Insider Pages Reviews for Gargoyles On The Square

2 Stars: very disappointed (by dunger)

dunger — Sun, 10 May 2009 02:00:00 GMT

We had high expectations for our Mothers Day Brunch. Two of the four meals were very cold. Egg whites were substituted for scrambled eggs and the portions were very tiny, these folks went away hungry.
Coffee was cold, and didn?t like the ?self serve?

4 Stars: Love the name! (by Jonathon K.)

Jonathon K. — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 09:40:00 GMT

Nice place, good atmosphere. Always an adventurous night out. Not any problems come to mind. Never been overcharged, under served, etc. Nice place to go if you're in the area, parking can be problematic in Somerville but that is avoidable if you go at an off time of day.

4 Stars: Outstanding flavors, weaker service (by perchdogg)

perchdogg — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 02:00:00 GMT

I went to Gargoyles with my girlfriend on a Saturday night and neglected to recognize that Boston's Restaurant Week was in full swing. The place was very crowded and although we had a reservation for 8 pm, we weren't seated until 8:30. We passed the time with cocktails and had to stand in a very crowded bar area that overlapped with a dining area. The hostess seemed incredibly flighty and naive to the preferences of a more expensive restaurant's clientele. I heard another patron complain very vociferously about the rudeness of the maitre d'.

Once seated, we were thrilled with the menu and choices. Our waiter was very friendly and attentive without being over-bearing. For appetizers we had baked figs and the tuna poke which were both great. The figs may have been a bit too filling for a first course but this was forgivable because of the flavors. The tuna was excellent with simple flavors that accompanied each other extremely well without creating an overwhelming effect; a strong first dish. For entrees we enjoyed the duck confit and bbq pork loin - both were very good, well-seasoned and plentiful. Finally, for desserts we tried the panacotta and chocolate cheese cake; while the panacotta was solid, the cheese cake was a stellar dessert. I should also mention that we tried Gargoyles' take on sangria, which bore minuscule resemblance to its inspiration and should probably be skipped.

Though the wait for a table was long, the food was more than I hoped it could be. You may just need to pad your schedule a bit if you think of coming here on a busy night. We would go back.

4 Stars: good date restaurant (by dizzy02138)

dizzy02138 — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 02:00:00 GMT

I love that Gargoyles has a seasonal menu and uses local and fresh produce. From my two experiences it can be a little bit of a hit-or-miss with the flavors, at least for me. I've been underwhelmed by a few of the appetizers although the presentation was beautiful. But, my entres were both great. However, it is always interesting and I have had some great dishes... so I'm happy to experiment. My only complaint is that both times our table was very close to the neighboring table so it was difficult to tune out their conversation or feel that I could converse freely. Otherwise, the lighting is low and the ambiance is romantic.

5 Stars: Loved it (by Kyra T.)

Kyra T. — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 12:43:00 GMT

Gragoyles has some amazing food. Everything is very unique, mixes you would never think of, but are absolutely delicious. The only negative was that it was pretty dark, I actually wasn't sure what part of my dish was.

3 Stars: Great variety (by spollock4)

spollock4 — Sat, 11 Nov 2006 01:00:00 GMT

We've eaten from the regular menu and the bar and found both to be terrific. Definitely recommend Gargoyle's as a first stop for the night as well as the main event.

5 Stars: Definitely a date spot (by mropinionated)

mropinionated — Sun, 15 Oct 2006 02:00:00 GMT

I went with a buddy of mine because we heard about the great food. A little too romantic, but none the less we had a fun night. From the moment we walked in the door it was a great experience, the hostess was gorgeous, the drinks at the bar were good (although a little over priced for the area) but the bartender really knew his stuff. The dinner was fantasic although had a little dispute with our waitress about the food, but she quickly took care of it and didn't charge us. The food is definitely for those with an open mind, willing to try something new. I would make a suggetion but each plate was such a unique combination that i wouldn't give the food justice if i tried to describe it. We met the owner, who was very nice and took special care of us even though it was our first time there. Overall it was a great evening, although the dim lighting and balconette seating is more appropriate for a dinner date than two buddies catching up since college.

2 Stars: not a great meal (by smidls)

smidls — Sat, 05 Aug 2006 02:00:00 GMT

The Improper Bostonian's "guaranteed great meal" rating swayed us to try this place. we were disappointed. it all started out great, cocktails were delicious, waiter charming. we decided to go with the prix fixe dinner. things went wrong with the grilled clam app brought out by a server. although i ordered the salad, we both ended up with the clams. they looked great, so i decided to keep them. mine were ok, if a bit chewy, but my friend had 2 clams (out of 4 clams) that were undercooked. she didn't realize it until she ate the first one, which was not only raw-ish, but was actually bad & left a terrible aftertaste. we got the attention of our waiter to tell him. he offered to have another clam app cooked up, but she didn't want to chance it. he didn't offer anything else and he was completely taken aback at my suggestion that perhaps she could get a complimentary second cocktail. it might have been a bit much to ask for, but he could have easily said something like, "the management won't allow me to do that, but may i offer you a salad from our menu?". Instead he just said he couldn't do it and left it at that. i wasn't going to mention the error in the order, but since he was not offering anything besides more bad clams, i told him. we communicated everything in a pleasant fashion - we aren't into berating waiters - but from that point on, he completely made himself scarce and was not so friendly. the duck breast entree was quite rare. i know that's the trend, but maybe warn diners? aside from that, both meals were pretty good, but not stellar. dessert was outstanding, but not enough to win us over after the rough start and the unhelpful waiter. i don't blame waitstaff for bad food, but i do expect them to attempt to "make things right" in one way or another. for pete's sake, even appleby's gave us a free round of drinks once, just because an order came out wrong! spend your money elsewhere.

5 Stars: Left in a Food Coma (by eclovelace)

eclovelace — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 02:00:00 GMT

That was the best meal I've had in a long time.

I haven't been to Gargoyles in many years, but I understand they have a new chef recently. We went for the "full tour" which is a 6 course tasting of the menu paired with wine for each course at $90/person ($60 without wine). Every course was tasty and some were just fantastic.

Many of the dishes had an asian flair which I don't recall with the previous chef including:

sushi tuna appetizer (chunks of sushi tossed with seaweed, ginger, and other vegetables with a great spicy dressing)
dumplings stuffed with octopus, sticky rice (these were melt in your mouth fantastic; not rubbery so I think the octopus must have been well marinated)
hoisin flavored duck confit over sticky rice (this was flavorful sweeter variation of more classic duck confit, and there was only a hint of hoisin to prevent it getting too salty)

We survived until the dessert which was a rich chocolate mousse cake that just plowed us under. We left in a food coma; dizzy from all the flavors.

Only suggestions: cocktails are pretty steep for Davis Sq ($11), and dining room staff needs to connect with hostess and make sure first seated are the first ones asked to order (3 tables seated after us were offered drinks before us).

5 Stars: a surreal experience (by weather88)

weather88 — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 02:00:00 GMT

wow- haven't been here since 3 years ago- then I was underwhelmed, thought it was a good value- but not notable other than solid. since moving across the city it didn't make our list anymore. We returned, same room, many of the same staff.. but the food was killer. Way outside the box, yet substantial. imaginative menu, but not skimpy on classics. And meticulous.. prof., yet, down to earth service. Value still a key factor. Server was helpful, knew his stuff. We got a 5 course tasting menu, all presented with full explaination (you will need one, i'm afraid I did.) Whoever is cooking there now is really doing some amazing things, and yet the price points are still on the diners side. This place was able to make me want to to haul back across town many more times in the future. I would rate it as the the 3rd best total experience I've ever had in a restaurant. Cheers!

5 Stars: coolest place (by joncarr)

joncarr — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 02:00:00 GMT

I just wanted to drop a note about Gargoyles. I have been to many restaurants in and around the Boston area and I am so impressed with this place! I have been there many times and it has always been more then just a great dinning experience! When I go to have a nice quite dinner we always get a great selection on the menu of creative dishes. My only problem seem to be that I always find too many things that I want to try on the menu that sound so amazing that I have a hard time choosing. Once we have had our relaxing dinner and we are on our way out we always get pulled into the friendly, energetic social bar area and we always end up have a drink or two and meeting some great people and friendly staff! I have been there a number time and have seen a number of celebrities even a playboy playmate who told us that it is one of her favorite places to hang out in the city! The energy is high, the people are friendly, and food is great! I would highly recommend Gargoyles to everyone if you are looking for a great meal or a few tasty drinks in a great environment, gargoyles is the spot! Good job guy! And I am look forward to your next adventurous menu!!

4 Stars: warm and cozy (by Shannon S.)

Shannon S. — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 11:21:00 GMT

I went to Gargoyles in the winter, but I could see it as open and airy in the summer. An interesting menu with lots of vegetables and unique food pairings. I had a vegetable lasagna stack that still remember fondly! Table seating or you can grab a spot at the bar for great people watching.

PROS: unique food presentation
CONS: parking in David Square

5 Stars: Great place!! (by jcarr30)

jcarr30 — Thu, 11 May 2006 02:00:00 GMT

Gargoyles is great to hang out in as a group or for nights your alone and want some friendly people to talk to and hang with a great food. But, it is also a place you can have a business dinner, birthday party, a date, or if you are looking for someone to date.

I travel all over the county for work and it is very rare to find a place like Gargoyles that fits the bill in so many way's you can have a great dinner then move to the front room area and hang at a fun and energetic bar! They do not skimp on the drinks and you always get plenty of food on your plate.

If I had to sum it up in one statement "comfortable class" Great job Gargoyles keep up the good work!!!

Jay Carroll

5 Stars: A very suave and hip restaurant (by 11189)

11189 — Sun, 12 Feb 2006 01:00:00 GMT

This restaurant is by far one of the best hidden gems in and around Boston. The restaurant decor and style is very hip and contemporary but fear not - you don't end up paying an arm and a leg to dine there. The food was fantastic, the ambience is cool and the service was professional. I loved how unpretentious this place appears. You feel like a VIP without having to flash a badge or a $20 bill. I hope this place lives on forever. I'm defenitely returning for another run. It's a great spot for a first date, dinning with a group or for a business dinner. The steak was superb. Appetizers are tasty too.

3 Stars: Dont sit in the Lounge for Dinner (by hovb)

hovb — Sun, 20 Nov 2005 01:00:00 GMT

We forgot to make reservations and sat in the lounge area. It was our first time there, and we were not impressed. The service was decent, but the food and ambience were lacking. The lounge would be great for drinks, but not for dinner. I ordered the fish special, and it came out burnt. I sent it back and the replacement was also charred. The apps and other entree dishes were good, but the scorched fish left a bad taste in my mouth. I may give the restaurant another chance, but they had better step it up to keep me coming back.

4 Stars: Fine Dining (by Erikka A.)

Erikka A. — Tue, 09 Aug 2005 14:42:00 GMT

The fixed price may scare some people off, but I encourage people to try this place. The food is a good combination of local, seasonal produce and culinary cuisine. Try the fish or pork and also you must try both the desserts! Take a date here and you're sure to score.

5 Stars: Fabulousness & Fizzy Pink Cocktails! (by martinimadness)

martinimadness — Thu, 23 Jun 2005 02:00:00 GMT

10 years of friendly service, innovative food that's exquisitely prepared and creatively presented, and an atmosphere that invites you to return. For 10 years I've been going to Gargoyle's. I moved to NYC, and still went back. I've entertained family, friends, and clients. I had a friend love it so much, he was married there! It's no longer the secret it once was, but it still has the feel of a local neighborhood bistro. The menu does change to compliment seasonal items, and the new chef is incredibly adventurous and artful. To those in the 'hood who have yet to try it out...shame on you! For those on the "other side of the river", it's certainly worth the journey!

5 Stars: Finally made it to Gargoyles!! (by rachelp66)

rachelp66 — Wed, 01 Jun 2005 02:00:00 GMT

My husband and I finally made it to Gargoyle's last weekend after listening to our friends in the area raving about it for so long. It surpassed our expectations in every way. We dine out quite a bit and couldn't believe the value.. we thought there must have been a mistake on the bill! The food was inventive and delicious, and we are rather picky when it comes to our meals. The server, Greg, was one of the best we have had anywhere! The only rant we had was we would like to see more variety on the Wine list and dessert menus, however if it helps keep the prices down, so be it!
Thanks, gargoyles, we will be back!

5 Stars: Man It's been 10 years?? and still is great (by eat_well)

eat_well — Tue, 31 May 2005 02:00:00 GMT

I was at Gargoyles the other night and heard they are about to become 10 years old that's amazing, But i'm not shocked,Great food, fun staff, and no attitude. I love that place. keep up the great work!!!!!

5 Stars: Still the best in D-Square and beyond! (by tdorman617)

tdorman617 — Fri, 20 May 2005 02:00:00 GMT

Everything is done right at Gargoyles. In either the comfortable yet classy bar/lounge seating area or the more formal and intimate dinning room, the food is spectacular. Go for a quick and delicious bite and order off of the well priced bar menu or select from one of the delicious entrees......or maybe just stop in for a drink from one of the fabulous bar tenders. I know I do....often!
When you stop in, if you see a striking gentleman sitting at the corner of the bar, be sure to say hi. ;-) See ya there!

5 Stars: Great neighborhood restaurant (by teurope)

teurope — Sat, 23 Apr 2005 02:00:00 GMT

I've been eating here since Gargoyles first opened (before they expanded and added the excellent bar) and the food and atmosphere have yet to disappoint. The bar area is terrific--cozy, warm and fun. The bar menu offers a nice selection of foodthe daily pizzas are always inventiveand the bartenders mix some fabulous (and potent!) cocktails. The dining room projects a romantic, inviting atmosphere and the food is lovely: creative soups, salads, really nice charcuterie plate make great starters. The main dishes feature a good mix of seafood and meat, and a vegetarian dishwhich is never the ubiquitous pasta. And the service is amazing. I went with a vegetarian friend who didn't like the menu's vegetarian main dish. The chef came out and asked what she liked to eat, and then made her a wonderful dish, beautifully presented. It's these touches that make me come back again and again.

5 Stars: Marvelous (by shario)

shario — Fri, 16 Jul 2004 02:00:00 GMT

I went there with my lady and we had just a great time. It was her birthday so I told them to prepare special desert and they did a great job. The food was excellent (grilled salmon was from heaven!). Highly recommended.

5 Stars: Don't die without eating here! (by nbpur)

nbpur — Wed, 06 Nov 2002 01:00:00 GMT

I've lived in Boston proper for a decade now and on average I'd say I eat out at least once a week. I've been to Gargoyles 3 times now with the girlfriend and once with a group of 10 people. The food leaves a lasting impression. Incredible flavors that melt in your mouth. The portions are just right, leaving enough room for dessert. A very nice room, good wine list and a helpful staff. The bar atmosphere prior to dining is great also. Go... soon!!!