Red Fez

The Scene – Awash in warm colors and authentic touches, an upbeat atmosphere fills this popular South End spot (and the patio, when weather permits its use). An eclectic mix fills the airy bar for one of Boston's most unusual drink menus. Nearly 100 wines are on offer, including about 30 by the glass. – – The Food – The user-friendly, predominantly Middle Eastern menu satisfies, from light snacks to heavy meals. Most diners start with a selection of hot and cold mezze (appetizers); spinach-cheese dumplings, hummus and tabouleh do not disappoint. Another excellent…

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Editor's Tips

Know Before You Go:: Expect busy crowds on Sundays for the restaurant's jazz brunch, served from 11am-4pm.
The Extras:: The Red Fez provides a good, if slightly offbeat, spot to watch Sox games, as there's a 120" HD-TV.
When to Go:: Patrons enjoy free live jazz Sunday and Tuesday nights, from 9pm-12am.

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User Reviews (25)

ambiance	100.0% positive	“The middle eastern Beer & international Wine selection is a great fit for the food & this place is NOT expensive, especially with free parking in the back.” “Loved the martinis and the atmosphere.” “On Saturdays they have a Middle Eastern band (one main singer who manages to pull it off and create a good ambiance - musicians are good).” “Easy to find parking and the staff is great” “Nevertheless, the ambience of the place was nice, and I really liked the decor.” “Good atmosphere for post-college crowd (single or not).” “Restaurant environment romantic and comfortable.”
drinks	83.33000183105469% positive	“Not great for dinning but it is a good place to go to with your friends, order few light appetizers, have a drink, enjoy the music and dance.” “We ordered a few drinks, all of which were horrible.” “The normally fabulous Moroccan martini was missing an ingredient and was so sour we couldnt even drink it.” “Excellent signature drink-Lost in Space(Stoli orange, triple sec, Tang).” “And the drinks are usually good.” “We promptly got the bill and left for Union, across the street, who served us fabulous drinks with attentive service and Red Sox.”
food quality	68.75% positive	“We had some very tasty meat-stuffed grape leaves for an appetizer.” “And another thing- the owner has the worst attitude ever and he didn't hear the phrase 'the customer is always right' that is very important, especially in the food business.” “The food portions were huge, but how much duck can one eat?” “too much mediocre food, lousy service” “While the meats were quite nice, the accompaniments were totally uninspired.” “The middle eastern Beer & international Wine selection is a great fit for the food & this place is NOT expensive, especially with free parking in the back.” “If you enjoy Arabic & Turkish food then you must go.” “The turkish salad was mediocre (memu says it includes syrian bread - it was two tiny pita's), cucumber yogurt was tasteless, and hummus was average at best.” “The food at the Fez was good, not great.” “Very good food.” “went there with high expectations to get good middle eastern food.” “did enjoy my seared tuna entree and if the horseradish mashed potatoes had been served hot, they would've been great.” “The food was amazing, not one person was disappointed with their choice.” “The food was decent - not great.” “As for 'bad tasting food' I think commentators are talking about the Kofta.” “truly bad food, overpriced, spacey unattentive service.”
menu variety	100.0% positive	“The middle eastern Beer & international Wine selection is a great fit for the food & this place is NOT expensive, especially with free parking in the back.”
overall	100.0% positive	“Not great for dinning but it is a good place to go to with your friends, order few light appetizers, have a drink, enjoy the music and dance.” “The middle eastern Beer & international Wine selection is a great fit for the food & this place is NOT expensive, especially with free parking in the back.”
return potential	100.0% positive	“Their recipe is unique, and one night I saw a couple return it for that reason, but I like the Kofta!”
service	36.35999917984009% positive	“he should not be in thsi filed, he wantsus to tips the waitress more that we should and we give 40 % and he wants more for the blonde one, the brazilain boyz and the middle eatern are good worker,” “There are too many other great places in the area that have attentive service and treat their customers well.” “We promptly got the bill and left for Union, across the street, who served us fabulous drinks with attentive service and Red Sox.” “truly bad food, overpriced, spacey unattentive service.” “The service was horrible!” “We asked for the channel to be changed and were told NO, in a very rude manner.” “too much mediocre food, lousy service” “The service was bad bad bad.” “But what really made this an overall bad experience was our waitress.” “Easy to find parking and the staff is great” “She had an absolute terrible attitude - was not friendly nor attentive -and we were the only ones there!”
value	50.0% positive	“truly bad food, overpriced, spacey unattentive service.” “don't understand anyone who says this place is expensive; maybe next to the average greasy kebab house.” “The food portions were huge, but how much duck can one eat?” “The middle eastern Beer & international Wine selection is a great fit for the food & this place is NOT expensive, especially with free parking in the back.”
wait time	0.0% positive	“Service was slow and we had a small billing problem.”

05/24/10

Great Place...

by GaryGM at Citysearch

I think this place is great. Food is terrific. I have been there several times & even had my engagement party there! The Chicken & Lamb Kabobs are great. Salmon is very good as well. As others have noted the appetizers are very very good. The middle eastern Beer & international Wine selection is a great fit for the food & this place is NOT expensive, especially with free parking in the back. I don't understand anyone who says this place is expensive; maybe next to the average greasy kebab house.

The drawbacks are when they are busy; New Years Eve, a popular music act, my engagement party. The quality of service definitely goes down. Please note: Everyone of my guests enjoyed themselves.

As for 'bad tasting food' I think commentators are talking about the Kofta. Their recipe is unique, and one night I saw a couple return it for that reason, but I like the Kofta! I think there is a lot of parsley which can be over powering.

If you enjoy Arabic & Turkish food then you must go. Its been around for decades for a very good reason!

Pros: Food & Wine
Cons: Service to some extent

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02/14/10

Premium quality rudeness

by annette p at Citysearch

A local music ensemble that I adore, called Dünya, was playing here. I made a reservation a few weeks in advance and then when I showed up, I was left there standing for about 5 minutes. The maître d'hôtel came and said they had no record of our reservation, he said pointing to a ruled sheet of paper covered with scrawls. I can see they have a sophisticated record-keeping system. They made me stand there like a schmuck pleading for a table. Eventually, I just had to leave, it was so rude.

The funny thing is, we had had the exact same problem last year when Dünya played there. They haven't got their act together after a full year.

The food here is OK, but way overpriced. As you can see from my other reviews on Yelp, which are mostly 5 stars, I am a very tolerant person. However, to be called a liar, effectively, in front of the other people who were waiting to be seated is unacceptable.

Pros: I'm drawing a blank.
Cons: rude maître d'

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11/07/09

No good until new managment

by henklfchma at Citysearch

the manager had adttitude all the time

he should not be in thsi filed, he wantsus to tips the waitress more that we should and we give 40 % and he wants more for the blonde one, the brazilain boyz and the middle eatern are good worker,

but the other no way

Place was good and pack once now is so empty and wonder why....... wonder if the owners knows why

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03/01/09

Great space & Entertainment, Poor Food, Poor Service

by LoveCityLife at Citysearch

Food: below average, burned and tasteless. A good advice: stick to the appetizers if you were to eat anything there.

Service: poor, slow and below average. Manager/Owner has no people or PR skills, he does not bother himself to greet or acknowledge his customers.

Place: is Great, the room is beautiful, decorated with gorgeous carpets and exotic lamps. The way they have the bar and the dining room separated is great. They have a gorgeous space and it looks like they spent the money on renovating it.

Parking: Excellent in the back of the restaurant, it is spacious and free.

Not great for dinning but it is a good place to go to with your friends, order few light appetizers, have a drink, enjoy the music and dance.

Pros: Space & Entertainment
Cons: Food And Service

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03/01/09

Good Music, Excellent space, Poor Food, Poor Service

by lovecitylife at Citysearch

Food: below average, burned and tasteless. A good advice: stick to the appetizers if you were to eat anything there.

Service: poor, slow and below average. Manager/Owner has no people or PR skills, he does not bother himself to greet or acknowledge his customers.

Parking: Excellent in the back of the restaurant, it is spacious and free.

Entertainment: is the best thing they have beside the space. On Friday, they have Armenian & Turkish band (good musicians a bit stiff). On Saturdays they have a Middle Eastern band (one main singer who manages to pull it off and create a good ambiance - musicians are good). Belly dancers change often, I have seen two lousy ones and only one real good one. On Sunday they have Jazz music on the evening and are planning to have Arabic music on the afternoons. Can't say much about Sundays because I never been there on Sunday!

Not great for dinning but it is a good place to go to with your friends, order few light appetizers, have a drink, enjoy the music and dance.

Red Fez

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What People Are Saying About Red Fez

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Editor's Tips

05/24/10

Great Place...

by GaryGM at Citysearch

02/14/10

Premium quality rudeness

by annette p at Citysearch

11/07/09

No good until new managment

by henklfchma at Citysearch

03/01/09

Great space & Entertainment, Poor Food, Poor Service

by LoveCityLife at Citysearch

03/01/09

Good Music, Excellent space, Poor Food, Poor Service

by lovecitylife at Citysearch

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