Stephanie's on Newbury

The new menu at Stephanie's is simply AMAZING! I would recommend the Seared Swordfish to anyone that is looking for a satisfying meal where you are full, but not over full. The portions are perfect and the whipped parsnip's sweet taste compliment the fish very well. I even had room to have the pumpkin cheesecake for dessert! The cheesecake was perfectly whipped with just the right amount of hot caramel on the plate. Kudos to the chef on a superb dish!

Pros: Everything about it!

Cons: Nothing

Stephanie's is an experience unique to Boston and a must do for tourists and natives alike. I took visiting relatives here and we all enjoyed it immensely. The food was actually very good with a remarkable variety on the menu. My softshell crab was ever so slightly oily and a little flavorless, but they must have put an entire avocado in my salad and the dressing was delicious. My daughter was very happy with her chicken sandwich as was my sister with her crab cake. We found the service helpful, friendly and prompt. But of course the best part was the wonderfully fun sidewalk dining on Newbury St. itself.

Pros: fun people watching, good comfort food

Cons: can be long wait

It is sad the after so long in the business this restaurant continues to have such ineffective service. The food is good when you are in the mood for simple comfort food. The service and price kills the deal.

Each time I eat at this place I am reminded that I am paying for location & nothing more. Here is how the usual visit goes: Though there are many open tables you wait 3-10 min at the door. You are seated and wait 3-5 min for your sever to get to you. Once he or she does arrive, you place an order for drinks and apps and wait 10 min for something to drink. It is not what you ordered, but bread and water are at least on the table now. Then, knowing that you will have to wait for more drinks, you walk to the bar and pay $25-30 for two good drinks. By the time you get back, the first drinks you ordered are still not at your table. In short, you wait and wait and wait. Finally, you will have some simple nice warm feeling comfort food. Then, you will wait and wait and wait for the bill.
Conclusion, this is an over priced and over rated experience for food I could have had at home in about the same amount of time.

Pros: good and simple foods

Cons: slow & thoughtless service.

they got best of boston for salads and their salads arent even that good.

this place is filled with snobs and everyone there is so waspy.

the staff is not attentive at all. the bathrooms are gross. and their are fruit flies all over the bar. nasty......

there are a million other places to go on that end of newbury that are way better.

Cons: everythiing

We went in for brunch on a Sunday. We had to wait about 15 minutes to be seated and opted to sit at the bar for a couple of drinks. The cocktails were very good and strong but quite expensive, 2 for $27.50. We were seated and it took a while for the waitress to attend to us. They have a ton of wait staff but service was still slow and the staff seemed very disorganized. We were served a huge bread basket with a variety of breads including scones, raisin bread, crackers and more, I've never seen anything quite like this. Though it turned out to be a good distraction, as it took a very long time for the entrees to come out. We ordered a couple of sandwiches, the tuna melt and the grilled chicken. The tuna melt was superior, but the chicken was still quite good. However, this was all overshadowed by the warm caramel apple bread pudding dessert served with ice cream ( we had another dessert it was blueberry peach something). The bread pudding was mouth-gasmic to the pallet. Apparently it had won the top five desserts in Boston and totally deserves this honor. We definitely recommend Stephanie's on Newbury.

Pros: Desserts

Cons: service a bit slow

We visited as a group of 10 on a Saturday night.

They were slow to get our order - we had to ask several times for them to come over. Whilst taking our order, the waiter decided to go and deal with a request from another table.

The food was then slow to arrive. My clam chowder was far too thick and flavourless. Several of us ordered steaks; everybody was given the wrong one in terms of cooking, and let's just say that my version of rare involves the meat still being pink. My steak was also so oily that I couldn't finish it.

Surprisingly, we decided not to take dessert.

Group consensus: the worst meal we have had in a long time.

Pros: Nice decor

Cons: Too many cons for this box

Stefanies is a great place to have a leisurely brunch with friends or significant other...the food is tasty and they have enough of a variety for everyone...they make a great bloody mary and if its after noon - Id recommend their lemonade cocktail...its so refreshing! I especially love the outdoor seating to people watch...the restaurant is perfectly located on Newbury street so after eating and people watching you can shop til you drop!

Pros: Great locale

Cons: Expensive

After reading restaurant reviews for years, I finally felt compelled to write after receiving such a terrible meal last night at Stephanie's. Quite simply, the food was awful. My fiance's New England Clam Chowder was as thick as wallpaper paste, and my Summer House Salad was nothing more than a half a head of iceberg lettuce drenched in balsamic dressing. Moving on to the main course, I ordered the "special", which was Mahi Mahi over "Spanish Rice". The fish was overcooked, and there was nothing "Spanish" about the rice; it was simply white rice mixed with peas and corn. Although served with a lime sauce, it was flavorless. Speaking of flavorless, my fiance's Cavatappi Chicken was a disaster. No taste, and quite frankly, disgusting looking chicken. All in all, a terrible meal. Much, much better options available in Boston.

Cons: The perfect combination of terrible food and high prices

I am surprised to read anything negative about this restaurant. I eat here very often; business lunches, family gatherings, dates, or food and drinks in the bar to watch games. It is always fantastic. The food is delicious- way better than most of the other restaurants in the city that I frequent (and definitely the best in the Back Bay.) The service is always stellar. Everyone there is always friendly and accomodating, and goes out of their way to make the experience enjoyable. They have a great wine list, fun drink menu, and awesome patio. Anyway after reading the negatives I had to share my opinion. Sure, there is often a very long wait but it is worth it. I suggest going on a week night so you don't have to fight with the amateurs that try to get in on weekends.

Pros: Great food, friendly service, fair prices, killer patio, nice tvs in the bar.

Cons: very busy place so there is often a wait.

We went there around 12:30 for brunch this past Saturday. After waiting close to two hours, we were finally seated. When another guest came to join us, Stephanies did nothing to accomodate the additional guest. The waitress was extremely unfriendly, and two out of four of us were unhappy with the meal. The description of the dishes on the menu greatly differed from what two of us received. When we told the waitress, she gave us a half (fake) smile and showed no interest and no real concern. At the end of our three hour dining experience we all vowed not to go to this place again, even when it is a sunny nice day and there is an appeal to eat outside. After our experience there, eating in a dark and dirty alley would be more pleasant.

Pros: The platewear is simple

Cons: Everything else

I have been there several times, and I never enjoyed it...but I figured I should give it one last try, which I really regret. The service and food was bad the first few times, and this time I was disgusted at the service. Rude waiters, even a ruder manager....overpriced food, attempting to be gourmet....Do not go expecting a relaxing meal....

As with most restaurants on Newbury, the food is good, the seating is cramped, and it's quite overpriced. It's basically pretty simple food with a twist...the steak-frites were really good (basic skirt steak and fries). I'd definitely go back, but it's not the first venue to come to mind.

Pros: pretty good food

Cons: overpriced, cramped seating

All in all, the food is pretty good. Some items on the menu are definitely better than others. The tuna tartar is excellent. The Cobb Salad (as well as other salads) are very good. The burger is fair to good. The Mediterranean Chicken Sandwich is average and a little boring. The service is variable depending on your waiter. You don't really get great value for your dollar at Stephanie's, but it's not really a surprise considering it's location. Also, as expected, the parking is tough...so a planned visit to Stephanie's will require some luck for a parking spot (or bypassing the hassle and going directly to a parking garage). However, if you're shopping on Newbury, it's one of the better places to visit for a meal. It's key attribute, on a warm day, it's definitely one of the better spots in the city to dine outside. Great for people watching. Key point: plan ahead, getting a table can take a while.

Pros: Outside Dining, Tuna Tartar, Salads

Cons: Parking, Value, Prompt Seating

I had their chickene potpie, wasn't very impressed but it was still good. I love being able to eat outdoors though and I liked the atmosphere. My friend had the steak and fries which was very good, and so was the fish and chips.

The wait wasn't bad- around half an hour. We were surprised to see how close together our table was to the tables next to us. There was about two inches seperating us from tables on either side.

Not only that, but the heat was HORRIBLE. It was extremely muggy outside and it actually felt worse in the resturant. Several people complained and were told that the air conditioning was on full blast. Perhaps they need to rid themselves of some tables so they don't pack people in like sardines?

We decided to try the Lobster quesadilla and the lobster potpie. At $16 and $20 respectively, we were hoping for some decent quality food.

First off, there were so few lobster pieces in my quesadilla that I don't know if I even ate a piece. And the entire quesadilla tasted as though it had been dreched in butter before being fried. I couldn't taste the CHEESE much less the lobster.

The potpie was even worse. The large chunks of lobster weren't melt in you mouth or even easy to chew- it was tough and rubbery and had to be forced down. It looked like a bowl of lobster soup with a pie top.

I was disappointed because lobster (to my understanding) is a delicate protein who's flavor can be greatly enhanced or crushed easily by the other ingrediants it is served with. We were both excited to see how our dishes would enhance the flavor of the lobster and found that whoever had created the dishes hadn't bothered to show off the lobster at all. In fact, the lobster had been cooked poorly and obviously thrown as a way to jack the price up. For $16, I was expecting the best damn quesadilla I've ever had- what I got was a quesadilla I could have gotten at Anna's Taqueria for three bucks (sans the phantom lobster).

Our waitress was kind but overworked and didn't really have much time for her customers. The places was so loud we stopped talking cause we couldn't hear each other anyway. Both tables next to us complained about their food. We're not going back.

Pros: Honestly? None.

Cons: Pretty much the entire experience.

Hands down this place has the best brunch I've had in Boston. My friends from NY always demand we go there when they visit. Try the fruit frittered french toast, its unbelievable. The avocado-grilled cheese sandwhich is always great. And they have the best choice of breakfast mimosas, etc. Even though there can be a wait on Sunday mornings, the restaurant is HUGE (several rooms and a large outdoor patio on newbury) so the line moves quickly. Give it a shot.

Pros: Brunch, great bar, large space

Cons: Servers are very rushed, brunch reservations only for groups of 6 or more

Situated in the middle of a premier shopping venue on Newbury Street, Stephanie's on Newbury offers a great place to unwind over some of the best gourmet comfort food around. You must try the corn bread pudding!!

Stephanie"s offers many choices on their menu. Very fresh and inviting. The food was great and the service as well.

This was my second time at Stephanie's. My first visit was less than satisfactory, not only was the service slow but they seemed to have misunderstood "medium well" for my hamburger to mean "burnt to a crisp." The second time I went was with a large group and the service was even worse. The waitress was slow and neglectful, and when we asked for the bread we had been waiting for she was less than thrilled. The food is really not worth the money. With a bland menu and mediocre tasting food, as well as less than terrific service, this restaurant is not worth the money or the time.

Pros: Nice outdoor area, good location

Cons: Lousy service, parking, mediocre food

Went on a Friday night at 6:30pm and did not have to wait. Shared the smoked salmon potato pancake and short ribs. The potato pancake was just ok. Whatever they mixed the potatoes with (chicken???) gave it an odd flavor and texture though. The short ribs were very tender and the corn bread served with it was delicious. The meal cost us $50 including tax and tip, which seemed reasonable to me. The restaurant is quiet busy and popular. It was a little too noisy for me though, especially since we were seated right next to the kitchen.

I've been told this is the classic Sunday brunch place so when a friend came to visit I thought this would be a good way to work through our hangovers.

Wow, does this place get crowded. 11:45 and the wait was 45 minutes for indoors. So friend and I did the cafe area outside which had zero wait (this was October so rather chilly).

I got an omlette that was pretty good but I dunno if it was worth the price. Service was great though.

All in all I'd say it's a good brunch place, particularly if you're hosting, but it's probably not a place I'd go by myself.

I stopped in here on a Thursday night with a friend for a glass of wine and a snack. I was impressed with the room and the staff at the door. The space is inviting and spacious and the door staff was very friendly. We sat at the somewhat busy bar. The bartender was SLOW SLOW SLOW and seemed very uninterested in taking out order. Eventually a different bartender came over and was extremely friendly, helpful and fast. The menu was daunting, with things like a $16 burger and $15 mussels. We finally settled on the calamari ($15) which was tasty, but heavy with breading, somewhat over-fried and accompanied by a boring marinara sauce. The wine was good (Malbec) and reasonable at $8/glass. This is not a place I would care to visit again. There are so many great places for drinks and late-evening food; this place is over-priced and the service does not match the ambiance.

Pros: Fireplace, warm room, wecoming space.

Cons: Poor service, poor quality of food, over-priced

I was looking for a great place to take my boyfriend to diiner and drinks on his birthday. Found it here! The food and drinks here are great! The waitresses are very nice, but are a little slow to get the drinks. But the place is crowded, had a reservation and still hada to wait 20 minutes. The bar is nice so it wasn't so bad. Just know that it is very pricey - both the drinks and the food. Well worth it!

Pros: Great food and drinks

Cons: Pricey, long wait even with reservations

The food (I had the macaroni and cheese) was good but overpriced. The restaurant was very
noisy and overcrowded. My companion who is 6'3" felt tightly squeezed in the space. Not
recommended.

Cons: ambience too crowded and noisy

I was very excited to be meeting a group of friends for dinner. I LOVE checking out new restaurants. 3 out of our party of 10 arrived 20 minutes late and attempted to check in. We were rudely informed with a great deal of attitude that we wouldn't be seated until our whole party arrived. This was not the worst...we were scathingly reprimanded for being late and told that our table had already been reserved for a later time and we had already lost a half an hour. My jaw practically dropped. I've never been given such attitude. It's fine if you are informed POLITELY that you can't be seated before your party has arrived, but to speak to us as misbehaving children is unacceptable in a restaurant that falsely claims to have excellent customer service. There is always a better way to say something and apparently the host did not feel he needed to display any courtesy. Needless to say, we didn't eat there and I have no intention of ever eating there. There are too many better restaurants with far superior food and service to waste on this one.

Pros: None

Cons: Very rude customer service.

After a day of shopping and pampering myself at beauty salons on Newbury Street I decided to have lunch at Stephanie's on Newbury Street. It's the first time I have ever eaten here. I really enjoyed myself. The service was great. I did not have to wait for a table at all. My server was really friendly and accomodating. She always checked on me to make sure everything was okay. The menu choices were vast. I had a really hard time deciding what to eat. There was plenty to choose from. I definitely recommend the chicken caesar salad. Overall it was a pleasant experience for me and will defintely drop by for a bite to eat again.

One of my best places on Newburry. The tuna tartare appetizer is great (I sometimes have it as a main course). So is the skirt steak. The outdoors seating area is great, if the weather permits it. Seating times can be long, but they are not longer than typical Newburry waiting times.

Pros: Great food and portions

Cons: Waiting time, parking

I made a reservation at this restaurant for my husband's birthday party in August. Having never dined at Stephanie's, I felt like I was taking a chance. Well it certainly paid off. Everyone had a fantastic evening. Although we only had twelve people in our party, the restaurant assigned two waiters to look after us. They were very attentive and friendly and our courses were served promptly. You'd think with a menu as extensive and varied as Stephanies, one or two dishes might be under par, but everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meals. The best part is, Stephanie's doesn't break the bank. I would definitely recommend going here for the warm atmosphere, great food and excellent service.

Try the artichoke and spinich dip, it's delicious!

Pros: Great menu, great people watching venue, friendly service

Cons: Hard to park along Newbury Street

This place has the best food in the city hands down. The chicken salad is th best thing on the menu. Paired with a pomegranite martini you cant go wrong. The only problem I have with Stephanie is her mac n cheese is ALMOST as good as my mothers. My mother would not be happy is someone toped her mac n cheese, and yes I have brought my mother there to try it for herself.

Pros: chicken salad, outside patio, service

Cons: mac n cheese is almost as good as moms - not cool

Huge portions. Had the seared tuna salad and it was good. Service was good. Pleasant restaurant to be in overall.

Pros: Ambience

Cons: Parking

A friend from out of town took me here for dinner tonight. The restaurant has a very pleasant environment, and we had a very friendly waitress. I enjoyed the clubby decor, and the outside seating looked wonderful. However, the menu was so stereotypical and dull, that I thought I was in a Bennigans or a Fridays or an Applebees. Oh, but one exception... everything on this menu cost TWICE AS MUCH and tasted about the same. The food was fine... but so unoriginal and overpriced. I just can't recommend it.

Pros: Decor, Good location

Cons: Price, Dull menu, PRICE

The onion soup was loaded with oil. The cheeseburger was just dripping in grease, including the bun. The chicken pot pie was so heavy and not even flavorful. The waitstaff was apologetic and this seemed nice until we got the check. $40 for a really gross lunch. What a rip off.

I am so surprised to see negative reviews for Stephanie's. I've been dozens of times in my 5+ years in town. I've never had anything but a great experience. Since it is always really packed - seems like most guests are fans! My favorite Boston memories are sitting on Stephanie's terrace in the summer and having some warm comfort food by the fire in the winter. The service and food are unbeatable!!

My boyfriend and I went to Stephanies for my birthday dinner last Saturday night. We made an 8pm reservation, however we still had to wait for 15 min before being seated...fine. Our server was not great. She never introduced herself and did not give us the specials. Our food was just average. I ordered the Salmon and my BF got the burger. The Salmon was dry and the amount of corn they give you on the side is silly. Also, I mentioned the poor service to the hostess on the way out and she didnt even apologize. We will not go here again. VERY overrated. Also, I read the reviews on this site before we went and ignored themthinking it must be better than the people saidI was wrong.

Pros: Location

Cons: Service, Food

My Friend and I had wanted to go to Stephanie's for some time, and now we will never go again. Our mozerella appetizer was ok but really over piced at nearly $15. Her entree was calamari that was chewy and rubbery, which we politely sent back. We sat outside at a table positioned right on the small slope which unfortunately made our drinks and plate slide towards me. My fork fell on the ground, and when I asked for a new one, I was ignored. My entree came and I sat for nearly 5 minutes while it got cold trying to catch our waiter's eye for a new fork. The icing was our bill, which included an 18% gratuity for "dining outside" that we were not aware of. No wonder our service and food was below average- the staff doesn't need to work at pleasing customers. Bypass Stephanie's.

Pros: patio

Cons: everything else

I must admit, I was wrong. I judged a book by its cover. I believed the gripe. I have avoided Stephanie's on Newbury for a long time because I thought it was just another tourist trap in the Back Bay whose long lines and crowded bar just weren't worth it. I went completely against my will with friends who have tried to get me there for years. I can't believe what I have been missing. The food was stellar, the service efficient and friendly, the drinks delicious and perfectly prepared, and the patio-what can I say? I was wrong.

Pros: Great food, Great service, great atmosphere

This place is perfect to go to for some brunch and shopping on Newbury. They have really good pancakes and omelettes and portions are huge. The ambience is very comfortable and inviting.

Great place. Great food. Great scene. Great atmosphere. I really dig this place. Best time to go is the summer. Sitting outside is worth the wait. Go have a drink at the bar while you wait for your outdoor table. Try the MacIntosh martini. Located on Boston's most popular St, the people watching and endless chatter is the best way to spend a lazy summer afternoon. Every dish is made to perfection. Food is recognizable and all the favorites are on the menu. Dig in!

Pros: outdoor seating, people watching, food

My friend and I decided to try Stephanie's this past summer. While our first experience was wonderful those that followed were horrible. Given long waiting times during summer lunch hours we decided to sit in the "bar" area for "faster service." After 20 minutes of being completely ignored by the "I'm too good for you" staff we walked out. We decided to give it another try months later and ordered take out. Not only was our order wrong - we were given soggy, cold sandwiches (despite the fact that I had to wait for the food). They offered to credit our next meal - rather than credit the one we didn't want. Despite the long wait and endlessly full tables -Stephanie's doesn't live up to its perception. I would not recommend Stephanie's to anyone. There are plenty of trendy "it" restaurants on Newbury worth visiting. Don't believe the Stephanie's hype.

The menu is average. For their prices, I would expect something more gourmet. The host and hostess were both snooty.

Their $10 martini was weak at best and not worth the money. We had to ask the inexperienced waiter for glasses of ice water and bread apres the entree was served! The worst part is they have a mandatory tip inclusion to the bill as if their poor service all around justifies it. I would recommend folks who want good service + good food to walk on by.

Pros: outdoor space, newbury st. location, people watching

Cons: , snooty for no reason, faux gourmet

My husband and I ate at Stephanie's on July 16, 2004 for lunch. The food and cocktails was average at best and very overpriced. Lunch was $90 for 2. Not worth it!

It's true. People will pay for good service and a relaxing atmosphere. But in the end, the food is what you pay to eat. At Stephanie's, the outdoor dining, much like any restaurant on Newbury Street, is enjoyable. But the food is just so-so. The menu is generic and although some may call it "comfort food," it is not at comfort prices. My boyfriend and I ate dinner there on a July 4 weekend. We ordered a hot spinach-and-artichoke dip for an appetizer, which was tasty and served with toasted pita. The main courses, however, barely measured up to diner food. The ceaser salad was soggy and soaked with mediocre dressing and the hamburger was, well, your average burger. My recommendation is to pass on Stephanie's and keep walking. Newbury Street is brimming with restaurants.

We went for lunch and had sandwiches and clam chowder. Our food was excellent, but really pricey. There's a lot of seating, including an outdoor area, which was very nice on the temperate day.

Pros: Food, Seating

Cons: Expensive

I recently took a group of 18 co-workers to Stephanies for a business dinner. We had an excellent time - the food, ambience and service was way above the top. We were greeted by MOD and our 2 servers were friendly and attentive. My group and I were able to enjoy the food and each other's company without worrying about a thing.