I need to get back here soon! We had such a fantastic experience! Great, extensive beer list. Sangria was very refreshing too. Very friendly atmosphere and the service was prompt. Outdoor seating available and inside is cozy too. Only tried the zanzipoe pizza on this first trip and it was seriously delicious. It's made on garlic naan and all of the flavors from the arugula, mint, goat cheese, pear, and prosciutto go together very nicely. Chef Poe actually came out and chatted with us for a while and told us all about how the menu was created from African and Portuguese culinary inspiration. He is so authentically nice and welcoming, and all of the food he described sounded amazing! I will definitely be back soon to try more of the menu!
(5)
Tim B.
Due to my vacation location and proximity to Cluckit! I think I was in the establishment three times during my 11 day stay. Two of those times were just grabbing drinks with friends. They have a great beer selection and the staff/bartenders were super personable every time we visited. We even tried a bit of the super hot pepper tequila...that shit'll put hair on your chest, or maybe burn it off but it was fun none-the-less! I also had the wings which I really enjoyed! Definitely a different style than I'm used to. I've never had anything that was Piri Piri styled, but the wings were nice and juicy and I liked the seasoning they came with and also tried the lemon pepper and scorching sauces which I also enjoyed. Really glad we stopped by to grab beers and food during my vacation!
(4)
BostonBestEats X.
Open for about one week, Cluckit! (don't forget the exclamation mark!) replaces the former Estelle's Southern-inspired cuisine with meat/seafood that is slathered in Piri Piri, a wonderfully spicy Portuguese/Mozambique sauce, all under the same chef and owners as previously. Much more distinctive as you drive down Tremont St than Estelle's ever was, thanks to the bright red British pub-style exterior, Cluckit's interior has also received a modest makeover featuring newly green & mustard-accented walls, sturdy wooden tables, and a long metal bar top. There is also seating outside on the sidewalk. Oh, and if you were one of those dedicated few that had personalized beer mugs hanging above the bar because you made your way through every one of Estelle's 100+ beers within 6 months, your mugs, and Estelle's beer list (~20 on tap), are still here. Which is really what's great about Cluckit, since what goes better with spicy food than great beer? Our Chowhound weekly Saturday lunch crew enjoyed (see photos from Galangatron): PIRI PIRI HALF CHICKEN: With beer-battered fries ($15) ~Also available as a whole chicken, this was tender and moist, with a mild flavor when naked, but then of course you kick it up several notches using one of 5 different sauces provided in a caddy on the table: 1) Lemon-Pepper-Basil...mild and tasting just like it reads 2) Mild...Very thick and a little bit of heat on the finish, tasty 3) Medium...This was much thinner than the other sauces, and more garlic-tomatoey 4) Hot...Thicker again and a noticeable jump up in the spice level 5) Scorching...Moderately thick, and definitely spicy, but not remotely pain-inducing. This was my favorite and default choice. The crispy beer-battered fries were quite good and not remotely greasy (unlike the other reviewer's experience). SPICY CHORIZO & CLAMS: In piri broth with bread ($9.95) ~Supposedly the hottest thing on the menu, this really wasn't all that hot, approximately equivalent to the medium piri piri sauce. However, the combination of 4 large clams, and a good amount of chorizo in the thick sauce went down well. Came with only one slice of toasted bread, but they brought out more when we asked, which is a must for sopping up the extra sauce (also goes well with the fries). PIRI PIRI SHRIMP: 1/2 pound, with beer-battered fries (again you add your choice of piri piri sauce yourself) ($15) ~The shrimp were nicely grilled and also a great match for the piri piri. We didn't try the steak version, and they have apparently pulled the pork tenderloin off the menu since it needed "further work". CASSAVA FRIES: With mulho cru mild dipping sauce ($4.95) ~If you like cassava, these were good thick fries with a nicely crispy exterior. But personally, I preferred the beer-battered potato fries. ARUGULA SALAD: With chickpeas, goat cheese, dried apricot, toasted almonds, citrus vinaigrette ($7.95) ~Nice, but kinda beside the point. LONDON PEAS ($3.95) ~Not your usual boring mash, a mixture of whole peas cooked just this side of soft and a creamy pea puree. AFRICAN RICE ($3.95) ~The one thing I wouldn't order again, the rice flavored with saffron was undercooked and chewy. Spicy chicken, crisp fries, good beer...what's not to like? Everything else is superflouos.
(4)
Amy B.
I don't normally review restaurants after only one meal, but since CluckIt is new, I'll offer my first impressions and update when I visit again. My first impression was overall a good one! We sat outdoors and enjoyed some amazing people-watching with our meal. Indoors has both bar seating and tables; if the weather hadn't been so nice, I would have enjoyed sitting at the bar, I bet. The beer list is impressive, with probably 20 or so draft choices. The food menu, on the other hand, is streamlined. The focus is on piri piri dishes, basically grilled proteins to which you add the sauce of your choice. I ordered the 1/2 lb of shrimp, while my friends got the 1/2 chicken. Sauces are on the side, and are delivered to the table in a condiment caddy. There is no need to tell the waiter which sauce you want when you order, as you will receive all of them in the caddy. I went mostly with the medium, which I found was pretty spicy. One critique: The menu mentions "mild" piri piri sauce, but no mild piri piri sauce is actually offered (at least not by name). However, the bottle we thought was ketchup was not conventional Hines-type, so maybe that was the mild? We also each chose an a la carte side, not realizing the meat came with a side of really crispy, excellent French fries. With the fries, we probably did not need the sides, but they were very good! I had the black eyed pea salad, which reminded me of a chimichurri or tabouli because of all of the fresh herbs and the vinegar level. My biggest complaint about CluckIt is that the waiters were not familiar with the menu, either beer or food. Once we picked our beers, we had to also point to them on the menu so the waiter could confirm the choice (he didn't know, for example, that the Fuzzy Logic was the Portico). When he delivered the beers, he mixed them up and gave them to the wrong people (quickly sorted on our end). With the food, the discrepancy between the menu listing mild piri piri sauce and the lack of such sauce in the condiment caddy was never resolved (we gave up and just focused on the delicious sauces that WERE there). Service can be improved by having the staff spend some time with the menus. Overall, I enjoyed my introduction to CluckIt and plan to return!
(4)
Jeff G.
The dark horse of south end. Delicious food, fun atmosphere, and where else can you order 40 ozs????
(5)
Nibha K.
I don't understand how this place isn't more busy for brunch! The chicken and waffles were some of the best I have tried in the area. Excited to see what their dinner is like
(5)
Renee B.
I enjoyed the chicken and all the sauces. Spicy is very good but start gently. I also had the Mexican corn and it was delicious. Staff was friendly and they had a great beer selection.
(4)
HT A.
I want to love it and will when they make a few changes. First of all the place is inviting and the staff is very attentive . The chicken however needs to be crisp ... my order was a sorry , pale looking half chicken that passed over the grill for a brief moment . The sauce saved it ....The sauces are amazing...you could put them on a shingle and it would taste great. The fries are a greasy pre frozen afterthought like something you get at the 99. This food screams for well made cottage fries (crisp on the outside , fluffy on the inside).. like they have in most portuguese places..The menu is limited so every dish needs to be great .. the chicken needs to be a home run as piri piri chicken is something new to the south end . It has to make you want to come back over and over . A few changes and it is a winner. They should think about selling the sauce at the register ....it is that good.
(3)
Catalyst H.
I didn't have an entree, but I had the chicken "taco" which was pretty good. Roasted chicken, which was a little dry, on delicious roti with I think shredded mango on top. Great hot sauces.The server was awesome!! Very attentive and personable. Also, try the mango IPA. Nom.
Just had a super good meal here. My friend and I had the roasted half chicken and shrimp with fries. The fries were addictive and so delicious. Really liked the spices on the shrimp and chicken. The lemon basil piri piri sauce and the super hot piri piri were awesome! Service was great and the beer selection was extensive. The restaurant served us a peanut butter banana pie on the house.. Just because :) great staff and food and will be back! It's a nice change to the many snooty South End restaurants.. It's quite laid back
(4)
Kelsey C.
Very simple menu- an assortment of apps/small plates (I recommend the cassava) and a few main proteins. Clearly they are banking on their chicken- and it is VERY good- especially with the assortment of flavorful and spicy sauces. The shrimp was dynamite as well. The owner/operator was hanging out- very friendly. Heres to hoping they offer some cassava tater tots soon! (Cassava tots?)
(5)
Anthony P.
This was the former Estelles. I was hoping that a new owner had taken over, at the very least a new head Chef, but neither. The only change made was the name and Menu. The food is still terrible. I had half a chicken which hardly had any meat on it and was basically grilled was just ok. The Mac & Cheese was absolutely terrible. It lacked CHEESE which pretty much says it all. I would not suggest this place. 16 dollars for half a starved chicken is also way too much money. BLackstrap BBQ in Winthrop is still worth the drive.
(1)
Erin R.
Dynamite food and great beer selection. Fun, warm and casual spot that is much needed in the neighborhood. The chicken is a must try and don't be deterred by the spiciness of traditional peri peri - you can order 5 different heat levels. The portuguese mashed peas are life changing and the calamari is one of the best I've ever had. Will be back soon.
(5)
S M.
Not impressed at all :( although staff was nice enough. The menu is small and limited. The same seasoning is put on every type of meat. And the "peri peri" sauces are served in bottles on the side. I ordered the chicken wings. They were bland and tasteless even with the sauce. The sauces were watery and also tasteless. My friend got the chicken and fries, which tasted even worse. I guess peri peri seasoning is originally an south african thing, but anybody who knows real african food knows there is no lack in flavor or taste! I would pass on this place if I were you.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Average Music : Background Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Erin M.
I need to get back here soon! We had such a fantastic experience! Great, extensive beer list. Sangria was very refreshing too. Very friendly atmosphere and the service was prompt. Outdoor seating available and inside is cozy too. Only tried the zanzipoe pizza on this first trip and it was seriously delicious. It's made on garlic naan and all of the flavors from the arugula, mint, goat cheese, pear, and prosciutto go together very nicely. Chef Poe actually came out and chatted with us for a while and told us all about how the menu was created from African and Portuguese culinary inspiration. He is so authentically nice and welcoming, and all of the food he described sounded amazing! I will definitely be back soon to try more of the menu!
(5)Tim B.
Due to my vacation location and proximity to Cluckit! I think I was in the establishment three times during my 11 day stay. Two of those times were just grabbing drinks with friends. They have a great beer selection and the staff/bartenders were super personable every time we visited. We even tried a bit of the super hot pepper tequila...that shit'll put hair on your chest, or maybe burn it off but it was fun none-the-less! I also had the wings which I really enjoyed! Definitely a different style than I'm used to. I've never had anything that was Piri Piri styled, but the wings were nice and juicy and I liked the seasoning they came with and also tried the lemon pepper and scorching sauces which I also enjoyed. Really glad we stopped by to grab beers and food during my vacation!
(4)BostonBestEats X.
Open for about one week, Cluckit! (don't forget the exclamation mark!) replaces the former Estelle's Southern-inspired cuisine with meat/seafood that is slathered in Piri Piri, a wonderfully spicy Portuguese/Mozambique sauce, all under the same chef and owners as previously. Much more distinctive as you drive down Tremont St than Estelle's ever was, thanks to the bright red British pub-style exterior, Cluckit's interior has also received a modest makeover featuring newly green & mustard-accented walls, sturdy wooden tables, and a long metal bar top. There is also seating outside on the sidewalk. Oh, and if you were one of those dedicated few that had personalized beer mugs hanging above the bar because you made your way through every one of Estelle's 100+ beers within 6 months, your mugs, and Estelle's beer list (~20 on tap), are still here. Which is really what's great about Cluckit, since what goes better with spicy food than great beer? Our Chowhound weekly Saturday lunch crew enjoyed (see photos from Galangatron): PIRI PIRI HALF CHICKEN: With beer-battered fries ($15) ~Also available as a whole chicken, this was tender and moist, with a mild flavor when naked, but then of course you kick it up several notches using one of 5 different sauces provided in a caddy on the table: 1) Lemon-Pepper-Basil...mild and tasting just like it reads 2) Mild...Very thick and a little bit of heat on the finish, tasty 3) Medium...This was much thinner than the other sauces, and more garlic-tomatoey 4) Hot...Thicker again and a noticeable jump up in the spice level 5) Scorching...Moderately thick, and definitely spicy, but not remotely pain-inducing. This was my favorite and default choice. The crispy beer-battered fries were quite good and not remotely greasy (unlike the other reviewer's experience). SPICY CHORIZO & CLAMS: In piri broth with bread ($9.95) ~Supposedly the hottest thing on the menu, this really wasn't all that hot, approximately equivalent to the medium piri piri sauce. However, the combination of 4 large clams, and a good amount of chorizo in the thick sauce went down well. Came with only one slice of toasted bread, but they brought out more when we asked, which is a must for sopping up the extra sauce (also goes well with the fries). PIRI PIRI SHRIMP: 1/2 pound, with beer-battered fries (again you add your choice of piri piri sauce yourself) ($15) ~The shrimp were nicely grilled and also a great match for the piri piri. We didn't try the steak version, and they have apparently pulled the pork tenderloin off the menu since it needed "further work". CASSAVA FRIES: With mulho cru mild dipping sauce ($4.95) ~If you like cassava, these were good thick fries with a nicely crispy exterior. But personally, I preferred the beer-battered potato fries. ARUGULA SALAD: With chickpeas, goat cheese, dried apricot, toasted almonds, citrus vinaigrette ($7.95) ~Nice, but kinda beside the point. LONDON PEAS ($3.95) ~Not your usual boring mash, a mixture of whole peas cooked just this side of soft and a creamy pea puree. AFRICAN RICE ($3.95) ~The one thing I wouldn't order again, the rice flavored with saffron was undercooked and chewy. Spicy chicken, crisp fries, good beer...what's not to like? Everything else is superflouos.
(4)Amy B.
I don't normally review restaurants after only one meal, but since CluckIt is new, I'll offer my first impressions and update when I visit again. My first impression was overall a good one! We sat outdoors and enjoyed some amazing people-watching with our meal. Indoors has both bar seating and tables; if the weather hadn't been so nice, I would have enjoyed sitting at the bar, I bet. The beer list is impressive, with probably 20 or so draft choices. The food menu, on the other hand, is streamlined. The focus is on piri piri dishes, basically grilled proteins to which you add the sauce of your choice. I ordered the 1/2 lb of shrimp, while my friends got the 1/2 chicken. Sauces are on the side, and are delivered to the table in a condiment caddy. There is no need to tell the waiter which sauce you want when you order, as you will receive all of them in the caddy. I went mostly with the medium, which I found was pretty spicy. One critique: The menu mentions "mild" piri piri sauce, but no mild piri piri sauce is actually offered (at least not by name). However, the bottle we thought was ketchup was not conventional Hines-type, so maybe that was the mild? We also each chose an a la carte side, not realizing the meat came with a side of really crispy, excellent French fries. With the fries, we probably did not need the sides, but they were very good! I had the black eyed pea salad, which reminded me of a chimichurri or tabouli because of all of the fresh herbs and the vinegar level. My biggest complaint about CluckIt is that the waiters were not familiar with the menu, either beer or food. Once we picked our beers, we had to also point to them on the menu so the waiter could confirm the choice (he didn't know, for example, that the Fuzzy Logic was the Portico). When he delivered the beers, he mixed them up and gave them to the wrong people (quickly sorted on our end). With the food, the discrepancy between the menu listing mild piri piri sauce and the lack of such sauce in the condiment caddy was never resolved (we gave up and just focused on the delicious sauces that WERE there). Service can be improved by having the staff spend some time with the menus. Overall, I enjoyed my introduction to CluckIt and plan to return!
(4)Jeff G.
The dark horse of south end. Delicious food, fun atmosphere, and where else can you order 40 ozs????
(5)Nibha K.
I don't understand how this place isn't more busy for brunch! The chicken and waffles were some of the best I have tried in the area. Excited to see what their dinner is like
(5)Renee B.
I enjoyed the chicken and all the sauces. Spicy is very good but start gently. I also had the Mexican corn and it was delicious. Staff was friendly and they had a great beer selection.
(4)HT A.
I want to love it and will when they make a few changes. First of all the place is inviting and the staff is very attentive . The chicken however needs to be crisp ... my order was a sorry , pale looking half chicken that passed over the grill for a brief moment . The sauce saved it ....The sauces are amazing...you could put them on a shingle and it would taste great. The fries are a greasy pre frozen afterthought like something you get at the 99. This food screams for well made cottage fries (crisp on the outside , fluffy on the inside).. like they have in most portuguese places..The menu is limited so every dish needs to be great .. the chicken needs to be a home run as piri piri chicken is something new to the south end . It has to make you want to come back over and over . A few changes and it is a winner. They should think about selling the sauce at the register ....it is that good.
(3)Catalyst H.
I didn't have an entree, but I had the chicken "taco" which was pretty good. Roasted chicken, which was a little dry, on delicious roti with I think shredded mango on top. Great hot sauces.The server was awesome!! Very attentive and personable. Also, try the mango IPA. Nom.
(4)Mandy H.
This place is not good. Menu is limited and I just don't get the concept of the restaurant. I got the clams w chorizo for appetizer. It's spicy, so spicy that you can't taste anything else, and overprised. A small appetizer portion with 3 clams for almost $10...not worth it. My mouth was numb and couldn't taste any flavor until after I drank a glass of water. Maybe that's what they want? To numb your mouth so you don't taste how bad the entrée is? I got the whole chicken for entrée, 4 pieces of dry and flavorless chicken, worse than any leftover bbq chicken. Sure it came with different sauces (mild, hot, scorching, pepper basil), but the sauces are not good- just spicy and have no distinct flavors. If you want to eat dry chicken w sauces that melts off your face (not in the good way), this is the place. The only good thing about this place is that it has a good list of beer. That's about it.
(1)Benny M.
Just had a super good meal here. My friend and I had the roasted half chicken and shrimp with fries. The fries were addictive and so delicious. Really liked the spices on the shrimp and chicken. The lemon basil piri piri sauce and the super hot piri piri were awesome! Service was great and the beer selection was extensive. The restaurant served us a peanut butter banana pie on the house.. Just because :) great staff and food and will be back! It's a nice change to the many snooty South End restaurants.. It's quite laid back
(4)Kelsey C.
Very simple menu- an assortment of apps/small plates (I recommend the cassava) and a few main proteins. Clearly they are banking on their chicken- and it is VERY good- especially with the assortment of flavorful and spicy sauces. The shrimp was dynamite as well. The owner/operator was hanging out- very friendly. Heres to hoping they offer some cassava tater tots soon! (Cassava tots?)
(5)Anthony P.
This was the former Estelles. I was hoping that a new owner had taken over, at the very least a new head Chef, but neither. The only change made was the name and Menu. The food is still terrible. I had half a chicken which hardly had any meat on it and was basically grilled was just ok. The Mac & Cheese was absolutely terrible. It lacked CHEESE which pretty much says it all. I would not suggest this place. 16 dollars for half a starved chicken is also way too much money. BLackstrap BBQ in Winthrop is still worth the drive.
(1)Erin R.
Dynamite food and great beer selection. Fun, warm and casual spot that is much needed in the neighborhood. The chicken is a must try and don't be deterred by the spiciness of traditional peri peri - you can order 5 different heat levels. The portuguese mashed peas are life changing and the calamari is one of the best I've ever had. Will be back soon.
(5)S M.
Not impressed at all :( although staff was nice enough. The menu is small and limited. The same seasoning is put on every type of meat. And the "peri peri" sauces are served in bottles on the side. I ordered the chicken wings. They were bland and tasteless even with the sauce. The sauces were watery and also tasteless. My friend got the chicken and fries, which tasted even worse. I guess peri peri seasoning is originally an south african thing, but anybody who knows real african food knows there is no lack in flavor or taste! I would pass on this place if I were you.
(1)