Aragosta Bar and Bistro
3 Battery Wharf, Boston, MA, 02109
Aragosta Bar and Bistro Menu
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Address :
3 Battery Wharf
Boston, MA, 02109 - Phone (617) 994-9000
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :6:30 am - 10:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Valet
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Dressy
Ambience : Upscale
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : No
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Paid
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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E L.
We found a link to Aragosta's website in a recent Boston.com feature about things to do at the waterfront. We waited for a table outside, unfortunately, could not see the water as a large bush blocked the view from our table. We were seated at 1:30 and no one came to our table until 1:45, in which the hostess came and asked us if we had been welcomed yet. She got our waters and the drink menu for us. Our waitress finally came and took our drink/meal order. So finally, at 2 we had our drinks. In the meantime, the wait staff kept apologizing to the guests around us for the wait for their drinks and food. At that point, we knew we were in for a long lunch. Our meals arrived. My Breakfast BLT was barely edible. It was soggy and tasteless. 2 eggs, 2 slices of cheese, a little bacon, limp lettuce, and some orange sauce that reminded me of the "special sauce" on the Big Mac all contributed to the soggy mess. It was also supposed to come with a salad and fries, instead I received a pile of new potatoes ?? My boyfriend ordered the Sophisticated burger, which was supposed to come with dijon, capers, and caramelized onions, which it didn't. He ordered it medium, it came well done. At that point, we just wanted to get out of there, and did not say anything as our waitress was extremely flustered due to it being busy. It was a disappointing experience, especially since we made a point of going there to kick-off our day in Boston.
(1)Steve A.
I finally made it to Aragosta and I was more than pleased with the results. During my first visit my girlfriend and I tried the Goat Cheese Rigatoni for an appetizer, the Seared Tuna and the Lobster Fra Diavlo for entrees. The Goat Cheese Rigatoni was the most amazing appetizer I have ever had in Boston. The rigatoni is stuffed with goat cheese and then topped with more goat cheese and truffle oil. I wanted to cancel my entree and order more it was that good. My girlfriend had the Seared Tuna and it was fresh and cooked exactly the right way. I had the Lobster Fra Diavlo and was amazed at how much lobster it had. Usually restaurants charge a ton of money and barely give you any lobster......not at Aragosta. I had a whole lobster on top, cracked open for easier access with additional lobster meat piled on top of the pasta. The sauce was perfect and had just the right amount of kick to it. I went back about a week later for Fathers Day and again had the Goat Cheese appetizer which was again the most amazing thing ever. I had talked so much to my family about how great the Lobster Fra Diavlo was that all four of us got it. It was just as amazing as the first time I tried it however there was far less lobster meat on it this time around. The service for both visits were great, I know there are some reviews of poor service on here but I experienced nothing but prompt, friendly and perfect service. I believe we had a waiter named Aldo for our Fathers Day visit and he was great, very friendly and a very good sense of humor with us. I'll absolutely be back and will recommend this restaurant to anyone.
(5)Cole L.
I dont know why there are some bad reviews here. I loved everything from the scallops crudo app, to the tuna entree and parpardelle pasta with brie cheese! all were amazing. the limoncello pepper drink is also delicious! I can't wait to go back to eat outside.
(5)Michael C.
I celebrated my college graduation here. After the graduation at Boston Garden, my family and my roommates headed to Aragosta for lunch. There were 27 of us in total and we all enjoyed the lunch very much. We were set up at a long table in the semi private room near the kitchen. I worked with Michelle to set up a menu prior to the lunch. We had a choice of two salads and a choice of three entrees. The entrees were a chicken, fish, or spaghetti. I orded the mozzarella and prosciutto salad and the sword fish. The mozzarella was absolutely delicious, a giant ball of mozzarella that was nice and creamy. The sword fish was equally as delicious, it had a chutney on top, which really made the dish. They also added a personal touch on the menus at the table, writing congratulations and listing the attending graduates names. I know something like that is little, but it makes for a very nice touch. I would definitely come back here to try out a normal dinner, and would recommend Aragosta for a large party.
(5)Mary D.
Meal was fabulous...service impeccable!! I cannot say enough about this restaurant..treat yourself and go!
(5)D T.
Food was good. Cheese plate was high quality except for the hair... Server was too busy being "cute" with our table (and probably others) and didn't have enough touches (empty water glasses). Took the leftover deserts home, but he didn't package the dipping sauces.
(2)Anthony D.
I have no idea how Aragosta in the Fairmont Hotel has an overall rating of only 3 stars. I have been several times over the last 6 months and have yet to be disappointed. Highly recommend sitting at the chef's table at night or if the weather permits, staking claim to one of the firepit tables outside or sitting on the back patio. Be sure to try the Aragosta Frittata, Stuffed Chive Crepes or Blueberry Muffin French Toast at Brunch. And for dinner, the Goat Cheese and Black Pepper Gnocchi or Seared Georges Banks Scallops. Great food, great service and an elegant setting... I can't wait to go back.
(5)Cara F.
This is not a review for the food as we weren't given the opportunity to actually get a table. Three of my friends and I went on a Wednesday at 7 hoping to grab a bite to eat outside. When we walked by the patio there were only two tables filled and plenty of open seating. When we arrived at the host stand we waited for about 15 minutes and finally went up to the bar to ask who we should see for a table. The bartender said to go back to the stand..after 10 more minutes a woman came up to us. We asked for a table outside and she said the wait would be a half hour..Assuming that there must reservations coming in, we said that would be fine and got a drink at the bar. I am used to paying for good service/food/drinks, but when I ordered a dirty martini it came out tasting like dirty soapy water, was filled barely halfway and cost $17! My friend was suggested to get a glass of merlot for a mere $22! The other glasses of wine were $15 and $16. We asked the hostess if it would be ok to sit in the small lobby area couches right in front of the host stand and wait until our table was ready. We sat there..and sat there..an hour later we went up to the stand again..and waited 15..then 20 min...Finally after about 2 hours total of waiting, a horrible expensive drink, and not seeing one other person come in for dinner we walked out..on our way we looked over to the patio which was COMPLETELY EMPTY! I'm sure the food is great and maybe this was a really off day but unfortunately I won't be returning to find out.
(1)Jacob B.
The place is super nice and the food is pretty good but I feel like it's definatly overpriced. We got the Kobe Burger (which was well done when we ordered it rare) and the Lobster sliders which were good but super tiny. Both of our sandwiches came with duck fat fries which were pretty tasty and we also got a pitcher of Sangria which was delicious. Hands down the best part of the meal.
(3)Elsie F.
Excellent place to brunch on a warm summer day with views of the harbor. Yogurt parfait was very tasty and beautiful to look at, decorated with granola and an assortment of summer berries and mint. I enjoyed the coast guard (lobster) omelet as well. Service was very good, but the environment is the winner here. It's part of a hotel, which gives you the luxury of walking through the hotel lobby with jazz playing in the background and access to spacious hotel bathrooms. The patio area and indoors are both lovely. This is a classy place to take someone if you're looking to impress, maybe in-laws or a potential client?
(4)Mary Beth R.
Gorgeous location and atmosphere. Tuna flatbread app was awesome. Main meal was good but not best. Service was fine although our waiter was a bit awkward. Will definetely go back but maybe next time to bar area or patio.
(4)Samantha B.
Had a terrible experience here. Went to dinner with friends during Restaurant Week - a time during which you would think a restaurant would want to showcase their food and gain new customers - and I have to say I will likely not return. I live in the area and walk by often so I was dying to have some food and drinks on their gorgeous patio. My friend and I made reservations 3 weeks in advance and specifically requested an outdoor table. When we arrived we were told we'd be seated inside and an outdoor table would be an hour and a half wait. First strike. They sat us and our table was directly next to the bar and so noisy. Not a huge deal but annoying since we were really hoping to be outside. Next comes the service. Started out good, went downhill fast. Drink orders were messed up or just didn't come at all. Empty glasses were all over the table. We sat without cocktails or water for lengthy stretches of time. Once we finally ordered, it took FOREVER for our food to come. I totally understand the kitchen being backed up or a waiter being very busy but neither of those things appeared to be happening. In total, we were there for over 2 and a half hours waiting for our courses of food to come. I ended up leaving my debit card with a friend and going home because I was just so annoyed. When our food did finally arrive, it just was not good. Some of the appetizers were decent - friends had the flatbread which they loved. I got the risotto for my main entree and it wasn't inedible but I definitely make better risotto myself in my kitchen with no real cooking experience. Everything was underseasoned. I barely ate my meal. I spoke to the manager at one point and alerted him to what was going on, expressing my disappointment in the food and the service. He was apologetic but did nothing to rectify the situation. I talked to him after our appetizers were out and we still waited about an hour for our meals. Needless to say, for the money we spent and the service/food quality we got, I was not happy and certainly won't be back anytime soon except maybe for a fool-proof glass of wine on the patio...if they allow me to sit there.
(1)Matthew J.
My chicken Caesar salad had a little too much dressing but the main problem was the chicken was over cooked. So much so that It wasn't eaten. I asked our waiter to let the chef know . Since its an open kitchen and we were the only people in the place I could see that he didn't say anything to the chef. Perhaps he waited till we left but I doubt it. Most of the people were standing at the front of the restaurant where the hostess is talking. It appeared there were more people working that day then actual people staying in the hotel. Did I also mention that the bathroom is out of the restaurant, down a spiral set of stairs and hidden next to what appears to be supply closets?
(2)Craig M.
A friend and I dined here for Restuarant Week this past Friday with 9pm reservations. I noted on the OpenTable reservations a request for outdoor seating if the weather was ok. We arrived at about 8:55pm and were told we would have to wait 30 minutes for an outdoor table, or 15 minutes for a table inside even. As a customer that made reservations weeks ago with the special request, I found this totally unacceptable. We waited and had a pitcher of sangria in the lobby. When our table was finally ready the hostess said to leave our sangria, they would bring it right over. After 10 minutes, I mentioned to our waiter about our sangria. 15 minutes after that he came back with 2 new glasses of sangria and said the other two glasses got "lost". The food was decent. Great truffled fries. The lobster bisque and chicken entree was average, nothing special. Our server wasn't overly attentive. The patio started clearing out and after waiting with empty plates on our table for 15 minutes, the server came over and said that he would have to move us inside for dessert because the patio "closes" at 10:30. Perhaps if the service was quicker and we were seated on time, this wouldn't have been an issue! Neither my friend or I had been here before, both having lived in Boston our entire lives, and perhaps theres a reason.
(1)Firas I.
We had a 8:30pm reservation on a Saturday. We waited until 9:15pm to be seated. However the restaurant was packed so they seated us in the lounge, which was fine since there was live jazz. A server came by shortly after and handed us menus. We then waited for a little over 25 minutes and did not receive any further service: not even water. We decided to leave at this point due to how frustrated (and hungry) we were. We walked passed the host station on our way out, but no one said anything. However, a bus person began clearing our table as soon as we got up! We headed to Hanover street and got some hearty Italian and friendly service (at a fraction of the cost)
(1)Sailracer S.
I can't understand why this place isn't 4 stars on Yelp. It is everywhere else. The food is delightful and delicious. Chef Daniels' tuna flat bread is one of the best dishes I've had since recently moving back to Boston. Make sure to sit at the bar in front of the kitchen where you can the magic going down with this talented team. If I could criticize this restaurant on anything, it would be the dining room decor. Being set in a newer hotel, the furnishings and surroundings are very sterile and contrived, which is a strange juxtaposition to such authentic food.
(5)Emily H.
My boyfriend and I visited Aragosta on Friday, May 20th in anticipation of some great oysters in a new restaurant. Instead, we encountered poor service, disorganization, warm oysters and a cold atmosphere. After going up to the bar twice to request water and menus for our table, we were told by our server that they did not have oysters even though the website claims "Every Friday is Ostrica Friday this spring!" We asked what was being offered in place of the oyster special and the server proceeded to get angry, raise his voice and then blame it on the chef. The server finally asked the manager to come over to our table. We asked the manager the same question and instead of acknowledging that there was an issue, he seemed completely distracted and unapologetic for the confusion. We were then served two rounds of six mediocre oysters. The manager never returned to see how his patrons were faring after the miscommunication. The manager never offered to make amends or account for the poor service. To further our disappointment, we were given another party's tab and had to invade a private party downstairs to go to the restroom. I even attempted to email the restaurant and the manager directly to offer my feedback. No response. None of the above made for a pleasant dining experience. Aragosta needs some major work on all fronts from the management to the staff to the food. We won't be returning.
(1)Kate L.
My favorite place in the city! Service is superb, food is fantastic, and the ambiance is wonderful. My go-to place when I don't know where to go.
(5)Chuck G.
Had 7:00 reservations and we were greeted enthusiastically by the two hostesses. We were seated promptly at a very comfortable fire pit table surrounded by a couch. We weren't 'on' the water but we were very happy anyway. Our waiter, Don, was outstanding. He handled our party of four with excellent service and attention. He had us laughing and kept our glasses full. He even set up our cab back to the hotel for us. We had the clambake and it was delicious. We ordered grilled / chilled shrimp cocktail and the flatbread as appetizers. Both were perfect. Our drinks were great and the ambience only got better as the sun went down and the light of the fire pit took over. We thoroughly enjoyed our three hour stay in our quiet eating bungalow. The attention to every detail was duly noted and greatly appreciated from the enthusiastic greeting to the kind gesture of securing a cab. Capped off by fire pit s'mores for dessert....what a night...thank you!
(5)Tyler C.
First time at Aragosta. The food was awesome. Started with their shared meets and cheeses dish. My wife had the filet special and I the lobster Mac and cheese. Both had great flavor. I have had better steak at upscale restaurants, but would still order again. We ended the night on their patio roasting marshmallows by the fire pit. Great place and I would recommend. The only downside was the service. Very slow. You can also valet park for up to three hours for only $12. Worth it if its cold out.
(4)Genevieve F.
We made reservations for Aragosta via OpenTable and saw that there were plenty of openings for a Friday night. We got there a few minutes early, and were taken to our table - probably the worst table in the restaurant. We had no view of the "open kitchen" and certainly no view of the waterfront - which was the only reason we picked this restaurant to begin with. We asked the hostess for a better table (as most of the restaurant was indeed empty) and were told that the rest of the tables were reserved by other guests. We explained that we thought that was the point of getting a reservation so that we could be one of those other lucky group of guests, but were again turned down. This initial attitude spoiled the rest of the dinner. The food was OK (we had the Gnocchi / Lamb and Seared Tuna) but certainly wasn't any better than another restaurant on the waterfront where we could have perhaps had an actual waterfront view. By the way - the prime real estate tables we were denied in the beginning never filled throughout the course of our dinner and remained empty after we left.
(1)Kristine C.
They do not take reservations for their outdoor seating, which stinks. It is such a great view and I planned to eat at their restaurant just for that - even with the 'mehhh' reviews on their food. Booked on OpenTable for 10 people. Requested outdoor seating. Didn't realize it is 'first come first serve' until the day of my dinner party. Canceled it. I want the terrace. I used to go when this was Sensing for the view and you could reserve patio space.
(2)Lisa S.
I came here with a group of 11 friends for the Gilt city clambake. The setting was gorgeous. The staff was very nice. The food was good but teeny portions. Six of us got the clambake special. It was supposed to be a clambake for two but i really think they took a clambake for one and added an extra piece of cornbread. One lobster, a handful of mussels and clams, half an ear of corn, and little pieces of chorizo. Was very tasty but, um, not even a whole ear or corn to be divided among two? So while everything was delicious, I think a clambake for two has to include enough food for two. Some of my friends got other food and that was tasty and well portioned. The french fries were very good.
(3)leah r.
Aragosta is a hotel restaurant and this is it's biggest shortfall. The colors on the banquet are the same as a hotel room..I think I remember them being in the green/orange family. The pictures on the wall are of the same color. If you looked at them you would think that you were in any average/standard hotel room. I think this restaurant serves as a breakfast and lunch place also and that is how the service was. Service was just ok. I would recommend going and sitting at the chef's bar. Despite the lack of ambiance and service, the food was good. We had the octopus salad and it was done nicely. The gnocci and chicken were done nicely and the bread served at the beginning was homemade. If you go to Arogosta sit at the chef's bar by the open kitchen. The chef was interesting to watch and you will be entertained so you wont have to care that you can't find your server. I'm being very genorous with the stars in this rating because I liked the food and chef's table
(4)Justin W.
The waitstaff were uninformed about the menu (where items were sourced, terminology, flavor descriptions, etc.), had no clue about wine or wine pairings (for the ridiculous up-charge on mediocre wine, they better at least provide a story behind it), and overall their demeanor perfectly matched the bland and beige feeling of the restaurant. The food? Forgettable. I understand that this is a 'hotel' restaurant, but it seems that the Fairmont went out of the way to find a mediocre Italian Chef to try and bank on North End authenticity. Obviously frozen baguettes and store-bought low to medium quality cold-cuts a charcuterie platter does not make. The one saving grace was the level of seasoning on fish dishes, keep the fish cook and fire everyone else.
(2)Kristen M.
I visited aragosta for the first time this evening for restaurant week. It was a last minute choice for we didn't arrive at the restaurant until past 10pm. I had spoken to a host that was extremely pleasant and said we could certainly be accommodated. Upon arrival he informed us that the kitchen technically closes at 10 but they would be so kind as to take us (very nice of them). We chose to sit at the bar aside the open kitchen so our food was prepared right before us. Everything was delicious I had the swordfish and my boyfriend had the chicken. The main chef Ralph was impressively informative about our dishes. Our server was an older man and very very attentive. I have a great appreciation for this restaurant not only for their delicious cuisine but also for their accommodations for a late party entering at closing time. I will most certainly return!
(5)Krassi G.
Pathetic! On a casual Sunday tried to have a brunch. Place was pretty much empty and a disappearing host informed us that there is a 30 min wait??? Are you kidding me? Considering the fact there are a Hundred good restaurants nearby these guys obviously don't care whether they get any business or not. Let's hope someone at Marriott corporate reads and makes a note of this !
(1)Caitlin G.
This place is all right. Technically this is a 2.5 star review, but I'm going to round up because of the fries. The atmosphere is nice, we sat outside and it was a lovely night. View seekers, you will not be disappointed, because it's right on the waterfront. The service was pretty attentive and our dishes came in a reasonable amount of time. We were given a complimentary antipasto plate to share amongst the table and that was a pleasant surprise. I ordered the herb-roasted chicken with polenta, and after a thorough salt and peppering it was much better -- does no one season their food any more? The chicken was perfectly cooked, tender and juicy. I also got a side of the fries, which were absolute heaven. They're fried in duck fat and come with a side of aioli, so they're not for the faint of heart. There was a generous portion of them and I barely made a dent, but honestly they were perfection. The major drawbacks were alcohol-related, being that our waiter did not know how to properly pour a beer (they bring the glass and bottle to the table and do it for you), all of our glasses had about 2 inches of foam. The other was the wine pour: for $9, you get two ounces of wine. Words cannot explain my dismay. Quite beyond the pale. So while the food is overall very decent, the alcohol is not. And that's an important part of a dining experience in my book. So maybe i'll come back for the food and have drinks elsewhere.
(3)Nicomima D.
I should have listened to the reviews. Not worth the price not even for restaurant week
(3)Beth M.
I love this spot for brunch. I also love that they are pet friendly - and allow pets on their patio in a designated area. My husband and I have been here a couple times for brunch and brought our dog Howie. The service is wonderful. They even give howie his own water bowl :) the coffee is good and comes with complimentary scones with butter, so good. If you get a cappuccino it comes with a couple cookies. They definitely know how to do the 'small touches' here, that often make all the difference. The food is awesome - good portions and amazing presentation. My husband loves the coast guard omelette that has lobster in it. They have a yummy blueberry French toast which my Dad got on Father's Day and loved. I got a burger once and it was so good. I also tried a special that came with an egg white frittata, acai smoothie, fresh fruit, and wheat grass shot. It was almost too beautiful to eat - but I did and it was great. Overall, highly recommend this place for a weekend brunch by the water!
(5)John P.
I expect much better food for over $200/head considering the guests averaged only 2 drink or 3 drinks a piece. I hosted an event hear. The appetizers included amateurish filo dough tasteless pizza, sirloin on toast that weren't completely defrosted, and the croutons on the salad were soggy.
(1)Eric V.
This was probably one of the worst dining experiences I've ever had. My wife, a friend of ours and myself went here after exploring the feast of st Anthony. The hosts were cordial, but once we declined to order alcohol, our waiter completely disappeared. When talking to us about the menu, he was extremely rude. I may not have been wearing my Sunday best. but I do have 'gold' status with the fairmont. The food itself was 'ok' (nothing spectacular, but not bad - 7.8 / 10) but the rudeness was appalling. Sad that the waitstaff's poor attitude ruins such a nice setting.
(1)Heidi M.
Hosted a party for 70 people on the outdoor Terrace and it was fabulous! Skilled, attentive service, easy party planning beforehand, tasty food (we had 3 stations - pasta, raw bar & guac and chips and heavy passed appetizers) and specialty wines and alcohols per our request! Although it seems 'unfound' we will return for sure.... Kudos Aragosta team! We appreciate your 'can-do' attitude. Thank you!
(5)Kelly B.
I went here for an event, and since I was having a couple of glasses of wine, I made sure I ordered a little something to eat. I opted for the sesame crusted tuna, served rare, (as it should be). This was a perfect fit for my needs that night and was done very well. The service was great, there was a cocktail server circulating, and he was attentive. This place is out of the way and not a place I'd know to look for, so I'm glad to know it's there for future reference when thinking about places near the water. Unfortunately, it was raining that day, so I don't even know if they have outdoor seating/bar options.
(3)Leslie T.
I eat at Aragosta quite frequently and love the food and the ambiance, so it seemed only logical to celebrate my birthday - a BIG one - there as well. I am so glad I did! The entire evening was flawless from end to end. We started with cocktails in the hotel lobby, with everyone comfortably arrayed on plush sofas and armchairs around several small tables. No big crowds, no noise (even though there was a big wedding reception going on downstairs there was virtually no spillover), plus plenty of space and room for conversation. Our server was wonderful, very personable and attentive, and the wines-by-the-glass were interesting and varied. We had several plates of appetizers delivered to us out there (thanks, Chef Daniels!), including some delicious meatballs and flatbreads that were promptly devoured by my guests. A perfect starter for the evening. I particularly liked that, even though our dinner reservation was for 7:30 and several people arrived late, which extended the cocktail hour, no one rushed us. They told us to take as much time as we needed, which was handy because, dammit, I had presents to open! When we finally entered the dining room, I found that they had helped my friend set up the table in advance (she brought several beautiful flower arrangements and they were nicely set out along the table). The atmosphere was perfect. I loved the semi-private seating area - it was a long table that accommodated everyone, set apart from the rest of the dining room by a set of sheer curtains. This made it easy to maneuver from seat to seat, so I could visit with all of my guests, without making anyone feel cramped or cut off from the lovely view or the action in the dining room. The food was fabulous, as always. I've sampled a number of dishes there, including the bolognese, the sole, and a pork tenderloin special they made once that was out of this world, but for my birthday dinner I decided to go with the steak. It was delicious, and perfectly cooked. Once again, the service was superb - all of the dishes came out on time, the pacing was perfect from appetizer through dessert & coffee (they made me a special chocolate torte thingie with a candle), and, once again, no one felt rushed or pressured to wrap up. My friends raved about their meals as well (and this is a picky bunch). It just seemed, overall, that everyone at the restaurant - from the hostess to the waitstaff and particularly the folks in the kitchen - knew it was a special night for me and they all worked together to ensure it stayed that way. I could not have been happier with how my evening went and will most definitely be back.
(5)Melissa C.
I went here last night with three friends and the food was good, they had a nice summer menu and it was great to have fresh light food done well. The bread was fantastic and we had an heirloom tomato salad, tuna pizza and charcuterie place that were all perfect to start. The main courses, my friend had tuna that was over cooked but the hallibut was excellent. I liked the apps best (but I usually do) but all was good and the waiter knew the menu well. As for atmosphere, the real draw of the place is the outdoor seating on the wharf. We had to sit inside due to a mix-up with reservations and were told to first wait in the bar and then told 'sorry your table outside is now gone'. So they have some kinks to work out, but they were more then generous in their apologizing and showing their customer service skills by comping some parts of the bill.
(4)Andy H.
What a shame that this place has a sign outside of the restaurant that says "Bar and Bistro". I visited the first time thinking "oh well, I'm tired and will settle for bar food". I was stunned at the quality of the dinner, and very much enjoyed it. I actually called my son (who has worked at a Top-10-In-The-World restaurant in Manhattan) and raved about the food. I have repeated the visits probably ten times now, and nine were excellent and one visit was just OK. In general, the entrees are very creative and spiced by a very talented chef. On his best nights, the food can be almost world-class. But the place needs to stop trying to be all things to all folks. Tonight I told the waiter and the general manager that a chef of this caliber won't work forever under a "bar and bistro" sign, while the couple sitting at the next table over were wondering where the burgers were on the menu (honest!). This would be my favorite restaurant in Boston if the menu had a few more items that really showcased the chef's talent.
(4)Thomas S.
One star - and that's taking into account the fact that our food was actually quite good. The lobster crostini app was fresh and certainly didn't skimp on the lobster. Carbonara main course was not too heavy, and the pasta was of good quality. But when you leave the restaurant feeling as though you would have been more satisfied had you just spent the night sitting on the curb outside, there's an issue (we actually got a taste of this at the end of the night). While our server at first appeared to be a functional, responsive adult, her actions quickly brought this assumption into serious question. Finding us a drink menu? 10 minutes. Asking whether we'd actually like to order something off said menu? Another 15 mintues. (For context, this was a saturday night, but restaurant only 2/3 full). My fiance's wine miraculously braved the trip to our table without incident. My beer unfortunately never made it... A bus boy actually then brought out our food in relatively short order. However, by this point our server had apparently decided her job was done. No further check-in's, no "how is everything", nothing. Which is fine by us, until you need to pay the bill. At this point the place starts to feel less like a restaurant and more like a prison. And we needed to get out. After another 15min with no sign of our server (kidnapped maybe?) we finally just gave our credit card to another staff member. We'd driven and valet parked, so there was one final opportunity for Aragosta to add salt to the wound. Thankfully, they didn't disappoint. We were second in line behind another couples that was clearly as upset as we were. So it seemed only right that after waiting 10min, they come back with the wrong car. Another 10min later (or a full 35min after we'd decided we were ready to pay and leave), our car arrives. Escape at last...
(1)Janet H.
Service is definitely an issue! A beautiful day, I was promptly seated outdoors, then completely ignored for over 10 minutes even though the waiter had to walk by my table 4 times waiting on the tables he had , which was 2! It was as if i didn't exist. I will make sure I tell everyone I know not to bother.
(1)Jennifer Q.
Four of us came in for dinner on Saturday night and had such a terrible experience I had to provide feedback. All of us are young (mid thirties) successful professionals, who live in the city and dine out roughly 2 -3 times a week. We consider ourselves "foodies" we are well travelled and we have a high taste level (however not so much that we are snobby). When we arrived we checked in at the hostess stand (we had reservations). It should be noted that the hostess stand had a lot of commotion for what appreared to be a slow night. They had quite a number of staff standing there, however no one could help me but the hostess, this created immediate confusion and a poor first impression. We opted to wait for a table outside, and had drinks while we waited at the bar, but after a long time we noticed that although many "4tops" were free and we had to flag down the hostess to remind her we were waiting and she then remembered and brought us outside to our seat. It should be noted that the hostess seemed very inexperienceds and scattered for a slow night..... she should have come over to us to tell us how long it would be and that our table was waiting. Once we sat our "food" waiter introduced himself to us and told us that we could not order drinks with him but that we had a "drink" waitress and she would be right over. Really? Is this what they want? To have guests seated by someone that tells you what they cannot do? Ok... so we waited and waited for our "drink" waitress and after well over 10 minutes (we were FRUSTRATED) she came over. Once we ordered our wine and drinks our "food" waiter came over... Without bringing you through the entire meal and ALL of the times he was inappropriate and annoying I will just say this, he was the worst waiter we have ever had... keeping in mind that we have all dined out extensively both in the United States and abroad. He was obtuse, rude and rushed us our entire dinner. He harassed us to order, appetizers then dinner .... (came back incessantly, when we clearly were trying to talk and have a leisurely dinner), he didn't asked for the woman's orders first he just kind of went around the table.. (Manners?! Ladies are always first)... he cleared plates before everyone was finished (!! this is waiting tables 101...) and at one point (at 9:30) told us that the patio closes at 11 and that we had better order our entrees because at 11 we had to get off the patio. Really? Do guests want to be troubled by restaurant rules? If it is 9:30 and guests have till 11... surely they have enough time to eat and not be bothered w/ rules and feel like they are being rushed... At the end of our dinner when all but on person's plates were cleared (ugh!)... he came over to our friend once and asked to clear his plate... our friend was in the middle of telling a story and said politely no, he was not ready for it to be cleared. Then not even 5 minutes later he came back again and asked to clear it - our friend was STILL not done! But out of frustration said - "yes - just take my plate!" and instead of ordering more wine, after dinner drinks and dessert, we settled up, and went elsewhere. Vowing that regardless of a great view and just so-so food... (cheese board was outstanding as was the tuna crudo).... we would NEVER come back. Rookies! It's too bad... as it has all the right makings for a true gem.
(1)Sandeep D.
This one of the best places in the area... The food, service, ambience all top notch!! Great for business and pleasure. Highly recommended!
(5)Sarah D.
We were looking forward to visiting this brand new restaurant on the water. We arrived ten minutes late for our reservation and were prompted to sit at the bar for 5-10 minutes. Fine. After twenty minutes and ten minutes just to get a beer and scotch, we had to flag down the hostess to get our table in which she responded, "oh you want to eat now?" Really?? We were seated and ordered two pasta dishes. Both delicious but extremely small. We were starving and had to order more bread. The decor needs some updating, looks very 80s contemporary in a hotel. The worst part is that we had printed a 20% off coupon from their facebook page. We were walking out the door and realized we had forgotten to give the coupon. We went back inside and asked if it was possible for us to get a refund on our credit card for the 20% and they said they had closed the check. It was clearly not possible for them to put 20% back on our card and they gave us another coupon. I don't think we'll be back here and I don't recommend it. Service was friendly enough but no one ever checked on us.
(2)AK D.
If you want real italian, go to a place in the north end. This place had terrible food...was salty and of mediocre quality. Honestly, I expected better of the Fairmont. The only saving grace was the view. My advice, go for a drink for the view, pass on the food.
(1)Larisa F.
For full disclosure I have to mention that i teach yoga at Exhale Spa that is located at Fairmont Hotel as well as the restaurant. I have recently gone to Aragosta with our guest visiting from Chicago. First things first - the view itself is amazing, There is outside seating, absolutely stunning view. We started with cocktails - i ordered a Nantucket Blueberry lemonade and loved it, my guest was also pleased with her cocktail. For food (as you see from my previous reviews) I am vegetarian and I was pleasantly surpised. My gnocci with mushrooms and peas were excellent. The rest of my party ordered oysters, lobster chowder and tuna. The star of the evening was a risotto served with foie gras and (wait for it!) black truffles from Burgundy. The chef himself (i think the name is Graham) came by our table and shaved the truffles on top of our friends plate. I could smell it across the room - amazing! The desert was also a big hit - I oredered creme brulee. The staff was fast and very pleasant. Our waiter was wonderful - he didnt push anything but was very knowledgable, friendly and funny. The bread with olive oil was great. One tip - you have to check out the bathroom downstairs.
(5)Lily F.
Not amazing but very very good. Strong drinks.. And the lobster crusting was perfection! Joe is a lovely bartender
(4)Sheldon S.
Please keep in mind that we did not have a meal in the restaurant: we had their afternoon tea (tea, scones, finger sandwiches, etc.). Weekend outdoor reservations were VERY hard to get, so plan to book at least a month in advance if you're set on being outside. In fact, if it wasn't for how generally difficult the reservation process was, this would have been a 5-star review. The first reservation request message was not even returned, and I had to leave another a few days later. Past that, "Tea by the Sea" was very relaxing and a total hit with the wife. Our server Will was an absolute professional of the highest caliber. 2.5 hrs of total relaxation.
(4)Melissa K.
Been here several times but today just ruined it. They turned away two parties because the tables were dirty and they have a process for cleaning them that takes 30 mins! I walked through the place and there was not one dirty table. They just can't handle being busy and is quite embarrassing to be turned away because your too busy with one party of 12 and two other parties of 5.
(1)Mark B.
Lobster bruschetta tasted like it was from a can, molten chocolate cake tasted warmed up from 3 days ago, Brussel sprouts were under cooked. Made me wait 20 minutes for a table, when they clearly had 6 tables open, watched them do the same thing to the couple behind me.
(2)Deborah F.
This restaurant is a hidden gem! We were walking around the North End and wanted to see the water and voila there it was ! It was a gorgeous summer day so we sat outside and had a drink, oysters and olives. We came back 2 days later! This time we split the Kobe burger that came with a salad and truffle Parmesan fries. OMG probably the best I have ever had ! Eric was our waiter and we loved how friendly and professional he was. His service was the icing on the cake for an experience that was already fantastic. We will be back next time for dinner.
(5)Pat M.
Make sure you have plenty of time! If you have a reservation on a Tuesday night, be sure to make it for at least 20 minutes prior to when you'd like to be seated. Additionally, allow for at least an hour and a half for your food, even if you only order two pasta dishes, which we all know how challenging those can be when there are 3 other tables in the restaurant. And being a Tuesday, running out of appetizers when you have about 7 on the menu? Give me a break. Food was mediocre and way over priced, terrible value.
(1)Catie C.
After having Chinese food all weekend long, the kobe burger made me feel like I was in heaven even though it was dripping with blood when I asked for medium rare. I felt like I was a vampire from having a blood soaked bun. The fries that came with it could have been better. They normally have more truffle taste but apparently skimped out tonight. Disregarding the undercooked (somewhat raw) meat and blood factor, they still have the best kobe burger in town. They mix caper and dijon into their meat, just enough so that it is not overwhelming. I'll be smarter next time to not eat a burger at the sofa - I had to put a side plate on my lap so I didn't make a mess on myself.
(3)Roy K.
Great place for a relaxing brunch or lunch. Wait staff is very friendly and the patio is very relaxing. If I was staying another night in Boston I would try this place for dinner. We ordered the cheese plate and it was very generous portions of both the meats and cheeses. My girlfriend is plowing through them like there's no tomorrow:) Great place.
(4)Lisa L.
Bad service all around. There are so many great restaurants in Boston to choose from and this is not one of them. Had dinner with friends(6 of us total)only to have 5 meals come out not 6. It was obvious he never ordered the meal and one of our kids had to wait 10 more minutes for her dish. Add that to the poor service(we had to constantly ask for our waters to be refilled), the bathroom diseaster(primary one was being cleaned and the hostess told me there was no other one-which there was-ACROSS THE STREET) and the valet disaster as both of our cars were never called up by the host (who claimed he was calling the numbers our to the valet)we waited outside for 15 minutes before the valet asked us where our tickets and then told us he never got a call. All of this for the $376.00 dollars plus valet. Run for your lives! This establishment stinks from the head down! The two hosts were clueless and useless, the waiter was put out and the valet couldn't muster an apology for the 20 minute car wait. I will say the food was delicious but I can name 7 hotels off the top of my head with better restaurants and MUCH better service.
(1)Sarah K.
Honestly, didn't think it was that great. I went here with my boyfriend and his sister for what we thought was the restaurant week deal. Apparently restaurant week doesn't cover Saturday's, which I realize we should have known, but instead were rudely told by our one of our servers. We ate outside at a very dimly lit table. It was nice, but we wondered what you had to do to score a fire pit table. The waiter was nice and knew his stuff - he could recommend a good wine to pair with the various foods, but he was less than intrigued by us once we decided to stick with water. And stick with water we did - the food was really expensive! Average entree cost ~$30. I don't mind paying that, but the food wasn't anything fabulous. It was good, don't get me wrong, but not worth $30. So to sum it up: we were a little disappointed. Perhaps it was because we were soured by the experience not being a "restaurant week deal" to some extent, but in general, I probably won't be returning.
(3)Natasha M.
We sat outside at one of the fire pits. Service was a bit slow, but the food was so good! I ordered the clam linguine and it was delicious. I easily could have eaten another plate, it was THAT good. My blueberry lemonade cocktail was delicious too, but not very strong. Smores were great after such a delicious meal! Will definitely be retuning before summer ends.
(4)Maria M.
Stopped in for cocktails while overlooking the waterfront. We didn't order any food, just some sorbet. But, the brunch menu looked tasty, and they offer a complimentary Bloody Mary or mimosa with any brunch entree which is good to know. I ordered a berries and bubbles cocktail which is a mix of fresh berries, champagne and Grey Goose. It was light, refreshing and delicious. The view of the harbor was pretty breathtaking, too. The only downsides were that we were required to order food, even though we just wanted cocktails, and everything on the menu is really, really expensive.
(3)Kellie B.
Awful awful service!!! I decided to have my 30th bday here with family and friends driving 5+ hours into Boston to celebrate with me. The hostess was very pleasant and very accommodating that we asked to move from the terrace to inside due to most of my party becoming cold. She sat us in a private "room" with curtains... Very nice.. And much better than the terrace. Only downfall... Barely any lighting! We asked our server if he could turn the lights up a bit and he replied that they are on a timer of some sort and he doesn't think so. Okay, no big deal we can eat in the dark! I was surrounded by great company so this was a small miss. Next we waited for our waiter... Ordered our drinks and then waited some more... The drinks seemed to lack alcohol, so much that my father had to ask for more whiskey in his "whiskey smash" drink because it looked like pure ice water. After waiting again for our waiter we put in our app order. Cheese and meat tray... After again, another 15 mins to get that it was subpar. Not awful, but not great. We ordered our entrees, they came out quicker than the meat and cheese tray. The gnocchi was fabulous, the sausage and peppers excellent, other than that disappointments all around. My mother ordered lobster risotto And couldn't eat it because it was too fishy. She didn't want to complain, because she felt bad, so I did it for her and our waiter was kind enough to remove it from our bill. Although he was very kind, had he checked in on us more than twice during a 3 hour meal we would have spent more money on drinks and stayed later for dessert. We ordered one round of drinks and wanted another but he never came back to ask! We had empty water glasses for about 20 mins. We were so thirsty my boyfriend was seconds away from walking up to the bar with all our glasses to ask for water. For an almost $350 dinner I would expect much better service and much better food. I will not be returning unfortunately and feel awful that my friends and family traveled far for a disappointing meal.
(1)Desi M.
The tiramisu is a must try! Patrick, the bartender is simply delightful. My fave drink was made perfectly. Love the ambiance and vibe of the place. My ravioli was ok, not much to brag about but the olives and ciabatta were really good. I would definitely return!
(5)Tucker H.
My girlfriend brought me here to celebrate my new job, and we just used yelp to find it. Couldn't have been happier. Everything was on point. We got the special tomato risotto and the sliced lamb loin for main course.. So awesome! All of our other dishes were perfect as well. Also we sat out on the patio at the perfect time to watch the sun set. 10/10 will return!
(5)Chloé R.
Great food. Recommend the grilled shrimp app, white bean soup, Brussels sprouts, risotto, and lamb. Great wine selection and interesting cocktail menu. Good service. Friendly hostess and server. Good wine presentation. Nice outdoor seating. The fire pits outside are fabulous and offer something different. Call ahead to reserve one. Upscale ambience.
(5)Barry G.
It is so hard to give a bad review, because the food was excellent. Once we got it. The problem was, the service was historically poor. It was very disappointing. So we were a party of four, heading their on a Thursday evening. I called earlier in the week, because we wanted to be outside on the terrace, and was told they don't accept reservations for the terrace. Ok, thats fine. I got there about 730, and the hostess asked we had a reservations. I told her What I had been told, and she replied something to the matter " well we didn't, and then did take reservations, and didn't. But when people call and ask I just make them anyways" Ok, that seem like a good company policy one that not all employees know She said 15-20 minutes maybe for a table. ok, fine. I was waiting for the other three in my Part. Well, after an hour goes by, and we are hungry, we get a bottle of wine at the bar and they bring it to us int he lobby. Finally, after an hour and 20 minutes, at almost 9 we are told the table should be opening up soon. Apparently the guests at the table she thought would have been gone an hour earlier were socializing. So we went to the table. now dark out, the weather was nice. it is secluded a great spot. We got water, and bread. and no server. After about 15 minutes, we flagged down a server walking by, asking if our server would be coming soon. His reply " Oh, I guess I can help you. do you know what you want" We ordered a few cheeses to start. then two of the guests got flatbread pizzas for their meal, and the third got a lobster tail app and two sides form the entree list for a meal, I got an entree and a side, and ordered another drink - Patron reposado on the rocks. not hard to remember. We asked for all the food to come out at once So then the flatbreads came out. then my friends app. then after a little while my entree and her sides. My side never showed up, and since the server we now had couldn't be found (he didn't bring us the food), I was without. After we ate, he did come back. I asked him about my side and my drink - and he said he must not have heard me ask for the side, and he " forgot" about the drink. and apologized. Well, at this point I just wanted to make sure they weren't on the bill. By this time it was pushing 11 pm, and they were cleaning off the terrace to close up. While we weren't specifically asked, we definitely got the vibe they wanted us to leave. which was fine. So my meal, the scallops, was amazingly good. the cheeses and bread were great. The wine was good, and everyone enjoyed their food. But from start to finish, service wise, it was just such a horrible experience. From he long wait, made longer by not having a server, to the order mishaps, to the waiting, and everything. It was pretty much miserable. All four of us have worked in food service, and were appalled by the service. which is really bad, because the food was so tremendous. It is bad that the experience was marred so bad by the staff. Will I try it again? I want to, since the food was good. But I also don't want to end up with the same service in the future. I do hope we were just the victims of circumstance, and it isn't the norm for the restaurant. But it left a very negative impression with us.
(1)Christie L.
Romantic outdoor patio around a REAL fire pit. If you love smores and fondue, come here! I came here with my best friend on my birthday and the service and experience was great! It was a great space to talk and hangout. Make sure you have a reservation though! Even though we had a reservation, we had to wait a bit for our pit. We got two sampler plates. I think the first one was the Battery sampler. The sampler included bread, cheese, meat, dried apricots, dried figs, strawberries and little red peppers. The cheese fondue that came out with it was kind of small for the amount of food on the sampler plate.There was a lot of food on that plate! Definitely could be shared among 4 people if you are planning to get other foods. Everything on the plate was fresh and tasted great. We were here around dinner time, so we asked the waiter if we should order something else from the menu. He said we should have plenty of food from the sampler and the smores plate we were going to get. He said if we were hungry after the sampler plate, he would pay for the appetizer! Very bold statement there..so we thought he was joking. After we finished the sampler plate, we weren't necessarily super hungry, but there were so many appetizers that sounded tasty so we decided to order the lobster ravioli, which was very yummy! When the bill came, we were surprised that the appetizer was not on the bill! Our waiter was super sweet and attentive :] The Smores plate was perfect. It came with plenty of graham cracker, marshmallows and Hershey's chocolate. It also came with sliced bananas and Reeses peanut butter cups! It was the just perfect! It was an elegant smores experience :]
(5)Joe F.
Came here on a Sunday afternoon for a late brunch. The space is really large inside and has a pretty cool vibe. We were seated on the patio and had a great view of the harbor and Coast Guard cutters. Patio was not that busy. Our server was friendly, but as we were one of her only outside tables she wasn't as attentive as she might have been had she been more busy. (This isn't an issue for me, I hate when servers are overbearing) Started with the warm olives from the bar menu and the bread. Ah, the bread. Luckily I did a lot of walking that day so I didn't feel guilty eating most of it. I ordered the kobe burger with the fries and the salad. Burger was delicious and perfectly cooked. Salad was very good, although a bit overdressed. Fries were pretty good as well. My date ordered the mushroom omelet, thought it was good and also liked the salad. Drinks were good, and check was reasonable. We expected it to be a bit more than it was. Would definitely like to check this place out for dinner and the jazz night. If you're looking for something on the water that's a little more off the beaten path, this is a great spot to check out.
(4)Paul W.
Got the Kobe Beef Burger with the truffled fries for Lunch yesterday and WOW. The Arnold Palmer was top notch too. Great patio, vibe, service and food.
(5)April K.
First off, I feel SO deceived. The only reason why I came to this restaurant was because the menu on their website lists that they have duck, and creme brulee for dessert. When we came to the restaurant, their menu was COMPLETELY different. I was so confused because nothing looked remotely the same so I asked the waitress. Maybe I had come to the wrong restaurant? She said that they changed the menu a week ago. If this is the case, they NEED to update their website. I was so angry but decided to continue through with our dinner. For an appetizer, we got the lamb meatballs. It's $10, and they give you three small meatballs in a little deep dish covered with arugula. Presentation-wise, why would they cover the best part of the dish with a pile of leaves? For my entree, I got the lobster tagliatelle. It's $36, which is outrageous. I understand lobster is a hot commodity, but it's really just a plate of pasta with half of a lobster on it. There was nothing good about this dish except the lobster. Let me just say- the bland pasta was in a deluge of oil. I ate less than half of the dish because I felt sick from clogging my arteries. It literally seemed like someone melted an entire stick of butter in it. It's like eating a cake that is all frosting. I doggy-bagged the rest of it and it's in my fridge, but I don't think I'm even going to attempt to eat it. Such a shame that for dessert I didn't get my creme brulee because that is my favorite. The only thing that looked appealing to me was the tiramisu, but the waitress informed us that they were out of that... great. We settled for the vanilla panna cotta. I don't think this was made very well because the bottom was a clear congealed gel-like substance. I didn't enjoy it at all. There were a few nice things about the restaurant. The aura was elegant and spacious. It's located in the Fairmont Battery Wharf hotel so it feels fancy. The waitress was also nice. Other than that, make sure you don't go off what the menu offers because it is a completely different selection when you get there. Also, I think the prices are incredibly overpriced. If I am going to pay $30-$40 for an entree, I would go somewhere better.
(2)Dorian P.
The food was very filling, my waiter seemed to be a bit overwhelmed. Overall the experience was very underwhelming. However, on the way out stopped at the bar for drinks, and that experience completely uplifted my outlook on the restaurant. The bartender was warm and welcoming, the drinks were delicious, and her feedback on the drink menu made the experience that much more pleasurable. I would definitely return, but dine at the bar.
(4)Elizabeth H.
Wanting to try somewhere new and by the waterfront, a friend suggest Aragosta. In a beautiful setting, you are outside and by the wharf. I love that there was the engagement with the restaurant via FourSquare. That was a great start to the evening. However, we arrived for 7:15 and did not get our food for an hour. It was not that busy that it warranted so much waited time. Only right before the food came out was that addressed. Nevertheless, the food was good and the atmosphere great. We had wanted to make s'mores but you had to reserve a fire pit instead of an actual table. Noted for the future. The only thing that was frustrating was we asked at the beginning and end of dinner if there was availability for a fire pit table and they said they were reserved. Over the course of a two hour period, there was at least one that was always open. I wish they would've at least given us a time frame for the reservation because clearly they missed on further purchases from us due to this fact.
(3)Natalie D.
Went here for breakfast, first of all, we waited about 5-6 minutes for them to set up our table (we had our 2, 5 and 7 year old with us). Then when we got to the table, it took another 5 minutes to get a high chair. They were not at all busy, I might add. The menu was AMAZING, it really was, great gluten free options and alternative meat options to those who don't dig on swine. I am a huge brrakfast menu snob and this menu rocked. The food, however, was ok-ish. Took a long time to get it though, so did the children's cup of water for my thirsty 2 year old. We're staying here for three days, and I will not be going back which stinks because it's highly convenient to go to breakfast in the same hotel you're staying. Looks like it might be better for the dinner crowd.
(1)A. A.
I came with my expectations in check after reading some mixed reviews here on Yelp but men, I was pleasantly surprised. We had reservations for the terrace but it was nippy and they sat us inside promptly. I found the service all through the night exceptional and not lacking in any way. The waiters were courteous and frequently checked in to make sure we were satisfied. The atmosphere is definitely upscale but we didn't find it overly snubby or elitist, just nice and comfy. The place was spic span and shiny, definitely well maintained. The bathrooms were really nice as well, a very nice touch all around. The restaurant is at the base of the Fairmont Hotel (which we didn't know) but that wasn't an issue. Valet parking for less than you would pay to park yourself. We tried a few things off the menu....lamb meatballs & aragosta insalata to start. The meatballs were glorious and the platter was also quite tasty (apart for the mustard sauce thing, yuck, that was pretty much the only bite that wasn't 4-5-star all night). We had the lobster tagliatelle and roasted chicken both of which were awesome (though I didn't like the balsamic sauce mixed with the corn and squash). We finished off with the Tiramisu....if not for anything else we ate, that heavenly Tiramisu was worth the entire dinner and $100+ tab :). Absolutely the best tiramisu we have ever had. Try it and you will surely not be disappointed. The only negative thing I have to say about Aragosta is that the service did seem a bit slow. While the waiters were great and frequently checked on us, it took almost an hour to actually get our Main courses from when we sat down and the place was about 70-80% full so not terribly busy. Though the apps came out fairly quick. Right next door is the Battery Lounge, the Live Jazz band came on around 9pm. It was quite pleasant to have that going in the background while having dinner. And while we didn't stick around long after dinner in the lounge, the place was full of after-dinner patrons just soaking in the nice music with drinks. Very nice. I will definitely be going back to Aragosta, I also like it is in a 'quieter' section of the north end away from all the chaos.
(5)Jacqueline C.
Five stars for the fire pit at the outdoor patio. If you love smores while gathering with your friends, it's the right place to go. Don't forget to make a reservation!
(5)Ann H.
My sister & I went here for fondue - in planning our trip to Boston, I had found a 'Living Social' deal for this. There was no indication that reservations were required so we were told we could not use the voucher. We were told their tables were full. This turned out not to be the case. I even overheard the greeter & her manager trying to figure out how to not honor another customer's voucher who had actually made reservations! So we stayed for dinner anyway which was a mistake. We got some olives and some mushroom appetizers. They were okay. We got the lobster roll which was very tuna-salad/chicken-salad'ish but made with tasteless lobster. I had a glass of wine. The bill came to over $100. Perhaps I felt a bit like a step-child in treatment as they had agreed to let me use the price I paid for the Living Social voucher. But whenever I have to get up & get my own water refills, while the waiters schmooze with the obvious "regulars," my impression of an eating establishment plummets. I will not be returning. I would not recommend them to anyone. Perhaps they will go under soon.
(2)Candy W.
The weather just turned a bit warmer and I couldn't wait to get some outdoor dining time! This restaurant is tucked away in a quiet area of North End and has a really relaxed atmosphere. The restaurant has a beautiful outdoors seating area with firepits. My friend and I shared a Gruyere Fondue and it was lovely. The fondue took some time to heat up over the firepit but it eventually got to a nice gooey consistency! After that, we finished off with an order of Deluxe S'mores which came along with bananas and reese peanut butter cups. The service was *exceptionally* good. Everyone from the hostess to waiters were friendly and attentive. When our cheque had some issues, the manager thoroughly explained it without implying any blame on us. I recommend sitting around the firepits with a bunch of friends to have a drink or light bites for a relaxing time!
(4)ellen b.
We did not have reservation but were able to score a lovely table overlooking the Coast Guard boats next door in bar area. Food was delicious altho a bit pricey on the entrees. Bar menu has a couple additional items including flat bread pizzas not on main menu so make sure you ask for that menu as well. We had Caesar salad, lamb meatballs , mushroom and Gorgonzola flatbread and duck breast over Carrot purée. All were delicious and our server/bartender was terrific! Great outdoor firepit too. Nice spot
(4)Collins F.
This place is hidden behind the name of the Fairmont but it as good as it gets! Every time I come here with my wife, we are always greeted with smiles and there is nothing better than that. Aldo is the best server there and one of the lead Chef's (Paula? Name is escaping me right now) is amazing. They are extremely helpful and knowledgible about the menu and great wine pairings. Always have a great meal here and when there are events out on their patio, this place gets packed but you can always find a seat at their bar. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Janam A.
I'm not sure why this place doesn't have better reviews. I went here last night after work for a little girls night, and they were running a "Dine Out Boston" pre fixe. First things first, this place is huge. We decided to seat ourselves in the front lounge are, at a table by the windows. The view was gorgeous, and made for a nice setting. The service here is really quite impeccable. From host to server, everyone was fantastic. We came on a slower evening, so the bartender was also our server (Pat). We opted to stick with prosecco during our meal (Super girly, I know). He was really sweet and later on, he offered us complimentary dessert wine with our last course. While I don't have a taste for dessert wines, this one paired really well with what we chose. As for the meals, my friend ordered the Caesar salad for her first course, and I opted for the mixed greens with poached egg. The salads were pretty big in portion. The tomatoes on my salad were incredibly juicy, the egg was nicely poached, and it had a lovely reduction on it. For our second course, we both opted for the bolognese. It was slightly different from most I've had, but the rigatoni was al dente, the meat was nicely cooked, and the creaminess was just the right consistency. I also thought the portion was just perfect. I usually don't order pasta when I go out to eat because I hardly make a dent in it before I'm full. This was a great portion size for a 3-course, leaving me with just enough room for dessert. My only complaint was the meat-to-pasta ratio. My girlfriend and I both agreed that we could have done with a few more rigatonis, and just a tablespoon or so less of the bolognese. Otherwise, it was really delicious. For dessert, she ordered the crème brûlée, and I ordered the tiramisu. Both were served with a few pieces of biscotti (which I loved). The tiramisu was moist and melted in my mouth, and it came with a scoop of coffee gelato, so it was total heaven. All in all, I would say this makes for a good spot to go on a more intimate date. I would definitely come back here with my boyfriend. The views are gorgeous, the service is on par, and the food is comparable in quality to most North End locales. I can definitely see myself coming here after work in the summer and enjoying a drink outside on the wharf, as well.
(5)Dennis H.
We had the 5 coarse dining and wine pairing experience of a lifetime last night. Every dish was excellent with a beautiful presentation, along with a more than generous wine pour. The whole staff from the chef and her staff to the waiter and bartender were so gracious. We met another couple from Canada and had a 2 hour dining experience and never once felt rushed. What a wonderful evening in Boston.
(5)Claire M.
Food was great. Service was great. Bartender spilled a dark drink on my friends white pants (gasp!) but the manager immediately and without request came over and asked for her info in order to receive her dry cleaning bill. Super great customer service. Though it's expensive you know what you're getting into when you go to the hotel. I'll go back for sure!
(4)A M.
So one of my lovely friends and I go out to dinner every once in a while to catch up. We love trying new places so her brother recommended this joint, and may I say I was quite impressed! The service was great, the ambiance was spectacular and the scenery was breathtaking! As soon as we sat down, a kind, yet very professional young fellow brought out complimentary bread with olive oil, I don't know what the heck they put in that olive oil but it was oh sooo yummy!!!! So far so good.... We weren't too hungry, so we decided to order 3 plates to share... We ordered the tuna tartare, fried lobster ravioli and littleneck clams. Tuna Tartare was very tasteful, with a perfect hint of lime, tasty pita chips and a small (and quite decorative) egg yolk. Up next we ordered the fried lobstahh ravioli, this was probably my favorite out of everything we tried, I was worried if it was going to be too greasy, but it was perfect! Last but not least, the clams, also very good! For drinks we both ordered the strawberry rum punch, loved it, although I think they could've made them a tad bit stronger. So to sum it all up...I recommend! We both left quite satisfied with our experience.
(4)Ashley D.
Went here for s'mores and drinks. The s'mores were amazing and I loved the fire pit outside. It was a lot of fun and very comfortable. Try to get there early though because the outside closes at 10. The s'mores comes with graham crackers, peanut butter cups, Hershey chocolates and marshmallows. It was amazing and they gave so much. The service was great as well!!
(5)Judith C.
Came here twice when I visited my younger sister in Boston. The first time was because I was on a hunt for olive oil cake (I've never tried it before!) and the second time was for my sister's birthday dinner, which happened to be during Boston Restaurant Week. This review is just for the dinner. I was there with my sister, our family friend, and two of my sister's friends from her summer internship. Honestly, the food was not that great; one of the plates came out completely cold! And not cold like it was waiting too long to be served, but cold as in it was as though the food was just taken out of a freezer... I don't even remember what we ordered because it was not that memorable. I only remember the gelato at the end -- I loved the limoncello gelato but that's because I like lemon anything. The service was mediocre as well. They were very slow and unresponsive. Our server would be gone for long periods of time, even if we only asked for water. In addition, I had asked the server if they could give my sister a complimentary dessert or something because it was her birthday. They ended up just putting a candle in the olive oil cake that she had ordered as part of the Boston Restaurant Week prixe fixe menu. Not that I expected anything extravagant, but restaurants less upscale than this have made a much better effort than that. The other parties were getting much better service than we were, so ... meh.
(2)Christina H.
I came here to celebrate a friend's birthday. The Rigatoni and the Lobster Tagliatelle were excellent. Yum - Wellfleet oysters! Fantastic little patio view. Our server was very professional (though I kind of wanted to shake him a little). Must try fire pit reservation next time - I heard you need to reserve close to two weeks in advance! The online menu may not be the most updated menu; so prepare yourself and be ready to choose another item.
(3)Liz B.
My parents and I came here this evening for the lobster bake on the terrace and were so excited for the opportunity to catch up over a fire pit and some seafood. After being seated 15 minutes late for our 7 o'clock reservation, we ordered a bottle of wine and our lovely waiter was happy to get everything set up for us. The food was decent but nothing too extraordinary- clearly the whole appeal of this place is the fire pit and they really are quite fun to dine around! The staff were attentive but definitely didn't rush to bring food to the table. We ordered a second bottle of wine to enjoy while eating our s'mores, still decently happy with the environment and staff. The waiter then brought our check over and told us to take our time with the wine and enjoy the beautiful evening. Shortly after we received the check, the manager came over and abruptly told us we had to leave because someone else wanted the table. When my mother questioned him about how we were still having our wine and enjoying dessert, he said that they only allocate 2 hours per reservation. Considering they sat us late and didn't say anything when we ordered the second bottle of wine, we were quite taken back with his rudeness and sense of entitlement. There were other open tables and it truly felt like the manager was enjoying his ability to command guests at his leisure. I have dined at restaurants all over the city with much better food, views, etc and have never received such treatment prior to coming to Aragosta. It is no wonder I always see dining specials with the restaurant on Groupon, TravelZoo, etc. I would never recommend this place to anyone and certainly will advocate against it in the future. If this is how they treat guests, I wouldn't be surprised if they have to go to even more desperate measures just to stay afloat.
(1)Lilsss C.
I went there for dinner a few times, love the "aragosta" wine, the best wine for Italian food. The lobster gnocchi is awesome! The flat breads are great, all the seafood items on the menu is good. (I have tried almost every item on the menu) The restaurant is by the water, you could see the beautiful night view if you sit by the water. My favorite part of this restaurant is the Saturday night Jazz music. Love this restaurant!
(4)C S.
Stayed at hotel and had breakfast two days. Both were good. Cinnamon toast was excellent. Wish I could have finished it with the sausage we had. Would definitely go back. Wife had pork and biscuits and she said it was excellent.
(4)Scott H.
Meh! Food was ok, but not worthy of the price. The ambience is very nice and service was good, but I cannot justify a $70 tab for two lunches unless the food is spectacular. this was not. I shall not return.
(2)Grace O.
Love the service, food, and wine! Try going on TravelZoo for some of their discounted deals occasionally for their lobster bake or oyster and wine!
(5)Leona Y.
Their fruit plate with yogurt comes with a TON of fruits and a wide variety of them as well! It is a little pricey for breakfast but it's conveniently located at the hotel we were staying at so we couldn't complain. Since we're staying here for a couple more days I'm sure we will be back again. The honey that comes with the berry granola and yogurt was great by the way. It was so smooth and wasn't thick in consistency. It comes in a little cute jar :)
(4)Roxxy Q.
I do not even know where to begin. This was one of the most horrific dining experiences I have ever had. Rude, rude rude! A waiter corrected a member of our party when he ordered a bottle of wine he's had many times. The manager interrupted our fondue to come tell me that my Groupon had already been redeemed (it hadn't, I clicked "redeemed" as soon as I read the number to the waiter) and then he had the gall or ague with me. Additionally, after accepting a reservation at 9:00, the made sure to let us know multiple times that they closed at 10:30. I know we had Groupons, but we wouldn't have made a trip to this restaurant without it. We still ordered two bottles of wine and several cocktails. There is no excuse for this service. AVOID.
(2)Kimberly D.
This place is ok. The service is insanely slow, had a burger and were here for 1:45 and still waiting for the bill. Burgers were ordered MR, came out M.. One with bacon, one without. You could also tell that instead of no cheese with burger, the cheese was scraped off. Not impressed.
(2)Nikhil P.
I wrote a review earlier about this place after dinner with some friends, but we came back on a Gilt City for a clambake. Despite being a Bostonian for 2 years, whatever the hell a clambake was still a huge mystery. We sat outside and the patio was gorgeous. The problem is, while the food is good, it's nothing terribly creative and for a spot that's attached to the Fairmont Hotel, you'd just expect something a little more noteworthy. The lobster was fine, the mussels and clams were tasty but weren't in a particularly noteworthy broth, and despite the pieces of chorizo sausage thrown in, it wasn't the kind of meal that you'd remember later. The view was pretty sick ... that I'd remember. But that pretty little lobster face and its accompanying broth? Nada. Good place for a drink, for a nice view, for some people watching, for some appetizers, but you're not going to get a kick-ass Fairmont Hotel quality meal here.
(3)Matt M.
We went to Aragosta on a recent Sunday afternoon to use a "champagne and oysters" certificate from Gilt that was about to expire. We were quite unsure what to expect; we'd been to another Gilt-sponsored event here when the weather was warmer and it was the kind of experience that one could imagine being lovely...if they had ordered enough food, provided enough staff, and hadn't sold so many tickets that the place felt like a Ramones show at the old Channel, circa 1979 (yeah, I'm THAT old...). Thankfully, our experience this time was an order of magnitude nicer and more civilized. We sat at the chef's table, watched our Wellfleet oysters get shucked, our fresh squid get battered and fried, and our glasses stay full from the bottle of "good-enough" Prosecco supplied as part of the Gilt deal. We would have left after that feeling pretty okay with the experience, but Theo, the chef working that day, decided to make a reasonably nice experience a really lovely experience. We talked with him a bit about his background and his passion for food came through in a way that made two aging foodies smile. He gave us some duck prosciutto to try and some New England-sourced goat cheese, too. We left happier than when we went in. We called the day a success... We look forward to trying the full menu next time....and we hope that experience is as good as this last one was.
(4)Kimella D.
I went here with my sis, cousin and a friend, we went specifically for the lobster bake and s'mores. We had a few drinks, raw oysters and truffle fries. The drinks were ok. The truffle fries on the other hand were delicious I couldn't stop eating them... the best I've had so far. The lobster bake and s'mores were also great. The ambiance outside and the entire setup with the fire pit tables was a great experience. The only reason I'm giving this place 3 stars is because the host was a little rude at the end of our meal. You are limited to 2 hours. I guess we were relaxing and enjoying ourselves too much because he came to our table and basically told us he needed the table. Which was fine because our time was up. It just felt like he was rushing us. We didn't even get to pay for our meal at the table. He rushed us and then forgot to tell valet that my cousin was ready for her car. I think we waited like 20 mins or more just to get the car from valet.
(3)Melissa P.
Went for the fire put experience. The food was very good but the service left something to be desired. Had to ask for menus, silverware, drinks, etc. The waiter made no effort to accommodate us with a small child ( I/e no one with a toddler should be expected to sit through a 3 hour dinner). We had to bring up food items we saw online, the waiter wasn't even going to offer them to us. It's very understandable to see why a restaurant of this caliber is offering so many deals on groupon,gilt, travelzoo. Again we enjoyed the food very much but probably won't go back based on service.
(3)John D.
You can't beat the beautiful setting right on Boston Harbor right across from the Coast Guard Station. Sit out side and consider a glass of wine with the meat and cheese plate which is fabulous. Aldo, our server, was wonderful and really made us feel like VIP's.
(4)Kriss G.
Disappointed in the customer service of the the bar. I bought the living social deal in April for Gruyere and fondue at the fire pits. I thought it would be a great anniversary dinner for my boyfriend and I, so we waited until he was back living in the area to go. I checked the voucher, as well as the website to see if I needed to make a reservation, and I saw the the patio was first come first serve from 5-10. We got there at 530 (with only 3 parties outside maybe) and that's when I was told I had to have a reservation. I told her that it didn't say that anywhere and she admitted that the deal was so popular and they changed it and they're updating the website. Of course, I also so plenty of room for a table for two which was also discouraging. That is unacceptable, in my opinion. I have no doubt the hotel and the food here is exceptional, so it's just not a good way to present yourself as having a not up to date website. I've had this since April and there's no reason why a simple line of text saying 'if you have a voucher you need to make a reservation' especially if the deal is so popular I can't have been the only one to deal with this. And on too of that, she recommends calling a week or two in advance. So yes, a website update is needed ASAP To anyone who has the voucher, I hope you've read this and know know what I didn't.
(1)Rose R.
My boyfriend and I went to Aragosta for Thanksgiving Day dinner while visiting Boston ... Why it does not have more 5 star reviews i dont get? I had lobster ravioli he had the turkey stuffing and while my dish was perfect, I found myself taking bites out of his plate. The mashed potatoes stuffing were out of this world ! For dessert we had the apple crisp and that was just amazing. The staff was great polite !!' Definitely a must.
(5)Jeff B.
This place is a bit of a pretender. I agree with earlier reviews that the the service is slow and weak. We had to repeatedly ask for service, drinks, bill. These guys need to live up to the hype. Great location.
(2)Casey M.
My wife found a living social forager on tea for two at this wonderful location. We were in Boston during the weekend of January and thought the warm tea would be a delightful treat. We arrived and were impressed with the wonderful view of bay. We were greeted and our coats quickly checked as we were lead to the sitting area with comfortable arm chairs and couches. (I would encourage you to ask for a couch if you are there for a date as opposed the arm chairs ). The waiter ,Tanner, was helpful and very conscientious. I had the Japanese Kyoto tea and my wife had the wild berry and blossoms. Both were delicious and Tanner was happy to add more water to our French presses to make sure we always had tea. The three plate tower came out with a wide variety of tea party snacks; my wife's favorite was the scones with Devonshire cream and preserves while mine was the chicken salad on the rye bread. A great little relaxation time with great food. The experience would have been pricey without the living social coupon so if you can find the coupon make it a date.
(4)Michael C.
Came for a visit and sat at the bar. I had never even heard of this place before but came on a friends recommendation. I was in for quite a treat when I arrive as Tyson Beckford and Andy Buckley (from The Office) were also both sitting at the bar. Quite the star studded evening. Aside from that the bartender Joe was fantastic, he really knows how to make a good drink. I ordered the burger and it was also really good. I saw that they had a small patio that was equipped with fire pits. Seems like it would be the perfect stop for a romantic evening.
(5)Jamie H.
this is a great spot in the north end, especially if you are able to snag a spot on the patio or by the fire pit. my friends took me here for my bachelorette party, so we had seats around 2 fire pits. we had buckets of wine, and were served various small plates including bruschetta, flatbreads, and meatballs. the food was very good, and i thought the sauce on the pizza and meatball was delicious. for dessert, we ordered the s'mores, which were a super fun way to end the dinner. we roasted marshmallows over the fire pit, and it came with bananas, chocoloate, graham crackers, and reeces' peanut butter cups. aragosta is a bit pricey and can be hard to confirm the reservation, but if you have the opportunity to get the outside table on a nice summer night, you will be sure to enjoy the food and atmosphere.
(4)ana l.
My friends and I were pleasantly surprised by the quality, great service, and relaxing atmosphere. The music selection for a Sunday afternoon was a little surprising, with reggae jams instead of something low-key, but maybe we were the only table desiring to chat. The brunch restaurant week menu offered many great options - the star dishes were: the coast guard omelet, the seasonal fruit parfait, and the eggs benedict. Thanks again to the great staff for being attentive and patient even though they were working on a lovely Sunday.
(5)Alena S.
I was surprised how bad the food was. I had an appetizer, main dish, desert and a non alcoholic cocktail. The 3 stars i give are for the desert only.... the food and a drink were terrible! The service was good, and yes, the views are just amazing.
(3)Kerry M.
What a great experience!! We sat in the lobby area for live jazz. The music was wonderful and atmosphere was cozy and intimate! We had Aldo as a waiter, he was fabulous! Will request him when we return for an evening by the fire! He suggested a great variety of cheeses for the cheese plate we ordered. Everything was perfect and food was delicious. Couldn't have asked for a better evening. Can't wait to go back!!
(5)Caitlin M.
Excellent restaurant right on the waterfront! It is right in the hotel. If you can get a table outside do it, much better views and there are fireplaces to keep you warm and the bugs away. I had the scallop dish and my boyfriend had the gnocchi, both were excellent. The gnocchi is very rich in flavor, so be prepared. It is an excellent date night restaurant!
(4)K S.
A friend and I tried Aragosta Bar and Bistro for Dine Out Boston week. We had the porcini flatbread which was really good with a subtle mushroom flavor. We also did the tuna tartar. We liked the idea of the quail yolk and saffron which were different. I couldn't really pick up flavors of the saffron but the capers were a nice touch and the tuna was very fresh. I had the rigatoni bolognese. It had a touch of cream which added to the richness of the veal and oxtail ragu. Just the right size portion! My friend has the scallops, very well cooked with a perfect sear. I thought the golden raisins were a nice touch as well. We finished with tiramisu. While it wasn't the best I've had it was very good with the dolce de leche ice cream. I would go back here and possibly sit outside with the table side fire pits to get the gruyere fondue and s'mores!! The reason I didn't give 5 stars was because even though we had a reservation they made us wait 10 minutes in a restaurant that wasn't that busy...
(4)Dan L.
Nice lunch, great location and view. Service and food were excellent. Great view of the Coast Guard Base.
(4)Mark K.
The drinks were inventive and tasty, and they were made to have outside on the patio on a sunny day! The ahi tuna flatbread made for a great lunch...loved the fresh arugula.
(4)Josephine L.
I always get a little wary when I see a 2-2.5 star rating for a business. One stars are usually self-explanatory. It's a terrible establishment. But a 2-2.5 star rating with a varied mix of 1-star and 4- and 5-star reviews hints at more going on. Like maybe a business going through a bad period that had previously been good. Or vice versa. Either way, there's more to the story than just simply being a poor business. It was with this reasoning that I went to Aragosta for Restaurant Week. I had read the reviews beforehand and prepared myself for the worst. It never came. The food was exceptionally good, much better than I would have expected. The calamari appetizer was fresh and delicious. It was not fried, which is a welcome change, and the calamari pieces were tender and chewy all at once, served with an olive paste and tomato sauce under a bed of bitter greens. The flavors and textures complemented each other perfectly. The dish felt refreshing and satisfying without being the least bit slimy or rich. My friend got the fish next and I decided on the chicken. I normally never get chicken as an entree but it came with an exotic mushroom polenta and I figured I had to try that. I also felt the other options were too boring (mostly pastas). The chicken was quite good, if a little dry in parts and the polenta definitely satisfied. There was so much food, I ended up having to take half home. The olive oil cake was a real winner. I've had olive oil cake before and loved it but my friend had never had it so I was excited for her to try it. Just like me, she loved it. The cake was soft, moist and flavorful, perfectly complemented by the light strawberry-flavored ice-cream it was served with. Delicious. For drinks, I had the Whiskey Cobbler. I normally don't like whiskey as a mixer but they used Crown Royal and fresh fruit juice and the combination was fantastic. Their drinks are pricey, often around $15 a pop for not very unusual creations, so this might not be the place to go for lots of cocktails. Now, I've noticed a lot of the 1-star reviews for Aragosta have to do with poor service. Obviously, someone in management was paying attention because the service we experienced was excellent. There was one bad moment in the beginning of our meal when our waiter decided to explain the menu line by line. As in comment on each dish in the menu, one after another. There were a lot of dishes. I am not a patient person and I hate it when people do things like hand you a piece of paper and make you read it aloud with them, which is what this was like. So I politely cut him off as quickly as I could and told him we'd just be doing the Restaurant Week menu (which we'd already told him). Other than that, though, he was attentive and friendly. The hostess was also very nice and everyone seemed like they genuinely wanted you to be there, which is always a great feeling. The decor contains the best parts of the previous restaurant Sensing, which I had the pleasure of also experiencing. The curtains are still there along with the wide windows, giving the place a breezy, al fresco feel. Different parts of the restaurant have different lighting and we were seated in a particularly dim part, between two curtains. Very moody and romantic but I must say it was almost a little too dim to read the menu and the curtain next to us did little to protect us from the obnoxiously loud party of 6 drunken women beside us. If you're here on a date night, ask to be seated in a corner, NOT by a curtain.
(4)Kelsey C.
Finally, a waterfront restaurant that isn't a tourist trap! I'm usually wary of hotel restaurants too as they traditionally cater to the overly pampered vacationers and are often served with a side of sell-out. But not Aragosta! For starters, loved the Calamari Salad. Loved that they served the calamari rings cold and as is, without covering them in greasy breading. The chilled chewy rings were the best rings a girl could wish for, and the calamari is a girl's best friend at Aragosta. My entrée was the Fluke. The fish was flaky-fresh, not too heavily seasoned to just appreciate the pure flavor. My dining companion had the Herb Roasted Organic Chicken, a classy, no frills dish. The chicken was juicy with a nice roasted flavor, and I was told that the mushroom polenta was also quite good. My fave part of the meal was the dessert, which rarely happens. The refreshing Olive Oil Cake has a refreshing lemon citrus flavor and cold creamy strawberry ice cream. Yummm!!! Aragosta may be the only place I've ever been to where the quality of the food has absolutely NOTHING to do with its rating on yelp. It's currently averaging a measly 3 stars, which is sadly a step up from the 2.5 at the time of my reservation. I read the reviews, and it seems that many of the poor reviews were based solely on service. If the service was poor at some point in time, I can assure you that it has been fully remedied since then. So if it's good food you're looking for, I urge you to give Aragosta a chance, and I beg you to write a positive review so that this waterfront gem will have a rating that reflects it's top-notch food!
(4)Ardie H.
Everything about last night was perfect! It started with a table for 2 right by the water. Our server, Colleen, was very prompt, friendly and made some very good recommendations. We were there for restaurant week, but they offered virtually every item on their full menu, but some had a slight up charge. My starting cocktail was the Basil Lemondrop, and it completely won me over. I am VERY picky about my foo foo martinis, but this one was outstanding. I started with the lobster bisque, which was excellent. My secondi was the halibut, which was cooked to perfection. I have absolutely nothing negative at all to say...oh, and the bathrooms were amazing!
(5)Michael B.
Being a foodie I have to give points for the bread they serve and take points for their green salad with the warm dressing. The bread was really good and it had a crust that seemed toasted or grilled, nice touch. The vinaigrette warm dressing had way too much salt, which I suspect was compounded with the prosciutto in the dressing. My scallop dish was done well with a good sear/crust and moist middle. Our service was attentive. With all this said our party went because we had a Groupon and I would need another to step back to this place.
(3)Michelle R.
Quick recommendation: get the gnocchi and the short rib smashed potatoes while sitting at the Chef's Counter with Donna. More details: I love food. I'm a bit of a food whore...in that, for the right dish, I might sell myself. And the gnocchi here is the right dish. This is by far the best gnocchi I've had in Boston (even beating Trattoria Toscana's): light but well packed, deliciously flavored, and generally perfect. My eating partner got the steak...which is served on a bed of short rib smashed potatoes. I almost stabbed him to get just a few bites of that. Not that my salmon on its own bet of buttery delicious smashed potatoes was a slouch, but if you eat red meat, GET THE SHORT RIBS SMASHED POTATOES. And the gnocchi. Oh god, and the cheese plate and the oysters were amazing too. We sat at the Chef's Counter and watched in amazement as Chef Donna somehow managed to keep the delicious food cooking while chatting with us and being incredibly lovely. Aldo was out server, and I have honestly never had someone pair my wines with a meal so well before. Uh-maze-ing all around. I now dream of that gnocchi. I'm actually drooling just writing this review.
(5)Joanie L.
3.5 stars is what I want to give but wasn't feeling generous enough to click 4 stars. We went on New Year's Eve and there were ups and downs. Starting with my reservation not being found which wasn't a huge deal since it wasn't packed and we decided to eat at the chef's counter. But first we had a drink at the bar and rather than get a $12 Moscow mule with vodka, ginger syrup and lime, I asked for a pear martini with pear vodka, ginger syrup, lime and a splash of soda water. This however was a whopping $16 and my friend's gimlet was $15, so there was some sticker shock. We then started the 4 course prix fix for $85 with a nice waiter but he seemed to forget about us after the initial interaction. I had to gather the empty glasses and plates and ask him to take them away. Whenever the other guy would bring out our courses, he gave it to the wrong person. Friend's lobster bisque came with a dumpling and a piece of lobster so I asked the chef "isn't this supposed to be bisque" and he goes "Silly server" and pours the actual liquid. On the other hand, my friend loved the bisque and his whole meal (duck entree and foie gras - I thought the foie was too cold). My poached lobster in butter was great, good gnocchi to start (altho advertised as crispy and there was no crispness going on) and the venison was beyond medium. We both had sticky toffee pudding that was tasty, again he liked it better than I did. The chef was a cool guy and it was fine but not the knockout you hope when you're spending that much money.
(3)Jamie B.
There is definitely a wow factor when you enter the restaurant from the hotel. The dim lighting and decor is very classy and chic. Despite having a reservation and the restaurant not being very crowded, we had to wait about 10-15 minutes before being seated. Once seated, the waitstaff was very attentive and friendly. Our waiter knew the menu well and was able to provide suggestions based on what my friend and I were in the mood for. Because it was Dine Out Boston, there was a pre-fixe menu to choose courses from for $38, with several items to add for an up-charge. We started with the tuna tartar, which was nice and fresh, although had a "different" flavor to it which I could not pick up on and did not love. The quail yoke on the tuna tartar was neat, but did not provide much flavor. We also shared the porcini flatbread, which was thin and crispy with a subtle mushroom flavor-not too overbearing. I had the scallop entree, which came with four large, nicely seared scallops over mashed cauliflower, with roasted cauliflower, broccoli and golden raisins. This dish was delicious and not too heavy-the waiter steered me in the right direction! My friend had the bolognese, which was a mix of veal and oxtail, served over home-made rigatoni. This was also delicious, with right amount of sauce over the pasta and a nice portion size. For dessert, we shared the tiramisu with dolce de leche gelato. It was good- but I was hoping it would be better, seeing we were in the North End. The bottom layer was overly moist and the top layers were quite dry. Overall, we had an enjoyable meal. In the future, I'd like to eat outside as the seating is on the water.
(4)Becca P.
Went here for restaurant week yesterday and I must say it was a wonderful experience. Upon entering the restaurant, the host asked if he could take my jacket or bag. I refused but he was nice about it. Then he asked me if I wanted to wait for my friend or sit first and that there was live jazz music until 9pm if I wanted to check that out after my meal (I came at 6pm). So I sat down, the restaurant is really nicely decorated and the service is impeccable! After I sat down my waitress, Coline, came over and asked if I wanted to order a cocktail as I waited. I decided to wait. Then after my friend arrived, Coline came back and took our drink order. We got a bottle of Riesling. It was good. More on the sweet side but Coline had wonderful suggestions on what to pair it with. We added on the Antipasto for $5. The brie was creamy and melted in my mouth. The cold cuts were amazing! AND OH the bread! I love bread and the focaccia was just delectable! So for the appetizer, we got the Lobster Crostina and the Meatballs. Crostina was soooo good. For our entrees, we got the catch (Trout) and the Short Rib. The Short Rib was delicious, I wish there was more. The Trout was fantastic. I normally hate fish skin but it was nice and crispy. The fish was seared nicely too. Our dessert we got the olive oil cake with sorbetto and the tiramisu. Tiramisi was wonderful like everything else. The olive oil cake was nice. Very light. The sorbetto was refreshing. TWO THUMBS UP! FIVE STARS! Amazing service, Coline is the best. So sweet and knowledgeable. Cutest UK accent even though she is French. Though it's on the pricey side, I would definitely come back!!
(5)wendy g.
had the travel zoo lobster clambake our waiter was fantastic- food was great and the s'mores were soooo tasty we laughed and enjoyed the entire evening!!! We did not have any expectations and really were pleasantly surprised with the excellent service and the fun food!
(5)Coco K.
I'm having trouble deciding on how many stars to give this rating... on the one hand, I would give high marks for atmosphere (we sat out on the terrace, at a fire pit table, on a gorgeous bright late summer/early autumn day) - it was so peaceful and beautiful, we hardly felt like we were in downtown Boston. However, the food didn't really impress the way I thought it would. This might be because I went there with my boyfriend for their "Weekend Clambake" specials, but I was using a voucher from Gilt City (like Groupon, for those who aren't familiar). I think we got ripped off, quite frankly. The normal meal is supposed to be $35 a person - and they supposedly serve you a lobster, clams, mussels, potatoes, corn on the cob, and chorizo, plus cornbread and watermelon. Seems reasonable, right? With the voucher however, you are suckered into thinking you're getting a great deal because they sell you a "clambake for two" for a total price of $49. This includes two Sam Adams summer beers. What they *don't* tell you is that you actually only will be served a single portion of food that you have to share with your other dining companion. True, you do each get your own beer, your own small triangle of watermelon, and your own tiny wedge of cornbread, but the main course is still just one plate with a lobster, a few clams and mussels, the equivalent of a half a corn cob, and maybe three fingerling potatoes - that you both will have to share!? So essentially, you are still paying 50 bucks for one small lobster and a few clams/mussels (I think there was a total of 9 or 10 between them). This would be just enough to satisfy one person, but it was definitely not enough food for two people. And definitely NOT worth $50. Plus, we were expected to tip on what they tell you the total would have cost had you not used your voucher - they claim the entire meal would have been $70 (again remember we are talking ONE small lobster, and about 4 clams, 4-6 mussels, plus 2 fingerling potatoes). TOTAL RIP OFF. I don't know who is to blame for this - Aragosta, or Gilt City? One of them was not being totally honest when they advertised this deal. It was no deal at all... The food that was being delivered to other tables definitely looked delicious, so I might still return - but I will definitely never purchase anything else from Gilt City in the future. I've been totally burned by them too many times now.
(2)Jenna H.
I have been to Aragosta now on four separate occasions, and am glad to have such a wonderful spot in the north end neighborhood. My first time here was for some drinks and apps on their patio this past summer. We had a nice, relaxing time and were even privy to have a beautiful firework show on the water. The drinks were good, but the zeppoles for desert were my favorite. The next time I was here was for a neighborhood fundraiser (RUFF) and it was wonderful. The lounge it was held in was beautiful. Perfect space for this event and it was even complete with a Jazz band playing that evening. The waiter for the event was a bit of grump though... My husband and I were impressed with the menu and came back for dinner soon after. I started with the lobster popover - which was supposed to only be available in the lounge, but they made an exception as this is why I went there that evening. It was good - not as great as I expected though. It had a bit too much of sauce in it for my taste. For dinner I had the Herb Roasted Organic Chicken with Exotic Mushroom Polenta, and Broccoli Rabe. It was amazing! The chicken was cooked perfectly and full of flavor. The polenta was creamy with just the right amount of mushrooms - I am a hard critic on polenta.. I have never like polenta outside of the kind my Italian family makes. For desert - you guessed it those delish zeppoles. Our waiter was great, as he convinced them to make an exception for the lobster popover - I will remember next time that they have separate menus:) Most recently I was there for the north end library fundraiser and had a great time. The hors d'oeuvres were great and the space downstairs was fantastic. The bartenders were not a friendly as I would have hoped - but they were efficient and got us our drinks. One thing I did notice is that the decor in the restaurant does not match the classiness of the lounge or patio. The decor reminds me something of the dining room of a cruise ship... but this can be overlooked for great food and drinks. I am looking forward to trying out smores on their patio sometime soon around a fire pit! Thanks for being a great spot in our neighborhood!
(4)Lauren G.
Went for fondue and snores on the coldest night of the year and still had a great time! The service was good, the snacks and drinks were tasty, but we definitely wouldn't have done it at full price, the living social deal was a must have!
(4)Deborah M.
Went with 2 other couples to Arogosta on a Gilt City coupon for their clambake for two. We all had the coupon so we all had the clambake. All I can say is REALLY? There was one lobster (a chicken at that) and a few clams and mussels - the clams were full of sand. No potatoes in 2 of the dishes but our waiter was nice enough to get us a few when we pointed it out. The cornbread was actually black it was so burnt. My guess is they served what should have been an individual portion to each couple. Even at the reduced price ($45 per couple for what they claim they charge $70 for) it was a rip off. We walked over to Ernesto's for pizza when we were done because we were still hungry. The host and waitstaff were very nice and accommodating, but this was a huge missed opportunity for them to impress us. I wouldn't go back.
(2)Terri L.
expensive drinks- but it was a beautiful decor and ambience- want to go back for Jazz nights on the weekend!
(4)Bos G.
I recently had dinner at Aragosta in Boston's North End. This upscale Italian restaurant in the Fairmont Hotel is surrounded by Boston harbor which you can see from their beautiful patio. The restaurant has a sophisticated and modern decor. The menu includes typical Italian fare mixed with many local ingredients like lobster, PEI mussels and George's Banks scallops. Main plates mostly range from $21 - $33 and while there are many tempting starters, I would suggest trying Aragosta's shared plate of meats, cheese and fish for $29. The platter was more than enough for our party of four and was a delicious beginning to our meal. I was tempted to try Chef Daniels daughter's favorite plate, Orecchiette D'Olivia, Lobster "Mac & Cheese", but I opted for the "Piatti di Giorno", which was veal parmesan. This is a staple plate at any Italian restaurant and a personal favorite. The red sauce was fresh and flavorful and combined nicely with the perfectly prepared veal; it was my very definition of comfort food. The one blemish to the dining experience was the lack of experience from our well-meaning but clearly green waitress. When questioned about the menu her responses were stilted and unsure and when glasses ran empty she was slow to recognize or show herself to reorder another bottle (perhaps that's best - it did save us some money). I would enjoy returning and trying another dinner, but I think next time I'll insist we dine outside on Aragosta's lovely patio.
(3)Thomas N.
lunch recently, during restaurant week....sat outside, wonderful view of the harbor, and our lucky day the constitution was out for a turnaround so we got a nice view of that also, service was very good, drinks were very good ad inexpensive by boston standards, burger very good and cooked rare as ordered, wife had salmon it was also very good, nice place, great view!!
(4)Sid D.
Went here for a surprise restaurant week date with my gf. Service was good waiter attentive but the kitchen was super noisy on a slow lunch shift. The lobster bisque was fantastic the Kobe beef burger however tasted like my moms meatloaf don't get me wrong I love my moms meatloaf but I was expecting more and it was overcooked (on a slow lunch?). The place was very cold too saw a bunch of people wearin sweaters and making comments and no one seemed to care. Oh yeah don't sit near a window sill unless you wanna done with some dead bugs. Location is actually very beautiful and if you get a chance use the bathrooms cause they're magical
(3)