Great brunch...service was a little slow. Good spot for groups and low key patio sitting! For vegetarians, pea green salad and black bean burger were great.
(4)
Daryl O.
This was not our planned place to go but I am glad we did. It was not too busy, they had seating at the bar, indoors or outdoors. A wide selection of beers. Not too many cocktails but everyone I was with ordered something different and had good comments about all. The French toast was the Sugar Honey Ice Tea. I got it with be preservatives on the side and never used them & didn't need them. It was fine without. Not too much syrup needed either but it was amazing. Hands down the best French toast I've eaten.
(5)
Bruce K.
This has been one of my favorite dining experiences ever. For starters, the atmosphere and the look of this place is awesome. Everything feels relaxed yet exciting, not too loud but it was never too quiet or dull either. Canary Square went from good to great when our waiter Tyler came over. While I was ordering Tyler noticed that I had asked for the cheese and sour cream to be taken off my order and then informed me that the bun of my burger had trace amounts of dairy in it. For him to recognize why I was removing ingredients and then offer up other suggestions makes him amazing. Throughout the night other wait staff and Tyler came over to us multiple time to check how our food was. All were very friendly and made the experience wonderful. The food: the food was on par with the wait staff aka it was amazing. My black bean burger was super flavorful and my friends pork chop was cooked perfectly. I will definitely be coming back here!
(5)
Sonia N.
Stopped in for an early dinner al fresco style this past weekend and this place was already booming around 5pm. For starters, we tried the potato chips and dip. Very crispy and tasty and the dipping sauce was a perfect accompaniment. For entrees, we shared the veggie lasagna and sea trout. Both were good but the sea trout scored much higher in my book. The garlic yogurt sauce it was served in gave it that nice creamy taste while keeping it light and healthy and the fava beans were minced to the point where it looked and tasted more like cous cous. All in all, a thumbs up. I would definitely come back.
(4)
Max W.
$4.50 for a Narragansett, $4 for PBR, and no drafts under $7? You've gotta be kidding me. What started out as a neighborhood restaurant has become an overpriced ripoff. The food portions have gotten smaller, the food prices have gone up, and the quality has gone down. Spend your money elsewhere.
(1)
Wes V.
Two stars for an awesome beer selection. I would like to add another start because the food is actually pretty good, but the prices and service ruin it. I can not recommend this place at all because of the service. I've been in now about 10 times, and I think I've received "normal" service once out of the 10. Service at the bar is fine, and I would only head back to Canary Square for drinks at the bar only. The food, while tasty and freshly made, is definitely overpriced for the portions. They put it on a big plate, and usually have it presented nice, but it's smaller and more expensive than other places in the area. I have had brunch as well here, and have no complaints with the actual quality of the food, only that it's pricey for what you get. The shenanigans begin and end with the service here. The only people that seem to have any vested interest in doing their jobs in a timely manner are the bussers that fill your water glass. You WILL wait for noticeable, frustrating, and at times rude amounts of time to interact with your server. You WILL see them standing around and talking while your drinks are empty, or your plates are clear, or even if there is nothing on your table. It's mind-boggling to me how long it takes to pay your bill at this place. Each and every time I have gone here and sat at a table, the time in between asking for the bill and checking out has been comparable to the amount of time it took to get the food, which was not fast either. I'm not sure if the staff is just so "chill" that they think people like sitting at a table with no drinks, food, or waiting to leave, but it sucks from a customer's point of view. Do not expect to get in and out of this place, and in my experience, you can expect to leave here saying "jeez that was bad" and go somewhere else to get the bad vibes out.
(2)
Dani K.
Drinks were good, but the prices here are not worth the portions. Also it took them wayyy too long to bring us the check at the end! we ended up waiting around 25 minutes at the with just water at our table. The vibe was not as I expected from the outside, (I know this might not be their fault but) a lot of people brought their young kids who were obviously bored and fussy, not the cool hangout bar I imagined it would be. anyway drinks = decent, prices = too high, service = way too slow
(2)
Jennifer D.
Good food & drinks, a lot of unique & delicious beers. The service is very attentive one minute, and then gone for 30 minutes. But overall worth going!
(4)
Michelle D.
So much thanks for hosting Love Night's Reunion this past weekend! This place is beautiful, clean, and fun. I wish I had gotten dinner here, but I didn't.. that's okay, I believe it's similar to how it was when this same business owned Common Ground, which I used to enjoy. The drink/beer selection was amazing, which always helps too. It is far away from where I live as I don't have a car and I live in Davis Square, but I admit it actually didn't feel like such a trek. The walk from Stoney Brook T was very easy. I hope that Love Night can make a comeback here, and I look forward to enjoying more great times here.
(5)
chelsea h.
Update: came here again tonight. Server was actually nice this time but horribly slow. He took forever to get us beers. And after the food was dropped at the table (by another waiter) he never came over to check on us and see how we were doing. On top of that, my boyfriends beer was empty and he wanted another, at the beginning of the meal... he never asked him if he wanted another. We asked for the check and it took at least 25 minutes, if not longer for him to come back with the check. And- the couple beside us was in the same boat because we overheard them talking about it since they seat you basically on top of other patrons here. To make things worse, the lasagna... While delicious was TINY... and cost $14. Not worth it. I left this restaurant still hungry... which has literally never happened to me before in my life.
(1)
Pattie R.
We've eaten here many times since we moved to JP in January. We are vegetarians and they always have several veggie options. They change their menu seasonally and all of the food is fresh and prepared to order. The staff are always really friendly and great at making suggestions. They have a great beer menu and always have a drink special and beer flights. The black bean burger is always good. If they have either the Brussels sprouts or the cauliflower appetizer order it. And try the deserts, especially the sticky toffee pudding. They also do brunch on the weekends. Try the French toast. It's amazing.
(5)
Vanessa J.
Had a great experience at dinner. We were celebrating so we did it up big: lots of apps, salads, dinner entrees, cocktails. All was delicious. Loved the atmosphere!
(4)
Adria R.
Pros: We (3 of us) went on a Sunday for brunch and didn't have to wait. The atmosphere is warm and bright, trendy but casual. Excellent Bloody Mary. Good food. Cons: The (brunch/lunch) portion sizes were a bit small, which is almost never a complaint I/we have. The chairs are very uncomfortable. I'd love to go back for dinner and try a beer flight.
(4)
Vanessa M.
Nice ambiance, but that was the absolute wimpiest pour on a $12 glass of wine ever. Like ridiculous. And it was a NBA championship finals game, everyone was watching and they wouldn't put on the sound. Won't be going back.
(3)
Jennifer G.
Came here on a Monday evening after work with my coworkers. There's indoor and outdoor seating, so we opted for outdoor seating since it was such a nice day out. They were able to seat our party of ten right away. Our waitress was attentive and friendly for the most part. She took our drink orders right away and was pretty good about filling our waters, which is a plus. She was a little annoyed when we would switch seats sometimes though when more people came, but oh well. If you're getting a cocktail, you MUST try the basil grape mojito. It was delicious! My coworkers were looking forward to coming here just for this mojito. It definitely exceeded my expectations - I know I sound like I'm exaggerating a lot just for a drink, but it was that good. Very fresh and perfect blend of flavors. Even comes with two grapes in the drink as a nice treat. Wish I got another, but decided not to on a Monday night. Monday nights from 4p-6p are dollar oyster nights! Ordered two dozen to share, and they were very good. Not too salty like some oysters can be. Ask for a side of their hot sauce. It's some kind of habanero spice, but it adds the perfect amount of kick without being too spicy. I wasn't too hungry since I ate a late lunch, but wanted to try their mac and cheese. You can get a side of it for only $5. I also got the smoked pork taco. Mac and cheese was pretty good, but nothing special. It hit the spot. The taco was alright. It comes with pickled onion, cotija cheese, scallion aioli, and pumpkin seed salsa. It was tasty, but there were so many flavors going on that I couldn't quite make out the individual ingredients. It's also very messy. I folded my taco to eat it and the taco started breaking and the sauces were dripping everywhere. Probably wouldn't get it again. Most of our party ordered burgers and they were pretty satisfied. You can add a fried egg! I would've definitely gotten this if I was hungrier. Fried egg on a burger is the best thing ever. On to the dessert...we decided to order three slices of chocolate menu for the table to share. Don't get it. Seriously. Unless you want to pay $8 for the tiniest rectangular slice of cake ever. It was also really hard to eat. I had to dig my spoon in pretty hard just to get the tiniest piece. The cake itself was already tiny. Needless to say, we all felt pretty ripped off about the cake at that point. Will definitely be back for burgers and mojitos next time!
(3)
Lindsay M.
I'm going to be honest, I hesitate to give these guys a 5 star rating, because I don't want the secret to get out and everyone flood this place. BUT they really deserve it. We went for a graduation dinner and had such an amazing experience. The atmosphere is wonderful, it is very open concept but I didn't find myself having to yell at the person beside me just so they could hear me. Their service is absolutely outstanding, their food is OMGee kind of amazing, not one of our party of seven had any complaints. In fact I don't believe I have ever been out to dinner with that many people and seen everyone literally finish everything on their plates (one person even licked the plate clean...lol as a joke) The deserts even better! So rich and delicious! I would even go back just for desert sometime! You really can not get much better than this place. My only regret is not trying it sooner! I will definitely be returning as often as possible! I can definitely say it is by far the most outstanding restaurant in the Boston area I have been to! ALSO for us vegetarians they do have a LOT more choices than other places.
(5)
William W.
I made a Yelp account specifically to write this review. My significant other and I have eaten at Canary Square twice--once for dinner and once for brunch, both terrible experiences. Don't be fooled by the restaurant's promising ambiance or stylish light fixtures, both the food and service here are borderline atrocious and should be avoided at all costs. Our first trip (late 2014) was a late dinner plagued by an arrogantly theatrical bow-tied waiter that made the entire experience insufferable. This did nothing to improve Canary Square's expensive, often underwhelming menu selection, and we left grated and dissatisfied. Blaming the waiter for the first trip's unescapable unpleasantness, we tried again for a late, desperate brunch. While we were lucky enough to avoid the bow-tied cretin we had the first time (he was still working), our new server was equally incompetent, forgetting orders and even going so far as to bring us a doughnut rather than a dessert menu. Appetizers were brought out in strange, almost fifteen minute intervals, and our entrees arrived before there was room on the table to fit them. The Square's food, following this strong trajectory, remained exclusively bland and overpriced. Mixed Greens ($7), consisted of a few lettuce variants drowning in an oily, over-salted vinaigrette. Despite acting as a salad, the appetizer didn't include a single additional ingredient--a surprising twist given its seven dollar price tag. Brunch Fries ($5), sounded amazing with its promise of poached eggs and hollandaise, but couldn't have tasted worse. The fries were crunchy to the point of being almost burnt, splattered with the smallest drip of a noxious cream sauce, and topped with the most arbitrarily placed hardboiled egg. Biscuits & Gravy ($11), were passable, but small given the price of the entree. My southern heritage cringed at the dish's presentation and flavor profile. The gravy exuded a salty blandness, while sausage was nearly absent from the meal. Two sunny-side eggs completed the plate, and were probably the best part of the entire trip. Finally, an Omelette ($9) advertised the flavorful combination of brie and mushrooms, but couldn't have been more bland. After covering it in ketchup and pepper, I quickly realized I could've made a better one myself. One slice of butterless, dry toast completed the ensemble. tl;dr - you deserve better.
(2)
Ben C.
I am surprised to see as many less-than-excellent reviews about Canary Square. We have been 3 times in the last month, and for good reason: the food/cocktails and service is awesome. This is a great place to eat in JP; we've been wanting for a place with affordable, quality food with an appreciation for/understanding of a finely crafted cocktail, and we have found it here! Their food is delicious, creative and beautifully presented. We started with the squash cappalletti (incredible), and for our entrees enjoyed the braised short rib and roasted pork loin (both amazing). On a recent visit, we also tried these snacks: roasted garlic, griddles cheese, and the crispy cauliflower. Very impressed with the quality these snacks...they were really delightful. A perfect accompaniment to a few of the cocktails from their unique list. Their beer selection appears to be varied and good, but we generally prefer whiskey over beer, so can't speak to it specifically. The staff is friendly, helpful and well-informed. Our latest server was Dillard, who was polite and personable. Looking forward to returning soon to work our way down the menu!
(5)
Sen M.
Oh Canary Square... Your braised pork is too good, it's never enough. Though that saves me from clogging my arteries with pork fat. But alas, I go to a restaurant for the performance. And though I loved the show, the performers left when we shouted for an encore. And I was left wanting more and wondering what the hell happened. For that, 3 stars.
(3)
Jacob M.
Excellent food. Great drinks. And superb service. Our server Luke was beyond amazing tonight. Attentive, helpful, and super friendly. I'd definitely go back, not only for the great food but for their incredible service.
(5)
J C.
The food sounds amazing on the menu description but then when served below par the service was terrible too, we waited 45 minutes for drinks to be served because the bar was busy which I get it was a Friday night but hire more staff to accommodate guests. Also, our server messed up our appetizer order and put it in as an entree so our appetizer didn't come until 45 minutes after we first ordered. I would definitely go somewhere else.
(1)
Becca P.
Started off with the charcuterie and cheese ($21)...it was an okay size for 4 of us. The bread disappeared instantly and it took a while to get more since they decided to toast the second batch of bread but not the first. Second batch was still not enough... We all got the burger and flight since it was $15 but that does include the cheese ($1) and other add on ($2)...the flight took a while because they ran out of empty glasses. Restaurants should know to order enough glassware and such (I used to work in many restaurants and helped start one up). The burger was okay. I rather eat eat a big Mac though to be honest. The flight was okay. I'm not a big beer person. They were all very light. One random, annoying thing...our table was under the pipe so the condensation was dripping on us and our food. They moves us to a nearby table but seemed sort of hesitant. Later I saw someone wipe it down with a stick...was strange and seemed icky. After reading the other bad reviews, I really wanted to give this place a change but the service was sort of bad. Took a while to get our burgers. The waiter was nice though. He came back and apologized for the wait. I wouldn't come back though.
(2)
Lauren D.
Went here for brunch a few weeks back. It was a nice day so we were able to sit on the patio. Menu is a bit limited and pricey but you've gotta try the Brunch Fries! To die for...
(4)
Sarah C.
I cannot say enough good things about Canary. The bartenders and wait staff are always super friendly, the cocktails are great, the beer selection is robust, and the food is excellent. Their black bean burger is unparalleled in Boston, and their cheeseboard is reliably wonderful. Their brunch fries are a dream come true and their pumpkin French toast this fall/winter was out of this world. The ambiance is great, with beautiful decor and music that is always fun. Go for drinks, go for dinner, go for brunch, or go for their Sunday night movie where they play a classic and give out free delicious popcorn - just go.
(5)
Julianne C.
Stopped here for drinks a couple weeks back. I tried a specialty drink however the menu is very Mezcal heavy which didn't appeal to me. They have a wide beer and cider menu as well which was nice. I was less than thrilled the the chocolate mousse we had for dessert. Good, not great.
(3)
Joe J.
This place looks so promising on the outside...and even on the inside. Good decor, decent music selection and a great drink list make for what would seem to be a go-to spot if you're in the area. Unfortunately, our experience was far from that. We had a table for five with everyone ordering drinks, entrees and an app or two for the table. Prices are descent. The food was OK. The burger received a good review, but the real winner was the pork loin. The gnocchi was good. The garlic bread snack was tasty. The taco was messy. The steak was absolutely terrible. First, it's about three SLICES of steak served on two squares of potatoes with bulb onions on the dish drenched in what seems to be store-bought bbq sauce (or of that quality). The salmon got an average review. When we ordered, our waitress seemingly wrote down everyone's order. Once entrees started coming out, everyone got excited; plating of the meals was good. Then the salmon never showed. So after about 5 minutes of everyone with their food waiting for the last dish, the waitress comes over, acknowledges she didn't put in the salmon (forgot to write it down), and said she could put it in now. It came out surprisingly quick, a little over 5 minutes. So, total ten minutes waiting time for all dishes to be on the table. The manager brought over the dish, said "sorry for the delay" and begrudgingly asked the table how everything was. The waitress never came back to check on us. We had to wait for water multiple times. Just dropping the ball. We get the bill, and the salmon is on the bill!!!!!! Like I said, we were ordering drinks, food, etc. and it was a surprise to see the incompetence of putting that dish on the bill. When it was brought to the waitress' attention, she said she would check with her manager, and it came off. But that's the difference with a place you decide to not go to again, or a place you'd decide to go back and try something else. The nonchalant IDGAF attitude of forgetting an entree and then charging for it will make me choose somewhere else if I'm in the area. You shouldn't have to ask for it to be off the bill. And I'm not just whining like some "entitled punk", it's not about the money, it's about the principle.
(2)
Taylor N.
I was a part of a group that had reservations on for today, April 12th, 2015. I was told by our group leader that we would have to find somewhere else to eat Sunday brunch. Our party was NOT notified by the Canary Square staff that they had cancelled our reservations because they were closing at 2pm for a private event. Some members of our group went to the restaurant to be seated, in hopes of having a meal, but were stopped by a paper sign on the window informing us of the "Private event". So, there we were, hungry, after church on the first nice sunny day in Boston in MONTHS, and they pull this crap. Not only did they pull the reservation from under our butts, they also had a slight attitude about the fact that they cancelled on us and we were there asking WHY. However, we went to the Dogwood instead. Food there was Spot On!!!
(1)
Leah K.
Thanks a bundle, Canary Square, for serving me a ton of french fries plus booze right before a hike. On second thought...lets not point fingers. My friends and I met for brunch right before a hike at Blue Hills, which we needed after our delicious meal. I ordered the poached egg french fries: a fantastic serving of french fries (heavily salted, my fav!) with a perfectly poached egg and hollandaise on top. I polished those puppies off in no time. I also washed it down with a Green Street: Bombay, St. Germain, Basil, Lemon, and Bitters. Small but boozy. I napped in the car. My friends had an avocado omelette and breakfast tacos (that one looked like a small serving to me). I was eyeing the Special, donuts, as they walked by...they looked beautiful. Service was good, bathroom was TINY (I'm 5'2'' and my legs barely fit in the stall).
(4)
Norman T.
The service was great! The waitress was really friendly and kind, she answer all the questions from the menu without any problem. The portions were a little bit small for the price we paid.
(3)
Navid S.
First they don't take reservation unless you are a party if 6 or more. The outside seating is beautiful but there was a half hour wait so we opted to sit inside. Although the place was not packed but busy, it took them 20 minutes to take our order and 25 additional Minutes to bring the appetizers. The skirt steak I ordered was supposed to be medium but it arrived on the rare side and nit hot. Once I asked the waiter to recook the meat he apologized and said that they would take it off the bill. Overall ok.
(3)
Joe M.
Entirely underwhelmed by the food here for the second time in a row. Flavorless unseasoned sirloin tasted almost "gritty" next to some mashed potato rectangles and three sad pearl onions, all atop a Jackson Pollock squiggle of A-1 steak sauce (??). Just barely a notch above Ponderosa / Red Lobster / Golden Corral. Service was spotty, but bartender was good enough to give me a complimentary digestif after blowing the coverage on my scotch request (so no harm there). Place needs work. On a Tuesday night half full of patrons and seemingly fully staffed the servers and bar staff looked harried and overwhelmed. A barback noticed my empty glass and asked if I wanted another and when I told him what I wanted he said, "Oh, hang on. I'll have her [the bartender] get it for you." Huh? Don't ask me if you can't help me. Best thing going for it is the location and the patio seating but now that it's getting cooler there is no reason to tolerate Canary Square. Good beer list, though. Give them that. But I can think of a half dozen real kitchens all within a stone's throw of Canary that deserve your business.
(2)
Denise C.
This place has a lot of mixed reviews but my experience was pretty good just based on a drinks, ambiance and some nosh. I didn't have a full out meal and it seems that the mains were the problem in most reviews. They have a great beer selection as everyone mentioned. The place itself looks great with lots of seating. The bar is pretty long but seemed to fill up. Came on a Saturday night so College Football was on the screens. I ordered some kind of pumpkin beer and shared the cauliflower appetizer which was really really really freakin good so we ordered another plate. The fries were ehh in a pretty small portion comparable to a mcd's small maybe medium order of fries. Service was good. I don't come to JP often but I would def come back here for a drink.
(4)
Sergio M.
Love this place the beers on draft are always on point local craft beers to seasonal hard to get beers. The pork tacos are really good along with the rest of the menu. So if you have not gone to canary square yet you are missing out
(5)
Tim F.
We go here for the burgers. Often. The best in Boston--at least of the ones I've had. Other entrees I've tried have been quite good as well. The service can be a little spotty, but I forgive them. Everyone is always friendly/pleasant, and it is JP after all. Only four stars because they don't have ONION rings!!! And it can be too loud sometimes.
(4)
Jessica A.
My favorite place in JP! I go there every time I can! Mine and my boyfriend's favorite place for a casual meal! The servers are really nice and the food is absolutely delicious! The menu changes sometimes, but every time is great. They also have a good selection of beers!
(5)
Nick E.
Cannary Square was once a 4 star restaurant that has gone to junk. The food is uninspired, the charcuterie is a rip off, and the beers come in glasses that were never properly rinsed. Now and again you get a great waiter or waitress that makes up for these short comings, but the overarching feeling is that the ownership is not concerned with whether or not this restaurant does good work. 15 minutes to get a beer. 20 minutes to be asked if we'd like to order off of a menu that, essentially, consists of a burger, some chicken some fish and some pasta, none particularly inspired. A $14 charcuterie board that has about 6 slices of meat, some mustard and a few pickles. What happened to the pate!? Cannary Square is on it's way out. There are half a dozen better restaurants within a half a mile of them, and they don't seem to be very concerned. If you want good food in the area go across the street to Tres Gatos, or further down Centre to the TT Bar, Gras Fed, Centre Street Cafe, or any number of other restaurants where the staff and ownership actually care.
(2)
Robin T.
Tom the bartender rocks! Love this place. All the other bartenders are amazing too :)
(5)
Yuka Y.
Duck Confit (kon-FEE) and Roast Salmon are highly recommended! Located in JP, Canary Square is a classy place for drinks and dinner without having to be dressed up to the nines. Think Yard House, but a little less fancy on the furniture. Extensive drinks menu with average pricing. On the slightly pricier end for dinner, expect $15+ for well presented entrees. I love the dim lighting, minimalist decor, and the fact that it's an open air restaurant. Could do better with the uncomfortable cushion-less seats, but other than that I can guarantee you'll have a lovely summer evening here. Joshua S., our server, did a great job recommending the 'Duck Confit' for the bf after he expressed an odd disdain for eggplants and celery. He was impressed by the crispy outer layering and the moist texturing of the duck. Joshua took the time to tell us that by confit, it meant the duck was fried in oil without the use of bread crumbs. The egg was cooked so the yolk was still intact and oozed out beautifully. The side of baby yukon potatoes and greens added a nice touch. Roasted salmon was served on a bed of edamame-like-beans, corn, and green beans. The skin was crispy. Fish oil was oozing out with every cut, very tender, and not overcooked. The sauce did not mask the true essence and flavoring of the salmon, it was perfectly done. Ending the dinner on a cute note, everyone's bills comes tucked in a notebook. The notebook serves as a guestbook where customers can write and doodle quirky things in there.
(5)
Tim A.
I really want to like Canary Square more. It has the location and atmosphere to be great, but the food is so lackluster I can eat there anymore. I've tried to go back several times and each time I get excited about something on the menu but when it comes out the food is bland and boring. The service has never been that great either.
(2)
Evan G.
With the exception of the beer list and the ambiance, this place is Just. Not. Good. I've been here probably five or more times over the past few years, all for dinner, and I have yet to eat anything that was actually good. Yucca fries remarkably didn't taste like anything at all. Black bean burger fell apart into a giant heap of mush on my plate. Mac and cheese was yet another heap of tasteless mush. Potato gnocchi were gummy and... you guessed it, bland! Hell, even the grilled tuna was gummy, with weird, non-complementary accompanying flavors. Service is inconsistent at best. There are odd gaps at inopportune moments, frequently forgotten items, etc. A few of the servers have been more competent than others, but the service is still not in any sense reliable. The food is WAY overpriced given how mediocre-to-bad everything is. Bottom line, I should not be paying $20 for an uninteresting entree that has weird or no flavor.
(2)
Sara J.
The ambiance and fun mocktails made me want to bump this review up to three stars but after a sincerely awkward experience in June, two stars is all I got to give. Long story short: This was my second time here. I ordered mussels, they tasted funny, waitress got really weird about it. I was like don't worry waitress they tasted funny I am not hungry because of how weird they tasted, just take them away and let me watch the rest of the hockey game. My fiance was inhaling his wings and I was enjoying the mocktail which was SO great they offered on the menu for us non-drankin' folks, so not all was lost. She said she'd take it off the bill and I said thank you. No harm, no foul. But it was in fact the waitress' lot in life to keep bringing up the mussels. First, after the initial complaint, she told me there was nothing wrong with them. Oh yeah, that's not confrontational at all, just tell me I must be crazy because I didn't like your mussels that you didn't actually eat. I was like ehhh I eat a lot of mussels I am pretty sure these are too fishy tasting or otherwise unusual, don't wanna risk it, I am fine for now though, thank you. I thought the subject was dropped but then she came back and said she is pretty confident that I didn't like them because I wasn't used to the curry taste in them. Oh Lordy, Lord in heaven, please help me. I wanted to be like yo waitress check me out for a second, you see it? See it? I AM INDIAN. I don't think CURRY is the problem. But again I was like thanks, waitress, no biggie, I am fine, let's just move on. Then she wanted me to order something else, and I was like no thank you waitress thank you so much for your help... really I am okay. Then she came back again and asked to re-fire the mussels.Okay, re-firing seafood= rubber. I am no Emril Lagasse ova heh, but I know that you're really not supposed to be putting cooked shellfish back on the stove. But at this point I like didn't know what to say to her so I let her re-fire them and then I ate one in front of her when she brought it back to humor her and I was like oh man these are really overcooked now, I think I am okay without it. Thanks. Okay, yup, thanks, no worries. FINALLY I was left alone, though we missed a bunch of the game, which, ironically, is the only reason we went there. It was just bizarre and I was annoyed she seemed annoyed or didn't at least listen to me when I said I really was all set with not ordering something else. I angry texted my mom about it, and then it was cool. Too many other yum options in JP to come back here, though that patio is pritty pritty sweet.
(2)
Joe R.
French toast was phenomenal and the bloody Mary's were very tasty. Homemade donuts were also a delicious treat. The eggs benedict were not good at all.. The eggs were under done and it was served with prosciutto and not ham as stated on the menu. Kind of a disappointment.
(4)
Michael M.
I'm specifically reviewing the bar area as I have always sat in the bar area, which I prefer. This place is great! Canary is the type of establishment I wish JP had more of. It's casual, fun, friendly and in a convenient location with parking for those that need it and easy bus access for those coming from outside the neighborhood. Servers are friendly, chill and have depth in their knowledge of beer list and cocktails. I'm a big craft beer guy and they have an awesome selection. I'm constantly trying a new beer when I'm there, usually per recommendation. The food menu is smaller than your typical gastropub but everything on it is cooked/done to perfection. Give me the curried cauliflowers, deviled eggs and pork tacos any day.
(5)
AB H.
Canary Square lost a star tonight. We had great service, and loved our first two items, but our main course was disappointing. The brussels sprouts in fish sauce sounded kind of weird, but were totally yummy! I loved the charred leaves and the sauce. The mushroom and potato with raclette cheese was also great; interesting and soothing at the same time. Then we had the smoked pork tacos, and they were not good - bland and too soft. They had some heat to them, but other than that, no flavor. It needed more cheese, or avocado, or more flavor in the pork. What a fail after the good small plates. I'll be back because two good plates out of three isn't bad, and there were other items I want to try, like the kale caesar salad.
(3)
Shannon S.
I may be a bit harsh with my 3 stars but A-OK is exactly the way I would describe Canary Square... and it's not a bad thing. Cool atmosphere, exposed brick and chalkboards get me every time. The grape basil drink was great though not so grapey but I love me a basil accented cocktail and it was Friday so I was feeling alright. Pretty good beer selection, too. We ordered a kale caesar to split which was good, not great, could have used a tad more dressing and leafs could have been torn a bit smaller (bite size!) so I didn't have to worry about wasting my dressing on my napkin (when I wiped it off my face.) I had the grass-fed burger which was fine. Cooked fine. Tasted fine. I opted to add the cheddar and I probably could have skipped it. My dinner companion had the mac and cheese sans truffle oil and said it was decent. Our server initially brought us the wrong check (for much much more than what we'd ordered) but when we flagged her down that was quickly rectified. Would I go back? I'd probably try somewhere else first but I wouldn't write a return visit off.
(3)
M. g.
Here are the good points: nice vibe, open space, friendly staff, the bread, the burgers. Not so good points: just about everything else - the portions are small (we don't expect doggie bags, we just expect a reasonable portion); the prices are high especially for what you get. For example, we ordered the charcuterie plate for 3 as an appetizer - it was presented very nicely but there were exactly 4 thin slices of chorizo, 7 pickled wax beans; a very small piece of blue cheese, an equally small piece of manchego and a more reasonable portion of the mortadella. That's it for $15. The lasagna was actually scary - it was a lukewarm, brown thing with lots of salad on the side. The salad was good, alas, the rest wasn't. I get it that it was made with eggplant and it wasn't with a red sauce but please, don't call it lasagna. ()We mentioned it to the waitress who mentioned it to the kitchen who then sent a tasting of their other pasta dish. We really appreciated the thought but alas, the pasta was unevenly cooked and there was too much oil). We were intrigued with the frisee with coddled egg and bacon. It was a poached egg on top of salad with a few specs of bacon. The kind of dish you would want in a fancier venue but in this burger joint, it seems totally out of place. And that is my recommendation to Canary Square. Decide what you want to be - a neighborhood gathering place with good beer, good burger and fries, and a few other choices (please add a few meal salads) or a quality gastro pub. As locals, make us want to come back in the middle of the week.
(2)
Liam S.
Good food! Good location. I have had breakfast here a few times and it has been good. Definitely worth the stop. They seem to have a really good beer selection and bar for those who have the time for that.
(4)
Diego M.
I had the black bean burger and it was delicious!!! Our waiter had a great sense of humor and was very knowledgeable of the Menu! He was very charismatic. I would definitely recommend this place (which is why I'm writing this review) also my friend had the short rib and she can't stop raving about it. 5 stars for sure!!
(5)
Jeff B.
Good Solid Food, but service has been poor to horrible the last 2 visits. Most recent visit, I walked in and waited for about a minute to be acknowledged by the guy standing behind the host stand. he told me someone would be right with me (as he did nothing). the female host came back and the guy told her I was looking for a table outside. She was great and rushed out to clean off a few dirty vacant tables, while the guy still did nothing. I saw someone I knew so went and chatted with them for a few minutes and came back and she pointed me to the table. I sat down and it took nearly 10 minutes to be acknowledged by my server (who was unfortunately the guy from earlier). I ordered a cocktail and food. About 15-20 minutes later, my food came out before my drink. I ordered a side order of sausage. Bacon was delivered Absolutely no apology, but the server did have someone else bring me sausage. he could tell I was irritated and he never came back to the table as another server did one last check on me, brought me the check and ran my payment. (this second server was great). I really could not believe this guy. I will probably end up going back to Canary Square, but will request to NOT have this guy as a server if he is working.
(2)
Hay W.
I'd give this establishment a much higher review if the service was better (and I've given many chances for them to redeem themselves). However, I've been here six times for different meals, and have been turned off by the attitude of the wait staff. This is disappointing, since I live so close and would love to visit regularly. Once, I asked the waitress for an iced coffee (since the previous time I was told that it was a Summer drink), and she responded "we don't do that here." Then, I followed up stating the bartender had made it for me previously and I was told it was a Summer drink so when would they be introducing it for the season? She rudely responded "we don't have that, but I can ask them to make it for you." Other times, I've been ignored for longer than average time periods, or been met with impatience when I ask for clarification questions about food items. It stinks because the brunch here is actually pretty good, and so are the drinks. However, I won't recommend people giving money to a place that isn't at least minimally respectful of patrons.
(2)
cath e.
Ok but the servings are oddly small for the price We eat out often so prices are clearly n our mind as to what is reasonable $14. For 7 sweet potato ravioli?? Cauliflower great drinks good Pleasant staff!! Willbe happier elsewhere
(3)
Tom H.
Great brunch. Fantastic drinks. Many many tasty beers. Friendly staff. Big TV's but they don't dominate the atmosphere. Good music, both live and on the stereo. Very comfortable, big open space. Menu could possibly be changed more frequently, but I may just think that because I'm there all the time.
(5)
Adam B.
So it's been a couple years since I wrote my review and felt compelled to make another one. I am being a bit overly nice with the demotion to four stars instead of five. The food is so hit or miss in this place it's nuts. They change their menu way too much. Ordinarily, I like a seasonal menu, but if your new dishes aren't as good as the old ones what's the point? If they didn't have good beer I would easily give them a 2 or 3. They are like the kid in school who gets on honor roll one term and then the next F's. Wish there was consistency. The food isn't the only thing inconsistent, the service, ugh. One time a waitress tried to tell me the mussels were cooked when the shells were barely open and the inside was clearly slimy. I'm from New England lady, I've cooked mussels a bazillion times, this shiz is raw! She said she would take them back because "she wanted to make me happy but there is nothing wrong with them". Bring back the chicken nuggets! Charcuterie board or cheese board is way overpriced. Oh well, I will keep going back for the beer, and it's close by. But I fear it won't be there forever.
(4)
Jimmy S.
So let's start with the good stuff. Canary Square is really nice looking inside and out. Great location with an updated interior and an outdoor seating area for nice weather dining. The service has always been fine friendly and fast, but honestly, it falls flat on the food. It is as blah, bland and banal as it gets. Great for drink or snacks, but that's the extent of it. Double meh.
(2)
lt C.
Just a disaster. Sat at the bar and waited 15 minutes for a drink and re asked what I wanted. Dollar oyster night--- 30 minutes for my bounty. I am brand new to the neighborhood and eat out at least 4 nights a week. The pours on wine were horrible and it was all disorganized--I heard one of the bartenders ( the only woman) use the term "retarded" over and over. It just seems like there was no sense to it all. The food was totally over salted and the menu descriptions misleading. All in all, I want to love this spot and I want to love the JP scene. Was at Ten Tables and they blew me out of the water last night. Everything was spot on. I'll go again to CS, but just once more....I believe in second chances.
(2)
Dana L.
My husband and I are regulars here and while we love the place, we realize the food and service can be inconsistent like many of the comments suggest...tonight the service and food hit it out of the park...you must order the garlic ciabatta appetizer, the kale and Autumn salads, the short ribs, the squash cannelloni and the sticky toffee pudding...each item was amazing! Wash it down with the Stark white wine...went well with everything. Thank you, Lauren, our excellent server!
(5)
Adam H.
After waiting for well over a half hour before even taking our drink order and close to an hour for food order, the service got worse. Brought out the wrong drink to one member of our party, then later not brining their second entirely (plus waiting, waiting and more waiting). The payoff for extreme wait times... mediocre food from a lackluster menu that was tepid on delivery. From reading other reviews, this experience does not seem to be atypical for this place. Do not bother.
(1)
Katie J.
I have been to Canary Square twice since moving to the neighborhood, and both times I was very pleased with the overall dining experience. It is a great neighborhood restaurant with reasonable prices. The outdoor seating is a little loud since it is close to the street, but on a cool summer night under the heat lamps it is really nice. The new patio also does a pretty good job creating a partition from the sidewalk with planters and tall grass. The seating inside is also nice, with a warm ambiance, but I would definitely recommend the patio seating if it is available. Both times my boyfriend and I have been seated right away, despite it being fairly busy. The wait staff has been pretty attentive (our waiter last night was a delight!), however, my first time there I overheard a waitress complaining quite loudly about a customer to another waitress. This was a bit of a turnoff, but our waitress did her best to keep us happy. Canary Square has an extensive beer list, and a few unique cocktails. I have only ordered the white sangria, which was very good both times. I have been tempted to order the Bartender's Flight, but I cannot turn down the sangria. For food, the burgers are delicious and cooked the way we asked. I am a huge fan of the black bean burger, which comes with a delicious (and spicy!) salsa, sour cream, cheddar cheese, and pickled onions. The hand cut fries are also delicious, but be prepared to eat a lot of tiny crispy fry-lettes. Overall, the service is good and the burgers are delicious. I will definitely keep going to Canary Square.
(4)
M M.
Service was terrible , it took a half an hour to put in a drink order. We tried to wave down servers and they would look at us and keep walking . All of our dishes were too salty. The burger was burnt when it was supposed to medium. Also expensive !
(2)
Kelsey M.
Good burgers and fries at a reasonable price. Their more expensive entrees were just okay and not worth the cost. We like going here for burgers and beers. During busy times this place is a mismanaged nightmare (which is why I didn't rate it a 4) with people waiting in line on a list only to watch others throw tantrums and being seated for their childish demands.
(3)
Abby F.
I love Canary Square! Now that it's summer time it's one of my favorite places to go out to eat on their beautiful patio. Their drinks are really yummy and they have a great beer selection. Their menu is on the smaller side, but I think that is so they can perfectly craft their options. I've never gotten anything from Canary Square that I didn't love. Also their giant doughnuts at brunch are the stuff of dreams.
(5)
Kacey B.
I live walking distance from Canary Square and don't visit too often anymore. This place is really hit or miss for the service and atmosphere. The bartenders have always been right on but not the waitstaff. Food has tasted good though their cheese plate and grits are pathetic or weird. Go for their burgers, salads, or omelets. Local served food is good. Drinks and beer selection is tasty. Oh, they don't ID so that's when the atmosphere sucks with young kids being stupid. Hey guys, you should ID. Helps you stay in business when the cops come around. Crowd has also occasionally sucked for the coupled-off yuppies who can appear socially inept.
(3)
A M.
Pretty cool joint. Waitress was the biggest sweetheart! I came here on a Friday (7/18/14) I must say the ambiance was def my cup of tea. I loved the music & decorative details of the outside and indoor seating. I got the gin and tonic, was pretty good and I'm guessing strong since I woke up the next day with a headache (but not your fault Canary) We had a burger and the sweet chili wings. Both pretty good, except wings were still a little pink inside, thought they could've been cooked a little longer. Overall, cool joint will definitely return!
(4)
Erik S.
Granted, I was only here for drinks, but the bartender made the perfect Sazerac; not an easy drink to make as some of you may know. He was extremely knowledgeable and a real professional and all the other cocktails were just as good. With the large screens and lots of open space, this would be great for watching a game! And the patrons and staff were all lively and up for some chit-chatting. **I've recently returned to Canary Square and had to change my rating from 5 stars to 4. The beer selection and food are good but not deserving of 5 stars. The wait staff are awesome though!
(4)
Ross P.
We've gone twice now and I really want to love this place. It's a great location and great space for JP. The drinks are fantastic - great beer menu and the cocktails are excellent. The fall vesper is one of the best drinks I've had! And the bar is great - this is a great place to stop and have drinks. Unfortunately the food is just ok. First time around had burgers that were a little on the small and dry side. Second time had the squash capellini which was excellent but... the size of an appetizer. Lucky my dining companion didn't finish her fries or I would have left the place still very hungry! This place has so much potential - kick the food up a notch and it's worth 5 stars!
(3)
Lauren L.
I came here early on a Saturday, tonight, with 3 fellow volunteers. I have walked by this place probably 50 times, and always wondered how it would be. We came in and were seated immediately. The waitress arrived relatively quickly and took some drink orders... we all got sodas. Our table ended up getting 3 black bean burgers and 1 ravioli. My black bean burger could have been hotter, but it came out pretty quickly. The consistency of it was a little soft for my taste. It was sort of mushy, and not very hot. But it wasn't bad, per se, it just had the consistency of baby food. The salsa on top gave it a little kick, which I liked. A ton of tables had bread on their table.. were we supposed to get bread for free? Lord I hate the "Asking for Free Bread" dilemma that I've experienced elsewhere. Sort of feel like some sort of cheap jerk face, "Hi, are we supposed to get free bread? Don't bring it if it's not free." I would have liked if the waitress came back after our meal arrived, we could have gone for soda refills. It wasn't bad, I'd go again.
(3)
Brittany S.
Such a neat space for dining. You have the option for indoor or outdoor dining, and there are heaters for when it gets colder. Quirky staff who are both friendly and attentive. Lots of farm to table options. Everything tasted so great because ingredients were fresh AND local- and I wouldn't call myself someone who only ate local/ organic either- but you could tell, it made a huge difference. Huge portions, enough to split for two people or take home leftovers.
(4)
Emily V.
I would say this is a pretty run of the mill, average, place. The service was pretty good, average prices, good location, average food. In a word: average.
(3)
d m.
Nothing seriously offended me, but I was expecting better. I get the feeling the owners are stretching themselves a little thin while they open too many places at once. $1 oysters didnt seem to be shucked by someone who was very good at shucking since they took 30 mintues to arrive and came looking a bit mangled. SLT sandwich was ok, but honestly was lacking any imagination (was that pepperridge farm bread?)..I do better for myself at home. It was ok but doubt I'd run back. When I saw how busy they were all I could think was they are doing better than they deserve to. On the upside the beer was cold and they had a good selection of draughts.
(2)
julie p.
Glad to have a nice local place like this in JP, and the service was good. But please learn how to cook a basic burger! Went with 3 friends and we all ordered one. All were very dry - no juice in the meat at all. The bun was dry and tasteless too. A tip: go pick up some fresh buns from Cheryl Anne's in W Roxbury every morning. We asked for a few grilled onions on the burgers - were informed that there were "no facilities to cook onions." What? They have no grill? Cheese was a complete afterthought on the burger - completely tasteless. I wanted to love Canary Sq. - and I did like the service a lot. But how can you screw up 3 simple burgers at every stage? That seems impossible. Also, do you actually expect people to pay $5 for a side of mashed with a piece of chicken? That is an insult - every bistro in town serves mashed with the roast chicken - and a little vegetable. Pay attention to prices - all these add-ons are way too high for your place and your location. Would only go back if I hear they have fired the chef.
(2)
Adam F.
I'm giving this place three stars with a promise to come back in a few weeks/months and see if things have improved. I'll agree with lots of the comments below - this place has potential, and is well conceived, but has problems with execution. Decent beer selection, and I would definitely go back here for drinks and snacks, but the food was really hit-or-miss. The burger, which should be a star player in a gastropub, was boring as conceived and even then overcooked. Steak was pretty good, though. Staff were generally friendly, but had a lot of trouble finding (or even setting) a table quickly.
(3)
Catie R.
Two experiences so far - one dinner and one brunch. Dinner was ok - my husband was more impressed with his chicken than I was with my salmon, but overall good (I was also distracted because we were sat at the drafty window & I was freezing!) Brunch, on the other hand, was fantastic. Brought a party of 10 family members on a whim and we all really really enjoyed our meals, the service, and the atmosphere (which isn't exactly easy when you're trying to please everyone from a two year old to a teenager to grandparents). My only complaint from that morning was that it seemed really loud (could have been the acoustics or all of the family). All in all, we are fans! Can't wait for the patio to open up when the weather gets better. And P.S. the best part of your visit to Canary Square is the comment book they deliver to you with your check at the end of the meal - it makes us feel good that they're collecting feedback.
(4)
wendy g.
Late night dinner was delicious. The staff was friendly, service great, and the appetizers were delicious- steak skewers, deviled eggs, and pork cracklings... oooh pork cracklings!! Th main courses were completely devoured too!! That's what happens when a 21 year old soccer player eats with you! Totally satisfying. Also, did I mention that we won the Red Sox game that we watched when we ate and that we sat on the edge of the terrace so we got air conditioning and outdoor air at the same time! Great evening!
(5)
D D.
The outdoor seating and the beer selection are a plus. But the food... I've given Canary Square a fair chance and checked it out several times. The food has always been very uneven. The only dish that I feel truly is worth the price is the grilled cheese and the donuts. But I can easily replicate a grilled cheese at home. I've had lousy yucca fries, meh salads, and overpriced hummus among other dishes. Dined with other people that felt the food was mediocre as well. Also, the bar and indoor area is wayyyy too loud. Overall if you're looking for drinks and you can get a seat on the patio, sure, give Canary Square a shot. Otherwise, go elsewhere.
(2)
Samantha G.
My friends and I went here last night for drinks and apps. We got a wide variety of cocktails and beers and were all very pleased. The cocktails were creative and yummy. We had a few appetizers and all were good. My favorite were the beef skewers. They were delicious! I'm looking forward to trying the main dishes sometime soon.
(3)
JP M.
Love this place. Seriously. Love. This. Place. I recently signed the lease on a new apartment and one of its selling points was that it is exactly as far from Canary Square as my current place (aka- really close) I have done every time of day so I have had every form of the menu including the limited afternoon snacky menu and yeah, love it. The bar has yet to fail me. Awesome cocktails? Done. Great beer list? Done. Not everything on the menu is my cup of tea but I get that the world doesn't exist to constantly bend to my whims so I read the menu and order the things that sound appealing (this process seems to baffle people on Yelp) and in the year I've been going there I think I've had one thing that I didn't then go back and get again. The staff has always been great. Sometimes it's crowded but they have always done what they could to get everybody in quickly and I knew they had been paying attention when on my last trip in our waitress looked at my brother and his newly-minted wife and said "Hey you didn't have wedding rings on the last time you were in here!" Finally, a kind of weird thing I love- they do have televisions and will shows games but they have big blackboards with the beers listed on them that are often hiding the TVs. Aesthetically that makes me really happy. Looking at all the negative reviews I can only surmise that all the great stuff in JP has left people without enough stuff to complain about or something. I recommend that everybody go in, get a Basil-Grape Mojito or a one of the awesome beers on tap and a plate of the Grafton Cheddar Fries. I think it may be physically impossible to complain after consuming that combo.
(5)
Joe G.
The place has a nice vibe. Very noisy and loud. Great beer selection. My group was nonplussed by the food which is odd because we're easy to please. I would prefer going across the street to Tres Gatos instead.
(3)
Conor D.
I live right around the corner from this place, but it took a visit from the parents and subsequent promise of a free meal to get me to try it. When we arrived around 7 for dinner on a Saturday, we were told there would be a half hour wait. No biggie, we headed over to the bar and were greeted by one of the best and biggest selections of beer I've seen. A-ok by me. After only fifteen minutes, we were seated. The waitress was extremely friendly and particularly adorable. Our starter salads were brought out within five minutes and tasted great - mine had blue cheese and a nice vinaigrette dressing. We then waited for a good forty-five minutes for our entrees. Conversation during that time, by the way, was pretty difficult given the noise level. There was a near-constant freezing breeze from the front door (the table layout isn't very well-planned). The adorable waitress (why can't I remember her name??), however, apologized without any impetus for the inconvenience and offered us free dessert to make up for the wait. Nice! I ordered my burger to be cooked medium. When it came out, though, it was straight-up raw. Judging by other reviews, this seems to be a persistent problem at Canary Square. The bun, however, was delicious (I think there was some garlic flavor) and the fries were cooked and seasoned nicely. I didn't try the free dessert, but I'm told that the green tea ice cream was pretty flavorless. That falls on JP Licks, though, who supplied it. Another post, another time. Overall, I'd probably return given how great the beer selection is and how friendly the service was. But cooking a burger correctly is pretty basic stuff and the place was freezing. The wait for the food was also pretty long, though I guess not too terrible considering the time and day of the week. Oh man, Canary Square, why can't I stay mad at you?
(3)
Eliza W.
outdoor seating is going off...My local Cheers in JP.
(4)
Barry L.
Went for brunch today. Planned to go elsewhere, but Acapulco was closed. This place looks nice. But you can't eat decor. 30 minute wait for my wife and son, and another 5 minutes before they remembered to bring my platter as well. And mind you, this was a sandwich and eggs w. various sides, nothing elaborate to prepare. Coffee served without cream, needed to ask. Food OK, but nothing special. Instead of chorizo sausage as described, my dish came with a kind of tough bacon with a rind that was intent on surviving being chewed. Very noisy room, not just patrons, but loud badly equalized music competing. I think their primary goal is to sell drinks; food and service ran a far 2nd.
(2)
G M.
My girlfriend and I went a few weeks ago for the first time. It was a busy Saturday night so we put our name in with the hostess then sat at the bar for a few drinks while we waited. There was some miscommunication with the hostess and she accidentally gave our table away to some other people. She was very nice and very apologetic and we didn't have to wait long for another table to become available. The manager was very kind and made up for their mistake by buying us a round of drinks. That was not necessary but was a very nice gesture and a good business move because we will both be coming back again. The food was good, the drinks were a little pricey but good. The place is very nice inside and has a fun atmosphere. There were lots of people there and it just had a fun vibe. I would definitely go back again. Great place to have in the neighborhood.
(4)
Hannah H.
I read quite a few yelp reviews before coming to Canary Square, and luckily none of the issues some diners have experienced happened to me! I met a friend mid-week for dinner and a cocktail and we were treated to a great meal and great service. We were seated right away by a friendly hostess and served up some great drinks. I ordered the Centre Street cocktail, very light and refreshing with an herbal-citrus flavor. I had to try the deviled eggs, which totally lived up to the comments. I also ordered the asparagus salad which went very well with the eggs. I couldn't finish my whole meal between the two dishes but it tasted so good I wish I had a larger stomach. Our server was fun and enthusiastic and all in all it was the perfect meeting place.
(4)
Karie K.
I really enjoyed my S.L.T. (smoked salmon, lettuce, tomato) and gin cocktail. I will definitely go back.
(4)
Leslie P.
I could not love this place more. The food is fabulous and I absolutely love the ambiance. I've been here three times now, and never had problems with the service.
(5)
Jazzie F.
I went here recently for brunch -- it was really good. Except maybe I was annoyed that my dish came w/ bacon so when I said no bacon they didn't add anything or offered anything in replacement for it but charged me for bacon. But it was a good experience, and I really like this place. I am looking fwd to trying out their brunch cocktails next time!
(4)
Sandy B.
I think they changed their bacon. Are you kidding me? You're sleeping on the couch for a looooong time, Canary. Update: It seems they've changed a lot of other things, too. And not necessarily for the better. New chef should pay attention to these comments. Now you've messed with the amount of avocado in the avocado and Swiss omelet? Tsk, tsk.
(3)
IntricateWeeski O.
The service was horrible. Our waitress gave attitude and kept messing up the order. When we asked her to check on an ingredient due to a food allergy she asked if "it will kill me". Uh...even if I just break out in hives it's a big deal. It took 3 times of asking to finally get her to check. In the end I ordered the bacon Mac and cheese and it was the worst I've ever had. My friends steak came well undercooked but the lamb was good. Especially because of the bad service and how over priced it is for the lack of quality in the food I would not recommend it.
(1)
Phil H.
This is the place in JP that I want to love, but seems to always disappoint me. I keep going back for the: 1. Awesome beer and craft cocktail selection 2. Eclectic menu 3. Hip and comfortable atmosphere 4. Outdoor patio and walls that move to open the entire restaurant to the outdoors Here are a few of the experiences I've had there over the last year (on a few occasions): Service 1. Standing at the front door for 15 minutes waiting for a host/employee to help me 2. Getting seated and then waiting another 15-20 minutes for someone to come over 3. Watching people that could be helping me just hanging around and talking to coworkers or doing other things 4. Parts of the table's food/drink order being completely forgotten 5. The food runners bring you your food and have no clue who ordered what 6. No one noticing your empty drinks or lack of napkins/silverware at the table Food 1. The jerk chicken wings are not at all spicy - which means they are not jerk 2. The bottom of asparagus stems are tough, fibrous and basically inedible - please cut them off for me 3. Entree plates which look like a bunch of things were just thrown together on the plate. This place could be great, but they are just overlooking too many details on the food and the service staff seems to be lacking an element of leadership/teamwork. A place at this price-point that shows so much promise should be better about these kinds of things.
(2)
Natalia O.
Nice setting, but very subpar food. My burger was practically charcoal, though accompanied by nice sweet potato fries. The server didn't bother to check in with us on drink freshening, and she seemed like she had a few too many tables to look after. It's a classic bar setting, so pretty loud on a Friday evening. Might go back if there's nothing else open nearby... but doubtful...
(2)
Dave D.
I want to love this place because: A) It's near my house B) The bartenders and wait staff are super nice C) It's far better than what was there before. The problem is, the food just isn't all that good. Granted, the deviled eggs rock, but everything else is just blah. Half chicken? Nice I guess, but not much better than a rotissiere job from Stop and Shop. The pressed sandwich? Really just a glorified grilled cheese. The Brussels sprouts? Tasty, but only because they've been liberally accesorized with high end bacon. Not horrible, but just not great. If it wasn't down the street from my house, I'd never go. But it is, so I find myself there a lot. Sigh.
(3)
Morgan M.
This is one of the few go to spots in JP which is in desperate need of more good restaurants and bars. I think the food is great relative to its price and the menu has a lot of interesting options. Service has always been very friendly, the place is usually busy so it has a good atmosphere. I prefer sitting at the bar and the bartenders make great cocktails. I go here at least once a week!
(4)
Sabrina P.
I really wanted this place to be awesome. It seemed promising with an good beer selection and pretty fun menu. However time, after time, after time, after time (I definitely gave it way too many chances) - Canary Square fell short. The food is bland and unmemorable. The only saving grace was the breakfast fries during brunch - but since I've recreated the recipe at home - not really a reason to make the trek over there. I haven't enjoyed anything on the dinner menu and I've tried almost everything they offer by ordering it myself, or sampling some of my boyfriends. Each time the food fell flat. Everything is completely lacking in flavor. The service is either slow and horrible or rude and horrible. The bartenders aren't the friendly helpful bartenders you'd expect at a place with the vibe they try to create. My boyfriend ordered a beer and the bartender dropped off a glass almost completely filled with foam and walked away without any explanation. When we complained about the lack of beer and he commented that the keg had ran out, took the beer away, didn't ask my boyfriend what else he would want, and then didn't even take it off the bill. The waitresses are either super overbearing and awkward or wear an invisibility cloak until it's time to pay the bill. I'm the last person that usually complains about waitresses and always give them the benefit of the doubt, but the staff at Canary Square could use a few lessons in how to serve a table. Overall it's not the super great place you would think walking in. Instead they clearly gave more thought into fooling everyone with the decor instead of wowing everyone with the food and service.
(2)
Sydney M.
I don't care what you say, other Yelpers. I went to Canary Square in spite of your awful reviews, and I liked it. Most of it, anyways. There are 2 areas I need to comment on: Service- not so great. I was at Canary on a Sunday night at 8:30ish and it was busy, but not crazy. It took our waiter a while to accomplish tasks like bringing drinks, bringing condiments once we had started eating, etc. In fact, I'm pretty sure my fiance had finished his meal by the time the waiter checked in with us for the first time after our food was delivered. He was waiting on a few other tables of 4 who, looking at their tables, I could tell were going to have a much larger bill than ours, so I think we were intentionally neglected. But this was a much-needed date night, so on one hand, it was nice not to be interrupted several times by waitstaff. Sometimes I prefer service like this. Food- REALLY good burgers. I don't even like hamburgers, but occasionally I crave them. Weird, I know. The burger at Canary was huge. The meat was heavily seasoned, which I'd never experienced with a burger before, but I thought it was tasty. Also, the fries were hand-cut and, although I consider myself a fan of crispy fries, these softer ones were a great compliment to the burger. And though I can't personally comment on them, my date loved his fish tacos. I'll probably return to Canary. Especially during the summer when they open their outdoor seating section!
(4)
Michelle R.
solidly OK. really good veggie bean burger. the bf ordered a cheese plate,which looked weird - like the plate was way too big for an app. but the staff are nice, the wait time they give you is accurate, and the food comes out fast. THEY DON'T HAVE BBQ SAUCE THOUGH. OR HONEY MUSTARD. FAIL.
(3)
Christina M.
The food is good but the service for Sunday brunch is awful and no communication from the management. Very unhappy.
(1)
Jason H.
Not to be redundant, but this place has so much potential and yet fails to deliver. That said, I continue to come here for the beer and because it's fun. Food is incredibly inconsistent. Occasionally, the charcuterie boards are downright spectacular. I've had some of the best appetizers around, here. But the entree's are very hit or miss- usually miss. Atmosphere is pretty awesome and the patio is nice. Beer list is probably the most extensive in JP, so I keep getting sucked back in. A little more effort on consistency of the food and service would take this place from 3 or 3.5 stars to 4, easily.
(3)
Nick H.
I've went once, on a Monday night. While the whole thing fell a little short of what it could be, the prices are cheaper than they could be and the staff works hard. Here are the highlights: 1. This place has a menu that is near-exclusively the stuff that I wish for on a menu: It was like seeing a unicorn. As a result, we split three sides, two appetizers, one entree. I was thankful for having my girlfriend and another friend to team-up. 2. The food was cheap for simple things and reasonable for fun things. I loved this. A person who can swing $10 for dinner can eat homemade tacos and their friend that wants to spend $20 on seafood, can do that too. 3. There seemed to be an odd skill gap in the kitchen. The Salmon was awesome. They were ambitious enough to do a charcuterie plate. However, the yucca (which I was excited about) was dry and was served with a sauce that didn't work. 4. The service was slow but solid. My girlfriend has Celiac Disease (gluten intolerance) and our waitress confirmed which menu items were safe as well as let the kitchen know about our table. The chef even popped out for 10 seconds to let us know which deserts were safe. That was truly appreciated. The consensus, at the end of the meal, was that this place was working hard to make interesting food, serve it safely, and make folks feel comfortable and welcome. It felt like an off night, but I'm looking forward to going back, perhaps on another night of the week.
(4)
Emily H.
Eh, let me start by saying I really want to like this place. It's near my house and the decor is cool and modern. BUT, the food is just blah. The drinks are blah. And the servers are blah. I used to order Canary's standard hamburger every time I went because it was a delicious piece of beef on brioche with pickles and onions. Now, the burger comes on a strange sesame seed bun that makes me sad. Their wings are equally underwhelming. C'mon people, wings are easy. If you're a mixed drink person I find their cocktails to be just O.K. The service is pretty spotty as well. The bartenders seem annoyed that you're there unless you really get into a conversation with them. I agree with the writer who said the waitresses are either weird and overbearing or invisible because I've had both. The plus is that Canary has ample outdoor seating, reasonable prices, and a large variety of beers.
(3)
Eugena O.
Brunch (based on a Saturday visit): great noise and music level, friendly service, canary french toast is a must try. Dinner (based on a Thursday visit): make reservations, friendly waitstaff, but food is alright for what it is. There are tons of other restaurants in Boston that make what they do ten times better, but since it's the only restaurant of its kind in JP, they get by. A friend pointed out that their dinner menu offers something from each of the major JP establishments on Centre Street. I think if they were to narrow the menu and really focus on coming out with a few signature dishes they do really well, the overall eating experience would be better. Overall: enjoyed brunch experience more than dinner experience, mainly because the canary french toast was so delicious.
(3)
Lydia S.
I'm another potential fan that really wants Canary Square to be good. Every few months, in a forgiving mood, I'll try going there again, hoping things will be different. But it never fails to disappoint. The food can be quite good, but the experience is always undermined by the service. On this most recent attempt, the place was only 1/3 full, but the wait staff forgot one of our 2 dishes, wasn't around to re-order, could not be found to get the check or then pay the bill. In other visits, low points include weak cocktails, forgetting the to-go leftovers (threw them out), uneven food quality, and consistently bad service. Done for now, thanks. There are too many other delightful, delicious treasures that really never disappoint.
(1)
Paul B.
Great beer selection, open air the night we were there! Burgers were great and the Mac and Cheese with bacon added was out of this world!!
(5)
Mark R.
My favorite place in JP! Great atmosphere and the food only gets better.
(5)
Kim K.
I had high hopes for Canary Square after seeing the location and hearing some good reviews. Unfortunately, it did not live up to the hype. My boyfriend and I decided to stop in on a Sunday at 2:00 for lunch. We were able to get a table right away outside. Our waitress came over, took our drink orders (two orange juices) and came back pretty quickly with them and to receive our food order (two burgers: one medium, one medium well). However, that marked the end to the timely service/overall nice experience. After that, we began our ridiculous wait for our food. During that wait, the following happened: - I ordered an iced coffee that never came. - Another table was seated, completely ignored, never served even water, and eventually walked out of the place. - Two other tables endlessly tried to flag down our waitress to pay their bills and ended up having to get up to find her. Finally, our burgers arrived. While they did come with the toppings we had asked for (bacon and cheese), they were not cooked to order at all. And the fries? Now I'm a fan of salty things but they must have soaked the potatoes in salt water before frying them and topping them off with a pound of more salt. We tried to eat them because by that point, we were starving but they were inedible. I wish I had good things to say about this place but due to this experience, the food I ate, and the service I had, I will never be going to Canary Square again.
(1)
Mike D.
Awesome Beer list!!!! Plenty of great beers on tap. Dave and Angela behind the bar are awesome.. I have one complaint, I wish the menu was a little bigger. I have a hard time finding a really good item on the menu that I like. Other than that, the ambiance is great, outdoor patio is amazing.
(4)
Mon R.
nooooooooo. I can't believe I paid so much money here- or any money here at all. Their food is not good, and I'm concerned I may have gotten food poisoning here! Such a shame because I wanted to love their southern comfort type food, but its a total miss.
(1)
jenn K.
I want to first start off by saying I really like the space and it has a nice ambiance going. I think the food is decent however, the menu hasn't changed at all in the 4 times I've been to Canary Square. I really want to like this place and get excited to go there but I feel a little bored already. Canary Square really needs to keep the customer excited and guessing if it wants to survive in a world of ten tables. It would be nice to see some seasonal menu changes. The cheese fries were SO good but I've also split an order of bread pudding before and it just did not hit the spot. Please produce some more irresistible desserts and I will gladly bring many friends! Being a vegetarian I would also like to see a larger array of options, maybe a butternut squash risotto or something like that would be really lovely for the fall/winter. I don't really have much gripe with the service besides the last time I went I was very thirsty and me and my friend sat at the table with empty water glasses for about 15 minutes. Other than that, the place is decent. I hope there is some favorable changes so I can start gushing over this place already!
(3)
Kelly G.
Blah. Stopped in for drinks because one of my besties and I wanted cocktails and Milky Way had a cover. For a Saturday night at 10, it was dead...we got seats at the bar right away, which was nice. The experience went down hill from there. We ordered two of the same drink off of the menu (nothing terribly difficult) and the bar tender acted like we'd asked her to juice a still-living turkey that she'd have to chase around for an hour. She was snippy when taking our food order and all we ordered was the corn appetizer which, though not advertised that way, was SO SPICY that I couldn't eat it. I had a couple of nibbles and passed the plate off. I don't love spicy food, but I'm not a wuss - so that's saying something. I never thought I'd say this in a million years, but I miss the Alchemist.
(2)
Daymeyn G.
Yum. Canary Square....the love I feel for you would be stronger, only if you were not so far away from where I lay my head. Starter, humus...great flavor and texture, that could have gone with a little more lemon...its great they left a lemon wedge for us. My mate and I split mains...Roasted Chicken Salad (total brilliance!), and the Wood Grilled Burger.... Again YUM! The Salad's mix of meats to vegetables, nuts, and berries were stunning..and I had heard sooo much about it. Totally lived up to expectations! The burger was good, but the salad was extraordinary. Though I did not go into their drink menu, I did have a ginger beer which was a great accompaniment to a fantabulous dinner. If one is keen for a trip to, or in JP, I would totally say take a trip to the square! These folks will not disappoint.
(4)
Brian D.
Things that I've learned and have time after time forgotten include: 1. always sit at the bar 2. never go to brunch 3. never go to brunch Brunch kills me. Sorry majority of people out there, but, brunch sucks. You pay more for a limited menu and are surrounded by hordes of people who may or may not dine out often who think that a glass of 1/2 OJ and 1/2 cheap sparkling wine is a life-changing event. I don't get it. I sat with a good size table of people on a Sunday afternoon for 'brunch' and had the sort of experience that is the norm in my brunching experience. Busy restaurant, slow table service, frazzled wait staff, pretty much just OK chow and an overall 'meehhhhhhh' experience. I had the burger, looks awesome, tastes pretty good. My companions had various eggy things, they all seemed more or less pleased. Nobody passed out from mouthgasms but nobody pushed their plates away either. I'm sorry brunch, I'm just not in love with you. That being said about brunch....I like sitting at the bar at Canary. I'm sort of in love, or at least very strong like, with the bar. Show up for dinner time and get a plate of the jerked chicken wings, fried pork belly and a few good beers - done. As one previous reviewer pointed out, the mussels, avoid. I don't know why, but both times I've had them here they were a bit off. I'll be back, I like this spot just fine, just not for brunch (or anyplace else for that matter).
(3)
Molly N.
I had to write a review because there are so many nice things about canary square - the space is nice, especially in the spring and summer when they open up the doors, the staff is great, the drink menu is decent and now they are offering special summer cocktails, BUT, as a vegetarian, I might have to stop going there for meals because their black bean burger is literally inedible. I end up just ordering about 5 plates of the crispy cauliflower appetizer (which is great). But really, in a neighborhood like JP, with just one vegetarian meal on the menu, they should get it right. The first time I ordered it I assumed they had forgotten to cook it because it was so mushy and gross. But then I ordered it again last night and it was the same. Pure mush, barely warm in the middle - just awful. I ate my fries and could't even touch the burger. Grassfed also has a veggie burger that is only slightly better. It is NOT hard to have an even somewhat decent vegetarian burger but....right now it is keeping me from going back. They used to have an amazing hummus and veggie sandwich. They should have kept it!
(2)
Jacob M.
I took a small retreat to Boston to visit a couple of friends before their baby was born. I mostly spent the time studying for a certification exam, but we came here for a couple of beers one night. They have a great selection of beers on tap, a really good place to go if you are in JP. The service was good (we sat at the bar), and the bar tender was helpful in picking out what beers to have. I also got a turkey leg for us to snack on, and it was delicious. It had just a touch of honey, barely noticeable, but jus that little extra to take it over the top; I would definitely get it again. This is a great place to go to for a date, or to spend a couple of hours catching up with friends.
(4)
Carpenter A.
Well, we went last night for drinks and dinner and afterwards I was like, "I need to go on yelp and see if anyone else has commented on how salty the food was..." My friend ordered a burger, I got mac and cheese and both were just REALLY salty - that was the flavor, salt. Clearly from reading below, we are not alone in this experience. When we got to Canary Square, there were no tables available and the host said it would be a few minutes. I asked if we could wait at the bar and he looked a bit confused but said yes, so we went over and got drinks. Which seems like the most normal way to handle a wait, right? While we were there four tables opened up and were set and only one was seated with no one waiting by the door. I watched as the tables stayed empty for a while, the host was not looking for us, and finally I went over and asked if we might sit down. It struck me as a bit strange that no one came to tell us a table was ready. But certainly not a deal breaker by any means. When we were sitting looking at the menu we were considering a few things and as it was our first time there, I looked around the room to see what other people were eating and if anything looked particularly good. And all I saw was a full dining room with no plates on the tables and people just having drinks. At 7:45pm on a Thursday night. I'd definitely go back to meet for drinks - the atmosphere was open and comfortable. I ran into some friends who were there for drinks and that confirmed the "this is a great place to meetup for drinks in JP" feel. I hope they fix this the food issues. They'd get far more repeat customers bringing friends and family there for meals. Not just drinks. ps. I'm not a low/no-salt person. I like salt! I put salt on things frequently and this was just crazy super thick salty. pps. I hate writing bad reviews! I really hope they figure this out as I'd love for it to be a great restaurant.
(2)
Stacy H.
my friend highly recommended their black bean burger, but it was so incredibly spicy i couldn't breathe for a little while after eating it. their french fries were also incredibly salty, so i don't think i'll be ordering that dish anymore. i'll probably come back again for drinks or appetizers, since they have a pretty good vegetarian food selection.
(3)
Kristin G.
Went for dinner with friends last night. Service was great. The waitress was attentive but not hovering. The drinks were AMAZING. I got the grape basil mojito and a watermelon jalapeno mojito and both were fantastic. Everyone was satisfied with the food- which ranged from bluefish to burgers to roasted chicken to pork tacos. Everything was fresh and tasty. I totally dug the vibe/decor. I had a great experience here and I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Maureen D.
Beautifully renovated open space with big windows facing Center street/S. Huntington. Weekend brunch was delicious with appropriately spicy/salty hints in unexpected places. There is a list of interesting cocktails I plan to return for. The chef would do well, however, to take the bacon out of the home fries; not veg friendly.
(4)
Arafat K.
In John Keats's sonnet, "On First Looking into Chapman's Homer," Keats talks about how he's traveled much through realms of gold and similar goodly states and kingdoms, but he'd never truly experienced Homer until he read George Chapman's translation, written not in the more traditional iambic pentameter but in fourteen syllable lines he called "fourteeners." Keats felt that this served the dactylic hexameter of the original Greek much better than Pope's heroic couplets did. Even though Chapman was dead at the time, Keats still felt they were kindred spirits, or biffles. I love that poem, but I've never really understood how he felt--to discover a subtle variation on a universal theme that touches the soul and warms the heart and feels like a truly joyful discovery. Today, when I had the Canary Square burger, I finally got it. It was 4 PM on a Sunday. I hadn't had breakfast. Neither had my pal Declan VW. We had never heard of Canary Square. We went into The Haven for haggis, but they'd stopped serving food. One of the mournful drunks at the bar suggested Canary Square. The menu there was limited. A charcuterie plate, a burger, something else, something else. The burger came with fries and, for a dollar extra, you could smother the fries in Grafton Village cheddar sauce. (Cheddar lovers know what I'm talkin' about!!!!) We both chose the burger, because it was eleven dollars, and the great beer selection, high ceiling, exposed beams, general feeling of Good Design and upper middle class taste made us feel like this wouldn't be a bad burger. Plus, it was 4 in the afternoon, we were hungry, we had no gangland killings scheduled. We were serious men in search of serious food. The burger came and we gasped like a Victorian-era prostitute encountering John Holmes. The buns were perfect and brown (I don't trust buns that are too light), which meant a thick egg wash. I don't know if it was a brioche proper but it was reminiscent of one. The burger was properly modest: no bawdy top halves off here. The patties (props on their asking us about doneness) looked unremarkable, and there was some melted white cheddar on the top bun too. Lettuce (a single perfect leaf), slices of pickes, and a single slice of tomato was on the side. I picked up the greenly accoutrements (I'm trying to be poetic here, like how you can call fish "the scaly breed") and put them in the burger. Now I looked at the fries, and I felt like a man who was wrongly jailed for murder and is released after five years in prison. He looks from his wife (still hot) to his child, now significantly older. He doesn't know whom to embrace first. On the one hand, he's been alone for five years. On the other, fruit of his loins. Finally, I decided to taste a fry first. It wasn't perfect, but it was close to perfect. Why wasn't it perfect? Because I like the French style with narrower cuts, like La Voile or Petit Robert or Marliave etc. And these were thick-cut fries. Fries for a righteous man. And I realize that after talking up the masculinity of the burger, it's hypocritical to complain about the fries being too thick. But a) I'm not complaining, I'm just sayin' is all, and b) I'm a bacon-eatin', five-times-a-day prayin' Muslim. What's your point? The burger was the most perfect burger I've ever had in my life. And I've had _many_ burgers. (Seriously: I'm trying to schedule a gastric bypass operation.) I had a good burger a few weeks ago at Tasty Burger in Fenway, which I thought was a good example of burgercraft. But comparing that burger to the Canary Square burger is like comparing the Zodiac killer to Hitler. The Canary Square burger was exponentially, unimaginably, better. I've been thinking, and I believe the secret lies in how they spice their patty. I don't know what they do to it, but it's amazing. I'm going to come back soon and get a meatloaf if they have one on their menu and see if the magic translates into other ground beef dishes. Or maybe I'll get something else. I'm sure that nothing will live up to the magnificence of the burger because this was a once-in-a-lifetime concatenation of food circumstances. But I'm also sure that any restaurant that makes such a good burger must make good other things as well. Oh, and I also had a Dogfish Head 90 on tap, and it was nice to see something by Dogfish on tap that's not their 60 or brown ale.
(5)
Heather G.
I will start this review off on a positive note: The cocktails, beers and bar scene is great. No other spot in JP beats it on any night of the week. The food, on the other hand... Let's start with: The chef has no clue what sauces to put with the appetizers. This might sound like a minor detail, but when your yuca fries are served with sour cream (sour cream?? what??), you know something is really screwed up back there in the kitchen. An alioli or chipotle mayo or chimichurru are all appropriate. The yuca is not cooked well either; I've ordered it 3-4 times and they tasted like cardboard last night. (Sorry to harp on the yuca, but after spending time in south and central america and eating at latin restaurants for 8 years in NYC, it pains me when an appetizer as simple to prepare as fried yuca, is screwed up beyond belief). Then, the cod fritters are served with a strange cocktail sauce. That is also a bizarre combo considering the fact that most fried fish would be served with some sort of tarter sauce. Now i'm all for trying new sauces with my fish, but maybe cocktail sauce should be left for COCKTAIL shrimp. The chicken tacos are good. As are the deviled eggs. The cheese fries are smothered with alfredo sauce. I'll let you determine if that's a good thing or not. The chard salad is big and could use more ingredients other than a mound of chard (there were probably 6 nuts sprinkled on top), but still a decent, unique option for a big salad. The beef skewers were measly sized and the jar (and I mean it was the amount that would come in a jar) of peanut sauce could not really be called sauce since it was as thick as actual peanut butter. gross. It ruined the beef skewers. Again, I love the bar and cocktails and beer, but until they improve on how they prepare the appetizers and entrees, this place gets only 2 stars from me since it's supposed to be a restaurant you eat at, and not just a bar.
(2)
Libby H.
Owner - please, please, please fix your food. Have you ever even eaten off your own menu? I've been here three times, each time certain that it would prove better than the last. This place has a fabulous layout and outdoor space. It is just what JP needs...a comfortable, fun and spacious restaurant/bar. The problem is that the food sucks. My salad had essentially plain olive oil on it and my friends steak was cooked so much it was white. I know whomever is running this place has resources and restaurant experience because the place LOOKS and FEELS like it, but, it sure doesn't TASTE like it. Please get your kitchen together. So much potential, but such a disappointment in the food.
(1)
Tom S.
First off - people giving terrible reviews to a less than one month old restaurant/bar need to grow up. The place is not the Four Seasons nor does it want to be... sheesh. That said - we went on opening night... took a big chance, but man was it good. Very good actually. Great beer list, food was delicious. I had the steak and my wife had the salmon sandwich. The only fault with the food we tried was that it was perhaps over-salted. Service was spotty as one might expect, but the staff was quite pleasant. What a nice addition to the neighborhood. I cannot wait to go back to delve further into the beer list and the food menu.
(4)
Stephanie S.
Awful, awful, awful! This was the second time I've been to Canary Square...after the first I had vowed not to return, I really should have stood by that (check out Matt W's review for the details). The wait was unbelievable. We were quoted half an hour but it took closer to an hour for 4 of us to get seated. Waiting wouldn't normally be an issue, but there were no people! Open tables, no line, no wait, right? My friend and I split a pitcher of sangria which was sickly sweet so I opted for a sangarita and that tasted like tea tree oil toothpicks. Needless to say I was disappointed by both. There was also a tortuous wait for the food (an additional hour for 2 burgers, french fries and yucca). I ordered the yucca which was extremely overcooked and the sauce it came with was tasteless. When the server asked how our food was I told her it was terrible and, get this, she AGREED with me! You know it's bad when the server openly doesn't like the food. I excused my crappy first experience by telling myself "the restaurant's new, they just need time to get it together". Now it's official, decor aside there are no redeeming qualities in Canary Square.
(1)
Vegan Couple T.
The Mrs. and I haggled over this rating. I am consistently annoyed with the lack of vegan options there, but Mrs. T. wanted to give them credit for at least now offering vegan pita and one vegan entree. In the past we've been forced to order the hummus without bread and mix and match various selections while getting charged full price for each. Their sides are good but their grilled asparagus tastes like it was cooked on top of a steak. Definitely the best things going for this place are its location and the Basil Grape Mojitos and Sangaritas.
(3)
Amanda G.
Brunch Review! I was really looking forward to eating at Canary Square. Some of my fellow brunch regulars and I decided to try out the spot on a nice warm day. They have a patio and JP is an area we hadn't yet explored. We made reservations for 11:30 which seemed unnecessary. When we arrived we were practically the only table in the restaurant (besides a screaming 5 year old... but that's besides the point). I, of course, ordered the Canary bloody mary. It was alright. I know I asked for tabasco and horseradish to make it a little more exciting. It was bland and a bit watered down. A friend ordered the bacon bloody mary... she didnt seem to br too thrilled everytime the chopped bacon bits got stuck in her straw... moving on.. As a group we ordered teh breakfast french fries to start. Basically eggs benedict on top of yummy fries. If you go for one thing, go for this. Im a HUGE fan of eggs benedict.. how do you make this dish and NOT eggs benedict? For the main meal I got the avacado and swiss omelette. The omelette itself was fine, again kind of bland but cooked right. The omelette came with toast that tasted like... campfire? The toast was inedible. How can you screw up toast?
(2)
Jim C.
I am eating a hotdog from 7-11 for brunch today. Not by choice but by necessity. I actually went to Canary Square for brunch and I waited and waited and waited and guess what? No brunch. I cannot stress how important customer service is. In saying that, I would like to exclude a couple of people from this review; John and DNice are spectacular bartenders. It's unfortunate neither of them were working today. I can't even write a food review today because I didn't get any. It was busy, I agree but it's brunch. It shouldn't take 40 minutes to make french toast. Let me break down the experience. My good friend Jon and I went to have a quick brunch and handicap the MLB season. We sit down to Mumford and Sons "Little Lion Man" playing while the Disney channel is on one television. Neither is a crime but it just goes to show that kids programming combined with a song that liberally drops the "f" bomb prove that no one has their eye on the bigger picture. If I had children I would have been off put by this but I don't so I guess it is just observational about the low level of management. So, we sit and are asked if we want drinks. Sure. Water, Coffee and Mimosa. I got the Water and Mimosa. S'ok, she must have misheard me. No menus. We had to ask for them because we apparently gave off the impression that we showed up at 11 am to drink. We're the only ones at the bar and yet we get the impression immediately that we are interrupting the bartender; she is visibly annoyed with us. We order and I re-order my coffee. They have pretty good coffee. From that point forward, no one talks to us. Forty minutes later and I have no coffee, no mimosa and no water. ANY bartender in the greater Boston area can tell you that if you keep pouring I will keep drinking. I'm an easy target any time of the day for a big check and a good tip. 20-30 minutes in the wait, two very nice young ladies sat down next to us. 10 minutes later they had drinks and food. We had empty glasses. I called out bartender over and asked what was going on. "They ordered cold food," was her answer. Really? This is atrocious. I am so baffled that she could say that to a customer and not slap herself. Do you really hate your job that much? Do you have that much disrespect for the customer? I called for the manager. What happened next was fun. They scrambled in front of us. I honestly don't think the order had been placed. The manager assured us it was on its way but it was too late. She comped us our drinks and then our food came running out. It was disgusting looking, thrown together from scraps from other meals at best. If I had stayed, the board of health might have been called. If it is busy, tell me. Offer me some fruit or nuts. Keep my glass filled. The utter contempt shown to me by the wait staff was mind boggling. There is NO quality control in this restaurant. The previous time we were there my friend ordered bacon and was served cut bacon fat - no meat. Let's keep our eye on the prize people. You run a restaurant. Three strikes and you are out. It's a real shame because the space is beautiful. I live in the neighborhood and I eat out a lot. If you are eating out in JP please go to the Dogwood Cafe, Center Street Cafe, Doyles, Galway, Ten Tables, the Haven or the wonderful Tres Gatos. I reluctantly gave Canary Square another chance. I don't think you could pay me to go back.
(1)
Ryan H.
Unlike the other reviewers, I was quite impressed with Canary Square. I give it a lot of points for featuring lots of local ingredients, eco-friendly, recycled decor, and recycled to-go boxes. As a former organic farm worker, I like to feel good about the food I'm eating, and I can at Canary Square. I started with a mesclun salad, which was tossed with the perfect amount of dressing, although it was entirely greens, and could have used some walnuts and cranberries. Then I had the black bean burger and a side of brussels sprouts with bacon. First, the burger was great. It comes with a nice portion of gooey Grafton Village Cheese Company (Brattleboro, VT) cheddar on top, salsa, and sour cream to mellow it out. It was a little spicy for my taste, but that comes from the salsa, so you can skip it if you want. It also came with the side salad above, which filled an 8-inch plate, for just 10 dollars. The brussels were the best part of the meal, in my opinion. They were served in a funky, cast-iron baking dish, which matched the brick-factory decor. They came drizzled in a garlic aioli and nestled in between them were salty, chewy chunks of thick-cut bacon. For our kosher friends, you can get the brussels sans-swine. This place also has an extensive beer menu, with lots of local and imported draught options on any given night. Our waitress seemed fairly knowledgable about the beers, and described the Troeg's Golden Nugget well enough that it tasted just as I expected it to. I knocked off a star for two reasons. First, it took a bit longer than was prudent for the waitress to come introduce herself, but she brought water with her, so we didn't have to wait even longer for that. Then, my brussels came out with everyone's entrees, but not my burger, and I had to wait another minute or two for the kitchen to sort it out. I'm going to chalk it up to business plus the fact that we gave the waitress a lot of little instructions (bring the salad as an app, no bacon on one of the brussels, etc.). Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I'm really looking forward to my next visit.
(4)
Robby T.
Canary Square does an A+ job with the rotating Beer List and the drinks. Also, the beer pricing is among the best in town for what you're getting. They get their hands on some pretty uncommon stuff for the area- I just wish they updated their online menu like other beer-centric places around town. The food has come a long way since opening. Originally overpriced, underportioned, and sloppy- they've updated their menu and include quite a bit of locally sourced ingredients in some great dishes. The burger is among the best I've had in a restaurant lately and the Huevos Rancheros are a great brunch selection. The bar area gets a bit crowded with limited seating, but there is rarely a wait for dining. The outdoor seating area is extremely well done with sectionals and plants to add some privacy from the street.
(4)
Matt H.
Awesome drink and beer selection. Food is a different story. Got the asparagus, it was sloppy with butter and overcooked. Also got a chefs late night snack which was nothing more than a burned dinner roll with some butter and garlic smeared on it for $7. Unimpressed.
(3)
Chris C.
You demolished Alchemist for this??! Very underwhelming. The ambiance is the passionless love child of a shopping mall Bertucci's and the bar from a 99. The menu had me searching for anything mildly interesting and thinking I'd just have something later when I got home. Ultimately I ordered the burger, which I found had an odd flavor (nutmeg maybe?) and texture. I literally wondered whether is was buffalo or ostrich and I just hadn't read the menu carefully enough. I tried my friend's salad, which warranted a bar code it was so generic. I actually like my partner's ceviche, but he did not. On the positive side, they do have a great selection of beer on draught, the bread pudding was delicious, and the staff was very friendly and energetic. One odd thing... Our waitress brought over a plate of bread, but under the bread was large piece of torn menu. A doily? At least turn the ink side down. Okay, one last odd thing... At the end, the wait-staff brings a little black booklet with the bill, for adding comments. It sort of felt to me like being handed someone's diary. (so yes, of course I looked!) I guess it was meant to be a quirky "tradition", but I just found it weird. Oh, Alchemist. Even on your worst days (and there were a couple) you were better than this.
(2)
Capricia G.
Canary Square is one of those places where you go in having good expectations and leave a little let down. Everything I've ever had here has been a "that was okay, I guess, but would have been better if..." situation. I try to like it! I really do! Food: Meh. Bland. Trying too hard. Also...bland. Drinks: Awesome, but expensive. Service: The faces always change, but the poor quality/attitude stays the same. Could they hate their lives more? General Vibe: They have notebooks guests can write in when you get their checks. They're usually full of an interesting mix of food reviews and creative ways to incorporate male genitalia into a picture. Last night, mine said something to the effect of, "the music I had to listen to offended me because I was wearing a $4000 suit." Oh, okay. Skip this and walk across the street to Tres Gatos.
(2)
Lane S.
Canary Square is a a unique place in JP. Would give it a 4.5 if i could. Firstly, the decore is well done in my opinion. Exposed brick, and interesting lighting. The tables are close together, but with the new outdoor seating, it makes for a nice place on a pretty evening. Their menu is combines the familiar with the creative to offer something different in the neighborhood. The food is above average. I have had better, but you can tell that they put effort and thought into the dishes. THE DRINKS AT BRUNCH ARE BOMB. I have said for a while that Bloody Marys would be better with tequila... then I went there, AND THEY HAD THEM. Another note about brunch, the cereal french toast sounds odd, but it is KILLER. Clearly I like this joint, and will be returning. As should you.
(4)
Jonathan B.
Classy exposed brick interior, good bar staff, but there are serious problems with the food menu here. What they try to get across is the local/sustainable vibe and I totally get it but the flavor pairings just don't work. They do brunch here, but i've only been for dinner and that's all I can speak for here. Everything here is properly cooked and executed but the seasoning and flavor of things is seriously lacking. Braised pork shoulder with risotto was cooked perfectly but had little to no flavor. Was it braised in tap water? Barbecued chicken was greasy. Burger was pretty solid, but the french fries were an unseasoned and texture-less mouthful of hot starch. Some menu item components are head scratching in a bad way. See: Roasted Chicken with...Mashed Potatoes AND Buttered Beans? The vast number of beer taps would lead one to assume the draft beer selection is large but the variety within the selection is small. On the other hand, the cocktail menu is well thought out. A little tweaking of the dinner menu could guarantee repeat dinner customers/regulars.
(2)
Chad J.
My partner and I have tried this place out several times because he lives across the street. We use to swing by the Alchemist for a beer and burgers all the time and were looking forward to the upgraded Canary Square. For the most part service is good, however, it is unnecessarily slow. The first time we there for dinner, we noticed that we had been charges six times on our card and it took two weeks the receive the money back. We'd love to make this our regular weekend spot. if they can match their speed of service to the amount of people they aim to serve without sacrificing quality.
(2)
Jim M.
Best food in JP. I cannot stress how amazing the food is! My wife and I went to the Oktoberfest of a well known brewery and the food was awful (Vendor food) but we went to Canary Square after the Oktoberfest and had GREAT craft beer and AMAZING food at Canary Square. I am proud to live just down the street to this excellent restaurant/bar!
(5)
Amy C.
Stopped in on Friday night for dinner and drinks. I would highly recommend, the beers on draft are extensive and the bar area was really cool. I liked the decor with the exposed brick and light fixtures, only bummer is there are no booths which would make things a bit more cozy. We started off with the mozzarella sticks. You could tell these were homemade and not frozen, they came on skewers and were stuck into a lemon which gave the cheese a nice zing mixed with the marinara sauce. I had the tuna taco's which were really delish, my comrades enjoyed the roasted half chicken with brussel sprouts roasted with bacon and onions (hell ya!), along with the pork shank entree which I was told was off the hook. We had a great waitress that was really patient with all of our questions and gave some really good recommendations.
(4)
Snuffles B.
I am floored by how underrated this place is. I had been avoiding it because of mixed Yelp reviews, but I'm glad I waited because whatever voodoo they had to do to get this place up to speed has worked. Atmosphere: SO much better now that they knocked out the wall - spacious, open, casual, chill, good for dates or families (they super are cool with kids and the place is big enough that it people nearby won't be bothered). We never have to wait for a table and there is no bad seat in the house. One of the best patios in Boston. Service: Every server I've ever met has been totally awesome, and attentive just enough. Food: Seasonal, local, constantly changing menu and huge changing beer selection.. - Bread - Crisp with chewy center, would be better if warm - Pickles - Really vinegary and sweet and tasty - Cod Fritters - Light , airy, delightful - Mussels - As my friend said, "Musseltastic", broth good for dipping - Wood Roasted Chicken - I usually pooh pooh chicken, but this was beautifully smoked and delicious. - Pork cracklins - The crispiest pork skin ever. - Wedge salad - I hate blue cheese and I hate iceberg lettuce, but somehow this was still good - Jerk chicken wings - Well flavored, but not crisp - Fries - Big steaky fries, they were OK - Burger - HUGE - MASSIVE Brioche bun - basic flavor, but juicy and very good. - Steak frites - Superior - Swiss chard/pulled chicken sandwich/bacon vinagrette - I generally think salad is bird food, but I ate the whole thing. Simply awesome. - Brussels Sprouts w/ Lardons - Awesome - generous on the lardons, my favorite item here. - Bread pudding - Does not taste the least bit like butterscotch, very eggy, almost flan-y. LOVE the maple walnut ice cream. - Fried Twinkies - Imagine gourmet corn dogs with powdered sugar, that is what this looks like, but it tastes like a perfectly crisplly battered molten Twinkie - I've had this before elsewhere - this was way better! Brunch: Not bad, but dinner is better... - Huevos Rancheros - perfect eggs, nicely flavored rice/beans, comes with a HUGE chicharones. - French Toast - Crazy crip batter, HUGE portion. Cost per person w/o ETOH, with tax/tip:$15-25 Overall, this place has food that far exceeds its price point. If this place in the South End, it would be packed 24-7.
(5)
Michael I.
Strike 3. I hate that they don't even seem to be trying to improve the food. It's been inconsistent since day 1. Great rotation and variety of beer (and even cider). But every time I decide to give the food another try I'm sorely disappointed. My (cold tortilla) tacos were swimming in juice from the (mountain of) meat, and that was running clear since they hadn't seasoned the meat in any way. A little balance and flavor from the main ingredient would have been nice. Previous visit was a soup that was so salty I couldn't eat it. Like I said, the drinks are great. And I'll likely keep heading back for those once in a while. but what a shame that it's really set up for dining with the weak delivery of the menu. For their food, I'll happily head down to Back Bay and hit the Salty Pig where they're getting it right.
Great ambiance! Great cocktail and beer list. Food = mediocre. I got the burger and fries. The burger was over cooked. The fries looked like it was chopped and thrown together as if it was suppose to be a stir fry. I thought the egg would give the burger a nice texture but it didn't really add any flavor to it. The server was really nice and attentive. They have a nice outdoor patio and the decor and lighting makes this restaurant a good place to bring a casual date or some family members. I would definitely come here again to relax and enjoy a drink. However, if I'm hungry, I'll probably walk a block or two further to go to a nicer restaurant.
(3)
Mekhi B.
I've been to this place a lot since it's opened. I must say though, that the reason is because of canary square's proximity to my house. simply put - there's not much else around for a sit-down dinner with good beer. This place is always extremely loud - lil' jon WHAAAT!?! loud. You can't even hear the people at your table. Also the food is hit or miss - sometimes it's really good, but the next time you get the same thing it's just..well...not. However, there are some good things about this place: 1. There's a great beer selection here with a full bar 2. The warm swiss chard and cranberry salad still has me dreaming about it after moving out of state. egg on top? yes, please. 3. and the butter scotch bread pudding is 'slap your mama' good. seriously. Overall, I'd say if you're in JP with some folks looking for dinner and drinks, this place is OK. Well, the dogfish head on tap will get you drunk. *shrug*
(3)
Angie C.
Experience: The operation is poorly managed! It baffles my mind why they have 3 hostesses and 2 bartenders when the bar serves food and has open seating. You would think with so many hostesses they would be efficient with seating and turning around tables...absolutely not. The three times I went there were several tables available, but we still had to wait to be seated even though we were the only ones waiting. I've ran a restaurant for 10 years and was amazed at what I saw. Food: For the price I expected better quality. Nothing left an impression, I only remember being disappointed with everything I ordered. Overall: The atmosphere and location has potential. Unfortunately, they need more bartenders, less hostesses and an improvement on efficiency. Since I live down the street I really wanted to like this place, but three strikes and you're out.
(1)
Amanda M.
Canary Square confuses me. I think they confuse a lot of people, actually. I've only been a few times, but every time I visit their menu is completely different. Now, some people may say this is a good thing -- they're keeping things fresh, up to date, seasonal. But honestly, it's been a major let down. They used to have this really awesome popcorn that was flavored differently depending on the day, and now that's long gone. The story is the same for countless other items that people were LOVING! I guess it would be okay if they were substituting the dishes for better ones, but so far, that hasn't been the case. They also have an insanely awesome beer selection, but their availability is super inconsistent. During the hour I was there, I heard our waitress explain to two other tables, aside from ours, why some dish or drink wasn't available. It was kind of weird. Overall: the food and drinks are pretty good (although kind of pricey), and the atmosphere is awesome. The outdoor seating seriously can't be beat. But bring back some of the old faves on the fall menu!
(3)
Julia N.
Just checked out Canary Square, and while it is a very nice/chill mixed crowd and environment, the food isn't that great. I had the Emerald Necklace as a drink (eh), but I'm not sure that this place should get away with how much they charge. Though--- they have a "huuuuuuuueg" beer list, so perhaps food doesn't matter to you! The waiter was sweet and even answered a question about the ingredients in the menu. But in short, I wouldn't bring people who are on vacay here.
(3)
heather F.
their food sucks. sucks sucks sucks. if i'm going to spend $20 for a plate of roasted chicken, i want it to be far better than anything i could make at home, ever. husband and our friend had to send their burgers back 3x before they got it right. another time, half of my veggie burger was burnt. never had anything more than a mediocre food experience here. They try so hard to have high-end food but they fail. their saving grace is their bar. great beer selection, tasty cocktails, and their wine list seems decent, too. their standard price for a beer is $6 which is definitely on the pricy side, but i guess its not outrageous for the standards in Boston... Long story short, go here to drink. If you want to eat, go to Ten Tables, Tres Gatos, or the Haven instead.
(2)
George W.
The Alchemist sucked and now Canary Square has risen from the ashes to continue its predecessor's legacy of suckery. Here's the short and and nasty: The interior is Euro-boring. That is- basically all black and unremarkable. But I don't review interiors, I review food and beer. The beer selection is ok. Not gastropub but not dive bar. Lots of IPAs. The bartender didn't fill my glass too well, leaving an inch of space at the top and didn't care. But, that really isn't the problem either. The problem is that the food is garbage. And we ordered enough to know. First were the mussels. They had a dog-breathesque aroma and tasted spoiled. We told the waitress (who was very nice) and she took them back. The chef decided to tell her to tell us that they were not spoiled, but they were from Wellfleet, so I must have never had a Wellfleet mussel. Listen up Iron Chef Canary Square, I know what a dead mussel tastes like. And you shouldn't be sending your nice waitstaff out to defend your pride. Next there came the cod fritters and "spicy homemade ketchup". Dear Iron Chef Canary Square: Cocktail sauce is not "homemade spicy ketchup". The cod fritters themselves were damp and spongy, reminiscent of my days eating Van De Kamps fish sticks. Then the deviled egg came, which were serviceable, but why put such a basic item on the menu if you aren't going to do something interesting with it? The same with the radishes, which were just radish chunks and salt. That's shit my my vegan roommate eats while standing up in the kitchen drunk, not menu worthy fare. There were other food items, but just forget it. They all blew. We tipped 30% because the waitress has to apologize to people meaner than us about Iron Chef Canary Square in the back. I guess I'll just wait until this place closes down again. Maybe a Friendlys will move in and I can bump this up to 3 stars.
(2)
Jessica B.
So, Canary Sq does not feel JP-y to me at all, but then, things they are a'changin' round here. Nonetheless the place is really lovely, and it's interesting to see the renovations. The popcorn is hell-yeah good. The Bacon Bloody Mary could become my thing. Like, I'll stop eating food and just drink those for sustenance and pleasure. The Same Old Place drink is (I'm really really sorry! Really! For multiple reasons) the nastiest drink I've had in a long time. It tastes like a pizza coated in sugar. I think the problem (for me) is the rosemary orange syrup. If I decide not to live on the Bloody Mary's, I could happily have the French Toast (it's like a funnel cake, which *is not* just like fried dough.) The eggs are amazing. Ah may zing. So cheesy. The ham sandwich costs too much for something that looks like it's served on grocery store loaf bread. And it's just not that exciting. The service has been really wonderful, and I figure the place is just getting its sea legs, so it will be worth checking back.
(4)
Kate M.
I've been to Canary Square several times, mostly because I live across the street. That said, I hope they stick around. The beer list is excellent and the cocktails are solid. The food, as several reviewers have noted, is hit-or-miss; I've had a few visits where it's been great but it feels like the place might be a bit too ambitious-- make sure you have your recipes down before doing the rotating, seasonal thing. It's an excellent choice for groups (I've only had to wait for a table at brunch) and the service is generally very good. I'm still sort of mad they took away the dollar oysters.
(4)
Kirs P.
I've tried Canary Square a few times now and each time it's been a bit of a let down. Either service is slow. Or the mussels are skanky. Or the only vegetarian option is a tofu "steak" (which is just disgusting. even I know that). After the disaster that was the Alchemist finally left this location I was very much looking forward to having a new, kinda casual place to grab a bite in JP. Sort of a larger Zon's (RIP). And Canary Square billed itself as that- it just doesn't completely live up to its ambitions. 1- Service is spotty, at best. 2- Food ain't that great either. We were served some seriously sketchy mussels. The vegetarian selection (in JP of all places) is lackluster, and then not very good. There just isn't a whole lot of inventiveness in the menu. Yeah, the deviled eggs are good, but Hungry Mother did that shit years ago, theirs were better, and mine (which don't cost 4 bucks) can kick both their asses. 3- Cocktails are hit or miss. I went in just for drinks the first time I was there and was impressed. The next few times, notsomuch. Watered down and the mixing seemed off. All that being said, I'm sure I'll be back (and I heard that brunch is kinda good). It's convenient, and really large, so when Haven and Tres Gatos are full it's an okay alternative. I tried to avoid using the word in this review. But it just fits. Canary Square really is just "meh."
(2)
Amy M.
Went here on Tuesday, I suppose that's about a week after they opened? I loved that they give you bread and butter pickles rather than much-too-filling bread, and it was a very whimsical touch. However it would have been nice for the pickles to actually taste good: they had a very odd mineral taste and the onions were practically raw. Not really the makings of a hot date starter. The roasted radishes were excellent and the mussels were pretty good, just a touch watery (the broth they were in was very bland). The fries, sadly, were very mushy. My biggest sadness was that I ordered the special of the day, a duck confit based noodle soup, and the duck was almost unpalatably salty and the soup itself had a lot of oiliness. The other flavors were spot on and the broth was excellently seasoned but the salty saltfest of the duck just overwhelmed the whole dish. I was able to try a bit of the hamburger as well and it was divine so I'd say when you go, stick to their wood-fired items. Dessert was another mess-- ice cold breadpudding barely warmed around the edges with a scoop of ice cream also frozen solid. I'm giving three stars because service was excellent and the food quality was high, just poorly executed. The drinks were great, my Arborway was delicious, and I think that with a bit more polish Canary Square could be a great local joint-- but nowhere I'd trek to JP for.
(3)
D L.
Great food and beer selection, but mediocre service on weekends. Always a bit of a wait on the weekends for a table at night (sometimes up to an hour so be prepared to wait a bit (or get a drink at the bar). Their menu changes a lot ( canarysquare.com/dinner is usually up to date), but I really like the deviled eggs, black bean burger, and the butterscotch bread pudding is SO GOOD. I wouldn't recommend this place for groups of more than 4-5 really, unless you make a reservation. The mac and cheese has always been kinda mehh so I'd skip that one. The notebooks that the checks come in are pretty hilarious, too.
(3)
Matt W.
I was really excited to go to this place. Having previously been a dive bar and then a mediocre, kind of expensive bar and restaurant, I was interested to see a higher end place go here. I have decided that the specific location must just be cursed. We had reservations with some friends for 8pm. When we arrived, we were told that they didn't have our reservations, and didn't even take reservations for less than 6 people. We had four. Despite that, someone in the party knew someone who worked at the place, so we got a table. Our waitress, Jackie, was very nice. It seemed like things were pretty hectic for her, and she was definitely the best part of the experience. She took drink orders and put them in. Eventually we got them. We put our food orders in, and ordered the roast chicken, flank steak, pork shop, and salmon steak. We also ordered an appetizer of cod fish puffs. The puffs (very bland, and the spicy ketchup tasted like cocktail sauce) came out with the flank steak about fifteen minutes later. They were brought by a different server, and we were all kind of surprised dinner was being served with the app. Turns out the flank steak wasn't his. He kept it anyways and we encouraged him to eat it. Forty minutes later, our food came, including another flank steak. That mistake is certainly a score, but man, we were all starving. The waitress had brought out some weird popcorn to tide us over on the house. Nice of her. I had the roasted chicken. I had, the night before, roasted the first chicken in my life. It was not my best cooking attempt, and it was so much better than what I was served here. The skin managed to be both burned and soggy. The bird was pretty flavorless. It was served with undercooked brussels sprouts and ratishes, and bits of thick bacon. The dish was edible, but not good. My wife ate the pork chop. She ordered it medium, and it was not that. It was unevenly cooked and borderline rare at places. Apparently undercooked sprouts were the order of the day, because hers were, too. The applesauce, reportedly homemade, tasted canned. We believe they're making it - they just didn't do a good job. Our friend got the salmon. She was underwhelmed, though the calamari that came with it was apparently pretty good. The friend with the flank steak had the single rave review of the table. Luckily, he got two, so that's a big win. The waitress came over and asked how everything was, and we all kind of avoided telling her, before finally one of us said something like "it's not terrible." She apologized and ended up getting us a few fried twinkies on the house. They were probably the best thing I ate that night, though they also weren't that good. All in all, I was not crazy about this place. It looks really cool, and the staff was certainly very nice, but the food was pretty expensive, and not nearly good enough to justify it. Particularly in a neighborhood like Jamaica Plain, which has a number of similar restaurants, you really need to do more than use an organic chicken to charge $20 for it. It kind of also needs to be cooked in a way that makes me want to eat it. Truth be told, I wouldn't eat this food again if it were half the price. Places like Vee Vee and James's Gate, which have similar price points and comparable quality bars, are just down the road. And while they are not decorated with rescued support beams and chairs made out of recycled coke cans, they are distinctly good, which Canary Square distinctly isn't. Props again to our server, Jackie. She did the best she could with what she had. But what she had just wasn't good. She could have comped the whole meal, and I still wouldn't go back.
(2)
Dave G.
I'm incredibly disappointed as I have been anticipating the opening for months. Here's why: Waited over an hour for food. Left without dinner feeling hangry (you know, so hungry that you're angry?), a little too drunk, and with a single tear running down my cheek. I met a pal and we walked over for dinner (note managers: waked, because I can see your restaurant from my house), and planned to have some appetizers and a drink while waiting for another pal to arrive. We got there and the place looked great. We were promptly seated and our waitperson was friendly, excited, and very nice to us. So far, off to a great start! Very exciting! She recommended we try their flavored popcorn snack, and we got some other appetizers and drinks. The popcorn was stale, tasteless, and taken away. She brought us another one, but same deal. The appetizers and cocktails were great. Our friend appeared and within 10 minutes of his arrival, we ordered dinner. We watched tables around us get sat, order, eat, and leave. We watched other tables wait and wait and lose their enchantment. We listened to no less than 4 infants/toddlers scream, screech, yell, and cry. Cut to 1 hour and 3 cocktails later (x3 people). All the fun was gone and I just wanted to leave. I'm pissed because I'm over a $100 in the hole, I have a pile of work at home, and my plan for a quick dinner and drink were wrecked. We asked for the check, our waitress apologized for the delay and sort of puttered around hoping that the kitchen would produce before she was able to gather the check. Grunt. Next, while waiting for the slips one of the managers (there seemed to be 3) came over and said that he was sure our dinner would be coming out of the kitchen soon. Being vague at this point was totally unacceptable and your attempt to rectify a crappy situation was lousy at best. We were mentally checked out, totally over it and thinking that Zesto's would be a good alternative (told you - hangry). Managers & Waitstaff: You really could have fixed this. You knew the kitchen was in the weeds, so why didn't you send out a snack? You also knew that we were already $100.00 into the bill with appetizers and cocktails, so why weren't you more communicative? I could list several other methods of customer service, but what's the point? You could have saved that check. Coming over halfheartedly at the last minute was a pretty crappy management style. Other interesting things: The food we did have was nice (save for the popcorn), the drinks are unique and interesting. The menu had plenty of options and the prices were good for a week night dinner out. I'd happily eat deep fried glass if it is served with a smile. I will not however, tolerate crappy service. EDITS: I've been back twice and met with the same situations... Alchemist, please come back.
(2)
Lisa O.
Went there for dinner tonight, do not waste your time! So disappointed because I was so excited to try it out. Give it a couple of more months for them to get their act together. When the waitress brought over glasses of water an unknown and gross looking substance was on the coaster. We pushed it to the side and waiting for the waitress to come back over. When we pointed it out she just picked up the glass and started to walk away but we asked her to please replace the coaster since that is where the gross unknown substance was on. The food was bland, I don't not recommend this place. The set up is weird and it was noisy.
(1)
Michelle B.
I would totally give this place 5 stars if they had better service. A group of 6 of us went for dinner on Saturday night. The last time I was here it was still The Alchemist, so I was immediately impressed with how much open the space is now. It looks great. I got to try quite a bit as my friend and I split a few things off of the snacks and appetizers part of the menu. We got the deviled eggs (delicious, although I'm not 100% sold on the pile of relish under each egg), The Salty Pig (pate, whole grain mustard, pickled onions and hot toasted bread - so good), the mussels (the broth! omg, the broth!) and then for dessert we shared a root beer float, except we asked them to make it with ginger beer instead; we had been tempted to ask them to swap out the bourbon with dark rum and add a lime, but we felt that it would've been too much. Either way, it was a great end to the meal. Now, all of that sounds great, right? But the service. It was spotty at best: I had to repeat my drink order twice, which is normally not a big deal - but she still got it wrong. And all I wanted was a Captain and diet Coke! One of my friends sat waiting for his meal while the rest of us had our food. We all sat with dirty dishes in front of us after our dessert order had been taken. It was all just slightly off in a few different ways that it makes me think the staff just isn't trained very well or they're indifferent to their patrons.
(4)
Chris C.
Canary Square is offers a respectable mix of community atmosphere and satisfying pub grub. Just after landing in Boston, we grabbed a much needed meal, here and left very satisfied. They offer a fair variety of wine, beer and cocktails. I can comment on the cocktails - they are well made. I tried a little from everybody. I can't remember names, unfortunately. As for dinner, I opted for the hummus and cucumber sandwich and was really happy with my choice. The hummus was just a little chunky and there were plenty of vegetables on my sandwich. The bread, needing its own sentence, was big and moist and soft and memorable. The space is wide open and the staff is very friendly. It's the kind of place you can go to watch a game or not watch at all. The atmosphere is a little noisy but, you can definitely hear conversation at your table. Our service was attentive enough and good natured. Canary Square is definitely worth a return visit.
(4)
Erik S.
First of all I had to shower when I got home to wash all the grease off my face. Second, I witnessed a tyrannical owner or manager ripping into one of the workers. I was ashamed of myself for eating at a place that treats their employees so poorly. Had I known that is the kind of business they are running I never would have gone there. It was a shameful display. If you just want a greasy cheese fry be my guest. If you care about common human decency this is not the place for you.
(1)
Caroline C.
I like Canary Square, but I'm not really sure why I like it as much as I do. This should probably be a three star review, but perhaps I'm trying to counterbalance all the negative reviews Canary Square got when it first opened, which I didn't think were quite fair, being new and all, and also, the vibe is just so much better than the Alchemist. It adds a little style to the traditional JP quirk. I also have a crush on the skinny bartender who got really excited about brussel sprouts. I love a man who loves brussel sprouts. But the brussel sprouts are where the deliciousness ends. And these aren't even that amazing. Cod fritters are bland, and the char grilled tofu steak tasted like, well, char. And tofu. Which, I guess I should have known, as it's called "char grilled tofu", but I figured they would add additional flavors. But I have hope the food will improve - the website advertising a focus on local food and sustainability, which is a huge plus, and I want to support any restaurant that operates with these standards. (Oh, but I do love the pickles. Thanks for serving pickles instead of bread. The pickles are awesome.) The beer and wine list are also excellent (Stellenbosche Chenin Blanc! Score), and I've only had good service (and I've only been there on busy Saturday nights). It is loud, but not out of control loud. It's also pretty easy to park in the area, which is another big bonus.
(4)
Eliza Jane H.
I've waited to write a review for Canary Square but, now that I've been a couple of times and have visited during brunch as well as dinner, I feel like I can give a fair assessment. I like Canary Square. I will no doubt return there in the near future. So why am I giving it three stars? Because in all of my visits (4-5 at this point), for everything about it that is 4-5 stars, and there have been things that are, something has always been regrettably underwhelming. For example, I went the other evening for drinks and dinner, and the food we had was great, the drinks were good, and the bartender was friendly and efficient despite the very busy bar. Our waitress when we were seated at a table, on the other hand, was just awful-- unfriendly and absent. In another visit, this time for brunch, our server was great-- but the food was disappointing. It wasn't bad, and nothing was improperly cooked, but for a brunch that is locally celebrated as something to seek out, I was left scratching my head. So, while I certainly recommend Canary Square as a great place to grab a drink, to sit outside an eat a nice meal, and even, yes, to grab a decent brunch, I don't know that I would suggest seeking it out if you aren't in the area already. If you do end up there, a few things to think about: if deviled eggs are your thing, get them. They are insanely great. The pork tacos are delicious. The charcuterie platter is HUGE. I've never had to say no to so many cured meats at once. Want a table for brunch? Get there before 11 and you won't have any problems.
(3)
August L.
The service at this place continues to be rather terrible, and the food is still mediocre for the price. We went for brunch this weekend, and despite the place only being 1/4 full, the waitstaff was incredibly inattentive and unhelpful. They didn't come around with coffee refills for ages (and only when we asked), didn't check if we needed more milk (we asked for it twice), didn't offer ketchup or hot sauce with breakfast, and most importantly, were very inflexible with our dietary issues. They initially refused to make any changes to the menu options, including taking off the ubiquitous meat (bacon, sausage or ham) that accompanies almost every single meal. We asked for a substitution for the meat, and were told that "it's against our policy to make any changes - you can take it off, but we can't replace it." What? It's 2011 in Jamaica Plain and you want to make vegetarians pay for meat??? If you refuse to make changes on your menu, you should change the prices, so that the meals come without meat as a general rule, but you can add the meat for a small additional price. What a ridiculous "policy" and such an obnoxious attitude to boot. The french toast is really unusual -- massive pieces of bread, covered with corn flake crust, and topped with a sweet bourbon-maple syrup. It was tasty enough, but WAY too much for one person, and I can't really imagine ordering it again. They don't have regular french toast, or pancakes. The other food was decent but too expensive for what it is. All in all, this place should be way better than it is. I wish they'd improve the menu and learn how to have a genuine and kind neighborhood vibe. It's a gorgeous space, but with the bad service, snarky attitude and mediocre food, we won't be coming back anytime soon.
(2)
Elizabeth T.
I'm going to admit straight away that I'm biased about this place. My partner is one of the waitstaff, so service is not something I'm going to comment on. I am, however, going to comment on the food. I'm in love with the Guinness Beef Stew. Serious, head-over-heels love. It's a combination of stew and beef stroganoff, served with egg noodles and sour cream mixed into the sauce. I'm really picky about stews. The Druid in Inman has a great one, but all of the other places I've tried have left me with a general "meh" feeling. This one, not so much. I'd eat 100 gallon drums of it for months on end, such is the intensity of my love for it. I've tried the skirt steak as well, which was also delicious. The only complaints I've had food wise had to do with the mussels. While they were tasty, they had a bit of grit that was off putting. The wine list is great, there's a world of choice in the beer realm, and my Manhattans were always delicious. I'm glad this place filled Alchemist's spot.
(4)
Marcus D.
Amazing that this place used to be Triple D's - now that was a REAL alcoholics bar. I wasn't too impressed when it was the Alchemist and I must admire how the new owners have really opened up the place. To be fair we didn't eat here, we just got drinks. Some of the customers were annoying, especially the ones crowding around me and my buddies - whacky liberal turds that don't understand when someone has a claim to a bar stool, hmmm, I thought my coat draped over the back with my foot resting on the rung designated it as my seat, sorry that you and your fat assed girlfriend had to stand. God forbid! It's a new place so I suppose there are some wrinkles to be ironed out, so give it a chance - it's JP for Chrissakes! Our bartender was cool: sweet and quick with our rounds, not having to ask again what we were drinking.
(3)
MC S.
Well it is sad but true the food at CS just stunk. They managed to get the swiss chard salad balanced but that was it. We were a pretty large party and we had a number of dishes. None of them were great and that is sad. I watched a packed restaurant turn out a ton of food. Presentation was good all the food that was presented looked appetizing this includes the food brought to other tables. This is my gripe... YOU OWN CODA you have a restaurant you are not wet behind the ears so WTF is wrong with the food! Eggs Really only 1 and half eggs for the money really!!! You couldn't just give a person a whole two eggs... this may have been the best dish the entire table had.. but to be that stingy.. .really I have done the food cost... that half egg is not paying for anything.. but me not ordering them again is a LOSS. Popcorn... This is the deal when you have popcorn you should coat it with something that has flavor and is the same size or smaller. This way the corn is coated .. makes sense. Yes? What we got was HUGE pieces of onion and tomato and popcorn that was not popped at CS. Homemade Popcorn doesn't look like little heads of cauliflower they look like popcorn. Tellegio Sandwich... It would have been awesome if some how you could have cooked the pressed sandwich so that the Tallegio melted. It is a soft cheese this should not be hard to do. Half shell oysters and clams ... didn't taste like anything other then salt water... that is no fun and not very appetizing. Cheese fries well if they had been less soggy and not over cooked and the cheese sauce salted they would have been a hella of a lot better. Pulled Chicken sandwich... who uses pickling spices in there bbq sauce plus it was too sweet! If you are going to use Bread and Butter pickle juice to make a "creative" bbq sauce then strain it! and THE Burger It says on the menu it comes with grafton cheddar... okay.. .Well then one small slice that is melted to the bun... becomes a why bother. AND this is not hard... you have meat it should have a 80 percent fat content it should be tossed with seasonings NOT just garlic powder and it should be loosely packed. I have never in my life had to chew a burger over and over and over and over to swallow it. It was like chewing a hockey puck. I don't know what the hell the kitchen thought they were doing but it wasn't making a good burger. PLUS you don't press down on said burger to get it to cook faster.. hello cooking 101. I was a fan of the Alchemist and I was a regular... it has broken my heart that it has left and this is what replaced it. ON a positive note ... you have hired some very very competent wait staff and that was the only redeeming part of our meal. The drinks were incredibly strong which is okay if you are going to a bar to get wasted but I think the CS is going for a different clientele. No? It is called Balance ... and it was the CS lacks. People do your demographics... get your s(*&*^t together and make food that is salted correctly and tastes good! It is not hard. It just takes effort and if your staff in the back of the house is indifferent FIRE them. There are a ton of people in the restaurant industry who need jobs.. You have others to choose from.
(2)
Erika M.
Preesha, I thought we were friends...? I love this place. The first time we went there, we were a little turned off by the music. No one wants to eat while Creed is blasting. Am I in Haverhill? Well, they changed their station and won me over. The food: Cha fuckin' Ching! Expensive. BUT everything is organic and local (is it local?) and good. I LOVE their wood smoked half chicken. And ever since they got rid of the mushrooms, I like it even more! The booze: I have to come here half in the bag in order to not spend a butt load of cash on their very tasty and unique beverages. I suck those fuckers down in 3 sips. Their sangria is amazing. The service: There is one dood we try to avoid and we succeed almost every time. He just gets a little distracted by all the hotties working there and tends to forget about us. We are THAT annoying couple in there with a baby almost every time we go in and most of the servers are very warm and helpful. I especially love the girl with the blue eyeliner. She's a doll. All in all I love it. I took one star away for cost and it's also SUPER LOUD when busy. They can't really help the noise factor, but I'm in a complainy kinda mood today, so it stays! I love you Canary.
(4)
Zoe P.
Fairly late on a hungry Sunday night I visited here and was served the kind of brisket sandwich of which legends are made. The space was vast, cool and friendly. The variety of beers made my party happy. I got the vague sense that the fries were subpar - the mealy frozen steak fries type - but I don't think I actually ate any myself.
(4)
Anna K.
I really want to like this place, but the food is consistently mediocre. The people are nice, there is a good beer selection, it's kid friendly, the location is great, but like most JP spots it disappoints. My chicken with polenta was tough and super salty with a thin film over the entire plate as if it had sat out for a bit. The spicy s'mores was an odd flavor combination that just didn't work. The black bean burger was okay.
(2)
Yvonne C.
Despite some mixed reviews on this place, thought we'd try it out anyways. Unfortunately the food was really not good!!! Although I must say, if you're going to go just to get a drink--it's not a bad place. The waiters/waitresses are super friendly and there is a good beer list. Here's what we had: (1) Swiss Chard and pulled chicken salad: The swiss chard was extremely greasy--after eating just a few pieces I couldn't eat anymore. The pulled chicken was okay on it and the poached egg made you forget for a second that the swiss chard was so bad, but overall not good (2) Mac and Cheese: This was a standard mac and cheese--nothing amazing, but not horrible (3) Oysters with bread crumbs: I am usually the HUGEST oyster fan, but I didn't even want to finish this plate of oysters. It was definitely lacking flavor and some spice. Also, the sauce accompanying the oysters was just butter--not providing any additional flavor
(1)
Whitney R.
I've been putting off writing a review for Canary Square out of concern that I might judge it prematurely, and I'm happy I did. The first time I went there was about a week after it opened. I sat at the bar with Tracy P. and was served by a bartender who appeared frazzled and irritated. The service was extremely slow, the muscles were gritty, and the cocktails were "blah". The S.L.T. sandwich was its only saving grace. Nonetheless, I held off on the review (which would have been only 2 stars) in hopes that Canary would soon work out the new-restaurant-kinks. I returned to Canary last night, again with Tracy P., having only mediocre expectations. We were seated at a high top, and although it took a bit longer than expected to be initially acknowledged, our waitress was bubbly, friendly, and funny. She was also extremely attentive throughout the remainder of the evening. We started with a side salad with the house vinegrette (Simply Green $4) and Salted Radishes Baked with Spinach ($7?). For mains, I had the Guiness Beef Barley Stew ($16) and Tracy had the Apple and Arugula Salad ($9?). I have to say, all of the food was well cooked and extremely tasty, especially the Beef Barley Stew, the meat in which was tender and fell apart on my fork. I saved half of it to bring home, but I had a really hard time holding back! Overall, this was a vast improvement from my previous visit!! So why only 3 stars? It seems that it really depends on what you order here. For example, a friend of mine experienced the veggie lasagna to be dry with undercooked veggies and not enough pasta. So, for now, read the reviews, and order what's been deemed edible. I have faith that Canary will continue to improve as time passes, and when they do, I'll be excited to update my review to a four-star-rating.
(3)
Paolo P.
Love going for drinks. -Have a great beer menu. -Basil Grape Mojito... well it's not really a Mojito, but it's still the best thing ever. -Bartenders and wait staff are awesome. Super friendly and fun. -General ambiance is good. Love the industrial chic look. Also has a nice vibe and cute outdoor area for the summer. Only gets 3 stars because the food it's that great. -Brunch was pretty hit-or-miss. -Dinner was just overall bad (like fish still frozen in t he middle bad). I've heard the menu's been updated, so I'm hoping the food is better... but am still hesitant to try. But I'm always down for a few drinks!
(3)
Kate P.
Another bar/restaurant just blocks from my apartment -- the new layout is very appealing, and in the summer the outdoor seating is a plus. I was not fond of the Blood Mary made with bacon vodka -- there were large chunks of bacon in the drink that could not be sucked up with the straw. I found this unappetizing. The menu has basically stayed the same since it opened, and after trying most of the beers would like to see some change there as well. Is it just me, or did anyone else find it odd that there are no sides to be ordered with breakfast? For example, if I were to order the French Toast (amazing) and wanted eggs, I would have to order an entire breakfast to go with my breakfast. I like my bacon a bit more crispy than the limp pieces I was presented with and this issue was not to be resolved since the kitchen refuses to have a microwave. The morning manager was very friendly and stopped by our table more than one time to ask how we were enjoying our meal and if he could be of more service to our party. I think dropping off the notebook at the end of the meal for comments is very interesting as well.
(3)
Sherrie G.
This place is getting a bad wrap and it certainly doesn't deserve it. I finally got a chance to check it out today but I came in with the patience of a saint suspecting that there would be a decent wait. The place gives a posh vibe but I still felt surprisingly comfortable in my chucks with my book in hand. I was flying solo and craving chili like crazy. I tried finding a spot at the bar but it seemed almost impossible on a saturday so I put my name in. I waited maybe like a little less than 30 minutes. For me, that's a pretty standard wait on a saturday for a new hot spot. The hostesses were pretty cool too and kept me amused at points. I was a little put off by the 15 or so minute wait for the waitress to acknowledge me though but she was very apologetic. I noticed her other table had some issues so I let it slide. She was also good about making conversation which I appreciated. Once I had an order put in, the food was surprisingly fast. My chili actually beat my cocktail but only by a minute. And the pulled chicken sandwich came almost immediately following my devouring of the chili. Both came out piping hot. The chili was quite spicy, I would recommend ordering it with a piece of bread or something to subdue the hotness. The pulled chicken was very succulent and the sauce was the right amount of sweet and savory. The fries were pretty grand to boot. What put my meal over the top was the Mother's Ruin cocktail featuring St. Germain, cranberries and my favorite, Hendrick's gin. Extremely refreshing. This place seems like it would do great if can keep up with it's own popularity. But frankly, I think people just need to learn some patience and consideration. I get it. Most of us live in a fast paced city in an age full of instant gratification. I work customer service and am regularly chewed out by people having to wait more than 5 minutes to be helped. I don't find it fair to be judged by something you don't have much control over. With that, I'll be sure to come back and try these deep fried twinkies I keep hearing about.
(5)
Adam G.
Good brunch spot. At first glance of this menu a wave of energy took over. They have a wide selection of bloody marys so naturally I went with the bacon bloody mary made with house-made bacon vodka. I ordered the huevos rancheros which was accompanied by a large piece of chicharron (deep fried thick cut bacon). If you are catching my bacon vibe, you know I rounded out my order with a side of deep fried bacon for the table.
(4)
Mark G.
Was excited to check this place out having enjoyed The Alchemist in the former space. Host said wait would be 25 minutes. OK sounds good. Proceeded to see several tables open the entire time we were waiting which never got filled. Confused, we asked the host and wait staff only to get snide replies. Eventually sat after about 60 minutes. Obviously did not create a good vibe for the dinner. Food was decent and beers pretty good but simply could not make up for the atrocious service. Will not be back.
(2)
Greg M.
It took me about six or seven visits to this place before I finally figured out how to have the best experience here. Mainly, I learned to avoid the brunch and main courses and stick to beer, cocktails, and snacks. If I didn't live up the street then I probably would have given up after just a couple visits. For main courses, I've tried their lackluster pulled pork sammy and their burger which was solid - but does this town really need yet another merely decent burger topped with cheddar on a brioche? I also had their pork chop which was fine. So far, no complaints. But then I went for brunch. Ugh. The huevos rancheros were probably the worst I've ever had. I don't understand why this place doesn't try to get even slightly creative with a burger, yet when it comes to huevos they decide to go out on a limb with red beans, yellow rice and chopped tomatos (which I think they called pico de gallo). It doesn't work. I also tried their gravlax on a bagel with barely any cream cheese. Now for the good: The beer selection is great. Clown Shoes, Green Flash, Stone, Allagash and North Coast are usually represented. Always changing and they're happy to give you a taste of something (sometimes because the server has no idea how to describe the beer.) And the beers are reasonably priced. I read one review complaining that they use 14oz "cheater" glasses. I don't know where I fall on this. They never actually claim that they are serving up pints. But the thick bottoms give the impression that they're trying to pull a fast one. In the end, I'm going to let it slide since they serve up 14oz for almost everything on tap. Including many big beers which are usually served in 10 or 12 oz servings. So it appears they just decided on 14oz servings across the board to keep it simple. I really don't mind if that means that they sometimes don't have the "proper" glassware. I stopped in to watch the Sox opener. It's a pretty good place to watch a game, but I'd imagine the bar section would get crowded fast during a normal 7PM game (the opener was at 4). But if you get a seat at the bar or on the couch, you'll have a decent view. They also put out some complimentary popcorn for us as we waited for food to be served at 5. Knowing what I know about the food (and having dinner plans later), I just went with the dollar Island Creek oysters which were top notch.* And as you can probably see at the top of the page, they offer them every day from 5-6. Their apps and snacks like chicken wings, cheese fries and deviled eggs are like everything else on the menu: decent. I'm happy to order them because they're cheaper and I can wash them down with a quality brew. And I'm looking forward to the nicer weather when you can sit by the big garage door which will be opened. *Side note: when you get a bad raw oyster, are you supposed to blame the restaurant? Do they get them from lousy oyster farms to save money? What about Island Creek Oysters? Are some better than others? I really don't have them enough to notice a difference between the $1 ICO at Canary Square and the $2.50 ICO at ICOB. Is there a difference? Feel free to message me to let me know.
(4)
Jack P.
Applebee's quality at Capital Grille prices. If your're going to charge $11 for a burger, you sure as hell better back it up with quality. Here, as with so many other aspects, does Canary Square fail to deliver. Service was among the worst I've ever had--clueless and inattentive. How's that for a combo? Wrong drink order, 15 minutes to get replacement. You get the picture. My burger was burned to a char, and completely inedible. I took one bite and spit it out. It tasted like it had been dropped in the bowels of a Weber grill, and rescued the next morning. After spending 7 minutes trying to locate my waitress, I finally got her attention. She took it back, but my dining companion was almost done with his food. Ultimately, I told them not to worry about it. They had already f'd up my evening. This place SHOULD be great, but IT SUCKS. Robert Irvine or Gordon Ramsey need to save this place.
(1)
Guilio Ñ.
Nice outdoor space for that al fresco feel during these warmer days. The braised pork shoulder with risotto was fine. Their vegetarian/salad option needs some more creative work.
(3)
Hillary M.
Came here with our kid and met friends with their kid. The room was spacious and we easily fit high chairs and strollers around our table. The waitstaff was very cute with the kids. But the service was slow and the waitress was downright rude when my friend asked if she could substitute fruit for potatoes. No substitutions! Next time, waitress, you should say 'I can't do a substitution, but I can bring you the fruit plate for $2 more.' Oh, and when my friend later ordered a fruit plate, it came out drenched in whip cream. Seriously?! Our food took awhile to come out and the coffee orders were filled pretty intermittently, but we were able to have a leisurely time in a pleasant, sun-drenched room. The food was fine if a bit pricey for the fare. The bathroom was clean and I was very pleased to see the changing tables.
(3)
Kari C.
I am only giving Canary Square a 3 because they have changed their menu since I first went there, otherwise they would get a 4. I went to Canary Square when it first opened some months ago and fell in love the moment I took a bite of my steak. It was perfectly cooked, had chard on the side and amazing mashed potatoes. Also, they won my heart because they had olives as a snack on the menu, and boy do I love my olives. My friend ordered their veggie lasagna, which is no longer on the menu either, and loved it (he's not one to say that). I'll have to give it another try with the new menu, because I loved the atmosphere and had great service.
(3)
Tracy P.
When this place first opened it had the usual growing pains.... Frazzeled staff, inconsistent food.... Pretty much what you'd excpect from a brand new spot. But it has come into it's own over the last few months and the staff have really helped bring it along! There is always a smiling face greeting you from the door to the bar. The huge flat screen TVs make it a great spot to watch a game, and now that baseball season is right around the corner I am sure that it will be the place to sip a brew and watch the Sox. Also, the huge garage doors are just waiting for the warm weather to roll up and open to the patio. I have only seen improvement over the last few months and I'm looking forward to see what comes next!
(4)
April M.
I'm still trying to figure out Canary Square... I have mixed emotions about so many things. For one, the staff. The hostess has been just fine both times, greeting us right away and leading us to our table. Great. The waitstaff, however, has been complex and sub-par. The first time, the girl we got was aloof and not knowledgeable of the menu. I asked her what an ingredient in one of the drinks was and she said "a flavored liquor". Well, I could have told myself that! What kind of flavor? A hard liquor or a lighter liqueur? And I'm sorry, but her breath STUNK. If you're working in a service/food industry where people are going to be eating and drinking, you should probably make sure you don't turn their stomachs sour with your foul breath. It was rank, really rank. I kind of wanted to run out to CVS and buy her a small bottle of Listerine while we waited for our food to arrive. The second time, we got a tall goofy guy who came off kind of rude and nonchalant. I mean, I don't mind a totally chill and relaxed environ, that's what I'm about, but you are getting paid to take my order and bring things to my table, so throw just a dash of effort into that recipe for me, will ya? I don't care if you're pretending to care, but at least make it seem that way. He also forgot to refill my beau's beer when he ordered another one. The place was not overly busy, and I didn't see him running around the restaurant floor, so I'm not sure why it took like a half hour. Moving onto the drinks, things get a little better. I tried a couple of the provincially-named cocktails, which were very creative and earthy-tasting. I liked them, but they certainly don't offer much bang for your buck in the way of alcohol content. I could barely tell I had a drink. Their draft beer menu is admirable, not sure if any other spot in JP would trump Canary in that department. Better still, was the food. The menu is ridiculously small, but at least the items are well crafted and tasty. We've tried the skewers (off the app menu), the roasted chicken, the steak and the burger and they were all acceptable. For desert, we've gotten the fried twinkies - twice. And if for nothing else, I would return to Canary just for the twinkies. How can you go wrong with two twinkies and a fryolator? Point and case. Aside from the twinkies, I can't say there's any real culinary genius at work in the kitchen, but they are doing a decent job. Lastly, the atmosphere, which is also something that would keep me coming back. I do like the dark lighting, the tall windows along the front wall, the high tables by the bar and lower cafeteria-style seating on the dining room side. There is a constant humm of low conversation, a good mix of people (as always in JP) and they do offer flat screen TV's over the bar for your viewing enjoyment when your company is just not up to par in the conversation department. I would go back again (as long as the fried twinkies are still on the menu) but I would suggest to Canary Square to expand and/or rotate their menu and check up on the waitstsff. I've only been twice and I'm already kind of done with what they've got to offer.
(3)
Meeg W.
Went with my mom and sister for dinner last night. Got there around 7 and were seated right away on the front patio. Situated on a busy street, they do an awesome job of blocking off the noise and creating a really nice ambiance. Canary Square is one of the best places to grab a beer in JP if not in most of Boston. They have an incredible beer list, and their prices are fantastic. It's either this place or The Behan for me. What came as the best surprise was how great the food was. My siter got the baked mac-n-cheese. So cliche, everybody has it. But I'll kid you not, it was amazing. Make sure at least one person in your party orders it, and then grab a few forkfulls. My mom got the pork shoulder. Tender, with little fatty bits that were flavorful, and her mashed potatoes were delicious. I got the tuna steak special. The steak itself was huge, the coconut rice was tasty, and the little roasted, yellow tomatoes around the perimeter were the sweetest tomatoes I ever popped into my mouth. Great time here!
(4)
Rachel H.
I ate here the weekend of 4/15. Seems like they may have raised the bar a bit. We had delicious food. Great beer selection. Appetizers: A - devil eggs and hummus. My dinner mates loved the devil eggs, I passed on those. I was a big fan of the hummus and pita chips. They only gave us a few pita chips, so we asked for more and they brought out a big plate - kudos for that. Entrees: A- I had the skirt steak with the Gorgonzola tots and zuccini salad. Everything about my dish was delish! Dinner friends had the Braised Pork with risotto - yumm! Also, the fish and chips app and the side salad were good too. Nothing crazy though. Dessert: A donuts with chocolate sauce and an order of the seasonal ice cream (maple walnut from JP licks - mmmm). This dessert was great, more than enough for the three of us to share. I would def order these again! All this - plus 1 beer each for less than $100! Crazy. I guess I'm now used to NYC prices, where my husband and I can barely get brunch for less than $100. i was very impressed with the price. The atmosphere was great - lively bar, friendly service, helpful bartenders. Made me miss JP more than ever. Looking forward to going back.
(4)
Marilyn T.
It's been a long time since I've been to JP, and I noticed Canary Square on the corner of center and Huntington where the Alchemist used to be. We came in and were surprised that it was so lively and full on a cold Monday night at 8:30. They have probably 40 beer options, plus cocktails and wines. We started with garlic bread and a cauliflower soup with bacon. The soup was creamy and well seasoned, super satisfying on a cold night (would have been perfect for dipping some crusty bread). For salads, the warm Swiss chard and cranberry is filling enough for a meal. The pulled chicken is sauteed in the bacon vinaigrette, and then it's tossed with the chard, which wilts it just the right amount. Topped with a poached egg, it almost reminded me of a carbonara but in salad form. For vegetarians, the balsamic grilled tofu steak is an interesting option. It's warm and charred but could have used some more seasoning; plus, the panzanella salad underneath was a little too crunchy and didn't really go with the tofu. The server was super attentive and patient even though it was a busy night. Overall, a cool place to grab some beers and food to share.
(3)
Jessica K.
This place is fast becoming my favorite local destination. Fun, friendly, attentive servers and bartenders, charming hostesses, huge beer selection, tasty cocktails, yummy food. It's one of the only places I've ever been that gives me a medium-rare burger when I ordered a medium-rare burger (usually asking for anything short of "I want it alive on my plate!" results in 100% charred beef). The clam-juice Bloody Mary at brunch is amazing. The beef brisket sandwich melts in your mouth. Every time I go, there are at least a few new additions to the menu, which is a nice touch for the regulars. My only complaint: bring back the popcorn! Very charming interior, and there's always a wonderful mix of people in the restaurant (cute families, young groups of friends, older couples, yuppies, hipsters, you name it).
(5)
Erwin F.
My GF and I went to this restaurant because she had been hyping it up for a couple weeks...and really she couldn't even do it justice. Our meal was DELICIOUS! First - The Service Our server was probably good. I really can't remember because I was enjoying my meal (Swordfish with sliced sausage and mussels in a red sauce with pasta). Sadly that was the final day of that particular menu item, but they really need to bring it back. But back to the service, the server stopped by frequently to check on how we were doing and made sure we were taken care of. Second - The food If you couldn't tell by the previous paragraph, the food was EXCELLENT. It didn't need any extra salt, pepper, or flavor. It was JUST RIGHT - Goldilocks style. Overall, I WILL BE BACK AGAIN.
(5)
Jillian H.
Oh, Canary Square. Our love affair has ended. You had etherial cod fritters that literally evaporated in my mouth. No more. You once had $1 oysters every day from 5:00 - 6:00. Now its only on Mondays. Disappointed, my posse and I all ordered the Jonah Crab appetizer. Imagine trying to pry meat out of the spindly legs of a lobster and you have the same experience with these crabs. Including the flying shells landing in your hair, beer and best pal across the table. The meatiest parts were the moderate-sized claws. Only, the meat had been previously frozen (and if not, then it was wayyyy over cooked), so it was stringy and bland . Thank God for the sauce that was served with it or we wouldn't have been able to choke it down. We also got chicken tacos. Dry, dry dry. Sad, sad, sad. The only saving grace is the beer selection. If only the food was as stellar as the beer... (1 star for the food, 2 stars for the beer.)
(3)
Mk E.
So happy that a solid restaurant has moved in where the Alchemist failed. The depth of the draft list is impressive (and the waitstaff will be the first to admit that the blackboard can't keep up with the changing taps), the small plates are consistently tasty, and the service is engaging without being overbearing. Big hits: the charcuterie plate (changes frequently, sometimes even in a single night--so order it twice!), pork belly, and the deviled eggs. Bonus points: produce (and eggs) from Allandale Farms.
(4)
Sean O.
People's expectations of places amaze me. It seems they 'look' for reasons to be a food critic and YELP is their place to take out their bent up aggression that they can't display in any other form than anonymous text. I have been to the this place 3 times. Loved it more and more each time. 1st Visit: A Saturday night for snacks and drinks with friends. We killed multiple apps (Cod Fritters, Wings and others i can't remember now) along with a number of beers and cocktails (which is why the other apps i can't remember). We enjoyed the atmosphere all night and stayed till close. 2nd Visit: Sunday afternoon for a Patriots game. I figured the menu was diverse enough I could order different things throughout the day of football. It didn't dissapoint. Again, started with the wings (and why not when watching football), grabbed some chili later and topped it off with a fried twinkie. 3rd Visit: Weekday night after work. Surprisingly the place was packed for a weeknight. I went in and tried out the pulled chicken sandwich. AMAZING! It seriously was one of 'those' type of sandwiches that makes you crave for it the next day. All-in-All the place does its food without disappointment. The service was very good and never had a complaint. Also to the people that claim the Alchemist had a better beer selection, that truly shows you have no competence rating places. The beer selection at this establishment is one of the best and unique I have experienced.
(5)
Nancy C.
My friends and I walked in for brunch on a Sunday morning. The ambiance is trendy and chic. I liked the differing furniture. I imagine it's a nice bar for happy hour. I ordered the french toast. Let me start off my stating that I am not a french toast fan, at all. For some reason, I had a feeling about this particular item on this day though. I am so glad I followed my instinct! The french toast was amazing. Really. I would return to this restaurant for the french toast alone. I may have mentioned it was orgasmic when I signed for the check. The coffee was just okay. And the server was a little slow even though it wasn't very busy. The server could definitely be more attentive if you ask me. My friend ordered the Avocado and Swiss Omelet. I had a bite and it was very good. Did you read the part about the french toast?! They have converted me. SO DAMN GOOD!!
(4)
Damian X.
Great food but my god is the service slow.
(3)
Joel G.
LOVE THIS PLACE. I have only been once but I am pinning to go back. Beef skewers with Peanut Sauce was to die for. Mac and Cheese was very good. The service was solid and it had a great vibe. Can not believe how they transformed this place from the hole that it was before. The exposed brick is just great. Well lit bar with dark corners tasteful TV placement. over 30 beers on tap. Can not wait to go back!!!!!
(5)
Lori M.
I love-love-love this place. It's funky, it's got style, the menu is comprehensive (though lacking in the sheer number of vegan/vegetarian options), and the bar is awesome. My gf and I dined at a table once, and have placed ourselves at the bar each and every time we've gone since. I probably shouldn't say this lest you all head over to the bar instead of tables, but the bartenders are awesome. They offer fun drinks, a great selection of beer, and a happy attitude. Re: food, I am still irked by the switch-a-roo on the menu that removed my favorite sandwich (apple and taleggio grilled cheese) and replaced it with some avocado version. I have an "intolerance" of avocado. Not an allergy, as a doctor once corrected me, as I don't swell up and die. I do, however, roll into a ball with an avocado pit in my stomach. But enough about me. The popcorn is hit or miss, and I do wish it was a freebie. The gf is a meatmouth and she's enjoyed both the burger and the pulled chicken sandwich. And we were wicked excited by the bread pudding, though it might be seasonal. Overall, it's a great place to be a regular. Or at least the bartenders pretend to recognize me....
(5)
Sam F.
Good selection of beers (especially like the Downeast Cider) with a menu that is small but tasty. The BAT (bacon, avacado and tomato sandwich) for brunch is always a great choice.
(3)
Sue P.
Every food-loving, outdoor-sitting, cocktail-sipping Jamaica Plainer wants to love Canary Square. Unfortunately it's impossible. The location, outdoor seating, and bright, airy dining room and bar are notable high points. And let's face it -- ambience ain't nothing. For a quick beer or cocktail, especially outside on the porch, Canary Square is the best place in JP. But the food! It's plain and self-conscious at the same time. At the risk of over simplifying, the food is under-spiced, under-salted, and under-umamied. Almost to a dish -- and I've tried virtually everything on the menu -- the food simply isn't good. Bring a date and have a cocktail. Enjoy the hand-chalked beer menus and the huge windows. But eat somewhere else.
(2)
Bernadette S.
This is a brunch review. Service at brunch was very good and the place was bustling. My wife ordered the bloody mary beer - not good - she sent it back and got a regular beer. Her brunch was good. She had an omelet. Mine was not. I ordered the Huevos Rancheros because they are my favorite brunch item and I try them anytime they are on a menu. This is a Mexican dish yet the Huevos at Canary Square have zero flavor. The one saving grace is the chorizo. The pico de gallo is flavorless and needed cilantro and spice. There was no other salsa and when I asked for some was brought Tabasco or The rice and the beans also were totally bland. It was so sad to see my favorite dish treated this way. Perhaps the biggest issue, however, was that the soft corn tortillas were in that weird in-between place between warm and cold and were served folded with cracks...they were useless as a taco or wrap. I'm disappointed but still hoping for the best...
(3)
Caitlin B.
I was on my way to Sorella's for brunch and stopped to look at the menu at Canary Square. Both the menu and the decor drew us in. We must have gotten there at the right time because we were seated right away and it seemed there was a line for the rest of brunch. The decor is stunning and is the right combo of neighborhood-y and upscale. Our waitress was adorable and so nice. I was so taken aback when I read reviews later on about that bad service. We got coffee refills and everything at the right time. Bloody mary's were so-so. Not a ton of flavor (perhaps they rely on the absolut peppar for that?) We got avocado and swiss omelette, turkey hash, and sides of bagel with dill-caper cream cheese and homeade sausage. All were very yummy! I didn't get to look at the dinner menu, not sure how I'd feel about the ambience for dinner but for drinks or brunch like we had, it seems like the place to be!
(4)
Brian R.
The missus went here when it first opened and had a bad meal topped off with some undercooked chicken. So after reading improved reviews and giving the staff a few months to get their feet under them, we went out for dinner on a recent Friday night. Its kinda loud, and it was pretty packed with a mixed leaning towards slightly younger crowd. We should have ordered the mussels which come with their fries. Both are done well (one of our dining partners previously had and enjoyed the mussels). Instead we ordered the jerk wings. Not bad, but not hothothot like jerk usually is. I ordered the pulled chicken sandwich. It was very bland. Maybe the roll was too much? It was just chicken in an ordinary BBQ sauce on a roll. Probably needs pickles or some other vinegar/acid and something with a crunch (slaw?). It did come with slaw on the side which wasn't the worst but wasn't stellar. Actually it was a bit wilted. The missus ordered the swordfish. I thought that was a 'you can't screw this up' dish. I was wrong. The fregola was sad looking and tired. The fish looked good but didn't taste good. We ate half of it. We left hungry. The service wasn't very good either. In fairness it was very busy. But we were told we would get water. 10 minutes later we had to flag our server to get this. We also had to flag them to put in our dinner order. Bottom line: go there for the very good beer selection and the interesting mixed drink menu and order the mussels. There are better options for a meal.
(2)
Rebecca B.
I've been to Canary twice now (once to grab a quick dinner pre-Fenway, and once because, I'll admit, we got shut out of Tres Gatos). Canary Square is a fine place. I think that's right - it's fine. Not amazing, not awful, but fine. It's crowded and loud in there (maybe the acoustics aren't quite right for a restaurant? Not sure). But, the hosts that I've seen were good at finding us a table, even once negotiating with another couple waiting ahead of us in the lounge on our behalf (they wanted to stay in the comfy lounge chairs, so it worked out). The food that I've tasted has been kind of hit-or-miss. The best thing I've had there was an amazing poached egg over sauteed mushrooms on toast concoction. Yum. The worst thing I've had there was a hamburger, ordered medium, that came out completely raw on the inside (not, like, bordering on medium-rare - it was raw and cold in the middle). The middle-ground thing I've had was the steamed mussels - the broth was fine (there's that word again!), but could have used some more acid, and the toast it came with was burnt and not buttered enough. I'll definitely be back here, but I feel like it might be more of a place to go for drinks and some bar food, rather than a full meal. It's definitely a boost to that part of JP, but hopefully it's a sign of even better things to come, rather than being the finish line in itself. Also, I'm not sure if this is, in fact, the place where the anti-Whole Foods people meet, but I definitely took up a page of the notebook spewing out my screed on why Whole Foods is a good thing. I might have had a few drinks first. Oops!
(3)
Lola C.
I want to like this place soooooo much, but it disappoints on many levels. First what I like; the bar is great and the bartenders are friendly and quick ---and remember the customers! The atmosphere is great, they did a good job renovating and transforming the space. It could use a little soundproofing, but that is all I would change as far as atmosphere goes. If it were just a bar this place would have a couple more stars. The food...meh. The menu is not satifsying, there isn't something for everyone on it. My three favorite menu items are no longer there, no more ceasar salad, no more beef stroganoff-y bowl of yumminess, etc. I went for the burger this week and it was greasy with an odd flavor, almost like pork fat was used on the grill. I can't quite explain it, but I don't want to try it again. My friend had the pulled pork chicken, they thought it was greasy too. Actually, they said their previous meal at Canary had been greasy as well. I'll definitely visit the bar again, and again...just not when I am hungry.
(2)
Mariana G.
I have been coming to Canary square since it opened. I have since recommended clients, friends etc to come because I just loved how unique the atmosphere the food was amazing and the service was excellent, until tonight. The service has really gone down hill and it's really disappointing. My boyfriend and I were sitting at the bar, watching the Olympics, ordered couple of apps and drinks, great. Waited 30 mins for the bartender to notice that our empty glasses were drying on the bar. Perhaps if they weren't so busy chatting at the corner of the bar, with the MANAGER they would notice that their customers needed tending to! C'mon, get your act together- I just don't think we will be back for a while. It's too bad because we've been coming here since they opened, and as a JP resident, I'm just really sad and disappointed.
(1)
Michelle C.
It says something when a JP bistro is packed on an early Thursday -- a good something. I busted a move on the Canary Square version of mussels Provencal, which proved to be an excellent choice. My dashing companion tucked in to the cod fritters, which were equally delectable and served quite quickly, an achievement considering how quickly the place went from zero to sixty. No joke; they were on a wait at 6:30 p.m. on a Thursday. There were some beers in there somewhere, and while I can't weigh in on the overall cost of the meal, I will say that it was a damn near perfect venue for a shockingly comfortable first date. The service was relatively hands-off, knowledgeable and, most importantly, didn't seem to mind our lingering in the bar area, despite how crowded it was. Big raves for Canary Square! I love you and the loud people that fill your restaurant!
(5)
Allison C.
I've been back a handful of times since my last review (never again for brunch though) Dinner there has been alright each time. The beer list is awesome. The food has been good, not anything really special, but good. They have gotten rid of a couple of the dishes I though were awesome which is a bummer. I still think is overpriced, but the times I have been for dinner have been way less of a disaster than that time I went for brunch.
(3)
Laura S.
Gordon Ramsey would have a heydey with this place. I am not picky, but I will not return to this restaurant until I am sure their kitchen staff have turned over. I could have made a better dinner from my freezer. Food: Went tonight with friends and 2 out of 4 dishes were literally INEDIBLE. As in, we didn't eat them. That's almost never happened to me as I am kindof a human garbage disposal. Our ceviche appetizer tasted like they were trying to use up bad fish. Yikes. I hope I don't get sick. Also, the tortilla chips served alongside were stale! Their hummus and pita "chips" (as listed on the menu) were atrocious. Tasted like blended chickpeas, straight from the can, doused in paprika to cover up a lack of culinary ability. Also, the chips were just pieces of mediocre pita. Huh??? My salad-a "Spring Salad" was tasty, though it is August (why is this still on the menu?)-but was advertised as lettuce with eggs, bacon, asparagus, farro and peas so I expected something hearty. There were about 1 T of each, crumbled over the top--it was pretty much just flavored lettuce. Drinks: Oh dear. I ordered sangria. Easiest drink to make good in the world: take wine, add fruit=delicious. This was wine + cherry cough syrup = nast-ay. *Luckily* there was a HAIR in my wine, so I was able to send it back. The waitress did not comp my drink (!) Service: Waitress was unremarkable. Spilled my husband's beer and didn't wipe it up. Ambiance: 2 stars because it has a lovely patio.
(2)
Sara H.
I will totally go back here again, like asap. Extensive beer selection, tasty cocktails (I need to *not* drive next time) and above all Excellent service. Everyone my friend and I encountered here were so so friendly and helpful. No attitude or neglect that you get at other micro brew/fancy pub fare establishments. I agree with Greg M. about eating snacks/appetizers. We ordered a few apps and split the mac & cheese entree. The ham in the mac was thick cut and delicious, but otherwise underwhelming. Not a strong cheese flavor and a thin sauce. But as far as appetizers were concerned, we loved them all. Partial to the jerk chicken wings, super crispy little bits and a different sweet lime cream dipping sauce. Will be back soon to order the other half of the appetizer menu, and try out some more drinks. The sangria I had on trip #1 was delicious.
(4)
Ali A.
I am going to second Matt F, and say I am surprised at the negative reviews. Maybe this is because I didn't go straight away as they opened. I really loved the pickles they put on the table as a starter. I also REALLY loved the apple cider manhattan. it was not too sweet.. and their beer selection is great. I'm really happy there are good (and interesting) cocktails here...after the Alchemist went under, I wasn't so sure where to go. The menu wasn't my favorite, mainly because I'm a vegetarian and honestly, there just weren't a lot of options. I don't think there was even a single option without cheese. We split the cheddar fries. They were good, but next time I'm not sure if I'd spend the extra money on the cheddar fries-- i might just get the regular ones. The fries themselves were great, thick and crispy. For dinner, I had the sandwich with apple and taleggio on sourdough. It was good, and it tasted light despite all the cheese. I wasn't as keen on the salad that came with it on the side. It was kind of dry. My roommate had the ham sandwich, and the other had the pulled chicken I believe. They both cleaned their plates, so I'm assuming they were good. We all then split a dessert of the fried twinkie. It was good and not overly sweet. I like the fried twinkie at Anthem restaurant where I used to work much better. The service was really on-point when we went. Glasses were filled, and whomever the busser was, is aweesooome. He asked if we don't mind if he takes our plate away even if everything was finished and even if a glass had just ice in that. I love that. Our waitress did make a comment that said something along the lines of, "it's good you guys waited a little while after we opened, we've worked out a lot of the kinks" Overall, I really enjoyed it. I just wish there were better vegetarian options on the menu. And honestly, for the fare, the prices were kind of blah, but similar to the alchemist.
(3)
Ben S.
A quick review: -Went on a Saturday night around 7:30 pm. It was busy, but we found a table near the door. Pros: -Design is very open and inviting. I can't wait to return in the summer when the giant windows and garage door will no doubt be open. -All of the snacks were excellent. The cheddar cheese fries were dangerously good. -Two of us had entrees: burger was excellent as was the pulled chicken. Fries are outstanding! -Beer, wine, and cocktail list is impressive. -Server Emmy was attentive, fun, and knew her stuff. -Our server offered us samples of beer we had not tried before before ordering a whole glass. Cons: -All beer is served in 14 oz cheater glasses. Proper glassware would be an excellent compliment to the (excellent) beer selection.
(4)
Katherine Z.
The only reason I gave this one star is because the drinks are, actually, awesome. Otherwise, the food is terrible. I've been a resident of JP for a long time and even miss the food at the Alchemist compared to this. The Wings are the worst - tasteless and dry with yucky yogurt sauce. Mussels had enough salt for a salt lick. Salad dressing is tasteless. Fish appetizer was all dough and air. Roast chicken tasted like roast ham. Even the burger isn't good. How can you not make a good burger? All of my friends think the food here is bad and overpriced. But with not much else in JP that looks so lovely and has cocktails its hard to stay away. Sadly, each time I give it another chance, I'm disappointed yet again. I'd love to see this place do better, but someone has gotta start tasting their food and revise the menu with more decent prices!
(1)
Jennifer O.
Went back to give it another try. Food is lousy, service same. I've heard Brunch is decent but I'm not going back to give it a try.
(1)
Jon L.
The food here is so mediocre it's sad. The place has a great beer menu and the setting is really cool but I have eaten here so many times bc I like the ambience and its convenient to my apt. sadly, nothing on the menu is good, most is mediocre at best. Flavorless burgers (really? Mess up a bar buger?), bland salads and a menu that never changes. Go for beers and an awesome patio. Eat and be disappointed. And again, I eat here all the time and am consistently underwhelmed.
(2)
Kylie H.
I had a really nice time here with my friends who live in JP. The beer menu was perfect and the pickles were a great idea, especially because I'm a pickle lover. My friend's husband ordered some type of toast with mushrooms and it was awesome. We only had the pickles and appetizer and I would definately come back here to try out more entree. Very happy they had dogfishhead 90 minute IPA.
(5)
Gabriel B.
Great location, good ambiance, lots of beer on tap. Those are the highlights. The food is sometimes adequate, but too often sub-standard. I'm not hard to please, but nothing is particularly good - everything is just OK. The service frequently seems distracted. I suppose the other plus is that they are pretty kid-friendly in the early evening.
(2)
Shushumishi T.
Very pleased for the new hangout place close to my apt. I went there for the first time this past Friday 04/22 for a drink and went back on Saturday for brunch. Food was delicious (brunch), wine - good choices. At brunch, I also had a bloody Mary, which I didn't even finish because of a strange aftertaste it gave me...problems with the Tomato Juice...? Maybe I will stick with wine... Overall, the place gives a nice vibe and has a welcoming atmosphere. I'm sure I will be back again.
(3)
Eli R.
I went for the first time last night and was very impressed. I had the roasted pork shoulder, and it was deliciously tender, with a rich and flavorful risotto accented with sliced roasted almonds. My girlfriend had the skirt steak. It tasted like it was cooked over a wood fire, and was perfectly rare. It had a wonderful smokiness to it, and they definitely know how to correctly cook a rare steak. For dessert, we shared the butterscotch bread pudding which was so rich we couldn't finish the last bite despite how delicious it was. The ice cream tasted remarkably like the maple butter walnut from JP Licks, and nicely complimented the sweetness of the pudding. Our server was great as well. She was attentive without seeming overeager, and was incredibly warm and friendly. I'm glad I was finally able to get a table here, and I will definitely be going back.
(5)
Nick O.
I went here for the first time to night and had the bbq pulled chicken sandwich. It was great and the slaw that came with it was great too. The people were nice and it wasn't too jammed. I'm happy this place is in the neighborhood and don't want it to turn into a used car lot.
(5)
Jasmine M.
My first time there was on a Friday night around 8PM with a friend. It was busy and the hostess said that a table for two would take 30-40 minutes. We decided to wait it out since we both really wanted to try this place, and fortunately we got a table much faster than the expected time (after maybe 10-15 minutes). I had the mushroom and spinach crepe, which was well made and tasty, although I would have preferred it without the huge uncut garlic cloves I found inside of it. For dessert my friend and I shared the apple bread pudding with maple ice cream, which was delicious. As for the service, our waitress met that great balance between checking in on us frequently but not intrusively. Also, she didn't rush us out at all after we finished our dessert and drinks, even re-filled our waters after we had already paid the bill. Favorite aspects: Quality food, good beer selection, good service, great ambiance Least favorite aspect: The food was a bit over-priced Will I go back again? Definitely.
(4)
Grace F.
I should admit that I am not un-biased: I have been eagerly awaiting the opening of CS for many months. I was very pleased to finally take in the gorgeous decor/ambiance, great wine selection, drinks with an emphasis on St Germain and delicious hamburger last night. Obviously there will be some growing pains as CS settles in (last night I didn't see anything obvious except that the food took awhile), but I have the feeling that Canary Square is going to become a JP staple. Three cheers for Canary Square!
(4)
Sheila T.
I lost power in JP last night at a time that was waaayyy to early to try to go to bed - so, I decided to go get some beers and grub at the new canary Square. I hearted the Alchemist, but I heart the Common Ground more, so I was excited. I got the Mac and Cheese which was UNREAL. I swear they put nutmeg in or something. Awesome beer selection. The only negative thing I have to say is that I wasnt too pleased with the bartender I had, but everyone else was very nice. I felt like she sized me up tip wise and treated me as such (one person, wearing a sweatshirt, ect). Not the way you ever treat any customers, especially when the place was all but empty. (To be fair, it was 9:30) I will definately try again, very much so looking forward to their brunch.
(3)
Kate S.
I really want to like Canary Square. I've now been three times and have gotten dishes ranging from mediocre to inedible. The last visit was the last straw, my "medium" steak frites came out completely charred and tough, and the vegetables (which I usually love) looked and tasted like the hay/poop mixture in my rabbit's cage. I wish I were exaggerating. After smelling it with concern, I gave it a test bite which I immediately had to spit out. The drinks are always interesting combinations, but rarely good, so points for effort to branch out, I guess. I've also always had great service and never had to wait more than a few minutes for a table. Too bad the food's absolutely awful. I just can't do it anymore, Canary Square, unless I hear you have new chefs in the kitchen.
(2)
Caleb W.
Unless you can afford Ten Tables, this is the BEST place in JP. Creative comfort food, fantastic beer selection, great wine list, and reasonably priced.
(5)
K S.
Canary Square is a lot better than its predecessor, The Alchemist. The atmosphere is better, and the place seems a LOT bigger, thanks to a great layout and new bar placement. The food was delicious - we had the mac and cheese (they were great about leaving out the ham when we asked), cod fritters, and the best deviled eggs i've ever had. The beer selection was excellent, although sadly, they were out of two of the beers I ordered. The service was excellent - we were seated immediately, and our waitress was extremely attentive and knowledgeable. The only issue I had was that the waitress was big on calling my dinner partner and I "ladies," and only one of us actually identifies as such. I understand that people in the service industry are often encouraged to be polite, but I'd advise Canary staff to perhaps not make as many assumptions in a place as diverse as JP. Otherwise, service was great. All in all, I'd come back here again - the atmosphere is cozy, and the food, delicious. Plus, the beer list is really exceptional.
(3)
Bryanne M.
I had a terrible first experience- complete with fire drill, closed kitchen, and unresponsive staff- and had to go somewhere else at 9pm on a Thurs to try and find food after waiting an hour in the bar! That being said, after complaining to the manager, we were invited back in for a comped meal- so really no complaints there! The food was excellent, service was exactly where you want it to be- not too pushy but present- and the manager could not have been friendly. Really great experience, so I went back again with a group a week or so later- and while the food was great again (the skirt steak is so tasty, as was the bread pudding!!), the service was eh. Had to flag down the waitress for water and another round of drinks. Nothing terrible, but nothing outstanding. I think it will get better as time goes on and the wait staff is broken in a bit more.
Went to Canary Square on a warm Sunday late afternoon because I wanted to sit outdoors, drink draft and dine. Already I knew they had only a two-star rating on Yelp, but what the hey? Here's the report. From the top, my server Kate was terrific, none of what happened was her fault. The beer list was excellent, but when the first glass (of Spaten) came and it was almost flat, I should have known that the place didn't have enough beer sales to sustain freshness in two-dozen offerings. Oh well. I decided to order two appetizers: "hand-cut" fries and grilled asparagus with vinegar sauce. I told Kate, No salt; she said, No problem. When the runner brought them out I could see glistening crystals all over. (Pity too, the fries were very crisp and the asparagus nicely darkened.) I sent them back and in return got a plate of very, very soggy fries and steamed asparagus, mostly thick, tough shank-parts, no grilling and no sauce. I sent them back via the runner (who was very doubtful about it all) and finally got a plate of crisp ones and grilled whole asparagus, although still no sauce. Whew! Good thing for me I had a book to read and time for more beer. Regarding "hand cut", I don't think so. They were uniformly a quarter-inch square. Like McDonalds. And I'm pretty sure there was artificial smoke additive on the asparagus. Kate did comp me a third beer for all that, and later the manager came over to apologize. Then when the bill came I saw the food had been comped as well. That was a reasonable gesture, but shall I return?
(2)
Eddie G.
My friend and I went for drinks, Bloody Marys and some food. The BM's were pretty strong and quite spicy. We had two each and were pretty wobbly walking out! Our burger was ordered medium and it was perfect. Food was much better this time around...
(4)
Beth H.
Location location location! Canary Square has a great one. I also love the atmosphere and their Downeast cider. Deeelicious. I enjoyed coming here during March Madness to watch the games. One day I'll make it to a weekend brunch! That said, I feel like their food can be hit or miss. Some dishes are worth the price and taste great, and others are either too small for the price or a little blah. The restaurant gets pretty dark and loud from dinner to late night. I don't mind, but some may complain that they can't hear the person across the table from them.
(3)
BurgerBaron G.
Great food, great beer selection. And a friendly staff. It's a great alternative to the now-always-crowded Canary Square. Not saying it's second to Canary, but if you followed the crowds over there, give this spot a try. It's well deserved.
(4)
Becky B.
Their brunch is amazing. Pumpkin fresh toast is a must try. They also have delicious brunch fries, which has a poached egg and hollandaise sauce.
(5)
R.E. H.
Been here several times now - and with the new chef. The serving sizes are well portioned (who wants Cheesecake factory?). The food is thoughtful, cooked with skill and is overall tasty. The drinks are also quite good. The punch has become a favorite with our friends. The front of the house is always on point - very friendly, accommodating. Despite the review saying this is not a kid friendly place - there are plenty of families in at 5pm with their children. No one seems to suffer. I find that food is overall underwhelming in Boston and the folks at Canary Square are trying hard to make a neighborhood place that is enjoyable and gives an overall good experience.
(4)
Robert R.
Ate here the other night with a couple buddies. Got the local beer flight and the hope flight--awesome. Great burger, fun atmosphere. Our server, Noelle, was super nice and attentive, too! Thanks, Noelle!
(5)
Allison K.
Server recommended a cocktail that was like margarita mixed with a mimosa. PERFECT! also able to sub out the bacon for some avocado on their eggs benedict. I mean, what more can a girl ask for?
(4)
Jamie M.
I just moved to JP, and Canary Square was the first restaurant we went out to. We met another couple, and all of us loved it. The drink list- from beer to wine to cocktails, is truly exciting, and not just because there was a fluffy rabbit beer (not made of fluffy rabbits to be clear). The waitress was knowledgable of all drinks, and when my indecisiveness took over as it usually does, she brought me a little glass to taste, without even having to ask her! Super nice. I don't remember which beers we got, which is a sure sign of good beer, but all 4 of us got a new beer each time and there were no complaints. The food...so good. The mussels in chorizo...I want more. We ate every bite, which was sopped up with delicious free bread. We also got deviled eggs, which has spicy mustard, and were pretty fancy. Also ordered, shared, and devoured were pork tacos, seared tuna, mac and cheese w/ truffle oil and mac and cheese with bacon. #bangin. Cant wait to go back and enjoy the drinks/food/atmosphere in the sunshine on the patio!!
(5)
Sarah M.
This place is great! They have a good beer selection and outdoor patio. The black bean burger was delicious.
(5)
Wendy E.
I have loved my visits to Canary Square and look forward to sitting outside there soon! I seem to always get the cheese app and pulled pork tacos. Last visit they were on the cold side but I won't hold that against them and should prob try some other options during a future visit.
(4)
Radhika M.
I live down the street from Canary Square so I come here pretty regularly. It probably has the best decor and ambiance of any restaurant I know, just perfectly 'classy but casual'. I've been here for casual weekday dinners, weekend brunches, and birthday dinners. The food seems to have gotten much better over the last year - everything has been consistently great the past few times. Service is really friendly, and the menus are always changing to keep things interesting. Always fun to try the new cocktails and beer flights. I recommend the brussel sprouts appetizer even if you dislike brussel sprouts. This place is also fantastic for dessert - they brought out toffee cake for a birthday celebration and it was delicious. Will probably be going back for it!
(5)
Richard C.
Canary Square June 9th, 2014 by Richard Chudy IMG_1059My mom, for reasons that might or might not have been clear to me, has been constantly singing the praises of the burger at Canary Square in Jamaica Plan for quite some time now. Finally, on mother's day, I caved. Not that I thought it wouldn't be a great burger, but more because I was sort of enjoying the back and forth game of the elusive burger, and the saleswoman pitch she kept giving me. It's a bustling restaurant on this particular Sunday night, the first warm day/evening in a while, and neighborhood patrons appear as if they have been coming here for years. The service is a tad slow when you want it to be faster, and very quick and short once they realize you are done for the night. The burger is very much no frills. You can add on house-made bacon (very chewy, but deeply flavored) or mushrooms for an additional $2 and cheese for another $1. But, for starting at $11, it's hard to complain at all about the pricing. The bun is soft and very buttery in a good way, with the feel of a brioche without the heft and dominance. The patty is wide, not too tall and not too short, filling the bun perfectly. It's super juicy but a tad under-seasoned, with a distinct beefy flavor that is in that run-of-the-mill spectrum but very familiar and comforting. A little bit of char works out, and is a welcome accent to the burger. The patty is cooked pretty consistently medium-rare, although some of the rare burgers ordered at the table are a little bit beyond that. It's labeled as grass-fed but it has no real attributes common with grass-fed beef (leanness, gaminess) and the tightly packed patty mostly feels like the common one you'd find in most pubs. A gush of melted cheddar cheese is ample and is the unofficial star of this dish, heavenly aggressive and wonderful in all the right cheesy ways. Fries are crispy but way over-salted, almost to the point of inedible, I can't remember the last time I had so few. Canary Square does indeed make a very solid burger. It isn't the beefiest, or most unique or interesting, it's simply classic. While the seasoning on the patty barely fell short, the bun and cheese more than make up for it, all worthy choices in their own right. The fries were a miss on this night, but for $12 with cheese, this burger fits the bill. Thanks, mom* (*yes I paid, it was Mother's Day after all).
(4)
Missy S.
Good news: they've expanded the menu and the ambiance, location, and service are still great Bad news: the food still is mediocre. i got the pulled pork tacos this time and buffalo wings. The wings were good. The tacos were only slightly warmer than room temperature and the corn tortillas on which the pork was served were nothing exciting, topped with a smoky flavor that was too intense for my liking. Canary Square, it's official, you need to invest in a chef who can bring nothing-too-fancy, hot, flavorful food to JP. Or at least bring one in to help the current chef revamp things. You have too great of a location not to have awesome food.
(3)
Jen G.
I live right around the corner and this has become my go-to! The food is good although the menu is small, but it rotates frequently. I am in love with their truffle mac 'n cheese and sangria, and they have a great craft beer list. Just wish they would take reservations!
(4)
Anne K.
Like Dana, I am shocked how low the ratings are for this place. We had a fantastic brunch there today with good service, food and drinks. We sat at the bar, and ordered the bacon bourbon bloody mary and the spicy pepper bloody mary - both were delish with a kick. My husband opted for the breakfast platter and I went with the BAT (bacon, avacado and tomato sandwich) with an egg. Our bartender was quick to serve and provide recommendations. We liked the place so much we stayed for a few more beers (a small but unique selection) - the fantastic weather allowed for the doors to the patio to be open so there was a great breeze. We will definitely be back.
(5)
Heather R.
I had heard so many great things about Canary Square that I was excited to take my godmother there for the first time when she visited from out of town. When I saw shrimp and grits on the menu, I was thrilled. The happiest I was about ordering this dish was short lived. They clearly take the word "shrimp" seriously, the 3 shrimp in my dish were the smallest shrimp I have ever seen. The grits were completely lacking of any flavor, it was truly like gruel. My godmother and I ordered alcoholic drinks as well and for the price, they were barely fair. This place has far more hype than it deserves and for brunch, I would go to Sugar Baking co. in Rosindale any day!
(2)
Piper P.
Canary Square is just a nice neighborhood bar; it's a great place to watch a game, eat comfort food, and chill with friends. The food is more inventive and tastier than your basic bar menu (the fried brussels sprouts are to die for) and they offer a delicious grass fed burger (I ordered mine rare and they cooked it perfectly, which doesn't happen often when one orders something rare). Canary Square prides itself on locally grown foods. My vote: it's A-OK in my book, and while not a first "go to" restaurant on my list, I would definitely drop in again with friends, perhaps for brunch next time. No complaints!
(3)
Conrad P.
Burger was over cooked no problem to our back bought me a beer and got a fresh plate. My women loved the burger she loved it well done. I'm a different black person. Give me a lil red. Chili wings were bomb. It's a must. Would come back def
(4)
Jonathan M.
Went here brunch on a Sunday, great experience. The staff was very accommodating to our party of late, especially considering we were running about 30 minutes later than we expected. The menu wasn't too extensive, yet they still seemed to hit various areas of the taste palate so customers could definitely find a dish that fit their craving. They were also pretty easy-going about substitutions. The portions for the price were pretty substantial, so definitely come hungry or be willing to take leftovers with you. Everyone really enjoyed their food! Chicken Fried Steak, Quiche, Green Eggs & Ham, Avocado & Cheese Omlette, Eggs Benedict. All were delivered with great taste and presentation. I'd definitely return here!
It's really a 3.5, but I'm feeling generous so I'll round up -- full disclosure, I've only been here for drinks + snacks, never a full meal -- let's see, in the wins category, I like the ambiance - it's darkish and intimate, so even if you don't think your date is looking fly, you'll enjoy yourself w/ some prime JP people watching -- and exposed brick + wood accents = my decor scheme of choice. If you're looking for that cozy, casual place to default to if you want to relax in your skinnies and button up, rather than donning stripper shoes and an imitation Herve mini-skirt, then I'd say that CS isn't a bad place to end up landing. Home to a solid selection of beers, all of which are reasonably priced (they have Allagash White, which wins me over each time) and tasty wines by the glass (btwn $9-12). If you're looking to get a little frisky, the cocktails are interesting (herby, alcoholic) and dangerously drinkable (all around $10). Friendly-ish staff, though service is always slow and kind of absent. So if I was feeling fussier, I'd dock them more for that. On a weekend night, the bar is usually packed and the noise level is fairly high, but you should be able to hear the hipster and/or adorable lesbian couple convo next to you if eavesdropping is the name of your game.
(4)
Vijtibble A.
Decent food, everything else is shit, including the server who attempts to upsell you on a bottle of wine but rolls her eyes when you ask for a taste of the bottle you're about to drop 45$ on. Besides being completely ignored by the waitress, I'm talking no direct eye contact and only addressing my dining partner for MY food and drink choices. The pork tacos were good, the pickles too sweet, and the weird lingering manager making his presence too known creates an ambiance of awkwardness. Save your money and get a bottle and taqueria take-out.
(2)
Bob E.
The outdoor patio seating was welcome on a cool summer evening, with a lower ambient noise level than the interior space. While I felt the weather was perfect, another member of my party felt chilly, so the outdoor heaters came in handy, with the staff happily turning one on for us. As for the food, the burger I ordered was delicious. The beef was of excellent quality and perfectly cooked, actually making it worth the seemingly high price. The only thing I might have changed about the burger was their use of shredded lettuce, as I prefer lettuce leaves. I also ordered the chocolate ice cream cake for desert, which while interesting and artfully presented, was not worth its price due to both mediocre flavor and minuscule size. Our wait person was very friendly and gave us good service with only minor delays, despite having tables in multiple areas of the restaurant. I could see coming back to try one of their more expensive entrees, skipping desert, and enjoying another evening on the patio.
(3)
mzamar x.
update: why why why did i go for brunch at Canary? i guess i had to be reminded how uneven the food is there. Took nearly an hour to get a slice of overwhelmingly salty reheated quiche, in a room that was half full. Everything was too greasy, from toast that was griddled and soaked in butter (not delicious, just nasty) to house made sausage that is middling. Worst was weekend special a "giant old fashioned donut". About 8" round and resembling more a pretzel or unleavened pumpernickle pizza dough this "donut" was obviously made by someone who had never had, nor enjoyed a donut. The "cake" did not appear to be cake, but was actually bread. Unsweetened dough with a breadlike crumb rather than cake crumb, a dark brown exterior rolled in white granulated sugar. It was singularly one of the worst things i ever tasted. The staff were so good and did everything they could to provide excellent customer service, but really, the brunch chefs need to be stopped. I stand by dinner, but brunch never again.
(2)
Kait H.
Amazing smoked pork tacos. Amazing. Great atmosphere, beer selection and friendly staff. Been here twice while visiting JP and have enjoyed it both times.
(4)
Art B.
I haven't been to this place since it was the alchemist. We gave it a try. We looked at the menu online and we saw that it had cheese fries. Unfortunately, they were only serving the brunch menu. We saw that there were fries and cheese so how hard is to make cheese fries. We asked the -not so friendly- waitress if we could have cheese fries. She went to ask the kitchen and came back with a "no". I don't really understand how hard it's to please a customer with such a simple request, specially when they were serving both, just separately. With some many good places to eat in JP, this place is going to have to try a bit harder if they want to stay open. They definitely oat my business.
(1)
Lisa H.
I'm torn about three or four stars. I'm going with three because of the overall experience -- but it's not a bad three. I really do think the place is okay and if you're in the area, I'd definitely go. In the five to six times I've been in the last few years, the food is mostly fine, the service usually good, and when things go wrong, the managers are responsive. I think that's reasonable. My dining companion tonight also ate there last night and definitely had a two star meal. On our visits, sometimes, the kitchen has been less than efficient which has made service slow. Last time a group of us ate there about four months ago the waiter didn't know the beer list as well as he might have and normally I wouldn't mind that but if you know less about beer than I do you shouldn't be acting like you know, with attitude. That particular night the service was also incredibly, ridiculously slow -- and I'm a relatively patient person and i get kitchens get backed up but this was a crazy long wait and folks near us who came in after were getting their food before us.... the waiter was not quite as responsive to our concerns as he might have been but he eventually passed us off to the manager who was appropriately responsive -- got the food out and comped us a round of drinks. Fair enough. But, that's all in the past. :) For tonight's meal I'd give a four. I had the eggplant lasagna and it was great. Tasty and yum. The side salad was nicely dressed. My companion had the chicken and said it was good. We had the garlic spread thing for appetizer -- if you like that sort of thing, it was good. The wine was good. I had the bartender's beer flight -- it was okay. The server -- Lauren, I think her name was -- was lovely and totally fine. AND, the runner who brought our food was also lovely and got questions we had answered by the kitchen staff and delivered the information to us beautifully. The manager checked in and was pleasant. The hostess was pleasant. What's to complain about? It was a good night at Canary Square.
(3)
Katie S.
I really want to like this restaurant. It has a lot going for it -- great location, great ambience, great music. The beer list has a lot of variety and the wine list had good options. The major problem is the food. The appetizers were fine, though probably because they didn't require any cooking. We got the charcuterie and cheese plate and the hummus plate and both were good. Our main meals were a mess. We waited almost an hour between appetizers and entrees with little explanation from the wait staff. My cousins ordered the skirt steak, one medium well, the other medium rare. The medium well steak came out burnt -- my cousin couldn't eat most of it. The other skirt steak came out medium to medium well, even though it was supposed to be medium rare. My sister got a burger, also ordered as medium well, also came out completely burnt. She couldn't eat most of it. I ordered the mac and cheese and it was dry and underseasoned. Some of the pasta wasn't cooked fully. The only good meal that we ordered were the pork tacos. Please find a new executive cook -- this place could be really great. But for now, I would only suggest getting drinks there and maybe appetizers.
(2)
paula z.
Canary Square used to be a favorite place of ours for brunch on the weekend. We would often go there both mornings. They had wonderful music and great food. However, someone a few weeks ago got the bright idea to ONLY serve their brioche bread as the ONLY choice for brunch. (Who makes these dumb decisions???) Anyway, they used to serve great multi-grain toast for breakfast. The brioche stuff is too sweet for anything other than french toast. It tastes awful with every other breakfast menu item, in my opinion. Too bad! Their bacon, avocado, tomato breakfast sandwich used to be my favorite and my husband loved the omelet. They have wonderful servers and staff people. Someone rescue Brunch for them! We won't go back there until we have another bread choice....and, yes, it does make a difference. Sorry!! Canary Square.....Come back to the light..........
(2)
Melissa F.
Reading through some of the reviews, it seems Canary Square is hit or miss. I've been there twice and they both were hits. I moved to JP last May and only recently tried Canary Square. Man I've been missing out. First off I love beer (see my other reviews) and this place has a pretty good selection. Pretty Things on tap always makes me happy. The food is good too. I have tried the pulled pork tacos, the mac and cheese and the crispy cauliflower. The tacos were really tasty, especially when paired with their hot sauce. Nice and spicy. The mac and cheese was also really good, and the crispy cauliflower was a perfect portion as an app before your meal, or as a side if you're just snacking. The vibe inside is very cool. I guess that's what people expect from a bar in JP? I'm so glad I finally came here because this is now my new go to bar and it's down the street from me.
(4)
Hannah R.
I went here pretty often when this place first opened--I liked the food, I liked the cocktails, and I loved the beer selection. Plus, the wait staff are quirky and fun to talk to. However, over the last 6-8 months, it seems like the prices have gone up and the quality of the food hasn't improved to match. Brunch looks good on paper, but in practice it's bland, and the bloodys are just disappointing. Dinner is good, but I don't eat pork and that leaves me with maybe one entree that isn't a hamburger. I do love the cheese fries though. At this point, I'd only go here for happy hour-type drinks.
(3)
Allison W.
I am so surprised to see all the bad reviews on here - we have been 3 times and have had great experiences each time. My family has several individuals who eat gluten free, and this place has one of the best gluten free menus for a pub style restaurant that we have found... their fryer is gluten free so you can have the French fries (this is a luxury for gf folks) and they have wings and ribs that are gf as well. I typically get the burger, it's very good, and we had the pot pie our last visit as well, also very good and both were large portions. Service was good, although they seemed a little under staffed, they went the extra mile and brought us a free item for tasting and kept smiles on their faces the whole time. Also brought our young son (less than 1 yr) on a weeknight and found this place to be family friendly and able to accommodate our needs for space for his stroller at the table (not sure if it's also family friendly on weekends). Overall this is one of our go to places when we want something casual, easy and for entertaining visitors.
(5)
Alissa S.
Would give 3.5 stars if I could. Have mixed feelings about this place and prefer both Coda and Common Ground above it (mostly think the food is better at both of those, and like the DJ/dancing aspect at Common Ground). I absolutely love the Mothers Ruins, although I don't know why they changed the recipe from Hendricks so that now I have to special request them with it. Always enjoy brunch here, too, and it works great as a brunch-turns-into-Sunday-funday-once-the-game-Âstarts kind of place due to the TVs. They don't discourage that and you can easily end up staying for the day. Again- good deal. Also appreciate the outdoor seating, which is surprisingly hard to find in JP (I think James's Gate is one of the only other places with it?) Still, overall I'm just not a fan of the menu, think it's pretty limited, and have mostly found the food meh,
(4)
Inci K.
I am grateful to Canary Square because they have been really supportive to the community. That's not easy for a small business to pull off. Canary Square has opened its doors to my son's school nearby to host fundraisers and silent auctions. If we pulled off a good event, it's because the vibe and the surroundings were really jovial, upbeat and spacious. Beyond the school / community aspect, my husband and I frequent the restaurant for breakfast, a rare date night bite, or a New Year's eve dinner. It's so lovely to have a large location like Canary Square (named after a US veteran) in the neighborhood, it definitely adds to the neighborhood, and I want to continue to see them do well. PS: try their cheese/charcuterie platter, worth it for those seeking an appetizer that won't bore!
(4)
Benjamin E.
To all who thought Canary Square was going to be the "shot in the arm" JP's restaurant scene needed, keep waiting. I should have ceased to visit after my first attempt, but I've foolishly convinced myself at least 3 times that Canary Square "must have improved since the last time"-- no dice. The food and service is consistently abominable. I've sent back more plates at Canary Square than I have ever, anywhere else, combined. Seasoning, temperature, timeliness, and flavor -- not even close to what a half decent restaurant can churn out. I'm not quite sure how the owners of CODA and the Salty Pig (both great) have turned a blind eye to the JP operation, but I hope they figure it out. I find the establishment fine to have a beer in, but if you get hungry, don't let the menu tempt you. The Haven is just around the corner.
(1)
Molly L.
In the last two years I have tried it twice and will not be back. I will forgive a lot when it comes to service, given that most things are not the waitstaff's fault, but both times the servers were surly and copped an attitude that made me feel uncomfortable. There are almost no veggie entrees on the menu (come on, this is JP!) and when I asked to have something, sans pork, the waitress didn't hide her annoyance. Also, in winter the front of the place is freezing due to the lack of a vestible or double doors. I live nearby and love the location, but mediocre food priced beyond its worth, coupled with bad service does not make me a returning customer.
(2)
J R.
Disclaimer: I'm usually very forgiving about bad service and willing to chock it up to unfortunate circumstances. I've worked in the food service industry and I know things can get hectic. I got there at 10pm last Saturday to get some food with my girlfriend. The place was pretty dead. About 10 minutes after being seated the host comes by to ask if anyone had been by to take our order. We chat a bit, he was very friendly, and he takes our drink order and says someone will be by shortly. 20 minutes pass as we watch a couple get seated next to us, their drink order taken, and their drink order filled. So, by this time, 30 minutes after being seated, we were just too frustrated to deal with it and left. Maybe the right thing would have been to say something, but seeing the people next to us get served was just too obnoxious to want to give this establishment our business. The most aggravating parts are the fact the host even acknowledged that no one noticed us and it wasn't even busy that night. I'm the type to give people benefit of the doubt and assume it was all a misunderstanding but that was beyond ridiculous.
(1)
SR F.
Caesar salad made with kale?? really? Have you ever eaten kale? Like leafs of broccoli.. give me romaine or give me death, don't f..k with traditional; I don't care what your mother says about the fine culinary schools she sent you to. Teach kitchen staff how to trim and slice meat for charcuterie; cheese plate was very nice, but needed magnifying glass to find the portions. Polenta portions (3) were 1/2 teaspoon size and over salted.. gimme a break- its corn pudding lightly sauteed, let's bump the portions up to teaspoon size at least. How does one overreach and fail at appetizers? Check 'em out at canary square and learn. Oh, forget the burgers, if it weren't for the fancy pants drinks this place would fail in a week. I couldn't have a meal of appetizers here if I wanted to. Plus side, staff was very accommodating and genial; crowd was pleasant and well mannered, nice upbeat from the Dublin.
(2)
Leanne C.
Alright... because the brunchy drinks my friend and I got were awesome, you'll get 3 stars, Canary. And that's pushing it. Per Jessica's 4-star review, I was like "oh hey, good drinks and vegan options? Lets go!" Got there to find they don't carry vegan-accommodating meals any more. You have the choices of a side of super-plain home fries, over priced greens, and a fruit plate. I got the smashed grape and basil mojito. Mighty tasty, but after seeing/tasting the bloody mary my friend ordered, definitely get that, not the small (more expensive) mojito. For food I ordered a side of home fries and the fruit plate. The food totaled $9 and was incredibly boring. Come here for drinks, skip the food.
(3)
Laura M.
3 stars for food: 4 stars for service. Great atmosphere. Wonderful servers. Good drinks. Been here plenty of times and food is always consistently okay. Suitable for a crowd. Lots of families with kids there from 5-8. CAVEATS: The burgers tend to always be overcooked. Order appropriately. And the food can be a bit salty. Drink lots of water. Get your salad dressing on the side, it's very basey. Once you know those things, you're golden. Good veggie burger. Yummy crispy cauliflower. BF loves the deviled eggs. Happy hour is a great value too if you can get there before 6!!
(4)
Jess S.
I have been here a few times a couple years ago and was never impressed. The food was OK and the service was TERRIBLE. I came back for brunch a couple weeks ago in hopes for a better experience. The food was good, the drinks were great, and according to my boo, the beer selection is also great. The service was, obnoxious. Our bartender was just waaaaay too cool to care about being a good bartender. After strutting around behind the bar, he threw an empty wine bottle in a trash can (I assume) literally right in front of us, after receiving word of a "surprise double", which he let everyone know about. Lol. I could go on....but I won't. Big ups to the chef, and whoever is in charge of the bar. Thumbs down to the "super cool dude" behind the bar.
(3)
Jon S.
They do not seat you outdoors after 10pm. I feel this place doesn't sit well with some of the JP crowd because its a sports bar but I actually think this place is fun as hell - especially in summer! (I cant wait for the new patio to open. The burger was great but the fries are often over salted. The mac and cheese was wonderful but a bit too expensive. The drinks were pretty pricey too but the atmosphere is second to none in JP on a Fri/Sat night.
(4)
Fanasha D.
The drink selection is significantly better than the food. I am never impressed with their food, however, I do like the atmosphere and the staff is pleasant. It is conveniently located right on the corner of huntinton ave and centre st.
(4)
Lauren L.
There's nothing really good about this place, sadly. From the outside it's very pretty, and now that they have the outdoor seating assembled, it's downright inviting from an aesthetic point of view. Well, outside anyway... I like the lighting inside. It's unique and fun. Besides that, everything is laid out poorly and feels really forced. Chairs are uncomfortable and usually unavailable. The bar is crowded and doesn't accommodate eating that well. They prefer you only drink at the bar, and the night I was there, the bartender was nearly rude about it. The bar is definitely the worst area. It's crowded and very vertical compared to the rest of the space, and there's hardly space between the chair backs at the bar and the tight row of tables facing it for people to pass during game time. It makes the space artificially claustrophobic and adds to the unbalanced feeling in the restaurant. The food is a bit overpriced for the neighborhood, but even if it was more reasonable, it's really flat. Nothing is innovative or surprising, nothing is even downright tasty. It's all 'okay' and 'passable' and 'filling,' but that doesn't add up to a meal you genuinely enjoy. The beer selection, also overpriced, is innovative and unusual and changes often. I'd recommend finding the same thing up the street at Blanchard's for a lot less.
(2)
Adrienne T.
No, no, please don't go! STAY AWAY, FAR FAR AWAY! The food, at least the appetizers I had- jerk wings with some kind of yogurt sauce, beef skewers, and these awful fried monstrosities that they called "tater tots", was average at best, and overpriced. The real kicker? They MESS WITH YOUR MONEY/CREDIT CARD! Big no-no in my book. My dinner partner and I were clear about what was to be in cash, and what was to go on the card. The server did it wrong. Of course, it couldn't be fixed once he had run the card. He leaves and didn't return for 15 minutes WITH my card!! I don't like my card out of my sight for more than 5-7 minutes. I was advised to call back the next day and speak with the manager. I did, he was nice, said we're waiting for it to "drop off" of my card. We'll see. This wasn't my choice of places to eat. I had heard "so-so" reviews about it from friends who live in JP. My companion had been once before and really liked it, so she brought me. Really nice, trendy atmosphere, okay drinks-but on the weak side, and BAD, BAD music. Music doesn't match the trendy, sleek atmosphere.
(1)
Paul B.
Great beer list. Especially for the area. Music *was* a turn-off but it's improving lately. Definitely my go-to place to watch a game or have a low-key night when I lived around the corner. Food options are so-so. They took the best two items off the menu last year -- the red wine risotto and swiss chard and avocado sandwich. All in all, serves it's purpose.
(3)
Adelino G.
Jamaica Plain needs more restaurants like this. Canary square is great for a casual dinner, drinks, or a sports game. They also have a patio for warm weather. They have an extensive drink selection and plenty of beer on draft. The food is relatively cheap and what you would expect for the price. The service is slow at times, not sure if they are understaffed or the servers are stoned. Overall a nice spot for whatever occasion. Pro's: Olde English 40oz in a brown paper bag, Pork Tacos. Con's: Terribly slow service
(3)
T C.
Went there again last night and while it was better, it could still use a lot of improvement. Our waitress was much better than last time. It wasn't too busy; there were a number of empty tables. The popcorn still tasted fairly flavorless; I won't be ordering it again. It was much less greasy though, which I appreciated. My wife ordered two of the same drink and they were fairly inconsistent, but at least the second one was better than the first. As always, the Sangarita was excellent. My vegetable lasagna was excellent as well. I also got the "on the half shell" plate of clams and oysters which was good. My wife ordered the crepe again and once again was totally underwhelmed. The first time it arrived super salty; like salt-lick salty. So she sent it back and the second one arrived was almost totally unseasoned. I wish I could rate it a 2.5. We'll try back in another month or two.
(2)
Jimmy D.
I finally walked down the block to give a visit to Canary Square and was pleasantly surprised to find my experience was unlike most of the negative comments on here. The one star off was for the wait for the table, however, I should have known to call ahead on a Saturday night. They had a good selection on draft, maybe a few different microbrews would be nice. Food: reasonably priced, nothing above $20! Had a party of four and everyone was completely happy with their food (skirt steak, burger, pork chop, and mac n cheese). Service was great. Pat was our server had a great down to earth, laid back manner. I will definitely be back.
(4)
Joanna M.
Food is just so-so, especially for the price. Great selection of beers on tap and cocktails; cool atmosphere. Recommend for drinks with friends, not so much for meals.
(3)
Maria M.
We returned to Canary Square to meet friends for dinner, and were very pleased to find a better experience. We were greeted by a very pleasant, cheerful host, and our waiter was fast, friendly, and efficient. My friend's hamburger was a quite good, as were his fries. My salad was a bit overdressed for my taste, but satisfactory. The beer list was excellent. So happy to see this place turning around!
(4)
Lee S.
Canary Square, also know as "the bird" (love the nickname) feels like it belongs in the South End. The restaurant is lovely, the new owners did a great job with the renovations. The staff is on-point, friendly, quick, and polite. The popcorn as others mentioned is great, very creative. However, I gave the restaurant three stars cause the manager was awful! I mean really really bad! Screamed at the waitresses infront of patrons, he was rude to customers (actually snatching things, and stamping his feet like a child). I would only go back if that dude called out sick!
(3)
Marie K.
Ate a delicious skirt steak one night and bar snacks another night. When my friend and I asked for something other than ketchup for our fries, they gave us a delicious aioli. The "popcorn of the day" is great. Even better than the food is the atmosphere. It's so friendly and inviting, especially around the bar. Every time I go, it's bustling, but not crowded. I was able to get bar seats every time I tried. It's so much better than the amateurish Alchemist. It's the best thing to happen to JP in awhile.
(4)
Beth G.
I have been here twice so far and have had very good experiences both times. The food has been excellent- I'd definitely recommend the Pork Chop and the Skirt Steak. The waitstaff is very friendly and attentive, as is the management- they were kind enough to switch out an appetizer for my friend and I when we didn't end up liking it that much (just because we're accustomed to PEI mussels, not a food quality issue at all). I think the new atmosphere is great also. I'm definitely going back.
(4)
William W.
I have to say that on this occasion...Yelp you failed. We went on a Saturday night around 7:00pm, got a table after twenty minutes and had an absolutely delicious meal. I had the mussels as a entree, the boyfriend had the pulled chicken, and we split a mac & cheese side portion as an appetizer (which I highly recommend because the mac and cheese is so good, but may be a bit much as a full meal...lots of cheese and cream going on.) Our waitress was a riot, and you can tell that the whole staff is still really excited about the new venture. I can't wait for summer to come, as the waitress said that they're expanding the outside seating compared with what existed at the old restaurant. I would definitely recommend trying this place out.
(5)
Steph B.
Horrible brunch. Sorry Canary Squ, it's so sub-par I had to write this review. Not only is the menu extremely limited (and a bit overpriced), with NO veggie substitutes for the meat you put in every dish, the food just wasn't good. BREAKFAST IS NOT HARD TO MAKE WELL, but somehow, for you guys, it is. I made 2 brunch visits in hopes I simply ordered wrong the 1st time, but alas, today's meal was worse! The Frittata was more like a quiche, and was dry - seemed like it had been sitting around all morning then fried in a pan before serving to me. I ordered TOAST and got 3 small pieces of OILED bread put on the food grill, so it tasted awful. Really? You can't make simple toast? I think they're trying too hard to be original - honestly, it's breakfast! It's a straight-forward meal. No excuses for it to be bad. Also, their bartenders are not friendly - I've been many times and have yet to have one engage in any kind of social exchange with me...booo.
(1)
Shawn F.
First week open I expect that there will be some settling in for the staff and kitchen. Overall a very nice opening week from a customer perspective. Food is excellent, great beer selection but only one complaint at the bar..... 6.42 for a 16 ounce pint of Guinness??? That is more expensive than downtown and not even a proper 20 ounce glass! two of the best pints in the city are $5 and $5.50 and are a proper 20 oz. Looks like I'll keep my beer drinking elsewhere and this will be a food/apps place. Place looks great, very nice staff, and comfortable to boot. Will be back and looking forward to exploring more of the menu.
(4)
James T.
Just had drinks and apps during the football game. Busy and had a fun buzz about the restaurant for opening weekend. Everyone raved about the food they were eating and the burger looked phenominal. They were the best cheese fries I've ever had, yes gourmet cheddar cheese fries. 30 beers on draft all around 5 bucks. Great lighting and interior design. Felt like a nicer mission bar and grill without the college crowd of mission hill. Finally a nice bar to enjoy in jp right on centre street. Welcome to the neighborhood! Ps. The cocktails will knock you on you ass!
(4)
Fiddos J.
Nice beer selection and good atmosphere. Esp. their patio is great in summer. The food though is fairly underwhelming. It's been three times now that I (or friends) have received food that was undercooked. They seem to have particular trouble cooking their roast chicken half all the way through. And there is nothing more unpalatable than raw chicken breast.
(3)
Terrence H.
I had the Centre Street cocktail, which was good. Too bad the bartender ignored my party composed of rich minorities.
(2)
Kate L.
Great place for drinks and apps, but not great for dinner or an entree. I've consistently had great cocktails here. The jerk wings and the sauce they come with are delicious. I love the outside area they have, but I've consistently had bad entrees. I get the overwhelming feeling that they are trying too hard to be something they are not. Don't serve a bad steak when you can serve a great burger. Additionally, I've had bad service, which I think is due to lack of experience. If a costumer doesn't like the beer you recommended, you should get him a new one. Good atmosphere to meet friends for drinks, but head somewhere else for a meal.
(3)
Christina R.
how disappointing. came here for a nice night out with the roommate. portions left something to be desired - so I would say it was not worth the price. Roommate got some kind of beef skewers, but the sauce for it was overwhelmingly salty and smoky she just didnt feel like powering through it. the ambiance was nice though, its kind of a cool space with wood, metal and glass. very open and airy atmosphere. i would not come back here, it's simply not worth it
(2)
Karl R.
Very good place! About time JP got a fun, chic place (and can hold more than 30 people) to call it's own. I would like a bigger menu with a few more choices, but otherwise this will become a regular place.
(4)
Rona H.
Went with a party of 10 for a friend's birthday. At first, the waitstaff was very attentive with getting drinks and delivering food, but after the food was delivered, we waited an extremely long time for the bill. After a while, someone in the group got up and asked for the bill so that we could leave. I had the $14 macaroni. I've had better $1 boxes from Kraft cooked in a microwave. A few people in my group had the burger, and they commented that the texture of the burger seemed a little funny. Overall, the waitstaff was nice, but I just can't recommend the place at all because the food is expensive, and it doesn't even taste good.
(1)
Gail L.
We tried to go here a week after they opened...50 minute wait..so we left. Last night we tried again...and it was worth the wait. We got seated in 1 minute, had our drinks in 3, and our orders taken by a very friendly waitress. Pickles were served as a free app. Mussels arrived with a large plate of steaming hot fries on the side. I'd read a lot of negative reviews of the mussels, well, they were wrong! They were great! The fries were a little over salted, but we couldn't stop eating them anyway. Food arrived shortly thereafter, Pulled chicken sandwich and fries for him, (he liked it) vegetable lasagna for me (no noodles, just stacked vegetables...I was warned) in a homemade marinara sauce. It had a smoky flavor. Seemed to include eggplant, onion, zucchini, sweet potato and mushrooms. We had bread pudding with red velvet ice cream (from JP Licks)...easily enough for us to share, and coffee. Also, 3 drinks...check, $77.00, not bad at all. Brunch starts in 3 weeks...yeah! We'll be back.
(4)
Charmie S.
My first impression was great. It just happened to come from the bathroom. Awkward, yes. But the exceptionally clean facilities set the tone I guess. I ordered the wings and pulled pork tacos. I was in a large party and the waitress was very attentive although I was the last to arrive. The food was well done. I probably could've had the wings and be done. It's a big portion for an app. I felt I pushed it by ordering the tacos. It was tasty, too! Both were under $12 I recall. The only hangup was that the space was a bit tight for a large group. Not enough room to put plates. Other than that, a winner for JP!
(4)
F C.
I've patronized Canary Square approximately four times over the past two months and have had, on the whole, positive experiences. Pros: I found the service to be decent, if not better than some other American casual restaurants. Given that the ownership also owns Common Ground in Allston, one would think that the experience would be underwhelming - not so. I would describe the atmosphere as upscale but more for dates/people flirting/socializing with a group. My favorite has been the SLT (Salmon, Lettuce, Tomato) with greens as it is reliably quick. I've also had the burger, bbq chicken sandwich (or some variation), and steak. The prices for the sandwiches are about market rate; the entrees are smallish for the price but it's the new "JP" so what do you expect... The kitchen is also open late enough for the neighborhood. The tables are large and there doesn't seem to be excessive wait times unless you go when everyone in the non-profit world spends their paychecks on wine and some apps and lines up for this place. Cons: I would say it can be loud sometimes. If you order take out, you must go to the bar for payment and takeout, and a few times, also to order. This seems counterintuitive with what looks like a POS unit at the host's station. There was a local area resident that provides free entertainment (read: a drunk that people know/see often) that I've seen before, and I was amazed that he wasn't spotted earlier in the evening. I ended up sitting next to him at the bar unknowingly. I think the waitstaff/barstaff will figure this stuff out, but they've only been open a while, so this isn't as much of a big deal if Canary Sq was open for a year at this point.
(3)
Cee E.
So, I really wanted to love this place. i really did! But, alas, after a few more visits to sample some entrees - I haven't been impressed with the food any time. I still enjoy the drinks, so maybe just grab a drink in there if anything.
(2)
Emily K.
I have been here three times, and each time I leave feeling satisfied and full. To begin, the atmosphere of the restaurant and bar is a delight for the senses. There is dim lighting, the TV's aren't blaring, the clear glass lights give a modern yet classic vibe, and the tables are far enough apart you feel like you're in your own little world. Simply stated, the drinks are fantastic! Their take on an Arnold Palmer was boozy yet true to form, their wine and beer selection will not leave you disappointed, and sangria is super yummy. Now, for the food. YUM! The pork tacos are heaven, the mac n'cheese with bacon was cheesy heaven for my tastebuds, and the black bean burger was the best bean burger I have ever had. The only thing that was disappointing was the dessert. I ordered the blueberry tart thinking it would be warm and blueberry heaven, but instead it came cold in what appeared to look like and taste like an old cracker. Anyway, Canary Square is a great place to bring friends, family, or just your sweetheart. If you're driving plan on parking on the street since there is no parking lot. But don't let that discourage you since there is ample street parking!
(4)
Corey L.
Went with a group of friends on a Friday night. Good beer selection, good food (though a bit pricier than it should be), including the salads with chicken, pork tacos (very tasty), and chocolate bread pudding. Music is fun (maybe a bit loud) and the place is pretty cool. Also, Emmie the bartender is cool. Tip her a lot if you meet her.
(3)
Anne M.
So excited to have Canary Square in the neighborhood. It's been sad to have a restaurant space within walking distance closed for so long. I wasn't sure what to expect, given the huge range in reviews that are posted, but all in all it was great. Rather than relive the whole experience, I'm just going to do a good and bad list. Things that were not so great: -Women's bathroom stalls are TINY and the one I happened to go in had no toilet paper. -We sat at the table closest to the door, next to the garage door. The garage door was definitely letting cold air in and it was chil-lay when someone opened the front door. And that's only going to get worse...Maybe some sort of curtain or something, please? -Popcorn of the day was okay, but basically was just popcorn with a drizzle of honey mustard. -A friend got the mac 'n cheese, and while it was good, it was unimpressive both in size and taste, especially for $15. -Cheesy fries. Fries covered in cheese are never "bad" but I wished there had been some chives or bacon or something. -Deviled eggs. Would have loved a warning that they are sitting in olive tapenade. -Someone took away my water glass before the end of the evening, which was disappointing after my cocktail was gone and I still wanted something to drink. Things that were awesome: -They took my cell phone number instead of giving me a buzzer while waiting for food. That meant we could head to the Behan for a couple beers instead of having to force our way into the crowded bar. -Our server. She was the right balance of friendly and professional, and was speedy and efficient in all ways. -Speed. Ordinarily I wouldn't comment on this but so many reviews talked about the long wait for food but we had absolutely no problems. -The drinks. A very impressive draft beer list, and wonderful cocktails. Highly recommend the Centre Street. -The pulled chicken sandwich. I almost asked if they could give me a side of the BBQ sauce to dip my fries in. (the burger was really good too) -Butterscotch bread pudding was delicious. -They give you the bill in an adorable little journal that you can write in. The only thing that sucked about it was that people wrote about things that weren't on the menu any more that we wanted to try! The not-so-great list might be longer but the good definitely outweighed the bad, and we will definitely be back soon.
(4)
Emily P.
I live close by, and want to love this place, but it's tough. The rotating menu is in MHO, it's major downfall. I've been here probably 10 times, and about 5 of those I left disappointed. On our most recent visit, we split a pasta dish, that was inedibly spicy. I was waiting for the server to come back, but she was relatively MIA, and once she did, my boyfriend (never one to turn down food), had soldiered on and eaten most of his. So, we couldn't really make them take my portion back, but we still told her and showed her the pepperflakes swimming on my plate. To her credit, she went and told the manager, and by his body language, it was clear that he didn't care. We also got the mussels, which perviously had been delicious, but they changed the recipe, and were just not nearly as good. I have had good meals here before, but it's not worth the gamble. They have an extensive beer menu, so if you want that to be the focus of your evening, I'm sure this is the place for you. However, if you want reliably delicious food, look elsewhere.
(2)
Valerie D.
there is a lot to be said for a good bathroom in my book. new, clean, modern. thank you canary square for paying as much attention to detail in remodeling the ladies (and assuming mens) room as you did to the rest of the establishment! this was my second visit, sat at the bar. just ordered drinks and an app with the hubby' and everything was lovely! our bartender was very friendly and informative about the beer and wine selection. we will definately be back for dinner!
(4)
John D.
Once again this place disappoints. I live nearby and I want so bad to like it but the food and service make it impossible. I wanted to order a beer on tap, but I couldn't decide due to the huge selection of a lot of beers that I did not know. The waitress was absolutely no help. She gave me attitude because I wasn't ordering quick enough for her. She just stood over me waiting for my order. The beer was not a good choice ( my bad?) give me the Galway House or the Haven any day!
(1)
Eva K.
Beautiful renovations!! Just went here last night and it was packed. Waited for a table at the bar and had great service on all levels. Great hostess, great bartender, great waitress, excellent cooks. The meal was fantastic and fresh.
(5)
D P.
I had an amazing burger here the other night. The desert menu still lacks the amazing Butterscotch Bread Pudding.
(4)
John P.
I just went to this place for the second time last night, the first time being their Opening night, and I was overall very impressed. There are a few things that I am sad about having lost the Alchemist, ie- blues brunch, the Croche Madame ( an awesome breakfast sandwich with ham and eggs over easy, in between 2 slices of french toast topped with hollandaise sauce and a side of awesome home fries, mmmMMMmmm) , and the "slightly more hip" crowd, but as a neighbor of this establishment, I also welcome the new. As for the food, I have been very impressed with the flavor of everything I have had, like the burger with great fries (best fries I have had in all of Boston), the pulled chicken sanwich, and they have an AWESOME caramel bread pudding, however, I thought the macaroni and cheese entree was a little expensive for what you get ($15 for a fairly small single-sized cast iron casserole dish of mac and cheese and ham, with a small portion of mixed greens on the plate). The service, however is IMPECABLE! Even when mistakes are made, which are to be expected for a brand new establishment, they are addressed promptly, and always appropriately compensated for. At dinner last night, our second drinks took slightly longer than they should have, but we hadn't even mentioned anything to anyone about it because we were not annoyed to that point yet, and first the Manager came over and appologized about the delay, and assured us that the drinks that were taking a little time were on the house, and then the waitress came over and told us the same thing. I would again like to stress that we DID NOT say anything to anyone about that before they notified us that the drinks would be free. To top it all off, when we were done with dinner, and had walked out the door, I had forgotten my cell phone on the table, and the same manger that gave us the drinks on the house, came running out the door, and down the street calling out to me to give me my phone back. SUPER nice! So overall, even though I think they still have a little work to do with the menu and portion sizes for entrees and such, I think this new establishment is shaping up to be a great addition to the neighborhood. I look forward to returning here time and time again in the future. I hope to see you there!
(4)
Mark M.
Ate there recently, food is completely mediocre but the staff was nice and the outdoor seating looked pleasant. Avoid the razor clams!
(3)
Althea D.
I had dinner with a friend at Canary Square about a week after they opened. They were surprisingly busy considering it was a weeknight and they were a brand new restaurant. Diners who arrived after us had to wait for a table. On the plus side, all of the food we ordered was very good, our waiter was fantastic, the place has an incredible atmosphere that sure beats out the Alchemist, and there's a lengthy and diverse beer selection. We ordered the deviled eggs and cheesie fries for our apps and both were terrific. I had the mac & cheesie w/ bacon for dinner which was a little strange - it had an odd spice mixed in. My friend had the pork choppy which he really liked. I also ordered the deep fried twinkies for dessert - if you haven't had those before, they taste a bit like fried dough and the filling inside melts into the cake. My one gripe with the restaurant is that the menu overall seems uninspired. Although I'd go back, I'm not in any rush as there weren't any items on the menu that I'm dying to try. Hopefully they'll continuously change the menu in the future.
(4)
Philip M.
You never know what to expect at Canary Square. Some dishes/days it's 4-5 stars, others are 1-2 stars. So it averages out to a solid 3 star experience. It's very hit or miss. Having been here a few times, I really want to love this place. It's extremely versatile with outdoor seating, a cool looking bar, dinner, brunch, and a good location. Prices are decent too. Came here recently for a Sunday brunch around 1pm. The waitress was attentive and nice, as usual. I was annoyed that the brunch menu online isn't the same one that's at the restaurant. We ordered the breakfast fries and they were amazing. When it came to the main dish, the country fried steak...it was a solid 1 star dish. My boyfriend got the same dish and his was just as bad. The steak was way overcooked to the point that even my starving, hungover self could not eat certain portions of it even with ketchup smeared on it. The potato wedge fries that came with the main dish were tragic as it had some terrible aftertaste we couldn't pinpoint. And the eggs were meh at best and lukewarm temperature wise. The other times I've been here, it's been just as hit or miss. Like I said, I really want to love this concept and restaurant but it's nowhere close to 4 or 5 stars. After a few tries here, I've given up and don't want to chance it with a "miss" dish again.
(3)
Carol M.
Beautiful loft-like feel of a converted firehouse. Needs sound proofing...so loud I can't hear others at my table speak. I have a friend that lives nearby & always wants to go here. I've been here 3 times. I hate this place personally. The service is horrible, though seems more a function of management than the servers. They have this weird system of having one or two hostesses, one waitress to take your order, & a kitchen runner to bring you your food & maybe bus tables. My friend is handicapped & has food allergies. Once she went the re alone & they tried to put her @ a high cafe table-not cool for someone with balance problems! Also, I was there when she was inquiring about food ingredients. The server looked at her as if she were crazy...there was lots of awkward silence, & finally w/some urging went to check w/the kitchen. We always wait 45min to an hour to receive our food after ordering. We often saw others that got there after us receiving their food before us---me thinks there's a kitchen issue here. There's usually something wrong or missing in our order & tend to get promises of refills that never arrive. The food...for me, they mess it up by trying to make it fancy. I've had the mac&cheese--super greasy w/weird flavor. I didn't care for the ziti & meatballs--I expected beef not sausage..just wasn't what I wanted. The burgers & fries are good beit expensive (basic burger $10 & add $1-2/add topping (but they do offer good toppings like mushtooms & fried eggs). I had an omellette @ brunch - again, nothing special & certainly not worth waiting or paying their prices for. The menu is limited. The bread pudding is good but so sweet I felt sick. The one shining jem is their creme de luche crepes --they are exceptional (when they're not out of them).
(2)
Orla S.
Food was good, nice atmosphere etc but service was extremely slow. I will try it again though.
(3)
Laura C.
just had brunch at Canary Square...loved it!! everything was perfect. the hostess was very sweet and considerate of our baby when seating us. the service was excellent.. my canary french toast was incredible. we even got to meet the owner Mike Moxley! he came over to our table to check on everything and we had great conversation!! ps the coffee was outstanding.
(5)
Mantis T.
Returned here a day or so after Christmas 2013. Service was better, food was okay. Glad that things were better than they were the last time I came, but still nothing to write home about.
(3)
Cher D.
i have been here for the second time in the past maybe three weeks. both times were off hours: the first, 5:00 on a saturday, tonight, around 7, sunday evening. maybe that's the key: go when it's not a complete freak show and get what you really want. tonight, our server was this incredible: she was prompt, attentive, got everything right. she had a psychic connection with my husband and asked, "deviled eggs" before he even opened his mouth to speak. i. hate. deviled. eggs. or so i thought. not these. no sulfur-y aroma, no gross texture, just yummy. the mushrooms were great, the warm olives as well. bread with the mushrooms would have been nice. onto the meal. husband got the pulled chicken sandwich for the second time. it was really good. tender. infused with mustard seeds and sauce. not overly spicy, which for him, is huge, he doesn't have the cast-iron stomach i do. unlike another reviewer, would not call this bland, rather, more subtle. i like heat, didn't think to ask for hot sauce but, sayin', it wasn't my dinner. i had the burger. medium. lovely pink center. not like the "leather burgers" you can find elsewhere in jp. the fries were super good, too. nice and crisp. here's the kicker, they have home made garlic mayo. if i had less restraint i would have smothered my fries in it. i took half of my food to go (really, three snacks and and two entrees between two is perhaps too much...) and left a very happy kid, as did my husband.
(5)
Kevin R.
First of all, if I was writing based on today's experience it would be 5+ stars..... But I'm not. I have had some of the best meals and the worst meals at canary sq. My boyfriend and I once got the salty pig plate and dreamed about it for weeks, then last time it was literally olive loaf on a cutting board for $14. I was also there once and the fries with my burger were too salty to eat. And I like salt. But tonight. Out waitress was Sarah. She was quick with the drinks (I like to drink) and ensured me that this time the salty pig plate would be up to par, and it was. She made sure my fries were perfectly salted and the burgers were done right. She didn't even write anything down and our order came out just as ordered. If I could ensure that Sarah was there every time I would come here weekly if not daily. The burgers are always phenomenal and the atmosphere (especially the large outdoor patio) is second to none, especially in JP. The one thing that irks me is the inconsistency of the food- I'm no fine diner, but when I fall in love with a dish I don't expect it to be completely different the next time I come. Luckily, sarah saved the day with her amazing personality and knowledge of the menu. We will be sure to come back and ask for her again.
(4)
sara m.
I returned for my fourth visit at Canary square tonight and WOW! Such a big improvement from the first time I dined there. We went for a late dinner on a friday night-waited about 30 but had drinks at the bar in the meantime. Loved the Stony Brook, excellent beer selection as per usual. We were seated and the waitress handed us menus within a few minutes. We ordered and waited about 20 minutes, very reasonable for a packed restaurant/bar. My boyfriend had the burger and fries with added cheese sauce- he said the burger competed with 10 tables and was one of the best he had ever had. I had the swiss chard salad- HOLY COW! This was the most amazing salad I have ever eaten! It had cranberries, pecans, pulled chicken, a poached egg and wait.....bacon vinaigrette!!!! If I had to pick a last meal....this would be it! The waitress was super nice. Special thanks to Heather- the awesome hostess! GO TO THIS PLACE! EAT THEIR FOOD AND ENJOY THEIR AWESOME DRINKS!
(5)
Eve R.
I went to Canary Square for my birthday last week, and it was a great place to celebrate! Extensive beer list, great cocktails, and our waitress was very helpful. We loved the black bean burger, tuna, and burgers, but would not recommend the steamers or mac and cheese. The desserts were great too!
(4)
Chas K.
It's disappointing to see all the knocks on Canary Square's service - both food servers and bartenders. An email I sent to info@canarysquare.com was undeliverable as owner Michael Moxley's account is "overquota." Check your email, dude. Anyway, here's most of what I wrote in the email: "If you're reading this message, I'm guessing that you are a manager or owner. Have you read the Yelp reviews about Canary Square? If not, you ought to take a look. A consistent theme through many, many of the 178 reviews is inattentive service that includes long disappearing acts. I had the same experience, though due to the quality of the food, friendliness of the server and the beautiful afternoon, I had a great time and gave you 4 stars anyway. I wouldn't be as forgiving next time about the server taking off for 20+ minutes and leaving us surrounded by dirty dishes and empty glasses. The bartenders are really getting slammed for bad attitudes by a lot patrons. I didn't have any firsthand experience with mixologists. So why am I bothering to write? For starters, I love Coda and would like to see Canary succeed. I also love the menu and the space. Hopefully, by pointing out the obvious, validated flaws in service you can address them. Canary got the menu, food and ambiance right. Seems time to fix the service. Take my feedback for what it's worth."
(4)
Karen R.
I've gone to Canary Square a few times after work with some co-workers. Each time I go, I become more and more dissatisfied with it. The most recent time I went was a few days ago. We had called in advanced to reserve the back booth, which they had said was no problem. When we got there, the booth was unavailable for us and our party of 15 had to hang out at 4 disconnected tables by the bar. It then took over 30 minutes to get drinks and our waitress was unfriendly at best. This time around, I knew better than to order any food... The previous times I had been there the food was downright gross. The first time I went, I had the hummus & pitas, which I found to be awkward as the pitas slices were warm but the hummus was cold (it really should be the other way around). The second time I went, a co-worker got the giant pretzel, which none of us could eat because it was so hard that we were concerned we were going to crack our tooth on it. In general, I find this place to be way over-rated and there are definitely better hang-out places in JP.
(2)
Alan P.
Terrible dining experience. An inattentive waitress that took forever to do everything, highlighted by the 20 minute wait for our bill with just glasses of water in front of us. As for the food, I don't mind when food is pricier than other places if it's good quality; it's not. $16 for a piece of chicken over potatoes? $14 for a small dish of bland mac & cheese? Just a terrible place. And for those praising a good beer menu; that's just not enough anymore. Most places have good beer menus now.
(1)
Christian K.
I'm just going to be clear here: this is a casual experience. Don't be fooled by the exposed light bulb/industrial chic look that you might find also find somewhere more expensive... this is not a reservations-only kind of a place (except, maybe on a Friday night at 8pm.) But it's absolutely worth standing around near the bar for 20 minutes if it comes to that. It's great to see a decent generational mix of JPers here. Reinforces my like of the 'hood. Yeah, the servers are a little on the young side, and half of them are just masquerading as foodies. And no, not every dish is perfect. But here's the thing: most of the dishes are. Like, perfect. And it's very consistent. AAnnd it won't break the bank. Props for having a real bar in a setting like this one. Sometimes you have to trade ambience for quality. Not so here. There's a $6 Fernet cocktail called "the last call," brilliant. I have yet to actually stick around until closing, but when I do I will order a round of these and enjoy the varied expressions of the faces of my companions. This is a place to bring a bunch of your friends and try as much of the menu as you can. They rotate through little shareable appetizer/side dishes. They had these totally perfect deviled eggs at one point. Truffled fries. Artisinal meatballs. I've had a fantastic burger or two here, but I've also sprung for salmon which was delish. Whoever is running the kitchen is good people... Let's hope the management/ownership doesn't get listless and try and change too many good things, as this place has really hit its stride :)
(4)
Jessica H.
So apparently they took off that amazing vegan meal off their menu and now vegans are left with sub par side dishes. BOOO. Really, you're gonna be located in JP and not offer a vegan meal? Anyways, looks like I won't come back anymore. Total disappointment, I still think about that great tofu dish you had when you first opened and now to come again and see nothing on the menu I can eat except a salad and sides is a total fail. Get a vegan dish back on your menu yo, I trusted you and encouraged everyone to go!
(3)
Melinda N.
I know its really hard to get 5 stars but seriously, this place was impressive. we did have to wait a little bit between drinks and ordering our food but the server said that they were down two servers so i completely understand. me and my two girlfriends were content just chatting anyways. the server was real nice. it was one of my friend's belated bday and so we had a cake brought to the restaurant prior and after the meal, she brought the cake out and it was a nice surprise for the bday girl. the drink i got was sooooo good. the arborway has prosecco, st. germain and lime. i loved it. the food was delicious! i ate mine, and helped my friend eat hers. i ordered the haddock. whatever the sauce was, i wish i could've licked the plate! but we ordered cheese fries so i dipped fries in that instead =P my friend got a salad with bacon dressing. that was delicious too. the greens look very green and crisp. there were sweet walnuts in it. best salad. the bday girl ordered meatless spaghetti. we were expecting red sauce, but the surprise was good, it was tasty. the portions were perfect and the overall atmosphere was one where you could chat but not feel like you had to be quiet. it was a wednesday night. quite busy. people were out in the patio. wish we could've had seats there. i love the high ceilings. i would def come here again to try their other selections. i also liked how they use local products from allandale farm and had vegetarian options.
(5)
Stephanie K.
I visited Canary Square for the first time last Wednesday and needless to say I will not be going back. When we were sat at our table we ordered a bottle of the 2010 Victor Hugo, Cabernet. When the bottle was brought out we saw that it was really 2011 cabernet. After mentioning it to our server that it says 2010 on the menu we asked her to check to see if they had another bottle. She returned and said no they don't, they only have 2011. In my opinion the restaurant should probably update their wine list to be accurate. Our food came out and that was the best part about our experience. When the bill came, we asked to split it between 3 cards, pretty simple math. Our server returned saying my card was declined and that she tried running it multiple times. I then checked my bank account thinking it was strange and she had wound up running my card for an obscure amount of 83 dollars. After leaving the restuarant one of the other guests checked his bank account and saw that the server had charged his card 4 different times for all different amounts. The charge to my account is still pending even after I spoke to the server and the manager about it.
(2)
Cynthia M.
Pretty restaurant in the middle of a very residential area. My husband and I were walking to the Samuel Adams Brewery and decided to stop by here on the way for a bite. The restaurant is very open and airy and we came at around 1145am and it was still pretty empty. There were complimentary pickles to start which were quite tasty. I ordered the deviled eggs and a side of the macaroni and cheese, while my husband had the cheeseburger and fries. Everything was very good and we finished it all. The deviled eggs were perfectly prepared (though they only gave three halves, where did the other half go???) The mac and cheese was just the right amount of creamy without being too rich. It was a good sized portion for a side dish and the panko bread crumbs topping added a good contrast in textures. My husband gobbled up all his burger and the fries were crispy and well seasoned. Overall a nice lunch to get us ready for the brewery! Recommended if you happen to be stuck in this restaurant deficient area of Boston!
(4)
Fab S.
We went back and, what can I say, shame on me! Food was fantastic this time around. I did think service was on the slow side, but we were very pleased with our entrees this time, had an amazing tuna steak!
(4)
Samantha B.
I went here for brunch with my husband today. It was ok - standard bar brunch food, nothing overly impressive. I got the Swiss and avocado omelette with homefries. Considering the price ($40 for the two of us), I can't say I was thrilled. The atmosphere was beautiful and the restaurant space itself is great (huge, open windows; outdoor seating). I'd definitely try it again for dinner!
(3)
Erik G.
As is apparently the case with everyone else who lives in JP, I want very badly to like this place. So very badly. It's in a great location, has patio seating, and is a little anchor of stability after ten years of endless rotation of restaurants through the same location. And on paper, Canary Square is the bee's knees. The owners also run Coda in the South End and Red's in Rozzie, both of which fight way above their weight class. The beer list is solid-to-spectacular depending on the day. The drink list looks amazing. The menu is a little limited, but seems like it would offer the same consistency that makes Coda so good. And yet, as is ever the case, the devil is in the details. I've been there three times now, and have been disappointed on every visit. I've never had a good mixed drink here. That's partly my fault, because when I see wacky drinks on a menu, my inner six-year-old comes out and I order what inevitably turns out to be a saccharine citrus-y mess. But on Friday they made me a terrible muddled-mint-and-whiskey drink, and damnit, no bartender worth his salt should screw up a mint julep. The food is equally vexing. Some of their options are totally respectable (the spiced almond and pickle appetizers are great, if a little pricey, and I really enjoyed my wife's pulled pork tacos), but the inconsistency is maddening. I've had the hangar steak, and found it to be oversalted to the point of inedibility. The burger had some weird texture things going on with it (and again, let me point out that these are the same people who serve Boston's best burger a few miles up in the South End, which somehow makes the insult even graver) and came out medium-well when I asked for mid-rare. The mac and cheese is simply not good. But they are at least very earnest, which is why I still can't write them off completely. The waitstaff is engaging and attentive, the beer list is really impressive (I know, I know--healer, heal thyself: stop ordering weird cocktails and stick with the taps), and if they could sort out the chef situation, I'd be here all the time. So, for now, I guess I'll keep checking back in every six months or so.
(2)
Allison B.
I have been here several times - the food is ok and the service vary. The servers/host are always nice and friendly, but it sometimes can take forever to get help. I would recommend their beer selection - try flight of beer! Also, beware they tend to run out of dishes throughout the night.
(3)
Dana G.
I am shocked at the low ratings for csquare. You can't beat Founders on tap......unless you somehow get some Surly up in here...=) Excellent beer selection which you can check up on via twitter, veggie options (the black bean burger has some kick!), $1 oysters (Mondays, I think?) and half price snacks for certain happy hours (4p-6p), clean bathrooms and lots of space. My only gripes are that the omelettes are small for brunch. We make up for it by having bloodies, I guess.
(4)
Sara M.
Someone must have been listening to the gripes posted on yelp, because the service at brunch on Sunday was impeccable. Our waiter was attentive and entertaining. My man friend and I split the french toast (there is no way one person can finish this, although our waiter claims he saw a ten year-old take this thing to task) and the sausage and potatoes. All were awesome. The french toast is breaded in cornflakes for extra crunch and is topped with bourbon maple syrup which was really good. We walked out fat and happy, and eager to return.
(5)
Allison R.
Since I'm unlikely to venture back to the vortex that is JP anytime soon, I'll throw in my 2 cents on Canary Square. I made a Saturday wedding party reservation for 12 people, and the man taking my call was helpful and professional. I was looking to serve dessert and since they charge a $4 plating fee, I opted for their whole chocolate cheesecake. Backing up for a sec...Canary Square has an awesome website. Really cool. The background shows you what the bar looks like. Anyway, the spot is cool (former location of the Alchemist). Some outdoor seating. Cool natural light. Extensive draft list, and it was cool of our waiter to let us grab a sample paddle of beers, even though they don't do that. Crazy long drink menu, and I wish I'd tried the bacon bloody mary. Mimosas and beer/bloody marys on offer too. I didn't find the staff overly attentive or quick, considering the size of our party. I don't mind when food and drinks take a while with a big group, but I felt like we waited at least 10 minutes to have drink orders taken. They also couldn't (?) issue separate tabs. And, we reminded them a slew of ways about the cake, but they didn't seem to know what was up. It did come out at the end of the meal with some nudging, and they forgot(?) to charge us for it, so that all equals out to okay. Plus, it was really freaking good. So were the eggs, thick-cut bacon, homefries, and fruit. We got fancy schmancy toast too, which isn't my cup of tea but was good. I eyed an avocado and swiss omelet with envy, and drooled over the cheeseburger. I didn't get an adult beverage, but wouldn't hesitate to snag a BM or a mimosa with fresh-squeezed OJ. So, the food rocks, there are a lot of drinks to choose from, prices are reasonable, ambiance is nice. I'm never in JP, so I probably won't come back, but will suggest this spot to others in the area.
(3)
Alana F.
I know, from watching too many cooking shows, that I'm supposed to use descriptive words, that phrases like "so delicious" and "scrum-diddly-umptious" do nothing for you. So here is goes: this place is balmy...and...boozy. Okok. Confession: I usually only come here to drink things of the alcoholic persuasion on their outdoor patio and laugh and exercise all my bourgeoise energies so, when I go to Brendan Behans after, the real JP-ers (read: not my post-grad friends, not the young families with babies and strollers and stories about their babies in their strollers) don't spit on my asymmetrical hair cut or acid wash jeans. Now you're wondering if I have either of those things. I'll keep you in suspense. But not in suspense about everything. Back to Canary: their drinks are good, are cheaper than the other fancy outdoor place (tres gatos--down the street FYI), and they don't hate you when your friends keep showing up and your party of 4 grows like bacteria into a party of 9, loud, twentysomethings all only ordering mojitos (that reminds me, order the mojito) and showing no signs of moving. For that alone they deserve 5 stars. And so it shall be given. Oh, and all the low-star-ers seem to have beef (mehmehmeh) with the burgers and the servers. I've had a burger there and, while it wasn't revelatory, it was juicy, cooked properly, and their house made A-1 sauce is tangy and sweet and the right amount of BBQ/ mesquite marinadey. And the waitress gave me beer samples, never once forgot about me, and was cute to boot...can't remember if she was wearing boots.... Anyway, sounds like some panties where in some bad kinda twists.
(5)
Mike O.
I've been holding out as long as possible on reviewing the newly opened (and much hyped) Canary Square, but I can't any longer!! After coming here for opening night and then several times after, I can't even bring myself to order the food. I suspected early on that the kitchen needed to work out some of the (what's the word?) kinks and that perhaps the waitstaff were slowly acclimating to the constraints of the new establishment and its clientele, but the learning curve should not be set at a distant time yet to be determined. This place is flat out awful! Poor service, poor food, and while its has a wonderfully charming layout and decor, very little can be said for anything else. The beer list contains a wide selection of favorites though and that should be duly noted. A lot of people had positive and negative things to say about the Alchemist, but by in large the food was well, decent, and it was another option in the area that didn't suck. What's odd to me is that Canary Sq is located in Hyde Sq, but seemingly wanting to hold to the letter "C" the owners have seen fit to call this whatever they wanted, in peculiar fashion. Maybe it's owned by the Count from Cesame Ctreet; I call it Crap. For real though, I know it's named posthumously after a U.S. serviceman. I've had a wide variety of menu items and be assured all are bland, unimaginative, boring, and overpriced except for the desserts. The deep fried Twinky is pretty good, but it's not worth eating an entire meal there, unless of course you like your sauce poured directly from the can to the plate, your burgers frozen, and your seafood frozen; then this is a perfectly fine choice. Most of the servers never frequent your table as you would come to expect and make you feel as though you're wasting their time. I'm specifically talking about the tall, bald guy with glasses, Sean? Make this your drink destination if it's a must, but don't even think you'll be able to get a seat on a Friday or Saturday night. They really ought to just cut the dining room in half and extend the bar area or add another in the middle of the room, a really BIG bar! I would conclude things with "get your act together or else..." but judging by the patrons that frequent Canary I know that management is under no pressure to make things better. Oddly enough, this is the wrong Boylston St. for this sort of establishment!
(2)
Diamyr M.
Went tonight to celebrate my bday early with my sister....my sister asked our waitress (very petite, maybe mixed girl with curly hair) if she could explain a few dishes to her... She snapped back at her saying well you can't just point to them I can't see, you have to say them to me . seriously?! Fix your eyes then because its pretty easy to see what someone is pointing at on a menu that doesn't have much.either way, just don't snap at my sister....we had the yucca...burnt, weird sauce. And shared the pork shoulder, which was great.but we decided to just leave to jp licks for dessert since our waitress wasn't very nice.over all...best part of my bday dinner?...jp licks
(2)
chandra d.
Upon arriving, the hostess told us there would only be a 10 minute wait. I had a good feeling about the place as I looked around the non-pretentious room with warm ambiance. Appetizer: We ordered the chicken mole appetizer, which seemed more like a tapa dish then a bigger appetizer, but I was happy with that. It was quite delicious with a tasty mole sauce and tender pork. Food: We ordered the braised short ribs with polenta, in addition to the Frisee salad with chestnuts. My girlfriend and i split the short ribs and were fighting over the last bits of short rib and polenta left on the plate! The salad had a refreshing citrus-inspired dressing along with hazelnuts, potatoes and mushrooms. The light salad was a great pairing with the rich short ribs. The salad was huge, so we were right in splitting it. Drinks: my friend ordered the Pumpkin Southern Tier which is a nutmeg infused delicious beer. I had the Midnight Cellars Syrah and Van Gogh Cab, which were spicy and sweet paired with the short ribs. Dessert: We justified ordering the chocolate bread pudding with salty caramel sauce because we had only split a dinner and salad It was chocolatey and salty caramel goodness rolled into one. Recommendation: If you are the type that needs to shove huge portions of no taste food down your gullet, this place is not for you. Otherwise, please visit Canary Square in Jamaica Plain!
(4)
Angel M.
Currently waitlisted for their grand opening. Looks awesome, brb. Im singing like a canary for the food here. The deviled eggs were served with diced olives. The housemade chili was savory, not sweet. The roasted chicken salad was the best part, it had this awesome bacon vinaigrette on it. The BBQ pulled chicken sandwich lacked something, or it may have been that there was too much sauce and not enough chicken, usually its the other way around. The wood grilled hamburger was served perfectly on its delicious black pepper brioche. The fried twinkies were really awesome, with the powdered sugar we were reminded of a big town fair. The drinks were just drinks, nothing special, the selection of beers was nice. The Centre Street with Jim Bean was a really weak drink, but some people like it like that, the imperfect manhattan was okay too. The dogfish head and the hefeweizen and the porter and the mayflower and the leatherlips were all good. I came back later for the drinks, wasnt really taken with the red wines by the glass...but whatever. I understand its a new restaurant, and it was opening night, so here are things im willing to forgive: awfully slow service our meals came out at different times really wierd smell (new restaurant?) the music was awesome, but loud... was it a sports bar? I think in due time, this place will find its flow and be able to handle a larger crowd of people, until then, AWESOME FOOD!
(4)
Rod S.
Awesome food and atmosphere. Definitly will return next time I am in the area
(4)
Megan N.
My family recently held a private memorial service at Canary Square, and we could not have been better taken care of. Bryce and his staff were thoroughly accommodating, quick to respond to our requests, and basically allowed us to use the space as we saw fit. The servers and bar staff were friendly and quick, while remaining unobtrusive. Although we had gathered for a sad reason, the crew at Canary Square played a large part in making a tough day a bit easier to deal with. Much thanks and appreciation.
(5)
Paula P.
Canary Square is one of the most versatile neighborhood restaurants you could hope for. Want a drink with some friends out on the patio on a warm spring afternoon? done. Want to go out on a "date night" to somewhere that feels nice but isn't actually particularly fancy? done. Want a cider and a burger after watching the Boston marathon? done (somehow this has become a tradition). Anyway, you get the point, it satisfies on many levels ranging from a quick drink to apps to having a nice meal. I think Christian K. had it right - not everything on the menu is perfect, BUT it's pretty darn close. Of the roughly 25 times I've been here, I've only been (mildly) disappointed with the food once and it's that consistently high quality that keeps me and the bf coming back. The menu rotates a fair amount which keeps things interesting and seasonally-appropriate, though it does mean that sometimes my favorite dishes get replaced. They stopped serving a red wine risotto which had become my go-to comfort food this past fall, but it's ok, because now they have chicken mole nachos which are AMAZING (and make a perfect meal when paired with the pulled pork tacos). You can easily make a meal out of apps here or if you're feeling like you need something more, one of their mains will certainly satisfy. As far as drinks go, I'm allergic to beer, so I can't comment on the beer selection, but based on how excited the bf gets about it, I'd say it's pretty solid, and they usually have a cider on tap which I appreciate. The wines by the glass list, though not huge, is really well curated in my opinion, I've gotten into 2 different grapes I wasn't familiar with because of wines I tried here. The cocktails are great too, there's definitely something for everyone on there list. And the last thing, I'm sure that it doesn't hurt that we're regulars, but the staff here is so friendly, and they have been since day one. Service is always good, whether it's packed or totally quiet in there. Over the holidays they gave out little gift bags to some of their regular customers with homemade treats, I thought this was such a nice idea. It's one thing to do something nice for a customer who wasn't satisfied with their experience, but I think it goes above and beyond to do something like this for your regulars who you know are going to come back again regardless.
(5)
Dennis L.
First time I've been to this place. We got the charcuterie "Salty Pig Board" and the cauliflower for appetizers and they were both really good. Got the burger via a recommend from out server and it was friggin delish! Cooked perfectly. There was a good selection of beers and the ambiance was nice. Definitely would recommend you give this place a try.
(4)
Richard A.
Overpriced for the food they serve, tepid waitstaff, and weak drinks. JP is really starved for places so I went back to canary square and my original opinion was confirmed.
(1)
J K.
Good but overpriced. So many people on okcupid dates. The fish tacos are pretty awesome, though. It's worth the giggle of ordering a fish taco. (What? Everyone was thinking it.) Good beers on tap.
(3)
Sebastian Y.
I really want to like Canary Square, with its sleek, modern interior and long wooden bar, the immediate impression of the place is chic but understated, with a good beer selection. The food however is very inconsistent, the first time I got a burger here it was cooked to medium rare perfection on a brioche roll with lettuce, tomato and aioli already on the plate, the second time around a month later I was served a rock hard bullet of meat on a potato roll with no condiments, no lettuce/tomato and what can only be described as a hastily arranged cacophony of french fries thrown on the plate. The oysters too used to be meaty and a great deal for $1 during happy hour every day, now they're only served on Mondays. The oysters i got yesterday were anemic and truly the most pathetic plate of small oysters I've ever had, not even worth $1 a piece. Come here for the beer and nothing else, the bartenders are really nice and seem to know what they're doing, and the waitstaff in general is really wonderful, only wish the kitchen kept up with them.
(2)
Marina R.
Enjoyed a delicious Sunday brunch, experienced great service and loved the cute location in Jamaica Plain. The inside reminded me of something I'd find in NYC or Brooklyn; it has a very open layout with exposed brick. My friend and I ordered the french toast (to die for) and the JP breakfast platter. Coffee was decent but not out of this world. I will absolutely return for brunch on a future trip to Boston and also hoping they add some new dishes to the menu as well. I feel what they offer now is a bit limited. Choices are a good thing my friends...
(4)
Matt F.
I'm surprised at the negative reviews, honestly. I went to CS last night for the first time and I liked it. For appetizers we got the cheese fries, mac & cheese, and the popcorn of the day. 3 people I was with got burgers (which came with fries) and I got the serrano ham and cheese that came with a salad. The cheese for the fries was a liquid cheese, so pretty tasteless. The fries on their own were really good, though. The popcorn was OK, but I make popcorn at home all the time, so I didn't find it exciting. The popcorn "flavor of the day" was orange and sugar, but the flavor was very mild. It was like a slightly orange tasting kettle corn. The mac and cheese was OK, but I thought it was a little dry. I prefer mac and cheese to be a bit creamer. The taste was good and it had a unique flavor that I couldn't pinpoint. Everyone liked their burgers. I tried a bite and it was really good. I think the Haven has better burgers in JP, but this is a good close second. My ham and cheese was OK. Serrano ham is great, but the baguette was really tough and it was a small sandwich. The salad dressing was nice, though. The service was OK. We had quite a few people come ask us how we were doing throughout the night. Our water was always filled, but drinks and food had a little wait. Not too bad considering they just opened. Overall I enjoyed it and we all said we'd go again. I didn't think the Alchemist was the best restaurant in the world, but I don't think this place is any worse. If anything it's pretty similar.
(4)
Jen D.
I booked Canary Square for a private event. From the first conversation to the very end, the people I worked with were extremely accommodating, professional, and friendly. The service was excellent. The food was great. I just can't say enough about it.
(5)
Kate S.
I like this place. I will definitely be back and it's just a few blocks from my place, so that's nice. 20 minute wait on a Friday night, tasty and strong drinks at the bar, cheese fries were great, sweet pickles (which my date really enjoyed), nice beer list. I thoroughly enjoyed my mac'n'cheese. It was creamy but not too heavy with nice breadcrumbs on top and big chunks of ham all through it which gave it a smoky flavor. My date's burger was pretty good, not the best in Boston probably, but good. Service was good. I rate 4 stars instead of 5 because it's a bit pricey, the caeser salad was fine but not very flavorful, we had to ask for our pickles, and though we both wanted our leftovers boxed up, only mine made it back to the table. None of these things were enough to really tick us off cause everything else was very good. Just try it out. It's not a fancy-pants 5-star restaurant, but it's a great little place right down the street where I can eat good food and drink good beer. I'm happy.
(4)
Elizabeth M.
A solid 3.5, really. New restaurants should be given a 3 month grace period to work out all the kinks, in my opinion. Food has been consistently pleasing and service keeps getting better. My swiss chard salad was pretty good (bacon dressing is amazing!) and my husband liked his cheeseburger a lot. Taleggio isn't my first choice for a mac & cheese (I'll take creaminess over nuttiness any day), but it did it's job and I really enjoyed my leftovers at 1 o'clock that morning. It did seem like it took awhile to get things like drinks from the bar and water refills, but it was also pretty slammed in there, so I won't hold it against them. One of our favorite servers from the Alchemist is still there, which I'm happy about - she's great! I am very impressed with the way they've transformed the space, it feels much more open and upscale than the Alchemist ever did... but the stalls in the women's room are incredibly small. I'm 5'10" and my knees were right up against the door the entire time I was on the can. (TMI? TS.) All in all, I'm glad that there's a new restaurant right up the street. One more reason to go out instead of making myself dinner...
(4)
Erin P.
Being new to JP, Canary Square seems like my kind of spot. I really really want to love this place but service is AWFUL!!! I have gone here twice and the server completely forgets about you as soon as they get you 1 drink. I have had to ask other servers passing by for another drink because on both occasions my server was MIA. I have had the steak and scallops....both EH. Steak was overcooked, asked for medium and got well done. Scallops were undercooked....I mean cold in the middle. It took almost 10 minutes to find my server to explain to her and another 10-15 mins for the kitchen cook the scallops. I love the ambience and I think that is the only thing that keeps me going back. I really wish this restaurant would get their act together and improve their service.
(2)
Ana B.
The only reason Canary Square gets 2 stars is because of the great beer selection, awesome drinks and beautiful airy space. The food could use a lot of work. I've given this place many chances. It seems that the chef has good intentions - they do change the menu and some items, like the yucca fries, have gone from huge disappointment to yummy. However, most items on the menu disappoint. The french fries should be a slam dunk, but they are never cooked through all the way and could benefit from being either thinner (shoestring) or thicker (steak fries). Instead they are this weird in between that just don't work. The burger is always overcooked. Everything is undersalted. The salad is barely dressed. On the other hand, I do recommend the French Toast, the donuts, the SLT, and the meatless carbonara.
(2)
K A.
Sunday brunch: Liked: - Large, cheap pile of seasoned breakfast fries covered in a poached egg and hollandaise sauce. - Two *huge* slices of corn flake crusted french toast w/ bourbon maple syrup. Didn't like: - The gf's toast tasted like a hamburger. - No brunch specials. Thought it was just ok: - Bacon bloody mary. Decent bloody mary selection, though. Would like to try the "Bubbly Mary" (Prosecco and house bloody mary mix) or the "Beer Bloody Mary" (Allagash White and house bloody mary mix). Overall: - For a place that isn't even a year old, they're doing ok. I could eat the french toast and breakfast fries for brunch on multiple occasions and be bloated and happy. Also, they had Old Fezziwig Ale on tap during the holiday season. Mmmm, ale.
(3)
Paul G.
This place is great, I think worth 4 stars. Service can be pretty slow at hectic times, but that's the food service industry. They have a great drinks list and their mixed drinks are pretty good. I've been here for brunch and now, dinner. Dishes are hit or miss but seem to be cooked with care - you may not like your dish simply because it's not your taste. Portion sizes are a little smaller than I hoped for, but that's not a tragedy in obese America. Staff is real nice and they give you a little book with your check to write/draw comments. Overall, I suggest you go here for food, drinks, snacks, at any time of day. 4 stars only because I'm not WOWed, but I'm definitely satisfied.
(4)
Margaret W.
I went to Canary Square for brunch on a Sunday, and it confirmed what I'd heard: airy, pretty atmosphere, but with a focus on the drinks, not the food. Even at brunch, three-quarters of the menu we received was drinks -- not counting the separate wine/beer menu. That said, we ordered a Mimosa and it was excellent. The food was fine, but nothing to write home about: the homefries were a bit dry, but the avocado-swiss omelet was good, as the was the whole-grain toast. Another in our party ordered the grass-fed beef and liked it. Overall -- I think this would be a great place for a drink, better than for a meal. The biggest pro of brunch here is that there is no wait.
(3)
Brendan B.
If this place is so eco concious, how come most of the beers are truckded in from CA and CO as opposed to getting some local stuff. I'm just saying. Not to mention, like most places appealing to arrogant hipsters, it seems that 50% of the beers are IPA's. Place is ok but none too original. Thanks hipsters. You've fuc*ed up another place with potential.
(2)
Julie M.
My husband and I visited Canary Square for the second time last night. I was hesitant to go again because all the Yelp reviews are terrible. But our first visit was good, so we went again. Canary Square has a great vibe to it. The beer selection is great too. My husband had the half chicken again and was not disappointed. It's pretty delish. I tried the scallops and while the presentation is great, this tasted like I was eating a salt lick! Seriously, my lips were shriveled by the end of the meal. We finished with the banana and nutella crepe which was good. The service was pleasant enough but a smile can go a long way. Bottom line, we'll go back but I'll probably stick with the chicken.
(3)
Meena M.
I am so surprised by all the negative reviews here on yelp! I have visited Canary Square twice now. First for drinks and appetizers and second for dinner with my friends from New York. When I went for drinks and appetizers, I tried their mac and cheese and the brussels sprouts dish, which were both delicious. When I went for dinner, the two New York friends who came with me both work in the restaurant industry in Manhattan and work for one of the most high-end restaurants, and they loved the food! We had the skirt steak, which was amazing. The fries with cheese on it were dangerously yummy too. My husband had the burger and loved it. The only thing we thought was mediocre was the vegetable lasagna. It wasn't bad, just ok. The atmosphere in the restaurant is very nice and the servers we had were pleasant and quick. I actually liked the food and beer collection at the Alchemist too, but didn't like the atmosphere. The music was usually too loud, and it was so dark inside. This place is a big contrast, they did a really good job with the decor. This place looks much bigger! Maybe you have to choose the right dishes for this restaurant. But so far I was happy with everything I had.
(4)
rik r.
Very good! much better than the alchemist * great food YUM! Just had the salmon with mussels and sausage .. well although the cheese fries were way too heavy for an app - I was was too full to really enjoy the salmon. amazing great service- A+ in fact for service! I am thrilled that it is here - really raises the charisma of this part of JP. and with whole foods coming , really catapults this part of JP from the sketchy edge to a destination location. a little bit of room for improvement - better selection of draft brews - it seems like that huge bar is going to have more drafts, but dissappoints. More interesting lager and pilsners - not the heavy ales! a bit loud, they need some acoustic materials to soften the elevated din of other conversations and music. Would be fantastic to feature the work of local artists THAT would make it a real JP signature spot and soften the "corporate" feel ! Comfier seating would be an improvement- the Alchemist did have more comfortable booths, maybe a wall of banquette rather than the hard metal chairs They could use some more visual interest to break up the cavernous large room, the high top tables on the bar side do that somewhat, but they need more high sculptural elements to fill the emptiness of the room's middle - maybe some cool stuff hanging down from the rafters - or eccentric sculptural ornament that connects the place to JP's unique arts culture - and doesn't seem quite so "back bay" and commercial * ( The alchemist was good, but disjointed and didnt seem to know what it wanted to be - too much a music venue and the dining room seemed like an after thought )
(4)
Matthew F.
OK I am going to make this short and sweet. Food: Good for comfort food / Atmosphere: Nice cool, open space / Service: Less than stellar. We had to wait 25 minutes for someone to get us a drink, and a long time to get the bill - just annoying. Also, it was not in the least crowded and there were around 7 servers on - not really sure how we couldn't get service. I am glad JP has a new place to have a few drinks that is big and modern but, they really need to work out some kinks. T
(2)
Amy L.
I've been here a few times late night with a group of people after a nearby pottery class. The first time we went it was just what we were looking for. Good cocktails, friendly service and a late night menu for snacks. Going back a couple weeks later was a completely different experience. Our server was in no mood for our table although the restaurant was nearly empty on a Wednesday night at 11PM. She was openly rude and borderline hostile. When we asked for glasses of water along with our cocktails she elbowed my friend to move him out of the way so she could refill his glass. When someone else at the table asked for what types of vodka they had she couldn't be bothered to list them and snapped at us to look at the wall. Several other occurrences that just made us feel unwelcome. While I never like to dock money from a tip we didn't feel like we needed to leave 20%. When she saw we left a 12% tip she actually came to our table to express her displeasure. When my friend asked her if she wanted to discuss the reasons why we didn't leave a higher tip she snapped at us again. So we now go to Sanctuary across the street after pottery class.
(2)
Brian S.
I'm surprised by all the negative reviews on here that end up with you getting comped a drink or dessert, or even getting pickles to start out your meal...my horrible experience has none of these 'perks'. I'll make it quick. We had a reservation for 8 at 8:45. We were seated at 9:15, without so much as an apology for the delay. The server, who was clearly new and inexperienced, so much of the gripes have little to do with her, took our drink orders quickly, but none of them arrived until 9:45. So we're an hour into our reservation and we've just been given drinks -- no pickles to munch on or even a complimentary $3 app to thank us for waiting half an hour for a table we reserved. Ok. They're new, it's a busy friday night. Alright. One of our drinks was still missing -- apparently if you order a cocktail that's not on the menu, even an old standard like an 'Old Fashioned' you'll confuse the 12 year old bartender and he'll have to actually go take a class on how to make your drink before you get it. By 10:00 we all had our drinks, and some of us were ready for our second. We ordered a slew of apps -- hey, we were planning to eat around 8:45 and now it was after 10 -- we were hungry. We waited awhile for our apps to come out -- but luckily our server brought out 3 dirty app plates for us to discuss while waiting. Yep, three dirty plates brought to our table -- greasy, covered in bread crumbs, dirty. Plus, three of them, for 8 people. We were perplexed. I called the "man of the house" over to inquire about the plates and see if he could take them away from the table. He did, without so much as an apology, and brought us back three clean plates. Put them down in a stack at the edge of our table. We told him we didn't know what the plates were for as there were only three of them, eight of us, and no sign of food. He told us (looking rather annoyed) he didn't know what they were for either, and then walked away. Finally, more plates came out along with our appetizers -- well, most of them. The plates were stacked at the end of the table leaving it up to us to pass the plates around. When we assessed our apps, we noted a few were missing...and when we inquired about them, our server, instead of apologizing and finding out what happened to them told us that sometimes the kitchen loses orders. She also asked us if we wanted her to go check on them. Ummmm, we ordered them. We're asking about them. YES. Go check on them. Turns out the deviled eggs were found, all alone in the kitchen, just sitting there waiting for us to eat them. That was comforting to know that food is just sitting around in the kitchen waiting to be claimed. The warmed olives we ordered also finally arrived after we had to basically argue to get them to come to the table with the other apps. It's a bowl of warmed olives, mind you. Can't be that complicated to get to a table. Our food arrived sporadically after that -- but the remaining apps stayed on the table, despite us being finished with them. The food was unremarkable over all. The fish puffs were the only thing anyone even commented on during the entire 3+ hour experience. And yeah, they were just fried battered fish sitting on top of cocktail sauce. Despite having one of the worst dining experience of our collective lives, we stayed for dessert...hell, we'd already put in 3 hours and we most likely won't be going back...so we figured we'd make a night of it. With the table covered in old apps (including head cheese and pate, mind you) and tons of empty glasses, we ordered a couple of desserts to share. After we passed around the dessert menus ourselves, the server slapped a pile of spoons down for us to pass around. The apps stayed on the table while we passed around a bowl of ice cream and a plate of bread pudding. The smell of headcheese and pate filling our noses as we tried to enjoy what was probably a pretty good dessert. The server did apologize about not clearing the apps in a timely manner (as we were figuring out the final bill). Apparently she just didn't have time -- I looked around, and for the last 30 minutes, we were probably one of 5 tables still sitting. There were more waitstaff in the dining room than there were diners, but whatever. She, and the rest of the staff, seemed to have plenty of excuses but no apologies. After all of this, we didn't get comped one thing. Not one round of drinks, not one appetizer, not one dessert. We spent nearly $500 on one of the worst dining experiences of our lives, and didn't get ONE apology for any of the experiences listed above. I hope they really stretch that $500, cause I know I won't be going back there, and will be discouraging my friends from going. I understand the place is new...but it's owned by people who have at least two other successful places in Boston. Besides, everyone can have a bad night...but to not apologize or even try to make it right when there were clearly multiple problems? Poor form.
(1)
Richard R.
The food was !!AWESOME!! and I'm both a chef and a foodie. The creme brulee was ok but everything else we had was delicious. the service was top notch. I'm planning to visit again soon.
(4)
Doctor W.
Before launching into what might be perceived as a biased diatribe that can be written off as based on a bad experience at a place that's just getting off the ground, let me offer some context: 1. My wife and I really wanted to like this place. 2. We had read the yelp reviews to date and were ready to give the benefit of the doubt (see #1) since we live really close 3. We're recent transplants to JP, so I'm not really nostalgic for anything, so the negative review isn't some sort of knee-jerk reaction to change (alchemist was perfectly fine IMO, mind you) 4. This is my inaugural yelp review - was waiting for the right moment. So here goes: My wife and I had been thinking about trying Canary Square for a while, but figured it would be best to wait a little while while they worked out the kinks. A couple of weeks post-opening, we decided to give it a go. Act I - The Plot Builds We arrived around 6 on a Saturday night. (I had called ahead and was told that they don't take reservations for parties less than 6) given that we are = 2, we were advised to get in before 6:30 PM as it would be very crowded after that. Anyway, we were seated promptly, although instead of being seated at any one of the numerous empty regular tables in the dining room, we were encouraged to take one of the high tops at the bar. Fine, whatevs. Menus arrive. Beer list is ok, not as good as Alchemist's was or The Haven's is. Cocktails are on the back of the menu. Pretty much the usual gamut of "reimagined classics" and something or other with St. Germain in it. By the way, who orders these? But I digress. Cocktails were perfectly serviceable, but kind of weird to have with pickles. Mrs. ordered the crepe (mushroom and spinach w/ onion jam) app and roasted chicken entree (comes w/ brussels sprouts + bacon, but Mrs. asks for no bacon). I went with the chili and pulled chicken sandwich, with a side of "fresh greens". Our orders go in and we wait, a bit on the longish side, but nothing like the other horrorshow reviews here. Group next to us seems generally pleased, so I'm hoping for the best. Apps arrive - crepes unmemorable, and filling very oily (didn't know canola oil is a condiment). Chili is a hot mess. Spicy, which is good, but not a good kind of spicy. Aggressive up front heat with no real flavor. Tasted like I opened a can of five different things that are in chili, heated them up separately, and then threw them in a bowl with some undercooked beans. Dizz Ass Ter. Act II. Whodunnit? After that stellar opening act, the entrees arrive. My sandwich looks completely innocuous. Wife's chicken looks good, except for a piece of meat in the bowl that looks suspiciously like bacon. One of the benefits to being married to a non-pork eater is that I get to confirm/deny the presence of pork. As a pork lover, I am up to the challenge. So there is definitely a piece of bacon in those brussels sprouts, in fact quite a delicious piece. And the sprouts are bathed in a nice-looking sheen of sauce that can be generated only from the magical healing powers of meat of porcine origin. Definitely bacon up in there. Anyway, we send it back, along with the "fresh greens" side, which I mistakenly assumed were, well, cooked greens, but were actually a side salad (yes, I'm the ignorant Texan who sees chili, pulled meat sanwich and cole slaw on a menu and assumes that there's cooked greens available) 30 seconds later, the same 2 plates we sent back are on their way back to our table. The entree because the chef claims that there was definitely no bacon on the plate (maybe because I ate it?) and the greens, well, I still don't know why those came back. Manager basically confronts us and maintains that there is no bacon in there, and that it tastes bacon-y because the chicken is cooked on a wood burning grill. So wife orders the vegetable lasagna. Act III. Sad denouement. I muddle my way through the sandwich, which was totally average. Lasagna rolls out about 10 minutes later. Points for them having expedited that, but the interior of the lasagna is cold. Also, this dish is terrible. Given that the story is getting long, here's the high (low) points of that dish: 1. It's a stack of sliced, grilled vegetables. Super super smoky grilled vegetables. Not much cheese in sight. I assume these vegetables were cooked on the same magical baconizing grill, but the result basically tastes like smoking 3 marlboro reds while drinking a V-8. 2. Lots and lots of vegetable skins. Eggplant skins are foregiveable, but winter squash skins? Seriously? Apparently that new mandolin does a bang up job. We made a nice pile of all that rind-y goodness on my plate, which I pretended was a diorama of a fur trapper's camp in the old west, only instead of muskrat, he was trapping butternut squash If you made it this far, thanks, and apologies. I think you could say we won't be back.
(1)
chris b.
I haven't dined here on weekdays, so I can't speak to how the place behaves other than weekend.... but their weekend staff is extraordinary. I usually have breakfast/brunch at the bar. They have a bartender there who actually shook my hand firmly as soon as I sat down and when I left. I've never had any Boston bartender welcome me that warmly to a restaurant. The food is excellent ... I usually order some variation of eggs ... (not salty at all)... portions are great value for price, and they refilled my coffee after only 3 sips. I really hope Canary stays around for many years to come... Live Long and Prosper as Leonard Nimoy would say.
(5)
Emily S.
It's a really good start- right now, the neighborhood's enthusiasm for such a place is almost choking it before it can get itself figured out. They can't seem to handle the volume of people yet. I wouldn't recommend going on a Friday night if you're actually hungry. We waited 45 minutes for a 2-seater- they were conspicuously taking much larger groups first- then another hour and 15 minutes for food. The service was great, however- the waitress was fast with drinks and manager responded to our clear looks of distressed hunger by comping a round of drinks (the expensive round) and an appetizer. This place has all the clear makings of a great restaurant but needs some time still. Also, while I see where they're going with the food (kind of like CBC in Cambridge), my mac and cheese was bland and my boy friend's burger was claw-shaped. Kind of weird.
(3)
Ariana G.
Let me start by saying the drinks here are great and they have a fantastic beer selection. If I were rating it on a place to drink, they would get four stars for sure. The food is a whole other story. Wow, was it ever really, really bad. $11 for shrimp app... two shrimpy shrimps... Had a shrimp app at Morton's the following night for $19 and got four... So per shrimp cost is higher at Canary Square??? Cost aside, they sucked. They were so burnt from the grill and swimming in some nasty hot pepper oil. Had we not eaten the dish on the first bite, I would have sent it back. Next, dinner and man oh man, it went from bad to worse. Grilled asparagus, try blackened. Pork tacos, try steel wool. Ate at the bar, told the bartender about the quality of the food, he comped some stuff and took some things off. That was super cool of him and I was not going to write a review because I appreciated that.. But after not sleeping all night with heartburn, I thought the public should be warned. DO NOT EAT HERE!
(1)
Kate L.
I've gone here a few times. I've always received good service and excellent food. The swiss chard salad changed my life. Now it's the only thing I get when I go there (although the other night I shared that and the grilled cheese with avocado with someone). Bacon vinaigrette, candied pecans, pulled chicken and swiss chard. Holy S. It's awesome. I've had the yucca fries a few times, too. Each time the sauce that it came with was different (once the butter was melted, once it was solid and once it looked like mayo) but each time is was yummy. Solid restaurant with solid food. If only that salad weren't so damn good, I'd branch out and try other foods...but the thought of going there and not getting that salad is sad.
(4)
Anne C.
Maybe I'm easy to please, but I had a good time at Canary Square. Our waitress was super-friendly, the place looks really good, and they have an excellently huge beer list. We showed up at 4:30 on a Saturday, so I can't speak to their dinner rush, late night, or brunch scene. The reason we went to so early, in addition to generally being starving, is that we have a one-year-old and are smart enough not to try and take him out with us at a regular dinner hour. For what it's worth, everyone from the host to the busboy was friendly to us and our son, so I'd say this place *is* kid-friendly, at least during their slow hours. The food was tasty, although it turns out they offer a limited menu before 5pm, so my husband and I both ordered the cheeseburger and fries, and we split a mixed green salad (which was delicious and gigantic). Most of the limited menu is appetizers Anyway, good food, nice atmosphere. I'd go back.
(4)
Tom M.
My girlfriend and I went here mid-January 2011 before reading any reviews on yelp. I'm glad we did because there seems to be a disproportionate number of negative reviews that are not representative of our experience. I understand some folks are more critical than others when it comes to service, food, atmosphere, etc., but this place was very good in all aspects AND it was packed with people. There was a nice mix of folks too. I hate walking into a place and seeing one type of customer: old people, or college kids, or just families. This place attracted all types of folks. The place has an impressive number of tables and large bar. It can accommodate far more people inside than you'd expect given the appearance from outside. There is a nice area in the back with couch (built-ins) seating for a place to sit and relax and enjoy some drinks with friends. We liked the options on the menu (my girlfriend is vegetarian, I am a meatatarian) and had no problem finding a good drink at the bar. The service was excellent. I had the mac and cheese with ham and a side of mashed potatoes, while my girlfriend had the mushroom and spinach crepes. We tried their "Popcorn of the day" which was rosemary and sea salt popcorn and it was very good. I see some people have criticized charging $3 for this item, but it was worth it. It came out hot and was very tasty. I'd never think to add rosemary to popcorn but it worked well. I didn't care for the type of cheese they used in the mac and cheese but I'm not going to deduct a star for how a certain type of cheese tastes. My girlfriend tried it and LOVED the flavor. This sort of thing is subjective. The mashed potatoes were excellent. I think mashed potatoes can be ruined with too little or too much milk, but their texture and moisture were just right. My girlfriend loved her meal. The food, service, and tax portion of the bill came to $15 per person. Tough to beat that in the Boston area given the atmosphere and food quality. If you expect every meal on the menu to be perfect or the temperature of your seating area be 'just right', then you probably won't get a meal for $15. $3 for popcorn probably gives them a $2.75 profit margin, which I imagine is helpful to cover some of their initial startup costs. Even if they continue to charge for the popcorn, it's worth the anticipation and the enjoyment of that first bite. Many reviews cited issues that people thought may be attributed to the restaurant having opened recently. Maybe there are some kinks to work out that are associated with the opening a new restaurant, though we didn't notice anything. I do remember The Haven restaurant a block away wasn't accepting credit cards this summer, but within a month or two from opening, began taking credit cards. I expect these sort of minor issues to come up when a restaurant is new but they don't ruin my night. I think Canary Square will be around for awhile and will provide thousands of enjoyable meals for the people to swing by We will be back soon because the whole experience was very enjoyable and I'm excited to return, hence 5 stars.
(5)
Liz T.
Great place. The french toast was amazing. Staff was great. When they bring you the bill, they bring you cute notebooks to doodle in and you can flip thru and see other people's doodles. A very cute touch.
(4)
Rosa S.
I want to like Canary Sq but I just am not there yet. I went for dinner when they first opened and had the mussels and wings, which were good just not good enough to return. Then tried brunch and it was wackalicious. I know I should be happy that Triple Ds is gone but I sorta miss the Alchemist. I dont drink beer so I dont care for your beer selections. The JP themed cocktails were cute. I may stop in for a drink but for food I will head on down the road to Galway.
(3)
tricia k.
i still can't decide what to think about canary square. three stars for my ambivalence. i think i miss the alchemist more than i like canary square, but i guess that is somewhat irrelevant. the place has probably the best beer list in JP - maybe second best to the behan but canary square changes their list more frequently - and has decent, if a bit pricey, food, though there are literally only two vegetarian entree options. every time i go to canary square, i want to grab the manager by the shoulders and shake him/her and yell "don't you know where you are? put some more freaking vegetables on the menu!" contrary to another recent reviewer, i've noticed that they do change their menu seasonally. maybe not every week or every month, but if you wait a bit to go back, you'll see new offerings. consider coming here if you like yuppies, waitresses who obviously spend the majority of their time partying, beer, and meat.
(3)
Adam W.
This place is garbage from top to bottom. Very rude owners/managers, bumbling service and greasy, overpriced food all over the menu.
(1)
Colleen B.
I've been here four times now and have loved it every time! Each time I've been on a weekday night for drinks and dinner. First of all, this place has a great craft beer selection, which is always important to me. I much prefer the layout, decor, and overall atmosphere of Canary Square over that of the Alchemist, which was the previous restaurant in this space. With regard to the service, I've been happy close to 100% of the time... The first time I was there was the busiest, and at times, the service was a bit slow. However, the other times have been great. The servers and bartenders are friendly, and my food orders have been ready in a timely manner. A few times I've been curious about some beers I haven't tried before, and the bartender has always given a sample to taste. Love that! The quality of the food has been above average. One of the best things on the menu by far is the warm swiss chard salad. When you read it on the menu, at first glance it sounds like an odd combination, but trust me; it's deeeelicious!! Most recently, my boyfriend and I started with the wood grilled garlic bread, which was quite good. I've also tried their burger (really enjoyed it), the ham and cheese sandwich (had tasty, thinly sliced ham on it), and the pulled chicken sandwich (overall I liked it but it was just slightly on the dry side). The hand cut fries are awesome! All in all, this is an excellent addition to the neighborhood. I'll most certainly be back many more times! Cheers!
(5)
Kristina F.
I know Canary Square is new. So let me preface this by saying I think it has promise, but has a long way to go, in my opinion. I think it can make it. It's already better thank Triple D's (haha) and Alchemist. I am willing to give these folks a second chance. I can say I'm impressed with their transformation of the place. Friendly and open. But the garage door tables were certainly chilly. And real candles would be cooler instead of the fake ones. Bar set up was pretty nice as well. I will also say our waiter and barstaff was nice too. Ok, but I know what ya'll really want to hear about: the food. For apps and snacks we ordered the popcorn. Ok, listen up. Do not pay for the popcorn. First off, it really should be free - like bread. Plus, it's cold. Boo! Who wants cold popcorn? Wings were the major highlight. Deviled Eggs were also good (only three!) and the salt cod fritters were appealing with a spicy cocktail sauce. But it went all downhill from there, unfortunately. I ordered the roasted chicken. Can't go wrong with chicken and I love chicken. And I've never met a chicken I didn't like and thought, this is a lay up. No one messes up chicken. My waiter said it was one of their best dishes. But alas. It was not good. It was so salty. Really salty. Moist, yes, but it was like cooked in saltwater or something. I ate it, because I was hungry. I didn't eat all of it (portion way too big) and shared with my friend who sent her Mac and cheese back because it tasted sour. I tried it and I had to agree that it was kinda gross. My mashed potatoes were really bland. Ironically they needed salt or something! Brussels sprouts could have been roasted longer and I didn't get the radishes with them? The were cooked with these huge chunks of bacon, and you know I love bacon but not sure if it added to the dish since they were sitting in the au jus of the chicken and not roasted enough. I think the bacon added to the saltiness of the dish (minus the potatoes). I was really disappointed in the dish. The other members of my party had mixed reviews. (See Jason F review.) Our waiter was cool and took the Mac and cheese back with no attitude. He was super nice about it and took it off the bill. Oh, drinks! I had the basil grape mojito. To sweet for a mojito- needed more punch! Wait time was not bad. We walked in at 9pm on a Friday and got seated by 930. Also everything I wrote we also wrote in their guest book. Honesty is the best policy. We'll see if they take any of our comments to heart, or if they brush them off and do their own thing. I'm hoping there's a change...
(2)
Stefanie O.
This place looks a whole lot different than it did as the Alchemist (a place that I was a big fan of) but the open layout actually looks good and creates a good brunching environment. We came here on Mother's Day with a group of 5 (none of us there to celebrate our own mother's) but managed to get a seat, even quicker than the 45 minutes they predicted it would take. The brunch menu is big and filled with all the staples, and they have some pretty creative bloody marys (including one with bacon vodka); the traditional one was great, so I am sure the others are too since they probably use the same base mix. Our waitress was super nice despite the bust environment and made sure we always had drinks and full plates. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their food and we even took a peek at the lunch/dinner menu, which looks great; we plan on finding out soon!
(4)
Claire N.
Great atmosphere, nice people, great beer selection, good creative food.
(5)
Steven T.
OK: I've changed my original review. I'm still not a fan of their cocktail specials, and the deep-fried Twinkie is atrocious, but.... My meals haven't beel all that bad. Not great, but not awful. Their mac n' cheese will never compare to the late-lamented "Zons" in Hyde Square, but they -do- serve it with a nicely-sized salad, so you can at least pretend you're eating healthy. I've also had a very lovely asparagus salad which could almost be considered 'dinner-sized' I'm also a big fan of their butterscotch bread pudding. (it's orgasmic. really!) Service has always been ok. Not great, but none of the wait-staff seems to suffer from ADD, which makes for a pleasant experience. The outdoor seating area is the best. The actual dining room is waaaaay too noisy (remember how your high-school cafeteria sounded?) and I really feel they could/should muffle the noise with a ciuple of area rugs. I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here - but if you're in the 'hood, its a decent place to grab a bite to eat.
(3)
missy J.
I just went there tonight for drinks and apps. The customer service was excellent!!!! We initially were going to sit at the bar but decided to sit at the high tops instead. Worried that a waiter wasn't going to come so we stopped a random waiter walking by. With in one minute our waiter came to the table to greet us and the next moment the random waiter came back with waters for us. ( Great example of excellent team work amongst the staff!) I had the sangria which was a bit bitter for my liking. The waiter offered to make me another drink to my liking but i declined. However, I appreciated the offer very much! We had the swedish meatballs as an app. It was a bit salty for my liking. So I don't think I would order that again but other than that it was very nice place to hangout our for us grown and sexy people! :)
(4)
Heather K.
Second visit to Canary Square and we experienced a 100% improvement. Service was quick and friendly. The drink that was not so great last time is now off of the menu. We tried the Stonybrook this time and it was excellent. Wings were seriously AMAZING...perfectly seasoned with a refreshingly light sauce. salmon and guiness stew were delicious! I take back all of the negative things that I wrote after my previous visit. Looks like this place is maturing into the kind of place I'm happy to live around the corner from!
(5)
Kestrel D.
Great thing: they update their menu so frequently. Everything remains unique and yummy. They seem to go based on seasonality and patron feedback. Good job, CS.
(4)
Sarah Q.
I have to say, I really liked the Alchemist. I was so bummed when they closed and converted into Canary Square. I loved their staff, the ambiance, the drinks, the food...sigh. Canary Square is okay - I do like the new layout - but will never live up the Alchemist.
(3)
Carolynn G.
I just finished telling 5 different co-workers about my dinner here last night. I insisted they must go! I was shocked to log in and see a variety of ratings, but perhaps since they are new they are still ironing out details?... I dined last night with a friend, around 6:45 on a Thursday. Seemed somewhat busy, but we were able to snag the last table outside (lots of outdoor seating! +) I love the atmosphere of their outdoor seating area. Its big and has pretty grasses growing with small white lights and is very summery. Our waitress was spunky, cute and friendly and gave us good recommendations. I had a strawberry gin drink which should be the alcoholic theme of a warm summer night, it was perfect (+). After some talking and questions, I ordered the half chicken with creamed corn and odd (in a good way) potato string things ($17). My friend ordered the pork shoulder with risotto ($15). When our plates arrived they were nicely arranged, but more importantly - the food was DIVINE. This is why I don't understand the poor reviews. The combo of dishes on my plate paired well together. The chicken was insane, I have never had chicken so flavorful and cooked to perfection (+). Good sized portion too, I loved every bite. My friend loved her dish as well (+) and sent her plate back clean...no really, like white..as if no food had ever been on it. We both took a bit of the other's dinner and commented we could switch and be just as pleased. Overall, this was the best dinning experience I've had in...1 or 2 years maybe? I'm sorry for those that didn't love it, but it was a home run for us. Great atmosphere, perfect service, tasty drinks and a dinner I would have paid $25+ for. 5 stars, I'll be back!
(5)
Jay B.
Great decor- nice upscale pub menu. Wait was a little long but it was their opening day, and the excellent food was well worth the wait. Had the BBQ pulled chicken sandwich- awesome. Will definitely be back.
(4)
Karen J.
Wow, I never checked yelp before going to the much anticipated new place in JP and after reading some of the reviews, I may have hesitated and what a mistake that would have been. We walked in at 8:15 and were seated immediately. The food was great. Others have mentioned the chicken sandwich which was really good but the slaw with it deserves accolades as well. The atmosphere is cool. It's a tad loud but that's the kind of place it is. We were also smack in the middle of the place and it may have been quieter on the perimeter. Our server was very attentive. I ordered my salad and appetizer together with my husbands meal and when the salad arrived 45 seconds before the rest of the food, she was immediately on it and came over to apologize. Having worked in restaurants I would never even attempt a new place in the first weeks...of course it's crazy...they are trying to figure things out (I once worked in a VERY high end place in this city and the owners didn't order enough silverware resulting in us servers, hoarding and hiding spoons and forks and thus causing others to search in vain while not serving guests - sorry, it happens!). It takes weeks to iron out kinks so give them a break. I only gave 4 stars because we haven't tried all the menu items but if last night was any indication, I will come back and change it to 5. Thanks for opening Canary Square. We love the new addition in JP!!
(4)
Erica L.
I was excited to to go to Canary Square and even though I'm giving it 3 stars now we're definitely going to go again - they're in their infancy. I like the atmosphere though the tables and chairs could use a little more privacy and warmth. Two thumbs up for child friendliness - crayons, coloring placemat, cup with lid, highchairs, booster seats and hallelujah a changing table in the bathroom! My martini and my husband's mixed drink (I can't remember what it was) were great - a big step up from The Alchemist. The pickles were good too. My 2 1/2 year old ate them all (after proclaiming she only eats sweet ones) a little carb like a bread, breadstick or cracker would be great addition - they could take a note from The Haven on this one. We ordered the Local Apple And Arugula, Aged Cheddar, Curried Walnuts as an app. It was good but there was a little bit of apple core in the salad which I was surprised at. My husband had Fire Grilled Pork Chop, Mashed Potato, Homemade Apple Sauce which he liked. The pork chop was massive - he took a lot home. My daughter got the chicken fingers off the kids menu, she ate one - but she's little so it doesn't mean anything. I tried them. They were good. I had the Curried Mussels, Coconut, Scallions & Ginger app as an entree. I actually ended up sending them back b/c they tasted fishy. Someone came out of the kitchen to tell me I could order something else and that they would take them off the check. They also told me that they chef thought they were fine. That made me feel bad and I kind of felt it was unnecessary to say but whatever...I'm sure he thought they were fine, otherwise he wouldn't have sent them out. Duh! We had to try the deep fried twinkies for dessert b/c well, we had to. I wasn't impressed but that didn't stop me from finishing everything on the plate. The place is right near our house so we'll definitely be going back. If they can stay consistent - something The Alchemist had trouble with - they'll do fine. I think they're a good replacement for Zon's (which is missed). I do dislike the TV but I guess, since there's only 1, it's ok. :(
(3)
Luke A.
Give this place a try. It's new-ish. There is a fun feel here. Maybe it's just the ghost of doble D's or tripple D's or whatever it was but it 's a cool spot for a drink and a burger. You can tell the ownership was trying to take bar food/decor a little further without alienating the reg bar crowd. It wasn't pricey and the staff was great.
(4)
Nancy T.
Good variety of food and drinks for brunch. Came here at noon on a Sunday with a party of 9. Everyone found something on the menu to eat and no one ordered the same thing! They have the traditional classic brunch items as well as some dishes with their own twist. Definitely a place to try!
(4)
Clare D.
Fun place, great vibe. Had amazing mac and cheese with ham and a good sized side of greens. The appetizer of pork shoulder sausage, bread, spicy mustard and pickled onions was delicious. Great beer selection and they make a great Manhattan. The server was super busy but very attentive and funny. Great support staff too, lots of bussers who were on top of their work. I'd recommend a table outside if possible but since the giant windows are open in the summer sitting inside is very nice too.
(3)
Molly W.
No one is happier than me that Canary Square worked out their new-restaurant kinks and is now a well-oiled machine. YES! This bar is close to perfect. The space is impressive (love the raw materials), the drinks are top-notch and the music could keep me there all night long. Add in some gastro-pub-style food, and you've got yourself a night out! I love bringing friends here, because (in my mind) it epitomizes J.P. It's what I want people to think J.P. is like. Urban, hip, upscale but not pretentious... when's the last time you went to a bar like that in Boston? I usually come here for drinks and maybe a snack, but today I tried brunch. It was good! They have unusual options like Breakfast Fries (fries, hollandaise and a poached egg), a fritatta, huevos rancheros, and even a cheeseburger for those who just need something more. As far as dinner goes, this is what I have concluded: Canary Square is like a drunk friend who comes home and pulls a bunch of crazy shit out of the pantry and makes a sick feast with bizarre food items. Deviled Eggs, Pulled Pork Sammy, Mac n Cheese, Mushroom-gravy french toast....what!? It's like, so gross but so good. I do wish they had some lighter options, and I REALLY wish they would make their charcuterie more accessible... Please add cheese and accoutrements! And no more head-cheese.... I like Salami and Coppa, thanks. I mean, I am the Dutchess of Canary Square after all.... don't I get a say in these things? Hehe... (heart you!)
(4)
Alice O.
The food is good and the drinks are awesome. I just wish the place had a little more (a lot more) soul. It so bland in both atmosphere and people. It is so vanilla. Blech!
(3)
Joey C.
Checked out the newest bathroom in the hood. There was some buzz and long anticipation as to when this place was opening up. I guess we waited for the dust to settle and hopefully time for them to work out the little kinks based on other yelpers. Overall, I think I was expecting too much. A fancy chef from downtown, in a newly renovated location, I was expecting the menu to wow me. Instead the items were just a tiny bit ordinary. The items were more like comfort food and geared towards a more bar/casual setting i.e. roasted chicken, skirt steak, burgers, sandwiches, salads, salmon steak, etc. We ordered the crepe with mushrooms & spinach (reminded me of eating an omelette except it was sprinkled with herby stuff that gave off a bitter taste), burger (tasty) with some good fries and the skirt steak(just ok but more bitter green toppings) and we finished the night with the bread pudding (it was tasty but took a long while to get it). Our server started out really slow but then I think he kicked into gear and finished off above average. The draft beer selection was quite impressive and there are 3 big flat screens at the bar. If our expectations were more of a bar atmosphere, it would gain another star bc it seems like a nice hangout place to cozy up and watch a game. But if you're thinking it's a fancy bistro with a fancy chef that has moved into the hood hopefully bringing in some tres chic, try again. I will probably visit again when the temps warm up and they open up the patio and windows.
(3)
Jennifer J.
Very surprised by all the negative reviews. Jeez, they've been open for a millisecond, give them a chance! In truth, It's probably more of a 4 star experience but I'm bumping it up to 5 to counteract the rest of you curmudgeons. I went with a friend for dinner last week and we had a very nice meal. We started with the popcorn as an appetizer, it was decent, didn't knock my socks off but I thought it was unique and it did it's job of tiding me over until the entrees came. The pickles were okay, feels like a gimmick to me though, I'd rather have a piece of bread. I liked the cocktail list, looking forward to trying them all. Can't remember what I ended up ordering but I liked it, and it was decently strong. I had two and ended up being a little buzzed. My friend and I shared the mac and cheese and the burger and we liked both. Burger was done exactly as requested, and the all important french fries got a thumbs up. Mac and cheese was good, not the best I've ever had but it hit the spot well enough. Prices might be a teensy bit steep for the quality of the food, but I'd probably say that about many restaurants in this city. Sometimes you end up paying more for the 'atmosphere' and general dining experience, and less for the quality of the cooking. And I definitely liked the atmostphere at CS, I think they did an amazing job renovating the space. Loved the Alchemist but I think this setup is so much better and has a much nicer flow to it. The Alchemist was too 'chopped up' and I found the layout to be somewhat awkward, a lot of dead space. I can be sort of sensitive and cranky about things like lighting levels and music levels and how closely you get shoved up against the next table. CS gets this stuff right in my book. Service was excellent, and the manager checked in with us once or twice in addition to our waitress. Never once felt ignored. Our food came out in a very reasonable amount of time. I think their menu choices will get refined as they go along, I bet that in six months time they will have sorted out what is too gimmicky and what is actually hitting people's taste buds the right way. Every restaurant needs that time to really hit their stride. So I'm welcoming Canary Square to JP, and looking forward to more meals in the future.
(5)
Ricky R.
Sunday night kinda late it was a bit slow. Service was great, Kate was our server and she could not have been sweeter. Greeted at the door, sat, talked w Kate. Had salt cod fritters, jerk chicken wings, charcuterie board, and bacony Brussels sprouts. Everything was great, can't wait to go back and try more food and beer.
(5)
Howe L.
This is a unique place in JP that balances a classy, yet young vibe. I didn't order any cocktails (which i hear is their claim to fame), but there is an interesting and wide selecting of draft beers. Service was average, but i was let down by the food. For brunch, the fritatta was overly dry and the sausage tasted like a fried ball of bland dough..eh
(3)
Sara G.
I had the most delicious eggs Benedict of my life here on a recent Sunday afternoon. However, the rest of my party wasn't as lucky--none of them enjoyed their food, and another order of eggs Benedict came with one of the poached eggs being cooked all the way through. Service was also a bit slow. But I loved my food!
(4)
Arafat K.
In John Keats's sonnet, "On First Looking into Chapman's Homer," Keats talks about how he's traveled much through realms of gold and similar goodly states and kingdoms, but he'd never truly experienced Homer until he read George Chapman's translation, written not in the more traditional iambic pentameter but in fourteen syllable lines he called "fourteeners." Keats felt that this served the dactylic hexameter of the original Greek much better than Pope's heroic couplets did. Even though Chapman was dead at the time, Keats still felt they were kindred spirits, or biffles. I love that poem, but I've never really understood how he felt--to discover a subtle variation on a universal theme that touches the soul and warms the heart and feels like a truly joyful discovery. Today, when I had the Canary Square burger, I finally got it. It was 4 PM on a Sunday. I hadn't had breakfast. Neither had my pal Declan VW. We had never heard of Canary Square. We went into The Haven for haggis, but they'd stopped serving food. One of the mournful drunks at the bar suggested Canary Square. The menu there was limited. A charcuterie plate, a burger, something else, something else. The burger came with fries and, for a dollar extra, you could smother the fries in Grafton Village cheddar sauce. (Cheddar lovers know what I'm talkin' about!!!!) We both chose the burger, because it was eleven dollars, and the great beer selection, high ceiling, exposed beams, general feeling of Good Design and upper middle class taste made us feel like this wouldn't be a bad burger. Plus, it was 4 in the afternoon, we were hungry, we had no gangland killings scheduled. We were serious men in search of serious food. The burger came and we gasped like a Victorian-era prostitute encountering John Holmes. The buns were perfect and brown (I don't trust buns that are too light), which meant a thick egg wash. I don't know if it was a brioche proper but it was reminiscent of one. The burger was properly modest: no bawdy top halves off here. The patties (props on their asking us about doneness) looked unremarkable, and there was some melted white cheddar on the top bun too. Lettuce (a single perfect leaf), slices of pickes, and a single slice of tomato was on the side. I picked up the greenly accoutrements (I'm trying to be poetic here, like how you can call fish "the scaly breed") and put them in the burger. Now I looked at the fries, and I felt like a man who was wrongly jailed for murder and is released after five years in prison. He looks from his wife (still hot) to his child, now significantly older. He doesn't know whom to embrace first. On the one hand, he's been alone for five years. On the other, fruit of his loins. Finally, I decided to taste a fry first. It wasn't perfect, but it was close to perfect. Why wasn't it perfect? Because I like the French style with narrower cuts, like La Voile or Petit Robert or Marliave etc. And these were thick-cut fries. Fries for a righteous man. And I realize that after talking up the masculinity of the burger, it's hypocritical to complain about the fries being too thick. But a) I'm not complaining, I'm just sayin' is all, and b) I'm a bacon-eatin', five-times-a-day prayin' Muslim. What's your point? The burger was the most perfect burger I've ever had in my life. And I've had _many_ burgers. (Seriously: I'm trying to schedule a gastric bypass operation.) I had a good burger a few weeks ago at Tasty Burger in Fenway, which I thought was a good example of burgercraft. But comparing that burger to the Canary Square burger is like comparing the Zodiac killer to Hitler. The Canary Square burger was exponentially, unimaginably, better. I've been thinking, and I believe the secret lies in how they spice their patty. I don't know what they do to it, but it's amazing. I'm going to come back soon and get a meatloaf if they have one on their menu and see if the magic translates into other ground beef dishes. Or maybe I'll get something else. I'm sure that nothing will live up to the magnificence of the burger because this was a once-in-a-lifetime concatenation of food circumstances. But I'm also sure that any restaurant that makes such a good burger must make good other things as well. Oh, and I also had a Dogfish Head 90 on tap, and it was nice to see something by Dogfish on tap that's not their 60 or brown ale.
(5)
Wes V.
Two stars for an awesome beer selection. I would like to add another start because the food is actually pretty good, but the prices and service ruin it. I can not recommend this place at all because of the service. I've been in now about 10 times, and I think I've received "normal" service once out of the 10. Service at the bar is fine, and I would only head back to Canary Square for drinks at the bar only. The food, while tasty and freshly made, is definitely overpriced for the portions. They put it on a big plate, and usually have it presented nice, but it's smaller and more expensive than other places in the area. I have had brunch as well here, and have no complaints with the actual quality of the food, only that it's pricey for what you get. The shenanigans begin and end with the service here. The only people that seem to have any vested interest in doing their jobs in a timely manner are the bussers that fill your water glass. You WILL wait for noticeable, frustrating, and at times rude amounts of time to interact with your server. You WILL see them standing around and talking while your drinks are empty, or your plates are clear, or even if there is nothing on your table. It's mind-boggling to me how long it takes to pay your bill at this place. Each and every time I have gone here and sat at a table, the time in between asking for the bill and checking out has been comparable to the amount of time it took to get the food, which was not fast either. I'm not sure if the staff is just so "chill" that they think people like sitting at a table with no drinks, food, or waiting to leave, but it sucks from a customer's point of view. Do not expect to get in and out of this place, and in my experience, you can expect to leave here saying "jeez that was bad" and go somewhere else to get the bad vibes out.
(2)
Dani K.
Drinks were good, but the prices here are not worth the portions. Also it took them wayyy too long to bring us the check at the end! we ended up waiting around 25 minutes at the with just water at our table. The vibe was not as I expected from the outside, (I know this might not be their fault but) a lot of people brought their young kids who were obviously bored and fussy, not the cool hangout bar I imagined it would be. anyway drinks = decent, prices = too high, service = way too slow
(2)
Jennifer D.
Good food & drinks, a lot of unique & delicious beers. The service is very attentive one minute, and then gone for 30 minutes. But overall worth going!
(4)
Michelle D.
So much thanks for hosting Love Night's Reunion this past weekend! This place is beautiful, clean, and fun. I wish I had gotten dinner here, but I didn't.. that's okay, I believe it's similar to how it was when this same business owned Common Ground, which I used to enjoy. The drink/beer selection was amazing, which always helps too. It is far away from where I live as I don't have a car and I live in Davis Square, but I admit it actually didn't feel like such a trek. The walk from Stoney Brook T was very easy. I hope that Love Night can make a comeback here, and I look forward to enjoying more great times here.
(5)
chelsea h.
Update: came here again tonight. Server was actually nice this time but horribly slow. He took forever to get us beers. And after the food was dropped at the table (by another waiter) he never came over to check on us and see how we were doing. On top of that, my boyfriends beer was empty and he wanted another, at the beginning of the meal... he never asked him if he wanted another. We asked for the check and it took at least 25 minutes, if not longer for him to come back with the check. And- the couple beside us was in the same boat because we overheard them talking about it since they seat you basically on top of other patrons here. To make things worse, the lasagna... While delicious was TINY... and cost $14. Not worth it. I left this restaurant still hungry... which has literally never happened to me before in my life.
(1)
Jennifer G.
Came here on a Monday evening after work with my coworkers. There's indoor and outdoor seating, so we opted for outdoor seating since it was such a nice day out. They were able to seat our party of ten right away. Our waitress was attentive and friendly for the most part. She took our drink orders right away and was pretty good about filling our waters, which is a plus. She was a little annoyed when we would switch seats sometimes though when more people came, but oh well. If you're getting a cocktail, you MUST try the basil grape mojito. It was delicious! My coworkers were looking forward to coming here just for this mojito. It definitely exceeded my expectations - I know I sound like I'm exaggerating a lot just for a drink, but it was that good. Very fresh and perfect blend of flavors. Even comes with two grapes in the drink as a nice treat. Wish I got another, but decided not to on a Monday night. Monday nights from 4p-6p are dollar oyster nights! Ordered two dozen to share, and they were very good. Not too salty like some oysters can be. Ask for a side of their hot sauce. It's some kind of habanero spice, but it adds the perfect amount of kick without being too spicy. I wasn't too hungry since I ate a late lunch, but wanted to try their mac and cheese. You can get a side of it for only $5. I also got the smoked pork taco. Mac and cheese was pretty good, but nothing special. It hit the spot. The taco was alright. It comes with pickled onion, cotija cheese, scallion aioli, and pumpkin seed salsa. It was tasty, but there were so many flavors going on that I couldn't quite make out the individual ingredients. It's also very messy. I folded my taco to eat it and the taco started breaking and the sauces were dripping everywhere. Probably wouldn't get it again. Most of our party ordered burgers and they were pretty satisfied. You can add a fried egg! I would've definitely gotten this if I was hungrier. Fried egg on a burger is the best thing ever. On to the dessert...we decided to order three slices of chocolate menu for the table to share. Don't get it. Seriously. Unless you want to pay $8 for the tiniest rectangular slice of cake ever. It was also really hard to eat. I had to dig my spoon in pretty hard just to get the tiniest piece. The cake itself was already tiny. Needless to say, we all felt pretty ripped off about the cake at that point. Will definitely be back for burgers and mojitos next time!
(3)
Lindsay M.
I'm going to be honest, I hesitate to give these guys a 5 star rating, because I don't want the secret to get out and everyone flood this place. BUT they really deserve it. We went for a graduation dinner and had such an amazing experience. The atmosphere is wonderful, it is very open concept but I didn't find myself having to yell at the person beside me just so they could hear me. Their service is absolutely outstanding, their food is OMGee kind of amazing, not one of our party of seven had any complaints. In fact I don't believe I have ever been out to dinner with that many people and seen everyone literally finish everything on their plates (one person even licked the plate clean...lol as a joke) The deserts even better! So rich and delicious! I would even go back just for desert sometime! You really can not get much better than this place. My only regret is not trying it sooner! I will definitely be returning as often as possible! I can definitely say it is by far the most outstanding restaurant in the Boston area I have been to! ALSO for us vegetarians they do have a LOT more choices than other places.
(5)
Pattie R.
We've eaten here many times since we moved to JP in January. We are vegetarians and they always have several veggie options. They change their menu seasonally and all of the food is fresh and prepared to order. The staff are always really friendly and great at making suggestions. They have a great beer menu and always have a drink special and beer flights. The black bean burger is always good. If they have either the Brussels sprouts or the cauliflower appetizer order it. And try the deserts, especially the sticky toffee pudding. They also do brunch on the weekends. Try the French toast. It's amazing.
(5)
Vanessa J.
Had a great experience at dinner. We were celebrating so we did it up big: lots of apps, salads, dinner entrees, cocktails. All was delicious. Loved the atmosphere!
(4)
Adria R.
Pros: We (3 of us) went on a Sunday for brunch and didn't have to wait. The atmosphere is warm and bright, trendy but casual. Excellent Bloody Mary. Good food. Cons: The (brunch/lunch) portion sizes were a bit small, which is almost never a complaint I/we have. The chairs are very uncomfortable. I'd love to go back for dinner and try a beer flight.
(4)
Vanessa M.
Nice ambiance, but that was the absolute wimpiest pour on a $12 glass of wine ever. Like ridiculous. And it was a NBA championship finals game, everyone was watching and they wouldn't put on the sound. Won't be going back.
(3)
Sen M.
Oh Canary Square... Your braised pork is too good, it's never enough. Though that saves me from clogging my arteries with pork fat. But alas, I go to a restaurant for the performance. And though I loved the show, the performers left when we shouted for an encore. And I was left wanting more and wondering what the hell happened. For that, 3 stars.
(3)
Jacob M.
Excellent food. Great drinks. And superb service. Our server Luke was beyond amazing tonight. Attentive, helpful, and super friendly. I'd definitely go back, not only for the great food but for their incredible service.
(5)
William W.
I made a Yelp account specifically to write this review. My significant other and I have eaten at Canary Square twice--once for dinner and once for brunch, both terrible experiences. Don't be fooled by the restaurant's promising ambiance or stylish light fixtures, both the food and service here are borderline atrocious and should be avoided at all costs. Our first trip (late 2014) was a late dinner plagued by an arrogantly theatrical bow-tied waiter that made the entire experience insufferable. This did nothing to improve Canary Square's expensive, often underwhelming menu selection, and we left grated and dissatisfied. Blaming the waiter for the first trip's unescapable unpleasantness, we tried again for a late, desperate brunch. While we were lucky enough to avoid the bow-tied cretin we had the first time (he was still working), our new server was equally incompetent, forgetting orders and even going so far as to bring us a doughnut rather than a dessert menu. Appetizers were brought out in strange, almost fifteen minute intervals, and our entrees arrived before there was room on the table to fit them. The Square's food, following this strong trajectory, remained exclusively bland and overpriced. Mixed Greens ($7), consisted of a few lettuce variants drowning in an oily, over-salted vinaigrette. Despite acting as a salad, the appetizer didn't include a single additional ingredient--a surprising twist given its seven dollar price tag. Brunch Fries ($5), sounded amazing with its promise of poached eggs and hollandaise, but couldn't have tasted worse. The fries were crunchy to the point of being almost burnt, splattered with the smallest drip of a noxious cream sauce, and topped with the most arbitrarily placed hardboiled egg. Biscuits & Gravy ($11), were passable, but small given the price of the entree. My southern heritage cringed at the dish's presentation and flavor profile. The gravy exuded a salty blandness, while sausage was nearly absent from the meal. Two sunny-side eggs completed the plate, and were probably the best part of the entire trip. Finally, an Omelette ($9) advertised the flavorful combination of brie and mushrooms, but couldn't have been more bland. After covering it in ketchup and pepper, I quickly realized I could've made a better one myself. One slice of butterless, dry toast completed the ensemble. tl;dr - you deserve better.
(2)
Ben C.
I am surprised to see as many less-than-excellent reviews about Canary Square. We have been 3 times in the last month, and for good reason: the food/cocktails and service is awesome. This is a great place to eat in JP; we've been wanting for a place with affordable, quality food with an appreciation for/understanding of a finely crafted cocktail, and we have found it here! Their food is delicious, creative and beautifully presented. We started with the squash cappalletti (incredible), and for our entrees enjoyed the braised short rib and roasted pork loin (both amazing). On a recent visit, we also tried these snacks: roasted garlic, griddles cheese, and the crispy cauliflower. Very impressed with the quality these snacks...they were really delightful. A perfect accompaniment to a few of the cocktails from their unique list. Their beer selection appears to be varied and good, but we generally prefer whiskey over beer, so can't speak to it specifically. The staff is friendly, helpful and well-informed. Our latest server was Dillard, who was polite and personable. Looking forward to returning soon to work our way down the menu!
(5)
Becca P.
Started off with the charcuterie and cheese ($21)...it was an okay size for 4 of us. The bread disappeared instantly and it took a while to get more since they decided to toast the second batch of bread but not the first. Second batch was still not enough... We all got the burger and flight since it was $15 but that does include the cheese ($1) and other add on ($2)...the flight took a while because they ran out of empty glasses. Restaurants should know to order enough glassware and such (I used to work in many restaurants and helped start one up). The burger was okay. I rather eat eat a big Mac though to be honest. The flight was okay. I'm not a big beer person. They were all very light. One random, annoying thing...our table was under the pipe so the condensation was dripping on us and our food. They moves us to a nearby table but seemed sort of hesitant. Later I saw someone wipe it down with a stick...was strange and seemed icky. After reading the other bad reviews, I really wanted to give this place a change but the service was sort of bad. Took a while to get our burgers. The waiter was nice though. He came back and apologized for the wait. I wouldn't come back though.
(2)
Lauren D.
Went here for brunch a few weeks back. It was a nice day so we were able to sit on the patio. Menu is a bit limited and pricey but you've gotta try the Brunch Fries! To die for...
(4)
Sarah C.
I cannot say enough good things about Canary. The bartenders and wait staff are always super friendly, the cocktails are great, the beer selection is robust, and the food is excellent. Their black bean burger is unparalleled in Boston, and their cheeseboard is reliably wonderful. Their brunch fries are a dream come true and their pumpkin French toast this fall/winter was out of this world. The ambiance is great, with beautiful decor and music that is always fun. Go for drinks, go for dinner, go for brunch, or go for their Sunday night movie where they play a classic and give out free delicious popcorn - just go.
(5)
Julianne C.
Stopped here for drinks a couple weeks back. I tried a specialty drink however the menu is very Mezcal heavy which didn't appeal to me. They have a wide beer and cider menu as well which was nice. I was less than thrilled the the chocolate mousse we had for dessert. Good, not great.
(3)
R.E. H.
Been here several times now - and with the new chef. The serving sizes are well portioned (who wants Cheesecake factory?). The food is thoughtful, cooked with skill and is overall tasty. The drinks are also quite good. The punch has become a favorite with our friends. The front of the house is always on point - very friendly, accommodating. Despite the review saying this is not a kid friendly place - there are plenty of families in at 5pm with their children. No one seems to suffer. I find that food is overall underwhelming in Boston and the folks at Canary Square are trying hard to make a neighborhood place that is enjoyable and gives an overall good experience.
(4)
Eddie G.
My friend and I went for drinks, Bloody Marys and some food. The BM's were pretty strong and quite spicy. We had two each and were pretty wobbly walking out! Our burger was ordered medium and it was perfect. Food was much better this time around...
(4)
Joe J.
This place looks so promising on the outside...and even on the inside. Good decor, decent music selection and a great drink list make for what would seem to be a go-to spot if you're in the area. Unfortunately, our experience was far from that. We had a table for five with everyone ordering drinks, entrees and an app or two for the table. Prices are descent. The food was OK. The burger received a good review, but the real winner was the pork loin. The gnocchi was good. The garlic bread snack was tasty. The taco was messy. The steak was absolutely terrible. First, it's about three SLICES of steak served on two squares of potatoes with bulb onions on the dish drenched in what seems to be store-bought bbq sauce (or of that quality). The salmon got an average review. When we ordered, our waitress seemingly wrote down everyone's order. Once entrees started coming out, everyone got excited; plating of the meals was good. Then the salmon never showed. So after about 5 minutes of everyone with their food waiting for the last dish, the waitress comes over, acknowledges she didn't put in the salmon (forgot to write it down), and said she could put it in now. It came out surprisingly quick, a little over 5 minutes. So, total ten minutes waiting time for all dishes to be on the table. The manager brought over the dish, said "sorry for the delay" and begrudgingly asked the table how everything was. The waitress never came back to check on us. We had to wait for water multiple times. Just dropping the ball. We get the bill, and the salmon is on the bill!!!!!! Like I said, we were ordering drinks, food, etc. and it was a surprise to see the incompetence of putting that dish on the bill. When it was brought to the waitress' attention, she said she would check with her manager, and it came off. But that's the difference with a place you decide to not go to again, or a place you'd decide to go back and try something else. The nonchalant IDGAF attitude of forgetting an entree and then charging for it will make me choose somewhere else if I'm in the area. You shouldn't have to ask for it to be off the bill. And I'm not just whining like some "entitled punk", it's not about the money, it's about the principle.
(2)
Taylor N.
I was a part of a group that had reservations on for today, April 12th, 2015. I was told by our group leader that we would have to find somewhere else to eat Sunday brunch. Our party was NOT notified by the Canary Square staff that they had cancelled our reservations because they were closing at 2pm for a private event. Some members of our group went to the restaurant to be seated, in hopes of having a meal, but were stopped by a paper sign on the window informing us of the "Private event". So, there we were, hungry, after church on the first nice sunny day in Boston in MONTHS, and they pull this crap. Not only did they pull the reservation from under our butts, they also had a slight attitude about the fact that they cancelled on us and we were there asking WHY. However, we went to the Dogwood instead. Food there was Spot On!!!
(1)
Leah K.
Thanks a bundle, Canary Square, for serving me a ton of french fries plus booze right before a hike. On second thought...lets not point fingers. My friends and I met for brunch right before a hike at Blue Hills, which we needed after our delicious meal. I ordered the poached egg french fries: a fantastic serving of french fries (heavily salted, my fav!) with a perfectly poached egg and hollandaise on top. I polished those puppies off in no time. I also washed it down with a Green Street: Bombay, St. Germain, Basil, Lemon, and Bitters. Small but boozy. I napped in the car. My friends had an avocado omelette and breakfast tacos (that one looked like a small serving to me). I was eyeing the Special, donuts, as they walked by...they looked beautiful. Service was good, bathroom was TINY (I'm 5'2'' and my legs barely fit in the stall).
(4)
Norman T.
The service was great! The waitress was really friendly and kind, she answer all the questions from the menu without any problem. The portions were a little bit small for the price we paid.
(3)
Navid S.
First they don't take reservation unless you are a party if 6 or more. The outside seating is beautiful but there was a half hour wait so we opted to sit inside. Although the place was not packed but busy, it took them 20 minutes to take our order and 25 additional Minutes to bring the appetizers. The skirt steak I ordered was supposed to be medium but it arrived on the rare side and nit hot. Once I asked the waiter to recook the meat he apologized and said that they would take it off the bill. Overall ok.
(3)
Joe M.
Entirely underwhelmed by the food here for the second time in a row. Flavorless unseasoned sirloin tasted almost "gritty" next to some mashed potato rectangles and three sad pearl onions, all atop a Jackson Pollock squiggle of A-1 steak sauce (??). Just barely a notch above Ponderosa / Red Lobster / Golden Corral. Service was spotty, but bartender was good enough to give me a complimentary digestif after blowing the coverage on my scotch request (so no harm there). Place needs work. On a Tuesday night half full of patrons and seemingly fully staffed the servers and bar staff looked harried and overwhelmed. A barback noticed my empty glass and asked if I wanted another and when I told him what I wanted he said, "Oh, hang on. I'll have her [the bartender] get it for you." Huh? Don't ask me if you can't help me. Best thing going for it is the location and the patio seating but now that it's getting cooler there is no reason to tolerate Canary Square. Good beer list, though. Give them that. But I can think of a half dozen real kitchens all within a stone's throw of Canary that deserve your business.
(2)
Denise C.
This place has a lot of mixed reviews but my experience was pretty good just based on a drinks, ambiance and some nosh. I didn't have a full out meal and it seems that the mains were the problem in most reviews. They have a great beer selection as everyone mentioned. The place itself looks great with lots of seating. The bar is pretty long but seemed to fill up. Came on a Saturday night so College Football was on the screens. I ordered some kind of pumpkin beer and shared the cauliflower appetizer which was really really really freakin good so we ordered another plate. The fries were ehh in a pretty small portion comparable to a mcd's small maybe medium order of fries. Service was good. I don't come to JP often but I would def come back here for a drink.
(4)
Sergio M.
Love this place the beers on draft are always on point local craft beers to seasonal hard to get beers. The pork tacos are really good along with the rest of the menu. So if you have not gone to canary square yet you are missing out
(5)
Tim F.
We go here for the burgers. Often. The best in Boston--at least of the ones I've had. Other entrees I've tried have been quite good as well. The service can be a little spotty, but I forgive them. Everyone is always friendly/pleasant, and it is JP after all. Only four stars because they don't have ONION rings!!! And it can be too loud sometimes.
(4)
Jessica A.
My favorite place in JP! I go there every time I can! Mine and my boyfriend's favorite place for a casual meal! The servers are really nice and the food is absolutely delicious! The menu changes sometimes, but every time is great. They also have a good selection of beers!
(5)
Nick E.
Cannary Square was once a 4 star restaurant that has gone to junk. The food is uninspired, the charcuterie is a rip off, and the beers come in glasses that were never properly rinsed. Now and again you get a great waiter or waitress that makes up for these short comings, but the overarching feeling is that the ownership is not concerned with whether or not this restaurant does good work. 15 minutes to get a beer. 20 minutes to be asked if we'd like to order off of a menu that, essentially, consists of a burger, some chicken some fish and some pasta, none particularly inspired. A $14 charcuterie board that has about 6 slices of meat, some mustard and a few pickles. What happened to the pate!? Cannary Square is on it's way out. There are half a dozen better restaurants within a half a mile of them, and they don't seem to be very concerned. If you want good food in the area go across the street to Tres Gatos, or further down Centre to the TT Bar, Gras Fed, Centre Street Cafe, or any number of other restaurants where the staff and ownership actually care.
(2)
Robin T.
Tom the bartender rocks! Love this place. All the other bartenders are amazing too :)
(5)
Yuka Y.
Duck Confit (kon-FEE) and Roast Salmon are highly recommended! Located in JP, Canary Square is a classy place for drinks and dinner without having to be dressed up to the nines. Think Yard House, but a little less fancy on the furniture. Extensive drinks menu with average pricing. On the slightly pricier end for dinner, expect $15+ for well presented entrees. I love the dim lighting, minimalist decor, and the fact that it's an open air restaurant. Could do better with the uncomfortable cushion-less seats, but other than that I can guarantee you'll have a lovely summer evening here. Joshua S., our server, did a great job recommending the 'Duck Confit' for the bf after he expressed an odd disdain for eggplants and celery. He was impressed by the crispy outer layering and the moist texturing of the duck. Joshua took the time to tell us that by confit, it meant the duck was fried in oil without the use of bread crumbs. The egg was cooked so the yolk was still intact and oozed out beautifully. The side of baby yukon potatoes and greens added a nice touch. Roasted salmon was served on a bed of edamame-like-beans, corn, and green beans. The skin was crispy. Fish oil was oozing out with every cut, very tender, and not overcooked. The sauce did not mask the true essence and flavoring of the salmon, it was perfectly done. Ending the dinner on a cute note, everyone's bills comes tucked in a notebook. The notebook serves as a guestbook where customers can write and doodle quirky things in there.
(5)
Tim A.
I really want to like Canary Square more. It has the location and atmosphere to be great, but the food is so lackluster I can eat there anymore. I've tried to go back several times and each time I get excited about something on the menu but when it comes out the food is bland and boring. The service has never been that great either.
(2)
Evan G.
With the exception of the beer list and the ambiance, this place is Just. Not. Good. I've been here probably five or more times over the past few years, all for dinner, and I have yet to eat anything that was actually good. Yucca fries remarkably didn't taste like anything at all. Black bean burger fell apart into a giant heap of mush on my plate. Mac and cheese was yet another heap of tasteless mush. Potato gnocchi were gummy and... you guessed it, bland! Hell, even the grilled tuna was gummy, with weird, non-complementary accompanying flavors. Service is inconsistent at best. There are odd gaps at inopportune moments, frequently forgotten items, etc. A few of the servers have been more competent than others, but the service is still not in any sense reliable. The food is WAY overpriced given how mediocre-to-bad everything is. Bottom line, I should not be paying $20 for an uninteresting entree that has weird or no flavor.
(2)
Beth H.
Location location location! Canary Square has a great one. I also love the atmosphere and their Downeast cider. Deeelicious. I enjoyed coming here during March Madness to watch the games. One day I'll make it to a weekend brunch! That said, I feel like their food can be hit or miss. Some dishes are worth the price and taste great, and others are either too small for the price or a little blah. The restaurant gets pretty dark and loud from dinner to late night. I don't mind, but some may complain that they can't hear the person across the table from them.
(3)
Robert R.
Ate here the other night with a couple buddies. Got the local beer flight and the hope flight--awesome. Great burger, fun atmosphere. Our server, Noelle, was super nice and attentive, too! Thanks, Noelle!
(5)
A M.
Pretty cool joint. Waitress was the biggest sweetheart! I came here on a Friday (7/18/14) I must say the ambiance was def my cup of tea. I loved the music & decorative details of the outside and indoor seating. I got the gin and tonic, was pretty good and I'm guessing strong since I woke up the next day with a headache (but not your fault Canary) We had a burger and the sweet chili wings. Both pretty good, except wings were still a little pink inside, thought they could've been cooked a little longer. Overall, cool joint will definitely return!
(4)
Erik S.
Granted, I was only here for drinks, but the bartender made the perfect Sazerac; not an easy drink to make as some of you may know. He was extremely knowledgeable and a real professional and all the other cocktails were just as good. With the large screens and lots of open space, this would be great for watching a game! And the patrons and staff were all lively and up for some chit-chatting. **I've recently returned to Canary Square and had to change my rating from 5 stars to 4. The beer selection and food are good but not deserving of 5 stars. The wait staff are awesome though!
(4)
Liam S.
Good food! Good location. I have had breakfast here a few times and it has been good. Definitely worth the stop. They seem to have a really good beer selection and bar for those who have the time for that.
(4)
Diego M.
I had the black bean burger and it was delicious!!! Our waiter had a great sense of humor and was very knowledgeable of the Menu! He was very charismatic. I would definitely recommend this place (which is why I'm writing this review) also my friend had the short rib and she can't stop raving about it. 5 stars for sure!!
(5)
Sara J.
The ambiance and fun mocktails made me want to bump this review up to three stars but after a sincerely awkward experience in June, two stars is all I got to give. Long story short: This was my second time here. I ordered mussels, they tasted funny, waitress got really weird about it. I was like don't worry waitress they tasted funny I am not hungry because of how weird they tasted, just take them away and let me watch the rest of the hockey game. My fiance was inhaling his wings and I was enjoying the mocktail which was SO great they offered on the menu for us non-drankin' folks, so not all was lost. She said she'd take it off the bill and I said thank you. No harm, no foul. But it was in fact the waitress' lot in life to keep bringing up the mussels. First, after the initial complaint, she told me there was nothing wrong with them. Oh yeah, that's not confrontational at all, just tell me I must be crazy because I didn't like your mussels that you didn't actually eat. I was like ehhh I eat a lot of mussels I am pretty sure these are too fishy tasting or otherwise unusual, don't wanna risk it, I am fine for now though, thank you. I thought the subject was dropped but then she came back and said she is pretty confident that I didn't like them because I wasn't used to the curry taste in them. Oh Lordy, Lord in heaven, please help me. I wanted to be like yo waitress check me out for a second, you see it? See it? I AM INDIAN. I don't think CURRY is the problem. But again I was like thanks, waitress, no biggie, I am fine, let's just move on. Then she wanted me to order something else, and I was like no thank you waitress thank you so much for your help... really I am okay. Then she came back again and asked to re-fire the mussels.Okay, re-firing seafood= rubber. I am no Emril Lagasse ova heh, but I know that you're really not supposed to be putting cooked shellfish back on the stove. But at this point I like didn't know what to say to her so I let her re-fire them and then I ate one in front of her when she brought it back to humor her and I was like oh man these are really overcooked now, I think I am okay without it. Thanks. Okay, yup, thanks, no worries. FINALLY I was left alone, though we missed a bunch of the game, which, ironically, is the only reason we went there. It was just bizarre and I was annoyed she seemed annoyed or didn't at least listen to me when I said I really was all set with not ordering something else. I angry texted my mom about it, and then it was cool. Too many other yum options in JP to come back here, though that patio is pritty pritty sweet.
(2)
Joe R.
French toast was phenomenal and the bloody Mary's were very tasty. Homemade donuts were also a delicious treat. The eggs benedict were not good at all.. The eggs were under done and it was served with prosciutto and not ham as stated on the menu. Kind of a disappointment.
(4)
Michael M.
I'm specifically reviewing the bar area as I have always sat in the bar area, which I prefer. This place is great! Canary is the type of establishment I wish JP had more of. It's casual, fun, friendly and in a convenient location with parking for those that need it and easy bus access for those coming from outside the neighborhood. Servers are friendly, chill and have depth in their knowledge of beer list and cocktails. I'm a big craft beer guy and they have an awesome selection. I'm constantly trying a new beer when I'm there, usually per recommendation. The food menu is smaller than your typical gastropub but everything on it is cooked/done to perfection. Give me the curried cauliflowers, deviled eggs and pork tacos any day.
(5)
AB H.
Canary Square lost a star tonight. We had great service, and loved our first two items, but our main course was disappointing. The brussels sprouts in fish sauce sounded kind of weird, but were totally yummy! I loved the charred leaves and the sauce. The mushroom and potato with raclette cheese was also great; interesting and soothing at the same time. Then we had the smoked pork tacos, and they were not good - bland and too soft. They had some heat to them, but other than that, no flavor. It needed more cheese, or avocado, or more flavor in the pork. What a fail after the good small plates. I'll be back because two good plates out of three isn't bad, and there were other items I want to try, like the kale caesar salad.
(3)
Shannon S.
I may be a bit harsh with my 3 stars but A-OK is exactly the way I would describe Canary Square... and it's not a bad thing. Cool atmosphere, exposed brick and chalkboards get me every time. The grape basil drink was great though not so grapey but I love me a basil accented cocktail and it was Friday so I was feeling alright. Pretty good beer selection, too. We ordered a kale caesar to split which was good, not great, could have used a tad more dressing and leafs could have been torn a bit smaller (bite size!) so I didn't have to worry about wasting my dressing on my napkin (when I wiped it off my face.) I had the grass-fed burger which was fine. Cooked fine. Tasted fine. I opted to add the cheddar and I probably could have skipped it. My dinner companion had the mac and cheese sans truffle oil and said it was decent. Our server initially brought us the wrong check (for much much more than what we'd ordered) but when we flagged her down that was quickly rectified. Would I go back? I'd probably try somewhere else first but I wouldn't write a return visit off.
(3)
M. g.
Here are the good points: nice vibe, open space, friendly staff, the bread, the burgers. Not so good points: just about everything else - the portions are small (we don't expect doggie bags, we just expect a reasonable portion); the prices are high especially for what you get. For example, we ordered the charcuterie plate for 3 as an appetizer - it was presented very nicely but there were exactly 4 thin slices of chorizo, 7 pickled wax beans; a very small piece of blue cheese, an equally small piece of manchego and a more reasonable portion of the mortadella. That's it for $15. The lasagna was actually scary - it was a lukewarm, brown thing with lots of salad on the side. The salad was good, alas, the rest wasn't. I get it that it was made with eggplant and it wasn't with a red sauce but please, don't call it lasagna. ()We mentioned it to the waitress who mentioned it to the kitchen who then sent a tasting of their other pasta dish. We really appreciated the thought but alas, the pasta was unevenly cooked and there was too much oil). We were intrigued with the frisee with coddled egg and bacon. It was a poached egg on top of salad with a few specs of bacon. The kind of dish you would want in a fancier venue but in this burger joint, it seems totally out of place. And that is my recommendation to Canary Square. Decide what you want to be - a neighborhood gathering place with good beer, good burger and fries, and a few other choices (please add a few meal salads) or a quality gastro pub. As locals, make us want to come back in the middle of the week.
(2)
Jeff B.
Good Solid Food, but service has been poor to horrible the last 2 visits. Most recent visit, I walked in and waited for about a minute to be acknowledged by the guy standing behind the host stand. he told me someone would be right with me (as he did nothing). the female host came back and the guy told her I was looking for a table outside. She was great and rushed out to clean off a few dirty vacant tables, while the guy still did nothing. I saw someone I knew so went and chatted with them for a few minutes and came back and she pointed me to the table. I sat down and it took nearly 10 minutes to be acknowledged by my server (who was unfortunately the guy from earlier). I ordered a cocktail and food. About 15-20 minutes later, my food came out before my drink. I ordered a side order of sausage. Bacon was delivered Absolutely no apology, but the server did have someone else bring me sausage. he could tell I was irritated and he never came back to the table as another server did one last check on me, brought me the check and ran my payment. (this second server was great). I really could not believe this guy. I will probably end up going back to Canary Square, but will request to NOT have this guy as a server if he is working.
(2)
Hay W.
I'd give this establishment a much higher review if the service was better (and I've given many chances for them to redeem themselves). However, I've been here six times for different meals, and have been turned off by the attitude of the wait staff. This is disappointing, since I live so close and would love to visit regularly. Once, I asked the waitress for an iced coffee (since the previous time I was told that it was a Summer drink), and she responded "we don't do that here." Then, I followed up stating the bartender had made it for me previously and I was told it was a Summer drink so when would they be introducing it for the season? She rudely responded "we don't have that, but I can ask them to make it for you." Other times, I've been ignored for longer than average time periods, or been met with impatience when I ask for clarification questions about food items. It stinks because the brunch here is actually pretty good, and so are the drinks. However, I won't recommend people giving money to a place that isn't at least minimally respectful of patrons.
(2)
cath e.
Ok but the servings are oddly small for the price We eat out often so prices are clearly n our mind as to what is reasonable $14. For 7 sweet potato ravioli?? Cauliflower great drinks good Pleasant staff!! Willbe happier elsewhere
(3)
Tom H.
Great brunch. Fantastic drinks. Many many tasty beers. Friendly staff. Big TV's but they don't dominate the atmosphere. Good music, both live and on the stereo. Very comfortable, big open space. Menu could possibly be changed more frequently, but I may just think that because I'm there all the time.
(5)
Adam B.
So it's been a couple years since I wrote my review and felt compelled to make another one. I am being a bit overly nice with the demotion to four stars instead of five. The food is so hit or miss in this place it's nuts. They change their menu way too much. Ordinarily, I like a seasonal menu, but if your new dishes aren't as good as the old ones what's the point? If they didn't have good beer I would easily give them a 2 or 3. They are like the kid in school who gets on honor roll one term and then the next F's. Wish there was consistency. The food isn't the only thing inconsistent, the service, ugh. One time a waitress tried to tell me the mussels were cooked when the shells were barely open and the inside was clearly slimy. I'm from New England lady, I've cooked mussels a bazillion times, this shiz is raw! She said she would take them back because "she wanted to make me happy but there is nothing wrong with them". Bring back the chicken nuggets! Charcuterie board or cheese board is way overpriced. Oh well, I will keep going back for the beer, and it's close by. But I fear it won't be there forever.
(4)
Jimmy S.
So let's start with the good stuff. Canary Square is really nice looking inside and out. Great location with an updated interior and an outdoor seating area for nice weather dining. The service has always been fine friendly and fast, but honestly, it falls flat on the food. It is as blah, bland and banal as it gets. Great for drink or snacks, but that's the extent of it. Double meh.
(2)
lt C.
Just a disaster. Sat at the bar and waited 15 minutes for a drink and re asked what I wanted. Dollar oyster night--- 30 minutes for my bounty. I am brand new to the neighborhood and eat out at least 4 nights a week. The pours on wine were horrible and it was all disorganized--I heard one of the bartenders ( the only woman) use the term "retarded" over and over. It just seems like there was no sense to it all. The food was totally over salted and the menu descriptions misleading. All in all, I want to love this spot and I want to love the JP scene. Was at Ten Tables and they blew me out of the water last night. Everything was spot on. I'll go again to CS, but just once more....I believe in second chances.
(2)
Dana L.
My husband and I are regulars here and while we love the place, we realize the food and service can be inconsistent like many of the comments suggest...tonight the service and food hit it out of the park...you must order the garlic ciabatta appetizer, the kale and Autumn salads, the short ribs, the squash cannelloni and the sticky toffee pudding...each item was amazing! Wash it down with the Stark white wine...went well with everything. Thank you, Lauren, our excellent server!
(5)
Adam H.
After waiting for well over a half hour before even taking our drink order and close to an hour for food order, the service got worse. Brought out the wrong drink to one member of our party, then later not brining their second entirely (plus waiting, waiting and more waiting). The payoff for extreme wait times... mediocre food from a lackluster menu that was tepid on delivery. From reading other reviews, this experience does not seem to be atypical for this place. Do not bother.
(1)
Katie J.
I have been to Canary Square twice since moving to the neighborhood, and both times I was very pleased with the overall dining experience. It is a great neighborhood restaurant with reasonable prices. The outdoor seating is a little loud since it is close to the street, but on a cool summer night under the heat lamps it is really nice. The new patio also does a pretty good job creating a partition from the sidewalk with planters and tall grass. The seating inside is also nice, with a warm ambiance, but I would definitely recommend the patio seating if it is available. Both times my boyfriend and I have been seated right away, despite it being fairly busy. The wait staff has been pretty attentive (our waiter last night was a delight!), however, my first time there I overheard a waitress complaining quite loudly about a customer to another waitress. This was a bit of a turnoff, but our waitress did her best to keep us happy. Canary Square has an extensive beer list, and a few unique cocktails. I have only ordered the white sangria, which was very good both times. I have been tempted to order the Bartender's Flight, but I cannot turn down the sangria. For food, the burgers are delicious and cooked the way we asked. I am a huge fan of the black bean burger, which comes with a delicious (and spicy!) salsa, sour cream, cheddar cheese, and pickled onions. The hand cut fries are also delicious, but be prepared to eat a lot of tiny crispy fry-lettes. Overall, the service is good and the burgers are delicious. I will definitely keep going to Canary Square.
(4)
M M.
Service was terrible , it took a half an hour to put in a drink order. We tried to wave down servers and they would look at us and keep walking . All of our dishes were too salty. The burger was burnt when it was supposed to medium. Also expensive !
(2)
Kelsey M.
Good burgers and fries at a reasonable price. Their more expensive entrees were just okay and not worth the cost. We like going here for burgers and beers. During busy times this place is a mismanaged nightmare (which is why I didn't rate it a 4) with people waiting in line on a list only to watch others throw tantrums and being seated for their childish demands.
(3)
Abby F.
I love Canary Square! Now that it's summer time it's one of my favorite places to go out to eat on their beautiful patio. Their drinks are really yummy and they have a great beer selection. Their menu is on the smaller side, but I think that is so they can perfectly craft their options. I've never gotten anything from Canary Square that I didn't love. Also their giant doughnuts at brunch are the stuff of dreams.
(5)
Kacey B.
I live walking distance from Canary Square and don't visit too often anymore. This place is really hit or miss for the service and atmosphere. The bartenders have always been right on but not the waitstaff. Food has tasted good though their cheese plate and grits are pathetic or weird. Go for their burgers, salads, or omelets. Local served food is good. Drinks and beer selection is tasty. Oh, they don't ID so that's when the atmosphere sucks with young kids being stupid. Hey guys, you should ID. Helps you stay in business when the cops come around. Crowd has also occasionally sucked for the coupled-off yuppies who can appear socially inept.
(3)
Ross P.
We've gone twice now and I really want to love this place. It's a great location and great space for JP. The drinks are fantastic - great beer menu and the cocktails are excellent. The fall vesper is one of the best drinks I've had! And the bar is great - this is a great place to stop and have drinks. Unfortunately the food is just ok. First time around had burgers that were a little on the small and dry side. Second time had the squash capellini which was excellent but... the size of an appetizer. Lucky my dining companion didn't finish her fries or I would have left the place still very hungry! This place has so much potential - kick the food up a notch and it's worth 5 stars!
(3)
Lauren L.
I came here early on a Saturday, tonight, with 3 fellow volunteers. I have walked by this place probably 50 times, and always wondered how it would be. We came in and were seated immediately. The waitress arrived relatively quickly and took some drink orders... we all got sodas. Our table ended up getting 3 black bean burgers and 1 ravioli. My black bean burger could have been hotter, but it came out pretty quickly. The consistency of it was a little soft for my taste. It was sort of mushy, and not very hot. But it wasn't bad, per se, it just had the consistency of baby food. The salsa on top gave it a little kick, which I liked. A ton of tables had bread on their table.. were we supposed to get bread for free? Lord I hate the "Asking for Free Bread" dilemma that I've experienced elsewhere. Sort of feel like some sort of cheap jerk face, "Hi, are we supposed to get free bread? Don't bring it if it's not free." I would have liked if the waitress came back after our meal arrived, we could have gone for soda refills. It wasn't bad, I'd go again.
(3)
Brittany S.
Such a neat space for dining. You have the option for indoor or outdoor dining, and there are heaters for when it gets colder. Quirky staff who are both friendly and attentive. Lots of farm to table options. Everything tasted so great because ingredients were fresh AND local- and I wouldn't call myself someone who only ate local/ organic either- but you could tell, it made a huge difference. Huge portions, enough to split for two people or take home leftovers.
(4)
Emily V.
I would say this is a pretty run of the mill, average, place. The service was pretty good, average prices, good location, average food. In a word: average.
(3)
BurgerBaron G.
Great food, great beer selection. And a friendly staff. It's a great alternative to the now-always-crowded Canary Square. Not saying it's second to Canary, but if you followed the crowds over there, give this spot a try. It's well deserved.
(4)
Becky B.
Their brunch is amazing. Pumpkin fresh toast is a must try. They also have delicious brunch fries, which has a poached egg and hollandaise sauce.
(5)
Jamie M.
I just moved to JP, and Canary Square was the first restaurant we went out to. We met another couple, and all of us loved it. The drink list- from beer to wine to cocktails, is truly exciting, and not just because there was a fluffy rabbit beer (not made of fluffy rabbits to be clear). The waitress was knowledgable of all drinks, and when my indecisiveness took over as it usually does, she brought me a little glass to taste, without even having to ask her! Super nice. I don't remember which beers we got, which is a sure sign of good beer, but all 4 of us got a new beer each time and there were no complaints. The food...so good. The mussels in chorizo...I want more. We ate every bite, which was sopped up with delicious free bread. We also got deviled eggs, which has spicy mustard, and were pretty fancy. Also ordered, shared, and devoured were pork tacos, seared tuna, mac and cheese w/ truffle oil and mac and cheese with bacon. #bangin. Cant wait to go back and enjoy the drinks/food/atmosphere in the sunshine on the patio!!
(5)
Sarah M.
This place is great! They have a good beer selection and outdoor patio. The black bean burger was delicious.
(5)
Wendy E.
I have loved my visits to Canary Square and look forward to sitting outside there soon! I seem to always get the cheese app and pulled pork tacos. Last visit they were on the cold side but I won't hold that against them and should prob try some other options during a future visit.
(4)
Max W.
$4.50 for a Narragansett, $4 for PBR, and no drafts under $7? You've gotta be kidding me. What started out as a neighborhood restaurant has become an overpriced ripoff. The food portions have gotten smaller, the food prices have gone up, and the quality has gone down. Spend your money elsewhere.
(1)
Allison K.
Server recommended a cocktail that was like margarita mixed with a mimosa. PERFECT! also able to sub out the bacon for some avocado on their eggs benedict. I mean, what more can a girl ask for?
(4)
J C.
The food sounds amazing on the menu description but then when served below par the service was terrible too, we waited 45 minutes for drinks to be served because the bar was busy which I get it was a Friday night but hire more staff to accommodate guests. Also, our server messed up our appetizer order and put it in as an entree so our appetizer didn't come until 45 minutes after we first ordered. I would definitely go somewhere else.
(1)
Sonia N.
Stopped in for an early dinner al fresco style this past weekend and this place was already booming around 5pm. For starters, we tried the potato chips and dip. Very crispy and tasty and the dipping sauce was a perfect accompaniment. For entrees, we shared the veggie lasagna and sea trout. Both were good but the sea trout scored much higher in my book. The garlic yogurt sauce it was served in gave it that nice creamy taste while keeping it light and healthy and the fava beans were minced to the point where it looked and tasted more like cous cous. All in all, a thumbs up. I would definitely come back.
(4)
Sara S.
Great brunch...service was a little slow. Good spot for groups and low key patio sitting! For vegetarians, pea green salad and black bean burger were great.
(4)
Daryl O.
This was not our planned place to go but I am glad we did. It was not too busy, they had seating at the bar, indoors or outdoors. A wide selection of beers. Not too many cocktails but everyone I was with ordered something different and had good comments about all. The French toast was the Sugar Honey Ice Tea. I got it with be preservatives on the side and never used them & didn't need them. It was fine without. Not too much syrup needed either but it was amazing. Hands down the best French toast I've eaten.
(5)
Bruce K.
This has been one of my favorite dining experiences ever. For starters, the atmosphere and the look of this place is awesome. Everything feels relaxed yet exciting, not too loud but it was never too quiet or dull either. Canary Square went from good to great when our waiter Tyler came over. While I was ordering Tyler noticed that I had asked for the cheese and sour cream to be taken off my order and then informed me that the bun of my burger had trace amounts of dairy in it. For him to recognize why I was removing ingredients and then offer up other suggestions makes him amazing. Throughout the night other wait staff and Tyler came over to us multiple time to check how our food was. All were very friendly and made the experience wonderful. The food: the food was on par with the wait staff aka it was amazing. My black bean burger was super flavorful and my friends pork chop was cooked perfectly. I will definitely be coming back here!
(5)
Missy S.
Good news: they've expanded the menu and the ambiance, location, and service are still great Bad news: the food still is mediocre. i got the pulled pork tacos this time and buffalo wings. The wings were good. The tacos were only slightly warmer than room temperature and the corn tortillas on which the pork was served were nothing exciting, topped with a smoky flavor that was too intense for my liking. Canary Square, it's official, you need to invest in a chef who can bring nothing-too-fancy, hot, flavorful food to JP. Or at least bring one in to help the current chef revamp things. You have too great of a location not to have awesome food.
(3)
Jimmy D.
I finally walked down the block to give a visit to Canary Square and was pleasantly surprised to find my experience was unlike most of the negative comments on here. The one star off was for the wait for the table, however, I should have known to call ahead on a Saturday night. They had a good selection on draft, maybe a few different microbrews would be nice. Food: reasonably priced, nothing above $20! Had a party of four and everyone was completely happy with their food (skirt steak, burger, pork chop, and mac n cheese). Service was great. Pat was our server had a great down to earth, laid back manner. I will definitely be back.
(4)
Joanna M.
Food is just so-so, especially for the price. Great selection of beers on tap and cocktails; cool atmosphere. Recommend for drinks with friends, not so much for meals.
(3)
Marie K.
Ate a delicious skirt steak one night and bar snacks another night. When my friend and I asked for something other than ketchup for our fries, they gave us a delicious aioli. The "popcorn of the day" is great. Even better than the food is the atmosphere. It's so friendly and inviting, especially around the bar. Every time I go, it's bustling, but not crowded. I was able to get bar seats every time I tried. It's so much better than the amateurish Alchemist. It's the best thing to happen to JP in awhile.
(4)
Beth G.
I have been here twice so far and have had very good experiences both times. The food has been excellent- I'd definitely recommend the Pork Chop and the Skirt Steak. The waitstaff is very friendly and attentive, as is the management- they were kind enough to switch out an appetizer for my friend and I when we didn't end up liking it that much (just because we're accustomed to PEI mussels, not a food quality issue at all). I think the new atmosphere is great also. I'm definitely going back.
(4)
Morgan M.
This is one of the few go to spots in JP which is in desperate need of more good restaurants and bars. I think the food is great relative to its price and the menu has a lot of interesting options. Service has always been very friendly, the place is usually busy so it has a good atmosphere. I prefer sitting at the bar and the bartenders make great cocktails. I go here at least once a week!
(4)
Natalia O.
Nice setting, but very subpar food. My burger was practically charcoal, though accompanied by nice sweet potato fries. The server didn't bother to check in with us on drink freshening, and she seemed like she had a few too many tables to look after. It's a classic bar setting, so pretty loud on a Friday evening. Might go back if there's nothing else open nearby... but doubtful...
(2)
Dave D.
I want to love this place because: A) It's near my house B) The bartenders and wait staff are super nice C) It's far better than what was there before. The problem is, the food just isn't all that good. Granted, the deviled eggs rock, but everything else is just blah. Half chicken? Nice I guess, but not much better than a rotissiere job from Stop and Shop. The pressed sandwich? Really just a glorified grilled cheese. The Brussels sprouts? Tasty, but only because they've been liberally accesorized with high end bacon. Not horrible, but just not great. If it wasn't down the street from my house, I'd never go. But it is, so I find myself there a lot. Sigh.
(3)
Heather R.
I had heard so many great things about Canary Square that I was excited to take my godmother there for the first time when she visited from out of town. When I saw shrimp and grits on the menu, I was thrilled. The happiest I was about ordering this dish was short lived. They clearly take the word "shrimp" seriously, the 3 shrimp in my dish were the smallest shrimp I have ever seen. The grits were completely lacking of any flavor, it was truly like gruel. My godmother and I ordered alcoholic drinks as well and for the price, they were barely fair. This place has far more hype than it deserves and for brunch, I would go to Sugar Baking co. in Rosindale any day!
(2)
Piper P.
Canary Square is just a nice neighborhood bar; it's a great place to watch a game, eat comfort food, and chill with friends. The food is more inventive and tastier than your basic bar menu (the fried brussels sprouts are to die for) and they offer a delicious grass fed burger (I ordered mine rare and they cooked it perfectly, which doesn't happen often when one orders something rare). Canary Square prides itself on locally grown foods. My vote: it's A-OK in my book, and while not a first "go to" restaurant on my list, I would definitely drop in again with friends, perhaps for brunch next time. No complaints!
(3)
Conrad P.
Burger was over cooked no problem to our back bought me a beer and got a fresh plate. My women loved the burger she loved it well done. I'm a different black person. Give me a lil red. Chili wings were bomb. It's a must. Would come back def
(4)
Jonathan M.
Went here brunch on a Sunday, great experience. The staff was very accommodating to our party of late, especially considering we were running about 30 minutes later than we expected. The menu wasn't too extensive, yet they still seemed to hit various areas of the taste palate so customers could definitely find a dish that fit their craving. They were also pretty easy-going about substitutions. The portions for the price were pretty substantial, so definitely come hungry or be willing to take leftovers with you. Everyone really enjoyed their food! Chicken Fried Steak, Quiche, Green Eggs & Ham, Avocado & Cheese Omlette, Eggs Benedict. All were delivered with great taste and presentation. I'd definitely return here!
It's really a 3.5, but I'm feeling generous so I'll round up -- full disclosure, I've only been here for drinks + snacks, never a full meal -- let's see, in the wins category, I like the ambiance - it's darkish and intimate, so even if you don't think your date is looking fly, you'll enjoy yourself w/ some prime JP people watching -- and exposed brick + wood accents = my decor scheme of choice. If you're looking for that cozy, casual place to default to if you want to relax in your skinnies and button up, rather than donning stripper shoes and an imitation Herve mini-skirt, then I'd say that CS isn't a bad place to end up landing. Home to a solid selection of beers, all of which are reasonably priced (they have Allagash White, which wins me over each time) and tasty wines by the glass (btwn $9-12). If you're looking to get a little frisky, the cocktails are interesting (herby, alcoholic) and dangerously drinkable (all around $10). Friendly-ish staff, though service is always slow and kind of absent. So if I was feeling fussier, I'd dock them more for that. On a weekend night, the bar is usually packed and the noise level is fairly high, but you should be able to hear the hipster and/or adorable lesbian couple convo next to you if eavesdropping is the name of your game.
(4)
Vijtibble A.
Decent food, everything else is shit, including the server who attempts to upsell you on a bottle of wine but rolls her eyes when you ask for a taste of the bottle you're about to drop 45$ on. Besides being completely ignored by the waitress, I'm talking no direct eye contact and only addressing my dining partner for MY food and drink choices. The pork tacos were good, the pickles too sweet, and the weird lingering manager making his presence too known creates an ambiance of awkwardness. Save your money and get a bottle and taqueria take-out.
(2)
Bob E.
The outdoor patio seating was welcome on a cool summer evening, with a lower ambient noise level than the interior space. While I felt the weather was perfect, another member of my party felt chilly, so the outdoor heaters came in handy, with the staff happily turning one on for us. As for the food, the burger I ordered was delicious. The beef was of excellent quality and perfectly cooked, actually making it worth the seemingly high price. The only thing I might have changed about the burger was their use of shredded lettuce, as I prefer lettuce leaves. I also ordered the chocolate ice cream cake for desert, which while interesting and artfully presented, was not worth its price due to both mediocre flavor and minuscule size. Our wait person was very friendly and gave us good service with only minor delays, despite having tables in multiple areas of the restaurant. I could see coming back to try one of their more expensive entrees, skipping desert, and enjoying another evening on the patio.
(3)
mzamar x.
update: why why why did i go for brunch at Canary? i guess i had to be reminded how uneven the food is there. Took nearly an hour to get a slice of overwhelmingly salty reheated quiche, in a room that was half full. Everything was too greasy, from toast that was griddled and soaked in butter (not delicious, just nasty) to house made sausage that is middling. Worst was weekend special a "giant old fashioned donut". About 8" round and resembling more a pretzel or unleavened pumpernickle pizza dough this "donut" was obviously made by someone who had never had, nor enjoyed a donut. The "cake" did not appear to be cake, but was actually bread. Unsweetened dough with a breadlike crumb rather than cake crumb, a dark brown exterior rolled in white granulated sugar. It was singularly one of the worst things i ever tasted. The staff were so good and did everything they could to provide excellent customer service, but really, the brunch chefs need to be stopped. I stand by dinner, but brunch never again.
(2)
Kait H.
Amazing smoked pork tacos. Amazing. Great atmosphere, beer selection and friendly staff. Been here twice while visiting JP and have enjoyed it both times.
(4)
Art B.
I haven't been to this place since it was the alchemist. We gave it a try. We looked at the menu online and we saw that it had cheese fries. Unfortunately, they were only serving the brunch menu. We saw that there were fries and cheese so how hard is to make cheese fries. We asked the -not so friendly- waitress if we could have cheese fries. She went to ask the kitchen and came back with a "no". I don't really understand how hard it's to please a customer with such a simple request, specially when they were serving both, just separately. With some many good places to eat in JP, this place is going to have to try a bit harder if they want to stay open. They definitely oat my business.
(1)
Lisa H.
I'm torn about three or four stars. I'm going with three because of the overall experience -- but it's not a bad three. I really do think the place is okay and if you're in the area, I'd definitely go. In the five to six times I've been in the last few years, the food is mostly fine, the service usually good, and when things go wrong, the managers are responsive. I think that's reasonable. My dining companion tonight also ate there last night and definitely had a two star meal. On our visits, sometimes, the kitchen has been less than efficient which has made service slow. Last time a group of us ate there about four months ago the waiter didn't know the beer list as well as he might have and normally I wouldn't mind that but if you know less about beer than I do you shouldn't be acting like you know, with attitude. That particular night the service was also incredibly, ridiculously slow -- and I'm a relatively patient person and i get kitchens get backed up but this was a crazy long wait and folks near us who came in after were getting their food before us.... the waiter was not quite as responsive to our concerns as he might have been but he eventually passed us off to the manager who was appropriately responsive -- got the food out and comped us a round of drinks. Fair enough. But, that's all in the past. :) For tonight's meal I'd give a four. I had the eggplant lasagna and it was great. Tasty and yum. The side salad was nicely dressed. My companion had the chicken and said it was good. We had the garlic spread thing for appetizer -- if you like that sort of thing, it was good. The wine was good. I had the bartender's beer flight -- it was okay. The server -- Lauren, I think her name was -- was lovely and totally fine. AND, the runner who brought our food was also lovely and got questions we had answered by the kitchen staff and delivered the information to us beautifully. The manager checked in and was pleasant. The hostess was pleasant. What's to complain about? It was a good night at Canary Square.
(3)
Katie S.
I really want to like this restaurant. It has a lot going for it -- great location, great ambience, great music. The beer list has a lot of variety and the wine list had good options. The major problem is the food. The appetizers were fine, though probably because they didn't require any cooking. We got the charcuterie and cheese plate and the hummus plate and both were good. Our main meals were a mess. We waited almost an hour between appetizers and entrees with little explanation from the wait staff. My cousins ordered the skirt steak, one medium well, the other medium rare. The medium well steak came out burnt -- my cousin couldn't eat most of it. The other skirt steak came out medium to medium well, even though it was supposed to be medium rare. My sister got a burger, also ordered as medium well, also came out completely burnt. She couldn't eat most of it. I ordered the mac and cheese and it was dry and underseasoned. Some of the pasta wasn't cooked fully. The only good meal that we ordered were the pork tacos. Please find a new executive cook -- this place could be really great. But for now, I would only suggest getting drinks there and maybe appetizers.
(2)
Laura M.
3 stars for food: 4 stars for service. Great atmosphere. Wonderful servers. Good drinks. Been here plenty of times and food is always consistently okay. Suitable for a crowd. Lots of families with kids there from 5-8. CAVEATS: The burgers tend to always be overcooked. Order appropriately. And the food can be a bit salty. Drink lots of water. Get your salad dressing on the side, it's very basey. Once you know those things, you're golden. Good veggie burger. Yummy crispy cauliflower. BF loves the deviled eggs. Happy hour is a great value too if you can get there before 6!!
(4)
Jen G.
I live right around the corner and this has become my go-to! The food is good although the menu is small, but it rotates frequently. I am in love with their truffle mac 'n cheese and sangria, and they have a great craft beer list. Just wish they would take reservations!
(4)
Anne K.
Like Dana, I am shocked how low the ratings are for this place. We had a fantastic brunch there today with good service, food and drinks. We sat at the bar, and ordered the bacon bourbon bloody mary and the spicy pepper bloody mary - both were delish with a kick. My husband opted for the breakfast platter and I went with the BAT (bacon, avacado and tomato sandwich) with an egg. Our bartender was quick to serve and provide recommendations. We liked the place so much we stayed for a few more beers (a small but unique selection) - the fantastic weather allowed for the doors to the patio to be open so there was a great breeze. We will definitely be back.
(5)
Molly L.
In the last two years I have tried it twice and will not be back. I will forgive a lot when it comes to service, given that most things are not the waitstaff's fault, but both times the servers were surly and copped an attitude that made me feel uncomfortable. There are almost no veggie entrees on the menu (come on, this is JP!) and when I asked to have something, sans pork, the waitress didn't hide her annoyance. Also, in winter the front of the place is freezing due to the lack of a vestible or double doors. I live nearby and love the location, but mediocre food priced beyond its worth, coupled with bad service does not make me a returning customer.
(2)
Jess S.
I have been here a few times a couple years ago and was never impressed. The food was OK and the service was TERRIBLE. I came back for brunch a couple weeks ago in hopes for a better experience. The food was good, the drinks were great, and according to my boo, the beer selection is also great. The service was, obnoxious. Our bartender was just waaaaay too cool to care about being a good bartender. After strutting around behind the bar, he threw an empty wine bottle in a trash can (I assume) literally right in front of us, after receiving word of a "surprise double", which he let everyone know about. Lol. I could go on....but I won't. Big ups to the chef, and whoever is in charge of the bar. Thumbs down to the "super cool dude" behind the bar.
(3)
Jon S.
They do not seat you outdoors after 10pm. I feel this place doesn't sit well with some of the JP crowd because its a sports bar but I actually think this place is fun as hell - especially in summer! (I cant wait for the new patio to open. The burger was great but the fries are often over salted. The mac and cheese was wonderful but a bit too expensive. The drinks were pretty pricey too but the atmosphere is second to none in JP on a Fri/Sat night.
(4)
Fanasha D.
The drink selection is significantly better than the food. I am never impressed with their food, however, I do like the atmosphere and the staff is pleasant. It is conveniently located right on the corner of huntinton ave and centre st.
(4)
Lauren L.
There's nothing really good about this place, sadly. From the outside it's very pretty, and now that they have the outdoor seating assembled, it's downright inviting from an aesthetic point of view. Well, outside anyway... I like the lighting inside. It's unique and fun. Besides that, everything is laid out poorly and feels really forced. Chairs are uncomfortable and usually unavailable. The bar is crowded and doesn't accommodate eating that well. They prefer you only drink at the bar, and the night I was there, the bartender was nearly rude about it. The bar is definitely the worst area. It's crowded and very vertical compared to the rest of the space, and there's hardly space between the chair backs at the bar and the tight row of tables facing it for people to pass during game time. It makes the space artificially claustrophobic and adds to the unbalanced feeling in the restaurant. The food is a bit overpriced for the neighborhood, but even if it was more reasonable, it's really flat. Nothing is innovative or surprising, nothing is even downright tasty. It's all 'okay' and 'passable' and 'filling,' but that doesn't add up to a meal you genuinely enjoy. The beer selection, also overpriced, is innovative and unusual and changes often. I'd recommend finding the same thing up the street at Blanchard's for a lot less.
(2)
Adrienne T.
No, no, please don't go! STAY AWAY, FAR FAR AWAY! The food, at least the appetizers I had- jerk wings with some kind of yogurt sauce, beef skewers, and these awful fried monstrosities that they called "tater tots", was average at best, and overpriced. The real kicker? They MESS WITH YOUR MONEY/CREDIT CARD! Big no-no in my book. My dinner partner and I were clear about what was to be in cash, and what was to go on the card. The server did it wrong. Of course, it couldn't be fixed once he had run the card. He leaves and didn't return for 15 minutes WITH my card!! I don't like my card out of my sight for more than 5-7 minutes. I was advised to call back the next day and speak with the manager. I did, he was nice, said we're waiting for it to "drop off" of my card. We'll see. This wasn't my choice of places to eat. I had heard "so-so" reviews about it from friends who live in JP. My companion had been once before and really liked it, so she brought me. Really nice, trendy atmosphere, okay drinks-but on the weak side, and BAD, BAD music. Music doesn't match the trendy, sleek atmosphere.
(1)
Paul B.
Great beer list. Especially for the area. Music *was* a turn-off but it's improving lately. Definitely my go-to place to watch a game or have a low-key night when I lived around the corner. Food options are so-so. They took the best two items off the menu last year -- the red wine risotto and swiss chard and avocado sandwich. All in all, serves it's purpose.
(3)
Adelino G.
Jamaica Plain needs more restaurants like this. Canary square is great for a casual dinner, drinks, or a sports game. They also have a patio for warm weather. They have an extensive drink selection and plenty of beer on draft. The food is relatively cheap and what you would expect for the price. The service is slow at times, not sure if they are understaffed or the servers are stoned. Overall a nice spot for whatever occasion. Pro's: Olde English 40oz in a brown paper bag, Pork Tacos. Con's: Terribly slow service
(3)
Rona H.
Went with a party of 10 for a friend's birthday. At first, the waitstaff was very attentive with getting drinks and delivering food, but after the food was delivered, we waited an extremely long time for the bill. After a while, someone in the group got up and asked for the bill so that we could leave. I had the $14 macaroni. I've had better $1 boxes from Kraft cooked in a microwave. A few people in my group had the burger, and they commented that the texture of the burger seemed a little funny. Overall, the waitstaff was nice, but I just can't recommend the place at all because the food is expensive, and it doesn't even taste good.
(1)
Charmie S.
My first impression was great. It just happened to come from the bathroom. Awkward, yes. But the exceptionally clean facilities set the tone I guess. I ordered the wings and pulled pork tacos. I was in a large party and the waitress was very attentive although I was the last to arrive. The food was well done. I probably could've had the wings and be done. It's a big portion for an app. I felt I pushed it by ordering the tacos. It was tasty, too! Both were under $12 I recall. The only hangup was that the space was a bit tight for a large group. Not enough room to put plates. Other than that, a winner for JP!
(4)
Emily K.
I have been here three times, and each time I leave feeling satisfied and full. To begin, the atmosphere of the restaurant and bar is a delight for the senses. There is dim lighting, the TV's aren't blaring, the clear glass lights give a modern yet classic vibe, and the tables are far enough apart you feel like you're in your own little world. Simply stated, the drinks are fantastic! Their take on an Arnold Palmer was boozy yet true to form, their wine and beer selection will not leave you disappointed, and sangria is super yummy. Now, for the food. YUM! The pork tacos are heaven, the mac n'cheese with bacon was cheesy heaven for my tastebuds, and the black bean burger was the best bean burger I have ever had. The only thing that was disappointing was the dessert. I ordered the blueberry tart thinking it would be warm and blueberry heaven, but instead it came cold in what appeared to look like and taste like an old cracker. Anyway, Canary Square is a great place to bring friends, family, or just your sweetheart. If you're driving plan on parking on the street since there is no parking lot. But don't let that discourage you since there is ample street parking!
(4)
Corey L.
Went with a group of friends on a Friday night. Good beer selection, good food (though a bit pricier than it should be), including the salads with chicken, pork tacos (very tasty), and chocolate bread pudding. Music is fun (maybe a bit loud) and the place is pretty cool. Also, Emmie the bartender is cool. Tip her a lot if you meet her.
(3)
Emily P.
I live close by, and want to love this place, but it's tough. The rotating menu is in MHO, it's major downfall. I've been here probably 10 times, and about 5 of those I left disappointed. On our most recent visit, we split a pasta dish, that was inedibly spicy. I was waiting for the server to come back, but she was relatively MIA, and once she did, my boyfriend (never one to turn down food), had soldiered on and eaten most of his. So, we couldn't really make them take my portion back, but we still told her and showed her the pepperflakes swimming on my plate. To her credit, she went and told the manager, and by his body language, it was clear that he didn't care. We also got the mussels, which perviously had been delicious, but they changed the recipe, and were just not nearly as good. I have had good meals here before, but it's not worth the gamble. They have an extensive beer menu, so if you want that to be the focus of your evening, I'm sure this is the place for you. However, if you want reliably delicious food, look elsewhere.
(2)
John D.
Once again this place disappoints. I live nearby and I want so bad to like it but the food and service make it impossible. I wanted to order a beer on tap, but I couldn't decide due to the huge selection of a lot of beers that I did not know. The waitress was absolutely no help. She gave me attitude because I wasn't ordering quick enough for her. She just stood over me waiting for my order. The beer was not a good choice ( my bad?) give me the Galway House or the Haven any day!
(1)
D P.
I had an amazing burger here the other night. The desert menu still lacks the amazing Butterscotch Bread Pudding.
(4)
Mark M.
Ate there recently, food is completely mediocre but the staff was nice and the outdoor seating looked pleasant. Avoid the razor clams!
(3)
Philip M.
You never know what to expect at Canary Square. Some dishes/days it's 4-5 stars, others are 1-2 stars. So it averages out to a solid 3 star experience. It's very hit or miss. Having been here a few times, I really want to love this place. It's extremely versatile with outdoor seating, a cool looking bar, dinner, brunch, and a good location. Prices are decent too. Came here recently for a Sunday brunch around 1pm. The waitress was attentive and nice, as usual. I was annoyed that the brunch menu online isn't the same one that's at the restaurant. We ordered the breakfast fries and they were amazing. When it came to the main dish, the country fried steak...it was a solid 1 star dish. My boyfriend got the same dish and his was just as bad. The steak was way overcooked to the point that even my starving, hungover self could not eat certain portions of it even with ketchup smeared on it. The potato wedge fries that came with the main dish were tragic as it had some terrible aftertaste we couldn't pinpoint. And the eggs were meh at best and lukewarm temperature wise. The other times I've been here, it's been just as hit or miss. Like I said, I really want to love this concept and restaurant but it's nowhere close to 4 or 5 stars. After a few tries here, I've given up and don't want to chance it with a "miss" dish again.
(3)
Orla S.
Food was good, nice atmosphere etc but service was extremely slow. I will try it again though.
(3)
Mantis T.
Returned here a day or so after Christmas 2013. Service was better, food was okay. Glad that things were better than they were the last time I came, but still nothing to write home about.
(3)
Kevin R.
First of all, if I was writing based on today's experience it would be 5+ stars..... But I'm not. I have had some of the best meals and the worst meals at canary sq. My boyfriend and I once got the salty pig plate and dreamed about it for weeks, then last time it was literally olive loaf on a cutting board for $14. I was also there once and the fries with my burger were too salty to eat. And I like salt. But tonight. Out waitress was Sarah. She was quick with the drinks (I like to drink) and ensured me that this time the salty pig plate would be up to par, and it was. She made sure my fries were perfectly salted and the burgers were done right. She didn't even write anything down and our order came out just as ordered. If I could ensure that Sarah was there every time I would come here weekly if not daily. The burgers are always phenomenal and the atmosphere (especially the large outdoor patio) is second to none, especially in JP. The one thing that irks me is the inconsistency of the food- I'm no fine diner, but when I fall in love with a dish I don't expect it to be completely different the next time I come. Luckily, sarah saved the day with her amazing personality and knowledge of the menu. We will be sure to come back and ask for her again.
(4)
Eve R.
I went to Canary Square for my birthday last week, and it was a great place to celebrate! Extensive beer list, great cocktails, and our waitress was very helpful. We loved the black bean burger, tuna, and burgers, but would not recommend the steamers or mac and cheese. The desserts were great too!
(4)
Chas K.
It's disappointing to see all the knocks on Canary Square's service - both food servers and bartenders. An email I sent to info@canarysquare.com was undeliverable as owner Michael Moxley's account is "overquota." Check your email, dude. Anyway, here's most of what I wrote in the email: "If you're reading this message, I'm guessing that you are a manager or owner. Have you read the Yelp reviews about Canary Square? If not, you ought to take a look. A consistent theme through many, many of the 178 reviews is inattentive service that includes long disappearing acts. I had the same experience, though due to the quality of the food, friendliness of the server and the beautiful afternoon, I had a great time and gave you 4 stars anyway. I wouldn't be as forgiving next time about the server taking off for 20+ minutes and leaving us surrounded by dirty dishes and empty glasses. The bartenders are really getting slammed for bad attitudes by a lot patrons. I didn't have any firsthand experience with mixologists. So why am I bothering to write? For starters, I love Coda and would like to see Canary succeed. I also love the menu and the space. Hopefully, by pointing out the obvious, validated flaws in service you can address them. Canary got the menu, food and ambiance right. Seems time to fix the service. Take my feedback for what it's worth."
(4)
Karen R.
I've gone to Canary Square a few times after work with some co-workers. Each time I go, I become more and more dissatisfied with it. The most recent time I went was a few days ago. We had called in advanced to reserve the back booth, which they had said was no problem. When we got there, the booth was unavailable for us and our party of 15 had to hang out at 4 disconnected tables by the bar. It then took over 30 minutes to get drinks and our waitress was unfriendly at best. This time around, I knew better than to order any food... The previous times I had been there the food was downright gross. The first time I went, I had the hummus & pitas, which I found to be awkward as the pitas slices were warm but the hummus was cold (it really should be the other way around). The second time I went, a co-worker got the giant pretzel, which none of us could eat because it was so hard that we were concerned we were going to crack our tooth on it. In general, I find this place to be way over-rated and there are definitely better hang-out places in JP.
(2)
Christian K.
I'm just going to be clear here: this is a casual experience. Don't be fooled by the exposed light bulb/industrial chic look that you might find also find somewhere more expensive... this is not a reservations-only kind of a place (except, maybe on a Friday night at 8pm.) But it's absolutely worth standing around near the bar for 20 minutes if it comes to that. It's great to see a decent generational mix of JPers here. Reinforces my like of the 'hood. Yeah, the servers are a little on the young side, and half of them are just masquerading as foodies. And no, not every dish is perfect. But here's the thing: most of the dishes are. Like, perfect. And it's very consistent. AAnnd it won't break the bank. Props for having a real bar in a setting like this one. Sometimes you have to trade ambience for quality. Not so here. There's a $6 Fernet cocktail called "the last call," brilliant. I have yet to actually stick around until closing, but when I do I will order a round of these and enjoy the varied expressions of the faces of my companions. This is a place to bring a bunch of your friends and try as much of the menu as you can. They rotate through little shareable appetizer/side dishes. They had these totally perfect deviled eggs at one point. Truffled fries. Artisinal meatballs. I've had a fantastic burger or two here, but I've also sprung for salmon which was delish. Whoever is running the kitchen is good people... Let's hope the management/ownership doesn't get listless and try and change too many good things, as this place has really hit its stride :)
(4)
Jessica H.
So apparently they took off that amazing vegan meal off their menu and now vegans are left with sub par side dishes. BOOO. Really, you're gonna be located in JP and not offer a vegan meal? Anyways, looks like I won't come back anymore. Total disappointment, I still think about that great tofu dish you had when you first opened and now to come again and see nothing on the menu I can eat except a salad and sides is a total fail. Get a vegan dish back on your menu yo, I trusted you and encouraged everyone to go!
(3)
Melinda N.
I know its really hard to get 5 stars but seriously, this place was impressive. we did have to wait a little bit between drinks and ordering our food but the server said that they were down two servers so i completely understand. me and my two girlfriends were content just chatting anyways. the server was real nice. it was one of my friend's belated bday and so we had a cake brought to the restaurant prior and after the meal, she brought the cake out and it was a nice surprise for the bday girl. the drink i got was sooooo good. the arborway has prosecco, st. germain and lime. i loved it. the food was delicious! i ate mine, and helped my friend eat hers. i ordered the haddock. whatever the sauce was, i wish i could've licked the plate! but we ordered cheese fries so i dipped fries in that instead =P my friend got a salad with bacon dressing. that was delicious too. the greens look very green and crisp. there were sweet walnuts in it. best salad. the bday girl ordered meatless spaghetti. we were expecting red sauce, but the surprise was good, it was tasty. the portions were perfect and the overall atmosphere was one where you could chat but not feel like you had to be quiet. it was a wednesday night. quite busy. people were out in the patio. wish we could've had seats there. i love the high ceilings. i would def come here again to try their other selections. i also liked how they use local products from allandale farm and had vegetarian options.
(5)
Stephanie K.
I visited Canary Square for the first time last Wednesday and needless to say I will not be going back. When we were sat at our table we ordered a bottle of the 2010 Victor Hugo, Cabernet. When the bottle was brought out we saw that it was really 2011 cabernet. After mentioning it to our server that it says 2010 on the menu we asked her to check to see if they had another bottle. She returned and said no they don't, they only have 2011. In my opinion the restaurant should probably update their wine list to be accurate. Our food came out and that was the best part about our experience. When the bill came, we asked to split it between 3 cards, pretty simple math. Our server returned saying my card was declined and that she tried running it multiple times. I then checked my bank account thinking it was strange and she had wound up running my card for an obscure amount of 83 dollars. After leaving the restuarant one of the other guests checked his bank account and saw that the server had charged his card 4 different times for all different amounts. The charge to my account is still pending even after I spoke to the server and the manager about it.
(2)
Cynthia M.
Pretty restaurant in the middle of a very residential area. My husband and I were walking to the Samuel Adams Brewery and decided to stop by here on the way for a bite. The restaurant is very open and airy and we came at around 1145am and it was still pretty empty. There were complimentary pickles to start which were quite tasty. I ordered the deviled eggs and a side of the macaroni and cheese, while my husband had the cheeseburger and fries. Everything was very good and we finished it all. The deviled eggs were perfectly prepared (though they only gave three halves, where did the other half go???) The mac and cheese was just the right amount of creamy without being too rich. It was a good sized portion for a side dish and the panko bread crumbs topping added a good contrast in textures. My husband gobbled up all his burger and the fries were crispy and well seasoned. Overall a nice lunch to get us ready for the brewery! Recommended if you happen to be stuck in this restaurant deficient area of Boston!
(4)
Erik G.
As is apparently the case with everyone else who lives in JP, I want very badly to like this place. So very badly. It's in a great location, has patio seating, and is a little anchor of stability after ten years of endless rotation of restaurants through the same location. And on paper, Canary Square is the bee's knees. The owners also run Coda in the South End and Red's in Rozzie, both of which fight way above their weight class. The beer list is solid-to-spectacular depending on the day. The drink list looks amazing. The menu is a little limited, but seems like it would offer the same consistency that makes Coda so good. And yet, as is ever the case, the devil is in the details. I've been there three times now, and have been disappointed on every visit. I've never had a good mixed drink here. That's partly my fault, because when I see wacky drinks on a menu, my inner six-year-old comes out and I order what inevitably turns out to be a saccharine citrus-y mess. But on Friday they made me a terrible muddled-mint-and-whiskey drink, and damnit, no bartender worth his salt should screw up a mint julep. The food is equally vexing. Some of their options are totally respectable (the spiced almond and pickle appetizers are great, if a little pricey, and I really enjoyed my wife's pulled pork tacos), but the inconsistency is maddening. I've had the hangar steak, and found it to be oversalted to the point of inedibility. The burger had some weird texture things going on with it (and again, let me point out that these are the same people who serve Boston's best burger a few miles up in the South End, which somehow makes the insult even graver) and came out medium-well when I asked for mid-rare. The mac and cheese is simply not good. But they are at least very earnest, which is why I still can't write them off completely. The waitstaff is engaging and attentive, the beer list is really impressive (I know, I know--healer, heal thyself: stop ordering weird cocktails and stick with the taps), and if they could sort out the chef situation, I'd be here all the time. So, for now, I guess I'll keep checking back in every six months or so.
(2)
Allison B.
I have been here several times - the food is ok and the service vary. The servers/host are always nice and friendly, but it sometimes can take forever to get help. I would recommend their beer selection - try flight of beer! Also, beware they tend to run out of dishes throughout the night.
(3)
Dana G.
I am shocked at the low ratings for csquare. You can't beat Founders on tap......unless you somehow get some Surly up in here...=) Excellent beer selection which you can check up on via twitter, veggie options (the black bean burger has some kick!), $1 oysters (Mondays, I think?) and half price snacks for certain happy hours (4p-6p), clean bathrooms and lots of space. My only gripes are that the omelettes are small for brunch. We make up for it by having bloodies, I guess.
(4)
Sara M.
Someone must have been listening to the gripes posted on yelp, because the service at brunch on Sunday was impeccable. Our waiter was attentive and entertaining. My man friend and I split the french toast (there is no way one person can finish this, although our waiter claims he saw a ten year-old take this thing to task) and the sausage and potatoes. All were awesome. The french toast is breaded in cornflakes for extra crunch and is topped with bourbon maple syrup which was really good. We walked out fat and happy, and eager to return.
(5)
Fab S.
We went back and, what can I say, shame on me! Food was fantastic this time around. I did think service was on the slow side, but we were very pleased with our entrees this time, had an amazing tuna steak!
(4)
Allison R.
Since I'm unlikely to venture back to the vortex that is JP anytime soon, I'll throw in my 2 cents on Canary Square. I made a Saturday wedding party reservation for 12 people, and the man taking my call was helpful and professional. I was looking to serve dessert and since they charge a $4 plating fee, I opted for their whole chocolate cheesecake. Backing up for a sec...Canary Square has an awesome website. Really cool. The background shows you what the bar looks like. Anyway, the spot is cool (former location of the Alchemist). Some outdoor seating. Cool natural light. Extensive draft list, and it was cool of our waiter to let us grab a sample paddle of beers, even though they don't do that. Crazy long drink menu, and I wish I'd tried the bacon bloody mary. Mimosas and beer/bloody marys on offer too. I didn't find the staff overly attentive or quick, considering the size of our party. I don't mind when food and drinks take a while with a big group, but I felt like we waited at least 10 minutes to have drink orders taken. They also couldn't (?) issue separate tabs. And, we reminded them a slew of ways about the cake, but they didn't seem to know what was up. It did come out at the end of the meal with some nudging, and they forgot(?) to charge us for it, so that all equals out to okay. Plus, it was really freaking good. So were the eggs, thick-cut bacon, homefries, and fruit. We got fancy schmancy toast too, which isn't my cup of tea but was good. I eyed an avocado and swiss omelet with envy, and drooled over the cheeseburger. I didn't get an adult beverage, but wouldn't hesitate to snag a BM or a mimosa with fresh-squeezed OJ. So, the food rocks, there are a lot of drinks to choose from, prices are reasonable, ambiance is nice. I'm never in JP, so I probably won't come back, but will suggest this spot to others in the area.
(3)
IntricateWeeski O.
The service was horrible. Our waitress gave attitude and kept messing up the order. When we asked her to check on an ingredient due to a food allergy she asked if "it will kill me". Uh...even if I just break out in hives it's a big deal. It took 3 times of asking to finally get her to check. In the end I ordered the bacon Mac and cheese and it was the worst I've ever had. My friends steak came well undercooked but the lamb was good. Especially because of the bad service and how over priced it is for the lack of quality in the food I would not recommend it.
(1)
Christina M.
The food is good but the service for Sunday brunch is awful and no communication from the management. Very unhappy.
(1)
Jason H.
Not to be redundant, but this place has so much potential and yet fails to deliver. That said, I continue to come here for the beer and because it's fun. Food is incredibly inconsistent. Occasionally, the charcuterie boards are downright spectacular. I've had some of the best appetizers around, here. But the entree's are very hit or miss- usually miss. Atmosphere is pretty awesome and the patio is nice. Beer list is probably the most extensive in JP, so I keep getting sucked back in. A little more effort on consistency of the food and service would take this place from 3 or 3.5 stars to 4, easily.
(3)
Mike O.
I've been holding out as long as possible on reviewing the newly opened (and much hyped) Canary Square, but I can't any longer!! After coming here for opening night and then several times after, I can't even bring myself to order the food. I suspected early on that the kitchen needed to work out some of the (what's the word?) kinks and that perhaps the waitstaff were slowly acclimating to the constraints of the new establishment and its clientele, but the learning curve should not be set at a distant time yet to be determined. This place is flat out awful! Poor service, poor food, and while its has a wonderfully charming layout and decor, very little can be said for anything else. The beer list contains a wide selection of favorites though and that should be duly noted. A lot of people had positive and negative things to say about the Alchemist, but by in large the food was well, decent, and it was another option in the area that didn't suck. What's odd to me is that Canary Sq is located in Hyde Sq, but seemingly wanting to hold to the letter "C" the owners have seen fit to call this whatever they wanted, in peculiar fashion. Maybe it's owned by the Count from Cesame Ctreet; I call it Crap. For real though, I know it's named posthumously after a U.S. serviceman. I've had a wide variety of menu items and be assured all are bland, unimaginative, boring, and overpriced except for the desserts. The deep fried Twinky is pretty good, but it's not worth eating an entire meal there, unless of course you like your sauce poured directly from the can to the plate, your burgers frozen, and your seafood frozen; then this is a perfectly fine choice. Most of the servers never frequent your table as you would come to expect and make you feel as though you're wasting their time. I'm specifically talking about the tall, bald guy with glasses, Sean? Make this your drink destination if it's a must, but don't even think you'll be able to get a seat on a Friday or Saturday night. They really ought to just cut the dining room in half and extend the bar area or add another in the middle of the room, a really BIG bar! I would conclude things with "get your act together or else..." but judging by the patrons that frequent Canary I know that management is under no pressure to make things better. Oddly enough, this is the wrong Boylston St. for this sort of establishment!
(2)
Terrence H.
I had the Centre Street cocktail, which was good. Too bad the bartender ignored my party composed of rich minorities.
(2)
Kate L.
Great place for drinks and apps, but not great for dinner or an entree. I've consistently had great cocktails here. The jerk wings and the sauce they come with are delicious. I love the outside area they have, but I've consistently had bad entrees. I get the overwhelming feeling that they are trying too hard to be something they are not. Don't serve a bad steak when you can serve a great burger. Additionally, I've had bad service, which I think is due to lack of experience. If a costumer doesn't like the beer you recommended, you should get him a new one. Good atmosphere to meet friends for drinks, but head somewhere else for a meal.
(3)
Alana F.
I know, from watching too many cooking shows, that I'm supposed to use descriptive words, that phrases like "so delicious" and "scrum-diddly-umptious" do nothing for you. So here is goes: this place is balmy...and...boozy. Okok. Confession: I usually only come here to drink things of the alcoholic persuasion on their outdoor patio and laugh and exercise all my bourgeoise energies so, when I go to Brendan Behans after, the real JP-ers (read: not my post-grad friends, not the young families with babies and strollers and stories about their babies in their strollers) don't spit on my asymmetrical hair cut or acid wash jeans. Now you're wondering if I have either of those things. I'll keep you in suspense. But not in suspense about everything. Back to Canary: their drinks are good, are cheaper than the other fancy outdoor place (tres gatos--down the street FYI), and they don't hate you when your friends keep showing up and your party of 4 grows like bacteria into a party of 9, loud, twentysomethings all only ordering mojitos (that reminds me, order the mojito) and showing no signs of moving. For that alone they deserve 5 stars. And so it shall be given. Oh, and all the low-star-ers seem to have beef (mehmehmeh) with the burgers and the servers. I've had a burger there and, while it wasn't revelatory, it was juicy, cooked properly, and their house made A-1 sauce is tangy and sweet and the right amount of BBQ/ mesquite marinadey. And the waitress gave me beer samples, never once forgot about me, and was cute to boot...can't remember if she was wearing boots.... Anyway, sounds like some panties where in some bad kinda twists.
(5)
chandra d.
Upon arriving, the hostess told us there would only be a 10 minute wait. I had a good feeling about the place as I looked around the non-pretentious room with warm ambiance. Appetizer: We ordered the chicken mole appetizer, which seemed more like a tapa dish then a bigger appetizer, but I was happy with that. It was quite delicious with a tasty mole sauce and tender pork. Food: We ordered the braised short ribs with polenta, in addition to the Frisee salad with chestnuts. My girlfriend and i split the short ribs and were fighting over the last bits of short rib and polenta left on the plate! The salad had a refreshing citrus-inspired dressing along with hazelnuts, potatoes and mushrooms. The light salad was a great pairing with the rich short ribs. The salad was huge, so we were right in splitting it. Drinks: my friend ordered the Pumpkin Southern Tier which is a nutmeg infused delicious beer. I had the Midnight Cellars Syrah and Van Gogh Cab, which were spicy and sweet paired with the short ribs. Dessert: We justified ordering the chocolate bread pudding with salty caramel sauce because we had only split a dinner and salad It was chocolatey and salty caramel goodness rolled into one. Recommendation: If you are the type that needs to shove huge portions of no taste food down your gullet, this place is not for you. Otherwise, please visit Canary Square in Jamaica Plain!
(4)
Angel M.
Currently waitlisted for their grand opening. Looks awesome, brb. Im singing like a canary for the food here. The deviled eggs were served with diced olives. The housemade chili was savory, not sweet. The roasted chicken salad was the best part, it had this awesome bacon vinaigrette on it. The BBQ pulled chicken sandwich lacked something, or it may have been that there was too much sauce and not enough chicken, usually its the other way around. The wood grilled hamburger was served perfectly on its delicious black pepper brioche. The fried twinkies were really awesome, with the powdered sugar we were reminded of a big town fair. The drinks were just drinks, nothing special, the selection of beers was nice. The Centre Street with Jim Bean was a really weak drink, but some people like it like that, the imperfect manhattan was okay too. The dogfish head and the hefeweizen and the porter and the mayflower and the leatherlips were all good. I came back later for the drinks, wasnt really taken with the red wines by the glass...but whatever. I understand its a new restaurant, and it was opening night, so here are things im willing to forgive: awfully slow service our meals came out at different times really wierd smell (new restaurant?) the music was awesome, but loud... was it a sports bar? I think in due time, this place will find its flow and be able to handle a larger crowd of people, until then, AWESOME FOOD!
(4)
Rod S.
Awesome food and atmosphere. Definitly will return next time I am in the area
(4)
Megan N.
My family recently held a private memorial service at Canary Square, and we could not have been better taken care of. Bryce and his staff were thoroughly accommodating, quick to respond to our requests, and basically allowed us to use the space as we saw fit. The servers and bar staff were friendly and quick, while remaining unobtrusive. Although we had gathered for a sad reason, the crew at Canary Square played a large part in making a tough day a bit easier to deal with. Much thanks and appreciation.
(5)
D L.
Great food and beer selection, but mediocre service on weekends. Always a bit of a wait on the weekends for a table at night (sometimes up to an hour so be prepared to wait a bit (or get a drink at the bar). Their menu changes a lot ( canarysquare.com/dinner is usually up to date), but I really like the deviled eggs, black bean burger, and the butterscotch bread pudding is SO GOOD. I wouldn't recommend this place for groups of more than 4-5 really, unless you make a reservation. The mac and cheese has always been kinda mehh so I'd skip that one. The notebooks that the checks come in are pretty hilarious, too.
(3)
Richard R.
The food was !!AWESOME!! and I'm both a chef and a foodie. The creme brulee was ok but everything else we had was delicious. the service was top notch. I'm planning to visit again soon.
(4)
Doctor W.
Before launching into what might be perceived as a biased diatribe that can be written off as based on a bad experience at a place that's just getting off the ground, let me offer some context: 1. My wife and I really wanted to like this place. 2. We had read the yelp reviews to date and were ready to give the benefit of the doubt (see #1) since we live really close 3. We're recent transplants to JP, so I'm not really nostalgic for anything, so the negative review isn't some sort of knee-jerk reaction to change (alchemist was perfectly fine IMO, mind you) 4. This is my inaugural yelp review - was waiting for the right moment. So here goes: My wife and I had been thinking about trying Canary Square for a while, but figured it would be best to wait a little while while they worked out the kinks. A couple of weeks post-opening, we decided to give it a go. Act I - The Plot Builds We arrived around 6 on a Saturday night. (I had called ahead and was told that they don't take reservations for parties less than 6) given that we are = 2, we were advised to get in before 6:30 PM as it would be very crowded after that. Anyway, we were seated promptly, although instead of being seated at any one of the numerous empty regular tables in the dining room, we were encouraged to take one of the high tops at the bar. Fine, whatevs. Menus arrive. Beer list is ok, not as good as Alchemist's was or The Haven's is. Cocktails are on the back of the menu. Pretty much the usual gamut of "reimagined classics" and something or other with St. Germain in it. By the way, who orders these? But I digress. Cocktails were perfectly serviceable, but kind of weird to have with pickles. Mrs. ordered the crepe (mushroom and spinach w/ onion jam) app and roasted chicken entree (comes w/ brussels sprouts + bacon, but Mrs. asks for no bacon). I went with the chili and pulled chicken sandwich, with a side of "fresh greens". Our orders go in and we wait, a bit on the longish side, but nothing like the other horrorshow reviews here. Group next to us seems generally pleased, so I'm hoping for the best. Apps arrive - crepes unmemorable, and filling very oily (didn't know canola oil is a condiment). Chili is a hot mess. Spicy, which is good, but not a good kind of spicy. Aggressive up front heat with no real flavor. Tasted like I opened a can of five different things that are in chili, heated them up separately, and then threw them in a bowl with some undercooked beans. Dizz Ass Ter. Act II. Whodunnit? After that stellar opening act, the entrees arrive. My sandwich looks completely innocuous. Wife's chicken looks good, except for a piece of meat in the bowl that looks suspiciously like bacon. One of the benefits to being married to a non-pork eater is that I get to confirm/deny the presence of pork. As a pork lover, I am up to the challenge. So there is definitely a piece of bacon in those brussels sprouts, in fact quite a delicious piece. And the sprouts are bathed in a nice-looking sheen of sauce that can be generated only from the magical healing powers of meat of porcine origin. Definitely bacon up in there. Anyway, we send it back, along with the "fresh greens" side, which I mistakenly assumed were, well, cooked greens, but were actually a side salad (yes, I'm the ignorant Texan who sees chili, pulled meat sanwich and cole slaw on a menu and assumes that there's cooked greens available) 30 seconds later, the same 2 plates we sent back are on their way back to our table. The entree because the chef claims that there was definitely no bacon on the plate (maybe because I ate it?) and the greens, well, I still don't know why those came back. Manager basically confronts us and maintains that there is no bacon in there, and that it tastes bacon-y because the chicken is cooked on a wood burning grill. So wife orders the vegetable lasagna. Act III. Sad denouement. I muddle my way through the sandwich, which was totally average. Lasagna rolls out about 10 minutes later. Points for them having expedited that, but the interior of the lasagna is cold. Also, this dish is terrible. Given that the story is getting long, here's the high (low) points of that dish: 1. It's a stack of sliced, grilled vegetables. Super super smoky grilled vegetables. Not much cheese in sight. I assume these vegetables were cooked on the same magical baconizing grill, but the result basically tastes like smoking 3 marlboro reds while drinking a V-8. 2. Lots and lots of vegetable skins. Eggplant skins are foregiveable, but winter squash skins? Seriously? Apparently that new mandolin does a bang up job. We made a nice pile of all that rind-y goodness on my plate, which I pretended was a diorama of a fur trapper's camp in the old west, only instead of muskrat, he was trapping butternut squash If you made it this far, thanks, and apologies. I think you could say we won't be back.
(1)
Paula P.
Canary Square is one of the most versatile neighborhood restaurants you could hope for. Want a drink with some friends out on the patio on a warm spring afternoon? done. Want to go out on a "date night" to somewhere that feels nice but isn't actually particularly fancy? done. Want a cider and a burger after watching the Boston marathon? done (somehow this has become a tradition). Anyway, you get the point, it satisfies on many levels ranging from a quick drink to apps to having a nice meal. I think Christian K. had it right - not everything on the menu is perfect, BUT it's pretty darn close. Of the roughly 25 times I've been here, I've only been (mildly) disappointed with the food once and it's that consistently high quality that keeps me and the bf coming back. The menu rotates a fair amount which keeps things interesting and seasonally-appropriate, though it does mean that sometimes my favorite dishes get replaced. They stopped serving a red wine risotto which had become my go-to comfort food this past fall, but it's ok, because now they have chicken mole nachos which are AMAZING (and make a perfect meal when paired with the pulled pork tacos). You can easily make a meal out of apps here or if you're feeling like you need something more, one of their mains will certainly satisfy. As far as drinks go, I'm allergic to beer, so I can't comment on the beer selection, but based on how excited the bf gets about it, I'd say it's pretty solid, and they usually have a cider on tap which I appreciate. The wines by the glass list, though not huge, is really well curated in my opinion, I've gotten into 2 different grapes I wasn't familiar with because of wines I tried here. The cocktails are great too, there's definitely something for everyone on there list. And the last thing, I'm sure that it doesn't hurt that we're regulars, but the staff here is so friendly, and they have been since day one. Service is always good, whether it's packed or totally quiet in there. Over the holidays they gave out little gift bags to some of their regular customers with homemade treats, I thought this was such a nice idea. It's one thing to do something nice for a customer who wasn't satisfied with their experience, but I think it goes above and beyond to do something like this for your regulars who you know are going to come back again regardless.
(5)
Dennis L.
First time I've been to this place. We got the charcuterie "Salty Pig Board" and the cauliflower for appetizers and they were both really good. Got the burger via a recommend from out server and it was friggin delish! Cooked perfectly. There was a good selection of beers and the ambiance was nice. Definitely would recommend you give this place a try.
(4)
Richard A.
Overpriced for the food they serve, tepid waitstaff, and weak drinks. JP is really starved for places so I went back to canary square and my original opinion was confirmed.
(1)
J K.
Good but overpriced. So many people on okcupid dates. The fish tacos are pretty awesome, though. It's worth the giggle of ordering a fish taco. (What? Everyone was thinking it.) Good beers on tap.
(3)
Sebastian Y.
I really want to like Canary Square, with its sleek, modern interior and long wooden bar, the immediate impression of the place is chic but understated, with a good beer selection. The food however is very inconsistent, the first time I got a burger here it was cooked to medium rare perfection on a brioche roll with lettuce, tomato and aioli already on the plate, the second time around a month later I was served a rock hard bullet of meat on a potato roll with no condiments, no lettuce/tomato and what can only be described as a hastily arranged cacophony of french fries thrown on the plate. The oysters too used to be meaty and a great deal for $1 during happy hour every day, now they're only served on Mondays. The oysters i got yesterday were anemic and truly the most pathetic plate of small oysters I've ever had, not even worth $1 a piece. Come here for the beer and nothing else, the bartenders are really nice and seem to know what they're doing, and the waitstaff in general is really wonderful, only wish the kitchen kept up with them.
(2)
Jazzie F.
I went here recently for brunch -- it was really good. Except maybe I was annoyed that my dish came w/ bacon so when I said no bacon they didn't add anything or offered anything in replacement for it but charged me for bacon. But it was a good experience, and I really like this place. I am looking fwd to trying out their brunch cocktails next time!
(4)
Phil H.
This is the place in JP that I want to love, but seems to always disappoint me. I keep going back for the: 1. Awesome beer and craft cocktail selection 2. Eclectic menu 3. Hip and comfortable atmosphere 4. Outdoor patio and walls that move to open the entire restaurant to the outdoors Here are a few of the experiences I've had there over the last year (on a few occasions): Service 1. Standing at the front door for 15 minutes waiting for a host/employee to help me 2. Getting seated and then waiting another 15-20 minutes for someone to come over 3. Watching people that could be helping me just hanging around and talking to coworkers or doing other things 4. Parts of the table's food/drink order being completely forgotten 5. The food runners bring you your food and have no clue who ordered what 6. No one noticing your empty drinks or lack of napkins/silverware at the table Food 1. The jerk chicken wings are not at all spicy - which means they are not jerk 2. The bottom of asparagus stems are tough, fibrous and basically inedible - please cut them off for me 3. Entree plates which look like a bunch of things were just thrown together on the plate. This place could be great, but they are just overlooking too many details on the food and the service staff seems to be lacking an element of leadership/teamwork. A place at this price-point that shows so much promise should be better about these kinds of things.
(2)
Mark G.
Was excited to check this place out having enjoyed The Alchemist in the former space. Host said wait would be 25 minutes. OK sounds good. Proceeded to see several tables open the entire time we were waiting which never got filled. Confused, we asked the host and wait staff only to get snide replies. Eventually sat after about 60 minutes. Obviously did not create a good vibe for the dinner. Food was decent and beers pretty good but simply could not make up for the atrocious service. Will not be back.
(2)
paula z.
Canary Square used to be a favorite place of ours for brunch on the weekend. We would often go there both mornings. They had wonderful music and great food. However, someone a few weeks ago got the bright idea to ONLY serve their brioche bread as the ONLY choice for brunch. (Who makes these dumb decisions???) Anyway, they used to serve great multi-grain toast for breakfast. The brioche stuff is too sweet for anything other than french toast. It tastes awful with every other breakfast menu item, in my opinion. Too bad! Their bacon, avocado, tomato breakfast sandwich used to be my favorite and my husband loved the omelet. They have wonderful servers and staff people. Someone rescue Brunch for them! We won't go back there until we have another bread choice....and, yes, it does make a difference. Sorry!! Canary Square.....Come back to the light..........
(2)
Melissa F.
Reading through some of the reviews, it seems Canary Square is hit or miss. I've been there twice and they both were hits. I moved to JP last May and only recently tried Canary Square. Man I've been missing out. First off I love beer (see my other reviews) and this place has a pretty good selection. Pretty Things on tap always makes me happy. The food is good too. I have tried the pulled pork tacos, the mac and cheese and the crispy cauliflower. The tacos were really tasty, especially when paired with their hot sauce. Nice and spicy. The mac and cheese was also really good, and the crispy cauliflower was a perfect portion as an app before your meal, or as a side if you're just snacking. The vibe inside is very cool. I guess that's what people expect from a bar in JP? I'm so glad I finally came here because this is now my new go to bar and it's down the street from me.
(4)
Hannah R.
I went here pretty often when this place first opened--I liked the food, I liked the cocktails, and I loved the beer selection. Plus, the wait staff are quirky and fun to talk to. However, over the last 6-8 months, it seems like the prices have gone up and the quality of the food hasn't improved to match. Brunch looks good on paper, but in practice it's bland, and the bloodys are just disappointing. Dinner is good, but I don't eat pork and that leaves me with maybe one entree that isn't a hamburger. I do love the cheese fries though. At this point, I'd only go here for happy hour-type drinks.
(3)
Allison W.
I am so surprised to see all the bad reviews on here - we have been 3 times and have had great experiences each time. My family has several individuals who eat gluten free, and this place has one of the best gluten free menus for a pub style restaurant that we have found... their fryer is gluten free so you can have the French fries (this is a luxury for gf folks) and they have wings and ribs that are gf as well. I typically get the burger, it's very good, and we had the pot pie our last visit as well, also very good and both were large portions. Service was good, although they seemed a little under staffed, they went the extra mile and brought us a free item for tasting and kept smiles on their faces the whole time. Also brought our young son (less than 1 yr) on a weeknight and found this place to be family friendly and able to accommodate our needs for space for his stroller at the table (not sure if it's also family friendly on weekends). Overall this is one of our go to places when we want something casual, easy and for entertaining visitors.
(5)
Alissa S.
Would give 3.5 stars if I could. Have mixed feelings about this place and prefer both Coda and Common Ground above it (mostly think the food is better at both of those, and like the DJ/dancing aspect at Common Ground). I absolutely love the Mothers Ruins, although I don't know why they changed the recipe from Hendricks so that now I have to special request them with it. Always enjoy brunch here, too, and it works great as a brunch-turns-into-Sunday-funday-once-the-game-Âstarts kind of place due to the TVs. They don't discourage that and you can easily end up staying for the day. Again- good deal. Also appreciate the outdoor seating, which is surprisingly hard to find in JP (I think James's Gate is one of the only other places with it?) Still, overall I'm just not a fan of the menu, think it's pretty limited, and have mostly found the food meh,
(4)
Inci K.
I am grateful to Canary Square because they have been really supportive to the community. That's not easy for a small business to pull off. Canary Square has opened its doors to my son's school nearby to host fundraisers and silent auctions. If we pulled off a good event, it's because the vibe and the surroundings were really jovial, upbeat and spacious. Beyond the school / community aspect, my husband and I frequent the restaurant for breakfast, a rare date night bite, or a New Year's eve dinner. It's so lovely to have a large location like Canary Square (named after a US veteran) in the neighborhood, it definitely adds to the neighborhood, and I want to continue to see them do well. PS: try their cheese/charcuterie platter, worth it for those seeking an appetizer that won't bore!
(4)
Benjamin E.
To all who thought Canary Square was going to be the "shot in the arm" JP's restaurant scene needed, keep waiting. I should have ceased to visit after my first attempt, but I've foolishly convinced myself at least 3 times that Canary Square "must have improved since the last time"-- no dice. The food and service is consistently abominable. I've sent back more plates at Canary Square than I have ever, anywhere else, combined. Seasoning, temperature, timeliness, and flavor -- not even close to what a half decent restaurant can churn out. I'm not quite sure how the owners of CODA and the Salty Pig (both great) have turned a blind eye to the JP operation, but I hope they figure it out. I find the establishment fine to have a beer in, but if you get hungry, don't let the menu tempt you. The Haven is just around the corner.
(1)
Kristin G.
Went for dinner with friends last night. Service was great. The waitress was attentive but not hovering. The drinks were AMAZING. I got the grape basil mojito and a watermelon jalapeno mojito and both were fantastic. Everyone was satisfied with the food- which ranged from bluefish to burgers to roasted chicken to pork tacos. Everything was fresh and tasty. I totally dug the vibe/decor. I had a great experience here and I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Maureen D.
Beautifully renovated open space with big windows facing Center street/S. Huntington. Weekend brunch was delicious with appropriately spicy/salty hints in unexpected places. There is a list of interesting cocktails I plan to return for. The chef would do well, however, to take the bacon out of the home fries; not veg friendly.
(4)
J R.
Disclaimer: I'm usually very forgiving about bad service and willing to chock it up to unfortunate circumstances. I've worked in the food service industry and I know things can get hectic. I got there at 10pm last Saturday to get some food with my girlfriend. The place was pretty dead. About 10 minutes after being seated the host comes by to ask if anyone had been by to take our order. We chat a bit, he was very friendly, and he takes our drink order and says someone will be by shortly. 20 minutes pass as we watch a couple get seated next to us, their drink order taken, and their drink order filled. So, by this time, 30 minutes after being seated, we were just too frustrated to deal with it and left. Maybe the right thing would have been to say something, but seeing the people next to us get served was just too obnoxious to want to give this establishment our business. The most aggravating parts are the fact the host even acknowledged that no one noticed us and it wasn't even busy that night. I'm the type to give people benefit of the doubt and assume it was all a misunderstanding but that was beyond ridiculous.
(1)
SR F.
Caesar salad made with kale?? really? Have you ever eaten kale? Like leafs of broccoli.. give me romaine or give me death, don't f..k with traditional; I don't care what your mother says about the fine culinary schools she sent you to. Teach kitchen staff how to trim and slice meat for charcuterie; cheese plate was very nice, but needed magnifying glass to find the portions. Polenta portions (3) were 1/2 teaspoon size and over salted.. gimme a break- its corn pudding lightly sauteed, let's bump the portions up to teaspoon size at least. How does one overreach and fail at appetizers? Check 'em out at canary square and learn. Oh, forget the burgers, if it weren't for the fancy pants drinks this place would fail in a week. I couldn't have a meal of appetizers here if I wanted to. Plus side, staff was very accommodating and genial; crowd was pleasant and well mannered, nice upbeat from the Dublin.
(2)
Leanne C.
Alright... because the brunchy drinks my friend and I got were awesome, you'll get 3 stars, Canary. And that's pushing it. Per Jessica's 4-star review, I was like "oh hey, good drinks and vegan options? Lets go!" Got there to find they don't carry vegan-accommodating meals any more. You have the choices of a side of super-plain home fries, over priced greens, and a fruit plate. I got the smashed grape and basil mojito. Mighty tasty, but after seeing/tasting the bloody mary my friend ordered, definitely get that, not the small (more expensive) mojito. For food I ordered a side of home fries and the fruit plate. The food totaled $9 and was incredibly boring. Come here for drinks, skip the food.
(3)
Sandy B.
I think they changed their bacon. Are you kidding me? You're sleeping on the couch for a looooong time, Canary. Update: It seems they've changed a lot of other things, too. And not necessarily for the better. New chef should pay attention to these comments. Now you've messed with the amount of avocado in the avocado and Swiss omelet? Tsk, tsk.
(3)
Nick H.
I've went once, on a Monday night. While the whole thing fell a little short of what it could be, the prices are cheaper than they could be and the staff works hard. Here are the highlights: 1. This place has a menu that is near-exclusively the stuff that I wish for on a menu: It was like seeing a unicorn. As a result, we split three sides, two appetizers, one entree. I was thankful for having my girlfriend and another friend to team-up. 2. The food was cheap for simple things and reasonable for fun things. I loved this. A person who can swing $10 for dinner can eat homemade tacos and their friend that wants to spend $20 on seafood, can do that too. 3. There seemed to be an odd skill gap in the kitchen. The Salmon was awesome. They were ambitious enough to do a charcuterie plate. However, the yucca (which I was excited about) was dry and was served with a sauce that didn't work. 4. The service was slow but solid. My girlfriend has Celiac Disease (gluten intolerance) and our waitress confirmed which menu items were safe as well as let the kitchen know about our table. The chef even popped out for 10 seconds to let us know which deserts were safe. That was truly appreciated. The consensus, at the end of the meal, was that this place was working hard to make interesting food, serve it safely, and make folks feel comfortable and welcome. It felt like an off night, but I'm looking forward to going back, perhaps on another night of the week.
(4)
Emily H.
Eh, let me start by saying I really want to like this place. It's near my house and the decor is cool and modern. BUT, the food is just blah. The drinks are blah. And the servers are blah. I used to order Canary's standard hamburger every time I went because it was a delicious piece of beef on brioche with pickles and onions. Now, the burger comes on a strange sesame seed bun that makes me sad. Their wings are equally underwhelming. C'mon people, wings are easy. If you're a mixed drink person I find their cocktails to be just O.K. The service is pretty spotty as well. The bartenders seem annoyed that you're there unless you really get into a conversation with them. I agree with the writer who said the waitresses are either weird and overbearing or invisible because I've had both. The plus is that Canary has ample outdoor seating, reasonable prices, and a large variety of beers.
(3)
Eugena O.
Brunch (based on a Saturday visit): great noise and music level, friendly service, canary french toast is a must try. Dinner (based on a Thursday visit): make reservations, friendly waitstaff, but food is alright for what it is. There are tons of other restaurants in Boston that make what they do ten times better, but since it's the only restaurant of its kind in JP, they get by. A friend pointed out that their dinner menu offers something from each of the major JP establishments on Centre Street. I think if they were to narrow the menu and really focus on coming out with a few signature dishes they do really well, the overall eating experience would be better. Overall: enjoyed brunch experience more than dinner experience, mainly because the canary french toast was so delicious.
(3)
Lydia S.
I'm another potential fan that really wants Canary Square to be good. Every few months, in a forgiving mood, I'll try going there again, hoping things will be different. But it never fails to disappoint. The food can be quite good, but the experience is always undermined by the service. On this most recent attempt, the place was only 1/3 full, but the wait staff forgot one of our 2 dishes, wasn't around to re-order, could not be found to get the check or then pay the bill. In other visits, low points include weak cocktails, forgetting the to-go leftovers (threw them out), uneven food quality, and consistently bad service. Done for now, thanks. There are too many other delightful, delicious treasures that really never disappoint.
(1)
Paul B.
Great beer selection, open air the night we were there! Burgers were great and the Mac and Cheese with bacon added was out of this world!!
(5)
Mark R.
My favorite place in JP! Great atmosphere and the food only gets better.
(5)
Kim K.
I had high hopes for Canary Square after seeing the location and hearing some good reviews. Unfortunately, it did not live up to the hype. My boyfriend and I decided to stop in on a Sunday at 2:00 for lunch. We were able to get a table right away outside. Our waitress came over, took our drink orders (two orange juices) and came back pretty quickly with them and to receive our food order (two burgers: one medium, one medium well). However, that marked the end to the timely service/overall nice experience. After that, we began our ridiculous wait for our food. During that wait, the following happened: - I ordered an iced coffee that never came. - Another table was seated, completely ignored, never served even water, and eventually walked out of the place. - Two other tables endlessly tried to flag down our waitress to pay their bills and ended up having to get up to find her. Finally, our burgers arrived. While they did come with the toppings we had asked for (bacon and cheese), they were not cooked to order at all. And the fries? Now I'm a fan of salty things but they must have soaked the potatoes in salt water before frying them and topping them off with a pound of more salt. We tried to eat them because by that point, we were starving but they were inedible. I wish I had good things to say about this place but due to this experience, the food I ate, and the service I had, I will never be going to Canary Square again.
(1)
Mike D.
Awesome Beer list!!!! Plenty of great beers on tap. Dave and Angela behind the bar are awesome.. I have one complaint, I wish the menu was a little bigger. I have a hard time finding a really good item on the menu that I like. Other than that, the ambiance is great, outdoor patio is amazing.
(4)
Mon R.
nooooooooo. I can't believe I paid so much money here- or any money here at all. Their food is not good, and I'm concerned I may have gotten food poisoning here! Such a shame because I wanted to love their southern comfort type food, but its a total miss.
(1)
jenn K.
I want to first start off by saying I really like the space and it has a nice ambiance going. I think the food is decent however, the menu hasn't changed at all in the 4 times I've been to Canary Square. I really want to like this place and get excited to go there but I feel a little bored already. Canary Square really needs to keep the customer excited and guessing if it wants to survive in a world of ten tables. It would be nice to see some seasonal menu changes. The cheese fries were SO good but I've also split an order of bread pudding before and it just did not hit the spot. Please produce some more irresistible desserts and I will gladly bring many friends! Being a vegetarian I would also like to see a larger array of options, maybe a butternut squash risotto or something like that would be really lovely for the fall/winter. I don't really have much gripe with the service besides the last time I went I was very thirsty and me and my friend sat at the table with empty water glasses for about 15 minutes. Other than that, the place is decent. I hope there is some favorable changes so I can start gushing over this place already!
(3)
Kelly G.
Blah. Stopped in for drinks because one of my besties and I wanted cocktails and Milky Way had a cover. For a Saturday night at 10, it was dead...we got seats at the bar right away, which was nice. The experience went down hill from there. We ordered two of the same drink off of the menu (nothing terribly difficult) and the bar tender acted like we'd asked her to juice a still-living turkey that she'd have to chase around for an hour. She was snippy when taking our food order and all we ordered was the corn appetizer which, though not advertised that way, was SO SPICY that I couldn't eat it. I had a couple of nibbles and passed the plate off. I don't love spicy food, but I'm not a wuss - so that's saying something. I never thought I'd say this in a million years, but I miss the Alchemist.
(2)
Daymeyn G.
Yum. Canary Square....the love I feel for you would be stronger, only if you were not so far away from where I lay my head. Starter, humus...great flavor and texture, that could have gone with a little more lemon...its great they left a lemon wedge for us. My mate and I split mains...Roasted Chicken Salad (total brilliance!), and the Wood Grilled Burger.... Again YUM! The Salad's mix of meats to vegetables, nuts, and berries were stunning..and I had heard sooo much about it. Totally lived up to expectations! The burger was good, but the salad was extraordinary. Though I did not go into their drink menu, I did have a ginger beer which was a great accompaniment to a fantabulous dinner. If one is keen for a trip to, or in JP, I would totally say take a trip to the square! These folks will not disappoint.
(4)
Julia N.
Just checked out Canary Square, and while it is a very nice/chill mixed crowd and environment, the food isn't that great. I had the Emerald Necklace as a drink (eh), but I'm not sure that this place should get away with how much they charge. Though--- they have a "huuuuuuuueg" beer list, so perhaps food doesn't matter to you! The waiter was sweet and even answered a question about the ingredients in the menu. But in short, I wouldn't bring people who are on vacay here.
(3)
Brian D.
Things that I've learned and have time after time forgotten include: 1. always sit at the bar 2. never go to brunch 3. never go to brunch Brunch kills me. Sorry majority of people out there, but, brunch sucks. You pay more for a limited menu and are surrounded by hordes of people who may or may not dine out often who think that a glass of 1/2 OJ and 1/2 cheap sparkling wine is a life-changing event. I don't get it. I sat with a good size table of people on a Sunday afternoon for 'brunch' and had the sort of experience that is the norm in my brunching experience. Busy restaurant, slow table service, frazzled wait staff, pretty much just OK chow and an overall 'meehhhhhhh' experience. I had the burger, looks awesome, tastes pretty good. My companions had various eggy things, they all seemed more or less pleased. Nobody passed out from mouthgasms but nobody pushed their plates away either. I'm sorry brunch, I'm just not in love with you. That being said about brunch....I like sitting at the bar at Canary. I'm sort of in love, or at least very strong like, with the bar. Show up for dinner time and get a plate of the jerked chicken wings, fried pork belly and a few good beers - done. As one previous reviewer pointed out, the mussels, avoid. I don't know why, but both times I've had them here they were a bit off. I'll be back, I like this spot just fine, just not for brunch (or anyplace else for that matter).
(3)
Molly N.
I had to write a review because there are so many nice things about canary square - the space is nice, especially in the spring and summer when they open up the doors, the staff is great, the drink menu is decent and now they are offering special summer cocktails, BUT, as a vegetarian, I might have to stop going there for meals because their black bean burger is literally inedible. I end up just ordering about 5 plates of the crispy cauliflower appetizer (which is great). But really, in a neighborhood like JP, with just one vegetarian meal on the menu, they should get it right. The first time I ordered it I assumed they had forgotten to cook it because it was so mushy and gross. But then I ordered it again last night and it was the same. Pure mush, barely warm in the middle - just awful. I ate my fries and could't even touch the burger. Grassfed also has a veggie burger that is only slightly better. It is NOT hard to have an even somewhat decent vegetarian burger but....right now it is keeping me from going back. They used to have an amazing hummus and veggie sandwich. They should have kept it!
(2)
Jacob M.
I took a small retreat to Boston to visit a couple of friends before their baby was born. I mostly spent the time studying for a certification exam, but we came here for a couple of beers one night. They have a great selection of beers on tap, a really good place to go if you are in JP. The service was good (we sat at the bar), and the bar tender was helpful in picking out what beers to have. I also got a turkey leg for us to snack on, and it was delicious. It had just a touch of honey, barely noticeable, but jus that little extra to take it over the top; I would definitely get it again. This is a great place to go to for a date, or to spend a couple of hours catching up with friends.
(4)
Carpenter A.
Well, we went last night for drinks and dinner and afterwards I was like, "I need to go on yelp and see if anyone else has commented on how salty the food was..." My friend ordered a burger, I got mac and cheese and both were just REALLY salty - that was the flavor, salt. Clearly from reading below, we are not alone in this experience. When we got to Canary Square, there were no tables available and the host said it would be a few minutes. I asked if we could wait at the bar and he looked a bit confused but said yes, so we went over and got drinks. Which seems like the most normal way to handle a wait, right? While we were there four tables opened up and were set and only one was seated with no one waiting by the door. I watched as the tables stayed empty for a while, the host was not looking for us, and finally I went over and asked if we might sit down. It struck me as a bit strange that no one came to tell us a table was ready. But certainly not a deal breaker by any means. When we were sitting looking at the menu we were considering a few things and as it was our first time there, I looked around the room to see what other people were eating and if anything looked particularly good. And all I saw was a full dining room with no plates on the tables and people just having drinks. At 7:45pm on a Thursday night. I'd definitely go back to meet for drinks - the atmosphere was open and comfortable. I ran into some friends who were there for drinks and that confirmed the "this is a great place to meetup for drinks in JP" feel. I hope they fix this the food issues. They'd get far more repeat customers bringing friends and family there for meals. Not just drinks. ps. I'm not a low/no-salt person. I like salt! I put salt on things frequently and this was just crazy super thick salty. pps. I hate writing bad reviews! I really hope they figure this out as I'd love for it to be a great restaurant.
(2)
Stacy H.
my friend highly recommended their black bean burger, but it was so incredibly spicy i couldn't breathe for a little while after eating it. their french fries were also incredibly salty, so i don't think i'll be ordering that dish anymore. i'll probably come back again for drinks or appetizers, since they have a pretty good vegetarian food selection.
(3)
Kate M.
I've been to Canary Square several times, mostly because I live across the street. That said, I hope they stick around. The beer list is excellent and the cocktails are solid. The food, as several reviewers have noted, is hit-or-miss; I've had a few visits where it's been great but it feels like the place might be a bit too ambitious-- make sure you have your recipes down before doing the rotating, seasonal thing. It's an excellent choice for groups (I've only had to wait for a table at brunch) and the service is generally very good. I'm still sort of mad they took away the dollar oysters.
(4)
Tom S.
First off - people giving terrible reviews to a less than one month old restaurant/bar need to grow up. The place is not the Four Seasons nor does it want to be... sheesh. That said - we went on opening night... took a big chance, but man was it good. Very good actually. Great beer list, food was delicious. I had the steak and my wife had the salmon sandwich. The only fault with the food we tried was that it was perhaps over-salted. Service was spotty as one might expect, but the staff was quite pleasant. What a nice addition to the neighborhood. I cannot wait to go back to delve further into the beer list and the food menu.
(4)
Heather G.
I will start this review off on a positive note: The cocktails, beers and bar scene is great. No other spot in JP beats it on any night of the week. The food, on the other hand... Let's start with: The chef has no clue what sauces to put with the appetizers. This might sound like a minor detail, but when your yuca fries are served with sour cream (sour cream?? what??), you know something is really screwed up back there in the kitchen. An alioli or chipotle mayo or chimichurru are all appropriate. The yuca is not cooked well either; I've ordered it 3-4 times and they tasted like cardboard last night. (Sorry to harp on the yuca, but after spending time in south and central america and eating at latin restaurants for 8 years in NYC, it pains me when an appetizer as simple to prepare as fried yuca, is screwed up beyond belief). Then, the cod fritters are served with a strange cocktail sauce. That is also a bizarre combo considering the fact that most fried fish would be served with some sort of tarter sauce. Now i'm all for trying new sauces with my fish, but maybe cocktail sauce should be left for COCKTAIL shrimp. The chicken tacos are good. As are the deviled eggs. The cheese fries are smothered with alfredo sauce. I'll let you determine if that's a good thing or not. The chard salad is big and could use more ingredients other than a mound of chard (there were probably 6 nuts sprinkled on top), but still a decent, unique option for a big salad. The beef skewers were measly sized and the jar (and I mean it was the amount that would come in a jar) of peanut sauce could not really be called sauce since it was as thick as actual peanut butter. gross. It ruined the beef skewers. Again, I love the bar and cocktails and beer, but until they improve on how they prepare the appetizers and entrees, this place gets only 2 stars from me since it's supposed to be a restaurant you eat at, and not just a bar.
(2)
Libby H.
Owner - please, please, please fix your food. Have you ever even eaten off your own menu? I've been here three times, each time certain that it would prove better than the last. This place has a fabulous layout and outdoor space. It is just what JP needs...a comfortable, fun and spacious restaurant/bar. The problem is that the food sucks. My salad had essentially plain olive oil on it and my friends steak was cooked so much it was white. I know whomever is running this place has resources and restaurant experience because the place LOOKS and FEELS like it, but, it sure doesn't TASTE like it. Please get your kitchen together. So much potential, but such a disappointment in the food.
(1)
chris b.
I haven't dined here on weekdays, so I can't speak to how the place behaves other than weekend.... but their weekend staff is extraordinary. I usually have breakfast/brunch at the bar. They have a bartender there who actually shook my hand firmly as soon as I sat down and when I left. I've never had any Boston bartender welcome me that warmly to a restaurant. The food is excellent ... I usually order some variation of eggs ... (not salty at all)... portions are great value for price, and they refilled my coffee after only 3 sips. I really hope Canary stays around for many years to come... Live Long and Prosper as Leonard Nimoy would say.
(5)
Stephanie S.
Awful, awful, awful! This was the second time I've been to Canary Square...after the first I had vowed not to return, I really should have stood by that (check out Matt W's review for the details). The wait was unbelievable. We were quoted half an hour but it took closer to an hour for 4 of us to get seated. Waiting wouldn't normally be an issue, but there were no people! Open tables, no line, no wait, right? My friend and I split a pitcher of sangria which was sickly sweet so I opted for a sangarita and that tasted like tea tree oil toothpicks. Needless to say I was disappointed by both. There was also a tortuous wait for the food (an additional hour for 2 burgers, french fries and yucca). I ordered the yucca which was extremely overcooked and the sauce it came with was tasteless. When the server asked how our food was I told her it was terrible and, get this, she AGREED with me! You know it's bad when the server openly doesn't like the food. I excused my crappy first experience by telling myself "the restaurant's new, they just need time to get it together". Now it's official, decor aside there are no redeeming qualities in Canary Square.
(1)
Vegan Couple T.
The Mrs. and I haggled over this rating. I am consistently annoyed with the lack of vegan options there, but Mrs. T. wanted to give them credit for at least now offering vegan pita and one vegan entree. In the past we've been forced to order the hummus without bread and mix and match various selections while getting charged full price for each. Their sides are good but their grilled asparagus tastes like it was cooked on top of a steak. Definitely the best things going for this place are its location and the Basil Grape Mojitos and Sangaritas.
(3)
Amanda G.
Brunch Review! I was really looking forward to eating at Canary Square. Some of my fellow brunch regulars and I decided to try out the spot on a nice warm day. They have a patio and JP is an area we hadn't yet explored. We made reservations for 11:30 which seemed unnecessary. When we arrived we were practically the only table in the restaurant (besides a screaming 5 year old... but that's besides the point). I, of course, ordered the Canary bloody mary. It was alright. I know I asked for tabasco and horseradish to make it a little more exciting. It was bland and a bit watered down. A friend ordered the bacon bloody mary... she didnt seem to br too thrilled everytime the chopped bacon bits got stuck in her straw... moving on.. As a group we ordered teh breakfast french fries to start. Basically eggs benedict on top of yummy fries. If you go for one thing, go for this. Im a HUGE fan of eggs benedict.. how do you make this dish and NOT eggs benedict? For the main meal I got the avacado and swiss omelette. The omelette itself was fine, again kind of bland but cooked right. The omelette came with toast that tasted like... campfire? The toast was inedible. How can you screw up toast?
(2)
Jim C.
I am eating a hotdog from 7-11 for brunch today. Not by choice but by necessity. I actually went to Canary Square for brunch and I waited and waited and waited and guess what? No brunch. I cannot stress how important customer service is. In saying that, I would like to exclude a couple of people from this review; John and DNice are spectacular bartenders. It's unfortunate neither of them were working today. I can't even write a food review today because I didn't get any. It was busy, I agree but it's brunch. It shouldn't take 40 minutes to make french toast. Let me break down the experience. My good friend Jon and I went to have a quick brunch and handicap the MLB season. We sit down to Mumford and Sons "Little Lion Man" playing while the Disney channel is on one television. Neither is a crime but it just goes to show that kids programming combined with a song that liberally drops the "f" bomb prove that no one has their eye on the bigger picture. If I had children I would have been off put by this but I don't so I guess it is just observational about the low level of management. So, we sit and are asked if we want drinks. Sure. Water, Coffee and Mimosa. I got the Water and Mimosa. S'ok, she must have misheard me. No menus. We had to ask for them because we apparently gave off the impression that we showed up at 11 am to drink. We're the only ones at the bar and yet we get the impression immediately that we are interrupting the bartender; she is visibly annoyed with us. We order and I re-order my coffee. They have pretty good coffee. From that point forward, no one talks to us. Forty minutes later and I have no coffee, no mimosa and no water. ANY bartender in the greater Boston area can tell you that if you keep pouring I will keep drinking. I'm an easy target any time of the day for a big check and a good tip. 20-30 minutes in the wait, two very nice young ladies sat down next to us. 10 minutes later they had drinks and food. We had empty glasses. I called out bartender over and asked what was going on. "They ordered cold food," was her answer. Really? This is atrocious. I am so baffled that she could say that to a customer and not slap herself. Do you really hate your job that much? Do you have that much disrespect for the customer? I called for the manager. What happened next was fun. They scrambled in front of us. I honestly don't think the order had been placed. The manager assured us it was on its way but it was too late. She comped us our drinks and then our food came running out. It was disgusting looking, thrown together from scraps from other meals at best. If I had stayed, the board of health might have been called. If it is busy, tell me. Offer me some fruit or nuts. Keep my glass filled. The utter contempt shown to me by the wait staff was mind boggling. There is NO quality control in this restaurant. The previous time we were there my friend ordered bacon and was served cut bacon fat - no meat. Let's keep our eye on the prize people. You run a restaurant. Three strikes and you are out. It's a real shame because the space is beautiful. I live in the neighborhood and I eat out a lot. If you are eating out in JP please go to the Dogwood Cafe, Center Street Cafe, Doyles, Galway, Ten Tables, the Haven or the wonderful Tres Gatos. I reluctantly gave Canary Square another chance. I don't think you could pay me to go back.
(1)
Ryan H.
Unlike the other reviewers, I was quite impressed with Canary Square. I give it a lot of points for featuring lots of local ingredients, eco-friendly, recycled decor, and recycled to-go boxes. As a former organic farm worker, I like to feel good about the food I'm eating, and I can at Canary Square. I started with a mesclun salad, which was tossed with the perfect amount of dressing, although it was entirely greens, and could have used some walnuts and cranberries. Then I had the black bean burger and a side of brussels sprouts with bacon. First, the burger was great. It comes with a nice portion of gooey Grafton Village Cheese Company (Brattleboro, VT) cheddar on top, salsa, and sour cream to mellow it out. It was a little spicy for my taste, but that comes from the salsa, so you can skip it if you want. It also came with the side salad above, which filled an 8-inch plate, for just 10 dollars. The brussels were the best part of the meal, in my opinion. They were served in a funky, cast-iron baking dish, which matched the brick-factory decor. They came drizzled in a garlic aioli and nestled in between them were salty, chewy chunks of thick-cut bacon. For our kosher friends, you can get the brussels sans-swine. This place also has an extensive beer menu, with lots of local and imported draught options on any given night. Our waitress seemed fairly knowledgable about the beers, and described the Troeg's Golden Nugget well enough that it tasted just as I expected it to. I knocked off a star for two reasons. First, it took a bit longer than was prudent for the waitress to come introduce herself, but she brought water with her, so we didn't have to wait even longer for that. Then, my brussels came out with everyone's entrees, but not my burger, and I had to wait another minute or two for the kitchen to sort it out. I'm going to chalk it up to business plus the fact that we gave the waitress a lot of little instructions (bring the salad as an app, no bacon on one of the brussels, etc.). Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I'm really looking forward to my next visit.
(4)
Robby T.
Canary Square does an A+ job with the rotating Beer List and the drinks. Also, the beer pricing is among the best in town for what you're getting. They get their hands on some pretty uncommon stuff for the area- I just wish they updated their online menu like other beer-centric places around town. The food has come a long way since opening. Originally overpriced, underportioned, and sloppy- they've updated their menu and include quite a bit of locally sourced ingredients in some great dishes. The burger is among the best I've had in a restaurant lately and the Huevos Rancheros are a great brunch selection. The bar area gets a bit crowded with limited seating, but there is rarely a wait for dining. The outdoor seating area is extremely well done with sectionals and plants to add some privacy from the street.
(4)
Matt H.
Awesome drink and beer selection. Food is a different story. Got the asparagus, it was sloppy with butter and overcooked. Also got a chefs late night snack which was nothing more than a burned dinner roll with some butter and garlic smeared on it for $7. Unimpressed.
(3)
Chris C.
You demolished Alchemist for this??! Very underwhelming. The ambiance is the passionless love child of a shopping mall Bertucci's and the bar from a 99. The menu had me searching for anything mildly interesting and thinking I'd just have something later when I got home. Ultimately I ordered the burger, which I found had an odd flavor (nutmeg maybe?) and texture. I literally wondered whether is was buffalo or ostrich and I just hadn't read the menu carefully enough. I tried my friend's salad, which warranted a bar code it was so generic. I actually like my partner's ceviche, but he did not. On the positive side, they do have a great selection of beer on draught, the bread pudding was delicious, and the staff was very friendly and energetic. One odd thing... Our waitress brought over a plate of bread, but under the bread was large piece of torn menu. A doily? At least turn the ink side down. Okay, one last odd thing... At the end, the wait-staff brings a little black booklet with the bill, for adding comments. It sort of felt to me like being handed someone's diary. (so yes, of course I looked!) I guess it was meant to be a quirky "tradition", but I just found it weird. Oh, Alchemist. Even on your worst days (and there were a couple) you were better than this.
(2)
Capricia G.
Canary Square is one of those places where you go in having good expectations and leave a little let down. Everything I've ever had here has been a "that was okay, I guess, but would have been better if..." situation. I try to like it! I really do! Food: Meh. Bland. Trying too hard. Also...bland. Drinks: Awesome, but expensive. Service: The faces always change, but the poor quality/attitude stays the same. Could they hate their lives more? General Vibe: They have notebooks guests can write in when you get their checks. They're usually full of an interesting mix of food reviews and creative ways to incorporate male genitalia into a picture. Last night, mine said something to the effect of, "the music I had to listen to offended me because I was wearing a $4000 suit." Oh, okay. Skip this and walk across the street to Tres Gatos.
(2)
Lane S.
Canary Square is a a unique place in JP. Would give it a 4.5 if i could. Firstly, the decore is well done in my opinion. Exposed brick, and interesting lighting. The tables are close together, but with the new outdoor seating, it makes for a nice place on a pretty evening. Their menu is combines the familiar with the creative to offer something different in the neighborhood. The food is above average. I have had better, but you can tell that they put effort and thought into the dishes. THE DRINKS AT BRUNCH ARE BOMB. I have said for a while that Bloody Marys would be better with tequila... then I went there, AND THEY HAD THEM. Another note about brunch, the cereal french toast sounds odd, but it is KILLER. Clearly I like this joint, and will be returning. As should you.
(4)
Jonathan B.
Classy exposed brick interior, good bar staff, but there are serious problems with the food menu here. What they try to get across is the local/sustainable vibe and I totally get it but the flavor pairings just don't work. They do brunch here, but i've only been for dinner and that's all I can speak for here. Everything here is properly cooked and executed but the seasoning and flavor of things is seriously lacking. Braised pork shoulder with risotto was cooked perfectly but had little to no flavor. Was it braised in tap water? Barbecued chicken was greasy. Burger was pretty solid, but the french fries were an unseasoned and texture-less mouthful of hot starch. Some menu item components are head scratching in a bad way. See: Roasted Chicken with...Mashed Potatoes AND Buttered Beans? The vast number of beer taps would lead one to assume the draft beer selection is large but the variety within the selection is small. On the other hand, the cocktail menu is well thought out. A little tweaking of the dinner menu could guarantee repeat dinner customers/regulars.
(2)
Chad J.
My partner and I have tried this place out several times because he lives across the street. We use to swing by the Alchemist for a beer and burgers all the time and were looking forward to the upgraded Canary Square. For the most part service is good, however, it is unnecessarily slow. The first time we there for dinner, we noticed that we had been charges six times on our card and it took two weeks the receive the money back. We'd love to make this our regular weekend spot. if they can match their speed of service to the amount of people they aim to serve without sacrificing quality.
(2)
Jim M.
Best food in JP. I cannot stress how amazing the food is! My wife and I went to the Oktoberfest of a well known brewery and the food was awful (Vendor food) but we went to Canary Square after the Oktoberfest and had GREAT craft beer and AMAZING food at Canary Square. I am proud to live just down the street to this excellent restaurant/bar!
(5)
Amy C.
Stopped in on Friday night for dinner and drinks. I would highly recommend, the beers on draft are extensive and the bar area was really cool. I liked the decor with the exposed brick and light fixtures, only bummer is there are no booths which would make things a bit more cozy. We started off with the mozzarella sticks. You could tell these were homemade and not frozen, they came on skewers and were stuck into a lemon which gave the cheese a nice zing mixed with the marinara sauce. I had the tuna taco's which were really delish, my comrades enjoyed the roasted half chicken with brussel sprouts roasted with bacon and onions (hell ya!), along with the pork shank entree which I was told was off the hook. We had a great waitress that was really patient with all of our questions and gave some really good recommendations.
(4)
Snuffles B.
I am floored by how underrated this place is. I had been avoiding it because of mixed Yelp reviews, but I'm glad I waited because whatever voodoo they had to do to get this place up to speed has worked. Atmosphere: SO much better now that they knocked out the wall - spacious, open, casual, chill, good for dates or families (they super are cool with kids and the place is big enough that it people nearby won't be bothered). We never have to wait for a table and there is no bad seat in the house. One of the best patios in Boston. Service: Every server I've ever met has been totally awesome, and attentive just enough. Food: Seasonal, local, constantly changing menu and huge changing beer selection.. - Bread - Crisp with chewy center, would be better if warm - Pickles - Really vinegary and sweet and tasty - Cod Fritters - Light , airy, delightful - Mussels - As my friend said, "Musseltastic", broth good for dipping - Wood Roasted Chicken - I usually pooh pooh chicken, but this was beautifully smoked and delicious. - Pork cracklins - The crispiest pork skin ever. - Wedge salad - I hate blue cheese and I hate iceberg lettuce, but somehow this was still good - Jerk chicken wings - Well flavored, but not crisp - Fries - Big steaky fries, they were OK - Burger - HUGE - MASSIVE Brioche bun - basic flavor, but juicy and very good. - Steak frites - Superior - Swiss chard/pulled chicken sandwich/bacon vinagrette - I generally think salad is bird food, but I ate the whole thing. Simply awesome. - Brussels Sprouts w/ Lardons - Awesome - generous on the lardons, my favorite item here. - Bread pudding - Does not taste the least bit like butterscotch, very eggy, almost flan-y. LOVE the maple walnut ice cream. - Fried Twinkies - Imagine gourmet corn dogs with powdered sugar, that is what this looks like, but it tastes like a perfectly crisplly battered molten Twinkie - I've had this before elsewhere - this was way better! Brunch: Not bad, but dinner is better... - Huevos Rancheros - perfect eggs, nicely flavored rice/beans, comes with a HUGE chicharones. - French Toast - Crazy crip batter, HUGE portion. Cost per person w/o ETOH, with tax/tip:$15-25 Overall, this place has food that far exceeds its price point. If this place in the South End, it would be packed 24-7.
(5)
Michael I.
Strike 3. I hate that they don't even seem to be trying to improve the food. It's been inconsistent since day 1. Great rotation and variety of beer (and even cider). But every time I decide to give the food another try I'm sorely disappointed. My (cold tortilla) tacos were swimming in juice from the (mountain of) meat, and that was running clear since they hadn't seasoned the meat in any way. A little balance and flavor from the main ingredient would have been nice. Previous visit was a soup that was so salty I couldn't eat it. Like I said, the drinks are great. And I'll likely keep heading back for those once in a while. but what a shame that it's really set up for dining with the weak delivery of the menu. For their food, I'll happily head down to Back Bay and hit the Salty Pig where they're getting it right.
Great ambiance! Great cocktail and beer list. Food = mediocre. I got the burger and fries. The burger was over cooked. The fries looked like it was chopped and thrown together as if it was suppose to be a stir fry. I thought the egg would give the burger a nice texture but it didn't really add any flavor to it. The server was really nice and attentive. They have a nice outdoor patio and the decor and lighting makes this restaurant a good place to bring a casual date or some family members. I would definitely come here again to relax and enjoy a drink. However, if I'm hungry, I'll probably walk a block or two further to go to a nicer restaurant.
(3)
Mekhi B.
I've been to this place a lot since it's opened. I must say though, that the reason is because of canary square's proximity to my house. simply put - there's not much else around for a sit-down dinner with good beer. This place is always extremely loud - lil' jon WHAAAT!?! loud. You can't even hear the people at your table. Also the food is hit or miss - sometimes it's really good, but the next time you get the same thing it's just..well...not. However, there are some good things about this place: 1. There's a great beer selection here with a full bar 2. The warm swiss chard and cranberry salad still has me dreaming about it after moving out of state. egg on top? yes, please. 3. and the butter scotch bread pudding is 'slap your mama' good. seriously. Overall, I'd say if you're in JP with some folks looking for dinner and drinks, this place is OK. Well, the dogfish head on tap will get you drunk. *shrug*
(3)
Angie C.
Experience: The operation is poorly managed! It baffles my mind why they have 3 hostesses and 2 bartenders when the bar serves food and has open seating. You would think with so many hostesses they would be efficient with seating and turning around tables...absolutely not. The three times I went there were several tables available, but we still had to wait to be seated even though we were the only ones waiting. I've ran a restaurant for 10 years and was amazed at what I saw. Food: For the price I expected better quality. Nothing left an impression, I only remember being disappointed with everything I ordered. Overall: The atmosphere and location has potential. Unfortunately, they need more bartenders, less hostesses and an improvement on efficiency. Since I live down the street I really wanted to like this place, but three strikes and you're out.
(1)
Amanda M.
Canary Square confuses me. I think they confuse a lot of people, actually. I've only been a few times, but every time I visit their menu is completely different. Now, some people may say this is a good thing -- they're keeping things fresh, up to date, seasonal. But honestly, it's been a major let down. They used to have this really awesome popcorn that was flavored differently depending on the day, and now that's long gone. The story is the same for countless other items that people were LOVING! I guess it would be okay if they were substituting the dishes for better ones, but so far, that hasn't been the case. They also have an insanely awesome beer selection, but their availability is super inconsistent. During the hour I was there, I heard our waitress explain to two other tables, aside from ours, why some dish or drink wasn't available. It was kind of weird. Overall: the food and drinks are pretty good (although kind of pricey), and the atmosphere is awesome. The outdoor seating seriously can't be beat. But bring back some of the old faves on the fall menu!
(3)
Maria M.
We returned to Canary Square to meet friends for dinner, and were very pleased to find a better experience. We were greeted by a very pleasant, cheerful host, and our waiter was fast, friendly, and efficient. My friend's hamburger was a quite good, as were his fries. My salad was a bit overdressed for my taste, but satisfactory. The beer list was excellent. So happy to see this place turning around!
(4)
Lee S.
Canary Square, also know as "the bird" (love the nickname) feels like it belongs in the South End. The restaurant is lovely, the new owners did a great job with the renovations. The staff is on-point, friendly, quick, and polite. The popcorn as others mentioned is great, very creative. However, I gave the restaurant three stars cause the manager was awful! I mean really really bad! Screamed at the waitresses infront of patrons, he was rude to customers (actually snatching things, and stamping his feet like a child). I would only go back if that dude called out sick!
(3)
George W.
The Alchemist sucked and now Canary Square has risen from the ashes to continue its predecessor's legacy of suckery. Here's the short and and nasty: The interior is Euro-boring. That is- basically all black and unremarkable. But I don't review interiors, I review food and beer. The beer selection is ok. Not gastropub but not dive bar. Lots of IPAs. The bartender didn't fill my glass too well, leaving an inch of space at the top and didn't care. But, that really isn't the problem either. The problem is that the food is garbage. And we ordered enough to know. First were the mussels. They had a dog-breathesque aroma and tasted spoiled. We told the waitress (who was very nice) and she took them back. The chef decided to tell her to tell us that they were not spoiled, but they were from Wellfleet, so I must have never had a Wellfleet mussel. Listen up Iron Chef Canary Square, I know what a dead mussel tastes like. And you shouldn't be sending your nice waitstaff out to defend your pride. Next there came the cod fritters and "spicy homemade ketchup". Dear Iron Chef Canary Square: Cocktail sauce is not "homemade spicy ketchup". The cod fritters themselves were damp and spongy, reminiscent of my days eating Van De Kamps fish sticks. Then the deviled egg came, which were serviceable, but why put such a basic item on the menu if you aren't going to do something interesting with it? The same with the radishes, which were just radish chunks and salt. That's shit my my vegan roommate eats while standing up in the kitchen drunk, not menu worthy fare. There were other food items, but just forget it. They all blew. We tipped 30% because the waitress has to apologize to people meaner than us about Iron Chef Canary Square in the back. I guess I'll just wait until this place closes down again. Maybe a Friendlys will move in and I can bump this up to 3 stars.
(2)
Jessica B.
So, Canary Sq does not feel JP-y to me at all, but then, things they are a'changin' round here. Nonetheless the place is really lovely, and it's interesting to see the renovations. The popcorn is hell-yeah good. The Bacon Bloody Mary could become my thing. Like, I'll stop eating food and just drink those for sustenance and pleasure. The Same Old Place drink is (I'm really really sorry! Really! For multiple reasons) the nastiest drink I've had in a long time. It tastes like a pizza coated in sugar. I think the problem (for me) is the rosemary orange syrup. If I decide not to live on the Bloody Mary's, I could happily have the French Toast (it's like a funnel cake, which *is not* just like fried dough.) The eggs are amazing. Ah may zing. So cheesy. The ham sandwich costs too much for something that looks like it's served on grocery store loaf bread. And it's just not that exciting. The service has been really wonderful, and I figure the place is just getting its sea legs, so it will be worth checking back.
(4)
Kirs P.
I've tried Canary Square a few times now and each time it's been a bit of a let down. Either service is slow. Or the mussels are skanky. Or the only vegetarian option is a tofu "steak" (which is just disgusting. even I know that). After the disaster that was the Alchemist finally left this location I was very much looking forward to having a new, kinda casual place to grab a bite in JP. Sort of a larger Zon's (RIP). And Canary Square billed itself as that- it just doesn't completely live up to its ambitions. 1- Service is spotty, at best. 2- Food ain't that great either. We were served some seriously sketchy mussels. The vegetarian selection (in JP of all places) is lackluster, and then not very good. There just isn't a whole lot of inventiveness in the menu. Yeah, the deviled eggs are good, but Hungry Mother did that shit years ago, theirs were better, and mine (which don't cost 4 bucks) can kick both their asses. 3- Cocktails are hit or miss. I went in just for drinks the first time I was there and was impressed. The next few times, notsomuch. Watered down and the mixing seemed off. All that being said, I'm sure I'll be back (and I heard that brunch is kinda good). It's convenient, and really large, so when Haven and Tres Gatos are full it's an okay alternative. I tried to avoid using the word in this review. But it just fits. Canary Square really is just "meh."
(2)
tricia k.
i still can't decide what to think about canary square. three stars for my ambivalence. i think i miss the alchemist more than i like canary square, but i guess that is somewhat irrelevant. the place has probably the best beer list in JP - maybe second best to the behan but canary square changes their list more frequently - and has decent, if a bit pricey, food, though there are literally only two vegetarian entree options. every time i go to canary square, i want to grab the manager by the shoulders and shake him/her and yell "don't you know where you are? put some more freaking vegetables on the menu!" contrary to another recent reviewer, i've noticed that they do change their menu seasonally. maybe not every week or every month, but if you wait a bit to go back, you'll see new offerings. consider coming here if you like yuppies, waitresses who obviously spend the majority of their time partying, beer, and meat.
(3)
Adam W.
This place is garbage from top to bottom. Very rude owners/managers, bumbling service and greasy, overpriced food all over the menu.
(1)
Matt W.
I was really excited to go to this place. Having previously been a dive bar and then a mediocre, kind of expensive bar and restaurant, I was interested to see a higher end place go here. I have decided that the specific location must just be cursed. We had reservations with some friends for 8pm. When we arrived, we were told that they didn't have our reservations, and didn't even take reservations for less than 6 people. We had four. Despite that, someone in the party knew someone who worked at the place, so we got a table. Our waitress, Jackie, was very nice. It seemed like things were pretty hectic for her, and she was definitely the best part of the experience. She took drink orders and put them in. Eventually we got them. We put our food orders in, and ordered the roast chicken, flank steak, pork shop, and salmon steak. We also ordered an appetizer of cod fish puffs. The puffs (very bland, and the spicy ketchup tasted like cocktail sauce) came out with the flank steak about fifteen minutes later. They were brought by a different server, and we were all kind of surprised dinner was being served with the app. Turns out the flank steak wasn't his. He kept it anyways and we encouraged him to eat it. Forty minutes later, our food came, including another flank steak. That mistake is certainly a score, but man, we were all starving. The waitress had brought out some weird popcorn to tide us over on the house. Nice of her. I had the roasted chicken. I had, the night before, roasted the first chicken in my life. It was not my best cooking attempt, and it was so much better than what I was served here. The skin managed to be both burned and soggy. The bird was pretty flavorless. It was served with undercooked brussels sprouts and ratishes, and bits of thick bacon. The dish was edible, but not good. My wife ate the pork chop. She ordered it medium, and it was not that. It was unevenly cooked and borderline rare at places. Apparently undercooked sprouts were the order of the day, because hers were, too. The applesauce, reportedly homemade, tasted canned. We believe they're making it - they just didn't do a good job. Our friend got the salmon. She was underwhelmed, though the calamari that came with it was apparently pretty good. The friend with the flank steak had the single rave review of the table. Luckily, he got two, so that's a big win. The waitress came over and asked how everything was, and we all kind of avoided telling her, before finally one of us said something like "it's not terrible." She apologized and ended up getting us a few fried twinkies on the house. They were probably the best thing I ate that night, though they also weren't that good. All in all, I was not crazy about this place. It looks really cool, and the staff was certainly very nice, but the food was pretty expensive, and not nearly good enough to justify it. Particularly in a neighborhood like Jamaica Plain, which has a number of similar restaurants, you really need to do more than use an organic chicken to charge $20 for it. It kind of also needs to be cooked in a way that makes me want to eat it. Truth be told, I wouldn't eat this food again if it were half the price. Places like Vee Vee and James's Gate, which have similar price points and comparable quality bars, are just down the road. And while they are not decorated with rescued support beams and chairs made out of recycled coke cans, they are distinctly good, which Canary Square distinctly isn't. Props again to our server, Jackie. She did the best she could with what she had. But what she had just wasn't good. She could have comped the whole meal, and I still wouldn't go back.
(2)
Dave G.
I'm incredibly disappointed as I have been anticipating the opening for months. Here's why: Waited over an hour for food. Left without dinner feeling hangry (you know, so hungry that you're angry?), a little too drunk, and with a single tear running down my cheek. I met a pal and we walked over for dinner (note managers: waked, because I can see your restaurant from my house), and planned to have some appetizers and a drink while waiting for another pal to arrive. We got there and the place looked great. We were promptly seated and our waitperson was friendly, excited, and very nice to us. So far, off to a great start! Very exciting! She recommended we try their flavored popcorn snack, and we got some other appetizers and drinks. The popcorn was stale, tasteless, and taken away. She brought us another one, but same deal. The appetizers and cocktails were great. Our friend appeared and within 10 minutes of his arrival, we ordered dinner. We watched tables around us get sat, order, eat, and leave. We watched other tables wait and wait and lose their enchantment. We listened to no less than 4 infants/toddlers scream, screech, yell, and cry. Cut to 1 hour and 3 cocktails later (x3 people). All the fun was gone and I just wanted to leave. I'm pissed because I'm over a $100 in the hole, I have a pile of work at home, and my plan for a quick dinner and drink were wrecked. We asked for the check, our waitress apologized for the delay and sort of puttered around hoping that the kitchen would produce before she was able to gather the check. Grunt. Next, while waiting for the slips one of the managers (there seemed to be 3) came over and said that he was sure our dinner would be coming out of the kitchen soon. Being vague at this point was totally unacceptable and your attempt to rectify a crappy situation was lousy at best. We were mentally checked out, totally over it and thinking that Zesto's would be a good alternative (told you - hangry). Managers & Waitstaff: You really could have fixed this. You knew the kitchen was in the weeds, so why didn't you send out a snack? You also knew that we were already $100.00 into the bill with appetizers and cocktails, so why weren't you more communicative? I could list several other methods of customer service, but what's the point? You could have saved that check. Coming over halfheartedly at the last minute was a pretty crappy management style. Other interesting things: The food we did have was nice (save for the popcorn), the drinks are unique and interesting. The menu had plenty of options and the prices were good for a week night dinner out. I'd happily eat deep fried glass if it is served with a smile. I will not however, tolerate crappy service. EDITS: I've been back twice and met with the same situations... Alchemist, please come back.
(2)
Lisa O.
Went there for dinner tonight, do not waste your time! So disappointed because I was so excited to try it out. Give it a couple of more months for them to get their act together. When the waitress brought over glasses of water an unknown and gross looking substance was on the coaster. We pushed it to the side and waiting for the waitress to come back over. When we pointed it out she just picked up the glass and started to walk away but we asked her to please replace the coaster since that is where the gross unknown substance was on. The food was bland, I don't not recommend this place. The set up is weird and it was noisy.
(1)
Amy M.
Went here on Tuesday, I suppose that's about a week after they opened? I loved that they give you bread and butter pickles rather than much-too-filling bread, and it was a very whimsical touch. However it would have been nice for the pickles to actually taste good: they had a very odd mineral taste and the onions were practically raw. Not really the makings of a hot date starter. The roasted radishes were excellent and the mussels were pretty good, just a touch watery (the broth they were in was very bland). The fries, sadly, were very mushy. My biggest sadness was that I ordered the special of the day, a duck confit based noodle soup, and the duck was almost unpalatably salty and the soup itself had a lot of oiliness. The other flavors were spot on and the broth was excellently seasoned but the salty saltfest of the duck just overwhelmed the whole dish. I was able to try a bit of the hamburger as well and it was divine so I'd say when you go, stick to their wood-fired items. Dessert was another mess-- ice cold breadpudding barely warmed around the edges with a scoop of ice cream also frozen solid. I'm giving three stars because service was excellent and the food quality was high, just poorly executed. The drinks were great, my Arborway was delicious, and I think that with a bit more polish Canary Square could be a great local joint-- but nowhere I'd trek to JP for.
(3)
Michelle B.
I would totally give this place 5 stars if they had better service. A group of 6 of us went for dinner on Saturday night. The last time I was here it was still The Alchemist, so I was immediately impressed with how much open the space is now. It looks great. I got to try quite a bit as my friend and I split a few things off of the snacks and appetizers part of the menu. We got the deviled eggs (delicious, although I'm not 100% sold on the pile of relish under each egg), The Salty Pig (pate, whole grain mustard, pickled onions and hot toasted bread - so good), the mussels (the broth! omg, the broth!) and then for dessert we shared a root beer float, except we asked them to make it with ginger beer instead; we had been tempted to ask them to swap out the bourbon with dark rum and add a lime, but we felt that it would've been too much. Either way, it was a great end to the meal. Now, all of that sounds great, right? But the service. It was spotty at best: I had to repeat my drink order twice, which is normally not a big deal - but she still got it wrong. And all I wanted was a Captain and diet Coke! One of my friends sat waiting for his meal while the rest of us had our food. We all sat with dirty dishes in front of us after our dessert order had been taken. It was all just slightly off in a few different ways that it makes me think the staff just isn't trained very well or they're indifferent to their patrons.
(4)
Chris C.
Canary Square is offers a respectable mix of community atmosphere and satisfying pub grub. Just after landing in Boston, we grabbed a much needed meal, here and left very satisfied. They offer a fair variety of wine, beer and cocktails. I can comment on the cocktails - they are well made. I tried a little from everybody. I can't remember names, unfortunately. As for dinner, I opted for the hummus and cucumber sandwich and was really happy with my choice. The hummus was just a little chunky and there were plenty of vegetables on my sandwich. The bread, needing its own sentence, was big and moist and soft and memorable. The space is wide open and the staff is very friendly. It's the kind of place you can go to watch a game or not watch at all. The atmosphere is a little noisy but, you can definitely hear conversation at your table. Our service was attentive enough and good natured. Canary Square is definitely worth a return visit.
(4)
Erik S.
First of all I had to shower when I got home to wash all the grease off my face. Second, I witnessed a tyrannical owner or manager ripping into one of the workers. I was ashamed of myself for eating at a place that treats their employees so poorly. Had I known that is the kind of business they are running I never would have gone there. It was a shameful display. If you just want a greasy cheese fry be my guest. If you care about common human decency this is not the place for you.
(1)
Caroline C.
I like Canary Square, but I'm not really sure why I like it as much as I do. This should probably be a three star review, but perhaps I'm trying to counterbalance all the negative reviews Canary Square got when it first opened, which I didn't think were quite fair, being new and all, and also, the vibe is just so much better than the Alchemist. It adds a little style to the traditional JP quirk. I also have a crush on the skinny bartender who got really excited about brussel sprouts. I love a man who loves brussel sprouts. But the brussel sprouts are where the deliciousness ends. And these aren't even that amazing. Cod fritters are bland, and the char grilled tofu steak tasted like, well, char. And tofu. Which, I guess I should have known, as it's called "char grilled tofu", but I figured they would add additional flavors. But I have hope the food will improve - the website advertising a focus on local food and sustainability, which is a huge plus, and I want to support any restaurant that operates with these standards. (Oh, but I do love the pickles. Thanks for serving pickles instead of bread. The pickles are awesome.) The beer and wine list are also excellent (Stellenbosche Chenin Blanc! Score), and I've only had good service (and I've only been there on busy Saturday nights). It is loud, but not out of control loud. It's also pretty easy to park in the area, which is another big bonus.
(4)
Eliza Jane H.
I've waited to write a review for Canary Square but, now that I've been a couple of times and have visited during brunch as well as dinner, I feel like I can give a fair assessment. I like Canary Square. I will no doubt return there in the near future. So why am I giving it three stars? Because in all of my visits (4-5 at this point), for everything about it that is 4-5 stars, and there have been things that are, something has always been regrettably underwhelming. For example, I went the other evening for drinks and dinner, and the food we had was great, the drinks were good, and the bartender was friendly and efficient despite the very busy bar. Our waitress when we were seated at a table, on the other hand, was just awful-- unfriendly and absent. In another visit, this time for brunch, our server was great-- but the food was disappointing. It wasn't bad, and nothing was improperly cooked, but for a brunch that is locally celebrated as something to seek out, I was left scratching my head. So, while I certainly recommend Canary Square as a great place to grab a drink, to sit outside an eat a nice meal, and even, yes, to grab a decent brunch, I don't know that I would suggest seeking it out if you aren't in the area already. If you do end up there, a few things to think about: if deviled eggs are your thing, get them. They are insanely great. The pork tacos are delicious. The charcuterie platter is HUGE. I've never had to say no to so many cured meats at once. Want a table for brunch? Get there before 11 and you won't have any problems.
(3)
Heather K.
Second visit to Canary Square and we experienced a 100% improvement. Service was quick and friendly. The drink that was not so great last time is now off of the menu. We tried the Stonybrook this time and it was excellent. Wings were seriously AMAZING...perfectly seasoned with a refreshingly light sauce. salmon and guiness stew were delicious! I take back all of the negative things that I wrote after my previous visit. Looks like this place is maturing into the kind of place I'm happy to live around the corner from!
(5)
August L.
The service at this place continues to be rather terrible, and the food is still mediocre for the price. We went for brunch this weekend, and despite the place only being 1/4 full, the waitstaff was incredibly inattentive and unhelpful. They didn't come around with coffee refills for ages (and only when we asked), didn't check if we needed more milk (we asked for it twice), didn't offer ketchup or hot sauce with breakfast, and most importantly, were very inflexible with our dietary issues. They initially refused to make any changes to the menu options, including taking off the ubiquitous meat (bacon, sausage or ham) that accompanies almost every single meal. We asked for a substitution for the meat, and were told that "it's against our policy to make any changes - you can take it off, but we can't replace it." What? It's 2011 in Jamaica Plain and you want to make vegetarians pay for meat??? If you refuse to make changes on your menu, you should change the prices, so that the meals come without meat as a general rule, but you can add the meat for a small additional price. What a ridiculous "policy" and such an obnoxious attitude to boot. The french toast is really unusual -- massive pieces of bread, covered with corn flake crust, and topped with a sweet bourbon-maple syrup. It was tasty enough, but WAY too much for one person, and I can't really imagine ordering it again. They don't have regular french toast, or pancakes. The other food was decent but too expensive for what it is. All in all, this place should be way better than it is. I wish they'd improve the menu and learn how to have a genuine and kind neighborhood vibe. It's a gorgeous space, but with the bad service, snarky attitude and mediocre food, we won't be coming back anytime soon.
(2)
Kestrel D.
Great thing: they update their menu so frequently. Everything remains unique and yummy. They seem to go based on seasonality and patron feedback. Good job, CS.
(4)
Elizabeth T.
I'm going to admit straight away that I'm biased about this place. My partner is one of the waitstaff, so service is not something I'm going to comment on. I am, however, going to comment on the food. I'm in love with the Guinness Beef Stew. Serious, head-over-heels love. It's a combination of stew and beef stroganoff, served with egg noodles and sour cream mixed into the sauce. I'm really picky about stews. The Druid in Inman has a great one, but all of the other places I've tried have left me with a general "meh" feeling. This one, not so much. I'd eat 100 gallon drums of it for months on end, such is the intensity of my love for it. I've tried the skirt steak as well, which was also delicious. The only complaints I've had food wise had to do with the mussels. While they were tasty, they had a bit of grit that was off putting. The wine list is great, there's a world of choice in the beer realm, and my Manhattans were always delicious. I'm glad this place filled Alchemist's spot.
(4)
Sarah Q.
I have to say, I really liked the Alchemist. I was so bummed when they closed and converted into Canary Square. I loved their staff, the ambiance, the drinks, the food...sigh. Canary Square is okay - I do like the new layout - but will never live up the Alchemist.
(3)
Marcus D.
Amazing that this place used to be Triple D's - now that was a REAL alcoholics bar. I wasn't too impressed when it was the Alchemist and I must admire how the new owners have really opened up the place. To be fair we didn't eat here, we just got drinks. Some of the customers were annoying, especially the ones crowding around me and my buddies - whacky liberal turds that don't understand when someone has a claim to a bar stool, hmmm, I thought my coat draped over the back with my foot resting on the rung designated it as my seat, sorry that you and your fat assed girlfriend had to stand. God forbid! It's a new place so I suppose there are some wrinkles to be ironed out, so give it a chance - it's JP for Chrissakes! Our bartender was cool: sweet and quick with our rounds, not having to ask again what we were drinking.
(3)
MC S.
Well it is sad but true the food at CS just stunk. They managed to get the swiss chard salad balanced but that was it. We were a pretty large party and we had a number of dishes. None of them were great and that is sad. I watched a packed restaurant turn out a ton of food. Presentation was good all the food that was presented looked appetizing this includes the food brought to other tables. This is my gripe... YOU OWN CODA you have a restaurant you are not wet behind the ears so WTF is wrong with the food! Eggs Really only 1 and half eggs for the money really!!! You couldn't just give a person a whole two eggs... this may have been the best dish the entire table had.. but to be that stingy.. .really I have done the food cost... that half egg is not paying for anything.. but me not ordering them again is a LOSS. Popcorn... This is the deal when you have popcorn you should coat it with something that has flavor and is the same size or smaller. This way the corn is coated .. makes sense. Yes? What we got was HUGE pieces of onion and tomato and popcorn that was not popped at CS. Homemade Popcorn doesn't look like little heads of cauliflower they look like popcorn. Tellegio Sandwich... It would have been awesome if some how you could have cooked the pressed sandwich so that the Tallegio melted. It is a soft cheese this should not be hard to do. Half shell oysters and clams ... didn't taste like anything other then salt water... that is no fun and not very appetizing. Cheese fries well if they had been less soggy and not over cooked and the cheese sauce salted they would have been a hella of a lot better. Pulled Chicken sandwich... who uses pickling spices in there bbq sauce plus it was too sweet! If you are going to use Bread and Butter pickle juice to make a "creative" bbq sauce then strain it! and THE Burger It says on the menu it comes with grafton cheddar... okay.. .Well then one small slice that is melted to the bun... becomes a why bother. AND this is not hard... you have meat it should have a 80 percent fat content it should be tossed with seasonings NOT just garlic powder and it should be loosely packed. I have never in my life had to chew a burger over and over and over and over to swallow it. It was like chewing a hockey puck. I don't know what the hell the kitchen thought they were doing but it wasn't making a good burger. PLUS you don't press down on said burger to get it to cook faster.. hello cooking 101. I was a fan of the Alchemist and I was a regular... it has broken my heart that it has left and this is what replaced it. ON a positive note ... you have hired some very very competent wait staff and that was the only redeeming part of our meal. The drinks were incredibly strong which is okay if you are going to a bar to get wasted but I think the CS is going for a different clientele. No? It is called Balance ... and it was the CS lacks. People do your demographics... get your s(*&*^t together and make food that is salted correctly and tastes good! It is not hard. It just takes effort and if your staff in the back of the house is indifferent FIRE them. There are a ton of people in the restaurant industry who need jobs.. You have others to choose from.
(2)
Erika M.
Preesha, I thought we were friends...? I love this place. The first time we went there, we were a little turned off by the music. No one wants to eat while Creed is blasting. Am I in Haverhill? Well, they changed their station and won me over. The food: Cha fuckin' Ching! Expensive. BUT everything is organic and local (is it local?) and good. I LOVE their wood smoked half chicken. And ever since they got rid of the mushrooms, I like it even more! The booze: I have to come here half in the bag in order to not spend a butt load of cash on their very tasty and unique beverages. I suck those fuckers down in 3 sips. Their sangria is amazing. The service: There is one dood we try to avoid and we succeed almost every time. He just gets a little distracted by all the hotties working there and tends to forget about us. We are THAT annoying couple in there with a baby almost every time we go in and most of the servers are very warm and helpful. I especially love the girl with the blue eyeliner. She's a doll. All in all I love it. I took one star away for cost and it's also SUPER LOUD when busy. They can't really help the noise factor, but I'm in a complainy kinda mood today, so it stays! I love you Canary.
(4)
Zoe P.
Fairly late on a hungry Sunday night I visited here and was served the kind of brisket sandwich of which legends are made. The space was vast, cool and friendly. The variety of beers made my party happy. I got the vague sense that the fries were subpar - the mealy frozen steak fries type - but I don't think I actually ate any myself.
(4)
Anna K.
I really want to like this place, but the food is consistently mediocre. The people are nice, there is a good beer selection, it's kid friendly, the location is great, but like most JP spots it disappoints. My chicken with polenta was tough and super salty with a thin film over the entire plate as if it had sat out for a bit. The spicy s'mores was an odd flavor combination that just didn't work. The black bean burger was okay.
(2)
Yvonne C.
Despite some mixed reviews on this place, thought we'd try it out anyways. Unfortunately the food was really not good!!! Although I must say, if you're going to go just to get a drink--it's not a bad place. The waiters/waitresses are super friendly and there is a good beer list. Here's what we had: (1) Swiss Chard and pulled chicken salad: The swiss chard was extremely greasy--after eating just a few pieces I couldn't eat anymore. The pulled chicken was okay on it and the poached egg made you forget for a second that the swiss chard was so bad, but overall not good (2) Mac and Cheese: This was a standard mac and cheese--nothing amazing, but not horrible (3) Oysters with bread crumbs: I am usually the HUGEST oyster fan, but I didn't even want to finish this plate of oysters. It was definitely lacking flavor and some spice. Also, the sauce accompanying the oysters was just butter--not providing any additional flavor
(1)
Whitney R.
I've been putting off writing a review for Canary Square out of concern that I might judge it prematurely, and I'm happy I did. The first time I went there was about a week after it opened. I sat at the bar with Tracy P. and was served by a bartender who appeared frazzled and irritated. The service was extremely slow, the muscles were gritty, and the cocktails were "blah". The S.L.T. sandwich was its only saving grace. Nonetheless, I held off on the review (which would have been only 2 stars) in hopes that Canary would soon work out the new-restaurant-kinks. I returned to Canary last night, again with Tracy P., having only mediocre expectations. We were seated at a high top, and although it took a bit longer than expected to be initially acknowledged, our waitress was bubbly, friendly, and funny. She was also extremely attentive throughout the remainder of the evening. We started with a side salad with the house vinegrette (Simply Green $4) and Salted Radishes Baked with Spinach ($7?). For mains, I had the Guiness Beef Barley Stew ($16) and Tracy had the Apple and Arugula Salad ($9?). I have to say, all of the food was well cooked and extremely tasty, especially the Beef Barley Stew, the meat in which was tender and fell apart on my fork. I saved half of it to bring home, but I had a really hard time holding back! Overall, this was a vast improvement from my previous visit!! So why only 3 stars? It seems that it really depends on what you order here. For example, a friend of mine experienced the veggie lasagna to be dry with undercooked veggies and not enough pasta. So, for now, read the reviews, and order what's been deemed edible. I have faith that Canary will continue to improve as time passes, and when they do, I'll be excited to update my review to a four-star-rating.
(3)
Paolo P.
Love going for drinks. -Have a great beer menu. -Basil Grape Mojito... well it's not really a Mojito, but it's still the best thing ever. -Bartenders and wait staff are awesome. Super friendly and fun. -General ambiance is good. Love the industrial chic look. Also has a nice vibe and cute outdoor area for the summer. Only gets 3 stars because the food it's that great. -Brunch was pretty hit-or-miss. -Dinner was just overall bad (like fish still frozen in t he middle bad). I've heard the menu's been updated, so I'm hoping the food is better... but am still hesitant to try. But I'm always down for a few drinks!
(3)
Kate P.
Another bar/restaurant just blocks from my apartment -- the new layout is very appealing, and in the summer the outdoor seating is a plus. I was not fond of the Blood Mary made with bacon vodka -- there were large chunks of bacon in the drink that could not be sucked up with the straw. I found this unappetizing. The menu has basically stayed the same since it opened, and after trying most of the beers would like to see some change there as well. Is it just me, or did anyone else find it odd that there are no sides to be ordered with breakfast? For example, if I were to order the French Toast (amazing) and wanted eggs, I would have to order an entire breakfast to go with my breakfast. I like my bacon a bit more crispy than the limp pieces I was presented with and this issue was not to be resolved since the kitchen refuses to have a microwave. The morning manager was very friendly and stopped by our table more than one time to ask how we were enjoying our meal and if he could be of more service to our party. I think dropping off the notebook at the end of the meal for comments is very interesting as well.
(3)
heather F.
their food sucks. sucks sucks sucks. if i'm going to spend $20 for a plate of roasted chicken, i want it to be far better than anything i could make at home, ever. husband and our friend had to send their burgers back 3x before they got it right. another time, half of my veggie burger was burnt. never had anything more than a mediocre food experience here. They try so hard to have high-end food but they fail. their saving grace is their bar. great beer selection, tasty cocktails, and their wine list seems decent, too. their standard price for a beer is $6 which is definitely on the pricy side, but i guess its not outrageous for the standards in Boston... Long story short, go here to drink. If you want to eat, go to Ten Tables, Tres Gatos, or the Haven instead.
(2)
Sherrie G.
This place is getting a bad wrap and it certainly doesn't deserve it. I finally got a chance to check it out today but I came in with the patience of a saint suspecting that there would be a decent wait. The place gives a posh vibe but I still felt surprisingly comfortable in my chucks with my book in hand. I was flying solo and craving chili like crazy. I tried finding a spot at the bar but it seemed almost impossible on a saturday so I put my name in. I waited maybe like a little less than 30 minutes. For me, that's a pretty standard wait on a saturday for a new hot spot. The hostesses were pretty cool too and kept me amused at points. I was a little put off by the 15 or so minute wait for the waitress to acknowledge me though but she was very apologetic. I noticed her other table had some issues so I let it slide. She was also good about making conversation which I appreciated. Once I had an order put in, the food was surprisingly fast. My chili actually beat my cocktail but only by a minute. And the pulled chicken sandwich came almost immediately following my devouring of the chili. Both came out piping hot. The chili was quite spicy, I would recommend ordering it with a piece of bread or something to subdue the hotness. The pulled chicken was very succulent and the sauce was the right amount of sweet and savory. The fries were pretty grand to boot. What put my meal over the top was the Mother's Ruin cocktail featuring St. Germain, cranberries and my favorite, Hendrick's gin. Extremely refreshing. This place seems like it would do great if can keep up with it's own popularity. But frankly, I think people just need to learn some patience and consideration. I get it. Most of us live in a fast paced city in an age full of instant gratification. I work customer service and am regularly chewed out by people having to wait more than 5 minutes to be helped. I don't find it fair to be judged by something you don't have much control over. With that, I'll be sure to come back and try these deep fried twinkies I keep hearing about.
(5)
Adam G.
Good brunch spot. At first glance of this menu a wave of energy took over. They have a wide selection of bloody marys so naturally I went with the bacon bloody mary made with house-made bacon vodka. I ordered the huevos rancheros which was accompanied by a large piece of chicharron (deep fried thick cut bacon). If you are catching my bacon vibe, you know I rounded out my order with a side of deep fried bacon for the table.
(4)
Greg M.
It took me about six or seven visits to this place before I finally figured out how to have the best experience here. Mainly, I learned to avoid the brunch and main courses and stick to beer, cocktails, and snacks. If I didn't live up the street then I probably would have given up after just a couple visits. For main courses, I've tried their lackluster pulled pork sammy and their burger which was solid - but does this town really need yet another merely decent burger topped with cheddar on a brioche? I also had their pork chop which was fine. So far, no complaints. But then I went for brunch. Ugh. The huevos rancheros were probably the worst I've ever had. I don't understand why this place doesn't try to get even slightly creative with a burger, yet when it comes to huevos they decide to go out on a limb with red beans, yellow rice and chopped tomatos (which I think they called pico de gallo). It doesn't work. I also tried their gravlax on a bagel with barely any cream cheese. Now for the good: The beer selection is great. Clown Shoes, Green Flash, Stone, Allagash and North Coast are usually represented. Always changing and they're happy to give you a taste of something (sometimes because the server has no idea how to describe the beer.) And the beers are reasonably priced. I read one review complaining that they use 14oz "cheater" glasses. I don't know where I fall on this. They never actually claim that they are serving up pints. But the thick bottoms give the impression that they're trying to pull a fast one. In the end, I'm going to let it slide since they serve up 14oz for almost everything on tap. Including many big beers which are usually served in 10 or 12 oz servings. So it appears they just decided on 14oz servings across the board to keep it simple. I really don't mind if that means that they sometimes don't have the "proper" glassware. I stopped in to watch the Sox opener. It's a pretty good place to watch a game, but I'd imagine the bar section would get crowded fast during a normal 7PM game (the opener was at 4). But if you get a seat at the bar or on the couch, you'll have a decent view. They also put out some complimentary popcorn for us as we waited for food to be served at 5. Knowing what I know about the food (and having dinner plans later), I just went with the dollar Island Creek oysters which were top notch.* And as you can probably see at the top of the page, they offer them every day from 5-6. Their apps and snacks like chicken wings, cheese fries and deviled eggs are like everything else on the menu: decent. I'm happy to order them because they're cheaper and I can wash them down with a quality brew. And I'm looking forward to the nicer weather when you can sit by the big garage door which will be opened. *Side note: when you get a bad raw oyster, are you supposed to blame the restaurant? Do they get them from lousy oyster farms to save money? What about Island Creek Oysters? Are some better than others? I really don't have them enough to notice a difference between the $1 ICO at Canary Square and the $2.50 ICO at ICOB. Is there a difference? Feel free to message me to let me know.
(4)
Jack P.
Applebee's quality at Capital Grille prices. If your're going to charge $11 for a burger, you sure as hell better back it up with quality. Here, as with so many other aspects, does Canary Square fail to deliver. Service was among the worst I've ever had--clueless and inattentive. How's that for a combo? Wrong drink order, 15 minutes to get replacement. You get the picture. My burger was burned to a char, and completely inedible. I took one bite and spit it out. It tasted like it had been dropped in the bowels of a Weber grill, and rescued the next morning. After spending 7 minutes trying to locate my waitress, I finally got her attention. She took it back, but my dining companion was almost done with his food. Ultimately, I told them not to worry about it. They had already f'd up my evening. This place SHOULD be great, but IT SUCKS. Robert Irvine or Gordon Ramsey need to save this place.
(1)
Rachel H.
I ate here the weekend of 4/15. Seems like they may have raised the bar a bit. We had delicious food. Great beer selection. Appetizers: A - devil eggs and hummus. My dinner mates loved the devil eggs, I passed on those. I was a big fan of the hummus and pita chips. They only gave us a few pita chips, so we asked for more and they brought out a big plate - kudos for that. Entrees: A- I had the skirt steak with the Gorgonzola tots and zuccini salad. Everything about my dish was delish! Dinner friends had the Braised Pork with risotto - yumm! Also, the fish and chips app and the side salad were good too. Nothing crazy though. Dessert: A donuts with chocolate sauce and an order of the seasonal ice cream (maple walnut from JP licks - mmmm). This dessert was great, more than enough for the three of us to share. I would def order these again! All this - plus 1 beer each for less than $100! Crazy. I guess I'm now used to NYC prices, where my husband and I can barely get brunch for less than $100. i was very impressed with the price. The atmosphere was great - lively bar, friendly service, helpful bartenders. Made me miss JP more than ever. Looking forward to going back.
(4)
Marilyn T.
It's been a long time since I've been to JP, and I noticed Canary Square on the corner of center and Huntington where the Alchemist used to be. We came in and were surprised that it was so lively and full on a cold Monday night at 8:30. They have probably 40 beer options, plus cocktails and wines. We started with garlic bread and a cauliflower soup with bacon. The soup was creamy and well seasoned, super satisfying on a cold night (would have been perfect for dipping some crusty bread). For salads, the warm Swiss chard and cranberry is filling enough for a meal. The pulled chicken is sauteed in the bacon vinaigrette, and then it's tossed with the chard, which wilts it just the right amount. Topped with a poached egg, it almost reminded me of a carbonara but in salad form. For vegetarians, the balsamic grilled tofu steak is an interesting option. It's warm and charred but could have used some more seasoning; plus, the panzanella salad underneath was a little too crunchy and didn't really go with the tofu. The server was super attentive and patient even though it was a busy night. Overall, a cool place to grab some beers and food to share.
(3)
Jessica K.
This place is fast becoming my favorite local destination. Fun, friendly, attentive servers and bartenders, charming hostesses, huge beer selection, tasty cocktails, yummy food. It's one of the only places I've ever been that gives me a medium-rare burger when I ordered a medium-rare burger (usually asking for anything short of "I want it alive on my plate!" results in 100% charred beef). The clam-juice Bloody Mary at brunch is amazing. The beef brisket sandwich melts in your mouth. Every time I go, there are at least a few new additions to the menu, which is a nice touch for the regulars. My only complaint: bring back the popcorn! Very charming interior, and there's always a wonderful mix of people in the restaurant (cute families, young groups of friends, older couples, yuppies, hipsters, you name it).
(5)
Erwin F.
My GF and I went to this restaurant because she had been hyping it up for a couple weeks...and really she couldn't even do it justice. Our meal was DELICIOUS! First - The Service Our server was probably good. I really can't remember because I was enjoying my meal (Swordfish with sliced sausage and mussels in a red sauce with pasta). Sadly that was the final day of that particular menu item, but they really need to bring it back. But back to the service, the server stopped by frequently to check on how we were doing and made sure we were taken care of. Second - The food If you couldn't tell by the previous paragraph, the food was EXCELLENT. It didn't need any extra salt, pepper, or flavor. It was JUST RIGHT - Goldilocks style. Overall, I WILL BE BACK AGAIN.
(5)
Jillian H.
Oh, Canary Square. Our love affair has ended. You had etherial cod fritters that literally evaporated in my mouth. No more. You once had $1 oysters every day from 5:00 - 6:00. Now its only on Mondays. Disappointed, my posse and I all ordered the Jonah Crab appetizer. Imagine trying to pry meat out of the spindly legs of a lobster and you have the same experience with these crabs. Including the flying shells landing in your hair, beer and best pal across the table. The meatiest parts were the moderate-sized claws. Only, the meat had been previously frozen (and if not, then it was wayyyy over cooked), so it was stringy and bland . Thank God for the sauce that was served with it or we wouldn't have been able to choke it down. We also got chicken tacos. Dry, dry dry. Sad, sad, sad. The only saving grace is the beer selection. If only the food was as stellar as the beer... (1 star for the food, 2 stars for the beer.)
(3)
Mk E.
So happy that a solid restaurant has moved in where the Alchemist failed. The depth of the draft list is impressive (and the waitstaff will be the first to admit that the blackboard can't keep up with the changing taps), the small plates are consistently tasty, and the service is engaging without being overbearing. Big hits: the charcuterie plate (changes frequently, sometimes even in a single night--so order it twice!), pork belly, and the deviled eggs. Bonus points: produce (and eggs) from Allandale Farms.
(4)
Sean O.
People's expectations of places amaze me. It seems they 'look' for reasons to be a food critic and YELP is their place to take out their bent up aggression that they can't display in any other form than anonymous text. I have been to the this place 3 times. Loved it more and more each time. 1st Visit: A Saturday night for snacks and drinks with friends. We killed multiple apps (Cod Fritters, Wings and others i can't remember now) along with a number of beers and cocktails (which is why the other apps i can't remember). We enjoyed the atmosphere all night and stayed till close. 2nd Visit: Sunday afternoon for a Patriots game. I figured the menu was diverse enough I could order different things throughout the day of football. It didn't dissapoint. Again, started with the wings (and why not when watching football), grabbed some chili later and topped it off with a fried twinkie. 3rd Visit: Weekday night after work. Surprisingly the place was packed for a weeknight. I went in and tried out the pulled chicken sandwich. AMAZING! It seriously was one of 'those' type of sandwiches that makes you crave for it the next day. All-in-All the place does its food without disappointment. The service was very good and never had a complaint. Also to the people that claim the Alchemist had a better beer selection, that truly shows you have no competence rating places. The beer selection at this establishment is one of the best and unique I have experienced.
(5)
Nancy C.
My friends and I walked in for brunch on a Sunday morning. The ambiance is trendy and chic. I liked the differing furniture. I imagine it's a nice bar for happy hour. I ordered the french toast. Let me start off my stating that I am not a french toast fan, at all. For some reason, I had a feeling about this particular item on this day though. I am so glad I followed my instinct! The french toast was amazing. Really. I would return to this restaurant for the french toast alone. I may have mentioned it was orgasmic when I signed for the check. The coffee was just okay. And the server was a little slow even though it wasn't very busy. The server could definitely be more attentive if you ask me. My friend ordered the Avocado and Swiss Omelet. I had a bite and it was very good. Did you read the part about the french toast?! They have converted me. SO DAMN GOOD!!
(4)
Damian X.
Great food but my god is the service slow.
(3)
D D.
The outdoor seating and the beer selection are a plus. But the food... I've given Canary Square a fair chance and checked it out several times. The food has always been very uneven. The only dish that I feel truly is worth the price is the grilled cheese and the donuts. But I can easily replicate a grilled cheese at home. I've had lousy yucca fries, meh salads, and overpriced hummus among other dishes. Dined with other people that felt the food was mediocre as well. Also, the bar and indoor area is wayyyy too loud. Overall if you're looking for drinks and you can get a seat on the patio, sure, give Canary Square a shot. Otherwise, go elsewhere.
(2)
Kari C.
I am only giving Canary Square a 3 because they have changed their menu since I first went there, otherwise they would get a 4. I went to Canary Square when it first opened some months ago and fell in love the moment I took a bite of my steak. It was perfectly cooked, had chard on the side and amazing mashed potatoes. Also, they won my heart because they had olives as a snack on the menu, and boy do I love my olives. My friend ordered their veggie lasagna, which is no longer on the menu either, and loved it (he's not one to say that). I'll have to give it another try with the new menu, because I loved the atmosphere and had great service.
(3)
Lori M.
I love-love-love this place. It's funky, it's got style, the menu is comprehensive (though lacking in the sheer number of vegan/vegetarian options), and the bar is awesome. My gf and I dined at a table once, and have placed ourselves at the bar each and every time we've gone since. I probably shouldn't say this lest you all head over to the bar instead of tables, but the bartenders are awesome. They offer fun drinks, a great selection of beer, and a happy attitude. Re: food, I am still irked by the switch-a-roo on the menu that removed my favorite sandwich (apple and taleggio grilled cheese) and replaced it with some avocado version. I have an "intolerance" of avocado. Not an allergy, as a doctor once corrected me, as I don't swell up and die. I do, however, roll into a ball with an avocado pit in my stomach. But enough about me. The popcorn is hit or miss, and I do wish it was a freebie. The gf is a meatmouth and she's enjoyed both the burger and the pulled chicken sandwich. And we were wicked excited by the bread pudding, though it might be seasonal. Overall, it's a great place to be a regular. Or at least the bartenders pretend to recognize me....
(5)
Sam F.
Good selection of beers (especially like the Downeast Cider) with a menu that is small but tasty. The BAT (bacon, avacado and tomato sandwich) for brunch is always a great choice.
(3)
Sue P.
Every food-loving, outdoor-sitting, cocktail-sipping Jamaica Plainer wants to love Canary Square. Unfortunately it's impossible. The location, outdoor seating, and bright, airy dining room and bar are notable high points. And let's face it -- ambience ain't nothing. For a quick beer or cocktail, especially outside on the porch, Canary Square is the best place in JP. But the food! It's plain and self-conscious at the same time. At the risk of over simplifying, the food is under-spiced, under-salted, and under-umamied. Almost to a dish -- and I've tried virtually everything on the menu -- the food simply isn't good. Bring a date and have a cocktail. Enjoy the hand-chalked beer menus and the huge windows. But eat somewhere else.
(2)
Bernadette S.
This is a brunch review. Service at brunch was very good and the place was bustling. My wife ordered the bloody mary beer - not good - she sent it back and got a regular beer. Her brunch was good. She had an omelet. Mine was not. I ordered the Huevos Rancheros because they are my favorite brunch item and I try them anytime they are on a menu. This is a Mexican dish yet the Huevos at Canary Square have zero flavor. The one saving grace is the chorizo. The pico de gallo is flavorless and needed cilantro and spice. There was no other salsa and when I asked for some was brought Tabasco or The rice and the beans also were totally bland. It was so sad to see my favorite dish treated this way. Perhaps the biggest issue, however, was that the soft corn tortillas were in that weird in-between place between warm and cold and were served folded with cracks...they were useless as a taco or wrap. I'm disappointed but still hoping for the best...
(3)
Tracy P.
When this place first opened it had the usual growing pains.... Frazzeled staff, inconsistent food.... Pretty much what you'd excpect from a brand new spot. But it has come into it's own over the last few months and the staff have really helped bring it along! There is always a smiling face greeting you from the door to the bar. The huge flat screen TVs make it a great spot to watch a game, and now that baseball season is right around the corner I am sure that it will be the place to sip a brew and watch the Sox. Also, the huge garage doors are just waiting for the warm weather to roll up and open to the patio. I have only seen improvement over the last few months and I'm looking forward to see what comes next!
(4)
Joel G.
LOVE THIS PLACE. I have only been once but I am pinning to go back. Beef skewers with Peanut Sauce was to die for. Mac and Cheese was very good. The service was solid and it had a great vibe. Can not believe how they transformed this place from the hole that it was before. The exposed brick is just great. Well lit bar with dark corners tasteful TV placement. over 30 beers on tap. Can not wait to go back!!!!!
(5)
Caitlin B.
I was on my way to Sorella's for brunch and stopped to look at the menu at Canary Square. Both the menu and the decor drew us in. We must have gotten there at the right time because we were seated right away and it seemed there was a line for the rest of brunch. The decor is stunning and is the right combo of neighborhood-y and upscale. Our waitress was adorable and so nice. I was so taken aback when I read reviews later on about that bad service. We got coffee refills and everything at the right time. Bloody mary's were so-so. Not a ton of flavor (perhaps they rely on the absolut peppar for that?) We got avocado and swiss omelette, turkey hash, and sides of bagel with dill-caper cream cheese and homeade sausage. All were very yummy! I didn't get to look at the dinner menu, not sure how I'd feel about the ambience for dinner but for drinks or brunch like we had, it seems like the place to be!
(4)
Gabriel B.
Great location, good ambiance, lots of beer on tap. Those are the highlights. The food is sometimes adequate, but too often sub-standard. I'm not hard to please, but nothing is particularly good - everything is just OK. The service frequently seems distracted. I suppose the other plus is that they are pretty kid-friendly in the early evening.
(2)
Shushumishi T.
Very pleased for the new hangout place close to my apt. I went there for the first time this past Friday 04/22 for a drink and went back on Saturday for brunch. Food was delicious (brunch), wine - good choices. At brunch, I also had a bloody Mary, which I didn't even finish because of a strange aftertaste it gave me...problems with the Tomato Juice...? Maybe I will stick with wine... Overall, the place gives a nice vibe and has a welcoming atmosphere. I'm sure I will be back again.
(3)
Brian R.
The missus went here when it first opened and had a bad meal topped off with some undercooked chicken. So after reading improved reviews and giving the staff a few months to get their feet under them, we went out for dinner on a recent Friday night. Its kinda loud, and it was pretty packed with a mixed leaning towards slightly younger crowd. We should have ordered the mussels which come with their fries. Both are done well (one of our dining partners previously had and enjoyed the mussels). Instead we ordered the jerk wings. Not bad, but not hothothot like jerk usually is. I ordered the pulled chicken sandwich. It was very bland. Maybe the roll was too much? It was just chicken in an ordinary BBQ sauce on a roll. Probably needs pickles or some other vinegar/acid and something with a crunch (slaw?). It did come with slaw on the side which wasn't the worst but wasn't stellar. Actually it was a bit wilted. The missus ordered the swordfish. I thought that was a 'you can't screw this up' dish. I was wrong. The fregola was sad looking and tired. The fish looked good but didn't taste good. We ate half of it. We left hungry. The service wasn't very good either. In fairness it was very busy. But we were told we would get water. 10 minutes later we had to flag our server to get this. We also had to flag them to put in our dinner order. Bottom line: go there for the very good beer selection and the interesting mixed drink menu and order the mussels. There are better options for a meal.
(2)
Rebecca B.
I've been to Canary twice now (once to grab a quick dinner pre-Fenway, and once because, I'll admit, we got shut out of Tres Gatos). Canary Square is a fine place. I think that's right - it's fine. Not amazing, not awful, but fine. It's crowded and loud in there (maybe the acoustics aren't quite right for a restaurant? Not sure). But, the hosts that I've seen were good at finding us a table, even once negotiating with another couple waiting ahead of us in the lounge on our behalf (they wanted to stay in the comfy lounge chairs, so it worked out). The food that I've tasted has been kind of hit-or-miss. The best thing I've had there was an amazing poached egg over sauteed mushrooms on toast concoction. Yum. The worst thing I've had there was a hamburger, ordered medium, that came out completely raw on the inside (not, like, bordering on medium-rare - it was raw and cold in the middle). The middle-ground thing I've had was the steamed mussels - the broth was fine (there's that word again!), but could have used some more acid, and the toast it came with was burnt and not buttered enough. I'll definitely be back here, but I feel like it might be more of a place to go for drinks and some bar food, rather than a full meal. It's definitely a boost to that part of JP, but hopefully it's a sign of even better things to come, rather than being the finish line in itself. Also, I'm not sure if this is, in fact, the place where the anti-Whole Foods people meet, but I definitely took up a page of the notebook spewing out my screed on why Whole Foods is a good thing. I might have had a few drinks first. Oops!
(3)
Lola C.
I want to like this place soooooo much, but it disappoints on many levels. First what I like; the bar is great and the bartenders are friendly and quick ---and remember the customers! The atmosphere is great, they did a good job renovating and transforming the space. It could use a little soundproofing, but that is all I would change as far as atmosphere goes. If it were just a bar this place would have a couple more stars. The food...meh. The menu is not satifsying, there isn't something for everyone on it. My three favorite menu items are no longer there, no more ceasar salad, no more beef stroganoff-y bowl of yumminess, etc. I went for the burger this week and it was greasy with an odd flavor, almost like pork fat was used on the grill. I can't quite explain it, but I don't want to try it again. My friend had the pulled pork chicken, they thought it was greasy too. Actually, they said their previous meal at Canary had been greasy as well. I'll definitely visit the bar again, and again...just not when I am hungry.
(2)
d m.
Nothing seriously offended me, but I was expecting better. I get the feeling the owners are stretching themselves a little thin while they open too many places at once. $1 oysters didnt seem to be shucked by someone who was very good at shucking since they took 30 mintues to arrive and came looking a bit mangled. SLT sandwich was ok, but honestly was lacking any imagination (was that pepperridge farm bread?)..I do better for myself at home. It was ok but doubt I'd run back. When I saw how busy they were all I could think was they are doing better than they deserve to. On the upside the beer was cold and they had a good selection of draughts.
(2)
Mariana G.
I have been coming to Canary square since it opened. I have since recommended clients, friends etc to come because I just loved how unique the atmosphere the food was amazing and the service was excellent, until tonight. The service has really gone down hill and it's really disappointing. My boyfriend and I were sitting at the bar, watching the Olympics, ordered couple of apps and drinks, great. Waited 30 mins for the bartender to notice that our empty glasses were drying on the bar. Perhaps if they weren't so busy chatting at the corner of the bar, with the MANAGER they would notice that their customers needed tending to! C'mon, get your act together- I just don't think we will be back for a while. It's too bad because we've been coming here since they opened, and as a JP resident, I'm just really sad and disappointed.
(1)
Michelle C.
It says something when a JP bistro is packed on an early Thursday -- a good something. I busted a move on the Canary Square version of mussels Provencal, which proved to be an excellent choice. My dashing companion tucked in to the cod fritters, which were equally delectable and served quite quickly, an achievement considering how quickly the place went from zero to sixty. No joke; they were on a wait at 6:30 p.m. on a Thursday. There were some beers in there somewhere, and while I can't weigh in on the overall cost of the meal, I will say that it was a damn near perfect venue for a shockingly comfortable first date. The service was relatively hands-off, knowledgeable and, most importantly, didn't seem to mind our lingering in the bar area, despite how crowded it was. Big raves for Canary Square! I love you and the loud people that fill your restaurant!
(5)
Allison C.
I've been back a handful of times since my last review (never again for brunch though) Dinner there has been alright each time. The beer list is awesome. The food has been good, not anything really special, but good. They have gotten rid of a couple of the dishes I though were awesome which is a bummer. I still think is overpriced, but the times I have been for dinner have been way less of a disaster than that time I went for brunch.
(3)
Radhika M.
I live down the street from Canary Square so I come here pretty regularly. It probably has the best decor and ambiance of any restaurant I know, just perfectly 'classy but casual'. I've been here for casual weekday dinners, weekend brunches, and birthday dinners. The food seems to have gotten much better over the last year - everything has been consistently great the past few times. Service is really friendly, and the menus are always changing to keep things interesting. Always fun to try the new cocktails and beer flights. I recommend the brussel sprouts appetizer even if you dislike brussel sprouts. This place is also fantastic for dessert - they brought out toffee cake for a birthday celebration and it was delicious. Will probably be going back for it!
(5)
Richard C.
Canary Square June 9th, 2014 by Richard Chudy IMG_1059My mom, for reasons that might or might not have been clear to me, has been constantly singing the praises of the burger at Canary Square in Jamaica Plan for quite some time now. Finally, on mother's day, I caved. Not that I thought it wouldn't be a great burger, but more because I was sort of enjoying the back and forth game of the elusive burger, and the saleswoman pitch she kept giving me. It's a bustling restaurant on this particular Sunday night, the first warm day/evening in a while, and neighborhood patrons appear as if they have been coming here for years. The service is a tad slow when you want it to be faster, and very quick and short once they realize you are done for the night. The burger is very much no frills. You can add on house-made bacon (very chewy, but deeply flavored) or mushrooms for an additional $2 and cheese for another $1. But, for starting at $11, it's hard to complain at all about the pricing. The bun is soft and very buttery in a good way, with the feel of a brioche without the heft and dominance. The patty is wide, not too tall and not too short, filling the bun perfectly. It's super juicy but a tad under-seasoned, with a distinct beefy flavor that is in that run-of-the-mill spectrum but very familiar and comforting. A little bit of char works out, and is a welcome accent to the burger. The patty is cooked pretty consistently medium-rare, although some of the rare burgers ordered at the table are a little bit beyond that. It's labeled as grass-fed but it has no real attributes common with grass-fed beef (leanness, gaminess) and the tightly packed patty mostly feels like the common one you'd find in most pubs. A gush of melted cheddar cheese is ample and is the unofficial star of this dish, heavenly aggressive and wonderful in all the right cheesy ways. Fries are crispy but way over-salted, almost to the point of inedible, I can't remember the last time I had so few. Canary Square does indeed make a very solid burger. It isn't the beefiest, or most unique or interesting, it's simply classic. While the seasoning on the patty barely fell short, the bun and cheese more than make up for it, all worthy choices in their own right. The fries were a miss on this night, but for $12 with cheese, this burger fits the bill. Thanks, mom* (*yes I paid, it was Mother's Day after all).
(4)
Samantha G.
My friends and I went here last night for drinks and apps. We got a wide variety of cocktails and beers and were all very pleased. The cocktails were creative and yummy. We had a few appetizers and all were good. My favorite were the beef skewers. They were delicious! I'm looking forward to trying the main dishes sometime soon.
(3)
Laura S.
Gordon Ramsey would have a heydey with this place. I am not picky, but I will not return to this restaurant until I am sure their kitchen staff have turned over. I could have made a better dinner from my freezer. Food: Went tonight with friends and 2 out of 4 dishes were literally INEDIBLE. As in, we didn't eat them. That's almost never happened to me as I am kindof a human garbage disposal. Our ceviche appetizer tasted like they were trying to use up bad fish. Yikes. I hope I don't get sick. Also, the tortilla chips served alongside were stale! Their hummus and pita "chips" (as listed on the menu) were atrocious. Tasted like blended chickpeas, straight from the can, doused in paprika to cover up a lack of culinary ability. Also, the chips were just pieces of mediocre pita. Huh??? My salad-a "Spring Salad" was tasty, though it is August (why is this still on the menu?)-but was advertised as lettuce with eggs, bacon, asparagus, farro and peas so I expected something hearty. There were about 1 T of each, crumbled over the top--it was pretty much just flavored lettuce. Drinks: Oh dear. I ordered sangria. Easiest drink to make good in the world: take wine, add fruit=delicious. This was wine + cherry cough syrup = nast-ay. *Luckily* there was a HAIR in my wine, so I was able to send it back. The waitress did not comp my drink (!) Service: Waitress was unremarkable. Spilled my husband's beer and didn't wipe it up. Ambiance: 2 stars because it has a lovely patio.
(2)
Sara H.
I will totally go back here again, like asap. Extensive beer selection, tasty cocktails (I need to *not* drive next time) and above all Excellent service. Everyone my friend and I encountered here were so so friendly and helpful. No attitude or neglect that you get at other micro brew/fancy pub fare establishments. I agree with Greg M. about eating snacks/appetizers. We ordered a few apps and split the mac & cheese entree. The ham in the mac was thick cut and delicious, but otherwise underwhelming. Not a strong cheese flavor and a thin sauce. But as far as appetizers were concerned, we loved them all. Partial to the jerk chicken wings, super crispy little bits and a different sweet lime cream dipping sauce. Will be back soon to order the other half of the appetizer menu, and try out some more drinks. The sangria I had on trip #1 was delicious.
(4)
Jennifer O.
Went back to give it another try. Food is lousy, service same. I've heard Brunch is decent but I'm not going back to give it a try.
(1)
Jon L.
The food here is so mediocre it's sad. The place has a great beer menu and the setting is really cool but I have eaten here so many times bc I like the ambience and its convenient to my apt. sadly, nothing on the menu is good, most is mediocre at best. Flavorless burgers (really? Mess up a bar buger?), bland salads and a menu that never changes. Go for beers and an awesome patio. Eat and be disappointed. And again, I eat here all the time and am consistently underwhelmed.
(2)
Kylie H.
I had a really nice time here with my friends who live in JP. The beer menu was perfect and the pickles were a great idea, especially because I'm a pickle lover. My friend's husband ordered some type of toast with mushrooms and it was awesome. We only had the pickles and appetizer and I would definately come back here to try out more entree. Very happy they had dogfishhead 90 minute IPA.
(5)
Ali A.
I am going to second Matt F, and say I am surprised at the negative reviews. Maybe this is because I didn't go straight away as they opened. I really loved the pickles they put on the table as a starter. I also REALLY loved the apple cider manhattan. it was not too sweet.. and their beer selection is great. I'm really happy there are good (and interesting) cocktails here...after the Alchemist went under, I wasn't so sure where to go. The menu wasn't my favorite, mainly because I'm a vegetarian and honestly, there just weren't a lot of options. I don't think there was even a single option without cheese. We split the cheddar fries. They were good, but next time I'm not sure if I'd spend the extra money on the cheddar fries-- i might just get the regular ones. The fries themselves were great, thick and crispy. For dinner, I had the sandwich with apple and taleggio on sourdough. It was good, and it tasted light despite all the cheese. I wasn't as keen on the salad that came with it on the side. It was kind of dry. My roommate had the ham sandwich, and the other had the pulled chicken I believe. They both cleaned their plates, so I'm assuming they were good. We all then split a dessert of the fried twinkie. It was good and not overly sweet. I like the fried twinkie at Anthem restaurant where I used to work much better. The service was really on-point when we went. Glasses were filled, and whomever the busser was, is aweesooome. He asked if we don't mind if he takes our plate away even if everything was finished and even if a glass had just ice in that. I love that. Our waitress did make a comment that said something along the lines of, "it's good you guys waited a little while after we opened, we've worked out a lot of the kinks" Overall, I really enjoyed it. I just wish there were better vegetarian options on the menu. And honestly, for the fare, the prices were kind of blah, but similar to the alchemist.
(3)
Ben S.
A quick review: -Went on a Saturday night around 7:30 pm. It was busy, but we found a table near the door. Pros: -Design is very open and inviting. I can't wait to return in the summer when the giant windows and garage door will no doubt be open. -All of the snacks were excellent. The cheddar cheese fries were dangerously good. -Two of us had entrees: burger was excellent as was the pulled chicken. Fries are outstanding! -Beer, wine, and cocktail list is impressive. -Server Emmy was attentive, fun, and knew her stuff. -Our server offered us samples of beer we had not tried before before ordering a whole glass. Cons: -All beer is served in 14 oz cheater glasses. Proper glassware would be an excellent compliment to the (excellent) beer selection.
(4)
Katherine Z.
The only reason I gave this one star is because the drinks are, actually, awesome. Otherwise, the food is terrible. I've been a resident of JP for a long time and even miss the food at the Alchemist compared to this. The Wings are the worst - tasteless and dry with yucky yogurt sauce. Mussels had enough salt for a salt lick. Salad dressing is tasteless. Fish appetizer was all dough and air. Roast chicken tasted like roast ham. Even the burger isn't good. How can you not make a good burger? All of my friends think the food here is bad and overpriced. But with not much else in JP that looks so lovely and has cocktails its hard to stay away. Sadly, each time I give it another chance, I'm disappointed yet again. I'd love to see this place do better, but someone has gotta start tasting their food and revise the menu with more decent prices!
(1)
Eli R.
I went for the first time last night and was very impressed. I had the roasted pork shoulder, and it was deliciously tender, with a rich and flavorful risotto accented with sliced roasted almonds. My girlfriend had the skirt steak. It tasted like it was cooked over a wood fire, and was perfectly rare. It had a wonderful smokiness to it, and they definitely know how to correctly cook a rare steak. For dessert, we shared the butterscotch bread pudding which was so rich we couldn't finish the last bite despite how delicious it was. The ice cream tasted remarkably like the maple butter walnut from JP Licks, and nicely complimented the sweetness of the pudding. Our server was great as well. She was attentive without seeming overeager, and was incredibly warm and friendly. I'm glad I was finally able to get a table here, and I will definitely be going back.
(5)
Nick O.
I went here for the first time to night and had the bbq pulled chicken sandwich. It was great and the slaw that came with it was great too. The people were nice and it wasn't too jammed. I'm happy this place is in the neighborhood and don't want it to turn into a used car lot.
(5)
Jasmine M.
My first time there was on a Friday night around 8PM with a friend. It was busy and the hostess said that a table for two would take 30-40 minutes. We decided to wait it out since we both really wanted to try this place, and fortunately we got a table much faster than the expected time (after maybe 10-15 minutes). I had the mushroom and spinach crepe, which was well made and tasty, although I would have preferred it without the huge uncut garlic cloves I found inside of it. For dessert my friend and I shared the apple bread pudding with maple ice cream, which was delicious. As for the service, our waitress met that great balance between checking in on us frequently but not intrusively. Also, she didn't rush us out at all after we finished our dessert and drinks, even re-filled our waters after we had already paid the bill. Favorite aspects: Quality food, good beer selection, good service, great ambiance Least favorite aspect: The food was a bit over-priced Will I go back again? Definitely.
(4)
Grace F.
I should admit that I am not un-biased: I have been eagerly awaiting the opening of CS for many months. I was very pleased to finally take in the gorgeous decor/ambiance, great wine selection, drinks with an emphasis on St Germain and delicious hamburger last night. Obviously there will be some growing pains as CS settles in (last night I didn't see anything obvious except that the food took awhile), but I have the feeling that Canary Square is going to become a JP staple. Three cheers for Canary Square!
(4)
Marina R.
Enjoyed a delicious Sunday brunch, experienced great service and loved the cute location in Jamaica Plain. The inside reminded me of something I'd find in NYC or Brooklyn; it has a very open layout with exposed brick. My friend and I ordered the french toast (to die for) and the JP breakfast platter. Coffee was decent but not out of this world. I will absolutely return for brunch on a future trip to Boston and also hoping they add some new dishes to the menu as well. I feel what they offer now is a bit limited. Choices are a good thing my friends...
(4)
Sheila T.
I lost power in JP last night at a time that was waaayyy to early to try to go to bed - so, I decided to go get some beers and grub at the new canary Square. I hearted the Alchemist, but I heart the Common Ground more, so I was excited. I got the Mac and Cheese which was UNREAL. I swear they put nutmeg in or something. Awesome beer selection. The only negative thing I have to say is that I wasnt too pleased with the bartender I had, but everyone else was very nice. I felt like she sized me up tip wise and treated me as such (one person, wearing a sweatshirt, ect). Not the way you ever treat any customers, especially when the place was all but empty. (To be fair, it was 9:30) I will definately try again, very much so looking forward to their brunch.
(3)
Kate S.
I really want to like Canary Square. I've now been three times and have gotten dishes ranging from mediocre to inedible. The last visit was the last straw, my "medium" steak frites came out completely charred and tough, and the vegetables (which I usually love) looked and tasted like the hay/poop mixture in my rabbit's cage. I wish I were exaggerating. After smelling it with concern, I gave it a test bite which I immediately had to spit out. The drinks are always interesting combinations, but rarely good, so points for effort to branch out, I guess. I've also always had great service and never had to wait more than a few minutes for a table. Too bad the food's absolutely awful. I just can't do it anymore, Canary Square, unless I hear you have new chefs in the kitchen.
(2)
Caleb W.
Unless you can afford Ten Tables, this is the BEST place in JP. Creative comfort food, fantastic beer selection, great wine list, and reasonably priced.
(5)
K S.
Canary Square is a lot better than its predecessor, The Alchemist. The atmosphere is better, and the place seems a LOT bigger, thanks to a great layout and new bar placement. The food was delicious - we had the mac and cheese (they were great about leaving out the ham when we asked), cod fritters, and the best deviled eggs i've ever had. The beer selection was excellent, although sadly, they were out of two of the beers I ordered. The service was excellent - we were seated immediately, and our waitress was extremely attentive and knowledgeable. The only issue I had was that the waitress was big on calling my dinner partner and I "ladies," and only one of us actually identifies as such. I understand that people in the service industry are often encouraged to be polite, but I'd advise Canary staff to perhaps not make as many assumptions in a place as diverse as JP. Otherwise, service was great. All in all, I'd come back here again - the atmosphere is cozy, and the food, delicious. Plus, the beer list is really exceptional.
(3)
Bryanne M.
I had a terrible first experience- complete with fire drill, closed kitchen, and unresponsive staff- and had to go somewhere else at 9pm on a Thurs to try and find food after waiting an hour in the bar! That being said, after complaining to the manager, we were invited back in for a comped meal- so really no complaints there! The food was excellent, service was exactly where you want it to be- not too pushy but present- and the manager could not have been friendly. Really great experience, so I went back again with a group a week or so later- and while the food was great again (the skirt steak is so tasty, as was the bread pudding!!), the service was eh. Had to flag down the waitress for water and another round of drinks. Nothing terrible, but nothing outstanding. I think it will get better as time goes on and the wait staff is broken in a bit more.
Went to Canary Square on a warm Sunday late afternoon because I wanted to sit outdoors, drink draft and dine. Already I knew they had only a two-star rating on Yelp, but what the hey? Here's the report. From the top, my server Kate was terrific, none of what happened was her fault. The beer list was excellent, but when the first glass (of Spaten) came and it was almost flat, I should have known that the place didn't have enough beer sales to sustain freshness in two-dozen offerings. Oh well. I decided to order two appetizers: "hand-cut" fries and grilled asparagus with vinegar sauce. I told Kate, No salt; she said, No problem. When the runner brought them out I could see glistening crystals all over. (Pity too, the fries were very crisp and the asparagus nicely darkened.) I sent them back and in return got a plate of very, very soggy fries and steamed asparagus, mostly thick, tough shank-parts, no grilling and no sauce. I sent them back via the runner (who was very doubtful about it all) and finally got a plate of crisp ones and grilled whole asparagus, although still no sauce. Whew! Good thing for me I had a book to read and time for more beer. Regarding "hand cut", I don't think so. They were uniformly a quarter-inch square. Like McDonalds. And I'm pretty sure there was artificial smoke additive on the asparagus. Kate did comp me a third beer for all that, and later the manager came over to apologize. Then when the bill came I saw the food had been comped as well. That was a reasonable gesture, but shall I return?
(2)
Matt F.
I'm surprised at the negative reviews, honestly. I went to CS last night for the first time and I liked it. For appetizers we got the cheese fries, mac & cheese, and the popcorn of the day. 3 people I was with got burgers (which came with fries) and I got the serrano ham and cheese that came with a salad. The cheese for the fries was a liquid cheese, so pretty tasteless. The fries on their own were really good, though. The popcorn was OK, but I make popcorn at home all the time, so I didn't find it exciting. The popcorn "flavor of the day" was orange and sugar, but the flavor was very mild. It was like a slightly orange tasting kettle corn. The mac and cheese was OK, but I thought it was a little dry. I prefer mac and cheese to be a bit creamer. The taste was good and it had a unique flavor that I couldn't pinpoint. Everyone liked their burgers. I tried a bite and it was really good. I think the Haven has better burgers in JP, but this is a good close second. My ham and cheese was OK. Serrano ham is great, but the baguette was really tough and it was a small sandwich. The salad dressing was nice, though. The service was OK. We had quite a few people come ask us how we were doing throughout the night. Our water was always filled, but drinks and food had a little wait. Not too bad considering they just opened. Overall I enjoyed it and we all said we'd go again. I didn't think the Alchemist was the best restaurant in the world, but I don't think this place is any worse. If anything it's pretty similar.
(4)
Jen D.
I booked Canary Square for a private event. From the first conversation to the very end, the people I worked with were extremely accommodating, professional, and friendly. The service was excellent. The food was great. I just can't say enough about it.
(5)
Samantha B.
I went here for brunch with my husband today. It was ok - standard bar brunch food, nothing overly impressive. I got the Swiss and avocado omelette with homefries. Considering the price ($40 for the two of us), I can't say I was thrilled. The atmosphere was beautiful and the restaurant space itself is great (huge, open windows; outdoor seating). I'd definitely try it again for dinner!
(3)
Diamyr M.
Went tonight to celebrate my bday early with my sister....my sister asked our waitress (very petite, maybe mixed girl with curly hair) if she could explain a few dishes to her... She snapped back at her saying well you can't just point to them I can't see, you have to say them to me . seriously?! Fix your eyes then because its pretty easy to see what someone is pointing at on a menu that doesn't have much.either way, just don't snap at my sister....we had the yucca...burnt, weird sauce. And shared the pork shoulder, which was great.but we decided to just leave to jp licks for dessert since our waitress wasn't very nice.over all...best part of my bday dinner?...jp licks
(2)
Kate S.
I like this place. I will definitely be back and it's just a few blocks from my place, so that's nice. 20 minute wait on a Friday night, tasty and strong drinks at the bar, cheese fries were great, sweet pickles (which my date really enjoyed), nice beer list. I thoroughly enjoyed my mac'n'cheese. It was creamy but not too heavy with nice breadcrumbs on top and big chunks of ham all through it which gave it a smoky flavor. My date's burger was pretty good, not the best in Boston probably, but good. Service was good. I rate 4 stars instead of 5 because it's a bit pricey, the caeser salad was fine but not very flavorful, we had to ask for our pickles, and though we both wanted our leftovers boxed up, only mine made it back to the table. None of these things were enough to really tick us off cause everything else was very good. Just try it out. It's not a fancy-pants 5-star restaurant, but it's a great little place right down the street where I can eat good food and drink good beer. I'm happy.
(4)
Guilio Ñ.
Nice outdoor space for that al fresco feel during these warmer days. The braised pork shoulder with risotto was fine. Their vegetarian/salad option needs some more creative work.
(3)
Hillary M.
Came here with our kid and met friends with their kid. The room was spacious and we easily fit high chairs and strollers around our table. The waitstaff was very cute with the kids. But the service was slow and the waitress was downright rude when my friend asked if she could substitute fruit for potatoes. No substitutions! Next time, waitress, you should say 'I can't do a substitution, but I can bring you the fruit plate for $2 more.' Oh, and when my friend later ordered a fruit plate, it came out drenched in whip cream. Seriously?! Our food took awhile to come out and the coffee orders were filled pretty intermittently, but we were able to have a leisurely time in a pleasant, sun-drenched room. The food was fine if a bit pricey for the fare. The bathroom was clean and I was very pleased to see the changing tables.
(3)
April M.
I'm still trying to figure out Canary Square... I have mixed emotions about so many things. For one, the staff. The hostess has been just fine both times, greeting us right away and leading us to our table. Great. The waitstaff, however, has been complex and sub-par. The first time, the girl we got was aloof and not knowledgeable of the menu. I asked her what an ingredient in one of the drinks was and she said "a flavored liquor". Well, I could have told myself that! What kind of flavor? A hard liquor or a lighter liqueur? And I'm sorry, but her breath STUNK. If you're working in a service/food industry where people are going to be eating and drinking, you should probably make sure you don't turn their stomachs sour with your foul breath. It was rank, really rank. I kind of wanted to run out to CVS and buy her a small bottle of Listerine while we waited for our food to arrive. The second time, we got a tall goofy guy who came off kind of rude and nonchalant. I mean, I don't mind a totally chill and relaxed environ, that's what I'm about, but you are getting paid to take my order and bring things to my table, so throw just a dash of effort into that recipe for me, will ya? I don't care if you're pretending to care, but at least make it seem that way. He also forgot to refill my beau's beer when he ordered another one. The place was not overly busy, and I didn't see him running around the restaurant floor, so I'm not sure why it took like a half hour. Moving onto the drinks, things get a little better. I tried a couple of the provincially-named cocktails, which were very creative and earthy-tasting. I liked them, but they certainly don't offer much bang for your buck in the way of alcohol content. I could barely tell I had a drink. Their draft beer menu is admirable, not sure if any other spot in JP would trump Canary in that department. Better still, was the food. The menu is ridiculously small, but at least the items are well crafted and tasty. We've tried the skewers (off the app menu), the roasted chicken, the steak and the burger and they were all acceptable. For desert, we've gotten the fried twinkies - twice. And if for nothing else, I would return to Canary just for the twinkies. How can you go wrong with two twinkies and a fryolator? Point and case. Aside from the twinkies, I can't say there's any real culinary genius at work in the kitchen, but they are doing a decent job. Lastly, the atmosphere, which is also something that would keep me coming back. I do like the dark lighting, the tall windows along the front wall, the high tables by the bar and lower cafeteria-style seating on the dining room side. There is a constant humm of low conversation, a good mix of people (as always in JP) and they do offer flat screen TV's over the bar for your viewing enjoyment when your company is just not up to par in the conversation department. I would go back again (as long as the fried twinkies are still on the menu) but I would suggest to Canary Square to expand and/or rotate their menu and check up on the waitstsff. I've only been twice and I'm already kind of done with what they've got to offer.
(3)
Meeg W.
Went with my mom and sister for dinner last night. Got there around 7 and were seated right away on the front patio. Situated on a busy street, they do an awesome job of blocking off the noise and creating a really nice ambiance. Canary Square is one of the best places to grab a beer in JP if not in most of Boston. They have an incredible beer list, and their prices are fantastic. It's either this place or The Behan for me. What came as the best surprise was how great the food was. My siter got the baked mac-n-cheese. So cliche, everybody has it. But I'll kid you not, it was amazing. Make sure at least one person in your party orders it, and then grab a few forkfulls. My mom got the pork shoulder. Tender, with little fatty bits that were flavorful, and her mashed potatoes were delicious. I got the tuna steak special. The steak itself was huge, the coconut rice was tasty, and the little roasted, yellow tomatoes around the perimeter were the sweetest tomatoes I ever popped into my mouth. Great time here!
(4)
Alan P.
Terrible dining experience. An inattentive waitress that took forever to do everything, highlighted by the 20 minute wait for our bill with just glasses of water in front of us. As for the food, I don't mind when food is pricier than other places if it's good quality; it's not. $16 for a piece of chicken over potatoes? $14 for a small dish of bland mac & cheese? Just a terrible place. And for those praising a good beer menu; that's just not enough anymore. Most places have good beer menus now.
(1)
Matthew F.
OK I am going to make this short and sweet. Food: Good for comfort food / Atmosphere: Nice cool, open space / Service: Less than stellar. We had to wait 25 minutes for someone to get us a drink, and a long time to get the bill - just annoying. Also, it was not in the least crowded and there were around 7 servers on - not really sure how we couldn't get service. I am glad JP has a new place to have a few drinks that is big and modern but, they really need to work out some kinks. T
(2)
Amy L.
I've been here a few times late night with a group of people after a nearby pottery class. The first time we went it was just what we were looking for. Good cocktails, friendly service and a late night menu for snacks. Going back a couple weeks later was a completely different experience. Our server was in no mood for our table although the restaurant was nearly empty on a Wednesday night at 11PM. She was openly rude and borderline hostile. When we asked for glasses of water along with our cocktails she elbowed my friend to move him out of the way so she could refill his glass. When someone else at the table asked for what types of vodka they had she couldn't be bothered to list them and snapped at us to look at the wall. Several other occurrences that just made us feel unwelcome. While I never like to dock money from a tip we didn't feel like we needed to leave 20%. When she saw we left a 12% tip she actually came to our table to express her displeasure. When my friend asked her if she wanted to discuss the reasons why we didn't leave a higher tip she snapped at us again. So we now go to Sanctuary across the street after pottery class.
(2)
Brian S.
I'm surprised by all the negative reviews on here that end up with you getting comped a drink or dessert, or even getting pickles to start out your meal...my horrible experience has none of these 'perks'. I'll make it quick. We had a reservation for 8 at 8:45. We were seated at 9:15, without so much as an apology for the delay. The server, who was clearly new and inexperienced, so much of the gripes have little to do with her, took our drink orders quickly, but none of them arrived until 9:45. So we're an hour into our reservation and we've just been given drinks -- no pickles to munch on or even a complimentary $3 app to thank us for waiting half an hour for a table we reserved. Ok. They're new, it's a busy friday night. Alright. One of our drinks was still missing -- apparently if you order a cocktail that's not on the menu, even an old standard like an 'Old Fashioned' you'll confuse the 12 year old bartender and he'll have to actually go take a class on how to make your drink before you get it. By 10:00 we all had our drinks, and some of us were ready for our second. We ordered a slew of apps -- hey, we were planning to eat around 8:45 and now it was after 10 -- we were hungry. We waited awhile for our apps to come out -- but luckily our server brought out 3 dirty app plates for us to discuss while waiting. Yep, three dirty plates brought to our table -- greasy, covered in bread crumbs, dirty. Plus, three of them, for 8 people. We were perplexed. I called the "man of the house" over to inquire about the plates and see if he could take them away from the table. He did, without so much as an apology, and brought us back three clean plates. Put them down in a stack at the edge of our table. We told him we didn't know what the plates were for as there were only three of them, eight of us, and no sign of food. He told us (looking rather annoyed) he didn't know what they were for either, and then walked away. Finally, more plates came out along with our appetizers -- well, most of them. The plates were stacked at the end of the table leaving it up to us to pass the plates around. When we assessed our apps, we noted a few were missing...and when we inquired about them, our server, instead of apologizing and finding out what happened to them told us that sometimes the kitchen loses orders. She also asked us if we wanted her to go check on them. Ummmm, we ordered them. We're asking about them. YES. Go check on them. Turns out the deviled eggs were found, all alone in the kitchen, just sitting there waiting for us to eat them. That was comforting to know that food is just sitting around in the kitchen waiting to be claimed. The warmed olives we ordered also finally arrived after we had to basically argue to get them to come to the table with the other apps. It's a bowl of warmed olives, mind you. Can't be that complicated to get to a table. Our food arrived sporadically after that -- but the remaining apps stayed on the table, despite us being finished with them. The food was unremarkable over all. The fish puffs were the only thing anyone even commented on during the entire 3+ hour experience. And yeah, they were just fried battered fish sitting on top of cocktail sauce. Despite having one of the worst dining experience of our collective lives, we stayed for dessert...hell, we'd already put in 3 hours and we most likely won't be going back...so we figured we'd make a night of it. With the table covered in old apps (including head cheese and pate, mind you) and tons of empty glasses, we ordered a couple of desserts to share. After we passed around the dessert menus ourselves, the server slapped a pile of spoons down for us to pass around. The apps stayed on the table while we passed around a bowl of ice cream and a plate of bread pudding. The smell of headcheese and pate filling our noses as we tried to enjoy what was probably a pretty good dessert. The server did apologize about not clearing the apps in a timely manner (as we were figuring out the final bill). Apparently she just didn't have time -- I looked around, and for the last 30 minutes, we were probably one of 5 tables still sitting. There were more waitstaff in the dining room than there were diners, but whatever. She, and the rest of the staff, seemed to have plenty of excuses but no apologies. After all of this, we didn't get comped one thing. Not one round of drinks, not one appetizer, not one dessert. We spent nearly $500 on one of the worst dining experiences of our lives, and didn't get ONE apology for any of the experiences listed above. I hope they really stretch that $500, cause I know I won't be going back there, and will be discouraging my friends from going. I understand the place is new...but it's owned by people who have at least two other successful places in Boston. Besides, everyone can have a bad night...but to not apologize or even try to make it right when there were clearly multiple problems? Poor form.
(1)
Emily S.
It's a really good start- right now, the neighborhood's enthusiasm for such a place is almost choking it before it can get itself figured out. They can't seem to handle the volume of people yet. I wouldn't recommend going on a Friday night if you're actually hungry. We waited 45 minutes for a 2-seater- they were conspicuously taking much larger groups first- then another hour and 15 minutes for food. The service was great, however- the waitress was fast with drinks and manager responded to our clear looks of distressed hunger by comping a round of drinks (the expensive round) and an appetizer. This place has all the clear makings of a great restaurant but needs some time still. Also, while I see where they're going with the food (kind of like CBC in Cambridge), my mac and cheese was bland and my boy friend's burger was claw-shaped. Kind of weird.
(3)
Ariana G.
Let me start by saying the drinks here are great and they have a fantastic beer selection. If I were rating it on a place to drink, they would get four stars for sure. The food is a whole other story. Wow, was it ever really, really bad. $11 for shrimp app... two shrimpy shrimps... Had a shrimp app at Morton's the following night for $19 and got four... So per shrimp cost is higher at Canary Square??? Cost aside, they sucked. They were so burnt from the grill and swimming in some nasty hot pepper oil. Had we not eaten the dish on the first bite, I would have sent it back. Next, dinner and man oh man, it went from bad to worse. Grilled asparagus, try blackened. Pork tacos, try steel wool. Ate at the bar, told the bartender about the quality of the food, he comped some stuff and took some things off. That was super cool of him and I was not going to write a review because I appreciated that.. But after not sleeping all night with heartburn, I thought the public should be warned. DO NOT EAT HERE!
(1)
Kate L.
I've gone here a few times. I've always received good service and excellent food. The swiss chard salad changed my life. Now it's the only thing I get when I go there (although the other night I shared that and the grilled cheese with avocado with someone). Bacon vinaigrette, candied pecans, pulled chicken and swiss chard. Holy S. It's awesome. I've had the yucca fries a few times, too. Each time the sauce that it came with was different (once the butter was melted, once it was solid and once it looked like mayo) but each time is was yummy. Solid restaurant with solid food. If only that salad weren't so damn good, I'd branch out and try other foods...but the thought of going there and not getting that salad is sad.
(4)
Anne C.
Maybe I'm easy to please, but I had a good time at Canary Square. Our waitress was super-friendly, the place looks really good, and they have an excellently huge beer list. We showed up at 4:30 on a Saturday, so I can't speak to their dinner rush, late night, or brunch scene. The reason we went to so early, in addition to generally being starving, is that we have a one-year-old and are smart enough not to try and take him out with us at a regular dinner hour. For what it's worth, everyone from the host to the busboy was friendly to us and our son, so I'd say this place *is* kid-friendly, at least during their slow hours. The food was tasty, although it turns out they offer a limited menu before 5pm, so my husband and I both ordered the cheeseburger and fries, and we split a mixed green salad (which was delicious and gigantic). Most of the limited menu is appetizers Anyway, good food, nice atmosphere. I'd go back.
(4)
Tom M.
My girlfriend and I went here mid-January 2011 before reading any reviews on yelp. I'm glad we did because there seems to be a disproportionate number of negative reviews that are not representative of our experience. I understand some folks are more critical than others when it comes to service, food, atmosphere, etc., but this place was very good in all aspects AND it was packed with people. There was a nice mix of folks too. I hate walking into a place and seeing one type of customer: old people, or college kids, or just families. This place attracted all types of folks. The place has an impressive number of tables and large bar. It can accommodate far more people inside than you'd expect given the appearance from outside. There is a nice area in the back with couch (built-ins) seating for a place to sit and relax and enjoy some drinks with friends. We liked the options on the menu (my girlfriend is vegetarian, I am a meatatarian) and had no problem finding a good drink at the bar. The service was excellent. I had the mac and cheese with ham and a side of mashed potatoes, while my girlfriend had the mushroom and spinach crepes. We tried their "Popcorn of the day" which was rosemary and sea salt popcorn and it was very good. I see some people have criticized charging $3 for this item, but it was worth it. It came out hot and was very tasty. I'd never think to add rosemary to popcorn but it worked well. I didn't care for the type of cheese they used in the mac and cheese but I'm not going to deduct a star for how a certain type of cheese tastes. My girlfriend tried it and LOVED the flavor. This sort of thing is subjective. The mashed potatoes were excellent. I think mashed potatoes can be ruined with too little or too much milk, but their texture and moisture were just right. My girlfriend loved her meal. The food, service, and tax portion of the bill came to $15 per person. Tough to beat that in the Boston area given the atmosphere and food quality. If you expect every meal on the menu to be perfect or the temperature of your seating area be 'just right', then you probably won't get a meal for $15. $3 for popcorn probably gives them a $2.75 profit margin, which I imagine is helpful to cover some of their initial startup costs. Even if they continue to charge for the popcorn, it's worth the anticipation and the enjoyment of that first bite. Many reviews cited issues that people thought may be attributed to the restaurant having opened recently. Maybe there are some kinks to work out that are associated with the opening a new restaurant, though we didn't notice anything. I do remember The Haven restaurant a block away wasn't accepting credit cards this summer, but within a month or two from opening, began taking credit cards. I expect these sort of minor issues to come up when a restaurant is new but they don't ruin my night. I think Canary Square will be around for awhile and will provide thousands of enjoyable meals for the people to swing by We will be back soon because the whole experience was very enjoyable and I'm excited to return, hence 5 stars.
(5)
Liz T.
Great place. The french toast was amazing. Staff was great. When they bring you the bill, they bring you cute notebooks to doodle in and you can flip thru and see other people's doodles. A very cute touch.
(4)
Kristina F.
I know Canary Square is new. So let me preface this by saying I think it has promise, but has a long way to go, in my opinion. I think it can make it. It's already better thank Triple D's (haha) and Alchemist. I am willing to give these folks a second chance. I can say I'm impressed with their transformation of the place. Friendly and open. But the garage door tables were certainly chilly. And real candles would be cooler instead of the fake ones. Bar set up was pretty nice as well. I will also say our waiter and barstaff was nice too. Ok, but I know what ya'll really want to hear about: the food. For apps and snacks we ordered the popcorn. Ok, listen up. Do not pay for the popcorn. First off, it really should be free - like bread. Plus, it's cold. Boo! Who wants cold popcorn? Wings were the major highlight. Deviled Eggs were also good (only three!) and the salt cod fritters were appealing with a spicy cocktail sauce. But it went all downhill from there, unfortunately. I ordered the roasted chicken. Can't go wrong with chicken and I love chicken. And I've never met a chicken I didn't like and thought, this is a lay up. No one messes up chicken. My waiter said it was one of their best dishes. But alas. It was not good. It was so salty. Really salty. Moist, yes, but it was like cooked in saltwater or something. I ate it, because I was hungry. I didn't eat all of it (portion way too big) and shared with my friend who sent her Mac and cheese back because it tasted sour. I tried it and I had to agree that it was kinda gross. My mashed potatoes were really bland. Ironically they needed salt or something! Brussels sprouts could have been roasted longer and I didn't get the radishes with them? The were cooked with these huge chunks of bacon, and you know I love bacon but not sure if it added to the dish since they were sitting in the au jus of the chicken and not roasted enough. I think the bacon added to the saltiness of the dish (minus the potatoes). I was really disappointed in the dish. The other members of my party had mixed reviews. (See Jason F review.) Our waiter was cool and took the Mac and cheese back with no attitude. He was super nice about it and took it off the bill. Oh, drinks! I had the basil grape mojito. To sweet for a mojito- needed more punch! Wait time was not bad. We walked in at 9pm on a Friday and got seated by 930. Also everything I wrote we also wrote in their guest book. Honesty is the best policy. We'll see if they take any of our comments to heart, or if they brush them off and do their own thing. I'm hoping there's a change...
(2)
Stefanie O.
This place looks a whole lot different than it did as the Alchemist (a place that I was a big fan of) but the open layout actually looks good and creates a good brunching environment. We came here on Mother's Day with a group of 5 (none of us there to celebrate our own mother's) but managed to get a seat, even quicker than the 45 minutes they predicted it would take. The brunch menu is big and filled with all the staples, and they have some pretty creative bloody marys (including one with bacon vodka); the traditional one was great, so I am sure the others are too since they probably use the same base mix. Our waitress was super nice despite the bust environment and made sure we always had drinks and full plates. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their food and we even took a peek at the lunch/dinner menu, which looks great; we plan on finding out soon!
(4)
Claire N.
Great atmosphere, nice people, great beer selection, good creative food.
(5)
Colleen B.
I've been here four times now and have loved it every time! Each time I've been on a weekday night for drinks and dinner. First of all, this place has a great craft beer selection, which is always important to me. I much prefer the layout, decor, and overall atmosphere of Canary Square over that of the Alchemist, which was the previous restaurant in this space. With regard to the service, I've been happy close to 100% of the time... The first time I was there was the busiest, and at times, the service was a bit slow. However, the other times have been great. The servers and bartenders are friendly, and my food orders have been ready in a timely manner. A few times I've been curious about some beers I haven't tried before, and the bartender has always given a sample to taste. Love that! The quality of the food has been above average. One of the best things on the menu by far is the warm swiss chard salad. When you read it on the menu, at first glance it sounds like an odd combination, but trust me; it's deeeelicious!! Most recently, my boyfriend and I started with the wood grilled garlic bread, which was quite good. I've also tried their burger (really enjoyed it), the ham and cheese sandwich (had tasty, thinly sliced ham on it), and the pulled chicken sandwich (overall I liked it but it was just slightly on the dry side). The hand cut fries are awesome! All in all, this is an excellent addition to the neighborhood. I'll most certainly be back many more times! Cheers!
(5)
Steven T.
OK: I've changed my original review. I'm still not a fan of their cocktail specials, and the deep-fried Twinkie is atrocious, but.... My meals haven't beel all that bad. Not great, but not awful. Their mac n' cheese will never compare to the late-lamented "Zons" in Hyde Square, but they -do- serve it with a nicely-sized salad, so you can at least pretend you're eating healthy. I've also had a very lovely asparagus salad which could almost be considered 'dinner-sized' I'm also a big fan of their butterscotch bread pudding. (it's orgasmic. really!) Service has always been ok. Not great, but none of the wait-staff seems to suffer from ADD, which makes for a pleasant experience. The outdoor seating area is the best. The actual dining room is waaaaay too noisy (remember how your high-school cafeteria sounded?) and I really feel they could/should muffle the noise with a ciuple of area rugs. I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here - but if you're in the 'hood, its a decent place to grab a bite to eat.
(3)
missy J.
I just went there tonight for drinks and apps. The customer service was excellent!!!! We initially were going to sit at the bar but decided to sit at the high tops instead. Worried that a waiter wasn't going to come so we stopped a random waiter walking by. With in one minute our waiter came to the table to greet us and the next moment the random waiter came back with waters for us. ( Great example of excellent team work amongst the staff!) I had the sangria which was a bit bitter for my liking. The waiter offered to make me another drink to my liking but i declined. However, I appreciated the offer very much! We had the swedish meatballs as an app. It was a bit salty for my liking. So I don't think I would order that again but other than that it was very nice place to hangout our for us grown and sexy people! :)
(4)
Carolynn G.
I just finished telling 5 different co-workers about my dinner here last night. I insisted they must go! I was shocked to log in and see a variety of ratings, but perhaps since they are new they are still ironing out details?... I dined last night with a friend, around 6:45 on a Thursday. Seemed somewhat busy, but we were able to snag the last table outside (lots of outdoor seating! +) I love the atmosphere of their outdoor seating area. Its big and has pretty grasses growing with small white lights and is very summery. Our waitress was spunky, cute and friendly and gave us good recommendations. I had a strawberry gin drink which should be the alcoholic theme of a warm summer night, it was perfect (+). After some talking and questions, I ordered the half chicken with creamed corn and odd (in a good way) potato string things ($17). My friend ordered the pork shoulder with risotto ($15). When our plates arrived they were nicely arranged, but more importantly - the food was DIVINE. This is why I don't understand the poor reviews. The combo of dishes on my plate paired well together. The chicken was insane, I have never had chicken so flavorful and cooked to perfection (+). Good sized portion too, I loved every bite. My friend loved her dish as well (+) and sent her plate back clean...no really, like white..as if no food had ever been on it. We both took a bit of the other's dinner and commented we could switch and be just as pleased. Overall, this was the best dinning experience I've had in...1 or 2 years maybe? I'm sorry for those that didn't love it, but it was a home run for us. Great atmosphere, perfect service, tasty drinks and a dinner I would have paid $25+ for. 5 stars, I'll be back!
(5)
Jay B.
Great decor- nice upscale pub menu. Wait was a little long but it was their opening day, and the excellent food was well worth the wait. Had the BBQ pulled chicken sandwich- awesome. Will definitely be back.
(4)
Karen J.
Wow, I never checked yelp before going to the much anticipated new place in JP and after reading some of the reviews, I may have hesitated and what a mistake that would have been. We walked in at 8:15 and were seated immediately. The food was great. Others have mentioned the chicken sandwich which was really good but the slaw with it deserves accolades as well. The atmosphere is cool. It's a tad loud but that's the kind of place it is. We were also smack in the middle of the place and it may have been quieter on the perimeter. Our server was very attentive. I ordered my salad and appetizer together with my husbands meal and when the salad arrived 45 seconds before the rest of the food, she was immediately on it and came over to apologize. Having worked in restaurants I would never even attempt a new place in the first weeks...of course it's crazy...they are trying to figure things out (I once worked in a VERY high end place in this city and the owners didn't order enough silverware resulting in us servers, hoarding and hiding spoons and forks and thus causing others to search in vain while not serving guests - sorry, it happens!). It takes weeks to iron out kinks so give them a break. I only gave 4 stars because we haven't tried all the menu items but if last night was any indication, I will come back and change it to 5. Thanks for opening Canary Square. We love the new addition in JP!!
(4)
Erica L.
I was excited to to go to Canary Square and even though I'm giving it 3 stars now we're definitely going to go again - they're in their infancy. I like the atmosphere though the tables and chairs could use a little more privacy and warmth. Two thumbs up for child friendliness - crayons, coloring placemat, cup with lid, highchairs, booster seats and hallelujah a changing table in the bathroom! My martini and my husband's mixed drink (I can't remember what it was) were great - a big step up from The Alchemist. The pickles were good too. My 2 1/2 year old ate them all (after proclaiming she only eats sweet ones) a little carb like a bread, breadstick or cracker would be great addition - they could take a note from The Haven on this one. We ordered the Local Apple And Arugula, Aged Cheddar, Curried Walnuts as an app. It was good but there was a little bit of apple core in the salad which I was surprised at. My husband had Fire Grilled Pork Chop, Mashed Potato, Homemade Apple Sauce which he liked. The pork chop was massive - he took a lot home. My daughter got the chicken fingers off the kids menu, she ate one - but she's little so it doesn't mean anything. I tried them. They were good. I had the Curried Mussels, Coconut, Scallions & Ginger app as an entree. I actually ended up sending them back b/c they tasted fishy. Someone came out of the kitchen to tell me I could order something else and that they would take them off the check. They also told me that they chef thought they were fine. That made me feel bad and I kind of felt it was unnecessary to say but whatever...I'm sure he thought they were fine, otherwise he wouldn't have sent them out. Duh! We had to try the deep fried twinkies for dessert b/c well, we had to. I wasn't impressed but that didn't stop me from finishing everything on the plate. The place is right near our house so we'll definitely be going back. If they can stay consistent - something The Alchemist had trouble with - they'll do fine. I think they're a good replacement for Zon's (which is missed). I do dislike the TV but I guess, since there's only 1, it's ok. :(
(3)
Luke A.
Give this place a try. It's new-ish. There is a fun feel here. Maybe it's just the ghost of doble D's or tripple D's or whatever it was but it 's a cool spot for a drink and a burger. You can tell the ownership was trying to take bar food/decor a little further without alienating the reg bar crowd. It wasn't pricey and the staff was great.
(4)
Clare D.
Fun place, great vibe. Had amazing mac and cheese with ham and a good sized side of greens. The appetizer of pork shoulder sausage, bread, spicy mustard and pickled onions was delicious. Great beer selection and they make a great Manhattan. The server was super busy but very attentive and funny. Great support staff too, lots of bussers who were on top of their work. I'd recommend a table outside if possible but since the giant windows are open in the summer sitting inside is very nice too.
(3)
Molly W.
No one is happier than me that Canary Square worked out their new-restaurant kinks and is now a well-oiled machine. YES! This bar is close to perfect. The space is impressive (love the raw materials), the drinks are top-notch and the music could keep me there all night long. Add in some gastro-pub-style food, and you've got yourself a night out! I love bringing friends here, because (in my mind) it epitomizes J.P. It's what I want people to think J.P. is like. Urban, hip, upscale but not pretentious... when's the last time you went to a bar like that in Boston? I usually come here for drinks and maybe a snack, but today I tried brunch. It was good! They have unusual options like Breakfast Fries (fries, hollandaise and a poached egg), a fritatta, huevos rancheros, and even a cheeseburger for those who just need something more. As far as dinner goes, this is what I have concluded: Canary Square is like a drunk friend who comes home and pulls a bunch of crazy shit out of the pantry and makes a sick feast with bizarre food items. Deviled Eggs, Pulled Pork Sammy, Mac n Cheese, Mushroom-gravy french toast....what!? It's like, so gross but so good. I do wish they had some lighter options, and I REALLY wish they would make their charcuterie more accessible... Please add cheese and accoutrements! And no more head-cheese.... I like Salami and Coppa, thanks. I mean, I am the Dutchess of Canary Square after all.... don't I get a say in these things? Hehe... (heart you!)
(4)
Alice O.
The food is good and the drinks are awesome. I just wish the place had a little more (a lot more) soul. It so bland in both atmosphere and people. It is so vanilla. Blech!
(3)
Nancy T.
Good variety of food and drinks for brunch. Came here at noon on a Sunday with a party of 9. Everyone found something on the menu to eat and no one ordered the same thing! They have the traditional classic brunch items as well as some dishes with their own twist. Definitely a place to try!
(4)
Joey C.
Checked out the newest bathroom in the hood. There was some buzz and long anticipation as to when this place was opening up. I guess we waited for the dust to settle and hopefully time for them to work out the little kinks based on other yelpers. Overall, I think I was expecting too much. A fancy chef from downtown, in a newly renovated location, I was expecting the menu to wow me. Instead the items were just a tiny bit ordinary. The items were more like comfort food and geared towards a more bar/casual setting i.e. roasted chicken, skirt steak, burgers, sandwiches, salads, salmon steak, etc. We ordered the crepe with mushrooms & spinach (reminded me of eating an omelette except it was sprinkled with herby stuff that gave off a bitter taste), burger (tasty) with some good fries and the skirt steak(just ok but more bitter green toppings) and we finished the night with the bread pudding (it was tasty but took a long while to get it). Our server started out really slow but then I think he kicked into gear and finished off above average. The draft beer selection was quite impressive and there are 3 big flat screens at the bar. If our expectations were more of a bar atmosphere, it would gain another star bc it seems like a nice hangout place to cozy up and watch a game. But if you're thinking it's a fancy bistro with a fancy chef that has moved into the hood hopefully bringing in some tres chic, try again. I will probably visit again when the temps warm up and they open up the patio and windows.
(3)
Jennifer J.
Very surprised by all the negative reviews. Jeez, they've been open for a millisecond, give them a chance! In truth, It's probably more of a 4 star experience but I'm bumping it up to 5 to counteract the rest of you curmudgeons. I went with a friend for dinner last week and we had a very nice meal. We started with the popcorn as an appetizer, it was decent, didn't knock my socks off but I thought it was unique and it did it's job of tiding me over until the entrees came. The pickles were okay, feels like a gimmick to me though, I'd rather have a piece of bread. I liked the cocktail list, looking forward to trying them all. Can't remember what I ended up ordering but I liked it, and it was decently strong. I had two and ended up being a little buzzed. My friend and I shared the mac and cheese and the burger and we liked both. Burger was done exactly as requested, and the all important french fries got a thumbs up. Mac and cheese was good, not the best I've ever had but it hit the spot well enough. Prices might be a teensy bit steep for the quality of the food, but I'd probably say that about many restaurants in this city. Sometimes you end up paying more for the 'atmosphere' and general dining experience, and less for the quality of the cooking. And I definitely liked the atmostphere at CS, I think they did an amazing job renovating the space. Loved the Alchemist but I think this setup is so much better and has a much nicer flow to it. The Alchemist was too 'chopped up' and I found the layout to be somewhat awkward, a lot of dead space. I can be sort of sensitive and cranky about things like lighting levels and music levels and how closely you get shoved up against the next table. CS gets this stuff right in my book. Service was excellent, and the manager checked in with us once or twice in addition to our waitress. Never once felt ignored. Our food came out in a very reasonable amount of time. I think their menu choices will get refined as they go along, I bet that in six months time they will have sorted out what is too gimmicky and what is actually hitting people's taste buds the right way. Every restaurant needs that time to really hit their stride. So I'm welcoming Canary Square to JP, and looking forward to more meals in the future.
(5)
Ricky R.
Sunday night kinda late it was a bit slow. Service was great, Kate was our server and she could not have been sweeter. Greeted at the door, sat, talked w Kate. Had salt cod fritters, jerk chicken wings, charcuterie board, and bacony Brussels sprouts. Everything was great, can't wait to go back and try more food and beer.
(5)
Howe L.
This is a unique place in JP that balances a classy, yet young vibe. I didn't order any cocktails (which i hear is their claim to fame), but there is an interesting and wide selecting of draft beers. Service was average, but i was let down by the food. For brunch, the fritatta was overly dry and the sausage tasted like a fried ball of bland dough..eh
(3)
Sara G.
I had the most delicious eggs Benedict of my life here on a recent Sunday afternoon. However, the rest of my party wasn't as lucky--none of them enjoyed their food, and another order of eggs Benedict came with one of the poached eggs being cooked all the way through. Service was also a bit slow. But I loved my food!
(4)
julie p.
Glad to have a nice local place like this in JP, and the service was good. But please learn how to cook a basic burger! Went with 3 friends and we all ordered one. All were very dry - no juice in the meat at all. The bun was dry and tasteless too. A tip: go pick up some fresh buns from Cheryl Anne's in W Roxbury every morning. We asked for a few grilled onions on the burgers - were informed that there were "no facilities to cook onions." What? They have no grill? Cheese was a complete afterthought on the burger - completely tasteless. I wanted to love Canary Sq. - and I did like the service a lot. But how can you screw up 3 simple burgers at every stage? That seems impossible. Also, do you actually expect people to pay $5 for a side of mashed with a piece of chicken? That is an insult - every bistro in town serves mashed with the roast chicken - and a little vegetable. Pay attention to prices - all these add-ons are way too high for your place and your location. Would only go back if I hear they have fired the chef.
(2)
Adam F.
I'm giving this place three stars with a promise to come back in a few weeks/months and see if things have improved. I'll agree with lots of the comments below - this place has potential, and is well conceived, but has problems with execution. Decent beer selection, and I would definitely go back here for drinks and snacks, but the food was really hit-or-miss. The burger, which should be a star player in a gastropub, was boring as conceived and even then overcooked. Steak was pretty good, though. Staff were generally friendly, but had a lot of trouble finding (or even setting) a table quickly.
(3)
Catie R.
Two experiences so far - one dinner and one brunch. Dinner was ok - my husband was more impressed with his chicken than I was with my salmon, but overall good (I was also distracted because we were sat at the drafty window & I was freezing!) Brunch, on the other hand, was fantastic. Brought a party of 10 family members on a whim and we all really really enjoyed our meals, the service, and the atmosphere (which isn't exactly easy when you're trying to please everyone from a two year old to a teenager to grandparents). My only complaint from that morning was that it seemed really loud (could have been the acoustics or all of the family). All in all, we are fans! Can't wait for the patio to open up when the weather gets better. And P.S. the best part of your visit to Canary Square is the comment book they deliver to you with your check at the end of the meal - it makes us feel good that they're collecting feedback.
(4)
wendy g.
Late night dinner was delicious. The staff was friendly, service great, and the appetizers were delicious- steak skewers, deviled eggs, and pork cracklings... oooh pork cracklings!! Th main courses were completely devoured too!! That's what happens when a 21 year old soccer player eats with you! Totally satisfying. Also, did I mention that we won the Red Sox game that we watched when we ate and that we sat on the edge of the terrace so we got air conditioning and outdoor air at the same time! Great evening!
(5)
JP M.
Love this place. Seriously. Love. This. Place. I recently signed the lease on a new apartment and one of its selling points was that it is exactly as far from Canary Square as my current place (aka- really close) I have done every time of day so I have had every form of the menu including the limited afternoon snacky menu and yeah, love it. The bar has yet to fail me. Awesome cocktails? Done. Great beer list? Done. Not everything on the menu is my cup of tea but I get that the world doesn't exist to constantly bend to my whims so I read the menu and order the things that sound appealing (this process seems to baffle people on Yelp) and in the year I've been going there I think I've had one thing that I didn't then go back and get again. The staff has always been great. Sometimes it's crowded but they have always done what they could to get everybody in quickly and I knew they had been paying attention when on my last trip in our waitress looked at my brother and his newly-minted wife and said "Hey you didn't have wedding rings on the last time you were in here!" Finally, a kind of weird thing I love- they do have televisions and will shows games but they have big blackboards with the beers listed on them that are often hiding the TVs. Aesthetically that makes me really happy. Looking at all the negative reviews I can only surmise that all the great stuff in JP has left people without enough stuff to complain about or something. I recommend that everybody go in, get a Basil-Grape Mojito or a one of the awesome beers on tap and a plate of the Grafton Cheddar Fries. I think it may be physically impossible to complain after consuming that combo.
(5)
Joe G.
The place has a nice vibe. Very noisy and loud. Great beer selection. My group was nonplussed by the food which is odd because we're easy to please. I would prefer going across the street to Tres Gatos instead.
(3)
Margaret W.
I went to Canary Square for brunch on a Sunday, and it confirmed what I'd heard: airy, pretty atmosphere, but with a focus on the drinks, not the food. Even at brunch, three-quarters of the menu we received was drinks -- not counting the separate wine/beer menu. That said, we ordered a Mimosa and it was excellent. The food was fine, but nothing to write home about: the homefries were a bit dry, but the avocado-swiss omelet was good, as the was the whole-grain toast. Another in our party ordered the grass-fed beef and liked it. Overall -- I think this would be a great place for a drink, better than for a meal. The biggest pro of brunch here is that there is no wait.
(3)
Brendan B.
If this place is so eco concious, how come most of the beers are truckded in from CA and CO as opposed to getting some local stuff. I'm just saying. Not to mention, like most places appealing to arrogant hipsters, it seems that 50% of the beers are IPA's. Place is ok but none too original. Thanks hipsters. You've fuc*ed up another place with potential.
(2)
Conor D.
I live right around the corner from this place, but it took a visit from the parents and subsequent promise of a free meal to get me to try it. When we arrived around 7 for dinner on a Saturday, we were told there would be a half hour wait. No biggie, we headed over to the bar and were greeted by one of the best and biggest selections of beer I've seen. A-ok by me. After only fifteen minutes, we were seated. The waitress was extremely friendly and particularly adorable. Our starter salads were brought out within five minutes and tasted great - mine had blue cheese and a nice vinaigrette dressing. We then waited for a good forty-five minutes for our entrees. Conversation during that time, by the way, was pretty difficult given the noise level. There was a near-constant freezing breeze from the front door (the table layout isn't very well-planned). The adorable waitress (why can't I remember her name??), however, apologized without any impetus for the inconvenience and offered us free dessert to make up for the wait. Nice! I ordered my burger to be cooked medium. When it came out, though, it was straight-up raw. Judging by other reviews, this seems to be a persistent problem at Canary Square. The bun, however, was delicious (I think there was some garlic flavor) and the fries were cooked and seasoned nicely. I didn't try the free dessert, but I'm told that the green tea ice cream was pretty flavorless. That falls on JP Licks, though, who supplied it. Another post, another time. Overall, I'd probably return given how great the beer selection is and how friendly the service was. But cooking a burger correctly is pretty basic stuff and the place was freezing. The wait for the food was also pretty long, though I guess not too terrible considering the time and day of the week. Oh man, Canary Square, why can't I stay mad at you?
(3)
Eliza W.
outdoor seating is going off...My local Cheers in JP.
(4)
Elizabeth M.
A solid 3.5, really. New restaurants should be given a 3 month grace period to work out all the kinks, in my opinion. Food has been consistently pleasing and service keeps getting better. My swiss chard salad was pretty good (bacon dressing is amazing!) and my husband liked his cheeseburger a lot. Taleggio isn't my first choice for a mac & cheese (I'll take creaminess over nuttiness any day), but it did it's job and I really enjoyed my leftovers at 1 o'clock that morning. It did seem like it took awhile to get things like drinks from the bar and water refills, but it was also pretty slammed in there, so I won't hold it against them. One of our favorite servers from the Alchemist is still there, which I'm happy about - she's great! I am very impressed with the way they've transformed the space, it feels much more open and upscale than the Alchemist ever did... but the stalls in the women's room are incredibly small. I'm 5'10" and my knees were right up against the door the entire time I was on the can. (TMI? TS.) All in all, I'm glad that there's a new restaurant right up the street. One more reason to go out instead of making myself dinner...
(4)
Erin P.
Being new to JP, Canary Square seems like my kind of spot. I really really want to love this place but service is AWFUL!!! I have gone here twice and the server completely forgets about you as soon as they get you 1 drink. I have had to ask other servers passing by for another drink because on both occasions my server was MIA. I have had the steak and scallops....both EH. Steak was overcooked, asked for medium and got well done. Scallops were undercooked....I mean cold in the middle. It took almost 10 minutes to find my server to explain to her and another 10-15 mins for the kitchen cook the scallops. I love the ambience and I think that is the only thing that keeps me going back. I really wish this restaurant would get their act together and improve their service.
(2)
Ana B.
The only reason Canary Square gets 2 stars is because of the great beer selection, awesome drinks and beautiful airy space. The food could use a lot of work. I've given this place many chances. It seems that the chef has good intentions - they do change the menu and some items, like the yucca fries, have gone from huge disappointment to yummy. However, most items on the menu disappoint. The french fries should be a slam dunk, but they are never cooked through all the way and could benefit from being either thinner (shoestring) or thicker (steak fries). Instead they are this weird in between that just don't work. The burger is always overcooked. Everything is undersalted. The salad is barely dressed. On the other hand, I do recommend the French Toast, the donuts, the SLT, and the meatless carbonara.
(2)
K A.
Sunday brunch: Liked: - Large, cheap pile of seasoned breakfast fries covered in a poached egg and hollandaise sauce. - Two *huge* slices of corn flake crusted french toast w/ bourbon maple syrup. Didn't like: - The gf's toast tasted like a hamburger. - No brunch specials. Thought it was just ok: - Bacon bloody mary. Decent bloody mary selection, though. Would like to try the "Bubbly Mary" (Prosecco and house bloody mary mix) or the "Beer Bloody Mary" (Allagash White and house bloody mary mix). Overall: - For a place that isn't even a year old, they're doing ok. I could eat the french toast and breakfast fries for brunch on multiple occasions and be bloated and happy. Also, they had Old Fezziwig Ale on tap during the holiday season. Mmmm, ale.
(3)
Paul G.
This place is great, I think worth 4 stars. Service can be pretty slow at hectic times, but that's the food service industry. They have a great drinks list and their mixed drinks are pretty good. I've been here for brunch and now, dinner. Dishes are hit or miss but seem to be cooked with care - you may not like your dish simply because it's not your taste. Portion sizes are a little smaller than I hoped for, but that's not a tragedy in obese America. Staff is real nice and they give you a little book with your check to write/draw comments. Overall, I suggest you go here for food, drinks, snacks, at any time of day. 4 stars only because I'm not WOWed, but I'm definitely satisfied.
(4)
Julie M.
My husband and I visited Canary Square for the second time last night. I was hesitant to go again because all the Yelp reviews are terrible. But our first visit was good, so we went again. Canary Square has a great vibe to it. The beer selection is great too. My husband had the half chicken again and was not disappointed. It's pretty delish. I tried the scallops and while the presentation is great, this tasted like I was eating a salt lick! Seriously, my lips were shriveled by the end of the meal. We finished with the banana and nutella crepe which was good. The service was pleasant enough but a smile can go a long way. Bottom line, we'll go back but I'll probably stick with the chicken.
(3)
Meena M.
I am so surprised by all the negative reviews here on yelp! I have visited Canary Square twice now. First for drinks and appetizers and second for dinner with my friends from New York. When I went for drinks and appetizers, I tried their mac and cheese and the brussels sprouts dish, which were both delicious. When I went for dinner, the two New York friends who came with me both work in the restaurant industry in Manhattan and work for one of the most high-end restaurants, and they loved the food! We had the skirt steak, which was amazing. The fries with cheese on it were dangerously yummy too. My husband had the burger and loved it. The only thing we thought was mediocre was the vegetable lasagna. It wasn't bad, just ok. The atmosphere in the restaurant is very nice and the servers we had were pleasant and quick. I actually liked the food and beer collection at the Alchemist too, but didn't like the atmosphere. The music was usually too loud, and it was so dark inside. This place is a big contrast, they did a really good job with the decor. This place looks much bigger! Maybe you have to choose the right dishes for this restaurant. But so far I was happy with everything I had.
(4)
rik r.
Very good! much better than the alchemist * great food YUM! Just had the salmon with mussels and sausage .. well although the cheese fries were way too heavy for an app - I was was too full to really enjoy the salmon. amazing great service- A+ in fact for service! I am thrilled that it is here - really raises the charisma of this part of JP. and with whole foods coming , really catapults this part of JP from the sketchy edge to a destination location. a little bit of room for improvement - better selection of draft brews - it seems like that huge bar is going to have more drafts, but dissappoints. More interesting lager and pilsners - not the heavy ales! a bit loud, they need some acoustic materials to soften the elevated din of other conversations and music. Would be fantastic to feature the work of local artists THAT would make it a real JP signature spot and soften the "corporate" feel ! Comfier seating would be an improvement- the Alchemist did have more comfortable booths, maybe a wall of banquette rather than the hard metal chairs They could use some more visual interest to break up the cavernous large room, the high top tables on the bar side do that somewhat, but they need more high sculptural elements to fill the emptiness of the room's middle - maybe some cool stuff hanging down from the rafters - or eccentric sculptural ornament that connects the place to JP's unique arts culture - and doesn't seem quite so "back bay" and commercial * ( The alchemist was good, but disjointed and didnt seem to know what it wanted to be - too much a music venue and the dining room seemed like an after thought )
(4)
William W.
I have to say that on this occasion...Yelp you failed. We went on a Saturday night around 7:00pm, got a table after twenty minutes and had an absolutely delicious meal. I had the mussels as a entree, the boyfriend had the pulled chicken, and we split a mac & cheese side portion as an appetizer (which I highly recommend because the mac and cheese is so good, but may be a bit much as a full meal...lots of cheese and cream going on.) Our waitress was a riot, and you can tell that the whole staff is still really excited about the new venture. I can't wait for summer to come, as the waitress said that they're expanding the outside seating compared with what existed at the old restaurant. I would definitely recommend trying this place out.
(5)
Steph B.
Horrible brunch. Sorry Canary Squ, it's so sub-par I had to write this review. Not only is the menu extremely limited (and a bit overpriced), with NO veggie substitutes for the meat you put in every dish, the food just wasn't good. BREAKFAST IS NOT HARD TO MAKE WELL, but somehow, for you guys, it is. I made 2 brunch visits in hopes I simply ordered wrong the 1st time, but alas, today's meal was worse! The Frittata was more like a quiche, and was dry - seemed like it had been sitting around all morning then fried in a pan before serving to me. I ordered TOAST and got 3 small pieces of OILED bread put on the food grill, so it tasted awful. Really? You can't make simple toast? I think they're trying too hard to be original - honestly, it's breakfast! It's a straight-forward meal. No excuses for it to be bad. Also, their bartenders are not friendly - I've been many times and have yet to have one engage in any kind of social exchange with me...booo.
(1)
Shawn F.
First week open I expect that there will be some settling in for the staff and kitchen. Overall a very nice opening week from a customer perspective. Food is excellent, great beer selection but only one complaint at the bar..... 6.42 for a 16 ounce pint of Guinness??? That is more expensive than downtown and not even a proper 20 ounce glass! two of the best pints in the city are $5 and $5.50 and are a proper 20 oz. Looks like I'll keep my beer drinking elsewhere and this will be a food/apps place. Place looks great, very nice staff, and comfortable to boot. Will be back and looking forward to exploring more of the menu.
(4)
James T.
Just had drinks and apps during the football game. Busy and had a fun buzz about the restaurant for opening weekend. Everyone raved about the food they were eating and the burger looked phenominal. They were the best cheese fries I've ever had, yes gourmet cheddar cheese fries. 30 beers on draft all around 5 bucks. Great lighting and interior design. Felt like a nicer mission bar and grill without the college crowd of mission hill. Finally a nice bar to enjoy in jp right on centre street. Welcome to the neighborhood! Ps. The cocktails will knock you on you ass!
(4)
Fiddos J.
Nice beer selection and good atmosphere. Esp. their patio is great in summer. The food though is fairly underwhelming. It's been three times now that I (or friends) have received food that was undercooked. They seem to have particular trouble cooking their roast chicken half all the way through. And there is nothing more unpalatable than raw chicken breast.
(3)
Christina R.
how disappointing. came here for a nice night out with the roommate. portions left something to be desired - so I would say it was not worth the price. Roommate got some kind of beef skewers, but the sauce for it was overwhelmingly salty and smoky she just didnt feel like powering through it. the ambiance was nice though, its kind of a cool space with wood, metal and glass. very open and airy atmosphere. i would not come back here, it's simply not worth it
(2)
Karl R.
Very good place! About time JP got a fun, chic place (and can hold more than 30 people) to call it's own. I would like a bigger menu with a few more choices, but otherwise this will become a regular place.
(4)
Gail L.
We tried to go here a week after they opened...50 minute wait..so we left. Last night we tried again...and it was worth the wait. We got seated in 1 minute, had our drinks in 3, and our orders taken by a very friendly waitress. Pickles were served as a free app. Mussels arrived with a large plate of steaming hot fries on the side. I'd read a lot of negative reviews of the mussels, well, they were wrong! They were great! The fries were a little over salted, but we couldn't stop eating them anyway. Food arrived shortly thereafter, Pulled chicken sandwich and fries for him, (he liked it) vegetable lasagna for me (no noodles, just stacked vegetables...I was warned) in a homemade marinara sauce. It had a smoky flavor. Seemed to include eggplant, onion, zucchini, sweet potato and mushrooms. We had bread pudding with red velvet ice cream (from JP Licks)...easily enough for us to share, and coffee. Also, 3 drinks...check, $77.00, not bad at all. Brunch starts in 3 weeks...yeah! We'll be back.
(4)
F C.
I've patronized Canary Square approximately four times over the past two months and have had, on the whole, positive experiences. Pros: I found the service to be decent, if not better than some other American casual restaurants. Given that the ownership also owns Common Ground in Allston, one would think that the experience would be underwhelming - not so. I would describe the atmosphere as upscale but more for dates/people flirting/socializing with a group. My favorite has been the SLT (Salmon, Lettuce, Tomato) with greens as it is reliably quick. I've also had the burger, bbq chicken sandwich (or some variation), and steak. The prices for the sandwiches are about market rate; the entrees are smallish for the price but it's the new "JP" so what do you expect... The kitchen is also open late enough for the neighborhood. The tables are large and there doesn't seem to be excessive wait times unless you go when everyone in the non-profit world spends their paychecks on wine and some apps and lines up for this place. Cons: I would say it can be loud sometimes. If you order take out, you must go to the bar for payment and takeout, and a few times, also to order. This seems counterintuitive with what looks like a POS unit at the host's station. There was a local area resident that provides free entertainment (read: a drunk that people know/see often) that I've seen before, and I was amazed that he wasn't spotted earlier in the evening. I ended up sitting next to him at the bar unknowingly. I think the waitstaff/barstaff will figure this stuff out, but they've only been open a while, so this isn't as much of a big deal if Canary Sq was open for a year at this point.
(3)
Cee E.
So, I really wanted to love this place. i really did! But, alas, after a few more visits to sample some entrees - I haven't been impressed with the food any time. I still enjoy the drinks, so maybe just grab a drink in there if anything.
(2)
Anne M.
So excited to have Canary Square in the neighborhood. It's been sad to have a restaurant space within walking distance closed for so long. I wasn't sure what to expect, given the huge range in reviews that are posted, but all in all it was great. Rather than relive the whole experience, I'm just going to do a good and bad list. Things that were not so great: -Women's bathroom stalls are TINY and the one I happened to go in had no toilet paper. -We sat at the table closest to the door, next to the garage door. The garage door was definitely letting cold air in and it was chil-lay when someone opened the front door. And that's only going to get worse...Maybe some sort of curtain or something, please? -Popcorn of the day was okay, but basically was just popcorn with a drizzle of honey mustard. -A friend got the mac 'n cheese, and while it was good, it was unimpressive both in size and taste, especially for $15. -Cheesy fries. Fries covered in cheese are never "bad" but I wished there had been some chives or bacon or something. -Deviled eggs. Would have loved a warning that they are sitting in olive tapenade. -Someone took away my water glass before the end of the evening, which was disappointing after my cocktail was gone and I still wanted something to drink. Things that were awesome: -They took my cell phone number instead of giving me a buzzer while waiting for food. That meant we could head to the Behan for a couple beers instead of having to force our way into the crowded bar. -Our server. She was the right balance of friendly and professional, and was speedy and efficient in all ways. -Speed. Ordinarily I wouldn't comment on this but so many reviews talked about the long wait for food but we had absolutely no problems. -The drinks. A very impressive draft beer list, and wonderful cocktails. Highly recommend the Centre Street. -The pulled chicken sandwich. I almost asked if they could give me a side of the BBQ sauce to dip my fries in. (the burger was really good too) -Butterscotch bread pudding was delicious. -They give you the bill in an adorable little journal that you can write in. The only thing that sucked about it was that people wrote about things that weren't on the menu any more that we wanted to try! The not-so-great list might be longer but the good definitely outweighed the bad, and we will definitely be back soon.
(4)
Valerie D.
there is a lot to be said for a good bathroom in my book. new, clean, modern. thank you canary square for paying as much attention to detail in remodeling the ladies (and assuming mens) room as you did to the rest of the establishment! this was my second visit, sat at the bar. just ordered drinks and an app with the hubby' and everything was lovely! our bartender was very friendly and informative about the beer and wine selection. we will definately be back for dinner!
(4)
Eva K.
Beautiful renovations!! Just went here last night and it was packed. Waited for a table at the bar and had great service on all levels. Great hostess, great bartender, great waitress, excellent cooks. The meal was fantastic and fresh.
(5)
John P.
I just went to this place for the second time last night, the first time being their Opening night, and I was overall very impressed. There are a few things that I am sad about having lost the Alchemist, ie- blues brunch, the Croche Madame ( an awesome breakfast sandwich with ham and eggs over easy, in between 2 slices of french toast topped with hollandaise sauce and a side of awesome home fries, mmmMMMmmm) , and the "slightly more hip" crowd, but as a neighbor of this establishment, I also welcome the new. As for the food, I have been very impressed with the flavor of everything I have had, like the burger with great fries (best fries I have had in all of Boston), the pulled chicken sanwich, and they have an AWESOME caramel bread pudding, however, I thought the macaroni and cheese entree was a little expensive for what you get ($15 for a fairly small single-sized cast iron casserole dish of mac and cheese and ham, with a small portion of mixed greens on the plate). The service, however is IMPECABLE! Even when mistakes are made, which are to be expected for a brand new establishment, they are addressed promptly, and always appropriately compensated for. At dinner last night, our second drinks took slightly longer than they should have, but we hadn't even mentioned anything to anyone about it because we were not annoyed to that point yet, and first the Manager came over and appologized about the delay, and assured us that the drinks that were taking a little time were on the house, and then the waitress came over and told us the same thing. I would again like to stress that we DID NOT say anything to anyone about that before they notified us that the drinks would be free. To top it all off, when we were done with dinner, and had walked out the door, I had forgotten my cell phone on the table, and the same manger that gave us the drinks on the house, came running out the door, and down the street calling out to me to give me my phone back. SUPER nice! So overall, even though I think they still have a little work to do with the menu and portion sizes for entrees and such, I think this new establishment is shaping up to be a great addition to the neighborhood. I look forward to returning here time and time again in the future. I hope to see you there!
(4)
Althea D.
I had dinner with a friend at Canary Square about a week after they opened. They were surprisingly busy considering it was a weeknight and they were a brand new restaurant. Diners who arrived after us had to wait for a table. On the plus side, all of the food we ordered was very good, our waiter was fantastic, the place has an incredible atmosphere that sure beats out the Alchemist, and there's a lengthy and diverse beer selection. We ordered the deviled eggs and cheesie fries for our apps and both were terrific. I had the mac & cheesie w/ bacon for dinner which was a little strange - it had an odd spice mixed in. My friend had the pork choppy which he really liked. I also ordered the deep fried twinkies for dessert - if you haven't had those before, they taste a bit like fried dough and the filling inside melts into the cake. My one gripe with the restaurant is that the menu overall seems uninspired. Although I'd go back, I'm not in any rush as there weren't any items on the menu that I'm dying to try. Hopefully they'll continuously change the menu in the future.
(4)
Carol M.
Beautiful loft-like feel of a converted firehouse. Needs sound proofing...so loud I can't hear others at my table speak. I have a friend that lives nearby & always wants to go here. I've been here 3 times. I hate this place personally. The service is horrible, though seems more a function of management than the servers. They have this weird system of having one or two hostesses, one waitress to take your order, & a kitchen runner to bring you your food & maybe bus tables. My friend is handicapped & has food allergies. Once she went the re alone & they tried to put her @ a high cafe table-not cool for someone with balance problems! Also, I was there when she was inquiring about food ingredients. The server looked at her as if she were crazy...there was lots of awkward silence, & finally w/some urging went to check w/the kitchen. We always wait 45min to an hour to receive our food after ordering. We often saw others that got there after us receiving their food before us---me thinks there's a kitchen issue here. There's usually something wrong or missing in our order & tend to get promises of refills that never arrive. The food...for me, they mess it up by trying to make it fancy. I've had the mac&cheese--super greasy w/weird flavor. I didn't care for the ziti & meatballs--I expected beef not sausage..just wasn't what I wanted. The burgers & fries are good beit expensive (basic burger $10 & add $1-2/add topping (but they do offer good toppings like mushtooms & fried eggs). I had an omellette @ brunch - again, nothing special & certainly not worth waiting or paying their prices for. The menu is limited. The bread pudding is good but so sweet I felt sick. The one shining jem is their creme de luche crepes --they are exceptional (when they're not out of them).
(2)
Laura C.
just had brunch at Canary Square...loved it!! everything was perfect. the hostess was very sweet and considerate of our baby when seating us. the service was excellent.. my canary french toast was incredible. we even got to meet the owner Mike Moxley! he came over to our table to check on everything and we had great conversation!! ps the coffee was outstanding.
(5)
Cher D.
i have been here for the second time in the past maybe three weeks. both times were off hours: the first, 5:00 on a saturday, tonight, around 7, sunday evening. maybe that's the key: go when it's not a complete freak show and get what you really want. tonight, our server was this incredible: she was prompt, attentive, got everything right. she had a psychic connection with my husband and asked, "deviled eggs" before he even opened his mouth to speak. i. hate. deviled. eggs. or so i thought. not these. no sulfur-y aroma, no gross texture, just yummy. the mushrooms were great, the warm olives as well. bread with the mushrooms would have been nice. onto the meal. husband got the pulled chicken sandwich for the second time. it was really good. tender. infused with mustard seeds and sauce. not overly spicy, which for him, is huge, he doesn't have the cast-iron stomach i do. unlike another reviewer, would not call this bland, rather, more subtle. i like heat, didn't think to ask for hot sauce but, sayin', it wasn't my dinner. i had the burger. medium. lovely pink center. not like the "leather burgers" you can find elsewhere in jp. the fries were super good, too. nice and crisp. here's the kicker, they have home made garlic mayo. if i had less restraint i would have smothered my fries in it. i took half of my food to go (really, three snacks and and two entrees between two is perhaps too much...) and left a very happy kid, as did my husband.
(5)
sara m.
I returned for my fourth visit at Canary square tonight and WOW! Such a big improvement from the first time I dined there. We went for a late dinner on a friday night-waited about 30 but had drinks at the bar in the meantime. Loved the Stony Brook, excellent beer selection as per usual. We were seated and the waitress handed us menus within a few minutes. We ordered and waited about 20 minutes, very reasonable for a packed restaurant/bar. My boyfriend had the burger and fries with added cheese sauce- he said the burger competed with 10 tables and was one of the best he had ever had. I had the swiss chard salad- HOLY COW! This was the most amazing salad I have ever eaten! It had cranberries, pecans, pulled chicken, a poached egg and wait.....bacon vinaigrette!!!! If I had to pick a last meal....this would be it! The waitress was super nice. Special thanks to Heather- the awesome hostess! GO TO THIS PLACE! EAT THEIR FOOD AND ENJOY THEIR AWESOME DRINKS!
(5)
Barry L.
Went for brunch today. Planned to go elsewhere, but Acapulco was closed. This place looks nice. But you can't eat decor. 30 minute wait for my wife and son, and another 5 minutes before they remembered to bring my platter as well. And mind you, this was a sandwich and eggs w. various sides, nothing elaborate to prepare. Coffee served without cream, needed to ask. Food OK, but nothing special. Instead of chorizo sausage as described, my dish came with a kind of tough bacon with a rind that was intent on surviving being chewed. Very noisy room, not just patrons, but loud badly equalized music competing. I think their primary goal is to sell drinks; food and service ran a far 2nd.
(2)
G M.
My girlfriend and I went a few weeks ago for the first time. It was a busy Saturday night so we put our name in with the hostess then sat at the bar for a few drinks while we waited. There was some miscommunication with the hostess and she accidentally gave our table away to some other people. She was very nice and very apologetic and we didn't have to wait long for another table to become available. The manager was very kind and made up for their mistake by buying us a round of drinks. That was not necessary but was a very nice gesture and a good business move because we will both be coming back again. The food was good, the drinks were a little pricey but good. The place is very nice inside and has a fun atmosphere. There were lots of people there and it just had a fun vibe. I would definitely go back again. Great place to have in the neighborhood.
(4)
Hannah H.
I read quite a few yelp reviews before coming to Canary Square, and luckily none of the issues some diners have experienced happened to me! I met a friend mid-week for dinner and a cocktail and we were treated to a great meal and great service. We were seated right away by a friendly hostess and served up some great drinks. I ordered the Centre Street cocktail, very light and refreshing with an herbal-citrus flavor. I had to try the deviled eggs, which totally lived up to the comments. I also ordered the asparagus salad which went very well with the eggs. I couldn't finish my whole meal between the two dishes but it tasted so good I wish I had a larger stomach. Our server was fun and enthusiastic and all in all it was the perfect meeting place.
(4)
Karie K.
I really enjoyed my S.L.T. (smoked salmon, lettuce, tomato) and gin cocktail. I will definitely go back.
(4)
Leslie P.
I could not love this place more. The food is fabulous and I absolutely love the ambiance. I've been here three times now, and never had problems with the service.
(5)
T C.
Went there again last night and while it was better, it could still use a lot of improvement. Our waitress was much better than last time. It wasn't too busy; there were a number of empty tables. The popcorn still tasted fairly flavorless; I won't be ordering it again. It was much less greasy though, which I appreciated. My wife ordered two of the same drink and they were fairly inconsistent, but at least the second one was better than the first. As always, the Sangarita was excellent. My vegetable lasagna was excellent as well. I also got the "on the half shell" plate of clams and oysters which was good. My wife ordered the crepe again and once again was totally underwhelmed. The first time it arrived super salty; like salt-lick salty. So she sent it back and the second one arrived was almost totally unseasoned. I wish I could rate it a 2.5. We'll try back in another month or two.
(2)
Sabrina P.
I really wanted this place to be awesome. It seemed promising with an good beer selection and pretty fun menu. However time, after time, after time, after time (I definitely gave it way too many chances) - Canary Square fell short. The food is bland and unmemorable. The only saving grace was the breakfast fries during brunch - but since I've recreated the recipe at home - not really a reason to make the trek over there. I haven't enjoyed anything on the dinner menu and I've tried almost everything they offer by ordering it myself, or sampling some of my boyfriends. Each time the food fell flat. Everything is completely lacking in flavor. The service is either slow and horrible or rude and horrible. The bartenders aren't the friendly helpful bartenders you'd expect at a place with the vibe they try to create. My boyfriend ordered a beer and the bartender dropped off a glass almost completely filled with foam and walked away without any explanation. When we complained about the lack of beer and he commented that the keg had ran out, took the beer away, didn't ask my boyfriend what else he would want, and then didn't even take it off the bill. The waitresses are either super overbearing and awkward or wear an invisibility cloak until it's time to pay the bill. I'm the last person that usually complains about waitresses and always give them the benefit of the doubt, but the staff at Canary Square could use a few lessons in how to serve a table. Overall it's not the super great place you would think walking in. Instead they clearly gave more thought into fooling everyone with the decor instead of wowing everyone with the food and service.
(2)
Sydney M.
I don't care what you say, other Yelpers. I went to Canary Square in spite of your awful reviews, and I liked it. Most of it, anyways. There are 2 areas I need to comment on: Service- not so great. I was at Canary on a Sunday night at 8:30ish and it was busy, but not crazy. It took our waiter a while to accomplish tasks like bringing drinks, bringing condiments once we had started eating, etc. In fact, I'm pretty sure my fiance had finished his meal by the time the waiter checked in with us for the first time after our food was delivered. He was waiting on a few other tables of 4 who, looking at their tables, I could tell were going to have a much larger bill than ours, so I think we were intentionally neglected. But this was a much-needed date night, so on one hand, it was nice not to be interrupted several times by waitstaff. Sometimes I prefer service like this. Food- REALLY good burgers. I don't even like hamburgers, but occasionally I crave them. Weird, I know. The burger at Canary was huge. The meat was heavily seasoned, which I'd never experienced with a burger before, but I thought it was tasty. Also, the fries were hand-cut and, although I consider myself a fan of crispy fries, these softer ones were a great compliment to the burger. And though I can't personally comment on them, my date loved his fish tacos. I'll probably return to Canary. Especially during the summer when they open their outdoor seating section!
(4)
Michelle R.
solidly OK. really good veggie bean burger. the bf ordered a cheese plate,which looked weird - like the plate was way too big for an app. but the staff are nice, the wait time they give you is accurate, and the food comes out fast. THEY DON'T HAVE BBQ SAUCE THOUGH. OR HONEY MUSTARD. FAIL.
(3)
Rosa S.
I want to like Canary Sq but I just am not there yet. I went for dinner when they first opened and had the mussels and wings, which were good just not good enough to return. Then tried brunch and it was wackalicious. I know I should be happy that Triple Ds is gone but I sorta miss the Alchemist. I dont drink beer so I dont care for your beer selections. The JP themed cocktails were cute. I may stop in for a drink but for food I will head on down the road to Galway.
(3)
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Address :435 S Huntington Ave
Jamaica Plain, MA, 02130
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Drive-Thru : No Caters : No
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Sara S.
Great brunch...service was a little slow. Good spot for groups and low key patio sitting! For vegetarians, pea green salad and black bean burger were great.
(4)Daryl O.
This was not our planned place to go but I am glad we did. It was not too busy, they had seating at the bar, indoors or outdoors. A wide selection of beers. Not too many cocktails but everyone I was with ordered something different and had good comments about all. The French toast was the Sugar Honey Ice Tea. I got it with be preservatives on the side and never used them & didn't need them. It was fine without. Not too much syrup needed either but it was amazing. Hands down the best French toast I've eaten.
(5)Bruce K.
This has been one of my favorite dining experiences ever. For starters, the atmosphere and the look of this place is awesome. Everything feels relaxed yet exciting, not too loud but it was never too quiet or dull either. Canary Square went from good to great when our waiter Tyler came over. While I was ordering Tyler noticed that I had asked for the cheese and sour cream to be taken off my order and then informed me that the bun of my burger had trace amounts of dairy in it. For him to recognize why I was removing ingredients and then offer up other suggestions makes him amazing. Throughout the night other wait staff and Tyler came over to us multiple time to check how our food was. All were very friendly and made the experience wonderful. The food: the food was on par with the wait staff aka it was amazing. My black bean burger was super flavorful and my friends pork chop was cooked perfectly. I will definitely be coming back here!
(5)Sonia N.
Stopped in for an early dinner al fresco style this past weekend and this place was already booming around 5pm. For starters, we tried the potato chips and dip. Very crispy and tasty and the dipping sauce was a perfect accompaniment. For entrees, we shared the veggie lasagna and sea trout. Both were good but the sea trout scored much higher in my book. The garlic yogurt sauce it was served in gave it that nice creamy taste while keeping it light and healthy and the fava beans were minced to the point where it looked and tasted more like cous cous. All in all, a thumbs up. I would definitely come back.
(4)Max W.
$4.50 for a Narragansett, $4 for PBR, and no drafts under $7? You've gotta be kidding me. What started out as a neighborhood restaurant has become an overpriced ripoff. The food portions have gotten smaller, the food prices have gone up, and the quality has gone down. Spend your money elsewhere.
(1)Wes V.
Two stars for an awesome beer selection. I would like to add another start because the food is actually pretty good, but the prices and service ruin it. I can not recommend this place at all because of the service. I've been in now about 10 times, and I think I've received "normal" service once out of the 10. Service at the bar is fine, and I would only head back to Canary Square for drinks at the bar only. The food, while tasty and freshly made, is definitely overpriced for the portions. They put it on a big plate, and usually have it presented nice, but it's smaller and more expensive than other places in the area. I have had brunch as well here, and have no complaints with the actual quality of the food, only that it's pricey for what you get. The shenanigans begin and end with the service here. The only people that seem to have any vested interest in doing their jobs in a timely manner are the bussers that fill your water glass. You WILL wait for noticeable, frustrating, and at times rude amounts of time to interact with your server. You WILL see them standing around and talking while your drinks are empty, or your plates are clear, or even if there is nothing on your table. It's mind-boggling to me how long it takes to pay your bill at this place. Each and every time I have gone here and sat at a table, the time in between asking for the bill and checking out has been comparable to the amount of time it took to get the food, which was not fast either. I'm not sure if the staff is just so "chill" that they think people like sitting at a table with no drinks, food, or waiting to leave, but it sucks from a customer's point of view. Do not expect to get in and out of this place, and in my experience, you can expect to leave here saying "jeez that was bad" and go somewhere else to get the bad vibes out.
(2)Dani K.
Drinks were good, but the prices here are not worth the portions. Also it took them wayyy too long to bring us the check at the end! we ended up waiting around 25 minutes at the with just water at our table. The vibe was not as I expected from the outside, (I know this might not be their fault but) a lot of people brought their young kids who were obviously bored and fussy, not the cool hangout bar I imagined it would be. anyway drinks = decent, prices = too high, service = way too slow
(2)Jennifer D.
Good food & drinks, a lot of unique & delicious beers. The service is very attentive one minute, and then gone for 30 minutes. But overall worth going!
(4)Michelle D.
So much thanks for hosting Love Night's Reunion this past weekend! This place is beautiful, clean, and fun. I wish I had gotten dinner here, but I didn't.. that's okay, I believe it's similar to how it was when this same business owned Common Ground, which I used to enjoy. The drink/beer selection was amazing, which always helps too. It is far away from where I live as I don't have a car and I live in Davis Square, but I admit it actually didn't feel like such a trek. The walk from Stoney Brook T was very easy. I hope that Love Night can make a comeback here, and I look forward to enjoying more great times here.
(5)chelsea h.
Update: came here again tonight. Server was actually nice this time but horribly slow. He took forever to get us beers. And after the food was dropped at the table (by another waiter) he never came over to check on us and see how we were doing. On top of that, my boyfriends beer was empty and he wanted another, at the beginning of the meal... he never asked him if he wanted another. We asked for the check and it took at least 25 minutes, if not longer for him to come back with the check. And- the couple beside us was in the same boat because we overheard them talking about it since they seat you basically on top of other patrons here. To make things worse, the lasagna... While delicious was TINY... and cost $14. Not worth it. I left this restaurant still hungry... which has literally never happened to me before in my life.
(1)Pattie R.
We've eaten here many times since we moved to JP in January. We are vegetarians and they always have several veggie options. They change their menu seasonally and all of the food is fresh and prepared to order. The staff are always really friendly and great at making suggestions. They have a great beer menu and always have a drink special and beer flights. The black bean burger is always good. If they have either the Brussels sprouts or the cauliflower appetizer order it. And try the deserts, especially the sticky toffee pudding. They also do brunch on the weekends. Try the French toast. It's amazing.
(5)Vanessa J.
Had a great experience at dinner. We were celebrating so we did it up big: lots of apps, salads, dinner entrees, cocktails. All was delicious. Loved the atmosphere!
(4)Adria R.
Pros: We (3 of us) went on a Sunday for brunch and didn't have to wait. The atmosphere is warm and bright, trendy but casual. Excellent Bloody Mary. Good food. Cons: The (brunch/lunch) portion sizes were a bit small, which is almost never a complaint I/we have. The chairs are very uncomfortable. I'd love to go back for dinner and try a beer flight.
(4)Vanessa M.
Nice ambiance, but that was the absolute wimpiest pour on a $12 glass of wine ever. Like ridiculous. And it was a NBA championship finals game, everyone was watching and they wouldn't put on the sound. Won't be going back.
(3)Jennifer G.
Came here on a Monday evening after work with my coworkers. There's indoor and outdoor seating, so we opted for outdoor seating since it was such a nice day out. They were able to seat our party of ten right away. Our waitress was attentive and friendly for the most part. She took our drink orders right away and was pretty good about filling our waters, which is a plus. She was a little annoyed when we would switch seats sometimes though when more people came, but oh well. If you're getting a cocktail, you MUST try the basil grape mojito. It was delicious! My coworkers were looking forward to coming here just for this mojito. It definitely exceeded my expectations - I know I sound like I'm exaggerating a lot just for a drink, but it was that good. Very fresh and perfect blend of flavors. Even comes with two grapes in the drink as a nice treat. Wish I got another, but decided not to on a Monday night. Monday nights from 4p-6p are dollar oyster nights! Ordered two dozen to share, and they were very good. Not too salty like some oysters can be. Ask for a side of their hot sauce. It's some kind of habanero spice, but it adds the perfect amount of kick without being too spicy. I wasn't too hungry since I ate a late lunch, but wanted to try their mac and cheese. You can get a side of it for only $5. I also got the smoked pork taco. Mac and cheese was pretty good, but nothing special. It hit the spot. The taco was alright. It comes with pickled onion, cotija cheese, scallion aioli, and pumpkin seed salsa. It was tasty, but there were so many flavors going on that I couldn't quite make out the individual ingredients. It's also very messy. I folded my taco to eat it and the taco started breaking and the sauces were dripping everywhere. Probably wouldn't get it again. Most of our party ordered burgers and they were pretty satisfied. You can add a fried egg! I would've definitely gotten this if I was hungrier. Fried egg on a burger is the best thing ever. On to the dessert...we decided to order three slices of chocolate menu for the table to share. Don't get it. Seriously. Unless you want to pay $8 for the tiniest rectangular slice of cake ever. It was also really hard to eat. I had to dig my spoon in pretty hard just to get the tiniest piece. The cake itself was already tiny. Needless to say, we all felt pretty ripped off about the cake at that point. Will definitely be back for burgers and mojitos next time!
(3)Lindsay M.
I'm going to be honest, I hesitate to give these guys a 5 star rating, because I don't want the secret to get out and everyone flood this place. BUT they really deserve it. We went for a graduation dinner and had such an amazing experience. The atmosphere is wonderful, it is very open concept but I didn't find myself having to yell at the person beside me just so they could hear me. Their service is absolutely outstanding, their food is OMGee kind of amazing, not one of our party of seven had any complaints. In fact I don't believe I have ever been out to dinner with that many people and seen everyone literally finish everything on their plates (one person even licked the plate clean...lol as a joke) The deserts even better! So rich and delicious! I would even go back just for desert sometime! You really can not get much better than this place. My only regret is not trying it sooner! I will definitely be returning as often as possible! I can definitely say it is by far the most outstanding restaurant in the Boston area I have been to! ALSO for us vegetarians they do have a LOT more choices than other places.
(5)William W.
I made a Yelp account specifically to write this review. My significant other and I have eaten at Canary Square twice--once for dinner and once for brunch, both terrible experiences. Don't be fooled by the restaurant's promising ambiance or stylish light fixtures, both the food and service here are borderline atrocious and should be avoided at all costs. Our first trip (late 2014) was a late dinner plagued by an arrogantly theatrical bow-tied waiter that made the entire experience insufferable. This did nothing to improve Canary Square's expensive, often underwhelming menu selection, and we left grated and dissatisfied. Blaming the waiter for the first trip's unescapable unpleasantness, we tried again for a late, desperate brunch. While we were lucky enough to avoid the bow-tied cretin we had the first time (he was still working), our new server was equally incompetent, forgetting orders and even going so far as to bring us a doughnut rather than a dessert menu. Appetizers were brought out in strange, almost fifteen minute intervals, and our entrees arrived before there was room on the table to fit them. The Square's food, following this strong trajectory, remained exclusively bland and overpriced. Mixed Greens ($7), consisted of a few lettuce variants drowning in an oily, over-salted vinaigrette. Despite acting as a salad, the appetizer didn't include a single additional ingredient--a surprising twist given its seven dollar price tag. Brunch Fries ($5), sounded amazing with its promise of poached eggs and hollandaise, but couldn't have tasted worse. The fries were crunchy to the point of being almost burnt, splattered with the smallest drip of a noxious cream sauce, and topped with the most arbitrarily placed hardboiled egg. Biscuits & Gravy ($11), were passable, but small given the price of the entree. My southern heritage cringed at the dish's presentation and flavor profile. The gravy exuded a salty blandness, while sausage was nearly absent from the meal. Two sunny-side eggs completed the plate, and were probably the best part of the entire trip. Finally, an Omelette ($9) advertised the flavorful combination of brie and mushrooms, but couldn't have been more bland. After covering it in ketchup and pepper, I quickly realized I could've made a better one myself. One slice of butterless, dry toast completed the ensemble. tl;dr - you deserve better.
(2)Ben C.
I am surprised to see as many less-than-excellent reviews about Canary Square. We have been 3 times in the last month, and for good reason: the food/cocktails and service is awesome. This is a great place to eat in JP; we've been wanting for a place with affordable, quality food with an appreciation for/understanding of a finely crafted cocktail, and we have found it here! Their food is delicious, creative and beautifully presented. We started with the squash cappalletti (incredible), and for our entrees enjoyed the braised short rib and roasted pork loin (both amazing). On a recent visit, we also tried these snacks: roasted garlic, griddles cheese, and the crispy cauliflower. Very impressed with the quality these snacks...they were really delightful. A perfect accompaniment to a few of the cocktails from their unique list. Their beer selection appears to be varied and good, but we generally prefer whiskey over beer, so can't speak to it specifically. The staff is friendly, helpful and well-informed. Our latest server was Dillard, who was polite and personable. Looking forward to returning soon to work our way down the menu!
(5)Sen M.
Oh Canary Square... Your braised pork is too good, it's never enough. Though that saves me from clogging my arteries with pork fat. But alas, I go to a restaurant for the performance. And though I loved the show, the performers left when we shouted for an encore. And I was left wanting more and wondering what the hell happened. For that, 3 stars.
(3)Jacob M.
Excellent food. Great drinks. And superb service. Our server Luke was beyond amazing tonight. Attentive, helpful, and super friendly. I'd definitely go back, not only for the great food but for their incredible service.
(5)J C.
The food sounds amazing on the menu description but then when served below par the service was terrible too, we waited 45 minutes for drinks to be served because the bar was busy which I get it was a Friday night but hire more staff to accommodate guests. Also, our server messed up our appetizer order and put it in as an entree so our appetizer didn't come until 45 minutes after we first ordered. I would definitely go somewhere else.
(1)Becca P.
Started off with the charcuterie and cheese ($21)...it was an okay size for 4 of us. The bread disappeared instantly and it took a while to get more since they decided to toast the second batch of bread but not the first. Second batch was still not enough... We all got the burger and flight since it was $15 but that does include the cheese ($1) and other add on ($2)...the flight took a while because they ran out of empty glasses. Restaurants should know to order enough glassware and such (I used to work in many restaurants and helped start one up). The burger was okay. I rather eat eat a big Mac though to be honest. The flight was okay. I'm not a big beer person. They were all very light. One random, annoying thing...our table was under the pipe so the condensation was dripping on us and our food. They moves us to a nearby table but seemed sort of hesitant. Later I saw someone wipe it down with a stick...was strange and seemed icky. After reading the other bad reviews, I really wanted to give this place a change but the service was sort of bad. Took a while to get our burgers. The waiter was nice though. He came back and apologized for the wait. I wouldn't come back though.
(2)Lauren D.
Went here for brunch a few weeks back. It was a nice day so we were able to sit on the patio. Menu is a bit limited and pricey but you've gotta try the Brunch Fries! To die for...
(4)Sarah C.
I cannot say enough good things about Canary. The bartenders and wait staff are always super friendly, the cocktails are great, the beer selection is robust, and the food is excellent. Their black bean burger is unparalleled in Boston, and their cheeseboard is reliably wonderful. Their brunch fries are a dream come true and their pumpkin French toast this fall/winter was out of this world. The ambiance is great, with beautiful decor and music that is always fun. Go for drinks, go for dinner, go for brunch, or go for their Sunday night movie where they play a classic and give out free delicious popcorn - just go.
(5)Julianne C.
Stopped here for drinks a couple weeks back. I tried a specialty drink however the menu is very Mezcal heavy which didn't appeal to me. They have a wide beer and cider menu as well which was nice. I was less than thrilled the the chocolate mousse we had for dessert. Good, not great.
(3)Joe J.
This place looks so promising on the outside...and even on the inside. Good decor, decent music selection and a great drink list make for what would seem to be a go-to spot if you're in the area. Unfortunately, our experience was far from that. We had a table for five with everyone ordering drinks, entrees and an app or two for the table. Prices are descent. The food was OK. The burger received a good review, but the real winner was the pork loin. The gnocchi was good. The garlic bread snack was tasty. The taco was messy. The steak was absolutely terrible. First, it's about three SLICES of steak served on two squares of potatoes with bulb onions on the dish drenched in what seems to be store-bought bbq sauce (or of that quality). The salmon got an average review. When we ordered, our waitress seemingly wrote down everyone's order. Once entrees started coming out, everyone got excited; plating of the meals was good. Then the salmon never showed. So after about 5 minutes of everyone with their food waiting for the last dish, the waitress comes over, acknowledges she didn't put in the salmon (forgot to write it down), and said she could put it in now. It came out surprisingly quick, a little over 5 minutes. So, total ten minutes waiting time for all dishes to be on the table. The manager brought over the dish, said "sorry for the delay" and begrudgingly asked the table how everything was. The waitress never came back to check on us. We had to wait for water multiple times. Just dropping the ball. We get the bill, and the salmon is on the bill!!!!!! Like I said, we were ordering drinks, food, etc. and it was a surprise to see the incompetence of putting that dish on the bill. When it was brought to the waitress' attention, she said she would check with her manager, and it came off. But that's the difference with a place you decide to not go to again, or a place you'd decide to go back and try something else. The nonchalant IDGAF attitude of forgetting an entree and then charging for it will make me choose somewhere else if I'm in the area. You shouldn't have to ask for it to be off the bill. And I'm not just whining like some "entitled punk", it's not about the money, it's about the principle.
(2)Taylor N.
I was a part of a group that had reservations on for today, April 12th, 2015. I was told by our group leader that we would have to find somewhere else to eat Sunday brunch. Our party was NOT notified by the Canary Square staff that they had cancelled our reservations because they were closing at 2pm for a private event. Some members of our group went to the restaurant to be seated, in hopes of having a meal, but were stopped by a paper sign on the window informing us of the "Private event". So, there we were, hungry, after church on the first nice sunny day in Boston in MONTHS, and they pull this crap. Not only did they pull the reservation from under our butts, they also had a slight attitude about the fact that they cancelled on us and we were there asking WHY. However, we went to the Dogwood instead. Food there was Spot On!!!
(1)Leah K.
Thanks a bundle, Canary Square, for serving me a ton of french fries plus booze right before a hike. On second thought...lets not point fingers. My friends and I met for brunch right before a hike at Blue Hills, which we needed after our delicious meal. I ordered the poached egg french fries: a fantastic serving of french fries (heavily salted, my fav!) with a perfectly poached egg and hollandaise on top. I polished those puppies off in no time. I also washed it down with a Green Street: Bombay, St. Germain, Basil, Lemon, and Bitters. Small but boozy. I napped in the car. My friends had an avocado omelette and breakfast tacos (that one looked like a small serving to me). I was eyeing the Special, donuts, as they walked by...they looked beautiful. Service was good, bathroom was TINY (I'm 5'2'' and my legs barely fit in the stall).
(4)Norman T.
The service was great! The waitress was really friendly and kind, she answer all the questions from the menu without any problem. The portions were a little bit small for the price we paid.
(3)Navid S.
First they don't take reservation unless you are a party if 6 or more. The outside seating is beautiful but there was a half hour wait so we opted to sit inside. Although the place was not packed but busy, it took them 20 minutes to take our order and 25 additional Minutes to bring the appetizers. The skirt steak I ordered was supposed to be medium but it arrived on the rare side and nit hot. Once I asked the waiter to recook the meat he apologized and said that they would take it off the bill. Overall ok.
(3)Joe M.
Entirely underwhelmed by the food here for the second time in a row. Flavorless unseasoned sirloin tasted almost "gritty" next to some mashed potato rectangles and three sad pearl onions, all atop a Jackson Pollock squiggle of A-1 steak sauce (??). Just barely a notch above Ponderosa / Red Lobster / Golden Corral. Service was spotty, but bartender was good enough to give me a complimentary digestif after blowing the coverage on my scotch request (so no harm there). Place needs work. On a Tuesday night half full of patrons and seemingly fully staffed the servers and bar staff looked harried and overwhelmed. A barback noticed my empty glass and asked if I wanted another and when I told him what I wanted he said, "Oh, hang on. I'll have her [the bartender] get it for you." Huh? Don't ask me if you can't help me. Best thing going for it is the location and the patio seating but now that it's getting cooler there is no reason to tolerate Canary Square. Good beer list, though. Give them that. But I can think of a half dozen real kitchens all within a stone's throw of Canary that deserve your business.
(2)Denise C.
This place has a lot of mixed reviews but my experience was pretty good just based on a drinks, ambiance and some nosh. I didn't have a full out meal and it seems that the mains were the problem in most reviews. They have a great beer selection as everyone mentioned. The place itself looks great with lots of seating. The bar is pretty long but seemed to fill up. Came on a Saturday night so College Football was on the screens. I ordered some kind of pumpkin beer and shared the cauliflower appetizer which was really really really freakin good so we ordered another plate. The fries were ehh in a pretty small portion comparable to a mcd's small maybe medium order of fries. Service was good. I don't come to JP often but I would def come back here for a drink.
(4)Sergio M.
Love this place the beers on draft are always on point local craft beers to seasonal hard to get beers. The pork tacos are really good along with the rest of the menu. So if you have not gone to canary square yet you are missing out
(5)Tim F.
We go here for the burgers. Often. The best in Boston--at least of the ones I've had. Other entrees I've tried have been quite good as well. The service can be a little spotty, but I forgive them. Everyone is always friendly/pleasant, and it is JP after all. Only four stars because they don't have ONION rings!!! And it can be too loud sometimes.
(4)Jessica A.
My favorite place in JP! I go there every time I can! Mine and my boyfriend's favorite place for a casual meal! The servers are really nice and the food is absolutely delicious! The menu changes sometimes, but every time is great. They also have a good selection of beers!
(5)Nick E.
Cannary Square was once a 4 star restaurant that has gone to junk. The food is uninspired, the charcuterie is a rip off, and the beers come in glasses that were never properly rinsed. Now and again you get a great waiter or waitress that makes up for these short comings, but the overarching feeling is that the ownership is not concerned with whether or not this restaurant does good work. 15 minutes to get a beer. 20 minutes to be asked if we'd like to order off of a menu that, essentially, consists of a burger, some chicken some fish and some pasta, none particularly inspired. A $14 charcuterie board that has about 6 slices of meat, some mustard and a few pickles. What happened to the pate!? Cannary Square is on it's way out. There are half a dozen better restaurants within a half a mile of them, and they don't seem to be very concerned. If you want good food in the area go across the street to Tres Gatos, or further down Centre to the TT Bar, Gras Fed, Centre Street Cafe, or any number of other restaurants where the staff and ownership actually care.
(2)Robin T.
Tom the bartender rocks! Love this place. All the other bartenders are amazing too :)
(5)Yuka Y.
Duck Confit (kon-FEE) and Roast Salmon are highly recommended! Located in JP, Canary Square is a classy place for drinks and dinner without having to be dressed up to the nines. Think Yard House, but a little less fancy on the furniture. Extensive drinks menu with average pricing. On the slightly pricier end for dinner, expect $15+ for well presented entrees. I love the dim lighting, minimalist decor, and the fact that it's an open air restaurant. Could do better with the uncomfortable cushion-less seats, but other than that I can guarantee you'll have a lovely summer evening here. Joshua S., our server, did a great job recommending the 'Duck Confit' for the bf after he expressed an odd disdain for eggplants and celery. He was impressed by the crispy outer layering and the moist texturing of the duck. Joshua took the time to tell us that by confit, it meant the duck was fried in oil without the use of bread crumbs. The egg was cooked so the yolk was still intact and oozed out beautifully. The side of baby yukon potatoes and greens added a nice touch. Roasted salmon was served on a bed of edamame-like-beans, corn, and green beans. The skin was crispy. Fish oil was oozing out with every cut, very tender, and not overcooked. The sauce did not mask the true essence and flavoring of the salmon, it was perfectly done. Ending the dinner on a cute note, everyone's bills comes tucked in a notebook. The notebook serves as a guestbook where customers can write and doodle quirky things in there.
(5)Tim A.
I really want to like Canary Square more. It has the location and atmosphere to be great, but the food is so lackluster I can eat there anymore. I've tried to go back several times and each time I get excited about something on the menu but when it comes out the food is bland and boring. The service has never been that great either.
(2)Evan G.
With the exception of the beer list and the ambiance, this place is Just. Not. Good. I've been here probably five or more times over the past few years, all for dinner, and I have yet to eat anything that was actually good. Yucca fries remarkably didn't taste like anything at all. Black bean burger fell apart into a giant heap of mush on my plate. Mac and cheese was yet another heap of tasteless mush. Potato gnocchi were gummy and... you guessed it, bland! Hell, even the grilled tuna was gummy, with weird, non-complementary accompanying flavors. Service is inconsistent at best. There are odd gaps at inopportune moments, frequently forgotten items, etc. A few of the servers have been more competent than others, but the service is still not in any sense reliable. The food is WAY overpriced given how mediocre-to-bad everything is. Bottom line, I should not be paying $20 for an uninteresting entree that has weird or no flavor.
(2)Sara J.
The ambiance and fun mocktails made me want to bump this review up to three stars but after a sincerely awkward experience in June, two stars is all I got to give. Long story short: This was my second time here. I ordered mussels, they tasted funny, waitress got really weird about it. I was like don't worry waitress they tasted funny I am not hungry because of how weird they tasted, just take them away and let me watch the rest of the hockey game. My fiance was inhaling his wings and I was enjoying the mocktail which was SO great they offered on the menu for us non-drankin' folks, so not all was lost. She said she'd take it off the bill and I said thank you. No harm, no foul. But it was in fact the waitress' lot in life to keep bringing up the mussels. First, after the initial complaint, she told me there was nothing wrong with them. Oh yeah, that's not confrontational at all, just tell me I must be crazy because I didn't like your mussels that you didn't actually eat. I was like ehhh I eat a lot of mussels I am pretty sure these are too fishy tasting or otherwise unusual, don't wanna risk it, I am fine for now though, thank you. I thought the subject was dropped but then she came back and said she is pretty confident that I didn't like them because I wasn't used to the curry taste in them. Oh Lordy, Lord in heaven, please help me. I wanted to be like yo waitress check me out for a second, you see it? See it? I AM INDIAN. I don't think CURRY is the problem. But again I was like thanks, waitress, no biggie, I am fine, let's just move on. Then she wanted me to order something else, and I was like no thank you waitress thank you so much for your help... really I am okay. Then she came back again and asked to re-fire the mussels.Okay, re-firing seafood= rubber. I am no Emril Lagasse ova heh, but I know that you're really not supposed to be putting cooked shellfish back on the stove. But at this point I like didn't know what to say to her so I let her re-fire them and then I ate one in front of her when she brought it back to humor her and I was like oh man these are really overcooked now, I think I am okay without it. Thanks. Okay, yup, thanks, no worries. FINALLY I was left alone, though we missed a bunch of the game, which, ironically, is the only reason we went there. It was just bizarre and I was annoyed she seemed annoyed or didn't at least listen to me when I said I really was all set with not ordering something else. I angry texted my mom about it, and then it was cool. Too many other yum options in JP to come back here, though that patio is pritty pritty sweet.
(2)Joe R.
French toast was phenomenal and the bloody Mary's were very tasty. Homemade donuts were also a delicious treat. The eggs benedict were not good at all.. The eggs were under done and it was served with prosciutto and not ham as stated on the menu. Kind of a disappointment.
(4)Michael M.
I'm specifically reviewing the bar area as I have always sat in the bar area, which I prefer. This place is great! Canary is the type of establishment I wish JP had more of. It's casual, fun, friendly and in a convenient location with parking for those that need it and easy bus access for those coming from outside the neighborhood. Servers are friendly, chill and have depth in their knowledge of beer list and cocktails. I'm a big craft beer guy and they have an awesome selection. I'm constantly trying a new beer when I'm there, usually per recommendation. The food menu is smaller than your typical gastropub but everything on it is cooked/done to perfection. Give me the curried cauliflowers, deviled eggs and pork tacos any day.
(5)AB H.
Canary Square lost a star tonight. We had great service, and loved our first two items, but our main course was disappointing. The brussels sprouts in fish sauce sounded kind of weird, but were totally yummy! I loved the charred leaves and the sauce. The mushroom and potato with raclette cheese was also great; interesting and soothing at the same time. Then we had the smoked pork tacos, and they were not good - bland and too soft. They had some heat to them, but other than that, no flavor. It needed more cheese, or avocado, or more flavor in the pork. What a fail after the good small plates. I'll be back because two good plates out of three isn't bad, and there were other items I want to try, like the kale caesar salad.
(3)Shannon S.
I may be a bit harsh with my 3 stars but A-OK is exactly the way I would describe Canary Square... and it's not a bad thing. Cool atmosphere, exposed brick and chalkboards get me every time. The grape basil drink was great though not so grapey but I love me a basil accented cocktail and it was Friday so I was feeling alright. Pretty good beer selection, too. We ordered a kale caesar to split which was good, not great, could have used a tad more dressing and leafs could have been torn a bit smaller (bite size!) so I didn't have to worry about wasting my dressing on my napkin (when I wiped it off my face.) I had the grass-fed burger which was fine. Cooked fine. Tasted fine. I opted to add the cheddar and I probably could have skipped it. My dinner companion had the mac and cheese sans truffle oil and said it was decent. Our server initially brought us the wrong check (for much much more than what we'd ordered) but when we flagged her down that was quickly rectified. Would I go back? I'd probably try somewhere else first but I wouldn't write a return visit off.
(3)M. g.
Here are the good points: nice vibe, open space, friendly staff, the bread, the burgers. Not so good points: just about everything else - the portions are small (we don't expect doggie bags, we just expect a reasonable portion); the prices are high especially for what you get. For example, we ordered the charcuterie plate for 3 as an appetizer - it was presented very nicely but there were exactly 4 thin slices of chorizo, 7 pickled wax beans; a very small piece of blue cheese, an equally small piece of manchego and a more reasonable portion of the mortadella. That's it for $15. The lasagna was actually scary - it was a lukewarm, brown thing with lots of salad on the side. The salad was good, alas, the rest wasn't. I get it that it was made with eggplant and it wasn't with a red sauce but please, don't call it lasagna. ()We mentioned it to the waitress who mentioned it to the kitchen who then sent a tasting of their other pasta dish. We really appreciated the thought but alas, the pasta was unevenly cooked and there was too much oil). We were intrigued with the frisee with coddled egg and bacon. It was a poached egg on top of salad with a few specs of bacon. The kind of dish you would want in a fancier venue but in this burger joint, it seems totally out of place. And that is my recommendation to Canary Square. Decide what you want to be - a neighborhood gathering place with good beer, good burger and fries, and a few other choices (please add a few meal salads) or a quality gastro pub. As locals, make us want to come back in the middle of the week.
(2)Liam S.
Good food! Good location. I have had breakfast here a few times and it has been good. Definitely worth the stop. They seem to have a really good beer selection and bar for those who have the time for that.
(4)Diego M.
I had the black bean burger and it was delicious!!! Our waiter had a great sense of humor and was very knowledgeable of the Menu! He was very charismatic. I would definitely recommend this place (which is why I'm writing this review) also my friend had the short rib and she can't stop raving about it. 5 stars for sure!!
(5)Jeff B.
Good Solid Food, but service has been poor to horrible the last 2 visits. Most recent visit, I walked in and waited for about a minute to be acknowledged by the guy standing behind the host stand. he told me someone would be right with me (as he did nothing). the female host came back and the guy told her I was looking for a table outside. She was great and rushed out to clean off a few dirty vacant tables, while the guy still did nothing. I saw someone I knew so went and chatted with them for a few minutes and came back and she pointed me to the table. I sat down and it took nearly 10 minutes to be acknowledged by my server (who was unfortunately the guy from earlier). I ordered a cocktail and food. About 15-20 minutes later, my food came out before my drink. I ordered a side order of sausage. Bacon was delivered Absolutely no apology, but the server did have someone else bring me sausage. he could tell I was irritated and he never came back to the table as another server did one last check on me, brought me the check and ran my payment. (this second server was great). I really could not believe this guy. I will probably end up going back to Canary Square, but will request to NOT have this guy as a server if he is working.
(2)Hay W.
I'd give this establishment a much higher review if the service was better (and I've given many chances for them to redeem themselves). However, I've been here six times for different meals, and have been turned off by the attitude of the wait staff. This is disappointing, since I live so close and would love to visit regularly. Once, I asked the waitress for an iced coffee (since the previous time I was told that it was a Summer drink), and she responded "we don't do that here." Then, I followed up stating the bartender had made it for me previously and I was told it was a Summer drink so when would they be introducing it for the season? She rudely responded "we don't have that, but I can ask them to make it for you." Other times, I've been ignored for longer than average time periods, or been met with impatience when I ask for clarification questions about food items. It stinks because the brunch here is actually pretty good, and so are the drinks. However, I won't recommend people giving money to a place that isn't at least minimally respectful of patrons.
(2)cath e.
Ok but the servings are oddly small for the price We eat out often so prices are clearly n our mind as to what is reasonable $14. For 7 sweet potato ravioli?? Cauliflower great drinks good Pleasant staff!! Willbe happier elsewhere
(3)Tom H.
Great brunch. Fantastic drinks. Many many tasty beers. Friendly staff. Big TV's but they don't dominate the atmosphere. Good music, both live and on the stereo. Very comfortable, big open space. Menu could possibly be changed more frequently, but I may just think that because I'm there all the time.
(5)Adam B.
So it's been a couple years since I wrote my review and felt compelled to make another one. I am being a bit overly nice with the demotion to four stars instead of five. The food is so hit or miss in this place it's nuts. They change their menu way too much. Ordinarily, I like a seasonal menu, but if your new dishes aren't as good as the old ones what's the point? If they didn't have good beer I would easily give them a 2 or 3. They are like the kid in school who gets on honor roll one term and then the next F's. Wish there was consistency. The food isn't the only thing inconsistent, the service, ugh. One time a waitress tried to tell me the mussels were cooked when the shells were barely open and the inside was clearly slimy. I'm from New England lady, I've cooked mussels a bazillion times, this shiz is raw! She said she would take them back because "she wanted to make me happy but there is nothing wrong with them". Bring back the chicken nuggets! Charcuterie board or cheese board is way overpriced. Oh well, I will keep going back for the beer, and it's close by. But I fear it won't be there forever.
(4)Jimmy S.
So let's start with the good stuff. Canary Square is really nice looking inside and out. Great location with an updated interior and an outdoor seating area for nice weather dining. The service has always been fine friendly and fast, but honestly, it falls flat on the food. It is as blah, bland and banal as it gets. Great for drink or snacks, but that's the extent of it. Double meh.
(2)lt C.
Just a disaster. Sat at the bar and waited 15 minutes for a drink and re asked what I wanted. Dollar oyster night--- 30 minutes for my bounty. I am brand new to the neighborhood and eat out at least 4 nights a week. The pours on wine were horrible and it was all disorganized--I heard one of the bartenders ( the only woman) use the term "retarded" over and over. It just seems like there was no sense to it all. The food was totally over salted and the menu descriptions misleading. All in all, I want to love this spot and I want to love the JP scene. Was at Ten Tables and they blew me out of the water last night. Everything was spot on. I'll go again to CS, but just once more....I believe in second chances.
(2)Dana L.
My husband and I are regulars here and while we love the place, we realize the food and service can be inconsistent like many of the comments suggest...tonight the service and food hit it out of the park...you must order the garlic ciabatta appetizer, the kale and Autumn salads, the short ribs, the squash cannelloni and the sticky toffee pudding...each item was amazing! Wash it down with the Stark white wine...went well with everything. Thank you, Lauren, our excellent server!
(5)Adam H.
After waiting for well over a half hour before even taking our drink order and close to an hour for food order, the service got worse. Brought out the wrong drink to one member of our party, then later not brining their second entirely (plus waiting, waiting and more waiting). The payoff for extreme wait times... mediocre food from a lackluster menu that was tepid on delivery. From reading other reviews, this experience does not seem to be atypical for this place. Do not bother.
(1)Katie J.
I have been to Canary Square twice since moving to the neighborhood, and both times I was very pleased with the overall dining experience. It is a great neighborhood restaurant with reasonable prices. The outdoor seating is a little loud since it is close to the street, but on a cool summer night under the heat lamps it is really nice. The new patio also does a pretty good job creating a partition from the sidewalk with planters and tall grass. The seating inside is also nice, with a warm ambiance, but I would definitely recommend the patio seating if it is available. Both times my boyfriend and I have been seated right away, despite it being fairly busy. The wait staff has been pretty attentive (our waiter last night was a delight!), however, my first time there I overheard a waitress complaining quite loudly about a customer to another waitress. This was a bit of a turnoff, but our waitress did her best to keep us happy. Canary Square has an extensive beer list, and a few unique cocktails. I have only ordered the white sangria, which was very good both times. I have been tempted to order the Bartender's Flight, but I cannot turn down the sangria. For food, the burgers are delicious and cooked the way we asked. I am a huge fan of the black bean burger, which comes with a delicious (and spicy!) salsa, sour cream, cheddar cheese, and pickled onions. The hand cut fries are also delicious, but be prepared to eat a lot of tiny crispy fry-lettes. Overall, the service is good and the burgers are delicious. I will definitely keep going to Canary Square.
(4)M M.
Service was terrible , it took a half an hour to put in a drink order. We tried to wave down servers and they would look at us and keep walking . All of our dishes were too salty. The burger was burnt when it was supposed to medium. Also expensive !
(2)Kelsey M.
Good burgers and fries at a reasonable price. Their more expensive entrees were just okay and not worth the cost. We like going here for burgers and beers. During busy times this place is a mismanaged nightmare (which is why I didn't rate it a 4) with people waiting in line on a list only to watch others throw tantrums and being seated for their childish demands.
(3)Abby F.
I love Canary Square! Now that it's summer time it's one of my favorite places to go out to eat on their beautiful patio. Their drinks are really yummy and they have a great beer selection. Their menu is on the smaller side, but I think that is so they can perfectly craft their options. I've never gotten anything from Canary Square that I didn't love. Also their giant doughnuts at brunch are the stuff of dreams.
(5)Kacey B.
I live walking distance from Canary Square and don't visit too often anymore. This place is really hit or miss for the service and atmosphere. The bartenders have always been right on but not the waitstaff. Food has tasted good though their cheese plate and grits are pathetic or weird. Go for their burgers, salads, or omelets. Local served food is good. Drinks and beer selection is tasty. Oh, they don't ID so that's when the atmosphere sucks with young kids being stupid. Hey guys, you should ID. Helps you stay in business when the cops come around. Crowd has also occasionally sucked for the coupled-off yuppies who can appear socially inept.
(3)A M.
Pretty cool joint. Waitress was the biggest sweetheart! I came here on a Friday (7/18/14) I must say the ambiance was def my cup of tea. I loved the music & decorative details of the outside and indoor seating. I got the gin and tonic, was pretty good and I'm guessing strong since I woke up the next day with a headache (but not your fault Canary) We had a burger and the sweet chili wings. Both pretty good, except wings were still a little pink inside, thought they could've been cooked a little longer. Overall, cool joint will definitely return!
(4)Erik S.
Granted, I was only here for drinks, but the bartender made the perfect Sazerac; not an easy drink to make as some of you may know. He was extremely knowledgeable and a real professional and all the other cocktails were just as good. With the large screens and lots of open space, this would be great for watching a game! And the patrons and staff were all lively and up for some chit-chatting. **I've recently returned to Canary Square and had to change my rating from 5 stars to 4. The beer selection and food are good but not deserving of 5 stars. The wait staff are awesome though!
(4)Ross P.
We've gone twice now and I really want to love this place. It's a great location and great space for JP. The drinks are fantastic - great beer menu and the cocktails are excellent. The fall vesper is one of the best drinks I've had! And the bar is great - this is a great place to stop and have drinks. Unfortunately the food is just ok. First time around had burgers that were a little on the small and dry side. Second time had the squash capellini which was excellent but... the size of an appetizer. Lucky my dining companion didn't finish her fries or I would have left the place still very hungry! This place has so much potential - kick the food up a notch and it's worth 5 stars!
(3)Lauren L.
I came here early on a Saturday, tonight, with 3 fellow volunteers. I have walked by this place probably 50 times, and always wondered how it would be. We came in and were seated immediately. The waitress arrived relatively quickly and took some drink orders... we all got sodas. Our table ended up getting 3 black bean burgers and 1 ravioli. My black bean burger could have been hotter, but it came out pretty quickly. The consistency of it was a little soft for my taste. It was sort of mushy, and not very hot. But it wasn't bad, per se, it just had the consistency of baby food. The salsa on top gave it a little kick, which I liked. A ton of tables had bread on their table.. were we supposed to get bread for free? Lord I hate the "Asking for Free Bread" dilemma that I've experienced elsewhere. Sort of feel like some sort of cheap jerk face, "Hi, are we supposed to get free bread? Don't bring it if it's not free." I would have liked if the waitress came back after our meal arrived, we could have gone for soda refills. It wasn't bad, I'd go again.
(3)Brittany S.
Such a neat space for dining. You have the option for indoor or outdoor dining, and there are heaters for when it gets colder. Quirky staff who are both friendly and attentive. Lots of farm to table options. Everything tasted so great because ingredients were fresh AND local- and I wouldn't call myself someone who only ate local/ organic either- but you could tell, it made a huge difference. Huge portions, enough to split for two people or take home leftovers.
(4)Emily V.
I would say this is a pretty run of the mill, average, place. The service was pretty good, average prices, good location, average food. In a word: average.
(3)d m.
Nothing seriously offended me, but I was expecting better. I get the feeling the owners are stretching themselves a little thin while they open too many places at once. $1 oysters didnt seem to be shucked by someone who was very good at shucking since they took 30 mintues to arrive and came looking a bit mangled. SLT sandwich was ok, but honestly was lacking any imagination (was that pepperridge farm bread?)..I do better for myself at home. It was ok but doubt I'd run back. When I saw how busy they were all I could think was they are doing better than they deserve to. On the upside the beer was cold and they had a good selection of draughts.
(2)julie p.
Glad to have a nice local place like this in JP, and the service was good. But please learn how to cook a basic burger! Went with 3 friends and we all ordered one. All were very dry - no juice in the meat at all. The bun was dry and tasteless too. A tip: go pick up some fresh buns from Cheryl Anne's in W Roxbury every morning. We asked for a few grilled onions on the burgers - were informed that there were "no facilities to cook onions." What? They have no grill? Cheese was a complete afterthought on the burger - completely tasteless. I wanted to love Canary Sq. - and I did like the service a lot. But how can you screw up 3 simple burgers at every stage? That seems impossible. Also, do you actually expect people to pay $5 for a side of mashed with a piece of chicken? That is an insult - every bistro in town serves mashed with the roast chicken - and a little vegetable. Pay attention to prices - all these add-ons are way too high for your place and your location. Would only go back if I hear they have fired the chef.
(2)Adam F.
I'm giving this place three stars with a promise to come back in a few weeks/months and see if things have improved. I'll agree with lots of the comments below - this place has potential, and is well conceived, but has problems with execution. Decent beer selection, and I would definitely go back here for drinks and snacks, but the food was really hit-or-miss. The burger, which should be a star player in a gastropub, was boring as conceived and even then overcooked. Steak was pretty good, though. Staff were generally friendly, but had a lot of trouble finding (or even setting) a table quickly.
(3)Catie R.
Two experiences so far - one dinner and one brunch. Dinner was ok - my husband was more impressed with his chicken than I was with my salmon, but overall good (I was also distracted because we were sat at the drafty window & I was freezing!) Brunch, on the other hand, was fantastic. Brought a party of 10 family members on a whim and we all really really enjoyed our meals, the service, and the atmosphere (which isn't exactly easy when you're trying to please everyone from a two year old to a teenager to grandparents). My only complaint from that morning was that it seemed really loud (could have been the acoustics or all of the family). All in all, we are fans! Can't wait for the patio to open up when the weather gets better. And P.S. the best part of your visit to Canary Square is the comment book they deliver to you with your check at the end of the meal - it makes us feel good that they're collecting feedback.
(4)wendy g.
Late night dinner was delicious. The staff was friendly, service great, and the appetizers were delicious- steak skewers, deviled eggs, and pork cracklings... oooh pork cracklings!! Th main courses were completely devoured too!! That's what happens when a 21 year old soccer player eats with you! Totally satisfying. Also, did I mention that we won the Red Sox game that we watched when we ate and that we sat on the edge of the terrace so we got air conditioning and outdoor air at the same time! Great evening!
(5)D D.
The outdoor seating and the beer selection are a plus. But the food... I've given Canary Square a fair chance and checked it out several times. The food has always been very uneven. The only dish that I feel truly is worth the price is the grilled cheese and the donuts. But I can easily replicate a grilled cheese at home. I've had lousy yucca fries, meh salads, and overpriced hummus among other dishes. Dined with other people that felt the food was mediocre as well. Also, the bar and indoor area is wayyyy too loud. Overall if you're looking for drinks and you can get a seat on the patio, sure, give Canary Square a shot. Otherwise, go elsewhere.
(2)Samantha G.
My friends and I went here last night for drinks and apps. We got a wide variety of cocktails and beers and were all very pleased. The cocktails were creative and yummy. We had a few appetizers and all were good. My favorite were the beef skewers. They were delicious! I'm looking forward to trying the main dishes sometime soon.
(3)JP M.
Love this place. Seriously. Love. This. Place. I recently signed the lease on a new apartment and one of its selling points was that it is exactly as far from Canary Square as my current place (aka- really close) I have done every time of day so I have had every form of the menu including the limited afternoon snacky menu and yeah, love it. The bar has yet to fail me. Awesome cocktails? Done. Great beer list? Done. Not everything on the menu is my cup of tea but I get that the world doesn't exist to constantly bend to my whims so I read the menu and order the things that sound appealing (this process seems to baffle people on Yelp) and in the year I've been going there I think I've had one thing that I didn't then go back and get again. The staff has always been great. Sometimes it's crowded but they have always done what they could to get everybody in quickly and I knew they had been paying attention when on my last trip in our waitress looked at my brother and his newly-minted wife and said "Hey you didn't have wedding rings on the last time you were in here!" Finally, a kind of weird thing I love- they do have televisions and will shows games but they have big blackboards with the beers listed on them that are often hiding the TVs. Aesthetically that makes me really happy. Looking at all the negative reviews I can only surmise that all the great stuff in JP has left people without enough stuff to complain about or something. I recommend that everybody go in, get a Basil-Grape Mojito or a one of the awesome beers on tap and a plate of the Grafton Cheddar Fries. I think it may be physically impossible to complain after consuming that combo.
(5)Joe G.
The place has a nice vibe. Very noisy and loud. Great beer selection. My group was nonplussed by the food which is odd because we're easy to please. I would prefer going across the street to Tres Gatos instead.
(3)Conor D.
I live right around the corner from this place, but it took a visit from the parents and subsequent promise of a free meal to get me to try it. When we arrived around 7 for dinner on a Saturday, we were told there would be a half hour wait. No biggie, we headed over to the bar and were greeted by one of the best and biggest selections of beer I've seen. A-ok by me. After only fifteen minutes, we were seated. The waitress was extremely friendly and particularly adorable. Our starter salads were brought out within five minutes and tasted great - mine had blue cheese and a nice vinaigrette dressing. We then waited for a good forty-five minutes for our entrees. Conversation during that time, by the way, was pretty difficult given the noise level. There was a near-constant freezing breeze from the front door (the table layout isn't very well-planned). The adorable waitress (why can't I remember her name??), however, apologized without any impetus for the inconvenience and offered us free dessert to make up for the wait. Nice! I ordered my burger to be cooked medium. When it came out, though, it was straight-up raw. Judging by other reviews, this seems to be a persistent problem at Canary Square. The bun, however, was delicious (I think there was some garlic flavor) and the fries were cooked and seasoned nicely. I didn't try the free dessert, but I'm told that the green tea ice cream was pretty flavorless. That falls on JP Licks, though, who supplied it. Another post, another time. Overall, I'd probably return given how great the beer selection is and how friendly the service was. But cooking a burger correctly is pretty basic stuff and the place was freezing. The wait for the food was also pretty long, though I guess not too terrible considering the time and day of the week. Oh man, Canary Square, why can't I stay mad at you?
(3)Eliza W.
outdoor seating is going off...My local Cheers in JP.
(4)Barry L.
Went for brunch today. Planned to go elsewhere, but Acapulco was closed. This place looks nice. But you can't eat decor. 30 minute wait for my wife and son, and another 5 minutes before they remembered to bring my platter as well. And mind you, this was a sandwich and eggs w. various sides, nothing elaborate to prepare. Coffee served without cream, needed to ask. Food OK, but nothing special. Instead of chorizo sausage as described, my dish came with a kind of tough bacon with a rind that was intent on surviving being chewed. Very noisy room, not just patrons, but loud badly equalized music competing. I think their primary goal is to sell drinks; food and service ran a far 2nd.
(2)G M.
My girlfriend and I went a few weeks ago for the first time. It was a busy Saturday night so we put our name in with the hostess then sat at the bar for a few drinks while we waited. There was some miscommunication with the hostess and she accidentally gave our table away to some other people. She was very nice and very apologetic and we didn't have to wait long for another table to become available. The manager was very kind and made up for their mistake by buying us a round of drinks. That was not necessary but was a very nice gesture and a good business move because we will both be coming back again. The food was good, the drinks were a little pricey but good. The place is very nice inside and has a fun atmosphere. There were lots of people there and it just had a fun vibe. I would definitely go back again. Great place to have in the neighborhood.
(4)Hannah H.
I read quite a few yelp reviews before coming to Canary Square, and luckily none of the issues some diners have experienced happened to me! I met a friend mid-week for dinner and a cocktail and we were treated to a great meal and great service. We were seated right away by a friendly hostess and served up some great drinks. I ordered the Centre Street cocktail, very light and refreshing with an herbal-citrus flavor. I had to try the deviled eggs, which totally lived up to the comments. I also ordered the asparagus salad which went very well with the eggs. I couldn't finish my whole meal between the two dishes but it tasted so good I wish I had a larger stomach. Our server was fun and enthusiastic and all in all it was the perfect meeting place.
(4)Karie K.
I really enjoyed my S.L.T. (smoked salmon, lettuce, tomato) and gin cocktail. I will definitely go back.
(4)Leslie P.
I could not love this place more. The food is fabulous and I absolutely love the ambiance. I've been here three times now, and never had problems with the service.
(5)Jazzie F.
I went here recently for brunch -- it was really good. Except maybe I was annoyed that my dish came w/ bacon so when I said no bacon they didn't add anything or offered anything in replacement for it but charged me for bacon. But it was a good experience, and I really like this place. I am looking fwd to trying out their brunch cocktails next time!
(4)Sandy B.
I think they changed their bacon. Are you kidding me? You're sleeping on the couch for a looooong time, Canary. Update: It seems they've changed a lot of other things, too. And not necessarily for the better. New chef should pay attention to these comments. Now you've messed with the amount of avocado in the avocado and Swiss omelet? Tsk, tsk.
(3)IntricateWeeski O.
The service was horrible. Our waitress gave attitude and kept messing up the order. When we asked her to check on an ingredient due to a food allergy she asked if "it will kill me". Uh...even if I just break out in hives it's a big deal. It took 3 times of asking to finally get her to check. In the end I ordered the bacon Mac and cheese and it was the worst I've ever had. My friends steak came well undercooked but the lamb was good. Especially because of the bad service and how over priced it is for the lack of quality in the food I would not recommend it.
(1)Phil H.
This is the place in JP that I want to love, but seems to always disappoint me. I keep going back for the: 1. Awesome beer and craft cocktail selection 2. Eclectic menu 3. Hip and comfortable atmosphere 4. Outdoor patio and walls that move to open the entire restaurant to the outdoors Here are a few of the experiences I've had there over the last year (on a few occasions): Service 1. Standing at the front door for 15 minutes waiting for a host/employee to help me 2. Getting seated and then waiting another 15-20 minutes for someone to come over 3. Watching people that could be helping me just hanging around and talking to coworkers or doing other things 4. Parts of the table's food/drink order being completely forgotten 5. The food runners bring you your food and have no clue who ordered what 6. No one noticing your empty drinks or lack of napkins/silverware at the table Food 1. The jerk chicken wings are not at all spicy - which means they are not jerk 2. The bottom of asparagus stems are tough, fibrous and basically inedible - please cut them off for me 3. Entree plates which look like a bunch of things were just thrown together on the plate. This place could be great, but they are just overlooking too many details on the food and the service staff seems to be lacking an element of leadership/teamwork. A place at this price-point that shows so much promise should be better about these kinds of things.
(2)Natalia O.
Nice setting, but very subpar food. My burger was practically charcoal, though accompanied by nice sweet potato fries. The server didn't bother to check in with us on drink freshening, and she seemed like she had a few too many tables to look after. It's a classic bar setting, so pretty loud on a Friday evening. Might go back if there's nothing else open nearby... but doubtful...
(2)Dave D.
I want to love this place because: A) It's near my house B) The bartenders and wait staff are super nice C) It's far better than what was there before. The problem is, the food just isn't all that good. Granted, the deviled eggs rock, but everything else is just blah. Half chicken? Nice I guess, but not much better than a rotissiere job from Stop and Shop. The pressed sandwich? Really just a glorified grilled cheese. The Brussels sprouts? Tasty, but only because they've been liberally accesorized with high end bacon. Not horrible, but just not great. If it wasn't down the street from my house, I'd never go. But it is, so I find myself there a lot. Sigh.
(3)Morgan M.
This is one of the few go to spots in JP which is in desperate need of more good restaurants and bars. I think the food is great relative to its price and the menu has a lot of interesting options. Service has always been very friendly, the place is usually busy so it has a good atmosphere. I prefer sitting at the bar and the bartenders make great cocktails. I go here at least once a week!
(4)Sabrina P.
I really wanted this place to be awesome. It seemed promising with an good beer selection and pretty fun menu. However time, after time, after time, after time (I definitely gave it way too many chances) - Canary Square fell short. The food is bland and unmemorable. The only saving grace was the breakfast fries during brunch - but since I've recreated the recipe at home - not really a reason to make the trek over there. I haven't enjoyed anything on the dinner menu and I've tried almost everything they offer by ordering it myself, or sampling some of my boyfriends. Each time the food fell flat. Everything is completely lacking in flavor. The service is either slow and horrible or rude and horrible. The bartenders aren't the friendly helpful bartenders you'd expect at a place with the vibe they try to create. My boyfriend ordered a beer and the bartender dropped off a glass almost completely filled with foam and walked away without any explanation. When we complained about the lack of beer and he commented that the keg had ran out, took the beer away, didn't ask my boyfriend what else he would want, and then didn't even take it off the bill. The waitresses are either super overbearing and awkward or wear an invisibility cloak until it's time to pay the bill. I'm the last person that usually complains about waitresses and always give them the benefit of the doubt, but the staff at Canary Square could use a few lessons in how to serve a table. Overall it's not the super great place you would think walking in. Instead they clearly gave more thought into fooling everyone with the decor instead of wowing everyone with the food and service.
(2)Sydney M.
I don't care what you say, other Yelpers. I went to Canary Square in spite of your awful reviews, and I liked it. Most of it, anyways. There are 2 areas I need to comment on: Service- not so great. I was at Canary on a Sunday night at 8:30ish and it was busy, but not crazy. It took our waiter a while to accomplish tasks like bringing drinks, bringing condiments once we had started eating, etc. In fact, I'm pretty sure my fiance had finished his meal by the time the waiter checked in with us for the first time after our food was delivered. He was waiting on a few other tables of 4 who, looking at their tables, I could tell were going to have a much larger bill than ours, so I think we were intentionally neglected. But this was a much-needed date night, so on one hand, it was nice not to be interrupted several times by waitstaff. Sometimes I prefer service like this. Food- REALLY good burgers. I don't even like hamburgers, but occasionally I crave them. Weird, I know. The burger at Canary was huge. The meat was heavily seasoned, which I'd never experienced with a burger before, but I thought it was tasty. Also, the fries were hand-cut and, although I consider myself a fan of crispy fries, these softer ones were a great compliment to the burger. And though I can't personally comment on them, my date loved his fish tacos. I'll probably return to Canary. Especially during the summer when they open their outdoor seating section!
(4)Michelle R.
solidly OK. really good veggie bean burger. the bf ordered a cheese plate,which looked weird - like the plate was way too big for an app. but the staff are nice, the wait time they give you is accurate, and the food comes out fast. THEY DON'T HAVE BBQ SAUCE THOUGH. OR HONEY MUSTARD. FAIL.
(3)Christina M.
The food is good but the service for Sunday brunch is awful and no communication from the management. Very unhappy.
(1)Jason H.
Not to be redundant, but this place has so much potential and yet fails to deliver. That said, I continue to come here for the beer and because it's fun. Food is incredibly inconsistent. Occasionally, the charcuterie boards are downright spectacular. I've had some of the best appetizers around, here. But the entree's are very hit or miss- usually miss. Atmosphere is pretty awesome and the patio is nice. Beer list is probably the most extensive in JP, so I keep getting sucked back in. A little more effort on consistency of the food and service would take this place from 3 or 3.5 stars to 4, easily.
(3)Nick H.
I've went once, on a Monday night. While the whole thing fell a little short of what it could be, the prices are cheaper than they could be and the staff works hard. Here are the highlights: 1. This place has a menu that is near-exclusively the stuff that I wish for on a menu: It was like seeing a unicorn. As a result, we split three sides, two appetizers, one entree. I was thankful for having my girlfriend and another friend to team-up. 2. The food was cheap for simple things and reasonable for fun things. I loved this. A person who can swing $10 for dinner can eat homemade tacos and their friend that wants to spend $20 on seafood, can do that too. 3. There seemed to be an odd skill gap in the kitchen. The Salmon was awesome. They were ambitious enough to do a charcuterie plate. However, the yucca (which I was excited about) was dry and was served with a sauce that didn't work. 4. The service was slow but solid. My girlfriend has Celiac Disease (gluten intolerance) and our waitress confirmed which menu items were safe as well as let the kitchen know about our table. The chef even popped out for 10 seconds to let us know which deserts were safe. That was truly appreciated. The consensus, at the end of the meal, was that this place was working hard to make interesting food, serve it safely, and make folks feel comfortable and welcome. It felt like an off night, but I'm looking forward to going back, perhaps on another night of the week.
(4)Emily H.
Eh, let me start by saying I really want to like this place. It's near my house and the decor is cool and modern. BUT, the food is just blah. The drinks are blah. And the servers are blah. I used to order Canary's standard hamburger every time I went because it was a delicious piece of beef on brioche with pickles and onions. Now, the burger comes on a strange sesame seed bun that makes me sad. Their wings are equally underwhelming. C'mon people, wings are easy. If you're a mixed drink person I find their cocktails to be just O.K. The service is pretty spotty as well. The bartenders seem annoyed that you're there unless you really get into a conversation with them. I agree with the writer who said the waitresses are either weird and overbearing or invisible because I've had both. The plus is that Canary has ample outdoor seating, reasonable prices, and a large variety of beers.
(3)Eugena O.
Brunch (based on a Saturday visit): great noise and music level, friendly service, canary french toast is a must try. Dinner (based on a Thursday visit): make reservations, friendly waitstaff, but food is alright for what it is. There are tons of other restaurants in Boston that make what they do ten times better, but since it's the only restaurant of its kind in JP, they get by. A friend pointed out that their dinner menu offers something from each of the major JP establishments on Centre Street. I think if they were to narrow the menu and really focus on coming out with a few signature dishes they do really well, the overall eating experience would be better. Overall: enjoyed brunch experience more than dinner experience, mainly because the canary french toast was so delicious.
(3)Lydia S.
I'm another potential fan that really wants Canary Square to be good. Every few months, in a forgiving mood, I'll try going there again, hoping things will be different. But it never fails to disappoint. The food can be quite good, but the experience is always undermined by the service. On this most recent attempt, the place was only 1/3 full, but the wait staff forgot one of our 2 dishes, wasn't around to re-order, could not be found to get the check or then pay the bill. In other visits, low points include weak cocktails, forgetting the to-go leftovers (threw them out), uneven food quality, and consistently bad service. Done for now, thanks. There are too many other delightful, delicious treasures that really never disappoint.
(1)Paul B.
Great beer selection, open air the night we were there! Burgers were great and the Mac and Cheese with bacon added was out of this world!!
(5)Mark R.
My favorite place in JP! Great atmosphere and the food only gets better.
(5)Kim K.
I had high hopes for Canary Square after seeing the location and hearing some good reviews. Unfortunately, it did not live up to the hype. My boyfriend and I decided to stop in on a Sunday at 2:00 for lunch. We were able to get a table right away outside. Our waitress came over, took our drink orders (two orange juices) and came back pretty quickly with them and to receive our food order (two burgers: one medium, one medium well). However, that marked the end to the timely service/overall nice experience. After that, we began our ridiculous wait for our food. During that wait, the following happened: - I ordered an iced coffee that never came. - Another table was seated, completely ignored, never served even water, and eventually walked out of the place. - Two other tables endlessly tried to flag down our waitress to pay their bills and ended up having to get up to find her. Finally, our burgers arrived. While they did come with the toppings we had asked for (bacon and cheese), they were not cooked to order at all. And the fries? Now I'm a fan of salty things but they must have soaked the potatoes in salt water before frying them and topping them off with a pound of more salt. We tried to eat them because by that point, we were starving but they were inedible. I wish I had good things to say about this place but due to this experience, the food I ate, and the service I had, I will never be going to Canary Square again.
(1)Mike D.
Awesome Beer list!!!! Plenty of great beers on tap. Dave and Angela behind the bar are awesome.. I have one complaint, I wish the menu was a little bigger. I have a hard time finding a really good item on the menu that I like. Other than that, the ambiance is great, outdoor patio is amazing.
(4)Mon R.
nooooooooo. I can't believe I paid so much money here- or any money here at all. Their food is not good, and I'm concerned I may have gotten food poisoning here! Such a shame because I wanted to love their southern comfort type food, but its a total miss.
(1)jenn K.
I want to first start off by saying I really like the space and it has a nice ambiance going. I think the food is decent however, the menu hasn't changed at all in the 4 times I've been to Canary Square. I really want to like this place and get excited to go there but I feel a little bored already. Canary Square really needs to keep the customer excited and guessing if it wants to survive in a world of ten tables. It would be nice to see some seasonal menu changes. The cheese fries were SO good but I've also split an order of bread pudding before and it just did not hit the spot. Please produce some more irresistible desserts and I will gladly bring many friends! Being a vegetarian I would also like to see a larger array of options, maybe a butternut squash risotto or something like that would be really lovely for the fall/winter. I don't really have much gripe with the service besides the last time I went I was very thirsty and me and my friend sat at the table with empty water glasses for about 15 minutes. Other than that, the place is decent. I hope there is some favorable changes so I can start gushing over this place already!
(3)Kelly G.
Blah. Stopped in for drinks because one of my besties and I wanted cocktails and Milky Way had a cover. For a Saturday night at 10, it was dead...we got seats at the bar right away, which was nice. The experience went down hill from there. We ordered two of the same drink off of the menu (nothing terribly difficult) and the bar tender acted like we'd asked her to juice a still-living turkey that she'd have to chase around for an hour. She was snippy when taking our food order and all we ordered was the corn appetizer which, though not advertised that way, was SO SPICY that I couldn't eat it. I had a couple of nibbles and passed the plate off. I don't love spicy food, but I'm not a wuss - so that's saying something. I never thought I'd say this in a million years, but I miss the Alchemist.
(2)Daymeyn G.
Yum. Canary Square....the love I feel for you would be stronger, only if you were not so far away from where I lay my head. Starter, humus...great flavor and texture, that could have gone with a little more lemon...its great they left a lemon wedge for us. My mate and I split mains...Roasted Chicken Salad (total brilliance!), and the Wood Grilled Burger.... Again YUM! The Salad's mix of meats to vegetables, nuts, and berries were stunning..and I had heard sooo much about it. Totally lived up to expectations! The burger was good, but the salad was extraordinary. Though I did not go into their drink menu, I did have a ginger beer which was a great accompaniment to a fantabulous dinner. If one is keen for a trip to, or in JP, I would totally say take a trip to the square! These folks will not disappoint.
(4)Brian D.
Things that I've learned and have time after time forgotten include: 1. always sit at the bar 2. never go to brunch 3. never go to brunch Brunch kills me. Sorry majority of people out there, but, brunch sucks. You pay more for a limited menu and are surrounded by hordes of people who may or may not dine out often who think that a glass of 1/2 OJ and 1/2 cheap sparkling wine is a life-changing event. I don't get it. I sat with a good size table of people on a Sunday afternoon for 'brunch' and had the sort of experience that is the norm in my brunching experience. Busy restaurant, slow table service, frazzled wait staff, pretty much just OK chow and an overall 'meehhhhhhh' experience. I had the burger, looks awesome, tastes pretty good. My companions had various eggy things, they all seemed more or less pleased. Nobody passed out from mouthgasms but nobody pushed their plates away either. I'm sorry brunch, I'm just not in love with you. That being said about brunch....I like sitting at the bar at Canary. I'm sort of in love, or at least very strong like, with the bar. Show up for dinner time and get a plate of the jerked chicken wings, fried pork belly and a few good beers - done. As one previous reviewer pointed out, the mussels, avoid. I don't know why, but both times I've had them here they were a bit off. I'll be back, I like this spot just fine, just not for brunch (or anyplace else for that matter).
(3)Molly N.
I had to write a review because there are so many nice things about canary square - the space is nice, especially in the spring and summer when they open up the doors, the staff is great, the drink menu is decent and now they are offering special summer cocktails, BUT, as a vegetarian, I might have to stop going there for meals because their black bean burger is literally inedible. I end up just ordering about 5 plates of the crispy cauliflower appetizer (which is great). But really, in a neighborhood like JP, with just one vegetarian meal on the menu, they should get it right. The first time I ordered it I assumed they had forgotten to cook it because it was so mushy and gross. But then I ordered it again last night and it was the same. Pure mush, barely warm in the middle - just awful. I ate my fries and could't even touch the burger. Grassfed also has a veggie burger that is only slightly better. It is NOT hard to have an even somewhat decent vegetarian burger but....right now it is keeping me from going back. They used to have an amazing hummus and veggie sandwich. They should have kept it!
(2)Jacob M.
I took a small retreat to Boston to visit a couple of friends before their baby was born. I mostly spent the time studying for a certification exam, but we came here for a couple of beers one night. They have a great selection of beers on tap, a really good place to go if you are in JP. The service was good (we sat at the bar), and the bar tender was helpful in picking out what beers to have. I also got a turkey leg for us to snack on, and it was delicious. It had just a touch of honey, barely noticeable, but jus that little extra to take it over the top; I would definitely get it again. This is a great place to go to for a date, or to spend a couple of hours catching up with friends.
(4)Carpenter A.
Well, we went last night for drinks and dinner and afterwards I was like, "I need to go on yelp and see if anyone else has commented on how salty the food was..." My friend ordered a burger, I got mac and cheese and both were just REALLY salty - that was the flavor, salt. Clearly from reading below, we are not alone in this experience. When we got to Canary Square, there were no tables available and the host said it would be a few minutes. I asked if we could wait at the bar and he looked a bit confused but said yes, so we went over and got drinks. Which seems like the most normal way to handle a wait, right? While we were there four tables opened up and were set and only one was seated with no one waiting by the door. I watched as the tables stayed empty for a while, the host was not looking for us, and finally I went over and asked if we might sit down. It struck me as a bit strange that no one came to tell us a table was ready. But certainly not a deal breaker by any means. When we were sitting looking at the menu we were considering a few things and as it was our first time there, I looked around the room to see what other people were eating and if anything looked particularly good. And all I saw was a full dining room with no plates on the tables and people just having drinks. At 7:45pm on a Thursday night. I'd definitely go back to meet for drinks - the atmosphere was open and comfortable. I ran into some friends who were there for drinks and that confirmed the "this is a great place to meetup for drinks in JP" feel. I hope they fix this the food issues. They'd get far more repeat customers bringing friends and family there for meals. Not just drinks. ps. I'm not a low/no-salt person. I like salt! I put salt on things frequently and this was just crazy super thick salty. pps. I hate writing bad reviews! I really hope they figure this out as I'd love for it to be a great restaurant.
(2)Stacy H.
my friend highly recommended their black bean burger, but it was so incredibly spicy i couldn't breathe for a little while after eating it. their french fries were also incredibly salty, so i don't think i'll be ordering that dish anymore. i'll probably come back again for drinks or appetizers, since they have a pretty good vegetarian food selection.
(3)Kristin G.
Went for dinner with friends last night. Service was great. The waitress was attentive but not hovering. The drinks were AMAZING. I got the grape basil mojito and a watermelon jalapeno mojito and both were fantastic. Everyone was satisfied with the food- which ranged from bluefish to burgers to roasted chicken to pork tacos. Everything was fresh and tasty. I totally dug the vibe/decor. I had a great experience here and I'll definitely be back.
(4)Maureen D.
Beautifully renovated open space with big windows facing Center street/S. Huntington. Weekend brunch was delicious with appropriately spicy/salty hints in unexpected places. There is a list of interesting cocktails I plan to return for. The chef would do well, however, to take the bacon out of the home fries; not veg friendly.
(4)Arafat K.
In John Keats's sonnet, "On First Looking into Chapman's Homer," Keats talks about how he's traveled much through realms of gold and similar goodly states and kingdoms, but he'd never truly experienced Homer until he read George Chapman's translation, written not in the more traditional iambic pentameter but in fourteen syllable lines he called "fourteeners." Keats felt that this served the dactylic hexameter of the original Greek much better than Pope's heroic couplets did. Even though Chapman was dead at the time, Keats still felt they were kindred spirits, or biffles. I love that poem, but I've never really understood how he felt--to discover a subtle variation on a universal theme that touches the soul and warms the heart and feels like a truly joyful discovery. Today, when I had the Canary Square burger, I finally got it. It was 4 PM on a Sunday. I hadn't had breakfast. Neither had my pal Declan VW. We had never heard of Canary Square. We went into The Haven for haggis, but they'd stopped serving food. One of the mournful drunks at the bar suggested Canary Square. The menu there was limited. A charcuterie plate, a burger, something else, something else. The burger came with fries and, for a dollar extra, you could smother the fries in Grafton Village cheddar sauce. (Cheddar lovers know what I'm talkin' about!!!!) We both chose the burger, because it was eleven dollars, and the great beer selection, high ceiling, exposed beams, general feeling of Good Design and upper middle class taste made us feel like this wouldn't be a bad burger. Plus, it was 4 in the afternoon, we were hungry, we had no gangland killings scheduled. We were serious men in search of serious food. The burger came and we gasped like a Victorian-era prostitute encountering John Holmes. The buns were perfect and brown (I don't trust buns that are too light), which meant a thick egg wash. I don't know if it was a brioche proper but it was reminiscent of one. The burger was properly modest: no bawdy top halves off here. The patties (props on their asking us about doneness) looked unremarkable, and there was some melted white cheddar on the top bun too. Lettuce (a single perfect leaf), slices of pickes, and a single slice of tomato was on the side. I picked up the greenly accoutrements (I'm trying to be poetic here, like how you can call fish "the scaly breed") and put them in the burger. Now I looked at the fries, and I felt like a man who was wrongly jailed for murder and is released after five years in prison. He looks from his wife (still hot) to his child, now significantly older. He doesn't know whom to embrace first. On the one hand, he's been alone for five years. On the other, fruit of his loins. Finally, I decided to taste a fry first. It wasn't perfect, but it was close to perfect. Why wasn't it perfect? Because I like the French style with narrower cuts, like La Voile or Petit Robert or Marliave etc. And these were thick-cut fries. Fries for a righteous man. And I realize that after talking up the masculinity of the burger, it's hypocritical to complain about the fries being too thick. But a) I'm not complaining, I'm just sayin' is all, and b) I'm a bacon-eatin', five-times-a-day prayin' Muslim. What's your point? The burger was the most perfect burger I've ever had in my life. And I've had _many_ burgers. (Seriously: I'm trying to schedule a gastric bypass operation.) I had a good burger a few weeks ago at Tasty Burger in Fenway, which I thought was a good example of burgercraft. But comparing that burger to the Canary Square burger is like comparing the Zodiac killer to Hitler. The Canary Square burger was exponentially, unimaginably, better. I've been thinking, and I believe the secret lies in how they spice their patty. I don't know what they do to it, but it's amazing. I'm going to come back soon and get a meatloaf if they have one on their menu and see if the magic translates into other ground beef dishes. Or maybe I'll get something else. I'm sure that nothing will live up to the magnificence of the burger because this was a once-in-a-lifetime concatenation of food circumstances. But I'm also sure that any restaurant that makes such a good burger must make good other things as well. Oh, and I also had a Dogfish Head 90 on tap, and it was nice to see something by Dogfish on tap that's not their 60 or brown ale.
(5)Heather G.
I will start this review off on a positive note: The cocktails, beers and bar scene is great. No other spot in JP beats it on any night of the week. The food, on the other hand... Let's start with: The chef has no clue what sauces to put with the appetizers. This might sound like a minor detail, but when your yuca fries are served with sour cream (sour cream?? what??), you know something is really screwed up back there in the kitchen. An alioli or chipotle mayo or chimichurru are all appropriate. The yuca is not cooked well either; I've ordered it 3-4 times and they tasted like cardboard last night. (Sorry to harp on the yuca, but after spending time in south and central america and eating at latin restaurants for 8 years in NYC, it pains me when an appetizer as simple to prepare as fried yuca, is screwed up beyond belief). Then, the cod fritters are served with a strange cocktail sauce. That is also a bizarre combo considering the fact that most fried fish would be served with some sort of tarter sauce. Now i'm all for trying new sauces with my fish, but maybe cocktail sauce should be left for COCKTAIL shrimp. The chicken tacos are good. As are the deviled eggs. The cheese fries are smothered with alfredo sauce. I'll let you determine if that's a good thing or not. The chard salad is big and could use more ingredients other than a mound of chard (there were probably 6 nuts sprinkled on top), but still a decent, unique option for a big salad. The beef skewers were measly sized and the jar (and I mean it was the amount that would come in a jar) of peanut sauce could not really be called sauce since it was as thick as actual peanut butter. gross. It ruined the beef skewers. Again, I love the bar and cocktails and beer, but until they improve on how they prepare the appetizers and entrees, this place gets only 2 stars from me since it's supposed to be a restaurant you eat at, and not just a bar.
(2)Libby H.
Owner - please, please, please fix your food. Have you ever even eaten off your own menu? I've been here three times, each time certain that it would prove better than the last. This place has a fabulous layout and outdoor space. It is just what JP needs...a comfortable, fun and spacious restaurant/bar. The problem is that the food sucks. My salad had essentially plain olive oil on it and my friends steak was cooked so much it was white. I know whomever is running this place has resources and restaurant experience because the place LOOKS and FEELS like it, but, it sure doesn't TASTE like it. Please get your kitchen together. So much potential, but such a disappointment in the food.
(1)Tom S.
First off - people giving terrible reviews to a less than one month old restaurant/bar need to grow up. The place is not the Four Seasons nor does it want to be... sheesh. That said - we went on opening night... took a big chance, but man was it good. Very good actually. Great beer list, food was delicious. I had the steak and my wife had the salmon sandwich. The only fault with the food we tried was that it was perhaps over-salted. Service was spotty as one might expect, but the staff was quite pleasant. What a nice addition to the neighborhood. I cannot wait to go back to delve further into the beer list and the food menu.
(4)Stephanie S.
Awful, awful, awful! This was the second time I've been to Canary Square...after the first I had vowed not to return, I really should have stood by that (check out Matt W's review for the details). The wait was unbelievable. We were quoted half an hour but it took closer to an hour for 4 of us to get seated. Waiting wouldn't normally be an issue, but there were no people! Open tables, no line, no wait, right? My friend and I split a pitcher of sangria which was sickly sweet so I opted for a sangarita and that tasted like tea tree oil toothpicks. Needless to say I was disappointed by both. There was also a tortuous wait for the food (an additional hour for 2 burgers, french fries and yucca). I ordered the yucca which was extremely overcooked and the sauce it came with was tasteless. When the server asked how our food was I told her it was terrible and, get this, she AGREED with me! You know it's bad when the server openly doesn't like the food. I excused my crappy first experience by telling myself "the restaurant's new, they just need time to get it together". Now it's official, decor aside there are no redeeming qualities in Canary Square.
(1)Vegan Couple T.
The Mrs. and I haggled over this rating. I am consistently annoyed with the lack of vegan options there, but Mrs. T. wanted to give them credit for at least now offering vegan pita and one vegan entree. In the past we've been forced to order the hummus without bread and mix and match various selections while getting charged full price for each. Their sides are good but their grilled asparagus tastes like it was cooked on top of a steak. Definitely the best things going for this place are its location and the Basil Grape Mojitos and Sangaritas.
(3)Amanda G.
Brunch Review! I was really looking forward to eating at Canary Square. Some of my fellow brunch regulars and I decided to try out the spot on a nice warm day. They have a patio and JP is an area we hadn't yet explored. We made reservations for 11:30 which seemed unnecessary. When we arrived we were practically the only table in the restaurant (besides a screaming 5 year old... but that's besides the point). I, of course, ordered the Canary bloody mary. It was alright. I know I asked for tabasco and horseradish to make it a little more exciting. It was bland and a bit watered down. A friend ordered the bacon bloody mary... she didnt seem to br too thrilled everytime the chopped bacon bits got stuck in her straw... moving on.. As a group we ordered teh breakfast french fries to start. Basically eggs benedict on top of yummy fries. If you go for one thing, go for this. Im a HUGE fan of eggs benedict.. how do you make this dish and NOT eggs benedict? For the main meal I got the avacado and swiss omelette. The omelette itself was fine, again kind of bland but cooked right. The omelette came with toast that tasted like... campfire? The toast was inedible. How can you screw up toast?
(2)Jim C.
I am eating a hotdog from 7-11 for brunch today. Not by choice but by necessity. I actually went to Canary Square for brunch and I waited and waited and waited and guess what? No brunch. I cannot stress how important customer service is. In saying that, I would like to exclude a couple of people from this review; John and DNice are spectacular bartenders. It's unfortunate neither of them were working today. I can't even write a food review today because I didn't get any. It was busy, I agree but it's brunch. It shouldn't take 40 minutes to make french toast. Let me break down the experience. My good friend Jon and I went to have a quick brunch and handicap the MLB season. We sit down to Mumford and Sons "Little Lion Man" playing while the Disney channel is on one television. Neither is a crime but it just goes to show that kids programming combined with a song that liberally drops the "f" bomb prove that no one has their eye on the bigger picture. If I had children I would have been off put by this but I don't so I guess it is just observational about the low level of management. So, we sit and are asked if we want drinks. Sure. Water, Coffee and Mimosa. I got the Water and Mimosa. S'ok, she must have misheard me. No menus. We had to ask for them because we apparently gave off the impression that we showed up at 11 am to drink. We're the only ones at the bar and yet we get the impression immediately that we are interrupting the bartender; she is visibly annoyed with us. We order and I re-order my coffee. They have pretty good coffee. From that point forward, no one talks to us. Forty minutes later and I have no coffee, no mimosa and no water. ANY bartender in the greater Boston area can tell you that if you keep pouring I will keep drinking. I'm an easy target any time of the day for a big check and a good tip. 20-30 minutes in the wait, two very nice young ladies sat down next to us. 10 minutes later they had drinks and food. We had empty glasses. I called out bartender over and asked what was going on. "They ordered cold food," was her answer. Really? This is atrocious. I am so baffled that she could say that to a customer and not slap herself. Do you really hate your job that much? Do you have that much disrespect for the customer? I called for the manager. What happened next was fun. They scrambled in front of us. I honestly don't think the order had been placed. The manager assured us it was on its way but it was too late. She comped us our drinks and then our food came running out. It was disgusting looking, thrown together from scraps from other meals at best. If I had stayed, the board of health might have been called. If it is busy, tell me. Offer me some fruit or nuts. Keep my glass filled. The utter contempt shown to me by the wait staff was mind boggling. There is NO quality control in this restaurant. The previous time we were there my friend ordered bacon and was served cut bacon fat - no meat. Let's keep our eye on the prize people. You run a restaurant. Three strikes and you are out. It's a real shame because the space is beautiful. I live in the neighborhood and I eat out a lot. If you are eating out in JP please go to the Dogwood Cafe, Center Street Cafe, Doyles, Galway, Ten Tables, the Haven or the wonderful Tres Gatos. I reluctantly gave Canary Square another chance. I don't think you could pay me to go back.
(1)Ryan H.
Unlike the other reviewers, I was quite impressed with Canary Square. I give it a lot of points for featuring lots of local ingredients, eco-friendly, recycled decor, and recycled to-go boxes. As a former organic farm worker, I like to feel good about the food I'm eating, and I can at Canary Square. I started with a mesclun salad, which was tossed with the perfect amount of dressing, although it was entirely greens, and could have used some walnuts and cranberries. Then I had the black bean burger and a side of brussels sprouts with bacon. First, the burger was great. It comes with a nice portion of gooey Grafton Village Cheese Company (Brattleboro, VT) cheddar on top, salsa, and sour cream to mellow it out. It was a little spicy for my taste, but that comes from the salsa, so you can skip it if you want. It also came with the side salad above, which filled an 8-inch plate, for just 10 dollars. The brussels were the best part of the meal, in my opinion. They were served in a funky, cast-iron baking dish, which matched the brick-factory decor. They came drizzled in a garlic aioli and nestled in between them were salty, chewy chunks of thick-cut bacon. For our kosher friends, you can get the brussels sans-swine. This place also has an extensive beer menu, with lots of local and imported draught options on any given night. Our waitress seemed fairly knowledgable about the beers, and described the Troeg's Golden Nugget well enough that it tasted just as I expected it to. I knocked off a star for two reasons. First, it took a bit longer than was prudent for the waitress to come introduce herself, but she brought water with her, so we didn't have to wait even longer for that. Then, my brussels came out with everyone's entrees, but not my burger, and I had to wait another minute or two for the kitchen to sort it out. I'm going to chalk it up to business plus the fact that we gave the waitress a lot of little instructions (bring the salad as an app, no bacon on one of the brussels, etc.). Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I'm really looking forward to my next visit.
(4)Robby T.
Canary Square does an A+ job with the rotating Beer List and the drinks. Also, the beer pricing is among the best in town for what you're getting. They get their hands on some pretty uncommon stuff for the area- I just wish they updated their online menu like other beer-centric places around town. The food has come a long way since opening. Originally overpriced, underportioned, and sloppy- they've updated their menu and include quite a bit of locally sourced ingredients in some great dishes. The burger is among the best I've had in a restaurant lately and the Huevos Rancheros are a great brunch selection. The bar area gets a bit crowded with limited seating, but there is rarely a wait for dining. The outdoor seating area is extremely well done with sectionals and plants to add some privacy from the street.
(4)Matt H.
Awesome drink and beer selection. Food is a different story. Got the asparagus, it was sloppy with butter and overcooked. Also got a chefs late night snack which was nothing more than a burned dinner roll with some butter and garlic smeared on it for $7. Unimpressed.
(3)Chris C.
You demolished Alchemist for this??! Very underwhelming. The ambiance is the passionless love child of a shopping mall Bertucci's and the bar from a 99. The menu had me searching for anything mildly interesting and thinking I'd just have something later when I got home. Ultimately I ordered the burger, which I found had an odd flavor (nutmeg maybe?) and texture. I literally wondered whether is was buffalo or ostrich and I just hadn't read the menu carefully enough. I tried my friend's salad, which warranted a bar code it was so generic. I actually like my partner's ceviche, but he did not. On the positive side, they do have a great selection of beer on draught, the bread pudding was delicious, and the staff was very friendly and energetic. One odd thing... Our waitress brought over a plate of bread, but under the bread was large piece of torn menu. A doily? At least turn the ink side down. Okay, one last odd thing... At the end, the wait-staff brings a little black booklet with the bill, for adding comments. It sort of felt to me like being handed someone's diary. (so yes, of course I looked!) I guess it was meant to be a quirky "tradition", but I just found it weird. Oh, Alchemist. Even on your worst days (and there were a couple) you were better than this.
(2)Capricia G.
Canary Square is one of those places where you go in having good expectations and leave a little let down. Everything I've ever had here has been a "that was okay, I guess, but would have been better if..." situation. I try to like it! I really do! Food: Meh. Bland. Trying too hard. Also...bland. Drinks: Awesome, but expensive. Service: The faces always change, but the poor quality/attitude stays the same. Could they hate their lives more? General Vibe: They have notebooks guests can write in when you get their checks. They're usually full of an interesting mix of food reviews and creative ways to incorporate male genitalia into a picture. Last night, mine said something to the effect of, "the music I had to listen to offended me because I was wearing a $4000 suit." Oh, okay. Skip this and walk across the street to Tres Gatos.
(2)Lane S.
Canary Square is a a unique place in JP. Would give it a 4.5 if i could. Firstly, the decore is well done in my opinion. Exposed brick, and interesting lighting. The tables are close together, but with the new outdoor seating, it makes for a nice place on a pretty evening. Their menu is combines the familiar with the creative to offer something different in the neighborhood. The food is above average. I have had better, but you can tell that they put effort and thought into the dishes. THE DRINKS AT BRUNCH ARE BOMB. I have said for a while that Bloody Marys would be better with tequila... then I went there, AND THEY HAD THEM. Another note about brunch, the cereal french toast sounds odd, but it is KILLER. Clearly I like this joint, and will be returning. As should you.
(4)Jonathan B.
Classy exposed brick interior, good bar staff, but there are serious problems with the food menu here. What they try to get across is the local/sustainable vibe and I totally get it but the flavor pairings just don't work. They do brunch here, but i've only been for dinner and that's all I can speak for here. Everything here is properly cooked and executed but the seasoning and flavor of things is seriously lacking. Braised pork shoulder with risotto was cooked perfectly but had little to no flavor. Was it braised in tap water? Barbecued chicken was greasy. Burger was pretty solid, but the french fries were an unseasoned and texture-less mouthful of hot starch. Some menu item components are head scratching in a bad way. See: Roasted Chicken with...Mashed Potatoes AND Buttered Beans? The vast number of beer taps would lead one to assume the draft beer selection is large but the variety within the selection is small. On the other hand, the cocktail menu is well thought out. A little tweaking of the dinner menu could guarantee repeat dinner customers/regulars.
(2)Chad J.
My partner and I have tried this place out several times because he lives across the street. We use to swing by the Alchemist for a beer and burgers all the time and were looking forward to the upgraded Canary Square. For the most part service is good, however, it is unnecessarily slow. The first time we there for dinner, we noticed that we had been charges six times on our card and it took two weeks the receive the money back. We'd love to make this our regular weekend spot. if they can match their speed of service to the amount of people they aim to serve without sacrificing quality.
(2)Jim M.
Best food in JP. I cannot stress how amazing the food is! My wife and I went to the Oktoberfest of a well known brewery and the food was awful (Vendor food) but we went to Canary Square after the Oktoberfest and had GREAT craft beer and AMAZING food at Canary Square. I am proud to live just down the street to this excellent restaurant/bar!
(5)Amy C.
Stopped in on Friday night for dinner and drinks. I would highly recommend, the beers on draft are extensive and the bar area was really cool. I liked the decor with the exposed brick and light fixtures, only bummer is there are no booths which would make things a bit more cozy. We started off with the mozzarella sticks. You could tell these were homemade and not frozen, they came on skewers and were stuck into a lemon which gave the cheese a nice zing mixed with the marinara sauce. I had the tuna taco's which were really delish, my comrades enjoyed the roasted half chicken with brussel sprouts roasted with bacon and onions (hell ya!), along with the pork shank entree which I was told was off the hook. We had a great waitress that was really patient with all of our questions and gave some really good recommendations.
(4)Snuffles B.
I am floored by how underrated this place is. I had been avoiding it because of mixed Yelp reviews, but I'm glad I waited because whatever voodoo they had to do to get this place up to speed has worked. Atmosphere: SO much better now that they knocked out the wall - spacious, open, casual, chill, good for dates or families (they super are cool with kids and the place is big enough that it people nearby won't be bothered). We never have to wait for a table and there is no bad seat in the house. One of the best patios in Boston. Service: Every server I've ever met has been totally awesome, and attentive just enough. Food: Seasonal, local, constantly changing menu and huge changing beer selection.. - Bread - Crisp with chewy center, would be better if warm - Pickles - Really vinegary and sweet and tasty - Cod Fritters - Light , airy, delightful - Mussels - As my friend said, "Musseltastic", broth good for dipping - Wood Roasted Chicken - I usually pooh pooh chicken, but this was beautifully smoked and delicious. - Pork cracklins - The crispiest pork skin ever. - Wedge salad - I hate blue cheese and I hate iceberg lettuce, but somehow this was still good - Jerk chicken wings - Well flavored, but not crisp - Fries - Big steaky fries, they were OK - Burger - HUGE - MASSIVE Brioche bun - basic flavor, but juicy and very good. - Steak frites - Superior - Swiss chard/pulled chicken sandwich/bacon vinagrette - I generally think salad is bird food, but I ate the whole thing. Simply awesome. - Brussels Sprouts w/ Lardons - Awesome - generous on the lardons, my favorite item here. - Bread pudding - Does not taste the least bit like butterscotch, very eggy, almost flan-y. LOVE the maple walnut ice cream. - Fried Twinkies - Imagine gourmet corn dogs with powdered sugar, that is what this looks like, but it tastes like a perfectly crisplly battered molten Twinkie - I've had this before elsewhere - this was way better! Brunch: Not bad, but dinner is better... - Huevos Rancheros - perfect eggs, nicely flavored rice/beans, comes with a HUGE chicharones. - French Toast - Crazy crip batter, HUGE portion. Cost per person w/o ETOH, with tax/tip:$15-25 Overall, this place has food that far exceeds its price point. If this place in the South End, it would be packed 24-7.
(5)Michael I.
Strike 3. I hate that they don't even seem to be trying to improve the food. It's been inconsistent since day 1. Great rotation and variety of beer (and even cider). But every time I decide to give the food another try I'm sorely disappointed. My (cold tortilla) tacos were swimming in juice from the (mountain of) meat, and that was running clear since they hadn't seasoned the meat in any way. A little balance and flavor from the main ingredient would have been nice. Previous visit was a soup that was so salty I couldn't eat it. Like I said, the drinks are great. And I'll likely keep heading back for those once in a while. but what a shame that it's really set up for dining with the weak delivery of the menu. For their food, I'll happily head down to Back Bay and hit the Salty Pig where they're getting it right.
(2)Nicole C.
Very pleased with my experience here. We stopped in here on a whim looking for late night eats in JP. From looks alone, it seems like a semi-upscale restaurant with dim lighting and classy decor, but the prices were very reasonable (about $10 a plate, $8 for cocktails) and the attire of the patrons wasn't frighteningly formal. So, we headed in, unashamed to come dressed in our usual rags. The entrée I ordered was simple but absolutely delectable. As a California transplant who laments the lack of avocado-filled food on this coast, when I saw the grilled avocado sandwich on the menu I immediately knew what I would order. All of my favorite things in one sandwich: toasted sourdough bread, melted swiss cheese, fresh slices of tomato, and most importantly, plenty of avocado (many places skimp on this if you can find it at all). The side salad was pretty standard, baby greens with house vinaigrette dressing. My dining partner was craving a cheeseburger but was let down by the one he ordered. The fries were great, thick and not crispy, just how I like them. The burger on the other hand was undercooked and "tasted weird," as if they had added something unusual (and not good) to it. However, this is coming from a guy whose diet primarily consists of fried chicken, so this place wasn't up his alley anyway. I would recommend trying one of their more interesting menu selections to sample the best they have to offer. Based on my own experience I'm giving Canary Square five stars. The service was good, prices were reasonable, ambience was relaxing, food was deliciousssssss, cocktails were well-mixed, and best of all, they're open till 1:30 for night owls like me. I would definitely come back, perhaps on a Friday night when it's bound to be livelier.
(5)Emily L.
Great ambiance! Great cocktail and beer list. Food = mediocre. I got the burger and fries. The burger was over cooked. The fries looked like it was chopped and thrown together as if it was suppose to be a stir fry. I thought the egg would give the burger a nice texture but it didn't really add any flavor to it. The server was really nice and attentive. They have a nice outdoor patio and the decor and lighting makes this restaurant a good place to bring a casual date or some family members. I would definitely come here again to relax and enjoy a drink. However, if I'm hungry, I'll probably walk a block or two further to go to a nicer restaurant.
(3)Mekhi B.
I've been to this place a lot since it's opened. I must say though, that the reason is because of canary square's proximity to my house. simply put - there's not much else around for a sit-down dinner with good beer. This place is always extremely loud - lil' jon WHAAAT!?! loud. You can't even hear the people at your table. Also the food is hit or miss - sometimes it's really good, but the next time you get the same thing it's just..well...not. However, there are some good things about this place: 1. There's a great beer selection here with a full bar 2. The warm swiss chard and cranberry salad still has me dreaming about it after moving out of state. egg on top? yes, please. 3. and the butter scotch bread pudding is 'slap your mama' good. seriously. Overall, I'd say if you're in JP with some folks looking for dinner and drinks, this place is OK. Well, the dogfish head on tap will get you drunk. *shrug*
(3)Angie C.
Experience: The operation is poorly managed! It baffles my mind why they have 3 hostesses and 2 bartenders when the bar serves food and has open seating. You would think with so many hostesses they would be efficient with seating and turning around tables...absolutely not. The three times I went there were several tables available, but we still had to wait to be seated even though we were the only ones waiting. I've ran a restaurant for 10 years and was amazed at what I saw. Food: For the price I expected better quality. Nothing left an impression, I only remember being disappointed with everything I ordered. Overall: The atmosphere and location has potential. Unfortunately, they need more bartenders, less hostesses and an improvement on efficiency. Since I live down the street I really wanted to like this place, but three strikes and you're out.
(1)Amanda M.
Canary Square confuses me. I think they confuse a lot of people, actually. I've only been a few times, but every time I visit their menu is completely different. Now, some people may say this is a good thing -- they're keeping things fresh, up to date, seasonal. But honestly, it's been a major let down. They used to have this really awesome popcorn that was flavored differently depending on the day, and now that's long gone. The story is the same for countless other items that people were LOVING! I guess it would be okay if they were substituting the dishes for better ones, but so far, that hasn't been the case. They also have an insanely awesome beer selection, but their availability is super inconsistent. During the hour I was there, I heard our waitress explain to two other tables, aside from ours, why some dish or drink wasn't available. It was kind of weird. Overall: the food and drinks are pretty good (although kind of pricey), and the atmosphere is awesome. The outdoor seating seriously can't be beat. But bring back some of the old faves on the fall menu!
(3)Julia N.
Just checked out Canary Square, and while it is a very nice/chill mixed crowd and environment, the food isn't that great. I had the Emerald Necklace as a drink (eh), but I'm not sure that this place should get away with how much they charge. Though--- they have a "huuuuuuuueg" beer list, so perhaps food doesn't matter to you! The waiter was sweet and even answered a question about the ingredients in the menu. But in short, I wouldn't bring people who are on vacay here.
(3)heather F.
their food sucks. sucks sucks sucks. if i'm going to spend $20 for a plate of roasted chicken, i want it to be far better than anything i could make at home, ever. husband and our friend had to send their burgers back 3x before they got it right. another time, half of my veggie burger was burnt. never had anything more than a mediocre food experience here. They try so hard to have high-end food but they fail. their saving grace is their bar. great beer selection, tasty cocktails, and their wine list seems decent, too. their standard price for a beer is $6 which is definitely on the pricy side, but i guess its not outrageous for the standards in Boston... Long story short, go here to drink. If you want to eat, go to Ten Tables, Tres Gatos, or the Haven instead.
(2)George W.
The Alchemist sucked and now Canary Square has risen from the ashes to continue its predecessor's legacy of suckery. Here's the short and and nasty: The interior is Euro-boring. That is- basically all black and unremarkable. But I don't review interiors, I review food and beer. The beer selection is ok. Not gastropub but not dive bar. Lots of IPAs. The bartender didn't fill my glass too well, leaving an inch of space at the top and didn't care. But, that really isn't the problem either. The problem is that the food is garbage. And we ordered enough to know. First were the mussels. They had a dog-breathesque aroma and tasted spoiled. We told the waitress (who was very nice) and she took them back. The chef decided to tell her to tell us that they were not spoiled, but they were from Wellfleet, so I must have never had a Wellfleet mussel. Listen up Iron Chef Canary Square, I know what a dead mussel tastes like. And you shouldn't be sending your nice waitstaff out to defend your pride. Next there came the cod fritters and "spicy homemade ketchup". Dear Iron Chef Canary Square: Cocktail sauce is not "homemade spicy ketchup". The cod fritters themselves were damp and spongy, reminiscent of my days eating Van De Kamps fish sticks. Then the deviled egg came, which were serviceable, but why put such a basic item on the menu if you aren't going to do something interesting with it? The same with the radishes, which were just radish chunks and salt. That's shit my my vegan roommate eats while standing up in the kitchen drunk, not menu worthy fare. There were other food items, but just forget it. They all blew. We tipped 30% because the waitress has to apologize to people meaner than us about Iron Chef Canary Square in the back. I guess I'll just wait until this place closes down again. Maybe a Friendlys will move in and I can bump this up to 3 stars.
(2)Jessica B.
So, Canary Sq does not feel JP-y to me at all, but then, things they are a'changin' round here. Nonetheless the place is really lovely, and it's interesting to see the renovations. The popcorn is hell-yeah good. The Bacon Bloody Mary could become my thing. Like, I'll stop eating food and just drink those for sustenance and pleasure. The Same Old Place drink is (I'm really really sorry! Really! For multiple reasons) the nastiest drink I've had in a long time. It tastes like a pizza coated in sugar. I think the problem (for me) is the rosemary orange syrup. If I decide not to live on the Bloody Mary's, I could happily have the French Toast (it's like a funnel cake, which *is not* just like fried dough.) The eggs are amazing. Ah may zing. So cheesy. The ham sandwich costs too much for something that looks like it's served on grocery store loaf bread. And it's just not that exciting. The service has been really wonderful, and I figure the place is just getting its sea legs, so it will be worth checking back.
(4)Kate M.
I've been to Canary Square several times, mostly because I live across the street. That said, I hope they stick around. The beer list is excellent and the cocktails are solid. The food, as several reviewers have noted, is hit-or-miss; I've had a few visits where it's been great but it feels like the place might be a bit too ambitious-- make sure you have your recipes down before doing the rotating, seasonal thing. It's an excellent choice for groups (I've only had to wait for a table at brunch) and the service is generally very good. I'm still sort of mad they took away the dollar oysters.
(4)Kirs P.
I've tried Canary Square a few times now and each time it's been a bit of a let down. Either service is slow. Or the mussels are skanky. Or the only vegetarian option is a tofu "steak" (which is just disgusting. even I know that). After the disaster that was the Alchemist finally left this location I was very much looking forward to having a new, kinda casual place to grab a bite in JP. Sort of a larger Zon's (RIP). And Canary Square billed itself as that- it just doesn't completely live up to its ambitions. 1- Service is spotty, at best. 2- Food ain't that great either. We were served some seriously sketchy mussels. The vegetarian selection (in JP of all places) is lackluster, and then not very good. There just isn't a whole lot of inventiveness in the menu. Yeah, the deviled eggs are good, but Hungry Mother did that shit years ago, theirs were better, and mine (which don't cost 4 bucks) can kick both their asses. 3- Cocktails are hit or miss. I went in just for drinks the first time I was there and was impressed. The next few times, notsomuch. Watered down and the mixing seemed off. All that being said, I'm sure I'll be back (and I heard that brunch is kinda good). It's convenient, and really large, so when Haven and Tres Gatos are full it's an okay alternative. I tried to avoid using the word in this review. But it just fits. Canary Square really is just "meh."
(2)Amy M.
Went here on Tuesday, I suppose that's about a week after they opened? I loved that they give you bread and butter pickles rather than much-too-filling bread, and it was a very whimsical touch. However it would have been nice for the pickles to actually taste good: they had a very odd mineral taste and the onions were practically raw. Not really the makings of a hot date starter. The roasted radishes were excellent and the mussels were pretty good, just a touch watery (the broth they were in was very bland). The fries, sadly, were very mushy. My biggest sadness was that I ordered the special of the day, a duck confit based noodle soup, and the duck was almost unpalatably salty and the soup itself had a lot of oiliness. The other flavors were spot on and the broth was excellently seasoned but the salty saltfest of the duck just overwhelmed the whole dish. I was able to try a bit of the hamburger as well and it was divine so I'd say when you go, stick to their wood-fired items. Dessert was another mess-- ice cold breadpudding barely warmed around the edges with a scoop of ice cream also frozen solid. I'm giving three stars because service was excellent and the food quality was high, just poorly executed. The drinks were great, my Arborway was delicious, and I think that with a bit more polish Canary Square could be a great local joint-- but nowhere I'd trek to JP for.
(3)D L.
Great food and beer selection, but mediocre service on weekends. Always a bit of a wait on the weekends for a table at night (sometimes up to an hour so be prepared to wait a bit (or get a drink at the bar). Their menu changes a lot ( canarysquare.com/dinner is usually up to date), but I really like the deviled eggs, black bean burger, and the butterscotch bread pudding is SO GOOD. I wouldn't recommend this place for groups of more than 4-5 really, unless you make a reservation. The mac and cheese has always been kinda mehh so I'd skip that one. The notebooks that the checks come in are pretty hilarious, too.
(3)Matt W.
I was really excited to go to this place. Having previously been a dive bar and then a mediocre, kind of expensive bar and restaurant, I was interested to see a higher end place go here. I have decided that the specific location must just be cursed. We had reservations with some friends for 8pm. When we arrived, we were told that they didn't have our reservations, and didn't even take reservations for less than 6 people. We had four. Despite that, someone in the party knew someone who worked at the place, so we got a table. Our waitress, Jackie, was very nice. It seemed like things were pretty hectic for her, and she was definitely the best part of the experience. She took drink orders and put them in. Eventually we got them. We put our food orders in, and ordered the roast chicken, flank steak, pork shop, and salmon steak. We also ordered an appetizer of cod fish puffs. The puffs (very bland, and the spicy ketchup tasted like cocktail sauce) came out with the flank steak about fifteen minutes later. They were brought by a different server, and we were all kind of surprised dinner was being served with the app. Turns out the flank steak wasn't his. He kept it anyways and we encouraged him to eat it. Forty minutes later, our food came, including another flank steak. That mistake is certainly a score, but man, we were all starving. The waitress had brought out some weird popcorn to tide us over on the house. Nice of her. I had the roasted chicken. I had, the night before, roasted the first chicken in my life. It was not my best cooking attempt, and it was so much better than what I was served here. The skin managed to be both burned and soggy. The bird was pretty flavorless. It was served with undercooked brussels sprouts and ratishes, and bits of thick bacon. The dish was edible, but not good. My wife ate the pork chop. She ordered it medium, and it was not that. It was unevenly cooked and borderline rare at places. Apparently undercooked sprouts were the order of the day, because hers were, too. The applesauce, reportedly homemade, tasted canned. We believe they're making it - they just didn't do a good job. Our friend got the salmon. She was underwhelmed, though the calamari that came with it was apparently pretty good. The friend with the flank steak had the single rave review of the table. Luckily, he got two, so that's a big win. The waitress came over and asked how everything was, and we all kind of avoided telling her, before finally one of us said something like "it's not terrible." She apologized and ended up getting us a few fried twinkies on the house. They were probably the best thing I ate that night, though they also weren't that good. All in all, I was not crazy about this place. It looks really cool, and the staff was certainly very nice, but the food was pretty expensive, and not nearly good enough to justify it. Particularly in a neighborhood like Jamaica Plain, which has a number of similar restaurants, you really need to do more than use an organic chicken to charge $20 for it. It kind of also needs to be cooked in a way that makes me want to eat it. Truth be told, I wouldn't eat this food again if it were half the price. Places like Vee Vee and James's Gate, which have similar price points and comparable quality bars, are just down the road. And while they are not decorated with rescued support beams and chairs made out of recycled coke cans, they are distinctly good, which Canary Square distinctly isn't. Props again to our server, Jackie. She did the best she could with what she had. But what she had just wasn't good. She could have comped the whole meal, and I still wouldn't go back.
(2)Dave G.
I'm incredibly disappointed as I have been anticipating the opening for months. Here's why: Waited over an hour for food. Left without dinner feeling hangry (you know, so hungry that you're angry?), a little too drunk, and with a single tear running down my cheek. I met a pal and we walked over for dinner (note managers: waked, because I can see your restaurant from my house), and planned to have some appetizers and a drink while waiting for another pal to arrive. We got there and the place looked great. We were promptly seated and our waitperson was friendly, excited, and very nice to us. So far, off to a great start! Very exciting! She recommended we try their flavored popcorn snack, and we got some other appetizers and drinks. The popcorn was stale, tasteless, and taken away. She brought us another one, but same deal. The appetizers and cocktails were great. Our friend appeared and within 10 minutes of his arrival, we ordered dinner. We watched tables around us get sat, order, eat, and leave. We watched other tables wait and wait and lose their enchantment. We listened to no less than 4 infants/toddlers scream, screech, yell, and cry. Cut to 1 hour and 3 cocktails later (x3 people). All the fun was gone and I just wanted to leave. I'm pissed because I'm over a $100 in the hole, I have a pile of work at home, and my plan for a quick dinner and drink were wrecked. We asked for the check, our waitress apologized for the delay and sort of puttered around hoping that the kitchen would produce before she was able to gather the check. Grunt. Next, while waiting for the slips one of the managers (there seemed to be 3) came over and said that he was sure our dinner would be coming out of the kitchen soon. Being vague at this point was totally unacceptable and your attempt to rectify a crappy situation was lousy at best. We were mentally checked out, totally over it and thinking that Zesto's would be a good alternative (told you - hangry). Managers & Waitstaff: You really could have fixed this. You knew the kitchen was in the weeds, so why didn't you send out a snack? You also knew that we were already $100.00 into the bill with appetizers and cocktails, so why weren't you more communicative? I could list several other methods of customer service, but what's the point? You could have saved that check. Coming over halfheartedly at the last minute was a pretty crappy management style. Other interesting things: The food we did have was nice (save for the popcorn), the drinks are unique and interesting. The menu had plenty of options and the prices were good for a week night dinner out. I'd happily eat deep fried glass if it is served with a smile. I will not however, tolerate crappy service. EDITS: I've been back twice and met with the same situations... Alchemist, please come back.
(2)Lisa O.
Went there for dinner tonight, do not waste your time! So disappointed because I was so excited to try it out. Give it a couple of more months for them to get their act together. When the waitress brought over glasses of water an unknown and gross looking substance was on the coaster. We pushed it to the side and waiting for the waitress to come back over. When we pointed it out she just picked up the glass and started to walk away but we asked her to please replace the coaster since that is where the gross unknown substance was on. The food was bland, I don't not recommend this place. The set up is weird and it was noisy.
(1)Michelle B.
I would totally give this place 5 stars if they had better service. A group of 6 of us went for dinner on Saturday night. The last time I was here it was still The Alchemist, so I was immediately impressed with how much open the space is now. It looks great. I got to try quite a bit as my friend and I split a few things off of the snacks and appetizers part of the menu. We got the deviled eggs (delicious, although I'm not 100% sold on the pile of relish under each egg), The Salty Pig (pate, whole grain mustard, pickled onions and hot toasted bread - so good), the mussels (the broth! omg, the broth!) and then for dessert we shared a root beer float, except we asked them to make it with ginger beer instead; we had been tempted to ask them to swap out the bourbon with dark rum and add a lime, but we felt that it would've been too much. Either way, it was a great end to the meal. Now, all of that sounds great, right? But the service. It was spotty at best: I had to repeat my drink order twice, which is normally not a big deal - but she still got it wrong. And all I wanted was a Captain and diet Coke! One of my friends sat waiting for his meal while the rest of us had our food. We all sat with dirty dishes in front of us after our dessert order had been taken. It was all just slightly off in a few different ways that it makes me think the staff just isn't trained very well or they're indifferent to their patrons.
(4)Chris C.
Canary Square is offers a respectable mix of community atmosphere and satisfying pub grub. Just after landing in Boston, we grabbed a much needed meal, here and left very satisfied. They offer a fair variety of wine, beer and cocktails. I can comment on the cocktails - they are well made. I tried a little from everybody. I can't remember names, unfortunately. As for dinner, I opted for the hummus and cucumber sandwich and was really happy with my choice. The hummus was just a little chunky and there were plenty of vegetables on my sandwich. The bread, needing its own sentence, was big and moist and soft and memorable. The space is wide open and the staff is very friendly. It's the kind of place you can go to watch a game or not watch at all. The atmosphere is a little noisy but, you can definitely hear conversation at your table. Our service was attentive enough and good natured. Canary Square is definitely worth a return visit.
(4)Erik S.
First of all I had to shower when I got home to wash all the grease off my face. Second, I witnessed a tyrannical owner or manager ripping into one of the workers. I was ashamed of myself for eating at a place that treats their employees so poorly. Had I known that is the kind of business they are running I never would have gone there. It was a shameful display. If you just want a greasy cheese fry be my guest. If you care about common human decency this is not the place for you.
(1)Caroline C.
I like Canary Square, but I'm not really sure why I like it as much as I do. This should probably be a three star review, but perhaps I'm trying to counterbalance all the negative reviews Canary Square got when it first opened, which I didn't think were quite fair, being new and all, and also, the vibe is just so much better than the Alchemist. It adds a little style to the traditional JP quirk. I also have a crush on the skinny bartender who got really excited about brussel sprouts. I love a man who loves brussel sprouts. But the brussel sprouts are where the deliciousness ends. And these aren't even that amazing. Cod fritters are bland, and the char grilled tofu steak tasted like, well, char. And tofu. Which, I guess I should have known, as it's called "char grilled tofu", but I figured they would add additional flavors. But I have hope the food will improve - the website advertising a focus on local food and sustainability, which is a huge plus, and I want to support any restaurant that operates with these standards. (Oh, but I do love the pickles. Thanks for serving pickles instead of bread. The pickles are awesome.) The beer and wine list are also excellent (Stellenbosche Chenin Blanc! Score), and I've only had good service (and I've only been there on busy Saturday nights). It is loud, but not out of control loud. It's also pretty easy to park in the area, which is another big bonus.
(4)Eliza Jane H.
I've waited to write a review for Canary Square but, now that I've been a couple of times and have visited during brunch as well as dinner, I feel like I can give a fair assessment. I like Canary Square. I will no doubt return there in the near future. So why am I giving it three stars? Because in all of my visits (4-5 at this point), for everything about it that is 4-5 stars, and there have been things that are, something has always been regrettably underwhelming. For example, I went the other evening for drinks and dinner, and the food we had was great, the drinks were good, and the bartender was friendly and efficient despite the very busy bar. Our waitress when we were seated at a table, on the other hand, was just awful-- unfriendly and absent. In another visit, this time for brunch, our server was great-- but the food was disappointing. It wasn't bad, and nothing was improperly cooked, but for a brunch that is locally celebrated as something to seek out, I was left scratching my head. So, while I certainly recommend Canary Square as a great place to grab a drink, to sit outside an eat a nice meal, and even, yes, to grab a decent brunch, I don't know that I would suggest seeking it out if you aren't in the area already. If you do end up there, a few things to think about: if deviled eggs are your thing, get them. They are insanely great. The pork tacos are delicious. The charcuterie platter is HUGE. I've never had to say no to so many cured meats at once. Want a table for brunch? Get there before 11 and you won't have any problems.
(3)August L.
The service at this place continues to be rather terrible, and the food is still mediocre for the price. We went for brunch this weekend, and despite the place only being 1/4 full, the waitstaff was incredibly inattentive and unhelpful. They didn't come around with coffee refills for ages (and only when we asked), didn't check if we needed more milk (we asked for it twice), didn't offer ketchup or hot sauce with breakfast, and most importantly, were very inflexible with our dietary issues. They initially refused to make any changes to the menu options, including taking off the ubiquitous meat (bacon, sausage or ham) that accompanies almost every single meal. We asked for a substitution for the meat, and were told that "it's against our policy to make any changes - you can take it off, but we can't replace it." What? It's 2011 in Jamaica Plain and you want to make vegetarians pay for meat??? If you refuse to make changes on your menu, you should change the prices, so that the meals come without meat as a general rule, but you can add the meat for a small additional price. What a ridiculous "policy" and such an obnoxious attitude to boot. The french toast is really unusual -- massive pieces of bread, covered with corn flake crust, and topped with a sweet bourbon-maple syrup. It was tasty enough, but WAY too much for one person, and I can't really imagine ordering it again. They don't have regular french toast, or pancakes. The other food was decent but too expensive for what it is. All in all, this place should be way better than it is. I wish they'd improve the menu and learn how to have a genuine and kind neighborhood vibe. It's a gorgeous space, but with the bad service, snarky attitude and mediocre food, we won't be coming back anytime soon.
(2)Elizabeth T.
I'm going to admit straight away that I'm biased about this place. My partner is one of the waitstaff, so service is not something I'm going to comment on. I am, however, going to comment on the food. I'm in love with the Guinness Beef Stew. Serious, head-over-heels love. It's a combination of stew and beef stroganoff, served with egg noodles and sour cream mixed into the sauce. I'm really picky about stews. The Druid in Inman has a great one, but all of the other places I've tried have left me with a general "meh" feeling. This one, not so much. I'd eat 100 gallon drums of it for months on end, such is the intensity of my love for it. I've tried the skirt steak as well, which was also delicious. The only complaints I've had food wise had to do with the mussels. While they were tasty, they had a bit of grit that was off putting. The wine list is great, there's a world of choice in the beer realm, and my Manhattans were always delicious. I'm glad this place filled Alchemist's spot.
(4)Marcus D.
Amazing that this place used to be Triple D's - now that was a REAL alcoholics bar. I wasn't too impressed when it was the Alchemist and I must admire how the new owners have really opened up the place. To be fair we didn't eat here, we just got drinks. Some of the customers were annoying, especially the ones crowding around me and my buddies - whacky liberal turds that don't understand when someone has a claim to a bar stool, hmmm, I thought my coat draped over the back with my foot resting on the rung designated it as my seat, sorry that you and your fat assed girlfriend had to stand. God forbid! It's a new place so I suppose there are some wrinkles to be ironed out, so give it a chance - it's JP for Chrissakes! Our bartender was cool: sweet and quick with our rounds, not having to ask again what we were drinking.
(3)MC S.
Well it is sad but true the food at CS just stunk. They managed to get the swiss chard salad balanced but that was it. We were a pretty large party and we had a number of dishes. None of them were great and that is sad. I watched a packed restaurant turn out a ton of food. Presentation was good all the food that was presented looked appetizing this includes the food brought to other tables. This is my gripe... YOU OWN CODA you have a restaurant you are not wet behind the ears so WTF is wrong with the food! Eggs Really only 1 and half eggs for the money really!!! You couldn't just give a person a whole two eggs... this may have been the best dish the entire table had.. but to be that stingy.. .really I have done the food cost... that half egg is not paying for anything.. but me not ordering them again is a LOSS. Popcorn... This is the deal when you have popcorn you should coat it with something that has flavor and is the same size or smaller. This way the corn is coated .. makes sense. Yes? What we got was HUGE pieces of onion and tomato and popcorn that was not popped at CS. Homemade Popcorn doesn't look like little heads of cauliflower they look like popcorn. Tellegio Sandwich... It would have been awesome if some how you could have cooked the pressed sandwich so that the Tallegio melted. It is a soft cheese this should not be hard to do. Half shell oysters and clams ... didn't taste like anything other then salt water... that is no fun and not very appetizing. Cheese fries well if they had been less soggy and not over cooked and the cheese sauce salted they would have been a hella of a lot better. Pulled Chicken sandwich... who uses pickling spices in there bbq sauce plus it was too sweet! If you are going to use Bread and Butter pickle juice to make a "creative" bbq sauce then strain it! and THE Burger It says on the menu it comes with grafton cheddar... okay.. .Well then one small slice that is melted to the bun... becomes a why bother. AND this is not hard... you have meat it should have a 80 percent fat content it should be tossed with seasonings NOT just garlic powder and it should be loosely packed. I have never in my life had to chew a burger over and over and over and over to swallow it. It was like chewing a hockey puck. I don't know what the hell the kitchen thought they were doing but it wasn't making a good burger. PLUS you don't press down on said burger to get it to cook faster.. hello cooking 101. I was a fan of the Alchemist and I was a regular... it has broken my heart that it has left and this is what replaced it. ON a positive note ... you have hired some very very competent wait staff and that was the only redeeming part of our meal. The drinks were incredibly strong which is okay if you are going to a bar to get wasted but I think the CS is going for a different clientele. No? It is called Balance ... and it was the CS lacks. People do your demographics... get your s(*&*^t together and make food that is salted correctly and tastes good! It is not hard. It just takes effort and if your staff in the back of the house is indifferent FIRE them. There are a ton of people in the restaurant industry who need jobs.. You have others to choose from.
(2)Erika M.
Preesha, I thought we were friends...? I love this place. The first time we went there, we were a little turned off by the music. No one wants to eat while Creed is blasting. Am I in Haverhill? Well, they changed their station and won me over. The food: Cha fuckin' Ching! Expensive. BUT everything is organic and local (is it local?) and good. I LOVE their wood smoked half chicken. And ever since they got rid of the mushrooms, I like it even more! The booze: I have to come here half in the bag in order to not spend a butt load of cash on their very tasty and unique beverages. I suck those fuckers down in 3 sips. Their sangria is amazing. The service: There is one dood we try to avoid and we succeed almost every time. He just gets a little distracted by all the hotties working there and tends to forget about us. We are THAT annoying couple in there with a baby almost every time we go in and most of the servers are very warm and helpful. I especially love the girl with the blue eyeliner. She's a doll. All in all I love it. I took one star away for cost and it's also SUPER LOUD when busy. They can't really help the noise factor, but I'm in a complainy kinda mood today, so it stays! I love you Canary.
(4)Zoe P.
Fairly late on a hungry Sunday night I visited here and was served the kind of brisket sandwich of which legends are made. The space was vast, cool and friendly. The variety of beers made my party happy. I got the vague sense that the fries were subpar - the mealy frozen steak fries type - but I don't think I actually ate any myself.
(4)Anna K.
I really want to like this place, but the food is consistently mediocre. The people are nice, there is a good beer selection, it's kid friendly, the location is great, but like most JP spots it disappoints. My chicken with polenta was tough and super salty with a thin film over the entire plate as if it had sat out for a bit. The spicy s'mores was an odd flavor combination that just didn't work. The black bean burger was okay.
(2)Yvonne C.
Despite some mixed reviews on this place, thought we'd try it out anyways. Unfortunately the food was really not good!!! Although I must say, if you're going to go just to get a drink--it's not a bad place. The waiters/waitresses are super friendly and there is a good beer list. Here's what we had: (1) Swiss Chard and pulled chicken salad: The swiss chard was extremely greasy--after eating just a few pieces I couldn't eat anymore. The pulled chicken was okay on it and the poached egg made you forget for a second that the swiss chard was so bad, but overall not good (2) Mac and Cheese: This was a standard mac and cheese--nothing amazing, but not horrible (3) Oysters with bread crumbs: I am usually the HUGEST oyster fan, but I didn't even want to finish this plate of oysters. It was definitely lacking flavor and some spice. Also, the sauce accompanying the oysters was just butter--not providing any additional flavor
(1)Whitney R.
I've been putting off writing a review for Canary Square out of concern that I might judge it prematurely, and I'm happy I did. The first time I went there was about a week after it opened. I sat at the bar with Tracy P. and was served by a bartender who appeared frazzled and irritated. The service was extremely slow, the muscles were gritty, and the cocktails were "blah". The S.L.T. sandwich was its only saving grace. Nonetheless, I held off on the review (which would have been only 2 stars) in hopes that Canary would soon work out the new-restaurant-kinks. I returned to Canary last night, again with Tracy P., having only mediocre expectations. We were seated at a high top, and although it took a bit longer than expected to be initially acknowledged, our waitress was bubbly, friendly, and funny. She was also extremely attentive throughout the remainder of the evening. We started with a side salad with the house vinegrette (Simply Green $4) and Salted Radishes Baked with Spinach ($7?). For mains, I had the Guiness Beef Barley Stew ($16) and Tracy had the Apple and Arugula Salad ($9?). I have to say, all of the food was well cooked and extremely tasty, especially the Beef Barley Stew, the meat in which was tender and fell apart on my fork. I saved half of it to bring home, but I had a really hard time holding back! Overall, this was a vast improvement from my previous visit!! So why only 3 stars? It seems that it really depends on what you order here. For example, a friend of mine experienced the veggie lasagna to be dry with undercooked veggies and not enough pasta. So, for now, read the reviews, and order what's been deemed edible. I have faith that Canary will continue to improve as time passes, and when they do, I'll be excited to update my review to a four-star-rating.
(3)Paolo P.
Love going for drinks. -Have a great beer menu. -Basil Grape Mojito... well it's not really a Mojito, but it's still the best thing ever. -Bartenders and wait staff are awesome. Super friendly and fun. -General ambiance is good. Love the industrial chic look. Also has a nice vibe and cute outdoor area for the summer. Only gets 3 stars because the food it's that great. -Brunch was pretty hit-or-miss. -Dinner was just overall bad (like fish still frozen in t he middle bad). I've heard the menu's been updated, so I'm hoping the food is better... but am still hesitant to try. But I'm always down for a few drinks!
(3)Kate P.
Another bar/restaurant just blocks from my apartment -- the new layout is very appealing, and in the summer the outdoor seating is a plus. I was not fond of the Blood Mary made with bacon vodka -- there were large chunks of bacon in the drink that could not be sucked up with the straw. I found this unappetizing. The menu has basically stayed the same since it opened, and after trying most of the beers would like to see some change there as well. Is it just me, or did anyone else find it odd that there are no sides to be ordered with breakfast? For example, if I were to order the French Toast (amazing) and wanted eggs, I would have to order an entire breakfast to go with my breakfast. I like my bacon a bit more crispy than the limp pieces I was presented with and this issue was not to be resolved since the kitchen refuses to have a microwave. The morning manager was very friendly and stopped by our table more than one time to ask how we were enjoying our meal and if he could be of more service to our party. I think dropping off the notebook at the end of the meal for comments is very interesting as well.
(3)Sherrie G.
This place is getting a bad wrap and it certainly doesn't deserve it. I finally got a chance to check it out today but I came in with the patience of a saint suspecting that there would be a decent wait. The place gives a posh vibe but I still felt surprisingly comfortable in my chucks with my book in hand. I was flying solo and craving chili like crazy. I tried finding a spot at the bar but it seemed almost impossible on a saturday so I put my name in. I waited maybe like a little less than 30 minutes. For me, that's a pretty standard wait on a saturday for a new hot spot. The hostesses were pretty cool too and kept me amused at points. I was a little put off by the 15 or so minute wait for the waitress to acknowledge me though but she was very apologetic. I noticed her other table had some issues so I let it slide. She was also good about making conversation which I appreciated. Once I had an order put in, the food was surprisingly fast. My chili actually beat my cocktail but only by a minute. And the pulled chicken sandwich came almost immediately following my devouring of the chili. Both came out piping hot. The chili was quite spicy, I would recommend ordering it with a piece of bread or something to subdue the hotness. The pulled chicken was very succulent and the sauce was the right amount of sweet and savory. The fries were pretty grand to boot. What put my meal over the top was the Mother's Ruin cocktail featuring St. Germain, cranberries and my favorite, Hendrick's gin. Extremely refreshing. This place seems like it would do great if can keep up with it's own popularity. But frankly, I think people just need to learn some patience and consideration. I get it. Most of us live in a fast paced city in an age full of instant gratification. I work customer service and am regularly chewed out by people having to wait more than 5 minutes to be helped. I don't find it fair to be judged by something you don't have much control over. With that, I'll be sure to come back and try these deep fried twinkies I keep hearing about.
(5)Adam G.
Good brunch spot. At first glance of this menu a wave of energy took over. They have a wide selection of bloody marys so naturally I went with the bacon bloody mary made with house-made bacon vodka. I ordered the huevos rancheros which was accompanied by a large piece of chicharron (deep fried thick cut bacon). If you are catching my bacon vibe, you know I rounded out my order with a side of deep fried bacon for the table.
(4)Mark G.
Was excited to check this place out having enjoyed The Alchemist in the former space. Host said wait would be 25 minutes. OK sounds good. Proceeded to see several tables open the entire time we were waiting which never got filled. Confused, we asked the host and wait staff only to get snide replies. Eventually sat after about 60 minutes. Obviously did not create a good vibe for the dinner. Food was decent and beers pretty good but simply could not make up for the atrocious service. Will not be back.
(2)Greg M.
It took me about six or seven visits to this place before I finally figured out how to have the best experience here. Mainly, I learned to avoid the brunch and main courses and stick to beer, cocktails, and snacks. If I didn't live up the street then I probably would have given up after just a couple visits. For main courses, I've tried their lackluster pulled pork sammy and their burger which was solid - but does this town really need yet another merely decent burger topped with cheddar on a brioche? I also had their pork chop which was fine. So far, no complaints. But then I went for brunch. Ugh. The huevos rancheros were probably the worst I've ever had. I don't understand why this place doesn't try to get even slightly creative with a burger, yet when it comes to huevos they decide to go out on a limb with red beans, yellow rice and chopped tomatos (which I think they called pico de gallo). It doesn't work. I also tried their gravlax on a bagel with barely any cream cheese. Now for the good: The beer selection is great. Clown Shoes, Green Flash, Stone, Allagash and North Coast are usually represented. Always changing and they're happy to give you a taste of something (sometimes because the server has no idea how to describe the beer.) And the beers are reasonably priced. I read one review complaining that they use 14oz "cheater" glasses. I don't know where I fall on this. They never actually claim that they are serving up pints. But the thick bottoms give the impression that they're trying to pull a fast one. In the end, I'm going to let it slide since they serve up 14oz for almost everything on tap. Including many big beers which are usually served in 10 or 12 oz servings. So it appears they just decided on 14oz servings across the board to keep it simple. I really don't mind if that means that they sometimes don't have the "proper" glassware. I stopped in to watch the Sox opener. It's a pretty good place to watch a game, but I'd imagine the bar section would get crowded fast during a normal 7PM game (the opener was at 4). But if you get a seat at the bar or on the couch, you'll have a decent view. They also put out some complimentary popcorn for us as we waited for food to be served at 5. Knowing what I know about the food (and having dinner plans later), I just went with the dollar Island Creek oysters which were top notch.* And as you can probably see at the top of the page, they offer them every day from 5-6. Their apps and snacks like chicken wings, cheese fries and deviled eggs are like everything else on the menu: decent. I'm happy to order them because they're cheaper and I can wash them down with a quality brew. And I'm looking forward to the nicer weather when you can sit by the big garage door which will be opened. *Side note: when you get a bad raw oyster, are you supposed to blame the restaurant? Do they get them from lousy oyster farms to save money? What about Island Creek Oysters? Are some better than others? I really don't have them enough to notice a difference between the $1 ICO at Canary Square and the $2.50 ICO at ICOB. Is there a difference? Feel free to message me to let me know.
(4)Jack P.
Applebee's quality at Capital Grille prices. If your're going to charge $11 for a burger, you sure as hell better back it up with quality. Here, as with so many other aspects, does Canary Square fail to deliver. Service was among the worst I've ever had--clueless and inattentive. How's that for a combo? Wrong drink order, 15 minutes to get replacement. You get the picture. My burger was burned to a char, and completely inedible. I took one bite and spit it out. It tasted like it had been dropped in the bowels of a Weber grill, and rescued the next morning. After spending 7 minutes trying to locate my waitress, I finally got her attention. She took it back, but my dining companion was almost done with his food. Ultimately, I told them not to worry about it. They had already f'd up my evening. This place SHOULD be great, but IT SUCKS. Robert Irvine or Gordon Ramsey need to save this place.
(1)Guilio Ñ.
Nice outdoor space for that al fresco feel during these warmer days. The braised pork shoulder with risotto was fine. Their vegetarian/salad option needs some more creative work.
(3)Hillary M.
Came here with our kid and met friends with their kid. The room was spacious and we easily fit high chairs and strollers around our table. The waitstaff was very cute with the kids. But the service was slow and the waitress was downright rude when my friend asked if she could substitute fruit for potatoes. No substitutions! Next time, waitress, you should say 'I can't do a substitution, but I can bring you the fruit plate for $2 more.' Oh, and when my friend later ordered a fruit plate, it came out drenched in whip cream. Seriously?! Our food took awhile to come out and the coffee orders were filled pretty intermittently, but we were able to have a leisurely time in a pleasant, sun-drenched room. The food was fine if a bit pricey for the fare. The bathroom was clean and I was very pleased to see the changing tables.
(3)Kari C.
I am only giving Canary Square a 3 because they have changed their menu since I first went there, otherwise they would get a 4. I went to Canary Square when it first opened some months ago and fell in love the moment I took a bite of my steak. It was perfectly cooked, had chard on the side and amazing mashed potatoes. Also, they won my heart because they had olives as a snack on the menu, and boy do I love my olives. My friend ordered their veggie lasagna, which is no longer on the menu either, and loved it (he's not one to say that). I'll have to give it another try with the new menu, because I loved the atmosphere and had great service.
(3)Tracy P.
When this place first opened it had the usual growing pains.... Frazzeled staff, inconsistent food.... Pretty much what you'd excpect from a brand new spot. But it has come into it's own over the last few months and the staff have really helped bring it along! There is always a smiling face greeting you from the door to the bar. The huge flat screen TVs make it a great spot to watch a game, and now that baseball season is right around the corner I am sure that it will be the place to sip a brew and watch the Sox. Also, the huge garage doors are just waiting for the warm weather to roll up and open to the patio. I have only seen improvement over the last few months and I'm looking forward to see what comes next!
(4)April M.
I'm still trying to figure out Canary Square... I have mixed emotions about so many things. For one, the staff. The hostess has been just fine both times, greeting us right away and leading us to our table. Great. The waitstaff, however, has been complex and sub-par. The first time, the girl we got was aloof and not knowledgeable of the menu. I asked her what an ingredient in one of the drinks was and she said "a flavored liquor". Well, I could have told myself that! What kind of flavor? A hard liquor or a lighter liqueur? And I'm sorry, but her breath STUNK. If you're working in a service/food industry where people are going to be eating and drinking, you should probably make sure you don't turn their stomachs sour with your foul breath. It was rank, really rank. I kind of wanted to run out to CVS and buy her a small bottle of Listerine while we waited for our food to arrive. The second time, we got a tall goofy guy who came off kind of rude and nonchalant. I mean, I don't mind a totally chill and relaxed environ, that's what I'm about, but you are getting paid to take my order and bring things to my table, so throw just a dash of effort into that recipe for me, will ya? I don't care if you're pretending to care, but at least make it seem that way. He also forgot to refill my beau's beer when he ordered another one. The place was not overly busy, and I didn't see him running around the restaurant floor, so I'm not sure why it took like a half hour. Moving onto the drinks, things get a little better. I tried a couple of the provincially-named cocktails, which were very creative and earthy-tasting. I liked them, but they certainly don't offer much bang for your buck in the way of alcohol content. I could barely tell I had a drink. Their draft beer menu is admirable, not sure if any other spot in JP would trump Canary in that department. Better still, was the food. The menu is ridiculously small, but at least the items are well crafted and tasty. We've tried the skewers (off the app menu), the roasted chicken, the steak and the burger and they were all acceptable. For desert, we've gotten the fried twinkies - twice. And if for nothing else, I would return to Canary just for the twinkies. How can you go wrong with two twinkies and a fryolator? Point and case. Aside from the twinkies, I can't say there's any real culinary genius at work in the kitchen, but they are doing a decent job. Lastly, the atmosphere, which is also something that would keep me coming back. I do like the dark lighting, the tall windows along the front wall, the high tables by the bar and lower cafeteria-style seating on the dining room side. There is a constant humm of low conversation, a good mix of people (as always in JP) and they do offer flat screen TV's over the bar for your viewing enjoyment when your company is just not up to par in the conversation department. I would go back again (as long as the fried twinkies are still on the menu) but I would suggest to Canary Square to expand and/or rotate their menu and check up on the waitstsff. I've only been twice and I'm already kind of done with what they've got to offer.
(3)Meeg W.
Went with my mom and sister for dinner last night. Got there around 7 and were seated right away on the front patio. Situated on a busy street, they do an awesome job of blocking off the noise and creating a really nice ambiance. Canary Square is one of the best places to grab a beer in JP if not in most of Boston. They have an incredible beer list, and their prices are fantastic. It's either this place or The Behan for me. What came as the best surprise was how great the food was. My siter got the baked mac-n-cheese. So cliche, everybody has it. But I'll kid you not, it was amazing. Make sure at least one person in your party orders it, and then grab a few forkfulls. My mom got the pork shoulder. Tender, with little fatty bits that were flavorful, and her mashed potatoes were delicious. I got the tuna steak special. The steak itself was huge, the coconut rice was tasty, and the little roasted, yellow tomatoes around the perimeter were the sweetest tomatoes I ever popped into my mouth. Great time here!
(4)Rachel H.
I ate here the weekend of 4/15. Seems like they may have raised the bar a bit. We had delicious food. Great beer selection. Appetizers: A - devil eggs and hummus. My dinner mates loved the devil eggs, I passed on those. I was a big fan of the hummus and pita chips. They only gave us a few pita chips, so we asked for more and they brought out a big plate - kudos for that. Entrees: A- I had the skirt steak with the Gorgonzola tots and zuccini salad. Everything about my dish was delish! Dinner friends had the Braised Pork with risotto - yumm! Also, the fish and chips app and the side salad were good too. Nothing crazy though. Dessert: A donuts with chocolate sauce and an order of the seasonal ice cream (maple walnut from JP licks - mmmm). This dessert was great, more than enough for the three of us to share. I would def order these again! All this - plus 1 beer each for less than $100! Crazy. I guess I'm now used to NYC prices, where my husband and I can barely get brunch for less than $100. i was very impressed with the price. The atmosphere was great - lively bar, friendly service, helpful bartenders. Made me miss JP more than ever. Looking forward to going back.
(4)Marilyn T.
It's been a long time since I've been to JP, and I noticed Canary Square on the corner of center and Huntington where the Alchemist used to be. We came in and were surprised that it was so lively and full on a cold Monday night at 8:30. They have probably 40 beer options, plus cocktails and wines. We started with garlic bread and a cauliflower soup with bacon. The soup was creamy and well seasoned, super satisfying on a cold night (would have been perfect for dipping some crusty bread). For salads, the warm Swiss chard and cranberry is filling enough for a meal. The pulled chicken is sauteed in the bacon vinaigrette, and then it's tossed with the chard, which wilts it just the right amount. Topped with a poached egg, it almost reminded me of a carbonara but in salad form. For vegetarians, the balsamic grilled tofu steak is an interesting option. It's warm and charred but could have used some more seasoning; plus, the panzanella salad underneath was a little too crunchy and didn't really go with the tofu. The server was super attentive and patient even though it was a busy night. Overall, a cool place to grab some beers and food to share.
(3)Jessica K.
This place is fast becoming my favorite local destination. Fun, friendly, attentive servers and bartenders, charming hostesses, huge beer selection, tasty cocktails, yummy food. It's one of the only places I've ever been that gives me a medium-rare burger when I ordered a medium-rare burger (usually asking for anything short of "I want it alive on my plate!" results in 100% charred beef). The clam-juice Bloody Mary at brunch is amazing. The beef brisket sandwich melts in your mouth. Every time I go, there are at least a few new additions to the menu, which is a nice touch for the regulars. My only complaint: bring back the popcorn! Very charming interior, and there's always a wonderful mix of people in the restaurant (cute families, young groups of friends, older couples, yuppies, hipsters, you name it).
(5)Erwin F.
My GF and I went to this restaurant because she had been hyping it up for a couple weeks...and really she couldn't even do it justice. Our meal was DELICIOUS! First - The Service Our server was probably good. I really can't remember because I was enjoying my meal (Swordfish with sliced sausage and mussels in a red sauce with pasta). Sadly that was the final day of that particular menu item, but they really need to bring it back. But back to the service, the server stopped by frequently to check on how we were doing and made sure we were taken care of. Second - The food If you couldn't tell by the previous paragraph, the food was EXCELLENT. It didn't need any extra salt, pepper, or flavor. It was JUST RIGHT - Goldilocks style. Overall, I WILL BE BACK AGAIN.
(5)Jillian H.
Oh, Canary Square. Our love affair has ended. You had etherial cod fritters that literally evaporated in my mouth. No more. You once had $1 oysters every day from 5:00 - 6:00. Now its only on Mondays. Disappointed, my posse and I all ordered the Jonah Crab appetizer. Imagine trying to pry meat out of the spindly legs of a lobster and you have the same experience with these crabs. Including the flying shells landing in your hair, beer and best pal across the table. The meatiest parts were the moderate-sized claws. Only, the meat had been previously frozen (and if not, then it was wayyyy over cooked), so it was stringy and bland . Thank God for the sauce that was served with it or we wouldn't have been able to choke it down. We also got chicken tacos. Dry, dry dry. Sad, sad, sad. The only saving grace is the beer selection. If only the food was as stellar as the beer... (1 star for the food, 2 stars for the beer.)
(3)Mk E.
So happy that a solid restaurant has moved in where the Alchemist failed. The depth of the draft list is impressive (and the waitstaff will be the first to admit that the blackboard can't keep up with the changing taps), the small plates are consistently tasty, and the service is engaging without being overbearing. Big hits: the charcuterie plate (changes frequently, sometimes even in a single night--so order it twice!), pork belly, and the deviled eggs. Bonus points: produce (and eggs) from Allandale Farms.
(4)Sean O.
People's expectations of places amaze me. It seems they 'look' for reasons to be a food critic and YELP is their place to take out their bent up aggression that they can't display in any other form than anonymous text. I have been to the this place 3 times. Loved it more and more each time. 1st Visit: A Saturday night for snacks and drinks with friends. We killed multiple apps (Cod Fritters, Wings and others i can't remember now) along with a number of beers and cocktails (which is why the other apps i can't remember). We enjoyed the atmosphere all night and stayed till close. 2nd Visit: Sunday afternoon for a Patriots game. I figured the menu was diverse enough I could order different things throughout the day of football. It didn't dissapoint. Again, started with the wings (and why not when watching football), grabbed some chili later and topped it off with a fried twinkie. 3rd Visit: Weekday night after work. Surprisingly the place was packed for a weeknight. I went in and tried out the pulled chicken sandwich. AMAZING! It seriously was one of 'those' type of sandwiches that makes you crave for it the next day. All-in-All the place does its food without disappointment. The service was very good and never had a complaint. Also to the people that claim the Alchemist had a better beer selection, that truly shows you have no competence rating places. The beer selection at this establishment is one of the best and unique I have experienced.
(5)Nancy C.
My friends and I walked in for brunch on a Sunday morning. The ambiance is trendy and chic. I liked the differing furniture. I imagine it's a nice bar for happy hour. I ordered the french toast. Let me start off my stating that I am not a french toast fan, at all. For some reason, I had a feeling about this particular item on this day though. I am so glad I followed my instinct! The french toast was amazing. Really. I would return to this restaurant for the french toast alone. I may have mentioned it was orgasmic when I signed for the check. The coffee was just okay. And the server was a little slow even though it wasn't very busy. The server could definitely be more attentive if you ask me. My friend ordered the Avocado and Swiss Omelet. I had a bite and it was very good. Did you read the part about the french toast?! They have converted me. SO DAMN GOOD!!
(4)Damian X.
Great food but my god is the service slow.
(3)Joel G.
LOVE THIS PLACE. I have only been once but I am pinning to go back. Beef skewers with Peanut Sauce was to die for. Mac and Cheese was very good. The service was solid and it had a great vibe. Can not believe how they transformed this place from the hole that it was before. The exposed brick is just great. Well lit bar with dark corners tasteful TV placement. over 30 beers on tap. Can not wait to go back!!!!!
(5)Lori M.
I love-love-love this place. It's funky, it's got style, the menu is comprehensive (though lacking in the sheer number of vegan/vegetarian options), and the bar is awesome. My gf and I dined at a table once, and have placed ourselves at the bar each and every time we've gone since. I probably shouldn't say this lest you all head over to the bar instead of tables, but the bartenders are awesome. They offer fun drinks, a great selection of beer, and a happy attitude. Re: food, I am still irked by the switch-a-roo on the menu that removed my favorite sandwich (apple and taleggio grilled cheese) and replaced it with some avocado version. I have an "intolerance" of avocado. Not an allergy, as a doctor once corrected me, as I don't swell up and die. I do, however, roll into a ball with an avocado pit in my stomach. But enough about me. The popcorn is hit or miss, and I do wish it was a freebie. The gf is a meatmouth and she's enjoyed both the burger and the pulled chicken sandwich. And we were wicked excited by the bread pudding, though it might be seasonal. Overall, it's a great place to be a regular. Or at least the bartenders pretend to recognize me....
(5)Sam F.
Good selection of beers (especially like the Downeast Cider) with a menu that is small but tasty. The BAT (bacon, avacado and tomato sandwich) for brunch is always a great choice.
(3)Sue P.
Every food-loving, outdoor-sitting, cocktail-sipping Jamaica Plainer wants to love Canary Square. Unfortunately it's impossible. The location, outdoor seating, and bright, airy dining room and bar are notable high points. And let's face it -- ambience ain't nothing. For a quick beer or cocktail, especially outside on the porch, Canary Square is the best place in JP. But the food! It's plain and self-conscious at the same time. At the risk of over simplifying, the food is under-spiced, under-salted, and under-umamied. Almost to a dish -- and I've tried virtually everything on the menu -- the food simply isn't good. Bring a date and have a cocktail. Enjoy the hand-chalked beer menus and the huge windows. But eat somewhere else.
(2)Bernadette S.
This is a brunch review. Service at brunch was very good and the place was bustling. My wife ordered the bloody mary beer - not good - she sent it back and got a regular beer. Her brunch was good. She had an omelet. Mine was not. I ordered the Huevos Rancheros because they are my favorite brunch item and I try them anytime they are on a menu. This is a Mexican dish yet the Huevos at Canary Square have zero flavor. The one saving grace is the chorizo. The pico de gallo is flavorless and needed cilantro and spice. There was no other salsa and when I asked for some was brought Tabasco or The rice and the beans also were totally bland. It was so sad to see my favorite dish treated this way. Perhaps the biggest issue, however, was that the soft corn tortillas were in that weird in-between place between warm and cold and were served folded with cracks...they were useless as a taco or wrap. I'm disappointed but still hoping for the best...
(3)Caitlin B.
I was on my way to Sorella's for brunch and stopped to look at the menu at Canary Square. Both the menu and the decor drew us in. We must have gotten there at the right time because we were seated right away and it seemed there was a line for the rest of brunch. The decor is stunning and is the right combo of neighborhood-y and upscale. Our waitress was adorable and so nice. I was so taken aback when I read reviews later on about that bad service. We got coffee refills and everything at the right time. Bloody mary's were so-so. Not a ton of flavor (perhaps they rely on the absolut peppar for that?) We got avocado and swiss omelette, turkey hash, and sides of bagel with dill-caper cream cheese and homeade sausage. All were very yummy! I didn't get to look at the dinner menu, not sure how I'd feel about the ambience for dinner but for drinks or brunch like we had, it seems like the place to be!
(4)Brian R.
The missus went here when it first opened and had a bad meal topped off with some undercooked chicken. So after reading improved reviews and giving the staff a few months to get their feet under them, we went out for dinner on a recent Friday night. Its kinda loud, and it was pretty packed with a mixed leaning towards slightly younger crowd. We should have ordered the mussels which come with their fries. Both are done well (one of our dining partners previously had and enjoyed the mussels). Instead we ordered the jerk wings. Not bad, but not hothothot like jerk usually is. I ordered the pulled chicken sandwich. It was very bland. Maybe the roll was too much? It was just chicken in an ordinary BBQ sauce on a roll. Probably needs pickles or some other vinegar/acid and something with a crunch (slaw?). It did come with slaw on the side which wasn't the worst but wasn't stellar. Actually it was a bit wilted. The missus ordered the swordfish. I thought that was a 'you can't screw this up' dish. I was wrong. The fregola was sad looking and tired. The fish looked good but didn't taste good. We ate half of it. We left hungry. The service wasn't very good either. In fairness it was very busy. But we were told we would get water. 10 minutes later we had to flag our server to get this. We also had to flag them to put in our dinner order. Bottom line: go there for the very good beer selection and the interesting mixed drink menu and order the mussels. There are better options for a meal.
(2)Rebecca B.
I've been to Canary twice now (once to grab a quick dinner pre-Fenway, and once because, I'll admit, we got shut out of Tres Gatos). Canary Square is a fine place. I think that's right - it's fine. Not amazing, not awful, but fine. It's crowded and loud in there (maybe the acoustics aren't quite right for a restaurant? Not sure). But, the hosts that I've seen were good at finding us a table, even once negotiating with another couple waiting ahead of us in the lounge on our behalf (they wanted to stay in the comfy lounge chairs, so it worked out). The food that I've tasted has been kind of hit-or-miss. The best thing I've had there was an amazing poached egg over sauteed mushrooms on toast concoction. Yum. The worst thing I've had there was a hamburger, ordered medium, that came out completely raw on the inside (not, like, bordering on medium-rare - it was raw and cold in the middle). The middle-ground thing I've had was the steamed mussels - the broth was fine (there's that word again!), but could have used some more acid, and the toast it came with was burnt and not buttered enough. I'll definitely be back here, but I feel like it might be more of a place to go for drinks and some bar food, rather than a full meal. It's definitely a boost to that part of JP, but hopefully it's a sign of even better things to come, rather than being the finish line in itself. Also, I'm not sure if this is, in fact, the place where the anti-Whole Foods people meet, but I definitely took up a page of the notebook spewing out my screed on why Whole Foods is a good thing. I might have had a few drinks first. Oops!
(3)Lola C.
I want to like this place soooooo much, but it disappoints on many levels. First what I like; the bar is great and the bartenders are friendly and quick ---and remember the customers! The atmosphere is great, they did a good job renovating and transforming the space. It could use a little soundproofing, but that is all I would change as far as atmosphere goes. If it were just a bar this place would have a couple more stars. The food...meh. The menu is not satifsying, there isn't something for everyone on it. My three favorite menu items are no longer there, no more ceasar salad, no more beef stroganoff-y bowl of yumminess, etc. I went for the burger this week and it was greasy with an odd flavor, almost like pork fat was used on the grill. I can't quite explain it, but I don't want to try it again. My friend had the pulled pork chicken, they thought it was greasy too. Actually, they said their previous meal at Canary had been greasy as well. I'll definitely visit the bar again, and again...just not when I am hungry.
(2)Mariana G.
I have been coming to Canary square since it opened. I have since recommended clients, friends etc to come because I just loved how unique the atmosphere the food was amazing and the service was excellent, until tonight. The service has really gone down hill and it's really disappointing. My boyfriend and I were sitting at the bar, watching the Olympics, ordered couple of apps and drinks, great. Waited 30 mins for the bartender to notice that our empty glasses were drying on the bar. Perhaps if they weren't so busy chatting at the corner of the bar, with the MANAGER they would notice that their customers needed tending to! C'mon, get your act together- I just don't think we will be back for a while. It's too bad because we've been coming here since they opened, and as a JP resident, I'm just really sad and disappointed.
(1)Michelle C.
It says something when a JP bistro is packed on an early Thursday -- a good something. I busted a move on the Canary Square version of mussels Provencal, which proved to be an excellent choice. My dashing companion tucked in to the cod fritters, which were equally delectable and served quite quickly, an achievement considering how quickly the place went from zero to sixty. No joke; they were on a wait at 6:30 p.m. on a Thursday. There were some beers in there somewhere, and while I can't weigh in on the overall cost of the meal, I will say that it was a damn near perfect venue for a shockingly comfortable first date. The service was relatively hands-off, knowledgeable and, most importantly, didn't seem to mind our lingering in the bar area, despite how crowded it was. Big raves for Canary Square! I love you and the loud people that fill your restaurant!
(5)Allison C.
I've been back a handful of times since my last review (never again for brunch though) Dinner there has been alright each time. The beer list is awesome. The food has been good, not anything really special, but good. They have gotten rid of a couple of the dishes I though were awesome which is a bummer. I still think is overpriced, but the times I have been for dinner have been way less of a disaster than that time I went for brunch.
(3)Laura S.
Gordon Ramsey would have a heydey with this place. I am not picky, but I will not return to this restaurant until I am sure their kitchen staff have turned over. I could have made a better dinner from my freezer. Food: Went tonight with friends and 2 out of 4 dishes were literally INEDIBLE. As in, we didn't eat them. That's almost never happened to me as I am kindof a human garbage disposal. Our ceviche appetizer tasted like they were trying to use up bad fish. Yikes. I hope I don't get sick. Also, the tortilla chips served alongside were stale! Their hummus and pita "chips" (as listed on the menu) were atrocious. Tasted like blended chickpeas, straight from the can, doused in paprika to cover up a lack of culinary ability. Also, the chips were just pieces of mediocre pita. Huh??? My salad-a "Spring Salad" was tasty, though it is August (why is this still on the menu?)-but was advertised as lettuce with eggs, bacon, asparagus, farro and peas so I expected something hearty. There were about 1 T of each, crumbled over the top--it was pretty much just flavored lettuce. Drinks: Oh dear. I ordered sangria. Easiest drink to make good in the world: take wine, add fruit=delicious. This was wine + cherry cough syrup = nast-ay. *Luckily* there was a HAIR in my wine, so I was able to send it back. The waitress did not comp my drink (!) Service: Waitress was unremarkable. Spilled my husband's beer and didn't wipe it up. Ambiance: 2 stars because it has a lovely patio.
(2)Sara H.
I will totally go back here again, like asap. Extensive beer selection, tasty cocktails (I need to *not* drive next time) and above all Excellent service. Everyone my friend and I encountered here were so so friendly and helpful. No attitude or neglect that you get at other micro brew/fancy pub fare establishments. I agree with Greg M. about eating snacks/appetizers. We ordered a few apps and split the mac & cheese entree. The ham in the mac was thick cut and delicious, but otherwise underwhelming. Not a strong cheese flavor and a thin sauce. But as far as appetizers were concerned, we loved them all. Partial to the jerk chicken wings, super crispy little bits and a different sweet lime cream dipping sauce. Will be back soon to order the other half of the appetizer menu, and try out some more drinks. The sangria I had on trip #1 was delicious.
(4)Ali A.
I am going to second Matt F, and say I am surprised at the negative reviews. Maybe this is because I didn't go straight away as they opened. I really loved the pickles they put on the table as a starter. I also REALLY loved the apple cider manhattan. it was not too sweet.. and their beer selection is great. I'm really happy there are good (and interesting) cocktails here...after the Alchemist went under, I wasn't so sure where to go. The menu wasn't my favorite, mainly because I'm a vegetarian and honestly, there just weren't a lot of options. I don't think there was even a single option without cheese. We split the cheddar fries. They were good, but next time I'm not sure if I'd spend the extra money on the cheddar fries-- i might just get the regular ones. The fries themselves were great, thick and crispy. For dinner, I had the sandwich with apple and taleggio on sourdough. It was good, and it tasted light despite all the cheese. I wasn't as keen on the salad that came with it on the side. It was kind of dry. My roommate had the ham sandwich, and the other had the pulled chicken I believe. They both cleaned their plates, so I'm assuming they were good. We all then split a dessert of the fried twinkie. It was good and not overly sweet. I like the fried twinkie at Anthem restaurant where I used to work much better. The service was really on-point when we went. Glasses were filled, and whomever the busser was, is aweesooome. He asked if we don't mind if he takes our plate away even if everything was finished and even if a glass had just ice in that. I love that. Our waitress did make a comment that said something along the lines of, "it's good you guys waited a little while after we opened, we've worked out a lot of the kinks" Overall, I really enjoyed it. I just wish there were better vegetarian options on the menu. And honestly, for the fare, the prices were kind of blah, but similar to the alchemist.
(3)Ben S.
A quick review: -Went on a Saturday night around 7:30 pm. It was busy, but we found a table near the door. Pros: -Design is very open and inviting. I can't wait to return in the summer when the giant windows and garage door will no doubt be open. -All of the snacks were excellent. The cheddar cheese fries were dangerously good. -Two of us had entrees: burger was excellent as was the pulled chicken. Fries are outstanding! -Beer, wine, and cocktail list is impressive. -Server Emmy was attentive, fun, and knew her stuff. -Our server offered us samples of beer we had not tried before before ordering a whole glass. Cons: -All beer is served in 14 oz cheater glasses. Proper glassware would be an excellent compliment to the (excellent) beer selection.
(4)Katherine Z.
The only reason I gave this one star is because the drinks are, actually, awesome. Otherwise, the food is terrible. I've been a resident of JP for a long time and even miss the food at the Alchemist compared to this. The Wings are the worst - tasteless and dry with yucky yogurt sauce. Mussels had enough salt for a salt lick. Salad dressing is tasteless. Fish appetizer was all dough and air. Roast chicken tasted like roast ham. Even the burger isn't good. How can you not make a good burger? All of my friends think the food here is bad and overpriced. But with not much else in JP that looks so lovely and has cocktails its hard to stay away. Sadly, each time I give it another chance, I'm disappointed yet again. I'd love to see this place do better, but someone has gotta start tasting their food and revise the menu with more decent prices!
(1)Jennifer O.
Went back to give it another try. Food is lousy, service same. I've heard Brunch is decent but I'm not going back to give it a try.
(1)Jon L.
The food here is so mediocre it's sad. The place has a great beer menu and the setting is really cool but I have eaten here so many times bc I like the ambience and its convenient to my apt. sadly, nothing on the menu is good, most is mediocre at best. Flavorless burgers (really? Mess up a bar buger?), bland salads and a menu that never changes. Go for beers and an awesome patio. Eat and be disappointed. And again, I eat here all the time and am consistently underwhelmed.
(2)Kylie H.
I had a really nice time here with my friends who live in JP. The beer menu was perfect and the pickles were a great idea, especially because I'm a pickle lover. My friend's husband ordered some type of toast with mushrooms and it was awesome. We only had the pickles and appetizer and I would definately come back here to try out more entree. Very happy they had dogfishhead 90 minute IPA.
(5)Gabriel B.
Great location, good ambiance, lots of beer on tap. Those are the highlights. The food is sometimes adequate, but too often sub-standard. I'm not hard to please, but nothing is particularly good - everything is just OK. The service frequently seems distracted. I suppose the other plus is that they are pretty kid-friendly in the early evening.
(2)Shushumishi T.
Very pleased for the new hangout place close to my apt. I went there for the first time this past Friday 04/22 for a drink and went back on Saturday for brunch. Food was delicious (brunch), wine - good choices. At brunch, I also had a bloody Mary, which I didn't even finish because of a strange aftertaste it gave me...problems with the Tomato Juice...? Maybe I will stick with wine... Overall, the place gives a nice vibe and has a welcoming atmosphere. I'm sure I will be back again.
(3)Eli R.
I went for the first time last night and was very impressed. I had the roasted pork shoulder, and it was deliciously tender, with a rich and flavorful risotto accented with sliced roasted almonds. My girlfriend had the skirt steak. It tasted like it was cooked over a wood fire, and was perfectly rare. It had a wonderful smokiness to it, and they definitely know how to correctly cook a rare steak. For dessert, we shared the butterscotch bread pudding which was so rich we couldn't finish the last bite despite how delicious it was. The ice cream tasted remarkably like the maple butter walnut from JP Licks, and nicely complimented the sweetness of the pudding. Our server was great as well. She was attentive without seeming overeager, and was incredibly warm and friendly. I'm glad I was finally able to get a table here, and I will definitely be going back.
(5)Nick O.
I went here for the first time to night and had the bbq pulled chicken sandwich. It was great and the slaw that came with it was great too. The people were nice and it wasn't too jammed. I'm happy this place is in the neighborhood and don't want it to turn into a used car lot.
(5)Jasmine M.
My first time there was on a Friday night around 8PM with a friend. It was busy and the hostess said that a table for two would take 30-40 minutes. We decided to wait it out since we both really wanted to try this place, and fortunately we got a table much faster than the expected time (after maybe 10-15 minutes). I had the mushroom and spinach crepe, which was well made and tasty, although I would have preferred it without the huge uncut garlic cloves I found inside of it. For dessert my friend and I shared the apple bread pudding with maple ice cream, which was delicious. As for the service, our waitress met that great balance between checking in on us frequently but not intrusively. Also, she didn't rush us out at all after we finished our dessert and drinks, even re-filled our waters after we had already paid the bill. Favorite aspects: Quality food, good beer selection, good service, great ambiance Least favorite aspect: The food was a bit over-priced Will I go back again? Definitely.
(4)Grace F.
I should admit that I am not un-biased: I have been eagerly awaiting the opening of CS for many months. I was very pleased to finally take in the gorgeous decor/ambiance, great wine selection, drinks with an emphasis on St Germain and delicious hamburger last night. Obviously there will be some growing pains as CS settles in (last night I didn't see anything obvious except that the food took awhile), but I have the feeling that Canary Square is going to become a JP staple. Three cheers for Canary Square!
(4)Sheila T.
I lost power in JP last night at a time that was waaayyy to early to try to go to bed - so, I decided to go get some beers and grub at the new canary Square. I hearted the Alchemist, but I heart the Common Ground more, so I was excited. I got the Mac and Cheese which was UNREAL. I swear they put nutmeg in or something. Awesome beer selection. The only negative thing I have to say is that I wasnt too pleased with the bartender I had, but everyone else was very nice. I felt like she sized me up tip wise and treated me as such (one person, wearing a sweatshirt, ect). Not the way you ever treat any customers, especially when the place was all but empty. (To be fair, it was 9:30) I will definately try again, very much so looking forward to their brunch.
(3)Kate S.
I really want to like Canary Square. I've now been three times and have gotten dishes ranging from mediocre to inedible. The last visit was the last straw, my "medium" steak frites came out completely charred and tough, and the vegetables (which I usually love) looked and tasted like the hay/poop mixture in my rabbit's cage. I wish I were exaggerating. After smelling it with concern, I gave it a test bite which I immediately had to spit out. The drinks are always interesting combinations, but rarely good, so points for effort to branch out, I guess. I've also always had great service and never had to wait more than a few minutes for a table. Too bad the food's absolutely awful. I just can't do it anymore, Canary Square, unless I hear you have new chefs in the kitchen.
(2)Caleb W.
Unless you can afford Ten Tables, this is the BEST place in JP. Creative comfort food, fantastic beer selection, great wine list, and reasonably priced.
(5)K S.
Canary Square is a lot better than its predecessor, The Alchemist. The atmosphere is better, and the place seems a LOT bigger, thanks to a great layout and new bar placement. The food was delicious - we had the mac and cheese (they were great about leaving out the ham when we asked), cod fritters, and the best deviled eggs i've ever had. The beer selection was excellent, although sadly, they were out of two of the beers I ordered. The service was excellent - we were seated immediately, and our waitress was extremely attentive and knowledgeable. The only issue I had was that the waitress was big on calling my dinner partner and I "ladies," and only one of us actually identifies as such. I understand that people in the service industry are often encouraged to be polite, but I'd advise Canary staff to perhaps not make as many assumptions in a place as diverse as JP. Otherwise, service was great. All in all, I'd come back here again - the atmosphere is cozy, and the food, delicious. Plus, the beer list is really exceptional.
(3)Bryanne M.
I had a terrible first experience- complete with fire drill, closed kitchen, and unresponsive staff- and had to go somewhere else at 9pm on a Thurs to try and find food after waiting an hour in the bar! That being said, after complaining to the manager, we were invited back in for a comped meal- so really no complaints there! The food was excellent, service was exactly where you want it to be- not too pushy but present- and the manager could not have been friendly. Really great experience, so I went back again with a group a week or so later- and while the food was great again (the skirt steak is so tasty, as was the bread pudding!!), the service was eh. Had to flag down the waitress for water and another round of drinks. Nothing terrible, but nothing outstanding. I think it will get better as time goes on and the wait staff is broken in a bit more.
(3)Christopher J.
This review is based on one visit, so I can't speak for their consistency, but so far, so good. Beer selection: great. Arugula salad: surprisingly delicious. I'm not a huge salad person, let alone arugula, but the lemony dressing and fresh chunks of melon topped with good Feta came together deliciously. Burger: Excellent. The grass- fed beef had great, intense beef flavor, and they grilled it exactly the way I asked. My girlfriend ordered the bluefish and said it was "very tasty" and cooked to the perfect texture. The fries were just fine, not memorable, but I had no problem eating all of them. The side of Swiss chard sautéed in bacon fat was enjoyably smoky. The service was very friendly, timely and competent. The ambience was very comfortable and relaxing. I will definitely return.
(4)RC J.
Went to Canary Square on a warm Sunday late afternoon because I wanted to sit outdoors, drink draft and dine. Already I knew they had only a two-star rating on Yelp, but what the hey? Here's the report. From the top, my server Kate was terrific, none of what happened was her fault. The beer list was excellent, but when the first glass (of Spaten) came and it was almost flat, I should have known that the place didn't have enough beer sales to sustain freshness in two-dozen offerings. Oh well. I decided to order two appetizers: "hand-cut" fries and grilled asparagus with vinegar sauce. I told Kate, No salt; she said, No problem. When the runner brought them out I could see glistening crystals all over. (Pity too, the fries were very crisp and the asparagus nicely darkened.) I sent them back and in return got a plate of very, very soggy fries and steamed asparagus, mostly thick, tough shank-parts, no grilling and no sauce. I sent them back via the runner (who was very doubtful about it all) and finally got a plate of crisp ones and grilled whole asparagus, although still no sauce. Whew! Good thing for me I had a book to read and time for more beer. Regarding "hand cut", I don't think so. They were uniformly a quarter-inch square. Like McDonalds. And I'm pretty sure there was artificial smoke additive on the asparagus. Kate did comp me a third beer for all that, and later the manager came over to apologize. Then when the bill came I saw the food had been comped as well. That was a reasonable gesture, but shall I return?
(2)Eddie G.
My friend and I went for drinks, Bloody Marys and some food. The BM's were pretty strong and quite spicy. We had two each and were pretty wobbly walking out! Our burger was ordered medium and it was perfect. Food was much better this time around...
(4)Beth H.
Location location location! Canary Square has a great one. I also love the atmosphere and their Downeast cider. Deeelicious. I enjoyed coming here during March Madness to watch the games. One day I'll make it to a weekend brunch! That said, I feel like their food can be hit or miss. Some dishes are worth the price and taste great, and others are either too small for the price or a little blah. The restaurant gets pretty dark and loud from dinner to late night. I don't mind, but some may complain that they can't hear the person across the table from them.
(3)BurgerBaron G.
Great food, great beer selection. And a friendly staff. It's a great alternative to the now-always-crowded Canary Square. Not saying it's second to Canary, but if you followed the crowds over there, give this spot a try. It's well deserved.
(4)Becky B.
Their brunch is amazing. Pumpkin fresh toast is a must try. They also have delicious brunch fries, which has a poached egg and hollandaise sauce.
(5)R.E. H.
Been here several times now - and with the new chef. The serving sizes are well portioned (who wants Cheesecake factory?). The food is thoughtful, cooked with skill and is overall tasty. The drinks are also quite good. The punch has become a favorite with our friends. The front of the house is always on point - very friendly, accommodating. Despite the review saying this is not a kid friendly place - there are plenty of families in at 5pm with their children. No one seems to suffer. I find that food is overall underwhelming in Boston and the folks at Canary Square are trying hard to make a neighborhood place that is enjoyable and gives an overall good experience.
(4)Robert R.
Ate here the other night with a couple buddies. Got the local beer flight and the hope flight--awesome. Great burger, fun atmosphere. Our server, Noelle, was super nice and attentive, too! Thanks, Noelle!
(5)Allison K.
Server recommended a cocktail that was like margarita mixed with a mimosa. PERFECT! also able to sub out the bacon for some avocado on their eggs benedict. I mean, what more can a girl ask for?
(4)Jamie M.
I just moved to JP, and Canary Square was the first restaurant we went out to. We met another couple, and all of us loved it. The drink list- from beer to wine to cocktails, is truly exciting, and not just because there was a fluffy rabbit beer (not made of fluffy rabbits to be clear). The waitress was knowledgable of all drinks, and when my indecisiveness took over as it usually does, she brought me a little glass to taste, without even having to ask her! Super nice. I don't remember which beers we got, which is a sure sign of good beer, but all 4 of us got a new beer each time and there were no complaints. The food...so good. The mussels in chorizo...I want more. We ate every bite, which was sopped up with delicious free bread. We also got deviled eggs, which has spicy mustard, and were pretty fancy. Also ordered, shared, and devoured were pork tacos, seared tuna, mac and cheese w/ truffle oil and mac and cheese with bacon. #bangin. Cant wait to go back and enjoy the drinks/food/atmosphere in the sunshine on the patio!!
(5)Sarah M.
This place is great! They have a good beer selection and outdoor patio. The black bean burger was delicious.
(5)Wendy E.
I have loved my visits to Canary Square and look forward to sitting outside there soon! I seem to always get the cheese app and pulled pork tacos. Last visit they were on the cold side but I won't hold that against them and should prob try some other options during a future visit.
(4)Radhika M.
I live down the street from Canary Square so I come here pretty regularly. It probably has the best decor and ambiance of any restaurant I know, just perfectly 'classy but casual'. I've been here for casual weekday dinners, weekend brunches, and birthday dinners. The food seems to have gotten much better over the last year - everything has been consistently great the past few times. Service is really friendly, and the menus are always changing to keep things interesting. Always fun to try the new cocktails and beer flights. I recommend the brussel sprouts appetizer even if you dislike brussel sprouts. This place is also fantastic for dessert - they brought out toffee cake for a birthday celebration and it was delicious. Will probably be going back for it!
(5)Richard C.
Canary Square June 9th, 2014 by Richard Chudy IMG_1059My mom, for reasons that might or might not have been clear to me, has been constantly singing the praises of the burger at Canary Square in Jamaica Plan for quite some time now. Finally, on mother's day, I caved. Not that I thought it wouldn't be a great burger, but more because I was sort of enjoying the back and forth game of the elusive burger, and the saleswoman pitch she kept giving me. It's a bustling restaurant on this particular Sunday night, the first warm day/evening in a while, and neighborhood patrons appear as if they have been coming here for years. The service is a tad slow when you want it to be faster, and very quick and short once they realize you are done for the night. The burger is very much no frills. You can add on house-made bacon (very chewy, but deeply flavored) or mushrooms for an additional $2 and cheese for another $1. But, for starting at $11, it's hard to complain at all about the pricing. The bun is soft and very buttery in a good way, with the feel of a brioche without the heft and dominance. The patty is wide, not too tall and not too short, filling the bun perfectly. It's super juicy but a tad under-seasoned, with a distinct beefy flavor that is in that run-of-the-mill spectrum but very familiar and comforting. A little bit of char works out, and is a welcome accent to the burger. The patty is cooked pretty consistently medium-rare, although some of the rare burgers ordered at the table are a little bit beyond that. It's labeled as grass-fed but it has no real attributes common with grass-fed beef (leanness, gaminess) and the tightly packed patty mostly feels like the common one you'd find in most pubs. A gush of melted cheddar cheese is ample and is the unofficial star of this dish, heavenly aggressive and wonderful in all the right cheesy ways. Fries are crispy but way over-salted, almost to the point of inedible, I can't remember the last time I had so few. Canary Square does indeed make a very solid burger. It isn't the beefiest, or most unique or interesting, it's simply classic. While the seasoning on the patty barely fell short, the bun and cheese more than make up for it, all worthy choices in their own right. The fries were a miss on this night, but for $12 with cheese, this burger fits the bill. Thanks, mom* (*yes I paid, it was Mother's Day after all).
(4)Missy S.
Good news: they've expanded the menu and the ambiance, location, and service are still great Bad news: the food still is mediocre. i got the pulled pork tacos this time and buffalo wings. The wings were good. The tacos were only slightly warmer than room temperature and the corn tortillas on which the pork was served were nothing exciting, topped with a smoky flavor that was too intense for my liking. Canary Square, it's official, you need to invest in a chef who can bring nothing-too-fancy, hot, flavorful food to JP. Or at least bring one in to help the current chef revamp things. You have too great of a location not to have awesome food.
(3)Jen G.
I live right around the corner and this has become my go-to! The food is good although the menu is small, but it rotates frequently. I am in love with their truffle mac 'n cheese and sangria, and they have a great craft beer list. Just wish they would take reservations!
(4)Anne K.
Like Dana, I am shocked how low the ratings are for this place. We had a fantastic brunch there today with good service, food and drinks. We sat at the bar, and ordered the bacon bourbon bloody mary and the spicy pepper bloody mary - both were delish with a kick. My husband opted for the breakfast platter and I went with the BAT (bacon, avacado and tomato sandwich) with an egg. Our bartender was quick to serve and provide recommendations. We liked the place so much we stayed for a few more beers (a small but unique selection) - the fantastic weather allowed for the doors to the patio to be open so there was a great breeze. We will definitely be back.
(5)Heather R.
I had heard so many great things about Canary Square that I was excited to take my godmother there for the first time when she visited from out of town. When I saw shrimp and grits on the menu, I was thrilled. The happiest I was about ordering this dish was short lived. They clearly take the word "shrimp" seriously, the 3 shrimp in my dish were the smallest shrimp I have ever seen. The grits were completely lacking of any flavor, it was truly like gruel. My godmother and I ordered alcoholic drinks as well and for the price, they were barely fair. This place has far more hype than it deserves and for brunch, I would go to Sugar Baking co. in Rosindale any day!
(2)Piper P.
Canary Square is just a nice neighborhood bar; it's a great place to watch a game, eat comfort food, and chill with friends. The food is more inventive and tastier than your basic bar menu (the fried brussels sprouts are to die for) and they offer a delicious grass fed burger (I ordered mine rare and they cooked it perfectly, which doesn't happen often when one orders something rare). Canary Square prides itself on locally grown foods. My vote: it's A-OK in my book, and while not a first "go to" restaurant on my list, I would definitely drop in again with friends, perhaps for brunch next time. No complaints!
(3)Conrad P.
Burger was over cooked no problem to our back bought me a beer and got a fresh plate. My women loved the burger she loved it well done. I'm a different black person. Give me a lil red. Chili wings were bomb. It's a must. Would come back def
(4)Jonathan M.
Went here brunch on a Sunday, great experience. The staff was very accommodating to our party of late, especially considering we were running about 30 minutes later than we expected. The menu wasn't too extensive, yet they still seemed to hit various areas of the taste palate so customers could definitely find a dish that fit their craving. They were also pretty easy-going about substitutions. The portions for the price were pretty substantial, so definitely come hungry or be willing to take leftovers with you. Everyone really enjoyed their food! Chicken Fried Steak, Quiche, Green Eggs & Ham, Avocado & Cheese Omlette, Eggs Benedict. All were delivered with great taste and presentation. I'd definitely return here!
(5)Isabella G.
The first time I came here was for brunch. I live nearby and had always walked by and decided to go in. The ambiance is seriously amazing. It is by far the best part of the restaurant. It is very hip and trendy, but made unpretentious by the TVs in the fromt, which are always playing sports (which I enjoy). I ordered the croque madame and decided to pass on the cocktails (which i regret!). The croque madame was great and I loved their take on it by using goat cheese and brioche (I think?). My first time here was a very good experience. SInce I enjoyed it so much the first time I recommended it as my roommate's going away dinner. One thing that was immediately different from my first experience, was the service. It was nothing too horrible it was just definitely less attentive than the first time I came. The hostess wasn't outwardly rude just very apathetic and impolite, and it took kind of a while for our server to take our order. We ordered quite a lot which included: one order of steamers, three drinks and four entrees. I did not like the steamers at all, but it was my first time eating clams prepared that way. My roommates enjoyed them very much. I ordered a medium rare burger with cheddar and mushrooms. I was sorely disappointed. My burger tasted burnt and was so dry. I had to cover it in ketchup to mask the burnt flavor. I did really enjoy the mushrooms! They were not porcini or sautéed, it was almost as if they were fried, and I'm pretty sure they were chanterelles. It was really unique and they tasted really meaty and salty, they were great. I wish the actual burger was great for $15. We spent a little over $100. Three stars for an overpriced burnt mediocre meal.
(3)Rachel N.
It's really a 3.5, but I'm feeling generous so I'll round up -- full disclosure, I've only been here for drinks + snacks, never a full meal -- let's see, in the wins category, I like the ambiance - it's darkish and intimate, so even if you don't think your date is looking fly, you'll enjoy yourself w/ some prime JP people watching -- and exposed brick + wood accents = my decor scheme of choice. If you're looking for that cozy, casual place to default to if you want to relax in your skinnies and button up, rather than donning stripper shoes and an imitation Herve mini-skirt, then I'd say that CS isn't a bad place to end up landing. Home to a solid selection of beers, all of which are reasonably priced (they have Allagash White, which wins me over each time) and tasty wines by the glass (btwn $9-12). If you're looking to get a little frisky, the cocktails are interesting (herby, alcoholic) and dangerously drinkable (all around $10). Friendly-ish staff, though service is always slow and kind of absent. So if I was feeling fussier, I'd dock them more for that. On a weekend night, the bar is usually packed and the noise level is fairly high, but you should be able to hear the hipster and/or adorable lesbian couple convo next to you if eavesdropping is the name of your game.
(4)Vijtibble A.
Decent food, everything else is shit, including the server who attempts to upsell you on a bottle of wine but rolls her eyes when you ask for a taste of the bottle you're about to drop 45$ on. Besides being completely ignored by the waitress, I'm talking no direct eye contact and only addressing my dining partner for MY food and drink choices. The pork tacos were good, the pickles too sweet, and the weird lingering manager making his presence too known creates an ambiance of awkwardness. Save your money and get a bottle and taqueria take-out.
(2)Bob E.
The outdoor patio seating was welcome on a cool summer evening, with a lower ambient noise level than the interior space. While I felt the weather was perfect, another member of my party felt chilly, so the outdoor heaters came in handy, with the staff happily turning one on for us. As for the food, the burger I ordered was delicious. The beef was of excellent quality and perfectly cooked, actually making it worth the seemingly high price. The only thing I might have changed about the burger was their use of shredded lettuce, as I prefer lettuce leaves. I also ordered the chocolate ice cream cake for desert, which while interesting and artfully presented, was not worth its price due to both mediocre flavor and minuscule size. Our wait person was very friendly and gave us good service with only minor delays, despite having tables in multiple areas of the restaurant. I could see coming back to try one of their more expensive entrees, skipping desert, and enjoying another evening on the patio.
(3)mzamar x.
update: why why why did i go for brunch at Canary? i guess i had to be reminded how uneven the food is there. Took nearly an hour to get a slice of overwhelmingly salty reheated quiche, in a room that was half full. Everything was too greasy, from toast that was griddled and soaked in butter (not delicious, just nasty) to house made sausage that is middling. Worst was weekend special a "giant old fashioned donut". About 8" round and resembling more a pretzel or unleavened pumpernickle pizza dough this "donut" was obviously made by someone who had never had, nor enjoyed a donut. The "cake" did not appear to be cake, but was actually bread. Unsweetened dough with a breadlike crumb rather than cake crumb, a dark brown exterior rolled in white granulated sugar. It was singularly one of the worst things i ever tasted. The staff were so good and did everything they could to provide excellent customer service, but really, the brunch chefs need to be stopped. I stand by dinner, but brunch never again.
(2)Kait H.
Amazing smoked pork tacos. Amazing. Great atmosphere, beer selection and friendly staff. Been here twice while visiting JP and have enjoyed it both times.
(4)Art B.
I haven't been to this place since it was the alchemist. We gave it a try. We looked at the menu online and we saw that it had cheese fries. Unfortunately, they were only serving the brunch menu. We saw that there were fries and cheese so how hard is to make cheese fries. We asked the -not so friendly- waitress if we could have cheese fries. She went to ask the kitchen and came back with a "no". I don't really understand how hard it's to please a customer with such a simple request, specially when they were serving both, just separately. With some many good places to eat in JP, this place is going to have to try a bit harder if they want to stay open. They definitely oat my business.
(1)Lisa H.
I'm torn about three or four stars. I'm going with three because of the overall experience -- but it's not a bad three. I really do think the place is okay and if you're in the area, I'd definitely go. In the five to six times I've been in the last few years, the food is mostly fine, the service usually good, and when things go wrong, the managers are responsive. I think that's reasonable. My dining companion tonight also ate there last night and definitely had a two star meal. On our visits, sometimes, the kitchen has been less than efficient which has made service slow. Last time a group of us ate there about four months ago the waiter didn't know the beer list as well as he might have and normally I wouldn't mind that but if you know less about beer than I do you shouldn't be acting like you know, with attitude. That particular night the service was also incredibly, ridiculously slow -- and I'm a relatively patient person and i get kitchens get backed up but this was a crazy long wait and folks near us who came in after were getting their food before us.... the waiter was not quite as responsive to our concerns as he might have been but he eventually passed us off to the manager who was appropriately responsive -- got the food out and comped us a round of drinks. Fair enough. But, that's all in the past. :) For tonight's meal I'd give a four. I had the eggplant lasagna and it was great. Tasty and yum. The side salad was nicely dressed. My companion had the chicken and said it was good. We had the garlic spread thing for appetizer -- if you like that sort of thing, it was good. The wine was good. I had the bartender's beer flight -- it was okay. The server -- Lauren, I think her name was -- was lovely and totally fine. AND, the runner who brought our food was also lovely and got questions we had answered by the kitchen staff and delivered the information to us beautifully. The manager checked in and was pleasant. The hostess was pleasant. What's to complain about? It was a good night at Canary Square.
(3)Katie S.
I really want to like this restaurant. It has a lot going for it -- great location, great ambience, great music. The beer list has a lot of variety and the wine list had good options. The major problem is the food. The appetizers were fine, though probably because they didn't require any cooking. We got the charcuterie and cheese plate and the hummus plate and both were good. Our main meals were a mess. We waited almost an hour between appetizers and entrees with little explanation from the wait staff. My cousins ordered the skirt steak, one medium well, the other medium rare. The medium well steak came out burnt -- my cousin couldn't eat most of it. The other skirt steak came out medium to medium well, even though it was supposed to be medium rare. My sister got a burger, also ordered as medium well, also came out completely burnt. She couldn't eat most of it. I ordered the mac and cheese and it was dry and underseasoned. Some of the pasta wasn't cooked fully. The only good meal that we ordered were the pork tacos. Please find a new executive cook -- this place could be really great. But for now, I would only suggest getting drinks there and maybe appetizers.
(2)paula z.
Canary Square used to be a favorite place of ours for brunch on the weekend. We would often go there both mornings. They had wonderful music and great food. However, someone a few weeks ago got the bright idea to ONLY serve their brioche bread as the ONLY choice for brunch. (Who makes these dumb decisions???) Anyway, they used to serve great multi-grain toast for breakfast. The brioche stuff is too sweet for anything other than french toast. It tastes awful with every other breakfast menu item, in my opinion. Too bad! Their bacon, avocado, tomato breakfast sandwich used to be my favorite and my husband loved the omelet. They have wonderful servers and staff people. Someone rescue Brunch for them! We won't go back there until we have another bread choice....and, yes, it does make a difference. Sorry!! Canary Square.....Come back to the light..........
(2)Melissa F.
Reading through some of the reviews, it seems Canary Square is hit or miss. I've been there twice and they both were hits. I moved to JP last May and only recently tried Canary Square. Man I've been missing out. First off I love beer (see my other reviews) and this place has a pretty good selection. Pretty Things on tap always makes me happy. The food is good too. I have tried the pulled pork tacos, the mac and cheese and the crispy cauliflower. The tacos were really tasty, especially when paired with their hot sauce. Nice and spicy. The mac and cheese was also really good, and the crispy cauliflower was a perfect portion as an app before your meal, or as a side if you're just snacking. The vibe inside is very cool. I guess that's what people expect from a bar in JP? I'm so glad I finally came here because this is now my new go to bar and it's down the street from me.
(4)Hannah R.
I went here pretty often when this place first opened--I liked the food, I liked the cocktails, and I loved the beer selection. Plus, the wait staff are quirky and fun to talk to. However, over the last 6-8 months, it seems like the prices have gone up and the quality of the food hasn't improved to match. Brunch looks good on paper, but in practice it's bland, and the bloodys are just disappointing. Dinner is good, but I don't eat pork and that leaves me with maybe one entree that isn't a hamburger. I do love the cheese fries though. At this point, I'd only go here for happy hour-type drinks.
(3)Allison W.
I am so surprised to see all the bad reviews on here - we have been 3 times and have had great experiences each time. My family has several individuals who eat gluten free, and this place has one of the best gluten free menus for a pub style restaurant that we have found... their fryer is gluten free so you can have the French fries (this is a luxury for gf folks) and they have wings and ribs that are gf as well. I typically get the burger, it's very good, and we had the pot pie our last visit as well, also very good and both were large portions. Service was good, although they seemed a little under staffed, they went the extra mile and brought us a free item for tasting and kept smiles on their faces the whole time. Also brought our young son (less than 1 yr) on a weeknight and found this place to be family friendly and able to accommodate our needs for space for his stroller at the table (not sure if it's also family friendly on weekends). Overall this is one of our go to places when we want something casual, easy and for entertaining visitors.
(5)Alissa S.
Would give 3.5 stars if I could. Have mixed feelings about this place and prefer both Coda and Common Ground above it (mostly think the food is better at both of those, and like the DJ/dancing aspect at Common Ground). I absolutely love the Mothers Ruins, although I don't know why they changed the recipe from Hendricks so that now I have to special request them with it. Always enjoy brunch here, too, and it works great as a brunch-turns-into-Sunday-funday-once-the-game-Âstarts kind of place due to the TVs. They don't discourage that and you can easily end up staying for the day. Again- good deal. Also appreciate the outdoor seating, which is surprisingly hard to find in JP (I think James's Gate is one of the only other places with it?) Still, overall I'm just not a fan of the menu, think it's pretty limited, and have mostly found the food meh,
(4)Inci K.
I am grateful to Canary Square because they have been really supportive to the community. That's not easy for a small business to pull off. Canary Square has opened its doors to my son's school nearby to host fundraisers and silent auctions. If we pulled off a good event, it's because the vibe and the surroundings were really jovial, upbeat and spacious. Beyond the school / community aspect, my husband and I frequent the restaurant for breakfast, a rare date night bite, or a New Year's eve dinner. It's so lovely to have a large location like Canary Square (named after a US veteran) in the neighborhood, it definitely adds to the neighborhood, and I want to continue to see them do well. PS: try their cheese/charcuterie platter, worth it for those seeking an appetizer that won't bore!
(4)Benjamin E.
To all who thought Canary Square was going to be the "shot in the arm" JP's restaurant scene needed, keep waiting. I should have ceased to visit after my first attempt, but I've foolishly convinced myself at least 3 times that Canary Square "must have improved since the last time"-- no dice. The food and service is consistently abominable. I've sent back more plates at Canary Square than I have ever, anywhere else, combined. Seasoning, temperature, timeliness, and flavor -- not even close to what a half decent restaurant can churn out. I'm not quite sure how the owners of CODA and the Salty Pig (both great) have turned a blind eye to the JP operation, but I hope they figure it out. I find the establishment fine to have a beer in, but if you get hungry, don't let the menu tempt you. The Haven is just around the corner.
(1)Molly L.
In the last two years I have tried it twice and will not be back. I will forgive a lot when it comes to service, given that most things are not the waitstaff's fault, but both times the servers were surly and copped an attitude that made me feel uncomfortable. There are almost no veggie entrees on the menu (come on, this is JP!) and when I asked to have something, sans pork, the waitress didn't hide her annoyance. Also, in winter the front of the place is freezing due to the lack of a vestible or double doors. I live nearby and love the location, but mediocre food priced beyond its worth, coupled with bad service does not make me a returning customer.
(2)J R.
Disclaimer: I'm usually very forgiving about bad service and willing to chock it up to unfortunate circumstances. I've worked in the food service industry and I know things can get hectic. I got there at 10pm last Saturday to get some food with my girlfriend. The place was pretty dead. About 10 minutes after being seated the host comes by to ask if anyone had been by to take our order. We chat a bit, he was very friendly, and he takes our drink order and says someone will be by shortly. 20 minutes pass as we watch a couple get seated next to us, their drink order taken, and their drink order filled. So, by this time, 30 minutes after being seated, we were just too frustrated to deal with it and left. Maybe the right thing would have been to say something, but seeing the people next to us get served was just too obnoxious to want to give this establishment our business. The most aggravating parts are the fact the host even acknowledged that no one noticed us and it wasn't even busy that night. I'm the type to give people benefit of the doubt and assume it was all a misunderstanding but that was beyond ridiculous.
(1)SR F.
Caesar salad made with kale?? really? Have you ever eaten kale? Like leafs of broccoli.. give me romaine or give me death, don't f..k with traditional; I don't care what your mother says about the fine culinary schools she sent you to. Teach kitchen staff how to trim and slice meat for charcuterie; cheese plate was very nice, but needed magnifying glass to find the portions. Polenta portions (3) were 1/2 teaspoon size and over salted.. gimme a break- its corn pudding lightly sauteed, let's bump the portions up to teaspoon size at least. How does one overreach and fail at appetizers? Check 'em out at canary square and learn. Oh, forget the burgers, if it weren't for the fancy pants drinks this place would fail in a week. I couldn't have a meal of appetizers here if I wanted to. Plus side, staff was very accommodating and genial; crowd was pleasant and well mannered, nice upbeat from the Dublin.
(2)Leanne C.
Alright... because the brunchy drinks my friend and I got were awesome, you'll get 3 stars, Canary. And that's pushing it. Per Jessica's 4-star review, I was like "oh hey, good drinks and vegan options? Lets go!" Got there to find they don't carry vegan-accommodating meals any more. You have the choices of a side of super-plain home fries, over priced greens, and a fruit plate. I got the smashed grape and basil mojito. Mighty tasty, but after seeing/tasting the bloody mary my friend ordered, definitely get that, not the small (more expensive) mojito. For food I ordered a side of home fries and the fruit plate. The food totaled $9 and was incredibly boring. Come here for drinks, skip the food.
(3)Laura M.
3 stars for food: 4 stars for service. Great atmosphere. Wonderful servers. Good drinks. Been here plenty of times and food is always consistently okay. Suitable for a crowd. Lots of families with kids there from 5-8. CAVEATS: The burgers tend to always be overcooked. Order appropriately. And the food can be a bit salty. Drink lots of water. Get your salad dressing on the side, it's very basey. Once you know those things, you're golden. Good veggie burger. Yummy crispy cauliflower. BF loves the deviled eggs. Happy hour is a great value too if you can get there before 6!!
(4)Jess S.
I have been here a few times a couple years ago and was never impressed. The food was OK and the service was TERRIBLE. I came back for brunch a couple weeks ago in hopes for a better experience. The food was good, the drinks were great, and according to my boo, the beer selection is also great. The service was, obnoxious. Our bartender was just waaaaay too cool to care about being a good bartender. After strutting around behind the bar, he threw an empty wine bottle in a trash can (I assume) literally right in front of us, after receiving word of a "surprise double", which he let everyone know about. Lol. I could go on....but I won't. Big ups to the chef, and whoever is in charge of the bar. Thumbs down to the "super cool dude" behind the bar.
(3)Jon S.
They do not seat you outdoors after 10pm. I feel this place doesn't sit well with some of the JP crowd because its a sports bar but I actually think this place is fun as hell - especially in summer! (I cant wait for the new patio to open. The burger was great but the fries are often over salted. The mac and cheese was wonderful but a bit too expensive. The drinks were pretty pricey too but the atmosphere is second to none in JP on a Fri/Sat night.
(4)Fanasha D.
The drink selection is significantly better than the food. I am never impressed with their food, however, I do like the atmosphere and the staff is pleasant. It is conveniently located right on the corner of huntinton ave and centre st.
(4)Lauren L.
There's nothing really good about this place, sadly. From the outside it's very pretty, and now that they have the outdoor seating assembled, it's downright inviting from an aesthetic point of view. Well, outside anyway... I like the lighting inside. It's unique and fun. Besides that, everything is laid out poorly and feels really forced. Chairs are uncomfortable and usually unavailable. The bar is crowded and doesn't accommodate eating that well. They prefer you only drink at the bar, and the night I was there, the bartender was nearly rude about it. The bar is definitely the worst area. It's crowded and very vertical compared to the rest of the space, and there's hardly space between the chair backs at the bar and the tight row of tables facing it for people to pass during game time. It makes the space artificially claustrophobic and adds to the unbalanced feeling in the restaurant. The food is a bit overpriced for the neighborhood, but even if it was more reasonable, it's really flat. Nothing is innovative or surprising, nothing is even downright tasty. It's all 'okay' and 'passable' and 'filling,' but that doesn't add up to a meal you genuinely enjoy. The beer selection, also overpriced, is innovative and unusual and changes often. I'd recommend finding the same thing up the street at Blanchard's for a lot less.
(2)Adrienne T.
No, no, please don't go! STAY AWAY, FAR FAR AWAY! The food, at least the appetizers I had- jerk wings with some kind of yogurt sauce, beef skewers, and these awful fried monstrosities that they called "tater tots", was average at best, and overpriced. The real kicker? They MESS WITH YOUR MONEY/CREDIT CARD! Big no-no in my book. My dinner partner and I were clear about what was to be in cash, and what was to go on the card. The server did it wrong. Of course, it couldn't be fixed once he had run the card. He leaves and didn't return for 15 minutes WITH my card!! I don't like my card out of my sight for more than 5-7 minutes. I was advised to call back the next day and speak with the manager. I did, he was nice, said we're waiting for it to "drop off" of my card. We'll see. This wasn't my choice of places to eat. I had heard "so-so" reviews about it from friends who live in JP. My companion had been once before and really liked it, so she brought me. Really nice, trendy atmosphere, okay drinks-but on the weak side, and BAD, BAD music. Music doesn't match the trendy, sleek atmosphere.
(1)Paul B.
Great beer list. Especially for the area. Music *was* a turn-off but it's improving lately. Definitely my go-to place to watch a game or have a low-key night when I lived around the corner. Food options are so-so. They took the best two items off the menu last year -- the red wine risotto and swiss chard and avocado sandwich. All in all, serves it's purpose.
(3)Adelino G.
Jamaica Plain needs more restaurants like this. Canary square is great for a casual dinner, drinks, or a sports game. They also have a patio for warm weather. They have an extensive drink selection and plenty of beer on draft. The food is relatively cheap and what you would expect for the price. The service is slow at times, not sure if they are understaffed or the servers are stoned. Overall a nice spot for whatever occasion. Pro's: Olde English 40oz in a brown paper bag, Pork Tacos. Con's: Terribly slow service
(3)T C.
Went there again last night and while it was better, it could still use a lot of improvement. Our waitress was much better than last time. It wasn't too busy; there were a number of empty tables. The popcorn still tasted fairly flavorless; I won't be ordering it again. It was much less greasy though, which I appreciated. My wife ordered two of the same drink and they were fairly inconsistent, but at least the second one was better than the first. As always, the Sangarita was excellent. My vegetable lasagna was excellent as well. I also got the "on the half shell" plate of clams and oysters which was good. My wife ordered the crepe again and once again was totally underwhelmed. The first time it arrived super salty; like salt-lick salty. So she sent it back and the second one arrived was almost totally unseasoned. I wish I could rate it a 2.5. We'll try back in another month or two.
(2)Jimmy D.
I finally walked down the block to give a visit to Canary Square and was pleasantly surprised to find my experience was unlike most of the negative comments on here. The one star off was for the wait for the table, however, I should have known to call ahead on a Saturday night. They had a good selection on draft, maybe a few different microbrews would be nice. Food: reasonably priced, nothing above $20! Had a party of four and everyone was completely happy with their food (skirt steak, burger, pork chop, and mac n cheese). Service was great. Pat was our server had a great down to earth, laid back manner. I will definitely be back.
(4)Joanna M.
Food is just so-so, especially for the price. Great selection of beers on tap and cocktails; cool atmosphere. Recommend for drinks with friends, not so much for meals.
(3)Maria M.
We returned to Canary Square to meet friends for dinner, and were very pleased to find a better experience. We were greeted by a very pleasant, cheerful host, and our waiter was fast, friendly, and efficient. My friend's hamburger was a quite good, as were his fries. My salad was a bit overdressed for my taste, but satisfactory. The beer list was excellent. So happy to see this place turning around!
(4)Lee S.
Canary Square, also know as "the bird" (love the nickname) feels like it belongs in the South End. The restaurant is lovely, the new owners did a great job with the renovations. The staff is on-point, friendly, quick, and polite. The popcorn as others mentioned is great, very creative. However, I gave the restaurant three stars cause the manager was awful! I mean really really bad! Screamed at the waitresses infront of patrons, he was rude to customers (actually snatching things, and stamping his feet like a child). I would only go back if that dude called out sick!
(3)Marie K.
Ate a delicious skirt steak one night and bar snacks another night. When my friend and I asked for something other than ketchup for our fries, they gave us a delicious aioli. The "popcorn of the day" is great. Even better than the food is the atmosphere. It's so friendly and inviting, especially around the bar. Every time I go, it's bustling, but not crowded. I was able to get bar seats every time I tried. It's so much better than the amateurish Alchemist. It's the best thing to happen to JP in awhile.
(4)Beth G.
I have been here twice so far and have had very good experiences both times. The food has been excellent- I'd definitely recommend the Pork Chop and the Skirt Steak. The waitstaff is very friendly and attentive, as is the management- they were kind enough to switch out an appetizer for my friend and I when we didn't end up liking it that much (just because we're accustomed to PEI mussels, not a food quality issue at all). I think the new atmosphere is great also. I'm definitely going back.
(4)William W.
I have to say that on this occasion...Yelp you failed. We went on a Saturday night around 7:00pm, got a table after twenty minutes and had an absolutely delicious meal. I had the mussels as a entree, the boyfriend had the pulled chicken, and we split a mac & cheese side portion as an appetizer (which I highly recommend because the mac and cheese is so good, but may be a bit much as a full meal...lots of cheese and cream going on.) Our waitress was a riot, and you can tell that the whole staff is still really excited about the new venture. I can't wait for summer to come, as the waitress said that they're expanding the outside seating compared with what existed at the old restaurant. I would definitely recommend trying this place out.
(5)Steph B.
Horrible brunch. Sorry Canary Squ, it's so sub-par I had to write this review. Not only is the menu extremely limited (and a bit overpriced), with NO veggie substitutes for the meat you put in every dish, the food just wasn't good. BREAKFAST IS NOT HARD TO MAKE WELL, but somehow, for you guys, it is. I made 2 brunch visits in hopes I simply ordered wrong the 1st time, but alas, today's meal was worse! The Frittata was more like a quiche, and was dry - seemed like it had been sitting around all morning then fried in a pan before serving to me. I ordered TOAST and got 3 small pieces of OILED bread put on the food grill, so it tasted awful. Really? You can't make simple toast? I think they're trying too hard to be original - honestly, it's breakfast! It's a straight-forward meal. No excuses for it to be bad. Also, their bartenders are not friendly - I've been many times and have yet to have one engage in any kind of social exchange with me...booo.
(1)Shawn F.
First week open I expect that there will be some settling in for the staff and kitchen. Overall a very nice opening week from a customer perspective. Food is excellent, great beer selection but only one complaint at the bar..... 6.42 for a 16 ounce pint of Guinness??? That is more expensive than downtown and not even a proper 20 ounce glass! two of the best pints in the city are $5 and $5.50 and are a proper 20 oz. Looks like I'll keep my beer drinking elsewhere and this will be a food/apps place. Place looks great, very nice staff, and comfortable to boot. Will be back and looking forward to exploring more of the menu.
(4)James T.
Just had drinks and apps during the football game. Busy and had a fun buzz about the restaurant for opening weekend. Everyone raved about the food they were eating and the burger looked phenominal. They were the best cheese fries I've ever had, yes gourmet cheddar cheese fries. 30 beers on draft all around 5 bucks. Great lighting and interior design. Felt like a nicer mission bar and grill without the college crowd of mission hill. Finally a nice bar to enjoy in jp right on centre street. Welcome to the neighborhood! Ps. The cocktails will knock you on you ass!
(4)Fiddos J.
Nice beer selection and good atmosphere. Esp. their patio is great in summer. The food though is fairly underwhelming. It's been three times now that I (or friends) have received food that was undercooked. They seem to have particular trouble cooking their roast chicken half all the way through. And there is nothing more unpalatable than raw chicken breast.
(3)Terrence H.
I had the Centre Street cocktail, which was good. Too bad the bartender ignored my party composed of rich minorities.
(2)Kate L.
Great place for drinks and apps, but not great for dinner or an entree. I've consistently had great cocktails here. The jerk wings and the sauce they come with are delicious. I love the outside area they have, but I've consistently had bad entrees. I get the overwhelming feeling that they are trying too hard to be something they are not. Don't serve a bad steak when you can serve a great burger. Additionally, I've had bad service, which I think is due to lack of experience. If a costumer doesn't like the beer you recommended, you should get him a new one. Good atmosphere to meet friends for drinks, but head somewhere else for a meal.
(3)Christina R.
how disappointing. came here for a nice night out with the roommate. portions left something to be desired - so I would say it was not worth the price. Roommate got some kind of beef skewers, but the sauce for it was overwhelmingly salty and smoky she just didnt feel like powering through it. the ambiance was nice though, its kind of a cool space with wood, metal and glass. very open and airy atmosphere. i would not come back here, it's simply not worth it
(2)Karl R.
Very good place! About time JP got a fun, chic place (and can hold more than 30 people) to call it's own. I would like a bigger menu with a few more choices, but otherwise this will become a regular place.
(4)Rona H.
Went with a party of 10 for a friend's birthday. At first, the waitstaff was very attentive with getting drinks and delivering food, but after the food was delivered, we waited an extremely long time for the bill. After a while, someone in the group got up and asked for the bill so that we could leave. I had the $14 macaroni. I've had better $1 boxes from Kraft cooked in a microwave. A few people in my group had the burger, and they commented that the texture of the burger seemed a little funny. Overall, the waitstaff was nice, but I just can't recommend the place at all because the food is expensive, and it doesn't even taste good.
(1)Gail L.
We tried to go here a week after they opened...50 minute wait..so we left. Last night we tried again...and it was worth the wait. We got seated in 1 minute, had our drinks in 3, and our orders taken by a very friendly waitress. Pickles were served as a free app. Mussels arrived with a large plate of steaming hot fries on the side. I'd read a lot of negative reviews of the mussels, well, they were wrong! They were great! The fries were a little over salted, but we couldn't stop eating them anyway. Food arrived shortly thereafter, Pulled chicken sandwich and fries for him, (he liked it) vegetable lasagna for me (no noodles, just stacked vegetables...I was warned) in a homemade marinara sauce. It had a smoky flavor. Seemed to include eggplant, onion, zucchini, sweet potato and mushrooms. We had bread pudding with red velvet ice cream (from JP Licks)...easily enough for us to share, and coffee. Also, 3 drinks...check, $77.00, not bad at all. Brunch starts in 3 weeks...yeah! We'll be back.
(4)Charmie S.
My first impression was great. It just happened to come from the bathroom. Awkward, yes. But the exceptionally clean facilities set the tone I guess. I ordered the wings and pulled pork tacos. I was in a large party and the waitress was very attentive although I was the last to arrive. The food was well done. I probably could've had the wings and be done. It's a big portion for an app. I felt I pushed it by ordering the tacos. It was tasty, too! Both were under $12 I recall. The only hangup was that the space was a bit tight for a large group. Not enough room to put plates. Other than that, a winner for JP!
(4)F C.
I've patronized Canary Square approximately four times over the past two months and have had, on the whole, positive experiences. Pros: I found the service to be decent, if not better than some other American casual restaurants. Given that the ownership also owns Common Ground in Allston, one would think that the experience would be underwhelming - not so. I would describe the atmosphere as upscale but more for dates/people flirting/socializing with a group. My favorite has been the SLT (Salmon, Lettuce, Tomato) with greens as it is reliably quick. I've also had the burger, bbq chicken sandwich (or some variation), and steak. The prices for the sandwiches are about market rate; the entrees are smallish for the price but it's the new "JP" so what do you expect... The kitchen is also open late enough for the neighborhood. The tables are large and there doesn't seem to be excessive wait times unless you go when everyone in the non-profit world spends their paychecks on wine and some apps and lines up for this place. Cons: I would say it can be loud sometimes. If you order take out, you must go to the bar for payment and takeout, and a few times, also to order. This seems counterintuitive with what looks like a POS unit at the host's station. There was a local area resident that provides free entertainment (read: a drunk that people know/see often) that I've seen before, and I was amazed that he wasn't spotted earlier in the evening. I ended up sitting next to him at the bar unknowingly. I think the waitstaff/barstaff will figure this stuff out, but they've only been open a while, so this isn't as much of a big deal if Canary Sq was open for a year at this point.
(3)Cee E.
So, I really wanted to love this place. i really did! But, alas, after a few more visits to sample some entrees - I haven't been impressed with the food any time. I still enjoy the drinks, so maybe just grab a drink in there if anything.
(2)Emily K.
I have been here three times, and each time I leave feeling satisfied and full. To begin, the atmosphere of the restaurant and bar is a delight for the senses. There is dim lighting, the TV's aren't blaring, the clear glass lights give a modern yet classic vibe, and the tables are far enough apart you feel like you're in your own little world. Simply stated, the drinks are fantastic! Their take on an Arnold Palmer was boozy yet true to form, their wine and beer selection will not leave you disappointed, and sangria is super yummy. Now, for the food. YUM! The pork tacos are heaven, the mac n'cheese with bacon was cheesy heaven for my tastebuds, and the black bean burger was the best bean burger I have ever had. The only thing that was disappointing was the dessert. I ordered the blueberry tart thinking it would be warm and blueberry heaven, but instead it came cold in what appeared to look like and taste like an old cracker. Anyway, Canary Square is a great place to bring friends, family, or just your sweetheart. If you're driving plan on parking on the street since there is no parking lot. But don't let that discourage you since there is ample street parking!
(4)Corey L.
Went with a group of friends on a Friday night. Good beer selection, good food (though a bit pricier than it should be), including the salads with chicken, pork tacos (very tasty), and chocolate bread pudding. Music is fun (maybe a bit loud) and the place is pretty cool. Also, Emmie the bartender is cool. Tip her a lot if you meet her.
(3)Anne M.
So excited to have Canary Square in the neighborhood. It's been sad to have a restaurant space within walking distance closed for so long. I wasn't sure what to expect, given the huge range in reviews that are posted, but all in all it was great. Rather than relive the whole experience, I'm just going to do a good and bad list. Things that were not so great: -Women's bathroom stalls are TINY and the one I happened to go in had no toilet paper. -We sat at the table closest to the door, next to the garage door. The garage door was definitely letting cold air in and it was chil-lay when someone opened the front door. And that's only going to get worse...Maybe some sort of curtain or something, please? -Popcorn of the day was okay, but basically was just popcorn with a drizzle of honey mustard. -A friend got the mac 'n cheese, and while it was good, it was unimpressive both in size and taste, especially for $15. -Cheesy fries. Fries covered in cheese are never "bad" but I wished there had been some chives or bacon or something. -Deviled eggs. Would have loved a warning that they are sitting in olive tapenade. -Someone took away my water glass before the end of the evening, which was disappointing after my cocktail was gone and I still wanted something to drink. Things that were awesome: -They took my cell phone number instead of giving me a buzzer while waiting for food. That meant we could head to the Behan for a couple beers instead of having to force our way into the crowded bar. -Our server. She was the right balance of friendly and professional, and was speedy and efficient in all ways. -Speed. Ordinarily I wouldn't comment on this but so many reviews talked about the long wait for food but we had absolutely no problems. -The drinks. A very impressive draft beer list, and wonderful cocktails. Highly recommend the Centre Street. -The pulled chicken sandwich. I almost asked if they could give me a side of the BBQ sauce to dip my fries in. (the burger was really good too) -Butterscotch bread pudding was delicious. -They give you the bill in an adorable little journal that you can write in. The only thing that sucked about it was that people wrote about things that weren't on the menu any more that we wanted to try! The not-so-great list might be longer but the good definitely outweighed the bad, and we will definitely be back soon.
(4)Emily P.
I live close by, and want to love this place, but it's tough. The rotating menu is in MHO, it's major downfall. I've been here probably 10 times, and about 5 of those I left disappointed. On our most recent visit, we split a pasta dish, that was inedibly spicy. I was waiting for the server to come back, but she was relatively MIA, and once she did, my boyfriend (never one to turn down food), had soldiered on and eaten most of his. So, we couldn't really make them take my portion back, but we still told her and showed her the pepperflakes swimming on my plate. To her credit, she went and told the manager, and by his body language, it was clear that he didn't care. We also got the mussels, which perviously had been delicious, but they changed the recipe, and were just not nearly as good. I have had good meals here before, but it's not worth the gamble. They have an extensive beer menu, so if you want that to be the focus of your evening, I'm sure this is the place for you. However, if you want reliably delicious food, look elsewhere.
(2)Valerie D.
there is a lot to be said for a good bathroom in my book. new, clean, modern. thank you canary square for paying as much attention to detail in remodeling the ladies (and assuming mens) room as you did to the rest of the establishment! this was my second visit, sat at the bar. just ordered drinks and an app with the hubby' and everything was lovely! our bartender was very friendly and informative about the beer and wine selection. we will definately be back for dinner!
(4)John D.
Once again this place disappoints. I live nearby and I want so bad to like it but the food and service make it impossible. I wanted to order a beer on tap, but I couldn't decide due to the huge selection of a lot of beers that I did not know. The waitress was absolutely no help. She gave me attitude because I wasn't ordering quick enough for her. She just stood over me waiting for my order. The beer was not a good choice ( my bad?) give me the Galway House or the Haven any day!
(1)Eva K.
Beautiful renovations!! Just went here last night and it was packed. Waited for a table at the bar and had great service on all levels. Great hostess, great bartender, great waitress, excellent cooks. The meal was fantastic and fresh.
(5)D P.
I had an amazing burger here the other night. The desert menu still lacks the amazing Butterscotch Bread Pudding.
(4)John P.
I just went to this place for the second time last night, the first time being their Opening night, and I was overall very impressed. There are a few things that I am sad about having lost the Alchemist, ie- blues brunch, the Croche Madame ( an awesome breakfast sandwich with ham and eggs over easy, in between 2 slices of french toast topped with hollandaise sauce and a side of awesome home fries, mmmMMMmmm) , and the "slightly more hip" crowd, but as a neighbor of this establishment, I also welcome the new. As for the food, I have been very impressed with the flavor of everything I have had, like the burger with great fries (best fries I have had in all of Boston), the pulled chicken sanwich, and they have an AWESOME caramel bread pudding, however, I thought the macaroni and cheese entree was a little expensive for what you get ($15 for a fairly small single-sized cast iron casserole dish of mac and cheese and ham, with a small portion of mixed greens on the plate). The service, however is IMPECABLE! Even when mistakes are made, which are to be expected for a brand new establishment, they are addressed promptly, and always appropriately compensated for. At dinner last night, our second drinks took slightly longer than they should have, but we hadn't even mentioned anything to anyone about it because we were not annoyed to that point yet, and first the Manager came over and appologized about the delay, and assured us that the drinks that were taking a little time were on the house, and then the waitress came over and told us the same thing. I would again like to stress that we DID NOT say anything to anyone about that before they notified us that the drinks would be free. To top it all off, when we were done with dinner, and had walked out the door, I had forgotten my cell phone on the table, and the same manger that gave us the drinks on the house, came running out the door, and down the street calling out to me to give me my phone back. SUPER nice! So overall, even though I think they still have a little work to do with the menu and portion sizes for entrees and such, I think this new establishment is shaping up to be a great addition to the neighborhood. I look forward to returning here time and time again in the future. I hope to see you there!
(4)Mark M.
Ate there recently, food is completely mediocre but the staff was nice and the outdoor seating looked pleasant. Avoid the razor clams!
(3)Althea D.
I had dinner with a friend at Canary Square about a week after they opened. They were surprisingly busy considering it was a weeknight and they were a brand new restaurant. Diners who arrived after us had to wait for a table. On the plus side, all of the food we ordered was very good, our waiter was fantastic, the place has an incredible atmosphere that sure beats out the Alchemist, and there's a lengthy and diverse beer selection. We ordered the deviled eggs and cheesie fries for our apps and both were terrific. I had the mac & cheesie w/ bacon for dinner which was a little strange - it had an odd spice mixed in. My friend had the pork choppy which he really liked. I also ordered the deep fried twinkies for dessert - if you haven't had those before, they taste a bit like fried dough and the filling inside melts into the cake. My one gripe with the restaurant is that the menu overall seems uninspired. Although I'd go back, I'm not in any rush as there weren't any items on the menu that I'm dying to try. Hopefully they'll continuously change the menu in the future.
(4)Philip M.
You never know what to expect at Canary Square. Some dishes/days it's 4-5 stars, others are 1-2 stars. So it averages out to a solid 3 star experience. It's very hit or miss. Having been here a few times, I really want to love this place. It's extremely versatile with outdoor seating, a cool looking bar, dinner, brunch, and a good location. Prices are decent too. Came here recently for a Sunday brunch around 1pm. The waitress was attentive and nice, as usual. I was annoyed that the brunch menu online isn't the same one that's at the restaurant. We ordered the breakfast fries and they were amazing. When it came to the main dish, the country fried steak...it was a solid 1 star dish. My boyfriend got the same dish and his was just as bad. The steak was way overcooked to the point that even my starving, hungover self could not eat certain portions of it even with ketchup smeared on it. The potato wedge fries that came with the main dish were tragic as it had some terrible aftertaste we couldn't pinpoint. And the eggs were meh at best and lukewarm temperature wise. The other times I've been here, it's been just as hit or miss. Like I said, I really want to love this concept and restaurant but it's nowhere close to 4 or 5 stars. After a few tries here, I've given up and don't want to chance it with a "miss" dish again.
(3)Carol M.
Beautiful loft-like feel of a converted firehouse. Needs sound proofing...so loud I can't hear others at my table speak. I have a friend that lives nearby & always wants to go here. I've been here 3 times. I hate this place personally. The service is horrible, though seems more a function of management than the servers. They have this weird system of having one or two hostesses, one waitress to take your order, & a kitchen runner to bring you your food & maybe bus tables. My friend is handicapped & has food allergies. Once she went the re alone & they tried to put her @ a high cafe table-not cool for someone with balance problems! Also, I was there when she was inquiring about food ingredients. The server looked at her as if she were crazy...there was lots of awkward silence, & finally w/some urging went to check w/the kitchen. We always wait 45min to an hour to receive our food after ordering. We often saw others that got there after us receiving their food before us---me thinks there's a kitchen issue here. There's usually something wrong or missing in our order & tend to get promises of refills that never arrive. The food...for me, they mess it up by trying to make it fancy. I've had the mac&cheese--super greasy w/weird flavor. I didn't care for the ziti & meatballs--I expected beef not sausage..just wasn't what I wanted. The burgers & fries are good beit expensive (basic burger $10 & add $1-2/add topping (but they do offer good toppings like mushtooms & fried eggs). I had an omellette @ brunch - again, nothing special & certainly not worth waiting or paying their prices for. The menu is limited. The bread pudding is good but so sweet I felt sick. The one shining jem is their creme de luche crepes --they are exceptional (when they're not out of them).
(2)Orla S.
Food was good, nice atmosphere etc but service was extremely slow. I will try it again though.
(3)Laura C.
just had brunch at Canary Square...loved it!! everything was perfect. the hostess was very sweet and considerate of our baby when seating us. the service was excellent.. my canary french toast was incredible. we even got to meet the owner Mike Moxley! he came over to our table to check on everything and we had great conversation!! ps the coffee was outstanding.
(5)Mantis T.
Returned here a day or so after Christmas 2013. Service was better, food was okay. Glad that things were better than they were the last time I came, but still nothing to write home about.
(3)Cher D.
i have been here for the second time in the past maybe three weeks. both times were off hours: the first, 5:00 on a saturday, tonight, around 7, sunday evening. maybe that's the key: go when it's not a complete freak show and get what you really want. tonight, our server was this incredible: she was prompt, attentive, got everything right. she had a psychic connection with my husband and asked, "deviled eggs" before he even opened his mouth to speak. i. hate. deviled. eggs. or so i thought. not these. no sulfur-y aroma, no gross texture, just yummy. the mushrooms were great, the warm olives as well. bread with the mushrooms would have been nice. onto the meal. husband got the pulled chicken sandwich for the second time. it was really good. tender. infused with mustard seeds and sauce. not overly spicy, which for him, is huge, he doesn't have the cast-iron stomach i do. unlike another reviewer, would not call this bland, rather, more subtle. i like heat, didn't think to ask for hot sauce but, sayin', it wasn't my dinner. i had the burger. medium. lovely pink center. not like the "leather burgers" you can find elsewhere in jp. the fries were super good, too. nice and crisp. here's the kicker, they have home made garlic mayo. if i had less restraint i would have smothered my fries in it. i took half of my food to go (really, three snacks and and two entrees between two is perhaps too much...) and left a very happy kid, as did my husband.
(5)Kevin R.
First of all, if I was writing based on today's experience it would be 5+ stars..... But I'm not. I have had some of the best meals and the worst meals at canary sq. My boyfriend and I once got the salty pig plate and dreamed about it for weeks, then last time it was literally olive loaf on a cutting board for $14. I was also there once and the fries with my burger were too salty to eat. And I like salt. But tonight. Out waitress was Sarah. She was quick with the drinks (I like to drink) and ensured me that this time the salty pig plate would be up to par, and it was. She made sure my fries were perfectly salted and the burgers were done right. She didn't even write anything down and our order came out just as ordered. If I could ensure that Sarah was there every time I would come here weekly if not daily. The burgers are always phenomenal and the atmosphere (especially the large outdoor patio) is second to none, especially in JP. The one thing that irks me is the inconsistency of the food- I'm no fine diner, but when I fall in love with a dish I don't expect it to be completely different the next time I come. Luckily, sarah saved the day with her amazing personality and knowledge of the menu. We will be sure to come back and ask for her again.
(4)sara m.
I returned for my fourth visit at Canary square tonight and WOW! Such a big improvement from the first time I dined there. We went for a late dinner on a friday night-waited about 30 but had drinks at the bar in the meantime. Loved the Stony Brook, excellent beer selection as per usual. We were seated and the waitress handed us menus within a few minutes. We ordered and waited about 20 minutes, very reasonable for a packed restaurant/bar. My boyfriend had the burger and fries with added cheese sauce- he said the burger competed with 10 tables and was one of the best he had ever had. I had the swiss chard salad- HOLY COW! This was the most amazing salad I have ever eaten! It had cranberries, pecans, pulled chicken, a poached egg and wait.....bacon vinaigrette!!!! If I had to pick a last meal....this would be it! The waitress was super nice. Special thanks to Heather- the awesome hostess! GO TO THIS PLACE! EAT THEIR FOOD AND ENJOY THEIR AWESOME DRINKS!
(5)Eve R.
I went to Canary Square for my birthday last week, and it was a great place to celebrate! Extensive beer list, great cocktails, and our waitress was very helpful. We loved the black bean burger, tuna, and burgers, but would not recommend the steamers or mac and cheese. The desserts were great too!
(4)Chas K.
It's disappointing to see all the knocks on Canary Square's service - both food servers and bartenders. An email I sent to info@canarysquare.com was undeliverable as owner Michael Moxley's account is "overquota." Check your email, dude. Anyway, here's most of what I wrote in the email: "If you're reading this message, I'm guessing that you are a manager or owner. Have you read the Yelp reviews about Canary Square? If not, you ought to take a look. A consistent theme through many, many of the 178 reviews is inattentive service that includes long disappearing acts. I had the same experience, though due to the quality of the food, friendliness of the server and the beautiful afternoon, I had a great time and gave you 4 stars anyway. I wouldn't be as forgiving next time about the server taking off for 20+ minutes and leaving us surrounded by dirty dishes and empty glasses. The bartenders are really getting slammed for bad attitudes by a lot patrons. I didn't have any firsthand experience with mixologists. So why am I bothering to write? For starters, I love Coda and would like to see Canary succeed. I also love the menu and the space. Hopefully, by pointing out the obvious, validated flaws in service you can address them. Canary got the menu, food and ambiance right. Seems time to fix the service. Take my feedback for what it's worth."
(4)Karen R.
I've gone to Canary Square a few times after work with some co-workers. Each time I go, I become more and more dissatisfied with it. The most recent time I went was a few days ago. We had called in advanced to reserve the back booth, which they had said was no problem. When we got there, the booth was unavailable for us and our party of 15 had to hang out at 4 disconnected tables by the bar. It then took over 30 minutes to get drinks and our waitress was unfriendly at best. This time around, I knew better than to order any food... The previous times I had been there the food was downright gross. The first time I went, I had the hummus & pitas, which I found to be awkward as the pitas slices were warm but the hummus was cold (it really should be the other way around). The second time I went, a co-worker got the giant pretzel, which none of us could eat because it was so hard that we were concerned we were going to crack our tooth on it. In general, I find this place to be way over-rated and there are definitely better hang-out places in JP.
(2)Alan P.
Terrible dining experience. An inattentive waitress that took forever to do everything, highlighted by the 20 minute wait for our bill with just glasses of water in front of us. As for the food, I don't mind when food is pricier than other places if it's good quality; it's not. $16 for a piece of chicken over potatoes? $14 for a small dish of bland mac & cheese? Just a terrible place. And for those praising a good beer menu; that's just not enough anymore. Most places have good beer menus now.
(1)Christian K.
I'm just going to be clear here: this is a casual experience. Don't be fooled by the exposed light bulb/industrial chic look that you might find also find somewhere more expensive... this is not a reservations-only kind of a place (except, maybe on a Friday night at 8pm.) But it's absolutely worth standing around near the bar for 20 minutes if it comes to that. It's great to see a decent generational mix of JPers here. Reinforces my like of the 'hood. Yeah, the servers are a little on the young side, and half of them are just masquerading as foodies. And no, not every dish is perfect. But here's the thing: most of the dishes are. Like, perfect. And it's very consistent. AAnnd it won't break the bank. Props for having a real bar in a setting like this one. Sometimes you have to trade ambience for quality. Not so here. There's a $6 Fernet cocktail called "the last call," brilliant. I have yet to actually stick around until closing, but when I do I will order a round of these and enjoy the varied expressions of the faces of my companions. This is a place to bring a bunch of your friends and try as much of the menu as you can. They rotate through little shareable appetizer/side dishes. They had these totally perfect deviled eggs at one point. Truffled fries. Artisinal meatballs. I've had a fantastic burger or two here, but I've also sprung for salmon which was delish. Whoever is running the kitchen is good people... Let's hope the management/ownership doesn't get listless and try and change too many good things, as this place has really hit its stride :)
(4)Jessica H.
So apparently they took off that amazing vegan meal off their menu and now vegans are left with sub par side dishes. BOOO. Really, you're gonna be located in JP and not offer a vegan meal? Anyways, looks like I won't come back anymore. Total disappointment, I still think about that great tofu dish you had when you first opened and now to come again and see nothing on the menu I can eat except a salad and sides is a total fail. Get a vegan dish back on your menu yo, I trusted you and encouraged everyone to go!
(3)Melinda N.
I know its really hard to get 5 stars but seriously, this place was impressive. we did have to wait a little bit between drinks and ordering our food but the server said that they were down two servers so i completely understand. me and my two girlfriends were content just chatting anyways. the server was real nice. it was one of my friend's belated bday and so we had a cake brought to the restaurant prior and after the meal, she brought the cake out and it was a nice surprise for the bday girl. the drink i got was sooooo good. the arborway has prosecco, st. germain and lime. i loved it. the food was delicious! i ate mine, and helped my friend eat hers. i ordered the haddock. whatever the sauce was, i wish i could've licked the plate! but we ordered cheese fries so i dipped fries in that instead =P my friend got a salad with bacon dressing. that was delicious too. the greens look very green and crisp. there were sweet walnuts in it. best salad. the bday girl ordered meatless spaghetti. we were expecting red sauce, but the surprise was good, it was tasty. the portions were perfect and the overall atmosphere was one where you could chat but not feel like you had to be quiet. it was a wednesday night. quite busy. people were out in the patio. wish we could've had seats there. i love the high ceilings. i would def come here again to try their other selections. i also liked how they use local products from allandale farm and had vegetarian options.
(5)Stephanie K.
I visited Canary Square for the first time last Wednesday and needless to say I will not be going back. When we were sat at our table we ordered a bottle of the 2010 Victor Hugo, Cabernet. When the bottle was brought out we saw that it was really 2011 cabernet. After mentioning it to our server that it says 2010 on the menu we asked her to check to see if they had another bottle. She returned and said no they don't, they only have 2011. In my opinion the restaurant should probably update their wine list to be accurate. Our food came out and that was the best part about our experience. When the bill came, we asked to split it between 3 cards, pretty simple math. Our server returned saying my card was declined and that she tried running it multiple times. I then checked my bank account thinking it was strange and she had wound up running my card for an obscure amount of 83 dollars. After leaving the restuarant one of the other guests checked his bank account and saw that the server had charged his card 4 different times for all different amounts. The charge to my account is still pending even after I spoke to the server and the manager about it.
(2)Cynthia M.
Pretty restaurant in the middle of a very residential area. My husband and I were walking to the Samuel Adams Brewery and decided to stop by here on the way for a bite. The restaurant is very open and airy and we came at around 1145am and it was still pretty empty. There were complimentary pickles to start which were quite tasty. I ordered the deviled eggs and a side of the macaroni and cheese, while my husband had the cheeseburger and fries. Everything was very good and we finished it all. The deviled eggs were perfectly prepared (though they only gave three halves, where did the other half go???) The mac and cheese was just the right amount of creamy without being too rich. It was a good sized portion for a side dish and the panko bread crumbs topping added a good contrast in textures. My husband gobbled up all his burger and the fries were crispy and well seasoned. Overall a nice lunch to get us ready for the brewery! Recommended if you happen to be stuck in this restaurant deficient area of Boston!
(4)Fab S.
We went back and, what can I say, shame on me! Food was fantastic this time around. I did think service was on the slow side, but we were very pleased with our entrees this time, had an amazing tuna steak!
(4)Samantha B.
I went here for brunch with my husband today. It was ok - standard bar brunch food, nothing overly impressive. I got the Swiss and avocado omelette with homefries. Considering the price ($40 for the two of us), I can't say I was thrilled. The atmosphere was beautiful and the restaurant space itself is great (huge, open windows; outdoor seating). I'd definitely try it again for dinner!
(3)Erik G.
As is apparently the case with everyone else who lives in JP, I want very badly to like this place. So very badly. It's in a great location, has patio seating, and is a little anchor of stability after ten years of endless rotation of restaurants through the same location. And on paper, Canary Square is the bee's knees. The owners also run Coda in the South End and Red's in Rozzie, both of which fight way above their weight class. The beer list is solid-to-spectacular depending on the day. The drink list looks amazing. The menu is a little limited, but seems like it would offer the same consistency that makes Coda so good. And yet, as is ever the case, the devil is in the details. I've been there three times now, and have been disappointed on every visit. I've never had a good mixed drink here. That's partly my fault, because when I see wacky drinks on a menu, my inner six-year-old comes out and I order what inevitably turns out to be a saccharine citrus-y mess. But on Friday they made me a terrible muddled-mint-and-whiskey drink, and damnit, no bartender worth his salt should screw up a mint julep. The food is equally vexing. Some of their options are totally respectable (the spiced almond and pickle appetizers are great, if a little pricey, and I really enjoyed my wife's pulled pork tacos), but the inconsistency is maddening. I've had the hangar steak, and found it to be oversalted to the point of inedibility. The burger had some weird texture things going on with it (and again, let me point out that these are the same people who serve Boston's best burger a few miles up in the South End, which somehow makes the insult even graver) and came out medium-well when I asked for mid-rare. The mac and cheese is simply not good. But they are at least very earnest, which is why I still can't write them off completely. The waitstaff is engaging and attentive, the beer list is really impressive (I know, I know--healer, heal thyself: stop ordering weird cocktails and stick with the taps), and if they could sort out the chef situation, I'd be here all the time. So, for now, I guess I'll keep checking back in every six months or so.
(2)Allison B.
I have been here several times - the food is ok and the service vary. The servers/host are always nice and friendly, but it sometimes can take forever to get help. I would recommend their beer selection - try flight of beer! Also, beware they tend to run out of dishes throughout the night.
(3)Dana G.
I am shocked at the low ratings for csquare. You can't beat Founders on tap......unless you somehow get some Surly up in here...=) Excellent beer selection which you can check up on via twitter, veggie options (the black bean burger has some kick!), $1 oysters (Mondays, I think?) and half price snacks for certain happy hours (4p-6p), clean bathrooms and lots of space. My only gripes are that the omelettes are small for brunch. We make up for it by having bloodies, I guess.
(4)Sara M.
Someone must have been listening to the gripes posted on yelp, because the service at brunch on Sunday was impeccable. Our waiter was attentive and entertaining. My man friend and I split the french toast (there is no way one person can finish this, although our waiter claims he saw a ten year-old take this thing to task) and the sausage and potatoes. All were awesome. The french toast is breaded in cornflakes for extra crunch and is topped with bourbon maple syrup which was really good. We walked out fat and happy, and eager to return.
(5)Allison R.
Since I'm unlikely to venture back to the vortex that is JP anytime soon, I'll throw in my 2 cents on Canary Square. I made a Saturday wedding party reservation for 12 people, and the man taking my call was helpful and professional. I was looking to serve dessert and since they charge a $4 plating fee, I opted for their whole chocolate cheesecake. Backing up for a sec...Canary Square has an awesome website. Really cool. The background shows you what the bar looks like. Anyway, the spot is cool (former location of the Alchemist). Some outdoor seating. Cool natural light. Extensive draft list, and it was cool of our waiter to let us grab a sample paddle of beers, even though they don't do that. Crazy long drink menu, and I wish I'd tried the bacon bloody mary. Mimosas and beer/bloody marys on offer too. I didn't find the staff overly attentive or quick, considering the size of our party. I don't mind when food and drinks take a while with a big group, but I felt like we waited at least 10 minutes to have drink orders taken. They also couldn't (?) issue separate tabs. And, we reminded them a slew of ways about the cake, but they didn't seem to know what was up. It did come out at the end of the meal with some nudging, and they forgot(?) to charge us for it, so that all equals out to okay. Plus, it was really freaking good. So were the eggs, thick-cut bacon, homefries, and fruit. We got fancy schmancy toast too, which isn't my cup of tea but was good. I eyed an avocado and swiss omelet with envy, and drooled over the cheeseburger. I didn't get an adult beverage, but wouldn't hesitate to snag a BM or a mimosa with fresh-squeezed OJ. So, the food rocks, there are a lot of drinks to choose from, prices are reasonable, ambiance is nice. I'm never in JP, so I probably won't come back, but will suggest this spot to others in the area.
(3)Alana F.
I know, from watching too many cooking shows, that I'm supposed to use descriptive words, that phrases like "so delicious" and "scrum-diddly-umptious" do nothing for you. So here is goes: this place is balmy...and...boozy. Okok. Confession: I usually only come here to drink things of the alcoholic persuasion on their outdoor patio and laugh and exercise all my bourgeoise energies so, when I go to Brendan Behans after, the real JP-ers (read: not my post-grad friends, not the young families with babies and strollers and stories about their babies in their strollers) don't spit on my asymmetrical hair cut or acid wash jeans. Now you're wondering if I have either of those things. I'll keep you in suspense. But not in suspense about everything. Back to Canary: their drinks are good, are cheaper than the other fancy outdoor place (tres gatos--down the street FYI), and they don't hate you when your friends keep showing up and your party of 4 grows like bacteria into a party of 9, loud, twentysomethings all only ordering mojitos (that reminds me, order the mojito) and showing no signs of moving. For that alone they deserve 5 stars. And so it shall be given. Oh, and all the low-star-ers seem to have beef (mehmehmeh) with the burgers and the servers. I've had a burger there and, while it wasn't revelatory, it was juicy, cooked properly, and their house made A-1 sauce is tangy and sweet and the right amount of BBQ/ mesquite marinadey. And the waitress gave me beer samples, never once forgot about me, and was cute to boot...can't remember if she was wearing boots.... Anyway, sounds like some panties where in some bad kinda twists.
(5)Mike O.
I've been holding out as long as possible on reviewing the newly opened (and much hyped) Canary Square, but I can't any longer!! After coming here for opening night and then several times after, I can't even bring myself to order the food. I suspected early on that the kitchen needed to work out some of the (what's the word?) kinks and that perhaps the waitstaff were slowly acclimating to the constraints of the new establishment and its clientele, but the learning curve should not be set at a distant time yet to be determined. This place is flat out awful! Poor service, poor food, and while its has a wonderfully charming layout and decor, very little can be said for anything else. The beer list contains a wide selection of favorites though and that should be duly noted. A lot of people had positive and negative things to say about the Alchemist, but by in large the food was well, decent, and it was another option in the area that didn't suck. What's odd to me is that Canary Sq is located in Hyde Sq, but seemingly wanting to hold to the letter "C" the owners have seen fit to call this whatever they wanted, in peculiar fashion. Maybe it's owned by the Count from Cesame Ctreet; I call it Crap. For real though, I know it's named posthumously after a U.S. serviceman. I've had a wide variety of menu items and be assured all are bland, unimaginative, boring, and overpriced except for the desserts. The deep fried Twinky is pretty good, but it's not worth eating an entire meal there, unless of course you like your sauce poured directly from the can to the plate, your burgers frozen, and your seafood frozen; then this is a perfectly fine choice. Most of the servers never frequent your table as you would come to expect and make you feel as though you're wasting their time. I'm specifically talking about the tall, bald guy with glasses, Sean? Make this your drink destination if it's a must, but don't even think you'll be able to get a seat on a Friday or Saturday night. They really ought to just cut the dining room in half and extend the bar area or add another in the middle of the room, a really BIG bar! I would conclude things with "get your act together or else..." but judging by the patrons that frequent Canary I know that management is under no pressure to make things better. Oddly enough, this is the wrong Boylston St. for this sort of establishment!
(2)Diamyr M.
Went tonight to celebrate my bday early with my sister....my sister asked our waitress (very petite, maybe mixed girl with curly hair) if she could explain a few dishes to her... She snapped back at her saying well you can't just point to them I can't see, you have to say them to me . seriously?! Fix your eyes then because its pretty easy to see what someone is pointing at on a menu that doesn't have much.either way, just don't snap at my sister....we had the yucca...burnt, weird sauce. And shared the pork shoulder, which was great.but we decided to just leave to jp licks for dessert since our waitress wasn't very nice.over all...best part of my bday dinner?...jp licks
(2)chandra d.
Upon arriving, the hostess told us there would only be a 10 minute wait. I had a good feeling about the place as I looked around the non-pretentious room with warm ambiance. Appetizer: We ordered the chicken mole appetizer, which seemed more like a tapa dish then a bigger appetizer, but I was happy with that. It was quite delicious with a tasty mole sauce and tender pork. Food: We ordered the braised short ribs with polenta, in addition to the Frisee salad with chestnuts. My girlfriend and i split the short ribs and were fighting over the last bits of short rib and polenta left on the plate! The salad had a refreshing citrus-inspired dressing along with hazelnuts, potatoes and mushrooms. The light salad was a great pairing with the rich short ribs. The salad was huge, so we were right in splitting it. Drinks: my friend ordered the Pumpkin Southern Tier which is a nutmeg infused delicious beer. I had the Midnight Cellars Syrah and Van Gogh Cab, which were spicy and sweet paired with the short ribs. Dessert: We justified ordering the chocolate bread pudding with salty caramel sauce because we had only split a dinner and salad It was chocolatey and salty caramel goodness rolled into one. Recommendation: If you are the type that needs to shove huge portions of no taste food down your gullet, this place is not for you. Otherwise, please visit Canary Square in Jamaica Plain!
(4)Angel M.
Currently waitlisted for their grand opening. Looks awesome, brb. Im singing like a canary for the food here. The deviled eggs were served with diced olives. The housemade chili was savory, not sweet. The roasted chicken salad was the best part, it had this awesome bacon vinaigrette on it. The BBQ pulled chicken sandwich lacked something, or it may have been that there was too much sauce and not enough chicken, usually its the other way around. The wood grilled hamburger was served perfectly on its delicious black pepper brioche. The fried twinkies were really awesome, with the powdered sugar we were reminded of a big town fair. The drinks were just drinks, nothing special, the selection of beers was nice. The Centre Street with Jim Bean was a really weak drink, but some people like it like that, the imperfect manhattan was okay too. The dogfish head and the hefeweizen and the porter and the mayflower and the leatherlips were all good. I came back later for the drinks, wasnt really taken with the red wines by the glass...but whatever. I understand its a new restaurant, and it was opening night, so here are things im willing to forgive: awfully slow service our meals came out at different times really wierd smell (new restaurant?) the music was awesome, but loud... was it a sports bar? I think in due time, this place will find its flow and be able to handle a larger crowd of people, until then, AWESOME FOOD!
(4)Rod S.
Awesome food and atmosphere. Definitly will return next time I am in the area
(4)Megan N.
My family recently held a private memorial service at Canary Square, and we could not have been better taken care of. Bryce and his staff were thoroughly accommodating, quick to respond to our requests, and basically allowed us to use the space as we saw fit. The servers and bar staff were friendly and quick, while remaining unobtrusive. Although we had gathered for a sad reason, the crew at Canary Square played a large part in making a tough day a bit easier to deal with. Much thanks and appreciation.
(5)Paula P.
Canary Square is one of the most versatile neighborhood restaurants you could hope for. Want a drink with some friends out on the patio on a warm spring afternoon? done. Want to go out on a "date night" to somewhere that feels nice but isn't actually particularly fancy? done. Want a cider and a burger after watching the Boston marathon? done (somehow this has become a tradition). Anyway, you get the point, it satisfies on many levels ranging from a quick drink to apps to having a nice meal. I think Christian K. had it right - not everything on the menu is perfect, BUT it's pretty darn close. Of the roughly 25 times I've been here, I've only been (mildly) disappointed with the food once and it's that consistently high quality that keeps me and the bf coming back. The menu rotates a fair amount which keeps things interesting and seasonally-appropriate, though it does mean that sometimes my favorite dishes get replaced. They stopped serving a red wine risotto which had become my go-to comfort food this past fall, but it's ok, because now they have chicken mole nachos which are AMAZING (and make a perfect meal when paired with the pulled pork tacos). You can easily make a meal out of apps here or if you're feeling like you need something more, one of their mains will certainly satisfy. As far as drinks go, I'm allergic to beer, so I can't comment on the beer selection, but based on how excited the bf gets about it, I'd say it's pretty solid, and they usually have a cider on tap which I appreciate. The wines by the glass list, though not huge, is really well curated in my opinion, I've gotten into 2 different grapes I wasn't familiar with because of wines I tried here. The cocktails are great too, there's definitely something for everyone on there list. And the last thing, I'm sure that it doesn't hurt that we're regulars, but the staff here is so friendly, and they have been since day one. Service is always good, whether it's packed or totally quiet in there. Over the holidays they gave out little gift bags to some of their regular customers with homemade treats, I thought this was such a nice idea. It's one thing to do something nice for a customer who wasn't satisfied with their experience, but I think it goes above and beyond to do something like this for your regulars who you know are going to come back again regardless.
(5)Dennis L.
First time I've been to this place. We got the charcuterie "Salty Pig Board" and the cauliflower for appetizers and they were both really good. Got the burger via a recommend from out server and it was friggin delish! Cooked perfectly. There was a good selection of beers and the ambiance was nice. Definitely would recommend you give this place a try.
(4)Richard A.
Overpriced for the food they serve, tepid waitstaff, and weak drinks. JP is really starved for places so I went back to canary square and my original opinion was confirmed.
(1)J K.
Good but overpriced. So many people on okcupid dates. The fish tacos are pretty awesome, though. It's worth the giggle of ordering a fish taco. (What? Everyone was thinking it.) Good beers on tap.
(3)Sebastian Y.
I really want to like Canary Square, with its sleek, modern interior and long wooden bar, the immediate impression of the place is chic but understated, with a good beer selection. The food however is very inconsistent, the first time I got a burger here it was cooked to medium rare perfection on a brioche roll with lettuce, tomato and aioli already on the plate, the second time around a month later I was served a rock hard bullet of meat on a potato roll with no condiments, no lettuce/tomato and what can only be described as a hastily arranged cacophony of french fries thrown on the plate. The oysters too used to be meaty and a great deal for $1 during happy hour every day, now they're only served on Mondays. The oysters i got yesterday were anemic and truly the most pathetic plate of small oysters I've ever had, not even worth $1 a piece. Come here for the beer and nothing else, the bartenders are really nice and seem to know what they're doing, and the waitstaff in general is really wonderful, only wish the kitchen kept up with them.
(2)Marina R.
Enjoyed a delicious Sunday brunch, experienced great service and loved the cute location in Jamaica Plain. The inside reminded me of something I'd find in NYC or Brooklyn; it has a very open layout with exposed brick. My friend and I ordered the french toast (to die for) and the JP breakfast platter. Coffee was decent but not out of this world. I will absolutely return for brunch on a future trip to Boston and also hoping they add some new dishes to the menu as well. I feel what they offer now is a bit limited. Choices are a good thing my friends...
(4)Matt F.
I'm surprised at the negative reviews, honestly. I went to CS last night for the first time and I liked it. For appetizers we got the cheese fries, mac & cheese, and the popcorn of the day. 3 people I was with got burgers (which came with fries) and I got the serrano ham and cheese that came with a salad. The cheese for the fries was a liquid cheese, so pretty tasteless. The fries on their own were really good, though. The popcorn was OK, but I make popcorn at home all the time, so I didn't find it exciting. The popcorn "flavor of the day" was orange and sugar, but the flavor was very mild. It was like a slightly orange tasting kettle corn. The mac and cheese was OK, but I thought it was a little dry. I prefer mac and cheese to be a bit creamer. The taste was good and it had a unique flavor that I couldn't pinpoint. Everyone liked their burgers. I tried a bite and it was really good. I think the Haven has better burgers in JP, but this is a good close second. My ham and cheese was OK. Serrano ham is great, but the baguette was really tough and it was a small sandwich. The salad dressing was nice, though. The service was OK. We had quite a few people come ask us how we were doing throughout the night. Our water was always filled, but drinks and food had a little wait. Not too bad considering they just opened. Overall I enjoyed it and we all said we'd go again. I didn't think the Alchemist was the best restaurant in the world, but I don't think this place is any worse. If anything it's pretty similar.
(4)Jen D.
I booked Canary Square for a private event. From the first conversation to the very end, the people I worked with were extremely accommodating, professional, and friendly. The service was excellent. The food was great. I just can't say enough about it.
(5)Kate S.
I like this place. I will definitely be back and it's just a few blocks from my place, so that's nice. 20 minute wait on a Friday night, tasty and strong drinks at the bar, cheese fries were great, sweet pickles (which my date really enjoyed), nice beer list. I thoroughly enjoyed my mac'n'cheese. It was creamy but not too heavy with nice breadcrumbs on top and big chunks of ham all through it which gave it a smoky flavor. My date's burger was pretty good, not the best in Boston probably, but good. Service was good. I rate 4 stars instead of 5 because it's a bit pricey, the caeser salad was fine but not very flavorful, we had to ask for our pickles, and though we both wanted our leftovers boxed up, only mine made it back to the table. None of these things were enough to really tick us off cause everything else was very good. Just try it out. It's not a fancy-pants 5-star restaurant, but it's a great little place right down the street where I can eat good food and drink good beer. I'm happy.
(4)Elizabeth M.
A solid 3.5, really. New restaurants should be given a 3 month grace period to work out all the kinks, in my opinion. Food has been consistently pleasing and service keeps getting better. My swiss chard salad was pretty good (bacon dressing is amazing!) and my husband liked his cheeseburger a lot. Taleggio isn't my first choice for a mac & cheese (I'll take creaminess over nuttiness any day), but it did it's job and I really enjoyed my leftovers at 1 o'clock that morning. It did seem like it took awhile to get things like drinks from the bar and water refills, but it was also pretty slammed in there, so I won't hold it against them. One of our favorite servers from the Alchemist is still there, which I'm happy about - she's great! I am very impressed with the way they've transformed the space, it feels much more open and upscale than the Alchemist ever did... but the stalls in the women's room are incredibly small. I'm 5'10" and my knees were right up against the door the entire time I was on the can. (TMI? TS.) All in all, I'm glad that there's a new restaurant right up the street. One more reason to go out instead of making myself dinner...
(4)Erin P.
Being new to JP, Canary Square seems like my kind of spot. I really really want to love this place but service is AWFUL!!! I have gone here twice and the server completely forgets about you as soon as they get you 1 drink. I have had to ask other servers passing by for another drink because on both occasions my server was MIA. I have had the steak and scallops....both EH. Steak was overcooked, asked for medium and got well done. Scallops were undercooked....I mean cold in the middle. It took almost 10 minutes to find my server to explain to her and another 10-15 mins for the kitchen cook the scallops. I love the ambience and I think that is the only thing that keeps me going back. I really wish this restaurant would get their act together and improve their service.
(2)Ana B.
The only reason Canary Square gets 2 stars is because of the great beer selection, awesome drinks and beautiful airy space. The food could use a lot of work. I've given this place many chances. It seems that the chef has good intentions - they do change the menu and some items, like the yucca fries, have gone from huge disappointment to yummy. However, most items on the menu disappoint. The french fries should be a slam dunk, but they are never cooked through all the way and could benefit from being either thinner (shoestring) or thicker (steak fries). Instead they are this weird in between that just don't work. The burger is always overcooked. Everything is undersalted. The salad is barely dressed. On the other hand, I do recommend the French Toast, the donuts, the SLT, and the meatless carbonara.
(2)K A.
Sunday brunch: Liked: - Large, cheap pile of seasoned breakfast fries covered in a poached egg and hollandaise sauce. - Two *huge* slices of corn flake crusted french toast w/ bourbon maple syrup. Didn't like: - The gf's toast tasted like a hamburger. - No brunch specials. Thought it was just ok: - Bacon bloody mary. Decent bloody mary selection, though. Would like to try the "Bubbly Mary" (Prosecco and house bloody mary mix) or the "Beer Bloody Mary" (Allagash White and house bloody mary mix). Overall: - For a place that isn't even a year old, they're doing ok. I could eat the french toast and breakfast fries for brunch on multiple occasions and be bloated and happy. Also, they had Old Fezziwig Ale on tap during the holiday season. Mmmm, ale.
(3)Paul G.
This place is great, I think worth 4 stars. Service can be pretty slow at hectic times, but that's the food service industry. They have a great drinks list and their mixed drinks are pretty good. I've been here for brunch and now, dinner. Dishes are hit or miss but seem to be cooked with care - you may not like your dish simply because it's not your taste. Portion sizes are a little smaller than I hoped for, but that's not a tragedy in obese America. Staff is real nice and they give you a little book with your check to write/draw comments. Overall, I suggest you go here for food, drinks, snacks, at any time of day. 4 stars only because I'm not WOWed, but I'm definitely satisfied.
(4)Margaret W.
I went to Canary Square for brunch on a Sunday, and it confirmed what I'd heard: airy, pretty atmosphere, but with a focus on the drinks, not the food. Even at brunch, three-quarters of the menu we received was drinks -- not counting the separate wine/beer menu. That said, we ordered a Mimosa and it was excellent. The food was fine, but nothing to write home about: the homefries were a bit dry, but the avocado-swiss omelet was good, as the was the whole-grain toast. Another in our party ordered the grass-fed beef and liked it. Overall -- I think this would be a great place for a drink, better than for a meal. The biggest pro of brunch here is that there is no wait.
(3)Brendan B.
If this place is so eco concious, how come most of the beers are truckded in from CA and CO as opposed to getting some local stuff. I'm just saying. Not to mention, like most places appealing to arrogant hipsters, it seems that 50% of the beers are IPA's. Place is ok but none too original. Thanks hipsters. You've fuc*ed up another place with potential.
(2)Julie M.
My husband and I visited Canary Square for the second time last night. I was hesitant to go again because all the Yelp reviews are terrible. But our first visit was good, so we went again. Canary Square has a great vibe to it. The beer selection is great too. My husband had the half chicken again and was not disappointed. It's pretty delish. I tried the scallops and while the presentation is great, this tasted like I was eating a salt lick! Seriously, my lips were shriveled by the end of the meal. We finished with the banana and nutella crepe which was good. The service was pleasant enough but a smile can go a long way. Bottom line, we'll go back but I'll probably stick with the chicken.
(3)Meena M.
I am so surprised by all the negative reviews here on yelp! I have visited Canary Square twice now. First for drinks and appetizers and second for dinner with my friends from New York. When I went for drinks and appetizers, I tried their mac and cheese and the brussels sprouts dish, which were both delicious. When I went for dinner, the two New York friends who came with me both work in the restaurant industry in Manhattan and work for one of the most high-end restaurants, and they loved the food! We had the skirt steak, which was amazing. The fries with cheese on it were dangerously yummy too. My husband had the burger and loved it. The only thing we thought was mediocre was the vegetable lasagna. It wasn't bad, just ok. The atmosphere in the restaurant is very nice and the servers we had were pleasant and quick. I actually liked the food and beer collection at the Alchemist too, but didn't like the atmosphere. The music was usually too loud, and it was so dark inside. This place is a big contrast, they did a really good job with the decor. This place looks much bigger! Maybe you have to choose the right dishes for this restaurant. But so far I was happy with everything I had.
(4)rik r.
Very good! much better than the alchemist * great food YUM! Just had the salmon with mussels and sausage .. well although the cheese fries were way too heavy for an app - I was was too full to really enjoy the salmon. amazing great service- A+ in fact for service! I am thrilled that it is here - really raises the charisma of this part of JP. and with whole foods coming , really catapults this part of JP from the sketchy edge to a destination location. a little bit of room for improvement - better selection of draft brews - it seems like that huge bar is going to have more drafts, but dissappoints. More interesting lager and pilsners - not the heavy ales! a bit loud, they need some acoustic materials to soften the elevated din of other conversations and music. Would be fantastic to feature the work of local artists THAT would make it a real JP signature spot and soften the "corporate" feel ! Comfier seating would be an improvement- the Alchemist did have more comfortable booths, maybe a wall of banquette rather than the hard metal chairs They could use some more visual interest to break up the cavernous large room, the high top tables on the bar side do that somewhat, but they need more high sculptural elements to fill the emptiness of the room's middle - maybe some cool stuff hanging down from the rafters - or eccentric sculptural ornament that connects the place to JP's unique arts culture - and doesn't seem quite so "back bay" and commercial * ( The alchemist was good, but disjointed and didnt seem to know what it wanted to be - too much a music venue and the dining room seemed like an after thought )
(4)Matthew F.
OK I am going to make this short and sweet. Food: Good for comfort food / Atmosphere: Nice cool, open space / Service: Less than stellar. We had to wait 25 minutes for someone to get us a drink, and a long time to get the bill - just annoying. Also, it was not in the least crowded and there were around 7 servers on - not really sure how we couldn't get service. I am glad JP has a new place to have a few drinks that is big and modern but, they really need to work out some kinks. T
(2)Amy L.
I've been here a few times late night with a group of people after a nearby pottery class. The first time we went it was just what we were looking for. Good cocktails, friendly service and a late night menu for snacks. Going back a couple weeks later was a completely different experience. Our server was in no mood for our table although the restaurant was nearly empty on a Wednesday night at 11PM. She was openly rude and borderline hostile. When we asked for glasses of water along with our cocktails she elbowed my friend to move him out of the way so she could refill his glass. When someone else at the table asked for what types of vodka they had she couldn't be bothered to list them and snapped at us to look at the wall. Several other occurrences that just made us feel unwelcome. While I never like to dock money from a tip we didn't feel like we needed to leave 20%. When she saw we left a 12% tip she actually came to our table to express her displeasure. When my friend asked her if she wanted to discuss the reasons why we didn't leave a higher tip she snapped at us again. So we now go to Sanctuary across the street after pottery class.
(2)Brian S.
I'm surprised by all the negative reviews on here that end up with you getting comped a drink or dessert, or even getting pickles to start out your meal...my horrible experience has none of these 'perks'. I'll make it quick. We had a reservation for 8 at 8:45. We were seated at 9:15, without so much as an apology for the delay. The server, who was clearly new and inexperienced, so much of the gripes have little to do with her, took our drink orders quickly, but none of them arrived until 9:45. So we're an hour into our reservation and we've just been given drinks -- no pickles to munch on or even a complimentary $3 app to thank us for waiting half an hour for a table we reserved. Ok. They're new, it's a busy friday night. Alright. One of our drinks was still missing -- apparently if you order a cocktail that's not on the menu, even an old standard like an 'Old Fashioned' you'll confuse the 12 year old bartender and he'll have to actually go take a class on how to make your drink before you get it. By 10:00 we all had our drinks, and some of us were ready for our second. We ordered a slew of apps -- hey, we were planning to eat around 8:45 and now it was after 10 -- we were hungry. We waited awhile for our apps to come out -- but luckily our server brought out 3 dirty app plates for us to discuss while waiting. Yep, three dirty plates brought to our table -- greasy, covered in bread crumbs, dirty. Plus, three of them, for 8 people. We were perplexed. I called the "man of the house" over to inquire about the plates and see if he could take them away from the table. He did, without so much as an apology, and brought us back three clean plates. Put them down in a stack at the edge of our table. We told him we didn't know what the plates were for as there were only three of them, eight of us, and no sign of food. He told us (looking rather annoyed) he didn't know what they were for either, and then walked away. Finally, more plates came out along with our appetizers -- well, most of them. The plates were stacked at the end of the table leaving it up to us to pass the plates around. When we assessed our apps, we noted a few were missing...and when we inquired about them, our server, instead of apologizing and finding out what happened to them told us that sometimes the kitchen loses orders. She also asked us if we wanted her to go check on them. Ummmm, we ordered them. We're asking about them. YES. Go check on them. Turns out the deviled eggs were found, all alone in the kitchen, just sitting there waiting for us to eat them. That was comforting to know that food is just sitting around in the kitchen waiting to be claimed. The warmed olives we ordered also finally arrived after we had to basically argue to get them to come to the table with the other apps. It's a bowl of warmed olives, mind you. Can't be that complicated to get to a table. Our food arrived sporadically after that -- but the remaining apps stayed on the table, despite us being finished with them. The food was unremarkable over all. The fish puffs were the only thing anyone even commented on during the entire 3+ hour experience. And yeah, they were just fried battered fish sitting on top of cocktail sauce. Despite having one of the worst dining experience of our collective lives, we stayed for dessert...hell, we'd already put in 3 hours and we most likely won't be going back...so we figured we'd make a night of it. With the table covered in old apps (including head cheese and pate, mind you) and tons of empty glasses, we ordered a couple of desserts to share. After we passed around the dessert menus ourselves, the server slapped a pile of spoons down for us to pass around. The apps stayed on the table while we passed around a bowl of ice cream and a plate of bread pudding. The smell of headcheese and pate filling our noses as we tried to enjoy what was probably a pretty good dessert. The server did apologize about not clearing the apps in a timely manner (as we were figuring out the final bill). Apparently she just didn't have time -- I looked around, and for the last 30 minutes, we were probably one of 5 tables still sitting. There were more waitstaff in the dining room than there were diners, but whatever. She, and the rest of the staff, seemed to have plenty of excuses but no apologies. After all of this, we didn't get comped one thing. Not one round of drinks, not one appetizer, not one dessert. We spent nearly $500 on one of the worst dining experiences of our lives, and didn't get ONE apology for any of the experiences listed above. I hope they really stretch that $500, cause I know I won't be going back there, and will be discouraging my friends from going. I understand the place is new...but it's owned by people who have at least two other successful places in Boston. Besides, everyone can have a bad night...but to not apologize or even try to make it right when there were clearly multiple problems? Poor form.
(1)Richard R.
The food was !!AWESOME!! and I'm both a chef and a foodie. The creme brulee was ok but everything else we had was delicious. the service was top notch. I'm planning to visit again soon.
(4)Doctor W.
Before launching into what might be perceived as a biased diatribe that can be written off as based on a bad experience at a place that's just getting off the ground, let me offer some context: 1. My wife and I really wanted to like this place. 2. We had read the yelp reviews to date and were ready to give the benefit of the doubt (see #1) since we live really close 3. We're recent transplants to JP, so I'm not really nostalgic for anything, so the negative review isn't some sort of knee-jerk reaction to change (alchemist was perfectly fine IMO, mind you) 4. This is my inaugural yelp review - was waiting for the right moment. So here goes: My wife and I had been thinking about trying Canary Square for a while, but figured it would be best to wait a little while while they worked out the kinks. A couple of weeks post-opening, we decided to give it a go. Act I - The Plot Builds We arrived around 6 on a Saturday night. (I had called ahead and was told that they don't take reservations for parties less than 6) given that we are = 2, we were advised to get in before 6:30 PM as it would be very crowded after that. Anyway, we were seated promptly, although instead of being seated at any one of the numerous empty regular tables in the dining room, we were encouraged to take one of the high tops at the bar. Fine, whatevs. Menus arrive. Beer list is ok, not as good as Alchemist's was or The Haven's is. Cocktails are on the back of the menu. Pretty much the usual gamut of "reimagined classics" and something or other with St. Germain in it. By the way, who orders these? But I digress. Cocktails were perfectly serviceable, but kind of weird to have with pickles. Mrs. ordered the crepe (mushroom and spinach w/ onion jam) app and roasted chicken entree (comes w/ brussels sprouts + bacon, but Mrs. asks for no bacon). I went with the chili and pulled chicken sandwich, with a side of "fresh greens". Our orders go in and we wait, a bit on the longish side, but nothing like the other horrorshow reviews here. Group next to us seems generally pleased, so I'm hoping for the best. Apps arrive - crepes unmemorable, and filling very oily (didn't know canola oil is a condiment). Chili is a hot mess. Spicy, which is good, but not a good kind of spicy. Aggressive up front heat with no real flavor. Tasted like I opened a can of five different things that are in chili, heated them up separately, and then threw them in a bowl with some undercooked beans. Dizz Ass Ter. Act II. Whodunnit? After that stellar opening act, the entrees arrive. My sandwich looks completely innocuous. Wife's chicken looks good, except for a piece of meat in the bowl that looks suspiciously like bacon. One of the benefits to being married to a non-pork eater is that I get to confirm/deny the presence of pork. As a pork lover, I am up to the challenge. So there is definitely a piece of bacon in those brussels sprouts, in fact quite a delicious piece. And the sprouts are bathed in a nice-looking sheen of sauce that can be generated only from the magical healing powers of meat of porcine origin. Definitely bacon up in there. Anyway, we send it back, along with the "fresh greens" side, which I mistakenly assumed were, well, cooked greens, but were actually a side salad (yes, I'm the ignorant Texan who sees chili, pulled meat sanwich and cole slaw on a menu and assumes that there's cooked greens available) 30 seconds later, the same 2 plates we sent back are on their way back to our table. The entree because the chef claims that there was definitely no bacon on the plate (maybe because I ate it?) and the greens, well, I still don't know why those came back. Manager basically confronts us and maintains that there is no bacon in there, and that it tastes bacon-y because the chicken is cooked on a wood burning grill. So wife orders the vegetable lasagna. Act III. Sad denouement. I muddle my way through the sandwich, which was totally average. Lasagna rolls out about 10 minutes later. Points for them having expedited that, but the interior of the lasagna is cold. Also, this dish is terrible. Given that the story is getting long, here's the high (low) points of that dish: 1. It's a stack of sliced, grilled vegetables. Super super smoky grilled vegetables. Not much cheese in sight. I assume these vegetables were cooked on the same magical baconizing grill, but the result basically tastes like smoking 3 marlboro reds while drinking a V-8. 2. Lots and lots of vegetable skins. Eggplant skins are foregiveable, but winter squash skins? Seriously? Apparently that new mandolin does a bang up job. We made a nice pile of all that rind-y goodness on my plate, which I pretended was a diorama of a fur trapper's camp in the old west, only instead of muskrat, he was trapping butternut squash If you made it this far, thanks, and apologies. I think you could say we won't be back.
(1)chris b.
I haven't dined here on weekdays, so I can't speak to how the place behaves other than weekend.... but their weekend staff is extraordinary. I usually have breakfast/brunch at the bar. They have a bartender there who actually shook my hand firmly as soon as I sat down and when I left. I've never had any Boston bartender welcome me that warmly to a restaurant. The food is excellent ... I usually order some variation of eggs ... (not salty at all)... portions are great value for price, and they refilled my coffee after only 3 sips. I really hope Canary stays around for many years to come... Live Long and Prosper as Leonard Nimoy would say.
(5)Emily S.
It's a really good start- right now, the neighborhood's enthusiasm for such a place is almost choking it before it can get itself figured out. They can't seem to handle the volume of people yet. I wouldn't recommend going on a Friday night if you're actually hungry. We waited 45 minutes for a 2-seater- they were conspicuously taking much larger groups first- then another hour and 15 minutes for food. The service was great, however- the waitress was fast with drinks and manager responded to our clear looks of distressed hunger by comping a round of drinks (the expensive round) and an appetizer. This place has all the clear makings of a great restaurant but needs some time still. Also, while I see where they're going with the food (kind of like CBC in Cambridge), my mac and cheese was bland and my boy friend's burger was claw-shaped. Kind of weird.
(3)Ariana G.
Let me start by saying the drinks here are great and they have a fantastic beer selection. If I were rating it on a place to drink, they would get four stars for sure. The food is a whole other story. Wow, was it ever really, really bad. $11 for shrimp app... two shrimpy shrimps... Had a shrimp app at Morton's the following night for $19 and got four... So per shrimp cost is higher at Canary Square??? Cost aside, they sucked. They were so burnt from the grill and swimming in some nasty hot pepper oil. Had we not eaten the dish on the first bite, I would have sent it back. Next, dinner and man oh man, it went from bad to worse. Grilled asparagus, try blackened. Pork tacos, try steel wool. Ate at the bar, told the bartender about the quality of the food, he comped some stuff and took some things off. That was super cool of him and I was not going to write a review because I appreciated that.. But after not sleeping all night with heartburn, I thought the public should be warned. DO NOT EAT HERE!
(1)Kate L.
I've gone here a few times. I've always received good service and excellent food. The swiss chard salad changed my life. Now it's the only thing I get when I go there (although the other night I shared that and the grilled cheese with avocado with someone). Bacon vinaigrette, candied pecans, pulled chicken and swiss chard. Holy S. It's awesome. I've had the yucca fries a few times, too. Each time the sauce that it came with was different (once the butter was melted, once it was solid and once it looked like mayo) but each time is was yummy. Solid restaurant with solid food. If only that salad weren't so damn good, I'd branch out and try other foods...but the thought of going there and not getting that salad is sad.
(4)Anne C.
Maybe I'm easy to please, but I had a good time at Canary Square. Our waitress was super-friendly, the place looks really good, and they have an excellently huge beer list. We showed up at 4:30 on a Saturday, so I can't speak to their dinner rush, late night, or brunch scene. The reason we went to so early, in addition to generally being starving, is that we have a one-year-old and are smart enough not to try and take him out with us at a regular dinner hour. For what it's worth, everyone from the host to the busboy was friendly to us and our son, so I'd say this place *is* kid-friendly, at least during their slow hours. The food was tasty, although it turns out they offer a limited menu before 5pm, so my husband and I both ordered the cheeseburger and fries, and we split a mixed green salad (which was delicious and gigantic). Most of the limited menu is appetizers Anyway, good food, nice atmosphere. I'd go back.
(4)Tom M.
My girlfriend and I went here mid-January 2011 before reading any reviews on yelp. I'm glad we did because there seems to be a disproportionate number of negative reviews that are not representative of our experience. I understand some folks are more critical than others when it comes to service, food, atmosphere, etc., but this place was very good in all aspects AND it was packed with people. There was a nice mix of folks too. I hate walking into a place and seeing one type of customer: old people, or college kids, or just families. This place attracted all types of folks. The place has an impressive number of tables and large bar. It can accommodate far more people inside than you'd expect given the appearance from outside. There is a nice area in the back with couch (built-ins) seating for a place to sit and relax and enjoy some drinks with friends. We liked the options on the menu (my girlfriend is vegetarian, I am a meatatarian) and had no problem finding a good drink at the bar. The service was excellent. I had the mac and cheese with ham and a side of mashed potatoes, while my girlfriend had the mushroom and spinach crepes. We tried their "Popcorn of the day" which was rosemary and sea salt popcorn and it was very good. I see some people have criticized charging $3 for this item, but it was worth it. It came out hot and was very tasty. I'd never think to add rosemary to popcorn but it worked well. I didn't care for the type of cheese they used in the mac and cheese but I'm not going to deduct a star for how a certain type of cheese tastes. My girlfriend tried it and LOVED the flavor. This sort of thing is subjective. The mashed potatoes were excellent. I think mashed potatoes can be ruined with too little or too much milk, but their texture and moisture were just right. My girlfriend loved her meal. The food, service, and tax portion of the bill came to $15 per person. Tough to beat that in the Boston area given the atmosphere and food quality. If you expect every meal on the menu to be perfect or the temperature of your seating area be 'just right', then you probably won't get a meal for $15. $3 for popcorn probably gives them a $2.75 profit margin, which I imagine is helpful to cover some of their initial startup costs. Even if they continue to charge for the popcorn, it's worth the anticipation and the enjoyment of that first bite. Many reviews cited issues that people thought may be attributed to the restaurant having opened recently. Maybe there are some kinks to work out that are associated with the opening a new restaurant, though we didn't notice anything. I do remember The Haven restaurant a block away wasn't accepting credit cards this summer, but within a month or two from opening, began taking credit cards. I expect these sort of minor issues to come up when a restaurant is new but they don't ruin my night. I think Canary Square will be around for awhile and will provide thousands of enjoyable meals for the people to swing by We will be back soon because the whole experience was very enjoyable and I'm excited to return, hence 5 stars.
(5)Liz T.
Great place. The french toast was amazing. Staff was great. When they bring you the bill, they bring you cute notebooks to doodle in and you can flip thru and see other people's doodles. A very cute touch.
(4)Rosa S.
I want to like Canary Sq but I just am not there yet. I went for dinner when they first opened and had the mussels and wings, which were good just not good enough to return. Then tried brunch and it was wackalicious. I know I should be happy that Triple Ds is gone but I sorta miss the Alchemist. I dont drink beer so I dont care for your beer selections. The JP themed cocktails were cute. I may stop in for a drink but for food I will head on down the road to Galway.
(3)tricia k.
i still can't decide what to think about canary square. three stars for my ambivalence. i think i miss the alchemist more than i like canary square, but i guess that is somewhat irrelevant. the place has probably the best beer list in JP - maybe second best to the behan but canary square changes their list more frequently - and has decent, if a bit pricey, food, though there are literally only two vegetarian entree options. every time i go to canary square, i want to grab the manager by the shoulders and shake him/her and yell "don't you know where you are? put some more freaking vegetables on the menu!" contrary to another recent reviewer, i've noticed that they do change their menu seasonally. maybe not every week or every month, but if you wait a bit to go back, you'll see new offerings. consider coming here if you like yuppies, waitresses who obviously spend the majority of their time partying, beer, and meat.
(3)Adam W.
This place is garbage from top to bottom. Very rude owners/managers, bumbling service and greasy, overpriced food all over the menu.
(1)Colleen B.
I've been here four times now and have loved it every time! Each time I've been on a weekday night for drinks and dinner. First of all, this place has a great craft beer selection, which is always important to me. I much prefer the layout, decor, and overall atmosphere of Canary Square over that of the Alchemist, which was the previous restaurant in this space. With regard to the service, I've been happy close to 100% of the time... The first time I was there was the busiest, and at times, the service was a bit slow. However, the other times have been great. The servers and bartenders are friendly, and my food orders have been ready in a timely manner. A few times I've been curious about some beers I haven't tried before, and the bartender has always given a sample to taste. Love that! The quality of the food has been above average. One of the best things on the menu by far is the warm swiss chard salad. When you read it on the menu, at first glance it sounds like an odd combination, but trust me; it's deeeelicious!! Most recently, my boyfriend and I started with the wood grilled garlic bread, which was quite good. I've also tried their burger (really enjoyed it), the ham and cheese sandwich (had tasty, thinly sliced ham on it), and the pulled chicken sandwich (overall I liked it but it was just slightly on the dry side). The hand cut fries are awesome! All in all, this is an excellent addition to the neighborhood. I'll most certainly be back many more times! Cheers!
(5)Kristina F.
I know Canary Square is new. So let me preface this by saying I think it has promise, but has a long way to go, in my opinion. I think it can make it. It's already better thank Triple D's (haha) and Alchemist. I am willing to give these folks a second chance. I can say I'm impressed with their transformation of the place. Friendly and open. But the garage door tables were certainly chilly. And real candles would be cooler instead of the fake ones. Bar set up was pretty nice as well. I will also say our waiter and barstaff was nice too. Ok, but I know what ya'll really want to hear about: the food. For apps and snacks we ordered the popcorn. Ok, listen up. Do not pay for the popcorn. First off, it really should be free - like bread. Plus, it's cold. Boo! Who wants cold popcorn? Wings were the major highlight. Deviled Eggs were also good (only three!) and the salt cod fritters were appealing with a spicy cocktail sauce. But it went all downhill from there, unfortunately. I ordered the roasted chicken. Can't go wrong with chicken and I love chicken. And I've never met a chicken I didn't like and thought, this is a lay up. No one messes up chicken. My waiter said it was one of their best dishes. But alas. It was not good. It was so salty. Really salty. Moist, yes, but it was like cooked in saltwater or something. I ate it, because I was hungry. I didn't eat all of it (portion way too big) and shared with my friend who sent her Mac and cheese back because it tasted sour. I tried it and I had to agree that it was kinda gross. My mashed potatoes were really bland. Ironically they needed salt or something! Brussels sprouts could have been roasted longer and I didn't get the radishes with them? The were cooked with these huge chunks of bacon, and you know I love bacon but not sure if it added to the dish since they were sitting in the au jus of the chicken and not roasted enough. I think the bacon added to the saltiness of the dish (minus the potatoes). I was really disappointed in the dish. The other members of my party had mixed reviews. (See Jason F review.) Our waiter was cool and took the Mac and cheese back with no attitude. He was super nice about it and took it off the bill. Oh, drinks! I had the basil grape mojito. To sweet for a mojito- needed more punch! Wait time was not bad. We walked in at 9pm on a Friday and got seated by 930. Also everything I wrote we also wrote in their guest book. Honesty is the best policy. We'll see if they take any of our comments to heart, or if they brush them off and do their own thing. I'm hoping there's a change...
(2)Stefanie O.
This place looks a whole lot different than it did as the Alchemist (a place that I was a big fan of) but the open layout actually looks good and creates a good brunching environment. We came here on Mother's Day with a group of 5 (none of us there to celebrate our own mother's) but managed to get a seat, even quicker than the 45 minutes they predicted it would take. The brunch menu is big and filled with all the staples, and they have some pretty creative bloody marys (including one with bacon vodka); the traditional one was great, so I am sure the others are too since they probably use the same base mix. Our waitress was super nice despite the bust environment and made sure we always had drinks and full plates. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their food and we even took a peek at the lunch/dinner menu, which looks great; we plan on finding out soon!
(4)Claire N.
Great atmosphere, nice people, great beer selection, good creative food.
(5)Steven T.
OK: I've changed my original review. I'm still not a fan of their cocktail specials, and the deep-fried Twinkie is atrocious, but.... My meals haven't beel all that bad. Not great, but not awful. Their mac n' cheese will never compare to the late-lamented "Zons" in Hyde Square, but they -do- serve it with a nicely-sized salad, so you can at least pretend you're eating healthy. I've also had a very lovely asparagus salad which could almost be considered 'dinner-sized' I'm also a big fan of their butterscotch bread pudding. (it's orgasmic. really!) Service has always been ok. Not great, but none of the wait-staff seems to suffer from ADD, which makes for a pleasant experience. The outdoor seating area is the best. The actual dining room is waaaaay too noisy (remember how your high-school cafeteria sounded?) and I really feel they could/should muffle the noise with a ciuple of area rugs. I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here - but if you're in the 'hood, its a decent place to grab a bite to eat.
(3)missy J.
I just went there tonight for drinks and apps. The customer service was excellent!!!! We initially were going to sit at the bar but decided to sit at the high tops instead. Worried that a waiter wasn't going to come so we stopped a random waiter walking by. With in one minute our waiter came to the table to greet us and the next moment the random waiter came back with waters for us. ( Great example of excellent team work amongst the staff!) I had the sangria which was a bit bitter for my liking. The waiter offered to make me another drink to my liking but i declined. However, I appreciated the offer very much! We had the swedish meatballs as an app. It was a bit salty for my liking. So I don't think I would order that again but other than that it was very nice place to hangout our for us grown and sexy people! :)
(4)Heather K.
Second visit to Canary Square and we experienced a 100% improvement. Service was quick and friendly. The drink that was not so great last time is now off of the menu. We tried the Stonybrook this time and it was excellent. Wings were seriously AMAZING...perfectly seasoned with a refreshingly light sauce. salmon and guiness stew were delicious! I take back all of the negative things that I wrote after my previous visit. Looks like this place is maturing into the kind of place I'm happy to live around the corner from!
(5)Kestrel D.
Great thing: they update their menu so frequently. Everything remains unique and yummy. They seem to go based on seasonality and patron feedback. Good job, CS.
(4)Sarah Q.
I have to say, I really liked the Alchemist. I was so bummed when they closed and converted into Canary Square. I loved their staff, the ambiance, the drinks, the food...sigh. Canary Square is okay - I do like the new layout - but will never live up the Alchemist.
(3)Carolynn G.
I just finished telling 5 different co-workers about my dinner here last night. I insisted they must go! I was shocked to log in and see a variety of ratings, but perhaps since they are new they are still ironing out details?... I dined last night with a friend, around 6:45 on a Thursday. Seemed somewhat busy, but we were able to snag the last table outside (lots of outdoor seating! +) I love the atmosphere of their outdoor seating area. Its big and has pretty grasses growing with small white lights and is very summery. Our waitress was spunky, cute and friendly and gave us good recommendations. I had a strawberry gin drink which should be the alcoholic theme of a warm summer night, it was perfect (+). After some talking and questions, I ordered the half chicken with creamed corn and odd (in a good way) potato string things ($17). My friend ordered the pork shoulder with risotto ($15). When our plates arrived they were nicely arranged, but more importantly - the food was DIVINE. This is why I don't understand the poor reviews. The combo of dishes on my plate paired well together. The chicken was insane, I have never had chicken so flavorful and cooked to perfection (+). Good sized portion too, I loved every bite. My friend loved her dish as well (+) and sent her plate back clean...no really, like white..as if no food had ever been on it. We both took a bit of the other's dinner and commented we could switch and be just as pleased. Overall, this was the best dinning experience I've had in...1 or 2 years maybe? I'm sorry for those that didn't love it, but it was a home run for us. Great atmosphere, perfect service, tasty drinks and a dinner I would have paid $25+ for. 5 stars, I'll be back!
(5)Jay B.
Great decor- nice upscale pub menu. Wait was a little long but it was their opening day, and the excellent food was well worth the wait. Had the BBQ pulled chicken sandwich- awesome. Will definitely be back.
(4)Karen J.
Wow, I never checked yelp before going to the much anticipated new place in JP and after reading some of the reviews, I may have hesitated and what a mistake that would have been. We walked in at 8:15 and were seated immediately. The food was great. Others have mentioned the chicken sandwich which was really good but the slaw with it deserves accolades as well. The atmosphere is cool. It's a tad loud but that's the kind of place it is. We were also smack in the middle of the place and it may have been quieter on the perimeter. Our server was very attentive. I ordered my salad and appetizer together with my husbands meal and when the salad arrived 45 seconds before the rest of the food, she was immediately on it and came over to apologize. Having worked in restaurants I would never even attempt a new place in the first weeks...of course it's crazy...they are trying to figure things out (I once worked in a VERY high end place in this city and the owners didn't order enough silverware resulting in us servers, hoarding and hiding spoons and forks and thus causing others to search in vain while not serving guests - sorry, it happens!). It takes weeks to iron out kinks so give them a break. I only gave 4 stars because we haven't tried all the menu items but if last night was any indication, I will come back and change it to 5. Thanks for opening Canary Square. We love the new addition in JP!!
(4)Erica L.
I was excited to to go to Canary Square and even though I'm giving it 3 stars now we're definitely going to go again - they're in their infancy. I like the atmosphere though the tables and chairs could use a little more privacy and warmth. Two thumbs up for child friendliness - crayons, coloring placemat, cup with lid, highchairs, booster seats and hallelujah a changing table in the bathroom! My martini and my husband's mixed drink (I can't remember what it was) were great - a big step up from The Alchemist. The pickles were good too. My 2 1/2 year old ate them all (after proclaiming she only eats sweet ones) a little carb like a bread, breadstick or cracker would be great addition - they could take a note from The Haven on this one. We ordered the Local Apple And Arugula, Aged Cheddar, Curried Walnuts as an app. It was good but there was a little bit of apple core in the salad which I was surprised at. My husband had Fire Grilled Pork Chop, Mashed Potato, Homemade Apple Sauce which he liked. The pork chop was massive - he took a lot home. My daughter got the chicken fingers off the kids menu, she ate one - but she's little so it doesn't mean anything. I tried them. They were good. I had the Curried Mussels, Coconut, Scallions & Ginger app as an entree. I actually ended up sending them back b/c they tasted fishy. Someone came out of the kitchen to tell me I could order something else and that they would take them off the check. They also told me that they chef thought they were fine. That made me feel bad and I kind of felt it was unnecessary to say but whatever...I'm sure he thought they were fine, otherwise he wouldn't have sent them out. Duh! We had to try the deep fried twinkies for dessert b/c well, we had to. I wasn't impressed but that didn't stop me from finishing everything on the plate. The place is right near our house so we'll definitely be going back. If they can stay consistent - something The Alchemist had trouble with - they'll do fine. I think they're a good replacement for Zon's (which is missed). I do dislike the TV but I guess, since there's only 1, it's ok. :(
(3)Luke A.
Give this place a try. It's new-ish. There is a fun feel here. Maybe it's just the ghost of doble D's or tripple D's or whatever it was but it 's a cool spot for a drink and a burger. You can tell the ownership was trying to take bar food/decor a little further without alienating the reg bar crowd. It wasn't pricey and the staff was great.
(4)Nancy T.
Good variety of food and drinks for brunch. Came here at noon on a Sunday with a party of 9. Everyone found something on the menu to eat and no one ordered the same thing! They have the traditional classic brunch items as well as some dishes with their own twist. Definitely a place to try!
(4)Clare D.
Fun place, great vibe. Had amazing mac and cheese with ham and a good sized side of greens. The appetizer of pork shoulder sausage, bread, spicy mustard and pickled onions was delicious. Great beer selection and they make a great Manhattan. The server was super busy but very attentive and funny. Great support staff too, lots of bussers who were on top of their work. I'd recommend a table outside if possible but since the giant windows are open in the summer sitting inside is very nice too.
(3)Molly W.
No one is happier than me that Canary Square worked out their new-restaurant kinks and is now a well-oiled machine. YES! This bar is close to perfect. The space is impressive (love the raw materials), the drinks are top-notch and the music could keep me there all night long. Add in some gastro-pub-style food, and you've got yourself a night out! I love bringing friends here, because (in my mind) it epitomizes J.P. It's what I want people to think J.P. is like. Urban, hip, upscale but not pretentious... when's the last time you went to a bar like that in Boston? I usually come here for drinks and maybe a snack, but today I tried brunch. It was good! They have unusual options like Breakfast Fries (fries, hollandaise and a poached egg), a fritatta, huevos rancheros, and even a cheeseburger for those who just need something more. As far as dinner goes, this is what I have concluded: Canary Square is like a drunk friend who comes home and pulls a bunch of crazy shit out of the pantry and makes a sick feast with bizarre food items. Deviled Eggs, Pulled Pork Sammy, Mac n Cheese, Mushroom-gravy french toast....what!? It's like, so gross but so good. I do wish they had some lighter options, and I REALLY wish they would make their charcuterie more accessible... Please add cheese and accoutrements! And no more head-cheese.... I like Salami and Coppa, thanks. I mean, I am the Dutchess of Canary Square after all.... don't I get a say in these things? Hehe... (heart you!)
(4)Alice O.
The food is good and the drinks are awesome. I just wish the place had a little more (a lot more) soul. It so bland in both atmosphere and people. It is so vanilla. Blech!
(3)Joey C.
Checked out the newest bathroom in the hood. There was some buzz and long anticipation as to when this place was opening up. I guess we waited for the dust to settle and hopefully time for them to work out the little kinks based on other yelpers. Overall, I think I was expecting too much. A fancy chef from downtown, in a newly renovated location, I was expecting the menu to wow me. Instead the items were just a tiny bit ordinary. The items were more like comfort food and geared towards a more bar/casual setting i.e. roasted chicken, skirt steak, burgers, sandwiches, salads, salmon steak, etc. We ordered the crepe with mushrooms & spinach (reminded me of eating an omelette except it was sprinkled with herby stuff that gave off a bitter taste), burger (tasty) with some good fries and the skirt steak(just ok but more bitter green toppings) and we finished the night with the bread pudding (it was tasty but took a long while to get it). Our server started out really slow but then I think he kicked into gear and finished off above average. The draft beer selection was quite impressive and there are 3 big flat screens at the bar. If our expectations were more of a bar atmosphere, it would gain another star bc it seems like a nice hangout place to cozy up and watch a game. But if you're thinking it's a fancy bistro with a fancy chef that has moved into the hood hopefully bringing in some tres chic, try again. I will probably visit again when the temps warm up and they open up the patio and windows.
(3)Jennifer J.
Very surprised by all the negative reviews. Jeez, they've been open for a millisecond, give them a chance! In truth, It's probably more of a 4 star experience but I'm bumping it up to 5 to counteract the rest of you curmudgeons. I went with a friend for dinner last week and we had a very nice meal. We started with the popcorn as an appetizer, it was decent, didn't knock my socks off but I thought it was unique and it did it's job of tiding me over until the entrees came. The pickles were okay, feels like a gimmick to me though, I'd rather have a piece of bread. I liked the cocktail list, looking forward to trying them all. Can't remember what I ended up ordering but I liked it, and it was decently strong. I had two and ended up being a little buzzed. My friend and I shared the mac and cheese and the burger and we liked both. Burger was done exactly as requested, and the all important french fries got a thumbs up. Mac and cheese was good, not the best I've ever had but it hit the spot well enough. Prices might be a teensy bit steep for the quality of the food, but I'd probably say that about many restaurants in this city. Sometimes you end up paying more for the 'atmosphere' and general dining experience, and less for the quality of the cooking. And I definitely liked the atmostphere at CS, I think they did an amazing job renovating the space. Loved the Alchemist but I think this setup is so much better and has a much nicer flow to it. The Alchemist was too 'chopped up' and I found the layout to be somewhat awkward, a lot of dead space. I can be sort of sensitive and cranky about things like lighting levels and music levels and how closely you get shoved up against the next table. CS gets this stuff right in my book. Service was excellent, and the manager checked in with us once or twice in addition to our waitress. Never once felt ignored. Our food came out in a very reasonable amount of time. I think their menu choices will get refined as they go along, I bet that in six months time they will have sorted out what is too gimmicky and what is actually hitting people's taste buds the right way. Every restaurant needs that time to really hit their stride. So I'm welcoming Canary Square to JP, and looking forward to more meals in the future.
(5)Ricky R.
Sunday night kinda late it was a bit slow. Service was great, Kate was our server and she could not have been sweeter. Greeted at the door, sat, talked w Kate. Had salt cod fritters, jerk chicken wings, charcuterie board, and bacony Brussels sprouts. Everything was great, can't wait to go back and try more food and beer.
(5)Howe L.
This is a unique place in JP that balances a classy, yet young vibe. I didn't order any cocktails (which i hear is their claim to fame), but there is an interesting and wide selecting of draft beers. Service was average, but i was let down by the food. For brunch, the fritatta was overly dry and the sausage tasted like a fried ball of bland dough..eh
(3)Sara G.
I had the most delicious eggs Benedict of my life here on a recent Sunday afternoon. However, the rest of my party wasn't as lucky--none of them enjoyed their food, and another order of eggs Benedict came with one of the poached eggs being cooked all the way through. Service was also a bit slow. But I loved my food!
(4)Arafat K.
In John Keats's sonnet, "On First Looking into Chapman's Homer," Keats talks about how he's traveled much through realms of gold and similar goodly states and kingdoms, but he'd never truly experienced Homer until he read George Chapman's translation, written not in the more traditional iambic pentameter but in fourteen syllable lines he called "fourteeners." Keats felt that this served the dactylic hexameter of the original Greek much better than Pope's heroic couplets did. Even though Chapman was dead at the time, Keats still felt they were kindred spirits, or biffles. I love that poem, but I've never really understood how he felt--to discover a subtle variation on a universal theme that touches the soul and warms the heart and feels like a truly joyful discovery. Today, when I had the Canary Square burger, I finally got it. It was 4 PM on a Sunday. I hadn't had breakfast. Neither had my pal Declan VW. We had never heard of Canary Square. We went into The Haven for haggis, but they'd stopped serving food. One of the mournful drunks at the bar suggested Canary Square. The menu there was limited. A charcuterie plate, a burger, something else, something else. The burger came with fries and, for a dollar extra, you could smother the fries in Grafton Village cheddar sauce. (Cheddar lovers know what I'm talkin' about!!!!) We both chose the burger, because it was eleven dollars, and the great beer selection, high ceiling, exposed beams, general feeling of Good Design and upper middle class taste made us feel like this wouldn't be a bad burger. Plus, it was 4 in the afternoon, we were hungry, we had no gangland killings scheduled. We were serious men in search of serious food. The burger came and we gasped like a Victorian-era prostitute encountering John Holmes. The buns were perfect and brown (I don't trust buns that are too light), which meant a thick egg wash. I don't know if it was a brioche proper but it was reminiscent of one. The burger was properly modest: no bawdy top halves off here. The patties (props on their asking us about doneness) looked unremarkable, and there was some melted white cheddar on the top bun too. Lettuce (a single perfect leaf), slices of pickes, and a single slice of tomato was on the side. I picked up the greenly accoutrements (I'm trying to be poetic here, like how you can call fish "the scaly breed") and put them in the burger. Now I looked at the fries, and I felt like a man who was wrongly jailed for murder and is released after five years in prison. He looks from his wife (still hot) to his child, now significantly older. He doesn't know whom to embrace first. On the one hand, he's been alone for five years. On the other, fruit of his loins. Finally, I decided to taste a fry first. It wasn't perfect, but it was close to perfect. Why wasn't it perfect? Because I like the French style with narrower cuts, like La Voile or Petit Robert or Marliave etc. And these were thick-cut fries. Fries for a righteous man. And I realize that after talking up the masculinity of the burger, it's hypocritical to complain about the fries being too thick. But a) I'm not complaining, I'm just sayin' is all, and b) I'm a bacon-eatin', five-times-a-day prayin' Muslim. What's your point? The burger was the most perfect burger I've ever had in my life. And I've had _many_ burgers. (Seriously: I'm trying to schedule a gastric bypass operation.) I had a good burger a few weeks ago at Tasty Burger in Fenway, which I thought was a good example of burgercraft. But comparing that burger to the Canary Square burger is like comparing the Zodiac killer to Hitler. The Canary Square burger was exponentially, unimaginably, better. I've been thinking, and I believe the secret lies in how they spice their patty. I don't know what they do to it, but it's amazing. I'm going to come back soon and get a meatloaf if they have one on their menu and see if the magic translates into other ground beef dishes. Or maybe I'll get something else. I'm sure that nothing will live up to the magnificence of the burger because this was a once-in-a-lifetime concatenation of food circumstances. But I'm also sure that any restaurant that makes such a good burger must make good other things as well. Oh, and I also had a Dogfish Head 90 on tap, and it was nice to see something by Dogfish on tap that's not their 60 or brown ale.
(5)Wes V.
Two stars for an awesome beer selection. I would like to add another start because the food is actually pretty good, but the prices and service ruin it. I can not recommend this place at all because of the service. I've been in now about 10 times, and I think I've received "normal" service once out of the 10. Service at the bar is fine, and I would only head back to Canary Square for drinks at the bar only. The food, while tasty and freshly made, is definitely overpriced for the portions. They put it on a big plate, and usually have it presented nice, but it's smaller and more expensive than other places in the area. I have had brunch as well here, and have no complaints with the actual quality of the food, only that it's pricey for what you get. The shenanigans begin and end with the service here. The only people that seem to have any vested interest in doing their jobs in a timely manner are the bussers that fill your water glass. You WILL wait for noticeable, frustrating, and at times rude amounts of time to interact with your server. You WILL see them standing around and talking while your drinks are empty, or your plates are clear, or even if there is nothing on your table. It's mind-boggling to me how long it takes to pay your bill at this place. Each and every time I have gone here and sat at a table, the time in between asking for the bill and checking out has been comparable to the amount of time it took to get the food, which was not fast either. I'm not sure if the staff is just so "chill" that they think people like sitting at a table with no drinks, food, or waiting to leave, but it sucks from a customer's point of view. Do not expect to get in and out of this place, and in my experience, you can expect to leave here saying "jeez that was bad" and go somewhere else to get the bad vibes out.
(2)Dani K.
Drinks were good, but the prices here are not worth the portions. Also it took them wayyy too long to bring us the check at the end! we ended up waiting around 25 minutes at the with just water at our table. The vibe was not as I expected from the outside, (I know this might not be their fault but) a lot of people brought their young kids who were obviously bored and fussy, not the cool hangout bar I imagined it would be. anyway drinks = decent, prices = too high, service = way too slow
(2)Jennifer D.
Good food & drinks, a lot of unique & delicious beers. The service is very attentive one minute, and then gone for 30 minutes. But overall worth going!
(4)Michelle D.
So much thanks for hosting Love Night's Reunion this past weekend! This place is beautiful, clean, and fun. I wish I had gotten dinner here, but I didn't.. that's okay, I believe it's similar to how it was when this same business owned Common Ground, which I used to enjoy. The drink/beer selection was amazing, which always helps too. It is far away from where I live as I don't have a car and I live in Davis Square, but I admit it actually didn't feel like such a trek. The walk from Stoney Brook T was very easy. I hope that Love Night can make a comeback here, and I look forward to enjoying more great times here.
(5)chelsea h.
Update: came here again tonight. Server was actually nice this time but horribly slow. He took forever to get us beers. And after the food was dropped at the table (by another waiter) he never came over to check on us and see how we were doing. On top of that, my boyfriends beer was empty and he wanted another, at the beginning of the meal... he never asked him if he wanted another. We asked for the check and it took at least 25 minutes, if not longer for him to come back with the check. And- the couple beside us was in the same boat because we overheard them talking about it since they seat you basically on top of other patrons here. To make things worse, the lasagna... While delicious was TINY... and cost $14. Not worth it. I left this restaurant still hungry... which has literally never happened to me before in my life.
(1)Jennifer G.
Came here on a Monday evening after work with my coworkers. There's indoor and outdoor seating, so we opted for outdoor seating since it was such a nice day out. They were able to seat our party of ten right away. Our waitress was attentive and friendly for the most part. She took our drink orders right away and was pretty good about filling our waters, which is a plus. She was a little annoyed when we would switch seats sometimes though when more people came, but oh well. If you're getting a cocktail, you MUST try the basil grape mojito. It was delicious! My coworkers were looking forward to coming here just for this mojito. It definitely exceeded my expectations - I know I sound like I'm exaggerating a lot just for a drink, but it was that good. Very fresh and perfect blend of flavors. Even comes with two grapes in the drink as a nice treat. Wish I got another, but decided not to on a Monday night. Monday nights from 4p-6p are dollar oyster nights! Ordered two dozen to share, and they were very good. Not too salty like some oysters can be. Ask for a side of their hot sauce. It's some kind of habanero spice, but it adds the perfect amount of kick without being too spicy. I wasn't too hungry since I ate a late lunch, but wanted to try their mac and cheese. You can get a side of it for only $5. I also got the smoked pork taco. Mac and cheese was pretty good, but nothing special. It hit the spot. The taco was alright. It comes with pickled onion, cotija cheese, scallion aioli, and pumpkin seed salsa. It was tasty, but there were so many flavors going on that I couldn't quite make out the individual ingredients. It's also very messy. I folded my taco to eat it and the taco started breaking and the sauces were dripping everywhere. Probably wouldn't get it again. Most of our party ordered burgers and they were pretty satisfied. You can add a fried egg! I would've definitely gotten this if I was hungrier. Fried egg on a burger is the best thing ever. On to the dessert...we decided to order three slices of chocolate menu for the table to share. Don't get it. Seriously. Unless you want to pay $8 for the tiniest rectangular slice of cake ever. It was also really hard to eat. I had to dig my spoon in pretty hard just to get the tiniest piece. The cake itself was already tiny. Needless to say, we all felt pretty ripped off about the cake at that point. Will definitely be back for burgers and mojitos next time!
(3)Lindsay M.
I'm going to be honest, I hesitate to give these guys a 5 star rating, because I don't want the secret to get out and everyone flood this place. BUT they really deserve it. We went for a graduation dinner and had such an amazing experience. The atmosphere is wonderful, it is very open concept but I didn't find myself having to yell at the person beside me just so they could hear me. Their service is absolutely outstanding, their food is OMGee kind of amazing, not one of our party of seven had any complaints. In fact I don't believe I have ever been out to dinner with that many people and seen everyone literally finish everything on their plates (one person even licked the plate clean...lol as a joke) The deserts even better! So rich and delicious! I would even go back just for desert sometime! You really can not get much better than this place. My only regret is not trying it sooner! I will definitely be returning as often as possible! I can definitely say it is by far the most outstanding restaurant in the Boston area I have been to! ALSO for us vegetarians they do have a LOT more choices than other places.
(5)Pattie R.
We've eaten here many times since we moved to JP in January. We are vegetarians and they always have several veggie options. They change their menu seasonally and all of the food is fresh and prepared to order. The staff are always really friendly and great at making suggestions. They have a great beer menu and always have a drink special and beer flights. The black bean burger is always good. If they have either the Brussels sprouts or the cauliflower appetizer order it. And try the deserts, especially the sticky toffee pudding. They also do brunch on the weekends. Try the French toast. It's amazing.
(5)Vanessa J.
Had a great experience at dinner. We were celebrating so we did it up big: lots of apps, salads, dinner entrees, cocktails. All was delicious. Loved the atmosphere!
(4)Adria R.
Pros: We (3 of us) went on a Sunday for brunch and didn't have to wait. The atmosphere is warm and bright, trendy but casual. Excellent Bloody Mary. Good food. Cons: The (brunch/lunch) portion sizes were a bit small, which is almost never a complaint I/we have. The chairs are very uncomfortable. I'd love to go back for dinner and try a beer flight.
(4)Vanessa M.
Nice ambiance, but that was the absolute wimpiest pour on a $12 glass of wine ever. Like ridiculous. And it was a NBA championship finals game, everyone was watching and they wouldn't put on the sound. Won't be going back.
(3)Sen M.
Oh Canary Square... Your braised pork is too good, it's never enough. Though that saves me from clogging my arteries with pork fat. But alas, I go to a restaurant for the performance. And though I loved the show, the performers left when we shouted for an encore. And I was left wanting more and wondering what the hell happened. For that, 3 stars.
(3)Jacob M.
Excellent food. Great drinks. And superb service. Our server Luke was beyond amazing tonight. Attentive, helpful, and super friendly. I'd definitely go back, not only for the great food but for their incredible service.
(5)William W.
I made a Yelp account specifically to write this review. My significant other and I have eaten at Canary Square twice--once for dinner and once for brunch, both terrible experiences. Don't be fooled by the restaurant's promising ambiance or stylish light fixtures, both the food and service here are borderline atrocious and should be avoided at all costs. Our first trip (late 2014) was a late dinner plagued by an arrogantly theatrical bow-tied waiter that made the entire experience insufferable. This did nothing to improve Canary Square's expensive, often underwhelming menu selection, and we left grated and dissatisfied. Blaming the waiter for the first trip's unescapable unpleasantness, we tried again for a late, desperate brunch. While we were lucky enough to avoid the bow-tied cretin we had the first time (he was still working), our new server was equally incompetent, forgetting orders and even going so far as to bring us a doughnut rather than a dessert menu. Appetizers were brought out in strange, almost fifteen minute intervals, and our entrees arrived before there was room on the table to fit them. The Square's food, following this strong trajectory, remained exclusively bland and overpriced. Mixed Greens ($7), consisted of a few lettuce variants drowning in an oily, over-salted vinaigrette. Despite acting as a salad, the appetizer didn't include a single additional ingredient--a surprising twist given its seven dollar price tag. Brunch Fries ($5), sounded amazing with its promise of poached eggs and hollandaise, but couldn't have tasted worse. The fries were crunchy to the point of being almost burnt, splattered with the smallest drip of a noxious cream sauce, and topped with the most arbitrarily placed hardboiled egg. Biscuits & Gravy ($11), were passable, but small given the price of the entree. My southern heritage cringed at the dish's presentation and flavor profile. The gravy exuded a salty blandness, while sausage was nearly absent from the meal. Two sunny-side eggs completed the plate, and were probably the best part of the entire trip. Finally, an Omelette ($9) advertised the flavorful combination of brie and mushrooms, but couldn't have been more bland. After covering it in ketchup and pepper, I quickly realized I could've made a better one myself. One slice of butterless, dry toast completed the ensemble. tl;dr - you deserve better.
(2)Ben C.
I am surprised to see as many less-than-excellent reviews about Canary Square. We have been 3 times in the last month, and for good reason: the food/cocktails and service is awesome. This is a great place to eat in JP; we've been wanting for a place with affordable, quality food with an appreciation for/understanding of a finely crafted cocktail, and we have found it here! Their food is delicious, creative and beautifully presented. We started with the squash cappalletti (incredible), and for our entrees enjoyed the braised short rib and roasted pork loin (both amazing). On a recent visit, we also tried these snacks: roasted garlic, griddles cheese, and the crispy cauliflower. Very impressed with the quality these snacks...they were really delightful. A perfect accompaniment to a few of the cocktails from their unique list. Their beer selection appears to be varied and good, but we generally prefer whiskey over beer, so can't speak to it specifically. The staff is friendly, helpful and well-informed. Our latest server was Dillard, who was polite and personable. Looking forward to returning soon to work our way down the menu!
(5)Becca P.
Started off with the charcuterie and cheese ($21)...it was an okay size for 4 of us. The bread disappeared instantly and it took a while to get more since they decided to toast the second batch of bread but not the first. Second batch was still not enough... We all got the burger and flight since it was $15 but that does include the cheese ($1) and other add on ($2)...the flight took a while because they ran out of empty glasses. Restaurants should know to order enough glassware and such (I used to work in many restaurants and helped start one up). The burger was okay. I rather eat eat a big Mac though to be honest. The flight was okay. I'm not a big beer person. They were all very light. One random, annoying thing...our table was under the pipe so the condensation was dripping on us and our food. They moves us to a nearby table but seemed sort of hesitant. Later I saw someone wipe it down with a stick...was strange and seemed icky. After reading the other bad reviews, I really wanted to give this place a change but the service was sort of bad. Took a while to get our burgers. The waiter was nice though. He came back and apologized for the wait. I wouldn't come back though.
(2)Lauren D.
Went here for brunch a few weeks back. It was a nice day so we were able to sit on the patio. Menu is a bit limited and pricey but you've gotta try the Brunch Fries! To die for...
(4)Sarah C.
I cannot say enough good things about Canary. The bartenders and wait staff are always super friendly, the cocktails are great, the beer selection is robust, and the food is excellent. Their black bean burger is unparalleled in Boston, and their cheeseboard is reliably wonderful. Their brunch fries are a dream come true and their pumpkin French toast this fall/winter was out of this world. The ambiance is great, with beautiful decor and music that is always fun. Go for drinks, go for dinner, go for brunch, or go for their Sunday night movie where they play a classic and give out free delicious popcorn - just go.
(5)Julianne C.
Stopped here for drinks a couple weeks back. I tried a specialty drink however the menu is very Mezcal heavy which didn't appeal to me. They have a wide beer and cider menu as well which was nice. I was less than thrilled the the chocolate mousse we had for dessert. Good, not great.
(3)R.E. H.
Been here several times now - and with the new chef. The serving sizes are well portioned (who wants Cheesecake factory?). The food is thoughtful, cooked with skill and is overall tasty. The drinks are also quite good. The punch has become a favorite with our friends. The front of the house is always on point - very friendly, accommodating. Despite the review saying this is not a kid friendly place - there are plenty of families in at 5pm with their children. No one seems to suffer. I find that food is overall underwhelming in Boston and the folks at Canary Square are trying hard to make a neighborhood place that is enjoyable and gives an overall good experience.
(4)Eddie G.
My friend and I went for drinks, Bloody Marys and some food. The BM's were pretty strong and quite spicy. We had two each and were pretty wobbly walking out! Our burger was ordered medium and it was perfect. Food was much better this time around...
(4)Joe J.
This place looks so promising on the outside...and even on the inside. Good decor, decent music selection and a great drink list make for what would seem to be a go-to spot if you're in the area. Unfortunately, our experience was far from that. We had a table for five with everyone ordering drinks, entrees and an app or two for the table. Prices are descent. The food was OK. The burger received a good review, but the real winner was the pork loin. The gnocchi was good. The garlic bread snack was tasty. The taco was messy. The steak was absolutely terrible. First, it's about three SLICES of steak served on two squares of potatoes with bulb onions on the dish drenched in what seems to be store-bought bbq sauce (or of that quality). The salmon got an average review. When we ordered, our waitress seemingly wrote down everyone's order. Once entrees started coming out, everyone got excited; plating of the meals was good. Then the salmon never showed. So after about 5 minutes of everyone with their food waiting for the last dish, the waitress comes over, acknowledges she didn't put in the salmon (forgot to write it down), and said she could put it in now. It came out surprisingly quick, a little over 5 minutes. So, total ten minutes waiting time for all dishes to be on the table. The manager brought over the dish, said "sorry for the delay" and begrudgingly asked the table how everything was. The waitress never came back to check on us. We had to wait for water multiple times. Just dropping the ball. We get the bill, and the salmon is on the bill!!!!!! Like I said, we were ordering drinks, food, etc. and it was a surprise to see the incompetence of putting that dish on the bill. When it was brought to the waitress' attention, she said she would check with her manager, and it came off. But that's the difference with a place you decide to not go to again, or a place you'd decide to go back and try something else. The nonchalant IDGAF attitude of forgetting an entree and then charging for it will make me choose somewhere else if I'm in the area. You shouldn't have to ask for it to be off the bill. And I'm not just whining like some "entitled punk", it's not about the money, it's about the principle.
(2)Taylor N.
I was a part of a group that had reservations on for today, April 12th, 2015. I was told by our group leader that we would have to find somewhere else to eat Sunday brunch. Our party was NOT notified by the Canary Square staff that they had cancelled our reservations because they were closing at 2pm for a private event. Some members of our group went to the restaurant to be seated, in hopes of having a meal, but were stopped by a paper sign on the window informing us of the "Private event". So, there we were, hungry, after church on the first nice sunny day in Boston in MONTHS, and they pull this crap. Not only did they pull the reservation from under our butts, they also had a slight attitude about the fact that they cancelled on us and we were there asking WHY. However, we went to the Dogwood instead. Food there was Spot On!!!
(1)Leah K.
Thanks a bundle, Canary Square, for serving me a ton of french fries plus booze right before a hike. On second thought...lets not point fingers. My friends and I met for brunch right before a hike at Blue Hills, which we needed after our delicious meal. I ordered the poached egg french fries: a fantastic serving of french fries (heavily salted, my fav!) with a perfectly poached egg and hollandaise on top. I polished those puppies off in no time. I also washed it down with a Green Street: Bombay, St. Germain, Basil, Lemon, and Bitters. Small but boozy. I napped in the car. My friends had an avocado omelette and breakfast tacos (that one looked like a small serving to me). I was eyeing the Special, donuts, as they walked by...they looked beautiful. Service was good, bathroom was TINY (I'm 5'2'' and my legs barely fit in the stall).
(4)Norman T.
The service was great! The waitress was really friendly and kind, she answer all the questions from the menu without any problem. The portions were a little bit small for the price we paid.
(3)Navid S.
First they don't take reservation unless you are a party if 6 or more. The outside seating is beautiful but there was a half hour wait so we opted to sit inside. Although the place was not packed but busy, it took them 20 minutes to take our order and 25 additional Minutes to bring the appetizers. The skirt steak I ordered was supposed to be medium but it arrived on the rare side and nit hot. Once I asked the waiter to recook the meat he apologized and said that they would take it off the bill. Overall ok.
(3)Joe M.
Entirely underwhelmed by the food here for the second time in a row. Flavorless unseasoned sirloin tasted almost "gritty" next to some mashed potato rectangles and three sad pearl onions, all atop a Jackson Pollock squiggle of A-1 steak sauce (??). Just barely a notch above Ponderosa / Red Lobster / Golden Corral. Service was spotty, but bartender was good enough to give me a complimentary digestif after blowing the coverage on my scotch request (so no harm there). Place needs work. On a Tuesday night half full of patrons and seemingly fully staffed the servers and bar staff looked harried and overwhelmed. A barback noticed my empty glass and asked if I wanted another and when I told him what I wanted he said, "Oh, hang on. I'll have her [the bartender] get it for you." Huh? Don't ask me if you can't help me. Best thing going for it is the location and the patio seating but now that it's getting cooler there is no reason to tolerate Canary Square. Good beer list, though. Give them that. But I can think of a half dozen real kitchens all within a stone's throw of Canary that deserve your business.
(2)Denise C.
This place has a lot of mixed reviews but my experience was pretty good just based on a drinks, ambiance and some nosh. I didn't have a full out meal and it seems that the mains were the problem in most reviews. They have a great beer selection as everyone mentioned. The place itself looks great with lots of seating. The bar is pretty long but seemed to fill up. Came on a Saturday night so College Football was on the screens. I ordered some kind of pumpkin beer and shared the cauliflower appetizer which was really really really freakin good so we ordered another plate. The fries were ehh in a pretty small portion comparable to a mcd's small maybe medium order of fries. Service was good. I don't come to JP often but I would def come back here for a drink.
(4)Sergio M.
Love this place the beers on draft are always on point local craft beers to seasonal hard to get beers. The pork tacos are really good along with the rest of the menu. So if you have not gone to canary square yet you are missing out
(5)Tim F.
We go here for the burgers. Often. The best in Boston--at least of the ones I've had. Other entrees I've tried have been quite good as well. The service can be a little spotty, but I forgive them. Everyone is always friendly/pleasant, and it is JP after all. Only four stars because they don't have ONION rings!!! And it can be too loud sometimes.
(4)Jessica A.
My favorite place in JP! I go there every time I can! Mine and my boyfriend's favorite place for a casual meal! The servers are really nice and the food is absolutely delicious! The menu changes sometimes, but every time is great. They also have a good selection of beers!
(5)Nick E.
Cannary Square was once a 4 star restaurant that has gone to junk. The food is uninspired, the charcuterie is a rip off, and the beers come in glasses that were never properly rinsed. Now and again you get a great waiter or waitress that makes up for these short comings, but the overarching feeling is that the ownership is not concerned with whether or not this restaurant does good work. 15 minutes to get a beer. 20 minutes to be asked if we'd like to order off of a menu that, essentially, consists of a burger, some chicken some fish and some pasta, none particularly inspired. A $14 charcuterie board that has about 6 slices of meat, some mustard and a few pickles. What happened to the pate!? Cannary Square is on it's way out. There are half a dozen better restaurants within a half a mile of them, and they don't seem to be very concerned. If you want good food in the area go across the street to Tres Gatos, or further down Centre to the TT Bar, Gras Fed, Centre Street Cafe, or any number of other restaurants where the staff and ownership actually care.
(2)Robin T.
Tom the bartender rocks! Love this place. All the other bartenders are amazing too :)
(5)Yuka Y.
Duck Confit (kon-FEE) and Roast Salmon are highly recommended! Located in JP, Canary Square is a classy place for drinks and dinner without having to be dressed up to the nines. Think Yard House, but a little less fancy on the furniture. Extensive drinks menu with average pricing. On the slightly pricier end for dinner, expect $15+ for well presented entrees. I love the dim lighting, minimalist decor, and the fact that it's an open air restaurant. Could do better with the uncomfortable cushion-less seats, but other than that I can guarantee you'll have a lovely summer evening here. Joshua S., our server, did a great job recommending the 'Duck Confit' for the bf after he expressed an odd disdain for eggplants and celery. He was impressed by the crispy outer layering and the moist texturing of the duck. Joshua took the time to tell us that by confit, it meant the duck was fried in oil without the use of bread crumbs. The egg was cooked so the yolk was still intact and oozed out beautifully. The side of baby yukon potatoes and greens added a nice touch. Roasted salmon was served on a bed of edamame-like-beans, corn, and green beans. The skin was crispy. Fish oil was oozing out with every cut, very tender, and not overcooked. The sauce did not mask the true essence and flavoring of the salmon, it was perfectly done. Ending the dinner on a cute note, everyone's bills comes tucked in a notebook. The notebook serves as a guestbook where customers can write and doodle quirky things in there.
(5)Tim A.
I really want to like Canary Square more. It has the location and atmosphere to be great, but the food is so lackluster I can eat there anymore. I've tried to go back several times and each time I get excited about something on the menu but when it comes out the food is bland and boring. The service has never been that great either.
(2)Evan G.
With the exception of the beer list and the ambiance, this place is Just. Not. Good. I've been here probably five or more times over the past few years, all for dinner, and I have yet to eat anything that was actually good. Yucca fries remarkably didn't taste like anything at all. Black bean burger fell apart into a giant heap of mush on my plate. Mac and cheese was yet another heap of tasteless mush. Potato gnocchi were gummy and... you guessed it, bland! Hell, even the grilled tuna was gummy, with weird, non-complementary accompanying flavors. Service is inconsistent at best. There are odd gaps at inopportune moments, frequently forgotten items, etc. A few of the servers have been more competent than others, but the service is still not in any sense reliable. The food is WAY overpriced given how mediocre-to-bad everything is. Bottom line, I should not be paying $20 for an uninteresting entree that has weird or no flavor.
(2)Beth H.
Location location location! Canary Square has a great one. I also love the atmosphere and their Downeast cider. Deeelicious. I enjoyed coming here during March Madness to watch the games. One day I'll make it to a weekend brunch! That said, I feel like their food can be hit or miss. Some dishes are worth the price and taste great, and others are either too small for the price or a little blah. The restaurant gets pretty dark and loud from dinner to late night. I don't mind, but some may complain that they can't hear the person across the table from them.
(3)Robert R.
Ate here the other night with a couple buddies. Got the local beer flight and the hope flight--awesome. Great burger, fun atmosphere. Our server, Noelle, was super nice and attentive, too! Thanks, Noelle!
(5)A M.
Pretty cool joint. Waitress was the biggest sweetheart! I came here on a Friday (7/18/14) I must say the ambiance was def my cup of tea. I loved the music & decorative details of the outside and indoor seating. I got the gin and tonic, was pretty good and I'm guessing strong since I woke up the next day with a headache (but not your fault Canary) We had a burger and the sweet chili wings. Both pretty good, except wings were still a little pink inside, thought they could've been cooked a little longer. Overall, cool joint will definitely return!
(4)Erik S.
Granted, I was only here for drinks, but the bartender made the perfect Sazerac; not an easy drink to make as some of you may know. He was extremely knowledgeable and a real professional and all the other cocktails were just as good. With the large screens and lots of open space, this would be great for watching a game! And the patrons and staff were all lively and up for some chit-chatting. **I've recently returned to Canary Square and had to change my rating from 5 stars to 4. The beer selection and food are good but not deserving of 5 stars. The wait staff are awesome though!
(4)Liam S.
Good food! Good location. I have had breakfast here a few times and it has been good. Definitely worth the stop. They seem to have a really good beer selection and bar for those who have the time for that.
(4)Diego M.
I had the black bean burger and it was delicious!!! Our waiter had a great sense of humor and was very knowledgeable of the Menu! He was very charismatic. I would definitely recommend this place (which is why I'm writing this review) also my friend had the short rib and she can't stop raving about it. 5 stars for sure!!
(5)Sara J.
The ambiance and fun mocktails made me want to bump this review up to three stars but after a sincerely awkward experience in June, two stars is all I got to give. Long story short: This was my second time here. I ordered mussels, they tasted funny, waitress got really weird about it. I was like don't worry waitress they tasted funny I am not hungry because of how weird they tasted, just take them away and let me watch the rest of the hockey game. My fiance was inhaling his wings and I was enjoying the mocktail which was SO great they offered on the menu for us non-drankin' folks, so not all was lost. She said she'd take it off the bill and I said thank you. No harm, no foul. But it was in fact the waitress' lot in life to keep bringing up the mussels. First, after the initial complaint, she told me there was nothing wrong with them. Oh yeah, that's not confrontational at all, just tell me I must be crazy because I didn't like your mussels that you didn't actually eat. I was like ehhh I eat a lot of mussels I am pretty sure these are too fishy tasting or otherwise unusual, don't wanna risk it, I am fine for now though, thank you. I thought the subject was dropped but then she came back and said she is pretty confident that I didn't like them because I wasn't used to the curry taste in them. Oh Lordy, Lord in heaven, please help me. I wanted to be like yo waitress check me out for a second, you see it? See it? I AM INDIAN. I don't think CURRY is the problem. But again I was like thanks, waitress, no biggie, I am fine, let's just move on. Then she wanted me to order something else, and I was like no thank you waitress thank you so much for your help... really I am okay. Then she came back again and asked to re-fire the mussels.Okay, re-firing seafood= rubber. I am no Emril Lagasse ova heh, but I know that you're really not supposed to be putting cooked shellfish back on the stove. But at this point I like didn't know what to say to her so I let her re-fire them and then I ate one in front of her when she brought it back to humor her and I was like oh man these are really overcooked now, I think I am okay without it. Thanks. Okay, yup, thanks, no worries. FINALLY I was left alone, though we missed a bunch of the game, which, ironically, is the only reason we went there. It was just bizarre and I was annoyed she seemed annoyed or didn't at least listen to me when I said I really was all set with not ordering something else. I angry texted my mom about it, and then it was cool. Too many other yum options in JP to come back here, though that patio is pritty pritty sweet.
(2)Joe R.
French toast was phenomenal and the bloody Mary's were very tasty. Homemade donuts were also a delicious treat. The eggs benedict were not good at all.. The eggs were under done and it was served with prosciutto and not ham as stated on the menu. Kind of a disappointment.
(4)Michael M.
I'm specifically reviewing the bar area as I have always sat in the bar area, which I prefer. This place is great! Canary is the type of establishment I wish JP had more of. It's casual, fun, friendly and in a convenient location with parking for those that need it and easy bus access for those coming from outside the neighborhood. Servers are friendly, chill and have depth in their knowledge of beer list and cocktails. I'm a big craft beer guy and they have an awesome selection. I'm constantly trying a new beer when I'm there, usually per recommendation. The food menu is smaller than your typical gastropub but everything on it is cooked/done to perfection. Give me the curried cauliflowers, deviled eggs and pork tacos any day.
(5)AB H.
Canary Square lost a star tonight. We had great service, and loved our first two items, but our main course was disappointing. The brussels sprouts in fish sauce sounded kind of weird, but were totally yummy! I loved the charred leaves and the sauce. The mushroom and potato with raclette cheese was also great; interesting and soothing at the same time. Then we had the smoked pork tacos, and they were not good - bland and too soft. They had some heat to them, but other than that, no flavor. It needed more cheese, or avocado, or more flavor in the pork. What a fail after the good small plates. I'll be back because two good plates out of three isn't bad, and there were other items I want to try, like the kale caesar salad.
(3)Shannon S.
I may be a bit harsh with my 3 stars but A-OK is exactly the way I would describe Canary Square... and it's not a bad thing. Cool atmosphere, exposed brick and chalkboards get me every time. The grape basil drink was great though not so grapey but I love me a basil accented cocktail and it was Friday so I was feeling alright. Pretty good beer selection, too. We ordered a kale caesar to split which was good, not great, could have used a tad more dressing and leafs could have been torn a bit smaller (bite size!) so I didn't have to worry about wasting my dressing on my napkin (when I wiped it off my face.) I had the grass-fed burger which was fine. Cooked fine. Tasted fine. I opted to add the cheddar and I probably could have skipped it. My dinner companion had the mac and cheese sans truffle oil and said it was decent. Our server initially brought us the wrong check (for much much more than what we'd ordered) but when we flagged her down that was quickly rectified. Would I go back? I'd probably try somewhere else first but I wouldn't write a return visit off.
(3)M. g.
Here are the good points: nice vibe, open space, friendly staff, the bread, the burgers. Not so good points: just about everything else - the portions are small (we don't expect doggie bags, we just expect a reasonable portion); the prices are high especially for what you get. For example, we ordered the charcuterie plate for 3 as an appetizer - it was presented very nicely but there were exactly 4 thin slices of chorizo, 7 pickled wax beans; a very small piece of blue cheese, an equally small piece of manchego and a more reasonable portion of the mortadella. That's it for $15. The lasagna was actually scary - it was a lukewarm, brown thing with lots of salad on the side. The salad was good, alas, the rest wasn't. I get it that it was made with eggplant and it wasn't with a red sauce but please, don't call it lasagna. ()We mentioned it to the waitress who mentioned it to the kitchen who then sent a tasting of their other pasta dish. We really appreciated the thought but alas, the pasta was unevenly cooked and there was too much oil). We were intrigued with the frisee with coddled egg and bacon. It was a poached egg on top of salad with a few specs of bacon. The kind of dish you would want in a fancier venue but in this burger joint, it seems totally out of place. And that is my recommendation to Canary Square. Decide what you want to be - a neighborhood gathering place with good beer, good burger and fries, and a few other choices (please add a few meal salads) or a quality gastro pub. As locals, make us want to come back in the middle of the week.
(2)Jeff B.
Good Solid Food, but service has been poor to horrible the last 2 visits. Most recent visit, I walked in and waited for about a minute to be acknowledged by the guy standing behind the host stand. he told me someone would be right with me (as he did nothing). the female host came back and the guy told her I was looking for a table outside. She was great and rushed out to clean off a few dirty vacant tables, while the guy still did nothing. I saw someone I knew so went and chatted with them for a few minutes and came back and she pointed me to the table. I sat down and it took nearly 10 minutes to be acknowledged by my server (who was unfortunately the guy from earlier). I ordered a cocktail and food. About 15-20 minutes later, my food came out before my drink. I ordered a side order of sausage. Bacon was delivered Absolutely no apology, but the server did have someone else bring me sausage. he could tell I was irritated and he never came back to the table as another server did one last check on me, brought me the check and ran my payment. (this second server was great). I really could not believe this guy. I will probably end up going back to Canary Square, but will request to NOT have this guy as a server if he is working.
(2)Hay W.
I'd give this establishment a much higher review if the service was better (and I've given many chances for them to redeem themselves). However, I've been here six times for different meals, and have been turned off by the attitude of the wait staff. This is disappointing, since I live so close and would love to visit regularly. Once, I asked the waitress for an iced coffee (since the previous time I was told that it was a Summer drink), and she responded "we don't do that here." Then, I followed up stating the bartender had made it for me previously and I was told it was a Summer drink so when would they be introducing it for the season? She rudely responded "we don't have that, but I can ask them to make it for you." Other times, I've been ignored for longer than average time periods, or been met with impatience when I ask for clarification questions about food items. It stinks because the brunch here is actually pretty good, and so are the drinks. However, I won't recommend people giving money to a place that isn't at least minimally respectful of patrons.
(2)cath e.
Ok but the servings are oddly small for the price We eat out often so prices are clearly n our mind as to what is reasonable $14. For 7 sweet potato ravioli?? Cauliflower great drinks good Pleasant staff!! Willbe happier elsewhere
(3)Tom H.
Great brunch. Fantastic drinks. Many many tasty beers. Friendly staff. Big TV's but they don't dominate the atmosphere. Good music, both live and on the stereo. Very comfortable, big open space. Menu could possibly be changed more frequently, but I may just think that because I'm there all the time.
(5)Adam B.
So it's been a couple years since I wrote my review and felt compelled to make another one. I am being a bit overly nice with the demotion to four stars instead of five. The food is so hit or miss in this place it's nuts. They change their menu way too much. Ordinarily, I like a seasonal menu, but if your new dishes aren't as good as the old ones what's the point? If they didn't have good beer I would easily give them a 2 or 3. They are like the kid in school who gets on honor roll one term and then the next F's. Wish there was consistency. The food isn't the only thing inconsistent, the service, ugh. One time a waitress tried to tell me the mussels were cooked when the shells were barely open and the inside was clearly slimy. I'm from New England lady, I've cooked mussels a bazillion times, this shiz is raw! She said she would take them back because "she wanted to make me happy but there is nothing wrong with them". Bring back the chicken nuggets! Charcuterie board or cheese board is way overpriced. Oh well, I will keep going back for the beer, and it's close by. But I fear it won't be there forever.
(4)Jimmy S.
So let's start with the good stuff. Canary Square is really nice looking inside and out. Great location with an updated interior and an outdoor seating area for nice weather dining. The service has always been fine friendly and fast, but honestly, it falls flat on the food. It is as blah, bland and banal as it gets. Great for drink or snacks, but that's the extent of it. Double meh.
(2)lt C.
Just a disaster. Sat at the bar and waited 15 minutes for a drink and re asked what I wanted. Dollar oyster night--- 30 minutes for my bounty. I am brand new to the neighborhood and eat out at least 4 nights a week. The pours on wine were horrible and it was all disorganized--I heard one of the bartenders ( the only woman) use the term "retarded" over and over. It just seems like there was no sense to it all. The food was totally over salted and the menu descriptions misleading. All in all, I want to love this spot and I want to love the JP scene. Was at Ten Tables and they blew me out of the water last night. Everything was spot on. I'll go again to CS, but just once more....I believe in second chances.
(2)Dana L.
My husband and I are regulars here and while we love the place, we realize the food and service can be inconsistent like many of the comments suggest...tonight the service and food hit it out of the park...you must order the garlic ciabatta appetizer, the kale and Autumn salads, the short ribs, the squash cannelloni and the sticky toffee pudding...each item was amazing! Wash it down with the Stark white wine...went well with everything. Thank you, Lauren, our excellent server!
(5)Adam H.
After waiting for well over a half hour before even taking our drink order and close to an hour for food order, the service got worse. Brought out the wrong drink to one member of our party, then later not brining their second entirely (plus waiting, waiting and more waiting). The payoff for extreme wait times... mediocre food from a lackluster menu that was tepid on delivery. From reading other reviews, this experience does not seem to be atypical for this place. Do not bother.
(1)Katie J.
I have been to Canary Square twice since moving to the neighborhood, and both times I was very pleased with the overall dining experience. It is a great neighborhood restaurant with reasonable prices. The outdoor seating is a little loud since it is close to the street, but on a cool summer night under the heat lamps it is really nice. The new patio also does a pretty good job creating a partition from the sidewalk with planters and tall grass. The seating inside is also nice, with a warm ambiance, but I would definitely recommend the patio seating if it is available. Both times my boyfriend and I have been seated right away, despite it being fairly busy. The wait staff has been pretty attentive (our waiter last night was a delight!), however, my first time there I overheard a waitress complaining quite loudly about a customer to another waitress. This was a bit of a turnoff, but our waitress did her best to keep us happy. Canary Square has an extensive beer list, and a few unique cocktails. I have only ordered the white sangria, which was very good both times. I have been tempted to order the Bartender's Flight, but I cannot turn down the sangria. For food, the burgers are delicious and cooked the way we asked. I am a huge fan of the black bean burger, which comes with a delicious (and spicy!) salsa, sour cream, cheddar cheese, and pickled onions. The hand cut fries are also delicious, but be prepared to eat a lot of tiny crispy fry-lettes. Overall, the service is good and the burgers are delicious. I will definitely keep going to Canary Square.
(4)M M.
Service was terrible , it took a half an hour to put in a drink order. We tried to wave down servers and they would look at us and keep walking . All of our dishes were too salty. The burger was burnt when it was supposed to medium. Also expensive !
(2)Kelsey M.
Good burgers and fries at a reasonable price. Their more expensive entrees were just okay and not worth the cost. We like going here for burgers and beers. During busy times this place is a mismanaged nightmare (which is why I didn't rate it a 4) with people waiting in line on a list only to watch others throw tantrums and being seated for their childish demands.
(3)Abby F.
I love Canary Square! Now that it's summer time it's one of my favorite places to go out to eat on their beautiful patio. Their drinks are really yummy and they have a great beer selection. Their menu is on the smaller side, but I think that is so they can perfectly craft their options. I've never gotten anything from Canary Square that I didn't love. Also their giant doughnuts at brunch are the stuff of dreams.
(5)Kacey B.
I live walking distance from Canary Square and don't visit too often anymore. This place is really hit or miss for the service and atmosphere. The bartenders have always been right on but not the waitstaff. Food has tasted good though their cheese plate and grits are pathetic or weird. Go for their burgers, salads, or omelets. Local served food is good. Drinks and beer selection is tasty. Oh, they don't ID so that's when the atmosphere sucks with young kids being stupid. Hey guys, you should ID. Helps you stay in business when the cops come around. Crowd has also occasionally sucked for the coupled-off yuppies who can appear socially inept.
(3)Ross P.
We've gone twice now and I really want to love this place. It's a great location and great space for JP. The drinks are fantastic - great beer menu and the cocktails are excellent. The fall vesper is one of the best drinks I've had! And the bar is great - this is a great place to stop and have drinks. Unfortunately the food is just ok. First time around had burgers that were a little on the small and dry side. Second time had the squash capellini which was excellent but... the size of an appetizer. Lucky my dining companion didn't finish her fries or I would have left the place still very hungry! This place has so much potential - kick the food up a notch and it's worth 5 stars!
(3)Lauren L.
I came here early on a Saturday, tonight, with 3 fellow volunteers. I have walked by this place probably 50 times, and always wondered how it would be. We came in and were seated immediately. The waitress arrived relatively quickly and took some drink orders... we all got sodas. Our table ended up getting 3 black bean burgers and 1 ravioli. My black bean burger could have been hotter, but it came out pretty quickly. The consistency of it was a little soft for my taste. It was sort of mushy, and not very hot. But it wasn't bad, per se, it just had the consistency of baby food. The salsa on top gave it a little kick, which I liked. A ton of tables had bread on their table.. were we supposed to get bread for free? Lord I hate the "Asking for Free Bread" dilemma that I've experienced elsewhere. Sort of feel like some sort of cheap jerk face, "Hi, are we supposed to get free bread? Don't bring it if it's not free." I would have liked if the waitress came back after our meal arrived, we could have gone for soda refills. It wasn't bad, I'd go again.
(3)Brittany S.
Such a neat space for dining. You have the option for indoor or outdoor dining, and there are heaters for when it gets colder. Quirky staff who are both friendly and attentive. Lots of farm to table options. Everything tasted so great because ingredients were fresh AND local- and I wouldn't call myself someone who only ate local/ organic either- but you could tell, it made a huge difference. Huge portions, enough to split for two people or take home leftovers.
(4)Emily V.
I would say this is a pretty run of the mill, average, place. The service was pretty good, average prices, good location, average food. In a word: average.
(3)BurgerBaron G.
Great food, great beer selection. And a friendly staff. It's a great alternative to the now-always-crowded Canary Square. Not saying it's second to Canary, but if you followed the crowds over there, give this spot a try. It's well deserved.
(4)Becky B.
Their brunch is amazing. Pumpkin fresh toast is a must try. They also have delicious brunch fries, which has a poached egg and hollandaise sauce.
(5)Jamie M.
I just moved to JP, and Canary Square was the first restaurant we went out to. We met another couple, and all of us loved it. The drink list- from beer to wine to cocktails, is truly exciting, and not just because there was a fluffy rabbit beer (not made of fluffy rabbits to be clear). The waitress was knowledgable of all drinks, and when my indecisiveness took over as it usually does, she brought me a little glass to taste, without even having to ask her! Super nice. I don't remember which beers we got, which is a sure sign of good beer, but all 4 of us got a new beer each time and there were no complaints. The food...so good. The mussels in chorizo...I want more. We ate every bite, which was sopped up with delicious free bread. We also got deviled eggs, which has spicy mustard, and were pretty fancy. Also ordered, shared, and devoured were pork tacos, seared tuna, mac and cheese w/ truffle oil and mac and cheese with bacon. #bangin. Cant wait to go back and enjoy the drinks/food/atmosphere in the sunshine on the patio!!
(5)Sarah M.
This place is great! They have a good beer selection and outdoor patio. The black bean burger was delicious.
(5)Wendy E.
I have loved my visits to Canary Square and look forward to sitting outside there soon! I seem to always get the cheese app and pulled pork tacos. Last visit they were on the cold side but I won't hold that against them and should prob try some other options during a future visit.
(4)Max W.
$4.50 for a Narragansett, $4 for PBR, and no drafts under $7? You've gotta be kidding me. What started out as a neighborhood restaurant has become an overpriced ripoff. The food portions have gotten smaller, the food prices have gone up, and the quality has gone down. Spend your money elsewhere.
(1)Allison K.
Server recommended a cocktail that was like margarita mixed with a mimosa. PERFECT! also able to sub out the bacon for some avocado on their eggs benedict. I mean, what more can a girl ask for?
(4)J C.
The food sounds amazing on the menu description but then when served below par the service was terrible too, we waited 45 minutes for drinks to be served because the bar was busy which I get it was a Friday night but hire more staff to accommodate guests. Also, our server messed up our appetizer order and put it in as an entree so our appetizer didn't come until 45 minutes after we first ordered. I would definitely go somewhere else.
(1)Sonia N.
Stopped in for an early dinner al fresco style this past weekend and this place was already booming around 5pm. For starters, we tried the potato chips and dip. Very crispy and tasty and the dipping sauce was a perfect accompaniment. For entrees, we shared the veggie lasagna and sea trout. Both were good but the sea trout scored much higher in my book. The garlic yogurt sauce it was served in gave it that nice creamy taste while keeping it light and healthy and the fava beans were minced to the point where it looked and tasted more like cous cous. All in all, a thumbs up. I would definitely come back.
(4)Sara S.
Great brunch...service was a little slow. Good spot for groups and low key patio sitting! For vegetarians, pea green salad and black bean burger were great.
(4)Daryl O.
This was not our planned place to go but I am glad we did. It was not too busy, they had seating at the bar, indoors or outdoors. A wide selection of beers. Not too many cocktails but everyone I was with ordered something different and had good comments about all. The French toast was the Sugar Honey Ice Tea. I got it with be preservatives on the side and never used them & didn't need them. It was fine without. Not too much syrup needed either but it was amazing. Hands down the best French toast I've eaten.
(5)Bruce K.
This has been one of my favorite dining experiences ever. For starters, the atmosphere and the look of this place is awesome. Everything feels relaxed yet exciting, not too loud but it was never too quiet or dull either. Canary Square went from good to great when our waiter Tyler came over. While I was ordering Tyler noticed that I had asked for the cheese and sour cream to be taken off my order and then informed me that the bun of my burger had trace amounts of dairy in it. For him to recognize why I was removing ingredients and then offer up other suggestions makes him amazing. Throughout the night other wait staff and Tyler came over to us multiple time to check how our food was. All were very friendly and made the experience wonderful. The food: the food was on par with the wait staff aka it was amazing. My black bean burger was super flavorful and my friends pork chop was cooked perfectly. I will definitely be coming back here!
(5)Missy S.
Good news: they've expanded the menu and the ambiance, location, and service are still great Bad news: the food still is mediocre. i got the pulled pork tacos this time and buffalo wings. The wings were good. The tacos were only slightly warmer than room temperature and the corn tortillas on which the pork was served were nothing exciting, topped with a smoky flavor that was too intense for my liking. Canary Square, it's official, you need to invest in a chef who can bring nothing-too-fancy, hot, flavorful food to JP. Or at least bring one in to help the current chef revamp things. You have too great of a location not to have awesome food.
(3)Jimmy D.
I finally walked down the block to give a visit to Canary Square and was pleasantly surprised to find my experience was unlike most of the negative comments on here. The one star off was for the wait for the table, however, I should have known to call ahead on a Saturday night. They had a good selection on draft, maybe a few different microbrews would be nice. Food: reasonably priced, nothing above $20! Had a party of four and everyone was completely happy with their food (skirt steak, burger, pork chop, and mac n cheese). Service was great. Pat was our server had a great down to earth, laid back manner. I will definitely be back.
(4)Joanna M.
Food is just so-so, especially for the price. Great selection of beers on tap and cocktails; cool atmosphere. Recommend for drinks with friends, not so much for meals.
(3)Marie K.
Ate a delicious skirt steak one night and bar snacks another night. When my friend and I asked for something other than ketchup for our fries, they gave us a delicious aioli. The "popcorn of the day" is great. Even better than the food is the atmosphere. It's so friendly and inviting, especially around the bar. Every time I go, it's bustling, but not crowded. I was able to get bar seats every time I tried. It's so much better than the amateurish Alchemist. It's the best thing to happen to JP in awhile.
(4)Beth G.
I have been here twice so far and have had very good experiences both times. The food has been excellent- I'd definitely recommend the Pork Chop and the Skirt Steak. The waitstaff is very friendly and attentive, as is the management- they were kind enough to switch out an appetizer for my friend and I when we didn't end up liking it that much (just because we're accustomed to PEI mussels, not a food quality issue at all). I think the new atmosphere is great also. I'm definitely going back.
(4)Morgan M.
This is one of the few go to spots in JP which is in desperate need of more good restaurants and bars. I think the food is great relative to its price and the menu has a lot of interesting options. Service has always been very friendly, the place is usually busy so it has a good atmosphere. I prefer sitting at the bar and the bartenders make great cocktails. I go here at least once a week!
(4)Natalia O.
Nice setting, but very subpar food. My burger was practically charcoal, though accompanied by nice sweet potato fries. The server didn't bother to check in with us on drink freshening, and she seemed like she had a few too many tables to look after. It's a classic bar setting, so pretty loud on a Friday evening. Might go back if there's nothing else open nearby... but doubtful...
(2)Dave D.
I want to love this place because: A) It's near my house B) The bartenders and wait staff are super nice C) It's far better than what was there before. The problem is, the food just isn't all that good. Granted, the deviled eggs rock, but everything else is just blah. Half chicken? Nice I guess, but not much better than a rotissiere job from Stop and Shop. The pressed sandwich? Really just a glorified grilled cheese. The Brussels sprouts? Tasty, but only because they've been liberally accesorized with high end bacon. Not horrible, but just not great. If it wasn't down the street from my house, I'd never go. But it is, so I find myself there a lot. Sigh.
(3)Heather R.
I had heard so many great things about Canary Square that I was excited to take my godmother there for the first time when she visited from out of town. When I saw shrimp and grits on the menu, I was thrilled. The happiest I was about ordering this dish was short lived. They clearly take the word "shrimp" seriously, the 3 shrimp in my dish were the smallest shrimp I have ever seen. The grits were completely lacking of any flavor, it was truly like gruel. My godmother and I ordered alcoholic drinks as well and for the price, they were barely fair. This place has far more hype than it deserves and for brunch, I would go to Sugar Baking co. in Rosindale any day!
(2)Piper P.
Canary Square is just a nice neighborhood bar; it's a great place to watch a game, eat comfort food, and chill with friends. The food is more inventive and tastier than your basic bar menu (the fried brussels sprouts are to die for) and they offer a delicious grass fed burger (I ordered mine rare and they cooked it perfectly, which doesn't happen often when one orders something rare). Canary Square prides itself on locally grown foods. My vote: it's A-OK in my book, and while not a first "go to" restaurant on my list, I would definitely drop in again with friends, perhaps for brunch next time. No complaints!
(3)Conrad P.
Burger was over cooked no problem to our back bought me a beer and got a fresh plate. My women loved the burger she loved it well done. I'm a different black person. Give me a lil red. Chili wings were bomb. It's a must. Would come back def
(4)Jonathan M.
Went here brunch on a Sunday, great experience. The staff was very accommodating to our party of late, especially considering we were running about 30 minutes later than we expected. The menu wasn't too extensive, yet they still seemed to hit various areas of the taste palate so customers could definitely find a dish that fit their craving. They were also pretty easy-going about substitutions. The portions for the price were pretty substantial, so definitely come hungry or be willing to take leftovers with you. Everyone really enjoyed their food! Chicken Fried Steak, Quiche, Green Eggs & Ham, Avocado & Cheese Omlette, Eggs Benedict. All were delivered with great taste and presentation. I'd definitely return here!
(5)Isabella G.
The first time I came here was for brunch. I live nearby and had always walked by and decided to go in. The ambiance is seriously amazing. It is by far the best part of the restaurant. It is very hip and trendy, but made unpretentious by the TVs in the fromt, which are always playing sports (which I enjoy). I ordered the croque madame and decided to pass on the cocktails (which i regret!). The croque madame was great and I loved their take on it by using goat cheese and brioche (I think?). My first time here was a very good experience. SInce I enjoyed it so much the first time I recommended it as my roommate's going away dinner. One thing that was immediately different from my first experience, was the service. It was nothing too horrible it was just definitely less attentive than the first time I came. The hostess wasn't outwardly rude just very apathetic and impolite, and it took kind of a while for our server to take our order. We ordered quite a lot which included: one order of steamers, three drinks and four entrees. I did not like the steamers at all, but it was my first time eating clams prepared that way. My roommates enjoyed them very much. I ordered a medium rare burger with cheddar and mushrooms. I was sorely disappointed. My burger tasted burnt and was so dry. I had to cover it in ketchup to mask the burnt flavor. I did really enjoy the mushrooms! They were not porcini or sautéed, it was almost as if they were fried, and I'm pretty sure they were chanterelles. It was really unique and they tasted really meaty and salty, they were great. I wish the actual burger was great for $15. We spent a little over $100. Three stars for an overpriced burnt mediocre meal.
(3)Rachel N.
It's really a 3.5, but I'm feeling generous so I'll round up -- full disclosure, I've only been here for drinks + snacks, never a full meal -- let's see, in the wins category, I like the ambiance - it's darkish and intimate, so even if you don't think your date is looking fly, you'll enjoy yourself w/ some prime JP people watching -- and exposed brick + wood accents = my decor scheme of choice. If you're looking for that cozy, casual place to default to if you want to relax in your skinnies and button up, rather than donning stripper shoes and an imitation Herve mini-skirt, then I'd say that CS isn't a bad place to end up landing. Home to a solid selection of beers, all of which are reasonably priced (they have Allagash White, which wins me over each time) and tasty wines by the glass (btwn $9-12). If you're looking to get a little frisky, the cocktails are interesting (herby, alcoholic) and dangerously drinkable (all around $10). Friendly-ish staff, though service is always slow and kind of absent. So if I was feeling fussier, I'd dock them more for that. On a weekend night, the bar is usually packed and the noise level is fairly high, but you should be able to hear the hipster and/or adorable lesbian couple convo next to you if eavesdropping is the name of your game.
(4)Vijtibble A.
Decent food, everything else is shit, including the server who attempts to upsell you on a bottle of wine but rolls her eyes when you ask for a taste of the bottle you're about to drop 45$ on. Besides being completely ignored by the waitress, I'm talking no direct eye contact and only addressing my dining partner for MY food and drink choices. The pork tacos were good, the pickles too sweet, and the weird lingering manager making his presence too known creates an ambiance of awkwardness. Save your money and get a bottle and taqueria take-out.
(2)Bob E.
The outdoor patio seating was welcome on a cool summer evening, with a lower ambient noise level than the interior space. While I felt the weather was perfect, another member of my party felt chilly, so the outdoor heaters came in handy, with the staff happily turning one on for us. As for the food, the burger I ordered was delicious. The beef was of excellent quality and perfectly cooked, actually making it worth the seemingly high price. The only thing I might have changed about the burger was their use of shredded lettuce, as I prefer lettuce leaves. I also ordered the chocolate ice cream cake for desert, which while interesting and artfully presented, was not worth its price due to both mediocre flavor and minuscule size. Our wait person was very friendly and gave us good service with only minor delays, despite having tables in multiple areas of the restaurant. I could see coming back to try one of their more expensive entrees, skipping desert, and enjoying another evening on the patio.
(3)mzamar x.
update: why why why did i go for brunch at Canary? i guess i had to be reminded how uneven the food is there. Took nearly an hour to get a slice of overwhelmingly salty reheated quiche, in a room that was half full. Everything was too greasy, from toast that was griddled and soaked in butter (not delicious, just nasty) to house made sausage that is middling. Worst was weekend special a "giant old fashioned donut". About 8" round and resembling more a pretzel or unleavened pumpernickle pizza dough this "donut" was obviously made by someone who had never had, nor enjoyed a donut. The "cake" did not appear to be cake, but was actually bread. Unsweetened dough with a breadlike crumb rather than cake crumb, a dark brown exterior rolled in white granulated sugar. It was singularly one of the worst things i ever tasted. The staff were so good and did everything they could to provide excellent customer service, but really, the brunch chefs need to be stopped. I stand by dinner, but brunch never again.
(2)Kait H.
Amazing smoked pork tacos. Amazing. Great atmosphere, beer selection and friendly staff. Been here twice while visiting JP and have enjoyed it both times.
(4)Art B.
I haven't been to this place since it was the alchemist. We gave it a try. We looked at the menu online and we saw that it had cheese fries. Unfortunately, they were only serving the brunch menu. We saw that there were fries and cheese so how hard is to make cheese fries. We asked the -not so friendly- waitress if we could have cheese fries. She went to ask the kitchen and came back with a "no". I don't really understand how hard it's to please a customer with such a simple request, specially when they were serving both, just separately. With some many good places to eat in JP, this place is going to have to try a bit harder if they want to stay open. They definitely oat my business.
(1)Lisa H.
I'm torn about three or four stars. I'm going with three because of the overall experience -- but it's not a bad three. I really do think the place is okay and if you're in the area, I'd definitely go. In the five to six times I've been in the last few years, the food is mostly fine, the service usually good, and when things go wrong, the managers are responsive. I think that's reasonable. My dining companion tonight also ate there last night and definitely had a two star meal. On our visits, sometimes, the kitchen has been less than efficient which has made service slow. Last time a group of us ate there about four months ago the waiter didn't know the beer list as well as he might have and normally I wouldn't mind that but if you know less about beer than I do you shouldn't be acting like you know, with attitude. That particular night the service was also incredibly, ridiculously slow -- and I'm a relatively patient person and i get kitchens get backed up but this was a crazy long wait and folks near us who came in after were getting their food before us.... the waiter was not quite as responsive to our concerns as he might have been but he eventually passed us off to the manager who was appropriately responsive -- got the food out and comped us a round of drinks. Fair enough. But, that's all in the past. :) For tonight's meal I'd give a four. I had the eggplant lasagna and it was great. Tasty and yum. The side salad was nicely dressed. My companion had the chicken and said it was good. We had the garlic spread thing for appetizer -- if you like that sort of thing, it was good. The wine was good. I had the bartender's beer flight -- it was okay. The server -- Lauren, I think her name was -- was lovely and totally fine. AND, the runner who brought our food was also lovely and got questions we had answered by the kitchen staff and delivered the information to us beautifully. The manager checked in and was pleasant. The hostess was pleasant. What's to complain about? It was a good night at Canary Square.
(3)Katie S.
I really want to like this restaurant. It has a lot going for it -- great location, great ambience, great music. The beer list has a lot of variety and the wine list had good options. The major problem is the food. The appetizers were fine, though probably because they didn't require any cooking. We got the charcuterie and cheese plate and the hummus plate and both were good. Our main meals were a mess. We waited almost an hour between appetizers and entrees with little explanation from the wait staff. My cousins ordered the skirt steak, one medium well, the other medium rare. The medium well steak came out burnt -- my cousin couldn't eat most of it. The other skirt steak came out medium to medium well, even though it was supposed to be medium rare. My sister got a burger, also ordered as medium well, also came out completely burnt. She couldn't eat most of it. I ordered the mac and cheese and it was dry and underseasoned. Some of the pasta wasn't cooked fully. The only good meal that we ordered were the pork tacos. Please find a new executive cook -- this place could be really great. But for now, I would only suggest getting drinks there and maybe appetizers.
(2)Laura M.
3 stars for food: 4 stars for service. Great atmosphere. Wonderful servers. Good drinks. Been here plenty of times and food is always consistently okay. Suitable for a crowd. Lots of families with kids there from 5-8. CAVEATS: The burgers tend to always be overcooked. Order appropriately. And the food can be a bit salty. Drink lots of water. Get your salad dressing on the side, it's very basey. Once you know those things, you're golden. Good veggie burger. Yummy crispy cauliflower. BF loves the deviled eggs. Happy hour is a great value too if you can get there before 6!!
(4)Jen G.
I live right around the corner and this has become my go-to! The food is good although the menu is small, but it rotates frequently. I am in love with their truffle mac 'n cheese and sangria, and they have a great craft beer list. Just wish they would take reservations!
(4)Anne K.
Like Dana, I am shocked how low the ratings are for this place. We had a fantastic brunch there today with good service, food and drinks. We sat at the bar, and ordered the bacon bourbon bloody mary and the spicy pepper bloody mary - both were delish with a kick. My husband opted for the breakfast platter and I went with the BAT (bacon, avacado and tomato sandwich) with an egg. Our bartender was quick to serve and provide recommendations. We liked the place so much we stayed for a few more beers (a small but unique selection) - the fantastic weather allowed for the doors to the patio to be open so there was a great breeze. We will definitely be back.
(5)Molly L.
In the last two years I have tried it twice and will not be back. I will forgive a lot when it comes to service, given that most things are not the waitstaff's fault, but both times the servers were surly and copped an attitude that made me feel uncomfortable. There are almost no veggie entrees on the menu (come on, this is JP!) and when I asked to have something, sans pork, the waitress didn't hide her annoyance. Also, in winter the front of the place is freezing due to the lack of a vestible or double doors. I live nearby and love the location, but mediocre food priced beyond its worth, coupled with bad service does not make me a returning customer.
(2)Jess S.
I have been here a few times a couple years ago and was never impressed. The food was OK and the service was TERRIBLE. I came back for brunch a couple weeks ago in hopes for a better experience. The food was good, the drinks were great, and according to my boo, the beer selection is also great. The service was, obnoxious. Our bartender was just waaaaay too cool to care about being a good bartender. After strutting around behind the bar, he threw an empty wine bottle in a trash can (I assume) literally right in front of us, after receiving word of a "surprise double", which he let everyone know about. Lol. I could go on....but I won't. Big ups to the chef, and whoever is in charge of the bar. Thumbs down to the "super cool dude" behind the bar.
(3)Jon S.
They do not seat you outdoors after 10pm. I feel this place doesn't sit well with some of the JP crowd because its a sports bar but I actually think this place is fun as hell - especially in summer! (I cant wait for the new patio to open. The burger was great but the fries are often over salted. The mac and cheese was wonderful but a bit too expensive. The drinks were pretty pricey too but the atmosphere is second to none in JP on a Fri/Sat night.
(4)Fanasha D.
The drink selection is significantly better than the food. I am never impressed with their food, however, I do like the atmosphere and the staff is pleasant. It is conveniently located right on the corner of huntinton ave and centre st.
(4)Lauren L.
There's nothing really good about this place, sadly. From the outside it's very pretty, and now that they have the outdoor seating assembled, it's downright inviting from an aesthetic point of view. Well, outside anyway... I like the lighting inside. It's unique and fun. Besides that, everything is laid out poorly and feels really forced. Chairs are uncomfortable and usually unavailable. The bar is crowded and doesn't accommodate eating that well. They prefer you only drink at the bar, and the night I was there, the bartender was nearly rude about it. The bar is definitely the worst area. It's crowded and very vertical compared to the rest of the space, and there's hardly space between the chair backs at the bar and the tight row of tables facing it for people to pass during game time. It makes the space artificially claustrophobic and adds to the unbalanced feeling in the restaurant. The food is a bit overpriced for the neighborhood, but even if it was more reasonable, it's really flat. Nothing is innovative or surprising, nothing is even downright tasty. It's all 'okay' and 'passable' and 'filling,' but that doesn't add up to a meal you genuinely enjoy. The beer selection, also overpriced, is innovative and unusual and changes often. I'd recommend finding the same thing up the street at Blanchard's for a lot less.
(2)Adrienne T.
No, no, please don't go! STAY AWAY, FAR FAR AWAY! The food, at least the appetizers I had- jerk wings with some kind of yogurt sauce, beef skewers, and these awful fried monstrosities that they called "tater tots", was average at best, and overpriced. The real kicker? They MESS WITH YOUR MONEY/CREDIT CARD! Big no-no in my book. My dinner partner and I were clear about what was to be in cash, and what was to go on the card. The server did it wrong. Of course, it couldn't be fixed once he had run the card. He leaves and didn't return for 15 minutes WITH my card!! I don't like my card out of my sight for more than 5-7 minutes. I was advised to call back the next day and speak with the manager. I did, he was nice, said we're waiting for it to "drop off" of my card. We'll see. This wasn't my choice of places to eat. I had heard "so-so" reviews about it from friends who live in JP. My companion had been once before and really liked it, so she brought me. Really nice, trendy atmosphere, okay drinks-but on the weak side, and BAD, BAD music. Music doesn't match the trendy, sleek atmosphere.
(1)Paul B.
Great beer list. Especially for the area. Music *was* a turn-off but it's improving lately. Definitely my go-to place to watch a game or have a low-key night when I lived around the corner. Food options are so-so. They took the best two items off the menu last year -- the red wine risotto and swiss chard and avocado sandwich. All in all, serves it's purpose.
(3)Adelino G.
Jamaica Plain needs more restaurants like this. Canary square is great for a casual dinner, drinks, or a sports game. They also have a patio for warm weather. They have an extensive drink selection and plenty of beer on draft. The food is relatively cheap and what you would expect for the price. The service is slow at times, not sure if they are understaffed or the servers are stoned. Overall a nice spot for whatever occasion. Pro's: Olde English 40oz in a brown paper bag, Pork Tacos. Con's: Terribly slow service
(3)Rona H.
Went with a party of 10 for a friend's birthday. At first, the waitstaff was very attentive with getting drinks and delivering food, but after the food was delivered, we waited an extremely long time for the bill. After a while, someone in the group got up and asked for the bill so that we could leave. I had the $14 macaroni. I've had better $1 boxes from Kraft cooked in a microwave. A few people in my group had the burger, and they commented that the texture of the burger seemed a little funny. Overall, the waitstaff was nice, but I just can't recommend the place at all because the food is expensive, and it doesn't even taste good.
(1)Charmie S.
My first impression was great. It just happened to come from the bathroom. Awkward, yes. But the exceptionally clean facilities set the tone I guess. I ordered the wings and pulled pork tacos. I was in a large party and the waitress was very attentive although I was the last to arrive. The food was well done. I probably could've had the wings and be done. It's a big portion for an app. I felt I pushed it by ordering the tacos. It was tasty, too! Both were under $12 I recall. The only hangup was that the space was a bit tight for a large group. Not enough room to put plates. Other than that, a winner for JP!
(4)Emily K.
I have been here three times, and each time I leave feeling satisfied and full. To begin, the atmosphere of the restaurant and bar is a delight for the senses. There is dim lighting, the TV's aren't blaring, the clear glass lights give a modern yet classic vibe, and the tables are far enough apart you feel like you're in your own little world. Simply stated, the drinks are fantastic! Their take on an Arnold Palmer was boozy yet true to form, their wine and beer selection will not leave you disappointed, and sangria is super yummy. Now, for the food. YUM! The pork tacos are heaven, the mac n'cheese with bacon was cheesy heaven for my tastebuds, and the black bean burger was the best bean burger I have ever had. The only thing that was disappointing was the dessert. I ordered the blueberry tart thinking it would be warm and blueberry heaven, but instead it came cold in what appeared to look like and taste like an old cracker. Anyway, Canary Square is a great place to bring friends, family, or just your sweetheart. If you're driving plan on parking on the street since there is no parking lot. But don't let that discourage you since there is ample street parking!
(4)Corey L.
Went with a group of friends on a Friday night. Good beer selection, good food (though a bit pricier than it should be), including the salads with chicken, pork tacos (very tasty), and chocolate bread pudding. Music is fun (maybe a bit loud) and the place is pretty cool. Also, Emmie the bartender is cool. Tip her a lot if you meet her.
(3)Emily P.
I live close by, and want to love this place, but it's tough. The rotating menu is in MHO, it's major downfall. I've been here probably 10 times, and about 5 of those I left disappointed. On our most recent visit, we split a pasta dish, that was inedibly spicy. I was waiting for the server to come back, but she was relatively MIA, and once she did, my boyfriend (never one to turn down food), had soldiered on and eaten most of his. So, we couldn't really make them take my portion back, but we still told her and showed her the pepperflakes swimming on my plate. To her credit, she went and told the manager, and by his body language, it was clear that he didn't care. We also got the mussels, which perviously had been delicious, but they changed the recipe, and were just not nearly as good. I have had good meals here before, but it's not worth the gamble. They have an extensive beer menu, so if you want that to be the focus of your evening, I'm sure this is the place for you. However, if you want reliably delicious food, look elsewhere.
(2)John D.
Once again this place disappoints. I live nearby and I want so bad to like it but the food and service make it impossible. I wanted to order a beer on tap, but I couldn't decide due to the huge selection of a lot of beers that I did not know. The waitress was absolutely no help. She gave me attitude because I wasn't ordering quick enough for her. She just stood over me waiting for my order. The beer was not a good choice ( my bad?) give me the Galway House or the Haven any day!
(1)D P.
I had an amazing burger here the other night. The desert menu still lacks the amazing Butterscotch Bread Pudding.
(4)Mark M.
Ate there recently, food is completely mediocre but the staff was nice and the outdoor seating looked pleasant. Avoid the razor clams!
(3)Philip M.
You never know what to expect at Canary Square. Some dishes/days it's 4-5 stars, others are 1-2 stars. So it averages out to a solid 3 star experience. It's very hit or miss. Having been here a few times, I really want to love this place. It's extremely versatile with outdoor seating, a cool looking bar, dinner, brunch, and a good location. Prices are decent too. Came here recently for a Sunday brunch around 1pm. The waitress was attentive and nice, as usual. I was annoyed that the brunch menu online isn't the same one that's at the restaurant. We ordered the breakfast fries and they were amazing. When it came to the main dish, the country fried steak...it was a solid 1 star dish. My boyfriend got the same dish and his was just as bad. The steak was way overcooked to the point that even my starving, hungover self could not eat certain portions of it even with ketchup smeared on it. The potato wedge fries that came with the main dish were tragic as it had some terrible aftertaste we couldn't pinpoint. And the eggs were meh at best and lukewarm temperature wise. The other times I've been here, it's been just as hit or miss. Like I said, I really want to love this concept and restaurant but it's nowhere close to 4 or 5 stars. After a few tries here, I've given up and don't want to chance it with a "miss" dish again.
(3)Orla S.
Food was good, nice atmosphere etc but service was extremely slow. I will try it again though.
(3)Mantis T.
Returned here a day or so after Christmas 2013. Service was better, food was okay. Glad that things were better than they were the last time I came, but still nothing to write home about.
(3)Kevin R.
First of all, if I was writing based on today's experience it would be 5+ stars..... But I'm not. I have had some of the best meals and the worst meals at canary sq. My boyfriend and I once got the salty pig plate and dreamed about it for weeks, then last time it was literally olive loaf on a cutting board for $14. I was also there once and the fries with my burger were too salty to eat. And I like salt. But tonight. Out waitress was Sarah. She was quick with the drinks (I like to drink) and ensured me that this time the salty pig plate would be up to par, and it was. She made sure my fries were perfectly salted and the burgers were done right. She didn't even write anything down and our order came out just as ordered. If I could ensure that Sarah was there every time I would come here weekly if not daily. The burgers are always phenomenal and the atmosphere (especially the large outdoor patio) is second to none, especially in JP. The one thing that irks me is the inconsistency of the food- I'm no fine diner, but when I fall in love with a dish I don't expect it to be completely different the next time I come. Luckily, sarah saved the day with her amazing personality and knowledge of the menu. We will be sure to come back and ask for her again.
(4)Eve R.
I went to Canary Square for my birthday last week, and it was a great place to celebrate! Extensive beer list, great cocktails, and our waitress was very helpful. We loved the black bean burger, tuna, and burgers, but would not recommend the steamers or mac and cheese. The desserts were great too!
(4)Chas K.
It's disappointing to see all the knocks on Canary Square's service - both food servers and bartenders. An email I sent to info@canarysquare.com was undeliverable as owner Michael Moxley's account is "overquota." Check your email, dude. Anyway, here's most of what I wrote in the email: "If you're reading this message, I'm guessing that you are a manager or owner. Have you read the Yelp reviews about Canary Square? If not, you ought to take a look. A consistent theme through many, many of the 178 reviews is inattentive service that includes long disappearing acts. I had the same experience, though due to the quality of the food, friendliness of the server and the beautiful afternoon, I had a great time and gave you 4 stars anyway. I wouldn't be as forgiving next time about the server taking off for 20+ minutes and leaving us surrounded by dirty dishes and empty glasses. The bartenders are really getting slammed for bad attitudes by a lot patrons. I didn't have any firsthand experience with mixologists. So why am I bothering to write? For starters, I love Coda and would like to see Canary succeed. I also love the menu and the space. Hopefully, by pointing out the obvious, validated flaws in service you can address them. Canary got the menu, food and ambiance right. Seems time to fix the service. Take my feedback for what it's worth."
(4)Karen R.
I've gone to Canary Square a few times after work with some co-workers. Each time I go, I become more and more dissatisfied with it. The most recent time I went was a few days ago. We had called in advanced to reserve the back booth, which they had said was no problem. When we got there, the booth was unavailable for us and our party of 15 had to hang out at 4 disconnected tables by the bar. It then took over 30 minutes to get drinks and our waitress was unfriendly at best. This time around, I knew better than to order any food... The previous times I had been there the food was downright gross. The first time I went, I had the hummus & pitas, which I found to be awkward as the pitas slices were warm but the hummus was cold (it really should be the other way around). The second time I went, a co-worker got the giant pretzel, which none of us could eat because it was so hard that we were concerned we were going to crack our tooth on it. In general, I find this place to be way over-rated and there are definitely better hang-out places in JP.
(2)Christian K.
I'm just going to be clear here: this is a casual experience. Don't be fooled by the exposed light bulb/industrial chic look that you might find also find somewhere more expensive... this is not a reservations-only kind of a place (except, maybe on a Friday night at 8pm.) But it's absolutely worth standing around near the bar for 20 minutes if it comes to that. It's great to see a decent generational mix of JPers here. Reinforces my like of the 'hood. Yeah, the servers are a little on the young side, and half of them are just masquerading as foodies. And no, not every dish is perfect. But here's the thing: most of the dishes are. Like, perfect. And it's very consistent. AAnnd it won't break the bank. Props for having a real bar in a setting like this one. Sometimes you have to trade ambience for quality. Not so here. There's a $6 Fernet cocktail called "the last call," brilliant. I have yet to actually stick around until closing, but when I do I will order a round of these and enjoy the varied expressions of the faces of my companions. This is a place to bring a bunch of your friends and try as much of the menu as you can. They rotate through little shareable appetizer/side dishes. They had these totally perfect deviled eggs at one point. Truffled fries. Artisinal meatballs. I've had a fantastic burger or two here, but I've also sprung for salmon which was delish. Whoever is running the kitchen is good people... Let's hope the management/ownership doesn't get listless and try and change too many good things, as this place has really hit its stride :)
(4)Jessica H.
So apparently they took off that amazing vegan meal off their menu and now vegans are left with sub par side dishes. BOOO. Really, you're gonna be located in JP and not offer a vegan meal? Anyways, looks like I won't come back anymore. Total disappointment, I still think about that great tofu dish you had when you first opened and now to come again and see nothing on the menu I can eat except a salad and sides is a total fail. Get a vegan dish back on your menu yo, I trusted you and encouraged everyone to go!
(3)Melinda N.
I know its really hard to get 5 stars but seriously, this place was impressive. we did have to wait a little bit between drinks and ordering our food but the server said that they were down two servers so i completely understand. me and my two girlfriends were content just chatting anyways. the server was real nice. it was one of my friend's belated bday and so we had a cake brought to the restaurant prior and after the meal, she brought the cake out and it was a nice surprise for the bday girl. the drink i got was sooooo good. the arborway has prosecco, st. germain and lime. i loved it. the food was delicious! i ate mine, and helped my friend eat hers. i ordered the haddock. whatever the sauce was, i wish i could've licked the plate! but we ordered cheese fries so i dipped fries in that instead =P my friend got a salad with bacon dressing. that was delicious too. the greens look very green and crisp. there were sweet walnuts in it. best salad. the bday girl ordered meatless spaghetti. we were expecting red sauce, but the surprise was good, it was tasty. the portions were perfect and the overall atmosphere was one where you could chat but not feel like you had to be quiet. it was a wednesday night. quite busy. people were out in the patio. wish we could've had seats there. i love the high ceilings. i would def come here again to try their other selections. i also liked how they use local products from allandale farm and had vegetarian options.
(5)Stephanie K.
I visited Canary Square for the first time last Wednesday and needless to say I will not be going back. When we were sat at our table we ordered a bottle of the 2010 Victor Hugo, Cabernet. When the bottle was brought out we saw that it was really 2011 cabernet. After mentioning it to our server that it says 2010 on the menu we asked her to check to see if they had another bottle. She returned and said no they don't, they only have 2011. In my opinion the restaurant should probably update their wine list to be accurate. Our food came out and that was the best part about our experience. When the bill came, we asked to split it between 3 cards, pretty simple math. Our server returned saying my card was declined and that she tried running it multiple times. I then checked my bank account thinking it was strange and she had wound up running my card for an obscure amount of 83 dollars. After leaving the restuarant one of the other guests checked his bank account and saw that the server had charged his card 4 different times for all different amounts. The charge to my account is still pending even after I spoke to the server and the manager about it.
(2)Cynthia M.
Pretty restaurant in the middle of a very residential area. My husband and I were walking to the Samuel Adams Brewery and decided to stop by here on the way for a bite. The restaurant is very open and airy and we came at around 1145am and it was still pretty empty. There were complimentary pickles to start which were quite tasty. I ordered the deviled eggs and a side of the macaroni and cheese, while my husband had the cheeseburger and fries. Everything was very good and we finished it all. The deviled eggs were perfectly prepared (though they only gave three halves, where did the other half go???) The mac and cheese was just the right amount of creamy without being too rich. It was a good sized portion for a side dish and the panko bread crumbs topping added a good contrast in textures. My husband gobbled up all his burger and the fries were crispy and well seasoned. Overall a nice lunch to get us ready for the brewery! Recommended if you happen to be stuck in this restaurant deficient area of Boston!
(4)Erik G.
As is apparently the case with everyone else who lives in JP, I want very badly to like this place. So very badly. It's in a great location, has patio seating, and is a little anchor of stability after ten years of endless rotation of restaurants through the same location. And on paper, Canary Square is the bee's knees. The owners also run Coda in the South End and Red's in Rozzie, both of which fight way above their weight class. The beer list is solid-to-spectacular depending on the day. The drink list looks amazing. The menu is a little limited, but seems like it would offer the same consistency that makes Coda so good. And yet, as is ever the case, the devil is in the details. I've been there three times now, and have been disappointed on every visit. I've never had a good mixed drink here. That's partly my fault, because when I see wacky drinks on a menu, my inner six-year-old comes out and I order what inevitably turns out to be a saccharine citrus-y mess. But on Friday they made me a terrible muddled-mint-and-whiskey drink, and damnit, no bartender worth his salt should screw up a mint julep. The food is equally vexing. Some of their options are totally respectable (the spiced almond and pickle appetizers are great, if a little pricey, and I really enjoyed my wife's pulled pork tacos), but the inconsistency is maddening. I've had the hangar steak, and found it to be oversalted to the point of inedibility. The burger had some weird texture things going on with it (and again, let me point out that these are the same people who serve Boston's best burger a few miles up in the South End, which somehow makes the insult even graver) and came out medium-well when I asked for mid-rare. The mac and cheese is simply not good. But they are at least very earnest, which is why I still can't write them off completely. The waitstaff is engaging and attentive, the beer list is really impressive (I know, I know--healer, heal thyself: stop ordering weird cocktails and stick with the taps), and if they could sort out the chef situation, I'd be here all the time. So, for now, I guess I'll keep checking back in every six months or so.
(2)Allison B.
I have been here several times - the food is ok and the service vary. The servers/host are always nice and friendly, but it sometimes can take forever to get help. I would recommend their beer selection - try flight of beer! Also, beware they tend to run out of dishes throughout the night.
(3)Dana G.
I am shocked at the low ratings for csquare. You can't beat Founders on tap......unless you somehow get some Surly up in here...=) Excellent beer selection which you can check up on via twitter, veggie options (the black bean burger has some kick!), $1 oysters (Mondays, I think?) and half price snacks for certain happy hours (4p-6p), clean bathrooms and lots of space. My only gripes are that the omelettes are small for brunch. We make up for it by having bloodies, I guess.
(4)Sara M.
Someone must have been listening to the gripes posted on yelp, because the service at brunch on Sunday was impeccable. Our waiter was attentive and entertaining. My man friend and I split the french toast (there is no way one person can finish this, although our waiter claims he saw a ten year-old take this thing to task) and the sausage and potatoes. All were awesome. The french toast is breaded in cornflakes for extra crunch and is topped with bourbon maple syrup which was really good. We walked out fat and happy, and eager to return.
(5)Fab S.
We went back and, what can I say, shame on me! Food was fantastic this time around. I did think service was on the slow side, but we were very pleased with our entrees this time, had an amazing tuna steak!
(4)Allison R.
Since I'm unlikely to venture back to the vortex that is JP anytime soon, I'll throw in my 2 cents on Canary Square. I made a Saturday wedding party reservation for 12 people, and the man taking my call was helpful and professional. I was looking to serve dessert and since they charge a $4 plating fee, I opted for their whole chocolate cheesecake. Backing up for a sec...Canary Square has an awesome website. Really cool. The background shows you what the bar looks like. Anyway, the spot is cool (former location of the Alchemist). Some outdoor seating. Cool natural light. Extensive draft list, and it was cool of our waiter to let us grab a sample paddle of beers, even though they don't do that. Crazy long drink menu, and I wish I'd tried the bacon bloody mary. Mimosas and beer/bloody marys on offer too. I didn't find the staff overly attentive or quick, considering the size of our party. I don't mind when food and drinks take a while with a big group, but I felt like we waited at least 10 minutes to have drink orders taken. They also couldn't (?) issue separate tabs. And, we reminded them a slew of ways about the cake, but they didn't seem to know what was up. It did come out at the end of the meal with some nudging, and they forgot(?) to charge us for it, so that all equals out to okay. Plus, it was really freaking good. So were the eggs, thick-cut bacon, homefries, and fruit. We got fancy schmancy toast too, which isn't my cup of tea but was good. I eyed an avocado and swiss omelet with envy, and drooled over the cheeseburger. I didn't get an adult beverage, but wouldn't hesitate to snag a BM or a mimosa with fresh-squeezed OJ. So, the food rocks, there are a lot of drinks to choose from, prices are reasonable, ambiance is nice. I'm never in JP, so I probably won't come back, but will suggest this spot to others in the area.
(3)IntricateWeeski O.
The service was horrible. Our waitress gave attitude and kept messing up the order. When we asked her to check on an ingredient due to a food allergy she asked if "it will kill me". Uh...even if I just break out in hives it's a big deal. It took 3 times of asking to finally get her to check. In the end I ordered the bacon Mac and cheese and it was the worst I've ever had. My friends steak came well undercooked but the lamb was good. Especially because of the bad service and how over priced it is for the lack of quality in the food I would not recommend it.
(1)Christina M.
The food is good but the service for Sunday brunch is awful and no communication from the management. Very unhappy.
(1)Jason H.
Not to be redundant, but this place has so much potential and yet fails to deliver. That said, I continue to come here for the beer and because it's fun. Food is incredibly inconsistent. Occasionally, the charcuterie boards are downright spectacular. I've had some of the best appetizers around, here. But the entree's are very hit or miss- usually miss. Atmosphere is pretty awesome and the patio is nice. Beer list is probably the most extensive in JP, so I keep getting sucked back in. A little more effort on consistency of the food and service would take this place from 3 or 3.5 stars to 4, easily.
(3)Mike O.
I've been holding out as long as possible on reviewing the newly opened (and much hyped) Canary Square, but I can't any longer!! After coming here for opening night and then several times after, I can't even bring myself to order the food. I suspected early on that the kitchen needed to work out some of the (what's the word?) kinks and that perhaps the waitstaff were slowly acclimating to the constraints of the new establishment and its clientele, but the learning curve should not be set at a distant time yet to be determined. This place is flat out awful! Poor service, poor food, and while its has a wonderfully charming layout and decor, very little can be said for anything else. The beer list contains a wide selection of favorites though and that should be duly noted. A lot of people had positive and negative things to say about the Alchemist, but by in large the food was well, decent, and it was another option in the area that didn't suck. What's odd to me is that Canary Sq is located in Hyde Sq, but seemingly wanting to hold to the letter "C" the owners have seen fit to call this whatever they wanted, in peculiar fashion. Maybe it's owned by the Count from Cesame Ctreet; I call it Crap. For real though, I know it's named posthumously after a U.S. serviceman. I've had a wide variety of menu items and be assured all are bland, unimaginative, boring, and overpriced except for the desserts. The deep fried Twinky is pretty good, but it's not worth eating an entire meal there, unless of course you like your sauce poured directly from the can to the plate, your burgers frozen, and your seafood frozen; then this is a perfectly fine choice. Most of the servers never frequent your table as you would come to expect and make you feel as though you're wasting their time. I'm specifically talking about the tall, bald guy with glasses, Sean? Make this your drink destination if it's a must, but don't even think you'll be able to get a seat on a Friday or Saturday night. They really ought to just cut the dining room in half and extend the bar area or add another in the middle of the room, a really BIG bar! I would conclude things with "get your act together or else..." but judging by the patrons that frequent Canary I know that management is under no pressure to make things better. Oddly enough, this is the wrong Boylston St. for this sort of establishment!
(2)Terrence H.
I had the Centre Street cocktail, which was good. Too bad the bartender ignored my party composed of rich minorities.
(2)Kate L.
Great place for drinks and apps, but not great for dinner or an entree. I've consistently had great cocktails here. The jerk wings and the sauce they come with are delicious. I love the outside area they have, but I've consistently had bad entrees. I get the overwhelming feeling that they are trying too hard to be something they are not. Don't serve a bad steak when you can serve a great burger. Additionally, I've had bad service, which I think is due to lack of experience. If a costumer doesn't like the beer you recommended, you should get him a new one. Good atmosphere to meet friends for drinks, but head somewhere else for a meal.
(3)Alana F.
I know, from watching too many cooking shows, that I'm supposed to use descriptive words, that phrases like "so delicious" and "scrum-diddly-umptious" do nothing for you. So here is goes: this place is balmy...and...boozy. Okok. Confession: I usually only come here to drink things of the alcoholic persuasion on their outdoor patio and laugh and exercise all my bourgeoise energies so, when I go to Brendan Behans after, the real JP-ers (read: not my post-grad friends, not the young families with babies and strollers and stories about their babies in their strollers) don't spit on my asymmetrical hair cut or acid wash jeans. Now you're wondering if I have either of those things. I'll keep you in suspense. But not in suspense about everything. Back to Canary: their drinks are good, are cheaper than the other fancy outdoor place (tres gatos--down the street FYI), and they don't hate you when your friends keep showing up and your party of 4 grows like bacteria into a party of 9, loud, twentysomethings all only ordering mojitos (that reminds me, order the mojito) and showing no signs of moving. For that alone they deserve 5 stars. And so it shall be given. Oh, and all the low-star-ers seem to have beef (mehmehmeh) with the burgers and the servers. I've had a burger there and, while it wasn't revelatory, it was juicy, cooked properly, and their house made A-1 sauce is tangy and sweet and the right amount of BBQ/ mesquite marinadey. And the waitress gave me beer samples, never once forgot about me, and was cute to boot...can't remember if she was wearing boots.... Anyway, sounds like some panties where in some bad kinda twists.
(5)chandra d.
Upon arriving, the hostess told us there would only be a 10 minute wait. I had a good feeling about the place as I looked around the non-pretentious room with warm ambiance. Appetizer: We ordered the chicken mole appetizer, which seemed more like a tapa dish then a bigger appetizer, but I was happy with that. It was quite delicious with a tasty mole sauce and tender pork. Food: We ordered the braised short ribs with polenta, in addition to the Frisee salad with chestnuts. My girlfriend and i split the short ribs and were fighting over the last bits of short rib and polenta left on the plate! The salad had a refreshing citrus-inspired dressing along with hazelnuts, potatoes and mushrooms. The light salad was a great pairing with the rich short ribs. The salad was huge, so we were right in splitting it. Drinks: my friend ordered the Pumpkin Southern Tier which is a nutmeg infused delicious beer. I had the Midnight Cellars Syrah and Van Gogh Cab, which were spicy and sweet paired with the short ribs. Dessert: We justified ordering the chocolate bread pudding with salty caramel sauce because we had only split a dinner and salad It was chocolatey and salty caramel goodness rolled into one. Recommendation: If you are the type that needs to shove huge portions of no taste food down your gullet, this place is not for you. Otherwise, please visit Canary Square in Jamaica Plain!
(4)Angel M.
Currently waitlisted for their grand opening. Looks awesome, brb. Im singing like a canary for the food here. The deviled eggs were served with diced olives. The housemade chili was savory, not sweet. The roasted chicken salad was the best part, it had this awesome bacon vinaigrette on it. The BBQ pulled chicken sandwich lacked something, or it may have been that there was too much sauce and not enough chicken, usually its the other way around. The wood grilled hamburger was served perfectly on its delicious black pepper brioche. The fried twinkies were really awesome, with the powdered sugar we were reminded of a big town fair. The drinks were just drinks, nothing special, the selection of beers was nice. The Centre Street with Jim Bean was a really weak drink, but some people like it like that, the imperfect manhattan was okay too. The dogfish head and the hefeweizen and the porter and the mayflower and the leatherlips were all good. I came back later for the drinks, wasnt really taken with the red wines by the glass...but whatever. I understand its a new restaurant, and it was opening night, so here are things im willing to forgive: awfully slow service our meals came out at different times really wierd smell (new restaurant?) the music was awesome, but loud... was it a sports bar? I think in due time, this place will find its flow and be able to handle a larger crowd of people, until then, AWESOME FOOD!
(4)Rod S.
Awesome food and atmosphere. Definitly will return next time I am in the area
(4)Megan N.
My family recently held a private memorial service at Canary Square, and we could not have been better taken care of. Bryce and his staff were thoroughly accommodating, quick to respond to our requests, and basically allowed us to use the space as we saw fit. The servers and bar staff were friendly and quick, while remaining unobtrusive. Although we had gathered for a sad reason, the crew at Canary Square played a large part in making a tough day a bit easier to deal with. Much thanks and appreciation.
(5)D L.
Great food and beer selection, but mediocre service on weekends. Always a bit of a wait on the weekends for a table at night (sometimes up to an hour so be prepared to wait a bit (or get a drink at the bar). Their menu changes a lot ( canarysquare.com/dinner is usually up to date), but I really like the deviled eggs, black bean burger, and the butterscotch bread pudding is SO GOOD. I wouldn't recommend this place for groups of more than 4-5 really, unless you make a reservation. The mac and cheese has always been kinda mehh so I'd skip that one. The notebooks that the checks come in are pretty hilarious, too.
(3)Richard R.
The food was !!AWESOME!! and I'm both a chef and a foodie. The creme brulee was ok but everything else we had was delicious. the service was top notch. I'm planning to visit again soon.
(4)Doctor W.
Before launching into what might be perceived as a biased diatribe that can be written off as based on a bad experience at a place that's just getting off the ground, let me offer some context: 1. My wife and I really wanted to like this place. 2. We had read the yelp reviews to date and were ready to give the benefit of the doubt (see #1) since we live really close 3. We're recent transplants to JP, so I'm not really nostalgic for anything, so the negative review isn't some sort of knee-jerk reaction to change (alchemist was perfectly fine IMO, mind you) 4. This is my inaugural yelp review - was waiting for the right moment. So here goes: My wife and I had been thinking about trying Canary Square for a while, but figured it would be best to wait a little while while they worked out the kinks. A couple of weeks post-opening, we decided to give it a go. Act I - The Plot Builds We arrived around 6 on a Saturday night. (I had called ahead and was told that they don't take reservations for parties less than 6) given that we are = 2, we were advised to get in before 6:30 PM as it would be very crowded after that. Anyway, we were seated promptly, although instead of being seated at any one of the numerous empty regular tables in the dining room, we were encouraged to take one of the high tops at the bar. Fine, whatevs. Menus arrive. Beer list is ok, not as good as Alchemist's was or The Haven's is. Cocktails are on the back of the menu. Pretty much the usual gamut of "reimagined classics" and something or other with St. Germain in it. By the way, who orders these? But I digress. Cocktails were perfectly serviceable, but kind of weird to have with pickles. Mrs. ordered the crepe (mushroom and spinach w/ onion jam) app and roasted chicken entree (comes w/ brussels sprouts + bacon, but Mrs. asks for no bacon). I went with the chili and pulled chicken sandwich, with a side of "fresh greens". Our orders go in and we wait, a bit on the longish side, but nothing like the other horrorshow reviews here. Group next to us seems generally pleased, so I'm hoping for the best. Apps arrive - crepes unmemorable, and filling very oily (didn't know canola oil is a condiment). Chili is a hot mess. Spicy, which is good, but not a good kind of spicy. Aggressive up front heat with no real flavor. Tasted like I opened a can of five different things that are in chili, heated them up separately, and then threw them in a bowl with some undercooked beans. Dizz Ass Ter. Act II. Whodunnit? After that stellar opening act, the entrees arrive. My sandwich looks completely innocuous. Wife's chicken looks good, except for a piece of meat in the bowl that looks suspiciously like bacon. One of the benefits to being married to a non-pork eater is that I get to confirm/deny the presence of pork. As a pork lover, I am up to the challenge. So there is definitely a piece of bacon in those brussels sprouts, in fact quite a delicious piece. And the sprouts are bathed in a nice-looking sheen of sauce that can be generated only from the magical healing powers of meat of porcine origin. Definitely bacon up in there. Anyway, we send it back, along with the "fresh greens" side, which I mistakenly assumed were, well, cooked greens, but were actually a side salad (yes, I'm the ignorant Texan who sees chili, pulled meat sanwich and cole slaw on a menu and assumes that there's cooked greens available) 30 seconds later, the same 2 plates we sent back are on their way back to our table. The entree because the chef claims that there was definitely no bacon on the plate (maybe because I ate it?) and the greens, well, I still don't know why those came back. Manager basically confronts us and maintains that there is no bacon in there, and that it tastes bacon-y because the chicken is cooked on a wood burning grill. So wife orders the vegetable lasagna. Act III. Sad denouement. I muddle my way through the sandwich, which was totally average. Lasagna rolls out about 10 minutes later. Points for them having expedited that, but the interior of the lasagna is cold. Also, this dish is terrible. Given that the story is getting long, here's the high (low) points of that dish: 1. It's a stack of sliced, grilled vegetables. Super super smoky grilled vegetables. Not much cheese in sight. I assume these vegetables were cooked on the same magical baconizing grill, but the result basically tastes like smoking 3 marlboro reds while drinking a V-8. 2. Lots and lots of vegetable skins. Eggplant skins are foregiveable, but winter squash skins? Seriously? Apparently that new mandolin does a bang up job. We made a nice pile of all that rind-y goodness on my plate, which I pretended was a diorama of a fur trapper's camp in the old west, only instead of muskrat, he was trapping butternut squash If you made it this far, thanks, and apologies. I think you could say we won't be back.
(1)Paula P.
Canary Square is one of the most versatile neighborhood restaurants you could hope for. Want a drink with some friends out on the patio on a warm spring afternoon? done. Want to go out on a "date night" to somewhere that feels nice but isn't actually particularly fancy? done. Want a cider and a burger after watching the Boston marathon? done (somehow this has become a tradition). Anyway, you get the point, it satisfies on many levels ranging from a quick drink to apps to having a nice meal. I think Christian K. had it right - not everything on the menu is perfect, BUT it's pretty darn close. Of the roughly 25 times I've been here, I've only been (mildly) disappointed with the food once and it's that consistently high quality that keeps me and the bf coming back. The menu rotates a fair amount which keeps things interesting and seasonally-appropriate, though it does mean that sometimes my favorite dishes get replaced. They stopped serving a red wine risotto which had become my go-to comfort food this past fall, but it's ok, because now they have chicken mole nachos which are AMAZING (and make a perfect meal when paired with the pulled pork tacos). You can easily make a meal out of apps here or if you're feeling like you need something more, one of their mains will certainly satisfy. As far as drinks go, I'm allergic to beer, so I can't comment on the beer selection, but based on how excited the bf gets about it, I'd say it's pretty solid, and they usually have a cider on tap which I appreciate. The wines by the glass list, though not huge, is really well curated in my opinion, I've gotten into 2 different grapes I wasn't familiar with because of wines I tried here. The cocktails are great too, there's definitely something for everyone on there list. And the last thing, I'm sure that it doesn't hurt that we're regulars, but the staff here is so friendly, and they have been since day one. Service is always good, whether it's packed or totally quiet in there. Over the holidays they gave out little gift bags to some of their regular customers with homemade treats, I thought this was such a nice idea. It's one thing to do something nice for a customer who wasn't satisfied with their experience, but I think it goes above and beyond to do something like this for your regulars who you know are going to come back again regardless.
(5)Dennis L.
First time I've been to this place. We got the charcuterie "Salty Pig Board" and the cauliflower for appetizers and they were both really good. Got the burger via a recommend from out server and it was friggin delish! Cooked perfectly. There was a good selection of beers and the ambiance was nice. Definitely would recommend you give this place a try.
(4)Richard A.
Overpriced for the food they serve, tepid waitstaff, and weak drinks. JP is really starved for places so I went back to canary square and my original opinion was confirmed.
(1)J K.
Good but overpriced. So many people on okcupid dates. The fish tacos are pretty awesome, though. It's worth the giggle of ordering a fish taco. (What? Everyone was thinking it.) Good beers on tap.
(3)Sebastian Y.
I really want to like Canary Square, with its sleek, modern interior and long wooden bar, the immediate impression of the place is chic but understated, with a good beer selection. The food however is very inconsistent, the first time I got a burger here it was cooked to medium rare perfection on a brioche roll with lettuce, tomato and aioli already on the plate, the second time around a month later I was served a rock hard bullet of meat on a potato roll with no condiments, no lettuce/tomato and what can only be described as a hastily arranged cacophony of french fries thrown on the plate. The oysters too used to be meaty and a great deal for $1 during happy hour every day, now they're only served on Mondays. The oysters i got yesterday were anemic and truly the most pathetic plate of small oysters I've ever had, not even worth $1 a piece. Come here for the beer and nothing else, the bartenders are really nice and seem to know what they're doing, and the waitstaff in general is really wonderful, only wish the kitchen kept up with them.
(2)Jazzie F.
I went here recently for brunch -- it was really good. Except maybe I was annoyed that my dish came w/ bacon so when I said no bacon they didn't add anything or offered anything in replacement for it but charged me for bacon. But it was a good experience, and I really like this place. I am looking fwd to trying out their brunch cocktails next time!
(4)Phil H.
This is the place in JP that I want to love, but seems to always disappoint me. I keep going back for the: 1. Awesome beer and craft cocktail selection 2. Eclectic menu 3. Hip and comfortable atmosphere 4. Outdoor patio and walls that move to open the entire restaurant to the outdoors Here are a few of the experiences I've had there over the last year (on a few occasions): Service 1. Standing at the front door for 15 minutes waiting for a host/employee to help me 2. Getting seated and then waiting another 15-20 minutes for someone to come over 3. Watching people that could be helping me just hanging around and talking to coworkers or doing other things 4. Parts of the table's food/drink order being completely forgotten 5. The food runners bring you your food and have no clue who ordered what 6. No one noticing your empty drinks or lack of napkins/silverware at the table Food 1. The jerk chicken wings are not at all spicy - which means they are not jerk 2. The bottom of asparagus stems are tough, fibrous and basically inedible - please cut them off for me 3. Entree plates which look like a bunch of things were just thrown together on the plate. This place could be great, but they are just overlooking too many details on the food and the service staff seems to be lacking an element of leadership/teamwork. A place at this price-point that shows so much promise should be better about these kinds of things.
(2)Mark G.
Was excited to check this place out having enjoyed The Alchemist in the former space. Host said wait would be 25 minutes. OK sounds good. Proceeded to see several tables open the entire time we were waiting which never got filled. Confused, we asked the host and wait staff only to get snide replies. Eventually sat after about 60 minutes. Obviously did not create a good vibe for the dinner. Food was decent and beers pretty good but simply could not make up for the atrocious service. Will not be back.
(2)paula z.
Canary Square used to be a favorite place of ours for brunch on the weekend. We would often go there both mornings. They had wonderful music and great food. However, someone a few weeks ago got the bright idea to ONLY serve their brioche bread as the ONLY choice for brunch. (Who makes these dumb decisions???) Anyway, they used to serve great multi-grain toast for breakfast. The brioche stuff is too sweet for anything other than french toast. It tastes awful with every other breakfast menu item, in my opinion. Too bad! Their bacon, avocado, tomato breakfast sandwich used to be my favorite and my husband loved the omelet. They have wonderful servers and staff people. Someone rescue Brunch for them! We won't go back there until we have another bread choice....and, yes, it does make a difference. Sorry!! Canary Square.....Come back to the light..........
(2)Melissa F.
Reading through some of the reviews, it seems Canary Square is hit or miss. I've been there twice and they both were hits. I moved to JP last May and only recently tried Canary Square. Man I've been missing out. First off I love beer (see my other reviews) and this place has a pretty good selection. Pretty Things on tap always makes me happy. The food is good too. I have tried the pulled pork tacos, the mac and cheese and the crispy cauliflower. The tacos were really tasty, especially when paired with their hot sauce. Nice and spicy. The mac and cheese was also really good, and the crispy cauliflower was a perfect portion as an app before your meal, or as a side if you're just snacking. The vibe inside is very cool. I guess that's what people expect from a bar in JP? I'm so glad I finally came here because this is now my new go to bar and it's down the street from me.
(4)Hannah R.
I went here pretty often when this place first opened--I liked the food, I liked the cocktails, and I loved the beer selection. Plus, the wait staff are quirky and fun to talk to. However, over the last 6-8 months, it seems like the prices have gone up and the quality of the food hasn't improved to match. Brunch looks good on paper, but in practice it's bland, and the bloodys are just disappointing. Dinner is good, but I don't eat pork and that leaves me with maybe one entree that isn't a hamburger. I do love the cheese fries though. At this point, I'd only go here for happy hour-type drinks.
(3)Allison W.
I am so surprised to see all the bad reviews on here - we have been 3 times and have had great experiences each time. My family has several individuals who eat gluten free, and this place has one of the best gluten free menus for a pub style restaurant that we have found... their fryer is gluten free so you can have the French fries (this is a luxury for gf folks) and they have wings and ribs that are gf as well. I typically get the burger, it's very good, and we had the pot pie our last visit as well, also very good and both were large portions. Service was good, although they seemed a little under staffed, they went the extra mile and brought us a free item for tasting and kept smiles on their faces the whole time. Also brought our young son (less than 1 yr) on a weeknight and found this place to be family friendly and able to accommodate our needs for space for his stroller at the table (not sure if it's also family friendly on weekends). Overall this is one of our go to places when we want something casual, easy and for entertaining visitors.
(5)Alissa S.
Would give 3.5 stars if I could. Have mixed feelings about this place and prefer both Coda and Common Ground above it (mostly think the food is better at both of those, and like the DJ/dancing aspect at Common Ground). I absolutely love the Mothers Ruins, although I don't know why they changed the recipe from Hendricks so that now I have to special request them with it. Always enjoy brunch here, too, and it works great as a brunch-turns-into-Sunday-funday-once-the-game-Âstarts kind of place due to the TVs. They don't discourage that and you can easily end up staying for the day. Again- good deal. Also appreciate the outdoor seating, which is surprisingly hard to find in JP (I think James's Gate is one of the only other places with it?) Still, overall I'm just not a fan of the menu, think it's pretty limited, and have mostly found the food meh,
(4)Inci K.
I am grateful to Canary Square because they have been really supportive to the community. That's not easy for a small business to pull off. Canary Square has opened its doors to my son's school nearby to host fundraisers and silent auctions. If we pulled off a good event, it's because the vibe and the surroundings were really jovial, upbeat and spacious. Beyond the school / community aspect, my husband and I frequent the restaurant for breakfast, a rare date night bite, or a New Year's eve dinner. It's so lovely to have a large location like Canary Square (named after a US veteran) in the neighborhood, it definitely adds to the neighborhood, and I want to continue to see them do well. PS: try their cheese/charcuterie platter, worth it for those seeking an appetizer that won't bore!
(4)Benjamin E.
To all who thought Canary Square was going to be the "shot in the arm" JP's restaurant scene needed, keep waiting. I should have ceased to visit after my first attempt, but I've foolishly convinced myself at least 3 times that Canary Square "must have improved since the last time"-- no dice. The food and service is consistently abominable. I've sent back more plates at Canary Square than I have ever, anywhere else, combined. Seasoning, temperature, timeliness, and flavor -- not even close to what a half decent restaurant can churn out. I'm not quite sure how the owners of CODA and the Salty Pig (both great) have turned a blind eye to the JP operation, but I hope they figure it out. I find the establishment fine to have a beer in, but if you get hungry, don't let the menu tempt you. The Haven is just around the corner.
(1)Kristin G.
Went for dinner with friends last night. Service was great. The waitress was attentive but not hovering. The drinks were AMAZING. I got the grape basil mojito and a watermelon jalapeno mojito and both were fantastic. Everyone was satisfied with the food- which ranged from bluefish to burgers to roasted chicken to pork tacos. Everything was fresh and tasty. I totally dug the vibe/decor. I had a great experience here and I'll definitely be back.
(4)Maureen D.
Beautifully renovated open space with big windows facing Center street/S. Huntington. Weekend brunch was delicious with appropriately spicy/salty hints in unexpected places. There is a list of interesting cocktails I plan to return for. The chef would do well, however, to take the bacon out of the home fries; not veg friendly.
(4)J R.
Disclaimer: I'm usually very forgiving about bad service and willing to chock it up to unfortunate circumstances. I've worked in the food service industry and I know things can get hectic. I got there at 10pm last Saturday to get some food with my girlfriend. The place was pretty dead. About 10 minutes after being seated the host comes by to ask if anyone had been by to take our order. We chat a bit, he was very friendly, and he takes our drink order and says someone will be by shortly. 20 minutes pass as we watch a couple get seated next to us, their drink order taken, and their drink order filled. So, by this time, 30 minutes after being seated, we were just too frustrated to deal with it and left. Maybe the right thing would have been to say something, but seeing the people next to us get served was just too obnoxious to want to give this establishment our business. The most aggravating parts are the fact the host even acknowledged that no one noticed us and it wasn't even busy that night. I'm the type to give people benefit of the doubt and assume it was all a misunderstanding but that was beyond ridiculous.
(1)SR F.
Caesar salad made with kale?? really? Have you ever eaten kale? Like leafs of broccoli.. give me romaine or give me death, don't f..k with traditional; I don't care what your mother says about the fine culinary schools she sent you to. Teach kitchen staff how to trim and slice meat for charcuterie; cheese plate was very nice, but needed magnifying glass to find the portions. Polenta portions (3) were 1/2 teaspoon size and over salted.. gimme a break- its corn pudding lightly sauteed, let's bump the portions up to teaspoon size at least. How does one overreach and fail at appetizers? Check 'em out at canary square and learn. Oh, forget the burgers, if it weren't for the fancy pants drinks this place would fail in a week. I couldn't have a meal of appetizers here if I wanted to. Plus side, staff was very accommodating and genial; crowd was pleasant and well mannered, nice upbeat from the Dublin.
(2)Leanne C.
Alright... because the brunchy drinks my friend and I got were awesome, you'll get 3 stars, Canary. And that's pushing it. Per Jessica's 4-star review, I was like "oh hey, good drinks and vegan options? Lets go!" Got there to find they don't carry vegan-accommodating meals any more. You have the choices of a side of super-plain home fries, over priced greens, and a fruit plate. I got the smashed grape and basil mojito. Mighty tasty, but after seeing/tasting the bloody mary my friend ordered, definitely get that, not the small (more expensive) mojito. For food I ordered a side of home fries and the fruit plate. The food totaled $9 and was incredibly boring. Come here for drinks, skip the food.
(3)Sandy B.
I think they changed their bacon. Are you kidding me? You're sleeping on the couch for a looooong time, Canary. Update: It seems they've changed a lot of other things, too. And not necessarily for the better. New chef should pay attention to these comments. Now you've messed with the amount of avocado in the avocado and Swiss omelet? Tsk, tsk.
(3)Nick H.
I've went once, on a Monday night. While the whole thing fell a little short of what it could be, the prices are cheaper than they could be and the staff works hard. Here are the highlights: 1. This place has a menu that is near-exclusively the stuff that I wish for on a menu: It was like seeing a unicorn. As a result, we split three sides, two appetizers, one entree. I was thankful for having my girlfriend and another friend to team-up. 2. The food was cheap for simple things and reasonable for fun things. I loved this. A person who can swing $10 for dinner can eat homemade tacos and their friend that wants to spend $20 on seafood, can do that too. 3. There seemed to be an odd skill gap in the kitchen. The Salmon was awesome. They were ambitious enough to do a charcuterie plate. However, the yucca (which I was excited about) was dry and was served with a sauce that didn't work. 4. The service was slow but solid. My girlfriend has Celiac Disease (gluten intolerance) and our waitress confirmed which menu items were safe as well as let the kitchen know about our table. The chef even popped out for 10 seconds to let us know which deserts were safe. That was truly appreciated. The consensus, at the end of the meal, was that this place was working hard to make interesting food, serve it safely, and make folks feel comfortable and welcome. It felt like an off night, but I'm looking forward to going back, perhaps on another night of the week.
(4)Emily H.
Eh, let me start by saying I really want to like this place. It's near my house and the decor is cool and modern. BUT, the food is just blah. The drinks are blah. And the servers are blah. I used to order Canary's standard hamburger every time I went because it was a delicious piece of beef on brioche with pickles and onions. Now, the burger comes on a strange sesame seed bun that makes me sad. Their wings are equally underwhelming. C'mon people, wings are easy. If you're a mixed drink person I find their cocktails to be just O.K. The service is pretty spotty as well. The bartenders seem annoyed that you're there unless you really get into a conversation with them. I agree with the writer who said the waitresses are either weird and overbearing or invisible because I've had both. The plus is that Canary has ample outdoor seating, reasonable prices, and a large variety of beers.
(3)Eugena O.
Brunch (based on a Saturday visit): great noise and music level, friendly service, canary french toast is a must try. Dinner (based on a Thursday visit): make reservations, friendly waitstaff, but food is alright for what it is. There are tons of other restaurants in Boston that make what they do ten times better, but since it's the only restaurant of its kind in JP, they get by. A friend pointed out that their dinner menu offers something from each of the major JP establishments on Centre Street. I think if they were to narrow the menu and really focus on coming out with a few signature dishes they do really well, the overall eating experience would be better. Overall: enjoyed brunch experience more than dinner experience, mainly because the canary french toast was so delicious.
(3)Lydia S.
I'm another potential fan that really wants Canary Square to be good. Every few months, in a forgiving mood, I'll try going there again, hoping things will be different. But it never fails to disappoint. The food can be quite good, but the experience is always undermined by the service. On this most recent attempt, the place was only 1/3 full, but the wait staff forgot one of our 2 dishes, wasn't around to re-order, could not be found to get the check or then pay the bill. In other visits, low points include weak cocktails, forgetting the to-go leftovers (threw them out), uneven food quality, and consistently bad service. Done for now, thanks. There are too many other delightful, delicious treasures that really never disappoint.
(1)Paul B.
Great beer selection, open air the night we were there! Burgers were great and the Mac and Cheese with bacon added was out of this world!!
(5)Mark R.
My favorite place in JP! Great atmosphere and the food only gets better.
(5)Kim K.
I had high hopes for Canary Square after seeing the location and hearing some good reviews. Unfortunately, it did not live up to the hype. My boyfriend and I decided to stop in on a Sunday at 2:00 for lunch. We were able to get a table right away outside. Our waitress came over, took our drink orders (two orange juices) and came back pretty quickly with them and to receive our food order (two burgers: one medium, one medium well). However, that marked the end to the timely service/overall nice experience. After that, we began our ridiculous wait for our food. During that wait, the following happened: - I ordered an iced coffee that never came. - Another table was seated, completely ignored, never served even water, and eventually walked out of the place. - Two other tables endlessly tried to flag down our waitress to pay their bills and ended up having to get up to find her. Finally, our burgers arrived. While they did come with the toppings we had asked for (bacon and cheese), they were not cooked to order at all. And the fries? Now I'm a fan of salty things but they must have soaked the potatoes in salt water before frying them and topping them off with a pound of more salt. We tried to eat them because by that point, we were starving but they were inedible. I wish I had good things to say about this place but due to this experience, the food I ate, and the service I had, I will never be going to Canary Square again.
(1)Mike D.
Awesome Beer list!!!! Plenty of great beers on tap. Dave and Angela behind the bar are awesome.. I have one complaint, I wish the menu was a little bigger. I have a hard time finding a really good item on the menu that I like. Other than that, the ambiance is great, outdoor patio is amazing.
(4)Mon R.
nooooooooo. I can't believe I paid so much money here- or any money here at all. Their food is not good, and I'm concerned I may have gotten food poisoning here! Such a shame because I wanted to love their southern comfort type food, but its a total miss.
(1)jenn K.
I want to first start off by saying I really like the space and it has a nice ambiance going. I think the food is decent however, the menu hasn't changed at all in the 4 times I've been to Canary Square. I really want to like this place and get excited to go there but I feel a little bored already. Canary Square really needs to keep the customer excited and guessing if it wants to survive in a world of ten tables. It would be nice to see some seasonal menu changes. The cheese fries were SO good but I've also split an order of bread pudding before and it just did not hit the spot. Please produce some more irresistible desserts and I will gladly bring many friends! Being a vegetarian I would also like to see a larger array of options, maybe a butternut squash risotto or something like that would be really lovely for the fall/winter. I don't really have much gripe with the service besides the last time I went I was very thirsty and me and my friend sat at the table with empty water glasses for about 15 minutes. Other than that, the place is decent. I hope there is some favorable changes so I can start gushing over this place already!
(3)Kelly G.
Blah. Stopped in for drinks because one of my besties and I wanted cocktails and Milky Way had a cover. For a Saturday night at 10, it was dead...we got seats at the bar right away, which was nice. The experience went down hill from there. We ordered two of the same drink off of the menu (nothing terribly difficult) and the bar tender acted like we'd asked her to juice a still-living turkey that she'd have to chase around for an hour. She was snippy when taking our food order and all we ordered was the corn appetizer which, though not advertised that way, was SO SPICY that I couldn't eat it. I had a couple of nibbles and passed the plate off. I don't love spicy food, but I'm not a wuss - so that's saying something. I never thought I'd say this in a million years, but I miss the Alchemist.
(2)Daymeyn G.
Yum. Canary Square....the love I feel for you would be stronger, only if you were not so far away from where I lay my head. Starter, humus...great flavor and texture, that could have gone with a little more lemon...its great they left a lemon wedge for us. My mate and I split mains...Roasted Chicken Salad (total brilliance!), and the Wood Grilled Burger.... Again YUM! The Salad's mix of meats to vegetables, nuts, and berries were stunning..and I had heard sooo much about it. Totally lived up to expectations! The burger was good, but the salad was extraordinary. Though I did not go into their drink menu, I did have a ginger beer which was a great accompaniment to a fantabulous dinner. If one is keen for a trip to, or in JP, I would totally say take a trip to the square! These folks will not disappoint.
(4)Julia N.
Just checked out Canary Square, and while it is a very nice/chill mixed crowd and environment, the food isn't that great. I had the Emerald Necklace as a drink (eh), but I'm not sure that this place should get away with how much they charge. Though--- they have a "huuuuuuuueg" beer list, so perhaps food doesn't matter to you! The waiter was sweet and even answered a question about the ingredients in the menu. But in short, I wouldn't bring people who are on vacay here.
(3)Brian D.
Things that I've learned and have time after time forgotten include: 1. always sit at the bar 2. never go to brunch 3. never go to brunch Brunch kills me. Sorry majority of people out there, but, brunch sucks. You pay more for a limited menu and are surrounded by hordes of people who may or may not dine out often who think that a glass of 1/2 OJ and 1/2 cheap sparkling wine is a life-changing event. I don't get it. I sat with a good size table of people on a Sunday afternoon for 'brunch' and had the sort of experience that is the norm in my brunching experience. Busy restaurant, slow table service, frazzled wait staff, pretty much just OK chow and an overall 'meehhhhhhh' experience. I had the burger, looks awesome, tastes pretty good. My companions had various eggy things, they all seemed more or less pleased. Nobody passed out from mouthgasms but nobody pushed their plates away either. I'm sorry brunch, I'm just not in love with you. That being said about brunch....I like sitting at the bar at Canary. I'm sort of in love, or at least very strong like, with the bar. Show up for dinner time and get a plate of the jerked chicken wings, fried pork belly and a few good beers - done. As one previous reviewer pointed out, the mussels, avoid. I don't know why, but both times I've had them here they were a bit off. I'll be back, I like this spot just fine, just not for brunch (or anyplace else for that matter).
(3)Molly N.
I had to write a review because there are so many nice things about canary square - the space is nice, especially in the spring and summer when they open up the doors, the staff is great, the drink menu is decent and now they are offering special summer cocktails, BUT, as a vegetarian, I might have to stop going there for meals because their black bean burger is literally inedible. I end up just ordering about 5 plates of the crispy cauliflower appetizer (which is great). But really, in a neighborhood like JP, with just one vegetarian meal on the menu, they should get it right. The first time I ordered it I assumed they had forgotten to cook it because it was so mushy and gross. But then I ordered it again last night and it was the same. Pure mush, barely warm in the middle - just awful. I ate my fries and could't even touch the burger. Grassfed also has a veggie burger that is only slightly better. It is NOT hard to have an even somewhat decent vegetarian burger but....right now it is keeping me from going back. They used to have an amazing hummus and veggie sandwich. They should have kept it!
(2)Jacob M.
I took a small retreat to Boston to visit a couple of friends before their baby was born. I mostly spent the time studying for a certification exam, but we came here for a couple of beers one night. They have a great selection of beers on tap, a really good place to go if you are in JP. The service was good (we sat at the bar), and the bar tender was helpful in picking out what beers to have. I also got a turkey leg for us to snack on, and it was delicious. It had just a touch of honey, barely noticeable, but jus that little extra to take it over the top; I would definitely get it again. This is a great place to go to for a date, or to spend a couple of hours catching up with friends.
(4)Carpenter A.
Well, we went last night for drinks and dinner and afterwards I was like, "I need to go on yelp and see if anyone else has commented on how salty the food was..." My friend ordered a burger, I got mac and cheese and both were just REALLY salty - that was the flavor, salt. Clearly from reading below, we are not alone in this experience. When we got to Canary Square, there were no tables available and the host said it would be a few minutes. I asked if we could wait at the bar and he looked a bit confused but said yes, so we went over and got drinks. Which seems like the most normal way to handle a wait, right? While we were there four tables opened up and were set and only one was seated with no one waiting by the door. I watched as the tables stayed empty for a while, the host was not looking for us, and finally I went over and asked if we might sit down. It struck me as a bit strange that no one came to tell us a table was ready. But certainly not a deal breaker by any means. When we were sitting looking at the menu we were considering a few things and as it was our first time there, I looked around the room to see what other people were eating and if anything looked particularly good. And all I saw was a full dining room with no plates on the tables and people just having drinks. At 7:45pm on a Thursday night. I'd definitely go back to meet for drinks - the atmosphere was open and comfortable. I ran into some friends who were there for drinks and that confirmed the "this is a great place to meetup for drinks in JP" feel. I hope they fix this the food issues. They'd get far more repeat customers bringing friends and family there for meals. Not just drinks. ps. I'm not a low/no-salt person. I like salt! I put salt on things frequently and this was just crazy super thick salty. pps. I hate writing bad reviews! I really hope they figure this out as I'd love for it to be a great restaurant.
(2)Stacy H.
my friend highly recommended their black bean burger, but it was so incredibly spicy i couldn't breathe for a little while after eating it. their french fries were also incredibly salty, so i don't think i'll be ordering that dish anymore. i'll probably come back again for drinks or appetizers, since they have a pretty good vegetarian food selection.
(3)Kate M.
I've been to Canary Square several times, mostly because I live across the street. That said, I hope they stick around. The beer list is excellent and the cocktails are solid. The food, as several reviewers have noted, is hit-or-miss; I've had a few visits where it's been great but it feels like the place might be a bit too ambitious-- make sure you have your recipes down before doing the rotating, seasonal thing. It's an excellent choice for groups (I've only had to wait for a table at brunch) and the service is generally very good. I'm still sort of mad they took away the dollar oysters.
(4)Tom S.
First off - people giving terrible reviews to a less than one month old restaurant/bar need to grow up. The place is not the Four Seasons nor does it want to be... sheesh. That said - we went on opening night... took a big chance, but man was it good. Very good actually. Great beer list, food was delicious. I had the steak and my wife had the salmon sandwich. The only fault with the food we tried was that it was perhaps over-salted. Service was spotty as one might expect, but the staff was quite pleasant. What a nice addition to the neighborhood. I cannot wait to go back to delve further into the beer list and the food menu.
(4)Heather G.
I will start this review off on a positive note: The cocktails, beers and bar scene is great. No other spot in JP beats it on any night of the week. The food, on the other hand... Let's start with: The chef has no clue what sauces to put with the appetizers. This might sound like a minor detail, but when your yuca fries are served with sour cream (sour cream?? what??), you know something is really screwed up back there in the kitchen. An alioli or chipotle mayo or chimichurru are all appropriate. The yuca is not cooked well either; I've ordered it 3-4 times and they tasted like cardboard last night. (Sorry to harp on the yuca, but after spending time in south and central america and eating at latin restaurants for 8 years in NYC, it pains me when an appetizer as simple to prepare as fried yuca, is screwed up beyond belief). Then, the cod fritters are served with a strange cocktail sauce. That is also a bizarre combo considering the fact that most fried fish would be served with some sort of tarter sauce. Now i'm all for trying new sauces with my fish, but maybe cocktail sauce should be left for COCKTAIL shrimp. The chicken tacos are good. As are the deviled eggs. The cheese fries are smothered with alfredo sauce. I'll let you determine if that's a good thing or not. The chard salad is big and could use more ingredients other than a mound of chard (there were probably 6 nuts sprinkled on top), but still a decent, unique option for a big salad. The beef skewers were measly sized and the jar (and I mean it was the amount that would come in a jar) of peanut sauce could not really be called sauce since it was as thick as actual peanut butter. gross. It ruined the beef skewers. Again, I love the bar and cocktails and beer, but until they improve on how they prepare the appetizers and entrees, this place gets only 2 stars from me since it's supposed to be a restaurant you eat at, and not just a bar.
(2)Libby H.
Owner - please, please, please fix your food. Have you ever even eaten off your own menu? I've been here three times, each time certain that it would prove better than the last. This place has a fabulous layout and outdoor space. It is just what JP needs...a comfortable, fun and spacious restaurant/bar. The problem is that the food sucks. My salad had essentially plain olive oil on it and my friends steak was cooked so much it was white. I know whomever is running this place has resources and restaurant experience because the place LOOKS and FEELS like it, but, it sure doesn't TASTE like it. Please get your kitchen together. So much potential, but such a disappointment in the food.
(1)chris b.
I haven't dined here on weekdays, so I can't speak to how the place behaves other than weekend.... but their weekend staff is extraordinary. I usually have breakfast/brunch at the bar. They have a bartender there who actually shook my hand firmly as soon as I sat down and when I left. I've never had any Boston bartender welcome me that warmly to a restaurant. The food is excellent ... I usually order some variation of eggs ... (not salty at all)... portions are great value for price, and they refilled my coffee after only 3 sips. I really hope Canary stays around for many years to come... Live Long and Prosper as Leonard Nimoy would say.
(5)Stephanie S.
Awful, awful, awful! This was the second time I've been to Canary Square...after the first I had vowed not to return, I really should have stood by that (check out Matt W's review for the details). The wait was unbelievable. We were quoted half an hour but it took closer to an hour for 4 of us to get seated. Waiting wouldn't normally be an issue, but there were no people! Open tables, no line, no wait, right? My friend and I split a pitcher of sangria which was sickly sweet so I opted for a sangarita and that tasted like tea tree oil toothpicks. Needless to say I was disappointed by both. There was also a tortuous wait for the food (an additional hour for 2 burgers, french fries and yucca). I ordered the yucca which was extremely overcooked and the sauce it came with was tasteless. When the server asked how our food was I told her it was terrible and, get this, she AGREED with me! You know it's bad when the server openly doesn't like the food. I excused my crappy first experience by telling myself "the restaurant's new, they just need time to get it together". Now it's official, decor aside there are no redeeming qualities in Canary Square.
(1)Vegan Couple T.
The Mrs. and I haggled over this rating. I am consistently annoyed with the lack of vegan options there, but Mrs. T. wanted to give them credit for at least now offering vegan pita and one vegan entree. In the past we've been forced to order the hummus without bread and mix and match various selections while getting charged full price for each. Their sides are good but their grilled asparagus tastes like it was cooked on top of a steak. Definitely the best things going for this place are its location and the Basil Grape Mojitos and Sangaritas.
(3)Amanda G.
Brunch Review! I was really looking forward to eating at Canary Square. Some of my fellow brunch regulars and I decided to try out the spot on a nice warm day. They have a patio and JP is an area we hadn't yet explored. We made reservations for 11:30 which seemed unnecessary. When we arrived we were practically the only table in the restaurant (besides a screaming 5 year old... but that's besides the point). I, of course, ordered the Canary bloody mary. It was alright. I know I asked for tabasco and horseradish to make it a little more exciting. It was bland and a bit watered down. A friend ordered the bacon bloody mary... she didnt seem to br too thrilled everytime the chopped bacon bits got stuck in her straw... moving on.. As a group we ordered teh breakfast french fries to start. Basically eggs benedict on top of yummy fries. If you go for one thing, go for this. Im a HUGE fan of eggs benedict.. how do you make this dish and NOT eggs benedict? For the main meal I got the avacado and swiss omelette. The omelette itself was fine, again kind of bland but cooked right. The omelette came with toast that tasted like... campfire? The toast was inedible. How can you screw up toast?
(2)Jim C.
I am eating a hotdog from 7-11 for brunch today. Not by choice but by necessity. I actually went to Canary Square for brunch and I waited and waited and waited and guess what? No brunch. I cannot stress how important customer service is. In saying that, I would like to exclude a couple of people from this review; John and DNice are spectacular bartenders. It's unfortunate neither of them were working today. I can't even write a food review today because I didn't get any. It was busy, I agree but it's brunch. It shouldn't take 40 minutes to make french toast. Let me break down the experience. My good friend Jon and I went to have a quick brunch and handicap the MLB season. We sit down to Mumford and Sons "Little Lion Man" playing while the Disney channel is on one television. Neither is a crime but it just goes to show that kids programming combined with a song that liberally drops the "f" bomb prove that no one has their eye on the bigger picture. If I had children I would have been off put by this but I don't so I guess it is just observational about the low level of management. So, we sit and are asked if we want drinks. Sure. Water, Coffee and Mimosa. I got the Water and Mimosa. S'ok, she must have misheard me. No menus. We had to ask for them because we apparently gave off the impression that we showed up at 11 am to drink. We're the only ones at the bar and yet we get the impression immediately that we are interrupting the bartender; she is visibly annoyed with us. We order and I re-order my coffee. They have pretty good coffee. From that point forward, no one talks to us. Forty minutes later and I have no coffee, no mimosa and no water. ANY bartender in the greater Boston area can tell you that if you keep pouring I will keep drinking. I'm an easy target any time of the day for a big check and a good tip. 20-30 minutes in the wait, two very nice young ladies sat down next to us. 10 minutes later they had drinks and food. We had empty glasses. I called out bartender over and asked what was going on. "They ordered cold food," was her answer. Really? This is atrocious. I am so baffled that she could say that to a customer and not slap herself. Do you really hate your job that much? Do you have that much disrespect for the customer? I called for the manager. What happened next was fun. They scrambled in front of us. I honestly don't think the order had been placed. The manager assured us it was on its way but it was too late. She comped us our drinks and then our food came running out. It was disgusting looking, thrown together from scraps from other meals at best. If I had stayed, the board of health might have been called. If it is busy, tell me. Offer me some fruit or nuts. Keep my glass filled. The utter contempt shown to me by the wait staff was mind boggling. There is NO quality control in this restaurant. The previous time we were there my friend ordered bacon and was served cut bacon fat - no meat. Let's keep our eye on the prize people. You run a restaurant. Three strikes and you are out. It's a real shame because the space is beautiful. I live in the neighborhood and I eat out a lot. If you are eating out in JP please go to the Dogwood Cafe, Center Street Cafe, Doyles, Galway, Ten Tables, the Haven or the wonderful Tres Gatos. I reluctantly gave Canary Square another chance. I don't think you could pay me to go back.
(1)Ryan H.
Unlike the other reviewers, I was quite impressed with Canary Square. I give it a lot of points for featuring lots of local ingredients, eco-friendly, recycled decor, and recycled to-go boxes. As a former organic farm worker, I like to feel good about the food I'm eating, and I can at Canary Square. I started with a mesclun salad, which was tossed with the perfect amount of dressing, although it was entirely greens, and could have used some walnuts and cranberries. Then I had the black bean burger and a side of brussels sprouts with bacon. First, the burger was great. It comes with a nice portion of gooey Grafton Village Cheese Company (Brattleboro, VT) cheddar on top, salsa, and sour cream to mellow it out. It was a little spicy for my taste, but that comes from the salsa, so you can skip it if you want. It also came with the side salad above, which filled an 8-inch plate, for just 10 dollars. The brussels were the best part of the meal, in my opinion. They were served in a funky, cast-iron baking dish, which matched the brick-factory decor. They came drizzled in a garlic aioli and nestled in between them were salty, chewy chunks of thick-cut bacon. For our kosher friends, you can get the brussels sans-swine. This place also has an extensive beer menu, with lots of local and imported draught options on any given night. Our waitress seemed fairly knowledgable about the beers, and described the Troeg's Golden Nugget well enough that it tasted just as I expected it to. I knocked off a star for two reasons. First, it took a bit longer than was prudent for the waitress to come introduce herself, but she brought water with her, so we didn't have to wait even longer for that. Then, my brussels came out with everyone's entrees, but not my burger, and I had to wait another minute or two for the kitchen to sort it out. I'm going to chalk it up to business plus the fact that we gave the waitress a lot of little instructions (bring the salad as an app, no bacon on one of the brussels, etc.). Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I'm really looking forward to my next visit.
(4)Robby T.
Canary Square does an A+ job with the rotating Beer List and the drinks. Also, the beer pricing is among the best in town for what you're getting. They get their hands on some pretty uncommon stuff for the area- I just wish they updated their online menu like other beer-centric places around town. The food has come a long way since opening. Originally overpriced, underportioned, and sloppy- they've updated their menu and include quite a bit of locally sourced ingredients in some great dishes. The burger is among the best I've had in a restaurant lately and the Huevos Rancheros are a great brunch selection. The bar area gets a bit crowded with limited seating, but there is rarely a wait for dining. The outdoor seating area is extremely well done with sectionals and plants to add some privacy from the street.
(4)Matt H.
Awesome drink and beer selection. Food is a different story. Got the asparagus, it was sloppy with butter and overcooked. Also got a chefs late night snack which was nothing more than a burned dinner roll with some butter and garlic smeared on it for $7. Unimpressed.
(3)Chris C.
You demolished Alchemist for this??! Very underwhelming. The ambiance is the passionless love child of a shopping mall Bertucci's and the bar from a 99. The menu had me searching for anything mildly interesting and thinking I'd just have something later when I got home. Ultimately I ordered the burger, which I found had an odd flavor (nutmeg maybe?) and texture. I literally wondered whether is was buffalo or ostrich and I just hadn't read the menu carefully enough. I tried my friend's salad, which warranted a bar code it was so generic. I actually like my partner's ceviche, but he did not. On the positive side, they do have a great selection of beer on draught, the bread pudding was delicious, and the staff was very friendly and energetic. One odd thing... Our waitress brought over a plate of bread, but under the bread was large piece of torn menu. A doily? At least turn the ink side down. Okay, one last odd thing... At the end, the wait-staff brings a little black booklet with the bill, for adding comments. It sort of felt to me like being handed someone's diary. (so yes, of course I looked!) I guess it was meant to be a quirky "tradition", but I just found it weird. Oh, Alchemist. Even on your worst days (and there were a couple) you were better than this.
(2)Capricia G.
Canary Square is one of those places where you go in having good expectations and leave a little let down. Everything I've ever had here has been a "that was okay, I guess, but would have been better if..." situation. I try to like it! I really do! Food: Meh. Bland. Trying too hard. Also...bland. Drinks: Awesome, but expensive. Service: The faces always change, but the poor quality/attitude stays the same. Could they hate their lives more? General Vibe: They have notebooks guests can write in when you get their checks. They're usually full of an interesting mix of food reviews and creative ways to incorporate male genitalia into a picture. Last night, mine said something to the effect of, "the music I had to listen to offended me because I was wearing a $4000 suit." Oh, okay. Skip this and walk across the street to Tres Gatos.
(2)Lane S.
Canary Square is a a unique place in JP. Would give it a 4.5 if i could. Firstly, the decore is well done in my opinion. Exposed brick, and interesting lighting. The tables are close together, but with the new outdoor seating, it makes for a nice place on a pretty evening. Their menu is combines the familiar with the creative to offer something different in the neighborhood. The food is above average. I have had better, but you can tell that they put effort and thought into the dishes. THE DRINKS AT BRUNCH ARE BOMB. I have said for a while that Bloody Marys would be better with tequila... then I went there, AND THEY HAD THEM. Another note about brunch, the cereal french toast sounds odd, but it is KILLER. Clearly I like this joint, and will be returning. As should you.
(4)Jonathan B.
Classy exposed brick interior, good bar staff, but there are serious problems with the food menu here. What they try to get across is the local/sustainable vibe and I totally get it but the flavor pairings just don't work. They do brunch here, but i've only been for dinner and that's all I can speak for here. Everything here is properly cooked and executed but the seasoning and flavor of things is seriously lacking. Braised pork shoulder with risotto was cooked perfectly but had little to no flavor. Was it braised in tap water? Barbecued chicken was greasy. Burger was pretty solid, but the french fries were an unseasoned and texture-less mouthful of hot starch. Some menu item components are head scratching in a bad way. See: Roasted Chicken with...Mashed Potatoes AND Buttered Beans? The vast number of beer taps would lead one to assume the draft beer selection is large but the variety within the selection is small. On the other hand, the cocktail menu is well thought out. A little tweaking of the dinner menu could guarantee repeat dinner customers/regulars.
(2)Chad J.
My partner and I have tried this place out several times because he lives across the street. We use to swing by the Alchemist for a beer and burgers all the time and were looking forward to the upgraded Canary Square. For the most part service is good, however, it is unnecessarily slow. The first time we there for dinner, we noticed that we had been charges six times on our card and it took two weeks the receive the money back. We'd love to make this our regular weekend spot. if they can match their speed of service to the amount of people they aim to serve without sacrificing quality.
(2)Jim M.
Best food in JP. I cannot stress how amazing the food is! My wife and I went to the Oktoberfest of a well known brewery and the food was awful (Vendor food) but we went to Canary Square after the Oktoberfest and had GREAT craft beer and AMAZING food at Canary Square. I am proud to live just down the street to this excellent restaurant/bar!
(5)Amy C.
Stopped in on Friday night for dinner and drinks. I would highly recommend, the beers on draft are extensive and the bar area was really cool. I liked the decor with the exposed brick and light fixtures, only bummer is there are no booths which would make things a bit more cozy. We started off with the mozzarella sticks. You could tell these were homemade and not frozen, they came on skewers and were stuck into a lemon which gave the cheese a nice zing mixed with the marinara sauce. I had the tuna taco's which were really delish, my comrades enjoyed the roasted half chicken with brussel sprouts roasted with bacon and onions (hell ya!), along with the pork shank entree which I was told was off the hook. We had a great waitress that was really patient with all of our questions and gave some really good recommendations.
(4)Snuffles B.
I am floored by how underrated this place is. I had been avoiding it because of mixed Yelp reviews, but I'm glad I waited because whatever voodoo they had to do to get this place up to speed has worked. Atmosphere: SO much better now that they knocked out the wall - spacious, open, casual, chill, good for dates or families (they super are cool with kids and the place is big enough that it people nearby won't be bothered). We never have to wait for a table and there is no bad seat in the house. One of the best patios in Boston. Service: Every server I've ever met has been totally awesome, and attentive just enough. Food: Seasonal, local, constantly changing menu and huge changing beer selection.. - Bread - Crisp with chewy center, would be better if warm - Pickles - Really vinegary and sweet and tasty - Cod Fritters - Light , airy, delightful - Mussels - As my friend said, "Musseltastic", broth good for dipping - Wood Roasted Chicken - I usually pooh pooh chicken, but this was beautifully smoked and delicious. - Pork cracklins - The crispiest pork skin ever. - Wedge salad - I hate blue cheese and I hate iceberg lettuce, but somehow this was still good - Jerk chicken wings - Well flavored, but not crisp - Fries - Big steaky fries, they were OK - Burger - HUGE - MASSIVE Brioche bun - basic flavor, but juicy and very good. - Steak frites - Superior - Swiss chard/pulled chicken sandwich/bacon vinagrette - I generally think salad is bird food, but I ate the whole thing. Simply awesome. - Brussels Sprouts w/ Lardons - Awesome - generous on the lardons, my favorite item here. - Bread pudding - Does not taste the least bit like butterscotch, very eggy, almost flan-y. LOVE the maple walnut ice cream. - Fried Twinkies - Imagine gourmet corn dogs with powdered sugar, that is what this looks like, but it tastes like a perfectly crisplly battered molten Twinkie - I've had this before elsewhere - this was way better! Brunch: Not bad, but dinner is better... - Huevos Rancheros - perfect eggs, nicely flavored rice/beans, comes with a HUGE chicharones. - French Toast - Crazy crip batter, HUGE portion. Cost per person w/o ETOH, with tax/tip:$15-25 Overall, this place has food that far exceeds its price point. If this place in the South End, it would be packed 24-7.
(5)Michael I.
Strike 3. I hate that they don't even seem to be trying to improve the food. It's been inconsistent since day 1. Great rotation and variety of beer (and even cider). But every time I decide to give the food another try I'm sorely disappointed. My (cold tortilla) tacos were swimming in juice from the (mountain of) meat, and that was running clear since they hadn't seasoned the meat in any way. A little balance and flavor from the main ingredient would have been nice. Previous visit was a soup that was so salty I couldn't eat it. Like I said, the drinks are great. And I'll likely keep heading back for those once in a while. but what a shame that it's really set up for dining with the weak delivery of the menu. For their food, I'll happily head down to Back Bay and hit the Salty Pig where they're getting it right.
(2)Nicole C.
Very pleased with my experience here. We stopped in here on a whim looking for late night eats in JP. From looks alone, it seems like a semi-upscale restaurant with dim lighting and classy decor, but the prices were very reasonable (about $10 a plate, $8 for cocktails) and the attire of the patrons wasn't frighteningly formal. So, we headed in, unashamed to come dressed in our usual rags. The entrée I ordered was simple but absolutely delectable. As a California transplant who laments the lack of avocado-filled food on this coast, when I saw the grilled avocado sandwich on the menu I immediately knew what I would order. All of my favorite things in one sandwich: toasted sourdough bread, melted swiss cheese, fresh slices of tomato, and most importantly, plenty of avocado (many places skimp on this if you can find it at all). The side salad was pretty standard, baby greens with house vinaigrette dressing. My dining partner was craving a cheeseburger but was let down by the one he ordered. The fries were great, thick and not crispy, just how I like them. The burger on the other hand was undercooked and "tasted weird," as if they had added something unusual (and not good) to it. However, this is coming from a guy whose diet primarily consists of fried chicken, so this place wasn't up his alley anyway. I would recommend trying one of their more interesting menu selections to sample the best they have to offer. Based on my own experience I'm giving Canary Square five stars. The service was good, prices were reasonable, ambience was relaxing, food was deliciousssssss, cocktails were well-mixed, and best of all, they're open till 1:30 for night owls like me. I would definitely come back, perhaps on a Friday night when it's bound to be livelier.
(5)Emily L.
Great ambiance! Great cocktail and beer list. Food = mediocre. I got the burger and fries. The burger was over cooked. The fries looked like it was chopped and thrown together as if it was suppose to be a stir fry. I thought the egg would give the burger a nice texture but it didn't really add any flavor to it. The server was really nice and attentive. They have a nice outdoor patio and the decor and lighting makes this restaurant a good place to bring a casual date or some family members. I would definitely come here again to relax and enjoy a drink. However, if I'm hungry, I'll probably walk a block or two further to go to a nicer restaurant.
(3)Mekhi B.
I've been to this place a lot since it's opened. I must say though, that the reason is because of canary square's proximity to my house. simply put - there's not much else around for a sit-down dinner with good beer. This place is always extremely loud - lil' jon WHAAAT!?! loud. You can't even hear the people at your table. Also the food is hit or miss - sometimes it's really good, but the next time you get the same thing it's just..well...not. However, there are some good things about this place: 1. There's a great beer selection here with a full bar 2. The warm swiss chard and cranberry salad still has me dreaming about it after moving out of state. egg on top? yes, please. 3. and the butter scotch bread pudding is 'slap your mama' good. seriously. Overall, I'd say if you're in JP with some folks looking for dinner and drinks, this place is OK. Well, the dogfish head on tap will get you drunk. *shrug*
(3)Angie C.
Experience: The operation is poorly managed! It baffles my mind why they have 3 hostesses and 2 bartenders when the bar serves food and has open seating. You would think with so many hostesses they would be efficient with seating and turning around tables...absolutely not. The three times I went there were several tables available, but we still had to wait to be seated even though we were the only ones waiting. I've ran a restaurant for 10 years and was amazed at what I saw. Food: For the price I expected better quality. Nothing left an impression, I only remember being disappointed with everything I ordered. Overall: The atmosphere and location has potential. Unfortunately, they need more bartenders, less hostesses and an improvement on efficiency. Since I live down the street I really wanted to like this place, but three strikes and you're out.
(1)Amanda M.
Canary Square confuses me. I think they confuse a lot of people, actually. I've only been a few times, but every time I visit their menu is completely different. Now, some people may say this is a good thing -- they're keeping things fresh, up to date, seasonal. But honestly, it's been a major let down. They used to have this really awesome popcorn that was flavored differently depending on the day, and now that's long gone. The story is the same for countless other items that people were LOVING! I guess it would be okay if they were substituting the dishes for better ones, but so far, that hasn't been the case. They also have an insanely awesome beer selection, but their availability is super inconsistent. During the hour I was there, I heard our waitress explain to two other tables, aside from ours, why some dish or drink wasn't available. It was kind of weird. Overall: the food and drinks are pretty good (although kind of pricey), and the atmosphere is awesome. The outdoor seating seriously can't be beat. But bring back some of the old faves on the fall menu!
(3)Maria M.
We returned to Canary Square to meet friends for dinner, and were very pleased to find a better experience. We were greeted by a very pleasant, cheerful host, and our waiter was fast, friendly, and efficient. My friend's hamburger was a quite good, as were his fries. My salad was a bit overdressed for my taste, but satisfactory. The beer list was excellent. So happy to see this place turning around!
(4)Lee S.
Canary Square, also know as "the bird" (love the nickname) feels like it belongs in the South End. The restaurant is lovely, the new owners did a great job with the renovations. The staff is on-point, friendly, quick, and polite. The popcorn as others mentioned is great, very creative. However, I gave the restaurant three stars cause the manager was awful! I mean really really bad! Screamed at the waitresses infront of patrons, he was rude to customers (actually snatching things, and stamping his feet like a child). I would only go back if that dude called out sick!
(3)George W.
The Alchemist sucked and now Canary Square has risen from the ashes to continue its predecessor's legacy of suckery. Here's the short and and nasty: The interior is Euro-boring. That is- basically all black and unremarkable. But I don't review interiors, I review food and beer. The beer selection is ok. Not gastropub but not dive bar. Lots of IPAs. The bartender didn't fill my glass too well, leaving an inch of space at the top and didn't care. But, that really isn't the problem either. The problem is that the food is garbage. And we ordered enough to know. First were the mussels. They had a dog-breathesque aroma and tasted spoiled. We told the waitress (who was very nice) and she took them back. The chef decided to tell her to tell us that they were not spoiled, but they were from Wellfleet, so I must have never had a Wellfleet mussel. Listen up Iron Chef Canary Square, I know what a dead mussel tastes like. And you shouldn't be sending your nice waitstaff out to defend your pride. Next there came the cod fritters and "spicy homemade ketchup". Dear Iron Chef Canary Square: Cocktail sauce is not "homemade spicy ketchup". The cod fritters themselves were damp and spongy, reminiscent of my days eating Van De Kamps fish sticks. Then the deviled egg came, which were serviceable, but why put such a basic item on the menu if you aren't going to do something interesting with it? The same with the radishes, which were just radish chunks and salt. That's shit my my vegan roommate eats while standing up in the kitchen drunk, not menu worthy fare. There were other food items, but just forget it. They all blew. We tipped 30% because the waitress has to apologize to people meaner than us about Iron Chef Canary Square in the back. I guess I'll just wait until this place closes down again. Maybe a Friendlys will move in and I can bump this up to 3 stars.
(2)Jessica B.
So, Canary Sq does not feel JP-y to me at all, but then, things they are a'changin' round here. Nonetheless the place is really lovely, and it's interesting to see the renovations. The popcorn is hell-yeah good. The Bacon Bloody Mary could become my thing. Like, I'll stop eating food and just drink those for sustenance and pleasure. The Same Old Place drink is (I'm really really sorry! Really! For multiple reasons) the nastiest drink I've had in a long time. It tastes like a pizza coated in sugar. I think the problem (for me) is the rosemary orange syrup. If I decide not to live on the Bloody Mary's, I could happily have the French Toast (it's like a funnel cake, which *is not* just like fried dough.) The eggs are amazing. Ah may zing. So cheesy. The ham sandwich costs too much for something that looks like it's served on grocery store loaf bread. And it's just not that exciting. The service has been really wonderful, and I figure the place is just getting its sea legs, so it will be worth checking back.
(4)Kirs P.
I've tried Canary Square a few times now and each time it's been a bit of a let down. Either service is slow. Or the mussels are skanky. Or the only vegetarian option is a tofu "steak" (which is just disgusting. even I know that). After the disaster that was the Alchemist finally left this location I was very much looking forward to having a new, kinda casual place to grab a bite in JP. Sort of a larger Zon's (RIP). And Canary Square billed itself as that- it just doesn't completely live up to its ambitions. 1- Service is spotty, at best. 2- Food ain't that great either. We were served some seriously sketchy mussels. The vegetarian selection (in JP of all places) is lackluster, and then not very good. There just isn't a whole lot of inventiveness in the menu. Yeah, the deviled eggs are good, but Hungry Mother did that shit years ago, theirs were better, and mine (which don't cost 4 bucks) can kick both their asses. 3- Cocktails are hit or miss. I went in just for drinks the first time I was there and was impressed. The next few times, notsomuch. Watered down and the mixing seemed off. All that being said, I'm sure I'll be back (and I heard that brunch is kinda good). It's convenient, and really large, so when Haven and Tres Gatos are full it's an okay alternative. I tried to avoid using the word in this review. But it just fits. Canary Square really is just "meh."
(2)tricia k.
i still can't decide what to think about canary square. three stars for my ambivalence. i think i miss the alchemist more than i like canary square, but i guess that is somewhat irrelevant. the place has probably the best beer list in JP - maybe second best to the behan but canary square changes their list more frequently - and has decent, if a bit pricey, food, though there are literally only two vegetarian entree options. every time i go to canary square, i want to grab the manager by the shoulders and shake him/her and yell "don't you know where you are? put some more freaking vegetables on the menu!" contrary to another recent reviewer, i've noticed that they do change their menu seasonally. maybe not every week or every month, but if you wait a bit to go back, you'll see new offerings. consider coming here if you like yuppies, waitresses who obviously spend the majority of their time partying, beer, and meat.
(3)Adam W.
This place is garbage from top to bottom. Very rude owners/managers, bumbling service and greasy, overpriced food all over the menu.
(1)Matt W.
I was really excited to go to this place. Having previously been a dive bar and then a mediocre, kind of expensive bar and restaurant, I was interested to see a higher end place go here. I have decided that the specific location must just be cursed. We had reservations with some friends for 8pm. When we arrived, we were told that they didn't have our reservations, and didn't even take reservations for less than 6 people. We had four. Despite that, someone in the party knew someone who worked at the place, so we got a table. Our waitress, Jackie, was very nice. It seemed like things were pretty hectic for her, and she was definitely the best part of the experience. She took drink orders and put them in. Eventually we got them. We put our food orders in, and ordered the roast chicken, flank steak, pork shop, and salmon steak. We also ordered an appetizer of cod fish puffs. The puffs (very bland, and the spicy ketchup tasted like cocktail sauce) came out with the flank steak about fifteen minutes later. They were brought by a different server, and we were all kind of surprised dinner was being served with the app. Turns out the flank steak wasn't his. He kept it anyways and we encouraged him to eat it. Forty minutes later, our food came, including another flank steak. That mistake is certainly a score, but man, we were all starving. The waitress had brought out some weird popcorn to tide us over on the house. Nice of her. I had the roasted chicken. I had, the night before, roasted the first chicken in my life. It was not my best cooking attempt, and it was so much better than what I was served here. The skin managed to be both burned and soggy. The bird was pretty flavorless. It was served with undercooked brussels sprouts and ratishes, and bits of thick bacon. The dish was edible, but not good. My wife ate the pork chop. She ordered it medium, and it was not that. It was unevenly cooked and borderline rare at places. Apparently undercooked sprouts were the order of the day, because hers were, too. The applesauce, reportedly homemade, tasted canned. We believe they're making it - they just didn't do a good job. Our friend got the salmon. She was underwhelmed, though the calamari that came with it was apparently pretty good. The friend with the flank steak had the single rave review of the table. Luckily, he got two, so that's a big win. The waitress came over and asked how everything was, and we all kind of avoided telling her, before finally one of us said something like "it's not terrible." She apologized and ended up getting us a few fried twinkies on the house. They were probably the best thing I ate that night, though they also weren't that good. All in all, I was not crazy about this place. It looks really cool, and the staff was certainly very nice, but the food was pretty expensive, and not nearly good enough to justify it. Particularly in a neighborhood like Jamaica Plain, which has a number of similar restaurants, you really need to do more than use an organic chicken to charge $20 for it. It kind of also needs to be cooked in a way that makes me want to eat it. Truth be told, I wouldn't eat this food again if it were half the price. Places like Vee Vee and James's Gate, which have similar price points and comparable quality bars, are just down the road. And while they are not decorated with rescued support beams and chairs made out of recycled coke cans, they are distinctly good, which Canary Square distinctly isn't. Props again to our server, Jackie. She did the best she could with what she had. But what she had just wasn't good. She could have comped the whole meal, and I still wouldn't go back.
(2)Dave G.
I'm incredibly disappointed as I have been anticipating the opening for months. Here's why: Waited over an hour for food. Left without dinner feeling hangry (you know, so hungry that you're angry?), a little too drunk, and with a single tear running down my cheek. I met a pal and we walked over for dinner (note managers: waked, because I can see your restaurant from my house), and planned to have some appetizers and a drink while waiting for another pal to arrive. We got there and the place looked great. We were promptly seated and our waitperson was friendly, excited, and very nice to us. So far, off to a great start! Very exciting! She recommended we try their flavored popcorn snack, and we got some other appetizers and drinks. The popcorn was stale, tasteless, and taken away. She brought us another one, but same deal. The appetizers and cocktails were great. Our friend appeared and within 10 minutes of his arrival, we ordered dinner. We watched tables around us get sat, order, eat, and leave. We watched other tables wait and wait and lose their enchantment. We listened to no less than 4 infants/toddlers scream, screech, yell, and cry. Cut to 1 hour and 3 cocktails later (x3 people). All the fun was gone and I just wanted to leave. I'm pissed because I'm over a $100 in the hole, I have a pile of work at home, and my plan for a quick dinner and drink were wrecked. We asked for the check, our waitress apologized for the delay and sort of puttered around hoping that the kitchen would produce before she was able to gather the check. Grunt. Next, while waiting for the slips one of the managers (there seemed to be 3) came over and said that he was sure our dinner would be coming out of the kitchen soon. Being vague at this point was totally unacceptable and your attempt to rectify a crappy situation was lousy at best. We were mentally checked out, totally over it and thinking that Zesto's would be a good alternative (told you - hangry). Managers & Waitstaff: You really could have fixed this. You knew the kitchen was in the weeds, so why didn't you send out a snack? You also knew that we were already $100.00 into the bill with appetizers and cocktails, so why weren't you more communicative? I could list several other methods of customer service, but what's the point? You could have saved that check. Coming over halfheartedly at the last minute was a pretty crappy management style. Other interesting things: The food we did have was nice (save for the popcorn), the drinks are unique and interesting. The menu had plenty of options and the prices were good for a week night dinner out. I'd happily eat deep fried glass if it is served with a smile. I will not however, tolerate crappy service. EDITS: I've been back twice and met with the same situations... Alchemist, please come back.
(2)Lisa O.
Went there for dinner tonight, do not waste your time! So disappointed because I was so excited to try it out. Give it a couple of more months for them to get their act together. When the waitress brought over glasses of water an unknown and gross looking substance was on the coaster. We pushed it to the side and waiting for the waitress to come back over. When we pointed it out she just picked up the glass and started to walk away but we asked her to please replace the coaster since that is where the gross unknown substance was on. The food was bland, I don't not recommend this place. The set up is weird and it was noisy.
(1)Amy M.
Went here on Tuesday, I suppose that's about a week after they opened? I loved that they give you bread and butter pickles rather than much-too-filling bread, and it was a very whimsical touch. However it would have been nice for the pickles to actually taste good: they had a very odd mineral taste and the onions were practically raw. Not really the makings of a hot date starter. The roasted radishes were excellent and the mussels were pretty good, just a touch watery (the broth they were in was very bland). The fries, sadly, were very mushy. My biggest sadness was that I ordered the special of the day, a duck confit based noodle soup, and the duck was almost unpalatably salty and the soup itself had a lot of oiliness. The other flavors were spot on and the broth was excellently seasoned but the salty saltfest of the duck just overwhelmed the whole dish. I was able to try a bit of the hamburger as well and it was divine so I'd say when you go, stick to their wood-fired items. Dessert was another mess-- ice cold breadpudding barely warmed around the edges with a scoop of ice cream also frozen solid. I'm giving three stars because service was excellent and the food quality was high, just poorly executed. The drinks were great, my Arborway was delicious, and I think that with a bit more polish Canary Square could be a great local joint-- but nowhere I'd trek to JP for.
(3)Michelle B.
I would totally give this place 5 stars if they had better service. A group of 6 of us went for dinner on Saturday night. The last time I was here it was still The Alchemist, so I was immediately impressed with how much open the space is now. It looks great. I got to try quite a bit as my friend and I split a few things off of the snacks and appetizers part of the menu. We got the deviled eggs (delicious, although I'm not 100% sold on the pile of relish under each egg), The Salty Pig (pate, whole grain mustard, pickled onions and hot toasted bread - so good), the mussels (the broth! omg, the broth!) and then for dessert we shared a root beer float, except we asked them to make it with ginger beer instead; we had been tempted to ask them to swap out the bourbon with dark rum and add a lime, but we felt that it would've been too much. Either way, it was a great end to the meal. Now, all of that sounds great, right? But the service. It was spotty at best: I had to repeat my drink order twice, which is normally not a big deal - but she still got it wrong. And all I wanted was a Captain and diet Coke! One of my friends sat waiting for his meal while the rest of us had our food. We all sat with dirty dishes in front of us after our dessert order had been taken. It was all just slightly off in a few different ways that it makes me think the staff just isn't trained very well or they're indifferent to their patrons.
(4)Chris C.
Canary Square is offers a respectable mix of community atmosphere and satisfying pub grub. Just after landing in Boston, we grabbed a much needed meal, here and left very satisfied. They offer a fair variety of wine, beer and cocktails. I can comment on the cocktails - they are well made. I tried a little from everybody. I can't remember names, unfortunately. As for dinner, I opted for the hummus and cucumber sandwich and was really happy with my choice. The hummus was just a little chunky and there were plenty of vegetables on my sandwich. The bread, needing its own sentence, was big and moist and soft and memorable. The space is wide open and the staff is very friendly. It's the kind of place you can go to watch a game or not watch at all. The atmosphere is a little noisy but, you can definitely hear conversation at your table. Our service was attentive enough and good natured. Canary Square is definitely worth a return visit.
(4)Erik S.
First of all I had to shower when I got home to wash all the grease off my face. Second, I witnessed a tyrannical owner or manager ripping into one of the workers. I was ashamed of myself for eating at a place that treats their employees so poorly. Had I known that is the kind of business they are running I never would have gone there. It was a shameful display. If you just want a greasy cheese fry be my guest. If you care about common human decency this is not the place for you.
(1)Caroline C.
I like Canary Square, but I'm not really sure why I like it as much as I do. This should probably be a three star review, but perhaps I'm trying to counterbalance all the negative reviews Canary Square got when it first opened, which I didn't think were quite fair, being new and all, and also, the vibe is just so much better than the Alchemist. It adds a little style to the traditional JP quirk. I also have a crush on the skinny bartender who got really excited about brussel sprouts. I love a man who loves brussel sprouts. But the brussel sprouts are where the deliciousness ends. And these aren't even that amazing. Cod fritters are bland, and the char grilled tofu steak tasted like, well, char. And tofu. Which, I guess I should have known, as it's called "char grilled tofu", but I figured they would add additional flavors. But I have hope the food will improve - the website advertising a focus on local food and sustainability, which is a huge plus, and I want to support any restaurant that operates with these standards. (Oh, but I do love the pickles. Thanks for serving pickles instead of bread. The pickles are awesome.) The beer and wine list are also excellent (Stellenbosche Chenin Blanc! Score), and I've only had good service (and I've only been there on busy Saturday nights). It is loud, but not out of control loud. It's also pretty easy to park in the area, which is another big bonus.
(4)Eliza Jane H.
I've waited to write a review for Canary Square but, now that I've been a couple of times and have visited during brunch as well as dinner, I feel like I can give a fair assessment. I like Canary Square. I will no doubt return there in the near future. So why am I giving it three stars? Because in all of my visits (4-5 at this point), for everything about it that is 4-5 stars, and there have been things that are, something has always been regrettably underwhelming. For example, I went the other evening for drinks and dinner, and the food we had was great, the drinks were good, and the bartender was friendly and efficient despite the very busy bar. Our waitress when we were seated at a table, on the other hand, was just awful-- unfriendly and absent. In another visit, this time for brunch, our server was great-- but the food was disappointing. It wasn't bad, and nothing was improperly cooked, but for a brunch that is locally celebrated as something to seek out, I was left scratching my head. So, while I certainly recommend Canary Square as a great place to grab a drink, to sit outside an eat a nice meal, and even, yes, to grab a decent brunch, I don't know that I would suggest seeking it out if you aren't in the area already. If you do end up there, a few things to think about: if deviled eggs are your thing, get them. They are insanely great. The pork tacos are delicious. The charcuterie platter is HUGE. I've never had to say no to so many cured meats at once. Want a table for brunch? Get there before 11 and you won't have any problems.
(3)Heather K.
Second visit to Canary Square and we experienced a 100% improvement. Service was quick and friendly. The drink that was not so great last time is now off of the menu. We tried the Stonybrook this time and it was excellent. Wings were seriously AMAZING...perfectly seasoned with a refreshingly light sauce. salmon and guiness stew were delicious! I take back all of the negative things that I wrote after my previous visit. Looks like this place is maturing into the kind of place I'm happy to live around the corner from!
(5)August L.
The service at this place continues to be rather terrible, and the food is still mediocre for the price. We went for brunch this weekend, and despite the place only being 1/4 full, the waitstaff was incredibly inattentive and unhelpful. They didn't come around with coffee refills for ages (and only when we asked), didn't check if we needed more milk (we asked for it twice), didn't offer ketchup or hot sauce with breakfast, and most importantly, were very inflexible with our dietary issues. They initially refused to make any changes to the menu options, including taking off the ubiquitous meat (bacon, sausage or ham) that accompanies almost every single meal. We asked for a substitution for the meat, and were told that "it's against our policy to make any changes - you can take it off, but we can't replace it." What? It's 2011 in Jamaica Plain and you want to make vegetarians pay for meat??? If you refuse to make changes on your menu, you should change the prices, so that the meals come without meat as a general rule, but you can add the meat for a small additional price. What a ridiculous "policy" and such an obnoxious attitude to boot. The french toast is really unusual -- massive pieces of bread, covered with corn flake crust, and topped with a sweet bourbon-maple syrup. It was tasty enough, but WAY too much for one person, and I can't really imagine ordering it again. They don't have regular french toast, or pancakes. The other food was decent but too expensive for what it is. All in all, this place should be way better than it is. I wish they'd improve the menu and learn how to have a genuine and kind neighborhood vibe. It's a gorgeous space, but with the bad service, snarky attitude and mediocre food, we won't be coming back anytime soon.
(2)Kestrel D.
Great thing: they update their menu so frequently. Everything remains unique and yummy. They seem to go based on seasonality and patron feedback. Good job, CS.
(4)Elizabeth T.
I'm going to admit straight away that I'm biased about this place. My partner is one of the waitstaff, so service is not something I'm going to comment on. I am, however, going to comment on the food. I'm in love with the Guinness Beef Stew. Serious, head-over-heels love. It's a combination of stew and beef stroganoff, served with egg noodles and sour cream mixed into the sauce. I'm really picky about stews. The Druid in Inman has a great one, but all of the other places I've tried have left me with a general "meh" feeling. This one, not so much. I'd eat 100 gallon drums of it for months on end, such is the intensity of my love for it. I've tried the skirt steak as well, which was also delicious. The only complaints I've had food wise had to do with the mussels. While they were tasty, they had a bit of grit that was off putting. The wine list is great, there's a world of choice in the beer realm, and my Manhattans were always delicious. I'm glad this place filled Alchemist's spot.
(4)Sarah Q.
I have to say, I really liked the Alchemist. I was so bummed when they closed and converted into Canary Square. I loved their staff, the ambiance, the drinks, the food...sigh. Canary Square is okay - I do like the new layout - but will never live up the Alchemist.
(3)Marcus D.
Amazing that this place used to be Triple D's - now that was a REAL alcoholics bar. I wasn't too impressed when it was the Alchemist and I must admire how the new owners have really opened up the place. To be fair we didn't eat here, we just got drinks. Some of the customers were annoying, especially the ones crowding around me and my buddies - whacky liberal turds that don't understand when someone has a claim to a bar stool, hmmm, I thought my coat draped over the back with my foot resting on the rung designated it as my seat, sorry that you and your fat assed girlfriend had to stand. God forbid! It's a new place so I suppose there are some wrinkles to be ironed out, so give it a chance - it's JP for Chrissakes! Our bartender was cool: sweet and quick with our rounds, not having to ask again what we were drinking.
(3)MC S.
Well it is sad but true the food at CS just stunk. They managed to get the swiss chard salad balanced but that was it. We were a pretty large party and we had a number of dishes. None of them were great and that is sad. I watched a packed restaurant turn out a ton of food. Presentation was good all the food that was presented looked appetizing this includes the food brought to other tables. This is my gripe... YOU OWN CODA you have a restaurant you are not wet behind the ears so WTF is wrong with the food! Eggs Really only 1 and half eggs for the money really!!! You couldn't just give a person a whole two eggs... this may have been the best dish the entire table had.. but to be that stingy.. .really I have done the food cost... that half egg is not paying for anything.. but me not ordering them again is a LOSS. Popcorn... This is the deal when you have popcorn you should coat it with something that has flavor and is the same size or smaller. This way the corn is coated .. makes sense. Yes? What we got was HUGE pieces of onion and tomato and popcorn that was not popped at CS. Homemade Popcorn doesn't look like little heads of cauliflower they look like popcorn. Tellegio Sandwich... It would have been awesome if some how you could have cooked the pressed sandwich so that the Tallegio melted. It is a soft cheese this should not be hard to do. Half shell oysters and clams ... didn't taste like anything other then salt water... that is no fun and not very appetizing. Cheese fries well if they had been less soggy and not over cooked and the cheese sauce salted they would have been a hella of a lot better. Pulled Chicken sandwich... who uses pickling spices in there bbq sauce plus it was too sweet! If you are going to use Bread and Butter pickle juice to make a "creative" bbq sauce then strain it! and THE Burger It says on the menu it comes with grafton cheddar... okay.. .Well then one small slice that is melted to the bun... becomes a why bother. AND this is not hard... you have meat it should have a 80 percent fat content it should be tossed with seasonings NOT just garlic powder and it should be loosely packed. I have never in my life had to chew a burger over and over and over and over to swallow it. It was like chewing a hockey puck. I don't know what the hell the kitchen thought they were doing but it wasn't making a good burger. PLUS you don't press down on said burger to get it to cook faster.. hello cooking 101. I was a fan of the Alchemist and I was a regular... it has broken my heart that it has left and this is what replaced it. ON a positive note ... you have hired some very very competent wait staff and that was the only redeeming part of our meal. The drinks were incredibly strong which is okay if you are going to a bar to get wasted but I think the CS is going for a different clientele. No? It is called Balance ... and it was the CS lacks. People do your demographics... get your s(*&*^t together and make food that is salted correctly and tastes good! It is not hard. It just takes effort and if your staff in the back of the house is indifferent FIRE them. There are a ton of people in the restaurant industry who need jobs.. You have others to choose from.
(2)Erika M.
Preesha, I thought we were friends...? I love this place. The first time we went there, we were a little turned off by the music. No one wants to eat while Creed is blasting. Am I in Haverhill? Well, they changed their station and won me over. The food: Cha fuckin' Ching! Expensive. BUT everything is organic and local (is it local?) and good. I LOVE their wood smoked half chicken. And ever since they got rid of the mushrooms, I like it even more! The booze: I have to come here half in the bag in order to not spend a butt load of cash on their very tasty and unique beverages. I suck those fuckers down in 3 sips. Their sangria is amazing. The service: There is one dood we try to avoid and we succeed almost every time. He just gets a little distracted by all the hotties working there and tends to forget about us. We are THAT annoying couple in there with a baby almost every time we go in and most of the servers are very warm and helpful. I especially love the girl with the blue eyeliner. She's a doll. All in all I love it. I took one star away for cost and it's also SUPER LOUD when busy. They can't really help the noise factor, but I'm in a complainy kinda mood today, so it stays! I love you Canary.
(4)Zoe P.
Fairly late on a hungry Sunday night I visited here and was served the kind of brisket sandwich of which legends are made. The space was vast, cool and friendly. The variety of beers made my party happy. I got the vague sense that the fries were subpar - the mealy frozen steak fries type - but I don't think I actually ate any myself.
(4)Anna K.
I really want to like this place, but the food is consistently mediocre. The people are nice, there is a good beer selection, it's kid friendly, the location is great, but like most JP spots it disappoints. My chicken with polenta was tough and super salty with a thin film over the entire plate as if it had sat out for a bit. The spicy s'mores was an odd flavor combination that just didn't work. The black bean burger was okay.
(2)Yvonne C.
Despite some mixed reviews on this place, thought we'd try it out anyways. Unfortunately the food was really not good!!! Although I must say, if you're going to go just to get a drink--it's not a bad place. The waiters/waitresses are super friendly and there is a good beer list. Here's what we had: (1) Swiss Chard and pulled chicken salad: The swiss chard was extremely greasy--after eating just a few pieces I couldn't eat anymore. The pulled chicken was okay on it and the poached egg made you forget for a second that the swiss chard was so bad, but overall not good (2) Mac and Cheese: This was a standard mac and cheese--nothing amazing, but not horrible (3) Oysters with bread crumbs: I am usually the HUGEST oyster fan, but I didn't even want to finish this plate of oysters. It was definitely lacking flavor and some spice. Also, the sauce accompanying the oysters was just butter--not providing any additional flavor
(1)Whitney R.
I've been putting off writing a review for Canary Square out of concern that I might judge it prematurely, and I'm happy I did. The first time I went there was about a week after it opened. I sat at the bar with Tracy P. and was served by a bartender who appeared frazzled and irritated. The service was extremely slow, the muscles were gritty, and the cocktails were "blah". The S.L.T. sandwich was its only saving grace. Nonetheless, I held off on the review (which would have been only 2 stars) in hopes that Canary would soon work out the new-restaurant-kinks. I returned to Canary last night, again with Tracy P., having only mediocre expectations. We were seated at a high top, and although it took a bit longer than expected to be initially acknowledged, our waitress was bubbly, friendly, and funny. She was also extremely attentive throughout the remainder of the evening. We started with a side salad with the house vinegrette (Simply Green $4) and Salted Radishes Baked with Spinach ($7?). For mains, I had the Guiness Beef Barley Stew ($16) and Tracy had the Apple and Arugula Salad ($9?). I have to say, all of the food was well cooked and extremely tasty, especially the Beef Barley Stew, the meat in which was tender and fell apart on my fork. I saved half of it to bring home, but I had a really hard time holding back! Overall, this was a vast improvement from my previous visit!! So why only 3 stars? It seems that it really depends on what you order here. For example, a friend of mine experienced the veggie lasagna to be dry with undercooked veggies and not enough pasta. So, for now, read the reviews, and order what's been deemed edible. I have faith that Canary will continue to improve as time passes, and when they do, I'll be excited to update my review to a four-star-rating.
(3)Paolo P.
Love going for drinks. -Have a great beer menu. -Basil Grape Mojito... well it's not really a Mojito, but it's still the best thing ever. -Bartenders and wait staff are awesome. Super friendly and fun. -General ambiance is good. Love the industrial chic look. Also has a nice vibe and cute outdoor area for the summer. Only gets 3 stars because the food it's that great. -Brunch was pretty hit-or-miss. -Dinner was just overall bad (like fish still frozen in t he middle bad). I've heard the menu's been updated, so I'm hoping the food is better... but am still hesitant to try. But I'm always down for a few drinks!
(3)Kate P.
Another bar/restaurant just blocks from my apartment -- the new layout is very appealing, and in the summer the outdoor seating is a plus. I was not fond of the Blood Mary made with bacon vodka -- there were large chunks of bacon in the drink that could not be sucked up with the straw. I found this unappetizing. The menu has basically stayed the same since it opened, and after trying most of the beers would like to see some change there as well. Is it just me, or did anyone else find it odd that there are no sides to be ordered with breakfast? For example, if I were to order the French Toast (amazing) and wanted eggs, I would have to order an entire breakfast to go with my breakfast. I like my bacon a bit more crispy than the limp pieces I was presented with and this issue was not to be resolved since the kitchen refuses to have a microwave. The morning manager was very friendly and stopped by our table more than one time to ask how we were enjoying our meal and if he could be of more service to our party. I think dropping off the notebook at the end of the meal for comments is very interesting as well.
(3)heather F.
their food sucks. sucks sucks sucks. if i'm going to spend $20 for a plate of roasted chicken, i want it to be far better than anything i could make at home, ever. husband and our friend had to send their burgers back 3x before they got it right. another time, half of my veggie burger was burnt. never had anything more than a mediocre food experience here. They try so hard to have high-end food but they fail. their saving grace is their bar. great beer selection, tasty cocktails, and their wine list seems decent, too. their standard price for a beer is $6 which is definitely on the pricy side, but i guess its not outrageous for the standards in Boston... Long story short, go here to drink. If you want to eat, go to Ten Tables, Tres Gatos, or the Haven instead.
(2)Sherrie G.
This place is getting a bad wrap and it certainly doesn't deserve it. I finally got a chance to check it out today but I came in with the patience of a saint suspecting that there would be a decent wait. The place gives a posh vibe but I still felt surprisingly comfortable in my chucks with my book in hand. I was flying solo and craving chili like crazy. I tried finding a spot at the bar but it seemed almost impossible on a saturday so I put my name in. I waited maybe like a little less than 30 minutes. For me, that's a pretty standard wait on a saturday for a new hot spot. The hostesses were pretty cool too and kept me amused at points. I was a little put off by the 15 or so minute wait for the waitress to acknowledge me though but she was very apologetic. I noticed her other table had some issues so I let it slide. She was also good about making conversation which I appreciated. Once I had an order put in, the food was surprisingly fast. My chili actually beat my cocktail but only by a minute. And the pulled chicken sandwich came almost immediately following my devouring of the chili. Both came out piping hot. The chili was quite spicy, I would recommend ordering it with a piece of bread or something to subdue the hotness. The pulled chicken was very succulent and the sauce was the right amount of sweet and savory. The fries were pretty grand to boot. What put my meal over the top was the Mother's Ruin cocktail featuring St. Germain, cranberries and my favorite, Hendrick's gin. Extremely refreshing. This place seems like it would do great if can keep up with it's own popularity. But frankly, I think people just need to learn some patience and consideration. I get it. Most of us live in a fast paced city in an age full of instant gratification. I work customer service and am regularly chewed out by people having to wait more than 5 minutes to be helped. I don't find it fair to be judged by something you don't have much control over. With that, I'll be sure to come back and try these deep fried twinkies I keep hearing about.
(5)Adam G.
Good brunch spot. At first glance of this menu a wave of energy took over. They have a wide selection of bloody marys so naturally I went with the bacon bloody mary made with house-made bacon vodka. I ordered the huevos rancheros which was accompanied by a large piece of chicharron (deep fried thick cut bacon). If you are catching my bacon vibe, you know I rounded out my order with a side of deep fried bacon for the table.
(4)Greg M.
It took me about six or seven visits to this place before I finally figured out how to have the best experience here. Mainly, I learned to avoid the brunch and main courses and stick to beer, cocktails, and snacks. If I didn't live up the street then I probably would have given up after just a couple visits. For main courses, I've tried their lackluster pulled pork sammy and their burger which was solid - but does this town really need yet another merely decent burger topped with cheddar on a brioche? I also had their pork chop which was fine. So far, no complaints. But then I went for brunch. Ugh. The huevos rancheros were probably the worst I've ever had. I don't understand why this place doesn't try to get even slightly creative with a burger, yet when it comes to huevos they decide to go out on a limb with red beans, yellow rice and chopped tomatos (which I think they called pico de gallo). It doesn't work. I also tried their gravlax on a bagel with barely any cream cheese. Now for the good: The beer selection is great. Clown Shoes, Green Flash, Stone, Allagash and North Coast are usually represented. Always changing and they're happy to give you a taste of something (sometimes because the server has no idea how to describe the beer.) And the beers are reasonably priced. I read one review complaining that they use 14oz "cheater" glasses. I don't know where I fall on this. They never actually claim that they are serving up pints. But the thick bottoms give the impression that they're trying to pull a fast one. In the end, I'm going to let it slide since they serve up 14oz for almost everything on tap. Including many big beers which are usually served in 10 or 12 oz servings. So it appears they just decided on 14oz servings across the board to keep it simple. I really don't mind if that means that they sometimes don't have the "proper" glassware. I stopped in to watch the Sox opener. It's a pretty good place to watch a game, but I'd imagine the bar section would get crowded fast during a normal 7PM game (the opener was at 4). But if you get a seat at the bar or on the couch, you'll have a decent view. They also put out some complimentary popcorn for us as we waited for food to be served at 5. Knowing what I know about the food (and having dinner plans later), I just went with the dollar Island Creek oysters which were top notch.* And as you can probably see at the top of the page, they offer them every day from 5-6. Their apps and snacks like chicken wings, cheese fries and deviled eggs are like everything else on the menu: decent. I'm happy to order them because they're cheaper and I can wash them down with a quality brew. And I'm looking forward to the nicer weather when you can sit by the big garage door which will be opened. *Side note: when you get a bad raw oyster, are you supposed to blame the restaurant? Do they get them from lousy oyster farms to save money? What about Island Creek Oysters? Are some better than others? I really don't have them enough to notice a difference between the $1 ICO at Canary Square and the $2.50 ICO at ICOB. Is there a difference? Feel free to message me to let me know.
(4)Jack P.
Applebee's quality at Capital Grille prices. If your're going to charge $11 for a burger, you sure as hell better back it up with quality. Here, as with so many other aspects, does Canary Square fail to deliver. Service was among the worst I've ever had--clueless and inattentive. How's that for a combo? Wrong drink order, 15 minutes to get replacement. You get the picture. My burger was burned to a char, and completely inedible. I took one bite and spit it out. It tasted like it had been dropped in the bowels of a Weber grill, and rescued the next morning. After spending 7 minutes trying to locate my waitress, I finally got her attention. She took it back, but my dining companion was almost done with his food. Ultimately, I told them not to worry about it. They had already f'd up my evening. This place SHOULD be great, but IT SUCKS. Robert Irvine or Gordon Ramsey need to save this place.
(1)Rachel H.
I ate here the weekend of 4/15. Seems like they may have raised the bar a bit. We had delicious food. Great beer selection. Appetizers: A - devil eggs and hummus. My dinner mates loved the devil eggs, I passed on those. I was a big fan of the hummus and pita chips. They only gave us a few pita chips, so we asked for more and they brought out a big plate - kudos for that. Entrees: A- I had the skirt steak with the Gorgonzola tots and zuccini salad. Everything about my dish was delish! Dinner friends had the Braised Pork with risotto - yumm! Also, the fish and chips app and the side salad were good too. Nothing crazy though. Dessert: A donuts with chocolate sauce and an order of the seasonal ice cream (maple walnut from JP licks - mmmm). This dessert was great, more than enough for the three of us to share. I would def order these again! All this - plus 1 beer each for less than $100! Crazy. I guess I'm now used to NYC prices, where my husband and I can barely get brunch for less than $100. i was very impressed with the price. The atmosphere was great - lively bar, friendly service, helpful bartenders. Made me miss JP more than ever. Looking forward to going back.
(4)Marilyn T.
It's been a long time since I've been to JP, and I noticed Canary Square on the corner of center and Huntington where the Alchemist used to be. We came in and were surprised that it was so lively and full on a cold Monday night at 8:30. They have probably 40 beer options, plus cocktails and wines. We started with garlic bread and a cauliflower soup with bacon. The soup was creamy and well seasoned, super satisfying on a cold night (would have been perfect for dipping some crusty bread). For salads, the warm Swiss chard and cranberry is filling enough for a meal. The pulled chicken is sauteed in the bacon vinaigrette, and then it's tossed with the chard, which wilts it just the right amount. Topped with a poached egg, it almost reminded me of a carbonara but in salad form. For vegetarians, the balsamic grilled tofu steak is an interesting option. It's warm and charred but could have used some more seasoning; plus, the panzanella salad underneath was a little too crunchy and didn't really go with the tofu. The server was super attentive and patient even though it was a busy night. Overall, a cool place to grab some beers and food to share.
(3)Jessica K.
This place is fast becoming my favorite local destination. Fun, friendly, attentive servers and bartenders, charming hostesses, huge beer selection, tasty cocktails, yummy food. It's one of the only places I've ever been that gives me a medium-rare burger when I ordered a medium-rare burger (usually asking for anything short of "I want it alive on my plate!" results in 100% charred beef). The clam-juice Bloody Mary at brunch is amazing. The beef brisket sandwich melts in your mouth. Every time I go, there are at least a few new additions to the menu, which is a nice touch for the regulars. My only complaint: bring back the popcorn! Very charming interior, and there's always a wonderful mix of people in the restaurant (cute families, young groups of friends, older couples, yuppies, hipsters, you name it).
(5)Erwin F.
My GF and I went to this restaurant because she had been hyping it up for a couple weeks...and really she couldn't even do it justice. Our meal was DELICIOUS! First - The Service Our server was probably good. I really can't remember because I was enjoying my meal (Swordfish with sliced sausage and mussels in a red sauce with pasta). Sadly that was the final day of that particular menu item, but they really need to bring it back. But back to the service, the server stopped by frequently to check on how we were doing and made sure we were taken care of. Second - The food If you couldn't tell by the previous paragraph, the food was EXCELLENT. It didn't need any extra salt, pepper, or flavor. It was JUST RIGHT - Goldilocks style. Overall, I WILL BE BACK AGAIN.
(5)Jillian H.
Oh, Canary Square. Our love affair has ended. You had etherial cod fritters that literally evaporated in my mouth. No more. You once had $1 oysters every day from 5:00 - 6:00. Now its only on Mondays. Disappointed, my posse and I all ordered the Jonah Crab appetizer. Imagine trying to pry meat out of the spindly legs of a lobster and you have the same experience with these crabs. Including the flying shells landing in your hair, beer and best pal across the table. The meatiest parts were the moderate-sized claws. Only, the meat had been previously frozen (and if not, then it was wayyyy over cooked), so it was stringy and bland . Thank God for the sauce that was served with it or we wouldn't have been able to choke it down. We also got chicken tacos. Dry, dry dry. Sad, sad, sad. The only saving grace is the beer selection. If only the food was as stellar as the beer... (1 star for the food, 2 stars for the beer.)
(3)Mk E.
So happy that a solid restaurant has moved in where the Alchemist failed. The depth of the draft list is impressive (and the waitstaff will be the first to admit that the blackboard can't keep up with the changing taps), the small plates are consistently tasty, and the service is engaging without being overbearing. Big hits: the charcuterie plate (changes frequently, sometimes even in a single night--so order it twice!), pork belly, and the deviled eggs. Bonus points: produce (and eggs) from Allandale Farms.
(4)Sean O.
People's expectations of places amaze me. It seems they 'look' for reasons to be a food critic and YELP is their place to take out their bent up aggression that they can't display in any other form than anonymous text. I have been to the this place 3 times. Loved it more and more each time. 1st Visit: A Saturday night for snacks and drinks with friends. We killed multiple apps (Cod Fritters, Wings and others i can't remember now) along with a number of beers and cocktails (which is why the other apps i can't remember). We enjoyed the atmosphere all night and stayed till close. 2nd Visit: Sunday afternoon for a Patriots game. I figured the menu was diverse enough I could order different things throughout the day of football. It didn't dissapoint. Again, started with the wings (and why not when watching football), grabbed some chili later and topped it off with a fried twinkie. 3rd Visit: Weekday night after work. Surprisingly the place was packed for a weeknight. I went in and tried out the pulled chicken sandwich. AMAZING! It seriously was one of 'those' type of sandwiches that makes you crave for it the next day. All-in-All the place does its food without disappointment. The service was very good and never had a complaint. Also to the people that claim the Alchemist had a better beer selection, that truly shows you have no competence rating places. The beer selection at this establishment is one of the best and unique I have experienced.
(5)Nancy C.
My friends and I walked in for brunch on a Sunday morning. The ambiance is trendy and chic. I liked the differing furniture. I imagine it's a nice bar for happy hour. I ordered the french toast. Let me start off my stating that I am not a french toast fan, at all. For some reason, I had a feeling about this particular item on this day though. I am so glad I followed my instinct! The french toast was amazing. Really. I would return to this restaurant for the french toast alone. I may have mentioned it was orgasmic when I signed for the check. The coffee was just okay. And the server was a little slow even though it wasn't very busy. The server could definitely be more attentive if you ask me. My friend ordered the Avocado and Swiss Omelet. I had a bite and it was very good. Did you read the part about the french toast?! They have converted me. SO DAMN GOOD!!
(4)Damian X.
Great food but my god is the service slow.
(3)D D.
The outdoor seating and the beer selection are a plus. But the food... I've given Canary Square a fair chance and checked it out several times. The food has always been very uneven. The only dish that I feel truly is worth the price is the grilled cheese and the donuts. But I can easily replicate a grilled cheese at home. I've had lousy yucca fries, meh salads, and overpriced hummus among other dishes. Dined with other people that felt the food was mediocre as well. Also, the bar and indoor area is wayyyy too loud. Overall if you're looking for drinks and you can get a seat on the patio, sure, give Canary Square a shot. Otherwise, go elsewhere.
(2)Kari C.
I am only giving Canary Square a 3 because they have changed their menu since I first went there, otherwise they would get a 4. I went to Canary Square when it first opened some months ago and fell in love the moment I took a bite of my steak. It was perfectly cooked, had chard on the side and amazing mashed potatoes. Also, they won my heart because they had olives as a snack on the menu, and boy do I love my olives. My friend ordered their veggie lasagna, which is no longer on the menu either, and loved it (he's not one to say that). I'll have to give it another try with the new menu, because I loved the atmosphere and had great service.
(3)Lori M.
I love-love-love this place. It's funky, it's got style, the menu is comprehensive (though lacking in the sheer number of vegan/vegetarian options), and the bar is awesome. My gf and I dined at a table once, and have placed ourselves at the bar each and every time we've gone since. I probably shouldn't say this lest you all head over to the bar instead of tables, but the bartenders are awesome. They offer fun drinks, a great selection of beer, and a happy attitude. Re: food, I am still irked by the switch-a-roo on the menu that removed my favorite sandwich (apple and taleggio grilled cheese) and replaced it with some avocado version. I have an "intolerance" of avocado. Not an allergy, as a doctor once corrected me, as I don't swell up and die. I do, however, roll into a ball with an avocado pit in my stomach. But enough about me. The popcorn is hit or miss, and I do wish it was a freebie. The gf is a meatmouth and she's enjoyed both the burger and the pulled chicken sandwich. And we were wicked excited by the bread pudding, though it might be seasonal. Overall, it's a great place to be a regular. Or at least the bartenders pretend to recognize me....
(5)Sam F.
Good selection of beers (especially like the Downeast Cider) with a menu that is small but tasty. The BAT (bacon, avacado and tomato sandwich) for brunch is always a great choice.
(3)Sue P.
Every food-loving, outdoor-sitting, cocktail-sipping Jamaica Plainer wants to love Canary Square. Unfortunately it's impossible. The location, outdoor seating, and bright, airy dining room and bar are notable high points. And let's face it -- ambience ain't nothing. For a quick beer or cocktail, especially outside on the porch, Canary Square is the best place in JP. But the food! It's plain and self-conscious at the same time. At the risk of over simplifying, the food is under-spiced, under-salted, and under-umamied. Almost to a dish -- and I've tried virtually everything on the menu -- the food simply isn't good. Bring a date and have a cocktail. Enjoy the hand-chalked beer menus and the huge windows. But eat somewhere else.
(2)Bernadette S.
This is a brunch review. Service at brunch was very good and the place was bustling. My wife ordered the bloody mary beer - not good - she sent it back and got a regular beer. Her brunch was good. She had an omelet. Mine was not. I ordered the Huevos Rancheros because they are my favorite brunch item and I try them anytime they are on a menu. This is a Mexican dish yet the Huevos at Canary Square have zero flavor. The one saving grace is the chorizo. The pico de gallo is flavorless and needed cilantro and spice. There was no other salsa and when I asked for some was brought Tabasco or The rice and the beans also were totally bland. It was so sad to see my favorite dish treated this way. Perhaps the biggest issue, however, was that the soft corn tortillas were in that weird in-between place between warm and cold and were served folded with cracks...they were useless as a taco or wrap. I'm disappointed but still hoping for the best...
(3)Tracy P.
When this place first opened it had the usual growing pains.... Frazzeled staff, inconsistent food.... Pretty much what you'd excpect from a brand new spot. But it has come into it's own over the last few months and the staff have really helped bring it along! There is always a smiling face greeting you from the door to the bar. The huge flat screen TVs make it a great spot to watch a game, and now that baseball season is right around the corner I am sure that it will be the place to sip a brew and watch the Sox. Also, the huge garage doors are just waiting for the warm weather to roll up and open to the patio. I have only seen improvement over the last few months and I'm looking forward to see what comes next!
(4)Joel G.
LOVE THIS PLACE. I have only been once but I am pinning to go back. Beef skewers with Peanut Sauce was to die for. Mac and Cheese was very good. The service was solid and it had a great vibe. Can not believe how they transformed this place from the hole that it was before. The exposed brick is just great. Well lit bar with dark corners tasteful TV placement. over 30 beers on tap. Can not wait to go back!!!!!
(5)Caitlin B.
I was on my way to Sorella's for brunch and stopped to look at the menu at Canary Square. Both the menu and the decor drew us in. We must have gotten there at the right time because we were seated right away and it seemed there was a line for the rest of brunch. The decor is stunning and is the right combo of neighborhood-y and upscale. Our waitress was adorable and so nice. I was so taken aback when I read reviews later on about that bad service. We got coffee refills and everything at the right time. Bloody mary's were so-so. Not a ton of flavor (perhaps they rely on the absolut peppar for that?) We got avocado and swiss omelette, turkey hash, and sides of bagel with dill-caper cream cheese and homeade sausage. All were very yummy! I didn't get to look at the dinner menu, not sure how I'd feel about the ambience for dinner but for drinks or brunch like we had, it seems like the place to be!
(4)Gabriel B.
Great location, good ambiance, lots of beer on tap. Those are the highlights. The food is sometimes adequate, but too often sub-standard. I'm not hard to please, but nothing is particularly good - everything is just OK. The service frequently seems distracted. I suppose the other plus is that they are pretty kid-friendly in the early evening.
(2)Shushumishi T.
Very pleased for the new hangout place close to my apt. I went there for the first time this past Friday 04/22 for a drink and went back on Saturday for brunch. Food was delicious (brunch), wine - good choices. At brunch, I also had a bloody Mary, which I didn't even finish because of a strange aftertaste it gave me...problems with the Tomato Juice...? Maybe I will stick with wine... Overall, the place gives a nice vibe and has a welcoming atmosphere. I'm sure I will be back again.
(3)Brian R.
The missus went here when it first opened and had a bad meal topped off with some undercooked chicken. So after reading improved reviews and giving the staff a few months to get their feet under them, we went out for dinner on a recent Friday night. Its kinda loud, and it was pretty packed with a mixed leaning towards slightly younger crowd. We should have ordered the mussels which come with their fries. Both are done well (one of our dining partners previously had and enjoyed the mussels). Instead we ordered the jerk wings. Not bad, but not hothothot like jerk usually is. I ordered the pulled chicken sandwich. It was very bland. Maybe the roll was too much? It was just chicken in an ordinary BBQ sauce on a roll. Probably needs pickles or some other vinegar/acid and something with a crunch (slaw?). It did come with slaw on the side which wasn't the worst but wasn't stellar. Actually it was a bit wilted. The missus ordered the swordfish. I thought that was a 'you can't screw this up' dish. I was wrong. The fregola was sad looking and tired. The fish looked good but didn't taste good. We ate half of it. We left hungry. The service wasn't very good either. In fairness it was very busy. But we were told we would get water. 10 minutes later we had to flag our server to get this. We also had to flag them to put in our dinner order. Bottom line: go there for the very good beer selection and the interesting mixed drink menu and order the mussels. There are better options for a meal.
(2)Rebecca B.
I've been to Canary twice now (once to grab a quick dinner pre-Fenway, and once because, I'll admit, we got shut out of Tres Gatos). Canary Square is a fine place. I think that's right - it's fine. Not amazing, not awful, but fine. It's crowded and loud in there (maybe the acoustics aren't quite right for a restaurant? Not sure). But, the hosts that I've seen were good at finding us a table, even once negotiating with another couple waiting ahead of us in the lounge on our behalf (they wanted to stay in the comfy lounge chairs, so it worked out). The food that I've tasted has been kind of hit-or-miss. The best thing I've had there was an amazing poached egg over sauteed mushrooms on toast concoction. Yum. The worst thing I've had there was a hamburger, ordered medium, that came out completely raw on the inside (not, like, bordering on medium-rare - it was raw and cold in the middle). The middle-ground thing I've had was the steamed mussels - the broth was fine (there's that word again!), but could have used some more acid, and the toast it came with was burnt and not buttered enough. I'll definitely be back here, but I feel like it might be more of a place to go for drinks and some bar food, rather than a full meal. It's definitely a boost to that part of JP, but hopefully it's a sign of even better things to come, rather than being the finish line in itself. Also, I'm not sure if this is, in fact, the place where the anti-Whole Foods people meet, but I definitely took up a page of the notebook spewing out my screed on why Whole Foods is a good thing. I might have had a few drinks first. Oops!
(3)Lola C.
I want to like this place soooooo much, but it disappoints on many levels. First what I like; the bar is great and the bartenders are friendly and quick ---and remember the customers! The atmosphere is great, they did a good job renovating and transforming the space. It could use a little soundproofing, but that is all I would change as far as atmosphere goes. If it were just a bar this place would have a couple more stars. The food...meh. The menu is not satifsying, there isn't something for everyone on it. My three favorite menu items are no longer there, no more ceasar salad, no more beef stroganoff-y bowl of yumminess, etc. I went for the burger this week and it was greasy with an odd flavor, almost like pork fat was used on the grill. I can't quite explain it, but I don't want to try it again. My friend had the pulled pork chicken, they thought it was greasy too. Actually, they said their previous meal at Canary had been greasy as well. I'll definitely visit the bar again, and again...just not when I am hungry.
(2)d m.
Nothing seriously offended me, but I was expecting better. I get the feeling the owners are stretching themselves a little thin while they open too many places at once. $1 oysters didnt seem to be shucked by someone who was very good at shucking since they took 30 mintues to arrive and came looking a bit mangled. SLT sandwich was ok, but honestly was lacking any imagination (was that pepperridge farm bread?)..I do better for myself at home. It was ok but doubt I'd run back. When I saw how busy they were all I could think was they are doing better than they deserve to. On the upside the beer was cold and they had a good selection of draughts.
(2)Mariana G.
I have been coming to Canary square since it opened. I have since recommended clients, friends etc to come because I just loved how unique the atmosphere the food was amazing and the service was excellent, until tonight. The service has really gone down hill and it's really disappointing. My boyfriend and I were sitting at the bar, watching the Olympics, ordered couple of apps and drinks, great. Waited 30 mins for the bartender to notice that our empty glasses were drying on the bar. Perhaps if they weren't so busy chatting at the corner of the bar, with the MANAGER they would notice that their customers needed tending to! C'mon, get your act together- I just don't think we will be back for a while. It's too bad because we've been coming here since they opened, and as a JP resident, I'm just really sad and disappointed.
(1)Michelle C.
It says something when a JP bistro is packed on an early Thursday -- a good something. I busted a move on the Canary Square version of mussels Provencal, which proved to be an excellent choice. My dashing companion tucked in to the cod fritters, which were equally delectable and served quite quickly, an achievement considering how quickly the place went from zero to sixty. No joke; they were on a wait at 6:30 p.m. on a Thursday. There were some beers in there somewhere, and while I can't weigh in on the overall cost of the meal, I will say that it was a damn near perfect venue for a shockingly comfortable first date. The service was relatively hands-off, knowledgeable and, most importantly, didn't seem to mind our lingering in the bar area, despite how crowded it was. Big raves for Canary Square! I love you and the loud people that fill your restaurant!
(5)Allison C.
I've been back a handful of times since my last review (never again for brunch though) Dinner there has been alright each time. The beer list is awesome. The food has been good, not anything really special, but good. They have gotten rid of a couple of the dishes I though were awesome which is a bummer. I still think is overpriced, but the times I have been for dinner have been way less of a disaster than that time I went for brunch.
(3)Radhika M.
I live down the street from Canary Square so I come here pretty regularly. It probably has the best decor and ambiance of any restaurant I know, just perfectly 'classy but casual'. I've been here for casual weekday dinners, weekend brunches, and birthday dinners. The food seems to have gotten much better over the last year - everything has been consistently great the past few times. Service is really friendly, and the menus are always changing to keep things interesting. Always fun to try the new cocktails and beer flights. I recommend the brussel sprouts appetizer even if you dislike brussel sprouts. This place is also fantastic for dessert - they brought out toffee cake for a birthday celebration and it was delicious. Will probably be going back for it!
(5)Richard C.
Canary Square June 9th, 2014 by Richard Chudy IMG_1059My mom, for reasons that might or might not have been clear to me, has been constantly singing the praises of the burger at Canary Square in Jamaica Plan for quite some time now. Finally, on mother's day, I caved. Not that I thought it wouldn't be a great burger, but more because I was sort of enjoying the back and forth game of the elusive burger, and the saleswoman pitch she kept giving me. It's a bustling restaurant on this particular Sunday night, the first warm day/evening in a while, and neighborhood patrons appear as if they have been coming here for years. The service is a tad slow when you want it to be faster, and very quick and short once they realize you are done for the night. The burger is very much no frills. You can add on house-made bacon (very chewy, but deeply flavored) or mushrooms for an additional $2 and cheese for another $1. But, for starting at $11, it's hard to complain at all about the pricing. The bun is soft and very buttery in a good way, with the feel of a brioche without the heft and dominance. The patty is wide, not too tall and not too short, filling the bun perfectly. It's super juicy but a tad under-seasoned, with a distinct beefy flavor that is in that run-of-the-mill spectrum but very familiar and comforting. A little bit of char works out, and is a welcome accent to the burger. The patty is cooked pretty consistently medium-rare, although some of the rare burgers ordered at the table are a little bit beyond that. It's labeled as grass-fed but it has no real attributes common with grass-fed beef (leanness, gaminess) and the tightly packed patty mostly feels like the common one you'd find in most pubs. A gush of melted cheddar cheese is ample and is the unofficial star of this dish, heavenly aggressive and wonderful in all the right cheesy ways. Fries are crispy but way over-salted, almost to the point of inedible, I can't remember the last time I had so few. Canary Square does indeed make a very solid burger. It isn't the beefiest, or most unique or interesting, it's simply classic. While the seasoning on the patty barely fell short, the bun and cheese more than make up for it, all worthy choices in their own right. The fries were a miss on this night, but for $12 with cheese, this burger fits the bill. Thanks, mom* (*yes I paid, it was Mother's Day after all).
(4)Samantha G.
My friends and I went here last night for drinks and apps. We got a wide variety of cocktails and beers and were all very pleased. The cocktails were creative and yummy. We had a few appetizers and all were good. My favorite were the beef skewers. They were delicious! I'm looking forward to trying the main dishes sometime soon.
(3)Laura S.
Gordon Ramsey would have a heydey with this place. I am not picky, but I will not return to this restaurant until I am sure their kitchen staff have turned over. I could have made a better dinner from my freezer. Food: Went tonight with friends and 2 out of 4 dishes were literally INEDIBLE. As in, we didn't eat them. That's almost never happened to me as I am kindof a human garbage disposal. Our ceviche appetizer tasted like they were trying to use up bad fish. Yikes. I hope I don't get sick. Also, the tortilla chips served alongside were stale! Their hummus and pita "chips" (as listed on the menu) were atrocious. Tasted like blended chickpeas, straight from the can, doused in paprika to cover up a lack of culinary ability. Also, the chips were just pieces of mediocre pita. Huh??? My salad-a "Spring Salad" was tasty, though it is August (why is this still on the menu?)-but was advertised as lettuce with eggs, bacon, asparagus, farro and peas so I expected something hearty. There were about 1 T of each, crumbled over the top--it was pretty much just flavored lettuce. Drinks: Oh dear. I ordered sangria. Easiest drink to make good in the world: take wine, add fruit=delicious. This was wine + cherry cough syrup = nast-ay. *Luckily* there was a HAIR in my wine, so I was able to send it back. The waitress did not comp my drink (!) Service: Waitress was unremarkable. Spilled my husband's beer and didn't wipe it up. Ambiance: 2 stars because it has a lovely patio.
(2)Sara H.
I will totally go back here again, like asap. Extensive beer selection, tasty cocktails (I need to *not* drive next time) and above all Excellent service. Everyone my friend and I encountered here were so so friendly and helpful. No attitude or neglect that you get at other micro brew/fancy pub fare establishments. I agree with Greg M. about eating snacks/appetizers. We ordered a few apps and split the mac & cheese entree. The ham in the mac was thick cut and delicious, but otherwise underwhelming. Not a strong cheese flavor and a thin sauce. But as far as appetizers were concerned, we loved them all. Partial to the jerk chicken wings, super crispy little bits and a different sweet lime cream dipping sauce. Will be back soon to order the other half of the appetizer menu, and try out some more drinks. The sangria I had on trip #1 was delicious.
(4)Jennifer O.
Went back to give it another try. Food is lousy, service same. I've heard Brunch is decent but I'm not going back to give it a try.
(1)Jon L.
The food here is so mediocre it's sad. The place has a great beer menu and the setting is really cool but I have eaten here so many times bc I like the ambience and its convenient to my apt. sadly, nothing on the menu is good, most is mediocre at best. Flavorless burgers (really? Mess up a bar buger?), bland salads and a menu that never changes. Go for beers and an awesome patio. Eat and be disappointed. And again, I eat here all the time and am consistently underwhelmed.
(2)Kylie H.
I had a really nice time here with my friends who live in JP. The beer menu was perfect and the pickles were a great idea, especially because I'm a pickle lover. My friend's husband ordered some type of toast with mushrooms and it was awesome. We only had the pickles and appetizer and I would definately come back here to try out more entree. Very happy they had dogfishhead 90 minute IPA.
(5)Ali A.
I am going to second Matt F, and say I am surprised at the negative reviews. Maybe this is because I didn't go straight away as they opened. I really loved the pickles they put on the table as a starter. I also REALLY loved the apple cider manhattan. it was not too sweet.. and their beer selection is great. I'm really happy there are good (and interesting) cocktails here...after the Alchemist went under, I wasn't so sure where to go. The menu wasn't my favorite, mainly because I'm a vegetarian and honestly, there just weren't a lot of options. I don't think there was even a single option without cheese. We split the cheddar fries. They were good, but next time I'm not sure if I'd spend the extra money on the cheddar fries-- i might just get the regular ones. The fries themselves were great, thick and crispy. For dinner, I had the sandwich with apple and taleggio on sourdough. It was good, and it tasted light despite all the cheese. I wasn't as keen on the salad that came with it on the side. It was kind of dry. My roommate had the ham sandwich, and the other had the pulled chicken I believe. They both cleaned their plates, so I'm assuming they were good. We all then split a dessert of the fried twinkie. It was good and not overly sweet. I like the fried twinkie at Anthem restaurant where I used to work much better. The service was really on-point when we went. Glasses were filled, and whomever the busser was, is aweesooome. He asked if we don't mind if he takes our plate away even if everything was finished and even if a glass had just ice in that. I love that. Our waitress did make a comment that said something along the lines of, "it's good you guys waited a little while after we opened, we've worked out a lot of the kinks" Overall, I really enjoyed it. I just wish there were better vegetarian options on the menu. And honestly, for the fare, the prices were kind of blah, but similar to the alchemist.
(3)Ben S.
A quick review: -Went on a Saturday night around 7:30 pm. It was busy, but we found a table near the door. Pros: -Design is very open and inviting. I can't wait to return in the summer when the giant windows and garage door will no doubt be open. -All of the snacks were excellent. The cheddar cheese fries were dangerously good. -Two of us had entrees: burger was excellent as was the pulled chicken. Fries are outstanding! -Beer, wine, and cocktail list is impressive. -Server Emmy was attentive, fun, and knew her stuff. -Our server offered us samples of beer we had not tried before before ordering a whole glass. Cons: -All beer is served in 14 oz cheater glasses. Proper glassware would be an excellent compliment to the (excellent) beer selection.
(4)Katherine Z.
The only reason I gave this one star is because the drinks are, actually, awesome. Otherwise, the food is terrible. I've been a resident of JP for a long time and even miss the food at the Alchemist compared to this. The Wings are the worst - tasteless and dry with yucky yogurt sauce. Mussels had enough salt for a salt lick. Salad dressing is tasteless. Fish appetizer was all dough and air. Roast chicken tasted like roast ham. Even the burger isn't good. How can you not make a good burger? All of my friends think the food here is bad and overpriced. But with not much else in JP that looks so lovely and has cocktails its hard to stay away. Sadly, each time I give it another chance, I'm disappointed yet again. I'd love to see this place do better, but someone has gotta start tasting their food and revise the menu with more decent prices!
(1)Eli R.
I went for the first time last night and was very impressed. I had the roasted pork shoulder, and it was deliciously tender, with a rich and flavorful risotto accented with sliced roasted almonds. My girlfriend had the skirt steak. It tasted like it was cooked over a wood fire, and was perfectly rare. It had a wonderful smokiness to it, and they definitely know how to correctly cook a rare steak. For dessert, we shared the butterscotch bread pudding which was so rich we couldn't finish the last bite despite how delicious it was. The ice cream tasted remarkably like the maple butter walnut from JP Licks, and nicely complimented the sweetness of the pudding. Our server was great as well. She was attentive without seeming overeager, and was incredibly warm and friendly. I'm glad I was finally able to get a table here, and I will definitely be going back.
(5)Nick O.
I went here for the first time to night and had the bbq pulled chicken sandwich. It was great and the slaw that came with it was great too. The people were nice and it wasn't too jammed. I'm happy this place is in the neighborhood and don't want it to turn into a used car lot.
(5)Jasmine M.
My first time there was on a Friday night around 8PM with a friend. It was busy and the hostess said that a table for two would take 30-40 minutes. We decided to wait it out since we both really wanted to try this place, and fortunately we got a table much faster than the expected time (after maybe 10-15 minutes). I had the mushroom and spinach crepe, which was well made and tasty, although I would have preferred it without the huge uncut garlic cloves I found inside of it. For dessert my friend and I shared the apple bread pudding with maple ice cream, which was delicious. As for the service, our waitress met that great balance between checking in on us frequently but not intrusively. Also, she didn't rush us out at all after we finished our dessert and drinks, even re-filled our waters after we had already paid the bill. Favorite aspects: Quality food, good beer selection, good service, great ambiance Least favorite aspect: The food was a bit over-priced Will I go back again? Definitely.
(4)Grace F.
I should admit that I am not un-biased: I have been eagerly awaiting the opening of CS for many months. I was very pleased to finally take in the gorgeous decor/ambiance, great wine selection, drinks with an emphasis on St Germain and delicious hamburger last night. Obviously there will be some growing pains as CS settles in (last night I didn't see anything obvious except that the food took awhile), but I have the feeling that Canary Square is going to become a JP staple. Three cheers for Canary Square!
(4)Marina R.
Enjoyed a delicious Sunday brunch, experienced great service and loved the cute location in Jamaica Plain. The inside reminded me of something I'd find in NYC or Brooklyn; it has a very open layout with exposed brick. My friend and I ordered the french toast (to die for) and the JP breakfast platter. Coffee was decent but not out of this world. I will absolutely return for brunch on a future trip to Boston and also hoping they add some new dishes to the menu as well. I feel what they offer now is a bit limited. Choices are a good thing my friends...
(4)Sheila T.
I lost power in JP last night at a time that was waaayyy to early to try to go to bed - so, I decided to go get some beers and grub at the new canary Square. I hearted the Alchemist, but I heart the Common Ground more, so I was excited. I got the Mac and Cheese which was UNREAL. I swear they put nutmeg in or something. Awesome beer selection. The only negative thing I have to say is that I wasnt too pleased with the bartender I had, but everyone else was very nice. I felt like she sized me up tip wise and treated me as such (one person, wearing a sweatshirt, ect). Not the way you ever treat any customers, especially when the place was all but empty. (To be fair, it was 9:30) I will definately try again, very much so looking forward to their brunch.
(3)Kate S.
I really want to like Canary Square. I've now been three times and have gotten dishes ranging from mediocre to inedible. The last visit was the last straw, my "medium" steak frites came out completely charred and tough, and the vegetables (which I usually love) looked and tasted like the hay/poop mixture in my rabbit's cage. I wish I were exaggerating. After smelling it with concern, I gave it a test bite which I immediately had to spit out. The drinks are always interesting combinations, but rarely good, so points for effort to branch out, I guess. I've also always had great service and never had to wait more than a few minutes for a table. Too bad the food's absolutely awful. I just can't do it anymore, Canary Square, unless I hear you have new chefs in the kitchen.
(2)Caleb W.
Unless you can afford Ten Tables, this is the BEST place in JP. Creative comfort food, fantastic beer selection, great wine list, and reasonably priced.
(5)K S.
Canary Square is a lot better than its predecessor, The Alchemist. The atmosphere is better, and the place seems a LOT bigger, thanks to a great layout and new bar placement. The food was delicious - we had the mac and cheese (they were great about leaving out the ham when we asked), cod fritters, and the best deviled eggs i've ever had. The beer selection was excellent, although sadly, they were out of two of the beers I ordered. The service was excellent - we were seated immediately, and our waitress was extremely attentive and knowledgeable. The only issue I had was that the waitress was big on calling my dinner partner and I "ladies," and only one of us actually identifies as such. I understand that people in the service industry are often encouraged to be polite, but I'd advise Canary staff to perhaps not make as many assumptions in a place as diverse as JP. Otherwise, service was great. All in all, I'd come back here again - the atmosphere is cozy, and the food, delicious. Plus, the beer list is really exceptional.
(3)Bryanne M.
I had a terrible first experience- complete with fire drill, closed kitchen, and unresponsive staff- and had to go somewhere else at 9pm on a Thurs to try and find food after waiting an hour in the bar! That being said, after complaining to the manager, we were invited back in for a comped meal- so really no complaints there! The food was excellent, service was exactly where you want it to be- not too pushy but present- and the manager could not have been friendly. Really great experience, so I went back again with a group a week or so later- and while the food was great again (the skirt steak is so tasty, as was the bread pudding!!), the service was eh. Had to flag down the waitress for water and another round of drinks. Nothing terrible, but nothing outstanding. I think it will get better as time goes on and the wait staff is broken in a bit more.
(3)Christopher J.
This review is based on one visit, so I can't speak for their consistency, but so far, so good. Beer selection: great. Arugula salad: surprisingly delicious. I'm not a huge salad person, let alone arugula, but the lemony dressing and fresh chunks of melon topped with good Feta came together deliciously. Burger: Excellent. The grass- fed beef had great, intense beef flavor, and they grilled it exactly the way I asked. My girlfriend ordered the bluefish and said it was "very tasty" and cooked to the perfect texture. The fries were just fine, not memorable, but I had no problem eating all of them. The side of Swiss chard sautéed in bacon fat was enjoyably smoky. The service was very friendly, timely and competent. The ambience was very comfortable and relaxing. I will definitely return.
(4)RC J.
Went to Canary Square on a warm Sunday late afternoon because I wanted to sit outdoors, drink draft and dine. Already I knew they had only a two-star rating on Yelp, but what the hey? Here's the report. From the top, my server Kate was terrific, none of what happened was her fault. The beer list was excellent, but when the first glass (of Spaten) came and it was almost flat, I should have known that the place didn't have enough beer sales to sustain freshness in two-dozen offerings. Oh well. I decided to order two appetizers: "hand-cut" fries and grilled asparagus with vinegar sauce. I told Kate, No salt; she said, No problem. When the runner brought them out I could see glistening crystals all over. (Pity too, the fries were very crisp and the asparagus nicely darkened.) I sent them back and in return got a plate of very, very soggy fries and steamed asparagus, mostly thick, tough shank-parts, no grilling and no sauce. I sent them back via the runner (who was very doubtful about it all) and finally got a plate of crisp ones and grilled whole asparagus, although still no sauce. Whew! Good thing for me I had a book to read and time for more beer. Regarding "hand cut", I don't think so. They were uniformly a quarter-inch square. Like McDonalds. And I'm pretty sure there was artificial smoke additive on the asparagus. Kate did comp me a third beer for all that, and later the manager came over to apologize. Then when the bill came I saw the food had been comped as well. That was a reasonable gesture, but shall I return?
(2)Matt F.
I'm surprised at the negative reviews, honestly. I went to CS last night for the first time and I liked it. For appetizers we got the cheese fries, mac & cheese, and the popcorn of the day. 3 people I was with got burgers (which came with fries) and I got the serrano ham and cheese that came with a salad. The cheese for the fries was a liquid cheese, so pretty tasteless. The fries on their own were really good, though. The popcorn was OK, but I make popcorn at home all the time, so I didn't find it exciting. The popcorn "flavor of the day" was orange and sugar, but the flavor was very mild. It was like a slightly orange tasting kettle corn. The mac and cheese was OK, but I thought it was a little dry. I prefer mac and cheese to be a bit creamer. The taste was good and it had a unique flavor that I couldn't pinpoint. Everyone liked their burgers. I tried a bite and it was really good. I think the Haven has better burgers in JP, but this is a good close second. My ham and cheese was OK. Serrano ham is great, but the baguette was really tough and it was a small sandwich. The salad dressing was nice, though. The service was OK. We had quite a few people come ask us how we were doing throughout the night. Our water was always filled, but drinks and food had a little wait. Not too bad considering they just opened. Overall I enjoyed it and we all said we'd go again. I didn't think the Alchemist was the best restaurant in the world, but I don't think this place is any worse. If anything it's pretty similar.
(4)Jen D.
I booked Canary Square for a private event. From the first conversation to the very end, the people I worked with were extremely accommodating, professional, and friendly. The service was excellent. The food was great. I just can't say enough about it.
(5)Samantha B.
I went here for brunch with my husband today. It was ok - standard bar brunch food, nothing overly impressive. I got the Swiss and avocado omelette with homefries. Considering the price ($40 for the two of us), I can't say I was thrilled. The atmosphere was beautiful and the restaurant space itself is great (huge, open windows; outdoor seating). I'd definitely try it again for dinner!
(3)Diamyr M.
Went tonight to celebrate my bday early with my sister....my sister asked our waitress (very petite, maybe mixed girl with curly hair) if she could explain a few dishes to her... She snapped back at her saying well you can't just point to them I can't see, you have to say them to me . seriously?! Fix your eyes then because its pretty easy to see what someone is pointing at on a menu that doesn't have much.either way, just don't snap at my sister....we had the yucca...burnt, weird sauce. And shared the pork shoulder, which was great.but we decided to just leave to jp licks for dessert since our waitress wasn't very nice.over all...best part of my bday dinner?...jp licks
(2)Kate S.
I like this place. I will definitely be back and it's just a few blocks from my place, so that's nice. 20 minute wait on a Friday night, tasty and strong drinks at the bar, cheese fries were great, sweet pickles (which my date really enjoyed), nice beer list. I thoroughly enjoyed my mac'n'cheese. It was creamy but not too heavy with nice breadcrumbs on top and big chunks of ham all through it which gave it a smoky flavor. My date's burger was pretty good, not the best in Boston probably, but good. Service was good. I rate 4 stars instead of 5 because it's a bit pricey, the caeser salad was fine but not very flavorful, we had to ask for our pickles, and though we both wanted our leftovers boxed up, only mine made it back to the table. None of these things were enough to really tick us off cause everything else was very good. Just try it out. It's not a fancy-pants 5-star restaurant, but it's a great little place right down the street where I can eat good food and drink good beer. I'm happy.
(4)Guilio Ñ.
Nice outdoor space for that al fresco feel during these warmer days. The braised pork shoulder with risotto was fine. Their vegetarian/salad option needs some more creative work.
(3)Hillary M.
Came here with our kid and met friends with their kid. The room was spacious and we easily fit high chairs and strollers around our table. The waitstaff was very cute with the kids. But the service was slow and the waitress was downright rude when my friend asked if she could substitute fruit for potatoes. No substitutions! Next time, waitress, you should say 'I can't do a substitution, but I can bring you the fruit plate for $2 more.' Oh, and when my friend later ordered a fruit plate, it came out drenched in whip cream. Seriously?! Our food took awhile to come out and the coffee orders were filled pretty intermittently, but we were able to have a leisurely time in a pleasant, sun-drenched room. The food was fine if a bit pricey for the fare. The bathroom was clean and I was very pleased to see the changing tables.
(3)April M.
I'm still trying to figure out Canary Square... I have mixed emotions about so many things. For one, the staff. The hostess has been just fine both times, greeting us right away and leading us to our table. Great. The waitstaff, however, has been complex and sub-par. The first time, the girl we got was aloof and not knowledgeable of the menu. I asked her what an ingredient in one of the drinks was and she said "a flavored liquor". Well, I could have told myself that! What kind of flavor? A hard liquor or a lighter liqueur? And I'm sorry, but her breath STUNK. If you're working in a service/food industry where people are going to be eating and drinking, you should probably make sure you don't turn their stomachs sour with your foul breath. It was rank, really rank. I kind of wanted to run out to CVS and buy her a small bottle of Listerine while we waited for our food to arrive. The second time, we got a tall goofy guy who came off kind of rude and nonchalant. I mean, I don't mind a totally chill and relaxed environ, that's what I'm about, but you are getting paid to take my order and bring things to my table, so throw just a dash of effort into that recipe for me, will ya? I don't care if you're pretending to care, but at least make it seem that way. He also forgot to refill my beau's beer when he ordered another one. The place was not overly busy, and I didn't see him running around the restaurant floor, so I'm not sure why it took like a half hour. Moving onto the drinks, things get a little better. I tried a couple of the provincially-named cocktails, which were very creative and earthy-tasting. I liked them, but they certainly don't offer much bang for your buck in the way of alcohol content. I could barely tell I had a drink. Their draft beer menu is admirable, not sure if any other spot in JP would trump Canary in that department. Better still, was the food. The menu is ridiculously small, but at least the items are well crafted and tasty. We've tried the skewers (off the app menu), the roasted chicken, the steak and the burger and they were all acceptable. For desert, we've gotten the fried twinkies - twice. And if for nothing else, I would return to Canary just for the twinkies. How can you go wrong with two twinkies and a fryolator? Point and case. Aside from the twinkies, I can't say there's any real culinary genius at work in the kitchen, but they are doing a decent job. Lastly, the atmosphere, which is also something that would keep me coming back. I do like the dark lighting, the tall windows along the front wall, the high tables by the bar and lower cafeteria-style seating on the dining room side. There is a constant humm of low conversation, a good mix of people (as always in JP) and they do offer flat screen TV's over the bar for your viewing enjoyment when your company is just not up to par in the conversation department. I would go back again (as long as the fried twinkies are still on the menu) but I would suggest to Canary Square to expand and/or rotate their menu and check up on the waitstsff. I've only been twice and I'm already kind of done with what they've got to offer.
(3)Meeg W.
Went with my mom and sister for dinner last night. Got there around 7 and were seated right away on the front patio. Situated on a busy street, they do an awesome job of blocking off the noise and creating a really nice ambiance. Canary Square is one of the best places to grab a beer in JP if not in most of Boston. They have an incredible beer list, and their prices are fantastic. It's either this place or The Behan for me. What came as the best surprise was how great the food was. My siter got the baked mac-n-cheese. So cliche, everybody has it. But I'll kid you not, it was amazing. Make sure at least one person in your party orders it, and then grab a few forkfulls. My mom got the pork shoulder. Tender, with little fatty bits that were flavorful, and her mashed potatoes were delicious. I got the tuna steak special. The steak itself was huge, the coconut rice was tasty, and the little roasted, yellow tomatoes around the perimeter were the sweetest tomatoes I ever popped into my mouth. Great time here!
(4)Alan P.
Terrible dining experience. An inattentive waitress that took forever to do everything, highlighted by the 20 minute wait for our bill with just glasses of water in front of us. As for the food, I don't mind when food is pricier than other places if it's good quality; it's not. $16 for a piece of chicken over potatoes? $14 for a small dish of bland mac & cheese? Just a terrible place. And for those praising a good beer menu; that's just not enough anymore. Most places have good beer menus now.
(1)Matthew F.
OK I am going to make this short and sweet. Food: Good for comfort food / Atmosphere: Nice cool, open space / Service: Less than stellar. We had to wait 25 minutes for someone to get us a drink, and a long time to get the bill - just annoying. Also, it was not in the least crowded and there were around 7 servers on - not really sure how we couldn't get service. I am glad JP has a new place to have a few drinks that is big and modern but, they really need to work out some kinks. T
(2)Amy L.
I've been here a few times late night with a group of people after a nearby pottery class. The first time we went it was just what we were looking for. Good cocktails, friendly service and a late night menu for snacks. Going back a couple weeks later was a completely different experience. Our server was in no mood for our table although the restaurant was nearly empty on a Wednesday night at 11PM. She was openly rude and borderline hostile. When we asked for glasses of water along with our cocktails she elbowed my friend to move him out of the way so she could refill his glass. When someone else at the table asked for what types of vodka they had she couldn't be bothered to list them and snapped at us to look at the wall. Several other occurrences that just made us feel unwelcome. While I never like to dock money from a tip we didn't feel like we needed to leave 20%. When she saw we left a 12% tip she actually came to our table to express her displeasure. When my friend asked her if she wanted to discuss the reasons why we didn't leave a higher tip she snapped at us again. So we now go to Sanctuary across the street after pottery class.
(2)Brian S.
I'm surprised by all the negative reviews on here that end up with you getting comped a drink or dessert, or even getting pickles to start out your meal...my horrible experience has none of these 'perks'. I'll make it quick. We had a reservation for 8 at 8:45. We were seated at 9:15, without so much as an apology for the delay. The server, who was clearly new and inexperienced, so much of the gripes have little to do with her, took our drink orders quickly, but none of them arrived until 9:45. So we're an hour into our reservation and we've just been given drinks -- no pickles to munch on or even a complimentary $3 app to thank us for waiting half an hour for a table we reserved. Ok. They're new, it's a busy friday night. Alright. One of our drinks was still missing -- apparently if you order a cocktail that's not on the menu, even an old standard like an 'Old Fashioned' you'll confuse the 12 year old bartender and he'll have to actually go take a class on how to make your drink before you get it. By 10:00 we all had our drinks, and some of us were ready for our second. We ordered a slew of apps -- hey, we were planning to eat around 8:45 and now it was after 10 -- we were hungry. We waited awhile for our apps to come out -- but luckily our server brought out 3 dirty app plates for us to discuss while waiting. Yep, three dirty plates brought to our table -- greasy, covered in bread crumbs, dirty. Plus, three of them, for 8 people. We were perplexed. I called the "man of the house" over to inquire about the plates and see if he could take them away from the table. He did, without so much as an apology, and brought us back three clean plates. Put them down in a stack at the edge of our table. We told him we didn't know what the plates were for as there were only three of them, eight of us, and no sign of food. He told us (looking rather annoyed) he didn't know what they were for either, and then walked away. Finally, more plates came out along with our appetizers -- well, most of them. The plates were stacked at the end of the table leaving it up to us to pass the plates around. When we assessed our apps, we noted a few were missing...and when we inquired about them, our server, instead of apologizing and finding out what happened to them told us that sometimes the kitchen loses orders. She also asked us if we wanted her to go check on them. Ummmm, we ordered them. We're asking about them. YES. Go check on them. Turns out the deviled eggs were found, all alone in the kitchen, just sitting there waiting for us to eat them. That was comforting to know that food is just sitting around in the kitchen waiting to be claimed. The warmed olives we ordered also finally arrived after we had to basically argue to get them to come to the table with the other apps. It's a bowl of warmed olives, mind you. Can't be that complicated to get to a table. Our food arrived sporadically after that -- but the remaining apps stayed on the table, despite us being finished with them. The food was unremarkable over all. The fish puffs were the only thing anyone even commented on during the entire 3+ hour experience. And yeah, they were just fried battered fish sitting on top of cocktail sauce. Despite having one of the worst dining experience of our collective lives, we stayed for dessert...hell, we'd already put in 3 hours and we most likely won't be going back...so we figured we'd make a night of it. With the table covered in old apps (including head cheese and pate, mind you) and tons of empty glasses, we ordered a couple of desserts to share. After we passed around the dessert menus ourselves, the server slapped a pile of spoons down for us to pass around. The apps stayed on the table while we passed around a bowl of ice cream and a plate of bread pudding. The smell of headcheese and pate filling our noses as we tried to enjoy what was probably a pretty good dessert. The server did apologize about not clearing the apps in a timely manner (as we were figuring out the final bill). Apparently she just didn't have time -- I looked around, and for the last 30 minutes, we were probably one of 5 tables still sitting. There were more waitstaff in the dining room than there were diners, but whatever. She, and the rest of the staff, seemed to have plenty of excuses but no apologies. After all of this, we didn't get comped one thing. Not one round of drinks, not one appetizer, not one dessert. We spent nearly $500 on one of the worst dining experiences of our lives, and didn't get ONE apology for any of the experiences listed above. I hope they really stretch that $500, cause I know I won't be going back there, and will be discouraging my friends from going. I understand the place is new...but it's owned by people who have at least two other successful places in Boston. Besides, everyone can have a bad night...but to not apologize or even try to make it right when there were clearly multiple problems? Poor form.
(1)Emily S.
It's a really good start- right now, the neighborhood's enthusiasm for such a place is almost choking it before it can get itself figured out. They can't seem to handle the volume of people yet. I wouldn't recommend going on a Friday night if you're actually hungry. We waited 45 minutes for a 2-seater- they were conspicuously taking much larger groups first- then another hour and 15 minutes for food. The service was great, however- the waitress was fast with drinks and manager responded to our clear looks of distressed hunger by comping a round of drinks (the expensive round) and an appetizer. This place has all the clear makings of a great restaurant but needs some time still. Also, while I see where they're going with the food (kind of like CBC in Cambridge), my mac and cheese was bland and my boy friend's burger was claw-shaped. Kind of weird.
(3)Ariana G.
Let me start by saying the drinks here are great and they have a fantastic beer selection. If I were rating it on a place to drink, they would get four stars for sure. The food is a whole other story. Wow, was it ever really, really bad. $11 for shrimp app... two shrimpy shrimps... Had a shrimp app at Morton's the following night for $19 and got four... So per shrimp cost is higher at Canary Square??? Cost aside, they sucked. They were so burnt from the grill and swimming in some nasty hot pepper oil. Had we not eaten the dish on the first bite, I would have sent it back. Next, dinner and man oh man, it went from bad to worse. Grilled asparagus, try blackened. Pork tacos, try steel wool. Ate at the bar, told the bartender about the quality of the food, he comped some stuff and took some things off. That was super cool of him and I was not going to write a review because I appreciated that.. But after not sleeping all night with heartburn, I thought the public should be warned. DO NOT EAT HERE!
(1)Kate L.
I've gone here a few times. I've always received good service and excellent food. The swiss chard salad changed my life. Now it's the only thing I get when I go there (although the other night I shared that and the grilled cheese with avocado with someone). Bacon vinaigrette, candied pecans, pulled chicken and swiss chard. Holy S. It's awesome. I've had the yucca fries a few times, too. Each time the sauce that it came with was different (once the butter was melted, once it was solid and once it looked like mayo) but each time is was yummy. Solid restaurant with solid food. If only that salad weren't so damn good, I'd branch out and try other foods...but the thought of going there and not getting that salad is sad.
(4)Anne C.
Maybe I'm easy to please, but I had a good time at Canary Square. Our waitress was super-friendly, the place looks really good, and they have an excellently huge beer list. We showed up at 4:30 on a Saturday, so I can't speak to their dinner rush, late night, or brunch scene. The reason we went to so early, in addition to generally being starving, is that we have a one-year-old and are smart enough not to try and take him out with us at a regular dinner hour. For what it's worth, everyone from the host to the busboy was friendly to us and our son, so I'd say this place *is* kid-friendly, at least during their slow hours. The food was tasty, although it turns out they offer a limited menu before 5pm, so my husband and I both ordered the cheeseburger and fries, and we split a mixed green salad (which was delicious and gigantic). Most of the limited menu is appetizers Anyway, good food, nice atmosphere. I'd go back.
(4)Tom M.
My girlfriend and I went here mid-January 2011 before reading any reviews on yelp. I'm glad we did because there seems to be a disproportionate number of negative reviews that are not representative of our experience. I understand some folks are more critical than others when it comes to service, food, atmosphere, etc., but this place was very good in all aspects AND it was packed with people. There was a nice mix of folks too. I hate walking into a place and seeing one type of customer: old people, or college kids, or just families. This place attracted all types of folks. The place has an impressive number of tables and large bar. It can accommodate far more people inside than you'd expect given the appearance from outside. There is a nice area in the back with couch (built-ins) seating for a place to sit and relax and enjoy some drinks with friends. We liked the options on the menu (my girlfriend is vegetarian, I am a meatatarian) and had no problem finding a good drink at the bar. The service was excellent. I had the mac and cheese with ham and a side of mashed potatoes, while my girlfriend had the mushroom and spinach crepes. We tried their "Popcorn of the day" which was rosemary and sea salt popcorn and it was very good. I see some people have criticized charging $3 for this item, but it was worth it. It came out hot and was very tasty. I'd never think to add rosemary to popcorn but it worked well. I didn't care for the type of cheese they used in the mac and cheese but I'm not going to deduct a star for how a certain type of cheese tastes. My girlfriend tried it and LOVED the flavor. This sort of thing is subjective. The mashed potatoes were excellent. I think mashed potatoes can be ruined with too little or too much milk, but their texture and moisture were just right. My girlfriend loved her meal. The food, service, and tax portion of the bill came to $15 per person. Tough to beat that in the Boston area given the atmosphere and food quality. If you expect every meal on the menu to be perfect or the temperature of your seating area be 'just right', then you probably won't get a meal for $15. $3 for popcorn probably gives them a $2.75 profit margin, which I imagine is helpful to cover some of their initial startup costs. Even if they continue to charge for the popcorn, it's worth the anticipation and the enjoyment of that first bite. Many reviews cited issues that people thought may be attributed to the restaurant having opened recently. Maybe there are some kinks to work out that are associated with the opening a new restaurant, though we didn't notice anything. I do remember The Haven restaurant a block away wasn't accepting credit cards this summer, but within a month or two from opening, began taking credit cards. I expect these sort of minor issues to come up when a restaurant is new but they don't ruin my night. I think Canary Square will be around for awhile and will provide thousands of enjoyable meals for the people to swing by We will be back soon because the whole experience was very enjoyable and I'm excited to return, hence 5 stars.
(5)Liz T.
Great place. The french toast was amazing. Staff was great. When they bring you the bill, they bring you cute notebooks to doodle in and you can flip thru and see other people's doodles. A very cute touch.
(4)Kristina F.
I know Canary Square is new. So let me preface this by saying I think it has promise, but has a long way to go, in my opinion. I think it can make it. It's already better thank Triple D's (haha) and Alchemist. I am willing to give these folks a second chance. I can say I'm impressed with their transformation of the place. Friendly and open. But the garage door tables were certainly chilly. And real candles would be cooler instead of the fake ones. Bar set up was pretty nice as well. I will also say our waiter and barstaff was nice too. Ok, but I know what ya'll really want to hear about: the food. For apps and snacks we ordered the popcorn. Ok, listen up. Do not pay for the popcorn. First off, it really should be free - like bread. Plus, it's cold. Boo! Who wants cold popcorn? Wings were the major highlight. Deviled Eggs were also good (only three!) and the salt cod fritters were appealing with a spicy cocktail sauce. But it went all downhill from there, unfortunately. I ordered the roasted chicken. Can't go wrong with chicken and I love chicken. And I've never met a chicken I didn't like and thought, this is a lay up. No one messes up chicken. My waiter said it was one of their best dishes. But alas. It was not good. It was so salty. Really salty. Moist, yes, but it was like cooked in saltwater or something. I ate it, because I was hungry. I didn't eat all of it (portion way too big) and shared with my friend who sent her Mac and cheese back because it tasted sour. I tried it and I had to agree that it was kinda gross. My mashed potatoes were really bland. Ironically they needed salt or something! Brussels sprouts could have been roasted longer and I didn't get the radishes with them? The were cooked with these huge chunks of bacon, and you know I love bacon but not sure if it added to the dish since they were sitting in the au jus of the chicken and not roasted enough. I think the bacon added to the saltiness of the dish (minus the potatoes). I was really disappointed in the dish. The other members of my party had mixed reviews. (See Jason F review.) Our waiter was cool and took the Mac and cheese back with no attitude. He was super nice about it and took it off the bill. Oh, drinks! I had the basil grape mojito. To sweet for a mojito- needed more punch! Wait time was not bad. We walked in at 9pm on a Friday and got seated by 930. Also everything I wrote we also wrote in their guest book. Honesty is the best policy. We'll see if they take any of our comments to heart, or if they brush them off and do their own thing. I'm hoping there's a change...
(2)Stefanie O.
This place looks a whole lot different than it did as the Alchemist (a place that I was a big fan of) but the open layout actually looks good and creates a good brunching environment. We came here on Mother's Day with a group of 5 (none of us there to celebrate our own mother's) but managed to get a seat, even quicker than the 45 minutes they predicted it would take. The brunch menu is big and filled with all the staples, and they have some pretty creative bloody marys (including one with bacon vodka); the traditional one was great, so I am sure the others are too since they probably use the same base mix. Our waitress was super nice despite the bust environment and made sure we always had drinks and full plates. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their food and we even took a peek at the lunch/dinner menu, which looks great; we plan on finding out soon!
(4)Claire N.
Great atmosphere, nice people, great beer selection, good creative food.
(5)Colleen B.
I've been here four times now and have loved it every time! Each time I've been on a weekday night for drinks and dinner. First of all, this place has a great craft beer selection, which is always important to me. I much prefer the layout, decor, and overall atmosphere of Canary Square over that of the Alchemist, which was the previous restaurant in this space. With regard to the service, I've been happy close to 100% of the time... The first time I was there was the busiest, and at times, the service was a bit slow. However, the other times have been great. The servers and bartenders are friendly, and my food orders have been ready in a timely manner. A few times I've been curious about some beers I haven't tried before, and the bartender has always given a sample to taste. Love that! The quality of the food has been above average. One of the best things on the menu by far is the warm swiss chard salad. When you read it on the menu, at first glance it sounds like an odd combination, but trust me; it's deeeelicious!! Most recently, my boyfriend and I started with the wood grilled garlic bread, which was quite good. I've also tried their burger (really enjoyed it), the ham and cheese sandwich (had tasty, thinly sliced ham on it), and the pulled chicken sandwich (overall I liked it but it was just slightly on the dry side). The hand cut fries are awesome! All in all, this is an excellent addition to the neighborhood. I'll most certainly be back many more times! Cheers!
(5)Steven T.
OK: I've changed my original review. I'm still not a fan of their cocktail specials, and the deep-fried Twinkie is atrocious, but.... My meals haven't beel all that bad. Not great, but not awful. Their mac n' cheese will never compare to the late-lamented "Zons" in Hyde Square, but they -do- serve it with a nicely-sized salad, so you can at least pretend you're eating healthy. I've also had a very lovely asparagus salad which could almost be considered 'dinner-sized' I'm also a big fan of their butterscotch bread pudding. (it's orgasmic. really!) Service has always been ok. Not great, but none of the wait-staff seems to suffer from ADD, which makes for a pleasant experience. The outdoor seating area is the best. The actual dining room is waaaaay too noisy (remember how your high-school cafeteria sounded?) and I really feel they could/should muffle the noise with a ciuple of area rugs. I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here - but if you're in the 'hood, its a decent place to grab a bite to eat.
(3)missy J.
I just went there tonight for drinks and apps. The customer service was excellent!!!! We initially were going to sit at the bar but decided to sit at the high tops instead. Worried that a waiter wasn't going to come so we stopped a random waiter walking by. With in one minute our waiter came to the table to greet us and the next moment the random waiter came back with waters for us. ( Great example of excellent team work amongst the staff!) I had the sangria which was a bit bitter for my liking. The waiter offered to make me another drink to my liking but i declined. However, I appreciated the offer very much! We had the swedish meatballs as an app. It was a bit salty for my liking. So I don't think I would order that again but other than that it was very nice place to hangout our for us grown and sexy people! :)
(4)Carolynn G.
I just finished telling 5 different co-workers about my dinner here last night. I insisted they must go! I was shocked to log in and see a variety of ratings, but perhaps since they are new they are still ironing out details?... I dined last night with a friend, around 6:45 on a Thursday. Seemed somewhat busy, but we were able to snag the last table outside (lots of outdoor seating! +) I love the atmosphere of their outdoor seating area. Its big and has pretty grasses growing with small white lights and is very summery. Our waitress was spunky, cute and friendly and gave us good recommendations. I had a strawberry gin drink which should be the alcoholic theme of a warm summer night, it was perfect (+). After some talking and questions, I ordered the half chicken with creamed corn and odd (in a good way) potato string things ($17). My friend ordered the pork shoulder with risotto ($15). When our plates arrived they were nicely arranged, but more importantly - the food was DIVINE. This is why I don't understand the poor reviews. The combo of dishes on my plate paired well together. The chicken was insane, I have never had chicken so flavorful and cooked to perfection (+). Good sized portion too, I loved every bite. My friend loved her dish as well (+) and sent her plate back clean...no really, like white..as if no food had ever been on it. We both took a bit of the other's dinner and commented we could switch and be just as pleased. Overall, this was the best dinning experience I've had in...1 or 2 years maybe? I'm sorry for those that didn't love it, but it was a home run for us. Great atmosphere, perfect service, tasty drinks and a dinner I would have paid $25+ for. 5 stars, I'll be back!
(5)Jay B.
Great decor- nice upscale pub menu. Wait was a little long but it was their opening day, and the excellent food was well worth the wait. Had the BBQ pulled chicken sandwich- awesome. Will definitely be back.
(4)Karen J.
Wow, I never checked yelp before going to the much anticipated new place in JP and after reading some of the reviews, I may have hesitated and what a mistake that would have been. We walked in at 8:15 and were seated immediately. The food was great. Others have mentioned the chicken sandwich which was really good but the slaw with it deserves accolades as well. The atmosphere is cool. It's a tad loud but that's the kind of place it is. We were also smack in the middle of the place and it may have been quieter on the perimeter. Our server was very attentive. I ordered my salad and appetizer together with my husbands meal and when the salad arrived 45 seconds before the rest of the food, she was immediately on it and came over to apologize. Having worked in restaurants I would never even attempt a new place in the first weeks...of course it's crazy...they are trying to figure things out (I once worked in a VERY high end place in this city and the owners didn't order enough silverware resulting in us servers, hoarding and hiding spoons and forks and thus causing others to search in vain while not serving guests - sorry, it happens!). It takes weeks to iron out kinks so give them a break. I only gave 4 stars because we haven't tried all the menu items but if last night was any indication, I will come back and change it to 5. Thanks for opening Canary Square. We love the new addition in JP!!
(4)Erica L.
I was excited to to go to Canary Square and even though I'm giving it 3 stars now we're definitely going to go again - they're in their infancy. I like the atmosphere though the tables and chairs could use a little more privacy and warmth. Two thumbs up for child friendliness - crayons, coloring placemat, cup with lid, highchairs, booster seats and hallelujah a changing table in the bathroom! My martini and my husband's mixed drink (I can't remember what it was) were great - a big step up from The Alchemist. The pickles were good too. My 2 1/2 year old ate them all (after proclaiming she only eats sweet ones) a little carb like a bread, breadstick or cracker would be great addition - they could take a note from The Haven on this one. We ordered the Local Apple And Arugula, Aged Cheddar, Curried Walnuts as an app. It was good but there was a little bit of apple core in the salad which I was surprised at. My husband had Fire Grilled Pork Chop, Mashed Potato, Homemade Apple Sauce which he liked. The pork chop was massive - he took a lot home. My daughter got the chicken fingers off the kids menu, she ate one - but she's little so it doesn't mean anything. I tried them. They were good. I had the Curried Mussels, Coconut, Scallions & Ginger app as an entree. I actually ended up sending them back b/c they tasted fishy. Someone came out of the kitchen to tell me I could order something else and that they would take them off the check. They also told me that they chef thought they were fine. That made me feel bad and I kind of felt it was unnecessary to say but whatever...I'm sure he thought they were fine, otherwise he wouldn't have sent them out. Duh! We had to try the deep fried twinkies for dessert b/c well, we had to. I wasn't impressed but that didn't stop me from finishing everything on the plate. The place is right near our house so we'll definitely be going back. If they can stay consistent - something The Alchemist had trouble with - they'll do fine. I think they're a good replacement for Zon's (which is missed). I do dislike the TV but I guess, since there's only 1, it's ok. :(
(3)Luke A.
Give this place a try. It's new-ish. There is a fun feel here. Maybe it's just the ghost of doble D's or tripple D's or whatever it was but it 's a cool spot for a drink and a burger. You can tell the ownership was trying to take bar food/decor a little further without alienating the reg bar crowd. It wasn't pricey and the staff was great.
(4)Clare D.
Fun place, great vibe. Had amazing mac and cheese with ham and a good sized side of greens. The appetizer of pork shoulder sausage, bread, spicy mustard and pickled onions was delicious. Great beer selection and they make a great Manhattan. The server was super busy but very attentive and funny. Great support staff too, lots of bussers who were on top of their work. I'd recommend a table outside if possible but since the giant windows are open in the summer sitting inside is very nice too.
(3)Molly W.
No one is happier than me that Canary Square worked out their new-restaurant kinks and is now a well-oiled machine. YES! This bar is close to perfect. The space is impressive (love the raw materials), the drinks are top-notch and the music could keep me there all night long. Add in some gastro-pub-style food, and you've got yourself a night out! I love bringing friends here, because (in my mind) it epitomizes J.P. It's what I want people to think J.P. is like. Urban, hip, upscale but not pretentious... when's the last time you went to a bar like that in Boston? I usually come here for drinks and maybe a snack, but today I tried brunch. It was good! They have unusual options like Breakfast Fries (fries, hollandaise and a poached egg), a fritatta, huevos rancheros, and even a cheeseburger for those who just need something more. As far as dinner goes, this is what I have concluded: Canary Square is like a drunk friend who comes home and pulls a bunch of crazy shit out of the pantry and makes a sick feast with bizarre food items. Deviled Eggs, Pulled Pork Sammy, Mac n Cheese, Mushroom-gravy french toast....what!? It's like, so gross but so good. I do wish they had some lighter options, and I REALLY wish they would make their charcuterie more accessible... Please add cheese and accoutrements! And no more head-cheese.... I like Salami and Coppa, thanks. I mean, I am the Dutchess of Canary Square after all.... don't I get a say in these things? Hehe... (heart you!)
(4)Alice O.
The food is good and the drinks are awesome. I just wish the place had a little more (a lot more) soul. It so bland in both atmosphere and people. It is so vanilla. Blech!
(3)Nancy T.
Good variety of food and drinks for brunch. Came here at noon on a Sunday with a party of 9. Everyone found something on the menu to eat and no one ordered the same thing! They have the traditional classic brunch items as well as some dishes with their own twist. Definitely a place to try!
(4)Joey C.
Checked out the newest bathroom in the hood. There was some buzz and long anticipation as to when this place was opening up. I guess we waited for the dust to settle and hopefully time for them to work out the little kinks based on other yelpers. Overall, I think I was expecting too much. A fancy chef from downtown, in a newly renovated location, I was expecting the menu to wow me. Instead the items were just a tiny bit ordinary. The items were more like comfort food and geared towards a more bar/casual setting i.e. roasted chicken, skirt steak, burgers, sandwiches, salads, salmon steak, etc. We ordered the crepe with mushrooms & spinach (reminded me of eating an omelette except it was sprinkled with herby stuff that gave off a bitter taste), burger (tasty) with some good fries and the skirt steak(just ok but more bitter green toppings) and we finished the night with the bread pudding (it was tasty but took a long while to get it). Our server started out really slow but then I think he kicked into gear and finished off above average. The draft beer selection was quite impressive and there are 3 big flat screens at the bar. If our expectations were more of a bar atmosphere, it would gain another star bc it seems like a nice hangout place to cozy up and watch a game. But if you're thinking it's a fancy bistro with a fancy chef that has moved into the hood hopefully bringing in some tres chic, try again. I will probably visit again when the temps warm up and they open up the patio and windows.
(3)Jennifer J.
Very surprised by all the negative reviews. Jeez, they've been open for a millisecond, give them a chance! In truth, It's probably more of a 4 star experience but I'm bumping it up to 5 to counteract the rest of you curmudgeons. I went with a friend for dinner last week and we had a very nice meal. We started with the popcorn as an appetizer, it was decent, didn't knock my socks off but I thought it was unique and it did it's job of tiding me over until the entrees came. The pickles were okay, feels like a gimmick to me though, I'd rather have a piece of bread. I liked the cocktail list, looking forward to trying them all. Can't remember what I ended up ordering but I liked it, and it was decently strong. I had two and ended up being a little buzzed. My friend and I shared the mac and cheese and the burger and we liked both. Burger was done exactly as requested, and the all important french fries got a thumbs up. Mac and cheese was good, not the best I've ever had but it hit the spot well enough. Prices might be a teensy bit steep for the quality of the food, but I'd probably say that about many restaurants in this city. Sometimes you end up paying more for the 'atmosphere' and general dining experience, and less for the quality of the cooking. And I definitely liked the atmostphere at CS, I think they did an amazing job renovating the space. Loved the Alchemist but I think this setup is so much better and has a much nicer flow to it. The Alchemist was too 'chopped up' and I found the layout to be somewhat awkward, a lot of dead space. I can be sort of sensitive and cranky about things like lighting levels and music levels and how closely you get shoved up against the next table. CS gets this stuff right in my book. Service was excellent, and the manager checked in with us once or twice in addition to our waitress. Never once felt ignored. Our food came out in a very reasonable amount of time. I think their menu choices will get refined as they go along, I bet that in six months time they will have sorted out what is too gimmicky and what is actually hitting people's taste buds the right way. Every restaurant needs that time to really hit their stride. So I'm welcoming Canary Square to JP, and looking forward to more meals in the future.
(5)Ricky R.
Sunday night kinda late it was a bit slow. Service was great, Kate was our server and she could not have been sweeter. Greeted at the door, sat, talked w Kate. Had salt cod fritters, jerk chicken wings, charcuterie board, and bacony Brussels sprouts. Everything was great, can't wait to go back and try more food and beer.
(5)Howe L.
This is a unique place in JP that balances a classy, yet young vibe. I didn't order any cocktails (which i hear is their claim to fame), but there is an interesting and wide selecting of draft beers. Service was average, but i was let down by the food. For brunch, the fritatta was overly dry and the sausage tasted like a fried ball of bland dough..eh
(3)Sara G.
I had the most delicious eggs Benedict of my life here on a recent Sunday afternoon. However, the rest of my party wasn't as lucky--none of them enjoyed their food, and another order of eggs Benedict came with one of the poached eggs being cooked all the way through. Service was also a bit slow. But I loved my food!
(4)julie p.
Glad to have a nice local place like this in JP, and the service was good. But please learn how to cook a basic burger! Went with 3 friends and we all ordered one. All were very dry - no juice in the meat at all. The bun was dry and tasteless too. A tip: go pick up some fresh buns from Cheryl Anne's in W Roxbury every morning. We asked for a few grilled onions on the burgers - were informed that there were "no facilities to cook onions." What? They have no grill? Cheese was a complete afterthought on the burger - completely tasteless. I wanted to love Canary Sq. - and I did like the service a lot. But how can you screw up 3 simple burgers at every stage? That seems impossible. Also, do you actually expect people to pay $5 for a side of mashed with a piece of chicken? That is an insult - every bistro in town serves mashed with the roast chicken - and a little vegetable. Pay attention to prices - all these add-ons are way too high for your place and your location. Would only go back if I hear they have fired the chef.
(2)Adam F.
I'm giving this place three stars with a promise to come back in a few weeks/months and see if things have improved. I'll agree with lots of the comments below - this place has potential, and is well conceived, but has problems with execution. Decent beer selection, and I would definitely go back here for drinks and snacks, but the food was really hit-or-miss. The burger, which should be a star player in a gastropub, was boring as conceived and even then overcooked. Steak was pretty good, though. Staff were generally friendly, but had a lot of trouble finding (or even setting) a table quickly.
(3)Catie R.
Two experiences so far - one dinner and one brunch. Dinner was ok - my husband was more impressed with his chicken than I was with my salmon, but overall good (I was also distracted because we were sat at the drafty window & I was freezing!) Brunch, on the other hand, was fantastic. Brought a party of 10 family members on a whim and we all really really enjoyed our meals, the service, and the atmosphere (which isn't exactly easy when you're trying to please everyone from a two year old to a teenager to grandparents). My only complaint from that morning was that it seemed really loud (could have been the acoustics or all of the family). All in all, we are fans! Can't wait for the patio to open up when the weather gets better. And P.S. the best part of your visit to Canary Square is the comment book they deliver to you with your check at the end of the meal - it makes us feel good that they're collecting feedback.
(4)wendy g.
Late night dinner was delicious. The staff was friendly, service great, and the appetizers were delicious- steak skewers, deviled eggs, and pork cracklings... oooh pork cracklings!! Th main courses were completely devoured too!! That's what happens when a 21 year old soccer player eats with you! Totally satisfying. Also, did I mention that we won the Red Sox game that we watched when we ate and that we sat on the edge of the terrace so we got air conditioning and outdoor air at the same time! Great evening!
(5)JP M.
Love this place. Seriously. Love. This. Place. I recently signed the lease on a new apartment and one of its selling points was that it is exactly as far from Canary Square as my current place (aka- really close) I have done every time of day so I have had every form of the menu including the limited afternoon snacky menu and yeah, love it. The bar has yet to fail me. Awesome cocktails? Done. Great beer list? Done. Not everything on the menu is my cup of tea but I get that the world doesn't exist to constantly bend to my whims so I read the menu and order the things that sound appealing (this process seems to baffle people on Yelp) and in the year I've been going there I think I've had one thing that I didn't then go back and get again. The staff has always been great. Sometimes it's crowded but they have always done what they could to get everybody in quickly and I knew they had been paying attention when on my last trip in our waitress looked at my brother and his newly-minted wife and said "Hey you didn't have wedding rings on the last time you were in here!" Finally, a kind of weird thing I love- they do have televisions and will shows games but they have big blackboards with the beers listed on them that are often hiding the TVs. Aesthetically that makes me really happy. Looking at all the negative reviews I can only surmise that all the great stuff in JP has left people without enough stuff to complain about or something. I recommend that everybody go in, get a Basil-Grape Mojito or a one of the awesome beers on tap and a plate of the Grafton Cheddar Fries. I think it may be physically impossible to complain after consuming that combo.
(5)Joe G.
The place has a nice vibe. Very noisy and loud. Great beer selection. My group was nonplussed by the food which is odd because we're easy to please. I would prefer going across the street to Tres Gatos instead.
(3)Margaret W.
I went to Canary Square for brunch on a Sunday, and it confirmed what I'd heard: airy, pretty atmosphere, but with a focus on the drinks, not the food. Even at brunch, three-quarters of the menu we received was drinks -- not counting the separate wine/beer menu. That said, we ordered a Mimosa and it was excellent. The food was fine, but nothing to write home about: the homefries were a bit dry, but the avocado-swiss omelet was good, as the was the whole-grain toast. Another in our party ordered the grass-fed beef and liked it. Overall -- I think this would be a great place for a drink, better than for a meal. The biggest pro of brunch here is that there is no wait.
(3)Brendan B.
If this place is so eco concious, how come most of the beers are truckded in from CA and CO as opposed to getting some local stuff. I'm just saying. Not to mention, like most places appealing to arrogant hipsters, it seems that 50% of the beers are IPA's. Place is ok but none too original. Thanks hipsters. You've fuc*ed up another place with potential.
(2)Conor D.
I live right around the corner from this place, but it took a visit from the parents and subsequent promise of a free meal to get me to try it. When we arrived around 7 for dinner on a Saturday, we were told there would be a half hour wait. No biggie, we headed over to the bar and were greeted by one of the best and biggest selections of beer I've seen. A-ok by me. After only fifteen minutes, we were seated. The waitress was extremely friendly and particularly adorable. Our starter salads were brought out within five minutes and tasted great - mine had blue cheese and a nice vinaigrette dressing. We then waited for a good forty-five minutes for our entrees. Conversation during that time, by the way, was pretty difficult given the noise level. There was a near-constant freezing breeze from the front door (the table layout isn't very well-planned). The adorable waitress (why can't I remember her name??), however, apologized without any impetus for the inconvenience and offered us free dessert to make up for the wait. Nice! I ordered my burger to be cooked medium. When it came out, though, it was straight-up raw. Judging by other reviews, this seems to be a persistent problem at Canary Square. The bun, however, was delicious (I think there was some garlic flavor) and the fries were cooked and seasoned nicely. I didn't try the free dessert, but I'm told that the green tea ice cream was pretty flavorless. That falls on JP Licks, though, who supplied it. Another post, another time. Overall, I'd probably return given how great the beer selection is and how friendly the service was. But cooking a burger correctly is pretty basic stuff and the place was freezing. The wait for the food was also pretty long, though I guess not too terrible considering the time and day of the week. Oh man, Canary Square, why can't I stay mad at you?
(3)Eliza W.
outdoor seating is going off...My local Cheers in JP.
(4)Elizabeth M.
A solid 3.5, really. New restaurants should be given a 3 month grace period to work out all the kinks, in my opinion. Food has been consistently pleasing and service keeps getting better. My swiss chard salad was pretty good (bacon dressing is amazing!) and my husband liked his cheeseburger a lot. Taleggio isn't my first choice for a mac & cheese (I'll take creaminess over nuttiness any day), but it did it's job and I really enjoyed my leftovers at 1 o'clock that morning. It did seem like it took awhile to get things like drinks from the bar and water refills, but it was also pretty slammed in there, so I won't hold it against them. One of our favorite servers from the Alchemist is still there, which I'm happy about - she's great! I am very impressed with the way they've transformed the space, it feels much more open and upscale than the Alchemist ever did... but the stalls in the women's room are incredibly small. I'm 5'10" and my knees were right up against the door the entire time I was on the can. (TMI? TS.) All in all, I'm glad that there's a new restaurant right up the street. One more reason to go out instead of making myself dinner...
(4)Erin P.
Being new to JP, Canary Square seems like my kind of spot. I really really want to love this place but service is AWFUL!!! I have gone here twice and the server completely forgets about you as soon as they get you 1 drink. I have had to ask other servers passing by for another drink because on both occasions my server was MIA. I have had the steak and scallops....both EH. Steak was overcooked, asked for medium and got well done. Scallops were undercooked....I mean cold in the middle. It took almost 10 minutes to find my server to explain to her and another 10-15 mins for the kitchen cook the scallops. I love the ambience and I think that is the only thing that keeps me going back. I really wish this restaurant would get their act together and improve their service.
(2)Ana B.
The only reason Canary Square gets 2 stars is because of the great beer selection, awesome drinks and beautiful airy space. The food could use a lot of work. I've given this place many chances. It seems that the chef has good intentions - they do change the menu and some items, like the yucca fries, have gone from huge disappointment to yummy. However, most items on the menu disappoint. The french fries should be a slam dunk, but they are never cooked through all the way and could benefit from being either thinner (shoestring) or thicker (steak fries). Instead they are this weird in between that just don't work. The burger is always overcooked. Everything is undersalted. The salad is barely dressed. On the other hand, I do recommend the French Toast, the donuts, the SLT, and the meatless carbonara.
(2)K A.
Sunday brunch: Liked: - Large, cheap pile of seasoned breakfast fries covered in a poached egg and hollandaise sauce. - Two *huge* slices of corn flake crusted french toast w/ bourbon maple syrup. Didn't like: - The gf's toast tasted like a hamburger. - No brunch specials. Thought it was just ok: - Bacon bloody mary. Decent bloody mary selection, though. Would like to try the "Bubbly Mary" (Prosecco and house bloody mary mix) or the "Beer Bloody Mary" (Allagash White and house bloody mary mix). Overall: - For a place that isn't even a year old, they're doing ok. I could eat the french toast and breakfast fries for brunch on multiple occasions and be bloated and happy. Also, they had Old Fezziwig Ale on tap during the holiday season. Mmmm, ale.
(3)Paul G.
This place is great, I think worth 4 stars. Service can be pretty slow at hectic times, but that's the food service industry. They have a great drinks list and their mixed drinks are pretty good. I've been here for brunch and now, dinner. Dishes are hit or miss but seem to be cooked with care - you may not like your dish simply because it's not your taste. Portion sizes are a little smaller than I hoped for, but that's not a tragedy in obese America. Staff is real nice and they give you a little book with your check to write/draw comments. Overall, I suggest you go here for food, drinks, snacks, at any time of day. 4 stars only because I'm not WOWed, but I'm definitely satisfied.
(4)Julie M.
My husband and I visited Canary Square for the second time last night. I was hesitant to go again because all the Yelp reviews are terrible. But our first visit was good, so we went again. Canary Square has a great vibe to it. The beer selection is great too. My husband had the half chicken again and was not disappointed. It's pretty delish. I tried the scallops and while the presentation is great, this tasted like I was eating a salt lick! Seriously, my lips were shriveled by the end of the meal. We finished with the banana and nutella crepe which was good. The service was pleasant enough but a smile can go a long way. Bottom line, we'll go back but I'll probably stick with the chicken.
(3)Meena M.
I am so surprised by all the negative reviews here on yelp! I have visited Canary Square twice now. First for drinks and appetizers and second for dinner with my friends from New York. When I went for drinks and appetizers, I tried their mac and cheese and the brussels sprouts dish, which were both delicious. When I went for dinner, the two New York friends who came with me both work in the restaurant industry in Manhattan and work for one of the most high-end restaurants, and they loved the food! We had the skirt steak, which was amazing. The fries with cheese on it were dangerously yummy too. My husband had the burger and loved it. The only thing we thought was mediocre was the vegetable lasagna. It wasn't bad, just ok. The atmosphere in the restaurant is very nice and the servers we had were pleasant and quick. I actually liked the food and beer collection at the Alchemist too, but didn't like the atmosphere. The music was usually too loud, and it was so dark inside. This place is a big contrast, they did a really good job with the decor. This place looks much bigger! Maybe you have to choose the right dishes for this restaurant. But so far I was happy with everything I had.
(4)rik r.
Very good! much better than the alchemist * great food YUM! Just had the salmon with mussels and sausage .. well although the cheese fries were way too heavy for an app - I was was too full to really enjoy the salmon. amazing great service- A+ in fact for service! I am thrilled that it is here - really raises the charisma of this part of JP. and with whole foods coming , really catapults this part of JP from the sketchy edge to a destination location. a little bit of room for improvement - better selection of draft brews - it seems like that huge bar is going to have more drafts, but dissappoints. More interesting lager and pilsners - not the heavy ales! a bit loud, they need some acoustic materials to soften the elevated din of other conversations and music. Would be fantastic to feature the work of local artists THAT would make it a real JP signature spot and soften the "corporate" feel ! Comfier seating would be an improvement- the Alchemist did have more comfortable booths, maybe a wall of banquette rather than the hard metal chairs They could use some more visual interest to break up the cavernous large room, the high top tables on the bar side do that somewhat, but they need more high sculptural elements to fill the emptiness of the room's middle - maybe some cool stuff hanging down from the rafters - or eccentric sculptural ornament that connects the place to JP's unique arts culture - and doesn't seem quite so "back bay" and commercial * ( The alchemist was good, but disjointed and didnt seem to know what it wanted to be - too much a music venue and the dining room seemed like an after thought )
(4)William W.
I have to say that on this occasion...Yelp you failed. We went on a Saturday night around 7:00pm, got a table after twenty minutes and had an absolutely delicious meal. I had the mussels as a entree, the boyfriend had the pulled chicken, and we split a mac & cheese side portion as an appetizer (which I highly recommend because the mac and cheese is so good, but may be a bit much as a full meal...lots of cheese and cream going on.) Our waitress was a riot, and you can tell that the whole staff is still really excited about the new venture. I can't wait for summer to come, as the waitress said that they're expanding the outside seating compared with what existed at the old restaurant. I would definitely recommend trying this place out.
(5)Steph B.
Horrible brunch. Sorry Canary Squ, it's so sub-par I had to write this review. Not only is the menu extremely limited (and a bit overpriced), with NO veggie substitutes for the meat you put in every dish, the food just wasn't good. BREAKFAST IS NOT HARD TO MAKE WELL, but somehow, for you guys, it is. I made 2 brunch visits in hopes I simply ordered wrong the 1st time, but alas, today's meal was worse! The Frittata was more like a quiche, and was dry - seemed like it had been sitting around all morning then fried in a pan before serving to me. I ordered TOAST and got 3 small pieces of OILED bread put on the food grill, so it tasted awful. Really? You can't make simple toast? I think they're trying too hard to be original - honestly, it's breakfast! It's a straight-forward meal. No excuses for it to be bad. Also, their bartenders are not friendly - I've been many times and have yet to have one engage in any kind of social exchange with me...booo.
(1)Shawn F.
First week open I expect that there will be some settling in for the staff and kitchen. Overall a very nice opening week from a customer perspective. Food is excellent, great beer selection but only one complaint at the bar..... 6.42 for a 16 ounce pint of Guinness??? That is more expensive than downtown and not even a proper 20 ounce glass! two of the best pints in the city are $5 and $5.50 and are a proper 20 oz. Looks like I'll keep my beer drinking elsewhere and this will be a food/apps place. Place looks great, very nice staff, and comfortable to boot. Will be back and looking forward to exploring more of the menu.
(4)James T.
Just had drinks and apps during the football game. Busy and had a fun buzz about the restaurant for opening weekend. Everyone raved about the food they were eating and the burger looked phenominal. They were the best cheese fries I've ever had, yes gourmet cheddar cheese fries. 30 beers on draft all around 5 bucks. Great lighting and interior design. Felt like a nicer mission bar and grill without the college crowd of mission hill. Finally a nice bar to enjoy in jp right on centre street. Welcome to the neighborhood! Ps. The cocktails will knock you on you ass!
(4)Fiddos J.
Nice beer selection and good atmosphere. Esp. their patio is great in summer. The food though is fairly underwhelming. It's been three times now that I (or friends) have received food that was undercooked. They seem to have particular trouble cooking their roast chicken half all the way through. And there is nothing more unpalatable than raw chicken breast.
(3)Christina R.
how disappointing. came here for a nice night out with the roommate. portions left something to be desired - so I would say it was not worth the price. Roommate got some kind of beef skewers, but the sauce for it was overwhelmingly salty and smoky she just didnt feel like powering through it. the ambiance was nice though, its kind of a cool space with wood, metal and glass. very open and airy atmosphere. i would not come back here, it's simply not worth it
(2)Karl R.
Very good place! About time JP got a fun, chic place (and can hold more than 30 people) to call it's own. I would like a bigger menu with a few more choices, but otherwise this will become a regular place.
(4)Gail L.
We tried to go here a week after they opened...50 minute wait..so we left. Last night we tried again...and it was worth the wait. We got seated in 1 minute, had our drinks in 3, and our orders taken by a very friendly waitress. Pickles were served as a free app. Mussels arrived with a large plate of steaming hot fries on the side. I'd read a lot of negative reviews of the mussels, well, they were wrong! They were great! The fries were a little over salted, but we couldn't stop eating them anyway. Food arrived shortly thereafter, Pulled chicken sandwich and fries for him, (he liked it) vegetable lasagna for me (no noodles, just stacked vegetables...I was warned) in a homemade marinara sauce. It had a smoky flavor. Seemed to include eggplant, onion, zucchini, sweet potato and mushrooms. We had bread pudding with red velvet ice cream (from JP Licks)...easily enough for us to share, and coffee. Also, 3 drinks...check, $77.00, not bad at all. Brunch starts in 3 weeks...yeah! We'll be back.
(4)F C.
I've patronized Canary Square approximately four times over the past two months and have had, on the whole, positive experiences. Pros: I found the service to be decent, if not better than some other American casual restaurants. Given that the ownership also owns Common Ground in Allston, one would think that the experience would be underwhelming - not so. I would describe the atmosphere as upscale but more for dates/people flirting/socializing with a group. My favorite has been the SLT (Salmon, Lettuce, Tomato) with greens as it is reliably quick. I've also had the burger, bbq chicken sandwich (or some variation), and steak. The prices for the sandwiches are about market rate; the entrees are smallish for the price but it's the new "JP" so what do you expect... The kitchen is also open late enough for the neighborhood. The tables are large and there doesn't seem to be excessive wait times unless you go when everyone in the non-profit world spends their paychecks on wine and some apps and lines up for this place. Cons: I would say it can be loud sometimes. If you order take out, you must go to the bar for payment and takeout, and a few times, also to order. This seems counterintuitive with what looks like a POS unit at the host's station. There was a local area resident that provides free entertainment (read: a drunk that people know/see often) that I've seen before, and I was amazed that he wasn't spotted earlier in the evening. I ended up sitting next to him at the bar unknowingly. I think the waitstaff/barstaff will figure this stuff out, but they've only been open a while, so this isn't as much of a big deal if Canary Sq was open for a year at this point.
(3)Cee E.
So, I really wanted to love this place. i really did! But, alas, after a few more visits to sample some entrees - I haven't been impressed with the food any time. I still enjoy the drinks, so maybe just grab a drink in there if anything.
(2)Anne M.
So excited to have Canary Square in the neighborhood. It's been sad to have a restaurant space within walking distance closed for so long. I wasn't sure what to expect, given the huge range in reviews that are posted, but all in all it was great. Rather than relive the whole experience, I'm just going to do a good and bad list. Things that were not so great: -Women's bathroom stalls are TINY and the one I happened to go in had no toilet paper. -We sat at the table closest to the door, next to the garage door. The garage door was definitely letting cold air in and it was chil-lay when someone opened the front door. And that's only going to get worse...Maybe some sort of curtain or something, please? -Popcorn of the day was okay, but basically was just popcorn with a drizzle of honey mustard. -A friend got the mac 'n cheese, and while it was good, it was unimpressive both in size and taste, especially for $15. -Cheesy fries. Fries covered in cheese are never "bad" but I wished there had been some chives or bacon or something. -Deviled eggs. Would have loved a warning that they are sitting in olive tapenade. -Someone took away my water glass before the end of the evening, which was disappointing after my cocktail was gone and I still wanted something to drink. Things that were awesome: -They took my cell phone number instead of giving me a buzzer while waiting for food. That meant we could head to the Behan for a couple beers instead of having to force our way into the crowded bar. -Our server. She was the right balance of friendly and professional, and was speedy and efficient in all ways. -Speed. Ordinarily I wouldn't comment on this but so many reviews talked about the long wait for food but we had absolutely no problems. -The drinks. A very impressive draft beer list, and wonderful cocktails. Highly recommend the Centre Street. -The pulled chicken sandwich. I almost asked if they could give me a side of the BBQ sauce to dip my fries in. (the burger was really good too) -Butterscotch bread pudding was delicious. -They give you the bill in an adorable little journal that you can write in. The only thing that sucked about it was that people wrote about things that weren't on the menu any more that we wanted to try! The not-so-great list might be longer but the good definitely outweighed the bad, and we will definitely be back soon.
(4)Valerie D.
there is a lot to be said for a good bathroom in my book. new, clean, modern. thank you canary square for paying as much attention to detail in remodeling the ladies (and assuming mens) room as you did to the rest of the establishment! this was my second visit, sat at the bar. just ordered drinks and an app with the hubby' and everything was lovely! our bartender was very friendly and informative about the beer and wine selection. we will definately be back for dinner!
(4)Eva K.
Beautiful renovations!! Just went here last night and it was packed. Waited for a table at the bar and had great service on all levels. Great hostess, great bartender, great waitress, excellent cooks. The meal was fantastic and fresh.
(5)John P.
I just went to this place for the second time last night, the first time being their Opening night, and I was overall very impressed. There are a few things that I am sad about having lost the Alchemist, ie- blues brunch, the Croche Madame ( an awesome breakfast sandwich with ham and eggs over easy, in between 2 slices of french toast topped with hollandaise sauce and a side of awesome home fries, mmmMMMmmm) , and the "slightly more hip" crowd, but as a neighbor of this establishment, I also welcome the new. As for the food, I have been very impressed with the flavor of everything I have had, like the burger with great fries (best fries I have had in all of Boston), the pulled chicken sanwich, and they have an AWESOME caramel bread pudding, however, I thought the macaroni and cheese entree was a little expensive for what you get ($15 for a fairly small single-sized cast iron casserole dish of mac and cheese and ham, with a small portion of mixed greens on the plate). The service, however is IMPECABLE! Even when mistakes are made, which are to be expected for a brand new establishment, they are addressed promptly, and always appropriately compensated for. At dinner last night, our second drinks took slightly longer than they should have, but we hadn't even mentioned anything to anyone about it because we were not annoyed to that point yet, and first the Manager came over and appologized about the delay, and assured us that the drinks that were taking a little time were on the house, and then the waitress came over and told us the same thing. I would again like to stress that we DID NOT say anything to anyone about that before they notified us that the drinks would be free. To top it all off, when we were done with dinner, and had walked out the door, I had forgotten my cell phone on the table, and the same manger that gave us the drinks on the house, came running out the door, and down the street calling out to me to give me my phone back. SUPER nice! So overall, even though I think they still have a little work to do with the menu and portion sizes for entrees and such, I think this new establishment is shaping up to be a great addition to the neighborhood. I look forward to returning here time and time again in the future. I hope to see you there!
(4)Althea D.
I had dinner with a friend at Canary Square about a week after they opened. They were surprisingly busy considering it was a weeknight and they were a brand new restaurant. Diners who arrived after us had to wait for a table. On the plus side, all of the food we ordered was very good, our waiter was fantastic, the place has an incredible atmosphere that sure beats out the Alchemist, and there's a lengthy and diverse beer selection. We ordered the deviled eggs and cheesie fries for our apps and both were terrific. I had the mac & cheesie w/ bacon for dinner which was a little strange - it had an odd spice mixed in. My friend had the pork choppy which he really liked. I also ordered the deep fried twinkies for dessert - if you haven't had those before, they taste a bit like fried dough and the filling inside melts into the cake. My one gripe with the restaurant is that the menu overall seems uninspired. Although I'd go back, I'm not in any rush as there weren't any items on the menu that I'm dying to try. Hopefully they'll continuously change the menu in the future.
(4)Carol M.
Beautiful loft-like feel of a converted firehouse. Needs sound proofing...so loud I can't hear others at my table speak. I have a friend that lives nearby & always wants to go here. I've been here 3 times. I hate this place personally. The service is horrible, though seems more a function of management than the servers. They have this weird system of having one or two hostesses, one waitress to take your order, & a kitchen runner to bring you your food & maybe bus tables. My friend is handicapped & has food allergies. Once she went the re alone & they tried to put her @ a high cafe table-not cool for someone with balance problems! Also, I was there when she was inquiring about food ingredients. The server looked at her as if she were crazy...there was lots of awkward silence, & finally w/some urging went to check w/the kitchen. We always wait 45min to an hour to receive our food after ordering. We often saw others that got there after us receiving their food before us---me thinks there's a kitchen issue here. There's usually something wrong or missing in our order & tend to get promises of refills that never arrive. The food...for me, they mess it up by trying to make it fancy. I've had the mac&cheese--super greasy w/weird flavor. I didn't care for the ziti & meatballs--I expected beef not sausage..just wasn't what I wanted. The burgers & fries are good beit expensive (basic burger $10 & add $1-2/add topping (but they do offer good toppings like mushtooms & fried eggs). I had an omellette @ brunch - again, nothing special & certainly not worth waiting or paying their prices for. The menu is limited. The bread pudding is good but so sweet I felt sick. The one shining jem is their creme de luche crepes --they are exceptional (when they're not out of them).
(2)Laura C.
just had brunch at Canary Square...loved it!! everything was perfect. the hostess was very sweet and considerate of our baby when seating us. the service was excellent.. my canary french toast was incredible. we even got to meet the owner Mike Moxley! he came over to our table to check on everything and we had great conversation!! ps the coffee was outstanding.
(5)Cher D.
i have been here for the second time in the past maybe three weeks. both times were off hours: the first, 5:00 on a saturday, tonight, around 7, sunday evening. maybe that's the key: go when it's not a complete freak show and get what you really want. tonight, our server was this incredible: she was prompt, attentive, got everything right. she had a psychic connection with my husband and asked, "deviled eggs" before he even opened his mouth to speak. i. hate. deviled. eggs. or so i thought. not these. no sulfur-y aroma, no gross texture, just yummy. the mushrooms were great, the warm olives as well. bread with the mushrooms would have been nice. onto the meal. husband got the pulled chicken sandwich for the second time. it was really good. tender. infused with mustard seeds and sauce. not overly spicy, which for him, is huge, he doesn't have the cast-iron stomach i do. unlike another reviewer, would not call this bland, rather, more subtle. i like heat, didn't think to ask for hot sauce but, sayin', it wasn't my dinner. i had the burger. medium. lovely pink center. not like the "leather burgers" you can find elsewhere in jp. the fries were super good, too. nice and crisp. here's the kicker, they have home made garlic mayo. if i had less restraint i would have smothered my fries in it. i took half of my food to go (really, three snacks and and two entrees between two is perhaps too much...) and left a very happy kid, as did my husband.
(5)sara m.
I returned for my fourth visit at Canary square tonight and WOW! Such a big improvement from the first time I dined there. We went for a late dinner on a friday night-waited about 30 but had drinks at the bar in the meantime. Loved the Stony Brook, excellent beer selection as per usual. We were seated and the waitress handed us menus within a few minutes. We ordered and waited about 20 minutes, very reasonable for a packed restaurant/bar. My boyfriend had the burger and fries with added cheese sauce- he said the burger competed with 10 tables and was one of the best he had ever had. I had the swiss chard salad- HOLY COW! This was the most amazing salad I have ever eaten! It had cranberries, pecans, pulled chicken, a poached egg and wait.....bacon vinaigrette!!!! If I had to pick a last meal....this would be it! The waitress was super nice. Special thanks to Heather- the awesome hostess! GO TO THIS PLACE! EAT THEIR FOOD AND ENJOY THEIR AWESOME DRINKS!
(5)Barry L.
Went for brunch today. Planned to go elsewhere, but Acapulco was closed. This place looks nice. But you can't eat decor. 30 minute wait for my wife and son, and another 5 minutes before they remembered to bring my platter as well. And mind you, this was a sandwich and eggs w. various sides, nothing elaborate to prepare. Coffee served without cream, needed to ask. Food OK, but nothing special. Instead of chorizo sausage as described, my dish came with a kind of tough bacon with a rind that was intent on surviving being chewed. Very noisy room, not just patrons, but loud badly equalized music competing. I think their primary goal is to sell drinks; food and service ran a far 2nd.
(2)G M.
My girlfriend and I went a few weeks ago for the first time. It was a busy Saturday night so we put our name in with the hostess then sat at the bar for a few drinks while we waited. There was some miscommunication with the hostess and she accidentally gave our table away to some other people. She was very nice and very apologetic and we didn't have to wait long for another table to become available. The manager was very kind and made up for their mistake by buying us a round of drinks. That was not necessary but was a very nice gesture and a good business move because we will both be coming back again. The food was good, the drinks were a little pricey but good. The place is very nice inside and has a fun atmosphere. There were lots of people there and it just had a fun vibe. I would definitely go back again. Great place to have in the neighborhood.
(4)Hannah H.
I read quite a few yelp reviews before coming to Canary Square, and luckily none of the issues some diners have experienced happened to me! I met a friend mid-week for dinner and a cocktail and we were treated to a great meal and great service. We were seated right away by a friendly hostess and served up some great drinks. I ordered the Centre Street cocktail, very light and refreshing with an herbal-citrus flavor. I had to try the deviled eggs, which totally lived up to the comments. I also ordered the asparagus salad which went very well with the eggs. I couldn't finish my whole meal between the two dishes but it tasted so good I wish I had a larger stomach. Our server was fun and enthusiastic and all in all it was the perfect meeting place.
(4)Karie K.
I really enjoyed my S.L.T. (smoked salmon, lettuce, tomato) and gin cocktail. I will definitely go back.
(4)Leslie P.
I could not love this place more. The food is fabulous and I absolutely love the ambiance. I've been here three times now, and never had problems with the service.
(5)T C.
Went there again last night and while it was better, it could still use a lot of improvement. Our waitress was much better than last time. It wasn't too busy; there were a number of empty tables. The popcorn still tasted fairly flavorless; I won't be ordering it again. It was much less greasy though, which I appreciated. My wife ordered two of the same drink and they were fairly inconsistent, but at least the second one was better than the first. As always, the Sangarita was excellent. My vegetable lasagna was excellent as well. I also got the "on the half shell" plate of clams and oysters which was good. My wife ordered the crepe again and once again was totally underwhelmed. The first time it arrived super salty; like salt-lick salty. So she sent it back and the second one arrived was almost totally unseasoned. I wish I could rate it a 2.5. We'll try back in another month or two.
(2)Sabrina P.
I really wanted this place to be awesome. It seemed promising with an good beer selection and pretty fun menu. However time, after time, after time, after time (I definitely gave it way too many chances) - Canary Square fell short. The food is bland and unmemorable. The only saving grace was the breakfast fries during brunch - but since I've recreated the recipe at home - not really a reason to make the trek over there. I haven't enjoyed anything on the dinner menu and I've tried almost everything they offer by ordering it myself, or sampling some of my boyfriends. Each time the food fell flat. Everything is completely lacking in flavor. The service is either slow and horrible or rude and horrible. The bartenders aren't the friendly helpful bartenders you'd expect at a place with the vibe they try to create. My boyfriend ordered a beer and the bartender dropped off a glass almost completely filled with foam and walked away without any explanation. When we complained about the lack of beer and he commented that the keg had ran out, took the beer away, didn't ask my boyfriend what else he would want, and then didn't even take it off the bill. The waitresses are either super overbearing and awkward or wear an invisibility cloak until it's time to pay the bill. I'm the last person that usually complains about waitresses and always give them the benefit of the doubt, but the staff at Canary Square could use a few lessons in how to serve a table. Overall it's not the super great place you would think walking in. Instead they clearly gave more thought into fooling everyone with the decor instead of wowing everyone with the food and service.
(2)Sydney M.
I don't care what you say, other Yelpers. I went to Canary Square in spite of your awful reviews, and I liked it. Most of it, anyways. There are 2 areas I need to comment on: Service- not so great. I was at Canary on a Sunday night at 8:30ish and it was busy, but not crazy. It took our waiter a while to accomplish tasks like bringing drinks, bringing condiments once we had started eating, etc. In fact, I'm pretty sure my fiance had finished his meal by the time the waiter checked in with us for the first time after our food was delivered. He was waiting on a few other tables of 4 who, looking at their tables, I could tell were going to have a much larger bill than ours, so I think we were intentionally neglected. But this was a much-needed date night, so on one hand, it was nice not to be interrupted several times by waitstaff. Sometimes I prefer service like this. Food- REALLY good burgers. I don't even like hamburgers, but occasionally I crave them. Weird, I know. The burger at Canary was huge. The meat was heavily seasoned, which I'd never experienced with a burger before, but I thought it was tasty. Also, the fries were hand-cut and, although I consider myself a fan of crispy fries, these softer ones were a great compliment to the burger. And though I can't personally comment on them, my date loved his fish tacos. I'll probably return to Canary. Especially during the summer when they open their outdoor seating section!
(4)Michelle R.
solidly OK. really good veggie bean burger. the bf ordered a cheese plate,which looked weird - like the plate was way too big for an app. but the staff are nice, the wait time they give you is accurate, and the food comes out fast. THEY DON'T HAVE BBQ SAUCE THOUGH. OR HONEY MUSTARD. FAIL.
(3)Rosa S.
I want to like Canary Sq but I just am not there yet. I went for dinner when they first opened and had the mussels and wings, which were good just not good enough to return. Then tried brunch and it was wackalicious. I know I should be happy that Triple Ds is gone but I sorta miss the Alchemist. I dont drink beer so I dont care for your beer selections. The JP themed cocktails were cute. I may stop in for a drink but for food I will head on down the road to Galway.
(3)