CAFETERIA Boston

"A casual, contemporary atmosphere where the comfort food of ""yesterday"" gets schooled by the flavors of ""today�."

(617) 536-2233

279 Newbury St (Gloucester)
Boston, MA 02116 42.349159 -71.08413

Get Map & Directions »

Neighborhoods: Back Bay, Back Bay West

cafeteriaboston.com

Hours:

Monday-Friday 11:00 am - 1:00 am

Saturday 9:00am-1:00am

Sunday 9:00am-11:00pm

Price:

$$

Last updated 11.05.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, Discover, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

People Watching, Group Dining, Dine At The Bar, Outdoor Dining

Cuisine:

Mediterranean, Traditional American

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About CAFETERIA Boston

The Owner

CAFETERIA Boston

Owner

Our cafeteria-themed menu is a modern interpretation of classic soul-satisfying American dishes prepared with organic grass-fed beef and lamb, free-range chicken, the freshest seafood and organic, local produce. These properly raised ingredients behave perfectly with a new world of herbs, spices and culinary techniques to create deeply satisfying comfort food for the new millennium.Located in the heart of the Newbury Street dining scene, Cafeteria Boston brings new life to one of the most energetic neighborhoods in Boston. We kept the straightforward, select what you like, style of a…

Provided by CityGrid

Read more from the owner

Featured Review

Gerrish Lopez

Contributor

With a key location, high tables and booths, an outdoor patio and a lively staff, Cafeteria is a hot spot for lunch or dinner. Seasonal ingredients from local markets feature in the menu. Cocktails such as the strawberry basil martini add kick to a meal, while desserts such as the apple crisp or gelato offer a fine finish.

Editor's Tips

The Extras:
The bar serves a late-night menu and is open until 1am, Thursdays through Saturdays.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “Great location not so much the rest”
  2. “Place was fun, hip, trendy and a good-looking crowd.”
  3. “also love the location, cant wait to be on the patio again this spring!”
  4. “the place is has a relaxed feel to it, nice ambiance, good looking people, great food!”
  5. “Went for friday night dinner and everything was fantastic from the food, to the atmosphere, to the service.”
  6. “Good food & location”
dessert
75.0% positive
  1. “Never have I had such tasty and fresh deserts like they serve here.”
  2. “ordered the crab cakes and they arrived cold, I sent them back and then I got the warm bacon salad.”
  3. “best warm chocolate cake in the city”
  4. “Last time I checked Boston was not landlocked, so obtaining fresh seafood should have been easy as pie.”
drinks
80.0% positive
  1. “Well, we did get a table outside, but the service, food and drinks were all horrible.”
  2. “great pizza and cocktails”
  3. “Service is sometimes a little lax, but other than that great place for dinner and drinks”
  4. “My girlfriend liked her drink (some sort of champagne libation with peach and vodka).”
  5. “To ease the pain of my rather disappointing entree, I decided to order 2 more cocktails (as alcohol is clearly the solution to all dining mishaps).”
  6. “The drinks were not bad - the blueberry martini included tasty pieces of blueberry pulp and the strawberry basil martini was the correct color.”
  7. “Both times I have eaten at the bar and received impeccable service.”
  8. “thought the cocktails were excellent and its a great place to go and grab a bite and few drinks for either lunch or dinner.”
  9. “Added bonus, the restaurant /bar area is filled with huge flat screens tvs so we were able to catch the celtics game.”
  10. “enjoyed my mint infused drink, it was a julep or variant of that with fresh mint leaves.”
food quality
82.1399974822998% positive
  1. “Went for friday night dinner and everything was fantastic from the food, to the atmosphere, to the service.”
  2. “My friend did order a pasta dish which she said was not bad.”
  3. “It is a upscale place that serves simple food (that is prepared well, or at least when I visited) with a cool scene, nothing more, nothing less.”
  4. “We love Cafeteria - the relaxed environment, friendly staff, great food and just a totally nice dining experience and a welcome addition to the Back Bay.”
  5. “It took forever to come to the table, to order food, to get food, etc.”
  6. “The salads were fresh and very creative, margarita pizza--so delicious and the cod-cooked to perfection.”
  7. “Last time I checked Boston was not landlocked, so obtaining fresh seafood should have been easy as pie.”
  8. “the place is has a relaxed feel to it, nice ambiance, good looking people, great food!”
  9. “The fries were good, though.”
  10. “At least the food is good there.”
  11. “The fries with parmesan cheese were just as good!”
  12. “The hamburger was great and so was the pizza.”
  13. “Never in my life have I ever eaten food so cold & bland!”
  14. “This was the worst food I have ever eaten & the nastiest service I have ever encountered in a restaurant.”
  15. “The drinks were not bad - the blueberry martini included tasty pieces of blueberry pulp and the strawberry basil martini was the correct color.”
  16. “enjoyed my mint infused drink, it was a julep or variant of that with fresh mint leaves.”
  17. “Good food & location”
  18. “Probably the best burger I had ever!”
  19. “I've been a few times now since it's opened and while it's not top notch dining or anything, the food is good (try the mussels).”
  20. “have tried their delicious burger and salads as well.”
  21. “ordered the crab cakes and they arrived cold, I sent them back and then I got the warm bacon salad.”
  22. “great pizza and cocktails”
  23. “then we ordered calamaris they were ok but the paninis were great we have one of each one and splitted.”
  24. “Well, we did get a table outside, but the service, food and drinks were all horrible.”
  25. “My pizza was disgusting.”
  26. “Never have I had such tasty and fresh deserts like they serve here.”
  27. “The bread they gave us at the table was stale.”
  28. “The best dish of the night was the lobster macaroni and cheese appetizer, as the consistency of the macaroni was excellent and the sizable chunks of lobster were extremely yummy.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “If you want to eat at Newbury, there are dozens of great options (Charlie's across the street is great).”
  2. “She then stood there staring at me impatiently at me while I scrambled to choose my third favorite option off of an already bland menu.”
overall
75.0% positive
  1. “Just not "nice restaurant service”
  2. “thought the cocktails were excellent and its a great place to go and grab a bite and few drinks for either lunch or dinner.”
  3. “My parents were in town, so I figured I could take them to a nice restaurant on Newbury, and we could enjoy the beautiful weather.”
  4. “Service is sometimes a little lax, but other than that great place for dinner and drinks”
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. “However, I would probably come back during warmer weather to sit on the patio, so maybe you will spot me in the sea of big bags and sunglasses!”
service
46.14999771118164% positive
  1. “The service is so terrible.”
  2. “Just not "nice restaurant service”
  3. “Horrible service!”
  4. “The service was horrible, our waitress was missing most of the time!”
  5. “The wait staff seem to be failed models.”
  6. “This was the worst food I have ever eaten & the nastiest service I have ever encountered in a restaurant.”
  7. “Well, we did get a table outside, but the service, food and drinks were all horrible.”
  8. “she was so pretty then the entire staff was pretty i felt really hot in there we were sourrounded by the hottest people ever plus everybody who walk in was gorgeous !”
  9. “Both times I have eaten at the bar and received impeccable service.”
  10. “the place is has a relaxed feel to it, nice ambiance, good looking people, great food!”
  11. “We love Cafeteria - the relaxed environment, friendly staff, great food and just a totally nice dining experience and a welcome addition to the Back Bay.”
  12. “Staff is friendly and always going the extra mile.”
  13. “Went for friday night dinner and everything was fantastic from the food, to the atmosphere, to the service.”
value
83.33000183105469% positive
  1. “found the patio great with good sized portions and quality ingredients.”
  2. “Added bonus, the restaurant /bar area is filled with huge flat screens tvs so we were able to catch the celtics game.”
  3. “Some reviews give Cafeteria props for its reasonable prices, but I'd have to disagree (mid-$20's).”
4 Star Rating: Recommended

05/06/10

A twist on a classic!

by travelbugg1980 at Citysearch

Yummy! I like to mix it up a bit, but sometimes you try a "fusion" style restaurant and it just doesn't work. But Cafeteria was a nice mix of classic and new. Different but not TOO different. Try the Currie Chicken Salad Sandwich. Delish!! Nice Newbury patio for a sunny day as well...

  • Pros: Good menu- interesting but still edible!
  • Cons: Slow on the service
4 Star Rating: Recommended

04/07/10

Just like your school cafeteria, only better

by gregd on cs , Citysearch Contributor at Citysearch

In case you ever wanted to relive your school cafeteria meal experiences, this is the place.

Cafeteria Boston has taken the concept of comfort food and upped the quality and flavor. One of my favorites is the tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwich plate, but there are many others. I have tried their delicious burger and salads as well.

In addition to the food in the dining room Cafeteria is also a bar and can provide the mixed drinks that you crave. I enjoyed my mint infused drink, it was a julep or variant of that with fresh mint leaves.

For those of you on a budget they have had a burger special in the bar that is worth checking out.

Satisfy your cravings and have some comfort food. You might even want to bring along a little sunscreen on a nice day if you want to eat on their patio.

  • Pros: Tomato soup and toasted cheese sandwiches
4 Star Rating: Recommended

01/14/10

Good food & location

by meltzerf at Citysearch

The meatloaf in this place is fabulous. The calamari is too but they need a better/different dipping sauce. I like that they seem to be socially responsible on free range chicken, etc. It makes you feel better about eating a non-vegetarian meal! Nice ambiance. Great outdoor sitting area. Regular great discounts. The wait staff seem to be failed models. They are pretty to look at but do not expect anything great or right! Overall very good and would recommend.

  • Pros: Good food & location
  • Cons: Price & Wait Staff
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

10/21/09

fabulous!

by Katya12 at Citysearch

Everything about Cafeteria is PERFECT! We had sampled many of the appetizers and loved every one (especially the spinach and artichoke dish and the macaroni). The staff was more than welcoming and kind to all of us. I also love the location, cant wait to be on the patio again this spring!!!

  • Pros: food, atmosphere, crowd, flat screens!
  • Cons: closes around 11-12
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

10/19/09

Great dinner awsome vibe

by rockitboston at Citysearch

Had dinner there on Saturday went there around 8pm. Saw there advertisment in stuff at night. Stayed there to closing for drinks. Staff is friendly and always going the extra mile.

  • Pros: Love it

The Details on CAFETERIA Boston

Place Categories:

  • good great food
  • horrible restaurant service
  • great place
  • love nice dining experience
  • liked mint infused drink
  • friendly staff
  • great option
  • great location
  • delicious burger
  • great margarita pizza
  • never tasty deserts
  • worst food
  • fantastic went
  • good fries
  • not bad pasta dish
  • cool scene
  • not recommend dining
  • great paninis
  • warm nothing
  • love relaxed environment
  • impeccable service
  • fresh seafood
  • great more cocktails
  • delicious salads
  • big bags

As Seen In…

Best of Citysearch

Boston

Message from CAFETERIA Boston

  • American Cuisine
  • Weekend Brunch
  • Full Bar/Late-night Dining

Our cafeteria-themed menu is a modern interpretation of classic soul-satisfying American dishes prepared with organic grass-fed beef and lamb, free-range chicken, the freshest seafood and organic, local produce. These properly raised ingredients behave perfectly with a new world of herbs, spices and culinary techniques to create deeply satisfying comfort food for the new millennium.

Located in the heart of the Newbury Street dining scene, Cafeteria Boston brings new life to one of the most energetic neighborhoods in Boston. We kept the straightforward, select what you like, style of a cafeteria, but, at this cafeteria the food comes to you with dining on three levels - outdoors, downstairs and upstairs. It's a perfect venue for a leisurely lunch or a special dinner, for all occasions.

Call Cafeteria Boston for more information.

CAFETERIA Boston
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