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  • 0

    If you walk into the bar at the Mandarin, you can't expect it to be a cheap drink. That being said, the sliders are probably the reason I come here probably monthly. I don't even like burgers, but their sliders are just perfect. Do yourself a favor and just try them. They recently branched out and started doing different types of sliders but i'm a big fan of the original beef slider with carmelized onions. they don't over do anything on the small appetizer.

    the atmosphere is comfortable. i'm more a regular patron on weekday evenings. when it's not as packed because i don't like it too loud because it really is a lounge and when it gets packed it's hard to enjoy food sitting down. when it does get packed on the weekends or if they have a live band playing it's a little bit much for me. but then again you have to be in that kind of mood. the vibe is really the 30-40 after work single crowd at the bar. if that's your scene it's actually great!  

    Given all of that, I still go with some regularity. The service is great - more specifically all the waiters and waitresses are really friendly, patient and personable. that doesn't mean when it gets busy they aren't a little slow bc they don't exactly overstaff for their crowded hours. it's really my place to go for a bite to eat when i don't feel like eating a giant meal but one of those meals of great appetizers. Side note, i also haven't had a bad drink there. The drink menu is delicious, just expensive.

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  • 0

    Stopped in to try the Wagyu Burger, and man was it good. I stopped in between the lunch and dinner rush, around 4, and it was dead. However the bartenders were pretty nice. The Burger was nice and juicy, cook a tad over med rare, but the 5 year aged cheddar made up for it for sure. Also, the Aioli Mayo, and the onion strings and roasted tomatoes put this burger up there for sure. The burger came with a side of fries, which were just ok, nothing special about them, and a small salad, which looked good, but I didn't even try a bit.

    They also started with some tasty almonds and some awesome candied popcorn.

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  • 0

    A bar at Mandarin Oriental in Boston. I found nothing special about this bar except the fact that it's part of luxury hotel. There is no personality, no great music(they play something), and it gets even worse if you are seated on the table where you can have food also.

    If you are going for drinks, strictly recommend to stay close to the bar - at least you feel like you are at the bar and it's somewhat happening. Also the drinks are not good. I tried Margarita and Bloody Mary and none of them was impressive. Waitress is busy and it took forever to grab her to get a check.

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  • 0

    Last Saturday I was on a date and we decided to have a drink at M Bar before  dinner.  I expected M Bar to be expensive and stylish (which it was) but was also expecting good service (which was lacking).

    Upon entering, the bar was full so we sat at a nice table with views of Boylston St.  After waiting and waiting and not seeing any servers, I finally went up to the bar to order a couple of drinks from the bartender.  I didn't have any better luck with the bartender, who ignored me, but was able to locate someone who worked there who said he would send over a waitress.  A waitress eventually came by and we said we would like to order a drink.  Before we could tell her what we wanted (we already knew what we wanted), she darted away to fetch drink menus.  After waiting a few more minutes, she returned, and we promptly ordered our drinks before she could leave again.  My Grey Goose martini was good, but was not garnished (she never asked if I wanted a twist or olive).  We ordered some cheese, which was very good, but when it came out we didn't have any plates or utensils because no one ever brought them.  We had to ask for them, just as we had to ask for water (which was never refilled).  

    The waitress was pretty and stylish, but the service was unfortunately sub-par, and I wouldn't recommend this place.

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  • 0

    M Bar & Lounge 2012 Lookbook from Boston's Fashion Week

    The Mandarin Oriental is known for beauty and elegance and during Boston's Fashion Week they showed a new avant-garde collection: M Bar & Lounge's High Tea - High Fashion Afternoon Tea.  It was such a great spin on afternoon tea and it really raised the bar for MO New York's Fashion Tea!  Here is a quick peek:

    TEA
    Brought to you by Tea Forte.  There are several options:

      - Ceylon Gold
      - Lavender Citrus
      - Pomegranate Blackberry
      - Raspberry Nectar
      - White Ginger Pear

    The "Savory" Line is quite enticing.  I had to snag the Unagi Toast immediately!  

      - Unagi Toast (Eel)
      - Lobster Roll
      - Summer Tomato Salad
      - Yuzu Oyster Shooter

    No need to worry about your waistlines with this petite "Sweet" Line.  This is the perfect amount of sweet to fill your sweet tooth.  And yes, those are the new "Red Tops" everyone has been raving about!

      - Lemongrass Gelee & Chai Tapioca Verrine
      - Passion Fruit & Coconut Profiterole
      - Chocolate Raspberry Macaroon
      - Strawberry Pistachio Tart (The new "red tops")--you have to see it to believe it!

    This High-Fashion Tea gets two pinkies up!  We can't wait to see what next season's designs are going to be.

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  • 0

    I was overcharged 50% on my tab, and called 3 times over the course of the following 2 months, but a manager never called me back to address this. Getting overcharged is the worst way to remember and think about an establishment.

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  • 0

    Even from the outside, M Bar's clean lines, cool colours, and floor-to-ceiling glass windows called to us. While we ultimately entered from the street, it's definitely possible to enter from within the Mandarin Hotel lobby, should you ever want to check out the ultimate East-meets-West in decor and atmosphere. Location-wise, it's very convenient - smack dab in the middle of city center Boston, on Boylston Street, close to Hynes, Copley, and The Pru.

    As we entered, we saw an entire rainbow on the back wall - upon closer examination, we realized that it wasn't just paneling, it was a wine wall! All of their wine bottles are encapsulated in this illuminated glass. Very colourful, very chic. This was also the "partition" that divided the bar from its adjacent Asana restaurant. It was a beautiful - albeit subtle - divider between the two different areas.

    The lighting throughout the bar is intimate and soft, which contrasted well with the natural light outside from the aforementioned floor-to-ceiling windows. The decor was an extension of what we found in the hotel, with the warm wood details, oriental paintings and sculptures, and the square lines.

    The bar was horseshoe-shaped, and their spirits were displayed in this unique tamarin wood fixture. The counter was a beautiful mix of marble and tempered glass. The barstools were large, padded, and plush. Even before we sat down, we felt the Asian influence here - the seating arrangements themselves had an aura of feng-shui. But the most important part of the seating arrangements was the fact that you could choose if you wanted your experience here to be intimate or casual.

    At 6 p.m. on  a Monday night, the crowd was a good mix of after work/business types, some tourists, and a sprinkling of local regulars - some of whom were perched at the bar or tall tables, some in cozy, rounded booths, and others at a long bar table that spanned across the entire length of the front windows. The music was eclectic, ranging from lounge to jazz to Amy Winehouse, but it wasn't distracting, which was good.

    Speaking of range - let's talk about the liquor at M Bar - we were particularly impressed by their Scotch collection. It was extremely comprehensive and extensive - even more so than the wines in the bar menu. We noted that all the spirits here were top-shelf; even below the bar, where the well drink liquors are usually kept, Grey Goose, Bombay Sapphire, and the like graced the area. Also note-worthy: no beers on tap here, though there was a limited selection of bottled beers found in the menu (including one non-alcoholic beer). The martinis ranged in price from $15-$20; the champagne/wine, from $45-$100 a bottle, and $12-15 per glass; and, if cognac is more your style, they do offer Remy at $245 a glass. Just throwing it out there.

    I enjoyed "The Mandarin" ($15) - a tasty concoction of sweet vermouth, aperol, and Mandarin Blossom, spritzed with lemon inside and all around the rim. It was bright, citrusy, smooth, and sweet. Very well-complemented by the olives that were also offered to us. We loved that our bartender offered us both sweet and salty bar snacks - unsolicited - and that they went so well with our drinks.

    Overall, a great (and gorgeous) place to grab a drink, whether it's with friends or a date... this is definitely an impressive and comfortable venue. Highly recommended!

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  • 0

    Linked to Asana in the Mandarin Oriental, it's obviously pretty swanky and high end.  Fortunately, it was actually pretty low key.  I like the high top tables and that it's not super packed.

    They have small bites and a limited dessert menu, but everyone gets sugared roasted almonds and olives to snack on while enjoying drinks.  I definitely liked both cocktails we tried.  The Bellini Rosso is lighter on the alcohol, sweet from the peach but not too syrupy, topped with bubbles.  The Monsieur was my drink of choice and is much stronger - pear vodka, a little sparkling wine, and a hint of lychee.

    Sometimes there's live music, too. Given the location, it's not going to be cheap, but i love the cocktails, and the atmosphere is really cool.  Last call is at 1:15.

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  • 0

    Is it really possible to find a enjoyable but expensive place with sophistication and class in a city like Boston? I sometimes wonder about that. Located in one of the finest hotels in a somewhat decent city, I somehow ended up here after a dinner and a walk with a friend that I know. She wanted to meet up with her other friend and her other friend brought a bunch of ladies along with a guy that were visiting this city.

    When I walked in, I did not feel like feel like I was in a somewhat decent city like Boston. I felt like I was in a lounge in a significantly better place such as Toronto, New York, San Francisco, London, Paris, Hong Kong, or even Rome or Shanghai. There was definitely a clean, stylized and sophisticated look in the interior.

    I sat down, and I felt comfortable as I began to chat with my friend's other friend and the bunch of ladies that the other friend knew. I ate some of the Fish and Chips that the group ordered and I thought it was surprisingly mediocre. There was some blandness in the fried fish, the texture was strange and the fries were fairly salty. The nuts and olives that they serve here can be a great complement to the drinks.

    The server was really nice and had a great smile. She had an alluring look and wore some clothing that had significantly more style compared to any other bartender. My friend's other friend was constantly fawning and saying how pretty she looked. I think pretty may be an understatement, and she seemed to look gorgeous. The conversation went like this:

    "What kind of drink can I get for you?" she asked with a nice smile.
    "I am not sure, do you have something juicy and refreshing?"

    She suggested that I get one of these non-alcoholic "Purification" drinks and she said she could add either rum or vodka to it. I decided to get a North with vodka. It was juicy and refreshing, but fairly expensive for a drink with vodka at around $15.

    Other drinks I had were the Jasmine Dragon and the Master's Flame. They had a very unique flavor, with a slightly strong kick from the alcohol. They were also fairly refreshing as well, but all of them were fairly expensive at $15 a glass.

    My friend felt a little out of place when she walked in, because she wore dark jeans and a pair of sneakers. Although it might be okay to wear something casual, I think you should wear something nice so you can "blend into" this sophisticated atmosphere. Maybe a collared buttoned shirt and a pair of slacks? Ladies should also wear something nice and impressive. Maybe a simple colored, elegant but alluring sleeveless wrap dress?

    Overall, this is not a bad place to come here for some drinks as long as you have a lot of money. If you have a lot of money, ate a good meal before coming here, have a great group of friends where the female to male ratio is 60:40 or 70:30, you and your party are dressed nice, and you are looking for some sophistication along with some decent drinks served by servers who dress really nice, then this place is actually a great choice, especially in a somewhat decent city like Boston.

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  • 0

    Went here on a date, they had live jazz which was lovely yet it made it difficult to talk. Cocktails are pricey! $15-18!
    Apps were good, we shared a nice charcuterie plate and a tasty tuna tartar. Service was quite sweet.
    Had the chocolate cheesecake which was AMAZING! I don't even like cheesecake and I wanted to eat it all by my self! (Didn't want to scare my date by attacking his hand with a fork though)

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  • 0

    Best place to grap a glass of wine and some almonds/ olives after a day of shopping. Also nicest restrooms if you are in the area and need to pee. TIP: walk past the host, to the right, down the dark ramp and you'll find a lovely, Mandarin loo!

    Typically full of snotty back bay preppies and wealthy tourists.
    Luckily it's pretty dead during the middle of the day!

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  • 0

    I haven't been to M Bar in a while, but this is a solid spot for great drinks and atmosphere.

    i think the best way to describe M Bar is as an "upscale martini bar".  The clientele is a bit older and I never worry about my drink being weak or made with poor-quality liquor.  Gorgeous decor, electro-house music... I actually have to say that it's got a bit of a "seductive" vibe.

    The detail I love the most?  Smoked almonds and marinated olives with the drinks.  Amazing.

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  • 0

    First of all, you have to be in the right mood to enjoy M Bar & Lounge.

    I had just come from a show that was part of Boston's Fashion Week, but you could obtain a similar state of mind by pretending that you were Don and/or Betty Draper, out on a date. Not so much because the place is styled like the 60s, but the M Bar & Lounge features old fashioned, polite service. And, like on your average Mad Men date, money is not an object, but stately style is.

    We got six oysters that were unusually delicious, a bento box that was unique and tasty (Papaya Salad  Tuna Tartar  Thai chicken curry  Salmon Sashimi  Lobster Wonton  seaweed salad) and I had a Queen Bee. The Queen Bee is rum, honey, passion fruit, lemon and champagne and served in a champagne glass. It's magically delicious.

    The bar has different areas, which I like. You can sit at the actual bar or sit at a table in a quieter area.

    I did not look at the check, and that is pretty much as it should be.

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  • 0

    I end up meeting friends at M Bar far too often. Why do I keep agreeing to go there? I won't lie the ambience is nice, and so are the waitstaff. I don't think its snooty, its just classy inside.

    My complaint, is that you can get a meager cocktail that doesn't even taste good for $15-18. One cocktail. I've had a lot of different drinks here, they are OK, they are not worth that much money. I could understand paying that much for an amazing cocktail at Drink, or some of my favorties at Cuchi Cuchi. Those drinks have thought put into them, design, love, effort... when you sip them they are divine. You put down your credit card and shrug... hey, that was worth it. At M Bar, you feel like you were on a crowded train and some revolting old man goosed you. So violated.

    Also the food prices here are RIDICULOUS for the quantity and QUALITY. If you order the $18 cheese board, please be advised that you will be presented with three 1 inch by 1 inch cubes of cheese, some cranberries, 4 pecans, and about 1/4 teaspoon of some sort of jam along with 4 pieces of hard old bread. I am not kidding! Thats what you get for $18 literally! And the cheese wasn't even good cheese.

    Unless you are here with someone who will buy you your bad drinks and snacks, go elsewhere.

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  • 0

    Who doesn't like chic, glam and classy?  This place has it all.  After a dinner in the area...we stopped in here for our last drink of the night and we were blown away with their selection of unique mix of drinks!  Let just say we couldn't have just one.  But my favorite of the night was the "Glamour."  

    This place has now become my go-to stop.  If this place is backed....which sometimes it may be, head your self over to mini bar, just a block away.

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  • 0

    Came here with a big group of friends (12 of us) on a Friday night at 9pm and we were seated almost right away by the lovely hostess.

    This place wasn't packed and the customers looked (sorry!) uninteresting. Lots of middle aged girlfriends and some business folks looking like they were killing time.

    We got little dishes of tasty sweet almonds and olives that nobody touched.
    All the cocktails were ~$15 and non-alcoholic beverages $10.

    I got the Paris St. Germaine. Delicious, yes BUT HELLA Expensive for a shot of drink in a short glass that was full of ice. I didn't even taste any alcohol, and trust me, I can feel the buzz even if it's half a beer. The bartender was certainly very cheap on the alcohol.

    Our bill came out to be more expensive than dinner and nobody loved their drink. Yeah, 12 20-something year olds ended up getting only 1 drink each. We moved on to a more affordable, less stuffy place down the street.

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  • 0

    While pretending to be a real adult, I found myself in M Bar. OK, that's a lie: While my parents were paying for drinks, I found myself in M Bar.

    The drink prices are commensurate with the swanky atmosphere (love the wall of vodka bottles behind glass!). My Moscow Mule, sub gin for vodka, was served in a really cool brass mug that reminded me of India and kept the drink frosty cold. Unfortunately, while my cocktail was tasty, it was not $15 tasty; in fact, I've had very similar and indeed better drinks for half the price elsewhere.

    I'd consider coming back for a pre- or post-dinner cocktail when I wanted a more upscale type of night. Go to M Bar when you want to impress and rub shoulders with the beautiful people. (Unless you're a beautiful person, in which case I apologize for recommending the hoi polloi invade your territory.)

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  • 0

    Yeah, yeah, it's pricy.
    And yeahhhh, the bar food is, well, it's fine. It's better than some Irish pub down the street. If I go to the Mandarin, I don't want to get some fried meat imitation on a stick or so. But I go there for the cocktails and sweet baby jesus, their cocktails are really great. At least in my humble opinion.

    My favorite is called Monsieur. Ladies, that's the one to have. This has become a pretty regular stop. I also kind of like sitting there to people watch. People in Boston mostly wear all black at night in the winter, for realz...a few Monsieurs make that even more obvious.

    So. I love this place. :) I'd love it even more if I had a condo in the hotel but that's never going to happen ;)

    I think this place can be romantic for sure. The light is kind of dim later at night...but hey, you can create romance anywhere. :)

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  • 0

    My friend asked the bartender to make his favorite drink for him. The bartender says he'll make him a sazerac, so I order one too, being a fan of the sazerac. He puts on a show, dumping absinthe into a sink, lifting the bourbon bottle (when it should be rye) a good 48 inches from the lowballs, squirting a bit of simple syrup into the glasses, and tossing lemon peels into them. It is all done by eye measurement. In addition to the room temperature glass, there is no cold-mix or shaking step, and the drink is served at room temperature. It is the worst sazerac I've ever had. $13

    Meanwhile, a couple is making out next to us. Not being considerate of their space, and bumping into us.

    The place is classy. Everything looks nice and its attached to a hotel. But overall, it all feels meaningless.

    M bar is a place where you drop unnecessary cash and have meaningless, fake, bar and restaurant experiences. In other words, you can schmooze the naive here. But you can't schmooze me.

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  • 0

    Very mixed reviews of MBar on here.  I honestly think it deserves 4 stars, if only for the atmosphere.  The place is nicely decorated and the seats are quite comfortable.  Also, our waitress was very attentive so perhaps there are new staff members (as there were many complaints on Yelp about the service).  Free bread basket, olives and sugared almonds were a nice touch.

    The turkey club sandwich was good and well presented although lacked bacon which I found unusual for a club sandwich.  (Ask for some garlic aioli to dip your fries 'cuz it's oh-so-delicious.)

    The chocolate fondue for 2 was elegantly displayed and everything was tasty (although the French macaron was too dry and fell apart to macaron dust when impaled with the fondue fork!!).  

    All in all, a nice place to grab a light dinner and cocktails after some Copley Place shopping.

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  • 0

    It seems that a lot businesses today have forgotten the meaning the definition of excellence in costumer service and classiness.

    M is proof that those values of exceptional service and high class do still exist. The place is super classy and the clientele tends to be reflect that (although you do get the occasionally oddballs). I have found that most of the bartenders are super friendly and go the extra mile to make me feel welcome. Overall, this is a great place whether to hang with friends, or enjoy a quiet cocktail.

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  • 0

    This is one of those places where you walk by it allll the time but never really find the time to go.  Well felt like classing it up alittle for the evening and ending up here for a low key night.  

    A corner table with comfy couches opened up right when we walked so we grabbed it.  The waitress came right over and was friendly and attentive throughout the night.  

    The drink list was pretty extensive with many creative choices, all the cocktails have an 'MO' in their names which was cute.  I tried the Monsieur - Grey goose pear, st germaine and  champagne.  It didnt mention anything about a garnish in the description so when she brought it over it looked like there was a HUGE eyeball in my drink.  Turns out it was just a lychee fruit, thank god, and it was AMAZING.  It didnt add too much sweetness to the drink but was the perfect ending to the last sip of my cocktail.

    I loved the lychee so much that i asked the waitress if she could garnish my vodka soda with them and boy did they, I got three! Definitely a plus in my book.  Also a plus, the complimentary sugared almonds and olives - I couldve just asked for a big bowl of almonds and a bowl of lychee and been set for dinner, they were that good.

    My friends got the Mandarin martini, also good, and the Malbec.

    More friends joined us so we decided to order some food.  We ordered the Bento Box and it was delicious, had  alittle bit for everyone's different tastes.  My favorites were the korean beef and the salmon sushimi.  The lobster wonton was also good.

    The place wasnt very packed when we got there but we were still able to have a convo without yelling or feeling like people were crowding us.  It was kinda packed when we left though.

    Definitely glad we decided to try it out, can't comment on the dinner seating area though.

    PS bathrooms are in the hotel kinda a distance and also if your looking to act classy and not spend classy, grab a $10 liquor drink instead of the $15 martinis - just as strong and great selection of liquors (Effin Black Cherry? awesome!)

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  • 0

    Questionable crowd including I-bankers hitting on girls half their age.  Shoddy bartenders cranking out sub-par cocktails at $15 a piece.  Random inebriated punks announcing to the entire place that a friend just turned 40.

    ...No. Just...no.

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  • 0

    I will dispose myself into the M Bar when I have disposable income. To be honest, I would not be a regular at this swanky bar/lounge when I win Mega Millions. Why? The food sucks. I would like an option to order a decent app to complement my drink.

    The service here is OK. Your standard robotic cocktail waitress. bleh.

    Things haven't changed the past couple years. Same thing, different year.  Maybe I will come here again in a couple years and see if things have improved.

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  • 0

    The ambience is just OK, and while I am a fan of woodgrain I hardly think that random pieces of wood count as decoration in a hotel of this caliber.  Try to get a seat along the wall, they are nice and cushy.

    Service, as most have said, is lackluster, and it took us far too long to get our drinks.

    Drinks were decent, my favorite being the Mojo with Rye Whiskey, Vermouth and Maraschino Liquer.  

    Best part of our experience was definitely the food.  Small plates of sugared almonds and olives are presented and man are they good.  We also split a bento box with 6 different items.  Overall the food is a solid 4 stars, with the bento standouts being the Lemongrass Creme Brulee and the Duck Springrolls.

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  • 0

    Well, M Bar is not the WORST bar in Boston, but it also is not really a bar that belongs in Boston so I guess this could be part of the issue?  It's hard to pinpoint what exactly is wrong with this place.  It's sort of like that friend-of-a-friend you have met a few times and don't really like.  You aren't sure why, but they just give off that vibe.  You know the one.  

    M Bar is fancy.  Definitely do not go in expecting anything other than overstyled and overpriced.  I had a VERY average cosmo - the kind I could make at home with Stop & Shop cranberry juice and whatever vodka has been hiding in my cabinet for months.  Except at M bar, I have to wait 25 minutes for it to arrive and then pay $16 per drink.  

    I think the waitstaff disappears for half an hour on purpose after dropping off the bill.  I guess they figure you will be so wrapped up in trying to figure out where in the one small room they could possibly have gone that you will forget how angry you are for dropping well over $30 on 2 drinks after work.  Do they seriously have no concept of happy hour?  

    Boylston St bars tend to be a disaster so I guess this is better than Lir?   That really is not saying much (see review by Felecia C. until I get around to writing mine...).

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  • 0

    I went to the Mandarin recently and had a great experience. Chris and Guillaume are unbelievable bartenders. Guillaume made me a "Jersey Shore' martini (his version of a french martini) that was absolutely outstanding.  Then Chris came over and made me a "Tiny Dancer" it was very different, and memorable. I wish I had time and the tolerance to try their other drinks, I'll be back.

    The only thing that's really lacking was good music and a better looking crowd. Also the managers tend to lurk around.

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  • 0

    I recently stopped in here to have dessert with a friend who was visiting from out of town. The place is immaculate and very swank.  If you go, you are expecting to pay big bucks for drinks ($15 is the norm)... which is fine if you are into that type of thing.

    My friend and I ordered the dessert at $10 to split which I thought was reasonable considering the higher drink prices. ($5 each, not bad!) The dessert was an Apple Crisp type item.... It was very good, however, I would have liked to have it a little warm (not sure if it was supposed to be warm or not) and have the ice cream melt on top.  Overall it was very good.

    I didn't have any issues with the service, honestly I thought that they were pretty attentive to us even though we ordered no drinks and just dessert...  

    Looks like I missed out on some nice bathrooms.... I will have to check that out next time!

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  • 0

    Modern but comfortable setting. Attractive and professional crowd.

    I have been to M Bar about 7 or 8 times since opening, and the service speed has improved. That said, service can be elusive despite the fact that this place isn't too large. Staff are professional when you get them. The selections of items like scotch and port is decent or better. For mixed drinks (like the Sazerac they have on the menu), or for expert staff, go to Eastern Standard instead.

    Bathrooms are five stars if that matters to you.

    For international visitors, this place is not operating on the same level as the offerings at the Mandarin Tokyo (not that anything in Boston is), so set your expectations accordingly.

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  • 0

    I first noticed this place on a sunny Saturday afternoon in November.  As I was walking to the mall, I noticed a trio of women sitting near the window sipping cocktails.  "Hmmm," said a little voice in my mind.  "That looks like a nice lounge to try out.  And I wish I were getting drunk before the sun has even set."

    So when a goup of us were looking for a place for post-dinner drinks recently, I steered us to M Bar.  I don't know what it says about their business (or lack thereof?) that there were tables wide open on a Saturday night, but given that our group of seven was able to secure seats instantaneously, I'm not going to complain.  Service was responsive and speedy, and wooden bowls filled with generous portions of olives and sugared almonds appeared as soon as we sat down.  

    The drink menu is one of the most extensive I've seen around Boston and chock-full of interesting cocktails, which is great for a mixed-drinks lover like me.  The names of some of the drinks can be deceiving (e.g. the Pumpkin Patch - looked pumpkin-ish and smelled vaguely of pumpkin pie, but good lord it did NOT taste like pumpkin at all), so read the descriptions carefully.

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  • 0

    You have to go here with the right frame of mind.. you are going because you want to lounge in one of the nicest decor.  If you are young and looking for a sugar daddy, it's a good spot for you.  It's fancy.. you'll feel like you're in NYC.

    The drinks are pretty good.. and yes, they are pricey.  But you get olives, nuts, etc...

    Great starter spot as you and your crew kick off the night.

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  • 0

    I love people complaining that they went to the MANDARIN and paid $15 for a drink. Are you serious?? There are tons of places around where you could have paid much less. Jeez.

    Went in here for a quick cocktail after work- a "garden martini" (strawberry basil) and it was delicious. The bartenders were friendly, and the place was mostly after-work business crowd with a few cougars thrown in for good measure.

    I really liked the decor- very modern and clean. This is normally not my type of place, but if you're willing to fork over a few extra $$ for a cocktail, I'd recommend it.

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  • 0

    Every once in a while...I find it quite pleasurable to dress up real nice and have an evening out with my SO. We got all gussied up (yes, I said gussied...let's move on) and we headed to the Back Bay to have light dinner and drinks at the M Bar and Lounge at the new Mandarin Oriental.

    First, the bar is tres chic - very trendy - sleek, modern and incredibly clean (I mean, really clean). There is a massive and very cool piece of art hanging at the main bar made of wood - I kept commenting on it throughout the night because of its strange uniqueness. There is bench seating across one wall with little tables for 2-3 people. There are also several high-tops that sit in front of the main windows looking out onto Huntington Avenue.

    We chose to sit at the bar itself. We were served little bowls of complimentary olives and almonds which got us through our first couple of drinks. My boyfriend ordered a Manhattan and I got the pink Sangria. The sangria is quite tasty here - a nice dry, sparkling finish that isn't too fruity or sweet.

    Feeling slightly hungry - we decided to order off the menu. We ended up going with a fondue pot and fresh bread. The fondue was really good - and when we had finished off the bread, our waiter very kindly asked if we would like another platter of bread as we had left over fondue.

    The only unfortunate part of the experience was the electronica that was pumping through the speakers. It didn't quite suit the atmosphere (in my opinion) and I thought that they could have picked some music that was a little less Euro. Next time I'll bring some glowsticks just in case. :-)

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  • 0

    3.5 stars

    *Review based on BostonEventGuide's "Tuesday Tasting"*

    This $19 event included:
    - 3 drink tickets ... good for a White Sangria, MO-Tality, or Eau de Veev, which were all refreshing yes, but barely a difference in taste between the last two.  Couldn't tell that there was acai in them either.
    - Hors d'oeuvres: veggie spring rolls, fried wontons, raw paddlefish with black caviar, lobster with vanilla espuma (whoa! in a good way), shots of mushroom soup, and chicken satay skewers.  These samples came around fairly often and tasted very fresh, but not spectacular.  For the rolls, wontons, and skewers, I can find the same or better quality at Asian restaurants.

    Value wise... not bad, eh?

    I liked the ambiance - "smart chic" is right.  However, M Bar seemed more like a social spot for the middle-age group.

    This tasting event definitely got me hooked to come back for a little more; but after looking at the real menu, the prices seem ridic.  I'll try the $10 tapas special next time, and maybeeee check out the featured Dining News events listed on M Bar's web site.

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  • 0

    The M is all about ambience.  It's a sleek, comfortable space where all of the details are just right - from the floral arrangements that divide the bar from the lounge to the absolutely gorgeous bathroom (it's the kind of place that makes you want to pee forever; seriously, it's THAT nice).

    My dear friend and I went for a pre-concert early dinner, and we split a ceasar salad.  The ceasar salad with chicken was pricey ($18!) and fairly standard though the presentation was, of course, beautiful (big pieces of lettuce, two anchovies, small bread crisps).  We were intrigued by the homemade ice cream and sorbet options, and ordered the kiwifruit and green apple sorbet, both of which came with toppings.  The presentation was, again,  gorgeous.  The sorbet came in a cone which was resting in a cone-holder which also had coconut shavings.  The sorbet itself wasn't as distinctive and special as I would have liked.  Truth be told, the kiwifruit tasted a lot like the green apple, and both lacked that amazing homemade taste that someplace like Christina's has.  

    Even after all the food mediocrity, however, the place just sparkles.  We came away feeling like we had eaten at someplace luxurious and amazing.

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  • 0

    So... This place is cool, looks wise. Cosy, clean, new, pretty chic.. The drinks were  great. And for a Monday, it was bumpin' in there. The crowd was a mixed, which I guess most hotel bars tend to be, which is sometimes good and  bad, but I guess that's life.. The service was terrible, though. The waitress had to review our order with us each time like twice, and there were only 2 of us. She took forever to bring the drinks. Then, when I attempted to order two martinis at once, since I knew that she would never be back to ask if I needed a refill, she wouldn't bring them both at the same time..

    I think this place is a welcome addition to the area, which tends to feature way too many puking college kids- or disgusting hammered sox fans- type establishments.....altho it may need to get its act together, esp for being in such a nice hotel.

    I did not try the food... next time...

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  • 0

    In an effort to try something new and not head straight to our favorite places (I'm looking at you, ES and Drink!), we ventured to the much-talked about Mandarin Oriental Hotel to have a drink at M Bar. Here, a lesson in "If It Ain't Broke...."

    The good:
    -The digs are swank, the layout makes sense and they are oodles of places to sit, lounge, stand and mingle.

    The bad:
    -The drink list starts with two pages of bush-league martinis (pear, mocha, lychee).
    -The classic cocktails that they do serve are not well made. No balance whatsoever.
    -The service is unbelievably slow. We ordered one drink. We sat and sipped. And looked around for 15 minutes for our waitress to get the bill. We had to ask the hostess for it and then we had to ask the manager to process it for us. After learning of our wait time and total lack of service, he comped the drinks.
    -$16 for a martini?????

    The Ugly:
    -This is not a hip destination. Chic, yes. But filled with haughty hotel guests, lots of suits and more cougars than the zoo.

    The Hilarious:
    -PEOPLE WATCHING. The table next to us. Filled with middle-aged men and college-aged girls. One of them was twirling her hair so much we thought she was going to pull it out, while the man next to her just kept feeding her drinks. Then, a man with a serious swagger and a full-length fake fur jacket (think Kramer from Seinfeld) strode through the restaurant and disappeared over by the elevators.

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  • 0

    Hmm... I smell Yelp spamming... see all the reviews on this place from Yelpers with no picture who only have 2 reviews total? Well, if you look at those Yelpers, the only places they've reviewed are M Bar and Asana, and they gave them both 5 stars.

    I smell a rat (or several of them).

    I stand by my original review that this place sucks ass.

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  • 0

    M bar & Lounge is definitely the new Boston hot spot. I went on Tuesday night and it was practically standing room only. My friends and I were able to get a table finally. The appetizers were excellent and reasonably priced and the martinis were Asian inspired.
    The service was a little slow but it was only the 2nd night. We sat right next to the General Manager Susan Hadge so that ensured we weren't forgotten. All in all really excellent all around.

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  • 0

    M Bar & Lounge located at the Mandarin Oriental Boston is a welcome addition to Back Bay and especially on Boylston Street.  It was designed very well with it's own entrance off Boylston Street directly and a inside entrance off the main lobby of the hotel. Additionally the same entrances are used for the hotels signature restaurant Asana (Asian inspired menu) Windows overlooking Boylston are very attractive and brings excitement to the space.

    M Bar & Lounge and Asana are both interconnected bring the energy of both rooms together and separate enough for  a quality dining experience. Excellent lighting, beautiful flowers, luxurious decor, and great detail.

    Drinks, Wine List and Bar menu all fairly expensive as you would find in a luxury hotel. A bottle of Duval Leroy went for $75.00 and a Martini around $13.00 which are all within range. Very nice glassware which was very appealing. All the food served at the bar comes from Asana kitchen and beautifully presented.

    On my three visits Monday, Oct 6 (opening day), Tuesday, Oct 7 and Wednesday, Oct 8 the bar has gotten progressively busier each time. It is the current place to be seen and should be for some time.

    It is definitely a great place for almost any occasion except not if you are looking for inexpensive and regular bar food. I don't see myself going here on the weekends as it will be filled with many who want to be the "most important".

    M Bar & Lounge is definitely good for late night, dinner, lunch and dessert. I'm not sure if it is open for breakfast but Asana serves full breakfast.

    A gave it four stars for the decor, atmosphere, presentation but since it is new the service staff remains inexperienced for the high standards of the Mandarin Oriental

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