(617) 536-4341

30 Gloucester St (Between Newbury St. and Commonwealth Ave, side entrance, Back Bay)
Boston, MA 02115 42.3495 -71.0843

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Neighborhoods: Back Bay, Back Bay West

casaromero.com

Years in business

Established in 1972

Hours:

Sun-Thu 5pm-10pm

Fri-Sat 5pm-11pm

Price:

$$$

Last updated 10.16.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

Visa, Discover, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Margaritas, Local Favorite, Romantic Dining, Date Spot, Special Occasion Dining, Outdoor Dining

Cuisine:

Mexican

Smoking Permitted:

No

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Casa Romero

Featured Review

Eric Grossman

Contributor

The Scene – More than 30 years ago, Leo Romero decided against following in his family's political footsteps and opened this gem of a restaurant in an alleyway between Newbury Street and Commonwealth Avenue. Romero's award-winning cuisine--a taste of which vindicates his career choice--is complemented by his restaurant's lovely interior: exposed brick, imported tiles and colorful artwork make this one of the city's best date spots (come summer, ask for a table in the lovely outdoor courtyard). Friendly waiters deliver strong margaritas and delicious sangria from the service-only bar.…

Editor's Tips

Know Before You Go:
Look for L'Espalier: Hard-to-spot Casa Romero is located behind this venerable French establishment.
When to Go:
Despite its clandestine location, the restaurant does a strong weekend business (reservations are essential).
The Extras:
Those looking to enjoy a romantic date on Romero's intimate patio can bring along the pooch, provided he behaves.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “Although the service was very friendly, the decor of the place was dingy and slightly musty looking (I hesitated to sit by the wall, as I was afraid a termite might pop out).”
  2. “Outside seating terrace and cosy atmosphere makes this place perfect for a first-date!”
  3. “Very Nice atmosphere and good food, but $18 for 3 enchiladas is a rip off.”
  4. “Great food and ambience”
  5. “If not for the authentic mexican food which is superb, the decor and funky mys.”
  6. “This place is awesome, tucked away between Newbury and Comm Ave, but it is a very romantic place for a date.”
drinks
87.5% positive
  1. “Food was delicious, drinks were wonderful, and a really great place to catch up with friends.”
  2. “The drinks, especially the margaritas, are also quite good.”
  3. “It was a perfect place to go with friends on a Friday night for dinner and drinks!”
  4. “the salsa is so good i wanted to drink it, almost had too drinks were slow”
food quality
80.43000221252441% positive
  1. “Very Nice atmosphere and good food, but $18 for 3 enchiladas is a rip off.”
  2. “the salsa is so good i wanted to drink it, almost had too drinks were slow”
  3. “Service was excellent, staff were genuinely nice, and food was of excellent quality.”
  4. “Casa Romero is an authentic Mexican restaurant off Newbury on Gloucester Street in the Back Bay.”
  5. “the menu has a variety of unique dishes.”
  6. “The food here is mediocre at best.”
  7. “Food was delicious, drinks were wonderful, and a really great place to catch up with friends.”
  8. “If not for the authentic mexican food which is superb, the decor and funky mys.”
  9. “The food is fantastic, as are the margaritas.”
  10. “This is terrible mexican food, and way too expensive.”
  11. “mean, don't get me wrong, the food itself is good, it's just not great.”
  12. “Great place for authentic Mexican food and margs in Back Bay”
  13. “And for the prices they charge, the food should be great.”
  14. “Casa Romero offers amazingly delicious Mexican food.”
  15. “After all of the terrible Mexican food I've had here in Boston, I expected another run-of-the-mill Tex-Mex kind of restaurant.”
  16. “The only draw back is the rice they serve with the food needs to be done much better than it is but, I dont worry about the rice because the portions are great along with the selections.”
  17. “The food was so authentic, and the margaritas are to die for!”
  18. “It's ok if you don't like spicy food.”
  19. “The stuffed squid is great, give it a try, steaks good too (but not steakhouse like, it is a mexican restaurant after all).”
  20. “The food was good, the service was pleasant, but the pacing of three courses took quite a while, and thus the party ran for longer than the restaurant had estimated.”
  21. “Destination for Mexican, Most authentic atmostphere”
  22. “expect a fresh chile made from tomatoes, chiles, onions, garlic.”
  23. “Great food and ambience”
menu variety
66.66999816894531% positive
  1. “The only draw back is the rice they serve with the food needs to be done much better than it is but, I dont worry about the rice because the portions are great along with the selections.”
  2. “The menu's were dirty- the entire place had a shabbiness that I couldn't look beyond- especially at these prices.”
  3. “the menu has a variety of unique dishes.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “nice place minus the FOOD”
  2. “Food was delicious, drinks were wonderful, and a really great place to catch up with friends.”
  3. “kept searching and searching for a good sit-down mexican restaurant to take a freinds for my 21st birthday and from what I saw on their website, Casa Romero looked like the perfect place.”
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. “would definitely recommend this place and I definitely want to go back!”
service
50.0% positive
  1. “Although the service was very friendly, the decor of the place was dingy and slightly musty looking (I hesitated to sit by the wall, as I was afraid a termite might pop out).”
  2. “Service was excellent, staff were genuinely nice, and food was of excellent quality.”
  3. “talked to the manager about the bad service and he told me that I was supposed to understand about their underperformance because it was a high peak season.”
  4. “Awful service.”
  5. “The food was good, the service was pleasant, but the pacing of three courses took quite a while, and thus the party ran for longer than the restaurant had estimated.”
  6. “Food good but small portions for too much money compared to other places and the service didnt match the prices and bathroom was needing sprucing up.”
  7. “awful manager”
value
41.66999816894531% positive
  1. “Portions are not pleasing, but if money doesn't matter to you, then hey tear it up!”
  2. “The menu's were dirty- the entire place had a shabbiness that I couldn't look beyond- especially at these prices.”
  3. “And for the prices they charge, the food should be great.”
  4. “This is terrible mexican food, and way too expensive.”
  5. “The only draw back is the rice they serve with the food needs to be done much better than it is but, I dont worry about the rice because the portions are great along with the selections.”
  6. “Food good but small portions for too much money compared to other places and the service didnt match the prices and bathroom was needing sprucing up.”
wait time
50.0% positive
  1. “the salsa is so good i wanted to drink it, almost had too drinks were slow”
1 Star Rating: Poor

01/25/11

Not to be recommended for relaxing evening meal

by totles1 at Citysearch

We had a very unpleasant experience in Casa Romero in Boston. The food was average but the table management was appalling. The clear objective of the management was to get us fed and out to free up the table so that they could squeeze in another four covers before the end of the evening. Every course was served before the previous one was finished and the bill was delivered before we'd even finished dessert. All in all we were allowed only one and a quarter hours for our meal - at the time of booking no indication was given that sittings were in operation. I would never go there again.

4 Star Rating: Recommended

12/17/10

Make sure you ask for Alfredo as your waiter!

by budibar at Citysearch

Casa Romero is a trip to a spanish/mexican hideaway vacation right off newbury street tucked away like a speak easy in a small alleyway between commonwealth avenue and newbury street.

All they need is the live classical guitar playing from an intern from the nearby Berklee School of Music!

I almost didn't go from the negative reviews on service from other reviewers but I gave it a shot. Service comes from the server not the restaurant. I was lucky to have Alfredo....he knew the menu and I asked for recommendations based on the flavors I like to taste.

Alfredo was clear in his recommendations and steered me towards my first cactus salad which I really enjoyed!

When I first arrived as a single diner I asked for the bar....full....I was offered to sit and wait. I asked for a table....they don't seat for one person :( then the hostess said i could have a table for two if I ate within an hour....I'm flexible and I took her up on the offer. Yes, she could have been more welcoming so I see where the negative service reviews come from.

Nonetheless, Alfredo saved the day. He pointed me to the good items on the menu, spent time with me, was very friendly and he even gave me a taste of an entree I asked about on the house!

And of course I left a 30% tip for his going the extra mile.

The food is good...quite unique food combinations. It's not incredible but it is quite good and the pricing is reasonable and fairly matched with the food quality.

If you want real mexican food go to tu y yo in somerville...you don't feel like you're on vacation in spain like casa romero but the food is amazing.

Go to Casa romero.....it's a vacation of ambience, good food, quite affordable, good drinks and BE NICE TO YOUR SERVER! THEY'LL BE NICE TO YOU :)

Enjoy your experience and thanks Alfredo!!!

4 Star Rating: Recommended

04/07/10

Great place for authentic Mexican food and margs in Back Bay

by juliacantor , Citysearch Contributor at Citysearch

Casa Romero is an authentic Mexican restaurant off Newbury on Gloucester Street in the Back Bay. You may want to bring a map, b/c it is a bit hard to find, but once you walk in you'll feel at home! (ok, If you're from Mexico?) As you walk in, down the little stairs, Mr. Romero himself will be there waiting to greet you with a big smile!

All 3 of my friends and I got margaritas (our favorites! and one of the true reasons we went...) and the waiter helped us pick them out based on the different tequilas they had. I don't remember which margs we ended up with, but they were delicious and the waiter was so thoughtful and accommodating.

In addition to a few margs, we also got the homemade chips and guacamole (yum!), fajita dishes with veggies, rice and beans. Food was delicious, drinks were wonderful, and a really great place to catch up with friends. I can imagine it would be great in a small group, larger, or for a date.. It was a perfect place to go with friends on a Friday night for dinner and drinks!

Important: Casa Romero is only open for dinner from 5 o'clock on (until 10 or 11, depending on the day), so definitely make a reservation because they DO get busy. They have a very small bar in the front, but it probably only seats five people or so. I highly recommend reservations.

  • Pros: Margaritas, guacamole, service, met Mr. Romero
  • Cons: None
4 Star Rating: Recommended

03/20/10

excellent!

by feathers24 at Citysearch

Food was excellent! It was pricey but delicious- I had the scallops (was a special I think) and they were amazing. The portions aren't huge-especially for the price- but they're quite satisfying. Laid back but somewhat posh atmosphere- easy to go after work or in jeans or with a group of people (but you would HAVE to have reservations). I would definitely recommend this place and I definitely want to go back!

  • Pros: sangria, guacamole, strong margaritas, nice atmosphere
  • Cons: tucked away so you can hardly find it, not easy to mingle
4 Star Rating: Recommended

10/04/09

Love it

by JulieBee at Citysearch

I love to eat here - love the mole!

  • Pros: Great food
  • Cons: a little pricey

The Details on Casa Romero

Place Categories:

  • good authentic mexican food
  • perfect place
  • awful service
  • not pleasing portions
  • quite good drinks
  • terrible mexican food
  • not recommend casa romero
  • authentic sitdown mexican restaurant
  • authentic margs
  • awful manager
  • genuinely nice staff
  • good salsa
  • horrible guacamole
  • nice very
  • authentic atmostphere
  • good steaks
  • highly recommend reservations
  • tasteless enchiladas
  • not like spicy food
  • recommend not
  • loved dining experience
  • great ambience
  • dirty menu
  • love mole
  • great stuffed squid

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