3 words: love. love. love. everything about this place is thought out... from the heath ceramic dishes to the playlist that reminds me of home. i can't get enough of this place! i'll be back!!!!
(5)
Matthew G.
It's not the service, it's not the food and no it's not even the wine. It's the prices. I live down the street and have been waiting for a spot like this to open up in my neighborhood for a long time. I can afford to come here once every three months but if they adjusted a couple of things I'd be here once every three weeks (at least)! For the wine: there are some really solid bottles that are $10-$15 out there, pick out a few of em, bump the price up to, say $30 and throw them on the menu. Do the same with the by the glass, let's get a few by the glass options for $7-$8, especially since you're giving me a by-the-drop measured 3 ounce pour. The food is great here, it's exactly what I like, snacks/small plates. But charging $15 for snacks seems a little unfair, you know? That steak tartare is great but if you're going to dilute it with creme fraiche, charge me $9. Be fair. Anyway, I see how crowded you are every night so I know you don't necessarily need me to stay in business. But most of the neighborhood residents are in a similar income bracket and will have to stop frequenting your place eventually because they've run out of money. I'm so mad that my bill from my visit the other day was $150 that I don't even want to go back until y'all do something about your prices. I feel like I'm being robbed.
(3)
David S.
I really, really enjoyed Spoke. The appetizers are delicious and the bottled-wine selection is voluminous. The single-serving drinks - wines, beers, and cocktails - are more... curated. There are a handful of beer, cocktail and wine-by-the-glass options, and there's a full bar of possibilities. The decor is understated - lots of wood, rounded edges, different-sized light fixtures. There's variety, without chaos. Overall, it's a great addition to the West-side-of-Davis-Square neighborhood.
(5)
Kate S.
Fun atmosphere for a girls' night. Loved the oysters and brussel sprouts. Definitely ordering a bottle is the way to go. If getting the cheese plates, definitely ask for more flatbread if you want it!
(3)
Drew L.
Food was decent, ordered an old fashioned, was not asked what kind of liquor I wanted. I had to ask what I was getting when it showed up.I figure if I am dropping ten bucks I should at least get a say. Also for a wine bar my date did not get stem ware with her sparkling wine. Not a huge deal but easy things to fix especially when you drop a couple bucks on dinner I expect good service.
(2)
Liz D.
I enjoyed a fantastic birthday dinner at Spoke this week, and I look forward to making this restaurant part of my Davis Square favorites! The sparkling white wine, warm asparagus salad, eggplant spread, and variety of cheeses & meats were incredible. The staff was extremely helpful as well. Love this place!
(5)
Abbey L.
The food I've had at Spoke has been excellent. I had a hand-crafted orriechette with mushrooms that was really excellent. Definitely on the pricier side but still very good. Maybe don't go here if you are hungry and looking for a big meal, though, because the servings are fairly small, but many things are meant to be shared. My main complaint here was the wine - I had two glasses that the server recommended and they were both excellent - but the pours were so small!
(3)
Linda L.
Hmm....why such great reviews about this place? They seem to have a decent wine selection (I just went for drinks, cannot comment on the food) and the bartender was nice enough, but this place is definitely sub-par as far as wine bars go. Have you been to Belly? That's a nice wine bar. This place looks like it was furnished by IKEA and the felt block wall made me feel like I was in a 1970's basement. Not the high end feel I expect in a wine bar. Also, it is really tiny, you cannot really hang out by the bar unless you had a seat. Furthermore, get a good fume hood! I was sitting at the bar with some friends and then the frying began in the kitchen. It became smoky throughout the whole place and the smell was awful. My winter coat still stinks slightly three weeks later. My hair and clothes stunk-two of our group decided to go home instead of joining other friends down the street because well, I just had to go wash that stink out of my hair. Though others have commented the food is good, I will never go back here because I do not want to experience that smoky nastiness ever again.
(2)
R S.
A nice new wine bar. Food was good but it was pricey - typical I suppose for a wine bar. Selection of wine by the class was solid but not extensive. Service (we sat at the bar) was very good. A good addition to the neighborhood, but nothing extraordinary. There are sexier wine bars in Boston.
(4)
Susan G.
Great people; good vibe; decent wine selection and food... but, wow is it pricey!
(4)
Sarah P.
Stopped in here after dinner elsewhere near Davis Square on a Saturday night. We came in late and managed to get a spot at the bar with every intent of trying out the mixology reputation that brought us in. I had a Red Hook cocktail, a take on the Manhattan, being a Manhattan girl myself. I found the addition of Maraschino liquor a bit cloying and it made the overall drink a bit too sweet and less balanced than a well made classic Manhattan. The bar tender, who seemed quite accomplished, recommended that I try a Little Italy the next time, which has more bitters, and I think I would do that. Alas, I am just visiting Boston for a conference and I don't think the ambiance nor the drinks would necessarily draw me back to Davis Sq for another visit, but I would recommend this place to someone visiting the area. I didn't try any food so I can't comment on that. It's cozy and small but actually a bit brightly lit for a late Saturday night cap.
(3)
Chris T.
I've had my recent run in's with so-so restaurants and waiters recently, so it was a welcome surprise that Spoke absolutely floored me last night. I enjoy wine, but I'm not too familiar with types other than Italian. So when my fiance and I sat down and told our waiter David (who might be the best waiter we have ever been served by) that we wanted him to choose our wines and dining options for our, he was blown away and welcomed the challenge. We had 4 courses: 6 Oysters with a nice Mignonette, White Anchovy and Crab meat Crostini, Almond and Pepper spread and Creamy Ricotta, and Homemade Cavatelli with a farm egg, chive, mushroom, and kale. We even opted for a goat milk pasta with a mint lamb ragu sauce and the frozen yogurt for dessert, because you know.... when in Rome. With each course minus the two that we chose, David gave us a wine pairing to complement the course and explained to us why he chose this wine. He was very detailed and enthusiastic about his presentation, something most servers in a setting like this lack. Most of the wines he suggested were excellent. In fact, my favorite wine of the evening was a Piedmont wine that came out of a box. Yes wine-o's, a box wined was probably the best glass option in the house and it really was delicious. Suck it. Spoke is going to be a place where we will bring relatives and friends for a nice, chill night to chat over a good glass of box wine and enjoy great food. The portions are small, yes. But the quality of the food and especially the quality of the service certainly makes up for the price. Will definitely return, with others
(5)
Cliff R.
The drinks, expertly crafted and delicious. Highly recommend the dolcecita. Sam at the bar was informative, friendly, and attentive. Everything from booze to food is pricey, but the food is very good and so are the drinks...!
(5)
Ben T.
count me in. no tv's; amazing beers; lovely staff; really good, flavorful food, and right here in the netherlands between the squares davis and teele. a place for adults. there, i said it.
(4)
Emily M.
I went here for an early birthday celebration. I thought the wine selection was pretty good but I wish the cheese selection was better. I thought it was a little pricey for what you get.
(3)
ujjayant c.
went there 3 times. nice ambience, portions are small and the price is steep. wont go there too often in future.
(3)
Heather L.
What an experience. Great wine selection, even better food, the service was superb, and the ambiance was perfect. Everything on the menu looked amazing. We ordered: - Duck meatballs: 4 meatballs with a nice crunchy almond/grape/fruit salad - Flatbread with 3 dips: they replenish the flatbread if you run out - Beets with pistachio: who knew I could love beets so much - Seared tuna: Perfect amount of flavor Oh, and they also give you a small piece of fudge at the end of the meal. Definitely will be back to try out other parts of the menu.
(5)
Devon H.
Sit outside or at a table - the bar service was unimpressive. Came here with a date for a dozen oysters and a cocktail each. I only had one drink because I was driving and my date because she is quite a light weight. The bartenders clearly wanted us to order more or leave. They asked us about 4-5 times in the hour we were there. Just because of that service I can't give a great review. Outside space looked great as did the other tables (at which you had to be eating).
(2)
Bill C.
Spoke Wine Bar is a great, small restaurant that features shared small plates and an excellent assortment of wine and beer. The cocktails are good too. It's one of those places where it's best to go with a few people so you can share a lot of different dishes. We really liked the following dishes: duck meatballs - excellent, meaty meatballs with a really cool accompaniment of hummus and chopped up macadamia nuts and some fruit Flatbread with 3 dips - a sweet potato, hummus, and feta cream Rabbit - I had never tried rabbit but it was excellent. Tasted like a really lean pork sausage The wines were all good, but we really liked some of the sparking wines best. Service is super friendly and professional. They make you feel very welcomed.
(4)
Leo L.
Great service but disappointing food and wine list. Came here for dinner and as usual when visiting a new restaurant I started with 2 dishes, before asking for more. I ordered the Flatbread & Spreads and the Ribs. The hummus was dry and flavorless and the ribs comes in 3 pieces and the ones served was 99+% fat - no meat what-so-ever - as picture posted with this review. I decided to just move on and went to another restaurant down the street for dinner.
(2)
Kendall A.
I went to Spoke because I had to fix the tire on my bike. Boy was I red in the face when I realized they don't fix spokes in your bike tire, they serve wine. Pleasant surprise. I'm not one to turn down an alcoholic beverage (or 9) so I grabbed a spot at the bar and had several of their small plates, I prefer larger plates. I mean this is America and I want to eat like I'm in America and not Africa. Overall a good experience but it is a bit small of a place for a hunk like myself that's got a bit of extra mass (I hit the gym 3-4 times a week, can bench a solid 115lbs). Side note, if you find a lone bike tire with a broken spoke in Davis Square let me know I lost it on my drunken walk home.
(4)
Suzanne L.
I wish I made more money so I could go to Spoke everyday. Seriously, it is that good. Amazing service, incredible food, delicious cocktails...all at a wine bar. My favorite things I've had there are a housemade gin and tonic and the farro risotto with hen of the woods mushrooms and a cured runny egg...OMG. I'm having trouble writing about it coherently. I've never ordered dessert because housemade GOAT'S MILK FUDGE is set on the table at the end with your check. Perfect, creamy end to your meal that satisfies your sweet tooth. I also love biking by there in the mornings and smelling whatever they are braising/smoking/curing/pickling/marinating. One caveat: it is REALLY dark in there and gets pretty loud and crowded, so be prepared. They have some outdoor seating in the summer!
(5)
Sebatien C.
We tried Spoke for the first time a few days ago. Well, cocktails were excellent. When ordering the main course I inquired about the side,as it was difficult to gauge the size of the plate just listening to the description (daily special, scallop-based, $19). Answer was the by-heart description again, ok. When the scallops arrived, we had a nervous laugh with my wife. 2 scallops in a little bowl, with a light sauce and exactly twelve corn grains, very good but ridiculously small. When mentioning to the waiter that the quantity was extremely light, he told us that usually people take 2 main course. From a semantic standpoint it's definitely not a main course, if we think about a restaurant as a place where you pay for food with in mind the idea it will calm your hunger, Spoke plays on a dark grey zone. 2 main courses to eat enough would mean $40 (and considered the size of the main course we had, two would not have been enough), which is a price level way over the paper-napkin table-on-the-sidewalk kind of restaurant. So, an excellent place to go if you have eaten before.
(3)
Denise M.
The entire place is honestly small but passes quite well as an upscale eatery atmosphere. The staff are very nice, the overall experience OK. The plate of pork loin with kale I ordered was cold, lukewarm with kale dried to the point of being more like chips. Quite a surprise. I expected a little more but paid for my meal and didn't complain. Even though I ate only a few bites. Others seemed to clean their plates. It's one of the nicer places in Davis Sq and I really wanted to like it more than I did. My second time here. Hopefully they can make it work. It seems to attract a good crowd but I was just A-OK aka disappointed.
(3)
Karina L.
Spoke strikes the perfect balance between a tapas bar and a low key wine bar. Come here for a long, enjoyable meal filled with dishes of quality and fresh ingredients, drinks from an excellent wine and (don't forget!) cocktail list, and a quiet crowd in the heart of Davis Square. We came in as 3 on a Friday night, and they were able to seat us right away. Duck meatballs & jicama Black spaghetti Cured ham platter Shiseido peppers with XO sauce + Carbonara LOTS OF WINE ___________________________ Happy drunk diners. It seems like their menu changes often, and the website menu doesn't accurately reflect what they are serving that night, so don't commit too much before you arrive. There are also a ton of vegetarian options. The recommended around 5-6 dishes for the 3 of us, depending on the size of the dishes we chose. Consult your informed waiters/bartenders, be merry, and enjoy Spoke's eclectic vibe.
(5)
Kensey W.
i can maybe see why other people might like this place but i had a really meh experience here. my friend and i got cocktails and neither were very good. we only looked at the drinks menu and it was hard to decide what to get because every drink just seemed like it was trying really really hard to be weird. it's cool to experiment i guess but in this case it didn't work out for us. it was also really crowded and a little rowdy but that's not the fault of the place. just added to the general experience. the bartenders kind of made me uncomfortable because one of them described a drink to me as effervescent and i don't know what that means.
(2)
Anne C.
Spoke is my favorite date night spot in Davis Sq! I love the cozy atmosphere, fresh ingredients and amazing food! The menu changes seasonally. My all-time favorite summer dishes (from yesterday) are the corn & crab soup and the diver scallops in brown butter sauce. My all-time favorite winter dishes are the polenta fries and the game hen with waffles. The specials are always divine: the absolute best was the softshell crab sandwich (ended up ordering a second)! I highly recommend Spoke!
(5)
Tamara W.
this place is AWESOME and JOSH is a great bartender. Came here at 7:30pm with no reservation at all and got seats right at the bar; the place is cozy, adorable, and has parking all around the area (which doesn't ticket overnight; or at least I didn't get one). The good: +Josh is funny, friendly and has a nice balance of talking to guests but not butting into convos. He made those great Tequila cocktails and gave us left over of the New Years Eve mixed drinks +Efficient, quick, and great service +clean bathrooms and ambiance; simple and a really easy/simple menu that looks delicious +Oysters were great; had dozen of the Island creeks and wellfleets; all robust and great. the iced and pickled horse radish was interesting and a cool idea! i have no complaints at all except the pricing for somerville (slummerville) standards is fucking expensive. i live in the south end even there its hard to find a 12 dollar cocktails and when you do its larger than the portions here. prob won't be back since i live all the way in south end but it for sure was a great spot to try out! thanks Josh!
(5)
Kaitlyn H.
Goldberg 2013 Riesling. DO it. Everything is worth every penny. Have every meal here. Superb customer service and attention to detail.
(5)
Amy K.
We had a great meal here this weekend! The chive spaetzel, duck meatballs, and rye salt & vinegar chips were all delicious! The beet salad was good but nothing all that special and the deviled eggs were just average. We will definitely be back.
(4)
Jeff M.
Wow, Spoke is pretty awesome. I have no idea why it took me a year to cross over to the other side of Davis Square to make it here. Spoke possesses an affordable wine list and great cocktail program. The service was prompt and friendly Highlights included the duck meatballs and wood grilled oysters. Same day reservations were a added tremendous value to my experience when so many places needed to be booked weeks in advance (who do you know you are going to want to so far ahead of time?). The only downside was that high chairs with no back made it impossible to lean back comfortable. I also loves the 80s British new wave playing the entire time. Don't expect to be blown away here, just expect good solid food with a solid bottle of wine.
(4)
Kiri R.
I had a friend who is a chef come visit for a week. We went out to eat so many times I thought I would explode. Both of our favorites after going all over boston? Hands down it was Spoke. The food was incredible. Service was great. Drinks were fantastic. The place is tiny though so plan ahead.
(5)
Joey M.
My first reaction upon entering spoke "I'm so fancy, you already know". This place looks fancy. Took a seat at the bar which is also quite fancy. They have these circular cut outs on the bar that have lights in them, illuminating drink you place near them. I was only there for drinks (though the food menu does look pretty good). The beer selection was small but very interesting, I didn't get a beer but would suggest it for the beer lover. Started with a cocktail which was distinctly meh, too much grapefruit not enough rum tastes. The real fun began when we ordered wine. Now i know very little about wine and the bartender was amazingly friendly and helpful. She suggested a few ideas, explained how the grapes for the wine were grown and what she liked about each wine. She also let us sample wines to compare and decide what we wanted. Maybe this is standard for wine bars (Like I said, I am a wine rookie) but it was a lot of fun and got to taste some nice wines. The bartender explained that the owner was a fan of "old world" wines. These wines tend to be grown in colder climates and that means they aren't as "big fruity" wines. So if you are a connoisseur who knows they want fruity wines... maybe spoke isn't the place for you?? That being said, I'm sure they would hook it up. Overall I highly recommend Spoke. It's pricier but I think that's to be expected. Stick to wine (or maybe a solid beer) as other places will do cocktails better I think.
(4)
Serena W.
I have come to Spoke a number of times and each time has been a 5 star experience. The prices are high for sure but you are absolutely getting you money's worth. The wines and food change often are carefully selected by the staff. I've tried pretty much the whole menu at this point and have to say my favorites are the farro risotto and smoked mussels. I also highly recommend the cheese plate. The cheese is all delicious locals ones served with tasty crostinis. Another high point is the staff. Everyone is so so nice and helpful. You can tell they really care about the restaurant and want everyone to have a good time.
(5)
Vic G.
Just the kind of place where you can go for a couple of drinks, relax after a crazy day and have a great dinner. Went there with a couple of coworkers after a really hectic work day. It was as if our heads were fuming and we didn't want to deal with the financial district after work crowd. So we came here on the suggestion of one of them who lives nearby and had walked past it a few times, liked what she saw and wanted to try. Let's Go! The restaurant has a very eclectic feel what with the bar and the glasses and liqueurs on display in such a beautiful way. That was the first thing that caught my attention. We sat at the bar, although it was not a busy weeknight. The dining area was semi full. But we just wanted to sit at the bar. Of course the light setting at the bar stood out right away. What a way to make your glassware shine while you dine! Fun! Our bartender was very friendly. I went for a crisp glass of Pinot Grigio and my peeps went for beer. They do have some very good selection of almost everything - some odd liquor bottles that I had never heard of before. I was not super hungry but hungry enough to try the apps. So I got two. The roasted beat salad was very good. Every ingredient was fresh and I could see some thought that went into the fixing the plate - that says a lot for a salad. It was good. Next for me was the steak tartar. That was good but not great. But I was enjoying the ambiance and my mind was off work completely. It was good to go someplace outside the usual hotspots and find an easy little bar to chill.
(4)
Victor W.
So...give me three Paper Planes and I'll let pretty much anyone ravage my body cause those drinks are strong. The Black Cavatelli is pretty good - but I recommend sharing it. It's not the most pleasing dish to the eye cause the pasta looks like pieces of rabbit feces, but the sausage, squid and flavor is not bad. Personally, I would've used a lighter pasta for both aesthetic reasons and for better balance. Lessen the sodium and lighten the pasta up and the dish would be fantastic. Now the Duck Meatballs on the other hand...I'm pretty sure it's not the 3 Paper Planes that's talking...and if so, it is divine. I want to do a Tina Turner dance number every time I put it in my mouth. The texture of the almond, jicama and grapes compliment the meat oh so well. The Whipped Chocolate Budino is alright. I would've been happy without it. Bartenders are pretty good.
(4)
Kerstin S.
Unique culinary experience! Was not sure what to expect but was blown away by our dishes. The drinks (suffering bastard & Kentucky shuffle) were fantastic and our waiter helped us pair our dishes perfectly. The Tat Soi, duck meatballs and squid fusilli were all just incredibly special- whomever is on saucier duty clearly knows what they are doing. The Pistachio Pavlova dessert was the perfect follow up!
(5)
Michael C.
I had a great experience at this newish little wine bar in Davis Square. I went on an off night so we had no trouble getting a table. I hear this is not the case on the weekends.. The decor here definitely fits the wine bar theme. Everything from the service, to the drinks, to the food were top notch. Their menu changes frequently, I hope it is just as good on my next visit. Chickpea Herb - Essentially hummus, it was good but not memorable. Devils on Horseback - Figs wrapped in bacon filled with cheese. These things are F'n delightful. These are a must get appetizer. Chip in a Farm Egg - A vegetarian dish that was surprisingly my favorite of the dinner. Maine Lobster - Best preparation I have ever had in a lobster dish. The mix of the crunchiness and sweetness was outstanding. I have never had lobster prepared this way. It really comes off as similar to a hash dish, outstanding. Rabbit Porchetta - A hearty dish filled with crispy rabbit, which is a meat I have not been a fan of in the past, but it was cooked in a way where is was not gamey at all. It sat in a medley of veggies and polenta. A very good entree. Indian Pudding - This dessert is new to me. I usually prefer the sweeter stuff. This definitely has some more savory elements to it.
(5)
Sophie C.
I'll make your life easy - go. Eat everything. Get a bottle of red and let them make a recommendation from the list of Old World greats. Get the Sofia goat cheese and bask in its deliciousness. That wasn't that hard, right? Life should always be this tasty. Kudos to chef.
(5)
Corey L.
Okay, so I went a second time with a date and had a great time. It was a Wednesday night, the place was hopping, and we sat at the bar. The bar tender was pretty incredible - he was able to discuss the history of drinks he was suggesting to us - a really knowledgeable guy who clearly loves what he does and isn't annoying about it. Anyway, he suggested a Last Word, which was a great drink. My lady friend had a Final Word, similar but with Whiskey instead of Gin, Lemon instead of lime, and a yellow something instead of a green something. I don't like Whiskey, but enjoyed my taste of her drink. Then, the food: had the Lamb Garganelli. It was really great. Super flavorful and quite balanced with all the ingredients. They finished us off with a taste of goat fudge, which was good - not super goaty. So I'm bumping it up to 4 stars. It's still too expensive - the dinner was $20 and at best half of the amount of food you typically get when dining out. Which made it a good portion for a human, but the price was not adjusted accordingly. Though it was really quite excellent. And since I was really hungry and it didn't fill me up and I didn't feel like paying a crap load of money for more, JP Licks helped out. Anyway, expensive but trendy, cool, and really a nice place
(4)
John F.
My wife and I have gone to Spoke twice now and sat at the bar for wine and apps. I just love this place because they really do things right. The service is always super friendly and attentive and the small plates are delicious, with a great wine selection to accompany everything (and some really nice cocktails as well). The interior has a cool design and is very warm and welcoming and the noise level actually allows you to have a conversation. It's definitely a place we'll keep returning to!
(5)
Katherine S.
Best little restaurant in Davis Square -- small to medium sized plates allow for a diverse eating experience, and each dish was prepared with attention to detail. The mixologist at the bar prepared several "bespoke" cocktails for me with that same precision. Overall we were delighted to learn about this place with its simple menu (i.e. all fits on one page), and so close to Somerville Theater you can really make a nice date out of it!
(5)
Eric S.
Pure awesome.
(5)
Peter D.
This place is ridiculously good. Try the lamb - crispy and flavorful. And the flatbread spreads are out of this world!
(5)
Christy H.
Love this place! Glad to have it in the neighborhood. Food is delicious and takes "bar" food to a totally different realm. I'm a wine buff, but I love going here to try weird varietals that I've never even heard of before. And Flea and her staff are great at picking good pairings to go with your food, so you don't have to be intimidated or take a wild guess from the wine list. I'm not a big cocktail drinker, but the few that I have had here, have been quite good. It's not inexpensive, but since I don't get to eat out that often anymore (thanks to parenthood!) I would rather splurge a little for something extra good.
(5)
Babette W.
What a great gem in Davis Square, brilliant wine offerings paired with a sophisticated and well thought menu. Superior service from the bartenders to the front, chef is very talented. Go! But nothing like Olive Garden as yelp compared?
(5)
David A.
Had dinner there the other night, really enjoyed the food, drinks and service, but I have to concur with E.C. from Somerville on the stink factor. I smelled like fried chicken the next day (my jacket). It's enough of a problem that, in spite of an otherwise very good meal and enjoyable experience, I won't go back.
(2)
Erin M.
Tiny, sure, but a lovely little gem. The food was perfectly prepared and though small plate in format, totally satisfying. The wine was great. We went on a Monday, so the atmosphere was low-key and unhurried.
(5)
Johonna C.
Perfect daiquiri, amazing Moonstone oysters, spicy Jonah crab crostini, rich lamb garganelli with fava beans. I could eat here every night!
(5)
Jared B.
This place is great. It's a wine bar but they also have an above average cocktail list and a few good beers to chose from. I haven't had any entree's but all the food I've had has been very good as well. I wish it were a little bigger, but it is what it is.
(5)
Kee H.
I can't say anything bad about Spoke. The wines were excellent. The spreads and bread were unique and delicious. The assorted small dishes (think of it as tapas) were amazing. The cheese selection was awesome. The desserts were delectable. The dessert cocktails were complex and wonderful. And the after dinner chocolates with a touch of salt were completely unexpected and perfect. My only problem is going to be keeping away.
(5)
Jim B.
I've watched this place take shape in the past year, and it opened to rave reviews. I walk past it to go to work and back twice every day, but never had occasion to go in and try the fare. I finally had the opportunity when a friend visited me in Davis and we decided to give it a try. My friend had a small sandwich which he liked. I had the ($12.00) plate of chicken wings. Worst ever. Seriously. Fatty, tough, tasteless, skin thicker than the meat, small portion for the aforementioned hotel room service price of $12.00. I'm sure there are better choices on the menu, so I'd like to try something else - but if you're trying to be upscale, why screw around with things like chicken wings (McDonald's has better wings for 1/4 the price that are actually edible)? On the service side, the owner/manager greeted us at the door and introduced herself. I like this tactic and appreciate locally owned establishments with owners who are actually involved in the day to day operation (see: Sound Bites in Ball Sq.). Wait staff was indifferent; take it or leave it - here's your beer, here's your food, anything else? Thanks, bye. No small talk. Just a tad more effort please... I want to go back when its less crowded and try the wines and see how friendly the bar staff behaves toward an aging non-hipster like myself, 15 years out of the demographic for Davis Sq. Then I can call it a final review. Keep trying....
(2)
Lindsay B.
Amazing spot! A refreshing unique experience with great ambiance, service, food and beverage. The waiter and kitchen staff went above and beyond to make our 'date night' one of the best. We ordered the spreads which are a must and make sure to save room for dessert because the sour cream ice cream peach cobbler and chocolate boddine are incredible! Ill be going back to this wine bar for sure!
(5)
Neva C.
The food here is really above and beyond, better than anything else in Davis Square (or really anywhere close along the Red Line - I'm looking at you, Harvard Square). The problem is the wine is not very good. When we went, the wines were not listed by country and our server didn't know where they were from. They seem to pick very obscure vineyards made with unusual grapes; if you know your wines, this makes it hard to tell if you'll like it (and we didn't like the ones recommended to us). This is really too bad for a wine bar. But the food is amazing.
(4)
Robert G.
All of the food we ate was Amazing! Chef John Dasilva has a passion unmatched. Each dish we ate was progressive, inspired, perfectly seasoned, and cooked properly. Our server PJ was helpful, freindly, and professional. He was able to answer any questions we could throw at him. Everybody seems to care at this place and that's refreshing to see. My favorite menu items were: The selection of hams, with honey butter and crusty bread, spaetzle, with smoked chicken and fontina fonduta branzino crudo with pickled beech mushrooms, garlic scapes and lardo Panisse frites with harissa aioli Octopus with romesco Smoked seafood chowder Quail with cheddar waffles, smoked butter, and maple syrup (We had about 5 more items too!) All the food was excellent, we will definatley be returning asap. If you havnt been you need to check it out, and its worth the 15 min drive from boston proper so no excuses. This place is special.
(5)
Ana R.
My boyfriend and I have walked past Spoke a handful of times and it always seemed like a really really cool place (albeit quite dark). Last night we finally tried it on a whim. The atmosphere is really cool, very chill and, like I said, really dark. Makes for excellent private conversation with your sexual partner of choice. The service was attentive but didn't spill over into stalking behavior territory. The menu is small, presented on a clipboard. This being a wine bar, the pages are mostly filled with wines and specialty cocktails. I wasn't drinking last night, and my boyfriend had an IPA, so we can't speak to the quality of the bartender. We ordered a few different plates (portions are tapas sized, though prices are not): Chickpea frites - 6 french fries made out of chickpeas with a tangy aoili. Very good and a good portion to share. Oysters - 1/2 dozen for $15, though they were delicious, not worth the $2.50 per. Beet Salad - beets with an avocado cream and pistachios. An excellent combination of flavors. I would it this by the bucketful. Lamb ribs - 4 riblets coated with a spicy rub that was full of flavor. Unfortunately they were mostly fat and had very little meat at all. Not worth $17. Octopus - perfectly cooked and paired with a delicious sauce drizzled over two crusty pieces of bread. A marvel! Aside from the ups and downs in the food department, there is one reason why I won't likely be going back to Spoke - the entire place stank of fry oil. It got all over my clothes. My jacket and scarf still stank this morning, and I have to wash my hair again because it still smells like I'm working part time at a greasy spoon. There is a place and time to smell like a two-bit diner (like when you're in a two-bit diner), but Spoke is not where I'd expect it. I hope this was a fluke and if I ever get the urge to go again, I'll poke my head in and sniff first. Our bill came to $77 bucks plus tip. Can't say the experience, and the dry-cleaning bill, is worth it.
(3)
Iris T.
Place was packed on a Tuesday night at 8:30pm but managed to snag two seats at the bar. Friendly bar service, great food, but a bit pricey. 2 glasses of wine and 2 dishes came to $60, but in my opinion worth the splurge. Food combinations were creative and flavorful. I sampled the black spaghetti with squid and leek sausage and the Black Sea bass with lentil hummus and kumquat. Bass was cooked perfectly and the skin was nice and crispy. How they make these amazing dishes in that small kitchen is quite impressive!! The complimentary fudge with sea salt is adorable, delicious and so thoughtful.
(5)
Emily A.
Best restaurant in Somerville and possibly Boston that I've been to- and I just moved here from Austin which has a huge foodie scene. You have to order the oysters, they come with a delicious iced pickle juice.
(5)
Dave B.
I like the intentions but overall--unsatisfying....when you order a $12 small plate that turns out to be mostly bread(smoked mussels that could have been canned--there was no shell), it will not blow me away. We spent $120 on 4 plates and 4 drinks. Would have been better served at a gastro pub down the street. The cucumber dip and the sweet potato dip were outstanding. The crabmeat thing was mostly what looked like shredded root vegetable over two small circles of polenta, with a tiny bit of crab in there someplace, and it was delicious. The asparagus was shredded and didn't have any asparagus taste, which was disappointing. It could have been string beans. Over all, not much value here. A couple of good flavors, but was that worth $120. No way!
(2)
Aine F.
It was only ok. Not a great red wine selection. Cocktail was good and the bartenders were friendly.
(2)
Em G.
The food was terrible. We ordered the Asparagus Carbonara which comes with a slow cooked egg. It was literally shredded asparagus with a raw egg cracked on top of it. The BBQ crab was literally right out of the ocean with BBQ sauce poured over it. And the Spicy Beef Salad looked and tasted like cat food. The server provided no information or descriptions to us. The bottle of wine we ordered was overpriced, but at least that carried us through. The server was nice enough, but provided no explanations to us. The place was so small that the man in the table next to us practically sat on my lap getting into the table and then we kept bumping elbows. What a disappointment!
(1)
Nicole L.
Love this place! My husband and I split a ham platter and a cheese platter and it was just enough food for two people. Quality of both was excellent, and they came with honey butter, apple butter, deliciously addictive candied nuts, and excellent homemade pickles. Wine list was eclectic and delicious, the bartender did a great job of describing each one to us, and even though we didn't have a reservation, the staff were great about setting us up with a seat at the bar. My one quibble is the lack of ventilation. Every single thing I wore that night stank of grease afterwards, including my bra! And at one point they cooked something in the kitchen that made my eyes burst into tears, onion-chopping style. But I still think it's worth a five-star rating. Definitely recommended.
(5)
Lacey Q.
I've only ever sat up at the bar, but the service is always excellent. Don't know what wine you should try? Just ask the bartenders who are very knowledgable and really know how to pair the wine with the menu. The menu itself is creative and unique. Be prepared to spend a little- It's a bit pricey, but the quality is there.
(4)
Liz L.
I can't speak to the food, so take this for what it is. Went here for drinks - decent menu, good selection of wines, attentive and knowledgeable bartender. However, there is no ventilation in the place. At one point, I had to go flush my eyes from the smoke from the kitchen. My eyes are sensitive, but I wasn't the only one having problems. I had to wash my hair three times to get the stink of fry grease out of it and have had to dry clean my suit jacket. There are plenty of swanky bars with good drink lists in the area. I would recommend going to one that you won't leave stinking like a fry cook.
(2)
Carly J.
If you haven't been here before you need to check it out! Best food in Davis Square, super fun staff, great selection of wines, and really interesting twist on food, all with beautiful presentation. Side note: Please bring back the chickpea fries- they are unbelievable and extremely missed!
(5)
Emily G.
Guys! You should be planning your next night out at Spoke. Small plates, intimate atmosphere, wine, wine, and more wine! What are you waiting for? Spoke is from the folks behind Dave's Fresh Pasta, and they've taken their friendly faces and specialty foods and turned it into a delightful full service restaurant. Although advertised as a wine bar, the cocktail menu is outstanding - Killer Bees with gin, honey, lemon and a tincture of salt and pepper is a great way to start the meal. The by the glass wine list is a bit short, but lots of interesting varietals by the bottle are available and it's more cost effective if you plan to have more than a few. The menu changes frequently with locally sourced items, and boasts some great nightly specials as well. Big winners include a meaty rabbit porchetta, oysters with a sweet-sour Bantam cider mignonette, a lemony Jonah crab crostini, a bone marrow special with a sticky bacon jam, and affogato over salted caramel ice cream for dessert. It's so nice to have a spot in Davis Square that feels more classy (no rowdy students here!), even though Spoke is down-to-earth and not at all stuffy. Bring a date here before moving on to the Somerville Theater and you'll score big points.
(5)
Max K.
Elegant new American food and a good wine list. I had a decent meal of small plates here, but I can't really say I'm coming back to eat.
(3)
Mary C.
Service was great - our server very obviously knew the menu like the back of her hand and helped us through our awesome experience. We ordered a bottle of Red, as well as the cured hams & selection of 3 cheese - both were delicious! Perfect for a glass of wine and small plate with friends!
(5)
Paulina P.
The duck meat balls are fantastic, plate licking delicious. I'm hungry again just thinking about them. Overall, a very good place, with good new american cuisine selection. The beet salad was less impressive (good, but very Clover-like good. which is still good, just not as fantastic as some other dishes). Ambiance is very pleasant, although it is tight quarters, and the place can get pretty packed and loud - its a popular place for a good reason, and worth it.
(4)
Carrie S.
The service was good -- attentive without being intrusive. Favorite foods: asparagus carbonara (creative and SO delicious) and the chickpea frites (crisp without being greasy and still soft on the inside). Two of the three cheeses we had were really really good, but I thought the cheese plate portions were pretty skimpy. We tried all three desserts and it's hard to pick a favorite! The lemon poppyseed cake with raspberry sorbet totally blew me away, even though I usually prefer chocolate for dessert, and the presentation was beautiful. The ricotta ice cream sundae was also amazing!
(4)
Richard A.
Perfect food. Lovely dish ideas and decent sized potions. Not the cheapest place but you always feel like you're getting something special. Great, interesting draft beer selection with knowledgable and friendly staff. Sensible but not too fancy, and considered but not strictly 'cool'. Which is probably a good thing.
(5)
Melissa M.
This is for the bar only -- just drinks. I came here to meet a friend who was visiting from out of town on a really freaking cold Monday night. 6pm and it was dark as night outside and colder than a witches...well, you know.. I ended up getting a metered space out front (score!) and bellied up to the bar. The lighting in here is so nice and there is like a circular LED light built into the bar -- this is where your water glass will go. The water was good, and I mean that sincerely. Water tasting weird in restaurants can be quite common around here (soapy, chlorinated, god knows what else) but this water tasted clean. Refreshing. I ordered a glass of the Salice Salentino, which is what I drink at home. The bartender was very pleasant and chatted with me while my friend walked from the T to Spoke. She got the same wine as me and then a beer - I have no idea what it was but it was a hoppy beer. I don't like hoppy beers so I got another glass of the wine. The menu, while small has lots of little vittles and bites to offer. It is not something I'd necessarily want because it was all "grown up food". Maybe I'd like the cheese and salumi and that's about it. The price was fair and the service great. The music was right and not too loud. The bathroom was clean! I'll return soon to try some bites! Overall, a great time!
(4)
Kavya S.
Maybe I just had really high expectations going into this evening, but it just wasn't as amazing as I expected? The food was definitely above average, but by no means blew me away. My friend and I shared the burrata on toast with pesto as well as the flatbread and spreads platter. Both options were delicious, but the common theme between both of them was that the breads were slightly burnt, making it hard to thoroughly enjoy all of the flavors of the spreads. The drinks were fairly typical--I had a riesling and it was very enjoyable while my friend had a beer. The seating is cute, but not ideal--there aren't backrests on any of the seats and thus there isn't really any place to keep your coat while you are enjoying your drinks. The lighting was also a little too dark for my taste. Overall, definitely worth the adventure, but don't set your expectations too high!
(4)
Lisa E.
Lovely and romantic place. We stopped in late night post movie and kitchen was closing in five minutes. Our incredible servers quickly got us menus and took care of us. Tasty cheese plate, and some other yummy small plates. They kindly offered that I try two wines both times I ordered. Wonderful service, food and ambience.
(5)
Sherry Y.
Very delicious / creative food and awesome services! It is a bit pricey but totally worth the money.
(4)
Keith F.
Just called for a reservation and the girl answering the phone said there is no openings for the time I asked for and then said OK AND HUNG UP such poor front desk it hurts businesses more than u can believe
(1)
Matt G.
We had a great pre-dinner drink and appetizers here. First you need to keep in mind that the theme/concept of this restaurant is small plates. I would not suggest going here for DINNER, but more of an apps/drinks place. Now, when I say "apps" don't think you're gonna grab nachos and a beer. I went with a 3-some and we had wine and mixed drinks. The drink menu is really quite impressive, and the waitstaff is well educated about the wines and the cocktails. Definitely a good place to 'try something new". Just tell them what you generally like, and they seemed great to be able to suggest something that would be a good choice. They are affiliated with Dave's Fresh Pasta next door, and the woman who runs Spoke also used to be in charge of Dave's wine section... so the list is great. We shared the chicken wings (which are actually quite dang good!!), the lemon/herb chickpea spread, and the crab crostini... all were tasty. The chickpea spread could, however, use more bread to come with it... but was tasty by itself too! We were in and out in about an hour or so... great place to start your evening, or a post-work drink and bite to eat. We'll be back.
(4)
Duncan L.
I went here for a late-night date (9pm) - we had a few drinks and small plates to share. The atmosphere was great - cozy, yet private. The staff was phenomenal - there as soon as needed, but not overbearing. The food was delicious, and the wine was very good. It was a great balance of everything that makes a date night place work. Interesting thing to note - they don't charge more if you buy a glass versus a bottle (a bottle is exactly 4x the price of a glass - or at least for the ones I looked at). So feel free to get a couple different glasses of wine, and rest assured you wouldn't have saved money by getting a full bottle.
(5)
Katherine M.
Went there last night for my birthday and was really impressed. It's my new favorite restaurant! I love the small plates idea so you can try a bunch of different dishes and share. The food was incredible and the service was great!!
(5)
Simon L.
Spoke is smaller than your bathroom. The kitchen is the size of your toilette. The bar is the bath tub and the seating area the leftover space. Dark and inviting, the wood walls ans aluminum chairs help to create a vibe that is not evident elsewhere in Davis Square. A hard but smooth stone bar, embedded lights shining up from the surface highlight your beverage. Jonah crab crostini provide a tablespoon size dollop of crab mixed with mayo and celery on a crispy french bread crust. A half dozen local oysters are exceedingly salty - the only dislike of the meal. Two orders of the Nero pasta are a squid ink colored linguine in a thick garlic, butter and white wine saute. The mussels are fresh and plum. The lobster is plentiful. The squid tender. An amazing rendition of a this classic Italian tradition. Drinks are prepared to order. The wine list overwhelming but manageable if you ask for help. Go here often.
(5)
Nikhil P.
The unassuming, understated exterior of this Somerville wine bar gets totally overshadowed by the other bars and restaurants in Davis Square, but this place was a totally unexpected foodie's heaven. The atmosphere is very laid back, tight, with a nice bar. The food is dynamite. Starting things off... Drinks - Spun Sangaree. Totally unexpected flavors. Billed as a Sangria like drink, it actually brings in lemon, nutmeg, orange, mezcal -- pretty indescribable. Real smooth, pretty unSangria like actually, delicious, light, fresh. I had the Red Hot, which was described as cinnamon hearts in a drink. I don't know if I'd say quite the same, but totally unlike any drink I've had. AMAZING. Tequila, cumin, cinammon, tabasco. I've never ordered two of the same cocktails in a night, but this was so delicious, spicy, sweet, perioral numbness-inducing, and not too strong on the tequila I got a second cocktail for the night. Really, really tasty. I would come back just for a round of that alone. Tabasco sauce and cinnamon were made for each other. Dinner was phenomenal, too. You have to know that everything here is smaller plates, but for 2 people with very big appetites, 4 items + a dessert did us just fine ($100 + tip). 1. Flatbread + Spreads - the three dips are edible on their own. All so different in their flavors, most definitely not your grocery store hummous concoction. The flatbreads were also pretty damn filling, so it's a real good choice (even to get 2 orders if you just want something to snack on and get full with drinks). 2. Fregola Risotto - The risotto was good, probably a little dry, but had chunks of vegetables that made it pretty hearty. I heard a bunch of tables talking about this, and I think it sounds a *little* better than it is. With so many winners on the menu, this was still outstanding but just a bit overshadowed by everything else that was so good at Spoke. 3. ?Crudo. I don't know exactly what this was called, had "lardo," and a few other things I never really heard of. Sensational though. Its fishy and fresh, almost like a sashimi, but the flavors are totally succulent. Garlicky mushrooms, olive oil, dill, lemon... incredible. It's a decent enough portion to get you started, and was one of the dishes that really highlighted the "foodie" nature of this place. Really well-constructed, thoughtful flavors paired into this. 4. Duck Meatballs - Also incredible. Five meatballs total, nothing huge, but the dijon-like sauce, nuts, grapes, and the moistness of the meatballs were not like anything I've ever tasted. Again, totally different flavors paired together, and just really tasty. 5. Semolina Cake - We had the semolina cake for dessert. The cake itself is pretty understated -- spongy, moist, wet. But the pairing of the ice cream and the bits of honeycomb toffee(?) garnish make total sense. It's the sweetness of toffee with this almost custard-like, moist, sweet cottage cheese (think indian ras malai) mix. Finally, service was also great. Contrary to some other totally weird reviews about interruptions during business meetings, our waiter PJ was awesome, was totally appropriately attentive, made sense of restaurant-speak jargon. Great restaurant, delicious, delicious food, and that drink, among everything else, I swear will bring me back again. It's a warm, inviting place, great ambiance for a date or a fun dinner with friends. The pricing isn't bad. I honestly though we'd be spending way more than we did but for the quality and uniqueness of the food, $80-100 before tip for 2 is much lower than most downtown Boston spots. Must-visit resto if you fancy yourself a foodie and are looking for a pretty reasonable price-point for sensational food and drink.
(5)
Jose K.
Really awesome food. Great service. Amazing drinks. Came here and the staff was great. Earlyish dinner, but the flavors were such that we all enjoyed. Risotto was excellent. Great oysters. Creative dishes with an ever evolving menu. Super beers and wine. Not just food... an experience! Great addition to Davis square.
(5)
Emily h.
If there were half stars, I might just go with 4.5 Bottom line: Go here. Don't wear anything dry clean only and make sure you and any dining buddies are cool without back support. Food: a+. We got the Brussels sprouts (don't miss), the duck meatballs, pork ribs and lobster linguine. All amazing, but that's in order of my preference. We got four plates for two women. Plus split a dessert (duh). Perfect amount. Wine: a. I got only one glass: sparkling rose- wonderful. Staff super knowledgeable. Atmosphere: a-. fun, lots of mid twenties - late thirties types. Packed tightly. Low light but not too dark, decent music. Went for a date night/birthday dinner. Great spot. Would not choose here for a group bigger than 4. Draw backs: 1) pretty much only stool seating - meh, I get why they do it in this crowded space but it doesn't mean I have to like it. Even if you get a seat against the wall, it ends up functioning like a stool bc you can't pull the table any closer... 2) not great ventilation. I read about this in another review and thought it might have been a fluke night in the kitchen. But, by the end of the night my eyes (also sensitive) were starting to water a bit. When we got home we both commented on how much our clothes stank. I will definitely go back, but I'll just be better prepared.
(4)
Annie V.
I love this place - the atmosphere is great, the staff are nice and knowledgeable, and the Brussels sprouts and chickpea fries are absolutely out of this world. I've had drinks off the wine and cocktail list and been pleased with both. My only complaint is that both times I've been, the smoke from the kitchen has made my eyes hurt and I've come home smelling like bacon - clothes, hair, everything. Not ideal, but not the worst either, I suppose :)
(4)
Jill O.
To me, Spoke is the perfect wine bar. The small rotating wine list is carefully curated, and we always love our selections. The staff is also incredibly helpful in describing various wines and suggesting pairings with your food. And the food! It's wonderful, whether you just get a cheese or charcuterie plate or a spread with flatbread to snack on or a full meal. Also, their rotating craft cocktails are always delicious and perfectly executed. Another plus is that even with the high quality food/drink and perfect execution, the place is warm and comfortable rather than snooty and pretentious. There are few places in the Boston area that I would recommend as highly as I do Spoke!
I'd caught wind of this new wine bar a month or so ago, but it didn't seem to be open. Imagine my surprise when I saw people reviewing it on Yelp! I checked the Facebook page, but there wasn't a menu listed, and other people seemed to be asking about it as well. I had dinner plans with a girlfriend last night, and we decided to go there for a pre-dinner drink and stay if the food seemed hearty enough. Lemme just tell you--I LOVE THIS PLACE. Would the food satisfy my boyfriend? Probably not...it's all small plates. But it's great for a light dinner with a friend, and it was perfect for us last night. We shared the vegetarian panini (a special for the day, served warm & toasted with egg, cheese, and some sort of dark greens). We also shared the charred eggplant dip (which came with thin little slices of toasted bread), and the whipped goat cheese with roasted beets. The beets and the sandwich were my favorites... we each had half of the panini, and it was big enough to complete a full meal with the beets/eggplant as sides. The beets were scrumptious, but I'm glad we shared because it was served on a bed of goat cheese...a lot of cheese. (Not that I wouldn't eat it all myself if given the chance!) You can tell that even though the servings are small, they care about food and its presentation and quality. For wine, I had the Syrah on the pour list ($10/glass). There was a long list of wine by the bottle, and they also had some beer bottles. Spoke ALSO has a full bar, and my friend got the "Teenage Riot" which was really delicious (and kind of reminded us of drinks at Saloon). The waitress was also super friendly and didn't mind us chatting her up (and complimenting her teeth...is that weird? Yeah, it's weird.) Between the two of us, we each had 1 drink, shared 3 plates, and it came out to $25/each. I'd definitely go back to Spoke with girlfriends soon...it's not really a "dude" spot, which I'm totally happy with.
(5)
E C.
I rarely base reviews on atmosphere, but this one really pissed me off. Inside very sleek and modern, but the kitchen is not be properly vented. Everything I wore reeked, I mean REEKED, like fried food. The next day our entire apartment smelled just from my cloths. My sweater still smells after washing, and coat had to go to the dry cleaner. The server kept interrupting with meaningless questions despite the fact it was pretty obvious we were in a business type meeting and in the middle of a discussion. The food was pretty good (and I love Dave's), vent your damn kitchen and tell the large server to not interrupt people.
(2)
Crista B.
When we arrived without reservations (at 5 pm) we were told we could be seated, but that they were filled with reservations at 8pm ... on a Monday. I figured that we wouldn't need three hours to have cocktails and dinner ... but when we left at 7:15 I couldn't believe it. More importantly we enjoyed all 2+ hours of our visit to Spoke. The food was wonderful (I love small plates ... have the three spread plate), the cocktails tasty, and the staff friendly and full of excellent recommendations. I loved the way that we weren't rushed but were allowed to spend time truly enjoying our food, which doesn't happen often anymore. Spoke is definitely on my list to visit again!!
(5)
Chris P.
Spoke is a game-changer for Davis. The Square is already a foodie destination, but Spoke takes it to the next level, combining a dream team of chefs, bartenders, and servers into a near-perfect whole that provides a thoroughly satisfying culinary experience while remaining casual, friendly, and welcoming. Three days after opening, they are already nailing everything. On my only visit so far, my friend and I shared two small plates and two "snacks", which were uniformly excellent: - Steak tartare: velvety and pampering, with a crunchy vegetable accompaniment (radish[?] and a micro-green) that made me grateful for the first time in my life that there was a garnish on my tartare. Extra croutons appeared exactly when we needed them, before we even asked. - Orata crudo (raw sea bream): This blew my mind. Rather than being seasoned with the traditional bright citrus acid, this dish went in a totally different direction, combining roasted broccoli and thrice-fried garlic chips to give a nutty, warm effect that still allowed the fish's flavor and texture to shine. There was an oil on the plate that I think might have contained roasted (mild) chile, adding to the roasty goodness. I am rarely surprised by food, but this surprised me, in the best possible way. I could have eaten four more servings. Maybe I will, next time. - Peeky toe crab toasts: This is one of the $5 snacks. Two bites of perfectly seasoned crab salad on thin toasted baguette slices. The crab was fresh and tender, and the only bad thing about the dish is that it was small. - White anchovies: My memory is embarrassingly failing me on the details, but I remember thinking that these were excellent and fairly generously portioned for a $5 snack. The rest of the menu looked extremely tempting, but I wasn't really there for dinner, so I'll have to go back to start working my way through it. Watch this space. Wine by the glass was limited to five selections (which I'm told will be expanded fairly soon). With the able guidance of the extremely knowledgeable bartender, I made several choices that I wouldn't otherwise had made, checking out an Italian and a Portuguese (?) wine that I ordinarily would have simply skipped out of ignorance. In general, our bartender (whom we recognized from her previous incarnation as a cocktail master at Drink) was a great resource: she knew everything about the wine and cocktails on offer, knew the menu backwards and forwards, and was friendly, helpful, and attentive (and very indulgent with her over-talkative and somewhat inebriated clients). The same was true of the whole staff, from the front of the house to servers who weren't even serving me personally. Everyone had the easy friendliness of people who really know what they're doing and really like what they do, and they're all obviously excited about this project. Finally, the space - a darn nice place to have a drink: the design is creative but understated, allowing you to focus on your friends and the delicious things in front of you. I'll probably come here mostly with friends, but it would be a great place for a date. I am going to live in this place. Go now before everyone else is already inside, which is going to happen soon.
(5)
Lu B.
I've been to Spoke a handful of times now, which is enough to declare my love right? Right!?! This is the perfect, cozy spot to meet a girlfriend or two for drinks. (But not a crowd, it is TINY in here.) Especially if those girlfriends consider wine to be its own food group, as most of mine do. Calli & Sam behind the bar exude warmth and humor in a way that sometimes gets lost in larger places The wine list may seem overwhelming, but I promise they will listen to what you like and what you're in the mood for and recommend something that you'll be thrilled with. I recommend ordering by the bottle; you know you're gonna drink at least that much anyway. Finished a bottle but not ready to go home yet? Just not that into wine? (Why are you here, again?) Don't overlook the fact that these two have some serious cocktail creating skills. The small rotating menu is always a delight. Small portions make this an ideal place for ordering a plate or two, then another plate or two for as long as the evening extends. And watching the chefs at work in the postage stamp sized kitchen only makes everything they send out seem even more incredible. After just a few visits I'm a die hard fan of their flavorful spreads and the cheese plate. I'm also a fan of seeing familiar friendly faces, and Jess who used to be behind a certain bar in central square might now be my favorite server in the city.
(5)
Salma T.
What a delicious and refreshing meal on a Tuesday night! Highlights were dill pickle granita with the fresh oysters, divine bay scallop ceviche, almond ragu, carrot vodouvan garganelli pasta with labneh topping, duck meatballs with deconstructed white gazpacho salad and ajo blanco dip. And wow on the affogato and olive oil cake at the end. I really love how the chef was able to recreate middle eastern flavors in such a modern way. I will be back!
(5)
Sue W.
I went to Spoke on Valentine's day for a post-dinner drink. I was not disappointed! The bartenders were incredibly friendly, even offering to put our leftovers in the fridge for us while we stayed for a drink. I had the Souracher, which was DELICIOUS. They make their own ginger beer. The ambiance was perfect. Intimate without feeling like you are in the middle of no where with no one; romantic without being over the top; and welcoming without being in your face. I would highly recommend going there for drinks!
(5)
Allie H.
I went here last night for the first time and it was a great experience all around. I wish I could remember my waiter's name because she was absolutely great. She made a ton of suggestions based on what we were looking to order in terms of wine and was extremely knowledgeable. We even let her choose one of our dishes because she thought it would go well with two more we ordered and the entire meal was perfect. Great service and amazing food.
(5)
Molly F.
Great, diverse food options--they are on the small side though for entrees, which is not a bad thing, just is what it is. Very knowledgeable and accommodating to gluten free/Celiac needs. Lighting in the front window seats is the only thing that stands out to improve. Upon picking up our menus to browse, we all did the whole move it in and out, in and out from your face to adjust your eyes while squinting weirdly and making a bizarre face to try to read. Thought turning 24 (the reason we were out to dinner) suddenly put me down the path of weakening eyesight.
(4)
Damon G.
This place got off to a rocky start with me. The bad: It was cramped in there. The metal stools look trendy and cool but they were so uncomfortable to sit on I didn't feel relaxed enough to want to stay longer than I had to. The waitress was slow. Oysters came out and then 10 to 15 minutes later my glass of wine came. In fact, food just randomly showed up whenever it was done. I basically watched my wife eat and then she watched me eat. It was slightly, not obscenely, overpriced. 17 dollars for a tiny tapas portion of pasta? Your kinda stretching it. If you dig the painted borough portions down the street then this won't bother you. The good: the pasta dish I ordered was pretty good, the wine selection was pretty stellar. The scallop dish was excellent and unique and as always I love island creek oysters. I have to hand it to them, they were well cleaned and not a single grain of sand in them. The flat bread plate was also pretty good. I give it three stars but my wife says I'm being too hard on them and suggested a half star bump. I wish this app allowed half star ratings but it doesn't so I'm rounding back down.
(3)
Jessie E.
Fantastic small plates, great service. Loved the three meat plate, cavatelli. Everything was delicious. Great open kitchen with a cute chef! :-)
(4)
Carlos M.
Tasty and creative small plates that are very well thought out, good service, nice vibe, great wine. What is not to love?
(5)
LA C.
Staff awesome, food awesome, wine awesome. Call ahead for a reservation because it fills up
(5)
Rebecca L.
Top notch wine selection and a knowledgeable staff. And the kicker... You can purchase a bottle of your favorite wine (usually) next door at Daves!
(5)
Christina S.
I have eaten at Spoke several times over the past year or two since it first opened (I live in the neighborhood) and have always enjoyed the experience. Last night I had friends visiting from out of town and I wanted to introduce them to this great little neighborhood spot. Apparently there is a new hostess running the front door who I thought was blatantly rude and unhelpful. She had us stand there for 30 minutes after putting our name in, then came back to tell us it would be another 40 minutes (even though she initially told us it would be 45 minutes). What? She curtly retorted that she has "no control over how fast people eat". And it was our fault because we "didn't have a reservation". We gave her our cell phone so she could call us if and when a table opened and you know what? She never called! My friends couldn't believe how rude she was which as a business owner myself I was dumfounded by her lack of customer service. I mean, she really didn't care. Really left a bad taste in my mouth and it is doubtful I will ever go back there.
(1)
Deena S.
Visited over the weekend and loved this place. The cheese plates were lively and very creative menu. Server was well versed with the everchanging wine list. We will be back!
(4)
Joe D.
I am not a fan of dining alone, but I really wanted to try this place as I walked by. The bartender Jason really made me feel comfortable and picked the perfect wine based on my description. A small plate of mussels was the perfect compliment to this Pinot/Shiraz hybrid. I agree with other reviewers that they have the right balance of attentiveness down pat. Will definitely return.
(4)
Kathy A.
Love this place! Best cheese plate in Boston, best margaritas, great innovative dishes. Budino was amaze balls. PLEASE bring back the chick pea fries!!! They were my absolute favorite and unlike any other- I ordered 2 per visit. :(!!!
(4)
Rick S.
Thoughtfully prepared entrees. Unique combinations of flavors. First time here and would definitely recommend
(5)
Inna S.
The presentation of the dishes was delightful, the ingredients were imaginative and the combination of them was scrumptious. I was very pleasantly surprised by each plate that was brought out. Really an exquisite experience. I tried one whiskey-based cocktail that was also delectable. Spoke is the best restaurant I've been to in years. Hat off to the chef! The staff was great also.
(5)
Charles L.
Executive summary: Spoke has great food, great wine, and I will return. The Spoke concept is small to medium plates that are intended to be shared at the table along with wine or beer from an extensive list of bottle and by-the-glass selection. When we visited, there was distinct lack half bottles but I have passed that feedback on. D has said that they are considering a program where they would open any full bottle, sell half of it to you (decanted) and then use the rest as a by-the-glass "special" on their chalk board. Of course if you really liked that particular wine you could buy the other half and take it home with you. Except for one table in the front of the space (4-6 people?), seating is either at the bar or at 2-top steel tables. The service was excellent: helpful, responsive and knowledgeable. The noise level was appropriate. In general, this is a neighborhood kind of place where you would go for a drink and a small plate or two. L and I both agreed that if we lived in the area, we'd be frequent fliers. The wine was quite reasonably priced. It is easy to rack up a pretty serious bill if you survey a lot of the dishes. Nevertheless, the level of preparation, quality, and presentation justifies it and makes for an enjoyable experience. For a detailed review of the dishes and wines along with pictures, go to: itsthefood.net/post/6006… [not to yelp censors: the link above is not a commercial promotion. It is a link to my personal blog which also happens to be listed in my profile.]
(5)
Cindy C.
Small bites + nice cocktails = cozy wine bar that's worth revisiting. I went on a snowy night so it wasn't very crowded and the noise was low. The crab crostini is amazing (it's now 4 pieces per order) in how rich yet light it is. Sit at the bar to watch the cocktail fun.
(4)
N. S.
Been dying to try this spot out as I heard great things. The wine list online looked great, but realized when we got there that the wines I wanted to try were only by the bottle. Not that impressed with the by-the-glass wine list. Wished there were more cocktail options. Did not try the food so can't review that.
(3)
Eva W.
My date and I were looking for a special night, and I finally decided to check out this tiny little spot that I'd heard good things about. First impressions were good, as our waitress was attentive and knowledgeable about the wine list. Happy with our drink selections, we ordered an herb spread along with the corn soup and a potato special. The spread was good, but the corn soup was incredible, balancing unexpected and delightful flavors (watermelon and peanuts!). The potato special was earthy and comforting, although not quite as memorable. From there we moved on to lamb and chicken entrees respectively. Rather than waste time explaining how enjoyable these dishes were, I'll simply tell you to try them. You don't know me, but you will thank me. Seriously, these were on par with (possibly exceeding) the best that Boston has to offer. We concluded the experience with after dinner drinks and a very fresh peach-rhubarb cobbler. The complimentary goat's milk fudge topped with sea salt sent us out the door smiling. Overall, the experience was wonderful and I seriously doubt that you'll find anything to surpass it for the price. Service was attentive and unpretentious, while the chef is clearly at the top of his game. Not only does this new arrival do Davis Square proud, but it deserves a place at the top of all Boston to-do lists. Simply superb.
(5)
Alyson S.
Of course I had to go investigate the wine bar closest to where my friends live. We were not disappointed in the adventure of finding a new place. The entrance was odd with a curtain to block out the cold it was not very welcoming but behind the curtain is where the amazement begins. We were seated quickly and able to take off our coats on the cold winter evening. Our waiter was a character providing entertainment and wonderful suggestions. We ordered a few small plates to go with our wine and were delighted in the quality and well preparedness of the food. The waiter even noticed she I took the too hot first bite and warned the future diners. It was just too delicious looking not to bite in immediately. They had a good selection of wine and after the first glass we were able for all to the waiter and get suggestions for the next glass which worked out to provide us with something we may not have chosen for ourselves. A great atmosphere to relax with a friend, I would recommend Spoke to anyone in the area!
(5)
Brian D.
Everything that I wanted on a cold summer evening. Everything that I needed to put in my face, in one place, at the same place. Good job Spoke, good job indeed. I pulled up to a bar stool at about 6:15 on a Thursday, by 6:30 the place was packed. Amazing to see the dinner crowd, literally, rush the door. The place is pretty small so it got a little claustrophobic, but the glass of sangiovese helped calm the nerves. My lady in crime was running a bit late and I was afraid that we would not be able to seated, but after staring down a few departing patrons I managed to hover over an empty bar spot. Commence more sangiovese, a plate of warm olives, a beautiful pea and chantorele pasta and a plate of perfect spring vegetables with fresh salted butter. Commence food porn, happy mouths and pissy post-work/commuting moods turned to playful wine-fueled table talk. Kudos Spoke, see you soon. P.S. can you do exactly what you do, someplace other than Davis Sq?
(4)
Stephanie G.
Okay, there are only so many things that I want in life, and this bar provides all of them that a bar can. Atmosphere: Yes, it's easy, it's not pretentious, but it's serious about output. What is it, post-hipster? No. Eager beavers? No. It's just good. It's self-respect. Thank you. How refreshing! Food: So we only tried the appetizers so far, but they were excellent (the dips were modestly prices - not huge or anything, but for $4, exactly what I wanted) and the charcuterie was excellent. This is some excellent quality Experience: Fantastic. I'm thrilled this place is near me and I get to reap the benefits. This is the quintessential neighborhood wine bar and it's just the type of neighborhood I want to be a part of. So I give it five stars because it's just what I want. I'm not calling it gourmet (I'd have to try a dinner for that) but if you want to hang out with your friends in a relaxed atmosphere in Davis, this is going to be killer. I. Am. So. Happy.
(5)
Keeve G.
A great addition to Davis Square, Spoke has a modern vibe and excellent atmosphere. The waitstaff are extremely knowledgeable about the dishes they serve, along with their wine selection. My friends and I had the pleasure of being waited on by one of the most friendly and attentive Sommeliers I've ever encountered. He gave suggestions to some dishes we should try, and what wine would pair with them without being pushy. He refilled our glasses when they were low without being invasive. He even treated us to some on the house Italian sparkling wine with the cured meat platter we ordered. To top it off, since we spent a good dime there, he also treated us to some of the in-house made fudge for desert (which is incredible). The food was very well prepared, plated, and delicious. The wine selective extensive but not overwhelming. I couldn't be more impressed with this tiny establishment. Keep doing what you're doing Spoke!
(5)
Elizabeth K.
Awesome new little spot. I've been there a few times now and just love it. The first time we got a ton of samples and the second time just a couple glasses of wine and a little nibble each. The staff seemed cool with us either way - I like that - sometimes you just want a classy place to go throw back a few drinks and have a good conversation. Everything I've had to eat and drink has been delicious. The waitstaff is also incredibly informed about the wine and throwback cocktails. It is really small but I've never had to wait very long and the hostess has always been incredibly friendly as well. It's definitely one of my go-to spots now.
(5)
Syzlack M.
I love this place. The food and drink is incredible and it has a wonderful ambiance. What I don't like is reeking of fried food and fish for hours after leaving. This is an ongoing problem here and I really wish they would do more to remedy it because it really is such a cool spot. I keep coming back thinking it will be different but, of course, that's not the case. If you're into great wine and great food and don't mind stinking like a low tide harbor, then this is your spot!
(2)
Rita N.
Food, service, ambiance. This place hits all of the elements! Need I say more? If you are not sure what to do order, ask the bartender for recommendations. They are so friendly and helpful that I feel like I was talking to a friend.
(4)
Sarah G.
Welcome, Spoke to the neighborhood! And we are really glad you are here! I know that I personally had been waiting for what seemed like years for this place to open once I had heard that Dave's Fresh Pasta had bought the space next door to open a wine bar, but it was definitely worth the wait, and this is an awesome addition to the Davis Square area and another great place that when you come here, you really do feel like you are out for a night on the town--well a night on the 'ville? This place is a wine lovers heaven--but pretty much if you don't get a bottle, spending $10-12 a glass will add up very quickly, so make the economical choice and go with one of their hand selected bottles of wine that are actually pretty reasonably priced. Our server helped pick each of them and you could see how pumped he was to be talking about his prized possessions with us He also had tried literally every item on the menu and was a huge help in Deanna D and my ordering of nibbles for the night. That being said, when we both said we wanted to try their pork dish that was a fancy sliced pastrami like piece of pigs head that had been cured and dried in a special way while also wanting their porchetta panini, he kind of did call us oinkers in a sense, since he thought we weren't sharing at first and that was a lot of pork ha ha So we were slightly offended, but then took it as a fun challenge and ordered both of those dishes and their anchovies and their piquillo-almond spread. The verdict? The pigs head dish was awesome. I loved every bite of it. The panini was good, but since Deanna D. had just gotten back from Italy, she wasn't 100% impressed with the porchetta and said the real Italians do it better, but I mean when is that not the case? ha ha But the panini itself was still very tasty. The anchovies were awesome though. Paired perfectly with some crunchy bread crumbs and their cauliflower wow. Just wow those things were good. And the piquillo-almond spread was also pretty flavorful but they definitely served it not with flatbread as advertised but another tasty type of bread instead, which was addicting on its own level, probably because of the salty crust it had. Really there seemed to be a lot of salt action in our dishes in general which is great since we had a whole bottle of nice French wine! All in all, this place is pretty awesome. Both of us ate with a bottle of wine for $40 each, the service was awesome (with a slight delay between courses but that is to be expected during their first week of service), the decor is great, and I am so pumped to finally have a wine bar to call home in this beer loving city of Boston!
(4)
Joanie S.
My friends and I were very excited to get a table a spoke! It is a very intimate venue, so be prepared to make some friends with other tables. Food was small portions. Actually, food was NORMAL human portioned not American portioned. It was just enough. Get the goat cheese spread. Its amazing! Be prepared to ask for more bread though, they really don't give you enough. Not as pricey as I expected. Perhaps more expensive than Davis is used to but the prices were fair considering the quality of food. The only reason I am not giving Spoke 5 stars is because after we paid our bill we were finishing up our wine and relaxing and got multiple weird looks from the owner/hostess - she obviously wanted us to give up our seats! It made us very uncomfortable and we eventually just left for that reason. It was a bummer because other than that it was a nice night.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : No Attire : Casual Ambience : Intimate Noise Level : Average Music : Background Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : No Best Nights : Wed, Thu, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Jade F.
3 words: love. love. love. everything about this place is thought out... from the heath ceramic dishes to the playlist that reminds me of home. i can't get enough of this place! i'll be back!!!!
(5)Matthew G.
It's not the service, it's not the food and no it's not even the wine. It's the prices. I live down the street and have been waiting for a spot like this to open up in my neighborhood for a long time. I can afford to come here once every three months but if they adjusted a couple of things I'd be here once every three weeks (at least)! For the wine: there are some really solid bottles that are $10-$15 out there, pick out a few of em, bump the price up to, say $30 and throw them on the menu. Do the same with the by the glass, let's get a few by the glass options for $7-$8, especially since you're giving me a by-the-drop measured 3 ounce pour. The food is great here, it's exactly what I like, snacks/small plates. But charging $15 for snacks seems a little unfair, you know? That steak tartare is great but if you're going to dilute it with creme fraiche, charge me $9. Be fair. Anyway, I see how crowded you are every night so I know you don't necessarily need me to stay in business. But most of the neighborhood residents are in a similar income bracket and will have to stop frequenting your place eventually because they've run out of money. I'm so mad that my bill from my visit the other day was $150 that I don't even want to go back until y'all do something about your prices. I feel like I'm being robbed.
(3)David S.
I really, really enjoyed Spoke. The appetizers are delicious and the bottled-wine selection is voluminous. The single-serving drinks - wines, beers, and cocktails - are more... curated. There are a handful of beer, cocktail and wine-by-the-glass options, and there's a full bar of possibilities. The decor is understated - lots of wood, rounded edges, different-sized light fixtures. There's variety, without chaos. Overall, it's a great addition to the West-side-of-Davis-Square neighborhood.
(5)Kate S.
Fun atmosphere for a girls' night. Loved the oysters and brussel sprouts. Definitely ordering a bottle is the way to go. If getting the cheese plates, definitely ask for more flatbread if you want it!
(3)Drew L.
Food was decent, ordered an old fashioned, was not asked what kind of liquor I wanted. I had to ask what I was getting when it showed up.I figure if I am dropping ten bucks I should at least get a say. Also for a wine bar my date did not get stem ware with her sparkling wine. Not a huge deal but easy things to fix especially when you drop a couple bucks on dinner I expect good service.
(2)Liz D.
I enjoyed a fantastic birthday dinner at Spoke this week, and I look forward to making this restaurant part of my Davis Square favorites! The sparkling white wine, warm asparagus salad, eggplant spread, and variety of cheeses & meats were incredible. The staff was extremely helpful as well. Love this place!
(5)Abbey L.
The food I've had at Spoke has been excellent. I had a hand-crafted orriechette with mushrooms that was really excellent. Definitely on the pricier side but still very good. Maybe don't go here if you are hungry and looking for a big meal, though, because the servings are fairly small, but many things are meant to be shared. My main complaint here was the wine - I had two glasses that the server recommended and they were both excellent - but the pours were so small!
(3)Linda L.
Hmm....why such great reviews about this place? They seem to have a decent wine selection (I just went for drinks, cannot comment on the food) and the bartender was nice enough, but this place is definitely sub-par as far as wine bars go. Have you been to Belly? That's a nice wine bar. This place looks like it was furnished by IKEA and the felt block wall made me feel like I was in a 1970's basement. Not the high end feel I expect in a wine bar. Also, it is really tiny, you cannot really hang out by the bar unless you had a seat. Furthermore, get a good fume hood! I was sitting at the bar with some friends and then the frying began in the kitchen. It became smoky throughout the whole place and the smell was awful. My winter coat still stinks slightly three weeks later. My hair and clothes stunk-two of our group decided to go home instead of joining other friends down the street because well, I just had to go wash that stink out of my hair. Though others have commented the food is good, I will never go back here because I do not want to experience that smoky nastiness ever again.
(2)R S.
A nice new wine bar. Food was good but it was pricey - typical I suppose for a wine bar. Selection of wine by the class was solid but not extensive. Service (we sat at the bar) was very good. A good addition to the neighborhood, but nothing extraordinary. There are sexier wine bars in Boston.
(4)Susan G.
Great people; good vibe; decent wine selection and food... but, wow is it pricey!
(4)Sarah P.
Stopped in here after dinner elsewhere near Davis Square on a Saturday night. We came in late and managed to get a spot at the bar with every intent of trying out the mixology reputation that brought us in. I had a Red Hook cocktail, a take on the Manhattan, being a Manhattan girl myself. I found the addition of Maraschino liquor a bit cloying and it made the overall drink a bit too sweet and less balanced than a well made classic Manhattan. The bar tender, who seemed quite accomplished, recommended that I try a Little Italy the next time, which has more bitters, and I think I would do that. Alas, I am just visiting Boston for a conference and I don't think the ambiance nor the drinks would necessarily draw me back to Davis Sq for another visit, but I would recommend this place to someone visiting the area. I didn't try any food so I can't comment on that. It's cozy and small but actually a bit brightly lit for a late Saturday night cap.
(3)Chris T.
I've had my recent run in's with so-so restaurants and waiters recently, so it was a welcome surprise that Spoke absolutely floored me last night. I enjoy wine, but I'm not too familiar with types other than Italian. So when my fiance and I sat down and told our waiter David (who might be the best waiter we have ever been served by) that we wanted him to choose our wines and dining options for our, he was blown away and welcomed the challenge. We had 4 courses: 6 Oysters with a nice Mignonette, White Anchovy and Crab meat Crostini, Almond and Pepper spread and Creamy Ricotta, and Homemade Cavatelli with a farm egg, chive, mushroom, and kale. We even opted for a goat milk pasta with a mint lamb ragu sauce and the frozen yogurt for dessert, because you know.... when in Rome. With each course minus the two that we chose, David gave us a wine pairing to complement the course and explained to us why he chose this wine. He was very detailed and enthusiastic about his presentation, something most servers in a setting like this lack. Most of the wines he suggested were excellent. In fact, my favorite wine of the evening was a Piedmont wine that came out of a box. Yes wine-o's, a box wined was probably the best glass option in the house and it really was delicious. Suck it. Spoke is going to be a place where we will bring relatives and friends for a nice, chill night to chat over a good glass of box wine and enjoy great food. The portions are small, yes. But the quality of the food and especially the quality of the service certainly makes up for the price. Will definitely return, with others
(5)Cliff R.
The drinks, expertly crafted and delicious. Highly recommend the dolcecita. Sam at the bar was informative, friendly, and attentive. Everything from booze to food is pricey, but the food is very good and so are the drinks...!
(5)Ben T.
count me in. no tv's; amazing beers; lovely staff; really good, flavorful food, and right here in the netherlands between the squares davis and teele. a place for adults. there, i said it.
(4)Emily M.
I went here for an early birthday celebration. I thought the wine selection was pretty good but I wish the cheese selection was better. I thought it was a little pricey for what you get.
(3)ujjayant c.
went there 3 times. nice ambience, portions are small and the price is steep. wont go there too often in future.
(3)Heather L.
What an experience. Great wine selection, even better food, the service was superb, and the ambiance was perfect. Everything on the menu looked amazing. We ordered: - Duck meatballs: 4 meatballs with a nice crunchy almond/grape/fruit salad - Flatbread with 3 dips: they replenish the flatbread if you run out - Beets with pistachio: who knew I could love beets so much - Seared tuna: Perfect amount of flavor Oh, and they also give you a small piece of fudge at the end of the meal. Definitely will be back to try out other parts of the menu.
(5)Devon H.
Sit outside or at a table - the bar service was unimpressive. Came here with a date for a dozen oysters and a cocktail each. I only had one drink because I was driving and my date because she is quite a light weight. The bartenders clearly wanted us to order more or leave. They asked us about 4-5 times in the hour we were there. Just because of that service I can't give a great review. Outside space looked great as did the other tables (at which you had to be eating).
(2)Bill C.
Spoke Wine Bar is a great, small restaurant that features shared small plates and an excellent assortment of wine and beer. The cocktails are good too. It's one of those places where it's best to go with a few people so you can share a lot of different dishes. We really liked the following dishes: duck meatballs - excellent, meaty meatballs with a really cool accompaniment of hummus and chopped up macadamia nuts and some fruit Flatbread with 3 dips - a sweet potato, hummus, and feta cream Rabbit - I had never tried rabbit but it was excellent. Tasted like a really lean pork sausage The wines were all good, but we really liked some of the sparking wines best. Service is super friendly and professional. They make you feel very welcomed.
(4)Leo L.
Great service but disappointing food and wine list. Came here for dinner and as usual when visiting a new restaurant I started with 2 dishes, before asking for more. I ordered the Flatbread & Spreads and the Ribs. The hummus was dry and flavorless and the ribs comes in 3 pieces and the ones served was 99+% fat - no meat what-so-ever - as picture posted with this review. I decided to just move on and went to another restaurant down the street for dinner.
(2)Kendall A.
I went to Spoke because I had to fix the tire on my bike. Boy was I red in the face when I realized they don't fix spokes in your bike tire, they serve wine. Pleasant surprise. I'm not one to turn down an alcoholic beverage (or 9) so I grabbed a spot at the bar and had several of their small plates, I prefer larger plates. I mean this is America and I want to eat like I'm in America and not Africa. Overall a good experience but it is a bit small of a place for a hunk like myself that's got a bit of extra mass (I hit the gym 3-4 times a week, can bench a solid 115lbs). Side note, if you find a lone bike tire with a broken spoke in Davis Square let me know I lost it on my drunken walk home.
(4)Suzanne L.
I wish I made more money so I could go to Spoke everyday. Seriously, it is that good. Amazing service, incredible food, delicious cocktails...all at a wine bar. My favorite things I've had there are a housemade gin and tonic and the farro risotto with hen of the woods mushrooms and a cured runny egg...OMG. I'm having trouble writing about it coherently. I've never ordered dessert because housemade GOAT'S MILK FUDGE is set on the table at the end with your check. Perfect, creamy end to your meal that satisfies your sweet tooth. I also love biking by there in the mornings and smelling whatever they are braising/smoking/curing/pickling/marinating. One caveat: it is REALLY dark in there and gets pretty loud and crowded, so be prepared. They have some outdoor seating in the summer!
(5)Sebatien C.
We tried Spoke for the first time a few days ago. Well, cocktails were excellent. When ordering the main course I inquired about the side,as it was difficult to gauge the size of the plate just listening to the description (daily special, scallop-based, $19). Answer was the by-heart description again, ok. When the scallops arrived, we had a nervous laugh with my wife. 2 scallops in a little bowl, with a light sauce and exactly twelve corn grains, very good but ridiculously small. When mentioning to the waiter that the quantity was extremely light, he told us that usually people take 2 main course. From a semantic standpoint it's definitely not a main course, if we think about a restaurant as a place where you pay for food with in mind the idea it will calm your hunger, Spoke plays on a dark grey zone. 2 main courses to eat enough would mean $40 (and considered the size of the main course we had, two would not have been enough), which is a price level way over the paper-napkin table-on-the-sidewalk kind of restaurant. So, an excellent place to go if you have eaten before.
(3)Denise M.
The entire place is honestly small but passes quite well as an upscale eatery atmosphere. The staff are very nice, the overall experience OK. The plate of pork loin with kale I ordered was cold, lukewarm with kale dried to the point of being more like chips. Quite a surprise. I expected a little more but paid for my meal and didn't complain. Even though I ate only a few bites. Others seemed to clean their plates. It's one of the nicer places in Davis Sq and I really wanted to like it more than I did. My second time here. Hopefully they can make it work. It seems to attract a good crowd but I was just A-OK aka disappointed.
(3)Karina L.
Spoke strikes the perfect balance between a tapas bar and a low key wine bar. Come here for a long, enjoyable meal filled with dishes of quality and fresh ingredients, drinks from an excellent wine and (don't forget!) cocktail list, and a quiet crowd in the heart of Davis Square. We came in as 3 on a Friday night, and they were able to seat us right away. Duck meatballs & jicama Black spaghetti Cured ham platter Shiseido peppers with XO sauce + Carbonara LOTS OF WINE ___________________________ Happy drunk diners. It seems like their menu changes often, and the website menu doesn't accurately reflect what they are serving that night, so don't commit too much before you arrive. There are also a ton of vegetarian options. The recommended around 5-6 dishes for the 3 of us, depending on the size of the dishes we chose. Consult your informed waiters/bartenders, be merry, and enjoy Spoke's eclectic vibe.
(5)Kensey W.
i can maybe see why other people might like this place but i had a really meh experience here. my friend and i got cocktails and neither were very good. we only looked at the drinks menu and it was hard to decide what to get because every drink just seemed like it was trying really really hard to be weird. it's cool to experiment i guess but in this case it didn't work out for us. it was also really crowded and a little rowdy but that's not the fault of the place. just added to the general experience. the bartenders kind of made me uncomfortable because one of them described a drink to me as effervescent and i don't know what that means.
(2)Anne C.
Spoke is my favorite date night spot in Davis Sq! I love the cozy atmosphere, fresh ingredients and amazing food! The menu changes seasonally. My all-time favorite summer dishes (from yesterday) are the corn & crab soup and the diver scallops in brown butter sauce. My all-time favorite winter dishes are the polenta fries and the game hen with waffles. The specials are always divine: the absolute best was the softshell crab sandwich (ended up ordering a second)! I highly recommend Spoke!
(5)Tamara W.
this place is AWESOME and JOSH is a great bartender. Came here at 7:30pm with no reservation at all and got seats right at the bar; the place is cozy, adorable, and has parking all around the area (which doesn't ticket overnight; or at least I didn't get one). The good: +Josh is funny, friendly and has a nice balance of talking to guests but not butting into convos. He made those great Tequila cocktails and gave us left over of the New Years Eve mixed drinks +Efficient, quick, and great service +clean bathrooms and ambiance; simple and a really easy/simple menu that looks delicious +Oysters were great; had dozen of the Island creeks and wellfleets; all robust and great. the iced and pickled horse radish was interesting and a cool idea! i have no complaints at all except the pricing for somerville (slummerville) standards is fucking expensive. i live in the south end even there its hard to find a 12 dollar cocktails and when you do its larger than the portions here. prob won't be back since i live all the way in south end but it for sure was a great spot to try out! thanks Josh!
(5)Kaitlyn H.
Goldberg 2013 Riesling. DO it. Everything is worth every penny. Have every meal here. Superb customer service and attention to detail.
(5)Amy K.
We had a great meal here this weekend! The chive spaetzel, duck meatballs, and rye salt & vinegar chips were all delicious! The beet salad was good but nothing all that special and the deviled eggs were just average. We will definitely be back.
(4)Jeff M.
Wow, Spoke is pretty awesome. I have no idea why it took me a year to cross over to the other side of Davis Square to make it here. Spoke possesses an affordable wine list and great cocktail program. The service was prompt and friendly Highlights included the duck meatballs and wood grilled oysters. Same day reservations were a added tremendous value to my experience when so many places needed to be booked weeks in advance (who do you know you are going to want to so far ahead of time?). The only downside was that high chairs with no back made it impossible to lean back comfortable. I also loves the 80s British new wave playing the entire time. Don't expect to be blown away here, just expect good solid food with a solid bottle of wine.
(4)Kiri R.
I had a friend who is a chef come visit for a week. We went out to eat so many times I thought I would explode. Both of our favorites after going all over boston? Hands down it was Spoke. The food was incredible. Service was great. Drinks were fantastic. The place is tiny though so plan ahead.
(5)Joey M.
My first reaction upon entering spoke "I'm so fancy, you already know". This place looks fancy. Took a seat at the bar which is also quite fancy. They have these circular cut outs on the bar that have lights in them, illuminating drink you place near them. I was only there for drinks (though the food menu does look pretty good). The beer selection was small but very interesting, I didn't get a beer but would suggest it for the beer lover. Started with a cocktail which was distinctly meh, too much grapefruit not enough rum tastes. The real fun began when we ordered wine. Now i know very little about wine and the bartender was amazingly friendly and helpful. She suggested a few ideas, explained how the grapes for the wine were grown and what she liked about each wine. She also let us sample wines to compare and decide what we wanted. Maybe this is standard for wine bars (Like I said, I am a wine rookie) but it was a lot of fun and got to taste some nice wines. The bartender explained that the owner was a fan of "old world" wines. These wines tend to be grown in colder climates and that means they aren't as "big fruity" wines. So if you are a connoisseur who knows they want fruity wines... maybe spoke isn't the place for you?? That being said, I'm sure they would hook it up. Overall I highly recommend Spoke. It's pricier but I think that's to be expected. Stick to wine (or maybe a solid beer) as other places will do cocktails better I think.
(4)Serena W.
I have come to Spoke a number of times and each time has been a 5 star experience. The prices are high for sure but you are absolutely getting you money's worth. The wines and food change often are carefully selected by the staff. I've tried pretty much the whole menu at this point and have to say my favorites are the farro risotto and smoked mussels. I also highly recommend the cheese plate. The cheese is all delicious locals ones served with tasty crostinis. Another high point is the staff. Everyone is so so nice and helpful. You can tell they really care about the restaurant and want everyone to have a good time.
(5)Vic G.
Just the kind of place where you can go for a couple of drinks, relax after a crazy day and have a great dinner. Went there with a couple of coworkers after a really hectic work day. It was as if our heads were fuming and we didn't want to deal with the financial district after work crowd. So we came here on the suggestion of one of them who lives nearby and had walked past it a few times, liked what she saw and wanted to try. Let's Go! The restaurant has a very eclectic feel what with the bar and the glasses and liqueurs on display in such a beautiful way. That was the first thing that caught my attention. We sat at the bar, although it was not a busy weeknight. The dining area was semi full. But we just wanted to sit at the bar. Of course the light setting at the bar stood out right away. What a way to make your glassware shine while you dine! Fun! Our bartender was very friendly. I went for a crisp glass of Pinot Grigio and my peeps went for beer. They do have some very good selection of almost everything - some odd liquor bottles that I had never heard of before. I was not super hungry but hungry enough to try the apps. So I got two. The roasted beat salad was very good. Every ingredient was fresh and I could see some thought that went into the fixing the plate - that says a lot for a salad. It was good. Next for me was the steak tartar. That was good but not great. But I was enjoying the ambiance and my mind was off work completely. It was good to go someplace outside the usual hotspots and find an easy little bar to chill.
(4)Victor W.
So...give me three Paper Planes and I'll let pretty much anyone ravage my body cause those drinks are strong. The Black Cavatelli is pretty good - but I recommend sharing it. It's not the most pleasing dish to the eye cause the pasta looks like pieces of rabbit feces, but the sausage, squid and flavor is not bad. Personally, I would've used a lighter pasta for both aesthetic reasons and for better balance. Lessen the sodium and lighten the pasta up and the dish would be fantastic. Now the Duck Meatballs on the other hand...I'm pretty sure it's not the 3 Paper Planes that's talking...and if so, it is divine. I want to do a Tina Turner dance number every time I put it in my mouth. The texture of the almond, jicama and grapes compliment the meat oh so well. The Whipped Chocolate Budino is alright. I would've been happy without it. Bartenders are pretty good.
(4)Kerstin S.
Unique culinary experience! Was not sure what to expect but was blown away by our dishes. The drinks (suffering bastard & Kentucky shuffle) were fantastic and our waiter helped us pair our dishes perfectly. The Tat Soi, duck meatballs and squid fusilli were all just incredibly special- whomever is on saucier duty clearly knows what they are doing. The Pistachio Pavlova dessert was the perfect follow up!
(5)Michael C.
I had a great experience at this newish little wine bar in Davis Square. I went on an off night so we had no trouble getting a table. I hear this is not the case on the weekends.. The decor here definitely fits the wine bar theme. Everything from the service, to the drinks, to the food were top notch. Their menu changes frequently, I hope it is just as good on my next visit. Chickpea Herb - Essentially hummus, it was good but not memorable. Devils on Horseback - Figs wrapped in bacon filled with cheese. These things are F'n delightful. These are a must get appetizer. Chip in a Farm Egg - A vegetarian dish that was surprisingly my favorite of the dinner. Maine Lobster - Best preparation I have ever had in a lobster dish. The mix of the crunchiness and sweetness was outstanding. I have never had lobster prepared this way. It really comes off as similar to a hash dish, outstanding. Rabbit Porchetta - A hearty dish filled with crispy rabbit, which is a meat I have not been a fan of in the past, but it was cooked in a way where is was not gamey at all. It sat in a medley of veggies and polenta. A very good entree. Indian Pudding - This dessert is new to me. I usually prefer the sweeter stuff. This definitely has some more savory elements to it.
(5)Sophie C.
I'll make your life easy - go. Eat everything. Get a bottle of red and let them make a recommendation from the list of Old World greats. Get the Sofia goat cheese and bask in its deliciousness. That wasn't that hard, right? Life should always be this tasty. Kudos to chef.
(5)Corey L.
Okay, so I went a second time with a date and had a great time. It was a Wednesday night, the place was hopping, and we sat at the bar. The bar tender was pretty incredible - he was able to discuss the history of drinks he was suggesting to us - a really knowledgeable guy who clearly loves what he does and isn't annoying about it. Anyway, he suggested a Last Word, which was a great drink. My lady friend had a Final Word, similar but with Whiskey instead of Gin, Lemon instead of lime, and a yellow something instead of a green something. I don't like Whiskey, but enjoyed my taste of her drink. Then, the food: had the Lamb Garganelli. It was really great. Super flavorful and quite balanced with all the ingredients. They finished us off with a taste of goat fudge, which was good - not super goaty. So I'm bumping it up to 4 stars. It's still too expensive - the dinner was $20 and at best half of the amount of food you typically get when dining out. Which made it a good portion for a human, but the price was not adjusted accordingly. Though it was really quite excellent. And since I was really hungry and it didn't fill me up and I didn't feel like paying a crap load of money for more, JP Licks helped out. Anyway, expensive but trendy, cool, and really a nice place
(4)John F.
My wife and I have gone to Spoke twice now and sat at the bar for wine and apps. I just love this place because they really do things right. The service is always super friendly and attentive and the small plates are delicious, with a great wine selection to accompany everything (and some really nice cocktails as well). The interior has a cool design and is very warm and welcoming and the noise level actually allows you to have a conversation. It's definitely a place we'll keep returning to!
(5)Katherine S.
Best little restaurant in Davis Square -- small to medium sized plates allow for a diverse eating experience, and each dish was prepared with attention to detail. The mixologist at the bar prepared several "bespoke" cocktails for me with that same precision. Overall we were delighted to learn about this place with its simple menu (i.e. all fits on one page), and so close to Somerville Theater you can really make a nice date out of it!
(5)Eric S.
Pure awesome.
(5)Peter D.
This place is ridiculously good. Try the lamb - crispy and flavorful. And the flatbread spreads are out of this world!
(5)Christy H.
Love this place! Glad to have it in the neighborhood. Food is delicious and takes "bar" food to a totally different realm. I'm a wine buff, but I love going here to try weird varietals that I've never even heard of before. And Flea and her staff are great at picking good pairings to go with your food, so you don't have to be intimidated or take a wild guess from the wine list. I'm not a big cocktail drinker, but the few that I have had here, have been quite good. It's not inexpensive, but since I don't get to eat out that often anymore (thanks to parenthood!) I would rather splurge a little for something extra good.
(5)Babette W.
What a great gem in Davis Square, brilliant wine offerings paired with a sophisticated and well thought menu. Superior service from the bartenders to the front, chef is very talented. Go! But nothing like Olive Garden as yelp compared?
(5)David A.
Had dinner there the other night, really enjoyed the food, drinks and service, but I have to concur with E.C. from Somerville on the stink factor. I smelled like fried chicken the next day (my jacket). It's enough of a problem that, in spite of an otherwise very good meal and enjoyable experience, I won't go back.
(2)Erin M.
Tiny, sure, but a lovely little gem. The food was perfectly prepared and though small plate in format, totally satisfying. The wine was great. We went on a Monday, so the atmosphere was low-key and unhurried.
(5)Johonna C.
Perfect daiquiri, amazing Moonstone oysters, spicy Jonah crab crostini, rich lamb garganelli with fava beans. I could eat here every night!
(5)Jared B.
This place is great. It's a wine bar but they also have an above average cocktail list and a few good beers to chose from. I haven't had any entree's but all the food I've had has been very good as well. I wish it were a little bigger, but it is what it is.
(5)Kee H.
I can't say anything bad about Spoke. The wines were excellent. The spreads and bread were unique and delicious. The assorted small dishes (think of it as tapas) were amazing. The cheese selection was awesome. The desserts were delectable. The dessert cocktails were complex and wonderful. And the after dinner chocolates with a touch of salt were completely unexpected and perfect. My only problem is going to be keeping away.
(5)Jim B.
I've watched this place take shape in the past year, and it opened to rave reviews. I walk past it to go to work and back twice every day, but never had occasion to go in and try the fare. I finally had the opportunity when a friend visited me in Davis and we decided to give it a try. My friend had a small sandwich which he liked. I had the ($12.00) plate of chicken wings. Worst ever. Seriously. Fatty, tough, tasteless, skin thicker than the meat, small portion for the aforementioned hotel room service price of $12.00. I'm sure there are better choices on the menu, so I'd like to try something else - but if you're trying to be upscale, why screw around with things like chicken wings (McDonald's has better wings for 1/4 the price that are actually edible)? On the service side, the owner/manager greeted us at the door and introduced herself. I like this tactic and appreciate locally owned establishments with owners who are actually involved in the day to day operation (see: Sound Bites in Ball Sq.). Wait staff was indifferent; take it or leave it - here's your beer, here's your food, anything else? Thanks, bye. No small talk. Just a tad more effort please... I want to go back when its less crowded and try the wines and see how friendly the bar staff behaves toward an aging non-hipster like myself, 15 years out of the demographic for Davis Sq. Then I can call it a final review. Keep trying....
(2)Lindsay B.
Amazing spot! A refreshing unique experience with great ambiance, service, food and beverage. The waiter and kitchen staff went above and beyond to make our 'date night' one of the best. We ordered the spreads which are a must and make sure to save room for dessert because the sour cream ice cream peach cobbler and chocolate boddine are incredible! Ill be going back to this wine bar for sure!
(5)Neva C.
The food here is really above and beyond, better than anything else in Davis Square (or really anywhere close along the Red Line - I'm looking at you, Harvard Square). The problem is the wine is not very good. When we went, the wines were not listed by country and our server didn't know where they were from. They seem to pick very obscure vineyards made with unusual grapes; if you know your wines, this makes it hard to tell if you'll like it (and we didn't like the ones recommended to us). This is really too bad for a wine bar. But the food is amazing.
(4)Robert G.
All of the food we ate was Amazing! Chef John Dasilva has a passion unmatched. Each dish we ate was progressive, inspired, perfectly seasoned, and cooked properly. Our server PJ was helpful, freindly, and professional. He was able to answer any questions we could throw at him. Everybody seems to care at this place and that's refreshing to see. My favorite menu items were: The selection of hams, with honey butter and crusty bread, spaetzle, with smoked chicken and fontina fonduta branzino crudo with pickled beech mushrooms, garlic scapes and lardo Panisse frites with harissa aioli Octopus with romesco Smoked seafood chowder Quail with cheddar waffles, smoked butter, and maple syrup (We had about 5 more items too!) All the food was excellent, we will definatley be returning asap. If you havnt been you need to check it out, and its worth the 15 min drive from boston proper so no excuses. This place is special.
(5)Ana R.
My boyfriend and I have walked past Spoke a handful of times and it always seemed like a really really cool place (albeit quite dark). Last night we finally tried it on a whim. The atmosphere is really cool, very chill and, like I said, really dark. Makes for excellent private conversation with your sexual partner of choice. The service was attentive but didn't spill over into stalking behavior territory. The menu is small, presented on a clipboard. This being a wine bar, the pages are mostly filled with wines and specialty cocktails. I wasn't drinking last night, and my boyfriend had an IPA, so we can't speak to the quality of the bartender. We ordered a few different plates (portions are tapas sized, though prices are not): Chickpea frites - 6 french fries made out of chickpeas with a tangy aoili. Very good and a good portion to share. Oysters - 1/2 dozen for $15, though they were delicious, not worth the $2.50 per. Beet Salad - beets with an avocado cream and pistachios. An excellent combination of flavors. I would it this by the bucketful. Lamb ribs - 4 riblets coated with a spicy rub that was full of flavor. Unfortunately they were mostly fat and had very little meat at all. Not worth $17. Octopus - perfectly cooked and paired with a delicious sauce drizzled over two crusty pieces of bread. A marvel! Aside from the ups and downs in the food department, there is one reason why I won't likely be going back to Spoke - the entire place stank of fry oil. It got all over my clothes. My jacket and scarf still stank this morning, and I have to wash my hair again because it still smells like I'm working part time at a greasy spoon. There is a place and time to smell like a two-bit diner (like when you're in a two-bit diner), but Spoke is not where I'd expect it. I hope this was a fluke and if I ever get the urge to go again, I'll poke my head in and sniff first. Our bill came to $77 bucks plus tip. Can't say the experience, and the dry-cleaning bill, is worth it.
(3)Iris T.
Place was packed on a Tuesday night at 8:30pm but managed to snag two seats at the bar. Friendly bar service, great food, but a bit pricey. 2 glasses of wine and 2 dishes came to $60, but in my opinion worth the splurge. Food combinations were creative and flavorful. I sampled the black spaghetti with squid and leek sausage and the Black Sea bass with lentil hummus and kumquat. Bass was cooked perfectly and the skin was nice and crispy. How they make these amazing dishes in that small kitchen is quite impressive!! The complimentary fudge with sea salt is adorable, delicious and so thoughtful.
(5)Emily A.
Best restaurant in Somerville and possibly Boston that I've been to- and I just moved here from Austin which has a huge foodie scene. You have to order the oysters, they come with a delicious iced pickle juice.
(5)Dave B.
I like the intentions but overall--unsatisfying....when you order a $12 small plate that turns out to be mostly bread(smoked mussels that could have been canned--there was no shell), it will not blow me away. We spent $120 on 4 plates and 4 drinks. Would have been better served at a gastro pub down the street. The cucumber dip and the sweet potato dip were outstanding. The crabmeat thing was mostly what looked like shredded root vegetable over two small circles of polenta, with a tiny bit of crab in there someplace, and it was delicious. The asparagus was shredded and didn't have any asparagus taste, which was disappointing. It could have been string beans. Over all, not much value here. A couple of good flavors, but was that worth $120. No way!
(2)Aine F.
It was only ok. Not a great red wine selection. Cocktail was good and the bartenders were friendly.
(2)Em G.
The food was terrible. We ordered the Asparagus Carbonara which comes with a slow cooked egg. It was literally shredded asparagus with a raw egg cracked on top of it. The BBQ crab was literally right out of the ocean with BBQ sauce poured over it. And the Spicy Beef Salad looked and tasted like cat food. The server provided no information or descriptions to us. The bottle of wine we ordered was overpriced, but at least that carried us through. The server was nice enough, but provided no explanations to us. The place was so small that the man in the table next to us practically sat on my lap getting into the table and then we kept bumping elbows. What a disappointment!
(1)Nicole L.
Love this place! My husband and I split a ham platter and a cheese platter and it was just enough food for two people. Quality of both was excellent, and they came with honey butter, apple butter, deliciously addictive candied nuts, and excellent homemade pickles. Wine list was eclectic and delicious, the bartender did a great job of describing each one to us, and even though we didn't have a reservation, the staff were great about setting us up with a seat at the bar. My one quibble is the lack of ventilation. Every single thing I wore that night stank of grease afterwards, including my bra! And at one point they cooked something in the kitchen that made my eyes burst into tears, onion-chopping style. But I still think it's worth a five-star rating. Definitely recommended.
(5)Lacey Q.
I've only ever sat up at the bar, but the service is always excellent. Don't know what wine you should try? Just ask the bartenders who are very knowledgable and really know how to pair the wine with the menu. The menu itself is creative and unique. Be prepared to spend a little- It's a bit pricey, but the quality is there.
(4)Liz L.
I can't speak to the food, so take this for what it is. Went here for drinks - decent menu, good selection of wines, attentive and knowledgeable bartender. However, there is no ventilation in the place. At one point, I had to go flush my eyes from the smoke from the kitchen. My eyes are sensitive, but I wasn't the only one having problems. I had to wash my hair three times to get the stink of fry grease out of it and have had to dry clean my suit jacket. There are plenty of swanky bars with good drink lists in the area. I would recommend going to one that you won't leave stinking like a fry cook.
(2)Carly J.
If you haven't been here before you need to check it out! Best food in Davis Square, super fun staff, great selection of wines, and really interesting twist on food, all with beautiful presentation. Side note: Please bring back the chickpea fries- they are unbelievable and extremely missed!
(5)Emily G.
Guys! You should be planning your next night out at Spoke. Small plates, intimate atmosphere, wine, wine, and more wine! What are you waiting for? Spoke is from the folks behind Dave's Fresh Pasta, and they've taken their friendly faces and specialty foods and turned it into a delightful full service restaurant. Although advertised as a wine bar, the cocktail menu is outstanding - Killer Bees with gin, honey, lemon and a tincture of salt and pepper is a great way to start the meal. The by the glass wine list is a bit short, but lots of interesting varietals by the bottle are available and it's more cost effective if you plan to have more than a few. The menu changes frequently with locally sourced items, and boasts some great nightly specials as well. Big winners include a meaty rabbit porchetta, oysters with a sweet-sour Bantam cider mignonette, a lemony Jonah crab crostini, a bone marrow special with a sticky bacon jam, and affogato over salted caramel ice cream for dessert. It's so nice to have a spot in Davis Square that feels more classy (no rowdy students here!), even though Spoke is down-to-earth and not at all stuffy. Bring a date here before moving on to the Somerville Theater and you'll score big points.
(5)Max K.
Elegant new American food and a good wine list. I had a decent meal of small plates here, but I can't really say I'm coming back to eat.
(3)Mary C.
Service was great - our server very obviously knew the menu like the back of her hand and helped us through our awesome experience. We ordered a bottle of Red, as well as the cured hams & selection of 3 cheese - both were delicious! Perfect for a glass of wine and small plate with friends!
(5)Paulina P.
The duck meat balls are fantastic, plate licking delicious. I'm hungry again just thinking about them. Overall, a very good place, with good new american cuisine selection. The beet salad was less impressive (good, but very Clover-like good. which is still good, just not as fantastic as some other dishes). Ambiance is very pleasant, although it is tight quarters, and the place can get pretty packed and loud - its a popular place for a good reason, and worth it.
(4)Carrie S.
The service was good -- attentive without being intrusive. Favorite foods: asparagus carbonara (creative and SO delicious) and the chickpea frites (crisp without being greasy and still soft on the inside). Two of the three cheeses we had were really really good, but I thought the cheese plate portions were pretty skimpy. We tried all three desserts and it's hard to pick a favorite! The lemon poppyseed cake with raspberry sorbet totally blew me away, even though I usually prefer chocolate for dessert, and the presentation was beautiful. The ricotta ice cream sundae was also amazing!
(4)Richard A.
Perfect food. Lovely dish ideas and decent sized potions. Not the cheapest place but you always feel like you're getting something special. Great, interesting draft beer selection with knowledgable and friendly staff. Sensible but not too fancy, and considered but not strictly 'cool'. Which is probably a good thing.
(5)Melissa M.
This is for the bar only -- just drinks. I came here to meet a friend who was visiting from out of town on a really freaking cold Monday night. 6pm and it was dark as night outside and colder than a witches...well, you know.. I ended up getting a metered space out front (score!) and bellied up to the bar. The lighting in here is so nice and there is like a circular LED light built into the bar -- this is where your water glass will go. The water was good, and I mean that sincerely. Water tasting weird in restaurants can be quite common around here (soapy, chlorinated, god knows what else) but this water tasted clean. Refreshing. I ordered a glass of the Salice Salentino, which is what I drink at home. The bartender was very pleasant and chatted with me while my friend walked from the T to Spoke. She got the same wine as me and then a beer - I have no idea what it was but it was a hoppy beer. I don't like hoppy beers so I got another glass of the wine. The menu, while small has lots of little vittles and bites to offer. It is not something I'd necessarily want because it was all "grown up food". Maybe I'd like the cheese and salumi and that's about it. The price was fair and the service great. The music was right and not too loud. The bathroom was clean! I'll return soon to try some bites! Overall, a great time!
(4)Kavya S.
Maybe I just had really high expectations going into this evening, but it just wasn't as amazing as I expected? The food was definitely above average, but by no means blew me away. My friend and I shared the burrata on toast with pesto as well as the flatbread and spreads platter. Both options were delicious, but the common theme between both of them was that the breads were slightly burnt, making it hard to thoroughly enjoy all of the flavors of the spreads. The drinks were fairly typical--I had a riesling and it was very enjoyable while my friend had a beer. The seating is cute, but not ideal--there aren't backrests on any of the seats and thus there isn't really any place to keep your coat while you are enjoying your drinks. The lighting was also a little too dark for my taste. Overall, definitely worth the adventure, but don't set your expectations too high!
(4)Lisa E.
Lovely and romantic place. We stopped in late night post movie and kitchen was closing in five minutes. Our incredible servers quickly got us menus and took care of us. Tasty cheese plate, and some other yummy small plates. They kindly offered that I try two wines both times I ordered. Wonderful service, food and ambience.
(5)Sherry Y.
Very delicious / creative food and awesome services! It is a bit pricey but totally worth the money.
(4)Keith F.
Just called for a reservation and the girl answering the phone said there is no openings for the time I asked for and then said OK AND HUNG UP such poor front desk it hurts businesses more than u can believe
(1)Matt G.
We had a great pre-dinner drink and appetizers here. First you need to keep in mind that the theme/concept of this restaurant is small plates. I would not suggest going here for DINNER, but more of an apps/drinks place. Now, when I say "apps" don't think you're gonna grab nachos and a beer. I went with a 3-some and we had wine and mixed drinks. The drink menu is really quite impressive, and the waitstaff is well educated about the wines and the cocktails. Definitely a good place to 'try something new". Just tell them what you generally like, and they seemed great to be able to suggest something that would be a good choice. They are affiliated with Dave's Fresh Pasta next door, and the woman who runs Spoke also used to be in charge of Dave's wine section... so the list is great. We shared the chicken wings (which are actually quite dang good!!), the lemon/herb chickpea spread, and the crab crostini... all were tasty. The chickpea spread could, however, use more bread to come with it... but was tasty by itself too! We were in and out in about an hour or so... great place to start your evening, or a post-work drink and bite to eat. We'll be back.
(4)Duncan L.
I went here for a late-night date (9pm) - we had a few drinks and small plates to share. The atmosphere was great - cozy, yet private. The staff was phenomenal - there as soon as needed, but not overbearing. The food was delicious, and the wine was very good. It was a great balance of everything that makes a date night place work. Interesting thing to note - they don't charge more if you buy a glass versus a bottle (a bottle is exactly 4x the price of a glass - or at least for the ones I looked at). So feel free to get a couple different glasses of wine, and rest assured you wouldn't have saved money by getting a full bottle.
(5)Katherine M.
Went there last night for my birthday and was really impressed. It's my new favorite restaurant! I love the small plates idea so you can try a bunch of different dishes and share. The food was incredible and the service was great!!
(5)Simon L.
Spoke is smaller than your bathroom. The kitchen is the size of your toilette. The bar is the bath tub and the seating area the leftover space. Dark and inviting, the wood walls ans aluminum chairs help to create a vibe that is not evident elsewhere in Davis Square. A hard but smooth stone bar, embedded lights shining up from the surface highlight your beverage. Jonah crab crostini provide a tablespoon size dollop of crab mixed with mayo and celery on a crispy french bread crust. A half dozen local oysters are exceedingly salty - the only dislike of the meal. Two orders of the Nero pasta are a squid ink colored linguine in a thick garlic, butter and white wine saute. The mussels are fresh and plum. The lobster is plentiful. The squid tender. An amazing rendition of a this classic Italian tradition. Drinks are prepared to order. The wine list overwhelming but manageable if you ask for help. Go here often.
(5)Nikhil P.
The unassuming, understated exterior of this Somerville wine bar gets totally overshadowed by the other bars and restaurants in Davis Square, but this place was a totally unexpected foodie's heaven. The atmosphere is very laid back, tight, with a nice bar. The food is dynamite. Starting things off... Drinks - Spun Sangaree. Totally unexpected flavors. Billed as a Sangria like drink, it actually brings in lemon, nutmeg, orange, mezcal -- pretty indescribable. Real smooth, pretty unSangria like actually, delicious, light, fresh. I had the Red Hot, which was described as cinnamon hearts in a drink. I don't know if I'd say quite the same, but totally unlike any drink I've had. AMAZING. Tequila, cumin, cinammon, tabasco. I've never ordered two of the same cocktails in a night, but this was so delicious, spicy, sweet, perioral numbness-inducing, and not too strong on the tequila I got a second cocktail for the night. Really, really tasty. I would come back just for a round of that alone. Tabasco sauce and cinnamon were made for each other. Dinner was phenomenal, too. You have to know that everything here is smaller plates, but for 2 people with very big appetites, 4 items + a dessert did us just fine ($100 + tip). 1. Flatbread + Spreads - the three dips are edible on their own. All so different in their flavors, most definitely not your grocery store hummous concoction. The flatbreads were also pretty damn filling, so it's a real good choice (even to get 2 orders if you just want something to snack on and get full with drinks). 2. Fregola Risotto - The risotto was good, probably a little dry, but had chunks of vegetables that made it pretty hearty. I heard a bunch of tables talking about this, and I think it sounds a *little* better than it is. With so many winners on the menu, this was still outstanding but just a bit overshadowed by everything else that was so good at Spoke. 3. ?Crudo. I don't know exactly what this was called, had "lardo," and a few other things I never really heard of. Sensational though. Its fishy and fresh, almost like a sashimi, but the flavors are totally succulent. Garlicky mushrooms, olive oil, dill, lemon... incredible. It's a decent enough portion to get you started, and was one of the dishes that really highlighted the "foodie" nature of this place. Really well-constructed, thoughtful flavors paired into this. 4. Duck Meatballs - Also incredible. Five meatballs total, nothing huge, but the dijon-like sauce, nuts, grapes, and the moistness of the meatballs were not like anything I've ever tasted. Again, totally different flavors paired together, and just really tasty. 5. Semolina Cake - We had the semolina cake for dessert. The cake itself is pretty understated -- spongy, moist, wet. But the pairing of the ice cream and the bits of honeycomb toffee(?) garnish make total sense. It's the sweetness of toffee with this almost custard-like, moist, sweet cottage cheese (think indian ras malai) mix. Finally, service was also great. Contrary to some other totally weird reviews about interruptions during business meetings, our waiter PJ was awesome, was totally appropriately attentive, made sense of restaurant-speak jargon. Great restaurant, delicious, delicious food, and that drink, among everything else, I swear will bring me back again. It's a warm, inviting place, great ambiance for a date or a fun dinner with friends. The pricing isn't bad. I honestly though we'd be spending way more than we did but for the quality and uniqueness of the food, $80-100 before tip for 2 is much lower than most downtown Boston spots. Must-visit resto if you fancy yourself a foodie and are looking for a pretty reasonable price-point for sensational food and drink.
(5)Jose K.
Really awesome food. Great service. Amazing drinks. Came here and the staff was great. Earlyish dinner, but the flavors were such that we all enjoyed. Risotto was excellent. Great oysters. Creative dishes with an ever evolving menu. Super beers and wine. Not just food... an experience! Great addition to Davis square.
(5)Emily h.
If there were half stars, I might just go with 4.5 Bottom line: Go here. Don't wear anything dry clean only and make sure you and any dining buddies are cool without back support. Food: a+. We got the Brussels sprouts (don't miss), the duck meatballs, pork ribs and lobster linguine. All amazing, but that's in order of my preference. We got four plates for two women. Plus split a dessert (duh). Perfect amount. Wine: a. I got only one glass: sparkling rose- wonderful. Staff super knowledgeable. Atmosphere: a-. fun, lots of mid twenties - late thirties types. Packed tightly. Low light but not too dark, decent music. Went for a date night/birthday dinner. Great spot. Would not choose here for a group bigger than 4. Draw backs: 1) pretty much only stool seating - meh, I get why they do it in this crowded space but it doesn't mean I have to like it. Even if you get a seat against the wall, it ends up functioning like a stool bc you can't pull the table any closer... 2) not great ventilation. I read about this in another review and thought it might have been a fluke night in the kitchen. But, by the end of the night my eyes (also sensitive) were starting to water a bit. When we got home we both commented on how much our clothes stank. I will definitely go back, but I'll just be better prepared.
(4)Annie V.
I love this place - the atmosphere is great, the staff are nice and knowledgeable, and the Brussels sprouts and chickpea fries are absolutely out of this world. I've had drinks off the wine and cocktail list and been pleased with both. My only complaint is that both times I've been, the smoke from the kitchen has made my eyes hurt and I've come home smelling like bacon - clothes, hair, everything. Not ideal, but not the worst either, I suppose :)
(4)Jill O.
To me, Spoke is the perfect wine bar. The small rotating wine list is carefully curated, and we always love our selections. The staff is also incredibly helpful in describing various wines and suggesting pairings with your food. And the food! It's wonderful, whether you just get a cheese or charcuterie plate or a spread with flatbread to snack on or a full meal. Also, their rotating craft cocktails are always delicious and perfectly executed. Another plus is that even with the high quality food/drink and perfect execution, the place is warm and comfortable rather than snooty and pretentious. There are few places in the Boston area that I would recommend as highly as I do Spoke!
(5)Gita H.
I really enjoyed my experience at Spoke. It is an intimate place with a really cute and simple décor. The menu is small but decent selections. The portions are somewhat small and maybe a bit pricey for the portions but overall tasty. Would I rush back to the place??! Probably not but if I'm in the neighborhood I will definitely go there before going anywhere else in the square. p.s If you do have a sensitive nose or eyes, the ventilation may be an issue. (it did not bother us)
(4)Lauren P.
I'd caught wind of this new wine bar a month or so ago, but it didn't seem to be open. Imagine my surprise when I saw people reviewing it on Yelp! I checked the Facebook page, but there wasn't a menu listed, and other people seemed to be asking about it as well. I had dinner plans with a girlfriend last night, and we decided to go there for a pre-dinner drink and stay if the food seemed hearty enough. Lemme just tell you--I LOVE THIS PLACE. Would the food satisfy my boyfriend? Probably not...it's all small plates. But it's great for a light dinner with a friend, and it was perfect for us last night. We shared the vegetarian panini (a special for the day, served warm & toasted with egg, cheese, and some sort of dark greens). We also shared the charred eggplant dip (which came with thin little slices of toasted bread), and the whipped goat cheese with roasted beets. The beets and the sandwich were my favorites... we each had half of the panini, and it was big enough to complete a full meal with the beets/eggplant as sides. The beets were scrumptious, but I'm glad we shared because it was served on a bed of goat cheese...a lot of cheese. (Not that I wouldn't eat it all myself if given the chance!) You can tell that even though the servings are small, they care about food and its presentation and quality. For wine, I had the Syrah on the pour list ($10/glass). There was a long list of wine by the bottle, and they also had some beer bottles. Spoke ALSO has a full bar, and my friend got the "Teenage Riot" which was really delicious (and kind of reminded us of drinks at Saloon). The waitress was also super friendly and didn't mind us chatting her up (and complimenting her teeth...is that weird? Yeah, it's weird.) Between the two of us, we each had 1 drink, shared 3 plates, and it came out to $25/each. I'd definitely go back to Spoke with girlfriends soon...it's not really a "dude" spot, which I'm totally happy with.
(5)E C.
I rarely base reviews on atmosphere, but this one really pissed me off. Inside very sleek and modern, but the kitchen is not be properly vented. Everything I wore reeked, I mean REEKED, like fried food. The next day our entire apartment smelled just from my cloths. My sweater still smells after washing, and coat had to go to the dry cleaner. The server kept interrupting with meaningless questions despite the fact it was pretty obvious we were in a business type meeting and in the middle of a discussion. The food was pretty good (and I love Dave's), vent your damn kitchen and tell the large server to not interrupt people.
(2)Crista B.
When we arrived without reservations (at 5 pm) we were told we could be seated, but that they were filled with reservations at 8pm ... on a Monday. I figured that we wouldn't need three hours to have cocktails and dinner ... but when we left at 7:15 I couldn't believe it. More importantly we enjoyed all 2+ hours of our visit to Spoke. The food was wonderful (I love small plates ... have the three spread plate), the cocktails tasty, and the staff friendly and full of excellent recommendations. I loved the way that we weren't rushed but were allowed to spend time truly enjoying our food, which doesn't happen often anymore. Spoke is definitely on my list to visit again!!
(5)Chris P.
Spoke is a game-changer for Davis. The Square is already a foodie destination, but Spoke takes it to the next level, combining a dream team of chefs, bartenders, and servers into a near-perfect whole that provides a thoroughly satisfying culinary experience while remaining casual, friendly, and welcoming. Three days after opening, they are already nailing everything. On my only visit so far, my friend and I shared two small plates and two "snacks", which were uniformly excellent: - Steak tartare: velvety and pampering, with a crunchy vegetable accompaniment (radish[?] and a micro-green) that made me grateful for the first time in my life that there was a garnish on my tartare. Extra croutons appeared exactly when we needed them, before we even asked. - Orata crudo (raw sea bream): This blew my mind. Rather than being seasoned with the traditional bright citrus acid, this dish went in a totally different direction, combining roasted broccoli and thrice-fried garlic chips to give a nutty, warm effect that still allowed the fish's flavor and texture to shine. There was an oil on the plate that I think might have contained roasted (mild) chile, adding to the roasty goodness. I am rarely surprised by food, but this surprised me, in the best possible way. I could have eaten four more servings. Maybe I will, next time. - Peeky toe crab toasts: This is one of the $5 snacks. Two bites of perfectly seasoned crab salad on thin toasted baguette slices. The crab was fresh and tender, and the only bad thing about the dish is that it was small. - White anchovies: My memory is embarrassingly failing me on the details, but I remember thinking that these were excellent and fairly generously portioned for a $5 snack. The rest of the menu looked extremely tempting, but I wasn't really there for dinner, so I'll have to go back to start working my way through it. Watch this space. Wine by the glass was limited to five selections (which I'm told will be expanded fairly soon). With the able guidance of the extremely knowledgeable bartender, I made several choices that I wouldn't otherwise had made, checking out an Italian and a Portuguese (?) wine that I ordinarily would have simply skipped out of ignorance. In general, our bartender (whom we recognized from her previous incarnation as a cocktail master at Drink) was a great resource: she knew everything about the wine and cocktails on offer, knew the menu backwards and forwards, and was friendly, helpful, and attentive (and very indulgent with her over-talkative and somewhat inebriated clients). The same was true of the whole staff, from the front of the house to servers who weren't even serving me personally. Everyone had the easy friendliness of people who really know what they're doing and really like what they do, and they're all obviously excited about this project. Finally, the space - a darn nice place to have a drink: the design is creative but understated, allowing you to focus on your friends and the delicious things in front of you. I'll probably come here mostly with friends, but it would be a great place for a date. I am going to live in this place. Go now before everyone else is already inside, which is going to happen soon.
(5)Lu B.
I've been to Spoke a handful of times now, which is enough to declare my love right? Right!?! This is the perfect, cozy spot to meet a girlfriend or two for drinks. (But not a crowd, it is TINY in here.) Especially if those girlfriends consider wine to be its own food group, as most of mine do. Calli & Sam behind the bar exude warmth and humor in a way that sometimes gets lost in larger places The wine list may seem overwhelming, but I promise they will listen to what you like and what you're in the mood for and recommend something that you'll be thrilled with. I recommend ordering by the bottle; you know you're gonna drink at least that much anyway. Finished a bottle but not ready to go home yet? Just not that into wine? (Why are you here, again?) Don't overlook the fact that these two have some serious cocktail creating skills. The small rotating menu is always a delight. Small portions make this an ideal place for ordering a plate or two, then another plate or two for as long as the evening extends. And watching the chefs at work in the postage stamp sized kitchen only makes everything they send out seem even more incredible. After just a few visits I'm a die hard fan of their flavorful spreads and the cheese plate. I'm also a fan of seeing familiar friendly faces, and Jess who used to be behind a certain bar in central square might now be my favorite server in the city.
(5)Salma T.
What a delicious and refreshing meal on a Tuesday night! Highlights were dill pickle granita with the fresh oysters, divine bay scallop ceviche, almond ragu, carrot vodouvan garganelli pasta with labneh topping, duck meatballs with deconstructed white gazpacho salad and ajo blanco dip. And wow on the affogato and olive oil cake at the end. I really love how the chef was able to recreate middle eastern flavors in such a modern way. I will be back!
(5)Sue W.
I went to Spoke on Valentine's day for a post-dinner drink. I was not disappointed! The bartenders were incredibly friendly, even offering to put our leftovers in the fridge for us while we stayed for a drink. I had the Souracher, which was DELICIOUS. They make their own ginger beer. The ambiance was perfect. Intimate without feeling like you are in the middle of no where with no one; romantic without being over the top; and welcoming without being in your face. I would highly recommend going there for drinks!
(5)Allie H.
I went here last night for the first time and it was a great experience all around. I wish I could remember my waiter's name because she was absolutely great. She made a ton of suggestions based on what we were looking to order in terms of wine and was extremely knowledgeable. We even let her choose one of our dishes because she thought it would go well with two more we ordered and the entire meal was perfect. Great service and amazing food.
(5)Molly F.
Great, diverse food options--they are on the small side though for entrees, which is not a bad thing, just is what it is. Very knowledgeable and accommodating to gluten free/Celiac needs. Lighting in the front window seats is the only thing that stands out to improve. Upon picking up our menus to browse, we all did the whole move it in and out, in and out from your face to adjust your eyes while squinting weirdly and making a bizarre face to try to read. Thought turning 24 (the reason we were out to dinner) suddenly put me down the path of weakening eyesight.
(4)Damon G.
This place got off to a rocky start with me. The bad: It was cramped in there. The metal stools look trendy and cool but they were so uncomfortable to sit on I didn't feel relaxed enough to want to stay longer than I had to. The waitress was slow. Oysters came out and then 10 to 15 minutes later my glass of wine came. In fact, food just randomly showed up whenever it was done. I basically watched my wife eat and then she watched me eat. It was slightly, not obscenely, overpriced. 17 dollars for a tiny tapas portion of pasta? Your kinda stretching it. If you dig the painted borough portions down the street then this won't bother you. The good: the pasta dish I ordered was pretty good, the wine selection was pretty stellar. The scallop dish was excellent and unique and as always I love island creek oysters. I have to hand it to them, they were well cleaned and not a single grain of sand in them. The flat bread plate was also pretty good. I give it three stars but my wife says I'm being too hard on them and suggested a half star bump. I wish this app allowed half star ratings but it doesn't so I'm rounding back down.
(3)Jessie E.
Fantastic small plates, great service. Loved the three meat plate, cavatelli. Everything was delicious. Great open kitchen with a cute chef! :-)
(4)Carlos M.
Tasty and creative small plates that are very well thought out, good service, nice vibe, great wine. What is not to love?
(5)LA C.
Staff awesome, food awesome, wine awesome. Call ahead for a reservation because it fills up
(5)Rebecca L.
Top notch wine selection and a knowledgeable staff. And the kicker... You can purchase a bottle of your favorite wine (usually) next door at Daves!
(5)Christina S.
I have eaten at Spoke several times over the past year or two since it first opened (I live in the neighborhood) and have always enjoyed the experience. Last night I had friends visiting from out of town and I wanted to introduce them to this great little neighborhood spot. Apparently there is a new hostess running the front door who I thought was blatantly rude and unhelpful. She had us stand there for 30 minutes after putting our name in, then came back to tell us it would be another 40 minutes (even though she initially told us it would be 45 minutes). What? She curtly retorted that she has "no control over how fast people eat". And it was our fault because we "didn't have a reservation". We gave her our cell phone so she could call us if and when a table opened and you know what? She never called! My friends couldn't believe how rude she was which as a business owner myself I was dumfounded by her lack of customer service. I mean, she really didn't care. Really left a bad taste in my mouth and it is doubtful I will ever go back there.
(1)Deena S.
Visited over the weekend and loved this place. The cheese plates were lively and very creative menu. Server was well versed with the everchanging wine list. We will be back!
(4)Joe D.
I am not a fan of dining alone, but I really wanted to try this place as I walked by. The bartender Jason really made me feel comfortable and picked the perfect wine based on my description. A small plate of mussels was the perfect compliment to this Pinot/Shiraz hybrid. I agree with other reviewers that they have the right balance of attentiveness down pat. Will definitely return.
(4)Kathy A.
Love this place! Best cheese plate in Boston, best margaritas, great innovative dishes. Budino was amaze balls. PLEASE bring back the chick pea fries!!! They were my absolute favorite and unlike any other- I ordered 2 per visit. :(!!!
(4)Rick S.
Thoughtfully prepared entrees. Unique combinations of flavors. First time here and would definitely recommend
(5)Inna S.
The presentation of the dishes was delightful, the ingredients were imaginative and the combination of them was scrumptious. I was very pleasantly surprised by each plate that was brought out. Really an exquisite experience. I tried one whiskey-based cocktail that was also delectable. Spoke is the best restaurant I've been to in years. Hat off to the chef! The staff was great also.
(5)Charles L.
Executive summary: Spoke has great food, great wine, and I will return. The Spoke concept is small to medium plates that are intended to be shared at the table along with wine or beer from an extensive list of bottle and by-the-glass selection. When we visited, there was distinct lack half bottles but I have passed that feedback on. D has said that they are considering a program where they would open any full bottle, sell half of it to you (decanted) and then use the rest as a by-the-glass "special" on their chalk board. Of course if you really liked that particular wine you could buy the other half and take it home with you. Except for one table in the front of the space (4-6 people?), seating is either at the bar or at 2-top steel tables. The service was excellent: helpful, responsive and knowledgeable. The noise level was appropriate. In general, this is a neighborhood kind of place where you would go for a drink and a small plate or two. L and I both agreed that if we lived in the area, we'd be frequent fliers. The wine was quite reasonably priced. It is easy to rack up a pretty serious bill if you survey a lot of the dishes. Nevertheless, the level of preparation, quality, and presentation justifies it and makes for an enjoyable experience. For a detailed review of the dishes and wines along with pictures, go to: itsthefood.net/post/6006… [not to yelp censors: the link above is not a commercial promotion. It is a link to my personal blog which also happens to be listed in my profile.]
(5)Cindy C.
Small bites + nice cocktails = cozy wine bar that's worth revisiting. I went on a snowy night so it wasn't very crowded and the noise was low. The crab crostini is amazing (it's now 4 pieces per order) in how rich yet light it is. Sit at the bar to watch the cocktail fun.
(4)N. S.
Been dying to try this spot out as I heard great things. The wine list online looked great, but realized when we got there that the wines I wanted to try were only by the bottle. Not that impressed with the by-the-glass wine list. Wished there were more cocktail options. Did not try the food so can't review that.
(3)Eva W.
My date and I were looking for a special night, and I finally decided to check out this tiny little spot that I'd heard good things about. First impressions were good, as our waitress was attentive and knowledgeable about the wine list. Happy with our drink selections, we ordered an herb spread along with the corn soup and a potato special. The spread was good, but the corn soup was incredible, balancing unexpected and delightful flavors (watermelon and peanuts!). The potato special was earthy and comforting, although not quite as memorable. From there we moved on to lamb and chicken entrees respectively. Rather than waste time explaining how enjoyable these dishes were, I'll simply tell you to try them. You don't know me, but you will thank me. Seriously, these were on par with (possibly exceeding) the best that Boston has to offer. We concluded the experience with after dinner drinks and a very fresh peach-rhubarb cobbler. The complimentary goat's milk fudge topped with sea salt sent us out the door smiling. Overall, the experience was wonderful and I seriously doubt that you'll find anything to surpass it for the price. Service was attentive and unpretentious, while the chef is clearly at the top of his game. Not only does this new arrival do Davis Square proud, but it deserves a place at the top of all Boston to-do lists. Simply superb.
(5)Alyson S.
Of course I had to go investigate the wine bar closest to where my friends live. We were not disappointed in the adventure of finding a new place. The entrance was odd with a curtain to block out the cold it was not very welcoming but behind the curtain is where the amazement begins. We were seated quickly and able to take off our coats on the cold winter evening. Our waiter was a character providing entertainment and wonderful suggestions. We ordered a few small plates to go with our wine and were delighted in the quality and well preparedness of the food. The waiter even noticed she I took the too hot first bite and warned the future diners. It was just too delicious looking not to bite in immediately. They had a good selection of wine and after the first glass we were able for all to the waiter and get suggestions for the next glass which worked out to provide us with something we may not have chosen for ourselves. A great atmosphere to relax with a friend, I would recommend Spoke to anyone in the area!
(5)Brian D.
Everything that I wanted on a cold summer evening. Everything that I needed to put in my face, in one place, at the same place. Good job Spoke, good job indeed. I pulled up to a bar stool at about 6:15 on a Thursday, by 6:30 the place was packed. Amazing to see the dinner crowd, literally, rush the door. The place is pretty small so it got a little claustrophobic, but the glass of sangiovese helped calm the nerves. My lady in crime was running a bit late and I was afraid that we would not be able to seated, but after staring down a few departing patrons I managed to hover over an empty bar spot. Commence more sangiovese, a plate of warm olives, a beautiful pea and chantorele pasta and a plate of perfect spring vegetables with fresh salted butter. Commence food porn, happy mouths and pissy post-work/commuting moods turned to playful wine-fueled table talk. Kudos Spoke, see you soon. P.S. can you do exactly what you do, someplace other than Davis Sq?
(4)Stephanie G.
Okay, there are only so many things that I want in life, and this bar provides all of them that a bar can. Atmosphere: Yes, it's easy, it's not pretentious, but it's serious about output. What is it, post-hipster? No. Eager beavers? No. It's just good. It's self-respect. Thank you. How refreshing! Food: So we only tried the appetizers so far, but they were excellent (the dips were modestly prices - not huge or anything, but for $4, exactly what I wanted) and the charcuterie was excellent. This is some excellent quality Experience: Fantastic. I'm thrilled this place is near me and I get to reap the benefits. This is the quintessential neighborhood wine bar and it's just the type of neighborhood I want to be a part of. So I give it five stars because it's just what I want. I'm not calling it gourmet (I'd have to try a dinner for that) but if you want to hang out with your friends in a relaxed atmosphere in Davis, this is going to be killer. I. Am. So. Happy.
(5)Keeve G.
A great addition to Davis Square, Spoke has a modern vibe and excellent atmosphere. The waitstaff are extremely knowledgeable about the dishes they serve, along with their wine selection. My friends and I had the pleasure of being waited on by one of the most friendly and attentive Sommeliers I've ever encountered. He gave suggestions to some dishes we should try, and what wine would pair with them without being pushy. He refilled our glasses when they were low without being invasive. He even treated us to some on the house Italian sparkling wine with the cured meat platter we ordered. To top it off, since we spent a good dime there, he also treated us to some of the in-house made fudge for desert (which is incredible). The food was very well prepared, plated, and delicious. The wine selective extensive but not overwhelming. I couldn't be more impressed with this tiny establishment. Keep doing what you're doing Spoke!
(5)Elizabeth K.
Awesome new little spot. I've been there a few times now and just love it. The first time we got a ton of samples and the second time just a couple glasses of wine and a little nibble each. The staff seemed cool with us either way - I like that - sometimes you just want a classy place to go throw back a few drinks and have a good conversation. Everything I've had to eat and drink has been delicious. The waitstaff is also incredibly informed about the wine and throwback cocktails. It is really small but I've never had to wait very long and the hostess has always been incredibly friendly as well. It's definitely one of my go-to spots now.
(5)Syzlack M.
I love this place. The food and drink is incredible and it has a wonderful ambiance. What I don't like is reeking of fried food and fish for hours after leaving. This is an ongoing problem here and I really wish they would do more to remedy it because it really is such a cool spot. I keep coming back thinking it will be different but, of course, that's not the case. If you're into great wine and great food and don't mind stinking like a low tide harbor, then this is your spot!
(2)Rita N.
Food, service, ambiance. This place hits all of the elements! Need I say more? If you are not sure what to do order, ask the bartender for recommendations. They are so friendly and helpful that I feel like I was talking to a friend.
(4)Sarah G.
Welcome, Spoke to the neighborhood! And we are really glad you are here! I know that I personally had been waiting for what seemed like years for this place to open once I had heard that Dave's Fresh Pasta had bought the space next door to open a wine bar, but it was definitely worth the wait, and this is an awesome addition to the Davis Square area and another great place that when you come here, you really do feel like you are out for a night on the town--well a night on the 'ville? This place is a wine lovers heaven--but pretty much if you don't get a bottle, spending $10-12 a glass will add up very quickly, so make the economical choice and go with one of their hand selected bottles of wine that are actually pretty reasonably priced. Our server helped pick each of them and you could see how pumped he was to be talking about his prized possessions with us He also had tried literally every item on the menu and was a huge help in Deanna D and my ordering of nibbles for the night. That being said, when we both said we wanted to try their pork dish that was a fancy sliced pastrami like piece of pigs head that had been cured and dried in a special way while also wanting their porchetta panini, he kind of did call us oinkers in a sense, since he thought we weren't sharing at first and that was a lot of pork ha ha So we were slightly offended, but then took it as a fun challenge and ordered both of those dishes and their anchovies and their piquillo-almond spread. The verdict? The pigs head dish was awesome. I loved every bite of it. The panini was good, but since Deanna D. had just gotten back from Italy, she wasn't 100% impressed with the porchetta and said the real Italians do it better, but I mean when is that not the case? ha ha But the panini itself was still very tasty. The anchovies were awesome though. Paired perfectly with some crunchy bread crumbs and their cauliflower wow. Just wow those things were good. And the piquillo-almond spread was also pretty flavorful but they definitely served it not with flatbread as advertised but another tasty type of bread instead, which was addicting on its own level, probably because of the salty crust it had. Really there seemed to be a lot of salt action in our dishes in general which is great since we had a whole bottle of nice French wine! All in all, this place is pretty awesome. Both of us ate with a bottle of wine for $40 each, the service was awesome (with a slight delay between courses but that is to be expected during their first week of service), the decor is great, and I am so pumped to finally have a wine bar to call home in this beer loving city of Boston!
(4)Joanie S.
My friends and I were very excited to get a table a spoke! It is a very intimate venue, so be prepared to make some friends with other tables. Food was small portions. Actually, food was NORMAL human portioned not American portioned. It was just enough. Get the goat cheese spread. Its amazing! Be prepared to ask for more bread though, they really don't give you enough. Not as pricey as I expected. Perhaps more expensive than Davis is used to but the prices were fair considering the quality of food. The only reason I am not giving Spoke 5 stars is because after we paid our bill we were finishing up our wine and relaxing and got multiple weird looks from the owner/hostess - she obviously wanted us to give up our seats! It made us very uncomfortable and we eventually just left for that reason. It was a bummer because other than that it was a nice night.
(4)