Michael R.
Yelp
Not sure why they are packed, but certainly not the worst in the area.
We stopped in for brunch on a cold Saturday afternoon. The place was jammed pack. The host was cold, no welcome and could care less with no eye contact. Never a good start.
The restaurant is cavernous and we were escorted away to a rear upper dining room, which was fine, but not as nice as the main dining room. This room also quickly filled up. Our waiter seemed nice enough and I ordered one of their "famous" bloody mary's, where you build what you would like. It was good, but honestly nothing special.
As it was a brunch menu there was a mix of sweets, breakfast fare and savory items. I'm a sucker for monkey bread and was delighted to see it on the menu. It was only a few minutes after placing the order that the dish arrived. Sadly, it was room temperature and unfortunately the center was raw. We picked around the outside but the inner portion was inedible. Further, our waiter did not check back at us until our main was dropped at the table. I told him the monkey bread could have used some more time in the oven and had an undercooked center, and he asked what he could do. We did not want, nor could eat another. The dish was NOT removed from our check which I think would have been an appropriate gesture.
Service was lackluster and I think our server was afraid to checkin on us any further. When servers know the food may not be great, they tend to not checkin. The breakfast burger we ordered was unremarkable.
It was my wife's birthday which I had noted in the reservation and there was no acknowledgement from the host, or waiter. I suppose it is just not that kind of place. Essentially diner fare, at a premium price. There are much better choices in Back Bay and I don't think we would return here and I can't recommend.