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Name: Marliave
Address: 10 Bosworth St, Boston, MA, 02108
Telephone: (617) 422-0004
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.95

Marliave

10 Bosworth St, Boston, MA, 02108

(617) 422-0004
Store is closed

Marliave Menu

Appetizers

Caesar

Escargot

Rarebits

Sliders

Mussels

Henry's Soup

Beef Carpaccio

Mixed Greens

Terrine

Macaroni & Cheese
Eggs Oeuf Uovo

Scrambled

Omelet
Raw Bar

Oysters

Little Neck Clams
Pasta Risotto & Pizza

Sunday Gravy

Ravioli

Risotto

Scampi

Diver Scallops

Pizza
Meat & Fish

Swordfish

Steak Frites

Chicken

Osso Buco

Rabbit

Wellington

Chopped Salad

Fish-n-chips

Trout
Sandwiches

Pastrami

Hamburger

Reuben

Steak-n-cheese

Mister Marliave

Mrs. Marliave

Portobello
Sides

Polenta

Gorgonzola & Caramelized Onions

Grilled Asparagus

Reggiano & Extra Virgin Olive Oil

House Cut Fries

Truffle Oil & Reggiano

Bacon Fat Roasted Brussel Sprouts
Cheese - French

Comte Le Fort

Brillat Savarin

Camembert

Roquefort Carles
Cheese - Italy

Blu Di Capra

Robiola Due Latte

Cravero Riserva
Cheese - New England

Piermont

Lake's Edge

Cabot Clothbound Cheddar
Cheese - Cured Meats Salami Charcuterie

Finocchiono

Toscano

Saucisson Sec Basques

Lardo

Sopressata

Prosciutto Di Parma

Coppa
Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Masseria Tudisco

Roi

Citille Di Sopra

Jean Marie Cornille

Nicolas Alziari
Dessert

Butterscotch Pudding

Cannoli

Cake And Ice Cream

Box Of Truffles

Tapioca Pudding

House Churned Ice Cream

Formaggio

Healthy Meal suggestions for Marliave

Appetizers

Caesar [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Escargot [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Rarebits [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sliders [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mussels [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Henry's Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beef Carpaccio [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mixed Greens [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Terrine [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Macaroni & Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Eggs Oeuf Uovo

Scrambled [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Omelet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Raw Bar

Oysters [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Little Neck Clams [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Pasta Risotto & Pizza

Sunday Gravy [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ravioli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Risotto [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Scampi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Diver Scallops [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pizza [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Meat & Fish

Swordfish [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Steak Frites [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Osso Buco [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Rabbit [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Wellington [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chopped Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fish-n-chips [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Trout [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sandwiches

Pastrami [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hamburger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Reuben [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Steak-n-cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mister Marliave [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mrs. Marliave [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Portobello [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sides

Polenta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gorgonzola & Caramelized Onions [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Asparagus [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Reggiano & Extra Virgin Olive Oil [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

House Cut Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Truffle Oil & Reggiano [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bacon Fat Roasted Brussel Sprouts [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Cheese - French

Comte Le Fort [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Brillat Savarin [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Camembert [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roquefort Carles [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Cheese - Italy

Blu Di Capra [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Robiola Due Latte [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cravero Riserva [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Cheese - New England

Piermont [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lake's Edge [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cabot Clothbound Cheddar [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Cheese - Cured Meats Salami Charcuterie

Finocchiono [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Toscano [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Saucisson Sec Basques [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lardo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sopressata [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Prosciutto Di Parma [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Coppa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Masseria Tudisco [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Citille Di Sopra [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Jean Marie Cornille [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Nicolas Alziari [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Dessert

Butterscotch Pudding [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cannoli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cake And Ice Cream [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Box Of Truffles [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tapioca Pudding [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

House Churned Ice Cream [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Formaggio [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Visit below restaurant in Boston for healthy meals suggestion.

Boston Common Coffee Co. ( 97 Salem St )

Einstein Bros Bagels ( 725 Commonwealth Ave )

Visit below restaurant in Boston for healthy meals suggestion.

Einstein Bros Bagels ( 725 Commonwealth Ave )

Write An Anonymous Review

Jim M.

While visiting Boston we were incredibly impressed by this charming restaurant. The staff was so friendly, hospitable and professional. The food was approachable yet each item was prepared perfectly. The view from the top floor was a true Boston memory. Highly recommended.
(5)
Ngan T.

I absolutely despise the front of house service here. Very dismissive, insincere, and overall unwelcoming. I've never felt warmly greeted here. Ignoring that, I come here for oysters and the amazing food. At the end of the day, I guess that's all it boils down to for me. You can't beat the awesomely fresh daily dollar oysters, and the macncheese. Oh. My. Goodness. The macncheese. I want to swim in this. Please! Everything here gets served under the classical silver covered top. The unveil is always cute and a nice surprise. Every dish here is worth trying (pssssst macncheese!!)
(4)
Marcus D.

This is one of those restaurants I've walked by a million times but had never gone inside - plus it's been here forever. Yesterday, after taking my watch to the Watch Hospital, I called a friend that works for the Commonwealth and said, "why not a late lunch? Marliave. I'm buying." It was freezing cold, typical New England day, windy. We went inside, elected to sit upstairs, and we were seated by the windows. The entry area downstairs was very lively, with a group at the bar, but it was too bloody cold. The upstairs wasn't crowded, and in my opinion, was the place to be - it was warmer, too. The windows in the "rooftop garden" have a wonderful view, but are a little drafty - I wasn't cold, neither was my lady friend, but you could see the valances swaying a bit - I'm sure some bitchy warm-blooded whiner would hate it upstairs (and in that case, don't come, stay in Newton). The decor is basic - black and white, nothing spectacular, a few odds and ends antique looking castaways, and the bathrooms are tucked down a passage. The men's room was like walking into a walk-in freezer, but it was clean. Our waitress was very pleasant, a bit of an accent I couldn't place. We started off with escargot. They bring the usual olive oil, with big olives, to the table, which was delicious. The escargot was served with toasted bread, which is great to dip in the escargot garlic and butter sauce. We drank Cotes du Rhone - not a Chateauneuf du Pape, but it was probably the best red they had available. For entrees I got the beef wellington, my friend the yankee pot roast. The wellington was excellent - anytime you have tender beef with foi gras it's an absolute uproar, as Lady Coolbirth described the souffle Furstenberg in ANSWERED PRAYERS. The yankee pot roast was good - of course I had to have some - and the waitress brought extra bread to dip in the sauce. The dessert menu was kind of lackluster, but the brownie sundae was great, served with walnuts. We had a rather nice dessert wine, a chilled Hungarian Tokaji, which was like being transported back to Castle Hill in Budapest (not really, but it was still good). Overall, an excellent lunch - which was more like an event, lasting almost three hours - yes, they must have LOVED us here. Definitely a spot to try, especially it being a bastion of old Bostonian civilization.
(5)
stacey l.

Did back to back Restaurant week visits here and I am digging this place. The atmosphere is nice and the service was pro. The menu options are super yum. Very good comfort food with a modern twist.
(4)
Sfo B.

love the dollar oysters and clams daily 4 pm-6 pm and 9 pm-10 pm. service is nice as well at the bar and table.
(5)
RICHARD K.

Delicious food. Great friendly service. Nice ambiance. Beautiful historic location. Be sure to book upstairs for a delightful view of the city.
(5)
Melissa D.

This place originally became my go to because I love their drinks. In fact, with all the money I have spent at the Marliave I could have probably built AND fully stocked my own bar at home. Yet, I keep coming back. For an app, I recommend the rarebits, for an entree, it doesn't get much better than the pastrami sandwich or the reuben. I also hear the regular entrees are amazing, but why fix what ain't broke. I started off with sandwiches, and I'm staying with sandwiches!
(5)
Alison S.

GREAT atmosphere. Downstairs feels very European, great old decor-looks original, never been majorly rehabbed (which is good), on cute side street near Downtown Crossing. Nice relaxing place in heart of city. Upstairs is more modern, with natural light from numerous windows. Also nice atmosphere, but different. Been here twice, and had the ravioli both times-really great tomato sauce, something I am picky about. Had some raw clams as an appetizer, great, fresh! Everything everyone I was with had was amazing. Savory and well made, simple but quality ingrediants. Service was great, more than I usually spend (by no means exorbitant though, I'm just cheap), but so worth it. I really really love the atmosphere, cozy, European, romatic. I highly recommend it!
(4)
Holly W.

I am kind of in love with this place. I won't bore you with the details. Order a boston tea party. The mussels are fabulous.
(4)
Tina M.

Great coffee! This was the only place I could find open during the water 'outage' in Boston. I am now a regular. I love their mini-muffins and ginger scones too! Must try the vanilla coffee!
(4)
Aretha B.

I am so DEPRESSED! My dad loved Marliave's. I have fond memories of him taking me here when we were on a trip to Boston and he just wanted something GOOD to eat. My dad passed 5 years ago... my sister and I went to go eat at Marliave's tonight for sentimental reasons.... there was a HUGE orange sign in the window saying "SIEZED - This property has been siezed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for failure to pay taxes" and all the lights were out. SON OF A!!!!!!!! I just ate here last week and it was GREAT. Totally awesome. I am sad to see the oldest italian joint in boston go down like this and I am sad to see a place that has particular sentimental value be shut down for such stupid bullshit. RIP Marliaves! Original Review: --------------------------------------------- Agreed - Marliave Kicks ass. My dad used to take me here when I was a kid and we were coming through boston. He LOVED the meatballs. Last night my boyfriend and I got drunk (again) at Fajita's and Ritas, and then wound up going out for some better grub than what they can offer. I hadn't been to Marliave's in years and my bf had never been. On a friday night we were the ONLY diners seated in the downstairs dining area. The waitress was nice, the food came out FAST, and my boyfriend said "your dad was right, this IS a good meatball!!!" and he also loved the sauce. "Best red sauce I ever had". It was quite good. We also had the mussels. They were fat, and coated in a sweet, super oniony and super garlicky sauce. We split the mussles and the plate of pasta and meatballs and the dinner came to about 22 bucks.
(5)
Lu W.

I went for a late lunch during Restaurant Week and the hostess was nowhere to be found. When she finally showed up, she said she had to make sure the kitchen was still open. ? Luckily, it was. I had mussels to start and they were pretty much the opposite of special. For the main course I had steak frites with gorgonzola butter. The fries were pretty delicious, but the steak was served in slices, which I thought made it obvious that they were trying to scale down the portion. Worse, it was very chewy. For dessert, I had bread pudding that tasted good but the texture reminded me of bad noodle kugel. All of our main courses were overly salted. My friend's panna cotta was pretty good, even with its classy solo cup imprint. It's not a terrible place, but I would never go back.
(2)
Jan S.

I feel compelled to write a review based upon my recent visit. Since reading here helped to create my expectations before I went, I think that anyone who uses this site to guide their choices might benefit from hearing about both positive and negative experiences. While I found that the food and atmosphere at Marliave deserve the mostly stellar reports from other reviewers, the private event that I attended in the upstairs bar area was almost ruined because of a surly bartender with an I-don't-want-to-be-here attitude. The imaginative, multi-ingredient cocktails on the menu seem to require time and skill to build, however, they needn't come with bartender comments like "I'm done making Old Fashions" when a guest ordered one an hour into the party. Where does that happen? I also don't find it acceptable to fill a ($11) Cosmo glass half-full and then make up an excuse when called on it: "I forgot to put in the cranberry juice" when the drink was already very pink. But those examples pale in comparison to his announcing that the entire group of attendees would no longer be served 1.5 hours before the scheduled end of the party because he decided that some guests were "too drunk". Guests were buying drinks, eating, talking, and laughing; it was a cocktail party! There was no overtly drunken behavior that I observed. There were no fights, shouting, dancing on tables, falling down, getting sick, singing, or other shenanigans in any combination. I have heard that attempts to rectify the situation with management at the time and obtain some sort of reasonable explanation in subsequent phone conversations fell on deaf ears. The organizer of the party was left feeling upset, perplexed, and very, very disappointed that the wonderful evening was cut short and the memories of it tainted by one unhappy bartender (Ken) and an unsympathetic event coordinator (Melissa), who, by her own report, left the premises one hour into a 5 hour party. I think that the bartender made it plain from the start that he didn't want to be there and, when he decided that *he* had had enough, he declared that we had had enough to drink and pulled the plug on the party. I had been looking forward to dining here at some point in the future but will not do so now. I know that there are too many other places where I can spend my money that value their customers more than Marliave's staff represented that night. If you are thinking of having a private party here, I recommend that you keep looking. Or, at least, make sure that you are assigned a different bartender.
(2)
Patrick F.

It is hidden in a side street near the Omni Parker House. I have eaten here many times. I love the food here. The food is great with great specials and a diverse menu. The burger with herbed fries is quite good. They also have a nice selection of cocktails. My favorites are the Great Experiment, Tres Curieux and the Henry Marliave. The decor is a little minimal but it easy to forget when the food is so good.
(4)
David M.

Fantastic food, service, drinks, atmosphere. Great for dates, special events, or a good old-fashioned cocktail done right!
(5)
Keyse A.

I went to Marliave for lunch with my coworkers around noon today. The place was fairly empty which always makes me a bit nervous but it was also empty a couple of weeks ago when I went for drinks. Our waiter, Jason, was great and provided us with suggestions from the menu when we asked. We shared a pizza (we=3) and had the salad. Normally I wouldn't get dessert (my favorite part of any meal) with lunch but my coworker asked about it and the smile on the waiters face made it clear that dessert was needed....yummy flourless chocolate cake! I like this place and plan on going for brunch...yes, they have brunch! The crappy thing about Marliave is the construction in front of the entrance - kinda makes the place easy to miss.
(4)
Tai Z.

We ate dinner downstairs. It was exceedingly loud. It didn't help that every other word out of the man at the table next to me was a swear, which I could hear since the tables are very close. Dinner was tasty & of generous portions, but we didn't like the bread. Service was meh.
(3)
Pem B.

Marliave's has become one of my downtown staples for lunch. I've only ever had their sandwiches (get the delicious, seasoned fries!), but they are always good. Their menu is a little pricey, but in the past, the sandwiches had been a good deal (they recently raised the prices on the sandwiches, so that's no longer the case). I find the downstairs area to be dark and somewhat depressing, so go eat upstairs in the dining areas that have a lot of windows. The place is usually pretty empty, so never a wait to get a table, even if a small group goes.
(4)
David S.

Had some friends from Boston take me here for dinner. Was real slow, must of only had a handful of customers. Wait staff was real nice. Oysters were real good. Steak was perfect. Average price.
(4)
KATE G.

Again History always has a pull for me - but wow this place needs some help. It reeks of bathroom when you walk in and it looks like a really shabby french oyster house. My BF and I walked up the stairs and right out the door on the next level. I fell badly about this as the chef sounds good and seems to be creative - not easy to take on a restaurant. i will come back in a while maybe it will have its legs under it by this time. ( also it was so dirty inside floor etc - is this from nearby construction?)
(1)
Ryan J.

Went here with some friends. We all really liked it. It's tucked away in a quiet street. I had a reuben, fries, and a couple beers. They do not have beers on tap. The people who ordered cocktails really liked them. The steak sandwich received rave reviews and looked great. I'll be back. Upstairs is more dressy, but I'm guessing it's the same menu. I really enjoyed the old feel of it. It wasn't crowded, but there were a decent amount of people there and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Service was attentive and polite and friendly. They really tried hard to be good and I always appreciate that, For instance when I asked for the restroom, I was told it was upstairs and to watch my head because the ceiling is low. It was a nice tip, that saved me a bump!
(4)
Christine P.

Nine of us ate here on Monday night for restaurant night. I have some mixed reviews, but one thing that was great was the huge menu for restaurant week. Sometimes you'll go to a place and they only have a few choices. Not Marliave! The escargot was fantastic. That was the best part of my meal. Someone else got the soup and said their mom's was better. Oh, the bread and olive oil is also great. Entrees were so-so. The scallops were huge and looked great. I got the Sunday Gravy which was gnocchi and meat sauce. The meat was a bit fatty and I figured I ordered wrong (I really wanted the beef wellington but had just eaten steak the previous night). Two people at the table got the wellington though and said it was overcooked and there was no fois gras. The dessert menu was also plentiful and someone ordered the box of chocolates and said it was great and someone else got the butterscotch pudding which seemed like a boring order to me, but I tasted it and it was delish. Four of us ordered the molten chocolate cake and all of us left some on the plate. That to me says something. Mine was dry and only one person actually reported a warm chocolaty center. So not sure if something happened in the cooking or what. One thing that was a bit annoying is we ordered a round of drinks for dinner and they came after we were done with our meals. So we basically drank wine with our chocolate cake. I will say the ambiance seemed nice, I liked the various rooms and the bar area seemed nice (we ate upstairs). And it looks like they have outdoor seating which I'm always looking for on nice summer nights. So I would rate my overall dining experience a 3 star.
(3)
Melody A.

I went here for restaurant week and the food was EXCELLENT! My friends and I had the beets, the rarebits, and macoroni as appetizers, which we all shared and loved! I had the trout as my entree, which was almost like a trout sandwich with spinach, shrimp, garlic, capers and tomatoes between. They had the beef wellington (perfectly cooked) and the steak frites. For dessert, we had the chocolate cake, cheese plate and berries. Everything was superb, so you might be wondering why I'm giving this three stars. Well, the service was pretty terrible. We had reservations, but still had to wait in the cramped front area, feeling like we were in the way, then the entire meal, the waitress was practically ignoring us. She only came through when we were more than halfway through our meal to ask us how we were doing and we had to ask other servers for extra silverware, etc. For a place this high end, they should have EXCELLENT service to match their food.
(3)
Melissa C.

The food here is pretty good, a little pricey, but if you are headed there for lunch be prepared to take a two-hour lunch. If you can handle that, the experience is great. If you are on a time-frame, you will spend your entire lunch stressed out and looking at the clock. This has happened to me even when there were only two of us and we ordered sandwiches. I suppose this makes this a good spot for either lunch with your boss or dinner. I would say the best part about this place is the drink menu - fantastic cocktails!
(3)
Raymond W.

After a couple of tough weeks at the new job, I went out for a drink and a few apps with some co-workers. Marliave had a great old school vibe and I really enjoyed myself. I had the arugula salad (good) to start and then shared escargot (good), sliders (good), macaroni (good), pizza, (decent). It was the first time I've had escargot, and the garlic and butter overwhelmed any chance or gagging. The texture was much like calamari, so strike this off the odd eats list. The waiter stated that the sliders were more like meatballs, which proved to be true, but they were still tasty. The mac n cheese was extremely rich and was more of a cheese sauce than a baked casserole type. The pizza was somewhat of a really good store bought pizza, but I assume that's mainly what happens when you don't have an establishment dedicated to pizza or Italian food. If you work downtown, definitely give Marliave a chance to un-stress yourself.
(4)
Tracy H.

Great, but expensive cocktails, and food even my future mother in law liked. Sounds like a winner to me!
(4)
Allison M.

Don't bother. My friend and I don't mind paying good money for delicious food but we had a serious issue with the overpriced mediocrity of our dinner at Marliave this past week. We love cheese, but have had better cheese plates at other restaurants for half the price. I also did not care for the toasted bread that accompanied the cheese plate, it was just nothing great. We shared three appetizers which included the macaroni (mediocre), the meatball sliders (very dry, needed some tomato sauce or flavor) and the beet salad (again, just so so). With a few glasses of wine, the bill was absolutely ridiculous for food that was nothing special and we were not even full. We both could have had steaks at Ruth Chris for the same $! On our way out, we stopped for a beer at Barracuda and saw we could have had $2 chicken tacos instead.
(1)
Allie S.

Favorite place in Boston. Hands-down. Food, atmosphere, bartenders, waiters, COCKTAILS. Love.
(5)
Katharine O.

Since it's Restaurant Week my friends and I decided we'd check out a new restaurant that's kind of out of area for us. Let me start with drinks. The cocktail list is pretty decent although it's in a horrible font so it's difficult to read, and doesn't have your typical cocktails on there, although I'm sure you could order them anyway. The wine list was also extensive, but didn't have any of your typical wines on it. I'm not a huge wine connoisseur but I like the basic Cakebread or Kendal Jackson. Appetizers were good, we had the ravioli, sliders and something else. All were very good and perfect portions. For dinner, I had the trout which was really good, and my friends had the chicken, steak and ravioli entree, which is different than the ravioli appetizer. Anyway, they were all excellent and generous portions I don't think anyone had any complaints. Desserts. I had had my heart set on the creme brulee because the restaurant week website had it as a dessert but it wasn't being offered, so I will have to go back for that. But we had the chocolate cake, berries, and bread pudding which was awesome and I think they must make their own ice cream because it was absolutely delicious and very creamy. The service was okay, the server doesn't do much but take your order. Food runners bring out all of the meals with covers and remove them at the same time which is a fun effect. The decor is very cool and really sets the atmosphere. All in all it was a pleasant experience and we will probably go back....if it wasn't down a back alley and out of sight/out of mind it would be more probable for us to go.
(4)
Osvaldo D.

People who complain about the space fail to see the point. It is an old restaurant and has been fixed up, but was smart enough to retain its circa 1920's look. The food is excellent and the service was decent. I've been back three times since my initial time on a date with my ex. He picked the spot. I think it is a great weekday or weekend dinner spot.
(4)
Carole S.

This place is amazing. I've been twice, and both times were stellar. The escargot is the best I've ever had, not rubbery at all. The mac and cheese is amazing. The wellington is great. The chocolate cake is really good. The service is wonderful.
(5)
Claudia H.

This hidden pearl is located near the Boston City Hall, walking distance from the Boston Common. Marliave has been around for more than 25 years and the current chef has been managing the restaurant for the past two years. The food selection is a combination between Italian and French dishes. Portions are very generous so I encourage you to share appetizers and main courses. The past two times I have visited the restaurant I've ordered some cheese and Italian prosciutto that comes paired with a glass of wine (for an extra charge). The trout with shrimps and the stuffed rabbit are exquisite! I could also try the risotto and the Wellington beef, and were all great! Take a look at the cocktail menu, there are options for almost any taste! Marliave is multifunctional in terms of space, it can perfectly fit tables for two up to 20 comfortably. The upper dining salon is the nicest! Give it a try!
(4)
Anna B.

I liked this place a lot - I went tonight with 2 friends. I thought the prices were fair. Pricier than a bar but on par with Scollay Square and other non-bar casual restaurants in the "Parker House/Nine Zero" area. This isn't a place you go for decor - it is rather plain - you go for the company you're with and a good, comfort food meal. Everyone enjoyed their meal but I think the pot roast was the best dish. I am surprised someone called the portions "meager" - I couldn't finish. I did have a salad but no bread (that's the only thing I can find fault with - they didn't ask if we wanted bread - we didn't but they could have asked). I didn't think the service was, as another poster put it, "bumbling and slow" - I thought it was fine. We sat downstairs and didn't realize there was an upstairs until we left so maybe service is better downstairs? The wine list wasn't huge but had some good, reasonably priced bottles. We didn't try the chichi drinks though I was tempted. Maybe when I go back because I definitely will. I am still a huge fan of Last Hurrah but lately it's hard to find a seat and this place definitely has better eats. Update for April 09: Sat upstairs and I think my hypothesis is correct... service was far better downstairs. Still no bread. The food was still good. The chicken was our favorite this time. The bread pudding for dessert was yummy and exactly like the bread pudding at Ruth's Chris (a block away) during Restaurant Week... I wonder.... Update from November 09: The $1 oysters from 4-6PM bump this restaurant to 5 stars. What an awesome deal!
(5)
Cat S.

We wandered into the Marliave after the concierge at our hotel offered it up as an alternative to the over-crowded, over-priced oyster bars in the North End. We were impressed with both the decor and the menu, not to mention the drink options, which included some unique concoctions of their own devising. Overall - highly recommended.
(5)
Donal C.

Went there tonight with no real expectation. The decor and building are very nice, especially the original floor tile. Menu look reasonable. The table had the risotto, burger, and steak frites. General opinion was all was good, but not fab. Then came the coffee and desert. The tiramisu was probably the worst I've ever tasted; and the coffee matched it well. Overall, just ok; probably wouldn't be in a rush back.
(2)
A B.

The food was good, but nothing spectacular. I had the steak and cheese sandwich and my companion had the Beef Wellington with oysters to start. Also a side of asparagus which was overcooked. The drink menu was extensive yet everything seemed kind of similar (heavy on gin based drinks). Didn't have time to try dessert or coffee, but nothing really sounded that exciting on the dessert menu. The ambiance was nice (seated upstairs) and our server (Emery) was very good. Just wasn't as great as I was expecting based on the ratings and other reviews I read.
(3)
Salome G.

this is the perfect place to relax after work. and it stays relatively inexpensive if you come for happy hour. $1 oysters?!? outrageous! the atmosphere here is quiet and cute, it's such a surprise when you consider that it's in such a busy part of downtown.
(5)
Evey M.

HORRIBLE AND SLOPPY SERVICE ALL AROUND... NEVER EAT HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Â!!! The so-called "Manager" walked around literally dragging her feet because she was wearing slippers, tight jeans that did not fit her and you could see a big muffin top hanging over her pants and a sweater that was way too short to even attempt to hide that muffin top. It was disgusting and she was extremely sloppy looking. Not only was her appearance sub-standard but so was the service. She was ghetto!!! The waiter had no clue what he was doing!! He took our drink order and our appetizer order, can back 15 minutes later and told us he forgot what we ordered. He also brought us the wrong wine, we order Pinot Noir and receive Pinot Noir but the one that he brought us was the Reserve kind which we didn't realize because I mean you remembers every detail of a bottle of wine when they order?? We just pointed to a bottle of wine and he assume it was a wine that was 7 spaces below it. Long story short this wine was $90 more than the one we really ordered. When out food arrived I ordered meat medium well but when there it landed on the table it was definitely still alive. There was blood oozing off my plate it was disgusting. When I asked them to cook it some more they threw it back on the grill and served it to me on the same bloody plate. Didn't even bother to re-plate it which is the common practice. I never asked for it to be comped off my bill, I simply just didn't eat it. But the last straw was when the bill arrived and we realized that the wine was not the one we ordered and that the server made a mistake. The server and the sloppy manager refused to do anything about it, rather the manager decided to make a scene int he middle of the restaurant while I remained calm and didn't even raise my voice. Everyone was looking and her intention was simply to try and embarrass me and my guest. If I were the type to try and get something for free I would have complained and argued to have my meal taken off the check since it was prepared horribly but I didn't say anything. Nor did I complain when the server kept forgetting what we ordered and took forever to put our order in. But this was the limit. I decided not to deal with this ignorant manager and decided to call the owner the following day. The people answering the phone would never put the owner on the phone saying that he was busy, I called back several times and explained the situation and never did they put him on the phone. they took down several messages to have him call me back but I never heard from him. Needless to say as an owner of a business you should at the very least hear out what your very own customers have to say. Overall the service is horrendous. I work in the area but will never go here again. My friends and co-workers are boycotting this place as well. The restaurant will lose out on a lot of future business solely for the fact that they didn't even want to hear out a customer.
(1)
Anne R.

I came to Marliave last fall, and raved about it. I had the esacrgot and beef wellington which I highly recommend. However I went there for lunch yesterday and had the Henry's soup, which was ok, and the mushroom and truffle risotto which I took one bite of and was done. Both dishes were completely under seasoned, and the risotto tasted like porridge. I should have sent it back, but I didn't want to make a scene. I really think they forgot to stir the parmesan into the risotto at the end. There is nothing more frustrating than spending $35 on lunch and then having to go home and make a sandwich.
(3)
Sarah S.

I did not expect to enjoy the Marliave experience as much as I did. I took my boyfriend here for Restaurant Week dinner on Saturday. We were promptly seated on the upstairs level with a nice view of the city. Everything we ordered was cooked to perfection. Even the bread and olive oil that we started with seemed to be some of the best I've ever experienced. For starters, we had the Mussels -- fresh, flavorful, and substantial -- and the Rarebits -- pure cheesy-bacony indugence. The main entrees we selected were the Steak -- perfectly cooked and seasoned -- and the Diver Scallops -- again, fresh, substantial, and flavorful. For dessert, we had the Butterscotch Pudding and the Chocolate Cake. I didn't think I would care for the pudding - but I really loved it. The butterscotch flavor shone through without being too sweet. The cake was the only thing I could have done without -- it seemed almost flourless (I'm not a big fan). Overall, I would say this was one of my best dining experiences of the year!
(5)
Jenny L.

I just went here this past Sunday for dinner right before a movie. I ordered the Sunday Gravy-- YUMMY. Good thing it was a bit chilly outside becuase it was definitely hearty-- TONS of tender meat. There was barely anyone there, so not sure what its like after work or in the evenings. Its not a modern trendy place-- more like a place to have some good food in comfortable setting.
(4)
Chris S.

I have been here twice since the re-opening of one of Boston's most storied old restaurants and am consistently pleased with the food and the atmosphere. I have noticed, however, that the traffic in the place has been low and I think it's due to two things, a) perception of an over-priced menu, and b) a tough location at night. The location is actually great, really close to the T and offers plenty of before-or-after-dinner spots to begin or continue the evening. The pricing on the menu can be misleading. The full dinner menu is a bit pricey, however, like many of this restaurant's ilk, there is a more economical lounge menu, prepared by the same kitchen. Recently, they seem to have combined the lounge and dinner menus for simplicity, so pricey racks of meat are listed alongside burgers, which, to me seems like a win/win offering dishes to suit the most casual to the most critical diner, a great compromise. Give Marliave a try, there is something to be said for dining at a place that generations before you have frequented, especially when the kitchen is turning out delicious twists on their historic menu.
(5)
susan H.

Very atmospheric, terrific service. Tucked into a quaint corner, above the noise of Downtown Crossing area. Food was fine -- although my salad was slightly wilted. Pate starter was dreamy as was the French onion soup.
(4)
Xin S.

Very cute place. It has that old time hotel feel to it. We dined at the upstairs dining room and the ambiance and decor were very nice. The food comes with a big silver domed cover--I'm a sucker for things like that. The meatball sliders were delicious. They also have an extensive cocktail menu filled with fun and creative drinks. This would be a really fun place to get drinks if you're in the downtown area!
(4)
Peter F.

My girlfriend and I just went to Marliave for Restaurant Week this past Friday and I have to say I was not disappointed. We parked in the Boston Common garage so we could have a nice scenic walk over to the restaurant before hand. As we approached the side street Marliave was located on I was a little nervous because it looked like a rundown alleyway. But..... after walking to the end of the street it opened out to a very quaint French-style outdoor seating area that reminded me of our time in Paris. Although walking into the main level of the restaurant wasn't as visually appealing as I though it would we did get lucky and go seated over an hour early. The hostess took us up to the window-lined dining room and plopped us down in the "best seat in the house" ( a corner seat overlooking the busy street below). I wouldn't go to much into the food but it was on par with all the great comments before this one and I would recommend it to all my friends. The wait staff was friendly and very attentive. Overall, this was a great pick for our annual Restaurant Week adventure!
(4)
Gretchen M.

If you walk down Tremont, you'll definitely miss it! It's worth walking down the small alley-like road and venturing inside. Despite the rain, we arrived to an empty bar but a bustling upstairs dining area where there were a couple of other groups of friends getting together. Service: great, olive oil: sweet and yummy, bread: plentiful and delicious. Oysters were fresh and we all agreed, it was the best meal of the weekend. Truffle mac and cheese (really you didn't need the truffles--the mac & cheese itself was creamy and delicious...they sliver some truffle pieces on top, perhaps a truffle-like butter would taste more truffle-like), perfectly simmered mussels, beets and goat cheese salad--fresh and satisfying! Gnocchi with three types of meat? Let's just say he didn't leave room for dessert--but he ate dessert anyway since the brownie and ice cream was decadent and delicious! Hands down a great meal, not TOO pricey, but fancy enough to feel like you did something gussied up on a Sunday evening. Love the vintage decor yet modern feel to the place. Definitely going back!!
(4)
Bill M.

Marliave's was my family's traditional restaurant. I'm so sad it's closed now. Two of my favorite places were right next to each other, The Littlest Pub & Marliave's both are now gone. When we were kids, my Dad would park in the garage with the car elevator (the first time I ever saw one of those) and we would walk next door to Marliave's. My brother and I would dare each other who would run down the stairs to the Littlest and touch the door, because it was so scary looking. Marliave's food was great. I base my idea of what chicken parm should taste like because of Marliave's. Waters with white aprons pull up under their armpits, vests, white shirts and bow ties. Meeting Mayor Flynn, the best bread.....Province St. will never be the same...
(5)
Liane H.

What a hidden gem! I was here the other week for my birthday and our group of eight sat upstairs. Our waiter Scott was very cheery and attentive. The food was delicious, and was served with silver lids. The wait staff gathered around the table and removed all eight silver lids at the same time--a very nice touch. I had the lasagna. We also had the rarebit for an appetizer. And I had the methyphobia non-alcoholic mint drink--some mix of lime juice with mint leaves served in a martini glass. We also ate the BEST cannoli I've ever had! The filling was just right--not too sweet, not too heavy--and it was encased in a waffle-textured wrap. Homemade ice cream is also a winner. I had the mint chocolate chip which had a distinct spearmint flavor but was not artificially dyed green like most commercially produced batches. The ice cream complemented the chocolate The decor was simple and charming, and we chuckled over the Prohibition Era-themed mixed drinks. I can't believe that I missed seeing this place, right near the Park Street T stop, all this time. But now that we have discovered it, I will be back again and again. For sure. It was the first birthday I've celebrated away from home, but the good company, tasty food, and lovely atmosphere made it the perfect evening.
(5)
Ally B.

After doing my usual compulsive check of most of the Restaurant Week menus, I picked Marliave due to both the quality and quantity of items on their special menu. Unlike a lot of the restauarants, their dishes were I believe all from their usual menu, and they pulled no such tricks like some other restaurants that just make a salmon dish when there is no regular salmon dish on their menu (a pet peeve of mine...). Anyways I ordered the beet salad (amazing!), the chicken (very good) and the fresh berries. On the whole, it was a great meal and my fellow diners agreed. The service was, for the most part, great--very nice waitress and service, a little slow on getting us our bread...but other than that, cannot complain. Would recommend this!
(4)
Kate P.

I heard about this restaurant from a coworker and since we are both fans of Grotto, we decided to check Marliave out for drinks after work on a Thursday night. The downstairs bar was crowded with no spare room to squeeze in two new bodies, all the dining room tables were open, but we didn't want to eat dinner just grab a drink. The friendly staff saw our perplex faces and told us there is also an upstairs bar, so we ventured up the wooden stairs to the cozier second floor. The bar was full of couples, again it seemed no one was sitting at the dining tables, everyone was checking out the bar scene... rightfully so because the cocktail menu is amazing! I judge cocktail menus by the number of champagne cocktails and they had two really appealing options and the bartender was super friendly and helpful. After much deliberating my coworker and I decided to play it safe the first time around and ordered a bottle of pinot gris and what was essentially a caprese salad, very tasty. I agree with some of the other reviewers, I noticed how "new" this place looked, but not in a good way, rather in a the construction crew just left five minutes before I walked in an didn't do a good job sweeping kind of way, the building feels really old. It might be a few months before I try it again after the kinks are all worked out. It's worth giving them a second chance.
(3)
Akilah C.

I will try to keep this review brief and to the point. The food is OK, but the drinks are definitely better. All of the cocktails are creatively named and pack a good punch for the price. However, BEWARE! Please only come here if you are looking to pay for horrible service!!!! Our waitress, I wish I could remember her name, was RUDE RUDE RUDE RUDE. She ignored my table, never brought over the basics like bread and water. Honestly because the service was so horrible I will actually never come back here. Perhaps if you are already downtown...stop by for a drink? Other than that...it is not worth your time, energy or money to dine at a restaurant that employs such incompetent and rude staff.
(2)
Daniel P.

The selection here is limited but everything is great; classic American food with a little bit of class. The decor is original tiling from, I think, the 1920s. Very "Prohibition is over!" The cocktails are first-rate, there is rarely a wait, and they have patio seating. It is a little bit expensive for what you get, all around, but not prohibitive.
(4)
sheree I.

I went to Marliave a couple of weeks ago with two of my girl friends, and overall it was ok. The drinks were the best part, Very strong and tasty. The food was alright-- I had roasted chicken with mushroom risotto. Nothing special about this place, it was worth a try! Prob wont go back....
(2)
rosemary s.

Went here after reasoning that its exterior was cooler than anyplace else in the theater district. It was our 10th anniversary date and we were going to the Nutcracker. We had reservations for dinner at Teatro, so we were just going to come in for drinks and apps, but my husband was very hungry and a 10pm dinner was sounding unreasonable, so he ordered the trout and I got the Henry's Soup. Well. My soup was really delicious and hit the spot and his trout was beautifully prepared and the flavor was really fresh and perfect. Drinks were great. After the show, we headed over to Teatro, and were really not in love with the appeal (too slick) and so we headed back to Marliave for "dinner" and they seated us even though it was 10 and we were the only people eating dinner (bar was hopping.) I got the Wellington this time, and I have to say, the meat was tender, so perfectly prepared, and the flavors came together to make every bite memorable. It's about a C-cup. You'll get what I mean if you order it. The wine suggestion was spot on. Our waiter was adorable and did some dishing and was really casual. I liked that though I'd dressed for the Teatro reviews (somewhat dressed up) I fit in perfectly in the restaurant, though the environment was more boisterous and vibrant (read: casual.) Would DEFINITELY return.
(5)
Bicycle Z.

I noticed that when others had reviewed this restaurant they had mentioned the bad wait staff. We had a great waitress and the only snafu was that there wasn't a clear maitre 'd station. We made reservations that evening, a Friday for 7:00. But I get the feeling they weren't really necessary. Even though this place is right downtown right behind the very popular Silvertone, it seems nobody is aware of this historic Boston restaurant. It has been around forever under one owner or another. The waitress was prompt - but not interrupting. A very good quality. I had read reviews warning patrons away from the house drinks, so I ordered my usual martini. Very nice. Not as good as a B-Side Martini, but what is? Don't get me started on the demise of that place. I digress, Anne had the Pinot Gris, by the glass, she made no note of it to me one way or another so we can assume it was sufficient. She had had a bad day at work - so, I was surprised she didn't require a stronger tonic. The apps were good - I got the "rare bits" basically - again to the b-side - it was like their Gouda in a Skillet. But the rare bits had toasted french bread instead of the hard crostini and bacon with lager beer all mixed together and served in an iron skillet. Heart attack on a plate. Yum. My martini expired, I switched to Cotes du Rhone to accompany my Lasagna. The lasagna was good, and a generous portion. Anne had the Risotto. That sounded more like a side than a meal to me. She ate only half claiming to have enjoyed it. As evidence she took the rest home along with the half of my Lasagna. I remembered after ordering- that I don't like Boston Creme Pie. So I can't really give a fair review. The atmosphere is nice and I appreciate the fact that they left the layout and decor pretty much the way it has always been. To my memory anyway. I brought a date here once back in the early nineties and my Mother even used to frequent the place when she worked at the jewelers building eons ago. The second floor is surrounded by large windows that look out onto Bromfield Street. The last place in the city where you could find a place that would "block" you fedora hat. Until the store vanished under the wrecking ball and is now a University building. The first floor is where the bar is. I don't recall a TV there, so I guess you'll have to talk to people. There is an outdoor seating area in a back alley framed by iron fire escapes and brick facades. The whole thing came to $100.
(3)
Miyuki A.

Birthday feast: + 3Dozen $1 Oysters/Clams (4-6, 9-10pm) + Mussels + Mac&Cheese + SundayGravy + Escargot + TruffleFries n' Ketchup + Tres Curiex + BostonTeaParty + TheGreatExperiment + Surprise Birthday Cake + Jolly Rancher shots Clink
(4)
Ron C.

First, their cocktail menu is very imaginative. Several twists on old classics. I had a reinvention of the Manhattan that was excellent. The food is very good and the portions are substantial. My wife had the Sunday Gravy and I had the Ossobucco. I recommend both. The bacon Brussel Sprouts are outstanding too. Don't ask me how, but even the bread with olive oil was exceptional. Be sure to get the salted caramel gelato too. The butterscotch pudding was the only disappointment. It was good, just not great.
(5)
Patti W.

Marliave has become one of my favorite restaurants in Boston. On my first visit, I started with the Escargot, had the Diver Scallops as an entree and finished with a cheese platter for dessert. Everything was excellent! The scallops continue to be one of my favorite dishes. On a more recent visit, my sister and me stopped into Marliave for a drink prior to seeing a movie. The bar on the first floor was packed, and we were told by the hostess to check out the basement bar. At first glance, we were hesitant because it only seats six people. However, we decided to stay for a drink and had such an amazing time. Our bartender was fantastic, and the drinks were so delicious! We tried the oysters and they were also quite good. We ended up skipping the movie and hanging out with other patrons because we were having such a great time!
(5)
Chris C.

Dear Marliave, Please consider having your oyster happy hour at the bar. I visited on 4th of July week from out of town and was ecstatic to have your oyster happy hour. Me and my girlfriend were seated in a dark corner where it was hard to read the beer menu. I don't mind your moderate to expensive drink prices, but what bothered me was that once the waitress realized we were only ordering oysters, she became increasingly frustrated and lacked any concern for us. I loved your oysters more than any others that I had in Boston. They were the perfect blend of creamy and salty and awesome. I would order 50 more if I went back. But I don't know if I would if I am to expect the same indifferent service simply because I am utilizing your oyster happy hour. I recommend you make it exclusively for the bar or something. Either that or please ensure your wait staff's attitude throughout. Again, I can't express how much I loved your oysters, but it hurt to make that our first dinner on a very wonderful vacation and be treated like second class citizens.
(3)
Alexandra F.

Freaking fantastic. Everything here is basically to-die-for. No, really. Obviously, it's not cheap, but the food is worth every penny. I came here for a business dinner and it was one of those long dinners, where everything was just so spectacular. From the drinks to the food to the dessert, this place knows how to do food. End of story. We came here for happy hour and got the $1 oysters. Yum yum! They came with a really tasty prosecco lime sauce, which I loved. Once full of oysters, we moved onto the entrees. I got the scallops/ravioli, while the person I was with got the steak frites. Oh man, the scallops were great. They were cooked perfectly and paired with pumpkin raviolis. I never thought scallops and pumpkin would be a fit, but they definitely were. For dessert, we ended the meal with the chocolate cake and that too was UNREAL. Really, this place is just everything I'd want for every meal ever. YUMMMMMMMM. Service was also really great and we LOVED the upscale (yet still casual) atmosphere. Would definitely be back.
(5)
Tiffany C.

This is a pretty solid American seafoody restaurant. I've come here at least 10+ times and typically because of my boyfriend who loves their $1 dollar oysters everyday after 9pm. He's obsessed with cheap oysters! The oysters they have here are fresh and good for the price your paying. I've also tried the trout and the steak frites both of which are pretty good. Steak frites is always cooked perfectly and the trout is seasoned well too. Neither are the most delicious I've ever tasted but it's not bad for the price. The environment is so so, a typical Boston restaurant scene. The interior reminds me of what B&G Oysters looks like but with super dimmed out lights. That's my only complaint probably. I'm not a big fan of eating in the dark. Also, their service is conditional. Sometimes we receive really great service and other times we get a somewhat rude server. But we put up with it for the $1 oysters. The things we do to save money!
(3)
GastronomicallySpeaking ..

Ambiance, service, and food quality. These are probably the three most important factors in making for a great restaurant experience. Marliave was a giant disappointment in all three of these categories. Ambiance: SO NOISY, horrible acoustics. If you're looking for a quiet, romantic, or relaxing place to really savor your food, Marliave is not the place. The upstairs dining room is shared with the bar. As the bar got more crowded, the noise level in the entire room inevitably became louder too. I could in turn hear other couples seated around us starting to raise their voices to maintain their own conversations. In the end, I felt like I was listening to shouting matches from all corners of the room as opposed to focusing on the conversation happening at my own table! It's also confusing that they would try to create "ambiance" for diners through dim lighting and candlelit tables while letting the bar get crowded with people sitting and standing around drinking right on top of all the diners. Service: We felt rushed to place our initial orders and then our table was not tended to throughout the meal. I was asked for my drink order twice before being ready (ok, not the end of the world, but still a little bit annoying). We ended up ordering cocktails to start. After those, we asked to see the wine list. We waited and waited for the wine list and it was only dropped off as the entree arrived (waiter apologized for delay). Then, the waiter did not return to our table at all until AFTER we had finished our entrees. It was at this point that he realized he never followed up with us about a wine and dropped another "oh, sorry about that." We never ordered wine with dinner because our waiter never checked on us. Food Quality: Absolutely overpriced for the quality of food served. First red flag in a french restaurant--bad bread!! The bread served in the bread basket was awful--looked and tasted like an old loaf of focaccia, cut into strips to dip in oil. My table also ordered the "rarebits" appetizer, which is also served with bread. Thankfully it didn't come with more focaccia, but the "french bread" it did come with was SO underwhelming. It was not warm and crusty like a real french baguette, but tasted more like a "french baguette" from Shaws supermarket..lightly toasted and way too doughy. $15 for this appetizer?? Not worth it. You can't serve a cheese appetizer with disgusting bread. I ordered the steak-frites, it was okay. Nothing special and certainly not worth $26. I was also irked to see that we were charged an additional $1.50 because I asked to substitute the gorgonzola butter on the steak with truffle butter. Really?? $1.50 to replace one dollop of butter with another kind? For dessert we tried the cake and ice cream. It was okay..but what chocolate molten cake can ever be really really bad? The big dessert disappointment was the mixed berry bowl for $9. My first bite consisted of a slimy, rotten strawberry. Gross. I was so excited to try Marliave. I have been to France many times, love French food, and saw the great Yelp reviews for this place. I could not have been more disappointed by the ambiance, service, and food quality (vs. price). There are so many better French restaurants in Boston. Try those instead!!
(1)
Jeannie D.

Finally. A restaurant week/dine out boston place that's actually worth it! I'm usually skeptical of these kinds of restaurants because usually the smaller it is, the more expensive it is. But here the portions are great because they don't downsize for dine out boston customers and I believe the lunch portions are almost the same as dinner. $25 for a 3-course lunch is definitely a DEAL here. When you go on the dine out boston website you see restaurants that only have 2-3 options for lunch usually. However, there is so many dishes to choose from on marliave's menu both lunch and dinner! I went with three other friends so we ordered many different things and shared them (however, I believe if the whole table is not doing the dine out boston deal then they will be very strict with sharing). They were very nice knowing that we wanted to share so we had new small plates each time for appetizers, entrees, and the desserts. Starting out with the appetizers: mac and cheese (couldn't finish it! but portion looks like portion of an entree at other high end places), escargot (sooo gooood. maybe even as good as the escargot I tried when I was in Paris), rarebits (so cheesy but also good. couldn't really finish either cus we can't consume that much cheese at one time), and mussels (sauce was pretty good). .....and this was where we were already starting to get full lolll. entrees: risotto (enough salt to make it tasty), trout (liked that it was a bit crispy on top and the bottom was soaked with sauce with two jumbo shrimp in the middle), sunday gravy (gnocchi was pretty good and totally filling), and steak&frites (wish there was more steak..it was kind of tiny). dessert: box of truffles, brownie sundae, three cheeses, and butterscotch -- all of them had very nice presentation but if I had to choose, the brownie sundae was the best at the end, we had a lot of leftovers to pack to go. I enjoyed sitting next to the windows on the 2nd floor with my friends and having great food. I will definitely be going there again maybe for the summer dine out boston and try out the beef wellington and other dinner entrees that didn't make it to the lunch menu.
(5)
Bleeker R.

This is one of those old Boston restaurants that you have to visit during your tenure in this charming little city of bricks. Seriously, this place is like 750 years old and Samuel Adams is buried in the basement. You can't get more Boston than that. But seriously, this is the ultimate date restaurant guaranteed to impress your lady (or male lady...I don't judge). Get the oysters, a delicious drink, then chow down on their delicious Sunday Gravy. You'll love it.
(4)
Karen C.

Was here for dine out Boston/restaurant week with my parents. I had the french onion soup, beef wellington and truffles. I loved the fact that Marliave had lots of choices for their restaurant week menu! The location is also beautiful; upstairs there is glass all around and gives a great view! The french onion soup was great with tender pieces of shortrib and melted gruyere cheese. I also had a bite of my mother's escargot (first time having it) and it was great, not overly chewy or anything. The pastry shell of the beef wellington made a delightful crunch when I cut into it. The beef was nicely cooked, medium rare. The pastry crust was a little bit soggy at the bottom though and I feel like the red wine sauce could have been a bit stronger. For dessert I chose the truffles which were dusted with bitter cocoa and delicious. All in all, a great meal!
(4)
Rachel N.

Most days I at least pretend to be a grown-ass woman, as you kind of have to own it when you stroll into a patient's room at ungodly hours, your doctor-clogs creating all sorts of noise disturbances, and say in broken Spanish, "ma'am, I need you to roll over so I can check the ulcers on your tush" - but something abt a recent snowy Spring evening on which I found myself tucked into one of Marliave's dimly lit corners, caused me to revert to my pudgy 8y/o self and declare to my date, "I'm having fries for dinner". It happened. I don't know how. It just did. And it was so glorious. It's going to be a slippery slope towards mozzarella sticks and Pop Tarts, but whatever, we'll cross that bridge when we get there. To be fair, we started the evening by keeping it classy w/ an insalata di mare - lobster, grilled shrimp, squid, robed in a silky white bean puree, topped w slightly over-dressed arugula - a win. The roasted beets (goat cheese, walnuts, arugula, balsamic) also get medium-high marks and apparently the French onion soup avec short ribs is pretty banging. Cocktails. I went for the Bourbon Democrat (Old Forester, allspice dram, lemon) and also sampled The Great Experiment (Hendrick's, mint, lemon, orange, cucumber), which was so achingly sweet that had I really put on my game face, I could have downed it in a sip and needed to be carried home real quickly - the BD was nice - a bit overly allspicy for me, but delish none the less. From there is where the magic really happened - for some reason my tastebuds just weren't feeling anything that would usually spark my interest - trout, tuna tartare, wild shroom risotto - but my gaze landed on the omelette w toasted bread + herbed fries, something clicked. I knew it had to be mine. And I was not disappointed - the omelette was made quite well - the eggs were that perfect blend of tender/firm, enveloping enough thyme-y Hen of the Woods that I was in fungi heaven - but the real reason I got the dish - the herbed fries - were near perfection. Mind you, this isn't to say that they were Beyonce-flawless. Yes, they were blisteringly hot - but sadly, when you create a mountain of fries, a few of those fine soldiers will go limp - a travesty - and yes, I was craving that crispy salt load, if you're not looking to piss off your cardiologist, maybe they were bit heavy handed on the Na+/spice mix - but did I complain? No. Were we in the midst of a kind of emotional conversation, maybe involving tears, and I had to halt my partner and be like "hold up, I know I offered you some, but really I'm going to put all of these fries in my mouth now and have no regrets"? Yes. Whatever, my parents shipped me to boarding school, they cannot expect me to have table manners after spending my formative years eating w East Coast WASPy wolves. Oh, the scallops w sweet potato rav was also well regarded - and apparently the burger is a meaty delight. Chocolate is the only acceptable option for dessert in my mind - as I was instructed to order the warm cake, I did - it was rich though not overly decadent - accompanying vanilla ice cream, a shade icy, but worth it. Scene was hopping at 715, but the place kind of emptied as dusk turned into night - lots of couples on dates - hip, but not oppressively so. Service was friendly but nothing special. Starters are $10-20, burgers/reubens $14-17, pastas $21-35, mains $19-35. Din for two will run $60/per person, easily. Off the beaten path as it's literally in an alley, but worth seeking out. And those fries. My god. I'll be back.
(4)
Stacy M.

On July 29, 2015, my coworkers and I had a reservation for a very large party (17 people) at this restaurant. We called many days in advance to explain we had a large party (up to 20 people). The restaurant assured us this was no problem, we could have separate checks and they would only offer a reduced menu, not the full menu. We arrived a few minutes early and were seated upstairs. At first the restaurant was a decent temperature, however as time went on the restaurant was very warm and uncomfortable. The food was half decent. We ordered the mac and cheese appetizer which was okay, but the size of the dish was not explained very accurately by the waitress. For our meal, most of us at my end of the table ordered fish and chips. The fries were very, very salty. The fish was mediocre. The waitress never asked us if the food was alright or not. Speaking of the waitress. We had a young, blonde girl who appeared overwhelmed and not very knowledgeable. The end of the meal was the worst part as we had to ask 3 times for our checks. Then, an additional waitress with dark hair and glasses, (attempting to help the waitress) came around the table and would not explain what was going on. I asked about my food I requested to be wrapped up and she was very snippy saying they don't bring the wrapped food until they bring the bill. No one had explained that, so why she got mad about me asking is not acceptable. Last, during the bill crisis a guy in the party asked for another beer and was told no due to the bill crisis. So not only did the service cause the restaurant to lose money, it also convinced all 17 of us to never eat or drink at this location again. It's too bad this business did not tell us they could not handle this type of situation. If we had known we would not have chosen this place as our destination. Hopefully management will adjust policies and their staff to improve for the future.
(1)
Kc C.

Just went there today for the restaurant week lunch menu. Service was great and friendly. All three courses me and my friend had were super delicious and fresh. We would recommend the hearty and sophisticated onion soup, juicy trout and shrimp, flavorful steak frites, and addictive chocolate truffle. We will definitely go back.
(5)
Noy And Alan T.

I love their happy hour (well, on food since Boston isn't allowed to have one for drinks). They do half price oyster and clams from 4 pm-6 pm and 9 pm-10 pm daily. We were home for 2 weeks and went numerous times. You don't find too many places that do raw clams anymore, so we were ecstatic to find a place that does it for cheap! $1/clam and $1.50/oyster. The menu says they're little neck but I feel like they're more the size of middle necks! We also ordered the sunday gravy which we highly recommend. The gnocchi has a great texture, and you can't go wrong with all the meat (lamb, pork & beef)! The cocktails were ok. Nothing spectacular. We tried everything on their cocktail list and even drinks off menu. The service here was fine. No complaints. We were just happy that they can accommodate from a small group to a large group. One time, we had a table of 4, the next we had a table of 16.
(4)
Nancy C.

My friend and I went for Dine Out Boston 2015. Unlike many other restaurants participating in Dine Out Boston, Marliave has an extensive menu. Even its lunch menu has quite a few options, and its dinner menu has even more. I'd heard rave reviews from my friends who've tried this place, and so my expectations were pretty high. The restaurant itself is beautiful. We went at 5pm, so it wasn't too crowded yet. We were seated upstairs, which was spacious and airy. Before we got seated, we were asked if we were here for restaurant week. They didn't judge us when we said we were. We got our bread pretty quickly. The bread was nothing too special, but the olive oil it came with was really good. Our apps came out pretty quickly. I got the beets and my friend got the seafood soup. Even though they specifically said "no sharing" on the menu, they didn't really care that we tried each others food. I liked the beets, but it was nothing special. The amount of goat cheese was kind of overwhelming, so I couldn't finish it, but the combination of goat cheese, candied walnuts, beet, and arugula paired really well together. My friend's seafood soup was more worth it, in my opinion. The broth was light and really flavorful, and there was a good amount of seafood in it. The monkfish was especially tender. Save some bread to soak up the soup! The only caveat was that the soup was lukewarm, not hot. For entrees, I got the Beef Wellington and my friend got the Chicken "Under a Brick" with risotto. I'd never had Beef Wellington before, and this was absolutely delicious. Upon first cutting into it, I was disappointed to see that it was more on the medium side than medium rare, but as I ate more, the rest of it was definitely medium rare. The uneven cook was the only downside though. I'd never known meat could melt in my mouth like that. The pastry was flaky, the beef delicious, the foie gras making the whole dish rich without being overwhelming. My friend agreed with my opinion that it was really good. Since it's normally $38 on the regular menu, I'd say it's the best deal money-wise for Dine Out Boston. I tried some of my friend's chicken and risotto, and we both thought that while the chicken was good by itself and the risotto was also good by itself, they tasted kind of strange together. There was nothing wrong with the dish, but I'm glad I chose the Wellington. I got the box of truffles for dessert as I was getting pretty full. They were really rich, and so I only had two before passing the rest off to my friend. They were good though - bittersweet and dense with a perfect dusting of cocoa powder. I get what a previous reviewer said about them being chilled, like they'd sat in the fridge for awhile. I personally didn't mind, but if cold chocolate's not your thing, then I'd pass these up. The presentation was nice though, with a pretty chocolate "M" on the plate. As for my friend, he got the warm chocolate cake with vanilla bean ice cream. It was kind of "meh." Like the chicken entree, there was nothing really wrong with it, but nothing really stood out. It was simply chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream. The ice cream was pretty flavorful, but like a previous reviewer said, it was icy (like there were chunks of ice in it). Also, the ice cream was already half melted by the time it got to the table. All in all, dinner cost us about $48 per person after tax and tip. It was a good experience and they didn't rush us or anything. The servers were attentive and the food was good. I'll definitely be back to try the mussels, the mac and cheese, and the Sunday Gravy!
(4)
San W.

Came here for the half-off oysters with b. around 9 PM last Wednesday night and sat at the bar, which was half-empty. And then... The Great Experiment (Hendrick's gin, mint, lemon, orange, & cucumber) Light and refreshing. It had a slight peppery kick to it too, which was interesting. Oysters Since we weren't sure whether they only had one or more kinds of happy hour oysters, we just ordered a dozen and were surprised to be given four different kinds. We found it odd that the bartender didn't bother to tell us the different kinds or ask us whether we wanted certain ones but shrugged it off 'cause we're oyster fiends. Though decent oysters, we wished they were better cleaned. We still found the Duxbury (Island Creek) ones to be our favorite and so ordered another dozen more of just those. Service was eh. The bartender wasn't very friendly or welcoming - he didn't seem to care whether he got our business or not. Though I could see myself coming here (b. could not, at least not for the oysters) to chill at the bar with a drink and some bites after a long day of work, I wouldn't make it a point. So since I can't review the food as we did not get dinner, I am rounding this up from a 2.5. Though I wish I could be more excited about the half-off oysters and the overall experience. Eh.
(3)
Ashley T.

My boyfriend and I went to Marliave for restaurant week last week. He ordered the escargot, beef wellington and mixed fruit while I ordered the mussels, Sunday Gravy and the ice cream trio. There was a very generous portion of the mussels which was delicious!! The Sunday Gravy was also very filling. I had enough leftover to take home. My boyfriend enjoyed the meal however he found the escargot to be relatively flavorless (it was the first time he had it) and very different in size compared to the mussels. He salivated as he watched me eat the rest of my appetizer. He also found the beef wellington to be very tasty but he described it as seeming lonely on the plate as the beef wellington was the only thing on the plate. His mixed berries were also nothing to write home about either. Overall we really liked the ambience and the food! We will definitely be coming back here.
(4)
Janet K.

Came here for NYE dinner. Our table wasn't ready so we waited (20 mins) with some drinks by the bar. Their drinks are absolutely fantastic. We had 4 different cocktails from the menu and they were all superb and not too sweet. Their bread was way too salty - almost inedible...The food was above average but I expected a bit more quality for the price.. We got the broccoli rabe side as an appetizer and it was the best part of the meal. My husband ordered the prime rib ($38) and the outside was burnt (ordered 'medium'). His potatoes were cold so we had to send them back. I ordered a seafood dish from the specials menu and it wasn't "wow" but no specific complaints. Overall, too overpriced for the food they put out and poor service... we're sticking to our Boston favorite, Mistral, for fancy dinners!
(3)
Nina K.

Talk about a great atmosphere !!!! My recommendations: the sirloin , beet salad, and cured meats (proscuitto13). They have oysters on special sometimes .....I don't eat oysters but I've been told by friends that have tried them ...that they're not the best. Not sure why.
(5)
Lauretta L.

After a few whiskey on the rocks at a fun launch party nearby, my friend and I said, "screw you, diet!" and decided to indulge at Marliave, which apparently is the oldest restaurant in Boston. When she told me it had a dingy vibe, I didn't believe her. How could a fancy $$$ French restaurant feel dingy? Yet, it kind of did. Also, everyone, diners and staff included, turned and stared at us when we walked in. Kind of weird. It was extremely dark as well but failed at achieving the romantic atmosphere it was probably going for. As you can tell, I wasn't impressed by the dining environment. We started with 3 different oysters, which were all delicious. My favorite was the Duxbury and I doubt I'll ever get tired of it. We got a bottle of wine to ease the 25 minute wait for the Beef Wellington, which arrived in a beautiful regal looking silver platter. Our first reaction was that it was tiny. It's practically the size of my fist. While it was cooked well with a flaky buttery pastry crust and a tender medium rare cut of boeuf, the foie was lacking. I couldn't taste even a hint of foie gras! Given the price (I believe almost $40), I wouldn't order it again. Service was attentive and informative. However, a couple was seated next to us when there were plenty of other seats available. Given that the tables are close together, it was probably a bit annoying for them to be forced to listen to our wine-induced conversation... I would come back for oyster happy hour :).
(3)
Rachael H.

Does this restaurant have a beautiful exterior and interior? Yes. Rich in history? Yes. Good oysters? Yup. Service to match? Not in my opinion. My boyfriend and I came here for the oyster happy hour and although there were tables about a foot and a half from us, it seemed as if we were over looked a lot. The waitress seemed peeved that we only ordered oysters. If this is a problem, make the happy hour only in the bar area so at least the waitresses know what to expect. The oysters were good but they are NOT $1 during happy hour as advertised everywhere. They are $1.50. Yes, only 50 cents different, but just a fair warning to not expect getting 12 oysters for $12.
(3)
Naty A.

Visited this restaurant during Dine Out Boston and it was a great find. The portions were more than enough and the food was very tasty. The decor is really nice inside (the outside is not very welcoming). I will def. go back.
(4)
Ece A.

Very nice place between downtown and park street. I went there as 12-peopled group for restaurant week. 38$ for three courses. I had salad as starter, steak as entree and chocolate cake for desert. Everything was delicious. I liked it's ambiance. It is good for big groups as well. Portions are not small, but it is a bit pricy to go regularly.
(4)
Erin M.

I stumbled on this gem thanks to Yelp! My co worker and I were starving after a long day of traveling to Boston for work. We were in the mood for some great food, strong drinks and a short walk from our hotel --- Marliave achieved all of the above. When walking into Marliave (once we found the door), we were greeted by a comfy upscale dinner that was softly lit and full of people. We were escorted upstairs, which offered a more formal dining setup, but still had a cozy vibe. As we studied the menu, we were at a loss, as every item sounded more amazing than the next. Luckily our waiter offered awesome opinions for both drinks and food and in the end, did not steer us wrong. We started with cocktails; I ordered The Great Experiment, which was a light, refreshing and fresh drink. The lemon, orange and cucumber all came through in a fresh squeezed taste and was a nice compliment to the gin. My only complaint is that I wish there was less crushed ice and more drink to indulge in. My co worker opted for the Belle Glos "Meiomi", Pinot Noir, which I ordered for my second, and offered me a wonderful night cap. As for my entre, I opted for the Sunday Gravy as I am a sucker for Gnocchi; supposedly, this is their number one dish and after tasting my first bite, could see why. The lamb, pork and beef was so succulent and tender, and did not over power the fact that essentially this was a pasta dish. The pillows of pasta were tasty and surprisingly light, which allowed me the opportunity to finish the entire dish. My co worker, who never had Wellington before, decided tonight was the night, she would give it a go. The beef tenderloin was cooked to perfection and judging by the almost clean plate at the end of the meal, would say that it was a winner as well. When I am back in Boston, I will be sure to visit Marliave again as I can't wait to try everything on their menu.
(5)
Catie C.

Dollar oysters from 4-6. Typically, 4 to chose from such as wellfleet and bluepoint. Dollar clams as well. FYI, it's not always cold! What I usually have after my raw bar indulgence is escargots. Piping hot in a cast iron plate. Parmesan, garlic, butter, parsley. The slices of baguette that compliments it is out of this world! If you are a truffle fan - truffle fries and truffle Mac and cheese are worth the money. Happy to go home there after!
(4)
Aaron H.

A colleague and I went here for dinner last night while in town for a convention. It's a solid place, great decor, excellent service, but I thought just slightly overpriced. My wife and I were in Paris earlier this year, and Marliave definitely has a French bistro feel. We walked up a narrow flight of steps to the upstairs which was surrounded by windows. The view isn't anything special, but the natural light is nice. My colleague started with the Insalata Di Mare: Grilled lobster, Calamari, Shrimp, White beans, Peppers, Lemon for $16. It looked to die for, and was a rather large serving for a starter. My son's name is Henry, so I had to order the Henry's Soup: French onion, Gruyere, Short ribs, Crouton for $10. It was delicious... very rich, chunks of tender short ribs, and the creamy Gruyere was awesome. For some reason I went with chicken for my entree which i usually don't do, but I am glad I did. The Chicken: Pan roasted "Under a Brick", Risotto, Mushrooms, Roasted garlic for $25, was absolutely perfect. Chicken is so simple, but this was cooked to perfection... the inside was tender & juicy, and the skin was crispy & loaded with flavor. The risotto and mushrooms were OK, and the overall dish lacked some color. We both ordered a scoop of their homemade ice cream which were good. I had the slated caramel. Marlive is known for the drinks, but I a like to stick with bourbon neat or a good craft beer. Their craft beer selection is lacking.
(4)
Xinyi G.

Okay food, bad service, but good dollar oysters! I would probably come again for the oysters. The thing made me kinda uncomfortable is that they do not allow customers to share the prefix dinner. I dined at several restaurants for prefix, and this is the only one that forbids sharing, which seems a bit weird to me.. both my friend and I have really small appetite, why can't we just share one set? And I don't like our waitress, she seemed to comment on us behind our back.
(3)
Anna P.

I went to Marliave with a party of 6 on a busy night. The service was really outstanding - our waiter was friendly and attentive. 4 stars for the service! The food was delicious, but somewhat overpriced for what you get. I think this would be a better place to get some appetizers and cocktails, and move on for the dinner hour. Beef carpaccio was outstanding, as was tuna tartare. Didn't really need my tiny (and very expensive) plate of scallops after that. The restaurant is loud on a busy night, and dark. Not good for older guests because stairs are challenging to navigate and menus are hard to read with zero light. The cocktails were tasty (all have a vintage-y vibe) - though they were not particularly inventive or redone in any way. Ultimately, I want to give this place 4 stars, but it just didn't feel it.
(3)
Sydney K.

Went this past Saturday night with no reservations. They squeezed us in near the bar, but we couldn't complain. Everything was awesome. Any place where you can build your own cheese plate has a place in my heart.
(5)
Derick N.

Came to try their $1 oysters and clams during happy hour (4-6PM, they also have it from 9-10PM). The clams were meaty and juicy, but still had a bit of grit in them. For a dollar, though, still totally worth it. The oysters were DELISH! And they not only offer just one kind, but FOUR (at least when I was there.) I didn't quite catch the names of them, but all were so juicy and paired well with the lemon and cocktail sauce they provide you with. They provide you with a prosecco dip as well. After trying all their selections, I opted for a second round of the oysters I ESPECIALLY enjoyed. They are that good! I regret not catching their names now. All in all, $1 for fresh oysters of all kinds and clams. You really can't go wrong. They had a cool selection of cocktails as well, attempting to re-create sort of a Prohibition Era. Will definitely want to try them next time I'm here! In case you didn't know, it's located in a small street/alley way around the corner of a hotel.
(4)
Tony H.

Came here mainly because I heard about the $1 Oysters after 9pm. Despite the price, I was rather disappointed in the quality of them. Perhaps I was expecting too much after having been to Island Creek Oyster Bar the night before, but the $1 Oysters here were very average. The oysters were not shucked cleanly as we had bits of shells in a lot of the oysters and it didn't slide off with ease. The fish and chips they served were really good, the freshness of halibut was evident with every juice bite. The batter was also great, not overly done, yet very crispy and seasoned well. The french onion soup was ok, nothing memorable about it on reflection. The mussels were also ok, but too many of them undercooked as the shells have not opened up.
(2)
Andrea B.

In true dedicated Yelper form, I went from the hospital straight to Marliave so I could enjoy a Restaurant Week lunch. And it felt a little bit crazy at the time (because it was!), but it was worth it. Insanely worth it, because it ended up being the best Restaurant Week meal I've ever had. As soon I was seated, I was presented with bread, which was doughy and warm, and olive oil. Perfect. To start, I had the beets, which came with goat cheese, arugula, lemon, extra virgin olive oil, and yummy candied walnuts. Best part is they didn't skimp on said goat cheese. At all. There was a generous serving of it heaped between each of the thick slices of beet. Oh my word. Things were off to a good start. Next, I had the Sunday Gravy, which was gnocchi with tomatoes, lamb, pork, and beef. Best gnocchi I've ever had. The meat was melt-in-your-mouth dee-licious, as was the gravy it was drowned in. Luckily, I had plenty of bread left to mop some of it up. As you might imagine, this entree was very filling. Unfortunately, I don't have the appetite that I used to, so I ended up having to take a significant amount of this home. I've had many meals where the first two courses were superb, only to be let down by the dessert. Such was not the case at Marliave! I had the chunky brownie sundae, complete with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, cherries, chocolate sauce, and more of those scrumptious candied walnuts that came with my beets. Sadly, I couldn't finish nearly as much as I would've liked to, but it was nevertheless a perfect ending to a fantastic meal. Sit upstairs by the windows if you can. People watching is always fun. Service was incredibly friendly, without being overly so. Not for a second did I feel like I was being judged for dining alone, which I was somewhat self-conscious about at first. I will see you again next Restaurant Week, Marliave. Or perhaps sooner.
(5)
Irene Y.

$1 Oysters Review Only (Available Daily from 4:00pm-6:00 p.m. & 9:00pm-10:00 p.m) I'll be honest, I had my doubts about $1 oysters and wondered if I'd be huging the little jon for the rest of the evening, but Marliave's proved me wrong. Their oysters were delicious and extremely fresh. We ended up eating way more than we originally anticipated (12 per person and this was only suppose to be a snack!) which can attest to their quality seafood. On the day we went they had 3 choices, though I'm sure they switch out their happy hour menu seasonally so that patrons can enjoy only the best. Marliave you've set the bar extremely high and I pray that the other $1 oyster joints can fill your huge shoes!
(5)
Y A.

We picked this place for dine out Boston and were really excited about it. However, when we were seated, we were told they were out of both mussels and trout. That is what we wanted for the first and the second course! They wouldn't allow any substitutes from the regular menu and did not try to make up in any way. that put a bit of a damper on the experience.
(2)
Jennifer R.

This was my first visit to Marliave and it was to celebrate my birthday before heading to Cirque du Soleil. My husband and I enjoyed it greatly overall. The drinks are a bit pricey and I didn't feel anything really so I don't know that I would order from their cocktail menu in the future, but they did taste fantastic. My husband had oysters to start and his only complaint was that he got a piece of shell in his mouth with almost every one; we've eaten many oysters in the past and never had this problem. Another man sitting nearby also complained to the waitress that whoever was preparing them should do a better job at disconnecting the oysters from the shell, so it was not just our issue. I had the escargot to start and it was fabulous. For dinner, he ordered the swordfish and I had the scallops over Sardinian pasta. They were both delicious and we had no complaints. To top it off, we split the chocolate cake, which was TO DIE FOR. I would recommend it to anyone who decides to dine here. With a tip, we spent $170 which overall I would say is pretty average for the meal we got. We have spent similar amounts or more at comparable restaurants. I would definitely return again in the future.
(4)
Stephanie W.

The oysters were awesome!
(4)
Art R.

I hadn't eaten at Marliave for many years. It was great way back then, and it is still great. It is under different management but the flavor of the place has not been drastically changed. Still elegant and somewhat old style, but hip enough to attract a young crowd. It is not hard-core New American as so many good restaurants are; it has a traditional-seeming menu but with more contemporary preparation. Just to perpetuate the blending of old and new, the dinners were delivered to the table on covered plates; rather unusual these days. The service was very attentive but remained unobtrusive. It is not inexpensive, but it gave good value. All in all, a very enjoyable dining experience and I look forward to returning.
(4)
Rachel F.

Great place to treat yourself to some frites, $1 happy hour oysters, and perfectly crafted cocktails! Bartenders are friendly and experienced. Would love to come here for dinner some time!
(5)
Alyssa J.

Wow. I have never reviewed Marliave??? I love this place. From the original, awesome tile floor detail to the comfy booths...I love it. The staff is always courteous, friendly and attentive. And then there are the oysters. Oh God. The oysters. The briney, lemony, tabasco-y oysters. The spongey bread. The beef wellington is insane. The cheese selection gives me a huge boner. Oh also there are oysters.
(5)
William S.

The service like having a cavity very slowly excavated with an axe and filled with concrete. Completly disorganized, sloppy and painful. The wine had corked. There was no chilled sparkling water. The food was fine, but not worth the money or pain.
(1)
M B.

Our favorite restaurant in Boston. The mac n cheese is amazing, the beef wellington melts in your mouth and the warm chocolate cake with homemade vanilla bean ice cream really tops everything off. Have been here numerous time and never had a bad experience.
(5)
Audrey X.

Absolutely love this place. From appetizer to dessert, all extremely tasty! For appetizer I ordered the beets salad. Best ever had. I had the pork shank and my friend had the chicken over risotto. Both were juicy and tender. My pork shank was surprising not as salty as I worried it would be. I love the atmosphere. The service was great. Everything just perfect.
(5)
Abigail T.

I booked a holiday dinner reservation for my team of 12 people here this week and had to eventually call and increase it to 15. They were able to accommodate us without any issue, which is shocking around the holidays. It was a very snowy evening but we were all early and had a round at the bar. What he lacked in smiles, the bartender made up for it in fast and well performed service, as well as one hell of a cocktail. We sat on the second floor and we had the most beautiful 180 view of the snow falling through the city streets and all the old buildings located next to us. The city was glowing and it really set the tone for the evening. Our server that night was a lovely gal that picked up on me being the "organizer" for the table right away. She brought me the wine menu and helped me choose a few bottles to go with dinner. She was friendly and fast and we were so impressed with her. There were plenty of "ooohs" and "aaahs" when the food was brought out under beautiful silver covers and they were all lifted off at once to reveal our gorgeous dishes. What a lovely, old fashioned touch. It really made us feel special. Highlights for me: oysters and littlenecks with mignonette, rarebits - a skillet with melted cheese and bacon, my tender and extremely flavorful sirloin with au gratin potatoes, and the round of moscato we shared at toast time. All of my team have been complimenting me all week on my choice to dine at Marliave. They all said what a lovely dining experience it was and it's now a new favorite. Merry Christmas to me! And thank you to Marliave for making our team dinner magical.
(5)
Michelle W.

The cocktails here are absolutely incredible! I had one with honey, lemon, and lavender and I wanted to drink it forever. The food is also great! I had the steak and cheese sandwich which was so delicious, but the best part were the fries. They're made well done and crispy and well seasoned! On top of all that the oysters that they get are phenomenal! I'm really looking forward to coming here for dinner at some point!
(5)
Julie M.

There is only one word to describe this place, GREAT! From the wait staff to the atmosphere and food it was by far a five star experience. The wait staff knew the speciality drink menus like the back of his hand and could describe not only what was in it, but also how the liquor was aged and flavored. The food was beyond delicious and affordable. The portions are generous, but not absurd. The building goes for a rustic atmosphere with painted brick walls and etc, but the dining room is dressed up with candles and white table clothes. The view from the upstairs dinning room is also great for those looking to take in a good view of some nice Boston architecture. They bring out the hot food with silver food covers and remove them for you. They have homemade ice cream, which the waiter kindly let us substitute a flavor (salted carmel) for the vanilla that came with the chocolate cake. For a table of 3 including 2 drinks, a side, 3 entrees (one a sandwich), and two desserts the bill was only $120. I would definitely return and recommend. The one semi concern I might have are the stairs are a bit shallow, so for anyone that struggles and bit with stairs (elder, kids, etc) I wouldn't recommend sitting upstairs.
(5)
Ed H.

Came here for dinner. It was a very nice evening so we sat outside on the patio, tables in front. Very pleasant. It was also restaurant week. We had a selection of Oysters. They were nice but I thought not anywhere near as good as a recent batch I had at Neptune. Had their Henry's soup as a starter. Kind of a variation on French onion soup, with spare ribs bits in the soup and a strange thin strip of bread covered with cheese. I would have preferred a "regular" French onion soup, but I guess this variation is a house specialty... Had the steak frites as main. I ordered medium but it came medium rare, pink/red throughout. Pepered and sliced. It was decent. Fries were lightly spiced, good but could have been a little more crunchy. Had the berries for finish, nice but hard to screw up. Had several glasses of a nice Pinot Noir. Service was decent, friendly and attentive, although a bit informal, e.g. reaching over a railing to serve and clear dishes. Really enjoyed the setting and ambiance on a nice evening dining al fresco. Food was good not great. I'd probably say 4 for experience and 3 for food, I'm basing stars more heavily on the food.
(3)
Ashley S.

I'm only reviewing the $1 oysters and clams because that's what I came for. They offer the special at two times--from 4-6 and from 9-10pm. We opted to come during the earlier time so could have the delicious shellfish as an appetizer to our meals which we were eating elsewhere. Anyway, the oysters and clams were the best I've ever had! They had 4 varieties of oysters to choose from that night, and I ended up trying 2 of each; I also ordered 2 clams to top off the raw seafood feast. We sat at the bar that night, and our bartender was very knowledgeable about the oysters and told us about where they were from, if they were mild or strong-flavored, and about how the restaurant tries to get oysters from as many local spots as possible. He also reassured us that they were fresh, mentioning that the restaurant itself doesn't have much storage space for the oysters, so they often get shipments daily. The other thing that I appreciated about the service is that the bartender didn't seem annoyed that we were just coming for the specials, and he also didn't seem to care that we didn't order drinks either. He refilled our waters regularly, kept a nice conversation going, and was in general very pleasant. Next time I'm in town, I'll definitely be back!
(5)
Noura M.

Absolute gem! The ambiance is just so cozy and romantic. Loved the jazzy music. The food is so tasty! I got the special Thermidor (lobster casserole) and my husband and daughter both ordered the fish and chips. We were all satisfied. The staff is alright. The only drawback is that because it's uphill we had to carry my baby's stroller up the stairs and it's quite steep too! My 6 YO actually fell off it! Other than that, all was great.
(4)
Rachel R.

Thanks, Marliave, for making my Valentine's Day hot, white, and creamy. Allow me to elaborate... Things started off cheap and slimy, in the best way. Unable to resist the $1 bivalves, I tried a sampling of the four varieties oysters and a clam. In keeping with what everyone's already said, a visit between 4-6 p.m. or 9-10 p.m. is worth your while. Next, my date and I shared the "scrambled eggs." Now, I've had scrambled eggs a few hundred times in my day, and I'd never eaten anything like this before. Served in a white, ceramic bowl filled with rich, melting farmhouse cheeses and truffle butter, the egg was more of an idea than an entity in this dish. Perfect for dipping toasts, fries, and the complementary bread (and my face) in, this was closer to a breakfast fondue than scrambled eggs. Heavenly. Then, we split the "mac 'n' cheese." Also nothing like any mac 'n' cheese I've encountered, this white, ceramic bowl was also full of creamy farmhouse cheeses and truffle-y goodness, speckled with hand-rolled, wonderfully misshapen pieces of thick, chewy pasta. If we're calling this mac 'n' cheese, it's the best mac, and cheese, respectively, I've ever had. These were both listed as appetizers, but for whom, I'm not sure... probably five normal people or one ork. We skipped the entrees and split the tapioca pudding for dessert, which was served hot and drizzled with caramel, as all the best things in life usually are. Between the rich, simply delicious indulgences, dim lighting, a cozy, simplistic ambiance, and attentive service, Marliave seals the deal when it comes to perfecting the romantic evening out. And if that's not working, there's always $1 aphrodisiacs and alcohol out the wazzoo.
(5)
Barbara D.

I came here during happy hour in hopes of eating lots and lots of oysters for $1 each. At around 4:30pm on a Friday, all the tables were "reserved" and only the bar was available. Luckily, there was a spot for 3. We ordered drinks and 2 dozen oysters. I ordered a drink off the specialty drink menu and loved it! It was called W.C. Fields and tasted like a spiked Arnold Palmer. The other 2 got beers. We waited, and waited, and waited for our oysters. It probably took 20 minutes which is a little weird since all that's being done is shucking. Whatever, oysters come and we got an assortment of them so was excited to try each one. The first one was too salty for me. The second kind was too salty for me. The third kind was also too salty for me........ and it wasn't just me. Needless to say, I was pretty disappointed in everything related to the oysters. Go for the drinks?
(2)
Tai F.

Thank goodness I have such a sweet boyfriend because I was feeling insanely particular on the night we ate at Marliave. Frankly, I was craving a steak. But it was a weekend night and our hotel restaurant was booked till ten pm. So was the Ruth's Chris across the street. We meandered the streets (even sat down at a place once before I changed my mind) for a good thirty minutes reading menus and trying to find something that would sate me. It was ridiculous. CP just let me lose my mind without complaining once. What a perfect man! Finally we found Marliave. They didn't really have a steak option that I was feeling but they did have plenty of other food that sounded really good. We went in and it was packed but two seats at the bar freed up within seconds of our presence. It's kismet! CP and I started with Henry's Soup (french onion) and the mac and cheese. Both of these dishes came out piping hot . I had the french onion first. It was perfect. Sweet and salty and full of onions. I think there may have been some super tender beef inside too. Plenty of cheese and I loved every bite. But, it paled in comparison to the macaroni and cheese. This was probably one of the best restaurant mac and cheeses that I've ever had. It wasn't too overwhelming or rich. Just really tasty, cheesy perfection. It was hard sharing this with CP but I did so only because I love him a lot (and because he followed me all around town). The truffle was subtle but still present. I'd definitely recommend getting this dish. In fact, don't miss it; you'll regret it. For an entree we shared the chicken. The skin was crispy and it was mysteriously lacking in any but one bone. It was tender, delicious and so perfect on a bed of risotto, mushroom and roasted garlic. A truly unforgettable dish. CP was nuts for it. The risotto was well done and the whole cloves of roasted garlic were so tasty. I think we practically licked the plate. I rarely order chicken at restaurants because I prepare it so regularly at home but this one is truly a stand out dish. Even though we just stumbled upon this restaurant we were so lucky to have eaten here. Yes, it was a little expensive but it was totally worth every penny. We walked home full and happy.
(5)
Amelia A.

His: Good bread but could have been better if it was hot. Fast service Oysters were better than clams. Had four different kinds of oysters. All tasted the same. Tender bits - hot, cheesy, awesome. Mac and cheese was delicious. Even better than both entrees. Rabbit was okay. Steak fritas was okay. Fries and steak. Nothing too special Service was great. We had to reschedule and they were more than happy to accommodate. Kitchen closes at ten it was ten twenty and we asked for a Mac & Cheese - a little miscommunication and they still made it! Awesome. Mixed Berry Ice Cream & Butterscotch Pudding are both pretty good. Hers: The tables were really close to each other, and so it was a bit loud. At first the service seemed to be good and was appreciated, but throughout the night, I'll just say that it turned out to be sub par due to the waitress' "attitude". Drinks: Pinot Grigio - Very enjoyable! Persecco - Bubbly, but a little bitter for me Appetizers: Tenderbits? - Toasted bread with melty cheese and bacon. Must eat it while it's hot! Pretty greasy, but oh SO GOOD! Mac and Cheese - very saucy! Hot and cheesy, so it was pretty good. It was a little bit bland though. Clams and oysters - didn't care for the clams. Oysters on the other hand were quite good! They offered 4 types! Nice that they were at a dollar each - Raw Bar Happy hour! Entrees: Rabbit - I guess I'm not quite sure what rabbit is supposed to taste like...but it was just okay. I believe it came with polenta topped off with carmelized onions. Wasn't a huge fan of that side either. Steak Frites - The steak was very ordinary. It was a little too charred, and had little flavor. It also wasn't very hot. The fries were pretty good though - crispy with some type of spice and herbs. Desserts: Mixed Berry Ice Cream - Had a light flavor but was really tasty! Butterscotch pudding - if you like butterscotch then you should try this! It was just really heavy after several courses, and the whipped cream on top was a bit much.
(3)
Lily S.

Great evening out. Was a little off put at first by the fact that this gem is hidden in what resembles a rape alley, but once i found my way over, things went uphill. definitely make reservations as it's not the largest space--it didnt look super busy the night we came, but a group in front of us (sans reservation) seemed to be having trouble getting a table. weird. my friend had the steak and it was cooked to perfect medium well, and i had the sunday gravy which was an excellent combo of lamb, pork and beef. not to mention the melt in your mouth gnocchi. the decor and ambiance were pretty great up until a large party showed up, at which point it got significantly louder but what can you do. all in all, a very pleasant experience.
(4)
Tracy M.

I came here for lunch and got to try the mussels and rarebits as appetizers. Both very good! I really enjoyed my Sunday Gravy AKA gnocchi and would definitely come back to order it! (And I grew up eating my Nonno's gnocchi!!) So many things on the menu I wanted to try!! I will definitely be back and need to have the $1 oysters and clams during happy hour!
(4)
Jenessa C.

Though not super pricy for a white table cloth atmosphere, & does have a nice people watching view & real candles on the tables, I likely will not go back, at least for a long while. Found the staff relatively rude overall from The phone call that we were running a bit late & thereby informed we had to be concerned because we'd infringe upon the guest after us to the moment we walked in the door in which we were reminded of this. Our wait staff was a bit more friendly, but definitely not warm & inviting- more like this is a job & had the attitude of "I'd like to take your order as quick as possible". For a special occasion, these encounters leaves you feeling unwelcome & rushed through your meal. A fine establishment should and you want to savor every bite. You don't eat & run at such places. Also should mention for the benefit of others, don't expect them to go out of the way to do anything special. Was celebrating a birthday, noted on the reservation, but nothing out if the usual occurred. While not required, it's always something extra nice if it does. As far as the food, it will impress you when delivered in a silver lid, revealed at the same time by the waitstaff. Had Sunday gravy was had for the meal was good, but fatty & salty. I felt it needed some extra seasoning and a nice cut of Parmesan cheese to bring it to the next level- something that would impress. Basically a stew with a fun name. Had a cheese dish with Sam Adams & bacon in a skillet for an appetizer, which was much better. Reminded me of a nice fondue you might get at a French place. The brioche, while the wait staff sounded pretty proud of the homemade nature, it was less delicious than the table bread that you will get standard. That bread had a little special note to it- maybe beer? The point is, the food was ok, not memorable or special, but the experience made the food worse. Thank goodness for my company! If I can give the staff a word of advice: remember that for your customers eating at your establishment is a choice & a treat that they chose to share with you. Be honored by the fact. In a place like Boston there are so many choices. Symbolizing your thanks for patronage goes beyond food. Since you are a finer dining establishment, the small details & manners I've pointed out matter. You want us to come back & enjoy our time, but when experiences on special occasions are not handled with care, we can choose elsewhere next time. Work on that, as you do have good things about your establishment. I'd hate to see other patrons have a less than par experience after informing you. You have potential.
(2)
Dave M.

i NEVER EVER would have heard of this place without yelp. it's buried in. we walked in and greeted by the hostess. it's 2 stories so it's a good size, esp for groups. we requested upstairs by the window and it was a good view. it's surrounded by building but still a nice experience. they have 2 bars, the one upstairs being a little smaller. we got the steak frites ($28) and burger ($16). the steak was well cooked and the rosemary fries were thick and crispy. i hate soggy fries. the burger was pretty good and juicy. the bread wasn't fluffy but the heavy kind. not sure of its name. it comes with fries, beans, or greens. both were very good. i'd be interested in their rabbit meat next time they have $1 oysters and clams from 4-6pm and 9-10pm daily. otherwise, they're $3 each. they were fresh and cool. love it! they give you some kind of wine based sauce and cocktail sauce with it. the service was friendly (our server Chris was great!), the place was well maintained. i would recommend this place.
(4)
Brian K.

Never disappoints. I recommend it to out-of-towners who come back with rave reviews. I have to admit that I get the same thing every time I go: a Chauncey Warbucks, Rarebits, an 1875, Sunday Gravy and a James E. Pepper.
(5)
Shir L.

Sangrias and cocktails are ok and not worth the price, better elsewhere. Their Rarebits cheese appetizer was good, and nicely served in a cast-iron pan but its a tad bit pricey, so I wouldn't recommend. The mac and cheese here is decent, not worth ordering. Both appetizers were $15 but i'd rather save the money and appetite for their entrees, or just their one entree...yep you guessed it if you've been here before...Absolutely LOVE their sunday gravy!!! You cant go wrong, the gnocchi is amazing, best ive had. The other entrees are ok, I don't know if I had shared the wellington or the steak frites but since I don't remember, it probably didn't wow me. Moving on, their steak & Cheese is a sad, un-filling portion for $16, woudl not recommend it if you love your steak&cheese like I do! Also who could forget Happy Hour Monday-Friday 4-6pm & 9-10 pm $1 raw oysters (usually 4 different kinds) and clams!!!
(4)
Lauren C.

We took the in-laws here for dinner and had great wine and good food. We are vegetarian and did just fine.
(4)
Christina H.

I award Marliave with the Best French Onion Soup in Boston award! My friends also really like coming here for their oyster happy hours (half off oysters and clams from 4-6pm and 9-10pm). The escargots are very tasty. The main dish options for dinner that my boyfriend and I got were ok; the beef tenderloin in the Wellington was a bit dry that day.
(4)
Marcy L.

Mission: take my out-of-state mother out for a lovely lunch in the city. Somewhere not too loud. Somewhere with reasonable prices and delicious flavor. Somewhere willing to cater to gluten allergies. ACCOMPLISHED in full. We had a beautiful table by the window while we sipped our afternoon beverages; cocktails have springy witty names like "the Flapper", the "Blind Pig", and "the Great Molasses Flood of 1919". My FAVORITE cocktail of 2013: the "Tres Curieux": "Au Bohemian, Au bicycle, Au basket: Henderick's Gin, St-Germaine, Lime, Grapefruit, Prosecco" Smooth and crisp (and pink!) Notre oeufs: We decided on an eggy lunch. For me: Scrambled (farmhouse cheeses, black truffle butter, house cut fries, toasted bread $12); served on a little pristine platter, cheesy eggs in its own little (yet, seemingly never-ending) basin. Best fluffy eggs I've tasted in a long while. The fries were delicious (even my self-proclaimed fry-scoffing mother couldn't help herself). For her: Omelet (wild mushrooms, farmhouse cheeses, house cut fries, toasted bread $14). She remarked that it was absolutely scrumptious, but the portion was HUUUGE and she could only get through half of the serving. Lovely setting (4th oldest restaurant in Boston, so you KNOW that the location has loads of character - - - but steep colonial staircases aren't always aging adult friendly). 100% reasonable $-to-food ratio. Great for brunch with cocktails.
(5)
Elizabeth W.

Superb. This place makes me feel classy. The restaurant is split over two levels and is arranged to create an intimate and comfortable feel whether having dinner for two or a gathering of friends. There are also bars on both levels with a fair amount of seating. The cocktail list is creative and offers many intriguing and delicious options. They also have an expansive wine list by the glass and the bottle. If for nothing else, come here for the dollar oysters. At select times (I believe 5-6pm and 9-10pm) you can order as many oysters at a dollar a piece as your heart desires. They have 4 different types and will gladly bring you some of each. The Duxbury are out of this world and the Wellfleet are amazing as well. But try not to cut yourself short there, because Marliave has an amazing menu of offerings from appetizers to entrees. The prices are on the steeper end in my book, but they're well worth the splurge. The shrimp scampi was divine and the steak frites was something worth returning for. Marliave may not be the first place you think of for amazing fries, but whether served up as an app or accompanying some steak they are praiseworthy. The meals are delivered by the waitstaff with silver lids that are removed in front of you, a nice flair for a fancy meal. And the bread comes with some of the best olive oil I've ever tasted.
(5)
Greg N.

Excellent. Great location....super food....great service....elegant yet comfortable vibe with good music. Definitely a sexy adult spot....the trout was perfect. Great wine list by the glass.... I dont know much about the rest of the options in Boston....but this is world class. Yes, you should go.....
(4)
Alison G.

Was in Boston in September 2012 went to eat at this place with friend. We had restaurant week. Nothing wrong with this place, seriously food was average. But service sucks. Will I ever come back? Yes If I knew that waitress no longer works there. But the place upstairs was so dark I don even remember her face already. Also be careful if you wear 5 inches high heel walk carefully if you need to eat upstairs the staircases are not very well built
(3)
Jennifer H.

*Restaurant Week review* Oh, Marliave, if only it weren't for a slightly too rare, medium rare Wellington, I would give you five stars. Other than the red in my beef tenderloin, my dining experience at Marliave was top-notch, and I look forward to returning to sample more of their amazing menu. I give them kudos for handling restaurant week professionally and efficiently, as I've come to learn this is not always the case. The service was well-timed and our waitress was so friendly and patient in managing our dining experience. The menu is the star here. They don't even try to sell you on their regular menu; I highly doubt they even have one during these weeks as they focus on local, homemade cuisine. And, it is a huge prix-fixe menu! The combinations are endless, and they all sound so delightful. The craft cocktail menu is abundant and so tempting. They are rather potent, however, so I could only sample one. I decided on the Tres Curieux (Henderick's Gin, St. Germaine, lime, grapefruit and prosecco) -- light, refreshing and smooth. For food, I started with a few of the $1 oysters (available daily between 4:00-6:00 p.m. and 9:00-10:00 p.m.), and the prosecco was outstanding. I moved on to a giant bowl of mussels with a roasted tomato, garlic and parsley broth -- not a bum mussel in the bunch. I obviously had the Beef Wellington with wild mushrooms, foie gras and red wine sauce, which I am always hesitant to order because perfect execution requires more finesse than most chefs can handle. This was so close and the best effort I have encountered. My only complaint is the beef could have used a few more minutes to reach a true medium rare temperature. Dessert was the quintessential end to the meal: melting chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream. Sigh.... I was one happy diner at this meal's conclusion. Despite a bit of a draft from the window and door, the atmosphere in Marliave is welcoming and warm. We sat in one of the circular booths on the main floor across from the bar. It was perfect to sink into after devouring an amazing four-course meal. This is the fourth (or fifth?) oldest restaurant in Boston, which is charming of course, but the building does show the centuries of wear -- not necessarily in a terrible way. There is old-timey ambiance music, but you don't really hear it over the din of diners and drinkers; this is not a quiet place. I'd say it's more girls'/guys' night out than date night. Overall, a wonderful experience. Hats off, Marliave. I'll see you soon.
(4)
Rose C.

Went for Restaurant Week 2013. Tons of choices! I had the escargots/trout/butterscotch pudding. All were very good. Big portions (for the price). The mussels are also must try! Con: Need to leave credit card information when making a reservation (not sure if this is just for RW).
(4)
Chelsea B.

I've been to Marliave about a ka-billion times. The food is usually very delicious, but the service during a recent visit was so poor I am compelled to comment (with the hopes that management at Marliave will correct the situation). First, a minor point of clarification: the oyster special is now $1.50 per oyster. That said, the oysters are lovely. When I visited recently, I stood by the host station for about five minutes while the hostess was on the phone. I think she was on a work-related call, and seemed to be talking to someone about work schedules, but nevertheless it is rude and unprofessional. She did not seem to be in any hurry to get off the phone, despite the fact that my friend and I were patiently waiting. For a long time. Without any acknowledgement of our existence. When the hostess did finally hang up, there was no greeting, and no apology. We were seated, and ordered six oysters from our server, who seemed not very interested in waiting on us (judging from the fact that she was looking around the room while taking our order and just seemed distracted and annoyed to have paying customers). The plate of oysters arrived from the kitchen, and to our delight there were 8 oysters and not the 6 that we had ordered. The server, who had not delivered the oysters, came over and spotting the fact that we had been given an extra 2 oysters (that's $3 worth of extra oysters people), she yanked the plate off the table saying she needed to check with the kitchen! Amazing. Food was presented to us and placed on our table, and then snatched away. The server then returned with what was obviously the same tray of oysters, however the two "bonus" oysters had been removed. I felt as though we were being accused of shoplifting oysters. Marliave, please train your staff.
(2)
Kathleen A.

Love! Good service, delish food. Outdoor seating!
(5)
Paige C.

slimy sea creatures 9 to 10 dollar oysters and die hard is date We shall see about this cocktail situation. $1 oyster FTW! After all my intense research on dollar oysters in Boston, I had still not visited Marliave. But I am glad I finally did. After what was already a pretty hot day after Valentine's day date (Sandwiches at PotBelly's and It's a Good Day to Die Hard IMAX), I wasn't really sure if it could be any better. I was exhausted, did I really need to go to the 9-10pm oyster rally? Wouldn't it be BUSY!?!?! To our surprise, nope. We walked right upstairs. Cuddled into the tiny bar. Made small talk with the bartender, and ordered a dozen---4 different types to try. ALL ONE DOLLAR. And all delicious. The fancy cocktails were $11. And they were: Okay. I got their version of a Manhattan, but next time, to save a couple bucks, I'd just order the "non-fancy" version of a Manhattan (if that exists). All in all, I want to do it again. It was a wonderful post-Die-Hard nightcap.
(4)
Joseph C.

Had family visiting from out of town and they heard of Marliave and wanted to try it. As soon as you walk in you notice how nice and fun this place is. The wait staff could not be more helpful. We were there with a 1 yr old and they were more than accommodating and understanding, even rushing to get the check without us asking because they saw us getting the baby dressed (false alarm). The drink are exotic and fun without being over the top. The food was very good (mac and cheese, fries, chicken and sunday gravy) and came out very quick. Only complaint would be bread which was ok and the meat in the sunday gravy was little fatty, but that would make it authentic and home made so cant complain much about that. If I Could I would give it 4.5 -4.7stars. Definetly going back.
(4)
Rob D.

This place was friggin' awesome!!! Everything on the menu looks great, making it tough to decide. I finally decided on the beet salad and the Sunday gravy...THE BEST GNOCCHI I'VE EVER HAD!!! Salad was great too! My friend had the pastrami sandwich which was also phenomenal! We asked for very spicy bloody mary's and that's exactly what we got. Great food, great atmosphere, great service! I can't wait to go back to Boston to eat there again!!! I almost forgot...if ya like a good single malt scotch, they have plenty to choose from.
(5)
Melissa W.

The escargot here is pure deliciousness. I had that and a Caesar salad with extra anchovies. I have to say that I have never had a better Caesar.
(5)
Ramzi A.

Marliave is a very, very decent restaurant that's probably the closest to old-continent dining in terms of atmosphere in the are. If you reserve upstairs, it will be a very good place for a nice, intimate meal or to bring a second date or parents, without draining your wallet. Below is more casual and perfect for a good friend or a close guest from out of town. The menu is the right balance of mildly upscale ingredients without trying too hard. Portions are American-size for things that sound like your plain classics, and more modest for more exotic meals. The chefs clearly try hard, and some of their elements are absolute hits. Sadly, sometimes they just barely miss with very small yet hard to ignore details, like polenta that just lacks that dash of salt, or a sausage that could be just a little less generic and rubbery in texture. There's certainly room for growth, but for the price it's great and nothing is actually bad or even close to it A few critical points: - The cocktails are way too small, for 10$ we got either a small sparkling wine flute with a few drips of liquor or a tumbler stacked with ice with maybe an ounce or two of actual booze. - Some elements really are bit over the top: truffle fries i.a. fries engorged in truffle-flavored oil with clouds of (young) parmiggiano? Uhhhmm... Every meal coming under a metal cloche? Sorta cute, but I saw many meals around where it was absolutely unnecessary. Highly recommended if you're looking for something new in town to explore or a safe bet for fine dining on a budget.
(4)
Amanda Q.

Came here tonight for restaurant week dinner and was not disappointed. Dinner for two went as follows: Appetizer - French Onion Soup with Short Ribs (4.5/5) Escargot (4/5) Entree - Beef Wellington (3.5/5) Sunday Gravy (4.5/5) Dessert - Chocolate cake (4/5) Butterscotch pudding (4.8/5) The onion soup was the best onion soup I've had. I was afraid the short ribs would make the dish too heavy, but they really only put small bits of short ribs inside the soup. It made the dish that much more flavorful! Also, I appreciated that the cheese was simply melted over a large crouton for easy cutting and general handling. The beef wellington was slightly under-cooked (coming from someone that prefers the rarer side of medium rare). The pastry was interesting and the sauce was sweet. Unfortunately, the dish was just kind of heavy and one note. Much preferred was the Sunday Gravy which had intense flavors all round. Every bite of the tomatoes, cheese, lamb, beef, gnocchi... the list goes on, and it all sat together perfectly. The presentation was beautiful as well. Was quite full at this point, so took about a third of my dish home. And oh, dessert. The chocolate cake was moist, decadent, and really very good. One of those chocolate cakes that definitely needs a bit of vanilla ice cream for every bite. Huge portion as well. The butterscotch pudding was our favorite dish of the night. Creamy, just the right amount of butterscotch, amazing whipped cream. Would have given it a perfect score if (1) the portion size were slightly smaller (two people couldn't even finish it after that meal!) and (2) the candied ginger had been omitted. Overall, 4/5 would recommend. Will definitely be going back to try more of the menu!
(4)
Jeff F.

The atmosphere and the service is definitely 4 stars, but based on my second visit, I'd have to throw down 3 stars overall based on the food: - (B-) Mac & Cheese is original, but not much more - (C+) Steak Frites was mediocre - (A-) Sunday gravy - seemed like an interesting combination of gnocchi, beef, lamb and pork, but overall..meh. Gnocchi was excellent, but the gravy came up a little short - (B+) Rarebits - (A-) Ricotta stuff Ravioli - (B+) Mussels - not the best, but good - (B+) Diver Scallops - good, but not mind blowing - (A) Cake & Ice Cream - exceptional! Great spot in the winter. Notes to self from follow up visits: - Take-out is a miss - Sunday Gravy is inconsistent
(3)
Dave L.

My wife and I had date night here last Friday night and loved it. If you make reservations request a table upstairs by the windows. The melting chocolate cake was amazing...
(4)
Reza H.

It's restaurant week, so they were quite busy. My friend and I walked in and luckily found seating at the bar. Drinks were interesting. Poor bartender was a little swamped (he should get some help). Mussels were delicious--almost filled up on it and their stellar bread. My trout was a little bland, but my friends risotto was amazingly flavorful. The deserts (chocolate cake /w ice cream and bread pudding) were average. In general, we both like the atmosphere of the place. For some reason I thought the place was new, but it's one of the oldest restaurants in Boston.
(3)
Jason D.

Great, friendly bartenders. The Boneshaker cocktail is one of the rare drinks that my girlfriend and I both like a lot...not too sweet and strong enough.
(4)
Hope C.

Went to Marliave for Valentine's Day last year. Total success. I love its hidden location, the old-timey Prohibition feel, the $1 oyster menu and the awesome comfort foods like the Reuben or ham and cheese. On our recent trip we started with the rarebit - melted cheese, bacon and toast. It was delicious. Next we had the beef Wellington, a medium rare filet and foie gras stuffed into puffed pastry and baked until golden brown. It was divine. The Reuben was also very good. I'd go back to Marliave on a non-holiday. Boston has never been a favorite city of mine, so this place was a nice surprise.
(4)
Ryan P.

Really great oysters and cheese. Pretty good main course. I had the rabbit, which was pretty but only a B for flavor. Friendly staff, especially for a touristy place.
(4)
Molly K.

was at one of my favorite places that serve the best range of cocktails that I have found in this city, Marliave. I started with the escargot with garlic, shallots, butter, parsley, cognac, parmesan, and toasted bread served in a Staub escargot dish that was gorgeous and super functional. This was the highlight of the meal (other than the delicious cocktails of course!) but I continued with the chicken and ended with the cheese assortment. The cheese was delicious and the perfect size for an after-meal nibble. The chicken was mediocre, but I am a very harsh chicken-judge after being raised with 1,726 different preparations of chicken for every meal of the week by my mother. Some believe ordering chicken while at a restaurant is a waste, but on the other hand, I believe in order for a chicken dish to make it on the menu at a nice restaurant, there must be a reason...somehow these chefs must have jazzed up the chicken in order for it to make one of the coveted 4-7 entree spots. Pictures and more on -- ----
(4)
Christian V.

Marliave has become one of my favorite restaurants ever. Only recently have I discovered it but it's become my go-to restaurant for special occasions. I recommend reserving a table, though, because it can get pretty crowded during the peak hours. In the summer the patio seating is super romantic and eating while being surrounded by the urban wonders if Boston only adds to the great experience. For drinks I recommend the Flapper, or any of their other cocktails. For food, the risotto and roasted chicken is amazing, juicy, delicious, and enough to keep you filled for the sugar rush that is dessert. Their scallops are beyond what you'll ever have. Also be adventurous and try the escargot with their toasted bread. You will curse all styles of chicken. I'm serious. Only qualm: service can be slow so don't go there hungry or, preferably, alone.
(4)
Jenelle J.

Dined upstairs for an evening date - and seated cozily in a corner with windows overlooking the street. Chardonnay - spot on in terms of complexity. This time, stuck with the hot food and had good success all around. Mussels - well executed. Risotto - best I've ever eaten - the base broth giving it flavor was absolutely delicious. And brussel sprouts with bacon - scrumptious! Service absolutely gracious, as well. What do I wish were better? Wine was a tad pricey, comparatively to other like restaurants. And it took a little longer than usual for our drinks to appear (came out a little too close to when the food arrived). Otherwise -a flawless dinner!
(5)
Kathleen H.

Initially, I was almost overruled in my desire to go here by an individual who does not particularly like adventurous food. I am being. . .diplomatic. I am kind of a nutso who likes to roll in bacon, eat things raw, like. . .meat, and fish, and eggs, and yes, oysters, (of which Marliave has the $1 variety at certain times) and doesn't worry much about food poisoning. I never worry if I "can eat" at a place. GET IN MY MOUTH I try to be sympathetic to other viewpoints, but. . .I don't try that hard. And if I'm going out to dinner in Boston, which I don't get to do very often, I decided I would have my way. I pointed out they had steak and pizza and sliders on the menu. OK??? OK???????? ok. I started with the Tres Curieux. Really, Really Good. So delicious. It made me very happy. Grapefruity and refreshing. Also at the table The Ulysses S Grant - light and tart, also refreshingly not too sweet, and a shirley temple with REAL grenadine and a dark sweet cherry, made with gingery real ginger ale. Oysters - they were fine - they were $1, they were. . .kinda mangled. Shucking practice required, methinks. They were tasty enough. The wareham's were the best yesterday, IMO. The bread on the table, it was decided, was a nice mix between challah and foccacia, with the nice salty bit of the latter and a texture kind of soft and spongy like a mix between the two. It was served with some very good olive oil. And three green olives. Which I ate all of, because no one wanted theirs. There might be an actual name for that kind of bread, but I don't know it, so there you go. Sliders were on homemade little buns with mozarella and marinara, and were tasty and appreciated. I had trout. It was excellent, served with a big fat caperberry. It was like a trout sandwich - 2 filets of trout with a perfect delicate cornmeal crispy skin, and between them, a big chunk of flavorful cooked tomato, Some deliciously olive oily spinach and two big meaty shrimp. Decorated with a lemony, garlicky, capery stuff. Very good. There was a cheese pizza. It was a very fine cheese pizza, with herbs, and up to par with the rest of the food. The steak frites across the table was pronounced good, and that party did not want the gorgonzola butter. So I got to eat some of the tasty perfectly done fries seasoned with crunchy sea salt and rosemary. . .slathered with gorgonzola butter, and THAT was worth the fact that I was kind of just stuffing myself at this point. They have a nice selection of wines, by small pour (5oz), regular pour (8oz), splits, and bottles. I had Suavignon Blanc and it complemented the trout perfectly. There was a Hefeweizen beer at the table that was really something special - I wasn't at all in a beer mood, but I almost wish I had ordered it. We sat around for a little while. . . but we couldn't sit too long as we were catching a show. I would have liked to have sat more. And drunk and eaten more. The atmosphere is very pleasant, we had a candle. . . We shared the homemade vanilla ice cream and melting chocolate cake. The cake was like a mini birthday cake, with 4 little 1/2 inch layers and warm and bittersweet. Awesome. Just enough shared between three, and not too sweet. Choice of french press coffee, brought in my own insulated press. Also very good. Service was unobtrusive and friendly. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Just don't mangle my oysters, if you please, I hope to go back soon.
(4)
eve p.

The menu was incredibly impressive--and the Hubby and I were looking for a new and exciting lunch option near our office in the Financial district; but Marliave was a massive missfire. The location is beautiful, and very well decorated--but the service was slow and our waitress was strangely aloof for a server that had ONE table in a sea of empty chairs. The bread was house made and tasty as could be--which seemed to bode well for our experience. Sadly our final thoughts ended as: The food was expensive and underwhelming. I went for the chicken with risotto. The chicken was pretty tasteless, and had been given 0 rest time--so when I attempted to cut it --all the (clear, the chicken was cooked to be fair) juice gushed from my chicken into the risotto, watering the paltry serving of the (actually quite tasty) risotto--rendering it a soupy mess. All of this to the tune of 23 dollars. Needless to say--this amateur cooking move did not support it's haute-cuisine pricing. Hubby opted for the traditional Steak-Frites--which was brutally overdone--and served already sliced and covered in some sort of gravy analog--with all of the fries sitting in the gravy goop at the bottom of the bowl. It was like a bad poutine without the cheese curds sitting next to the burnt steak on some sort of awkward first date. Again--we're looking at a 25 dollar plate. Not to be missed in all of this--is the fact we headed here early for an hour long lunch break; and ended up waiting for the food a full 45 minutes. Luckily hubby and I eat much like crazed locusts--and despite the price we didn't feel obligated to "clean our plates"--so we were back to the office without going over our time limit too much. I'm sorry though--your clientelle are mostly business people--if you're worth your salt, you should be able to serve one of 8 people that are in your empty resto in less than 45 mins.
(2)
Janet L.

We went for their $1 oysters happy hour special. I can definitely vouch for those oysters - they were fresh and delicious, unlike many other places that do a similar type of promotion. I had the mushroom risotto which was rather good, but my boyfriend's beef gnocchi was amazing, so so so so soft, and I don't even like gnocchi!
(4)
Ronald C.

The atmosphere is very interesting when you first walk into the restaurant, but be sure to insist on a table upstairs. It is almost like two different restaurants. The food was pretty good, but the $1 oysters probably added an entire star. That was the most memorable part of this meal. The rest of the food was pretty good.
(4)
Nancy Y.

We came here after getting famished on our first self-guided walking tour of Boston (read: getting lost). My friend found this as one of the only two-dollar-bill-sign options with decent reviews on Yelp. THANKS YELP (and my friend)! What a great find! Per the menu, Marliave is the fourth oldest restaurant in Boston, and based on the some of the framed clippings on the wall, there is quite a bit of history to the place. But this review is about the food, so let me not digress further with the history. We happened to catch their dollar oyster time (4-6p). I asked for a sample of their varieties for the day, pointing out that I particularly enjoy meaty ones. I couldn't tell you which ones they gave me, but every single oyster was an explosion of the ocean in my mouth. It was awesome.!! You may request horseradish, as it's not one of the default condiments that comes with the oysters. The shrimp scampi I got was probably one of the top 3 shrimp scampi's I've ever had in my life. Large shrimp, handmade thin linguini with some bite, and such a savory fresh tomato, butter, wine sauce - I'm drooling writing this a day later - it was that good. I washed my meal down with a greyhound made with fresh squeezed grapefruit juice. So refreshing. You can expect to throw down around $40 pp even with the dollar oyster special - but it's worth it to come. It's great for a date/anniversary/getting lost type of meal.
(5)
Jason B.

There's old school Boston, and there's Old School Boston. Marliave, buried in the heart of old DTX, is Old School Boston. The place itself is kind of an architectural fever dream, built up against the base of beacon hill, it has a little patio and a roof deck, a bar on the first floor, dining room and a second bar on the second floor. A little oddly claustrophobic, but very unique and old timey feeling. Marliave has been doing bang-up oyster specials for a while now. Come in early and hork down dollar oysters till you're bloated with bivalves. They do them as well as they can be done, clean and briny, with the right sides of horseradish and mignonette. Service is effortless and breezy, unrushed and friendly. You don't come to Marliave for a "quick dinner", you come here to enjoy yourself. Price is competitive, and the food is very well-prepared. The carpaccio is simple, elegant, and perfect - cold shaved rib-eye perfectly seasoned with sea salt and oil. The steak frites leaves a little to be desired - the compound butter is a bit overpowering, and the frites are not soaked overnight, so the result is a bit of a soggy sad face. The steak is beautifully cooked, if a little too well-marbled. For a great, comfortable, upscale dinner that is tres Boston, Marliave is a great choice.
(4)
Melissa R.

What a great, unexpected find for us in Boston. We were fortunate enough to be staying at the Omni Hotel and the restaurant is right around the corner from the hotel. We have never been disappointed with any meal we have had here. The atmosphere is very warm and friendly and not stuffy like some other higher end restaurants in the city. Our favorites are the beef carpaccio, the rare bits, mussels and the Henry's french onion soup for appetizers. We also splurged on our last trip there and had the mac and cheese, which, I must say, was the BEST ever! My boyfriend and I were fighting over who was going to have the last bite of it! As for entrees, the Sunday gravy was my favorite. The lamb is so tender and perfectly paired with the gnocchi. The osso buco and the rabbit dishes were pretty unbelievable also. We have dined here for the past 4 years and the food has always been consistent.
(5)
Erin C.

I've been to Marliave twice, both times for a fun night out with friends that start with some food and great cocktails. The first time around we sat upstairs and had great service. I ordered the Mr. Marliave, a grilled cheese sandwich. This is a huge hunk of cheese that was just delicious. I also ordered the mixed green, which priced at $9, is hardly worth the money. The second time around I sat at the bar for some $1 oysters. Our bartender was fine, but certainly not as pleasant or friendly as our service was upstairs. He seemed annoyed that we were ordering oysters. Thats what people do when they are $1. They order oysters! I'm not sure what the problem was but I didn't let him bother me. We enjoyed our oysters and ordered up food as well. I went with the hunk of cheese sandwich again and ordered just as much. This time I decided to forget the fries and just subbed for the mixed greens. I saved $9 and possibly a heart attack. Both visits the cocktails were tasty and went down a little too easy. Great ambience too. I love the lighting in there! This place can get quite busy so I do recommend a reservation. If you are coming for the oysters, come early! Try to sit at a table and skip the bar.
(4)
Yuko A.

I've been here once before for the $1 oysters from 4-6pm. Yah ya heard right...$1 oystahsss! Not the biggest but tasty and fresh nonetheless. Recently came here for a lunch...I ordered the grilled ham and cheese which was like a croque Monsieur. It was a grilled ham and cheese with more cheese melted on the top. The bread was soft and crispy on the edges where it had been grilled. I only ate a quarter since it was so filling. My friend got the Mac and cheese which he had raved about so of course I had to try some. Holy efff it was amazing. From the perfectly cooked aldente ziti pasta to the cheesy but flavorful sauce that had been mixed with truffle oil. Very heavy and definitely could be split by two people but if you like Mac & cheese, definitely worth trying The service was nothing special but our waters were always refilled and the staff was all friendly. Oct31challenge: 22/31
(5)
Martin B.

A big, wonderful surprise! It was very cold and we were looking for someplace close, and Marliave was right down the block from our hotel. At first we got a seat downstairs, which truthfully wasn't great, and when we asked if we could move they nicely explained that they were full and we just got the last table, but when a table opened up on the second floor, they moved us right up, and it made the world of difference!!! The food and wine were really good, and the price was really reasonable. I've also got to mention that the entire staff couldn't have been any nicer!
(4)
Holly D.

I went for an early dinner. The escargot appetizer was delicious but the main entree was not memorable, as I've forgotten it already. The service at the bar was poor for a restaurant of this alleged caliber. I won't return and wouldn't recommend it to others.
(3)
Steve S.

Before you read this review, go grab two plates, dishes, or saucers of any kind and keep them nearby. I was underwhelmed with my experience at Marliave. The location of the restaurant is unique in that its nestled down a not heavily trafficked side street off of Tremont. We had an open table reservation for 3 on a Saturday and they sat us in the first floor bar area, in a dingy and dark corner, near the back of the bar right next to the kitchen with its doors open. Here's where the plates come in, every couple of sentences you should lift one plate a foot about the other and drop it onto the other plate. That unpleasant noise is we heard throughout our entire meal. I noticed that we walked past 5 empty booths prior to sitting at our cramped table. It appears the upstairs tables have white clothes covering the tables. CLATTER! Down in the bar, the tables were covered in crumbs, empty water glasses left uncleared from the previous diners, and the wet streaks of stale dish rag water. CLATTER! The mixed greens were ample and fresh, although just slightly over dressed. My friends liked their meat ball appetizer. CLATTER! CLATTER! The Sunday gravy was pretty good, the meats and gnocchi were very tender. The chopped salad was okay but I say that's what you get for ordering a cold salad for dinner. CLATTER! My steak frites arrived cooked perfectly but with enough french fries for 4 people. CLATTER! CLATTER! There had to be at least 2 if not 3 potatoes worth of fries on my plate and maybe 8 oz of steak? Service was okay I suppose. CLATTEEEEEEER! There were only 3 other tables in bar area and I think an attentive hostess had to come over to fill our waters. CLATTER! The food was good but maybe ever so slightly over priced. I have a feeling the dining experience may be completely different in the upstairs section. But in the bar area, it was not great at all. I would highly recommend asking for a table in upstairs section. (clatter)
(2)
Philipp B.

This review is for the service I received last week during restaurant week. The food was delicious. My boyfriend got the Beef Wellington and I got the Sunday Gravy. Service was awful. The waitress didn't even put in my entree order and my boyfriend waited 10 minutes because he didn't want to eat without me. The waitress was rude. Her response to me was "Oh, you ordered something? It'll be right out." She didnt even apologize. She was more attentive to my boyfriend than to me, even recommending wine pairings and basically ignored me. I should have left her less than 15% tip. I wouldn't ask for her again to wait for me, very unprofessional.
(1)
Billy D.

Good gem. Cocktails were yummy and the bartenders *know their shit* Make sure you go for oyster happy hour - they are delicious, but not cheap when it's not happy hour. I like the classic white tiled interior - clean and modern but has a classic feel. I'd go back.
(4)
Stephanie M.

Early birthday dinner for the boy here. The only complaint was that they happened to have a large party in the other room upstairs that was being extra rowdy since by the time we came in for our 9:30 reservation. Everything we had was delicious including: Mussels app-- super garlicky broth that was delicious with bread! Shrimp Scampi-- shrimp are cooked perfectly and there's a nice flavor to the pasta too so that it's more than one note Osso Bucco-- Super tender and flavorful! We also had the warm chocolate cake for desert that was delicious, but sadly slightly overcooked so no gooey center. Still hit the spot though! Overall, I definitely recommend Marliave for a special occasion or just a date night where you want a romantic feel
(5)
Brittany C.

Marliave has always been one of my favorite Boston restaurants (oysters and great cocktails are weaknesses of mine), and based on these reviews, you already know that it's a solid choice for your evening out. I want to add to these reviews by giving a strong endorsement of Marliave as being a great place for a private event. I held my wedding rehearsal dinner for about 40 people at Marliave earlier in June, and it was outstanding. We had a private room upstairs, along with a private bar, and were able to choose a more selective menu for our guests (two apps, three entrees, two desserts). Taylor, the event coordinator, was extremely responsive and accommodating (e.g., changing a dish so it would be pescetarian). The bartender was fantastic. You can either do an open bar, as we did, or provide a more selective menu for guests. We had the room from 7-12pm, and everyone enjoyed a cocktail hour before dinner. I wish we had taken Taylor's advice and had some passed appetizers during the cocktail hour, but that would've made an already outstanding event even more so. During the actual dinner, service was prompt, and I was impressed at how well executed the event was by the Marliave staff. I can't recommend Marliave enough for their private events.
(5)
Jes E.

I loved this place. Sit upstairs if you can, the food was incredibly tasty, service was pretty good, but the ambiance set it apart.
(5)
Marilyn C.

It's been a few months since my last review and I have had a few more good experiences here so I thought it was time for a little update. First let me say that I usually only holla for $1 oysters here (and drinks). $1 oysters being from 4-6pm and 9-10pm - everyday! The main reason for my update is I discovered that they have re-opened the small basement bar. So now they have 3 levels of $1 oysters and drinks!!!! I hesitate to tell about this speakeasyish, small (there are about 5-6 seats) bar, because I want to keep it a secret. But I am nice and want to share the love/cool places I've come across so the city a little cooler for all.
(5)
Clarence L.

Great environment, friendly efficient staff. Oysters were right out of the bay, Sunday Gravy is amazing. Some of the best gnocchi I've had.
(5)
Linh V.

My friend and I were looking at restaurants near the Beacon Hill area for our restaurant week lunch and Marliave won hands down for the variety!! We were seated on the second floor dining area, near huge windows (which I LOVE, because they allow so much natural light to come in, and let's face it, we won't have this beautiful summer weather much longer.) For app, I got Mussels: Farm raised, Roasted tomatoes, Garlic, Parsley Mussels: Farm raised, Roasted tomatoes, Garlic, Parsley. They were fresh, perfectly seasoned! The tomatoes gave the dish an acidic note that's very much needed when eating seafood And for main course, I had Trout: Spinach, Shrimp, Tomato, Capers, Garlic, White wine Trout: Spinach, Shrimp, Tomato, Capers, Garlic, White wine. The trout dish comprised of a fillet of trout, stacked with spinach, shrimp and tomato, followed by another fillet of trout on top, and capers. The fish was cooked perfectly! Crispy on the outside yet soft and fluffy on the inside! Since the fillets are so thin, it's really hard to get that sort of texture but the chef nailed it! And the garlic & white wine sauce compliments the dish perfectly. My dessert was a box of Truffles,House prepared, Premium chocolate, Cocoa powder Pudding: Butterscotch, Whipped cream, Candied ginger Box of Truffles: House prepared, Premium chocolate, Cocoa powder: 'nuff said. My friend had Pudding: Butterscotch, Whipped cream, Candied ginger. It was really delicious as well, but both of us agreed that it could have been a tad less sweet. For a 3-course menu that costs only $25, at a restaurant located right in the historic/ business district, I think this is a steal! I have tried quite a few restaurants' lunches during Restaurant Week and the general feel was that the portions were small, and the quality of the food is compromised, but MARLIAVE has been nothing but amazing! Definitely making its way to the top of my list For more pictures and detailed review, check out my blog post! underthebostonsky.wordprâ€¦
(4)
Manoj I.

From the web page I thought this is going to be an old dingy restaurant stinking with the smell of cheese. I wish they changed their front page on their website to improve their online appeal. The food was great, scallops with pine nuts was the best I had ever had. I had the 3 course deal for $38, very very very good value. I was almost full after the starter.. the cesar salad was the best I ever had made with real anchovies... Next time I visit Boston I am definitely going back here, its a nice place to go on a date.
(4)
Jimmy L.

Perhaps everyone who gave good reviews were drunk when they ate here; my experience was horrid. We ordered the Shrimp Scampi, Beef Wellington and raw oysters. The scampi was edible as the noodles were slightly undercooked, while the shrimp were too salty, fishy and nasty. Beef Wellington was barely ok. Considering that I paid $42, I expected it to be much much better. The beef was dry and nothing special. And the oysters were the worst part. Tasted like ocean water and puke. Uncleaned. Don't order these when you go. I gave one star because if you are there for drinks, then it has a nice ambiance. Otherwise, not good for food nor family outing.
(1)
Joelle K.

My husband and I went to Marliave without a reservation. We had a drink at the upstairs bars while we waited about 20 minutes for our table. The drinks were great! The whole look of the restaurant/bar is very different, but nice. We started with the cheesy bacon appetizer. I don't really eat red meat, but was able to pick around the bacon and enjoyed the dish anyways. For our entrees we had the steak frites and risotto. Both were quite tasty.
(4)
Joseph L.

Following the advice of Yelpers, we had the rarebit, Sunday gravy, and butterscotch pudding, as well as the fish and chips and croque monsieur. The recommended items were indeed the best, and the others were just okay. The wine list was nicely diverse and nicely priced. The service left something to be desired. It was a Sunday evening, so on the slow side, but we still felt rushed off the table and needed to ask for a refill of water a couple of times. The space itself feels like it used to be awesome -- and still has a very nice view from the upstairs dining room -- it just felt a little neglected during our dinner. Overall, as I often have some trouble finding a similar place in that part of town I won't hesitate to go back, but I also probably won't make it a point to hit again.
(3)
Sarah O.

I was psyched to visit Marliave with a group of twelve girls during my friend's (Joanna F!) bachelorette party. The bridesmaids had pre-ordered some hors d'oeuvres and champagne, which were brought out promptly when we arrived. I ordered seared scallops, which were expertly cooked-- a nice crust on the outside, and a good scallopy (for lack of a better adjective) texture on the inside. They were served with ravioli stuffed with a pea mixture, which was different and delicious. Our waiter was friendly and on the ball, though there was no mid-meal check in. All things considered, however, it was a great time.
(4)
Anton K.

The atmosphere was great and the food was good. We did get a feeling that it was warmed up in a microwave, since it was a little cold. Staff were good, but were rushing us a lot since the kitchen was closing soon. The staff put a lot more emphasis on simultaneously taking the silver lids off our dishes than giving our big table an extra basket of bread.
(3)
Luke S.

Best dollar oyster in town. They actually offer four types of dollar oyster and all are clean and fresh. Cocktail was pricey but good, mostly because I love Hendrick's Gin and they had a nice Hendrick-based cocktail. Other items were just OK though. Entrees were nothing special. The tapioca pudding dessert was really too rich to end a meal. I will definitely go back for dollar oyster. Probably nothing else.
(4)
Matt W.

Love the food and atmosphere! The prices are also very reasonable for the quality of food and service.
(5)
Vivian C.

Having suddenly realized that I hadn't been anywhere for Restaurant Week yet, I made lunch reservations at Marliave on Opentable, for which they require a credit card, which is sort of annoying, but according to the hostess when I phoned in my inquiry, they don't really have a cancellation policy. We went up the stone steps, entered the restaurant and the hostess took us upstairs to a table by the window. I have no idea if they have an elevator available or not, but that's something to be looked into if stairs are an issue for you. Water, bread, and olive oil (with olives) were provided shortly. Chilled butter was available upon request. Because we came for Restaurant Week, we were charged $20.12 for our 3 course meal, but the prices listed below are from the lunch/dinner menu available on their website. We started with the Macaroni & Cheese - House cut ziti, Black truffle, Cream, Farmhouse cheeses $14 which arrived in a neat little white bowl, and the Mussels - Farm raised, Roasted tomatoes, Garlic, Parsley $14 which were served in a hot cast iron pot. The portions of each were hearty. The house cut ziti were remniscient of chewy gnocchi as they were stubby hole-less tube bits. Too cheesey for my friend, but much better than the Max & Cheese I had at Max's Deli just the day prior. The mussels were larger than what I had experienced recently at Pierrot Bistrot Francais, but the mollusks were less clean, as I had two episodes with the grit of sand crunching between my teeth, and the broth was sadly too salty for straight consumption by spoon. For our entrees we were presented with two large plates of Sunday Gravy - Gnocchi, San Marzano tomatoes, Lamb, Pork, Beef $18 and Risotto - Wild mushrooms, Reggiano, Truffle butter $18 filled to the brim. The gnocci were soft pillows and the chunks of meat extremely tender. The risotto looked boringly uniformly off white, but was quite tasty and filled with a variety of meaty little fungi. I enjoyed both despite the fact that I am not a mushroom lover, but rather tend to be a mushroom avoider. They could have done a bit better with the presentation - wiping the edge of the bowl, some additional color in garnishment perhaps. Entree portions were quite generous and I took about half of them home in the form of a doggie bag. To finish off the meal, we enjoyed the Pudding Butterscotch, Candied ginger, Soft whipped cream $8 which we found to be pleasantly light and not too sweet, and the Box of Truffles - Four house prepared chocolates $6, which were bitter on the outside from the coating of cocoa powder, yet sweet and smooth within - though it arrived unexpectedly chilled, most likely straight from the refrigerator. Take a bit of care coming down the stairs as you exit - the ceiling seemed a bit low, although it was no trouble for me. Good portions, good food, good service. All in all, a good time. PS - Almost forgot, they have a rule against sharing here. I'm pretty sure it was printed on the menu. *** 8/2013 RW *** Came for Restaurant Week lunch 2013 and I am utterly stuffed. So glad I decided to take the rest of my butterscotch pudding home! For $20.13 each pre-tax/pre-tip, we had as follows: Sliders - Meatballs, Mozzarella, Tomato Sauce, Toasted Buns $14 Escargot - Garlic, Shallots, Butter, Parsley, Cognac, Parmesan, Toasted Bread $15 Ravioli - Ricotta, Roasted Tomatoes, Basil, Reggiano $19 Trout - Spinach, Shrimp, Tomato, Capers, Garlic, White Wine $25 Butterscotch Pudding - Fresh Whipped Cream, Candied Ginger $8 Chunky Brownie Sundae - Whipped cream, Vanilla ice cream, Cherries, Walnuts, Chocolate sauce (not on the online menu) Comments: Sliders came 2 per order, a rather large meatball apiece, Italian seasoning? Not recommended. Escargot were totally oil laden and melty-cheesy, hiding a rather good sized specimen in each divot. The toast was a bit of a misnomer however, as they were still quite soft. Entrees were good portioned, although we managed to be members of the clean plate club... which was probably not the best idea. The shrimp sandwiched between the two boneless trout fillets were huge buggers and quite firm and lightly coated, as were the fillets. The spinach was fresh and the roasted tomatoes quite flavorful. I think the trout was the surprise of the day - it was much better than I had expected. The butterscotch pudding was nice and light but here is where I wised up and decided to take most of it home. The brownie sundae, however had arrived in bitesized chunks with a tasty scoop of ice cream and a scattering of candied walnuts, and at least a pair of cherries - this was good as well. Good meal. Good service. But noise really carries in this room (we ate upstairs), so forget about having quiet conversation. Oh, another tidbit, I regretted forgetting to bring a cardigan. Yes, I know it is summer, but it was rather chilly in there!
(4)
Julie B.

Love this spot. Food is always delicious and they have a great drinks menu. Great for a girls night, date night or after work get together. Convenient location in a spot that doesn't have too many options!
(5)
Michaela K.

This is me and my boyfriend's favorite restaurant in Boston. We come here for special occasions, casual after-work dinners, every restaurant week, really any time we can think of an excuse. I have had so many things on the menu and pretty much all of them have been great! The only thing I wasn't particularly impressed with was the fish and chips (it wasn't bad, it just wasn't great like everything else here). Below are some standouts, although really everything is so good: - the bread you get before your meal - oysters! - Chicken under a brick - Sunday gravy - Portobello sandwich! (my favorite more inexpensive option on the menu) - Shrimp scampi - Escargot - French onion soup - Mac and cheese (unbelievable) - Trout (my boyfriend's absolute favorite and also a nice lighter meal option) The one thing that makes me endlessly sad is that they increased the price of oysters during their happy hours from $1 to $1.50! I was so disappointed about this. However, I still love love love Marliave, so that's not something to knock a star off for by any means!
(5)
Nicole M.

Amazing ambiance. Love the 1 oysters and how the food is served in silver platters...classy. I always sit at the bar and the service is amazing
(5)
Varuna S.

Don't let the quiet corner in which this place is nestled in or the somewhat dinginess of the restaurant fool you!! The food here is really awesome!! A small group of us went to here on a Thursday night for oyster happy hour (it's 9pm to 10pm folks). I have never eaten oysters before and my first experience with them was absolutely heavenly. We also decided to be adventurous and to try the Escargot, which was so decadent I was blown away. I also got the beets with roasted goat cheese and arugula, my husband got the sliders and we were already planning the next dinner here. I just wish the bill was easier on my wallet, then I wouldn't hesitate to eat here every Thursday!!
(5)
Sam O.

Quiet, dimly lit, 10 types of scotch, and $1 oysters during happy hour. In short: it's my kind of place.
(5)
Melinda A.

I came in last night with my husband, and sat at the upstairs bar. The place is old and cool, and feels like it's been there forever. Anyway, we had excellent service by a really great bartender, Chris, who was at once polite, friendly, and competent. He was making a hundred drinks, and serving about 8 tables without batting an eye or looking frazzled. I was never that good when I was a bartender.. Impressive. We had a dozen oysters (they are $1 dollar each from 9-10!!) and some great sliders, and, and a few other things, and everything was great.
(5)
Lauren M.

This place rocks! My fiancÃ© and I took a recent trip to Boston and even ventured in the snow to come here. Even during a storm this place was packed! I would definitely call this place a prime date spot! We had a table upstairs right by a window, which was very romantic. The place is dimly lit with candles on the walls, overall it is a cozy spot. We shared the roasted beet salad and the escargot- both were out of this world! For entrees we had the sunday gravy and the beef wellington. The sunday gravy had 3 types of braised meat in it and the homemade gnocchi was probably the best I've ever had. The beef wellington had the most buttery, flaky crust ever! Not to mention their cocktails were amazing!!! We were too full to opt for dessert but maybe next time were in town! Would HIGHLY recommend this place!!
(5)
Lindsey B.

French Quarter looking restaurant amongst downtown. Very cute ambience. Lunch wasn't anything fancy but I could tell the place is likely more a dinner place. Ordered the beef sandwich with homemade Boston baked beans. Both were delicious. Never had those beans and I could have made a meal out of them. So good!!
(3)
Anton P.

An OK experience. The restaurant space had a very unpleasant smell of an old building, it was dark, and tables are not very intimately placed. The menu is hard to read and understand, and is not very good. Items are also extremely overpriced.
(2)
Al K.

I went here for the first time with relatives who were visiting from out of town. We had the pleasure of dining outside on a beautiful afternoon, and everyone enjoyed their meals. I had the fish and chips, and that was excellent. My three-year-old niece ordered the macaroni and cheese. She couldn't eat it all, but the rest of us ate it for her; it was the best macaroni and cheese any of us had ever had.
(4)
Diane H.

Can I give this place a 3 1/2 star? I mean, it's not a 4 exactly..but not a 3... I came here on a saturday around 530 for some oysters. I did not realize it was such a fancy place---forgive me, I didn't even know i was going to get oysters, it was a last minute kinda thing! So after beaching, my friends and I came here, little did I know, a lot of us were actually going, 11 people!! We were seated on the ...2nd floor? There was only one other party besides us. Maybe he was here early on his date or something...or he just likes to dine alone. We got a long table---there were many people sitting outside, if only we had a small number! But we had ac so why am I complaining? Definitely just wanted to get oysters, and it was kinda awkward when the waiter was like...soo what would you guys like to order---for main course and what not, but we let him know we just wanted some oysters for now. I got a dozen Mass oysters...My oysters had a lot of liquid so I was kinda like..ehhh cause i had to use the sauce and the lemon, so there was just overwhelming amount of liquids. Their bread is pretty soft, I liked that, they always managed to refill my water..1$ oysters is a pretty good price, as with everyone else's specials, but i wouldn't pay 2.75 for it, i'd rather go a place that is really famous for oysters--this isn't it right?? I think if i ever come back, i'll just sit outside, so I don't have to be all dressed fancy and just grab a drink and oysters..and if all goes well, maybe a famous dish of theirs.
(3)
Joseph N.

This is my third time at Marliave; the food and atmosphere drew me back but after this time I don't think I will ever come again. 1)I came here for one-dollar oysters (between 4 and 6pm). I ordered 2 dozens and my friend and I only manage to finish 4. Why? The oysters reek of a rotten smell, shrunken and brown in color, drenchedin a cloudy, watery half shell. Need I say more to convince you that they were not fresh? I thought it's just how they look so I actually ate two to confirm. I had to spit them out. Waiter didn't even ask why we stopped eating. 2) I ordered their Scampi entree and the shrimp is soggy and not cooked. I didn't expect fresh caught shrimp but at least properly cooked. My friend told me its raw but I didn't want to be bias because of the oyster situation so I actually had to try myself. I chew it and swallow halfway until gag reflex saved me from ingesting this crap. The waiter asked if we wanted to bring this home. We politely declined, paid and tipped the establishment for serving trash to us. I hope this review save another unsuspecting patron(s). Only good thing is that they were dollar oyster.
(1)
Jesse M.

I love this place. We went a couple of weeks ago to kill some time before my office holiday party, it was probably the 6th time my girlfriend and I have been to Marliave in 18 months. On this trip we decided to keep things light with a round of oysters, some escargot and a couple of cocktails. As with each previous trip, the service was prompt, friendly and attentive. The escargot was rich and delicious, the oysters were clean and fresh and the drinks were crisp and refreshing. The atmosphere in this place is infectious. At first I thought it a little dark and dated but, as I've became more familiar with the history of the place and have continued to be impressed by the level of service coupled with the quality of the food, my initial misgivings have been replaced with an affection for the antique style light bulbs, the black and white tiled bathroom and floors worn from years of activity. We live in Cambridge and as opposed to something more accessible, somehow Marliave have solidified itself as a reliable standby whenever we feel like having a night out. Try the scrambled eggs, they will change your life.
(4)
Mindy M.

This is one of my very favorite tucked away little places in Boston. The outdoor dining area has all the touches- just the right plants, tables, chairs, seclusion. The food is excellent. Ordered the Pasta with Sunday Gravy thinking it was something else and thought it was great anyway. Skip the downstairs bar if you can. The bartender is lovely but the noise from the kitchen plus TV playing sports are kind of a drag. Upstairs bar is TV free and the room is beautiful.
(5)
Howard Y.

Me and 8 of my friends were passing through Boston after a trip to Maine and decided to grab dinner here. We sat down and asked for 8 dozen oysters and was expecting the waitress to give us funny looks but she was very nice and said "Oh wow, cool". After placing the order and all of us slurping down these delicious pieces of heaven we ordered another 4 dozen. How fantastic, we paid $144 for all of this and the were very fresh. No funky smells or tastes per the other reviews. How unfortunate for them. When the rest of the food came out we were all pretty much salivating at this point. The osso buco was amazing, the beef wellington was amazing, the beef tenderloin was amazing. We shared a few other dishes and they were all amazing. Celtics and Redsox are still crap though.
(5)
Tom G.

Dark, intimate interior. Not very friendly waitstaff but passable. Famous beef wellington was underdone pretty badly (rare but the pastry was also a bit raw on the inside). Came with a very extracted sauce. Steak frites had soggy fries. Fish and chips had good fries and was crispy. Cocktails were solid. Wine list is tiny and about 2-3x retail. Oysters were the highlight, as most people tend to note.
(3)
Michael S.

Good lord, this place was amazing. Drinks are $11, but worth every penny. Started with a little cheese plate, which was ridiculously good. For dinner, she got the "Sunday Gravy", which is gnocchi and lamb. I got Beef Wellington. Both were delicious. Our waitress helped us pick out some things, no complaints. The atmosphere wasn't douchy at all, for a nice place like this. We are making this place a regular stop, no doubt.
(5)
Phuong D.

I came here and had a besties dinner and it was one of their birthdays and she was turning 21. I had made the reservation through yelp (Thanks for the convenience Yelp!) & we were accommodated to our table with no problem. I had thought out a surprise plan for our other best friend to come out of the bathroom to our table to surprise the birthday girl, and the hosts went along with our idea and only brought 2 menus to the table, rather than 3. The surprise went really well, & it turned out to be emotional for the birthday girl! Besides the staff being so accommodating, the food was great! I ordered the steak-frites medium rare, and it was delicious! The steak was actually a little TOO red for me, but that's because this place cooked it exactly right to medium rare. Usually when I order medium rare anywhere else it's a more cooked. But i still loved the steak! My 2 friends got the Wellington & the Chicken. They both loved their dishes! I tried the Chicken & I fell in love. the skin is crispy & the meat was so tender and juicy! Best chicken EVERR. We had ordered the bottle of riesling & it was good. My friends also ordered cocktails on top of the wine & liked their drinks as well. I had to knock 1 star off for their $35 dollar cake cutting fee. That fee costs more than the cake itself. It was the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. I know that some pricier restaurants do that, but I am perfectly capable of cutting my own cake. It's not rocket science. So therefore, we didn't get to eat the cake. Booooo it was tiramisu from Finale too ... =( But otherwise, great food, drinks, & atmosphere! Will definitely go back sometime & order that chicken to myself. Not unless I'm craving steak again lol.
(4)
Tibo G.

Really nice French influenced restaurant. The overall space is nicely decorated and wide enough to accommodate a large number of people without being too loud or adding any promiscuity. The entrance is hidden but adds to the charm of the place. Food was great, definitely recommend the escargot (as a Parisian, that says a lot), and the wine selection was good. Sirloin and scallops were perfectly cooked. On top of that, staff was really helpful and amiable. All in all, I'd definitely recommend this place!
(5)
Joanna F.

I came in for my bachelorette party with a group of 12 other girls. My friends had dropped off some decorations earlier in the day and the staff had nicely decorated the table which was great. Delicious cheese plates and champagne were served immediately upon being seated, which was also a nice touch. I thought the restaurant really went above and beyond to make this a nice experience, although I didn't really remember even seeing the waitstaff during our meal, although everything was prompt and efficient. Food was good, but the menu was all over the place. I got a reuben...nothing special, but fine. The piece of pizza I tried was better than expected, but didn't blow me away. I can't comment on price since it was my bachelorette, hence I wasn't picking up the tab. I would definitely come back for a date night. Atmosphere was really romantic and I would be interested in trying more of the menu.
(4)
Jing Z.

I forgot to try the oyster. I love its Wellington steak, but the swordfish is not as good as Wellington. It has good environment and atmosphere. Very good location!
(4)
Jeremy K.

Had an impromptu dinner there with five other friends before we split and headed to a sporting event at the nearby TD Garden. Having had a pretty big lunch a few hours before, I entered the restaurant not too hungry. This restaurant is located on a very quiet street, a street that I've walked by many times and never even acknowledged. It is located at the far end of the street, on the right. They seem to have a terrace in the front but it was closed due to the fact that winter is pretty much upon us. We entered and were escorted to a table. Menus were brought, along with some olive oil, bread and some ice water. Some of my friends decided to get oysters; the waiter told them that they offered four different varieties and since four of them were going to be having some, they decided to get four each, for a total of sixteen. Marliave was running a special: $1 oysters and apparently each of them was pretty damn good. I decided to get something a bit different and one of their sandwiches caught my eye: the Mister Marliave, which is basically a ham and cheese sandwich. I then also noticed that I could add a fried egg on top of that, for an extra charge and it was instead known as the Misses Marliave. I went for that! In France such a sandwich would be called a Croque Madame and I haven't had one in years. Although most ham and cheese sandwiches are fairly dry, this one was wet and creamy. It was absolutely delicious, rich but not overwhelmingly so. The bechamel sauce that was in it was delicious and there seemed to be a hint of nutmeg in it. It clearly was not your typical Kraft cheddar and crappy deli cheese sandwich. This was, to this date, one of the best sandwiches that I've had in Boston. Along with it came a side salad which was well dressed and tasted wonderful. It was light and complemented the sandwich perfectly. I washed everything down with a German Weihestephaner Hefe Weissbier and it trully was a meal fit for a king. It was affordable too, costing me less than $20. The service was pretty good and they seemed to have some other wonderful, classic French dishes on their menu along with some interesting cocktails. I shall return to check them out and hopefully sooner than later.
(4)
Christine L.

I came here for oysters ($1 4-6pm everyday). Sat at the bar with the BF who ordered the truffle mac and cheese. Both were fine. Service was a little below average. Ambience also below average. It wasn't a bad experience, but I wouldn't recommend it.
(3)
Eliza W.

Great atmosphere! 1$ oysters were delicious! (9-10pm) It's hidden but worth it! Drinks are a little overpriced.
(4)
David Y.

I work a few blocks from Marliave and my company has had a number of small gatherings here. The restaurant itself is cool due to how old the actual building is. It gives off a really classy old vibe of what restaurants in Boston were like back in the day. The food itself here is pretty good. I've had a few different dishes and would recommend the Sunday gravy if I were going to pick one. However, there is NO better deal in Boston (or anywhere for that matter) than the 1$ oysters. They always have a good variety and they are fresh. They don't even turn a profit on them, but more use them to lure you in for the $8-$10 cocktails. And believe me it works...
(4)
Pete J.

***Restaurant Week Review*** First the food - 5 stars! Seriously more like 10 stars, great big selection for RW, perfectly cooked and perfect presentations. We were a party of five, and although some of us ordered the same thing, I was able to sample the following - Apps - Rarebit (cheese on toast), light and flavourful. Roast Beets with arugula. Oh so fresh. Mussels - massive, seriously entree sized. Entrees - Beef Wellington, the pastry literally melted in my mouth and the tenderloin was perfectly cooked. Steak Frites, my long-time favourite, another well-prepared steak, lots of flavour, even the frites were great. Scallops, star of the evening, melted like butter in my mouth. Desserts - The chocolate cake was the winner here, closely followed by the butterscotch pudding and the cheese plate. Service - 3 stars. A couple of issues dropped the score for me here. First we arrived bang on time for our reservation, but they didn't have a table ready for us and could not tell us when one would be ready. (Reservation?) We spotted a table in the bar area and snagged that ourselves. The server took an incredibly long time to come to the table and take our order, and when she did come, she asked, "Is everyone going to order the restaurant week menu?" as she looked at her watch! Wow! Sorry, are we keeping you from something? The third issue which irked me was the wine list consisted of about 5 bottles of red wine. They were out of my first two selections (Urgh!). To her credit, the manager came over, apologized and suggested another wine - but the suggested wine was a million miles away from the two that I had wanted, so I reluctantly ordered 2 bottles of a $100 wine that I really didn't want, but was left with little choice. So, food 5 stars, service 3 stars, average 4 stars.
(4)
Hillary C.

Excellent place to stop after or before a show. Great oyster selection, excellent mussels and a great assortment of wine and cocktails - you can even choose your pour size. Highly recommend
(4)
Barbara A.

After hearing so much about this place, I finally got a chance to go and experience this establishment. My hubby works around the corner so he and I popped in for Lunch during the week. The whole $1 oysters happy hour and night time cocktails was not experienced, so maybe my review or star rating will be different. I did partake of an iced tea and it was not good - I had to ask for sweetener because it was almost to the point of bitter. I ordered the fish and chips and they were light, crispy, and good fish. I have to say the fist was not consistent tasting throughout but it was ok ... but not for that price. We sat up top and there were maybe two other tables that had people and our server could not have been less interested in any of us. Dude, I know you work at a trendy resto, but put in some effort.
(3)
Cliff B.

I loved this place! The food was excellent, as was the service. The menu had a wide range of dishes to choose from, and though I only got to try two entrees ( I had some of my fiancÃ©e's ravioli ) what I saw at other tables looked great. I had the rabbit tenderloin wrapped in prosciutto, and it was delicious! The salted caramel ice cream was fantastic as well. The prices were very reasonable. We can't wait to go back!
(5)
Kacey B.

I was first introduced to Marliave during a Dollar Oyster hour. I have returned regularly and miss it when I don't. Service has only been satisfactory/good/excellent when I've sat at the bar or upstairs. I enjoy the atmosphere as it has 1920s French bistro decor. I go late mostly on weekdays, reservation recommended for weekends. Despite the Dollar Oysters the prices are more than moderate however you'll appreciate that wine that compliments those particular oysters. Their drinks are great! Creative mixed cocktails too. And I had thought I didn't like oysters.
(4)
Michelle B.

My husband and I had an absolutely incredible meal at Marliave!! The only downside about the whole thing was that we missed the oyster happy hour, but I had some anyway. Divine! As an appetizer we had something called 'rarebits' which involved melted cheese and bacon that we dipped bread into. So bad, but sooooo good. My meal was scallops and pea ravioli and was also incredible. I can't remember what my husband had, but it really doesn't matter. We had zero complaints. We also had cocktails which were great. We elected a liquid dessert, so we didn't try their traditional dessert menu. Our waitress was very friendly and helpful when we were undecided on our choices. We will definitely return to Marliave when we go back to Boston!
(5)
Te R.

very good cocktail. my cocktail snob boyfriend agrees. very good ambiance. very nice to come after work to unwind over cocktail drinks. and yes dollar oysters are the best thing ever. not sure about the hours. it's during the day on the weekend and around happy hour time on the weekday. come in the summer and sit in the patio and have some oysters.
(4)
Bryan M.

These glowing reviews (not to mention a "moderate" price range) must be driven by the oyster happy hour. Later in the night, there is nothing superlative (or inexpensive) about Marliave. Their steak frites was passable, although with very soggy fries. Sunday Stew was entirely bland. Our cocktails were not only pricey but stingy. All this would be okay if the restaurant didn't take itself so seriously. The experience of eating there is entirely pretentious and underwhelming. Give Marliave a pass.
(2)
David C.

Marliave is the fourth oldest restaurant in Boston, eh? Has it always been this good? And how is it that I just heard of it? Restaurant Week is a great way to try Marliave for the first time, as they offer almost their entire regular menu to build a three-course meal from. I had the rarebits, wellington, and ice cream trio, which normally would have cost $54 a la carte. There may have been a little skimping here and there (that pastry wasn't exactly bursting with foie gras), but for the discounted price of $33.12, I'll take it. Atmosphere was classy and elegant, and service, while a little slow, was exemplary. A waitress with personality is rare in these parts, but Ginger is in a class all her own.
(4)
Christopher B.

First time I've had Beef Wellington and I've been blown away. Had it with a Trapper Ale local brew and it just elevated the dish. The Wellington was nice and firm with great sauce. The atmosphere there was casual and friendly. The people hosting and serving were courteous. It was a real treat.
(5)
Mia S.

First stumbled upon Marliave about six years ago before it's update. Even then, when there were about two other patrons in the place, and everything was run down, you could appreciate the vintage fixtures and imagine how beautiful it was at its height. The restoration looks amazing and I highly recommend grabbing a cocktail, enjoying their dollar oysters, and pretending you're in Boardwalk Empire. Good on the owner who saw this place for what it could be and made it so. The bartenders were nice to boot.
(4)
M N.

We have been to Marliave several times. We prefer the second floor. Nice restaurant and good food. Good ambiance. Great for a romantic or quiet business lunch or dinner. I don't say they have the best food but I like the ambiance and location.
(4)
Andrew H.

Although the Yelp community has rated Marliave's price range at two dollar signs, be prepared to spend about $100 for two people. Marliave does some things INCREDIBLY well and other things alright. Let me first tell you what my fiance and I ordered with some ratings. Appetizers ($1 Raw Bar): Complementary Bread * 4 Raw Oysters ***** 1 Raw Little Neck Clam *** Escargot **** Main Course: Ossobucco (Berkshire Pork) **** Beef Wellington **** Dessert: Caramel Tapioca Pudding *** Complimentary Bread - Plain (untoasted) white bread with two olives and oil. Didn't like it at all. Oysters - I ordered 1 of each variety. They were soo delicious, much better than the oysters i've had at sushi bars, and served on a nice platter of ice with plenty of presliced lemon wedges. The only thing I didn't like was that one variety was practically the size of a dime. Get the biggest ones if you actually know your oyster varieties. For $1 a piece, don't hesitate! Clam - It was very fishy tasting which I actually didn't like as much. Escargot - Very wonderful but pricey at $13. There's only 6 pieces submerged in oil and cheese but damn are they good. They're also served with far yummier toasted bread (unlike the complimentary bread). Ossobucco - While it was not veal like normal ossobucco, the pork was extremely tender (no knife needed!) and served with a delicious assortment of fingerling potatoes, brussel sprouts, and some bell peppers. Very generous portion and for about $30, i'd say it was worth it. Beef Wellington - Now this is where things get complicated. This is prepared deliciously rare and hands down was the best textured steak i've ever had. It was soooo soft, lacked any sort of disgusting, unchewable sinew that I am so used to, and was so beautifully thick that I daydreamed about it on the way back home. On the other hand, it strangely lacked flavor, and the Puff Pastries that it was wrapped it felt very soggy. This is a winner. There's no sides but that piece of meat can stand on its own. Tapioca Pudding - Ridiculously sweet and creamy, just like condensed milk. My first three bites were heaven but after that i felt like I was overloaded. Simply too rich for my palate. Oh yeah, and the presentation was classy as hell. I've never actually been to a place that lifted the lids off your plates! Very nice touch. Nice ambiance, very attentive service, and the best beef quality ever. From the outside it looks kinda "meh" but boy will you be surprised by some of its dishes. What keeps Marliave from being a 5-star joint? Not much, actually. My beef needs more flavor. My tapioca needs less flavor! Give me better complimentary bread. I think that's it :-P.
(4)
Kelsey T.

Sat outside on a hot Friday evening and had a delicious meal! Great location, with a nice patio tucked between many buildings. No wait at 8:30pm, which was greatly appreciated, and we had the option of sitting indoors our outdoors. The butterscotch ginger pudding was delicious, probably the best part. Though the meals were tasty too, just bit on the high range for a $$ place.
(4)
Sarah W.

The Marliave is one of those places in Boston that you just don't stumble upon by accident. You either research it on Yelp, or someone tells you about it. Overall, I think it's a great place with good food and a great vibe. Standouts: Cocktails. The Marliave was a prohibition-era place, and they've continued in that tradition. Cocktails are creative and interesting, and always delicious. The bartenders know what they're doing here, so either get one of their custom drinks or order something fancy. This is not the place to get a rum and coke. Also standout: Oysters. The Marliave has dollar oysters every single day from 4-6 pm and then I think from 9-10 pm. They are good quality, fresh, and delicious. The champagne mignonette that comes with them is particularly delicious. Everything else is good, but my favorite experience at the Marliave is to go sit upstairs on a summer afternoon and sip a delicious cocktail while gorging myself on oysters.
(4)
David S.

Came here to grab lunch on the weekend. Both of us got sandwiches that where excellent. The French fries are amazing! Fresh herbs and even asked for some aioli which the waitress kindly brought over.
(5)
Christina C.

My boyfriend and I went to Marliave for the first time during restaurant week. Holy. Moly. We will definitely going back. The decor was cozy, but romantic. The staff - extremely friendly. The food - out of this world. For appetizers, my boyfriend had the Meatball Sliders and I had the Mussels. I was honestly surprised at the amount of mussels in the order, and the meatball in the meatball sliders may have been some of the best I've ever tasted. Our entrees also did not disappoint. I had the Diver Scallops and my boyfriend had the Sunday Gravy. Not only did the waitress substitute the whipped potatoes that my entree was supposed to come with a side of mixed greens (I'm really not a potato fan - like, at all) and the fresh Gnocchi in the Sunday Gravy blew me away. Dessert was literally the icing on the cake - I had the truffles, which were so rich I could only eat 2 out of the 4, and my boyfriend had the chocolate cake with homemade ice cream which was absolutely to die for. Needless to say we will definitely be back.
(5)
Emily G.

Marliave reminds you this town has deep roots. Older than dirt, the restaurant oozes history from the last two centuries - former brothel and/or speakeasy? If these walls could talk, indeed. The main level has all the charm of the restaurant's past life, complete with tile floors, tin ceiling, and a lovely marble top on the bar. This is where you'll find me, sipping libations from the extensive cocktail menu. My favorite may be the Molasses Flood (rum, lime juice, and of course, molasses), though it's not difficult to be swayed by other drinks. At $10 each, the cocktails aren't unreasonable, but can certainly add up after a few. The food menu covers a wide span of Europe - French classics like Steak Frites ($21) to English staples of Beef Wellington ($31), and even Italian with the Sunday Gravy (gnocchi with beef, lamb, and pork, $18). While dining upstairs, the fork and knife culinary delights are spectacular. At the bar, however, I find a well-crafted sandwich like the Mrs. Marliave (Croque Madame elsewhere, $11) or the Reuben ($14) with a side salad is the excellent complement to tasty drinks and pleasant chats with the bartender. My one big wish is to do away with the downstairs flat screen. It just doesn't fit the old school digs. Nevertheless, Marliave is a perfect date spot to keep things on the casual side with a great ambiance, even while sitting at the bar.
(4)
Ashley H.

Love love love this place. Food, service and atmosphere are all above par. It is a little pricy but you definitely get what you pay for. I recommend the beef Wellington and escargot. If you haven't already you need to try this place.
(5)
Ernie C.

Went with group of 14 people (with reservation). Wonderful table in center of main dining room, with great views, plenty of room. Service was stupendous: friendly, helpful, responsive. Everyone in the group raved about it. Menu is highly varied and imaginative, food was great. Drinks list was fun and imaginative. Some of the appetizers were a little small, but extremely tasty. Entrees were fantastic. Wine list seems a little over-priced, but good variety. Dessert menu could use some more variety and imagination. Definitely a keeper -- we'll be back.
(4)
Jessica I.

Went for a date night during restaurant week. Phenomenal food! For apps we had mac & cheese and rarebits. Rarebits are something I wish I didn't know existed - cheese, bacon and bread all in on skillet?! Good lord. Mac was good, but I was happy with my rarebit selection. Chicken under a brick was fantastic, really crispy and salty but not dried out at all. Mushroom risotto was tasty too. My dining companion had steak frites and it was cooked perfectly medium rare. He didn't make use of the gorgonzola butter, which I think is a crying shame, but he's a simple man. Fries were good and well-seasoned. I've already requested to return for my birthday so that I can have a candle plopped right on top of the butterscotch pudding and get my own steak frites and slather it with gorgonzola butter. The pudding was such a good dessert that I was sad when it was gone. Cocktail list is really interesting. I had the WC Fields with Pimm's No. 1 Cup, lemon and cucumber. Normally I'm a beer drinker but I had to dock a star because Marliave doesn't have any beers on tap, and frankly, I find that weird.
(4)
Morgan P.

I stopped in here because I insisted on having some fish while in Boston for the weekend. We missed the happy hour special but that didn't stop us from ordering a dozen oysters on the half shell. The oysters were served with cocktail sauce and champagne-shallot vinaigrette. The oysters were ah-maz-ing. AMAZING. They converted some of my "I don't like raw oyster" friends in one slurp. If I lived in Boston I would be hitting up their happy hour like it was my job. So please, do me the favor of not spoiling this opportunity and make a happy hour reservation stat. The only yah-but about this restaurant was that the service was sloppy. Our waitress was a little scatter brained (and covered in food?) and served us a dozen and a half oysters. In hindsight we should have been more devious and gobbled up the extra but in our confusion we sent the extra six packing. They also told us like 3 times that we missed happy hour, thanks for the reminder that I could have saved twenty dollars.
(4)
Jon D.

Had a great time. It was Boston restaurant week and the good was tremendous. The beef carpaccio was amazing!
(5)
Johnna M.

Marliave, with its excellent food and classy/trendy atmosphere, has every reason to be stuffy and uptight yet somehow it is downright homey-the perfect place to relax. It's like being in my apartment, if my apartment were a French Bistro, which it isn't at all! The paradox of being too cool for school while also remaining completely comfortable is what is making Marliave my new hot spot. I have been here twice in the last week, once for dinner and once for $1.00 oysters, and both times were excellent. I know those of us who are into the whole food scene are not supposed to be into chicken, but you know what? I'm really into chicken lately and pan roasted chicken under a brick with risotto hit the spot. The chicken was moist and fell off the bone and the risotto had whole gloves of garlic in it. Delightful for me and terrible for people I had to see after! I longed for sarah d's steak frites and attacked her french fries, which were well seasoned and drowning in au jours. (DROWNING SARAH! I HAD to save them!) Bread before the meal was perhaps the best bread I've had in the city. I can't place why-just light, delicious and soaked in olive oil with whole olives hanging out in it. Definitely set the stage for an outstanding dining experience. Cocktail list is extensive and named after historical figures. I tried the Ulysses S. Grant, a refreshing vodka berryish drink and the Warren G. Harding, a rye drink with a strong taste of mint. Both were interesting and fun, both to drink and order in a dorky tone. Which brings me to another reason I dig this place so much, the bartending staff are just so nice and great at what they do. (Only sat at the bar so can't speak for table service) Warm staff and tasty food and drink in a completely frills atmosphere will keep me coming back again and again. Oh yeah, and $1.00 oysters. That's just nice.
(5)
Andrew D.

Good ambiance and, although it feels a little snooty at times, Marliave backs it up with good food and a nice upscale atmosphere. I've been in a just-drinks setting and for dinner with a client, and walked away pleased both times. For dinner, I had the Osso Bucco and boy was it fantastic. Perfectly prepared The staff at Marliave are enthusiastic, and knowledgable of the menu -- two things that I like to think are essential to a good restaurant experience. I also really like the cocktails and have made my way through several of the cocktails on the menu and have yet to be disappointed. The bourbon-based cocktails are a personal preference and I like the Blind Pig quite a lot. Others I've dined with have enjoyed the Dove and the Molasses flood. Outdoor seating on a nice day, and dollar oysters if you're into that kind of thing, round out a very nice evening in the city.
(4)
Cristy M.

Great wine, oysters, and cocktails. This is one of the few places where I will allow a gin based cocktail to pass my lips. In addition to the oysters, be sure to the have the French Onion soup; it's a meal all on it's own. During the summer months, there is patio seating outside. Arrive early to get dibs or make a reservation.
(4)
G N.

Searching for lunch in Boston, we went here as it was nearby, and Yelp said it was good and not too expensive. However, I have to say we were disappointed in this place. First off, it was more expensive than we were expecting; at $15-$20 for sandwiches and $25-$30 for entreees, Yelp's $$ should really be $$$ The service was ok -- a little indifferent, but did the job. I was underwhelmed by the food, however. The highlight was the beet salad -- that was pretty good, with candied nuts adding a thoughtful touch. After that, though, things went downhill. Husband had the pastrami sandwich, which was a small roll with pastrami and cheese unimaginatively piled on it. If this had been $10 or less, that would have been acceptable, but at $15 it seemed far far overpriced for the size. It tasted pretty good, if simple, but there just wasn't really enough of it to justify the price tag. On the flipside, I had the Mr Marliave, which did not have size problems. It was gigantic. But, with ham and cheese and thick layer of bernaise and then MORE cheese -- it was just too much. I love rich food, but after about half the sandwich my stomach couldn't handle any more. There was no artistry or delicacy to it, just... a lot of stuff. Overall, I feel this is one Yelp led us astray on.
(3)
Melisa C.

I came here during restaurant week on a Friday night to celebrate my birthday with my family. We had made 8 pm reservations a few weeks in advance and called the night before to see if they had any earlier time slots open. Luckily they did and we snagged a 6 pm reservation. We arrived at 5 pm to enjoy the $1 oyster happy hour and were seated at our table for dinner. The oysters were great (Wellfleet, Duxbury, and 1 other), and everyone enjoyed them. For dinner we were told by our waitress that we were not allowed to share any of our food. I understand why, but it's slightly annoying to not be able to enjoy and share your food. Our group ordered different items consisting of: Appetizers: Rarebits (melted farmhouse cheeses, lager, Vermont bacon, toasted bread): great Henry's Soup (French onion, gruyere, short ribs, croutons): pretty good Beets: good Escargot: pretty good Main course: Sunday gravy: good Scallops: (4 total scallops...great. I'm not a huge fan of sweet potato in general, but if you are I'm sure you would enjoy the sweet potato ravioli Wellington: 3 ordered this and the reviews were somewhat mixed. I had a bite of this after having had a bite of my scallops and was disgusted by the flavor. It may have been the aftertaste of the scallops mixing with the sweet pastry and the red meat, but either way it took only 1 bite for me to not want to try it again. I was also told that the pastry was somewhat soggy. Trout: pretty good Dessert: Box of truffles: good Ice cream: great combination...blueberry not the greatest but the salted caramel was good. Chocolate cake: very good Overall the food was pretty good. Restaurant week is a good excuse to visit!
(4)
Chris M.

Very French, low lighting and perfect for a romantic dinner. Oysters 1/2 price between 9 and 10pm. Best ravioli I've ever had!! I would also recommend the beet salad.
(4)
Deborah H.

They have the most incredible dollar oyster/clam special here, not once, but TWO times a day (4-6PM and 9-10PM). On a nice day I highly recommend sitting outside and enjoying a prosecco + some shellfish +complimentary bread during the earlier time period. On a not-so-nice-day, make a late dinner reservation (8:30ish) to take advantage of the second time period. They've never been annoyed or given me 'ttude about this; service has always been great. Also I was able to make a last minute reservation for a large party on a Saturday with on issues at all, so consider this place for big groups! To be honest I've never ordered an actual dish here before, but I have shared a bunch of sides, which are quite tasty. Great fries, asparagus, and brussels sprouts... Yum.
(5)
Lala I.

decent food and services
(4)
Val C.

My family and I were looking for a place to have a late dinner and I remember going to Marliave for drinks about 20 years ago; we loved the experience. Fast forward to last night. We were at the Opera House for a show and had a 9:30 reservation afterward. When we arrived, we were seated in the bar. Already, I was disappointed. Why couldn't we sit in the dining room? We didn't make a stink but I was really irritated that the TV in the bar was turned up so that we could hear the football game along with the music that was also playing. We ordered a bottle of wine. As we waited for what seemed like an eternity, someone came over with a flat plate holding five green olives. They were rolling around in a puddle of liquid, no serving utensil to speak of. It was almost impossible not to spill the oil onto the table as we passed around our single olive to hold us over until we got our wine. 10 minutes later, no wine. 15 minutes later, no wine. 20 minutes later - yes - 20 minutes later - our wine arrived. Finally, we ordered our food. The $1 oysters really were a hit, as many have mentioned in previous reviews. We also ordered the mussels and polenta. both of which were fine. I was really excited to try Beef Wellington for the first time. My sister ordered fish-n-chips, another sister ordered the Reuben, and my mom ordered a hamburger. Gratefully, our food arrived in a reasonable amount of time. Overall, the food was ok. The Beef Wellington - meh. Not memorable at all and I am pretty sure there was no foie gras. It's just as well as I shouldn't be eating that anyway. My mom's burger had a strange and unpleasant texture. The fish'n'chips and reuben were a hit. With our bellies full and a bit of a drive ahead of us, we prepared to order a cup of coffee and a dessert. The waitress took our order for salted caramel ice cream and coffees all the way around. A few moments later she returned to tell us that there was no coffee brewed and if we wanted to we'd have to wait 15 minutes. Really? All in all, disappointing. With these high prices and no aroma of good things cooking (we actually noticed a urine smell wafting through) we won't be going back.
(2)
Sean O.

An excellent spot for dinner. Dinner for two...it really is a nice old-world experience with some good seafood. Escargot are lovely...dripping in garlic. Oysters dance down your throat. The bar is fantastic and often times would end up sitting there and staying there while waiting for a table. Sit down dinner, it's great. Now if you're to have a few folks gather around the bar and dip into collective appetizers, well it's not great for that as appetizer portions are small. Elegant and delicate but not made for the fistful grab. But they're not a restaurant for all things so that's not on them. It's great. Good food and very nice laid back service and bar-staff. It's a select spot in its location downtown for sure.
(5)
Yuan W.

I came here seeking dollar oysters and Marliave did not disappoint. They have $1 oysters from 4-6pm and 9-10pm every day, which is a great deal. The oysters a big, juicy and fresh, not that tiny crap that some restaurants serve when they have oyster deals. For that alone I'd come here exclusively if I lived closer by. Another notable thing about Marliave is its inventive cocktails: marliave.com/menus/drinkâ€¦ You can try drinks like the Boston Tea Party "Don't Tax Our Tea" tequila, earl grey, ginger beer and lemon. I also like the Waterloo "Napolean's Defeat to a British General". The entrees and other food are all decent, but the oysters are definitely the highlight of this place. If you plan to come on a Friday or Saturday night, definitely make a reservation since it can get busy. The upstairs seating is a pretty cute and cozy area, and you get a nice bird's eye view of the local neighborhood streets.
(4)
stephanie c.

I'm always looking to try new restaurants and given the positive reviews from numerous people..I was excited to try this place. IT is located on a sort of ally-ish street, a little creepy. However, the ambiance in the restaurant upon arrival is cozy, romantic, and fun. Definitely makes you feel like you found a hidden gem for the locals. Unfortunately the service and food was lacking. While our server was very friendly and super bubbly..here is where things went bad. I ordered the famous Wellington and my boyfriend had a fish special. Now I am a meat lover and always have my steaks med-rare. The server made sure I was okay with med-rare, which I was. The food arrived and when cutting into the pastry puff of the Wellington it was a rare rare...as in all cold red inside. I tried to take a few bites, but felt like I was eating a steak of sashimi. I waved over the server and asked if she could cook it a tad longer as I was hoping for a med-rare steak inside. Quick apologies and she left. So I was twindling my thumbs trying to be polite as my bf finished his entire fish. 20 min....30min...40 min passed-nothing. Then the manager walks by to clear the plates and utensil and as she grabs my utensil I look at her and tell her...I still haven't had my main course. Odd glances at me and she hurries away. 10 min later the server plops down a small round steak. No pastry puff, no sauce. I looked at my plate puzzled actually thinking they gave me someone's filet accidentally. I asked the server to come by and she said that this is what happens when you ask to recook a Wellington. ??? I should have just ordered a plain filet in that case. Again the manager apologizes and rushes to remake the entire thing....now my bf has finished his meal over an hr ago and I'm still waiting for mine with a much diminished appetite. Salad on the house while waiting and a complimentary dessert. Finally it came, I ate it....unimpressed. Left shortly after. Not sure if this is a one time glitch, but obviously wasn't impressed with my experience in service or food. As cute as the restaurant is and with all the great yelp reviews, I think I'll still need much convincing to return.
(1)
Ashley D.

highlights: $1 oysters and great cocktails. $1 for all local Mass oysters from 4-6pm every weekday. cheap and fresh. it was pretty empty on the day we went in which was great. we enjoyed sitting at the bar, chatting with the bartender, and watching some football. the drinks or "libations" as they call them were all extremely unique and very delicious. around $11 each and totally worth the money. it's also in a perfect location right in the heart of downtown. i definitely want to go back to try some of the other appetizers and items on the dinner menu as well...
(4)
Grace W.

It feels like a secret find in downtown Boston. This lovely spot is hidden in an alley, which you can access from one end up a set of mysterious-but-lovely iron-fenced stairs. Inside, there's a classic, but cozy feel that's perfect for any occasion: girls' night, date night, bro night, after-shopping drink, etc. It doesn't seem very big, although I think there is more upstairs. They had a nice wine list and the most awesome happy hour of $1 oysters every day from 4-6p. The food around me smelled really good and while it's quite expensive on the humongous-font-ed menu, I'd come back to try it.
(5)
Nathan T.

Went here for a work lunch and was NOT disappointed. It can be tough finding a "non pub" restaurant in the Financial District, this was a definite gem. Kind of a fine dining experience but I thought the prices were quite reasonable as you get what you pay for. Our group ordered the mac & cheese appetizer (highly recommended via foursquare), the bacon fat roasted brussel sprouts side, the portabella mushroom sandwich, the fish and chips and the chopped salad. Rave reviews were given all around though the portabella sandwich was a bit hard to eat (slippery). The frites that came with the fish and chips were amazing - and the complimentary bread/olive plate that came with lunch was sparse but quite tasty. (Only four olives for a table of five? I bet you could find one more olive somewhere Marliave!) We'll definitely be coming back here - looks like a great place for oysters and drinks in the summer. We didn't have a problem AT ALL with the service. The hostesses could use a little polish, but the waitstaff was right on - never had to wait, always water and coffee at the ready.
(4)
J. K.

I'd definitely come back here. My old roomie took me here (she moved to Boston and hence we are no longer roomies). The ambiance and service are absolutely fantastic. There are two floors: the bottom floor is much more bar-like, and the top floor is a very nice (and big) dining area. There are windows all around, and that's a quaint feeling, especially during Christmastime when flurries fall. The cocktail list is truly impressive. As we were here on the 80th anniversary of the end of prohibition, I ordered a delicious gin cocktail: I forgot what it was called, but it included muddled cucumbers, egg whites, and chili powder. I mean, really, what could go wrong with that? Anyway, that was delicious. I also ordered steak and fries. And OH MY GOD the fries were some of the best that I have had. They were shoestring, and seasoned so perfectly. Had I known, I may have just ordered a full plate of fries. The steak was good too, don't get me wrong, but DO NOT leave here without at least someone at your table getting fries. Truly out of this world. I was too full for dessert. (Actually, my roomie wanted to leave and isn't big on dessert anyway. Had things been different, I would have definitely ordered some gooey chocolate goodness.) Great place to go for dinner, whether you're with one person or ten. It's the kind of place that's great for any occasion/accommodation.
(4)
David M.

I've been to the Marliave a number of times both by myself and with friends. I can definitely say that I've been satisfied every time I've left there. As is pretty much expected, some dishes are better than others. The sliders as an appetizer were pretty on-par with most bar food. The Fish and Chips were pretty average, though not bad...so was the hamburger. I think the chicken was decent. However, as many will say here, I don't think the appeal of this restaurant lies in the entrees, but in the oysters and drinks. The $1 oyster/clam special really can't be beat. There are 4 different types of oysters. Honestly, I can't taste the difference between them. But they are so good when eaten with a glass of wine or your a mixed drink. You need to come in from 4-5 or 9-10, but it's so worth it. It works out quite well actually as you can plan to go there before or after your regular dinner. As for the drinks, they are excellent! I've tried the Henry, 1875, and Tres Curieux and was satisfied each time with the exquisite balance of flavor. Also, the service at the bar is great. If you're sitting down in the restaurant, the upper level has a great view of downtown. I cannot recommend this place more highly to anyone who wants to spend an afternoon or evening simply relaxing and having some oysters and drink. I come here often for that very purpose. Enjoy!
(4)
Charlie U.

We had heard from Friends that the food at Marliave was spectacular, so we decided to give it a try. To be sure, we were quite pleased with the dining experience. My date had the mussels and I had the carpaccio. They were great. For entrees, she had the mushroom risotto, which was just OK - plated funny with no garnish, making it look a little like mush. I had the signature Sunday Gravy, which wasn't as heavy as I had thought. A good meal. Marliave is a little pricy, especially when you consider the restaurant's location (at the end of an alley-like street off Tremont with limited parking options. The interior is not much to look at either. The food was great, but for that $, I'd probably go somewhere else.
(3)
Nicole B.

Great atmosphere with friendly, prompt service. The bread was delicious and chewy and the mac and cheese appetizer was really good as well. I had the ravioli, which was plentiful and flavorful. The entrees are served under a silver dome, which added an almost amusing level of formality to the trendy, business-casual tone of the restaurant.
(4)
Ryan S.

A downtown favorite. Dollar oysters every day before 6:00 PM. Love the cocktails and truffle fries. Great service from the bartender.
(4)
Jae Sung J.

EXTREMELY SALTY PIZZA!!! EVER!!!!!!!!! Ruined our trip!!!!!! You're right. Oysters are only $1 each between 4-6. Just order oysters if you have to go. (remember, there are other restaurants that sell an oyster for $1.) Maybe it's just us who think the pizza is salty. Please go there and order pizza ($15, and add peperoni for $2)and try it for us. Please let us know how it was like after you try.
(1)
Kelsey C.

Marliave is quietly tucked away from the touristic hustle and bustle of DTX, and the ambiance is ideal for a girl's night dinner with friends or a casual business dinner. Just bear in mind that the quiet fails to drown out friends with no filter, and the ample lighting is a no-go for dates who look better with the lights off. The Mussels were plump and juicy, chewy but not hard, clearly cooked but not yet victim to oversteam. A sizable appetizer for two, a palate-whetter for four. My least favorite dish was the Rabbit. The rabbit was hard and dry, the chicken sausage was unremarkable, and they just seemed like a very random combination. The polenta was perfect and clearly stole the show. The Diver Scallops and the Chicken were well-made but not at all memorable, and I'm not sure I would order either again... The Sunday Gravy was probably my favorite dish. Under that sheath of red sauce lies a plethora of savory meats. I'm not a fan of spontaneity, and I just don't do surprises, but I liked that I never knew which meat I would taste with each bite... I actually like Marliave more than some of its higher-rated competitors. I'd readily return for the serene setting and the polished, old-school glamour. Each dish was presented to beautifully with clear organization and clever aesthetics, so how is it possible that each dish was so disjointed within? Then again, there is a reason Marliave is one of Boston's oldest restaurants, and I dare you to find out for yourself.
(3)
James A.

I've been here a bunch of times, always with a group, and have very fond memories of each occasion. Marliave have done a wonderful time each time. It's tucked away which kind of adds to the whole experience. The food, the drinks, the ambience -- just great. A few dishes stand out in my memory: the Beef Wellington; figs wrapped in prosciutto -- admittedly, only three of them, it was mostly salad, but they tasted great. And a chicken risotto that was done really, really well. It's pretty expensive, and it's not fast, but the food was all great. There is but one blemish in my dining experiences here, and I wish to recount it because it was mildly hilarious. The mains often come out under a sliver dish (very French!) with a big reveal all done simultaneously across the table. Except this time, the wait staff must have gotten the placement of the dishes somewhat confused, because they'd put the plates down in front of us (but still with the silver lids on), before the head waiter came out and started rearranging where the plates sat. It felt like one of those games at the show where you have to guess which cup the $2 coin is under. Somehow -- and I still don't know how he managed to do it -- he corrected it such that when the silver covers were taken off, everyone's orders were right. But that very amusing image of the plates with their silver covers being arranged in front of us will be one that I expect will stay with me for some time yet.
(4)
Kaitlyn O.

Went on Feb 28, 2014 with me and my fiance. We had made a reservation but showed up 30 minutes early on a Friday night and they seated us right away which was nice. Ordered scallops as entree which were good but not great. My fiance order the rabbit dish which I wouldn't recommend. The atmosphere is very nice and the food is good, but not great. Same with the service - good but not great.
(4)
Michelle C.

First time visit, Went w/ the husby and another couple for dinner on a Saturday night. Started out w/ Rarebits...cheesy bacon goodness in a cast iron pan...mmmmmm. Caprese salad was excellent, although, wished there was more balsamic vinaigrette on the plate, the green & red tomatoes were so juicy! Also ordered the meatball sliders, which I didn't try, but everyone said they were great and they looked so cute! a medium size well-seasoned meatball in between mini-crusty-burger buns with just the right amount of sauce (says husby) For entrees, I had the steakfrites...oooh, the Gorgonzola butter was so tasty and the rosemary fries sopped up the steak juice and were so good. The steak portion wasn't that big, but that's probably a good thing, since we pigged out on apps. Husby had the Sunday Gravy which he really liked and my friend had the scampi, which she said was good, but nothing to write home about. We also got a side of the risotto which was really disappointing. It was undercooked and there were hardly any mushrooms in there. Dessert menu was lacking, we ended up getting cake & ice cream, fresh berries and a scoop of coffee ice cream. everything was pretty standard, nothing really stood out. The ice cream had a weird texture to it and felt like it was missing something. Service was good, loved how they they delivered the entrees in silver covered dishes and then did the big reveal all at once. Didn't like how soda's weren't free refills. Overall, was nice nice experience, would definitely give it a second visit. PS Website has outdated menu, most items were on there, but not all.
(4)
Molly L.

I came here on a Friday at 5 PM just to try out the $1 oysters (from 4-6PM, 9-10PM daily). There were 4 different types of oysters (I honestly can't remember their names..) but all were prepared very nicely- clean, and with 2 types of toppings. The $1 oysters are honestly a steal and me and my spouse ended up eating 16 of them.. for a good price of $17 :) I can't really rate the other food, but I definitely recommend the oysters!
(4)
Lara L.

Just finished here and absolutely loved it. Appetizers: Oysters, escargot, rare bits all delicious. Brunch mains: Rabbit and Musses. The sauce on the mussels was just absolutely stunning. The escargot wasn't overcooked and was just perfect. We had two bloody mary's and 2 cocktails as well which were well priced and expertly made. Perfect balance of flavors. Service was great and we had the whole place to ourselves upstairs for today's (Sunday) brunch. We'll be back often :) Our favorite brunch spot in Boston so far. Especially over the more trendy places we've tried in the South End that just seem over hyped.
(5)
Daniel A.

This is a great spot for lunch on the outside patio, and even better at night for a romantic dinner upstairs. These guys have been in business since 1875, wow. There are plenty of tasty items to choose from on this menu, and if you get there during happy hour (4-6pm) you can eat oysters for $1 each, while sipping on some great wine, champagne or beer. The cheese plate changes weekly and the variety and taste of the cheeses is wonderful. As far as main courses go, there really are a lot to choose from. I always recommend getting the chefs special.
(4)
Brian B.

No complaints, food was good, not stellar. the view was nice. You can probably find a better place to eat around Boston for the price. but if you've been to all of them, give this place a shot.
(3)
Anne W.

This place was fantastic! I picked this place looking to meet up with an old friend of mine from hs French who I hadn't seen in over 10 years. Perfect place to meet up... I had read the reviews and was excited. I thought there was only Gaslamp or Le Petit Robert if I really wanted French food. First off.. they have a continuous $1 oyster, $1 clam happy hour from 4-6 and 9 pm onwards. That's awesome right? We were seated right away by a window upstairs.. it was nice. The prices are reasonable.. which is what I thought was good. We split several things. We got the rarebits (which is pretty much a bunch of cheese and bacon).. delicious but incredibly bad for you. :) We also got the macaroni and cheese which was pretty delicious but very rich. The only dissapointment I felt really was the french onion soup which I thought was bland.. although the cheese and bread were delicious. There was a chocolate cake and ice cream dessert... which was pretty good. I am not a dessert expert though. We sat and chatted for a long time... it was a delightful French cafe. I would definitely come again.
(5)
Justine L.

We called earlier today for a reservation and they told us there was no need; they assured us that they would have no problem taking us at the time we requested. We just walked out of the restaurant, turned away because we didn't have a reservation and they "had more walk in's than usual." What exactly was the point of us calling for a reservation? Quite poor management and waste of our time and cab fare.
(1)
Briana G.

I'm almost hesitant to review this place. It's a gem and I'd like to keep the crowds to a minimum, the dollar oyster deal is the best (4-6 Every week night), including top/quality oysters from Wellfleet and Duxbury! This place is quality, not too pricey, a historic and charming resturaunt and also located in a prime spot! I highly recommend Marliave.
(5)
Joyce L.

Came here for dinner during our recent visit to Boston. We ordered oysters, escargots, the trout entree and the steak frites. The oysters were really tiny and not plump like other places that we had been to in Boston so that was a bit disappointing. Since we did not go for the oysters during happy hour, it was definitely overpriced for the quality of oysters that we were getting. The escargot were on the salty side but still pretty good. The trout entree was below average. there was absolutely no flavor to it and i reckon the chef forgot to put salt on it. Other than that, the fish was pretty fresh. The steak frites were really good, very flavorful and cooked to perfection. The meat was really tender and the fries were solid. Overall a decent restaurant with a nice outdoor sitting area, but the service here is very slow and one of the waitresses was pretty rude. This probably would not be my restaurant of choice if I come back to visit Boston in the future.
(2)
Sarah D.

The sandwiches are still great. And the oysters are still the best dollar oysters in the city. And the bar is still a great room with an awesome tile floor. But. The cocktails have take a turn for the worse. Nobody seems to know how to make them properly these days, which is kind of a problem when your drink menu is this complex. Drinks that used to be delicious are now coming out completely offbalanced towards sweet or sour and weak on the liquor. For $11 a pop I need something better. Marliave is still a good move if you can get there for the oysters, but lately I stick to highballs and beers instead of their formerly fantastic cocktails.
(4)
Nikki M.

Walking into Marliave there was a nice ambiance to the place. We were seated upstairs (this place has a lot of seating!!) We ordered too cocktails. I had the Ulysses S. Grant cocktail and my boyfriend had the Flapper cocktail. He enjoyed his, he said the flavours were all mixed in together nicely. I enjoyed mine at the beginning, but somehow the flavour seemed to fade away. We ordered mains. I had the chicken and James had the steak. The chicken was nicely cooked, very tasty and was sitting on a bed of mushroom rissotto (very tasty). The chicken was huge, so I had it packaged up to take home. James had the steak and he was disappointed by it. It was mostly a bowl of fries and the steak was a small piece of the side that was chewy and under seasoned. For dessert I had the butterscotch pudding which came with a little hair on the side. We called the waitress over and she quickly apologized and took it away to replace it (a pat on the shoulder of how that was handled). James ordered the chocolate cake and vanilla bean icecream. The cake came hot and was very yummy, the ice cream was very icy and he didn't eat much of it as it didn't taste very nice... Overall we weren't very pleased with our experience here. The Yelp ratings really talked the restaurant up and our experience just didn't match it. A real shame!
(3)
Maureen C.

Cute outdoor patio! Walking distance to my hotel = 10 points. The "sunday gravy" (gnocchi with braised lamb, pork and beef) was fantastic Cocktails were just ok. Wine list ok. Service ok. Location and entrees (and fantastic dipping olive oil) were good enough that I would definitely return. Actually more thoroughly enjoyed their sister restaurant, which name escapes me :-)
(4)
Joanne E.

Great spot for lunch. Good drinks, tasty sandwiches. Mac and cheese was perfect. Reuben was awesome.
(5)
Nancy Z.

Oh, I've had my fair share of after-work oysters here... There are ton of places that serve $1 oysters, but only Marliave has multiple fresh oysters (Peacock Cove, Wellfleet and many others) and sweet, large, plump Littleneck Clams. Accompany that with a Sauvignon Blanc and you are golden, my friend! In addition to the oysters, the macaroni and cheese is really unique here. The pasta is even different compared to all other types of pasta; dense, chewy, and covered in delicious cheeses and flakes of aromatic black truffles. Another small dish to savor is the escargot that is served with perfectly toasted brioche. It is not overly salty and perfectly seasoned. Lastly, try the Beef Wellington (they usually serve this during Restaurant Week for a muchhh cheaper price). The medallion of meat practically melts in your mouth. Aside from these dishes, I've been a bit underwhelmed with the rest. The cheese plate is nothing special, but there are a list of different cheeses and charcuterie you can choose from. The sliders are good, but nothing too special. Fish and Chips were soggy, as well as the fries. I was a bit disappointed with that one. Marliave is definitely a place worth visiting. Not only is their happy hour special great, but the establishment itself is very simple, chic, and elegant while being very comfortable at the same time. As always, I'll be seeing you when I get out of work, Marliave : )
(4)
Sean W.

The third oldest and coldest restaurant in Boston. We were seated upstairs next to window, a bit too cold, drafty. Aside to that our breakfast was delicious and a huge portion for $10. Our server was super sweet. She went out of her way for us. A great cozy restaurant with charm. Located downtown on a dead end street, but walkable, there are stairs. Next to Nine Zero Hotel.
(4)
Christopher B.

Great place to impress a date. Decor is awesomely and authentically vintage Boston, with patined brick and tin ceiling and floor to ceiling windows with wrought-iron looking railings and things. Nice view of the surrounding architecture in downtown Boston, including some close-up old ornate buildings and modern glass towers farther away. Lots of people coming in very casual, but it's worth dressing up a bit to get in the mood for fine dining. Food was excellent - well-prepared and flavorful; I do appreciate the recommendation from another Yelper to get the truffle fries, and I second that. Presentation was also very nice, with entrees arriving with a dramating uncovering. Service was attentive and friendly. $$ seems a bit low; spent ~$60 per person.
(5)
Christine W.

I was so excited to make my first restaurant week reservation at Marliave. Tucked away at the end of Bosworth St, it was so sweet from the outside and the inside matched. We sat down and ordered our first course, there were four of us. Two orders of Caesar salad, one mussels, and one truffle mac and cheese. I can tell you the mac and cheese was by far the most fantastic thing we all ate through this entire meal, beyond delicious. I was told the mussels were also very good. The Caesar salad on the other hand literally looked like they took a bag of romaine and put it on the plate drizzled some dressing over it and served. Unacceptable. Onto the second course: there was an order of shrimp scampi, steak frites, Cobb salad, and trout. I will speak only to the Cobb salad here b/c that is what I ate. It looked like it came from McDonalds....and was sans dressing. When I asked for some dressing it took 10 minutes for a waitress to return with some. Finally the third course: One ordered berries and whipped cream, two butterscotch puddings, and one brown sundae. The butterscotch pudding was delicious and had a consistency unlike any pudding I have ever had, but I would definitely order it again. The brownie sundae, good lord....How do you mess up a brownie sundae? A scoop of vanilla ice cream with hard pieces of some sort of brownie that looked like it had been sitting in the kitchen since last year's restaurant week! Finally berries and whip cream...not much to say there, you really cannot mess that up. Overall my experience at Marliave was not a good one. I wish I had picked a better known place for my first restaurant week experience. I WILL NOT be returning.
(1)
Alisa M.

OMG!!!! $1 oyster happy hour special from 4-6pm and 9-10pm! Need I say more???? I am an oyster lover and coming to Boston, it was something I was really looking forward to eating.... well, that along with the lobster rolls. Come here for their happy hour special and you WILL NOT be disappointed. We got there at about 5pm and were seated promptly. The place is not too big, so arrive early or you'll be sitting at the bar waiting for a table. Service is good. The waiter was attentive and refilled our water the entire time. This is something that I really look for when eating at a restaurant, only because I drink water like a camel and when it's not refilled, it makes it hard for me to continue eating my food. I think we tried all the oysters they had available that day. The oyster that I liked included the duxbury, wellfleet, and rocky shore. Also, it was nice because the next night we went to Neptune Oyster and the Wellfleet was $2.60. If you like fresh oysters at a bargain, check this place out. If we ever come back to Boston, we will be going to here for their oysters! Two thumbs up!
(5)
Elizabeth S.

Did you see Midnight in Paris? Do you wish you were an American in Paris in the 1920s-30s? Well, don your best flapper dress and tuck a feather in your hair, because Marliave is taking you back to the Prohibition era, complete with swankified jazzy tunes on the record player, cute tables packed into their upstairs dining room, mirrors in the few spots there aren't windows, and historically named cocktails. We scored a lucky seat next to the window, overlooking... nothing. "How do they keep all the glass clean?" (Looks closer) "Oh, they don't." Henry's soup was delightful, a cross between onion soup and beef stew. The escargot dish was parfait, garlicky as can be. The low point was unfortunately the steak. I finally met a steak I didn't like. It was smothered in a heavy jus, and topped with overpowering gorgonzola butter. I asked for medium, and good chunks of red bled through the middle. I'm sure there was a good steak flavor in there somewhere, but it was hidden behind the undercooked, over-seasoned presentation. Of the beaucoup beverages I sampled, "Tres Curieux" was the winner, with gin, grapefruit and prosecco: fruity, sparkly, delicieux. I would return for the cocktails and the oysters (the littleneck clams were also tasty). And if I worked downtown, I would likely return daily.
(3)
Phu N.

Great place for the dollars oysters! Would recommend!
(4)
Stephanie B.

This is like a little secret in Downtown Crossing. I never even noticed it before. I went for happy hour on a Wednesday. It's hard to figure out how to get in, but you walk up stone steps on Bromfield St and go in through a door that seems like a back door. The atmosphere was very 1920s and old feeling without being dirty. The mixed drinks were the usual price: about $12 each, up. The drink list is special to the house and very unique. The food is a bit pricey but a great change from after work pub food. There was a good sized after work crowd who were pretty noisy; in a warm pub kind of way. The majority of the customers were women, 25-35 in groups. Boys, this could be a great place to pick up women!
(4)
Tammy K.

Dollar oysters at Marliave are the best thing ever. They usually have four types: Rocky Nook, Peter's Point, Duxbury, and Wellfleet (my favorite). Dinner at Marliave is also solid. For appetizers, try the short rib French onion soup. The addition of short rib makes this classic soup even more sumptuous. For entrees, my favorites are the pumpkin lune with scallops and the "Sunday gravy" tri-meat pasta. Bonus: Try to grab drinks at the mini-bar downstairs. It's been at capacity every time I've tried, but I heard it's awesome.
(4)
Stan G.

An exceptional find just off the Common! Great atmosphere, food and service. The Tuna Tartare and the Tapioca are wonderful. I had the Osso Buco and it melts in your mouth. Instantly became one of our must stops while in the city.
(4)
Jennifer M.

I went here for my 21st birthday. I had a great experience--the waitress was very friendly, and the food was delicious. We had oysters--they have a happy hour special where they are half price at certain times every day! They were fresh and quite possibly the best oysters we've ever had (compared to Legal Seafoods, Island Creek, etc.). We also shared the steak frites with truffle fries--the fries were delicious and the steak was cooked perfectly. The only thing is, if you've never been here before, it's a little confusing to find the entrance to the place! You have to go up some stairs and pass by the outdoor seating area--which, by the way, is in a wind tunnel so be careful on chilly nights! Overall, I loved eating here and would definitely come here again!
(5)
Lena Y.

This restaurant is kind of hidden in an alleyway, but it is worth the trip. My go-to's: The escargots -- they're well-seasoned, covered with cheese, and paired with perfectly-toasted bread. Not the healthiest dish, but if you're going to eat something unhealthy, it might as well be delicious! The $1 oysters -- which is what most people come here for The Sunday Gravy -- gnocchi and with meat, simple and perfectly seasoned Huge selection of cocktails; I love the one with St. Germain
(5)
Tammy T.

Food- excellent! I had the oysters, escargot, and the chicken. All was very good... the chicken was very moist and flavorful. Highly recommend that. service- ok. Our server wasn't the friendliest but she got her job done. She was sorta rude towards the end because I asked her nicely to help us take pictures and the rudely said, ONLY ONE because she has a lot of work to do. I understand she was probably getting ready to close because it was around 10:30 but there was barely anyone else in the restaurant. Helping us snap a few pictures wont waste any time.. It is probably because she added the gratuity already so she didnt feel like she needed to work for it. Overall- I would definitely go back for the food again and hopefully the service will be better.
(4)
Kevin L.

I'm glad my friend picked this place for restaurant week. Marliave definitely deserves 5 stars for their food selection. Our party had no complaints of the food. Service was average but I still had a pleasant time. Beef carpaccio: If you got the stomach for raw beef, give this a try. Mustard with raw beef = heaven. Trout: My first trout experience. Don't think it will ever be topped. Two trout fillet and two large shrimps sandwich. It was delicious. Berries: The fresh variety of berries with whipped cream. Perfect ending. I also tried my friend's escargot and it was interesting. Nice blend of garlic and butter. If you're a chocolate fan, get the chocolate cake and ice cream for desert. 5 star worthy!
(5)
Simon L.

dark, dark, mobster with a tommy gun, yeah, under my table. Love the dark atmosphere with deep leather booths. We Ordered the appetizer menu by seven. Mussels (rich tomatoe and garlic broth, substance to mop with your bread squeezing fingers) a nd mac and cheese (sharp melted around creamy with the satisfactionof truffle create an unusually rich and distinct fondue of sorts) were winners. Rarebits and escargot excellent - the melted beurre with shallot, cognac and garlic offers a wonderful bite size flavor experience. Dry meat and cheese selection was pretty amazing, sauscisson sec basques, lardo and Toscano paired well with reggiano and savarin. Ordered some french and italian olige oil and a feast did we have. Excellent drink mixologists. As some other members of this space might mention, marliave has that unique combination of cocktails that makes you want to order another just to try it. The warren g harding, The chauncey warbucks and the great experiment to name a few that i sampled were all stellar exaples of mixing minus the shaking. Quick, ourteous and professional service.
(4)
Tracy C.

I was quite looking forward to trying Marliave after reading lots of positive reviews everywhere but I wasn't impressed with it at all after my meal. I thought with it's long history and reputation the service would be good, but the waitress that worked there are quite inexperienced and almost rude. Not cool. As for the food, I went with the restaurant week menu and got Escargot for appetizer and the Wellington for main course. The escargot smelled good, tasted fresh but lacked flavor. The sauce it was cooked in didn't sinked in at all, it was still not bad but quite a shame that it wasn't better. The Wellington--medium rare tenderloin, topped with mushrooms, foie gras and wrapped in puff pastry (menu description), was not so much medium rare but rather medium, although it was really tender still and I let that go. However, there were NO foie gras AT ALL and the mushrooms were over-cooked and dry. As for the puff pastry, it was nice and tasty but I would prefer it to be thinner, be a smaller presence when it's just suppose to compliment the steak not take over the whole dish. I got the chocolate mouse for dessert but I couldn't finish it...the mouse part had a real nice texture but it was way too sweet and the cake at the bottom was dry. I thought it wasn't a pretty good meal but obviously there's room for improvement. Not sure if I would visit the restaurant again though.
(3)
Jennifer L.

Marliave gets five stars not just for the amazing food, but also for the pleasant, polite, and accommodating wait staff. Went there on a Wednesday night for a friend's birthday. Funny enough, it was our server's birthday too! We had reservations for 18, but wouldn't you know it, 21 people showed up. Our wonderful waitress dealt with this seamlessly and added an additional table to our already too-long table without complaint. Drink orders were taken as soon as people sat down, and our waitress was attentive. All 21 dinners came out within 3 minutes of each other! All were hot and delicious! I got the trout, which was basically an upscale fish version of the KFC doubledown: two fillets of trout filled with two shrimp, wilted spinach, and tomatoes. Sprinkled with a generous amount of capers! The fish was perfectly cooked - crispy on the outside, tender and moist on the inside. The spinach was not overdone, the capers were not overly salty, and the shrimp were a perfectly cooked surprise. A+ Marliave! You need to give that waitress a bonus!
(5)
Jay G.

Marliave has been on my rotation ever since it reopened a few years ago. If I didn't go to school near by, I could see how the location can be a little tricky to find if you are coming from Tremont (especially since the ally which leads to the front entrance looks like a scene out of batman complete with open dumpsters and steam rising). Do not be discouraged, at the end of the ally way is the entrance to one of Boston's oldest restaurants reborn with a new menu which contains a good mix of higher end New American/French cuisine with premium sandwiches. Originally when they first opened there was an "Upstairs menu" which had the 40$ entrees and a "Downstairs" menu which had the more affordable sandwiches and starters. It seems that now the menus have merged and the oyster bar has moved from its satellite basement location to the main floor. My review must be limited to the starters and Sandwiches since I have never ordered off the "adult menu". The burger is of the Wolfsneck farm organic sirloin variety. This organic delicacy served on a small brioche bun is surprisingly savory given how lean it is. I would put it up against almost any burger in Boston. The fries too, are awesome, with their herbs and flaked cheese; never greasy. You can also skip the fries and order a salad or get this, BOSTON BAKED BEANS. Yes you heard it, someone in boston ACTUALLY makes baked beans. I apologize but ever since I moved up here it seemed that Boston baked beans were akin to the Jackalope or Unicorn, a mythical dish talked about but never found on a menu. (Someone please let me know if you know of another place who makes them, or makes them well) As for starters, go for the mussels, they seem fresh and the sauce is savory and makes the stale bread edible when you use it as a dip. Make sure you know your cholesterol level before you try almost any of the other sandwiches or starters. Items, such as the Pastrami sandwich or the rarebits can be very heavy and necessitate a take away box. Rarebits by the way is a melted cheese cooked in beer used for dipping, its a Welsh dish probably left over from the days when people never lived long enough for high blood pressure or congestive heart failure to be an issue. Health warnings aside, they are a super tasty dish and worth trying at least once. Also don't miss out on the happy hour 1$ oysters, they have an amazing mignet to go with them. Almost every time I go it seems like they have new staff. This alone wouldn't be a problem but they don't often seem to be trained on the menu or other basics. The cocktail menu is fancy and the bar is well stocked, so if you like fancy drinks you are in luck. As for the wine list, I don't know I never looked at it because Captain Morgan's and Diet Coke with a lime pairs just fine with a cheeseburger. This place is great but the high prices for the regular menu entrees and disorganized staff bring down the average. Come here for the Happy Hour from 4-6 and try a few things, you will probably come back again and again.
(3)
monique g.

Sunday Gravy where have you been all my life!!!! Amazing gnochi braised pork, meat dish. Yum! Happy hour oysters were on point! The server was super cheerful and had great recommendations. Their drink menu makes drinking fun again! Such a pleasure.
(4)
Jen H.

I came here with an out of town guest and two friends to enjoy a Sunday dinner. I'm a bit conflicted on the star rating for Marliave, I must say... but based on the FOOD I felt it was totally worth 4 stars. I was a bit surprised with the interior... I saw the upstairs photo and assumed the downstairs was going to look similar... but it was more casual. The service, well, it left something a to be desired. Maybe it was an off night? Maybe we were so laid back when ordering our waitress didn't want to rush us at the end? Whatever happened... I'm not sure... but I decided not to take points off for this instance of slow service. ('ey, you never know... it could be a fluke night - if I have slow service here again I'll update). Anyhoo, onto why this place gets 4 stars - the food. I had the Sunday gravy (gnocchi, lamb, pork, beef, and tomatoes).... sold! I love gnocchi, and served with three different kinds of meat in the sauce?! Genius. If it was served with bread I would have probably soaked up any remaining sauce in the dish with it and returned the plate to the kitchen so clean another person could have eaten off of it. Yes... it was that good. One of my partners in crime for the evening also had the Sunday Night Gravy and cleaned their plate as well. Other items ordered were a burger and the portobello sandwich... and they also seemed to be enjoyed. In the end, I would definitely go back for the food, I'll hope the service is a bit more up to par, and now I know what to expect with the downstairs decor. I wonder when the upstairs is used... I'd like to sit up there next time and check it out.
(4)
Lindsay R.

I have to say, I went into this with low expectations. My roommates and I decided we wanted to try a new place, and Marliave fit the bill. Two of us are abolute foodies, one is on the adventurous side, and the fourth is, in his own words "unrefined". Marliave's expansive menu held something for all of us. That being said, as one of the foodies, I was unsure that a place that serves beef wellington and burgers would do either right. I was pleasantly surprised. The appetizers were delicious - the rarebits to die for, and my roasted beets were scrumptious (the goat cheese was far from pungent, but creamy and enjoyable). The wellington was amazing, and my "unrefined" friend raved about his ravioli. And of course, dessert. The chocolate bomb looked like heaven, and my ice cream (ginger, mint and lavender) was the perfect ending to this meal. I do have to say that I was unimpressed with the service; our table was not ready when we arrived (we had made reservations), our server, though personable and funny (he seemed to know that I could drink the entire bottle of Prosecco myself, and even offered me a straw!) was absent quite a bit, and the servers seemed off - there was a total of 5 things dropped while we were there, from an entire tray of food to a glass of wine, to a fork. And the accoustics were a little loud, and not in the muffled, good noise of a busy restaurant, but in the I can hear you're entire conversation from across the room, noise. Over all, though, this place was great! I'm already begging to go back!
(4)
Snuffles B.

Marliave is the definition of a hidden gem - literally. It's tucked away at the end of a side alley off Tremont, just past the cemetery of Paul Revere and Ben Franklin. Upon walking in, I thought I'd accidentally walked into somebody's apartment lobby and wouldn't have found it weren't for a sign that pointed out Marliave *arrow* That Way. Then we were in a bar and had to ask, uh, are we in the right place? Then they take you up a set of narrow creaky stairs, whereupon you finally arrive to find a pretty view of some city lights, in a dimly lit, open, warm, but simply decorated and still intimate dining room. Just getting there gives you a sense of accomplishment. On a Sat night at 7, the place was half empty, pretty quiet, which gradually swelled to capacity and a cocktail party sound level by 8:30. The service had some small missteps (someone else's food brought to us, some difficulty flagging someone down to order apps early on) but overall pretty solid and you don't sweat the small stuff because the servers are so friendly. Don't come here full or super hungry, because there is serious risk of overeating - French portions on steroids. - Waterloo cocktail - Yum-ee! A total chick drink - Bread - Focaccia-like texture - seems light, so you don't notice you are soaking up gobs of EVOO and before you know it, you are full before the apps arrive. - Mac & Cheese - OK flavor, but love the bite and density of the ziti - Rarebits - When the bacon is the light element in a dish, you know its gonna hurt afterwards, however I cannot say no to melted cheesy goodness in a cast iron pan. - Steak Frites - Nice flavor, perfectly medium rare, pretty good but not memorable. Frites were very garlicky but a bit mushy for my taste. - Chicken/Risotto - Moist flavorful chicken, but honestly chicken only gets so good in my book, but if you are going to get it, this is about as good as its gonna get. To me, the risotto is HIGHLY overrated, the rice was not cooked enough and mushrooms were lacking. - Trout - The best item we had, two honking pieces, perfect pan crisp, nice sauteed spinach and tomato, loved the 2 huge perfectly cooked and seasoned shrimp. At the end, you feel like there is a brick on the bottom of your stomach, but a delicious brick, that will turn into some nice love handles. Waddle waddle.
(4)
Alayne D.

This is specific to their drinks and one dollar oysters. Does anyone eat off their regular menu? In case you were not aware Marilave offers one dollar oysters from 4pm to 6pm everyday, and now from 9pm to 10pm everynight. I love love love oysters, but I have a hard time feeling ok about spending upwards of $20 on a plate of six. I know I know you see one dollar oysters and expect them to be small, or less than fresh or just plain gross. Not the case with Marliave, the oysters are the best I've ever had (and I lived on the cape for four years). There are always four varieties and I'd suggest trying a couple of each then picking one or two favorites and getting some more of those. I mean why not? The're only a dollar! They're cocktail menu is inventive and different. I've never had a cocktail I didn't like at this place. There's something for everyone. If you haven't been, GO! You will not be dissapointed.
(5)
Joe G.

I'm in love with the location (smack in the middle of old, pre-landfill downtown Boston... look out the window and out upon the city), and the history (opened in 1885) of Marliave. I also love how it's a pretty classy place, but also very relaxed. My dining experience was good, but not great. Their cocktail menu is extensive and most of them have clever historic names. I got a take on a Tom Collins called "the hoax," and it was very, very good. I'd like to try a few more here at some point, despite the price tag ($10). For appetizers, we split rarebits and sliders. The rarebits were bread with a melty, gooey cheese-and-bacon spread, which was quite good, however they give you a massive pan of the spread and maybe four pieces of bread, so there ends up being a lot left over. Seems wasteful and not quite worth the ~$11. The sliders on the other hand were amazing, and probably my favorite part of the night. They were three little meatball sandwiches with fresh mozzarella cheese on toasted buns, for $12. They were great, and not too big to spoil dinner. I ordered the Yankee Pot Roast, which was pretty good sized for $16 and came in a red wine sauce with delicious roasted vegetables. The pot roast itself was just "meh" to me. For dessert, I tried a few of the chocolate truffles. They were extremely heavy (although I guess that's how truffles operate) and the exterior tasted kind of strange, although they were delicious on the inside. Our server was a bit flaky and service in general was kind of slow, although that's okay because this is a place to go spend a long meal at and chat with friends. I will be back to try out some other menu items.
(4)
Bob L.

The only reason why Marliave doesn't rate 5 stars in my opinion is that the service is truly lousy. The fare is outstanding so if you have at least a couple hours to spare, this is the place to go. I've been there several times now and the setting is perfect for holiday parties of 6-12. Try the pot roast which is absolutely mouth watering!
(4)
Allison S.

Upon walking in, I was sure glad that we made a reservation because Marliave looked very tiny. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find an entire 2nd level with ample space for a table and four chairs. I didn't feel like I was eating family style with the people at the next table, which is always a plus in Boston. This is the only restaurant I've ever been to that serves your entire table's entree under a silver dome and does the "voila!" by removing the domes all at once. VERY IMPRESSIVE! The food wasn't too shabby either. I started with the escargot, which came out piping hot, and then ordered the shrimp scampi. Both were delicious and as was the wine that we were drinking. We didn't think that we would be able to finish a 2nd bottle of wine, so we had a few glasses and then the waitress wrapped it up in a to-go bag. Awesome! The wait staff was very friendly and attentive and I would return to eat and drink some more.
(4)
Andy C.

Marliave was an absolutely amazing dining experience! The dining room is sumptuously cozy with warm dark colors, and the service staff is very professional - not intrusive but still attentive at the right moments. The halibut was crispy on the outside while flakey and moist on the inside, and the risotto struck a perfect balance between all its distinct flavors. As for dessert, the tapioca pudding was a little too sweet, but still delicious nontheless, and the chocolate cake was both warm and crumbly. Paired with the calm ambience of the dining space, Marliave is truly a dining gem amidst all the similar restaurants Boston has to offer.
(5)
Cobra K.

Nice upscale restaurant. Ordered the dollar oysters during their 9-10pm happy hour...I ordered 16...damn...it was good.
(4)
Matt M.

Really outstanding. Amazing selection on the menu and all very high quality. Also, what I found to be the best part is that this is a "formal" restaurant that has a somewhat laid-back attitude and isn't stuffy. That made it even better. We sat upstairs in a really nice window overlooking the street. You can tell the place has some history and that's an added bonus. For dinner, I had the stuffed rabbit wrapped in prosciutto and my fiancee had the chicken under a brick. Both were phenomenal. Our waiter was extremely helpful and gave us great recommendations for both the food and the wine. When can I go back?
(5)
Ken S.

My wife and I dined here recently. We split a caesar,which was excellant. She had oysters that were also excellant. I had a shrimp scampi,which was a little different,but also excellant.Overall,it was a great experience,except for the bread,which is served with your meal. It will NOT be winning any awards.Basically,lousy bread. Service at the bar was good,but, not great.
(4)
Britt S.

Rabbit was awesome and there are dollar oysters after 9pm!!! :)
(5)
Mike A.

Incredible! Excellent menu and cocktails
(5)
Frank M.

Great bar that was down an alley from our hotel. Enjoyed the wellfleets and good cocktails at happy hour.
(4)
Hana C.

Decent food, need to train their servers better. Went there for dinner with a friend- the waitor was ignoring us, when I asked him what dish he would recommend, he rolled his eyes and then continued to ignore us and wouldn't even take our order. We asked to switch servers and spoke with the manager- who was very apologetic saying that the server has had a long day so give him a break. He gave us a free appetizer though- but our mood for dinner was officially ruined by this stupid server. They should really train their servers better. Although the manger tried to amend things and I go to school right next door to them, I would never want to go back and always tell people of this experience whenever friends ask about the place.
(1)
Sweet T.

This is a place you take your out-of-town friends and relatives to when they're visiting Boston. It's a place you can be proud to have in your city. Marliave has great food, yummy and imaginative cocktails, and an ambiance that's a little fancy-schmancy without being pretentious. My boyfriend and I came to live it up on the Friday before the purported Rapture and this has probably been our priciest meal since being in Boston. For two poor schmucks like us, this is definitely a place for an occasion, not a weeknight meal. Two things I didn't like: 1) the alleyway that leads you to the restaurant could be a little more... magical. There's tons of trash bins outside that really take away from the experience. 2) They had some really cheap-o looking fliers advertising their space as a cocktail party venue.
(4)
Jeffrey H.

Step inside this charming restaurant and immediately you're going back in time. A classic look built long before you were born. Not me though - I'm nearly 200 years old. We sat at the end of the bar (easy access to the sauce) and ordered some delicious drinks. I chose the "Molasses Flood 1919" with Sailor Jerry's Rum, molasses, lime, bitters. Who thought that a fatal disaster could ever taste so good!? Cheers to our fallen Bostonians who drowned in a flood of sweet & sticky goodness. I was advised that the sandwiches were amazing. They were. They really were. Torn between a few different options I settled on the BBQ pulled pork served with fries and a pickle. The sandwich was overflowing with deliciousness and the scent of rosemary filled the air from the fries. I could even smell it on the breath of my beautiful dining partner in a weird but not gross kind of way. Talk to me beautiful. The bartender who served us was polite and cute. In fact most of the staff was pleasant on the eyes - which is a form of hiring discrimination I support. He was a little distant with the service - you have to call him over if you need something...not much of a checking-in nature. But that's okay, I didn't want him to see me with pulled pork and BBQ sauce hanging out of my mowf. It also felt a bit chilly in the restaurant and I felt like an old widow who needed a shawl and a tissue. I will definitely go back - there are some other sandwiches that need to meet my belly.
(4)
Cindy C.

It would have been 2 stars if it wasn't for the risotto that came with the chicken I ordered as the main course. First of all, yes, I understand that dining during restaurant week usually means subpar food from the restaurants (but really, I don't get it, shouldn't rw be about showcasing food and talent to draw the customers back?!) but i'll save the tirade for another time. My irritation began when I placed my order, and asked the waitress if I could decide on dessert later, after my main course, her answer shocked me a little. I mean, I hardly thought it was an outrageous request. She told me that in order to "ensure the flow of things, an dits just easier if you order everything now". UM. ok. If your restaurant operations so terrible that I cannot place a dessert order after I've enjoyed my main course? Plus, I was doing restaurant week, it's going to be 33.09 on the bill. Whats the big deal? Throughout dinner, I also felt like she was rushing us. She appeared or, wanted to appear every time i put down my knife and fork, yet she never refilled our waters? I had to finally ask. Now, onto the food part. I ordered the crabcakes and the chicken with risotto. The crabcakes were pretty decent sized, and filled with plenty of crab meat. I also enjoyed the finely chopped celery hidden in there, adds some texture and crunch to the dish. I didn't love the sauce though, but that's more personal preference. The chicken was pretty good, though a bit too dry for my liking. I did love the sauce and the risotto. Simple, but delicious flavors. The balance of sour and savory was perfect. For dessert, I ordered the summer berries, which was a fantastic finish to a heavy meal, very light and refreshing, and the whipped cream was fluffy and melted right in my mouth. My friend had the chocolate bomb which the waitress recommended, neither of us were impressed, the cake layer of it was slightly crumbly and dry. Overall, I was satisfied with my meal, but not amazed. If you're looking for amazing flavor profiles and wonderful plating, don't come here.
(3)
Alex E.

All I can say is that Boston is in need of more quality establishments like this one. I agree with Leighann, and think her review is spot-on. The place is definitely (still) "raw" with its newness. But I think once they refine a few things, find some better servers, and stop augmenting cocktails in shameful ways, it will be amazing. I went there for lunch today and had the pulled pork sandwich. Every aspect of it was fantastic (if a bit messy). They certainly need some refining (and education for the servers: learn your beers-- the list isn't that long). But I would most definitely come back here for lunch, drinks or a late night snack (and more drinks). Critics please note: ordering less obscure things at restaurants will almost always result in a better experience (i.e. don't order fish at a steakhouse). Also, the vintage decor is supposed to be charming-- it's not supposed to be shiny-new in there. Bonus points for the Kold-Draft machine. Those ice cubes will blow your mind... really.
(4)
GP P.

Love love love. This has been my go-to for about two years now. If you're looking for low-key after work drinks, the bar downstairs is your best bet with a very casual vibe and friendly bartenders. If you want slightly more of a lounge atmosphere for date night, the bar upstairs has mood lighting and a more intimate ambiance. Both serve really clever and delicious drinks for very reasonable prices (by Boston standards, of course). Now for dinner. I personally love the dining room upstairs. Huge windows wrap the entire dining room, which is a very romantic and unique space. Unlike any other spot I've visited in Boston. Your meal begins with a dish of delicious olives sitting in some of the tastiest olive oil I've had, accompanied by fresh bread. Awesome. The menu itself is eclectic, offering up a huge variety of dishes sure to satisfy any palate with an emphasis on comfort foods. My personal favorite is the ravioli. There's also a decent wine menu. The prices are surprisingly reasonable, given the superb quality of the service and elegant nature of the dining area. Meals are revealed to all diners in your party simultaneously when silver lids are lifted from your plates by members of the waitstaff. All-in-all, I'm never disappointed by this place and will return as often as possible.
(5)
Samson D.

Marliave was nice - a good location, we had a nice second story view. Food was good, service was too. No complaints - It just wasn't one of my favorites in this recent trip to Boston.
(3)
Kristen S.

Went to dinner on 1/27/2010... food was excellent. I had the chicken and risotto bf had rabbit with polenta cake... French onion soup was AMAZING... this is a solid 4 star rest.
(4)
M K.

I came here for lunch one day to celebrate my friend's finishing law school and the bar. It's expensive, no doubt (especially for lunch). We were wandering around and for some reason NOTHING was open. I think it was labor day or something, all I remember is seeing an Occupy Boston protest going on at Boston Common. We were the only people there. The food is quite rich, and portions are huge. We split a melted cheese and meat/bread appetizer (very salty), and I had an omelet (I wasn't that hungry so it wasn't that appetizing for me) while my friend had a chicken dish. Staff is great, ambiance is very cool for drinks I imagine. I'd definitely give it a try for that.
(3)
Kate F.

Great service. Great food (had beef carpaccio, scallops with sweet potato ravioli and truffles, plus the St. Germaine cocktail--delicious!). Seemed alittle hot and crowded inside, but we ate outside and enjoyed the lovely summer-like weather (in April, in New England--what???) What more could you want? Definitely would like to go back... have heard good things about the beef wellington and warm chocolate cake dessert!
(5)
Susan W.

I eat REAL butter. I cook with olive oil. I do not believe in fat-free or sugar-free. When I eat, I want real nutritive food. I say this because what set me upon Marliave was a review by my friend who said she didn't like it because "the food was cooked healthily." On my first visit, I grabbed my favorite anti-butter friend and hit it for our lunch hour. The ambiance differentials between the patio, the downstairs bar, and the upstairs dining area are a great variance for the occassion. And I think that the front-facing quick-order counter is what has kept this place such a good secret. My friend got the lobster half-moons because it was not served in a cream sauce (big plus for her) as you frequently find. It came with real pieces of lobster in and out of the pasta. My trout was so good, I couldn't even branch out from it when I went back with some coworkers. And, you should see the sandwiches! Large is an understatement. At times the service can be scattered, but it has not been a problem. And somehow it fits with the atmosphere. The waitresses are honest, and if they do not know the answer to my question, they have been willing to find out. I stopped for one of the mini-cupcakes on my way out last time. The perfect finish to my lunch hour, Marliave's mini's are 45 cents! (Take that, Sweet!)
(4)
Bret C.

I didn't have the same service problems that other people had....But I didn't have a good experience at all. The food isn't cheap and it's simply mediocre and/or weird. Even a dish like Yankee Pot Roast became just...odd and weird. And they don't do mashed potatoes - they do "buttery potatoes." This is essentially somewhere between mashed potatoes and soup. I didn't think that was possible. If food could be awkward, this would be it. And the restaurant feels like....I don't know what. It's cold...dated...wacky...and the floors aren't even in a lot of spots. The second floor is a bit better than the first. I wouldn't return.
(2)
Kelly H.

what a great HH discovery! - 4 choices on your $1 oysters! Big Rock baby.. they're the best ones!! - there's early happy hour and late happy hour!! AWESOME!!! - the onion soup... OMG it's mind blowing!! there's bits of short ribs in the soup... WOW!! nom nom nom too bad it was only an HH experience... next time... i'll do the full blown dining here! but HH is great!
(4)
Jenn T.

$1 oyster happy hour special from 4-6pm and 9-10pm daily are amazing, especially on the weekends when you can drop by after a nice stroll through the Public Gardens or Boston Commons. They change their oyster selections, so some are better than others. I ate dinner there once and thought it the food was decent, but not worth the price.
(4)
Colleen L.

I came here for a private party (a 30th birthday). Looked it up online before going and the website boasts how great this place is for cocktail parties, so I was pretty excited. The upstairs room was booked from 8-1am. I arrived around 8:30. The place was really clean and the ambiance was nice. The food being served was excellent, all the different kinds of sliders and the oysters were my favorite! And the servers were really nice as well. So unfortunately the bad news which pretty much ruined the evening completely: the Bartender. When I arrived, I immediately noticed how busy he was. There is a pretty extensive list of signature drinks and he was serving them all night as the party goers preferred them over beer and wine. My boyfriend is a bartender so I understand how annoying making drinks like that must be. My first martini was delicious, the Marliave. For the second round, my friends and I wanted something different. We went up to the bar and couldn't help but notice how the bartender's mood had changed to being kind of short and rude. Our second signature cocktail was a real disappointment. I understand that he was busy but the drink was pretty much cucumber water, costing me almost $12. It was becoming apparent that he was getting mad and was beginning to water down the drinks. Fast forward to 11:00pm, we had just finished singing "Happy Birthday" and a few people had left, leaving about 20 people still having a good time. I looked around and noticed that the birthday girl seemed upset. I found out that our "pleasant" bartender had decided that he didn't want to work anymore and called "last call!"The birthday girl asked to speak with the manager and a guy who looked to be no older than 25 showed up. While all this is happening, the jerk of a bartender is huffing around and yelling at the birthday girl saying we were drunk! Ok buddy, kind of hard to be drunk after 2 and a half hours of drinking watered down cocktails. The so called manager was of no help and the party was over around 11:30. Nothing could have been resolved that night so the birthday girl called a few days later. The manager on the phone was very defensive saying a lot of incorrect things like that the party was rude to the bartender, which is kind of interesting since she wasn't even there that night. Although the food was delicious and the place itself is very cool inside, it's disappointing how one person ( and eventually management) can ruin a night. The party was not cheap and one bartender decided that we had reached our "quota" in alcohol and ended it all with almost 2 hours left. I would never recommend this place for a private party even though the website says how great they are. Their private functions are very expensive, poorly executed, and there seemed to be many stipulations to hosting a private party that management did not discuss. So finally, if you go into this bar and see a bartender who resembles Milli or Vanilli, walk away because he is the worst!
(2)
Lauren K.

I really loved Marliave... Went with my boyfriend for a weekend in boston and the food was delicious. We had 18 ($1) oysters (they have a deal between 4-6 PM and 8-9 PM) and they were really tasty. We also ordered the caprese salad which was fresh and delicious as well. Though we didn't get dinner entrees because we came at an off-hour, you could tell that the staff was super friendly and that it got really lively and fun during meal times. I would definitely recommend coming here for happy hour-- they have a great outdoor porch that is in walking distance from the commons.
(4)
Ken C.

Excellent food and service. It's expensive but worth it for a special occasion. I got the oso buco and it was fall-off-the-bone good.
(4)
Christian H.

I found this place when I was looking for something new and fancy. Tucked away over in downtown near the Omni Parker house, Marliave was a little gem that I think everyone should check out. With a nice marble floors and a somewhat rustic, early 19th century European feel, I really liked the look of the place. It also a bit of Art Deco sensibilties which is something I always appreciate. The down stairs area was a bit more casual while the upstairs was a bit more romantic and dimly lit. They contrasted nicely. I had a first date there and was really pleased that the upstairs was a perfect place for such a thing. Our waitress was very sweet and easygoing. She really knew her stuff and let us take our time taking a look at the menu. The first thing that caught my eye was actually the selection of drinks. With interesting and fun names such as the Ulysess S Grant, Blind Pig and WC Fields, who could resist. All drinks were so different and so very tempting. Naturally, I had to get the WC fields, which was made up of Pimms no.1, vodka, lemon and cucumber. With a nice relaxing, summery taste it hit the spot perfectly. I never experienced cucumber in a drink before it gave it a nice refreshing end. All the flavors were blended well. We were served bread before our meal. It was warm and soft, which I always love. As for my meal I ordered the Steak Frites. Though, served rather quickly, the presentation wasn't something too amazing. In addition to the actual steak, the fries were seasoned nicely, but again, I wasnt too happy with how everything was set on my plate. There was some gorgonzola butter served with the entree, but there was very little of it. It was great when I did have it with the steak, but was sad that it wasnt much. It was full of cheesy and soft goodness. The steak was actually cooked and grilled really well, but could stand to have a bit more flavor. It was simple enough, but just couldve been a bit more. Hence, the butter Also, it wouldve been nice to have a few veggies with the meal itself. However, despite all this, it was still decent enough. They steak was juicy and the fries were well done. It was a fine meal. As for dessert, my date and I shared the cake and ice cream. The cake itself was ok. For that kind of fine French cuisine, I guess I expected a bit more. It definitely heavier with flour and it was super rich, but not in the best way. The ice cream worked well enough and was actually the better part. Again, this was my first time here and I imagine the other desserts might have been slightly better. Marliave is a good restaraunt with good service and good food. I do want to go back and check out the rest of their menu because I felt based on my drink experience, I feel there is a lot of potential for a great dining experience. I definitely recommend this place for a first date, as it displays a nice atmosphere away from the sounds of the city.
(4)
Natasha A.

Went here for $1 oysters! Did not disappoint! The mussels and the truffle mac and cheese were divine! Highly recommended!
(4)
Dennis L.

Around work, this seems the best place for me to go when I just want to grab a relaxing bite. The pastrami sandwich and burger are both amazing. The burger is filling, when I request medium-rare, cooked just enough inside to not be rare. The pastrami sandwich is fairly savory, but not in a harsh way. The salt feels a part of the flavor of the meat rather than like purely added. The cut of the pastrami is rougher than other places I eat it, but the meat is so tender that it feels like a thinner cut. The sandwiches are absolutely piping hot each time. I grab the mixed greens with balsamic each time, having lacked the appetite for the beans or fries. I'll try those if I get the craving, but not lately. I don't like the flavor of the ginger ale here as much, the bottle a bit light for my tastes. The service is good, making me feel comfortable instead of rushed, a good balance of speed, care, and warmth. Danielle is wonderful in particular, making me just a bit less glum than my usual prickly self. A genuine smile and a bit of casual conversation can go a long way. I can either sit at the bar when relaxed or grab a table and go over my papers. The bar stools are comfortable enough for my larger frame. I still don't understand that stuffed penguin... Dishes to try: A tasting menu (but for me, the foie gras ravioli and flourless chocolate cake), pastrami sandwich, hamburger
(5)
Theresa J.

I ventured to Marliave yesterday afternoon for lunch. Because I am such a foodie the majority of my budget goes toward groceries and eating out so I normally cannot afford to eat at places that are not part of a chain or in my neighborhood. This year I decided I was going to try someplace new for Restaurant Week. I heard all the horror stories about how you should not judge a restaurant solely based on performance during RW but the experience has me wanting to go back and splurge when it is a regular week. For my meal I chose the escargot for a first course, the Sunday gravy for the second course, and the cheese plate for my third course. The escargot was delicious. It was drowned in garlicky olive oil and sprinkled with cheese. It was my first time having escargot and based on the experience it will not be my last. The Sunday gravy was good. The meat and gnocchi were delightfully tender and the sauce was nice. As for the cheese plate, I liked it a lot. There were three cheeses, walnuts, and lavender honey on the plate. The lavender honey was fantastic and tasted totally different than I had imagined. I really enjoyed it although one of the cheeses was definitely not something I EVER want to experience again (It was much too funky for my taste). My sisters food was tasty too but she did not enjoy the linguine that accompanied the scampi. Two meals with a ginger ale, a lemonade, and a tip was just $60. My sister and I decided we will go back in a few weeks and explore the menu a bit more. I would definitely recommend it.
(4)
Ingrid S.

On a recent business trip to Boston, I had an evening to myself to explore the city. Marliave came up on my Yelp search as a good place to eat dinner. The reviews were right! Delicious food, lovely atmosphere and great service. The wine list included a delicious Chenin Blanc from California, which was a perfect remedy for a steamy hot day. The wine also paired nicely with the caprese salad, which included four generous slices of fresh mozzarella and four slices of heirloom tomatoes. The scrambled eggs I ordered were so creamy and perfectly cheesy. Accompanying fries were flavored with rosemary and although yummy, could have been crispier. I sat outside and was able to watch people walk by from time to time, but was away from the hustle and bustle of the main street. Perfect way to end a Saturday!
(4)
Luke B.

Went here with my lovely lady two weekends ago for a dinner date before drinks with friends. Wandered in at 8 PM with no reservation and had no problem getting a table. Normally, a lack of a full house is a bad sign, but not for Marliave... We got a table upstairs (DEFINITELY sit upstairs for a romantic/fine-dining experience. The meal started with bread and olive oil; a classic, but softy and tasty starter. We tend to split an appetizer and an entree, so we looked through the appetizers. We liked the look of "Henry's Soup" (French onion, Gruyere, Short ribs, Reggiano croutons) and our waitress confirmed that it was a good choice. The soup came perfect temperature and was incredibly tasty. The short rib is a nice touch and isn't overwhelming; rather it gives the soup a extra hearty feel. If you like french onion soup, you'll be quite happy with "Henry's". We were split on the entree, but our waitress recommended the "Chicken" (Pan roasted, Risotto, Mushrooms, Roasted garlic) telling us that the risotto was "unbelievable". To say the least, her recommendation was spot on. The risotto was AMAZING and the chicken was just as tasty. The entree is pretty big and easily fed both of us. Service was great, even though the waitress was a little cheesy sometimes with jokes (e.g. "Well, you clearly didn't like that dish" to an empty plate). Summary... Food: "Henry's Soup" ($10) - Hearty, tasty, and filling "Chicken" ($18) - Delectable, flavorful, and HUGE! Look/Feel - Romantic Service - What you'd expect of a Beacon Hill restaurant
(4)
Erica K.

I went to Marliave for restaurant week--I was immediately impressed by how extensive their menu was! While most restaurants have very limited options, typically offering three choices for the first and second course, and one to two for the dessert, Marliave had roughly six to eight options for each course! On to the food...my husband had the Macaroni, which was hands down the best mac & cheese I've ever eaten. I had a Caprese Salad..and because I'm such a prude when it comes to produce, I was ready to be underwhelmed by the tomatoes. To my surprise, they were absolutely delicious. Everything tasted incredibly fresh. For our second course I went with a Mushroom Risotto and hubby went with Steak Tips. I don't eat meat so I can't attest to their taste but the risotto was great. The portion sizes were unheard of given that it was restaurant week. Around this time I've learned to accept that everything will be served tapas. Anyway, just a side note regarding the risotto, its not good microwaved. I cook risotto all the time and its fine warmed up, this dish however, used more oil than normal so when reheated it surfaced to the top, separated like organic peanut butter, and completely dominated the meal. Not cool. Last, the dessert. Here I wasn't impressed. I went with the Brownie Sunday and my husband went with the Butterscotch Pudding. The "Sunday" for starters, was not much of a sunday, it was a bunch of brownie chunks in a bowl with a dollap of ice cream. The brownies were incredibly rich, to the point that they were sickening...typically when chocolate is that rich it's served in small doses, like a Molten Lava Cake, this however, was not, and there wasn't enough ice cream to offset the richness. As for my husbands butterscotch, the pudding itself was pretty good, what wasn't were the candied oranges! Seriously gross and the aftertaste lingered. I will definitely revisit Marliave, their food was great, the expense was on par with the quality of food and service you get, and the location is great. If the dessert were more pleasurable I would have definitely given them five stars.
(4)
Kate I.

They've got this beautiful black and white photograph in the front hall of John and Bobby Kennedy in a talking in hotel room. The Marliave feels fresh and new - but also feels very old Boston. Like Jack and Bobby could be sitting at the bar right next to you... Anyway - Inventive cocktails (Yellow Journalism, Molasses Flood, and Willie something, all good), really good New Englandy dishes (mussels, pulled pork, salads, all great), solid Boston accents, good location, AHfreakingMAZING atmosphere. And I love that photograph.
(4)
Samuel H.

This was a fantastic dining experience. The decor and building ooze old Boston charm: crooked stair cases and uneven floors. The second floor dining area offers a fine view of the Boston skyline. The food and drink menus are creative and diverse--it's nice to see a restaurant with a thoughtful cocktail list. The food is sumptuous and fresh. I took a star off because the Reuben I had was missing the bite from the sauerkraut and the dressing was overtaken by the fat from the meat; although, I've had the best in NYC, so I guess the bar was high. I got out with a lunch bill at 50 dollars even.
(4)
Frank B.

Food is excellent, with rich flavors. Service also very good, polite, well trained.
(5)
Pamela R.

Popped in for lunch because I've walked by this place many times and have always been intrigued by it overlooking a street corner. Definitely ask to be seated upstairs the downstairs is in old Italian restaurant fashion tiled floors and a simple black and white theme - it is the 4th oldest restaurant in Boston and sure looks it. Upstairs is a bit more refreshed with some modern lighting and hard wood floors. Great view to people watch on the street. The cocktails albeit expensive ($11) were wonderful - I had the Tres Curieux (St. Germaine, gin, and freshly squeezed grapefruit juice) When it came to food I was intrigued by Rarebits on the menu but wanted to try something Italian since on the sign it indicated it was an Italian restaurant. The rarebits were delicious - sharp fondue with bacon, although a bit greasy. The bread was fresh and evidently homemade as you could smell it on the way out. The sliders were a great disappointment, meatballs on stale buns with no sauce. I requested the tomato sauce that they were supposed to come with and received a tiny cup with a roasted tomato sauce which was not what I was expected with meatballs nor was it indicated on the menu. It was not very good and didn't improve the dry meatballs. The server for lunch was very clearly running the entire room with the help of some plain clothes "hostess" types filling waters and delivering food. When this person delivered the sauce I asked about the sauce and was given a little attitude "that IS tomato sauce" The server thankfully came over and removed the dish apologizing that it was not what I exptected. She was quite busy but still managed to be attentive and personable. Looking forward to coming back for more cocktails and $1 oysters!!!
(3)
Nico F.

For years I'd been walking by this place, knowing that it was an old institution, but was never compelled to check it out. Then it closed, which made me sad. The new owner deserves a major shout out for keeping it real on so many levels (or those that really matter): for preserving the classic decor, and for serving up great food. Nothing beats Friday after work oysters and a few well-made drinks while watching the Celtics game with your favorite guy, followed by an absolutely delicious gnocchi dish. Also, it's so refreshing to go somewhere downtown after work that isn't over-crowded, like the nearby Silvertone (I still love you, though). The bartenders were attentive and down-to-earth, striking a balance between quality and comfort that really defines this place as a whole. Even as you approach the building--which is nestled in this really interesting spot that's sort of removed from the rest of the city--one gets the impression that the space itself is in its own self-contained and timeless aura, like real art.
(4)
Penguin S.

I often stay at the Omni Parker House hotel, just around the corner. I've seen the rooftop vista from the street and have never made it inside. On this trip, it was cold and had snowed several inches earlier, so I didn't want to venture too far. I was lured in by their menu on display on the street. The BBQ sandwich with fries looked appealing. After all, it included bacon. The staff was super friendly. There was a penguin on the bar (no, not a live one, sillies) and I made a comment. The waitress said SHE was named Princess. The bartender said HE was named something else. Cute banter. I took my own seat, the place was empty on this cold Sunday afternoon save a table of 4 on the opposite side of the room. A plate of olive oil with 2 olives and a basket of bread was brought. OMG, nom! The meal arrived promptly. The BBQ sandwich was ample and placed on a wonderful round bun. I found the BBQ a little bland and in need of some sauce. I couldn't really taste the bacon and it wasn't crispy, as I like it. But it wasn't bad and I did eat it all. The fries, however, were bliss. Some of the best fries ever. I'm almost afraid were I to go back, that they would not be as good. They were crisp, had their skins on and flavored with basil, rosemary and thyme. I ate them all up as well. I was offered dessert but had no room for such. I am anxious to make a return and do recommend this place. Oh, and just to let you know, I didn't make it upstairs for the rooftop view. I ate downstairs at a table near the bar, in view of the penguin.
(4)
Tim G.

The location and ambiance were cool, in an urban/somewhat European way. Staff were very friendly and my friend enjoyed his sandwich very much. I had the rabbit... don't. So salty, it hid any other flavors they may have been going for. Otherwise, go check it out if not at least for $1 oysters and a glass of wine. PS - If you're going to have a TV at the bar, the staff should pay attention to what is on it. USA VS Canada in softball? There were more people at the bar than at the game.
(3)
D P.

I came here with the boyfriend the other day after searching Yelp for restaurants with French onion soup, and we ended up here. I'm glad we did! We made a reservation and were seated promptly in the dining room upstairs. The layout of the place is a little funky, with the bar downstairs and restaurant upstairs, but it fits with the quirky feel of the whole establishment. The dinner and cocktail menus are both expansive, and the drinks all have great names and descriptions ("The Boston Tea Party," "The Great Experiment," and "The Flapper" are some I remember). For food, we got the onion soup my boyfriend had been craving, and I though it was wonderful - rich, beefy, not-too-salty broth with a generous hat of melted Gruyere and chunks of braised shortribs in the soup (unconventional, perhaps, but delicious). We also got fresh oysters that were served with a prosecco mignonette and housemade cocktail sauce, and they were fat, fresh, and wonderful. For our entrees, we got a gnocchi dish called "Sunday Gravy" that I highly recommend - some of the fluffiest gnocchi I've had in a long while. I got the rabbit dish, which was tasty and presented beautifully, although the sausage served with it was a bit salty. The drinks were really the star of the meal, and they clearly take a lot of pride in their cocktail bar. I highly recommend the Flapper and the Chauncy Warbucks (sp?) (if you like absinthe). Our waitress was friendly, prompt, and helpful, and the ambience was romantic and elegant without being stuffy. I'd definitely return!
(5)
Tristan B.

Here's a late night quicky since I've been here more than a few times; Food: It's okay. Get dollar oysters. Not really a fine dining experience, but nothing to complain about. The apps are edible, but I wouldn't plan a dinner around their menu. I'm a booze hound anyways. Drinks: Their house drinks suck. Avoid them at all costs, and order real drinks like Negronis, Old Fashioneds/Manhattans, Pimm's Cups etc. Try to find one of the good bartenders upstairs (it's worth the trek), and do their nice selection of tequilas. Much more satisfying and the servers appreciate this. Do not let them do "their version" of the classics, as you will be disappointed. Atmosphere: Awful. Come here on a saturday night at 9:30 to 10:00 PM and the place is DEAD. I'm all about cool, dead places, but I need a little bit of company when I'm throwing down cocktails, otherwise I get pretty well lonely and want to go somewhere with a few more bodies, or otherwise I'm doing urban exploration. The 40's style tiled interior really reverberates your conversation, so try to keep the volume low. So why a 3 star rating? I dunno. I just really can't in my good graces give this place lower than 3. I really want to like it. It's a very nice distraction from the normal Downtown Crossing crowd, it's a nice alternative to Silvertone. It's got (some) heart, so be willing to be firm with your drink taste, and give a chance. If you like the Independent in Union Square, give it a shot. They're quite similar.
(3)
Mark M.

I ate and drank in the downstairs bar area so that should be taken into account for this review. First, let's get this decor thing out of the way: It's not buffed and polished but to me, it seems it wasn't intended to be. The floor is black and white mosaic tile and has large cracks running through it. The ceiling and walls were painted white over what appeared to be pressed metal paneling. To me it projected the atmosphere of an old building with an old history, in a very good way. And as a matter of fact, curiosity got the better of me so I researched a little and found this tidbit written before they re-opened: "We are respectfully restoring this beautiful restaurant to retain its vintage design such as repairing the original tin ceilings and walls, installing a vintage marble bar and oyster bar, refinishing wood floors, repairing mosaic floors, and are doing our best to retain classic details down to the black and white color scheme." Spot on. And kudos to them for this effort. Don't dine here if this isn't appealing to you. And certainly don't deny them stars in your review simply because you don't get what they're trying to accomplish. We started with cocktails. I immediately knew I wanted to try the "Boston Tea Party" which contained a mix of Earl Grey tea and Tequila. My wife, not especially a drinker, asked for a recommendation. Our server asked what she usually ordered and then made a creative suggestion from that. The tea party was excellent; a completely original pairing that I never would have considered. The flavors were distinct at first sip, but combined perfectly in the mouth for a perfect mix-- truly a good drink. My wife enjoyed hers as well, which is fine enough description for someone who doesn't usually partake. As for starters, we ordered the "rarebits" and mussels. Both were served in large cast-iron skillets, but unlike the rarebits, the mussels were not served with any bread. I shared the ample slices that came with my wife's order, and perhaps that was the intention. Nevertheless, the mussels were excellent. Having been to Belgium and dined on my fair share of moulle provencale, I can honestly say these were well-prepared. Not overly seasoned but wonderfully flavorful and extremely tender with a delicious broth. The rarebits was exactly what you'd expect from such a dish: cheesy, meaty, beery goodness. I would highly recommend this dish if you just wanted a snack or modicum of pub food to accompany a beer or two. For entrees I had the trout and my wife opted for the burger. She likes her meat well-done, but her burger was served rather pink. It wasn't under cooked, mind you, just not to her specification. We didn't send it back because she had already eaten most of the rosemary fries that accompanied it, and was no longer hungry enough to finish it. And now that I mention it, she liked the fries quite a bit. (It was amusing to me that she asked what the seasoning was because she has always claimed to me when I cook at home that she doesn't like rosemary. Go figure!) My trout was delicious. Two thin filets sandwiching shrimp, wilted spinach, capers, and fire-roasted tomatoes. The trout was cooked well but I will note it was very salty. Personally, I liked this and thought it worked very will with the dish in general. I choose to mention it because I did see how some might find it overpowering. We finished off with a fromage course that was included on the dessert menu. My wife is, above all else, a cheese fanatic and really appreciated the offerings. With this course I elected to sample another cocktail (The Molasses Flood: rum, molasses, lime, bitters) and was equally as happy with this as the last. The entire meal, with generous (and well-deserved) tip came to a mere $120. The restaurant was not crowded. The meal was evenly paced. It was relaxed and altogether quite an enjoyable evening. It is close to my work and I could very easily see myself nipping off for a cocktail before catching my train home. My last thoughts when leaving Marliave were "you know who would really love this place...?" And when you are already thinking about how you plan to talk a place up, you know you have stumbled across something good.
(5)
Jeff Z.

Marliave is a charming restaurant tucked away in the alleys of Boston's Downtown Crossing, which I visited with a group of 10 co-workers on its inaugural night of the "Upstairs" fine dining room. The restaurant had been a suggestion from a colleague, a Boston local who had been before and spoke very highly of it. I'd like to say the food was good, but five days after visiting Marliave, I'm still waiting for my entree to arrive. The experience would turn out to be absolutely ghastly. The service was painfully, abysmally slow. Meal orders were confusing since the wait staff was clueless. Drink orders took forever. My boss waited 20 minutes just to be offered water. Appetizers (raw oysters) took an eternity to arrive. The wait staff couldn't explain some of the ingredients for the entrees listed on the menu and when asked what one of the sauces for the oysters was, one waiter replied, "It's a traditional oyster sauce." Gee, could you be a little more vague? Then, there was the wait for my meal. The rest of the group got their orders after a painfully annoying, long wait. Their meals looked delicious and thoughtfully prepared, but my $39 veal (ordered medium) never arrived. At least five minutes passed before the maÃ®tre d' noticed my annoyance and brought me a bowl of field greens with some lemon juice on them to tide me over. (The rest of the group had waited to begin eating for my meal to arrive, so I think the maÃ®tre d' thought that would spur them into starting.) Yum... Some grass with juice on it. It was nearly 8:15 and I hadn't eaten since noon except for the delicious bread I had to ask repeatedly for. Needless to say, I was hungry. I snacked on the leaves, and after another ten minutes of being assured at least twice that my order was coming "right out", my meal finally came as the rest of my co-workers were finishing theirs. Much to my surprise, it wasn't cooked medium. It wasn't cooked rare. Indeed, the veal was practically seared and completely raw inside, so I had to send it back. And the two puny pieces of veal were hardly worth the $39 for the order. I mean, it literally looked like some sort of appetizer with some sauce thrown over it on a big (huge) white plate. By now I was highly irritated. We had arrived at 6:30, it was nearing 9PM and I hadn't had my dinner yet. I should also mention that we were one of three tables of people in the entire dining room. (Ours of 10, one of four, and another of six. Later a couple came too.) The maÃ®tre d' was only *slightly* apologetic -- explaining that it was their opening night so there were some kinks. If there were kinks, why open at all? And don't make excuses, just make it right. For a well-known, established restaurant that serves $30-$50 entrees, I'd expect much more. He said that my meal was on the house (Like, duh, I didn't even expect to pay for it at this point!) and asked what he could do. I asked that they bring me "anything chicken, just fast" and that they prepare it "to go" so that my co-workers didn't have to wait for me to eat. In the mean time, the waiter brought dessert menus (Like I wanted dessert? I wanted dinner!). No one from Marliave offered to comp the table dessert at all. Only after some smooth talking with one of what turned out to be two managers did one of my co-workers convince Marliave to bring us some champagne for our troubles. (Just where were these managers while I we were being practically ignored for two and a half hours?) Nice. Champagne. On an empty stomach. I.. wanted... food! What finally arrived -- 15 MINUTES LATER -- was an order of their Sunday Gravy (gnocchi with stewed veal, lamb and pork), a $12 entree from the "Downstairs" cafe menu. Yes, they "comped" my $40 veal with what turned out to be lousy $12 pot roast. It wasn't even what I had asked the maÃ®tre d' for! At that point, I actually got up and left ahead of my co-workers. I was completely disgusted with the service and the treatment by Marliave's management. Long story short, the service at Marliave was absurdly amateur, the wait staff was completely unknowledgeable about the menu and the management was oblivious and unsympathetic to the fact that on their first night there were guests being treated to what I consider one of the WORST dining experiences I've ever had. Avoid, avoid, AVIOD!
(1)
Megan S.

Raves for the food--my springtime pasta dish and mussels were suburb. And the outdoor seating was very un-alleylike, despite actually being an alley I believe--a beautiful view of the Beacon Hill graveyard and stately old buildings. But like other reviewers here, I think this place needs to get new wait staff. While nothing but nice, we were left waiting a long time in between courses. Our lunch turned into a 2 1/2 hour affair. How French! Oui? I had to remind our fine waiter after twenty minutes of not seeing him following the clearing of our plates that we had ordered a dessert. After dessert we took bets on how long it would be until the check. I lost, it only took another 8 minutes.
(4)
Jamie B.

Went here last night for restaurant week, and I was very satisfied with our choice. Our waitress was very friendly and attentive, and I really can't say anything bad about the service. The atmosphere was also really nice - we ended up upstairs (which seems to be where they sit most dinner reservations), which was intimate and had a cool view of the area. As for the most important part (food!), I started off with a molasses, rum, and lime cocktail, which had a distinctly "old Boston" vibe to it (as did this restaurant overall). It was an acquired taste for me, but I ended up liking it. For appetizers, I got the rarebits (basically bread to dip in a plate of boiling hot cheese and bacon - can't go wrong with that!). My boyfriend got the onion/shortrib soup, which he liked as well. Oh, and the bread that they brought out before the appetizers was worth a shoutout as well - it was crazy-moist, and we devoured it almost instantly. For entrÃ©es, I had the shrimp scampi, which I would highly recommend. As with everything here, it was VERY rich, but oh-so-good. The pasta had a perfect texture, and definitely tasted homemade. Unfortunately, my boyfriend didn't have such a great experience with his steak - it came out quite burnt, despite ordering it medium. We both went with the chocolate cake for dessert, which was quite possibly the richest cake I've ever had. So, if you're a chocoholic, I'd definitely recommend it. I was only able to eat about half of it, which was more than enough, given that I was already stuffed to the brim from the previous courses. Aside from the not-so-great experience with the steak, everything else here was flavorful and delicious, and the vibe overall was very cool/classy. I'd return for sure.
(4)
Jay and Jenn O.

I wanted to like this place, but it fell short for me. I see some people are complaining about the decor, I liked it- very clean and fresh atmosphere. The food..not so much. Dinner rolls came stale and the butter was hard as a rock. I did like the appetizer, I had duck which consisted of duck meatballs and foie gras ravioli. Very tasty. The main entree was not good at all. I got the Wolfe's Neck Farm which consisted of " Grilled beef tenderloin, Braised short rib, Potatoes, Sauce Diane...$42" This was like meat with a side of meat. And I ordered it medium rare and it came rare with it being burnt on the outside. It was just too much meat, if that can be possible. It really needed something to go with it, more starch, more veggies, something besides a side of meat. I couldn't finish it because I was getting tired of the taste.....of meat. I think the Chef has succeeded in doing comfort food well, which is why I want to try the downstairs, but he fails at upscale. He should stick with what he knows. Last time I go to the upstairs, but I will give the downstairs a shot because I liked the appetizer.
(2)
casie m.

What a find! I randomly found this on Yelp for my bf's bday when we wanted to try somewhere new, nice, still more affordable compared to other fancy places. It's actually really lovely here. We sat upstairs where nice tables are facing beautiful windows with a view, which we were both pleasantly surprised by. We had oysters, escargo (my bf had it, I personally am a peskatarian and didn't really know where I stood on slugs/snails). I had the risotto and bf had the rabbit. I had some of the polenta on the side and it was delish! We also had a cheese plate. OH, I had the white sangria and it was really good. The little onion fries? were delicious as well. I'm super light weight so I didn't get to finish it but bf liked it too. Anyway, it's romantic yet comfortable (casual attire accepted) and we had a great time.
(4)
Peter S.

As a frequent patron of the old Marliave, I wondered if the change in ownership would change the unique ambience of this restaurant. Having dined there three times in recent weeks, I can unequivocally recommend the Marliave to anyone who prizes outstanding cuisine, stellar service, and the same Old World ambience that patrons of the Marliave's previous incarnation offered. It's all still there -- with creative new twists to the menu and a topnotch wine list.
(5)
Tara T.

Meh. Dollar oysters are nice for a post-work snack (deal goes until 6PM). $6 beers (Sam Adams); not a great selection but this isn't a beer-type of place anyway. Service is really slow. The food (I have only ever tried the wild mushroom risotto and the truffle mac & cheese) is decent to good, although on the pricey side for the quality. Overall, a solid post-work haunt!
(3)
Leslie W.

Dollar oysters! So good!
(4)
Eric S.

One of my best friends, a life-long resident of Boston, told me of Marliave, the oldest French/Italian restaurant in the city. We heard that it had reopened and decided to check it out. When we arrived at about 7pm there were only a handful of people at the bar. Plenty of space and no customers. The first glance at the menu was very disappointing. It contained essentially "fancy" pub food which included a hot dog for $7.50. There were appetizers, salads, small plates and sandwiches. The server did not seem to have a good grasp of how to wait on a table. He took our drink orders and couldn't remember what type of wine I ordered. He didn't write anything down. That is good if you have a way to remember what we order and get to the terminal to key it in. The food was unexpectedly good. It is unfortunate that a restaurant whose name has a great history, this reputation is not being capitalized on in the menu offered by the new owners. Hopefully this is not the only set of offerings Marliave will have.
(1)
Alison C.

Marliave is my new obsession. I was immediately struck by the interior. It has a very old-school vibe. Think lots of black-and-white photographs, jazz music, low lighting. I felt like I needed a long cigarette holder hanging from one hand and a strong drink in the other while I was sitting at their beautiful bar. THE DRINKS. Oh, the drinks. They are truly something special. They all have names like the "Marilyn Monroe" or "Yellow Journalism" or "Ulysses S. Grant." Fantastically kitsch. My favorite (which I had multiples of) was the "Boston Tea Party." It was Tequila mixed with tea. Yes, I know, it sounds too good to be true. I was nervous about it at first, but it tasted like a regular iced tea and went down really smooth. When we all finally stopped ordering drinks and regained enough balance to stand up, we decided to get food as well. The service was amazing. Our waiter was hilarious and I wanted to put him in my purse and take him home with me. I honestly didn't eat too much, but I tried the cheese pizza. It was all right, thin crust and very crisp, but nothing crazy. There's an upstairs as well that was called the "fancy part" that I never got a chance to see. This place is a little pricey, and those drinks are dangerous, especially for me (restraint? I have none). But the ambiance and the beverages were incredible, and I can't believe I never knew about this place until now. I'll give it four stars because I want to go back and have a real dinner, but I'm sure that after I do, this will be my new favorite restaurant in Boston.
(4)
Steven W.

I have to give a shout-out to Yelp for helping me pick this one. It was number 5 on the list when I centered my search on Park Street station, but it had 4 stars and sounded like it offered something for everyone. I took my fiancÃ© and an old friend (who is pescatarian) there on a Monday night, and we had a blast! The door is situated above a pedestrian stair to a lower level at the back of Bowdoin street, but don't let the faÃ§ade fool you. The first floor looks like a lunch counter or a bar out of Godfather, but the upstairs is a classic New England 4-star. We ordered a bottle of Chianti, which was excellent (especially for the price) and a cheese selection. The bread was great, and the Cabbot Clothbound Cheddar is to die for. For dinner, my fiancÃ© had a mushroom risotto, our friend a seasonal scallop dish with pumpkin ravioli she found enticing, and I had the Wellington, made with filet mignon and pate de foie gras. The foie was very well prepared, and the beef was just the right shade of red to be delicious. The servers were attentive and pleasant, and the atmosphere, a mix of tradition, foodie-ism, and family, made for a wonderful evening. Not bad for what the menu called Boston's fourth oldest restaurant. I know I'll be back again.
(5)
Karne N.

We ate here in October while on vacation. Many years ago this was one of our favorites when we lived in Boston. The hostess who greeted us (Chloe) was so curt and unfriendly we almost left. Fortunately, our server (Rena) was excellent - warm and friendly and very helpful. Food was good but not fantastic. Glad we went for sentimental reasons, but Boston has many other good restaurants. Ironically you can see Sam LaGrassa's sandwich shop from the window - and trust me, that's a place worth eating at.
(3)
Andrew R.

Awesome date spot. Feels like a hidden gem, but it's right near Boston Common. Oysters were delicious, creative drink selection and excellent outdoor atmosphere.
(4)
Christine H.

Solely based off of a Friday night oyster happy hour experience this place was great. I have come before for New Year's Eve and a restaurant week dinner where service has been impeccable. But the oysters from here are great! I came in last Friday and had 3 dozen....I mean they were half off and how many oysters is too many? The bartender was knowledgable and told me about the different kinds they had and was super friendly. He also makes a great Negroni!
(5)
Brian K.

I was looking forward to getting some happy hour oysters. The bar wasn't busy (weekday early evening) but the bartender seemed too distracted with the locals. Hastily made my drink and moved on. Look, I get it, Mr. Bartender is very busy but try to smile at least and keep in mind that you got customers. I quickly finished my drink, which was very mediocre, and just left. $15+ for a 15-minute experience.
(1)
Tressa S.

I've lived in Boston for three years now and cannot believe that I had never been to Marliave before. I have definitely been missing out! My boyfriend and I wanted a nice dinner in the city on Saturday night (the snow has caused a horrible bout of cabin fever), so we ventured over to Marliave. We went on the later side, around 9PM, and were seated immediately. The atmosphere in the restaurant is wonderful, including the decor, music and lighting. I ordered a glass of pinot grigio, and I have to say it is one of the better pinot grigios I've ever tasted. Very clean and delicious. We started with one of the cheese selections (the name of which is escaping me now) and they served it with bread, fig jam, honey and candied walnuts. Amazing. We also ordered the macaroni & cheese (we were a bit worried about a cheese overload during appetizers, but that ain't really gonna stop us!) and holy moly was it scrumptious! It could definitely be a meal in and of itself! It was absolutely delicious - the waiter even smiled at us when he saw we were fishing the last few bits straight out of the small bowl they served it in. For entrees (which I have to admit - after the apps I was stuffed and couldn't imagine eating anything more), I had the Risotto and my boyfriend got the Sunday Gravy. Both were absolutely scrumptious. I couldn't finish all of mine (it was a rather large portion), so I got to take some home and enjoy the leftovers. The gnocchi in the Sunday Gravy was perfectly cooked, and my boyfriend ate every last bit! We passed on dessert, as we were completely full, and there were no desserts that really jumped out at us (which is a good thing!). Overall, this is an exceptional restaurant with an inviting atmosphere and delicious food. It is a bit on the pricey side but totally worth it. I highly recommend Marliave!
(5)
Ashley A.

A group of us went to Marliave last night to have a send-off dinner for one of our very good friends who is moving out of the state. I had checked out their menu earlier in the day and it looked great and reasonably priced. When I made reservations, I was informed that it was restaurant week, and I guess I had no idea what that meant until we got there. My husband and I arrived early and sat at the bar to get a drink..that experience was fine, as nothing significant happened. When the rest of our group arrived, we were seated at our table and given menus. The first thing I noticed was that the menu was very different from online because of restaurant week..and it seemed a lit more expensive. It was fine, just kind of surprising. Our waitress came over and informed us of the restaurant week menu and asked that nobody order the restaurant week menu and split the meal. I was under the impression that she was asking that everybody order a meal and 2 people couldn't share the restaurant week option which was understandable. Well, I decided to order one of the "course 2" options because I don't think I could have eaten a whole menu option, and my husband ordered the restaurant week menu with the mac and cheese to start off with. When the food came, my husband was raving about how good the mac and cheese was, and I asked for a small bite. Before I could even get the bite down, the waitress was over at our table chastising us for sharing and stated "It's a really strict policy, and if I see you sharing again, I will charge you the prix fixe prices". I was actually appalled that we were spoken to like children in a restaurant where we are PAYING to be there! I understand the policy, but I would rarely order certain things if my husband didn't try them first and let me have a bite..it's bad business to discourage people from TRYING your food. I think she knew we were upset because she brought over enough spoons for the group when the dessert came. I think that gesture was too little too late, and disingenuous. To top it off, the food was just okay. I got the chopped salad and the chicken was very dry. Typically this wouldn't stop me from trying the restaurant again to give it another chance, but I was so disappointed in how we were treated that I doubt I'll go there again.
(1)
Kelly W.

This was such a wonderfully unexpected experience. From the impeccable service, gracious accomodation of my special request cocktail (Corpse Reviver No. 2 -if you haven't tried it...just do it), perfect all dente texture of my asparagus and bite of fresh reggiano, all the way to my entrÃ©e: the pastrami sandwich. Let's just say, I live in NYC and I've never had pastrami so tender. It was LITERALLY like buttah! I will most definitely come back the next time I come to Boston. I may even make a special trip just so I can try something different!
(5)
Ralph O.

Beatiful venue, great location, good food and service. I would go there if ambience is important, for example to bring a visiting relative/friend or on a date. There is a wide range of prices in the menu so the bill can vary a lot depending on what you order.
(4)
Stefanie Y.

We came here for restaurant week - at $25 for lunch, it was truly worth it for the portions and the quality of the food. First off, the restaurant week menu is huge. You will not want for fantastic options - it took us a solid 15 minutes to decide what we wanted. We settled on mussels and french onion soup for appetizers, and steak-frites, shrimp scampi, and gnocchi for the entrÃ©es. The mussels portion was huge - approaching entrÃ©e size - and very, very fresh. The broth was light, allowing the quality of the mussels to really shine through. The onion soup had short-ribs, which really added to the richness of the soup. The gnocchi was divine - they make the pasta themselves. They were chewy but still soft, and served in a braised meat stew. The steak-frites were also simple and well-executed: high-quality beef served with seasoned fries. Our waiter was very Boston and friendly, cracking jokes throughout the meal. He seemed to always be rushing off somewhere, so it was hard to get ahold of him at times, and at the end of the meal, he flipped through the receipts to see how much of a tip we'd given him, which was a little off-putting. Also, the drinks were fantastic. We had the gin, prosecco, and grapefruit cocktail, which was sweet but still strong - a perfect cocktail. Overall, a great restaurant - the food was delicious, the portions were well-sized to massive, and the service was mostly excellent. Definitely a great place to come for restaurant week.
(4)
Christina D.

Came here for late night happy hour for 1/2 off oysters with friends/family. I don't like oysters so I was hoping there would be some sort of deal for drinks, but there wasn't. Ugh. We had also requested when we sat down that we get separate bills but they didn't do that. Everyone did seem to enjoy their oysters though!
(3)
Mary T.

I came here during their happy hour and got their $1 oysters and clams. They come with cocktail sauce, prosecco, and lemon for you to pair with the oysters and clams. The clams are very sweet and juicy. You can choose what oysters you like too, and I told the waitress to surprise me. I sampled a couple of different types of oysters and they were all very sweet and fresh. I also ordered their mac and cheese. I suggest to skip on this appetizer because their house cut ziti was kind of too doughy for me. The texture of the mac is like what bad gnocchi tastes like. I also had the steak frites. It was delicious. You can't go wrong with steak and fries! I ordered medium rare, and it came exactly the way I asked for. The presentation was also appetizing and impressive. I came with a big party, and they were able to accommodate with us even though the restaurant isn't too big. Our server was very friendly and were patient with us. They tried their best to serve all of our entrees and appetizers at the same time. I look forward to coming back again, maybe during restaurant week!
(4)
Kate H.

Mushroom omelette is light and a great vegetarian choice, bartender is accommodating and the tapioca pudding is fantastic. My real favorite part, though? Cheese plates! If you want a more romantic vibe, ask for the table by the window upstairs.
(4)
Angela Y.

Oysters= $1.5 each, clams=$1 Came here the other night for 50% oysters after 9pm and it was a pretty fun night! We ordered a platter that had all 4 kinds of oysters then promptly forgot which was which and our waiter was friendly and talkative and tried to help us figure out which ones were the ones we actually liked. Apparently it's all in the shell and check if there's barnacle growth on them (or something??). The place is one of the dimly lit, slightly dressy places that I wasn't expecting so rolling in with just a sweater and tights felt a little under-dressed, but wasn't a huge deal. The oysters were also really varied in size, so there'd be two really good sized ones and some really small, but I guess you get what you get. Wished they had actual $1 oysters though!
(4)
Sylvia C.

Marliave had an impressive Restaurant Week menu (many options for appetizers, entrees and desserts). It was great option for our lunch group of 7. They were able to squeeze a reservation for 1:30 with less than 24hrs notice. When we arrived - the place was still bustling (the main upstairs dining room was full). The hostess acknowledged us while she was busy taking care of other guests ahead. Within minutes, she was back to guide us to our table upstairs on the bar side dining room. Our server was quick to greet us and took our drink orders. The place had a nice vibe to it...dark tables with clear gastro-lights hanging from the ceiling. Wished we were sat in the main dining room - more open views of the buildings and street below. I ordered the following: Appetizer - Escargots - they were the highlight of my meal. Nice crusted layer of melted cheese with garlic on top of the escargots that were perfectly cooked - served with gently toasted bread to dip into the flavored oil. Entree - Chicken Cobb Salad - it was a great vibrant blend of asparagus, french string beans, avocado, 1/2 mid-hard boiled egg, cherry/grape tomatoes, romaine and herb seasoned chicken breast - all well tossed in a zesty vinagrette. Only downfall - think they went a little heavy handed on the salt and pepper shaker. Dessert - Brownie Sundae - didn't think I could manage this for lunch but the bite sized brownies with vanilla concoction made it way too easy (though I couldn't finish the whole thing). Nice garnishes of walnuts and cherries. Prompt service and great attentiveness to customers. Can't wait to go back for their happy hour - $1 oyster specials.
(4)
Marissa A.

Wow. What a meal. Made a reservation for restaurant week. My party and I arrived early particularly because we heard about the happy hour $1 oysters. Whoa whoa whoa. $1 oysters AND they are some of my faves, Wellfleet? They served us Duxbury and Rhianna (misheard for sure but called them Rhianna the whole evening) as well and they were wonderfully briny and very meaty. We are all coming back for this happy hour more often than not. Moving on to the meal - they had so many choices for RW! It was so hard to decide. For my first course I had the beet and goat cheese salad with candies pecans. The presentation was beautiful. And I cleaned my plate. I was so full at this point. But then all our entrees came out at the same time. A nice touch was that each one came covered and not until the last plate arrived were the meals revealed. Great touch. I had the scallops with butternut squash raviolis and mushrooms. The scallops were perfectly tender. The ravioli was slightly undercooked but that didn't stop me from eating them all. And for dessert, I ordered the ice cream - the 3 flavors were: blueberry, mint basil chocolate chip and the best, salted caramel!!! Best combo of sweet and salty. This place is a gem.
(5)
J. T.

Great service and great atmosphere. I love the happy hour food specials, $1.50 oysters! :) The cocktails were really good and definitely get the truffle fries! Beware, there is barely any parking and taking the T is best.
(4)
Jessica L.

I was so excited to try this place for restaurant week, and I was so ready to love this place considering the great reviews. However, I was so not ready to give this place a mediocre review. The good: there were a surprising number of selections available given that we were looking at the restaurant week menu. The food itself was good. For the appetizer,I got the rarebits. It was cheese and bacon in fondue form. First off, it is impossible to go wrong with cheese and bacon. When put together, it is nearly irresistible. I thought that Marliave did a great job choosing the cheese to use. The only thing that I would say is that it wasn't as fondue-like as I expected. I found myself tugging at the cheese in order to break of a chunk to eat. However, it wasn't a big deal. I still thoroughly enjoyed it. It was also very filling; I could feel myself becoming full just from the appetizer. As my entree,I got the steak frites. It was pretty good; not as good as the rarebits, but it was still pretty delicious. They had a gorgonzola butter that was so good, and the steak itself was very tender and juicy. Finally,I got the chocolate truffles as my dessert. By this time, I'm so full that I want able to try even a bite. However, one of my friends who went with me thought that it was good. Also,I loved the location and the ambiance. It was kind of quiet and low key, great for a date night. From our perch upstairs, we had a great view. If you wanted, you could do quite a bit of people watching. Now, for the bad: I sat there the entire time praying that one of my friends didn't get clocked in the face by a plate. I understand that sometimes, waiters need to reach over to grab a plate or a dish. However, our waiter seemed to almost drop something every time he came over: knives, the ketchup, plates. It was actually a little nerve wracking. He could have utilized some of the space in between tables to minimize the amount of reaching he had to do. Not only that, he also wasn't the most attentive waiter. We never got a refill on water unless we explicitly asked. We had to wait a long while in between courses, to the point where we were all getting a little impatient. It was just so slow. It also wasn't super busy at the time. It was just a kind of strange service experience. Near the beginning of our experience, we had three waiters come by to help us. It got a little confusing, because one would ask us for our drink order and then another would come to ask us the same question. It seemed like they weren't all that organized. The end of our experience wasn't any better; it seemed like we dropped from 3 waiters down to zero. I'm not sure if I would go back. The food isn't cheap, though it is good, and the service is pretty bad. It's too bad; I was prepared to love the place.
(3)
Dani D.

The food is good and very filling. We went for the oysters during happy hour and they did not disappoint. Then we had some scramble eggs with cheese and truffle. The dish was really good but I especially enjoyed the fries. We also had half a bottle of wine which was not bad. I'm not much of a wine drinker so it was okay for me. My sister really likes it. She liked it so much that she bought a bunch of them home :) it's call Annabella. The waitress was very friendly and would check up on us occasionally. The atmosphere is very dim to nearly dark. Overall, the setting was relaxing in an old restaurant with a lot of history type of way. We went during off peak times so there was not that many people around in the restaurant. A nice place for a quiet relaxing meal :)
(5)
D. M.

Went here with a colleague for lunch during Dine Out Boston and at some point the waitress actually had to ask me if I was ok. I told her I was in a happy food coma. We started off with escargot and mac and cheese. The escargot was on par with what I've had in Paris and the mac and cheese was so creamy. The pasta was a little too dense but the cheesy sauce made up for it. For the main course I had steak frites and my colleague had risotto. Both dishes were so good. My steak was tender and flavorful. Even the French fries were something to write about. The risotto was very flavorful with a strong truffle flavor. For dessert we had the brownie sunday. Picture warm brownie bites topped with ice cream and cherries. Definitely going straight to the top of my list of favorite restaurants in Boston.
(5)
Yuan J.

I visited Marliave for Restaurant Week and had the sliders, risotto, and pudding. Portion sizes were way too big, and I felt that my dishes were a bit too greasy. Flavors were good, but nothing exceptional. Service was good though, and our waiter was nice to us.
(3)
Julie B.

Marliave is a charming little gem in the downtown area. I've been a few times now and have been consistently impressed with both the quality food and service. Some highlights: - $1 oysters and clams from 4-6 and 9-10. - Cute outdoor patio for alfresco dining. - Takes Opentable reservations. - The mac & cheese (house cut ziti, black truffle, cream, farmhouse cheeses) -- so deliciously awesome. - Chicken pan roasted "under a brick" -- moist inside, crispy skin outside. What more can you ask for? - "The Professor", my favorite drink hands down. A sour in honor of Jerry Thomas: maker's mark, cote de rhone, lemon, maraschino. - Tapioca pudding for dessert. Get this! And one of my favorite things about Marliave? Every dish came out under a cloche! A very nice touch, plus it keeps everything piping hot and made me feel like I was in Beauty and the Beast.
(4)
Linda V.

Marliave is absolutely amazing! Great food: delicious blend of fine ingredients. Fair prices. A+! Great lunch spot. The shrimp scampi is probably the best I've had. Oysters were great. Must come back for the happy hour oyster specials next time!
(5)
Yelena Y.

I go here often. I love their rarebits and half price oysters....as well as drinks. Nothing is sliming but if you know what to order...just an awesome authentic boston experience.
(5)
Melanie W.

Marliave is one of those true, slightly hidden, Boston gems that I only share with people that I know will, like me, appreciate it and be wow-ed beyond belief. It is just so, so, so good. Dare I say, the best in Boston? Yes! When I decided to make the big move to NYC, I knew my Farewell Dinner would be at Marliave. And, I knew it would be with my best friend, the foodiest foodie I know. At first, she was a little skeptical when I told her this was one of the best meals I've had in Boston, but by the end, she was happily in the Mother of Food Comas, vowing to always trust, without question, all my future restaurant recommendations. Let's start at the beginning, shall we? First comes the bread and olive oil (with two, whole olives.) The bread is homemade and it's absolutely delicious. The mindset of "I'll only have one piece" goes out the window after your first bite. We may or may not have asked for a second basket... For our meals, I had my signature, the scallops, and she had the Shrimp Scampi. The scallops are heaven. Pure heaven. And, they also come risotto, which compliments the scallops perfectly. The Shrimp Scampi was equally delicious. Side note: everything here is homemade and fresh, including the pasta (yum!) Last but not least, dessert! I have a little history with the dessert here. The first time I came here, I ordered the Butterscotch Pudding. I'm not a pudding person, so it was a bit of an oddball choice. HOWEVER, the Butterscotch Pudding is the most delicious thing... ever. Really, it's what dreams are made of. Well, maybe just my dreams. It's rich and super sweet (I'm a sweet kind of girl.) Atop the butterscotch pudding is the most delicious whipped cream and candied ginger. So, no surprise, I ordered the Butterscotch Pudding. And, she ordered the Cake and Ice Cream. And, yes, equally delicious. At this point, she was telling almost everyone in the restaurant "this is sooooooo good." This has turned into a book, so I'll wrap up now. Shout out to Susan, our waitress! She was the best and really made it the best Farewell Dinner possible (thanks for all the extra bread!) To everyone else, go to Marliave. Pretend to be Gordon Ramsay, talk about presentation, talk about how it is "the most amazing" thing you've ever tasted and savor every last bite!
(5)
Cristina W.

Went there for the happy hour oysters and they are GREAT!!! We ordered 10 oysters in 4 different kinds. I think they are very tasty and juicy. But my boyfriend thinks they were a little bit not fresh. The desserts were DIVINE too. The tapioca pudding was yummy! The chocolate cake was just so so. The service...ummm I would give 7 out of 10 because our waitress seemed in a rush to take everything from our table, even if we were not finished eating. The restaurant itself is okay but definitely worth trying for the happy hour oysters! :)
(3)
Alex V.

This place has the freshest, tastiest oysters I've ever had anywhere (not just in Boston). I wasn't even a big fan of oysters until I went here. I wish we came later in the evening, during the oyster special, when they have sell them for $1 each. Still, it was well worth it at $3 a pop. Maybe they were fresher at that time anyways. The only thing that put me off slightly about this place was the strange odor from the street as we sat outside and tried to enjoy our meal. It was very reminiscent of the chemicals they use in a port-a-potty.
(4)
Monique S.

I fell in love last night. So intoxicating. It was love at first sight. His name? Chauncey Warbucks. Bourbon, absinthe, grenadine, and bitters. Delish. Nothing says romance more than oysters. And who can say no to one dollar oysters, all local! We went HAM on a variety of local oysters that came on ice with lemon and sauces. Since the clams were one dollar too, we thought we'd each try one. I found out I don't like raw clams, but that's just a personal preference. I came in before my friend, so I was seated alone. The guy serving water reached from behind me and said excuse me to pour water. I never saw his face. It was very impersonal and offensive. In contrast, when my friend arrived, the lady serving him water walked to the middle of the table and asked him how he was while she poured the water. So funny how people are treated differently when seated alone. The waitress was great. She helped us remember the oysters by giving us a mnemonic, DCBA. Of course, I've forgotten, but I do remember that the D is for the Duxbury oysters! Great time. I'll definitely go back for oysters and drinks and a meal!
(4)
Lillian C.

Came here for the dollar oysters from 4-6 on a Friday and was very pleasantly surprised! Made reservations because we were told it would get packed and it DID... so make reservations ahead of time! There were some seats at the bar but those went fast too. Most places usually just have one TYPE of oyster but they had 4 dif kinds of oysters that you can choose from for $1. SCORE!!! They were also SUPER fresh and delicious. Their drinks are also very delicious and crafted with care. I had the WC Fields and the cucumber chunks were really refreshing. Since we had dinner reservations shortly after we only had oysters and a selection of two cheeses. I don't remember which two, but we had our waitress suggest them and they were both good. The table next to us ordered steak frites and a rabbit dish and they both smelled delicious. This is def a place I will come frequently for the dollar oysters and drinks!
(5)
Elleen P.

I can't believe I spent so much money at a place that I came in with a sleeveless top, shorts, and sandals. Nevertheless, the food was decent. I ordered the steak frites, while my friend ordered four oysters and the trout. I ordered the steak medium rare but it came to be more like a rare, but it was my fault -- should've asked what their medium rare looked like. Most of the inside was raw but I thought it was still good, just wished it could've been more cooked. As for my friend, she enjoyed the oysters (at a dollar fifty, they were worth it) but she didn't like the trout as much. Since there were two pieces and the first piece had spinach and tomato, the first piece was much more flavorful than the second, which she thought was quite flavorless and didn't enjoy eating. The shrimp on it was soggy as well -- at the steep-ish prices, we were expecting a little more. Service was good, though, and the ambiance is nice, overlooking one of Boston's smaller streets. I'd recommend if you're looking for affordable but quality oysters, but our entrees were less satisfying.
(3)
Ambrose C.

So, you ended up somewhere in the middle of Boston and are you looking for a decently good restaurant with some sophistication? Well if you said yes, this place may have your answer. I went to this place for a Friday evening dinner and I was looking forward to a comfortable and somewhat relaxing eating experience. When I walked up the stairs into the restaurant, I felt like I needed to wear something nicer, maybe a pair of dark slacks and a decent collared shirt with a solid color? I sat down with some people that I know, and one guy that I know was talking about how awesome the "Trout dish" was. I decided to get the Trout dish, which also had shrimp, spinach and tomatoes. Trout is a type of fish that lives in rivers and lakes. It's definitely one of the most common caught fishes for people who like to go outside and use their fishing rods by the rivers or lakes. Presentation was fairly impressive. The way they presented the dish was that they covered the plate with a large stainless steel plate cover, as if you are being served at a very traditional "Western" restaurant. The silverware utensils were really cool as well. The look of the dish was fairly appetizing and pleasing to the eye. The spinach had a nice freshly cooked flavor and the tomatoes had a nice juiciness that made it a great complement to the trout. The trout itself had a nice freshly cooked tenderness and a great and tasty flavor. The shrimps were nice, plump and meaty enough to be very tasty and flavorful. I also sampled some other bits of food at this place. The calamari from the Insalata Di Mare was also freshly cooked, and had a nice fresh texture and taste I would expect from good calamari. The French Fries were pretty good, but had a fairly standard taste and texture. The interior is nice, it's definitely a great place to book a dinner appointment with your buddies and companions, especially if you have a group of 4+ people. I definitely felt like I was in a better place somewhere in the somewhat decent city of Boston. It has the look of an "almost quintessential mid-20th Century Western restaurant". Service was surprisingly very fast, I got my dish in less than 15 minutes after my order. One of the servers who brought the dishes to our table was nice, and she had this nice allure and charm. Expect to pay more than $25 for a good meal here. Overall, if you are looking for some sophistication and a fairly delightful dinner here, and you are willing to spend some more money, this place is a pretty good choice. I thought I had a fairly delightful dinner at a great setting in a city like Boston. It's probably not going to be the best restaurant you have visited, but if you are looking for a little sophistication and delightful dinner in the somewhat decent city of Boston at a great location, this place should be a great choice.
(4)
Jessica Y.

Please don't tell us there aren't tables because they are all reserved, when in fact they're not!!! We were told by the hostess to go upstairs to look. Luckily, we were able to find a table by the bar. We ended up staying for two hours and the house wasn't filled by the time we left. Anyhoooo, we came for the $1 happy hour oysters on Friday. I always forget the names of the ones we get. One was definitely a little sweeter than the other. Always ask the waiter when in doubt.
(4)
Jay N.

Inattentive server and the food lacked flavor. Ordered steak frites; the steak was wonderfully tender, but too bland to really enjoy it. My girlfriend felt the same about her shrimp scampi. My plate was a mass of fries -- I consider myself a steak & potatoes kind of guy, but it would have been nice to have some other kind of flavor to balance things out. The Foundry serves a tangy bed of greens with their steak frites, I've seen sweet carrots or roasted asparagus served at other Boston restaurants. Marliave gave me a piechart of 95% fries, 5% steak -- 0% chance I'd try it again. Sitting outside was nice, but they did leave a large family standing at the edge of the outdoor dining area for a half hour while they waited for a large table to open up -- felt weird to have a big group staring over the tables for half the meal. Our server rarely checked on us, didn't seem to care that much, and forgot to bring back the food we'd asked to have packed up until we asked a second time about it. It wasn't even a busy night. Nothing about the evening was terrible, but for the price and class of restaurant, it was a sub-par experience.
(2)
Michael C.

Restaurant week lunch: Macaroni & Cheese - Great dish, it was a first course but could've easily been my entire meal. This dish was rich, the pasta in it tasted homemade and it had hints of truffle. Trout - Wasn't as big a fan of this dish. There was fresh spinach and tomatoes inside 2 pieces of trout. Like a literal sandwich made from fish. While everything seemed fresh it was kind of bland. Butterscotch Pudding - It was pudding. Not the jello kind, the rich dense and delicious french style of pudding. Overall I would definitely return to Marliave. It is probably close to 3.5 stars than 4. Some of the other small touches, like the unique location, friendly staff, and delicious bread with olive oil bumped it up a little.
(4)
Dinah B.

When my family came to visit me in Boston, they stayed at the Omni Parker House Hotel and told me that they'd take care of scheduling dinner (my parents are quite particular about where they decide to dine, so I was glad that the pressure to perform wasn't on me). Then I got a call that I should meet them at Marliave, a tucked away restaurant near Tremont St. I cabbed it over and my cabbie told me to walk down the dark alley to enter the restaurant. I was a bit skeptical and turned off by the first impression, but I ended up loving this place. Their mac & cheese appetizer with black truffle is the real reason why we kept coming back. It's so decadent and oozing with cheesy, great flavor that I'd usually just order that and another appetizer. The rabbit entree is also pretty good, but I can't get passed the mac & cheese. I'm so glad that my parents found this place.
(4)
Ilona K.

Best oysters and mac n cheese. Yes, it's a very strange pairing, but both were really good.
(5)
Karina H.

Shitty service. One of the waiters dropped a bottle of vinegar and it spilled all over my backpack. Didn't really come to apologize or help clean my bag. And they didn't even seat us for the longest time and was overall unaccommodating. Thankfully was with great company so didn't care. Tried different kinds of oysters and they were great. Would come back for the yummy fresh shucked oysters
(4)
Michael C.

Bloody hell time goes by fast. I had to think back on the last time I was here and it was 1978 when I was a poor Grad student and took my soon to be wife here for dinner. Fast forward 32 years and I took my 25 year old daughter here for dinner. Well somethings do not change since in my distance memories I thought this was a terrific restaurant. This is still a wonderful restaurant. Service A+, Food A+ Atmosphere; well if 32 years do not dim the memory of a terrific place then I guess Marliave's stands the test of time. PS. The Rarebit appetizer is killer as are the oyster selection.
(5)
Destry T.

Excellent dinner. Wife and I had the Wellington and the Osso Bucco. Great meal and wonderful drinks. We make it a priority to eat here each time we visit Boston and haven't had a bad experiance ever. Thank you Marliave. DT & Meliss
(5)
Maria V.

Amazing, amazing, amazing. You can find me here for the late-night dollar oyster hour from 9pm-10pm more than a few times a month. The dollar oysters can't be beat! They offer a rotating variety of four kinds of oysters (usually including Wellfleets and Duxburys), which are always delicious and amazingly fresh. They're served with mignonette and cocktail sauce, although you can get horseradish on the side if you ask. These are some of the best oysters I've ever had in Boston for any price, hands down, so the $1 price tag per oyster from 4pm-6pm and 9pm-10pm every day is ridiculous. The ambiance is great, very upscale without being snobby (don't be afraid to come in jeans), and the large leather booths on the first floor are very comfortable! Upstairs is a more elegant and formal dining area and a second bar (only open on Fridays and Saturdays). The food here is also great for the price; I feel like it's difficult to find restaurants in Boston in the $20-price range for entrees. The beef wellington ($30) is phenomenal and has always been perfectly cooked to the temperature I requested. Love this place!
(5)
Kelly O.

Another recent dinner experience at Marliave and it still deserves its 4 stars. I got adventurous and ordered rabbit for the first time ever, and (I assume?) it was cooked to perfection and has made me a convert. You get it in 2 forms, sausage and prosciutto-wrapped tenderloin, which was great for a newbie like me (both were delicious, I loved the flavor and texture on the sausage but I'm always a sucker for prosciutto-wrapped anything). The rich sauce that accompanied it was delicious, not to mention the tasty polenta. Service was lovely, the patio is wonderful, cocktails as always were tasty. Marliave is solidly on my regular rotation for a classy night out. UPDATE: the chicken entree is unreal... so crispy and juicy, over the amazing risotto with ridiculously awesome giant chunks of garlic. Oh, and the rarebits app = genius. Still proving that anything you get here will be delicious.
(4)
H T.

I liked the food and service here. Somewhat of a hidden location. I've dined at the tables and sat at their bar. Their bartenders know how to make drinks. Don't forget their $1 oyster days.
(4)
Mindy L.

Creative cocktail list. I tried the Tres Curieaux - with grapefruit juice, cucumber, Presecco and St. Germaine. Definitely had a sour bite to it, but it was tasty. We took over the upstairs bar for a 30th birthday party. The oysters were amaze-balls. They served little plates of sauteed tomatoes and shrimp in garlic. Shrimp was a little rubbery, but I chalked it up to the need to make them in bulk for the party. The sliders were darn good (especially the Portobella slider). Oh - and I can't forget to mention their Deviled Eggs. Mm! Cool place to throw a party - would definitely go back for a sit-down dinner sometime.
(4)
Allegra M.

Five co-workers and I went to Marliave for their $1 Oyster deal. We were all really excited about our "girls night out," but unfortunately, our server was less than enthused by our group. We asked questions about the oyster selection and several members in our party ordered 12+ oysters per person - but our server had difficulty taking the orders, and made several mistakes: my oysters came without any sauces, my one co-worker got 16 oysters when she only ordered 12, and my other co-worker got a type that she didn't request. The weird part was that when my co-worker mentioned she received four extra oysters, her whole platter was brought back to the kitchen to "fix" and came back with the dozen count she had originally ordered. Whatever happened to those four additional shucked oysters, I will never know... Okay - well - two correct orders out of five isn't bad, right? Everyone has off nights - but, unfortunately, it got worse... When clearing the finished oyster plates of empty oyster shells and shaved ice, the server passed the plates over me and dumped a ton of oyster juice and melted ice on my lap. "Ooo! Did I get you?" she asked, "yeah, when the ice starts to melt, its hard to clear the plates without the water falling out. Can I get you a club soda?" I understand having an off-night, but after giving someone take a bath in smelly oyster water, is the best you can offer a club soda and a napkin? Now, I know what your thinking: "Well, what kind of service did you expect when buying $1 oysters?" But I assure you that our table racked up a bill over $150 in additional food and drinks. Oyster bath and service incompetence a side, the appetizers and main entrees we ordered were well done (I sampled quite a few of my co-workers dishes). The scrambled eggs and french fries were delicious; although I found the $10 price point to be slightly unjustified. The fish-n-chips ($18) and rabbit ($28) were also well-done, but the price made it a little tough to swallow. The cheese offerings are also impressive in terms of variety and quality, but think of each $6 piece as a sampling (as compared to a substantive wedge) and you won't be disappointed. Overall, I was not very impressed by Marliave. Yes, my judgment was strongly impacted by the poor service, but I have been to several places in Boston who do the same thing - only better and less costly.
(2)
Evan H.

Drinks, Food, and Ambiance are on point. The service is top-knotch.
(4)
Susan W.

This place is a hoot! A real throwback....I had meatball sliders and they were nicely seasoned but not much cheese or sauce...the pasta was terrific - and this after schlepping to little Italy on the north side for some bad stuff the night before - and if you like tapioca pudding(talk about a throwback!!) it is transcendent.
(4)
Yotam S.

I've really enjoyed dinning here, arrived with no reservation and noticed that the hostess made an extra effort to get us seated quickly. Wonderful and well priced food, I recommend this restaurant and loved the home made pasta.
(5)
Michael P.

$1 oysters....not impressed since they were poorly shucked and flaccid(?), if that's an appropriate adjective to use haha. Perhaps I came at an off-night (Sunday) and the shucker was distracted with the Celtics playoff going on. Keep in mind that you CAN get selection of different oysters, but it's not clearly stated on the menu, so just ask!
(2)
C F.

Marliave's been my go-to place for $1 oysters since January 2011. They're fresh whether I'm there right after work (4-6) or late at night (9-10), and there are always four varieties offered. If you're a $1 oyster aficionado, you'll know that this cannot be said of all establishments advertising $1 oysters. The service is consistently good to great, even during the busy $1 special hours. The other thing I love about Marliave: the cocktails. The recipes are unique and the menu's hilarious. If you'd like something refreshing, delicious, and cola-like, try the Molasses Flood. For something stronger, try the The Exchange--that's one stiff drink! The food's good. A dinner date and I once ordered escargot, the onion soup, rarebits, and gnocchi. Don't order the first three together unless you're sharing amongst a group--they're all very rich. (A caveat from the server would have been helpful here.) Actually, skip the escargot altogether (too garlicky), but definitely try the rarebits and onion soup. And I don't know what it was about the olive oil they served with their bread, but it was delicious. Oh--the chicken! Order it! Chicken's never the most impressive sounding item on a menu, but this chicken had just the right amount of crispy texture and incredible flavor. It was heaven on earth. Magic chicken. I'm hungry just thinking about it. If you're there on a date, try to avoid the tables directly across from the kitchen upstairs. The kitchen lighting is glaringly white and the servers will be constantly coming in and out of the kitchen on a busy night--very distracting for the person facing the kitchen. And the tables in this area are so close together that you can hear every word from the neighboring tables, which may make it tough for you to hold your own conversation. Otherwise, I think it's a great date venue. In sum: Recommended. I've eaten out so much that I'm bit jaded about the Boston restaurant scene, but Marliave has a special charm. It feels hidden away even though it's right in Downtown Crossing, and I love being there and knowing that I'm in the fourth oldest restaurant in Boston.
(4)
Michael S.

Four Words: Happy hour oyster special! The winners were the wellsfleet and the rockshore I believe. Very good and very fresh oysters here. Loved the location of the place and the happy hour special. If ever back in Boston, I would definitely go back here to enjoy oysters. Indulging as my girlfriend and I did would have cost us quite a bit of change had it not been for the special!
(5)
Lauren D.

We went to Marliave last night prepared to have a cheese plate, wine, and an appy or two. The cheese list consisted of a collection from France, Italy and New England (areas, which we were told, that paid homage to the previous owners of the establishment). The three cheeses we selected were outstanding (MUST get the Brillat Savarin (FR) and the Hooligan (NE). Now the menu boasted what appeared to be an amazing mac 'n cheese and meatball sliders. Even so, the cheese was soooo good that we skipped these tempting options and ordered three more cheeses. Bottom line, if you like cheese, go here.
(5)
Alex B.

I have been wanting to go here for a while after viewing the delicious looking menu. I finally made it over here on a Friday night wanting to sit outside in what feels like a cove between the buildings on Bloomfield Street. The feeling of Historic Boston practically resonates through the surrounding walls and of course the place does have its fair share of history behind it. One of the tastiest parts to me was the bread. It felt as dense as pound cake and had a great buttery taste as well. In terms of the actual meal I was so happy to see out food arrive with a plate charger, but after that that and the presentation the taste just seemed okay to me. I tried the rabbit which was good and not something you would find on your typical menu. The veal wasn't anything special. The truffle butter fries were good, but I did not taste the truffle oil. The mussels are a good option. Our service was a little slow. Although it was a Friday night the place was not crowded at all, so I was expecting much more. One thing that I did like about this place is that they can do private functions and do not charge room fees (all they require is a deposit). Prices are good and the food tasted decent. I would say theres a 50% chance of me coming back here again. Maybe if I am in the mood for some beef wellington I will venture over here.
(3)
Patrick D.

This place is an absolute gem in the heart of downtown, I'm kicking myself for all the years I wandered around the city and walked right by it. My girlfriend and I went here for their half price oyster special (it's a must if you're into raw bar). The restaurant is nicely set back from the busy street, which is a nice change of pace from the restaurants where you're constantly looking passersby in the face awkwardly for your whole meal. We were on the second floor to eat (with a good view of the city at night) and when we got there at 5 it was totally empty except for a few folks at the bar, which was surprising even for a Monday. The decor is just awesome, sort of 1920s French art-deco, definitely a collared shirt type place, nice enough to be a good date spot but not stuffy. We did half a dozen of each of the four types of oysters, and the Wellfleet and Duxbury oysters were our favorites. All of them were fresh and ice cold and delicious, though the cocktail sauce was a bit mild for my liking, definitely take them up on the extra Tabasco sauce offer if you like hot cocktail sauce. We then had a sampling from the cheese menu, 1 oz. each of Camembert, Cravero and some kind of Pecorino the name of which escapes me. The Camembert was the best in our opinion. The cheese plate included four slices of toasted brioche each, some (AMAZING) fig jam, lavender honey and some candied walnuts. The cheese is expensive though, $6.50 per ounce. The service was fantastic as well, our water glasses were never less than 1/4 full, our waitress (Carolina) was very nice, always offered us extra bread, Tabasco sauce, and recommended us her favorite cheeses as well. Overall, an awesome place for happy hour oysters, good cheese if that's your thing, and some of the best service we've ever had in the city, along with a very comfortable and attractive interior. Not one to be missed, 5 stars all the way!
(5)
Marlecka M.

Went here for RW and it was nice :) The staff was very friendly (except for one waitress that kind of left us......... ANYWAY) Escargot was delicious. Very nice. Had the fish and chips which I won't be getting again when I go back. And dessert was the Butterscotch Pudding with candied ginger--it was delicious after a couple spoonfuls then it became too overbearing in sweetness lol UPDATE!** 3/16/14 If your hankering for raw oysters and clams, Marliave has a great assortment of oysters to choose from (my personal favorite is the Pleasant Bay, because of their sweet meat) and always fresh. If you like meat and want something a little you're not used to try the Beef Carpaccio for an appetizer--you won't be disappointed. The shrimp Scampi was very nice, good level of acidity, meaty shrimp and delicious pasta. It will fill you up with just enough room for dessert. And as always I keep going back to their butterscotch pudding, maybe because I have an extreme sweet tooth? No matter, it's always good in my book!! The great thing about Marliave is that they are always consistent with their food.
(4)
Kimmy T.

Today was scoop a bowl day!!! I didn't eat anything the whole day,and waited for my best friend to get out from work! My best friend and I went here during their "raw hours" for dinner. Since I didn't feel like dressing up today, I kept it casual. And bam, hostess wasn't really nice, but what evs I'm here for thÃ¨ oysters my best friend was raving about. You got seated in the back , and my view was facing the kitchen, not a great view. But at least I can see the chefs, so life is good. We ordered two dozens of mixed oysters, and shrimp scampi. At this time I'm starving and excited for the food. Little did I know that most if the oysters served to us was not fresh. My 4th one in I started to feel a little sick. Then I looked and saw that the oysters were not fresh and edible. No wonder the 4th one smelled do fishy, and the juice on them looked murky. I starts to feel queasy, so I ate the bread hoping it would make me feel better. Shrimp scampi came I took a bite of the shrimp and it's raw. Wth I wanted to spit it out, but instead I swallowed it. I had enough and really want to leave right away. My friend ate another shrimp and he spit it out in his napkin. I excused myself to the lavatory, and out it went into the toilet. After we left I felt like thÃ¨ wind knocked the eff out of me. At this time I have to drink some herbal tea or something. You guessed it, we walked to David's tea. Yes we feel a little tiny bit better. No we will not be coming back. Ok I take it back about feeling abut better. I still feel sick.
(2)
Margaret H.

CHICKEN UNDER A BRICK! it is sooooo good! I love the atmosphere, the drinks, and the great service. This is my go-to birthday dinner spot. I loooove french food and this place always delivers. It is one of the few places that I will actually order the chicken (I am an adventurous orderer) because it's AMAZING! I have also had fish and scallops there and they were amazing. My bf had some sort of lamb thing that was melt in your mouth delicious too! I will always go back to Marliave for delicious dinner and drinks, or just appetizers (rarebits, everyday, OMG) and drinks in a great atmosphere.
(5)
Cara F.

First off, serious brownie points for starting their Restaurant Week offerings the weekend before Restaurant Week was officially slated to start. Additional brownie points for offering a huge variety of options in each course. We were seated in a table in the corner overlooking the street, which gave us a lovely, private-feeling view of both the Financial District at dusk and the streetlights below. We were tucked away a bit, which I appreciated - it's hard to create an intimate ambiance in a busy, generously-sized restaurant. Our waitress was efficient, friendly, and witty - and since my gentleman and I are a googly-eyed pair of young lovers, I really appreciated that she was indulgent about not interrupting "moments." :-) Drinks: My cocktail was gingery and delicious; my boyfriend's sangria was sweet, tart, and refreshing; the Montepulciano D'Abruzzo I had with dinner wasn't my favorite ever, but it was perfectly drinkable. First course: The rarebit was really more just a pot of melted cheese (think top of a pizza, not fondue) - but despite the odd consistency it was very tasty. Second course: "Sunday Gravy" - gnocchi with a ragout made with beef, pork, lamb, and San Marzano tomatoes. All the best features of a bolognese and a pot roast, served on gnocchi. Just delicious. Dessert: Butterscotch pudding. Super rich - I gave up about halfway through - but A+. TL;DR -- delicious meal, reasonable prices, all-around lovely evening.
(4)
Sara M.

I came here over the weekend and was enamored with the atmosphere. The weather was warm and the patio was beautiful. As I waited for my dining mate, I watched runners bring plates and present dinners with fanfare. Initially, I was very impressed. We started with a bottle of prosecco and ordered the mussels to start and the Sunday gravy to share. We weren't in a rush, but noticed that service was very slow. The mussels were fantastic and the sauce was so good we kept soaking it up with the bread...we couldn't wait for the next course This is where we hit a speed bump. Our gravy was placed on the table and we were left to admire it with no silverware - It was simply delivered and the server disappeared. Our waiter was nowhere in sight, we think his shift may have ended. We finally flagged someone else down and they swiftly brought us cutlery so we didn't have to drool all over dinner While the Sunday gravy was fantastic, getting the check was challenging and we had tickets to the Wilbur adn needed to get moving...a big pet peeve for me Overall, the food was awesome, but the service frustrating. I plan to give marliave a second chance...but the service will make or break the experience.
(4)
Theodore Y.

I've been here twice in the past 4 months. Once for a birthday party and the waitress was amazing and food off the charts. Especially the mussels. Second time around was for a bachelor party of 9 and our waitress wasn't too fond of us. Can't blame her because we were loud and maybe obnoxious? But she still got us what we needed, so good on her professionalism! The mussels the 2nd time around was no bueno though. Get the beef wellington. It's good stuff. And try their mixed drinks.
(4)
Sara O.

We went to Marliave for my birthday dinner. We're new in town and tried this place out based on the other excellent reviews online. We were completely pleased and impressed! Our table was in a quiet corner upstairs - the whole place has a very neat, understated ambiance that reminds anyone inside that the restaurant was once a speakeasy. The cocktail menu was long and varied - our waiter recommended their version of a Mint julep - tasty and quite strong! We shared the rarebits as an appetizer - this is a dish somewhere between raclette, fondue, and nachos - totally delicious and definitely big enough for two or more people to share. Dinner was also delicious - steak frites for my husband and gnocchi with a delightful meat sauce for me. We would recommend both! Having said all of that, it was truly the dessert that took the cake so to speak - butterscotch pudding with a texture so unique and delicious! Neither of us had ever tasted anything like that. It was totally different and totally wonderful! That dessert alone was worth the trip. We loved the whole experience, service was great too! We'll definitely be back!
(5)
Leslie A.

Dolla dolla oysters and prosecco. I go here when I'm feeling fancy. The appetizers are great, the dinner menu is adequate, but limited, the drink menu is creative and thematic, the desserts are rich and tasty. If you come here, I would recommend going for the dollar oysters 4-6pm and ordering off the appetizer menu (the mac and cheese is quite rich and the escargots are amazing, if you're into that), grab something from the drink menu (like the tres curieux) and a dessert (my favorite is the house truffles). Bring a bunch of friends and watch the fancy magic happen. Oh and be prepared to drop some mad scratch in the process.
(4)
John L.

Holy cow, the mint ice cream was a spiritual enlightenment (the food and service was great too!)
(5)
Maureen D.

I've been here twice and enjoyed the cocktails and wine list. Never ate food- go ahead and judge me! The outside is lovely. The inside could use a few wall sconces to lighten up the place a bit. Oh yeah, and turn off those TVs, what the heck? Did I mention the PROFESSOR, get it for the cherry alone!
(4)
Jeff M.

My wife and I went here for our anniversary and couldn't have chose a better place to celebrate. This place is excellent. The decor and ambiance is great. Our server was great and funny. I enjoyed one of the best deserts I've ever had.... dollar oysters. I will be returning to this fine restaurant.
(5)
My P.

I booked reservation about 2 weeks in advance for a birthday dinner. When we got there the host greeted us snd took us upstairs to our table. M . Didn't seem too busy on a Saturday night. I notice that there was another 2 top by the window and asked if we could sit there instead. The fat host said no its for a reservation. Like I didn't book a reservation? She failed 101 hosting. It took about another 15-20 mins for us to get water and our waitress to greet us. The food wasn't even all that great. Maybe the host left a bad taste in my mouth, since the " reservation" for the table I asked to sit at came in only for dollar oysters. Where we spent over 200 for our dinner. Don't see myself coming back here again.
(3)
Adam A.

Top notch dining experience all the way through. I took my girlfriend here for her birthday and was extremely impressed with just about everything that the restaurant offered. We had drinks and cheese at the bar prior to our reservation. The drink menu is very unique and has some strange mixtures. I tries some cocktail that was a mixture of rum, molasses, and mint and it was delicious. The cocktail I had for dinner was a mixture of scotch, sugar, and mint. TONS of delicious scotch for the $10 price. The cheeses were excellent although I would like to have seen a bigger portion. Dinner was perfect. The waitress was friendly and attentive making sure that our water glasses were always full. She offered legitimate answers and advice for our menu questions. We shared the beef carpaccio appetizer which was your typical good carpaccio. For dinner, I had the Rabbit. I cannot recall the last time I had eaten rabbit but I was pretty blown away by this dish. The rabbit was moist and flavorful, served with pieces of sausage (that had a interesting breakfasty taste) and a buttery onion/gorgonzola polenta. My girlfriend had the scallops with sweet potato raviolis which she seemed very happy with. I only tried the raviolis which were unreal. You know it is a good meal when you don't have room for desert but order it anyway. Ordering desert here was a blessing and a curse. We went for the tapioca pudding expecting a smallish portion. Instead we got a large soup bowl filled with the most delicious pudding we had ever eaten. It was warm, perfectly sweet, and was the ultimate comfort food. It was so good that we couldn't stop eating it resulting in us being so full that we couldn't stand for a while. However, being too full is a good sign and I would highly recommend Marliave to anyone for any occasion.
(5)
V C.

The food is pretty good. We enjoyed the duck confit, rarebit, escargot pretty much. The Sunday Gravy, Osso Buco, and rabbit are delicious too. I think we will come bak again and try it's dollar oysters for sure.
(4)
Shane K.

Came with 5 friends last night for dinner on a cold Boston Thursday night. The place was buzzing and there were only a couple of empty table (I recommend reservations). It's a very cute old time Boston building with 2 levels. We were seated upstairs and were instantly greeted by our server. She was very attentive but hovered a little more than I would like. I am quite capable of pouring my own beer thank you! Tried the escargot & a cheese platter for apps. Both were delicious and accompanied with the oil & bread were just enough for sharing. Had the burger and fries for entree. The burger was huge and cooked just the way I ordered it. The rosemary fries were spot on also - seasoned just right. Maybe it's just because I'm getting old & cheap but $14 for a glass of wine seems a wee bit on the steep side for me. I will buy 2 bottles at Trader Joe's for that price instead anyday. All in all a very cute date place and I would come back.
(4)
Anita S.

Bacon bits swimming in melted cheese served in a searing cast iron skillet, sopped up with fresh bread..I'd have this if I could choose just one thing on the menu. Creative variety of mixed drinks and nice wine selection. Cozy, tucked-away setting makes you feel like you're experiencing a hidden gem of Boston. Friendly service. Pricy, so visits here are far between.
(4)
Charles L.

Listen. If the bartender is going to make snide remarks about me, at least do it somewhere where I can't hear. Today (Tuesday 12/11/12), I came in around 5:00pm for their dollar oysters. This is a relatively frequent thing for me... sometimes I bring friends, other times I come by myself because they generally do a good job with their oysters, and I deeply appreciate the fact that they have this deal every day. The hostess tells me that there are no more tables left because they are reserved, and that the upstairs is booked for a special event. She kindly asked if I would mind sitting at the bar? Certainly not, I reply. I don't mind. Now, I don't drink for medical reasons. Knowing that I'd be in for a few oysters and out real quick, I took a seat at the very end of the bar near the pillar, by the kitchen door. I wanted to stay out of the way, and didn't want to take up any seats that a group could have used. I ordered my oysters, and told the bartender that I wouldn't be having any drinks tonight. First comment of the night, under his breath, "Sitting at the bar and not ordering any drinks, alright..." 5 stars for being passive aggressive. Whatever, I give him the benefit of the doubt. He doesn't know that there were no seats available, that I was directed to sit at the bar, or that I can't drink alcohol. Cool, no worries. The oysters came out quickly and well-shucked, as usual. I was looking forward to this. I asked the server who brought out the oysters if I could also have some bread and olive oil, which they usually provide. Sure, she says, in a kind, professional, and courteous manner. This is when the bartender goes into the kitchen (which is right next to where I'm sitting, mind you), and asks her, "What did he ask for?" To which she replies, "Some bread." His response: "Ballsy." And then chuckles. Loud enough for me to hear. I get it man, you're not happy with me. And I worked as a server before too... we talk about customers in the back. We complain about their antics and laugh at them. It's what restaurant people do. BUT DON'T DO IT IN EARSHOT OF THE CUSTOMER. Pretty simple dude. Basic professional courtesy, right over your head. Usually, the oysters are good, but I couldn't tell you how they tasted, except for salty and slimy, because they were kind of ruined by your inability to keep your comments to yourself. I don't even know why I bothered to tip. I hope it goes to the server who brought me my oysters and bread. I'll come back when my desire for oysters overrides this terrible taste you left in my mouth.
(1)
Cathleen S.

Amazing Italian Food in Boston! I've been here two times, and both times I have been blown away by the food here. The first timeI had the pastrami sandwich for lunch - it melted in my mouth...it was so tender and flavorful. My bf had the gnocchi with sunday gravy.... he was blown away by the dish! Our bartender was so friendly, and she mixed up the tastiest spicy bloody marys.... My second time I had the chicken under brick - it was amazing, tender, juicy, and very flavorful. Our server was very friendly and attentive, even though the place was packed. I will make it a point to return here the next time I am in Boston. Just thinking about the food is making me hungry!
(4)
Shannon P.

Came here on my last trip to Boston and was pleasantly surprised. I was in town for a friends wedding and went out to dinner with a group of about 20 people, which is usually a nightmare. Because we had such a large group, we weren't sure where we could go on a Saturday night and all get seated together, and eat some reasonable good food. Someone called and they were able to seat us within 10 minutes after we arrived and the wait staff was very accommodating to such a large party. And as a bonus, we happened to have come in just in time for oyster happy hour! $1 an oyster, you really cant beat it, I think I ate over a dozen by myself. The rest of the food was good. As a side note, if you hate anchovies like I do, make sure you ask for them not to put it on the ceaser salad. Other than that, the place was great and I would definitely come back.
(4)
Jeff D.

This is quickly becoming one of my favorite spots. Excellent, excellent stop for cocktails, and the food is top notch as well. Not a cheap-eat, but a fantastic spot to have a good meal and excellent cocktails. Also, it's a nice break from a lot of the loud spots in the area. It's a little tucked away, so you don't get as big a crowd inside, which is fantastic. It's not pin-drop quiet by any means, but just a really good atmosphere, great bar space that's more personal and cozy than tight and packed. I highly recommend it when you're in the area.
(5)
John S.

The food is great. I had the beef wellington, very rich, very good.
(4)
Erica T.

The food here is just dreamy. It really is delicious. It's a nice space, and the upstairs is cute with lots of windows. My issue is with the cocktails. They tasted bland, which was so so disappointing given their interesting concoctions I was so eager to try. I had the truffle scrambled eggs which were really heavenly. I openly admit that I tend to eat my eggs with ketchup, but the flavor here was so divine it would have been a sin to sully such elegance. I also had the house-made ice cream, which was so so dreamy. It's been quite awhile since I had such delicious, freshly made ice cream--theirs absolutely rivals the decadence of Christina's in Inman! So food, absolutely PHENOMENAL. I would come back any day of the week for that. But if you're looking to really tickle your cocktail fancy... you'll be disappointed. Come here for the dinner, not the drinks.
(3)
Phuong D.

$1 oyster and clams happy hour from 4-6 and 9-10! The food is also delicious. I had the Sunday Gravy, recommended by my UK friends who also loved it! The staff was very friendly and the ambience of the restaurant/bar was very nice.
(5)
Tony F.

This is my favorite French restaurant in Boston. The food here is absolutely to die for. I have never had anything undercooked, overcooked, or anything remotely bad. The service is fantastic and the drink menu is eclectic/fun. They have specials on oysters here for 'happy hour' and 'reverse happy hour.' I have had every item on their menu and can say happily that I've never been disappointed. I can't honestly say enough nice things about this restaurant. It's definitely a great place for a date night.
(5)
Elise H.

Good Service: check. Can cook meat: above average ( perfectly tender). Seasons food well: no. Ultimately it's quality of food and the flavor balance that I rate on. Food was cooked perfectly but completely bland.
(3)
Rebecca W.

Food was good, but not amazing. Had the risotto, which I liked. My friends had oysters and the halibut, and they liked those as well. The cocktails were okay - I liked mine (the Tea Party), but my friend said hers didn't taste like it was made according to what was described on the menu. Love the setting - the old building, the nods to Boston history. Love that this place has so much history. Our waiter was attentive, which doesn't seem to be the norm here based on other reviews. Having said all that, though, I absolutely had no choice but to give it one star because, even though we had just had appetizers, drinks, entrees, dessert and coffee, the hostesses told us (mind you - this was not even five minutes after we handed over the money for the check) that we had to *leave* because they needed the table for the next party. I'm sorry, I didn't realize this was a fast food restaurant. We made our reservations weeks in advance, and we had barely signed the receipt when we were told we had to leave? What? How about "we're really sorry, but we desperately need this table, so could we move you to the bar with a drink on us?" Ever heard of that kind of customer service, especially after we had dropped a fair amount of money here? Never again!
(1)
Rachel B.

You must go. Just off the main Boston restaurant highways but so worth a visit. Great character. Great food (such fabulous flavours). Good service. Cocktails looked very tempting however I held back. If you can get a table upstairs. Will be recommending to all my Boston friends.
(5)
Timothy A.

The meal was great and the service well-executed. The wine list offers many nice selections by the small glass, large glass, half bottle and bottle. This allows groups of any size to do some nice pairings. We loved the mac&cheese (a meal in itself). Do not miss the ice creams - $3.00/generous scoop - especially the mint chocolate chip which has rel mint flavor that one rarely finds. The oysters were fresh, local, and cheap at $1 hours. Our service was good. We will be back again. My only complaint, if you could call it that, is that there was too much food in each serving. Next time two of us will share an app, a plate, and a dessert.
(4)
Leif S.

Sandwiches are way overpriced, no beer on draft. Total lunch fail, $70 for two. Cocktails looked interesting, oysters at $3 did not.
(2)
Momo K.

does not disapoint. Great trout, great bread, great atmosphere and great food!
(5)
Caro M.

I had heard so much about Marliave in the past and was excited to try it for the first time on a hot date. The interior is chic and classic- I'm a sucker for checkered tiling and sexy leather booths, making the over all dining experience very intimate. I came here on a Sunday and it was empty and quiet, which was nice since our server gave us her undivided attention without being intrusive. The food was excellent. I ordered a simple ravioli dish, so that is pretty hard to mess up. My guy got the gnocci and enjoyed it. I plan on making time to come here for their oyster happy hour. $1 a pop? Accompanied by an ice cold shot of vodka, a lemon wedge and tabasco sauce... boom. Sex in ya mouf.
(5)
Christine C.

Just went to dinner here last night. The location is a little odd, tucked away on a little street downtown. But this is probably a good place for drinks / snacks after dinner. We were here for the 9PM $1 Oyster hour. Last night, they had Rocky Nook, Peters Point, Wells Point, and Duxbury. Perfectly delectable morsels on ice, served with a mignonette and cocktail sauce / horseradish on the side. Best accompanied with a glass of prosecco. I think we liked Rocky Nook and Wells Point the best. The cocktail menu was inventive and interesting. I tried the Tres Curieux. A little too sweet for my taste, but my friends loved it. The food was solid. We had the mushroom risotto, steak frites, and rabbit. Personally, I think the rabbit is a bit overrated. The portions are a bit small, the tenderloin was dry, and I didn't think the flavor was entirely there. But I liked the polenta side a lot. And the sauce for the tenderloin was quite good. The steak was quite good, and the jus was DIVINE. I soaked my fries in it. I'm salivating thinking about it. The gorgonzola butter was yummy also. I recommend the steak medium rare or medium. The risotto was a massive portion and delicious. Rich and mushroomy...mmmm. Overall, I liked the ambiance. Loved the big Edison bulbs they had in the dining room upstairs. It was a cute place and the $1 oysters are a great deal! I definitely want to go back sometime soon.
(4)
Cecilia J.

Get the Henry's Soup, because it is the best French onion soup I have ever had. Okay, it was more of a hearty short rib stew with onions, covered by a thick crisped slice of baguette snuggled under a gooey layer of cheese. So like, Delicious. And the waiter offered to bring out more of their complementary Butter Bread for us to sop up the leftover soup. Except it's not called Butter Bread. I call it Butter Bread because it tastes like butter in bread form. And it was warm and now I want more just thinking about it. And it came with olive oil and green olives. And I would tell you about the other very appealing-looking Reuben Sandwich and Portobello Sandwich that we got, but honestly we were pretty full from the Butter Bread and the Melt-in-your-Mouth Short Rib Stew that we had to box it all up. The sandwiches come with choice of herby and crunchy hand-cut fries (that come with a cute little ketchup cup and mini spoon) or Boston baked beans or mixed greens. So let me tell you about the Boston baked beans. They are essentially the Melt-in-your-Mouth Short Rib Stew, minus the cheese and onions and plus beans, disguised under a new name. This means they include short rib. So like, Delicious, Round 2. Their lunch and dinner menus are one and the same, so a bit pricey when we stopped in for lunch. We went on a bank holiday, the Monday after New Years, and were the first to be seated at noon. Bill came out to $20 pp. That's a bit more than I would have liked to spend on lunch. But service was great and attentive and conversational (looks like flurries out there) but not intrusive. Decor and ambience are stylish but down-to-earth and chic. It's great for a leisurely, quiet lunch.
(4)
Sandy F.

Nightly $1 oysters and clams are no secret here. intriguing cocktail list, a good selection of wine by the glass, good prosecco (which they use in their pepper shallot mignonette for the oysters), a decent list of beer, all bottles, no tap - there's something for everybody. BUT the main attraction here definitely is the buck oysters. They usually have the basics like blue points and/or wellfleets plus one or two other ones. probably the best selection of dollar oysters around. Their cherrystones are also generally pretty good, most of them are medium sized, clean and plump. a tiny spoonful of the mignonette to bring out the sweetness of the oysters and a few shakes of tabasco sauce to marry with the saltiness of the clams and 2 dozens later, i'm a happy gal. pair that with some of their interesting beer finds and an order of charcuterie and that's dinner. But some may want a heartier dinner so moving on to their dinner menu. all their pastas are made in house, so with fresh al dente ziti, even their mac and cheese taste gourmet. the rarebits are good wine accompaniments, warm and melty and smoky and cheesy, the herbed butter and the gratin over the escargots begs to be scooped up with the toasted brioche. the mussels are generally cooked to perfection, just opened, but the morsels is still plump and perfectly done (although I have had it in the past where they were overcooked). the onion soup has short ribs in it, a nice touch and pairs perfectly well as a small dinner with the caesar salad. the newest addition to the menu is the insalate di mare with perfectly done shellfish, i just wished there's more of it. the nicely chewy pasta in the scampi omphed it up another notch from your typical shrimp scampi, good steak frites, however, the fries are a bit overwhelming, but hey, some people just really like fries i guess. i had the scallops during restaurant week, and to my knowledge, everything else is the same size during restaurant week and their a la carte menu, but I felt like for $30 bucks, 4 scallops on a bed of potato puree/sauce and some mushrooms was a bit small. don't get me wrong, it tasted great, scallops cooked to perfection, but i felt like the potatoes were a bit runny, leading to its lack of substance to the dish and the mushrooms were a bit too overcooked that it is almost crispy. Would def get it during restaurant week, but probably not a la carte. the wellington had good sized med rare beef tenderloin inside, but the pastry could be cooked a little bit better to encourage more flakiness. i am very picky about my beef wellingtons, the crust makes or breaks the dish. if i want good steak, i'd just get a filet... i was told that the rabbit is one of the best and the trout is not bad either. the trout for lunch comes with 2 grilled shrimp and a yummy sauce. marliave and her sister restaurants grotto on bowdoin street and kitchen in the south end are a few of the only restaurants in boston that has their full menu (or almost their full menu, since i noticed that they did not have the insalata di mare, the osso bucco or the rabbit on the restaurant week menu). to sum it up, marliave = love love love =)
(5)
Vina A.

It doesn't matter how good your food is, or how nice your waitress is, if anyone on your team - can we say BARTENDER - says RUDE things to belittle and embarrass a patron trying to have a nice bite, it ruins the food, the other servers, the entire experience for EVERYONE AROUND and is COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE.
(1)
Lindsay M.

Pretty bar, champagne cocktails. Burger, medium rare. Baked beans. .....gym. ...not.
(4)
Patty K.

I went here for restaurant week. I was impressed and will go back. I ordered the Beef Carpaccio to start. It was excellent! I also tried the Rarebits and the Beets. All were great! Then I got the Steak Frites. I wouldn't get this again. I didn't love the steak. I would, however, get the fries again. They had a great flavor. I also tried the chicken with risotto and the beef wellington. I would order both of those again in a heart beat. The chicken dish was a bit heavy though. That just means you have leftovers for the next day. For dessert I got the berries. It was exactly what I wanted because I didn't want a heavy dessert. It has a very light sauce (can barely notice it) and a tiny drop of whipped cream. Perfect for a light dessert. My friend got the cheese plate which she enjoyed and my other friend got the chocolate cake. The cake was good but the ice cream was not. It was mint chocolate chip and the mint was WAY TOO STRONG. I can't wait to go back on the summer so I can sit outside. I LOVED the atmosphere. I would be careful having too many drinks here. Lots of stairs! I also would come here to just sit at the bar, have a drink and get an app.
(5)
Brooke W.

I first came here during restaurant week with my mom, and it was delicious!! I've been back several times now to enjoy after work $1 oysters and delicious (but somewhat pricey) homemade cocktails. I love that this is one of the oldest restaurants in Boston, and I also love that they keep that feel throughout the dinner and drink menu. I've never had a bad oysters, and they typically have 4 different locations available.. plus they have clams too (I'm just not a fan).
(5)
Alex V.

1$ oysters, 4-6 and 9-10... fact is they are the best oysters I have ever had. They sell so many oysters, they are so fresh. Great old world atmosphere... fun fact, its the oldest Italain restaurant in the city. Great 10$ drinks AMAZING 12$sandwiches Meals around 25$.. rabbit, polenta, osso bucco OH MY! Rare bits, cheese plate... AMAZING service... Its always packed, arrive early or make a reservation..
(5)
David B.

As we revel in the growth of venues in the theater district, we continue to search out dining options before attending a show. After a bum meal at Bina, we were anxious to see if we could find a place that offered good food. I was intrigued by the variety of review of Marliave so we gave it a try; glad we did. It is a funky layout; coming up from Washington you have to go up steps to the top of the street and then more steps from the front door to the 2nd floor. We,, it is the 4th oldest restaurant in Boston! The service was good (our waitress was friendly and cute) and the interior, although far from hip, was pleasant enough. The food shined. We started with the rarebit; how can you go wrong with bacon and cheese? I had the steak frites; it is nice to go to a place that knows how to cook meat medium rare! My partner had the pumpkin ravioli with scallops; autumnal, fresh, and delicious. Things fell flat at the end of the meal. Although we were told the decaf was fresh, it was watery and tasteless. The pumpkin bread pudding was sweet and fresh but we couldn't taste the pumpkin. Still two out three isn't bad. We wandered over to our show at the Paramount fat and happy.
(4)
Morgan M.

Recently went for dinner with a group but I'm disappointed to say I will not go back unless I'm walking by during the dollar oyster special. The oysters were great but after that things went downhill. The bread was cold and nearly stale. I had a beet and goat cheese salad that was bizarre, the beets came prepared in a gelatin form that took away the natural flavor of the beets. The beef carpaccio was chewy and about half of it I couldn't finish. Disappointing but the bright side is that there's still Kitchen, which I love.
(3)
Kate H.

The two stars only goes to the services My friend and I got oysters to start with and two drinks.. the drink was okay but the oysters is not even fresh. It has a horrible smell and it taste weird. There were a lot of people so we sat at the bar which we didn't really get server well as other french restaurants because they were really busy. Also we got steak frites which the steak is not juicy enough and fries is very soft. We also got the mac and cheese which is pretty good. this place is pretty good for drinks but not somewhere for dinner or oysters
(2)
Marie E.

Willie Rarebits Mixed greens Osso bucco Sunday Gravy Cake and ice cream All good!
(4)
Kati S.

Can't remember the name of it, but the last time I was in the bartender made me the most amazing drink with mint, strawberry, rum, and ginger beer. If Ryan Miller is working, ask him to make you one. It is AMAZING. All the food here is fantastic, and great value. I particularly love the macaroni and cheese, escargots, and Yankee pot roast. Next time I go in I'm ordering the halibut because I've heard wonderful things. I worked in the Downtown Crossing area for a number of years, and this is without a doubt the best eats in the neighborhood.
(5)
Lisa I.

This is a hidden little gem downtown. The food is quite good, the atmosphere is cozy, and the servers are friendly. I love sitting on the second floor, looking out over the streets. Very reasonably priced, with a variety of options, ranging from $15 for pizza/burgers to low $30s for some of the meat entrees.
(4)
John I.

Marliave is one of Boston's oldest restaurants. The interior and ambiance reflect this as the venue has a musty old smell. Although the beef wellington was highly recommended on YELP, it was just A-OK. The meet was a bit tough and lacked flavor. The puff pastry was flat. The mixed drinks were excellent though and worth trying. I also enjoyed a variety of the side dishes. Not much more to say. Service was good overall. Enjoy Boston!
(3)
Mike G.

went for dollar oysters and drink. then decided to stay for dinner - big mistake. roast beet salad sour, goat cheese tasted yoghurty. rabbit dish entirely devoid of (good) flavor. beef wellington would have been ok except the steak was too rare. when server checked on us she says: "well the steak is supposed to be med. rare." yeah but look this is r a w. "oh sorry, chef can only cook it so long or the pastry might burn. would you like me to fire that in the oven for you?" shut-up.
(2)
Sandra L.

9/25/10 - Saturday night before seeing Wicked at the Boston Opera House. We had reservations and was seated immediately with the choice of outside, main room, or upstairs dining. We went upstairs and sat by the window. Our waitress was very good and professional. The 2nd server was clumsy. We ordered the happy hour oyster / clam specials. $1 each between 5-7pm. Initially, we ordered 6 oysters, 3 of each kind. The 2nd server brought it out for us and tipped the platter on our table. The water which melted from the ice got all over our tablecloth. He didn't apologize to clean it up or give us a new table cloth. The oysters were very fresh though. It's very good quality for only $1 each!! They are giving em away! Our main server came to check on us and she apologized for him. She offered to put a new tablecloth but we didn't care for it. I ordered the rabbit with a glass of wine and my boyfriend ordered flank steak with pom frites. Both dishes were very good. We were happy with both dishes! 4 stars for food quality 3 stars for service quality (2nd server was not professional)
(3)
Emm C.

We had mussels, limeade, and Mac and cheese.. Drink menu was extensive and only about $10. The mac and cheese was a bit too cheesy so i put some of the jus from the mussels on it which watered it down with some flavor. The cool thing is that it's set off the main street and you can sit outside! Not much people watching but it's a good place to catch up with friends without loud craziness.
(3)
Lisa H.

We went for the $1 oysters and they were delicious! Great old school ambiance, lots of traditional cocktails. Fun date spot!
(4)
Jenn W.

Dined here a few weeks ago for RW. Great value for the amount of food you get, as well as the many options given despite the discounted pricing. Most of the menu is included, which means that many more opportunities to try a little bit of everything (without breaking the bank, of course)! The macaroni and cheese appetizer was decadent, rich, & super cheesy (bonus points cause I love cheese mmm). It was a pretty generous serving for a starter and I found myself filling up while waiting for the main course. My dining companion had the roasted beet salad which he thoroughly enjoyed. My beef wellington entree was cooked perfectly, the meat was tender, & the pastry crust was light and crispy. My only issue was that they skimped on the fois gras that was promised! Steak frites were delicious as expected, no complaints there. Chocolate cake was alright, a little dry; I much preferred the butterscotch pudding-- delicious! While service was a little slow in the beginning, it improved as the night went on. They were very patient as we took our time to sit and finish the bottle of Chianti we ordered. I also recommend making reservations, as I saw that there were several parties waiting for tables when we arrived. All in all, I was quite happy with our meal; can't wait to come back for $1 oysters!
(4)
Dennis E.

mac n cheese lived up to the hype, weak beer selection loses a star, service was just ok. romantic and cozy seating upstairs
(3)
Katrina Q.

A must try for any visitor to Boston! The classical decor of the restaurant compliment the meal. I ordered the rabbit dish which was to die for. It was delightfully tender and well complimented by the prosciutto, gorgonzola and cararmelised onion polenta.
(4)
Matt S.

Probably 4.5 rather than five, but I'm glad to give the bump. This is one of my favorite places anywhere. Were it slightly cheaper--and had I had the drinks (other than the coffee, which is AWEsome) yet (I'm really wanting to try those "Boston Tea Party" and that namesake "Henri Marliave" cocktails)--I'd probably give it a solid five. But here's what's great. It's one of the few parts of old Boston that's both still standing (and in its original spot) and hasn't sold its soul. (The Bell-In-Hand? Goes back to 1796, but is in an overrehabbed 1845 building that's too far from the spot of its 19th-century heyday, which is now the Pi Alley Parking Garage. The Union Oyster House? Best chowder in town and the raw bar's killer, but anything not these or the scrod is hit-or-miss. Durgin-Park? Please. It's owned by an Atlanta-based holding company) The interior really has an OLD (maybe "seasoned" or "historical" are better words) feel. I'm a Northeast native (though only specifically a Bostonian for a quarter of my life), and I've been in other such places--you really feel transported back at least to the early half of the 20th century when you step upstairs, and that's a good thing). The cheese plate is a great starter. Get the Cabot clothbound cheddar. You'll be glad you did. The mushroom risotto is the best risotto in the world. Well, in America. Oh yes. (Only place I've ever had risotto good--I hate to say--was in Quartino in Chicago, which makes an asparagus risotto that, before I had this mushroom one back home in Boston, I would honestly say would be worth martyring oneself for. Marliave is a bit more expensive--slightly so--but I think it's also more authentic and fun [and as I prefer Boston, I'm so unabashedly biased].) The Sunday Gravy reminds me of the great Italian American dishes I had growing up in Northeastern PA or in visiting some great places there, in Boston, and in NY. Perfectly seasoned, not too salty, and meat cooked masterfully, all swimming with housemade gnocchi in a red sauce that TASTES as if it had been handmade in a skillet in my grandparents' or my aunt's kitchen (I'm not Italian--though my aunt married into it--but if you grew up in PA or NY or Boston, Italian cooking is a part of your heritage, and so embrace it). I can honestly say that I have never had a dessert so delectable as their butterscotch pudding. Actually, I take that back. Their chocolate cake with ice cream is astounding. Other than that: when I visited my friend in his native Portugal, his mom made homemade chocolate mousse. That is the only thing I've ever had that compares. This isn't really Downtown Crossing, but it's close by, and proof positive that a vibrant city life is only steps from that crater where Filene's Basement used to be (stop griping, people--Downtown Crossing's a great place still). I just wish that the Littlest Bar were still next door, as I would have loved to have dropped in there first for a Guinness and then headed up for some of that Sunday Gravy (on a Monday, as I believe Sunday was the only day the Littlest was closed). Ah--at least Silvertone is around the corner. I need to get back here and try more things, but all I really want to have is that Sunday Gravy and that risotto. I don't need anything else. Hear those dollar oysters and cocktails rock.
(5)
Leys B.

DON'T GO. The Oyster Happy Hour is no longer $1 oysters, but half-off the price instead. We went because of the $1 oysters (there are other options in the city for this offer!! -http://www.thrillist.com/eat/boston/dorchester/20Â-oyster-happy-hours-in-boston-thrillist-boston) and when we specifically asked the waitress said that the price had changed yesterday. But, they hadn't updated the website. When the bill came, we asked the manager if they would charge us $1 per oyster as advertised for just 1 of the 2 dozen we ordered and she said no. I replied that it was the principal of false advertising even though it was only $4. You won't take $4 off of our $136 bill?? Nope. Never would go back. The wine list is also overpriced as is the cheese/meet platters (though on the menu they sound delicious). $6.50 for a small cube of cheese, a squirt of honey and 3 walnuts with some bread? I can find better in Boston! Bummer, but go somewhere else! Try the french place in the Back Bay "Bistro Du Midi" instead!
(1)
Brian M.

My main emotion on leaving this place was regret that I hadn't been here before. I don't normally do reviews based on one visit, but this was just smooth start to finish. There as part of a bachelor party so was a bit apprehensive that we might get a snooty vibe, but not at all - our server(s) were v friendly and relaxed. Food is excellent - I'm going to dream about the rarebit starter I had - melted cheese and bacon. Nom nom nom and indeed nom. Main was scallops, which were also excellent although I wouldn't have moaned about a slightly bigger portion. In fairness I was ordering off the Restaurant Week menu so that's not unusual. They also were cool with the individual members of our party either ordering the Restaurant Week selection or a la carte, which I appreciated - some places can be v inflexible with this. Apparently we selected Marliave for their cocktail menu. I'm no connoisseur, but the two I had were great; crisp, fresh and just the right strength. The selection was also a bit different, the whole Golden Age thing apparently.
(5)
Kirk F.

Exceptional--really well executed concept of updated-traditional. Food had amazing flavors--very rich, but that's what we ordered. Short but well thought out wine list. Wide range of indulgent foods with good flavors. Exceptional service! I'd go back in a second (but not if I was trying to lose weight!).
(5)
Matthew F.

I have been to Marliave for drinks several times and once for a full dinner. One of my favorite things to do in Boston is to go here for Oysters, especially when I can make it while they are cheap! The drinks are excellent and I enjoy the beer list. The bartenders have always been helpful and willing to go off-menu. One night when my wife was not able to drink alcohol, our server whipped up a "mock-tail" that was really enjoyable and he did not over-charge us like other places might. I have never been disappointed by this restaurant, and always look forward to going back.
(5)
Peter D.

Everyone knows that Boston is just a wack New York. (Oh, is that not common knowledge? Did no one tell you guys? Why is everyone looking at me like they want to kick my ass?) What I mean to say is that the cities are, uh, different...each has their pros and cons. And even though I've been to Boston many times, I'll admit that I don't know the city as well as I should. However, I'm only mostly ignorant, not completely. So when I hopped on a train headed north, I was expecting a few things. You know, the stuff that Boston does better than NYC: clam chowder, tea parties, closing early and obnoxious sports fans.* One thing I was NOT expecting was pastrami. Accordingly, I balked a bit when my host told me the pastrami at Marliave was not to be missed. So I went with a burger, which turned out to be thick, juicy and nearly medium rare. And I loved it (despite their refusal to provide me with enough ketchup to feed my high fructose corn syrup addiction). But you know what? I was still disappointed that I didn't get the pastrami. She allowed me the pleasure of a bite, and it was meaty, smoky, salty...delicious. I'll admit when I'm wrong. This sandwich was official. Who knew? __________ *I'm not saying NYC doesn't have its share; I'm just giving credit where credit is due. I'm a Met fan anyway, we don't have to fight about it.
(4)
L. O.

Just got back from an 88th birthday celebration lunch. Walked in to an odd smell at the front of the house, but that was actually the bar area so we'll let that pass. I can't speak for anyone I was with, but my drink lacked an adequate amount of alcohol, the waitress lacked personality, and the shrimp scampi lacked any seasoning or taste at all, and that includes the most important ingredient...garlic! The shrimp swam in a pool of red water. I ate 2 and dumped 3. Actually, the 3 left over were whisked away and I was never asked if I wanted to take them with me. The butterscotch pudding was very good. Not to mention, even though it was stated this was an birthday celebration in the reservation, no one even said happy birthday to my 88 year old Mother-In-Law. I would not recommend this place. It wasn't worth the discounted restaurant week price, it certainly wouldn't be worth regular price. Perhaps, this is why there appeared to be so many reservation slots available when I booked.
(1)
Special K.

Love this place. Beautiful, awesome windows. Went for restaurant week and got escargot (fantastic), osso bucco (amazing) and a chocolate dessert thing (good - it was dessert, how different can it be). Small issue with the bill - nothing they didn't take care of. Would go back in a heartbeat, but would definitely try to reserve a seat by the windows.
(4)
Shanie L.

Was looking for $1 oysters and found this gem hidden away in the heart of Downtown. Thanks to the power of the internet! Drinks were delish. Food was so good and the oysters were outstanding. Unlike a lot of other restaurants that serve $1 oysters, Marliave have selections for you to choose from! The oysters were sweet, plump and juicy. Hit my craving spot! Then the entrees came, I got the beef wellington and bf got the risotto with black truffles. Both were amazing, packed full of mouthwatering flavors. To end our scrumptious meal we got their homemade ice cream. To top this great meal off our server was amazing. Toward the end of the meal we notice the top level of the restaurant was empty and she was doing her side jobs. So we asked when do they close and she told us to not worry about it and to take our time and enjoy ourselves. When most servers will tell us they are closed and give us a look, like hurry up and pay.
(4)
Thien N.

I can't rave about this place enough!!! They have the best oysters and clams I've had in the Boston area! Go for their happy hour between 4-7pm and 9-11pm (please call to confirm happy hour time) for $1 oysters and clams. While you wait for them to shuck your order, try out the bread with the olive oil that they bring to your table - it's seriously sooooo good! Wait staff are knowledgeable as to which region(s) your oysters and clams came from. While you're there, try the sandwiches on their menu. It's pretty great, especially their reuben. If you have money to spare, have a cocktail! It's around $10 per cocktails but they are pretty tastey! I love this place and it is always always my go-to spot when I have cravings for oysters and clams. It's also the place I take visitors to so they can experience fresh oysters and clams from NE! What to try: Oysters Clams Bread Reuben sandwich Cocktails
(5)
Peter M.

I went here last night for a late Valentine's Day dinner with the girlfriend. We had a 5:30 reservation so we were seated right away in a nearly empty upstairs dining room. I have to say I like the atmosphere, complete with white tablecloths, dim lighting, and 1920s-30s music playing softly in the background. We were seated next to the wall of windows, with a view of the neighboring alley, which was a nice touch since we could watch the snow. Our waiter, on the other hand, was not really up to snuff. He came off as somewhat annoyed with us even from the start. Ny time we interacted with him, he seemed to always being trying to turn away and leave with as few words between us as possible. Normally I don't mind when people are a little short, as long as their courteous. However, he was not. And what was worse is that when another couple came in about 15 minutes later and was seated just behind us, he gave them all sorts of advice about what was popular at the restaurant and suggestions for drinks to pair with their food. I'm not sure if he realized that we could hear him 5 feet away treating other guests completely different than us, but he certainly didn't get any better as the night went on. As far as the food goes, I was unimpressed. I oredered the 12oz sirloin with potatoes au gratin and grilled asparagus for $36. I'll be flat out an say that I've much better tasting steaks at Longhorn for under $15. Now obviously Marliave isn't a steakhouse and I wasn't expecting it to be phenomenal, but they overcooked it (supposed to be medium) and it was pretty flavorless overall. The potatoes were actually pretty good, but nothing to write home about. On the other hand, my girlfriend got the shrimp scampi and seemed to enjoy it, though she said it was a bit light and was hungry a few hours later. I'm not a big fan of shrimp, but I tried some of the pasta and it was very flavorful with a good amount of spices in the sauce. We also split a caesar salad which came out as a 2 separate chunks of lettuce, which we had to cut ourselves. I don't go to many fancy restaurants, so maybe that's a normal thing I'm just not aware of, but I thought it was a little strange. The salad itself was good though. The one thing I did really enjoy was my drink. They have a fairly large list of mixed drinks with interesting names that I can't seem to remember any of. Anyways, I ordered the Cafe, which was essentially espresso, Baileys, and rum. I have to say it was pretty delicious actually. Overall, I really wanted to like this place but I can't say that I would recommend it to a Friend after spending about $100 for below average food and rude service. Pros: - Nice atmosphere - Good drink(s) Cons: - Rude waiter - Lack-luster food
(3)
Mike C.

Was her for Sep 2012 restaurant week lunch and returned 2 weeks later for dinner. ate outside for lunch on a nice day, returned for dinner with reservations and was disappointed to find upstairs(more formal) dining room was closed. But the meals, escargot, Sunday sauce gnocchi, shrimp scampi were great with attentive service. Would definitely recommend. A longtime Boston institution remains as a classic.
(4)
Janice C.

I was here today with my sister and my mother for Restaurant Week. We had reservations at 2:30 and got seated promptly. Our water glasses were filled, and someone took our order. And then........ Cold bread with olive oil. To be honest, I like my bread warm and toasted. This bread tasted like it was sitting at room temperature for a while. Not the best start to our meal. Appetizers arrived after ten minutes. I got the meatball sliders, sis got the escargot, and mom got the french onion soup. The sliders were great: juicy meat with toasty bread. The escargot was mediocre. The snails were kind of bitter. However, the bread that was served with it was delicious. The french onion soup was hot and filling, but it had a peculiar taste to it. ****Plus: Our water glasses was always filled at the right time. Our main courses were good. I got the shrimp scampi, sis got the sunday gravy, and mother got the trout. There were four pieces of shrimp with my scampi, but the noodles were overcooked and clumped together. My sister's Sunday Gravy was a bit of a let-down; the meat and the gnocchi was too rich for our tastes. Even so, my mother's trout was a prize-winner. Two pieces of shrimp were squashed in between two huge pieces of trout. The skin on the trout was perfectly crispy, and the meat itself was flaky. DELISH! After our entrees were cleared away, we were served dessert. I got the butterscotch pudding, sis got the berries, and mom got the brownie sundae. The butterscotch pudding was good, but it may be too sweet for some people. The berries were nothing out of the ordinary. The brownie sundae was a huge let-down. The brownies were too hard, and there was the smallest scoop of ice cream on it. Could have made a better one myself. All in all, the Marliave wasn't a bad experience. It had some ups and some downs. I would come back.
(3)
Elizabeth K.

I've now been here three times, wanting to love it, and always leave disappointed. I love the atmosphere - I think the place is absolutely adorable. If we make it in time for $1 oysters, that is a check in the star column too. However, I find the food to always be overpriced for the portion - even for Boston fine-ish dining and never really all that tasty (for example, watery onion soup and overcooked scallops on our last visit.)
(3)
Lia M.

Love the 1920's vibe - and the food and service was (mostly) great. The bar area is small with few (or no) windows, so go upstairs to the dining area, which is spacious and bright. We went on a Tuesday, so it was fairly empty, but our service was excellent. The bread is yummy. I had two cucumber drinks, which were good & strong. My meal, the halibut, was OK, but not amazing. Still, between the bread, service, drinks, and dessert, plus my friend really liked her chicken, it was good, and I want to go back and try a different entree. Dessert, strawberry shortcake, was fabulous. I would go back just for that & a drink (or two) anyday.
(4)
Jeremy L.

The 4-star average for this place is pretty spot on. Four of us ate in the upstairs area with a unique view of the city. The ambiance was upscale without feeling too stuffy (though the ridiculous metal trays they use for every entree are just unnecessary and silly), and the food was very good. I had the wellington, which I found perfectly cooked and appropriately sized for the cost. The four of us split an order of truffle fries which were not soggy at all, as some previous reviewers had suggested. It was also only half full at 8 on a Saturday night, which I actually find nice. The down sides are definitely the attentiveness of the wait staff and the cocktails. Typical story about a waitress taking forever to take the order, bring the check, fill the water glasses, blah blah blah. It didn't matter because we were in no rush, but keep it in mind. But the big, big problem with this place are the cocktails. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY (unless you're the type that's into virgin pina coladas--which is cool, I guess). It's a joke, really. Like a practical joke, but without the big reveal. They have this wonderfully inventive cocktail menu with $11 drinks, yet barely include a splash of booze. I doubt there is even one ounce in these drinks, let alone the 1.5 standard or the 2 ounces I might expect from other bartenders in the area. Annoying, yes, but there is also plenty of wine and beer--where you can at least know what you're money is getting you.
(4)
Sydnie L.

I had a great meal with my friend. Both of our drinks were very tasty and not weak. Are meals we both good. By no means not the best meal I have had but also I have no complaints on the food. The prices are a bit high. The portions aren't huge, but I don't need that. This would be a great place for a date. I will have to come back for the dollar oysters. Yum.
(3)
Jessie C.

Yum! Much much better than the last time i was here. Despite the fact that there was NO ONE in the restaurant i felt comfortable. It was a date - we had a great time! the waitress was awesome (ashley) and the food was good. ordered the halibut and my date had the trout. we did enjoy the meatball sliders again and the drinks were delicious as usual. i'd go again on a date - but the best part was it felt like i had planned it to be empty and we had the place to ourselves. very romantic. lol. guess it was a lucky night for us!
(4)
Callan C.

Very good upscale-casual drinks and dining in between beacon hill and downtown. I met a friend there early on a Thursday night and it was pretty crowded already. We were able to snag a spot at the bar which also offered the full menu. I enjoyed a great cocktail of their menu - The Exchange - which was strong and citrusy. All their cocktails ran around $10 and they had a moderate selection of wine and beer as well as a big looking bourbon and whiskey menu. I ordered the Halibut for dinner and thought it was good as well. It was lightly breaded and placed on top of a selection of vegetables and potatoes. Atmosphere was nice; very monochromatic black and white with a bit of a retro feel. The bar had televisions and there were also some large booths in that dining area. The place settings were high quality and the silver plate covers they serve the food with are a nice touch. Service was slightly lacking. We put our order in and the bartender actually forgot so the food was delayed for a while. I also had to ask for water and didn't get much service on the refills. I will definitely go back and was intrigued by the $1 oysters and clams offer they have during the early happy hour time and late night. Looking forward to trying that!
(4)
Christopher H.

I love marliave. I have had some of the best nights in Boston here.... But unfortunately it's starting to lose me. First off THEY NO LONGER HAVE DOLLAR OYSTERS! Additionally they pumped up the prices across the whole menu. Listen, the food is still great, the oysters are still delicious and the drinks are still perfect. But every restaurant has it's price point, and I think marliave has over pumped theirs. Let's do a case study- the Mrs. Marliave. It's a ham and cheese bercy style. Basically it's cheese and ham heaven. For a long time it was a 12 dollar sandwich. Which don't get me wrong, was a pricey ham and cheese. It is now $16 with the egg. I am not a cheap person, but it makes a difference. Breaking the $15 dollar threshold for a sandwich is pushing it. But let me get back to my major, major disappointment.... NO DOLLAR OYSTERS! Breaks my heart marliave. Listen, if you want a great meal, this is still a great place. Just lost some of its shimmer. I have spent a lot of money here, but it is now priced high end, and my expectations are shifting. Either give me more or go back to being a bargain.
(3)
Colin M.

Beautiful restaurant, and our experience was nearly perfect. Our waitress was Cindy, she was great. I ordered a cocktail, I forget the name but it was a take on an Old Fashioned sans orange peel and sugar. It was mixed perfectly, clearly made by someone who is passionate and loves their job. We then ordered Oysters and were able to get the $1 Oysters deal even though it was right at 6. They came with cocktail sauce and a Lemon & Prosecco mix, excellent. I ordered the Mrs. Marliave, which looked beautiful on the plate. It was a huge portion, and very delicious. My only criticism was that it was a bit cold in the center. However, it was so delicious that it didn't detract that much. It would have been over the moon if the center was hot and the cheese was completely melted int he center. That's really my only criticism about the whole experience. I had checked this place out online for a while, and planned to come here as part of an anniversary night. I'm very happy I picked this place and plan on making it a regular outing.
(4)
Steve S.

Went here for restaurant week. First off, they have a great drink menu with some really unique items. I enjoyed a few libations before the meal at the bar with the gf. They were delicious. First Course: I chose the rarebits. Rarebits are a Welsh dish made with a savory sauce of melted cheese and various other ingredients and served hot over toast. The names of the dish originate from 18th century Great Britain.In American terms, they melt a bunch of cheese, fry up some bacon and volia There is no way this cant be good. GF had escargot. They were your typical snails served with garlic butter sauce. One thing I did like about them was that they had big chunks of garlic in them. Main Course: I had beef wellington. Served medium rare. A great value for rest week. Usually this dish probably cost as much as the entire rest week menu. Taste was good, only down side was entire bottom of the crust was burnt. I just chopped it off and moved on. GF had gnocchi with braised lamb, pork, and beef. Nice flavor. Gnocchi soaked up the meat flavors. She took a lot of it home. It was better the 2nd night. 3rd course: I had chesse plate. It was 3 types of cheeses. Thank god it was small. She had lava cake with ice cream. Pretty standard stuff, but both were delicious. Server was friendly and attentive. Total bill for food was $70 bucks plus the tip. Cant beat it!.
(4)
Milee S.

Place is alright. We came in after craving some French type food after seeing Julie and Julia. The menu on the wall outside the restaurant is not indicative of what is available to order. Place was empty. I mean EMPTY! We were one of only 4 parties at lunch time on a weekend. The menu has a variety of cold and hot apps, salads, sandwiches and main dishes. Although rabbit is tempting at lunch, not for $28! I had the soup and sandwich app. It was tomato soup and a petite sandwich. They weren't kidding when they said it was petite. It was literally two tiny pieces of bread made into a grilled cheese. The plate was too big for the meal, so it made it look even smaller! The soup needed salt, but otherwise was passable. My friend had the Mr. Marliave, which was similiar to a croque-monsieur. It was a large sandwich, and she got it with the egg on top. I had a bite or two, but it was too dense for me to enjoy. Her meal came with fries (you could choose salad or baked beans as well). I don't think I'd come back again. Our server seemed out of it; she forgot the spoon for the soup, my friend's tea, and a couple other things.
(3)
Matt C.

I kicked off Boston's summer version of Restaurant Week here with my parents today with a three-course lunch, and I can now say that Marliave delivers some quality cuisine from its bistro-type menu. For appetizers, we ordered the escargot, the mussels, and the beets salad. They were all delicious. My main course was the Sunday Gravy (based largely on its great reputation on Yelp), and it didn't disappoint. The gnocchi was excellent and the meat (lamb, pork, and beef) was perfectly tender. My parents ordered the fish and chips and the steak frites, both of which were well executed and served with rosemary fries, which is always a plus. The desserts were fair-to-good, but we were so full from the first two courses that no one was too disappointed. My fresh berries with hibiscus fresh-whipped cream hit the spot. I would definitely go back to Marliave, as the menu had about 3 other things I'd still love to try!
(4)
Ladyjane S.

Love this place. I come for the $1 oysters but always end up spending much more than I was planning to. It's hard to say no to that GIGANTIC cheese and meat menu. Get the soft French cheese (triple-creme, forget the name) and some prosciutto. And die happy. Drinks and food are delicious. The bartenders are great. Atmosphere is comfortable and welcoming. So much so that you wouldn't feel weird dining by yourself at the bar, which lots of people do.
(4)
Michelle N.

Absolutely love this place! Lovely location & decor upstairs (it looked kinda dark & sketchy downstairs so I was a little afraid, but the main dining room upstairs is fantastic with a good neighborhood view of Boston!). Our waiter was very nice and prompt. The food was great. We had the rarebits appetizer, the ravioli, Halibut, Sunday Gravy, and a burger for entrees, and some cheeses. Really no complaints. Definitely coming back!
(5)
Josephine L.

It took forever for us to find this place on a cold, rainy afternoon. But I suppose that's because we failed to research or Google map it (Wha-? You need to look up directions beforehand if you don't have a smartphone on you?) I came for Restaurant Week and was surprised by how good the experience was. Probably because it was monsoon season outside, the restaurant was empty when we got to it and we were seated on the second floor by the window with a lovely view of downtown Boston. The food was all delicious and surprisingly well-done. Definitely try the mussels (appetizer), pot roast and trout. I thought the trout was perfectly cooked: crisp and tender, with a fantastic melding of tomato, spinach, white wine and garlic underneath. Savory with a little sour kick. The desserts are pretty standard and, while good, nothing really blew me away. The best was probably the butterscotch pudding, though I got the berries & cream instead because I'm health-conscious enough to eat fresh fruit, but not health-conscious enough to eat it without cream. They have an impressive list of cocktails. I got the Willie, a margarita-like cocktail. Delicious. The Tres Curieux is my go-to staple and I enjoy the Yellow Journalism too. One of the best dining spots in the north of Park St. station area.
(4)
Alicia Y.

Came here for a friend's birthday dinner, but eating here was a gift for everyone. A pricey gift, but delightful nonetheless. We were seated in the upstairs section, which is adorned with luminous twinkle lights, glass ornaments, and tea candles all over -- very welcoming and warm yet still fairly casual atmosphere. Our waitress was very friendly and took the time to answer our questions about the dishes and the drink list, both of which are lengthy and mouth-watering. Among the three of us, we ordered the Henry's soup, escargot, and bacon-roasted brussell sprouts for appetizers, all of which we shared and all of which elicited unanimous "Mmm!"s, "OhmyGOD"s, and "This bacon is making me believe in miracles"es. I'm someone who has never liked brussell sprouts, but last night I realized it's just because I'd never had them cooked with thick-cut bacon. Seriously, just amazing. The escargot was likewise incredible (the cheese was particularly good in it), and the soup was also perfectly seasoned and well-portioned... in fact, the gruyere was so good I dreamed about it afterward. No joke. Its stringy delicousness shall haunt my waking hours for ages to come. Next came our meals. I ordered the portobello sandwich; I often order this kind of sandwich when I see it on a menu, and I have to say that Marliave's is the best incarnation I've tried in Boston (my previous favorite was Max & Dylan's. Sorry, boys!). For one, it was not nearly as messy as many others I've tried, and the mushrooms and peppers were cooked perfectly to boot. It was also served with a delectable little bowl of the truffle-oil-and-rosemary-seasoned fries, which were nice and crispy and totally tasty. The other girls ordered the rabbit and the duck confit, and the best thing I can say is that we didn't talk for a solid three minutes after our main meals arrived -- we were too busy riding the taste train to Happyville. When all was said and done the tab was higher than any of us would usually spend ($139 for a party of three), but we all got apps, meals, and drinks (and one red port for dessert, which was warm and sweet). But nary a one of us batted an eyelash -- the meal was worth every cent.
(5)
Amanda J.

Oh, Marliave! You truly are a gem. After reading the mouthwatering cocktail menu online, we decided to try Marliave. We initially were sticking to a strictly liquid diet, until we took a peek at the food menu. We tried the rarebits - a cast iron pan of melted cheese....... ........... Sorry, was thinking about the cheese. Then we tried the Beef Wellington. We're big Gordan Ramsey show fans and never tried Beef Wellington (except at a wedding as a passed hor d'ouerve (sp?) which is just not the way to eat a flaky meat product). It was awesome! The second time we had it, the pastry was a little undercooked, but still delicious. The fries, as mentioned by other yelpers, are amazing! They have truffle oil, rosemary and parmesan cheese sprinkled on them..... ....... Sorry, was thinking about the fries this time. Okay, enough about the food, lets get back to the drinks. Their cocktail list is stellar. Great catchy names to reflect their Prohibition -era roots. We fell victim to what another review warned of - wanting to have more cocktails just because you want to try them all. One night, we managed to get through 8 of them (not each, come on!). The bartender at Marliave is top notch and one of the best in the city. All the martinis are stirred. They don't even have a soda dispenser. If you get a drink that calls for club soda, they open a small glass bottle of it. If you haven't been to Marliave yet - you should defintely put it on the top of your list of places to try.
(4)
Brian G.

I'd been hearing so much about this place from other friends in Boston that I finally had to try it. Most of the conversations started with a discussion on where to go for oysters in Boston and as always Marliave was mentioned for $1 oysters from 4 - 6pm and 9 - 10pm. This was a great deal with great fresh oysters. But what surprised me is though it's documented in other reviews no one mentioned to me how great of a restaurant this really was. On a weekday I sat upstairs in at the white marble (I think) bar that gave me flashbacks of Parisians bistros. The bartender was very attentive and didn't seem phased at all as I responded that I was only having oysters and some wine. The atmosphere alone makes me want to go back to Marliave. After ordering my mix of 4 types of oysters I asked to take a look at the menu I initially declined. I was surprised by the simplest depth of the menu with numerous categories of options; raw bar, hot apps, cold apps, pasta and pizzas, meat and fish. Each category had a select few 6 or 8 options that were nothing short of mouth watering. I'll be going back very soon to try out the menu so look for an update.
(4)
Shelagh M.

This place is great! Perfectly located in the financial district- hidden but easy to find at the same time I went with my sister for restaurant week and split everything so we could try a lot. They have the best restaurant week menu I have ever seen. Mac and Cheese: INCREDIBLE and huge! Definitely a big enough app to split between 2 (or even 3) people. French onion soup: delicious and with a different taste than I was used to (less sherry maybe?) Trout: delicious crust and served with two giant shrimp Steak frites: rosemary fries reminscient of CLOVER and the steak cooked perfectly. The gorgonzola butter is to dieeee for Truffles: VERY intense chocolate flavor (all four are the same) a bit too much for me Butterscotch pudding: EXTREMELY rich, but delicious. I would never advise to try to eat the entire thing yourself.... or with 2 people. The service was good, no complaints, no praises. I would definitely go again for the mac and cheese!
(4)
Cecilia Z.

Marliave is, in my opinion, a hidden gem in the middle of the not-so-glamorous downtown crossing of Boston. I've only tasted some small appetizers here and they were fine. But what draws me is the atmosphere and the absolutely delicious cocktails. I usually visit for a laid-back happy hour, which means I don't want anyone hovering over me and my martini glass at the bar to order 3 miller high life or bud light at volume 40. The drinks on the menu are always just as nice as one would expect from the descriptions. And I always ordered from the menu, until... On a very very cold Saturday evening, a group of friends couldn't come up with something else to do after sampling The burger at Radius. So I suggested Marliave, which was about half empty but still managed to feel cozy. We sat at the bar and started chatting with Ben (I think) the bartender. He then proceeded to make us a number of drinks off the menu, according to our moods. I got some really delicious bourbon based drink with a maraschino cherry. My friend got a version of mint julep or mojito with thai chilli pepper flakes. It was glorious. We basically had the experience Drink is famed for without having to wait for one single minute in line! It reminded the days when I used to spend my Monday nights at the "hidden bars" in New York City. Delicious without any unwanted attention/noise. HEART
(4)
Annie Q.

Boston x 1.5 days = as much seafood as I can get. We went trekked through a horrible bone-chilling wind tunnel to arrive at this cute little spot. $1 Oysters?? Count me in! They had 4 different types of oysters and we ordered 3 of each to make it an even dozen to try which we liked the best. We found two that we preferred (sorry can't remember which) and ordered a dozen more of each type. YUMMY! They have some prosecco that you may add to it but I like my oysters more natural. We also had $10 libations which were nice hand crafted drinks which went very well with our oysters and had fun names associated with them. I miss me some oysters right about now!
(5)
Carly F.

Excellent place! Reasonable prices. Had prefix menu w app, main course and dessert for $38. Escargot was delicious, as was their homemade pasta w shrimp. steak cooked perfect. Dessert we split- fresh fruit w choc cake and homemade vanilla ice cream- even though we were full, we ate it all. Service was great, will definitely come back here! Call ahead for reservations, they called us back fairly quickly for a table that night.
(5)
Paul S.

I chose this restaurant based on the good reviews and was not disappointed. The food and wait staff were excellent. The only deduction was due to the hostess. We were sat at a table that looked crapmt, I asked for an adjacent table which also sat two; she replied that the table 'was saved for a reservation.' I obviously had one and was unhappy. If we both have reservations should it be first come, first served? We had a great time anyway. I recommend trying one of the special cocktails.
(4)
K.C. K.

We had dinner here last night with a friend. I made reservations ahead of time, knowing Marliave is pretty popular. The hostess greeted us and offered to seat us immediately but since we were waiting for our friend we sat at the bar. I was disappointed that the Jordan cabernet that is listed on the website was not on the wine list last night. Over the course of the evening I had two glasses of wine, a sangiovese-cab and a cabernet. Both were fine, not outstanding. Our friend arrived shortly after we did and we were seated upstairs. As many others have noted, the restaurant is beautiful, and I love that the current owners have tried to capture the nostalgic feel of the original Marliave. Our server started by asking, "Are you just going to be 3?" This really irritated me for three reasons: 1) we had said downstairs that we were waiting to be seated until our friend (singular) arrived, 2) I made a reservation for 3, and 3) it was rude to our friend, who is recently single and was once again reminded of that fact by our server. Service throughout the night was slow. Although water glasses were refilled often we had to flag down our server for drinks. More than any other factor, the service is what detracted from our experience. The food was good, though: bread, olives and olive oil are served to start and all were tasty. I love the fact that Marliave has an extensive cheese list and is pretty reasonable; I ordered a Rupert cow's milk cheese as my appetizer and it was served with toasted brioche, fig jam, honey and candied nuts. At $6, this is a steal. My husband had the mussels, which were excellent, and our friend had the French onion soup, which she said was very good. I couldn't resist ordering the beef Wellington -- I never see it on menus and it is one of my favorite dishes. Marliave's iteration is good, but not great. The beef itself was excellent, but the mushrooms did not have much flavor and the foie gras was nowhere to be found. The pastry, while well seasoned with sea salt, was soggy, which has happened to me when I have made the dish but with practice you can avoid this. My husband had the steak frites, which he loved, and our friend had the diver scallops, which I noticed she didn't finish. I was too full for dessert but my husband insisted we order truffles, the cake and ice cream, and the tapioca pudding for the table. I had a few bites of the vanilla ice cream, and while the flavor was good it had not been frozen properly so there were ice chunks throughout. I also picked a piece of wax paper out of my mouth. Both our friend and my husband raved about the truffles but everyone was too full to finish the pudding. The cake was just okay; it's a standard chocolate lava cake. In all, I can see myself returning to the bar for drinks and appetizers or sandwiches, many of which look excellent.
(3)
Picky B.

A relaxed restaurant with solid cooking. Hostesses were very friendly and placed us at a nice table in the middle of the upstairs dining room. One drawback was the high noise level (only noticed because someone in our party had inconveniently forgotten his hearing aid.) It was hard to tell whether it was the room acoustics or the 10 women celebrating a birthday. The food was excellent. We enjoyed the $1 oyster special that began at 9pm. The French Onion soup is great. We liked that they add short rib to the soup. The halibut and the scallops/pea ravioli were also very good.
(4)
J. L.

My husband and I have yet to have a less than stellar experience here. We've gone here a handful of times for the dollar oysters from 4-6, and we're always impressed with the high quality and selection (you can pick from 4!) Oysters are our main draw, but we pretty much always end up ordering something from the drink menu and an appetizer or two for good measure. Aside from the oysters, the drinks are very good, though sometimes I'm not sure what exactly I'm ordering (this may be my own fault). The food is always delicious - the mac'n'cheese is wonderful, as are the escargot. We've also had good luck whenever we've ordered entrees. Needless to say, we've put this down as one of our go-to spots and we'll continue coming back again and again.
(5)
Kelle S.

The Pros - The waitress was quite good at taking the tastes that I expressed in regards to the wines I liked and suggesting a good wine for me. She was courteous as well. I'm allergic to gluten, so it can be a challenge to have a lot of options from a menu. They were willing to work with me on the gluten allergy and provided me with a few good options from their menu. The food was good - high quality, and that flavors were good, not great, but good. It's certainly an acceptable place for a higher-end meal, but it is not my favorite by far. Here's why. The Cons - The food is good, not great. For a meal that ran $140 with tip for two people, I expect to be impressed with my meal - I was satisfied, not impressed. The restaurant was very noisy. I like to have a more quiet environment for my meals. Summary: Overall - passable. Would I go again? If people I knew were going - yes. Would I seek it out to repeat my experience? Probably not.
(3)
Hannah C.

Had a great girls' lunch here with Mom. She remembered coming here a half century ago to have drinks with her girlfriends... Now refurbished and freshly polished, this place is a hit. Everything we had was excellent. I'm a sucker for novelty, and memories years old of riding in tourist trolleys that described the doom of North End citizens and horses drowned in Molasses made me order the Molasses Flood 1919, which the Menu concurrently calls The North End flood: Sailor Jerry's Rum, Molasses, Lime, Bitters The drink looks just awful... brown, unappetizing, and garnished with a twist to dress it up a bit... but it tastes much better than it looks. Mom had a sandwich. I had pasta. Both were deliciousness, topped off with brilliant service and wonderful, calm, cool, and collected ambiance.
(5)
Thuy L.

For my 2nd time at Marliave, I thought I would check out lunch and see if their service had improved. Boy.....I should have just stuck with my gut. The food was okay but the service was awful. I made reservations and was seated by the hostess. I thought I would be served some water upon being seated. However, after being seated 10 minutes, all the servers walked by without even glancing in my direction. I had to ask a server passing by who our server was, and she didn't know. But she took us anyhow. I doubt I'll be back.
(1)
Mountain Chick T.

I wasn't crazy about the menu. Many of the items seemed very heavy. I did enjoy the meatball sliders. They had a very unique flavor. Other than that the 4 of us agreed it was just ok.
(3)
Debra L.

Thanks to Leighann's review I went for the pastrami sandwich and I can honestly say, it's the only time I've ever ordered pastrami. Ever. It was good, but a bit fatty & salty. That's no fault of Marliave though. I'm pretty sure that's just the nature of the beast. The buttery roll was "melt in your mouth" good and there was a good portion of meat on there. The rosemary fries were incredible and with two of us sharing them, the portion still seemed endless. Anyway, we couldn't decide on what to get so we ended up splitting a salad, the pastrami sandwich with fries and a dessert. The roasted beet salad with goat cheese, though tasty, was miniscule. I didn't mind though because for some reason this meal was painfully filling for me, even with the splitting. Maybe it was all the salt in the meat, fries and ketchup - but let's just say it was a really bad idea to pop in and try on clothes at TJ Max in DTX after lunch. The dessert was the best thing we had all day. Flourless chocolate cake with vanilla bean ice cream. Flourless chocolate cake is usually pretty dense but this one was light and airy and delicious. We didn't try any of the fancy cocktails because it was Monday at noon and sadly, that's just not how I roll anymore. I kind of wish it was but, I had a date with a yoga class that afternoon and never would have made it. I liked the place. I'd go back for sure, but probably not for weekday lunch, since I work in the burbs. I have serious Downtown lunch-envy so I was thrilled when my BFF suggested this place for lunch on President's Day (she was a waitress there during college, back when it was old school). By the way, do you know what the problem is with eating lunch downtown on a holiday though? Um, no handsome business types in suits to look at. It was all families with kids and tourists - boooo.
(4)
Alex H.

We were coming up from Manhattan and we were STARVING (a fun 4 hour drive). We decided to check Marliave out thanks to the yelp reviews and boy -- no regrets! Especially since we stopped by during restaurant week! We did not make a reservation so we sat by the bar. Decent sized portions (made me full!) and SUPER tasty! :) The staff (minus the hostess, who could smile a bit more and make proper eye-contact with customers) were all very friendly and helpful. The customers were also all very courteous and polite. So if you are swinging by Boston and your stomach is calling out to you, definitely stop by Marliave. This place fills up FAST so if you can, I recommend making a reservation beforehand.
(5)
Em V.

This place is amazing - it's right in downtown Boston and has delicious food - I always get the rarebits and I'm working my way through the entrees (the Fish and Chips are delicious and I loved the Beef Wellington). It's also a great date spot - very cozy and romantic.
(4)
Bruce B.

I am a fan of this place its very simple french bistro food. The menu is simple and covers all the bases. Everything I tried was very good and reasonably priced. The macaroni and cheese, meatball sliders and beef wellington were all quite good. Definitely worth checking out.
(5)
Eric F.

I stumbled upon Marliave on my way to Silvertone and decided to give it a shot after hearing that the latter had a half hour wait - so glad I did! As another reviewer noted, the place does have a Prohibition-era feel to it with the black & white furnishing, etc. My friends and I started off with the bread & olive oil along with the Rock and Vine Cabernet blend - a great red and well worth the money. I had the chicken with mushroom risotto and it was delicious! I'm normally hesitant about chicken dishes since it's so easy to overcook, but Marliave got it spot-on and it was moist and flavorful. The risotto was also very good and the portion was generous - always a plus =D My friends had the trout and fish & chips, the latter wasn't too great apparently. For dessert, we tried the butterscotch pudding, cannolis w/ ricotta cheese, and chocolate cake / coffee ice cream. All were good though the pudding was particularly delicious. As for service, our waitress was courteous and offered great recommendations. I do have to echo some of the others' thoughts on the staff being a bit disorganized as some of them did appear a bit flustered and I noticed intermittent lags when it came to checking in on our table. All in all though, this is a great spot to check out for dinner and/or drinks.
(4)
Maria B.

The service leaves a lot to be desired. Namely, good service. The food is okay. It doesn't say "Hey we put a lot of care and effort into this dish". It says "look at how fancy this looks". It's very try hard. I like their drink list, and their cheese plate.
(3)
Monique D.

I love this place so much! And, it seems to get better every time I go. I met up with my girlfriend for drinks and dinner here last night. The cocktail menu is one of the best in the city. I always like to try something different while I'm there. I had the Ulysses S. Grant, which I had before, but I had to have again because it's so good. It's Svedka Vodka, Sloe Gin, Cranberry, Seltzer, and Lemon. MY FAVORITE! My girlfriend had the Boston Tea Party, and she liked it, so that was the next drink I ordered. YUM! Sauza Tequila, Earl Grey Tea, Ginger Beer, and Lemon. Ridiculously good. Very refreshing. It would be a great summer drink. After a couple drinks we ordered two entrees: I had the Scampi, which was a simple dish. It was linguini, huge pieces of shrimp, tomatoes, garlic, and oil. Delicious! I ate the whole thing like the pig I am :) My friend ordered a ham and cheese melt with an egg, and she couldn't finish it. There was so much food, and she said the bread was like a potato bread, so it was very filling, but good! The last drink I tried was the Waterloo: Bombay Sapphire Gin, Champagne, Citronage, and Lemon. It came in a Champagne flute. Light and bubbly, citrus-y and delicious. It was the perfect end to a great meal. Our bartender was friendly and gave the perfect amount of attention to us without being overbearing. He also knew how to make a damn fine drink! I love the dark, old-timey atmosphere. It's quintessential Boston, a great place to bring your relatives or friends who are from out of town. You can feel the history in the air. I always have a fantastic time, and I look forward to going again soon.
(5)
Dave H.

Great food. Very cool, off the beaten path setting. Highly recommended.
(4)
Ernie F.

Rating: 3.5 stars, rounded up (for the food) Food: Risotto, Mac N' Cheese QUICK SUMMARY: Risotto = Rich flavor, more gooey in texture, sizable amount Mac N' Cheese = Thicker macaroni used, gooey cheese, a little runny, some macaroni appeared undercooked (odd, chewy texture inside for a few), good portion for sharing. Service = Meh, the Maitre d' was not very personable and barely cracked a smile. My waiter seemed a bit out of it, leaving abruptly after asking if we had any questions about the menu-- returned 15 minutes later to take our order. Price = Slightly expensive for the items I had, which floated around the low to high teens. SENTENCE SUMMARY: "Good thing their food was tasty and filling enough to make me forget the lukewarm service."
(4)
Katie R.

I. LOVE. THIS. RESTAURANT. Granted I've only been once, but it was absolutely amazing. I asked the waiter what the best thing on the menu was, and his advice was either the chicken or the gnocchi. Never in my life have I been "wowed" by chicken, but that chicken was mind blowing. I barely came up to breathe until everything, literally everything, had been nearly licked off my plate. Even after everything was gone, I was incapable of uttering anything except "THAT CHICKEN WAS SO DELICIOUS" for about an hour. Go here. Now. No seriously right now. It will change your life.
(5)
Shang S.

Came here for the $1 oysters, which were GREAT. Service was a bit slow, everyone seemed to be pretty laissez-faire about the whole thing.
(3)
Leighann F.

After an absence of nearly four months, my return to Marliave warrants an update. Though the sex appeal and initial attraction still have potential, my lust for Marliave has worn of and I am now at the point of considering the next steps: do I come here more regularly despite it's faults? Am I going to accept the flaws and silly missteps in spite of itself? The jury is still out folks, and here's why: At $11, Marliave has one of the best pastrami sandwiches I've ever had in my life. Buttery, savory, cheesy, meaty goodness. My friend and I split one and I only wished I had it all to my self. If the rest of the food is this good, Marliave may have scored some extra points. In the cocktail department, I am more critical and upon ordering their Aviation (kitschily named "The Amelia Earhart"), it appeared in front of me in a martini glass, cloudy and PINK. I panicked at the thought that someone might think I was drinking a cosmo. It didn't taste bad, so I had to ask the bartender what was in it that made it pink. "Grenadine" he said, "So it wouldn't be boring!" Oy. If I'd wanted grenadine I would have ordered a Shirley Temple. Grenadine was not on the menu and having it appear in my drink was more than disappointing. With extra points for an amazing sandwich and a loss for random coloring in my cocktail, Marliave remains at four stars for me.
(4)
Matt S.

Went here for dinner on a Saturday night. Got the $1 oysters, and you get what you pay for. They were small, not washed properly, and were not shucked properly either. I just kept crunching on oyster shell. I can look past this- but the service was awful. By far, one of the worst experiences. Our waiter was downright mean and rude to us. We felt like we were not welcome and that we did something wrong by getting seated in his section. He wouldn't even let us finish our sentences- would just walk away. Would not talk to us at all. It was bizarre. Don't even remember what we got for entrees, so it couldn't have been great. Waiter dropped the check, I told him thank u have a good night and he just turned around and walked away. Alrighty then...
(2)
Alex G.

There are very few restaurants that have the ability to capture one's attention on so many different levels. Many restaurants offer excellent food and forgettable atmosphere or service. Not Marliave. I discovered Marliave with some friends by accident, but its not an accident that I regret. When you walk into the black and white dining room, you're immediately transported back to a different time. The 1930s-style big band music and the vintage documents on the walls make this possible. The menu is presented elegantly but simply, with clever nods to the restaurant's own history as well as a lost decades-old cultural history. I was particularly impressed with the cheese and charcuterie menu given along with the regular menu. The food was outstanding, both in presentation and taste. Homemade bread was served with olive oil and three olives. The Comte cheese plate that we ordered was server with a homemade cranberry walnut bread, lavender honey, candied walnuts, and fig jam. The cheese was served at the perfect temperature for this particular type of cheese, which is hard to find at many restaurants. My entree was incredible, with subtle flavors constantly surprising me throughout the meal. The portions are huge, so we didn't indulge in dessert. Go to Marliave. This place is special for transforming eating out into dining out.
(5)
Magnus T.

Came in with a group of five guys for dinner. The food was very good. I had the Risotto after sharing the Rarebits and Mussels as appetizers for the table. I can recommend all of them - the rarebits were especially savory, although there were probably a fair number of calories included in that course :-) But what really made it for me was the attitude. They responded to our every request with an enthusiastic "of course!" and throughout the evening we felt very well attended to, but never rushed (even if we sat at the table chatting for a while before ordering and again after we finished eating). Overall an excellent choice for different occasions, from romantic to business to dads-night-outs.
(5)
Stacy B.

Man, I love working downtown. I get to [now] eat at some of the most awesome restaurants. Add this one to the list -- and try to get there for restaurant week. The pre-fixe menu has so many choices and you just want to put them all in your mouth at once. Portions are nice, food is super fresh [french], and the prices are very reasonable. And for the love of god, don't NOT get the mac and cheese. And don't NOT order a drink off of their awesome mixed drink menu.
(4)
Melissa M.

Classy name, Marliave. Isn't it? This place has been around these parts since probably before your grandmother was even born. Way way way back in the dizzle, my sainted Nana would dine here. Or, she drank here. Either way, she did patronize Marliave -- or maybe they patronized her. You see, growing up when I would travel the seven miles from my house in Waltham to visit Nana and Papa in Allston, I'd always want to have my ginger ale in the glassy glass that read in the most lovely cursive writing "Marliave". Classy. I had no idea what it meant and I still don't, but that glass always beckoned my name, Melissa. Classy. So, about a month ago the fianc and I decided to "double date" with another Yelping couple. Oh, how I wish the fianc would write a review. He won't. Anyway, we choose Marliave at the behest of the female yelper that I'm dining with. You see, her first date with her BF was @ Marliave. I told her that I had been to Marliave years and years and years ago back during the fianc and my courting days. We only ate there once, but I remember the food being very Italian. Classy. Well, they love this place. Here is my take on the place: 1.) The tables are waaaay to close together. I felt like I was back to back with this old lady and I felt very uncomfortable. 2.) The servers here all look identical. I swear, we had triplets waiting on us. I really could not tell them apart. One would bring water -- well, I got my water about an hour into sitting down. Another one will take your order and another one will bring you food. Confusing!! 3.) The clam chowder with LITTLE NECK CLAMS, BUTTERY POTATOES, BACON,GARLIC CRUNCHIES, For...$12, was HORRIBLE. I was so hungry and wanted a hot, comforting, thick, chowder. And, I got a lukewarm, not comforting, THIN THIN THIN broth. SO DISAPPOINTED!! :( SAD FACE!!! HUUUUGE SAAAD FACE! :( Ok, so everyone else seemed to enjoy their food and their alcoholic bevvies. I will give them a star for their interesting non-alcoholic beverage, The Wagon Wheeler or something, it had real maraschino cherries in it -- a whole two of em. Not too exciting, but when I ordered by second one, I asked for a few extra cherries and when she finally came back about 20 minutes later with my drink -- there were THREE cherries in it. Wah wah waaaah. I then decide I'm getting the cheese plate and chose 3 cheeses. Well, they all pretty much sucked. I wanted to get cheese, A.) Because I love it. B.) Because I was still hungry. C.) Because it came with FIG JELLY (Oh Boy)! and 4.) Because I freaking LOVE cheese. The cheeses were so horrible. Dry. Dry. Dry. And just really funky and bad. Not a good funk for the cheese. And they FORGOT the Fig Jelly. You need something to go on the dry bread, er, toast they bring you. I did tell one of the triplets and she did take the cheese plate off my bill. So, they get a star for that. We sat downstairs so, it's much much much MUCH cheaper than dining upstairs. Check the menu online. I just really wasn't thrilled with this place. Plus, the first thing that hits you when you open the restaurant door is the nasty smell of the unisex bathroom. It smells like my old Church's basement bathroom. *Shudder* It just smells very unwelcoming. I enjoyed the company @ the meal, just not the place. I hope when I return, I can say with confidence that Marliave is Classy. But, right now, I'm sticking with the Yelp "Meh. I've experienced better." 2 stars.
(2)
Sarah C.

My husband and I headed here on a Sunday afternoon to sample some cocktails. We had been wanting to visit Marliave for a while but had never had the chance. We sat outside, which was lovely. The whole area is nestled between buildings down an alley which gives it a very cozy feel and blocks much of the noise of the rest of the city. We ordered a Ullyses S. Grant and a Willie and then a Blind Pig and Tres Curieux. All delicious! At $10 each it is pricey for us, but worth it. For nibbles we chose from their cheese menu. Lake's Edge cheese served with fig jam, spiced walnuts and honey as well as Saucisson Sec Basque (charcuterie). We ordered both with their homemade toasted brioche. Wonderful! We wouldn't have had such a wonderful time had it not been for our waitress. She suggested the Lake's Edge and was super friendly and knowledgable about the food and drinks. Unfortunately, we neglected to ask her name. l
(4)
Laura K.

Love this place. I first went about a year ago with a friend for Boston Restaurant Week. I'm not what I would call an adventurous diner, but I do remember trying my friend's escargot, and I was surprised to like them! One of my other impressions of this place is being really great for a date. The place is kind of weird to walk in, and once you're in, you feel you have no space. However, the nicer dining is upstairs, and they have a glassed in dining area. The view may not be the best, but the huge glass windows and iron railings outside make it feel rather romantic. Then, I took my parents (or rather let them take me) a few months ago. My mom and I had made a reservation, but dad was running late. Luckily, they actually let us sit without him, which I was not expecting, but gives them a great bonus. I decided to be very adventurous and go for the rabbit (tenderloin and sausage). The tenderloin was amazing! My mom said she was not willing to try it, but I liked it so much that she gave it a taste, and also fell in love. It also came with w Gorgonzola topped polenta, which was to die for. My mom had the beef wellington, which was incredible. If you're looking for interesting and good drinks, this is also a great place to try. A bit pricey, but the quality is worth it!
(5)
Shendi X.

A retro backdrop for the new mixology - I would love to experience another delicious drink here while cozying up to a date at one of Marliave's sleek leather booths - classy!!
(4)
Dan W.

I really like this place. Dollar oysters from 4-6, you can't beat that. And they're the good oysters from Dux and the cape, not the shit big ones from Maine and Nova Scotia. Don't get me wrong, those places have better lobsters than us, but we've got them beat on the raw shell fish. I've been here a dozen times and have only sat at the bar or table on the main level, and its a cool spot.
(4)
Harri S.

Marliave, where their olive oil is delicious! There I said it. Seriously though they give you this bread and there's this olive oil....whatever, let's get on with it. This place HAD to have been a speakeasy back in the day. I love the throwback to prohibition decor. For being relatively cheap this place treats you like royalty. (They were so cute with their dish covers and coordinating them to open all at once. Service is not dead. Sigh). The Rarebit is excellent, as are the field greens. The sliders made me laugh though. They are literally a meatball between bread. LASTLY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY: Dollar Oysters 4-6 and 10 onwards. The most DECADENT mac n cheese (extremely truffled). Also try the blind pig cocktail.
(5)
Jack M.

Excellent food, neat presentation. A bit of old-school Boston. I hadn't been here in YEARS. I finally managed to go back and was blown away by the food. It's expensive, but really worth it. First off, we each got a mixed drink from their big chart menu thing. They were different items, but tasted REALLY SIMILAR. We were kind of put off by that BUT they were decent drinks. For dinner I got the Beef Wellington which was very good: couple pieces of fat which is gross - but overall it was really nice. My buddy got the Osso Bucco which is a leg of pork which was AMAZING. He cleaned his plate. Probably would have eaten the bone if he could. The place has been redone inside since the last time I was here - it's all black walls and white tablecloths and not too much to look at. It's all kind of cramped and weird in there - work staircases and little bars and stairs and rooms here and there. Quintesential Boston I suppose. Great food though. Different than most places in town. You'll like it.
(4)
Melinda C.

Stopped in here before catching a train back to town. The first thing I'll say is--and admittedly I don't know the area at all--it's in a funny spot... basically the alleyway of a side street. Marliave has, as others have mentioned, that old classic/classy feel. It's a bit on the tacky side, but even that works to the restaurant's advantage. The restaurant was largely empty when we arrived save for the couple of folks at the bar, so although we were only three the hostess gave us a generous booth with dark and cushy seating. The cocktails are interesting. I had the Great Experiment. Yummy, but per usu didn't finish it, which is a credit to the bartender's heavy-handedness on the gin. We got the oysters and sliders to share. The oysters were good, but shucked a little sloppily. The sliders were great. We got a combo and liked them all. I had the risotto, which was yummy if not a bit heavy. A recommend for a quick, near-the-train-station, but good place to get some grub, drinks, and meet.
(4)
Marina M.

Love this place! It's probably my favorite restaurant downtown, and likely in all of Boston. It's not easy to find (small sign down a back alley) but it's worth it. For appetizers: The 4-6pm and 9-10pm $1 oysters are a great deal, and the variety of oysters that they have is nice too. Some of the other appetizers (the beef carpaccio and rarebits) are small and pricey, but still delicious. For entrees: I have only ever gotten the shrimp scampi but I've stuck with it because I've loved it ever since my first trip here. The rabbit is great too, it has several different meats on the plate and amazing mashed potatoes. The service is awesome as well, the waiters and waitresses constantly check to make sure your waters (and wine glasses) are full, and make sure that everything came out ok.
(5)
Seth B.

A friend works here and told me about the oyster deal. 1$ oyster twice a day, everyday! 4-6pm and 9-10pm. The cocktail is list great. Prohibition Era inspired and all delicious. Will be back to try more of their food and will update if needed. Well worth a visit.
(4)
Luke O.

Oysters that really hit the spot.
(4)
Mike B.

We were looking for some good food, a local wine store owner pointed us to marliave. The food was great, the service was excellent, I recommend having the Trout with spinach capers, and shrimp, their chocolate house truffles are delicious! The only thing i didnt like was the lighting, alittle to dark
(5)
Katherine C.

I was planning a dinner with a couple girlfriends from college, and wanted to try something new. I actually saw someone on a dating site (no judgement) mention Marliave and gave it a look on Yelp. It looked pretty nice, and not super expensive, and I am a borderline-obsessive Francophile. We made reservations for 7:00 but arrived around 6:30 and they sat us right away (it was a Wednesday night, but still pretty impressive). We had a really nice table by the window on the second floor. Immediately the ambiance impressed me. Very low lighting (this would be a GREAT place for a date), white-washed brick walls, interesting chandeliers...their interior decorator was great. The waitress immediately came over and welcomed us and brought us some water. Took our drink order in a prompt fashion without rushing us. Their drink menu was more extensive than their food menu (which I can appreciate). They have a lot of specialty cocktails that sounded really delicious, but were a bit expensive for me at the time. We decided to split a bottle of Pinot Grigio, and it was a really nice wine, despite being one of the cheapest on the menu. In terms of the food, I was positively overwhelmed. I knew before going that I wanted the escargots for an appetizer. I rarely see them in restaurants, and was salivating over the idea all day. However, when it came to the main course, I was at a loss. I literally wanted to order everything. Osso Buco...rabbit...trout...beef wellington...truffle mac n' cheese. I actively considered ordering it all and putting myself into a fatal food coma because I knew that ultimately, it would be worth it. When the waitress came to take our orders, I had to ask for her help. She suggested the trout, and I am not disappointed that she did. Two pieces of lightly breaded trout sandwiched around spinach, tomatoes and two jumbo shrimp, swimming (pun intended) in a caper/lemon/butter bath. Absolutely incredible. You have to like capers, of course, which I do, so I could not have been happier with my choice. My friends ordered the ravioli and the mussels and were very pleased as well. Dessert came around and I was already bursting at the seams. I normally avoid dessert when I go out to eat, but I knew I would regret it at Marliave. My friends split the apple crisp and I ordered the tapioca all to myself. It was very freshly made, still warm, and not too sweet, but with a phenomenal vanilla flavor with a light drizzle of caramel over the top. I ate the entire thing. With almost no regrets. I won't lie, for two hours after dinner, I felt so sick that I toyed with the idea of momentary bulimia, but I couldn't bear the idea of disposing of that glorious meal. It was a little bit more expensive than I had hoped to spend, but it was such good food that I'm looking past it and DYING for the next time that I can go.
(5)
Lindsay B.

The downstairs is not particularly attractive/appealing, but the upstairs dining room is. We had a 9:30pm reservation and had a corner window table. Food was good. I had steak frites and escargot. Escargot was excellent. Nothing astounding, but good. Wine selection was the same. Will come back.
(3)
Mike Z.

I'm giving Marliave 3.5 stars but Yelp doesn't do 0.5 stars, so I'll round up because of the $1 oysters (4-6PM and 9-10PM daily, including weekends). I came here on two occasions, both for the $1 oysters. They come in a variety and there are four types. They're worth the trip alone. The atmosphere is OK, dimly lit, old-fashioned decor, and quite comfy. There are two floors and an outside patio, so the restaurant is very spacious. Note: if they tell you that you have to wait over 20 minutes, don't go anywhere, stay at the bar, because their estimates aren't very accurate! We only ended up waiting 5 minutes before we were called. The food is OK as well, nothing spectacular. The pastrami sandwich is quite mediocre. For a $14 sandwich, I expected the portion to be a big bigger. It was also very salty and missing the mustard. I also ordered the meatball sliders, which was also overly salty. There were only 3 of them and it didn't taste very good, so the $12 was a waste. I had the Chicken when I came here a few months ago and that tasted quite good, but rather expensive as well at $22. All the beers that are on the menu are bottles, there are no draft. The service is very efficient and the wait staff is very friendly. All in all, not a bad place for happy hour. I would come back here for the $1 oysters and drinks.
(4)
Mick T.

Tasty food, friendly barmen, good service, and good re-addition to the downtown area. Stopped here for brunch on Saturday, meself and the missus where the only people here. I had the meatball sliders (U get 3) to start, which were very tasty and filling and lovely wee buns. If you added a small salad or and order of fries this would me a meal for one. I followed this up with the steak&egg; the steak was really flavourful, and the fried eggs were perfectly done, so were the mini-crispy-home-fries. The missus started off with mussels (which I can't stand) which she loved and I found edible (for someone who hates shellfish that's praise), and the sauce went really well with the bread! She followed this up with the Rueben which was a monster of a sandwich; not that the filling were particularly huge (it was really tasty) but they use this really thick, tasty hand cut sour-dough bread. I eat here once before when it was an Italian restaurant (it was closed for 3 or 4 years and is now open under new owners), and I can say is that the food is much better than it was. Also, they kept much of the atmosphere of the place (turn of the previous century with the odd plasma TV). If you want a fancy meal, upstairs with all those windows and cityscape view could be a neat place for a romantic dinner.
(5)
Jim C.

Interesting place - throw back to the 20s - with a bit of style. Went with a client for business and enjoyed the dinner. the whole chese appetizer thing was a bit odd but we did it. Small pieces of cheese. The location is hard to find, look around the corner.
(3)
Kestrel D.

Meh. Decor gets points. The downstairs area is like a beautiful upscale farmhouse in the French countryside. Food: tasty, but wildly overpriced for the quality. Service: abysmally slow and perpetually confused.
(3)
Kevin L.

Hello? Hello? Uhh... anyone home? Are you even open? Oh, your dining room is upstairs - thanks. Weird... it's 9pm on a Sunday night... where -is- everyone? Don't Bostonians go out? Oh, wait. This isn't New York. -- $1 oysters from 2100-2200 hours (after which point their kitchen closes), and these oysters are legit! I mean, I'm not a huge oyster fan, but really... for a buck a pop, they're basically free. And you -know- how much yellow people love free things... Not only does Marliave offer some quality cocktails (loved my Yellow Journalism and Boston Tea Party), but I'd go so far as to say I had the best fish 'n' chips of my life here. Light breading that stuck to the flaky, steamy fish meat served over a bed of delightfully seasoned crispy fries. Every bite was juicy, tender goodness. Extra props to our server, who was not only attentive, polite, and professional... but also very patient, considering our party was incomplete for half the meal. Marliave runs a little splurgy, but undeniably return-worthy.
(4)
Susan T.

This place is really good! The decor in the dining room is simple and shabby chic/elegant. The wait staff was super friendly and the food was very good. We will go back...soon
(4)
Alicia G.

I love meat and cheese- this place has plenty of both. And the pastrami sandwich is amazing!!!
(4)
Mariel W.

We went to Marliave on Saturday night for my fiance's birthday because we wanted to try something different. We went in around 5pm to make a reservation and came back at 8:30pm. I have to say that the downstairs of the restaurant is pretty bare and not very appealing but they do have some big comfy looking booths. We sat upstairs for dinner and it had much more character. Windows all around with twinkle lights outside around the perimeter gave it more of a romantic feel. The top floor is split in half with a bar on one side and tables on the other. Both were totally full! We had one of their cheese plates which comes with some bread, jam and honey and you choose your cheese. The cheese was absolutely delicious but they give you a very small slice so if there are more than two people in your party then definitely get more than one type of cheese. For entree's we had the chicken "under a brick" that came with mushroom risotto and then the steak frites. Both were cooked to perfection and were delicious! The chicken was done so perfectly that it was moist on the inside and the skin had a little crunch to it. Very flavorful and yummy. The steak was also cooked perfectly and came with seasoned french fries and gorgonzola butter. YUM! For dessert we had the melting chocolate cake with homemade ice cream. The mint chocolate chip ice cream tasted like fresh mint leaves and was so good! Overall, Marliave was great! Our waiter was a little reserved and hard to hear at times but very attentive and the food was delicious!
(4)
Chris J.

Went for the first time and based on Yelp wanted either the Sunday Gravy or Beef Wellington, ended up going for the Sunday Gravy based on waitress's recommendation. The Sunday Gravy is awesome, I'd go back just for that again! Nice hidden gem. My wife had the fish & chips but thought it was average. So sounds like do your research and find it's highlights before you go and work through the "best of" list. Staff was very helpful accommodating our 2 kids and the general fun associated with dining out with two under-4 year olds.
(4)
Eric F.

Some people give restaurants a pass during restaurant week. While I get it, I disagree. Good food is expensive in Boston, and there are tons of places to eat. Restaurant week is an opportunity for a restaurant to say - "here is what we offer and its better than our competition, so, next time I you want a nice lunch, you should come back." Marliave missed the mark. After trying Marliave a few times for $1 oysters and drinks during happy hour, I decided to take the plunge and reserve a lunch during restaurant week. I was impressed and pleased by the variety of the menu online, and it was close to where I work on Beacon Hill, why not? Service was below average on the whole. Seemed like we were waiting around for our waitress alot, espicially when I wanted to pay. As for our meals, I started with escargot, got steak frites for the main and tiramisu to finish. The girlfriend started with the rarebits (its cheese and bacon, tasty but too much for one person) the trout as a main (trout was pretty bland, greens in the salad were too wilted but the shrimp in between were large and nicely cooked) and finished with a blueberry cobbler (meh). My escargot was a little oily and buttery without much real flavor. I hadn't had escargot in a while, but I certainly would not recommend anyone who has never had it before/has high escargot standards to try it. Not a deal breaker, though. My main was a disaster. The frites were, quite honestly, terrible. They were limp and not crispy, and was way over seasoned with herbs. I could only have a few fries before giving up. I asked for my steak rare, and it was a little under (some bluish purple parts, some cold red) which was disappointing. The problem was the flavor. It tasted like old charcoal. It was miserable. The tiramisu was...not tiramisu. Served in a 1950's ice cream sundae glass, there was a vanilla custardy crÃ¨me on the bottom, whipped cream with on top and then two dry ladyfingers stuck in the whipped cream....what? I would recommend Marliave for a summer's day - pretty good (but pricey) cocktails and solid $1 oysters (but watch out for pieces of shell) for happy hour. That's about it.
(2)
Michelle L.

I have walked by this unsuspecting restaurant many times and never tried it until today. Dining at Marliave was a true treat. The cheeses, breads and chocolates were divine and about as close to Paris as one can get. The sandwiches were savory with generous sides-- definitely not diet friendly, but enjoyable on occasion. With my meal I enjoyed house-made lemonade, which I recommend. For lunch I ordered a shaved rib eye sandwich with swiss, horseradish and crispy onions on toasted bread. It was really good, but the bread seemed too much so I ate it open-style. For desert the group shared chocolate truffles. The truffles were perfect. I agree with the other reviewers who say the ambiance is good for romantic dinners. Inside Marliave you will find several floors. We ate on the top floor where black wooden tables fill the room and lines of burning amber threads dangle above them. The top floor is surrounded by window's that give way to exposed iron fencing, and light from neighboring restaurants. I bet it is really beautiful on a snowy evening. I just may have to stop in again to enjoy cocktails and hors d'oeuvres.
(4)
Melanie T.

Ok, let me say that sister restaurant Grotto is one of my absolute favorites. So, I was a little underwhelmed when Marliave didn't meet the same high standards that are met at Grotto. The vibe is cool and my cocktail was outstanding (I had some amazing combo of gin, St. Germain, prosecco, and grapefruit). The bread is fantastic. We had 3 baskets. The rest of the food was underwhelming. My french onion soup with short ribs was bland and missing seasoning. The cheese was not brown and bubbly. Chicken under the brick was nice and crispy and the risotto was good, but I didn't like the sauce it came with. Friend got the wellington and was very happy. Tapioca also got very high marks. They also partook in the $1 oysters after 9pm. I think oysters look like a lougey, so I skipped them. Service tried to be classy but became obvious it was trying too hard. Nice that they brought cloches, but the rest of the service seemed, well, annoyed. I really really want to love it here. I'd come back for drinks and bread, but would much rather go to Grotto for the 3 course menu than drop over 60 bones here for 2 courses and a drink.
(3)
Craig C.

I went for a drink and dollar oysters. I wasn't impressed with either. The bar was dark and very much empty. The bartender and the oysters had the same personality. I will give it another try but it ain't cheap and I'm finally beginning to get over the "craft drink" Bars of yesteryear, speakeasy nonsense. Give me value, customer service and tasty food. Otherwise Fuck Off. The neighborhood is shrinking and more and more bars are opening around the giant hole that used to be the basement. I guess more of us are turning to drinking our sorrows away. (hey, it works!) My point is: Kick up your games like 100 notches or we will NOT be giving you the last dollars we got! Get it? Got it? GOOOD! I'll see ya tomorrow.
(2)
Miriam W.

Still getting settled in, Marliave seems almost too new to be open. The scent of fresh paint and plaster still punctuated the air on my recent visit. And we were the only folks at the bar. Our barkeep stumbled a bit with the drinks she made for my companions, but I was quite pleased with mine, arguably the simplest of the bunch: fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice, vodka with a single, huge ice cube (the ice was upon my request.)
(3)
Alice C.

Cute restaurant tucked into a small, quiet street by Boston Common. A good spot for $1 oysters and drinks during happy hour! In our search for an oyster happy hour to enjoy during our weekend trip to Boston, my boyfriend and I stumbled upon this place on Yelp and made reservations accordingly for an early Saturday evening. We arrived about 10 minutes late for our 5:30pm reservation, but they were still able to seat us immediately as the place was not that full. The interior (we sat upstairs) was nice, though not at all overly fancy. Since we came mainly for the oysters (and since I actually don't eat oysters...) we decided to order just 10 oysters (at $1 each during happy hour!), the burger and fries, and 2 drinks. I feel like some places are rude when you don't order a whole lot of food, but we definitely didn't get that here. I think my boyfriend was satisfied with the oysters haha, and I was thoroughly happy with my drink (the Boston Tea Party, which includes sauza, earl grey tea, ginger beer, and lemon mmmm). The waitress knew we were sharing, so when our burger arrived, it came on two plates and was sliced neatly down the middle with a half portion of fries on each plate. While this was so simple, my boyfriend and I were definitely impressed since it showed a kind of thoughtfulness on their part. Kudos!
(4)
James W.

since we held a private function here back in october for 50 or 60 folks (you weren't there? perhaps your invite was lost in the mail?), i suppose i ought to update for people thinking of hosting a cocktail party type of thing somewhere in boston. planning was a breeze. the marliave's event coordinator, melissa, helped with everything from menu to wine selection and was easy to communicate with. we had the space right at the top of the stairs on the second floor, but they can give you any of their rooms or multiple rooms if you need them. the food was, of course, excellent. we had the scallops, mac-n-cheese, risotto cups, grilled cheese, and shrimp cocktail - all perfect. prices were per piece and melissa, again, was extremely helpful in determining quantity. wine is by the bottle and beer/cocktails are per dink - thanks massachusetts liquor laws! - but you can let them know the louis xiii is off limits. our bartender kicked ass and kept everyone well lubricated throughout the night. what i really liked about doing the event at marliave was the lack of those b.s. room fees, even for our saturday night event, and the more than reasonable food and beverage minimum. also, it was marliave and i love marliave.
(5)
The Hungry American E.

Pricey, but worth it. Perfect (and rare) tucked away outdoor patio. Excellent $1 oysters. And the cheese is top shelf. You're not gonna find a better joint for happy hour.
(4)
Rachel M.

The ambiance at Marliave cannot be oversold. We went to Marliave for the famed $1 Oyster Happy Hour, and while the Oysters really were absolutely delectable, we will return to Marliave for the speak-easy charm... With the entrance in an alley way, the dim lighting and posted prohibition signs, you feel like you are part of an elite secret society. Speaking of prohibition, did I mention the drinks are fantastic? The options are so varied and unusual, we wanted to try one of each! Extra tip: try the "Rare Bits"... they will blow your socks off.
(5)
Nobody M.

Trout with Prawns was good, but not amazing. Though I don't think I'd say that Marliave is mediocre, neither could I say it was exceptional. Service was friendly and prompt, though.
(3)
Mandy D.

My first experience at Marliave was amazing, it was valentines day and I had just had reconstructive knee surgery. This was my first venture out to a restaurant and the entire staff was incredible and completely accommodating! Now the food, we started with the mussels, they were perfect and the broth they are in is so good we got another bread basket to dip in the leftover broth. For entrees, we split the ravioli and loved it! I can say enough great things about this place! And the price is right too!
(5)
Ali K.

Amazing patio area, especially for Boston - tucked away in a private little spot and perfect for drinks and apps after work. Had the $1 oysters which were from different regions and were excellent... and, how can you beat that? They also have a meats/cheese menu, which was a little confusing to know what's good, but take a chance :) I basically just ordered a few random selections and every single thing that we chose was amazing which makes me think you can't go wrong with any of the items. Good cocktail menu too.
(4)
Nicholas G.

The food and cocktails are great. Tough to beat dollar oysters at happy hour!
(4)
Chris P.

SIGN ME UP FOR THE SUNDAY GRAVY! :) Marliave is one of those somewhat out of the way places that feels like a real discovery when you go there for the first time. The atmosphere is cozy and elegant and just enough up scale to be 'nice' yet the vibe is very friendly and relaxed. My wife and I didn't get drinks, but people were ordering some unusual vintage cocktails and the bar tenders were delivering with aplomb. I heard a group of ladies order Ten Gin Mules for themselves, a drink I'd not heard of until a few months back at _Drink_ just down the street. The food was really very good. My wife ordered a very nice risotto, cheesy creamy goodness with a really nice flavor. I picked the legendary Sunday Gravy, and man am I glad I did! This is not your average pasta dish. For one, the sauce really is as much a gravy as a sauce, with a reddish brown color and a flavor that's something between the usual red sauce and beef stew (albeit much less thick than that or any other 'gravy' I've seen). The gnocci were fluffy little pillows of pasta goodness, and the dish comes with several different kinds of meat that have clearly been stewing in a pot all day, as they are melt in your mouth tender. The service was attentive and quick, making this an ideal stop before you go to the theater. We really enjoyed ourselves and will definitely be back.
(5)
Melissa D.

Marliave is a quaint, French bistro with touches of romanticism and Paris in the air. Marliave is tucked in a dead end street and parking is pretty tough (circling about 4 times until I found a spot in Downtown Crossing). Marliave has 2 floors with the 1st floor of booths and a bar. We started off with drinks at the bar with an attentive bartender. On the 2nd floor, there are wrap around windows and touches of bistro and French Flair. The drinks are very unique. For example, tres curieux, which peeked my interest! The menu is simple with classic French dishes. I had the chicken under the brick and my guest had the steak frites. Amazeballs. The skin of the chicken was so crisp, it then revealed a nice, plump chicken breast. Then I got jealous by trying the steak frites which were marinated so well and cooked at a beautiful medium rare. Service was on par and the ambiance sets the tone of a wonderful evening.
(4)
Julie C.

I just came back from having lunch here. Service is soo odd, we got asked by 3 different ppl when we arrived, how many? and if we had reservations. I understand, they had plates in their hands and that they wouldn't be able to seat us by why not send someone down who is free! We asked to be seated upstairs because we think the dÃ©cor is just lovely. Again, 3 people came over to ask if we wanted anything to drink besides water. We didn't. We finally ordered. Friend had stuffed figs which I tried and were very tasty! Beet salad which is a nice presentation. Another had the Mrs. Marliave by she preferred to say "Croque Monsieur" because she thinks she's hot shhhhhhhhhttttttt. The thing was massive! Its huge and please only order if you have a huge lunch appetite and are not planning to eat dinner after. Then 2 of us ordered the ravioli which was rather disappointing. They were not cooked all the way and the edges were a tad bit hard. I ate it because it takes about 45 mins before your food comes out and I was hungry. This is a nice place and I love the broad selection of food choices but they take their time here. If you only have an hour to kill, I don't recommend coming here. You will be here for at least an hour and half or two depending if you got apps or not. This goes the same for dinner as well.
(3)
John C.

The best Italian in Boston proper. In the North End you can find some challengers, but downtown fogetta bout it, the Marliave is the best. I went here last night for the first time in years and was a liitle worried. A lot of old school traditional places decline over time and I was wondering if the Marliave had gone downhill. I am happy to report that it has not and is better than ever. In fact, to the contrary, the restaurant is evolving, improving and is better than ever. The Marliave is a beauty of a place with old world charm. The menu is a mix of traditional standbys like shrimp scampi and new, innovative items like baked trout with shrimp and capers. There is an interesting cheese tasting platter. The wine list is simple, but well-chosen. The bar is excellent and even has a wide selection of zany mixed drinks. Appetizers are hearty and tasty, like the new "rarebits" which is a soft cheese pancake with lots of bacon. All of the sauces and marinades are top notch. The only weakness in the menu is the deserts which are very good, but they are of the fancy variety only, so Italian afficianadoes who are looking for the standards like Neopolitans, canolis and sfogliatelles will be disappointed. The waitstaff is superb and service is excellent. There is nothing like a good Italian restaurant where you can eat and converse without a server butting in and interrupting you. Also, be aware that downstairs the Marliave has a nice bar that is hard to beat if you are downtown and want to get some drinks with friends.
(5)
Justin B.

I ate brunch at Marliave while on vacation in Boston from Toronto. Restaurant week was on so I had a pre-fix that came with many choices which is unique because other resto's only offer a few choices. We ordered: Caprese salad - light, tasty and well not that hard to make Scrambled - cheesy, rich & perfectly cooked presented in a porcelain vessel. The cheeses - strong, nutty & a perfect end to our meal The brioche was outstanding. Service is so-so but its been constantly like this in Boston. Great meal and ambiance. The location is central and the second floor views were appreciated. I would return in a heartbeat.
(3)
Jason L.

Nice food and I love the $1 oyster and clam. fresh and low price plus excellent . what else do you expect.
(5)
Paloma M.

I went there on a regular night and the place was empty, the waitress was very nice and food was amazing!! It's not a cheap place but worths the money! They were all very nice, they even suggested me a good place for the desert that i was looking for !
(4)
Mariano A.

Over the last couple of years we (gf and I) have been coming here and enjoying their Sunday Gravy which is one of their best plates, at least one of my favs and one of the best gnocchi plates I've ever had. Did I mention my mother makes a damn good gnocchi? No I didn't, well, she does. I know I sound like one of those picky, sometimes annoying yelpers who thinks his mom makes the best version of a particular type of food. However, if I may say so, it 's kind of a big deal that I say this is one of the best gnocchis I've ever had (just kidding about the big deal part by the way). Also a huge plus, dollar oysters from 4-6 or 9-10. Love to take advantage of this on sunny Fall days, as they taste even better seated outside in the patio area. You get that, "Ahh, this is the life" feeling as the sun hits your face, the warm breeze caresses your body, and you shoot a nice cold oyster down. Rome Point, Island creek and Duxbury are among my favs offered, but the selection varies often. I had tried their steak frittes (good) and scallops (very good), but until last month I had never been compelled to write a review. Enter, the "Wellington" This dish blew me out of the water. A tenderloin with wild mushrooms and foie gras all encrusted in pastry crust. So good I had to tell Yelp about it. Yelp, did you hear me, this dish was PHENOMENAL! Yelpers, you won't be disappointed with this one. If you haven't been to Marliave, you need to stop reading this, get dressed, put your shoes on, and head over there right now. Seriously, stop reading and go now :)
(5)
Matthew P.

So I finally tried their fine dining. This place is definitely still 5 stars. I went with some friends for the last day of restaurant week. I've heard a lot of great things about their RW deal and I was not at all disappointed. They practically opened up their entire menu for us. I personally got the escargot and that was delicious. I then followed with beef wellington which I had never had before. Superb. I lastly followed up with chocolate cake. It was very strong and moist. I don't like a lot of flour in my cakes and this hardly had any at all. Perfection. I took my little sister to this place and she got the macaroni and cheese as an appetizer followed by the chicken as an entrÃ©e. I was hoping she would be a little more adventurous, but I'm glad she was not. The mac and cheese was amazing and the chicken was so juicy and tender. I never get chicken at restaurants because restaurants always overcook it; not the case with Marliave. So hop on over all you people who say you are vegetarian but still eat chicken!
(5)
Kenny A.

Our favorite Boston restaurant, hands-down. Must order pot roast. Must order Sunday gravy. When we visited last year the only thing lacking was some good desserts, but by the time you get to that point you're stuffed with delicious food so who cares.
(5)
Gladys D.

We went here for Saturday brunch. Drinks were nice: we got Waterloo and something else (I can't remember the names). French cheeses were great, as well as wild mushroom risotto -- oh, that risotto was to die for. Moreover, the plate was huge -- I've never seen such a huge portion of risotto. My husband got steak sandwich and French fries -- he loved both. Finally, the service was really good. Overall, great experience.
(4)
B T.

Went on Restaurant week last Friday and it was a blast! There are tons of food and they tasted delicious!! Too bad we didn't get a chance for the $1 oysters since the 3 course meal per person is already a lot for us.
(4)
R F.

The place comes with good reviews. Moreover, the menu says the place has been around since 1882 - if it is around for 130 years, again it ought to be good. The Henry's soup (traditional French onion soup, with short rib cubes) was very nice. The Caesar salad was nice, with whole leaves and large slices of cheese presented. The mains were hit and miss. My Steak Frites was ok. Those in my party of 10 who ordered the Rabbit couldn't figure out whether the Rabbit was part of the roll item or sausage on the plate. The Chicken was dry. Service... this is where it goes all wrong. They were pretty nice - there was no argument or unpleasantness whatsoever. But operationally it could not have been any worse even if they tried. The servers all appeared very stressed by their work. It started with the wine service and went downhill from there: - We ordered wine, which was available, but there were NOT ENOUGH GLASSES in order for them to serve us the wine. We had to wait for wine glasses to be collected and washed - no guarantee how long that would take. Our party was not very fussy and offered that they could just use the large water glasses for the wine - but they said they couldn't. So I said, "Ok. Just let us know if really there will be no chance of serving us the wine, in which case we would forgo the wine and order beer / cocktails instead." Then after a few minutes of checking, they came back and said, "We managed to borrow some glasses from our next door neighbor, but they are of different shapes and sizes. If that's ok, we'll have them washed and serve the wine. We said ok (we were thirsty, and it was easily half an hour after we ordered the wine). The wine glasses came back warm, and some of them were dessert wine glasses half the size of the water glasses. Our group had a good laugh about it. But it defies logic for a restaurant to not have enough wine glasses. - The main courses for our group of 10 were served so haphazardly and wrongly, that we doubted whether we got the correct dishes. When one of our party asked, "Is this rabbit?", the answer from the server was a resounding "Yes", only for a piece of steak to be revealed when the lid was taken off the plate. This happened multiple times, which resulted in utter confusion. In the end the servers themselves became confused and said to each other, "Let's take off all the lids and sort it out." We didn't need the ceremony of all the lids being removed together - but surely it's not that difficult to serve the right dishes to those who ordered them. - One of the Sirloins was ordered Medium, but came totally Well-Done. That made the person who ordered it hungry and grumpy. To the restaurant's credit, they took it back and prepared a Medium one, comped that dish, and offered us a free bottle of wine. - When the bill came, the number of items was correct, but they billed us for a bottle of wine that was twice the price of the bottle we had ordered. Benefit of the doubt given. The server then rectified it. But it just added on to the whole experience.
(2)
Robyn R.

The Marliave is one of my favorite restaurants in Boston. It's an amazing hidden gem to most, but is well worth the time to check it out. The food is French-American and is always so flavorful, well cooked and served perfectly. The atmosphere is awesome and diverse - downstairs is a bar, upstairs is a few different rooms and another bar. It's super cozy and you feel like you're in a European bistro. The beef wellington is AMAZING.
(5)
wolf t.

This place had a high bar to clear. In order to make a reservation, they wanted a credit card number AND a phone call. As a restaurant, you'd better be good if you want to hassle me that much before I've even seen the place. Fortunately, the place was worth the trouble. The location is somehow hidden right in the center of downtown crossing, featuring a private patio and expansive windows. The decor is modern and open, if contributing to a too-loud dining room. We were visiting for restaurant week, and it looks like the chef just put the entire menu up. Because it was an atypically cold summer day, we tried: * French onion soup: satisfying. The addition of spare ribs gave it unexpected sweetness. * Escargot: excellent. Soft and fragrant, not rubbery. * Beef wellington: very good. Beef was high-quality and cooked rare by default. Foie gras was a terrene, not pate. Shell a bit soaked - would have liked it more flaky. * Gnocchi: hearty, with lamb, pork, and beef. A bit sweet like the soup. (Baa, oink, moo!) * Molten chocolate cake: heavenly and rich * Cheese plate: Good presentation and pairing with sweet garnishes. Comte perfect especially with honey. roquefort didn't pair with the others. * Wine: cabernet sauvignion matched everything perfectly. I'm pleased, if puzzled. The menu claims that Marliave is italian, Yelp says french. But the offerings are more pan-european. Best to forget labels and eat.
(4)
Jeanette Y.

Cocktail: - Tres Curieux (gin, St. Germaine, lime, grapefruit, prosecco): A+! Appetizer: - Macaroni and Cheese: Heavy for an app, would be great as an entree - Rarebits: Delicious but should definitely be shared Entree: - Pan Roasted Chicken w/ Wild Mushroom Risotto: A+! - Sunday Gravy: So good with gnocchi, lamb was a little tough Dessert: - Blueberry Cobbler: Warm and tasty - Tiramisu: Good, served in a cup "pudding-style", lady fingers hard to eat
(5)
R A.

Delicious!!! Came here for lunch for restaurant week. They have almost a full menu and the portions were huge. The bread was to die for! Everything was amazing and the service was fantastic. Cannot wait to come back!
(5)
Laura J.

So, I've been to Marliave twice now, once for dinner and once for drinks. When I went for dinner, I wasn't exactly in the mood for anything particular but settled on a glass of pinot and the fish and chips. The fish fillets were quite large and had an excellent fry on them, nice and crispy. The fries were crispy too. My friend was mesmerized by the Sunday gravy, so he ordered it along with a cocktail made of green chartreuse. Now, let me say, when I read the description for the Sunday gravy, all I could think of was "heavy". Lamb, pork, and beef, braised in a red wine tomato sauce and served over potato gnocchi...holy s%&t!! Talk about an explosion of flavor and surprisingly not heavy at ALL! I was jealous...completely. So, for my second visit, I had heard from my friend who had ordered the Sunday gravy that Marliave offered $1 oysters from 4-6 and 9-10 EVERYDAY...so me and my friend decided to venture over after a day of walking around the city for a drink and some gems from the sea. We were offered 4 different varieties of oysters, settling on 10 wellfleet's. The perfect balance of sweet and salty. The mignonette on the side was awesome. My only complaint about Marliave is that the bartender was a tad bit light on her pouring but all in all, everything was great, on both visits.
(4)
Matt W.

Food was good. Service was not. Snooty staff. Food was cold by the time it was served. We tried to be friendly, the staff did not. Maybe a bad night but I doubt it.
(2)
Andi P.

I didn't come here for the food; I came here for a poetry reading, but nonetheless tried out some food and wine because poetry is even better when one is well-fed and intoxicated: +1 star for being the perfect venue for the inaugural event of the "Under 35" (U35) reading series last night. We had the second floor room with the bar all to ourselves for this debaucherous occasion. There are few things better than listening to good poetry, complete with some x-rated commentary, while getting tipsy and having access to a menu with such options as grilled (ham and) cheese, mussels, steak frites, and eggs-at-all-hours (omelette, scrambled, or benedict). +1/2 star for the rare feat of cooking my cheeseburger right to the desired doneness level (medium) instead of a level or two beyond that. +1 star for the incredibly pretty decor. +1 star for being attentive about my gluten allergy: the bartender checked to see if the fries are glutenated (yes, they are, because they're fried in the same fryer as the fish of fish 'n' chips fame), so I got some mixed greens with my burger instead, sprinkled with a good amount of reggiano parmesan. Also, the bartender did an admirable job handling the food and drink orders of the whole room of poets and friends, admittedly a peculiar lot. +1/2 star for $1 oysters and clams 4:00-6:00 PM DAILY--take that, Rialto! I very well might need to come back here to check out table-service and more menu items before the next U35 reading on July 20th.
(4)
Stefanie A.

I was skeptical to come here. After all, my concierge at the Kimpton recommended it. And hotels usually choose locations that are close, and perhaps pay a finders fee. So I was surprised--even blown away--by the Marliave. We luckily happened upon this speakeasy-looking French restaurant on a beautiful day during restaurant week. Restaurant Week is often awful. There was nothing about this experience that could be described that way. They sat us outside in their front garden which was comfy and roomy. Everything on their menu was on the restaurant week menu. Including the truffle mac-n-cheese and $32 scallop entree, you wonder? Why yes, they both were, and they were both delicious. Not to mention the portion size was super generous. And the desserts. Wow. Homemade mint chocolate chip, blueberry, and salted caramel ice cream. Hot chocolate cake. Service was a bit slow, but friendly and helpful. Also have a great wine and drink list. I'd go back next time I'm in town.
(4)
LuluandDaquan B.

Actually this place is more of a 3.5 in my opinion.. We came here for the $1 oysters which is a great deal and definitely one to take advantage of if you are a raw fan. We got a dozen with all 4 types, they were pretty good - but some of the had some sand in them so it wasn't super smooth going down. Escargot was delicious! We got the Beef Wellington that many yelps seem to love, what did we miss here? It was definitely interesting, a puff pastry with a little slab of meat in it. Flavor was okay, overall it wasn't something we even liked. It was the most expensive item so price-value wise it sucked. It was a nice day out so we sat outside, it made for a pretty good summer dining experience. We would definitely come check it out again some time. PS. its apparently the 4th oldest restaurant in the city??
(3)
K E.

We accidentally found this place while wondering around one morning and glad we did! We tried about half of the cocktail menu, and every one of them was fabulous. Food is pretty good, too. I would suggest going early (when they open) for brunch or lunch as the service seemed to slip once it got busier. I will definitely be back!
(5)
Tina D.

I came here for lunch with some coworkers on a Tuesday around 12:15. We were a party of 4 and got seated right away. The immediate seating was not a positive sign of what was to come. They have the same menu for lunch and dinner - which means it is super expensive. We all ordered and waited for over 45 minutes to get our meals. The bread that comes first is extremely salty. I ordered the $15 chopped salad. Do not order this! I got a plate full of very very lightly dressed lettuce, a small sliver of "almost" rotten avocado, two small egg slices, three cherry tomatoes, some gray artichokes and a piece of unattractive chicken. This is not worth $15, especially when you can get a salad that is 10x more delicious for half price at Cosi. I barely ate any of it. Coworkers ordered the omelette with toast; however they were out of butter, so they didn't have anything to put on their toast. It is really LOUD in the top room, so don't expect to talk. Overall the lunch took about 2 hours from start to finish because of delayed service. I will not be coming back here.
(1)
Joanna K.

This place is pretty darn impressive. Cozy atmosphere, amazing ice cream cake dessert, and the best mac & cheese I've ever had in my life.
(5)
Margaret C.

My dad brought me here on a very cold Sunday afternoon for a bite. I'm not sure if it was the fact that I was freezing after my dad insisted I was a wuss if I couldn't walk from Southie in ice cold temps but this place was super cozy and comfortable. And while at that point I may have considered a bus shelter cozy the simple, elegant decor and the wide marble bar with big bar stools definitely made me want to settle in for the entire afternoon. The bartender knew his menu well and answered all our questions. The prohibition themed drink menu had some delicious looking bevys on it. My dad ordered the Ulysses S. Grant which sounds like a manly enough name but came out pink. Delicious but humorous to see him sipping on that. We ordered the oysters and the rarebits. The oysters were super fresh and perfect. The rarebit was clearly a heart attack in a little dish but so incredibly worth the clogged arteries. Highly recommended. I am really looking forward to going back for a full meal. It's going to be a hot internal debate because there were way too many good choices. Maybe I'll bring a few people with me who I can peer pressure into choosing what I want to try and then snagging bites when they're distracted. Tried and true method.
(5)
Hannah F.

Went for post-work drinks/dinner with a couple friends from high school who also happened to migrate to Boston... It's a nice little place (the entrance is hard to find though, so heads up). They have happy hour oysters, which I haven't yet tried, but I'm dying to actually make it back. It's probably the only time I'll be able to eat as many oysters as my stomach can handle without breaking my bank account. Anyway, went with two friends, and the meal was good. We all shared the snails (yay!), risotto, and I believe a pasta. Again, I'm catching up on my reviews so my memory is a little fuzzy on exactly what we ate. Maybe that was also the bottle of wine. Who knows? The food was delicious. I loved my escargot--just the right amount of butter, garlic, and yumminess. The risotto (mushroom, I believe) was also quite good. Portions are decent. Our waiter was very friendly, and more than willing to put up with our endless chatter after dinner was over. Next time...oyster happy hour. Yes!
(4)
Elle W.

Why is this place so empty every time I go there? I mean, Monday, Thursday, Saturday night... it's far less busy than I would expect such an awesome place to be. It makes me worry it might be facing extinction. But this isn't about my own personal neurosis. Nay - it is about why I like Marliave so on with the show - #1 - it's just so damn cool inside! Multiple, old-timey floors on which to dine, smart art deco interior. What's not to love? #2 - awesome old fashioned cocktails. I mean really. They're all expertly crafted, named after interesting historical figures and thirst quenchingly delicious. Get the Papa Doble. Please. #3 - the food ain't too shaby. Rarebits is great if you have no place to go after. I mean... that's a lot of cheese. Classics like Wellington and pot roast. Yummer. I mean - we're not talking about your last meal before you're sent to the chair - but it's pretty damn good. Marliave is a very pleasant place to spend an evening. The service is a tad slow and less professional than it could be and I sometimes get annoyed that the tables are too small to fit all the food we've ordered (but maybe we're just gluttons) but overall - I give it 4 stars cause there are a whole lot of places that suck a whole lot more.
(4)
Ann R.

Came here recently for a celebratory dinner, and it was fantastic! We were seated in the upstairs dining room, which is a really neat space. We were almost the only party in the restaurant (at least upstairs). Service was attentive but not smothering. I tried rabbit for the first time, and was not disappointed... as one of my dinner companions noted, you don't put rabbit on a menu if you can't do it well. Looking forward to returning for a special occasion!
(5)
Andrew O.

Marliave has a nice history and a great beef wellington. The environment and service feels a bit out of date, but the food is very good. I would have no problem going back, although this may not be where I would take someone to make a first impression.
(4)
Jennifer J.

Amazing service in the upstairs bar area from Chris the bartender. He was extremely attentive and conscientious of the diners' needs. The food was also quite good.
(5)
Mike D.

I have been to Marliave a couple times once for lunch and once for dinner. Both times the food was really good. They have some good staple food!! I had the cheese fondue and the Cheeseburger; both were very good. Some of the people I was with had the Ravioli and Lasagna. We sat downstairs and actually the food was much better than I had envisioned based on the appearance of the facility. I would go back certainly!
(4)
Doris W.

I don't eat chicken much at restaurants and so when I say this is the best chicken I've ever had, yeah, it's that good. Nice crisp skin and tender meat, and a lot of it too. Was the chicken brined? It must have been. I don't think there's any other way the chicken could have retained that much moisture. It sat on top of a flavorful and not-as-heavy mushroom risotto that was cooked perfectly. Their house-cut fries were pretty darn good too. Seasoned with herbs just enough that it wasn't overwhelmingly herby. Though the batch we got had mostly ends, it didn't bother me. I like the ends.
(4)
Lo L.

We were looking for a little snack to hold us over until dinner and decided that the $1 oysters and clams would do the trick. When we entered Marliave, it felt like we had been transported to France. The ornate wall designs and architecture appear be untouched since Marliave opened in 1885. The decor alone is worth checking out, and if you're on a budget as we were, I recommend going between 4-6pm for the $1 oysters and clams. The oysters and clams are served with a cocktail sauce that is not too overpowering and pickled onions that give the oysters a kick without taking away from the flavor. We tried each type of oyster from MA and all were delicious. It was my first time eating raw clam, and I wasn't a fan. I washed it down with the complimentary bread and olive oil that was served once we were seated. The friendly and attentive wait staff came by a few times to ask if needed refills on oysters or drinks. Marliave is definitely a place that I'll return to on my next visit to Boston.
(4)
Christopher L.

Nice croque madame. Good oyster specials. Very good prohibition style cocktails. A bit pricey but nice for a drink and a sandwich or app. Really great very chill atmosphere.
(4)
Tanya A.

Restaurant Week, winter 2012 review. This is the second time I've been to Marliave for Restaurant Week, and again it was very enjoyable. I really love how they have such an extensive menu, so you aren't limited to just a few choices. My table usually gets a bunch of different appetizers and splits them, just so we take advantage of the variety. I ordered a Yellow Journalism cocktail, which was decent, though a bit pricey at $10 for what I received. The cocktail menu was fun, though, and I'm looking forward to trying others. This year I got the escargot appetizer, which is buttery and garlicky and quite good. The macaroni and cheese was also good, though a bit more liquidy than I usually like my mac n' cheese. Very rich, very filling. I was somewhat disappointed by the duck confit with white bean cassoulet-- the beans were seriously underseasoned, and I actually had to ask for salt, which I usually don't do at restaurants. Some of the beans were also undercooked, making them unpleasant to bite down onto. The duck itself was tasty, though. For dessert I chose the ice cream trio-- cream cheese, mint chip, and chocolate/hazelnut. The mint chip was not to my taste-- the mint, while authentic, was a bit too grassy for my tastes, and the chips were big enough that they didn't melt at all, making them waxy and flavorless once the ice cream melted away on my tongue. I much preferred the other two. And my taste of the butterscotch pudding was excellent-- I will absolutely start putting candied ginger on my butterscotch from now on! Overall, I would recommend Marliave for Restaurant Week-- it's a fantastic deal and the service is impeccable.
(4)
joanne l.

Decor: Great feel and warm ambiance. Sat inside and loved the casual yet semi-trendy feeling. Drink: cocktails that were ordered all around were great! (bumps the rating to a 4.. but for me the food was slightly lacking - see below) Food: tasty. some of our groups words were: "delectable" (the scampi), and "delicious" (the pot roast & mac n'cheese). Three stars from my end b/c the risotto was slightly bland & the beet salad left a lot wanting. Future endeavor(s): Yes, would definitely come here again - especially to try out the $ 1 oyster deal and to sit on the patio.
(4)
Erick H.

On a recent Saturday evening, some friends and I sought someplace to get dinner before heading to the TD Garden to see the Boston Bruins. Due to time constraints, we couldn't secure a table at our first choice, but after a bit of wandering, we stumbled upon Marliave. As it turns out, we discovered a quite remarkable restaurant. We were seated promptly upon entering, a bit of a surprise given the time and day. Drinks were quickly ordered while we reviewed the menu, and by the time those arrived, we were ready to order our meal. Again, service was quite quick, returning almost instantly with a tray of oysters for four members of our party. Not ten minutes thereafter, those who had ordered entrees received their meals. I ordered the steak frites and am quite pleased with the choice. The meat was tender and juicy, balancing well against the boldness of the accompanying gorgonzola butter. The fries, some drenched in au jus, were equally as satisfying, the sweetness of the sweet potato contrasting nicely with the savory steak. The portion size, could however, have been a bit larger; even after finishing the steak and fries, I was still hungry. Nonetheless, I enjoyed an excellent meal. Within an hour, we had ordered and finished drinks, an appetizer, and entrees and were on our way. This somewhat-hidden gem, at the Province Street end of Bosworth, proved an excellent choice by promptly delivering a quality meal that left us sated as our evening progressed.
(4)
Kristina F.

Sunday gravy is amazing. And sandwiches have too much bread! They have the best cocktails and ice cubes! Cheese plates are also killer. I can't believe it's taken me this log to write a review. Our friends meet here often as it's in the middle for both onus via train. I've never been disappointed with the food, service or cocktails. Drunks are really unique. I like some more than others but my husband loves their manhattans. Wine selection is also really nice too. They started a wine and meat menu that I thought was very fun and clever. Great for sharing - selection of 3 cheeses for 12 or 15 bucks. The dining room upstairs is a bit more formal while the bar area is casual. Knave eaten both up and down and enjoyed it. I just don't like sitting nest the kitchen because the light is obnoxious. My favorite dish is one I recently discovered, Sunday gravy. It was so delicious, rich and I wanted more! I've had their oysters (yum), clam chowder very good. Sandwiches are good but sometimes too bready. LOVE their fries and I always order a side. Steak frites good too. Anyway long story short - marliave is a great place, delicious, reliable Nd a great experience.
(4)
Trip B.

Oysters and cocktails followed by more oysters and cocktails. Sit outside too if it's nice. Although I'm fairly certain that the cocktail list has not changed in 10 or so years they really get a number of French/ Classic cocktails right. Perhaps the most intriguing is the absinthe martini drink I had. On the menu next to Oscar Wilde, it had the patented licorice taste balanced out with what may have been Rose's Lime. Either way, it was great. Once you get to the hot food, this place turns into a real, working class brasserie and not the mega new pho-French places that have popped up lately. From the coronary inducing rarebits to the really delightful roast chicken, it was a great experience. It work well for dinner, afternoon as well as a later bite.
(4)
David V.

Bumping this up a star. I went during Restaurant Week and it was the first time I'd had a proper dinner here, after just stopping by before for dollar oysters and appetizers. Though Restaurant Week is usually super busy, the hostess accommodated us without a reservation at what was probably a busy hour. And instead of sitting downstairs in the bar area, which is nice enough for a bar area, we were taken upstairs to a corner table with amazing views all around. And while many participants in Restaurant Week offered very limited choices for the prix-fixe dinner, almost all of Marliave's dinner menu (from what I could tell) was represented and available to us. The escargot was better than at some French places that take pride in theirs, the steak frites was cooked to perfection with mouth watering au jus sauce just waiting for those frites. The mac and cheese and mushroom risotto had hints of truffle oil in an otherwise creamy and rich presentation. After a brief oyster interlude (who knew that dollar oysters returned to the menu for the 9-10pm hour?), dessert was a cheese plate followed by a decadent chocolate cake with some very high-end, bright white vanilla ice cream. The only drawback I could think of was that the cocktails I had ordered weren't the largest portions I've come across. When it comes to Restaurant Week, sometimes it's not that much of a bargain after you do the math. A lot of restaurants left their signature and/or most popular dishes off the menu, but Marliave met and exceeded all of my expectations.
(5)
K.s. P.

Just in from out of town and staying at the Omni, we saw this place from our hotel room window. We looked really hard to find something a third as thrilling, and wound up at Marliave for dinner in no time. Delicious appetizers (oysters and a sizable beet salad), then a beautiful trout with two prawns for me and divers scallops with pea ravioli for my wife. Great independent brew (Dog Fish IPA) and a nice Chianti. We are quite lucky to have found it and would go out of our way to recommend it to travelers and locals alike!
(4)
Anastasia R.

It turns out that the place to go to cure a hangover is a speakeasy. Who knew? My lady friend and I met here for a late lunch since i work for the man, and apparently he doesn't know today is a holiday. While I was tempted, I didn't hit the hair of the dog, opting instead to get some greens and rehydrate. I ordered the Beet Salad which was artfully displayed (as I was warned by our server, it was petite but stylish) and delicious. As my salad came out, a waitress walked by with a bowl of bouillabaisse and garlic bread, which prompted me to order some garlic bread to ease my sour stomach. This is a fantastic remedy. The garlic bread was moist, piping hot and garlicky as all hell. But best of all, my hangover was cured. I can't wait to go back for cocktails and $1 oysters.
(4)
Ross G.

Ravioli is excellent, amazing truffle fries. Def heading back soon! Awesome location too, one of my favorites tbh.
(5)
Gigi J.

What fun! Old fashioned bar cafe on the first floor, friendly funny staff, good food. I had. Lovely plate of 9:30 pm $1 oysters, good local beer, and delicious chicken with risoto. The staff took great care of me as a woman eating alone. I am glad to have found this through Yelp...I wouldn't have seen this place!
(4)
Kare C.

I stumbled upon this place looking for a Happy Hour Menu that offers $1 oysters. Not only does this place offer $1 oysters, it offers them every single weekday from 4PM to 6PM, then again from 9PM to 10PM!! =D The prices are pretty decent (especially the sides) for the portion and quality of food. My favorites were the Sunday Gravy (gnocchi with 3 kinds of meat: lamb, pork, beef)...this thing literally melts in your mouth...the polenta, the truffle fries, and of course the $1 oysters!! On the other hand, alcoholic drinks were a bit water down, the mac and cheese was a bit too cheesy (so cheesy, I can't finish it even though it was only an appetizer), and the duck sausage with broccoli rabe didn't seem like it had any sausage in it. The setting is a bit antique, but you're right in the heart of downtown Boston. Nevertheless, a good place to go grab a bite after work.
(4)
Jessie N.

This is my first time having dinner and it seems authentic French. The upstairs dining offers a nice view of Boston and the outdoor seating gives it that French cafe feel. The food is alright I ordered the scampi and thought it was very good. I will def come back again.
(4)
Lisa O.

Great patio dining, amazing fresh pasta and mac and cheese was incredible. I'm still trying to figure out what cheeses were in that macaroni and cheese.
(4)
AspiringFoodie P.

We were staying at the Nine Zero around the corner and were looking for a place for lunch. The server recommended the Sunday Gravy which sounded delish. Homemade gnocchi, three kinds of meat....what could be wrong. I was disappointed in the dish. The gnocchi and sauce were good but the meat very disappointing. I assumed the lamb, pork, beef would be braised and fork-tender. Imagine my disappoint when it was cubes of meat that had obviously not been cooked in the sauce. Totally ruined the dish.
(2)
Beck N.

Came here with a couple girlfriends after work for dinner the other night & enjoyed it. We were seated on the patio & were able to enjoy the view. The patio is not on street level, so you aren't distracted by people constantly walking by. The food was delicious! I got the steak & cheese, which was very cheesy & the bread was rich & buttery. My only complaint is that the horseradish sauce was hardly noticeable. My friends got the risotto & a cheese plate. I have to say that the cheese menu is pretty amazing -- & while I know nothing about cheese, our server was great to make suggestions & answer any questions my friend had.
(4)
Lee M.

Had a great lunch experience and tried to go to dinner tonight. Empty restaurant -given worst table in bar area right by kitchen. When we requested a table upstairs she replied -we have a few reservations. Lots of good restaurants in boston and if we couldn't be accommodated we didn't choose to spend our money there. Too bad. Bitter taste. Not soon to return.
(1)
Matt B.

Fantastic French food at a pretty reasonable price.
(5)
Niki M.

I'd never heard of this place until last night, and now, I shall never forget it. I'm astounded that this place was established in 1875, first of all; adds to the cache of coolness. It's very conveniently located in a beautiful building that feels energized with what I assume is a colorful history (I need to hit up the batcave, er, library and do some research). The cocktails are impressive and aesthetically pleasing concoctions; I get the feeling that a true mixological genius is behind these cleverly-monikered Prohibition-themed drinks. I want to don a flapper dress and get down with my bad Charlestoning-self. I enjoyed a delicious W.C. Fields, which had the perfect balance of pimm's,vodka, and cucumber. I sampled the Boston Tea Party and enjoyed that as well (anyone that uses Earl Grey Tea in a drink has already won my heart over). Smooth, beautiful, bordering-on-illicit drinks in what could definitely pass as a speakeasy (on the ground level floors) and yet, overall, you feel like you're in a timeless space: it could be 2010 or 1910 in here, but you can never be sure (so assume it's both). Wicked. The cheese plate looked amazing, though was pilfered before I was able to nosh anything. I opted for an appetizer portion of the cheesy macaroni (minus the $30 truffles, though, when I make it big, this is the first meal I plan to eat, in celebration). This is not your run-of-the-mill mac 'n' cheese. I like to fancy myself a connoisseur of this dish, and I have to say that this may be, hands down, the best macaroni and cheese I've ever eaten. House cut ziti, truffle oil, an assortment of melted farmhouse cheeses. WOW. The Japanese have this notion called "umami," which is essentially a fifth taste: "deliciousness." This dish is so packed with umami that it alters the conceptual scale of umami measurement, in that universe-changing way that Einstein altered the world of quantum physics. I look forward to coming back to a) check out the upstairs cityscape view that I missed on this go, b) to inquire about booking space for an event, because this would most definitely be a great place for a party, and c) to sample more of the mouthwatering assortment of food and libations.
(5)
NN R.

Marliave serves $1 oysters between 9pm and 10pm. Even though my boyfriend and I only go for the cheap oysters, the staff is always friendly and the oysters are always fresh and awesome. We also had their special "Henry's French Onion Soup," which has ribs in it and it was delicious. We go there so often, we pretty much know our bartender by face.
(5)
Bob S.

Went for a late lunch this past Saturday with my wife and were treated to a great lunch at the bar. I had the cheeseburger that was to die for and my wife had the chicken under a brick entree which she raved about. We split a side of grilled peeled asparagus topped with fresh reggiano cheese....... a winner. Food is cooked to order (as our delightful bartender Molly warned)............. so don't be impatient as the quality of the food is worth the wait.
(4)
Amanda L.

I really enjoyed this place. We came in right before the rush because by the time our appetizer came out (oysters, YUM!) the place was packed (well, at least the floor we were on, I didn't get to check out upstairs). My main meal of trout with shrimp, wilted spinach, roasted tomatoes, capers, garlic, and white wine sauce was absolutely terrific. The fish was very tender and everything melded together perfectly. I snuck a bite of Joe's Yankee pot roast and it was very hearty and delicious. We ended with some homemade apple pie and vanilla ice cream. Whoa was it good. I remember passing by the kitchen on the way to the bathroom and smelling the pie and though, I HAVE to have it! And it did not disappoint. I love a good crust on a pie and this one was no exception! What I like about this place is that the food tastes like you should be spending $$$$ but in reality the prices are very afordable for the quality of food. Our waiter was very nice as well. All in all, Marliave is a great place to go! (Especially before a trip to the Ballet!)
(4)
Dan C.

The old Marliave.... One of those old-school downtown Boston restaurants, like Locke-Ober, it had sort of hit the skids. Unlike Locke-Ober, which was saved by Lydia Shire, Marliave closed down for a few years. It was cleaned...heavily cleaned, refurbished and has been brought back to its old glory, but with much more modern edge. Marliave has a downstairs bar and cafe, which is on the casual side. Upstairs is a bit more formal, but both levels have the same menu. I had a burger with herbed fries and a rum and coke. The burger was excellent, nicely seasoned and perfectly cooked. The fries were fantastic. I am a big fan of herbed, hand cut fries. The service was good too. What I like most was the character of the place. It is tough for a new restaurant to have a lot of warmth and character, IMO. However, the Marliave has been there for decades, so with the revitalized space, great menu, in an old, charming, cozy space, you get a really a great combination of things to make for a fantastic dining experience.
(4)
Christina O.

RAREBITS!!!! Cheese, beer, bacon, and crusty bread...need I say more? Bomb ass ish!!
(4)
N. S.

Friendly and attentive service, good drinks, $1 oyster happy hour AND an outdoor patio - yes, please!
(5)
Jordan W.

Food - Phenominal. I went with a friend of mine for Lunch today, it's restaraunt week so this is from their restaraunt week lunch menu. We sat outside, they have an adorable/beautiful (especially for downtown crossing) seating area outside. 2 downfalls. Our waiter was somewhat of a bonehead, but the food was hot when it came out. I can take a bit of stupidity every once in a while. AND... There were plates on our table with silverware stacked on them. They were dirty eeeeewwwww. But we got new plates and all was well. I'll be going back at some point.
(4)
Peg P.

Each time I eat at Marliave I am more and more impressed with the quality of the food, the unique drink menu and the overall service and atmosphere. I have always been seated on the second floor. The first floor has a nice bar and some tables, but the second floor is more cozy and also has a bar area. They have several vegetarian options on the menu. I loved the Portobello sandwich and their Mushroom Risotto. I have also tried several of their salads and ordered side dishes to create my own meal. For whatever reason, their french fries are out of this world. Their drink menu is fantastic. I have tried the Ulysses S. Grant, The Blind Pig, The Waterloo, and The Great Experiment. All wonderful and different in their own ways. The staff are able to recommend drinks based on your tastes as well. In addition to their specialty drink menu, they have all the reliables as well. I have had Cosmo's and Vodka and Cranberry drinks as well. This is a great pre or post theater resetaunt (really close to the Opera House). It is located near Park Street T on the Red LIne/Green Line and the Downtown Crossing T stop on Red and Orange lines. I think this is a reasonably priced restraint and would highly recommend it.
(5)
Alyson G.

The first time I was at the Marliave was for lunch with my mom and her friends during a holiday shopping trip to Boston. We had a fabulous time, the food was delicious and I remember loving the decor and the floor to ceiling windows. Cut to my birthday. Wanted to throw an awesome party and had looked into the venue in the past. Knew this was be just the place for a fabulous party. Melissa was so great to coordinate the event with. She handled all the details and replied promptly to my questions. Had a fabulous time celebrating the end of a decade with some of my faves, over great food and cocktails. The mini grilled cheese sammies and meatball sliders were so good, along with the cheese plate. Oh yeah, I love cheese BTW. Love the vintage feel and retro cocktails. Will definitely be back again soon!
(5)
Food L.

To be honest, Marliave was not my first choice after reading some of the reviews. But because our restaurant of choice for Dine Out Boston was booked out, we settled for Marliave for lunch on a Sunday. And I'm glad we did. It was a pleasant surprise. Per some other diners' suggestion, I requested a table upstairs, which had very nice ambiance. Our waitress, though wasn't the friendliest I've met, was very professional, and checked on us after every course. So I give the service 3.5 stars. Now on to the food...first of all, we were very surprised by how generous the portions were. I've never been to Restaurant Week and have to pack food home because I was so stuffed. Usually RW portions are very small, but Marliave does not hold back at all. The Mac and Cheese was exceptional. The Escargot did not disappoint either. Both were homeruns. For entrees, I ordered the mushroom risotto and my husband ordered the steak frites. The risotto was average, not great, but not bad either. The steak was cooked exactly to the temperature we requested, but the cut of the meat was a bit too chewy for my liking. For dessert, the Butterscotch pudding was extremely smooth and decadent. The candied ginger on top was a good accent to the dish. My husband ordered the 3 cheeses (Italian, French, and Vermont), with fig jam, spiced walnut, and lavender honey, on toasted brioche. Great presentation. I think we were just so full at that point that we actually had to leave the cheese plate unfinished. All in all, nice ambiance, good service, great food, exceptional value for a restaurant week plate portion. Two thumbs up!
(4)
Stacey H.

Love Marliave!!! I find myself mispronouncing the name time and time again, but it doesn't diminish my love for this place. On a girls night out on a Friday night I was exploring places to go on yelp.com and came across this little gem in the Park Street area - just down the street from Silvertone. Let me just say that this is downtown crossing's best kept secret! Great drinks, stellar food, cool down to earth vibe. It's just a really great establishment and because it's pretty large there are always usually tables available. The cocktails are old time cocktails so they are definitely for those who appreciate a good libation or two. Marliave's building is really old - reminiscent of old time Bean town, which just adds to it's already wonderful charm. Marliave I'll love you forever!
(4)
Eric D.

Good food (excellent beef wellington) and great cocktails. A little on the pricey side but this is the kind of place the young and hip (yes, hipsters) would love going. The only thing keeping it from being a high end restaurant is the decore. But this isn't a bad thing. Marliave is intentionally grimy like an old speakeasy and that's part of it's charm. Does get a little loud for dinner but it is tolerable
(4)
Keith L.

Place was phenomenal! Great atmosphere and terrific food and service! Would highly recommend!
(5)
Era F.

Yess!!! Another place that does oyster happy hour! and it happens twice, 5-7 and 9-10. Now that's what I'm talking about! I'll be back to check it out. Now on to the actual visit - came for lunch, noon-ish on a Tuesday. Place empty at first, but filled up completely by 1:30pm; lots of the older business lunch types. We (late 20's) were definitely the youngest people in the place, not that I mind at all. Service was superb. Attentive and the food came quickly. Food was good, I had the trout stuffed with shrimp and spinach. Delicious although the trout could have been seasoned a little more or browned a little more. It was good, but not outstanding. Not sure I'd get again, just because there are other things I'd want to try. Menu was fairly extensive for lunch. A good number of appetizers, sandwiches, pastas, and entrees. Sandwiched ~$12, pasta ~$16 and entrees ~$20 and up. Sandwiches looked HUGE (at least Mr. Marliave). Atmosphere nice but only in the upstairs (alllll the way upstairs) dining room.
(4)
Beth H.

Went here with friends for restuarant week. The bread with olive oil was good. I had the rarebits appetizer, cheese and bread, very filling. Chicken entree, delicious and the risotto tasted good. for dessert had chocolate cake, which tasted ok but was a little to dry for me. My friends had the Mac and cheese and said it was delicious, apparently the pasta is homemade. They never mentioned that the meal came with a glass of wine. that would have been nice to know.
(3)
Joe K.

The food here is amazing and definitely the place to go if your bringing a significant other on a date. The overall atmosphere is nice and calm. I personally love the beef Wellington and the oysters.
(5)
Megan N.

I had been to Marliave before, and enjoyed it; my most recent experience is the reason I will not be returning. A friend and I sat at the bar this past Friday, excitedly ordered oysters (a combo of all offered that day) and drinks. The bartender, Brian, poured me a glass of water, but did not ask or offer my friend the same. My glass of wine was a decent pour, although my friend's cocktail was a good inch or so under standard. The oysters began perfectly... and ended terribly. As soon as it slipped off the shell, I knew I was in trouble - it tasted fermented and off. I should've spit it out, but I wasn't prepared - those prior had been perfect. I choked it down, and was immediately regretful. It smelled horrific, including the shell, which actually smelled like human excrement. (It smelled so badly, in fact, that my friend made the comment that someone around us must have had terrible gas.) My poor review is not due to this, however - bad oysters happen. It's a fact that I can deal with. Brian the Bartender's reaction is what left the worst taste in my mouth. Having zero interest in making a scene, I quietly and diplomatically asked if anyone had an issue with the Rocky Nook's that day. Before I could even finish my sentence, I was gifted with a snort of derision. "We serve thousands a day." That's great, Brian, but is it possible that one of those thousands could have been bad? You think maybe? I pushed the bad shell towards him and mentioned that it smelled like waste. "I'm allergic to shellfish; my head will blow up. Also I think they're vile." Completely inappropriate response. Remember that you work in customer service, buddy. Offer an apology and ask what you can do to make it right. I wasn't looking for anything to be comped, because, as I said, everything else was basically fine. Terrible attitude. (Sniggering with the other bartender was a super move, too.) We left 10%, although I'm not entirely sure why, and beat it. Total Marliave fail.
(1)
John C.

Excellent restaurant. The dishes are finely prepared and, uncommon for many elite restaurants, the portions are generous. The ambience and service are both satisfying.
(5)
Maria E C.

This review is based on cocktails and oysters only. I love the Marliave! It is a hidden gem in Downtown Crossing. Their special cocktails are inspired on the Prohibition Era and on Boston history. My favorite: Molasses Flood. They also have a nice variety of wines. The Marliave offers $1 oysters twice a day for an hour. That alone, is a five-starrer in itself! In a city where happy hours are prohibited, the Marliave has found a great way to rush us out of our jobs to grab those fresh $1 oysters. They usually offer two varieties and the oysters come served in a very nice high plate over ice. The atmosphere is always quiet and romantic. The decoration is dark and wintery, but they have a nice patio during the summer. The service is great. I haven't had a chance to try their menu yet, but I'll post an update then.
(5)
Andrew B.

Went there with some friends for their happy hour. The oysters were delicious, as was their escargot. I got a gin and tonic and they let you mix in your own tonic and limes which was nice but the drinks were a bit pricey. The staff was all very pleasant and helpful as well. I would definitely go again
(4)
Melissa N.

Marliave is great for after-work drinks and oysters ($1 oysters and littlenecks if you get there before 6!), and also for dinner if you feel like spending a bit more. Things I love: - $1 oysters and littlenecks from 4-6pm every day - The macaroni and cheese appetizer/side (among the best mac and cheese I've ever had) - Wild mushroom risotto side dish (very generous portion; great flavor) - A la carte cheese menu (always fun to try new cheeses, and the platter comes with candied walnuts, bread, and lavender honey) - Amazingly creative cocktail menu (I recommend the Waterloo-it's Bombay gin, champagne, citronage, and lemon; feels very sophisticated) - Romantic atmosphere - Friendly and professional service Marliave is pricey, but if you're looking for a nice dinner, everything I've had is definitely worth it! I can't wait until spring/summer so I can eat on the outdoor patio.
(5)
A B.

I went to Marliave last night with two friends. We had an 8:30 reservation and didn't get seated until 9. Was hoping for comped drinks for the big delay in our evening, but no such luck. This may sound contradictory, but the waitress was great but service was terrible. I ordered the soup and got no spoon, we got our appetizers before we even got our drinks, we got the bread after we had finished our appetizers, and when they brought out our main courses, nobody got the right meal (the food was all correct, but no meal went to the right person--it was actually kind of funny because the guys who brought the food out seemed pretty proud of themselves only to watch us pass plates around the table). Fortunately for them the food was delicious, but from a restaurant with pretty high prices, I expect better service and/or some sort of "I'm sorry" for making us wait so long (especially when there wasn't really anywhere convenient to stand for so long).
(3)
Brad D.

The $1 Oysters rule!!! Sit downstairs in the bar area, enjoy the authentic decor and avoid the stuffiness upstairs.
(5)
Jennifer B.

Great place, nice decor, very attentive staff. Don't miss the Rarebits (Melted farmhouse cheeses, lager, Vermont bacon, toasted bread) for appetizers.
(5)
laura i.

They dropped my favorite dish, the eggs benedict. And the service was terrible the next time I went.
(3)
Lori B.

Decor: Old bar, nice feel if not a bit drafty. i sat at the bar on both occasions. Drinks: I ordered a martini (second time) and cosmo. Both were not very good. I'd stick with something easy. Apps: $1 oysters. Fresh, clean. Schucking isn't the best, but they manage to not spill the oyster water when placing it on the ice tray. That itself is a great thing. Food: The beet salad was very nice as were the mussels. My friend had a burger and said it was good. The menu for dinner looked great, offering dishes such as rabbit. I was pleased with what I ordered and would have both items again. I'd return again for the $1 oysters but the poor mixed drinks was a bit of a distraction.
(4)
Tahani R.

I love love love the Marliave, great for date night or dinner with your parents. I have been several times and I am always happy, Great food & service!
(5)
Chrissy H.

Perhaps I went on an off night but I was really disappointed and can not say I agree with the 4 star rating. Perhaps I need to reserve a table upstairs next time, because my experience in the bar area was not good. I should have known things were going to be bad when I had to wait and wait at the hostess stand and while waiting almost got trampled from behind by a runner carrying a tray of food. Luckily, the hubby swung me out of the way before the tray and the food were splattered all over my backside. Finally, we were seated and given menus and the server came around to bring us water and promised to return for drink orders. Ten minutes later he returns and we get to give him our drink order which took another small eternity to show up and then gave him our food order. We opted out of an appetizer because we didn't want to hang out all night and went straight to main course. Hubby got the steak frites which was "alright" and I got the chicken with mushroom risotto which was actually quite nice but as my husband pointed out, very drab looking on the plate with no veggies to add a hint of color. Our food actually came out relatively quickly but at a very inopportune moment. Just seconds before, a diner at the table next to me had managed to accidentally knock his water off the table and rain shards of broken glass onto my flip flopped feet. As I stood up scrunched into the guy sitting behind me while the hostess swept the glass from under my chair, the runner places a silver-dome covered plate in front of me and reveals my husband's meal which I had to clumsily hand over to him while having a broom swept over my toes, tiny particles of glass encrusting my feet and my fingers then seared to his hot plate. Awesome. Truly, I can't blame the entire ordeal on the restaurant but I can't say they made my experience very pleasant either. Perhaps after a little time has passed and my feet and fingers have healed, I will give it another go.
(2)
Griffith G.

A while ago I wrote a less than glowing review of Marliave, but at the end I did say that I would go back, sit down stairs and try some of their sandwiches. Today we had lunch on their patio and I really enjoyed our meal. The service was friendly and there were no silly silver domes!!! (See my previous review to understand my frustration over the silver domes.) We split the shaved steak sandwich and the pastrami. Both were really good. Not to grease, a perfect amount of meat on both sandwiches with good bread. The hand-cut fries with fresh fresh herbs were very nice. We will certainly return to Marliave to enjoy their more casual menu items.
(4)
Colleen M.

Went to Marliave last week for the Restaurant Week menu. Had heard good things from coworkers about this place, and their options for Restaurant Week were really extensive (almost the full menu!) so it seemed like a good idea. The downstairs bar isn't anything special, but the upstairs section of the restaurant was lovely. Great views, intimate setting, well lit. Would be a great date spot! The cocktails were the highlight of the meal, in my opinion. Well balanced, flavors were spot on, not too sweet, not too sour. YUM. Held myself to only one drink and sort of regret it now. Will definitely be returning this summer when their patio opens for warm weather cocktail hours! Appetizers were great. I had the mussels, and my dining companion got the beet salad. The mussels were big enough to share, with plenty of broth to soak up with the yummy bread brought to the table. The beet salad also looked delicious, though slightly messy - my friend kept having to save himself from beet-related stains and accidents. I was unimpressed with my entree. I went with the beef Wellington, and it tasted like it had been sitting under a heating lamp for too long. I saw others order the same option and their servings looked to be cooked correctly (medium rare inside), but mine had been overcooked - the meat was tough and there was very little juice. BUMMER. I didn't want to send it back because the restaurant was crowded, so I dealt with it. My friend's steak frites looked delicious and he ate the entire plate, so no complaints there. Desserts - I ordered the butterscotch pudding, which was really too sweet. There was also a strange grainy texture, as though the sugar hadn't been incorporated properly. I couldn't finish the serving - too rich, too sweet. My friend ordered the bread pudding and it was delicious - I would get it to split in the future because again, it was so rich that he couldn't finish it. Service - good but scatterbrained. We originally received lunch menus instead of dinner, so that had to be fixed. We were only given one cocktail menu, and with a menu this extensive it's really hard to share. The pacing of the meal was good up until dessert; an extensive wait for our dessert was blamed on a lost ticket. Not anything that would ruin a meal, but I'm not sure I'd come here with a big group - I suspect that some of the service quirks we saw would get exponentially worse when faced with a large table. Verdict: Cocktails and appetizers good. Honestly, entrees are pretty pricy here without the Restaurant Week special, and based on the quality I saw, I wouldn't be inclined to eat a full meal here again. I would love to come here with a group of friends, eat outside, drink a few more of the excellent cocktails, and share some of the delicious appetizers, though. Keep it simple here, and Marliave is awesome. Try to go all out, and you'll likely be disappointed.
(3)
Brandon B.

Great $1 oysters, nice environment. When I'm in Boston again, I'll come back!
(5)
Sarah A.

I love the food here. Normally, I am not a big fan of creamy mac and cheese, but it is just so darn tasty here. I think it is the best mac and cheese I have ever had. I also like the large cheese selection. The chocolate cake is very decadent. The only reason I did not give it 5 stars is because of the service. Last time we had a reservation and they sat us 20 minutes late. Every time we come, it takes a long time to get the drinks and food and the check. I still keep coming back though because of the food.
(4)
G P.

Definitely did not love this place but am willing to give it another shot with a smaller group. I was part of a group of about 12-15 for my sister's recent birthday and I was not blown away. The entire dinner took over 3 hours for us all to get through because of the painfully slow service. I totally understand that we are a large group but 3.5 hours for dinner is absurd. Our waitress was also the only waitress serving another table of about 10-12 that was sitting behind us. I can only chalk this up to really poor planning on the end of management or the host/hostess. I ordered one fancy drink which was tasty but nothing spectacular (honestly can't remember the name). I then moved on to vodka tonics for the rest of the night. Figured it would be cheaper and maybe take less time to make. I couldn't have been more wrong. It was literally taking upwards of 30-40 minutes for the waitress to bring me a glass of ice and vodka and an individual sized bottle of soda water. I quickly learned to order a drink every time she asked. The first time I passed and it took me about 35 minutes to get my drink after I ordered. The food....well, the food from the other members of my party looked relatively decent. I ordered the Pumpkin Lune with scallops. for $24. I received 4 raviolis and 3 scallops. Now I know what you're thinking, I'm exaggerating. I wish I were. I literally received 4 raviolis (normal sized, not oversized, overstuffed, over anything) with three scallops. for $24. the scallops were overcooked the raviolis were undercooked. Needless to say I was really sad. I was sober from my 30 minute intermission between each drink and starving from waiting 2 hours for my entree to arrive and broke from spending $24 on a small appetizer and $10-$12 per drink. I didn't order dessert as I was kind of soured on the place at this point. We finally left after about 3.5 hours and my boyfriend and I headed home and made some grilled cheese sangwiches since we were both still starving. I have heard some good things about this place so I'm guessing that maybe since we were such a large group and our waitress had another large group I may have just caught it on an off day? That doesn't really excuse my poor over/under cooked meal but I would be willing to give them one last try maybe just with my boyfriend or with another couple. Will check back in if I ever return but for now, I'd have to say 3 stars is pretty generous.
(3)
Sue S.

I am so sorry to have to write this review. I started frequenting Marliave a ton when it reopened a few years back. I've seriously spent thousands of dollars there over the course of the last couple years. The food was always outstanding, and the drink list creative. When I got a job promotion, my mother called and had a gift card for me waiting one night. Not only was this surprising (for my cheap mother, especially!), but because I raved about the place all the time. So, it's been about six months since I last dined there. I've tried practically everything on the menu, so it was perfect for nearly every occasion. However, tonight I was so horribly disappointed that I don't know if I'll ever return. I ordered my staple drink, the Jenny Churchill. This has always come "up", yet it came on ice. No biggie - the server said that the bartender had been making them this way all night. It tasted decent so I ordered a second with dinner. I asked kindly for it to come "up" - but when it arrived in the normal glass, it was only half full. Strange. Still tasty, but I seriously felt taken advantage of. And my scampi.....last time I had it, there was a wonderful wine flavor and it was light but full of unbelievable taste. This time, it was full of "extras" and seemed lacking on the actual quality ingredients. Blah. On top of it all, this was a Friday night. The time to woo your customers and entice them back. The experience was fine but food and drink just left so much to be desired. I won't likely be back, after spending years there and becoming familiar with the wait staff and bartenders. You really outdid yourself this time, Marliave!
(2)
Kathleen F.

I had a really wonderful and relaxing dining experience my first time at Marliave with friends. We were able to get a great table upstairs without reservations and had a very friendly waiter. Shared 2 bottles of great wine and tried a really nice sampling of their dishes. We started with the Mac and Cheese to share and the cheese sampling plate. Mac and Cheese was amazing but great to share b/c it was very rich, and the cheese plate was just the right amount to taste and enjoy (wonderful selection of cheeses). I had the beet salad for my main which was small but packed with a wonderful mix of flavors. My friends enjoyed the portabella sandwiches and the egg dish (love that you can order eggs for dinner!) I cannot wait to go back and try more and I'm sorry I didn't try it out sooner!
(4)
David W.

The first thing to say about Marliave is "dollar oysters" 4-6 and 8-10 pm. They have a nice selection of them too - the Blue Points are our favorite. Great atmosphere and a very competent, friendly waitstaff. The menu is well rounded (French bistro) and everything we've tried so far has been top notch - the Wellington, Steak Frites, roasted chicken, mussels and carpaccio. Parking in that part of town can be a bit of a pain, but there are usually spaces in the Common parking garage. One little detail that hit me the right way as a former waiter..... We were there this past Saturday with my parents from out of town, right around 5pm. There was either a shift change or maybe our server had to do some side-work... regardless, several of the other waiters stepped in without missing a beat and seamlessly took care of us. Teamwork like that is no accident - it shows that the management and staff are coordinated and focused. Also, the staff seemed to really enjoy working there - that kind of vibe is noticeable, especially to former restaurant employees like myself. Minor disappointment that I was unable to order a simple tomato juice, likely because the bloody marys use a mix or are pre-mixed in the morning. Not a huge deal though.
(4)
Aleeza L.

I went here at the end of summer with my boyfriend and a couple guy friends. I lured them here with promises of $1 oysters. The restaurant itself was off the well-walked roads, but the cute little outside area and inside decor made it seem less of a dive. I had made reservations for around 5pm expecting a huge crowd for the raw bar happy hour. It was actually empty. Oh well, fresher ones for us! We got a wonderful window table on the second floor (even though their views aren't that great - yay a brick wall!). The guys ordered a couple dozen oysters and they agreed that they were fantastic. Although I don't eat oysters, my boyfriend was impressed by their freshness and variety. He did get a bad oyster, which he promptly spit out and was offered another oyster by the waiter. The menu is limited in terms of choice, but boy oh boy was it tasty. I ordered the escargot for the table and it was delish. So rich and buttery. I wish I had a whole bowl of them. We ordered the beef wellington, rabbit, gnocchi and mixed meat, and the steak frites. I think the steak frites were too ordinary, the gnocchi and meats were tender and delicious with the sauce, and the rabbit had some interesting elements. The first couple bites around the edges of the wellington (where it was most cooked) were good. However, the inside was so rare, I might as well have bitten the cow itself! Overall, it was a fun food experience with my friends. The food was tasty and the service was good. Definitely won't be eating there all too often due to the hefty prices, but it's a treat to have some fresh oysters and buttery escargot.
(4)
Karen C.

Great place to meet up after work. We sat outside on the patio on a nice summer night. Service was attentive but not suffocating. They have a really expansive specialty cocktail menu which was nice. Drinks were a bit pricey but very tasty. They have two egg based entrees on their regular menu and I was intrigued by the scrambled egg with farmhouse cheeses and truffle butter. It was delicious and the presentation was fantastic as well. I have worked around the corner from Marliave for years but have never given it a chance but I will definitely be back!
(4)
Mark T.

$1 oyster special was good. Mussels were okay - lacked flavor. Beef wellington was average. Homemade ice cream was good.
(3)
Shelly R.

The mellow atmosphere, the quirky cocktails, the excellent French food and two bars! This is exactly the place for me. The charcuterie is delicious, the cheese is excellent - but of course because they have their own basement cheese and coffee shop! The bread is baked fresh every day and the entrÃ©es are heavenly. The best thing hands down on the menu is the Risotto, add to any meal and there are no regrets! I've had tastes of most menu items and my go-to favorite is the Chicken. Not only do they give you far more than you can eat, everything hits your tongue and melts like butter. The chicken is cooked perfectly and is juicy and plump, worth every penny. The bartenders are also stand-out. If it's not too busy they will take the time to try out new drinks with you and expand your palate! I love this place for a date or just a chill night out with friends; always a good time.
(5)
Felicity M.

Good solid food. The meats and toasted brioche from the meat and cheese menu were the best part of the meal. Entrees (steak frites and chicken "under a brick") were good and well cooked. Desserts (boston cream pie and butterscotch pudding) were also very good. The Boston Tea Party cocktail was a little too sweet for my taste.
(3)
lauren k.

Marliave is one of my favorite restaurants in Boston! I want to eat everything on the menu! I recommend henry's soup. Short ribs in French onion soup! Oh my! The crouton and melted cheese on top. I can die happy. And the rarebits... come on, who doesn't like melted, gooey, cheesy deliciousness? The Sunday gravy is one of my favorites because i love gnocchi. Oh, and the bread and olive oil. Yum! It's hard not to fill up on that before even getting to your meal. But don't do it. You want to make sure you save room for the tapioca pudding. I like all puddings, especially rice, bread, pretty much any pudding. But this tapioca is amazing... heavenly! You're thinking "rice pudding? really? come on!". No, get it. It is served warm which makes it that much more divine. I don't know how else to explain it other than creamy, sweet and milky. The tapioca balls are bigger than the ones in most pudding and it gives it a nice chew. Seriously, go get it now. Just go to Marliave and try everything, I think that's my life goal.
(5)
Gary L.

I don't usually give 5 stars, but there was no area in which this dining experience was lacking. From the moment we walked in the service was attentive, the table selected for us was perfect, and the food topped it all! What more can I say.
(5)
Todd W.

random, last-minute find (thanks Yelp app) and by FAR, my fave meal in Boston: prosecco beef carpaccio portobello sandwich. i sat outside, perched above the street level amid a quaint, courtyard-type area. i felt like i'd stumbled upon something very special. SUBLIME final hour, last meal in #Boston. I could have been no happier with my experience.
(5)
J. W.

Once in a while you run into a place where the food tastes so good you can overlook just about any other shortcomings. Marliave is just such a place. Staying at the Omni around the corner, the restaurant is barely 2 blocks away. So first let me go through a few minor issues that, in another restaurant, may have caused a rating lower than 5 stars. First, the place is pretty loud. I sat at the bar to try and watch MNF and ended up right next to the kitchen. For some crazy reason, they don't have any covering over the door to the kitchen and the dish washer is stationed right next to the opening. So for the 1st 15 minutes I heard a bunch of pans ringing in my ear. I was able to move down to another seat later. To further add to the din, they have low tin ceilings. The other minor issue was the $9.50 I paid for a salad that was nothing more than mixed greens, dressing and some parm cheese. The dressing was great but for that price, I might expect a tomato or two! So why the 5 stars? - the Sunday Gravy. This was easily one of the best meals I've had in years. It was a tremendous mix of rich sauce, tender meat, and perfectly cooked potato dumplings. Think grandmothers pot roast meets Lidia Bastianich Italian. After dinner I walked upstairs and confirmed what a lot of others have said, it's much more attractive. Apparently a large party had reserved the entire floor but next time, I think I'll try to sit on the 2nd floor. So, don't pass up an opportunity to try the Sunday Gravy, you won't be sorry.
(5)
ells w.

Think Escher and the stairs to stairs. Except, these may be sticky. Excellent value. Awesome risotto - mushroom and tomato with lamb. Food far and away better than it's previous incarnation. With the Grotto influence Marliave has grown up into a more polished shoe. One that feels comfortably urbane, not the least of which; slightly more expensive. The 'homemade' bread a plus with the garlic infused EVOO a plus when it decided to arrive. Excellent wine list of reasonably priced choices. The service was actually very good too, she was extremely attentive and helpful, even though we had to suffer being called 'guys' for the duration. Each time the three women I was with would comment - "where are THEY" ... all while we w a i t e d for the meal to arrive. That cost a star, guys. Meals arrived avec 'lids'... but, no veggies. Ah ha, they are now called sides.....excellent value now being challenged. That cost a star. Overall atmosphere, Last Hurrah - remember that - old-school, classic Kennedyesque Bahstan...spot on. Upstairs tres chic...right out of Paris. The room sophisticated and quiet ... save the 'guys'... the view of the hub-bub and spring breeze...that gets a star. Downstairs for after dinner drinks? Not tonight.....Was the TV bigger than the bar ? Couldn't it be in the men's room above one of the fixtures? That cost a star. But hey, you worked so hard to get up those wonderously strange stairs; wasn't it worth it all? I'll be back, just for the exercise...please, just cut the chatter and don't refer to 30 something females as 'guys.' See you there?
(3)
Jeremiah C.

One of my new favorite restaurants in Boston! Great vintage drink menu. Entres were perfect. Split one of the sides, such as the mac-and-cheese.
(5)
Madison N.

I'm still so full! We went during happy hour and it ended up being my best idea all week to take their last reservation for the night at 4:30pm. I had three of each oyster and some clams. Everything was super fresh and the shucker was clearly experienced. My friend started with the cheese plate and loved all of the ones she ordered. I can't remember the names but I do know she chose one from each country. You also have to try the earl gray drink with tequila (I can't remember the name). The ingredients sound weird but the drink rocks. We then moved onto entrees. I got the scallops and my friend got the muscles and brussel sprouts. Everything was bursting with flavor and I will have dreams about the scallop dish. My only complaint is that the bottom of one of my scallops wasn't seared at all, but it was still delicious from the perfect sear on top. Finally we had the warm tapioca pudding and a scoop of the mint chocolate chip ice and salted caramel ice cream. The ice cream tasted way too icy and like they forgot half of the cream, I wouldn't recommend it at all. If you still decide to get it, keep in mind that the mint ice cream is made with fresh mint so it's reminiscent of a mojito. Now for the tapioca. Oh my gosh. This tapioca. There aren't words, just go buy it immediately. I can't remember having a better dessert in my life, it was that good. Go here during happy hour if you love oysters, visit them at the bar for drinks and apps, or go for a fantastic dinner, it's up to you! Just make sure to go! !
(5)
Arana W.

Boston Restaurant Week - you are my hero! Marliave - you have wow'd me! I had a real bucket list lunch here today. And while I enjoyed every bit of what I had, I regret not having been here every day of my work visit to explore more of the menu. No reservation, but I was able to get a seat at the bar. The place is old school. Established in 1875 level old school! Love the mosaic floors, the wood, the fantastic old building and the tinplate walls covered in who knows how many layers of white paint. First comes the drinks menu. While may sounded interesting and all were well conceived, the one that called to me was the "James Pepper". Baker's bourbon, vanilla, orange, lemon, sugar and bitters. I may just have to start replicating this one at home. DELISH! At most of the Restaurant Week participating restaurants - there is a dedicated RW menu with just a few selections for each course. Marliave opened their ENTIRE lunch menu for restaurant week! So.Many.Choices! And they all looked amazing! First course, I opted for the beets with goat cheese, arugula and walnuts. The presentation was AMAZING! Stacked as a tower, it was almost too pretty to eat. (Almost!) The flavor and textures were amazing - this is definitely something I will be replicating at home! Seriously - check this out! yelp.com/biz_photos/marlâ€¦ Main course, I fell back to my old stand bye of steak frites. There's a reason it's on every French restaurant menu - it's simple, but it works! The hangar steak was pre-sliced, cooked to the rare side of mid rare, and was seasoned perfectly. The fries were crispy, hot, skin on and as well executed as fries can be. And gorgonzola butter. Yes, gorganzola butter. I think this should be served with every cut of red meat everywhere at all times. It was divine! I cheated a bit for dessert. Then again, it was on the menu, so not really a cheat. I was quite full - and didn't really have room for dessert. One of the options was 4 house made truffles in a box. So - I went for that. So far, I have only had 1. But it was rich, decadent - and makes me so happy I have 3 more left to relive the experience again. And again. And again!
(5)
Diana L.

Came here for the Oyster happy hour (1/2 off oysters 4-6pm Daily). --OYSTERS-- This is the 2nd place I visited in Boston for oysters happy hour. Some websites advertise it as $1 oysters, which is not accurate. The oysters are 50% from 4-6pm so bill comes out to be a little more than most $1 places. However, compared to the last place we went (which only provides one oyster type for the happy hour), Marliave gave us a nice variety of oysters! They were all delicious. There were maybe one or two that were okk but the rest were great! Me and my friend ordered a dozen each. --Steak-n-cheese sandwich-- I think it's impossible to feel full from oysters alone (without emptying your wallet) so this time I decided to order an actual meal: shaved ribeye, swiss, crispy onions, horseradish mayo. Sandwich and fries were good. However, steak and cheese can be a tad heavy for me. Halfway through the sandwich it occurred to me that it would taste soooo much better with some lettuce and tomatoes! They were nice enough to bring me some and it definitely improved the sandwich! Highly recommend it!
(4)
Paige C.

This is a great little spot. Romantic atmosphere and amazing food. The shrimp scampi was one of the best meals I've ever had. Their bread was also great, dense but soft with just a hint of salt. I also recommend the chocolate cake for dessert. Amazing! This was definitely pricey for me, although I don't live in Boston, but it was worth it. If I come back to town I'll probably pay a second visit.
(5)
Diana K.

Like everybody else, we came here for the oyster happy hour. $1.50 oysters and $1 clams and they were all fresh and delicious. No grit, no problems. They were simple and clean and came with cocktail sauce and shallot vinegar. Paired with two beers, this was a great stop. We enjoyed the outdoor seating and people-watched the afternoon away.
(4)
Meg D.

Came here on a Sunday evening and had a great time. We asked to be seated outside since it was a beautiful night. I like that their patio is tucked behind the building. While it is sometimes nice to people watch, I don't like when people walking by are watching you stuff your mouth with food. Seems very strange to me. So being able to eat out side with out onlookers was nice. It is very dark inside, but it is also the second (I could be wrong) oldest restaurant in Boston. Also, it is not handicap accessible I believe, which is a shame. We made reservations and arrived on time, we were seated right away. Waters and bread with olive oil were given to us. My friend and I decided to split the mussels appetizer. For the entrÃ©e I got the steak frites. Our server was friendly, but wasn't overly attentive to us. That didn't bother me, but it may have bothered some other people. The mussels were great, there was a huge portion, they were very fresh, and the sauce was delicious. The steak frites was amazing. Steak, topped with gorgonzola butter, over hand cut, crispy shoe string fries. My steak was cooked to a perfect medium rare, and I just couldn't stop eating it. I will certainly be back, I'd love to try their "rarebits" appetizer.
(5)
Genevieve F.

My friends invited me to Marliave because they really love their $1.50 oysters. As the vegetarian in the group, I ordered the arugula, beet and goat cheese salad and shared the fruit and cheese plate. The beet salad wasn't necessarily original in content, but the quality of ingredients set this salad apart from most others, particularly the goat cheese. It was light, creamy, goaty and they gave me a sizable portion. The presentation was beautiful with sliced rounds of ruby beets layered between pillows of whipped goat cheese and marinated arugula on top. Yum! The goat cheese in the fruit and cheese plate was incredible and paired well with the white wine that the server suggested. I also ordered the butterscotch pudding. It was rich and delicious, but too sweet for my taste. I would have preferred a dessert with fruit, but alas, they didn't have anything fruity on the dessert menu.
(5)
Camille C.

Great atmosphere. Great service. Great drinks. Great price (particularly the prefix menu. $38 for three courses). All five stars. The food was good, four stars. Really good. I'd recommend to anyone this place.
(4)
Liz B.

One of the oldest restaurants in Boston, with so much charm and ambiance. An excellent place to meet up for a drink, with a nice selection of entertainingly named "libations" including, of course, the "Boston Tea Party" (with Lunazul Tequila, Earl Grey Tea, Ginger Beer, Lemon). The bartender was a doll. Hope to come back to try the food soon.
(4)
Jason J.

I am a big foodie and travel professionally. Everything in this restaurant was amazing, from the handcrafted uniques cocktails to the "everything made in house" food. I had the Mac and cheese and if you say truffle, I usually run the other direction. This was black truffle (not oil) and subtle. The blend of farmhouse cheese was perfect so that it could be served not scorching hot and have an oozy consistency. The homemade hand-cut ziti was cooked with just the right density. For the entree I elected the Sunday Gravy.. It was after all Sunday. The gnocchi was nicely pillowed and the variety of meats tender and flavorful. The sauce was vibrant and flavored with fresh tomatoes. I have had, and hand-cook a lot of pasta, and I was just jealous I didn't make this dish. Don't miss the bread and the olive oil and there is a great by the glass Barolo with nice flavor and not too tannic. This is an Italian you could drink without a piece of protein in your mouth. Highest recommendations.
(5)
Michael C.

I don't get it. Marliave is an institution and beloved by many. I had never been and stopped in for lunch recently. There is a point with every older restaurant where "quaint" turns to "dumpy." Marliave is right on that line right now. It's dark and dreary inside, peeling paint, wood is banged up everywhere you look. At night however it still may hold up. The bathroom however has been refreshed nicely while still maintaining the integrity of an older, historic restaurant. Food: I had the French Onion Soup...not very good. Tons of onions, a good amount of short ribs, short on the cheese I thought...and the "crouton" seemed like a stale piece of bread. Croutons are crunchy even when in liquid/soup. This bread seemed bendable in an odd way. The biggest issue was there was a flavor that I can't identify that I just did not like. I also had the sliders. I actually hated them. The bun was good, toasted, the right scale. The meatball however was crumbly and dry, WAY over seasoned (again...an unrecognizable flavor), lacked sauce. I really couldn't eat more than one. Service was good. Not super friendly, but polite, and on top of her game. I so wanted to love Marliave like everyone else does, but I just didn't get it. Sadly, I don't think I'll be back.
(2)
Andrew P.

I love this place. Great food and service every time. Their presentation is cool too with the whole domed plate reveal. I highly recommend for a great night out.
(4)
Brittany B.

I don't love the location as I don't go out much in this area, but this place is worth going out of your way. The drinks are great and the food is good. The atmosphere also take you away from it all. Awesome happy hour spot too. The prices during happy hour are awesome. Again, the drinks and atmosphere make it worth the trip.
(5)
Josh L.

Came here for restaurant week with a few friends and I had a pretty good experience. First of all, I had no idea that there was an upstairs section which I very much prefer to the downstairs. The decor, seating and the atmosphere are completely different. It's more open, modern looking, glass windows giving it an even more spacious feel and more tables instead of booths (so no one has to squeeze out when you need to pee). For my three course dinner I had the mussels, Sunday gravy and the butterscotch pudding. The mussels were deliciously covered in a white wine and garlic sauce and I got a very generous portion..i.e. I felt like I was eating mussels for days. The Sunday gravy was a mix of pork, lamb and..I think beef was in it along with gnocchi in a tomato sauce. It tasted good but I wasn't blown away by any of the flavors or texture of the meat in this main entree. Lastly, was the dessert. The butterscotch pudding with whip cream and candied ginger. This was..delicious..but so heavy that I couldn't finish it (YES...it was that heavy to any of my friends that know how much I can eat). However, I still thoroughly enjoyed what I could of this dessert. Overall, it was a good experience. The appetizer and the dessert were more highlights for me than the main entree and I didn't remember anything particularly fantastic about our waitress.
(4)
G D.

This place was excellent. We were from out of town, and chose it based on location and reviews. The steak frites were outstanding- perfectly cooked to our liking, with crispy, seasoned fries. I also started with the escargot which was top-knotch (and I've tried escargot many places), and we shared the truffle mac and cheese. If you skip everything else on the menu, order the truffle mac and cheese. It's heavenly. Though you may be inclined to pair wine with your French dinner, take a look at the cocktail menu. They were very creative and we both enjoyed our drinks. The restaurant ambiance felt very French and cozy. I absolutely recommend this restaurant. Note-- not good for kids, this is a fine dining place excellent for romantic dates. Make a reservation beforehand. They were very full and we were glad we had made one. Also, take a taxi. There's virtually no street parking nearby.
(5)
Nikhil P.

Very underwhelming. The fanfare around this place had me expecting a lot, but there were a few issues. It was dark, felt like the fourth oldest restaurant in Boston pre-dawn of electricity. Our waiter was sweet, but was clearly tired and really desperately needed a hand managing so many tables. The food was good, but nothing that really left an impression. I had the scampi which has had a lot of great reviews, but tasted like any other north end dining scampi. The view was very nice from the top floor, and you can tell you're in a historic part of the city. The dessert was also tasty -- a delicious chocolate cake that was very rich. But, while it might have just been my own lofty expectations, nothing really stood out unfortunately. Maybe it was just a bad night, but there are many other restaurants I would have rather gone to that were more upbeat and memorable.
(3)
Gena M.

This is my go-to special occasion restaurant. I love the 1920s speakeasy vibe they have. I always order the steak frites--amazing. The oysters are great (go during happy hour) and so is the mac 'n cheese appetizer. I've also had the tomato salad--so delicious and the blue cheese crumbles were the BEST i've ever had. The butterscotch pudding is to die for, the chocolate truffles are delish. Love this place!
(5)
Cindy Y.

Oysters at happy hour here are a must. Excellent selection of regional oysters that go well with their truffle fries and awesome drink menu.
(4)
Sofia F.

I organized a surprise birthday dinner for my fiance at Marliave. The hostess (Jayleze?) was great at maintaining the surprise, and the restaurant accommodated our large group well in the beautiful upstairs dining room. Marliave did not have any group minimum $ amount, which was great. Guests loved the place too. Re. menu: Great cocktails. I just wish they had more vegetarian options!
(5)
Deb S.

I went here for Restaurant Week, & was not disappointed. I got there before my reservation & ordered the $1 oysters & clams at the bar downstairs - great deal! Now for the meal: The bread that the waiter brings is nicely salted, the olive oil is great, and the green olives are a tastey treat. For an appetizer, I had the Macaroni (which is really ziti) made with cream & Farmhouse cheeses... Wow - so cheesy & delicious! My entree was the Scampi which came with linguine & generously sized shrimp in a white wine, garlic, & lemon sauce. This dish was larger than I expected for a French place, so I took some of it home & ate it the next day when the flavors had even more time to set, & it tasted just as good, or better. For dessert I had the cheese plate with toasted walnuts (sweet like candy) lavender honey (meh, just honey) and toasted brioche. Excellent choice of cheeses, & a beautiful end to a great meal.
(4)
SR M.

Went here for RW lunch yesterday. What a yummy lunch and all for $20. I got the carpacchio, steak frites and ice cream. My date ordered the escargot, Sunday gravy, and pudding. It was all delicious. One of the ice cream flavors was mint chocolate chip but was no ordinary mint chip, it was amazing. We will definitely be back!
(4)
Jim P.

Nice place. Far and away the highlight of a short trip to Boston. Enjoyed some awesome Oysters at the bar, along with one of their specialty cocktails (WC Fields) which has a lemonade base, and was very refreshing. This place is "old world", but with new decor. Reminded me of City Tavern in Philadelphia, with a certain stately and historic quality. Super nice bartenders who were working in unison as a team, which always gives better coverage. Nice place. Slightly upscale crowd.
(5)
Megan D.

I am tempted to give out a 5 star review, but I usually don't do this until I've visited a place twice. I'll be going back soon! Oysters: fresh, presented properly, and the Prosecco vinaigrette was delicious. Insalata di mare: a bit small, but nice otherwise. Macaroni & cheese: oh dear, incredible. Sinful and amazing. The fresh home made ziti really makes it. The waitress really knew her oysters... I was impressed.
(4)
Jeff S.

We went here for dinner before a show at the Orpheum expecting an okay meal. However we were amazed first and foremost at the great view they have. And then once we were seated at how attentive the staff were. Within minutes you had drinks and could nibble on bread while deciding what to order. Despite being over 90 years old, the restaurant and its menu are very modern and attuned to modern tastes. My wife had Oysters (they are on special for a dollar per between 4pm and 6pm) to start and I had the Beef Carpacchio. Both were fresh tasting and had a great presentation. For dinner my wife had Seafood Chowder and I had a Steak and fries. I found the fries very flavourful and spiced and likewise for the steak. We also had desert of their Molten Chocolate cake and fresh house made ice cream. Again it was amazing and a great finish to the meal. Overall a great place to visit for dinner if you are nearby.
(4)
Kevin T.

Excellent restaurant. Romantic ambiance. Great $1 oyster deal from 9-10 and the oysters are fresh and good. Also had pizza here. Fatty. Decadent. Abundant. Go.
(4)
Marissa P.

Restaurant Week 2012: stumbled into this place, literally, on a total whim, but had been meaning to try it for a long while. Left with a VERY full stomach and extremely satisfied. Let's start with what matters the most: the FOOD. it was delicious! For $33 I had the mixed greens, seared scallops, and butterscotch pudding. The mixed greens were simple but so elegant with a perfect drizzle of out of this world olive oil and just the right amount of cheese. My pan seared scallops were the shining star of the night - everybody at the table agreed, sneaking bites even though we weren't supposed to share the price fixed dinners. They were cooked just right, so succulent, fresh, and tasty. So rich. The mushrooms paired perfectly and the raviolis on top were a nice addition. The dessert was killer - almost too good. Now that I know about this fantastic butterscotch pudding I will dream of it...the crystalized ginger strips on top were wonderful. So decadent without being too rich. Anybody who enjoys caramel, butterscotch-y flavor will orgasm over this pudding! On a side note, several of my friends ordered the beef wellington, which is what they are known for. It was underwhelming. DECOR and SERVICE: I am obsessed with the vintage decor. Marliave is one of Boston's very oldest restaurants and I am really glad that they honor it. Beautiful and timeless feel, perfect for a special occasion or any occasion! I loved that they used Victorian style, vintage meat dish covers for our entrees and removed them for us. Great service in that respect and the manager stopped by to make sure our dinner had been nice. COCKTAILS: amazing selection. Delicious libations. Lots of fun! Again, I felt that they stuck to a vintage theme. I would return to Marliave in a heartbeat!!!
(4)
Anthony L.

Great ambiance. Step into 1950's. Was there over New Year's. Great bourbon manhattan. Delicious clams appetizer. Very authentic Sunday sauce with light pillows of gnocchi.
(4)
Karen L.

bubbles and dollar oysters at marliave before hitting up the Boston Wine Riot, what more could a girl want? comfortable yet tasteful setting tucked away on a terraced side street in downtown. we were promptly seated and served. oysters were OK, i've had better in similar settings for $1 days. these were relatively fresh, a little gritty, and the mignonette left something to be desired.
(3)
Emily L.

Dollar oysters & 4 different varieties to chose from 4 to 6 = amazing!!!! I love oysters and when I come here, I do not hesitate to order a dozen for myself! We came here with a friend from San Fransisco and he thought that the oysters were a bit small and the drinks were on the expensive side - well, sorry but us Bostonians do not believe in happy hour and bigger is not always better (just sayin!) We have never eaten dinner here but every time I come here, it smells like delicious garlic bread! The place is a little bit hidden away from the tourist traps around downtown and so its nice to have a place that is so centrally located to everything but still cozy enough that you feel you can relax and casually have some drinks.
(4)
Dela B.

I've been meaning to try out Marliave for a while now and RW presented itself as the perfect opportunity. Escargot was excellent--great flavor and texture. My trout entree was much less impressive--bland and a bit dry, and devoid of any flavor that could have helped bring out the flavors of the dish. However, since their escargot was delicious, I'm definitely willing to give Marliave another try. On another note, as many numerous reviewers before me have mentioned, Marliave does a pretty awesome dollar oyster and clam special so that definitely adds a star to my review. :)
(4)
Chelsea G.

Bad service can kill any experience!! I should have trusted my friend, "m.m.", when she told me to stay away!!
(1)
Kristin L.

They have the best mac & cheese that I've ever had. And I am quite the mac & cheese snob so take my word for it!
(5)
Leah D.

I do not understand how this place doesn't have 5 stars. I've been here a handful of times and it's always amazing. It's amazing that it's consistently amazing. Cocktails are amazing, food is amazing (the chicken, the sunday gravy - mind blowing) and the service is outstanding. Also - at night, the second floor dining room is so beautiful. Marliave is my favorite place in the world.
(5)
Tani V.

Love. Love. Love. The food is delicious. $1 oysters, FRESH? What's not to love? Good portions, great service, warming atmosphere. It's a gem in the wall of a place.
(5)
Rachel S.

Too quiet. Bread and oil very plain. So far, nothing special. Hope the oysters are worth it! Post dinner: Oysters were great. Hostess was top notch. She even ran out and grabbed a cab for me because "it takes too long when you call". Nice Sunday night.
(3)
Jayme M.

Great place. My husband usually get their pastrami and their fries are amazing with a hint of truffle. Their omelettes are amazing, the eggs are light and fluffy and the mushrooms melt in your mouth. Of course our favorite part is when we come in during $1 oysters. Oysters are high quality. We drive an hour for this place and it is so worth it!
(5)
Joe T.

Marliave made for the perfect relaxed but still upscale New Year's Eve dinner for the girlfriend and I. While this place has an old school vibe, you would never fathom that this place opened during the Civil War. The menu is fairly modern, and the decor is old-school with a touch of new. The place is off the beaten track somewhat, it doesn't scream at you from a main street. I really appreciated the cool vibe this place had without feeling pretentious. They had a loooong list of cool cocktails which seemed appropriately priced at $10. I can't believe I was happy about paying $10 for drinks, but that's probably a little less than I'd pay in a similar establishment in DC. Drinks were good, and we got nice and liquored up so we could be warm for NYE fireworks on the Harbor. The food? Verry verrry good. We shared rarebits which were the hit of the night. Wow. So good for my mouth. So bad for my body. Who cares. I was starting a diet the next week. I ordered the osso bucco. It came with tasty fingerling potatoes and to-die-for bacon fat brussel sprouts. OMG. I'm a man of sprouts and these were some of the best I've ever had. Oh, I left my gloves behind. Gloves that I had just bought a few hours earlier. Marliave is mailing them to VA for me. Nudges them up half a star from the 4/4.5 I would have otherwise given.
(5)
Julia M.

Went for a restaurant-week birthday dinner with my husband and another couple - and so glad we did! They had a really good selection for their restaurant week menu and we were really pleased with everything. Of the four of us, our favorites were (first course) the truffle mac and cheese - perfectly creamy with al dente pasta; (second course) steak frites with beautifully tender steak; and (dessert) butterscotch pudding--my god I would happily eat for the rest of my life. Also fabulous cocktails even suited to our fairly demanding cocktail tastes. Will definitely go back!
(5)
L T.

My boyfriend and I had a very hearty meal here. I remember being barely able to walk out of the restaurant after dinner. Overall, the food was good but didn't necessarily blow me away. I'd still come back though. Memorable dishes we ordered: -Beef Welliington (very rich, I could only eat half for fear of a heart attack) -Mac and Cheese (awesome) -Escobar as an appetizer (phenomenal) We got salads and desserts as well but it was nothing to write home about. Service and ambience were good for a date. We ate upstairs and it seemed like the downstairs part would be great for a group hang out.
(4)
Brandon H.

This is one of the oldest restaurants in Boston and it is a gem that is a must visit. It is set-up like an old style diner. This place is best known for its daily $1 oyster and clam deals from 4 to 6pm. The service is forgettable, but the food is amazing and the daily oyster special can't be beat anywhere in town. The insalata di mare (seafood salad) is an excellent dish to accompany the oyster special as well. They also have a pretty good cocktail menu, which makes it a perfect stop for a late afternoon bite and drinks at a great price. My only recommendation is show up early on the weekends or you may find yourself waiting for a table or bar seat most of the way through the special hours.
(4)
Jenn Z.

Marliave is one of my default places in Boston. Food: had their trout and steak frites; both were very good. The $1 oyster is def. a good deal for any oyster lovers. They offer four different types to choose from and the deal runs twice a day. Drinks: the beer selection is a bit limited but they do have a decent cocktail menu. As a fan of Hendrik's Gin, I love how this place has at least three cocktails made with it. Service: haven't had an issue yet and I've been here several times
(4)
Laura S.

I came here on a date night with my boyfriend after I got off of a miserable 12 hour shift. Marliave came very highly recommended, but I found my meal to be just so-so, and staff to be mildly unpleasant or maybe just busy. They do have a nice patio, and apparently a VERY fantastic oyster special, $1 oysters? Maybe i will come back to try those, because my experience was that it was very pricey, and not worth the monies. I will update my review if I make it back. Just kind of "Meh" ... and with all of the good food in Boston, no one wants to waste time on "meh"!
(3)
Jordan A.

Marliave is one of my favorite restaurants. It has great food, reasonable pricing, and 19th century charm- this restaurant really is a gem. Marliave is a quaint 2 floor restaurant hidden down a little alley near Boston Common. They have some outdoor seating as well as 3 in-door dining areas- 1 downstairs and 2 upstairs. Downstairs is more casual and upstairs is great for a date night or special occasion with a great view. I haven't had one bad meal here- I've tried the escargot, sliders, tuna tartare, and macaroni and cheese for appetizers- all excellent. They also have Duxbury oysters, which is always nice to see in a menu! For an entree I often order the wellington since it's delicious and hard to come by but I've also had scallops which were great. The butterscotch pudding and cake and ice cream for desserts are both to die for. Love the variety of the menu- French and Italian. Love the atmosphere. The food is always great and the portions are generous. The service is always exceptional. It's a no brainer.
(5)
Tina D.

I love this place Oysters are amazing, happy hour baby!! Food is great but I usually only order off the dinner menu during restaurant week b/c I'm mad poor. Don't forget to try the burger and fries!!
(5)
Nicole W.

I have been to this place two times. First time for dinner and the second time for brunch. Me and my three other frds order 48 oysters and its was fresh and juicy. I also had a scallop dish but i forgot the name...it was delicious and the scallop were surprisingly big in regular seafood dish. The second time i came here with my sister and girls. I had steak and frites and the steak was medium rare and fires was crispy and not greasy. The parking here is hard tho so i recommend to take T or taxi.
(4)
Sigrid D.

My best friend took me here while we were both in Boston. The upstairs looking out over the snowy Boston streets at night was so lovely. It happened to be restaurant week which was great. We had the beet salad, lobster Mac and cheese, steak frites and chocolate cake. The drinks are yummy, the oysters were great. The food was rich, delicious and extremely filling. Wait staff was nice, food came quickly - even a little rushed it was so efficient! Would definitely go again.
(4)
Greg P.

A hidden gem!! Marliave was a great find for us. We happened upon it searching through yelp while trying to grab a bite to eat before a show at the Orpheum. Tucked away in an alley, on a Friday night, it was packed. Full of regulars and new friends it was lively and fun. We ate at the bar where the bartender juggled an incredible number of orders but always wore a smile. We ordered some oysters to start. They were delicious, fresh, and meaty. The caesar salad was next and it was savory and crisp. The burger was the final part of a "balanced" pre-concert meal. It was a generous perfectly cooked (medium) burger with a nice bun and good fries. It really hit the spot after a long day at work. The bar has just about anything you could want. I had a couple of aperol-and-sodas and they were terrific. Marliave is within walking distance to a lot of destinations along the Common. It's perfect for lunch or dinner. A bit hidden-away, Marliave has a very cool "exclusive" feeling! Give it a go!
(4)
Mark M.

Charming and awesome place hidden around the corner from Omni Parker House (where I was for a conference). I wanted to try to find a place that no one else from the conference I was attending could find. I think I succeeded because my friend and I didn't see anyone we know. #winning We specifically whizzed in a few minutes before 6pm so we could put in a order for happy hour oysters. $1 each. Served in the classic way you'd expect. The oysters themselves were fresh, briny, with very little sand/shell matter. Excellent deal. Now, no drink specials (as a non-resident, I forget it's not legal to have alcohol specials in Mass.). No worries, we sprang for a few cocktails and they were decent. A little on the weak side--especially for the price. Love the service. Love the ambiance.
(3)
Abbie M.

This was the one Restaurant Week menu that I was truly floored by. I wanted one of everything!! I went with a friend and we were both thoroughly impressed. Location: We ate outside on the patio. It was very pleasant. Starters: Escargot - he loved it. Mussels - I loved it. Entrees: Sunday Gravy: he loved it. Scramble: I loved it. Dessert: Brownie Sundaes: We almost died of happiness. These had candied walnuts, small chunks of fudge, brownie chunks, candied cherries... it was mind-blowingly wonderful Staff: Friendly and accomodating. Water glasses always full! Portion sizes: Very generous. The only bad thing is that it took quite a while between courses. We both had an hour for lunch and found ourselves anxiously looking around for our next course as time ticked past. Overall, I would definitely return. Wonderful experience.
(5)
Jiyea C.

I think this place can work on consistency when it comes to food. My wellington was very different from the other one at our table. His seemed a little undercooked, as the pastry was kind of soggy and gooey. Mine was cooked properly but part of it were very salty and other parts very bland. Eh. Mussels and escargot were pretty good, though a little heavy on the sauce. BUT their oyster specials are awesome! Hence the 4-star review. Be careful going up the stairs, especially if you're on heels. They are very steep.
(4)
Yan H.

I've here a couple of times and each time with a group of 5 or more. All I can say is the food is great, oyster specials are awesome!love the atmosphere!
(4)
Nick H.

Well, the cat's out of the bag, ain't it. $1 oysters, 4-6pm and 9-10pm. Some words of wisdom: don't get any cocktails here. Go straight to the hard stuff, or already be riding a good buzz by the time you get here. Or just spend that $10 on TEN MOAR OYSTERS. More words of wisdom: there is such a thing as too many oysters. But you should know this limit. Go find it.
(4)
Jennifer C.

This restaurant is hidden in the alley way and a little hard to see. Went here for happy hour, and there was no wait. The prices were decent. We had some oysters, clams and escargot. I remember it as a 3.5, but i decided to round up.
(4)
Larry F.

FOOD: 5/5 $1 oysters?!? How can anyone say no? I made a last minute reservation for a party of three, and even better, the French-Italian fusion made it much easier for the three of us to all enjoy the food! The Beef Wellington I had was pretty good too. Crispy on the outside, and just the right temperature for the tenderloin on the inside. Nonethless, I think it was the oysters that made the night. So fresh and tasty! AMBIANCE: 4/5 Decent on the inside. Definitely had a yuppy, 20's feeling to it. The restaurant is probably much larger than I thought it was, considering the second floor was completely booked for a wedding reception. First floor had these large diner-like booths. It was a bit too big and empty for a party of 3, but as a last minute reservation, I can't complain. Noise level was good, and just enough with the bar next to us. SERVICE: 3/5 This was a bit disappointing. The waitress didn't help clean the table when it was dripping wet. It was generally pretty slow and disappointing. OVERALL: GO FOR THE OYSTERS! The Wellington was $35....which means if you are crazy and want to forego your entree, you can get at least two dozen oysters! haha. On another note, the restaurant's entrance is a bit difficult to find, and it's in a sketchy area at night (this coming from someone who's used to walking around in Philadelphia at night). Don't be afraid to poke your head inside the restaurant; otherwise you'll never find the entrance.
(4)
Jenny N.

My friend wanted to try out this restaurant for restaurant week. The pre-fixed three course meal cost $47 a person including tax and tips. There was a large selection to choose from and unlike some Restaurant week restaurants that give small sample portions, this place provides the full size of each course. The food was delicious and usually expensive, but well worth the price during restautant week. I had ordered the mussels for my first course follow by Beef Wellington for my second course and finish off with my third course of ice cream trio. The Wellington was kind of small but I think that's the usual size, regardless it was delicious. The mussels was awesome too. Loved the sauce they used on it. The ice cream trio consisted of salted caramel(a little too salty for my liking ), blueberry (a little too sweet when contrast with the salted caramel ), and mint chocolate chip (you can really taste the real mint and the chocolate chip was in whole pieces). I would recommend this place for restaurant week. A must try if you are ever in Boston.
(4)
Alexandra L.

I really wanted to give Marliave another try (the food really is amazing). But again, the staff was rude as could be. I came in the other night with a group of people to for drinks at the end of the night, and when it came time for me to leave, the bartender gave me a hard time about wanting a separate check. When I said to him that no, I would be paying separately, he let out a heavy sight and said, "Well, I already put it all on one tab." Now, as a former bartender, I know how easy it is to split a tab and create a separate check, so I didn't understand the issue. He literally rolled his eyes at me when he gave me the bill. This in itself would not have been as bad had the waiter on duty not grumbled every time he walked past our group to the kitchen. We are professionals in our late-20s to early-30s, not teenagers loitering in a booth at McDonald's. I won't be coming back.
(2)
Jess Y.

I came here for $1.50 oysters during happy hour (4-6pm, 9-10pm). Oysters were great, well-shucked and fresh. Cocktails, though a little pricey at $11, are outstanding, and I was really pleased with the two I sampled from the list of nearly two dozen. The lighting is dim, and the old-world dark wood paneling creates a lovely ambiance. The after-work dinner crowd spanned a wide age range, and was lively. Attentive & friendly service, though it would have been nice if our waitress had reminded us that our 2nd round of oysters would be regular price ($3 each) rather than the 1/2 off happy hour price because we ordered the second round just after 6pm. I wouldn't hesitate to come back here again to try some of the other food offerings. Solid 4.5 stars for cocktails and oysters.
(4)
Cat S.

Oh. My. Yum. Went here for dinner on a Sunday. Quiet, beautifully decorated, excellent service. Delicious menu. I had not idea that it was quite so fancy, white table clothes, candles - very romantic. I had on torn jeans, a hoodie and a lip ring. I was very concerned about being under dressed and out of place. The hostess must have noticed because she commented: "Don't let the white table cloths fool you. We aren't super fancy and anyone can wear anything and enjoy a meal here". It was nice to be understood and validated in the first few minutes of walking in. We were led upstairs to a different dining area. We were the only ones there at 5 pm on a Sunday. It was quiet and the music was classy and elegant. My friend and I had the 3 course meal. I started with Rarebits (melted Cheese, bacon, lager on toast) and it was to DIE for. My friend had the escargot - my first time having this. It was rich, delicious and way better than I ever expected a snail could taste. At this point the restaurant started to fill up. The music got a little louder and the lights a little lower. Service did not suffer and only made me love this place more. I had the "willy" to drink, and it was perfect. Tasty with just the right amount of alcohol. I had the Steak Frites for the main course, my friend the Beef Wellington. They were presented in silver trays with the tops taken off to reveal the food to us by our waiter just before we were ready to eat. presentations was outstanding. Food truly delicious and cooked perfectly. Next came dessert. I was leaning toward the pudding but our waiter recommended the chocolate cake. I'm not a huge fan of cake, but thought this place could do no wrong. It was the BEST cake I have ever eaten. IT came with vanilla bean ice cream and the cake was warm and gooey. My friend had the berries and cream and they were sweet, ripe - perfect. Could not have asked for a better dining experience. I've walked passed here hundreds of times without stopping; I'll never do that again!
(5)
Eva W.

Really dig the atmosphere - old school feel, with giant menus and crowded tables. I feel like I should have been smoking a cigar or something, except that's illegal and I abhor smoking. The food was pretty decent. The chicken under a brick was tender. Heard good things about the steak frites. Everyone seemed pretty satisfied with their food. Sadly, we weren't there for oyster happy hour. A tad on the pricier side, especially if you keep downing cocktails. Maybe we should have switched to wine..
(4)
Andy H.

The flavour in each dish was incredable. The service from Sarah who very soon became our friend and confidant made our choices easier and a pleasurable experience for me and my business partner. I visit Boston a lot and will be back to sample cocktails and food.
(5)
Wini H.

Marliave is a Boston institution. But, I find Marliave to be similar in food quality to its sister restaurant, Grotto. Food execution is never outright bad, but could be tighter to hit the perfect balance. There are some that are just okay for the price, and some highlights. If I could, the score I'd give would be 3.75 as there are some great deals and drinks to be had, and the restaurant isn't as suffocating. For appetizers: Weirdly enough, the Caesar salad (coming in wedge form) is probably one of the best--it's really good, and I'm not a big salad person! The rarebits was not quite as saucy as I anticipated for bread dipping, with the cheese congealing a little unpleasantly. My boyfriend had the escargot, which he said was good. I dipped my bread (which is great here. Focaccia?) in the sauce and agree on that part. Entrees: I had the Sunday Gravy. It was a little too heavy/one-note and needed a sharp flavor (the tomatoes didn't quite do the trick) to lift the dish and contrast with the rich meatiness. My boyfriend had the beef Wellington; it was good, but not the best he's had. Certainly a good value, though, since I think the entire prix fixe at Marliave costs less than the Wellington at Mooo. Dessert: We had the butterscotch pudding, which I found to be a little gloopy. Everyone else seemed to love it, though. I infinitely prefer the more spacious and non-basement environment that Marliave has compared to Grotto. It's quite elegant. Plus the oyster special they have (I think you can start ordering oysters for cheap after 9 pm or something?) is a good deal. The drinks, however, are really good, especially the Henry Marliave! I highly recommend them!
(4)
Winney C.

A really beautiful restaurant. Make sure to be seated on the second floor so you have a view as well as the ambiance. The beef wellington was good. It took a while for the dish to be ready, but the oysters were brought out quickly.
(4)
Vanessa F.

I stopped in here with a group of friends for dinner on a Friday night. None of us had been before, and one member of the group picked it nearly at random, so we didn't really know what to expect. Overall, eating at the Marliave was a nice experience. The service was attentive and the upstairs dining area was really nice for watching the sun go down at the end of the day. I didn't drink that night, but some of our friends got cocktails, which they enjoyed. My one complaint would be that for the price of the food, I think the portions could be much more generous. Everything was fairly good, but, for instance, the fish and chips came with mostly fries and just two pieces of fish. For about $20, I feel like that's a bit of a rip-off. We all enjoyed our food and had a good night, but this definitely isn't a place I'd return to often. Just not enough bang for your buck.
(3)
Heywood J.

Good stuff. The food was tasty, I liked the theme and decor, and the staff was friendly. It was busy so the service was a little slow, but good drink menu. The oysters were good but not the best of the many I had on my trip to boston. I would go back and would recommend
(4)
Susan C.

I came to the Marliave over the July 4th weekend because I've been craving oysters. This place has a $1 oyster and clam special Happy Hour everyday from 4pm-6pm and 9pm-10pm. The variety was pretty good, as they offer a variety of 4 different types of oysters and the varieties vary from day to day. Don't be fooled by the $1 special though because this is not a cheap place overall. 2.5 dz. oysters, a burger and 4 drinks will definitely get you to the $100 mark. The service at the bar is excellent though, as was the food I tried, so it's well worth the price. As a side note, the entrance to this place is indiscreet and a little hard to find. The sign to the restaurant is on Bromfield Street, but the entrance is actually in a back alley up a small set of stairs around the corner.
(4)
Matt B.

Came here with friends during a Saturday afternoon. Getting in: - Walked in, no wait Atmosphere: - They have two floors - we were on the bottom which has an old school bar feel to it. Plush booths kind of thing - Big menu type of place - Place is almost hidden off the street - cool "secret" vibe to the place Service: - Service was good. No complaints. Prompt and friendly. Non-obtrusive. He did a good job Food/Drinks: - We had the $1 oysters (about 5 dozen between 6 ppl). They were fresh and nice. 4 different types that day. I was not a fan of their mignonette, so I left it off - Had two cocktails ($11 each) when I was there: The W.C. Fields and the Chauncey Warbucks - both were great drinks/ well done. Other: - They have a full menu which was enticing - Will certainly be back here when I'm next in town - $1 oysters daily 4 PM-6 PM and 9 PM-10 PM
(4)
Brittany R.

We went here for dinner on an early Saturday night and were extremely disappointed. We had drinks previously a few weeks prior and thought we'd come back for dinner. The service was poor, we sat and it took about 15 minutes to get a drink and weren't asked for probably 10 minutes. The drinks weren't fully poured but they were good. I ordered a seafood app as my meal and it was disappointment (insalata de mare). It wasn't good seafood, lobster had a lot of shell, the sauce was bland. Overall bad service (especially when we ordered 3 drinks each and had a small app for a meal that was 20 dollars), food was plain, drinks were average and service was poor; not what we expected for the price we paid.
(2)
Ayaka Y.

Good food Good service Had great time with our friends for New Year's Eve! Would recommend to everybody. Service was a bit slow.
(4)
Kaitlin P.

My boyfriend and I went to Marliave last Saturday night and had an amazing night at Marliave. Our waitress, Cassidy, was the best waitress I've had in a long time! We had half prices oysters/little necks, cheese display, caesar salad and steak frites. Everything was delicious. Been here a couple of times and I've never had a complaint.
(5)
Angie P.

The oyster happy hour special is the only reason why you should visit this place. Other than that, the food is pretty mediocre and the place smells like a bathroom (which is adjacent to the entryway). We could eat better at the Cheesecake Factory. And that's sad for a $100+ dinner. Save yourself the trouble and go eat somewhere else. Never again.
(2)
Katherine H.

I love this restaurant. I've only ever had great dining experiences here. One of my favorite restaurants in Boston, and historic too. It' also possible to eat really well here on a budget, for what that's worth - scrambled eggs with black truffle shavings for like ten dollars. It can get busy, so we usually make reservations if we want to go. And the cocktails are exquisite - designating a driver is recommended.
(5)
Laurie V.

Meh. Not very impressed. I came here for lunch and it was pretty pricey. I had two appetizers: rarebits and the seafood salad. I also had a cocktail. The cocktail was some sort of concoction with cranberry and bourbon and I am not sure what else, but it was way too tart, and lacked any kind of character or flavor. The rare-bits included three types of cheese with bacon bits and bread for dipping. Very rich. Not a great dish to order if you are alone. Probably better for sharing. Served in a very hot skillet. Extremely greasy. I probably wouldn't choose this dish again. Actually, I *definitely* wouldn't choose it, because I wouldn't even choose this restaurant again, period. The salad was served warm. It was okay. Nothing special. Each cut of seafood was very chewy. And just very average. Too much money for food that was just okay. Nope. Sorry. Done.
(2)
Angela C.

Can you say $1 oysters EVERY DAY (4-6 PM) in a restaurant steps away from Boston Common and the downtown shopping area?? For dinner, if you sit before 6 PM, you can still get the $1 oysters. It's really lovely - romantic and good for a date night. The upstairs is a glass-encased balcony that overlooks a quaint street in downtown crossing. Food highlights: -steak frites (sauce is divine) -beef wellington -rabbit -brownie and home made ice cream!! omg, I do not even like ice cream but I could eat there's every day The trout ($25) was also good, larger portion than expected, too. It's my favorite go-to romantic date restaurant.
(5)
Irene W.

Always come for Restaurant Week. For starters, the rarebits and macaroni and cheese were delicious. Steak frites were served with truffle fries. The fries tasted great, but weren't as crispy as I would have liked. Portions are generous, which is the best part. Waitstaff is very friendly. Restaurant is dimly lit on the lower level, but the upstairs level is especially nice for lunch. The windows are large and the natural sunlight comes in. Went once with a group and once on a date. Would definitely recommend.
(5)
Maryann N.

This place had so much potential. Came here for a colleague's birthday and the whole dinner was a fiasco. From bad raw oysters (they were NOT fresh) to poor service and "too dark mood" lighting. The only good things it had going were the decor of the place and the risotto. I hear the dollar oysters are good but after my last experience; I will think twice.
(2)
Kate R.

I drank/dined at the bar and the vintage ambiance was great! I ordered a few Blind Pigs: gin, lemon, mint, seltzer, and they were phenomenal-- very fresh mint! I enjoyed the various other speakeasy-style drinks. The Gnocci was fabulous. The Bathrooms were clean and, again, the ambiance was really cool in there too. It is definitely worth checking this place out since it is over 120 years old and used to be a speakeasy. Marliave is truly a hidden gem!
(5)
James P.

It's really a shame when a restaurant with nice food gets overshadowed by poor front-of-house service. We came to the restaurant at 7:30 without a reservation, expecting some sort of a wait at the bar, as is customary. The hostess was not welcoming at all, snapping at us saying it would be at least an hour, maybe more until they could sit us. We were meeting friends so we decided to sit at the bar and wait for them. About 15 minutes go by and I decide to look elsewhere so I turn to my trusty OpenTable app - searching by location I find an 8:00 reservation at where else, Marliave...can this be? I thought they were too busy! only because we went on OpenTable, the hostess reluctantly sat us at a table in the bar that was free THE ENTIRE TIME we were there - not to mention next to an annoyingly noisy group of people. No apologies, no explanation, if anything a fair bit of contempt throughout the entire process. The food? very serviceable, if not admirable. That is the only reason I'm giving more than 1 star. That said, you can find a lot of really good food in Boston and in this area especially. For $150, I will be taking my business elsewhere from here on out.
(2)
Ai N.

1 start for credit card fraud and shady bartender. I visited this restaurant for drinks with coworkers who recommended it. The drinks were fine, but the bartender had an attitude. I tipped him 12%. I checked my statement today and saw he had increased my tip and charged me over 20%! That is ILLEGAL. I called the restaurant was able to get the tip reimbursement after several phone calls with the manager. I was not offered anything else for their employees sketchy behavior. Make sure to check your bank statements after eating here so it doesn't happen to you, too!
(1)
Katharine P.

This was a solid restaurant choice for restaurant week/dine out Boston. It's $38 for a three course meal including desert. I went last night with two girlfriends. The service was awesome. I liked the view out the window where we were seated, as well as the decor and ambiance of the restaurant. There are two floors. We were on the second floor and the first floor also looked nice and cozy. I would def come back to this restaurant. I was satisfied with the meal, even though there were a couple of disappointing dishes. We ordered together: 3 apps, 3 mains, 3 desserts. The apps were all fab! Sliders, beet salad and carpaccio. The carpaccio in particular was superb. The entrees weren't as good, though - much to our surprise. The scallops were overcooked and while my friends like the flavor I did not. The risotto was missing something. Def didn't have the truffle flavor we expected and hoped for in a dish including truffle butter. The one main dish we all really liked was a dish called "Sunday Gravy," including Gnocchi, San Marzano tomatoes, Lamb, Pork, Beef. While I only saw or tasted lamb, it was delish and so was the gnocchi and red sauce. For dessert: Chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream for dessert you can't go wrong. Butterscotch pudding yum. And good cheeses.
(3)
Stephanie H.

Went for the 1 dollar oysters - really yum. Very fresh and juicy! Service was great, they split one of the entrees for us automatically (with no charge thank God. I hate it when they charge you for that) and they had those fancy metal covers on our dishes, and had 2-3 other waiters come to lift them all at the same time. I usually don't care for touches like this, but since it was a special occasion with friends, I was happy they did it for us. Really great service. Our waiter was attentive and very nice.
(5)
Pauline N.

I went with family during restaurant week. The food was great, but the service was slacking a bit. The waitress had a bit of an attitude and was not all that accommodating. I understant not being able to accommodate during restaurant week, but you can be nice about it. It's an older restaurant, but it has that classic Boston charm. If you walk down Bosworth Street to get to the entrance don't be discouraged. I just wouldn't suggest walking alone at night...scary. I would suggest walking down Bromfield to get to the restaurant. Best items...rarebits, henry's soup, meatball sliders, sunday gravy, beef wellington. The butterscotch pudding is OUT OF THIS WORLD.
(4)
Robert B.

I corralled five friend and co-worker hybrid types to do restaurant week lunch. And I have to say, picking a spot for lunch is really stressful, you guys. Like, really stressful, especially when it is for a large group. But I decided to try Marliave because I had never actually eaten there, only imbibed. I was a tad nervous because... What if it was bad? What if my friends real-life de-friended me because of how bad it was? What if said friends real-life de-friended me for it and I was exiled to do nothing but lame things like work until 5 o'clock on a Friday and hang out with my cat? Thankfully, Marliave wasn't bad at all. It was good. Really good. Almost suspiciously good.. What pact did this place make with the Devil? I want in. Tell him to call or tweet me as soon as possible, thank you in advance. Anyhow, our lunch was amaze balls. They offered a large menu to choose from and generous portions. I ordered the rarebits as a starter and Cheese-us Christ.. It was everything I hoped and dreamed for. Cheese and some other things that weren't cheese, but mostly cheese, served in a pan with bread to dip in. My idea of heaven. The only thing that could have made it better was if they served it to me in a trough or possibly intravenously. The steak I got was tasty too and the brownie bowl deliciousness at the end was a treat. In a nut shell, everything we ordered was delicious and I got to look like I knew what I was doing as everyone raved about what a good pick it was. Go Marliave, go me. Me more than you, obvs.
(5)
Rona H.

I just went to Paris last August, and this restaurant's decor was reminiscent of my travels! The restaurant is lowly lit, good for romantic evenings. The staff were great. The prices can range from average to higher end, but you get what you're paying for; it's delicious. Rich in flavor, quality over quantity. The French way. Just fyi, the restaurant is at the end of a dead-end street.
(5)
TM O.

We came here on a rainy night looking forward to $1 oysters and clams. After walking the mile or so from South End, I was famished and ready to eat! I ordered 50 oysters and 12 little neck clams. I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed the clams. Some of the oysters were questionable because they turned green and were icky looking. I threw those to the side and tackled the rest. I liked the variety they offered although I wish there were more from the west coast. My bf ordered a hamburger and it was perfectly cooked inside and out. The fries were also crispy yet soft on the inside. Originally, I was only going to give 3 stars but I had to bump it up because of their Brussel Sprouts and Bacon dish. OHHHHH!!! That dish is so so so so so so yummy!!! I was so full from the oysters and clams but I managed to stuff sprouts in because they were that good! I know I sound like a fat ass but who can deny bacon?!
(4)
L J.

As you can tell from all the reviews on this list, the $1 oysters/clams are the things to get when you come to Marliave. I came in on a Saturday night and the regular seating was all taken so the hostess suggested we use lounge seating (which is no different from regular seating) so we didn't have to wait at all. Ordered 16 oysters and 4 clams along with an order of their delicious truffle fries. Oysters were great. I think I would've appreciated more explanation on the oysters but then again I didn't exactly ask the waitress about them. Clams were really good. Very meaty and chockful of that ocean-y flavor The truffle fries were ordered as a recommendation from the waitress and they were very very good. It was a perfect pairing with the beer I ordered and went down great after eating oysters
(5)
Janiye B.

Ill start off by saying I would have given this restaurant 4-5 stars for the food and atmosphere had they treated us right. I made reservations here for my husband and I to celebrate my 30th birthday. We made early reservations so we could go to a show and ave enough time to relax and eat an early dinner before. I made a 4:00 reservation and we were running late but called to let the restaurant know, to which they replied ummmmm ok you didnt need to call us to tell us that. When we arrived the hostess right off the bat said " can you be done eating by 6 because we overbooked" we kind of looked at her like , seriously, why is it our fault your restaurant overbooked. We told her we would try. As the waitress ( who was nice) took our order you could tell they wanted us to hurry. Needless to say, I was very disappointed with the way they asked us to be done at a certain time. I worked in the restaurant business for many years and I , or the restaurant ., would NEVER ask a patron to hurry, or to leave by a certain time. Horrible customer service. As for the food, it was good but not spectacular. The oysters were good for $1, not as great as legals,or neptune , but still tasty. We ordered off the restaurant week menu and the food for the price was great. I just wish we were actually able to take our time and enjoy it. For the amount of money we spent here ( 141. total with tip ) I would have expected a little higher customer service which is why I gave this restaurant such a low rating. We will not be returning in the future.
(1)
Rosemary H.

I like it here. The food is pretty good and the atmosphere (especially upstairs) is lovely. They serve $1 oysters every day between 4:00-6:00 and again between 9:00-10:00. My favorite appetizer is the Rare Bits, which is essentially a giant plate of melted cheese with pieces of pork floating in it. They give you really yummy toasted bread to scoop it up. The cocktails are really tasty (might I suggest the Boston Tea Party?) but their drink service is agonizingly slow. I was here on Friday with my boyfriend and we waited 20-25 minutes for every drink to arrive after ordering. They weren't busy at all, so it was frustrating to sit just there and twiddle our thumbs. I've had a full meal here before (the Halibut) and it was tasty, if a bit under-seasoned. The same went for my boyfriend's pork. All in all, I do like this place and will be going back, but will probably stick to appetizers and oysters and only come when I have a long time to burn.
(3)
pAUL k.

Always good!
(5)
Audrey K.

Good craft cocktails, inexpensive oysters, nice old-school ambiance. Their downstairs and outdoor seating areas are pretty classy, worthy of a date or night out with friends. Variety of oysters and other seafood, and good presentation and service. Cocktails admittedly weren't as good as trendier places in town that specialize in cocktails, and the appearance of the menu was a little weird (printed on 11x17 cardstock with enormous font -- good for older patrons?), but anyone who scoffs at their drink menu is just a snob. Convenient location close to shopping and the Common. Will likely be back.
(4)
Owen C.

Food was awesome, service at the bar, not so much. My issues with the bartender - he gave me a drink I didn't order and didn't bring our second round of drinks (ever).
(4)
Thomas N.

have not been here for a long time, so went during restaurant week....great...i guess the first thing you might notice is the menu, for restaurant week there is a real section, probably 6 or 7 apps and entrees and 4 (i think) deserts....service was excellent, water kept filled, appetizers excellent, drinks good and not too boston pricey, i had the welch rarebit app and it could have been a meal, burger very good and cooked as ordered, trout was great and beautifully presented,,,,we liked everything about this place
(5)
Micah B.

Waiter recommended the scallops. They were delicious, but perhaps a little salty. The chocolate melting cake was a tad over cooked and dry instead of melting. I substituted the run raisin ice cream (I know, not a great pairing with chocolate, but I love rum raisin and was curious. They were generous with both the rum and the raisins. Almost too many raisins (about 1/4 if the scoop was raisin). For the price I give them 4 stars. I've had worse food for twice the price.
(4)
Erika K.

So I don't know what I was expecting or what I wanted, but this wasn't it. Not only was it overpriced but it was SMALL portions and not very good. I am a vegetarian and there were only three things on the menu I could eat. That being said, the baked beans were gross. We sent them back because noone at the table could eat them, and they didn't take it off the menu. Then the mac and cheese, it was good but it seperated while sitting at the table. Then we ordered the cheese plate and like enough cheese for 1 or 2 people came out. REALLY?? The shinning moment in my 100 dollar meal was the free olive oil and olives. But that being said, give me some herbs or vinegar to mix with the oil. I like fancy risottos and pastas as much as the next person, but this place was just not good. Plus the service was shitty.
(2)
Anthony P.

Marliave is a very nice restaurant! My wife and I enjoyed a fantastic dinner on a Saturday night. They were running the restaurant week menu which as our server explained"the portions are the same as the regular menu". WOW!!! The set price for restaurant week was three courses for $38. To put this in perspective the beef wellington that is on the reg menu is like $32 i think, so for $38 you get a full sized appetizer an entree and desert. My wife had the mixed green salad, beef wellington and the choc cake with ice cream. She loved everything. I had the escargot, osso buco and the butterscotch pudding. The escargot and shank were incredible! The butterscotch pudding was the only blemish on the night. It was very grainy and i could not eat it. When i alerted the waitress she thanked me for letting her know and offered me a diff desert. I declined and she said she was going to comp one of my alcoholic beverages. Very nice of them. Marliave is a very nice restaurant that I'm sure i would be a regular at if i lived in the Boston area. The staff were all extremely nice and attentive. We both had a great experience.
(4)
Gopal M.

This restaurant is a hidden gem. The building itself looks kind of old and its got a tinge of french feel to it. I had the Sunday gravy which had bits of lamb, beef and pork. pretty good place.
(5)
Lisa S.

I went to the Marliave last night with my parents. It was my second time, and it was just as delicious as I remembered. One or two years ago, the owners of Grotto purchased the Marliave, restored it, changed the menu/drinks, and reopened it. They have done a fantastic job. The decor is classy, minimalist and black & white. They have 3 rooms and 2 floors- and you can rent out the rooms with no room fees (just a minimum amount of food/drink). You also have a great view of downtown from most of the seats. We started with some drinks- a pinot grigio, a chardonnay and a Guys and Dolls cocktail (enjoyable but a bit sweet). Their long list of cocktails is prohibition-style and interesting. We also got a bottle of Barbera to go with our entrees. Their wine list is moderately priced and just as excellent as the wine list at Grotto. Their bread basket is similar to Grotto and they serve it with olive oil and olives. The Marliave definitely has a focus on comfort food. I started with the macaroni & cheese which was rich, creamy and delicious. The serving was quite large and I ended up half of it to my parents. I also used a lot of bread to wipe up the extra sauce in my bowl, because it was too good to let any get sent back. My parents' sliders were excellent- it came with 3 meatballs on mini buns. The meatballs tasted like a meatball/sausage combination, and there was an ingredient we all loved in it but couldn't name (my mom guessed fennel). For entrees, I ordered the roasted chicken with mushroom risotto, my mom ordered the steak frites and my dad ordered the Sunday Gravy. My roasted chicken was cooked perfectly, but the mushroom risotto upstaged it. Next time I would probably get the risotto by itself. My mother loved her steak, and it was cooked perfectly. The Sunday Gravy was delicious. The gnocchi was soft and similar to the one that Grotto serves, but it came in a red sauce and with a mix of incredibly tender meat (lamb, pork and beef). Both my dad and I had to take home about half of our dinners because we were so full. The dessert menu was short but had some stand-outs. The pumpkin bread pudding was amazing (and less liquid-y than other bread puddings I've had). I ordered a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, and it was the perfect end to such a large meal. When the bill came, I was expecting the worse from the incredible amount of food and drink we had consumed, but our bill was only $183 (an average of $61/person). I left full, happy, and with leftovers for lunch today. Pretty much the perfect meal! :-)
(5)
Twee V.

You have to try Osso bucco. It's delicious. I cannot wait to come back again.
(4)
Julie N.

We came back here for brunch on a beautiful Saturday morning and were the first customers of the day. We grabbed a table outside, got our menus and when I saw that the menu didn't have Eggs Benedict on it I asked the waiter why it was on his website but not on the menu. He said the menu needed to be updated but he'd talk to his kitchen and see what they could do. Minutes later he said the kitchen was happy to make it but it might take some extra time to make the hollandaise from scratch. No complaints here! We didn't wait all that much longer for breakfast and when it came out, I knew it was worth the wait. It was beautiful. The hollandaise was warm and freshly made, the poached eggs were beautiful, the ham was perfectly sauteed, and the toast was incredible. I even enjoyed the fact that there were no homefries. E got the Eggs in Purgatory which he loved. Loved, loved. We've tried their sandwiches... their brunch... their amazing french onion soup... now it's time to try dinner. I already know it's going to be amazing.
(5)
Katie V.

I had a private party at Marliave about a year ago and it was a totally lovely hassle-free event. We had an entire room/bar & bartender to ourselves. There was no charge to reserve the room (it was a Tues night) and no bar minimum we had to meet, so no pressure for my friends to get sh*tfaced on a weeknight. I pre-ordered some appetizer platters and everything was delicious and the manager even suggested I scale back the order so it wasn't too much food and she was correct. But she obviously could have let me order too much to make an extra buck. (She also made it clear that the kitchen could always do more on the fly if necessary). Since the party, I've been back a few times for the dollar oysters and have also tried some other menu items -- the sliders, the mussels, the field greens, the cheese plate and the scampi linguini. With the exception of the salad, which was just a little boring and underdressed, everything has been excellent. And it looks like their Restaurant Week deal is really good -- instead of limiting the menu, you can get any appetizer/entree/dessert combo you want. And some of the entree price points are basically the cost of the prix fixe -- the beef wellington is a la carte $32 and the 3-course RW deal is $33.12. Maybe it's a smaller portion, but still. It's nice to see a restaurant not trying to cut corners for the (admittedly annoying) RW clientele. Party on, Marliave, party on.
(5)
Sarah G.

Dollar oysters every day from 4-6pm!!! But if you don't go during that time, expect to spend a fair amount of money on drinks and food here for sure. Those oysters were pretty tasty, and for $1 each when normally they are $2.75 each that is a pretty awesome steal. Plus they had three types of oysters for us to choose from! Not like I really know anything about oysters and neither did Frances S. who came with me here, and we even admitted that to our bar tender and she just named them and didn't really tell us the differences at all. I would have liked a little education! I was sad our first bar tender had to have a shift change to our second bar tender because he was way cooler than our female bartender that came in next. She just didn't seem nice or approachable. One of those people who kind of look like they are smelling a fart all the time ya know? I know you know what I mean. Plus, our first bar tender made us this awesome house cocktail that was a better take on a mojito in my book--not nearly as sweet. But at $10 a pop and how easy they are to drink they are a big dangerous for the bank account! I switched to wine and they don't have a ton of glass offerings and those start at $9 and any appetizer you want here will cost you at least $12 and up. Frances got their asparagus wrapped in prosciutto with an egg on top and it was good, but not that big for how much it was. And don't even glance at dinner entrees if you think it is already adding up to too much! We were the only two people in here, which was kind of awkward as well, but I guess most people are working between 4 and 6 which is probably why that is the only time they offer the oysters for so cheap! Oh capitalism heh
(3)
Al R.

Without a doubt one of the better places in Downtown Crossing. First I have to say that they have daily 1$ oysters and clams, which is pretty great in today's world....and I'm an oyster whore, so I love this about them. They're always fresh and shucked right, so shuck you! Anything I've ever got here is always good. I've had the Escargot, Mussels, Beef Carpaccio, Scallops, Risotto, Rabbit and the Wellington. All of them were cooked and presented perfectly, not much else to say really besides I'll be back to try some more of their items. Oh and grab a side of the Polenta with your meal, it's pretty damn tasty. For desert, their butterscotch pudding is very yummy. I've never had any issues with service here, they've always been attentive and friendly with me. I really love the way this place is laid out. It's old school, and like many old Boston joints, it has a very European feel to it. Old floors, dark furniture, antique'ish fixtures, a nice outdoor section. It's very cozy and intimate, and great place to take a date. It really does remind me of places I've been to in Paris. All in all, you can't go wrong here and there's no doubt I'll be back for more.
(4)
Kim Y.

I'm actually quite disappointed after last night's dinner. I saw that this place was highly recommended by the 4 stars I saw on yelp. My bf and I went for restaurant week. I had the chicken dish which was good but ruined by the chef's heavy hand. It was just too salty! And I'm actually cutting down on my salt intake because I love salt. But this was just overwhelming because even the risotto was salty. My bf ordered the beef Wellington which was purple on the inside when he cut the meat open. The meat was raw! The waitress didn't ask us once how was our meal, and I think because she knew we were disappointed. I'm not coming back here.
(1)
Nancy F.

I came for Restaurant week but won't come back again. Food is not worth it. $30 should've gotten me an ok meal. I feel sick of what I ate: the Sunday gravy. The gnocchi were overcooked. What my party said about the food: The risotto was very blend. Also overcooked. Two in a boat had too much condiment. Mussels were ok. Maccaroni were too liquid, not creamy. Service was very slow - 2 hours for lunch. Only good thing? The escargot.
(1)
Joey C.

First and foremost, one of the better wine selections in the city. The raw bar was great, oysters and clams are $1 from 4-6pm and 9-10pm. Service was good. Our waitress Renna knew the menu inside and out whom recommended dishes to our taste. Appetizers including the mac & cheese and escargo were pleasant, not too rich nor bland. The steak frites, rabbit, and fish and chips were done quite well. The steak was cooked as requested, while the fish was flakey and moist. The rabbit was also quite tender flavorful.
(5)
Karl I.

The first spot my wife and I hit on any night out in Boston. $1 oysters from 4-6 and they are just as good as Legals down the street for $27 a dozen. Going to the Marliave is like stepping back in time you can feel the history of the establishment. The servers and bartenders are always top notch. The cocktails are awsome (pricey $11 a pop) but worth it, they make the best Mojito I ever had. Over all always a great place to start.
(5)
Wendy L.

I came here with a few friends on a Saturday night and was seated near a bar area on their first floor. We made reservations and were seated right away but their upstairs area seems to be a lot nicer. The hotel next door offers valet parking for $16 if you decide to drive but it's not too far of a walk from Park Street. We started off with the Beef Carpaccio which was pretty good. We wanted to come here to try their famous Beef Wellington but was a little disappointed. The puff pastry was a bit much and the beef was not very tender. I didn't think it lived up to the hype. There is a wide selection of cocktails here if you are looking for a place to drink with dinner or grab one after work. Their cocktails have fun names and they were all $10 which isn't bad for this area. The service was mediocre as the waitresses were swamped because this was a Saturday night. I'm not sure if I will be coming back!
(3)
Eric D.

Had a nice lunch here with friends while in Boston. I recommend sitting outdoors versus indoors if the weather permits. Service was good, and the food was better than I expected for lunch. Definitely would recommend for any out of towners looking for a good meal near the park.
(3)
Joe M.

I loved this place. The building itself and the atmosphere are among my favorite in Boston. The space is very old, with dark wood and painted brick. My tenderloin steak was well prepared and delicious, though I have to say that I wasn't incredibly impressed with the whipped potatoes. My girlfriend had rabbit, which was complex and tasty. The service itself was a tad on the slow side, though our server did tell us it would take a little longer for the rabbit, and it may just be my perception (I was worried about making it to a show on time). I mentioned our timetable to the server near the end and she made sure to make everything snappy at that point, which I appreciated. Marliave is definitely one of my new favorite restaurants in Boston.
(5)
Stephen Q.

The oyster special is worth a trip and the drinks are pricey but great with the oysters.
(5)
Mel G.

I was there for happy hour. The cocktails are really good but over priced. Good if your want to feel fancy
(4)
holy f.

Okay, just thinking about this place makes me think about oysters and beef wellington, and then I just can't help but start drooling a little bit. Seriously though, the welly is so freaking delicious that I had it on a Friday night and wanted to go back to have it again on Saturday (I didn't, but only because I didn't want to look like a total crack addict... crack being beef wellington). Oh god, I'm already starting to drool. Subject change... I've only sat at the bar or with people who know people, so I've never had a reason to complain about service, OH and if you order a mixed drink, the mixer comes in a cute little glass bottle... fancy shmancy. I want to give this 5 stars, but I think I need to spend some more quality time here first. (Read: I just got all excited about it and want to end this review so I can run out the door to go there now)
(4)
Chelsie H.

So Anouska B. and I found out about the $1 oysters between 4-6pm and just could not resist. Sauntered over after skiving off work an hour early on a beautiful Friday afternoon, we sidled up to the bar at Marliave and began our Tour de Cocktails immediately. My partner-in-crime had the Waterloo, which she says is delicious, and I had the Great Experiment, a gin-y, fruity, cucumber-y delight. It came garnished with a cucumber half dipped in what appeared to be cinnamon. I love me a cucumber slice, so before I ate it I joked that haww, with my luck it's probably cayanne pepper, not cinnamon on it! Bit into it.......it was cayanne pepper. The drink was still delish though. The oysters were local and super fresh. I got to enjoy oysters from Duxbury Beach, one of my personal favorite beaches growing up, which was fun. The sliders, clams, and oh sweet Raptor Jesus are the escargot delicious. Eat the snails...EAT THEM. And request extra bread to sop up the better-than-sex garlicy juices. I take off a star, alas, as when we pointed out a discrepancy in our bill charging us for an extra round we didn't order, one of the bartenders insisted we were wrong and quite rudely so. The other bartender took it off the bill, but it still left a bad taste in my mouth. Anyhoo...definitely go for the dollar oysters and boozes. Try all the boozes. And snails. And boozes.
(4)
Ashley M.

One of my new favorite casual dinner spots since they reopened - I just can't seem to stop going back. The prices are reasonable, food is good, atmosphere is lively though not overbearingly loud and the service is A-OK. The raw bar downstairs hasn't seem very packed but then it is winter and you can get the raw goods upstairs as well. As other mentioned the drinks are wonderful (I would give the drinks 5 stars for sure) and I am also a big fan of their risotto of the day - it is always good.
(3)
Ethan H.

I have eaten at Marliave twice. Once on a date, and once with my parents. Totally different circumstances, but an excellent experience both times. During my date visit, we enjoyed a couple of phenomenal drinks and a delicious beet salad with goat cheese appetizer to start. I had a tough time deciding what to order as my entree, but finally settled on the steak frites - a generous portion of steak and crispy fries with a side of gorgonzola sauce. Mmmm... And we sat upstairs - a comfortable room with huge windows - no complaints whatsoever. I didn't draft a review immediately. I thought I would try this place again and see if I liked it again, or if this first visit was a fluke. It was not a fluke. During my second visit, we sat downstairs - a cozy bar with room for about 30-40 dinners. For starters, we sampled the mussels - garlic and tomatoes in a white wine sauce. Honestly, some of the best I have ever eaten. My trout was very good. My parents' dishes were even better - the chicken "under a brick" and the scampi with shrimp (homemade fusilli) were prepared perfectly. I was very impressed with the service, and the prices are reasonable. Not cheap, but reasonable. I will definitely be going back, and I dare say the Marliave will likely become one of my "go to's" when friends and family come to visit.
(5)
Wendy W.

The escargo app was good. I had the brick chicken and that was really good. The skin was really crispy and the portion was huge. The molten chocolate cake was good but very heavy
(4)
Zadie B.

I had high hopes for Marliave. It's one of the oldest restaurants in Boston, so it has a certain charm and mystique just for that. Unfortunately, as happens with many old treasures, it's been taken over by "foodies" who interpret the classics with a half cup of salt and dousing in bacon grease and declare it culinary genius. There are two really nice marble bars, and the first time I went we had a great time with a laid back bartender. They have a lot of interesting and quirky specialty cocktails like most of the hip joints. Unfortunately, after the first visit, both bartenders were painfully self-conscious hipsters who ignored an empty glass until you sobered up and decided you actually didn't need another drink after all, at which time they suddenly asked if you were ready for another one. In their defense, the drinks are so high concept, they have to work from a book, which slows things down a bit. Appetizers (raw oysters and steamed mussels) were decent, but the entrees were kind of lousy. I think my trout and shrimp entree was actually a little past it's prime (it had a real funky taste and rubbery texture) , and I couldn't get beyond two bites. I didn't make a fuss about it, but the bartender and manager kept asking why I didn't eat it! When I finally said it tasted a little too "fishy" the bartender laughed awkwardly and the manager just stared blankly. Why ask in the first place? The manager ended up taking it off the bill, which I guess was nice. In summary, okay for a Beacon Hill hipster hang, but I'd go somewhere else for dinner.
(2)
Meredith F.

Meatball sliders. To be more specific, meatball sliders featuring a combination of Italian sausage and beef, and fried to a crisp on the outside while staying juicy on the inside. Put that on some garlic toast with a dash of marinara and some melted mozzarella cheese. Okay Marliave, you got me. Then you go and do one of my favorite things and make me a cocktail that combines gin and cucumbers...and add a dash of spice just for fun. It would have been great had there not been waaaaay too much crushed ice that turned my drink into a bit of a watery disappointment. You really had major potential, though. My mixed green salad with balsamic dressing and parmesan tasted just as I expected, and kept me chewing on something light while everyone else was stuffing themselves with an entree. (I preferred to leave the place still being able to stand upright without taking deep breaths.) However, I did sample my friend's wild mushroom lasagna, which was hearty, creamy, and savory. Then you reeled me back in with the flourless chocolate cake- a perfect combination of semisweet and bitter chocolates baked into a soft, warm, cocoa confection. The vanilla ice cream on the side tasted like Breyers or some other sub-par (a.k.a. non-Haagen Daz) brand, but I forgive you. Our waitress was irreverent and fun- and she quoted one of my alltime favorite movies (Dirty Dancing), so really she could not have gone wrong from that point. She also told us she was "wicked awesome" at everything, which luckily she backed up by easily dividing up our check as we requested. The prices were pretty reasonable, and the decor was nice--kind of a combination of classic French bistro, old New England charm, and modern simplicity. We ate upstairs, which I preferred to the more cafe' feel of the downstairs. Again, meatball sliders. Just remember that.
(4)
Doug B.

Marliave is our favorite restaurant in Boston. The atmosphere is lovely and the food is consistently very good. The service as also very pleasant and efficient.
(5)
Joy Y.

So I've got absolutely nothing bad to say about this place. It's really very good. What would put it in the five star category? I'm not quite sure. Maybe there weren't a ton of things on the menu that I felt I needed to absolutely try? I don't know. But for whatever reason, overall this place didn't blow me away. That being said, my meal was awesome. I ordered "The Sunday Gravy" which was a delicious and flavorful combination of meaty stew and light and pillowy gnocchi-- a wonderful mix that made it filling but not too heavy. Definitely a must have. My dining companion had the steak and eggs. The steak, which was juicy and had a nice crust, was the perfect companion to the runny poached egg. They also have three different sizes of wine from which to pick-- a nice touch, especially when you've had a rough day. Overall, my feeling is that you probably can't go wrong with this place: classic comfort food, good service, reasonable prices equals a solid four stars.
(4)
Whytnee B.

I loved this place. I chose it for my graduation dinner at the suggestion of my boss, and it was perfect. The service was great, the ambiance ideal, and the food was excellent. My family all enjoyed their dishes, which included the Sunday Gravy, chicken, pot roast, and a salad. I ordered the steak frites and really enjoyed it. My parents and sister had a banana split for dessert and ate every bite, even after such a satisfying dinner! My mom and I each had the namesake cocktail, "Henry Marliave," which was a sweet but not too sweet fizzy vodka drink. Delightful. I was initially disappointed when I walked in at how casual the downstairs was, but was impressed by the view and interior of the upstairs. It's good to know you can enjoy the food and drinks whether or not you feel dressed up.
(5)
Cheryl Y.

Aw, my first time ever participating in Restaurant Week. Just keep in mind my review is on the special menu. This place has a 1920's prohibition era feel which is really cool. The drinks all have cool names and sounded good. I had the Ulysses S. Grant (actually two of them). My friends tried a few different ones and said they didn't taste too much different. I didn't see drink prices but they ended up being in the $10-$15 range per drink. For the appetizer I had the Oxtail ravioli. I've never had oxtail and I wasn't disappointed - this was excellent! It's not on the regular menu I found on the website but it should be. One of my friends had the Rarebits appetizer which she said was excellent. The people who had the salad said it was good, but nothing impressive. One of my friends didn't want his appetizer so we had him order escargot and we all tried it. Honestly it didn't taste much like anything. I'm not sure if that's how it should be or not, I have also never had escargot before. For dinner, I had the steak and fries. The fries were excellent. The steak was good too, but a little too pink. I think this is a problem all restaurants have - when I say "well done," they don't realize I mean "char the motherf*****." Maybe I'll say that next time. My friend had the gnocci - potato gnocci with lamp, beef and I believe pork. That was also excellent. Positive reviews on the pasta with lobster, and the ricotta ravioli. The people who had trout and beef wellington seemed fine - they finished their food but weren't overjoyed. For dessert I had the flourless chocolate cake which was fine, one friend had the bread pudding which she liked. Another friend had something that looked like some berries and whipped cream and we joked about how something so simple is probably expensive on the regular menu, but then when she ate it said it was in fact very good. Moral of the story - I'd definitely come back here another time.
(4)
cosette h.

So here's the deal. I don't DO NOT want to write a good review for this place. Why? Because is it so freakin awesome I don't want it get over crowded and then I would have to find a new perfect hideaway. Nestled off the Common, just steps from the tourism highlights, lies Marliave. Start walking down Bosworth and see the employee entrance to the neighboring hotel, but don't be dismayed, keep walking and you will find the place. The outdoor seating area is reminiscent of a Parisian cafe, but don't go too European. Something about City law says, "If you drink, you gotta eat." Okay, twist my arm. I had some awesome bottled Brazilian beer that began with a Z (?) Dark and sweet. My friends had cocktails and martini's, off the fantastic drink list. We slurped on oysters and shared a fantastic Banana split. This place is both Classic and Modern. The best combination you could ask for.
(5)
Dub N.

I wasn't sure what to expect going here. It sounds like my kind of restaurant... they have Cassoulet on the menu! The interior is very old school French bistro... or, scuffed walls and slightly dingy (if white linen is a requisite for you, stay away, nobody eating here will like you anyway and you'll likely annoy the servers and then they'll be in a bad mood serving me). Me, I like old school French bistro. It was comfortable, we could talk easily in spite of having two large tables beside us. There are three things that I like a restaurant to have regardless of their targeted ambiance, a decent wine glass, heavy cutlery and a nice napkin (can be a good quality paper). 3 checks there then. The glass was nice and big and left room to swirl the wine like a pretentious fool (gotta admit to being guilty on that one, both wines tasted like the bottles were opened fresh and needed opening a little). The brandy snifter was also a decent size if a little industrial in weight. Really, you're probably more interested in the food. It's restaurant week, expectations therefore drop a little. Marliave however had most of their menu available which was a major plus. I had a beet salad to start, nothing wrong with it, but it could have done with some vinegar and grey sea salt and then it would have been super. She had French Onion Soup (i think they call it Henry's soup or something) which was good. Tasted like the onions had been caramelized properly and then cooked nice and slowly... makes me want their cassoulet, they seem to be good at slow cooking. Then for main courses, She had steak frites (yawn), the steak wasn't the best I've ever had, I'd be writing a different review if I'd had it. I suspect that it was ready a few minutes before my dish so was left sitting waiting. I had roast chicken on a risotto which apparently had truffle oil in it (if you're going to use truffle oil, make sure we can taste it or it's a waste of truffle oil) and three different cheeses and butter. The risotto should have had a more reduced stock used in it and been hit with the truffle oil at the end to keep the aroma fresh and a little more salt (a common cry from me, but chefs too often are afraid of proper seasoning- it couldn't possibly be that I over season of course!). The actual chicken was very nicely cooked. It was a tasty dish that with a little more love could have been superb! Dessert was a bread pudding, it was fine, but a little stodgy... bad ordering. The drinks I had were good. I had the Henry Marliave cocktail to start, I'm not often a mixed drink drinker (I do like a good dirty vodka martini at times and caipirinhas in the sun) but I liked it. A little bit of a girly drink (that'll be the chambord) but tasty. The riesling I had with my first course was lovely, great temperature and once it opened a little in the glass was really enjoyable. I had a grenache then, as with the riesling, good temperature and opened well in the glass, the tannins cut the richness of the risotto well. And I finished with a Calvados (and before you ask, yes I can remember everything I had and yes the drink definitely helped me enjoy my evening more than had I not had it). The calva wasn't served on a little terrace in Normandy, but that can't be expected from a restaurant in downtown Boston I suppose. Apart from the location of drinking it, it was nice, not wonderful, but nice. And the service. Our waitress was very friendly and willing to help. She did seem rushed off her feet though, but composed herself well each time she came to the table. She sold the menu well (I had the chicken on her recommendation) and certainly never rushed us. She does lose a point for assuming a Gamay was a white wine because I was eating chicken, but at least that shows she was paying attention to what I was eating. She really seemed to buy into the Frenchness of the place, explaining how they cook in France. She explained accurately and succinctly too and showed that she understood what she was saying (incidentally, I'm a classically trained chef who has run my own French bistro in Europe, but my date also understood what she was talking about - admittedly while trying not to giggle at the waitress explaining how to cook to the chef). The kitchen was a little slow, but we also said that we were in no rush and were only left waiting a touch too long for the sort of evening we were having (either you should only go here for slow relaxing slightly boozy dinners, or they read us really well in which case, kudos to the waitress again). Will I return... absolutely, I want Cassoulet! I did leave saying, I'd probably come back for a main course and a drink rather than a full meal, or a bowl of soup at lunch time. But I'd also recommend it for people that like relaxed places to talk, drink and eat some good, not super, food. Incidentally, don't expect it to be cheap to have an aperitif, two glasses of wine and a digestif...
(4)
Brian M.

Marliave is always a good place for a business lunch. I've been probably about 15 times over the past two years The food is rich and interesting. Sunday gravy is a favorite, tastes like something your Italian grandmother would make. The sandwiches and fries are all delicious. Only complaint this time was that the bread they served with olives and olive oil was stale. Most likely it was left over from Saturday night or Sunday (this was a Monday lunch). The waitress replaced the bread but the replacement was no better.
(4)
Juliana N.

When I first walked in, I expected old style french bistro. The outside fit the expectation but the inside was definitely new world style/modern. The ladies room was a "Pink Ladies" pink and purple with swinging western style saloon doors. Cute. We started off with the $1 oysters for happy hour. 2 dozen! Licked it clean! We should have ordered more! Then we looked through the menu and decided there we weren't that hungry but that we wanted to try a lot of dishes. So we ordered and shared. The plates hardly fit on our table =x. FOOD: 1) Oysters: $1 happy hour 4-6pm + 9-10pm. Cheap, FRESH, and delicious. 2) Tuscan Pate: All organic, Chicken liver, Capers, Fig jam, Mustard, Warm bread...$10 ---- Not great. I wouldn't order it again. I love the whole organic part, but the pate was lacking in flavor. I'm PATE obsessed and was disappointed. The bread it came with was warm and buttery but i think pate goes better with french bread. 3) Mussels: Farm raised, Garlic, tomatoes, White wine...$11 --- Just the usual. Small portion. 4) Sunday Gravy: Gnocchi, San Marzano tomatoes, Lamb, Pork, Beef...$17 --- BY FAR THE BEST DISHHH. I'd come here again JUSt for this dish. The flavor. The mixture of meats and fresh tomatoey tomato deliciousness. I always felt gnocchi was too heavy and thick for my taste. But this gnocchi... awesome. This was my favorite dish out of all the dishes served! 5) Garlicky Spinach: Pretty good. Light, garlicky. Garlic is the secret ingredient to this dish. SO GOOD. 6) Wild Mushroom Risotto: First, I love mushroom. Second, I love risotto. The two together, can never go wrong. MUST ORDER again. 7) Gorgonzola & Caramelized Onion "Gratin" Polenta: Not bad. My friend thought this was the most amazing Polenta. The portion is large and plenty for those polenta fans! DRINKS: Everyone that has been here has raved about the drinks, so I had to see what it was all about. But.... I had Just had one tonight. Tres Curieux. Made with Henderick's Gin, St-Germaine, Grapefruit, Lime, Prosecco. I thought that it might be too sour at first. But it was surprisingly good. 3 stars A-OK in my book. I'd come back just for the gnochhi.
(3)
JeNnIfEr S.

The food is excellent. I particularly liked the Mac and Cheese appetizer. The atmosphere is great and makes you feel like you are back in time living in old Boston. I gave it four stars rather than five because the service is pretty slow. Plan to spend your entire evening there!
(4)
Meredith K.

Gotta dock you 1 star because you don't have valet. in the middle of the city. Where the hell am I supposed to park? But aside from the irritation of having to look for a parking space, this restaurant is so cozy. It does really feel like you've stepped back in time here. Perfect for a romantic night of dinner/drinks, or even a few drinks with friends. Friendly staff, super tasty cocktails and great food make this a perfect place for dinner at a reasonable price. Oh and they are super busy mon-fri - so Saturday night you can walk right in and sit basically anywhere you like FTW!
(4)
Anne H.

Marliave is currently being renovated and is slated to reopen later this year under new ownership. See marliave.com for details. Edit: Marliave is now open! Go check it out.
(4)
Mike K.

My foodie wife actually uttered the words "amazing" when I gave her a bite of my Sunday Gravy... Marliave is a beautiful thing... I've had the chicken... Very good... The trout... Better than elsewhere... Several cocktails... All very tasty... All artfully presented... So far the Sunday Gravy is by far my favorite... And the other dishes set a high bar... The tomato in the dish was amazingly tasteful... I can honestly say I've never has one better... Ice cream is good... I'm a little spoiled by graeters... So it's not life altering for me.... A lot of people complain about the prices, but if you don't drink, it's very reasonable... My wife and I ate there for under 50.00, with desert!
(5)
Gigi B.

Marliave is one of my absolute favorite bars in Boston. The ambiance, service, cocktail and food are outstanding. I love Marliave so much I chose it as the site of my upcoming cocktail/birthday party and the event planning staff have been more than helpful working out the details. The location is incredibly convenient to the T but it still feels special and tucked away. I always enjoy myself during an evening at Marliave. Highly recommended.
(5)
Shanna S.

Ok... I traveled to boston for memorial day weekend... Decided to go to Marliave Saturday night. I was excited to sit outside. When we arrived the hostess rolled her eyes then sat us in an open table outside (they were not that busy outside) Then, after 30 mins we asked if anyone was going to help us. We then ordered drinks and dinner for the guy waiter who was not suppose to be our waiter. Then our dinner was almost thrown at us when it finally arrived. We never got water with out asking and then my friend only got half a glass. The food was good but I was so upset about the service it was hard to enjoy. I never complain about food or service. I called over the manager Andrea. She was great she was sorry they were busy and she took off the drinks.
(2)
Anne L.

Great dollar oysters! Very expensive wine though...would definitely return.
(3)
Roseann C.

I would have given this place 4 1/2 stars if I could. And the only reason it's not a 5 is that there was a flub with my dining companion's drink order. But I. LOVE. This. Place! I always have, ever since it opened. I'm *glad* not too many people know about it - I'd hate for it to become a scenester spot. It's too good for that. So, let me break down my most recent experience - arrived at 5:45 for dinner on Friday night before a show at the Wilbur (Louis C.K., who was depraved and AWESOME). We were promptly seated upstairs by window - not a great view, but not a bad one, either. I like the simple black and white decor which could seem stark and unwelcoming, but it really works here. Our server was super-polite, friendly and efficient. We ordered a couple of pre-dinner cocktails. Marliave's cocktail menu is very unusual, and fun. I got the Blind Pig which reminded me of the Kirkland at Sibling Rivalry (if you haven't been there and tried one of those, go, NOW). Yummy! My dining companion (DC) ordered a Great Experiment, but due to his finicky nature he had to mess with it and get it without the cucumber. Really?? Who doesn't like cucumber?? Anyhow, his drink tasted like mine without that ingredient, only sweeter, and was tasty as well. The only snafu was after ordering his second, they brought it with *gasp* CUCUMBER! My DC, who is also a bread expert (trust me), did not care for the bread and called it dry and flavorless. I didn't have any, so I cannot comment. Everything else was fairly flawless. We started with the Macaroni appetizer which is actually macaroni and cheese. My DC declared it the best macaroni and cheese he's ever had, and it just might be true. The ziti are homemade and cooked to just the right point of al dente. It was creamy and cheesy and truffle-y and soooo good. It was ridiculous. They don't give you much, but it's so rich, it's probably for the best. Usually, I like some garlicky breadcrumbs on my mac and cheese, but not this . . . it was perfect the way it was. I got the Chicken which is pan roasted, with roasted garlic, mushrooms and risotto. It perhaps could have used a green vegetable with it, but man, that stuff is out of this world just the way it is, too (even if my breath was kicking like Bruce Lee all night). My DC got the steak and cheese which he said was great, and I sneaked a couple of his fries (What?? Not a green vegetable either??) which were really nice. We had a tasty vanilla bean panna cotta finished with blueberries for dessert. I think panna cotta is my new favorite dessert - creme brulee is so out! Their selection of wine by the glass is a bit lacking (I prefer to have more than one option of each type), but all in all, I heart Marliave. If it were a man, I'd totally sleep with it before the third date. : )
(4)
Louis D.

Had luch here and it was very good. The service was great. I ate on the outdoor patio which was very pleasent and had a couple of tables in the shade. Great ice cream for dessert!
(4)
Jean M.

Absolutely delicious food in a quaint and elegant setting. We had omelets and sandwiches at our table and we were all very happy! French fries are sprinkled with herbs and sea salt... to die for! If I lived in Boston, I'd come here often! Friendly service. Will definitely return next time in in Boston.
(5)
Elisarah S.

Love love love their Sunday Gravy!! I'm still thinking about it every time someone mentions Gnocchi or Italian food. I can't wait to go back to Boston just to eat at this restaurant again. I haven't been able to find anything close to the Sunday Gravy anywhere.
(5)
A C.

Taking advantage of restaurant week specials, my husband and I had dinner here last night. The place was a little hidden but thanks to Yelp reviewers and the pictures posted here, we knew what to look for. 1st course - grilled octopus with white beans - we thought the octopus would come out a little bit chewy (experience from sushi) but it came out very tender which surprised us. the white beans compliment the meat very well. this was however too charred giving a bitter taste ending. escargot with garlic butter - being my first time eating this, i can't say much about the meat except that it tasted okay. the galic butter sauce though is VERY powerful so beware. 2nd course - Wellington with Foie Gras - with the hype from Gordon Ramsey saying it took him years to perfect this dish, i had to give this shot here. they cooked it perfectly med rare and the tenderloin is truely tender. i don't think the foie gras belongs there. it gave it a twist that both my husband and i didn't like. the red port reduction isn't much either. Diver Scallops - 4 perfectly cooked scallops sitting on top of a muchroom mix with 3 raviolis on top. a nice dish. 3rd course - chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream - a very rich and decandant cake with a chocolate filling. too bad there wasn't enough ice cream to balance out the flavor. tiramisu - this was done different from a typical version. the lady fingers were not soak in anything but instead was dipped in the macarpone cheese. it left the cake/cookie part crunchy and was lightly dusted with cocoa/coffee mix. not a bad twist. Overall, I would come back to try other dishes especially the chicken (based on the other reviewer input).
(3)
Julia L.

I had high hopes, but reality was only mediorcre. My husban had the sunday gravy and I had the pork shank. I looove pork. I love it cooked in a myraid of ways, from all different parts of the pig. The shank of anything should be braised for hours and hours to break down all of that pesky connective tissue and make the meat fall away from the bone. It should be a luxurious experience. This, however, was an exercise in frustration. Very tough and chewey and at more than one point, nearly ended up in my lap due to stuggling with it. So, in fewer words, i wouldn't order it again. The cocktaills were great, and the sunday cravy on gnocchi was lovely. Prices were a bit high, but i'm from seattle so maybe that's just the way things in boston are priced. If you're here early enough, I suggest going across the street and getting a sandwich at Sam Lagrassa's instead.
(3)
Kjm M.

The server, Sara, was one the best servers we've had. She was very friendly and knowledgeable of the menu. She also was very attentive. I watched her take orders from three tables without writing anything down. Pretty impressive!! Oh yeah, the food was very good too. We had 24 $1 oysters and 12 little necks. Very fresh and tasty. Will definitely be back to taste the rest of the menu!! Sat outside, very nice atmosphere, nestled between some historic Boston buildings.
(5)
Amanda M.

amazing meal!!!! 5 stars! try the mac and cheese... delicious!
(5)
Ervin B.

Well they are in the midst of their soft opening so a few adventurous friends and I decided to check it out. The room downstairs has really been cleaned up since the last time I was there a few years ago. Staff was very courteous and the food was delivery quickly (though everyone's fries were lukewarm at best. I'll definitely check it out again once they have a full menu. Prices were comparable to other restaurants in the area.
(4)
Karen N.

They should get extra props for keeping their normal hours on Christmas eve...last year we had had trouble finding a place to eat, so this year we planned ahead and made reservations here. It was a good choice. I really liked the ambiance...tin ceilings and walls, exposed brick, accented with simple elegant furniture and fixtures. Since it's located down a glorified alley, the going will be treacherous if it has snowed recently (walking down the middle of the street improved your chances of not landing flat on your ass). I got the ravioli once inside. I'll tell you right now that it was salty, but I like salty, so I was very happy with it. The wait staff was nice...they happily let us hang around a long time and prepped a make-shift bottle warmer for my companions (apparently they're not the sort of establishment that is familiar with this practice). Anyhow, good stuff, but definitely on the pricey side (the bill was around $100 for 3 people who got meals and coffee ONLY).
(4)
Will S.

Note: This review is only about drinks, not food. But they make a whole bevvy of mean and unique cocktails that I highly recommend!
(4)
lois h.

Sat outside on 4th of July. The outdoor area is a lovely setting in Washington Alley with a nice intimate feeling, even though you are right in the center of the city. We ordered a number of the appetizers including the escargot, mussels and beet salad. All were superb. The main dishes and main course salads were a little disappointing. I would definitely return, however, and order the first courses again. Really enjoyed the experience; Marliave claims to be the 4th oldest restaurant in Boston.
(4)
Laura K.

Marliave is by far one of my favorite places on the planet. Every experience I have had there has been wonderful. For what I would consider not a lot of money for fine dining, Marliave delivers wonderful service, food and ambiance. I have yet to find a better restaurant in Boston for the price. I will also say that the cake and ice cream dessert is the best molten chocolate cake I've ever had.
(5)
Jamie S.

This is decidedly my favorite establishment in Boston. I even get excited about the ice cubes here. (Seriously, they're perfect.) It probably isn't everyone's scene, but I'm transported when I step inside -- time passes at a different pace, and I'm never quite ready to leave. Definitely sit upstairs -- at the bar, or a table in the other room. The place is almost always quiet, so go with someone (or a group) who you know will provide lively conversation. Don't make hard plans for afterward; you might find that hours have passed by the time you leave.
(5)
Jamie S.

What it is, what it is. Marliave is a dope little restaurant tucked away on a side street near Park St/Downtown Crossing that hasn't really quite taken off yet after recently re-opening. It will though, as I think once the construction going on basically at its front door is done, Marliave will be on several peoples' short lists of awesome spots to congregate. The decor is beautiful. Sparse, all black and white, but still a warm feeling with candles and nice old wood still adorning the windows. The bars (1 upstairs, one downstairs) are made out of marble which is really cool. The first time I came here, about a month ago, I went with a group, one of whom's BF waits tables here. SO immediately I felt like an insider. Which was great since the place has kind of a speak-easy-meets-swanky-restaurant feel. That time, we ordered cocktails ( which is a natural, you'll see why when you see the cool big one-pager cocktail menu ), the sliders, and the rarebits. Sliders were good, but it's literally 3 mini (like micro-machines style) meatball / meatloaf sandwiches. Tasty, but they should be twice as big, even for sliders. The rarebits is freaking amazing. It comes in a little skillet pan filled with cheeses and herbs and some crispy little cracker guys with which to scoop the goop. I had never heard of it, but one of my more cultured companions clued me in to what it was. Good app for sharing. This past Friday I took a very classy and very pretty lady there and we had a blast taking down nearly half of the cocktail menu. The staff are real nice, especially the bartender. She will take good care of ya.
(5)
Maggie D.

What a surprise!! My roommate and I had about 45 minutes to kill before our dinner plans, and popped into Marliave, which turned out to be a gem! Down what looks like a shady Boston alley, this upscale restaurant and bar surpassed our expectations. We sat at the bar, were given prompt, friendly and helpful service-- their cocktail menu is huge and has excellent options! The downstairs is a big bar area with lots of tables serving simple snacks, where the full dining room upstairs offers heartier upscale Italian fare. I'll be going back soon. Simply put, this place is a great option for a quick and delicious cocktail downtown!
(4)
M. L.

Had lunch downstairs (loved the Boston beans) and dinner upstairs. Food and service were good. Cocktails were good too.
(4)
Erica B.

Delicious Sunday Gravy (gnocci with tomatoes and beef/lamb/pork sauce . Hubby had steak frites and it was also tasty. Great place to grab a bite before a show at the Orpheum.
(4)
Ryan C.

I was deeply disappointed. The interior looked more decrepit and white-washed than it did charming, and the acoustics were awful. I went there with two other people for an early dinner, and the noise from the bar crowd was unpleasantly loud. The food itself was sub par and with meager portions besides. The chef clearly has aspirations for fine cuisine, but the execution fell far short, especially considering the prices they charge. Furthermore, the service was bumbling and slow. Our waiter tried to be attentive, but it was more irritating than anything because the delivery from the kitchen was so lethargic. There are better places to eat mere yards away.
(1)
clare m.

the only bar i've ever found where i would spend $10 on a cocktail without hesitation. their drinks are off the chain. BUT a few words of warning: 1. beware friday evenings. the place gets swamped. 2. beware nights when there is a private party upstairs (which i wish i could afford to do...who wouldn't want to have a private cocktail party here?!?) because the downstairs bar/dining area is totally chaotic. 3. beware the tiny sub-cafe area (sometimes it's called the "oyster" or "whiskey" bar). i sat in here recently when there weren't any other seats (it was a friday night) and two very sad things happened: (a) there was a group of three very loud, very drunk college girls with very high-pitched laughs...this is unfortunate in such a small, echo-chamber type space. (b) this was the first time ever that i ordered a cocktail at the marliave that was disappointing. it was made at the main bar and then carried down to the small cafe area...maybe it was made in haste? or given less attention because i wasn't face-to-face with the bartender? 4. i haven't had very good experiences with the hostesses here. in one recent situation, my date and i walked in and were told it would be a 10-20 minute wait (this was on a friday night). then a larger party walked in after us, and miraculously we were told the wait would be "at least an hour." this was after we'd already waiting 20 min. sad/unamusing. i still love this place, though. very good food and drinks in a classy atmosphere.
(4)
Colin K.

As usual, I can't really comment on the food because I didn't go there to eat. I never went to the old Marliave, because it seemed like it had become something of a museum without any good exhibits, but then a fellow cocktail hound told me that this was a Place To Go, so went I did, and glad I are. The downstairs area is a bit striking at first, as the color scheme is as severe as a Monday-morning hangover. My suggestion--sit down, have a drink, and you'll feel better. The same is true for the Marliave. When I say it's authentic, I mean that this is the place to go if you've been wondering where to wear your waistcoat with a pocket watch on a chain. As for the cocktails, I am pleased to say that at the very least they do not let the surroundings down. Yes, they have a slightly cutesy menu with a mildly cloying tendency to rebrand drinks. Rye, sweet vermouth, and bitters is a Manhattan, people, what is with this "Jennie Churchill" nonsense? But if this is what it takes to get the youth of today to drink respectable cocktails, I'm down wit dat, yo.
(4)
Kristin G.

I'll admit- I read all of the reviews for this place before coming, so I had high standards- and they were met! Some friends and I went there last night to celebrate a friend's 30th. A few of us got there early, so we saddled up to the (downstairs) bar for a cocktail. I ordered "the great experiment" and it was delicious. The bartender was SUPER friendly and helpful, suggesting drinks/ingredients to us based on our preferences. We were seated promptly at 7 (our reservation time) in the upstairs area, which had great views. We ordered more drinks, apps, entrees, and desserts- and everything was DELICIOUS. I got the "Sunday Gravy" which was gnocchi in tomato sauce with lamb, beef and pork (I'm clearly an omnivore) and i could have seriously licked the plate clean. The chocolate cake was great, as was the mint ice cream. No one was disappointed. The service was great. The food was great. The cocktails were great. The only thing that we did notice was that the place was pretty empty- a curious fact, but obviously nothing that bothered any of us. I highly recommend. You won't be disappointed!
(5)
Katherine D.

dollar oysters and delicious, well crafted cocktails? count me in! the ambience, service and previously mentoined drinks and bivalves were great. $2 high life bottles as well. we did have a really disappointing rarebit. i've had great rarebit before and this was just melted cheese with bacon bits. very greasy and unappetizing and we had to ask for extra bread. i wish to return and go with the 3 course cheese/booze pairing.
(3)
Judson H.

The place was completely deserted at 6:00 on a Sunday night, but the old architecture is extremely charming and the food was excellent.
(4)
Brent M.

I've been here a couple times. I haven't tried the food yet, but the drinks are good - the drink menu has lots of variations on classic drinks. The atmosphere is nice too.
(3)
Simone G.

Like a worn leather chair: comfortable, quality and inviting; you just want to set up and stay.
(4)
Ben K.

Beware the Rarebits alone! I went here last night(3/17/2010) for RW with 3 other people. My fiance and I arrived before the other couple and sat at the bar. $5 for a Dogfish Head 60 Minute bottle is a very fair price for the neighborhood, and a nice selection. Apps: 2 of us had Rarebits. 1 had a mixed greens salad, and one had Escargot. The Rarebit-various famhouse cheeses with bits of bacon, melted down with a bit of lager, served in a skillet, was enough for the 4 of us to share. But those of us who ordered them each were stuck with the majority. That's a lot of cheese for just one person. But this was a great dish and well worth sharing. I was told that the Escargot was very good, the best he has had in Boston. We all had different entree's. I had the Sunday Gravy, thanks to Tiffany Z's review, which I agree with 100%. I didn't finish it, but I did eat all the gnocchi. The meat was so tender! My friend has the trout, which he said was cooked perfectly and served with 2 massive shrimp, beyond Jumbo. His girlfriend, my partner in Rarebit, had the scrambled eggs with black truffle butter. An absolute triumph. I'm looking to try and recreate this for Sunday morning. My fiance had the Beef Wellington, she was a little dissapointed in it. Saying it wasn't cooked the way she wanted and the sauce was too salty(thus costing the 5th star). Also the desserts were nothing special. The poritons were huge, the drinks were well priced. We all had beer except for my Rarebit partner who had a fancy cocktail, the name of which I do not recall. But she liked it. Again, I advise nobody to undertake the Rarebit dish alone. You will be sorry later. But it is good going down. We are excited to go back for more. I'll even try it for lunch sometime since it's not too far from where I work.
(4)
Sheridan W.

Fun menus. Interesting History. Good for a romantic dinner for two ( you want tables in the 80's) Wasn't in love with the service. They didn't know who ordered what. A guest of mine ordered escargot and instead got a mixed green salad. The salad was taken off the bill but we were still charged for a 20-minute late escargot. I'd go back but with hesitation.
(3)
Sean M.

There is a certain establishment in the South End that has "The Chicken" dish you must have, or at least in the late '80's and early '90's I always had 'The Chicken" when I went. To a great chef chicken is tabula rosa to make into something wonderful. I have sampled the menu at Marliave and I always enjoy what I order, but I find myself saying, "I wish I had got 'The Chicken'." This incarnation of Marliave, is more hip and vibrant than the old M was, and I have mixed feeling about the change, except when I think about "The Chicken", which is better than anything I ate at old M. The main room and bar are good for people watching and sitting upstairs or having a private party is great idea, but wherever you sit; consider having "The Chicken". Right so what is "The Chicken"? It's a large boneless breast served with garlic and mushrooms in a brown reduction sauce. Nothing too fancy, and if you don't like garlic it might not be the dish for you. For me it's Nirvana. * very good wine list, a tad pricey * excellent choice for cocktails * raw bar * great salads * oh, and try "The Chicken"!
(4)
Robert D.

As my wife and I sat at Marliave, thoroughly enjoying our meal, we both wondered: "We live down the street from this place; why did it take so long for us to find it?" The stately elegance of the restaurant itself added to this eatery's immense charm. The prices were a little on the high side, but the food was terrific. The desserts were this restaurant's weak point, though, hence the deduction of a star. Overall, it's worth a visit -- even during a snowstorm, like we did. (Also, check out the owner's other restaurant, Grotto in Beacon Hill.)
(4)
Mark S.

I would say this was one of the best meals I've had in many years. Between my family we had the Mac & cheese, escargot, sliders, gnocchi, burger, wellington, scampi, and a couple other thing (can't remember). Every dish was awesome. My wellington was perfectly cooked and delicious. I was almost too rich, but very enjoyable. The gnocchi was phenomenal and the flavors in the scampi were perfect. The mac & cheese appetizer was probably the best I've had. Tried escargot for the first time and I thought it was delicious. Very good experience and great service.
(5)
Meghan R.

Huge fan of the drink menu here -- the Waterloo gives me a Napoleonic complex, I guess, because even when I say I'm not going to get a drink, I order at least one of these. The downstairs bar is sort of retro and cool, and the bartenders are pleasant. Upstairs for dinner, our waiter paid us great attention despite being sort of busy with a larger party. My goat cheese-and-portabella sandwich? Slightly hard to eat and remain looking classy, but I did my best. Thankfully, it was delicious. Cool location, great vibe, terrible, ugly, no-locks-on-the-doors ladies room. Hey, I guess you can't have it all.
(4)
Eli G.

Had a solid 4-star meal at Marliave earlier tonight. Started with the warm beet salad. Discovered the customary roll of tangy chevre on the bottom, but this time it was pleasantly peppery and paired nicely with the arugula base. The main course was rabbit with a polenta cake. Good, though not stellar - the skin was a bit overcrisped and the sausage was too salty for my taste. Did not try desserts, though many in our party had the apple crisp and raved about it. The ambiance was nice and our waitress was attentive yet unobtrusive.
(4)
Rantn N Ravn Beauty X.

Bad experience. Went 1 time before and had RAVING REVIEWS! Came for Boston Restaurant Week...totally bad. Appparently, on SUNDAYS they just dont care. To sum it up: -Flies in my wine. 4-5 FLIES in my WINE! And debris in my partners glass. Should have left then, but slyly got new glasses. 2nd glasses at $12 a pop had UNDERFILLED, stale old wine. GREAT. -Upon arrival, table was COVERED in a layer of dust and debris, but had utensils and plates/napkins on top. Gross! I used my napkin and cleaned it myself. -Hostess was not downstairs at her stand so I went to the third floor to check in for my reservation. At the top, the hostess said to go back downstairs so she can check us in...GRR! and I quickly said I had reservations. Then she let us stay while she went downstairs. -Mussells were out. French Onion soup was delectable but sooo HOT I couldnt eat for 5-10 minutes. -Hostess or someone went to remove my soup and spoon and totally dropped it on the floor and it made a mess on my shirt. GREAT. -Partners steak frites were flavorless and overcooked. -Shrimp scampi was so piping hot I couldnt eat for a good 5 minutes! WTF! I have never been to a restarant where the food was too hot to eat. BAD JOB MARLIAVE..and I had been RAVING about how awesome this place was to everyone..embarrasing experience. Now I'm scared to go back..dammit..!!!! \ I will remove this review only if I am refunded my bill! The Ravin Bitch has spoken. :)
(1)
Peter G.

i've had the distinct pleasure of dining at marliave in the past, but just for drinks and appetizers. lunch was a whole different ball game, especially a lunch that was had during boston's oh-so-popular restaurant week. after my friend kim got out of her law school orientation prison, we jetted over to marliave for our 12:30pm reservation. we were fortunate enough to get a seat on the patio on this gloriously breezy day. they must not have had enough servers as we waited quite some time for someone to come by and grab our order. thank goodness the service had no effect on the food. kim and i both ordered the rarebits, a mixture of farmhouse cheeses, lager and bacon. a tad salty, but delicious when spread on a freshly toasted piece of bread. i chose the sunday gravy for an entree, gnocchi in a red sauce with lamb, pork and beef. the gnocchi were light and fluffy, the meat savory and sumptuous. kim and i couldn't even finish our meals; we were stuffed! cut to kim and i, waddling off into the sunset, armed with our marliave leftovers. i look forward to tucking into my uneaten shortcake...perhaps for a mid-afternoon snack? :)
(4)
Matt H.

Great place, even better service and drink menu. This is a great date spot or place for a few drinks. We went on a Friday night (reservations a good idea), I would ask for the upstairs dining room, it's a little more formal and has nice views. The cheese plate and drink and wine menus were highlights. Food was very good, not quite great but for the money I left very happy. Our server (Emory I think) was fantastic, always there when you want him but he did that without being overbearing, he knew the menu quite well. We'll be back.
(4)
Heather G.

Marliave was OK. i wanted to love it - it's conveniently located and my roommate adores it. Here are the issues: 1. can't a girl get an egg dish at brunch that does not have some sort of mushroom in it? 2. what's with the high-ticket and heavy items offered at 11am on sunday? 3. went the other day for brunch (which turned into us ordering lunch because there were only 3 egg options), and it was DEAD. so empty. not only that, but with my boyfriend and me being one of two tables filled, the entire second floor seemed echo-y, cold, and uninviting. 4. We had to sit at a table near the kitchen to have any heat. The entire restaurant was freezing cold, uncomfortably so. 5. All the bread is very dense. It lacked a light-and-squishy quality I so adore in a sandwich-item. 6. The food is unremarkable. Steak and burger were sub par and while i understand ordering steak and burgers isn't really exporing the menu, it was brunch on a sunday and it was the best alternative to not having an egg-option. It did have some redeeming qualities: 1. the olive oil was delicious and, though i'm not for a strong olive flavor, it was very satisfying 2. the fries are very good. I would rank these top 3 in boston after Kingston Station perhaps before Neptune Oyster I would go back one more time to try something else, but they only get one more shot from this girl!
(2)
Tony K.

Been here twice within the last couple months and will definitely be back again. The first time was a man-date and the second time a date-date. Marliave is definitely better for the later - nice enough to be romantic but far from stuffy or fancy. The menu covers a wide range - from sandwiches to creative entrees - all with a bistro-inspired-but-a-cut-above feel. The cocktail menu is pretty good. I liked the Warren G. Harding, kind of a variation on the mint julep. Beer selection leaves a lot to be desired, but hey - its not exactly a beer kind of place.
(4)
Nancy F.

This was my second time back. I had to try the Osso Bucco which was falling off the bone tender and so tasty. Just too much to eat. Service was nice-there only when you need someone.
(5)
Emily H.

Had lunch here with a business prospect-upstairs. Amazing lunch and an amazing place. Why? Well, because I am little bit tired of the polished boutique scene today and think that frankly this place which is rather old should be slammed which it was not. Minimal decor means the bones of the place shows and I think that it was perfect for a business lunch and could be for a bite with a friend. It has winding staircase and one can eat in different areas but we went upstairs and had a great succulent pastrami sammy that was not too big. I also had a few cheeses and thought that people coming to the restaurant and its first impression might not convey that this is a great restaurant. Also had a salad and it was good. Okay, so I am nostalgic and appreciate businesses that have been around. As opposed to the slick new, I think that on occasion, going to a classic place makes a meal memorable- even if the food is "meh" which I do not think it is here. If you are around the downtown and the COMMONS, find this place on Bosworth in an alley. Even the bathroom door handle made me smile.
(4)
Camille H.

The atmosphere is quite nice--they've got a modern, upscale French bistro vibe. The food is good but all the options are very rich. A few light options would be great. It's a fun place for a date or night out with friends.
(3)
Meg M.

Holy Eff is this place sick. LOVE LOVE LOVE IT. I went here last night with the boy before a movie and we had never been here before. I enlisted the help of my yelpers to find me a place close to the common that was half deece for dinner and we decided on Marliave after some genius on here suggested it. First off, it was like a monsoon outside so we werent suprised when we were basically alone at the bar until the end of our meal ( we also went at like 5pm ). We started with a Dogfish 60 minute (boy) and a glass of the Pinot Noir that was fantastical. Then we got the rarebits. OK PEOPLE IF YOU GO TO MARLIAVE AND DONT HAVE THE RAREBITS YOU ARE A HORSES ARSE. Its like 4 different cheeses, huge chunks of thick cut bacon and beer all sizzling in a pan with toasted peices of bread on the side. AHHH Yes. Please. Schedule your EKG for directly after eating this... or at least a brisk walk to the theater which is the route we chose. For dinner I had the chefs risotto of the day. Duck with a mushroom and sweet pea risotta. STOP IT. I CANT DEAL. So delicious. My boyfriend was laughing at me OOOOOOOOing and MMMMMMing all the way through the meal. He had a pork dish with gnocchi and some amazing sausagey things. Sorry I wasnt paying much attention to his because as I stated earlier I was entering my own little food coma. Anyway, the decor is super crisp and hip looking, the bartenders were awesome and the food ... yum! Oh yea and they played oldies!!! Marliave... I'll see you soon.
(5)
Dolores H.

Yummy food, great atmosphere. Another reviewer said the upstairs was stuffy, but I like the upstairs. It's a bit more formal, but beautiful. The room is surrounded by big glass windows and there are holiday lights outside on the railing which light up the room like hundreds of little candles. I'm told the scene is amazing when it snows. The bar is old-fashioned -- there are no flavored vodkas or anything like that. The drinks are great. Like the food, they're creative without being gimmicky. The staff is very friendly and relaxed. I really enjoy eating here. Plus, in the summer you can sit on the patio with your dog.
(5)
Bev M.

My son had the steak frites and very nearly licked his plate clean, and I had the Brick Chicken, Which. Was. Spectacular. You wouldn't think that a basic dish like roasted chicken and risotto could be so elegant and delicious, but you'd be wrong. Crispy outside, tender and moist inside, and the risotto was creamy and tasty and fragrant. Absolute perfection. I know some other reviewers here complained about the small portion sizes; we thought it was exactly right. Not so little that you felt ripped off, and not so massively huge that we couldn't have dessert. WHICH, beeteedubs, was ALSO delish! I had the butterscotch pudding, creamy, tangy, lovely candied ginger on top of homemade whipped cream; my son had the chocolate cake/ice cream, and he couldn't have been more pleased with it. Was it cheap? No. Our meal was $100, which may be small potatoes to some Boston diners, but it's not to us. And we were so pleased, felt like we got a great value for our dining dollar, and will def return.
(4)
Julie B.

i really did enjoy my marliave experience, but i did find some faults... the drinks are fun and imaginative (although not the tastiest), and the food is actually quite good, but a tad pricey for what you get. my date and i started off by splitting the bacon/cheese appetizer - which essentially was a pot of fondue with only 3 little pieces of bread - but we ate the sh!t out of it (using our forks). it was as good as i'm sure it was bad for you, but the lack of things to dip in it made me sad. for our entrees, i went with the trout while my date ordered the ravioli. my dish was slammin, and i was more than pleased with my entree size, but i felt a little sorry for the ravioli dish... only 5 raviolis? come on! this immediately made me calculate how much it was per ravioli, and i couldn't help but watch my date devour his delicious $3.20 pieces of cheese-filled pasta only to want/expect more. all in all, it's definitely worth the try if you can foot a semi-steep bill. i'd recommend it, and more than likely will go back.
(4)
Stacy M.

OK, so my first date with Marliave was so fabulous, I was spellbound. I'm still infatuated with their drinks, so much so that the BF and I plunked down $12 for a bottle of Lillet so we could try to recreate the beverages at home. But the food gets a solid 'o.k.'. Good, but nothing to write home about.
(3)
Mindy A.

Went to Marliave a third time, for lunch yet again. This time, my friend and I happened to stop in at the tail end of restaurant week. They had almost their entire menu included in the restaurant week deal--three courses for lunch for just over $20. WOW! I thought to myself, there must be some kind of catch...the portions must be small or something. But, to my surprise, they weren't! They were the regular, dinner size portions of almost every appetizer, entree, and dessert, included in the $20 restaurant week deal. Blew me away, totally. The best restaurant week deal I've come across in the city, by far. I had the mussels, the trout, and the butterscotch pudding, and it was all heavenly. Great quality, great portions, and amazing price! Every time I visit this place I like it a little bit more!
(5)
Megan W.

Marliave is a rare find in a city full of sub-par restaurants. The drinks are some of the most flavorful and unique in the city. $10's a pop, but they use great liquor. Some of the best things about the menu: you can spend as little as $12 or more than $50 a person and be full. If you are looking for a delicious filling and less expensive option: the Mr. Marliave sandwich is for you. The truffle mac and cheese is rich and filling as well (although an appetizer). If you have the chance to spend an extra couple bucks- try the polenta cakes as a side. The only reason I did not give this a 5 is because I most recently got slightly sick after eating the rabbit entree. As a disclaimer, I had never eaten rabbit before, and so it might have just been my adventurous side got the best of me. The deserts are delicious (butterscotch pudding). The waitstaff has always been a bit on the slower side, but always friendly, accommodating, and very knowledgeable about the menu. Great atmosphere. Takes reservations- so on an evening weekend, call ahead.
(4)
Valerie F.

My first and last time visiting Marliave was not a pleasant one. My friend and I hadn't even been there for 20 minutes when the waitress brought our drinks to the table and spilled my friend's entire drink all over her, breaking the glass. She was soaked and had a pile of glass in her lap, her purse was also soaked through. We should have left after that but we decided to stay for dinner which was very disappointing. We both got the ravioli which was a plate full of salt, I couldn't even finish it. At no point did the manager come over to apologize and they didn't even take my friends meal off the bill, we had to ask them to do so. If she had gotten pulled over for any reason she would have been arrested for reeking of liquor. Very disappointed after reading such great reviews.
(1)
Joyce F.

On the spur of the moment I decided to visit my daughter at Emerson on a recent Thursday night. We walked towards Beacon Hill looking for a place to get a bite. My daughter spied Marliave's sign down the alley and it somehow grabbed our attention. We looked at the menu outside and decided to try it. Wonderful choice! The ambience on the second floor is lovely..and the food fabulous! We had a chacuterie board with 3 cheeses and salumi, all of which were delicious. The lavender honey and fig puree a sweet touch. We ordered both raw oysters and little necks which were fresh, served perfectly with the standard cocktail sauce and lemon but also with a prosecco drizzle which was sublime! I had the "brick chicken" over mushroom risotto which was perfect for a raw damp night. The chicken was cooked perfectly...crisp outside...moist inside and the risotto was creamy and earthy , a wonderful base for the chicken. Although my daughter ordered something as simple as the "wedge salad" with avocado and eggs, everything was extremely fresh and she had enough to take back for a midnight snack. We finished our meal with the warm tapioca pudding which was heavenly! Topped with fresh whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce....it was a perfect finish for a wonderful serendipitous dinner! The topping on the cake was our waitress Kate....fun, attentive, and never overbearing .. extremely knowledgeable about all food and beverage choices...she made it a perfect night! I will definitely return!
(4)
Michael C.

Marliave is my favorite restaurant in the city. Period. And I've tried a lot of restaurants in search of the perfect one. No one else can top it.
(5)
Mark S.

Fantastic experience. The food was wonderful and the service was great. Highly recommend this restaurant.
(4)
Ellie L.

I'll start by saying that the food was SO GOOD. I had the steak frites and it was amazing. The pumpkin bread pudding was also great, as was the wine we ordered. Definitely would give it five stars if it hadn't been for the meh service. When I called to make a reservation for 10 people for my friend's birthday (who was visiting from out of town, no less), I was told on the phone that it would be no problem to split the check and they would bring our birthday girl cake and ice cream. Service was great until it was time to pay. My friend also had asked the server if we could do separate checks before we ordered. But she brought us one check and asked us to list the names on our cards and how much to put on each card. This was a huge pain in the you-know-what because the bottle of wine had to be split, entrees had been split, etc. AND all four steak and frites were listed together which required us to do crazy math to figure it out. To top it off, she couldn't split the gratuity/tax proportionally among us. The server wasn't a bad person or a bad server, it just seems like she needed more training. Overall, I'd go back again in a heartbeat for the food and ambiance, but never if I had to split the check more than two ways.
(4)
Stacey A.

Impressive. Great food and an excellent value, at least downstairs. They change up their risotto often - last night it was mushroom and tomato risotto with lamb. Awesome, the flavors were wonderful and the lamb was a true medium rare, you gotta love a place that knows how to cook its meat. My friend had the trout, which was lovely. Even the bread stands out, the texture and flavor are great and they serve it with a very strong, yummy olive oil. I did not try any of the cocktails but had a large, really good glass of wine for a very good price considering how absurdly wine is marked up. The service was actually very good too, she was extremely attentive and helpful, even though we were kind of a pain in the ass and took forever to order. I would give it a B for decor and atmosphere as it does seem unfinished right now. And though I understand what they're trying to achieve (old-school, classic charm, etc.), I do think it needs a bit of a facelift. There's a fine line between 'retro' and 'just plain old', and I'm not sure Marliave is finding the proper balance just yet. They just need to smooth out some of the rough edges and this place will be perfect.
(4)
Anna F.

I will have to write more when I have had the chance to have a proper meal. Had plans to go to Silvertone, which was crowded as usual in the happy hour, so a friend suggested the Marliave. I was blown away by the marble bar and the generally sleek, clean, antique ambiance. This is definitely an ideal place to impress a date. My drinks were unique, tasty and under $10. The cheese plate was the only thing costing the Marliave it's 5th star. For $12 there was about 4 teaspoons of cheese and three small pieces of french bread which I and my two compatriots tried valiantly to share.Otherwise, friendly waitstaff and excellent digs. Will be back.
(4)
Sandy L.

This place is apparently the 3rd oldest restaurant in Boston. I really liked the decor and the ambiance. The food was good, but nothing spectacular. The oysters were okay... they were very cheap. After 9pm, they have $1 oysters. I got the Scallops Ravioli and thought that it was just way too salty. I tried the Wellington Beef and it was definitely much better than my dish. The highlight of the meal was definitely the Tapioca Pudding. It was AMAZING. I would go back just for that dessert.
(3)
Alex A.

Been here about 5 times now, and I've always got the cotes du rhone wine with the beef carpaccio and mushroom risotto. Every time we come here, thats what I get, and it's phenomenal every time. There's just something about being able to go to a restaurant knowing what you want, having it prepared the way you always expect, and having it taste as awesome as it always does. I haven't explored the rest of the food or drink menu much to give an opinion on those, but the beef carpaccio and mushroom risotto are worth missing out on any other goodness on their menus.
(5)
Cerise M.

Awesome dishes, everything I had everytime I came here was nearly perfection. Some of my favorites are their pasta dishes, escargot app, and most of their side dishes (fries, brussel sprouts with bacon) Also top your meal with their chocolate cake with choco liquor ice cream...yumm... And to make everything better, they also have 1.5 oyster/1 dollar clams happy hour everyday between 4-6pm and 9-10pm. Their oysters are super fresh with one of the best mignonette I've ever tasted. What more can I say? :)
(5)
Ryan W.

We went here during Restaurant Week which is usually a time when I avoid most restaurants, however the Marliave is definitely an exception. This is one of the THE BEST values and experiences you can have during restaurant week. They let you choose and app, entree and dessert from their REGULAR menu. I had the beef carpaccio, beef wellington and chocolate cake. My wife had the seafood salad (awesome), tuna and mixed berries. Each and everyone one of our dishes were executed perfectly. I don't normally have my beef wrapped in a pastry crisp, but this was too good to pass up. The wine menu had a good variety that paired well with all the food and was reasonably priced. We didn't have any cocktails, but others around us said the cocktails are reason enough to come here. Marliave has one of the best and most unique patios in the city. You are surrounded by old and new Boston in a quaint little alley. The restaurant next door, Mast, had a jazz/lounge singer adding to the ambiance on Friday night. If weather permits, try to get a patio seat! Restaurant Week aside, we will be back as the food and service here are great.
(5)
Ojus P.

Came here for restaurant week lunch so big caveat. Classy feel and a nice formal but not stuffy atmosphere. Started with the short rib onion soup and it was decent but lacked the thickness and richness of flavor of the best onion soups. Entree was mushroom risotto and it was a little simple in flavor and undersalted. Quite a large portion even for an entree. Dessert was definitely the highlight with berries in simple syrup which was a great way to finish the event. Overall, fine dining experience but not in a rush to go back, especially at the regular prices.
(3)
Nandanie S.

Oh Marliave, you went and dazzled me. It felt like I stepped into the 30s with the swanky decor and ambiance. All that was missing was swanky swing music. Oh my. Decided to come here for dine out boston, and we were pleasantly surprised at all aspects. Portions, service, and of course the lovely food. Hubs and I sat at the bar and got drinks before our reservations began. I got a Waterloo. He got a beer. My drink had gin, champagne and lemon. So good I ordered another with dinner. Dinner. We got the mac and cheese to start. This thing was like gnocchi mac and cheese. No way was this an appetizer nor did it feel like one. It was huge and tasty. Did I mention huge? Hehe. Entrees consisted of risotto and the steak frites. Both were the same as the appetizer. Huge portion and it was tasty. I don't like Gorgonzola so the waitress subbed truffle butter for a small charge, which was nice of her. Desserts included butterscotch pudding and a trio of ice creams (salted caramel and raspberry cheeeecake). If anyone knows me, I went nuts for the salted caramel. Very nice and I'd love to come back. Thanks Kami F for the recommendation :)
(5)
Chenkai L.

My reviews are normally a bit biased based on price, the more expensive a place is, the higher the bar is for a good rating. But this place deserves the 5 stars despite of being a relatively pricey restaurant. Me and my girlfriend came here for the their happy hour 5-7pm ($1.5 oysters, $1 clams). The oysters and clams we got were extremely fresh and comes with the perfect sauce to eat it with. We also got a couple cocktails and they were delicious. We had a order of truffle fries ($10) and the portion was huge, we got at least 1lb of truffle fries well seasoned with truffle oil, cheese, and spices. We also shared a order of risotto, the waitress assumed we were sharing and brought out two plates of half portion, how nice! The risotto was delicious and very well done. The service was fast and pleasantly, we will definitely return!
(5)
Becca P.

Good ambience. Decent service and the food is okay. Came here for restaurant week and I liked everything but wasn't 'wow'd.' I would give a 3.5 if I could. Started with sliders and mussels. My friend liked her sliders. Two meatballs on mini buns. The mussels I had were pretty good. Chewy. Not overly cooked. The broth was herb buttery. Good portion. We had the steak frites and gnocchi for entrees. Steak was made as ordered (medium rare) and my friend liked it but didn't finish. Fries were crunchy. The gnocchi was disappointing. The meat that accompanied the plate was tender/flavorful but the gnocchi was hard and doughy. I felt like I was eating old pasta. For dessert, we got the sundae and the truffles. Amazing! Nice chocolate-y end to a meal. They fancy-fied the sundae. The brownies with the vanilla ice cream was phenomenal. Overall, I like Marliave and I have been here before for dinner (beef wellington -superb). I don't know if I would come back here though. I feel like they are good but not unique enough. They lack that wow factor with their food.
(3)
Derek C.

I just love Marliave. The interior is so charming; it's very authentically French with it's second floor balconies, and dangerously steep staircase to the 2nd floor. I'm not a huge fan of French but what I had here was delish and it won't break the bank. Really good service. Usually I enjoy just going to the bar with a friend, their cocktail menu is really good.
(4)
Mea H.

Only five days in Boston and we went here twice. It would have been three times, but once we were too late. My boyfriend is allergic to seafood (tragic, I know) and as we love to share, we limited our dinner options to the land-based. We had the wild mushroom risotto, the Sunday Gravy: gnocchi with lamb ragout, and the bacon-fat coked brussels sprouts. They came out oh-so-fancy in silver domed plates which were then removed in a classy flourish. And such flavor! Such tender gnocchi, such umami-filled risotto, such savory-firm brussels! They got it all right, the taste, the texture, the smells. Afterward, we had the best tapioca pudding I've ever had. Big, round tapioca pods, little flecks of real vanilla bean, and a lovely M swirled in caramel. Heavenly. Our second visit to Marliave was solely for the cocktails and this tapioca pudding. I took four photos here because not only was everything delicious, but it was also beautiful. The holiday decor was understated and classy, and the drinks were strong, tasty, and embellished. As if I even needed a reason to return, I am a seafood lover, and would gladly come back here for fish or oysters.
(5)
Rachel L.

So, I'm about to make a very bold statement.... Are you ready? The Marliave is my favorite restaurant. Not just my favorite in Boston, or my favorite French, or my favorite with a cheese list so great it makes me weep, but I'm talking my favorite favorite. Of all time. Ever. Anywhere. Number one. Numero uno. I mean, basically, I am in love. Marliave, will you marry me? I've had lunch here twice and both visits were flawless. I go by myself and I sit at the bar and take my sweet ass time with everything and drop a Benjamin all on myself and you know what? It feels amazing. Their cocktail list is awesome. There are options for whatever your jam happens to be at the moment. Yesterday, I enjoyed the Henry Marliave, last time I had the Plymouth Mule. The cranberry shrub is out of this world. Their wine list is also phenom so, basically? Heaven. I started with a selection of 3 cheeses which come with sugared walnuts and quince paste and a beautiful "M" swirled on the plate in clover honey. Just stop it right now, Marliave. You're making everyone else look bad! Here's a nerdy fact about me....I've always wanted to be "that" girl who orders oysters and prosecco and looks cool as hell doing it. Except I'm not cool as hell and oysters scare me. Or rather, they did up until yesterday when my awesome bartender/server held my hand and walked me through ordering one solo little bivalve that turned out to be absolutely divine. Their mignonette is perfection and the oyster was so fresh it might have been plucked that morning. Side note: Plucked? Caught? Harvested? Snatched up? What's correct? Who cares? It was delicious. This hamburger, you guys. This hamburger has ruined me. I'm not exaggerating either. I don't even know, because it is as big as a baseball and almost as round so HOW is the outside so perfectly seared and seasoned and the inside is actually uniformly cooked to the perfect medium rare?? No, really! How do they do it? It must be magic...And that brioche bun? Soft and fluffy with a buttery, crunchy toasted inside? It's downright unfair.I got the burger with greens on the side in lieu of fries because I'm obviously a health nut. The greens were dressed so lightly that I almost asked for more dressing before tasting them but OF COURSE these guys know a thing or two and they were, in fact, perfect, just the way they were served. I never have room for dessert and I probably never will and I am totally ok with that because honestly, I'd really just like it if somebody could tell me where I can order a second stomach so that next time I come, I can get two of everything. Or possibly four. So, to sum up here before I start to cry from missing it, Marliave's food, service, atmosphere, cocktails, cheese, wine list - all impeccable. Not a flaw to be found. It's my happy place, my all time favorite ever.
(5)
Michael R.

Nice restaurant off the beaten path and close to the Orpheum. The food and drink selection was good, I just expected more for the price. Service was decent, but a little slow.
(3)
Carol C.

Came here for happy oysters and some cocktails. First off, be warned that the oysters during hh (4-6) are no longer $1, but $1.50. Not much of a difference, but still good to know. Clams are still $1. We ordered the professor and the dove for cocktails. Nothing bad, but nothing too amazing either. Ordered tuna tartar as well, but for $16, it was definitely not worth it. It was super bland and not fresh. Our order also came out incorrectly, despite the fact that we were 1 party out of 3 in the entire restaurant. All in all, not impressed, and will not be coming back or recommending.
(3)
Tuli S.

Service was pretty terrible. Our waiter had to be flagged down every single time we wanted to order food or a drink. He was more attentive to other tables, not sure why. We also didn't receive bread or olive oil until our bus boy checked in on us after we ordered oysters and apps (he actually helped us out more than the waiter). We tried the Wellfleet and Duxbury oysters. Both were fresh and the happy hour price was great. We also ordered the escargot. Super yummy and the snails were larger than the other places I've been to in Boston. My bf and I split the beef wellington which was small but good. Totally not worth 38. It was underwhelming and I was expecting a lot more. The meat was tender but I couldn't taste any foie. We ordered the chocolate cake with salted caramel ice cream for dessert. Yum yum yum. The cake was more like a lava cake and the ice cream was delicious. I would come back for the oysters, escargot and dessert. The wellington was not worth it and none of the other entrees looked great to me.
(3)
Kristopher L.

Went there on Saturday night around 9 just in time for $1.5 oysters. Oysters were very good and not the really thin ones that some other places offer. The the entree I got the seared tuna and it was delicious. The tuna melted in your mouth.
(5)
Annie S.

I had an amazing dinner here. Everything is just perfect. I ordered the beef carpaccio, a dozen oysters, and the escargot for appetizers. They were all excellent! The escargot was buttery, creamy and cheesy, just delicious! For the entrees, I got the chicken breast with mushroom risotto and both were top notch. Its easy to overcook chicken and have it ten out dry but this was a well cooked dish. The risotto was great too. I'm always happy when I go to a restaurant and have the server actually knows which wines pair well with what. Our server was kind, courteous, and very knowledgeable in the wines as well as the dishes. I also enjoyed the ambiance of the restaurant. I'll definitely be returning here and would recommend to everyone.
(5)
Nancy H.

Dine Out Boston review! $38 for three courses. Free bread starter with clarified butter, escargot app, seared tuna main, and chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream dessert. One thing that stood out to me was how loud it was in the restaurant. The buzz of everyone talking made me feel like I had to shout across the table to be heard. Anyways, the food was marvelous. I love escargot and that garlic oil it's normally in and it was super tender. ( I also used that garlic oil to dip the starter bread in since I wasn't really feeling the butter.) The seared tuna was melt in your mouth healthy protein accompanied with lentils cooked in chicken broth with onion and carrots. The mini brussels sprouts were great too! And finally, the dessert. I would have had the chocolate lava cake and the pumpkin pudding had I been able to stuff any more food into that belly of mine. The hubby got the seafood soup, which wasn't as flavorful as the escargot but was light yet creamy at the same time ( yeah, I know, sounds impossible but it was good). He got beef Wellington for the first time and for us it was a first. I was surprised it was sweet, but he loved it. Cooked medium rare and oh so nice tender. And of course, he ended with the pumpkin pudding which was nice after a heavy red meat meal. Service was prompt and nice. There were so many people waiting on us. One to take our order, one to bring it, and one to take it away. I would definitely try this place for oysters, cheese and drinks. I'm glad I finally came to check this place out after I missed out last year.
(4)
Chris L.

I came here for restaurant week with a buddy of mine. I'm going to straight off say that if I paid original price for my meal, I would not be a happy camper. Service: our waitress was excellent. Very nice and attentive. She was on top of filling up our drinks and came back to check on us every once in a while Food: i would give it a thumbs up- average. None of the flavors really popped out at me. The Mac and cheese was ok but too runny for my taste. The mussels were alright as well- no real flavor to the sauce. The steak frites were good but the steak was overcooked on the outside and raw on the inside. More of a well/rare and not a medium rare. Fries perfectly seasoned and delicious with the rosemary herbs on top. The trout is a healthier option, it's pan fried but presented nicely with shrimp, spinach and tomato. Very clean, unadulterated dish. Desseet: the Brownie Sunday was saccharine. I never had brownies that sweet before. I would stick to the truffles or berries and cream. Overall, a nice place to try for the restaurant week special.
(3)
Tamara W.

This place is really cool. Came here for a post Thursday cocktail outing with 2 girlfriends. We got patio seating which was really nice since Boston has few patios/rooftop bars. The good: excellent service the "experiment" cocktail is GREAT I changed my drink and they didn't charge me you can eat on the patio without needing to get food (feels like this is illegal at every other restaurant but not here...) overall really great, fun, not too touristy gem in Boston and will for sure come back. The food looks pretty over priced/standard which is why this place doesn't get 5 stars; however for service, cocktails, and cool vibe its an A+ and I will for sure come back!
(4)
Ben L.

I am not the biggest person on fancy pants restaurants with "fine dining" and all that, nothing against it, just not my cup of tea. But after having this place, I cant say that im going to like fine dining now, but it really did come to expectations where I get my moneys worth of having top quality food. Atmosphere: When I think of fine dining, I had some expectation of calm and a tranquil ambience. But in reality after walking inside and to the top floor, its actually as loud as a sports bar. I dont have full complaints on that though, it just seem that it's a fine dining restaurant that's more for groups of people rather than a couple on a date. Just throwing it out there in case a yelper wants to propose to his girlfriend. Service: Definitely top, we had waters filled the whole time and the server kept her smile and made sure we were having a great experience. didnt mess up a thing during it. Food: Most important part. I usually think, if big portion, the better it is for me at the restaurant. I definitely like to take home my meals. I'd say its quite fair though, if any less, I would feel like i was completely ripped off. I went during restaurant week, so I was a little limited on what I can choose. I was eating with 2 other people so we all ordered something different to try each other's food. To make it shorter and simple, the meat was extremely tender, the seafood tasted like it was caught 5 minutes before, and everything seem to be cooked to perfection adding in its flavor. astounding experience. Price: Of course its a little on the steep side of seeing the damage. But I would have to say to a young person like me who isnt really into fine dining. It's surely something to try if you love food. That's why going out on restaurant week is probably the best option even though I paid about $50 with tip. I honestly thought i was going to hate to spend money on mediocre overpriced food. But having it giving me a new taste is kind of worth it to me.
(4)
Aunt L.

As much as I wanted to give more for this place, I just couldn't. It receives 3-stars because of the effort, outside dining choice and the service and most importantly, they took reservations. We ordered salads where were just ordinary, but then again, it's just leaves. Husband had the steak frites and I had the Wellington. They were both good, but nothing to write home about either. The steak was prepared more on the rare side, could have used a little bit more red wine sauce and although there were mushrooms, I did not note any truffles. For dessert, I tried chocolate cake and ice cream - again, nothing too extraordinary. The price overall for dinner, I had expected a little more and just got ordinary.
(3)
Janice C.

I needed to show my sister some important Yelpy insights. 1. Happy hours are your best friend. 2.Even better if they're within a two block radius of your hotel. 3. Oysters at $1.50 each aren't a steal -- they're a miracle. 4. Cocktails need to be stiff and at half the price. My sis is now ready to go out and conquer the world. Thanks Marliave!
(5)
Sandy C.

Lovely spot in historic Boston- the quality matches the longevity of this restaurant (since 1875). Lovely outdoor dining on the second floor....we were fortunate to drop in during restaurant week asks we enjoyed the 3 courses for $38- any choice from the entree, main and dessert menu - I enjoyed the grilled lobster salad and grilled scallops with sweet potato ravioli and pumpkin seeds; my husband had the fresh tomatoe with mozzarella salad and the trout. Nice wine list, service and desserts....a nice find on our walk back to the hotel!
(5)
Kristy W.

Coming from Reno, it's been important for me on this trip to the east coast to...consume as many oysters as humanly possible. Marliave definitely helped out with endeavor, as they are pretty much the only oyster happy hour in town. $1.50/each, with a variety of flavors available is the best deal in town I've found, but if you can find better go with that. So, needless to say, I only ate oysters here. The waitress was super friendly, attentive, and helpful. When the expo didn't know what types of oysters we had, she went back and made sure to let us know so we could specify which ones we wanted for our second round. We had a bottle of champagne (I swear the hubs was trying to seduce me--champagne and oysters??), and she kept our glasses filled. While the quality of oysters wasn't quite as good as somewhere like Neptune, they were fresh, salty, and tasty. Some of them were half-shucked, which is a bit of a challenge when you expect them to just slide down your throat, but I just made sure a gave them a little jiggle before I went in for the kill. If you're looking to drown yourselves in oysters, Marliave is the place to check out.
(4)
Ryan A.

I ate lunch here today and it was awesome! The meatball sliders were extremely delicious and the steak frites were cooked to perfection. The space was charming. You feel like you're eating in a French bistro. The service was friendly and very fast. There's nothing to dislike here. 5 stars. Quick side note: if you're seated upstairs, be careful (especially when consuming alcohol) going up and down as the stairs are steep, narrow and winding.
(5)
Linda T.

We had dinner reservations at 7:30 for a group of 10 and did not managed to be seated until almost 25 minutes later. I did however love the view as we reached our table. It felt as if we were dining in France. I very much enjoyed the starters we ordered which were muscles, oysters, escargot, and prosciutto. However when it came to the entree...I was not very pleased BUT I blame that on myself for ordering what I did...which was the rabbit. I was expecting rabbit meat to cut into but I was spending half of my meal wondering where it was. Turned out it was in sausage form wrapped around prosciutto. I did enjoy the creamy polenta but my appetite was lost after spending so much time confused and dissatisfied with the rest of my dish. I thought it was quite entertaining how the waiters lift the lids off our entrees in such synchronization. Sadly that may have been the highlight of my experience at Marliave. The next time I come back I sure know what NOT to order.
(3)
Marie C.

I came here with me husband. The bread was old, very dry, and is a "homemade bread". The onion soup was delicious. We ordered the steak and fries, was normal and the Sunday gravy, the sauce was just tomato paste with water, a big chunks of ribs, I have ordered this before and was excellent but today was "0 points" The brownie with vanilla gelato was really good.
(3)
Gastronomic D.

Been trying all these highly recommended restaurants all week. Some good and some not so good. so tonight my son and I were kinda tired and didnt feel like venturing out, so I notice this place close by and said let's try it. What a pleasant surprise. Food was just very straight forward, no frills, not pretentious, good food. Some of the items were a little salt heavy, but other then that ok.
(3)
Yuk L.

After a few visits with different parties, I feel it's high time to put in my two cents. My most recent trip was included a friend who, unfortunately, really could not appreciate the menu or the cocktail list. She asked me if I thought Marliave had an apple martini. Needless to say, the answer is no. She went on to completely deconstruct their chicken dish which is the only thing she ever eats. No mushroom, no cheese, etc....she was served a chicken breast on a plate with a side salad. I found it very amusing that she had the gall to comment feeling left out of the service that our other guest and myself received when our entrees were serve with "flair". Well, what did you expect? Dear Marliave, I apologize for my companion's inability to appreciate the food and cocktails at your fine establishment. Now onto the food, atmosphere, etc. My various visits have all been very pleasant. I partook in the oyster happy hour during one of my visits and was not disappointed. The french onion soup and escargot were also sampled during that visit. The three together were a perfect little meal. My second visit was an impromptu visit for a party of four. Luckily, they were able to seat us and we proceeded to have have wonderful meal. I savored my risotto dish one of my companions partook in the rabbit. This party also include a friend with restrictions but he asked the kitchen to just toss together a simple pasta dish. Everyone was happy with their entree and their drinks. My most recent visit included sampling the rarebit appetizer which was gooey and delish! I finally went with the beef wellington and savored each bite. One of these days I will go for the omelet!
(4)
Rae Lynne K.

Need reservations. You can try and get in at the bar, or take your chances and get a table before an existing reservation, but who wants to rush? Definitely not you.... The food is worth making the reservations, and also worth the wait. Drinks: the marliave was light and delicious - a must try. I also had a glass of malbec which was superb. They have quite a large menu of drinks, all which looked delicious but after trying the marliave, I decided that nothing else was worth trying that night. Appetizer: rarebits are one of my new favorite must try foods. Now don't get me wrong I'm all about cheese and black iron skillets. After seeing at least 5 of the black skillets passing me by, we decided that all those people must be on to something. And yes, by gosh, they were definitely on to something that was beyond delicious and worth a taste. I could have eaten one of the skillets by myself, but decided that sharing was worth it. I highly recommend the rarebits. Dinner: after a very difficult decision between beef wellington, risotto, chicken, and rabbit, I settled on rabbit. My friend chose the beef wellington so I was able to sample this as well. I must say the palate was not disappointed. The rabbit was not over cooked, was nice and tender. The beef wellington had just the right amount of flavor, and was superb. Our other dining companion tried the chicken, but I wasn't able to partake in that meal, although it did look delicious. After dinner we were beyond full so decided to skip dessert. But there are some definite good looking choices for dessert. The atmosphere is a little on the darker side, but the ambiance is great when you are looking for a nice dinner restaurant. The place is a little bit on the louder side, but that means to me that everyone there is having a great time and enjoying themselves. It is a must try when you are in Boston, I will definitely be going back next time I am in town.
(4)
Lauren A.

My boyfriend and I went here for the first time last night. We had read the reviews online and had to see what the hype was about; it lived up to our expectations! We started with the mac and cheese and we could have ended there it was so satisfying. We actually took half home so we wouldn't be too full for our meal. I am a mac and cheese aficionado and this was one of the best I've had in my life. The hand cut pasta makes the dish and the portion is hearty esp for an appetizer. The combo of cheeses was perfect. My boyfriend ordered the osso buco which he said was one of the best meals he's ever had. It was fall off the bone and a very large pork shank. The homemade orecchiette was delicious and tender. I had the scallops with the sweet potato ravioli. It was good, not great. The ravioli were under cooked and the 4 scallops for $32 was a little over the top. We opted out of dessert because we prefer Bova's over anything else (run, don't walk). 4 stars due to prices being a little high and the just about average scallop dish. Service was great, the one cocktail I had was solid (something lemonade and vodka) and the wine was delicious. Great beer selection too. We will definitely be back!
(4)
Dannie W.

I tried this restaurant during boston restaurant week. I ordered Insalata Di Mare, which have lobster, shrimp, squid, and greens. It looks and tastes really good. The tuna was ok. The desert is the mixed berries and cream. They are fresh too. I also ordered fresh clams and oysters. They have half price raw bar from 4-6pm and 9-10pm. The original price is $3 per oyster and $2 per clam. They also have oyster from 4 different locations. Each of them tastes a little different from each other. Some taste more sweet and some taste more salty. The dining environment is good too.
(4)
Maja N.

Overall, this was a really great experience. My sister-in-law and I ate here before the ballet. Although the setting is a bit strange (might be the snow that makes the street look deserted) the inside is large, stretching over 3 floors. We were seated on the top floor near a window with nice views of Boston. The atmosphere was great with neat tables elegantly dressed in white linen. Our server was funny but professional and really lovely. The food came with just the right amount of time between courses and we were able to take out time and enjoy. We ordered off the dine out Boston menu which, unlike most places, gave you lots of choices (probably 8-10 in each category). I had the escargot to start which was delicious and perfectly cooked, followed by the beef wellington and the chocolate cake for dessert. The beef in the Wellington was definitely medium-rare, which I love, but my sister thought it was a bit too rare (she had the tuna though!). The only complaint is the pastry wasn't very well cooked with a soggy bottom and the top not quite crisp enough. I also prefer a bit more pastry - here it was quite thin. i recognize it's very hard to cook a perfect Wellington but it was a bit disappointing for a restaurant of this calibre (and I considered knocking a star off for it). The chocolate cake (molten center!) with a generous scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, however, made up for it! My sister really enjoyed here rarebits, tuna, and box of truffles. All in all, a great meal and I can't wait to go back with my husband!
(5)
Alena K.

After coming here for the first time last week, I definitely want to go back and explore the menu more. I wasn't that hungry when I came and ordered just the 3 cheese egg scramble which had the cutest presentation but was honestly just too cheesy and not enough egg but I guess I should have expected that. I ordered fresh squeeze OJ which didn't taste fresh squeezed at all. The service was warm and friendly. This restaurant has a lot of charm it's been around forever and I will be coming back for dinner asap!
(4)
Asher N.

Three words: Mac. And. Cheese. I come here for two things: Cocktails and mac and cheese, and this place delivers. The mac is served in what appears to be an ornate porcelain chalice, and boy is it special. The pasta is cooked ultra al dente, and it is dense, chewy, and totally unique. The black truffle cheese sauce is flavorful but not overpowering. The outdoor seating is fantastic, service is good, drinks are quite tasty - but really, save your money, skip the expensive entrees and get the mac. Get it.
(4)
Jessie H.

Although it is the oldest French/Italian restaurant in Boston, it was not as good as I expected. I went there with friends for Dine Out Boston 2015 event and the food there was quite disappointing. We ordered three types of oysters but all of them tasted mild and not that fresh. We tried to order mussels as starters but the waitress said they ran out of mussels. (My friend who went there a week before us said they didn't have mussels last week either!) So I ordered beets salad instead but I couldn't finish it. It tasted horrible... Then the main course I ordered was Wellington Steak, which was good. And we ordered pudding as dessert, I have to say I really disliked it. I give this place 3-star because I like the environment and their service was nice. The food is just so so and not worths the price.
(3)
Amanda L.

I'm a huge fan of Marliave. I've been revisiting this restaurant for a few years and haven't been disappointed - while I will admit... the food is a bit pricey. 3 words: Oyster Happy Hour. After work and again from 9-10. Half off oysters and they seem to always carry Duxbury oysters, my favorite! Marliave is a great place to visit in the summer for Oyster Happy Hour and their creative cocktails. They have a nice area for seating outside and although it's not scenic it's still nice to have that offering. A majority of the meals are comforting, healing to the soul after a busy/crazy workday. The trout is insane. Each bite makes me think of beautifully elegant French cuisine. The fish is tender, the spinach is buttery, and the two (large) shrimp between the trout filets are buttery with a little crisp. Delicious. The Mushroom Risotto is also great, but super heavy/filling. I'd definitely recommend this place to out of towners. Great Boston cuisine without the over-hype of typical touristy restaurants.
(4)
Roman B.

I'm not a big fan of writing reviews. But this time I feel like I must to do it. It's mainly because of the nice ladies who set at the table next to us and who we never seen before. They are fairies who ordered and paid for our dessert today! They left before we had a chance to thank them. So, here we are just taking an opportunity to say THANK YOU!!! Restaurant has a nice warm atmosphere inside. Food is pricey but worth every penny. Definitely try escargot, onion soup and scallops. And finally happy oyster hour! Food is fresh and tasty. We will be back.
(5)
Susan T.

I'm really impressed by this place! Came here with a friend when neither of us was planning on eating very much. We caught wind of restaurant week, looked at the menu, and was sold. My friend was only going to get the mac and cheese, but ended up getting that for an appetizer, a chicken dish, and fresh berries for dessert. I got a french onion soup with short ribs (super yummy), the Sunday gravy, and fresh berries for dessert. I ended up scarfing down everything. The service was really attentive, aka my glass of water was never empty and they occasionally checked in on us without being a vulture. I definitely want to come here again! Maybe on a date or with a couple friends again. Next time, I'll be stuck between getting the same things because they were so delicious and wanting to try everything else on the menu.
(5)
Idy T.

I have been to Marliave on multiple occasions and I was very happy with all of my visits here. This is also a restaurant worth trying because it is the 4th oldest restaurant in Boston. I usually come here for their happy hour oysters from 4pm-6pm and 9pm-10pm. It is $1.50 a pop and you get to sample oysters from various regions. This is a great deal for oyster lovers. I really enjoy the cocktail and prosecco and lemon sauce that it comes with. It pairs well with the oysters and accentuates the sweetness of the fresh oysters. I also recommend trying the escargot here! It is garlicky and buttery and super delicious! Their entrees are also really amazing. My favorite is the steak frites. It is cooked to the perfect temperature that you request. I love how the steak is also seasoned very well. They also have a great selection of wines to choose from. And they are served in different quantities, such as 150 ml, 250 ml, 375 ml, and 750 ml. This is a great way to sample different wines. The service is also really good. Servers are really on top of it. There isn't much to complain about!
(4)
Sandra T.

Came here during happy hour after finding Marliave via all the great Yelp reviews! My husband loves oysters, mussels, clams, but unlucky for him, I'm not a big fan of eating things that taste like the ocean. Albeit, we went because it's a great deal for him to try during happy hour on our trip to Boston. We were seated right away out on the patio around 4:30 during the weekday so it wasn't too busy. My husband ordered 5 oysters and 5 clams to start and I ordered the portobello mushroom burger with fries. The waitress offered great service in telling us her recommendations for the different oysters/clams they had. During happy hour, the oysters are $1.50 each and clams were $1. My husband loved them all, but especially the clams. He ended up ordering another tray of them. I, on the other hand, thought the portobello mushroom burger fell flat. It had some goat cheese in it (which I like) but was overall pretty tasteless and boring. The fries were really good, but came 5 minutes after my burger came out, then the ketchup took another 5 minutes after that. Gave it a 4/5 mostly because of the raw platter, service and nice patio setting.
(4)
Angela B.

In Boston for business & needed to make a reservation for my team. A local friend recommended Marliave with the caveat that she hadn't been in many years. Given that there were like three conventions in town that week & we'd had a hard time finding reservations at other fancy spots, I was shocked that we were able to get a reservation there at a reasonable hour. Everyone loved it! Super cute space, excellent food, great service, & perfect wine recommendations. Get the escargot & the truffles for dessert.
(5)
Joe L.

The red sauce or, "Sunday Gravy" is one of the best I've ever had. A rare treat well worth the price. :)
(5)
Melissa F.

Mehhh. Basically sums up my attitude towards this place. Came here with a few people for a friends birthday. I will give props where they're due, and I must say that they have an extensive menu. Whatever you may be in the mood for they have which is nice. I wasn't too hungry so I ended up with the Mr.Marliave sandwich with fries. It's just their version of a croque monsieur but not as good. I think mine needed to be fried a little more and a little warmer. There was just too much ham and not enough cheese. Idk underwhelming. The fries were crispy but seasoning was ok. Service was SLOW. This wasn't just the more European relaxed type of service which I like (see previous reviews). I was anxious to just leave. I do have to say that in general I'm just not a fan of French food. Will I come back here? My crystal ball says no.
(3)
Danae K.

I've been here multiple times! The first time was during restaurant week and the cuisine was amazing! Other restaurants are more concerned about offering steak with no sides to get you to pay more. Not Marliave. Here, they accommodated a large party of 12, with very generous portions, excellent service, superb variety of options both in the drinks department and French cuisine options. We were the last to leave, and didn't feel rushed out of here at all. The second time I came was for a dinner for 2. Again, excellent service, with olive oil and bread served as a starter. Drinks were delicious and the waitor was very knowledgeable of wine pairings with main courses. Overall excellence. And again with a party of 4! Very friendly staff, options are amazing as always, with one of the most amazing old - city vibe feeling in Boston. Come here and get the gin and lavender drink!!!
(5)
Jessica J.

Found this place when I searched for best happy hours in Boston. They have oysters and clams for half price twice a day, 4-6 and 9-10pm. Stopped by this place and ate about a dozen oysters and half dozen clams, a couple of cocktails, and split a pastrami sandwich. The oysters were great! They had 4 different kinds and they were all good. The clams were fresh but I've come to realize I don't like them as much as oysters. The pastrami sandwich could use a little more flavor and the fries were a little too salty. They have an extensive specialty cocktail menu and the space is really cool, very old school. I think it'd be a great place to have dinner too.
(4)
Amanda L.

Whew, I have been here three times and every time has been perfect. Oysters are on point. So fresh! The truffle mac was the cheesiest mac and cheese I've ever had, which says a lot since I currently live in Wisconsin. The scallops are amazing. Definitely more scallop than pasta, which some of my friends have lamented since the sweet potato ravioli is so dang good. The rarebits was the cheesiest and so mouthwatering. Brussel sprouts were great. The steak looked good, but why get that when all the seafood is top notch? All of the drinks I've had there are great, but I particularly like the gin with the elderflower. Just tart enough! Would recommend.
(5)
Melissa S.

Friendly service and great food make for a great combination. Our waitress answered our questions with a smile and was very attentive. Loved the mac'n cheese app!
(5)
Rob C.

As a frequent patron of the Hub Pub, you'd think that i'd have noticed Marliave while walking by, but to me it was always one of those places you'd hear about, but was too fancy to actually go to (and not the sort of place i'd go to anyway, being so long without a significant other). Turns out it's fancy, yes, but in that pragmatic French 'eating-is-serious-business-let's-get-to-it' way, not the hoity-toity sort of fancy. The whole place feels unchanged, even though it obviously has; you get the feel that the people huddled around the bar on a quiet Sunday evening might look that way any number of decades in the past. The upstairs room's dim lighting and big windows make you feel like you're on a beautiful back porch surrounded by skyscrapers. We were there for an anniversary dinner for my in-laws, which they handled with aplomb, including dealing with any number of awkward photos and a big honking cake, as well as a large party that took up a good chunk of their dining room. The waitstaff was very friendly, and we enjoyed the flourish of uncovering the dishes, which seemed like a happy little caricature of places that act fancier. In any French restaurant that has it, I'll order the steak frites, which was excellent. The steak was perfectly cooked and the sauce was exactly what you remember from that corner cafÃ© in the 10th arrondissement, except better, because that is not the sort of thing that is everyday food here. So good. If anything, i'm resolved to go back soon to go have a good meal without all the nonsense of a large gathering.
(5)
Jennifer F.

Yes! We came here for a sight seeing break, and to catch a bit of the MLS final game. For game watchers, there's only 1 tv in a nook of the bar. This ambiance of this place is old school glamor. It's cozy booths with lots of wood. We were snacking, so we ordered oysters, cured meat, a cheese, and creamed spinach. We also ordered a some buttered noodles for the child with us. Oysters--amazing, still thinking about it. After the first dozen, we ordered a second dozen. Oysters are 1/2 off after 4pm on Sunday. Worth every penny. Cured meats and cheese--there was a great selection. Since we were grazing, we just ordered one of each, but I really wanted to eat more...but oysters. Creamed spinach--this is not generally something I order, because it's usually gross. Here, the spinach still had a bit of crunch, but this amazing cheesey multidimensional roux. Buttered noodles! Wish I could have tried them, but I was not going to steal food from the mouth of a child (comeon' guys, I have morals!) but the noodles were made in house, and looked delicious. Fabulous spot, and will have to search it out next time I'm in Boston!
(4)
Jillian W.

I actually came here with my bf during restuarant week in August and I thought the overall food and experience was great! For starters, I ordered the escargot (yes is snails) and I thought it was delicious, the flavor was balanced and it was nice and juicy, wish they gave me more. Bf got the beef carpaccio and he loved that as well. Perfect size cutting since some restaurants actually cuts them thin to the point that we have scrap them off the plate which males it unappetizing, and the cheese on top was a nice touch to it and it worked. For the entree, I ordered the risotto and he got the beef Wellington. My risotto was actually a bit disappointing in my opinion because it tasted the same as the ones from the North End but I shouldn't have expected too much. Even here, I couldn't finish it because it was extremely filling, probably ate less than half of it. The beef Wellington though, was really great and again he loved it. I guess I should've gotten that instead.. even if it was small, the quality and beyond expectation. There was also dessert but it was ice cream and something else, but it was normal. Overall, even minus 1 star, I would definitely go back again. I would definitely recommend the eacargot (not as bad as it sounds), the Wellington and beef carpaccio!
(4)
Mike O.

I've been wanting to go to Marliave for quite some time, since a friend of mine routinely checks in here, and partly because I often pass by on my way from work. Well, I finally got the opportunity and it did not disappoint! First, we grabbed drinks at the bar, which by the way, looks oddly familiar to a few other places in the immediate area. Classic early 20th century decor and a feeling of refinement that is not overstated, but enough to make you feel like you're about to experience a quality meal. After a short wait, we were seated on the garden patio which, even on a humid Boston evening, possessed a cool breeze from being situated on Bosworth St., more or less a downtown alley, but very much welcomed. Sipping on a nice grenache from the Rhone Valley (Domaine Paul Autard, I think it was), I perused the menu which tickled me pink to see featured Rabbit, Halibut, and Beef Wellington; all among some of my favorites. Since I am not too keen on meats wrapped in other meats (mais Poulet Cordon Bleu), I passed on the rabbit. And by keen, I mean impressed. Truth be told, the only thing that sold me on the beef was the fact that it featured wild mushrooms and foie gras in it; Heaven! While ordering, our waiter felt the need to to tell me that the beef would be cooked medium rare, using "just so you know..." which I found to be a little off putting, but no big deal, he was just doing his job; even it it stated that on the menu. Nonetheless, what came to the table was exactly what I had craved. The best part of all was the fact that the cut of beef was not over seasoned like most places would have done. Kudos to the meat station Thursday night!!! The red wine reduction was magnificently tasteful and without regard for proper dining etiquette, I wolfed down the entire entree and every last bit of jus in what seemed like minutes. I will certainly be frequenting Marliave much more often, and am excited about their raw bar specials, albeit against my better judgement to eat anything with the word "special" or "dollar" attached to it. However, with menu items featuring words like "farm raised", "organic", "wild", "shaved", and "Swiss" it is likely to become a staple of mine in the lacking downtown restaurant scene.
(4)
Renee S.

Marliave is amazing...great cocktails, oysters, mussels, escargot and entrees. I've always left satisfied and I try to go back every couple of months because its so delicious!
(4)
A C.

I wanted to go to Parish for some sandwiches. My wife wanted to have Marliave's French Onion soup with short rib. Well, since I'm not writing a review on Parish, I guess we all know who won. The soup was indeed pretty fantastic. As I said, it's the reason we dined here. We split a mixed greens salad, and for $9.50 it was pretty underwhelming. Actually, it just sucked. It was recommended to me the Ham and Cheese sandwich, which was really a Croque Monsieur, on steroids. It was the size of your face, and I couldn't eat it all. There are some things I can eat a lot of: french fries, foie gras, tuna rolls. Unfortunately, ham and cheese isn't one of these items, but that's not an indictment on the flavors. It was tasty. (The accompanying fries, however, which were well-seasoned, I did finish off.) We also had very nice and friendly waitstaff.
(4)
Lauren D.

Excellent food and excellent service. Delicious drinks, appetizer, steak frites and chicken with risotto. The bread for the table was dry, too thick, and overall just not very good. The chocolate cake was just OK, pretty standard. Service was awesome. Excellent restaurant.
(5)
Bud B.

Great place to go when its nine degrees and you are from California. Very nice upstairs dining. Downstairs is pretty basic. Went back for dollar oysters the next day. Oysters and beer can't be beat!!!
(4)
Edith K.

I came here for Restaurant week with my mom, for our first course my mom got Henry's soup which was french onion soup with some short rib, I got the beef carpaccio which was amazing, it was our favorite out of all the courses. For our main meal we both got the scampi, the pasta itself was delicious; however, in terms of the shrimp and the sauce, it was average. For dessert, my mom got the brownie sundae and the ice cream to brownie ratio was a bit off, too much brownie...or better yet, not enough ice cream? I got the cheese platter which was average. I will return again! Next time I want to try the rissotto
(4)
John D.

I LOVED this place. Got there too late for the $1 oysters but thoroughly enjoyed the Caesar salad with white anchovies, the 5 oz glass of Clayhouse Malbec, and loved, loved, loved the Sunday Gravy (as we ethic Italians used to call it). Just like my mom's with slow simmered pork and beef ladled over light as cloud gnocchi.
(5)
Joanne P.

Just ate here for restaurant week, I started with the Beets salad, which was good, although a little overly salted. The wine list is small but has some decent and inexpensive options. My main course of ravioli was the problem - undercooked pasta, mediocre sauce, and salty ricotta filling. I really wanted to like this place, but the food did not live up to the expectation. My boyfriends scampi pasta was also undercooked (although it was fresh), and unevenly seasoned.
(2)
Melina M.

I have enjoyed all of my experiences here. I often come for the dollar oysters, but I stay for the friendly bar service on the main level. Brian and Ken are awesome! They are super friendly, funny, but still professional. The liquor drink list is lengthy, wine list is suitable, but their draft list non-existent. Only bottled beers here folks. The food is pricey, but delicious. I will usually swing by when I have a specific craving for something on their menu. My staples are the risotto, polenta, brussel sprouts, or sliders. However, if you want to splurge and like red meat then you should know that the beef wellington melts in your mouth. You might not even need a steak knife.
(4)
Priscilla T.

Great wine list but soupy mac n cheese. Fun vibe for a dinner party - especially upstairs. Food is good but not knock your socks off good.
(3)
Devon W.

Went to the dollar oyster happy hour. What a great deal! Bread and olive oil was good too. Probably wouldn't have gone if not for the special. Service was solid. All around a good experience.
(4)
Kim K.

Everything about Marliave is mediocre and I'm really not sure what the draw here is. I went as party of a large group on a Saturday night. The ambiance was cool and the interior is cozy and clean. The cheese plates were actually very good and I was impressed they brought those and champagne out for us first. However my dinner, a caesar salad and fish and chips, fell a little flat. The service was standoffish and unfriendly. The prices are too high for the quality of food you'll get here though I totally understand you're paying for location with this place. I probably wouldn't return on purpose or suggest coming back. Ah well.
(3)
Food E.

Usually, I am not a fan of RW, but considering that the "Wellington" is $36 bucks regularly, having it as part of the 3 course RW offering at $38 was something we couldn't pass up. Something no one should pass up. And something that makes me respect Marliave! This place is an institution. It is cozy and chic, everything you want in terms of ambiance and decor. There were SO many options to choose from especially when considering what other RW menus are offering. The waitstaff was lovely and not at all annoyed by serving expensive dishes for dirt cheap, which is a common problem of RW (and i can't blame them!) Libations: The drinks are whimsical prohibition-esque and crafted carefully, but a bit on the weak side. Lovely selection of wines as well as portion sizes, which I loved. Try a drink, but stick with wine. I suggest the Cote du Rhone-especially if you are going the cheese and wellington route. 1st Course: My fiance got the escargot and me, the rarebits. Both were great but the escargot was the clear winner of the two. The rarebits were tasty for sure, but just cheese and bacon. Albeit fabulous cheese and generous bits of bacon, but nothing to get excited about. 2nd Course: We both got the Wellington, it is what we came for and we were delighted with it. We concluded that while we wouldn't pay full price for it, we would absolutely take advantage of Marliave during each RW season from this day forward! The temperature of the filet was perfect and the taste of the pastry was rich and delicate all at the same time. 3rd Course: The desert was amazing! The butterscotch pudding was an unexpected highlight for me. Rich not too sweet, but all the flavor you ever wanted from a cup of pudding. I sound 85 right not, but it is true. It was fantastic. My fiance got the cheese plate and savored every bit! Get over here for restaurant week, you won't be disappointed!
(5)

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Address : 10 Bosworth St
Boston, MA, 02108
Phone (617) 422-0004
Website https://www.marliave.com/
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:00 am - 1:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Classy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes

Claim Restaurant

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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Marliave

10 Bosworth St, Boston, MA, 02108

Marliave Menu

Appetizers

Eggs Oeuf Uovo

Raw Bar

Pasta Risotto & Pizza

Meat & Fish

Sandwiches

Sides

Cheese - French

Cheese - Italy

Cheese - New England

Cheese - Cured Meats Salami Charcuterie

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Dessert

Healthy Meal suggestions for Marliave

Appetizers

Eggs Oeuf Uovo

Raw Bar

Pasta Risotto & Pizza

Meat & Fish

Sandwiches

Sides

Cheese - French

Cheese - Italy

Cheese - New England

Cheese - Cured Meats Salami Charcuterie

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Dessert

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