This is a hidden jewel and so happy we found it. As small and quite as it was the food and the service made up for it. Since it was the off season for this place it didn't skimp on the food. And the service was on point also with only one server.
(4)
Jacqueline C.
Went to Masona Grill on a Thursday night with a groupon. The food were excellent. We ordered the shrimp and the lobster for appetizers. Both were kind of spicy. The designs and combinations were delicate. For the entrees,we ordered the steak,tuna and the linguini fini. All 3 were really good. I would say the tuna was pretty special. For our desserts we had the fruit vanilla icecream and a coconut cake. The icecream was fantastic! Be prepared to tip them 20%! The foods were very 'home-made' and authentic!
(5)
Stephanie S.
Highly recommend making reservation. We came here on a Tuesday night around 7:30 and the wait was 30-45min. Luckily we had reservation :) It seemed busy and short staffed but our waiter tried his best and tried to be attentive to all his tables. Owner/manager came around a few times to check on the tables as well. We got Peruvian Sampler for appetizer. It had three sauces in the middle, two of them were spicy and the other one had interesting taste to it. Pickled veggies were refreshing. Pork was crispy outside and tender inside and very flavorful. The potatoes weren't special, except the sauce underneath was also spicy. I had duck breast. It came with grilled veggies, steamed veggies, and mashed yam which were amazing. Duck was also very good, except I had couple pieces that were tough. The sweet bbq sauce went well with duck, not too strong or salty. They deep fried the duck skin which was interesting but tasty. My bf had Roasted Cod. He enjoyed it very much and didn't even leave one grain of rice left on his plate. I tried a piece, but it had too strong seafood scent for me. But if you like seafood you'll probably enjoy it. It came with mussels, shrimp, and tiny octopus. The sauce was creamy, but I forget what it tasted like... We got fruit crumble with ice cream for dessert. It wasn't special. Fruit crumble was made with pineapple and raspberries. I think it would've been better if it was a bit warmer (it came out lukewarm).
(4)
Sonia N.
Scored a Groupon so we made our way out to West Roxbury ready to be impressed by fine Latin cuisine. We liked the cozy ambiance immediately when we entered and we were greeted moments later by our cheerful server. We started off with their scallops appetizer special. Very interesting as I'm not used to having scallops prepared with so much cheese. I love cheese but in a way, it may have overpowered the natural taste in the scallops in this dish. Also different is the presentation as it was served in its shell. Moving on to our dinners, we ordered their Peppered Tuna and duck special. I didn't try the duck personally but it received good marks. As for the tuna, I may have been biased as I had tuna from another place the night before and thought it fell just a tad short. Nonetheless, nothing tasted bad at all but we couldn't say that there was one thing that stood out that was amazing. We ended our night with the house tres leches cake. It fit the sweet tooth bill but I also couldn't help but think the texture was a bit more condensed than others I have had in the past.
(3)
Fernanda P.
The food is FANTASTIC! I just love everything on the menu here, but my favorite is the CRISPY EGGPLANT ROMANA $24...Plum tomato ragu, fresh ricotta cheese, garlic spinach, shaved parmesan. The appetizers are very good as well. I love when they have coupons on groupon! I'm indeed a fan!
(4)
Tom T.
It's unfortunate to write this. I read all the other reviews and had high hopes. But from drinks, appetizers, main course, to dessert was unappealing, bland, undercooked. I have been to Peru and several Peruvian restaurants around the country. This is the worst. Don't listen to the hype of food rating channel. I decided to give this place a try after seeing it on Phantom Gourmet. This is one of the several places that was "peddled" by PG that was awful.
(2)
Melisa K.
My husband and I were looking to celebrate our anniversary with Peruvian food...this wasn't quite that (no fault of the restaurant's-they did have some Peruvian food but a range of Latin American food as well.) We were a little nervous as we drove up because it didn't seem like what we were expecting based on the yelp reviews. We went inside at 6:30 on a Saturday night and it was pretty empty, which also made us skeptical. Guess we didn't need reservations. But we were glad we made them, as we were greeted with a champagne toast for our anniversary--on the house. A truly special gesture that showed us they go the extra mile. Our waiter was friendly and knowledgeable and steered us toward the specials. We started with lobster taquitos that were delicious--really nice citrusy flavor profile. My husband had the tuna loin dish off the regular menu and it was not only beautiful but also tasty--he especially liked the shrimp dumplings and said the tuna was cooked really well. I ordered the scallops with ravioli and zucchini off the specials menu and was impressed with the seasoning and sear on the scallops. I didn't love the earthy flavor of the ravioli but everything else was great and I appreciated the subtle addition of truffle oil. We finished the meal with a pound cake with strawberry ice cream and strawberry topping. We wished they had been fresh strawberries instead but still really enjoyed it and polished it off despite being full. The meal was a tad on the pricey side but we weren't disappointed and would go again. They also get extra points for beautiful plating!
(4)
Roni J.
Masona Grill is quite a bit off the beaten path for us, living in Hanover, but we've been dining there on occasion for the last several years. First introduced to the restaurant via a discount program I had as a client of a Boston radio station, we have since visited without any discount in place and find the experience to be excellent on price/value. Never a disappointment - the food is always uniquely prepared and beautifully plated, bountiful, and the service friendly, knowledgeable, and gracious. The seating and table space can be a bit cramped on a busy night, so it's wise to request a table downstairs and out of the way of foot traffic. Dishes we have had that were swoon-worthy: duck served with heavenly mashed sweet potatoes (like sweet potato whipped cream); ceviche; just about anything else we've ordered. I'd opt for apps over salads - much more interesting as a first course. Desserts elegantly done - just enough for two to share. A restaurant that knows food and how to please customers. Five stars all around.
(5)
Marietta A.
We've been back to Masona Grill a few times, most recently this month with two other friends. Our waiter was very friendly, the owner or manager (not sure which), came by twice to see how things were. Everyone is just really friendly. The food is fantastic. For starters we had two of the specials appetizers, the Brooklyn Smoked Salmon, which was very good, and some type of peppers (I wish I could remember what they were called), were also very good. I had the arroz con pollo for my meal. It was fantastic. I find that whenever I order chicken at restaurants it's always to salty. This was not! It was perfectly seasoned. The rice was tasty, with greens on top. Overall a really good dish I would order again. Tres Leches cake to finish was just as good as it always is. Our friends also enjoyed their meals and noted that they would like to go back again :)
(4)
Vivian C.
Never been to Masona Grill before, but was led out to this corner of West Roxbury by a voucher for dinner for two: one appetizer, two entrees, and one dessert (maximum value $78). Masona Grill is located on a corner a short distance from Centre Street, across the street from the Highland Commuter Rail Station. Parking wasn't bad though the restaurant didn't have a private lot; there was street parking, a 3 hour lot around the corner, and Commuter Rail parking spots if you want to risk it after hours. Two entrances invite you into this establishment, however, only one is actually utilized - the one sans any steps and is located to the far-most right. Inside there are steps scattered about leading further inward into the establishment. Service was fine. Recommendations were offered upon my request, water refilled as needed over the meal, and sharing plates provided without any additional effort on our part. After having pointed out a bit of plastic I had discovered in a cake in order that they might have the opportunity to figure out how to avoid a similar situation in the future, when our bill was delivered, we were told that one of our desserts had been taken off the bill. That bit of thoughtfulness was appreciated. For our appetizer, I fell to the temptation that was the *Fried oysters 14. Spanish curtido and tomato remoulade. These arrived on a long rectangular plate the length of my forearm - literally; I measured it. Ten juicy, tender creatures of varying sizes set in five pairs among scattered veggies. A decent portion for two, with a rather tasty sauce - I cleaned my side of the plate with the gratis bread provided. Both entrees were selected from the nightly specials list: Seared Sea Scallops $32, wild mushroom ragout, butternut squash ravioli, truffle oil, shaved parmesan and grilled zucchini Crispy Soft Shell Crab $34, roasted sweet potatoes, grilled corn & cucumber salad and tomato aioli Of the two I preferred the pair of prime sized soft shells, refreshing corn salad and deliciously caramelized edges of the fat triple disks of sweet potatoes over the five sea scallops and three savory butternut squash ravioli. As my DC commented about the scallops - the sauce didn't do it for me. I agreed, wholeheartedly. Also, I guess I was expecting/hoping for a sweet filling in the raviolis. On the whole, however, I felt these entrees priced a bit on the high side. Their normal menu has entrees priced mostly in the twenties with only a couple at $30/31. For dessert, we opted for the Creamy Lemon Tartlet with Fresh Berries and Raspberry Sauce, and the Coconut Cake with Caramel, Whipped Cream and Toasted Coconut - both $8. The luscious coconut cake was the surprise winner in my book, but vice versa for my DC. The tart was too much crust relative to filling. While the cheesecake lower layer was an interesting surprise, the tart needed more lemon flavor overall. As an idea of their portions, we had no leftovers. I left full, yet not uncomfortably stuffed. 3.5 stars.
(4)
Anthony D.
Great decor, friendly service, meh food. We came to Masona on a groupon and when we stepped into the warm friendly restaurant we expected great things. The prosciutto salad was fine but only had one piece of prosciutto, definitely not ideal to split. My wife ordered the pork and I ordered the arroz con pollo and both were very bland. Both dishes were cooked fine, they just had very little flavor, rice included. The best thing on the plate was the carrot. Fortunately, the chocolate budino dessert was terrific. Definitely worth a try, but won't be coming back.
(3)
Ruth R.
I much prefer giving a 4 star review, but this restaurant just didn't get there. To begin with, our table in a rather empty restaurant on a Saturday night was along a wall with a line of the dark red paint scraped bare...not a good start. This was a shame as the decor was cozy and had a charming feel. We were greeted by the waiter who could not have been better..very professional and friendly. Our first course were the fried oysters that were so small that it seemed to me they were cut up and fried which of course made them dry! Three of us had the eggplant dish that had way to strong a lemon taste and was mediocre. One had the duck that he said was excellent and prepared perfectly. Desert was strawberry shortcake made with ice cream that was very ordinary and I believe the strawberries were frozen. I know that so many people gave this restaurant really good reviews and based on the duck dish they are certainly capable of putting out well prepared food, but something is wrong as was witnessed by a fairly empty restaurant on a Saturday evening. Hope they can bring it back!!!
(2)
Bryan S.
Never a disappointment, me and a group of friends had an outstanding dinner at Masona last Saturday night. We ordered the entire list of Peruvian appetizers to share, bold and fantastic flavors. Per usual, service was excellent and the entire experience was A++. This is a restaurant where you are already planning what you will order next as you are walking out the door.
(5)
Ben A.
Had an awesome date night here last weekend. We were seated at a nice round table by the window. Very "romantical" for my girlfriend and I. I started with the ceviche while she had the yucca fries. Both were beautifully presented and tasted wonderful. My girlfriend likes her yucca fries and these were some of her favorites. The spicy sauce was great. The tuna in the ceviche was super fresh and the citrus added a nice flavor For entrees I had a scallop special with mushroom and mushroom and truffle ravioli. My girlfriend had a lemon garlic chicken which she said was one of the best meals she's ever had. She can be a picky eater so to see her this happy made my night. My scallops were beautifully cooked and just perfect. For dessert we had a coconut cake and flan. A nice ending to a great night. We will be back for sure.
(5)
Madonna Y.
Love, love this place! Fabulous, continually changing seasonal menu. It is impossible to have a bad meal here. My favs are the oyster appetizers, and the duck entree. The owner is usually on hand to recommend wine, and he really knows his stuff. He is very personable and charming. Masona is named after his beautiful daughters who frequently work there. Great place for a date or special event.
(5)
Tater M.
The food here is amazing! I recommend getting the Paella which comes piping hot with grilled mussels and calamari and other yummy seafood, and the Tuna Tiradito appetizer which was very scrumptious-sesame oil/raw tuna slices. The steak was also cooked very well with a balsamic glaze over it which I've never had before- nice combination. Service was great, very friendly/efficient people
(5)
Chris C.
My dinner group came here on a Friday night at 7pm in August, 2013. RATINGS Food: 4 Service: 4.5 Decor: 3.5 Overall: 4 DINER COMMENTS (Edited for space): The food was superb; perfectly prepared and nicely presented. The coffee rubbed sirloin was fantastic - tender and flavorful. The Eggplant Romano was prepared to the perfect texture and the sauce was a fantastic compliment because it was simple, obviously made fresh and not overly spiced. The service was highly conscientious, respectful and our server made sure everyone was satisfied. I'd definitely recommend the Masona Grill and return. ------ While the space was warm and comfortable, and the service was great (including a very honest waiter pointing out we overtipped him a HUGE amount in error), i found the food was sub-par, especially for the unreasonably high (for the w roxbury location) price point. My calamari app was well-cooked, but dry and needed sauce on the side. My scallop special was just a muddy-flavored mess. ------ My appetizer of roasted peaches seemed barely cooked and, in reality, it was salad with peaches. However, my pork was extremely good. I really liked the service since the waiter did not make it all about him, never let my water never go empty, and had good suggestions. I found the overall atmosphere a little lacking, however, I'd go back for the food and service when I am in a "neighborhood" dinner kind of mood. ------ I really enjoyed this restaurant. The taquitos tasted very fresh and were well prepared. The eggplant romano was very nice - well cooked and complimented with spices. The waiter was great and attentive without being overbearing. It felt like I didn't even know that he was there but I never had to ask for anything. The decor felt very homey and inviting. This is the sort of place I may have never found considering its location I would definitely visit again. ------ My appetizer, the chicaronnes, was truly delicious. The pork had a lovely crispy texture without being too tough or overcooked. Coupled with the sweet glaze, watermelon, and onions, I was truly excited about the food this place had to offer. When my entree arrived, I have to admit that I was a little confused. My entree was so over-salted that I really should have sent my dish back. Ultimately, I was disappointed in the food because the appetizer was so great, and my entree really brought that down. The server kept glasses filled, and was very attentive. Overall, if I find myself out that way again, I'd definitely consider giving [it] another shot. With a stellar appetizer and good service, this place easily has a leg up on a good number of Boston restaurants. Work on the consistency of the quality of the food, and I would easily make this a destination restaurant. ------ The stuffed poblano peppers were cooked perfectly, and the stuffing was a great balance to the moderate heat the peppers have, and I enjoyed the presentation. The Lomito Saltado reminded me of being back in Peru as it was prepared traditionally, but with quality ingredients. [The] Lomito Saltado...was a $17 dish dressed up in a $27 dish's clothes. There was nothing remarkable about the dish, but it was tasty, satisfying - extremely simple. Although our waiter forgot my drink he managed the group well without being flustered, was attentive, and fairly quick The decor was fine - warm and inviting. ------ Our waiter was great. He made sure to get us drinks right away, had great food and wine recommendations. Decor was cute, clean. Pass on the sangria (just wine with fruit, missing those beautiful cinnamon-y spices) and go for their well mixed cocktails or something off the Spanish-inspired wine list. My appetizer of semolina crusted oysters was DELICIOUS: very light despite being fried. The scallops were cooked beautifully but I basically ate them off of all the other stuff on the plate. I would go back if in the neighborhood for the cocktails, appetizers and [dessert]. ------ I was impressed by the quality and flavor of my dishes. However, my quest for the most perfect fried calamari continues. [The] breading was nice, with a light coating, the calamari itself was not that sturdy. The paella was flavorful and rich; impressive. It was serendipitous to come across a restaurant by a suburban commuter rail, so I think that imbued the experience with a bit of charm. I was surprised by the prices at the end, however. I would be interested in coming back again if in the neighborhood to sample some more items. A nice find off the beaten path. ------ I started with the prosciutto and mozzarella salad that was perfect. The stuffed chicken statler was lacking in goat cheese & I found there to be a tad bit too much polenta. I loved the atmosphere and found it to be very cozy. The waiter had the patience of a saint and [a] swell chat with the owner close[d] out the meal. I would...come back..
(4)
Jessica H.
This place is fantastic, and everyone in Boston should try it if they haven't. It is hands-down the best restaurant in West Roxbury and both times we have gone has been very consistent in service, quality, and atmosphere. It as a menu ranging from all kinds of dishes - mollask, fish, chicken, pork, beef, etc. Each dish is unique. My only complaint is that it doesn't usually list a vegetarian or vegan option but they make the most amazing and filling veggie dishes! I just wish they would advertise it, because I think it does them a great disservice. More folks would go there if they knew they could get a good dish. We aren't talking a crappy pasta or dry veggie burger dish. I'm talking about fresh veggies, full of flavor, and PROTEIN. The first time we went was New Years 2012-2013. We had no reservations and knew the place would be packed but we decided to take a chance and it was well worth it. They were able to squeeze the 2 of us at the bar. My boyfriend got steak for an entree I think and oysters for an appetizers. He enjoyed both of them. I asked about a vegan entree and they made me this awesome mashed lima bean dish with veggies and a mushroom gravy. The 2nd time we went (last Friday night) we again had no reservations because they weren't that busy which is a bummer because the place is great and I want them to get a lot of business. My boyfriend got the cod (which he said was good) and I asked for another vegan dish and this time they brought out this incredible veggie dish - consisting of zucchini, garlicky spinach, asparagus, and other veggies over a bean stew. It was a lot of food - I wasn't able to finish it so I took some home. The also serve you bread with your dinner. I got a house sangria which was good but I wish it had some fruit in it besides oranges. The chef there is great, he/she's obviously more than a cook and really knows his/her food and gives a lot of creativity for his/her dishes. I am so impressed they are always able to give me such a hardy dish and it comes at no problem. It's also cool that both times have been a great success. I was worried after having such a great experience the first time, that a second visit might ruin my memory. But I was proven wrong when the 2nd time was just as good! Just put "vegan option" on the menu!! The location is a little hard to find, it's not on Centre St but just off it near the Commuter Rail station and parking lot.
(5)
James C.
Went there again this past Friday night. I can honestly say that I've never had a bad meal there. My dining partner and I shared two appetizers: the ceviche which was deliciously tangy and the grilled mussels ( the broth was so scrumptious that we sopped it up with the crusty bread. My partner had the Patagonian Seafood Stew which was loaded with all kinds of fresh seafood including mussels, littlenecks, calamari and crab. I had the seared tuna which was cooked to perfection. Manny came by and I thanked him for keeping the Tank 7 farmhouse Ale on the menu. He recommended the Spencer Trappist Ale and he even brought me over a sample to taste before I ordered it. He was very congenial and our server Gina is just the best there is! This place is a hidden gem. I don't have to drive all around the south end looking for parking nor do I have to drive all the way to Provincetown to go to the Mews. Just a great overall experience. Thanks.
(5)
Paul X.
Tucked away in a residential West Roxbuy neighborhood and by the Highland stop commuter rail, I never would've known about this place had it not been for my colleague who told me about it. A few days after our discussion, a Groupon came out for it. "Fate", I thought, as I clicked "buy". I put it aside and decided to use it for a night where I wouldn't have time or didn't want to cook. It being in a neighborhood with not many businesses around it, we found parking right in front of the restaurant on a Wednesday night. If you have trouble seeing in dim light, be sure to have a flashlight application on your Smartphone...you may need it. It's dimly lit with its brown decor, but it's a rather homey room you are dining in - almost like a big living room (with a small bar in it). Quite comfortable, really. I always love scanning the restaurant's menu online (or checking out Yelp reviews) before I head to a place to see what's on the menu / what people recommend. As soon as I saw paella on their menu, I knew what I wanted. It was delicious! And it came out *piping* hot - so it gave me some time to de-shell the mussels and peel the shrimp in the dish and mix it around for a bit. The seafood (including calamari) in the dish was wonderfully fresh and the meal was very nicely spiced. The presentation was nice, and without a doubt, was the highlight of the evening. Before that wonderful entree, the hubby and I went for the Peruvian Sampler appetizer, which included yucca fries and a robust king prawn for each of us, some veggies and three different kinds of dipping sauces. We finished off with a desert - it was a special they had for the evening - a chocolate stout cake with mascarpone whipped cream in the middle of it with chocolate drizzle. It was rich and very tasty. Our server, Brandon, mentioned they have a pretty creative pastry chef. Speaking of Brandon, thanks for the good service - friendly, personable, and when I asked him "what's a good wheat type beer you have?" He mentioned a "Spencer", which apparently, according to spencerbrewery.com is the first Trappist beer brewed in the United States, and local - Spencer, MA. It was a great suggestion. I'm going to have to look for it at my local packie. The rest of the crew there was nice - we felt taken care of there, as the manager came by to see how we were doing (always a nice touch, I think). And if Brandon was busy and we needed something, another server would come by and help. Is it overpriced? I noticed a couple of reviewers here that think it is. Was the sampler/appetizer overpriced? It was good, but yeah, it was a bit, I think. That paella sure was worth the $30 I plopped down for it, though. It would've been $120 had we not had the Groupon - one (pricey) app, two phenom paellas, a nice desert, two cocktails and a beer. Overall, I don't think it's really that all unreasonable considering 1.) you would probably pay the same in downtown Boston if not more and 2.) this place was better than some of the more expensive places I've been to in Boston. I wouldn't turn away an opportunity to come back here again if someone in my social circle was interested.
(4)
Arthur D.
The only reason why I give this place a 3 instead of a 5 is because of our last experience there. We had excellent food & excellent service, it was only until when we were leaving that a problem occurred. We used a Groupon and spent an additional $60 on food and drinks. We tipped the guy $10, when we did that he gave us a concerned face and walked away. I went to the bathroom and my wife can see the waiter was complaining to his boss that we didn't tip him enough for one hundred and ten dollar bill. The boss came to us and asked us if we didn't like our service and the food, we said yes we loved it and she said so why didn't you give him more than $10 and we just looked at her where it walked out. Usually tip more but it was my wife's birthday and I already spent money on gifts and other things planned for that night, but that doesn't change the fact that it was brought up to us . and because of that I would never go back even though the food and the drinks were superb.
(3)
East Coast C.
WOWIE! Sublime food and service! I just love everything on the menu here. The appetizers are so wonderful sometimes we just order several and have them as dinner. The owner and wait staff are gracious and very knowledgeable about wine and food pairings. And the specials are heaven. This place is a hidden gem!
(5)
Chas K.
I've driven by Masona more times than I can count, but stopped in last night around 8 p.m. for the first time. It looks like a place where you can sit at the bar sipping a beverage and noshing on a few small plates. That's not the case. First, there's not a dedicated bartender. It appeared to me that two waiters shared responsibility for taking care of patrons at the bar. The restaurant was packed. Judging by the dishes continually coming out of the kitchen and the frantic waitstaff, everyone was seated at once. My wife and I grabbed seats at the bar. The server asked if we were having dinner and I told him just drinks, maybe an appetizer. He seemed disappointed, dropped drink and food menus in front of my wife, and told us he'd be back. We eventually got to place an order for drinks and calamari salad. My wife liked her cocktail - made with Bourbon, honey and lemon - and my first beer, a Blue Hills Red IPA, was great. My second draft, Mayflower Golden Ale, was insipid; barely better than a Corona. The calamari salad ($11) lacked the mint listed in the ingredients, had just two tiny capers, and very little lemon juice. There was too much fresh oregano, an ingredient not listed on the menu. The olive oil was high quality. Overall, it wasn't the experience I'd hoped for. The staff was clearly harried and we felt like an afterthought, but I'll give them another shot. The dishes I saw come by looked excellent and the menu has a unique character and is well-composed. Let me know what you think of this review by clicking a button below. Thanks.
(3)
Kevin M.
This is the best restaurant to take a date or to have a conversation in the Boston area. Incredible food. The ambience is warm and inviting.
(5)
Gigi M.
I had been to Masona once before my most recent visit, and all I really recalled from the first time was feeling like it didn't live up to the hype or the prices. But a friend wanted to go, and I thought I should give it another shot, so we went. I love the velvet curtains as you walk in and think the physical structure of the place is cool. That's where the positives end for me, though. Masona's website says there are "huge, vibrant" oil paintings on the walls. I only noticed one really, which was of a nude woman, and it just made me uncomfortable. imo displaying nude art is creepy to begin with, and in this case the nude seemed like a tasteless juxtaposition to the photos hanging nearby of the owner's three daughters as young girls. Just weird and offputting. The second negative for me was the serving station near the host stand. It was messy-looking and there was a wrapper or something on the floor in front of the station, which made the whole area look kind of dirty. So right away I was not really excited about this place. But we were seated right away and our waitress was really sweet. She was very warm and didn't seem annoyed that we weren't drinking that night, which I was glad about. Not as much fun not to have a drink, of course, but I was happy later when the bill arrived that we hadn't had alcohol. The bill was more than high enough as it was. We were given bread from Fornax in Roslindale Square which was very good. I ordered the quinoa and corn cakes appetizer and the rainbow trout. I make quinoa at home and was interested to see how a South American chef would prepare it. My friend ordered a Caesar salad and the surf and turf. The quinoa cakes were disappointing. Only two small cakes, lukewarm, served with salsa that was okay, but a cilantro pesto that was surprisingly bland. The Caesar salad was good. The rainbow trout was excellent, although the potatoes it was served on were too salty. My friend said the surf and turf was good too, although the meat was a bit dry. We asked for a dessert menu, which a male server brought over, but we waited so long for anyone to take our dessert order that we decided to skip it. We were also both feeling really cold towards the end of the meal, which was strange, since the waitress had said we were right over the heating vent. I really want to love Masona. It's near my house and I like supporting local businesses (although I admit I wouldn't be there very often anyways because of the prices), but between the creepiness factor, the uneven quality of the food, and the high cost, I have absolutely no desire to go back.
(1)
RoslindaMal E.
After reading all the wonderful reviews here on yelp I was really looking forward to eating at the Masona Grill. With that said, I have to say I was not impressed. While the service was good (although the owner came across as being a bit gruff) and the beer (Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale) was good, I felt what I ordered (Starter: Imported Prosciutto, Entree: Chili Rubbed Hanger Steak) was bland. I probably will not go here again.
(2)
Mike S.
Hidden gem in west rox! Food was fantastic and wait staff was so friendly and attentive. I will be returning again
(4)
Tim B.
This place keeps getting better and better. They define unpretentious. I've never eaten at a restaurant that is so consistently good. Most friendly service I've found in all of Boston. Standing ovation to Manny and crew.
(5)
J. N.
Went to Masona Grill to celebrate a bday last night. Reservations were made, informing the person on the phone that we would be using a Groupon and were told no problem. The date was given - apparently neither us nor the restaurant realized it was during restaurant week when Groupons are not allowed. We informed our (nice) server that we'd be using the Groupon to which he replied, no Groupons during restaurant week. We let him know that we'd called to make sure, made a reservation for that particular date (their responsibility to inform us that it would not be allowed). We asked if we could just use the purchase value of the coupon as it was set to expire before the end of restaurant week - he was vehement that we could not. We would simply lose our money. We asked to talk to the owner. The owner REFUSED TO COME TO OUR TABLE. Before this, we might have stayed understanding there was a miscommunication. But a small business owner who refuses to speak to customers? As a person who works in client services every day, this is just suicide. We paid for our drinks and left never to return. We went 3 miles away to the FAR more customer-oriented Aquitaine (which btw is the best restaurant for miles anyhow).
(1)
VKR N.
Unbelievable food with unbelievable service in intimate, down-to-earth surroundings. Tucked away in a corner of West Roxbury, Masona Grill is a find and I can't believe that more people don't know about it. We went on a freezing Wednesday night, hungry and stressed, and we left happy and full. When we stepped into the place, I didn't necessarily think we were in for a gourmet evening, as Masona Grill is small and looks like it would serve burgers and pizza instead of high-end contemporary food. One look at the menu and I was impressed already. But of course, what sealed the deal was the quality of every dish we ordered, both in taste and the beauty in presentation. I had fish and duck, as well as a duck appetizer, and closed with a fig-almond chocolate torte. We cleaned our plates. The fish was extraordinary, tender and flavorful, surrounded by crisp veggies and some grains -- I asked for a spoon to finish off all the sauce, that's how delicious it was. And the duck was succulent, not greasy, not overcooked -- perfect, with a subtly sweet sauce that was decadent. We loved the meal! Our server Scott is also probably the best server in Boston. I have never been to a restaurant where I received service as attentive, anticipatory, and friendly (without being overly so). We had ordered a Pinot Noir from their special menu which wasn't as robust as we would have liked -- it was perfectly fine, but my partner likes richer wines. Scott must have overheard us and in passing, checked in and asked whether we wanted to replace the glass. He did so in an unobtrusive way, not blaming us, and took care of the situation by pouring a cabernet that fit the bill. He refilled water without us asking, and had that perfect touch of friendly balanced professionalism that just set us at ease. He managed the room, which got quite busy, very smoothly. Just flat-out amazing. I wish every server were like him, and Masona Grill's got quite a gem in Scott! I can't wait to eat here again, and I'm glad I found it!
(5)
Phil D.
Masona Grill is a great place with a nice menu, outstanding service, and a recently upgraded beer menu. What more could you ask for?
(5)
Matt C.
I guess I can mayyyybbeeee see why this place keeps popping up on Groupon, given that a glance at the website will reveal above-average prices at an out-of-the-way location in residential West Roxbury. That said, Masona is well worth the cost and the trip even without the online deal. The food here is excellent. Even Zagat says so, rating it a 24, i.e. "very good to excellent". I've been 3 times in the past 18 months now (each time with a different date--and yet I keep going back), and I've never been disappointed. They have a great wine selection, and they seem to keep a nice rotation of menu staples and seasonal specials on regular rotation, so you can come back to an old favorite or mix it up each time! I love the look of the restaurant, with dimmed mood lighting, excellent (albeit background) music, and a warm overall vibe. The portions, even for what they charge, are very generous and I don't think I've ever finished my entree after sharing an appetizer. The service is attentive and friendly, and they'll never rush you to order, pay, leave, etc. In short, go to Masona Grill. I've enjoyed it in the past, and I know I'll be enjoying it in the (hopefully near) future. Now I just need to find a new date...
(4)
Jessica P.
I love masona...it's a taste of down town in west rox. They always have a great menu and specials. My go to is generally the seared tuna if I don't branch out. Staff is great! It's such a hidden gem!
(4)
Tom M.
We decided to give this place another shot after a bad previous experience. It's not in the stratosphere of prices where one bad time is enough to write it off, but any place that fails so hard twice deserves a one-star review. Apparently, on the night we visited, their bread delivery was half-full of charred loaves (like black crust all over charred). A decent restaurant would have complained to the bakery, tossed the burnt bread, and if they ran out of acceptable bread, either apologize for not having bread that evening, or whip up another thing to serve as a complimentary pre-meal snack. What does Masona Grill do? They put the blackened bread in a basket and serve it. When we asked for edible bread, they grudgingly exchanged it for one of the passable ones, and put the burnt one back in the hopper for another unsuspecting table to refuse. That's just indicative of the lack of quality of this place. I ordered the steak medium rare. It arrived medium well -- bordering on well done -- and was a grainy joyless eating experience. My wife's scallops were fine, but the squash ravioli and veggies they came with were cloyingly sweet. The food is unforgivably expensive for the awful preparation. The wine list is composed of what is normally found in Blanchard's bargain bins, but marked up to $9-10 a glass. Overall, Masona Grill is an overpriced, loveless restaurant that doesn't deserve to stay in business. Boo. Don't even go with a Groupon (which we did not either time).
(1)
K R.
I had a really nice night at Masona Grill. The location is a bit out of the way of the usual West Roxbury restaurant foot traffic but this is not a negative, in my book. They are located next to the Highland commuter rail T stop. The service was great and the food was done really well. We had a groupon so we got the mussels as an appetizer. For dinner we got the duck and the steak. Everything was done perfectly. I don't usually like sweet potatoes but I thought theirs were great. For dessert we got the tres leches cake. My boyfriend doesn't usually eat anything sweet but he ate his share! I could have licked the plate- excellent! I would definitely go back. If you love beer, they don't have a huge selection on tap- it seems to be a better place for wine. I'm happy to drink either so I was not bothered by this fact. I would recommend for a romantic night out or a double date. Really good!
(5)
Kevin M.
West Roxbury neighbor restaurant. I think it's a bit pricey for the experience but the portions are sizable without being offensive. There are many gluten free options on the menu. Calamari was quite good for an appetizer. The Latin shrimp was OK; it lacked zest in my opinion. My wife really liked her soft shell crab and sweet potato fries along with a nice mango slaw. It's not something I'd venture to from my hood again, but I could see it as a solid local joint.
(3)
Jason F.
a nice little place in west roxbury. its a little tucked away, but thank God for gps. we got there around 6PM and the place was pretty empty, but we were seated promptly. for an app we got the calamari, which was great and i really liked the sauce, for the entree i got the crispy shrimp, which was also amazing. we were surprised at how big the entrees were, and very happy with them. i really liked the yucca fries, never had them before. definitely recommend this place, and the service was great as well!
(5)
Abby M.
I *love* Masona Grill. It's a Mediterranean restaurant with a heavy focus on Spanish dishes. If I were to rate each separate dining experience I've had there, I would give each one five stars. Literally. I'm almost hesitant to write this review, because it's such a quiet, undiscovered spot... but I feel a duty. The proprietors and serving staff do an excellent job and they deserve a shout-out. It's all about the food. I have a hard time ordering anything but the Eggplant Romano, but have ventured beyond it a few times and everything is amazing. It just tastes so fresh. That makes sense, since their menu changes with the seasons and they make sure they're serving things that are at their peak. If the mushroom bisque is on the menu, GET IT. Despite being a pretty quiet, mostly empty space most of the times we've come, they seem to prefer reservations. Also regarding the price-- groupons! living social! I hate to blow up my spot here, but I have never gone to this restaurant without a coupon in hand. I keep an eye out and they come up regularly. If not for that, I would probably only make it to this restaurant once or twice a year...but I would STILL go happily. Enjoy!
(5)
Emily G.
I like that this place is in our neighborhood. I also like that I had a Groupon as I don't think I would have ventured there without one (it's a little pricey for my taste) That being said, it's sooooo delicious! I went with my fiance and he had the dark chili rubbed hanger steak and I had the peppered tuna. Even though I was STUFFED after our lobster taquito (which, btw is more like a fish taco, than a traditional, fried taquito), I really enjoyed the tuna - cooked exactly to my liking. And the leek dumplings were unique and so delicious. We had the tres leches for dessert and we somehow managed to find room enough to completely finish it. Service was good and staff was attentive.
(4)
Don G.
My wife and I ate there last night. It was 'OK', not great, and certainly not worth the cost. My wife ordered the scallops and ravioli. It cost $30 and it came with FIVE (5) scallops. I had the Latin Seafood Chupe, which was good, but also expensive for what it was. I hate having to fill up on bread to get enough food. This place gives very pretty plates with very little food at very big prices. We won't be back.
(2)
Annie J.
Do not eat here. The owner is extremely rude, half their menu was not available. I am shocked someone in the food industry believes he can keep customers and speak to people like that!
(1)
Parag S.
Great, warm, cozy restaurant with a lot of character. Food was delicious - with a real latin american flair. And Manny the chef and owner is very personable. The desert - flourless chocolate cake with dulce de leche icr cream was amazing!
(5)
Paul P.
The place is a little creepy. A curtain seperates the door from the restaurant when you first walk in. It's intimate and tiny but apparently that adds to the romance as a couple at the bar was heavily involved in PDA!! As for the food, it was good. The beet salad was fresh and tasty. The eggplant dish was rich, tasted great, and went well with the shrooms and fresh ricotta. The scallops were cooked just right and not at all fishy. The bottle of wine was 40 bucks but at Gary's on the parkway it was 12 bucks. Kind of insane I'd say. The price is a bit outrageous but this is, as they say, fine dining.
(3)
Sarah S.
We just had a lovely meal - exquisitely spiced and presented food with friendly service. The seared scallops with squash ravioli, green beans, asparagus, carrots and mushrooms was an amazing and complete meal - a tasty melange. The 5 spice duck with duck confit dumplings had a wonderful balance. The braise pork appetizer provided individual servings of flavorful goodness that were easy to share.And the tres leches dessert is unique and rich - a great dessert to share and enjoy with coffee. Service was fantastic - helpful, present but not intrusive. Take them up on recommendations and nightly specials. And the setting is very relaxed - there was a good vibe. We recommend it highly.
(5)
Tiffany T.
Surprised with the great reviews. This place is OK. No greeting at the door before or after dining. Expensive for a mediocre restaurant. Mussels was good. Steak fritas was pretty good--have had better elsewhere. Paella was very bland and soupy--disappointing. Service was terrible. The server never came back to check on us. Water wasn't refilled until we finished our food and asked for the check. No one asked if we needed anything and/or how our food was. Overall OK dining experience. Thank goodness for the half off Boston Deal. I wouldn't go back.
(3)
Dave B.
We have never had a bad meal at Masona. We have been coming here twice a year on average since it opened. The food is good, the ambiance is good, and the waiters are very polite and friendly. It is always a lot of fun to eat here.
(5)
Vivz C.
I have been back to Masona Grill for two Boston Restaurant Weeks because I love their menu so much. Probably too pricey for me to go any other day, but when they offer you a 3 course meal for $33, you don't ask questions and seize the opportunity! Upon looking at their current Restaurant Week menu, they are still offering my favorites with some slight tweaks. Appetizer: Yucca Fries with Tomato Aioli & Pickled Onions. They basically fry the yucca root and compliment it with a tasty aioli sauce. Pretty simple (think french fries and a fancy ketchup) but oh so good. Main course: Hagar Steak w/ sides (they switch them up) and chimichurri. Masona was the first place I've ever gone out of my way to order steak and because of the quality of their food, I have been more open to ordering steak at other restaurants. And for the grand finale: Key Lime Pie. Not a fan of pie or cooked fruit (even though I know the lime is only the flavor) but I was able to nom on this like it was a birthday cake. Top quality food combined with excellent customer service makes this one of the places that I always look forward to eat at.
(4)
Connie M.
The food was really outstanding and memorable. I had eggplant entree which was fantastic, as many vegetarian-choice-on-the-menu dishes are not at other restaurants. My husband had the tuna, also amazing. Out of the way but worth the trip.
(5)
Darci K.
Bad experience I'm not sure if I'll go back. We left after drinks. We brought our kids out on a Friday night for a nice dinner with a groupon. When we let the waiter know, he said we could not use it because it was restaurant week and the time period was excluded. I guess that's fair, but who reads fine print? The restaurant was not full, but about 70% occupied. Anyway, I get that folks have to make a profit, but I think they could have figured something out. It felt negative.
(2)
Yuriy G.
I love this place! I've been here several times over the course of the last couple of years, and I have never been disappointed. From the warm staff, to the humorous manager, to the seriously delicious food (the scallop special has me tempted each and every time I go, despite the fact that I usually don't get the same thing twice). And a nice affordable wine list to go with. An excellent local spot that I couldn't recommend more!
(5)
Paul G.
Just thought I would share my comment to restaurant and their response: Comment sent: "Just thought I would write a brief note about dinner Thursday night with my daughter. While I have had very good meals in the past at the Masona Grill, Thursday night's meal was not very good. The atmosphere was very good as well as the service. We started off with a small plate of very good, artisan bread. Next we shared the lobster taquitos special appetizer and while the flavor was good, the lobster itself did not taste fresh as it had very little flavor standing by itself. I ordered the Seared scallop special which was presented very nicely but overall the dish (flavor) was also underwhelming and disappointing. The Sirloin that my daughter ordered was very bad; she ordered it medium and it came out very well done and the meat was very tough and chewy. Despite being badly overcooked, the meat did not seem like a very high quality cut of meat because even if it was overcooked it should not have been so tough and chewy if it were a high quality cut. We finished with the Carrot Cake which was very good. All in all, a disappointing meal." Response: "Good morning. I appreciate ur honesty and sorry u had a bad meal. To recap ur meal, lobster meat came that day and very fresh, as well as tge sirloin. We buy high quality food and are very proud of what we serve. You obviously had an issue with everything on your meal even after we asked you how was everything. Again sorry about ur experience and have a nice day. Sincerely Masona." I thought response was very defensive and I thought I would share it. My original email said that the atmosphere and service were very good, the bread was very good and the carrot cake was very good. I also said that the scallop presentation was very good but owner responded by saying "you obviously had an issue with everything on your meal..." I certainly wouldn't tell the owner how to run his business, but each time a customer has a negative experience is an OPPORTUNITY to turn a dissatisfied customer into a loyal, satisfied customer. Perhaps that is why the restaurant was practically empty on a Thursday evening!
(2)
Ben V.
Consistently good. Lots of attention to detail, and a diverse menu. Very good seafood, in an otherwise bland food area, you will be happy you tried it. We are lucky to have it in the area.
(4)
Anna H.
Great food, yummy beers and the server was very nice!
(4)
Katie T.
We had another great dinner last night at Masona Grill. We loved the sirloin and lobster (Valentine's Day special.) Delicious flavors, great service, cozy, warm ambience. We have not sat at the bar but it looked inviting as well. We're looking forward to our next visit.
(5)
Jen D.
Outstanding every single time. I'm not sure where to begin. The servers are down to earth and very knowledgable. You never feel rushed. The atmosphere is comfortable and romantic. If you have any dietary issues, they are so incredibly thoughtful and accommodating. I can't say enough about this place. It's in my top 5 favorite places to have a nice dinner out in Boston.
(5)
Edward C.
One of my favorite dishes to order at a restaurant is duck. Whenever I see it on the menu, I generally order it. I can't tell you how many times I have ordered duck but I can tell you the best duck meal I have ever had is at Masona Grill. The menu says it is "duck two ways" (leg confit and the breast is seared in a pan.) and it has a port reduction sauce that is fabulous. I ordered it well done and our server, Brian, (who did a great job and makes the best sangria I have ever had), said I should order it medium. He was right-on. The meal also came with sweet potato mash, which was terrific.... My wife countered with hanger steak that was tender and done perfectly, and accompanied by excellent french fries... We shared an appetizer of shrimp won ton that was very tasty and got our meal off on an excellent note...The portions were perfect as we also had room for dessert. Once again, my wife and I shared it--a key lime tart... It was an excellent meal and we can't wait to go back. Might have to wait until the fall, though, as they change their menu in the summer and duck is not featured... Only caveat is we thought it was rather pricey for a neighborhood restaurant. The meal was a bit over $90.00 (shared appetizer, two entrees, shared dessert, one drink--outstanding sangria). Fortunately, we had a Groupon which cut the price down considerably. We are going back to Masona Grill in the near future as we have recently purchased another Groupon. We had a wonderful dining experience and can't wait to go back.
(4)
Delicious M.
So we went to dinner last night at Masona, but I have been there one other time (the Friday after Valentine's day). Overall, both experiences had high points and lows. Highs: Appetizer, the pork chichrrones are fab. Sauce is awesome. Best thing on the menu. Dessert: Really good carrot cake. Mediums: The sangria, not the best, not the worst. the duck, the breast was really good, cooked perfectly, just the entire dish was a little sweet for me. The sides of mashed potatoes and squash are both great. Service: good, not crazy good, but good. Lows: My BF had a swordfish special, it must have been a bad cut of fish or something because it had some bad fat still left on it, giving it a really fishy flavor. Also the price... seriously for that price I can eat at Capital Grill in Newton. Overall, I give it a meh, some good food and bad food. Another new restaurant in boston that is over-priced for what it is.
(3)
Pamela T.
I have been to the Masona Grill a dozen or so times. I like this place, it is quirky, the food swings all over the place and the service is uneven, but I like it anyway. They have a good reasonably priced wine list and there is always one very good dish waiting to be found. Last night I had the leek dumplings. They were perfectly fried and the sauce was really good. Everything else was just OK. But I liked it anyway and I will go back.
(3)
Kristen I.
I really liked that this place has so many gluten-free options, and that they note them right on the menu. The food was delicious. I had the grilled pork tenderloin, grilled bananas, and black beans. I also had a cosmopolitan that was excellently prepared. I will be back the next time I am in West Roxbury!
(4)
Lee H.
I'd give Masona Grill a 4.5, but you've only got 5 stars, so they get the benefit of the doubt. The restaurant is tucked away near a commuter train station. We went on a Saturday, so parking was OK, but I could see people having problems. The space is relaxed and inviting. The bread basket held some of the best bread I can remember eating in a while. Wonderful. We split a salad - very fresh and nicely dressed. I had a breaded chicken dish, my wife the scallops. Everything was delicious. Something undefinable about the flavors, the "how do they do that" effect. The only disappointment was the chocolate cake dessert. Good, but not outstanding. Service was excellent. Prices are perhaps a smidge high, but the product is excellent.
(5)
Vanessa W.
The food was delicious. I had the hanger steak and it was amazing.
(5)
Jeremy B.
If my dear mother didn't have that groupon and an unused AmEx gift check lying around, I would never have set foot in here, or dropped $150. Overall, I'm glad we did. Er, I'm glad she did. Masona is one of those sort-of fancy/casual South End type of places, without the posturing, crammed into a depressing little nook of Westy. I hadn't been back there since we used to hang out at Highland Station and smoke Mahbs, pop No-Doze and gorge ourselves on White Hen's double-stuffed roast beef subs. To hear some fancy Latin American chef had picked this spot, in West Roxbury, was actually a little confusing. The setting was nice; the lights were sufficiently dim for two self-conscious folks. We had two waiters, whose suggestions both hit the mark. The yuquitas fritas, yucca fries--which taste like a potato/artichoke hybrid, are common in Latin American cooking and are often eaten with a spicy aioli, but here they sat in a cheese sauce, which I didn't care for as it had no real discernible flavor. Luckily, the fried oysters came with the same aioli that my yuquitas longed to bath in--problem solved. Now, the oysters: the waiter wasn't being hyperbolic when he said these were the best he'd ever had. The cornmeal batter was crisp, and provided a heightened contrast to the unusually silky texture of the oysters. It was like eating both a raw oyster and a fried oyster; the soft, barely discernable mouthfeel and delicious whisper of briny essence, enshrined in an inconspicuous but delicate mealy crunch. Food writing is so stupid. People who get paid for writing things like this should be ashamed of themselves. Maybe as the libido begins to wane, one finds new elements of the human experience to fetishize. Don't worry, I'm tying this all back into a grandiose statement about class consciousness, at some point. Um. The beet salad: I really didn't like the thick sludgy quality of the chevre dressing. It was as thick as cream cheese, which really isn't something I wanted on top of spinach. It didn't allow the bold flavors of spinach and the sweet, slightly tart balsamic syrup and the firm beets to meld. To reach that symphonic cross polination of gustatory blargle blargle...Meh. Shaddap. I ordered the "cassoulet", as I'd never had this classic before. I somehow missed the fact that this was, essentially, a no-holds-barred protein cage match. Lima beans, lamb, a chicken leg, AND pork belly? I dunno why. Rich, homey comfort food, but not worth what it cost, in all honesty. The waiter boasted that the lamb was good and tasted like steak. Hurr? Do you philistines order lamb, hoping that it doesn't taste like lamb? Is it so that we can say we eat lamb, we are of the lamb-eating caste, or that we are fealress jet setters, who've seen one too many episodes of Zimmern or Bourdain? Fudge that spit. I want my lamb to be lamby, grassy. I want a mouth full of wool. But this tasted like...steak. Not bah-ah-ahd (you see what I did there? I can't be helped), but ewe'd be better off with something else. The chicken leg was actually the tastiest part. Simple, cheap. But noooooo, this is America: the more varieties of protein you can fit on a plate=the more "value" the customer thinks they are getting. What I didn't get was why the pork belly, which had been crisped into chicharron (ohhhhh, yeahhh), had been stewed into a crispless, but not quite spoon-tender pork limbo. It tasted good, but was a waste. Mum, as I don't call her, had the seafood stew with lobster-saffron broth. Very nice. Nom. Fault-finding as I am, it could have been a little more diverse. It boasted a variety of sea creatures but relied on mussels--the cheapest morsels on the market. A few delectable little-necks, some squid, with some quinoa and yucca floating about the bowl; nicely done, but we felt a little deceived. It wasn't called a "mussel stew"... The cure for this negative nancy: the sangria. This was the single best sangria I've ever had, Spain, Mexico, etc. be damned. This was perfect. The right kind of fruity young wine, perhaps a tempranillo. I didn't ask, I didn't care, I will go back just to sip that with some more yucca frita. And the cake. THE CAKE! Tres Leches with caramel sauce, I fell in love. Though I'd had nothing to compare it with, and I thought I was about to have a hernia, it was absolutely worth it. My mother ordered a mountain they called carrot cake--an exceptional version. Not the usual pie-spice w/cream cheese deal; much more subtle, garnished with an un-subtle dollop of whipped cream. I don't know. This spot reminded me why I don't go out to eat often, in a way. Its all delicious, yes. But is it worth what we're spending? What justifies this being 3x the price of some of the more traditional Latin American food one can find in JP?
(3)
Soly P.
Went there on 6/21/13. Not impressed at all. Someone made a good point, why offer groupons if people are going to be treated different and poorly. First of all air conditioning is a must in a small place especially in the summer. The service was rushed and not great, the food was over priced for the amount. Will not go back and they need to stop offering the groupons or treat people better when they use them.
(2)
Dr. Juan H.
The place was warm and inviting. We were early and got a seat at the bar, and had a great glass of sangria. Once we sat down the bread was fresh followed by mussels with a great broth with a dash of heat. My steak was cooked perfectly and I tried my girlfriend's mashed sweet potatoes which were amazing. Service was great and the owner came by and made sure we enjoyed our meal. Overall a great experience and I will definitely go back.
(5)
Nina L.
Amazing dishes! Starting with the fried oysters, so succulent!!! The scallops were grilled perfectly and was an adventure to eat!!! My husband had the cod - oh my god! That cod!!! Flour less chocolate cake was fudge!! Delish dish ! All was perfect and Manny the owner, makes you feel like you are a guest in his home, so warm and welcoming. Brandon was the greatest waiter, treated you like a friend that he is happy to see!!! Loved it!!!
(5)
Robert C.
Can't complain about the quality and presentation of the food. Well balanced, satisfying portion sizes and perfectly prepared. Once inside (the location is less than spectacular) the feeling is cozy, and can be romantic depending on the table you get. My reason for not giving it the highest rating is that the pricing is well above what should be reasonable given the location (and overhead) for the restaurant.
(4)
Angela M.
Great food and amazing service. Would definitely return.
(4)
Aaron E.
Went here for the first time last week with a livingsocial coupon for half off $50 of food. The place is very cute, romantic (my girlfriend loved the indoor environment and feel of the place) and quiet. We went on a Tuesday night so it was going to be quiet anyway. Our server was very attentive to us (not the friendliest guy ever, but definitely not unfriendly) and was spot on with our food and provided what we asked for very quickly at all intervals. We had the wild mushroom bisque (which was awesome) and the lobster taquitos (I think that's what they were called - they were good but perhaps a bit too much of a weird concoction of mexican and seafood to me) for appetizers. I had the lamb shank with mashed sweet potatoes and veggies. That was a great dish. I took part of it home and it was very tasty 36hrs later. The food is somewhat expensive, so I was grateful to have a coupon with me. The wine selection is limited but good. The desert menu suited my girlfriend very well. She was happy. I'd say the best aspect of Masona is the food (very tasty) and second would be the environment of the place. It is a great place to take a date or have a quiet dinner and drinks with friends. The aspect I appreciate least would be the price. I will definitely go there again, but hopefully with another half-off coupon.
(4)
Janet F.
Surprised to see such glowing reviews as it just seemed like a mediocre place - i would have given 2.5 but gave 3 since no halfway numbers. Entering the place felt like it hadn't been updated since forever, and seemed dingy and frumpy. Food was OK but not great. We were going to order 2 appetizers but waiter told us to only order one, but the scallops were tiny and not enough for 2. As much as I love cheese, the scallops were totally overwhelmed by the pecorino romano. My seafood stew was OK but needed more depth of spices/flavors. My husband's lamb shank was better and the veggies were good, too. The server was very good; we didn't have dessert, so no comment there. The place really needs updating!!!!!!!
(3)
Joseph S.
Was pleasantly surprised by Masona Grill. Went for my girlfriend's birthday with another couple and had a great meal. We each ordered something different and while nobody was necessarily blown away by the food, everyone was very happy with their meal. Our server, Pancho, was very attentive and helpful and the owner, Manny, was very friendly. The yucca fries were delicious and a perfect accompaniment for my friend that is allergic to potatoes. Also, the space is warm and unique for the area, adding a lot to the experience. I'd recommend this establishment and go back again in the future.
(4)
bob c.
Cute small restaurant with a European feel; a series of small interconnected rooms in an older building. Good prompt service. Interesting menu with good execution. Prices higher than you would expect for the food and location; wine prices are notably high. Don't think cocktails are offered. Worth a visit; but given the high pricing not high on my revisit list.
(4)
Ian U.
I have been here many times. The wine dinners are outstanding as well as everything else on the menu. There are only a few good restaurants nearby and this is one of them. You get what you pay for so don't come here if you want a cheap meal.
(5)
Brian R.
I went here with my girlfriend last night and every part of the meal was great. Street parking was easy. While the bar isn't extensive, the selection was good quality. We had the pork appetizer, I had the duck for dinner and my girlfriend had the scallops. Everything was cooked perfectly. The chocolate tiramisu was very good, too.
(5)
Ligaya T.
Thanks to Devon and Bryan for organizing a wonderful dinner outing to this gem! The environment is very casual and comfortable. I'd suggest sitting in the window nook table if it's available too. Now that you're all situated, sip on something. My mango mojito was excellent. Our first round consisted of the chicharones, slow roasted duck salad, mussels and deviled eggs. The presentation was great and all was tasty. I would have liked a little more broth in the mussels to dunk the yummy bread in as well as deviled egg filling. The dipping sauce on the chichas was excellent, just a bit tangy. The entrees were stellar. The gnocchi was delightfully plump, fresh and moist. Blanketed in a mild gorgonzola cream sauce and topped with beets and spinach, my mouth had a party. The duck breast blew me away. Such a perfect combo of flavors from the ginger reduction and sweet potatoes. Gorgeous bok choi flower in the center. I could eat this dish until the end of time. If you'd like to gild the lily, the panna cotta is fluffy and light, and though I loved it, wasn't the tables' favorite. Everyone else attacked the blueberry torte. Didn't have coffee to end, but I can say with educated speculation that it would be rich and good cuz the place is quality like that. Come on a weeknight for friendly service and a relaxed, marvelous meal.
(4)
L M.
We recently dined at Masona on 3/31 and 4/7. The back-to-back Saturdays were due to a misunderstanding with a Living Social deal we had purchased and the dates of Restaurant Week. The owner, Manny, was gracious enough to extend the acceptance of the Living Social deals because of the way the expiration date fell with Restaurant Week and the Easter/Passover holidays. We've dined here about 5 times now, and every time we get the mussels for an appetizer. These are a must-have and are totally addicting. Do not let them take your plate away until you've been able to dip your bread in the delicious broth! Entrees are a little pricey, but very different than anything else offered in the area. Manny always seems to recognize us and greets us like regulars. Service is OK...not the best I've ever had, but not the worst either. If you're looking for a unique night out in a cozy, neighborhood setting, then Masona's your place!
(4)
Melissa D.
Masona Grill is a convenient location for commuters who want to grab dinner since it's right across the Highland commuter station. I have been here a few times and I have had ok experiences but nothing that blew me away. The Argentinean Hangar Steak was somewhat good but they have gotten my steak temp wrong twice. The paella is my favorite on the menu, the spices and the chorizo! I'm so excited there is chorizo in this area so I don't have to travel all the way to the Newport/Fall River area for come classic chorizo dishes. Service is very friendly but this is not a fast paced restaurant.
(3)
Holly M.
What I liked, the atmosphere, the service, the wines. What wasn't so thrilling...the parking and the dining room split. Still a very enchanting little spot tucked away from the hustle of Centre Street. I mean really tucked away, I almost couldn't find it. Side note, you can park on the side street to the right of the restaurant. The coffee rubbed steak was a little on the rare side when I asked for medium, but there was so much that I was able to take it home and cook it a little more the next day. My husband really enjoyed his roasted chicken dish. We did use a groupon, but since we are moving to the area I know we will be back. I'd like to try out the bar area and see what is up the stairs. I couldn't tell from where I was seated what was up there. :)
Major disappointment. We went there on a Saturday night (half empty restaurant -- should have been a clue). The service was downright awful. Clueless waitress and food took forever to come (we noticed others having the same issue). The salad was mediocre -- no better than could have been put together quickly at home. The bread was hard and cold. I had the salmon; I usually love salmon, but this was a bad piece and the spices were tasteless. Atmosphere depressing; reminded me of a rundown pub trying to make more money on fancy food (like when Moe's Tavern tried to go upscale on the Simpsons). The saving grace of the meal was my GF's tuna, which was good. Still, the entire experience was a downer.
(2)
Daniel H.
West Roxbury can hardly be described as a epicurian's dream town, but it certainly has it's gems. Masona Grill is one of them. The only reason why Masona couldn't pull off the fifth star is because it simply didn't have the Wow! factor. All in all, the restaurant was superb. The atmosphere was very nice, and the location is a little shady since it is tucked away by the commuter rail tracks about a a block away from West Roxbury's main drag. Don't get me wrong, but that is a good thing. An offbeat location is usually the main ingredient in the recipe for a great place to eat. The quasi-upscale food was great, and so were the drinks and staff. Great date place: its fun, dark and cozy.
(4)
Kate K.
I'm not sure why Masona Grill is offering Groupons if they don't actually want you to use them. Luckily, our server Gina was an absolute delight, so she's was able to save the experience from being a ruined evening.
(2)
Sarah R.
Amazing food, cozy atmosphere, great service! My friends and I started with the calamari. It was so light and delicious, maybe the the best calamari I've ever had. We each ordered different things and I tried what both of my friends had. It was all super fresh and delicious. I got the rare peppercorn tuna. It was sushi grade quality and came with these really great leek dumplings. Both of my friends got specials. 1 tried the soft shell crab, which were the biggest soft shell crabs I've ever seen and also tasted super fresh. My other friend got the shrimp on the barbie special. The shrimp was very succulent. Both came with really creative sides. This is beyond my neighborhood, but worth the trip!
(5)
Joshua H.
Went last night for a pre-Valentine's dinner. Better than the last time we went with some inventive, well executed dished. Really liked the grilled beef hearts app and my wife enjoyed her green salad. She also reported that her pan roasted half chicken, while not as good as Hammersley's, was great. The fried local cod entree was good, too, though not spectacular. Carrot cake was pretty good, too.
(4)
Megan N.
I've been to Masona Grill twice now - once for a bridal shower, and once for a birthday dinner. Both experiences were fantastic - the food is delicious, and the staff gracious and timely. During the shower the food was family style, with the sweet potato mash and seared tuna being the standouts. For the birthday dinner, the table split the yucca fries and dumplings, which were incredible - such complimentary flavors! The eggplant dish was perfect, too; thinly sliced and fried lightly, with none of the rubbery texture eggplant can fall victim to. Those that ordered the scallops, trout and hanger steak were thoroughly pleased, as well. The chocolate cake was divine, and the key lime pie tart and refreshing. The entire meal was complimented with great wine, and our server allowed us time to enjoy the meal (without ever being too far and without ever hovering.) The prices are a tad on the high side, but for the occasional meal out, not too dear. The ambiance of the place makes it worth it. Highly recommended.
(4)
Jordan M.
I've been here three times, and live about a 15 minute walk away. First time was pretty good, second time was pretty good, and third time was ok. I'd actually give them a 3.5, but Yelp doesn't allow it... I forget what I ordered first go-around, but second time there I ordered the scallops, and thought they were really good, although a little overcooked. Which is a terrible thing to do to scallops. Although the sauce was really good, kind of a gratin... very earthy, and they paired it well with vegetables. I didn't think the wine was very good though, and maybe should have sent it back (although it was just a glass of the house red - which should have been MUCH better). Third time was last week, and I got the Paella and my wife and I both got the Sangria (and she got the scallops, which I sampled, and which were unbelievably good - with dumplings and that rich gratin earthy sauce that I liked so much the last time). I had been looking fwd to it since my wife got the Paella last time we were there. The mussels were overcooked (very dry and crumbly), the rice dry and unflavorful the way I have come to expect paella rice to incorporate all the other flavors, and the dish was so hot I had to wait 5 minutes before I could put a second forkful in my mouth. The juice in the paella was terribly musselly brothy, almost as if it was just poured over the top rather than used to cook the dish with... NOT how paella should be IMHO. However, after warming up the other half the next day for lunch it didn't taste so bad (maybe the juices had time to do their thing on the rice overnight?)... On the plus side, the servers have always been really good there, and there is a decent selection of other dishes that are much simpler to cook and less likely to be nit-picked at by critical palates such as mine. The ambience is great, the layout is comfortable, not stuffy, The salads are in very decent portions, so I'll probably do one of those next time there (my wife always lucks out with her dishes there) and hopefully I will change my rating to ****... stay tuned!
(3)
Henry G.
Ate there on Saturday night, October 22, 2011 - party of four. Food was very good, but the service was horrible. Our reservation was not honored on time. Instead of proper apologies, we were told to "sit" in a location that had no seats, were treated to disparagement of the diners who apparently had "finished 20 minutes ago," and were looked at like children under foot by the staff while waiting for our table. Then we sat down. The person who seated us took two drink orders. Then, when we asked a question about the alcohol options, he practically threw a menu at us, said, "It's all there; we're not hiding anything" and walked away without taking the remaining drink orders. Next, a waitress arrived, and she had no clue that only half of the drink orders had been taken. Table for two next to us had appetizers and entrees, and they were done with entrees before ours were served. Clearing the table was a many-trip ordeal, in part because the appetizer course was never fully cleared. And we had to beg to be asked about dessert. (Also, no one drew our attention to the specials on the chalkboard. The only tempting dessert was there and not on the menu.) I hope that this was an off night, and we may try Masona again, but if we get the same service, it doesn't matter how good the food is.
(2)
Meggety W.
Delicious food and excellent service from the bald-headed man whose name I don't know. I had the duck and the mussels. I used a Groupon, which made the meal even better because of the price. Without the Groupon, this place would be really pricey for what you get.
(4)
Scott M.
Great food, atmosphere, and staff. Put this place downtown and people would be falling over themselves to get a table.
(5)
Sonia S.
Service was OK but restaurant week menu was the worse we have had so far. Pork belly was too dry and seemed to have been prepared a few days earlier. Shrimp ceviche and fried oysters were way too spicy. The ricotta cavatelli was overcooked and bland. The Argentinian steak, while portion wise was very abundant, was tasteless and cold. Desserts were very good. This was the first time for us at this restaurant and we really wanted to love this place, given the good reviews on Yelp. Unfortunately for us, it was not a very good experience.
(2)
Will N.
Had dinner here a few days ago and the biggest challenge was finding the place. It is located right across from the Highland Commuter Rail, but it took me forever to find it. However, there is plenty of street parking. The food was as expected, but the steak was a little too tough and the potatoes were undercooked. The service is great and the atmosphere is reminiscence of a old fashion steak house. Don't know if I'd go back because of the location, but I do like the small homey feeling. I only gave 3 stars because of the food cooked incorrectly and the difficult location.
(3)
J S.
Only giving 3 until I can come back again. I went for RW with 2 friends, and since we all like each other we shared everything to get more tastes! Apps- Shrimp ceviche - very good. great flavor Crispy oysters - again very good. Very fresh and cooked perfectly. Lobster taquitos - lobster meat was perfect, the dish was good. nothing crazy though. Entrees - Peppered tuna with sweet potato mash was out of this world. Cooked perfectly. Great concept with sides that really complemented the tuna. Want to return to get this again. Grill half chicken with green rice. Didn't try the chicken but was told it was great. The green rice stole this show. Would give my left arm to know how to cook it. Coffee rubbed sirloin steak....this was their down fall. I asked for rare and the server was right on board saying rare or medium rare was the only way to order steak.....and then I got a WELL DONE STEAK?!?! I didn't send it back, but told them that it was wrong....no taking it off the bill or ask to cook it again....just sorry. The desserts were not really memorable.
(3)
Lisa P.
What a great restaurant! So comfortable and enjoyable. The waiter seemed to know his information which was great. Ordered the prosciutto salad and duck entree. Absolutely fabulous. The duck was tender and to die for. Hubby had the seafood scampi with pasta and thought it was fantastic. Relaxed atmosphere and really wonderful. Love that they have partnered up with local businesses like Volante Farms and Blue Hill Brewery. It will definitely be added to our list of restaurants!
(4)
Erica G.
Worst experience I have had in a long time. I had high hopes for this place, especially because of the other positive reviews. I arrived with one other person, and we were waiting for 2 others. While we waited, I informed the server that one of the people we were waiting for is vegan. Because they seemed to only be serving the Restaurant Week menu, I asked if there were any sides that she could have that were vegan, he informed me that two of the dishes could be made vegan-either the gnocchi (which would be vegan once the proscuitto was removed) or the eggplant (which could be vegan once the cheese was removed). Once the other two in our party arrived, the vegan discussed her options with him and he said he recommended getting the gnocchi for her needs. Once her food arrived, we immediately noticed there was cheese on the plate. When the owner came over, we explained the situation to him and he immediately said that even without the cheese on top, the gnocchi is filled with cheese. He said he would make some sort of vegetable dish, which they did. Everything up until this point was handled how I would expect.... even though I think it is the responsibility of every restaurant owner (especially restaurants that charge the exorbitant prices this one does) to educate their staff about dietary needs. Restaurants need to be very vigilant about knowing what is in the food they serve especially because of allergens. There is no excuse for ignorance in this area. However, when the owner dropped off the food, he made a statement to the effect of "the waiter doesn't really speak good english". Are you kidding me? That is completely unprofessional. At the end of the meal (which matched the service), they brought out two desserts, one came with one of the meals and the other was to make up for the previous errors I believe. Maybe they should have thought about the fact that both had dairy.... and the person they were trying to make it up to doesn't eat dairy. The waiter even said to her- it doesn't have eggs or anything.... Ok... did you forget about the whipped cream? When we got the check, we saw that they had charged us for the gnocchi. Not a reduced price for the small vegetable plates we received. I have worked at a number of restaurants, and it would be common place at those restaurants for them to comp the meal they screwed up. Instead, this restaurant decided to make it up to us with a dessert that she couldn't even eat. This restaurant is extremely overpriced for the service and the food. The owner is one of the most unprofessional people I have seen running a restaurant. Obviously, I will not be going back there.
(1)
Sean R.
Ok,y'know me the dessert was so good,the staff great,the appetizer the crab cakes yum,but I wanted more.The place is nice and dim, the right lighting for a calm dinner.
(4)
Dianna B.
I've been here 4 times. The first two trips were in fall/winter 2006 for dinner. The first time I went, I was blown away -- the food, the service, the ambiance were fantastic. On a second trip, the food was a mixed bag -- I had the crab cake appetizer and they just were not good. A third trip in spring 2007 was for brunch. I loved their take on eggs benedict -- served on cornbread with avocado -- delicious! Others in my party tried omlettes and found them overdone. There were few other patrons in the place. My most recent trip was Dec 2007 for a spur-of-the-moment dinner with friends. We didn't have a reservation and they were packed to capacity (good for them!), so we ate at the bar. The food was delicious once again, but the service was poor-- we waited for about 15 mins after our drinks arrived to place our dinner order and were not able to flag our server down for drink refills during the meal. Maybe they were understaffed that night? I kept to 4 stars for overall good food with some misses and the latest inattentive service. But, I will be back! Random question -- why do the lights always flicker on and off? I would have thought the commuter rail outside had something to do with it, but the flickering happened 3-4 times during our meal and the trains just do not run that often.
(4)
A J.
About a year ago on a Saturday afternoon, my mother and I decided to go for a late lunch here. The place was practically empty, yet the host gave a us a really hard time that we ddi not have reservations. I looked around at all the empty tables and asked, why are all of these reserved? ( it was not even closer to dinner time) He said that they were. They did seat us, but acted like they were doing us a favor by letting us eat there. After my first encounter I decided never to return. Well, I am all about 2nd chances so I decided what better time to go than Restaurant Week? I called weeks ago and made reservations for myself and my parents. A table for 3. My parents arrived before I did and asked for our table. The host told them I made a reservation for 4 not 3, and waited until I arrived to seat them. I told the host I never made a reservation for 4, it was always 3. Well, they ended up sitting us at a round table with 3 settings smack dab in the middle of the room, by the stairs, in the way of the servers and right by the door with a cold draft. Not a good start. As I was looking over the menu, I realized the items that I wanted were not on it. I reviewd the menu several times online and already decided what i wanted and was looking forward to it. I asked our waitress if they menu changed. She had no idea. Another waitress confirmed that they did indeed change it. Needless to say, I was not happy at all. The food was good, I am not being negative about that. The space is beautiful. I think Masona just needs to brush up on the service. I probably wont be back there for a while.....
(2)
Kim K.
One of the few places in West Roxbury to go for GOOD food. If you are tired of all the typical sub shops and restaurants of Centre st. you should definitely hit up this little gem.
(5)
Adam B.
This place is an amazingly solid Bistro with Peruvian influences. The room is casual and home-y, with a "main" dining area, a second smaller dining area, and a tiny bar. The window seats are great fun, albeit they don't look out on much. One thing I love about the place is after 1 dinner you already start to feel like a regular. Maybe it's because the room is small and the staff are generally friendly, but you'll feel like you "belong" pretty quick. I've been here 6 times now, so i've tried most of the dishes, and you pretty much can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The one "great in theory, mixed in execution" dish is the ceviche tasting, which has consistently failed to live up to expectations. Everything else is fantastic. The sea scallops are faaaantastic. The menu changes some with the seasons, and the summer menu is a touch cheaper than the winter menu (although I think that may be a reflection of an overall "price correction" to fit the DubRox locale). One other thing: if you sign up for their mailing list, they'll give you heads up on short-term specials that pop up for a few days (like soft-shell crab, or something similarly seasonal).
(5)
Brian D.
This past Saturday I finally had the chance to pop in on Masona Grill with my wife for dinner. I knew we were in for a good experience because our friend is the lead chef and he had told us about the simple complexities of the menu as he had been developing them for this new spot in West Roxbury. With time, hunger, thirst and a few bucks on our side we decided to check out Masona (which at this point in time is still new but has been well under operation for a few months). Upon entering we are greeted by a rich, warm environment decorated with hard wood and graceful black and white photographs. If you were to ask you would find about the history of this off the beaten path former store front. The night was busy and we had not called for a reservation so we sat at the short bar with a view of the kitchen. We ordered from the well derived wine list (pinot and Montepulciano ) which was a easy read for us with many of our favorites and we were served well filled glasses as we read over the appetizer list. To get to the meat of the review... We couldnt resist the ap's and we shared the: - prosciutto and hard Italian cheeses w/pear and a rich fig drizzle -chicacharon w/ sweet potato crisps and cilantro lime sauce We were also served the house specialty: cerviche w/ octopus, salmon and mussels w/ sweet corn and vinegared onions All were good size servings, were incredibly good and were plated beautifully. We re-filled our drinks, I admit I switched to a Chimay and we put in our entree orders - dinner was ready quickly and with our view of the kitchen we could see the chefs preparing everything. We also saw all the other customers plates coming out. Our dinners were: - grilled cod w/ a chorizo in a little neck clam broth -leg of duck served rare w/ sweet cherry and sweet potato puree The blending of South American and Mediterranean dishes with the benefit of local availability was a huge success. I felt like the menu was pulled together with my new england sensibilities in mind. This is normally the point where I insert the 'but watch out for...' but I really can't - this spot is that good. Go on a weekend night, maybe call for a reservation, plan on spending some money and really digging into the menu and wine list, consult Mapquest as the location in West Roxbury is a little weird to navigate to, and frigging enjoy yourself.
(5)
Demetri P.
Maybe we caught them on an off night, but when we went to Masona last night, Sunday, I was less than thrilled with my experience. I feel like they have a sweet spot as far as local restaurants are concerned, yet they fail to capitalize on this. Let me explain, we entered the place at 6:50 and were greeted by no one, took a seat at the bar, which was littered with remote controls, a soda glass and various used votives and tried to order a drink. It took ten minutes to actually get our drinks, at which point the rest of our party arrived and we were seated. We sat in the tightest space in the restaurant and proceeded to wait 45 minutes to order. The first course was fine(mussels, carpaccio, though it was missing truffle oil, oysters) but the main course left us all fairly underwhelmed, the crispy cod was bland and soggy, the steak was chewy and sinewy, paella was totally lacking. The eggplant was one of the high points of the meal. The part that bothered me the most was that the server explained to my wife, who was patiently waiting to order a drink, that he was too busy to make her a Mojito, which would have been fine had he offered anything in place of that particular drink. Not sure I would have treated a party of 14 people, celebrating a birthday, in the same manner. It's a shame because we live close by and would have wanted to frequent this joint.
(2)
David C.
I had a terrific meal, lamb shank; super yummy. My girlfriend had a good meal too; forgot what she ordered though. Good bread too!!! And the waiter was superb.
(5)
Jeff V.
I lived in West Roxbury for more than a year before I even knew this place existed. It's just a block away from Centre Street, and I believe it's some of the best food you can get on this side of Boston. The service was fantastic, the environment is warm and inviting, and the food is most definitely delicious (try the tuna!). Its isolation from the main street also gives it a certain charm.
(5)
David C.
My new favorite restaurant in one of my favorite neighborhoods. Quaint, cool, relaxed atmosphere with awesome food. The duck with sweet potato mash was best I have had yet - anywhere. Calamari and yucca fries were excellent. Everything was cooked to order, fresh, unique and plentiful. Will definitely be back, again and again. Great cocktails too with fresh ingredients.
(5)
Ray R.
This restaurant is so quaint but, unfortunately, the food does not match what you might expect. We have been here twice - once for brunch and once for dinner. We were underwhelmed with brunch but thought we would give dinner a chance. Dinner was a total disappointment. My husband's swordfish was almost completely burned as was my steak. The cerviche appetizer was overwhelmingly seasoned and covered with lime. We actually sent the swordfish back because it wasn't edible and the staff left me with my entree while they returned the swordfish to the kitchen. No offer of a salad while my husband waited for a new entree or to top off his wine - just me sitting with my entree and he has nothing to eat. I spent 10 minutes picking at my food and offering it to my husband until he got a new swordfish. My steak was burnt almost completely on the ends but I could not handle the thought of returning both entrees. When my husband tasted my steak he also thought it was burned and quite tasteless. My advice - don't bother. Our bill was $100 and totally disappointing. The dessert menu was also lackluster - three items to choose from but none was enticing enough to overcome the disappointing dinner so we passed. I will say, however, that the service and the atmosphere are nice. But not enough to compensate for the food at that price in West Roxbury which has become home recently to several tasty spots to dine.
(2)
Christina V.
Hidden on a backstreet off of Centre Street, my husband and I only know about this place because we ride the commuter rail. The atmosphere is cozy, the service is always friendly, and the duck special... oh my sweet heaven. Every time it is on the menu, I CANNOT turn it down - but I always try what my husband orders and his is equally delicious! Our favorite little place in West Roxbury
(5)
Robert O.
Excellent place for a little more upscale dining experience tucked away in a quiet neighborhood. The owner Manuel is a great guy, usually there and very friendly. The food is unique and put together very well. The staff is friendly and accommodating. A really delightful dining experience.
(4)
davy f.
We are infrequent regulars here. About two weeks ago we went (four of us) and the food was mediocre and the service indifferent. This was in marked contrast to our prior experiences. So I checked with a friend who, with his wife, is a more frequent regular. Same report: used to be great, recently disappointing. As we live just down the street I hope they get back on track. For the moment, though, caveat emptor.
(3)
Melanie D.
So I have a friend in West Roxbury: we decided to dine at Masona since I hadn't been there and she was embarrassed she had only been there once, despite living five blocks from the place. I had called two hours earlier to reserve (we originally planned on eating downtown, but the weather sucked). When I showed up, the place was fairly empty. This was to change in about 38 minutes: the place got packed and people were standing in the door waiting to get in. But I'm getting ahead of myself. My friend, as is her habit, usually runs 10-15 minutes late. So the bartender (well, he was a guy behind the bar) was very friendly and solicitous. I ordered off the cocktail menu, and I noticed he had to ask someone how to make the Masona Fizz (pomegranate liqueur & Campari, quite refreshing). He refilled my water glass constantly. And while the bread basket was at room temperature, the butter was soft enough to spread neatly. The bread itself was quite delish too: dense and tasty. My friend and I ordered the same things: creamy tuna ceviche and the Argentinian steak frites. And here's where it got disappointing: they seasoned everything with a very heavy hand. Now I don't know if this is correct procedure with this type of South American-influenced cooking, but I thought strong flavors were supposed to be a melange, a balance, an ever-evolving symphony in the mouthm if I can get a little carried away here. The ceviche was made with avocado, lots of potent red pepper that went on and on and on--and lots of cilantro with the stems still on the leaves: quel bitter! I love salt, especially on fried stuff, like potatoes. But someone did a heavy hand on the frites with the shaker. And the salt tasted like regular Morton's Iodized, not Sel de Whosiswatsis. The steak was way disappointing. First, my friend's (ordered medium) was room temp. My "rare" was more like "medium rare." I've made chimichurri sauce once years ago. It was a huge hit; people were licking the bowl after it was all gone. I haven't attempted to make it since because I figure I can't attain anything close to perfection twice, right? So I'm not an expert on it, but this sauce was waaaay too heavy on the vinegar. It overpowered the steak. Even after I scraped off as much sauce as I could, I didn't want to finish more than half the order. And at $21, it seemed a waste to forego the doggie bag--especially because it should be noted, the portion was paltry. But I didn't take it home. They have a $12 bistro menu until 6:00 which many people seemed to order--it's basic stuff like pork loin, chicken, and mushroom ravioli. After 6:30, the price goes up to $16. But any sides were $4, regardless of what time it was, so even this isn't much of a value. We skipped dessert--nothing was jumping out at us from the limited (three choices) menu, and the lemon tart we were mildly interested in was sold out anyhow. The room is plain but cute. The star decals at the stairs, and the photos of old W Rox were a nice touch. The crowd was definitely local-- longtime native West Roxburians, and the newer gentrifying interlopers. Relaxed, casual vibe all around. If my parents were visiting from out of town, I would consider taking them here. The place is actually pretty easy to find: pull into the Roche Bros parking lot and turn right until you get to the commuter rail. I ignored the signs telling me my parking space of choice was for commuters. Screw you, MBTA. Two stars for the food; four for the service.
(3)
D M.
So I went here last night with Bryan, Ligaya, and Billie and it was great. It has a great low key atmosphere, and it's been expanded a little bit since they opened up. It was pretty quiet when we went in, as it was Tuesday after Memorial Day weekend, and we sat in the window. We ordered four appetizers and then three entrees to split, and Bryan and Ligaya started out with "cordials", as they recently got a cordial license, as the State of Massachusetts is retarded when it comes to booze. Ligaya had the Mango Mojito, which was minty and refreshing, and I wanted tempted to order one. Bryan got the West Roxbury Iced Tea, which was like a fancy Long Island Iced Tea. It tasted of danger. I stuck with water because I hadn't had enough food or water all day and was wildly dehydrated. We started with the bread, which was clearly all made on the premises, and was so amazing. We ordered our appetizers, and picked the Pan Fried Mussels, the Chicaron de Pollo, Deviled Eggs, and the Slow Roasted Leg of Duck. The mussels were probably my least favorite, not to say I didn't eat them. They were good and I liked the grilled bread it was served with. The Chicaron de Pollo was great......the chicken was delicious and served with a caper remoulade, sweet potato chips, and a watercress salad. This would be my suggestion for anyone. It was pretty perfect. The deviled eggs were delicious, and served with a nice little caper-y salad. The duck leg was also very crisp and moist and very enjoyable. It was served with a spinach salad. They were all delicious and plated beautifully. For our entrees that we shared, we chose the Main Crabcakes, the Pan Seared Duck Breast, and Pepe's Potato Gnocchi. The Crabcakes came with really good fries, jicama slaw which was perfectly vinegary and spicy, and the crabcakes were served with a tomato aioli. The crabcakes were tender and had a slight minty flavor and were great. The gnocchi was fatty heaven on a plate. It had a Gorgonzola cream sauce, beets, greens, and sage. The gnocchi were light and fluffy, and the sauce was perfect, with beets through out. I am a huge fan of beets and don't get enough of them. It was delicious. On to my favorite dish of the deal......the Pan Seared Duck Breast was amazing. This would be my suggestion for anyone who loves duck, or sweet potatoes or ginger. The duck breast was the most tender medium rare duck breast that was so perfectly cooked it was heavenly. It was served atop sweet mashed potatoes that were done perfectly, with a ginger port reduction that was amazing. Hands down one of the best dishes I've had in a while. It was great. We had the a great waitress, Gina, tonight. She made us a little dessert sampler which was in lack of better terms, the shit. It had an panna cotta, which was orangey and smooth and tasty, the blueberry brown butter tart, and a slice of the flourless chocolate cake. I don't remember if the names are right, but they were all amazing. They were served upon a tray with a variety of sauces and and whipped cream and it was so decadent that we didn't come close to finishing. Our dining experience here was great, and though it's a little out of the way, it's well worth the trip. It's very informal and low key, and the food is amazing and reasonably priced. If you get an entree and split a nibble before, it could easily be in the moderate price range. The service was and is always great, and there's parking for the drivers.
(5)
Andrea T.
cozy, great for weekend dinners, grassroots group.
(4)
Katie K.
i came here as a part of a group event and it was a fixed meal with three glasses of wine. i skipped out on two of the wines because they were red and i'm allergic, but the white wine was delicious! the food consisted of a tuna and avacado appetizer with beets and a tomato aoli, a watercress salad with pears and bleu cheese, and lamb with a mint and cucumber sauce and sweet potatoes. i wish i could have chosen my meal because i'm not a fan of tuna or pears or sweet potatoes. but, with that said, the meal was pretty good. the tuna was not very fishy at all, and combined with the avacadoes was actually not bad. i enjoyed the pear and bleu cheese salad, and i loved the flavoring of the lamb, though the mint and cucumber sauce was not something to write home about. it was ok, but i prefered the lamb without the sauce. and the sweet potatoes were sweet potatoes...nothing fancy or exciting about them. the service was excellent, very friendly and outgoing and happy to help with anything. i didn't see much of the rest of the restaurant, but the area we were in was cozy and had a good atmosphere. one of the lights kept flickering, though, which was a bit annoying... i think i would come back to this place just to try it as a normal customer and have dishes that i would choose for myself. so this review may change!
(3)
Ires D.
Love this place. We had a meal or two here and then had our rehearsal dinner in April of 2007 - they were fanTAStic. Took care of a wide range of palates with excellent food and service. We were recently back for dinner a month ago and had a wonderful time, the waiter recommended an excellent wine and I had my first ever paella. Looking forward to going back again soon.
(5)
Matt L.
I don't live too far away from this small area right outside downtown Boston. Looking for a restaurant you have mostly ethnic choices. But here is a hidden Bistro, tucked away in a small building. It is decorated very nice and has a very friendly staff making you feel like it is a quaint neighborhood eatery. There is even a small bar in the place and a drink menu of creative cocktails. The menu is a selection of seasonal favorites and very creative appetizers and entrees. The place was actually pretty crowded and we didnt have a reservation but the staff made room for us. The food is delicious and cooked to perfection and very surprising from a spot this hidden and not in downtown proper. Wine selections were also a treat. The dessert menu was just as good. It wasn't cheap but was moderatly priced for the amount of food you get since the selections were pretty good size. I would higly recommend this place!
(4)
C S.
SO GOOD. they moved from the south end to west roxbury, its on the corner of two small streets but right near a train stop, we drove. I wanted to try it because i heard someone talking about it on the radio in the morning before i went to work. My boyfriend and I went that night because i had read the menu and wanted to go so bad. My salad was awesome and i usually dont eat salads, our appetizers were perfect, the place was very quiet because not many people know about it yet. the prices were still low since it was recently opened. The owner came by to ask how the food was which rarely happens. Definitely will be going back.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Romantic Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Ingrid C.
This is a hidden jewel and so happy we found it. As small and quite as it was the food and the service made up for it. Since it was the off season for this place it didn't skimp on the food. And the service was on point also with only one server.
(4)Jacqueline C.
Went to Masona Grill on a Thursday night with a groupon. The food were excellent. We ordered the shrimp and the lobster for appetizers. Both were kind of spicy. The designs and combinations were delicate. For the entrees,we ordered the steak,tuna and the linguini fini. All 3 were really good. I would say the tuna was pretty special. For our desserts we had the fruit vanilla icecream and a coconut cake. The icecream was fantastic! Be prepared to tip them 20%! The foods were very 'home-made' and authentic!
(5)Stephanie S.
Highly recommend making reservation. We came here on a Tuesday night around 7:30 and the wait was 30-45min. Luckily we had reservation :) It seemed busy and short staffed but our waiter tried his best and tried to be attentive to all his tables. Owner/manager came around a few times to check on the tables as well. We got Peruvian Sampler for appetizer. It had three sauces in the middle, two of them were spicy and the other one had interesting taste to it. Pickled veggies were refreshing. Pork was crispy outside and tender inside and very flavorful. The potatoes weren't special, except the sauce underneath was also spicy. I had duck breast. It came with grilled veggies, steamed veggies, and mashed yam which were amazing. Duck was also very good, except I had couple pieces that were tough. The sweet bbq sauce went well with duck, not too strong or salty. They deep fried the duck skin which was interesting but tasty. My bf had Roasted Cod. He enjoyed it very much and didn't even leave one grain of rice left on his plate. I tried a piece, but it had too strong seafood scent for me. But if you like seafood you'll probably enjoy it. It came with mussels, shrimp, and tiny octopus. The sauce was creamy, but I forget what it tasted like... We got fruit crumble with ice cream for dessert. It wasn't special. Fruit crumble was made with pineapple and raspberries. I think it would've been better if it was a bit warmer (it came out lukewarm).
(4)Sonia N.
Scored a Groupon so we made our way out to West Roxbury ready to be impressed by fine Latin cuisine. We liked the cozy ambiance immediately when we entered and we were greeted moments later by our cheerful server. We started off with their scallops appetizer special. Very interesting as I'm not used to having scallops prepared with so much cheese. I love cheese but in a way, it may have overpowered the natural taste in the scallops in this dish. Also different is the presentation as it was served in its shell. Moving on to our dinners, we ordered their Peppered Tuna and duck special. I didn't try the duck personally but it received good marks. As for the tuna, I may have been biased as I had tuna from another place the night before and thought it fell just a tad short. Nonetheless, nothing tasted bad at all but we couldn't say that there was one thing that stood out that was amazing. We ended our night with the house tres leches cake. It fit the sweet tooth bill but I also couldn't help but think the texture was a bit more condensed than others I have had in the past.
(3)Fernanda P.
The food is FANTASTIC! I just love everything on the menu here, but my favorite is the CRISPY EGGPLANT ROMANA $24...Plum tomato ragu, fresh ricotta cheese, garlic spinach, shaved parmesan. The appetizers are very good as well. I love when they have coupons on groupon! I'm indeed a fan!
(4)Tom T.
It's unfortunate to write this. I read all the other reviews and had high hopes. But from drinks, appetizers, main course, to dessert was unappealing, bland, undercooked. I have been to Peru and several Peruvian restaurants around the country. This is the worst. Don't listen to the hype of food rating channel. I decided to give this place a try after seeing it on Phantom Gourmet. This is one of the several places that was "peddled" by PG that was awful.
(2)Melisa K.
My husband and I were looking to celebrate our anniversary with Peruvian food...this wasn't quite that (no fault of the restaurant's-they did have some Peruvian food but a range of Latin American food as well.) We were a little nervous as we drove up because it didn't seem like what we were expecting based on the yelp reviews. We went inside at 6:30 on a Saturday night and it was pretty empty, which also made us skeptical. Guess we didn't need reservations. But we were glad we made them, as we were greeted with a champagne toast for our anniversary--on the house. A truly special gesture that showed us they go the extra mile. Our waiter was friendly and knowledgeable and steered us toward the specials. We started with lobster taquitos that were delicious--really nice citrusy flavor profile. My husband had the tuna loin dish off the regular menu and it was not only beautiful but also tasty--he especially liked the shrimp dumplings and said the tuna was cooked really well. I ordered the scallops with ravioli and zucchini off the specials menu and was impressed with the seasoning and sear on the scallops. I didn't love the earthy flavor of the ravioli but everything else was great and I appreciated the subtle addition of truffle oil. We finished the meal with a pound cake with strawberry ice cream and strawberry topping. We wished they had been fresh strawberries instead but still really enjoyed it and polished it off despite being full. The meal was a tad on the pricey side but we weren't disappointed and would go again. They also get extra points for beautiful plating!
(4)Roni J.
Masona Grill is quite a bit off the beaten path for us, living in Hanover, but we've been dining there on occasion for the last several years. First introduced to the restaurant via a discount program I had as a client of a Boston radio station, we have since visited without any discount in place and find the experience to be excellent on price/value. Never a disappointment - the food is always uniquely prepared and beautifully plated, bountiful, and the service friendly, knowledgeable, and gracious. The seating and table space can be a bit cramped on a busy night, so it's wise to request a table downstairs and out of the way of foot traffic. Dishes we have had that were swoon-worthy: duck served with heavenly mashed sweet potatoes (like sweet potato whipped cream); ceviche; just about anything else we've ordered. I'd opt for apps over salads - much more interesting as a first course. Desserts elegantly done - just enough for two to share. A restaurant that knows food and how to please customers. Five stars all around.
(5)Marietta A.
We've been back to Masona Grill a few times, most recently this month with two other friends. Our waiter was very friendly, the owner or manager (not sure which), came by twice to see how things were. Everyone is just really friendly. The food is fantastic. For starters we had two of the specials appetizers, the Brooklyn Smoked Salmon, which was very good, and some type of peppers (I wish I could remember what they were called), were also very good. I had the arroz con pollo for my meal. It was fantastic. I find that whenever I order chicken at restaurants it's always to salty. This was not! It was perfectly seasoned. The rice was tasty, with greens on top. Overall a really good dish I would order again. Tres Leches cake to finish was just as good as it always is. Our friends also enjoyed their meals and noted that they would like to go back again :)
(4)Vivian C.
Never been to Masona Grill before, but was led out to this corner of West Roxbury by a voucher for dinner for two: one appetizer, two entrees, and one dessert (maximum value $78). Masona Grill is located on a corner a short distance from Centre Street, across the street from the Highland Commuter Rail Station. Parking wasn't bad though the restaurant didn't have a private lot; there was street parking, a 3 hour lot around the corner, and Commuter Rail parking spots if you want to risk it after hours. Two entrances invite you into this establishment, however, only one is actually utilized - the one sans any steps and is located to the far-most right. Inside there are steps scattered about leading further inward into the establishment. Service was fine. Recommendations were offered upon my request, water refilled as needed over the meal, and sharing plates provided without any additional effort on our part. After having pointed out a bit of plastic I had discovered in a cake in order that they might have the opportunity to figure out how to avoid a similar situation in the future, when our bill was delivered, we were told that one of our desserts had been taken off the bill. That bit of thoughtfulness was appreciated. For our appetizer, I fell to the temptation that was the *Fried oysters 14. Spanish curtido and tomato remoulade. These arrived on a long rectangular plate the length of my forearm - literally; I measured it. Ten juicy, tender creatures of varying sizes set in five pairs among scattered veggies. A decent portion for two, with a rather tasty sauce - I cleaned my side of the plate with the gratis bread provided. Both entrees were selected from the nightly specials list: Seared Sea Scallops $32, wild mushroom ragout, butternut squash ravioli, truffle oil, shaved parmesan and grilled zucchini Crispy Soft Shell Crab $34, roasted sweet potatoes, grilled corn & cucumber salad and tomato aioli Of the two I preferred the pair of prime sized soft shells, refreshing corn salad and deliciously caramelized edges of the fat triple disks of sweet potatoes over the five sea scallops and three savory butternut squash ravioli. As my DC commented about the scallops - the sauce didn't do it for me. I agreed, wholeheartedly. Also, I guess I was expecting/hoping for a sweet filling in the raviolis. On the whole, however, I felt these entrees priced a bit on the high side. Their normal menu has entrees priced mostly in the twenties with only a couple at $30/31. For dessert, we opted for the Creamy Lemon Tartlet with Fresh Berries and Raspberry Sauce, and the Coconut Cake with Caramel, Whipped Cream and Toasted Coconut - both $8. The luscious coconut cake was the surprise winner in my book, but vice versa for my DC. The tart was too much crust relative to filling. While the cheesecake lower layer was an interesting surprise, the tart needed more lemon flavor overall. As an idea of their portions, we had no leftovers. I left full, yet not uncomfortably stuffed. 3.5 stars.
(4)Anthony D.
Great decor, friendly service, meh food. We came to Masona on a groupon and when we stepped into the warm friendly restaurant we expected great things. The prosciutto salad was fine but only had one piece of prosciutto, definitely not ideal to split. My wife ordered the pork and I ordered the arroz con pollo and both were very bland. Both dishes were cooked fine, they just had very little flavor, rice included. The best thing on the plate was the carrot. Fortunately, the chocolate budino dessert was terrific. Definitely worth a try, but won't be coming back.
(3)Ruth R.
I much prefer giving a 4 star review, but this restaurant just didn't get there. To begin with, our table in a rather empty restaurant on a Saturday night was along a wall with a line of the dark red paint scraped bare...not a good start. This was a shame as the decor was cozy and had a charming feel. We were greeted by the waiter who could not have been better..very professional and friendly. Our first course were the fried oysters that were so small that it seemed to me they were cut up and fried which of course made them dry! Three of us had the eggplant dish that had way to strong a lemon taste and was mediocre. One had the duck that he said was excellent and prepared perfectly. Desert was strawberry shortcake made with ice cream that was very ordinary and I believe the strawberries were frozen. I know that so many people gave this restaurant really good reviews and based on the duck dish they are certainly capable of putting out well prepared food, but something is wrong as was witnessed by a fairly empty restaurant on a Saturday evening. Hope they can bring it back!!!
(2)Bryan S.
Never a disappointment, me and a group of friends had an outstanding dinner at Masona last Saturday night. We ordered the entire list of Peruvian appetizers to share, bold and fantastic flavors. Per usual, service was excellent and the entire experience was A++. This is a restaurant where you are already planning what you will order next as you are walking out the door.
(5)Ben A.
Had an awesome date night here last weekend. We were seated at a nice round table by the window. Very "romantical" for my girlfriend and I. I started with the ceviche while she had the yucca fries. Both were beautifully presented and tasted wonderful. My girlfriend likes her yucca fries and these were some of her favorites. The spicy sauce was great. The tuna in the ceviche was super fresh and the citrus added a nice flavor For entrees I had a scallop special with mushroom and mushroom and truffle ravioli. My girlfriend had a lemon garlic chicken which she said was one of the best meals she's ever had. She can be a picky eater so to see her this happy made my night. My scallops were beautifully cooked and just perfect. For dessert we had a coconut cake and flan. A nice ending to a great night. We will be back for sure.
(5)Madonna Y.
Love, love this place! Fabulous, continually changing seasonal menu. It is impossible to have a bad meal here. My favs are the oyster appetizers, and the duck entree. The owner is usually on hand to recommend wine, and he really knows his stuff. He is very personable and charming. Masona is named after his beautiful daughters who frequently work there. Great place for a date or special event.
(5)Tater M.
The food here is amazing! I recommend getting the Paella which comes piping hot with grilled mussels and calamari and other yummy seafood, and the Tuna Tiradito appetizer which was very scrumptious-sesame oil/raw tuna slices. The steak was also cooked very well with a balsamic glaze over it which I've never had before- nice combination. Service was great, very friendly/efficient people
(5)Chris C.
My dinner group came here on a Friday night at 7pm in August, 2013. RATINGS Food: 4 Service: 4.5 Decor: 3.5 Overall: 4 DINER COMMENTS (Edited for space): The food was superb; perfectly prepared and nicely presented. The coffee rubbed sirloin was fantastic - tender and flavorful. The Eggplant Romano was prepared to the perfect texture and the sauce was a fantastic compliment because it was simple, obviously made fresh and not overly spiced. The service was highly conscientious, respectful and our server made sure everyone was satisfied. I'd definitely recommend the Masona Grill and return. ------ While the space was warm and comfortable, and the service was great (including a very honest waiter pointing out we overtipped him a HUGE amount in error), i found the food was sub-par, especially for the unreasonably high (for the w roxbury location) price point. My calamari app was well-cooked, but dry and needed sauce on the side. My scallop special was just a muddy-flavored mess. ------ My appetizer of roasted peaches seemed barely cooked and, in reality, it was salad with peaches. However, my pork was extremely good. I really liked the service since the waiter did not make it all about him, never let my water never go empty, and had good suggestions. I found the overall atmosphere a little lacking, however, I'd go back for the food and service when I am in a "neighborhood" dinner kind of mood. ------ I really enjoyed this restaurant. The taquitos tasted very fresh and were well prepared. The eggplant romano was very nice - well cooked and complimented with spices. The waiter was great and attentive without being overbearing. It felt like I didn't even know that he was there but I never had to ask for anything. The decor felt very homey and inviting. This is the sort of place I may have never found considering its location I would definitely visit again. ------ My appetizer, the chicaronnes, was truly delicious. The pork had a lovely crispy texture without being too tough or overcooked. Coupled with the sweet glaze, watermelon, and onions, I was truly excited about the food this place had to offer. When my entree arrived, I have to admit that I was a little confused. My entree was so over-salted that I really should have sent my dish back. Ultimately, I was disappointed in the food because the appetizer was so great, and my entree really brought that down. The server kept glasses filled, and was very attentive. Overall, if I find myself out that way again, I'd definitely consider giving [it] another shot. With a stellar appetizer and good service, this place easily has a leg up on a good number of Boston restaurants. Work on the consistency of the quality of the food, and I would easily make this a destination restaurant. ------ The stuffed poblano peppers were cooked perfectly, and the stuffing was a great balance to the moderate heat the peppers have, and I enjoyed the presentation. The Lomito Saltado reminded me of being back in Peru as it was prepared traditionally, but with quality ingredients. [The] Lomito Saltado...was a $17 dish dressed up in a $27 dish's clothes. There was nothing remarkable about the dish, but it was tasty, satisfying - extremely simple. Although our waiter forgot my drink he managed the group well without being flustered, was attentive, and fairly quick The decor was fine - warm and inviting. ------ Our waiter was great. He made sure to get us drinks right away, had great food and wine recommendations. Decor was cute, clean. Pass on the sangria (just wine with fruit, missing those beautiful cinnamon-y spices) and go for their well mixed cocktails or something off the Spanish-inspired wine list. My appetizer of semolina crusted oysters was DELICIOUS: very light despite being fried. The scallops were cooked beautifully but I basically ate them off of all the other stuff on the plate. I would go back if in the neighborhood for the cocktails, appetizers and [dessert]. ------ I was impressed by the quality and flavor of my dishes. However, my quest for the most perfect fried calamari continues. [The] breading was nice, with a light coating, the calamari itself was not that sturdy. The paella was flavorful and rich; impressive. It was serendipitous to come across a restaurant by a suburban commuter rail, so I think that imbued the experience with a bit of charm. I was surprised by the prices at the end, however. I would be interested in coming back again if in the neighborhood to sample some more items. A nice find off the beaten path. ------ I started with the prosciutto and mozzarella salad that was perfect. The stuffed chicken statler was lacking in goat cheese & I found there to be a tad bit too much polenta. I loved the atmosphere and found it to be very cozy. The waiter had the patience of a saint and [a] swell chat with the owner close[d] out the meal. I would...come back..
(4)Jessica H.
This place is fantastic, and everyone in Boston should try it if they haven't. It is hands-down the best restaurant in West Roxbury and both times we have gone has been very consistent in service, quality, and atmosphere. It as a menu ranging from all kinds of dishes - mollask, fish, chicken, pork, beef, etc. Each dish is unique. My only complaint is that it doesn't usually list a vegetarian or vegan option but they make the most amazing and filling veggie dishes! I just wish they would advertise it, because I think it does them a great disservice. More folks would go there if they knew they could get a good dish. We aren't talking a crappy pasta or dry veggie burger dish. I'm talking about fresh veggies, full of flavor, and PROTEIN. The first time we went was New Years 2012-2013. We had no reservations and knew the place would be packed but we decided to take a chance and it was well worth it. They were able to squeeze the 2 of us at the bar. My boyfriend got steak for an entree I think and oysters for an appetizers. He enjoyed both of them. I asked about a vegan entree and they made me this awesome mashed lima bean dish with veggies and a mushroom gravy. The 2nd time we went (last Friday night) we again had no reservations because they weren't that busy which is a bummer because the place is great and I want them to get a lot of business. My boyfriend got the cod (which he said was good) and I asked for another vegan dish and this time they brought out this incredible veggie dish - consisting of zucchini, garlicky spinach, asparagus, and other veggies over a bean stew. It was a lot of food - I wasn't able to finish it so I took some home. The also serve you bread with your dinner. I got a house sangria which was good but I wish it had some fruit in it besides oranges. The chef there is great, he/she's obviously more than a cook and really knows his/her food and gives a lot of creativity for his/her dishes. I am so impressed they are always able to give me such a hardy dish and it comes at no problem. It's also cool that both times have been a great success. I was worried after having such a great experience the first time, that a second visit might ruin my memory. But I was proven wrong when the 2nd time was just as good! Just put "vegan option" on the menu!! The location is a little hard to find, it's not on Centre St but just off it near the Commuter Rail station and parking lot.
(5)James C.
Went there again this past Friday night. I can honestly say that I've never had a bad meal there. My dining partner and I shared two appetizers: the ceviche which was deliciously tangy and the grilled mussels ( the broth was so scrumptious that we sopped it up with the crusty bread. My partner had the Patagonian Seafood Stew which was loaded with all kinds of fresh seafood including mussels, littlenecks, calamari and crab. I had the seared tuna which was cooked to perfection. Manny came by and I thanked him for keeping the Tank 7 farmhouse Ale on the menu. He recommended the Spencer Trappist Ale and he even brought me over a sample to taste before I ordered it. He was very congenial and our server Gina is just the best there is! This place is a hidden gem. I don't have to drive all around the south end looking for parking nor do I have to drive all the way to Provincetown to go to the Mews. Just a great overall experience. Thanks.
(5)Paul X.
Tucked away in a residential West Roxbuy neighborhood and by the Highland stop commuter rail, I never would've known about this place had it not been for my colleague who told me about it. A few days after our discussion, a Groupon came out for it. "Fate", I thought, as I clicked "buy". I put it aside and decided to use it for a night where I wouldn't have time or didn't want to cook. It being in a neighborhood with not many businesses around it, we found parking right in front of the restaurant on a Wednesday night. If you have trouble seeing in dim light, be sure to have a flashlight application on your Smartphone...you may need it. It's dimly lit with its brown decor, but it's a rather homey room you are dining in - almost like a big living room (with a small bar in it). Quite comfortable, really. I always love scanning the restaurant's menu online (or checking out Yelp reviews) before I head to a place to see what's on the menu / what people recommend. As soon as I saw paella on their menu, I knew what I wanted. It was delicious! And it came out *piping* hot - so it gave me some time to de-shell the mussels and peel the shrimp in the dish and mix it around for a bit. The seafood (including calamari) in the dish was wonderfully fresh and the meal was very nicely spiced. The presentation was nice, and without a doubt, was the highlight of the evening. Before that wonderful entree, the hubby and I went for the Peruvian Sampler appetizer, which included yucca fries and a robust king prawn for each of us, some veggies and three different kinds of dipping sauces. We finished off with a desert - it was a special they had for the evening - a chocolate stout cake with mascarpone whipped cream in the middle of it with chocolate drizzle. It was rich and very tasty. Our server, Brandon, mentioned they have a pretty creative pastry chef. Speaking of Brandon, thanks for the good service - friendly, personable, and when I asked him "what's a good wheat type beer you have?" He mentioned a "Spencer", which apparently, according to spencerbrewery.com is the first Trappist beer brewed in the United States, and local - Spencer, MA. It was a great suggestion. I'm going to have to look for it at my local packie. The rest of the crew there was nice - we felt taken care of there, as the manager came by to see how we were doing (always a nice touch, I think). And if Brandon was busy and we needed something, another server would come by and help. Is it overpriced? I noticed a couple of reviewers here that think it is. Was the sampler/appetizer overpriced? It was good, but yeah, it was a bit, I think. That paella sure was worth the $30 I plopped down for it, though. It would've been $120 had we not had the Groupon - one (pricey) app, two phenom paellas, a nice desert, two cocktails and a beer. Overall, I don't think it's really that all unreasonable considering 1.) you would probably pay the same in downtown Boston if not more and 2.) this place was better than some of the more expensive places I've been to in Boston. I wouldn't turn away an opportunity to come back here again if someone in my social circle was interested.
(4)Arthur D.
The only reason why I give this place a 3 instead of a 5 is because of our last experience there. We had excellent food & excellent service, it was only until when we were leaving that a problem occurred. We used a Groupon and spent an additional $60 on food and drinks. We tipped the guy $10, when we did that he gave us a concerned face and walked away. I went to the bathroom and my wife can see the waiter was complaining to his boss that we didn't tip him enough for one hundred and ten dollar bill. The boss came to us and asked us if we didn't like our service and the food, we said yes we loved it and she said so why didn't you give him more than $10 and we just looked at her where it walked out. Usually tip more but it was my wife's birthday and I already spent money on gifts and other things planned for that night, but that doesn't change the fact that it was brought up to us . and because of that I would never go back even though the food and the drinks were superb.
(3)East Coast C.
WOWIE! Sublime food and service! I just love everything on the menu here. The appetizers are so wonderful sometimes we just order several and have them as dinner. The owner and wait staff are gracious and very knowledgeable about wine and food pairings. And the specials are heaven. This place is a hidden gem!
(5)Chas K.
I've driven by Masona more times than I can count, but stopped in last night around 8 p.m. for the first time. It looks like a place where you can sit at the bar sipping a beverage and noshing on a few small plates. That's not the case. First, there's not a dedicated bartender. It appeared to me that two waiters shared responsibility for taking care of patrons at the bar. The restaurant was packed. Judging by the dishes continually coming out of the kitchen and the frantic waitstaff, everyone was seated at once. My wife and I grabbed seats at the bar. The server asked if we were having dinner and I told him just drinks, maybe an appetizer. He seemed disappointed, dropped drink and food menus in front of my wife, and told us he'd be back. We eventually got to place an order for drinks and calamari salad. My wife liked her cocktail - made with Bourbon, honey and lemon - and my first beer, a Blue Hills Red IPA, was great. My second draft, Mayflower Golden Ale, was insipid; barely better than a Corona. The calamari salad ($11) lacked the mint listed in the ingredients, had just two tiny capers, and very little lemon juice. There was too much fresh oregano, an ingredient not listed on the menu. The olive oil was high quality. Overall, it wasn't the experience I'd hoped for. The staff was clearly harried and we felt like an afterthought, but I'll give them another shot. The dishes I saw come by looked excellent and the menu has a unique character and is well-composed. Let me know what you think of this review by clicking a button below. Thanks.
(3)Kevin M.
This is the best restaurant to take a date or to have a conversation in the Boston area. Incredible food. The ambience is warm and inviting.
(5)Gigi M.
I had been to Masona once before my most recent visit, and all I really recalled from the first time was feeling like it didn't live up to the hype or the prices. But a friend wanted to go, and I thought I should give it another shot, so we went. I love the velvet curtains as you walk in and think the physical structure of the place is cool. That's where the positives end for me, though. Masona's website says there are "huge, vibrant" oil paintings on the walls. I only noticed one really, which was of a nude woman, and it just made me uncomfortable. imo displaying nude art is creepy to begin with, and in this case the nude seemed like a tasteless juxtaposition to the photos hanging nearby of the owner's three daughters as young girls. Just weird and offputting. The second negative for me was the serving station near the host stand. It was messy-looking and there was a wrapper or something on the floor in front of the station, which made the whole area look kind of dirty. So right away I was not really excited about this place. But we were seated right away and our waitress was really sweet. She was very warm and didn't seem annoyed that we weren't drinking that night, which I was glad about. Not as much fun not to have a drink, of course, but I was happy later when the bill arrived that we hadn't had alcohol. The bill was more than high enough as it was. We were given bread from Fornax in Roslindale Square which was very good. I ordered the quinoa and corn cakes appetizer and the rainbow trout. I make quinoa at home and was interested to see how a South American chef would prepare it. My friend ordered a Caesar salad and the surf and turf. The quinoa cakes were disappointing. Only two small cakes, lukewarm, served with salsa that was okay, but a cilantro pesto that was surprisingly bland. The Caesar salad was good. The rainbow trout was excellent, although the potatoes it was served on were too salty. My friend said the surf and turf was good too, although the meat was a bit dry. We asked for a dessert menu, which a male server brought over, but we waited so long for anyone to take our dessert order that we decided to skip it. We were also both feeling really cold towards the end of the meal, which was strange, since the waitress had said we were right over the heating vent. I really want to love Masona. It's near my house and I like supporting local businesses (although I admit I wouldn't be there very often anyways because of the prices), but between the creepiness factor, the uneven quality of the food, and the high cost, I have absolutely no desire to go back.
(1)RoslindaMal E.
After reading all the wonderful reviews here on yelp I was really looking forward to eating at the Masona Grill. With that said, I have to say I was not impressed. While the service was good (although the owner came across as being a bit gruff) and the beer (Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale) was good, I felt what I ordered (Starter: Imported Prosciutto, Entree: Chili Rubbed Hanger Steak) was bland. I probably will not go here again.
(2)Mike S.
Hidden gem in west rox! Food was fantastic and wait staff was so friendly and attentive. I will be returning again
(4)Tim B.
This place keeps getting better and better. They define unpretentious. I've never eaten at a restaurant that is so consistently good. Most friendly service I've found in all of Boston. Standing ovation to Manny and crew.
(5)J. N.
Went to Masona Grill to celebrate a bday last night. Reservations were made, informing the person on the phone that we would be using a Groupon and were told no problem. The date was given - apparently neither us nor the restaurant realized it was during restaurant week when Groupons are not allowed. We informed our (nice) server that we'd be using the Groupon to which he replied, no Groupons during restaurant week. We let him know that we'd called to make sure, made a reservation for that particular date (their responsibility to inform us that it would not be allowed). We asked if we could just use the purchase value of the coupon as it was set to expire before the end of restaurant week - he was vehement that we could not. We would simply lose our money. We asked to talk to the owner. The owner REFUSED TO COME TO OUR TABLE. Before this, we might have stayed understanding there was a miscommunication. But a small business owner who refuses to speak to customers? As a person who works in client services every day, this is just suicide. We paid for our drinks and left never to return. We went 3 miles away to the FAR more customer-oriented Aquitaine (which btw is the best restaurant for miles anyhow).
(1)VKR N.
Unbelievable food with unbelievable service in intimate, down-to-earth surroundings. Tucked away in a corner of West Roxbury, Masona Grill is a find and I can't believe that more people don't know about it. We went on a freezing Wednesday night, hungry and stressed, and we left happy and full. When we stepped into the place, I didn't necessarily think we were in for a gourmet evening, as Masona Grill is small and looks like it would serve burgers and pizza instead of high-end contemporary food. One look at the menu and I was impressed already. But of course, what sealed the deal was the quality of every dish we ordered, both in taste and the beauty in presentation. I had fish and duck, as well as a duck appetizer, and closed with a fig-almond chocolate torte. We cleaned our plates. The fish was extraordinary, tender and flavorful, surrounded by crisp veggies and some grains -- I asked for a spoon to finish off all the sauce, that's how delicious it was. And the duck was succulent, not greasy, not overcooked -- perfect, with a subtly sweet sauce that was decadent. We loved the meal! Our server Scott is also probably the best server in Boston. I have never been to a restaurant where I received service as attentive, anticipatory, and friendly (without being overly so). We had ordered a Pinot Noir from their special menu which wasn't as robust as we would have liked -- it was perfectly fine, but my partner likes richer wines. Scott must have overheard us and in passing, checked in and asked whether we wanted to replace the glass. He did so in an unobtrusive way, not blaming us, and took care of the situation by pouring a cabernet that fit the bill. He refilled water without us asking, and had that perfect touch of friendly balanced professionalism that just set us at ease. He managed the room, which got quite busy, very smoothly. Just flat-out amazing. I wish every server were like him, and Masona Grill's got quite a gem in Scott! I can't wait to eat here again, and I'm glad I found it!
(5)Phil D.
Masona Grill is a great place with a nice menu, outstanding service, and a recently upgraded beer menu. What more could you ask for?
(5)Matt C.
I guess I can mayyyybbeeee see why this place keeps popping up on Groupon, given that a glance at the website will reveal above-average prices at an out-of-the-way location in residential West Roxbury. That said, Masona is well worth the cost and the trip even without the online deal. The food here is excellent. Even Zagat says so, rating it a 24, i.e. "very good to excellent". I've been 3 times in the past 18 months now (each time with a different date--and yet I keep going back), and I've never been disappointed. They have a great wine selection, and they seem to keep a nice rotation of menu staples and seasonal specials on regular rotation, so you can come back to an old favorite or mix it up each time! I love the look of the restaurant, with dimmed mood lighting, excellent (albeit background) music, and a warm overall vibe. The portions, even for what they charge, are very generous and I don't think I've ever finished my entree after sharing an appetizer. The service is attentive and friendly, and they'll never rush you to order, pay, leave, etc. In short, go to Masona Grill. I've enjoyed it in the past, and I know I'll be enjoying it in the (hopefully near) future. Now I just need to find a new date...
(4)Jessica P.
I love masona...it's a taste of down town in west rox. They always have a great menu and specials. My go to is generally the seared tuna if I don't branch out. Staff is great! It's such a hidden gem!
(4)Tom M.
We decided to give this place another shot after a bad previous experience. It's not in the stratosphere of prices where one bad time is enough to write it off, but any place that fails so hard twice deserves a one-star review. Apparently, on the night we visited, their bread delivery was half-full of charred loaves (like black crust all over charred). A decent restaurant would have complained to the bakery, tossed the burnt bread, and if they ran out of acceptable bread, either apologize for not having bread that evening, or whip up another thing to serve as a complimentary pre-meal snack. What does Masona Grill do? They put the blackened bread in a basket and serve it. When we asked for edible bread, they grudgingly exchanged it for one of the passable ones, and put the burnt one back in the hopper for another unsuspecting table to refuse. That's just indicative of the lack of quality of this place. I ordered the steak medium rare. It arrived medium well -- bordering on well done -- and was a grainy joyless eating experience. My wife's scallops were fine, but the squash ravioli and veggies they came with were cloyingly sweet. The food is unforgivably expensive for the awful preparation. The wine list is composed of what is normally found in Blanchard's bargain bins, but marked up to $9-10 a glass. Overall, Masona Grill is an overpriced, loveless restaurant that doesn't deserve to stay in business. Boo. Don't even go with a Groupon (which we did not either time).
(1)K R.
I had a really nice night at Masona Grill. The location is a bit out of the way of the usual West Roxbury restaurant foot traffic but this is not a negative, in my book. They are located next to the Highland commuter rail T stop. The service was great and the food was done really well. We had a groupon so we got the mussels as an appetizer. For dinner we got the duck and the steak. Everything was done perfectly. I don't usually like sweet potatoes but I thought theirs were great. For dessert we got the tres leches cake. My boyfriend doesn't usually eat anything sweet but he ate his share! I could have licked the plate- excellent! I would definitely go back. If you love beer, they don't have a huge selection on tap- it seems to be a better place for wine. I'm happy to drink either so I was not bothered by this fact. I would recommend for a romantic night out or a double date. Really good!
(5)Kevin M.
West Roxbury neighbor restaurant. I think it's a bit pricey for the experience but the portions are sizable without being offensive. There are many gluten free options on the menu. Calamari was quite good for an appetizer. The Latin shrimp was OK; it lacked zest in my opinion. My wife really liked her soft shell crab and sweet potato fries along with a nice mango slaw. It's not something I'd venture to from my hood again, but I could see it as a solid local joint.
(3)Jason F.
a nice little place in west roxbury. its a little tucked away, but thank God for gps. we got there around 6PM and the place was pretty empty, but we were seated promptly. for an app we got the calamari, which was great and i really liked the sauce, for the entree i got the crispy shrimp, which was also amazing. we were surprised at how big the entrees were, and very happy with them. i really liked the yucca fries, never had them before. definitely recommend this place, and the service was great as well!
(5)Abby M.
I *love* Masona Grill. It's a Mediterranean restaurant with a heavy focus on Spanish dishes. If I were to rate each separate dining experience I've had there, I would give each one five stars. Literally. I'm almost hesitant to write this review, because it's such a quiet, undiscovered spot... but I feel a duty. The proprietors and serving staff do an excellent job and they deserve a shout-out. It's all about the food. I have a hard time ordering anything but the Eggplant Romano, but have ventured beyond it a few times and everything is amazing. It just tastes so fresh. That makes sense, since their menu changes with the seasons and they make sure they're serving things that are at their peak. If the mushroom bisque is on the menu, GET IT. Despite being a pretty quiet, mostly empty space most of the times we've come, they seem to prefer reservations. Also regarding the price-- groupons! living social! I hate to blow up my spot here, but I have never gone to this restaurant without a coupon in hand. I keep an eye out and they come up regularly. If not for that, I would probably only make it to this restaurant once or twice a year...but I would STILL go happily. Enjoy!
(5)Emily G.
I like that this place is in our neighborhood. I also like that I had a Groupon as I don't think I would have ventured there without one (it's a little pricey for my taste) That being said, it's sooooo delicious! I went with my fiance and he had the dark chili rubbed hanger steak and I had the peppered tuna. Even though I was STUFFED after our lobster taquito (which, btw is more like a fish taco, than a traditional, fried taquito), I really enjoyed the tuna - cooked exactly to my liking. And the leek dumplings were unique and so delicious. We had the tres leches for dessert and we somehow managed to find room enough to completely finish it. Service was good and staff was attentive.
(4)Don G.
My wife and I ate there last night. It was 'OK', not great, and certainly not worth the cost. My wife ordered the scallops and ravioli. It cost $30 and it came with FIVE (5) scallops. I had the Latin Seafood Chupe, which was good, but also expensive for what it was. I hate having to fill up on bread to get enough food. This place gives very pretty plates with very little food at very big prices. We won't be back.
(2)Annie J.
Do not eat here. The owner is extremely rude, half their menu was not available. I am shocked someone in the food industry believes he can keep customers and speak to people like that!
(1)Parag S.
Great, warm, cozy restaurant with a lot of character. Food was delicious - with a real latin american flair. And Manny the chef and owner is very personable. The desert - flourless chocolate cake with dulce de leche icr cream was amazing!
(5)Paul P.
The place is a little creepy. A curtain seperates the door from the restaurant when you first walk in. It's intimate and tiny but apparently that adds to the romance as a couple at the bar was heavily involved in PDA!! As for the food, it was good. The beet salad was fresh and tasty. The eggplant dish was rich, tasted great, and went well with the shrooms and fresh ricotta. The scallops were cooked just right and not at all fishy. The bottle of wine was 40 bucks but at Gary's on the parkway it was 12 bucks. Kind of insane I'd say. The price is a bit outrageous but this is, as they say, fine dining.
(3)Sarah S.
We just had a lovely meal - exquisitely spiced and presented food with friendly service. The seared scallops with squash ravioli, green beans, asparagus, carrots and mushrooms was an amazing and complete meal - a tasty melange. The 5 spice duck with duck confit dumplings had a wonderful balance. The braise pork appetizer provided individual servings of flavorful goodness that were easy to share.And the tres leches dessert is unique and rich - a great dessert to share and enjoy with coffee. Service was fantastic - helpful, present but not intrusive. Take them up on recommendations and nightly specials. And the setting is very relaxed - there was a good vibe. We recommend it highly.
(5)Tiffany T.
Surprised with the great reviews. This place is OK. No greeting at the door before or after dining. Expensive for a mediocre restaurant. Mussels was good. Steak fritas was pretty good--have had better elsewhere. Paella was very bland and soupy--disappointing. Service was terrible. The server never came back to check on us. Water wasn't refilled until we finished our food and asked for the check. No one asked if we needed anything and/or how our food was. Overall OK dining experience. Thank goodness for the half off Boston Deal. I wouldn't go back.
(3)Dave B.
We have never had a bad meal at Masona. We have been coming here twice a year on average since it opened. The food is good, the ambiance is good, and the waiters are very polite and friendly. It is always a lot of fun to eat here.
(5)Vivz C.
I have been back to Masona Grill for two Boston Restaurant Weeks because I love their menu so much. Probably too pricey for me to go any other day, but when they offer you a 3 course meal for $33, you don't ask questions and seize the opportunity! Upon looking at their current Restaurant Week menu, they are still offering my favorites with some slight tweaks. Appetizer: Yucca Fries with Tomato Aioli & Pickled Onions. They basically fry the yucca root and compliment it with a tasty aioli sauce. Pretty simple (think french fries and a fancy ketchup) but oh so good. Main course: Hagar Steak w/ sides (they switch them up) and chimichurri. Masona was the first place I've ever gone out of my way to order steak and because of the quality of their food, I have been more open to ordering steak at other restaurants. And for the grand finale: Key Lime Pie. Not a fan of pie or cooked fruit (even though I know the lime is only the flavor) but I was able to nom on this like it was a birthday cake. Top quality food combined with excellent customer service makes this one of the places that I always look forward to eat at.
(4)Connie M.
The food was really outstanding and memorable. I had eggplant entree which was fantastic, as many vegetarian-choice-on-the-menu dishes are not at other restaurants. My husband had the tuna, also amazing. Out of the way but worth the trip.
(5)Darci K.
Bad experience I'm not sure if I'll go back. We left after drinks. We brought our kids out on a Friday night for a nice dinner with a groupon. When we let the waiter know, he said we could not use it because it was restaurant week and the time period was excluded. I guess that's fair, but who reads fine print? The restaurant was not full, but about 70% occupied. Anyway, I get that folks have to make a profit, but I think they could have figured something out. It felt negative.
(2)Yuriy G.
I love this place! I've been here several times over the course of the last couple of years, and I have never been disappointed. From the warm staff, to the humorous manager, to the seriously delicious food (the scallop special has me tempted each and every time I go, despite the fact that I usually don't get the same thing twice). And a nice affordable wine list to go with. An excellent local spot that I couldn't recommend more!
(5)Paul G.
Just thought I would share my comment to restaurant and their response: Comment sent: "Just thought I would write a brief note about dinner Thursday night with my daughter. While I have had very good meals in the past at the Masona Grill, Thursday night's meal was not very good. The atmosphere was very good as well as the service. We started off with a small plate of very good, artisan bread. Next we shared the lobster taquitos special appetizer and while the flavor was good, the lobster itself did not taste fresh as it had very little flavor standing by itself. I ordered the Seared scallop special which was presented very nicely but overall the dish (flavor) was also underwhelming and disappointing. The Sirloin that my daughter ordered was very bad; she ordered it medium and it came out very well done and the meat was very tough and chewy. Despite being badly overcooked, the meat did not seem like a very high quality cut of meat because even if it was overcooked it should not have been so tough and chewy if it were a high quality cut. We finished with the Carrot Cake which was very good. All in all, a disappointing meal." Response: "Good morning. I appreciate ur honesty and sorry u had a bad meal. To recap ur meal, lobster meat came that day and very fresh, as well as tge sirloin. We buy high quality food and are very proud of what we serve. You obviously had an issue with everything on your meal even after we asked you how was everything. Again sorry about ur experience and have a nice day. Sincerely Masona." I thought response was very defensive and I thought I would share it. My original email said that the atmosphere and service were very good, the bread was very good and the carrot cake was very good. I also said that the scallop presentation was very good but owner responded by saying "you obviously had an issue with everything on your meal..." I certainly wouldn't tell the owner how to run his business, but each time a customer has a negative experience is an OPPORTUNITY to turn a dissatisfied customer into a loyal, satisfied customer. Perhaps that is why the restaurant was practically empty on a Thursday evening!
(2)Ben V.
Consistently good. Lots of attention to detail, and a diverse menu. Very good seafood, in an otherwise bland food area, you will be happy you tried it. We are lucky to have it in the area.
(4)Anna H.
Great food, yummy beers and the server was very nice!
(4)Katie T.
We had another great dinner last night at Masona Grill. We loved the sirloin and lobster (Valentine's Day special.) Delicious flavors, great service, cozy, warm ambience. We have not sat at the bar but it looked inviting as well. We're looking forward to our next visit.
(5)Jen D.
Outstanding every single time. I'm not sure where to begin. The servers are down to earth and very knowledgable. You never feel rushed. The atmosphere is comfortable and romantic. If you have any dietary issues, they are so incredibly thoughtful and accommodating. I can't say enough about this place. It's in my top 5 favorite places to have a nice dinner out in Boston.
(5)Edward C.
One of my favorite dishes to order at a restaurant is duck. Whenever I see it on the menu, I generally order it. I can't tell you how many times I have ordered duck but I can tell you the best duck meal I have ever had is at Masona Grill. The menu says it is "duck two ways" (leg confit and the breast is seared in a pan.) and it has a port reduction sauce that is fabulous. I ordered it well done and our server, Brian, (who did a great job and makes the best sangria I have ever had), said I should order it medium. He was right-on. The meal also came with sweet potato mash, which was terrific.... My wife countered with hanger steak that was tender and done perfectly, and accompanied by excellent french fries... We shared an appetizer of shrimp won ton that was very tasty and got our meal off on an excellent note...The portions were perfect as we also had room for dessert. Once again, my wife and I shared it--a key lime tart... It was an excellent meal and we can't wait to go back. Might have to wait until the fall, though, as they change their menu in the summer and duck is not featured... Only caveat is we thought it was rather pricey for a neighborhood restaurant. The meal was a bit over $90.00 (shared appetizer, two entrees, shared dessert, one drink--outstanding sangria). Fortunately, we had a Groupon which cut the price down considerably. We are going back to Masona Grill in the near future as we have recently purchased another Groupon. We had a wonderful dining experience and can't wait to go back.
(4)Delicious M.
So we went to dinner last night at Masona, but I have been there one other time (the Friday after Valentine's day). Overall, both experiences had high points and lows. Highs: Appetizer, the pork chichrrones are fab. Sauce is awesome. Best thing on the menu. Dessert: Really good carrot cake. Mediums: The sangria, not the best, not the worst. the duck, the breast was really good, cooked perfectly, just the entire dish was a little sweet for me. The sides of mashed potatoes and squash are both great. Service: good, not crazy good, but good. Lows: My BF had a swordfish special, it must have been a bad cut of fish or something because it had some bad fat still left on it, giving it a really fishy flavor. Also the price... seriously for that price I can eat at Capital Grill in Newton. Overall, I give it a meh, some good food and bad food. Another new restaurant in boston that is over-priced for what it is.
(3)Pamela T.
I have been to the Masona Grill a dozen or so times. I like this place, it is quirky, the food swings all over the place and the service is uneven, but I like it anyway. They have a good reasonably priced wine list and there is always one very good dish waiting to be found. Last night I had the leek dumplings. They were perfectly fried and the sauce was really good. Everything else was just OK. But I liked it anyway and I will go back.
(3)Kristen I.
I really liked that this place has so many gluten-free options, and that they note them right on the menu. The food was delicious. I had the grilled pork tenderloin, grilled bananas, and black beans. I also had a cosmopolitan that was excellently prepared. I will be back the next time I am in West Roxbury!
(4)Lee H.
I'd give Masona Grill a 4.5, but you've only got 5 stars, so they get the benefit of the doubt. The restaurant is tucked away near a commuter train station. We went on a Saturday, so parking was OK, but I could see people having problems. The space is relaxed and inviting. The bread basket held some of the best bread I can remember eating in a while. Wonderful. We split a salad - very fresh and nicely dressed. I had a breaded chicken dish, my wife the scallops. Everything was delicious. Something undefinable about the flavors, the "how do they do that" effect. The only disappointment was the chocolate cake dessert. Good, but not outstanding. Service was excellent. Prices are perhaps a smidge high, but the product is excellent.
(5)Vanessa W.
The food was delicious. I had the hanger steak and it was amazing.
(5)Jeremy B.
If my dear mother didn't have that groupon and an unused AmEx gift check lying around, I would never have set foot in here, or dropped $150. Overall, I'm glad we did. Er, I'm glad she did. Masona is one of those sort-of fancy/casual South End type of places, without the posturing, crammed into a depressing little nook of Westy. I hadn't been back there since we used to hang out at Highland Station and smoke Mahbs, pop No-Doze and gorge ourselves on White Hen's double-stuffed roast beef subs. To hear some fancy Latin American chef had picked this spot, in West Roxbury, was actually a little confusing. The setting was nice; the lights were sufficiently dim for two self-conscious folks. We had two waiters, whose suggestions both hit the mark. The yuquitas fritas, yucca fries--which taste like a potato/artichoke hybrid, are common in Latin American cooking and are often eaten with a spicy aioli, but here they sat in a cheese sauce, which I didn't care for as it had no real discernible flavor. Luckily, the fried oysters came with the same aioli that my yuquitas longed to bath in--problem solved. Now, the oysters: the waiter wasn't being hyperbolic when he said these were the best he'd ever had. The cornmeal batter was crisp, and provided a heightened contrast to the unusually silky texture of the oysters. It was like eating both a raw oyster and a fried oyster; the soft, barely discernable mouthfeel and delicious whisper of briny essence, enshrined in an inconspicuous but delicate mealy crunch. Food writing is so stupid. People who get paid for writing things like this should be ashamed of themselves. Maybe as the libido begins to wane, one finds new elements of the human experience to fetishize. Don't worry, I'm tying this all back into a grandiose statement about class consciousness, at some point. Um. The beet salad: I really didn't like the thick sludgy quality of the chevre dressing. It was as thick as cream cheese, which really isn't something I wanted on top of spinach. It didn't allow the bold flavors of spinach and the sweet, slightly tart balsamic syrup and the firm beets to meld. To reach that symphonic cross polination of gustatory blargle blargle...Meh. Shaddap. I ordered the "cassoulet", as I'd never had this classic before. I somehow missed the fact that this was, essentially, a no-holds-barred protein cage match. Lima beans, lamb, a chicken leg, AND pork belly? I dunno why. Rich, homey comfort food, but not worth what it cost, in all honesty. The waiter boasted that the lamb was good and tasted like steak. Hurr? Do you philistines order lamb, hoping that it doesn't taste like lamb? Is it so that we can say we eat lamb, we are of the lamb-eating caste, or that we are fealress jet setters, who've seen one too many episodes of Zimmern or Bourdain? Fudge that spit. I want my lamb to be lamby, grassy. I want a mouth full of wool. But this tasted like...steak. Not bah-ah-ahd (you see what I did there? I can't be helped), but ewe'd be better off with something else. The chicken leg was actually the tastiest part. Simple, cheap. But noooooo, this is America: the more varieties of protein you can fit on a plate=the more "value" the customer thinks they are getting. What I didn't get was why the pork belly, which had been crisped into chicharron (ohhhhh, yeahhh), had been stewed into a crispless, but not quite spoon-tender pork limbo. It tasted good, but was a waste. Mum, as I don't call her, had the seafood stew with lobster-saffron broth. Very nice. Nom. Fault-finding as I am, it could have been a little more diverse. It boasted a variety of sea creatures but relied on mussels--the cheapest morsels on the market. A few delectable little-necks, some squid, with some quinoa and yucca floating about the bowl; nicely done, but we felt a little deceived. It wasn't called a "mussel stew"... The cure for this negative nancy: the sangria. This was the single best sangria I've ever had, Spain, Mexico, etc. be damned. This was perfect. The right kind of fruity young wine, perhaps a tempranillo. I didn't ask, I didn't care, I will go back just to sip that with some more yucca frita. And the cake. THE CAKE! Tres Leches with caramel sauce, I fell in love. Though I'd had nothing to compare it with, and I thought I was about to have a hernia, it was absolutely worth it. My mother ordered a mountain they called carrot cake--an exceptional version. Not the usual pie-spice w/cream cheese deal; much more subtle, garnished with an un-subtle dollop of whipped cream. I don't know. This spot reminded me why I don't go out to eat often, in a way. Its all delicious, yes. But is it worth what we're spending? What justifies this being 3x the price of some of the more traditional Latin American food one can find in JP?
(3)Soly P.
Went there on 6/21/13. Not impressed at all. Someone made a good point, why offer groupons if people are going to be treated different and poorly. First of all air conditioning is a must in a small place especially in the summer. The service was rushed and not great, the food was over priced for the amount. Will not go back and they need to stop offering the groupons or treat people better when they use them.
(2)Dr. Juan H.
The place was warm and inviting. We were early and got a seat at the bar, and had a great glass of sangria. Once we sat down the bread was fresh followed by mussels with a great broth with a dash of heat. My steak was cooked perfectly and I tried my girlfriend's mashed sweet potatoes which were amazing. Service was great and the owner came by and made sure we enjoyed our meal. Overall a great experience and I will definitely go back.
(5)Nina L.
Amazing dishes! Starting with the fried oysters, so succulent!!! The scallops were grilled perfectly and was an adventure to eat!!! My husband had the cod - oh my god! That cod!!! Flour less chocolate cake was fudge!! Delish dish ! All was perfect and Manny the owner, makes you feel like you are a guest in his home, so warm and welcoming. Brandon was the greatest waiter, treated you like a friend that he is happy to see!!! Loved it!!!
(5)Robert C.
Can't complain about the quality and presentation of the food. Well balanced, satisfying portion sizes and perfectly prepared. Once inside (the location is less than spectacular) the feeling is cozy, and can be romantic depending on the table you get. My reason for not giving it the highest rating is that the pricing is well above what should be reasonable given the location (and overhead) for the restaurant.
(4)Angela M.
Great food and amazing service. Would definitely return.
(4)Aaron E.
Went here for the first time last week with a livingsocial coupon for half off $50 of food. The place is very cute, romantic (my girlfriend loved the indoor environment and feel of the place) and quiet. We went on a Tuesday night so it was going to be quiet anyway. Our server was very attentive to us (not the friendliest guy ever, but definitely not unfriendly) and was spot on with our food and provided what we asked for very quickly at all intervals. We had the wild mushroom bisque (which was awesome) and the lobster taquitos (I think that's what they were called - they were good but perhaps a bit too much of a weird concoction of mexican and seafood to me) for appetizers. I had the lamb shank with mashed sweet potatoes and veggies. That was a great dish. I took part of it home and it was very tasty 36hrs later. The food is somewhat expensive, so I was grateful to have a coupon with me. The wine selection is limited but good. The desert menu suited my girlfriend very well. She was happy. I'd say the best aspect of Masona is the food (very tasty) and second would be the environment of the place. It is a great place to take a date or have a quiet dinner and drinks with friends. The aspect I appreciate least would be the price. I will definitely go there again, but hopefully with another half-off coupon.
(4)Janet F.
Surprised to see such glowing reviews as it just seemed like a mediocre place - i would have given 2.5 but gave 3 since no halfway numbers. Entering the place felt like it hadn't been updated since forever, and seemed dingy and frumpy. Food was OK but not great. We were going to order 2 appetizers but waiter told us to only order one, but the scallops were tiny and not enough for 2. As much as I love cheese, the scallops were totally overwhelmed by the pecorino romano. My seafood stew was OK but needed more depth of spices/flavors. My husband's lamb shank was better and the veggies were good, too. The server was very good; we didn't have dessert, so no comment there. The place really needs updating!!!!!!!
(3)Joseph S.
Was pleasantly surprised by Masona Grill. Went for my girlfriend's birthday with another couple and had a great meal. We each ordered something different and while nobody was necessarily blown away by the food, everyone was very happy with their meal. Our server, Pancho, was very attentive and helpful and the owner, Manny, was very friendly. The yucca fries were delicious and a perfect accompaniment for my friend that is allergic to potatoes. Also, the space is warm and unique for the area, adding a lot to the experience. I'd recommend this establishment and go back again in the future.
(4)bob c.
Cute small restaurant with a European feel; a series of small interconnected rooms in an older building. Good prompt service. Interesting menu with good execution. Prices higher than you would expect for the food and location; wine prices are notably high. Don't think cocktails are offered. Worth a visit; but given the high pricing not high on my revisit list.
(4)Ian U.
I have been here many times. The wine dinners are outstanding as well as everything else on the menu. There are only a few good restaurants nearby and this is one of them. You get what you pay for so don't come here if you want a cheap meal.
(5)Brian R.
I went here with my girlfriend last night and every part of the meal was great. Street parking was easy. While the bar isn't extensive, the selection was good quality. We had the pork appetizer, I had the duck for dinner and my girlfriend had the scallops. Everything was cooked perfectly. The chocolate tiramisu was very good, too.
(5)Ligaya T.
Thanks to Devon and Bryan for organizing a wonderful dinner outing to this gem! The environment is very casual and comfortable. I'd suggest sitting in the window nook table if it's available too. Now that you're all situated, sip on something. My mango mojito was excellent. Our first round consisted of the chicharones, slow roasted duck salad, mussels and deviled eggs. The presentation was great and all was tasty. I would have liked a little more broth in the mussels to dunk the yummy bread in as well as deviled egg filling. The dipping sauce on the chichas was excellent, just a bit tangy. The entrees were stellar. The gnocchi was delightfully plump, fresh and moist. Blanketed in a mild gorgonzola cream sauce and topped with beets and spinach, my mouth had a party. The duck breast blew me away. Such a perfect combo of flavors from the ginger reduction and sweet potatoes. Gorgeous bok choi flower in the center. I could eat this dish until the end of time. If you'd like to gild the lily, the panna cotta is fluffy and light, and though I loved it, wasn't the tables' favorite. Everyone else attacked the blueberry torte. Didn't have coffee to end, but I can say with educated speculation that it would be rich and good cuz the place is quality like that. Come on a weeknight for friendly service and a relaxed, marvelous meal.
(4)L M.
We recently dined at Masona on 3/31 and 4/7. The back-to-back Saturdays were due to a misunderstanding with a Living Social deal we had purchased and the dates of Restaurant Week. The owner, Manny, was gracious enough to extend the acceptance of the Living Social deals because of the way the expiration date fell with Restaurant Week and the Easter/Passover holidays. We've dined here about 5 times now, and every time we get the mussels for an appetizer. These are a must-have and are totally addicting. Do not let them take your plate away until you've been able to dip your bread in the delicious broth! Entrees are a little pricey, but very different than anything else offered in the area. Manny always seems to recognize us and greets us like regulars. Service is OK...not the best I've ever had, but not the worst either. If you're looking for a unique night out in a cozy, neighborhood setting, then Masona's your place!
(4)Melissa D.
Masona Grill is a convenient location for commuters who want to grab dinner since it's right across the Highland commuter station. I have been here a few times and I have had ok experiences but nothing that blew me away. The Argentinean Hangar Steak was somewhat good but they have gotten my steak temp wrong twice. The paella is my favorite on the menu, the spices and the chorizo! I'm so excited there is chorizo in this area so I don't have to travel all the way to the Newport/Fall River area for come classic chorizo dishes. Service is very friendly but this is not a fast paced restaurant.
(3)Holly M.
What I liked, the atmosphere, the service, the wines. What wasn't so thrilling...the parking and the dining room split. Still a very enchanting little spot tucked away from the hustle of Centre Street. I mean really tucked away, I almost couldn't find it. Side note, you can park on the side street to the right of the restaurant. The coffee rubbed steak was a little on the rare side when I asked for medium, but there was so much that I was able to take it home and cook it a little more the next day. My husband really enjoyed his roasted chicken dish. We did use a groupon, but since we are moving to the area I know we will be back. I'd like to try out the bar area and see what is up the stairs. I couldn't tell from where I was seated what was up there. :)
(3)Mcslimj B.
A little slice of the South End in West Roxbury, a creative New American bistro with South American accents. This two-level space is airy and charming, the service friendly and familiar. Phenomenal appetizers exorcise any shades of suburbia: a roasted beet/apple salad ($9) with good greens, blue cheese, and spiced walnuts; gorgeous little empanadas of finely-diced wild mushrooms ($9) with charred tomato relish for acid contrast; chicharrones de pollo, crisp-roasted chicken thighs cut crosswise through the bone, with fried sweet-potato chips, lime, and a garlicky caper sauce. Grilled pork ribeye ($23) is meaty, aptly sauced with a cider reduction, and flanked by a swoony gratin of parsnip and roasted apple. Vegetarians get respect with a roasted acorn squash ($18) topped with a massive mound of deep-flavored mushroom ragù. Wines are interesting and sensibly priced, like a 2005 Altos Las Hormigas ($27) from Argentina, 100% Bonarda (a grape I'd never seen), round and hot like a big Merlot. We finish with an autumn-perfect pear/ginger upside-down cake ($7) with caramel and crème fraîche. Veteran South End restaurateurs (ex-Claremont Café owner, ex-Nightingale chef) are in command here, and it shows in Masona's polish as well as its prices. I don't know if West Roxbury is ready for it, but unrepentantly urban Bostonians ought to stampede onto the commuter rail (Needham line to Highland stop) to get here.
(4)Jack K.
Major disappointment. We went there on a Saturday night (half empty restaurant -- should have been a clue). The service was downright awful. Clueless waitress and food took forever to come (we noticed others having the same issue). The salad was mediocre -- no better than could have been put together quickly at home. The bread was hard and cold. I had the salmon; I usually love salmon, but this was a bad piece and the spices were tasteless. Atmosphere depressing; reminded me of a rundown pub trying to make more money on fancy food (like when Moe's Tavern tried to go upscale on the Simpsons). The saving grace of the meal was my GF's tuna, which was good. Still, the entire experience was a downer.
(2)Daniel H.
West Roxbury can hardly be described as a epicurian's dream town, but it certainly has it's gems. Masona Grill is one of them. The only reason why Masona couldn't pull off the fifth star is because it simply didn't have the Wow! factor. All in all, the restaurant was superb. The atmosphere was very nice, and the location is a little shady since it is tucked away by the commuter rail tracks about a a block away from West Roxbury's main drag. Don't get me wrong, but that is a good thing. An offbeat location is usually the main ingredient in the recipe for a great place to eat. The quasi-upscale food was great, and so were the drinks and staff. Great date place: its fun, dark and cozy.
(4)Kate K.
I'm not sure why Masona Grill is offering Groupons if they don't actually want you to use them. Luckily, our server Gina was an absolute delight, so she's was able to save the experience from being a ruined evening.
(2)Sarah R.
Amazing food, cozy atmosphere, great service! My friends and I started with the calamari. It was so light and delicious, maybe the the best calamari I've ever had. We each ordered different things and I tried what both of my friends had. It was all super fresh and delicious. I got the rare peppercorn tuna. It was sushi grade quality and came with these really great leek dumplings. Both of my friends got specials. 1 tried the soft shell crab, which were the biggest soft shell crabs I've ever seen and also tasted super fresh. My other friend got the shrimp on the barbie special. The shrimp was very succulent. Both came with really creative sides. This is beyond my neighborhood, but worth the trip!
(5)Joshua H.
Went last night for a pre-Valentine's dinner. Better than the last time we went with some inventive, well executed dished. Really liked the grilled beef hearts app and my wife enjoyed her green salad. She also reported that her pan roasted half chicken, while not as good as Hammersley's, was great. The fried local cod entree was good, too, though not spectacular. Carrot cake was pretty good, too.
(4)Megan N.
I've been to Masona Grill twice now - once for a bridal shower, and once for a birthday dinner. Both experiences were fantastic - the food is delicious, and the staff gracious and timely. During the shower the food was family style, with the sweet potato mash and seared tuna being the standouts. For the birthday dinner, the table split the yucca fries and dumplings, which were incredible - such complimentary flavors! The eggplant dish was perfect, too; thinly sliced and fried lightly, with none of the rubbery texture eggplant can fall victim to. Those that ordered the scallops, trout and hanger steak were thoroughly pleased, as well. The chocolate cake was divine, and the key lime pie tart and refreshing. The entire meal was complimented with great wine, and our server allowed us time to enjoy the meal (without ever being too far and without ever hovering.) The prices are a tad on the high side, but for the occasional meal out, not too dear. The ambiance of the place makes it worth it. Highly recommended.
(4)Jordan M.
I've been here three times, and live about a 15 minute walk away. First time was pretty good, second time was pretty good, and third time was ok. I'd actually give them a 3.5, but Yelp doesn't allow it... I forget what I ordered first go-around, but second time there I ordered the scallops, and thought they were really good, although a little overcooked. Which is a terrible thing to do to scallops. Although the sauce was really good, kind of a gratin... very earthy, and they paired it well with vegetables. I didn't think the wine was very good though, and maybe should have sent it back (although it was just a glass of the house red - which should have been MUCH better). Third time was last week, and I got the Paella and my wife and I both got the Sangria (and she got the scallops, which I sampled, and which were unbelievably good - with dumplings and that rich gratin earthy sauce that I liked so much the last time). I had been looking fwd to it since my wife got the Paella last time we were there. The mussels were overcooked (very dry and crumbly), the rice dry and unflavorful the way I have come to expect paella rice to incorporate all the other flavors, and the dish was so hot I had to wait 5 minutes before I could put a second forkful in my mouth. The juice in the paella was terribly musselly brothy, almost as if it was just poured over the top rather than used to cook the dish with... NOT how paella should be IMHO. However, after warming up the other half the next day for lunch it didn't taste so bad (maybe the juices had time to do their thing on the rice overnight?)... On the plus side, the servers have always been really good there, and there is a decent selection of other dishes that are much simpler to cook and less likely to be nit-picked at by critical palates such as mine. The ambience is great, the layout is comfortable, not stuffy, The salads are in very decent portions, so I'll probably do one of those next time there (my wife always lucks out with her dishes there) and hopefully I will change my rating to ****... stay tuned!
(3)Henry G.
Ate there on Saturday night, October 22, 2011 - party of four. Food was very good, but the service was horrible. Our reservation was not honored on time. Instead of proper apologies, we were told to "sit" in a location that had no seats, were treated to disparagement of the diners who apparently had "finished 20 minutes ago," and were looked at like children under foot by the staff while waiting for our table. Then we sat down. The person who seated us took two drink orders. Then, when we asked a question about the alcohol options, he practically threw a menu at us, said, "It's all there; we're not hiding anything" and walked away without taking the remaining drink orders. Next, a waitress arrived, and she had no clue that only half of the drink orders had been taken. Table for two next to us had appetizers and entrees, and they were done with entrees before ours were served. Clearing the table was a many-trip ordeal, in part because the appetizer course was never fully cleared. And we had to beg to be asked about dessert. (Also, no one drew our attention to the specials on the chalkboard. The only tempting dessert was there and not on the menu.) I hope that this was an off night, and we may try Masona again, but if we get the same service, it doesn't matter how good the food is.
(2)Meggety W.
Delicious food and excellent service from the bald-headed man whose name I don't know. I had the duck and the mussels. I used a Groupon, which made the meal even better because of the price. Without the Groupon, this place would be really pricey for what you get.
(4)Scott M.
Great food, atmosphere, and staff. Put this place downtown and people would be falling over themselves to get a table.
(5)Sonia S.
Service was OK but restaurant week menu was the worse we have had so far. Pork belly was too dry and seemed to have been prepared a few days earlier. Shrimp ceviche and fried oysters were way too spicy. The ricotta cavatelli was overcooked and bland. The Argentinian steak, while portion wise was very abundant, was tasteless and cold. Desserts were very good. This was the first time for us at this restaurant and we really wanted to love this place, given the good reviews on Yelp. Unfortunately for us, it was not a very good experience.
(2)Will N.
Had dinner here a few days ago and the biggest challenge was finding the place. It is located right across from the Highland Commuter Rail, but it took me forever to find it. However, there is plenty of street parking. The food was as expected, but the steak was a little too tough and the potatoes were undercooked. The service is great and the atmosphere is reminiscence of a old fashion steak house. Don't know if I'd go back because of the location, but I do like the small homey feeling. I only gave 3 stars because of the food cooked incorrectly and the difficult location.
(3)J S.
Only giving 3 until I can come back again. I went for RW with 2 friends, and since we all like each other we shared everything to get more tastes! Apps- Shrimp ceviche - very good. great flavor Crispy oysters - again very good. Very fresh and cooked perfectly. Lobster taquitos - lobster meat was perfect, the dish was good. nothing crazy though. Entrees - Peppered tuna with sweet potato mash was out of this world. Cooked perfectly. Great concept with sides that really complemented the tuna. Want to return to get this again. Grill half chicken with green rice. Didn't try the chicken but was told it was great. The green rice stole this show. Would give my left arm to know how to cook it. Coffee rubbed sirloin steak....this was their down fall. I asked for rare and the server was right on board saying rare or medium rare was the only way to order steak.....and then I got a WELL DONE STEAK?!?! I didn't send it back, but told them that it was wrong....no taking it off the bill or ask to cook it again....just sorry. The desserts were not really memorable.
(3)Lisa P.
What a great restaurant! So comfortable and enjoyable. The waiter seemed to know his information which was great. Ordered the prosciutto salad and duck entree. Absolutely fabulous. The duck was tender and to die for. Hubby had the seafood scampi with pasta and thought it was fantastic. Relaxed atmosphere and really wonderful. Love that they have partnered up with local businesses like Volante Farms and Blue Hill Brewery. It will definitely be added to our list of restaurants!
(4)Erica G.
Worst experience I have had in a long time. I had high hopes for this place, especially because of the other positive reviews. I arrived with one other person, and we were waiting for 2 others. While we waited, I informed the server that one of the people we were waiting for is vegan. Because they seemed to only be serving the Restaurant Week menu, I asked if there were any sides that she could have that were vegan, he informed me that two of the dishes could be made vegan-either the gnocchi (which would be vegan once the proscuitto was removed) or the eggplant (which could be vegan once the cheese was removed). Once the other two in our party arrived, the vegan discussed her options with him and he said he recommended getting the gnocchi for her needs. Once her food arrived, we immediately noticed there was cheese on the plate. When the owner came over, we explained the situation to him and he immediately said that even without the cheese on top, the gnocchi is filled with cheese. He said he would make some sort of vegetable dish, which they did. Everything up until this point was handled how I would expect.... even though I think it is the responsibility of every restaurant owner (especially restaurants that charge the exorbitant prices this one does) to educate their staff about dietary needs. Restaurants need to be very vigilant about knowing what is in the food they serve especially because of allergens. There is no excuse for ignorance in this area. However, when the owner dropped off the food, he made a statement to the effect of "the waiter doesn't really speak good english". Are you kidding me? That is completely unprofessional. At the end of the meal (which matched the service), they brought out two desserts, one came with one of the meals and the other was to make up for the previous errors I believe. Maybe they should have thought about the fact that both had dairy.... and the person they were trying to make it up to doesn't eat dairy. The waiter even said to her- it doesn't have eggs or anything.... Ok... did you forget about the whipped cream? When we got the check, we saw that they had charged us for the gnocchi. Not a reduced price for the small vegetable plates we received. I have worked at a number of restaurants, and it would be common place at those restaurants for them to comp the meal they screwed up. Instead, this restaurant decided to make it up to us with a dessert that she couldn't even eat. This restaurant is extremely overpriced for the service and the food. The owner is one of the most unprofessional people I have seen running a restaurant. Obviously, I will not be going back there.
(1)Sean R.
Ok,y'know me the dessert was so good,the staff great,the appetizer the crab cakes yum,but I wanted more.The place is nice and dim, the right lighting for a calm dinner.
(4)Dianna B.
I've been here 4 times. The first two trips were in fall/winter 2006 for dinner. The first time I went, I was blown away -- the food, the service, the ambiance were fantastic. On a second trip, the food was a mixed bag -- I had the crab cake appetizer and they just were not good. A third trip in spring 2007 was for brunch. I loved their take on eggs benedict -- served on cornbread with avocado -- delicious! Others in my party tried omlettes and found them overdone. There were few other patrons in the place. My most recent trip was Dec 2007 for a spur-of-the-moment dinner with friends. We didn't have a reservation and they were packed to capacity (good for them!), so we ate at the bar. The food was delicious once again, but the service was poor-- we waited for about 15 mins after our drinks arrived to place our dinner order and were not able to flag our server down for drink refills during the meal. Maybe they were understaffed that night? I kept to 4 stars for overall good food with some misses and the latest inattentive service. But, I will be back! Random question -- why do the lights always flicker on and off? I would have thought the commuter rail outside had something to do with it, but the flickering happened 3-4 times during our meal and the trains just do not run that often.
(4)A J.
About a year ago on a Saturday afternoon, my mother and I decided to go for a late lunch here. The place was practically empty, yet the host gave a us a really hard time that we ddi not have reservations. I looked around at all the empty tables and asked, why are all of these reserved? ( it was not even closer to dinner time) He said that they were. They did seat us, but acted like they were doing us a favor by letting us eat there. After my first encounter I decided never to return. Well, I am all about 2nd chances so I decided what better time to go than Restaurant Week? I called weeks ago and made reservations for myself and my parents. A table for 3. My parents arrived before I did and asked for our table. The host told them I made a reservation for 4 not 3, and waited until I arrived to seat them. I told the host I never made a reservation for 4, it was always 3. Well, they ended up sitting us at a round table with 3 settings smack dab in the middle of the room, by the stairs, in the way of the servers and right by the door with a cold draft. Not a good start. As I was looking over the menu, I realized the items that I wanted were not on it. I reviewd the menu several times online and already decided what i wanted and was looking forward to it. I asked our waitress if they menu changed. She had no idea. Another waitress confirmed that they did indeed change it. Needless to say, I was not happy at all. The food was good, I am not being negative about that. The space is beautiful. I think Masona just needs to brush up on the service. I probably wont be back there for a while.....
(2)Kim K.
One of the few places in West Roxbury to go for GOOD food. If you are tired of all the typical sub shops and restaurants of Centre st. you should definitely hit up this little gem.
(5)Adam B.
This place is an amazingly solid Bistro with Peruvian influences. The room is casual and home-y, with a "main" dining area, a second smaller dining area, and a tiny bar. The window seats are great fun, albeit they don't look out on much. One thing I love about the place is after 1 dinner you already start to feel like a regular. Maybe it's because the room is small and the staff are generally friendly, but you'll feel like you "belong" pretty quick. I've been here 6 times now, so i've tried most of the dishes, and you pretty much can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The one "great in theory, mixed in execution" dish is the ceviche tasting, which has consistently failed to live up to expectations. Everything else is fantastic. The sea scallops are faaaantastic. The menu changes some with the seasons, and the summer menu is a touch cheaper than the winter menu (although I think that may be a reflection of an overall "price correction" to fit the DubRox locale). One other thing: if you sign up for their mailing list, they'll give you heads up on short-term specials that pop up for a few days (like soft-shell crab, or something similarly seasonal).
(5)Brian D.
This past Saturday I finally had the chance to pop in on Masona Grill with my wife for dinner. I knew we were in for a good experience because our friend is the lead chef and he had told us about the simple complexities of the menu as he had been developing them for this new spot in West Roxbury. With time, hunger, thirst and a few bucks on our side we decided to check out Masona (which at this point in time is still new but has been well under operation for a few months). Upon entering we are greeted by a rich, warm environment decorated with hard wood and graceful black and white photographs. If you were to ask you would find about the history of this off the beaten path former store front. The night was busy and we had not called for a reservation so we sat at the short bar with a view of the kitchen. We ordered from the well derived wine list (pinot and Montepulciano ) which was a easy read for us with many of our favorites and we were served well filled glasses as we read over the appetizer list. To get to the meat of the review... We couldnt resist the ap's and we shared the: - prosciutto and hard Italian cheeses w/pear and a rich fig drizzle -chicacharon w/ sweet potato crisps and cilantro lime sauce We were also served the house specialty: cerviche w/ octopus, salmon and mussels w/ sweet corn and vinegared onions All were good size servings, were incredibly good and were plated beautifully. We re-filled our drinks, I admit I switched to a Chimay and we put in our entree orders - dinner was ready quickly and with our view of the kitchen we could see the chefs preparing everything. We also saw all the other customers plates coming out. Our dinners were: - grilled cod w/ a chorizo in a little neck clam broth -leg of duck served rare w/ sweet cherry and sweet potato puree The blending of South American and Mediterranean dishes with the benefit of local availability was a huge success. I felt like the menu was pulled together with my new england sensibilities in mind. This is normally the point where I insert the 'but watch out for...' but I really can't - this spot is that good. Go on a weekend night, maybe call for a reservation, plan on spending some money and really digging into the menu and wine list, consult Mapquest as the location in West Roxbury is a little weird to navigate to, and frigging enjoy yourself.
(5)Demetri P.
Maybe we caught them on an off night, but when we went to Masona last night, Sunday, I was less than thrilled with my experience. I feel like they have a sweet spot as far as local restaurants are concerned, yet they fail to capitalize on this. Let me explain, we entered the place at 6:50 and were greeted by no one, took a seat at the bar, which was littered with remote controls, a soda glass and various used votives and tried to order a drink. It took ten minutes to actually get our drinks, at which point the rest of our party arrived and we were seated. We sat in the tightest space in the restaurant and proceeded to wait 45 minutes to order. The first course was fine(mussels, carpaccio, though it was missing truffle oil, oysters) but the main course left us all fairly underwhelmed, the crispy cod was bland and soggy, the steak was chewy and sinewy, paella was totally lacking. The eggplant was one of the high points of the meal. The part that bothered me the most was that the server explained to my wife, who was patiently waiting to order a drink, that he was too busy to make her a Mojito, which would have been fine had he offered anything in place of that particular drink. Not sure I would have treated a party of 14 people, celebrating a birthday, in the same manner. It's a shame because we live close by and would have wanted to frequent this joint.
(2)David C.
I had a terrific meal, lamb shank; super yummy. My girlfriend had a good meal too; forgot what she ordered though. Good bread too!!! And the waiter was superb.
(5)Jeff V.
I lived in West Roxbury for more than a year before I even knew this place existed. It's just a block away from Centre Street, and I believe it's some of the best food you can get on this side of Boston. The service was fantastic, the environment is warm and inviting, and the food is most definitely delicious (try the tuna!). Its isolation from the main street also gives it a certain charm.
(5)David C.
My new favorite restaurant in one of my favorite neighborhoods. Quaint, cool, relaxed atmosphere with awesome food. The duck with sweet potato mash was best I have had yet - anywhere. Calamari and yucca fries were excellent. Everything was cooked to order, fresh, unique and plentiful. Will definitely be back, again and again. Great cocktails too with fresh ingredients.
(5)Ray R.
This restaurant is so quaint but, unfortunately, the food does not match what you might expect. We have been here twice - once for brunch and once for dinner. We were underwhelmed with brunch but thought we would give dinner a chance. Dinner was a total disappointment. My husband's swordfish was almost completely burned as was my steak. The cerviche appetizer was overwhelmingly seasoned and covered with lime. We actually sent the swordfish back because it wasn't edible and the staff left me with my entree while they returned the swordfish to the kitchen. No offer of a salad while my husband waited for a new entree or to top off his wine - just me sitting with my entree and he has nothing to eat. I spent 10 minutes picking at my food and offering it to my husband until he got a new swordfish. My steak was burnt almost completely on the ends but I could not handle the thought of returning both entrees. When my husband tasted my steak he also thought it was burned and quite tasteless. My advice - don't bother. Our bill was $100 and totally disappointing. The dessert menu was also lackluster - three items to choose from but none was enticing enough to overcome the disappointing dinner so we passed. I will say, however, that the service and the atmosphere are nice. But not enough to compensate for the food at that price in West Roxbury which has become home recently to several tasty spots to dine.
(2)Christina V.
Hidden on a backstreet off of Centre Street, my husband and I only know about this place because we ride the commuter rail. The atmosphere is cozy, the service is always friendly, and the duck special... oh my sweet heaven. Every time it is on the menu, I CANNOT turn it down - but I always try what my husband orders and his is equally delicious! Our favorite little place in West Roxbury
(5)Robert O.
Excellent place for a little more upscale dining experience tucked away in a quiet neighborhood. The owner Manuel is a great guy, usually there and very friendly. The food is unique and put together very well. The staff is friendly and accommodating. A really delightful dining experience.
(4)davy f.
We are infrequent regulars here. About two weeks ago we went (four of us) and the food was mediocre and the service indifferent. This was in marked contrast to our prior experiences. So I checked with a friend who, with his wife, is a more frequent regular. Same report: used to be great, recently disappointing. As we live just down the street I hope they get back on track. For the moment, though, caveat emptor.
(3)Melanie D.
So I have a friend in West Roxbury: we decided to dine at Masona since I hadn't been there and she was embarrassed she had only been there once, despite living five blocks from the place. I had called two hours earlier to reserve (we originally planned on eating downtown, but the weather sucked). When I showed up, the place was fairly empty. This was to change in about 38 minutes: the place got packed and people were standing in the door waiting to get in. But I'm getting ahead of myself. My friend, as is her habit, usually runs 10-15 minutes late. So the bartender (well, he was a guy behind the bar) was very friendly and solicitous. I ordered off the cocktail menu, and I noticed he had to ask someone how to make the Masona Fizz (pomegranate liqueur & Campari, quite refreshing). He refilled my water glass constantly. And while the bread basket was at room temperature, the butter was soft enough to spread neatly. The bread itself was quite delish too: dense and tasty. My friend and I ordered the same things: creamy tuna ceviche and the Argentinian steak frites. And here's where it got disappointing: they seasoned everything with a very heavy hand. Now I don't know if this is correct procedure with this type of South American-influenced cooking, but I thought strong flavors were supposed to be a melange, a balance, an ever-evolving symphony in the mouthm if I can get a little carried away here. The ceviche was made with avocado, lots of potent red pepper that went on and on and on--and lots of cilantro with the stems still on the leaves: quel bitter! I love salt, especially on fried stuff, like potatoes. But someone did a heavy hand on the frites with the shaker. And the salt tasted like regular Morton's Iodized, not Sel de Whosiswatsis. The steak was way disappointing. First, my friend's (ordered medium) was room temp. My "rare" was more like "medium rare." I've made chimichurri sauce once years ago. It was a huge hit; people were licking the bowl after it was all gone. I haven't attempted to make it since because I figure I can't attain anything close to perfection twice, right? So I'm not an expert on it, but this sauce was waaaay too heavy on the vinegar. It overpowered the steak. Even after I scraped off as much sauce as I could, I didn't want to finish more than half the order. And at $21, it seemed a waste to forego the doggie bag--especially because it should be noted, the portion was paltry. But I didn't take it home. They have a $12 bistro menu until 6:00 which many people seemed to order--it's basic stuff like pork loin, chicken, and mushroom ravioli. After 6:30, the price goes up to $16. But any sides were $4, regardless of what time it was, so even this isn't much of a value. We skipped dessert--nothing was jumping out at us from the limited (three choices) menu, and the lemon tart we were mildly interested in was sold out anyhow. The room is plain but cute. The star decals at the stairs, and the photos of old W Rox were a nice touch. The crowd was definitely local-- longtime native West Roxburians, and the newer gentrifying interlopers. Relaxed, casual vibe all around. If my parents were visiting from out of town, I would consider taking them here. The place is actually pretty easy to find: pull into the Roche Bros parking lot and turn right until you get to the commuter rail. I ignored the signs telling me my parking space of choice was for commuters. Screw you, MBTA. Two stars for the food; four for the service.
(3)D M.
So I went here last night with Bryan, Ligaya, and Billie and it was great. It has a great low key atmosphere, and it's been expanded a little bit since they opened up. It was pretty quiet when we went in, as it was Tuesday after Memorial Day weekend, and we sat in the window. We ordered four appetizers and then three entrees to split, and Bryan and Ligaya started out with "cordials", as they recently got a cordial license, as the State of Massachusetts is retarded when it comes to booze. Ligaya had the Mango Mojito, which was minty and refreshing, and I wanted tempted to order one. Bryan got the West Roxbury Iced Tea, which was like a fancy Long Island Iced Tea. It tasted of danger. I stuck with water because I hadn't had enough food or water all day and was wildly dehydrated. We started with the bread, which was clearly all made on the premises, and was so amazing. We ordered our appetizers, and picked the Pan Fried Mussels, the Chicaron de Pollo, Deviled Eggs, and the Slow Roasted Leg of Duck. The mussels were probably my least favorite, not to say I didn't eat them. They were good and I liked the grilled bread it was served with. The Chicaron de Pollo was great......the chicken was delicious and served with a caper remoulade, sweet potato chips, and a watercress salad. This would be my suggestion for anyone. It was pretty perfect. The deviled eggs were delicious, and served with a nice little caper-y salad. The duck leg was also very crisp and moist and very enjoyable. It was served with a spinach salad. They were all delicious and plated beautifully. For our entrees that we shared, we chose the Main Crabcakes, the Pan Seared Duck Breast, and Pepe's Potato Gnocchi. The Crabcakes came with really good fries, jicama slaw which was perfectly vinegary and spicy, and the crabcakes were served with a tomato aioli. The crabcakes were tender and had a slight minty flavor and were great. The gnocchi was fatty heaven on a plate. It had a Gorgonzola cream sauce, beets, greens, and sage. The gnocchi were light and fluffy, and the sauce was perfect, with beets through out. I am a huge fan of beets and don't get enough of them. It was delicious. On to my favorite dish of the deal......the Pan Seared Duck Breast was amazing. This would be my suggestion for anyone who loves duck, or sweet potatoes or ginger. The duck breast was the most tender medium rare duck breast that was so perfectly cooked it was heavenly. It was served atop sweet mashed potatoes that were done perfectly, with a ginger port reduction that was amazing. Hands down one of the best dishes I've had in a while. It was great. We had the a great waitress, Gina, tonight. She made us a little dessert sampler which was in lack of better terms, the shit. It had an panna cotta, which was orangey and smooth and tasty, the blueberry brown butter tart, and a slice of the flourless chocolate cake. I don't remember if the names are right, but they were all amazing. They were served upon a tray with a variety of sauces and and whipped cream and it was so decadent that we didn't come close to finishing. Our dining experience here was great, and though it's a little out of the way, it's well worth the trip. It's very informal and low key, and the food is amazing and reasonably priced. If you get an entree and split a nibble before, it could easily be in the moderate price range. The service was and is always great, and there's parking for the drivers.
(5)Andrea T.
cozy, great for weekend dinners, grassroots group.
(4)Katie K.
i came here as a part of a group event and it was a fixed meal with three glasses of wine. i skipped out on two of the wines because they were red and i'm allergic, but the white wine was delicious! the food consisted of a tuna and avacado appetizer with beets and a tomato aoli, a watercress salad with pears and bleu cheese, and lamb with a mint and cucumber sauce and sweet potatoes. i wish i could have chosen my meal because i'm not a fan of tuna or pears or sweet potatoes. but, with that said, the meal was pretty good. the tuna was not very fishy at all, and combined with the avacadoes was actually not bad. i enjoyed the pear and bleu cheese salad, and i loved the flavoring of the lamb, though the mint and cucumber sauce was not something to write home about. it was ok, but i prefered the lamb without the sauce. and the sweet potatoes were sweet potatoes...nothing fancy or exciting about them. the service was excellent, very friendly and outgoing and happy to help with anything. i didn't see much of the rest of the restaurant, but the area we were in was cozy and had a good atmosphere. one of the lights kept flickering, though, which was a bit annoying... i think i would come back to this place just to try it as a normal customer and have dishes that i would choose for myself. so this review may change!
(3)Ires D.
Love this place. We had a meal or two here and then had our rehearsal dinner in April of 2007 - they were fanTAStic. Took care of a wide range of palates with excellent food and service. We were recently back for dinner a month ago and had a wonderful time, the waiter recommended an excellent wine and I had my first ever paella. Looking forward to going back again soon.
(5)Matt L.
I don't live too far away from this small area right outside downtown Boston. Looking for a restaurant you have mostly ethnic choices. But here is a hidden Bistro, tucked away in a small building. It is decorated very nice and has a very friendly staff making you feel like it is a quaint neighborhood eatery. There is even a small bar in the place and a drink menu of creative cocktails. The menu is a selection of seasonal favorites and very creative appetizers and entrees. The place was actually pretty crowded and we didnt have a reservation but the staff made room for us. The food is delicious and cooked to perfection and very surprising from a spot this hidden and not in downtown proper. Wine selections were also a treat. The dessert menu was just as good. It wasn't cheap but was moderatly priced for the amount of food you get since the selections were pretty good size. I would higly recommend this place!
(4)C S.
SO GOOD. they moved from the south end to west roxbury, its on the corner of two small streets but right near a train stop, we drove. I wanted to try it because i heard someone talking about it on the radio in the morning before i went to work. My boyfriend and I went that night because i had read the menu and wanted to go so bad. My salad was awesome and i usually dont eat salads, our appetizers were perfect, the place was very quiet because not many people know about it yet. the prices were still low since it was recently opened. The owner came by to ask how the food was which rarely happens. Definitely will be going back.
(5)