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Stephanie's On Newbury
Categories: Restaurants Canadian (New) Restaurants Canadian (Traditional) Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Canadian (New), Canadian (Traditional), Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
190 Newbury St(between Dartmouth St & Exeter St)
Boston, MA 02116
Neighbourhood: Back Bay
(617) 236-0990
- Nearest Transit:
-
Boylston St @ Dartmouth St (10, 170, 193, 39, 55, 9)
Copley Station - Outbound (Green Line)
Copley Station - Inbound (Green Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 11 pm
Sat 11 am - 11 pm
Sun 10 am - 10 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy, Trendy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
560 reviews for Stephanie's On Newbury
Review Highlights
-
"I highly recommend the mac n cheese." In 47 reviews -
"They serve generous portions of stylish comfort food." In 33 reviews -
"I had the crab cake benedict which is truly divine." In 11 reviews
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559 reviews in English
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Review from Jason G.
5/21/2012
Throwing out a favorable review is easy once you've had brunch at Stephanies. Their menu is rather big and can be overwhelming when you're starved. Make sure when you go, you bring an appetite though. There are literally just too many things calling your name and it's impossible to try everything. Don't come all nonchalant. You're on Newbury, so that means you come with reservations or set the expectation to wait.
Their crab cake Benedict is out of this world. Frittered French toast is superb as is the breakfast quesadilla. Stephanie's is one of the reasons I fell in love with Boston.
I realize there are some mixed reviews and it looks like the biggest complaint has been the wait. So keep that in mind when I suggested you make reservations for Sunday brunch. I also recommend sitting outside with weather allows it. I prefer it to their inside, which is nice, but you really get to appreciate Boston on a nice day with some great food and a cold beer.
Wicked good. -
Review from Rachel N.
5/25/2012
Been going here for years -- you really go b/c your on Newbs, starving, and there is nothing really to eat except for Joe's American Bar and Grill -- not b/c you're craving Stephanie's.
So basically, you're at SoN because you have no other choice and on the days when it's nice out, the patio is fantastic people watching. The food is solidly mediocre -- it's kind of like a slightly classed up Cheesecake Factory. Salads run $13-17 (on my most recent visit, the veg salad was swimming in bland dressing, yuck), the entrees are around $20+ (pasta, sandwiches, fish, meats) -- the potions are are massive, but the quality is always pretty bland. You don't really want to eat nearly as much as they give you.
You might ask, why do I go back? Well, it's simple. Hanger makes this bear do strange things. And I'm lazy sometimes. So sue me. Or open a better resto on Newbs. Your call.
Despite its drawbacks (the food), it does have an extensive enough menu that those who are health conscious and those who just want a burger can coexist at meal time.
Lunch for two is easily $50. Be prepared to wait 2 hours to sit outdoors on the weekend. -
Review from Adrian W.
Boston, MA
5/14/2012
I have to say, Stephanie's on Newbury is OVERRATED!
Yes, some of their food is delicious, but on the whole, the food is not extraordinary. The food is on par with most of the restaurants on Newbury Street, but I had expected it to stand out a little bit more than others.
My latest trip to Stephanie's on Newbury was for brunch. Portion sizes were appropriate and the food was good. I ended up with the Pulled Pork Scramble while my sister chose the Frittered French Toast. The scramble was pretty ordinary with some pulled pork meat which was somewhat bland. The french toast was somewhat better. The portion is enormous for one person alone. The taste was great but some of the toast was burnt.
The service here is quick and on par. Though there was one bartender who I noticed to be having a bit of an attitude to the customers and to his fellow co-workers. I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt and thinking that he is just having an off-day.
Atmosphere here is quite typical of an american restaurant/bar. There is comfortable seating indoor and outdoor when the weather permits. They do provide snuggie blankets for you if you sit outside while its cold, thought I imagine it being a little hard to eat with.
Overall, I probably wouldn't come here again unless I have a reason to.
Food: 7/10
Service: 8/10
Atmosphere:7.5/10 -
Review from Jade R.
Boston, MA
5/4/2012
I've come here several times, and it's time for a nice little review!
***LUNCH REVIEW***
I would have given five stars, but the service was (VERY) slow and server unmemorable. Their scones, which used to be AMAZING, were so heartbreakingly horrible. I asked for another basket, hoping to have a good batch, but no, they definitely changed something.... :(
I LOVE THEIR SALADS! Yes, the price is shocking, but seriously, it's worth every penny. Incredibly fresh, large, and different.
I usually have the GOAT CHEESE SALAD (the goat cheese is crusted, warm, and pretty much feels like a burst of sunshine went through my body).
- their BEET SALAD is incredible, but seasonal, sooooo make sure to get that when it's on the menu!
Today I had the COBB SALAD - it's wonderful. I particularly loved the corn - you can tell it's fresh off the cob, considering there were huge chunks, not puny individual pieces. The dressing is FANTASTIC. Its a true bleu cheese dressing, not those imitation kinds. Actual, delicious, chunks of bleu cheese.
THE ONION RINGS - best $10 I have ever spent. Presentation alone, I was sold. The taste, surpasses it. It was cool to see a different type of onion ring. These are way thicker and wider, allowing for a GOOD BITE, not those types of bites where you pull the whole onion out.
ROASTED VEG RAVIOLI - I luckily got to snag a bite.. oh my god, this was incredible! I really didn't expect it to be THAT good. I mean, no meat? BUt seriously, the taste is SPOT ON. I must say though, it's a very strong, unique taste. I really have never tasted anything like it... which made it even more incredible.
AHI TUNA BURGER - Had a bite of this too... all I have to say is EH. Assumed it would be raw (I know I know, make an ass out of u and me) but instead compeltely cooked through. Really, it just wasn't anything special. The coleslaw (Which, unlike a lot of people I know, I love) was not that great either. -
Review from Kayla P.
Boston, MA
4/26/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I've lived about 5 minutes from Newbury Street for the past six years, and I've always wanted to try Stephanie's. I've heard that it's overrated, but from my experience it was great. Let me preface this by saying this review is for brunch only.
So I came here the Sunday morning before the Boston Marathon a couple weeks ago, and let me tell you, I was a bit out of it due to the previous night's bar crawl. My friends and I sat outside where we watched a ton of runners go by, making us think about our poor life decisions that we were still drunk from the night before and they were out running a casual few miles.
I'm a bit of a bloody mary connoisseur, and I think the bloody mary here is the best one I've ever had. When I saw the "Make Your Own Bloody Mary" checklist at the table with about twenty-five different add-ins to choose from, I knew I'd be starting my morning off right. My friend and I thought it would be a good idea to check off everything on the list (turned into a $25 bloody, definitely a spectacle which unfortunately drew other guests to our table when we were trying to be inconspicuous in our ridiculous state). Pepperoni and cheese skewer, slim jim, shrimp, blue cheese stuffed olives, green beans, pickle, pepperoncini, old bay seasoned rim, celery were only some of the ingredients that were stacked high on the bloody. Amazing.
For my meal I got a pulled pork omelet which I'm sure would have been really good but my hangover was starting to kick in making it really hard for me to eat anything. My friends said their meals were great...blanking on what they ordered.
Bonus points to the waiter who poked fun at us because of the condition we were in. We were not the easiest customers, but we were definitely the most laughable because nothing that came out of our mouths was remotely comprehendable (or even English for that matter). I will definitely be back for brunch again...maybe next time I'll be presentable. But probably not. -
Review from Caro K.
Brookline, MA
4/21/2012
Have you ever waited 45 minutes to be seated at a restaurant where you MADE A RESERVATION???????
7pm reservation, we were seated at 745. My boyfriend and I came were expecting a nice dinner out, but instead witnessed a rushed, over-extended, disorganized staff who simply could not meet the demands of a Saturday night dinner hour. The girls at the front desk asked us to wait at the bar when we first arrived, called us to the front desk again twenty minutes later, and then held us there for another 25 minutes because "sorry, the manager is crazy" and "just a second, they've paid, we're just waiting for them to leave." As we waited, a woman came in saying she had a reservation, and the girls at the front desk had no idea who she was. They asked who had called her and at what number to confirm her reservation, and visibly embarrassed, she whipped out her iphone to justify herself. Finally her story was corroborated, but her name was not in the computer.
The volume of people entering the restaurant was simply a deluge, with families cramming into the bar/lounge where seating is "first come first served" when they were told the wait for dining would be 2 hours.
The food here is fantastic, let me be clear: fresh ingredients, wonderful dishes. Clearly the chefs are rock stars. I have never witnessed service this abysmal here or anywhere else before tonight. Bread was not brought until demanded, water not refilled until requested, and bussers scurried around setting and clearing tables at breakneck speed.
It is clear Stephanie's has become too popular for its own good, at least on a weekend night. Customer service is sacrificed, and I felt quite plainly like a second class citizen waiting for the right to be seated.
I Yelp this encounter as a warning to all, and in the hopes Stephanie's management will read it and recognize that their system is broken and needs to be fixed.
I am a huge fan of this restaurant. But I am gravely disappointed and I hope my words have some effect on the problems I am describing. -
Review from Cassie H.
4/26/2012
After many Bostonians telling me that we needed to eat here sometime before we move back to Texas, my husband and I used an opportunity this week to eat there with one of our friends who is in town for his anesthesia oral boards.
We made a reservation online and it was super easy. Despite being a Wednesday night, they were very busy and the restaurant seemed very full the whole time we were there (although to be fair it was cold and rainy and no one wanted to sit outdoors).
For appetizer, we had the calamari. It was really well done, although I didn't like that since everything was battered, it was almost impossible to tell whether you were about to eat calamari or the banana peppers. It was like playing 50-50 during appetizers. For dinner, my husband and our friend ordered the lobster salad roll which was pretty gigantic. When you count the sides, neither of the guys finished their plate. I ordered the pan-roasted cod and the fish was super tender and wonderful. The only small criticism of my dish was that the corn & bacon chowder was a tad too salty. I ended up scooping out the corn, bacon, and celery to eat with my fish and leaving the salty broth at the bottom of the plate. For dessert, we split the apple bread pudding with vanilla ice cream. It's a gigantic serving. There is definitely enough to share at a table of four! Good golly!
Our service was prompt without being intrusive, and the girls were very attentive to refills and checking in for any new drink orders.
Overall, I think it's worth the hype, and I do agree that it's worth it to eat at once... but it is also on the pricey side, so I'm not sure that we would be back unless it was with out-of-town visitors or to celebrate something special. -
Review from Josephine L.
Boston, MA
4/25/2012
I've avoided this place like the plague because it epitomizes overpriced Newbury restaurants with lousy service. But one gorgeous, balmy night, a friend and I met up for dinner and Stephanie's was the only place that had patio space.
We split the ahi tuna tartare appetizer, which wasn't bad. A little too much avocado in my opinion, but the tuna was fresh and had a nice texture. I had the chicken pot pie, which was way, way too rich. The filling was really thick and creamy instead of the standard gravy-like filling. I could not eat more than half of it. My friend's Pulled Chicken Pasta was decent but nothing special.
I also had the Hole Mole cocktail, which sounds good on paper but in reality is too sweet. Also, putting salt, sugar or graham crackers on the rim of the glass is a good idea. Putting chocolate syrup all over the rim of a glass just invites sticky messiness and makes it difficult to drink the cocktail.
As predicted, the service was lousy. Our waitress was okay, but the hostesses who took our names and led us to our table were surly, unsmiling and rude. Not exactly what you want to be greeted with on first arrival. -
Review from Allison S.
ASTORIA, NY
4/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
The lunch was very good, I had the Lobster Pot Pie but it was a bit pricey. I'm not from Boston but I just that's what happens on Newbury Street.
I had better food at Quincey Market and better service at Fenway Park.... -
Review from N B.
Boston, MA
5/16/2012
Its cool and hip, but limited food offerings. Go a few times and you may tire of it...They used to serve a really good Sheppards pie, but didnt see on the menu last time, what happened to it??
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Review from Paul C.
4/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
I had a late night dinner at Stephanie's with two friends this past weekend. We didn't have main dishes, but what we had was fantastic.
My friend had their ahi appetizer, and my other friend had the chicken pot pie. Both were very happy with what they got.
I got the macaroni and cheese which was very nice. Subtle but really flavorful. I also got a side of broccoli and they gave me some hot sauce and in a side dish I did a few concoctions which turned out very nice.
Oh and then comes the desserts. Bread pudding--resolutely divine. Molten chocolate cake, yeah pretty delicious.
Our water was also awesome--he was a cut up and did everything perfectly. I'm going to go again someday to check out their main dishes, which granted look a little pricey, to see if they also measure up. -
Review from Rae A.
Mid-Cambridge, MA
5/10/2012
Our server was friendly, food was great and I Loved the Vodka Sours!!!
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Review from Kunal M.
New York, NY
4/1/2012
I've been coming to Stephanie's since I was a young kid. It's an institution on Newbury Street.
I wouldn't recommend Stephanie's if you are trying to go to a restaurant that has GOOD food...but I would recommend it if you are in the mood to people watch and be in a nice atmosphere.
On that note- Try the Lobster Roll and some of their Salads at Lunch time.
The bar is also a pleasant place to sit in the evenings and have desert etc.. -
Review from Valerie H.
Boston, MA
5/6/2012
Love Stephanies! I have been here several times, and it has yet to disappoint. I've had: skirt steak, Stephi burger, chicken pot pie, and the thai chicken salad (not all at once... promise). On the specials, I had their omgsuperamazing carrot and ginger bisque soup. HOLY SMOKES! So, while I tend to stay away from the pretentiousness that is Newbury St, I do enjoy some Stephanie's. Also: sangria (both regular and winter) and their Pinot Noir selection is outstanding. LOVE!
-
Review from Lyndsay K.
Duluth, GA
3/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
We went for brunch on Sunday and I was pleasantly surprised. In fact I haven't been able to stop thinking about that warm grilled bruschetta for the life of me! Those balsamic marinated tomatoes? Seriously unforgettable.
We also ordered the calamari to start and that was good. My salad - the grilled tenderloin salad - was great. Service was great.
But those tomatoes made this a 4 star review. -
Review from Three N.
Cheshire, CT
3/25/2012
We love this place for sitting outside and enjoying the best of Boston vibe as people stroll by and the hustle and bustle of the city surrounds you. Food is good and yes its Newbury so a little pricey. Staff is always very friendly and we make of point going whenever we are in town.
We have never sat inside and it seems loud and noisy - its the patio we love!
The Chicken pot pie is creamy and comfort food, the chicken pasta is very good and filling. Love the irish soda bread!!
Go and enjoy a sunny afternoon - or sit with the xmas lighted trees at night - you wil not be disappointed. -
Review from Jenn C.
4/4/2012
Stephanies has one of the best mac and cheeses EVER. Cheesy, gooey, with a crunchy top and accented with truffle oil and prosciutto, it is comfort food at its best. The restaurant is nice and large, so you might even score a last minute table. Service is excellent, and the location can't be beat. There's a warm but classy vibe that creates a feeling of intimacy even though there are a ton of diners at any given time.
-
Review from Daisy C.
Boston, MA
3/7/2012
Lunch time, Saturday. It's busy. I'm only there because my two friends invited me to have lunch with them. We get a table and we're surrounded by fashion conscious, luxury shopping bag holding, wine drinking, money spoiled youngsters and I look like I just came back from hiking with sweat and everything.
Looked over the 1 page, one sided menu and saw bruschetta, alright! The $15 appetizer came smothered in chunks of tomatoes and overwhelmed with goat cheese sauce so that by the time it reached my mouth, it was a mushy sponge. The burger I ordered was fresh and real and the fries were thin and crispy, this folks, is how I love my burger meals! Although it's nothing fancy, the burger was one of the best I've ever eaten--not the best--one of the best.
Our waitress was nice and so was the waitstaff. Things seemed very organized even in hectic customer traffics. I'm glad I didn't have to pay though, I'm sure the price would have given the stars an effect. However, this is not my type of environment. I don't dress or act the part...so I won't be back.
[Sad music score in the background starts to play as the lights dim on Stephanie's On Newbury] -
Review from Colin G.
4/17/2012
A very good place to have Brunch and people watch. one of the first to do so on Newberry St. The food is Ok to decent. the drinks are also decent. If your a local that likes to tourist people watch for and hour or so this might be your place.
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Review from Hillary C.
Boston, MA
5/2/2012
So far, this place seems to be overrated to me. I don't think one should wait in line for okay ish food. Although they have wonderful service, their food was not excellent. I heard portions were big so my boyfriend and I shared a dinner entree and appetizer together. We almost finished our food but it was too much and not exactly super tasty. We ordered their chicken mushroom pasta which was mediocre however their goat cheese appetizer was pretty good. Overall, I don't think I would come to this restaurant again unless a friend of mine really wants to go. Overall only the only thing worth ordering is the goat cheese appetizer. If you really want to waste time and money go here. And to not be the awkward person that does not order food at restaurant, just go for the goat cheese appetizer... it's pretty good but not super worth the $ or the wait in line.
-
Review from Rachel L.
Boston, MA
4/26/2012
I went here for dinner on my birthday. I reserved a table two weeks in advance since this is a popular restaurant on Newbury Street. The day of my birthday, my friends showed up first and the hostess claimed that I had never made a reservation. I show up thirty minutes later, and surprise, surprise, my reservation shows up on their computer.
We sit. See the overpriced menu. Decide to go with something safe. Food appears and it very over-salted. Almost inedible. We try to send the food back but the waitress hardly appeared at our table. After thirty mins of waiting for the waitress, we pay and leave without eating most of the food. Not sure why we were treated so badly. Maybe because we were a group of middle-class black people?
Would have given this a zero if I could. Horrible service. Horrible restaurant. -
Review from Clare F.
2/22/2012
Probably more like a 3.5 star review, but the green salad and the mini-scones/soda bread in the basket push it to a 4.
Came here with two friends for lunch on Presidents' Day. Oh. Right. School vacation = lots of families. However, our 25 minute projected wait was a mere 15 minutes, so well done Stephanie's at turning over tables.
I'd had a full hour workout and walked from Southie to Newbury Street, so I was hungry. So hungry, in fact, that I was bordering nauseous. The waitress was quick with the bread basket thankfully. And oh, what a basket it is. Mini-rolls, soda bread, huge water crackers, really good butter. I would return for the basket alone!
I ordered an OJ and I'm almost positive it was fresh squeezed. Yum!
My friends got salads, I got a veggie sandwich. I expected the 'roasted veggie sandwich' to be warm, but the roasted veggies had just come out of the fridge. Interesting. It was advertised with goat cheese, and did contain some, but not as much as the price implied. The side salad was absolutely delicious. Believe me, I am usually uninspired by a pile of greens next to a sandwich, but those greens were perfectly dressed. I ended up piling a bunch of the veggies on top of the salad. The sandwich bread was very good as well.
AT liked her Caesar Salad. Juju had a crisp veg salad with chicken, and the chicken was pretty dry, but she loved the veggies and their generous helping of goat cheese (maybe the took the cheese out of my sandwich to put on her's?)
Service was quick and friendly. The bathroom had just been cleaned (by a male cleaner, which doesn't bother me but may put other females off.)
Definitely glad that after 5 years in Boston, I got a chance to experience Stephanie's. -
Review from Lisa M.
Arlington, MA
2/28/2012
This place was just okay for me, especially for the price. The best thing we had was actually the bread basket - it included some raisin biscuits and high-end butter that were absolutely excellent, I could have OD'd on these.
My husband's clam chowder was sort of the thicker kind that makes you think of a tourist trap. It was okay if you like your clam chowder really thick (I don't).
The scallops were all right, but infusing them with thyme was sort of boring - thyme is such a banal herb, eating these reminded me of my own roasted carrots. They need to go citrus for scallops.
The porcini ravioli was also sort of disappointing. It was just TOO greasy, too cheesy, with peas and bacon... too much. They need to do a lighter sauce and replace the peas and bacon with additional fine mushrooms.
Service was fabulous. I think overall I'd second older reviews that said Stephanies is the tourist trap spinoff of Stephi's. We love Stephi's. This place was just okay. -
Review from Michael R.
Boston, MA
4/23/2012
Food is not worth the price they charge you. It is certainly perpared and plated nicely but I would rather it taste as good as it looks. Everything was really bland and unseasoned. I've eaten better for a lot cheaper. What you do pay for is the service.Service was really good, waiter was extra attention as well as timely and this was during a busy Saturday night! I will not be returning...
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Review from Caitlin C.
Glastonbury, CT
2/6/2012
Each table at Stephanie's was set with the cute little clipboard above that enables guests to customize their very own Stephanie's Famous Bloody Mary for $11.50. The ingredients sounded really cool, but I have never been the biggest Bloody Mary fan and was going to be having some cocktails later, so we all just ordered food. http://Boston.com has called these bloody marys some of Boston's best though, for those who are fans.
The cocktail menu was pretty darn impressive. It was hard for me to resist indulging in one of these! But really, I was hungry and food was at the top of my brain.
A girl at the table next to use ordered the Seared Yellow Fin Tuna Salad, and as soon as I saw the waiter set it down in front of her, all I could think was...I WANT. It wasn't too hard for me to decide on that, though the menu did have plenty of appetizing options. My friends had a way harder time choosing than I did.
Kramer ordered the Oversized Stephi Burger: ground sirloin, cheddar cheese, caramelized onions, bacon, sauteed mushrooms, and french fries. It was definitely oversized! And also over-cheesed and over-fatted - Kramer commented that the cheese was way too much, and the sirloin itself was too fatty. There was definitely a sizable pool of grease that crowded and ruined the last few fries on his plate. He liked the burger, but said next time he'd go light on the cheese or nix it completely.
Greg's choice was definitely more unique and delicious, though not enough food for him! He has been loving shepherd's pie that Kramer cooks in their apartment, and ordered Stephanie's version, which came inside an acorn squash and with a side of deliciously salty sauteed collard greens. Fortunately for Kramer and I, Greg didn't want the greens. Greg poured gravy over the whipped potatoes on top of the dish, and it looked and tasted even better. He said it was so delicious, but again, not enough food for him.
My salad was fantastic, with perfectly seared tuna and plenty of yummy ingredients like marinated green beans and olives, just the way I like it. The lemon caper dressing was the star - one of the best salad dressings I've ever tasted. I dipped my fork in it lightly before each tuna bite and the combo was out of this world.
Def recommend Stephanie's, I want to go back in the summer and sit outside!Comment from Stephanie N. of Stephanie's On Newbury 2/17/2012
We just launched the Bloody Mary clipboard, it is available… More » -
Review from Brett K.
3/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
Holy Bloody Mary and Jesus ! Best bloody marys ever. Food was really good, I think it was an appetizer but I had ricotta herb gnocchi with duck confit and man that stuff was awesome. It's an expensive area so expect it to be a little pricey but I thought it was definitely worth a visit during a weekend Boston.
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Review from Kristin G.
Boston, MA
3/13/2012
This place is just plain annoying.
I used to come here in high school when I felt cool for shopping on Newbury. I must have been feeling nostalgic when I stopped in for lunch on Saturday - I forgot I'm no longer a delusional teenager nor a dazed tourist.
The menu is not even remotely special and insultingly over priced. I settled on the appetizer shrimp quesadilla for my meal, but when I ordered it without bacon my sever said they couldn't modify the order at all because it was pre made. Seriously? Why would something as simple as a quesadilla be pre made and what business does bacon have with a quesadilla in the first place? Anyways, I ordered the miso undon noodles with shrimp. I guess I'm not sure what I expected, but what I got was a medium bowl of miso soup with a couple of mushy noodles and four overcooked shrimp...and a price tag of $19. I was very disappointed and after two bites I spoke to a manager because only a fool would pay that price for soup that comes free with sushi.
The manager was not apologetic, but he did clear the soup and have it extracted from my bill. When I mentioned that I was disappointed that the dish I originally wanted couldn't be made without bacon the manager's excuse was that they pre make the quesadillas to save time. I'm sorry but McDonald's can customize meals and get them to you quickly, I think a swanky Newbury Street restaurant could manage to whip up a fresh quesadilla.
Zero stars for bad value and arrogance
One star for good service (excluding the sorry excuse for a manager)
One star for comfy atmosphere
Stephanie's is like a hot pink coach bag; a tacky thing I wasted money on as a teenager, but now I've learned my lesson. -
Review from Mindy R.
Boston, MA
2/12/2012
If you like over priced salad or sandwhiches or salad sandwhiches this is the places for you!!
I knew exactly what I was getting before I walked into Stephanies (I work right around the corner from Newbury St), but still I had to check it out eventually! The location is good, the decor is nice, the music was the best part of the restaurant, but everything is just OK.
When I walked in there was a 30-35minute wait for lunch around 2:30 on a Saturday for 1 person. The hostess told me that if I wanted to I could check out the bar, which was where I was headed to anyway. The decor in the dining room looked nice, it was more like sitting areas than restaurant tables. The bar was REALLY busy as well, I happen to hit it lucky with 2 men leaving as I walked in. There was a bar to sit at, as well as a high top bar looking over into the dining room (I sat there) and small tables to the side.
I ordered the grilled veggie sandwhich with goat cheese, and it came with a side of greens. It was definitely big & filling. As I was eating it though, I envied the woman next to me who ordered the same meal without the bread, and added chicken.
There's really not too much to say about Stephanies. Its a great place if you like paying a lot of money for salads and sandwhiches. And although I didn't have a cocktail, they were much more expensive than other restaurants on Newbury, Boylston & surrounding areas, which I know for a fact have fantastic cocktails and mixologists. -
Review from Joshua S.
Santa Clara, CA
3/28/2012
Classic American cuisine. The setting is incredible, right in the heart of vibrant Newbury Street, great for people watching, but the meal itself wasn't memorable. Overall, I would recommend this restaurant, but because I am only in Boston, occasionally, I wouldn't go out of my way to come back.
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Review from Cam S.
Midtown East, Manhattan, NY
3/30/2012
I have mixed feelings about this place because the service and food can be inconsistent. Overall though the burgers are amazing and it's usually a phenomenal place to go and feast. Really like sitting outside during the warmer months here.
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Review from Tyler H.
Elmwood Park, NJ
11/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Visited Stephanie's with my fiancee and her boss during a Vet convention in Boston and was very impressed with the entire experience.
I had the Mac & Cheese with prosciutto and truffle oil and almost didn't order it. I'm always hesitant to go for the "premium" comfort food as it seems like you would get a better bang for your buck with something like a steak or good piece of fish. But, the weather was chilly and some nice hearty comfort food seemed like the right way to go. Let me tell you, I did not regret it! Delicious and filling, I would recommend this to anyone who comes here.
I don't live in town, but if I did I think we would make Stephanie's one of our "go to" spots for a nice evening out. -
Review from Grace R.
10/27/2011 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
Absolutely worth the wait and the food does not disappoint. The trick is, make a reservation.
I have waited for a table at Stephanie's for more than an hour on several occasions but I must say, it's totally worth the wait. Really, there are so many distractions on Newbury Street, being occupied for half an hour or so shouldn't be a huge problem, at least for me. But lesson learned, I just need to make a reservation. For my beloved Providence peeps, it's so worth the experience it's like Nick's on Broadway.
My friend was visiting Boston from out of town and Stephanie's immediately came to mind. I made a reservation on Open Table and we got seated right away. Staff was sweet. My glass of water was always full. Food was get-out-of-here excellent.
Stephanie's has its own spin on a regular menu. You must, please please please, try the Smoked Salmon BLT. It was by far the best sandwich I have ever had. They piled the smoked salmon on apple bacon strips, tomatoes and lettuce on a wonderful wheat bread with a sheer layer of dressing. To top it all off, it came with a side fresh greens with arugula. The portion was VERY generous. I am usually one of those wives who eats half of my food and gives the other half to my husband but NO WAY, not this time. I inhaled the whole sandwich in no time and had a grand finale with the salad. I barely talked to my friend, I think.
The price is higher than average but I think it's appropriate for Newbury Street.
I am still thinking about the Smoked Salmon BLT... mmm. Now go to Open Table and make your reservation! -
Review from Meg T.
11/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Busy restaurant but the food is pretty good. My sister and I came on a sunday morning before we had to catch our flights out to DC and LA respectively. We were actually really lucky because we were able to squeeze in before a reservation came which was awesome. I really appreciate when restaurants are able to time seating people and allowing others without a reservation to eat quickly.
My sister had this pulled pork scramble which was really good...I had the ham and cheese omelet which was so light and fluffy...although I think that I may have been expecting more since it was pretty expensive for the food we got.
Good service, good food, just be prepared for the prices, although it probably is around what you would pay on Newbury. -
Review from Arthur H.
North Reading, MA
4/26/2012
Went there before a show for drinks and an appy. Service was great staff was friendly and salads were scrumptious. Valet parking is expensive.
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Review from D S.
Fort Lee, NJ
3/10/2012
I been here a while back and still remember how good the clam chowder soon was, a def stop for me when i'm in Bean town
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Review from Barbara K.
High Falls, NY
1/22/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Six of us arrived for brunch at the appointed time and had to wait ten minutes. Not a big deal. After having been in our seats for twenty minutes, we whistled up a server to take our order. We then waited a long time for the food to be served, but again not a big deal since we were all sisters and had lots to talk about. When the food finally arrived, eggs Benedict, hash and sweet potatoes, toast and home fries, the plates were hot and the food was lukewarm at best. Our waitress had told us no sides came with the food, so we had all ordered sides only to find sides on the plates and too much food. Even with all this, the waitress was cold and rude. We were a large group so the waitress was very lucky to have had 18% tip included in the bill. We would have left her nothing for the effort.
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Review from Sandy L.
10/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came here with a recommendation for her favorite spot for brunch. The place was definitely crowded inside and they have A LOT of workers. i think in a period of 5 minutes we had 3 different servers ask us "if we need anything," "are you enjoying your food" and "how is everything?" which is great, but difficult to keep a conversation at the table.
i ordered the crab cake benedict which the server recommended and the bf ordered corned beef hash. both were definitely just A-OK. for the price that we paid $25/person, the food should be cooked perfectly. the potatoes were soggy, the lettuce wasn't very fresh and while the plates were hot, the food itself was a little overcooked and/or not as delicious as id want them to be. the portions are a good quantity even for the heavy eater.
i want to say something nice but nothing comes to mind. not that memorable but solid enough to get a 3 star. -
Review from Albert B.
Boston, MA
2/6/2012
I've eaten food here on only two occasions; it was pretty good. I'm rating this operation four stars based on the Bloody Mary's. Best in town. They've got almost every option desired so you can build your own (blue cheese stuffed olives are a must). I'd recommend this place even if you just stop in for an early afternoon refreshment.
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Review from Rani P.
10/21/2011
This was a long-awaited meal. Walking by Stephanie's On Newbury, on Newbury St.- go figure, I always gawked at the long line waiting for a table outside and drooled over the food as I creepily walked close (too close) to the railing separating the sidewalk from the outdoor diners. When my friend listed to me the options for our dinner date- I quickly jumped on the opportunity to eat at Stephanie's (plus her name was Stefanie, so I thought it was only right..) The service was great- my friend is a gluten-free gal, and they were so accommodating and knowledgable *plus she could basicallly order anything off the menu. However, I sadly had to eat the whole bread basket myself- from soda bread, to crackers to mini whole wheat rolls... and don't worry, I didn't waste one crumb!
The menu has wonderful, well-rounded options. I ordered the scallops dish and was slightly disappointed. Although the risotto was great, the scallops were sandy and the seasoning was a little overpowering. It wasn't bad- I've just had a lot better. My friend got the salmon, although she informed me that she always struggles to order something other than the Cob salad. She said the salmon was delicious- so maybe I just didn't order the best thing on the menu.
I'm optimistic, and plan to return to try something different. But I am happy to bring any other gluten-free Stephanies to Stephanie's :) -
Review from Leah M.
Medford, MA
3/8/2012
Good people watching location if you sit outside, mac n cheese was really good n creamy, but a bit pricey...which i guess is expected on Newbury St., but for all the hype of this place, I expected something phenomenal and it was just average!
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