Seth Matakis
Latest Reviews
The Harp
Go for: American fare and beers in a multi-level sports bar right across the street from TD Garden.
Avoid if: You're looking for a bar with connection to historical Boston.
Something surprising: They have done well enough to open another full service location at Gillette Stadium.
Reservation needed? Only on gamedays.
Overall Experience: 4/5. While it lacks some of the charm of other bars, this is a well-run operation. Totally surprised at how great the experience here was. Seated by the open-air street side, you get the ambience of a busy part of the city while still being indoors. The service was fast, accurate, and attentive - among the best service experiences in a large sports bar. All of the food was good, and they have a ton of beer taps. A solid option if you're in the neighborhood for a game or other event at the Garden.
Value for Price: 4
Sanitation: 4
Food Quality: 4
Menu Precision: 4
Service Quality: 5
Timing: 4
Decor: 3
Access: 4
—
5 among the best
4 strong
3 not too bad
2 mediocre
1 never again
Avoid if: You're looking for a bar with connection to historical Boston.
Something surprising: They have done well enough to open another full service location at Gillette Stadium.
Reservation needed? Only on gamedays.
Overall Experience: 4/5. While it lacks some of the charm of other bars, this is a well-run operation. Totally surprised at how great the experience here was. Seated by the open-air street side, you get the ambience of a busy part of the city while still being indoors. The service was fast, accurate, and attentive - among the best service experiences in a large sports bar. All of the food was good, and they have a ton of beer taps. A solid option if you're in the neighborhood for a game or other event at the Garden.
Value for Price: 4
Sanitation: 4
Food Quality: 4
Menu Precision: 4
Service Quality: 5
Timing: 4
Decor: 3
Access: 4
—
5 among the best
4 strong
3 not too bad
2 mediocre
1 never again
Five Spices House
Go for: No frills, multi-region Chinese food with a huge menu.
Avoid if: You need to be pampered when you go out to eat.
Something surprising: The live seafood that's available. Oh, and there's a second floor.
Reservation needed? No, but you might have to wait a few minutes.
Overall Experience: 3/5. This place has an incredible menu and all of the dishes are executed well. You're not going to be treated like a VIP when coming here, but the food is worth it. It would be great if they restored and cleaned up the interior of the place a little bit, but it has a certain Chinatown charm to it.
Value for Price: 3
Sanitation: 3
Food Quality: 4
Menu Precision: 2
Service Quality: 3
Timing: 4
Decor: 2
Access: 3
—
5 among the best
4 strong
3 not too bad
2 mediocre
1 never again
Avoid if: You need to be pampered when you go out to eat.
Something surprising: The live seafood that's available. Oh, and there's a second floor.
Reservation needed? No, but you might have to wait a few minutes.
Overall Experience: 3/5. This place has an incredible menu and all of the dishes are executed well. You're not going to be treated like a VIP when coming here, but the food is worth it. It would be great if they restored and cleaned up the interior of the place a little bit, but it has a certain Chinatown charm to it.
Value for Price: 3
Sanitation: 3
Food Quality: 4
Menu Precision: 2
Service Quality: 3
Timing: 4
Decor: 2
Access: 3
—
5 among the best
4 strong
3 not too bad
2 mediocre
1 never again
Monument Charlestown Restaurant & Tavern
Go for: An absolutely gorgeous restaurant in the heart of one of Boston's most historic neighborhoods with really solid food options.
Avoid if: You want to be treated like the establishment is thankful to have you as a customer.
Something surprising: The space was formerly an Italian restaurant and a laundromat.
Reservation needed? Yes, at peak meal times.
Overall Experience: 3/5. The food tasted great and the ambience is top-notch, but the service experience from the host stand all the way through receipt of the check was disappointing. The two hosts treated every customer we saw like they were a bother. After patiently waiting 10 minutes to put in the beverages order and another 15 minutes (maybe more) to put in the meal orders, the server was then too busy chatting with other staff members to bother stopping by the table until it was time for the check...and other tables were having the same experience. The timing of the food delivery to the table was also totally disjointed.
Value for Price: 3
Sanitation: 4
Food Quality: 4
Menu Precision: 3
Service Quality: 1
Timing: 1
Decor: 5
Access: 3
—
5 among the best
4 strong
3 not too bad
2 mediocre
1 never again
Avoid if: You want to be treated like the establishment is thankful to have you as a customer.
Something surprising: The space was formerly an Italian restaurant and a laundromat.
Reservation needed? Yes, at peak meal times.
Overall Experience: 3/5. The food tasted great and the ambience is top-notch, but the service experience from the host stand all the way through receipt of the check was disappointing. The two hosts treated every customer we saw like they were a bother. After patiently waiting 10 minutes to put in the beverages order and another 15 minutes (maybe more) to put in the meal orders, the server was then too busy chatting with other staff members to bother stopping by the table until it was time for the check...and other tables were having the same experience. The timing of the food delivery to the table was also totally disjointed.
Value for Price: 3
Sanitation: 4
Food Quality: 4
Menu Precision: 3
Service Quality: 1
Timing: 1
Decor: 5
Access: 3
—
5 among the best
4 strong
3 not too bad
2 mediocre
1 never again
Tawakal Halal Cafe
Go for: Legitimate Somali/East African cuisine. If you've been to that part of the world, you'll agree.
Avoid if: you didn't bring an appetite for carbs.
Something surprising: the place never seems crazy busy, despite the rave reviews.
Reservation needed? No, probably not
Overall Experience: 3/5. The food was delicious, but the decor could use a refresh, the staff seemed disinterested, and we could have used a few some plates, utensils, tap water, and more napkins (the basics).
Value for Price: 4
Sanitation: 3
Food Quality: 4
Menu Precision: 4
Service Quality: 2
Timing: 4
Decor: 2
Access: 3
—
5 among the best
4 strong
3 not too bad
2 mediocre
1 never again
Avoid if: you didn't bring an appetite for carbs.
Something surprising: the place never seems crazy busy, despite the rave reviews.
Reservation needed? No, probably not
Overall Experience: 3/5. The food was delicious, but the decor could use a refresh, the staff seemed disinterested, and we could have used a few some plates, utensils, tap water, and more napkins (the basics).
Value for Price: 4
Sanitation: 3
Food Quality: 4
Menu Precision: 4
Service Quality: 2
Timing: 4
Decor: 2
Access: 3
—
5 among the best
4 strong
3 not too bad
2 mediocre
1 never again
Cactus Mexican Grill
Go for: A reliable option for Central American/Mexican food for any meal of the day.
Avoid if: You're not comfortable navigating a menu full of somewhat unfamiliar food options.
Something surprising: They have pupusas; true Central American comfort food.
Reservation needed? No.
Overall Experience: 3/5. The menu is in Spanish and if you're not familiar with this type of food, it could be overwhelming. The food is good, but on the expensive side for being fast food.
Value for Price: 3
Sanitation: 3
Food Quality: 3
Menu Precision: 3
Service Quality: 3
Timing: 3
Decor: 3
Access: 4
—
5 among the best
4 strong
3 not too bad
2 mediocre
1 never again
Avoid if: You're not comfortable navigating a menu full of somewhat unfamiliar food options.
Something surprising: They have pupusas; true Central American comfort food.
Reservation needed? No.
Overall Experience: 3/5. The menu is in Spanish and if you're not familiar with this type of food, it could be overwhelming. The food is good, but on the expensive side for being fast food.
Value for Price: 3
Sanitation: 3
Food Quality: 3
Menu Precision: 3
Service Quality: 3
Timing: 3
Decor: 3
Access: 4
—
5 among the best
4 strong
3 not too bad
2 mediocre
1 never again