The Bottom Line
- Relatively affordable given the high price of most South End dining
- Menu offers enough variety to satisfy most picky eaters
- Good variety of wine and alcoholic beverages
- Food tends to be on the heavy side
- Small restaurant not ideal for groups of more than four
- Can get loud and smoky on busy nights
Description
- Location: POPS, 560 Tremont St, Boston
- Phone: (617) 695-1250
- Website: popsrestaurant.net
- Reservations: Expect a 30-60 minute wait for tables. I recommend reserving a table at Opentable.com for prompt seating.
Guide Review - POPS Restaurant Review
POPS feels like a cross between a modern urban café and an old-fashioned parlor, like a hip TGI Friday's, with monochromatic paisley wallpaper, marble floor and tabletops, dark wood chairs, barstools, and bar countertop, and LCD screens showing a montage of vintage Boston photos. Our waiter was charmingly awkward, and when he wasn’t present, the host graciously stepped in and took our orders, giving us impeccable yet slightly disjointed service.
For appetizers, we shared the Sambal Chicken Wings ($8), which were juicy, crispy, sweet, and hot all at once, and a super rich Truffled Butternut Squash Ravioli ($9) with a Butter Brown Sauce and a Fried Egg—utterly sumptuous.
The main courses didn't quite live up to the superb appetizers. I ordered the Market Fresh special of the evening, which was a "Surf and Turf" with Seared Scallops and Braised Short Ribs ($24); my partner ordered the Port-Braised Short Ribs ($22). The scallops were decently seared, but were just a little bit on the rubbery side, and the short ribs were tender but slightly dry. The presentation was also underwhelming: the scallops, meat, and crispy haricot verts arrived on a flat and tasteless bed of mashed potatoes. The short ribs were similarly presented, but due to the Port sauce and rich accompaniment of Plums and Mushrooms, had a better and more distinct rich flavor.
We finished our meal with the whimsical and scrumptious Box of Cookies ($6), a variety of nibble-sized cookies and brownies with a short glass of fresh chocolate milk. Overall, POPS restaurant does have some shoring up to do, but with its proclivity toward rich foods and its hip neighborhood vibe, I’m sure it'll stick around for a long time to come.
