Highland Kitchen...
My first visit here was during the summer of 2012. My girlfriend and I were house shopping. We had a week to find a place to live before picking up and moving to Boston from Texas.
After ending the day of house showings, I yelped some something to eat in the area...
Sitting in the bar, with the windows open, eating the goat stew, sitting next to my girl friend, I realized that Boston was going to work out and that life was good.
Highland Kitchen could best be described as warm; You're surrounded by floors of dark, worn wood, brick walls and a jukebox. It's comfortable, like a favorite pillow.
The service is top notch. They're quick to get some fresh sour dough bread and butter in front of you as soon as you sit down.
I tend to switch up what I get here, because it's all on deck. They also rock a couple of specials ever day, so even though I go here too much, it stays fresh. The menu also changes with the seasons.
The bar staff is always quick with a smile and generous with their pours. They've a nice selection of of scotches, tequilas and mezcals if you're into that kind of thing. Good wine selection, and they focus on having interesting and affordable bottles.
What I'd suggest:
Deviled Eggs. (yessssss)
Shrimp and Grits
burger
goat stew (assuming you're ok with goat, and spicy food)
pappardella
gumbo
For Brunch:
I'd stick with the dirty bird, shrimp and grits or the BLT.
I would say avoid the huevos rancheros, but maybe I'm just biased having lived in San Antonio.
Probably the only down side of HK is frankly, it's success. It can get crowded, but you should take that as a sign of quality. Davis Sqr. isn't that far away, but people come here for a reason.
One of my favorite restaurants here (and one of the only Boston restaurants I can honestly call objectively good). Â I don't think I've ever had anything here that wasn't tasty, and by this point (I live practically around the corner) I've tried virtually everything on the menu. Â Great New American food, with some interesting twists, and nice staff, vibe, decor, etc. Â Only downside is that it gets exceptionally busy on weekend nights, but this can be mitigated if you go a bit earlier.
Review Source:Highland Kitchen has the best fried chicken I've had outside the former Confederate states; it's only available on Monday and that's all I've ever had so I can't say anything else about the rest of the menu. Service is decent but it can easily get crowded and when it does the noise level is pretty bad.
Review Source:The Crew and I meet at HK at least once a year to catch up with the latest updates of our lives. Â You can say it's like a mini-reunion. Â HK brings a hearty-felt goodness from the time we sit to our very last sip. My special favorite is "the goat" followed by a tall and handsome Dorchester, good to the last drop. Â The place is packed every time we go and we never have to wait too long for a table. Â HK is a great neighborhood gem. Â Growing up here when it used to be "slummerville," there wasn't much to brag about. Â But HK has changed some of that.
Review Source:Yeesh, this place. So it's unfortunate I have to give this place a bad review. The drink I had was great and we stayed long enough to have the calamari, which was also very good.
But, we left before dinner. My boyfriend and I were seated in a stretch of tables in the middle of the floor where no room is given between the tables whatsoever.
We were told that the two-tops that were open on the outside of the room were being held. Fine. But, if you're going to charge $12 for a cocktail and $20+ for an entree: don't seat people like they're hogs being lined up for the trough.
All this to a soundtrack of loud, discordant jazz playing on the speakers? It's fine-dining prices with a college bar ambience. To heck with Highland Kitchen.
Great place -- a nice foundation for what makes Winter Hill such a little hipster neighborhood. Could do with more vegan options though, to match up with those cheap Gansetts. Great service and bartenders. Nice crowd. Packed every night! Will probably get a little competition once the new place the Oleana crew are opening a few blocks away.
Review Source:I am a big fan of Highland Kitchen. I especially recommend the buffalo brussels sprouts. Excellent for vegetarians who want to eat Buffalo-style stuff. WAY, WAY better than the Buffalo Tofu at Christopher's.
The only significant disappointment is the mac & cheese. I am a big fan of mac & cheese and usually would happily order it wherever I see it on any menu. But having ordered it once or twice at Highland Kitchen, I won't be ordering it again unless I hear that it's improved. It is just dry and boring.
Nonetheless! It is worth a visit. Very good cocktails, also.
I reviewed Highland Kitchen the first time when I had only been in Somerville very briefly. And I have to say that it deserves an upgrade. Yes, it is super busy, and it's rare to get seated immediately if you arrive after six pm. However, the wait times are always shorter than you're told, and you always have the option of eating at the bar if spots come available. The bar itself is a good spot to hang out to get a pretty good view of the local scene in all its glory, and their drinks are becoming more and more interesting. The daily specials are always fun to see- the drinks range from the very old-school to the super on-trend, and are always prepared with care. Once you do get seated, the efficiency of the operation continues, but always with a friendly attitude. The food is superb, and I mean that. I will admit that I haven't tried all the entrees, but having had a variety of the appetizers/small plates, sandwiches, salads, soups, and a couple mains (plus brunch), I feel like I can say that. The Monday night fried chicken special is something not to be missed, and whenever they have any small plates involving rock shrimp or lamb, I'm in. The food is contemporary Southern done well, but there's also a range beyond what you might expect. For example, the grilled baby artichokes appetizers is sublime, and one of the best artichoke dishes I've had. Coming from a girl who really likes artichokes, that's a strong recommendation. Their fried calamari come with a spicy twist, making them slightly unexpected. Price-wise, Â you can't beat their sandwiches; the burger is enormous and very good for less than $10, and the blackened catfish poboy is my standby. Complete with serious spices, a crispy baguette, and really good fish, it's a delicious meal. Then I feel I must get to brunch. If you show up at opening, the line may in fact stretch down the block a bit, but don't be too intimidated. Despite its small size, Highland Kitchen can really pack them in (to the point that some of the tables are almost too close together...). But it's worth it for a wait, and if you come a little later, there's often room. They have the best shrimp and grits I've ever had (including many, many sojourns to the South) and the smoked fish hash is undeniably amazing. I have to say that all the brunch options I've tasted are delicious, just the right options for a good recovery brunch or just a really filling, relaxing meal. Plus, I must say, their brunch drinks are beyond the normal Bloody Mary/mimosa options, and in a very good way.
Highland Kitchen might not be the best place for a large group or to take your 'rents when they're in town, since it does get loud and the waiting is more difficult with a large group. But when you're looking for seriously good food and drink in a fun atmosphere, with all the hip kids of Somerville, it's the place to be. (Side note: I love that I routinely see staff from other favorite spots, like say The Independent, eating on their nights off at Highland Kitchen. That seems like a pretty good recommendation to me.)
Just about everything is better with a fried egg on it. Â This also includes my leftover black bean burger from Highland Kitchen.
I pretty much never eat left overs (how not green/Somerville of me). Â However, this burger was so incredibly delicious, seasoned perfectly and it was a huge portion ($8.95) so I tucked it away for a brunch inspired next day meal. Â The burger is crispy with sharp cheese melted over it and a perfectly grilled up bun. Â I'd go with the side salad because the burger is so filling. Â I also appreciate a simple side salad dressed with olive oil and lemon and not gussied up or overly complicated. Â This did the trick.
Since moving to the neighborhood I have been here quite frequently. Â My urges for fernet ($? usually drunk) and a 'gansett ($3.50) are always satisfied with a smile from one of the friendly bartenders. Â I typically wander in my lone lady wolfpack (is that even a thing?) Â so when it gets busy and there is not a seat at the bar, I usually just take out and take off. Â
I have also had the oysters and littlenecks, which right now and during the summertime are amazing. Â Briny, delicious and they go well with the array of expertly crafted cocktails. Â They have a great scotch selection as well.
The Buffalo fried brussel sprouts ($6.95) are a great appetizer. Â Such an innovative way of getting more veggies in this bar menu lovin' gal! Â I have also had the Deviled eggs ($3.50) and the Devils on Horseback ($6.50) which are both satisfying bar snacks for when you are feeling like filling your tummy with beer instead of burgers or whatever you fill it with. Â Yeah. Â Ok. Â I am done now.
Ok, so we've been LONG over due to visit Highland. Â Went on a Monday night. Â Fried Chicken night. Â Absolutely DE-liscious. Â We sat at the bar, and Jim took great care of us. Â Started with the buffalo fried sprouts. Â As recommended by other Yelpers, they were awesome. Â Date had fried chicken, I had pulled pork sandwich. Â We ended with the chocolate (and whipped cream and brittle) pudding. Â Bar selection of cocktails throughout our journey was fab. Â Highly recommend. Â We will be regulars.
Review Source:This isn't about the food. It's about the attitude. I've been scouring the neighborhood looking for a missing elderly person that the Somerville PD posted on fb. People in the community seemed to really care, except for the women at the door at the Highland Kitchen. They barely looked at the photo and acted like they couldn't be bothered. Yes,the place was busy but c'C'mon! It's a missing person! Have a heart.
Review Source:Hands down, this is my favorite quality neighborhood spot. Since they've opened, I have never had a bad meal here, ever. The service is great, friendly and responsive. The drinks are stunning - your old-school cocktails are done right, and the more experimental new ones still taste good (take note, Starlite Lounge). You can come here for a simple burger or catfish po' boy sandwich, or get fancier with one of the entrees. The buffalo brussels sprouts are not to be believed - I don't even like buffalo things but I LOVE these! Sadly, I can't eat 'em anymore since I had to stop eating wheat. But then I learned HK has a gluten-free menu! How awesome is that? And the servers actually know about cross-contamination. I love this place even more.
Pro tip: If you're coming on a Thursday-Saturday night after 6pm, have snacks before you arrive. My party of three arriving at 8:30pm Friday night had an hour and ten minute wait. Â To the hostess' credit, she was accurate almost down to the minute. To HK's credit: The wait was still worth it!
Fuck yeah fried plantains !!! Not sure why Yelp as asking me to give them more... I couldn't give this place more stars than I already have!!! If I didn't have an ex girlfriend from hell who lived on this same street, I would certainly frequent this place more. You just never know who you are going to run into, and let's face it, after I crush the "Devils on horseback and plantain" appetizers, I follow it up with the most amazing micro brews they have flowing. Then I wash that all down with the Chicken and mashed sweets potatoes usually... and why would I want to be sick to my stomach potentially running into that monster ?!!?! Â Imagine if I got sick and vacated all that deliciousness... Okay I am sorry for anyone reading this review that is actually sitting down and about to order food... Just go about your business, the shows over here.... Enjoy
Review Source:The food just isn't very good. It is by no means bad, but the cool atmosphere and cool people make you think that the food would match, and it just really doesn't. I've been back a couple times, thinking I must be mistaken or had ordered the wrong thing, but always leave mildly disappointed.
Review Source:We go here frequently and it's on the top of our list for favorite places to eat in Somerville. The food is great. The first time I went there I had a burger and I thought it was good, but didn't understand why people raved about the food so much. Then I went back and tried other dishes and now I get it. I've since had their fresh oysters, a whiskey smash made with Overholt, the cuban reuben, pulled pork sandwich, spicy jambalalya, fish & chips, deviled eggs...all excellent. Â The only "issue" would be that it's usually crowded, but now I just expect it, go get a whiskey smash and enjoy some conversation.
Review Source:I am slightly angry that it took me so long to come here, but so glad I finally experienced Highland Kitchen! Small, dark, and a bit divey it was great to relax and enjoy a meal.
The bartender was very knowledgeable and we grabbed a couple of beers while waiting for our table (no reservations for less than 6 people). For reference we got there at 6:15 on a Sunday (Memorial Day weekend) and the wait was about 40 minutes. A big plus was the parking lot behind the building.
I will say my girlfriend and I are not large humans, but may be headed down that path if we eat like we did at HK. We were intrigued by many things on the menu, so we decided to get everything we wanted. To share my girlfriend and I got 5 Pemaquid oysters, a scallop ceviche special, gnocchi w/ short rib ragout, and buffalo fried brussel sprouts. Then as our own dishes, she got the Cuban Reuben and I got the Highland Cheeseburger.
There were a few misses in terms of execution, but for the most part the meal (and service) was exceptional. It was also very reasonably priced. The oysters were excellent, and served with a cava mignonette. The ceviche special was delicious (although they ran out of the lobster that was supposed to be the other component). It was served with mango and black radish, and had just enough acidity to balance out the sweetness of the scallop. I wouldn't have minded a little bit of heat but it was still great.
The gnocchi with short rib was rich and flavorful; my girlfriend loved it. I thought the gnocchi were a bit too soft in texture but she thought they were just right. My revelation of the meal was the buffalo brussel sprouts. Brussels have become my favorite vegetable over the past year, and I've been cooking them once or twice a week. The combo with the buffalo sauce and bleu cheese was not one I would ever think of, but I was so surprised at how good it was that I'll be making my own rendition of these at home. I thought they could have been cooked a bit longer, but other than that they were perfect.
By the time our sandwiches came I was getting full, but still had enough left in the tank to put down the cheeseburger. Simple, and cooked a perfect medium-rare, the burger was great with the caramelized onions and the sweet house pickles. My girlfriend finished half of her sandwich and thoroughly enjoyed it as well. The service throughout the night was superb, and I left very happy.
There aren't too many places I go where I leave thinking that the combination of quality, service, and value was so great that I could see myself coming back again and again. I'm glad to say HK fulfilled that criteria, and I'll be glad to return.
My boyfriend and I live across the street and are in lurrrrrvvveee with Highland Kitchen hamburgers. Especially cause you can call them in for pickup on lazy nights when we don't want to cook. The fried chicken on Monday nights is UNREAL, as well. Awesome beer selection.
HK gets super crowded though, seems there's always a 30-45min wait. Such a shame, because 90% of the time, we don't have the patience to sit in the crowd and wait. Still on the lookout for an awesome-but-not-sketchy-townie-bar in Somerville..
Fantastic brunch experience. Not a huge wait (30 min for 2 people), drinks at the bar were quick and pretty cheap for their quality, and there was a live folk band playing- but at a great volume for the space.
Drinks: Bloody Mary was spicy but not too much, mimosa was great- go for the "biggie" tats $2 more- you definitely get more than $2 worth.
Food: smoked pork hash may have been life changing. Eggs with it were fine, not amazing, but who cares- there was more pork than I could eat. Â Bf got the blt with fried egg- sourdough bread was great. Biscuits on the side made for a perfect meal.
Oh and even the coffee is great. Highly highly recommend for brunch and will definitely be going back for dinner and more of the cocktail menu.
Fantastic food and not terrible prices. I've never actually ordered an entree here but typically go with friends and get a bunch of appetizers to share. They tend to have fantastic specials so make sure to ask about those. Dessert is also fabulous.
If you go, make sure to get the Devils on Horseback - you will not be disappointed! This is a $6 app often overlooked because it's off to the side, but it's four dates, stuffed with an almond and blue cheese, then wrapped in bacon. So delicious.
Another shockingly amazing must try are the buffalo brussel sprouts - I swear they tasted like chicken, and their buffalo is killer. Fun to fool with your head!
Their sweet plantains are terrible (dried out chips instead of typical moist sugary goodness) but other than that I've never encountered a bad dish.
This isn't about the food. It's about the attitude. I've been scouring the neighborhood looking for a missing elderly person that the Somerville PD posted on FB. Most of the people I talked to in the community really seemed to care, except for at The Highland Kitchen. The women at the door barely looked at the photo and acted like they couldn't be bothered. Yes, the place was busy, but c'mon (self absorbed?) 'hipsters'....it's a missing person! What a turn-off.
Review Source:Highland Kitchen has a solid, well-executed menu and consistently pleasing specials as well. Â Some particular items that stand out:
Their Mark n' Stormy, a twist on a Dark and Stormy, contains Maker's Mark whiskey and housemade ginger beer. If you like spicy ginger beer and drinks with a kick, this one's for you.
They had a beef tongue taco appetizer several weeks ago. The tongue was melt-in-your-mouth creamy and the overall flavor of the dish was fantastic.
The Dirty Bird on their brunch menu (fried chicken, biscuit, fried egg, sausage gravy) is over the top -- in a good way. Crispy, salty, fatty goodness. It's rich and super filling but so worth it.
In general, I think the place offers a great value. Tasty food in decent to generously sized portions for reasonable prices.
Finally, the service is pretty laid-back (which I like) but always friendly and attentive enough.
It's definitely not any sort of well-kept secret. Get there early if you can. The place fills up pretty quickly most nights, and brunch nearly always has a line before opening as well.
This very well might be, at this point in time, my flat out favorite restaurant in Greater Boston.  It is the closest spot I found this last time around working up here that I would  hold in a comparable level of regard to the East Coast Grill of 5 years ago (look for my review on that establishments current status shortly).  The vibe, service and perhaps most importantly food and libations are pretty much spot on perfect, and represent the best of what Somerville can represent.
  I never ate anything here that wasn't excellent, from the burger, surely on the shortlist of the metros best, to the numbingly intense yet singularly delicious signature item of the spicy goat stew,  perhaps the best rendition of "Rhode Island Style" fried calamari with hot pepper to the light and fluffy bluefish cakes, to a recent special of a perfectly cooked soft shell crab served with a fantastic bacon studded german potato salad.  While the raw bar, the most wonderful staple of Boston dining is usually limited to only one oyster and clam selection respectively they are always perfectly served and delicious, sure to set the night of right. Â
 The servers pretty much uniformly achieved the perfect balance of affable laid back friendliness with just the right level of professionalism.  Crowd skews to cooler hipsters, many into their 30s and the music is perfectly matched.  Even karaoke night here was somehow tolerable!  Maybe best of all is the pricing.  Every time the check comes you get a surprise when you open, only this time its actually the good kind!  Besides the unfortunate drop ceiling, an all to common desecration that mars restaurants decor up in these parts, the interior looks pretty damn cool, and it surely must be literally impossible to not love that awesome sign out front.
Whenever people I know are looking for a new dining experience I point them towards the HK. You can't go wrong with this place. Menu is small but everything on it is delish and well thought out. Service has always been impeccable and knowledgeable. Do you like Bloody Mary's? Their house mix is the best I've ever had while eating brunch. Black bean burger kicks some veggie butt. I do miss the Meat Plate appetizer. Hint Hint.... The menu is eclectic with a Southern flair. Not for everyone but if you are adventurous and love good food come by HK and see for yourself. The place gets jammed packed pretty much every night and Sunday brunch so be prepared to wait at the bar happily with drink in hand. First Tuesday of the month is Spelling Bee Night. A lot of fun with some comedic stylings in between Acidophilus and Zizyphus. Highly recommend Monday Fried Chicken Night. YUM!
Review Source:Came here to meet some friends from Maine, the atmosphere was so much fun..the interior lighting is very low as they have candles burning all night kinda nice, but hard 2 read the menu. There was good music playing which can be hard to find based on the crowd but the music playing was perfect! Â I had a Pacifico beer and the Reuben Corned beef sandwich which was delicious! The goat stew is a titch spicy (thats what my friend ordered) very very flavor full with a lot of curry! This is a place you can hang with friends and enjoy a great meal..thanks highland kitchen you rock!!
Review Source:The first time my husband and I went here, it was a cold winter Wednesday night and the wait time was 1/2 hr. Pregnant and too hungry to wait, we left vowing to return. The second time, we went right when the restaurant opened for dinner. No wait.
For appetizer, we had the lamb taco. It was wrapped in double layers of this soft taco with a a slightly burnt taste. You have to be careful when biting into the taco. The juices will gush out. Maybe this is why there is two layer of soft taco? In my opinion, too much soft taco and the burnt taste makes the taco taste even more dry. The lamb was a bit gamey in this dish and I didn't quite enjoyed it as much. The lime didn't help either. Maybe a crunchy taco would have been better?
The second dish we tried was the shrimp and grits with mushroom. I thought my husband was silly to order this entree but it turned out to be the best dish of the night. Everything was cooked perfectly. I love the buttery taste of the grits, goes well with the saltiness of the shrimp, and the earthiness of the mushrooms. Well balanced dish.
However, the dish that drew me to this restaurant was the spicy goat stew. As it turned out, this dish was absolutely delicious. The only complaint I had was the taste of the goat meat was very noticeable. I mean, I know I am eating goat meat and it tasted just as it should but for some reason, I was hoping the goat would not taste like goat meat but that is silly of me. Overall, still a very solid creamy and slightly spicy curry dish. Great take on curry. Decent size portion. Great for sharing and not consuming all by oneself since I think the goat flavor is a bit overwhelming if you are not used to eating goat meat.
Definitely going to come back and try more dishes. Great customer service. Restaurant has parking. Restaurant can get packed very quickly.
This is a review for brunch only and my boyfriend would like me to write GET THE DIRTY BIRD.
We went here for brunch a couple of times and he has a moment every time he bites into this. Don't ask for any of the ingredients to be off or on the side you have to get it as is. It is fried chicken, fried egg on a biscuit with bacon and sausage gravy. It looks pretty good but I dont eat meat.
Now if you would rather have something not so meaty go for the Huevos Rancheros it is really good. I have also had the tofu scramble which is also a very yummy.
Bloody Mary goes well with everything btw!
The atmosphere was really cool. I like that they have live music in the corner and you barely know that they are there.
Highland Kitchen is a Southern Style Comfort Brunch spot in Somerville. During Bluegrass Sunday Brunch, they have live Bluegrass playing which is pretty darn awesome.
For appetizers, I tried the deviled eggs and the beignets. Both of which were okay. I do appreciate the fact that the beignets were even on the menu. They are hard to come by in the Northeast.
For main entrees, I tried the following two dishes:
The dirty bird: fried chicken, applewood smoked bacon, fried eggs, sausage gravy, and biscuits. Probably the most unhealthy combination of ingredients you can imagine. It was good, but not great.
The heuvos rancheros: This is pretty standard - eggs, rice and beans served on a corn tortillia. This dish was very bland and lacked flavor. Would not order it again.
Overall, the food at Highland Kitchen is average. The ambiance is unique for Boston. It really makes you fee like you are in the South. I highly recommend checking this place out specifically for the ambiance on BlueGrass Sundays.
Busiest brunch place I've ever seen. Even more than Sound Bites. It opens at 11a. You pretty much have to arrive at 10:45a to have a wait shorter than an hour. But, you can get drinks in the meantime, and the bar seats a bit more quickly. Easier to get a table for 2 than for 4+ for sure.
I had the asparagus goat cheese omelette and it was incredible. Home fries were enormous, but the omelette made up for them. Nom nom nom.
Sunday bluegrass brunches!! Hits the spot when I'm craving some good ol' southern cookin'.
The collard greens are terrific, better than versions I've tried from the actual south. Perfect amount of bite from the vinegar and smokiness from the bacon. Their Shrimp and Grits is a nice take on the classic and possibly my favorite dish here. The Buttermilk Pancakes are incomprehensibly fluffy and flavorful - honestly the best I've ever had. The Catfish Po Boy I tried today had a great kick. The remoulade and pickled veggies paired excellently, but I do wish the ratio of fish to bread was a little better. Still, you get bang for your buck with this one. Other highlights include the Dirty Bird, Chili, Pork and Hash, and Biscuits and Gravy... If it sounds like I'm listing the entire menu, it's because you can't really go wrong with any of it.
Hard to get to, but worth the journey. Its off-the-beaten-path location means a truly local spot without any tourists. Get there early or be prepared to wait in line. Parties of 6 or more can call ahead for reservations.
Highland Kitchen, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways:
1. A really diverse and delicious menu, with an ever-changing list of specials. I'm beginning to order the same thing every time, but if you want something creative like goat or oxtail, this is the place to find it.
2. The food is JUST. SO. GOOD. My personal favorite is the short rib gnocchi. I want to eat it all day every day and maybe bathe in it too. Is that weird? I tend to lean more towards the millions-of-apps route here. The buffalo brussels sprouts are amazing, and I'm not sure why no one ever thought of serving that before. Love me some ricotta fritters, stuffed mushrooms, and bluefish cakes.
3. The drinks are also outstanding - surprisingly so for a slightly divey-looking joint. Personal fave is a bloodhound amended to be made with house tequila. The ingredients are clearly fresh and elevate the drink. All cocktails on the menu have this same quality.
4. The cost-to-deliciousness ratio is unparallelled. I come here often for dinner and a few drinks. I usually leave feeling quite rotund, and have never spent more than $50. And I'm a dinner drinker for sure.
5. The barstaff is really nice and attentive. Like the time I was having a bad day and the bartender coerced me into a chocolate pudding on the house. It was bananas (without actually containing bananas)
6. I'm into the low-key atmosphere throughout the restaurant. String lights and chalkboard for the win.
Overall, this is just true love. Get here early; it packs up quick, even on weeknights.
I come here for the Mark and Stormy drink. Â So good. Â The spiciness makes your lips tingle. Â You should probably ask for extra spicy if you like it hot.
The food is hit or miss.
I loved the braised rabbit linguine (wasn't on the menu last time I was there). Â It was incredible comfort food.
The curried goat was good, but I wouldn't get it again.
The fried chicken special was disappointing.
The quack and cheese was also disappointing. Â I didn't know what tasso ham was until I started eating, but I now know that it's never a good choice. Â I don't want semi hard chunks of ham in anything when there are so many better pork options. Â There was way too much cheese sauce. Â The proportions were wrong and I love cheese. Â
The fried bread pudding was AWESOME! Â That was definitely the best dish I've had there.
Went here for the first time about a month ago finally and was definitely pleased with the overall experience.
The restaurant is a decent size and very open, which I was a big fan of. Somewhat dim lighting makes for a very cool ambiance too.
I opted for the reuben cuban sandwich, which was nothing short of awesome. Gigantic portion + fries, crispy buttery pressed french bread, tender meat, housemade pickles... mmmmmmmmm. Also a freakin' bargain at $11 or so. Their actual entrees are priced a little higher ($17-$20), but my friends enjoyed them (steak + frites, curried goat stew, quack and cheese).
Service was friendly, although they did forget to bring my friend's taco appetizer order (we weren't charged for it, so that's a wash in my book). Water glass stayed pretty full throughout the night.
Would like to see a better draft list, but that's probably my biggest minor complaint about an otherwise very enjoyable meal.
Arrived ahead of my party, so I was offered a seat at the bar. Upon seeing the bar was completely full, the host offered a seat at the half table with bar seats up front. That was fine, and she made a point to tell me it was full service there and could get food. Great!
I waited for a while unsure if someone would bring me a menu or drink, and when that didn't happen, got annoyed because I was told it would. I considered ordering at the bar, but I didn't want to order through people sitting and eating at the bar. Oh well.
Once my party arrived we were seated promptly, and our food an drink orders came out very fast. It took far too long for the server to make his way back (we wanted booze, and lots of it!) but it wasn't a big deal. Only major complaint is the music was too loud (I feel old saying that) but we couldn't have a conversation across the table without speaking up.
We left about 8, and despite being a freezing cold weekday night, this place was packed.
Highland Kitchen is a beloved Somerville restaurant. Pretty much everybody knows about it. When giving directions to somewhere else in the area, if you just say "Well do you know where Highland Kitchen is?", the person will undoubtedly say "Yes!! I love that place." It is indeed good, and it is definitely the best in the direct area that it is in. Although I do enjoy it very much, it is not in my top Boston area restaurants of all time. I think the fact that at the time of me writing this, it has 541 reviews says a lot about its popularity.
First off, know that it is always crowded. As I said earlier, it is popular. I took a long time to figure out the sweet spot and all I can come up with is Tuesday's 5-6pm. Other than that, you gotta wait.
Let's start with the bar/drinks. Highland Kitchen is rightfully known for its cocktails. They are indeed good. A lot of good gin drinks which is up my alley. I enjoy the Highland Fling, Buckminster, and Pearl White among others. Cocktails range from about $8-$12. Now, one time I came here the friend I was with was annoyed about the way the bartenders handled her request for additional olives. Now, I admit, they were a bit snippy about her request and a tad rude, but overall I have had good bartender experience here. The cocktails are one of my most favorite things about Highland Kitchen.
The food is Southern inspired and sometimes I do have a hard time finding things I like. There seems to be a lot of lamb and I am not a lamb fan. However, I do love their shrimp and grits, and I order it without bacon (I hate bacon. I know, I am weird). Â The seafood gumbo, and chili are also solid choices. For sandwiches get the blackened catfish po' boy. Overall, the food is good stuff.
Now, the one thing I am not impressed with is their brunch. I am in the minority here because people go crazy for the Sunday brunch (be prepared to wait for that too). Here's why I am not impressed: Aside from Hushpuppies and Deviled Eggs, everything is just NORMAL breakfast food that I could make at home. I know, a lot of brunches are like that. But when I go to brunch or out to eat in general I want to eat something I can't or won't make at home. Perhaps their menu has gotten better as I confess I haven't attempted brunch there in a while.
Regardless, Highland Kitchen earns its reputation as the go to restaurant in the area. Everybody knows their name for good reason. There are over 500 Yelp reviews for good reason. Def bookmark this if you haven't been already. It's worth it!
I was a fan of the highland kitchen. I tried to make a reservation to go with the gf on a Sat night. While on the yelp site, it says you can make reservations, they said that it is first come, first serve. No problem. I hit the place up, put my name in and hit the bar. They have a very large selection of different beers. i enjoyed some Porkslap lager. Quite a treat if you can find it. Bar was rocking and ambiance was cool. After about 45 minutes, we were seated. I did not care for our booth, bc we were right by the door. Everytime someone opened it, the cold air blew in. They should do something about that (like at Neptune Oyster).
From the apps section, we tried fried dates wrapped in bacon with nuts. I mean c'mon. Who wouldn't like these things? The only thing was it was too hot to eat and I was too impatient to wait and burned my mouth a bit. My gf even told me to wait bc it was hot. Oh well. We also tried the lamb tacos. Tasted as advertised. Chopped lamp in a soft taco shell. Not bad.
For the main course, my gf had the Cuban ruben. It is basically the best part of both sandwiches. It had the corned beef and russian dressing of the ruben, and it had the pork that you would find on a Cuban sandwich. To top it off, you were given the option of crawt or slaw. She chose the slaw. I thought it was great. She just thought it was ok. I was surprised she just said ok. It was really good. I went with the fish and chips. Holy large plate batman. It was huge. Fish was fried well and really flaky. It had good flavor. Came with a heaping amount of fries, slaw, and malt vinegar. In retrospect, I should have tried the goat stew based on other yelpers reviews, but I was just in the mood for some fish. Check this place out, it is pretty good
I just moved close by and this bar has quickly become my go-to with the roommates. (And it's within stumbling distance to home!) The place is pretty much always packed, but it's ok, because we usually just grab a seat at the bar. The bartenders are pretty quick to get your order, and you don't even have to be a girl to get faster service! There's a lot of choices, but I usually grab one of the cocktails. My favorite so far is the Pearl White. It's not always consistent in regard to taste, but as long as the mint and lemon come through, we're good. Also, I'm not a fan of the house wine, so I would choose something else. Oh! And don't forget to specify house white or red, because they didn't ask me and gave me the white, when I assumed the red.
What I've had:
- BUFFALO FRIED BRUSSELS SPROUTS. Consider your mind blown. You're welcome.
- Handmade Gnocchi with Short Rib Ragout... I enjoyed it because short rib is AWESOME, but the texture of the whole dish was a little mushier than I'd hoped. And not that I don't like a little fat on my meats, but it was a little too fatty.
- Spicy Jambalaya... Good amount of spice.
- Black Bean Veggie Burger... Good, but nothing memorable.
- RICOTTA and MOZZARELLA FRITTERS... Loves it. Cheeeeeeese...
I also left my card there one drunken night and when I came back for it, they were very nice and didn't charge me tip. But, that just made me give them an even bigger tip the next time I was there. I love the entire vibe of the place, very cozy. Good food, good drinks. This place is great for a night out with friends or a date. Because it's packed, you have an excuse to get a little closer and invade your date's personal space without seeming sleazy. I'm talking to you, boys. Need another reason to go? Karaoke on Wednesdays!
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