Dirk L.
Yelp
We took six of us to celebrate two birthdays...NEVER AGAIN! A terribly noisy ambience started things off on a bad foot. It was SO loud (in the dining room, NOT the bar), it was impossible to comfortably carry on a conversation. Despite it being over 90 degrees outside, they had doors and windows open. So, if the noise didn't discourage you, the flies likely would have. The temperature INSIDE the dining room was 80 and rose to 82 before we were finished. We had several appetizers. The tuna tartare with avocado was delicious! The calamari was also crisp and tasty. The mussels in curry were destroyed by being so overcooked it was difficult to tell if there was still a mussel in each shell. HUGE disappointment! Our server was attentive and professional. Unfortunately, he was fighting a losing battle. He knew who ordered what and the person who "helped" him bring our food out, acted like it was his first night in fine dining...standing at one end of the table yelling "who had the xxxxxx". It was like being at Waffle House! For the most part the entree were good. The crusted grouper came cold, and the Korean short ribs, which are served in a cast iron skillet, were barely warm. The other four entrees were all satisfactory. They included the Korean French dip, fish tacos, steak and puttanesca pasta, and three crab cake-like patties. We all skipped dessert, despite our desire to further the birthday celebrations.
This was the first time all three couples have tried North End, and the opinions were unanimous...it will be all our last. A terrible, expensive, and disappointing decision on our parts. There are too many more reliable, delicious restaurants within walking distance to take this risk again.