick? What a great find!
(4)Asta S.
Great selection of beer on tap. I had the pizza which wasn't very good. Supper thin crust (like a cracker) & the sauce was too sweet.
(2)KitKat J.
Have to update. Was in the other day after a while and the whole place has been re-done on the inside. Did not like it. It went from warm and cozy with the wood chairs and benches with that great "bar feel" to stuffy looking and dark with really bad suede (why suede?) chairs and benches. I miss the old look. Not very inviting anymore.
(3)Bill S.
Been coming here for years, lots of good times and fond memories. HOWEVER - chickie behind the bar - brunette with the glasses - strutted back and forth over and over ignoring us as if we were non-existent tonight. I've never felt so disregarded and invisible. Rather than condone this rude behavior and spend our hard-earned money their, we got up and left. Dogwood, you've let us down.
(1)Nicole P.
I love the Dogwood! It is my neighborhood place, and it is truly a place where everyone knows your name. I really love the new decor. Another review criticized it, but I don't see why. Now there is a big communal table and higher ceilings. It looks great! As for the food and drinks--drinks win out over food. I love the drinks; I like the food. Brunch is the best; the brunch drinks even better. I usually stick to the basics here: burger, pizza, steak tips. Can't go wrong with those.
(4)Big B.
Been there a few times, last of which was a week ago. OK enough of a place but a bit overpriced for what it is and what they serve. More like an upscale pub without the scale. Stuffed five adults (a couple of whom were plus-sized and another who was 80) at a wobbly table and hard, tiny chairs. And we had reservations. Ordered the "Diver Scallops with Summer Vegetable Risotto" for $17 which was made up of exactly three scallops placed on top of a small bed of undercooked risotto with no real discernable vegetables involved, which looked rather skimpy served in such a huge bowl. More of an appetizer portion. I was tempted to ask, "Did they forget something?" Started with a Manhattan from the bar which was made incorrectly as well. And garnished with a...lemon? For the price you can do better in the area.
(3)Abner R.
Great place on this side of JP. JP Mule & bourbon tips are my personal faves. Good bar, usually hosts local artist installations. Undergoing renovations to accommodate large parties; strange choices making it feel like a TGIF or a chain of sorts. Still a wonderful place, hope it doesn't lose it's charm.
(4)Ashley A.
I've had two excellent meals here, a great burger and an excellent thin crust pizza with many different and unusual toppings (something like goat cheese and sun dried tomatoes). I'd recommend it for the food. There's a young crowd that gives the dimly lit room a hip feel that some might enjoy. It's not a place for a serious or romantic meal, unless you find the prospect of being shoulder to shoulder with attractive 20 and 30 something's romantic. But it is a great place for stopping after work to grab a beer and some good food -- and maybe meeting some friends in the neighborhood. There are other local spots that I like better -- because they're not as bustling and noisy. So I won't be hanging out here very much. But upon reflection -- that may be another plus for others -- who wants to hang out with me?!
(4)Lisa L.
What has happened to this place? We had one of the worst pizzas we've ever had last night. This thing had to be made with a frozen pre made dough and then covered with what I assume was tomato sauce, hard to tell since it had no flavor. Sadly the two additional toppings didn't help much. I've had better pizza at T stations. The pizza was so bad it was kind of funny, funny that is until you realize you just spent $18 on it. Did I mention that it was on the small side too? Well it was. Too bad because we used to like their pizza.
(1)Jared S.
Brunch: Mediocre food, terrible service. Dinner: Mediocre food, mediocre service. Decent beer list.
(2)Mai L.
Seems like this restaurant is unequipped and do not know how to run a business. Came here on a moderately busy Saturday evening 6pm with a few friends. They kept running out of things. Ordered the special of the night--prime rib, rare which came with a preset side of loaded twice-baked potatoes. Waitress had to tell us they ran out of that (at 6pm, really? ok) Then prime rib came out DRY and well done. Had to flag down our waittress to have them send it back. A few minutes later, she returned to inform us that they ran out of prime rib. Alrighty, so we order steak tips instead, rare. Server told us they'll make that right away b/c the rest of our party got their food already. 20-30 minutes later, everyone was done eating and we still have not gotten our rare steak tips. Waittress never came by to update us on status of our order. Was about to cancel it but she said they're coming right out. Ok, fine. Waited another five minutes and here they are! Except cooked medium rare when rare was requested. That's still better than my friend's steak tips which came out like hard bricks when ordered to be rare. Steak tips were supposed to come with broccolini, which I love but they must've run out cuz they gave me squash. Another friend ordered risotto, which tasted like brown rice. They must've run out of risotto too? The only highlight--They didn't charge us for our entrees. Probably cuz they knew we'd raise hell if they did. Server was friendly enough, understandably it wasn't her fault and she was apologetic. However, there was another fiasco come time to pay the bill. They don't do split checks but can take multiple credit cards. Great. Except that also took her another 20 min because she came back to say she couldn't figure out how to split it cuz of the automatic 20% tip? She then said she'll try again. Comes back to say we were also short but we calculated everything before hand and know the total added up. We just paid the difference but later on realized we DID overpay. In the end, I guess we pay for our horrible entrees. Overall-incompetent and unprepared kitchen and manager. How can you run out of so many items around 6pm on a Saturday? Why should it take over 30 min to make RARE steak tips that you are putting a rush order on? Definitely not going back.
(1)Michelle K.
Visited Boston for the first time with my BF this past weekend and stopped here for dinner with lovely new friends. I haven't had meatloaf in years, so I chose to give it a shot and boy, was I pleasantly surprised! Their meatloaf could potentially feed two but with my huge appetite, I was able to finish off my plate with the help of my fellow table mates. Their mashed potatoes are superb and their clam chowder is just right. I liked how the restaurant was very kid-friendly and family oriented. Coincidentally, there was a talented guitarist jammin' on his guitar while we all listened, danced and enjoyed the overall vibe the restaurant had to offer. Definitely check this place out if you're in the Jamaica Plain area! Two thumbs up!!
(4)Angel S.
We had a decent breakfast at this Jamaica Plain spot. Good selection, fairly priced, and service is excellent. The Dogwood scramble featured fresh ingredients (three eggs with peppers, onions, sausage, and cheddar), although the taste was not too memorable. Portions, moreover, are on the smaller side. I like the laid back, unpretentious atmosphere.
(3)Jim O.
Dogwood Cafe doesn't really need more reviews, but I was tempted by the possibility of being review #200 to write up something about our first experience there. My wife and I met our daughter and her BF for dinner on a Monday night. (Note that not all places are open Mondays, so there's a plus for DC right there). We had individual pizzas, daughter had steak tip salad, BF the chicken parm. All food was good, not great, but good. Steak particularly tasty, from piece I poached from daughter's plate, and pizza very edible, although I like my veggies just a wee bit more cooked than what I got. But what I really wanted to contribute was that the young woman we had as a server was great.... friendly, attentive, not overbearing. Others have reported bad service here, but that was not our experience at all. And being across the street from the Forest Hills T stop was also super convenient.
(3)Dave G.
I've always had a good meal here. The service is unrushed, the prices are reasonable, good selection of options, pizza is good in the style of Reginas. I like to come here for mid-week meals when it's quieter. If I had to choose between Dogwood or Doyle's or James Gate... I'd come here every time. The neighborhood can seem sketchy but you're safe there. Parking is available in the side lot for free at night.
(4)Jim M.
Six of us went out on May 2nd to celebrate my sister, Nora's, 80th birthday. We lucked out on a parking spot about 6:30 P.M. The waitstaff were very helpful getting Nora seated, as she has trouble getting around at her age! Our drinks came out promptly, as did the appetizers, which were delicious. Nora ordered macaroni & cheese for her entree...and it was delicious (she let her younger brother sample!). I ordered the penne with spicy sauce, which was likewise delicious! The only meal that was "average" was the half cheese, half pepperoni pizza surprisingly ( based on past reviews!). We finished off the meal with a large piece of molten chocolate cake topped with one lit candle for Nora. It was to die for!!! Nora generously shared with all of us! The waitstaff was excellent (5 star!) last Thursday evening. I'll be returning, just for the macaroni & cheese!!? Jim M
(4)Kay S.
We have been fans of Dogwood Cafe for years, since we first moved to JP. But tonight, we had a terrible meal. The rolls were the frozen kind. The warm tomato salad was canned tomatoes poured over mesculin with a few pieces of melted feta. Not good. But the pizza, in the past our favorite in the city, was awful. The previous wonderful thin crust has been replaced by some sort of frozen flavorless pizza crust covered with egg white, and the toppings are now all canned. Besides that, they are now charging extra for ordering a large pizza split between two different types of topping, something the waitress, at least, had the courtesy to warn us about. The upscale decor may appeal to some, but gone is the family-centered neighborhood restaurant that was so popular. And did I mention that draft beers have increased in price by $2 a glass since the last time we were there? Ugh! So long, Dogwood, we will not be back.
(1)Eric B.
Excellent neighborhood bar. One of the favorites in my travels.
(5)Beeni M.
I'm impressed that a brunch place in Boston/JP could have this much space inside. More a restaurant than a cafe. Makes it one of the few places that's good for a big group in the area. We had a little bit of trouble finding parking for Sunday brunch but found a spot eventually on one of the side roads. The brunch was served without much wait. I'm glad I listened to the other reviewers about the huevos rancheros. solid. The peach french toast special was uber delicious. The portions aren't huge - expect to finish your plate. Though I wouldn't say it's one of the best places I've been to, I would recommend it for the spaciousness, service, proximity to the T, street parking, vegetarian options (veggie bacon anyone?), and fairly good brunch options.
(4)E. S.
This place is a local favorite for a reason. Whenever you mention Jamaica Plain to someone familiar with the neighborhood, often their first question will be if you've eaten here. The prices are amazing for the quality of food that you receive. My favorite was their lamb burger special, which I would love for them to put on the regular menu. Tender and perfectly seasoned. I also find their cheese pizza quite delicious, although I feel that the dough for their pizza in general could use a touch more salt. Their chicken and pesto pizza amazed me the first time that I had it, in fact I talked about it for the rest of the week, but had too much pesto on it the second time that I ordered it. Despite these minor complaints, the food truly is very enjoyable. The ambiance is fun with local art and very talented musicians on weekend nights. Be prepared to wait on those nights and, if you are wary of being around too many young families, I would recommend going later at night. Similarly, if you are looking for a place to have conversation, the music can make it a little hard to hear everyone in your group. Again, these are just warnings, as I certainly recommend this restaurant to everyone I know.
(4)Isabella C.
I went to the Doogwood Cafe with two other people on a Monday night. We were seated right away, but it took 10-15 minutes before the server came to take our orders. Once we ordered, we waited 45 minutes for our food. Not only was it frustrating to have to wait 45 minutes (without bread or the waiter coming over to apologize) but people seated way after us were already enjoying their meals. Mwhen the food came out, the delay was blamed on there being a large party in the restaurant (which there was) but that was obviously not the cause if people seated 30 minutes after us were already eating. After we received our food, we did not see our waiter and actually had to flag down a hostess to get our check. The food was good, but definitely not good enough to wait 45 minutes for. Needless to say, I will not be returning here.
(2)Gina H.
I am a very big big fan of the dogwood cafe and I have been coming here for years. When I was pregnant I constantly craved the food here and I was never disappointed at anytime with the service. The last time I was here I had a delicious meal of Diver scallops and butternut squash risotto, it was mmmmm, mmmmmm, mmmmmm, DELICIOUS!!!!!! THINGS I TOTALLY RECOMMEND: chicken & shrimp picatta Shrimp scampi Magnolia pizza pizza with- carmelized onion, ricotta and bbq chicken(my specialty!)
(5)Rob C.
After a long day, myself and a friend were looking for something easy and simple for dinner. Beer and comfort food, the order of the day, so she suggested the Dogwood. It's a nice comfortable place, obviously very family oriented (cute, frolicking kids and unhappy screaming kids in equal measure, but what are you going to do? i mean apart from giving them beer. but really, would that be so wrong? i'm told that in fact it would be. never mind, their loss.) Anyway, the service is extremely friendly, and prompt. i applaud them for their innovation of broccoli poppers, because broccoli is the mightiest of all vegetables, whose powers increase when teamed up with cheddar cheese and then fried. The macaroni and cheese was merely okay, but i think some of that was 'cause it was a little too dark a shade of oven-browned. As advertised, it was a comfy place to sit and eat and drink and i like doing all of those things.
(3)Christy C.
The Dogwood Cafe is a typical overpriced pub restaurant. The food is not bad, but does not worth the price. Although the price is still affordable, they could do a lot better by reducing the price to match their food quality, or improve the food a little more to match the price. The atmosphere is cozy and they do have nice decorations with great art paintings. We had a thin crust pizza and a rib eye steak. The pizza was not bad: a little above average. The rib eye steak looked pretty bad: thin and dry (no any sauce or gravy). However, it tasted surprisingly good (considering how it looked)! The steak and mashed potato were simply bland. The steak had good seasoning, but could be a lot better if it was thicker and had some home-made sauce (such as mushroom sauce as they had sauteed mushrooms on top of the steak). The mashed potato was well mashed/whipped, but it could be improved a lot by adding more seasoning and ingredients such as sour cream, butter, and cream/milk?! Overall it's a good place, but I would like to see some changes (in prices or food qualities) before I decide to come back.
(3)nomo c.
A local favorite of mine for Brunch. Where else can you eat a pizza and french toast at the same time ? Staff is friendly and usually fast service. Once I ordered for my husband and myself (meaning 2 entrees) and then the waitress turned to my husband and asked what he would like to order. I love a non-judgemental waitress
(4)Andrew M.
Came here after seeing Dogwood on the Globe's list of the best places to get pizza in Boston. I split the Willow pizza - spinach, goat cheese, caramelized onions, tomato sauce, mozzarella - and it was very good. All my favorite pizza toppings, although I like the similar pizza at Emma's in Cambridge better. In fairness, though, Emma's is MUCH more expensive. The rest of my family went with fish or pasta, and they seemed satisfied.
(4)Liz V.
A martini rimmed with pop rocks? A steak pizza with actualy pieces of large steak, extra blue cheese crumbles and a flaky pastry like crust-sign me up. Close to the T so I can stumble home and fun seasonal martinis.
(4)Jenn G.
Dogwood, we wanted to love you. Sister/yelp goddess/brunchista, Suz G, and I ventured over to JP on Saturday for brunch at the Dogwood. We were hoping for greatness and we got much less. We were seated at a high top by the bar where the extra bright pendant light at eye level burned our retinas from above. OK, we should have moved. Gotcha. There was a very long wait to take our order, but there was hardly anyone in the restaurant. I ordered the Huevos and Suz ordered the Monte Cristo, veg style (veg sausage, no meat). I'll let her tell it, but as her meal came out our blase server said she could "never order it like that again", even though I ordered mine veg with no issue. Whaaaa? Sorry? My meal was actually pretty good, but the lackluster service and long wait did us in for a return visit. We had high hopes...on to the next place!
(2)Lindsay H.
This place is a gem located in Jamaica Plain. I love the fact that it has the easiest access to public transportation - the Orange Line is located directly across the street! The Dogwood gives me a comfortable feeling. Every time I have been so far there are numerous families gathering around at tables, having a drink and eating their delicious pizzas. They have a great selection of beers on tap and bottled. The wait staff is very friendly and always have good suggestions. My first time here was on a Friday night and they had a live local acoustic artist which made the restaurant feel even more comforting.
(5)Jenny J.
I realized that I went to dinner here with my family the first night I moved to Boston and haven't been back since for some strange reason. Decided to try their brunch this morning. Ordered coffee, dogwood pizza (I added avocado) and an item off the brunch specials menu, "Fluffernutter french toast". Coffee was decent but took a little while to get it to the table--- which is unacceptable as an "i need coffee or I am going to die" person. Food was good, I liked the idea of breakfast pizza and the crust was nice and crispy. The stuffed french toast could have use just a bit more stuffing. Service was a little slow. Overall pretty solid JP brunch spot....3.5 stars if ya want to get specific.
(3)Alison D.
This restaurant has sort of a gastropub atmosphere which I think is the best part about it. It's a really laid back, comfortable place to eat. With a huge dining room and bar, there's plenty of room. The food is decent, not gourmet but good. I particularly like the Bourbon Turkey Tips. Some nights there is live music which is a nice touch. They have a good wine and beer selection. Parking can be difficult, and sometimes the restaurant fills up, but there is a paid parking lot right next door and we've never had to wait more than 15 minutes without a reservation. The service has always been decent and the prices are good.
(4)R S.
There was a review for this place in some Boston paper. It being my sister's birthday she chose. It was surprisingly dog, considering location and appearance. The pizza, which was why we were there, was excellent. The Willow was by far my favorite pizza they offered. The salad were well-sized and well made. It did not seem like someone had just dumped a bag of salad mix in a bowl and dressed it. All in all, I was quite happy with the experience as were the rest of my group.
(4)Jon V.
The Dogwood Cafe is one of my favorite places to get brunch. I like to go with my Irish friends who like strange things for breakfast. I recommend the Bloody Marys with Absolut Peppar. Have a few. You won't really care about how your chow tastes. One time I was dining there after a big snow storm, and I parked my truck on a snow pile. In a spot, but on some snow. I guess there is some OCD cop in that neighborhood who writes bogus tickets for things that bother him. He had my car towed for parking on a snow pile. It ended up costing $250 and there is no law about parking on a snow pile. Effing dbag. Anyway, I went back into the Dogwood after I failed to locate my truck. I was hoping it was stolen because I have insurance! While I was tracking it down, the nice barmaid made me some Bloody Marys. I don't want to admit that she comped them because people get in trouble for that. But, what a nice person. The next weekend I came back and told her about the OCD cop and everything. From that day on, we watched out the window for him. When he walks by we say "fuckyoufuckyoufuckyou" really softly until he's gone. I order another Bloody and a breakfast burrito. The food is mostly for an appearance of normalcy. One time the host made us wait until our entire party had arrived. The dining room was empty. So, I was a little surly that time! I also got a tummy ache after eating there once or twice. 3 stars. Excellent barmaid=5 stars. Ok food=3 stars. That host should lighten up. For him I give 1 star.
(3)Cecilia L.
Decor and service are good enough, but the food here ranges from mediocre to bad. The menu is a yawn - your usual retinue of pizzas, sandwiches, pastas and dinner entrees. "Uninspired" is a polite way to describe the food, which seems premade and tastes like what you would expect from an American chain sports bar. At brunch, eggs benedict, steak and eggs and breakfast sandwich are passable if unremarkable, and coffee is frequently burned. Now a couple things are just gross: the breakfast pizza with eggs, bacon and sausage, and the huevos rancheros made with bacon, which just doesn't work at all.
(2)Jenn K.
Been twice. Didn't care for the place for brunch...but loved going on a Sunday night. We waited awhile for brunch and it wasn't great. But the 2nd time, Friendly waitress who didn't try rushing us out on a Sunday night, even thou we were only ordering a couple drinks. Big TVs all around for the game. I'd def go back.
(4)Sage L.
I've been here twice, first time I got the potato gnocchi with lobster with the spinach and artichoke dip as an appetizer. The falafel chips are great for dipping, and both times the lobster was cooked perfectly. Second time I got scallops with pomegranate risotto and it was great...but I loved the gnocchi so much it clouded my palate. Nice atmosphere even with a sports game on. Be sure to make a reservation
(4)Michael C.
Love this place; easy parking for the most part, great food, excellent service, a wonderful atmosphere and reasonable prices. What's not to love? The pizza is top flight with a thin crust, a great selection of toppings and it always arrives right from the oven. Salads are large and fresh. These guys make a mean martini, generous in size and perfectly mixed. Service is always prompt and friendly. Great place to sit at the bar if you are by yourself for dinner or a drink.
(5)Kacey B.
I will return here again soon, and I've already been here more than a few times. It's my local go-to (with James's Gate) for good food and beverages. Atmosphere is very pleasant, they didn't have to re-design it but they did and it has an even cozier vibe. Food is tasty and beverage selection is excellent. Service has been good as well, never any problems and I'm usually at the bar.
(4)Katie K.
We go here for the pizza. It's the best in JP -- crust is crispy on the outside but soft on the inside; fresh, flavorful toppings... we especially love the spruce (topped with fresh arugula and prosciutto), and the willow (caramelized onions, spinach and goat cheese. They also have a large selection of beers on tap. However.... the few times we ventured away from pizza and tried the entrees, we have been disappointed. I ordered scallops once and they had a fishy, unfresh flavor; the risotto was flavorless... We're not into brunch, so I can't comment on the brunch menu. Also, we have found the service to be very inconsistent. On our last visit, we were impressed that our server, Lauren, was both very friendly and competent. Prior to her, we've experienced lots of servers with attitudes, one that was nice but didn't know how to wait tables... My advice would be to go for great pizza and beer and don't expect good service -- if you get it, you'll be pleasantly surprised.
(4)Josh S.
I only seem to go to this place for weekend brunch...I'm not sure why, but it's true! Brunch is pretty standard fair, but the preparation is pretty good and consistent, which is not always true of brunch places. The pancakes are wonderful as are the eggs every which way I have ordered them. They are pretty good when asking for modifications (i.e. hollandaise sauce on the side, home fries well done, no onions, etc.). The servers are almost always wonderful, professional, and on top of everything.
(4)Jay B.
Amazing pizzas, great beer selection, great ribs appetizer plate (kick ass sauce), and perfect ambiance. Love the live music that's often there. Best of all, not too pricey.
(5)Deepa C.
A friend and I stopped in for some dinner and to kill some time before the lantern ceremony at forest hills cemetary. i had the apple and gorgonzola salad while my friend had the veggie burger. service was good, food was good, place was clean, menu was extensive. overall, no complaints. i might not make it a point to come back, but if i am ever hungry in the area, i now know a place where i can get a good meal for a reasonable price.
(4)Nora P.
Went here due to rave reviews on yelp. Pizza-we had the Maple-was nothing to write home about. Just another mediocre restaurant, as far as I'm concerned.
(3)Molly M.
I have never spent any time in Jamaica Plain but I may now. I truly enjoyed my experience at the Dogwood Cafe. Being a gluten free person you can only imagine my surprise when I walked in and saw gluten free beer on the menu and then was offered a gluten free menu. The service wasn't rushed and the staff was friendly and attentive. Someone even explained how they would cook the pizza so I would be assured that it was gf. The bar staff was friendly and all prices were reasonable. Thanks for a great experience!
(5)Ria G.
Dogwood WAS my fav hangout,UNTIL one not so nice bartender totally treated my husband and I bad for no reason. She totally ignored us most of the night, while attentively waiting on the cute single guy sitting right beside us! I like the atmosphere more than the food. Drinks are decent. Wide array of beers to choose from. Patrons at the bar seem more friendly then the wait staff. We will make the trip to Fridays from now on. (they probably get paid less than the staff at dogwood) but still have smiles.
(1)anthony L.
Went here for the first time the other day for a saturday morning brunch. Like some other Yelpers the specials threw me for a loop. I ended up going for the stuffed tomatoes while my fiance went for the steak and eggs. My tomatoes were amazing, but Lucia's steak and eggs were pure morning bliss. She had literally a mound of steak tips (that tasted perfect), and her eggs were cooked perfectly. I have to say I'm super impressed with this place, and I'll be going back EVERY time I go out to breakfast in the area.
(5)Mary P.
I went to Dogwood for the first time last night with three friends. We ordered the potato skin appetizer, which was delicious. We then had two turkey burgers, a bacon cheeseburger and chicken fingers. They were pretty good, but nothing spectacular. They had a great selection of beers. I had the raspberry mojito, which was just "ehh." For $10 I expected something a little jazzier. We also ordered the cake bites dessert which were chocolate covered cake bite lollipops... yum. The acoustic music was the reason that this review is 4 stars instead of 3. We loved the music (especially the violin). The thing I disliked most about Dogwood was that they charge for every little extra. When we are already spending $100 on dinner, I don't think you should be charging 50 cents for dressing, 50 cents for an extra pickle, etc. I will probably be back because the food was good and the atmosphere was great. I will not be ordering any "extras" though!
(4)Snuffles B.
I really want to give this place 1 star so people won't all start flooding there and make it harder for me to get a table, but to be fair, I have to given an honest review. This place was spacious, low key, comfortable, and surprisingly empty when I went there on a sunday for brunch during prime hours while everyone else was still teeming out of Zaftigs. I had the Monte Cristo Sandwich which is ham, turkey, and swiss between French toast served with maple syrup - yeah you saw that right, between two pieces of French toast!!! It was delicious and coma inducing. The home fries were way above average and they don't overload your plate with them. I shared my food with my friend who had a spinach and goat cheese omelet with English Muffin and a side of corned beef hash. The omelet was light and fluffy with a perfect spinach to egg ratio, the muffin was crispy and buttery, and the hash was moist, just the right amount of saltiness and savory to balance the gobs of syrup I was eating with my sandwich. I later had their turkey burger, which was a decent version, but lunch was definitely a step down from their brunch, but overall solid.
(4)Kestrel D.
My favorite place in JP for breakfast; dinner is straight up gross. To be fair, I have only been here once for dinner, and about 85 times for bfast. But, that one dinner was memorable. Anyway, focusing on the positive, eggs Benedict and huevos rancheros are both yummy. It's a bit more expensive than other breakfast hotspots in the area, but the food is better quality. AND, very important for those of us who need immediate gratification when it comes to food, especially in the morning, there is very rarely a wait.
(3)Binh L.
I don't get the raving about the pizza. Every time I try the pizza, I get disappointed. The dough is always barely cooked for me and doesn't have that nice flaky sound of perfectly baked. So that aside, I used to like the meatloaf and garlic mashed potatoes. However, there is no consistency on quality. I've gone here multiple times and I keep my fingers crossed for when I get a good batch. So sad. Perhaps brunch is a more pleasant experience, but I haven't had much luck with lunch. So so for dinner depending on what you order. I did like my veggie burger one time. My advice if you must come here.. do not order the spinach/artichoke dip appetizer. Unless you like your dips creamy and salty. The atmosphere is alright, the live music was impressive (if you're into that acoustic/cover type music).. oh Dogwood, you have so much potential. I can't keep giving you chances.
(3)Charmie S.
PIzza here was OK. Faux-gourmet if you ask me. It did not reheat well at all. If you order for one, be prepared to finish all of it because it is not worth seconds after the fact.
(3)Andy H.
Been here a couple times, the most recent on a Friday night, and there was a couple guys playing some acoustic covers. It was a good time. Decent tap list, I'm glad they had Brooklyn Summer on tap. Waitress seemed a bit frazzled, but it was crazy, so I can't really hold it against her. The food is really where this place shines. I've never had a bad meal, and the pizza is great. In addition, they have some really creative burgers. I recommend the California. But then again, I just really love avocado.
(4)Christine O.
Let me preface this review by saying I am easy. I have been know to enjoy hospital cafeteria food, college dorm food, food purchased from nondescript trucks... The Dogwood however is a lost opportunity doling out crap food at a high price. Due to the proximity of my house, I must keep going there though. It's walkable takeout for me...and I was so excited when I first moved in that such a nice looking establishment was nearby. Pizza: insanely expensive. Bland. Typically luke warm. Cardboard style crust (referring here not to the thickness, but rather the taste), sauce - blah, acidic, the opposite of good in every way. (For pizza in JP, JP House of Pizza - great every time!) Salads: I've ordered at least 2 different salads and both have been pricey with dressing that was - useless. Very uninspired as far as $ salads go. Soup: They had a duck vegetable soup one day as a special. I thought they would try harder; it was supposed to be special. Not only would Campbell's win a prize if they went head-to-head, that stuff was so salty I threw it away. I honestly wondered if those who cooked it....tried it. Seriously. Scallop rice plate: OK except the scallops were overdone and there weren't as many of them as the price warranted. Baked chicken and rice plate: Nice flavor, would of been better if the chicken was cooked all the way. Broccoli and cheese poppers: except for the fact that you have to say the word poppers, these were OKAY. Just okay. The only stuff I like: Pretty good beer selection. They change it up sometimes and there have been some nice ones...Very pricey though...even for the domestics (Go to Jame's Gate...or the Haven...good beer AND good food.) Service: Very, very nice...makes me feel bad the food sucks so much. Food: Pretty damn good calamari BBQ rib appetizer Potato skin appetizer Yeah, an entire restaurant and all I can generally stomach are a few of the appetizers....and they ain't cheap.
(2)Nicole R.
I never knew this place existed until it was recommended to me, I've only been here for brunch, and I must say I was very impressed the few times I've been. I usually I have the french toast which is good. The last time I went, I decided to try something new, the egg and ham omelette and a side of pancakes. The omellete was good and well stuffed with cheese and ham. The pancakes, which I thought were going to be the size of a saucer dish, were HUGE!! For all the steak tip lovers, my boyfriend generally gets the steak tips with eggs and the steak tips are well marinated and cooked to perfection! The service, terrific!
(4)Alyssa S.
Sadly, Geoffrey's Cafe has moved farther away from where my friends and I live; so we had to find a different venue to dine at. Luckily, Yelp led us to The Dogwood Cafe. We were happy to find street parking immediately (parallel parking phobics beware). We had to wait about 15 minutes for a table since there was a steady stream of people coming and going. The atmosphere of Dogwood is very homey, hipster-ish, and comfortable. I thought the cozy and rustic decor gave off a friendly vibe as well as some holiday cheer. Once seated, three of us ordered a Bloody Mary each and one ordered the Wake-up Call cocktail. The Bloody Mary was so good, and the pepper vodka gives it a pretty decent kick... Brunch is served on Saturdays and Sundays until 3pm. I ordered the Breakfast Sandwich with Turkey sausage and the egg over easy with American cheese. My friends' orders included the Eggs Benedict, Huevos Rancheros, and the Dogwood Breakfast Pizza. All the dishes came with a side of homefries, and they ranged from $7-11 each. I loved my breakfast sandwich, and everyone raved about their meals as well. I won't hide the fact that I finished the homefries before my sandwich...but I wouldn't classify that as abnormal anyway. Our waitress was really friendly, informative, and patient. We are dying to come back here with more friends for brunch or dinner. The dining room and bar area seem like perfect places to have a meal or grab drinks with friends.
(4)April M.
I fell in love with Dogwood the first time I stepped foot inside. I'm happy I didn't wait any longer to check it out! It is warm and inviting inside, much like Mom's house around Thanksgiving. Dark wood, local art work and smiling staff round out the cozy atmosphere. It is definitely a local joint, with a family-friendly feel. There is a bar area with some plasma TV's as well as plentiful restaurant seating. You can see right into the brick oven in the back, which I find appealing. We've always been seated relatively quickly (they only take reservations for parties of 6 or more) and waters brought out with menus right away. Dogwood offers some great (and special-to-them) local and seasonal brews. The American-style cuisine has been great each time I've gone. They have something for everyone; from pizzas, to burgers, to steak, salads, pasta dishes, soups, and everything in between. Only qualm: last time they missed parts of our order, although we didn't get charged for either of them, so she must have misunderstood or missed it entirely. We didn't raise a stink, it was not worth it by any means. We're a happy bunch. I would certainly recommend Dogwood to a friend, and I will undoubtedly be returning. PS: Waitress said the MBTA parking lot next door is open to public after 7 pm, so there's parking made easy, although there has been bountiful street spaces anyways.
(4)CL S.
The pizza here is fantastic, a great go-to for dinner on those nights when you want something good, easy, and a beer. It's not the usual red sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni sort of pizza. Whenever they have a special pizza available, we order it -- we haven't been let down yet, no matter how odd the combinations have been (I recall one that involved bbq chicken and banana peppers being super). The regular menu pizzas are also yum -- the steak and gorgonzola is my favorite, the pancetta and arugula and chicken and pesto are also great. They have a good beer selection, too, and the bar's a fun place to sit for a few when it's a quieter night. Weekends are usually jam-packed, oddly enough with families and kids; better to aim for the quieter weeknights.
(4)Alaina C.
The perfect low-key date night. My gf and I go here waaaaaayyyy too often. It's one of my favorite places in JP. What makes it so fabulous, you ask? 1) The martinis are reasonably priced, reasonably strong, and come in a variety of VERY tasty "flavors". 2) The Spruce is the best pizza I've ever had. Not in a New York-y way, but still... Arugula, mozzarella, garlic, prosciutto, and olive oil. A-ma-zing. 3) The servers are always friendly and attentive. 4) There's often a wait to be seated, but hanging out in the bar area with a drink is usually enjoyable and entertaining. 5) Did I mention the martinis? The flirtini = fruity, femmey heaven. I haven't been to brunch here, yet, but I plan to go very, very soon! Go get pizza and martinis. You won't regret it.
(5)Chloe F.
Great brunch menu! My boyfriend and I went and had a really nice meal. The location was great, and the large space and inviting bar made us think it would probably also be great for afternoon or weekend drinks. Unfortunately, we were really hungry when we got there, so the seemingly interminable wait for two relatively simple egg breakfasts was suboptimal. They also charged an extra $.75 for an egg white only breakfast sandwich, which admittedly is a little thing, but still- charge more for less food? The portions were reasonable, if a little on the shy side. All in all, 3.5 out of 5. Update: It IS great for weekend drinks! And desserts. And dinner. The service we got the second time was better, so- bumping this up to 4 stars in retrospect. Live music- also great. Definitely worth a visit.
(4)Dave A.
I had heard good things about this place...and bizarrely, that it was sort of family-friendly. It is a pub--there are dozens like it all over Boston...nothing special about this one. It is a pleasant enough place, but we're not going back. We went on a Sunday afternoon. Got the kids a simple pizza which took forever to arrive. We had finished our brunch entrees before the kids got their pizza--and then it was a very small pizza. That is not fun. It could have just been our waitress though. But the brunch food was pretty lame too. Huevos Rancheros and Eggs Florentine. Bland, dry, small and unsatisfying. The french fries/home fries were pretty good. The water was refreshing and cold. And I suspect if you are looking for the regular bar food kind of thing, then this place is fine. But if you are looking to take the kids out for pizza, drive up Washington Street in Roslindale to the Pleasant Cafe and you will not be disappointed. Like I said above, I had "heard" that this place was family friendly--full of JP parents with their "free range" kids. I was a bit dubious of that, given the location and outside appearance...but what they heck--we gave it a try. For us at least, it wasn't a good fit.
(2)Michael F.
Food was surprisingly great. Wednesday night and it was a bit slow, but service was good. I know it is a bar/pub atmosphere, but the dining suffers from either the loud music or the distraction of the multiple games on television at the bar. I like a more comfortable conversation oriented dining space. But, that aside, the food more than made up for the distraction. Salad was excellent, Daily special was fresh, cooked just right and very good. Pizza crust I would suggest a little work. Too much like a cracker and not like a bread. I will definitely be returning here and I am happy I found them.
(3)Barbara C.
The best part about my best friend living in not-the-best hood in Boston? This place. There are very few restaurants in the Boston area that I was interested in revisiting...and certainly not so far-removed from my Central Square dwelling...but this was one of them. Dogwood, your brunch is unstoppably awesome. And your breakfast pizza shall be the standard bearer for all future breakfast pizzas I ever have (you'd be surprised how many I've had in my life). Your ridiculously carb-laden French toast sticks coated in Honey Oat clusters then deep fried have now qualified me for This is Why You're Fat status...and that's a-ok by me. Plus your bartender always un-judgingly serves me beer, no matter at 10am or after I've had a few too many.
(5)C B.
Very convenient location--directly across from the Forest Hills T station, for those of you who don't drive. Brunch was pretty solid and the portions were pretty big! Being pregnant and can polish off most food in front of me I couldn't eat my entire meal. Jess had the Huevos Rancheros, which was the main reason we went here and she found it great, except the refried beans, rather than black beans, were an odd touch. She said the salsa could use more flavor--our quest continues! I had the Mexican breakfast pizza and it was so good! A nice thin crust pizza with cheese, tomatoes, cilantro, jalapenos, sour cream and scrambled eggs on top. Incredibly filling and really tasty!
(4)Adam E.
Go here for brunch!!!! Maybe I shouldn't let the secret out, since there's almost never a line when I go for brunch (in contrast to so many places in JP) but I can't keep it to myself anymore. The breakfast pizza is absolutely my favorite breakfast item ever. It has everything you want in a breakfast, and you can eat it with your hands! Sort of. Maybe it's too early to drink, but get one with your pizza anyway, it's the weekend. For dinner, I'm not the biggest fan of the Dogwood's entrees. But breakfast, I'm tellin ya. And no one knows this either, you can park behind the building, not in the city lot but right behind Java Jo's and the Dogwood if you turn onto Tower and go into the lot before the funeral home. Save me a spot though.
(5)Emily M.
Hands down to the best pizza in Boston. Thin crust pizza with boat loads of topppings! Fresh toppings. None of that canned veggie nonsense. I've only tried their pizza and salad, but I heard their other dishes are good as well (ie pastas, dips, etc) The only drawback is that it does take a long time for food to be served. i didn't time it, but i remember feeling impatient... The atmosphere is really nice too. Sorta dim, a little candle on the table. Good place to eat with a few friends. Also not bad for a casual date ;)
(4)Jasmine M.
I'm impressed with any place in the city where you can walk in around 12:30 on a Saturday, find a table immediately, and then have a spectacular brunch! I highly recommend the huevos rancheros. Not only does the place do a great brunch, but their pizza is great for a night out with a bunch of friends. Good beer selection, a huge variety of pizza options that are all delicious (I highly recommend the Dogwood: artichoke hearts, green pepper, prosciutto, mushrooms, and mozzarella), and a friendly, welcoming atmosphere. I haven't tried much of their other dinner fare besides pizza... I got a pasta dish one time that was just so-so; maybe sticking with the pizza is the best option. But it's not as if that is hard with what a selection they have! I'm definitely going back soon...
(4)mary t.
Was sad to hear that another person of color was treated poorly here. This is the 3rd time I've heard such a report coming from my local watering hole. Makes me think twice...
(1)Jeremy S.
I'll admit I'm not well-versed on the Dogwood Cafe. I was a first-time customer yesterday when I traveled down to the end of the Orange Line for a friend's birthday dinner. The place was warm, spacious, and had a splendid selection of food that made us all giddy. The Dogwood Ale was surprisingly dark and robust, and the entire beer list, while not huge, was fun and appealing. They'll even do sugar-rimmed glasses with pumpkin ales if you're into that kind of thing. The pizza I ordered was loaded with spinach and goat cheese, which I'd classify as "exquisite." My girlfriend just responded with "Helly es" when I asked if she liked her sweet potato fries. I assume this was a typo... or she's still recovering from their deliciousness. A bucket of leftover Halloween candy bode us farewell on our way out. A packet of M&M's is infinitely better than a mint.
(5)Chris C.
Most of my experience here was with take-out pizza and they're a half mile away. It was only ever so-so. Something about their toppings always had the feeling of coming from a box for me. Partly, the toppings were all chopped -- I'm an adult and I don't need all my food to be cut up for me. But pizza, like music, is a very individualistic thing. Otherwise, it's a cute, rustic, Irish pub -like environment. They also have some live music on occasion. The one or two times I've stayed and eaten, it was ok but non-memorable. Then, the last time we ordered pizza from here we were... ahem... "not well" afterwards, and thus it was the last time.
(2)Renee M.
I am always EXTREMELY wary about trying pizza places in Boston, as I am a self- proclaimed pizza snob and no pizza around here can compare to my beloved New York/ New Jersey pizza. Except maybe pizza at the Dogwood Cafe. See, my issue with Boston pizza is mainly the crust. It's usually too doughy and thick, and just doesn't taste right. I don't know where the people at Dogwood Cafe learned how to make pizza but they know how to make a mean brick-oven style thin crust! My roommate and I ordered the Cypress pizza with spinach, feta, mozzarella, roasted tomatoes and black olives. It was delicious! What surprised me was that the spinach wasn't cooked down as it is in most spinach pies. The spinach leaves were lightly cooked and were resting on top of the pie, which made the whole pizza taste lighter which was great because I didn't feel like I had a food baby in my belly after 2 slices! Another thing to note about this place is that they have a decent beer selection (which is always a plus) and their sangria is pretty great too! I also enjoyed the vibe- I kind of felt like I was in a log cabin! I highly recommend this place for pizza if you're in the area or if you are just looking for an excellent thin crust pie!
(4)Joanne O.
First time diner at the Dogwood Cafe. Went on a Saturday evening and he place was a little dead (waitress explained that it is slow in the summer). Charming neighborhood bar and restaurant. A lot of families but not noisy. Foods range from nice salads to interesting entrees and pizza. We tried two different pizzas and salads. Food was excellent. They have a nice selection of beers (wine - not so much). The waitress (Kate) was excellent. Very friendly, knowledgeable, and acommodating. They have live music, which was great. Reasonable prices - perfect for dinner or a late night snack. Great desserts, too. We were pleasantly surprised by this little restaurant.
(5)Elizabeth L.
I love the dogwood. The food is great and the atmosphere is fantastic. However, the past couple of times I have gone in for brunch, our server has been completely unpleasant. Our server greeted us as if we were a nuisance. My friends and I found ourselves trying to win her over with friendliness, although it should have been the other way around. Once we received our food it was like we were on our own. It would have been great if she had checked in on us, at least once. We were done with our food and sat for about 20 minutes as she joked and danced behind the bar with her coworkers, until my friend finally had to beg her to take our credit card. I let it slide the first time, but as this is a reoccurring experience I felt that it was more than just the server possibly having a bad day.
(2)Nick E.
Love the Pizza, and the specials menu is always top notch. Bar offers a good beer list. One down side is wait staff that can be flaky, but for the most part they're not so bad. Avoid this place early on Friday or Saturday nights if you're not prepared to be surrounded by families, including the children. Live music that I've seen here is top notch.
(4)Megan S.
Thanks, Yelpers for the brunch tip off! I've been here for pizza and beer, but brunch? Yes, ma'am! Right away the waitress delivered us a dilemma with the specials. My boyfriend was torn--breakfast pizza (How intriguing!) v chicken 'n' waffles (First time ever from their new cook from the South!) My heart was being pulled in two directions--pumpkin pancakes (An amazing rare special according to the waitress!) or the breakfast scrambler with vegan sausage (I can't even remember the last time I had sausage and eggs, and they have vegan sausage--yes!) The waitress stepped right in to let us know the chicken 'n' waffles was totally worth it AND I could get a side of pumpkin pancakes with my breakfast scrambler. Crisis averted. It was all amazing, amazing, amazing. And lucky me, Dogwoods is right at the bottom of my hill. Don't you wish you were so lucky?
(5)Katie M.
I. Love. This. Place. Best brunch around, best pizza around, best service around. There's no reason to complain about this place. I love coming here for brunch on Sundays. Nikki makes the best damn Bloody Mary's around. You can't beat their Pancake specials and their Eggs Florentine are to die for. I also love all of their pizzas and the Mac 'n Cheese is pretty damn good, too. Yeah.. I'd go here every day if I could afford to eat out that much. And the fact that it greets me at Forest Hills everyday on my way home from work doesn't help either. If you haven't been here, yet.. then get there tonight. You won't be disappointed. I promise.
(5)Julia N.
This will probably be my go-to for studying and drinks, since it's five minutes walking. The bartender was very sweet, and around 10-1 we got pretty good service. It more of a low intensity bar where folks come to just chat or watch TV. No dance floor, etc. I never tried the food, but the best thing I can appreciate is that the drinks are made strong. No PF Chang's barely-there alcohol. They passed the litmus test of "no-ice" to see how strong the drinks were and the gin and tonics, cranberry and vodkas are delicious (almost half vodka, or half gin? Thank you so much). There's no immediate clamoring for a tab either. I plan on appending this review after more frequenting, but I'm not dissatisfied at all.
(4)Cheuk S.
My friends suggested this place for brunch pretty much at the last minute purely based on the Yelp Reviews and the place didn't disappoint. It's near the area of the Forest Hills Train Station, actually it's right across from it. Parking will be on the street so just drive around a bit, I got real lucky that Sunday morning and literally parked right in front of the restaurant entrance. The place looks more like an Irish bar from the outside but once you got inside it looked pretty cozy. We got seated pretty quickly and sat near the entrance which felt chilly at times when customers go in/out. So technically it's not a legit complaint and definitely didn't cause the rating to go down, but just remember NOT to sit there if you can. :o) Surprisingly there was no waiting time at all even at prime brunch time at around Noon during football weekend. I ordered "Huevos Rancheros" which was quite good especially with bits of avocado mixed in. The home-fries potatoes were crunchy and grilled just right. My friends ordered the typical eggs, sausages, bacon, toasts etc.,.... I must comment on the applewood flavoured bacon as that was pretty tasty with a hint of sweetness. We also ordered a side dish of the Pumpkin flavoured pancake since it was a seasonal thing and it was really soft plus it came with smooth tasting pumpkin flavour butter on top of it, definitely made it a mouthful. Overall, the food was definitely pretty good and worth coming back again. Service was friendly and the meals came out pretty quick, although they could improve the wait staff a bit to make it more easy on the eyes but maybe that's just me. Even though there were couple of large screen TVs at the bar where patrons were enjoying the football games, it wasn't noisy at all and the atmosphere was pretty low key to enjoy your brunch. I guess my only real complaint was the orange juice since it did say it was "freshly squeezed," I'm pretty sure it's not since the texture was too yellow to come from real oranges and definitely looked like something that came out of the bottle. I mean not that it tasted bad or the cost was excessive at $2.50/glass but I was just expecting something of a darker orangey colour if it was freshly squeezed. But overall, not really a big deal at all.
(4)John C.
This was a difficult review.. if i had written this a year or two ago i surely would have rated dogwood at 4 stars.. the aura in the restaurant is nice, there is plenty of seating, the bar is cozy yet refreshing (especially with the nice draft selection). the pizza is some of the better pizza in boston. i used to live a block away and would frequent dogwood and have tried every pizza on the menu. a majority of them are superior to what you can find elsewhere in boston. box score: 2 people, 1 appetizer, 2 drinks (wine and beer), 2 entre: 58 with tip and tax... if the entre was better i would have gone for dessert. i recently visited dogwood with a companion, we decided to dine in and order something other than pizza, just to try it out. i've NEVER complained about a beer from the tap before (not even PBR) but i'll make my first complaint, sigh. i had the pumpkin porter, it was ok, not heavy enough for a porter, not enough pumkin to warrant the lightness, i mean, it wasn't a bad beer, just not a good one.. the waitress asked if i wanted the rim sugar and cinnamoned, of course i said, and there is the mistake. the rim came back with too little sugar and cinnamon, it just looked like it was whipped up, no care went into it from the bar tender. yeah, this may be lame, but i take my beer seriously. for appetizer i got the spinach artichoke cheese dip with homemade chips.. the chef must have a hardon for ritz crackers because the cheese dip was covered in crumbled ritz crackers.. not very appealing. the dip was ok, not worth the 9 dollars at all, especially not if topped with ritz crackers. but before we could even dip 2 chips EACH.. our entres came out.. tsk tsk tsk.. i've worked in food service for a good portion of my childhood, you need to wait 15 minutes for the entre to come out, we had under 6 or 7 mins tops. my companion had the steak sandwhich special and unfortunately i forgot to ask how it was... i was too immersed in other conversation. she finished almost all of it so it couldn't have been that bad. i LOVE mac n cheese and i really couldn't order anything else when i read mac n cheese. i was soooooo disappointed. again, the mac n cheese was covered in RITZ crackers.. give me a break.. that's not "breadcrumbs".. the dish itself lacked flavor, was way too soupy and you barely had any. the salad served with it was just thrown on the dish, there was no culinary art behind the salad, although i did enjoy the sprouts on there.. seriously, dogwood ONLY gets 3 stars because their pizza is fantastic, otherwise i would give it 2 stars after the piss poor food i was served tonight. if i could offer dogwood some advice, drop the mac n cheese and anything that really isn't at least par with your pizza and you'll rocket to a consistent 4 star restaurant.. 5 stars for those who don't have much of a palate.
(3)Ben H.
I've been many times and have yet to be disappointed. I usually get the meatloaf, which is quite good, and the vegetable of the day is usually fresh and delicious. It's a nice atmosphere, and the service is solid. The mixed drinks are a little overpriced, but wine is reasonable.
(4)William L.
It's not a crime to be pretentious and overrated. But when you couple those things with $18 for a pizza and a fear of the community, it's a tragedy. The food is good, don't get me wrong, but an 18 dollar pizza should be 30" wide and feed 5 people. I can cram one of these suckers down on my own in a few minutes and only my sister calls me fat. She is mean sometimes, but that's another story. Not to mention one time i called in a to go pizza and stood around inside for ten minutes trying to pick it up while everyone who worked there ignored me. One employee pointed me to another employee, who ignored me too. It was sitting on the counter the whole time, I watched it sit there. The crust is crisp and thin, the way i like it, and the toppings are fresh and creative, but SPARSE at best. The Muscles, DELICIOUS, and actually not too expensive as far as muscles go. Biggest problem: This place is like a black hole of some kind. Your world will be turned upside down when you walk through the doors of this place. The crowd outside is urban, bus riding, and extremely ethnically diverse. The crowd inside, is a bunch of late 20 and 30 somethings with bottles of '95 Bordeaux shoved up their... faces. There is a divide between the community and the atmosphere in this place. I have a suggestion! (not that anyone cares, but i think it would make this place awesome and one i would frequently enjoy drinks at) Since the outside is so uninviting, change it up. I understand they are trying to make it a smokey, mysterious or whatever, but it just comes off as pretentious. I think if they turned the big windows into big open-able windows, like what you see on Boylston street a lot, where people could come sit and enjoy the weather and community instead of hiding from it, I would love it. Recap: So much potential, so little HEART.
(2)Benjamin E.
My friend and I called in for a To Go Pizza and ordered the "Birch". The person taking the order was very polite and went out of her way to make sure we knew it was a sauceless pizza. She told us we could add sauce and we decided to. When we got there they had the wrong pizza made for us (A "Naughty Pine"). The To Go waitress girl was the one who noticed (we probably would not have noticed til we got home). She apologized politely, told us they would make our order, that we could take the other pizza, have free drinks while we waited, and she would refund us 100%. We got $30 worth of pizza and a Harpoon IPA for free. But that's not all... The pizza was delicious. Very thin and great tasting crust with great toppings. I loved both the Naughty Pine and Birch (very fruity Sun Dried tomatoes). They went above and beyond for making a mistake with our order (I would have been satisfied with paying and taking both pizzas).
(5)Chris F.
I've been to The Dogwood Cafe a couple of times now and never leave disappointed. Nice pub atmosphere, ok beer list, and of course the pizza is truly great. The only thing other than pizza that I have tried was a calamari app which was so-so, breading was too thick and mealy, but flavor was good. Fun place for a date, group, or just to grab a beer and dinner.
(4)D. M.
Moved to the neighborhood earlier this summer and been coming here pretty regularly. The food is excellent. I've tried their blue cheese burger, pasta, steak sandwiches...never been disappointed. Knocking off a star for service though. It's been pretty slow and inattentive more often than not.
(4)Rich D.
2 Times in 1 Weekend so I had a chance to have a good look at it. Sat night after 10 PM - it is very relaxed - I almost thought I was in a coffee house with the Gin Blossoms and Natalie Imbruglia playing - looked a for Jukebox but there is none. Good enough beer list and the waitresses are very friendly. Second Visit - brunch the next day - Breakfast Pizza = great taste and super satisfying - bacon eggs cheese and sausage on a pizza with side of potats. Bloody mary is very tangy and great way to start a day - all other brunch items looked great but my friends either thought the portion sizes were too small or the plate was too big. Tasty Coffee. 1 Hang up is that they added 20% tip to a table of six - thats what we do anyways but usually its 18% - and then computer system made individual receipts hard to figure out. I'll be back for more pizza and to try some dinner.
(3)Alex S.
Dear Dogwood, Listen. You're across from the Forest Hills T station. Settle down now. I know your windows are tinted, that you have that cute little logo, and that you paint the place every five minutes. And yes, you've got some nice decorations inside, a very cozy atmosphere, and serve up a delicious blueberry beer. But... Your prices are just too high. On more than one occasion, I've asked for ingredients to be left off of my sandwich (simple things, too!) and have been told it can't be done. Why? Because much of the food is pre-made. And pretty average anyway. That's cool--but that also means you need to stop charging so much. Also, I just think it's a little ridiculous to prevent people from sitting at a table if they're not going to order food--especially if they're going to drop some loot on a few cocktails (which, to be fair, end up costing the same, if not more, than dinner would). I could understand this if the place is crowded...but you do this even when the restaurant is half empty. Or three-quarters empty. Your whole vibe is a bit pretentious--and rather ironic, all things considered. And you could be a little less abrasive, on the whole. I always feel rather unwanted here.
(2)Lauren P.
I live right in the area, and while we don't have much else, having the Dogwood pretty much satisfies every need. Decent beer and wine selection, always have the game on (but quietly... this is not a sports bar), amazing food, and just an all-around cozy and clean pub atmosphere. The brunch is out of this world... I've ordered everything on the menu and it's all really good, and the specials are usually even better. I also really enjoy their Pomosa. When people say the Dogwood is pricey, I assume they must be from out of town. For Boston, it's one of the cheapest sit-down places I've been to, and the portions are large. The staff is friendly and the live music tends to be pretty good. This is a great place to sit and chat with friends while you eat- every time I bring someone they really enjoy it.
(5)Christina C.
I was very excited about the Dogwood Cafe. The restaurant is beautiful, very simple and comfortable. Our waitress was really great as well. However, little problems really added up. My iced tea was very strange, like flavored black tea with fake lemon, my boyfriend's alcoholic drink was much stronger than it should have been. (Just little things, I know.) Then we started receiving our breads and menus and there was so much stuff on the table that it was really overwhelming: two menus, a drink menu, two small plates, silver wear, a big HUGE can of tomatoes for "decor" and a candle, then a basket of bread, 2 more plates, 2 waters and then 2 drinks. Then our appetizer came and there was literally no place to put it. We had to take things off the table. The appetizer was a special, portobello mushroom something. It was VERY sub par. I thought it was actually "off," as in the oil was old or the mushrooms. It came with 6 sticks of mushroom. SIX for $9. And they were bad. Very unfortunate. The main dishes were disappointing as well. I ordered the "Evergreen" pizza, which looked amazing, but after the first slice, I couldn't avoid how crazy salty it was! The pesto was so salty and the feta cheese made the pizza almost inedible. I think they could easily fix this, and I think some of the other pizzas are probably great. My boyfriend got the fish and chips: very thin breading, not like normal fish and chips. The actual fish was just ok. It was definitely edible, but very uninteresting. They could make some small changes and probably be great, and the waitress was really nice when I told her about the food. Unfortunately, I will still be looking for a great JP restaurant.
(2)Alexis B.
Loved the Dogwood Cafe. Lived literally up the block from it. Went here sometimes 3x a day. First the service is hit or miss. Most times hit but when they first started to get busy you could tell they were flustered. The waitresses are great. Lots of times remembered my favorite wine or beer. Now the food- again hit or miss. The calamari is THE BEST I've ever had. And I'm italian and make my own calamari. The pizza is outstanding. The meatloaf an amazing standby. The pasta.... eh this is where it gets tricky. No matter what pasta dish I got it always seemed bland. Super bland. Not even salt and cheese could save it. So go enjoy the Dogwood just skip the pasta. Desserts were also great! Brunch is also good. Great bloody mary.
(4)Erik W.
Let me start by saying that I love the Dogwood. It is my go to place. Kate the bartender/waitress is aces. With that being said they do have a few things that bug me. I went with a couple of friends and one was meeting us there. I got a text that she was parking the car so we went to the hostess and said we would be a party of three. She wouldn't seat us until our friend came. I told her that she was parking the car and would be here in at most 2 min. There was no wait for a table she just would not seat us. I know it is not a big deal,but it is annoying. The second thing is that the menu needs some serious updating. I have been going there once a week for about 3 years and the menu has not changed at all. I am sick of the meatloaf! Please Dogwood,change the menu. Keep the pizza but change up some other stuff.
(4)Charoline D.
In comparison to our experience at Bon Savor, Dogwood was a much better choice. Save your itty slices of mediocre french toast, Dogwood is my new City Limits Diner equivalent for Boston. We arrived around 12:30 and were seated immediately by a friendly waitress in a booth in the larger of the two rooms and promptly served up two glasses of freshly SQUOZEN orange juice. Specials included pumpkin pancakes and crabcake eggs benne. We went with the latter paired with the mexican breakfast pizza. You tell me anything is Mexican inspired on a breakfast menu and I'm sold. Breakfast quesa, burrito, huervos rancheros, Nadya y Alejandro sandwiched between a biscuit....ay dios mio. We weren't terribly impressed with the benne, maybe it's because we were expecting something a lil different, and for me the poached egg when it leaked into the crabcake sort of ruined the texture and made me feel like it was undercooked. The breakfast pizza on the other hand was SOLID GOLD. A thin brick oven crust, topped with scramby eggs, red onion, cilantro, tomato, scallion, salsa, monterey and cheddar cheese, and a dollop of sour cream. It was a fairly large size as well, we probably could've shared that and still made it out alive. The table next to us was served the wrong omelet, and a side of pork sausage instead of turkey....which was a little disconcerting because I think the patron might have been vegetarian (save the exception of the turkey sausage). In the waitresses defense, you can't xray an omelet and sausage pretty much looks like sausage. Either way, about $33 later and we were on our way out with full bellies and leftover breakfast pizza. We'll definitely be back to try their standard pizzas as well, which brag combinations of italian sausage, ricotta, and mozzarella as well as goat cheese, spinach, and caramelized onion.
(4)Nicole C.
This place is awesome. It's the perfect place for a casual, cozy night out. I swear I see the same faces here each time I go, both in the staff and patrons. It's got a very neighborhoody feel inside even though it's in a crappy part of town across from scary Forest Hills T stop. The menu is comfort food and is consistantly good. The pizzas are better than any delivery place around and they're made in a hot wood fire oven - to die for. The brunch is great too! A must try is their Monte Cristo - it's amazing. Wash it down with an extra spicy Bloody Mary and you've got the perfect Sunday morning.
(5)James W.
Awesome pizza. Nice and clean inside. Looks pitch black from outside but nice and light up inside. Brick oven pizzas are awesome. Good beer selection. Good price range.
(4)J D.
The Dogwood scores points with me for consistently great service, being a great escape from Hyde Park Ave., and for taking such a gamble opening their doors to the neighborhood. For those who won't remember, the location used to be an awful dive bar which didn't exactly improve on the neighborhood's value. From wait and bar staff to kitchen and management, all who work at The Dogwood seem to be great. They definitely value service and appreciate guests. This is what should be expected at any, but especially a neighborhood restaurant. I've only had one bad experience with The Dogwood, but it was terrible. I returned several nights after having a wonderful meal, expecting the same thing. What I received was a burger that seemed as though it was rolled in sea salt. This was the only meal I ever wanted to send back. I've noticed a lot of inconsistencies when I frequent The Dogwood, but its never been as bad as this one experience (about two months ago). I can live with presentation and portions varying a bit, but would never excuse such a terrible meal again. I'm not burnt on The Dogwood. I think it's a great place with minor flaws. Great brunch. Nice bar. I'd rather have a table, though. No points off for being busy and making me wait once in a while - That's a great thing for them. Don't expect to have a drink at the bar if you're waiting on a table, though. Its not really a lounge area. The Dogwood probably won't be a destination for anybody coming from downtown, but is a great addition to the immediate neighborhood and will remind people used to eating on Centre St. that there are great local alternatives.
(4)Daniel L.
Kind of bummed about the upper-class prejudice people seem to have about the area this place resides. Regardless, Dogwood Cafe is your typical overpriced Boston restaurant that features "organic flatbread pizza." The pizza is decent, the burgers are the same as anywhere else and the rest of the food is again good, but overpriced. They have a pretty decent beer menu which is nice and the set up of the place was definitely well though out to hold a lot of people without feeling crowded. Nothing special here truly.
(3)Holly M.
Secretly, I think I have not written a review for Dogwood because I don't want anyone to know about it! But honestly, its my fave in our new 'hood. The atmosphere is cool and slightly dark. The tv's in the bar are always tuned to the latest game or event. The food...oh, the food. The brunch is awesome. Get the breakfast pizza, its awesome! Breakfast is totally my favorite, but lunch/dinner is delicious too. I even took my parents here when they came to visit. Get the California Chicken Wrap sandwich, its making my mouth water just thinking about it. Service is super friendly and welcoming!
(5)Katy G.
I live just around the corner from The Dogwood, so I go there often. The food is great! They pizzas are wonderful- they have a food-fired brick oven. They also have a wonderful selection of beer and wine. There's something for everyone on their extensive menu. They are a bit expensive, but you don't mind forking out a little more munz than usual, you won't regret it. The live music is usually pretty good in there, but the recorded music they play SUCKS. It's the one thing that perplexes me about that place. Somehow they choose the crappiest, suckiest 90s music to play over the speakers. Usually it's not on too loud, and after a few beers, you tune it out.
(4)Billie M.
Brunch is one of those weird service blackholes. For the most part, customers partaking in brunch have usually over-imbibed the night before, and as such, are looking for a laid back, comfort food type munch-fest, usually paired with one (two, twelve) hair-of-the-dog medicinal beverages. Languid conversations about the shenanigans embarked on the night before allow for lapses in server face time, which is good, as most brunch servers probably over-imbibed last night themselves. Moral: I take brunch service with a grain of salt (or a shot of tequila. Whatever). But then there are the times when the service goes beyond the actual, "crap, I need another drink, where is she?", and ventures into the "she is blatantly not listening to a word we say" realm. And in that realm, is Dogwood's brunch. Our last brunch visit was a service nightmare from start to finish. Upon being sat, we waited. And waited. And waited. At one point, a dining companion pointed out that the person we thought might be our waitress (we weren't certain...because in the 10 minutes we'd been seated, no one had come by), looked like she had just had a huge order come out of the kitchen as we were sat. No biggie, we were in full story telling mode, and weren't yet parched enough to warrant aggravation. Finally, a few minutes later, she bopped on over. Drink orders placed, we got down to discussing our food orders. One breakfast pizza, one burger with BBQ sauce on the side, and one make-your-own-omelette, with tomatoes, olives, and cheese. Throughout the ordering process, it becomes a bit obvious that she's not really listening, but whatevs, our order is simple, so onward ho! Drinks arrive, and wow, the ruby red mimosa (mimosa with shot of ruby red grey goose, and a splash of cran) was EXACTLY what we needed. Delivered by the hostess, we said thanks, and got to sippin. Shortly after, the same hostess delivered our food. Thanks helpful hostess! Greedily staring at the large portions (seriously, they don't mess around with size), we started to dig in. Um...the burger can't be picked up. Wonder why? A little investigating shows that ladles of BBQ sauce have been poured ON the burger, soaking through into a meaty saucy mess. Blech. Oh well, that's why we have forks, right? The first cut of the omelette reveals onions. Hmmm. Ok, maybe a small mistake? Nope, further fork action shows that it's essentially a pile of onions, with a little egg and tomato thrown in (where are you olives? where are you cheese?). At least the breakfast pizza was good. What else is there to say? We only saw our waitress one more time, and at this point, it was fruitless to complain. The hostess had brought us a few more rounds, and to be honest, we were now focusing more on our vitamin C intake (excuses for afternoon drinking abound) than a full meal. Maybe the kitchen messed up, maybe there was a communication breakdown, who knows? Thousands of reasons could be to blame, but none were discovered because our waitress didn't really care. This won't stop me from going to the Dogwood, but it's become enough of an increasingly prevalent problem to put pause in the decision to travel to JP.
(3)Jim K.
Stopped in for a pizza and potato skins. Skins were your typical fried variety, and the pizza came out almost right after the appetizer was served (I hate this). Pizza was decent, not a world beater, and if I lived in JP then perhaps I'd frequent this place more, but I wouldn't label this a destination place. Inordinately high amount of young children dining for a Saturday night, but that's fine. They also have live acoustic music playing all the standards. Service was good.
(3)Keryn B.
My husband and I decided to check out the Dogwood Cafe last night. We really liked the atmosphere, we had to wait about 30 min for a table, but that was okay, we enjoyed some yummy drinks at the bar. When were seated we ordered an appetizer that was a special which was pretty good. When it came out, the waitress took our dinner order and brought another round of drinks. We were enjoying the music and our meals, and I wanted to get dessert and another drink. However the waitress never asked us if we wanted anything else, just brought out our check. So I thought maybe they didn't have dessert, but saw others eating dessert. We were obviously there for a long dinner and we were rushed, even though it was about 9pm an there was not a wait for a table. As a result our waitress got a lousy tip, since she was absent our whole meal. We enjoyed it there, but was really put off by the staff, which is a huge part of the dining experience. We will probably go back, but probably try to sit at the bar.
(3)Brendan Jude L.
Very simply, I love this place because I love this type of place. Dark, mahogany looking wood. Terrific beer selection (Stovepipe Porter all the way! Love the tinge of coffee bean deliciousness!). Great bar scene with flat-screen TVs that don't overwhelm the decor and a wonderful restaurant area filled with all types: couples young and old out on a date, groups of friends grabbing a meal or drink, families with young children (Children, I might add, who never seem to be the obnoxious whining kind. Can I get an Amen?). Service that doesn't needlessly call attention to itself. I went for the fourth time last night and every time it's been wonderful; this type of consistency is extremely relevant to me since it displays the restaurant's ability to not be a "Hit or Miss" kind of place. By now, I've tried its meatloaf, which comes accompanied with mashed potates and the vegetable of the day (broccoli yesterday); some broccoli, spinach, and feta pizza; the ribs appetizer; and the Blondie brownie sundae. Everything has been satisfying to the max. I'm a huge fan of meatloaf so I usually order it when I go, and the Dogwood doesn't disappoint nor skimp on it's portions. Mashed potates are soft, not lumpy, and perfect with the mushroom gravy which comes on the meatloaf. By the way, the gravy is light and not some creamy, congealed sludge that looks like Slimer from Ghostbusters (always a bonus). The pizza I've had is thin, crispy, and laced with awesome flavor; feta goes a long way. The ribs are literally fall of the bone moist and sweet, but not sickeningly so. And the Blondie Brownie is heaven. Now, my one caveat is the location. This place is located at the end of the Orange line across from the Forrest Hills T station; there's not much else around it. What the restaurant needs to do is somehow remove itself from the fringes of JP and transport itself over to the main commercial center on Centre Street. That area needs a good hangout bar/restaurant. Then all will be perfect. Until that happens though, I will continue to frequent the Dogwood.
(5)Yoli D.
I really liked this place the first few times I went. The brunch food was really good. After the first 3 or so times I went there, I was ready to try something else, but my brunch bunch that I dine with on Sunday afternoons were still really feeling this restaurant and the location was really convenient so I went along with the majority and continued to eat there. I never thought the service was consistently wonderful and the food was hit or miss. I hate dark (burned) eggs and seem to get them frequently there in the form of either an omelette or fried eggs. Well, after the brunch bunch disbanded and some time passed, I decided to stop by between church services to pick up egg white omelets for take out on about 3 different occasions. The lady that took my order at the bar each time was never friendly, boarding on rude, but I still went here b/c of the convenient location. The last time I went for take out, a friend was with me. The same bartender that had my taken my order during previous visits made a comment to me and we had a short but pointless exchange. I didn't think much of it b/c I was used to this type of interaction with her, but my friend that I was with was quite bothered with how the bartender spoke to me, so I asked to speak to the manager and she took up for her, saying that she's normally nice but she'll talk to her. I'm not going back.
(2)Andrew P.
The pizza is excellent, the bar and restaurant is nice, the Forest Hills area is lousy. Parked in the T parking lot across from Forest Hills station and had to dodge a gang of youths and a threatening drunk homeless man to get to the restaurant. Once inside the atmosphere was friendly, the food was good and the waitress was excellent. The hostess didn't speak English well and was not overly friendly.
(3)Lindsay L.
I like the Dogwood Cafe. Not as much as Christopher's Cambridge, mind you, but I like it. The atmosphere is a little dark and a tad like being on the inside of an old boat, which is kind of cool if that's your thing. I would categorize the Dogwood as perfectly fine bar and grill fair. The only reason it gets 4 stars instead of 3 is because they simply have the best Veggie-burger anywhere ever. It's super-tasty, for those of you who like veggie burgers that are just that -- veggie burgers (not trying to be meat in any way). I can always count on them for Stovepipe Porter, and they have a great selection of other beers, many microbrews. The salads are good, the fries are good. I hear from my meat-eating boyfriend that the sandwiches and meat-burgers are totally fine. I know some folks who have ordered the seafood and found it quite satisfying. I also hear good things about the steak sandwich. Note to vegetarians: not TONS of options here, but I highly recommend the veggie burger. Avoid the potstickers. They are terrible.
(4)M A.
Very good well rounded menu. Friendly staff, we are always welcome with or without kidlets. Not a fan of the live music 'cause I can't hear my friends talk. I love the salads combined with steak tips, turkey tips, etc. Street parking is tough but you can park in the pay lot later at night for free. Highly recommended.
(4)Natalie B.
Ended up at the Dogwood Cafe due to some friends that live up the street professing it's greatness and because we had a large group (that was easily accommodated, to their merit), we thought this would be a good spot. They have some creative-type cocktails and I had the huckleberry lemonade, which was tasty. Everyone seemed generally happy with their drinks and so on... Orders for the 14 of us were taken with relative ease, salads/appetizers were delivered and all was fine. However, dinners got delivered while people were still mid-salad/appetizer and that really irks me. Some of us got our dinners and were ready to eat. Some of us were hustling through our salads, not really chewing, just to clear room at the tables for the excessive amount of dishes that were crowding the very small tables. If they could have just given us 5-10 more minutes to finish while keeping our dinners warm, that would've been much better. The food was fair - comforty-type bar food. Better than your average bar food but not as appealing as those spots that offer truly unique comfort-food. Somewhere in the middle. Big menu, lots of options and I had the mac-and-cheese which, again, was fine. I wouldn't go back there for that particular dish. Not a bad experience, not an unforgettable one. Just fair.
(3)Kerri O.
They put your pizza on a stand. Something about that tickles me. It reminds me of the Dear Departed European in the North End. Other than that? Pretty good pizza, though I make a better crust. Too expensive, too.
(3)Jules H.
Very straightforward food, and a very pretty dining room. The server was friendly and prompt, and the french fries were bangin'. Heads up -- parking can be tricky around here, the roads turn into a burren of one-ways and stuff, you're best off trying to park on Washington itself (or take the T, it's right next to Forest Hills).
(4)Catherine T.
Excellent place. My mother and I came here on the advice of a friend, and (though the wait was a little long), the portions were good and the food was fantastic and we ended up ordering way more than we should have. Cute atmosphere as well... not flashy and kind of low-key Will definitely be returning.
(5)Bryanne R.
I love a place where I can watch sports, drink beer that appeals to my new beer-snob tastes, have my pizza made without cheese, and not have to take the T at the end of the night. I'm giving thumbs up to Michelle F for being an awesome waitress. The Dogwood is awesome, and I'll def spend more time there! AWESOME Brunch, but be prepared to wait in line for a bit.
(5)John M.
The food at The Dogwood is good but I would agree with Kurt M. that it's overpriced. I work just down the street so I used to come here once in awhile but I stopped because it's just too much money, especially for lunch. Last time I ate there I went with a coworker...two salads, two sodas and an order of Buffalo wings, came to $40, before the tip. And it's not as if the portions are large either, because they aren't. Like I say, the food is good, and the staff is really cool, but there's just nothing special about the place to justify the prices.
(2)Chris S.
At the foot of the Arboretum you will find the aptly named Dogwood Cafe. Though it's more of a bar/grill, so maybe they only have the first half right. Parking's aplenty either street side or in the back lot. Also, being adjacent to Forest Hills makes it super convenient for us T commuters. The Dogwood has a funky atmosphere. Exposed brick, dim lighting, a big bar, and 3 flatscreens for sports viewing. They have an excellent selection of beers, wines, and a full bar if you're in search of a cocktail. Adding to the atmosphere is original artwork from talented local artists, and acoustic folk singers on Fridays and Saturdays. Pizzas are droolworthy - choose from their prefab 14 specialty pizzas or get creative with their 34 delicious toppings (here's a sampling: carmelized onion, hot cherry and roasted red peppers, ricotta and goat cheese, italian sausage and prosciutto). Burgers are yummy, I love when medium is done right. Steak tips are pretty tasty also and come in naked, cajun, barbeque and terriyaki varieties. My experience with the pasta dishes and other entrees has been meh, but I don't venture from the bar staples often. Service spans the average to good scale (though I haven't been for brunch). GREAT take-out option for commuters. Stroll in, place your order and grab a beer while you wait. When in the mood for beers, burgers, and pizza, I'm a very big fan. Look for the 160lb guy in glasses taking on a whole large pie.
(4)Chad J.
I went here for take-out with high hopes but what I got was a hostess who could not stop talking to her friend for long enough to help me. Instead she pawned me off on a waiter who could not be bothered. He brought me the check, handed my order to the guy standing next to me, then walked off. He didn't even wait for me to sign it or even see if the guy next to me was with me. I don't have really high expectations but come on!
(1)Lindsey B.
Pizza's okay, place is cozy, servers are nice - a very welcoming neighborhood kind of place. But oh my god, the live music on weekend nights is SO INSANELY LOUD. Turn it down, you guys! Once my husband and I sat down and ended up leaving a few minutes later because you couldn't even hear yourself think once the music started up at 6:00.
(4)Celeste M.
My friend fell in love with this place while on a quest to try all the pumpkin beers he could. I liked it for its pizza. until they gave me the pretty bad customer service and a pretty crappy pizza on Superbowl Sunday. I would have understood if the restaurant had been really busy (they weren't), but I think they were more interested in watching the game then serving the customers. I might go back but so far it's been 7 months so I dunno..
(3)Tricia N.
Great place. The acoustic music definitely enhances the pub atmosphere. After a long stressful week of work it is definitely a stress reliever. They have a friendly staff and laid back atmosphere. We ordered a pizza and some dumplings so I can't speak to the entrees. I don't think I would make a special trip to visit the Dogwood, but if you are in the neighborhood and hungry it is a good bet.
(4)Kyle J.
I had previously gone to the Dogwood several times and really enjoyed it, so writing this review will be tough. As a caveat, I used to be a server/bartender so I'm usually lenient about bad food/service. Went last night at about 8pm to get some food and drinks and watch the Celtics game with the GF. It was only about 50% full which was pleasantly surprising giving that it was Game 7 of the NBA Finals. We were sat right away, and unfortunately that's where everything went very downhill. It took probably 10-15 minutes for our waitress to stop by the table and ask for our drink order. This was surprising since the place was almost empty, and she only had 1 other table in her section. We placed our order and asked for the buffalo wing app to get things going. The drinks returned and she asked for our main course order, which was the Spruce pizza. We waited for the wings....and waited.....and waited....and waited. Our waitress didnt come out of the kitchen once during this time to check on anything. About 20 minutes later, a different server brought out the pizza we had ordered, having seen neither wing nor buffalo of our app order. We told the second server that we hadnt received our apps, and she apologized, bringing the pizza back into the kitchen. Our server came over and mentioned she had forgotten to key in the app, which is strange since we ordered it at the same time as the beers. She didn't even say sorry, which I thought was beyond bush league. When the wings were brought out quickly, they were only about half cooked and still bloody when we bit into them. Like I said, I'm not picky, but we each had one before we had to stop or we would have gotten food poisoning. About 20 minutes after the wings came out, they brought out the pizza - the same pizza they had originally brought out during their screw up. I asked if it was the same pizza and if it had been under the heat lamps. They said it was, and that it had been put back in the oven so it would still be fresh. It was ICE cold, with congealed cheese and grease everywhere. We each had one slice before we had to call it quits we were so grossed out. There was no apology, no manager came by try and save the reputation of the restaurant, and all in all it was the sorriest excuse for service I've ever seen. Although i would normally chalk it up to a bad night, or an untrained server, and try again, I won't ever be going back to The Dogwood Cafe. Feel free to try Dogwood at your own risk, but if you get a server named Sandy, just run for the hills.
(1)Noah R.
The Dogwood gets high marks for providing good food and a kid friendly atmosphere in the Forrest Hill area. We bring our toddler there after work for dinner sometimes - he's a handful but they always manage to put up with him and his mess. The service and the food are good but not great. The pizza used to be much better (when it was sliced in squares) but it's still above average for JP. The pasta is good and their burgers are what you would expect. Scallops portions are very small (big scallops but very few). Some of the specials are worth checking out. We've had mixed experiences with the drinks. I've had some good ones but also they sometimes don't know how to make them at all. For example, I had a dark and stormy that was really off with lots of sour mix and who knows what else in it. Service is polite and gets the job done but usually nothing special.
(4)Ryan M.
Ah, Dogwood. A cubic-zirconia-in-the-rough for the Forest Hills area. I have to think that the reviews to-date (or at least the four star rating it has right now) are based on relative comparisons to the rest of the area's offerings. If you don't want Budweiser or a slice/sub to-go, then it is, after all, the only real restaurant around. But that doesn't mean it's actually good. First of all, everything seems slightly overpriced for what it is. Second, the place gives off this vibe that it might think it's a lot cooler than it really is. When I first moved to the area, I didn't go in because I didn't know what to make of the "proper dress required" sign in front of a business with completely tinted windows. Now I realize that it's just confused; it's nowhere near fancy enough or hip enough to back up that first impression. The pizzas are the specialty but I've never really cared about any of them. It seems like one flavor always completely dominates the rest. Nothing about any of the entrees I've ordered has ever stood out as something special, unusual, or particularly well-executed. The brunch menu is lacking, but does have the one thing I've ever been impressed by: Breakfast Pizza. Sausage, bacon, and eggs on a crispy thin-crust works really well (and also reheats in the oven well later). As much as I like the Breakfast Pizza, last time I was there for brunch I tried the Mexican Pizza, which, as I recall was something like: eggs, onion, salsa, sour cream, and a couple cheeses. I asked if the sour cream came on the side, was assured it did, then it came with with a giant glob in the center. The crust (especially in the center) was frighteningly soggy and limp and the whole thing just tasted awful. After eating maybe 20% of it, I had to put it aside. The server points, "done?", I say "yeah, wasn't a big fan", she smiles, leaves, returns with the check, I pay the bill and eat a bagel at Java Jo's. It's 3am and I felt compelled to write a couple Yelp reviews....why? I'm not outraged at or delighted by the Dogwood, but this had to be written now. Interesting.
(2)Brendan M.
A diamond in the rough, if you will. This Cafe is right across the street from the infamous Forest Hills Orange stop in Jamaica Plain. The staff here was consistently friendly and helpful through all the times we came here. The food is great - very customizable pizza, tasty specials, good appetizers, and good desserts. If you like pie, you MUST get the blueberry pie here. Its sinfully good. It might be a controlled substance....be careful. The beer selection here is also very solid. The TVs are properly placed to peek at games without feeling tooo sports-bar. Prices are fair, and its close to the T if you come out of the city, or close enough to walk if you are a cool kid in JP.
(5)Nicole D.
I'm always surprised to walk into The Dogwood and see all the white families having dinner; I think to myself, "where did they come from?" But I can't blame them for trooping it to Forest Hills - it definitely reminds me of being a kid and going out to eat with my parents - and they have folksy live music that the kids get up and dance to - so cute! If you're looking for less of a family vibe, the bar side is more youngish with sports playing on the tv's. Ambiance aside, the food is good, the prices are fair, the bar selection is diverse and the warm blondie with ice cream is delish. (I stay away from their blueberry pie - for all the hype, it's more like blueberry soup with a sugary crust). We usually get the veggie burger with a side of mash. The burger itself is nothing too special, but the bun is impressive, they include sprouts with the lettuce-tomatoes-onions and the dill aioli makes it happen. Plus, the pickle on the side is actually worth mentioning, and the garlic mash as an alternative to f-fries makes it seem a bit more grown-up of a dinner. Aside from having one of my favorite veggie burger plates in Boston, the salads are probably the best thing on the menu for vegetarians (and non-veg's too). I haven't tried much else on the menu - the pizza toppings are good, but the crust isn't my favorite - too crackery. Last time I went I had the mac-n-cheese - very creamy and with cracker crumbs on top - not quite what I was in the mood for. So why the high rating despite not a ton of super-high rating offerings? It's the perfect "let's drive ten minutes, not spend too much money, not cook dinner and just have something easy and satisfying for dinner" place. What can I say - I'm a creature of habit!
(4)Jacqueline M.
My boyfriend and I visited Dogwood last night and had a good meal. We ordered the pork pot stickers as an appetizer....(They were tasty) I order the Prime rib with garlic mash and it was cooked perfect and tasted great. The veggie of the day was nothing special and my boyfriend ordered the Tortellini with sausage that was truly yummy . The only reason I am giving this place 3 stars instead of 4 was that the pasta dish had Italian spicy sausage in it that just did not taste right. My boyfriend loved the pasta so much that he just picked the meat out. One of the wait staff ( Not our waitress) came by to help clear and ask about our meal. When we explained the problem with the pasta dish she was truly concerned and apologetic. She said she would bring it to our waitress attention. Our waitress never said anything about it. No biggie....This was our first visit and we will come back again to try other items on the menu. This was a random pick for a place to eat and we were not disappointed. The cafe also has live music and although it was not my kind of music it was fun and entertaining and oh so cute to watch all the little kids get up and dance. :) I just went back a second time to Dogwood and ordered pizza. Very tasty and an individual size is enough for two people and extra to take home. My only concern is that there were a lot of toppings on my pizza that were not listed in the description on the menu. I was so hungry I did not have them make me another one so I just picked off the extra stuff. I do not think they made a mistake. I think the pizza was supposed to come that way but I would have ordered differently had I known. They should list when onions and peppers come on a pizza.
(3)Jenn J.
I cannot get enough of this place! I try to be a Dogwood regular for the past 5 years or so, even though I haven't lived very close until recently. The pizza is incredible. The brunch menu is to die for and they make some of the tastiest cocktails in Boston. Everything is very reasonably priced for what you get and the wait staff is very pleasant and attentive. They have some very incredible desserts too! Whether you are looking for a place to sit at the bar and catch a Red Sox game while catching up with a friend (go early to snag a spot at the bar), or looking for a place to bring that special someone on date night, or a place to accommodate a large group/family for brunch, this is the place. They have live music most nights and a number of tvs at the bar. Definitely visit the Dogwood if you haven't already. Its a great place to go for great food and service in the Forrest Hills area of Jamaica Plain.
(5)Bernadette S.
I like the bar side here. It's very chill. There's some guy who sometimes plays Beatles covers that are pretty good, actually. Some things on the menu are over priced and some are a bargain and overall, it's a nice joint. I don't really like the neighborhood, though, and usually forget that it exists, but when I remember and go, I always have a good experience. UPDATE: had a delicious brunch there recently...loved the Monte Cristo sandwich and drinks...
(4)H M.
great place. Live music fri and sat for free. Great beers and mixed drinks. Food rocks - burger salad pizza scallops. Family friendly.
(4)Sean J.
I've been here a few times. It's near my house, and it's always banging with people on the weekends and nights. I see it as more of a local bar/restaurant, where the people here seem to be more regulars, enjoying their favorite dish and in a what I would call a pretty well organize atmosphere. I do really enjoy the dark wood walls, and the organization of the bar on one side, and the dining area on the other. I do love their brick over pizzas, and most of the food/drinks that I've gotten there have been pretty well prepared. I went there the other day with my parents, who are big food reviewers and they always enjoy going to the places I like to frequent. They are always critical with their orders and specific with what they want. My mom always wants her food hot hot, and my step father always wants his freshly brewed iced tea. Both which seem to be a problem every time we go out. I just kinda chuckle about it, but when i asked if they had earl grey tea and was told yes, and got lipton tea, I had to send it back. Paying $2.50 for a cup of lipton black tea isn't worth it, and some of their dishes are overpriced, but i guess you pay for that for atmosphere. I've gone there in the summer and they make a pretty decent Margarita, and my dinners and sandwiches have always been interesting. I was a little thrown back when the bartender one night didn't know how to make three of the drinks I went through, and at that point I just got a whiskey ginger ale. This place is pretty reasonable, but I think if you really want an elegant experience, this sometimes crowded venue can be an easy pass by. go early, and scope the scene if you want a quiet dining experience.
(3)admir a.
The food here is really ordinary. The jalapeno poppers are yummy. Beware of nights when they have live music, its hard to hear your date.
(2)Matt W.
Had brunch here today. It was Sunday morning, and pretty empty. We were seated in a side of the restaurant that was pretty much empty, and had a charming waitress whose phone went off while taking our order. It sounded like Tinkerbell, which made us wonder whether or not faeries were making our food. The Belgian Waffle came with impressively fresh fruit and the home fries, heavily spiced and salted, ate more like french fries, but in a good way. My girlfriend got stuffed french toast. It was really excellent and flavorful. All the food was incredibly filling. The feel of the room was really nice, too. It was calm and welcoming, with really nice dark wood and brick walls and gorgeous long windows. The only downside was the coffee. It wasn't bad, just sort of weak. We'll definitely go again.
(4)Mark N.
I eat here almost as much as I do at home, and the food is much better at Dogwood! So happy to have such a great and friendly place in Forest Hills. Casual atmosphere with well made and simplly prepared dishes. And Guinness on tap!
(5)Shawn W.
This place has it all: Great bartenders (I LOVE Nicki and Kate and Anne), great music, live entertainment, every Friday and Saturday night is kids' nite! (I'm sure to keep out the local rif-raf) and the food is fantasic. The atmosphere is modern/urban with great local art hung on the walls. The waitstaff is generally pleasant and it's been my regular spot for about a year now. So glad I live right up the street.
(5)Greg M.
There's nothing I hate more than bright lights at bars. Seems with most places, the bigger it is, the brighter it is. At long last here is a place that's big enough to accomodate a large group, has pretty good food, you can watch the game on HDTVs, and it's nice and dark.
(4)Anthony K.
Overall a decent place. I had a grilled chicken pizza and it was absolutely delicious. We had some issues with our drinks, which the waitress fixed... twice. So that's really an issue with the quality of the bartender's mojitos. But it certainly wouldn't stop us from going back.
(3)Elise A.
This places rocks. Love the brunch and very friendly bartenders.
(5)Kirs P.
I admit it. I like yuppie pizza. If it has some strange cheese on it (gorgonzola, brie, goat, feta), fruit (cranberries, pears); and caramelized onions I'm pretty much in. Spinach and artichoke hearts aren't bad either. The Dogwood does yuppie pizza pretty darn good. They even give them yuppie names: Cypress, Sequoia, Evergreen, Magnolia and I'm partial to the Willow. (You can also order your plain ol' pepperoni if you want, for those pizza purists out there). I do have some issues with their price point. There should be a law somewhere: Mozzarella sticks cannot be more than $6.95. Period. $9 for fried cheese and thin marinara is a crime. So, as good as their pizza is- and their brunch- their $9 fried cheese lowers them to four stars.
(4)Molly W.
The Dogwood is a difficult one for me to rate... If I could, I'd give it 3.5 stars just because it's such a no-frills place - and that's OK! I would just never consider it a 5 star establishment. But it does have that neighborhood feel, some of the best brunch in town, and specials that keep us going there at least once a week. They have 3 huge flat screen tvs at the bar - and a cafe area with high-top tables that hold 4 people (which is our favorite). The big games are Always on - so it can get packed - but it's a really warm, laid back atmosphere - so it's worth it to wait a few minutes for a seat. Their weekend brunch is fantastic. They are very family friendly during the day and cater to the young adult scene at night. They also have a brick oven and an extensive pizza and beer list. Prices are reasonable Service can be slow And i swear, there is crack in the honey mustard dippin' sauce. Strap an I.v. on my arm fulla' that stuff, and i'll be good to go!!!
(4)Sam A.
I just treated myself to the Monte Christo Sandwich from the Dogwood brunch menu. There was a mistake on the order, so they replaced it and it was on the house! The sandwich was very good, and was well proportioned. Not too big or too small. Tasty home fries on the side. The atmosphere was was pub-style restaurant. The staff was friendly and attentive. It is right next to the Forrest Hills stop, and very close to the Arnold Arboretum. Great place to check out.
(4)Vanessa W.
Such a cozy, New England bar where you feel like a regular even if you've only come a couple of times. It just has that homey feel. And the food is yummy - lots of diversity on the menu, and a nice mix of maturity and simplicity in its dishes. Great for brunch as well. I hope I get to become a regular here.
(5)Don A.
The dogwood is a great place for brunch and breakfast on Saturday and Sunday mornings. I go every weekend and always see someone from the neghborhood that I know. Their pancakes are amazing, last time I was in I ordered One Bananna, One Chocolate Chip, and One Blueberry, along with the most amazing blody mary I have ever had. In the evenings their brick oven Pizzas are amazingly great, but some of their entres are hit or miss. As I live 2 blocks away I find myself ordering takeout pizza quite often. The atmosphere in the bar is great, nice woodwork and a great selection of beers on tap. There is a sign on the door that says propper attire required, but I have gone in there wearing ripped jeans and a stained T-shirt before. It makes me wonder who they are trying to keep out. Anyway for food and bar scene the place gets 3 maybe 4 stars, but breakfast on the weekends I give it eleven (thats right my scale goes all the way up to eleven). It is by far the best place around for breakfast on the weekends, far superior to any other place. I gave the place a 4 out of 5 solely because of the breakfast.
(4)Jennifer O.
Love it here. Love the bar, love the pizza and love the artwork. Its across the street from Forest Hills which makes for easy access. Go for dinner, you won't be disappointed.
(4)Jenna A.
I'm a big fan of going to the Dogwood Cafe for brunch on weekends. I tend to stick with what I know is good, so I always get the two eggs, homefries, and toast. (Just so you know, they have the best scrambled eggs I've ever had.) A full plate full of food for $6? How can you beat that? Well, I'd be happier if it included bacon.. but I'm not willing to pay an extra three bucks for three strips. Not worth it. The service is great. The waitresses are friendly, but not overly so. They must be psychic, too: if I'm thinking about asking for my glass to be refilled with water, the waitress appears with a pitcher before I get the chance to ask. Getting the check and paying by credit card is quick, too, but then again, I'm generally there when they first open and it's not busy. I do live in the neighborhood, so it's convenient for me to drop by in the morning, but if I moved further away, I'd still make my way over here now and then to grab some breakfast.
(5)Stephanie T.
what? i can't believe all these good reviews. throwing in my two cents (or two stars) just to even out the scale a little. overpriced - YES. pretentious - YES. service - i mean, NOT GOOD. when i go into a restaurant i want to hear "Yes!" can i sit in that booth? "NO" can i take those onions off my sandwich? "NO" can i get someone to help me find the pizza i ordered for pick up? "NO" what, are you kidding? i'm paying too much for booze, too much for food (though admittedly, lots of things on the menu are TASTY: veggie burger, mussels, meatloaf sandwich, salads, pizzas, almost everything is pretty tasty) i better be able to sit wherever i please and i better have a server who says YES YES YES, or is at least around when i need them. this restaurant isn't that great, maybe 3 stars, and minus one extra star for being the VERY LAST THING this neighborhood needs. tinted windows. seriously, everytime i walk by them i laugh at how ridiculous they are.
(2)Abbie T.
Oh, brunch, how I love thee.. and Dogwood has really good brunch. Lots of choices, and everything I've had is good. The decor is comfortable and inobtrustive, and they display works by local artists. Plus, there's just about always a table ready quickly, which works well for impatient people like me. They also have great non-brunch food, so I don't mean to downplay that. The fact that I tend to end up there for a hangover cure on a Sunday morning probably says more about me than it says about them. Whatevs, I highly recommend it!
(4)Tom N.
We've been here a couple of times and are new fans--it's a great addition to Forest Hills (and I remember the shitehole that used to exist here)! The menu is basic joint/pub food very well executed...friendly, prompt service, cozy atmosphere, well-priced menu that doesn't take itself too seriously (ala "bistro dudes and bitches")...will definitely go back--great drinks, superior food, good service!
(4)Liz E.
Great pizza. I highly recommend the Willow (carmelized onions, spinach, goat cheese, oh my!). Good beer selection. The cocktails looked great; I'll have to try one next time. Jill our waitress was fantastic.
(4)Griffith G.
I love to cook, and I love food! My friends have for years called our backyard the Dogwood Cafe because of the beautiful Dogwood tree that provides a cooling shade during the warm summer months. So when we realized that there was an actual Dogwood Cafe in the Boston area, we had to check it out. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, the kind of neighborhood hang out you would want to go to on those days when you get home and just can't face your own kitchen. (Hey, even though I love to cook, there are still those days when I really don't want to spend even a second in the kitchen.) I was first concerned when I noticed the length of the menu. I firmly believe that it's difficult to run a small restaurant with a large number of menu options. Our friendly waitress did recommend the pizzas, but I'm not a huge fan of the smokiness that comes from a wood/brick oven. I do love a good meatloaf, saw that they had sweet potato fries and my decision was made... meatloaf sandwich with the sweet potato fries (which were $2.00 extra.) My friends also ordered sandwiches, a simple burger and a turkey burger. Meatloaf was described "not like mom's meatloaf." Well, I would agree with that, my mom makes a fierce meatloaf, and this meatloaf had a mushy texture, and was poorly seasoned. The sweet potato fries lacked flavor and were over cooked, (which is not hard to do because of the sugar content of sweet potatoes.) The burger was over cooked and tasted like it had just come out of the freezer. The accompanying green beans may have been the most successful part of the meal. The turkey burger also appeared dry and like it just came out of the freezer. I was disappointed in the "other" Dogwood Cafe. The food we had, should have been simple, but it seems to have fallen victim to the idea of "more is better." If pizzas are your thing, stick with pizza and offer a few, simple well prepared alternative options. If your going to have a burger on the menu, make sure it's hand packed, fresh ground beef, seared on both sides to the customer's desired temperature. A meatloaf needs to be first and foremost about the meat. Seasonings should complement the inherent flavors of the food, not cover up what appeared to be a lack of quality. This restaurant is charming. The live music and family friendly atmosphere is exactly what I would love to see in my neighborhood. But in my opinion, careful editing of the menu and a focus on quality ingredients and simple preparation could make this an outstanding spot.
(2)Angelina C.
Hey, guys. It's getting late and I'm hungry. I want a burger and a Stella. No, I want an overpriced takeout burger and fries . . . and a Stella while I wait. Okay, the burger ends up being tasty and -- what? I can watch baseball and talk to some neighbors while I wait? Great! -- the fries were a little cold. Maybe because I had so much fun socializing I was unable to notice how long I waited for the food. At least I don't have to take the T back home. Try their flatbread pizza, cheap hot chocolate (best nightcap, ever!) and brownie sundae.
(4)Janie T.
I have never been treated so rudely as I was by the general manager. Having been a regular customer, one would have thought that they would appreciate customer loyalty but they don't. It is unwise to suggest or comment on service or your point of view. Rather than being diplomatic and appreciative of customer loyalty, the general manager will be rude and possibly deny you service. It is a shame.
(1)L-Train A.
The first time we went here it was pretty good and we were looking forward to it as a place to maybe go watch baseball and cancel cable and get off of Comcast's teat. The second time we went here was right after the place down the street was firebombed so it reeked of smoke and the food and service was treading slightly above lousy. We were sad and didn't go back for months. The third time we went here we stumbled in wasted at 2 am and danced to one song. Apparently they clear out the tables and have a DJ sometimes. Then we went the other night and had a really nice experience. The service was great, they have good $5 glasses of wine, I had a good salad with lots of goat cheese on it and a side of garlic mashed potatoes. The food is not mind blowing, but it is pretty good and it's a nice solid pub that has lots of beautiful wood everywhere. They have a pretty great brunch as well.
(3)Elaina B.
I've only eaten brunch here. There is a decent menu selection and the portions (omelets and French Toast) come big. Both visits we were fortunate enough to not have to wait in line, which is rare when you show up for brunch in JP at 12pm. I have to say the service was pretty bad the 2nd time; so bad that we almost left, despite the fact the four of us were starving and still sweating out the alcohol from the night before. We toughed it out and I apologized to my out of town friends. I think I would go back but maybe steer clear of the chatty (probably hung over) waitress.
(3)Kristin M.
Every once in a while, my friends and I get a mad, insatiable hankering for Dogwood pizza. It's huge and hot and smothered with toppings: traditional and/or esoteric. Cool art on the walls. Clean bathrooms. Best part - In the evenings, they break out the little tea candles and nice, quiet live guitar music - so... share your pizza with a date! S/he'll never figure out how cheap it is! (About $13 for a BIG "gourmet" style pizza that's too big for one person. Beer/wine are in the average price range). Ooh. good deserts, too. BONUS! (also a good place to take your parents if they're visiting from out of town, and they have a kid-friendly area.)
(5)Drew W.
The menu is great, there's something for everyone on it. We had the pizza and I definitely recommend that. The beer and drink list is very impressive and the prices are good too. Our bartender was kind of rude, and she acted like we were putting her out when we asked for another round. We were eating at the bar and there was good music playing too. I would have given more stars if the bartender wasn't having issues that night.
(3)Sueno S.
My boyfriend and I tried Dogwood recently because it was HIGHLY recommended by our couple friends... OMG can't wait to go back! I stuck to the basics and got eggs, homefries with toast but was disappointed when I saw the breakfast pizzas! FAV DRINK : Dogwood Sparkler - Champagne w/ Flower Liquor FAV APPETIZER : Broccoli Bites All round great service and great food makes this a no fuse MUST!
(4)Shannon R.
I like the Dogwood. It recently got a face lift on the outside, and is warm, cozy and inviting on the inside with deep colored wood and local art. The food is consistent- everything on the menu is alright- I have tried mostly everything because I live about 200 feet away from the restaurant. There is nothing on the menu I would consider to be fantastic, or even REALLY good- it's all relatively generic- but that being said, everything is good. I have never gotten anything disgusting. I would say that for the quality of food and the portions, it is a bit expensive- but a major plus is the live music on Friday and Saturday evenings. The wait staff has always been pleasant and moderately attentive, they have a good knack for not bothering you too much while still coming around to check if you need a drink refill and whatnot- they have a good balance down. It's a pretty good spot for a first date or a dinner with some old friends. Just an overall solid restaurant.
(3)A J.
Best creamy peppercorn dressing and homemade croutons! However, they got rid of the small house salad, which is sad. (the menu has changed recently) The pizza is really good and there are many different toppings you can get. One of my favorite dishes is the Stuffed Portabello Caps, but it was not on the menu last time I went. Perhaps they will make it a special? I tried the veggie lasagna instead and it was really good. They have live music on the weekends and funky art on display. This place is really kid-friendly so expect to see a lot of little ones.
(5)Tracy C.
delicious southwest salad & buffalo chicken fingers... you have to try the slutty brownie, amazing!
(5)Anna B.
I think Monday is the night to go here. It wasn't crowded - or maybe that's because we went at 8. I have been a few times and have only tried 1 pizza but that's because I LOVE it (the Dogwood). I think the personal pizza - which is on the big side for a personal - is reasonably priced since you get dinner and tomorrow's breakfast out of it. Service is good, parking surprisingly easy. And the T's right across the street if you want to have a few beers.
(4)Ashley S.
the dogwood continues to impress me. i am a fan of: -their pizzas, especially ones with goat cheese (yum) -their warm tomato salad -their brunch. i usually go for savory choices, but i got the banana-stuffed french toast and it was delish! bloody marys are super horseradishy, but tasty.
(4)Brian D.
this is one of my all time favorites. it's had its ups and downs as all bars will with consistency of wait service and food quality but the bar staff has always been outstanding. Joanne and her team do a great job keeping the regulars happy and new guests wanting to come back for more. i dont really know about the sit down service other than the food will be good. pizzas are wood fired, try the palm with pineapple and prosciutto and the honey hot wings for an appetizer. to boot, it is right across the street from forest hills and if you really need to cash a check there is one of those shady check cashing joints right next door.
(5)Kristen D.
I preface this by saying that I have been a customer for nearly 15 years. My one star is NOT a reflection of the food but of a menu item. My husband and I had our two kids in Saturday night in what is a regular routine. We have always been welcomed and the Dogwood is always family friendly until about 9pm. It was very uncomfortable when the dessert menu came and the first item was the "Slutty Brownie." I actually thought I had misread this. I grabbed the menu from my 10 year old and ordered for her. I was not prepared to try and explain the meaning of "slutty" with my pre-teen. "Slutty Brownie"? Come on. It is just so unnecessary. I did mention something to the manager and she was very receptive and understanding. I am no prude and could care less most of the time about what any given restaurant calls a menu item, but this was just out there considering the clientele. I am sure I am not the only parent or person for that matter that was taken aback by this. I do hope the Dogwood reconsiders the name and takes into account their varied age group of diners.
(2)Stacey C.
Everything at brunch is amazing here. The dogwood breakfast pizza, eggs, pancakes, hash browns, and the BEST- banana stuffed french toast! SSOOOO GOOD! Great staff, everyone is incredibly nice and friendly. The bartenders make a fantastic mimosa and my fav- the wake up call. There is also veggie bacon and sausage that is interchangeable for any of the real meat, so that is a big plus! Brunch here is the highlight of my week and I recommend it to everyone I know.
(5)Andrew H.
I like the Dogwood. Believe me, it brightens the neighborhood, especially being across from the Forest Hills T-stop. The thin crust pizza is good. You can watch a game on TV, or get away from the noise if you like. It's cool like that.
(4)Treasure H.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE THE DOGWOOD. I've been going there for years and I'm happy to report that it has consistently had high quality wait staff, food and atmosphere. Don't be scared away of it's Forest Hills Location, it's one of the best restaurants in JP. The pizzas are out of the world (I've had them all, on several occasions.)
(5)Justin C.
(3.5 stars) I have now been there twice and I am thinking this place might be a comfortable default destination for inexpensive eats and a few pints, or maybe to watch a game on one of the HDs TVs. It will also probably serve as a choice brunch spot for when friends and/or family are visiting. The word I keep coming back to while writing this is "comfortable". The DWC boasts pretty basic pub fare (with modest pizazz here and there), a friendly wait staff and a "halfway there" beer selection. Hopefully, repeat trips will solidify this status as a neighborhood staple.
(3)Sarah S.
I live mere blocks away from the Dogwood so therefore it's a staple in my diet, whether I like it or not. And that all depends on what day of the week it is as that business is more erratic than Lindsay Lohan. I want to shower this place with praise because I think their waitresses are so damn good and cute too. But really, y'all, the food is overpriced and sometimes just flat out not worth it. For instance, their pizza almost always makes my boyfriend and I poop all the next day. What's more, last week I got a sandwich with a baked potato but the potato was so damn waxy and not even cooked through that it wasn't even worth eating. My boyfriend's was the same. The only thing keeping me from sending it back was that we'd got our entrees to go. I got french fries there another week and the consistency of them was oddly chewy...not french fry-y at all. There are a bevy of other restaraunt faux pas the Dogwood has served up for me but I won't be negative. I'll tell you what to get when you go, and you will go, eventually: The honey hot chicken wings. Amazing! Turkey tips. And Brunch. All Saturday and Sunday til 3, choc full o' glory. It's JP's little secret that largely becoming known. It's cheap, it's good, do it.
(3)Frank B.
Have made this a regular place dinner and a couple drinks.Friday and Saturday evenings there is acoustic music which makes this even better. Daily specials are a great change from the regular menu.Staff are friendly and accommodating,has proven itself to be a great place for lunch or dinner ,
(4)Adam C.
When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. -- That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, -- That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. -- Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world. Dogwood is pretty good.
(4)Kate N.
I've been to Dogwood many times, but finally have decided not to go back. They recently changed their menu and a lot of favorites are no longer on there. Last night I went there and only had one other person with me out of a party of 4. The host wouldn't seat us without a full party, which is common and understandable, but on this night not even half of the restaurant was full. Let us just sit and order an app while we wait. Then when we were to be seated I asked if we could sit in a booth and was told that that they weren't seating anyone in that part of the dining room, even though there were at least two parties in there. So we were sat at a regular 4-top, the SAME table we would be sitting at if there were only two of us. I pointed this out to the host, he didn't seem to get it. Then we waited while we saw waitresses pass us multiple times before one even acknowledged our presence. I get you may be busy, but a simple, "I'm just delivering some food, I'll be with you in a sec," would've been nice. I then asked for a change to goat cheese on my salad to which I was informed there would be a $2 up charge. The previous menu had a goat cheese salad which was the same price as the one I ordered. I hate restaurants that nickel and dime. On top of this there were many kids from at least two parties running around everywhere! I know this is to do with their parents, but this is the third time - in a row - that I've had kids running around me, standing next to me while I eat, and yelling in my face at this restaurant. Not once has a waiter, host, or manager asked the parents to take control. Not only is it ruining my experience, but it's dangerous for the staff to have kids under foot. Lastly, our final bill was $80.20 for four people. That's $20 and a few cents for each person. We gave four cards (I know that can be annoying) and told her, for brevity's sake, $20 each please. She literally did that and left $0.20 remaining. I have no problem putting two dimes down, but seriously? Duh. And to top it off, those booths I wanted to sit in but was told no? They had new parties sitting in them when I left! Lame experience overall.
(1)Dara S.
Above average beer selection and fun cocktails paired with incredibly delicious and well priced food that is also just a little adventurous, which I love. I had apple cider sangria last fall when I was in there. I love seasonal drinks. I also love fresh cider. And mmmm their brunch. Pizza for breakfast, yes please! I was reluctant to write a review about this place because I like to think it is my favorite hidden gem. It is where I bring out of town guests to show them what JP is all about. The inside is warm and cozy. It really is a very "neighborhoody" place so don't be surprised to young families dining next to recent college grads. But again - it just adds to the charm. Keep up the great work Dogwood. (And keep this one on the DL please, I don't like having to wait to sit down)
(4)Jackie S.
great and interesting pizza options. it seems out of place in forest hills, but if you should ever find yourself nearby i recommend stopping in.
(4)Finn M.
Great food, great atmosphere. I went here with a friend on a Saturday and there was a packed bar, live music, and lots of little kids in the seating area. To my shock, none of this proved annoying: kids were rapt with the food, musician was enjoyable, and bar patrons were well-behaved. Food and beer selections were varied and tasted great. Portion sizes are reasonable, which is selfishly frustrating, because the food is good enough to leave you wanting more. I recall some signs on the wall proclaiming the blueberry pie to be award-winning; I wasn't floored by it, but it was certainly very good, and you've gotta appreciate a restaurant that lets you finish off a meal with a nice big slice of blueberry pie. Great for dates and for families, a rare -- and winning -- combination.
(4)Ben B.
A much needed and wonderful new addition to the Forrest Hills area, The Dogwood Cafe almost sticks out in an area, up until recently, which has been known more for it's faults, rather then it's positive aspects. With a diverse menu and large drink selection, there is something on the menu for everyone. Furthermore, when I was there last night, the added touch of live acoustic music further accentuated the laid back atmosphere of Dogwood. The food itself was tasty, and the service was friendly. I'd recommend Dogwood to anyone who lives in the West Roxbury/Jamaica Plain area as a nice alternative to the more pretentious eateries found in elsewhere in the city.
(4)Amy S.
The Dogwood is the first eating/drinking establishment I have encountered with a smoky bathroom that wasn't the result of cigarettes or weed. The potties smell like brick ovens. This is not the defining characteristic of the Dogwood, though! Oh no. The Dogwood happens to have excellent fahncy pizzas, Anchor Steam on tap (no way!), and these amazing little personal-sized (or couple sized, if you're pretending to be modest about your pie consuming abilities) blueberry pies that are the tastiest damn things ever. They bring them to your table piping hot a la mode. Yes yes yes. The Dogwood also has an extensive menu of average looking American food that you could make yourself for much less money, but that most people seem to enjoy eating in restaurants. I prefer to stick with brick oven pizzas since theirs are damn tasty and I don't think I'm getting a brick oven installed in my pad anytime soon. It's definitely worth a stop if you're in the neighborhood.
(4)Nathan F.
I've only been to Dogwood twice, both kind of late night for drinks and pizza. I dont know if they have a more expanded menu but late night you get a pretty good appetizer and pizza selection. They have some nice beers on tap and can probably make any mixed drinks you want (including Flirtini). there was a guy playing acousitc guitar songs at a slighter higher than tolerable volume. the service was great and the waitress didn't even complain about our over use of credit cards. i guess my only complaint with Dogwood is that you think you're getting gourment pizza but really its just ordinary pizza with fancy sounding toppings. the crust is good but cheese and sauce is just mediocre.prices are very fair. so it's basically a friendly place that would be worth a visit if you live in the area.
(3)Melissa C.
I don't understand why others are dissing the service here. I used to live in JP and came here all the time, I still go back from time to time even though I dont live in the area because I really like this place. Its really cozy, they have a great beer selection, and the food is yummy. I only gave them 4 stars instead of 5 because I find that for the kind of food it can be pricey and the area (across the street from Forest Hills T-station) is kind of sketchy. This is a nice place to come and sit at the bar and sip a glass of wine and watch a football game in the winter, and I enjoy taking my family (especially my dad) here on a Friday night for their live acoustic music. My now fiance and I had one of our first dates here- we came here for dessert (cake) after walking around Jamaica Pond and the Arboretum. I've never come in for brunch, but after reading other reviews I would definitely like to sometime. I do see a lot of families in here, couples with young children- so it seems to be a nice family place as well. I think of this place and the years I lived in JP in grad school and feel all nostalgic. I suggest calling ahead, because it can be a long wait otherwise. The Dogwood holds a special place in my heart :)
(4)Cori K.
I live around the corner from the Dogwood and have gone there several times. It is a great casual place where anyone is welcome from babies to grandmothers. The service has always been good. The waitresses are friendly and efficient. I have never been for brunch but the dinner and lunch menus are good. The pizza is great. I have also had some of the sandwiches and the turkey tips which are pretty good. It is not the best food you will ever have but I think the price is reasonable and the casual atmosphere is nice. They also always have an interesting selection of beer on tap.
(4)Rinaldo D.
Dogwood has become a mainstay of my brunch circuit. I have been there a few times for dinner as well, and while both are good I prefer breakfast. The menu has a lot of comfort food with a stepped up twist. They have a rotating list of craft beers and special dishes which keeps thing lively. Worth checking out.
(3)Jonathan F.
Good bar-type food, nice atmosphere and decent drink selection.
(4)Katie M.
If you can find your way through the maze of the Forest Hills T stop and miraculously end up coming out of the right exit (took me 3 tries), the Dogwood is RIGHT THERE, conveniently located at the bottom of the hill and across from the T... I went for brunch and met a friend. At 12:30 on a Saturday, the place wasn't crowded at all, although bustling enough that I was reassured this place was good. The vibe inside is relaxed and unfussy. Our waitress was really sweet and discussed the benefits of various egg-cooking styles for the huevos rancheros with me at length once I pressed her for more info. After much deliberation, I picked scrambled. The dish was tasty, with enticing slices of avocado, and came with ample ketchup/sour cream. The potatoes were very simple, diced big and fried well. Nothing fancy --the wow-factor wasn't big, but I was happy and full! All in all a pretty great laid back brunch spot.
(4)s s.
I believe the Dogwood can be all things to all people. Casual pub where you can watch the game, intimate in a back booth with low lighting for a date, great for big groups at brunch, and you'll find every high chair in use early on a Saturday night when families bring their tots to bop to the music. Excellent neighborhood place with a varied menu that can accommodate all price points.
(4)A. T.
Steak & eggs cooked to a perfect medium: four stars. Sketchy neighborhood surrounding the restaurant: meh. Waitress got my order wrong but when I pointed it out she immediately apologized and happily took it back and swapped it out: plus one star.
(5)Alyssa N.
I couldn't resist the siren song of their pancakes and came back two days in a row. The lovely manager told me that the chef mixes up his own secret recipe of some sort for the dreamy, fluffy pancakes. The pancakes are fresher and better tasting than anything I could ever make at home. (I feel odd going to brunch and paying $$ for french toast or etc... that I could make myself). Decent brunch options for veggies and carnivores alike. The breakfast pizza seemed fresh and my dining companion very much enjoyed it. I've been here for dinner a few times too. The non-brunch foods, pizza, pastas, and etc..., are pretty yummy as well. On one visit, I was a bit appalled that my $2.50 OJ was served in a kiddie-sized glass. The Bellini I had on another trip was yummy, though slightly skimpy when it came to the fresh peach nectar that was in it.
(4)Nate K.
How much as Jamaica Plain changed over the past four years? Well when i first moved to Boston in 2002, JP was considered on the fringe - today it has some of the best restaurants in the Hub. Among them is Dogwood Cafe - the brickoven pizza very good and they toppings are high quality. Rumor has it there is live music and the burgers are worth trying as well. Insiders note: the sweet sausage (on pizza) is great!
(4)Mark S.
The Dogwood is the coziest place in my hood for sure. I have been here a handful of times and there is always a relaxed vibe to the place. A friend put it nicely by saying, "It's a great place to go during a snowstorm." I couldn't agree more. A thing about restaurants that is overlooked by a lot of people is the lighting aspect of it. Dogwood just seems to do it right. They have small light fixtures over the tables and lit candles all around the restaurant. It's a great place to watch the game in a laid-back atmosphere. The pizza here is quite impressive. It is a thin crust brick oven with a nice zesty sauce. They serve the pizza on top of a large can of tomato sauce which is a little off putting but with pizza this good I can overlook that. Service can be iffy but the last time I went I had a lovely and attentive waitress. I have also had the brunch and was quite impressed with the breakfast burrito with wonderfully savory home fires and the pancakes are huge with a lot of fruit infused into each buttery bite of breakfast cake. They also have a decent beer selection. I had a nice Stove pipe porter that had a nice smokey flavor to it. I also tried the Dogwood Ale which is a bit hoppy but if that's your thing you'll love it.
(4)Jenny M.
This place always looks like it is closed, but don't be deceived. It is such a cutie little place. I love the beer selection and they have a great spicy bloody mary. I think I've had a something else like a cranberry mimosa or something like that, which was good too. Usually go for lunch on the weekends. Good burgers and breakfasts. I went there once for dinner, i was sick, we got pizza and it was good. The crust was a bit bland, I wish it had like garlic or something on it. I like their dumplings and it comes with a yummy soy/gingery sauce that I want to drink it is so good! The service is spotty at best. I've been forgotten about, dishes tried to be cleared before I've even gotten my meal...but it is close to my place and the food is good so I go every few months.
(4)William L.
Me and my special lady went here last night and really enjoyed it. Service was fine and the food was great. We split some potstickers and both got salads that were particularly delicious. Good ingredients, well thought out pairing and just the right size. We'll be going back to try some of their entrees and pizza I am sure. The overall atmosphere is pretty cool too. Somewhere between sports bar (3 flat screens) and fancy restaurant (cloth napkins and candles on all the tables).
(4)Paul M.
Probably the best place to get some food and beers in the forest hills area. Pizza is ok, dogwood ale is pretty good. I really wish they served food past 11pm.
(3)h g.
Before a lovely day of basking in the sun at the Arnold Arboretum, my girlfriend and I headed to Dogwood for Sunday brunch. Since I had heard rave reviews of Dogwood pizza, I ordered the Willow--an awesome pick for Goat Cheese and or Onion Fans--I loved it. My girl ordered Eggs Benedict, which was pretty standard EB, no compliants yet nothing to write home about. I must agree with the other reviwers that the service left something to be desired, both my girlfriend and I were very thirsty throughout the meal--our drinks werent refilled once! I was also overcharged on the bill, but it was quickly corrected once I pointed it out. I gotta give this place 4 stars, but only because the pizza is so good--in this case the good food makes up for the bad service. I also really liked the visiting artists that is currently up--nice stuff!
(4)Beck N.
I love how the brick oven smell fills my nose when I walk in. The times we've been there on Friday nights, they even have a guy playing guitar & singing tunes from Garfunkel to John Mayer -- his voice is so soothing it doesn't detract from dinner conversation. Their pizza is unbelievably yummy & they serve it on top of big tomato cans =)
(5)Nicole M.
best place to bring the kids around 6 on a saturday night!!!! the little ones love the live music and there are so many children you don't have to worry about bothering anyone.
(5)Mark C.
I am such a fan of the Dogwood. I go there three to four times a month. The staff is great and remember your name and drink if you sit at the bar enough. Its a great place to go with friends or to sit at the bar when you can't stand the thought of microwaving one more Trader Joes entree. The wood fire baked pizza is the star here, but over the years the other entrees and specials have really evolved beyond the category of pub grub. One of my favorites is the Pasta with Vodka sauce, I usually have it with the seared scallops, awesome
(4)Liz K.
AWESOME local restaurant with good food, good drinks and nice waitstaff. I love going to local places in my neighborhood of JP and Dogwood is one of my favorites. The food is always good - including delicious pizza. They also have a good selection of beers on tap and the bar area plays all the local sports games. Another great aspect of this place is on Friday and Saturday nights, they have live music. It's usually a guy with his guitar which is much better than the annoying kind of super loud/ bad band loud music. I don't have kids but there are always lots of families there and the kids really seem to enjoy the music. I've also been later in the evening, however and there are obviously less kids and more of a vibrant bar scene. All in all - I highly recommend Dogwood!
(4)Allison C.
I love the Dogwood. Okay...so I'll admit that it sometimes it can take a while to get served a beer, but the staff is all very very friendly. the appetizers and pizza are fairly priced and usually delicious. keep an eye out for specials and the beer of the month. oh, and they have a new desert menu!
(4)Sybil D.
As the mother of a very sweet, yet boisterous 15 month old, I have struggled to find a place other than Applebee's where she is welcomed with open arms... until we hit the Dogwood. Prior to being a mom, I'd always noticed kids here and there at the Dogwood, but I never knew that they actually liked kids... at least that's the way they seem. On Saturday nights, the early dinner crowd seems to be mostly families from the JP area, the aging hipsters that still like good food, good service and a selection of good beer, but also happen to have a kid or two. Add a guy playing family friendly covers on acoustic guitar and a little space for my little one to dance, its a great night out for the family. If you don't have kids, this is still a great place to go... I mean, most of us parents are responsible enough to get our kids home at a reasonable hour, thereby minimizing your exposure!
(4)Grace W.
Our brunch was overpriced and unsatisfactory. The service was poor. The blueberry pancakes had very few blueberries, and were served with fake maple syrup. The hollandaise sauce tasted like turkey gravy, it was obviously canned. A saucer sized plate of homefries is $3 and they are not even seasoned. There were no garnishes on any of the entrees. I would go to Sorrella's or Center Street Cafe next time. I have expectations when I pay over $30 for brunch for 2 people, and clearly this restaurant did not meet those expectations.
(1)tavia m.
Service is very spotty here. We went for dinner two weeks ago and had GREAT service and then went for brunch last weekend and had horrific service. The food is very good, their pizzas are wonderful. I recently had the cheesey goodness that is their mac & cheese and it was a treat. Their brunch is boring and basic.
(4)Akilah C.
I have to say I left the Dogwood Cafe extremely disappointed and vow never to return again! To begin it took nearly 20 minutes to bring over 2 cocktails from their own drink menu....seriously if you have personally crafted the drink what is the huge deal about getting them over to the table in a timely fashion??? Moving on to our food order and selection...the pizza was simply disgusting and I was annoyed that the menu did not indicate that it did not come with marina sauce? To add insult to the tasteless thin cracker like crust, on my way to the restroom I peeked inside the kitchen to see the "pizza maker" texting madly on his phone. I guess this is why our pizza tasted horrible? Fine so we decided the pizza was NOT the happenings we order wings, both buffalo and winged. The meal did improve because the wings were palatable until the very inattentive waitress spilled contents of the cocktail beverage on the wings and all she said pathetically was "sorry". Umm why did not not ever offer to remove the wings from the bill or at the very least make a half order on the house? She was whack and at this point my experience with the dogwood will forever be ruined. Fine your pizza sucks and your service is slow, but when you make an error as a business professional you should fix it. I will never spend another dime at the dogwood and caution anyone before you think about going there.
(2)Bob H.
My fiancee and I eat out a lot, and we like to try new places. We headed out to the Dogwood Cafe last Friday hoping for a quiet night out. We were very happy with our visit there. We ordered a large pizza, an appetizer and two glasses of wine and the bill came out to a very reasonable $35. Service was patient yet attentive, and the ambiance was way beyond expectations with the comfortable heavy wood decor and candles. The icing on the cake was the live music - it was one guy singing with a guitar. It's a tough balance between having live music and allowing the place be not so loud as to douse a pleasant dinner conversation. It was really well done. The only minus to the Dogwood Cafe is the availability of street parking - although we did not explore the possibility of parking in the several nearby lots. All in all this place won't wow you with the food or the wine list but it's a great choice for a very reasonably priced, comfortable meal.
(5)cate d.
I love having the Dogwood nearby. It's reliable, a fun place to meet friends and hang out, watch a game, get a pizza. I think it is reasonable - but based on what you get, somewhat overpriced. Just went for brunch for the first time. I wish hash and eggs was on the menu - it seems that it would fit with a place like this - typical American menu, a couple innovative items, along with the good ol' basics. this basic is missing, though. Now I feel compelled to go on a search for the best hash and eggs in the city. If they were close to home, that would be such a bonus. I remain hopeful. Oh, and the coffee was awful - couldn't even drink it and ordered tea instead.
(3)Deborah A.
We were in the neighborhood to attend an open mic night at Java Jo's, but when we got there at 7pm, it was CLOSED. The Craigs List event we saw must have been a hoax, or else just very old. Fortunately, The Dogwood Cafe turned out to be right next door and I remembered reading several good reviews about it, both here and at Chowhound. There was an alarming sign on the door about the necessity of wearing "appropriate attire" and one of our people was in shorts, so we were uncertain about going in, but once we finally worked up the courage, we noticed the room was full of people in shorts so don't let the sign scare you off. There was a guitarist playing! We were delighted. The food was pretty ambitious, I was impressed. I had a very tasty portabella sandwich that had a great sauce and was full of all kinds of good crunchy things (like lettuce and...green beans?). One of my friends got a meatloaf sandwich and the other got the fish sandwich-they both said their food was excellent. The only nasty thing was the side of butternut squash--it really was just a pile of cooked squash, totally flavorless. Actually it tasted vaguely of the fish sandwich it came with, yuck. My garlic mashed potatoes, though? Delicious! :) There were other neat things on the menu, too--lots of gourmet pizzas that weren't too expensive ($14 for a large, around $8 for a one person size) and exciting salads with things like walnuts and apples in them-- I always think it's a good sign when a restaurant can make an interesting sounding salad. They also had a whole page of more expensive entrees (in the $15-$20 range) that looked good, like sirloin steak. All in all, it was a good experience. The service was excellent, and the decor was elegant and comfortable. I'm not sure I would ever go way out of my way again to go to it, but if you ever needed a restaurant in Jamica Plain and you weren't in the mood for Asian or Latino food, this would be a good option.
(4)astro t.
We had a great debate over their "Boston Cream Pie Cake," whether it was actually a cake, wiki says it is, or a pie and why the "Cake" was added to the name. Nonetheless, it was delicious, as was the carrot cake which caused less of a ruckus. Of course Schilling and Paps made the most ruckus at the bar! The food was pretty good, a higher scale fare of the normal pub bar food though with rice pilaf and veggies as sides. The service was attentive but it was a quiet evening. The beers are also the normal beers with a couple different things put in like the cider and their Dogwood ale, which was a good darker beer. The atmosphere was laid back, lots of different people, watching the game, a little birthday party, people drinking wine.
(4)Julie M.
the food is ok, at best, and i've had several terrible experiences with the service. totally overrated. i continue to swear i will never be back and yet i have several friends who just love it there and insist on going. maybe i'm missing something but i just don't get what the big deal is about this place.
(2)Sean E.
In the middle of this rather unfortunate line up of dingy neighborhood shops, scary take out joints and a liquor store is this little jewel of a restaurant (right across the street from the Forest Hills T station). Its specialty is it's brick oven pizzas, and yes they are delicious. But they do everything else on their Americana menu pretty damn fine as well. Tasty steak tips, pasta, sandwiches, chicken, it's all done quite well here. An okay line up of beers and good bartenders who know how to mix a drink are also on tap. You might even get serenaded by a come local talent on piano or acoustic guitar while your here. Oh, and surprisingly enough I remember their salads. For most entrees you get served up little starter salad, and even these things are better than they deserve to be. A choice destination if you're stuck in the wrong side of Jamaica Plain. Kudos to you, Dogwood.
(4)Caitie S.
I went there for the first time this week. We had to wait about 30 minutes as there was a private party in the back. Our waitress was really friendly, but a little forgetful. I had the Cypress Pizza, which was delicious!! My friend had the steak tips, they were good, but cold. I would give this place another shot for sure!
(3)Sharon F.
Delicious bloody Mary's and breakfast! Such a cute spot. Vegetarians be warned- the potatoes at brunch are cooked in meat.
(5)chelsea h.
This used to be my absolute favorite restaurant. I love their beer selection and their menu. Their drink menu is even great. The atmosphere is awesome, especially since they have renovated recently. Unfortunately, since the renovation- the service has majorly gone downhill, and the prices have gone way up. To me, this makes no sense. The waitresses they hire seem to not know the menu, and don't particularly care to earn good tips. I won't bore you with the details of my most recent visit since it's a long story, but I will tell you that the waitress kept bringing over the wrong drinks and when we asked for the correct ones, she got defensive and told us that she doesn't know what those are since she doesn't drink. Additionally she refused to bring us plates for our appetizer because "they are all dirty." This happened when we were one of 3 or 4 total occupies tables in the place. I will continue to go here since I live nearby and it's an old favorite. But all I can say is I hope management figures out that if you are going to charge $20 for a salad, you need to create an experience for your customers that is worthy of that hefty price. I hope that they come back, at least service wise... To their old ways.
(2)Kevin O.
Haven't been here in a while, but have been many times over the years, delicious flatbread pizza, if memory serves me correct; great beer / wine selection...
(5)Sean H.
First time I came here this would have been 3-4 stars, but the last two times I've gone the food quality seems to have taken a dive. The pizza that I ordered (I think it's the Maple?) - the sausage was disgusting. I love sausage, but I ended up picking it off my pizza. Posting this review in the hopes that they get their act together, I like this place - great atmosphere, and Forest Hills needs more places like this. Good beer list, friendly service. Just fix the food!
(2)M J.
Damn the service, full pizza ahead. Damn fine food. Service was also just fine for me. Ninnies! Four stars!!!
(4)Keyla D.
I give this place 4 stars... when I truly wanna give it 5 stars it seems like I've been going here about twice a month for two years now. It seems like no one ever remembers you. :| As far as costumer service they are NOT bad however I haven had anyone very welcoming either. I keep going back because of my fav drink the Flirtini & Witch hazel pizza to die for yummy and I love the over all feel of the place its chill not to much going on defiantly a place you can take someone on a date and actually get to know them.
(4)Hayley B.
This place is AWESOME. The service here was incredibly friendly and attentive. Our waiter was very nice and answered several questions that we had about the menu. Baked brie was a special, but it came with apples on top, which I'm allergic to. They had no problem making it without the apples to accommodate. The food was outstanding. I highly recommend the pulled pork. All around great food, great atmosphere, great place.
(5)Kelly V.
Went here Sunday morning for breakfast. Food was great!! As it should be for 3 people to eat breakfast for $56!! Prices are outrageous for breakfast .....but food was good. Maybe we will try lunch or dinner next time. We just ate breakfast French toast , bacon , hash browns no cocktails. I'm guessing that's why they weren't that busy. Also waited 15 after finishing food to get check and for her to return with change. So overall food was great! But price & service not so much
(3)liz c.
I really like Dogwood's pizza, but they no longer have a normal sized pizza option, which is really annoying. The only size they have is 12 inch, which is a little too small for two people and a little too large for one. Bring back two sizes!
(2)Ally M.
So I didn't actually eat here, but I stopped in when I was stuck in traffic and desperately needed wifi to file a story on deadline. I sat at a booth and the waitstaff was totally cool with me sipping on a few (delicious) beers while I worked. AND the wifi is wicked good. Definitely will be back for a non-working meal.
(4)Carrie C.
I'm hoping this review will remind me not to return, the next time someone suggests the Dogwood. When we got home tonight, we joked that they should rename the place the Dogfood Cafe. The waitress was fine and the food was delivered quickly, but it was very much subpar for the price. The best thing we ate was the calamari and it was greasy and salty. I ate the turkey burger, which looked like a white hockey puck and was just as moist. I got the hiccups after the first bite, just from the dryness, and basically slathered it in aioli and ketchup in order to finish it. It came with the wrong side and no tomato, which I asked for when ordering. My partner ate the juicy lucy, or something like that. It was underseasoned and she mentioned in the car home that it was pretty gross (and she's not picky). The fries, which I tried, were scalding hot, and also oily and over salted. I gave two stars because it's a nice decor and the waitress was polite and friendly. But I'm officially done with Dogwood. The food I make at home is considerably better, less expensive, and if I'm going to leave it to someone else to cook, it should at the very least be good.
(2)Melisa M.
So I gave the DC another shot because I like the vibe and the location and the drinks....tried the dip AGAIN and still...yeah just not good. so watery and hardly at all cheesy...thought the last time might have been an off night but no, thats how they make it. if you're thinking the dip made famous by TGIF this is not it Went for the "chicken under a brick" because I was determined to give this place another chance awful. dry. terrible. when the seasoned brussel sprouts are the only decent thing on the plate...i mean you have to be kidding. came with bone dry fingerling potatoes to complete the terribly dry ordeal finished our drinks and did not stay for the atmosphere...this place is officially off my eat and have drinks at consideration list...drinks are a yes...but idk what's going on with the food, consistently BAD
(1)Lana T.
Whether you're looking for brunch or dinner, you won't be disappointed at Dogwood. I love sitting on the patio in the summer/fall, and it's very cozy at the bar during the winter. They do a fantastic brunch - nothing too crazy on the menu but the corned beef hash is legit. Dinner options/specials are very good. You usually don't find a place out in JP that can compare to anywhere in downtown Boston but this is it. Get the shrimp pizza, juicy lucy burger, breakfast special.
(4)Finn S.
I loved the sweet potato pancakes. Nice please for any time of day. Not too big. Not too small. I really love local places. There is a comfy atmosphere here. The location is also perfect. It's right by the Orange line and easy to get to.
(5)Maddie C.
I want to like this place but for some reason have had really varied experiences. I have tried a few of the sandwiches and entrees, but find the food pretty heavy. At my third or fourth visit I had a chicken sandwich that was so rubbery it made a squeaky noise when I chewed. Ew! It kind of ruined the food experience for me. Should have said something but decided to just call it a night, and haven't been back. I am sure there is something they do well but haven't gotten up the motivation to try again. I'd say it's a solid place to meet up for a beer, but I'm over the food for now.
(3)Janae G.
Alas, the Dogwood Cafe. I was hosting a large scale professional event for my alumnae chapter and reserved the dogwood for a hearty brunch. We got in and there was limited waiting area space during Sunday brunch hours. My impression is that they did not know we were coming even though I had booked well in advance. They explained that there was some event going on ( a game?) in the city that impacted our extended wait and seating, no good. I really liked the ambiance - the classic Boston pub feel. They were able to fit in two ladies who opted to join the party shortly after we had arrived, which was nice. They brought some walnut encrusted banana bread which was a hit! However, the waitress seemed flustered/nervous. She took our orders, but seemed confused when some members of the party asked her about specific dishes. One member of our board asked her why a single pancake seemed overcooked compared to another persons at the table, and she seemed annoyed explaining it had been cooked in a different pan with different oil. There were almost hints of sarcasm. I cannot exactly place it but there was something off putting about the experience. The food overall was pretty delicious though, I enjoyed my banana french toast. Some people who had the breakfast pizza were underwhelmed. None of these contributed to the three star review. Here's what did: We waited about 40 minutes total (from what I can tell) to receive our change and credit cards back from paying the bill. It was literally impossible. Had she told us she wouldn't be able to accommodate the split bills we requested, we could have planned accordingly but that poor girl was so unprepared. I actually felt embarrassed as the host having to leave after 40 minutes with people in my party still waiting at the table to receive their change back.
(3)Portia J.
Once upon a time this was my favorite place to brunch every now and then until myself and a party of 4 others were served our meals an hour after arrival and on dirty plates and glassware. Once the manager was brought to the table after we complained (and im talking visible food ....eggs and spinach on glasses/forks and plates) about the dirty glassware she took ONE glass off the table and replaced the drink. Without smile or apology. In their defense this was in July but I just made this yelp account and this is the FIRST review ive written because the disgust and horrible customer service will sit with me fpr the rest of my life.
(2)Stacy H.
this place is clearly kid-friendly, based on how many families were in the restaurant on a wednesday evening. that being said, though, they have a bunch of different beers on draft, and a pretty extensive cocktail menu. i appreciated that they had a few different vegetarian options from which to choose. i picked the macaroni and cheese, which, while good, was kind of bland. the portion size was huge, though, and i appreciated the side salad to balance out the heaviness. basically, a-ok.
(3)Beth I.
I don't know what these people are talking about. Third time here in my visit to Boston and the service has been amazing and the food is awesome. Tried the willow, witch hazel, maple (favorite) & hickory pizzas. Ahi tuna nachos (not what I'd expected but awesome nonetheless) I love wasabi! Calamari app perfectly crunchy with a jalepeño touch not too spicy. Sweet potato fries perfection. I'm trying the juicy Lucy now. My hopes are up!! They are super nice and accommodating to my children. Super bonus!!!
(5)Taryn S.
In my opinion, my favorite restaurant is the Dogwood. To start with, the people are really nice. Most importantly, they check on you a lot. They say, "How are you doing?" A second reason I like the Dogwood is because the guitar players are nice too. They play all types of music and they say "hello" to you. The service is also great there. For example, they never mess up your order and you don't have to wait long for your food. They also don't turn the TV up really loud like other restaurants. The food is great. In other words, if you order a burger, the bread is really good. They make all different kinds of pizza too. They use a lot of ingredients. Finally, I really like the construction. They have a lot of fireplaces if you are cold and if you are hot, there are a lot of coolers. There are also a lot of TVs if you like TV like me. There are a lot of candles that make the place look cool too. So that's why you should go to Dogwood. PS - This was written by Elliot Gordon
(4)Felicity N.
I love the atmosphere of Dogwood and the servers are always great! The recent price changes however are not great. I'm not a big fan of the 20 dollar salad at a BAR. No thanks.
(3)Ia J.
That breakfast pizza, though.
(5)Kristine A.
My friend kept bugging me about coming to this place so I finally did. Well she was right, it is pretty damn good. Although I wish there were more vegetarian items. It's too bad you don't get to substitute items on the pizza though. You also need to get dessert, so be sure to save some room.
(4)Christina F.
Really a 3.5. This was our first time and we will definitely come back. The veggie burger was great, it was kid friendly, and it had a cozy, relaxed vibe that is perfect for a family. I wanted to post my annoying experience to let others know. I ordered mac n cheese for my 2 year old- 6 bucks, and a side of broccoli- which I thought was 2.00. Well, I got the bill and it was 5.00. I mentioned to the waitress (who was super sweet and helpful the whole meal!) that we had ordered the kids side, not adult side. Because, really, who would order a $6 meal for their toddler with a $5 side? Right? Right. She came back and sweetly told me that there was no kids side, and this was the adult side. And I said, well it said $2, so that's what you will charge me, right? I was thoroughly confused. I pointed out the menu that listed all the sides under the kids menu and then said "additional 2.00". The manager- also very nice- did come over and explain that the menu was confusing but that broccoli was 5, this was 1.50, this was 2... etc etc. Anyway, it was annoying because I didn't want to pay as a point, and she sort of acted like I should have known. Anyway, everyone was nice, but I just wanted to yelp on the experience. Check out menu on my picture (#25 in the photos) and make sure you ask prices when you order! Because anyone who has kids knows you don't buy 6 dollar mac n cheese with a $5 side for a 2 year old. Well, I don't.
(3)Wes V.
I give three stars because the food really is awesome, but this used to be a place I went to regularly. They did a remodel, and the place looks awesome now as well. The problem is, their prices went up. A take-out order of wings and one of their salads will run you almost $30. It was never cheap, but this is not a place you can go to often now in my opinion. On top of that, the service has suffered. No question. I went with a small group last night and sat at the large table on the bar side. The girl that was supposed to be serving us was TERRIBLE. It was not busy, especially around 11 PM, but we were going 15-20 minutes even being able to see her in the restaurant at that point. She served a pizza without any silverware, napkins or plates. Then when we asked for plates, she came back with 5 (not enough) and told us "these are all the plates we have right now". Yikes. Pretty sure you're not supposed to say stuff like that to patrons, and I'm also pretty sure we don't care. We are trying to eat. She also did not understand a few of our drink orders, brought the wrong stuff, and then told us "Sorry, I don't drink", as if that made it ok. It's certainly an interesting choice to work at a restaurant in that case, but still she should have asked someone for help if she needed it. Since the remodel, there is no question the service has been slower. But, this was the first time I've experienced incompetence here, and I was surprised. Usually the wait staff is very polite and good at their jobs. I guess I'm just disappointed, because this place used to be the best. Now, it's just not worth it anymore. Good for "once in a long while" and "maybe" instead of "you gotta go there".
(3)Sarah M.
I think the Dogwood Cafe is pretty great. The three times I've been there have been enjoyable. Their back porch is pretty nice when the wheather is warm. But, I've also eaten inside. The atmosphere is pretty hip. All the food I had was tasty and the price is pretty good. I think some websites say that it opens at 11am, but I'm pretty sure they open for brunch at 10am on Saturdays and Sundays.
(4)Max W.
Eh... Everything is good, nothing is great. I want to like the Dogwood a lot more than I do, and maybe that's what frustrates me so much. It's a great space and a super nice interior, and the service is pretty reliable. The pizzas are quite tasty, but isn't it telling that I can't remember another menu option at all? I've found brunch to be a bit more enticing than dinner, but there can be some long lines. Definitely worth a try if you're in the area. Tip: get the house beer, the Dogwood Ale. Very good and very cheap.
(3)Jason H.
Very average place. Food is OK, nothing stood out- pretty average. The tuna nacho appetizer was probably the best thing we tried. Drinks and beer list were OK, a few nice craft options and mixed drinks were boozy. Service wasn't slow- but was incredibly awkward and our waitress seemed to be trying to rush us out when it was 9pm on a Saturday, and was mostly empty. The atmosphere was tough to gauge because it was so slow, but I liked the bar set up and decor around the rest of the place. Oh yeah- I also got my first public 'finger show' on the street right nearby the place. Classy...
(3)Racheal P.
Great place! The pizza is excellent and so is many other menu items. Decent craft beer selection and the ambiance of the place is really cool.
(4)Jazmin I.
This place is a mixed bag. I've had some lovely experiences here with great service, but the last visit there involved a lot of miscommunication and poor service from the staff. I reserved for a large group, several people canceled last minute, they seated us and then were mad that there weren't that many of us. We offered to move but they weren't interested and it was more drama and hassle than it was worth. Definitely not going to use this place for group reservations, but will probably return for their gluten free offerings.
(3)Kate S.
I've lived in the Forest Hills area for almost ten years and have been a regular at Dogwood for as long. It's very sad how downhill this place has gone recently. I'm writing a review today because of my disappointment with my last few visits here. I'll start with the positives about The Dogwood: 1) The ambiance is nice, 2) The bar is long and comfortable, 3) The rotating beer list is great, 4) The wait staff is usually friendly. Now I'll share why I'm rating The Dogwood as I am: 1) The food and drink is significantly overpriced for the quality and quantity, 2) The staff turnover suggests low morale, 3) The acoustic music is too loud and overplayed, 4) We have left unsatisfied after every recent meal here.
(2)Michelle R.
JUST KIDDING, THIS PLACE IS TERRIBLE. boyfriend orders burger medium; burger is red. Boyfriend sends burger back, we watch cook yell at waitress, shoot serious shade at us, then grab the plate. 5 minutes later... SAME BURGER, COMPLETE WITH BITE MARK COMES BACK. Lukewarm and grey. So either it was microwaved, or a burger that had a bite taken out of it was put back on the grill with everyone else's. Which I'm pretty sure is violation of food and hygiene laws, or maybe just gross. While waiting, we notice literally every kitchen hand walk in front of the window and stare at boyfriend, waiting for him to eat burger. Meanwhile, waitress behind us explains that her party forgot to leave the tip, so she's going to decide her own tip. Oh, and suddenly all kitchen staff have beers. And aren't even subtle about it. By now we both just want out. But my fat mouth asks to speak with a manager. The following was said to me: - what's your problem with them drinking? We let staff do that once rush is done. - sorry about your burger, but you sound really paranoid and I think you're just being paranoid. You need to calm down. -are you sure the burger was undercooked? I guess I'll ask the cook about it. - I really don't understand why our policy of letting staff drink when were not busy is any of your business. - I guess I'll take the burger off your bill. ARE YOU SERIOUS. WHAT KIND OF MANAGER ACTS LIKE THAT?! 1. Your food is mediocre when cooked right; 2. Your staff bitching about me as though I don't speak enough Spanish to gather what's going on, and cracking open beers while wandering to the bar, still dressed in uniform- just unprofessional; 3. I can only imagine how many tabs are inflated bc apparently you get to pick your own tip if a party leaves none; 4. I actually don't want to know how often and how many FDA regulations you choose not to follow. In short... Never again. Eugene O'neills is next door, Simpli is on the other side of forest hills station. There's no excuse for such bad service.
(1)Rosey N.
The witch hazel pizza is my go-to and super delicious!! Friends have always liked their food. Drinks are unique and have a heavy pour :) Seasonal selection of beers/ciders are pretty excellent. One of my favorite spots in JP!
(4)B R.
The dark wood and curtains make for an intimate, homey atmosphere. The pizzas are great, as is the pasta, and using big tomato cans for decor is pretty original. Good beer selection, and I've also heard some good live music there. It's always a good experience.
(5)Jeff I.
I loved this place from the decor to the drinks to the pizza. It's a very comfortable setting. They layout is great and there is plenty of room to maneuver, despite it not being the biggest restaurant in the world. The wood decor offers a very cozy atmosphere. The drink menu and beer list were great. I had a Hendricks Cucumber Sidecar. It was refreshing and STRONG. I ordered a Naughty Pine pizza (portabello, tomatoes, onions) and it was outstanding. The cheese and the thin crust, along with the fresh toppings really made it work. There was also 2 live music acts in the short time we were there. Cannot wait to go back.
(4)Sharon F.
Delicious bloody Mary's and breakfast! Such a cute spot. Vegetarians be warned- the potatoes at brunch are cooked in meat.
(5)chelsea h.
This used to be my absolute favorite restaurant. I love their beer selection and their menu. Their drink menu is even great. The atmosphere is awesome, especially since they have renovated recently. Unfortunately, since the renovation- the service has majorly gone downhill, and the prices have gone way up. To me, this makes no sense. The waitresses they hire seem to not know the menu, and don't particularly care to earn good tips. I won't bore you with the details of my most recent visit since it's a long story, but I will tell you that the waitress kept bringing over the wrong drinks and when we asked for the correct ones, she got defensive and told us that she doesn't know what those are since she doesn't drink. Additionally she refused to bring us plates for our appetizer because "they are all dirty." This happened when we were one of 3 or 4 total occupies tables in the place. I will continue to go here since I live nearby and it's an old favorite. But all I can say is I hope management figures out that if you are going to charge $20 for a salad, you need to create an experience for your customers that is worthy of that hefty price. I hope that they come back, at least service wise... To their old ways.
(2)Kevin O.
Haven't been here in a while, but have been many times over the years, delicious flatbread pizza, if memory serves me correct; great beer / wine selection...
(5)Sean H.
First time I came here this would have been 3-4 stars, but the last two times I've gone the food quality seems to have taken a dive. The pizza that I ordered (I think it's the Maple?) - the sausage was disgusting. I love sausage, but I ended up picking it off my pizza. Posting this review in the hopes that they get their act together, I like this place - great atmosphere, and Forest Hills needs more places like this. Good beer list, friendly service. Just fix the food!
(2)M J.
Damn the service, full pizza ahead. Damn fine food. Service was also just fine for me. Ninnies! Four stars!!!
(4)Keyla D.
I give this place 4 stars... when I truly wanna give it 5 stars it seems like I've been going here about twice a month for two years now. It seems like no one ever remembers you. :| As far as costumer service they are NOT bad however I haven had anyone very welcoming either. I keep going back because of my fav drink the Flirtini & Witch hazel pizza to die for yummy and I love the over all feel of the place its chill not to much going on defiantly a place you can take someone on a date and actually get to know them.
(4)Hayley B.
This place is AWESOME. The service here was incredibly friendly and attentive. Our waiter was very nice and answered several questions that we had about the menu. Baked brie was a special, but it came with apples on top, which I'm allergic to. They had no problem making it without the apples to accommodate. The food was outstanding. I highly recommend the pulled pork. All around great food, great atmosphere, great place.
(5)Kelly V.
Went here Sunday morning for breakfast. Food was great!! As it should be for 3 people to eat breakfast for $56!! Prices are outrageous for breakfast .....but food was good. Maybe we will try lunch or dinner next time. We just ate breakfast French toast , bacon , hash browns no cocktails. I'm guessing that's why they weren't that busy. Also waited 15 after finishing food to get check and for her to return with change. So overall food was great! But price & service not so much
(3)liz c.
I really like Dogwood's pizza, but they no longer have a normal sized pizza option, which is really annoying. The only size they have is 12 inch, which is a little too small for two people and a little too large for one. Bring back two sizes!
(2)Carrie C.
I'm hoping this review will remind me not to return, the next time someone suggests the Dogwood. When we got home tonight, we joked that they should rename the place the Dogfood Cafe. The waitress was fine and the food was delivered quickly, but it was very much subpar for the price. The best thing we ate was the calamari and it was greasy and salty. I ate the turkey burger, which looked like a white hockey puck and was just as moist. I got the hiccups after the first bite, just from the dryness, and basically slathered it in aioli and ketchup in order to finish it. It came with the wrong side and no tomato, which I asked for when ordering. My partner ate the juicy lucy, or something like that. It was underseasoned and she mentioned in the car home that it was pretty gross (and she's not picky). The fries, which I tried, were scalding hot, and also oily and over salted. I gave two stars because it's a nice decor and the waitress was polite and friendly. But I'm officially done with Dogwood. The food I make at home is considerably better, less expensive, and if I'm going to leave it to someone else to cook, it should at the very least be good.
(2)Melisa M.
So I gave the DC another shot because I like the vibe and the location and the drinks....tried the dip AGAIN and still...yeah just not good. so watery and hardly at all cheesy...thought the last time might have been an off night but no, thats how they make it. if you're thinking the dip made famous by TGIF this is not it Went for the "chicken under a brick" because I was determined to give this place another chance awful. dry. terrible. when the seasoned brussel sprouts are the only decent thing on the plate...i mean you have to be kidding. came with bone dry fingerling potatoes to complete the terribly dry ordeal finished our drinks and did not stay for the atmosphere...this place is officially off my eat and have drinks at consideration list...drinks are a yes...but idk what's going on with the food, consistently BAD
(1)Janae G.
Alas, the Dogwood Cafe. I was hosting a large scale professional event for my alumnae chapter and reserved the dogwood for a hearty brunch. We got in and there was limited waiting area space during Sunday brunch hours. My impression is that they did not know we were coming even though I had booked well in advance. They explained that there was some event going on ( a game?) in the city that impacted our extended wait and seating, no good. I really liked the ambiance - the classic Boston pub feel. They were able to fit in two ladies who opted to join the party shortly after we had arrived, which was nice. They brought some walnut encrusted banana bread which was a hit! However, the waitress seemed flustered/nervous. She took our orders, but seemed confused when some members of the party asked her about specific dishes. One member of our board asked her why a single pancake seemed overcooked compared to another persons at the table, and she seemed annoyed explaining it had been cooked in a different pan with different oil. There were almost hints of sarcasm. I cannot exactly place it but there was something off putting about the experience. The food overall was pretty delicious though, I enjoyed my banana french toast. Some people who had the breakfast pizza were underwhelmed. None of these contributed to the three star review. Here's what did: We waited about 40 minutes total (from what I can tell) to receive our change and credit cards back from paying the bill. It was literally impossible. Had she told us she wouldn't be able to accommodate the split bills we requested, we could have planned accordingly but that poor girl was so unprepared. I actually felt embarrassed as the host having to leave after 40 minutes with people in my party still waiting at the table to receive their change back.
(3)Portia J.
Once upon a time this was my favorite place to brunch every now and then until myself and a party of 4 others were served our meals an hour after arrival and on dirty plates and glassware. Once the manager was brought to the table after we complained (and im talking visible food ....eggs and spinach on glasses/forks and plates) about the dirty glassware she took ONE glass off the table and replaced the drink. Without smile or apology. In their defense this was in July but I just made this yelp account and this is the FIRST review ive written because the disgust and horrible customer service will sit with me fpr the rest of my life.
(2)Stacy H.
this place is clearly kid-friendly, based on how many families were in the restaurant on a wednesday evening. that being said, though, they have a bunch of different beers on draft, and a pretty extensive cocktail menu. i appreciated that they had a few different vegetarian options from which to choose. i picked the macaroni and cheese, which, while good, was kind of bland. the portion size was huge, though, and i appreciated the side salad to balance out the heaviness. basically, a-ok.
(3)Beth I.
I don't know what these people are talking about. Third time here in my visit to Boston and the service has been amazing and the food is awesome. Tried the willow, witch hazel, maple (favorite) & hickory pizzas. Ahi tuna nachos (not what I'd expected but awesome nonetheless) I love wasabi! Calamari app perfectly crunchy with a jalepeño touch not too spicy. Sweet potato fries perfection. I'm trying the juicy Lucy now. My hopes are up!! They are super nice and accommodating to my children. Super bonus!!!
(5)Ally M.
So I didn't actually eat here, but I stopped in when I was stuck in traffic and desperately needed wifi to file a story on deadline. I sat at a booth and the waitstaff was totally cool with me sipping on a few (delicious) beers while I worked. AND the wifi is wicked good. Definitely will be back for a non-working meal.
(4)Taryn S.
In my opinion, my favorite restaurant is the Dogwood. To start with, the people are really nice. Most importantly, they check on you a lot. They say, "How are you doing?" A second reason I like the Dogwood is because the guitar players are nice too. They play all types of music and they say "hello" to you. The service is also great there. For example, they never mess up your order and you don't have to wait long for your food. They also don't turn the TV up really loud like other restaurants. The food is great. In other words, if you order a burger, the bread is really good. They make all different kinds of pizza too. They use a lot of ingredients. Finally, I really like the construction. They have a lot of fireplaces if you are cold and if you are hot, there are a lot of coolers. There are also a lot of TVs if you like TV like me. There are a lot of candles that make the place look cool too. So that's why you should go to Dogwood. PS - This was written by Elliot Gordon
(4)Felicity N.
I love the atmosphere of Dogwood and the servers are always great! The recent price changes however are not great. I'm not a big fan of the 20 dollar salad at a BAR. No thanks.
(3)Ia J.
That breakfast pizza, though.
(5)Kristine A.
My friend kept bugging me about coming to this place so I finally did. Well she was right, it is pretty damn good. Although I wish there were more vegetarian items. It's too bad you don't get to substitute items on the pizza though. You also need to get dessert, so be sure to save some room.
(4)Jazmin I.
This place is a mixed bag. I've had some lovely experiences here with great service, but the last visit there involved a lot of miscommunication and poor service from the staff. I reserved for a large group, several people canceled last minute, they seated us and then were mad that there weren't that many of us. We offered to move but they weren't interested and it was more drama and hassle than it was worth. Definitely not going to use this place for group reservations, but will probably return for their gluten free offerings.
(3)Kate S.
I've lived in the Forest Hills area for almost ten years and have been a regular at Dogwood for as long. It's very sad how downhill this place has gone recently. I'm writing a review today because of my disappointment with my last few visits here. I'll start with the positives about The Dogwood: 1) The ambiance is nice, 2) The bar is long and comfortable, 3) The rotating beer list is great, 4) The wait staff is usually friendly. Now I'll share why I'm rating The Dogwood as I am: 1) The food and drink is significantly overpriced for the quality and quantity, 2) The staff turnover suggests low morale, 3) The acoustic music is too loud and overplayed, 4) We have left unsatisfied after every recent meal here.
(2)Christina F.
Really a 3.5. This was our first time and we will definitely come back. The veggie burger was great, it was kid friendly, and it had a cozy, relaxed vibe that is perfect for a family. I wanted to post my annoying experience to let others know. I ordered mac n cheese for my 2 year old- 6 bucks, and a side of broccoli- which I thought was 2.00. Well, I got the bill and it was 5.00. I mentioned to the waitress (who was super sweet and helpful the whole meal!) that we had ordered the kids side, not adult side. Because, really, who would order a $6 meal for their toddler with a $5 side? Right? Right. She came back and sweetly told me that there was no kids side, and this was the adult side. And I said, well it said $2, so that's what you will charge me, right? I was thoroughly confused. I pointed out the menu that listed all the sides under the kids menu and then said "additional 2.00". The manager- also very nice- did come over and explain that the menu was confusing but that broccoli was 5, this was 1.50, this was 2... etc etc. Anyway, it was annoying because I didn't want to pay as a point, and she sort of acted like I should have known. Anyway, everyone was nice, but I just wanted to yelp on the experience. Check out menu on my picture (#25 in the photos) and make sure you ask prices when you order! Because anyone who has kids knows you don't buy 6 dollar mac n cheese with a $5 side for a 2 year old. Well, I don't.
(3)Lana T.
Whether you're looking for brunch or dinner, you won't be disappointed at Dogwood. I love sitting on the patio in the summer/fall, and it's very cozy at the bar during the winter. They do a fantastic brunch - nothing too crazy on the menu but the corned beef hash is legit. Dinner options/specials are very good. You usually don't find a place out in JP that can compare to anywhere in downtown Boston but this is it. Get the shrimp pizza, juicy lucy burger, breakfast special.
(4)Finn S.
I loved the sweet potato pancakes. Nice please for any time of day. Not too big. Not too small. I really love local places. There is a comfy atmosphere here. The location is also perfect. It's right by the Orange line and easy to get to.
(5)Maddie C.
I want to like this place but for some reason have had really varied experiences. I have tried a few of the sandwiches and entrees, but find the food pretty heavy. At my third or fourth visit I had a chicken sandwich that was so rubbery it made a squeaky noise when I chewed. Ew! It kind of ruined the food experience for me. Should have said something but decided to just call it a night, and haven't been back. I am sure there is something they do well but haven't gotten up the motivation to try again. I'd say it's a solid place to meet up for a beer, but I'm over the food for now.
(3)Wes V.
I give three stars because the food really is awesome, but this used to be a place I went to regularly. They did a remodel, and the place looks awesome now as well. The problem is, their prices went up. A take-out order of wings and one of their salads will run you almost $30. It was never cheap, but this is not a place you can go to often now in my opinion. On top of that, the service has suffered. No question. I went with a small group last night and sat at the large table on the bar side. The girl that was supposed to be serving us was TERRIBLE. It was not busy, especially around 11 PM, but we were going 15-20 minutes even being able to see her in the restaurant at that point. She served a pizza without any silverware, napkins or plates. Then when we asked for plates, she came back with 5 (not enough) and told us "these are all the plates we have right now". Yikes. Pretty sure you're not supposed to say stuff like that to patrons, and I'm also pretty sure we don't care. We are trying to eat. She also did not understand a few of our drink orders, brought the wrong stuff, and then told us "Sorry, I don't drink", as if that made it ok. It's certainly an interesting choice to work at a restaurant in that case, but still she should have asked someone for help if she needed it. Since the remodel, there is no question the service has been slower. But, this was the first time I've experienced incompetence here, and I was surprised. Usually the wait staff is very polite and good at their jobs. I guess I'm just disappointed, because this place used to be the best. Now, it's just not worth it anymore. Good for "once in a long while" and "maybe" instead of "you gotta go there".
(3)Sarah M.
I think the Dogwood Cafe is pretty great. The three times I've been there have been enjoyable. Their back porch is pretty nice when the wheather is warm. But, I've also eaten inside. The atmosphere is pretty hip. All the food I had was tasty and the price is pretty good. I think some websites say that it opens at 11am, but I'm pretty sure they open for brunch at 10am on Saturdays and Sundays.
(4)Max W.
Eh... Everything is good, nothing is great. I want to like the Dogwood a lot more than I do, and maybe that's what frustrates me so much. It's a great space and a super nice interior, and the service is pretty reliable. The pizzas are quite tasty, but isn't it telling that I can't remember another menu option at all? I've found brunch to be a bit more enticing than dinner, but there can be some long lines. Definitely worth a try if you're in the area. Tip: get the house beer, the Dogwood Ale. Very good and very cheap.
(3)Jason H.
Very average place. Food is OK, nothing stood out- pretty average. The tuna nacho appetizer was probably the best thing we tried. Drinks and beer list were OK, a few nice craft options and mixed drinks were boozy. Service wasn't slow- but was incredibly awkward and our waitress seemed to be trying to rush us out when it was 9pm on a Saturday, and was mostly empty. The atmosphere was tough to gauge because it was so slow, but I liked the bar set up and decor around the rest of the place. Oh yeah- I also got my first public 'finger show' on the street right nearby the place. Classy...
(3)Racheal P.
Great place! The pizza is excellent and so is many other menu items. Decent craft beer selection and the ambiance of the place is really cool.
(4)Michelle R.
JUST KIDDING, THIS PLACE IS TERRIBLE. boyfriend orders burger medium; burger is red. Boyfriend sends burger back, we watch cook yell at waitress, shoot serious shade at us, then grab the plate. 5 minutes later... SAME BURGER, COMPLETE WITH BITE MARK COMES BACK. Lukewarm and grey. So either it was microwaved, or a burger that had a bite taken out of it was put back on the grill with everyone else's. Which I'm pretty sure is violation of food and hygiene laws, or maybe just gross. While waiting, we notice literally every kitchen hand walk in front of the window and stare at boyfriend, waiting for him to eat burger. Meanwhile, waitress behind us explains that her party forgot to leave the tip, so she's going to decide her own tip. Oh, and suddenly all kitchen staff have beers. And aren't even subtle about it. By now we both just want out. But my fat mouth asks to speak with a manager. The following was said to me: - what's your problem with them drinking? We let staff do that once rush is done. - sorry about your burger, but you sound really paranoid and I think you're just being paranoid. You need to calm down. -are you sure the burger was undercooked? I guess I'll ask the cook about it. - I really don't understand why our policy of letting staff drink when were not busy is any of your business. - I guess I'll take the burger off your bill. ARE YOU SERIOUS. WHAT KIND OF MANAGER ACTS LIKE THAT?! 1. Your food is mediocre when cooked right; 2. Your staff bitching about me as though I don't speak enough Spanish to gather what's going on, and cracking open beers while wandering to the bar, still dressed in uniform- just unprofessional; 3. I can only imagine how many tabs are inflated bc apparently you get to pick your own tip if a party leaves none; 4. I actually don't want to know how often and how many FDA regulations you choose not to follow. In short... Never again. Eugene O'neills is next door, Simpli is on the other side of forest hills station. There's no excuse for such bad service.
(1)Rosey N.
The witch hazel pizza is my go-to and super delicious!! Friends have always liked their food. Drinks are unique and have a heavy pour :) Seasonal selection of beers/ciders are pretty excellent. One of my favorite spots in JP!
(4)Christian M.
The burgers are very good. The drinks were well made, and the staff was attentive, friendly, and professional. We sat on the patio in the back, and there is an awning that provided lots of shade. Our waitress was right on point. She made sure our glasses stayed full. Great place for a cute quick date or after dinner drinks/apps with friends/coworkers
(4)J F.
I started going to the Dogwood about 8 years ago and really loved it. It had a great atmosphere and good food (pizza) and the music made for a fun night particularly when it was cold and snowy. Recently Ive been in to enjoy the same thing and noticed that the quality has gone way down. I think that they are no longer buying quality ingredients. The pizza is no longer good and the salads are thin and lifeless. I agree that the prices are not possibly justifiable. To the owners/managers of the Dogwood, please bring back the Dogwood of old. Until it improves it is off the rotation which is a real shame.
(1)Marie-frances R.
My boyfriend, mother and I decided to grab some late lunch here. I was expecting regular food quality, but your meals (that we ate family style) were really delicious! The dish I would run back there for was the potato gnocchi with lobster, portobello mushrooms and peas in a creamy sauce was out of control. The service was also gray - our waiter was super pleasant and attentive.
(4)Robert H.
Based on the only time we went, I would make a point of going back, so it gets a Four. Excellent draft beer selection. I tried a very hoppy "Baxter". My "DogWood Special" pizza was quite good. Mixed crowd. Surprising number of little kids, but they were well-behaved, and it was brunch so it's all good. Having to pay six bucks to park at the lot kind of blew, but it is not a deal breaker.
(4)Kyle M.
Came here on a late Friday night (10:00pm) looking for a place that was still serving food. Had made reservations for 9:45pm evening though I was late the hostess sat me and my girlfriend soon as we gave her the name. Wasn't a busy night they did seem to have a live musician earlier in the night. We sat at the table waitress came over took our drink order. We ordered some chicken tenders(honey hot) style only came with 4 but they did taste good I really wish they gave more but hey its was just a appetizer. We also ordered some calamari was actually pretty good the lemon aolio(spellcheck) went well with it. Now the dogwood is known for there pizza so I had to try it I'm a fan of Buffalo chicken pizza so I went with that, a buffalo chicken and feta pizza. It came out perfect the crust wasn't to thick it was cooked just right a little crispy on the edges (cooked in a brick oven). All in all the food was good for a last minute pick definitely would return and try some other menu items.
(4)cath e.
Fun friendly great drinks staff focussed on good service young man was very helpful about being safe near our lively toddler Mac and Cheese Bland. Maybe good for toddlers Vod great Drinks great and big Cosmo wonderful with blood Orange flavor Fun guitarist The teacher fun guy good with crowd small dancing people made it sweet night Oooo really good brownie dessert
(4)TinoX T.
Okay place for the area,good food,Cool Staff
(3)Tony W.
This is a great place for fancy brunch with family or friends. They have a selection of house offerings, and then 3 or 4 specials. What I ate was wonderful - an egg scramble - but I spent the whole time with order envy as I watched my friend devour a VERY tasty apricot French toast concoction. The transparent glass coffee mugs are a nice touch - I don't think I've seen them used in a Boston restaurant before.
(5)DNice C.
We attended Dogwood as a group to celebrate our graduation. As mentioned by other reviewers, the favorite words here is "can't." The service was slow and in attentive- it took forever to get an additional seat, and our drinks were never refilled, unless we asked. The order took 30 minutes to come out, and several of us did not get extras we ordered, and my meal was inedible. The staff was off putting, and acted like they could care less that we were a large party there to eat. The food was nothing to write home about, and we will not be going back.
(1)Hayley D.
Dogwood has, hands down, the worst service I have experienced in my life. I live close, the food is good, and there is a decent beer selection so I occasionally give it another chance hoping that they've gotten their acts together since the last time. The servers regularly disappear and take forever to fulfill simple orders like a glass of water or another beer. One time at the bar I had to ask twice for water; I felt like jumping over the counter myself and filling up a glass. Another time the same waitress/bartender screwed up our orders and dropped the ball multiple times throughout the meal, then took 15 minutes to get our check only to bring a different tables' slip. Overall there is just zero urgency or professionalism. Last week I stopped in for a beer and to take a pizza home and the bar was full, so I asked if I could sit at one of the 5 empty bar tables while I waited for my boyfriend. The hostess goes "how many of you?" as if she's going to say no depending on my answer. It's these little negative attitude anecdotes that only make the slow unapologetic service even worse. I was pleasantly surprised by how engaged and on-the-ball our waitress seemed at first that night, but even she had adopted the standard Dogwood MO 15 minutes after I was seated. One time I ordered takeout and looked forward to enjoying the salad at home without the miserable service. As I was walking towards the door with my food it seemed like the bag didn't weigh enough, so I checked inside the box and my $17 salad was a box of lettuce with some strawberries and onions on it. Yum! Needless to say I turned around and asked for the real meal, and the "manager" seemed to this oversight was more funny than it was a prime example of their moronic servers' chronic oversights. Two stars because I can't resist the Spruce pizza.
(2)Bill S.
Been coming here for years, lots of good times and fond memories. HOWEVER - chickie behind the bar - brunette with the glasses - strutted back and forth over and over ignoring us as if we were non-existent tonight. I've never felt so disregarded and invisible. Rather than condone this rude behavior and spend our hard-earned money their, we got up and left. Dogwood, you've let us down.
(1)Ilya E.
When I came back here last time, I noticed all of the staff had changed, and as I sat at the bar, I inquired about this with the bartender. The bartender informed me that the staff "couldn't cut it." My food seemed to come out much quicker this time (literally less than 5 minutes) and the service was on the spot. I think they've upped their game.
(5)Jim O.
Dogwood Cafe doesn't really need more reviews, but I was tempted by the possibility of being review #200 to write up something about our first experience there. My wife and I met our daughter and her BF for dinner on a Monday night. (Note that not all places are open Mondays, so there's a plus for DC right there). We had individual pizzas, daughter had steak tip salad, BF the chicken parm. All food was good, not great, but good. Steak particularly tasty, from piece I poached from daughter's plate, and pizza very edible, although I like my veggies just a wee bit more cooked than what I got. But what I really wanted to contribute was that the young woman we had as a server was great.... friendly, attentive, not overbearing. Others have reported bad service here, but that was not our experience at all. And being across the street from the Forest Hills T stop was also super convenient.
(3)Dave G.
I've always had a good meal here. The service is unrushed, the prices are reasonable, good selection of options, pizza is good in the style of Reginas. I like to come here for mid-week meals when it's quieter. If I had to choose between Dogwood or Doyle's or James Gate... I'd come here every time. The neighborhood can seem sketchy but you're safe there. Parking is available in the side lot for free at night.
(4)Jim M.
Six of us went out on May 2nd to celebrate my sister, Nora's, 80th birthday. We lucked out on a parking spot about 6:30 P.M. The waitstaff were very helpful getting Nora seated, as she has trouble getting around at her age! Our drinks came out promptly, as did the appetizers, which were delicious. Nora ordered macaroni & cheese for her entree...and it was delicious (she let her younger brother sample!). I ordered the penne with spicy sauce, which was likewise delicious! The only meal that was "average" was the half cheese, half pepperoni pizza surprisingly ( based on past reviews!). We finished off the meal with a large piece of molten chocolate cake topped with one lit candle for Nora. It was to die for!!! Nora generously shared with all of us! The waitstaff was excellent (5 star!) last Thursday evening. I'll be returning, just for the macaroni & cheese!!? Jim M
(4)Kay S.
We have been fans of Dogwood Cafe for years, since we first moved to JP. But tonight, we had a terrible meal. The rolls were the frozen kind. The warm tomato salad was canned tomatoes poured over mesculin with a few pieces of melted feta. Not good. But the pizza, in the past our favorite in the city, was awful. The previous wonderful thin crust has been replaced by some sort of frozen flavorless pizza crust covered with egg white, and the toppings are now all canned. Besides that, they are now charging extra for ordering a large pizza split between two different types of topping, something the waitress, at least, had the courtesy to warn us about. The upscale decor may appeal to some, but gone is the family-centered neighborhood restaurant that was so popular. And did I mention that draft beers have increased in price by $2 a glass since the last time we were there? Ugh! So long, Dogwood, we will not be back.
(1)Eric B.
Excellent neighborhood bar. One of the favorites in my travels.
(5)Tina P.
i've been to dogwood a number of times and the food has always been pretty good. however, this review is solely for the cuban panini which was a special last tuesday. it was excellent. bread perfectly pressed and the right amount of crispy but not flakey and falling apart...the ham was thin sliced and good quality, and the pork was good. the pork was a bit dry on its own but combined with the pickles, onions, swiss cheese, mustard and i believe a touch of mayo? that they put on gave it great flavor. def one of the better cubans i've had.
(4)Meredith M.
Brunch yummm.. Great service. Friendly, efficient, fast. On a Sunday morning by 11 am they were pretty busy, but not crowded. We both had omelets with PERFECTLY toasted toast and little potato wedges that were mouth watering. Also, note. They can't serve alcohol til after 11am. Our waitress was AWESOME. She put in our drink orders right before 11 and we were drinking by 11:01 am. If you like grapefruit juice, get the Ruby Red Wakeup Call..mmmm champagne, splash of cranberry and shot of ruby red infused vodka. The regular mimosa is also refreshing and wonderful. Omelets can be prepared exactly the way you want. I recommend egg whites with red peppers, mozzarella and broccoli. ALL of the brunch items looked delicious. We will certainly be back for another great brunch!
(4)Beeni M.
I'm impressed that a brunch place in Boston/JP could have this much space inside. More a restaurant than a cafe. Makes it one of the few places that's good for a big group in the area. We had a little bit of trouble finding parking for Sunday brunch but found a spot eventually on one of the side roads. The brunch was served without much wait. I'm glad I listened to the other reviewers about the huevos rancheros. solid. The peach french toast special was uber delicious. The portions aren't huge - expect to finish your plate. Though I wouldn't say it's one of the best places I've been to, I would recommend it for the spaciousness, service, proximity to the T, street parking, vegetarian options (veggie bacon anyone?), and fairly good brunch options.
(4)E. S.
This place is a local favorite for a reason. Whenever you mention Jamaica Plain to someone familiar with the neighborhood, often their first question will be if you've eaten here. The prices are amazing for the quality of food that you receive. My favorite was their lamb burger special, which I would love for them to put on the regular menu. Tender and perfectly seasoned. I also find their cheese pizza quite delicious, although I feel that the dough for their pizza in general could use a touch more salt. Their chicken and pesto pizza amazed me the first time that I had it, in fact I talked about it for the rest of the week, but had too much pesto on it the second time that I ordered it. Despite these minor complaints, the food truly is very enjoyable. The ambiance is fun with local art and very talented musicians on weekend nights. Be prepared to wait on those nights and, if you are wary of being around too many young families, I would recommend going later at night. Similarly, if you are looking for a place to have conversation, the music can make it a little hard to hear everyone in your group. Again, these are just warnings, as I certainly recommend this restaurant to everyone I know.
(4)Isabella C.
I went to the Doogwood Cafe with two other people on a Monday night. We were seated right away, but it took 10-15 minutes before the server came to take our orders. Once we ordered, we waited 45 minutes for our food. Not only was it frustrating to have to wait 45 minutes (without bread or the waiter coming over to apologize) but people seated way after us were already enjoying their meals. Mwhen the food came out, the delay was blamed on there being a large party in the restaurant (which there was) but that was obviously not the cause if people seated 30 minutes after us were already eating. After we received our food, we did not see our waiter and actually had to flag down a hostess to get our check. The food was good, but definitely not good enough to wait 45 minutes for. Needless to say, I will not be returning here.
(2)Gina H.
I am a very big big fan of the dogwood cafe and I have been coming here for years. When I was pregnant I constantly craved the food here and I was never disappointed at anytime with the service. The last time I was here I had a delicious meal of Diver scallops and butternut squash risotto, it was mmmmm, mmmmmm, mmmmmm, DELICIOUS!!!!!! THINGS I TOTALLY RECOMMEND: chicken & shrimp picatta Shrimp scampi Magnolia pizza pizza with- carmelized onion, ricotta and bbq chicken(my specialty!)
(5)Rob C.
After a long day, myself and a friend were looking for something easy and simple for dinner. Beer and comfort food, the order of the day, so she suggested the Dogwood. It's a nice comfortable place, obviously very family oriented (cute, frolicking kids and unhappy screaming kids in equal measure, but what are you going to do? i mean apart from giving them beer. but really, would that be so wrong? i'm told that in fact it would be. never mind, their loss.) Anyway, the service is extremely friendly, and prompt. i applaud them for their innovation of broccoli poppers, because broccoli is the mightiest of all vegetables, whose powers increase when teamed up with cheddar cheese and then fried. The macaroni and cheese was merely okay, but i think some of that was 'cause it was a little too dark a shade of oven-browned. As advertised, it was a comfy place to sit and eat and drink and i like doing all of those things.
(3)Christy C.
The Dogwood Cafe is a typical overpriced pub restaurant. The food is not bad, but does not worth the price. Although the price is still affordable, they could do a lot better by reducing the price to match their food quality, or improve the food a little more to match the price. The atmosphere is cozy and they do have nice decorations with great art paintings. We had a thin crust pizza and a rib eye steak. The pizza was not bad: a little above average. The rib eye steak looked pretty bad: thin and dry (no any sauce or gravy). However, it tasted surprisingly good (considering how it looked)! The steak and mashed potato were simply bland. The steak had good seasoning, but could be a lot better if it was thicker and had some home-made sauce (such as mushroom sauce as they had sauteed mushrooms on top of the steak). The mashed potato was well mashed/whipped, but it could be improved a lot by adding more seasoning and ingredients such as sour cream, butter, and cream/milk?! Overall it's a good place, but I would like to see some changes (in prices or food qualities) before I decide to come back.
(3)nomo c.
A local favorite of mine for Brunch. Where else can you eat a pizza and french toast at the same time ? Staff is friendly and usually fast service. Once I ordered for my husband and myself (meaning 2 entrees) and then the waitress turned to my husband and asked what he would like to order. I love a non-judgemental waitress
(4)Andrew M.
Came here after seeing Dogwood on the Globe's list of the best places to get pizza in Boston. I split the Willow pizza - spinach, goat cheese, caramelized onions, tomato sauce, mozzarella - and it was very good. All my favorite pizza toppings, although I like the similar pizza at Emma's in Cambridge better. In fairness, though, Emma's is MUCH more expensive. The rest of my family went with fish or pasta, and they seemed satisfied.
(4)Liz V.
A martini rimmed with pop rocks? A steak pizza with actualy pieces of large steak, extra blue cheese crumbles and a flaky pastry like crust-sign me up. Close to the T so I can stumble home and fun seasonal martinis.
(4)Jenn G.
Dogwood, we wanted to love you. Sister/yelp goddess/brunchista, Suz G, and I ventured over to JP on Saturday for brunch at the Dogwood. We were hoping for greatness and we got much less. We were seated at a high top by the bar where the extra bright pendant light at eye level burned our retinas from above. OK, we should have moved. Gotcha. There was a very long wait to take our order, but there was hardly anyone in the restaurant. I ordered the Huevos and Suz ordered the Monte Cristo, veg style (veg sausage, no meat). I'll let her tell it, but as her meal came out our blase server said she could "never order it like that again", even though I ordered mine veg with no issue. Whaaaa? Sorry? My meal was actually pretty good, but the lackluster service and long wait did us in for a return visit. We had high hopes...on to the next place!
(2)Lindsay H.
This place is a gem located in Jamaica Plain. I love the fact that it has the easiest access to public transportation - the Orange Line is located directly across the street! The Dogwood gives me a comfortable feeling. Every time I have been so far there are numerous families gathering around at tables, having a drink and eating their delicious pizzas. They have a great selection of beers on tap and bottled. The wait staff is very friendly and always have good suggestions. My first time here was on a Friday night and they had a live local acoustic artist which made the restaurant feel even more comforting.
(5)Jenny J.
I realized that I went to dinner here with my family the first night I moved to Boston and haven't been back since for some strange reason. Decided to try their brunch this morning. Ordered coffee, dogwood pizza (I added avocado) and an item off the brunch specials menu, "Fluffernutter french toast". Coffee was decent but took a little while to get it to the table--- which is unacceptable as an "i need coffee or I am going to die" person. Food was good, I liked the idea of breakfast pizza and the crust was nice and crispy. The stuffed french toast could have use just a bit more stuffing. Service was a little slow. Overall pretty solid JP brunch spot....3.5 stars if ya want to get specific.
(3)Alison D.
This restaurant has sort of a gastropub atmosphere which I think is the best part about it. It's a really laid back, comfortable place to eat. With a huge dining room and bar, there's plenty of room. The food is decent, not gourmet but good. I particularly like the Bourbon Turkey Tips. Some nights there is live music which is a nice touch. They have a good wine and beer selection. Parking can be difficult, and sometimes the restaurant fills up, but there is a paid parking lot right next door and we've never had to wait more than 15 minutes without a reservation. The service has always been decent and the prices are good.
(4)R S.
There was a review for this place in some Boston paper. It being my sister's birthday she chose. It was surprisingly dog, considering location and appearance. The pizza, which was why we were there, was excellent. The Willow was by far my favorite pizza they offered. The salad were well-sized and well made. It did not seem like someone had just dumped a bag of salad mix in a bowl and dressed it. All in all, I was quite happy with the experience as were the rest of my group.
(4)Jon V.
The Dogwood Cafe is one of my favorite places to get brunch. I like to go with my Irish friends who like strange things for breakfast. I recommend the Bloody Marys with Absolut Peppar. Have a few. You won't really care about how your chow tastes. One time I was dining there after a big snow storm, and I parked my truck on a snow pile. In a spot, but on some snow. I guess there is some OCD cop in that neighborhood who writes bogus tickets for things that bother him. He had my car towed for parking on a snow pile. It ended up costing $250 and there is no law about parking on a snow pile. Effing dbag. Anyway, I went back into the Dogwood after I failed to locate my truck. I was hoping it was stolen because I have insurance! While I was tracking it down, the nice barmaid made me some Bloody Marys. I don't want to admit that she comped them because people get in trouble for that. But, what a nice person. The next weekend I came back and told her about the OCD cop and everything. From that day on, we watched out the window for him. When he walks by we say "fuckyoufuckyoufuckyou" really softly until he's gone. I order another Bloody and a breakfast burrito. The food is mostly for an appearance of normalcy. One time the host made us wait until our entire party had arrived. The dining room was empty. So, I was a little surly that time! I also got a tummy ache after eating there once or twice. 3 stars. Excellent barmaid=5 stars. Ok food=3 stars. That host should lighten up. For him I give 1 star.
(3)Ria G.
Dogwood WAS my fav hangout,UNTIL one not so nice bartender totally treated my husband and I bad for no reason. She totally ignored us most of the night, while attentively waiting on the cute single guy sitting right beside us! I like the atmosphere more than the food. Drinks are decent. Wide array of beers to choose from. Patrons at the bar seem more friendly then the wait staff. We will make the trip to Fridays from now on. (they probably get paid less than the staff at dogwood) but still have smiles.
(1)anthony L.
Went here for the first time the other day for a saturday morning brunch. Like some other Yelpers the specials threw me for a loop. I ended up going for the stuffed tomatoes while my fiance went for the steak and eggs. My tomatoes were amazing, but Lucia's steak and eggs were pure morning bliss. She had literally a mound of steak tips (that tasted perfect), and her eggs were cooked perfectly. I have to say I'm super impressed with this place, and I'll be going back EVERY time I go out to breakfast in the area.
(5)Mary P.
I went to Dogwood for the first time last night with three friends. We ordered the potato skin appetizer, which was delicious. We then had two turkey burgers, a bacon cheeseburger and chicken fingers. They were pretty good, but nothing spectacular. They had a great selection of beers. I had the raspberry mojito, which was just "ehh." For $10 I expected something a little jazzier. We also ordered the cake bites dessert which were chocolate covered cake bite lollipops... yum. The acoustic music was the reason that this review is 4 stars instead of 3. We loved the music (especially the violin). The thing I disliked most about Dogwood was that they charge for every little extra. When we are already spending $100 on dinner, I don't think you should be charging 50 cents for dressing, 50 cents for an extra pickle, etc. I will probably be back because the food was good and the atmosphere was great. I will not be ordering any "extras" though!
(4)Snuffles B.
I really want to give this place 1 star so people won't all start flooding there and make it harder for me to get a table, but to be fair, I have to given an honest review. This place was spacious, low key, comfortable, and surprisingly empty when I went there on a sunday for brunch during prime hours while everyone else was still teeming out of Zaftigs. I had the Monte Cristo Sandwich which is ham, turkey, and swiss between French toast served with maple syrup - yeah you saw that right, between two pieces of French toast!!! It was delicious and coma inducing. The home fries were way above average and they don't overload your plate with them. I shared my food with my friend who had a spinach and goat cheese omelet with English Muffin and a side of corned beef hash. The omelet was light and fluffy with a perfect spinach to egg ratio, the muffin was crispy and buttery, and the hash was moist, just the right amount of saltiness and savory to balance the gobs of syrup I was eating with my sandwich. I later had their turkey burger, which was a decent version, but lunch was definitely a step down from their brunch, but overall solid.
(4)Kestrel D.
My favorite place in JP for breakfast; dinner is straight up gross. To be fair, I have only been here once for dinner, and about 85 times for bfast. But, that one dinner was memorable. Anyway, focusing on the positive, eggs Benedict and huevos rancheros are both yummy. It's a bit more expensive than other breakfast hotspots in the area, but the food is better quality. AND, very important for those of us who need immediate gratification when it comes to food, especially in the morning, there is very rarely a wait.
(3)Binh L.
I don't get the raving about the pizza. Every time I try the pizza, I get disappointed. The dough is always barely cooked for me and doesn't have that nice flaky sound of perfectly baked. So that aside, I used to like the meatloaf and garlic mashed potatoes. However, there is no consistency on quality. I've gone here multiple times and I keep my fingers crossed for when I get a good batch. So sad. Perhaps brunch is a more pleasant experience, but I haven't had much luck with lunch. So so for dinner depending on what you order. I did like my veggie burger one time. My advice if you must come here.. do not order the spinach/artichoke dip appetizer. Unless you like your dips creamy and salty. The atmosphere is alright, the live music was impressive (if you're into that acoustic/cover type music).. oh Dogwood, you have so much potential. I can't keep giving you chances.
(3)Charmie S.
PIzza here was OK. Faux-gourmet if you ask me. It did not reheat well at all. If you order for one, be prepared to finish all of it because it is not worth seconds after the fact.
(3)Andy H.
Been here a couple times, the most recent on a Friday night, and there was a couple guys playing some acoustic covers. It was a good time. Decent tap list, I'm glad they had Brooklyn Summer on tap. Waitress seemed a bit frazzled, but it was crazy, so I can't really hold it against her. The food is really where this place shines. I've never had a bad meal, and the pizza is great. In addition, they have some really creative burgers. I recommend the California. But then again, I just really love avocado.
(4)Christine O.
Let me preface this review by saying I am easy. I have been know to enjoy hospital cafeteria food, college dorm food, food purchased from nondescript trucks... The Dogwood however is a lost opportunity doling out crap food at a high price. Due to the proximity of my house, I must keep going there though. It's walkable takeout for me...and I was so excited when I first moved in that such a nice looking establishment was nearby. Pizza: insanely expensive. Bland. Typically luke warm. Cardboard style crust (referring here not to the thickness, but rather the taste), sauce - blah, acidic, the opposite of good in every way. (For pizza in JP, JP House of Pizza - great every time!) Salads: I've ordered at least 2 different salads and both have been pricey with dressing that was - useless. Very uninspired as far as $ salads go. Soup: They had a duck vegetable soup one day as a special. I thought they would try harder; it was supposed to be special. Not only would Campbell's win a prize if they went head-to-head, that stuff was so salty I threw it away. I honestly wondered if those who cooked it....tried it. Seriously. Scallop rice plate: OK except the scallops were overdone and there weren't as many of them as the price warranted. Baked chicken and rice plate: Nice flavor, would of been better if the chicken was cooked all the way. Broccoli and cheese poppers: except for the fact that you have to say the word poppers, these were OKAY. Just okay. The only stuff I like: Pretty good beer selection. They change it up sometimes and there have been some nice ones...Very pricey though...even for the domestics (Go to Jame's Gate...or the Haven...good beer AND good food.) Service: Very, very nice...makes me feel bad the food sucks so much. Food: Pretty damn good calamari BBQ rib appetizer Potato skin appetizer Yeah, an entire restaurant and all I can generally stomach are a few of the appetizers....and they ain't cheap.
(2)Nicole R.
I never knew this place existed until it was recommended to me, I've only been here for brunch, and I must say I was very impressed the few times I've been. I usually I have the french toast which is good. The last time I went, I decided to try something new, the egg and ham omelette and a side of pancakes. The omellete was good and well stuffed with cheese and ham. The pancakes, which I thought were going to be the size of a saucer dish, were HUGE!! For all the steak tip lovers, my boyfriend generally gets the steak tips with eggs and the steak tips are well marinated and cooked to perfection! The service, terrific!
(4)Nicole P.
I love the Dogwood! It is my neighborhood place, and it is truly a place where everyone knows your name. I really love the new decor. Another review criticized it, but I don't see why. Now there is a big communal table and higher ceilings. It looks great! As for the food and drinks--drinks win out over food. I love the drinks; I like the food. Brunch is the best; the brunch drinks even better. I usually stick to the basics here: burger, pizza, steak tips. Can't go wrong with those.
(4)Alyssa S.
Sadly, Geoffrey's Cafe has moved farther away from where my friends and I live; so we had to find a different venue to dine at. Luckily, Yelp led us to The Dogwood Cafe. We were happy to find street parking immediately (parallel parking phobics beware). We had to wait about 15 minutes for a table since there was a steady stream of people coming and going. The atmosphere of Dogwood is very homey, hipster-ish, and comfortable. I thought the cozy and rustic decor gave off a friendly vibe as well as some holiday cheer. Once seated, three of us ordered a Bloody Mary each and one ordered the Wake-up Call cocktail. The Bloody Mary was so good, and the pepper vodka gives it a pretty decent kick... Brunch is served on Saturdays and Sundays until 3pm. I ordered the Breakfast Sandwich with Turkey sausage and the egg over easy with American cheese. My friends' orders included the Eggs Benedict, Huevos Rancheros, and the Dogwood Breakfast Pizza. All the dishes came with a side of homefries, and they ranged from $7-11 each. I loved my breakfast sandwich, and everyone raved about their meals as well. I won't hide the fact that I finished the homefries before my sandwich...but I wouldn't classify that as abnormal anyway. Our waitress was really friendly, informative, and patient. We are dying to come back here with more friends for brunch or dinner. The dining room and bar area seem like perfect places to have a meal or grab drinks with friends.
(4)April M.
I fell in love with Dogwood the first time I stepped foot inside. I'm happy I didn't wait any longer to check it out! It is warm and inviting inside, much like Mom's house around Thanksgiving. Dark wood, local art work and smiling staff round out the cozy atmosphere. It is definitely a local joint, with a family-friendly feel. There is a bar area with some plasma TV's as well as plentiful restaurant seating. You can see right into the brick oven in the back, which I find appealing. We've always been seated relatively quickly (they only take reservations for parties of 6 or more) and waters brought out with menus right away. Dogwood offers some great (and special-to-them) local and seasonal brews. The American-style cuisine has been great each time I've gone. They have something for everyone; from pizzas, to burgers, to steak, salads, pasta dishes, soups, and everything in between. Only qualm: last time they missed parts of our order, although we didn't get charged for either of them, so she must have misunderstood or missed it entirely. We didn't raise a stink, it was not worth it by any means. We're a happy bunch. I would certainly recommend Dogwood to a friend, and I will undoubtedly be returning. PS: Waitress said the MBTA parking lot next door is open to public after 7 pm, so there's parking made easy, although there has been bountiful street spaces anyways.
(4)CL S.
The pizza here is fantastic, a great go-to for dinner on those nights when you want something good, easy, and a beer. It's not the usual red sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni sort of pizza. Whenever they have a special pizza available, we order it -- we haven't been let down yet, no matter how odd the combinations have been (I recall one that involved bbq chicken and banana peppers being super). The regular menu pizzas are also yum -- the steak and gorgonzola is my favorite, the pancetta and arugula and chicken and pesto are also great. They have a good beer selection, too, and the bar's a fun place to sit for a few when it's a quieter night. Weekends are usually jam-packed, oddly enough with families and kids; better to aim for the quieter weeknights.
(4)Alaina C.
The perfect low-key date night. My gf and I go here waaaaaayyyy too often. It's one of my favorite places in JP. What makes it so fabulous, you ask? 1) The martinis are reasonably priced, reasonably strong, and come in a variety of VERY tasty "flavors". 2) The Spruce is the best pizza I've ever had. Not in a New York-y way, but still... Arugula, mozzarella, garlic, prosciutto, and olive oil. A-ma-zing. 3) The servers are always friendly and attentive. 4) There's often a wait to be seated, but hanging out in the bar area with a drink is usually enjoyable and entertaining. 5) Did I mention the martinis? The flirtini = fruity, femmey heaven. I haven't been to brunch here, yet, but I plan to go very, very soon! Go get pizza and martinis. You won't regret it.
(5)Chloe F.
Great brunch menu! My boyfriend and I went and had a really nice meal. The location was great, and the large space and inviting bar made us think it would probably also be great for afternoon or weekend drinks. Unfortunately, we were really hungry when we got there, so the seemingly interminable wait for two relatively simple egg breakfasts was suboptimal. They also charged an extra $.75 for an egg white only breakfast sandwich, which admittedly is a little thing, but still- charge more for less food? The portions were reasonable, if a little on the shy side. All in all, 3.5 out of 5. Update: It IS great for weekend drinks! And desserts. And dinner. The service we got the second time was better, so- bumping this up to 4 stars in retrospect. Live music- also great. Definitely worth a visit.
(4)Dave A.
I had heard good things about this place...and bizarrely, that it was sort of family-friendly. It is a pub--there are dozens like it all over Boston...nothing special about this one. It is a pleasant enough place, but we're not going back. We went on a Sunday afternoon. Got the kids a simple pizza which took forever to arrive. We had finished our brunch entrees before the kids got their pizza--and then it was a very small pizza. That is not fun. It could have just been our waitress though. But the brunch food was pretty lame too. Huevos Rancheros and Eggs Florentine. Bland, dry, small and unsatisfying. The french fries/home fries were pretty good. The water was refreshing and cold. And I suspect if you are looking for the regular bar food kind of thing, then this place is fine. But if you are looking to take the kids out for pizza, drive up Washington Street in Roslindale to the Pleasant Cafe and you will not be disappointed. Like I said above, I had "heard" that this place was family friendly--full of JP parents with their "free range" kids. I was a bit dubious of that, given the location and outside appearance...but what they heck--we gave it a try. For us at least, it wasn't a good fit.
(2)Nick E.
Love the Pizza, and the specials menu is always top notch. Bar offers a good beer list. One down side is wait staff that can be flaky, but for the most part they're not so bad. Avoid this place early on Friday or Saturday nights if you're not prepared to be surrounded by families, including the children. Live music that I've seen here is top notch.
(4)Barbara C.
The best part about my best friend living in not-the-best hood in Boston? This place. There are very few restaurants in the Boston area that I was interested in revisiting...and certainly not so far-removed from my Central Square dwelling...but this was one of them. Dogwood, your brunch is unstoppably awesome. And your breakfast pizza shall be the standard bearer for all future breakfast pizzas I ever have (you'd be surprised how many I've had in my life). Your ridiculously carb-laden French toast sticks coated in Honey Oat clusters then deep fried have now qualified me for This is Why You're Fat status...and that's a-ok by me. Plus your bartender always un-judgingly serves me beer, no matter at 10am or after I've had a few too many.
(5)C B.
Very convenient location--directly across from the Forest Hills T station, for those of you who don't drive. Brunch was pretty solid and the portions were pretty big! Being pregnant and can polish off most food in front of me I couldn't eat my entire meal. Jess had the Huevos Rancheros, which was the main reason we went here and she found it great, except the refried beans, rather than black beans, were an odd touch. She said the salsa could use more flavor--our quest continues! I had the Mexican breakfast pizza and it was so good! A nice thin crust pizza with cheese, tomatoes, cilantro, jalapenos, sour cream and scrambled eggs on top. Incredibly filling and really tasty!
(4)Adam E.
Go here for brunch!!!! Maybe I shouldn't let the secret out, since there's almost never a line when I go for brunch (in contrast to so many places in JP) but I can't keep it to myself anymore. The breakfast pizza is absolutely my favorite breakfast item ever. It has everything you want in a breakfast, and you can eat it with your hands! Sort of. Maybe it's too early to drink, but get one with your pizza anyway, it's the weekend. For dinner, I'm not the biggest fan of the Dogwood's entrees. But breakfast, I'm tellin ya. And no one knows this either, you can park behind the building, not in the city lot but right behind Java Jo's and the Dogwood if you turn onto Tower and go into the lot before the funeral home. Save me a spot though.
(5)Emily M.
Hands down to the best pizza in Boston. Thin crust pizza with boat loads of topppings! Fresh toppings. None of that canned veggie nonsense. I've only tried their pizza and salad, but I heard their other dishes are good as well (ie pastas, dips, etc) The only drawback is that it does take a long time for food to be served. i didn't time it, but i remember feeling impatient... The atmosphere is really nice too. Sorta dim, a little candle on the table. Good place to eat with a few friends. Also not bad for a casual date ;)
(4)Jasmine M.
I'm impressed with any place in the city where you can walk in around 12:30 on a Saturday, find a table immediately, and then have a spectacular brunch! I highly recommend the huevos rancheros. Not only does the place do a great brunch, but their pizza is great for a night out with a bunch of friends. Good beer selection, a huge variety of pizza options that are all delicious (I highly recommend the Dogwood: artichoke hearts, green pepper, prosciutto, mushrooms, and mozzarella), and a friendly, welcoming atmosphere. I haven't tried much of their other dinner fare besides pizza... I got a pasta dish one time that was just so-so; maybe sticking with the pizza is the best option. But it's not as if that is hard with what a selection they have! I'm definitely going back soon...
(4)mary t.
Was sad to hear that another person of color was treated poorly here. This is the 3rd time I've heard such a report coming from my local watering hole. Makes me think twice...
(1)Jeremy S.
I'll admit I'm not well-versed on the Dogwood Cafe. I was a first-time customer yesterday when I traveled down to the end of the Orange Line for a friend's birthday dinner. The place was warm, spacious, and had a splendid selection of food that made us all giddy. The Dogwood Ale was surprisingly dark and robust, and the entire beer list, while not huge, was fun and appealing. They'll even do sugar-rimmed glasses with pumpkin ales if you're into that kind of thing. The pizza I ordered was loaded with spinach and goat cheese, which I'd classify as "exquisite." My girlfriend just responded with "Helly es" when I asked if she liked her sweet potato fries. I assume this was a typo... or she's still recovering from their deliciousness. A bucket of leftover Halloween candy bode us farewell on our way out. A packet of M&M's is infinitely better than a mint.
(5)Chris C.
Most of my experience here was with take-out pizza and they're a half mile away. It was only ever so-so. Something about their toppings always had the feeling of coming from a box for me. Partly, the toppings were all chopped -- I'm an adult and I don't need all my food to be cut up for me. But pizza, like music, is a very individualistic thing. Otherwise, it's a cute, rustic, Irish pub -like environment. They also have some live music on occasion. The one or two times I've stayed and eaten, it was ok but non-memorable. Then, the last time we ordered pizza from here we were... ahem... "not well" afterwards, and thus it was the last time.
(2)Elaina B.
I've only eaten brunch here. There is a decent menu selection and the portions (omelets and French Toast) come big. Both visits we were fortunate enough to not have to wait in line, which is rare when you show up for brunch in JP at 12pm. I have to say the service was pretty bad the 2nd time; so bad that we almost left, despite the fact the four of us were starving and still sweating out the alcohol from the night before. We toughed it out and I apologized to my out of town friends. I think I would go back but maybe steer clear of the chatty (probably hung over) waitress.
(3)Renee M.
I am always EXTREMELY wary about trying pizza places in Boston, as I am a self- proclaimed pizza snob and no pizza around here can compare to my beloved New York/ New Jersey pizza. Except maybe pizza at the Dogwood Cafe. See, my issue with Boston pizza is mainly the crust. It's usually too doughy and thick, and just doesn't taste right. I don't know where the people at Dogwood Cafe learned how to make pizza but they know how to make a mean brick-oven style thin crust! My roommate and I ordered the Cypress pizza with spinach, feta, mozzarella, roasted tomatoes and black olives. It was delicious! What surprised me was that the spinach wasn't cooked down as it is in most spinach pies. The spinach leaves were lightly cooked and were resting on top of the pie, which made the whole pizza taste lighter which was great because I didn't feel like I had a food baby in my belly after 2 slices! Another thing to note about this place is that they have a decent beer selection (which is always a plus) and their sangria is pretty great too! I also enjoyed the vibe- I kind of felt like I was in a log cabin! I highly recommend this place for pizza if you're in the area or if you are just looking for an excellent thin crust pie!
(4)Joanne O.
First time diner at the Dogwood Cafe. Went on a Saturday evening and he place was a little dead (waitress explained that it is slow in the summer). Charming neighborhood bar and restaurant. A lot of families but not noisy. Foods range from nice salads to interesting entrees and pizza. We tried two different pizzas and salads. Food was excellent. They have a nice selection of beers (wine - not so much). The waitress (Kate) was excellent. Very friendly, knowledgeable, and acommodating. They have live music, which was great. Reasonable prices - perfect for dinner or a late night snack. Great desserts, too. We were pleasantly surprised by this little restaurant.
(5)Elizabeth L.
I love the dogwood. The food is great and the atmosphere is fantastic. However, the past couple of times I have gone in for brunch, our server has been completely unpleasant. Our server greeted us as if we were a nuisance. My friends and I found ourselves trying to win her over with friendliness, although it should have been the other way around. Once we received our food it was like we were on our own. It would have been great if she had checked in on us, at least once. We were done with our food and sat for about 20 minutes as she joked and danced behind the bar with her coworkers, until my friend finally had to beg her to take our credit card. I let it slide the first time, but as this is a reoccurring experience I felt that it was more than just the server possibly having a bad day.
(2)Kristin M.
Every once in a while, my friends and I get a mad, insatiable hankering for Dogwood pizza. It's huge and hot and smothered with toppings: traditional and/or esoteric. Cool art on the walls. Clean bathrooms. Best part - In the evenings, they break out the little tea candles and nice, quiet live guitar music - so... share your pizza with a date! S/he'll never figure out how cheap it is! (About $13 for a BIG "gourmet" style pizza that's too big for one person. Beer/wine are in the average price range). Ooh. good deserts, too. BONUS! (also a good place to take your parents if they're visiting from out of town, and they have a kid-friendly area.)
(5)Megan S.
Thanks, Yelpers for the brunch tip off! I've been here for pizza and beer, but brunch? Yes, ma'am! Right away the waitress delivered us a dilemma with the specials. My boyfriend was torn--breakfast pizza (How intriguing!) v chicken 'n' waffles (First time ever from their new cook from the South!) My heart was being pulled in two directions--pumpkin pancakes (An amazing rare special according to the waitress!) or the breakfast scrambler with vegan sausage (I can't even remember the last time I had sausage and eggs, and they have vegan sausage--yes!) The waitress stepped right in to let us know the chicken 'n' waffles was totally worth it AND I could get a side of pumpkin pancakes with my breakfast scrambler. Crisis averted. It was all amazing, amazing, amazing. And lucky me, Dogwoods is right at the bottom of my hill. Don't you wish you were so lucky?
(5)Katie M.
I. Love. This. Place. Best brunch around, best pizza around, best service around. There's no reason to complain about this place. I love coming here for brunch on Sundays. Nikki makes the best damn Bloody Mary's around. You can't beat their Pancake specials and their Eggs Florentine are to die for. I also love all of their pizzas and the Mac 'n Cheese is pretty damn good, too. Yeah.. I'd go here every day if I could afford to eat out that much. And the fact that it greets me at Forest Hills everyday on my way home from work doesn't help either. If you haven't been here, yet.. then get there tonight. You won't be disappointed. I promise.
(5)Julia N.
This will probably be my go-to for studying and drinks, since it's five minutes walking. The bartender was very sweet, and around 10-1 we got pretty good service. It more of a low intensity bar where folks come to just chat or watch TV. No dance floor, etc. I never tried the food, but the best thing I can appreciate is that the drinks are made strong. No PF Chang's barely-there alcohol. They passed the litmus test of "no-ice" to see how strong the drinks were and the gin and tonics, cranberry and vodkas are delicious (almost half vodka, or half gin? Thank you so much). There's no immediate clamoring for a tab either. I plan on appending this review after more frequenting, but I'm not dissatisfied at all.
(4)Bryanne R.
I love a place where I can watch sports, drink beer that appeals to my new beer-snob tastes, have my pizza made without cheese, and not have to take the T at the end of the night. I'm giving thumbs up to Michelle F for being an awesome waitress. The Dogwood is awesome, and I'll def spend more time there! AWESOME Brunch, but be prepared to wait in line for a bit.
(5)John M.
The food at The Dogwood is good but I would agree with Kurt M. that it's overpriced. I work just down the street so I used to come here once in awhile but I stopped because it's just too much money, especially for lunch. Last time I ate there I went with a coworker...two salads, two sodas and an order of Buffalo wings, came to $40, before the tip. And it's not as if the portions are large either, because they aren't. Like I say, the food is good, and the staff is really cool, but there's just nothing special about the place to justify the prices.
(2)Cheuk S.
My friends suggested this place for brunch pretty much at the last minute purely based on the Yelp Reviews and the place didn't disappoint. It's near the area of the Forest Hills Train Station, actually it's right across from it. Parking will be on the street so just drive around a bit, I got real lucky that Sunday morning and literally parked right in front of the restaurant entrance. The place looks more like an Irish bar from the outside but once you got inside it looked pretty cozy. We got seated pretty quickly and sat near the entrance which felt chilly at times when customers go in/out. So technically it's not a legit complaint and definitely didn't cause the rating to go down, but just remember NOT to sit there if you can. :o) Surprisingly there was no waiting time at all even at prime brunch time at around Noon during football weekend. I ordered "Huevos Rancheros" which was quite good especially with bits of avocado mixed in. The home-fries potatoes were crunchy and grilled just right. My friends ordered the typical eggs, sausages, bacon, toasts etc.,.... I must comment on the applewood flavoured bacon as that was pretty tasty with a hint of sweetness. We also ordered a side dish of the Pumpkin flavoured pancake since it was a seasonal thing and it was really soft plus it came with smooth tasting pumpkin flavour butter on top of it, definitely made it a mouthful. Overall, the food was definitely pretty good and worth coming back again. Service was friendly and the meals came out pretty quick, although they could improve the wait staff a bit to make it more easy on the eyes but maybe that's just me. Even though there were couple of large screen TVs at the bar where patrons were enjoying the football games, it wasn't noisy at all and the atmosphere was pretty low key to enjoy your brunch. I guess my only real complaint was the orange juice since it did say it was "freshly squeezed," I'm pretty sure it's not since the texture was too yellow to come from real oranges and definitely looked like something that came out of the bottle. I mean not that it tasted bad or the cost was excessive at $2.50/glass but I was just expecting something of a darker orangey colour if it was freshly squeezed. But overall, not really a big deal at all.
(4)Josh S.
I only seem to go to this place for weekend brunch...I'm not sure why, but it's true! Brunch is pretty standard fair, but the preparation is pretty good and consistent, which is not always true of brunch places. The pancakes are wonderful as are the eggs every which way I have ordered them. They are pretty good when asking for modifications (i.e. hollandaise sauce on the side, home fries well done, no onions, etc.). The servers are almost always wonderful, professional, and on top of everything.
(4)Jay B.
Amazing pizzas, great beer selection, great ribs appetizer plate (kick ass sauce), and perfect ambiance. Love the live music that's often there. Best of all, not too pricey.
(5)Deepa C.
A friend and I stopped in for some dinner and to kill some time before the lantern ceremony at forest hills cemetary. i had the apple and gorgonzola salad while my friend had the veggie burger. service was good, food was good, place was clean, menu was extensive. overall, no complaints. i might not make it a point to come back, but if i am ever hungry in the area, i now know a place where i can get a good meal for a reasonable price.
(4)John C.
This was a difficult review.. if i had written this a year or two ago i surely would have rated dogwood at 4 stars.. the aura in the restaurant is nice, there is plenty of seating, the bar is cozy yet refreshing (especially with the nice draft selection). the pizza is some of the better pizza in boston. i used to live a block away and would frequent dogwood and have tried every pizza on the menu. a majority of them are superior to what you can find elsewhere in boston. box score: 2 people, 1 appetizer, 2 drinks (wine and beer), 2 entre: 58 with tip and tax... if the entre was better i would have gone for dessert. i recently visited dogwood with a companion, we decided to dine in and order something other than pizza, just to try it out. i've NEVER complained about a beer from the tap before (not even PBR) but i'll make my first complaint, sigh. i had the pumpkin porter, it was ok, not heavy enough for a porter, not enough pumkin to warrant the lightness, i mean, it wasn't a bad beer, just not a good one.. the waitress asked if i wanted the rim sugar and cinnamoned, of course i said, and there is the mistake. the rim came back with too little sugar and cinnamon, it just looked like it was whipped up, no care went into it from the bar tender. yeah, this may be lame, but i take my beer seriously. for appetizer i got the spinach artichoke cheese dip with homemade chips.. the chef must have a hardon for ritz crackers because the cheese dip was covered in crumbled ritz crackers.. not very appealing. the dip was ok, not worth the 9 dollars at all, especially not if topped with ritz crackers. but before we could even dip 2 chips EACH.. our entres came out.. tsk tsk tsk.. i've worked in food service for a good portion of my childhood, you need to wait 15 minutes for the entre to come out, we had under 6 or 7 mins tops. my companion had the steak sandwhich special and unfortunately i forgot to ask how it was... i was too immersed in other conversation. she finished almost all of it so it couldn't have been that bad. i LOVE mac n cheese and i really couldn't order anything else when i read mac n cheese. i was soooooo disappointed. again, the mac n cheese was covered in RITZ crackers.. give me a break.. that's not "breadcrumbs".. the dish itself lacked flavor, was way too soupy and you barely had any. the salad served with it was just thrown on the dish, there was no culinary art behind the salad, although i did enjoy the sprouts on there.. seriously, dogwood ONLY gets 3 stars because their pizza is fantastic, otherwise i would give it 2 stars after the piss poor food i was served tonight. if i could offer dogwood some advice, drop the mac n cheese and anything that really isn't at least par with your pizza and you'll rocket to a consistent 4 star restaurant.. 5 stars for those who don't have much of a palate.
(3)Ben H.
I've been many times and have yet to be disappointed. I usually get the meatloaf, which is quite good, and the vegetable of the day is usually fresh and delicious. It's a nice atmosphere, and the service is solid. The mixed drinks are a little overpriced, but wine is reasonable.
(4)William L.
It's not a crime to be pretentious and overrated. But when you couple those things with $18 for a pizza and a fear of the community, it's a tragedy. The food is good, don't get me wrong, but an 18 dollar pizza should be 30" wide and feed 5 people. I can cram one of these suckers down on my own in a few minutes and only my sister calls me fat. She is mean sometimes, but that's another story. Not to mention one time i called in a to go pizza and stood around inside for ten minutes trying to pick it up while everyone who worked there ignored me. One employee pointed me to another employee, who ignored me too. It was sitting on the counter the whole time, I watched it sit there. The crust is crisp and thin, the way i like it, and the toppings are fresh and creative, but SPARSE at best. The Muscles, DELICIOUS, and actually not too expensive as far as muscles go. Biggest problem: This place is like a black hole of some kind. Your world will be turned upside down when you walk through the doors of this place. The crowd outside is urban, bus riding, and extremely ethnically diverse. The crowd inside, is a bunch of late 20 and 30 somethings with bottles of '95 Bordeaux shoved up their... faces. There is a divide between the community and the atmosphere in this place. I have a suggestion! (not that anyone cares, but i think it would make this place awesome and one i would frequently enjoy drinks at) Since the outside is so uninviting, change it up. I understand they are trying to make it a smokey, mysterious or whatever, but it just comes off as pretentious. I think if they turned the big windows into big open-able windows, like what you see on Boylston street a lot, where people could come sit and enjoy the weather and community instead of hiding from it, I would love it. Recap: So much potential, so little HEART.
(2)Benjamin E.
My friend and I called in for a To Go Pizza and ordered the "Birch". The person taking the order was very polite and went out of her way to make sure we knew it was a sauceless pizza. She told us we could add sauce and we decided to. When we got there they had the wrong pizza made for us (A "Naughty Pine"). The To Go waitress girl was the one who noticed (we probably would not have noticed til we got home). She apologized politely, told us they would make our order, that we could take the other pizza, have free drinks while we waited, and she would refund us 100%. We got $30 worth of pizza and a Harpoon IPA for free. But that's not all... The pizza was delicious. Very thin and great tasting crust with great toppings. I loved both the Naughty Pine and Birch (very fruity Sun Dried tomatoes). They went above and beyond for making a mistake with our order (I would have been satisfied with paying and taking both pizzas).
(5)Chris F.
I've been to The Dogwood Cafe a couple of times now and never leave disappointed. Nice pub atmosphere, ok beer list, and of course the pizza is truly great. The only thing other than pizza that I have tried was a calamari app which was so-so, breading was too thick and mealy, but flavor was good. Fun place for a date, group, or just to grab a beer and dinner.
(4)D. M.
Moved to the neighborhood earlier this summer and been coming here pretty regularly. The food is excellent. I've tried their blue cheese burger, pasta, steak sandwiches...never been disappointed. Knocking off a star for service though. It's been pretty slow and inattentive more often than not.
(4)Rich D.
2 Times in 1 Weekend so I had a chance to have a good look at it. Sat night after 10 PM - it is very relaxed - I almost thought I was in a coffee house with the Gin Blossoms and Natalie Imbruglia playing - looked a for Jukebox but there is none. Good enough beer list and the waitresses are very friendly. Second Visit - brunch the next day - Breakfast Pizza = great taste and super satisfying - bacon eggs cheese and sausage on a pizza with side of potats. Bloody mary is very tangy and great way to start a day - all other brunch items looked great but my friends either thought the portion sizes were too small or the plate was too big. Tasty Coffee. 1 Hang up is that they added 20% tip to a table of six - thats what we do anyways but usually its 18% - and then computer system made individual receipts hard to figure out. I'll be back for more pizza and to try some dinner.
(3)Alex S.
Dear Dogwood, Listen. You're across from the Forest Hills T station. Settle down now. I know your windows are tinted, that you have that cute little logo, and that you paint the place every five minutes. And yes, you've got some nice decorations inside, a very cozy atmosphere, and serve up a delicious blueberry beer. But... Your prices are just too high. On more than one occasion, I've asked for ingredients to be left off of my sandwich (simple things, too!) and have been told it can't be done. Why? Because much of the food is pre-made. And pretty average anyway. That's cool--but that also means you need to stop charging so much. Also, I just think it's a little ridiculous to prevent people from sitting at a table if they're not going to order food--especially if they're going to drop some loot on a few cocktails (which, to be fair, end up costing the same, if not more, than dinner would). I could understand this if the place is crowded...but you do this even when the restaurant is half empty. Or three-quarters empty. Your whole vibe is a bit pretentious--and rather ironic, all things considered. And you could be a little less abrasive, on the whole. I always feel rather unwanted here.
(2)Lauren P.
I live right in the area, and while we don't have much else, having the Dogwood pretty much satisfies every need. Decent beer and wine selection, always have the game on (but quietly... this is not a sports bar), amazing food, and just an all-around cozy and clean pub atmosphere. The brunch is out of this world... I've ordered everything on the menu and it's all really good, and the specials are usually even better. I also really enjoy their Pomosa. When people say the Dogwood is pricey, I assume they must be from out of town. For Boston, it's one of the cheapest sit-down places I've been to, and the portions are large. The staff is friendly and the live music tends to be pretty good. This is a great place to sit and chat with friends while you eat- every time I bring someone they really enjoy it.
(5)Christina C.
I was very excited about the Dogwood Cafe. The restaurant is beautiful, very simple and comfortable. Our waitress was really great as well. However, little problems really added up. My iced tea was very strange, like flavored black tea with fake lemon, my boyfriend's alcoholic drink was much stronger than it should have been. (Just little things, I know.) Then we started receiving our breads and menus and there was so much stuff on the table that it was really overwhelming: two menus, a drink menu, two small plates, silver wear, a big HUGE can of tomatoes for "decor" and a candle, then a basket of bread, 2 more plates, 2 waters and then 2 drinks. Then our appetizer came and there was literally no place to put it. We had to take things off the table. The appetizer was a special, portobello mushroom something. It was VERY sub par. I thought it was actually "off," as in the oil was old or the mushrooms. It came with 6 sticks of mushroom. SIX for $9. And they were bad. Very unfortunate. The main dishes were disappointing as well. I ordered the "Evergreen" pizza, which looked amazing, but after the first slice, I couldn't avoid how crazy salty it was! The pesto was so salty and the feta cheese made the pizza almost inedible. I think they could easily fix this, and I think some of the other pizzas are probably great. My boyfriend got the fish and chips: very thin breading, not like normal fish and chips. The actual fish was just ok. It was definitely edible, but very uninteresting. They could make some small changes and probably be great, and the waitress was really nice when I told her about the food. Unfortunately, I will still be looking for a great JP restaurant.
(2)Alexis B.
Loved the Dogwood Cafe. Lived literally up the block from it. Went here sometimes 3x a day. First the service is hit or miss. Most times hit but when they first started to get busy you could tell they were flustered. The waitresses are great. Lots of times remembered my favorite wine or beer. Now the food- again hit or miss. The calamari is THE BEST I've ever had. And I'm italian and make my own calamari. The pizza is outstanding. The meatloaf an amazing standby. The pasta.... eh this is where it gets tricky. No matter what pasta dish I got it always seemed bland. Super bland. Not even salt and cheese could save it. So go enjoy the Dogwood just skip the pasta. Desserts were also great! Brunch is also good. Great bloody mary.
(4)Erik W.
Let me start by saying that I love the Dogwood. It is my go to place. Kate the bartender/waitress is aces. With that being said they do have a few things that bug me. I went with a couple of friends and one was meeting us there. I got a text that she was parking the car so we went to the hostess and said we would be a party of three. She wouldn't seat us until our friend came. I told her that she was parking the car and would be here in at most 2 min. There was no wait for a table she just would not seat us. I know it is not a big deal,but it is annoying. The second thing is that the menu needs some serious updating. I have been going there once a week for about 3 years and the menu has not changed at all. I am sick of the meatloaf! Please Dogwood,change the menu. Keep the pizza but change up some other stuff.
(4)Charoline D.
In comparison to our experience at Bon Savor, Dogwood was a much better choice. Save your itty slices of mediocre french toast, Dogwood is my new City Limits Diner equivalent for Boston. We arrived around 12:30 and were seated immediately by a friendly waitress in a booth in the larger of the two rooms and promptly served up two glasses of freshly SQUOZEN orange juice. Specials included pumpkin pancakes and crabcake eggs benne. We went with the latter paired with the mexican breakfast pizza. You tell me anything is Mexican inspired on a breakfast menu and I'm sold. Breakfast quesa, burrito, huervos rancheros, Nadya y Alejandro sandwiched between a biscuit....ay dios mio. We weren't terribly impressed with the benne, maybe it's because we were expecting something a lil different, and for me the poached egg when it leaked into the crabcake sort of ruined the texture and made me feel like it was undercooked. The breakfast pizza on the other hand was SOLID GOLD. A thin brick oven crust, topped with scramby eggs, red onion, cilantro, tomato, scallion, salsa, monterey and cheddar cheese, and a dollop of sour cream. It was a fairly large size as well, we probably could've shared that and still made it out alive. The table next to us was served the wrong omelet, and a side of pork sausage instead of turkey....which was a little disconcerting because I think the patron might have been vegetarian (save the exception of the turkey sausage). In the waitresses defense, you can't xray an omelet and sausage pretty much looks like sausage. Either way, about $33 later and we were on our way out with full bellies and leftover breakfast pizza. We'll definitely be back to try their standard pizzas as well, which brag combinations of italian sausage, ricotta, and mozzarella as well as goat cheese, spinach, and caramelized onion.
(4)Nicole C.
This place is awesome. It's the perfect place for a casual, cozy night out. I swear I see the same faces here each time I go, both in the staff and patrons. It's got a very neighborhoody feel inside even though it's in a crappy part of town across from scary Forest Hills T stop. The menu is comfort food and is consistantly good. The pizzas are better than any delivery place around and they're made in a hot wood fire oven - to die for. The brunch is great too! A must try is their Monte Cristo - it's amazing. Wash it down with an extra spicy Bloody Mary and you've got the perfect Sunday morning.
(5)James W.
Awesome pizza. Nice and clean inside. Looks pitch black from outside but nice and light up inside. Brick oven pizzas are awesome. Good beer selection. Good price range.
(4)Sean B.
I've only been for brunch but it's great. It has replaced Doyles as my brunch spot. The food is not nearly as greasy and the service is better. I don't know how much of a selling point this is to most people but I am in love with the fact that I can get raisin bread. Parents seem to like to go for brunch as well. the last thing i need while nursing a hangover or hell any morning, is a screeching/screaming small child. Other than that I am happy.
(4)J D.
The Dogwood scores points with me for consistently great service, being a great escape from Hyde Park Ave., and for taking such a gamble opening their doors to the neighborhood. For those who won't remember, the location used to be an awful dive bar which didn't exactly improve on the neighborhood's value. From wait and bar staff to kitchen and management, all who work at The Dogwood seem to be great. They definitely value service and appreciate guests. This is what should be expected at any, but especially a neighborhood restaurant. I've only had one bad experience with The Dogwood, but it was terrible. I returned several nights after having a wonderful meal, expecting the same thing. What I received was a burger that seemed as though it was rolled in sea salt. This was the only meal I ever wanted to send back. I've noticed a lot of inconsistencies when I frequent The Dogwood, but its never been as bad as this one experience (about two months ago). I can live with presentation and portions varying a bit, but would never excuse such a terrible meal again. I'm not burnt on The Dogwood. I think it's a great place with minor flaws. Great brunch. Nice bar. I'd rather have a table, though. No points off for being busy and making me wait once in a while - That's a great thing for them. Don't expect to have a drink at the bar if you're waiting on a table, though. Its not really a lounge area. The Dogwood probably won't be a destination for anybody coming from downtown, but is a great addition to the immediate neighborhood and will remind people used to eating on Centre St. that there are great local alternatives.
(4)Daniel L.
Kind of bummed about the upper-class prejudice people seem to have about the area this place resides. Regardless, Dogwood Cafe is your typical overpriced Boston restaurant that features "organic flatbread pizza." The pizza is decent, the burgers are the same as anywhere else and the rest of the food is again good, but overpriced. They have a pretty decent beer menu which is nice and the set up of the place was definitely well though out to hold a lot of people without feeling crowded. Nothing special here truly.
(3)Holly M.
Secretly, I think I have not written a review for Dogwood because I don't want anyone to know about it! But honestly, its my fave in our new 'hood. The atmosphere is cool and slightly dark. The tv's in the bar are always tuned to the latest game or event. The food...oh, the food. The brunch is awesome. Get the breakfast pizza, its awesome! Breakfast is totally my favorite, but lunch/dinner is delicious too. I even took my parents here when they came to visit. Get the California Chicken Wrap sandwich, its making my mouth water just thinking about it. Service is super friendly and welcoming!
(5)Katy G.
I live just around the corner from The Dogwood, so I go there often. The food is great! They pizzas are wonderful- they have a food-fired brick oven. They also have a wonderful selection of beer and wine. There's something for everyone on their extensive menu. They are a bit expensive, but you don't mind forking out a little more munz than usual, you won't regret it. The live music is usually pretty good in there, but the recorded music they play SUCKS. It's the one thing that perplexes me about that place. Somehow they choose the crappiest, suckiest 90s music to play over the speakers. Usually it's not on too loud, and after a few beers, you tune it out.
(4)Billie M.
Brunch is one of those weird service blackholes. For the most part, customers partaking in brunch have usually over-imbibed the night before, and as such, are looking for a laid back, comfort food type munch-fest, usually paired with one (two, twelve) hair-of-the-dog medicinal beverages. Languid conversations about the shenanigans embarked on the night before allow for lapses in server face time, which is good, as most brunch servers probably over-imbibed last night themselves. Moral: I take brunch service with a grain of salt (or a shot of tequila. Whatever). But then there are the times when the service goes beyond the actual, "crap, I need another drink, where is she?", and ventures into the "she is blatantly not listening to a word we say" realm. And in that realm, is Dogwood's brunch. Our last brunch visit was a service nightmare from start to finish. Upon being sat, we waited. And waited. And waited. At one point, a dining companion pointed out that the person we thought might be our waitress (we weren't certain...because in the 10 minutes we'd been seated, no one had come by), looked like she had just had a huge order come out of the kitchen as we were sat. No biggie, we were in full story telling mode, and weren't yet parched enough to warrant aggravation. Finally, a few minutes later, she bopped on over. Drink orders placed, we got down to discussing our food orders. One breakfast pizza, one burger with BBQ sauce on the side, and one make-your-own-omelette, with tomatoes, olives, and cheese. Throughout the ordering process, it becomes a bit obvious that she's not really listening, but whatevs, our order is simple, so onward ho! Drinks arrive, and wow, the ruby red mimosa (mimosa with shot of ruby red grey goose, and a splash of cran) was EXACTLY what we needed. Delivered by the hostess, we said thanks, and got to sippin. Shortly after, the same hostess delivered our food. Thanks helpful hostess! Greedily staring at the large portions (seriously, they don't mess around with size), we started to dig in. Um...the burger can't be picked up. Wonder why? A little investigating shows that ladles of BBQ sauce have been poured ON the burger, soaking through into a meaty saucy mess. Blech. Oh well, that's why we have forks, right? The first cut of the omelette reveals onions. Hmmm. Ok, maybe a small mistake? Nope, further fork action shows that it's essentially a pile of onions, with a little egg and tomato thrown in (where are you olives? where are you cheese?). At least the breakfast pizza was good. What else is there to say? We only saw our waitress one more time, and at this point, it was fruitless to complain. The hostess had brought us a few more rounds, and to be honest, we were now focusing more on our vitamin C intake (excuses for afternoon drinking abound) than a full meal. Maybe the kitchen messed up, maybe there was a communication breakdown, who knows? Thousands of reasons could be to blame, but none were discovered because our waitress didn't really care. This won't stop me from going to the Dogwood, but it's become enough of an increasingly prevalent problem to put pause in the decision to travel to JP.
(3)Jim K.
Stopped in for a pizza and potato skins. Skins were your typical fried variety, and the pizza came out almost right after the appetizer was served (I hate this). Pizza was decent, not a world beater, and if I lived in JP then perhaps I'd frequent this place more, but I wouldn't label this a destination place. Inordinately high amount of young children dining for a Saturday night, but that's fine. They also have live acoustic music playing all the standards. Service was good.
(3)Keryn B.
My husband and I decided to check out the Dogwood Cafe last night. We really liked the atmosphere, we had to wait about 30 min for a table, but that was okay, we enjoyed some yummy drinks at the bar. When were seated we ordered an appetizer that was a special which was pretty good. When it came out, the waitress took our dinner order and brought another round of drinks. We were enjoying the music and our meals, and I wanted to get dessert and another drink. However the waitress never asked us if we wanted anything else, just brought out our check. So I thought maybe they didn't have dessert, but saw others eating dessert. We were obviously there for a long dinner and we were rushed, even though it was about 9pm an there was not a wait for a table. As a result our waitress got a lousy tip, since she was absent our whole meal. We enjoyed it there, but was really put off by the staff, which is a huge part of the dining experience. We will probably go back, but probably try to sit at the bar.
(3)Brendan Jude L.
Very simply, I love this place because I love this type of place. Dark, mahogany looking wood. Terrific beer selection (Stovepipe Porter all the way! Love the tinge of coffee bean deliciousness!). Great bar scene with flat-screen TVs that don't overwhelm the decor and a wonderful restaurant area filled with all types: couples young and old out on a date, groups of friends grabbing a meal or drink, families with young children (Children, I might add, who never seem to be the obnoxious whining kind. Can I get an Amen?). Service that doesn't needlessly call attention to itself. I went for the fourth time last night and every time it's been wonderful; this type of consistency is extremely relevant to me since it displays the restaurant's ability to not be a "Hit or Miss" kind of place. By now, I've tried its meatloaf, which comes accompanied with mashed potates and the vegetable of the day (broccoli yesterday); some broccoli, spinach, and feta pizza; the ribs appetizer; and the Blondie brownie sundae. Everything has been satisfying to the max. I'm a huge fan of meatloaf so I usually order it when I go, and the Dogwood doesn't disappoint nor skimp on it's portions. Mashed potates are soft, not lumpy, and perfect with the mushroom gravy which comes on the meatloaf. By the way, the gravy is light and not some creamy, congealed sludge that looks like Slimer from Ghostbusters (always a bonus). The pizza I've had is thin, crispy, and laced with awesome flavor; feta goes a long way. The ribs are literally fall of the bone moist and sweet, but not sickeningly so. And the Blondie Brownie is heaven. Now, my one caveat is the location. This place is located at the end of the Orange line across from the Forrest Hills T station; there's not much else around it. What the restaurant needs to do is somehow remove itself from the fringes of JP and transport itself over to the main commercial center on Centre Street. That area needs a good hangout bar/restaurant. Then all will be perfect. Until that happens though, I will continue to frequent the Dogwood.
(5)Yoli D.
I really liked this place the first few times I went. The brunch food was really good. After the first 3 or so times I went there, I was ready to try something else, but my brunch bunch that I dine with on Sunday afternoons were still really feeling this restaurant and the location was really convenient so I went along with the majority and continued to eat there. I never thought the service was consistently wonderful and the food was hit or miss. I hate dark (burned) eggs and seem to get them frequently there in the form of either an omelette or fried eggs. Well, after the brunch bunch disbanded and some time passed, I decided to stop by between church services to pick up egg white omelets for take out on about 3 different occasions. The lady that took my order at the bar each time was never friendly, boarding on rude, but I still went here b/c of the convenient location. The last time I went for take out, a friend was with me. The same bartender that had my taken my order during previous visits made a comment to me and we had a short but pointless exchange. I didn't think much of it b/c I was used to this type of interaction with her, but my friend that I was with was quite bothered with how the bartender spoke to me, so I asked to speak to the manager and she took up for her, saying that she's normally nice but she'll talk to her. I'm not going back.
(2)Andrew P.
The pizza is excellent, the bar and restaurant is nice, the Forest Hills area is lousy. Parked in the T parking lot across from Forest Hills station and had to dodge a gang of youths and a threatening drunk homeless man to get to the restaurant. Once inside the atmosphere was friendly, the food was good and the waitress was excellent. The hostess didn't speak English well and was not overly friendly.
(3)Lindsay L.
I like the Dogwood Cafe. Not as much as Christopher's Cambridge, mind you, but I like it. The atmosphere is a little dark and a tad like being on the inside of an old boat, which is kind of cool if that's your thing. I would categorize the Dogwood as perfectly fine bar and grill fair. The only reason it gets 4 stars instead of 3 is because they simply have the best Veggie-burger anywhere ever. It's super-tasty, for those of you who like veggie burgers that are just that -- veggie burgers (not trying to be meat in any way). I can always count on them for Stovepipe Porter, and they have a great selection of other beers, many microbrews. The salads are good, the fries are good. I hear from my meat-eating boyfriend that the sandwiches and meat-burgers are totally fine. I know some folks who have ordered the seafood and found it quite satisfying. I also hear good things about the steak sandwich. Note to vegetarians: not TONS of options here, but I highly recommend the veggie burger. Avoid the potstickers. They are terrible.
(4)M A.
Very good well rounded menu. Friendly staff, we are always welcome with or without kidlets. Not a fan of the live music 'cause I can't hear my friends talk. I love the salads combined with steak tips, turkey tips, etc. Street parking is tough but you can park in the pay lot later at night for free. Highly recommended.
(4)Natalie B.
Ended up at the Dogwood Cafe due to some friends that live up the street professing it's greatness and because we had a large group (that was easily accommodated, to their merit), we thought this would be a good spot. They have some creative-type cocktails and I had the huckleberry lemonade, which was tasty. Everyone seemed generally happy with their drinks and so on... Orders for the 14 of us were taken with relative ease, salads/appetizers were delivered and all was fine. However, dinners got delivered while people were still mid-salad/appetizer and that really irks me. Some of us got our dinners and were ready to eat. Some of us were hustling through our salads, not really chewing, just to clear room at the tables for the excessive amount of dishes that were crowding the very small tables. If they could have just given us 5-10 more minutes to finish while keeping our dinners warm, that would've been much better. The food was fair - comforty-type bar food. Better than your average bar food but not as appealing as those spots that offer truly unique comfort-food. Somewhere in the middle. Big menu, lots of options and I had the mac-and-cheese which, again, was fine. I wouldn't go back there for that particular dish. Not a bad experience, not an unforgettable one. Just fair.
(3)Kerri O.
They put your pizza on a stand. Something about that tickles me. It reminds me of the Dear Departed European in the North End. Other than that? Pretty good pizza, though I make a better crust. Too expensive, too.
(3)Jules H.
Very straightforward food, and a very pretty dining room. The server was friendly and prompt, and the french fries were bangin'. Heads up -- parking can be tricky around here, the roads turn into a burren of one-ways and stuff, you're best off trying to park on Washington itself (or take the T, it's right next to Forest Hills).
(4)Catherine T.
Excellent place. My mother and I came here on the advice of a friend, and (though the wait was a little long), the portions were good and the food was fantastic and we ended up ordering way more than we should have. Cute atmosphere as well... not flashy and kind of low-key Will definitely be returning.
(5)Celeste M.
My friend fell in love with this place while on a quest to try all the pumpkin beers he could. I liked it for its pizza. until they gave me the pretty bad customer service and a pretty crappy pizza on Superbowl Sunday. I would have understood if the restaurant had been really busy (they weren't), but I think they were more interested in watching the game then serving the customers. I might go back but so far it's been 7 months so I dunno..
(3)Chris S.
At the foot of the Arboretum you will find the aptly named Dogwood Cafe. Though it's more of a bar/grill, so maybe they only have the first half right. Parking's aplenty either street side or in the back lot. Also, being adjacent to Forest Hills makes it super convenient for us T commuters. The Dogwood has a funky atmosphere. Exposed brick, dim lighting, a big bar, and 3 flatscreens for sports viewing. They have an excellent selection of beers, wines, and a full bar if you're in search of a cocktail. Adding to the atmosphere is original artwork from talented local artists, and acoustic folk singers on Fridays and Saturdays. Pizzas are droolworthy - choose from their prefab 14 specialty pizzas or get creative with their 34 delicious toppings (here's a sampling: carmelized onion, hot cherry and roasted red peppers, ricotta and goat cheese, italian sausage and prosciutto). Burgers are yummy, I love when medium is done right. Steak tips are pretty tasty also and come in naked, cajun, barbeque and terriyaki varieties. My experience with the pasta dishes and other entrees has been meh, but I don't venture from the bar staples often. Service spans the average to good scale (though I haven't been for brunch). GREAT take-out option for commuters. Stroll in, place your order and grab a beer while you wait. When in the mood for beers, burgers, and pizza, I'm a very big fan. Look for the 160lb guy in glasses taking on a whole large pie.
(4)Chad J.
I went here for take-out with high hopes but what I got was a hostess who could not stop talking to her friend for long enough to help me. Instead she pawned me off on a waiter who could not be bothered. He brought me the check, handed my order to the guy standing next to me, then walked off. He didn't even wait for me to sign it or even see if the guy next to me was with me. I don't have really high expectations but come on!
(1)Lindsey B.
Pizza's okay, place is cozy, servers are nice - a very welcoming neighborhood kind of place. But oh my god, the live music on weekend nights is SO INSANELY LOUD. Turn it down, you guys! Once my husband and I sat down and ended up leaving a few minutes later because you couldn't even hear yourself think once the music started up at 6:00.
(4)Tricia N.
Great place. The acoustic music definitely enhances the pub atmosphere. After a long stressful week of work it is definitely a stress reliever. They have a friendly staff and laid back atmosphere. We ordered a pizza and some dumplings so I can't speak to the entrees. I don't think I would make a special trip to visit the Dogwood, but if you are in the neighborhood and hungry it is a good bet.
(4)Michael F.
Food was surprisingly great. Wednesday night and it was a bit slow, but service was good. I know it is a bar/pub atmosphere, but the dining suffers from either the loud music or the distraction of the multiple games on television at the bar. I like a more comfortable conversation oriented dining space. But, that aside, the food more than made up for the distraction. Salad was excellent, Daily special was fresh, cooked just right and very good. Pizza crust I would suggest a little work. Too much like a cracker and not like a bread. I will definitely be returning here and I am happy I found them.
(3)Kyle J.
I had previously gone to the Dogwood several times and really enjoyed it, so writing this review will be tough. As a caveat, I used to be a server/bartender so I'm usually lenient about bad food/service. Went last night at about 8pm to get some food and drinks and watch the Celtics game with the GF. It was only about 50% full which was pleasantly surprising giving that it was Game 7 of the NBA Finals. We were sat right away, and unfortunately that's where everything went very downhill. It took probably 10-15 minutes for our waitress to stop by the table and ask for our drink order. This was surprising since the place was almost empty, and she only had 1 other table in her section. We placed our order and asked for the buffalo wing app to get things going. The drinks returned and she asked for our main course order, which was the Spruce pizza. We waited for the wings....and waited.....and waited....and waited. Our waitress didnt come out of the kitchen once during this time to check on anything. About 20 minutes later, a different server brought out the pizza we had ordered, having seen neither wing nor buffalo of our app order. We told the second server that we hadnt received our apps, and she apologized, bringing the pizza back into the kitchen. Our server came over and mentioned she had forgotten to key in the app, which is strange since we ordered it at the same time as the beers. She didn't even say sorry, which I thought was beyond bush league. When the wings were brought out quickly, they were only about half cooked and still bloody when we bit into them. Like I said, I'm not picky, but we each had one before we had to stop or we would have gotten food poisoning. About 20 minutes after the wings came out, they brought out the pizza - the same pizza they had originally brought out during their screw up. I asked if it was the same pizza and if it had been under the heat lamps. They said it was, and that it had been put back in the oven so it would still be fresh. It was ICE cold, with congealed cheese and grease everywhere. We each had one slice before we had to call it quits we were so grossed out. There was no apology, no manager came by try and save the reputation of the restaurant, and all in all it was the sorriest excuse for service I've ever seen. Although i would normally chalk it up to a bad night, or an untrained server, and try again, I won't ever be going back to The Dogwood Cafe. Feel free to try Dogwood at your own risk, but if you get a server named Sandy, just run for the hills.
(1)Noah R.
The Dogwood gets high marks for providing good food and a kid friendly atmosphere in the Forrest Hill area. We bring our toddler there after work for dinner sometimes - he's a handful but they always manage to put up with him and his mess. The service and the food are good but not great. The pizza used to be much better (when it was sliced in squares) but it's still above average for JP. The pasta is good and their burgers are what you would expect. Scallops portions are very small (big scallops but very few). Some of the specials are worth checking out. We've had mixed experiences with the drinks. I've had some good ones but also they sometimes don't know how to make them at all. For example, I had a dark and stormy that was really off with lots of sour mix and who knows what else in it. Service is polite and gets the job done but usually nothing special.
(4)Ryan M.
Ah, Dogwood. A cubic-zirconia-in-the-rough for the Forest Hills area. I have to think that the reviews to-date (or at least the four star rating it has right now) are based on relative comparisons to the rest of the area's offerings. If you don't want Budweiser or a slice/sub to-go, then it is, after all, the only real restaurant around. But that doesn't mean it's actually good. First of all, everything seems slightly overpriced for what it is. Second, the place gives off this vibe that it might think it's a lot cooler than it really is. When I first moved to the area, I didn't go in because I didn't know what to make of the "proper dress required" sign in front of a business with completely tinted windows. Now I realize that it's just confused; it's nowhere near fancy enough or hip enough to back up that first impression. The pizzas are the specialty but I've never really cared about any of them. It seems like one flavor always completely dominates the rest. Nothing about any of the entrees I've ordered has ever stood out as something special, unusual, or particularly well-executed. The brunch menu is lacking, but does have the one thing I've ever been impressed by: Breakfast Pizza. Sausage, bacon, and eggs on a crispy thin-crust works really well (and also reheats in the oven well later). As much as I like the Breakfast Pizza, last time I was there for brunch I tried the Mexican Pizza, which, as I recall was something like: eggs, onion, salsa, sour cream, and a couple cheeses. I asked if the sour cream came on the side, was assured it did, then it came with with a giant glob in the center. The crust (especially in the center) was frighteningly soggy and limp and the whole thing just tasted awful. After eating maybe 20% of it, I had to put it aside. The server points, "done?", I say "yeah, wasn't a big fan", she smiles, leaves, returns with the check, I pay the bill and eat a bagel at Java Jo's. It's 3am and I felt compelled to write a couple Yelp reviews....why? I'm not outraged at or delighted by the Dogwood, but this had to be written now. Interesting.
(2)Brendan M.
A diamond in the rough, if you will. This Cafe is right across the street from the infamous Forest Hills Orange stop in Jamaica Plain. The staff here was consistently friendly and helpful through all the times we came here. The food is great - very customizable pizza, tasty specials, good appetizers, and good desserts. If you like pie, you MUST get the blueberry pie here. Its sinfully good. It might be a controlled substance....be careful. The beer selection here is also very solid. The TVs are properly placed to peek at games without feeling tooo sports-bar. Prices are fair, and its close to the T if you come out of the city, or close enough to walk if you are a cool kid in JP.
(5)Stephen W.
Made a reservation for 18 for a surprise B-day party and we were able to fit easily with the table arrangement. Our waiter Justin D was amazing, handled the crew with ease and was very, very attentive. The food was outstanding, everyone loved their selections and there was enough to share around the table. More than a few in the party commented it was now their new favorite place. We will definitely be visiting again soon.
(5)Nicole D.
I'm always surprised to walk into The Dogwood and see all the white families having dinner; I think to myself, "where did they come from?" But I can't blame them for trooping it to Forest Hills - it definitely reminds me of being a kid and going out to eat with my parents - and they have folksy live music that the kids get up and dance to - so cute! If you're looking for less of a family vibe, the bar side is more youngish with sports playing on the tv's. Ambiance aside, the food is good, the prices are fair, the bar selection is diverse and the warm blondie with ice cream is delish. (I stay away from their blueberry pie - for all the hype, it's more like blueberry soup with a sugary crust). We usually get the veggie burger with a side of mash. The burger itself is nothing too special, but the bun is impressive, they include sprouts with the lettuce-tomatoes-onions and the dill aioli makes it happen. Plus, the pickle on the side is actually worth mentioning, and the garlic mash as an alternative to f-fries makes it seem a bit more grown-up of a dinner. Aside from having one of my favorite veggie burger plates in Boston, the salads are probably the best thing on the menu for vegetarians (and non-veg's too). I haven't tried much else on the menu - the pizza toppings are good, but the crust isn't my favorite - too crackery. Last time I went I had the mac-n-cheese - very creamy and with cracker crumbs on top - not quite what I was in the mood for. So why the high rating despite not a ton of super-high rating offerings? It's the perfect "let's drive ten minutes, not spend too much money, not cook dinner and just have something easy and satisfying for dinner" place. What can I say - I'm a creature of habit!
(4)Jacqueline M.
My boyfriend and I visited Dogwood last night and had a good meal. We ordered the pork pot stickers as an appetizer....(They were tasty) I order the Prime rib with garlic mash and it was cooked perfect and tasted great. The veggie of the day was nothing special and my boyfriend ordered the Tortellini with sausage that was truly yummy . The only reason I am giving this place 3 stars instead of 4 was that the pasta dish had Italian spicy sausage in it that just did not taste right. My boyfriend loved the pasta so much that he just picked the meat out. One of the wait staff ( Not our waitress) came by to help clear and ask about our meal. When we explained the problem with the pasta dish she was truly concerned and apologetic. She said she would bring it to our waitress attention. Our waitress never said anything about it. No biggie....This was our first visit and we will come back again to try other items on the menu. This was a random pick for a place to eat and we were not disappointed. The cafe also has live music and although it was not my kind of music it was fun and entertaining and oh so cute to watch all the little kids get up and dance. :) I just went back a second time to Dogwood and ordered pizza. Very tasty and an individual size is enough for two people and extra to take home. My only concern is that there were a lot of toppings on my pizza that were not listed in the description on the menu. I was so hungry I did not have them make me another one so I just picked off the extra stuff. I do not think they made a mistake. I think the pizza was supposed to come that way but I would have ordered differently had I known. They should list when onions and peppers come on a pizza.
(3)Jenn J.
I cannot get enough of this place! I try to be a Dogwood regular for the past 5 years or so, even though I haven't lived very close until recently. The pizza is incredible. The brunch menu is to die for and they make some of the tastiest cocktails in Boston. Everything is very reasonably priced for what you get and the wait staff is very pleasant and attentive. They have some very incredible desserts too! Whether you are looking for a place to sit at the bar and catch a Red Sox game while catching up with a friend (go early to snag a spot at the bar), or looking for a place to bring that special someone on date night, or a place to accommodate a large group/family for brunch, this is the place. They have live music most nights and a number of tvs at the bar. Definitely visit the Dogwood if you haven't already. Its a great place to go for great food and service in the Forrest Hills area of Jamaica Plain.
(5)Bernadette S.
I like the bar side here. It's very chill. There's some guy who sometimes plays Beatles covers that are pretty good, actually. Some things on the menu are over priced and some are a bargain and overall, it's a nice joint. I don't really like the neighborhood, though, and usually forget that it exists, but when I remember and go, I always have a good experience. UPDATE: had a delicious brunch there recently...loved the Monte Cristo sandwich and drinks...
(4)H M.
great place. Live music fri and sat for free. Great beers and mixed drinks. Food rocks - burger salad pizza scallops. Family friendly.
(4)Sean J.
I've been here a few times. It's near my house, and it's always banging with people on the weekends and nights. I see it as more of a local bar/restaurant, where the people here seem to be more regulars, enjoying their favorite dish and in a what I would call a pretty well organize atmosphere. I do really enjoy the dark wood walls, and the organization of the bar on one side, and the dining area on the other. I do love their brick over pizzas, and most of the food/drinks that I've gotten there have been pretty well prepared. I went there the other day with my parents, who are big food reviewers and they always enjoy going to the places I like to frequent. They are always critical with their orders and specific with what they want. My mom always wants her food hot hot, and my step father always wants his freshly brewed iced tea. Both which seem to be a problem every time we go out. I just kinda chuckle about it, but when i asked if they had earl grey tea and was told yes, and got lipton tea, I had to send it back. Paying $2.50 for a cup of lipton black tea isn't worth it, and some of their dishes are overpriced, but i guess you pay for that for atmosphere. I've gone there in the summer and they make a pretty decent Margarita, and my dinners and sandwiches have always been interesting. I was a little thrown back when the bartender one night didn't know how to make three of the drinks I went through, and at that point I just got a whiskey ginger ale. This place is pretty reasonable, but I think if you really want an elegant experience, this sometimes crowded venue can be an easy pass by. go early, and scope the scene if you want a quiet dining experience.
(3)admir a.
The food here is really ordinary. The jalapeno poppers are yummy. Beware of nights when they have live music, its hard to hear your date.
(2)Matt W.
Had brunch here today. It was Sunday morning, and pretty empty. We were seated in a side of the restaurant that was pretty much empty, and had a charming waitress whose phone went off while taking our order. It sounded like Tinkerbell, which made us wonder whether or not faeries were making our food. The Belgian Waffle came with impressively fresh fruit and the home fries, heavily spiced and salted, ate more like french fries, but in a good way. My girlfriend got stuffed french toast. It was really excellent and flavorful. All the food was incredibly filling. The feel of the room was really nice, too. It was calm and welcoming, with really nice dark wood and brick walls and gorgeous long windows. The only downside was the coffee. It wasn't bad, just sort of weak. We'll definitely go again.
(4)Mark N.
I eat here almost as much as I do at home, and the food is much better at Dogwood! So happy to have such a great and friendly place in Forest Hills. Casual atmosphere with well made and simplly prepared dishes. And Guinness on tap!
(5)Shawn W.
This place has it all: Great bartenders (I LOVE Nicki and Kate and Anne), great music, live entertainment, every Friday and Saturday night is kids' nite! (I'm sure to keep out the local rif-raf) and the food is fantasic. The atmosphere is modern/urban with great local art hung on the walls. The waitstaff is generally pleasant and it's been my regular spot for about a year now. So glad I live right up the street.
(5)Greg M.
There's nothing I hate more than bright lights at bars. Seems with most places, the bigger it is, the brighter it is. At long last here is a place that's big enough to accomodate a large group, has pretty good food, you can watch the game on HDTVs, and it's nice and dark.
(4)Anthony K.
Overall a decent place. I had a grilled chicken pizza and it was absolutely delicious. We had some issues with our drinks, which the waitress fixed... twice. So that's really an issue with the quality of the bartender's mojitos. But it certainly wouldn't stop us from going back.
(3)Elise A.
This places rocks. Love the brunch and very friendly bartenders.
(5)Kirs P.
I admit it. I like yuppie pizza. If it has some strange cheese on it (gorgonzola, brie, goat, feta), fruit (cranberries, pears); and caramelized onions I'm pretty much in. Spinach and artichoke hearts aren't bad either. The Dogwood does yuppie pizza pretty darn good. They even give them yuppie names: Cypress, Sequoia, Evergreen, Magnolia and I'm partial to the Willow. (You can also order your plain ol' pepperoni if you want, for those pizza purists out there). I do have some issues with their price point. There should be a law somewhere: Mozzarella sticks cannot be more than $6.95. Period. $9 for fried cheese and thin marinara is a crime. So, as good as their pizza is- and their brunch- their $9 fried cheese lowers them to four stars.
(4)Molly W.
The Dogwood is a difficult one for me to rate... If I could, I'd give it 3.5 stars just because it's such a no-frills place - and that's OK! I would just never consider it a 5 star establishment. But it does have that neighborhood feel, some of the best brunch in town, and specials that keep us going there at least once a week. They have 3 huge flat screen tvs at the bar - and a cafe area with high-top tables that hold 4 people (which is our favorite). The big games are Always on - so it can get packed - but it's a really warm, laid back atmosphere - so it's worth it to wait a few minutes for a seat. Their weekend brunch is fantastic. They are very family friendly during the day and cater to the young adult scene at night. They also have a brick oven and an extensive pizza and beer list. Prices are reasonable Service can be slow And i swear, there is crack in the honey mustard dippin' sauce. Strap an I.v. on my arm fulla' that stuff, and i'll be good to go!!!
(4)Sam A.
I just treated myself to the Monte Christo Sandwich from the Dogwood brunch menu. There was a mistake on the order, so they replaced it and it was on the house! The sandwich was very good, and was well proportioned. Not too big or too small. Tasty home fries on the side. The atmosphere was was pub-style restaurant. The staff was friendly and attentive. It is right next to the Forrest Hills stop, and very close to the Arnold Arboretum. Great place to check out.
(4)Vanessa W.
Such a cozy, New England bar where you feel like a regular even if you've only come a couple of times. It just has that homey feel. And the food is yummy - lots of diversity on the menu, and a nice mix of maturity and simplicity in its dishes. Great for brunch as well. I hope I get to become a regular here.
(5)Don A.
The dogwood is a great place for brunch and breakfast on Saturday and Sunday mornings. I go every weekend and always see someone from the neghborhood that I know. Their pancakes are amazing, last time I was in I ordered One Bananna, One Chocolate Chip, and One Blueberry, along with the most amazing blody mary I have ever had. In the evenings their brick oven Pizzas are amazingly great, but some of their entres are hit or miss. As I live 2 blocks away I find myself ordering takeout pizza quite often. The atmosphere in the bar is great, nice woodwork and a great selection of beers on tap. There is a sign on the door that says propper attire required, but I have gone in there wearing ripped jeans and a stained T-shirt before. It makes me wonder who they are trying to keep out. Anyway for food and bar scene the place gets 3 maybe 4 stars, but breakfast on the weekends I give it eleven (thats right my scale goes all the way up to eleven). It is by far the best place around for breakfast on the weekends, far superior to any other place. I gave the place a 4 out of 5 solely because of the breakfast.
(4)Jennifer O.
Love it here. Love the bar, love the pizza and love the artwork. Its across the street from Forest Hills which makes for easy access. Go for dinner, you won't be disappointed.
(4)Jenna A.
I'm a big fan of going to the Dogwood Cafe for brunch on weekends. I tend to stick with what I know is good, so I always get the two eggs, homefries, and toast. (Just so you know, they have the best scrambled eggs I've ever had.) A full plate full of food for $6? How can you beat that? Well, I'd be happier if it included bacon.. but I'm not willing to pay an extra three bucks for three strips. Not worth it. The service is great. The waitresses are friendly, but not overly so. They must be psychic, too: if I'm thinking about asking for my glass to be refilled with water, the waitress appears with a pitcher before I get the chance to ask. Getting the check and paying by credit card is quick, too, but then again, I'm generally there when they first open and it's not busy. I do live in the neighborhood, so it's convenient for me to drop by in the morning, but if I moved further away, I'd still make my way over here now and then to grab some breakfast.
(5)Stephanie T.
what? i can't believe all these good reviews. throwing in my two cents (or two stars) just to even out the scale a little. overpriced - YES. pretentious - YES. service - i mean, NOT GOOD. when i go into a restaurant i want to hear "Yes!" can i sit in that booth? "NO" can i take those onions off my sandwich? "NO" can i get someone to help me find the pizza i ordered for pick up? "NO" what, are you kidding? i'm paying too much for booze, too much for food (though admittedly, lots of things on the menu are TASTY: veggie burger, mussels, meatloaf sandwich, salads, pizzas, almost everything is pretty tasty) i better be able to sit wherever i please and i better have a server who says YES YES YES, or is at least around when i need them. this restaurant isn't that great, maybe 3 stars, and minus one extra star for being the VERY LAST THING this neighborhood needs. tinted windows. seriously, everytime i walk by them i laugh at how ridiculous they are.
(2)Abbie T.
Oh, brunch, how I love thee.. and Dogwood has really good brunch. Lots of choices, and everything I've had is good. The decor is comfortable and inobtrustive, and they display works by local artists. Plus, there's just about always a table ready quickly, which works well for impatient people like me. They also have great non-brunch food, so I don't mean to downplay that. The fact that I tend to end up there for a hangover cure on a Sunday morning probably says more about me than it says about them. Whatevs, I highly recommend it!
(4)Tom N.
We've been here a couple of times and are new fans--it's a great addition to Forest Hills (and I remember the shitehole that used to exist here)! The menu is basic joint/pub food very well executed...friendly, prompt service, cozy atmosphere, well-priced menu that doesn't take itself too seriously (ala "bistro dudes and bitches")...will definitely go back--great drinks, superior food, good service!
(4)Liz E.
Great pizza. I highly recommend the Willow (carmelized onions, spinach, goat cheese, oh my!). Good beer selection. The cocktails looked great; I'll have to try one next time. Jill our waitress was fantastic.
(4)Griffith G.
I love to cook, and I love food! My friends have for years called our backyard the Dogwood Cafe because of the beautiful Dogwood tree that provides a cooling shade during the warm summer months. So when we realized that there was an actual Dogwood Cafe in the Boston area, we had to check it out. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, the kind of neighborhood hang out you would want to go to on those days when you get home and just can't face your own kitchen. (Hey, even though I love to cook, there are still those days when I really don't want to spend even a second in the kitchen.) I was first concerned when I noticed the length of the menu. I firmly believe that it's difficult to run a small restaurant with a large number of menu options. Our friendly waitress did recommend the pizzas, but I'm not a huge fan of the smokiness that comes from a wood/brick oven. I do love a good meatloaf, saw that they had sweet potato fries and my decision was made... meatloaf sandwich with the sweet potato fries (which were $2.00 extra.) My friends also ordered sandwiches, a simple burger and a turkey burger. Meatloaf was described "not like mom's meatloaf." Well, I would agree with that, my mom makes a fierce meatloaf, and this meatloaf had a mushy texture, and was poorly seasoned. The sweet potato fries lacked flavor and were over cooked, (which is not hard to do because of the sugar content of sweet potatoes.) The burger was over cooked and tasted like it had just come out of the freezer. The accompanying green beans may have been the most successful part of the meal. The turkey burger also appeared dry and like it just came out of the freezer. I was disappointed in the "other" Dogwood Cafe. The food we had, should have been simple, but it seems to have fallen victim to the idea of "more is better." If pizzas are your thing, stick with pizza and offer a few, simple well prepared alternative options. If your going to have a burger on the menu, make sure it's hand packed, fresh ground beef, seared on both sides to the customer's desired temperature. A meatloaf needs to be first and foremost about the meat. Seasonings should complement the inherent flavors of the food, not cover up what appeared to be a lack of quality. This restaurant is charming. The live music and family friendly atmosphere is exactly what I would love to see in my neighborhood. But in my opinion, careful editing of the menu and a focus on quality ingredients and simple preparation could make this an outstanding spot.
(2)Angelina C.
Hey, guys. It's getting late and I'm hungry. I want a burger and a Stella. No, I want an overpriced takeout burger and fries . . . and a Stella while I wait. Okay, the burger ends up being tasty and -- what? I can watch baseball and talk to some neighbors while I wait? Great! -- the fries were a little cold. Maybe because I had so much fun socializing I was unable to notice how long I waited for the food. At least I don't have to take the T back home. Try their flatbread pizza, cheap hot chocolate (best nightcap, ever!) and brownie sundae.
(4)Janie T.
I have never been treated so rudely as I was by the general manager. Having been a regular customer, one would have thought that they would appreciate customer loyalty but they don't. It is unwise to suggest or comment on service or your point of view. Rather than being diplomatic and appreciative of customer loyalty, the general manager will be rude and possibly deny you service. It is a shame.
(1)Drew W.
The menu is great, there's something for everyone on it. We had the pizza and I definitely recommend that. The beer and drink list is very impressive and the prices are good too. Our bartender was kind of rude, and she acted like we were putting her out when we asked for another round. We were eating at the bar and there was good music playing too. I would have given more stars if the bartender wasn't having issues that night.
(3)Shannon R.
I like the Dogwood. It recently got a face lift on the outside, and is warm, cozy and inviting on the inside with deep colored wood and local art. The food is consistent- everything on the menu is alright- I have tried mostly everything because I live about 200 feet away from the restaurant. There is nothing on the menu I would consider to be fantastic, or even REALLY good- it's all relatively generic- but that being said, everything is good. I have never gotten anything disgusting. I would say that for the quality of food and the portions, it is a bit expensive- but a major plus is the live music on Friday and Saturday evenings. The wait staff has always been pleasant and moderately attentive, they have a good knack for not bothering you too much while still coming around to check if you need a drink refill and whatnot- they have a good balance down. It's a pretty good spot for a first date or a dinner with some old friends. Just an overall solid restaurant.
(3)A J.
Best creamy peppercorn dressing and homemade croutons! However, they got rid of the small house salad, which is sad. (the menu has changed recently) The pizza is really good and there are many different toppings you can get. One of my favorite dishes is the Stuffed Portabello Caps, but it was not on the menu last time I went. Perhaps they will make it a special? I tried the veggie lasagna instead and it was really good. They have live music on the weekends and funky art on display. This place is really kid-friendly so expect to see a lot of little ones.
(5)Tracy C.
delicious southwest salad & buffalo chicken fingers... you have to try the slutty brownie, amazing!
(5)Anna B.
I think Monday is the night to go here. It wasn't crowded - or maybe that's because we went at 8. I have been a few times and have only tried 1 pizza but that's because I LOVE it (the Dogwood). I think the personal pizza - which is on the big side for a personal - is reasonably priced since you get dinner and tomorrow's breakfast out of it. Service is good, parking surprisingly easy. And the T's right across the street if you want to have a few beers.
(4)Ashley S.
the dogwood continues to impress me. i am a fan of: -their pizzas, especially ones with goat cheese (yum) -their warm tomato salad -their brunch. i usually go for savory choices, but i got the banana-stuffed french toast and it was delish! bloody marys are super horseradishy, but tasty.
(4)Brian D.
this is one of my all time favorites. it's had its ups and downs as all bars will with consistency of wait service and food quality but the bar staff has always been outstanding. Joanne and her team do a great job keeping the regulars happy and new guests wanting to come back for more. i dont really know about the sit down service other than the food will be good. pizzas are wood fired, try the palm with pineapple and prosciutto and the honey hot wings for an appetizer. to boot, it is right across the street from forest hills and if you really need to cash a check there is one of those shady check cashing joints right next door.
(5)Sueno S.
My boyfriend and I tried Dogwood recently because it was HIGHLY recommended by our couple friends... OMG can't wait to go back! I stuck to the basics and got eggs, homefries with toast but was disappointed when I saw the breakfast pizzas! FAV DRINK : Dogwood Sparkler - Champagne w/ Flower Liquor FAV APPETIZER : Broccoli Bites All round great service and great food makes this a no fuse MUST!
(4)Molly M.
I have never spent any time in Jamaica Plain but I may now. I truly enjoyed my experience at the Dogwood Cafe. Being a gluten free person you can only imagine my surprise when I walked in and saw gluten free beer on the menu and then was offered a gluten free menu. The service wasn't rushed and the staff was friendly and attentive. Someone even explained how they would cook the pizza so I would be assured that it was gf. The bar staff was friendly and all prices were reasonable. Thanks for a great experience!
(5)Alex F.
We live nearby and get take-out often. The bar is a great place to grab a bite and watch a game. Highlights include their Maple pizza with sausage and ricotta. Their pot stickers are fantastic, and the beet salad is always a safe bet as well. Cocktails here are fine. The service is mostly friendly and neighborly.
(4)Vanessa C.
My bf just moved to JP and we are in love with this place! The pizza is seriously soooo good and the decor is cozy and the theme is cute and you should just go and check it out. I forget what it's called, but the pizza with the sundried tomatoes (the Birch?) I believe is realllllllly good
(4)Cecilia L.
Decor and service are good enough, but the food here ranges from mediocre to bad. The menu is a yawn - your usual retinue of pizzas, sandwiches, pastas and dinner entrees. "Uninspired" is a polite way to describe the food, which seems premade and tastes like what you would expect from an American chain sports bar. At brunch, eggs benedict, steak and eggs and breakfast sandwich are passable if unremarkable, and coffee is frequently burned. Now a couple things are just gross: the breakfast pizza with eggs, bacon and sausage, and the huevos rancheros made with bacon, which just doesn't work at all.
(2)Kristen D.
I preface this by saying that I have been a customer for nearly 15 years. My one star is NOT a reflection of the food but of a menu item. My husband and I had our two kids in Saturday night in what is a regular routine. We have always been welcomed and the Dogwood is always family friendly until about 9pm. It was very uncomfortable when the dessert menu came and the first item was the "Slutty Brownie." I actually thought I had misread this. I grabbed the menu from my 10 year old and ordered for her. I was not prepared to try and explain the meaning of "slutty" with my pre-teen. "Slutty Brownie"? Come on. It is just so unnecessary. I did mention something to the manager and she was very receptive and understanding. I am no prude and could care less most of the time about what any given restaurant calls a menu item, but this was just out there considering the clientele. I am sure I am not the only parent or person for that matter that was taken aback by this. I do hope the Dogwood reconsiders the name and takes into account their varied age group of diners.
(2)Stacey C.
Everything at brunch is amazing here. The dogwood breakfast pizza, eggs, pancakes, hash browns, and the BEST- banana stuffed french toast! SSOOOO GOOD! Great staff, everyone is incredibly nice and friendly. The bartenders make a fantastic mimosa and my fav- the wake up call. There is also veggie bacon and sausage that is interchangeable for any of the real meat, so that is a big plus! Brunch here is the highlight of my week and I recommend it to everyone I know.
(5)Andrew H.
I like the Dogwood. Believe me, it brightens the neighborhood, especially being across from the Forest Hills T-stop. The thin crust pizza is good. You can watch a game on TV, or get away from the noise if you like. It's cool like that.
(4)Treasure H.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE THE DOGWOOD. I've been going there for years and I'm happy to report that it has consistently had high quality wait staff, food and atmosphere. Don't be scared away of it's Forest Hills Location, it's one of the best restaurants in JP. The pizzas are out of the world (I've had them all, on several occasions.)
(5)Justin C.
(3.5 stars) I have now been there twice and I am thinking this place might be a comfortable default destination for inexpensive eats and a few pints, or maybe to watch a game on one of the HDs TVs. It will also probably serve as a choice brunch spot for when friends and/or family are visiting. The word I keep coming back to while writing this is "comfortable". The DWC boasts pretty basic pub fare (with modest pizazz here and there), a friendly wait staff and a "halfway there" beer selection. Hopefully, repeat trips will solidify this status as a neighborhood staple.
(3)Sarah S.
I live mere blocks away from the Dogwood so therefore it's a staple in my diet, whether I like it or not. And that all depends on what day of the week it is as that business is more erratic than Lindsay Lohan. I want to shower this place with praise because I think their waitresses are so damn good and cute too. But really, y'all, the food is overpriced and sometimes just flat out not worth it. For instance, their pizza almost always makes my boyfriend and I poop all the next day. What's more, last week I got a sandwich with a baked potato but the potato was so damn waxy and not even cooked through that it wasn't even worth eating. My boyfriend's was the same. The only thing keeping me from sending it back was that we'd got our entrees to go. I got french fries there another week and the consistency of them was oddly chewy...not french fry-y at all. There are a bevy of other restaraunt faux pas the Dogwood has served up for me but I won't be negative. I'll tell you what to get when you go, and you will go, eventually: The honey hot chicken wings. Amazing! Turkey tips. And Brunch. All Saturday and Sunday til 3, choc full o' glory. It's JP's little secret that largely becoming known. It's cheap, it's good, do it.
(3)Frank B.
Have made this a regular place dinner and a couple drinks.Friday and Saturday evenings there is acoustic music which makes this even better. Daily specials are a great change from the regular menu.Staff are friendly and accommodating,has proven itself to be a great place for lunch or dinner ,
(4)Adam C.
When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. -- That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, -- That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. -- Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world. Dogwood is pretty good.
(4)Kate N.
I've been to Dogwood many times, but finally have decided not to go back. They recently changed their menu and a lot of favorites are no longer on there. Last night I went there and only had one other person with me out of a party of 4. The host wouldn't seat us without a full party, which is common and understandable, but on this night not even half of the restaurant was full. Let us just sit and order an app while we wait. Then when we were to be seated I asked if we could sit in a booth and was told that that they weren't seating anyone in that part of the dining room, even though there were at least two parties in there. So we were sat at a regular 4-top, the SAME table we would be sitting at if there were only two of us. I pointed this out to the host, he didn't seem to get it. Then we waited while we saw waitresses pass us multiple times before one even acknowledged our presence. I get you may be busy, but a simple, "I'm just delivering some food, I'll be with you in a sec," would've been nice. I then asked for a change to goat cheese on my salad to which I was informed there would be a $2 up charge. The previous menu had a goat cheese salad which was the same price as the one I ordered. I hate restaurants that nickel and dime. On top of this there were many kids from at least two parties running around everywhere! I know this is to do with their parents, but this is the third time - in a row - that I've had kids running around me, standing next to me while I eat, and yelling in my face at this restaurant. Not once has a waiter, host, or manager asked the parents to take control. Not only is it ruining my experience, but it's dangerous for the staff to have kids under foot. Lastly, our final bill was $80.20 for four people. That's $20 and a few cents for each person. We gave four cards (I know that can be annoying) and told her, for brevity's sake, $20 each please. She literally did that and left $0.20 remaining. I have no problem putting two dimes down, but seriously? Duh. And to top it off, those booths I wanted to sit in but was told no? They had new parties sitting in them when I left! Lame experience overall.
(1)Dara S.
Above average beer selection and fun cocktails paired with incredibly delicious and well priced food that is also just a little adventurous, which I love. I had apple cider sangria last fall when I was in there. I love seasonal drinks. I also love fresh cider. And mmmm their brunch. Pizza for breakfast, yes please! I was reluctant to write a review about this place because I like to think it is my favorite hidden gem. It is where I bring out of town guests to show them what JP is all about. The inside is warm and cozy. It really is a very "neighborhoody" place so don't be surprised to young families dining next to recent college grads. But again - it just adds to the charm. Keep up the great work Dogwood. (And keep this one on the DL please, I don't like having to wait to sit down)
(4)Jackie S.
great and interesting pizza options. it seems out of place in forest hills, but if you should ever find yourself nearby i recommend stopping in.
(4)Finn M.
Great food, great atmosphere. I went here with a friend on a Saturday and there was a packed bar, live music, and lots of little kids in the seating area. To my shock, none of this proved annoying: kids were rapt with the food, musician was enjoyable, and bar patrons were well-behaved. Food and beer selections were varied and tasted great. Portion sizes are reasonable, which is selfishly frustrating, because the food is good enough to leave you wanting more. I recall some signs on the wall proclaiming the blueberry pie to be award-winning; I wasn't floored by it, but it was certainly very good, and you've gotta appreciate a restaurant that lets you finish off a meal with a nice big slice of blueberry pie. Great for dates and for families, a rare -- and winning -- combination.
(4)Ben B.
A much needed and wonderful new addition to the Forrest Hills area, The Dogwood Cafe almost sticks out in an area, up until recently, which has been known more for it's faults, rather then it's positive aspects. With a diverse menu and large drink selection, there is something on the menu for everyone. Furthermore, when I was there last night, the added touch of live acoustic music further accentuated the laid back atmosphere of Dogwood. The food itself was tasty, and the service was friendly. I'd recommend Dogwood to anyone who lives in the West Roxbury/Jamaica Plain area as a nice alternative to the more pretentious eateries found in elsewhere in the city.
(4)Amy S.
The Dogwood is the first eating/drinking establishment I have encountered with a smoky bathroom that wasn't the result of cigarettes or weed. The potties smell like brick ovens. This is not the defining characteristic of the Dogwood, though! Oh no. The Dogwood happens to have excellent fahncy pizzas, Anchor Steam on tap (no way!), and these amazing little personal-sized (or couple sized, if you're pretending to be modest about your pie consuming abilities) blueberry pies that are the tastiest damn things ever. They bring them to your table piping hot a la mode. Yes yes yes. The Dogwood also has an extensive menu of average looking American food that you could make yourself for much less money, but that most people seem to enjoy eating in restaurants. I prefer to stick with brick oven pizzas since theirs are damn tasty and I don't think I'm getting a brick oven installed in my pad anytime soon. It's definitely worth a stop if you're in the neighborhood.
(4)Nathan F.
I've only been to Dogwood twice, both kind of late night for drinks and pizza. I dont know if they have a more expanded menu but late night you get a pretty good appetizer and pizza selection. They have some nice beers on tap and can probably make any mixed drinks you want (including Flirtini). there was a guy playing acousitc guitar songs at a slighter higher than tolerable volume. the service was great and the waitress didn't even complain about our over use of credit cards. i guess my only complaint with Dogwood is that you think you're getting gourment pizza but really its just ordinary pizza with fancy sounding toppings. the crust is good but cheese and sauce is just mediocre.prices are very fair. so it's basically a friendly place that would be worth a visit if you live in the area.
(3)Daniel W.
Horribly overrated. Had the Dogwood Breakfast Pizza with coffee for brunch; the pizza had no taste and the coffee was weak and I could see through it. To cap it off, service was poor, see out waiter three times the hour we were there.
(2)Evan H.
This was by far was one of my worst restaurant experiences that I've had in awhile... we went on a Saturday night with a bunch of friends to celebrate a birthday. We had awful service. period. We were told that the cooks do not do adjustments to the menu during busy times... this was after the waitress came back to me two different times after finding out that they ran out of certain things. sorry no more twice baked potatoes... then I asked with the mashed potatoes can we just add bacon and cheese to them, sorry No. Then when I asked for the prime rib to be medium rare, it came out completely brown and dry. I could pick it up with my fingers and could not feel any moisture. gross... Then when I complained, (had to grab another server to get our waitress, to even be able to complain about it), i was told they were out of prime rib, the last one was ordered about 5 mins ago...then she asked if I wanted anything else. I immediately asked for the steak tips because I knew if she left, I probably wouldn't see her in another 15min. she never even asked how our food was initially...also when the steak tips came out, this was after having to ask again what happened to my second order because it was taking so long. I had to tell her I didn't even want the food because the entire dinner party was already done eating. she said it would be just a few more minutes...still a super long wait, then when then steak tips came, that were burnt... when I asked for rare... also to complained that I had to wait because she came back so infrequently. the slowest, unsatisfying, most awful service meal, I've had in a very long time... I had great friends with me so at least the music and conversation was really great. the sangria was decent. one of my friends had to ask a couple times, the waitress said she already put it in, the second time she came around. odd that her husband got his drink the first time around, she would have to wait around for after the second time around.... odd, isn't it? we even had a small ice cream cake that we brought ourselves.. and that took forever to come out... having to ask multiple times for something that they didn't have to cook? even then having to ask and wait for spoons after it was brought out... the server already had the guaranteed 20% tip due to the over 6 party size... she thankfully took off the two appetizers and my meal off from the bill. but even paying the bill took almost an hour. when couples from the group leave cash and go because it's taking so long for the bill to be even picked up... you know it's a long time... I've worked in food service as a server before I'm usually very forgiving because I know it's a tough job. This was by far, one of the worst food experiences in a restaurant that I've had in Boston in years.
(1)Victoria J.
Solid burgers, pizzas, and pulled pork. The service here can be a little brisk, but that's something I've become accustomed to - just refill my beer when my glass is empty please. I totally dig the breakfast pizza for lunch - bacon, scrambled eggs, and cheese. Not too shabby. Wouldn't say no to Dogwood should be suggested.
(3)Mitsy C.
The selection was intriguing. I liked the ambiance--definitely felt like a local neighborhood spot. I wouldn't say that the food blew me away--I ordered the turkey burger and my friend order the salad--but I enjoyed it and felt it was on par with the price. I would recommend as a "let's grab dinner--we should invite Susie too" kind of place. There was live music when I went, and the guitarist was quite talented, so kudos.
(4)Ian S.
Really Dogwood?! well, thanks for the most depressing and miserable lunch i've had in years. went in for a quick bite at the bar - the food was great, service was fine, until i asked her to put subtitles on the television. Why not? There were only about 10 customers in there, and the music was so quiet all i heard for my entire lunch was the sous chef chopping from the kitchen. The bartender told me she wasn't allowed to turn on subtitles! ARE YOU KIDDING ME? upon a customer request?? So I sat there in this dead silent pub, thinking about the crappy food but great atmosphere at the Galway house. I asked again about subtitles, just give me some stimulation - nope, can't do it. Finally, as i paid my bill, I asked to speak to a manager. Bartender went, came back, oh, she's in a meeting, she'll be out soon. REALLY? Customer wants to talk to you and you can't be bothered?? Who's important to the restaurant? The customer!! I've been going to the dogwood for over 15 years, granted not too often, but i certainly won't be going there for lunch. It was so sad. SO SAD. Really Dogwood, what the hell is wrong with you? oh, and why has your website menu been offline for over 6 months?? Really Dogwood? Really??????
(2)Fernanda P.
I love this place. Love the interior and the lice music. They changed the menu and I feel there were more options before, but they said they can still make the blue burger even if it's not on the menu. The service is not terrible, but I have to agree that it's slow. It seems they take their time to place your order and rarely check on you. The portions were bigger before. I've been going to this place for a long time and always had to bring food home bc I was full. I went there last week, ordered chicken marsala (which was phenomenal), but left the place hungry.. even after the dessert. Please, waiters, try to be quicker and more attentive to your customers. Please, kitchen, give more food to your customers
(4)Julie B.
I found myself in Jamaica Plain on Sunday morning and decided to venture into the Dogwood Cafe for some brunch. There was a lot to choose from on the menu and a nice brunch drink list. I ended up ordering a pomosa (mimosa with pomegranate juice instead of orange) which I had never heard of, and the buffalo chicken wrap. The drink was decent but came in a martini glass which my hangover-induced shaky hands couldn't really handle. The wrap was nothing to write home about but certainly got the job done. Our waitress was adorable and super sweet. She did make a mistake with the bill though but happily fixed it as soon as we pointed it out. I'd come back again if I was in the area but it's nothing I'd travel too far for.
(3)Kelly B.
This review is long overdue. Oh how I wish I could live in the place, the food, the beer, the staff you can't ask for a better atmosphere. We actually had our rehearsal dinner here last summer (they blocked off a section of the restaurant for us how awesome!!) and Joanne the manager is THE best truly allowed us to make the dinner our own with the food and beer. I honestly can't say enough about this place it's a gem!
(5)Jess A.
The Dogwood has got some damn good food, considering it's location in Shanty-town. You could never go wrong with their pizza, the beer list is extensive, and there's plenty of options. Burgers, mac and cheese, and hey the brunch menu looks fabulous (and is super affordable)! That being said, $6 for a Stella??? $16 for a 14 inch pizza? Overpriced... Service is touch and go.... Sometimes they're great, sometimes you have to track the waitress down to get a fork, or a refill on your drink, or a plate for your appetizer, etc etc. Lastly, sometimes the atmosphere is pretty shit-tastic. You do NOT want to go on a night where a "musician" is performing... who wants to hear Edwin McCain's "I'll Be" while trying to eat dinner? Overall... tasty food. Cheap for brunch, otherwise a little pricey. Service is a maybe. If you get dessert, get the Blondie. It's super dank!!
(3)Romney D.
Let me start off by saying, I haven't been here. Why am I writing a review? This will be based on the service I received over the phone. I'm huge on customer service and if I get a bad vibe over the phone, RED FLAG. I'm an organizer of a group on meetup.com , with about 100+ members & since my pregnancy I haven't been very active. So I wanted to plan a brunch where I can meet some new members and etc. I was really excited about this place and thought it would be PERFECT. I called Tuesday to make an appointment and the manager there was initially nice and told me that she would be able to fit our party of 20 at 11am, but not at the time I wanted of 1pm. She explained that this was their busiest brunch and she would be able to better accommodate us at 11am. I was a little irked by this because, it's brunch, it will be busy no matter what. I called back Thursday to confirm everything and spoke with a different manager who told me that not only would we need to be there by 11 but we have to be gone by 12:30. 20 people!? By 12:30 I expect we'll be just getting our food. She told me that we are more than welcome to go to the bar but we have to be done by 12:30. What the hell!? So not only do you want me to bring 20 people and rush them to order, eat and be done by 12:30, you then want us to go to your bar and spend more money after we just rushed to eat? I think not. I'd rather take my group of 20 people elsewhere. Your loss Dogwood.
(1)Judy H.
The 3 stars are for the food. I love the pizza and the Black and blue burger De-lish. But don't go on a Friday night. It's family night, which would be ok because parents need to de-stress too, but Good Lord, it is bedlam ! Look , I know toddlers dancing to live music is cute, but in the path of the waitress ? How cute would he be with hot mozzarella on his head ? And these are not your regular folk, but the free sprited " let my brat express himself by annoying every one in the world" type of parents. I gave up and left. Avoid Fridays until after 9 and it will be great.
(3)Opal L.
This is a nice place for brunch on the weekends. It's not overly crowded or noisy so you can actually have a conversation without screaming your head off. Maybe it's because I'm getting old but those places that are so noisy that you have to scream to have a conversation, are not for me. This place is like the Doyle's for the locals. All the tourists go to Doyle's while the locals go to Dogwood for better food. The exotic pizzas can be good for dinner. The barbecue chicken was good too but I had that many years ago. Recently, I've been going there for brunch and remember that the breakfast food was nicely done. The portions were reasonable without being too large (or too small). The burgers are pretty impressive with nicely cooked beef patties. I liked the bread, which was not your regular sesame seed bun a la Micky D's. It was not extra fancy but tasted like it was recently baked. I'm also a fan of their chipotle mayo, which is one of their many options that can be added on to any of their burgers. At my most recent visit, I was with 4 friends and we decided to share one serving of blueberry pie with ice cream. They brought us this small round pie with whipped cream and ice cream on top. I had to ask, "is this one serving?" and it was! Anyway, there was enough to go around and it was very good. The blueberries were definitely fresh. The only reason I'm not giving 5 stars is because the friend who ordered huevos rancheros was not 100% impressed. Apparently, the salsa tasted like it came from a can or jar and it was not as great as the last time she had it. Other than that, this is a nice casual place to have a small or large gathering.
(4)heidi l.
usually decent service, though on my husband's birthday they got the order wrong three times. Pizzas are quite good here. Most of the dishes Ive had here were not disappointing.
(3)Marta C.
Delicious pizza. Terrible service. I went here for lunch with co workers. The place was almost empty and we were seated quickly, but the waitress took her time waiting on us. I was in the bathroom when she took my co workers drink orders, and when she brought them their drinks, she neglected to ask me if I wanted anything. I had to yell after her as she was walking away. After our food came, she ignored us. Our drinks weren't refilled (and I really needed another coke) and we had to send up a flare to get our bill. On the upside, our pizza was excellent. I would almost go back just for the pizza, but maybe I'd bring my own drinks and enough cash so that I could just leave it on the table.
(2)Missy S.
We tried a bunch of pizzas and they all were terrible. Way too much garlic on the pesto pizza and the rest of them were just luke-warm and over-cooked all at the same time. Perhaps we hit this place on the wrong night, because it was recommended by a friend... at least the pumpkin beers were deliciously cold and rimmed appropriately with cinnamon and the sweet potato fries were actually out of this world.
(2)Sarah M.
Oh Dogwood. I still love you regardless of your mediocrity and expensive drink prices, but for the love of god bring back the old breakfast potatoes. Just because you cook something in bacon grease doesn't make it better and it makes the vegetarians sad. The old potatoes were perfect. The new ones are a solid meh.
(3)Kurt M.
Man, I've got really mixed feelings about the Dogwood. On the one hand, I've had dinner here a couple times and found the food overpriced, the beer overpriced and the selection adequate. I've had the pizza there twice and the first time it was okay and the second time our pizza was served lukewarm and when we asked to have it reheated, it still came back lukewarm. I will say that the server was apologetic about it, however. You can definitely get better pizza for a cheaper price at other places in JP. On the other hand, I had brunch here the other day and it was great. I had the huevos rancheros and the portion size was good for the price. The server was friendly and attentive. The food was really tasty and looked great, too. So my advice is, when moving, try asking some friends for help instead of hiring professional movers...uh, I mean, try the brunch. (So tired...)
(3)Mike O.
This is what a JP pub should be about: great beer, not overly crowded, and food that's marginally better than good. In the distant enclave that is Forrest Hills such a bar resides, that you can get breakfast, lunch, and dinner at a reasonable price. That the staff will actually pay attention to you too, regardless if you have tattoos and flannel (or not), but suck down one too many Ommegangs and you might be a far ways from Kansas, Dorothy. At night the Forrest Hills train station is not as bustling as one would think so getting a cab out of here may not be your best option. Ideal for an intimate chat over a couple of pops without the pretentiousness of other more common area hot spots, Dogwood will not disappoint.
(4)Jenn K.
Been twice. Didn't care for the place for brunch...but loved going on a Sunday night. We waited awhile for brunch and it wasn't great. But the 2nd time, Friendly waitress who didn't try rushing us out on a Sunday night, even thou we were only ordering a couple drinks. Big TVs all around for the game. I'd def go back.
(4)Sage L.
I've been here twice, first time I got the potato gnocchi with lobster with the spinach and artichoke dip as an appetizer. The falafel chips are great for dipping, and both times the lobster was cooked perfectly. Second time I got scallops with pomegranate risotto and it was great...but I loved the gnocchi so much it clouded my palate. Nice atmosphere even with a sports game on. Be sure to make a reservation
(4)Michael C.
Love this place; easy parking for the most part, great food, excellent service, a wonderful atmosphere and reasonable prices. What's not to love? The pizza is top flight with a thin crust, a great selection of toppings and it always arrives right from the oven. Salads are large and fresh. These guys make a mean martini, generous in size and perfectly mixed. Service is always prompt and friendly. Great place to sit at the bar if you are by yourself for dinner or a drink.
(5)Kacey B.
I will return here again soon, and I've already been here more than a few times. It's my local go-to (with James's Gate) for good food and beverages. Atmosphere is very pleasant, they didn't have to re-design it but they did and it has an even cozier vibe. Food is tasty and beverage selection is excellent. Service has been good as well, never any problems and I'm usually at the bar.
(4)Katie K.
We go here for the pizza. It's the best in JP -- crust is crispy on the outside but soft on the inside; fresh, flavorful toppings... we especially love the spruce (topped with fresh arugula and prosciutto), and the willow (caramelized onions, spinach and goat cheese. They also have a large selection of beers on tap. However.... the few times we ventured away from pizza and tried the entrees, we have been disappointed. I ordered scallops once and they had a fishy, unfresh flavor; the risotto was flavorless... We're not into brunch, so I can't comment on the brunch menu. Also, we have found the service to be very inconsistent. On our last visit, we were impressed that our server, Lauren, was both very friendly and competent. Prior to her, we've experienced lots of servers with attitudes, one that was nice but didn't know how to wait tables... My advice would be to go for great pizza and beer and don't expect good service -- if you get it, you'll be pleasantly surprised.
(4)KitKat J.
Have to update. Was in the other day after a while and the whole place has been re-done on the inside. Did not like it. It went from warm and cozy with the wood chairs and benches with that great "bar feel" to stuffy looking and dark with really bad suede (why suede?) chairs and benches. I miss the old look. Not very inviting anymore.
(3)Big B.
Been there a few times, last of which was a week ago. OK enough of a place but a bit overpriced for what it is and what they serve. More like an upscale pub without the scale. Stuffed five adults (a couple of whom were plus-sized and another who was 80) at a wobbly table and hard, tiny chairs. And we had reservations. Ordered the "Diver Scallops with Summer Vegetable Risotto" for $17 which was made up of exactly three scallops placed on top of a small bed of undercooked risotto with no real discernable vegetables involved, which looked rather skimpy served in such a huge bowl. More of an appetizer portion. I was tempted to ask, "Did they forget something?" Started with a Manhattan from the bar which was made incorrectly as well. And garnished with a...lemon? For the price you can do better in the area.
(3)Abner R.
Great place on this side of JP. JP Mule & bourbon tips are my personal faves. Good bar, usually hosts local artist installations. Undergoing renovations to accommodate large parties; strange choices making it feel like a TGIF or a chain of sorts. Still a wonderful place, hope it doesn't lose it's charm.
(4)Ashley A.
I've had two excellent meals here, a great burger and an excellent thin crust pizza with many different and unusual toppings (something like goat cheese and sun dried tomatoes). I'd recommend it for the food. There's a young crowd that gives the dimly lit room a hip feel that some might enjoy. It's not a place for a serious or romantic meal, unless you find the prospect of being shoulder to shoulder with attractive 20 and 30 something's romantic. But it is a great place for stopping after work to grab a beer and some good food -- and maybe meeting some friends in the neighborhood. There are other local spots that I like better -- because they're not as bustling and noisy. So I won't be hanging out here very much. But upon reflection -- that may be another plus for others -- who wants to hang out with me?!
(4)Lisa L.
What has happened to this place? We had one of the worst pizzas we've ever had last night. This thing had to be made with a frozen pre made dough and then covered with what I assume was tomato sauce, hard to tell since it had no flavor. Sadly the two additional toppings didn't help much. I've had better pizza at T stations. The pizza was so bad it was kind of funny, funny that is until you realize you just spent $18 on it. Did I mention that it was on the small side too? Well it was. Too bad because we used to like their pizza.
(1)Jared S.
Brunch: Mediocre food, terrible service. Dinner: Mediocre food, mediocre service. Decent beer list.
(2)Mai L.
Seems like this restaurant is unequipped and do not know how to run a business. Came here on a moderately busy Saturday evening 6pm with a few friends. They kept running out of things. Ordered the special of the night--prime rib, rare which came with a preset side of loaded twice-baked potatoes. Waitress had to tell us they ran out of that (at 6pm, really? ok) Then prime rib came out DRY and well done. Had to flag down our waittress to have them send it back. A few minutes later, she returned to inform us that they ran out of prime rib. Alrighty, so we order steak tips instead, rare. Server told us they'll make that right away b/c the rest of our party got their food already. 20-30 minutes later, everyone was done eating and we still have not gotten our rare steak tips. Waittress never came by to update us on status of our order. Was about to cancel it but she said they're coming right out. Ok, fine. Waited another five minutes and here they are! Except cooked medium rare when rare was requested. That's still better than my friend's steak tips which came out like hard bricks when ordered to be rare. Steak tips were supposed to come with broccolini, which I love but they must've run out cuz they gave me squash. Another friend ordered risotto, which tasted like brown rice. They must've run out of risotto too? The only highlight--They didn't charge us for our entrees. Probably cuz they knew we'd raise hell if they did. Server was friendly enough, understandably it wasn't her fault and she was apologetic. However, there was another fiasco come time to pay the bill. They don't do split checks but can take multiple credit cards. Great. Except that also took her another 20 min because she came back to say she couldn't figure out how to split it cuz of the automatic 20% tip? She then said she'll try again. Comes back to say we were also short but we calculated everything before hand and know the total added up. We just paid the difference but later on realized we DID overpay. In the end, I guess we pay for our horrible entrees. Overall-incompetent and unprepared kitchen and manager. How can you run out of so many items around 6pm on a Saturday? Why should it take over 30 min to make RARE steak tips that you are putting a rush order on? Definitely not going back.
(1)Michelle K.
Visited Boston for the first time with my BF this past weekend and stopped here for dinner with lovely new friends. I haven't had meatloaf in years, so I chose to give it a shot and boy, was I pleasantly surprised! Their meatloaf could potentially feed two but with my huge appetite, I was able to finish off my plate with the help of my fellow table mates. Their mashed potatoes are superb and their clam chowder is just right. I liked how the restaurant was very kid-friendly and family oriented. Coincidentally, there was a talented guitarist jammin' on his guitar while we all listened, danced and enjoyed the overall vibe the restaurant had to offer. Definitely check this place out if you're in the Jamaica Plain area! Two thumbs up!!
(4)Angel S.
We had a decent breakfast at this Jamaica Plain spot. Good selection, fairly priced, and service is excellent. The Dogwood scramble featured fresh ingredients (three eggs with peppers, onions, sausage, and cheddar), although the taste was not too memorable. Portions, moreover, are on the smaller side. I like the laid back, unpretentious atmosphere.
(3)Nora P.
Went here due to rave reviews on yelp. Pizza-we had the Maple-was nothing to write home about. Just another mediocre restaurant, as far as I'm concerned.
(3)L-Train A.
The first time we went here it was pretty good and we were looking forward to it as a place to maybe go watch baseball and cancel cable and get off of Comcast's teat. The second time we went here was right after the place down the street was firebombed so it reeked of smoke and the food and service was treading slightly above lousy. We were sad and didn't go back for months. The third time we went here we stumbled in wasted at 2 am and danced to one song. Apparently they clear out the tables and have a DJ sometimes. Then we went the other night and had a really nice experience. The service was great, they have good $5 glasses of wine, I had a good salad with lots of goat cheese on it and a side of garlic mashed potatoes. The food is not mind blowing, but it is pretty good and it's a nice solid pub that has lots of beautiful wood everywhere. They have a pretty great brunch as well.
(3)Melissa C.
I don't understand why others are dissing the service here. I used to live in JP and came here all the time, I still go back from time to time even though I dont live in the area because I really like this place. Its really cozy, they have a great beer selection, and the food is yummy. I only gave them 4 stars instead of 5 because I find that for the kind of food it can be pricey and the area (across the street from Forest Hills T-station) is kind of sketchy. This is a nice place to come and sit at the bar and sip a glass of wine and watch a football game in the winter, and I enjoy taking my family (especially my dad) here on a Friday night for their live acoustic music. My now fiance and I had one of our first dates here- we came here for dessert (cake) after walking around Jamaica Pond and the Arboretum. I've never come in for brunch, but after reading other reviews I would definitely like to sometime. I do see a lot of families in here, couples with young children- so it seems to be a nice family place as well. I think of this place and the years I lived in JP in grad school and feel all nostalgic. I suggest calling ahead, because it can be a long wait otherwise. The Dogwood holds a special place in my heart :)
(4)Cori K.
I live around the corner from the Dogwood and have gone there several times. It is a great casual place where anyone is welcome from babies to grandmothers. The service has always been good. The waitresses are friendly and efficient. I have never been for brunch but the dinner and lunch menus are good. The pizza is great. I have also had some of the sandwiches and the turkey tips which are pretty good. It is not the best food you will ever have but I think the price is reasonable and the casual atmosphere is nice. They also always have an interesting selection of beer on tap.
(4)Rinaldo D.
Dogwood has become a mainstay of my brunch circuit. I have been there a few times for dinner as well, and while both are good I prefer breakfast. The menu has a lot of comfort food with a stepped up twist. They have a rotating list of craft beers and special dishes which keeps thing lively. Worth checking out.
(3)Jonathan F.
Good bar-type food, nice atmosphere and decent drink selection.
(4)Katie M.
If you can find your way through the maze of the Forest Hills T stop and miraculously end up coming out of the right exit (took me 3 tries), the Dogwood is RIGHT THERE, conveniently located at the bottom of the hill and across from the T... I went for brunch and met a friend. At 12:30 on a Saturday, the place wasn't crowded at all, although bustling enough that I was reassured this place was good. The vibe inside is relaxed and unfussy. Our waitress was really sweet and discussed the benefits of various egg-cooking styles for the huevos rancheros with me at length once I pressed her for more info. After much deliberation, I picked scrambled. The dish was tasty, with enticing slices of avocado, and came with ample ketchup/sour cream. The potatoes were very simple, diced big and fried well. Nothing fancy --the wow-factor wasn't big, but I was happy and full! All in all a pretty great laid back brunch spot.
(4)Robert D.
We love the Dogwood - kid-friendly but still maintains a cool vibe. The friendliest staff you'll find anywhere, and great specials. Pizza is delicious - thin, crispy crust. Live music can be a bit loud at dinner but is a welcome addition. And sans kids, sit at the bar - love the bartenders here.
(4)Ben K.
I live up the hill from Dogwood and it's a favorite of my 'hood, for sure. Especially against its sketchy neighbors (I love the coffee shop- don't get me wrong!), it stands out as a classy affordable nice place to grab a beer and some quality food. The live music is great, although it can't be so loud at times that it becomes hard to catch up with your friends. Service is great, beer selection fantastic, wood-brick oven pizzas superb.
(4)Jesse F.
Always loved the food and the ambiance at this place, just wished it was a bit less pricey
(4)s s.
I believe the Dogwood can be all things to all people. Casual pub where you can watch the game, intimate in a back booth with low lighting for a date, great for big groups at brunch, and you'll find every high chair in use early on a Saturday night when families bring their tots to bop to the music. Excellent neighborhood place with a varied menu that can accommodate all price points.
(4)A. T.
Steak & eggs cooked to a perfect medium: four stars. Sketchy neighborhood surrounding the restaurant: meh. Waitress got my order wrong but when I pointed it out she immediately apologized and happily took it back and swapped it out: plus one star.
(5)Alyssa N.
I couldn't resist the siren song of their pancakes and came back two days in a row. The lovely manager told me that the chef mixes up his own secret recipe of some sort for the dreamy, fluffy pancakes. The pancakes are fresher and better tasting than anything I could ever make at home. (I feel odd going to brunch and paying $$ for french toast or etc... that I could make myself). Decent brunch options for veggies and carnivores alike. The breakfast pizza seemed fresh and my dining companion very much enjoyed it. I've been here for dinner a few times too. The non-brunch foods, pizza, pastas, and etc..., are pretty yummy as well. On one visit, I was a bit appalled that my $2.50 OJ was served in a kiddie-sized glass. The Bellini I had on another trip was yummy, though slightly skimpy when it came to the fresh peach nectar that was in it.
(4)Nate K.
How much as Jamaica Plain changed over the past four years? Well when i first moved to Boston in 2002, JP was considered on the fringe - today it has some of the best restaurants in the Hub. Among them is Dogwood Cafe - the brickoven pizza very good and they toppings are high quality. Rumor has it there is live music and the burgers are worth trying as well. Insiders note: the sweet sausage (on pizza) is great!
(4)Mark S.
The Dogwood is the coziest place in my hood for sure. I have been here a handful of times and there is always a relaxed vibe to the place. A friend put it nicely by saying, "It's a great place to go during a snowstorm." I couldn't agree more. A thing about restaurants that is overlooked by a lot of people is the lighting aspect of it. Dogwood just seems to do it right. They have small light fixtures over the tables and lit candles all around the restaurant. It's a great place to watch the game in a laid-back atmosphere. The pizza here is quite impressive. It is a thin crust brick oven with a nice zesty sauce. They serve the pizza on top of a large can of tomato sauce which is a little off putting but with pizza this good I can overlook that. Service can be iffy but the last time I went I had a lovely and attentive waitress. I have also had the brunch and was quite impressed with the breakfast burrito with wonderfully savory home fires and the pancakes are huge with a lot of fruit infused into each buttery bite of breakfast cake. They also have a decent beer selection. I had a nice Stove pipe porter that had a nice smokey flavor to it. I also tried the Dogwood Ale which is a bit hoppy but if that's your thing you'll love it.
(4)Jenny M.
This place always looks like it is closed, but don't be deceived. It is such a cutie little place. I love the beer selection and they have a great spicy bloody mary. I think I've had a something else like a cranberry mimosa or something like that, which was good too. Usually go for lunch on the weekends. Good burgers and breakfasts. I went there once for dinner, i was sick, we got pizza and it was good. The crust was a bit bland, I wish it had like garlic or something on it. I like their dumplings and it comes with a yummy soy/gingery sauce that I want to drink it is so good! The service is spotty at best. I've been forgotten about, dishes tried to be cleared before I've even gotten my meal...but it is close to my place and the food is good so I go every few months.
(4)William L.
Me and my special lady went here last night and really enjoyed it. Service was fine and the food was great. We split some potstickers and both got salads that were particularly delicious. Good ingredients, well thought out pairing and just the right size. We'll be going back to try some of their entrees and pizza I am sure. The overall atmosphere is pretty cool too. Somewhere between sports bar (3 flat screens) and fancy restaurant (cloth napkins and candles on all the tables).
(4)Paul M.
Probably the best place to get some food and beers in the forest hills area. Pizza is ok, dogwood ale is pretty good. I really wish they served food past 11pm.
(3)h g.
Before a lovely day of basking in the sun at the Arnold Arboretum, my girlfriend and I headed to Dogwood for Sunday brunch. Since I had heard rave reviews of Dogwood pizza, I ordered the Willow--an awesome pick for Goat Cheese and or Onion Fans--I loved it. My girl ordered Eggs Benedict, which was pretty standard EB, no compliants yet nothing to write home about. I must agree with the other reviwers that the service left something to be desired, both my girlfriend and I were very thirsty throughout the meal--our drinks werent refilled once! I was also overcharged on the bill, but it was quickly corrected once I pointed it out. I gotta give this place 4 stars, but only because the pizza is so good--in this case the good food makes up for the bad service. I also really liked the visiting artists that is currently up--nice stuff!
(4)Beck N.
I love how the brick oven smell fills my nose when I walk in. The times we've been there on Friday nights, they even have a guy playing guitar & singing tunes from Garfunkel to John Mayer -- his voice is so soothing it doesn't detract from dinner conversation. Their pizza is unbelievably yummy & they serve it on top of big tomato cans =)
(5)Nicole M.
best place to bring the kids around 6 on a saturday night!!!! the little ones love the live music and there are so many children you don't have to worry about bothering anyone.
(5)Mark C.
I am such a fan of the Dogwood. I go there three to four times a month. The staff is great and remember your name and drink if you sit at the bar enough. Its a great place to go with friends or to sit at the bar when you can't stand the thought of microwaving one more Trader Joes entree. The wood fire baked pizza is the star here, but over the years the other entrees and specials have really evolved beyond the category of pub grub. One of my favorites is the Pasta with Vodka sauce, I usually have it with the seared scallops, awesome
(4)Liz K.
AWESOME local restaurant with good food, good drinks and nice waitstaff. I love going to local places in my neighborhood of JP and Dogwood is one of my favorites. The food is always good - including delicious pizza. They also have a good selection of beers on tap and the bar area plays all the local sports games. Another great aspect of this place is on Friday and Saturday nights, they have live music. It's usually a guy with his guitar which is much better than the annoying kind of super loud/ bad band loud music. I don't have kids but there are always lots of families there and the kids really seem to enjoy the music. I've also been later in the evening, however and there are obviously less kids and more of a vibrant bar scene. All in all - I highly recommend Dogwood!
(4)Allison C.
I love the Dogwood. Okay...so I'll admit that it sometimes it can take a while to get served a beer, but the staff is all very very friendly. the appetizers and pizza are fairly priced and usually delicious. keep an eye out for specials and the beer of the month. oh, and they have a new desert menu!
(4)Sybil D.
As the mother of a very sweet, yet boisterous 15 month old, I have struggled to find a place other than Applebee's where she is welcomed with open arms... until we hit the Dogwood. Prior to being a mom, I'd always noticed kids here and there at the Dogwood, but I never knew that they actually liked kids... at least that's the way they seem. On Saturday nights, the early dinner crowd seems to be mostly families from the JP area, the aging hipsters that still like good food, good service and a selection of good beer, but also happen to have a kid or two. Add a guy playing family friendly covers on acoustic guitar and a little space for my little one to dance, its a great night out for the family. If you don't have kids, this is still a great place to go... I mean, most of us parents are responsible enough to get our kids home at a reasonable hour, thereby minimizing your exposure!
(4)Grace W.
Our brunch was overpriced and unsatisfactory. The service was poor. The blueberry pancakes had very few blueberries, and were served with fake maple syrup. The hollandaise sauce tasted like turkey gravy, it was obviously canned. A saucer sized plate of homefries is $3 and they are not even seasoned. There were no garnishes on any of the entrees. I would go to Sorrella's or Center Street Cafe next time. I have expectations when I pay over $30 for brunch for 2 people, and clearly this restaurant did not meet those expectations.
(1)tavia m.
Service is very spotty here. We went for dinner two weeks ago and had GREAT service and then went for brunch last weekend and had horrific service. The food is very good, their pizzas are wonderful. I recently had the cheesey goodness that is their mac & cheese and it was a treat. Their brunch is boring and basic.
(4)Akilah C.
I have to say I left the Dogwood Cafe extremely disappointed and vow never to return again! To begin it took nearly 20 minutes to bring over 2 cocktails from their own drink menu....seriously if you have personally crafted the drink what is the huge deal about getting them over to the table in a timely fashion??? Moving on to our food order and selection...the pizza was simply disgusting and I was annoyed that the menu did not indicate that it did not come with marina sauce? To add insult to the tasteless thin cracker like crust, on my way to the restroom I peeked inside the kitchen to see the "pizza maker" texting madly on his phone. I guess this is why our pizza tasted horrible? Fine so we decided the pizza was NOT the happenings we order wings, both buffalo and winged. The meal did improve because the wings were palatable until the very inattentive waitress spilled contents of the cocktail beverage on the wings and all she said pathetically was "sorry". Umm why did not not ever offer to remove the wings from the bill or at the very least make a half order on the house? She was whack and at this point my experience with the dogwood will forever be ruined. Fine your pizza sucks and your service is slow, but when you make an error as a business professional you should fix it. I will never spend another dime at the dogwood and caution anyone before you think about going there.
(2)Bob H.
My fiancee and I eat out a lot, and we like to try new places. We headed out to the Dogwood Cafe last Friday hoping for a quiet night out. We were very happy with our visit there. We ordered a large pizza, an appetizer and two glasses of wine and the bill came out to a very reasonable $35. Service was patient yet attentive, and the ambiance was way beyond expectations with the comfortable heavy wood decor and candles. The icing on the cake was the live music - it was one guy singing with a guitar. It's a tough balance between having live music and allowing the place be not so loud as to douse a pleasant dinner conversation. It was really well done. The only minus to the Dogwood Cafe is the availability of street parking - although we did not explore the possibility of parking in the several nearby lots. All in all this place won't wow you with the food or the wine list but it's a great choice for a very reasonably priced, comfortable meal.
(5)Deborah A.
We were in the neighborhood to attend an open mic night at Java Jo's, but when we got there at 7pm, it was CLOSED. The Craigs List event we saw must have been a hoax, or else just very old. Fortunately, The Dogwood Cafe turned out to be right next door and I remembered reading several good reviews about it, both here and at Chowhound. There was an alarming sign on the door about the necessity of wearing "appropriate attire" and one of our people was in shorts, so we were uncertain about going in, but once we finally worked up the courage, we noticed the room was full of people in shorts so don't let the sign scare you off. There was a guitarist playing! We were delighted. The food was pretty ambitious, I was impressed. I had a very tasty portabella sandwich that had a great sauce and was full of all kinds of good crunchy things (like lettuce and...green beans?). One of my friends got a meatloaf sandwich and the other got the fish sandwich-they both said their food was excellent. The only nasty thing was the side of butternut squash--it really was just a pile of cooked squash, totally flavorless. Actually it tasted vaguely of the fish sandwich it came with, yuck. My garlic mashed potatoes, though? Delicious! :) There were other neat things on the menu, too--lots of gourmet pizzas that weren't too expensive ($14 for a large, around $8 for a one person size) and exciting salads with things like walnuts and apples in them-- I always think it's a good sign when a restaurant can make an interesting sounding salad. They also had a whole page of more expensive entrees (in the $15-$20 range) that looked good, like sirloin steak. All in all, it was a good experience. The service was excellent, and the decor was elegant and comfortable. I'm not sure I would ever go way out of my way again to go to it, but if you ever needed a restaurant in Jamica Plain and you weren't in the mood for Asian or Latino food, this would be a good option.
(4)astro t.
We had a great debate over their "Boston Cream Pie Cake," whether it was actually a cake, wiki says it is, or a pie and why the "Cake" was added to the name. Nonetheless, it was delicious, as was the carrot cake which caused less of a ruckus. Of course Schilling and Paps made the most ruckus at the bar! The food was pretty good, a higher scale fare of the normal pub bar food though with rice pilaf and veggies as sides. The service was attentive but it was a quiet evening. The beers are also the normal beers with a couple different things put in like the cider and their Dogwood ale, which was a good darker beer. The atmosphere was laid back, lots of different people, watching the game, a little birthday party, people drinking wine.
(4)Julie M.
the food is ok, at best, and i've had several terrible experiences with the service. totally overrated. i continue to swear i will never be back and yet i have several friends who just love it there and insist on going. maybe i'm missing something but i just don't get what the big deal is about this place.
(2)cate d.
I love having the Dogwood nearby. It's reliable, a fun place to meet friends and hang out, watch a game, get a pizza. I think it is reasonable - but based on what you get, somewhat overpriced. Just went for brunch for the first time. I wish hash and eggs was on the menu - it seems that it would fit with a place like this - typical American menu, a couple innovative items, along with the good ol' basics. this basic is missing, though. Now I feel compelled to go on a search for the best hash and eggs in the city. If they were close to home, that would be such a bonus. I remain hopeful. Oh, and the coffee was awful - couldn't even drink it and ordered tea instead.
(3)Sean E.
In the middle of this rather unfortunate line up of dingy neighborhood shops, scary take out joints and a liquor store is this little jewel of a restaurant (right across the street from the Forest Hills T station). Its specialty is it's brick oven pizzas, and yes they are delicious. But they do everything else on their Americana menu pretty damn fine as well. Tasty steak tips, pasta, sandwiches, chicken, it's all done quite well here. An okay line up of beers and good bartenders who know how to mix a drink are also on tap. You might even get serenaded by a come local talent on piano or acoustic guitar while your here. Oh, and surprisingly enough I remember their salads. For most entrees you get served up little starter salad, and even these things are better than they deserve to be. A choice destination if you're stuck in the wrong side of Jamaica Plain. Kudos to you, Dogwood.
(4)Caitie S.
I went there for the first time this week. We had to wait about 30 minutes as there was a private party in the back. Our waitress was really friendly, but a little forgetful. I had the Cypress Pizza, which was delicious!! My friend had the steak tips, they were good, but cold. I would give this place another shot for sure!
(3)B R.
The dark wood and curtains make for an intimate, homey atmosphere. The pizzas are great, as is the pasta, and using big tomato cans for decor is pretty original. Good beer selection, and I've also heard some good live music there. It's always a good experience.
(5)KayGee G.
Simply awful. I would not recommend this restaurant. Both the food and the service was abhorrent. My experience began with the server bringing me a side of "fresh" vegetables as my appetizer when I had requested something else. This unwelcome dish was overcooked and almost completely composed of red and green peppers and about two florets of broccoli, seasoned with what tasted like Mrs. Dash. Raw vegetables would have been preferred, well, actually, what I had ordered would have been most preferable. My entree was pasta that was undercooked and visually unpleasant. I immediately sent it back and was rudely addressed by the server with, "What! What don't you like about the dish?!" To which I replied that I thought it tasted undercooked. I ordered a veggie burger then which both looked and tasted like a veggie burger produced by the Gardenburger Co. It came with a side of French Fries that were undercooked. I was thoroughly disappointed. The service was slow despite the restaurant being sparse and a Wednesday night. On my way out, I spotted other unattractive and undercooked pizzas.
(1)Leah Z.
A must try for all those in the Jamaica Plain area (even those who are not)! The pizza is pretty good but you must try their wings...they are the best i have had in Boston! The atmosphere is nice but casual and is a great place for birthday dinners or other such occasions.
(4)Rebecca Y.
This place has great pizzas, lengthy bar and is an all around good choice. If you are looking for something with good staples that is off the standard path check out the Doogwood.
(5)D. R.
I've read fairly decent reviews of the Dogwood and we finally decided to give it a try today. Bad news...the place was moderately busy for Sunday brunch and we were seated next to the bar at one of the tall tables. It took over 15 minutes for our waitperson to bring us water and only after we stared down another waiter to let him know that we'd been ignored long enough. I ordered a tuna "panini" and my husband ordered a fish sandwich with side Caesar. My "panini" turned out to be a plain old grilled tuna sandwich which arrived cold as ice...the cheese hadn't even begun to melt. My hubby's fish sandwich was alright but nothing special. We had, then, to ask someone for napkins and cutlery as we had not been given them upon seating. I sent my sandwich back as I'd had enough of this place and it took another 15 minutes to return it to me, so my poor husband had to pick at his meal meaning his fish was now cold. What a mess. I did complain to a blond woman who appeared to be either an owner or a manager...she apologized and to her credit, she comped my sandwich. But that is beside the point, I don't need a free tuna sandwich. I came to enjoy Sunday lunch and to have a good time my first time at Dogwood. Such a terrible experience is uncalled for and totally unnecessary. You need to treat every one who walks through the door as if they are old friends, not just your regulars. We will never go back, and we will never recommend the joint. What people like about this place is a mystery to me.
(1)Kathleen T.
I agree with Little P's Mom- the location can be a bit sketchy. Neverthless, the Dogwood Cafe has a plethora of food to choose from. It is basically all reasonably priced and deliciously tasty. Give it a whirl for a quick bite.
(4)Maureen F.
I have been to the Dogwood more times than I can count and speaking of counting, I can always count on it for decent food and an excellent atmosphere. HAH! Was that a good intro or what? Kind of corny, I know. However, don't let it detract from the Dogwood. It's a great neighborhood place, with good classic American fare: steak tips and burgers and fish and chips and pizza. Their brunch is a little overpriced, hence the 4 stars. I love coming on a Thurs, Fri, or Sat. nt when the place is a little crowded and there is live acoustic music playing (I think that's just Thursdays). Lots of families and adorable kids, cute couples, and good friends. Folks are friendly here and the service is right there in the middle of the bell curve. Admittedly, before the place switched owners, some of the dishes were a little better--particularly the spinach and artichoke dip which while it used to be lusty and vivaciously flavorful is now kind of like really thin glue. Oh well...at least they added a mac and cheese to the menu. Still doesn't out-do the Publick House's mac and cheese though (you'll have to check out that review if you want to know more). I have a lot of good memories from the Dogwood---long dinners w/friends and great conversations..first dates..and morning afters, too;) All hail the Dogwood! But not so much as to give it 5 stars.
(4)Amanda S.
Why did I have it my head that this place was a run-down dive bar? So untrue. Had brunch at The Dogwood over the weekend and will surely be back- great selection of breakfast items, amazing pancakes (and you can order a single pancake as a side!), and fun day-drinks. Did I mention that the staff is super friendly and helpful, and the interior is spotless and doesn't have the smelly beer scent that most bars/pubs just can't kick? What a great find!
(4)Asta S.
Great selection of beer on tap. I had the pizza which wasn't very good. Supper thin crust (like a cracker) & the sauce was too sweet.
(2)M.K. C.
I rolled in here last night with my sister and brother-in-law. I remember seeing the place when I still lived in the neighborhood, but alas, I never stopped in, and now live in SF. Waiter was very prompt. Sister ordered the drinks, as I'm not usually one for cocktails, but I trust her judgment. Blood orange Cosmo was straight ballin'. I told the waiter such, he gave me a word of caution! Danger! That cocktail is NOT messing around. I forget the name of the pizza I ordered. Spinach, feta, pesto... Yum! Food was out way faster than anticipated, too! Sis and broface split a pizza and a salad. They were very satisfied. I'll be keeping Dogwood in mind next time I'm back in town. In the meantime, I'm gonna eat delicious leftover pizza for breakfast!
(4)Alyssa B.
my boyfriend and I love our Sunday brunch and decided to try out a new place. His friend from the Sam Adams brewery also works here, he was the one who recommended The Dogwood. I do not understand all the bad service reviews. we were seated immediately, they kept the coffee coming, I got The Colcannon and my boyfriend got breakfast pizza, both of which were delicious. We knew we would love the place the second we walked in! By the looks of it they also have a decent beer selection as well. We grew up in Maine so my boyfriend is always happy to see when a place carries Geary's.
(5)Nalin R.
Good breakfast, good service, good memories. A solid hometown neighborhood diner, with everything you'd expect from same.
(3)Leah K.
The atmosphere is great (live music! beautiful interior!) but there are underlying problems...which probably aren't so underlying. The food: decent. My sister and I had a so-so meal here, a small cheese pizza (fine) and vegetable potstickers (pretty good). But one time I ordered a pizza for take out here (pepperoni). I live right down the street, and went to pick it up about 20 minutes after we ordered. By the time we got it home, it wasn't just tepid, it was practically cold. Did they make this pizza hours ago? Yikes! It took us another 20 minutes to heat it in the oven. We were very unhappy! Also the service is INSANELY SLOW. You can't even wave your waiter down. It's like, where did they go? Did they leave? It's a shame. It seems like a great restaurant until you actually eat there. And there aren't a ton of restaurants like it in the area....so maybe next time we'll just go for drinks.
(2)Carol L.
I'm a huge fan of the Dogwood! Their pizza is so great. I went there for a late lunch earlier this month. I got the Willow pizza. My boyfriend ordered their mac & cheese, which comes with a side salad. I love that idea, since mac & cheese is so heavy, and at most places you have to pay extra for a side salad. We shared the potato skins too. All of the food was delicious and the waitress was very kind. They have a fun cocktail menu as well. I've been a few times and have always had a great meal. Beware: there tends to be lots of children there running around. Doesn't bother me, but some people might get annoyed.
(5)Veronique S.
I have been to this restaurant on several occasions. I haven't been there for a while due to the horrible service I received multiply times. I was surprised to see there were renovation done which inspired a cozy and quaint atmosphere. I was greeted appropriately and seated. I waited 13 mins to be greeted by my server. I then asked hostess if she can kindly get my server. She was polite and informed she get her for me. After 10 minutes I was forced to leave the restaurant. I believe 23 is a long time to wait to be greeted by server. Even if she/he was busy I believe informing me would have change the entire visit. I now remember why I do not go to this restaurant anymore. The food at Dogwood is great and the prices are reasonable. This is the reason I decided to give the place another chance. There will be no chances with the Dogwood Cafe. If your willing to sacrifice service for food this is a wonderful place to go. The restaurant does offer take out which may be a better option so you have to sit around waiting. I will not be going back or recommending to this restaurant.
(1)Lynette S.
Something has been bothering me since I left here carrying my 4 to-go pizza boxes. They felt empty as I was walking out (super-thin crust) and tasted like crap. We ordered 4 different pizzas (the worst was the plain cheese). I cannot for the life of me see why anyone would order pizza from here. It is one of the all-time worst pizzas I've ever had and was embarrassed to serve them to my guests, but had no choice as guests had arrived. Another thing has been bothering me: The fact that I did not take pictures of the pizzas to go with the review. Why 2 stars instead of one? Cozy sit-in restaurant and other foods have been okay (sandwiches). Breakfast burrito was pretty bad though.
(2)Ron H.
Good food, good prices, good service. Maybe it won't astound you but it'll be a pleasant experience.
(4)Devon A.
I had some French Toast here one Saturday morning and I was like "This is pretty damn good." Lol I'm very picky with my French Toast so this was a pretty big deal to me. Cheaper and better quality than iHop's plate so it's pretty good if you are coming to Forest Hills are in the mood for some breakfast. Dogwood is right across the street!
(4)V R.
Love this place particularly because they serve Crispin Cider on Tap. Great food particularly the pizza.
(5)David S.
Fantastic burger, followed by a bartender who proceeded to look up a drink I only half-remembered, then make it for me. Also she wore a miner's hat. Best bartender ever.
(5)Jazzie F.
To start with, you know that the pizza from last night is good because, you look at a picture of it and you're still thinking about it at 11 am the next day. The Dogwood, hands down, has the best pizza in the city of Boston. I had to update my review of this place, due to my experience from last night. I went in with a friend around 8 pm to share a pizza and have a couple of beers. Although when our pizza arrived, it had pepperoni on it (we ordered one of the specialty pizzas from the menu). The last few times I have ordered the specialty pizza it has been vegetarian, so this time, I didn't check carefully, and both of us, my friend and I, COMPLETELY missed the fact that it said pepperoni on it, it did have like a million ingredients listed. True story, that the manager did give us a bit of an attitude about taking it back, however, fact of the matter remains that it was my mistake, and they took it back, and gave us a fresh new vegetarian pizza. The waitress was a million times nicer than the manager about it, and super helpful and friendly. Service is still slow here, and they really can't seem to get it together on soda refills, however, the small gesture really meant a lot for me. I was going to offer to box the pizza to take it home for my roommate and paying for the replacement pizza but they just replaced it. Great job!
(4)Tina M.
Don't know what happened to our of my favorite restaurants! We've been going there for years, they've been so good about service and food and accommodating young families. They renovated and the place looks so much better, but what the heck happened to their food and service??? Recently was served an absolutely raw burger, after waiting foreeeeeeevvvvvvvvveeeeeeerrrrrrrr, and since we didn't have time to wait, we ate a half luster salad. Although the manager was nice enough to make up for our disappointment, we really just want the old service and food back! So sad...
(2)Jeff C.
Ordered a burger for takeout from The Dogwood. The burger we wanted was on the menu on Menupages for $10. We were told that was no longer on the menu but they'd make it for us anyway. They charged us $15. Asked for the burger to be medium, it came quite rare. Not awesome.
(2)Evan G.
Meh. I've experienced better. Really though-- the pizza was... fine. Not great. The crust was really bland and unexciting and even sort of weirdly spongy (instead of chewy or crispy) for thin crust. The toppings were a pretty good combination (we got the Willow- goat cheese, spinach, caramelized onion, fresh garlic, tomato sauce, mozarella). I liked the sauce. The pizza was on the small side for a "large" and $18 was a bit steep for what we got. This place isn't in my "never return" category, but I'm certainly not going out of my way to come back.
(2)Jes S.
We love the Dogwood. We come here all the time, have eaten across the menu, and keep coming back for more. Reliably good, fresh food, reliable service (though service at the bar can be a little slow when it's busy - lots of people for 1-2 people), reasonable prices, and knowledgeable servers. They also have one of the better GF pizzas I've had - so good, in fact, that it's one of two places I've ever eaten that I'm willing to suggest splitting and sharing different pizzas with folks who could otherwise eat a regular pizza crust.
(5)Anthony L.
It was a beautiful Sunday (3/18) when I found myself in Jamaica Plain. As I walked from Central Square, I was really craving a salad. Maybe it was the great summertime feeling weather or me wanting to be healthy, it was stupid. Once I reached Forest Hills, I immediately wanted a burger and french fries. My buddy suggested The Dogwood Cafe, I gladly accepted the suggestion. I really enjoy the warm and cozy atmosphere. The dark wood gives off great vibes and I could tell all of the customers were enjoying their time there. We're off to a great start. The beer selection was great. They had a number of seasonal brews and tons of beer on tap. I opted for the Sam Seasonal (Alpine Spring -- which, if you haven't had yet, you need to. An unfiltered citrus beer... Mmmm!!!) but I really wanted to try the dark chocolate stout they had. Next time. As a hungry little hippo I was, I ordered broccoli and cheddar poppers (I really hate the word popper. I ordered them as "broccoli and cheddar..." while pointing at the item. I don't know why, the word just creeps me out). I doubt they were homemade, but they were great. No complaints there. Although my burger was great (black and blue burger... caramelized onions and bleu cheese) they ran out of veggie burgers (lucky that I'm not a hardcore vegetarian). The waitress told me they had one left and that was on the grill right now. I would expect any restaurant in JP to have a boatload of vegetarian items ready for their hippy neighbors (also, does this mean they don't make their own veggie burgers? Hm!) Regardless, the burger was excellent. I could have used a little more bleu cheese, but I guess I could've just easily asked for that. I would have given The Dogwood Cafe 4 stars, but due to the veggie burger incident, I sadly had to deduct one.
(3)Maureen D.
Cozy but bright restaurant with adjacent bar. I have been there twice for brunch and enjoyed it both times. Also went after jury duty for lunch. I have sampled several pancakes, omelets and sandwiches, and enjoyed them all. They have a nice selection of vegetarian options. I have never had to wait more than 5 minutes for a table and the servers have always been polite and quick. Prices are reasonable.
(4)Glenn P.
Look, Dogwood is a quality place. One of the few neighborhood places that I don't get tired of. The bartenders are generous, the pub-food menu is satisfying, and the interior is comfortable and clean.
(5)Jonathan R.
What can I say about this place? The food at the Dogwood is great and the live entertainment is a nice accoutrement. I suggest the broccoli & cheese poppers The only downfall of this place is all the kids running around (Friday night). If you do not want to take it back to your days in preschool do not show up before 8:00
(4)Tracy B.
I have only eaten here once. Planned an afternoon of walking at the nearby Harvard Arboretum. Restaurant is right across the street from the T and on our way to the park. Great choice. Inside is clean and spacious. We were seated right away in a comfortable corner booth. Two adults one child. My brother ordered a pizza which smelled amazing and he said was in fact delicious. It is listed as an individual size but is fairly large and bigger than your average individual serving. My 10 year old ordered a cheeseburger off the kids menu with sweet potato fries and I ordered the steak tips and eggs. My son ate every bite of his burger and we all snatched up his fries. My steak and eggs were cooked perfectly. The portion was huge; potatoes on the side we great and the scrambled eggs were nice and fluffy. The steak tips alone would have filled me up. Our server was on the whole pretty attentive and refilled our drinks without prompt. Couldn't find him for a bit but since the meal was good and we had no issues...we really didn't need him again except for the check. I would definitely eat here again.
(4)Ryan C.
Went there with my guy and a buddy to have a nice dinner and a few drinks. I ordered the Steak Tips with Rice and vegetables. The Rice was undercooked and the vegetables were mush. Usually this place is awesome, but I was really disappointed this time. Brunch is still amazing! Go here for brunch. Dinner was a disappointment. Hopefully next time will be better. I will return.
(2)Nicole C.
Service is consistently poor, but for the most part everything is pretty tasty, albeit on the pricey side, e.g. $11 for a basic burger with just lettuce and tomato (other toppings are extra). Being across the street from Forest Hills, they can get away with the prices and I can't expect anything better, really. I particularly recommend the burgers. I don't know what they do to the meat but it's very flavorful. However, I have ordered "medium rare" on two occasions -- once it came burnt, and the other time it was practically alive it was so rare. Their sweet potato fries are among the best I have sampled. Breakfast (omelette and home fries) was forgettable and modestly-portioned. My friends rave about their chocolate fudge/brownie/cookie dough dessert. If you try it, be sure to ask that you not get a corner piece, as the corner pieces are unchewable rocks. Kudos for being one of the surprisingly rare places in Boston that has avocado as an available sandwich/burger topping. Minor point but worth mentioning for the Californian in me. Three stars because it's a great place to get a burger, and passable otherwise -- nothing more, nothing less.
(3)Cait J.
We used to love this place, but over the last year or so, the food has substantially gone down hill. Recently, my husband and I both ordered brick oven pizzas that were absolutely not make in a brick oven. The crusts were perfect circles, exactly the same size, and had the consistency I would expect of a pre-made crust from the grocery store. The toppings were equally as disappointing, including what looked like frozen broccoli. Very disappointing.
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