Our family,at the recommendation on my son and his wife gave Porter Cafe a try . They recently moved into the area and decided to call us and venture out for some new eats in the neighborhood.
We decided to make reservations, probably a good choice especially Thurs - Saturday nights with a larger group. The place is small but comfortable. Our hostess/server was very helpful and knowledgeable of the menu and beer-wine list. To my surprise they had a great beer list,not over the top like some places but covered all the bases. The menu the same... everyone should be able to find something to satisfy. Â At our table we covered all the bases...burgers, chicken, steak, meat loaf....all were excellent !!!
......Have to admit it took me a while to complete this review and have already been back again....
Love this place! The staff are friendly, especially the fab bartender. The beer selection is fantastic, love getting a taste of something before committing. The burger is one of the best, so are the fish and chips. Only downside is it's a bit tiny but that adds to the charm. You never know if you will wait for a table or spot at the bar but worth a shot. Definitely a very welcome addition to the West Roxbury main street area. My only wish is for a few more vegetarian options. They have a couple nice salads and a risotto that seems to always be veggie but changes flavor day to day.
Review Source:Love this place. Best neighborhood bar around. It's nice when you go to your local pub and meet all sorts of people who live near you. Â The crowd is friendly; the owners and staff have really set the atmosphere for a friendly, social gathering spot. Â Of course, they have a great bar with a great selection of craft brews; I love that I can always order something from Pretty Things there. They also have a drink menu with some interesting offers such as a Pimm's Cup (my new summer favorite). Â Be aware this is not a full service bar; you can't order a martini, or a gin & tonic, for example, due to the type of liquor license they have. Â My menu faves are the salmon with polenta fries, the fish tacos and the risotto. Â They always have great specials too. Â Cheers to these guys for an awesome addition to the West Rox/Roslindale scene and for creating a space where it's quite possible that everybody knows your name!
Review Source:This is actually a four star review if it were located anywhere else, but considering this is w.roxbury it is the best option you have around here! i live down the street and like  this place for their selection of beer and occasionally an appetizer. It can get busy and if you don't find a place to sit keep your option open for other bars in the area.
Review Source:Stopped in here with friends for an impromptu late night supper after an evening of wine tasting. Â The French fries are DELISH!! Â The grilled fish tacos on The other hand are .........bland, boring.......tasteless! Â The cabbage added is just plain, the fish unseasoned, and it's topped with a red sauce that manages to be both spicy and tasteless at the same time. Â Never thought I'd need to put salt and pepper on a taco! Â The lime wedges were the DRIEST fruit I've ever seen! Â I guess it's my fault for expecting a local corner pub to make good fish tacos! Â Maybe they are Exeter at steak or traditional food......May give them a second chance?
Review Source:Headline: The brussels sprouts. They are sweet and salty and bitter and crunchy and everything delicious. I could eat a bowl of these guys for every meal of the day. Seriously. But backing up....
Now that we live right down the street, it was finally time to try Porter Cafe and I'm glad we did! We were there on a Tuesday night and the service was great - super friendly and prompt, but no rush. The tables were pretty cramped and felt like we were practically sitting on top of the couples on either side of us, but we managed. Next time if there's just 2 of us we'll probably head for the bar, there seemed to be a bit more elbow room.
They had some good interesting beer selections - a few mainstays and some rotating taps. Started with aforementioned brussels sprouts which were just dreamy. Husband had the special of the day, a cottage pie which he said was great. I tried the sweet chili pork sandwich, which was actually 2 fried pork cutlets topped with sweet and spicy chili sauce and some pickled vegetables on a toasted bun. The flavors were really tasty and unusual and the sandwich was enormous, so I brought half of it home. The fish & chips looked amazing, as did the risotto. Things to try since there will definitely be a next time.
We love Porter Cafe. Â The food is great, service is always attentive and friendly and the atmosphere is lively. Â The only reason it does not get 5 stars is because sometimes the wait is long. Â But given the size of the restaurant, I feel they accommodate everyone the best they can. By far the best place in West Roxbury.
Review Source:Last night was the fourth consecutive time over a 9 or 10 week period that I've tried to get into Porter Café on a Friday night between 6:30 and 7 p.m. -- before what's usually considered prime dining hours -- only to find the place mobbed and in disarray. People were packed cheek-by-jowl. Every conceivable space was occupied, including in between tables in some cases. There was no one to greet patrons at the door except other would-be diners. A host(ess) controlling traffic would have helped the situation. Good for them that they're so popular, but management needs to do a far better job of managing the floor and flow of guests. I don't think I'll be trying for entry a fifth time.
We walked out and went to the Corrib where we were immediately greeted, seated and sipping drinks in under 5 minutes. Dinner followed about 10 minutes later. Â
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Food is oh-so-good!
But the NOISE LEVEL is terrible. Â This is my fourth visit, cause its close to home and the food is GOOD GOOD GOOD. Like any popular neighborhood bistro that has a great menu, it's always packed. Â But here packed means people three to four deep at the bar, hanging over the few (7-8) tables and shouting. Â While waiting for our check my dining partner and I checked the decibel level in the place (what can I say, I'm a classical musician and my livelihood depends on my ears so I think about this stuff) and it was a whopping 97. Â Human hearing begins to sustain damage after 30 minutes at this level. ( the website of Industrial Noise Control Inc. tells us that at 305 meters - 1000 feet- Â a jet taking off is 150 decibels.) Â Â Luckily I had earplugs in my bag so was able to enjoy the meal without undue worry.
Hearing issues aside, this is a warm and charming and friendly place for a meal. Â If you're not concerned about your hearing and don't want to make conversation with your dining partners by all means go!
My fiance and I just moved into the Chestnut Hill area, and I think we have been to Porter Cafe about 6 times already!  The food is excellent -very fresh, cooked perfectly- and the beer selection is top notch.  We'd highly suggest the burgers!  We've also had an excellent pork shank stew which was amazing.  The atmosphere is casual, and the staff is friendly and approachable.  It can get busy at peak dinner times and reservations are only taken for parties of 6 or more, so I would suggest trying to get there a litle earlier or later than the dinner rush if you don't want to wait for a table.  Definitely one of the best  local restaurants we've found so far
Review Source:This place is a great addition to the area.  Great beer list, good food, good atmoshere  I love the fish tacos.  Staff is also always pleasant.  Only real complaint is the chill in the winter from the door opening and very little space to wait for a table - not sure if this can be helped thought since the space is so small to start with. Would def recommend this place!
Review Source:Our server said the burger here is the best as long as you don't fidget with it, so I ordered the burger as is and it was pretty amazing! I also ordered the steak frites, the burger and the steak were both prepared exactly to my liking - medium rare with a rosy pink center. The sides are great too and the service is stellar. This place is famous for their large beer selection, so be sure to try something new you can even sample a few before settling for one. The only con to this place is that they don't do dessert.
Review Source:I agree with everything that has been said thus far. Â Great beer selection, very very good award winning burgers, friendly knowledgeable staff. Â Had the burger and the bar-tender recommended pairing the "smutty nose" porter. Â A good recommendation.
The only advise I would have for this place is to not have the bun overwhelm the burger. Â The bun is the opening act not the main event. Â I thought in this case it was too big and overwhelmed the taste of an excellent burger.
Overall a very nice place and if I lived around there, I'd go all the time.
As a recent transplant to Roslindale from Somerville/Cambridge, I found the lack of a restaurant with a solid beer list a bit disheartening. Yes, Sophia's, Birch Street and (especially) Redd's all have OK beer selections (there's a bottle of Chimay somewhere or a Left Hand Stout on tap) but none seems so beer-centric as Porter and that made me quite happy when it opened shortly after I moved to Rozzie.
Staff is great with its beer knowledge (especially Nate) and offers tastes of beers on tap if you are curious and they're friendly and willing to chat (at the bar anyway, which is where I usually find myself).
Food is very good. Burgers are fantastic but if you like them done medium, ask for well done. Took me a few tries to figure that out. They rotate out their risotto recipes with different vegetable combinations (pureed squash, mushroom, fresh peas, etc.) but so far they have all been great. I've had the pork, cod and, though I think they are out of season now, scallops. All ridiculously good. Expect to pay a bit more but nearly every dish on the menu nails it and is worth the price of admission.
I've been there dozens of times and have only walked out unhappy with the food once (and the bartender read it on my face and apologized profusely, even offering to take the dish back).
This is a great place and denizens of Roslindale, West Roxbury and surrounding neighborhoods should flock here and support a restaurant that cares so much about beer, wine and food while simultaneously being unstuffy about it.
So glad this place opened and glad I finally got to go! We need more gastro pubs like this in the South West part of Boston. Â Esp one that's only a 7 min drive from me (I live in Hyde Park).
I sat at the bar and met some nice strangers. Â Some old ladies next to me got a salad and burgers and claimed this place had the best burgers in town.
The man next to us had raw oysters and a burger and ate everything right up.
I myself got a spinach salad with balsamic dressing and tomatoes. I said to hold the mozzarella. Â It was supposed to also come with basil but I didn't taste any. The balsamic dressing was too thick - I know they are trying to be fancy but it was just too much. For a salad you need it to be a little loose otherwise you can't spread the dressing around and some pieces of spinach are doused while others are bare. Â I also got a side of brussel sprouts. You aren't supposed to get those as a separate side (they typically only come with the chicken dish) but a lady next to me asked for it so I asked too. And after serving her they couldn't tell me no! Â They were delicious - a little charred with some olive oil and perfectly cooked. Â
My friend got the mussels and said they were ok. Â I used the bread that came with it to try out the coconut broth - it was ok. Definitely could have been a better flavor - more curry sauce or something. Â My friend said since mussels can be fishy sometimes you want a strong broth or sauce to go with it and this was too light. Â I agreed with my bread dipping trial.
The bartender (cute short hair blond lady) was really friendly and helpful. Â She was also very attentive. Â I ordered a glass of the pinot grigio (cheapest white wine they had) which did taste a little cheap. Next time I'll pay $1 more and get a step up. Â The bartender let me try a bit of the Pretty Things beer on tap.
So the place is cool - great vibe, decent food.  The bar seats get crowded - at 6:30pm it was packed.  At 7:30pm the whole place was almost full.  For warm nights they have 2 tables outside.  It's just pricey for  a pub.  My salad was $9, my friend's mussels were $11, and the brussel sprouts were $6.  Plus the wine was $7 (which was a decent price).
I wish they would add more vegetarian and vegan options. Â They did have some vegetarian risotto dish on the menu but I didn't ask if it could be vegan. Usually risotto cannot be. Â So please add a vegan dish so I don't just have to eat salads and side dishes
I will certainly be back - I imagine this might become a popular joint for me.
Also props to them for hanging the fire fighter helmet on the wall as a tribute to the firefighters that died in this location there 3 years ago during that terrible fire.
Dude, this place is perfect for this neighborhood. Â It's a gastropub, with a really strong beer and wine selection and food for everyone. Â The dinner menu is very classy and medium priced, but they also have great burgers and starters if you want to spend less -- I had the mussel starter for dinner last night and it was plenty of food.
We actually learned of this place when a waitress at Bella Luna told us that Porter Cafe has the best burgers around - as she was serving the Boyf a burger. Â And though Bella Luna is great, Porter definitely does have the best burgers around. Â There are also two small tables out front for outdoor dining, and the decor is very cozy and pulled-together - a really great date spot.
I went here with my girlfriend on a Sunday night. Â We sat at the bar. Â We had very good service. Â The food was very good, and reasonably priced. Â There was a good beer list and a good selection of other drinks.
It can be a little tough to get a seat here on a Friday or Saturday night. Â It's very nice but smallish. Â We felt it was good to try on a not as busy night and we were right.
Went here last night with 4 friends. Food was PERFECT, and the beer menu was extensive! I had the burger, which came cooked as requested and topped with a mayo or aoli and sauteed onions. It was juicy and flavorful and fabulous. If I could eat it again now (at 9:30 am), I would.
Friends got steak frites, ravioli appetizer, and fish po' boy and everyone seemed happy.
Ambiance was lovely -- dark and romantic, with mellow tunes (which could be a touch louder, but hey, they got everything else right). Our server was pleasantly attentive and we didn't feel rushed to leave even though we stayed at our table long after we paid the bill (no one was waiting for it -- if that were the case we would have moseyed out of there!).
Anyway, we had a wonderful evening and I'm looking forward to my next visit. Way to go, Porter Cafe!
Excellent visit this evening! My dining partner and I decided to work our way down the appetizer menu, then split an entree to broaden our horizons and have some culinary fun! We were not disappointed . Â Our bartender, Nate, kept us on track and helped select the perfect beverage to every plate and it was much appreciated. Â
We enjoyed a charcuterie plate with fantastic meats and lovely cheeses (with Belgium and German beers), then Falmouth oysters on the Half (with a lovely Prosecco), a fried ravioli of short rib which was done on the fly as a special tonight by the chef  and not bad but needed more filling (along with a malbec), and a fish taco that was meaty but light with a nice cabbage slaw crunch. (served with a crisp sav blanc). The end all of this fun food adventure... We split an entree of cod which was cooked perfectly and served in a bowl with beautiful cauliflower, leeks and  a butter sauce!  Loved it!
The service was fantastic and everyone was super accommodating. We came early and had no worries about a Sat. night crowd knowing by the time we left it would be loud and crowded, which it was. Be prepared to wait for a seat if it's a Sat. after 6:00!
I ended my night with a bourbon beer and some fun socializing with new friends next to us at the bar. Â Looking forward to going back!
This place is boss, man! Â
It's just a little thing (as someone's aunt my say about someone else's daughter)! Â I've been a couple times now, and it has not disappointed! Â It has become more popular, I will say, though! Â AND HOW! Â
The food I've had here has been great. Â The fried pickles are actually really good and not just huhuhu-novelty-"we're eating friend pickles, huhuhuhu!" BS. Â Their steak frite was really interesting. Â It had a unique spice that I want to say was tarragon, but I could be wrong. Â But it worked really well, whatever the fuck it was! Â
Also, the atmosphere has always been nice. Â Romantically-dimmed lights and chill early-to-mid-00's indie tunes (Shins, Strokes, Modest Mouse, etc) and reasonably laid back, but very prompt and helpful service. Â
They also have a decent beer selection as well and oysters!
I'll be going back. Â I just wish it was in Rozzie Square, but whatever the fuck, it's not that far any goddamned how!
This was the best meal I've had in a long time, and definitely one of the best I've ever had. Â Everyone was so nice too. I came with my parents and 101-year-old grandma, and the host was so accommodating and found my grandma a seat as soon as possible so she wouldn't have to stand too long while we waited. Â
We started with the fried pickles, fish tacos and the goat cheese and beet salad. The pickles were great (my grandma couldn't stop eating them), as were the fish tacos. But the salad was delicious! Really fresh and the dressing was deliciously tart. Â
My mom and I split the burger and the cod. Both were fantastic. Best french fries I've had in a while too. Â My only gripe would be that I wish they said that the cod had nuts raisins in the sauce. Â My dad also had the cod (which he loved) and my grandmother had the fried fish po' boy, which she devoured (and she normally doesn't eat much). Â We were so impressed with the meal that we were excited to see their dessert menu, but alas, they don't serve dessert. Â Can't wait to go back!
Wait a second, this isn't a Chinese food restaurant, where the hell am I? (FYI for those of you who aren't in the know, this corner was previously occupied by two Chinese food establishments for as long as I can remember. The once infamous China Gold which was adorned by late night stumblers and preceded by the short lived residency of Thai Ho, which burnt down due to a grease fire).
Anyway, back to Porter. This isn't the West Roxbury I remember as a kid and admittedly, nothing could be more pleasing. I am happy to welcome VARIETY to West Roxbury and with open arms, something not usually known for this town-dawg, Kango-wearing, Addias track jacket equipped, shell toe stomping, hard-nose Irish American, meat and potato type of neighborhood. Porter is a breath of fresh air in a once suffocated town, smothered by endless bottles of Bud light.
Friends and I arrived to a dim lit, welcoming(yet small) environment that offered a cozy yet intimate setting. The three of us pulled up seat at the bar and luckily, our timing was perfect because not a minute after sitting, Porter began to fill up with patrons and a line began to extended out into the street.
Next, we were greeted by one of the most informed bar tenders I've ever encountered, who offered excellent recommendations accompanied by an extensive knowledge of their product. This was important because Porter offers an wide variety of beers that will satisfy even the biggest of beer snobs. I can't say enough about the service, excellent, excellent, excellent! Â
My friends and I weren't planning to eat but since we were all so pleased, we felt obligated to sample some of their fare. We went simple and ordered the following :
-Meat and cheese plate with accompaniments $9 (Simple and put together perfectly. Fine cheeses and fresh Italian cold cuts)
-Fried Moonbrine pickles, jalapeno ranch $5 (they were ok. my friends complained that they were soggy but the slice I ate was crisp and tasty, lightly fried with a flavorful dipping sauce).
-French fries with smoked paprika aioli $4 (Perfectly salted and lightly fried in fresh oil, again with a tasty light feeling dipping sauce).
I highly recommend Porter and will most definitely stop by again. Superior service, excellent drink options and reasonably priced, above average food.
Super cute! Really good find-- we happened to be in West Roxbury, looking for a bar at 12:30am. Usually not a good combination. But we entered the doors of Porter and immediately felt at home. It's super dark and cozy and had a real neighborhoody feel. Great beer on tap and even more in the bottle. We stayed past last call chatting with some other patrons, and then ran across the street for 7-11 munchies. Now that's convenience!
I wouldn't hesitate to come back here, if and when I ever find myself in W Roxbury again.
Porter Cafe is now doing special tastings on Tuesday evenings from 4 to 7pm. They're also planning to add trivia and a few more little extras. Not sure how well trivia will play out in the small space, but they continue to deliver great food and great beer.
Recommendations
Food: The burger is excellently prepared
Can: "Brew Free of Die" IPA
Large Bottle: "Hedgerow Bitter" by Pretty Things
Draft: Blue Hills Brewery's Holiday Stout (around for a limited time)
This place is a real gem. Â My wife and I agree that it's very similar to Matt Murphy's in Brookline Village (size, layout, vibe), but the lack of awesome bunny paintings on the wall is more than made up for by the excellent beer list and menu.
She had grilled scallops over pea and bacon risotto (sadly being taken off the menu because the chef doesn't like to make it, apparently) which was beautiful. Â I had the grilled chicken which was also perfect and juicy.
Added to our shortlist of default date night destinations, fer sure.
Awesome little pub with a terrific feel to it. On a Friday night early is better since by 7:30 the place was SRO. They have an impressive selection of beers on tap and in bottles. I loved the food. Fried pickles are not the wimpy thin things you get at barbecue places but instead are a full quarter slices with a great jalapeno dipping sauce. Salt cod crostini is a hot pan of whipped potato and salt code with crostini on the slide. Once it cooled I would have licked the pan if my wife was not sitting next to me keeping me in line. Mac and Cheese is different; made with beer, golden cheddar and a pinch of cayenne. Again a killer dish.
The staff are friendly and efficient working a mile a minute to meet the rush on a Friday night. Parking is a bit of a challenge but manageable. Great spot.
So the wife & I finally walked over to Porter Cafe for the full dining experience. Â Our first visit was simply to check out the new pub in town and have a quick beer. Â Well loved it and will be coming to Porters many times to come. Â Small in size (only about 40 seats including the bar) Porters has a very cozy feel to it, dark wood & red walls, soft light and candles gives the room a warm cozy feel. Â I would not recommend Porters if you are traveling with a large group to dine or with little kids.
The beer list is fantastic, about 14 great and certainly some unique beers on draught and a great bottle & can selection as well; I'm guessing around 40 in total. Â Through the night I put back a few, my first beer was a 16oz can of Sixpoint Bengali Tiger IPA, very tasty. Â Followed by a draught pint of Harpoon 100bbl Series, a Radeberger German Pils draught and after my meal finished off the night with a 12oz bottle of Kentucky Bourbon Ale...YUM! Â All beers are VERY moderately priced, a perfectly poured Guinness is only $5.50.
As for the food we started with the Fried Pickle appetizer, addicting and very tasty with a great dipping sauce.  We ordered the Burger and Scallops to share for our dinner.  The burger was absolutely huge, cooked to perfection, juicy and tasty & accompanied with fantastic fries.  The Scallops were AMAZING!  Served in a giant bowl over a sweet-pea risotto, the scallops pan-seared perfectly just melted in your mouth and the risotto added fantastic flavor to the entire entrée.
Porters is a great addition to the neighborhood and you will find us there time and time again.
What an unexpected treat! Â Between the beer list, the food and the hip interior, I was most pleased. Â I really can't believe it's in West Roxbury. Â I mean, I don't go to West Roxbury like...ever. Â But I'm glad I did.
A Pretty Things Beer, some delicious fried pickles and good company is all I need. Â OH and make sure you get the pierogies too. They are out of this world. Â
So, in closing, this neighborhood is very lucky to have such a delicious joint. Â Why couldn't you guys come to JP?
This restaurant is a great addition to the West Roxbury/Centre Street area. I stopped in on a rainy day in one of the first weeks it was open and it was already packed! I loved that the front facade is all glass which makes for great people watching and also makes the small space feel even larger. The beer selection is impressively extensive and relatively good priced, I wish I could remember what I had but it escapes me at the moment.
My boyfriend and I shared the fried pickles which were out of this world delicious and although we only stopped in for a snack, the burgers looked amazing and being a burger fanatic, I've made a note to definitely return to sample their meaty goodness. If you're in the WRox area, absolutely stop in here, the atmosphere is perfectly fitted for the local scene and the fare is well worth it.
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